IBLOG SPACE

Facing charges of having renewed violence through its cadres in Nandigram CPM General Secretary Prakash Karat on Monday lashed out at the Trinamool Congress and the Maoists, which he said are fighting alongside Trinamool cadres. He also came down heavily on West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi. An unusually combative Prakash Karat declared that the Marxists had won power through elections, at every level from gram panchayats to the state assembly. He said that if those who had failed to dislodge the CPM in elections and thought they could throw them out by force, then they were mistaken. He further said that the Trinamool Congress was trying to take power undemocratically and the only way for normalcy to return was with the return of the 1,500 CPM supporters to their homes in Nandigram. Meanwhile, the CRPF entered Nandigram after more firing was reported there on Monday. Elsewhere in West Bengal, including Kolkata, life came to a grinding halt. However, on Monday activists reported

Islamabad (PTI): Pakistani media on Monday voiced concern over the holding of "free and fair" general elections in the country by January 9 as announced by President Pervez Musharraf, saying that they could be "stage-managed" under the emergency rule. Hard-hitting editorials in leading English dailies cautioned that the General's pledge at a press meet on Sunday that this time he would stay above the political fray and be completely neutral in dealing with political parties "should be taken with a pinch of salt". In its editorial, titled 'Wonderstruck in Islamabad', Pakistan's oldest English language newspaper, the 'Dawn' said, "The new scheme as announced casts a doubt on the credibility of the forthcoming elections" as "the government alone will be the judge of the qualifying provision". "The holding of elections under emergency rule, continued blackout of independent news channels, suspension of civil

Security administrators should have a pretty easy time of it next Tuesday as Microsoft says it will issue just two updates in its monthly security software release. Microsoft said next week's updates will include a critical update for the Windows operating system as well as a less-serious 'important' Windows update. Microsoft has been working on a fix for buggy antipiracy that has been shipping with Windows for the last few years and security experts believe that this will be one of the flaws fixed next week. The bug lies in the secdrv.sys driver built by Macrovision that ships with Windows XP, Server 2003, and Vista, but Vista is not vulnerable to the problem, according to Microsoft. The software vendor is aware of 'limited attacks' that exploit this vulnerability to get elevated privileges on a victim's machine. Users who are concerned about the vulnerability can remove the secdrv.sys driver, but this software is required in order to play games that are protec

MUMBAI (Reuters) - Optic fibre cable maker Sterlite Technologies Ltd on Monday announced doubling its annual optic fibre capacity to 12 million kilometres at an investment of 1.4 billion rupees. The expansion would take place at Sterlite's existing facilities in Aurangabad and commercial production is expected to start by June 2009, it said in a statement. The facility would be capable of manufacturing not only the existing range of optic fibre products but also newer ones in conformity with evolving international standards and catering to higher bandwidth applications. The company, which also manufactures power transmission conductors, has a 45 percent domestic market share in optic fibres and 4 percent share globally. In the first half of 2007/08, optic fibre exports accounted for around 55 percent of its total optic fibre revenues. Shares in the company were trading up 0.87 percent at 284 rupees in a weak Mumbai market.

Intel on Sunday launched its long-awaited new line of power-efficient microprocessors, code-named Penryn, designed to deliver better graphics and application performance as well as virtualization capabilities. Intel has teamed up with 40 original equipment manufacturers to deliver Penryn-based Xeon and Core 2 processors. Vendors including Hewlett-Packard and Lenovo have already announced business desktops with Penryn-based quad-core Xeon 5400 processors, with more server announcements scheduled to come soon. ( PC World has already reviewed several new Penryn systems, including CyberPower's new gaming system, the Power Infinity Pro .) New Process Cuts Power The processors, manufactured using a 45-nanometer process, feature smaller transistors and cut down on electricity leaks, which makes them faster and more power efficient than earlier 65-nm processors, said Stephen Smith , director for Intel's digital enterprise group operations. The most power-hungry Penryn-based syste

Lyricist, singer and scriptwriter Swanand Kirkire’s ultimate dream is to make a film He’s got his hand in many pies. Whether it is writing lyrics, scripts, singing Bollywood numbers or directing a play, Swanand Kirkire seems adept at juggling multiple roles. Incidentally, Swanand has written the lyrics for films including ‘Eklavya’, ‘Parineeta’ and ‘Hazaron Khwahishein Aisi’ (‘Bawra man’). While he has even sung in these, Swanand has also penned the lyrics for Sudhir Mishra’s upcoming film ‘ Khoya Khoya Chaand’. “I want to be a master of all trades,” he laughs when you ask him how he manages to play myriad roles in a chaotic industry, and yet keep his sanity. “It’s a question that I ask myself too. But I don’t have an answer. I think I just love what I do,” he answers adding, “I never set out to write lyrics or sing. All this happened by accident. Even now, my ultimate dream is to make a film. These are just things that I do by the way. It is not something, which consumes me.”

Dear Shah Rukh, "Everything will be okay in the end...if it's not okay, it's not the end." Sounds like something out of Om Shanti Om, right? "Picture abhi baaki hai, haan?" Isn't that always true? I think so....Everything isn't perfect right now...and that's how I know that it's not the end. This will be just another year of me wishing you a Happy Birthday on Nov 2nd as I cut my own cake. Yes, you presumed right - we share the same birthday. Skeptical? Check this video out at http://youtube.com/watch?v=6jKuAEjzybI I've met you twice now, but I don't believe you remember. Heck, I don't even remember the first time that well anymore because I was just 4 years old! I used to live in Delhi back then...so did you, and you were eating paan at a roadside thela outside Gulati's restaurant. We all recognized you as "Buddy" from Fauji...but we never made it to the paan stand to congratulate you on your fantastic acting, an

To interview Amitabh Bachchan is one thing and to interview Dev saab is another. Fondly known as the 'evergreen' star of Indian cinema, Dev saab has shown more colors other than green to his fans, well-wishers and to his latest autobiography 'Romancing with Life'. The book gives you an in-depth look from his early days of the 1930's in Gurdaspur to his struggling years of the 1940's in Bombay, his relationship with his brothers to his bittersweet memories with his close friend Raj Kapoor and from his first directorial debut Prem Pujaari to his forthcoming international project, When heartbeats are the same . In London's Hilton Park Lane, he greets me with his famous smile and offers me the chair kept beside him in his room. I decline and sit next to him near his feet to know more about his book and even more about his relationships and the thing which he can't live without - his passion for cinema. It's the involvement of love and

Hi SRK, So, finally the release date of Om Shanti Om is coming near and frankly speaking, the tension is building. Yeah... all types of thoughts moving through mind. How great the film would be? Or will it really be great or just another PBDHH (I wish not). What would be the response of audiences and whether I'll really like it when I'll see it on 9th November (Yeah First day first show in a Multiplex. Ya if the deal doesn't go through, I'll see it even in a single screen theater). I've been feeling the same tension from past many many years. Every time, one of your movie is up for release, I become tensed. I still remember how many times I prayed to god before reading the reviews of CDI or before even watching that film. Well, it sounds rather unusual, but frankly, I consider all of your films to be my Home Production (weird I know because I dont even have any far relative in the film industry). . But that's the truth. I always want the music and the film to

‘Sixer’, ‘Howzzat!’ none of these screams were heard when Mahendra Singh Dhoni was seen. Well it is quite obvious as he was not on the field. Instead he was on the sets of Nagesh Kukunoor’s Aashayein visiting John Abraham. John is a great fan of cricket and Dhoni of course. The two hunks also seem to be having the similar hairstyle currently and guess what, also the same hairstylist. Dhoni had a great time on the sets of Aashayein . Dhoni and John not only chatted for long but the cricket star also watched John doing some intense scenes for the film. Aashayein is produced by Percept Pictures. Well, Dhoni is surely showing keen interest in Bollywood. Initially, it was Deepika and now friendship with John. Any plans to try your luck in Bollywood Dhoni?

Ever wondered as to when boys become men, then, what do the men become? Well, they become macho men and want the world to rotate on their fingers. In this case, its not the world, instead, it’s the football that’s finding solace on the finger of the macho John Abraham, who , alongwith, his lady love Bipasha Basu, shot for a promotional music video for their upcoming film Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal , in a suburban studio. After having charmed his lady-love off-screen, it was John’s turn of charming Bips …on-screen. And what could have been better than him trying to woo her in various manners… but, it’s only in the end when he comes as a football player that she succumbs to his charms.

Director of 1:40 Ki Last Local , Sanjay Khanduri, is on a different route currently. He has now joined a movement which is addressing the issue of global warming and aiming at saving the earth by the hour!!! As a part of the Mumbai based initiative, Sanjay is acting as a forerunner in his endeavor to spread awareness about global warming. December 15th 2007 is the day when the movement intends to getting most of the cities in India to unplug their TV sets, Fridges, Microwaves, Fans and Lights for one hour from 7:30pm - 8:30pm. Says Khanduri, "According to Al Gore's docu-presentation - An Inconvenient Truth - we've got 8 years till the effects of global warming and the harm we're doing to the world can be reversed. Now 8 years are well within our life times, aren't they?" Stating further that all city residents can work together in spreading awareness about this movement, global warming is an enemy which has already been there for a while and is already wre

“ Baba, aapne mera naam Neerjara kyon rakha hai ?” These are the famous words which made history in the smash hit Tere Naam and were mouthed by the ‘innocence personified’ lass Bhumika Chawla. Well, it was the same innocent smile and warmth that greeted the Bollywood’s who’s who, in her wedding with the renowned yoga guru Bharat Thakur. After months of ‘yes-no-yes-no’ kind of relationship, Bhumika and Bharat put an end to all the speculations by saying ‘I Do’ to each other. Those present on this D-Day included the eternal Mr. and Mrs. Bachchan, along with Abhi (minus Ash), Kareena ( minus Saif), David Dhawan with his wife Lali, Manish Malhotra, Anil Kapoor, Ayesha Jhulka, Gurudas Maan, to name a few. What remains to be seen is that will Bhumika continue to play the bhumika post marriage? Or will she go the Bhagyashree way?

Chak De India is a true sporty and patriotic film, well-timed in its released around India’s 60th Independence Day. It has a beautiful inspiring song which shows that what you need is resolve and not strength to win. This film emphasizes the rule of life that team spirit is the catalyst to performance, whether in sports or in any organization. Much along the lines of another inspiring sports film, 'Bend It like Beckham', this movie reminds me of what sheer motivation can do to the morale and the performance of a team. We see that initially the team is divided on the lines of region, class and ethnicity and lack of encouragement. Kabir Khan, played by Shah Rukh, inculcates in them a sense of team spirit and asks them to put the country first. The group comes together and wins the World Cup, under the able direction and leadership of Kabir Khan, who has the resilience to win back his lost glory after a humiliating defeat against Pakistan a few years ago, for which he is blamed a

While Bollywood is witnessing number of actors crossing over to Hollywood with interesting assignments (most recent being Irrfan Khan whose The Mighty Heart with Angelina Jolie released recently), even America is looking at artist exports to Bollywood. Melanie Kannokada, reigning Miss India America, is one of them. A Stanford University graduate, she has studied Engineering and was active in dancing, entrepreneurship, and student government. On being asked about what brings her to Bollywood, Melanie says, "I love the elements of Indian Cinema – and can see myself being part of this magical and powerful genre. At the same time, Bollywood is not necessarily the end goal. It's about growing as an artist and creating meaningful work, whether that's here or abroad. In terms of Bollywood – if the right opportunity comes along, it would be hard to pass up!" Melanie's favorite stars are Kajol, Madhuri Dixit and Saif Ali Khan while Life is Beautiful, Amelie, Kal Ho Naa H

At 2 hours and 8 minutes playing-time Saawariya is one of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's shortest films ever. It's just a few minutes longer than the filmmaker's last film Black which was almost as long as Saawariya , but without any songs Sanjay's second film Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam had 10 songs and a playing-time of 3 hours. Saawariya with 8 songs is far shorter than the opulent and stunning Devdas which, with its mix of songs, dances and operatic drama ran into 3 hours and 10 minutes. Economy of expression defines the romance between Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor in Saawariya . From the time his eyes fall on the porcelain beauty Sonam (who exudes the subtle strength of Waheeda Rehman) Ranbir celebrates his love in ecstatically composed and choreographed numbers that create a waltz of a thousand steps with just gestures and whispers. Saawariya is Sanjay's subtlest most quiet and mellow film to date. While almost every sequence in Devdas and Black culminated in

He is called the ‘Evergreen’ superstar of Indian Cinema. Dev Anand started his film career in the 40’s and today, even after six decades, he’s still active and busy working on his films. In his autobiography, ‘Romancing With Life’, Dev Anand shares how the events in his life made a boy from Gurdaspur a star of the Indian Cinema. IndiaFM will run a series of excerpts from Dev Anand’s autobiography marking some of the most fascinating incidents of the superstar’s life. “ Ziddi was a milestone in my career, since it was the first film that brought me in to the limelight as an actor to reckon with. It brought me very close to Ashok Kumar and his youngest brother, Kishore Kumar, who had just arrived from his hometown Khandwa, clad in his kurta-pajamas, with a phenomenal singing voice that years later was going to hypnotize the world with its resonance. The very first song of his career was sung by me on screen in Ziddi ; it was a ghazal composed by a renowned poet, Prem Dhavan: Marne ki

“I’ve been getting extremely positive reactions,” admitted an excited Imtiaz Ali, director of Shahid-Kareena starrer Jab We Met that has achieved a unique distinction of being liked both by the critics as well as the ticket buying public. “Whatever work of Art you put forward there’s always some or the other negative views. But up till now there’s no negative view for Jab We Met . I keep going back to cinema halls and people are reacting very excitedly,” Imtiaz said. Prior to JWM, Shahid-Kareena pair had earned a lukewarm response at the Box Office. It was said that they lack chemistry. But they seem to have broken the jinx as the crackling camaraderie that the duo has shared in this lighthearted breezy romantic comedy which is being lapped up by the audiences hungry for good entertainment. Imtiaz shared a vignette of information that may make you chuckle in disbelief. Well, the dirty sleazy receptionist at ‘Decent’ Hotel in Ratlam who thinks Kareena is a call girl is actually the A