Another first for Aamir Khan
Jan 27th
Filmmaker and actor Aamir Khan was planning a grand theatrical launch of the first look for his forthcoming film Talaash — the teasers of which were to be out with Agneepath that releases today. However, the actor has had to shelve his plans of the big event, after fire broke out on the sets of his TV show on Monday, throwing his schedule in complete disarray.
According to a source, a big event was being planned for the first look, as the film is special for the actors and the filmmakers in more than one way. “It’s after 10 years that Aamir has reunited with Farhan (filmmaker Farhan Akhtar) and Ritesh (producer Ritesh Sidhwani) after Dil Chahta Hai. Also Aamir has teamed up with two of his favourite actresses again with whom he’s had the biggest hits in the past — Kareena Kapoor (3 Idiots) and Rani Mukerji (Ghulam), so naturally everyone was excited about it and planning a big celebration.”
What made the launch even more special is that it’s the first time in India that a digital poster is being released for a film. “There are a lot of moving images that will culminate into a still poster. It’s being done for the first time in India,” confirmed an insider. Apart from releasing it with Agneepath, the actor now plans to launch it on the social networking site Facebook that the actor is quite active on. “He is always in touch with his fans on FB, so he thought it’s the best way to connect with them through this poster,” adds the source.
Also, the source adds, Aamir thought that it’s the best way to curb the fakes doing the rounds. “Ever since the film has started, several websites have been putting up fake or self-created posters for circulation. Releasing this poster online now, would keep that in check as people can have a direct access to the originals,” the source informs.
The film directed by Reema Kagti, that’s slated for a summer release this year, is a suspense thriller that will see Aamir play a cop. Buzz also suggests that it’s a love triangle between the three leads.
Source : http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report_another-first-for-aamir-khan_1642306
21 music artists come together for new Vande Mataram
Jan 27th
New Delhi: As many as 21 top-notch music artists, including singers Sonu Niigaam, Shankar Mahadevan and Sunidhi Chauhan and musicians like Amaan Ali and Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, have lent their voice and hand for a new rendition of India`s national song ‘Vande mataram’.
The contemporary version of ‘Vande Mataram’, released by Veecon Music and Entertainment, is composed by renowned percussionist Bickram Ghosh.
“My version of `Vande Mataram` is introspective and philosophical. It is the national song woven into a new melody 64 years after independence. It is not a song of uprising as was the mainstay of the original song. I`ve created a melody straight from my heart and the finest of India`s artists have executed it,” Ghosh said in a statement.
Apart from Niigaam, Mahadevan and Chauhan, the new rendition has singers Shaan, Shubha Mudgal, Roop Kumar Rathod, Mahalakshmi Iyer, Ustad Rashid Khan, Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty, Kaushiki Desikan, Manoj Tiwari, Palash Sen, and popular band Indian Ocean.
Musicians who have played instruments for it include Kamal Sabri (sarangi), Niladri Kumar (sitar), Ganesh and Kumaresh (violins), Pandit Ronu Majumdar (flute), Rajhesh Vaidhya (veena), besides of course Khan (sarod), Bhatt (mohanveena) and Ghosh (tabla, kanjeera, percussions).
Ghosh says the experience has been “enriching”, and hopes it infuses a sense of patriotism in the citizens.
“I hope people find this `Vande Mataram` inspiring and feel proud to be Indian. This song is an ode to our India, the India of the times we live in. The India of today is strong, serene and beautiful. I hope the song makes you feel that,” said Ghosh, a day ahead of the Republic Day.
A video for the song has been shot for the song as well, says J.K. Srivastava.
“It fills my heart with joy and pride to present to you the finest album based on India`s national song as our tribute to our motherland,” said Srivastava.
“Besides bringing together a diverse ensemble of India`s leading music icons, we have shot the video using as many as 24 different grand sets spread all over India, making it very vibrant and colourful. By bringing together the genius of artists from across the country, our edition of `Vande Mataram` truly reflects India`s `unity in diversity`,” he added
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Agneepath movie review
Jan 27th
Ram Gopal Varma, sit quietly in a corner for a bit. And watch a Karan Johar production — yes Karan Johar — make an operatic film about gangster violence. If there is a movie that explores the poetry of violence, it is this. Ye mahan drushya hain, chal raha manushya hain, ashru, sweth, rakta se lathpat lathpath lathpath. Harivansh Rai Bachchan’s poem will echo as you watch Hrithik Roshan weeping while wolfing down the dal chawal his estranged mother has made for him. It will echo as you watch the face of the actor playing the young Vijay Dinanath Chauhan when his father is hanged from a tree. It will echo as you watch transfixed when Sanjay Dutt pounds Hrithik Roshan in the climax, the punches crunching bones and snapping muscle. And it will echo when you see a loathsome Rishi Kapoor hawking the flesh of a 15-year-old girl to a bunch of grasping greedy men.
Melodramatic, choir-inducing sentiment, ecstatic. Agneepath is that rare mainstream movie that is written well. Sanjay Dutt’s Kancha Cheena speaks Sanskritised Hindi, referencing the epics. Priyanka Chopra’s Marathi lilt is a carryover from her cheerful role in Kameeney. Hrithik Roshan, well, Hrithik Roshan just burns silently, seething, waiting, plotting, planning. His gangster is the purest form of criminal because he has no motive but to restore his father’s reputation. His father who taught him to work without waiting for results, to recite poetry, how to eat, how to respect life.
The film is a metaphor for the world we live in and Mandwa, the benighted Mandwa, which sold its soul for the money it expected to come from cocaine, is what India is today. A nation perhaps which has sold its spirit for the joys of consumerism. A nation which has to sacrifice its most honest citizens because they have chosen shaitan as their malik. A nation which watches helplessly as its soul is stolen.
Like Varma’s best movies, Agneepath is about the sociology of power. Shakti ka istamal karne ke liye shakti ke paas rehna zaroori hai. As Vijay plots Kancha Cheena’s downfall, watch him first embrace Rauf Lala (an astounding Rishi Kapoor), then try to swap Kancha’s entry into Mumbai for a return to Mandwa. He is, of course, Ram to Kancha’s Ravana.
A stellar cast — great to see Om Puri back as the fine, upstanding police officer Gaitonde — terrific moody cinematography by the ultra talented Kiran Deohans and Ravi K Chandra, and dialogues that are not an assault on the language, Agneepath reinforces the viewers’ faith in Bollywood, struggling under an avalanche of southern cartoon violent movies. Watch it, weep, wallow in the brilliantly choreographed gangster opera. After a brilliantly natural performance in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Hrithi Roshan, welcome back to form. And who is Karan Malhotra? Where has Karan Johar been hiding him?
Source : http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/agneepath-movie-review/1/170710.html
Jaya Vs N Ram: TN court to hear defamation case
Jan 27th
New Delhi: A Chennai court will on Friday hear a criminal defamation case filed by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa against ‘The Hindu’ newspaper’s former editor-in-chief N Ram, for publishing a controversial article earlier carried by Tamil magazine Nakheeran.
In her petition, the AIADMK chief has alleged that N Ram allowed the publication of the controversial article without checking the veracity of the content.
Jaya Lalitha has not asked for compensation but wants N Ram to be prosecuted for the publication.
Nakkeeran reportedly published a cover story on 8th of November last year about the Chief Minister eating beef and ‘The Hindu’ carried the article the very next day.
Bangalore based company launches tablet Tabplus Rio at Rs 11,990
Jan 25th
BANGALORE: A Bangalore based company has launched a new tablet, named Tabplus Rio, at Rupees 11,990. Launched by Digital Waves, the Android 2.3 tablet comes with a 1 GHz Cortex A9 processor, 7 inch screen with storage up to 32GB via Micro SD.
In the recent years, India’s tablet market has witnessed increasing competition, with several local manufacturers rolling out devices at affordable rates. According to the Manufacturer’s Association of IT Industry, the industry expects to sell around 3 lakh tablets in the current financial year.
Tabplus Rio Specifications
| CPU | AMLogic AML8726-M, ARM CORTEX A9 |
| 1GHz, Embedded Mali 400 GPU | |
| Operation System | Android 2.3 (Support Flash 11) |
| Memory | 512MB DDR2 |
| Built-in Storage | 4GB Nand Flash built-in |
| Storage | Upto 32GB via Micro SD |
| Gravity | 4-Dimensional G-sensor |
| Display | 7″ Capacitive, 800 x 480 pixels LCD, |
| Five point touch | |
| Wi-Fi | IEEE 802.11 a/b/g wireless network |
| 3G* | External 3G* USB data card |
| Buttons | Menu, Back, Power on/off, Vol +/-, Reset |
| I/O Port | Micro USB x1, USB x1, HDMI output x1, |
| 3.5mm Earphone jack x 1, TF card reader | |
| Audio / Speaker | 3.5mm headphone jack, Built-in mic & speaker |
| Camera | Built-in camera 300K (Front) |
| Audio file formats | MP2, MP3, WAV, AAC, WMA |
| Video file formats | MPEG1/2/4, H.264, H.263, VC1(WMV9), |
| Photo file formats | RMVB, RM, 3GP, AVI, MKV, MOV |
| Battery capacity | JPG, JPEG, BMP, PNG |
| Power adapter | 3000mAh |
| Size (L*W*H) / Wt. | AC 100～240V，DC 9V/2A |
| Accessories | 203 x 120 x 13 mm / ~350g |
| USB Cable, Power Adapter |
Source: Indiatimes & Digitalwaves
700 militants surrender arms in Assam
Jan 25th
Guwahati: From guns to roses, life turned full circle for close to 700 militants from nine separatist groups in Assam on Tuesday when they laid down arms to join the mainstream in the presence of union Home Minister P Chidambaram.
In one of northeast India’s biggest surrender ceremonies in Assam’s main city of Guwahati, a total of 676 militants laid down weapons and in return received roses from the home minister.
“Today is a historic day as not very often one sees so many militant groups shunning the path of violence and joining the national mainstream,” said Chidambaram.
“Leave the past behind and look to the future positively. We assure that each one of you would be treated equally and be able to lead a life of dignity and honour,” he added.
The nine groups are part of two major ethnic groups – the tribal Kukis in eastern Assam and the Adivasis inhabiting the northern and western parts of Assam.
The nine outfits are Adivasi Peoples’ Army (APA), All Adivasi National Liberation Army (AANLA), Santhal Tiger Force (STF), Birsa Commando Force (BSF), Adivasi Cobra Militant Army (ACMA), the Kuki Liberation Army (KLA), Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA), the United Kukigram Defence Army (UKDA) and the Hmar Peoples’ Convention-Democratic (HPC-D).
“The peace talks with the pro-talk faction of the ULFA (United Liberation Front of Asom) led by its chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa are under way while the proposed peace talks with the Dima Halam Daogah (Niranjan) faction is in the final stage,” the home minister added.
All the nine militant groups are already observing ceasefires with the government, although formal peace talks are yet to begin. Most of these groups were either fighting for secession, or some for greater autonomy.
“We have realised the futility of an armed struggle and decided to join the mainstream with the sincere hope that our grievances could be resolved through negotiations with the government,” Javerez Khaka, chairman of the Adivasi Cobra Militant of Assam, told IANS soon after laying down arms.
Donning camouflage fatigues and bandanas, most of the militants recounted the hard life in the jungles and their acts of violence.
“Life was hard in the jungles, and at times we regret when our attacks leads to loss of lives of innocent civilians,” a battle hardened Kuki rebel said requesting not to be named.
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, senior army, police, and civil officials, were also present at the surrender ceremony.
“This could be the beginning of a new dawn of peace and hope in Assam. Surely today is a historic day for Assam and we hope a few more factions opposed to the peace process also realise the futility of an armed struggle and join the mainstream,” the chief minister told IANS.
Barring the anti-talk faction of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) led by the elusive commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah, almost all the influential rebel groups in Assam are now either holding talks with the government or in peace mode.
“Now almost all the militant groups operating in Assam have joined the mainstream and just a few factions are only active,” said Khagen Sharma, chief of the Assam Police Special Branch.
According to plans, the government would lodge these militants in designated camps until peace accords are signed with the government following formal talks.
Source : http://ibnlive.in.com/news/700-militants-surrender-arms-in-assam/223956-3.html
Chaos at Imran Khans event
Jan 25th
Perfectionist mamu ka perfectionist bhanja. Guess having Aamir Khan in the family has its own advantages. And as far as Imran Khan is concerned, Aamir’s ‘perfectionist’ attitude seems to have rubbed off on the young actor as well.
Recently, Khan Jr was in town for the promotion of his upcoming flick, “Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu” co-staring Kareena Kapoor. And as usual, chaos reigned in Hyderabad.
While most of us are used to the disruptions and lack of proper organization at most city events, it was difficult for the actor to keep up with the confusion. It all began with the press conference starting two hours behind schedule. While chaos reigned supreme at the venue over Imran’s no show, once there, he put on his perfectionist hat to make sure everything was running smoothly. From reprimanding the photographers for being unruly, to organizing a better way to do the photo-op, Imran was at his best. “Please don’t fall on one another. Aap please thoda peeche chale jaaye, unko bhi photo lena hai,” the actor tried his best to accommodate the requests of photographers. “Now I’m officially blind,” he joked when finally the shutterbugs had stopped clicking.
Meanwhile, a fan managed to come up near the actor during the Q&A session with the media. “Why are you wearing a beard?” she asked. “It’s for my next film,” replied Imran thinking the lady was part of the media contingent present. “Could you please pose for a picture for my son? We are your fans,” said the lady next. “Ma’am, you’re not from the media, I guess. I think it’s really disrespectful when you do this while the media is here for a Q&A session with me,” said a pretty miffed Imran, while the organizers had no control over who was getting into the venue.
Earlier, Iman was scheduled to unveil a calendar at the venue. But it did not happen as the production house claimed there was no such contract with them. The organizers then got ace shuttler Jwala Gutta, who was present at the venue, to unveil it.
Drinking mate tea may help prevent colon cancer
Jan 25th
Washington: Mate tea, which has long been consumed in South America for its medicinal properties, may help prevent colon cancer, a new study has suggested.
University of Illinois scientists found that that human colon cancer cells die when they are exposed to the approximate number of bioactive compounds present in one cup of this brew.
“The caffeine derivatives in mate tea not only induced death in human colon cancer cells, they also reduced important markers of inflammation,” said Elvira de Mejia, a U of I associate professor of food chemistry and food toxicology.
That’s important because inflammation can trigger the steps of cancer progression, she said.
In the in vitro study, de Mejia and former graduate student Sirima Puangpraphant isolated, purified, and then treated human colon cancer cells with caffeoylquinic acid (CQA) derivatives from mate tea. As the scientists increased the CQA concentration, cancer cells died as a result of apoptosis.
“Put simply, the cancer cell self-destructs because its DNA has been damaged,” she said.
The ability to induce apoptosis, or cell death, is a promising tactic for therapeutic interventions in all types of cancer, she said.
de Mejia said they were able to identify the mechanism that led to cell death. Certain CQA derivatives dramatically decreased several markers of inflammation, including NF-kappa-B, which regulates many genes that affect the process through the production of important enzymes.
Ultimately cancer cells died with the induction of two specific enzymes, caspase-3 and caspase-8, de Mejia said.
“If we can reduce the activity of NF-kappa-B, the important marker that links inflammation and cancer, we’ll be better able to control the transformation of normal cells to cancer cells,” she added.
The results of the study strongly suggest that the caffeine derivatives in mate tea have potential as anti-cancer agents and could also be helpful in other diseases associated with inflammation, she said.
But, because the colon and its microflora play a major role in the absorption and metabolism of caffeine-related compounds, the anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects of mate tea may be most useful in the colon.
“We believe there’s ample evidence to support drinking mate tea for its bioactive benefits, especially if you have reason to be concerned about colon cancer. Mate tea bags are available in health food stores and are increasingly available in large supermarkets,” she added.
Source : http://zeenews.india.com/ayurveda/drinking-mate-tea-may-help-prevent-colon-cancer_1034.html
