Bollywood gets parking place in Pak
with host of film releases

NEW DELHI, Apr 4: It started as a trickle a few years ago with films like ‘Mughal-e-Azam’ and ‘Taj Mahal-A Love Story’, cutting the proverbial ice in film ties between India and Pakistan by becoming the first two films to release in the neighbouring country after an over three decade gap.

The trickle of Indian film releases in Pakistan has, however, turned into a deluge over the last year with a host of Indian films, from ‘Awarapan’ to ‘ Dhandhanadhan Goal’ to ‘Welcome’ and, most recently, ‘Race’ and ‘Taare Zameen Par’, managing to cross the border for a tryst with the Pakistan audience in the theatres.

Abbas Mastan’s ‘Race’ became only the second Indian film, after ‘Dhandhanadhan Goal’, to secure a day and date release in Pakistan, along with its worldwide release on March 21. Its release was followed by the Aamir Khan-directed ‘Taare Zameen Par’.

With the release of these two movies, UTV Motion Pictures have become the only company in the country to have three of its films released in Pakistan. "We have had three of our releases in Pakistan theatres back to back which is something no other studio has managed to achieve. It is a tremendous achievement for us," Siddharth Roy Kapur of UTV Motion Pictures said.

The "almost a spate" of Indian film releases in Pakistan theatres over the last year or so comes after a committee of Pakistan Senate, or Upper House of its Parliament, recently lifting a ban on Indian films and importing of Indian films on a reciprocal basis.

After the release of Indian films in Pakistan theatres in quick succession, comes the release of the Pakistan film ‘Khuda Ke Liye’ in Indian theatres today, the first of its kinf in the recent past to hit Indian cinema halls.

Featuring Bollywood veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah, along with a host of Pakistan actors like Shaan, Fawad Khan, Iman Ali and Rasheed Naz, the movie is about the difficult situation in which the Pakistanis in particular and the Muslims in general, were caught up since the 9/11 incidents.

Trade analysts said this "heralds a glorious period in film ties between the two countries."

"The release of these films in Pakistan theatres is a clear indicator that Indian films have finally found a parking place in Pakistan," Mr Kapur said.

Talking about his experience with the Pakistan Censor Board, Mr Kapur said, "there is no doubt about the fact that the markets have opened up much more than in the past. Also, lately the Pakistan authorities have been looking at each Indian film on its merit. Of course, it has been a lot of hard work. But then anything new that is done does require some amount of hard work and one has to be prepared to do that."

He said the release of Indian films in Pakistan theatres had opened up a whole new market for them in the overseas territory.

"As far as overseas markets are concerned, the US, UK and West Asia account for most of the revenue. However, the box office collections from Pakistan have been more than what we get from West Asia as a whole. In this sense, the release of our films in Pakistan opened up a completely new market for us. Infact, it is extremely good for Indian films that we have in Pakistan a completely new market that we had not factored for into our revenue stream earlier. I think in the near future, it will emerge as a key market for Indian films," Mr Kapur said.

In this context, he pointed out that ‘Dhandhandhan Goal’ had evoked a tremendous response from the audience there. "The response to the film there has been much more than what we had anticipated. This is perhaps because sentiments of the people in Pakistan are very close to that of the people of India," Mr Kapur said.

Ever since its release in the neighbouring country, the movie has so far grossed half million dollars from Pakistan, making it the fourth largest overseas market after the US, UK and West Asia.

‘Race’, being distributed in Pakistan by Karachi-based ‘Eveready Pictures’, got a 15 print release across nine cities including Lahore, Karachi and Hyderabad while ‘Taare Zameen Par’, that got censored on exceptional grounds in Pakistan and was released there on March 28, is being distributed by Geo TV in Pakistan.

Trade sources said both the movies have been running to packed houses in Pakistan ever since their release. The coming days could also witness the release of other Indian films in Pakistan like Ashutosh Gowarikar’s much-appreciated period romance ‘Jodha Akbar’.

"We have been engaged in efforts to secure the release of ‘Jodhaa Akbar’ in Pakistan. We are hopeful that the Pakistan Censor Board will give us the censor ceftificate for it very soon," Mr Kapur said.

He was also hopeful that the trend of simultaneous release of Indian films in Pakistan theatres would continue in the time to come.

Meanwhile, with another Pakistani film ‘Khulay Aasman Ke Neechay’,

slated to release in theatres in May, the openness in film ties between the two countries is set to continue. (UNI)

‘Khuda Kay Liye’ released

MUMBAI, Apr 4: ‘Khuda Kay Liye’, became the first ever movie from Pakistan to be released in the country as it hit the screens here today.

The film directed by Shoaib Mansoor and featuring Naseeruddin Shah along with Pakistani actors depicts the difference of opinion between liberal and fundamental Muslims.

It deals with the problems of the Muslims in general and Pakistanis in particular post-9/11. It also highlights the divide not only between the western world and the Muslims, but also among the Muslims.

The premiere of ‘Khuda Kay Liye’ held here last night, was attended by Bollywood filmmakers Mukesh Bhatt, Subhash Ghai, Madhur Bhandarkar, Ashok Pandit along with the cast and crew of the film from Pakistan.

The movie, being distributed by Percept Picture Company (PPC) with 65 prints, opened to some rave reviews here.

Trade analyst Amod Mehra described the film to be a well- made and hard-hitting one. But at the same time he was sceptical about its box office success.

"The movie will be liked by lovers of good cinema. I wonder whether the college-going crowd, that frequents multiplexes, will enjoy a serious film like this," he said.

Filmmaker Ashok Pandit lauded the finesse with which director Shoaib Mansoor has handled a sensitive subject.

"The fact that this film makes a bold statement against fundamentalism and comes from Pakistan is a very good achievement. It is well-directed and takes a balanced view. The look of the film is also mind blowing, he added.

Film critics were also divided over the fate of the film at the box office given the fact that cinema here is entertainment-driven.

They felt that a theme like the one depicted in ‘Khuda...’ is more for the thinking viewer, who loves to ponder over the movie after watching it.

This is a film that sparks off debates and discussions, they said.

"Khuda..." has two stories running concurrently. Shaan, the elder brother wants to pursue music as a career and leaves for the US where he is arrested on false charges after 9/11.

The younger brother, Fawad Khan, is so influenced by the fundamentalists that he transforms into an altogether different person. The younger brother is married off to his elder cousin born and brought up in Britain and is in love with a British.

The film is three-hour-long and devotes most of the screen time to court room sequences which deliberate on the teachings of Islam.

Naseeruddin Shah plays the role of a moderate, liberal maulavi in the movie.

The last Pakistani movie to hit the headlines worldwide was ‘Khamosh Pani’, a French-German production directed by Pakistani Sabiha Sumar. It was screened in 2003 International Film Festival of Mumbai popularly known as the MAMI festival. (PTI)

Khurana re-inducted in BJP

NEW DELHI, Apr 4: Two years after he quit BJP openly criticising L K Advani, veteran Delhi leader Madan Lal Khurana was today re-inducted into the party after he expressed "regret" for his comments against the leader.

The re-entry of the 71-year-old former Delhi Chief Minister assumes significance as it comes ahead of the Assembly elections to be held by November.

BJP President Rajnath Singh re-inducted Khurana after days of secret parleys and is seen as a move to re-energise the party in Delhi as he has considerable following in the Punjabi community of the capital.

"He (Khurana) has written a letter withdrawing his comments against the party and expressing regret over his remarks," a party leader said.

The party, however, has made no commitment on giving any post to the former Delhi BJP strongman and discussions in this regard are expected in the next few days.

Khurana refused to give any reaction immediately, saying he would speak on it later.

Khurana, who was also former Governor of Rajasthan, had severely criticised Advani in April 2006 over the Kandahar hijack episode and asserted that he could not work with him.

He had taken objection to Advani’s remarks that the former Deputy Prime Minister had differed with the decision to release terrorists during the hijack crisis.

Khurana had remarked that Advani’s comments were aimed at showing himself as a "hero" and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee as "zero".

Interestingly, his re-entry comes at a time when the ghost of Kandahar has returned to haunt the BJP and Advani.

Before he quit the BJP, Khurana had been suspended from the party for associating with expelled BJP leader Uma Bharti.

The suspension had come barely five months after he was re-inducted into the party following expulsion for attacking Advani and supporting Gujarat dissidents.

Khurana had then accused Advani, his "ideal" earlier, of having "dictatorial attitude" and turning BJP into a "private limited company" by forming a "coterie" around him.

He was re-inducted in December 2005 after he expressed regret for his comments against Advani.

He later joined the Bharatiya Janshakti Party floated by Uma Bharti but the two fell out soon.

He quit Bharti’s party last year in protest against her decision to support BJP in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls and announced launching of his own ‘morcha’ to fight for full statehood for Delhi and its development. (PTI)

BJP to contest independently in Haryana: Singh

SONEPAT, Apr 4: The BJP today said it will contest the next Lok Sabha polls and Assembly elections in Haryana independently but did not rule out possibility of post-poll alliance with like-minded parties.

"If the party will decide about the alliance with any political party it will take the leaders of the Haryana unit into confidence about it," BJP president Rajnath Singh today told reporters at Jhinjholi village about 25 km from here.

Singh was speaking at the inaugural function of a three-day training camp for Scheduled Castes Morcha of the party, in which more than 250 delegates including MPs, MLAs, Ministers and activists belonging to the scheduled castes are taking part.

The party, Singh said, will enter into alliance on its own principles. The Haryana unit, however, wanted to contest the coming elections on its own and independently.

Congress had ruled the country for 52 years but it failed to take the country at par with other developed countries in the world, the BJP President alleged.

He also said that the Congress party had no policy and it did not have a leader like Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L K Advani.

"It had ruled on the ‘divide and rule’ policy, appeasing Muslims, Christians and the people of other minority communities," he said.

National President of the Party’s Scheduled Castes Morcha Satya Narain Jatia, demanded that the Centre should not give reservation to those who converted from Hinduism to Islam and Christianity.

"When they have left Hindu dharma for improving their economic condition they have no right to demand reservation in Government," Jatia said.

He claimed that BJP has already strengthened its base among the scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and backward classes.

The party, he said was committed to provide social justice to the people of these communities. He also said that the people of these communities will back the BJP in the coming elections. (PTI)

Oppn calls off House boycott; firm
on meeting Mah Governor

MUMBAI, Apr 4: Opposition Shiv Sena-BJP members in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly today called off their boycott of House proceedings after a meeting with Speaker Babasaheb Kupekar, telling him that they have lost confidence in Deputy Speaker Pramod Shende.

"We have been assured that henceforth, the proceedings will take place as per rules," Leader of Opposition Ramdas Kadam told reporters after the meeting at Raj Bhawan.

The Opposition boycotted remaining proceedings yesterday and decided to submit a no-confidence notice against Shende’s refusal to allow poll on budgetary demands of social justice and rural development departments.

Eknath Khadse of BJP said the opposition leaders will meet Governor S C Jamir next week to express their displeasure with Shende. "His actions are partisan and he is clearly siding with the Government," he said.

Over two dozen Sena-BJP legislators had staged a dharna at the entrance of Vidhan Bhawan yesterday, shouting slogans against Shende.

"We have called off the boycott of proceedings but are firm on the no-confidence notice against Shende," Kadam said.

Despite the opposition members’ insistence that budgetary demands of the two key departments be put to vote, Shende had announced that the demands have been passed by a voice vote.

On repeated pleas by the Opposition leaders, Shende had personally counted the number of ruling coalition members present in the House and was satisfied that their number was more than the opposition members’ strength. (PTI)

Shirdi land deal: Rani challenges
order cancelling ownership

MUMBAI, Apr 4: Bollywood actress Rani Mukherjee today filed a petition in the Bombay High Court challenging the Ahmednagar District Collector’s order cancelling her ownership of a plot near Shirdi due to irregularities in the deal.

The petition filed before the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court will come up for hearing on April 9.

"There are several discrepancies in the order passed by the District Collector and we disagree on several observations made in the order," Rani’s lawyer Nanasaheb Chaudhary said.

The Sub Divisional Officer in January this year passed an order to cancel the land sale deal and took possession of Mukherjee’s land due to irregularities in the deal.

In December 2005, the actress had paid Rs 33 lakh for the non-transferable land and paid a stamp duty of Rs 1.32 lakh for registration.

The title, however, could not be transferred to her name, as it belonged to a farmer. According to the order passed by the Sub Divisional Officer, the purchased land was an agricultural land and thus it required special permission from the government to transfer it to a non-farmer.

According to Chaudhary, only the Divisional Commissioner is empowered to conduct an inquiry under the Land Ceiling revision case. (PTI)

‘Public authority’ in RTI Act’s Hindi version ‘misleading’

NEW DELHI, Apr 4: In a case of ‘lost in translation’, the definition of ‘public authority’ in the Hindi version of the Right to Information Act has the potential to let such authorities that come under the State Government go scot-free.

While the English version of the RTI Act defines ‘public authority’ as any authority or body or institution that comes under the Central and the state Governments, the Hindi version considers it as a body owned, controlled or substantially financed by the Centre only.

This one can come across as one goes through the RTI Act on the website of the Department of Personnel and Training (persmin.Nic.In) -- the Centre’s administrative authority in terms of RTI Act.

This website in turn leads the browser to www.Righttoinformation.Gov.In <http://www.Righttoinformation.Gov.In>.

"I noticed a serious translation mistake in the Hindi version of RTI Act 2005. This is a serious error and Hindi-speaking states can make full use of it," said Commodore (retd) Lokesh K Batra, an RTI activist.

Realising the gravity of the issue, Batra has sent a letter to Chief Central Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah, requesting him to look into it. "I have requested him through a mail to look into this matter," he said.

He said, "Tomorrow, public authorities in the states will claim that the RTI Act is not applicable to them.

"This also should be brought to the notice of the state information commissioners," Batra added.

In reply to Batra’s letter, Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah has given the assurance that the issue would be looked into.

"Thank you for bringing it to my notice. I will look into the matter," Habibullah said in a written reply to the RTI activist. (PTI)

Empowering women in Uttarakhand

DEHRA DUN, Apr 4: They played an important role in the formation of the state. Women in Uttarakhand are now poised to play an even bigger role thanks to a new legislation reserving 50 per cent posts in Panchayats in the state.

Uttarakhand has become the first state in the country to bring legislation on to accord 50 per cent seats in panchayats to wmen. The Uttarakhand Panchayat Law (Ammendement) Act 2008, was passed by the state assembly on March 13.

"This legislation will give due representation to the fairer sex in decision-making process as they deserve it being nearly half of the population," said Panchayati Raj Minister Bishen Singh Chufal after the passage of the bill. Socila activists believe that increasing the women’s share in the Panchayati Raj system would bring a quiet revolution in the state.

"Our assessment is that women generally keep themselves away from corruption, a factor which is crucial for the proper utilization of funds," said Sunder Lal Bahuguna, renowned social activist and Chipko leader.

As per the statistics, there are 7,227 village panchayats, 95 block or intermediary panchayats and 13 district panchayats in the state. At present, there are a total of 50,966 women panchayat functionaries in the state out of which 47,306 are at gram panchayat level, 3,315 at block panchayat level and 345 at district panchayat level.

Other social activists also say the new bill usher in a big change in the panchayat system. "When the next elections, due in the coming May, will be held as per the new legislation, a strong force of nearly 80,000 to 1,00,000 women will emerge victorious and play a crucial role in the decisions related to the development and other issues pertaining to their area," said Avdhash Kaushal, the chairperson of Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra (RLEK), a Dehra Dun based NGO working for panchayat system.

Kaushal also pointed out that the Government besides increasing the quota for women from the existing 33 per cent, has also carved out 628 more block panchayats taking its total number to 7,855.

Whenever women have got the opportunity, they have used it to address critical issues such as education, drinking water facilities, family planning, hygiene, healthcare and quality of life and village development, said Ruchi Kukreti, who is heading Pragati, a NGO working for the welfare of women.

Crediting women for raking up various issues, Kukreti said they have also brought alcohol abuse and domestic violence onto the agendas of political campaigns. .

Expressing happiness over the passage of the bill, a cross section of the women said they would work for opening of schools, fresh water and better connectivity in their villages.

"In our village there is no school. My first priority would be to work for the opening of the school in my village," said Rajni Sajwan, who is getting ready to contest election for local bodies from Myuda village in Tehri district.

Experts, however, apprehend that mere hike in reservation from the existing 33 per cent to 50 per cent may not really help increase the participation of women.

The long-drawn abstinence of women has led them into utmost ignorance, thereby making them just titular heads in the hands of their male relatives like brother, husband or son, they aver.

"There continues to be a resistance to really devolving power and funds from centres of male power to the periphery. Other key factors, which worsen the situation for them, are the lack of education, social and physical mobility, burden of reproductive and productive roles, lack of self-confidence and the opposition of entrenched socio-cultural and religious views," said Kaushal.

"I have seen many instances where the husbands of the women panchayat functionaries not only work in their place but also take decisions on their behalf," said BJP MLA Munna Singh Chauhan, who was supported by other legislatures also.

To cope up with the situation, the experts call for a support mechanism in the form of capacity building and awareness generation for women so that they could become aware, alert and responsive leaders in a true sense. (PTI)

Govt open to review armed forces pay package

NEW DELHI, Apr 4: The Government today assured the armed forces that it is open to reviewing the financial package recommended by the 6th Pay Commission provided anomalies pointed out were bonafide.

The assurance was given by Defence Minister AK Antony after key pay commission members, in an extraordinary step, visited the Defence Ministry to defend the recommended package and remove misgivings of the services top brass.

At the meeting, which was also attended by Defence Secretary Vijay Singh, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major, Vice Chiefs of Naval Staff and Army Staff and other top service and defence brass, Antony asked Army, Navy and IAF to submit proposals of anomalies, if any left, which would then be taken up with the Finance Ministry.

"The face-to-face meeting was an effort to clear your doubts and misconceptions and I am glad that most of these have been sorted out," the Minister was quoted by officials as saying at the conclusion of more than hour-long meeting during which presentations were made.

Speaking on behalf of the other two services, major made a strong plea for hiking the minimum military service pay for personnel below officer ranks from Rs 1,000 to Rs 3,000.

They also pointed out anomalies in new pay structure between soldiers and personnel below officer rank and their counterparts in central para-military forces. (PTI)