👑 Madras's old-school luxury transport

Palanquins were a popular mode of transport in Madras, historically associated with high status and the elite. Charles Lockyer's 1711 account noted that the better sort traveled in these carried by six or eight coolies for three pence daily. These ornate conveyances, originating from Sanskrit and Tamil words, were status symbols, even for the English residents. Lady Elizabeth Gwillim described palanquins for high society dinners, which sometimes involved nine to nineteen men. By the late 19th century, these grand methods of travel were seen as obsolete. 🧐

🎬 Must-watch content before Avengers: Doomsday 🦸

Avengers: Doomsday is coming to bring the MCU together against Doctor Doom's threat. This major film, directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo, is scheduled for December 18 this year as part of Phase 6. The movie features heroes from various universes, including the Avengers, Wakandans, Thunderbolts, Fantastic Four, and X-Men. Fans should watch several titles like Infinity War, Endgame, Loki, and the Fantastic Four: First Steps. This preparation is essential to fully grasp the epic scale of the upcoming event.

📉 Smartphone market dips in 2026, Samsung targets No. 1 spot

Global smartphone shipments are projected to drop by 14.3% in 2026 due to rising component costs and affordability issues. Samsung is anticipated to reclaim the global number one position, leveraging its strong supply chain and diverse product line. Chinese OEMs are facing steeper declines, ranging from 15% to 34% in 2026. Apple is expected to remain relatively stable but faces constraints from higher pricing strategies. The market is set to see a rebound starting in 2028 as 6G commercialization expands.

🌟 Nivin Pauly's Bethlehem Kudumba Unit Hits Big Opening

Bethlehem Kudumba Unit started its run strong at the Indian box office, achieving Nivin Pauly's biggest opening ever. The Malayalam romantic comedy, starring Nivin Pauly and Mamitha Baiju, was released yesterday, August 21st. It netted 4.9 crore, which equals 5.78 crore gross, with an average occupancy of 58%. This performance surpasses his 7-year-old film and ranks as the 5th biggest opening of 2026 in Mollywood. The film is expected to see a significant jump in collections over the upcoming weekend. 🚀

🎬 Vijay's Jana Nayagan hits 1-month mark

Thalapathy Vijay's movie Jana Nayagan has completed a one-month theatrical run, aiming to surpass the film Karuppu. The movie currently has a cumulative net collection of 197.47 crore in India as of Day 30. The film, which has a budget of 350 crore, is chasing a tough target to beat Karuppu's 198 crore mark. Despite a strong start, the movie currently stands at a losing verdict in India with over 152 crore in losses. The final weekend offers one last chance for the film to boost its total earnings.

🎬 DC hits super hit status on day 15

The film DC, starring Lokesh Kanagaraj and Wamiqa Gabbi, has achieved a super hit verdict at the Indian box office. It is currently performing well in DC, where it is attracting consistent footfalls. As of day 15, the Tamil romantic action thriller has earned 62.53 crore net, having scored 1.04 crore on the third Friday. This success means DC is the 6th Tamil film of 2026 to secure this status, having started with a 25 crore budget. The film is expected to grow further during the upcoming third weekend. 🤩

💰 Odyssey needs a big jump to top Universal's hits

Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey is performing well at the North American box office, holding strong against other new releases. The film has collected over $519.56 million across 35 days, making it Universal's third highest-grossing film. To surpass Jurassic World, it requires a 26% jump in domestic collections to hit the $580-$600 million range. Currently, Jurassic World leads with $653.4 million, while The Super Mario Bros. Movie earned $574.9 million. Globally, The Odyssey has earned $1.367 billion since its July 17 release.

🎬 Batwara 1947: Low India Haul, Still Best Collab

The period drama Batwara 1947 is facing a box office slump despite high initial expectations for the 120-crore budget. In India, the film earned only 75 lakh on Day 8, marking a 44% drop from the previous day. Cumulatively, the film has gathered 33 crore net in the Indian market after 8 days. Despite the domestic dip, it stands as the highest-grossing film for Sunny Deol and Rajkumar Santoshi together. The film is currently aiming to cross the 50 crore mark globally. 📉

📉 Khalifa sees huge drop in box office collection

The Malayalam thriller Khalifa experienced a sharp decline in its box office performance on Day 2. Starring Prithviraj Sukumaran, the film grossed 2.3 crore on Day 2 compared to 5.35 crore on Day 1. Overall, it has earned 7.78 crore net across two days. This drop is attributed to mixed audience word-of-mouth and competition from Bethlehem Kudumba Unit. The film is expected to remain under the 15 crore net mark for the extended weekend. 📉

🎬 Suriya's Vishwanath And Sons hits big on Day 8

Vishwanath And Sons continued its strong run into the second week with a solid performance on its eighth day. The film, starring Suriya, is currently Suriya’s second highest-grossing movie in India post-COVID. As of Day 8, it has earned a total of 86.1 crore net at the Indian box office. This total surpassed Kanguva's 70.37 crore to secure the second spot among Suriya's releases. The film is directed by Venky Atluri and stars Mamitha Baiju, Radhika Sarathkumar, and Raveena Tandon.

🕷️ Spider-Man: Brand New Day hits top 3 box office

Spider-Man: Brand New Day has officially surpassed Spider-Man: No Way Home in the North American box office. This achievement happened over 21 days ago, making it the biggest Spidey movie ever domestically. The film has reached $815.9 million in North America, placing it third all-time in the US. It is now inches from the $820 million mark and is trending as a major success. The movie, released on July 31, is setting a new benchmark for superhero films. 🚀