SS Rajamouli's next movie titled 'Varanasi', to release in January 2027
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Hyderabad (PTI): Filmmaker S S Rajamouli on Saturday unveiled the title of his next mega project "Varanasi" at a grand fan event held at Ramoji Film City here in the presence of its stars Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Prithviraj Sukumaran.
The movie marks the acclaimed director's first collaboration with Telugu superstar Babu. Priyanka also returns to Indian cinema after 2021's "The Sky Is Pink".
Babu said it was a dream project and the whole country will be proud of the movie where he plays the protagonist Rudra.
Sukumaran, who plays the antagonist Kumbha in the movie, said it was the most emotionally and physically demanding role of his career. The actor said he was stunned by Rajamouli's narration.
"The scale, the vision, the ambition, everything was India's greatest contemporary mainstream filmmaker pushing his own limits into never-before territory. But what truly took my breath away was the audacity of the imagination," Sukumaran said.
The much-anticipated movie will make its debut in theatres worldwide in January 2027 coinciding with the festival of Sankranti.
Billed as “India’s biggest-ever reveal”, the event, titled "Globe Trotter" drew a crowd of around 50,000 fans, who witnessed a specially designed live spectacle culminating in the title reveal.
A teaser for "Varanasi" was planned to be showcased on a massive 130 ft x 100 ft screen, but a technical glitch initially prevented the screening. After a brief delay, the clip was finally unveiled to the audience.
The event also unveiled the first-look posters of Prithviraj Sukumaran as the fierce antagonist Kumbha and Priyanka Chopra Jonas in the gun toting avatar as Mandakini.
Described as a “once-in-a-generation spectacle”, the event marked one of the largest live fan gatherings for a film announcement in the country.
"Varanasi" will feature music by MM Keeravani, who won an Oscar for Rajamouli's previous film "RRR".
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8 children between ages of 1 and 14 dead after mass shooting in Louisiana, police say
Shreveport(US) (AP): A gunman in Louisiana killed eight children in shootings at two different homes early Sunday in the nation's deadliest mass shooting in more than two years, police in Shreveport said.
The victims ranged in age from one to about 14 years old, said Shreveport police spokesperson Chris Bordelon. A total of 10 were shot and some of the children were related to the suspect, Bordelon said.
The gunman later died after a chase with officers who fired at the suspect, Bordelon said. The suspect stole a car while leaving the scene of the shootings and was followed by police, according to Bordelon.
Police did not release the name of the suspect but did say he was an adult male. The shootings were the result of a “domestic disturbance,” Bordelon said.
Officials said they were still gathering details at the crime scenes south of downtown Shreveport — the two homes and a third location.
“This is an extensive scene unlike anything most of us have ever seen,” he said.
It was the deadliest mass shooting in the US since eight people were killed in a Chicago suburb in January 2024, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University.
At a news conference outside the residence where one of the shootings occurred, officials appeared stunned, requesting patience and prayers from the community as they sorted through multiple crime scenes.
“I just don't know what to say, my heart is just taken aback,” Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith said. “I cannot begin to imagine how such an event could occur.”
“This is a tragic situation — maybe the worst tragic situation we've ever had,” said Tom Arceneaux, mayor of the city in northwestern Louisiana with about 180,000 residents. “It's a terrible morning.”
Louisiana State Police say their detectives have been asked by Shreveport police to investigate. In a statement, state police say no officers were harmed in the shooting that involved an officer after a police pursuit into Bossier City on Sunday morning.
State police are asking anyone with pictures, video or information to share it with state police detectives.
Louisiana Gov Jeff Landry said in a statement that he and his wife were heartbroken. “We're deeply grateful to the law enforcement officers and first responders working tirelessly on the scene,” he added.
