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Showing posts from September 30, 2010

Nolan: I want to make City pay

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Kevin Nolan is determined to make big-spending Manchester City pay for Newcastle's bout of homesickness. The Magpies slipped to their second successive defeat at St James' Park on Sunday when Stoke came from behind to win 2-1. Defeat was all the more frustrating for Chris Hughton's side as it came a fortnight after they went down 2-0 in the own backyard to Blackpool, but after excellent away wins at Everton and Chelsea. They head for Eastlands next weekend for another tough test on the road, and skipper Nolan is looking for another positive result to redress the balance once again.

"Van der Vaart is a fantastic player"

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Tottenham Hotspur boss Harry Redknapp is over the moon about the quality of summer signing Rafael van der Vaart. In a shock move during the last moments of the transfer deadline, Van der Vaart was snapped up from Real Madrid for a paltry £8 million.  In comments quoted by Tottenham's official website, Redknapp said he was impressed with the class of the World Cup finalist. He said: "He looks like a top player, real class. "He plays in that position in the hole just behind the striker and finds space to get the ball.

Nani: I'm more confident than ever

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In-form Manchester United winger Nani has admitted he is more confident now than at any other stage of his career. The Portugal winger has completed turned his United career around in the past nine months. When the transfer window opened last January, it would have surprised no-one if the former Sporting Lisbon star had been offloaded after an unconvincing two-and-a-half years at Old Trafford since he arrived in a £17million deal. Instead, Nani found the performances that attracted Sir Alex Ferguson's attention in the first place.

Fergie optimisitic over Rooney

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Sir Alex Ferguson is crossing his fingers that Wayne Rooney can keep his Manchester United absence down to a minimum. Rooney famously returned within eight days from the ankle damage he suffered in the first leg of last season's Champions League quarter-final with Bayern Munich. The sharpshooter has scored just once for United since, and he will not have the chance to do so again until at least October 16 after Ferguson confirmed Rooney faces a "two to three week" spell on the sidelines with the injury he suffered at Bolton on Sunday. At the far edge of that timescale, Rooney would miss a Champions League clash with Bursaspor and potentially, the trip to Stoke on October 24. But Ferguson will hope to have his £27million forward back for the Old Trafford encounter with West Brom on October 16, which would mean after tonight he would only miss two games - and one of those is England's Euro 2012 qualifier with Montenegro. "Wayne has done quite well with his recovery

Defoe wants Spurs for life

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Jermain Defoe has declared his desire to stay at Tottenham for the rest of his career. The 27-year-old England striker, currently sidelined by an ankle injury, is relishing Spurs' involvement in the Champions League for the first time. And he'd love to continue playing under Harry Redknapp, who he says "has shown himself to be right up there with the best in the business". Defoe told the Daily Mirror: "Everything about the club tells you they are going in the right direction and I want to remain a part of that. "You'd have to crazy not to want to stay a part of that. So yes, I want to stay for the rest of my career because I believe Tottenham will go on to establish themselves in the top four under Harry."

City eye Torres, Benzema, Dzeko

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Manchester City are plotting yet another spending spree - with Fernando Torres, Karim Benzema and Edin Dzeko among their targets. According to The Daily Star, manager Roberto Mancini has admitted his side is two or three players short of being genuine title contenders and has pin-pointed the trio to add to his array of stars at Eastlands. Mancini, who failed in his attempt to pry Torres from Liverpool during the recent transfer window, is now set to launch a renewed assault on the Spanish ace, who has been struggling to rediscover his form at Anfield.

Inter in the hunt for Xabi Alonso

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Inter Milan are back in the hunt for Xabi Alonso and could enter negotiations with Real Madrid in the January transfer window. According to Tuttomercatoweb.com, Inter coach Rafael Benitez has not given up on his former Liverpool midfield ace after failing in his attempt to prise him to the San Siro during the summer. Alonso was believed to be the alternative to Javier Mascherano, who snubbed his former mentor's advances for Barcelona. Benitez, who won the 2005 Champions League with Alonso, is growing desperate to sign the 28-year-old and will be seeking Massimo Moratti for funds to do so.

Bruce worried before United clash

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Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is facing a defensive headache ahead of Saturday's clash against Manchester United. Bruce is likely to be without injured trio Anton Ferdinand, John Mensah and Kieran Richardson for the game at the Stadium of Light. The Black Cats have picked up five of their seven points so far against sides classed as Champions League hopefuls, having beaten Manchester City and drawn against Arsenal and Liverpool. Bruce will be aiming to continue his side's excellent run and won't rule out the possibility of one or more fringe players breaking into the squad ahead of the game.

Valencia 0-1 Man United

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Javier Hernandez's first competitive goal for Manchester United was enough to see the Red Devils beat Valencia 1-0. Although United rarely looked like breaking their sequence of three successive goalless draws in Spain, Sir Alex Ferguson will not care too much about that. A draw for United would probably have been an acceptable outcome from what on paper is their hardest Group C fixture, even taking into account that surprising stalemate with Rangers at Old Trafford a fortnight ago. It seemed Valencia would not be too displeased either given the cautious manner with which they attempted to find a way through a side for whom Dimitar Berbatov was expecting forward support from Anderson.

Tottenham 4-1 FC Twente

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Tottenham's Champions League rollercoaster rattled on with a stirring 4-1 win over FC Twente. It was a Jekyll-and-Hyde performance from both Rafael van der Vaart and the match officials on a night of high drama at White Hart Lane Van der Vaart missed a dubious penalty, broke the deadlock and then picked up a needless red card as Spurs threatened to blow a 2-0 lead for the second successive Group A game. But referee Terje Hauge's assistants came to the rescue with a mixture of correct and contentious spot-kick decisions, helping Harry Redknapp's men join European champions Inter Milan on four points at the top of the table.

Bale: We deserved all penalties

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Gareth Bale claimed Tottenham deserved all three of their penalties in their 4-1 Champions League win over FC Twente. Rafael van der Vaart missed the first penalty, before scoring and then being sent off, while Roman Pavlyuchenko converted the other two. "If they're penalties they should be given and I think they all were tonight," Bale said on Sky Sports 2. Ledley King seemed less certain, saying: "The referee seemed to take a while to give them, I don't know if he was listening to the official behind the goal,"

Hernandez: Goal gives me confidence

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Javier Hernandez is confident his first competitive goal for Manchester United is the start of many to come. The £7million Mexican came off the bench to score an 85th-minute winner for United in Valencia last night. It was only the Red Devils' second triumph in 19 attempts against Spanish opposition on Spanish soil and more importantly put them back on track for a place in the last 16 after a stuttering start to their campaign against Rangers a fortnight ago. And for Hernandez, it was a goal to savour. "The goal will give me so much confidence," he said.

Hughes bowled by Sachin's humility

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Tendulkar's humility has bowled over Philip Hughes, who says it was a fantastic experience to get tips from the Indian icon. "When I was in Mumbai earlier, I had coffee with him and we spoke for about an hour. He asked me so many questions and I also put him many queries. He is a fantastic man and very humble," Hughes said. "He told me that I should try to play my natural game. We also talked a lot about other things in general. I also asked him a lot of questions about his career," the 21-year-old left-hander from New South Wales told PTI during an interaction.

New ODI kit for Team India

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Team India is all set to be seen in a brand new attire after their official apparel sponsor Nike unveiled their new one-day kit. Sachin Tendulkar , Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan and Pragyan Ojha  donned the new apparel that was unveiled by the Nike at a function at Chandigarh. Skipper M S Dhoni was not present since he had just arrived in the city after being in South Africa for the Champions League Twenty20. Gambhir said he was looking forward to the two-Test series against Australia starting October 1 describing it as challenging. Tendulkar took the opportunity to say that he would continue playing as long as he enjoyed his cricket. At the center of numerous on-field showdowns with the Australians in the past, Harbhajan Singh joked that all the past confrontations were a reflection of the mutual liking that he and the Aussies had for each other. Pacer Zaheer Khan said he was spending a lot of time on his fitness these days and also talked abo

Aussie coach lauds Sehwag's aggression

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Oz coach Tim Nielsen said that Sehwag's aggression at the top of the order lifts pressure off others' shoulders. Virender Sehwag 's pyrotechnics with the bat give Indian cricket team an edge as the flamboyant batsman takes the pressure off his middle-order colleagues by scoring at a fast pace, Australian coach Tim Nielsen. "Sehwag's performances at the top of the order has had a damaging effect on opposition teams. His aggressive approach has helped the likes of Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and  VVS Laxman  to play freely.

Tendulkar takes nothing for granted

After spending over 20 years in international cricket, Sachin Tendulkar says he never takes anything for granted. "There are ups and downs when you complete a circle of life, its not always about being on the top and in life there are ups and downs but it's important to complete that circle and that's what has happened in my career," Tendulkar, who will play his 170th Test at Mohali on Friday, said on the sidelines of the unveiling of Nike apparels for Team India. Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag,  Gautam Gambhir , Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan and  Pragyan Ojha  donned the new clothing, which will be their official jersey in the upcoming ODI series against Australia. Tendulkar, who was put questions by cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle at the function, said there are no short cuts to success.

Series win will put Oz on third spot

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Australia have the chance to grab third place in the ICC Test Rankings when they play India in the two-Test series from Friday. Australia enter the series in fourth position on 113 ratings, just one ahead of England, but will move ahead of Sri Lanka if they win the series. A 1-0 win will put them on 117 rating points while a 2-0 win will give them 118 rating points. On the other side of the coin, Australia will drop behind England if India win the series.  Ricky Ponting ’s side will fall to 110 rating points if it loses both the Tests while in the case of a 1-0 defeat Australia will slip to 111 rating points.

Dhoni: Doing well in sessions is key

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India captain MS Dhoni said doing well in sessions is key to win a series against Australia. The two-match series will begin on Friday at Mohali even as the outcome of the rubber will not have any bearing on India's number one rank in Test cricket. "Test cricket is about doing well in sessions. The team that wins more sessions in the last couple of days when the ball turns and bounces and there is reverse swing.. it becomes becomes deciding factor," Dhoni told reporters on the eve if the match at the PCA stadium.

Hamilton: I'll keep taking risks

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Lewis Hamilton insists he will not change his approach to racing despite his back-to-back retirements in Italy and Singapore. The McLaren driver crashed out on the first lap at Monza following a tangle with Felipe Massa's Ferrari, and was then eliminated under the Marina Bay lights on Sunday after his attempted move on championship leader Mark Webber ended in contact. Those incidents, allied to an engine failure in Hungary, mean the 25-year-old has failed to finish three of the last four races and he now trails Red Bull driver Webber, who finished third in Singapore, by 20 points with four races remaining.

Beijing blow for Kim Clijsters

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US Open champion Kim Clijsters has pulled out of the China Open in Beijing after she failed to recover in time from surgery on her foot. The 27-year-old Belgian underwent an operation to have some moles removed from her foot following her second consecutive triumph at Flushing Meadows. However, the foot has failed to heal sufficiently and the world number five has been forced to withdraw from the competition which starts on October 2.

Wozniacki reaches Tokyo last eight

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Caroline Wozniacki booked her place at the WTA Championships by making the quarter-finals of the Toray Pan Pacific Open. Wozniacki advanced with a straightforward win over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. The Dane, a semi-finalist at the US Open, is closing in on the world number one ranking and she secured five breaks of serve in a dominant 6-1 6-2 victory. The 20-year-old, who had not won a match at this tournament before this year's edition, will now meet Agnieszka Radwanska, who was a 6-3 6-3 victor over Andrea Petkovic, while Elena Dementieva beat Flavia Pennetta 6-4 6-2.

Youzhny beats Dolgopolov in Malaysia

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Mikhail Youzhny battled before seeing off Alexander Dolgopolov 6-1 5-7 7-5 to reach the quarter-finals of the Malaysian Open. Youzhny converted both his break-point chances as he strolled through the opening set, but Dolgopolov battled back bravely to edge the second, although he only converted two of 10 chances to break. But Youzhny held his nerve and claimed the crucial break in the 12th game of the decider to advance.

Khichdi - The Movie Movie Review

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I must admit, I am no couch potato. I find it difficult to stay glued to television for hours, surfing channels randomly. Perhaps, that's one of the reasons why I never watched an episode of this hugely popular TV show called KHICHDI. But, of course, I had heard of its popularity, about its comic quotient, about the zany characters... KHICHDI - THE MOVIE borrows the characters from the show, but the movie has a new story to offer. In the West, popular shows are adapted on the big screen, but the trend is in nascent stages here. For someone like me, who was absolutely clueless about what to expect from the big screen adaptation, I'd say KHICHDI - THE MOVIE vacillates between absurd and ridiculous, but the fact remains that it makes you laugh at most times. KHICHDI - THE MOVIE may not push the envelope as far as the written material is concerned, but you exit the auditorium with a radiant smile, which most laughathons promise, but don't deliver.  Final wor

Anjaana Anjaani Movie Review

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Till a few years ago, if a director approached a producer with a script that had just two characters from Scene A to Z, the producer would scoff at him and show him the door. After all, devoting an entire film on merely two characters is nothing short of a risk. That's not all, for the two characters aren't friends, acquaintances or lovers. They are strangers who meet accidentally on a bridge, since both have decided to commit suicide. If that's how your film begins, it's akin to taking another [giant] risk by Bollywood standards. Okay, okay, before I begin dissecting ANJAANA ANJAANI, I need to clear a few misconceptions pertaining to this film. It's not a copy or adaptation or remake of Patrice Leconte's 1999 French film LA FILLE SUR LE PONT/GIRL ON THE BRIDGE, which starred Daniel Auteuil and Vanessa Paradis. The Twitterverse is also crammed with tweets speculating that ANJAANA ANJAANI bears a striking resemblance to the Telugu film ITLU SRA

Jhootha Hi Sahi Music Review

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EXPECTATIONS A couple of years back, A.R. Rahman and Abbas Tyrewala created a very good musical outing in the form of Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Naa . But naturally, you do expect something magical all over again in Jhootha Hi Sahi as well. Of course, this one is not a traditional romcom that would result in those template created songs that time and again do fit into the situation. Jhootha Hi Sahi has a telephone instrument pretty much playing the other lead character as well and hence you do expect lyricist Abbas Tyerewala and composer A.R. Rahman to do something different from what is conventional. Still, a feel good score is what you do want to hear eventually. MUSIC  Honestly, you don't quite warm up to the opening number ' Cry Cry ' instantly. The slow movement of the song coupled with some very simple, though average sounding lyrics, don't make you sit up and notice beyond a point. While Rashid Ali begins crooning this song about being happy in life

Allah Ke Banday Music Review

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EXPECTATIONS One doesn't play on the music of Allah Ke Banday expecting anything that would be a quintessential feel good affair. After all the film, as the promos and the title suggest, is pretty much a gritty dramatic tale revolving around children and crime. Hence, you expect a theme score that would be haunting to say the least, a la Ram Gopal Varma films like Satya, Company or the Sarkar series. With multiple composers coming together for different songs in the album, you look forward to the kind of songs that would primarily play in the background with lip synch numbers being totally out of question. MUSIC The album gets a hard hitting start with Chirantan Bhatt coming up with exactly the kind of sound in ' Maula ' that one expected from Allah Ke Banday . Sung in high pitch by Hamza Faruqui and Krishna, this fusion between sufi and rock does bring in the kind of high intensity impact that Allah Ke Banday required. Sarim Momin gets the right lyri

Knock Out Music Review

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EXPECTATIONS Music in an urban action film guarantees one thing - it would be fast paced and edgy. Even though Knock Out has an unusual cast of Sanjay Dutt, Irrfan Khan and Kangna with not much scope of music due to its plot based setting, one looks forward to what composer Gourov Dg [Gourov Dasgupta] has to offer. Panchhi Jalonvi is the prime lyricist with Vishal Dadlani and Shellee also contributing with a song apiece. MUSIC Sanjay Dutt and Kangna turn rock stars for the title song ' Knock Out ' that is obviously made for end credits title roll sequence. A high energy track with Vishal Dadlani playing the role of a singer as well as lyricist, ' Knock Out ' has Ashe contributing with the English rap. ' Knock Out ' may not be the next chartbuster in the offing here since it has more of a concert appeal than being the kind which one associates with a film, it is a still a decent start nevertheless. The album takes a completely different rout

Do Dooni Chaar Music Review

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EXPECTATIONS Do Dooni Chaar marks the comeback of Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh as a lead pair on the big screen. Since the film is touted to be a light hearted affair, one expects the music too to be peppy. Also, one does expect a fun number that would be entirely focused on the most loveable couple of the 70s, hence ensuring that audience relives the nostalgia. Still, one doesn't quite know what really would follow in this short album since for composers Meet Brothers Anjan Ankit, this is their first ever Bollywood soundtrack. Also, lyricist Manoj Muntashir is a relatively new entrant too. MUSIC  First to arrive is a celebration number ' Baaja Bajeya ' that has its roots attached to North India. With the groom and bride's legs being pulled by relatives and family friends, ' Baaja Bajeya ' has Sunidhi Chauhan giving a 'desi' touch to the song. Expected to be picturised on Neetu Singh and boasting of some feel good moments, ' Baaja

Bachao Release Date Confirmed

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Banner G K Solutions Pvt Ltd Status Under Production Color C Release Date October 8, 2010 Language Hindi Genre Horror Director Shyam Ramsay Star Cast Rufy Khan Karron Mallik Anishka...... Sakshi Rubina Huddin Laila Nabeel Megha Narkar Ajaz Khan Shakti Kapoor...... Aslam Dog Amit Behl Dinesh Hingoo Manoj Pahwa Tiku Talsania...... Mungi Lal Sadashiv Amrapurkar...... Manager Waghmare Javed Rizvi Surendra Pal Farzil Pardiwalla Anirudh Agarwal Sanjay Ramnani Guddi Maruti Singers Bappi Lahiri Sunidhi Chauhan Shaan Salma Agha Music Director Bappi Lahiri Background Music Surendra Sodhi Cinematography Gangu Ramsay Choreography Jojo Khan Action Hanif Khan Editor Sajjad I Fateh Dialogue Naeem Ejaz Story / Writer Shyam Ramsay

Band Baaja Baraat Release Date Confirmed

Also known as (AKA) / Was earlier titled Shaadi Mubarak Ho Banner Yash Raj Films Status Under Production Color C Release Date December 10, 2010 Language Hindi Genre Drama Producer Aditya Chopra Director Maneesh Sharma Star Cast Ranveer Singh...... Bittoo Anushka Sharma...... Shruti Music Director Salim Merchant Sulaiman Merchant

12th Mumbai Film Festival announces line-up of films

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The MAMI committee led by Chairman Mr. Shyam Benegal and trustees Mr. Yash Chopra, Mr. Ashutosh Gowarikar, Mr. Amit Khanna, unveiled the line-up for the 12th annual Mumbai Film Festival (MFF), which consists of 200 films from 58 countries. This forms the largest number of films at any Film Festival ever. All the international films to be screened in the main sections of this year's festival will be Indian, Asian or world premieres. Mumbai Film Festival is a Reliance Big Entertainment initiative and has the distinction of being the only international film festival in India to be organized by an independent body of practicing film professionals. This year the festival films will be screened at Chandan Cinema (Juhu) and the adjacent five screens of PVR Juhu which will function as the Main Festival Complex, two screens in Metro BIG Cinemas (Marine Lines) & one screen in BIG Cinemas R City (Ghatkopar). The films in the International Competition for the fi

Ravi Kishan on brand endorsement spree

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Ravi Kishan is someone who started of his 'filmi safar' in Bollywood with the Kajol-starrer Udhar Ki Zindagi . Since then, he has done a number of films in Bollywood over the years, but it was the Bhojpuri film industry where Ravi became not just a star, but a superstar! Well, even in mainstream Hindi films, he has done movies that have earned him his place under the Bollywood sun. And now it seems that Ravi is all set to give the Bollywood brand ambassadors a run for their money, as he has been chosen as the brand ambassador for not just one, but four FMCG giants! The brands which have signed him as the brand ambassador include Dabur Chyawanprash, Airtel, Parle Monaco and Marico Thanda Tel. This man surely seems to have all the 'Luck' in the world. We are sure that Ravi Kishan will surely agree with us!

Bipasha Basu to endorse Emami

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Till yesterday, Bipasha's name not just spelt 'sexy', 'hot', 'oomph' and likes, but also 'Sugar Free', 'Vi John Feather Touch', 'Gili', 'Fa', 'Aristocrat luggage'...phew! Well, if that wasn't just enough, Bipasha Basu has now gone ahead and has added one more name to her ever-growing list of brand endorsements: Emami, the cosmetic major! Although Bips was not available to comment regarding this deal, her manager confirmed the news.