Dame Maggie Smith, one of Britain’s most celebrated actresses, renowned for her illustrious career spanning stage and screen, has passed away at the age of 89. Known for iconic roles in “Harry Potter” as Professor McGonagall and the beloved series “Downton Abbey,” Smith’s death was announced by her sons in a statement shared by their publicist Clair Dobbs.

“It is with great sadness we have to announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith. She passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning, Friday 27th September. An intensely private person, she was with friends and family at the end,” the statement said. “She leaves behind two sons and five loving grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the wonderful staff at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their care and unstinting kindness during her final days.”

In 1964, Maggie Smith captivated audiences as Desdemona alongside Laurence Olivier’s Othello, later reprising the role in the 1965 film adaptation. Her powerful performance in *The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie* (1969), where she played an unconventional schoolteacher, earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress. Smith’s remarkable talent was recognized again in 1978 when she won her second Academy Award, this time for Best Supporting Actress, for her role in Neil Simon’s *California Suite*.

Throughout her career, Smith garnered numerous accolades, including British Academy Film Awards for her roles in *A Room with a View* (1985) and *The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne* (1987). In 1990, she was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, solidifying her status as Dame Maggie Smith.

Despite her early successes, some of Smith’s most celebrated roles came later in life. In 1999, she starred in Franco Zeffirelli’s *Tea with Mussolini*, a story set against the backdrop of fascist Italy, earning critical acclaim.

Her legacy, however, may be most closely tied to her portrayal of Professor Minerva McGonagall in *Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone* (2001), a role that introduced her to a new generation of fans. Smith continued to bring the character to life across several *Harry Potter* sequels, becoming a beloved figure in the series for her portrayal of the strict yet kind-hearted witchcraft teacher.

For music enthusiasts around the country, today is an unpleasant day. On Monday, renowned playback and ghazal singer Pankaj Udhas passed away. He was seventy-two. The Udhas family announced on Monday that a protracted illness was the cause of his death. The singer has given his fans many timeless songs that will live on in his memory over the course of his many years in the music business. These are a few of his most well-known tracks.

Pankaj Udhas was born in Jetpur, Gujarat, on May 17, 1951. In 1980, he made his music debut with the ghazal album Aahat. That was only the start of a long string of hits to come. His best-selling albums were Mukarar (1981), Tarrannum (1982), Mehfil (1983), Nayaab (1985), and Aafreen (1986). He additionally gave a live performance at the Royal Albert Hall in 1984. Following his fame as a ghazal singer, he tried his hand at playback vocals with the Mahesh Bhatt movie Naam. 

Ahista

Composed by Khayyam and written by Bashar Nawaz, this soulful song is taken from the album The Legend Forever – Pankaj Udhas – Vol. 1. The song tells the story of a loving relationship, and Udhas’s calming voice gives the moving lyrics more nuance and feeling. This is one of Pankaj Udhas’ greatest songs because it was among the first ghazals we all heard when we were young.

Na Kajre Ki Dhar

This Bollywood musical of our dreams features a duet between Pankaj Udhas and Sadhana Sargam. The song, which was composed by Viju Shah, exquisitely captures the charm and beauty of the beloved’s eyes. The lyrics of Indeevar, a romantic ballad that translates to “The Line of Kohl,” and Pankaj Udhas’ voice have kept the song alive in Indian hearts for decades.

Chandi Jaisa Rang

Bollywood loves to combine its love songs with precious metals like gold and silver, speaking of a lover’s beauty and tranquilly. To capture the spirit, though, requires soulful lyrics, a well-crafted song, and—above all—a talented vocalist. One of Pankaj Udhas’ greatest songs, it describes the ethereal nature of love and a lover.

Thodi Thodi Karo Piya

Thodi Thodi is a wonderful interpretation of melancholy and longing and is an underappreciated gem in Pankaj Udhas’ repertoire. This song, which has been passed down through the centuries, is especially nostalgic because of its ageless interpretation of love and understanding. This song features the singer’s voice as rich and complex as ever.

Ek Taraf Uska Ghar

This song, which is among Pankaj Udhas’ greatest, is about longing and unrequited love. The song “On One Side is Her Home,” written by Qateel Shifai and composed by Anu Malik, expresses the longing and suffering of a lover who is parted from their beloved. Udhas’s performance of longing was unparalleled and added a totally unique touch to every song.

The multi-faceted artiste has appeared in Malayalam films, television shows, and was a strong theatre personality

Text credit: Charishma Thankappan

Kalasala Babu, who made his presence felt in a number of Malayalam films like Balettan, Ente Veedu Appuvinteyum, Perumazhakkalam, etc, passed away on Sunday night in Ernakulam at the age of 68. He was suffering from cerebral hemorrhage and had been admitted in Amritha Hospital.

Having begun his career in theatre, Babu moved onto the small screen before getting his big break in cinema. He had started his own drama troupe called ‘Kalasala’ in Thrippunithura, where he resided.

He has acted in more than 100 films in Malayalam. Spanning a career of 40 years, the actor made his debut in 1977 in the film Inayethedi and was last seen in the film Queen that released earlier this year. He made his presence felt through his powerful acting performances in the characters of villain and father figures. He was able to step into the shoes of NF Varghese and Narendra Prasad in these roles.

Born to illustrious parents – Kathakali maestro Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair and Mohiniattam exponent Kalyanikuttyamma, he is survived by his wife Lalitha and children Sreedevi and Viswanathan.