Entertainment

Authorities in Chiang Mai, a city in northern Thailand, are investigating the deaths of dozens of tigers at a popular tourist attraction this month.

Seventy-two tigers died in the span of less than two weeks across two facilities of Tiger Kingdom Chiang Mai, a park where visitors can touch and interact with tigers.

The provincial livestock office in Chiang Mai said in a statement on Friday (Feb 20) that testing detected the highly infectious canine distemper virus as well as bacteria affecting the respiratory system.

“When tigers fall ill, it is more difficult to detect than in animals like cats or dogs. By the time we realised they were sick, it was already too late,” Somchuan Ratanamungklanon, director of the national livestock department, told local media.

The park where the deaths occurred, Tiger Kingdom, could not be reached for comment on Saturday.

Its website advertises a chance for visitors to touch and take photos with the big cats. 

(Source:newswire.lk)

A rare UK-Canada natural history co-pro will follow inhabitants at the world’s largest baby elephant sanctuary.

Channel 4 and CBC are making Baby Elephant School, charting happenings at the 30-year-old Udawalawe Elephant Orphanage, which cares for up to 80 orphaned calves at any one time and has returned more than 170 elephants to the wild, many of whom have gone on to have calves of their own.

Two different versions will be produced. The UK version will be hosted by Welsh biologist and elephant researcher Lizzie Daly, while the one-hour Canadian version for CBC’s The Nature of Things is led by Anthony Morgan. Both follow the rehabilitation of 60 orphaned elephant calves preparing for their return to the wild.

Baby Elephant School, which has pre-sold to Arte in France, is a rare factual co-pro between the UK and Canada and comes from Canada’s Serial Maven-backed Cantina Media and the UK’s Big Wave Entertainment.

Big Wave boss Kirstie Mclure said: “From the outset, Baby Elephant School has embodied everything we stand for – access-driven storytelling, global collaboration and deep respect for the natural world.”

Serial Maven exec Julia Chang added: “Projects like this come to life through creative deal-making, strong international partnerships and a shared commitment to getting bold, important stories off the ground, and we’re proud to be part of a co-production that brings together such an outstanding group of partners.”

Source:adaderana.lk

US President Donald Trump praised First Lady Melania Trump’s documentary ‘Melania’ for its box office success, while joking about the challenges of having “two stars” in one family, according to People.

Speaking with reporters at his Board of Peace event in Washington, D.C. President Trump highlighted the documentary’s strong opening, which earned USD 7.04 million during its first weekend. “She has a very successful movie out right now, like number one. Can you believe this?” he said.

Trump added humorously, “Big movie star. I always say it’s trouble, because I always say there’s not room in one family for two stars. I told her that we can’t have two stars in one family... The theaters are all packed. Women, especially, they go back, and they see it two or three times, four times,” as quoted by People.

Melania premiered at the newly rebranded Kennedy Center on Thursday, January 29, ahead of its global theatrical release on Friday, January 30.

The film, backed by a USD 40 million deal with Amazon MGM Studios and a USD 35 million marketing campaign, shows selective glimpses of the first lady’s life in the weeks leading up to President Trump’s second inauguration in January 2025, according to People.

Melania, 55, who also served as an executive producer, held a private first viewing at the White House on January 24, while protests were taking place in Minneapolis over the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by Border Patrol. She called the screening “a historic moment.” 

Writing on X on January 25, she said, “I am deeply humbled to have been surrounded by an inspiring room of friends, family, and cultural iconoclasts at the White House last night. Each of these individuals brought their unique vision to the world, making a lasting impression.” She added, “Our personal stories endure time and serve as a reminder of our mutual obligation to one another. It was an honor to present my new film, MELANIA, ahead of its global launch.”

Despite a strong debut, the documentary’s box office has since dropped sharply. According to IMDbPro, the third weekend saw a 62 per cent decline compared to the previous week, with ‘Melania’ grossing USD 15.4 million to date.

The documentary’s release was preceded by Melania’s announcement in November of her new production company, films”>Muse Films. 

Senior adviser and agent Marc Beckman told People magazine that films”>Muse Films will continue producing lifestyle content for film and television, focusing on areas like fashion, art, music, sports, entertainment, technology, family, health, and wellness, according to People.

Source:adaderana.lk

Taylor Swift has become the youngest female artist inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

It follows a glittering few years for the 36-year-old pop superstar, who broke her own sales record with her latest album, The Life of a Showgirl, in October.

She is among nine songwriters within the 2026 class, which also includes Canadian-American singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette and Walter Afanasieff, known for his work with Mariah Carey.

The singer will be welcomed into the prestigious club during a private ceremony in New York later this year.

'Everything originates from the song and its creator' Founded in 1969, the Songwriters Hall of Fame honours those "whose work represents a spectrum of the most beloved songs from the world's popular music songbook".

It selects a small group of artists on an annual basis, and less than 500 people have been invited in over the last fifty years.

Announcing this year's inductees, chairman and Chic frontman Nile Rodgers said this year's line-up "not only showcases iconic songs but also celebrates unity across various genres".

"These songwriters have profoundly impacted the lives of billions of listeners worldwide, and it is our privilege to honor their contributions," he added.

Also among the 2026 class is Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, who was behind Beyonce's Single Ladies and Break My Soul, and Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons of rock band Kiss.

Footloose singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins and Terry Britten and Graham Lyle, who wrote Tina Turner's What's Love Got To Do With It, have also been inducted.

Taylor is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, reaching stardom with her 12 studio albums and four re-recorded "Taylor's Versions" albums.

Last year, it was announced she had bought back the rights to her first six albums, ending a long-running and highly publicized battle over the ownership of her music.

While her latest album secured the UK's biggest opening week of 2025, after selling 304,000 copies in just three days.

She has been decorated with a host of awards over the years, including becoming the first performer to win the album of the year Grammy four times.

(Source - BBC)

Netflix has officially released the first trailer for Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man. Arriving years after the conclusion of the original series, the new footage confirms the return of Academy Award-winner Cillian Murphy as the iconic gangster kingpin, Tommy Shelby, who must emerge from his haunted isolation to face a brewing global conflict.

Set against the backdrop of an impending world war, the film finds Shelby in a liminal state of purgatory, heavily medicated and detached from his remaining family. The trailer highlights the rise of his illegitimate son, Duke Shelby, played by Barry Keoghan. Having inherited the gangster throne, Duke is running the organization with a reckless, nihilistic edge reminiscent of 1919, leaving him vulnerable to dark external forces.

This power vacuum opens the door for a new, insidious adversary. Tim Roth joins the cast as Beckett, a terrifyingly reasonable British Fascist sympathizer who aims to exploit the disillusioned young Shelby heir. Forced into action by the prospect of his son siding with the Nazis, the elder Shelby returns to the Garrison Pub to reclaim his territory. The cinematic preview is scored by the original track “Puppet,” crafted by Grian Chatten, Antony Genn, and Martin Slattery, setting a grim and rhythmic tone for the impending showdown.

Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man drops March 6 in select theaters and streams March 20 via Netflix.

Source:adaderana.lk

Actor-turned-politician Vijay's much-anticipated film Jana Nayagan had its grand audio launch in Malaysia on Sunday. The film marks the final silver screen outing of the Tamil superstar. The event was a grand celebration, attracting huge crowds of fans and industry stalwarts. 

Atlee also made an appearance as one of the distinguished guests. He paid a heartfelt tribute to Thalapathy Vijay. The filmmaker acknowledged his contributions to the film industry and expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to work with him. The duo previously worked together in films like Theri, Mersal and Bigil. 

During the speech, Atlee addressed the sentiment of ‘one last time' of Vijay's role in Jana Nayagan. The Jawan director said, “I don't know how to define that ‘one last time'. The Vijay I know has done everything like it's the last time. He has given every shot thinking this is the last shot, I have to give my best." 

Drawing parallels between Vijay's previous roles and his current performance, he added, “That ‘one last time' was IPS Vijay Kumar. That ‘one last time' was Thalapathy Vetri Maaran. That ‘one last time' was Rayappan. And I think the ‘one last time' is Jana Nayagan.”

After the end of his speech, Atlee ran across the stage to hug Vijay. The gesture evoked enthusiastic applause and cheers from the assembled fans. 

Directed by H Vinoth, Jana Nayagan also features Bobby Deol, Pooja Hegde, Mamitha Baiju and Priyamani in key roles. The film's first-look poster featured Vijay dressed in a blue shirt and black denims. He was seen taking a selfie with an electrified crowd.  

Jana Nayagan is produced by Venkat K Narayana under KVN Productions. It is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on January 9, 2026.

President Donald Trump took to Truth Social immediately after the 2026 Grammy Awards to denounce the ceremony as “virtually unwatchable” and target host Trevor Noah following a joke about Trump and Jeffrey Epstein.

Noah, who hosted the telecast on CBS, referenced Trump while congratulating Billie Eilish for winning Song of the Year with “Wildflower.” “There you have it, song of the year! Congratulations, Billie Eilish. Wow. That’s a Grammy that every artist wants almost as much as Trump wants Greenland. Which makes sense because, since Epstein’s gone, he needs a new island to hang out with Bill Clinton,” Noah quipped.

Trump fired back on Truth Social: “Noah said, INCORRECTLY about me, that Donald Trump and Bill Clinton spent time on Epstein Island. WRONG!!! I have never been to Epstein Island, nor anywhere close, and until tonight’s false and defamatory statement, have never been accused of being there, not even by the Fake News Media.”

The president escalated his response, calling Noah “a total loser” and hinting at legal action. “Better get his facts straight, and get them straight fast. It looks like I’ll be sending my lawyers to sue this poor, pathetic, talentless, dope of an M.C., and suing him for plenty. Ask Little George Slopadopolus, and others, how that all worked out. Also ask CBS! Get ready Noah, I’m going to have some fun with you!”

Trump’s post largely ignored the Grammys’ historic win for Bad Bunny, who took home Album of the Year for “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” the first Spanish-language LP to do so. The singer is set to perform at the Super Bowl Halftime Show later this month, a decision Trump has previously criticized, saying, “I’ve never heard of him… I don’t know who he is… It’s crazy.”

The Grammys, meanwhile, continue to make headlines for their landmark moments and performances, while President Trump’s public threats to a celebrity host add an unprecedented level of controversy to the evening.

Walt Disney’s animated Zootopia 2 racked up an estimated US$556 million in global ticket sales over the US Thanksgiving weekend, providing a strong kickoff to Hollywood’s crucial holiday moviegoing season.

Nearly half of the film’s box office receipts from Wednesday through yesterday came from China, bucking a trend of Hollywood movies finishing behind locally made films.

The US$272 million tally made Zootopia 2Hollywood’s highest-grossing animated movie in China, surpassing a record set by the first Zootopia in 2016.

Also in theaters, Universal Pictures’ movie musical Wicked: For Good claimed US$92.2 million worldwide in its second weekend, bringing its total to US$393.3 million after 10 days.

The fervour for the two films provided welcome news for movie theater owners who hope audiences will pack cinemas through Christmas, the second-busiest time of the year for moviegoing. 

Annual box office sales have yet to recover to the pre-pandemic levels seen in 2019.

Zootopia 2 collected US$156 million of its worldwide total in the United States and Canada, making it the leader on domestic box office charts. 

The movie, set in a city of animals, tells the story of a bunny police officer, voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin, and her fox partner, voiced by Jason Bateman.

“It’s a proud moment for Disney Animation and all of us at Disney, not to mention a great way to start the holiday season,” Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman Alan Bergman said in a statement.

Year-to-date domestic ticket sales reached US$7.8 billion, up 1.2 per cent from a year ago but 23 per cent shy of 2019, according to data from Comscore.

Thanksgiving weekend sales are expected to rank among the top five of all time in the United States and Canada when final numbers come in today, said Paul Dergarabedian, Comscore’s head of marketplace trends. Coming releases include James Cameron’s third Avatar film just before Christmas.

“Think about how many people were in theaters over the past week being exposed to theater marketing and trailers,” Dergarabedian said. “Hopefully that creates the momentum that can give us a really solid home stretch of the year.”

(Source - Reuters)

Singer Arijit Singh has offered clarity regarding his recent decision to withdraw from playback singing, a move that has drawn considerable attention across the music industry. 

In a series of candid statements posted to his private X profile, the 38-year-old artist explained that this transition was neither sudden nor the result of a singular incident.

Singh emphasised that he intends to redirect his efforts toward personal growth and independent music production in the coming period.

On his private X account, the singer said, “There isn’t just one reason for this; there are multiple factors, and I have been contemplating this for quite some time. Ultimately, I have mustered the necessary courage (sic).”

Opening up about his creative restlessness, Singh said, “One of the reasons is quite straightforward: I tend to lose interest quickly, which is why I frequently alter the arrangements of my songs and perform them live.” He further acknowledged the need for new challenges, stating, “So, here’s the truth: I’ve grown weary. I need to explore different music to thrive (sic).”

Another factor influencing Singh’s decision is his enthusiasm for hearing and supporting new voices in the industry. He remarked, “Another factor is my eagerness to hear new singers who can inspire me genuinely (sic).”

Singh also reassured fans of his ongoing commitment to music, saying, “I have been truly blessed. I am a fan of quality music and will be focusing on learning more and creating independently as a small artist in the future. Thank you once more for all your support (sic).”

He clarified that he would honour his remaining professional obligations, stating, “I still have some outstanding commitments to fulfil, and I will complete them. So, you may still see some releases this year. Just to clarify, I won’t cease making music (sic).”

In his public message marking the new year, Singh formally announced his decision to halt new playback singing projects on Tuesday. He wrote, “Greetings, Happy New Year to everyone. I want to extend my gratitude for the immense love you have shown me over the years as listeners. I am pleased to share that I will not be accepting any new projects as a playback singer moving forward. I am putting an end to this chapter. It has been an incredible journey (sic).”

Singh’s most recent playback release is Maatrubhumi from the film Battle Of Galwan. Details about his upcoming independent projects remain undisclosed, but he confirmed he will continue with live performances and focus on work outside the playback sphere. 

(Source:newswire.lk)

Veteran Bollywood legend Dharmendra has died at the age of 89, media outlets confirmed on Monday. The actor passed away in Mumbai, only weeks after being discharged from Breach Candy Hospital, where he had been receiving medical care.

Dharmendra had been admitted earlier this month and was briefly placed on life support, according to sources familiar with his health. He was released from the hospital on November 12, with doctors reporting he was stable and arrangements made for continued care at home.

Born on December 8, the celebrated actor would have turned 90 next month. He had remained under close medical supervision in recent weeks.

Over a career spanning six decades, Dharmendra appeared in more than 300 films and became one of the most influential figures in Hindi cinema. He made his acting debut in 1960 with Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere and went on to deliver numerous iconic performances in some of Bollywood’s biggest hits.

He most recently appeared in the 2024 film Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya, alongside Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon. His upcoming project, Ikkis, directed by Sriram Raghavan, had been highly anticipated.

Honored with the Padma Bhushan in 2012, Dharmendra remains remembered as one of the most beloved and enduring stars in Indian film history.

First lady Melania Trump hosted a private White House screening on Saturday of a new film documenting her life in the 20 days leading up to President Donald Trump’s second inauguration, the White House said.

The movie, “Melania,” is set for a global release on January 30. Saturday’s showing was the first time the president, her family and close friends saw the film in full, said Marc Beckman, the first lady’s outside adviser and agent.

The film offers rare behind-the-scenes access to the first lady, who has kept a low public profile during her husband’s second term. The trailer opens on Inauguration Day in January 2025, showing her donning a navy wide-brimmed hat for the ceremony at the U.S. Capitol. It also depicts her role as an adviser to the president, including a moment in which she encourages him to emphasize “peacemaker and unifier” in his inaugural address.

Saturday’s East Room screening followed the president’s tariff threat to Canada, defense of federal agents after a fatal shooting in Minnesota, and preparation for a winter storm barreling through the southern U.S.

About 70 people across the cultural spectrum attended, including former professional boxer Mike Tyson and Jordan’s Queen Rania, who is featured in the film’s trailer, a person familiar with the event said.

Other attendees included Amazon’s CEO Andy Jassy, Amazon MGM Studios head Mike Hopkins, and film director Brett Ratner, as well as Larry Culp, the CEO of General Electric.

Beckman, who produced the film, oversaw the $40 million movie deal with Amazon MGM Studios, plus a follow-up documentary series set for release later this year focusing on some of Melania Trump’s priorities, including children in foster care.

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“This is not a political film at all,” Beckman said in an interview this week, adding that the first lady spearheaded the film’s creative direction.

The movie highlights her fashion choices, diplomatic engagements and the operations surrounding her Secret Service protection. Beckman said viewers also will see moments that capture the president’s sense of humor.

Ahead of the public theatrical release of the film next week, the president and first lady will attend a premiere on Thursday at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, renamed the Trump-Kennedy Center by the Trump-appointed board of directors.

The first lady is also scheduled to ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday to promote the film.

Source:adaderana.lk

Variety reported on Thursday that the late “Black Panther” star will be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce on November 20.

Chadwick passed away in 2020 after a four-year fight with colon cancer.

Before his death, Chadwick became a beloved figure to Marvel fans after joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Black Panther in 2016, making an appearance as T’Challa in “Captain America: Civil War.”

He went on to star in his own Marvel movie, the successful “Black Panther” in 2018, before joining the phenomenal “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Avengers: Endgame.”

He has also starred in “21 Bridges” as Andre Davis, “Da 5 Bloods” as Stormin’ Norman. He also joined the cast of “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” as Levee.

He was supposed to reprise his role as “Black Panther” in the sequel movie in 2022.

(Source - GMA Integrated News)