September 10, 2025

THE CLIFF NEWS

National Daily Bilingual Newspaper

Tag: India

Indian Censors Block Acclaimed Film Santosh Over Portrayal of Police and Social Issues

Indian film censors have refused to approve the release of Santosh, a critically acclaimed film by British-Indian filmmaker Sandhya Suri, citing concerns over its depiction of misogyny, Islamophobia, and police brutality. Set in North India, Santosh follows a young widow who joins the police force and investigates the murder of a Dalit girl. The film, which debuted at Cannes and was the UK’s official Oscar entry, has won widespread praise for its bold storytelling. However, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has blocked its release, demanding extensive cuts that the filmmakers deemed “impossible” to implement without compromising the film’s essence. Suri expressed disappointment, calling the decision “heartbreaking,” especially since the script was initially approved for filming in India without objections. Despite support from major Indian distributors, the film now faces an uncertain future in its home country.

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BJP Expels Basanagouda Patil Yatnal for Indiscipline; Leader Alleges Political Targeting

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has expelled senior leader and former Union Minister Basanagouda Patil Yatnal from the party for six years, citing repeated instances of indiscipline. The decision was announced on Wednesday by the party’s Central Disciplinary Committee, following a review of his response to a show cause notice issued on February 10. In response, Yatnal took to social media, claiming that he was being punished for speaking out against dynasty politics and corruption within the party. He alleged that his expulsion was orchestrated by vested interests to silence his demands for reforms and the development of North Karnataka. Yatnal has been a vocal critic of former Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and his son, B.Y. Vijayendra, who currently heads the BJP’s Karnataka unit. He previously accused the Yediyurappa government of financial irregularities amounting to ₹40,000 crore during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite his removal, Yatnal vowed to continue his political journey, asserting that he would not be deterred from his fight against corruption and authoritarianism. His expulsion marks a significant development in Karnataka’s political landscape, potentially influencing BJP’s internal dynamics in the state.

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India-US Trade Talks Begin in Delhi, Trump Administration Seeks Collaborative Approach

As India and the United States commenced their first in-person trade agreement negotiations in New Delhi on Wednesday, US trade officials clarified that India would not be treated like China, Mexico, or Canada regarding tariffs. The discussions aim to lay the foundation for a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), with a roadmap expected to be finalized by autumn 2025. The meeting comes ahead of former US President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs taking effect on April 2, reigniting trade tensions with China, Canada, and Mexico. However, officials emphasized that India’s trade concerns are primarily tariff-related and are being resolved amicably. The three-day negotiations are led by India’s Commerce Ministry Additional Secretary Rajesh Agarwal and US Assistant Trade Representative Brendan Lynch. The framework for structured negotiations is expected to be finalized by Friday. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is likely to visit Washington in April to further trade discussions, reinforcing India’s commitment to strengthening economic ties with the US. In February, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Trump set an ambitious target to boost bilateral trade from $200 billion to $500 billion by 2030.

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Tamil Nadu Assembly Passes Resolution Urging Centre to Withdraw Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024

The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on Thursday (March 27, 2025) unanimously adopted a resolution urging the Union government to withdraw the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, arguing that it was against the interests of Muslims in the country. The resolution was supported by all political parties, including the AIADMK, while the BJP, which opposed it, staged a walkout before the voting. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, who moved the resolution, stated that the Constitution granted religious groups the right to practice their faith, and that it was the duty of a democratically elected government to safeguard these rights. He criticized the proposed amendments, asserting that they would severely impact the Muslim minority and called for the complete withdrawal of the Bill. BJP member Vanathi Srinivasan defended the Centre’s move, claiming that the amendments were aimed at addressing irregularities in the management of Waqf properties and ensuring better representation for women and the backward sections of the Muslim community. However, Law Minister S. Regupathy countered, alleging that the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) had ignored the views of certain members, labeling the Bill as an “economic assault on the Muslim community.” DMK members A. Raja and M.M. Abdullah, who were part of the JPC, were reportedly not given an opportunity to fully express their views on the proposed changes. AIADMK leader S.P. Velumany backed the resolution, while PMK leader G.K. Mani suggested that the Bill should only proceed if the Centre could build a consensus among stakeholders. Despite the BJP’s opposition, the resolution was passed with unanimous support from the rest of the Assembly.

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Kunal Kamra Receives Massive Financial Support Amid Controversy Over Eknath Shinde Roast

Comedian Kunal Kamra’s supporters, both in India and abroad, have rallied behind him with a surge of financial contributions following his alleged roast of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Viewers have donated amounts ranging from ₹40 to ₹10,000 in India, along with contributions in various foreign currencies, collectively exceeding several lakhs. Many fans are urging Kamra to start a fundraiser, vowing to cover any legal expenses he may face due to his fearless comedy. A user on X (formerly Twitter) highlighted the overwhelming support, stating, “Someone donated $400 (~₹37,000)!! #KunalKamra’s new show really touched many souls. Never saw these many people donating on a YT video even though Kunal never asked for donations.” Kamra, who has 2.5 million YouTube subscribers, has been receiving significant support through YouTube’s Super Thanks feature, which allows fans to donate between ₹40 and ₹10,000. The controversy erupted after Kamra, during a show at Mumbai’s Habitat studio, performed a parody of Bholi Si Surat (from Dil To Pagal Hai), using the term gaddar (traitor) to mock Shinde for his 2022 rebellion against Uddhav Thackeray. This act led to backlash from Shiv Sena workers, who vandalized the Habitat studio. While Shinde distanced himself from the attack, he defended his party workers, stating, “Every action has a reaction,” and questioned who had given Kamra a supari (contract) to target him. Following the vandalism, the studio also faced a demolition drive over alleged building code violations. Habitat later announced its temporary closure, issuing a statement clarifying that it does not control artists’ content but has been unfairly targeted for hosting performances.

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Editor03 mins

India Achieves Landmark $4 Trillion Economy, Poised to Surpass Japan Soon

India has achieved a significant milestone, with its economy now surpassing the $4 trillion mark, making it the fifth-largest economy globally. The latest projections estimate that India’s real GDP will reach $4.3 trillion by 2025, positioning it just behind Japan’s $4.4 trillion and Germany’s $4.9 trillion economies. With its rapid growth, India is expected to overtake Japan in 2025 and Germany by 2027. According to the most recent data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), India has seen a remarkable 105% growth in its GDP over the past decade, doubling from $2.1 trillion in 2015 to a projected $4.3 trillion in 2025. This rapid expansion has positioned India as one of the fastest-growing major economies globally, outpacing both the United States and China. Over the same period, the US economy grew by 66%, and China’s GDP expanded by 76%. In contrast, other major economies such as the United Kingdom experienced a modest 28% GDP growth, while France’s economy grew by 38%, from $2.4 trillion in 2015 to $3.3 trillion in 2025. Russia, despite facing sanctions and the ongoing war, saw a 57% increase in its economy, while Australia’s and Spain’s economies grew by 58% and 50%, respectively. India’s growth trajectory also highlights an interesting comparison with France. In 2015, France’s economy was larger than India’s, standing at $2.4 trillion compared to India’s $2.1 trillion. However, by 2025, India’s GDP of $4.3 trillion is projected to be approximately 30% larger than France’s $3.3 trillion economy. Similarly, in 2015, the UK’s GDP of $2.9 trillion was ahead of India’s, but by 2025, India’s economy will have surpassed the UK’s, which is projected to be $3.7 trillion. In the past decade, India has moved from being the world’s seventh-largest economy to its fifth-largest, having surpassed both France and the UK. India’s current GDP of $4.3 trillion is just behind Japan’s $4.4 trillion. However, while India’s economy has more than doubled in the past decade, Japan’s GDP has remained stagnant, holding steady at $4.4 trillion since 2015. Given India’s projected growth rate of over 6.5% in 2025, the country is set to overtake Japan and become the world’s fourth-largest economy in the near future. Overtaking Germany will take a bit longer. With a GDP of $4.9 trillion in 2025, Germany is currently ahead of India. However, with India’s rapid growth, it is expected to surpass Germany by 2027 and become the third-largest economy in the world. Despite its impressive growth, India remains far behind China and the United States. In 2015, China’s economy stood at $11.1 trillion, more than five times larger than India’s. By 2025, China’s GDP is projected to reach $19.5 trillion, still about 4.5 times the size of India’s economy, which stands at $4.3 trillion. While India has made remarkable strides in recent years, it still has a long way to go before catching up with the economic powerhouses of the United States and China. Nonetheless, the country’s consistent growth and economic trajectory continue to highlight its rising influence on the global stage.

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Sunny Deol Praises South Indian Filmmakers, Says Bollywood Should Learn From Them

Bollywood superstar Sunny Deol, who will next be seen in “Jaat”, believes that Hindi cinema producers should take inspiration from their South Indian counterparts on how to make films with passion and dedication. Speaking at the trailer launch of “Jaat” on Monday, Deol praised the Hyderabad-based Mythri Movie Makers, known for producing blockbusters like the “Pushpa” franchise, for their commitment to storytelling. Directed by Gopichand Malineni (Veera Simha Reddy) and also produced by People Media Factory, Jaat is set for release on April 10, 2025. Sunny Deol: “South Filmmakers Focus on the Story as the Hero” Deol, who made a massive comeback with “Gadar 2” (2023), said he thoroughly enjoyed working with the South Indian producers. “My producers are so good. I want producers of Bombay to learn from them. You all call it Bollywood, but first, refer to it as Hindi cinema. They focus on the subject, rope in the director, trust his vision, and leave no stone unturned. The story is the hero. I thoroughly enjoyed working with them,” said Deol. The 67-year-old action star even hinted at doing more South films, jokingly saying, “Maybe I shall go and settle there (in the South). Let’s do another film!” Hindi Cinema Should Get Back to Its Roots Deol, known for ‘90s action hits like Ghatak, Arjun, Tridev, and Vishwatma, believes that Hindi filmmakers sometimes lose their cultural identity by getting influenced by Western trends. “South films retain their essence, which is why they become pan-India hits. Everyone relates to them. We should also follow this and get back to our roots. Films like ‘Ghatak’, ‘Damini’, and ‘Arjun’—we should make those kinds of movies again.” On Bollywood’s Changing Production Model When asked about what’s lacking in Bollywood, Deol clarified that the industry hasn’t necessarily fallen behind but has changed due to corporate involvement. “Earlier, producers believed in a story, committed to it, and gave it everything. But then corporate funding came in, making it all about business. In this, the hunger for filmmaking was lost.” He emphasized that South filmmakers give directors creative freedom, without compromising on budgets. “They don’t misuse directors. Yes, they spend more money, but it’s to enhance the quality of scenes. That patience is important.” On Playing Negative Roles When asked if he would follow his younger brother Bobby Deol (Animal) in taking on villainous roles, Sunny responded: “I won’t call it negative; it’s just a character. If I get such a role, I’d love to do it. But the director and producers need to have the guts to do that with me!” With Jaat set to release in April, fans are excited to see Deol back in his action-packed avatar, this time with a South Indian production powerhouse backing him.

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Thalapathy Vijay’s Final Film Jana Nayagan Set for Pongal 2026 Release

Thalapathy Vijay’s much-awaited final film, Jana Nayagan, is set to hit the big screens on January 9, 2026, ahead of Pongal. Directed by H Vinoth and produced by KVN Productions, the film is a political drama, marking Vijay’s last cinematic appearance before he transitions full-time into politics. A new poster released by the makers shows Vijay in a white shirt and denim pants, smiling with his hands raised as a crowd cheers in the background. Fans have flooded social media with excitement, calling it a “confirmed blockbuster” and predicting a ₹1000 crore box office collection. Vijay, who founded his political party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in February 2024, recently reaffirmed that Jana Nayagan will be his farewell film, after which he will focus entirely on his political career. The movie boasts a stellar ensemble cast, including Pooja Hegde, Bobby Deol, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Prakash Raj, and Varalaxmi Sarathkumar. Previously, Vijay’s film GOAT: The Greatest of All Time underperformed at the box office, earning ₹457 crore worldwide despite a ₹400 crore budget. With Jana Nayagan being his final project, expectations are at an all-time high for a grand farewell at the box office.

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Palestinian Oscar Winner Hamdan Ballal Detained in West Bank Amid Settler Violence

Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal, co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, has been detained following a violent attack by Israeli settlers in the village of Susya, activists say. Ballal’s house was reportedly surrounded by settlers, and he was later beaten and taken by Israeli soldiers while in an ambulance, according to his co-director Yuval Abraham. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF), however, stated that three Palestinians and an Israeli were detained for allegedly throwing rocks at security forces. The incident comes amid rising settler violence in the West Bank, which has intensified since the 2023 Israel-Hamas war. The detention of Hamdan Ballal, a Palestinian Oscar-winning filmmaker, in the occupied West Bank has drawn international attention following an outbreak of violence between Israeli settlers and Palestinians. Ballal, one of four co-directors of No Other Land, was reportedly beaten and detained by Israeli forces after an attack on his village, Susya, by masked settlers. The incident occurred as a group of Jewish American activists attempted to document the violence, but they too were attacked. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed that three Palestinians and one Israeli were arrested for allegedly throwing rocks at security forces. The situation remains tense, with allegations of increased settler violence in the West Bank since the 2023 Israel-Hamas war. No Other Land, which won Best Documentary at the 97th Academy Awards, highlights the struggles of the Masafer Yatta community and the impact of Israeli settlements, which are considered illegal under international law.

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Budget-Friendly Pod Hotel to Open at Bhopal Railway Station on April 4

A new budget-friendly pod hotel is set to open on April 4 at Bhopal Railway Station, near Platform No. 6, offering an affordable and comfortable resting space for travelers. The facility, located on the first floor of the station’s new building, will provide 20 family pods and 118 single-bed pods for passengers. Affordable and Convenient Stay Options The rental charges will start at just ₹299 per hour, making it a cost-effective option for short-term stays. The railway authorities will also arrange food and beverages for guests. Pod Hotel Facilities The single-bed pods will be 5 feet by 7 feet in size, while the family pods will accommodate two adults and two small children. The pods are designed to serve passengers waiting for their next train, especially those with layovers of 2 to 4 hours. Amenities for a Comfortable Stay Final Preparations Underway According to Senior DCM Saurabh Kataria, the project is in its final stage, with last-minute arrangements being made for a smooth launch. The official inauguration date and a detailed pricing structure will be announced soon. This much-awaited project, which has been under discussion for the past three years, is finally set to enhance travel comfort at Bhopal Railway Station.

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