Abbas Tyrewala
Posted by: apathe on: December 3, 2008
Filmmaker Abbas Tyrewala says that as an Indian Muslim, he was scared of a backlash against the community in the aftermath of the terror strikes in Mumbai, but is glad that he was proven wrong.
“Frankly, considering the immensity of the attack this time, I as an Indian Muslim felt scared. I thought there would be a backlash. But call it the power of unity during crisis, not one voice of dissent against the Indian Muslim was heard in the entire city. Not once have I felt accusing eyes looking at me,” said Abbas.
The writer-director, whose Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na was a huge hit, feels it is important for Indians to delineate Islam from terrorism.
“And the latest attack on Mumbai has clearly brought out the difference, clearly shown us that the right-thinking Indian Muslim is not a terrorist. That Hindu or Muslim, we’re all united in the fight against terrorism,” said Abbas, who has been married to a Hindu for two years.
“My family and I have lived in Mumbai for years. My father has never hurt a fly. Neither do I think have I. At this time, when Mumbai has gone through its worst attack ever, it was very important for me to feel a sense of absolute identification with the mainstream,” he said.
Dostana
Posted by: apathe on: November 29, 2008
While Subhash Ghai’s Yuvvraaj is struggling to win over the audience, Karan Johar-produced Dostana has unexpectedly found the field open for it to rake in all the box-office riches. Since its release, its worldwide collections have already crossed Rs 500 million.
“The success of Dostana has come as reassurance to the industry that the entertainment sector will be able to brave the negative impact of the economic slowdown if the changing tastes of audiences are carefully catered to, an opportunity which Ghai’s Yuvvraaj missed,” said trade analyst Vinod Mirani.
Released on Nov 14, Dostana has tickled the funny bone of viewers with its story about two strapping young men – Abhishek Bachchan and John Abraham – pretending to be gay and their friendship with their landlady Priyanka Chopra. But Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor and Zayed Khan starrer that hit the screens a week later is about three brothers fighting for their father’s wealth. The audiences rejected the movie.
Only five weeks are left before the year 2008 folds up. The industry’s hopes are now pinned on Shah Rukh Khan starrer Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi and Aamir Khan’s Ghajini, the last two major movies of the year.
Releasing on Dec 12, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi is the story of an odd couple played by Shah Rukh Khan and newcomer Anushka Sharma. Ghajini is a romantic action thriller that revolves around the life of a rich businessman who suffers from memory loss after a violent encounter. The film is schedule for Dec 25 release.
“Although, whether these two much-awaited films are able to match Dostana success at the box-office is still a matter of conjecture. But both have generated a lot of expectations in the industry because of their good advance reports,” Mirani said.
“Hope, both the movies come up to the expectations. Because, just as Yash Raj Films sorely needs a hit after a series of flops this year, so is the industry eager to end the year on a promising note in order to regain its confidence as all the big-budget films released during the year so far came crashing at the box-office before Dostana arrived,” he added.
Meanwhile, in order to cash in the two-week grace period before Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi hits the screen, some distributors of medium-budget movies are scrambling to hire the cinemas that are available now.
Staring Friday, the period will see as many as eight movies released. UTV Movies’ Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye released today. Also being released is Mumbai Mantra’s Sorry Bhai after a minor hiccup when singer Rabbi Shergill filed a case against it, alleging that the movie has used one of his tunes without his permission.
Following the complaint, the Delhi High Court had stayed the release of the movie, asking director Onir to respond to the petitioner’s complaint before Dec 8.
“Instead of delaying the release, we decided to delete the ‘objectionable’ song as per the court’s order,” said Onir, who has also produced the movie along with Vashu Bhagnani.
Due on December 5 are Dil Kabaddi, Maharathi, Meerabai Not Out, Khalballi and Oh My God.
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England won’t return for Tests
Posted by: apathe on: November 28, 2008
BCCI vice-President Lalit Modi was on Friday chastised by the British media for suggesting that England’s cricketers should return to India for next month’s Test series despite their heightened security fears in the wake of Mumbai terror attacks.
England abandoned the one-dayers, calling off the last two games of the seven-match series, due to the deadly terror strikes in Mumbai which left over 100 dead.
Modi, who is also the commissioner of the cash-rich Indian Premier League, had stated yesterday that he was confident about Kevin Pietersen and Co returning for next month’s two Test matches, one of which is scheduled in Mumbai.
The comments were denounced by the media here with wide-selling tabloid ‘The Daily Mail’ describing him as “crass and insensitive”.
“It is highly unlikely England will return whatever the cost to the ECB’s relationship with the Indian board and, specifically, Lalit Modi, the Indian administrator who pulls the strings here. He had earlier shown crass insensitivity by announcing that the series would go ahead as new explosions were taking place in Mumbai.
“It was as if the Indian administrator who is taking over the game was determined to make it as difficult as possible for England to make their escape, as if his insensitivity in proclaiming to Sky and the BBC that the tour must go ahead was intended to cause maximum disruption to England and the man he has very much under his thumb, ECB chairman Giles Clarke,” the ‘Daily Mail’ said.
The ‘Daily Telegraph’ was equally scathing in its criticism of Modi calling him a “single-minded character”.
“Lalit Modi, the most powerful man in Indian cricket, set the agenda yesterday with his blithe assurances that the Test series would go ahead regardless. Modi is a single-minded character who does not like to see anyone or anything disrupting his plans, not even a human disaster on the scale of the one unfolding in Mumbai,” said ‘The Daily telegraph’.
“It seems unlikely, however, that Modis confident predictions will have gone down too well with the England players. The tourists were so surprised by his comments that they immediately called a new team meeting,” the daily added in a stinging criticism.
The newspaper said Modi’s only agenda seems to be protecting his brain-child IPL from the financial after-effects of the terror strikes.
“Modi’s first priority will be to make sure that the terrorist atrocities of the last two days do not burst the Indian Premier League bubble. If he can get the England players back out again before Christmas, it will do something to assuage the fears of the many overseas players due to return to the IPL next season,” the newspaper said.
“If not, there is a genuine danger that India could join Pakistan on the list of no-go destinations,” it stated.
‘The Guardian’ said the millions that are stake will ensure that the show goes on despite the tragedy.
“Lucrative deals have made Indian officials determined to resume play in 2009 after the terrorist attacks in Mumbai.
Powerful figures within the Board of Control for Cricket in India also have a stake in the matter. It appears that the ugly face of urban terror will not stop it, not with all those millions at stake,” the paper said.
‘The Independent’, however, praised Modi for being sensitive for once.
“Modi, who is the most single important and influential cricket administrator in the world, was at his most conciliatory and gracious yesterday and he was quite obviously shaken and moved by what had happened,” it said.
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US is rushing a team of FBI investigators To Mumbai
Posted by: apathe on: November 28, 2008
- In: India
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The US is rushing a team of FBI investigators and forensic scientists to Mumbai ascounter-terrorism.
Officials were reported to be stunned at the level of coordination in the terror attacks in the city.
The FBI team would coordinate with Indian intelligence and security agencies about the planning and evidence collected on the attacks.
The US officials estimate that the widespread carnage could have been carried out for relatively small price tag between USD 100,000 and USD 200,00O which, they say, is the cost of machine guns, grenades, ammunition and boats used.
The television network said intelligence agencies around the world are scrambling to identify the source of this latest threat in view of the “remarkable” coordination and sophistication.
The command centers, set up by terrorists in places they attacked, may have allowed them to communicate from site to site. The attacks, US officials said, appear to mimic Al Qaeda tactics simultaneous attacks on high profile targets in the heart of the financial district.
What is deeply disturbing to US law enforcement officials, is that these militants may now be targeting Westerners, particularly Americans, to draw attention to their cause, despite not having a specific grievance against the United States.
Bhojpuri film industry
Posted by: apathe on: November 14, 2008
Bhojpuri film industry is worth a little more than Rs 200 crores, it is an industry that caters to Bhojpuri speaking people not only in states like Bihar and UP but also in countries like Mauritius, Fiji, Netherlands, Nepal, Ghana and the West Indies.
It is an Industry that produces almost 75 films every year, an Industry that operates out of Mumbai. The recent past, however, has made this film churning machinery a little uncertain about it’s future. This is one reason perhaps that it is now looking at a film city of its own in Bihar.
“The proposal was already made by Shatrughan Sinha to the Bihar government a year ago but when the recent political scenario of Maharashtra changed, I decided to speak with Bihar’s Chief Minister Nitish Kumar again. I am happy to say that 200 acres of land and Rs 200 crore rupees have been cleared by the Bihar government for the project,” said Manoj Tiwari, actor-producer, Bhojpuri cinema.
Manoj Tiwari is one of the biggest Bhojpuri stars spearheading this project. So does this mean that Bhojpuri cinema is on its way out of Maharashtra.
Sources say that a shift of base will directly affect employment opportunities to junior artists and technicians, as almost 70 per cent of them are Maharashtrians.
“Bhojpuri cinema is not moving out of Mumbai, we are just looking at a safe house whenever there is a situation that threatens to disrupt work. the film city in Bihar, however, is not just for Bhojpuri cinema. We would want to invite Bollywood, even Hollywood once it is operational,” said Manoj Tiwari.
It is said that once the formalities are complete, the film city will be ready sometime next year. And Tiwari says the artists and technicians from Maharashtra will always be welcome.
Shilpa Shetty Injured
Posted by: apathe on: November 14, 2008
Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty has injured her wrist and she doesn’t know when it happened. Doctors have advised her to take a three-month rest.
“Either it happened because I was practising cartwheels for my new action film or it could be because of the wear and tear that happens in weight training,” Shilpa said.
Despite the injury, the actress will continue shooting for the second season of reality show “Bigg Boss” and the movie The Man.
“I’ll wear a long sleeve top for Bigg Boss and I’ll wear a thick kada (bangle) for The Man,” she said. While resting at home, Shilpa is reading scripts.
“I have started reading scripts that I did not have time to read earlier. But I am going to be very careful about what I say yes to. I want to do films where my character is exceptionally well developed. I don’t want to do multi-starrers,” she said.
Shilpa has turned producer and her first production venture will be a high-budget action comedy. She says she doesn’t want to take any risks for the project.
“That’s the reason why I haven’t opted for top stars because getting their dates would be a problem. Besides, financers want filmmakers to cut down on costs. How can that be possible? I don’t want to compromise on the quality of my film to save a few bucks,” she said.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan might be seen in a Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Posted by: apathe on: November 11, 2008
If reports are to be believed then Aishwarya Rai Bachchan might be seen in a Sanjay Leela Bhansali film after a span of almost six years. Ash was last seen in Bhansali’s Devdas and prior to that in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. Reports also have it that Hrithik Roshan might work opposite Ash.
Bhansali apparently liked the chemistry between Hrithik and Ash in Jodhaa Akbar and thought of repeating the pairing in his movie.
Though Bhansali has worked with Ash earlier also but it would be the director’s first film with Hrithik. The movie will reportedly go on the floors in mid-2009.
Hrithik is presently completing his home production Kites , while Aishwarya is shooting Mani Ratnam ’s Ravan with hubby Abhishek in Kerala.
Thanks Dada
Posted by: apathe on: November 11, 2008
Gifted off-side player, discarded after one ODI on debut as a teenager in Australia in 1991-2 but made hundreds in his first two Tests on comeback in 1996.
India’s most successful Test captain, was sacked as one-day player in October 2005 and from Tests four months later but made a strong comeback in South Africa.
He has gone on to become the first Indian left-hander to score 7,000 Test runs during a memorable farewell Test series against Australia.
Indian moon mission
Posted by: apathe on: November 9, 2008
Today is probably the do or die day for India’s moon mission, the lunar craft is fast approaching the moon and if any of the complex operations slated for today fail, it could have disastrous consequences.
It had a flawless launch on October 22, 2008. The arduous 17-day journey has been a bumpy one but the Indian space agency says all systems on board the unnamed satellite are working well and if all goes well in a very delicate operation fraught with many dangers, the Chandrayaan should rendezvous with the moon and then remain in the moon orbit for the next two years. When there it will be mapping the lunar resources like never before. Among its first tasks placing India’s tricolor on the moons surface.
This fire and smoke heralded India’s ascendancy to a exclusive group of moon faring nations. India’s lunar craft is now dashing in space to keep its date with the moon. By all accounts, the country’s moon dreams have been a blazing success so far.
Hectic preparations are ongoing in the Mission Control Center in Bangalore to ensure that nothing goes wrong since the lunar craft is at its farthest point a whopping 400,000 kilometers from Earth and talking to it is a big challenge since all signals are very faint.
“Chandrayaan-1 is performing well and it is about 3.8 lakh kilometers away from Earth and in a series of complex maneuvers it will be putting the satellite in the moon orbit, it is a tricky operation, but ISRO scientists are confident of achieving the task,” said Dr S Satish, Director, ISRO, Bangalore.
A tricky operation indeed but how will it be done
Destination moon
After its flawless launch by the PSLV, the lunar craft has really been orbiting the Earth in widening circles
A few days back the Chandrayaan-1 was given its final nudge that would take it on its one way ticket to the moon covering the 400,000 kilometer distance in 5 days
When it is almost 500 kilometers from the moon, the space craft will be considerably slowed down so that the moon’s gravitational pull can catch it
Once that happens the lunar craft will start orbiting the moon never to return to Earth
It will then be stabilized in a 100 kilometer circular orbit before it can start its work
“The challenge is basically that we are sending the satellite to 400,000 kilometers, it is quite far off and we have to make sure our trajectory is correct and the angle or orientation is correct and the timing is correct, so that when we reach the moon, the moon must be at the exact place as we have designed so we make sure that the guidance and control and propulsion system, the communication system everything is in place correctly,” said said Dr T K Alex, Director, ISRO, Bangalore.
The Indian space scientists are anxious since almost a third of the world’s moon mission have failed at this critical juncture, they have missed the moon and get lost in deep space.
NDTV was given rare access right into the heart of the laboratory where these operations are being carried out, the Indian moon mission has been giving many a sleepless night to the engineers who are nurturing it like there own baby.
If all goes well the Indian moon craft will make history and remain with the moon for the next two years, making a three dimensional atlas of the moon, searching for water, exploring the moon like never before. Yet, even on this important exploratory mission science comes later, the first important task, a strong geopolitical assertion by India which will be dropping a flag on the lunar surface by sending a probe down later this month.
A man known for his passive ideals, Vikram Sarabhai, the Father of the Indian space programme must certainly be a happy man, the Indian lunar satellite Chandrayaan has gone where no Indian thing has ever gone before. One small step for ISRO one giant leap for India.
South Africa fought back to defeat Bangladesh
Posted by: apathe on: November 6, 2008
Bangladesh needed 122 to win under the Duckworth-Lewis system after South Africa was held to 118-7. The match was reduced to 14 overs per side because of rain.
Bangladesh looked well placed early to record an upset win in the one-off encounter at New Wanderers Stadium, reaching 56 for 1 off just five overs after some explosive batting from captain Mohammad Ashraful.
Ashraful hit five fours for his 21 off just 10 balls before being bowled by Johan Botha, while opener Tamil Iqbal top-scored with 25, hitting four fours in 24 balls. But aside from Naeem Islam (15) and Mushfiqur Rahim (12), no other batsmen reached double figures as Bangladesh slumped to 109 for 8.
Fast bowler Dale Steyn starred with the ball for South Africa, taking two wickets for 18 off three overs.
Rory Kleinveldt, making his Twenty20 international debut, took Junaid Siddique’s wicket with his first ball, as the Bangladesh opener gloved a swinging ball to wicketkeeper A B de Villiers. But then Ashraful went on the offensive, striking three fours as Kleinveldt went for 20 runs off his only over.
South Africa raced to 43 off 4.1 overs before losing opening batsman Herschelle Gibbs for 18. His opening partner, Loots Bosman, fell in the next over for 28, leaving the hosts on 58-2.
De Villiers then stabilised the innings, top-scoring with 36, but South Africa suffered a mini-collapse toward the end of its innings, losing three wickets for the addition of just four runs in the space of two overs.
