Exciting films to watch this weekend on OTT platforms

Hyderabad: Indian cricketer Mohammed Siraj’s tweet, “Thank you almighty Allah,” following India’s T20 World Cup victory, has ignited controversy with mixed reactions from Twitter users. The tweet, posted on June 30, along with a picture of the Indian team hoisting the World Cup trophy, has gone viral.

Thank you almighty Allah 🤲🤲 pic.twitter.com/3QxWQs1ezx

— Mohammed Siraj (@mdsirajofficial) June 29, 2024

Mixed reactions on Twitter

Chandan Sharma, @ChandanSharmaG, responded critically to Siraj’s post, stating, “It’s the victory of Team India, not Allah. It’s the victory of Captain Rohit Sharma. It’s the victory of Team 11. It’s the victory of 1.1 billion nationalist citizens of India. Why is everything attached to Islam?”

Thank you almighty Allah 🤲🤲 pic.twitter.com/3QxWQs1ezx

— Mohammed Siraj (@mdsirajofficial) June 29, 2024

Sumanreddy Lakkireddy, @Sumanreddy_88, questioned the relevance of thanking Allah in the context of Team India’s efforts, saying, “What does Allah have to do here? Why are you attributing the victory solely to Allah’s blessing when there are non-Muslim players in Team India’s playing 11? Shame on you.”

What Allah got to do here…why you thanking him…you are down playing team India efforts simply attributing the victory as Allah’s bless.. you know muslim player there in team India playing 11.. shame on you..

— Sumanreddy Lakkireddy (@Sumanreddy_88) June 30, 2024

In contrast, Confusedicius, @Erroristotle, supported Siraj’s sentiment, commenting, “Don’t listen to the insecure people in your comments, Siraj. You deserve this win and the right to express gratitude to whomever you choose. Hindus question this lack of understanding of their own religion. Congratulations and thank you!”

Afzal, @YourDadAffu1, stood in solidarity with Siraj, urging him to ignore negative comments. He stated, “Ignore the Andhbhakts who are commenting disgustingly with a cheap mindset…!! You are part of the Champions Team India, and we are proud of you.”

Ignore the Andhbhakt who are commenting disgusting with the cheap mind set…!!

You are the Part of the Champions Team India and Proud of you 🇮🇳💪🏻

— 𝘼𝙛𝙯𝙖𝙡 \ ᴬˢⁱᵐ ˢᵗᵃⁿ (@YourDadAffu1) June 30, 2024

India’s victory and nationwide celebrations

As India won the T20 World Cup against its rival South Africa, celebrations nationwide soared. However, the vibe in Hyderabad was unmatched on Saturday night.

On Saturday night, India etched history by winning the cup. Looking at the match details, India had set a target of 177/7 for the South African team. The team could only manage 169/8 in 20 overs, falling short by seven runs, resulting in India’s victory.

As glimpses of the victory were telecasted on screens, a sea of fans assembled at the Telangana Secretariat to showcase their pride after India won the World Cup after 17 years. People were seen holding Indian flags, setting off fireworks, and sharing happy moments with each other. Celebrations were at a fever pitch at RTC X Roads in Secunderabad and the Secretariat, which is usually a tourist point in the city.

Social media users reacted enthusiastically. One user shared, “Did #Hyderabad win the World Cup or #India? No city can match the madness of Hyderabadis regarding cricket.” Meanwhile, another user compared the vibe to New York Times Square, “#India #T20WorldCup. Sea of Fans @ Telangana State Secretariat. Now this place in #Hyderabad has more vibes than Times Square!” Another user said, “CRAZY CELEBRATIONS IN HYDERABAD ON INDIA’S WORLD CUP WIN.”

A user also noted that the celebrations showcased deep love for the game. “#Hyderabadis celebrated passionately into the night after India’s thrilling victory over South Africa in the #ICC T20 World Cup 2024. Streets buzzed with jubilant crowds, showcasing their deep #love for cricket, chai, and biryani—the heart and soul of Hyderabad’s fervor and pride. The city’s adoration for the sport was palpable as families and friends came together, sharing moments of pure joy and camaraderie under the glittering night sky.”

Celebrations were also high in Gachibowli and the financial district. Sharing a glimpse, a user wrote, “Celebration at #DLF #GACHIBOWLI #Hyderabad India India finally won the world cup lots of love and emotions.”

Hyderabad: A 20-year-old student from Telangana tragically drowned in St. Louis, Missouri, according to confirmation from the Indian Embassy in Chicago.

The deceased individual has been identified as Kiran Kumar Raju Srinadharaju, a student from Chinna Korukondi village in Kallur Mandal, Hyderabad. In November 2023, Kiran traveled to the United States to pursue a Master’s degree at Saint Louis University.

According to reports, Kiran was swimming with three friends near Sand Hill Town, Missouri, on June 28, when he encountered a distressing accident in an eight-foot pool. Despite efforts by his friends to rescue him, Kiran, who did not know how to swim, drowned. His friends, also unable to swim, could only watch helplessly.

Kiran’s untimely death has deeply saddened his family, who reside in Hyderabad. His father, Laxman Raju, had previously passed away, leaving his grandfather, Krishnamurthy Raju, to oversee the family’s affairs and support Kiran’s education. His body is expected to arrive back in his hometown by Thursday.

Kiran was pursuing a Master’s degree in Computer Information Systems at Saint Louis University, having completed his undergraduate studies at Osmania University. Just three days before the incident, he had shared on LinkedIn that he had obtained a certification in DevOps.

Drowning Incident Claims Life of Indian Student from Hyderabad in Missouri

Kiran Kumar Raju Srinadharaju (20), a promising student from Telangana tragically lost his life in a drowning incident in St. Louis, Missouri. The Indian Embassy in Chicago confirmed the incident.

Kiran,… pic.twitter.com/AB6E8mnLqm

— Sudhakar Udumula (@sudhakarudumula) July 1, 2024

The Indian Embassy in Chicago has expressed shock over the incident and assured us that they are in contact with Kiran’s relatives, who will provide necessary assistance during this difficult time.

In a separate tragic incident, a 25-year-old student from Nacharam, Hyderabad, who had moved to the USA in May 2023 to pursue a Master’s degree at Cleveland State University, was found dead, confirmed the Indian consulate in New York on April 9th.

Mohammed Abdul Arfath had been missing for nearly three weeks, and the consulate had earlier said that it was in touch with Abdul’s family and was working with local law enforcement agencies to locate him. This morning, the embassy said he was found dead.

“Anguished to learn that Mohammed Abdul Arfath, for whom the search operation was underway, was found dead in Cleveland, Ohio. Our deepest condolences to Mohammed Abdul Arfath’s family,” wrote the official handle of the Indian Embassy in New York on X, ensuring a thorough investigation into Mohammed Abdul Arfath’s death.

Arfath’s father, Mohammed Saleem, said they last spoke on March 7, after which Arfath’s cell phone was switched off. Subsequently, on March 19, Mr. Saleem received a call from an unidentified person who said Arfath had been kidnapped by a gang selling drugs and demanded $1,200 but did not mention the mode of payment. The caller also threatened that Abdul’s kidney would be sold by the mafia if the money was not paid.

Several Indian-origin students have passed away in the United States this year. These back-to-back deaths have deeply unsettled Indian students residing in the USA and their families back in India alike. Among those who have tragically lost their lives, the exact causes of death for several other students remain unconfirmed. A tweet was posted by the Indian Embassy in New York on ‘X,’ previously known as Twitter.

HYDERABAD: Kalki 2898 AD, starring Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, and Amitabh Bachchan has made a huge impact at the box office. Directed by Nag Ashwin, the epic sci-fi action film has earned around Rs 555 crore worldwide within just four days of it’s release. Domestically, it minted Rs 302 crore, with Rs 115 crore coming from the Hindi version alone.

Kalki 2898 AD, sets box office records

The makers announced the impressive box office figures on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “555 CRORES & counting…💥 The BIGGEST FORCES are dominating the GLOBAL BOX OFFICE, show no signs of slowing down ⚡️.”

555 CRORES & counting…💥

The BIGGEST FORCES are dominating the GLOBAL BOX OFFICE, show no signs of slowing down ⚡️#Kalki2898AD #EpicBlockbusterKalki@SrBachchan @ikamalhaasan #Prabhas @deepikapadukone @nagashwin7 @DishPatani @Music_Santhosh @VyjayanthiFilms @Kalki2898AD… pic.twitter.com/yoIe3yiLRr

— Vyjayanthi Movies (@VyjayanthiFilms) July 1, 2024

Trade analyst Taran Adarsh reported a massive jump in the film’s earnings on Sunday. He noted, “NUMBERS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS… #Kalki2898AD ROARS, has a ROCKING 4-day extended weekend… Look at the day-wise trends, especially the massive jump on Day 4 [Sun]… Just one word: TERRIFIC… This one’s a BOXOFFICE MONSTER.”

Adarsh emphasized that Kalki 2898 AD has been well-received by moviegoers, avoiding the usual drop-off seen on working days. “Let the truth be told: #Kalki2898AD has found acceptance by moviegoers, else the numbers would’ve crashed and crumbled on Day 2 [Fri] itself, which was a working day… It didn’t… Biz on Sat and Sun reiterate an undeniable fact yet again: Content is KING and audiences are KING MAKERS.”

He added that the film’s success spans across regions: “East. West. North. South. #Kalki2898AD remains an UNSTOPPABLE FORCE… Metros, non-metros, mass pockets – the audience feedback is a big plus and it is this positivity that will carry it forward on weekdays.”

Kalki 2898 AD also made history in North America, becoming the first Indian film to hit $11 million (approximately Rs 90.2 crore) in its first weekend. The makers proudly announced, “For the first time, a film hits $11 MILLION in its first weekend in North America 💥💥 #Kalki2898AD ~ North America ~ $11M & Counting.”

The film has also emerged as the highest-earning Telugu film in Canada. According to Sacnilk, Kalki 2898 AD earned an estimated Rs 85 crore in India on Sunday, surpassing Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan, which minted Rs 286 crore in the same timeframe. Jawan was previously the highest-grossing Indian film of 2023.

The Telugu version of Kalki 2898 AD contributed significantly to its total box office collection by collecting Rs 162.1 crore.

Within just three days of it’s release, Kalki 2898 AD became the highest-grossing indian film of 2024. The film achieved the third-highest opening for an Indian movie ever, with a global opening of Rs 191.5 crore. It outperformed the opening day records of hits like KGF 2 and Jawan.

However, RRR and Baahubali 2 continue to hold the top spots, with Rs 223 crore and Rs 217 crore, respectively, on their opening days. With Prabhas also starring in Baahubali 2, Kalki 2898 AD becomes his second-biggest opener.