Solo photo show on Lucknow's Residency enthrals all
The exhibition will continue till June 15 from 11 am to 7 pm daily. It featured as many as 30 works by the photographer. The photographs showcased the heritage of the Residency.
"Capturing the Residency with my camera is a deeply enjoyable experience that offers new heights, depths and dimensions to my imagination. It serves as a catalyst for my experimental nature, providing tremendous energy and a rich source of inspiration that deepens my understanding of beauty and aesthetics," said Singh.
"The Residency experienced partial destruction during the revolt of 1857 and has further deteriorated over time for various reasons," he added.
The chief guest at the exhibition was Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, who said, "A photographer is like an artist who creates paintings without paint and canvas but with a camera, and to click one picture, he risks his life." Nilabja Chaudhury (IPS), additional director general of police, actor Anil Rastogi and senior artist Jai Krishna Agarwal were present.
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Hindustan Times
40 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Why Centre banned 25 OTT platforms
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The ministry acted under section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, which empowers the government to direct intermediaries to remove access to unlawful content when they fail to respond to official notices, two MIB officials told HT. 'The legal provision under which this ban was issued assumes importance, since the Government's reliance upon Section 79(3)(b) for ordering online content takedowns is currently under challenge. A petition filed by X (formerly Twitter) before the Bangalore High Court earlier this year argues that issuing content banning orders through Section 79(3)(b) bypasses legal protections available under the IT Act, 2000,' said Vikram Jeet Singh, partner at BTG Advaya and a specialist in Internet regulation laws. 'Depending on the procedure that has been followed to issue these recent bans, the affected OTT players may consider a challenge on the same grounds as X, arguing that a ban on content cannot be issued under Section 79(3)(b),' Singh added. The crackdown followed extensive consultations with the ministries of home affairs, women and child development, electronics and IT, the department of legal affairs, industry bodies FICCI and CII, and experts in women's and child rights, according to a document shared by an MIB official. According to ministry document, the flagged content contained 'sexual innuendos', extended scenes involving nudity, and depictions of sex in inappropriate contexts, including family relationships. Officials noted that much of the content lacked meaningful storylines or social messages and was largely 'obscene and vulgar'. The ministry had issued warnings to all 25 platforms in September 2024, but several ignored the notices and some resumed publishing objectionable content using alternate domains. Five platforms previously blocked in March 2024 began publishing obscene content on new website domains, officials said. Actor and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Ravi Kishan welcomed the government's move. 'Both licensed and unlicensed OTT platforms have been pushing soft porn and unlawful content. This decision reflects the sentiment of the people, who have repeatedly flagged such concerns on X,' he told PTI. 'Entertainment should have its limits, a 'Lakshman Rekha', and this step will help restore that balance.' The ministry said the content violated sections 67 and 67A of the IT Act, which prohibit publishing or transmitting obscene and sexually explicit material in electronic form, as well as section 292 of the Indian Penal Code related to sale and circulation of obscene content, and section 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986. The action follows multiple public complaints and references from the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights in July and August 2024, particularly naming Ullu and ALTT. The ministry issued advisories and notices to OTT platforms, including a February 2025 reminder to adhere to the Code of Ethics under the IT Rules, 2021. The Digital Publisher Content Grievances Council, a self-regulatory body comprising around 40 OTT members including ALTT and Ullu, had previously ordered edits to certain shows on ALTT, citing scenes that were 'distasteful and bizarre' and featured sex and nudity without contextual justification. On Ullu, over 100 web series were taken down, but investigations found that some were quietly re-uploaded in their original form to evade oversight. Ullu's web series 'House Arrest' was pulled down in May 2025 after government intervention. 'Any depiction that degrades or objectifies women, through media, is a basis to ban platforms, especially for obscene portrayal of women. The law criminalises distribution or performance of obscene content in public places, and, by extension, digital media does not escape public morality standards,' said Gaurav Sahay, founding partner, Arthashastra Legal. The ministry is expected to take further action if violations continue. In all, the following have been blocked by the latest order: Big Shots App, Desiflix, Boomex, NeonX VIP, Navarasa Lite, Gulab App, Kangan App, Bull App, ShowHit, Jalva App, Wow Entertainment, Look Entertainment, Hitprime, Fugi, Feneo, ShowX, Sol Talkies, Adda TV, ALTT, HotX VIP, Hulchul App, MoodX, Triflicks, Ullu, and Mojflix.
Mint
9 hours ago
- Mint
A new play offers a slice-of-life story on stage
For co-directors Gagan Dev Riar and Jitender Singh, reading A Life in the Theatre was a bit like looking into the mirror. 'Many of the conversations sounded like they had been mined from personal spaces as theatre makers," says Singh. Riar could relate to both Robert and John, and was also reminded of stalwarts in the theatre fraternity he'd crossed paths with. 'We have a lot of senior actors in our midst who are well read, articulate and intelligent. But, it doesn't always translate to the stage. I found that very relatable," says Riar. Riar was sold on the balance of the poetic and the humorous in the language of the play. For Singh, it was the accuracy of the relationships. 'I could also relate to the senior-junior relationship between actors. It made me realise despite the hierarchy there are no systems to bind or separate you," says Singh. 'The pawns and the king go back into the same box at the end of the day," Riar adds. As theatre makers, it brought them a catharsis that came from their own worlds. For co-directors Gagan Dev Riar and Jitender Singh, reading A Life in the Theatre was a bit like looking into the mirror. 'Many of the conversations sounded like they had been mined from personal spaces as theatre makers," says Singh. Riar could relate to both Robert and John, and was also reminded of stalwarts in the theatre fraternity he'd crossed paths with. 'We have a lot of senior actors in our midst who are well read, articulate and intelligent. But, it doesn't always translate to the stage. I found that very relatable," says Riar. Riar was sold on the balance of the poetic and the humorous in the language of the play. For Singh, it was the accuracy of the relationships. 'I could also relate to the senior-junior relationship between actors. It made me realise despite the hierarchy there are no systems to bind or separate you," says Singh. 'The pawns and the king go back into the same box at the end of the day," Riar adds. As theatre makers, it brought them a catharsis that came from their own worlds. Riar and Singh had many concerns, but surprisingly, relatability wasn't one of them. 'Of the 200 people who are watching it, 50 may be watching a play for the first time but they are doing so with the 150 who aren't. We did not want to break everything down for com prehension," says Riar, adding that it can be compared to a visit to the grocery store or an adventure activity. 'They may not understand theatre but they understand life. It's how Mamet puts it—you cannot separate the time spent at a grocery story or pursuing an activity from life itself," he says. Also Read | The Pehel programme in Mumbai helps theatre newbies find their voice But, besides the two-curtained setup and virtually turning the stage inside out, there was a lot that Riar and Singh needed to do to bring a nearly 50-year-old play about theatre to a Mumbai audience. There are a bunch of Indianisms to replace the more archaic expressions and references. Robert (played by Riar) becomes 'Robert da" in the hands of John, played by Avik Goswami. Some of the on-stage scenes written in the styles of Western playwrights were replaced through additional ones by Ira wati Karnik and Saurabh Nayyar. 'For example, a scene about the French Revolution is replaced by a scene from the Mahabharat," explains Riar. 'Those written in the Chekhovian style are traded for those that sound like popular Indian plays Andha Yug, Ashad ka ek Din, or Ek aur Dronacharya," he adds. Singh also wanted to keep the reality of Mumbai theatre actors in mind when telling a story so close to their lives. 'Actors here do plays in both English and Hindi. It is why we've kept some of the on-stage scenes in Hindi," he says. There have been other plays and performances—both in the past and recently—about theatre life. Michael Frayn's Noises Off, written in 1982 —which takes its name from a common stage direction—is set in a rehearsal room. A version of it was produced by Atul Kumar's The Company Theatre in 2013. More recently, Gopal Dutt's musical show titled Aur Karo Theatre has received all kinds of viral fame for its stories and songs about the lives of theatre actors. However, staging a story that they con nected with instantly and is seemingly about their own lives wasn't as easy as they had imagined, Singh and Riar admit. Costume changes never end and the stage theatre actors in mind when tell ing a story so close to their lives. looks like the prop-lined battlefield that their real lives can sometimes look like. Their learnings in the rehearsal room have been interspersed by nostalgia and anecdotes from theatre lives. But, for the audience, Riar tells us, A Life in the Theatre, can be an entertaining ride. 'For the past few years, I've seen a lot of issue-based work in Indian theatre. There hasn't been a simple, slice-of-life story on stage. This play asks questions but also generates laughter and empathy," he says. On 2-3 August, 8pm, Rangshila Theatre, Mumbai. Tickets on Prachi Sibal is a Mumbai-based culture writer.
Hindustan Times
11 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Ruchi Gujjar: 5 facts about actor who confronted producer over alleged ₹23 lakh fraud
Model and actor Ruchi Gujjar filed a complaint against Hindi film 'So Long Valley' producer Karan Singh, alleging he cheated her of ₹23 lakh under the pretext of launching a television project. Model Ruchi Gujjar files ₹ 23 lakh FIR, slaps film producer with sandal at launch event.(Instagram/@ruchigujjarofficial) The Oshiwara police in Mumbai registered an FIR against Singh on Thursday under sections related to cheating, news agency PTI reported citing an official. Gujjar alleged Singh promised her profit-sharing and on-screen credit but failed to deliver after taking the money. 'The complainant said the project never materialised and Singh didn't return her money,' a police official said. Gujjar's lawyer has also claimed that a separate FIR will be lodged at Amboli police station, accusing Singh of assaulting the actor. Public altercation at film premiere The controversy took a dramatic turn during the film's premiere event on Friday night when Ruchi Gujjar was seen slapping and hitting Karan Singh with a sandal. Videos of the altercation went viral on social media. The film, a Hindi-language crime thriller, stars Tridha Choudhury and Vikram Kochhar. Watch the now viral video here: Producer denies charges, calls it a stunt Reacting to the incident, 'So Long Valley's' co-producer and director Man Singh dismissed Gujjar's claims as a 'publicity stunt.' He said Gujjar had earlier tried to halt the film's release, but the court ruled in favour of the producers. 'Model Ruchi Gujjar and Karan Singh know each other very well. If she paid some amount to Karan for our movie, she should provide the evidence. It's a publicity stunt, nothing else,' Singh claimed, reported PTI. Viral Cannes look with Modi portrait Ruchi Gujjar recently grabbed headlines at the Cannes Film Festival for her quirky outfit, which featured a necklace bearing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's portrait. The ensemble, blending traditional motifs with a striking contemporary symbol, quickly went viral and drew widespread attention online. From Miss Haryana to Cannes Ruchi Gujjar is a model, actor, and winner of Miss Haryana 2023. She is best known for her appearances in music videos like Jab Tu Meri Na Rahi and Heli Mein Chor. Originally from Rajasthan, she is a graduate of Maharani College in Jaipur and moved to Mumbai to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. "I want to be an inspiration" Coming from a conservative family, Ruchi Gujjar has spoken about the social challenges she faced entering Bollywood. 'Since I belong to a Gujjar family, there, women are not allowed to work as I am working,' she said in an interview with BollywoodMDB. 'It was difficult to change how people think about women working in Bollywood. I want to be an inspiration in our community, who fought against the will of people's thoughts. And I am the only one from my community who has come so far in the Bollywood industry,' she added.
