17012026-LSTL-01.qxd 1/16/2026 7:40 PM Page 1 c m y b READY FOR A DRAGON RIDE Cate Blanchett is set to ride the dragons again, this time in the live-action sequel. The two-time Oscar winner, who is known for voicing the character of Valka, Hiccup’s long-lost mother in the How to Train Your Dragon animated film series, has now inked a deal to reprise her character for the upcoming live-action. Mona TRIBUNE Coming soon Life The makers of Bhumi Pednekar-starrer Daldal on Friday unveiled the teaser. Daldal is set to premiere on Prime Video on January 30. LUDHIANA | SATURDAY | 17 JANUARY 2026 What is Muzaffar Ali envious of? ...the people of Chandigarh, who call this glorious city their home, the filmmaker-artist-poet confessed, as he delivered a lecture encompassing art, migration, pain, poetry and peace P ANJAB UNIVERSITY witnessed a rare confluence of art, culture and conscience on a balmy Friday morning as eminent filmmaker, poet, painter and cultural visionary Muzaffar Ali delivered the 4th Prof Urmi Kessar Memorial Lecture at the PU Law Auditorium. “Dil se har mamla chale the saaf, kehne mein baat badal gayi,” he chose to speak spontaneously, ditching his prepared speech, taking the packed auditorium through his life and works. PASSION UNLIMITED Muzaffar Ali’s passion for art runs so deep that he never goes anywhere without a notebook and pencil. His engagement with art—be it painting, cinema or music—remains undiminished. He is currently penning a book of ghazals, and his longcherished dream project Zooni, which had stalled due to the insurgency in Kashmir, is now back on track. “My son, Shaad Ali, has found a way to restore and complete it,” he shared. Painting, poetry & peace PHOTO: PRADEEP TEWARI Art as responsibility The director of the timeless classic Umrao Jaan, Ali asserted that “cinema is not recreation; it is a responsibility.” His address unfolded not as a formal lecture but as a heartfelt narrative — woven with poetry, memory and lived experience. He spoke of art as a moral force, one that must uphold dignity, truth and human connection, rather than spectacle or charity. “Justuju jiski thi usko to na paaya humne,is bahaane se magar dekh li duniya humne,” he recited. Drawing from his polymathic career — spanning cinema, poetry, painting, music ...with wife Meera Ali and design — Ali described art as a continuum, where forms remain fluid and inseparable. “All arts are connected,” he said, “with poetry as the mother art, giving words to ideas, emotions and characters.” CHAT UP SOPHIE TURNER BECOMES LARA CROFT The first look of Sophie Turner as the video game icon Lara Croft has been unveiled, offering fans a glimpse of her outing as the globetrotting archaeologist and adventurer in the upcoming Tomb Raider reboot. On Thursday, Prime Video dropped Turner’s picture from the reboot series’ wardrobe test. In the picture, the Game of Thrones star could be seen posing confidently in the character’s shorts, shades, and dual pistols, appearing ready-for-action. Stories of pain and belonging Ali reflected on his landmark films such as Gaman, Anjuman, Umrao Jaan and Jaanisaar, describing them as chronicles of migration, separation and invisible pain — especially that of women. “Gaman is about leaving,” he said, “but what never leaves is the pain of leaving the soil.” His adaptation of Umrao Jaan, based on the novel Umrao Jaan Ada, he described as ‘a young girl turning loss into poetry, root- wara. “This village is my debt,” he said. “How do I ever repay it?” His father’s deep humanism, attachment to nature and society, and concern for rural dignity planted the seed of Ali’s lifelong creative journey. This ethos later found expression in initiatives like Kotwara Design House, which he clarified was “never about fashion, but about restoring dignity to craft and artisans.” Art, he insisted, must empower — not patronise. ed in Awadh’, the region that deeply shaped his sensibility. He acknowledged the influence of poets such as Kaifi Azmi, Majrooh Sultanpuri, Faiz Ahmed Faiz and mystics Rumi and Amir Khusro, whose work continues to inspire his vision of art as devotion and dialogue. Village and the seed of art One of the most moving moments of the lecture came when Ali spoke of his father and his ancestral village Kot- Ali shared that painting came to him in childhood and never left him. From early exhibitions in Kolkata to showcases in Paris, the canvas remained his most honest companion. “A canvas never lies,” he remarked. His experiences in Aligarh, where he initially studied science, proved transformative. Ali spoke briefly about Jahan-e-Khusro, the international festival he founded, which brings together mystic music, dance and poetry from across the world. He described it as an ecosystem where art becomes conscious — where devotion becomes dialogue and oneness becomes possible. In a world of fragile peace, he said, such artistic spaces are urgently needed. Politics, religion & humanity During the ru-ba-ru session, Ali was characteristically honest and disarmingly lighthearted about politics. He admitted, “I contested elections four times and found myself sandwiched between voters and leaders—neither truly understood me. So, I chose to stay with my art to convey my thoughts.” Quick-witted and reflective, he emphasised that understanding the sacred lives of people—irrespective of religion—is what ultimately drives humanity. “Anything that creates divisions between human beings,” he said, “is the very opposite of peace.” Concluding his lecture, Ali reminded the audience that every story an artiste tells is a forgotten history reclaimed. Whether through cinema, poetry, painting or music, art remains humanity’s most profound resistance against violence, displacement and erasure. “Not everyone can heal pain,” he said softly, “but the artiste can understand it — and turn it into art.” In honouring Prof Urmi Kessar’s legacy, Panjab University and Kessar family not only celebrated a towering cultural figure but reaffirmed the timeless belief that where art becomes conscious, peace becomes possible. Ammy Virk honours late friend’s legacy In a rare act of loyalty within the music industry, Ammy Virk has stepped forward to honor the legacy of his late friend, Rajvir Jawanda. Following Rajvir’s tragic passing due to a bike accident, Ammy took it upon himself to fulfill the professional commitments that were left pending. While many industry peers expressed their grief and supported their friend by helping the family in the best possible way, Ammy took the responsibility a notch higher and ensured that none of his friends shows are cancelled and has performed eight complete shows on behalf of him while all the monitories would go towards the family of Rajvir. This selfless act was recently brought to light by actor and singer Kulwinder Billa during a podcast. Kulwinder Billa praised Ammy’s dedication and how he stood apart by taking the responsibility on his shoulders and performing eight full events simply to honour a late friend’s name. This gesture towards his late friend has deeply touched the hearts of many, this gesture has resonated deeply across the industry. Rather than letting the scheduled events be cancelled, Ammy chose to stand in his friend’s place, turning these stages into a tribute to Rajvir’s memory. HANS ZIMMER’S NEW TRACK Grammy-winning music composer Hans Zimmer is all set to helm the original score for HBO’s much-awaited Harry Potter TV series. HBO announced the news on Instagram and wrote, “Ah, music. A magic beyond all we do here!” — Albus Dumbledore. We’re honoured to announce that Hans Zimmer and Bleeding Fingers will compose a new score for HBO’s Harry Potter series. Zimmer is known for his work across iconic films like Inception, The Lion King, Dune, Black Hawk Down and Gladiator, among others. Honey Singh apologises for his alleged obscene remarks at Delhi show “Main apni zubaan pe niyantran rakhunga” BORDER 2 TRAILER OUT The trailer for one of the most-anticipated films of 2026 Border 2 has been unveiled. Directed by Anurag Singh, the second instalment of the iconic film brings back Sunny Deol as the main lead, with Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh and Ahan Shetty joining him to fight the enemies. “Inspired by the true events of the 1971 IndiaPakistan War”, the trailer opens the door to the powerful world of Border 2 and what happens when India’s Army, Navy, and Air Force come together to fight as one. Seems like controversies and rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh go hand in hand. Since Thursday morning, he has been at the centre of online attention for all the wrong reasons. A video from one of the shows in Delhi went viral, in which he allegedly made obscene remarks. The comments did not sit well with many, and he was widely called out for them. Hours later, on Thursday night, Honey took to Instagram and issued an apology. He said the video circulating since morning was edited and shared out of context, but added that he understood why it made many people uncomfortable. “A video of mine has been going c m y b viral on Instagram since morning, edited in a way that’s offended many people. I want to tell you the whole story...,” he said in his apology video. Honey Singh promised that he would be more mindful of his words and actions going forward. “However, I deeply regret that the way I expressed this message was inappropriate and not acceptable to many. I offer my heartfelt apologies to everyone who felt hurt or disrespected. Main apni zubaan pe niyantran rakhunga...Going forward, I assure you that I will be far more mindful and responsible in my words and actions,” he said. —ANI