Live Blog Description: Pushpa 2: The Rule Gears Up for Release
‘Pushpa 2: The Rule’, the highly anticipated sequel to Allu Arjun’s 2021 blockbuster ‘Pushpa: The Rise’, is just hours away from its highly awaited theatrical release tomorrow, 5 December 2024. Directed by Sukumar, this action-packed drama promises to take the story of Pushpa Raj to greater heights with double the action, following his rise from a humble labourer to a key player in the sandalwood smuggling syndicate.

Allu Arjun, who won the National Award for his performance in the first instalment, returns in the lead alongside Rashmika Mandanna reprising her role as Srivalli. The film also features Fahadh Faasil as Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat. According to reports, the film’s narrative will delve deeper into the conflict between Pushpa and Shekhawat while exploring his rise to power.

The first film in the franchise grossed an estimated Rs 400 crore globally. Its success laid the groundwork for ‘Pushpa 2’, which is already generating record-breaking advance sales. According to box office reports on sacnilk.com, the movie is well on its way to record a Rs 300 crore weekend at the global box office. With advance day 1 sales crossing Rs 80 crore, buzz is that the film will beat the lifetime collections of ‘Pushpa: The Rise’ in its debut week at the box office. The movie is poised to surpass collections of blockbuster hits including Prabhas’ ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ and even Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Jawan’ and ‘Pathaan’.

Trade analysts have even boldly predicted that ‘Pushpa 2’ could just become the highest-grossing Indian film of 2024.

The huge box office numbers have been linked directly to the hype around the film and also the higher ticket pricing. The Andhra Pradesh government approved the price hike of the tickets for the film, calling it a “progressive decision”. This move backed by the government, has made ticket pricing for ‘Pushpa 2’ the highest for a Telugu film.

Despite the rise in ticket prices, reports state that shows are selling out in multiple regions, with fans eager to experience the cinematic extravaganza on its opening day.

Stay tuned to this ETimes live blog for all the real-time updates on the release, movie reviews, audience reactions, box office numbers, and more about ‘Pushpa 2: The Rule’.

Daddy Yankee and his wife of nearly 30 years, Mireddys González, are getting divorced.

The “Gasolina” rapper, who retired from performing last year to rededicate his life to his Christian faith, announced the split Monday on his Instagram story.

“After more than two decades of marriage and after many months of trying to save my marriage, which my wife and I share, today my lawyers responded to the divorce petition received from Mireddys,” Yankee wrote in Spanish. He added that he respects González’s decision and that their family remains their priority. The rapper has three grown children, two of whom he shares with González.

“This is not an easy time, but I understand that it is part of my life process,” he added, noting that it was time to “accept and continue.”

The Grammy nominee called his faith in Christ his “refuge” and “constant guide” as he and González attempted to work out their differences: “Now more than ever I trust that God has a purpose for every stage of our lives.”

Yankee called his Instagram post the only statement he would make about his divorce.

“My client holds deep respect for Mireddys González and is therefore prioritizing the preservation and protection of their privacy regarding their marriage and the personal matters that only they fully understand,” his attorney told Rolling Stone on Tuesday. “For a long time, my client made unsuccessful efforts to reconcile their differences.”

Yankee’s attorney said that the artist was notified of González’s decision to file for divorce in September, adding that “private efforts were also made during this time but did not yield the expected results.”

The high school sweethearts were married in 1995, when they were just 17 years old. Over the years, González has also served as Yankee’s manager and CEO of his record label, El Cartel Records.

“She’s the boss. She has always been the boss,” he told Billboard in 2021.

After Yankee announced his retirement from music in 2022, González praised her husband’s career.

“As we celebrate our 27th wedding anniversary, I hear you tell the WORLD that you are retiring from MUSIC that has been your passion for these last three decades. Soon it’s your turn to say goodbye to the stage,” she wrote on Instagram. “You’ve enjoyed Daddy Yankee for so long, but now it’s up to Raymond Ayala to enjoy what he’s built.”

Since exiting the reggaeton scene, Yankee has released a series of Christian hip-hop singles, including “Loveo” and, most recently, “Bailando en la Lluvia” (Dancing in the Rain).

THOMAS AND FRIENDS: THE CHRISTMAS LETTER EXPRESS is a holiday special streaming on Netflix that follows Thomas the Tank Engine and his locomotive friends as they prepare for Christmas. They help deliver a missing letter to Santa from a child named Ryan who has asked for a skateboard. The trains work to make the child’s Christmas wish come true.

The program is bright, colorful, and full of Christmas fun. There is no questionable or offensive content. The characters are kind and helpful and work together to promote a biblical/moral worldview. It contains light pagan elements about the magic of Santa Claus. There is no violence but one train drives into the ocean but is quickly rescued. THOMAS AND FRIENDS: THE CHRISTMAS LETTER EXPRESS is appropriate for all ages.

CONTENT: (B, Pa)

Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements:

A biblical/moral worldview with characters who are kind, helpful, and work together. Light pagan elements featuring the magic of Santa Claus;

Foul Language:

No language;

Violence:

No violence but one train drives into the ocean but is quickly rescued;

Sex:

No sex;

Nudity:

No nudity;

Alcohol Use:

No alcohol use;

Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse:

None; and,

Miscellaneous Immorality:

None

THOMAS AND FRIENDS: THE CHRISTMAS LETTER EXPRESS is a holiday special streaming on Netflix that follows Thomas the Tank Engine and his locomotive friends as they prepare for Christmas and help deliver a missing letter to Santa. The program is bright, colorful, and full of Christmas fun. The characters work together to help one another and display kindness. The movie has a biblical/moral worldview with no questionable content and is appropriate for all ages.

THOMAS AND FRIENDS: THE CHRISTMAS LETTER EXPRESS begins with Thomas and Percy riding together as Percy delivers Christmas letters around the town. Thomas delivers cookies and learns that Santa will appear in the Christmas parade. Later, a few trains become tangled in Christmas lights and must work together to untangle them.

Percy thinks he’s done delivering letters until he notices that one letter has yet to be delivered, and it has Santa’s address on the envelope. The trains travel to a mountain and watch the sky, searching for Santa. They realize many of the Christmas lights on the hill are out, and Helicopter Harold helps them locate working lights. The trains finally spot Santa in the sky and head into town to find him.

Later, the letter blows away, and the trains work together, chasing it to retrieve it. The letter opens, and Thomas reads that a child named Ryan has asked Santa for a skateboard. The trains decide to make the child’s Christmas wish come true, but they can’t find a skateboard. Santa comes to the rescue and gives the skateboard to Percy to deliver. Percy is thrilled when he sees the child happy once they receive their gift. THOMAS AND FRIENDS: THE CHRISTMAS LETTER EXPRESS closes as the trains participate in the Christmas parade.