Actress Penelope Cruz dodged questions surrounding her romance with Javier Bardem after she was cornered during a recent TV interview. The Spanish star has kept quiet on the pair’s relationship since they were first snapped cuddling on a beach last summer — despite Bardem’s No Country for Old Men co-star Woody Harrelson confirming the couple’s romance earlier this year. Cruz was confronted by late night host David Letterman during an appearance on his show, when he attempted to get the actress talking about Bardem's similarity to the characters he plays on film. But the Volver star refused to acknowledge her romantic involvement with the actor, snapping: “That’s very hard to answer because I don’t even ask myself when I’m preparing a character... So if I don’t dare to compare myself with the character, I wouldn’t do it with somebody else.”
She then quipped: “How do you like that for an answer? You can ask me about (Vicky Cristina Barcelona co-star) Scarlett (Johansson).” But Cruz did offer some praise for Bardem before leaving the stage, adding: “He’s one of the most brilliant actors in the world.”
Penelope Cruz controls questions
From Hyderabad to Bangkok...
Soon after Kanthasamy’s shoot got, the actress flew to Bangkok for over Jaggubhai 
Shriya is a busy bee. From the sets of Kanthasamy in Hyderabad, she has flown to Bangkok for the shoot of Radaan Media Works’ new film Jag gubhai. The film, directed by KS - Ravikumar, has Shriya play ing the role of the daughter of a tycoon enacted by Sharat Kumar. A new girl from Andhra plays her mother’s role in the film. The film will be completed in one schedule in Bangkok and Australia in 45 days. Ace cameraman RD Rajasekhar is in charge of cinematography, while a new music director Rafee is being introduced. Meanwhile Shriya has been dragged into a new controversy, as she returned the signing amount given by producer Kathiresan for his film with Dhanush to be directed
by Vetrimaran. Kathiresan
had confirmed Shriya’s dates
for April but at the last
minute the launch was de-- layed, as Vetri had not com
pleted the script and
Dhanush had started his new film P adikathavan . Dhanush Polhad earlier worked on ladhavan with Vetri. Shriya’s dates went awry
and Kathiresan informed her
that his film with Vetri will
start only after Dhanush completes P adikathavan and Arya remake for Gemini Film Circuit. This made her
see red and she straight away
returned the advance to the
producer who refused to accept it. The latest we hear is that the Nadig ar Sangam will take up the issue on her
behalf.
SBI increases lending, deposit rates
Spares Small Home Loan Borrowers, Makes Fixed Deposits Attractive 
Amid a high interest rate scenario, the State Bank of India on Monday has brought some cheers for depositors and small home loan borrowers. While increasing the interest rate on fixed deposits (FDs) by 25 to 75 basis points (100 basis points is 1%), the bank insulated the small home loan borrowers from the hike in the lending rate by 100 basis points across the board.
While the interest rate on FDs between one year and three years has been increased by 50 basis points to 10%, that on three years to less than five years has been increased by 75 basis points to 9.75%. But, FD rate of 5 years to 10 years has been increased by only 25 basis points to 9.25%.
However, the five year FD is qualified for tax concession under section 80C. In this case, deposits up to Rs 1 lakh, will be deducted from your income before tax calculation. The Rs 1 lakh includes deposits in provident fund, insurance, mutual fund, children’s school fees and 5-year FDs in post office.
If you invest in five-year FD with a bank, you will save tax of Rs 30,900. However, the interest income earned on the amount will attract tax at the rate of 30.9%, including the education cess. The 9.25% return offered on five year FD by SBI is equivalent to around 14.75% pre-tax return, if your fall under 30% tax slab.
But, for less than five-year FDs, which are not qualified for the tax concessions, the post tax return will come down to around 6.75% under the same slab.That is why the interest rate offered by banks on five-year FD is lower than other tenures. ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank also offer 9.5% return on five-year FD.
SBI on Monday also increased its benchmark lending rate by one percentage point to 13.75%. This will lead to increased rates on new loans as well as on floating loans by one percentage point. But, the bank said that the new rates will not be applicable on the home loan up to Rs 30 lakh.
This means, interest rate on existing as well as new home loan up to Rs 30 lakh will remain unchanged.
The existing rate of home loan of the bank is 10.50%. The existing education loan borrowers will also not get hit by the hike. But, the new borrowers will have to pay the increased rate.
SBI has the largest portfolio of education loan. The existing interest rate on education loan up to Rs 4 lakh is 9% and that on beyond Rs 4 lakh is around 10.5%. The new rate will be one percentage point higher than this.
In the case of auto loan, the bank has restricted the increase up to 50 bps only. That means, the new auto loan will be available at around Rs 14.50%.
The bank said that the concessions to the small borrowers would benefit a large body of customers and would reduce the default rate.
The bank believes that its action would contribute to revival of these sectors, which have witnessed some strain recently and would enhance demand for credit.
Name of the Copied Movie in Hindi
Kaante - Reservoir Dogs
Bichchhoo-Leon The Professional
Zinda - Oldboy
Hum Kaun Hain - The Others
Chocolate - The Usual Suspects
Raaz - What Lies Beneath
The Killer - Collateral
Phir Milenge - Philadelphia
Humraaz : A Perfect Murder (1998 Thriller)
Deewane Huye Pagal-There's something about mary
Koi Mil Gaya-ET
Ta Ra Rum Pum -Fun with Dick and Jane
ZEHER - Out of Time
MOHABBATEIN - Dead Poets Society
MUNNABHAI MBBS - Patch Adams (I heard)
MAIN AISA HI HOON - I am Sam
QAYAMAT - The Rock
AWARA PAGAL DEEWANA - The Whole Nine Yards
MERI YAAR KI SHAADI HAI - My Best Friend's Wedding
CRIMINAL - The Fugitive
KABHI ALVIDA NA KEHNA - Closer
SALAAM-E-ISHQ - Love Actually
SALAAM NAMASTE - Nine Months
TATHASTU - John Q
DHAI AKSHAR PREM KE - A Walk in the Clouds
SOUTHERN SPICE
There’s a southern invasion in Bollywood. Kollywood’s reigning divas have taken over screen space in Mumbai and have even bagged some of the most talked about films this year. Genelia D Souza, Shriya Saran, Priyamani, Sada, Asin, Shruti Haasan to Trisha are no longer just headturners seen in the odd commercial on television. From selling cola and toothpaste to being serenaded by the likes of Aamir Khan, Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar is no mean feat. But then Bollywood has always had a successful date with southern beauties — Hema Malini, Vyjayantimala, Rekha and Sridevi all have not only done Hindi films, but all of them have even ruled the box-office for years. The new millennium southern stars, Gautami, Rambha, Ramya and Reema Sen haven’t been quite able to follow up the glorious act of their predeccesors. But all that's set to change with the new bubblegum brigade who speak fluent Hindi and have almost severed their Kollywood roots for a life and career in Mumbai.
Shriya Saran (her four year old debut, Shukriya was a failure at the BO and led her to Chennai) has done Awarapan, Mission Istaanbul and claims to have been deluged with scripts in Bollywood. In fact, Shriya even has a Hollywood film directed by Deepa Mehta in her interesting CV. She says while both the film industries are the “same” she doesn’t quite feel different working in mainstream Hindi films. “I consider the entire film industry as one whole. It’s about working in your own country,” says Shriya. But there are slight differences though. “Down south people are more professional and adjusting. Actors also tend to learn technicalities of film-making but apart from that it is only about working in different languages. Flavour, script and concept does change but it is only because of the languages and local mass,” she says. Shriya’s playing the lead in Ek - The Power of One with Bobby Deol and Nana Patekar directed by Sangeet Sivam, Hollywood film The Other End Of The Line by Ashok Amritraj and Deepa Mehta’s What'’ Cooking.
Bubbly Genelia D’Souza who’s tasted stardom in Hyderabad enjoys every bit of her new stardom in Mumbai too. But she gushes about both, “The working style of both industries is similar. The only difference is the language.” She is currently shooting for Aneez Bazmi’s It's my life and Abbas-Mustan’s Life Partner.
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh feels, “Southern actresses try their luck in Bollywood as it is a bigger platform. In Bollywood, whoever fits the role, gets the film. But I must say that Southern actors are more professional and technically sound.”
Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt feels, “Actors keep shifting base as per convenience. If I want a fresh face for a film, I wouldn’t mind casting a southern star. I’d have two advantages — the southern superstar would be a new face in Mumbai, two she’d be experienced and talented.”
Those could really be reasons enough for Bollywood filmmakers signing up these southern stars.
Dead man talking for Catherine Zeta-Jones!
Actress using psychic connect with relatives of the past
Catherine Zeta-Jones was thrilled when a psychic was brought in to rehearsals on her new movie Death Defying Acts because she always wished she could speak to some of her relatives who have passed away.
The Mask of Zorro actress reportedly said: “I was fascinated by the psychic. I wanted to know what it felt like when you’re channelling or doing whatever it takes to get to that state of mind, so he changed my perspective on it. I would love to be able to contact people on the other side. If I could speak to my grandmother one of these nights, I’d be doing it. So I do believe.”
Incidentally, Death Defying Acts, a biopic of illusionist Harry Houdini, has flopped at the US box office, taking just $3,560 in its only weekend of showing. However, Catherine, 38, insists she isn’t worried about it damaging her career. Now that’s a career defying act!
M&M may list two-wheeler arm
Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) plans to list its newlyformed two-wheeler venture on the stock market to raise money for expansion and unlocking shareholders value, when the venture attains profitability.
The company is also open to fresh investments for a new twowheeler factory, for expanding beyond Kinetic’s current 500,000 annual capacity that it has acquired, according Anoop Mathur, president, Mahindra Kinetic Motorcycles & Scooters.
M&M entered the 2-wheeler segment after buying the business assets of ailing Kinetic Motors late last month. The company paid Rs 110 crore for an 80% stake in the new unlisted venture while Kinetic retained the rest.
Mathur said listing the shares would enable the company mop up money from the market. “The funds would be used for our growth plans and also for unlocking shareholders value,” he said, though refusing to divulge any specific timeframe or other details like the amount the company could raise. “We will certainly do that when the company is profitable.”
Asked whether listing would also provide an opportunity for Kinetic to cash out and exit the venture, he said it could be an option.
The diversified Mahindra group has been listing some of its unlisted firms on the stock exchanges.
While it listed Mahindra Finance and Tech Mahindra in 2006, another group company Mahindra Holidays and Resorts is going slow for listing due to the prevailing uncertain market conditions.
On the expansion plans, Mathur said the company would start with the existing capacity that Kinetic gives it. Kinetic Motor has a plant at Pithampur in Madhya Pradesh. “We have a 500,000 annual capacity available to us. But we have to take a decision on the new volumes we plan to add and a second factory at another location is certainly an option we will look at,” he said. He said the company may go in for a new location while expanding to derive advantages.
“We could be looking at logistical advantages through a new location or it could also be to help us service some markets better. However, the location for new expansion is something we need to take a call as we evaluate our project next year,” he said.
M&M has plans to launch products across the entire motorcycle spectrum, including the competitive entry-level segment to take on Bajaj and Hero Honda. Also, the company would focus on the scooter market and said this would be the ‘entry point’ for its two-wheeler foray.
Ameesha has many new fans
Okay, Ameesha has lost tons of weight. And she is looking so hot that she is even being linked to her directors. Kunal Kohli, for instance, when he directed her in
Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic, had to answer a lot of questions about her thode kapde, and the possibility of thoda pyaar between them.
Now we hear that Ajay Chandoke, who is working with the actress in Chatur Singh Do Star, is going gaga over her. And is even comparing her comic timing to that of Sridevi’s. Can you believe that? Love is blind, and these men, we think, are simply blinded!
Miller secretly meeting Getty near his wife’s home
British actress Sienna Miller and Balthazar Getty have been meeting at a hotel that is less than two miles from the actor’s wife’s house. A website reports that Miller and Getty have been meeting at the Chateau Marmont hotel. Getty had recently claimed that he has split from Miller and has begged his wife Rosetta to take him back. He also has four children with her.
Miller was seen leaving the Chateau recently while Getty’s car remained outside the hotel garage. Sources say that before she left the hotel, Miller looked nervous and upset and was arguing on her mobile phone.
A source said: “She looked ragged. Her hair was a mess and she was chain-smoking. She was arguing on the phone, talking about her and Balthazar being caught together in Italy.”
Another source added: “Rosetta has a lot of friends in Hollywood. People are turning their backs on Sienna because of this.”
Twenty20 for 2020?
With the short version of the game gaining popularity, there are those who want to see the game being included in the next Olympics. Chennai Times weighs the chances of this becoming a reality 
Some say it’s about the love of the game, others contend that it’s all about the glamour. Love it, hate it, but you just can’t ignore it. The Twenty20 format of cricket is one that has captured the attention of cricket lovers worldwide as a fresh, entertaining and high-voltage form of cricket and it seems like it is here to stay.
Be it IPL or ICL, this electrifying form of the game has held fort in a country that treats cricket as a religion and players reach a demigod status. When former Australian star Adam Gilchrist called for the inclusion of cricket’s Twenty20 format at the 2020 Olympics, saying it will help secure the global future of the game, enthusiasts said that it was definitely an “idea worth pursuing.” So what is the argument against it then? If cricketers are gung-ho about this exciting format and are raring to go, why is there a ride against the tide?
“It’s not that easy to include Twenty20 cricket in the Olympics. Sure, cricket is treated as a religion in a country like ours and I personally would love to see it at the Olympics, but you got to remember that cricket is played mostly by the Commonwealth countries. This does not include a huge chunk of the population and that could be a disadvantage for the cause of cricket at the Olympics. The Olympics is an international platform with a wide reach. I don’t see it happening in the near future,” says Kris Srikanth, commentator and former Indian cricketer.
Let’s face a couple of facts here. While Twenty20 is definitely a more exciting and glamourous way to play cricket, what with the likes of Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta cheering and hooting from the stands, no one can take away from the fact that one-day and Test cricket are definitely more skillful versions of the game. Former Indian cricketer and coach, Anshuman Gaekwad agrees. Says he, “The old glory of cricket cannot be replaced by new versions of the game. That being said, I don’t think Test or oneday cricket will fit in the Olympic mould. We need something fast and exciting, that doesn’t take up too much time. Twenty20 is like instant
coffee, you get
the hit when you need it and it will appeal to an international audience because it has a universal appeal.”
Experts of the game argue that Twenty20 should at least have a test run at the 2012 London Olympics. With the Olympics due to take place in the summer of 2012 and some of the most historic cricket pitches in London willing to play host to the event, the move for Twenty20 cricket to be included has a growing number of high-profile supporters from the cricketing world, including Sourav Ganguly, Yuvraj Singh, VVS Laxman, Kapil Dev, Steve Waugh, Kumar Sangakkara and Stephen Fleming.
Lakshmipathy Balaji, who holds the distinction of getting the first hat-trick of the IPL tournament in the match against Kings XI Punjab in Chennai, is another supporter of the format. “With a number of countries like USA and Netherlands also diving into the field of cricket, the popularity clause does not hold true. The Olympics run on a tight, time-based schedule and Twenty20 is just the format to follow,” says he. Former Ranji player and coach, Kedarnath agrees with Balaji and adds that the gentleman’s game has long been replaced
with a new and exciting format and it’s about time we flowed with the tide. The fervour of Twenty20 magic has reached an allnew frenzy. Cricketers are pushing the buttons of the Board to make a case for cricket as an official game of the Olympics and the heat has been turned on. Will they or won’t they? Well, if the opinions are anything to go by, we don’t think it will be too long before Bhajji spins a doosra at the Olympics and the crowd cheers and hoots. Who said it was a gentleman’s game again?
Tanisha, Uday back together!
Talking about pyaar ka kissas, here’s another one that has everything to do with apna Neal & Nikki of B-wood! Though the two fell madly in love while shooting for N&N, we heard that Uday Chopra and Tanishaa Mukherjee (Tich, as she’s fondly called) had a fallout some time ago, and the reason for this split was, according to the industrywalas, Tich’s close camaraderie with Upen Patel. But, recently, Tich and Uday were spotted having a loveydovey time at a farmhouse in Mumbai. Don’t believe us? Well, we’ve got the ‘hens’ and ‘chickens’ there giving us these little bits of information on this duo!
Lure of the lucre?
Kareena Kapoor says ‘no’ to a Rs 75 crore deal!
Recently, Kareena Kapoor refused a mega bucks offer by a top production house (name withheld on request) to host a reality show on television.
If sources are to be believed, Kareena was offered Rs 75 crore for the same but she declined citing date problems. Kareena confirmed and said, “Yes. Recently, I was offered a big show on television.”
She added that she had nothing against television. “I have been living out of suitcases for some time now. I have hardly had a breather. I would like to do television, but say, after two years.”
Our source from the TV industry said, “The channel and the show producers were disappointed when she refused.”
However, the Bollywood actress, considered to be a thorough professional, danced for a television show being filmed for Children’s Day, being produced for a television channel by Shah Rukh’s Red Chillies company.
The actress had a tough time choosing between dancing for the TV show and being present at Saif Ali Khan’s charity rock concert with the band Parirkrama.
Said the actress: “I had no choice. Shah Rukh’s show was a commitment I made much earlier. Very sadly, I had to skip Saif’s concert. But I know he’ll understand.”
Download Hijack Movie
Oh shit!Its Hijacked......
The movie brings you to an atmosphere where you can feel the pressure of a Hijack situation.The movie is getting good reviews.
3.6/5 stars.
Download links:-
Subtitle
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
IS A CRISIS BREWING?
High rates fuel home loan defaults
Asset Reconstruction Companies See More Increase In Banks’ Bad Debts
Defaults on housing loans are said to be on the rise, with individuals facing the brunt of the high interest rate regime. An indicator of this is the fact that of the total security receipts (SRs) of Rs 1,100 crore issued by Asset Reconstruction Company (India) Ltd (Arcil) to banks between April and September 2008 for acquiring bad loans , 20% were from home loan defaults.
Asset Reconstruction Companies (ARCs) expect a further jump in home loan defaults in the coming quarters if interest rates do not come down. S Khasnobis, managing director & CEO, said: “The retail loans, mainly housing loan default, form about 20% of the total SRs of Rs 1,100 crore issued by Arcil between April-September 08. The portion of Arcil’s acquisition comprising retail loans is likely to rise given the current environment.’’
When an ARC acquires bad debts from a bank, based on a valuation they either pay cash or issue SRs which are held in a trust and redeemed after realisation of the assets. Arcil, which is pioneer in acquiring distressed assets, had acquired these bad loans in question from around 20 banks. While details of individual banks is not available, it is learnt that ICICI Bank’s portion of the total SRs issued by Arcil was about 30%.
According to ICICI Bank, the total value of delinquent loans sold by the bank to Arcil April 2008 onwards stands at Rs 608 crore for a sale consideration in excess of 62% of the gross loan book. However, it is not known what portion of this comprises retail loan defaults.
According to an ICICI Bank spokesman: “Sale of retail NPAs has been one of the many tools adopted by the bank to proactively manage delinquencies in the portfolio. It is a standard activity undertaken in the normal course of business by all international banks. Sometimes the sale is conducted every quarter. Also, this is only a very small portion in the overall delinquency management strategy of the bank.’’NPAs have an adverse impact on shareholders’ value of banks and financial institutions by eroding margins. ARCs acquire distressed assets at a discount depending on the credit realisation potential of the asset.
An industry expert said that banks would increasingly use ARCs to hive off their distressed retail assets so that they are not required to sully their hands in dealing with bad retail loans.
An official from a newly floated ARC said that even though bad retail assets offers a huge opportunity, it requires the right machinery (read, people) to gain monetary realisation from such assets.Since inception (August 2003), Arcil has acquired total distress debt including overdue interest of over Rs 40,000 crore at an average valuation of 25%. SRs issued were approximately Rs 10,000 crore since inception.
So far, Arcil has already resolved 65% of the non performing loans acquired so far and have recovered and distributed about Rs 2,800 crore to all the SR investors.
Google scraps ad deal with Yahoo
New York: Google has scrapped an advertising agreement with Yahoo beacuse of regulatory concerns.
The advertising deal announced in June would have allowed Yahoo to use Google to provide advertisements on its websites and its publisher partners’ sites in the US and Canada.
Google on Wednesday said government regulators and some advertisers continue to raise concerns over the pact with Yahoo.
“Pressing ahead risked not only a protracted legal battle but also damage to relationships with valued partners. That wouldn’t have been in the long-term interests of Google or our users, so we have decided to end the agreement,” Google said.
Yahoo said it is disappointed with the decision. “Yahoo continues to believe in the benefits of the agreement and is disappointed that Google has elected to withdraw from the agreement rather than defend it in court,” the internet firm said.
Yahoo said Google notified of its refusal to move forward with implementation of the agreement following indication from the Department of Justice that it would seek to block it, despite Yahoo’s proposed revisions to address the DoJ’s concerns.
Google said the company is not going to let the prospect of a lengthy legal battle distract it. “Google’s continued success depends on staying focused on what we do best: creating useful products for our users and partners,” it added. AGENCIES
‘Buy us, Microsoft’
After Google’s decision, Yahoo’s chief executive Jerry Yang said Microsoft should buy his firm despite failed takeover talks earlier this year.
“To this day, I would say the best thing for Microsoft is to buy Yahoo,” Yang said. “Did we want to do the deal? Yes.”
Microsoft has repeatedly said that it is no longer interested in buying the floundering Northern California firm.
The Redmond, Washington-based company issued the statement after Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said the business reasons for a Yahoo acquisition still make sense. AGENCIES
Know your diamonds
Diamonds— the tiny sparkling pieces of heaven have been hailed as a girl’s best friend and continue to be the most favoured precious stone. While most of us have diamond jewellery in one form or other, not many know how to recognise an original from a duplicate and evaluate them. Kirtilals is organising a diamond evaluation week in which Jan Lawers, Senior Laborant, HRD Antwerp Institute of Gemmology will analyse and evaluate each and every diamond brought in by the customers.
Jan Lawers, who has 28 -years of experience in diamond evaluation spoke to CT on diamonds, evaluation and its maintenance….
Why is it important to evaluate diamonds?
Jan Lawers (JL): To check the purity and worth of diamonds, evaluation is required. Diamonds are evaluated based on the 4C’s—carat, colour, clarity and cut.
What are the common colours of a
diamond?
JL: The colour of a diamond is determined by comparing it to an internationally approved series of master stones. The intensity can vary from nearly colourless to yellowish. The best colour is called ‘exceptional white+’ while the lowest colour on the scale is called ‘tinted colour’.
How is the clarity of a diamond checked?
JL: The clarity or purity of a diamond is determined by the number, size, brightness and the location of internal and external characteristics, important structure phenomena and transparency. The impurities inside the stone are important for the clarity grade. The stone is examined with a loupe and a microscope, during which all characteristics having a bearing on the clarity are noted down. The best clarity grade is called ‘loupe clean’.
What are the common diamond shapes and why is the shape important?
JL: Some of the common shapes are brilliant, oval, marquise, pear, heart, princess and emerald. Round brilliant diamonds are commonly cut with 58 facets. The better proportioned these facets are, the more light it will reflect. Diamond cuts are measured by the table percentage. A good table percentage is between 55 and 60 per cent.
How does one tell an original from a fake diamond?
JL: Original diamonds have better sheen and an experienced eye can identify it. Buying from genuine retailers is the best option for the uninitiated.
What is the ideal metal to set a diamond in?
JL: Diamonds can be set in yellow/white gold or platinum. In India, many prefer to set diamonds in gold. But when set in white gold or platinum, the brilliance of the stone is magnified. Similarly, open setting has an advantage, as it allows light to pass through, giving it more sparkle.
How must one store diamonds?
JL: Keep the diamonds in respective boxes. Do not jumble many ornaments in one box as abrasion may damage the stones.
How to clean diamond jewellery?
JL: After using it, wipe it with a soft piece of cloth. If it is a regular wear, wash it with soap water once in 45 days.
If there is lot of oil and dirt, hand it in for professional cleaning. The cleaning is achieved through the combined usage of jewellery cleaning compounds and ultrasonic waves.
Main Hoon Na
When India and Pakistan decide to end their hostilities, there are one army person in India who is unhappy, because of his son's death in the Indo-Pak war. He decides to launch terror attacks and bring an end to peace, and for this purpose he shoots and gravelly injures an Indian army officer. After the death of this officer, Raghavan then decides to do away with the army officer's daughter, Sanjana, who is studying in hostel. Raghavan and his men descend on the hostel and hold over 100 students hostage. There is only one student who can save them, and his name is Ram, he claims he is a student, but is here on a mission - a mission that when told will reveal his real identity and two plans which he must carry out simultaneously.
The governments of India and Pakistan have launched, "Project Milaap", where both the governments will release the POVs from the previous wars. Raghavan (Sunil Shetty), a deranged ex-armyman-turned-militant does not want the peaceful operation to turn to reality and makes an attempt on Gen. Amarjeet Bakshi's (Kabir Bedi) life. While trying to rescue Gen. Bakshi, Brigadier Shekhar Sharma (Naseeruddin Shah) falls prey to a stray bullet. While on deathbed he confesses to his son Major Ramprasad Sharma (Shah Rukh Khan) that his wife and son had left him many years ago due to his infidelity. He tells Ram his last wish: his family be reunited under one roof, and dies. Meanwhile, Gen. Bakshi tells Ram that his teenage daughter Sanjana's (Amrita Rao) life is in danger, and asks him to go undercover to Darjeeling and pose as a student in Sanjana's class . As the fate would have it, Ram learns that his younger brother Laxman "Lucky"(Zayed Khan) is studying at the same college. So Maj. Ram starts off on his dual mission: personal and national.
At Darjeeling college in India, an Indian commando must go undercover as a student to foil a terrorist plot on the eve of an accord being reached between India and Pakistan. When India and Pakistan decide to end their hostilities, there are many in Pakistan who are unhappy. He decides to launch terror attacks and bring an end to peace, and for this purpose he shoots and gravelly injures an Indian army officer. After the death of this officer, Raghavan then decides to do away with the army officer's daughter, Sanjana, who is studying in a hostel. Raghavan and his men descend on the hostel and hold over 100 students hostage. There is only one student who can save them, and his name is Ram, he claims he is a student, but is here on a mission - a mission that when told will reveal his real identity and two plans which he must carry out simultaneously.
Major Ram Prasad Sharma yearns to see the ambitious project Mission Milaap become a reality. The mission may prove to be the dawn of a new tomorrow, ending the long-standing enmity between two countries. But, some forces do not want that dawn to come. One of them is Raghavan who will do anything, including threatening the life of General Amarjeet Bakshi's daughter Sanjana. To protect Sanjana, Ram Prasad poses as a student at her school. But, Ram Prasad also has another agenda. He must fulfill the dying wish of his martyred father Brigadier Shekhar Sharma. This task involves intense emotions and long-standing misunderstandings, and strangely, the key to its success also can be found at Sanjana's school. As Ram Prasad Sharma struggles to carry out his dual missions of love and violence, his only mantra is "Main Hoon Na!"
Laxman Prasad Sharma lives with his mother, Madhu, in a small town in India. He studies in a local college and has a sweetheart in tom-boyish Sanjana Bakshi. The College gets a new student when Ram joins the college. Initially there is considerable friction between Ram and Lakhsman, which soon turns to close friendship. Lakhsman even lets out a room in his house to Ram for rent, and he also introduces him to his mother. Then all hell breaks lose in the college campus when a renegade former Indian army soldier, Raghavan Datta, holds about a 100 students hostage to stop the prisoner swap between India and Pakistan. Raghavan also exposes Ram for what he really is - a fact that Ram had managed to conceal from all the townspeople and the collegians, and an ulterior motive for entering the lives of Lakhsman and Madhu.
Major Ram Parsad Sharma, a brave army man disguises himself as a student and reaches to a college to find his step brother Laxman Parsad Sharma and to rescue General's daughter Sanjna from a mad court-martialed major Raghwan. In college he meets her beautiful teacher Chandni and fall in love with her.
TECH TALK
Scientists set to make ‘emotional’ machines
A team of European researchers have embarked on a landmark study that could potentially pave the path to “emotional” machines which may interact with humans using voice.
“As our interactions with machines get more and more pervasive, it becomes harder and harder to ignore the emotional element. Taking it into account will become a routine part of computer science courses and computer development,” says Roddy Cowie, coordinator of the EU-funded Humaine project. In effect, machines that feel may no longer be confined to science fiction.
Humaine has set up teams from disciplines as different as philosophy, psychology and computer animation to create the building blocks or tools needed to give machines so-called soft skills in order to make human-machine interface more user-friendly.
“We have developed systems for recognising emotion using multiple modalities and this puts us very much at the leading edge of recognition technology,” says Cowie. PTI
Soon, a PC that can converse with you
Machines that feel and converse may no longer be confined to the realm of science fiction. Led by DFKI, the German centre for research on Artificial Intelligence, experts are developing a computer system that can interact with a human being by reacting to signals such as tone of voice. They plan to build a Sensitive Artificial Listener system, which will observe a user’s facial expression and voice and then connect with him. ANI
COSMIC PINWHEEL
Image of the Southern Pinwheel galaxy, in this composite image from Nasa’s Galaxy Evolution Explorer and the National Science Foundation’s Very Large Array in New Mexico. The Galaxy Evolution Explorer is an ultraviolet survey telescope. Its observations, shown here in blue and green, highlight the galaxy’s farthest-flung clusters of young stars up to 1,40,000 light-years from its center. The Very Large Array observations show the radio emission in red. They highlight gaseous hydrogen atoms, or raw ingredients for stars, which make up the lengthy, extended arms. Astronomers are excited that the clusters of baby stars match up with the extended arms, because this helps them better understand how stars can be created out in the ‘backwoods’ of a galaxy
Med schools to roll out OBC quota
16 Of 17 Institutes To Fully Implement Reservation By End Of Next Year
New Delhi: All the 17 central government-run medical institutes in the country have decided to implement OBC reservations from this year.
While Vardhman Mahavir Medical College (VMMC) at Safdarjung Hospital has decided to implement the 27% OBC quota in one go, the other 16, including five from the north-east, will achieve it by end of next year.
AIIMS, PGI Chandigarh, Lady Hardinge, JIPMER, Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and National Institute of Health and Family Welfare are among the institutes which will implement the quota in a phased manner.
In some courses, they will increase seats by 9% annually. Officials hope to increase 17% of the quota seats by this year-end and 10% by the end of 2009.
This decision was taken in a quota review meeting between health minister A Ramadoss, health ministry officials and the institute heads on Thursday. Ramadoss has asked all the institutes to submit their infrastructural requirements to the Expenditure Finance Committee by April 25.
The ministry has decided to go ahead with the seat increase for both MBBS and post-graduate courses.
Health secretary Naresh Dayal told TOI, “The increase in reserved seats to accommodate 24% quota for OBCs will be implemented from this year. However, it will be in a staggered manner depending on capacity and infrastructure availability of various institutes.” An official said, “We have asked the institutes to submit the requirement of faculty and support staff to EFC for approval.”
IIT-Kanpur increases
seats to 622 from 550
Kanpur: The number of seats for BTech courses at Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur will be increased to 622 from 550 this year to accommodate OBC candidates.
The three new IITs in Bihar, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh, will implement 27% reservation from this year.
“Seventytwo seats each will be increased in the next two years taking the total number of increased seats to 216 in three years,’’ said IITKanpur’s assistant registrar Professor K V Satyamurty.
IIT-Kanpur director Prof S G Dhande said that the retirement age of faculty members has been increased from 62 to 65 due to increase in seats. TNN
Sania Mirza eyeing a French Open return
FOR the third consecutive year, I have faced the disappointment of sitting on the sidelines with an injury in these few weeks leading up to the French Open. Call it coincidence or whatever, but it is surely very frustrating to watch the important tournaments go by while my competitors earn valuable ranking points, forcing me to play catch up with them all over again.
As I have said time and again, injuries are an integral part of every tennis player’s life in today’s gruelling sport and as professional athletes, we have to learn to come to terms with this fact.
Of course, the cynics would perhaps, jump to conclusions on how unfit we, Asians, are in comparison to the Europeans or Americans. However, if one were to closely follow the fortunes of all the top-100 players of the world, one would find that at any given time, there are at least a dozen players, who are out with injury of some nature and each one of us goes through cycles of being unfit during the course of one’s career.
It is therefore imperative to constantly try and increase the length of periods during which one is fit enough to compete by working hard at the fitness. One must also learn to manage the injuries when they do come to avoid long term absence from the circuit.
As athletes, we are consistently stretching our physical attributes to the optimum and it’s a fine line that we need to draw in our constant endeavour to remain match fit at the highest level.
My wrist has troubled me for over a year now and whenever I hit the ball late, I would feel a painful stab on impact. The pain would go away after a few moments and I would continue to play. There was a swelling at the end of the game and I needed to ice my wrist to recover in time for the next match.
This went on for a few months but when I mishit a ball in the second set of my pre-quarterfinal against Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova in the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells, the excruciating pain that I felt was of a different level.
The painkillers I gulped down had little effect on the acute discomfort and I struggled to finish the match. I had an MRI done on my wrist and the diagnosis was a torn capsule. The doctor advised surgery although he explained that it was not an emergency.
However, I was very clear in my mind that with the Olympics round the corner, I needed to be at my peak within the next few months and I decided to go through with the surgery at the earliest convenient date.
Dr Badia, who operated on me in Florida, is a world-reknowned hand specialist, who has treated professional sportspersons on a regular basis. The good part is that though my wrist is in a cast, I can still work out in the gymnasium with my physical trainer to strengthen and develop the rest of my body.
By the first week of next month, I will start mobilising my wrist and in due course of time, get back onto the tennis court. If all goes well, I should be back on the circuit by the time the French Open gets underway. However, it may take a few more weeks before I am back to my competitive best. TCM
Major highlights of C#
It is a brand new language derived from the C/C++ family
It simplifies and modernizes C++
It is the only component-oriented language available today
It is the only language designed for the .NET Framework
It is concise, lean and modern language
It combines the best features of many commonly used languages: the productivity of Visual Basic, the power of C++ and the elegance of Java
It is intrinsically object-oriented and web-enabled
It has a lean and consistent syntax
It embodies today’s concern simplicity, productivity and robustness
It will become the language of choice for .NET programming
Major parts of .NET Framework are actually coded in C#
Series of entrance exams gets on students’ nerves
Chennai: After the hectic preparations for the Indian Institute of Technology Joint Entrance Examination (IIT-JEE) on Sunday, 17-year-old Raghav of Mylapore deserved a break. But he will continue with a gruelling schedule for at least another month, as he prepares for a series of entrance exams of different colleges and universities.
“I am not sure if I will make it to the IITs. So I am giving the All Indian Engineering Entrance Examinations (AIEEE) a shot hoping to join the National Institute of Technology. My father wants me to have the Vellore Institute of Technology University and SRM University as fallback options. Both deemed universities have announced their own entrance examinations. That means I will be hopping from one examination centre to another till May,” frets the teenager, who is also anxious about his Board examination results.
Raghav’s case illustrates a paradox of sorts in Tamil Nadu, where the state government’s abolition of the common entrance test for admission to professional courses has made no difference to the students’ ordeal of appearing for a series of entrance examinations. At least nine deemed universities conduct their own entrance exams. With deemed universities like VIT, Sathyabama and SRM commanding a good standing in academics, parents and students are eager to join in them only if they do not get into the IITs, ITs or Anna University. Incidentally, the SASTRA University in Thanjavur admits 70% students through the Plus Two marks normalization procedure and 30% on the basis of the AIEEE scores. The Dr MGR University grants admission on the basis of Plus Two marks. VIT chancellor G Viswanathan agrees that multiple entrance tests put students under tremendous pressure. “An ideal situation would be for the government to conduct a single national entrance examination on the lines of the SAT for admission to any institution across the country. But the central and state governments do not see eye to eye on such a concept,” he said.
VVS Renews Love Affair With SCG, Slams Ton To Put India In Strong Position
Sydney: It all looked ‘Very Very Similar’ to last time, but Laxman’s wonderful 109 at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday was more important to Team India in terms of runs rather than the artistry involved in the process of accumulation.
Laxman’s third hundred at this venue on consecutive tours to Australia kept his team in the game after Australia had stretched their first innings to 463 with some additional help from Steve Bucknor. At close on Day 2, India were 216 for three, still 247 behind Australia’s tally with Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly in the middle.
With Wasim Jaffer making heavy weather of handling Brett Lee’s furious pace, Laxman found himself taking guard in the seventh over. Having set up Jaffer nicely with a few short deliveries, Lee slipped in a swinging yorker at 147kmph that beat Jaffer for pace and crashed into the base of his off-stump.
Laxman, who seems to always find an extra gear against the Australians, batted freely for the next 218 minutes, adding 175 runs for the second wicket and literally chaperoning his partner Rahul Dravid out of troubled times before guiding India to a position of relative safety.
Dravid looked like a man at an internet cafe encountering connectivity problems. He enjoyed a good start, but suffered from low connectivity once he entered his ‘teens’. On 18, he encountered an error in connection and was reduced to stonewalling for 39 deliveries before, rebooting his innings. If he required 100 deliveries to score his first 20 runs, his next 35 came off just 58 during which he looked every bit the player who has close to 10,000 Test runs under his belt.
Dravid, however, enjoyed his share of luck while notching up one of his most laboured half-centuries. On 15 he was caught off a Mitchell Johnson no-ball by Ponting. Later the Aussie captain showed exemplary sportsmanship on another occasion by indicating that he had not caught the ball cleanly. And on 18, Adam Gilchrist failed to hold a sharp chance down the left side.
It was Laxman, who took the pressure off Dravid by playing his shots. Taking the ball on the rise, the stylish righthander was not afraid to hit through the line on a placid track that played true. As graceful cover drives and wristy flicks flowed from Laxman’s bat, Aussie pacers despaired.
With a few mistimed hits also reaching the boundary, Laxman raced to his half-century off just 43 balls, but not before he was floored on 45 by Gilchrist off Clark. Gilly, who had a bad day in office, had also failed to grab another offering from Laxman when he was on 77. The bowler to suffer was Lee.
Laxman brought up his 12th Test hundred by pulling Brad Hogg to the midwicket fence and celebrated by waving his bat all-round the stadium. Dravid too brought up his 50 soon after to double the joy in the Indian dressing room.
India’s joy was, however, short-lived as both batsmen suffered lapses in concentration and lost their wickets in successive overs. While Dravid went on his back foot and played away from his body to Johnson, Laxman was beaten in the flight by Hogg and spooned a simple catch to short cover. Tendulkar and Ganguly ensured that there was no further damage to leave the outcome of the Test hanging in the balance.
Earlier, Indian bowlers toiled hard to claim Australia’s three remaining wickets. Lee completed his half-century and was looking good for a ton when Bucknor adjudged him lbw to Anil Kumble despite getting a big stride forward. The Indian captain also picked up the remaining two wickets.
Andrew Symonds, who remained unbeaten on 162, got another gift from Bucknor, who failed to refer a stumping appeal off Kumble to the third umpire. Replays clearly showed Symonds was out.
VERY VERY SPECIAL LAXMAN
SYDNEY, MY LOVE
Registered his third century in succession at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The previous two: 167 off 198 balls in 1999-00 and 178 off 298 balls in 2003-04. In 3 Tests, Laxman has aggregated 461 runs in four innings at 115.25. He is the only Indian batsman to hit 3 centuries at SCG. Tendulkar has scored two at this venue
THE BEST AT SCG
He is now the third batsman in Test history to have recorded three successive centuries at SCG. England's Wally Hammond and Australia's Doug Walters are the other two
AUSSIES, MY BUNNY
His 12th hundred in Tests is his fifth against Australia and his tally of five centuries in 18 Tests against Australia is exceeded only by Sunil Gavaskar's 8 in 20 and Sachin Tendulkar's 7 in 23 for India
ONLY SUNNY AHEAD NOW
Both Laxman and Tendulkar have hit four centuries each in Australia. The most by an Indian is by Sunil Gavaskar (5)
BEST AT NO 3
His 109 is now Laxman's highest Test score batting at No 3 away from home. His previous best was 100 vs West Indies at Basseterre in 2006. His other two centuries at No 3 are 281 against Australia at Kolkata in 2000-01 and 104 against Sri Lanka at Ahmedabad in 2005-06
ORDER OF TONS
Of his 12 Test centuries, Laxman has recorded 4 each at No 3 & No 6; 2 at No 5 and 1 each as an opener and at No 4.
BEST BY AN INDIAN
Laxman has now aggregated 892 runs in 9 Tests at an average of 59.46 in Australia. His average is the best by an Indian in Australia (minimum qualification 500 runs)
Size zero: Nokia 5310
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Symonds' quick return will undermine teammates' position: Nielsen
Australian coach Tim Nielsen has praised Andrew Symonds for realising his mistake but ruled out the volatile all-rounder's quick return to the national side, saying such a move would undermine his teammates' position. Nielsen said Symonds has done a great job by pledging to behave "responsibly" in future but his comeback to the national team would take time. "At the moment, Symonds' selection is something I don't want to think about it. It would only undermine the players that are there," Nielsen was quoted as saying by Sydney Morning Herald. "It's brilliant that he has got to this stage and put out a positive message, but I don't even want to start speculating about when he might return," he said. Cricket Australia chairman of selectors, Andrew Hilditch had also said Symonds will be monitored for a while before considering his inclusion in national squad. "We have to see whether the all-rounder is fully committed to all of the things needed for a cricketer to be a member of the world's number one team," Hilditch had said.
Symonds, who has apologised for his "irresponsibly" and pledged a better conduct, is expected to make a comeback in competitive cricket with his grade side, the Gold Coast Dolphins, over the next fortnight. After that he is due to feature in a few Twenty20 matches for Queensland and three Sheffield Shield and four domestic one-dayers to prove himself for a possible call-up in the home Test against New Zealand in November.
Madras HC pulls up Transport Corps on recruitment of crew
Madras High Court has pulled up the state Transport Corporations for not following the mandatory caste-based reservation in the matter of recruitment of drivers and conductors.
Passing orders on a writ petition filed by M Ravi, challenging his non-selection as conductor, Mr Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar, said the transport corporations were appointing the crew without notifying the number of vacancies and not following the reservation as contemplated under Rule 22 (a) of the TN State and Subordinate Service Rules and without following the uniform mode of selection. The corporations, being the undertakings of the Tamil Nadu Government, were bound to follow the policy of the government, the judge said. ''The attitude of the corporations seems to be that it is not bound by any law or the constitutional provisions, particularly Articles 14 and 16,'' the judge said and added that the government must ensure that its policy decisions were implemented at least in future.
Vaughan to be Pietersen’s trusted advisor on India tour
By handling former England captain Michael Vaughan a fresh 12-month central contract, the England selectors have sent out a message that he will function as a senior pro and key adviser to successor Kevin Pieterson during this winter’s tours to India and West Indies, besides next year’s Ashes series in England. The contract is worth at least 100,000 pounds, and though Vaughan is not at present having the best run with the bat, national selectors Geoff Miller insists that “we see him as a vital member of the side.” According to The Sun, Pieterson thinks Vaughan can offer advice and experience as well as putting pressure on the places of Andrew Strauss and Ian Bell.
The 'Paruthiveeran' duo is back
Karthi and Priyamani,the pair that scorched the screen with Paruthiveeran,will soon be back. They are coming together in mass movie maker Suraj’s new untitled film for Suriya and Karthi’s and cousin Gnanavel Raja’s home production Studio green. Karthi,who hopes complete Selvaraghavan’s Aayirathil Oruvan by the end of the month,will start Lingusamy’s new film with Nayanthara in October. Director Suraj,who is doing Padikathavan with Dhanush, hopes to complete his film by November. if all goes well, Karthi and Suraj will start together from December. The film is about to remake of the Telugu action movie Vikramarkrudu starring Ravi Teja. The movie will also mostly feature Karthi in a double role for the first time.
Shriya's delighted. Here's why!
Shriya Saran is all smiles these days.The Trailer of her first Hollywood film The Other End of the Line
is being appreciated.The film releases in the US on October31.She plays the role of Priya,an employee at an Indian call-centre in Mumbai,who travels to San Francisco to be with the hunk Jesse Metacalfe whom she falls for over the phone!Shriya has a steamy kissing scene with Jesse which has been picturised very well.Shriya personnaly sent a clipping of trailer to all her friends in which she looks absolutely smashing!!
Meawhile she is all excited about playing Kamal Haasan's first wife in a flash back scene in Marmayogi,where she also lislocks with the actor.Overnight,she is singing hosannas about the actor,seeing his dedication and the meticulous way he narrated the script to her.Shriya has interesting line-up of releases ahead---The Other End of the Line with Jesse,Sarath Kumar's Jaggubhai where she plays his daughter,Vikram's super-hero action adventure Kanthasamy,Deepa Mehta's What's Cooking and above all Kamal Haasan's Marmayogi
'Bat'tling age
The actress hangs upside down to maintain her stunning looks
The 34-year-old beauty,who recently sparked a controversy with her raunchy Calvin Klein adverts,believes letting blood rush to her head will deter the signs of ageing.
A source said,"Whether it is a photo session or a hot date,Eva swears by hanging her head down on a slant board for about 20minutes.This helps blood flow to your upper body and face and brings on a vibrant, flushed-with-youth look".
The actress admitted she hates going to the gym.She said,"I have to struggle to control my carvings for junk food." She added,"I work out once a week doing light weights but on the whole,I find gyms so grey and ugly,I don't want to listen to bad music on a treadmill".
