Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Raksha Bandhan with schoolchildren at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, marking the festival with a special interaction with children.

Sharing his wishes on social media, Modi said the festival should deepen bonds of affection and harmony and bring happiness and prosperity to everyone.

The celebration at the Prime Minister’s residence featured schoolchildren coming together for the traditional festival, highlighting the spirit of affection, togetherness and harmony associated with Raksha Bandhan.

Watch this coverage for visuals from the Raksha Bandhan celebrations in Delhi, the Prime Minister’s interaction with schoolchildren, his message to the nation and the latest updates from Lok Kalyan Marg.

Raksha Bandhan celebrations across India: Children tie rakhi to PM Modi 

The festival of Rakshabandhan or Rakhi traditionally celebrates the bond of siblings, particularly of brothers and sisters. Over the years, the celebration has taken on its own spin, with siblings, irrespective of gender, celebrating their bond. A typical Hindu festival, Rakshabandhan has, over the decades, served different purposes and meanings for different communities. In East India, Rakhi was introduced by poet Rabindranath Tagore, not as a festival for brothers and sisters, but to fortify a bond between Hindus and Muslims, and prevent Bengal’s partition in 1905 by the British.&nbsp;The world we live in is polarised. Lines are often drawn based on one's religion and colour. A moment from history serves as a timely reminder of religious harmony that once existed in India. On Rakshabandhan, here’s a look back at a time when the sacred thread was used to resist division on religious lines. A move that was<h2>Rakhi celebration to stop Bengal’s partition</h2>At the dawn of the 20th century, Bengal was at its peak of nationalist movement. This emerged as a big threat to the British Raj. Thus, in 1905, Lord Curzon announced the Partition of Bengal, a policy explicitly designed to divide the region along religious lines—creating a Muslim-majority Eastern Bengal and Assam, and a Hindu-majority Western Bengal. While it was termed an administrative restructuring, it was, in reality, a means of dividing the region that had become the epicentre of nationalism and nationalist activities.&nbsp;In response, Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore conceived a masterstroke of cultural resistance. Rather than relying solely on political speeches or petitions, Tagore drew on the traditional festival of Rakshabandhan to make a statement about Hindu-Muslim unity in Bengal. Rakhi was till then historically known as a domestic ritual where sisters tie protective threads (rakhis) on their brothers' wrists, but Tagore reimagined the custom as a public act of communal solidarity.&nbsp;<h2>Celebrating Rakhi in Muslim neighbourhoods of Kolkata</h2>On October 16, 1905—the day partition officially took effect—Tagore declared a day of widespread mourning (Arandhan), asking Bengalis to shut their kitchens as a sign of shared grief. He then called upon Hindus and Muslims across the province to step into the streets and tie yellow silk threads onto each other’s wrists, symbolising an unbreakable, sacred bond of brotherhood.&nbsp;Tagore personally led a massive procession down the streets of Kolkata after taking a ritual dip in the Ganges. Barefoot and singing patriotic songs, the procession marched directly into Muslim-dominated neighbourhoods of Kolkata. Tagore and his followers visited local mosques, market stalls, and homes, tying rakhis onto Muslim clerics, shopkeepers, and labourers. &nbsp;Tagore even composed the famous song "Banglar Mati, Banglar Jol" ("Soil of Bengal, Water of Bengal"), invoking a shared cultural identity that transcended religious faith.&nbsp;Similar marches of solidarity were organised in &nbsp;Dhaka and Sylhet to make a loud statement of resistance against the partition of Bengal. For those who walked the streets singing Tagore songs of unity, Rakhi went beyond familial bonds and became a symbol of national unity.&nbsp;Rakhi, thus became a visual representation against British rule. Tagore’s move was seen as a strong statement of unity that could not be broken on the basis of religion.&nbsp;The simple act of tying a thread became one of the defining symbols of the Swadeshi movement, successfully rallying mass participation across socio-economic and religious lines.&nbsp;The sustained public pressure and unified agitation eventually compelled the British Crown to annul the Partition of Bengal in 1911.&nbsp;Tagore’s legacy of using Raksha Bandhan remains one of modern history’s most profound examples of using cultural symbols to unite divided communities. Once perceived as a festival for familial bonds, the same sacred thread became a symbol of unity against oppression and communal divide.&nbsp;A century later, Rakhi has evolved in ways that celebrate bonds. One doesn’t need a brother or a sister to celebrate the bond of love. Rakhi remains one of those Indian festivals that celebrate brotherhood and friendships, reiterating that traditions evolve with time, sometimes as a mark of resistance, and at other times to celebrate bonds.&nbsp;

At the dawn of the 20th century in India, Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore used Rakhi as a symbol for communal harmony and to protest against the partition of Bengal in 1905. Thus, the traditional festival got a nationalist spin to resist oppression. 

The festival of Rakshabandhan or Rakhi traditionally celebrates the bond of siblings, particularly of brothers and sisters. Over the years, the celebration has taken on its own spin, with siblings, irrespective of gender, celebrating their bond. A typical Hindu festival, Rakshabandhan has, over the decades, served different purposes and meanings for different communities. In East India, Rakhi was introduced by poet Rabindranath Tagore, not as a festival for brothers and sisters, but to fortify a bond between Hindus and Muslims, and prevent Bengal’s partition in 1905 by the British. The world we live in is polarised. Lines are often drawn based on one's religion and colour. A moment from history serves as a timely reminder of religious harmony that once existed in India. On Rakshabandhan, here’s a look back at a time when the sacred thread was used to resist division on religious lines. A move that was Rakhi celebration to stop Bengal’s partition At the dawn of the 20th century, Bengal was at its peak of nationalist movement. This emerged as a big threat to the British Raj. Thus, in 1905, Lord Curzon announced the Partition of Bengal, a policy explicitly designed to divide the region along religious lines—creating a Muslim-majority Eastern Bengal and Assam, and a Hindu-majority Western Bengal. While it was termed an administrative restructuring, it was, in reality, a means of dividing the region that had become the epicentre of nationalism and nationalist activities. In response, Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore conceived a masterstroke of cultural resistance. Rather than relying solely on political speeches or petitions, Tagore drew on the traditional festival of Rakshabandhan to make a statement about Hindu-Muslim unity in Bengal. Rakhi was till then historically known as a domestic ritual where sisters tie protective threads (rakhis) on their brothers' wrists, but Tagore reimagined the custom as a public act of communal solidarity. Celebrating Rakhi in Muslim neighbourhoods of Kolkata On October 16, 1905—the day partition officially took effect—Tagore declared a day of widespread mourning (Arandhan), asking Bengalis to shut their kitchens as a sign of shared grief. He then called upon Hindus and Muslims across the province to step into the streets and tie yellow silk threads onto each other’s wrists, symbolising an unbreakable, sacred bond of brotherhood. Tagore personally led a massive procession down the streets of Kolkata after taking a ritual dip in the Ganges. Barefoot and singing patriotic songs, the procession marched directly into Muslim-dominated neighbourhoods of Kolkata. Tagore and his followers visited local mosques, market stalls, and homes, tying rakhis onto Muslim clerics, shopkeepers, and labourers. Tagore even composed the famous song "Banglar Mati, Banglar Jol" ("Soil of Bengal, Water of Bengal"), invoking a shared cultural identity that transcended religious faith. Similar marches of solidarity were organised in Dhaka and Sylhet to make a loud statement of resistance against the partition of Bengal. For those who walked the streets singing Tagore songs of unity, Rakhi went beyond familial bonds and became a symbol of national unity. Rakhi, thus became a visual representation against British rule. Tagore’s move was seen as a strong statement of unity that could not be broken on the basis of religion. The simple act of tying a thread became one of the defining symbols of the Swadeshi movement, successfully rallying mass participation across socio-economic and religious lines. The sustained public pressure and unified agitation eventually compelled the British Crown to annul the Partition of Bengal in 1911. Tagore’s legacy of using Raksha Bandhan remains one of modern history’s most profound examples of using cultural symbols to unite divided communities. Once perceived as a festival for familial bonds, the same sacred thread became a symbol of unity against oppression and communal divide. A century later, Rakhi has evolved in ways that celebrate bonds. One doesn’t need a brother or a sister to celebrate the bond of love. Rakhi remains one of those Indian festivals that celebrate brotherhood and friendships, reiterating that traditions evolve with time, sometimes as a mark of resistance, and at other times to celebrate bonds.

At the dawn of the 20th century in India, Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore used Rakhi as a symbol for communal harmony and to protest against the partition of Bengal in 1905. Thus, the traditional festival got a nationalist spin to resist oppression.&nbsp;

When Rakhi unified Bengal: The story of Rabindranath Tagore’s 1905 anti-partition protest

Actor Kriti Sanon has responded to the controversy over her Raksha Bandhan advertisement, saying the festival should focus on emotions and traditions rather than a woman’s clothing. She also defended the inclusion of her pet dog, saying dogs are an important part of the family.

Kriti Sanon's Rakhi ad ignites fierce cultural debate 

Actor Kriti Sanon has responded to the controversy over her Raksha Bandhan advertisement, saying the festival should focus on emotions and traditions rather than a woman’s clothing. She also defended the inclusion of her pet dog, saying dogs are an important part of the family

Kriti Sanon's Rakhi ad ignites fierce cultural debate

Celebrating sibling bond on Raksha Bandhan, schoolgirls tied rakhis to Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a school in New Delhi. The schoolchildren greeted PM Modi with smiles as he entered the classroom and tied the sacred thread to him.

As the girls stepped up to tie the rakhi, Prime Minister Modi greeted them with an affectionate smile, asking their names and classes.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/on-raksha-bandhan-meet-these-bollywood-siblings-who-we-absolutely-love-629932">On Raksha Bandhan, meet these Bollywood siblings we absolutely love</a>

In an adorable moment, one of the girls gave PM Modi a peck on his cheek as he proceeded to bend down and bless her. PM Modi was seen sitting on a chair with the schoolgirls taking turns to tie rakhis.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | School girls tie Rakhi to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi, as they celebrate the festival of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RakshaBandhan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RakshaBandhan</a> with him. <a href="https://t.co/Hhyjx63xgi">pic.twitter.com/Hhyjx63xgi</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1696753045869314172?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Prime Minister also posed for a group photo with schoolgirls and teachers on the occasion. The customised rakhis, which the girls tied on PM Modi’s wrist, had his image on them.

The festival marking the eternal bond between a brother and a sister is being celebrated with signature pomp and fervour across the country. In Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district, schoolgirls tied rakhis to CRPF jawans. In the Samba district of the Valley, BSF jawans celebrated Raksha Bandhan with school children. 
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Celebrating sibling bond on Raksha Bandhan, schoolgirls tied rakhis to Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a school in New Delhi. The schoolchildren greeted PM Modi with smiles as he entered the classroom and tied the sacred thread to him.

Celebrating sibling bond on Raksha Bandhan, schoolgirls tied rakhis to Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a school in New Delhi. The schoolchildren greeted PM Modi with smiles as he entered the classroom and tied the sacred thread to him. As the girls stepped up to tie the rakhi, Prime Minister Modi greeted them with an affectionate smile, asking their names and classes. Also read | On Raksha Bandhan, meet these Bollywood siblings we absolutely love In an adorable moment, one of the girls gave PM Modi a peck on his cheek as he proceeded to bend down and bless her. PM Modi was seen sitting on a chair with the schoolgirls taking turns to tie rakhis. #WATCH | School girls tie Rakhi to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi, as they celebrate the festival of #RakshaBandhan with him. pic.twitter.com/Hhyjx63xgi — ANI (@ANI) August 30, 2023 × Prime Minister also posed for a group photo with schoolgirls and teachers on the occasion. The customised rakhis, which the girls tied on PM Modi’s wrist, had his image on them. The festival marking the eternal bond between a brother and a sister is being celebrated with signature pomp and fervour across the country. In Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district, schoolgirls tied rakhis to CRPF jawans. In the Samba district of the Valley, BSF jawans celebrated Raksha Bandhan with school children. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Watch: Indian PM Narendra Modi celebrates Rakshabandhan with school girls

Raksha Bandhan 2023: Raksha Bandhan is an auspicious Hindu festival celebrated to cherish the unbreakable bond between siblings. Traditionally, it was celebrated by performing certain rituals where the sister ties a rakhi on the brother’s hand and prays for his prosperity and in return brothers promise to protect their sisters. However, as trends are changing with time, brothers also tie rakhis on their sister's hand and sisters also celebrate Raksha Bandhan by tying rakhis on each other’s hand.&nbsp;

Below is all you need to know about this year's Raksha Bandhan.

<h2>Raksha Bandhan 2023: Date and Auspicious Time</h2>

The Hindu festival Raksha Bandhan is celebrated annually on the Poornima Tithi ( full moon day) of Shravan Maas (Sawan Month). According to the Drik Panchang, the full moon or Purnima tithi will begin at 10:58 am on August 30 and will end at 07:05 am&nbsp;on August 31.

Rakhi will be celebrated on August 30 and 31 this year&nbsp;because of the Bhadra Kaal, during which one should not perform the rituals of rakhi.

This year, the auspicious time to perform Raksha Bandhan rituals starts from 9:00 pm on August 30.&nbsp;

<h2>Raksha Bandhan 2023: Significance and History</h2>

According to Hindu beliefs, Raksha Bandhan holds a lot of significance for the people. In the epic Hindu script of Mahabharata, Lord Krishna accidentally cut his finger on the Sudarshan Chakra and Draupadi helped&nbsp;him by tearing a piece of her saree and tying&nbsp;it to the injured finger&nbsp;to stop the bleeding. In return, Krishna promised Draupadi to protect her from every situation. He fulfilled his promise by protecting her when she was publicly humiliated in the court of Hastinapur and Kauravas tried to shame her.&nbsp;

Raksha Bandhan emphasises the importance of the sibling bond and the festival has its origins in the times when territorial or village exogamy was practised.

Rakhi marks&nbsp;an occasion for the girls to visit their homes as when brides were married outside of their hometown, their parents did not visit them in their married homes. Today, Raksha Bandhan is celebrated with a more symbolic approach and with love and joy.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Raksha Bandhan 2023: Raksha Bandhan is an auspicious Hindu festival celebrated to cherish the unbreakable bond between siblings. Traditionally, it was celebrated by performing certain rituals where the sister ties a rakhi on the brother’s hand and prays for his prosperity and in return brothers promise to protect their sisters.

Raksha Bandhan 2023: Raksha Bandhan is an auspicious Hindu festival celebrated to cherish the unbreakable bond between siblings. Traditionally, it was celebrated by performing certain rituals where the sister ties a rakhi on the brother’s hand and prays for his prosperity and in return brothers promise to protect their sisters. However, as trends are changing with time, brothers also tie rakhis on their sister's hand and sisters also celebrate Raksha Bandhan by tying rakhis on each other’s hand. Below is all you need to know about this year's Raksha Bandhan. Raksha Bandhan 2023: Date and Auspicious Time The Hindu festival Raksha Bandhan is celebrated annually on the Poornima Tithi ( full moon day) of Shravan Maas (Sawan Month). According to the Drik Panchang, the full moon or Purnima tithi will begin at 10:58 am on August 30 and will end at 07:05 am on August 31. Rakhi will be celebrated on August 30 and 31 this year because of the Bhadra Kaal, during which one should not perform the rituals of rakhi. This year, the auspicious time to perform Raksha Bandhan rituals starts from 9:00 pm on August 30. Raksha Bandhan 2023: Significance and History According to Hindu beliefs, Raksha Bandhan holds a lot of significance for the people. In the epic Hindu script of Mahabharata, Lord Krishna accidentally cut his finger on the Sudarshan Chakra and Draupadi helped him by tearing a piece of her saree and tying it to the injured finger to stop the bleeding. In return, Krishna promised Draupadi to protect her from every situation. He fulfilled his promise by protecting her when she was publicly humiliated in the court of Hastinapur and Kauravas tried to shame her. Raksha Bandhan emphasises the importance of the sibling bond and the festival has its origins in the times when territorial or village exogamy was practised. Rakhi marks an occasion for the girls to visit their homes as when brides were married outside of their hometown, their parents did not visit them in their married homes. Today, Raksha Bandhan is celebrated with a more symbolic approach and with love and joy. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Raksha Bandhan 2023: Check date, time, significance, and all you need to know

We are aware about the looming crisis over the Indian film industry. It's not just the Bollywood movies which are getting recurrent flops after flops but Southern Indian movies are projecting the same results. But why?&nbsp;&nbsp;

In Indian cinema, movies like 'KGF chapter 2', 'RRR', 'Kashmir Files', 'Bhool Bhulaiyya' and 'Vikram' are the handful of films which were blockbusters. Despite good plots, movies are unable to perform for example 'Shamshera' and 'Laal Singh Chaddha'. There are various factors for the crisis starting from Sushant Singh Rajput's death to NCB drug cases of actors like Deepika Padukone, Shraddha Kapoor, Ananya Pandey, Sara Ali Khan, and Bharti Singh. The major boost came after Aryan Khan's case. These drug cases left the B-Town at a vulnerable edge. Other factors like OTT, high cost of tickets, revenue structure of movies, and the remuneration of actors have also played a part in the film industry's slump.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In fact, the reputation of actors like Akshay Kumar got spotted after his controversial advertisement and later on his movie Prithiviraj suffered. These are a few factors which I believe is dwindling the stable graph of Indian cinema.&nbsp;

With death of Sushant Singh Rajput, the debate of nepotism in Bollywood industry and welcoming opportunities for the star kids only, left the outsiders on the edge and startled&nbsp;the audience. Debates held by various media organisations with struggling actors proved the presence of nepotism in the B - Town ignited the fans and supporters of the late actor who has wide mass appeal after his famous show, Pavitra Rishta.

The Covid Pandemic further exacerbated the situation. Theatre and movies were closed. This incurred huge losses to producers whose productions were halted midway. The films whose releases were left forcefully paved the way towards OTT. The relaxation between the two Covid waves allowed cinemas to open with restrictions. This did not allow full revenue profits to producers.

The second wave of Covid further pushed the OTT platforms. As per the All About Screens, report by Deloitte " OTT may record a compounded growth of more than 20% to touch $13 billion–$15 billion over the next decade." At present, OTT makes 7-9% of the entertainment industry in India. As per the report, low cost, internet inclusivity , digital penetration in rural India and rise of short-form content has lead to a sudden spike in digital platforms.&nbsp;

Moreover, after a window period, almost all movies are released on digital platforms which discourages the audience to go theatres. After the digital release of a movie, duplicate content of the same is made available on various platforms like Telegram, and YouTube among others.&nbsp;

For instance, a middle-class family of four wants to watch a movie. After Covid, the prices of tickets rose high. So as per bookmytickets, the family needs to pay Rs.1600 for a movie. Then refreshment and convenience charges will also be applied in accordance with the budget. Hence as per the calculation, it might make around Rs. 2000-2500 for a family. On the other, Netflix charges, Rs.149 and 199 for a monthly subscriptions with the good video quality of 480p resolution.&nbsp;

With this calculation, Netflix will be much more affordable for people. Frankly during metro or train travels, many passengers binge-watch. Producers even before theatrical release, lock the agreement for digital release. However, if the film is not performing well, many bankrollers direct it towards OTT. This is common with the southern Indian cinema industry as well.&nbsp;

Almost for two years, the majority of actors did not earn much from movies. Their main source shifted to social media paid partnership. Social media also led to the emergence of digital content creators or influencers. This again widen the scope of all those who wanted to be part of Maya Nagari. Hence secondary talents in the cinema industry were replaced by these influencers.&nbsp;

With relaxation in lockdown norms, mainstream actors demanded high remuneration as inflation also rose after the Pandemic. As no movies were made during the lockdown this squeezed the source of income for producers. Hence the demand of entertainers and the wealth of producers could not match. Films which were already produced and released could not garner the expected profit from them. For instance -it is said that the movie 'Shamshera' was made at Rs.150 crore and it pegged at Rs. 36 crores. Another instance of 'Wild Dog' starring Nagarjuna Akkineni and Dia Mirza also failed to convince the audience.&nbsp;

In fact the recent movie 'Laal Singh Chaddha' and Akshay Kumar 's 'Rakshabandhan' could not perform well due to numerous reasons.&nbsp;

In the Telugu language industry, the Telugu Film Chamber and Telugu Producer Council decided to halt the shooting process to find concrete solutions. Meanwhile, the association has formed a committee to examine the situations and submit report. Kerala cinema is no exception to it.&nbsp;

Then cases of drugs rackets in Bollywood with many inspirational stars left fans hooked to the television. The media also covered the agenda with many debates and feature shows that trended hashtags like Bollywood boycott.

In some cases, religious extremist forces also play an important role to boycott films. But what will happen with boycotting the films? In the long run, it is Indian cinema which will suffer. In terms of other countries, India will have less number of successful movies. At some time, it will affect our economy as well.&nbsp;

We are aware about the looming crisis over the Indian film industry. It's not just the Bollywood movies which are getting recurrent flops after flops but Southern Indian movies are projecting the same results.

We are aware about the looming crisis over the Indian film industry. It's not just the Bollywood movies which are getting recurrent flops after flops but Southern Indian movies are projecting the same results. But why? In Indian cinema, movies like 'KGF chapter 2', 'RRR', 'Kashmir Files', 'Bhool Bhulaiyya' and 'Vikram' are the handful of films which were blockbusters. Despite good plots, movies are unable to perform for example 'Shamshera' and 'Laal Singh Chaddha'. There are various factors for the crisis starting from Sushant Singh Rajput's death to NCB drug cases of actors like Deepika Padukone, Shraddha Kapoor, Ananya Pandey, Sara Ali Khan, and Bharti Singh. The major boost came after Aryan Khan's case. These drug cases left the B-Town at a vulnerable edge. Other factors like OTT, high cost of tickets, revenue structure of movies, and the remuneration of actors have also played a part in the film industry's slump. In fact, the reputation of actors like Akshay Kumar got spotted after his controversial advertisement and later on his movie Prithiviraj suffered. These are a few factors which I believe is dwindling the stable graph of Indian cinema. With death of Sushant Singh Rajput, the debate of nepotism in Bollywood industry and welcoming opportunities for the star kids only, left the outsiders on the edge and startled the audience. Debates held by various media organisations with struggling actors proved the presence of nepotism in the B - Town ignited the fans and supporters of the late actor who has wide mass appeal after his famous show, Pavitra Rishta. The Covid Pandemic further exacerbated the situation. Theatre and movies were closed. This incurred huge losses to producers whose productions were halted midway. The films whose releases were left forcefully paved the way towards OTT. The relaxation between the two Covid waves allowed cinemas to open with restrictions. This did not allow full revenue profits to producers. The second wave of Covid further pushed the OTT platforms. As per the All About Screens, report by Deloitte " OTT may record a compounded growth of more than 20% to touch $13 billion–$15 billion over the next decade." At present, OTT makes 7-9% of the entertainment industry in India. As per the report, low cost, internet inclusivity , digital penetration in rural India and rise of short-form content has lead to a sudden spike in digital platforms. Moreover, after a window period, almost all movies are released on digital platforms which discourages the audience to go theatres. After the digital release of a movie, duplicate content of the same is made available on various platforms like Telegram, and YouTube among others. For instance, a middle-class family of four wants to watch a movie. After Covid, the prices of tickets rose high. So as per bookmytickets, the family needs to pay Rs.1600 for a movie. Then refreshment and convenience charges will also be applied in accordance with the budget. Hence as per the calculation, it might make around Rs. 2000-2500 for a family. On the other, Netflix charges, Rs.149 and 199 for a monthly subscriptions with the good video quality of 480p resolution. With this calculation, Netflix will be much more affordable for people. Frankly during metro or train travels, many passengers binge-watch. Producers even before theatrical release, lock the agreement for digital release. However, if the film is not performing well, many bankrollers direct it towards OTT. This is common with the southern Indian cinema industry as well. Almost for two years, the majority of actors did not earn much from movies. Their main source shifted to social media paid partnership. Social media also led to the emergence of digital content creators or influencers. This again widen the scope of all those who wanted to be part of Maya Nagari. Hence secondary talents in the cinema industry were replaced by these influencers. With relaxation in lockdown norms, mainstream actors demanded high remuneration as inflation also rose after the Pandemic. As no movies were made during the lockdown this squeezed the source of income for producers. Hence the demand of entertainers and the wealth of producers could not match. Films which were already produced and released could not garner the expected profit from them. For instance -it is said that the movie 'Shamshera' was made at Rs.150 crore and it pegged at Rs. 36 crores. Another instance of 'Wild Dog' starring Nagarjuna Akkineni and Dia Mirza also failed to convince the audience. In fact the recent movie 'Laal Singh Chaddha' and Akshay Kumar 's 'Rakshabandhan' could not perform well due to numerous reasons. In the Telugu language industry, the Telugu Film Chamber and Telugu Producer Council decided to halt the shooting process to find concrete solutions. Meanwhile, the association has formed a committee to examine the situations and submit report. Kerala cinema is no exception to it. Then cases of drugs rackets in Bollywood with many inspirational stars left fans hooked to the television. The media also covered the agenda with many debates and feature shows that trended hashtags like Bollywood boycott. In some cases, religious extremist forces also play an important role to boycott films. But what will happen with boycotting the films? In the long run, it is Indian cinema which will suffer. In terms of other countries, India will have less number of successful movies. At some time, it will affect our economy as well.

With most films failing at the box office, is this the dark age of Indian Cinema?

This festive week, two of the most awaited movies of Bollywood Aamir Khan's 'Laal Singh Chaddha' and Akshay Kumar's 'Raksha Bandhan' were released. Expectations were high from the films but looks like, both the films are struggling the same way&nbsp;as all the big Bollywood releases did in the first half of 2022.&nbsp; 
 
'Laal&nbsp;Singh Chaddha' and&nbsp;'Raksha Bandhan' are not performing well on the silver screens and have failed to impress the audience.

Laal Singh Chaddha box office:&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Aamir's movie, which is a remake of the Hollywood cult classic 'Forrest Gump', has disappointed the critics and audience. The film faced a lot of backlash before its release because of Aamir's previous remarks in interviews and looks like&nbsp;it has somewhere affected the box office numbers. 
 
The movie failed to rake in the big moolah. As per Trade Analyst Taran Adarsh, Khan's movie raked in 7.26 crore on Friday.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LaalSinghChaddha?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LaalSinghChaddha</a> falls flat on Day 2... Drop at national chains... Mass pockets face steep fall... 2-day total is alarmingly low for an event film... Extremely crucial to score from Sat-Mon... Thu 11.70 cr, Fri 7.26 cr. Total: ₹ 18.96 cr. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/India?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#India</a> biz. Note: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HINDI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HINDI</a> version. <a href="https://t.co/9hwygm6Jrm">pic.twitter.com/9hwygm6Jrm</a>
— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) <a href="https://twitter.com/taran_adarsh/status/1558375145898930177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 13, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Adarsh tweeted, ''#LaalSinghChaddha falls flat on Day 2... Drop at national chains... Mass pockets face steep fall... 2-day total is alarmingly low for an event film... Extremely crucial to score from Sat-Mon... Thu 11.70 cr, Fri 7.26 cr. Total: ₹ 18.96 cr. #India biz. Note: #HINDI version. 
 
The film grossed only Rs 12 crore on the first day. 
 
WION's review on Laal Singh Chaddha: 
 
WION's film critic Shomini Sen writes, ''The beauty of 'Laal Singh Chaddha' lies in the fact that while some important messages are delivered through the narrative, it never turns preachy. It celebrates humanity above religion and caste — somewhat like Aamir's other film 'PK'. But while 'PK' did have Aamir Khan preaching about humanity, here the messaging is subtle and more layered. At the onset, it is about a slow-witted Laal and the people in his life but when you look deeper, the film is a commentary on evolving socio-political scenario in India. Without taking sides, the film tries to reiterate that humanity is above religion. "Mazhab malaria paida kar sakta hai," says Aamir to Vij's character in a poignant moment.'' <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-laal-singh-chaddha-movie-review-kareena-kapoor-and-the-story-outshine-aamir-khan-505855">Read our review here</a>:&nbsp; 
 
'Rakhsha Bandhan' Box office: 
 
After 'Bachchan Pandey', and 'Prithviraj', looks like Akshay Kumar's 'Raksha Bandhan' will also be a dud at the box office.&nbsp; 
 
The film earned only 8 crore on the first day of its release, less than 'Laal Singh Chaddha'.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RakshaBandhan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RakshaBandhan</a> declines on Day 2... National chains remain extremely low... Mass belt is driving its biz... 2-day total is underwhelming... Needs to have a miraculous turnaround from Sat-Mon... Thu 8.20 cr, Fri 6.40 cr. Total: ₹ 14.60 cr. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/India?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#India</a> biz. <a href="https://t.co/WaJtvW8SJY">pic.twitter.com/WaJtvW8SJY</a>
— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) <a href="https://twitter.com/taran_adarsh/status/1558345198995771392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 13, 2022</a></blockquote>
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On day 2, this one has also shown a slow growth, '#RakshaBandhan declines on Day 2... National chains remain extremely low... Mass belt is driving its biz... 2-day total is underwhelming... Needs to have a miraculous turnaround from Sat-Mon... Thu 8.20 cr, Fri 6.40 cr. Total: ₹ 14.60 cr. #India biz.'' Taran Adarsh tweeted.&nbsp;

The movie follows the story of a brother and his four sisters and tackles social issues like dowry. The film received mixed reviews from critics and audience alike.&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
WION's review on 'Raksha Bandhan' 
 
WION's film critic Shomini Sen writes, ''Melodrama can easily be the middle name of 'Raksha Bandhan'. It tries to project the relationship&nbsp;between siblings almost at a godly level. In a bid to get the required money for dowry, Lala (Akshay Kumar) is willing to mortgage his shop, sell his kidney and whatnot! For a greater part of the film, no one really asks the sisters what they want to do in life. All seem to be okay with the fact that their brother will pay a hefty amount to get them married off. Set in present times, it is rather bizarre to see these young women who are comfortable with their body type and skin and yet seem okay with the dowry system.''&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-raksha-bandhan-movie-review-akshay-kumars-film-is-relevant-but-too-loud-505803">Read our review here:&nbsp;</a>

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This festive week, two of the most awaited movies of Bollywood Aamir Khan's 'Laal Singh Chaddha' and Akshay Kumar's 'Raksha Bandhan' were released. Expectations were high from the films but looks like, both the films are struggling the same way as all the big Bollywood releases did in the first half of 2022.

This festive week, two of the most awaited movies of Bollywood Aamir Khan's 'Laal Singh Chaddha' and Akshay Kumar's 'Raksha Bandhan' were released. Expectations were high from the films but looks like, both the films are struggling the same way as all the big Bollywood releases did in the first half of 2022. 'Laal Singh Chaddha' and 'Raksha Bandhan' are not performing well on the silver screens and have failed to impress the audience. Laal Singh Chaddha box office: Aamir's movie, which is a remake of the Hollywood cult classic 'Forrest Gump', has disappointed the critics and audience. The film faced a lot of backlash before its release because of Aamir's previous remarks in interviews and looks like it has somewhere affected the box office numbers. The movie failed to rake in the big moolah. As per Trade Analyst Taran Adarsh, Khan's movie raked in 7.26 crore on Friday. #LaalSinghChaddha falls flat on Day 2... Drop at national chains... Mass pockets face steep fall... 2-day total is alarmingly low for an event film... Extremely crucial to score from Sat-Mon... Thu 11.70 cr, Fri 7.26 cr. Total: ₹ 18.96 cr. #India biz. Note: #HINDI version. pic.twitter.com/9hwygm6Jrm — taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) August 13, 2022 × Adarsh tweeted, ''#LaalSinghChaddha falls flat on Day 2... Drop at national chains... Mass pockets face steep fall... 2-day total is alarmingly low for an event film... Extremely crucial to score from Sat-Mon... Thu 11.70 cr, Fri 7.26 cr. Total: ₹ 18.96 cr. #India biz. Note: #HINDI version. The film grossed only Rs 12 crore on the first day. WION's review on Laal Singh Chaddha: WION's film critic Shomini Sen writes, ''The beauty of 'Laal Singh Chaddha' lies in the fact that while some important messages are delivered through the narrative, it never turns preachy. It celebrates humanity above religion and caste — somewhat like Aamir's other film 'PK'. But while 'PK' did have Aamir Khan preaching about humanity, here the messaging is subtle and more layered. At the onset, it is about a slow-witted Laal and the people in his life but when you look deeper, the film is a commentary on evolving socio-political scenario in India. Without taking sides, the film tries to reiterate that humanity is above religion. "Mazhab malaria paida kar sakta hai," says Aamir to Vij's character in a poignant moment.'' Read our review here: 'Rakhsha Bandhan' Box office: After 'Bachchan Pandey', and 'Prithviraj', looks like Akshay Kumar's 'Raksha Bandhan' will also be a dud at the box office. The film earned only 8 crore on the first day of its release, less than 'Laal Singh Chaddha'. #RakshaBandhan declines on Day 2... National chains remain extremely low... Mass belt is driving its biz... 2-day total is underwhelming... Needs to have a miraculous turnaround from Sat-Mon... Thu 8.20 cr, Fri 6.40 cr. Total: ₹ 14.60 cr. #India biz. pic.twitter.com/WaJtvW8SJY — taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) August 13, 2022 × On day 2, this one has also shown a slow growth, '#RakshaBandhan declines on Day 2... National chains remain extremely low... Mass belt is driving its biz... 2-day total is underwhelming... Needs to have a miraculous turnaround from Sat-Mon... Thu 8.20 cr, Fri 6.40 cr. Total: ₹ 14.60 cr. #India biz.'' Taran Adarsh tweeted. The movie follows the story of a brother and his four sisters and tackles social issues like dowry. The film received mixed reviews from critics and audience alike. WION's review on 'Raksha Bandhan' WION's film critic Shomini Sen writes, ''Melodrama can easily be the middle name of 'Raksha Bandhan'. It tries to project the relationship between siblings almost at a godly level. In a bid to get the required money for dowry, Lala (Akshay Kumar) is willing to mortgage his shop, sell his kidney and whatnot! For a greater part of the film, no one really asks the sisters what they want to do in life. All seem to be okay with the fact that their brother will pay a hefty amount to get them married off. Set in present times, it is rather bizarre to see these young women who are comfortable with their body type and skin and yet seem okay with the dowry system.'' Read our review here:

Box office: 'Laal Singh Chaddha' & 'Raksha Bandhan' fail to rake in numbers

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Box office: 'Laal Singh Chaddha' & 'Raksha Bandhan' fail to rake in numbers