I want to say I had my fair share of teen horror growing up, but it wouldn’t be true, because as I’m writing this, I can’t think of a single show that fits the category. I don’t know if Pretty Little Liars really counts, but my first encounter with a “horror” show outside of the Indian Shh! Koi Hai or Aahat, which first aired a year before I was born (dang), was Supernatural, which in my opinion was technically for adults. Then would it be ironic for me to say horror is my favorite genre? I wouldn’t think so. Now, don’t get me wrong, there will be those who gate-keep the genre for people who’ve only seen the “classics,” which, for the most part, I haven’t. However, this doesn’t take away from my experiences of loving the genre growing up and...

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has conveyed heartfelt condolences over the demise of renowned ghazal and playback singer Pankaj Udhas. Reflecting on his interactions with Udhas, the Prime Minister hailed him as a stalwart of Indian music, whose melodies resonated across generations.

In a tribute posted on social media platform X, Pm Modi expressed sorrow over the loss of Udhas, whose singing evoked a myriad of emotions and whose ghazals connected directly with the soul. Udhas, with his timeless melodies, carved a niche for himself in the realm of Indian music, leaving an indelible mark on listeners worldwide.

“Recalling various encounters with the legendary singer over the years, Pm Modi emphasized Udhas’s unparalleled contribution to the music industry. His departure, Modi lamented, has created a void that cannot be filled, leaving behind a profound sense of loss among music enthusiasts and admirers”.

We mourn the loss of Pankaj Udhas Ji,...

His career is a testament to the pervasive appeal of ghazal, for Pankaj Udhas, among the foremost who brought the perceived elitist genre of music into the popular sphere, hailed well beyond its prime catchment area, but mastered the form with dedication and performed it with panache.

Pankaj Udhas, who passed away on Monday aged 72, is usually – and erroneously – seen as a purveyor of the ghazal’s “maikhana” tradition.

This is chiefly due to his famous renditions of “Mujhko yaaron muaaf karna, main nashe mein hoon”, “Thodi thodi piya karo”,”Sharab cheez hi aisi”, “Ek taraf us ka ghai ek taraf maikada”, “Sabko maloom hai main sharabi nahi” and several other vintage melodies, but there was more range to his velvet-rounded voice.

Recall the ebullient “Chandi jaisa rang hain tera”, the pensive “Kabhi saaya hai kabhi dhoop” or “Aap jinke kareeb hote hai”, the lightly mournful “Deewaron se milkar rona...

Pankaj Udhas earned his first accolade as a singer when he was 11 years old. He sang the patriotic song ‘Ae mere watan ke logon’ at a public event in his hometown Rajkot when the Sino-Indian War was raging in 1962, and he so impressed a member of the audience that he gifted the young singer what was then a princely sum of Rs 51.

Udhas, who passed into eternity on Monday, February 26, at the age of 72, however, had not planned to become a singer. He was training to play the tabla at the Sangeet Natya Academy in Rajkot, where he had been enrolled along with his brothers by his father, Keshubhai Udhas, a government official who had learnt to play the dilruba from Ustad Abdul Karim Khan.

Seeing his father play his favourite dilruba in his spare time inspired Udhas to pursue music seriously. His elder brothers, Manhar and Nirmal Udhas, also...

Pankaj Udhas, the renowned Indian ghazal and playback singer, made significant contributions to Hindi cinema and Indian pop music throughout his illustrious career. He embarked on his musical journey with the release of his debut ghazal album titled “Aahat” in 1980. This marked the beginning of a prolific career that saw him record numerous hits such as “Mukarar” in 1981, “Tarrannum” in 1982, “Mehfil” in 1983, and “Aafreen” in 1986, among others.

Udhas gained widespread acclaim for his soulful rendition of ghazals, which earned him opportunities in the realm of playback singing for Hindi films. Notably, his song “Chitthi Aayee Hai” from the 1986 film “Naam” became an instant hit, catapulting him to further fame. He continued to lend his melodious voice to various Hindi film soundtracks, enriching the cinematic experience for audiences.

Beyond his contributions to cinema, Udhas’s talent transcended borders with his captivating performances in live concerts around the world. His musical prowess...

The music world mourns the loss of ghazal maestro Pankaj Udhas, as leading playback singer Sonu Nigam expresses his heartfelt grief over the passing of this iconic figure. Nigam, reminiscing on his childhood, acknowledges Udhas’s profound influence and offers condolences to the bereaved family. With heavy heart, Nigam bids farewell to Udhas, expressing gratitude for his presence in his life and wishing him eternal peace with the words, “Shri Pankaj Udhas ji, I will miss you forever. My heart cries knowing that you are no more. Thank you for being there. Om Shanti.”

A recipient of the prestigious Padma Shri award, Pankaj Udhas breathed his last on Monday, February 26, at the age of 72. His departure leaves a void in the world of music, yet his legacy remains timeless, touching the hearts of generations to come.

Born into a family deeply rooted in musical traditions, Pankaj Udhas embarked on his...

Ohmkar’s new Telugu-language “horror” show Mansion 24 is a 6-part drama that fails to make any kind of impression. Not only is it completely unoriginal, but even with its ensemble cast, it is a snooze fest that is as shallow as the mindset behind some of its subplots. Mansion 24 follows the story of investigative journalist Amrutha, whose father has just gone missing after visiting an infamous abandoned mansion. Her task is to figure out where he is and bring him back home to her bedridden mother. Amrutha meets the security guard of the building, who entertains her with some stories for 5 days about different flats in the building where terrifying things happen. How does all of this connect to her father’s story? We find out by the end of the first season. Firstly, the title of this show makes no sense. There’s no mansion; there’s...

Actress Piya Valecha of ‘Imlie’ fame revealed that her following of two million followers on Instagram doesn’t help her get performance oriented shows to act. However, she agrees that it helps in bagging reality shows.

Piya said: “Followers mostly on your Instagram account definitely make a lot of difference these days. In terms of casting, especially reality shows. But good and big shows on bigger platforms still need your performance and talent.”

“While I enjoy the love and appreciation of two million fans on my Instagram account, that has only bought me casting calls for reality shows. I’m an actor and I want to entertain my audience with my art. But I don’t see any good roles or scripts coming to me looking at my followers,” the actress said.

The ‘Choti Sarrdaarni’ actor feels this is not the right time to contest a reality show.

“Reality shows based on love,...

After doing a number of negative roles in TV shows like ‘Aahat’, ‘Raazz Mahal: Dakini Ka Rahasya’, and ‘C.I.D’, actor Micckie Dudaaney has entered the family drama ‘Doosri Maa’ as Varun Sharma, an antagonist. He spoke about his role in the show, and how despite his interest in playing positive characters on-screen, he became a choice for grey-shaded roles.

He said: “Varun is creating havoc in Yashoda (Neha Joshi) and Krishna’s(Aayudh Bhanushali) lives, leading to a high-voltage drama for our audience. As an actor, I feel playing negative characters broadens our horizons and projects stronger emotions.”

Micckie has played negative roles in his previous shows as well, however, he added that it was never planned and he initially wanted to play a protagonist and lead roles.

“I never intended to play negative roles when I entered this industry. I was here to play a hero, like many other artists.

Mumbai, March 29 (Ians) Actress Anupama Kuwar, who is making a TV comeback after eight years with the fantasy show ‘Baalveer 3’, says it’s challenging to be part of a costume drama as she has to spend almost one-and-a-half hours to get ready.

“Since I am playing a warrior in the show, my heavy costume restricts my natural movements. I also have a neckpiece in my warrier look which makes even my neck movement tough,” says Anupama, who was last seen in ‘C.I.D’.

The most challenging part is to do the stunts with such a heavy costume. “I reduce my water intake while shooting to avoid frequent trips to the washroom.”

She has worked in shows like ‘Qubool Hai’, ‘C.I.D’, ‘Aahat’, among others. ‘Baalveer 3’ is her first costume drama. She is also known for her roles in the web series such as ‘Virgin Boys’, ‘Zindagi Tumse’ and many more.