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    India’s star Mahesh Bhupathi & World No.5 Daniel Nestor to open their doubles campaign in Chennai Pair will be the Top Seed at Aircel Chennai Open 2013

     December 22, 2012: The Aircel Chennai Open, India and South Asia’s only ATP World Tour tennis event today announced that the country’s ace Jet Lev India Jetpack doubles specialist Mahesh Bhupathi will be teaming up with World No.5 Canada’s Daniel Nestor to participate in the doubles draw of the top tennis tournament. The event is scheduled to take place at Chennai’s SDAT Tennis Stadium from December 31, 2012 to January 6, 2013. The pair will be the top seed and hot favourites at the forthcoming tournament.

    Bhupathi won his 50th career doubles title this season and he will look at Aircel Chennai Open 2013 as the ideal platform to kick-start the New Year on a winning note. The 38-year-old Bhupathi teamed up with countryman Rohan Bopanna to compile an impressive 34-22 match record and 2-3 in finals but the duo recently announced their decision to play with different partners in 2013.

    With earlier partner Max Mirnyi of Belarus, 40-year-old Nestor finished at No. 2 in ATP Doubles Team Rankings with a 4-2 record in finals, capturing titles in Brisbane, Memphis and Roland Garros for the second year in a row.

    Bhupathi, with former partner Leander Paes, won the 2011 Aircel Chennai Open title when India’s most famous doubles pair reunited on the professional tour at the start of the 2011 season after a gap of nine years, to win a record fifth title in the event.

    Commenting on the announcement Mr. Karti P Chidambaram, Chairman – Tournament Organising Committee, Vice President – AITA & TNTA said, “Being an Indian and among the best doubles players in the world, Mahesh Bhupathi has a huge fan following in Chennai. As well, Daniel Nestor is a top five ranked doubles player. We welcome Mahesh and Daniel to Aircel Chennai Open 2013 and look forward to seeing them play some excellent tennis in front of eager home crowds!”

    Ashu Jindal, COO, IMG Reliance said, “As we gear up for another edition of scintillating tennis action with one of the best playing fields ever, we are delighted to announce Mahesh Bhupathi and Daniel Nestor’s participation in the tournament. This is the first time the pair is coming together and we are sure they will transform into a force to reckon with and do great things in the forthcoming season.”

    Tournament Director Tom Annear said, “We are pleased that Mahesh Bhupathi and Daniel Nestor have chosen the Aircel Chennai Open 2013 to begin their new partnership. They are talented and mature players and respect each other’s game. We’re sure they will be a pair to watch out for in the new season.”

    This year’s field has an impressive line-up of 4 players from the top 20. Apart from Czech Republic’s Tomas Berdych (No.6) who played a lead role in the recent Davis Cup final win, the grid includes Janko Tipsarevic (No.9), twice winner Marin Cilic (No.15) and Stanislas Wawrinka (No.17). Names such as Benoit Paire, Robin Haase and Yen-Hsun Lu are other names to watch out for and make this year’s event one of the strongest ever.

    Sahara announces its association with Badminton Sensation Saina Nehwal

    Lucknow, December 19, 2012: Sahara India Pariwar, the multi business conglomerate and the prime promoter and patron of sports in India, today announced its association with Badminton Sensation, Ms. Saina Nehwal. As a part of the association Ms. Saina Nehwal will don Sahara logo while playing at tournaments worldwide. Ms. Saina who recently bagged the Bronze Medal in the Women’s singles of London Olympics 2012 and has also won the recently held top level badminton competition, Denmark Open.

    Sahara India Pariwar has supported, felicitated and adopted many sports and sportspersons in various capacities so that they can bring laurels to our beloved country. The sportsmen include Sri Gagan Narang, Shri Abhinav Bindra, Ms. Tejaswini Sawant, Shri Vijender Singh, Shri Sushil Kumar, Ms. Mary Kom, Shri Yogeshwar Dutt, Shri Vijay Kumar, Ms. Sania Mirza, Ms. Dola Banerjee, Shri, Asher Noria, Shri Kapil Dev, Shri Sourav Ganguly, Ms. Jyotirmay Sikdar, Shri Zaheer Khan, Lt. Col. Rajyavardhan Rathore, Shri Gagan Ajit Singh, Shri Harbhajan Singh, Shri Yuvraj Singh, Shri Leander Peas, Shri Rahul Dravid, Shri Virendra Sehwag and Ms. Bula Chowdhury.

    “We are proud to announce Sahara India Pariwar’s association with Ms. Saina Nehwal” said Mr. Ashok Roy Choudhury, Executive Director, Sahara India Pariwar. In the ceremony Ms. Kumkum Roy Choudhury, Executive Director, Sahara India Pariwar said, ‘We are happy that Ms. Saina Nehwal is now a part of our family, we welcome her in Sahara India Pariwar.”

    On this occasion Shri Abhijit Sarkar, Head – Corporate Communications, Sahara India Pariwar and Director -Sahara Adventure Sports Limited said, “Ms. Saina Nehwal has always brought laurels to our beloved nation and we are proud to take our association with her a step forward. We wish her to win fresh laurels for the country in the international sporting arena and be a beacon of hope and a fountain of inspiration. Ms. Nehwal’s successes has led many, especially girls in India, towards sports and inspired them to excel and play for the nation.”

    On this occasion Ms. Saina Nehwal said, “It’s a great honour to be associated with Sahara India Pariwar which apart from being a huge business conglomerate has also done tremendously for the cause of promotion of sports in India. This has certainty boosted my confidence and I am sure that I will be able to bring pride to the nation”.

    Working with Mira was a dream come true: Shimit

    “Chak De” director Shimit Amin says working with Mira Nair as an editor on her much anticipated movie ” The Reluctant Fundamentalist” was a dream come true and an honour.

     

    Shimit, who started his career as an editor with the movie “Bhoot” in 2003, has also directed films like “Ab Tak Chhappan” and “Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year”.

    “It is an honour to work with Mira. She is a wonderful director and I always wanted to work with her. I was flattered when she offered me to do the movie and felt it was the right moment to take up the project,” Amin said on the sidelines of a film festival.

    The movie is based on the novel by the same name by Mohsin Hamid and stars Riz Ahmed, Kate Hudson, Liev Schreiber, Kiefer Sutherland, Om Puri and Shabana Azmi.

    Amin says editing the movie was a long and complicated process and took a year to complete.

    “The movie is so global and shot in so many places like Lahore, Istanbul, Delhi, America that editing the film was a complex procedure. It took a year to complete the editing,” said Amin.

    The film is being screened at the closing of IFFI in its Asian premiere after touring festivals in London, Toronto, Doha and Venice. It will be released world wide on April 26.

    Focus on history, not violence: Sathyu

    Veteran filmmaker MS Sathyu feels that filmmakers today lack interest in showing historical events through cinema as they are more focused on serving violent movies to the audience.

    The 82-year-old filmmaker, known for his Partition classic “Garm Hava”, feels that the human touch from the movies is missing now.

    “A lot of films are made today where violence has become important. You find examples ranging from ‘Agneepath’ to ‘Gangs Of Wasseypur’. Many a time, the violence on screen is meaningless and glorified. The human touch goes missing. Youngsters need to see that a very different kind of cinema can exist too,” he said on the sideline of the 43rd International Film Festival of India (IFFI).

    Sathyu, who is all geared up for the theatrical release of a new restored version of ‘Garm Hava’ next year, said the young audience needs to know about the country’s history.

    “You may wonder why a film made in 1973 should be restored today. Perhaps after the partition of the country, there is a lack of interest in filmmakers to use any of the historical events that take place and bring it to focus in cinema. We are not even aware of the recent happenings and do not even use them in our cinema. But ‘Garam Hava’ became a cult and gave inspiration to other people who also made films on the partition,” he said.

    Sathyu said that his film ‘Garm Hava’, considered one of the most authentic films on Partition, has been restored with work done on 2.5 lakh frames, while the mono sound has been converted to Dolby Digital 5.1 stereo surround sound in the US.

    The film is slated to release on January 18, 2013. A special screening of the classic was greeted with standing ovation at the festival.

    “We shot with one camera, one lens and just six lights. My wife did the costumes and we shot entirely in Agra. The town is so noisy that we had to dub the whole film in RK Studio on returning to Mumbai. But now the movie is a whole new one with advanced technology,” he said.

    Turkey filmmakers impressed with Bollywood

    Members of the delegation from Turkey who have come down here for the Hotels close to Beale Street Memphis TN International Film Festival of India are quite impressed with Bollywood movies and even the audience here.

    “The expressions and feelings in Bollywood films are so much personal. Somehow Bollywood knows the best formula. We need to learn from Bollywood,” Turkish film director Huseyin Karabey said.

    Karabey’s ‘Donot Forget Me Istanbul’ is one of the films being screened at the festival, which has Turkey as a country focus.

    Karabey’s ‘Donot Forget Me Istanbul’ is one of the films being screened at the festival, which has Turkey as a country focus.

    Turkish actress Aysun Gizem Saysaldi said that the best part of Bollywood is that all the actors and actresses can act and dance.

    “In European countries, not all actors and actress can act and dance,” she said adding she would like to work in a Bollywood movie if she gets a chance.

    “Of course, I would like to act in Bollywood films. Audience in India is intelligent. I would like to come here again and work. It would be good for me,” she said, responding to a query.

    Hollywood will soon follow Bollywood: Anurag

    Noted filmmaker Anurag Basu has said that “while cinema industry of the entire world is wary of Hollywood, we (Indian cinema) are not scared of the it.”

     

    “We stand tall while most of the film industries all over world have suffered because of Hollywood. But we are not scared,” Basu said, while inaugurating the special package to celebrate centenary year of Indian cinema at the IFFI 2012 here yesterday.

    Basu, who has directed films like Barfi!, Life in a Metro and Murder, said he is not wary of releasing his films clashing with the Hollywood ones.

    “I am not scared to release my film along with movies like Spiderman or a Tom Cruise flick,” he said.

    The director claimed that “soon Hollywood will have to see our release calender before releasing their movie.”

    Basu, who was the chief guest for the event, termed himself “a small part of this lovely journey of the Indian cinema.”

    During the inauguration of the centenary package at IFFI, an onstage dialogue between Dada Saheb Phalke and his wife Saraswati, unravelling his passion that pioneered silent black and white cinema in India, was performed by actors Lillette Dubey and Mohammad Ali Baig.

    Veteran filmmaker M S Sathyu had designed the set for the onstage dialogue, written by Sharayu Phalke Saummanwar, the grand niece of Dada Saheb Phalke.

    Courtesy: goanews

    “Kasab hanging correct; but what about Afzal?”

    Describing the execution of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack convict Ajmal Kasab as “a correct step”, Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday said 2001 Parliament attack case convict Afzal Guru should also be executed.

     

    “What should have happened has happened,” Parrikar told, hours after Kasab was hanged at Yerwada jail.

    “The Centre has taken a correct step, but what about Afzal Guru?” he said, adding that those who work against the nation cannot be treated like guests.

    “Government finally had the courage (to hang Kasab). Now they should also do it for Afzal Guru,” he said.

    Afzal Guru was convicted for conspiracy in the December 2001 Parliament attack case and the order of his death penalty was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2004.

    The sentence was scheduled to be carried out on October 20, 2006. However, Guru’s execution was stayed following a mercy plea filed by his wife.

    Courtesy: goanews

    Mining crisis looms large on IFFI

    The crisis looming large on Goa’s mining industry has cast its shadow on the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) which is currently underway in Goa.

     

    The organisers have cut short their plans to have mega shows across the state as a part of peripheral activity for the festival, while the main opposition party Congress has said that peripheral activities should have been curtailed further.

    During IFFI there will be cultural programmes and screening of movies on the beaches at 16 locations across the state.

    The state’s economy is currently fearing crisis after iron ore exports from Goa were halted following Supreme Court order.

    “We wanted to have mega shows. But we have decided to keep the peripheral activities low profile,” said Vishnu Wagh , the vice chairman of Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG), a Goa government run agency.

    Wagh said the cultural shows will showcase local singers, dancers and instrumentalists. “Performing art is a precursor to the film, that is why we have given importance to such shows,” he said.

    Congress has termed expenditure on these cultural peripheral activities as a ‘waste’.

    “It is a waste of money. These activities should have been curtailed when economy is in the crisis,” Goa Congress unit president Subhash Shirodkar said.

    Shirodkar said Goa is not in a mood to celebrate.

    “The economy in the interior of Goa is going from bad to worse due to stoppage of mining activity,” he said.

    Around two lakh people are directly affected with the mining halt in the state. The SC ordered to halt of the transport and extraction of the ore due to the allegations of illegal mining in the state.

     

    Courtesy: goanews

    Narvekar expelled from GCA for 6 yrs

    The Goa Cricket Association (GCA) on Sunday expelled its former president Dayanand Narvekar who is accused of misuse of funds from the primary membership.

     

    The Special General Body of GCA at its meeting held in Porvorim announced Narvekar’s ouster after a voice vote of 93/3. 96 clubs and life members attended the meeting.

    Narvekar had been found guilty of alleged financial irregularities, misuse of funds and impropriety by the Managing Committee which met on May 10, said GCA president Vinod Phadke.

    In all 96 clubs and life members attended the meeting to discuss these grounds with Narvekar across the table.

    Denying the allegations, Narvekar said the then Executive Committee had approved the balance sheet detailing utilisation of funds.

    “All allegations against me are false and are levelled without any evidence. I did not receive any notice regarding any irregularities and misuse of funds,” he told reporters.

    Narvekar said he had placed all relevant documents and expenditure before the then Executive Committee and the Managing Committee too had approved them in the General Body meeting of the Goa Cricket Association.

    On his son’s expulsion as Ranji player by GCA for allegedly forging his birth certificate, Narvekar said, “It was a clerical mistake.”

    The Goa Cricket Association (GCA) had in July expelled Ganeshraj Narvekar for six years after he was accused of forging a birth certificate to play in junior level tournaments.

    Narvekar demanded that the GCA should be brought under the ambit of RTI Act.

    Courtesy: goanews

    Akshay opens 43rd IFFI, pays tribute to filmmakers

    “I live cinema, eat cinema and breathe cinema. Cinema means devotion, excitement, suspense and family time”, said actor Akshay Kumar while inaugurating the 43rd edition of the Iternational Film Festival of India.

    The IFFI  took off to a grand start today with Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar inaugurating the cinematic extravaganza that celebrates the 100 years of Indian cinema over the next 10 days.

    Recalling his early connection to cinema and how his family skipped meals to buy movie tickets, the 45-year-old actor said it was incredible that the country was celebrating the 100-year-old cinematic legacy at IFFI.

    “This international film festival is an occasion to remember what cinema is all about. Let me start by telling what cinema means to me. Cinema means to me emotion, excitement, suspense but most important what it means to me is family time.

    “When I was a kid every weekend me, my sister, my mom and my day, we would go without lunch every single Saturday of every month so that at night my family could afford four tickets and four samosas and four mango stick ice creams,” Akshay said.

    The 45-year-old actor said it is because of his father that his choice of movies largely depend on what the masses want.

    “Religiously to this date I treat my family on Saturdays but fortunately I don’t have to skip lunch… It is our biggest connection in life. So I owe my entire life’s happiness to Indian cinema,” Akshay said.

    The actor asked the nearly 2000 strong gathering to stand silently for a minute to remember his father-in-law Rajesh Khanna, Yash Chopra, Dev Anand, A K Hangal, Ashok Mehta and Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray.

    Polish director Krzysztof Zanussi, 73, received a standing ovation from the audience as he was conferred with the Lifetime Achievement award by Information and Broadcasting minister Manish Tewari.

    In responsne to the emotional appeal made by Akshay, the whole audience stood up in two-minute silence to pay tributes to the film personalities who passed out this year as well as Shiv Sena Supremo Bal Thackeray.

     

    Courtesy: goanews

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