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‘Match Fixing – The Nation at Stake’: A Gripping Political Thriller That Unravels Dark Truths

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Director: Kedaar Gaekwad , Producer: Pallavi Gurjar, Cast: Vineet Kumar Singh, Anuja Sathe, Manoj Joshi, Raj Arjun, Shataf Figar, Lalit Parimoo and Kishore Kadam, Duration: 2h26m, Rating: 4 stars.

‘Match Fixing – The Nation at Stake’ is based on a book ‘The Game Behind Saffron Terror’ written by an ex-army officer, Col. Kanwar Khatana. This gripping yet controversial political thriller unfolds the intricate web of Indo-Pak politics. The film dramatizes a series of devastating terror attacks that shook India between 2004 and 2008, culminating in the catastrophic 26/11 Mumbai attacks.

The opening scenes of the film, pack a punch, drawing viewers into a complex web of conspiracies and parallel plots. As the story unfolds, closed-door meetings between Indian and Pakistani politicians and leaders reveal a shocking agenda – to malign the reputation of Hindus by concocting the term “Saffron Terror” for the sake of vote-bank politics.

The film’s first half masterfully sets the tone, weaving together multiple subplots in India and Pakistan, while introducing the protagonist who is an undercover army officer from intelligence. He has become a thorn in the flesh of those who are hell bent on spreading the false narrative of Saffron Terror. The ominous Samjhauta Express and Malegoan blasts serve as bookends to this half.

As the narrative unfolds, the second half becomes increasingly engrossing, with the antagonists meticulously planning their final, devastating attack. The culmination is expertly handled as the protagonist hands are tied. All of this leads to a thought-provoking and impactful conclusion that lingers long after the credits roll, leaving audiences to ponder and deliberate.

The producer Pallavi Gurjar has not only chosen an extremely powerful subject but also facilitated high production values to the film, bringing the necessary gravitas to this important subject.

The film’s creative brilliance is largely attributed to Director and DOP Kedaar Gaekwad, whose storytelling seamlessly brings together political intrigue, complex characters, and real-life events. His cinematography is a visual treat, making the film an unforgettable viewing experience.

Vineet Kumar Singh’s portrayal of Col. Avinash Patwardhan – the protagonist is pitch perfect. After Mukkabaaz and Gangs of Wasseypur, Vineet gives one of the finest performances of his career. Vineet shines with his remarkable portrayal, effortlessly transitioning between roles as an undercover agent, army officer, and devoted family man, showcasing his impressive range and versatility as an actor.

Vineet is ably supported by an ensemble cast of distinguished actors. Anuja Sathe, as his wife, plays the perfect counterbalance with her solid yet restrained performance.

Veteran actors Manoj Joshi and Kishore Kadam deliver standout performances, bringing to life complex and unconventional characters with convincing authenticity and depth.

Shataf Figar’s towering personality, Elena Tutteja’s uncanny resemblance, Ramanjit Kaur’s intensity and Lalit Parimoo’s effortlessness are noteworthy.

The surprise package of the film is Raj Arjun. His outstanding portrayal of a Pakistani Colonel is nuanced and multifaceted. He masterfully provides justification and motivation to his character’s actions, avoiding stereotypes with remarkable subtlety.

The film’s location and production design teams have meticulously recreated the era with remarkable accuracy. The makers have ensured authenticity, accurately replicating army protocols with attention to detail in every frame.

Anuj S. Mehta’s exceptional screenplay weaves a riveting narrative, expertly intertwining multiple plot threads, characters, and layers. Sameer Garud’s razor-sharp dialogue and incisive character interactions. The writing team pack a lasting punch, lingering in the viewer’s mind long after the credits roll.

Ashish Mhatre’s crafts a thrilling narrative with his sharp editing, skillfully balancing tension and comprehension of such a complex subject. Thankfully the film never digresses into unnecessary subplots and largely remains focused to the central plot.

Rimi Dhar has composed two songs for the film. While the first is an electrifying anthem sung by Daler Mehendi, the second is a melodious composition which takes the story forward in flashback. Hrishi Girdhar’s background score is a standout, enhancing each scene.

‘Match Fixing – The Nation’ at Stake is a must watch for those who love intense political thrillers which are entangled in terrorism and conspiracy theories.

Bollywood

Rohit Shetty says ‘Golmaal 5’ will bring ‘laughter and joy’ on January 8, 2027

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Mumbai, Sep 19: Filmmaker Rohit Shetty on Saturday announced that the fifth installment of his “Golmaal” franchise is set to light up the silver screen with “laughter and joy” on January 8, next year.

Rohit took to Instagram, where he shared the vibrant poster of the film. The poster had Ajay Devgn, Arshad Warsi, Tusshar Kapoor, Sharman Joshi, Shreyas Talpade and Kunal Kemmu on the iconic stretched-out motorcycle.

“LAUGHTER, FUN, JOY, HAPPINESS AND FAMILY… BAS, NOTHING ELSE 8TH JAN 2027 #RohitShettyProductions @authum_ent @tseries.official @divydangi @druhidangi @sarkarshibasish,” the caption read.

The filming for ‘Golmaal 5’ commenced in March this year with an ensemble cast including Ajay, Akshay Kumar, Arshad, Shreyas, Kunal, and Sharman. The movie went on the floor on filmmaker Rohit’s 52nd birthday.

Expressing his excitement, the director had then mentioned that 20 years ago, the first Golmaal was released, a film that changed his life.

He further mentioned: “The credit goes to you, my audience. Over the past 20 years, we have entertained you, and yes, sometimes disappointed you, but we have always been honest in our work.”

“So now, once again, my fabulous team and I are set on a journey to entertain you as we start filming G5. You have always loved and supported me. All we need is your blessings. See you at the movies.”

The first installment of the Golmaal film series, which hit the screens in 2006, stars Ajay Devgn, Tusshar Kapoor, Arshad and Sharman along with Rimi Sen and Paresh Rawal.

It was reportedly based on Harsh Shivsharan’s Marathi play Ghar Ghar, which also inspired Vora’s Gujarati play Aflatoon, in turn one of the inspirations for the film. The film was followed by 4 sequels such as Golmaal Returns, which released in 2008, 2010’s Golmaal 3 and Golmaal Again, which hit the silver screen in 2017.

All the films starred Ajay, Arshad, Tusshar, Sanjay Mishra, Vrajesh Hirjee and Mukesh Tiwari, with Shreyas Talpade appearing in three, Kunal Khemu and Johnny Lever in two. Akshay is joining the fifth installment.

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Bigg Boss 20: Aamrapali Dubey gets offended as Luv calls her ‘Tuntun’, says she felt body-shamed

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Mumbai, September 19: Bhojpuri actress Aamrapali Dubey appeared upset after friend and fellow contestant Luv Gill affectionately referred to her as “Tuntun” in the latest episode of Bigg Boss 20.

Although Luv appeared to use the term in an endearing manner, Aamrapali said she felt hurt and perceived the remark as body shaming.

Aamrapali expressed her displeasure to Luv and said she did not expect such a comment from someone she considered close. However, instead of accepting that Aamrapali had been hurt, Luv appeared irked by the reaction and told her not to tease her or consider her close. The exchange left Aamrapali visibly upset.

She explained that she would have appreciated it if Luv had simply acknowledged that the remark had hurt her and assured her that she would not use the word “Tuntun” for her again.

Later, Luv was seen telling Asif and other housemates that Aamrapali had taken offence to the remark, despite her saying that she had not intended to hurt her.

Aamrapali overheard the conversation and confronted Luv about it. She reiterated that she considered the “Tuntun” remark body shaming and said she had not expected it from Luv.

Aamrapali told Luv that she wanted her to understand the impact the remark had on her. She said she had expected Luv to acknowledge that it had hurt her rather than defend the intention behind the comment.

During the conversation, Luv said she did not know what “Tuntun” referred to when used for a person. Aamrapali responded that the reference was obvious and that everyone knows whom the name “Tuntun” is associated with.

For the uninitiated, “Tuntun” was the popular screen name of veteran Indian actress and playback singer Uma Devi Khatri. Known for her comic and character roles in Hindi cinema, she became popularly recognised by the name Tuntun and was also famous for her healthy body type.

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Muzammil Ibrahim ‘fasted’ for Salman Khan for ‘three days’

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Mumbai, Sep 18: Actor and model Muzammil Ibrahim has spoken about his admiration for Bollywood superstar Salman Khan and recalled how he kept a fast for him for three days.

Recalling his childhood obsession with Salman, Muzammil says, “I was a mad Salman Khan fan growing up. A lot of my childhood memories are somehow connected to trying to look and behave like Salman Khan.”

“My hair would literally come down to my eyebrows. I didn’t know that Salman sir was going through a receding hairline at the time, but he had this very distinctive, V-shaped forehead. Because he was so good looking, all of us wanted to look like him,” he recalled in the statement.

The obsession went so far that Muzammil and his friends would visit their barber and ask him to recreate Salman’s V-shaped hairline with a razor.

“It looked absolutely terrible, of course, and our hair would grow back very quickly,” he laughed.

Muzammil took his fandom a step further.

“I started tying bandanas so tightly around my forehead at night to get that look that I would wake up in the morning feeling dizzy!” he said.

“Even today, I have a full head of hair on one side and a slightly receding hairline on the right. So I like to joke that I managed to achieve the Salman Khan look—but only on one side!”

Muzammil credits the “Dabangg” star for inspiring him to start working out.

“I started going to the gym because of Salman Khan, 100 per cent,” he said.

He vividly remembers watching Salman in O Jaane Jaana and being fascinated by his physique.

“I remember watching him bend forward, with his lats popping out. I had no idea what lats were. I ran to my mother and said, ‘Mama, mama, Salman Khan has discovered a new muscle!’”

As a child, Muzzambil says, he and his friends would exaggerate everything Salman did.

“In our minds, Salman Khan wasn’t just a hero—he was this idol, the epitome of male beauty.”

His admiration became even more emotional during the difficult legal phase Salman went through.

“When he was going through those difficult legal cases, my friends and I genuinely didn’t know what we could do for him. We saw how disturbed he looked in the news, and the only thing we could think of was to pray for him,” he says.

Muzzammil and his best friend went as far as keeping a three-day fast for the actor.

“It sounds extreme now, but that’s how deeply we believed in him as kids. We wanted to do something, anything, that might somehow help him.”

When Muzzammil finally got an opportunity to meet Salman, he recalled it was at a club. He immediately shared one of his most personal childhood memories with the superstar.

“I walked up to him and said, ‘Salman sir, I used to fast for you. Me and my best friend.’”

Salman’s response left Muzzammil amused and impressed.

“He laughed and said, ‘Dua karo ke phir se na rakhna pade.’ I was completely taken aback by his response. I thought, ‘This man is something else.’”

“He has always had this incredibly nonchalant quality. He doesn’t seem to take life too seriously, and he has always seemed determined to live it on his own terms and enjoy it to the fullest.”

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