Hindi
Six cinematic masterpieces inspired by Lord Shiva
Mumbai: Lord Shiva is one of the most revered Hindu deities in this world, known by his various avatars. Some worship him as the ferocious Bhairav, the divine Lord of dance Nataraj, or the innocent and pure-hearted Bholenaath. But all of his manifestations are known to be enigmatic and extremely powerful. So, it’s not a surprise that many filmmakers have been fascinated by the enigma that’s Lord Shiva. Over the years, several films have been produced based on or inspired by Shiva and his divine powers. For the ardent worshippers of Shiva or cinephiles who love depictions of Indian mythology, here are six movies we are sure will leave you and your spiritual mind wonderstruck:
Baahubali (film series)
When Baahubali and its sequel Baahubali: The Conclusion, were released, thousands of people flocked to the theatres to catch these magnum opuses on the big screens. It follows the orphan Mahendra Baahubali aka Shivudu’s life, who is saved and adopted as a baby by the Shiva-worshiping Amburi tribe. Lovingly named after the tribe’s deity, Shivudu grows up to be a strong and courageous youth. As the story progresses throughout the two films, we witness his quest for love, self-discovery and tumultuous path towards justice for his parents.
Brahmastra
Directed by Ayan Mukherjee, Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva was a mega-hit with its visually stunning VFX, impressive artist ensemble and unique take on Indian mythology. Starring Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt as the leads, the story follows the life of an orphaned Shiva who discovers he has divine powers or astra. With his lover Isha and others like him, Shiva embarks on a journey to protect the supreme weapon, Brahmāstra and ultimately save the world.
Kedarnath
Abhishek Kapoor’s Kedarnath is one of the most iconic love dramas of Bollywood. In an interview, he said the film is his tribute to Lord Shiva. Starring Sushant Singh Rajput and Sara Ali Khan, the story follows a Muslim boy falling in love with a Hindu girl and their fight against all odds to be with each other. The movie also depicts the tragic 2013 floods at Kedarnath and the devastation it caused, which forced many to take refuge in the temples of Lord Shiva.
Shivaay
It’s no secret that Ajay Devgn is a devotee of Lord Shiva, having starred in films like Omkara and Bholaa, which are dedicated to the deity. He also produced, directed and starred in the 2016 action thriller Shivaay. When his daughter Gaura falls into the hands of human traffickers, Shivaay (Ajay Devgn) valiantly flies to rescue her life. Watching him destroy his enemies will remind you of Lord Shiva destroying the Asuras.
Akhanda
Lord Shiva is one of the most widely worshipped deities in South India, and many films show the region’s love for this god. Likewise, Akhanda is a Telugu action drama that follows the story of Shiva follower, Akhanda, who is on a warpath to save his loved one’s life against the evil gangster Varadarajulu after their path unfortunately crosses.
OMG 2 (releasing on 11 August 2023)
2012’s OMG – Oh My God! It caused quite a stir during its release for its unique take on devotion and atheism. It’s equally extraordinary sequel, OMG 2, starring Akshay Kumar as the human incarnation of Lord Shiva and Pankaj Tripathi as the Shiv bhakt Kanti Sharan Mudgal, is set to release this Friday. The film will follow the story of a common man who brings his son to justice with the help of his faith.
We are sure you enjoyed this list and highly recommend watching the divinely entertaining OMG 2 at your nearest PVR INOX theatres this Friday onwards. Hurry up and grab your tickets!
Hindi
Rashmika Mandanna, Shanaya Kapoor and Naila Grrewal climb IMDb’s Indian celebrity rankings
Upcoming films and returning shows are driving fan interest across Bollywood and streaming
MUMBAI: Bollywood’s popularity contest has a new weekly scorecard, and the numbers are telling. IMDb’s Popular Indian Celebrities list for this week places Shanaya Kapoor at number six, buoyed by buzz around her film Tu Yaa Main. Naila Grrewal slots in at seven on the back of the returning comedy series Maamla Legal Hai, while Rashmika Mandanna climbs to eighth, riding mounting anticipation for Cocktail 2.
The list, available exclusively on the IMDb app for Android and iOS, tracks trending Indian entertainers and filmmakers each week, drawing on data from more than 200m monthly visits to the platform worldwide.
Further down the rankings, Raaka is keeping two of its biggest names in the spotlight. Deepika Padukone holds 11th position, with Allu Arjun close behind at 13th, as the film continues to find traction with audiences.
The list offers fans a weekly pulse on who is breaking through, who is holding steady, and who is fading. It is a barometer as unsparing as the box office itself.
