Saturday, July 25, 2015
Friday, July 24, 2015
Dinesh Kamath’s news ‘Four heroines compete for the topmost position in Bollywood’
Four heroines compete for the topmost position in Bollywood
By Dinesh Kamath
Who will be the topmost heroine in
the Bollywood at the end of the year 2015? There are four heroines competing
for the top position. These heroines are Deepika Padukone, Priyanka Chopra,
Kareena Kapoor and Kangana Ranaut.
These four Bollywood actresses have
been scoring hit after hit with effortless ease. Here are some basic facts
about the top 4 contenders for the title:
Deepika Padukone: Her latest
releases were Piku, Happy New Year and Finding Fanny. Her Upcoming releases are
Bajirao Mastani, Tamasha and Anand L Rai’s next. Deepika excelled in Sanjay
Leela Bhansali film Goliyon Ki Rasleela – Ram Leela, Shah Rukh Khan starrer
magnum opus Happy New Year, Homi Adajania film Finding Fanny and Shoojit
Sircar’s film Piku. These films catapulted her to top
position as heroine in Bollywood. Her current releases – Bajirao and Tamasha –
show signs of becoming big hits. So it won’t come as a surprise if Deepika
manages to retain her number one position.
Kangana Ranaut: Her latest
releases were Tanu Weds Manu Returns, Queen, Revolver Rani and Bajirao. Her
upcoming releases are Katti Batti, Rangoon and Ketan Mehta’s Rani Laxmi Bai. Her
Vikas Bahl film Queen became a very big hit. Her performance in Tanu Weds Manu was
so great that she became the most sought-after actress in Bollywood. Her next
films Katti Batti and Vishal Bharadwaj’s Rangoon opposite Shahid Kapoor might
take her to still greater height. You can never predict anything about Kangana
Ranaut because she is prone to create surprises.
Kareena Kapoor: Here latest
releases are Bajrangi Bhaijaan and Singham Returns. Her upcoming release is R
Balki’s next with Arjun Kapoor. Kareena acted so brilliantly in Ajay Devgn
starrer Singham Returns and in a cameo role in Akshay Kumar’s 2015 film Gabbar
is Back, that she was showing signs of regaining the top position. Her role in Bajrangi
Bhaijaan opposite Salman Khan is being greatly appreiciated. Her Mera Naam May
stint for Brothers has grabbed all the attentions. It is unfortunate that she walked
out of the project in which she was playing the role of a schizophrenic
prostitute. The project was Raj Kumar Gupta’s Section 84. The massive success
of Bajrangi Bhaijaan and her next with R Balki and Arjun Kapoor can catapult
her to unpredictable height.
Priyanka Chopra: Her latest
releases Dil Dhadakne Do, Mary Kom and Gunday were very impressive. Her
upcoming releases aer Bajirao Mastani and Gangaajal 2. Her power-packed
performance in Mary Kom, and her 2015 film Dil Dhadakne, in which she portrayed
a woman caught in an unhappy marriage, was lauded far and wide. Her next role
in Prakash Jha’s Gangaajal 2 might take her to a height which nobody can predict.
She is currently shooting for ABC’s Quantico and Bajirao Mastani and both these
films show signs of becoming big hits which can make Priyanka prove to be a
threat for Deepika, Kangana and Kareena when it comes to occupying number one
position in Bollywood.
So out of
the four heroines, Deepika Padukone, Kangana Ranaut, Kareena Kapoor and
Priyanka Chopra, it could be any one of them who will wear the crown of the
No.1 Heroine of Bollywood in 2015. Who will be the one?
Thursday, July 23, 2015
Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Art of living is more important than art of playing' that was published in Newsband
Art of living is more
important than art of playing
The punishment has
been handed out by a Supreme Court-appointed committee to teams and individuals
involved in the betting scandal that hit the Indian Premier League two years
ago. A two-year suspension has been slapped on IPL franchises India Cements
Ltd., which owned Chennai Super Kings, and Jaipur IPL Cricket Pvt. Ltd., which
owns Rajasthan Royals. The action is
essentially based on the involvement of Gurunath Meiyappan, a CSK team
official, and Raj Kundra, a former owner of Rajasthan Royals, in betting
activity, and in maintaining contact with bookies. The two men have been suspended for life from any kind of involvement
in cricket matches organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India
(BCCI),
IPL gave hope to
lot of youth who toil day in and out in cricket fields and still do not make it
to the national team. If professionalism can be achieved in other sports why
not cricket? If we are smart we should know how to make IPL corruption-free. It
is necessary to maintain the purity and integrity of the game of cricket.
Surely the betting
and fixing will not stop with life bans on Raj Kundra and Gurunath Meiappan.
Only a financial loss to these
perpetrators will deter others from following suite.
We hope that the
Apex court and its judges will show the same courage in handing over punishment
to all the political bosses who are involved in corruption cases involving
public money. They have clearly over reached in suspending the two teams and
handing over life ban on the two individuals. The judgement is loaded and aimed
at punishing an individual who through democratic means occupy high position in
the cricket body.
The judgment by
the RM Lodha committee was the need of the hour. Nobody is bigger than the game
of cricket. There should be no compromise based on the stature of people
involved in remorseful act. Stringent punishment should be given to the people
involved in it and there should not be any hearing further in this case. BCCI
should conduct fresh bid for new teams instead of going with the new wine in an
old glass. This decision is surely going to bring back the faith of the people
in the game.
But what is the
monetary punishment? There are few obvious points to ponder: When you suspend a team from participating,
are you punishing them? They have made their money and will enjoy a long
sabbatical. Can the court say that the officials and the players be not paid
the fee? Then why the court did not freeze the accounts of these teams?
Everything is as
per the knowledge and experience of the Supreme Court judges. The sentences are
definitely from the mouth or pen of the learned ones. We have to accept legally
they are OK and unquestionable.
One question that
bothers the intellectuals is why the game of cricket matters most? So many
lakhs of people spend so much money and precious time in watching 22 people
playing a game with so much uncertainties, may be glorious as claimed by the
writers and speakers all these years. They are not looking at our lives in this
world as more uncertain and more glorious than anything else let alone cricket.
This game of life matters most - more than any other thing, including cricket. Art
of living is more popular than art of playing.
The last thing is
that Cricket is the most popular game in India today. So, several politicians and
unscrupulous persons capture administrative positions in BCCI and its
associations for popularity and monetary benefits. Henceforth, only cricketers
who played at least Ranji Trophy should be allowed to contest elections for
administrative positions in BCCI and its affiliated associations.
Dinesh Kamath’s column ‘New movies released in Navi Mumbai’ (Aisa Yeh Jahaan, Ant-Man, Masaan and Mr Holmes) that was published in Newsband
New movies released in Navi
Mumbai
By Dinesh Kamath
Aisa Yeh Jahaan
Aisa Yeh Jahaan is 2015 India’s First Carbon Neutral Film
directed by Biswajeet Bora and produced by Maya Kholie. The film stars Palash
Sen, Ira Dubey and Kymsleen Kholie in lead roles, with Yashpal Sharma (actor),
Tinu Anand, Carol Gracias, Prisha Dabbas and Saurabh Pandey in supporting
roles.
The film has an interesting plot. The film is set in
Mumbai. It depicts the relationship between a husband and wife, the ever
growing human detachment with nature and people’s attitude towards the
physiology of a child’s growth which is portrayed in a lighthearted yet
satirical fashion.
Rajib works for a multinational company and is far apart
in terms of his nature from his wife, Ananya, who is a receptionist at a private
firm. On the other hand, Kuhi, their three-year-old daughter, and Pakhi, the
domestic help of the house, share a relationship based on innocence and pure
emotions. Pakhi takes good care of Kuhi when Rajib and Ananya are away at work
during the day.
The whole family plans a vacation to their hometown in
Assam. There, Kuhi gets to know Nalia Kai, the helper of the house, who
introduces her to a new world – a world of trees, birds, greenery, paddy fields
and the environment at large. There she realizes the difference between the
concrete world of Mumbai and the natural environment of her father’s hometown.
She also fears that one day the people of Mumbai would not have air to breathe,
as she learns that we get oxygen from trees. This compels her to question the
scarcity of trees in Mumbai.
The film has Dr. Palash Sen as Mr Rajib Saikia, Ira Dubey
- Mrs. Ananya Saikia, Yashpal Sharma (actor) - Nalia Kai (Domestic help of Mr.
Saikia's household), Kymsleen Kholie – Pakhi, Tinu Anand - Mr. Majid Khan
(Director in the movie), Carol Gracias - Club Singer, Prisha Dabbas - Kuhi
Saikia (Rajib and Ananya’s child), Saurabh Pandey - Ron (Ananya’s cousin
brother) and Bishnu Khargharia - Gunakanta Saikia ( Rajib's father).
Singer and composer, Dr. Palash Sen, the renowned singer
from the much-loved Indian rock band Euphoria, has composed the music for Aisa
Yeh Jahaan. Female play back singers are Abhilasha Sinha and Kamakshi Khanna,
young budding singers from Delhi and just graduating from LSR, Delhi University
Ant-Man
Ant-Man is a 2015 American superhero film based on the
Marvel Comics characters of the same name: Scott Lang and Hank Pym. Produced by
Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is
the twelfth installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The film is
directed by Peyton Reed, with a screenplay by Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish and
Adam McKay and Paul Rudd, and stars Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Corey Stoll, Bobby
Cannavale, Michael Peña, Tip "T.I." Harris, Anthony Mackie, Wood Harris,
Judy Greer, David Dastmalchian, and Michael Douglas. In Ant-Man, Lang must help
defend Dr. Pym's Ant-Man technology and plot a heist with worldwide
ramifications.
The film has an interesting story. Armed with the
astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, con-man Scott
Lang (Paul Rudd) must embrace his inner-hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym
(Michael Douglas), protect the secret behind his spectacular Ant-Man suit from
a new generation of towering threats. Against seemingly insurmountable
obstacles, Pym and Lang must plan and pull off a heist that will save the
world.
Masaan
Masaan is a drama film directed by Neeraj Ghaywan.
The film has Vicky Kaushal as Deepak Chaudhary who is a
25-year old boy from a Dom family, who burn dead bodies on the ghats of
Benares. He is studying civil engineering and also helps out his family too in
their work...though he wants to get out of it. Richa Chadha as Devi Pathak is a
24 year-old girl working as a receptionist cum counselor in a coaching center.
As girls of her age would be, she's also curious about relationships and
sex...unfortunately she gets embroiled in a controversy leading from her
desires. Shweta Tripathi as Shaalu Gupta is an upper-caste beautiful, honest
and confident girl. She loves poetry and has a natural charm. She has fallen in
love with Deepak...without thinking of the consequences. Sanjay Mishra as
Vidyadhar Pathak is an ex-professor of Sanskrit, Vidyadhar Pathak is a 52-year
old Pandit selling 'puja samagri' on a Benaras ghat and also translates books.
He also does the mundan sanskar for kids on the ghats and loves to discuss
philosophy and history with his ghat neighbors...Devi is his daughter. Nikhil
Sahni as Jhonta is a free spirited orphan on the ghats of Benaras. He lives by
the day and knows how to enjoy the spirit of childhood. He is happy to be
working at the shop of Vidyadhar Pathak.
Four lives intersect along the Ganges: a low caste boy
hopelessly in love, a daughter ridden with guilt of a sexual encounter ending
in a tragedy, a hapless father with fading morality, and a spirited child
yearning for a family, long to escape the moral constructs of a small-town.
Mr Holmes
Mr. Holmes is a 2015 crime drama mystery film directed by
Bill Condon, based on the 2005 novel A Slight Trick of the Mind written by
Mitch Cullin and featuring the character Sherlock Holmes. The film stars Sir
Ian McKellen as Sherlock Holmes, Laura Linney as housekeeper Mrs. Munro and
Milo Parker as her son Roger. Set primarily during his retirement, the film
follows a 93-year-old Holmes who struggles to recall the details of his final
case while his mind begins to deteriorate.
The film is interesting. In 1947, an aging Sherlock
Holmes (Ian McKellen) returns from a journey to Japan, where, in search of a
rare plant with powerful restorative qualities, he has witnessed the
devastation of nuclear warfare. Now, in his remote seaside farmhouse, Holmes
faces the end of his days tending to his bees, with only the company of his
housekeeper and her young son, Roger. Grappling with the diminishing powers of
his mind, Holmes comes to rely upon the boy as he revisits the circumstances of
the unsolved case that forced him into retirement, and searches for answers to
the mysteries of life and love – before it's too late.
Dinesh Kamath's news 'High Court makes an attempt to solve mangroves related problems in the city' that was published in Newsband
High Court makes an attempt
to solve mangroves related problems in the city
By Dinesh Kamath
NAVI MUMBAI: Bombay
high court's suggestion of setting up a committee to monitor complaints about
mangrove destruction in the city has been welcomed by many organizations. This
move by the court will ensure the solving of any problem related to mangroves. The
members of the committee will comprise of those persons belonging to Konkan
Bhavan, NMMC, CIDCO, Navi Mumbai Police Commissionerate, NGOs and other organizations.
This committee is expected to cooperate with Forest Department in the matter of
solving mangroves related cases. This way, the responsibility will be shared by
all concerned organizations.
The environment activists were elated by this happening
and they called it a good move which would help retain the greenery of the
city. They also demanded the arrest of unidentified dumpers who come from
Mumbai and dump debris in Navi Mumbai regions which fall within the
jurisdicition of Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation. They were concerned about
the long coastline of the city where particularly these dumping were done.
According to them if this practice continues, then the marine life would be in
danger.
Public Works Department too has been facing a problem
owing to mangroves related problem. PWD wishes to widen the road at a
particular place along Sion-Panvel Highway but they are not able to get
no-objection from the Forest Department which is concerned about the mangroves
that might get destroyed if the permission to widen the road is granted.
In cases involving replanting mangroves after they are uprooted,
clearance is given if the application is made before the project is taken up. Till
then clearance is not possible.
Thus mangroves related problem is become a major issue in
the city and Bombay High Court has come up with a brilliant idea of forming a
committee consisting of members from all concerned departments or organizations
who together are expected to share the responsibilities in the matter of
mangroves related issues.
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Dinesh Kamath's news 'Activists complain about many trees having been killed at New Panvel' that was published in Newsband
Activists complain about
many trees having been killed at New Panvel
By Dinesh Kamath
Above: Well grown
trees chopped off
Above: Poison
being injected into the tree
NAVI MUMBAI: At
New Panvel, there are constant cases of trees being killed by poisoning them.
The complaint related to this anti-social activity was lodged to tree activists
by some of the residents staying at New Panvel. The last incident occurred
somewhere near Khanda colony and the activists have requested the local police
to find the miscreants and take appropriate action against them.
Trees do not grow overnight. It takes months and years
for a delicate plant to grow into a strong tree. When some miscreants go around
poisoning fully grown and strong trees in big number one can imagine the
disappointments felt by environment activists who already find that there are
not enough trees around to create the environmental balance. They were shocked
to see the trees in New Panvel trimmed considerably and some trees had dried up
owing to having been poisoned with chemical.
A local resident who was a witness to this happening did
question one of the persons who was chopping off the trees. He gave a flimsy reason.
He said that some vehicle owners had paid him to do that job so that during
monsoon the trees don’t fall on their vehicles while they are driving or if
they have parked them at that location.
Thus the complaints about trees being poisoned to death or
trimmed considerably at New Panvel are constantly pouring into the offices of the
activists. Some residents have also accused City and Industrial Development
Corporation of hiring their men to cut down the trees or granting permission to
the locals or the members of housing societies to trim the trees for some
reason or the other.
One of the residents said, “There is no harm if some of
the trees are cut for genuine reasons. But excessive cutting of the trees is
bad. There are certain elements who cut the trees just to obtain the wood which
if they sell in the market can fetch them a big amount. There are some poor
ones who have to burn wood to cook their food and these people resort to cutting
trees just to obtain those woods.”
An expert on trees said “The tree-killers normally
chemically treat and kill trees. They might also apply herbicide to a specific
area on the tree. These applications reduce impacts on adjacent vegetation from
drift or over-spray. But other methods require complete herbicide coverage on
foliage or soil, just a bit more complicated.
Here are the most effective available chemical methods
used to kill trees. There are various methods employed by these killers to kill
trees. One is Cut Surface Treatments. They make cuts around the entire circumference
of the tree trunk with an axe or hatchet and then they immediately apply the
selected herbicide into the cuts. This kills the tree. Another method is by Injecting.
Here the specialized tree injection equipment is used to administer a specific
amount of herbicide into the tree when the cut is made. The third method is Stump
Treatments. Here you actually cut a tree down and treat the freshly cut surface
with herbicide to prevent sprouting. Then there is Basal Bark Treatment where the
herbicide is applied to the lower 12 to 18 inches of the tree trunk (on the
bark). Herbicide spray mixed with oil is mixed here until the bark is
saturated. This method can kill trees of all sizes. Then there is Foliage
Treatment which is a common method of applying herbicides to brush up to 15
feet tall. Except in very sensitive species, spraying growing plants with
rapidly elongating stems will burn the plant. The last is the Soil Treatment.
Here the poison is applied evenly to the soil surface after which it can move
into the root zone of the targeted plants. This type of application can kill
large numbers of trees. Thus these are the methods employed by tree-killers.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)