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No heroine alone can NEW DELHI, Jan 11: She had a promising debut in Rakesh Roshan’s Kaho Na Pyar Hai , which turned out to be the biggest hit .....more No
heroine alone can NEW DELHI, Jan 11: She had a promising debut in Rakesh Roshan’s Kaho Na Pyar Hai , which turned out to be the biggest ....more ‘Angels
of the sea’ say PORT BLAIR, Jan 11: What began here as a multi-nation effort to put the Andaman and ...more Concern
over delay in NEW DELHI, Jan 11: Concerned over delay in justice in cases of atrocity against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled ...more |
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Tsunami seals release PORT BLAIR, Jan 11: Virtually abandoned by their Governments, hundreds of foreign detainees lodged at a special jail camp here feel the Tsunami has ....more Jaya
writes to PM CHENNAI, Jan 11: Maintaining that the arrest of junior Kanchi Sankaracharya was "in furtherance of due processes of law", Tamil Nadu ......more Skies over Gujarat AHMEDABAD, Jan 11: The clear blue skies over Gujarat came alive with a spectacular .....more Aid
pours into NAGAPATTIAM, Jan 11: Moved by the massive devastation caused by the killer Tsunami in south India, a delegation .....more |
No heroine alone can ensure a draw for a film today: Amisha NEW DELHI, Jan 11: She had a promising debut in Rakesh Roshan’s Kaho Na Pyar Hai , which turned out to be the biggest hit of the year 2000. Later, she attracted notice for her role in Anil Sharma’s Gadar which also went on to become one of the biggest hits of Bollywood. Subsequently, her role in Abbas Mastan’s Humraaz also won her a lot of praise in film circles. However, somewhere along the way, Amisha Patel, easily one of the most beautiful actresses in Bollywood today, seems to have lost her way, starring in several hero-oriented films in the last couple of years which sank without a trace. As an actor, it is always my endeavour to choose my roles and films judiciously and according to their merit. However, it is extremely difficult to predict beforehand whether a film will be a hit or a flop as it depends on a lot of actors, Amisha told UNI in an interview here. For Amisha, the year gone by was a lacklustre one where the audience saw her only in the long-in-the-making Suno Sasurji , which too failed at the box office. However, she is hopeful that the audience will see a lot more of her in the coming year. Actually, many of my films like Suneil Darshan’s Mere Jeevan Saathi and Ketan Mehta’s the rising were scheduled to be released last year but due to unforeseen reasons they got delayed. With the result, many of my films will be released one after the other in the first six months of the year, she said. While one of her films, Vashu Bhagnani’s Vaada released on January 7, another film, Vikram Bhatt’s Elaan releases this Friday. To follow later this year are Mere Jeevan Saathi and the much-awaited the rising . Amisha is optimistic that her work in all these films would be appreciated by the audience. All these films feature me in roles different from each other. For example, Vaada is a romantic thriller which stars me in the role of a demure soft spoken woman, Elaan is a lavish fast-paced action thriller , which features me in the role of a modern educated girl who indulges in a bit of action too. Of the films to come later this year, Mere Jeevan Saathi is a triangular love story while the rising is a period film, Amisha said during a trip to the capital to promote her latest film Elaan which stars her alongside John Abraham, Arjun Rampal, Lara Dutta, Rahul Khanna and veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty. As an actor, it is my constant endeavour to do roles that are different from one another. For example, the coming year will also see me in an out-and-out comedy film, something which I have never done before, Amisha said. Talking about her role in Elaan , she said, in the film I play the role of Priya, an intrepid and enterprising TV reporter, who will indulge in all kinds of tactics- nosing around, eavesdropping and even resort to blackmail- to get a sensational story for her channel. Priya’s character is much unlike what I have done in my previous films. She is a highly bubbly and intelligent character with a good knowledge of computer technology and one who , like the male protagonists of the film, also indulges in some action when required. Responding to criticism that many of the films she did in the past, the hero got away with all the acclaim, Amisha said, lets face it. In India most of the films are hero-oriented in that it is a hero like, say, Shah Rukh Khan, or Saif Ali Khan or Salman, who ensure an initial draw for the film. If a film fails, the automatic blame comes to the hero so it is only fair that he takes the credit for its success. In any case, after Madhuri Dixit, there has ben no female superstar in the industry who can carry the film on her own shoulders. As to what was her criterion for taking up a film, she said, of first and foremost importance is my role in the film. It may not necessarily be a long role but, at the same time, it should have enough substance to allow me to display my acting prowess. The second important factor governing my choice of a role is the film s producer as it is important for the producer to be financially strong (like Vashu Bhagnani for Vaada ) for the film to see light of the day. At the same time, I am also particular about who is directing the film. (UNI) |
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No heroine alone can ensure a draw for a film today: Amisha NEW DELHI, Jan 11: She had a promising debut in Rakesh Roshan’s Kaho Na Pyar Hai , which turned out to be the biggest hit of the year 2000. Later, she attracted notice for her role in Anil Sharma’s Gadar which also went on to become one of the biggest hits of Bollywood. Subsequently, her role in Abbas Mastan’s Humraaz also won her a lot of praise in film circles. However, somewhere along the way, Amisha Patel, easily one of the most beautiful actresses in Bollywood today, seems to have lost her way, starring in several hero-oriented films in the last couple of years which sank without a trace. As an actor, it is always my endeavour to choose my roles and films judiciously and according to their merit. However, it is extremely difficult to predict beforehand whether a film will be a hit or a flop as it depends on a lot of actors, Amisha told UNI in an interview here. For Amisha, the year gone by was a lacklustre one where the audience saw her only in the long-in-the-making Suno Sasurji , which too failed at the box office. However, she is hopeful that the audience will see a lot more of her in the coming year. Actually, many of my films like Suneil Darshan’s Mere Jeevan Saathi and Ketan Mehta’s the rising were scheduled to be released last year but due to unforeseen reasons they got delayed. With the result, many of my films will be released one after the other in the first six months of the year, she said. While one of her films, Vashu Bhagnani’s Vaada released on January 7, another film, Vikram Bhatt’s Elaan releases this Friday. To follow later this year are Mere Jeevan Saathi and the much-awaited the rising . Amisha is optimistic that her work in all these films would be appreciated by the audience. All these films feature me in roles different from each other. For example, Vaada is a romantic thriller which stars me in the role of a demure soft spoken woman, Elaan is a lavish fast-paced action thriller , which features me in the role of a modern educated girl who indulges in a bit of action too. Of the films to come later this year, Mere Jeevan Saathi is a triangular love story while the rising is a period film, Amisha said during a trip to the capital to promote her latest film Elaan which stars her alongside John Abraham, Arjun Rampal, Lara Dutta, Rahul Khanna and veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty. As an actor, it is my constant endeavour to do roles that are different from one another. For example, the coming year will also see me in an out-and-out comedy film, something which I have never done before, Amisha said. Talking about her role in Elaan , she said, in the film I play the role of Priya, an intrepid and enterprising TV reporter, who will indulge in all kinds of tactics- nosing around, eavesdropping and even resort to blackmail- to get a sensational story for her channel. Priya’s character is much unlike what I have done in my previous films. She is a highly bubbly and intelligent character with a good knowledge of computer technology and one who , like the male protagonists of the film, also indulges in some action when required. Responding to criticism that many of the films she did in the past, the hero got away with all the acclaim, Amisha said, lets face it. In India most of the films are hero-oriented in that it is a hero like, say, Shah Rukh Khan, or Saif Ali Khan or Salman, who ensure an initial draw for the film. If a film fails, the automatic blame comes to the hero so it is only fair that he takes the credit for its success. In any case, after Madhuri Dixit, there has ben no female superstar in the industry who can carry the film on her own shoulders. As to what was her criterion for taking up a film, she said, of first and foremost importance is my role in the film. It may not necessarily be a long role but, at the same time, it should have enough substance to allow me to display my acting prowess. The second important factor governing my choice of a role is the film s producer as it is important for the producer to be financially strong (like Vashu Bhagnani for Vaada ) for the film to see light of the day. At the same time, I am also particular about who is directing the film. (UNI) |
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‘Angels of the sea’ say goodbye to the island PORT BLAIR, Jan 11: What began here as a multi-nation effort to put the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on the Ham radio map of the world just days before the Tsunami, has ended up uniting thousands of families across the devastated archipelago. Attending over 40,000 emergency calls since the tragedy struck, the team led by Bharti Prasad, who came here on December 15 to network Ham radio operators across nations, has brought together thousands of people carried away from their kin by the waves. They have donned headsets and scoured airwaves for over a fortnight to make mother meet child and husband meet wife. But the good Samaritans would leave the island today as the telecommunication network has been restored. But not before they add another moving humane gesture to their already brimming cup. The Hyderabad based computer engineer Sarath Babu, one of the five co-volunteers of the team, has donated blood to a 23-year old woman admitted to a hospital here. "I have not even met her. I have given her blood as she needed the a positive group in an emergency. This is just one of the many anonymous services our team has rendered," Babu said. The team got the foothold after the local administration allowed ham operators to enter the island lifting a ban on them since 1987. Amateur stations across the world wanted a footprint in the beautiful and rather inaccessible island. "This was no longer just a passion for Ham operators after the Tsunami struck. It was a big responsibility," Bharti, who left here a few days back following ill health, had said. Linking 131 countries on a radio band in the frequency range of 3-30 mega hertz, the Ham operations were flooded with messagges which they relayed on local telephone lines. Survivors, victims and stranded people were traced on war footing while teams of doctors were informed of healthcare requirements in marooned areas of the island. A voice from Indonesia had described during one of the heavy traffic days that Bharti and her group were the real angels of the sea, working relentlessly in the remote island batterred by the waves. (PTI) Concern over delay in justice over cases of atrocity against SC,ST NEW DELHI, Jan 11: Concerned over delay in justice in cases of atrocity against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, the Centre today favoured a "comprehensive law" and setting up of exclusive special courts in districts. "A special mechanism and special laws are needed to deal with the situation," Law Minister H R Bhardwaj told a national conference on prevention of atrocities against SCs and STs and urged Home Minister Shivraj Patil, who was also present, to help frame a comprehensive law for speedy criminal justice. The Law Minister said along with attitudinal changes, amendments in the existing laws were necessary to impart justice without delay and added that there was need for constant review of the criminal justice system. Observing that only "lip sympathy" was being rendered to victims of atrocities, Bhardwaj said discrimination against the SCs and STs should be removed at the grassroots level and suggested that MPs and MLAs set an example by living and eating with them. "Unless we change our attitude, atrocities will continue," he said. Patil said investigations should be carried out by officers of not less than DSP rank and these should be completed within 30 days. Besides, exclusive special courts should be set up in all districts and states lagging behind should accord "high priority" to it, he said. Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Meira Kumar said over 16 crore people were victims of atrocity or untouchability and expressed concern over the low rate of conviction due to ineffective investigations, casual handling of prosecution of cases and acquittals on technical grounds. Describing as "unfortunate" the fact that even over five decades after independence, the SC and ST community and Dalits were not enjoying benefits of progress, Patil said an "affirmative action" was required as "there is still discrimination and bias against them". He said FIRs were not recorded properly and investigation took a long time as a result of which there was a number of cases pending in trial courts, affecting the morale of the victims. The Home Minister asked the states to conduct training programmes and seminars for officers dealing with such cases and launch campaigns to create awareness. Annual workshops of District Magistrates and police superintendents should also be held, he said. For proper monitoring of complaints and cases related to civil rights violation, he favoured a computerised system with the national informatics centre and the national crime record bureau. The Social Justice and Empowerment Minister said it was "a matter of worry" that while the rate of conviction of cases registered under IPC was over 40 per cent, in cases registered under the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 and the SCs and STs (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, it was only 3.75 per cent and 12.96 per cent respectively. She said on an average 77 per cent of cases remained pending with the designated special courts at the end of the year and about 75 per cent in exclusive special courts. "If these figures were to be relied upon, then it would appear that there are serious flaws in the system," she added. (PTI) |
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Aid pours into Nagapattinam from Punjab NAGAPATTIAM, Jan 11: Moved by the massive devastation caused by the killer Tsunami in south India, a delegation from Punjab including former Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal and SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur today accompanied Governor Surjeet Singh Barnala to the worst-affected villages in this district and announced a massive relief programme for the affected areas. "A special train from Punjab, carrying relief materials including 10 tonnes of rice and other essential items, besides 400 volunteers and 25 doctors would arrive today in nearby Tiruchirapally district and the materials would then be despatched to the affected areas," said Badal, who was flanked by the Governor during their visit to the village. During their visit to Akkarapettai village, the Governor interacted with the fishing community and promised that their demands for a sea-wall along the coastline and permenant relocation two kilometres from the coast would be seriously considered. "Besides requesting the Government to build a sea wall, I would also press the need for a massive afforestation programme along the coastline, which can reduce the effects of Tsuamis in future," Barnala said. He also visited the temporary shelters constructed for those rendered homeless here and expressed satisfaction with the relief and rehabilitation efforts of the Tamil Nadu Government. Meanwhile, elaborating on the special train from Punjab sent by the Siromani Akali Dal and the Siromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee, Badal said that besides 10,000 tents and medical supplies, it would also include materials to set up huge ‘langars’ (community kitchen) in the affected areas to feed around 10,000 people at a time. "Our volunteers would work round the clock in the affected villages and would continue their service here till the life of those affected returns to normal," SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur told PTI. "Besides, we are planning to send a similar relief team to Andaman and Nicobar Islands," she said adding that philanthropist and Akali activist Darshan Singh Dhaliwal, who accompanied the delegation, had donated five crores for relief operations in the affected areas. (PTI) |
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Orphans find solace in "home away from home" NAGAPATTINAM (TN), Jan 11: Tranquility prevails as one walks into the Government orphanage in sikkal here! Opened recently to rehabilitate children who have lost their parents in the Tsunami disaster, the inmates, numbering 47, are in deep meditation as part of the yoga training aimed to provide relief to their minds traumatised by the loss of their near and dear ones. Aged from two to 18, these children from Akkarapettai, Keechankuppam and Nambiarnagar villages nearby, have been housed in the Government run Annai Sathiyam Government Orphanage which provides them not only education but also encourages their artistic and spiritual pursuits. "Most of the inmates traumatised by the disaster find much relief after meditation and they find it helpful in soothing their minds," says anand antarang yogi, the yoga instructor. Among the 47 inmates comprising of 15 boys and 22 girls, 22 have lost both their parents while the rest have lost either of them. Many of them are yet to come to terms with the loss of their parents. "I lost my mother and younger brother aged eight," says 12-year-old Chattriyan while colouring a flower in a drawing book, unable to fully understand the gravity of the tragedy. Seven-year-old Vidya likes to hear stories narrated by the teacher during regular story hour. For her, stories of kings and their heroics are the most loved ones. The teacher tries her best to engross her in the story, so that she is not reminded of the loss of both her parents in the tragedy. The orphanage has been flooded with aid in the form of provisons, utensils and clothes, both from within India and outside after Nagapattinam became the focal point of attention after more than 6,000 people here were killed by the Tsunami waves. "Many people have come forward to adopt these kids. Even though the administration encourages their adoption, we ensure that the normal process of verification is done to prevent child trafficking," says a senior district administration official. "This orphanage was opened by the Government in January 3 in sikkal, a safe distance from the Tsunami-ravaged coast. We have a teacher who takes classes for students from first to fith standard while the rest of them have been admitted to nearby schools. Besides, representatives of various spiritual organisations take yoga and meditation classes for them," says Rajeshwari, warden of the orphanage. The daily routine for the inmates begins at 5.30 a.m. After prayers at 6 a.m., the regular classes begin, which are not taken in a rigid format, but tailored according to the tastes of the young minds. "Since there are only a few inmates from the age group of four to 10, we take combined classes for them. Lessons include some basic mathematics, language and general awareness," says Girija, who teaches at the orphanage. A social activist from Mumbai, now housed in Nagapattinam, visits the orphanage regualarly to conduct yoga and meditation classes for the inmates. (PTI) Tsunami survivors still searching for news of relatives GALLE, SRI LANKA, Jan 11: Standing outside the gates of Karapiteya hospital near Galle, Jayanthy Jayprakash is a picture of grief. The 26-year-old journalist confronts everyone who walks in the hospital, showing them a photograph of her father, missing since the December 26 Tsunami. "Have you seen this man?" she asks. "Do you recognise him?" Jayanthy has been scouring Sri Lanka’s eastern and southern coasts since the deadly Tsunami, checking hospitals and clinics, police stations and government offices for news of her father. More than 30,000 people were killed by the waves that devasted the country’s coastline and more than 5,000 are still classified as missing. These "missing" are causing untold anguish for tens of thousands of Sri Lankans, many still hoping against hope that their loved ones may still be alive. In a building adjoining the morgue at Karapiteya, the walls are plastered with pictures of unidentified bodies. Some are almost too gruesome to look at — faces locked in painful grimaces, features bloated by the water and sun. Others stare blankly, eyes closed as if in a peaceful sleep. The room was used to store bodies after the Tsunami and the stench of death still lingers in the air. The only sound is the constant buzzing of flies. "Identifying the victims by visual recognition in these cases is not going to be possible," interpol secretary-general Ronald K Noble said during a visit to Galle yesterday. "We have to rely on fingerprints, dental records ... DNA testing will be required to identify a victim conclusively." Karapiteya handled over 1,200 bodies in the aftermath of the Tsunami. All have been buried, but 383 were not identified. But up and down the coast of Sri Lanka lie thousands of other Tsunami victims, buried in unmarked graves where they were found. A salesman travelling between towns could be buried on the beach in Unawatuna, a bus driver from Galle buried in a mass grave, 160 km away in Kalumnai. "I don’t think he is alive, but I would like to see my father one more time," Jayanthy told today. "If his body is found, at least we can perform the final rites and give him a decent burial." On the issue of putting in place jammers in prisons to stop misuse of mobile phones by "high and mighty" even when lodged in jails, the Supreme Court was informed today by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd and Reliance Infocomm that such a device could be placed in the prisons. The court fixed January 18 for hearing on this issue. The case pertaining to misuse of facilities at the Beur jail would also be taken up by the court on that day. The two telecom companies stated that mobile phone jammers have been put in place at jails in Lucknow and Bangalore and cited that such a device has been installed at parliament house to stop the disturbance to the proceedings of the house caused by the cell-phones. Taking the antics of Yadav inside Beur jail as an eye opener, the court on January 4 had seriously weighed the idea of disabling mobile phone services inside prisons across the country to stop its misuse by criminals and influential inmates. It had asked the mobile service providers BSNL and Reliance Infocomm to tell it by January 11 the equipment with which mobile phone services could be jammed within the prison precincts. (PTI) ‘Father Teresa’ of the Andamans PORT BLAIR, Jan 11: A wireless operator, who saved thousands of lives on the ‘black Sunday’ with what he calls his personal early warning system, in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands has earned the sobriquet of ‘Father Teresa’. The 39-year old Razzak Ali from the southern Andamanese island of Teressa in the Nancowry group, knew well ahead of the Tsunamis that they are going to strike, thanks to his passion for environment channels. On December 26, this wireless operator at the port control tower of the island saw the sea churn ferociously and recede to immediately understand what was in store. "Oh my God! Tsunamis are coming," he shouted from the tower and ran down to warn everybody around. While on his way to the interior of the island, he saw a moped rider MD Nazam passing by and asked him to spread the news. "Everyone, run to higher grounds," Ali shouted at the top of his voice. In a little while, the mighty waves started crashing against the port building and the police station, Ali who is currently posted as a wireless operator in Diglipur in north Andaman after his evacuation from Teressa, 380 km south of Port Blair, recounts the day with horror. "I used to see the national georaphic channel and know what the Tsunami is all about. That it would strike Andaman some day was something I never thought," he said. Though the official population of Teressa is 3500 with only one official death listed due do the Tsunami, Ali and Nazam say at least 50 people were killed by the giant waves. But for Ali, thousands could have died, says Ranjan Majumder, an inhabitant of Teressa, now evacuated to Port Blair. (PTI) INLD releases second list of party nominees for Haryana CHANDIGARH, Jan 11: Ruling Indian National Lok Dal today denied renomination to eight sitting legislators in the second list of 25 candidates for February three elections to 90-member Haryana Assembly. Releasing the list, party president and Chief Minister Om Parkash Chautala said all communities and castes have been given representation and the names include that of two women. The party has announced names of 72 contestants, bringing in new candidates in 11 constituencies. Today’s list has five sitting legislators. Asserting that INLD would contest on its own, Chautala told reporters "I have stated earlier also that there have been no talks with BSP on seat adjustment, though the two parties have similar policies and ideologies". He said the remaining names would be announced soon. The eight constituencies where the party has put up new candidates are Pataudi, Gohana, Baroda, Rajaund, Guhla Cheeka, Hathin, Meham and Radaur, Chautala said. On party’s manifesto, he said it would be released soon. "I would be formally launching the campaign on the Vijay Rath from Bahadurgarh near Delhi tomorrow," he added. The constituencies for which the candidates were announced today are Sirsa (Padam Jain), Darba (Vidya Beniwal), Loharu (Bahadur Singh), Pataudi (Ganga Ram), Sohna (Anant Ram Tanwar), Gohana (Prem Singh Malik), Baroda (Ramphal Chirana), Kalanaur (Mewa Singh Fauji), Beri (Om Singh Ahlawat), Safidon (Rampal Kundu), Rajaund (Balraj Singh Nagura), Guhla (Buta Singh), Chhachhrouli (Akram Khan). Other constituencies are Jagadhari (Bishan Lal Saini), Ambala City (Surjeet Singh Sonda), Jundla (Nafe Singh Balmiki), Narnaund (Saroj Mor), Hathin (Master Ajmat Khan), Palwal (Subash Katyal), Bawani Khera (Raghbir Singh Ranga), Meham (Rajbir Singh Samain), Bawal (M L Ranga), Pundri (Narender Sharma), Radaur (Ishwar Singh Palaka) and Rewari (Rajender Singh Thekedar). (PTI) |
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