Category: Entertainment

A powerful film depicting the heartbreaking final moments of a young Palestinian girl, Hind Rajab, has received a record-breaking standing ovation at the prestigious Venice Film Festival.

Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania, “The Voice of Hind Rajab” was met with a standing ovation that lasted an astonishing 23 minutes and 50 seconds — the longest in the festival’s history.

The film centers on the tragic story of 5-year-old Hind, whose final pleas for help during an Israeli attack deeply moved global audiences earlier this year. Her voice, heard from beneath the rubble, became a symbol of unheard suffering in Gaza.

“This is not just a film,” said Ben Hania during the post-screening Q&A. “It is the voice buried under the rubble. The voice the world refused to hear.”

The film has already been hailed by international critics as “the most important film of the year”, and clips from the screening have gone viral across social media platforms, resonating deeply with audiences around the world.

“The Voice of Hind Rajab” is being praised not only for its raw emotional power but also for shining a light on the human cost of conflict and the voices that are too often silenced.

The film is expected to become a major contender in upcoming international awards circuit.

Meanwhile, the story of Hind Rajab is Tunisian — it’s Tunisia’s entry to the Academy Awards this year — but also has Hollywood stars Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara as executive producers alongside filmmakers Alfonso Cuarón and Jonathan Glazer. The American connection did not sit well with many, who called out Hollywood for its complacency.

Rajab’s mother hoped that the genocide in Gaza would end after the release of the film but the Israeli Defence Forces continue their killing spree in Gaza.

In a tale straight out of a Bollywood script, renowned Indian film director Vidhu Vinod has revealed that he once gifted a INR4.5 crore (PKR14 Crore) luxury car to legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan, only to be slapped by his own mother as consequence.

During an interview packed with revelations, the filmmaker, known for his big-budget productions and artistic sensibilities, recalled the unusual incident from the sets of one of his most ambitious films – Eklavya. As a token of appreciation for a cinema icon who had gone above and beyond for the project — including refusing any perks or star treatment — the director decided to splurge on a lavish automobile as a thank-you gesture.

But the surprise didn’t go as planned.

“I will never forget this incident. I took my mother with me when I was gifting the car to Amitabh. She handed him the keys. She came back, sat in my car, which was a blue Maruti van. She called Big B ‘Lamboo’. I didn’t have a driver at the time, so I was driving. She told me, ‘Tu Lamboo nu gaadi dedi [You gave the car to Lamboo?]’ I said, ‘Haan [Yes].’ She replied, ‘Tu khud kyun nahi leta gaadi [Why don’t you get a car yourself]?’ I told her I would buy a car when it was time. She responded, saying, ‘11 lakh ki toh hogi [Must at least be 11 lacs]’. And I laughed because she didn’t know that it was Rs 4.5 crores. I told her the cost, and she slapped me, calling me bewakoof [stupid]. I will never forget that because what is money if it can’t give you joy,” he said.

Eklavya wasn’t a major hit but the period drama was selected as India’s official entry to the Academy Awards. Chopra’s biggest success stories are Munna Bhai MBBS, PK and 3 Idiots, all of which were directed by Rajkumar Hirani.

A court in Lahore has extended the physical remand of popular Pakistani YouTuber Saad-ur-Rehman, popularly known as Ducky Bhai, for the fifth time, granting the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) two more days of custody.

Rehman is under investigation for allegedly promoting illegal gambling applications through his YouTube channel. The case was filed by the state on August 17 under multiple sections of Pakistan’s Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, including electronic fraud, forgery and spam, along with Pakistan Penal Code sections 294-B and 420.

During the court hearing, the NCCIA argued that forensic analysis of seized electronic devices is still going on.  Rehman’s lawyer contested the need for extended custody, claiming financial records could be obtained without detention and questioning the actual monetary harm caused to users.

Despite objections, Rehman stated through his lawyer that he had no issue with further remand if it helps complete the investigation. The court urged the agency to expedite its probe.

Meanwhile, the court ordered the agency to complete its investigation against the YouTuber as soon as possible.

It is expected that the agency will finalize its ongoing investigation during this remand and Rehman will be formally produced in court again at the end of this extended remand.

The outcome of the investigation may have broader implications for social media regulations and influencer accountability in Pakistan.

Earlier, Ducky Bhai had filed an appeal against a Lahore judicial magistrate’s decision to extend his physical remand to the NCCIA