The Mumbai Grapevine
Connecting Mumbaikars with Mumbai
(Published by Mumbai-Central.com)
Please feel free to forward this message to your friends and co-workers
who might be interested in it. The instructions to join the Mumbai
Grapevine are at the end of the message.
Rise of India, China to benefit world: PM
Raghavendra and V S Chandrasekar
Beijing, Jan 15 (PTI) Wrapping up his visit on an upbeat note, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said the simultaneous rise of India and China will be beneficial not only for the two countries but also for Asia and the world.
Before returning home, Singh called on Chinese President Hu Jintao, who congratulated the Prime Minister for the success of his "short but very productive" maiden visit to the country.
"I have come here with the strong belief that our two countries must do everything in their power to strengthen our multi-faceted cooperation, build new ties of friendship and partnership," Singh said at his meeting with Hu at the ornate Great Hall of the People here.
Noting that China and India are the fastest growing economies, Singh said "at a time when there are considerable uncertainties about the global economy, the strong growth of China and India is a positive public international good for the benefit of Asia and for the world community as a whole." The positive tone was evident as Singh while addressing Chinese scholars expressed optimism on India and China working closely together in creating a world of mutual prosperity, rather than one based on calculations of balance of power and animosity.
"The rise of China is among the most important developments of our times," he said in his speech at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, a premier think tank.
Singh also made a veiled reference to recent turmoil in Pakistan, saying the rise of non-state actors and extremism in the garb of religion or on the pretext of "righting historical wrongs" posed danger to civilised nations which should collectively fight the menace. PTI
India, China hold informal boundary talks
V S Chandrasekar
Beijing, Jan 15 (PTI) India and China today held in-camera negotiations on the vexed boundary issue as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed confidence that the two neighbours can find a "mutually satisfactory" solution to the border dispute.
The boundary between the two countries is peaceful, Singh said addressing scholars at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the premier think-tank of China. "We are both determined to keep it so while our Special Representatives seek a settlement of the boundary question." In April, 2005 during the visit of Premier Wen Jiabao to India, the two governments agreed on a set of Political Parameters and Guiding Principles for the settlement of the boundary question, Singh recalled.
"We are confident that those Principles will guide us to a mutually satisfactory solution of this issue. We have also agreed to set up a mechanism to look at trans-boundary rivers, and will make a success of its work." He said India was satisfied with the results so far and was convinced that the potential for India-China relations was great and would be realised.
The Special Representatives of the two countries, National Security Advisor M K Narayanan and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo, met here to take forward the dialogue process during informal negotiations. PTI
Govt confirms bird flu in West Bengal
New Delhi, Jan 15 (PTI) The Centre today confirmed an outbreak of bird flu in two districts of West Bengal, a day after the state government declared an alert in the area.
"Samples have been tested positive," a government official said.
The samples of the dead birds had been sent to High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSADL) in Bhopal to find out whether the death of poultry was due to Avian Influenza, commonly known as Bird Flu.
"It is a localised occurrence of bird flu in the two districts of West Bengal namely Birbhum and South Dinajpur," the official said.
The Centre as a precautionary measure had restricted trade and movement of poultry birds in these two districts.
The Health Ministry had yesterday dispatched a team from the National Institute of Communicable Diseases to West Bengal.
The parallel samples have been sent to the National Institute of Virology, Pune. PTI
Bouncy WACA track to test Indian batsmen
Ashish Shukla
Perth, Jan 15 (PTI) The bouncy track at the WACA will serve as a litmus test for India's experienced batsmen as they go into the third cricket Test against Australia here tomorrow seeking to stop the hosts from securing a world record 17th consecutive win.
With both teams willing to put the acrimonious Sydney Test behind them, the spotlight will be back on cricket but the Indians have their tasks cut on a track which is regarded as the fastest in the world.
The pitch appears to be the quickest the Western Australian venue has produced in over two decades and the home team has opted to go in with an all-pace bowling attack to rattle the visitors.
The Indians, on their part, have decided to include opener Virender Sehwag, who marked his return to form with a blistering century against ACT XI in a practice game, in place of an out-of-form Yuvraj Singh.
With Sehwag coming back into the team, Rahul Dravid, who had donned the openers role in the first two Tests, will return to his customary no. 3 slot while V V S Laxman will be back at no. 6 position.
The Indians may also leave out Harbhajan Singh, who finds himself at the centre of a race row, as the WACA pitch would have hardly anything for the spinners. Paceman Irfan Pathan is likely to take Harbhajan's place in the team. PTI
I never called Procter racist: Gavaskar
Perth, Jan 15 (PTI) Under-fire Indian batting great Sunil Gavaskar today said he never called Mike Procter a racist and the word has been wrongly attributed to him in his column back home.
Gavaskar has been receiving mails and phone calls where critics have taken a shot at him on the basis of his column in which he came after Procter.
"Please do not go by the sensationalist headlines. I would ask my detractors to please read the piece carefully and tell me if I, personally, have called Mr Mike Procter a racist," says Gavaskar.
"That is a complete lie," he said ahead of the third Test beginning here tomorrow.
All hell broke loose since Gavaskar's piece was published close on the heels of Procter's verdict against Harbhajan Singh for an alleged racist remark against Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds.
Harbhajan, on the basis of hearsay, was banned for three Test matches.
Gavaskar in his piece has wondered why the other umpire in the Sydney Test, Mark Benson of England, was spared the rod.
"I never called Procter a racist. People who say so haven't read the piece. It's the headlines which have been ascribed to me," Gavaskar said.
Former New Zealand captain John Reid said after criticising a Match Referee, Gavaskar has no business heading the ICC Cricket Committee.
South African great Barry Richards also criticised the former India captain, accusing him of playing the racism card. PTI
Sania considered quitting before Australian Open
Melbourne, Jan 15 (PTI) Tired of being dragged into various off-court controversies time and again, Sania Mirza today disclosed that she considered quitting tennis last week.
The world number 31 from India, often in the eye of storm, said she found it tough to deal with question marks on her loyalty towards the country after being photographed at the Hopman Cup in Perth with her bare feet positioned near Indian national flag and was charged for "disrespecting" the tricolour.
"It's not easy to deal with things like that off the court. I am not a superhuman so it does affect me.
"As much as I try to block it out, it's still in the back of your mind... A lot of thoughts went through my head in the past couple of weeks, and one of the thoughts was (quitting)," said the player who was also criticised by the orthodox Muslim clergy for her short skirts and T-shirts.
"But I wouldn't say that they were serious enough that I would quit right now... (But) it was very tricky to play again, I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to blank out everything and play a tennis match," she said after defeating Uzbekistan's Iroda Tulyaganova 6-4 6-2 in the first round of the season's first Grand Slam.
Sania defended herself by saying, "I wouldn't do anything to disrespect my country, I love my country. I wouldn't be playing Hopman Cup otherwise. But other than that, I am not allowed to comment because it is before the courts. PTI
Sania advances to Australian Open second round
Melbourne, Jan 15 (PTI) Sania Mirza shrugged off recent controversies and minor niggles to sail past Uzbekistan's Iroda Tulyaganova in straight sets to advance to the second round of the Australian Open here today.
The Indian, seeded 31, beat Tulyaganova 6-4 6-2 in little over an hour long tie to set up a clash with Swiss qualifier Timea Bacsinszky, who beat Australian Sophie Ferguson 6-4 6-3.
"It's not easy to deal with things like that off the court, there are some misunderstandings happening," Sania, who was recently embroiled in a controversy related to insulting the Indian national flag during the Hopman Cup, said after the match.
The 21-year-old, who was also battling minor injuries like an abdominal strain that cut short her season last year, was rusty to start with and wasted a couple of break points besides committing 11 unforced errors in the opener.
But Tulyaganova's patchy form worked to Sania's advantage and the Indian wrested the first set after a 40-minute see-saw battle.
Sania then showed some fine form in the second set. The Indian cut down on her unforced errors broke Tulyaganova twice. PTI
Pak court dismisses corruption case against Benazir
Islamabad, Jan 15 (PTI) A Pakistani anti-corruption court today dismissed a case against slain former premier Benazir Bhutto in connection with her alleged possession of illegal wealth.
The accountability court in nearby Rawalpindi had been hearing the case brought against Bhutto by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
The case was set aside after Bhutto's counsel pleaded that the charges of possessing assets beyond her known sources of income be quashed for good following her assassination on December 27.
Another accountability court, meanwhile, directed NAB to furnish a reply in similar charges against Zardari and Bhutto's security advisor Rehman Malik and adjourned the matter till January 30.
The cases against the trio were to have been dropped under the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) issued by President Pervez Musharraf last year. However, the accountability courts continued hearing the cases after the NRO was challenged in the Supreme Court. PTI
Indian support helped weaken LTTE: Sri Lanka
Colombo, Jan 15 (PTI) Sri Lanka's Navy has praised India for its help in countering the LTTE, and said the militant group's "backbone has been broken" after the destruction of several rebel vessels.
"Co-operation with India has been extremely successful in countering the LTTE. Every year, the Indian Navy with the Indian Coast Guard and the Sri Lankan Navy holds four bilateral discussions. We are conducting coordinated patrols with the Indian Navy as well," Navy Chief Wasantha Karannagoda said.
"We have broken their backbone by destroying their supply vessels and floating warehouses, several war-like materials which would have allowed the Tigers to sustain this conflict," Karannagoda told the 'Colombo Post' newspaper.
The Navy chief asserted that the LTTE was not strong enough to sustain its fight against the government for long and that the outfit's naval power was badly weakened after several losses.
"The Navy has destroyed almost all LTTE vessels that could have assisted the Tigers in attacking the armed forces," he said adding "within one year we have destroyed eight floating warehouses, which had carried more than 10,000 tons of war-like material".
This included artillery, mortar, dismantled parts of three aircraft, bullet proof vehicles, underwater delivery vehicles, scuba diving sets and radar, among other things, he said. PTI
Australia says no to uranium sale to India
Natasha Chaku
Melbourne, Jan 15 (PTI) In a clear shift from its predecessor's stand, Australia's new government today said it would not sell uranium to India until the country signs the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith conveyed this to Shyam Saran, a Special Envoy of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in their talks held in Perth.
"We went into the election with a strong policy commitment we would not export uranium to nation states who are not members of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)," Smith told reporters after his meeting with Saran.
The policy of new Labour government headed by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is in contradiction to the previous John Howard administration's plans to start negotiating a uranium trade with India.
Smith described his talks with Saran as a "good and friendly meeting," which included discussions on bilateral trade and the recent cricket dispute between the two nations.
Australian government "is very much looking forward to taking the relationship with India to an even better level," he said. PTI
Musharraf vows to root out terrorism
Karachi, Jan 15 (PTI) Vowing to "eliminate" militants, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said terrorism will have to be tackled with force as there is no political solution to the menace.
Musharraf said his government was committed to root out the scourge, adding "we have to break the back of terrorism and extremism and work for the sustained (growth of the) economy to make Pakistan stronger." "The killing of innocent people at the hands of terrorists and extremists through blasts and suicidal attacks breaks my heart but we have to fight them out," he said while asserting that the menace would have to be overcome with force as there is no political solution.
Referring to anti-terrorism operations in Swat valley in North West Frontier Province (NWFP), he said it has yielded big successes. The militants will be "eliminated" and the "root causes" of terrorism will be addressed, he said.
Musharraf made the remarks yesterday at a ceremony in the Governor House during which he unveiled the foundation stone for a signal-free traffic corridor. He spoke shortly before an explosion ripped through a crowded commercial area in Karachi, killing 10 people and injuring 45 more.
The blast was the latest in a series of bomb attacks across the country that have killed hundreds of people, most of them members of the security forces. Twenty-six people, including 22 policemen, were killed in Lahore on January 10 when a suicide bomber blew himself up near a police picket close to the High Court.
Musharraf also said the army would be out on the streets during and after the February 18 general election to ensure that the poll process is not disrupted. The troops have been instructed to shoot any troublemakers who try to disrupt the polls. PTI
India susceptible to gains from N-tech export: 1974 CIA report
Sridhar Krishnaswami
Washington, Jan 15 (PTI) India, France and Israel were unlikely to proliferate as a matter of national policy but was "susceptible" to the lure of economic and political advantages to be gained from exporting nuclear arms-related materials and technology, a just-declassified US intelligence report, that came after the 1974 Pokhran test, had said.
In the wake of the Indian nuclear tests on May 17, 1974 and growing concern about the spread of nuclear weapons capabilities, the US intelligence community prepared a Special National Intelligence Estimate (SNIE) titled "Prospects for Further Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons", a document that was released today by the National Security Archive (NSA).
Though the introductory note said that the paper includes "discussions of Indian nuclear intentions", the NSA has pointed out that "when it reviewed the 1974 SNIE for the most recent release, the CIA heavily excised the discussion of the Indian nuclear programme." The SNIE had estimated that "many countries" would have the economic and technological capability to produce atomic weapons, believed that Israel has already produced nuclear arms and expressed apprehension that terrorists might attempt theft of either weapons or fissionable materials.
"France, India and Israel, while unlikely to proliferate as a matter of national policy will prove susceptible to the lure of economic and political advantages to be gained from exporting materials, technology and equipment relevant to nuclear weapons programmes. And most proliferators are on good terms with one or all others," the SNIE had said. PTI
Reliance Power on, sectoral stocks go off
Mumbai, Jan 15 (PTI) Almost all power sector stocks today plunged by 2-3 per cent on the Bombay Stock Exchange amid a overwhelming response to a mega initial public offering by Anil Ambani group's Reliance Power.
Reliance Energy, the parent company of Reliance Power, could not remain unscathed in a broad based selling on the bourse. The BSE power index today fell 2.45 per cent to 4,632.27 points, touching an intra-day low of 4,603.18 points.
All the stocks on the power index ended the day deep in red except Crompton Greaves and Tata Power, which managed to stay afloat.
Reliance Power IPO received a robust response from investor on the first day with the issue getting oversubscribed by more than 10 times.
Reliance Energy plunged over four per cent to close at Rs 2,364.55, down 4.42 per cent. NTPC and Suzlon Energy were the other major losers falling nearly four per cent. State-run NTPC settled at Rs 274, down 3.84 per cent, while Suzlon Energy ended at Rs 2,046.25, falling 3.95 per cent.
Torrent Power, Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCIL) and Siemens Ltd fell 4.44, 3 and 2.14 per cent respectively.
Only power stocks that remained in the green were Crompton Greaves that ended 3.78 per cent up at Rs 379.90 and Tata Power closing with a gain of 0.95 per cent at Rs 1,546.35.
Among the other Anil Ambani group firms, Reliance Communications settled down 3.45 per cent at Rs 777.40, Reliance Natural Resources Ltd fell 2.09 per cent to Rs 217.35 and Reliance Capital closed lost 3 per cent at Rs 2,762.35. PTI
Gold continues to rise, touches Rs 11,710
New Delhi, Jan 15 (PTI) Continuing its record setting spree Gold today rose by Rs 90 to touch a new peak at Rs 11,710 per 10 gram on the Delhi bullion market due to hectic buying by stockists amid reports of a steep rise in overseas markets.
Trading sentiment turned bullish following reports that the precious metal in the New York Merchantile Exchange surged to an all-time high level of 915 dollars an ounce.
Marketmen said the gold rose for the sixth day in Asia as the weakening dollar heightened the attraction of precious metals as an alternative investment.
They said the market partly received impact here in Delhi as some of the funds shifted from tumbling equity markets and averted any major fall in bullion.
The fears of recession in the US markets boosted demand for gold against inflation, which in-turn influenced trading in Indian markets, they added.
Standard gold shot up by Rs 90 at Rs 11,710 per 10 gram, a level never seen before. Similarly, gold ornaments surged to all-time high level of Rs 11,560 per 10 gram.
Sovereign also joined the rally and touched a record high of Rs 9,150 per piece of eight gram.
However, silver met with resistance at higher levels and fell back by Rs 50 to Rs 20,650 per kg, while silver weekly-based delivery rose by Rs 20 to Rs 21,220 per kg on speculative support.
Silver coins remained unchanged at Rs 25,500 for buying and Rs 25,600 for selling of 100 pieces. PTI
RBI asks banks to prevent circulation of fake currency
Kanpur, Jan 15 (PTI) Reserve Bank of India Governor Y V Reddy today asked all banks to take stringent measures for preventing circulation of fake currency notes that can jeopardise the country's economy.
Talking to reporters here, Reddy said the apex bank was aware that fake currency was in circulation. He said central and state governments as also security agencies must take strong preventive measures to check the menace.
Fake currency is a grave threat to the economy and the onus to prevent its circulation is on RBI, banks, Centre, the state governments and security agencies, he said.
He also directed RBI officials to keep a vigil on banks and ATM centres from where complaints of issuance of fake currency notes were received.
Reddy said if fake currency was issued from any bank's ATM, that bank would be held responsible and strict action would be taken against it.
On Prime Minister's 15-point programme for minority lending, he said RBI has given directions in this regard to all banks and the lenders were following these norms.
Asked about private banks charging very high interest rates on credit cards, he said these institutions sign a pact with customers on the interest to be paid and borrowers can approach RBI's ombudsman in case of complaints.
Reddy is the first RBI governor to visit the central bank's Kanpur office after C Rangarajan came here in 1977.
Meanwhile, RBI has decided to hold a meeting of its Board of Governors on February 7 in state capital Lucknow. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati will also be invited for the meeting. Reddy said the previous meeting of the Board in Lucknow was six years ago. PTI
Nifty plunges by 132.55 points to close at 6,074.25
Mumbai, Jan 15 (PTI) The S&P CNX Nifty today fell back sharply by a whopping 132.55 points to close at 6,074.25 on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) on all-round selling by operators and retailers to invest in Reliance Power IPO.
Three billion dollar mega Reliance Power IPO, which was opened today, oversubscribed 10 times on the first day.
The 50-issue Nifty initially touched a high of 6,260.45 on the back of firm trend on Wall Street last night.
But it fell back sharply to a low of 6,053.30 before concluding the day at 6,074.25 from previous close of 6,206.80, a steep fall of 2.14 per cent.
Dealers attributed negative turnaround to selling heavily by investors to invest in Reliance Power IPO and sluggish trend in Asia at close today and weak European opening.
The Bank Nifty tumbled by 232.65 points to 10,465.70, the S&P CNX Defty by 115.55 points to 5,358.95, the S&P CNX 500 by 105.15 points to 5,282.10, the CNX Nifty Junior by 250.25 points to 12,539.60, the CNX 100 by 129.15 points to 5,998.45, the CNX IT by 72.75 points to 4,195.40, CNX Midcap by 74.65 points to 8,973.00 and the Nifty Midcap 50 by 31.25 points to 3,724.35.
Top five S&P CNX Nifty losers were BPCL, Bharti Airtel, REL, ICICI Bank and Suzlon Energy while gainers were Tata Steel, VSNL, Tata Power, Idea Cellular and Maruti.
The total turnover on the NSE improved to Rs 19,204.07 crore from Rs 17,788.32 crore on Monday. A total of 5,990.42 lakh shares changed hands in 48,69,122 trades. PTI
Ahmedabad youth take to streets to teach people cleanliness
Parag Dave
Ahmedabad, Jan 15 (PTI) It is an unusual scene for passerby on the some of the city's busy streets these days when they see a group of youth, their motor bikes parked nearby, busy themselves sweeping the roads clean and urging people not to throw trash.
On a Sunday evening, one can find a group of 12 to 15 youth from well-to-do families sweeping some of the most happening public places in the city, instead of freaking out to malls or hotels.
They come on their swanky bikes, sporting latest designer wear, with brooms and dustbins, no 'photo ops' these, nor any preaching. They straight way start working on clearing the roads.
After sweeping the entire public place and collecting the garbage, the college students wait patiently with dustbins in their hands.
When a member of public is about to throw a paper plate or a chai cuppa on the road, they rush to the person and request to put it in the dustbin which they hold.
"We keep our homes clean but throw waste all over the place when we are out. Then we complain that municipal sweepers are not doing their job. The fault lies in our habits," says 19-year-old Hardik Korat, one of member of the group.
This group of friends who call themselves 'Ahmedabad Volunteers' has done this job of 'educating the people on cleanliness' on places like Vastrapur Lake and C G road. PTI
Hope for peace talks in Assam
Durba Ghosh
Guwahati, Jan 14 (PTI) The dawn of the new year brought hope in Assam that peace talks with the banned outfit ULFA was likely to resume with the centre considering the release of five jailed ULFA leaders but the road to peace appears to be still a long way to go.
Jnanpith award-winning litterateur Dr Indira Raisom Goswami had announced that AICC general secretary and party's in-charge for Assam Veerapa Moily had assured her that the centre was likely to take a decision on the demand of the ULFA for release of its top five leaders which could facilitate the much-awaited talks between the ULFA and the government.
Moily had expressed interest in breaking the stalemate and to bring back the peace process with the ULFA back on rails.
"Moily being a senior leader understands the problems of the state and expressed a positive interest in taking the peace process forward", she said.
The five leaders are political advisor Bhimkanta Buragohain, vice president Pradip Gogoi, publicity secretary Mithinga Daimary, cultural secretary Pranati Deka and senior cadre Ramu Mech.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has also said that he was not averse to the demand for the release of top ULFA leaders from jail and both his government and the centre were open to the prospect of talks with the outfit. PTI
Digest of domestic stories for the Week Jan 5-11, 2008
Saturday
New Delhi: The Election Commission holds Congress MP Rajeev Shukla guilty of violation of model code of conduct for his remarks against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi during the Assembly polls in the state and advised him to be more cautious in future.
Bhubaneswar: Orissa government see Maoist hand in the riots in Kandhamal district and claimed the arson and violence was not due to religious conversion.
Sunday
New Delhi: Congress President Sonia Gandhi is discharged from Sir Gangaram Hospital here where she was under treatment for chest infection for the last five days.
New Delhi: While deciding an appeal, a High Court should give sufficient reasons for arriving at a particular conclusion as absence of reasons renders an order "not sustainable", the Supreme Court rules.
Kollam (Ker)/Malda(WB): CPI-M veteran Jyoti Basu's remarks warming up to capitalism triggers a sharp reaction from ally RSP which said no marxist text spoke about the inevitability of capitalism while it generated interest across the political spectrum.
Amritsar: In a controversial action, the highest Sikh temporal seat declares the assassins of former prime minister Indira Gandhi as martyrs of the community.
Monday
New Delhi: Congress remains unfazed over BSP supremo Mayawati's threat to withdraw support to the government at the Centre and dismissed as "absolutely not acceptable" her charge that certain Congress leaders were conspiring to eliminate her.
New Delhi: President Pratibha Patil gives assent to the Armed forces Tribunal Bill, paving the way for setting up of the country's first ever rederessal forum to adjudicate on litigation of cases pertaining to men in arms.
Jalandhar: Apparently irked by the indifferent attitude of the authorities, nearly 1,500 inmates of the central jail go on rampage, setting afire prison properties and pelting stones on the staff.
Tuesday
New Delhi: With a view to tap the vast potential of Indians settled abroad, government decides to set up a 'Prime Minister's Global Advisory Council of People of Indian Origin' to draw upon the experience and knowledge of the "best Indian minds".
New Delhi: The country's prestigious business schools, Indian Institutes of Management, declares the results of the written exam of the Common Admission Test, with close to 3,500 students getting through it.
Madurai: The CPI(M) wants the Left parties and "secular forces" to work for a "third alternative" though it may not emerge overnight as the Congress and BJP had "failed" in finding a solution to people's problems.
Wednesday
New Delhi: Amidst conflicting reports over the ban on recruitment of workers from India, Malaysia conveys to New Delhi that it wants an early agreement to regulate such employment in that country.
New Delhi: L K Advani, who was recently anointed BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate, proposes that former premier and party stalwart Atal Bihari Vajpayee be awarded Bharat Ratna for his contribution to the national polity and for his statesmanship.
Thursday
New Delhi: With India and China breaking new ground in their ties by holding first-ever joint military exercises, Beijing favours more such endeavours, saying these would enhance "confidence and trust" necessary for tranquility along the border and stability in the region.
New Delhi: Tata Motors unveils its people's car, Nano, that meets Euro 4 emission and safety norms. The car, popularly called the Rs one lakh car, will cost Rs 100,000 at the dealer end but would attract VAT and transportation cost.
Friday
New Delhi: The Supreme Court refuses to permit the traditional 'Jallikattu' or bull fight during the harvest festival of Pongal in Tamil Nadu saying it is "barbaric" and "inhumane".
New Delhi: Jasbir Singh, a key witness in the anti-Sikh riots case against Congress leader Jagdish Tytler, says the CBI should approach him in the US to record his statement as he feared for his life in India. PTI
Film Review- My Name Is Anthony Gonsalves...who cares!
Shambhu Sahu
Film: My Name Is Anthony Gonsalves
Director: E Niwas
Cast: Nikhil Dwivedi, Amrita Rao, Lillete Dubey, Anupam Kher, Pavan Malhotra, others.
'My Name Is Anthony Gonsalves' is about a struggling hero Anthony Gonsalves (Nikhil Dwivedi), an orphan, who dreams of stardom all the time and sings duets with his girlfriend in his spare time. But besides dreaming and serving liquor at a bar, there should be something that the debutante actor should do in order to be projected as the hero in the film?
So this tapori wannabe's life is woven around an underworld gang (quite clichéd) which provides score for truth, conscience and of course some 'dishum dishum' (action).
As he thinks his life is set, there comes a twist. The actor is caught in a situation where he has to defend an underworld don (Pawan Malhotra ) who brought this orphan and made him a good human being despite being a criminal himself.
Thanks to the trouble-at-home, his much-awaited debut in Hollywood-produced Hindi film stalled, for the time being. The second half is all about how he gets over the odds and emerges as a winner in the end.
The film, made in a comedy/romance genre has a very slow narration especially in the first half, which basically deals with the hero's bindaas and dreamy tapori life. But Arshad Warsi - since his maiden film 'Tere Mere Sapne' to the latest 'Munnabhai MBBS' and 'Lage Raho Munnabhai' - has entertained us through his 'taporigiri' so much that Anthony seems to be lacking somewhere.
Amrita Rao looks hot in the film but is almost wasted, as there isn't much for her to do considering her role. Actors like Anupam Kher and Vidya Shankar Paandey's potential remains unused while Pakistani actor Javed Sheikh and Pawan Malhotra are comparatively better.
Though even Mithun Chakravorty, who plays a pop (Father) of a local church, is controlled throughout the film but steals the show in a few scenes.
As far as director E Niwas is concerned, all those who know that he directed 'Shool' (and many actually do), keep waiting for the narration and story to get better since it starts. But the film fails in entertaining, primarily because of its script, which offers nothing new.
But there are a few impressive moments like top don Anupam Kher singing songs as per the situation or one where Pavan tells his mentor Anupam that he brought Anthony to make him a 'achcha insaan' (good human being). As far as his attempting comedy and romance genre is concerned, Niwas's 'Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega' was comparatively better.
Watch if for: Mithun's last five minutes show stealing act, and...! PTI
___________________________________________________________
This is the Mumbai Grapevine
___________________________________________________________
______Market_______
To get regularly updated NIFTY (NSE) quotes by email, join the NSEData
mailing list by sending an email to NSEData-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
To get regularly updated BSE quotes by email, join the BSEData mailing
list by sending an email to BSEData-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Sensex: 20251.09, -476.96
The sensex closed at 20251.09, down 476.96
___________________________________________________________
This is the Mumbai Grapevine
___________________________________________________________
______Forex_______
1 U.S. $ = 39.275 INR
1 Japanese Yen = 0.3650 INR
1 British Pound = 77.283 INR
1 Canadian $ = 38.710 INR
1 Singapore $ = 27.500 INR
1 UAE Dirham = 10.693 INR
1 Saudi Arabian Riyal = 10.487 INR
1 Euro = 58.390 INR
1 Qatar Rial = 10.811 INR
___________________________________________________________
This is the Mumbai Grapevine
___________________________________________________________