Dinesh Kamath's cartoons based on 'Alooramji' that were published in Newsband

Dinesh Kamath liked Amrita Rao in movies ‘Vivah’ and ‘Ishq Vishk’

I liked Amrita Rao in movies ‘Vivah’ and ‘Ishq Vishk’

By Dinesh Kamath

I simply loved Amrita Rao in the movie Vivah - A Journey From Engagement To Marriage. Vivah means marriage. It is a 2006 Bollywood romantic drama film. The film is written and directed by Sooraj R. Barjatya and stars Shahid Kapoor and Amrita Rao.

Vivah is the story of the engagement period of Prem (Shahid Kapoor), an upper-class business manager, and Poonam (Amrita Rao), a middle class college student. Amrita was a complete natural in this role and I found her very believable. Amrita Rao’s “Perfect Indian Beauty Face” and her bubbly, cheerful, yet intense appeal made her the perfect choice to play the role of Poonam in Vivah.

With Vivah Amrita Rao became the Nation’s darling and won over the hearts of millions of Indian homes with her Award winning Performance.

Amrita Rao’s Awards for the movie Vivah:

1.        2007: “Dada Saheb Phalke Award” – “Excellence in Performance”: In 2007 Amrita Rao became the youngest and the only Actress in the current generation to be honored with the “Dada Saheb Phalke Academy Award” for her Excellence in Performance in the movie Vivah.

2.        2008: “Sunil Dutt Nargis Dutt Award” -“Excellence in Performance”: In 2008 Amrita Rao was awarded the prestigious “Sunil Dutt & Nargis Dutt Award” for her Performance in Vivah.

Earlier I liked Amrita Rao in the hyper romantic film Ishq Vishk (2003). It was the 2003 movie Ishq Vishk that made her famous virtually overnight.

The common thing between me and her is that we are both Konkani. Another common thing is that both of us can speak English, Hindi, Marathi, and Konkani.

Looking forward to see more films of Amrita Rao. Good luck, Amrita!!!!

Dinesh Kamath's news item 'Navi Mumbai to gear up for its first ever film festival' that was published in Newsband

Navi Mumbai to gear up for its first ever film festival

By Dinesh Kamath

NAVI MUMBAI: Navi Mumbai, known as the satellite city to Mumbai, will hold its first ever Film Festival, Navi Mumbai International Film Festival (NMIFF) from 31st January to 2nd February 2014. The festival will be held at the DY Patil Auditorium in Nerul, one of the largest auditoriums in the city. Founded with the idea to showcase the talent & creativity of filmmakers, NMIFF (Navi Mumbai International Film Festival) will give a global exposure to these budding film makers.

The film-goers will have a repository of fine movies of different taste and calibers from across the globe, to enjoy under the sky of this beautiful city. The festival is open to film makers from across the globe, and appreciates all genres of film making. The films to be screened have been slotted in three categories - student shorts, professional shorts and feature films. These categories are inclusive of short films, AD films, animation, documentaries, music videos and social awareness films. NMIFF will be screening around 22 movies throughout the three days of the festival. The winners will be selected by a panel of esteemed jury members and awarded with cash prizes and trophies.

Sachin Khanna, Festival founder and Chairman, NMIFF said, “NMIFF is determined to providing an international platform to talented filmmakers. We want Navi Mumbai to be highlighted as International spot which is yet deprived of any festival like this. This will expose local talent too of the area on world map. This is our first year and we have already received an overwhelming response and are looking forward to a great three day festival showcasing some of the best films.”

The registration for passes can be made online on the film festival’s website at http://www.nmiff.in  For further queries, contact: Mobile: 91 989 269 5080,  Telephone: 91 222 771 5002, E-mail: contact@nmiff.in

Dinesh Kamath's news item 'PAPs, CIDCO and NMIA Project' that was published in Newsband

PAPs, CIDCO and NMIA Project

By Dinesh Kamath

NAVI MUMBAI: Once the project affected persons (PAPs) of Navi Mumbai International Airport project accepts the government’s latest offer, the work on Dronagiri coastal road linking the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) directly to the Mumbai-Goa highway will get a push. City and Industrial Development Corporation has undertaken work to link JNPT, special economic zone area in Navi Mumbai and Dronagiri area, directly to the Pune and Goa highway. This road will facilitate fast movement of containers from JNPT. Presently, containers unloaded at JNPT are shipped to Pune, Goa, Nashik and Mumbai, causing traffic on the Sion-Panvel highway.

Once this road is complete, containers will not have to make their way through Navi Mumbai and Panvel. The 9-km stretch from Navghar to Chanje villages will connect to national highway 4B at Palaspe.

If after the PAPs of NMIA project accept the governent’s offer, the CIDCO, nodal agency for the project, finds it difficult to get developers, then the government might think of  constructing an airport by reclaiming land in the Panvel creek.

In case the companies fail to come forward, the government might think of constructing an airport in the sea. The union environment ministry has given an in-principle approval for such projects. Thus the government is prepared with second option. As per the plan, the airport is showing signs of handling 60 million passengers annually.

Dutch consultant Joeri Aulman has given the CIDCO officials a presentation on how to construct an airport in the sea. The existing airport plan spans over 1800 acres. It is proposed that an island of 4500 acres by reclamation on the bay area will be created. This will help create more land without affecting the nature.

Land-starved cities like Hong Kong and Singapore have their airports built on sea. Mumbai is also not alien to the concept as a good portion of the city is on reclaimed land.

Airport will be the best gift for Navi Mumbaikars. Once the Navi Mumbai International Airport project gets a go-ahead, the satellite city will be on par with the island city of Mumbai. The property rates here will grow drastically. The satellite city that had been lagging in pace for some time, will witness quick movement.

With the first flight likely to take-off in the next couple of years, major players in almost every sector will now look forward to setting up their base in the city. Allied companies, too, will come in this part of the world. The project will also boost the pace of infrastructural development in Navi Mumbai, and pending projects such as the construction of flyovers along the Thane-Belapur Road and Sion-Panvel highway will get the necessary push.

In the form of an airport, a major economic driver has come to Navi Mumbai. It is bound to generate a lot of interest among players from almost every sphere of the society. Besides, the city will witness growth with many allied industries setting up base here, thereby bringing along ample job opportunities.

Navi Mumbai has been in demand for its planned infrastructure, green environment, superb connectivity and cosmopolitan nature, and with the upcoming international airport, the city will witness a spectacular growth in the next 4-5 years.

Once the PAPs accept the governemnt’s offer, CIDCO is bound to start work on Navi Mumbai airport on war footing. The first thing it will do is to gradually claim the land from the villagers. Alongside, surveys using advanced technologies by CIDCO’s land survey department in the affected villages will also be conducted to procure concrete data on land or homes to be lost by each family. The findings will be forwarded to the concerned department handling the rehabilitation. CIDCO will also be extending financial help to those staying in gaothan areas for constructing their houses. PAPs will be paid cost of construction to help them rebuild their homes in accordance with the resettlement and rehabilitation (R&R) policy of CIDCO. The owners whose land falls in gaothan area, beyond gaothan area or beyond 200 metre of the gaothan but within the airport project will be the beneficiaries.

It is hoped that the first flight will take off by 2017

Dinesh Kamath's news item 'A Mega Medical Camp by Goud Saraswat Brahmins (GSB) of Navi Mumbai' that was published in Newsband

A Mega Medical Camp by Goud Saraswat Brahmins (GSBs) of Navi Mumbai

By Dinesh Kamath

VASHI: A Mega Medical Health Check-up camp was organised on the 1 December 2013 at Balaji Temple, Sector-10A,  Vashi, by the Mahila Shakha of the GSB Sabha Navi Mumbai, in association with Forts (Vashi), Nova Speciality Surgery(Chembur) and Advanced Eye Hospital (Sanpada).

About 213 persons benefitted from the camp. The facilities offered were-ECG, Lipid Profile, Blood (Sugar), Vision Screening, Gynaecologist, Orthopaedic, Blood Pressure testing . A General Physician was also present.

On the 30 November 2013, a Get-together of the Mahila Shakha was organised in the premises of the Balaji Temple. On this occasion the new Youth Wing was formed under the able guidance of Shri S. G. Bhat, President of the GSB Sabha. Shri Ganesh Bhat, was unanimously chosen to lead the Youth Wing of the Sabha.

Shri S. G. Bhat urged the ladies present in the meeting to enrol their children in the Youth Wing to empower the main Sabha. The youngsters present enthusiastically welcomed the suggestion and showed keenness to help in the smooth functioning of Temple activities.

Dinesh Kamath's news item 'Mayor assures of better Sec 9 Belapur' that was published in Newsband

Mayor assures of better Sec 9 Belapur

By Dinesh Kamath

(Above) Dr. Jayakar Ellis explaining a point to the Mayor as Mr. Sabu Daniel and Ashok Patil listen.

CBD BELAPUR: Surrounded by three hills and a temperature much less than the normal, Sector 9 CBD Belapur has been the best place to live in Navi Mumbai for over three decades. But with the non maintenance, the situation of this once beautiful place has been replaced with severe difficulties for the residents here.

On 3 December 2013, the Mayor was invited to visit Sector 9 and was shocked to see the pathetic condition of the sector. “I will see to it that all the problems of this place will be solved as soon as possible and it will once again regain its past beauty” said Shri Sagar Naik, Mayor, NMMC. Mr. Sabu Daniel, Mr Ashok Patil and Mr. Vinit Palkar were among the team which accompanied the Mayor.

“When I approached the Mayor and poured out our grievances, he immediately assured us of his visit. His visit has given us the assurance of better living conditions,” said Dr. Jayakar Ellis, resident of 25 years and who spearheaded this initiation.  Adding he said, “There are so many things that need immediate attention and there are no proper lighting, no walls around the society which helps robbers to run away on to the highway, no security as there is no Police Chowky as our sector is at the end and is attached to the Nursery where unwanted elements (boys/girls come for past time, young and old come with liquor, etc), roads are in such a horrible condition due to which many have had back problems and vehicles have been damaged, inner roads are bad, there is no proper play ground for children to play thus making them play on the road which is so dangerous, our community hall has been given to private company and thus we don’t have a place for our young and old for recreation. There is a small patch under the high tension wire which can be allocated for the use, gardens are in a very poor condition, Electricity Pillar boxes are in bad shape. There are certain electric cables open dangerously, cable wires are hanging from all side of the houses, construction debris is lying around everywhere”.

“Certain row houses have sewage problems like mine and when complaint is given, the workers charge to do private cleaning,” said Mr. Ahuja, a resident.

“With the Mayor’s visit, we hope things will be better and we can have a safe sector 9,” said Mrs. Fouzya Patankar, another resident.

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Misuse of modern technology should stop' that was published in Newsband

Misuse of modern technology should stop

The political parties ought to combat the party ideologically rather than on issues such as surveillance and the tapping of telephone conversations. They should also stop such recordings of conversations find their way into the public domain, either through a calculated leak or through journalistic resourcefulness. The personal nature of the allegations and suspicions over the motives behind the leak warrant extra care and scrutiny since they can raise embarrassing and troubling questions.

The law of privacy is inadequately developed in India, but it is doubtful if the physical surveillance and massive intrusion into the privacy is legally justified. Telephone tapping is an altogether new dimension. The Information Technology Act, 2000, through a 2008 amendment, provides for interception in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of the country, defence, security, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, and to prevent incitement to a cognisable offence or for investigation of an offence.

It is a moot question if these essential procedural safeguards laid down by the Supreme Court to protect the constitutional and common law right to privacy in telephone conversations are observed. No doubt, in the case of many police departments and government agencies these safeguards are honoured more in the breach. It is time to expand the gambit of surveillance laws to include right to privacy with a constitutional amendment.

Very often such a casual request for surveillance is made in all parts of India.

Those who see no harm to tap someone's phone and do surveillance have an ideology that is not in line with true democracy. Bringing innocent people's privacy to public is totally breach of fundamental rights.

The central issue is gross misuse of official power for private ends. Are we sure that no government, state or central has not snooped, is not snooping? Recently the US seems to have snooped on India, Pranab Mukherjee's office seemed to have been bugged, and so was Chidambaram's.

Illegal phone tapping and monitoring cellphone calls are made by politicians in power by misusing the official machinery and these have become so rampant that there is no non-sinner, who can raise his finger on any other politician. Surveillance happens everyday, minute and second by individuals, institutions, State.

 US was blatantly snooping against all the heads of the state (be it PM or other ministers). Snooping happens in all states on hundreds of individuals ranging from hardened criminals to political hacks who try to destabilize Governments. If modern technology has proved to be a boon many a times, it has also proved to be harmful quite a number of times.