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change the course of Hindi cinema: Varma NEW DELHI, June 22: Multi-star thriller ‘Bhoot’ would change the course of Hindi cinema and more directors would.....more I am not getting role NEW DELHI, June 22: Smriti Malhotra Irani, who shot to fame as ‘Tulsi’ in television serial "Kyuki Saas...", regrets not......more Nehru Planetarium will MUMBAI, June 22: The Nehru Planetarium at Worli here will soon have new digital equipments in place making...more Bar owners planning protest against police harassment MUMBAI, June 22: Bar owners in this commercial capital are planning a protest against alleged police harassment even as......more |
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An elephant for
rath yatra rituals to be given a go by PURI, ORISSA, June 22: The elephant will no more be used as a part of age-old rituals in the annual rath yatra (car......more International telephony MUMBAI, June 22 : Grey market international telephony operations in India are posing a serious threat to national.....more Archbishop firm to end THRISSUR, June 22: Archbishop of the Thrissur metropolitan archdiocese, Mar Jacob Thoomkuzhy, said he would go ......more Programmes to augment MADURAI, June 22 : The women’s self help groups in Tuticorin district would soon embark on a programme to augment inland fish production using the available water.......more |
Bhoot will change the course of Hindi cinema: Varma NEW DELHI, June 22: Multi-star thriller ‘Bhoot’ would change the course of Hindi cinema and more directors would now be prepared to take risks with short and songless movies, so far considered a taboo by the film industry wallahs, says Director Ram Gopal Varma. "It is believed that songless film would never click. But the success of ‘Bhoot’ will definitely change this perception," feels Varma who has to his credit films like ‘Kaun’, ‘Rangeela’, ‘Satya’, ‘Mast’, ‘Daud’, ‘Company’ and ‘Road’. The versatile director was in the capital recently to celebrate the success of the spooky film. He points out that earlier when a director proposed a songless movie, he was not taken seriously by the producers, financers and distributors. "In fact, directors proposing to make such films had to change their mind or shelve their project. But now such directors would be heard." ‘Bhoot’, which stars Rekha, Urmila Matondkar, Nana Patekar, Ajay Devgan, Seema Biswas, Tanuja and Fardeen Khan among others, is being widely acclaimed as the first genuine success of Bollywood this year. Besides, ‘Bhoot’ is also a trend setter with its short duration. In just an hour and 52 minutes, Varma manages to take the breath out of the audience with the fast-paced horror drama. "It’s comparatively a very short film. And I think this may well be another thing which future directors may opt for, " he says. Asked if ‘Bhoot’ was a take off from his previous film ‘Raat’ which bombed at the box office, the director reveals that ‘Bhoot’ is actually a re-make of ‘Raat’ with some alterations. "I was told that I went completely wrong in shooting ‘Raat’. ‘Bhoot’ is an improved attempt. Screenplay, Music, sound effect and editing are what has brought in the difference to the subject," he says. Asked why other directors in Bollywood hesitated from making off-track films, Varma said, "it is because there are only a few such directors, that my films are different. If everybody starts making such films, mine won’t be called off-track." ‘Bhoot’ also presents Ajay Devgan in a new look — sporting a typically designed French cut. Explaining the change, Ajay Devgan says, "I was holidaying when Ramu (as Varma is called by artists and others) saw me in the French cut. He liked it and told me to retain it for the film." The actor, however, disagrees that the new-found look had in anyway contributed towards the success of ‘Bhoot’. "It’s just a style. I am sporting a similar look in ‘Qayamat’." Asked if she made a conscious attempt to preserve her best for Ram Gopal Varma’s films, Urmila says, "nothing is done consciously. Ramu is a director who brings out the best in his artists." Urmila has been the leading lady in majority of his films beginning with Rangeela. Speaking about her experience working with Varma, the seasoned Rekha says she had been planning to work with the director for a long time and when an offer was made for ‘Bhoot’ "I grabbed it with both hands". Rekha plays an "exorcist" in the film. Nana Patekar also goes gaga about Varma as a Director. "Ramu called me up and naratted me the story and my character and I immediately accepted it. He is a director any actor would like to work with." Nana went to the extent of sharing that how Varma kept it a secret, even from the stars, that ‘Bhoot’ was a re-make of his previous film ‘Raat’. "One day he confided in me that he was repeating ‘Raat’ and I asked him how can he take the risk. But he was sure of the success," he adds. Fardeen Khan, who has given a go-by to his image of a dancing hero in ‘Bhoot’, says, "I just wanted to do a film with Ramu and character does not matter." fardeen stresses that he does not think that the character played by him in ‘Bhoot’ would run contrary to his image of a dancing hero. (UNI) |
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I am not getting role of substance from Bollywood: Smriti NEW DELHI, June 22: Smriti Malhotra Irani, who shot to fame as ‘Tulsi’ in television serial "Kyuki Saas...", regrets not receiving any role of substance from Bollywood with most of the offers coming her way being similar to that of the family drama. "I got many offers. But in most of them I was told to play a crying Bhabhi," she told a press confernce, called to announce the launching of a new talk show for women "Kuch Diiil Se", hosted by her. Smriti says she rejected the offers as soon as they were made because she wanted to do films which provide some challenge to perform. "I can be interested in films, but the role offered to me should be strong enough and not the ones I am already playing." However, she points out there were no offers in hand. "I am concentrating on television right now and would accept a film only if it is worth accepting." The Delhi girl says the only area where she would have made an entry was parallel cinema. "But when actresses like Karishma Kapoor and Raveena Tondon are available for such films, why should Shyam Benegal cast me." she points out that it was the urge to do something different which drove her to become the host of the talk show. "It (the show) gives me a new opportunity and challenge to perform." "Kuch Diiil Se", which discusses issues concerning women in particular and the society in general, will be on air for four days a week from Monday to Thursday on sab TV starting tomorrow. Several episodes of the show have already been shot and the issues to be discussed during the intitial shows including the ill-effects of dowry and also the misuse of anti-dowry provisions, Lesbianism, extra-marital relationship, live-in relationship and divorce. The Leading actress of the small screen says she chose to host the talk show because people like Prannoy Roy, Tim Sebastian and Karan Thapar inspire her more than anyoneelse. "I love to watch a Rajdeep Sardesai show than watching even "Saas..." on television. Asked if her image of "the most-sought after daughter-in-law" as created by "Saas..." would in anyway adversely affect the popularity of the talk show, she shot back, "why should it go against me. It has in fact helped me. People feel more comfortable talking to me because they find me familiar." she said in real life she strongly believes about the rights of the people and the talk show is her attempt to contribute towards ending various social evils. "I feel very strongly about people who are underfed, under privileged and ignored. I have been to children’s remand homes and the situation I see there worries me. The show is my attempt to give it back to the society," she asserts. Smriti feels it was wrong to expect everything from the Government. "Everybody should contribute his or her’s might to improve the situation. Only then a change could be brought in. We can’t go on blaming the politicians for ever." The leading actress of the small screen says she chose to host the talk show because people like Prannoy Roy, Tim Sebastian and Karan Thapar inspire her more than anyoneelse. "I love to watch a Rajdeep Sardesai show than watching even "Saas..." on television. Asked if her image of "the most-sought after daughter-in-law" as created by "Saas..." would in anyway adversely affect the popularity of the talk show, she shot back, "why should it go against me. It has in fact helped me. People feel more comfortable talking to me because they find me familiar." she said in real life she strongly believes about the rights of the people and the talk show is her attempt to contribute towards ending various social evils. "I feel very strongly about people who are underfed, under privileged and ignored. I have been to children’s remand homes and the situation I see there worries me. The show is my attempt to give it back to the society," she asserts. Smriti feels it was wrong to expect everything from the Government. "Everybody should contribute his or her’s might to improve the situation. Only then a change could be brought in. We can’t go on blaming the politicians for ever." (UNI) |
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Nehru Planetarium will have all-sky videos MUMBAI, June 22: The Nehru Planetarium at Worli here will soon have new digital equipments in place making education in astronomy more thrilling, its Director Dr Piyush Pandey said today. "We are in the midst of the installation of the new equipment," he said. The equipments had been designed and made by Evans and Sutherland of America and will be the first of its kind in the country. Dr Pandey revealed this to UNI at the sidelines of the three-day second International Conference for Science Communicators, that concluded at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre here today. He said that the equipment is capable of running all sky videos and is more advanced than the conventional equipments. However, he said that education in astronomy will be the focus of the planetarium. Earlier presenting a paper at a discussion on ‘astronomy education through planetaria’, he said that soon there may be a new generation of planetarium that will have a dome and seats with no equipment in sight. "One day you will find a person standing with a small device in his hand. Once everybody is seated, he will press the button and the audience will be immersed in universe - literally," he said. Dr Pandey adds, "If no other follow-up activity takes place in such planetaria of future, and such planateria do not take place of the old ones and this becomes the norm then this will be the death of education in astronomy through planetaria." Dr Pandey said that a new trend has been noticed with the arrival of new equipment in India. "There is nothing wrong with new equipment. It has more features and striking panoramas compared to the type that populated and dominated the scene earlier," he said pointing out that the programmes had to be more educative. "The bad part comes when the programme gets over and you wish to ask some questions to someone. You find yourself face-to-face with a button pusher. He does not know astronomy," he said. Another aspect that is unique to Indian planetaria is that we live in splendid isolation. "There is no interaction, there are no confederations or associations of Indian planetaria," he said. Dr Pandey, who has the experience of working with several planetarium across the country, said that there are 26 planetaria across the country. The last one was inaugurated at Lucknow in the month of may this year and within the next three years, the total may go upto 30. (UNI) |
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Archbishop firm to end corruption in appoinments THRISSUR, June 22: Archbishop of the Thrissur metropolitan archdiocese, Mar Jacob Thoomkuzhy, said he would go ahead with the move to ‘centralise’ the appointments in the Aided Educational Institutions (AIE) under the Archeparchial Corporate Educational Agency (ACEA), despite resistance to the idea from Vicar-cum-managers who run the institutions in their respective parishes. The move was meant to end ‘large scale irregularities and corruption’ in the selection of teaching and non-teaching staff by the local managers. It was was mooted after a detailed study, the archbishop told PTI the other day. He said several complaints of irregularities like overlooking the deserving candidates and manipulations in tests and interviews were received. There are about 150 aeis under the archdiocese, including higher secondary, vocational higher secondary and high schools. The appointments in them were made by local managing Committees headed by the Vicar concerned of the parish in which the institutions, subject to the Archbishop’s approval. ‘A pastoral circular has been sent to all parishes asking the Vicars to send their comments on the proposal. If they turned up with constructive suggestions, they would be considered’ the archbishop said. "I am not particular to enforce my decision. But I am particular that corruption in appointments should end, as I will be held responsible for irregular practices in the archdiocese’, the Archbishop said. According to Fr Francis Karippery, in the forefront of resistance to the ‘centralisation move’, the proposal amounted to ‘violation’ of assurance given to parishes by the late Archbishop Mar Joseph Kundukulam while setting up the agency in Thrissur diocese, then a province of Ernakulam Archeparchy. Fr Karippery, also General Secretary of Nazarani Catholic Priests Conference, said the local managers were better judges of the job-seekers from their respective parishes. ‘If the aspirant hailed from a poor background and faithful families and possessing required qualifications, the Vicar concerned can support his or her case. Also, the parish schools are set up with liberal donations from parishioners," he said. A meeting of priests was recently held at Koonammachi, near here, to chalk out plans to resist the proposed reform, he added. (PTI) |
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Programmes to augment inland fish production MADURAI, June 22 : The women’s self help groups in Tuticorin district would soon embark on a programme to augment inland fish production using the available water resources. An official of the Fisheries Department said the department would train the Shgs in inland fish culture and also provide them fish-seeds. The fish culture would be undertaken in .25 hectare tank to be provided by local Panchayats for the purpose. Intially fingerlings of Catla, Rohu and common Carp would be distributed to the Shgs. The fisheries department had also been training the Shgs in fresh water prawn culture at the fisheries college and Research Institute at Tuticorin through the district Rural Development Agency in Tuticorin district. An Shg in Alwarkurichi in Tuticorin district had been trained to undertake integrated fish farming. The authorities were in the process of identifying more Shgs to take up diversified inland fish culture acitivities such as integration of the cattle and poultry with fish farming, ornamental fish culture, fresh water farming and stocking in ponds and tanks. Meanwhile artificial pearl culturing industry was picking up well in the Gulf of Mannar and the quality of culturing had reached international standards, said an official of the Marine Fisheries Research Centre at Tuticorin. Pearl culturing was being expanded in a big way in the Gulf of Mannar with the help of Central Marine Fisheries Research Centre and the Dr Swaminathan Research Foundation. "The pearls cultured in the Gulf Mannar are equal in quality of the natural pearls of Gulf of Mannar famed for their glitter and colour’, said an official. The price offered at the international markets for the cultured pearl from Gulf of Mannar also had increased and a five Mm dia-pearl could fetch upto Rs 400. The official said that India’s interest in cultured pearl had grown over the years and the country was concentrating on producing international quality pearls.(PTI) Encroachments and illegal contructions ruining fort JAISALMER, June 22: The 855-year-old majestic fort of Jaisalmer in the Thar desert, which had resisted savage attacks from Sindh and Afghanistan in the medieval period, is now finding it difficult to defend itself from encroachments and illegal costructions that have come up inside the complex. Considered a ‘living fort’, with a residential colony and market place housed inside, the old monument is gradually crumbling and all efforts to save it have been in vain. Described as "Sonar Killa" (golden fort) by ace film maker late Satyajit Ray because of its yellow stones, the fort is desperately trying to save its original character, which is in danger of being lost due to scores of restaurants, emporiums and hotels constructed inside it. The 99 towers and walls of the fort, contsructed by Bhati rulers of Lodrva in 1212, are crumbling at severl places in the absence of a proper sewage and drainage system. The old sewage system is clogged with plastic bags and other garbage thrown by the residents and water is seeping into the fort’s foundation. If the situation is not tackled the foudations of the structure would collapse, experts feel. The flourishing tourism trade is also beyond the sustainable capacity of the fort, says President of Paryatan Vyavasaya Mahasangh Jitendra Singh. "It is important that the pressure on the fort is reduced," he said. The district administration, on its part, does not have adequate powers to deal sternly with those ruining the old monument, official sources said. Although the district administration has made several efforts to create awareness among those residing inside the fort to conserve and portect the monument, all steps so far have failed to yield worthwhile results, sources said. Chairman of local municipality Sumar Khan however holds non-coordination between Government departments responsible for the problem. Unless serious steps are taken for conservation in association with various Government departments, the situation cannot be improved, he said. A scheme formulated jointly by the State Government, the Archaeological Survey of India and an NGO, world watch monument, some time back for conservation of the fort failed to be implemented after the Archaeological Department and the State Government refused to give their share of Rs five crores. (PTI) No need to fear F-16s, we have
our Sukhois, PUNE, June 22: India has no reason to worry irrespective of whether United States goes ahead with its plan to sell ‘offensive’ aircraft such as F-16 to Pakistan as we have our Sukhois to match, Defence Minister George Fernandes said here today. "Firstly, the US has denied the report that they are intending to sell F-16 to Pakistan. This has been denied by US as a `false story’", Fernandes told mediapersons on the sidelines of his historic 40 minutes flying sortie on board the IAF frontline Su-30 Mki from the Pune airbase. "Secondly, even if we assume that they are going to sell it, we need not have any reason to worry about it as we have our own best aircraft", he said. Most of the armoury of Pakistan is either US made or made in China, hence we have no reason to worry about it as it is a business deal between two countries, he added. Replying to a question on the growing number of accidents of Mig aircraft, the Defence Minister said "on the contrary the rate of accidents have come down". "From the time the Migs were inducted in the air force, there has been accidents, but it is only now that they are being more noticed by the media", he said. He was particularly critical of the media for dubbing the Mig aircraft as ‘flying coffins’ and said it is a great injustice to the pilots who are flying these aircraft. Mig is a high performance machine and to prove that there is nothing wrong with the aircraft, the then Air Chief Marshal A Y Tipnis flew the single seater aircraft hopping from one airbase to another when he had taken over as the Air Chief Marshal, Fernandes said. Speaking on ways to prevent Mig accidents, he said "people need to be educated about the problems of birds which causes bird-hit in the aircraft and must be made aware of the importance of keeping the surroundings (of the airports/air bases) clean to prevent birds". To a question, he said the Government of India has not yet taken any decision on the issue of sending of division of the Indian army to Iraq. "The issue was discussed in the NDA meeting yesterday. We have made our point of view and after examining all the aspects, the decision in this regard will be taken later", Fernandes added. (PTI) Contradictory statements of Jogi create problem for CBI NEW DELHI, June 22: CBI is finding it difficult to get to the source of a letter on the basis of which Chhatisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi had charged the Intelligence Bureau with having launched an operation against him, because of an apparent contradiction in his statements. Jogi told CBI that it was while travelling in an aircraft that he had seen documents purportedly of the "special directorate" of the bureau about alleged "Black Sea" operation against him, official sources said. During his meeting with the CBI official earlier this week, Jogi told the agency that he had received by post the documents indicating an alleged inquiry into his assests by IB, official sources said. However, when Jogi was asked to handover the postal envelope containing this document, he said that it was present in his "Dak File" and he saw it in the aircraft while he was flying on an official engagement. Jogi had said earlier on March 31 that "someone had given him a photocopy of the documents." The case, by this statement of Jogi, had virtually come to a standstill as it would be difficult for the agency to try and get to the source of the letter, the sources said. However, the staff entrusted with the Chief Minister’s daily "Dak" was likely to be questioned by the CBI to find something about the source of the letter. The Intelligence Bureau has already denied having any such directorate or having launched any operation codenamed "Black Sea" as claimed by Jogi. During the 90-minute meeting, Jogi was also asked for certain clarifications on the possession of wealth by him and in the name of his wife. The sources said Jogi was also asked about the case relating to his caste to which the Chief Minister said that it was pending before the Court and that he would not like to comment on it. The three-member CBI team was led by Deputy Inspector General Harbans Lal to seek clarifications from Jogi. The CBI had sought time from Jogi to ask him about the source of the document on the basis of which he had complained to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on March 31, alleging that through the operation Black Sea, the IB Special Directorate was targeting opposition leaders, including Congressmen like him, in the run up to the election campaign in Congress ruled States. The entire questioning of Jogi was videographed and two close officials of the Chief Minister were present. On April 2, the CBI registered a case against unknown persons under forgery and cheating sections of Indian Penal Code and sought time from Jogi to ascertain the source of his document. (PTI) Aid to Bismillah - too little, too late, lament artists VARANASI, June 22: Shehnai maestro Bharat Ratna Bismillah Khan hitting the headlines not for his art but his dire financial condition brings into sharp focus the need for a fresh approach in the Government’s "insensitive" outlook towards the vanguards of India’s cultural legacy, the artist community has said. After the media turned the spotlight on the issue, the Government acted to stem the public outcry by releasing Rs 2 lakh for the ailing artist, which is being termed as "too little too late" even as there are many more Bismillah Khans in the country, forlorn and forgotten. Eighty seven-year-old Ustad Bismillah Khan, whose "Mangal Dhvani" marked the beginning of nationwide telecast of republic day and independence day and celebrations over the past several decades, has appealed for help in saving India’s arts and culture. Reputed Thumri singer Girija Devi told UNI at the recent spic macay convention here that she was saddened by the way the Ustad was treated. She said the Government honoured artists with awards but provided no facilities or help. "Kalakaron Ki Koi Kadar Nahi Hain (the artists are not cared for)," she lamented. The artist community’s ire at the Government’s "run of the mill" approach towards those who have dedicated their lives to carrying forward the country’s invaluable cultural heritage was evident at the five-day cultural fest here. Renowned theatre artist Habib Tanvir also expressed his anger at the Government apathy towards art and the attempts at its homogenisation. "Culture pervades our whole life... It comprises not only the arts but our biological, ecological resources and information and broadcasting which we have to safeguard from alien cultures that are attempting to transform them," he said. The Shehnai maestro who was to play at the inauguration of the convention but could not attend owing to ill health, later held a press conference where he expressed his displeasure with the Government going back on its promise of a job for his grandson. Flaying the Government for its lack of vision and interest in promoting traditional Indian art forms, the artists agreed that a fresh outlook is required. Noted dancers Uma Sharma, Malavika Sarukkai, Kelucharan Mohapatra, Kapila Venu, Pandavani exponent Teejan Bai among others at the convention said while more positive action should be forthcoming from the Government, other agencies and institutions too had to be more pro-active in the endeavour. During the five-day convention, one got to see some of India’s traditional folk arts like Chhau, Pandavani, Kutiyattam, Biraha, which often play second fiddle to their more glamourous city counterparts. The powerful performances left audiences spell-bound with their sheer "Joie De Vivre." However, these talented folk artists get to perform at the few and far between cultural events in the country and ‘festivals of India’ abroad and disappear into oblivion till the next mega event. Renowned Mohan Veena player and Grammy Award winner Vishwa Mohan Bhatt suggested that corporates should also be more involved in cultural activities. "Corporates should each adopt an artist and sponsor them and take care of them, something akin to the royal patronage of yore," he said. Most artists also felt that some responsibility delved upon the listeners and audiences to help in the survival of the artists. As for the youngsters, fed on a kitsch of pop, rock, remixes and Hollywood, Bollywood culture, the Varanasi convention was a pleasant change and they were impressed with what they saw. They came from across the country and were acquainted with facets of their culture they rarely see in the cities. Living in a "gurukul" like atmosphere, they enthusiastically attended yoga classes, workshops and talks by eminent persons. (UNI) |
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