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News18
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Rana Naidu 2 Review: Rana Daggubati Is Ferocious, Arjun Rampal Impresses In A Toned-Down Season
Last Updated: Rana Naidu Season 2 offers less violence, less sex and less profanity, but that robs it off its novelty. And this heavily hampers the milieu in which the series is set. Rana Naidu Season 2 Review: The second season of Rana Naidu begins with an otherwise volatile and belligerent Naga seemingly starting a new life. These days, he begins his days in Goa's Siolem with Anulom Vilom. One could say that he has finally embraced his age. And this precisely is the irony that sets the stage for season two because shortly after, he steps into an akhara cheering on two bloodthirsty wrestlers to finish one another and urging spectators to place their money and bets on them. And then enters his estranged son Rana, who – coerced by circumstances – has to fight a brawny and merciless Dynamite D'Souza. Thus, begins a bloody brawl in the ring and Rana, who promises Naga that he will bow down to Dynamite D'Souza and let him win, lets his machismo get the better of him and smashes him to a pulp. Despite the mood being set perfectly well, Rana Naidu eventually ends up being a firecracker that fizzles out. This time around, the makers decided to sober down the tonality of the series – probably due to the incessant backlash they were subjected to back in 2023. So, this season offers less violence, less sex and less profanity. Unfortunately, that robs the series of its novelty, leading it to become just another action thriller where men invite trouble and then go all out to erase it in the name of protecting their families. And this heavily hampers the world Rana Naidu is set in. Sure, there's a lot of chaos, cacophony and mayhem but do they really leave an impact? Not really. This season lacks a certain spark, spunk and sass. Even Naga's crass and quirky one-liners and repartees have been slashed down. The panache is almost all gone and what's left is a safe and sanitised Rana Naidu, and that's precisely what becomes its weakest link. Season two picks up from where it ended back in 2023. Rana and Naina decide to take a break from the gory pandemonium. As soon as they land in Mumbai from Paris, trouble resumes. This time, their son Ani has been kidnapped. Rana requests film producer Oberoi to lend him his private jet and he sets off to Goa to get Ani back. In Goa, his path crosses with Naga yet again who manages to help him find where Ani is. At a nightclub, Rana kills the bad guys, throws kidnapper Saif into a fire and brings his son back home. To return the favour, Rana, who has left OB, decides to join Oberoi. There, he meets Oberoi's daughter Alia, who's hell bent on selling their production house that has been incurring them losses worth 1000 crore and buying the cricket team of Mumbai in an IPL equivalent league. Rana conspires to join hands with Alia by keeping Oberoi in the dark and manages to secure five percent of the deal that amounts to Rs 500 crore, thus being able to financially secure his family's future. The shrewd Oberoi soon turns against Rana and he gets caught in a murder case. But Oberoi isn't his only foe. Rauf Mirza, an ominous goon from Koliwada, threatens him as he turns out to be Saif's cousin. At his hands, two murders happen. Rana's daughter Nitya becomes the only witness and now Rauf leaves no stone unturned to finish her. Running parallel to these tracks is an affair between Naveen and Naina. But little does she know that he's an undercover cop using her for intel on Rana. The makers – Karan Anshuman, Suparn Verma and Abhay Chopra – deserve credit for fleshing out the stories of the other characters like Jaffa and Tej too. It's the drama underneath the blood and gore that becomes the highlight of Rana Naidu season two. There are some poignant moments between Jaffa-Tasneem and Tej-Anna that truly will touch your heart. But is that enough for a show that spans over eight long episodes? Not really. The first season saw the writers weaving a heart-wrenching story that brings the spotlight on Jaffa. This time around, Jaffa, once a victim of sexual abuse, breathes more freely. He's given a rather sensitive treatment even as he tries to explore his love life and learns to take big decisions on his own. Tej and Anna's on-and-off love story will remain with you too. It's heartbreaking and yet not too sappy. Rana and Naina's relationship too goes through a rough patch. The nuances of a troubled marriage and messy complexities of a husband-wife equation are explored beautifully. And that's precisely why character-building and drama overshadow action in this season. Coming back to the series' sanitised treatment, in one scene, Rauf reprimands Rana for cussing in front of his six-year-old niece. And that's reflective of the moral compass the makers choose to opt for, probably to appease angry netizens who slammed season one for its graphic portrayals and usage of expletives. Somewhere, the unhinged and uninhibited nature of the series is left far behind, which definitely doesn't do justice to the milieu in which it's set. Additionally, there are far too many plot conveniences. Rana may be a fixer, who has the innate power to solve every problem and tie every loose end, but that robs him of his inherent humanness. He almost comes across as an immortal entity who comes out unscathed from a blazing inferno and after being strangled by thick iron chains. The note on which this season ends fails to be a thrilling cliffhanger as you already can anticipate how events may shape up in the third season. The performances, however, are impressive. Rana Daggubati, Venkatesh Daggubati, Surveen Chawla, Abhishek Banerjee, Sushant Singh and Ishita Arun deliver class acts. Through Rana, Tej and Jaffa, the makers successfully offer a glimpse of the spectrum of masculinity in terms of their onscreen portrayals. While Rana is the alpha here, Jaffa is a more vulnerable version of a man. Tej, on the other hand, is the most matured brother, who isn't afraid to protect his family but at the same time, doesn't quite approve of Rana and Naga's bloodthirsty nature. As a man torn between his familial duties and desires as a lover, your heart goes out to him. The women too deserve brownie points. They're strong, vocal, revengeful and ambitious. They're their own beings rather than just being the wind beneath their men's wings and it's refreshing to see that, especially in a male-dominated actioner. The new entrants – Arjun Rampal, Dino Morea, Rajat Kapoor and Kriti Kharbanda – are equally good. Arjun slips under the skin of a local Mumbaiya gangster like a chameleon and dishes out an effortless performance. It's interesting to see Dino too getting to chew on a meaty character rather than just being placed as a prop to up the aesthetic quotient of a show (remember The Royals?). Rana Naidu season two maybe a letdown when compared to its previous counterpart but watch it for the performances and the emotional moments. It's a pretty good representation of a dysfunctional family where trouble simmers at every corner, dead bodies are dug in and out on a whim and insecure fathers accuse their daughters of sleeping around. It still continues to be a crazy, reckless world where everything's fair in love and war. At the end of it, you're left with Karan Johar's golden words that it's all about loving your family. But here's hoping that season three turns out to be a less safe and more unhinged version of season two! First Published:
Metro
03-06-2025
- General
- Metro
Christian Eriksen shoots down rumour of next club after Man Utd exit
Christian Eriksen is looking for a new club after Manchester United, but he will not find it in his home country of Denmark. The 33-year-old has been with the Red Devils since 2022 and leaves after making 107 appearances, scoring eight goals. It has been a pretty underwhelming spell at Old Trafford for the Dane, but he did pick up FA Cup and Carabao Cup winners medals under Erik ten Hag. His contract comes to an end this month and the midfielder will be on the move, with his next destination unknown at this stage. However, he knows where it will not be, after being linked with a romantic return to the club he spent time with as a teenager, OB. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you. The former Inter Milan and Spurs star is not ready to move back to Denmark just yet, though, and has dismissed the link with OB. 'I got it sent to me from someone who asked if I should return to OB,' Eriksen told TV 2 Sport of the link to his former side. 'My good agent has also been out and about saying that I shouldn't. 'It's the football rumour mill. I hope no one has put money on it happening now, because then they'll lose.' Eriksen's agent, Martin Schoots, has indeed been harpooning the rumour as well, telling BT: 'Christian is still ambitious and has a lot to give to a bigger league. 'I can easily see him playing in his home country in the future, but I think for now it will only be for the national team.' Eriksen wrote on Instagram: 'A huge thank you to all the fans who has supported me through the last 3 years as a Manchester United player. 'Thank you too all the kind and hardworking people at the club who has made me and my family feel so welcomed since day one. And a big thank you to my teammates, it's been a pleasure sharing the changing room and pitch together! 'It's been an amazing time and I've made som incredible memories that I will keep for ever. 'Thank you, Christian.' While the veteran midfielder does not want a return to Denmark, he does want to spread his wings away from England. 'I would rather get away from the Premier League,' he told TV 2. 'I feel I have had my turn in the Premier League, so I am looking outside the English borders. 'It's been a great place for me and my family, and we've been there for many years. 'When I moved from Tottenham to Inter, it wasn't the plan for me to go back to England. I've been there for three and a half years again since then, so you can never say never, but the priority is for me to leave.' There seems little rush for him to make a decision on what will be next, prioritising upcoming Denmark fixtures against Northern Ireland and Lithuania and then a family holiday. 'Right now there is nothing,' he said. 'There is interest all around, but there is nothing that I am close to signing. 'My focus will be to play international matches and then have a good summer holiday. Then we will see how long the holiday will be.' MORE: Chelsea begin talks to sign Robert Sanchez replacement ahead of Manchester United MORE: Gary Neville backs Manchester United to sign £50m star and reacts to Bruno Fernandes transfer decision MORE: Emiliano Martinez responds to Aston Villa exit rumours amid Arsenal and Man Utd links
New Straits Times
19-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Danish keen to continue hot form after impressive show against Niners
KUALA LUMPUR: Danish Tahqif "Error 404" Abdullah marked his return to Team Vamos' starting line-up with a stellar performance in week five of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) Professional League Malaysia (MPL MY). Danish steered Vamos to a much-needed 2-0 win over JP Niners. Vamos had suffered a dip in form recently which left them perilously close to missing out on the playoffs. Back-to-back defeats to Todak and Homebois in week four had seen Vamos tumble from third to sixth in the standings. Citing in-game communication issues as the root of their poor performances, the team faced mounting concern from fans who feared they might miss the postseason altogether. Danish, 16, who made his debut in Vamos' 2-0 triumph over Ocean Black in week two — where he was named series MVP — had not featured in the team's subsequent four matches. Returning to the fold in place of regular jungler Nazhan "Chibi" Mohd Nor, Danish impressed with a standout display, recording 10 kills, two deaths and 19 assists across the two games to secure all three points for Vamos. The victory steadied the ship ahead of their final regular season fixture next week against Aero Esports. "I feel proud that the team put their trust in me to replace Chibi and I'm relieved we managed to win 2-0," said Danish during a post-match press conference at Juara Stadium in Bukit Kiara yesterday (May 19). "I'm not sure if I'll be playing next week, but if I do, I'm looking forward to facing Aero's jungler." The match could pit Danish against Aero's Muhammad Praba "Hazle" Balakosa, 18, who has been in scintillating form since his debut in week four. The prospect of a clash between the two teenage junglers is sure to excite fans. Elsewhere, Monster Vicious (MV) became the third team after Selangor Red Giants ( and Homebois to book their place in the playoffs following dominant 2-0 victories over Ocean Black (OB) and Team Rey. OB, meanwhile, became the first team to be relegated to the MLBB Academy League, having failed to register a single win this season. With their final match against reigning champions looming next week, OB are staring at the possibility of a winless campaign. Week 5 full results: Friday May 16 Todak 1 DX Soul 2 OB 0 MV 2 Saturday May 17 DX Soul 2 Team Rey 1 2 Homebois 0 Todak 0 Aero 2 Sunday May 18 Homebois 2 OB 0 Vamos 2 JP Niners 0 MV 2 Team Rey 0
Rakyat Post
07-05-2025
- Business
- Rakyat Post
Pastry Entrepreneur Sues Younger Sisters And Brother RM1.5mil In Ultimate Sibling Rivalry
Subscribe to our FREE It's pretty normal for siblings to get into a tiff every now and then. It could be over a small thing such as who gets the front seat of the car when going on a car ride with mom and dad, or something a bit more serious such as reading another sibling's diary. But, what happens when there's bad blood over a business that cost probably hundreds of thousands in the making? That's what happened recently between four siblings, whose quarrel has escalated into a million-ringgit lawsuit. A pastry business owner claims she and her siblings were sued by their eldest sister Engku Putri Nadira Arshad, a co-owner of pastry outlet Eclairis, claimed on Instagram yesterday (6 May) that The Ordinary Baker, owned by her eldest sister Engku Putri Sharizad Arshad, is suing Eclairis for RM1.5 million. 'One of us made a decision that left the other three of us with no choice but to walk away. We didn't take a single cent. We just left. Quietly. 'And now we're being sued for RM1.5 million. It still hurts to say that out loud,' the caption wrote. The four siblings started The Ordinary Baker together in 2020 amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, and business was good. Throughout 2021, they operated out of their home, baking cream puffs and all sorts of pastries with whatever they could fit in their house. Come November 2021, they opened their first store in Setia Alam, which quickly went viral and was even featured on national television (RTM). Later in 2023, they expanded by opening another store in Shah Alam and went viral again, with local television channel TV3 featuring them on a segment of 'Nona'. The eldest sister claims she paid to set up the business, and settled her siblings' debts Meanwhile, according to a She claimed that the last of her investment into The Ordinary Baker was meant for a wedding cake business she wanted to set up for herself. 'I sacrificed my dream so they could have theirs. None of them contributed a single cent. But that's ok, after all OB was set up to help my family who at the time had no jobs,' she wrote in the caption. The entrepreneur then said the initial plan was to give the store's shares to her siblings but claimed that two of them were blacklisted. She then decided to delay putting their names on the company's shares until she settles their debts, which she claimed she did. She claimed that her siblings had accrued debts of up to RM100,000 which included money owed to TEKUN, a governmental small-to-medium enterprise (SME) development organisation, an education loan, loan sharks, and to her husband. 'Why is it important to clear your names before entering the company? For OB to grow, it needs financing, and financial institutions will do a background check – this is the reason their names are not there. I decided to go solo so it's easier for me to manage risks,' she said. The three siblings resigned after their eldest sister refused to open a third outlet In the same Facebook post, Sharizad accused her siblings of executing a coordinated attack on her by resigning with a 24-hour notice from the company on 1 November, 2024. She claimed to have no prior knowledge about it and ran the company single-handedly, hoping her siblings would return to work. However, they set up a new company two weeks after they left. The new business, Eclairis, allegedly used the same branding and recipes as The Ordinary Baker. According to her, this happened after she refused to open a third outlet just months after opening their first and second ones, explaining that the second store has not even reached its target return on investment (ROI). Amidst the chaos, she also highlighted the welfare of The Ordinary Baker's staff, who face risks such as retrenchment and paycuts, if she were forced to close one or all the outlets. Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Israel Corp. Reports Results for Fourth Quarter of 2024
TEL AVIV, Israel, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Israel Corporation Ltd. (TASE: ILCO) ("ILCO") announced today its fourth quarter and annual results for the period ending December 31, 2024. Selected Financial Figures for the Fourth Quarter 2024: $m Q3/24 Q3/23 2024 2023 ILCO share in ICL profit1 30 28 175 282 Financing, G&A and other at ILCO headquarter level 2 1 - (8) Tax income (expense) of ILCO Headquarters (1) (1) 15 (1) Net profit to company's shareholders 31 28 190 273Liquidity at the ILCO Headquarters Level2 As of December 31, 2024, total financial liabilities were $733 million, and investments in liquid assets amounted to $882 million of which $83 million are pledged deposits. Net cash1 as of December 31, 2024, totaled $126 million. The net cash includes the fair value of derivatives transactions, which increases the economic value of the financial liabilities by $23 million. As of September 30, 2024, the net cash was $84 million. Additional updates On January 21, 2025, following approval by the Company's Board of Directors, ILCO entered into investment agreements and share purchase agreements with existing shareholders of Prodalim Investments Ltd ("Prodalim") for a total investment of ~$116m. The transaction was completed on March 5, 2025, ILCO owns 27.5% of Prodalim4. Prodalim is a private company, incorporated in Israel, which is engaged in creating natural solutions for various industries. Its products include concentrates, flavors and fragrances, beverage bases and other natural functional ingredients. In addition, Prodalim is developing innovative activities focused on the emerging world of the de-alcoholization of alcoholic beverages5. On March 27, 2025, ILCO Board of Directors decided on distribution of dividend at the sum of $15m, this in accordance with the company's dividend policy announced in January 2023. The record date will be April 9, 2025 and the payment date will be April 21, 2025. ILCO Total Assets, Net $m 31/12/2024 AssetsICL (~567m shares, market value) 2,799 AKVA Group (~6.6m shares, market value6) 40 Other (market value)6 13 Total Assets 2,851 ILCO's Net Cash 126 Total Assets, net 2,977 About Israel Corporation Israel Corporation Ltd. (TASE: ILCO) ("ILCO") is a reputable public investment company, which owns and invests in high quality companies with established managements and go-to markets. In November 2019, ILCO announced its updated strategy, ILCO plans to expand its portfolio through new investments over the next few years. ILCO plans to focus mainly on the food (inc. tech), agriculture (inc. tech), healthcare and industry 4.0 sectors. For more details please see the following link to ILCO updated Strategy Presentation ILCO strives to generate return on its investment through active board participations and its operational and managerial expertise. ILCO current core holdings include c.44% stake in ICL Group (NYSE:ICL, TASE:ICL) and c.18% stake in AKVA Group (OB:AKVA). ILCO is publicly traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange under the ticker ILCO and is included in the TA-35 Index. For further information on ILCO, see ILCO's publicly available filings, which can be found on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange website at Please also see ILCO company website for additional information. Convenience Translation The financial information found in this press release is an English summary based on the original Hebrew financial statements and is solely for the convenience of the reader. The binding version is the original in Hebrew. Forward Looking Statements This press release may contain forward-looking statements, which may not materialize and are subject to risks and uncertainties that are not under the control of ILCO, which may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the disclosures. Investor Relations Contacts Idan HizkiVice President, Business Development & Investor RelationsTel: +972 3 684 4500idanh@ [1] Amortization of excess cost[2 Israel Corp and its wholly owned and controlled headquarter companies.[3] Following the end of the quarter, the pledged deposit balance is $10m [4] On a fully diluted basis[5] For more details, please see ILCO 2024 financial statements and immediate reports dated March 5, 2025, and January 21, 2025[6] Includes 1.983m shares in Nordic Aqua Partners (OB:NOAP) View original content: SOURCE Israel Corporation Ltd. Sign in to access your portfolio
