Author: Sarita Jena

The new season of the popular South Korean show, “Squid Game,” is now on Netflix just in time for Christmas! Fans are buzzing about it on X (formerly Twitter) and sharing their thoughts. Here’s what they are saying:

Many fans feel that Squid Game Season 2 is even better than the first season. One fan said, “Squid Game Season 2 took everything we loved and made it more exciting! The tension is real, and I’m loving it!”

Another fan is curious about the main character, player 456 (played by Lee Jung-jae), and his future. They wrote, “Squid Game 2 is amazing! But I think a huge twist is coming. I’ll be disappointed if they just let him win again, but I’m enjoying the show so far!”

There’s also excitement over episode two, with some fans hinting that something surprising happens at the end. One fan exclaimed, “Omg, the end of the second episode… Oop! #SquidGame2 #SquidGame.”

However, not all fans are fully impressed. One fan wrote that while Season 2 is not as groundbreaking as the first, it’s still captivating with exciting stories and great performances.

Speaking of performances, Lee Jung-jae is getting a lot of love as the main character, but Gong Yoo as the salesman and T.O.P (from BigBang) as rapper Thanos are also grabbing attention. Fans are praising Gong Yoo’s acting, saying things like, “#GongYoo’s acting skills are insane.”

T.O.P is getting noticed too, some fans think he’s both “hot” and funny! One fan joked, “The way he introduced himself as rapper Thanos was so unserious!” His casting was a bit controversial because of past troubles he had with the law.

Some fans are also having fun sharing funny moments from the show, posting screenshots with jokes about how even in a scary game, Gen Z is still worried about their phones.

About Squid Game:
“Squid Game” was created by Hwang Dong-hyuk. It tells the story of a secret contest where people with money problems play deadly children’s games to win huge prizes. The first season was Netflix’s most-watched show in 2021, and the third season will come out in 2025.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy of leading an attack on the home of actor Allu Arjun. This happened after a tragic stampede at the screening of Allu Arjun’s movie, “Pushpa 2,” which resulted in the death of a 35-year-old woman. The BJP claims this attack was done by the government because Allu Arjun did not support the Congress party.

BJP spokesman Pradeep Bhandari said that Revanth Reddy was upset because Allu Arjun is popular and believes in speaking freely. He pointed out that the Congress party has a history of not supporting free speech, comparing Reddy’s actions to those of former leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi.

On December 22, some people went to Allu Arjun’s house, shouting for justice for the woman who died in the stampede. They threw tomatoes and damaged flower pots. The police arrested six individuals, but a court later granted them bail.

Revanth Reddy criticized Allu Arjun, saying that he was responsible for the stampede, as the police had not allowed any events at Sandhya Theatre for safety reasons. Allu Arjun has denied the allegations and described them as an attack on his character.

Justin Baldoni, a well-known actor and director, is facing serious problems after Blake Lively filed a lawsuit against him. Lively, who stars in the movie “It Ends With Us,” claims Baldoni created a hostile work environment and harassed her with inappropriate questions about her personal life.

In her complaint, she says Baldoni often talked about his own sex life and even asked her if she and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, climax together. Lively found these questions deeply uncomfortable and didn’t want to talk about them.

Lively demanded in her lawsuit that no one on set, including Baldoni, should discuss anything sexual around her or her team. She faced further difficulties during filming due to the 2023 writers’ strike, and when production started back up, she brought her concerns directly to Baldoni and the film’s producer, Jamey Heath.

She accused Baldoni of wanting to include graphic scenes without her permission, even trying to keep a scene where the couple climaxes together on their wedding night. Although he eventually agreed to drop it, he had a strong reason for wanting it in the movie because he claimed it was important to him personally.

Lively’s lawsuit also outlines several demands to keep her comfortable on set, including:

– No more showing nude videos or pictures.
– No discussions about Baldoni’s past with porn or Lively’s lack of interest in it.
– No talk about personal experiences related to sex.
– An intimacy coordinator must always be present during their scenes together.
– No physical actions, like biting or lip-sucking, without her consent.

This situation has created a storm of controversy, and many in the industry are paying attention to the unfolding drama.

In 2024, Indian cinema truly bloomed with incredible performances that made us feel a range of emotions. When we go to the movies, it’s like time stops, and we connect with the characters in a deep way. Here are some standout performances from this amazing year that made us smile:

Anna Ben in Kottukkaali
Anna Ben barely speaks in her film, but the look in her eyes tells a powerful story. Her strong gaze captures everything she experiences, leaving us thinking about her long after the movie ends.

Fahadh Faasil in Aavesham
Fahadh Faasil shines as Ranga, a fun and lively gangster. His performance is bursting with energy, making Ranga a memorable character who surprises us with his humor and unpredictable actions.

Richa Chadha in Heeramandi
Richa Chadha has a small role as Lajvanti in Heeramandi, but she makes a huge impact. Her emotional actions, like putting on perfume, share so much pain and longing, especially during her stunning kathak dance.

Kani Kusruti in All We Imagine As Light
Kani plays Prabha, who joins her friends to watch a movie, but her eyes reveal deep sadness. She beautifully shows her loneliness and desire, making us feel her struggles throughout the film.

Raghav Juyal in Kill
Raghav’s character, Fani, is wild and scary. He keeps us on the edge of our seats with his unpredictable behavior, making him an unforgettable villain that we both love and hate.

Shiboprosad Mukherjee in Bohurupi
As Bikram Pramanik, Shiboprosad takes us on a journey through many disguises. He captures the character’s cleverness and leads us through an exciting story with his lively performance.

Preeti Panigrahi in Girls Will Be Girls
Preeti plays Mira, a girl who sees her mother as an enemy, but as the film unfolds, she realizes her mistakes. Her performance is captivating as she navigates her emotions.

Prithviraj Sukumaran in Aadujeevitham: The Goat Life
Prithviraj’s transformation for his role as Najeeb, a man forced into slavery, is extraordinary. He delivers a powerful, emotional performance that makes us feel his struggle.

Diljit Dosanjh in Amar Singh Chamkila
Diljit shines in the role of a famous singer. His performance reveals the complexity of a man who sings boldly without fear, capturing the audience’s heart.

Ponvel M. in Vaazhai
As a young boy facing tough challenges, Ponvel gives a gut-wrenching performance that speaks volumes about sadness and resilience without saying much.

Special Mentions:
Chandan Sen, Sai Pallavi, Chhaya Kadam, Reenu Roy, Karthi, Barun Sobti, and Bonita Rajpurohit also delivered remarkable performances in this year’s films.