Mumbai: Even 154 years after his death, the legendary Urdu-Persian poet -- Mirza Beg Asadullah Khan, or just Mirza Ghalib -- often referred to as the `emperor of romance`, continues to live and thrive in public minds through his evergreen and raging verses or couplets.
A first-ever dedicated two-day festival to celebrate the life and times of the romanticist Ghalib opened in Mumbai, organised by the Pasbaan-E-Adab (Defenders of Literature), starting with a tribute to the 26/11 martyrs by students of various Urdu schools in the Mumbai metropolitan region. Named as `Meeras: The Heritage`, the event has brought together some of the biggest names in the world of literature with mushairas, musical shows, Sufiana Kalams, literary quiz and sessions for young and upcoming poets, said the 12-year-old Pasbaan-E-Adab`s guiding spirit, IPS officer Quaiser Khalid.
"Ghalib was an important figure in our history and our rich literature. He was witness to some of the biggest events that shaped the country`s future, and which immensely inspired his writings and he continues to influence generations after his passing," Khalid told IANS.
Born in Agra, Ghalib (December 27, 1797-February 15, 1868) hailed from a family of Mughals with mixed lineage of Indian, Persian, Turk, Kashmiri, but was orphaned at a tender age and was raised by relatives.
When he was just 13, he was married to Umrao Begum, coming from a princely (Nawab) family and moved to Delhi, the hub of the Mughal Empire which was just starting to crack under British domination.
Struggling on all fronts, Ghalib described life as a `sentence` followed by marriage which was another `imprisonment` and these became the theme of his poetry on many occasions, and seemed to strike a chord with the connoisseurs.
"He lived a full life for 71 years and also witnessed the collapse of the mighty Mughal Empire, the rise of the ruthless British Rule, the Indian Mutiny (1857) -- which was the first war for Indian Independence. All these significant events had a great influence on Ghalib and consequently, on his writings," explained Khalid. —IANS

Even 154 years after his death, the legendary Urdu-Persian poet -- Mirza Beg Asadullah Khan, or just Mirza Ghalib -- often referred to as the `emperor of romance`, continues to live and thrive in public minds through his evergreen and raging verses or couplets.

154 Yrs After He Died, 'Emperor Of Romance' Ghalib Lives In His Poetry

Islamabad: Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan has had his fair share of love, extended support and unrelenting promotion by the countrys powerful military establishment before coming to power in 2018.   However, with Khan and his government falling apart after the establishment shut the door on him, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief is now getting a taste of one of the most bitter outbursts of his counter-assault on the same military might, turning his love affairs into arch rivalry with the country's most powerful institution.  Since May 9, when Khan's arrest from Islamabad was responded by violent, angry and chaotic scene of protests by supporters, party members and leaders of PTI, who expressed their anger by attacking, vandalising and looting military establishments in different parts of the country, the army, under its new chief General Asim Munir, along with the government have decided to take on Khan.  They have also decided to take on his anti-establishment narrative, open accusations against General Munir and other senior serving officers and threats of imposing a civil war in the country, by not only crushing the PTI's political existence, but also to make an example of Khan for all, who may think that challenging and targeting the country's military might, may be an option for future political gains.  The May 9 riots are being taken as Khan and his party's 9/11, which are proving to be the reason that may well see his image of the country's most popular political leader and his party being country's most popular political force, to a failed pressure group, a banned outfit led by a leader with exaggerated over-confidence with a lust for self-promotion and power.  Khan's political future continues to become darker and difficult as his top party leaders continue to part ways from him, leaving him isolated and confined behind the walls of his Zaman Park residence in Lahore.  "The way his top party leadership has left the party and have succumbed to the pressure of arrests and jails; the future script for Imran Khan seems to have been written. His political graveyard is ready and his party is being buried in it," said Talat Hussain, a senior political analyst.  As far as Khan's relationship or rivalry with the establishment is concerned; his isolation and fast increasing political loneliness, coupled with his constant demand of initiating talks for a workable solution to the persisting crisis, seems to be completely ignored by the military establishment, who do not seem to be ready to give any space to Khan and want to ensure that his anti-military establishment politics is crushed, diminished and destroyed for good. —IANS

 Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan has had his fair share of love, extended support and unrelenting promotion 

Imran vs. Military Top Brass: Romance over, now it's state of war

Mumbai: Actor Tama-nnaah Bhatia will be seen in a fun avatar in a contemporary romance drama 'Jee Karda'.
Written and directed by Arunima Sharma, and co-written by Hussain Dalal and Abbas Dalal, 'Jee Karda' is touted as a heartwarming-yet-edgy series.
As per a statement, "Jee Karda is an immersive story of seven childhood friends, who thought that by the time they were 30 that their lives will be sorted. However, upon turning 30, they eventually find out that it's a grand hot mess instead. They live, love, laugh, make mistakes together, get their hearts broken, and grow up a little, but through it all, discover that the best of friendships and relationships are imperfect and life is a luminous shade of gray."
It also stars Aashim Gulati, Suhail Nayyar, Anya Singh, Hussain Dalal, Sayan Banerjee, Simone Singh, Malhar Thakar and Samvedna Suwalka.
Expressing excitement about the series, Aparna Purohit, head of India Originals, Prime Video said, "Jee Karda is a heartwarming story about love, heartbreak, dating, family dynamics, and above all, the unbreakable bond of friendship that often carries us through the vicissitudes of daily life..it remains our constant endeavour to help bring to life stories that are authentic, engaging, and entertaining, and Jee Karda is yet another step in that direction. It has truly been an incredibly rewarding collaboration with Maddock Films."
Dinesh Vijan, Maddock Films shared, "Jee Karda marks our first association with Prime Video, and there could be no better way to kick start our creative journey. This story takes a heartfelt and relatable look at relationships. The plot and characters are crafted to have a wide appeal across all kinds of viewers. I am looking forward to unveiling our show to audiences on 15 June".
The eight-episode series will be out on Prime Video on June 15.—ANI

Actor Tama-nnaah Bhatia will be seen in a fun avatar in a contemporary romance drama 'Jee Karda'

Tamannaah's Contemporary Romance Drama 'Jee Karda' To Be Out On This Date

Lucknow: It was a sultry April morning in 2008 when wails rent the air in Bawankhedi village in Uttar Pradesh's Amroha district.
Shaukat Ali's daughter Shabnam frantically ran from house to house, crying out aloud.
As neighbours rushed in, they were shocked to find the bodies of seven family members, including a ten-month-old baby, lying on the floor.
The deceased included Shabnam's father Shaukat Ali ,55, mother Hashmi, 50, elder brother Anees, 35, Anees's wife Anjum, 25, younger brother Rashid, 22, cousin Rabia, 14, and Arsh -- the 10-month-old son of Anees.
Shabnam, belonging to the Saifi Muslim community, initially claimed that unknown assailants had entered her home and killed everyone.
However, when the police grilled her, she could not give a satisfactory reply about how she escaped the assailants.
Murmurs in the village also began about Shabnam's relationship with Salim that had been strongly opposed by her family.
Finally, after five days of interrogation, Shabnam broke down and confessed that she and Salim had killed her family. She told the police that she had made her family members drink milk laced with sedatives, before killing them along with her lover.
Seven members of the family, including a 10-month-old child, were axed to death on the night of horror.
Salim chopped their heads off with the axe, while Shabnam held them by their hair. She throttled her 10-month-old nephew.
With the rest of her family dead, Shabnam would have been the sole heir to their house and other property.
When Shabnam and Salim were arrested five days after the crime, they were both in their 20s, and Shabnam was seven weeks pregnant.
Later in 2008, she gave birth to a son.
A post-graduate in two subjects, English and Geography, she had worked as a shiksha mitra (government school teacher). Her family was opposed to her relationship with Salim, a Class 4 dropout, who worked at a wood sawing unit outside their home and belonged to the Pathan community.
Interestingly, during the trial, the couple turned against each other.
The 2015 Supreme Court judgment says that in her Section 313 statement, Shabnam said Salim had entered the house with a knife through the roof and killed all her family members while she was asleep.
Salim, on the other hand, said he reached the house "only on the request of Shabnam" and that when he reached there, she confessed to having killed the others.
In 2010, an Amroha sessions court sentenced them to death, which was upheld by the Allahabad High Court in 2013 and the Supreme Court in May 2015. Within 10 days, however, the apex court stayed the death warrants.
In September 2015, then Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik rejected Shabnam's plea for mercy, which she had sought on the ground of her responsibilities towards her son, Mohammad Taj.
In August 2016, then President Pranab Mukherjee rejected her mercy petition.
In January 2020, a Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde upheld the death sentence.
Both Shabnam, 37, and Saleem, 35, are currently on death row for the crime after the Supreme Court upheld their punishment.
If Shabnam is executed, she will be the first woman in Independent India to be hanged for a crime.
Another angle to this crime of passion is the property owned by Shabnam's family.
Shabnam's son Taj Mohammad, whom she delivered in jail, was born out of wedlock and is unlikely to have any claim to the immense property that her family owned.
Valued in crores, the property is one of the biggest estates in Bawankhedi and has allegedly emerged as a bone of contention between the extended Ali clan.
Shaukat's brother Sattar, who owns half the property, now lives there with his family but claims to have received threats from distant relatives who have their sights set on it.
Shabnam's son has been adopted by her college friend Usman Saifi.
Saifi says the property ought to be given away in charity. "Nothing good can come out of it," he said.
Meanwhile, legal experts claim that before she is hanged, Shabnam still has some legal remedies left to her.
Shabnam's lawyer, Advocate Shreya Rastogi, said in a statement, "Shabnam has very important constitutional remedies that remain to be exercised. These include the right to challenge the rejection of her mercy petition before the Allahabad High Court and the Supreme Court on various grounds and also the right to file a curative petition in the Supreme Court against the decision on the review petition."
Also, under the law, if multiple people have been sentenced to death in the same case, they have to be executed together. So, Shabnam and Salim can be hanged only after both of them exhaust all their legal recourses.
Shabnam's uncle and aunt have expressed happiness at the court verdict.
"We were not at home when the carnage took place. When we went there in the morning, there was blood all around and the bodies were cut up. The crime was unpardonable," said her uncle.
He said that he would not accept the body of Shabnam after her hanging. —IANS

It was a sultry April morning in 2008 when wails rent the air in Bawankhedi village in Uttar Pradesh's Amroha district

Star-Crossed Romance Ends In Massacre Of Family, Death Row For Lovers

Toronto: Directed by Hollywood director Tarsem Singh, ‘Dear Jassi’, the story of honour killing of Indo-Canadian woman Jassi Sidhu in Punjab in June 2000 for marrying a village boy against her family’s wishes, premiered at the on-going Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) here today.  Somewhat reminiscent of legendary love stories of Punjabi folklore, the film retells the tragedy of 24-year-old Jassi Sidhu who made the mistake of falling in love with Sukhwinder Sidhu alias Mithu, a kabaddi player of the same Sidhu clan, while visiting her mother’s village in Punjab.  Born at Maple Ridge near Vancouver, Jassi was murdered by her mother’s hired killers near Jagraon in Punjab while her husband was left for dead.  Opening with sufi poet Bulleh Shah’s ‘Kamli’, the film brilliantly recreates the tragic events of June 2000, beginning with the Indo-Canadian girl (played by Pavia Sidhu) falling in love with the rugged Punjab boy (played by Yugam Sood) during her first trip to Punjab.  Scenes quickly switch between grimy Punjab towns and Jassi’s swanky Maple Ridge near Vancouver as the romance between the two blooms, first through their secret rendezvous in the Punjab village and then via letters and phone calls when Jassi flies back to Vancouver.  When Jassi’s mother Malkiat Kaur and maternal uncle Surjit Singh Badersha force her to marry an Indo-Canadian boy of their choice, she flies to India and secretly gets married to Mithu before returning to Canada to make arrangements for Mithu to come to Canada.  But when her mother and the maternal uncle get wind of her secret marriage, Jassi is tortured, confined to their home and forced to sign papers to get her marriage in India annulled.  The high points of the movie are the chaotic scenes at Jassi’s home in Canada when her secret marriage is no more a secret and she seeks police’s help to get out to fly to India to save Mithu and her marriage.  The director has made an extensive use of colloquial Panjabi to capture the essence of earthy Punjabi sense of humour in the film which has been dubbed into English.
—IANS

Directed by Hollywood director Tarsem Singh, ‘Dear Jassi’, the story of honour killing of Indo-Canadian woman Jassi Sidhu in Punjab

Film on honour killing of Indo-Canadian Jassi Sidhu in Punjab debuts at Toronto film fest

New Delhi: The trailer for the Tamil sci-fi-romance series ‘MY3’ has finally come out, and it showcases a very weird romance story between a robotics scientist and his own creation, the robot MY3 with whom he ends up falling in love.
The trailer starts off with actor Shanthnu Bhagyaraj making a robot for a wealthy businessman, played by Mugen Rao, who funny enough is allergic to human touch. Shanthnu creates the robot MY3 to keep Mugen company, whom he models on his real life ex-girlfriend.
However, the lifelike robot suddenly malfunctions and breaks down, leading Shanthnu to send the ‘original’ version of MY3; aka actress Hansika Motwani.
Throughout the trailer, people are worried about what will happen if Mugen founds out that the robot is not a robot, but a real person, though people feel that chances are slim given that Mugen is both allergic to the touch of humans, and the lifelike appearance of the robot making him weary of touching it.
While the story is revealed in the trailer itself, there is a bit of a weird twist which casts some doubts as to what is going on. Initially it seems that Shanthnu is using his real life ex-girlfriend as a shield, though overtime some kind of romance seems to be rekindling between them, which is standard enough.
What really strikes is the end of the trailer, where Shanthnu says “Having MY3 in my life, has made it all the better and completely changed it”, after which he later proceeds to touch what appears to be Hansika but is in fact, the actual MY3 robot.
Proceeding to touch her, his hand begins to glitch out while he and the robot are looking at each other with complete romantic interest before the clip closes.
‘MY3’ is the official Indian adaptation of the K-drama ‘I Am Not A Robot’, and seems to be more or less exactly like it.
‘MY3’ is directed by M. Rajesh, and will release on Disney+ Hotstar in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Bangla, Kannada, Marathi and Malayalam on September 15, 2023.
—IANS

The trailer for the Tamil sci-fi-romance series ‘MY3’ has finally come out, and it showcases a very weird romance story between a robotics scientist

‘MY3’ trailer shows robotic love story of a scientist in love with his own robot

London [UK]: Soccer legend David Beckham has shared some advice for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce and wished them best, reported People. Speaking to People at the premiere of Beckham, a four-part Netflix documentary, the former footballer said, "There's a lot of noise around Taylor at the moment," alluding to the frenzy in the media about the 33-year-old singer's rumoured romance with 33-year-old Kansas City Chiefs star Kelce.
Beckham, 48, continued, "Taylor is an amazing talent and she's an amazing person, and she deserves to be happy. Whatever she does and whoever she's with, as long as she's happy, that's the most important thing." When asked whether he had any advice for Swift and Kelce, Beckham shared details about his marriage to Victoria Beckham, a former Spice Girl and fashion designer. Finding time exclusively for you and your lover, according to the football great, is the secret to a long-lasting relationship. "It's the same with me and Victoria. We've been together now for 26 years, almost three decades. We've got amazing kids, we've built businesses, but we make time for each other."
Beckham added that he and his wife "respect each other" and both know that "you have to work hard at these things." The 'Bejeweled' singer and the NFL star have become the talk of the celeb world since Swift attended back-to-back Chiefs games to cheer on Kelce. The pair are "still just getting to know each other," a source tells People, and another insider adds that the pair haven't yet defined their relationship, saying, "He is a charming guy. It's more of a hanging out situation than dating." David and Victoria got engaged a year after they met at a soccer match in 1997 and wed on July 4, 1999. The retired athlete and former singer share daughter Harper, 12, and sons Cruz, 18, Romeo, 21, and Brooklyn, 24. Beckham, directed by Academy Award-winning Filmmaker Fisher Stevens, hits Netflix on October 4, reported People. The four-part series follows the legendary athlete and Victoria as they provide insight into how his career and burgeoning fame influenced the family life they were establishing. Beckham director Fisher Stevens told People recently that he was surprised by how the athlete's inherent skills -- including his attention to detail -- translate now in retirement. "There's a kind of warmth to him, he listens and he's warm and he seems to [care] about people a lot," Stevens said. "He has an incredible aesthetic. He's not educated, he's not an intellectual by any means, but there is an innate intelligence to him of how to read people and sort of how to read a room," reported People.
—ANI

Soccer legend David Beckham has shared some advice for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce and wished them best, reported People.

David Beckham talks about Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce rumoured relationship, says, "she's happy"

Los Angeles: The third season of steamy Regency-era romance "Bridgerton" will be back on Netflix in May 2024.
The drama will be split in two parts -- the first part will premiere on May 16 followed by the second part on June 13. The new season will have eight episodes, reported Deadline.  The series, based on the books written by Julia Quinn, focuses on the eight siblings of the Bridgerton family as they try to find love in Regency era London's ton during the social season when marriageable youth are launched into society.  The first season of the show by Shondaland debuted on December 25, 2020 and became a hit on the streamer. Its second season, which premiered on March 25, 2022, surpassed viewership records set by the first season.  In May 2023, "Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story", a spin-off of the story, released and was critically-lauded.  The third season will focus on the nature of Penelope Featherington and Colin Bridgerton's friendship.
—PTI

The third season of steamy Regency-era romance "Bridgerton" will be back on Netflix in May 2024.

Third season of Bridgerton to release in May 2024

Los Angeles: Actress-singer Selena Gomez shared an intimate snap of her pair making out with her new boyfriend Benny Blanco.  She took to social media to announce her new relationship with an adorable snap of her and her new man locking lips in New York, reports Mirror.co.uk.  In the last image in a carousel of memories from the Big Apple, the lovebirds looked enamoured with one another as Selena was seen laying on the music producer's lap as she pulled him in closer for a kiss.  As per Mirror.co.uk, the precious moment followed a series of other fun-filled times in the city including pictures of Selena enjoying a warm cup of joe, grabbing tea with her friends, taking in the skyline views, and of course watching ‘How I Met Your Mother’ from the comfort of her hotel bed. Selena captioned the Instagram post: "New York, my favourite moments with you this week.”  Fans took to the comments of the Only Murder in the Building star's post gushing over the new couple and how happy Selena looks with him. One fan wrote: "Ekkkk I'm so happy for you. You deserve the world." Another added: "love seeing you happy omgg you deserve all the happiness in this world and much more." And a third wrote: "Last slide.... I'm IN! You're glowing Xo."  The new post comes as Selena has already been forced to defend her new man against haters. When the 31-year-old actress first shared snaps with Benny, some of her fans bashed the couple claiming that it was a "marketing plan" as they previously worked together with others taking jabs at his appearance.
—IANS

Actress-singer Selena Gomez shared an intimate snap of her pair making out with her new boyfriend Benny Blanco.

Selena Gomez makes out with new boyfriend Benny Blanco

Mumbai: Janhvi Kapoor is no longer hiding her romantic life with rumoured beau Shikhar Pahariya as at an event in Mumbai today, her 'Shiku' pendant again grabbed the eyeballs of netizens. Janhvi's fashion choices have always garnered attention, and this instance was no exception.
In the videos captured by Mumbai paps, Janhvi can be seen dressed in a black check short dress that she paired with high heels and pearl earrings. 
<div style="text-align:left;"><img src="https://thehawk.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/Janhvi%20Black%20check%20dress.webp" alt="Janhvi Black check dress" style="height: auto;width: auto"/></div>

However, her necklace grabbed the attention. She adorned a delicate necklace bearing the name 'Shiku', a probable reference to Shikhar Pahariya. She also posted series of pictures in the same outfit on her Instagram handle.
Watch: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C6dqwg8oCee/" target="_self">https://www.instagram.com/p/C6dqwg8oCee/?</a>&nbsp;
Recently, at a recent screening of the film 'Maidaan', wearing 'Shiku' necklace gave the subtle nod, which sent fans into a frenzy, reigniting discussions about the alleged romance between the two. The 'Shiku' necklace not only caught the eyes of onlookers but also fueled speculation about the depth of her relationship with Shikhar Pahariya.
While neither Janhvi nor Shikhar has officially confirmed their relationship, glimpses into their alleged romance have surfaced from time to time. Janhvi's appearance on Karan Johar's talk show 'Koffee With Karan' provided subtle insights into their bond, with the 'Dhadak' actor sharing endearing anecdotes about Shikhar's presence in her life. Moreover, her father Boney Kapoor's public admiration for Shikhar further solidifies the speculation surrounding their relationship. Shikhar Pahariya hasn't shied away from expressing his affection for Janhvi either. On her birthday, he took to Instagram to share intimate moments captured between them. These gestures have only added fuel to the ongoing speculation about their alleged romance, captivating fans and media alike. Meanwhile, on the work front, Janhvi will be next seen in 'Mr and Mrs Mahi,' which is set to hit cinemas on May 31 this year. Janhvi was last seen in the 2023 romantic drama 'Bawaal,' directed by Nitesh Tiwari and co-starring Varun Dhawan. Her upcoming projects include pairing with Rajkummar Rao in 'Mr. and Mrs. Mahi.' She will also be seen in the Pan-India film 'Devara' which also stars Saif Ali Khan and NTR Jr in the lead roles. She is all set to be seen in the action thriller film 'Ulajh'. Directed by National Award winner Sudhanshu Saria, the patriotic thriller film also stars Gulshan Devaiah and Roshan Mathew, of 'The Poacher' fame, in lead roles. It also stars Rajesh Tailang, Meiyang Chang, Sachin Khedekar, Rajendra Gupta and Jitendra Joshi in pivotal roles.
—ANI

Janhvi Kapoor's latest fashion statement and romantic hints spark rumors about her alleged relationship with Shikhar Pahariya amidst movie updates.

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Tag : Romance

154 Yrs After He Died, 'Emperor Of Romance' Ghalib Lives In His Poetry

Inam Ansari

Tag : Romance

154 Yrs After He Died, 'Emperor Of Romance' Ghalib Lives In His Poetry

Inam Ansari

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