Natha’s ingenuousness and placidity in Peepli Live worked wonders for the film’s layered and hard-hitting message.
The actor Omar Das Manikpur, who played a farmer driven to commit suicide, won a lot of accolades for the role.
He has now been signed for Qasam Se Qasam Se, a film to be directed by debutant Ashafaque Makrani. Manikpur will make an entry as Natha and will go on to play his screen character.
Director Ashafaque said, “In Peepli Live towards the end, it is shown that Natha is fed-up of the constant glare of politicians, society and the media.
In my film we continue the penniless state of Natha, who still wants to commit suicide. He jumps on to the protagonist’s car.
New actor Azim plays the protagonist who then rescues Natha and later helps him transform his perception towards life.”
Read the original story on timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Monday, February 28, 2011
Aishwarya Rai shimmers at Oscar
Bollywood beauty Aishwarya Rai added some Indian glamour to the Oscars with an on-trend shimmery number at the 83rd Academy Awards where sequins dominated the red carpet.
The 37-year-old actress sparkled in a bronze Giorgio Armani Prive gown with rows of amber sequins and beaded detail at the waist, while husband Abhishek Bachchan stuck to a traditional black tuxedo.
The actress teamed the shimmery gown with a Jimmy Choo clutch, vintage jewellery and smoky eyes.
Like Abhishek, musician A R Rahman who walked the red carpet with wife Saira, too wore a tuxedo while his partner chose a flamboyant fusion ensemble consisting of a golden sherwani and cigarette pants.
Like Saira and Ash, the shimmer trend was followed by Gwnyeth Paltrow, who wore a gold Calvin Klein number and Halle Berry who stole the show in a nude sparkling number by Marchesa.
Hilary Swank’s glistening silver Gucci column gave way to a romantic ostrich feather skirt, while the sparkling bodice of Mandy Moore’s romantic Monique L’Hullier dress appeared to have been sprayed on.
Shimmering nude was also an age-appropriate choice for 14-year-old Hailee Steinfeld, nominated for her role in True Grit , who won a Fifties-style dress by Marchesa.
While Celine Dion, wore a full-sleeved silver column dress, Amy Adams added a pop of colour to the red carpet with a sequined navy gown by L’Wren Scott, which she teamed with green accessories.
Other than the sparkle, another major trend was the resurgence of the red carpet favourite, voluminous red gowns.
The bustled creations worn by Anne Hathaway, Jennifer Hudson, and Sandra Bullock, were in the same traffic-stopping hue of red. Penelope Cruz too showed off her post-pregnancy bod with a sequined red gown by L’Wren Scott.
And while black remained a popular choice, with famously eccentric British star Helena Bonham Carter opting for it, there were some surprises from Cate Blanchett who wore an lavender Givenchy Haute Couture gown with yellow embellishment, and an unusual purple-burgundy hue seen on both Natalie Portman, in Rodarte, and Scarlett Johansson in Dolce and Gabbana.
Read the original story on timesofindia.indiatimes.com
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Ash-shimmers-at-Oscar/articleshow/7593722.cms
The 37-year-old actress sparkled in a bronze Giorgio Armani Prive gown with rows of amber sequins and beaded detail at the waist, while husband Abhishek Bachchan stuck to a traditional black tuxedo.
The actress teamed the shimmery gown with a Jimmy Choo clutch, vintage jewellery and smoky eyes.
Like Abhishek, musician A R Rahman who walked the red carpet with wife Saira, too wore a tuxedo while his partner chose a flamboyant fusion ensemble consisting of a golden sherwani and cigarette pants.
Like Saira and Ash, the shimmer trend was followed by Gwnyeth Paltrow, who wore a gold Calvin Klein number and Halle Berry who stole the show in a nude sparkling number by Marchesa.
Hilary Swank’s glistening silver Gucci column gave way to a romantic ostrich feather skirt, while the sparkling bodice of Mandy Moore’s romantic Monique L’Hullier dress appeared to have been sprayed on.
Shimmering nude was also an age-appropriate choice for 14-year-old Hailee Steinfeld, nominated for her role in True Grit , who won a Fifties-style dress by Marchesa.
While Celine Dion, wore a full-sleeved silver column dress, Amy Adams added a pop of colour to the red carpet with a sequined navy gown by L’Wren Scott, which she teamed with green accessories.
Other than the sparkle, another major trend was the resurgence of the red carpet favourite, voluminous red gowns.
The bustled creations worn by Anne Hathaway, Jennifer Hudson, and Sandra Bullock, were in the same traffic-stopping hue of red. Penelope Cruz too showed off her post-pregnancy bod with a sequined red gown by L’Wren Scott.
And while black remained a popular choice, with famously eccentric British star Helena Bonham Carter opting for it, there were some surprises from Cate Blanchett who wore an lavender Givenchy Haute Couture gown with yellow embellishment, and an unusual purple-burgundy hue seen on both Natalie Portman, in Rodarte, and Scarlett Johansson in Dolce and Gabbana.
Read the original story on timesofindia.indiatimes.com
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Ash-shimmers-at-Oscar/articleshow/7593722.cms
Kareena Kapoor can’t part with Saif Ali Khan’s private number
Saif Ali Khan has put one of his cellphones into a drawer and thrown the key away. That’s right! The Junior Nawab of Pataudi usually gets grouchy and out of reach when he is shooting a film.
The actor, as everyone knows is on a start-to-finish schedule of Aarakshan in Bhopal. And, he doesn’t wish to be disturbed. Of course, he still has another cellphone number on which he stays connected with his girlfriend Kareena Kapoor, his children-Sarah and Ibrahim and his parents.
Now Bebo is in a dilemma because people who cannot reach Saif are constantly calling her. They want her to part with Saif’s private number. The actress knows she can hardly say that she doesn’t have Saif’s number. Yet at the same time she has been asked by Saif not to give his number away! What will she do?
Read the original story on timesofindia.indiatimes.com
The actor, as everyone knows is on a start-to-finish schedule of Aarakshan in Bhopal. And, he doesn’t wish to be disturbed. Of course, he still has another cellphone number on which he stays connected with his girlfriend Kareena Kapoor, his children-Sarah and Ibrahim and his parents.
Now Bebo is in a dilemma because people who cannot reach Saif are constantly calling her. They want her to part with Saif’s private number. The actress knows she can hardly say that she doesn’t have Saif’s number. Yet at the same time she has been asked by Saif not to give his number away! What will she do?
Read the original story on timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Prachi Desai to make Tamil debut
Actress Prachi Desai to make foray into Tamil film industry...
After a couple of good Hindi movies – Rock On and Once Upon a Time in Mumbai – Prachi Desai has decided to try her hands at South cinema. The girl, it is heard, is going to make her foray into the Tamil film industry and will star opposite Arun Vijay in an action film.
South actor Arun Vijay, who is excited about his recent spate of success stories at the box office, is trying hard to keep the momentum going, and is also working at acquiring six pack abs for this motion picture. As for Prachi, well, she got a few offers from down South but was on the lookout for just the right launch. She feels she has chosen well.
Having packed her bags, Prachi Desai will start shooting for this yet-to-be-titled venture in March.
Read the original story on timesofindia.indiatimes.com
After a couple of good Hindi movies – Rock On and Once Upon a Time in Mumbai – Prachi Desai has decided to try her hands at South cinema. The girl, it is heard, is going to make her foray into the Tamil film industry and will star opposite Arun Vijay in an action film.
South actor Arun Vijay, who is excited about his recent spate of success stories at the box office, is trying hard to keep the momentum going, and is also working at acquiring six pack abs for this motion picture. As for Prachi, well, she got a few offers from down South but was on the lookout for just the right launch. She feels she has chosen well.
Having packed her bags, Prachi Desai will start shooting for this yet-to-be-titled venture in March.
Read the original story on timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Quake hits southern Chile, a year after huge one
Reuters, SANTIAGO/WASHINGTON: A strong quake of 6.0 magnitude struck on Sunday about 23 miles south of Concepcion, Chile, at a depth of 10.4 miles, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Chile's state emergency office Onemi said there were no reports of damages or injuries and no risk of a tsunami. A spokeswoman said there were partial power cuts in the area, however.
One year ago today, February 27, Chile was hit with a massive, 8.8-magnitude quake and subsequent tsunami that killed more than 500 people and caused some $30 billion in damage.
The worst-hit region was in the south, near Concepcion.
(Reporting by Fabian Cambero; Writing by Hilary Burke, editing by Philip Barbara)
Chile's state emergency office Onemi said there were no reports of damages or injuries and no risk of a tsunami. A spokeswoman said there were partial power cuts in the area, however.
One year ago today, February 27, Chile was hit with a massive, 8.8-magnitude quake and subsequent tsunami that killed more than 500 people and caused some $30 billion in damage.
The worst-hit region was in the south, near Concepcion.
(Reporting by Fabian Cambero; Writing by Hilary Burke, editing by Philip Barbara)
Tunisia's president appoints new prime minister
AP, TUNIS, Tunisia: Tunisia's interim president chose a former government minister as a new prime minister on Sunday, appealing for a return to calm following new violent protests that have been hobbling this North African country since the ouster of its long-time autocratic leader.
Beji Caid-Essebsi will replace Mohammed Ghannouchi, who resigned earlier Sunday after becoming a major irritant to Tunisians behind the so-called "Jasmine Revolution" that toppled autocratic President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali last month and sparked a wave of upheaval in the Arab world.
The caretaker president, Fouad Mebazaa, made the appointment later Sunday.
As Ben Ali's prime minister for 11 years, Ghannouchi became the emblem of an entrenched old guard that many Tunisians feared were hijacking their revolution.
It was not immediately clear how much the shake-up would mollify the protesters in Tunisia, at a time when its leaders are attempting to rebuild its tourism industry and cope with an influx of Tunisians and others fleeing from violence in neighboring Libya.
The change in the government's leadership follows renewed street protests. Officials said that at least five people have died in violent street protests since Friday.
Ghannouchi had previously vowed to stay on to guide Tunisia until elections could be organized this summer.
As he stepped down, Ghannouchi sought to take the high ground.
"This (resignation) is not a flight from my responsibilities, but to open the way for another prime minister who — I hope — will have more margin for action than I have had, to give hope to the Tunisian people," he said.
"I am not ready to be the man of repression, and I will never be," Ghannouchi said, warning that unspecified forces appeared to be swelling to try to quash the move toward democracy.
Caid-Essebsi is an elderly statesman and lawyer who served in government posts under the Tunisia's two longtime leaders since it gained independence from France in 1956: Habib Bourguiba and Ben Ali.
Ben Ali was driven from power on Jan. 14 and fled to Saudi Arabia following weeks of a deadly popular uprising that has fanned similar upheaval across the Arab world.
Some Tunisians believe that Ben Ali loyalists in the country have sought to sow discord and discredit the movement that brought the former authoritarian leader down.
"There needs to be reconciliation among all Tunisians to show the world that Tunisia is a civilized country," Ghannouchi said. "My resignation will help create this new atmosphere."
The Interior Ministry, in a statement Saturday, blamed "provocateurs" for fomenting violence in otherwise peaceful rallies and for allegedly using young people as human shields in renewed demonstrations.
On Saturday, police and troops backed by tanks used tear gas to disperse hundreds of youths protesting against the caretaker government. Officers were seen chasing some youths through town after the rally ended.
Authorities then ordered a temporarily ban on vehicle and pedestrian traffic on the capital's central Bourguiba Avenue until midnight Sunday — the first of its kind since Ben Ali's downfall.
On Friday, police fired tear gas and warning shots as violence erupted alongside a sit-in that drew tens of thousands of protesters near the seat of the interim government.
Officials said nearly 200 people were arrested over the last two days.
Beji Caid-Essebsi will replace Mohammed Ghannouchi, who resigned earlier Sunday after becoming a major irritant to Tunisians behind the so-called "Jasmine Revolution" that toppled autocratic President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali last month and sparked a wave of upheaval in the Arab world.
The caretaker president, Fouad Mebazaa, made the appointment later Sunday.
As Ben Ali's prime minister for 11 years, Ghannouchi became the emblem of an entrenched old guard that many Tunisians feared were hijacking their revolution.
It was not immediately clear how much the shake-up would mollify the protesters in Tunisia, at a time when its leaders are attempting to rebuild its tourism industry and cope with an influx of Tunisians and others fleeing from violence in neighboring Libya.
The change in the government's leadership follows renewed street protests. Officials said that at least five people have died in violent street protests since Friday.
Ghannouchi had previously vowed to stay on to guide Tunisia until elections could be organized this summer.
As he stepped down, Ghannouchi sought to take the high ground.
"This (resignation) is not a flight from my responsibilities, but to open the way for another prime minister who — I hope — will have more margin for action than I have had, to give hope to the Tunisian people," he said.
"I am not ready to be the man of repression, and I will never be," Ghannouchi said, warning that unspecified forces appeared to be swelling to try to quash the move toward democracy.
Caid-Essebsi is an elderly statesman and lawyer who served in government posts under the Tunisia's two longtime leaders since it gained independence from France in 1956: Habib Bourguiba and Ben Ali.
Ben Ali was driven from power on Jan. 14 and fled to Saudi Arabia following weeks of a deadly popular uprising that has fanned similar upheaval across the Arab world.
Some Tunisians believe that Ben Ali loyalists in the country have sought to sow discord and discredit the movement that brought the former authoritarian leader down.
"There needs to be reconciliation among all Tunisians to show the world that Tunisia is a civilized country," Ghannouchi said. "My resignation will help create this new atmosphere."
The Interior Ministry, in a statement Saturday, blamed "provocateurs" for fomenting violence in otherwise peaceful rallies and for allegedly using young people as human shields in renewed demonstrations.
On Saturday, police and troops backed by tanks used tear gas to disperse hundreds of youths protesting against the caretaker government. Officers were seen chasing some youths through town after the rally ended.
Authorities then ordered a temporarily ban on vehicle and pedestrian traffic on the capital's central Bourguiba Avenue until midnight Sunday — the first of its kind since Ben Ali's downfall.
On Friday, police fired tear gas and warning shots as violence erupted alongside a sit-in that drew tens of thousands of protesters near the seat of the interim government.
Officials said nearly 200 people were arrested over the last two days.
Infant boy the first NZ quake victim laid to rest
AP, CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand: A 5-month-old boy was laid to rest Monday at the first funeral for the victims of New Zealand's devastating earthquake, as the confirmed death toll rose to 148 and the government considered a nationwide levy to help pay for reconstruction.
Dozens of family and friends gathered at a small chapel in the stricken city of Christchurch for Baxtor Gowland, who was sleeping peacefully at home when he was struck by masonry shaken loose by the magnitude 6.3 quake last Tuesday. He died in a hospital, the family said in a statement read to The Associated Press by the child's great-uncle, Peter Croft.
Inside the chapel, a slideshow of the smiling infant's photographs flashed on a screen, as Sarah McLachlan's song "Angel" echoed throughout the room.
"We have all been thankful of the support and good wishes expressed from New Zealand and around the world," Croft said, his voice shaking with emotion as he read the statement. "However, we would like to think that today is for family and friends so that we can farewell Baxtor with peace and dignity."
Authorities have named just eight victims of last week's disaster — Gowland and another infant among them.
Superintendent David Cliff said Monday that the death toll had reached 148, based on the number of bodies recovered from the rubble. Officials say the task of identifying the dead is slow and difficult, and that unidentified bodies are included on a list of people considered missing, which currently numbers around 200.
Cliff said "grave fears" are held for about 50 of those counted as missing, signaling the final death toll could be around 200.
The multinational team of more than 600 rescuers scrabbling through wrecked buildings in the decimated central area of the city last pulled a survivor from the ruins at mid-afternoon Wednesday, making it six days without finding anyone alive.
Police have said up to 120 people may have been killed in the downtown CTV building, where dozens of foreign students, mostly Japanese and Chinese, from an international language school were believed trapped. And up to 22 people may be buried in rubble at Christchurch Cathedral, most of them believed to be tourists climbing the bell tower for its panoramic views of the southern New Zealand city.
Prime Minister John Key was meeting with his Cabinet on Monday to discuss an aid package for an estimated 50,000 people who will be out of work for months due to the closure of downtown.
Key said measures being considered include an extra levy on all householders under New Zealand's compulsory quake insurance system to raise the estimated $4 billion needed to cover an insurance shortfall.
The package, to be announced later Monday, would also likely include wage subsidies and cash grants to Christchurch residents to ensure businesses have cash flow and can continue to operate.
Engineers and planners say the city's decimated central area may be completely unusable for months to come and that at least a third of the buildings must be razed and rebuilt. The government has said that virtually all services conducted in the downtown area will have to operate from elsewhere during the rebuilding period.
Officials estimated that one in three of the central business district's buildings were severely damaged in the quake and will have to be demolished.
"It's quite clear that a lot of buildings are going to have to come out of the CBD, so where a building is condemned it will need to be taken down," Key told TV One on Monday.
He said he expected much higher building code standards for new buildings so they will be able to withstand very strong earthquakes.
___
Associated Press writers Steve McMorran in Christchurch, New Zealand, and Ray Lilley in Wellington, New Zealand, contributed to this report.
Dozens of family and friends gathered at a small chapel in the stricken city of Christchurch for Baxtor Gowland, who was sleeping peacefully at home when he was struck by masonry shaken loose by the magnitude 6.3 quake last Tuesday. He died in a hospital, the family said in a statement read to The Associated Press by the child's great-uncle, Peter Croft.
Inside the chapel, a slideshow of the smiling infant's photographs flashed on a screen, as Sarah McLachlan's song "Angel" echoed throughout the room.
"We have all been thankful of the support and good wishes expressed from New Zealand and around the world," Croft said, his voice shaking with emotion as he read the statement. "However, we would like to think that today is for family and friends so that we can farewell Baxtor with peace and dignity."
Authorities have named just eight victims of last week's disaster — Gowland and another infant among them.
Superintendent David Cliff said Monday that the death toll had reached 148, based on the number of bodies recovered from the rubble. Officials say the task of identifying the dead is slow and difficult, and that unidentified bodies are included on a list of people considered missing, which currently numbers around 200.
Cliff said "grave fears" are held for about 50 of those counted as missing, signaling the final death toll could be around 200.
The multinational team of more than 600 rescuers scrabbling through wrecked buildings in the decimated central area of the city last pulled a survivor from the ruins at mid-afternoon Wednesday, making it six days without finding anyone alive.
Police have said up to 120 people may have been killed in the downtown CTV building, where dozens of foreign students, mostly Japanese and Chinese, from an international language school were believed trapped. And up to 22 people may be buried in rubble at Christchurch Cathedral, most of them believed to be tourists climbing the bell tower for its panoramic views of the southern New Zealand city.
Prime Minister John Key was meeting with his Cabinet on Monday to discuss an aid package for an estimated 50,000 people who will be out of work for months due to the closure of downtown.
Key said measures being considered include an extra levy on all householders under New Zealand's compulsory quake insurance system to raise the estimated $4 billion needed to cover an insurance shortfall.
The package, to be announced later Monday, would also likely include wage subsidies and cash grants to Christchurch residents to ensure businesses have cash flow and can continue to operate.
Engineers and planners say the city's decimated central area may be completely unusable for months to come and that at least a third of the buildings must be razed and rebuilt. The government has said that virtually all services conducted in the downtown area will have to operate from elsewhere during the rebuilding period.
Officials estimated that one in three of the central business district's buildings were severely damaged in the quake and will have to be demolished.
"It's quite clear that a lot of buildings are going to have to come out of the CBD, so where a building is condemned it will need to be taken down," Key told TV One on Monday.
He said he expected much higher building code standards for new buildings so they will be able to withstand very strong earthquakes.
___
Associated Press writers Steve McMorran in Christchurch, New Zealand, and Ray Lilley in Wellington, New Zealand, contributed to this report.
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