Category Archives: Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Breaking all the boundaries

June 27, 2015Arts, Culture & Entertainmentmpositiveone@gmail.com

Huge presence

Actress Huma Qureshi, who made her acting debut with critically acclaimed crime drama ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’, is now gearing up for her Marathi debut ‘Highway’, and believes that language is no barrier in cinema.

“As an actor, cinema doesn’t have language. I am from north, I have no connection with Marathi cinema, but I really liked the story. And if my presence benefits the cinema in anyways, so I thought why not,” the actress said at the trailer and music launch of ‘Highway’.

Speaking about the film at the launch, Huma said, “Umesh Kulkarni makes Marathi films but level of his films is international and after watching some of his films, I thought I wanted to be part of ‘Highway’.”

The ‘Dedh Ishqiya’ actress also said that good cinema should be promoted “equally” irrespective of the language. “I just know one thing that I want to be associated with good cinema. And I think when it comes to good cinema, we should promote it equally,” she said.

‘Highway’ stars Huma in a small yet significant role along with actress Tisca Chopra. Known for experimenting with her roles across genres, Huma is also doing another project with her brother Saqib Saleem, in a remake of an English movie.

“I am working on this film ‘Oculus’. In fact, me and my brother are going to start shooting very soon in London. I am very excited about it,” added Huma.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Supplements> MetroLife / DHNS / June 27th, 2015

Irrfan Khan beats all records and ranks as the No1 Khan of Bollywood!

June 26, 2015Arts, Culture & Entertainment, World Opinionmpositiveone@gmail.com

There has always been a rage of the three Khans in Bollywood, i.e Shahrukh, Salman and Aamir. From romancing heroines to doing action roles to breaking records with the 200 crore club, they have done it all!

However, the entrant in the Khan club has left the audience flabbergasted! Irrfan Khan’sJurassic World has broken all records by giving a humongous opening of $511 million worldwide. This is the biggest opening ever!

He plays the role of Simon Masrani, the owner of the dinosaur park in Jurassic World. Irrfan is believed to have maximum screen time a Bollywood actor has every had in a Hollywood film.

His impeccable performance in the film has been appreciated worldwide. Irrfan is now prepping up for Dan Brown’s Inferno in Budapest. It is a complete new high for this brilliant actor!

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Entertainment> Hindi> Bollywood / TNN / June 18th, 2015

Lucknow zoo renamed after the last Nawab

June 25, 2015Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, Travel & Tourismmpositiveone@gmail.com

In a “historic” decision, the Samajwadi Party government has renamed the Lucknow Prani Udyan, popularly known as Lucknow zoo, as “Nawab Wajid Ali Shah Prani Udyan, Lucknow,” making it the first official move-since Independence – to name a monument after a Nawab of Oudh, or Avadh (roughly corresponding with Central Uttar Pradesh ). Nawab Wajid Ali Shah was the last Nawab of Oudh before the province was annexed by the British under the policy of Doctrine of Lapse in 1856. He was banished to Matia Burj in Bengal.

Bird sanctuary too renamed

Another first was the decision to rename the Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary in Unnao district after revolutionary freedom fighter Chandra Shekhar Azad. The bird sanctuary will now be known as “Shaheed Chandra Shekhar Azad Pakshi Vihar, Nawabganj.”

Though Chandra Shekhar Azad was born in Alirajpur district in Madhya Pradesh (July 23, 1906), his father, Sitaram Tiwari, belonged to Badarka village in Unnao district. It was on account of his parental ties with Unnao district that the bird sanctuary has been named after him.

These decisions were taken at a Cabinet meeting presided over by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday.

The Lucknow Zoo was established in 1921 and was named after England’s Prince of Wales as “Prince of Wales Zoological Gardens.” It was renamed as Lucknow Prani Udyan on June 4, 2001.

The State Cabinet further approved the cancellation of the agreement for handing over the power distribution in Kanpur city to Messrs. Torrent Power Limited, Ahmedabad. An official spokesman said the deal was called off through mutual understanding.

Laptops for bright students

The proposal to distribute laptops to meritorious students of high school and Intermediate examinations conducted by UP Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad, Central Board of Secondary Education and the Indian Council of Secondary Education in the year 2015 was also approved by the Cabinet.

Another important Cabinet decision pertained to the demolition of three temporary structures on the service road near bungalow Number 13 in Mall Avenue (former Chief Minister Mayawati’s official bungalow).

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Other States / by Atiq Khan / Lucknow – June 24th, 2015

Copa America gets a Malappuram twist

June 22, 2015Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Sports, Travel & Tourismmpositiveone@gmail.com

Malappuram :

If Malappuram’s collective heart beats for anything, it is for football — a sport that has grown to conquer the land like no other. And with Copa America, the oldest international continental football competition, already under way in Chile since Friday, it is no wonder that soccer-crazy fans in Malappuram are a restless lot.

Unable to find contentment in just watching the tournament on television, football aficionados in Therattammal — a rural Malappuram village which has moulded several national players like U Sharafali, Sakker Ahammed and K Jaseer — are gearing up for a local version of Copa America.

Starting next week, 12 teams from neighbouring villages in the region would represent the teams participating in the South American tournament and the winners would take home a cup designed just like the one for Copa America.

Besides, football clubs and fans associations across the district are busy organizing small tournaments, hoisting banners and erecting flex boards. Flags and jerseys of prominent teams are also up for sale at Manjeri, Malappuram, Tirur, Perinthalmana, Kondotty, Areekode and Nilambur towns. The flags of Brazil and Argentina, the most popular teams in Malappuram, can be seen fluttering in the streets. Close on their heels are other favourites Chile, Uruguay and Mexico.

Musthafa, a native of Cherumuku near Tirurangadi and a die-hard Brazil supporter, said Brazil fans’ association is already campaigning hard for their team. “We are sure that Brazil will perform well to compensate the defeat against Germany in the semi-final match of the World Cup,” he said.

“Villages and towns here are in a festive mood, organizing various activities in support of their favourite teams,” said Muhammed Saleem, secretary of Malappuram district football association. With ardent supporters of non-playing teams like Germany, France, Spain and Italy also joining the celebrations, the excitement of fans has reached a crescendo.

Local clubs had set up big screens and televisions at several spots where enthusiasts of all ages gathered in the early hours of each day to watch matches.

It, however, remains to be seen if the monsoon showers or Ramzan fasting would dampen the prevailing high spirits.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Thiruvananthapuram / by T.P. Nijeesh, TNN / June 14th, 2015

Where history hangs by a ‘u’ and ‘a’

June 20, 2015Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Travel & Tourismmpositiveone@gmail.com

While the eastern gate of Bidar fort has long been called ‘Dulhan Darwaja’ (Bride’s Gate), scholars say it is ‘Dalhan Darwaja’ (Bullock Cart Gate).

This is the curious case of how the pronunciation of a word can lead to the creation of parallel historical narratives. Stories spun around an ancient door in Bidar are testimony to this.

The eastern gate of the Bidar fort that leads to Ashtoor village — the royal necropolis of the Behmani kings — has long been called ‘Dulhan Darwaja’ (Bride’s Gate). Dark and gory stories have been passed down through the ages of a cruel king called Sabbal Barid, who claimed every bride in the city for himself on her wedding day. The brides chosen by the king came in through this door. Scholars, however, have demystified the legend arguing that the name of the gate is ‘Dalhan Darwaja’ (Bullock Cart Gate). They say it got its name simply because it was only large enough to allow a bullock cart to pass through, and not a chariot or elephants.

“The confusion must have started with the translation of the book Tareek-e-Firishtah (History by Firishtah) by the court historian of Bijapur, Adilshahi Kingdom, written in the 16th Century,” said Abdul Samad Bharati, a Persian scholar.

“Some portions of his book were translated into Urdu by Sheikh Mohammad, and in English by John Briggs. The Persian book seems to have used the letters ‘u’ and ‘a’ interchangeably. But the British author used ‘u’ instead of ‘a’,” he said. The trend seems to have continued in Urdu too, says Mohammad Shafi, a poet. Though the stories about Sabbal are widely circulated, there is no proof that there was indeed a king by that name, adds Mr. Bharati. Ghulam Yazdani, in his seminar work ‘Bidar: Its history and monuments’ refers to this gate in detail and states it has nothing to do with any bride.

While the eastern gate of Bidar fort has long been called ‘Dulhan Darwaja’ (Bride’s Gate), scholars say it is ‘Dalhan Darwaja’ (Bullock Cart Gate)

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Karnataka / by Rishikesh Bahadur Desai / Bidar – June 18th, 2015

Star attraction

June 20, 2015Arts, Culture & Entertainmentmpositiveone@gmail.com

Mammootty at Reading Day fete

A surprise appearance by actor Mammootty enlivened the Reading Day celebrations organised jointly by the Education and Panchayat departments, the Information and Public Relations Department, and the P.N. Panicker Foundation in the capital city on Friday.

When the actor walked on to the stage, the audience comprising mainly schoolchildren greeted him with claps and cheers. “Reading should not be confined to a day or a week. These celebrations are merely a reminder. Keep reading every day of your life,” Mammootty told the children drawn from different schools in the city. Chairing the meeting, Education Minister P.K. Abdu Rabb called upon the children to learn to differentiate between right and wrong and the sense to filter the information they saw on the Internet. — Special Correspondent

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / Thiruvananthapuram – June 20th, 2015

Jamia Millia Islamia Alumni Association, Riyadh, offers its sincere condolences on the sad demise of Professor Mujeeb Rizvi to his family members

June 20, 2015Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Educationmpositiveone@gmail.com

The Jamia Millia Islamia Alumni Association, Riyadh offers its sincere condolences on the sad demise of Professor Mujeeb Rizvi Sb to his family members and stands by their side in this difficult time. May the Almighty bless him with a choicest place in Jannat and grant patience to his family members.

Prof Mujeeb Rizvi passed away on Sunday, 24 May 2015 at Max Hospital in Delhi after a short illness and kidney failure.

Prof Rizvi, son-in-law of renowned Urdu poet Ghulam Rabbani Taban, left behind his wife, Mrs Azra Rizvi and two daughters, Ms Meera Rizvi and noted Film Director and Screenwriter Ms Anusha Rizvi.

Professor Rizvi, around 80, was the founder of Hindi Department of Jamia Millia Islamia and served as its head for nearly forty years. He had been the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Languages, Proctor and Pro Vice Chancellor of Jamia. Notably, he was the first teacher to introduce NCC to Jamia. He was an expert of medieval Awadhi and Braj poetry with a focus on Sufi Kavya-Akhyans of the pre-Mughal era. Professor Rizvi wrote at length on Kabir Das, Tulsi Das and Ameer Khusro. He was an authority on Malik Muhammad Jayasi, a renowned Hindi poet of 16th century.

source: http://www.okhlaheadlines.com / Okhla Headlines / Home> Community Matters> Community Voice / May 25th, 2015

Two-Day Tourist Guides’ National meet begins in city

June 19, 2015Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Travel & Tourismmpositiveone@gmail.com

7.02 million foreign tourists visit India

Soheb Samad, Regional Director, Southern Region of India Tourism (fourth from right ), is seen inaugurating the two-day Convention of Tourist Guides organised by the Tourist Guides Federation of India (TGFI) at Hotel Radisson Blu in city this morning. Others seen are (from left) former TGFI Vice President Anahita Tarapore, S. Mahalingaiah, President of Indian Association of Tour Operators, TGFI President Narendra Singh Rathore, Executive Committee member Sudhakar Embar, General Secretary Dr. Ajay K. Singh, Mikael Delafuente, Regional Director, Alliance Francaise de Bengaluru, Dr. Arun Raj, Superintendent of ASI, Bengaluru and Ramakrishna Aithal, President, Tourist Guides’ Association of India

Mysuru :

The two-day 18th annual National Convention of Tourist Guides organised by the Tourist Guides Federation of India (TGFI) began at Hotel Radisson Blu Plaza in city today.

Inaugurating the convention, Soheb Samad, Regional Director, Southern Region of India Tourism, said that 7.02 million foreign tourists visited India, thus giving a boost to the tourism industry. India Tourism has launched Athiti Devobava programme to attract more tourists from abroad, he added.

Stressing the role of tourist guides and stakeholders in tourism industry, Soheb Samad said Yoga and Medical Tourism had put Mysuru and Karnataka on the world tourist map. The tourism industry has generated 9 percent employment in the country, he added.

Samad said the tourist guides should give correct information and image of the country when explaining to tourists and added that the Ministry of Tourism has been imparting training for the tourist guides to enhance their language and knowledge.

Pointing out that learning is a continuous process in tourism industry, he said that the Ministry would consider the protection and welfare of tourist guides on priority basis. The tourist guides should aim at providing quality service to the tourists, he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Arun Raj, Superintendent of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Bengaluru, said that the tourist guides were the ‘Real Ambassadors’ of India, adding they should update their knowledge by attending refresher courses in tourism. ‘Every tourist guide should know the tangible and intangible history of the land.’

As many as 170 tourist guides from all over India are participating in the two-day National Convention. TGFI President Narendra Singh Rathore, former Vice President Anahita Tarapore, Vice President K. Monikantan, General Secretary Dr. Ajay K. Singh, Mikael Delafuente, Regional Director, Alliance Francaise de Bengaluru and others were present.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Saturday – June 13th, 2015

Muslim man offers land for Modi aide’s university

June 19, 2015Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Educationmpositiveone@gmail.com

Lucknow :

A Muslim educationist has offered 20 acres of land in Lucknow district for the proposed campus of Hyderabad-based Maulana Azad University. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pointsman Zafar Sareshwala, who has been trying hard to make inroads into Muslim intelligentsia and electorate, is the vice-chancellor of the university.

Zafar Sareshwala (above), PM Narendra Modi's pointman, is the vice-chancellor of Hyderabad-based Maulana Azad University. — Zafar Sareshwala (above), PM Narendra Modi’s pointman, is the vice-chancellor of Hyderabad-based Maulana Azad University.

Speaking to TOI, Maulana Yusuf Hussaini, who has offered the piece of land in Malihabad, said: “We all welcome and should compliment Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s moves for socio-economic welfare of the community.” Hussaini, a kin of renowned scholar Ali Mian, former rector of Nadwa Islamic seminary, runs several madrassas and other educational institutions in the city.

When asked whether association of Modi’s name with the proposed institution would put him into trouble, Hussaini said there was no issue at all. “We would whole-heartedly welcome any initiative of the Prime Minister for the socio-economic upliftment of Muslims, who need government’s support,” he said, adding “Modi is the Prime Minister of the country and not of the BJP.”

He said that Sareshwala was due to visit the city soon to finalize the proposal for the land transfer and if all goes well the city could soon get another national-level university.

Sareshwala told TOI on Sunday that Hussaini had offered the land and a building at Malihabad, on the outskirts of the state capital, without any cost. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants speedy growth of Muslims and for this reason he has increased the budget for minority welfare by nearly 12%,” Sareshwala said.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> India / by Subhash Mishra, TNN / June 15th, 2015