Renowned music duo Salim Merchant and Sulaiman Merchant, known for their iconic compositions, recently revealed the song Maula Mere from Shah Rukh Khan’s film Chak De! India was approved just a week before the movie’s release. Originally created for a film by Nagesh Kukunoor, the song was rejected by him, citing its melancholic tone.

During an interaction, Salim Merchant emphasised the significance of the emotional scene where Shah Rukh Khan gazes at the tricolour. Despite a powerful background score for that moment, Yash Chopra insisted on having a song in that sequence. Merchant recalled, “The release was only a week away, and on that very day, we saw the movie and returned to the studio.” The duo had initially composed the song for the movie Dor, but it was rejected by Nagesh Kukunoor, who desired a more uplifting track for a specific sequence featuring Gul Panag and Ayesha Takia.

Merchant mentioned that on that particular day, they reached their studio in the evening and, by early morning, the song was ready. Aditya Chopra tried to convince his father, and the duo successfully crafted a timeless song that perfectly fit the scene. Chak De! India, directed by Shimit Amin, featured Shah Rukh Khan as the coach of the women’s national hockey team, addressing the challenges faced by women’s hockey in India and standing as one of the finest sports dramas in Hindi cinema.

Moving into 2023, Shah Rukh Khan made a stellar return with the action-thriller Pathaan, directed by Siddharth Anand. Co-starring Deepika Padukone, John Abraham, Dimple Kapadia, and Ashutosh Rana, the film received critical acclaim and achieved box-office success. Continuing his successful streak, Khan starred in the hit film Jawan, setting new records.

Furthering his cinematic journey, Shah Rukh Khan led Dunki, a heartwarming drama directed by Rajkumar Hirani, alongside Taapsee Pannu, Vicky Kaushal, and Boman Irani.

Looking ahead, Shah Rukh Khan’s upcoming project is a collaboration with Sujoy Ghosh titled King, where he shares the screen with his daughter, Suhana Khan. Additionally, Khan has a project in development titled Tiger Vs Pathaan in collaboration with Salman Khan.

See Also: Siddharth Anand reveals how Shah Rukh Khan reacted to Fighter’s trailer 

The Maldives government has confirmed that a Chinese “research vessel” – the Xian Yang Hong 03, seen as a spy ship mapping the Indian Ocean floor for military purposes – will dock at capital Male early next month. The ship will not conduct any “research” while in Maldivian waters, the island nation said, noting it was asked for clearance to “… for rotation and replenishment”.

“The Maldives has always been a welcoming destination for vessels of friendly countries, and continues to host both civilian and military vessels making port calls for peaceful purposes…”

“Such calls enhance bilateral ties between the Maldives and partner countries, and also demonstrate the centuries-old tradition of welcoming vessels from friendly countries…” the Maldives said.

The “welcoming vessels from friendly countries” phrase has been seen as a direct attack on India and further evidence of Male’s pivot away from New Delhi and towards Beijing. The move to China is a potentially significant geopolitical and military shift in the Indian Ocean Region, or IOR.

The 4,300-ton Xiang Yang Hong 03 is classified as a ‘research’ vessel mapping the floor of the Indian Ocean. Research exercises like this can provide valuable data that can help anticipate natural disasters like underwater earthquakes, and mitigate otherwise disastrous impacts. Mapping also enables China to navigate these waters in the future using submarines and submersible drones.

READ | Sat Pics: Chinese Spy Ship Approaches Maldives In New Worry For India

The Maldives giving the Chinese ship permission to dock comes as Male and New Delhi are locked in a tense stand-off over three Maldivian ministers’ critical comments this month about Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which sparked a row in India and pushback at home for President Mohamed Muizzu.

READ | “Not In Anyone’s Backyard”: Maldives President Amid Row With India

Although the three ministers were suspended, and the Maldives Foreign Ministry made conciliatory statements, the fact is Mr Muizzu – elected on the back of an “India Out” campaign – has just returned from a State visit to China. On this visit he met Xi Jinping and signed 20 “key” agreements, and announced elevation of the two countries’ ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Cooperation Partnership.

READ | Amid Row With India, Maldives President’s Praise For China, Xi Jinping

The Maldives leader also called on China to send more tourists to his nation – a message seen as a direct snub to India, which has sent the most tourists to the island paradise in the post-Covid era.

READ | Maldives President Urges China To Send More Tourists Amid Row With India

But perhaps most significant is the ‘ diktat that Indian soldiers and military assets, stationed there for over three decades, withdraw by March 15. In a brief statement the President’s office said, “Indian military personnel cannot stay in the Maldives. This is the policy of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu…”

READ | Maldives Asks India To Withdraw Military Personnel By March 15: Report

Confirmation of growing bonhomie between China and the Maldives came as Mr Muizzu’s Beijing visit concluded, with the Chinese side saying it supports the Maldives in “upholding its national sovereignty”.

China also said it “opposed external interference” – it did not name India in this context – in the internal affairs of the Maldives, which has benefited from India’s Neighbourhood First policy.

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Former Chief Minister of Bihar Karpoori Thakur was awarded the nation’s highest honour, Bharat Ratna, posthumously by the President of India Droupadi Murmu this evening. The award comes 35 years after his death — Karpoori Thakur died on February 17, 1988.

Dubbed Jan Nayak by many in the state, Karpoori Thakur served as the Chief Minister of Bihar for a short while — from December 1970 to June 1971 and from December 1977 to April 1979.

The Centre’s recognition for the state’s first non-Congress Chief Minister meets a long-standing demand of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his Janata Dal United.

Coming ahead of the general election, it is seen a move to please the Chief Minister of a state that has 40 parliamentary seats.