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When talking pictures arrived in the late 1920s, songs from movies became big business. Al Jolson, who starred in The Jazz Singer, the first blockbuster talkie, sold millions of 78 RPM records. Fifteen years later, Irving Berlin sat next to a swimming pool in Hollywood and wrote White Christmas for the film Holiday Inn. The Bing Crosby version, released on July 30, 1942, is still the biggest-selling single of all time with lifetime sales somewhere in excess of $50 million.When Columbia Records unveiled the long-playing vinyl album at a big ceremony at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York in June 1948, Hollywood was very interested. Since almost the beginning of recorded music, songs from Broadway musicals and films had been a major source of hits. Movie producers saw the LP as another way...

Ranvir Shorey, who reprises his role as the pookie gangster Chhota Davan in Amazon MX Player’s Bindiya Ke Bahubali season 2, has high regard for his long-time collaborator and veteran actor Saurabh Shukla. The latter essays Ranvir’s father in the show. They met through their common friend and actor Rajat Kapoor and have been going strong even after decades in showbiz. Ranvir exclusively tells mid-day, “Saurabh is older than me in every possible way – experience, talent, and wisdom. There`s a very older brother vibe, which I have with Saurabh. I not only enjoy spending time, but I also look forward to it. It’s a learning and fun experience for me.” Why Ranvir Shorey lost out on work opportunities Recently, many filmmakers and producers have prioritised social media clout over traditional ...

Green Day took a jab at Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller during a recent show in California while speaking up for the people of Minnesota. While performing their iconic 2004 chart-topper American Idiot in the Kia Forum on Saturday, frontman Billie Joe Armstrong continued his tradition of trading the line “I’m not a part of a redneck agenda” to “I’m not a part of the MAGA agenda,” making reference to U.S. President Donald Trump and his “Make America Great Again” slogan.The band then performed Holiday and Know Your Enemy as Armstrong told the crowd: “This song is anti-fascism. This song is anti-war. We stand up for our brothers and sisters in Minnesota…. Ladies and gentlemen, Stephen Miller now has the floor.”Armstrong was referring to the...

There’s something unnervingly convincing about Anurag Thakur when he slips into character — so much so that even his family struggled to separate the man from the role. Whether he played a cop in Vikramaditya Motwane’s Black Warrant (2025) or took on the recently released Freedom at Midnight 2 by Nikkhil Advani, Thakur leaves a mark. Widely appreciated for his performance as Madanlal Pahwa, the actor talks to mid-day about his approach, tackling the lull between projects, and why theatre remains his first love. Excerpts from the interview. Showrunner Nikkhil Advani said your performance stood out and you are one to watch out for. What reactions have you been getting for Freedom at Midnight 2?Yes, Nikkhil sir called to thank me for trusting him with this [role]. He was glad it came out th...