“We are working on something which is different. It is not along the lines of ‘Satyamev Jayate’. We will have a lot more entertainment in it. We will rock next year,” Salman told IANS. (Publicity Material)
After successfully hosting four consecutive seasons of reality show “Bigg Boss”, Bollywood superstar Salman Khan will come on the small screen next year as the host of a new show based on social causes and says it will be different from “Satyamev Jayate”.
In 2012, his contemporary Aamir Khan launched the 14-episode talk show “Satyamev Jayate”, which highlighted issues like female foeticide, evils of dowry and malpractices in medicine.
“We are working on something which is different. It is not along the lines of ‘Satyamev Jayate’. We will have a lot more entertainment in it. We will rock next year,” Salman told IANS.
The 48-year-old, who had also hosted another reality show “Dus Ka Dum”, added: “The show that we are doing will change a lot of things. It’s a brand new show altogether, which will talk about social causes. I will be the host and this will definitely change a lot (of things).”
Currently, Salman is gearing up for the release of “Jai Ho!”, an action film set for a Jan 24 release.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Entertainment> Television / by IANS – Mumbai / January 06th, 2014
To mark double Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman’s 48th birthday Monday, Raindropss – a youth-based social organisation – will honour three musicians at the Isai Tamizha Awards 2014. (File/EPS)
To mark double Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman’s 48th birthday Monday, Raindropss – a youth-based social organisation – will honour three musicians at the Isai Tamizha Awards 2014.
The awards ceremony is scheduled for Sunday at Spencer Plaza.
“Inspired by A.R. Rahman’s social life and musical achievements, team Raindropss has planned to celebrate his 48th birthday by presenting Isai Tamizha Awards aimed at felicitating musicians and instrumentalists from the music industry,” read a statement from Raindropss.
“Rahman’s sister A.R. Reihana will preside over the musical celebrations to be held in appreciation of the Mozart of Madras,” the statement read further.
This year’s Isai Tamizha awardees include carnatic musician Anayampatti S. Ganeshan, violinist Kalyan and guitarist Kabuli.
Playback singers and contestants of reality show “Isai Medhai” will be performing the superhits of Rahman at the event, which is expected to be attended by leading celebrities and musicians of the industry.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Entertainment> On Stage / by IANS / January 04th, 2013
Friday marked the 216th birth anniversary of Mirza Asad Ullah Khan “Ghalib”. In Agra, the city of the Urdu poet and cultural icon`s birth, there is no proper memorial to him. There is not even a lane in the city named after him.
At the place of his birth, the Kala Mahal area in the heart of Agra, there is little to mark the occasion.
The demand for a Mirza Ghalib chair at the Agra University and an auditorium with a research library named after the poet has been hanging fire for decades.
The Taj city is identified with three pillars of Urdu “adab” or culture Mir Taqi Mir, Ghalib and Nazeer Akbarabadi. Unfortunately, nothing has been done to perpetuate their memory.
“Stones alone do not make for heritage. Literature, traditions, culture are all part of the heritage that we must preserve,” said Sandeep Arora, former president of the Agra Hotels and Restaurants Association, hinting at the fervour with which Mughal-era buildings are preserved, while other aspects of the city`s culture face neglect.
“Foreign tourists, especially those from Pakistan and West Asian countries, ask after Ghalib`s house. We have been requesting the tourism and other departments to build a fitting memorial to the great poet, but nothing has been done,” said Rakesh Chauhan, hotelier and president of the Hotels` Association.
Ghalib is to Urdu literature what Shakespeare is to English. Born in 1797 in Agra, once the capital of Mughal rulers, he moved as a teenager to Delhi, where his poetic talent blossomed in the court of Bahadur Shah Zafar, Mughal emperor at the time.
He died in Delhi in 1869, leaving behind a rich legacy of poetry that continues to inspire.
“The haveli where Ghalib was born should be acquired by the state government and converted into a fitting memorial to Mirza Ghalib,” a resolution passed at a meeting of experts said.
The haveli in Kala Mahal area houses an educational institution. Agra`s literary fraternity has petitioned the government to acquire it and open a research academy there.
“The central and state governments should jointly build a fitting memorial and a library in Agra where Urdu poetry lovers can spend time and enlighten themselves,” Syed Ifteqar Jafrey, director of the Mirza Ghalib Research Academy said.
Agra, also called Akbarabad, is known as a city of romance, love, bhakti and culture. Although it is associated with monuments, it also has a rich tradition of literature in both Urdu and Braj Bhasha.
“Urdu poetry has stagnated in modern times as new poets are not getting recognition. But even so, who has not heard: “Dil-e-nadan tujhe hua kya hai; Hazaron Khwaishen aisee; Yeh na thi hamari kismat; Har ek baat pe kahte ho,” says Chandra Kant Tripathi, registrar of the Central Hindi Institute.
Syed Jaffrey, director of the Mirza Ghalib Academy in Agra, wants better facilities and support from government agencies to promote research in Urdu literature.
All that Agra has to remember its famous poet by is one park in the cantonment area, named after Ghalib a year ago. “This is indicative of society transforming into a wasteland,” says Sudhir Gupta, an admirer of Ghalib.
Meanwhile, in Delhi, at Gali Qasim Jaan in Ballimaran, Chandni Chowk, where Ghalib lived, Friends for Education, an NGO is organising a reading of Ghalib`s poetry in the haveli where he lived. The haveli was restored after a public interest litigation was filed in the Delhi High Court in 1997.
source: http://www.zeenews.india.com / Z News / Home> Entertainment> Bookworm / by IANS / Friday – December 27th, 2013
To mark noted Urdu poet and cultural icon Mirza Ghalib’s birth anniversary a cultural extravaganza will be hosted in his haveli at Gali Qasim Jaan in Ballimaran in New Delhi on Friday. The event is being organised by Friends for Education, an NGO working to uplift education, civic sense and cultural heritage in the Walled City.
Heritage activist Firoz Bakht Ahmed, who filed a public interest litigation in the Delhi High Court in 1997, which led to the restoration of Ghalib haveli, will conduct a session on “The Neglect of Ghalib and Urdu in Delhi”.
“Ghalib lived a life as deeply and humanly as any sensitive individual could have done. So, I am making a small attempt to create awareness about this genius whose poems in Persian and Urdu need to be read by the young generation. This would enable them to understand his philosophy of the need to live in peace and harmony. And what better way to commemorate his memory than to read his work in the haveli where he lived.”
For years, Mr. Bakht has been emphasising the need to breathe life into the monument. “Ghalib is in the heart of all the connoisseurs of poetry. However, what is to be lamented is that the memorial is now dead and defunct.”
The heritage activist said the need of the hour is to turn the dead monument into a living one by managing a reading room and a small chamber for teaching Urdu.
He feels a great service will be done to Ghalib if his translated poetry collections, especially in Hindi, can be put on display in the haveli. He also wants a tea stall to be set up in the haveli by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations.
“Unless Ghalib is brought closer to the local community, or people in general, merely celebrating his birth anniversary will have little efficacy,” he rues.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Delhi / by Madhur Tankha / New Delhi – December 27th, 2013
Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan has been named the most powerful celebrity of 2013 by Forbes India for the second time in a row.
The 48-year-old actor has conquered the Top 100 celebrity list with the help of his popularity and earnings from his mega hit film ‘Chennai Express’ this year.
Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni moved up from the third spot last year and has come in at the number two spot with his immense popularity and endorsement deals.
Bollywood star Salman Khan slipped from his second position last year and earned the third spot in the list. They are followed by Sachin Tendulkar at number 4, and megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who retained his position, completing the top five on the list.
Bachchan is followed by Bollywood action star Akshay Kumar, who has come in at number 6.
There have been two exits from the top 10 this time. Actress Kareena Kapoor and swashbuckling cricketer Virendra Sehwag have made way for actors Ranbir Kapoor at number 8 and Hrithik Roshan at number 10.
Cricketer Virat Kohli is the youngest celebrity to make it to the top 10 this year.
Katrina Kaif is the only woman who has made it to the Top 10.
Nearly a fourth of the list in 2013 comprises newcomers. The notable ones include Ravindra Jadeja (28), Shikhar Dhawan (39), Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy (52), Ranveer Singh (66), Prakash Jha (67).
Superstar Kamal Haasan didn’t make it to list the last year, but the controversy and success of his film ‘Vishwaroopam’ ensured he was in at number 47. Sridevi has also made it to the list at 73rd spot.
source: http://www.dnaindia.com / DNA / Home> Entertainment> Report / Agency: PTI / Friday – December 13th, 2013
“You compare our story telling with the kind of films made in Iran, Poland, and Brazil and we stand nowhere, ” says Naseeruddin Shah. (File/EPS)
A handful of Indian movies have won international acclaim in the last few years, but veteran Naseeruddin Shah says that we still have a long way to go.
He said: “We are deluding ourselves that we are making world-class cinema just because the photography has gotten better and the editing has gotten better, but our special effects with something like ‘Iron Man’ doesn’t stand anywhere.”
The 63-year-old has worked in international projects such as “The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen” and says that Indian movies are still not on par with international storytelling standards.
“You compare our story telling with the kind of films made in Iran, Poland, and Brazil and we stand nowhere.”
“We have stars, who pander to their own egos all the time, we don’t have a single guy like George Clooney or Brad Pitt, who will use their star clout to change things around them. Catch any of our stars doing a films like ‘Syriana’, we won’t do it yet we say we have conquered the globe,” he added.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Entertainment> Hindi / by IANS – Chennai / December 30th, 2013
In the film, Alisha is paired with Vietnamese actor Johnny Tri Nguyen, who had debuted with Tamil film “7am Arivu”. (Publicity Material)
Alisha Abdullah is set to make her cinematic debut with upcoming Tamil thriller “Irumbu Kuthirai”, which will portray her in the role that’s true to her real life persona – a bike racer.
A Promotional Poster of the film, ‘Irumbu Kuthirai’. (Publicity Material)
“The film is about two biker groups with a passion for racing. We thought it would be ideal to have a real racer as part of the story. I was told Alisha had turned down several film offers in the past, but I still approached her and she happened to love her role, which is of a racer,” director Yuvaraj Bose told IANS.
“She instantly agreed to do the role. I think she will fit the bill because she just has to be herself in the film,” he added.
In the film, Alisha is paired with Vietnamese actor Johnny Tri Nguyen, who had debuted with Tamil film “7am Arivu”.
The film also features Atharva Murali, Priya Anand and Lakshmi Rai in important roles.
Alisha, who started driving at the age of 9, won her first championship title when she was 13 years old. She is also a popular Indian car racer and has participated in several national championships.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Entertainment> Tamil / by IANS – Mumbai / December 31st, 2013
The first poster of Shah Rukh Khan starrer “Happy New Year” will be launched Jan 2 on the film’s social media pages – Twitter and Facebook.
The poster will be first sent to all fans and fan clubs on the social media sites as a gratification for their support, said a statement.
The action-musical-comedy, also starring Deepika Padukone, Boman Irani, Abhishek Bachchan, Sonu Sood and Vivaan Shah, is being directed by Farah Khan and produced by Red Chillies Entertainment Pvt Ltd.
The film’s social media platforms have been very active and their first topic ‘wacky wishes’ has been trending on Twitter.
A huge social media campaign has been set around the launch of the first poster of the film and the lead actors are actively participating in the campaign for the first poster launch.
source: http://www.indiatoday.intoday.in / indiatoday.in / Home> Movies> Bollywood> Story / by IANS – Mumbai / December 31st, 2013
Shruti with her sons. “I regret I couldn’t thank him,” she says./ Pradip Das
The country knew and loved Farooque Shaikh as the actor behind many a sublime role. Few knew another side of him, as a fiercely secretive philanthropist who kept his identity hidden even from his benefactors.
On Saturday, Shruti Kamble discovered that the man who had helped her and her two sons after her husband’s death in the terror attack of November 2008 was Shaikh. Offering a silent prayer for the actor, the 40-year-old says: “My regret is I could never thank him.” All that the Kambles knew, from the many envelopes Shruti saved, was that a “Shaikh sa’ab” was helping them.
The 65-year-old actor died of a heart attack in Dubai on Friday night. The funeral is on Monday.
Exactly a month after the 26/11 incident, The Indian Express had received an SMS from Shaikh, characteristically self-effacing in tone, regarding a story that had appeared in the paper on the wife and two small sons of Rajan Kamble, a maintenance worker at Taj Hotel who had died in the terror attack. Shaikh had also read a previous story on Rajan in the paper, detailing how he had been shot by terrorists while ushering hotel guests to safety.
Reading that Rajan had wanted elder son Rohan to go to a military school and younger Atharva, only 2 at the time, to become a pilot, Shaikh had got in touch. He offered to fund the children’s education, after extricating a promise that his identity would be kept a secret.
The Indian Express would call him at the beginning of every academic year and inform him of the amount needed, and he would promptly dispatch a cheque to the Kambles. He never asked how the money was spent.
While Atharva is one of the best students in his Class II now, Rohan, who is in Class IX, plans to work at the Taj. “While the Taj management has taken care of us, if not for Shaikh sa’ab, my children couldn’t have dreamed of making it so far. Today I can finally tell my sons that this was the stranger who looked after us when everyone we called our own gave up,” Shruti says.
source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home / by Shalini Nair / Mumbai – Monday, December 30th, 2013
Veteran actor Farooq Sheikh, who is best remembered for his performances in films like ‘Garm Hava’, ‘Shatranj Ke Khiladi’, ‘Chashme Buddoor’ and ‘Kissi Se Na Kehna’, died after suffering a heart attack in Dubai.
He was 65.
“He has passed away,” a family member told PTI, without disclosing any further details.
The actor was in Dubai apparently for a concert when he suffered the heart attack on late Friday night.
His body will be brought to Mumbai later in the day after completing the formalities in Dubai.
Sheikh made a tremendous contribution in theatre, films and TV as well. He started his career in Bollywood in 1973 with ‘Garm Hava’ and is best remembered for his performances in films like ‘Shatranj Ke Khiladi’, ‘Chashme Buddoor’, ‘Kissi Se Na Kehna’, ‘Noorie’.
His last film was ‘Club 60’ and before that he was seen playing the role of a father to Ranbir Kapoor in ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’.
He also hosted the popular Zee TV show “Jeena issi ka naam hai” in which he interviewed many Bollywood celebrities.
source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home / by Press Trust of India / Dubai, Saturday – December 28th, 2013
