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Carrying photo-ID cards not to be mandatory: LG
New Delhi, Jan 7 (PTI) Facing flak on the issue of photo-identity cards in the capital, Lt Governor Tejendra Khanna today did a u-turn on the matter, saying carrying of ID proof by the denizens would not be mandatory.
"I had never said that ID proof would be made mandatory. The message has been misunderstood. I never said without ID cards, people will be treated as culprits. Ours is an open society and no citizen can be put to unwanted discomfort," he told reporters.
The Lt Governor had on January four announced that he had given an order to Delhi Police for random checking of denizens for possession of photo-ID cards starting from January 15 in view of enhanced terror threats.
He had also said if any individual was unable to produce the proof, adequate action would be taken against the concerned person.
"I had just instructed the Police Commissioner to increase surveillance in different parts of the NCT (National Capital Territory) to screen persons arousing suspicion," Khanna clarified today.
He said he had never intended or suggested that non-possession of photo-identity cards would be treated as any kind of violation or any illicit action. PTI
India-China relations are in very good shape: PM
New Delhi, Jan 7 (PTI) Ahead of his visit to Beijing, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said India-China relations are in "very good shape" and negotiations are underway to resolve the "complicated" border issue.
Asked whether he saw hardening of stand by China on the border issue, Singh told reporters that "the process of resolving this issue is on.... It is a complicated matter".
The Prime Minister, who leaves on Sunday on a three-day visit to China, responded to questions at Rashtrapati Bhavan after senior bureaucrat Vinod Rai was sworn in as the new Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) by President Pratibha Patil.
Singh expressed satisfaction at the ongoing negotiations between Special Representatives of the two countries on the border issue. "I am satisfied", he said noting that the negotiations were being held under agreed parameters and guiding principles.
"We have very good relations with China. My visit is a return visit," he said while referring to the visits made by President Hu Jintao and Prime Minister Wen Jiabao to India.
Singh will have talks with his Chinese counterpart, Wen Jiabao and call on Chinese President Hu Jintao. He is also expected to meet with China's top legislator, Wu Bangguo.
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee last week said that nothing dramatic should be expected from the visit.
"The visit is expected to be successful. But if you are expecting that there would be any dramatic turnaround on certain issues, which are long-pending, then it would perhaps be too much," Mukherjee had said. PTI
PM alarmed by rise in crude prices, to consider all options
New Delhi, Jan 7 (PTI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today expressed concern at the rise in international oil prices and said that all possible options, including a fuel price hike and duty cuts, will be considered to deal with the situation.
"We have to look at all possibilities existing. I would not like to comment on it," he told reporters when asked if petrol and diesel prices are set to be raised.
"Steep rise in crude oil prices is a cause of concern. We have to look at various options open to us," he said after new CAG Vinod Rai took oath of office at Rashtrapati Bhawan.
A Group of Ministers on fuel prices headed by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee will meet on January 17, the first ever meeting after its constitution by the Prime Minister in November 2007, to consider a response to crude prices touching USD 100 a barrel.
The crude prices have since fallen back, but is a cause of worry to India, which meets three-fourth of its demand through imports.
With state retailers Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum together losing Rs 340 crore every day on sale of petrol, diesel, domestic LPG and PDS kerosene at prices below the imported cost, a hike in fuel prices and a cut in excise duty are being mooted as options.
Petroleum Minister Murli Deora said the GoM on fuel prices will meet on January 17 to consider all 'options' but refused to elaborate.
While 42.7 per cent of the under-realisation on fuel sale is met by Government through issue of oil bonds and one-third by assistance from upstream companies like ONGC, options for neutralising the balance one-fourth of revenue loss are being explored. PTI
India to test Agni III+ ballistic missile in 2009
Visakhapatnam, Jan 7 (PTI) India will test indigenously built Agni III+ ballistic missile with a strike range of more than 5000 km in 2009.
The long-range missile is currently in the design stage, V K Saraswat, Chief Controller (R&D) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) said here today.
"We are looking for trial in early 2009," he told reporters on the sidelines of the 95th Indian Science Congress here.
After the induction of the surface-to-air missile Akash by the Air Force, the Army is starting user trials for the sophisticated anti-tank Nag missiles this summer.
"User trials for Nag will be held in May-June in the Rajasthan desert," Saraswat said.
Nag is an all weather anti-tank guided missile. Design work on the missile started in 1988 and the first tests were carried out in November 1990. PTI
Racist slur on Harbhajan unacceptable: BCCI
Mumbai, Jan 7 (PTI) The Indian Cricket Board today slammed the charge of racial slur on Harbhajan Singh as "blatantly false" and described the three-Test ban imposed by ICC Match Referee Mike Procter as "patently unfair" and unacceptable.
BCCI demanded immediate suspension of the ban on the off-spinner pending disposal of its appeal.
It also pointed out to the ICC that India had always stood against apartheid (practised in the past by South Africa) and for the Indian Cricket Board the anti-racial stance is "an article of faith." "The Indian Board does not accept the findings of the Match Referee and has decided to challenge the unfair decision to suspend Harbhajan Singh as it deems it patently unfair," BCCI Secretary Niranjan Shah said in a media statement.
"The Board will appeal to the International Cricket Council to review the decision of the Match Referee and suspend its operation till the appeal is disposed of.
"The Indian Board realises the game of cricket is paramount but so too is the honour of the Indian team and for that matter every Indian. To vindicate its position, the Board will fight the blatantly false and unfair slur on an Indian player," Shah said.
He has also termed the events during the second Test, lost by India at the Sydney Cricket Ground amidst woeful umpiring as a matter "of great concern" and said some of them can have a far-reaching impact on international cricket. PTI
Cricket Australia in talks with BCCI, says tour on
Sydney, Jan 7 (PTI) Racism row and umpiring controversies notwithstanding, Indian cricket team's tour of the country is very much on, Cricket Australia (CA) asserted today.
CA Chief Executive James Sutherland said cricket boards of both the countries were holding discussion but "there has been no advice of the Indian tour to Australia being cancelled." "CA Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland said CA and the Indian cricket board, the BCCI, are continuing to discuss issues arising during the recent Sydney Test between Australia and India.
"However, those discussions have not included any advice that the tour will not continue," the CA statement read.
The acrimonious series seemed to have hit the roadblock after the eventful second Test, which saw India at the receiving end of some of the horrendous umpiring decisions followed by a three-match ban on Harbhajan Singh, allegedly for racially abusing Andrew Symonds, even though neither of the on-field umpires heard anything nor the stump microphone caught anything.
Match Referee Mike Procter still went by whatever the Australian players told him during a marathon hearing yesterday and slapped the ban on Harbhajan.
India responded by filing a complaint against Brad Hogg for abusing an Indian player and also stayed put here, refusing to move to Canberra for their practice match before the third Test. PTI
BCCI keeps all options open
New Delhi, Jan 7 (PTI) Indian Cricket Board has kept all its options open, including pulling out of the tempestuous tour of Australia, if the ban on Harbhajan Singh was not revoked and Steve Bucknor was not removed from umpiring duties.
The BCCI, which has called an emergency Working Committee meeting here tomorrow, said that its future course of action would mainly depend on what decision the International Cricket Council takes on its grievances.
A top BCCI source said it would not like to jeopardise the tour despite the "unfair and unacceptable" ruling on Harbbajan Singh but it could take the extreme step of abandoning the tour, if the ICC did not take corrective steps.
"We have already made it clear that we will appeal against the ban on Harbhajan as we feel that the allegation of racism against him is unacceptable. We want the ICC to suspend the order till final disposal of the case," the source said.
"Technically the tour is still on but we expect nothing less than a stay on the order," the source said.
Indian could risk a hefty USD 2 million (approx Rs 7.85 crore) fine from the ICC if it refuses to continue with the tour.
The Indian team management has been asked to stay put in Sydney and not proceed to Canberra till the matter is resolved.
The BCCI was also contemplating sending a lawyer to be with the team to assist them in legal matters that may arise after filing an appeal to ICC's Commissioner of Appeals. PTI
Grand Prix badminton tournament in April
New Delhi, Jan 7 (PTI) India's first Grand Prix badminton event, carrying qualification points for Beijing Olympics, will take place from April 1-6 in Hyderabad.
The tournament, which was scheduled for last year in September but postponed after the bomb blasts in Hyderabad, will have USD 130,000 as prize money and will feature some of the top players in the world.
"This will be the last qualification tournament for the Beijing Olympics. There are already 10 Grand Prix tournaments carrying Olympic qualification points but IBF has added this tournament to the list and we are thankful for this," Badminton Association of India President V K Verma said.
The tournament was postponed after several countries expressed their apprehensions about the security situation in Hyderabad in the wake of twin bomb blasts.
Verma also said the Pullela Gopichand Academy in the city has come up with excellent facilities and IBF has decided to make it an international training centre.
"IBF is very satisfied with the centre and they will make it into a world training centre. Players from other countries will come to train and there will be quality trainers and other sporting facilities available," he said.
The BAI President said the over-age issue among junior players will be strictly dealt with and the Association has decided to slap a ban of one year on any player found guilty of hiding their age.
"Players will be subjected to medical examination and if they are found overage, they will be banned from training for a year," he said. PTI
Bhutto feared terrorists may try to kill her
New York, Jan 7 (PTI) In one of her last media interviews, slain former premier Benazir Bhutto had voiced fear that she may be targeted by terrorists and went on to urge US President George W Bush to reverse the pro-Musharraf policies which were "breaking up" Pakistan.
"I am what the terrorists most fear," she had said in the interview with Parade magazine, "a female political leader fighting to bring modernity to Pakistan. Now they're trying to kill me." Asked what she would you like to tell President Bush, the Pakistan People's Party leader had said that she would say propping up Pervez Musharraf government, which is infested with radical Islamists, is only hastening disaster.
"I would say, 'Your policy of supporting dictatorship is breaking up my country.' I now think al-Qaeda can be marching on Islamabad in two to four years." The interview with Parade magazine, which is distributed as an insert with many American newspapers like the Washington Post, the Boston Globe and Los Angeles Times, was recorded just days before the former premier was killed in an attack in Rawalpindi on December 27.
The magazine went to print on December 21.
Bhutto had also said the Pakistani army decided to overthrow her in 1996 after she announced plans to crack down on terrorism.
She had said she first heard the name of Osama bin Laden in 1989, when he sent USD 10 million to the ISI to help it overthrow her first government.
"I was ignorant of the extremist war of these new radical Islamists until my second term." PTI
No proof of Laden in Pakistan, says Musharraf
Washington, Jan 7 (PTI) Pakistan is not pursuing al Qaeda supremo Osama bin laden as there is "no proof" about his whereabouts within the country, President Pervez Musharraf has said.
When asked that no other country had bin Laden, Musharraf responded: "No, I challenge - I don't accept that at all. There is no proof whatsoever that he is here in Pakistan." "We are not particularly looking for him (Laden) but we are operating against terrorists and al Qaeda and militant Taliban. And in the process, obviously, it is combined, maybe we are looking for him also. Yes. If he's here?" Musharraf said in an interview on CBS news' Sixty Minutes show.
"We are fighting extremism... We have arrested or eliminated about 700 al Qaeda leaders. Only Pakistan has done it. Who else, which other country has done this?" he boasted.
In the interview which was aired yesterday, Musharraf also blamed al Qaeda for Bhutto's assassination, particularly local extremist Beitullah Mehsud, who operates out of Pakistan's lawless tribal region.
On intelligence assessment that the Taliban had regrouped, the Pakistan President put the blame on Afghanistan.
"They hide and they get support... They regrouped because not under us. Because of Afghanistan. Okay?" Musharraf said.
Asked if the United States shares any of the blame in this, Musharraf replied: "Yes, of course. I mean everyone, the whole coalition should share the blame for not succeeding." PTI
FM concerned over lack of consensus on fertiliser subsidy
New Delhi, Jan 7 (PTI) Finance Minister P Chidambaram appears bothered by the lack of political consensus on payment of fertiliser subsidy, estimated to cost the exchequer over Rs 40,000 crore this year, directly to farmers.
"The Finance Minister expressed his helplessness over the demand of direct fertiliser subsidy to farmers, stating that there is a lack of political consensus on the issue," Consortium of Indian Farmers Associations Secretary General P Chengal Reddy told reporters after farm sector representatives met Chidambaram for pre-budget consultations.
The Finance Minister had, in the budget 2007-08, proposed to start payment of fertiliser subsidy directly to farmers.
"Finance Minister is quite concerned that productivity in agricultural sector has stagnated. Production of wheat and rice are not going up... So there is a concern that we need to increase the productivity and overall production," said Ashok Gulati, Asian Director, International Food Policy Research Institute.
Gulati, who also attended the meeting, said that overall, discussions revolved around how to achieve growth in farm sector.
The Minister was also inclined favourably, he said, to rationalising or removing taxes on any agricultural commodities although most of excise taxes on agricultural commodities have been taken off. PTI
Govt to take control of Sri Lankan airlines
T V Sriram
Colombo, Jan 7 (PTI) Sri Lankan Airlines will come under government control from April, ending weeks of uncertainty that began with revoking of visa for the airways British Chief after President Mahinda Rajapaksa's entourage failed to get bookings to get back home from London last month.
The British head of the Airlines Peter Hill got attached with the airline in 1998 after the Dubai-based Emirates Airlines took over its management.
While the government owns 51 per cent share in the Sri Lankan Airlines, the Middle Eastern airline has 43.6 per cent stakes in it.
Hill's work visa was revoked last month by the government here apparently over the national carrier's "refusal" to provide seats to Rajapakse and his delegation in an over-booked flight back home from London.
The President was rushing home last week from London for the crucial third reading of the budget in Parliament after watching the passing out of his son Yoshitha from the Royal Britannia Naval College in Dartmouth.
But, the Sri Lankan Airlines reportedly refused to clear 35 seats for the government team on an over-booked flight from London via Maldives to Colombo on December 13.
The President eventually returned to Colombo on December 14 on a charter flight with Mihin Air, a budget carrier wholly owned by the Sri Lankan government.
However, Sri Lanka's Board of Investment (BOI) chief Dhammika Perera had said that Hill's work visa had been revoked in the "public interest" after the company refused to accede to several government requests. PTI
Sensex recovers early losses, still down by 54 pts
Mumbai, Jan 7 (PTI) Reflecting sluggish global trend, the BSE benchmark Sensex, which was down by 249 points in early morning trade, recovered later on good buying support from domestic funds at lower levels.
The Bombay Stock Exchange 30-share barometer was quoted at 20,632.50 at 1030 hrs, a fall of 54.39 points over last Friday's close of 20,686.89. It touched a low of 20,438.19 in early trade due to heavy selling on banking and IT counters.
The broad-based S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also was quoted lower by 25 points at 6,249.30 at 1030 hrs.
A steep fall on Wall Street last weekend after data showed the weakest job creation since 2003 and a rise in unemployment rate to a two-year high, fuelling recession fears, weighed on the Asian bourses today.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbled 256.54 points and the Nasdaq composite shed 98.03 points last Friday.
Among the Asia markets today, the Nikkei was down by 1.02 per cent, the Hang Seng by 2.71 per cent, Straits Times by 2.42 per cent, Kospi by 3.66 per cent and Taiwan's Weighted Average by 1.96 per cent.
Dealers attributed recovery in share values to no major impact of the possibility of US recession on Indian economy as it is mainly dependent on domestic demand which is said to be still strong.
Announcement of Q3 results from the second week of the January also hold the key, they added. PTI
Eicher Motors December sales up 2.7 pc
New Delhi, Jan 7 (PTI) Commercial vehicle maker Eicher Motors today reported a 2.7 per cent increase in its sales during December, 2007 at 2,233 units as against 2,174 units in the same month previous year.
Sales of the company's light commercial vehicles were up marginally to 1,775 units compared to 1,742 units in December 2006, Eicher Motors said in a statement.
Heavy commercial vehicle sales rose to 458 units in the said period as against 432 in the corresponding month last year.
In the April-December period, the company sold 19,686 units as against 17,700 units in the same period of previous fiscal, up 11.2 per cent year-on-year. PTI
After vibrating condoms, cheaper female condoms are the next
Snehesh Alex Philip
New Delhi, Jan 7 (PTI) With newer studies revealing that Indian youngsters are experimenting with their sex life more than ever before, condom manufacturers too are now experimenting with their products to give 'absolute pleasure' and safety.
So, if it was the vibrating condoms that created controversy last year, 2008 promises to be even more exciting with the introduction of new female condoms which though were available in India before, stayed out of reach for common woman due to its high price and lack of publicity.
Hindustan Latex Ltd (HLL), a state-run condom manufacturer which markets the popular 'Moods condom' has just launched, Velvet female condoms.
"Female condom is the only power that a women has in her hands to protect herself from both pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases at the same time. Till now, this power rested with men. It is only now that women are getting to know about such a condom being available in the market," Rajeev Kumar, Product Manager, Consumer Business Division, HLL told PTI.
While HLL is optimistic about the potential growth of this particular segment, its rival firm TTK-LIG Ltd which markets the international brand, Durex condoms in India is keenly watching Velvet's performance before it takes any decision.
Velvet, a more cost effective product than its predecessor Confidom, which is for the premium segment is priced at Rs 100 for a pack of three whereas Confidom is priced at Rs 250 for a pack of two pieces. PTI
Proper nurturing tool vital to curb violence in kids: Experts
Durga Prasad Mishra
New Delhi, Jan 7 (PTI) The Satna incident of a school boy killing another in the school premises has again brought to the fore the debate on youngsters becoming more aggressive with both psychologists as well as educationists blaming overexposure to violence as the main cause.
The primary reason for children turning violent and aggressive, is that they are continually exposed to violence "by everybody, everywhere," says Vasantha R Pathri, a psychologist and communication expert.
"Children see violence in their homes, on TV channels, in their schools, everywhere and therefore want to act like that," Patri points out.
Aggressive characters potrayed in movies and certain TV shows also make a negative impact on the minds of children. "Cinema is also increasingly providing aggressive role models that children emulate," she adds.
"The root of the problem lies in improper upbringing. Children are innocent and they become what we make them," Patri says.
Improper parenting is also responsible for the aggression and violence seen in the children. "They are not given proper training to delay their gratification. Immediate gratification is lowering their tolerance level, an important reason for aggression and violence," says Patri. "Teach your children to learn patience, don't satiate. For example, put your children on wait for sometime, before giving them icecream and chocolate," Patri adds. PTI
Koda confident of continued Congress support
Ranchi, Jan 6 (PTI) The Congress's January 15 deadline set to the Jharkhand government to 'perform or perish' has lost its sheen after the drubbing the Congress received in the Gujarat elections.
The PCC had taken out a protest march under the leadership of Union Minister Ajay Makan from Raj Bhavan to Chief Minister Madhu Koda's residence in November to issue the ultimatum. BJP's Gujarat victory has given a breather to Koda government, analysts say.
PCC President Pradeep Kumar Balmachu, however, dismissed possibility of softening its stand on the Koda government post-Gujarat. Balmachu said the Gujarat outcome hardly mattered in Jharkhand.
"After giving memorandum to the Chief Minister to focus on 19 issues, party representatives have been asked to go to people for feedback which will help us to asses the performance of the government on January 15 deadline," Balmachu said.
However, if Balmachu's own observation on December 26 that the government had speeded up action in same areas mentioned in the memorandum is any indication, Koda would not have to worry much as the deadline approaches.
"The revival package to heavy engineering corporation, work on roads, resettlement and rehabilitation policy in its final shape and urgency shown regarding holding of civic polls are some of the areas that got prominence after the memorandum," Balmachu said.
Balmachu also said the party had kept all options open while reviewing the government's performance suggesting that he was not ruling out an extension of the deadline.
According to political analysts, the BJP camp in the state is upbeat following Gujarat victory and is looking forward to capitalise on the rift in the coalition. PTI
Saturday Jodhpur: Hundreds of Pakistani nationals are stranded here after the Thar Express connecting the desert state with Pakistan's Sindh province is cancelled due to security reasons in the wake of the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.
Lucknow/Kolkata: One more militant of Harkat-ul-Jehadi Islamia (HuJI) believed to be the mastermind of last month's Uttar Pradesh serial blasts, in Kolkata is arrested.
Sunday Panaji: In the face of a raging controversy, a task force headed by Goa Chief Minister Digamber Kamat recommends the scrapping of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in the state terming them "detrimental to the overall interest" of Goa.
New Delhi: Veteran Kerala politician K Karunakaran returns to the Congress, two-and-a-half years after he parted ways with it over differences with the state and central leadership in the midst of rampant infighting in the party.
Monday New Delhi: There is no proposal to raise the retirement age of Central Government employees from 60 to 62.
Jodhpur: Pop star Madonna will ring in the New Year along with her husband and son at a private heritage resort at a non-descript village, 150km from here.
New Delhi: The Union Home Ministry announces extension of ceasefire with an Assam militant outfit, Dima Halam Daogoh (DHD), for six months till June 30, 2008.
Tuesday Rampur (UP): Seven CRPF personnel were among eight persons killed and five injured when heavily-armed terrorists stormed a camp of the paramilitary force in the wee hours here in a bloody start to the New Year.
Delhi: Taking forward their key 17-year-old confidence building measure, India and Pakistan exchange lists of their nuclear installations and facilities under an agreement that prohibits attacks on these. Wednesday Mumbai: Two NRI women are molested by a mob of about 70 men during New Year revelries near Juhu beach sparking an outrage but Police Commissioner D N Jadhav brazenly dismisses it as minor accusing the media of blowing it out of proportion.
New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh's ruling Bahujan Samaj Party suffers a jolt when it lost the prestigious Ballia Lok Sabha seat to its arch rival Samajwadi Party while results of a Lok Sabha and assembly bypolls in Bihar and West Bengal went along expected lines with ruling JD(U) and CPI(M) retaining the seats.
Rourkela/Kolkata: In fresh bouts of Naxal violence in Eastern India, armed Maoists attacked a police outpost and a bus in Jharkand killing one policeman while a local CPI-M leader in Purulia district was shot dead by suspected rebels.
Thursday New Delhi: Nagaland is brought under central rule and the assembly kept under suspended animation, ending the three-week political drama in the state triggered by a controversial trial of strength won by the BJP-backed Neiphiu Rio.
Satna (MP): An eighth class student of a Government school in Satna district of Madhya Pradesh is killed when his senior schoolmate allegedly shot at him in the school premises.
New Delhi: Author Malathi Rao is chosen for the 2007 Sahitya Akademi Award in English for her novel 'Disorderly Women'.
Friday New Delhi: The CBI is understood to have come to the conclusion that Rizwanaur Rehman, a computer graphics teacher of Kolkata who married a Hindu businessman's daughter, committed suicide and is likely to book his father-in-law and two police officers for alleged abetment.
New Delhi: Delhi Police claims to have foiled a plot by Babbar Khalsa to eliminate at least five prominent Punjabi personalities with the arrest of four suspected militants, including a Harayana government employee, belonging to the terror outfit. PTI
Watch and become a Bakra yourself! (Film-Review)
Shambhu Sahu
Film: Hyderabadi Bakra Hungama in Dubai Producer & Director: Masood Ali Cast: Mast Ali, DC Srivastav, Aziz, Shweta Khanduri The only release on the first Friday of 2008, is better if not seen. The film 'Hungama in Dubai' or 'Hyderabadi Bakra' is a film made in Hyderabadi lingo which comedian Late Mahmood used in Bollywood years ago. Here you have almost the entire film in the same dialect but the film is effect-less. It neither entertains nor gives any message. Poorly made, it lacks almost everything for which one may want to see a film. Be it stars, songs, story or acting.
Moreover, when you make a small-budget film, the role of the script and actors becomes more important than ever. This was proved by director Masood Ali's very own fellow Hyderabadi filmmaker Nagesh Kukunoor when he made 'Hyderabad Blues' on a shoe-string budget and popularized such films.
'Hyderabadi Bakra' is a story about two conmen, Ajju (Mast Ali) and Majju (Aziz), who after a seven years' jail term once again get back to their business of laying a trap for big bucks. This time they find their 'bakra' in a popular Hyderabadi tea cafe owner and a film buff Nawab saab (D C Shrivastav). They convince him to sell his established business for Rs two crore to make a film 'Utaar Chadhav'.
They soon land in Dubai along with their 'producer' and start looking for locations. But, the duo is actually having a gala time on Nawab saab's expense who can't help but look on. They go to best possible hotels to eat, nightclubs and prostitutes. Meanwhile, all this director-assistant director duo does is, shoot a few scene in a day and tell the Nawab that half the film is made.
Soon the money is over and the trio is thrown out of the lavish hotel but without passports. While on road the con duo sells off Nawabs belongings, leaving him on the streets to beg. Despite regretting his decision and wanting to return to family, the large-hearted Nawab forgives them, which leads to a change of heart among the duo. They find an unclaimed bag full of dollars worth Rs four crores, with which they try to wash off their sins and give it back to the Nawab.
But, there is a (sad) twist, the bag get stolen. They run after the thief and you have Hyderabadi police also chasing them purposelessly. The usual filmy chase follows. And just when you think that the old 'ghishi-piti' story will thankfully meet a typical filmy end, with thieves getting arrested and the poor Nawab getting back his money, it does not happen. Instead of giving the Nawab his money back, the senior con Ajju convinces him of making another film, this time in Chicago. The film ends and all you wonder is what was that! The film has a very sub standard production value with not even properly lip-synced dialogues, making it look like some B-grade stuff. The film with poor story and script falls flat in all quarters. Despite being a comedy film, there are just a handful of scenes where you laugh. At times, the comedy gets 'unrefined' also. There is some nice mimickery of Bollywood stars, but that does not help much.
Actors like Masy Ali, Aziz and DC Srivastava have some films under their belt, but it is better we don't talk about their acting given the often- told story and direction. The director even fails in exploiting the picturesque locales of Dubai, which boasts of various futuristic structures. The romance between Majju and Nisha (Shweta Khanduri) looks forced and goes waste.
In short, avoid it. PTI
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The sensex closed at 20812.65, up 125.76
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