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The RajaSaab: Fire breaks out in theatre during Prabhas' entry - Watch

A major disaster was narrowly averted at Ashok Talkies in Rayagada, Odisha, on Friday, 9th January, as a fire broke out during the screening of Prabhas’ film The RajaSaab. The incident occurred at a climactic moment in the film when Prabhas made his grand entry on screen. To celebrate his entry, overexcited fans began setting confetti on fire. Fire breaks out at the theatre Reportedly, the fire was caused by a number of reasons. A group of fans began performing aarti in front of the screen, bursting crackers and burning confetti inside the cinema hall. A video that has gone viral on the internet shows fans clapping, hooting and cheering while burning confetti.  All of this led to a sudden fire outbreak next to the screen. While moviegoers began panicking and fearing for their safety, the theatre staff arrived promptly and took swift action, bringing the fire under control immediately. The screening was paused to ensure the safety of the audience and assess the situation, but it resumed soon afterward. No injuries or casualties were reported. There had been no major damage to the cinema hall as well.            View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by News18.com (@cnnnews18) Prabhas fans bring crocodiles to the theatre Interestingly, this is not the first instance of Prabhas fans going berserk during The RajaSaab screenings.  In the videos now going viral on social media, fans are seen holding the crocodiles above their heads and running inside the theatre. This left some of the audience members shocked. However, the crocodiles carried by fans were not real animals but dummies. Known for going all out during their film releases, the fans this time around brought crocodiles into the cinema halls during the screening of the film. This was to imitate a stunt shown in The RajaSaab trailer, wherein Prabhas' character is seen throwing around a crocodile during a fight sequence with the animal.  Prabhas fans storm into the theatre On Friday, videos of fans storming into several preview shows went viral. Ahead of its official release, the makers hosted a few preview shows and screenings, which were unfortunately far from smooth. Notably, the premiere shows of The RajaSaab kicked off across Andhra Pradesh from 9 pm on Thursday. But the film faced some last-minute hindrances in Hyderabad after a delay in the issuance of the government order. This uncertainty sparked confusion, leading to agitated fans storming into theatres, gathering near the main gates, climbing walls, shouting and venting their anger. The situation was escalated at Vimal Theatre, where a large number of fans were seen forcing their way into the theatre during The RajaSaab media premiere and refusing to leave. The angry fans insisted that the show be screened for them. In another video from a theatre in Kukatpally, several fans were seen banging on the gates and demanding that the management open the theatre for entry. Another video showed massive crowds breaking through security barricades and rushing into the theatre.

Sivakarthikeyan arrives at Chennai theatre for Parasakthi release

Allu Arjun calls dad Aravind the 'closest thing to God' on his birthday

On his father Allu Aravind’s 77th birthday, superstar Allu Arjun penned an affectionate note, calling the renowned producer “the closest thing to God” in his life. Arjun took to Instagram, where he shared a picture posing with his father in front of his newly launched Allu Cinemas. Sharing a heartfelt note, Arjun wrote, “Happy Birthday, Dad. The closest thing to God in my life. May you always live joyfully.” He accompanied the message with a black heart emoji.           View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Allu Arjun (@alluarjunonline) Aravind, who is the founder of Geetha Arts, is regarded as one of the most successful producers in South Indian cinema. Aravind’s notable works as a producer include Bantrothu Bharya, Subhalekha, Pasivadi Pranam, Attaku Yamudu Ammayiki Mogudu, Mappillai, Master, Ninaithen Vandhai, Mangalyam Tantunanena, Annayya, Jalsa, Ghajini, Magadheera, Sarrainodu and Ala Vaikuntapuramulo. Talking about Arjun, he was last seen in the action drama Pushpa 2: The Rule, directed by Sukumar. A sequel to Pushpa: The Rise, it is the second instalment in the Pushpa film series. The film also stars Rashmika Mandanna, Fahadh Faasil, Jagapathi Babu, Sunil and Rao Ramesh. It follows Pushpa Raj, a labourer-turned-red sandalwood smuggler, as he faces growing threats from his enemies, including SP Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat. It is among the most expensive Indian films ever produced and also one of the longest Indian films. Arjun is all set to reunite with Trivikram for a grand mythological epic, marking their fourth collaboration together. The film is reportedly scheduled to go on floors in February 2027. He will also be seen in the third instalment of the blockbuster franchise Pushpa, which is being directed by ace director Sukumar. Apart from this, Allu Arjun is also working on his film with director Atlee, tentatively referred to as AA22 X A6. The film will also star Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

The RajaSaab box office collection: Prabhas' film earns Rs 54 core on day 1

Telugu actor Prabhas' The Raja Saab has hit theatres on Friday, January 9, 2026. The film, which was released in Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada and Malayalam, has largely received a negative response. Many have criticised the film for its dialogue and VFX, calling it a 'cringe fest.' Despite the underwhelming response, The Raja Saab witnessed a big opening at the box office on its first day. The Raja Saab Box Office Collection Day 1 According to industry trackers and reports, The Raja Saab earned Rs 54.4 crore on its opening day. In Telugu, the film earned Rs 38.5 crore on day 1, followed by Rs 6.15 crore in Hindi, Rs 0.4 crore in Tamil, and Rs 0.1 crore each in Kannada and Malayalam. Overall, the horror-comedy has earned Rs 45 crore at the box office. Considering the collections from special screenings into account, the film’s total opening-day earnings now stand at Rs 54.15 crore. The RajaSaab performed very well in the Telugu states, recording a strong occupancy across shows. The morning shows witnessed an occupancy of 50.92%, followed by 50.82% in the afternoon, 57.70% in the evening, and a peak of 69.20% during night shows. However, The RajaSaab's opening figures are lower than Prabhas' previous releases. Salaar had recorded Rs 90 crore, and Kalki 2898 AD had earned Rs 95 crore. Even Adipurush, which tanked, had opened at Rs 86 crore followed by a sharp decline at the box office.  About The RajaSaab Directed by Maruthi. The RajaSaab is produced by TG Vishwa Prasad under People Media Factory. The film stars Prabhas, Sanjay Dutt, Boman Irani, Malavika Mohanan, Nidhhi Agerwal, Riddhi Kumar, and Zarina Wahab in key roles. Earlier, while sharing his experience of working on the film, Prabhas had said, “The three years of stress and responsibility of Raja Saab brought tears to Maruthi garu's eyes. When I first met him, I told him that films were becoming too action-oriented and that we should give audiences a proper entertainer. That is how this horror-comedy took shape. Vishwa Prasad garu kept believing in Maruthi garu's script and supported it throughout. When I heard the climax, I became a fan of Maruthi garu's writing. I honestly wondered whether he wrote it with a pen or a machine gun. Such a climax hasn't come even in horror-comedy films. You must watch it and tell me. After 15 years, Maruthi is giving full Darling entertainment. The film is arriving this Sankranti. All Sankranti films should do well, and along with them, The RajaSaab should also become a blockbuster."

Parasakthi: Sivakarthikeyan breaks silence on 25 cuts by CBFC

Actor Sivakarthikeyan and the team of Parasakthi have been on their toes for the past few days as they awaited clearance from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) ahead of its release. The film has now finally received a UA certificate but only after as many as 25 cuts and modifications merely hours before its scheduled release. Sivakarthikeyan has now reacted to the last-minute censor approval.  Sivakarthikeyan on Parasakthi's certification In an exclusive interview with India Today Digital, he spoke about the long wait for the censor certificate, saying "The Censor Board operates according to their own regulations and criteria. Our team's complete focus was on how we could implement the changes they suggested in a way that wouldn't affect the creativity of the film. We didn't have time to figure out why they suggested these changes." The Censor Board reportedly asked the makers to modify a dialogue saying "Hindi has erased my dream" to "My only dream is to oppose Hindi imposition." Similarly, a voiceover regarding how language imposition in other countries led to their disintegration was also modified. When asked if the delayed process was a setback to them, Sivakarthikeyan said, "We received the changes at the last minute. After that, we had to make the suggested changes and upload them to QUBE. Our main focus was to release the film as we were chasing a release date. The Censor Board functions according to their own regulations, and we didn't have time to analyze whether it was an advantage or disadvantage." The actor also acknowledged that the process was delayed, saying, "Our entire team functioned like a military camp. We had everyone on standby for 24 hours because it was quite challenging to implement these changes. The more advanced technology has become, the more difficult it has become in certain ways." Reacting to whether the suggested cuts were suppressing a creator's freedom of expression, he said, "If we had more time, we might have explained to them the context of certain dialogues that they asked us to mute. We were running after a release date, so we ensured that the core of the story remained unaffected while implementing the cuts." Parasakthi final cut was delivered in 10 hours Sivakarthikeyan also admitted that he felt relieved when they finally received the certificate on January 9, saying, "Thankfully, the cuts weren't too random; the team was able to match them somehow, ensuring they didn't spoil the experience and deliver the final cut within the 10 hours we had." Meanwhile, Thalapathy Vijay's Jana Nayagan's release is being stalled due to a case against the CBFC. This means Parasakthi is getting a solo release in Tamil cinema. Directed by Sudha Kongara Prasad, Parasakthi is based on the anti-Hindi protests and the student revolution in 1960s Madras. Along with Sivakarthikeyan, the film also features Ravi Mohan, Atharvaa, and Sreeleela in key roles.

Vijay's Jana Nayagan producer breaks silence on the film's delay

Vijay's final film, Jana Nayagan, has been facing hurdles after being postponed indefinitely. The Madras High Court has imposed a stay on the film's release until the next hearing on January 21. Following the development, Venkat K Narayana, the founder of KVN productions has released the first statement since the controversy. The producer clarified the issue sharing their perspective on the whole situation. KVN production breaks silence Taking to their official social media handles, KVN Productions has uploaded a video clarifying the entire controversy. They said, "To everyone who has been waiting for our film Jana Nayagan with immense love and anticipation, we extend our sincere gratitude. Over the past few days, we have received countless calls and messages and each one reminds us how deeply this film is already love. We wish to place certain facts before you while respectfully acknowledging that the matter is currently subjoined which limits what we can and cannot say." Sharing the sequence of events, they stated, "The film was submitted to CBFC on 18 December 2025 and was viewed by the examining committee. On December 22, 2025, we received an email stating that the film would be granted U/A 16+ certificate, subject to a few changes. We incorporated the changes and re-submitted the film, believing we were finally ready to share our work with you and release the film. However, a formal certificate was still awaited and follow-ups were being made for the same." They further continued, "Then just few days before our planned release on 5th January 2026 evening, we were informed that film had been referred to the revising committee based on one complaint. With the time running out to approach the revised committee and without knowing who the complainant was, we approached the Honourable High Court. After hearing the matter on 6th and 7th of January 2026, the court directed this morning that U/A 16 plus certificate be issued. But CBFC challenged this decision immediately and the order to issue the certification is currently stayed and interim stay has been granted." "We sincerely apologise to our audiences, distributors, exhibitors and all other stakeholders who stood by us during this difficult period. As you know, we made every possible effort to bring this film to the audience as planned, but these developments were beyond our control. This has been an extremely emotional and difficult moment for everyone who has poured their heart, soul and years of hard work into this film. Above all, we firmly believe that Thalapathy Vijay sir deserves the farewell that he has earned through decades of love from his fans and the respect from the industry. Your patience, belief and unwavering support gives us the strength. We have complete faith in the judicial process and remain hopeful that the film will reach the audience at the earliest. Thank you," the statement concluded. Jana Nayagan-CBFC row The interim stay was granted by the bench comprising Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G. Arul Murugan while hearing an appeal filed by the CBFC. The bench took up the matter for urgent hearing as requested by Additional Solicitor General A.R.L. Sundaresan, who appeared for the certification body. The division bench noted that the single judge ought to have given the CBFC adequate time to file a counter affidavit before allowing the writ petition filed by the film’s producer, KVN Productions LLP. The bench also expressed disappointment over the claim of urgency, noting that the producers had proposed to release the film on January 9 without a certificate in hand. The Chief Justice remarked, “You cannot create a false state of emergency and put pressure on the court to pass orders. How can you go ahead with the screening of the movie without any certificate?” 

Tamil survival drama Gevi officially enters race for Oscars 2026

Director Tamizh Dhayalan's gripping survival drama Gevi, featuring Aadhavan and Sheela in the lead, has now officially entered the race for the 98th Academy Awards (Oscars 2026), becoming eligible for consideration in the Academy Awards nomination process. Directed by Tamil Dhayalan and produced by Artuptriangles Film Kampany, Gevi is a powerful survival drama inspired by true events. The film is set against the rugged landscapes of the Western Ghats and tells a compelling story of survival and the fight for justice.  The film revolves around a couple living in a rural village near Kodaikanal and explores resilience, justice, and human endurance against the unforgiving forces of nature. Gevi features actors Aadhavan and Sheela in the lead roles. The lead pair has been supported by an ensemble cast that included Jacqueline Lydia, Jeeva Subramanian, B. Ganesh, Vivek Mohan, and Umar Farook. Deeply rooted in the cultural, social, and environmental realities of rural India, Gevi presented a universally resonant narrative driven by emotional depth and cinematic scale. The film has been successfully uploaded to the Academy Screening Room (ASR), the secure digital platform through which Academy members view eligible films while voting for the final nominations. Commenting on the film’s Oscar journey, producer Jagan Jayasurya said: “As the producer of Gevi, I believe the film possesses the scale, craft, and emotional resonance that align strongly with the Academy’s Best Picture sensibilities. The film’s reception to date has reinforced our confidence that Gevi can compete meaningfully at the highest level, and we are now seeking to engage in a focused, well-structured awards campaign.” As an official contender for the 2026 Academy Awards, Gevi joins other notable Indian entries, including the shortlisted Homebound. Academy members will cast their votes for final nominations from January 12 to January 16, 2026, with the official list of nominees set to be announced on January 22, 2026. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

Thalapathy Vijay's Jana Nayagan to not release for Pongal

On Friday morning, the makers of Thalapathy Vijay's Jana Nayagan felt a sigh of relief when the single-judge bench at Madras HC announced the verdict in their favour. Justice PT Asha ordered the CBFC to immediately grant UA censor certificate to the film. However, the CBFC made an appeal in the verdict. The matter was taken up a two-bench judge who put a stay on the early order. The next hearing will take place on January 21.  Madras HC stays order in favour of Jana Nayagan The Madras High Court on Friday granted stay on the order of a single judge directing CBFC to grant censor censor certificate to actor-turned-politician Vijay-starrer Jana Nayagan. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G Arul Murugan granted the stay after Additional Solicitor General ARL Sundaresan and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta (appearing through video conferencing) outlined the grounds for appeal by the CBFC and argued the matter.  The bench will continue hearing the matter on January 21 once it resumes after Pongal holiday.  Madras HC takes up CBFC appeal The film board immediately preferred an appeal and it was allowed by a Division Bench led by Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava. When the matter came up hearing before the Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G Arul Murugan, ASG Sundaresan and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta (appearing through video conferencing) outlined the grounds for appeal by the CBFC. Sundaresan submitted that the single judge has ordered the issuance of a censor certificate forthwith. Although the matter was argued, time was not given for the film board to file a counter-affidavit. SG Mehta said the chairperson of CBFC had to review the decision to grant the certificate and send the matter to the review panel on the grounds of references to the Army and sentiments related to religion. The law officers representing the film certification board wanted the appeal to be taken up immediately. Later, the chief justice-led bench agreed to hear the appeal immediately. Besides Jana Nayagan, which is Vijay's last movie before his full-fledged political plunge, Tamil Nadu eagerly awaits the release of another politically loaded film Parasakthi, which captures the language struggle of the 1960's and said to reflect shades of the Dravidian ideology. While Parasakthi's screening has been cleared by the censor board, it is not clear if the TVK chief Vijay-starrer movie would hit the screens ahead of the harvest festival Pongal, next week.  (with inputs from agencies)

Bha Bha Bha OTT release: When and where to watch Dileep and Mohanlal-starrer

Dileep’s film Bha Bha Bha was released in theatres in December and generated significant buzz following the actor’s acquittal, with many calling it his comeback to the big screen. The film, which also featured Mohanlal in a special appearance, performed well at the box office, reportedly collecting over Rs 50 crore. Having completed its theatrical run, the film is now gearing up for its digital release. Bha Bha Bha OTT streaming Bha Bha Bha is all set to premiere on popular streaming platform ZEE5. The film will begin streaming from January 16, 2026, making it accessible to Malayalam cinema audiences across regions. The official announcement was shared by ZEE5 on social media, with the post reading: “Powerhouse entertainer is here… Bha Bha Bha premieres 16th Jan on Malayalam ZEE5.” Plot of Bha Bha Bha The story follows Ram Damodar (Dileep), also known as “Radar,” a mentally unstable orphan who calls himself “The Commoner.” During a public rally, Radar kidnaps the newly elected Kerala Chief Minister, C.K. Joseph (Baiju Santhosh), using a drink laced with laxatives. Instead of demanding ransom, Radar takes the Chief Minister to a hideout and urges the public to submit written grievances at his vehicle, promising to present them directly to the CM—highlighting how politicians often listen only during elections. The Chief Minister’s son, Noble (Vineeth Sreenivasan), an NIA officer, then leads a special team to track down the kidnapper. Thalapathy Vijay cameo in Bha Bha Bha? Interestingly, before the release of the film, there was buzz about a cameo by a prominent Tamil actor. After the release, clips and photos from the film started doing the rounds on social media. Among them, the one that stood out was the Thalapathy Vijay reference in the film. Mohanlal has recreated Vijay’s popular pose from Ghilli, with his hands crossed over his head. Theatres reportedly broke into cheer and applause at references to the Tamil superstar in the film. In another clip, it appears that a colony in the film is named after Thalapathy. A man is also seen wearing a t-shirt with Vijay's face on it. 

The RajaSaab review: Horror-comedy seeks references from Bhool Bhulaiyaa

The RajaSaab, starring Prabhas and directed by Maruthi, arrives with high expectations, a lavish budget and the promise of a quirky horror-comedy. However, despite a few entertaining moments and the actor’s undeniable screen presence, the film struggles to hold together as a coherent or engaging experience. Prabhas does what he can to shoulder the narrative, injecting energy through sharp one-liners and brief flashes of charm. These moments occasionally lift the film, reminding viewers of his star power. Unfortunately, they are too few and far between to compensate for the film’s deeper issues. Malavika Mohanan, Riddhi Kumar and Niddhi Agerwal's love angle seems wasted in the plotline. The female protagonists fail to bring any meat to the story apart from the flawed romance onscreen.  Does the story justify? The story itself feels thin and overextended, relying heavily on familiar tropes. What could have been a tightly written blend of humour and horror instead turns into a cluttered narrative weighed down by unnecessary subplots and a sluggish pace. The screenplay lacks focus, and the tonal shifts, from slapstick comedy to horror to romance, often feel abrupt and disjointed. Sanjay Dutt's appearance as a ghost is a surprise worth the viewer's time. However, it gets overtly stretched in the second half. Boman Irani's character fails to do justice due to lack of screentime. Dr Padmabhushan reminds of Akshay Kumar from Bhool Bhulaiyaa but comparatively smarter and mature. Zarina Wahab becomes the reason behind the whole plot, however her constant phone calls to Raju over minute inconveniences adds an irritation onscreen.   For a film marketed as a horror-comedy, neither element truly lands. The horror lacks genuine tension, while much of the comedy feels dated or forced. Even moments meant to be playful or eerie fail to leave a lasting impact, resulting in a film that feels confused about what it wants to be. The film could have worked perfectly fine without any track in the show, the songs with the ladies looked forced and badly placed breaking the continuity of the thrill in plot.  Flaws in the film Visually, The RajaSaab has its moments, but the VFX quality is inconsistent and underwhelming for a film of this scale. The background score, though loud and persistent, does little to enhance the mood or elevate key scenes. The lengthy runtime further tests patience, with several sequences feeling stretched beyond necessity. A lot of things were left hanging due to the editing, many scenes felt incomplete despite having a prominent space in the trailer. The ending to Sanjay Dutt's character didn't make a sensible conclusion. Zarina Wahab's reaction to his picture seemed like an overfed comic punch.  In the end, The Raja Saab comes across as a missed opportunity. While Prabhas’s performance and a handful of clever lines provide fleeting entertainment, they cannot save a film bogged down by weak writing and uneven execution. What remains is an ambitious but ultimately unhinged mix that never quite finds its rhythm. Verdict: A disappointing outing that may appeal only to die-hard fans, but leaves general audiences wanting more substance and cohesion despite being a stretched attempt.