Month: November 2009

‘De Dana Dan’ not among Pritam’s best works

by

New Delhi, November 08: There’s been an overdose of Pritam’s works this year with “De Dana Dan” being the 11th film he has composed music for.

While most of the scores he’s given in 2009 have been appreciated, the music of “De Dana Dan” is not one of his best works.

Another comedy from Priyadarshan, “De Dana Dan” stars Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, Suniel Shetty and Neha Dhupia.

The album has a heard-before feel and doesn’t create too much interest. It contains six originals and an equal number of remixes.

Iranian MPs reject UN nuke proposal

by

Tehran, November 08: Senior Iranian lawmakers rejected on Saturday any possibility of Tehran shipping uranium abroad for further enrichment, intensifying pressures on the government to reject the UN-backed plan altogether.

Heavy voting recorded in Lok Sabha, assembly by-polls

by

New Delhi, November 08: More than half of the eligible seven million voters cast their ballot on Saturday in by-elections to one Lok Sabha and 31 assembly constituencies across seven states, with the outcome set to have a bearing on almost all major political parties.

Officials reported serpentine queues in most balloting centres in the Firozabad parliamentary constituency of Uttar Pradesh as well as the state’s 11 assembly seats. The same was the case in West Bengal (10 assembly seats), Kerala (3), Rajasthan, Assam and Himachal Pradesh (2 each) and Chhattisgarh (1).

Katrina Kaif A Sweetheart: Ranbir Kapoor

by

Mumbai, November 08: Ranbir KapoorThere have been reports of Katrina Kaif being a bully on the sets of Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani.

When we asked the director of the movie, Rajkumar Santoshi, and actor Ranbir Kapoor if there was any truth to this news when they were in the city recently, Santoshi cheekily said, “Haan bhai, darr to lagta hi hai. After all, she came to my sets after five blockbusters. Itni success toh maine apni puri career mein nahi dekhi hai.” To this Ranbir added,

Freida Pinto ‘has eyes only for Dev Patel’

by

New York, November 8 : Freida Pinto was said to have had eyes only for her ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ co-star Dev Patel at an awards ceremony in Los Angeles.

The actress reportedly gave the cold shoulder to a string of admirers at the Britannia Awards at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza.

The 25-year-old turned away hopeful suitors to be with her 6-year junior beau, according to sources.

“She only had eyes for Dev. They look like they are totally in love,” the New York Post quoted a source as saying.

Zip Your Lips For 3 Idiots

by

Mumbai, November 08: It’s a first for Bollywood. At least 100 people from various age-groups have been shown the first half of Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s 3 Idiots as an exercise in gauging public reaction to his most ambitious venture to date.

The chosen ones have been – lead actor Aamir Khan’s teenage son Junaid’s classmates, a group of middle-aged women, and some big trade names. But wait before you envy this lot of ‘privileged’ people… here’s the catch.

Japan says no base deal during Obama visit

by

Tokyo, November 08: Japan’s Foreign Minister said on Sunday that no deal on relocating US troops on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa can be expected during President Barack Obama’s visit this week, saying the issue needs more time to resolve.

Obama is scheduled to arrive Friday, and a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama is on the agenda. Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada said Sunday on TV Asahi that “an agreement between the heads of state holds heavy meaning,” but cannot be expected to be finalized during Obama’s visit.

Aishwarya Rai Apes Amitabh Bachchan

by

Mumbai, November 08: Aishwarya Rai Apes Amitabh BachchanAishwarya Rai Bachchan is a lady of many skills. The perfect home-maker and of course the professional actress.

She also oversees her husband Abhishek’s professional diary. However, one hidden aspect of this light-eyed beauty came into fore the other day, when she did a perfect take off on her father-in-law, Amitabh Bachchan’s baritone. Ash aped her superstar dad-in-law’s deep voice and simultaneously paid him a huge compliment saying, “It is a voice that is unmistakable.”

Prices take shine off Pakistan weddings

by

Karachi, November 08: Pakistan’s traditionally lavish weddings have lost their sparkle this matrimonial season thanks to rising prices of gold and festive essentials in a limping economy overshadowed by Taliban attacks.

The colourful celebrations normally span three to five days and attract 500 to 1,000 guests, pushing the cost for the hard-hit lower middle class to between 300,000 and one million rupees (3,600-12,000 dollars).

“It has become too expensive. Everything is expensive.

France eyes India’s infrastructure sector

by

New Delhi, November 08: Noting that infrastructure building is a key challenge in India, France has said it is ready to work with the country in this area.

French companies dealing with infrastructure building are among the global leaders in the field and his country wants them to increase their presence in India, the Ambassador of France to New Delhi, Jerome Bonnafont, said.

“We want to be more present in the area of infrastructure. You know that infrastructure building is a key challenge in India,” he told PTI.

Yuva trains to have double decker AC coaches

by

New Delhi, November 08: With a view to cater to the needs of students in the country, Indian Railways is planning to introduce AC double decker coaches in the new ‘Yuva’ trains, which would run at the speed of 150 km per hour.

Preparations are afoot to start the Howrah-New Delhi Yuva Express and Bandra Terminus-Hazrat Nizamuddin Yuva Express shortly on a pilot basis, said a senior Rail Ministry official.

Sayali Bhagat gets threatening calls

by

Mumbai, November 08: Actors often get threatening calls from unknown person and the latest in the row is actress Sayali Bhagat.

For the last few days, Sayali has been receiving threatening calls and abusive messages from a stranger. The actress has lodged a police complaint against the unfamiliar person at a suburban police station.

Her Business Manager, Vinith Handa confirms the incident, ‘Yes that’s true Sayali is being harassed by an unknown caller with threatening and abusive calls and she has reported the matter to the police.’

Amitabh poses with Preity

by

Mumbai, November 08: Amitabh Bachchan poses with Preity Zinta during the grand finale of the 11th Mumbai Film Festival organized by the Mumbai Academy of Moving Images (MAMI) on Thursday after he received the Lifetime Achievement award for completing 40 years in the film industry.

On receiving the award, Mr. Bachchan said, “I am really grateful to the Indian film industry for tolerating me for so many years. I remember all the wonderful people who got associated with me.”

A miracle baby lives with his heart out of his body

by

New Delhi, November 08: Two-month-old Neel is one among the rarest of rare children born with ‘Ectopia Cordis’ — malformation of heart outside the body — and surviving after undergoing a surgery by doctors here.

One-and-a-half-month after the surgery by a team of surgeons at Apollo Hospital, Neel (name changed) is living beyond the expected short life span of such children, doctors said.

Neel is around four kilograms now. Once he attains more weight, at least six kgs, doctors said they will perform another surgery on him.

Call suspect actions immediately: BCCI

by

New Delhi, November 08: The Indian board (BCCI) has cracked down on suspect bowling actions by instructing domestic umpires to wast no time in reporting bowlers believed to be chucking.

Those whose actions are believed to be suspect have been reported and will be called for chucking without a warning, the BCCI has stated.

A list of 32 bowlers with suspect actions was compiled by an advisory group, which subsequently sent the named players for rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore.

We hope to seal the series here: Hussey

by

Guwahati, November 08: Leading 3-2 in the ongoing seven-match ODI series against India, Australian vice captain Michael Hussey said the visitors are determined to pocket the rubber in the sixth one-dayer here tomorrow.

Predicting that tomorrow’s day affair will witness a close finish, Hussey said they were backing themselves up with the motivation of sealing the issue tomorrow instead of leaving it for last game in Mumbai.

Kieron Pollard wants to show Test aptitude

by

Jamaica, November 08: After turning in another barnstorming limited-overs performance to clinch the President’s Cup for Trinidad & Tobago, Kieron Pollard has set his sights on carrying that form into the longer version of the game.

Pollard, who slammed 57 and took three wickets in the President’s Cup final, has made his name as a lethal hitter and is part of the West Indies side in ODIs and Twenty20s but has yet to make a Test appearance. He wanted to use the upcoming regional four-day tournament to dispel the notion that he was a limited-overs specialist.

Pakistani, J&K ultras object to judge likening them to Kasab

by

New Delhi, November 08: A suspected Pakistani militant and his two Kashmiri accomplices have strongly objected to the remarks of a Delhi judge who likened them to Ajmal Amir Kasab, who is facing trial in the Mumbai terror attacks.

The three have made a complaint before the District Judge seeking transfer of their case from the special POTA court accusing the woman judge of being “prejudiced and biased”.

“Ajmal Kasab is your brother, you all are of the same clan but now you are not owning him,” were the remarks attributed to the judge by them.

New Zealand aim to have coach by end of year

by

Wellington, November 08: New Zealand Cricket (NZC) is confident that it will have a new coach in place by the end of the year, in time for the home series against Bangladesh starting in early February. There were reports in New Zealand’s Sunday newspapers that John Wright was keen on the job and Duncan Fletcher has also expressed his interest in replacing Andy Moles.

No warning for proven chuckers, BCCI tells umpires

by

Mumbai, November 08: Having sent a whopping 32 players with suspect bowling action for rehabilitation, the Cricket Board has cracked the whip by asking the umpires to call these bowlers for chucking without issuing a warning if they transgress the law in domestic matches.

After providing the list of the 32 bowlers with doubtful actions to match referees, umpires’ coaches and its panel of umpires as well as all affiliated associations, the BCCI has asked match officials to stay away from suggesting or instructing any cricket association or captains “not to play a particular player.”

West Indies edge home by one wicket

by

Jamaica, November 08: West Indies women rounded off the first portion of their home series against England by taking the three-match one-day series with a one-wicket win in St Kitts.

Chasing 177 for victory West Indies were indebted to a seventh-wicket stand of 87 between Deandra Dottin and Stacy-Ann King which resurrected the innings from 66 for 6.

Dhoni, Jadeja attempt resurrection

by

Guwahati, November 08: Mitchell Johnson found his mojo and combined with Doug Bollinger to reduce India to 27 for 5 before MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja fought hard to push it to 62 for 5 half-way through their innings in the sixth ODI at Guwahati.

Were the conditions so English that the ball was swinging wildly? No. Was the pitch aiding alarming movement? No. There was just a bit of movement, in the air and off the pitch, and Australia exploited it superbly to bundle India out.

Foggy days ahead for Delhi

by

New Delhi, November 08: Delhi will continue to experience foggy mornings and a rise in temperature during the week ahead, the weatherman said Sunday.

“The temperature will continue to rise with probability of fog till noon,” said an Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) official.

Though Sunday morning also saw a slight fog cover over the city, it did not affect visibility, the official said.

Book eulogising Assam first literary work on Youtube

by

New Delhi, November 08: Eleven professionals, working for the past two years through a model of self help and corporate governance, have come out with a coffee table book, which is arguably India’s first literary work to be promoted on Youtube.

According to the writers, “this is the first coffee table book on Assam, portraying everything about the state in a positive manner and targeting the world readership that has very little or distorted opinion about our beautiful state.”

The aim of the writers is to “use the coffee table book as the right medium to put Assam on the world map”.

Muslim intelligentsia distances itself from fatwa

by

Lucknow, November 08: Distancing itself from the ‘fatwa’ against Muslims singing ‘Vande Mataram’, a section of the intelligentsia today said there was a need to educate the community about the actual meaning of the lone “objectionable” word ‘vande’ in order to remove doubts over its rendition.

Last week, Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind at its annual meet in Deoband opposed singing of the national song by Muslims.