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Sanju Samson’s T20 Spot in SERIOUS Danger as Gambhir Management Favors All-Format Keeper

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Sanju Samson’s T20 Spot in SERIOUS Danger as Gambhir Management Favors All-Format Keeper

New Delhi, November 1, 2025: Indian wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson‘s position in the T20 squad is reportedly under serious threat due to inconsistent form, with team management said to be actively planning to install Rishabh Pant as the primary wicketkeeper across all three formats.

Samson, who is currently the team’s first-choice T20 keeper, has seen his role shift from an opener to a middle-order batsman since the Asia Cup. However, his performances have failed to solidify his spot.

Recent Failures Under Scrutiny

Samson’s struggles were highlighted during the second T20 match against Australia, where he was given a crucial opportunity at the number three position. He looked visibly uncomfortable against the pace and bounce of the Australian bowlers, eventually falling LBW to Nathan Ellis after facing just four deliveries.

The primary concern for the team management, led by Gautam Gambhir, appears to be the lack of consistency. According to reports from sports media outlets, the management favors Pant as the permanent wicketkeeper across Test, ODI, and T20 formats.

Samson’s overall T20 international statistics are contributing to the pressure. In his last 10 innings, he has managed only 185 runs at a striking rate of 120.91. Gambhir’s philosophy emphasizes stable, high-level performances, and the failure to deliver in upcoming series could see Samson dropped from the priority list for the upcoming World Cup squad, as reported by Telecom Asia Sports.

Australia Dominates Second T20

In related match news, India suffered a four-wicket defeat in the second T20 against Australia. Chasing India’s modest target of 126, Australia comfortably reached the goal in just 13.2 overs with six wickets down and 40 balls remaining. Australian captain Mitchell Marsh was the top scorer for his side, smashing 46 runs off 26 balls.

Kerala lottery Karunya KR-729 result 1/11/2025: ₹1 cr first prize for KX 700735 | Check complete list

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Kerala lottery Karunya KR-729 result 1/11/2025: ₹1 cr first prize for KX 700735 | Check complete list

Thiruvananthapuram, November 1, 2025: The Directorate of Kerala State Lotteries announced the results for the Karunya Lottery KR-729 draw today, November 1, 2025, revealing a massive ₹1 Crore winner.

The highly-anticipated first prize of ₹1,00,00,000 (One Crore Rupees) was secured by a ticket sold in Thiruvananthapuram. The winning ticket number is KX 700735.

The draw, which took place at Gorky Bhavan, near Bakery Junction in Thiruvananthapuram, also saw a second prize winner from Kannur and a third prize winner from Palakkad. Winners are advised to verify their numbers with the results published in the Kerala Government Gazette and surrender their tickets within 90 days.

Major Winners List (KR-729)

1st Prize (₹1,00,00,000)

KX 700735

Consolation Prize (₹5,000)

KN 700735, KO 700735, KP 700735, KR 700735, KS 700735, KT 700735, KU 700735, KV 700735, KW 700735, KY 700735, KZ 700735

2nd Prize (₹25,00,000)

KP 586162

3rd Prize (₹10,00,000)

KS 417548

Detailed Winning Numbers (Last 4 Digits)

4th Prize (₹5,000)

0005, 0356, 1053, 3036, 3273, 3656, 3761, 4165, 4240, 4482, 4704, 6182, 7618, 8168, 8271, 8632, 9320, 9383, 9780

5th Prize (₹2,000)

0167, 6199, 7814, 8146, 8828, 9778

6th Prize (₹1,000)

0224, 0621, 1152, 1175, 1462, 1638, 1945, 2386, 2521, 2753, 2783, 4222, 4469, 4614, 5166, 5417, 5855, 6366, 6702, 7002, 7340, 8750, 9211, 9692, 9916

7th Prize (₹500)

0361, 0378, 0437, 0628, 0695, 0702, 0839, 0847, 0902, 0947, 1330, 1404, 1405, 1519, 1819, 1892, 2075, 2077, 2162, 2536, 2556, 2706, 2879, 2889, 3126, 3181, 3335, 3355, 3381, 3626, 3776, 3842, 4061, 4336, 4371, 4389, 4457, 4581, 4655, 4710, 4725, 4993, 5174, 5287, 5355, 5401, 5608, 5644, 5677, 5739, 5932, 6163, 6453, 6466, 6605, 6667, 6736, 6778, 6844, 6895, 7011, 7111, 7228, 7275, 7535, 7715, 8088, 8151, 8272, 8398, 8523, 8636, 8756, 8995, 9346, 9637

8th Prize (₹200)

0127, 0185, 0214, 0327, 0351, 0438, 0560, 0643, 0655, 0716, 1130, 1203, 1245, 1424, 1450, 1465, 1473, 1925, 1995, 2167, 2220, 2264, 2501, 2826, 2935, 3020, 3143, 3157, 3193, 3540, 3655, 3781, 3868, 4084, 4135, 4238, 4251, 4491, 4544, 4575, 4587, 4764, 4823, 5252, 5553, 5626, 5629, 5721, 5843, 5877, 5943, 6093, 6293, 6571, 6775, 7470, 7479, 7484, 7670, 7716, 7880, 7904, 8022, 8030, 8044, 8221, 8313, 8371, 8460, 8468, 8488, 8550, 8609, 8652, 8671, 8791, 8794, 8829, 8879, 9149, 9204, 9283, 9295, 9417, 9451, 9499, 9664, 9690, 9791, 9800, 9808, 9895

9th Prize (₹100)

0011, 0012, 0068, 0141, 0279, 0305, 0335, 0436, 0512, 0585, 0597, 0607, 0673, 0683, 0802, 0929, 1036, 1228, 1239, 1348, 1443, 1523, 1609, 1610, 1643, 1695, 1704, 1803, 1813, 1818, 1866, 2099, 2150, 2160, 2222, 2441, 2493, 2497, 2513, 2559, 2594, 2702, 2731, 2899, 2954, 3114, 3146, 3210, 3230, 3246, 3314, 3354, 3515, 3595, 3632, 3657, 3744, 3801, 3847, 3854, 3939, 3956, 4067, 4096, 4102, 4160, 4264, 4268, 4397, 4437, 4463, 4518, 4526, 4570, 4642, 4745, 4784, 4803, 4821, 4847, 4894, 4909, 4916, 4947, 4959, 5016, 5125, 5421, 5485, 5633, 5649, 5702, 5708, 5732, 5812, 6047, 6160, 6175, 6312, 6373, 6404, 6458, 6591, 6737, 6758, 6789, 6805, 6822, 6888, 6907, 7014, 7102, 7135, 7140, 7147, 7232, 7238, 7420, 7552, 7587, 7589, 7633, 7723, 7733, 7901, 8065, 8354, 8406, 8668, 8677, 8681, 8732, 8933, 8973, 9093, 9146, 9206, 9324, 9325, 9636, 9793, 9833, 9836, 9905

Consumer Commission Slams United Insurance: Firm Ordered to Pay ₹36.1 Lakh for Denying Fire Claim

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Consumer Commission Slams United Insurance: Firm Ordered to Pay ₹36.1 Lakh for Denying Fire Claim

Malappuram, Kerala: The Consumer Commission has delivered a landmark verdict, directing the United India Insurance Company to pay a total compensation of ₹3,610,000 for unjustly denying an insurance claim to a businessman whose shop was completely gutted in a fire.

The order was issued on a petition filed by Balachandran Nair, the owner of C.K. Toys in Perinthalmanna. Mr. Nair’s shop, which operated on a ₹25 lakh loan from Kerala Gramin Bank, was insured for ₹35 lakh. Despite timely premium payments, the company denied the claim following a devastating fire on the night of August 16, 2021.

Commission Rejects Insurer’s Arguments

The insurance company argued that they denied the claim because the claimant failed to produce necessary documents to prove the loss and that the insured shop’s number and accident location were different.

However, the Commission, consisting of President K. Mohandas and members Preethi Sivaraman and C.V. Mohammed Ismail, rejected these arguments. They stated that the insured shop was indeed the one destroyed and that the company’s argument about the lack of documents was invalid, as all records had perished in the fire itself.

The Commission accepted the stock register maintained by the bank (which sanctioned the ₹25 lakh loan) as sufficient evidence. Since the stock register showed a monthly stock value of over ₹35 lakh, the Commission ordered the insurer to pay the full insured amount of ₹35 lakh.

Compensation for Delay

Furthermore, the Commission penalised the insurer for the delay in settling the claim since the 2021 incident, ordering an additional ₹1 lakh as compensation and ₹10,000 towards court costs.

This ruling underscores the necessity for insurance companies to honour legitimate claims and prevents them from exploiting policyholders based on technicalities, especially when documentation is destroyed in the very incident being claimed.

Oscar Glory to Chalachitra Academy: Rasool Pookutty Replaces Prem Kumar in Politically Charged Shake-up

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Oscar Glory to Chalachitra Academy: Rasool Pookutty Replaces Prem Kumar in Politically Charged Shake-up

Thiruvananthapuram: ​The Kerala State Chalachitra Academy’s governing body has undergone a significant reconstitution, with Oscar-winning sound designer Rasool Pookutty appointed as the new Chairman. This high-profile change sees actor Prem Kumar stepping down from the temporary charge he was holding, triggering speculation that the move is politically motivated.

​The state government officially announced the restructuring, stating that the decision was necessitated by the conclusion of the previous governing body’s term.

​New Leadership Takes Helm

​Pookutty, renowned globally for his work on films like Slumdog Millionaire, now leads the Academy, bringing international acclaim to the position. Joining him as the new Vice Chairperson is actress and producer Kukku Parameswaran. The newly formed 26-member committee also includes prominent figures from the Malayalam film fraternity, such as directors Amal Neerad and Shyam Pushkaran, actress Nikhila Vimal, and artists Sithara Krishnakumar and Sudheer Karamana.

​Prem Kumar had taken over as the interim Chairman, in addition to his role as Vice-Chairman, following the resignation of director Ranjith amid sexual harassment allegations.

​Political Storm Over Prem Kumar’s Exit

​While the official line points to the expiry of the term, sources suggest that Prem Kumar’s removal is linked to his recent public support for the ongoing strike by ASHA workers in the state. This move is being widely interpreted as a political warning by the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government against cultural figures who choose to openly criticize or dissent against state policies.

​The unexpected reshuffle comes at a critical juncture, just ahead of the much-anticipated announcement of the Kerala State Film Awards, putting the spotlight firmly on the new Academy leadership. The shift signals a new era for the Chalachitra Academy, albeit one beginning under a cloud of political controversy.

BlackRock Stung: Indian-Origin CEO Accused in ‘Breathtaking’ $500 Million Loan Fraud

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BlackRock Stung: Indian-Origin CEO Accused in ‘Breathtaking’ $500 Million Loan Fraud

NEW YORK— Global investment powerhouses, including BlackRock’s private-credit arm, are grappling with losses exceeding $500 million after an alleged, highly sophisticated loan fraud, described in court filings as “breathtaking,” was purportedly orchestrated by an Indian-origin telecom executive.

​Bankim Brahmbhatt, the CEO and owner of telecom-services firms Broadband Telecom and Bridgevoice, stands accused by lenders of fabricating invoices and accounts receivable to secure massive loans. The lawsuit, filed in the United States, alleges that Mr. Brahmbhatt’s network of companies created an elaborate, paper-only illusion of financial health while systematically moving funds offshore to India and Mauritius.

​The Deceptive Scheme

​The massive fraud targeted multiple major financial institutions, including BlackRock’s HPS Investment Partners, which began lending to Brahmbhatt-linked firms as early as 2020, with the total investment growing to roughly $430 million by August 2024. French multinational bank BNP Paribas also reportedly financed nearly half the total loan amount.

​According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, the scheme began to unravel in July 2025 when an HPS employee noticed irregularities in the customer email addresses used to verify collateral invoices. Further investigation revealed that several of these addresses were from fake domains designed to mimic real telecom companies, and that correspondence supposedly from clients had been completely fabricated.

​The lawsuit asserts that every customer email provided by Brahmbhatt’s firms over the past two years to verify the invoices was fraudulent, and that some contracts dated back to 2018 were forged. A prominent example cited involves Belgian telecom firm BICS, whose security staff confirmed in writing that the emails shared by Brahmbhatt’s firm represented a “confirmed fraud attempt.”

​Deserted Office and Offshore Transfers

​When HPS officials questioned Mr. Brahmbhatt about the discrepancies, he allegedly dismissed the concerns before abruptly ceasing all communication. An employee who later visited the offices of Brahmbhatt’s companies in Garden City, New York, found the premises locked and deserted.

​The lenders’ complaint starkly notes that Brahmbhatt “created an elaborate balance sheet of assets that existed only on paper,” and the focus has now shifted to the recovery of assets allegedly transferred to offshore accounts in India and Mauritius.

​The scandal comes at a sensitive moment for BlackRock, which recently acquired HPS Investment Partners as part of its strategy to aggressively expand into the private-credit market, underscoring the risk associated with verifying assets in complex global lending deals.

Kerala Lottery Suvarna Keralam SK-25 Result Today 31/10/2025: ₹1 cr first prize for RM 580867 | Check complete list

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Kerala Lottery Suvarna Keralam SK-25 Result Today 31/10/2025: ₹1 cr first prize for RM 580867 | Check complete list

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: October 31, 2025 — The Directorate of Kerala State Lotteries today announced the results for the Suvarna Keralam Lottery (SK-25) draw, held at Gorky Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram. The massive first prize of Rs 1 Crore (10,000,000) has been claimed by a ticket sold in the Alappuzha district.

The winning number is RM 580867.

The second and third prizes also created instant millionaires in Payyanur and Cherthala respectively, highlighting another big day for lottery enthusiasts across the state. Winners are strongly advised to verify their numbers against the official Kerala Government Gazette and submit their tickets within 90 days.

Winners: Suvarna Keralam SK-25 (October 31, 2025)

First Prize (Rs 1,00,00,000): RM 580867

Consolation Prize (Rs 5,000): RA 580867, RB 580867, RC 580867, RD 580867, RE 580867, RF 580867, RG 580867, RH 580867, RJ 580867, RK 580867, RL 580867

Second Prize (Rs 30,00,000): RB 112828

Third Prize (Rs 5,00,000): RD 755838

Winners of Lesser Prizes (4-Digit Ticket Numbers)

Fourth Prize (Rs 5,000): 0753, 3363, 3942, 3958, 4253, 4525, 5327, 5543, 5705, 6089, 6464, 6486, 6659, 7457, 8379, 9080, 9497, 9650, 9813

Fifth Prize (Rs 2,000): 0724, 1403, 5624, 6654, 7199, 9257

Sixth Prize (Rs 1,000): 0459, 0522, 0769, 0807, 0917, 1008, 1127, 1523, 1823, 3037, 3647, 3750, 4108, 4492, 4517, 4635, 4705, 5140, 5331, 6042, 7944, 8411, 8907, 9308, 9736

Seventh Prize (Rs 500): 0338, 0888, 0894, 0997, 1356, 1380, 1386, 1429, 1499, 1589, 1783, 1795, 1957, 2115, 2137, 2172, 2292, 2438, 2464, 2570, 2709, 2712, 2836, 3010, 3121, 3164, 3353, 3384, 3643, 3780, 3790, 3823, 3983, 4032, 4135, 4147, 4169, 4325, 4365, 4448, 4723, 4868, 5045, 5162, 5265, 5568, 5641, 5659, 5662, 5666, 5725, 6118, 6156, 6604, 6663, 6911, 7063, 7123, 7374, 7396, 7882, 8093, 8119, 8123, 8315, 8605, 8731, 8793, 8861, 8877, 9228, 9256, 9281, 9400, 9805, 9845

Eighth Prize (Rs 200): 0000, 0003, 0104, 0139, 0161, 0220, 0340, 0412, 0418, 0675, 0818, 0834, 0854, 0924, 0994, 1058, 1371, 1684, 1810, 2038, 2185, 2197, 2295, 2317, 2349, 2417, 2433, 2572, 2600, 2603, 2630, 2781, 2813, 2825, 3058, 3103, 3288, 3558, 3990, 4085, 4095, 4252, 4326, 4351, 4851, 4888, 4953, 4985, 5302, 5304, 5407, 5529, 5888, 6009, 6309, 6422, 6578, 6700, 6778, 6979, 7071, 7236, 7266, 7387, 7529, 7555, 7628, 7734, 7741, 7910, 7959, 8048, 8098, 8131, 8316, 8401, 8415, 8420, 8458, 8590, 8696, 8840, 8990, 8991, 9026, 9039, 9073, 9164, 9524, 9689, 9844, 9882

Ninth Prize (Rs 100): 0170, 0223, 0491, 0547, 0562, 0779, 0788, 0851, 0933, 0937, 1046, 1283, 1290, 1355, 1397, 1454, 1496, 1605, 1673, 1680, 1720, 1728, 1738, 1750, 1768, 1777, 1804, 1949, 2015, 2074, 2139, 2140, 2425, 2483, 2491, 2553, 2609, 2704, 2718, 2847, 3014, 3158, 3265, 3404, 3473, 3508, 3576, 3741, 3808, 3879, 3880, 3882, 3919, 3945, 4113, 4288, 4345, 4374, 4377, 4392, 4394, 4444, 4506, 4513, 4580, 4731, 4765, 4793, 4878, 4939, 4960, 5001, 5023, 5151, 5173, 5361, 5387, 5410, 5457, 5687, 5805, 5826, 5839, 5878, 6064, 6154, 6192, 6343, 6595, 6643, 6792, 6954, 7008, 7224, 7270, 7312, 7372, 7383, 7393, 7416, 7430, 7451, 7597, 7609, 7689, 7717, 7745, 7799, 7842, 7876, 7905, 7927, 7956, 7998, 8060, 8070, 8209, 8220, 8248, 8256, 8413, 8490, 8695, 8776, 8814, 8884, 8924, 8955, 8967, 8981, 9045, 9124, 9175, 9395, 9419, 9430, 9455, 9482, 9545, 9718, 9724, 9757, 9783, 9912

Kharge Reignites Fire, Demands Reinstatement of Ban on RSS Activities

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Kharge Reignites Fire, Demands Reinstatement of Ban on RSS Activities

NEW DELHI: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has sparked a major political controversy by demanding the reinstatement of a ban on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), emphatically invoking the actions of India’s first Home Minister, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

​Speaking at a press conference on Friday, coinciding with Sardar Patel’s birth anniversary, which is observed as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, Kharge reiterated his personal opinion that the RSS should be banned, comparing its ideology to “poison.”

​Patel’s Precedent Cited

​To bolster his demand, Kharge cited a historical action taken by Patel: the ban on government employees participating in the activities of both the RSS and Jamaat-e-Islami.

​”Sardar Patel also said that one should not work for the RSS while in government service. He had banned government employees from participating in the activities of the RSS and Jamaat-e-Islami, which the Modi government lifted on July 9, 2024. We demand that this ban be reinstated,” Kharge asserted.

​The Congress chief further justified the 1948 ban on the right-wing organisation by claiming Patel had written in a letter that the RSS “celebrated Gandhiji’s death and distributed sweets” following Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination. Kharge also stated that, as per reports received by Patel, the atmosphere created by the ideology of the RSS and the Hindu Mahasabha was responsible for Gandhi’s murder.

​BJP Slams ‘Indian Nazi Congress’

​The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) immediately launched a sharp counter-attack, accusing the Congress of hypocrisy and selective appropriation of the national icon.

​BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla claimed the Congress had ignored Patel for over 50 years and was now using his name solely to oppose the RSS.

​Poonawalla went further, issuing a fiery condemnation: “INC is not the Indian National Congress. It stands for Indian Nazi Congress.” He argued that despite previous conspiracies against it, the court had lifted the ban on the RSS, recognizing it as a non-political organisation whose activities government employees could join.

​Poonawalla accused the Congress of being “intolerant,” stating they “stand with the rioters of PFI, SDPI, and MIM but spew venom against RSS, which is working for the country’s welfare.”

​The heated exchange underscores the deep ideological rift between the two major parties, placing the historical legacy of Sardar Patel at the centre of modern political discourse.

CM Pinarayi’s Staggering IMR Claim Shocks Netizens: ‘Better than US’ Figures Under Scrutiny

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CM Pinarayi’s Staggering IMR Claim Shocks Netizens: ‘Better than US’ Figures Under Scrutiny

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s latest electoral pitch—a claim that the state’s Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) has plummeted to an unprecedented five per 1,000 live births—has sent shockwaves, with critics suggesting even US President Donald Trump must be taking notes.

​The staggering claim positions Kerala not just as the best in India, far surpassing the national average of 25, but also as superior to the mighty United States, which records an IMR of 5.6. According to the Chief Minister’s thallu (boast), Kerala has achieved a health milestone surpassing one of the world’s most developed nations.

​The Attappady Reality Check

​However, the CM’s world-beating statistics are facing immediate and severe scrutiny from opposition and community groups, who point to a starkly different on-ground reality in some of the state’s most vulnerable regions.

​The spotlight is now on Attappady, a tribal block in Palakkad, which recorded at least 13 tribal infant deaths in the first 10 months of 2022 alone. This tragic count included three children under the age of two, four stillbirths, and 12 reported abortions, according to available data. Tribal organizations have consistently maintained that the number of deaths is even higher than the official figures suggest, indicating a clear discrepancy that undermines the statewide average claim.

​“It’s clear that the Infant Mortality Rate is much higher than what is officially recorded. To boast about figures being lower than the US while our tribal children are dying is a cruel joke,” remarked a political analyst.

​Election Time ‘Over-Boasting’

​The CM’s statement has become a talking point, with many questioning the timing and magnitude of the ‘boast’ ahead of the upcoming elections. The general sentiment among critics is that the rhetoric has reached peak absurdity, with one politician sarcastically suggesting the CM will soon announce that President Trump himself is planning a visit to Thiruvananthapuram to “study Kerala’s model” and personally meet Pinarayi Vijayan.

Kerala Cabinet Clash: Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal Seeks ‘Revenge’ on CM Pinarayi Vijayan Over DA Hike Announcement

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Kerala Cabinet Clash: Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal Seeks ‘Revenge’ on CM Pinarayi Vijayan Over DA Hike Announcement

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: October 31, 2025 — A significant rift has reportedly emerged within Kerala’s ruling LDF government, centering on a clash between Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal. The source of the deep-seated resentment is the Chief Minister’s decision to unilaterally announce major financial decisions, notably the increase in welfare pensions and the Dearness Allowance (DA) hike, without prior consultation with the Finance Minister.

​Sources indicate that Minister Balagopal was only made aware of the critical announcements—which directly fall under his portfolio—through the media reports following the CM’s press conference on October 29. This alleged side-lining has led to widespread criticism that the Finance Minister’s role has been reduced to a mere ‘messenger’ or ‘functionary’ for the Chief Minister’s office.

​The ‘Silent’ Retaliation

​In a subtle, yet powerful, act of political defiance and bureaucratic retribution, Finance Minister Balagopal is believed to have executed a form of ‘silent revenge’ against the Chief Minister.

​While the announcement of the DA hike belonged to the CM, the actual government order (GO) must be officially issued by the Finance Department. According to internal reports, the Finance Minister deliberately sought to save face and assert his departmental authority by excluding the Chief Minister’s name from the official DA hike order.

​This calculated omission in the formal documentation is seen as a direct protest against the CM’s decision to bypass the Finance Ministry and personally hog the credit for popular financial decisions, thereby further straining the working relationship between the two key figures in the state cabinet. The internal tensions within the government are now the subject of intense speculation across political and bureaucratic circles in Kerala.

‘Dies Irae’ Review: Pranav Mohanlal Shines in Rahul Sadasivan’s Horror Masterpiece, Hailed as a Benchmark for Mollywood

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‘Dies Irae’ Review: Pranav Mohanlal Shines in Rahul Sadasivan’s Horror Masterpiece, Hailed as a Benchmark for Mollywood

Kochi : ​Director Rahul Sadasivan, known for setting a new standard for Malayalam horror with films like Bhoothakaalam and Bramayugam, has once again struck gold with his latest outing, ‘Dies Irae’. The horror-thriller, starring Pranav Mohanlal in a career-defining performance, has opened to overwhelmingly positive reviews, with critics and audiences alike calling it one of the best horror films to emerge from Indian cinema.

​The film, whose Latin title translates to “Day of Wrath,” plunges viewers into the world of Rohan (Pranav Mohanlal), a wealthy man whose seemingly perfect life unravels as he becomes increasingly convinced that a malevolent supernatural entity is haunting his ancestral home. The narrative follows his descent into chaos as he races to uncover a deep-seated family mystery and the truth behind the haunting, which is loosely based on true events.

​A Masterclass in Technical Brilliance

​Dies Irae is lauded for its meticulous and restrained approach to the genre, relying on atmosphere and sound design to generate genuine chills rather than overt gore. Reviewers have highlighted the technical departments as key to the film’s success. Christo Xavier’s haunting background score is described as a “sonic carnage” that perfectly complements the eerie silences. The sound design, alongside the immersive cinematography by Shehnad Jalal, creates a palpable sense of dread that keeps the audience hooked throughout the 1-hour and 55-minute runtime.

​Pranav Mohanlal’s portrayal of Rohan—the spoiled brat grappling with an unseen terror—is widely considered his finest performance yet. His intense gaze and controlled use of dialogue effectively heighten the film’s unsettling atmosphere. The film, while noted by some to be a slow-burner in the first half, deliberately builds intrigue and tension, culminating in a deeply engaging and terrifying second half filled with “solid jump scare moments that work big time as theatrical moments.”

​With its methodical build-up, stunning technical craft, and an impactful, emotional core, Dies Irae is being celebrated as a sophisticated and terrifying theatrical experience that elevates the Malayalam horror genre to an international standard.

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