🌟 दीवाली: प्रकाश और आनंद का पर्व

 

🌟 दीवाली: प्रकाश और आनंद का पर्व

✨ परिचय

दीवाली, जिसे दीपावली भी कहा जाता है, भारत का सबसे प्रमुख और पवित्र त्योहार है। यह “प्रकाश का पर्व” कहलाता है क्योंकि इस दिन अंधकार पर प्रकाश, अज्ञान पर ज्ञान, और बुराई पर अच्छाई की विजय का प्रतीक माना जाता है। यह पर्व केवल हिंदू धर्म के लोगों तक सीमित नहीं है, बल्कि जैन, सिख और बौद्ध धर्म के लोग भी इसे अपने-अपने धार्मिक और ऐतिहासिक कारणों से मनाते हैं।
दीवाली पूरे भारतवर्ष में बड़े उत्साह और हर्षोल्लास के साथ मनाई जाती है। इस दिन घरों में दीपक जलाए जाते हैं, मिठाइयाँ बाँटी जाती हैं, नए वस्त्र धारण किए जाते हैं और लोग एक-दूसरे को शुभकामनाएँ देते हैं।

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🌼 दीवाली मनाने के मुख्य कारण

🪔 1. भगवान राम की अयोध्या वापसी

हिंदू पौराणिक मान्यता के अनुसार, दीवाली का मुख्य कारण भगवान श्रीराम का अयोध्या लौटना है। जब भगवान राम, अपनी पत्नी सीता और भाई लक्ष्मण के साथ 14 वर्षों के वनवास और रावण वध के बाद अयोध्या लौटे, तो अयोध्यावासियों ने उनके स्वागत में पूरे नगर को दीपों से सजाया।
यह दिन कार्तिक मास की अमावस्या को पड़ा था। तभी से इस दिन दीप जलाकर खुशियाँ मनाने की परंपरा आरंभ हुई। यह प्रकाश अच्छाई की जीत और धर्म की स्थापना का प्रतीक है।

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💰 2. माता लक्ष्मी की पूजा

दीवाली को धन की देवी माता लक्ष्मी के आगमन का दिन भी माना जाता है। माना जाता है कि इस रात माता लक्ष्मी पृथ्वी पर आती हैं और जो घर स्वच्छ, सुंदर व प्रकाशित होता है, उसमें प्रवेश करती हैं।
इसलिए लोग दीवाली के अवसर पर घर की सफाई करते हैं, दरवाजों पर तोरण और रंगोली बनाते हैं, और दीपक जलाते हैं ताकि माँ लक्ष्मी प्रसन्न होकर घर में धन, सुख और समृद्धि का आशीर्वाद दें।

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🔥 3. भगवान कृष्ण द्वारा नरकासुर वध

कई स्थानों पर यह भी मान्यता है कि दीवाली से एक दिन पहले भगवान श्रीकृष्ण ने राक्षस नरकासुर का वध किया था। नरकासुर लोगों को सताता था, इसलिए उसकी मृत्यु के बाद लोगों ने आनंद और राहत के प्रतीक के रूप में दीप जलाए।
इस कारण दीवाली को “नरक चतुर्दशी” या “छोटी दीवाली” के रूप में भी मनाया जाता है।

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🧘‍♂️ 4. महावीर निर्वाण दिवस

जैन धर्म में दीवाली का विशेष महत्व है। जैन धर्म के अंतिम तीर्थंकर भगवान महावीर स्वामी को इसी दिन मोक्ष (निर्वाण) की प्राप्ति हुई थी।
इसलिए जैन समाज दीवाली को आत्मज्ञान और मोक्ष की प्राप्ति के प्रतीक के रूप में मनाता है।

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⚔️ 5. सिखों में दीवाली का महत्व

सिख समुदाय के लिए भी दीवाली का विशेष महत्व है। इसी दिन गुरु हरगोबिंद जी को मुगल शासक जहांगीर की कैद से मुक्त किया गया था। अमृतसर में हरमंदिर साहिब (स्वर्ण मंदिर) को दीपों से सजाया जाता है और भव्य उत्सव मनाया जाता है।
इस घटना को “बंदी छोड़ दिवस” कहा जाता है।

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🏡 दीवाली की तैयारियाँ और परंपराएँ

दीवाली आने से कई दिन पहले लोग अपने घरों की सफाई, पुताई और सजावट में लग जाते हैं। माना जाता है कि स्वच्छता से सकारात्मक ऊर्जा आती है।
बाजारों में भीड़ बढ़ जाती है — लोग नए कपड़े, सजावट की वस्तुएँ, दीये, मोमबत्तियाँ और पटाखे खरीदते हैं। मिठाइयों और उपहारों का आदान-प्रदान इस त्योहार की सबसे प्यारी परंपरा है।

दीवाली के दिन घर के द्वार पर रंगोली बनाई जाती है, दीये जलाए जाते हैं और शाम को माता लक्ष्मी और भगवान गणेश की पूजा की जाती है। पूजा के बाद आतिशबाजी की जाती है और बच्चे, बड़े सभी खुशी से झूम उठते हैं।

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🌿 पर्यावरण-सुरक्षा और आधुनिक दीवाली

आजकल दीवाली के समय अत्यधिक पटाखों के उपयोग से प्रदूषण बढ़ता है। इसलिए अब “ग्रीन दीवाली” मनाने पर बल दिया जा रहा है। लोग पर्यावरण की रक्षा करते हुए दीप जलाते हैं, प्राकृतिक रंगोली बनाते हैं, और बिना शोर-धुएँ के त्योहार का आनंद लेते हैं।
सच्ची दीवाली तब होती है जब हम अपने आसपास के गरीब और जरूरतमंद लोगों के चेहरों पर भी मुस्कान लाते हैं। मिठाई बाँटना, कपड़े देना और दूसरों की मदद करना इस पर्व को और पवित्र बनाता है।

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🌟 दीवाली का आध्यात्मिक संदेश

दीवाली केवल बाहरी प्रकाश का नहीं बल्कि आंतरिक प्रकाश का भी प्रतीक है। यह हमें सिखाती है कि जैसे दीपक अंधकार को दूर करता है, वैसे ही ज्ञान, सत्य और प्रेम से जीवन के अंधकार को मिटाया जा सकता है।
यह त्योहार हमें याद दिलाता है कि हर कठिनाई के बाद उजाला आता है — जैसे रावण-वध के बाद राम का राज्य आया, वैसे ही जीवन में भी अच्छाई हमेशा जीतती है।

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💫 निष्कर्ष

दीवाली केवल एक त्योहार नहीं बल्कि आस्था, प्रेम, एकता और नई शुरुआत का प्रतीक है। यह हमें सिखाती है कि जीवन में सदैव प्रकाश फैलाना चाहिए, चाहे परिस्थिति कैसी भी हो।
हर वर्ष दीवाली हमें यह प्रेरणा देती है कि हम अपने जीवन से अंधकार मिटाएँ, अच्छे कार्य करें और दूसरों के जीवन में भी खुशियाँ बाँटें।

A Trifecta of Cosmic Wonder

A Trifecta of Cosmic Wonder: Starship Soars, Giants Align, and Webb Dazzles

south africa vs namibia

 

South Africa vs Namibia 

🇿🇦 South Africa - Aiden Markram
The cool-headed, technically gifted all-rounder continues to lead South Africa across all formats. In 2025, Markram has matured into a tactical captain, known for his aggressive field placements and faith in his young bowling attack. His own form with the bat remains crucial at the top of the order.

🇳🇦 Namibia - Gerhard Erasmus
The heart and soul of Namibian cricket. Erasmus is a world-class competitor in Associate cricket—a elegant batsman, a handy off-spinner, and a shrewd leader. He plays with immense pride and has been instrumental in elevating Namibia's status. Leading against a Full Member nation is a challenge he and his team relish.

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Match 1: The KFC T20I Series Opener

• Venue: Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

• Date: March 28, 2025

• Result: South Africa won by 45 runs

Match Summary:
The Proteas came out all guns blazing! After being put in to bat, Aiden Markram led from the front with a blistering 78 off just 42 balls. He was well-supported by a quickfire 45 from the young gun, Dewald Brevis. South Africa posted a formidable 215/5 in their 20 overs. Namibia's chase started brightly with Stephan Baard finding the boundary, but the Proteas' pace attack, led by a fiery Anrich Nortje (3/28), proved too hot to handle. Gerhard Erasmus fought valiantly with 35, but the Eagles were bowled out for 170.

Captain's Corner:

• Markram: "Great way to start the series. The boys executed the plans perfectly. Always good to get runs personally, but the way the bowlers closed it out was clinical."

• Erasmus: "We showed glimpses, but 215 was always a steep chase. We'll learn from this and come back stronger. Our bowling in the death overs is an area we need to tighten up."

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Match 2: The T20I Series Decider

• Venue: Boland Park, Paarl

• Date: March 30, 2025

• Result: South Africa won by 8 wickets

Match Summary:
A dominant, professional performance from the Proteas sealed the T20 series. Namibia, choosing to bat first, never got going against a disciplined South African bowling attack. Gerhard Erasmus top-scored with a gritty 41, but regular wickets meant they could only manage a below-par 127/9. Kagiso Rabada was exceptional, taking 2/19. In reply, Reeza Hendricks (65) and Aiden Markram (38) made light work of the chase, cruising to the target with 4 overs to spare.

Captain's Corner:

• Erasmus: "Very disappointing with the bat. We needed to show more fight. Full credit to South Africa's bowlers, they gave us nothing."

• Markram: "Really proud of the team. To win a series with this kind of comprehensive performance is what we're about. The bowlers set the tone beautifully."

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Match 3: The Momentum 1-Day Cup

• Venue: Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein

• Date: April 2, 2025

• Result: Namibia won by 3 wickets (A Thriller!)

Match Summary:
WHAT. A. MATCH! The upset was on, and the Eagles soared! South Africa posted a competitive 285, built around a magnificent century from Tristan Stubbs (112). It looked like a winning total. But Namibia had other ideas. In a display of sheer determination, they chipped away at the target. The key moment was a brilliant 89 from Gerhard Erasmus, who was well-supported by JJ Smit's explosive 50. The match went down to the final over, with David Wiese hitting the winning runs, sending the Namibian dressing room and their fans into absolute delirium!

Captain's Corner:

• Markram: "Huge credit to Namibia. They outplayed us today. We were probably 20 runs short and didn't execute our plans at the death. A tough loss, but a great lesson for us."

• Erasmus (Player of the Match): "I'm so unbelievably proud of the boys. This is a historic win for Namibian cricket. To chase down 285 against a top side like South Africa shows the character in this team. We never gave up."

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Series Verdict

South Africa wins the T20I Series 2-0
Namibia wins the 1-Day Match 1-0

This was a series that delivered on all fronts. For South Africa, it was a chance to test their depth, and while they dominated the T20s, the shock loss in the ODI will give the coaching staff plenty to think about.

For Namibia, this tour was a massive success. Pushing the Proteas hard and then securing a famous victory is a monumental achievement for Associate cricket. Captain Gerhard Erasmus further cemented his legacy as one of the greats of the game in Namibia.

When the Proteas of South Africa face the Eagles of Namibia, it's more than just a cricket match; it's a Southern African derby brimming with passion and a distinct David vs Goliath narrative. While their encounters have been few and far between, confined largely to the global stage of ICC tournaments, each match has its own story.

Let's dive into the complete history of their on-field rivalries.

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The Official International Matches Record

Historically, the fixture has been incredibly one-sided in terms of results, but Namibia has often punched above its weight, providing moments of serious excitement. They have never met in a Test match.

One-Day Internationals (ODIs)

South Africa and Namibia have met only once in an official ODI.

Match 1: The 2003 World Cup Encounter

• Date: February 16, 2003

• Tournament: ICC Cricket World Cup 2003

• Venue: North West Cricket Stadium, Potchefstroom, South Africa

• Captains:

  • South Africa: Shaun Pollock (Leading a powerhouse team on home soil)

  • Namibia: Deon Kotze (Skippering the tournament debutants)

• Match Detail:
  This was a classic World Cup minnow-vs-giant fixture. South Africa, batting first, posted a mammoth 301/9, with Herschelle Gibbs smashing a rapid 61. The Namibian bowlers, to their credit, fought back in the middle overs, but the total was always going to be daunting.
  In reply, Namibia showed incredible heart. A young Jan-Berrie Burger played the innings of his life, scoring a magnificent 85 not out. While they never threatened the target, they batted out their full 50 overs, finishing on 224/5. It was a loss, but one that earned the Namibian Eagles immense respect for their spirited fight.

• Result: South Africa won by 77 runs.

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T20 Internationals (T20Is)

The two nations have faced each other more frequently in the shortest format, with three official T20I encounters. Namibia's historic victory in 2021 is the standout moment.

Match 1: The First T20I

• Date: April 19, 2019

• Tournament: Namibia Tri-Nation Series

• Venue: Wanderers Cricket Ground, Windhoek, Namibia

• Captains:

  • South Africa: JP Duminy (Veteran all-rounder leading a slightly experimental side)

  • Namibia: Gerhard Erasmus (The young, astute leader of the new-look Eagles)

• Match Detail:
  South Africa set a competitive total of 160/6, with Rassie van der Dussen top-scoring. Namibia's chase never really got going against a disciplined Proteas attack, and they fell short by 34 runs.

• Result: South Africa won by 34 runs.

Match 2: The Historic Upset (2021 T20 World Cup)

• Date: October 19, 2021

• Tournament: ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021 (Group 1)

• Venue: Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, UAE

• Captains:

  • South Africa: Temba Bavuma (The pioneering full-time black African captain)

  • Namibia: Gerhard Erasmus (The captain leading his team in their first-ever Super 12 stage)

• Match Detail:
  This was one of the biggest shocks in T20 World Cup history. South Africa could only manage a modest 125/8 in their 20 overs, with Namibia's bowlers, led by Jan Frylinck (2/26) and David Wiese (1/30), applying immense pressure.
  In a nerve-wracking chase, it was the experienced David Wiese (a former Protea himself) who became the hero for Namibia. His unbeaten 28, combined with a cool-headed finish from Erasmus, guided Namibia to a historic victory with 6 balls to spare. The cricket world stood up and took notice of the Namibian Eagles.

• Result: Namibia won by 6 wickets.

Match 3: The Quickfire World Cup Rematch

• Date: June 11, 2024

• Tournament: ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024

• Venue: Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados

• Captains:

  • South Africa: Aiden Markram (Fresh off an IPL captaincy triumph)

  • Namibia: Gerhard Erasmus (The established leader of a now-respected T20 side)

• Match Detail:
  In a low-scoring thriller dictated by a tricky New York pitch, South Africa's batters struggled badly. Only a gritty 39* from David Miller helped them limp to 95/9. Namibia, in reply, found the pitch just as challenging. South Africa's elite pace attack of Anrich Nortje (4/7) and Ottniel Baartman (4/11) was simply unplayable, skittling Namibia for just 95 to secure a nail-biting victory.

• Result: South Africa won by 4 runs.

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Captaincy Spotlight

• For South Africa: The captain's armband has passed from the all-round prowess of Shaun Pollock, to the cool head of JP Duminy, the groundbreaking leadership of Temba Bavuma, and now to the modern, tactical mind of Aiden Markram. Each encounter has seen a different leader for the Proteas.

• For Namibia: The story is one of consistency. Gerhard Erasmus has been the constant, captaining Namibia in all three of their T20Is against South Africa. He has b

  
  
  
  een the architect of their rise, masterminding their famous 2021 victory and establishing them as a formidable Associate nation.

Final Summary & The Rivalry's Future

Format	Matches	SA Wins	NAM Wins	Tied/NR
ODI	1	1	0	0
T20I	3	2	1	0
TOTAL	4	3	1	0

While the head-to-head record heavily favours South Africa, Namibia's iconic win in the 2021 T20 World Cup ensures this fixture is no longer a foregone conclusion. It has injected a real sense of competitive spirit into the rivalry.

Kantara: Chapter 1

 

Kantara: Chapter 1 — Movie Information & First Day Collection

Basic Details & Background

• Title: Kantara: Chapter 1

• Franchise Context: This film is a prequel (in the Kantara universe) to Kantara (2022). Wikipedia+2The Indian Express+2

• Director / Lead Actor: Rishab Shetty (he also acts in it) Wikipedia+2The Indian Express+2

• Producers / Banner: Produced by Hombale Films (Vijay Kiragandur, etc.) The Indian Express+2Wikipedia+2

• Key Cast: Rukmini Vasanth, Gulshan Devaiah, Jayaram (among others) The Indian Express+2Wikipedia+2

• Story / Setting: The film explores the origin of divine and mythical elements from the first film — focusing on Panjurli Daiva and Guliga Daiva — set in pre-colonial Karnataka (during the Kadamba reign in the Banavasi region) Hindustan Times+3Wikipedia+3The Indian Express+3

• Certification: The film cleared the censor board with a UA certificate (i.e. parental guidance recommended) after one cut. The Times of India

• Runtime, Languages & Versions: One report notes a runtime of about 169 minutes. The Indian Express

• OTT / Digital Rights: The OTT (streaming) rights have reportedly been sold (e.g. to Prime Video) for a substantial sum (reportedly ₹ 125 crore) The Times of India+1

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First Day (“Day 1”) Box Office & Opening Figures

• On its opening day (October 2, 2025) — which coincided with Dussehra / Gandhi Jayanti — Kantara: Chapter 1 had a very strong opening performance. Wikipedia+4The Indian Express+4FilmiBeat+4

• By 4 PM on day 1, the film had collected about ₹ 33.25 crore across all languages (as reported) Hindustan Times+2The Indian Express+2

• Some sources claim a “massive opening” of ₹ 65 crore on day 1 (gross) for the combined versions, though this might be an optimistic or aggregate figure. The Economic Times

• Another source (Filmibeat) mentions that by ~4:15 PM, the movie had already done ₹ 33.25 crore in its opening day. FilmiBeat

• The Indian Express live updates indicate that the film had crossed ₹ 50+ crore (by 8 pm) across India on day 1. The Indian Express

• In early tracking, Sacnilk data suggests the net India collection on day 1 (all languages) was about ₹ 22.46 crore by 2 PM. The Indian Express

• Some commentary frames that the opening day collection surpassed many recent big films, establishing it as one of the major openers in 2025. The Economic Times+2FilmiBeat+2

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Additional Notes, Observations & Reception

• Advance Bookings: Before release, the advance bookings were modest compared to some other big-budget films, though they improved on the release day. Hindustan Times+3The Indian Express+3FilmiBeat+3

• Critical & Audience Response (Early): The film has been described as visually grand, mythologically rich, and technically strong (VFX, cinematography) by early reviews and social media reactions. FilmiBeat+3The Indian Express+3Wikipedia+3

• Challenges / Incidents: During the shoot of the film (which was referred to sometimes as “Kantara 2” in some media), there was a tragic incident where a junior artiste drowned on set. The Times of India

• Public Expectation & Hype: Given the phenomenal success of Kantara (2022), expectations for this prequel were very high, and that added pressure on its opening performance to match or exceed prior benchmarks. Hindustan Times+3The Indian Express+3Wikipedia+3

• Comparisons with Other Films: The opening was compared (in media) with openings of films like KGF, and it was suggested this film might break some box office records for Kannada / pan-Indian releases.

Movie Title: Kantara: Chapter 1 (though many fans call it Kantara 2 since it’s the second release).

Release Year: 2025

Release Date: 2 October 2025 (pan-India in 5 languages).

Opening Day (2025): Collected between ₹50–65 crore worldwide gross depending on reports — making it one of the biggest Indian openings of 2025.

Significance (2025): It’s considered a prequel set centuries earlier than the original Kantara (2022), exploring divine origins of the Daiva tradition

1. Background and Development

• After the unexpected blockbuster success of Kantara (2022), Rishab Shetty announced that the next installment would be a prequel, exploring the mystical, divine origins of the Daiva traditions portrayed in the first film.

• Official title: Kantara: Chapter 1 (but widely called Kantara Chapter 2 by audiences, since it is the second release in the franchise).

• Production House: Hombale Films (makers of KGF and Salaar), ensuring pan-India scale and aggressive promotions.

• Filming Locations: Dense forests, traditional shrines, and heritage spots in Karnataka and Kerala. The production emphasized authenticity in costumes, art direction, and rituals.

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2. Story & Mythological Context

• While Kantara (2022) was set in the 1990s, this prequel goes back several centuries.

• The film narrates the origins of Panjurli Daiva and the conflict between divine protectors and human rulers.

• Themes explored:

  • Clash of faith vs power.

  • Struggles of tribal communities against feudal oppression.

  • Mystical elements of Bhuta Kola rituals, taken from Tulu Nadu traditions.

• The screenplay blends mythology, folklore, spirituality, and action into a visually rich narrative.

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3. Cast & Crew

• Rishab Shetty — Lead actor and director. He plays a royal warrior with divine connections.

• Rukmini Vasanth — Female lead, bringing emotional weight and a cultural arc.

• Gulshan Devaiah — Antagonist with layered shades.

• Jayaram — Senior actor, playing a spiritual leader figure.

• Music composed by Ajaneesh Loknath, whose background score was a highlight in the first film.

• Cinematography by Arvind Kashyap, focusing on natural landscapes, fire sequences, and ritualistic grandeur.

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4. Release Strategy

• Released on October 2, 2025 — a national holiday (Gandhi Jayanti + Dussehra week).

• Languages: Kannada (original), dubbed in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam.

• Runtime: 169 minutes, designed as an epic with large-scale battle scenes.

• OTT Rights: Reportedly sold to Prime Video for ₹125 crore, signaling confidence in long-term digital success.

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5. First Day Box Office Performance

• Advance bookings were steady but not record-breaking; however, word of mouth + holiday factor boosted footfalls.

• Day 1 Numbers (various reports):

  • Early reports: ₹ 22–25 crore net (India, all languages) by afternoon.

  • Evening updates: ₹ 33.25 crore gross (till 4 pm).

  • Final day estimate: ₹ 50–65 crore worldwide gross on Day 1.

• Comparison:

  • Surpassed openings of several 2025 big releases, including some Tamil and Hindi films.

  • Edged close to KGF and Salaar in terms of Kannada cinema’s biggest openers.

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6. Reception & Reviews

• Critics: Mixed-to-positive reviews. Most praised the visual scale, rituals, cinematography, and Rishab’s performance, though some felt the film’s pace was uneven in the first half.

• Audience: Strongly positive. Social media praised the film as a “spiritual experience” and “divine storytelling,” reinforcing its cultural roots.

• Word of Mouth: Very strong in Karnataka, Kerala, and Telugu states; decent in North India, where Kantara (2022) had already built a cult fanbase.