Anupam Kher, Hansal Mehta clash over 'The Accidental Prime Minister' post Manmohan Singh's death
The Hindu
Anupam Kher and Hansal Mehta clashed on social media over ‘The Accidental Prime Minister’, the controversial movie about former PM Manmohan Singh
Veteran actor Anupam Kher and Hansal Mehta got into a war of words over their movie The Accidental Prime Minister after the filmmaker agreed with a journalist that the 2019 political drama was filled with "lies" about former PM Manmohan Singh.
Singh, the architect behind India's economic reforms, passed away on Thursday night at Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at the age of 92. He served as the prime minister from 2004 to 2014.
It all started with a post by senior journalist Vir Sanghvi, who on Friday labelled The Accidental Prime Minister, which was based on the memoir of Singh's former media advisor Sanjay Baru, as "one of the worst Hindi movies ever made".
Featuring Kher as former PM Singh and actor Akshaye Khanna as Baru, the movie was directed by Vijay Gutte and depicted political events and decisions during Singh's leadership, focusing on his challenges as the prime minister and influence of the Congress party on his administration.
"If you want to remember the lies that were told about Manmohan Singh you should rewatch The Accidental Prime Minister. It is not only one of the worst Hindi movies ever made but is an example of how media was used to tarnish the name of a good man," Sanghvi wrote on X.
Mehta, 56, shared Sanghvi's post and captioned it, "+100." In an earlier post, the filmmaker had condoled Singh's demise and said the nation "owes him an apology".
"More than anybody else, I owe him one. Whatever the compulsion or intent, it is a regret I will carry with a very heavy heart. Sorry, sir. Besides your achievements as an economist, Finance Minister, and Prime Minister, you were an honourable man—a rare gentleman in a vocation dominated by ruffians," Mehta had posted.
Test your crossword knowledge with intriguing trivia and puzzles inspired by their rich history and clever wordplay.
A vacuum cleaner haunted by a ghost is the kind of one-liner which can draw in a festival audience looking for a little light-hearted fun to fill the time slots available between the “heavier” films which require much closer attention. A useful ghost, the debut feature of Thai filmmaker Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke being screened in the world cinema category at the 30th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), even appears so in the initial hour. Until, the film becomes something more, with strong undercurrents of Thailand’s contemporary political history.
Kochi News:Watch: Kochi-Muziris Biennale 2025 opens across 22 venues
Sustainability is not an add-on, but stamped firmly into the process: every piece is biodegradable, waste-free and unembellished, free from glitter or beads. “Products should be sustainable and biodegradable so that our planet is not harmed,” says Anu Elizabeth Alexander, a student of Sishya, Adyar. At a recent exhibition, the stars she made sold the fastest, followed by the small diamonds. “I would like people to know about the process, how it is created, and that it is sustainable,” says Anu. Infanta Leon from Kotturpuram developed an interest in crochet as a teenager. It was a hobbyhorse that evolved into a steed that would help her embark on a journey of identity-shaping creative engagement. She started making Christmas-themed decor two years ago, spurred by a desire to craft safe, eco-friendly toys for children. “With a toddler at home, and my elder child sensitive to synthetic materials, I wanted to create items that were gentle, durable and tactile,” she explains. Her earliest creations were small amigurumi toys which gradually evolved into ornaments that could adorn Christmas trees with warmth and charm.
Test your knowledge of Stranger Things with our quiz ahead of the final season premiere!
Studio Bones’ new shounen, Gachiakuta, based off Kei Urana's manga, is a blitz of anarchy in animation, turning society’s discarded into a swirl of stylised rebellion
It Was Just an Accident, is screened in the World Cinema category at the 30th International Film Festival of Kerala
Krithika Natarajan delivers a classically-rooted carnatic concert at Kedaram's 10th music festival in Chennai.
At Sunaada Lahari, K. Gayatri curated a recital drawn wholly from Suguna Purushothaman’s works, revealing the composer’s melodic and rhythmic imagination.
A.R. Rahman discusses challenges in attracting youth to classical music at the Music Academy's 99th annual conference and concerts.
Discover the joy of pursuing dreams in old age with Gabriel Mascaro’s anti-ageism film, Blue Trail, at IFFK 2025.
Explore Fazil Razak's "Moham," a poignant film addressing toxic relationships and mental health at IFFK 2025.
At Kartik Fine Arts, the Malladi Brothers’ concert stood out for their rare raga choices and classical presentation.