March 20, 2025: ‘Empuraan’ IMAX Release, ‘Sex Lives,’ Prosenjit, Zegler

The Malayalam cinema industry continues to captivate audiences with gripping action and criminal thrillers, with Officer on Duty standing out as a remarkable addition. This film, directed by rookie Jithu Ashraf, stars Kunchacko Boban as the lead. While it was successful in Kerala, it received little traction in the Tamil and Telugu markets. However, with its new Netflix release and availability in various languages, including Telugu, it is now poised to garner a worldwide following. Jakes Bejoy composed the soundtrack for the film, which also stars Priyamani, Jagadish, and Vishak Nair. Stay tuned for updates on this captivating thriller’s OTT adventure.

Sex Lives of College Girls has been officially canceled on Max after three seasons, according to Variety. The series, which started in 2021, made its third and final season debut in November, with the season finale airing on January 25. Mindy Kaling and Justin Noble co-created the sitcom, which follows a group of college students as they navigate life in New England’s Essex College. While Warner Bros. Television has declined to comment, sources say the studio is looking into ways to offer the series to other networks or platforms.

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The cast for Season 3 included Pauline Chalamet, Amrit Kaur, Alyah Chanelle Scott, and Christopher Meyer, among others. Reneé Rapp, a regular in the first two seasons, reduced her role in the final season. The first two seasons were critically praised, holding approval ratings of 97% and 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, but Season 3’s reception was less favorable, with just 29% approval

Veteran Bengali actor Prosenjit Chatterjee is set to portray a politician in the upcoming political thriller Khakee: The Bengal Chapter, which premieres on Netflix on March 20. This show is the second installment of the Khakee series, following The Bihar Chapter. Alongside Prosenjit, the series features popular Bengali actors like Jeet, Saswata Chatterjee, and Parambrata Chatterjee.

Prosenjit, who has been in the profession for over five decades, is optimistic about the show’s ability to enhance Bengali cinema in the commercial realm. He feels the OTT platform will increase prominence for regional cinema, particularly Bengali films. Concerning his role, Prosenjit stressed his preference for characters with shades of grey, questioning the traditional notion of positive and negative roles. He stated that OTT platforms present an excellent chance for actors, exposing them to a larger audience while also allowing them to collaborate with new talent and directors.

Prosenjit also praised the rise of regional cinema on OTT, stating it has given a significant boost to languages like Bengali, Marathi, and Malayalam, making them pan-Indian. Khakee: The Bengal Chapter marks another milestone in his evolving career on digital platforms.

Rachel Zegler, the star of the upcoming Snow White live-action version, recently discussed the difficulties she encountered while confirming her identity as a Colombian-American during the casting process for West Side Story. In an interview with Allure, Zegler described how she was continually questioned about her legitimacy, adding, “They kept calling to ask if I was legit.” Reflecting on the situation, she joked about bringing her grandma to verify her Colombian heritage. Zegler, who was born in New Jersey to a Colombian-American mother and a Polish-American father, expressed pleasure in her background and emphasized the unique experience of being a member of the Colombian diaspora.

Snow White, a retelling of Disney’s iconic 1937 animated film, has stirred controversy, much like The Little Mermaid, due to Zegler’s ethnic background, which some critics have labeled as part of a “woke” trend. The film, which tackles issues of diversity and inclusion, has sparked intense debate, with some arguing that its content is overly sensitive. Zegler’s political statements, particularly her support for Palestine and criticism of Donald Trump supporters, have also attracted controversy, though she later apologized for the latter. Despite the backlash, she remains confident in her role and cultural identity, championing a more inclusive reimagining of a beloved classic.

The highly awaited Malayalam film Empuraan is due to visit theaters on March 27, marking a big milestone in the industry. It will be the first Malayalam film to be released in IMAX, a significant milestone for regional filmmaking. Mohanlal, the film’s principal actor, announced the good news on Instagram, expressing his pride in the historic release. He hopes that this marks the beginning of a long collaboration between IMAX and Malayalam cinema. Empuraan, the sequel to the 2019 smash movie Lucifer, reunites Mohanlal with director Prithviraj Sukumaran. The film also stars Jerome Flynn from Game of Thrones, as well as Manju Warrier and Tovino Thomas.

Mohanlal spoke highly of his collaboration with Prithviraj, describing him as a sensitive and meticulous director who prioritizes acting and storytelling. He also teased that Empuraan is part of a trilogy, with the final chapter still to be shot. The film promises a new kind of action, showcasing Mohanlal’s versatility. The shoot of Empuraan spanned across eight states and four countries, including the UK, USA, and UAE.

Season 2 of The Last of Us will feature American Sign Language (ASL) translations, making it even more inclusive. Beginning with the April 13 debut, new episodes of the hit HBO series starring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey will include ASL performances by CODA’s Daniel Durant and Leila Hanaumi. Additionally, Season 1 will be accessible in ASL translations beginning March 31, allowing deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers to catch up before the new season begins.

Naomi Waibel, SVP of Global Product Management at Warner Bros. Discovery, expressed delight about the ASL expansion, describing it as a significant step toward providing a completely accessible and inclusive streaming experience. Max has previously released ASL translations of films such as Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, Beetlejuice, and Barbie, and Hanaumi also directed the ASL translation for The Last of Us Season 1.

The series, based on the popular PlayStation video game franchise by Naughty Dog, is written and executive produced by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann. The Last of Us Season 2 will premiere on HBO and Max on April 13.

The death of Disha Salian, the former manager of late Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, has taken a dramatic turn with her father, Satish Salian, filing a petition in the Bombay High Court on Wednesday for a fresh investigation. Alleging that his daughter was brutally assaulted and murdered, followed by a politically motivated cover-up, Satish is seeking an FIR against Shiv Sena-UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray and the transfer of the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). This petition challenges the Mumbai Police’s initial conclusions and raises concerns about a possible connection between Disha Salian’s death and Sushant Singh Rajput’s death, which occurred just days later.

The petition accuses the Mumbai Police of hastily ruling Disha’s death as a suicide or accidental fall, ignoring crucial forensic evidence, eyewitness accounts, and circumstantial proof. The Salian family claims that the evidence was manipulated to support the suicide narrative and that political pressure from figures such as Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar prevented further investigation. Satish Salian maintains that his daughter’s death was no accident, pointing to inconsistencies like the lack of injuries consistent with a fall from such height and the suspicious cleanliness of the crime scene.

The petition’s allegations have reignited public interest in these two inexplicable deaths, which continue to stir speculation. In response, Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Kishori Pednekar questioned the timing of the plea, implying a scheme to bring the issue to light after more than four years. The matter remains contentious, with the family demanding a full inquiry into Disha’s killing and its apparent connection to Sushant’s unfortunate death.