HYDERABAD’S LOST GENERATION
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FEBRUARY 12, 2012 HYDERABAD
SERGIO
WHITNEY HOUSTON DIES AT 48
REPORT ON PG 5 & 8
The singer who inspired a generation of artists was found dead in her hotel room at the Beverly Hilton
PG 4
Fouzia (12) Hashamabad, Chandrayan Gutta October, 2011
32 PAGES
Nandu Naskari (10) Mahboob Chowk, February, 2009
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ON SUNDAY
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CITY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012
To be or not to be
SAILING INTO THE SUNSET SRINIVAS SETTY
My Theatre Cafe and Udaan Performing Arts present “To Be or Not To Be”. The play revolves around it’s protagonist, who is very much confused as to how to end his life because nothing works for him. This is a melodrama depicting a dilemma that also reveals unexpected behaviour of his own people during his suicide attempts. Where: Lamakaan, Banjara Hills When: February 12, 7.30pm Contact: 9642731329
Eat in the dark Have you ever wondered how it feels to eat in the dark? Come and experience this. Pay `499 to enjoy a 4-course meal worth `1,000 at Dialogue in the Dark. Where: Dialogue in the Dark, Inorbit Mall, Hitech City When: Ongoing, 12.30pm Contact: (040) 64603341
Valentines groove A valentines special workshop is being held. The workshop on salsa and theme dancing is being held by Promod Sanghi. Where: Park hotel Somajiguda When: Ongoing Contact:: (040) 23456789
Short Film Festival Eat, Sleep, Drink...Movies is a Unique Short Film Festival. The festival acts as a platform for a number of aspiring artistes. Where: State Gallery of Fine Arts, Madhapur When: February 12, 11am Contact: (040) 23113308
International pizza festival Pizza lovers this is the news for you! News Cafe is host to the International Pizza Festival. Where: News Cafe, Inorbit Mall, Hitech City When: Ongoing, 12.30pm Contact: (040) 64603341
Grammy nights
Group exhibition Muse Art Gallery will play host to a group exhibition titled “ An Artful Art”. It is a contemporary painting exhibition by a group of 26 artists. Where: Muse Art Gallery, Tank Bund When: Ongong, 11am Contact: 9396444424
Hard Rock Cafe presents you an award-winning experience. Termed as Grammy nights, head to HRC to listen to Grammy award winning music.
The Indian Mosac An exhibition of paintings titled “The Indian Mosac” will be on display at Iconart Gallery. Where: Iconart, Banjara Hills When: Ongoing, 6.30pm Contact: 9849968797
Sailors practice at Tankbund on friday evening. Where: Nautanki Galli, Madhapur When: Everyday, 12:30 pm onwards Contact: 7893010000
A suitable lunch Syn presents three lunch offers to suit your needs. There is a lunch for those in a hurry, a lunch for the calorie conscious and a lunch for those who are planning a reunion with pals. Where: Taj Deccan, Banjara Hills When: Everyday, 12pm onwards Contact: (040) 66663939
Numaish A childhood favourite of every Hyderabadi, The All India Industrial Exhibition is on. Where: Exhibition Grounds, Nampally When: Ongoing
CINEMAS
Anniversary celebrations
Martini ‘n music Enjoy winter evenings with martinis and crooner Kelly. Where: Taj Krishna, Banjara Hills When: Every Evening Contact: (040) 66662323
Lunch specials Nautanki Galli offers its expansive lunch buffet.
Bottles and Chimney is celebrating it’s 9th Anniversary. The celebrations are on from February 9 to February 14. Where: Bottles and Chimney When: Ongoing Contact: (040) 77664646
Cognac and Cigar The Seasons Bar opens up again as a Cigar and Cognac lounge with a wide selection of cognac, rare whiskies, single malts and cigars. Where: Taj Krishna, Banjara Hills When: Ongoing, 7pm Contact: (040) 66662323
When: February 12 Where: Hard Rock Cafe, Banjara Hills Contact: (040) 44767900
Bubblicious brunch Sundays are a time to relax and rejuvenate. Head to Prego as it offers a Bubblicous Brunch this Sunday. Where: Prego Westin , Madhapur When: Ongoing, 12pm onwards Contact: (040) 64566692
City in pictures A pictorial essay depicting the city of Hyderabad between the years of 1975 and 2011 is on display at Salarjung Museum. Where: Ravi Studios, Somajiguda When: Ongoing, 11am onwards Contact: (040) 23392471
Big Cinemas, Ameerpet, 30581470; Cinemax, Banjara Hills, 44565555; Cine Planet , Kompally, 61606060; INOX, Banjara Hills, 447677770, Prasads, Tank Bund Rd, 23448888; PVR, Punjagutta, 08800900009; Talkie Town, Miyapur, 40214175; Tivoli, Secunderabad 27844973
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CITY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012
3 youths die in accident
T
NJR ill, flown to London
hree youths including two students aged 20 were killed in a bike accident on late last night at Qutbullahpur, a City outskirts. According to Hayathnagar inspector G Bhaskar, victims identified as Anil, Bharath, and Uccej belong to Ghanpur of Ghatkaiser of Ranga Reddy district. Bharath and Uccej are intermediate students and Anil, a professional driver. Preliminary reports said the trio were drunk.
Mentally ill man kills self
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man, said to be mentally deranged, committed suicide in Kalepathar area of the Old City. This incident occurred in Makkah colony. He has been identified as Syed Hameed Pasha, aged 30. He was under treatment for his mental condition. According to police, he was mentally imbalanced and poured kerosene on his body and set himself ablaze. However, he sustained severe burn injuries and died in the hospital.
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ormer chief minister and a Congress Rajya Sabha member Nedrumalli Janardhana Reddy developed sudden sickness. He was shifted to London for better medicare, according to reports. He served as the Chief Minister between 1990 and 1992. Reddy also survived an assassination attempt by the Naxals in 2007, when the Left-wing rebels targeted his convoy in Nellore district.
Patients left in the lurch as docs, govt trade charges Striking doctors enraged by health minister’s remarks casting aspersions on their integrity. PIC: A.SUDHEER REDDY
OSAMA SALMAN
salman.o@postnoon.com
G
andhi hospital resembles a war zone where striking junior doctors try to dissuade seniors from entering the emergency ward, armed policemen keep vigil all over, a protest procession goes on in support of the doctors, and media persons go around with mike and note pad to get a byte or a word. And, while all this is happening, the unfortunate patients who come for medical help are confused. Striking junior doctors took out their ultimate weapon, refusing to attend the emergency cases. Senior doctors are making a valiant effort to keep the services alive but the pressure is telling. Why the police did not prevent the DYFI (Leftist youth wing) taking out procession in
tion. It has nothing to do with the junior doctors boycotting the emergency wing.” Meanwhile, the minister for medical education Kondru Murali’s stance condemning the doctors’ strike has hardened the stance of junior doctors who say they are fighting for infrastructure and a better stipend, and nothing else. Meanwhile, the junior doctors decried reports of large number of deaths in the hospital. They say it is spread by the vested interests opposed to the doctors. Referring to a Friday report that six people died due to lack of medical help, leaders of striking doctors said on normal days an average eight patients died in the hospital. Junior doctor, Shankar Narayan, pointed out that the emergency section does not have proper surgical equipment, medicines to handle emergency situation. “If conditions don’t improve, more patients will die. We are fighting for them and not just for ourselves,” he said.
We are being portrayed as bad guys by the political parties. Yes, we are boycotting the emergency wing but it is for a just cause. It’s the adamant government that is responsible for a lock jam. Arun Kumar, junior doctor support of doctors’ cause is a question hospital staff and suffering patients asked, but nobody answered. Meanwhile, rumour spread that six people have died in the emergency section because the junior doctors refused to treat patients. Dr Shaik Mehboob, superintendent, Gandhi Hospital, said, “Out of the six patients who were admitted in the emergency wing, one was brought dead. The other five were in critical condi-
Drop politicians, say RTI activists Sudeshna Koka
A SUDHEER REDDY
sudeshna.k@postnoon.com
R
TI activists in the City are aghast at the government proposal to nominate four political persons to the Information Commissioner office. They held a protest dharna at Indira Park on Saturday and plans to launch a signature campaign against the move. The protesters say four of eight new commissioners recommended are ineligible to be the commissioners. The Commission has over 13,000 cases pending as it does not have the official quorum . The United Forum of RTI activists which had organised the protest said fresh process of
RTI activists hold a protest dharna at Indira Park on Saturday against the government’s decision on Information Commission appointments.
selecting respected and non-controversial persons of eminence should be initiated. Their meeting with the CM, governor and ministers proved futile so far. Not laying down clear parameters for selection of information commissioners is the main reason for such controversies, protesters said. The whole process should be transparent. “We don’t hate politicians but the kind of image they created for self do not evoke confidence in them. It’s time we exercise our democratic right and stop the trend of placing politicians in every sphere of life. RTI is an important tool of empowerment of masses and it should not be diluted, says Babu Rao, a retired scientist and RTI activist.
Who are opposed? Imtiaz Ahmed: Former member of Telugu Desam Party. Contested in election in 2004 and 2009. Recently joined the Congress. Lam Tantya Kumari: Former Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituency (ZPTC) member and daughter of the late deputy CM Komeru Ranga Rao from the congress. M Vijaya Nirmala: Contested from and lost the Nuzvid Assembly seat in Krishna District on Praja Rajyam Party ticket in 2009. V Venkateswarlu: Leader of National Student union of India.
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CITY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012
Searching for the lost generation Are missing kids victims of a flourishing flesh-organ trade?
MOHD SUBHAN
mohd.s@postnoon.com
I
t’s a shame and a shock. Nearly 11 children go missing in India every hour and at least four of them are never found, says a study. The report by Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) covers 392 of India's 640 districts and is the first such comprehensive study on the subject. The data was compiled over two years from January 2008 to January 2010. Most of the missing children are from poor families and the biggest reason why many remain
untraced is because of the apathy of the police and law enforcement agencies. The report, Missing Children in India, a pioneering study was released in Delhi in December. It is based on data from the government-controlled National Crime Record Bureau, the National Human Rights Commission, various child rights groups and information obtained under the Right to Information Act. The report says 117,480 children went missing between January 2008 and January 2010 in 392 districts in 20 states and four federally-governed territories. Based on the findings, the group estimates that the total number of children who go missing every year in India could be as high as 96,000.
Rightists and child welfare associations also point to possibility of organ trade. The organ trade is an international racket, which is a multi-billion business. “This is a grave issue that brooks no delay in action. We demand that the State government must initiate a thorough inquiry into these cases apart from strengthening anti-trafficking cells. The apex investigation agency in the country — the CBI — also opened an Anti-Trafficking Cell recently. But the Irony here is that many people in the State don't know about this cell. The CBI should also reward people who tip them off on organised gangs who are involved in woman trafficking,” says Sandhya, leader, Progressive Organisation for Women.
The State government must initiate a thorough inquiry into these cases apart from strengthening anti-trafficking cells. The apex investigation agency in the country — the CBI — has opened an Anti-Trafficking Cell recently. But the irony here is that many people in the State don't know about this cell. The CBI should also reward people who tip them off on organised gangs who are involved in woman trafficking. Sandhya, leader, Progressive Organisation for Women (POW)
DISTURBING Missing children (since 2008)
NUMBERS Missing girls (2008–11), Cyberabad
6,019 511 2,109 65 per cent 12-15 Traced
Possible destination — Flesh/ porn trade
Largest chunk — Girls in the
age group Missing girls (2008–11), Hyderabad
974
of missing children remain untraced
Child rights activists fear that the untraced children may have already landed in fleshtrade rackets KRZYSZTOF DABROWSKI
Sensational cases persuaded, ordinary left to fate
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CP of Crime Control Station CCS Chiti Babu said, a missing case is registered after 48 hours of a person is reported missing. Routinely, we issue a lookout notice and later get the person in question published in
local newspapers and telecast on television channels. Some other measures, like approaching mobile service providers to mark the tower from where the person made the last call is exercised. In Crime Control Station (CCS), a team of 4 or 5
cops work on tracing missing people. The ACP is frank in admitting that beyond these measures nothing much is done except in the case of sensational cases. In such cases a special team is constituted and interstate
alerts given. In certain cases police send a team to possible spots across the nation to trace out the missing person in cooperation with the local police of that state. Police officers also say that in the case of girls and
boys of late teens, elopement is also common. In such cases things become clear only after some time. Unlike kids, they are most likely to return home when money they have, is exhausted or the initial enthusiasm evaporates.
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FOCUS SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012
The voice of a generation falls silent
The shock news of singer Whitney Houston’s death came as the music industry gathered in Los Angeles for the annual Grammy awards show on Sunday, and a few hours ahead of a traditional pre-Grammys dinner in the hotel where Houston died ANDY VANZAN
LOS ANGELES: Grammy-winning pop legend and actress Whitney Houston was found dead Saturday in Beverly Hills, police said. She was 48. The shock news came as the music industry gathered in Los Angeles for the annual Grammy awards show on Sunday, and a few hours ahead of a traditional preGrammys dinner in the hotel where Houston died. Musicians took to Twitter to pay tribute to the singer, famous for songs including “I Will Always Love You,” who had led a public battle with drugs. “Heartbroken and in tears over the shocking death of my friend ... She will never be forgotten as one of the greatest voices to ever grace the earth,” wrote Mariah Carey. Police confirmed her death in a brief statement outside the Beverly Hilton hotel, where stars were gathering for an annual pre-Grammys dinner hosted by veteran producer Clive Davis. “At 3.55pm, Whitney Houston was pronounced dead at the Beverly Hilton hotel,” said Mark Rosen, a police spokesman. Rosen said police received an emergency call from someone in her entourage and found Houston on the floor of her room on the hotel’s fourth floor as attempts were being made to resuscitate her. “There were no obvious signs of criminal intent at this time, and it is being investigated by the Beverly Hills police department,” the police spokesman added. The cause of death was not immediately known. A mobile crime laboratory and a number of police cars were stationed outside the hotel, while inside guests watched live television coverage about Houston’s death in the bar and lobby areas. Condolences poured in on Twitter from shocked fans and from the famous, as sadness over the news spread through the entertainment world. “We have lost another legend. Love and prayers to Whitney’s family. She will be missed,” said Christina Aguilera, while Rihanna wrote simply: “No words! Just tears #Dear Whitney.”
Grammys organisers the Recording Academy are scrambling to include some kind of tribute to Houston in Sunday’s show at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, according to CNN. With a ferociously powerful voice and a dazzling range, Houston achieved stardom as a pop-soul singer known as “The Voice” and the “Queen of Pop.” She also appeared in hit movies like Waiting to Exhale and The Bodyguard. From a musical family that included mother Cissy Houston, a gospel star, and Dionne Warwick, her cousin, Whitney Houston started out as a teen model and then made a dazzling segue to music. Her hits included How Will I Know, Saving all My Love for You, and I Will Always Love You. Houston’s trove of six Grammy awards included one for record of the year — for a soaring cover of Dolly Parton’s I Will Always Love You, and another for album of the year for The Bodyguard. Houston, who grew up in New Jersey, was also a supporter of the anti-apartheid movement and South Africa’s Nelson Mandela, on whose behalf she campaigned during his imprisonment. She struggled with substance abuse, which took a toll on her health and career. Houston has sold more than 170 million records worldwide but suffered a major career setback after admitting drug use during an abusive relationship with ex-husband Bobby Brown. Brown was one of the hottest rhythm and blues singers in the late 1980s and early 90s, but became better known as the husband of Houston and for his frequent brushes with drugs and the law. The pair, who were divorced in 2007, starred in a television reality series, Being Bobby Brown, that featured their marriage, warts and all. They have a daughter Bobbi Kristina. Brown was detained in Atlanta in 1993 for lewd conduct and for brawling in 1995. He was arrested for drunk driving in 1996 and for alleged battery of Houston in late 2003.
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NATION SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012
CLASSIFIEDS FABRICATION
RPF Bill on the anvil
J&K orders firing probe
Man killed over `50
NEW DELHI: A legislation to make
SRINAGAR: Tension persisted in Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Saturday following the death of a 25year-old youth in a firing incident late on Friday. His family and villagers finally agreed to bury the body after the Jammu and Kashmir government has ordered a probe and the army expressed regret over the mistaken killing.
GHAZIABAB: A fight over `50 proved fatal for a technician who was stabbed to death by a milk dairy owner in the Sahibabad area of Ghaziabad on Saturday, police said. Ravindra Jatav was stabbed to death by Saurabh as he had not paid `50 for the milk he bought from Saurabh on credit, Senior Superintendent of Police Raghubir Lal said.
Railway Protection Force (RPF) the sole body responsible for passenger security is likely to be introduced in the Budget session of Parliament. The Railway Protection Force Amendment Bill, 2011 also seeks withdrawal of Government Railway Police from railway premises and empowering the RPF with policing power.
Media pushing children to crime? NEW DELHI: The recent cases of a
Gorakhpur voters seek ‘right to reject’ GORAKHPUR: In a unique case, some voters sought to exercise their right to reject during polling in Uttar Pradesh assembly elections second phase on Saturday. However, with no such provision in electoral laws, they were allowed to put on record their decision to abstain as they did not consider any candidate deserving enough. Polling officials were taken by surprise when some half a dozen voters came down to their polling booths and demanded endorsement of their right to reject all candidates in the fray in Gorakhpur. The incident occurred in the Janata Intermediate College where 60year-old Draupadi Mani Tripathi, her son Dhananjay Mani Tripathi and daughter-in-law Nutan Tripathi went up to the presiding officer seeking to exercise their right to reject under the provisions of Rule 49 (O) of the Representation of People Act. Even though such a right was not enshrined in the ballot system, the rule prescribes for a register to be kept at polling stations in which any voter is entitled to express his wish not to vote for any of the candidates in the fray.
12-year-old who died aping a TV serial suicide and a 15-year-old who stabbed his teacher to death after being reportedly influenced by watching revenge drama Agneepath have put the spotlight on the influence showbiz exerts on young, impressionable minds. But films and TV shows are not alone to blame, say experts. Media literacy for kids is one way out, suggests child psychiatrist Samir Parikh. “Our education system needs to spread media literacy among kids and infuse life skills into them so that they can differentiate between reality and fiction. There’s no other way out,” Parikh said. According to Parikh, there are a few key effects that watching violence on screen can have on chil-
dren. “When children watch and observe violence, they start developing a tendency towards being aggressive, they get desensitised to aggression, they can have a tendency to imitate, and their perception of reality can also tend to get dis-
torted... they start believing that killing and abusing is not a big deal, and that’s where the problem begins,” he explained. The Chennai-based boy, who stabbed his teacher to death as he was upset at being repeatedly reprimanded by her for not doing well in
studies, reportedly told police during questioning that he had recently seen Agneepath and was influenced by the hero who takes revenge on those who falsely implicate his father. In the case of the 12-year-old Delhi boy, the father believes his son, who climbed on a pile of chairs and hung himself with a dupatta, probably tried to copy a recent TV episode in which a woman died the same way. Vipul Shah of Optimystix, producer of crime-based show Crime Patrol admits content providers need to exercise caution with the level of aggression and violence shown on screen. “Broadcasters, who are a part of any show, should check the age factor before venturing into new shows. It’s not ethical to show everything and anything for the sake of IANS ratings,” Shah said.
EC asks president to decide on Khurshid Hyderabad’s first afternoon newspaper
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DELHI: Taking exception to Union law and justice minister Salman Khurshid sticking to his remarks about backward Muslims during campaigning in Uttar Pradesh despite a censure, Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi on Saturday sought President Pratibha Patil’s intervention so that polls in the state were conducted in accordance with law. Quraishi wrote a letter to the president on Saturday that the minister’s fresh remarks had “created a disturbing situation”. “The full commission hence deliberated on the matter in an emergency meeting this (Saturday) afternoon while being concerned about the fact that Khurshid’s action could viti-
ate free and fair poll in Uttar Pradesh,” the letter said. “The commission is perturbed because the undermining of its constitutionally mandated duties has come from the law minister who has a direct responsibility to uphold and strengthen the ECI rather than to denigrate it,” Quraishi said in his letter. “The Election Commission of India finds it necessary and unavoidable to turn to you at this juncture for immediate and decisive intervention so that the ongoing election to the Uttar Pradesh assembly is conducted, and this commission discharges its functions in accordance with the Constitution and the law,” the letter said. IANS
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WORLD SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012
Suu Kyi starts campaigning YANGION: Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of Myanmar’s opposition National League for Democracy (NLD), on Saturday started the parliamentary by-election campaign in her constituency. Suu Kyi is to contest in Kawhmu township in Yangon region as a candidate of her party with Dr. U Soe Min, candidate of the ruling party, USDP, for a seat of the House of Representatives in the April 1 by-elections.
Maldives safe: Md Waheed
Boy jailed for stealing kite
MALE: Ending a week of political turmoil, the Maldives on Saturday invited tourists to its world’s top luxury resort destinations assuring complete safety and protection. Maldivian president Mohamed Waheed Hassan who was newly appointed as the head of the state of Indian Ocean archipelago told media despite political crisis over the week no tourists have been affected.
ISLAMABAD: Tearful pleas of a 14-yearold Pakistani boy for forgiveness fell on deaf ears after a court handed him a prison sentence for stealing a kite. “Please give me pardon, I will never touch a kite, my annual paper is on tomorrow,” Arsalan pleaded. The Class VIII student was handcuffed and produced before a judicial magistrate in Gujranwala city of Punjab province.
Syria war spills into Lebanon; Arab ministers to meet DAMASCUS: Arab League foreign ministers will meet on Sunday in Cairo to discuss their next move over the Syrian crisis with the bloodshed showing no signs of abating, even spilling over into Lebanon. The Syrian National Council (SNC) said Arab recognition of the opposition umbrella group was imminent after Syrian authorities moved against protest flashpoints and a general was gunned down in Damascus on Saturday. In Aleppo, tensions escalated as President Bashar al-Assad’s forces stepped up security after twin car bombs killed 28 people and wounded 235 in Syria’s second city on Friday, activists said. Forty-five people were killed across the country on Saturday, mostly civilians, said Rami Abdel Rahman of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Tank shelling killed 14 civilians in Homs, most of them in the rebel stronghold neighbourhood of Baba Amr, Abdel Rahman told AFP. Dozens were wounded. Assad’s forces have waged a brutal week-long onslaught on the central protest city of Homs that has killed at least 500 people since February 4, Abdel Rahman said. Homs activist Hadi Abdullah accused policemen and soldiers of pillaging the Inshaat neighbourhood. “They are stealing computers, television sets... and even blankets.” Security forces also advanced into Zabadani, another main cen-
Lebanese children hold an AK47 as they stand next to a Red Cross vehicle in a Sunni neighbourhood during clashes between Lebanese Sunni Muslims and Alawites in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli AFP PHOTO/JOSEPH EID tre of resistance near Damascus, said Abdel Rahman, adding that three civilians were killed there. A general was shot dead outside his Damascus home, state media said. If confirmed, this would be one of the most brazen attacks on the top brass in the capital since the uprising erupted in March last year. “An armed terrorist group this morning assassinated brigadier general and doctor Issa
Church rejects Obama pill plan WASHINGTON: US Roman Catholic bishops have voiced opposition to President Barack Obama’s plan to require insurers to provide free birth control — despite earlier indication they might accept the compromise. “The only complete solution to this religious liberty problem is for HHS (Department of Health and Human Services) to rescind the mandate of these objectionable services,” the US Conference of Catholic Bishops said in a statement. The government’s decision to guarantee women access to contraceptives “remains a grave moral concern,” they said. On Friday, Obama said his government would no longer require religious organizations to offer free contraception on employee health plans.
al-Khawli, the director of Hamish hospital, outside his home in the district of Ruknaddin,” SANA state news agency said. A YouTube video posted on the Internet showed Syrian tanks bearing huge portraits of Assad firing on a road in Douma, a Damascus suburb which has been plagued by months of violence. In another video, protesters are seen marching in the Damascus district of Al-Aassali
carrying banners which said: “We will only kneel before God,” and “Long live Syria, down with Bashar al-Assad.” In Lebanon, a 17-year-old girl was among three people killed and 23 were wounded in clashes between Sunni Muslims hostile to Syria’s regime and Alawites who support it, a security official said. Ten of the wounded were Lebanese soldiers, including a sergeant in critical condition.
The rival factions in Tripoli, in northern Lebanon, fired guns and rocket-propelled grenades at each other in the bloodiest clashes since June, when six people died in the wake of demonstrations against Syria’s government. In recent years Tripoli has been rocked by intense clashes between members of its Sunnimajority community and Alawites -- the community from which hails the Syrian president. Syrian state media, meanwhile, blamed “terrorists” for Friday’s double car bomb attacks on security posts in Aleppo. The rebel Free Syrian Army accused the “criminal” regime of launching the attacks “to steer attention away from what it is doing in Homs, Zabadani and elsewhere.” A report citing unnamed US officials said the bombings were likely to have been carried out by the Iraqi branch of Al-Qaeda, along with attacks on Damascus in December and January. McClatchy Newspapers said the incidents appeared to verify Assad’s charges of Al-Qaeda involvement in the uprising against his 11-year rule. And Iraq’s deputy interior minister said on Saturday that jihadists are moving from Iraq to Syria, as are weapons being sent to Assad’s opponents. “We have intelligence information that a number of Iraqi jihadists went to Syria,” Adnan alAssadi told AFP, adding that “weapons smuggling is still ongoing” from Iraq to Syria.
Romney bags Maine after three-state loss
Five journalists from Sun arrested
WASHINGTON: Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney won a non-binding nominating contest in the northeastern state of Maine on Saturday with 39 percent of the vote. Second-place finisher in the Maine caucuses with 36 percent was the libertarian Texas congressman, Ron Paul, who spent much time campaigning in the state even though no delegates were at stake. Former senator Rick Santorum received 18 percent of the vote, and former House speaker Newt Gingrich came in last with eight percent, Maine Republican Party chairman Charlie Webster said. Although Maine is considered a beauty contest, Romney’s win there was important to reaffirming his frontrunner status.
LONDON: Five journalists at The Sun newspaper have been arrested, by detectives investigating allegations of corrupt payments to the police, said a BBC report today. They were among eight people arrested over alleged corrupt payments to police and public servants. A Surrey Police officer, a member of the armed forces and a Ministry of Defence employee were also arrested. The BBC report said Sun picture editor John Edwards, chief reporter John Kay, chief foreign correspondent Nick Parker, reporter John Sturgis and associate editor Geoff Webster were arrested as part of the Operation Elveden probe into payments to police.
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COMMENT SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012
Workplace column
Dickens special
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our new page ‘At the Workplace’ was really interesting. It was really funny to read people's experiences. The column ‘Pet Peeves’ was super funny! I have someone like that in the office and the moment he comes, all of us have to wear our ear plugs to block out his loud, tea slurping. One of our colleagues tried talking to him but it didn't help at all. Guess he is too thick-skinned lads. Shahina N Vijayanagar Colony
EDITORIALS GHETTO CULTURE adds to alienation A study conducted in New Zealand has said that Asians, Indians included, are among the most discriminated immigrants in the country. Though racism in any form is not acceptable, the study has left a lot unsaid — the ghetto-forming tendencies of Asians, especially Indians. The whole purpose of immigration is to integrate into the society of another country for better conditions of life. However, there has always been a tendency of our people to stay in clusters and shun social life with the local population. They hang out together, go to Indian eateries and refuse to respect the way of life of the hosts. Therefore, it’s natural that they stand out as a different entity and emerge as easy targets for xenophobes. With all due respect for inclusiveness, refusing to integrate with the way of life of a host country is disrespect to that state. So give respect and take respect would be a simple way to start sorting things out.
WHY WE LOVE... Whitney Houston Before Lady Gaga, Mariah Carey, and Beyonce there was Whitney Houston. For nearly 25 years Whitney Houston was a singer without peer. Her voice soared over radio waves and her youthful beauty was beamed into living rooms across the world. But as happens far too often for those who dance with that devilish thing called fame, she allowed her inner demons to replace the songbird soul that was her crowning glory. In her death a huge amount of blame will be heaped on Bobby Brown, the man accused of destroying her and her career. But that would be wrong, as individuals we choose our destinies. Whitney was a comet, eternal in its magic, yet gone far too quickly.
loved reading about Charles Dickens in the paper since I am a big fan of the writer. My favourite book is Christmas Carol and my favourite character is Ebenezer Scrooge and Oliver Twist and A Tale of Two Cities follows. In my humble opinion, Dickens was one of the finest Victorian period writers that existed and no one can match his creativity and intellect. Radhika S Yousufguda
EDITORIALS Readers’ views We invite you to write to us comments, suggestions, viewpoint or just about anything to feedback@postnoon.com or #1246, Level 3, Jubilee Casa, Road No 62, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad – 500 033 or even by way of a call on 040-4067 2222.
Black magic
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n this day and age reading news on black magic and woman killed for not giving birth to male heir, is deplorable. The society prides of being educated and is aware of the advancement in technology but still cannot understand why babies cannot be made-to-order. And all this news about practicing voodoo, seriously, a lot of awareness needs to be there on this subject. Megha Mishra Banjara Hills
It’s the faith, not its name that matters Soul Curry SUMAA TEKUR
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few years back, my father said something, which set me thinking about the boundaries we create for ourselves. “People like to be told what to do. They like to create structure to everything so it can be defined. It can then come with a list of dos and don’ts. So they will have yours and mine; this and that; acceptable and not acceptable to argue about.” This can’t be truer than for religion. Earlier this week, I came across a story about India’s famous saint, Baba Faridji, which took me back to my father’s words. One night, Baba Faridji dreamt that by the grace of Allah, he had reached Paradise. The whole of Paradise was beautifully decorated. There were millions of lights and flowers everywhere. He knew a great celebration was going on and beautiful music filled the air. He stopped a passerby and asked him, “What’s going on over here?" The passerby smiled ecstatically and said, "It’s God's birthday; we are celebrating it. You are blessed, for you have come at the right time." Interested to watch the proceedings, Faridji stood next to this man beneath a tree. Soon, a grand procession started moving on the road. A man was sitting on a horse. Faridji asked, "Who is this man?" The man turned to Faridji in surprise, "Don't you know him? He is Hazrat Mohammed." Millions and millions of followers walked behind the Prophet. Faridji asked, "Who are these people?" He replied, "They are Mohammedans, followers of Mohammed." Then came Jesus, and millions were following him, too. Soon, Lord Krishna appeared in a splendid golden chariot, with millions of people singing his
praises and following him. Then there was Gautam Buddha — again, with countless people following him. The procession went on and on, and Baba Faridji grew weary of the magnitude of the processions and the followers. Finally, Babaji noticed an old man riding a donkey. He was all by himself and no one walked behind him. Faridji laughed at the oddity and the contrast of what he was seeing now. He wondered why this man was riding a donkey. Babaji was eager to find out.
He went up to the man and asked him, “Who are you, sir? I have seen Mohammad, Christ, Krishna, Mahavira, Buddha — who are you? And there is no one following you!" The old man, with sadness in his eyes, said, “I am God and it is my birthday. People have become Mohammedans, some Christians, others Jews, many have become Hindus or Buddhists. Unfortunately, no one is left with me. So I walk alone.” Faridji woke up with a start from the dream that would define his perspective
of religion. The next day, Fardji told his disciples, "I had a revelation and I met God. From now on I am no more a Mohammedan or of any other organised religion. I will follow the one and only true master and creator of the universe. I shall simply be me, myself. I would like to be with God, at least one person following him." This awakening transformed Baba Faridji and he was able to enlighten the world with his message of love and devotion to God and the universe.
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BUSINESS SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012
KG-D6 gas output dips
Novotel bags award
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eliance Industries' eastern offshore KGD6 gas fields may see a further decline in output until new wells are brought to production, the company's minority partner Niko Resources has said. Niko, which holds 10 per cent stake in KG-D6 block off the AP coast, said its share of production in Q3 from the D6 block ‘averaged 143 million cubic feet per day compared to 195 mmcfd in the prior year's quarter’.
ovotel Hyderabad Convention Centre has won the Best Hotel Garden award for the third year in a row. The award was conferred by the Minister for Horticulture Ramreddy Venkat Reddy at a ceremony at People’s Plaza. The award was received by Tejus Jose, resident manager, Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre and Jaiprakash R, executive housekeeper.
Reliance Jewels discount
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eliance Jewels, a leading jewellery retailer, will be showcasing an assortment of exquisite diamond jewellery at its outlet near Panjagutta Junction. Started on Friday, the two-week exposition will exhibit stunning and brilliantly designed diamond jewellery collection consisting of earrings, bangles, finger rings, necklaces and pendants starting from `50,000. Customers can avail themselves a discount of flat 25 per cent off on the sale price.
Hidden dragon surges ahead of crouching tigers
TRANSFUSE
Sunday Soup A SAYE SEKHAR
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his is the story of the hidden dragon surpassing the crouching tigers. Cognizant Technology Services (CTS) was incubated by Dunn & Bradstreet (D&B) and Satyam Computer Services in 1994 with a 76-24 stake ratio. Later D&B bought over Satyam’s stake and spun it off into an independent entity. It moved its headquarters to Teaneck in New Jersey. Kumar Mahadeva, Lakshmi Narayan and now Francis D’Souza are steering its success. Inching closer to Infosys, it is perhaps the third largest in India when it comes to revenues and operations. Cognizant’s outlook for 2012 is amazing. It gave a guidance that it would grow to become a $7.53-billion company, a 23 per cent surge. When it comes to the average growth forecast on a quarterly basis, CTS’ guidance of $1.7 billion of revenue is a tad smaller than the $ 1.8 billion of Infosys. At least, D’Souza sounded confident. As if it was conferring honourius causa on its outstanding staffers, it promoted a few of those ‘growth drivers’. A CTS honcho in the senior management tells me that growth of the company (3.9 per cent) in the last quarter — outwitting TCS’s 2.4 and Infosys’ 3.4 — proved beyond doubt that growth has long since been put in a loop to have many an iteration. On the hiring front, the CTS took a lion’s share. Its 33,700 is double the numbers hired by Infosys and Wipro. Even in terms of volumes, CTS stopped the competition in their tracks. Firing the CTS rocket onto a growth trajectory hasn’t been done overnight. The 1,37,700 employees contributed every drop of their sweat for their company as it was focused on achievement
and nothing else. With Merck, JP Morgan and 3M as its top US clients, D’Souza couldn’t expect anything more than 31 per cent of growth in the Americas alone. When CEO of Postnoon Kulwinder Singh and I went to Cognizant’s DLF facility, we waded through the level-II parking, were ‘lifted up’ eight floors in an elevator for a lecture by Singh at CognOrators Club. There I found a beaming AV Ramam, vice-president and head of location, oozing oodles of oomph as if to indicate they are doing the best. And, it is true.
LIQUOR STENCH IN CORRIDORS OF POWER
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lenching his fist and thumping on a table, every wine
shop owner in the State is fretting and fuming at the sleuths of Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). If the ACB’s remand reports of the arrest of kingpins from one syndicate in Buchireddypalem in Nellore district alone account for a fraud of `55 lakh, just imagine the magnitude of the liquor scam across the State. Every district would have kickbacks amounting to a whopping `5 crore at least. A report from Guntur district suggests that the bribes paid to different people, including officials of the police, revenue, electricity, commercial taxes, transport and several departments and even media, were pegged at `500 crore. By this standard, the slush money would account for at least `10,000
crore just in one year. Surely, the stench of liquor bribes is not confined only to one district or a city or a mandal. It is indeed an all-pervading, and isotropic, but surely not hypothetical, ‘substance’ like Ether. Excise minister Mopidevi Venkataramana Rao is the unhappiest of all, not only for being targeted, but even for being ‘supported’ by a disgruntled colleague, DL Ravindra Reddy. Venkataramana Rao must have actually been delighted at the first instance when Ravindra Reddy spoke a bitter truth and went to the extent of talking about ‘undue favouritism’ shown to another colleague on the basis of the latter’s genre. But his happiness remained short-lived, for
he was called by the chief minister and told to tell the ‘outside world’ that everything was ‘hunky dory’ with the government. He had to restrict his demand only to absolve him of the charges and he trained his guns at the ACB for incorporating his name without giving him an opportunity to speak out his version in the remand report of one wheeler-dealer of the cartel in Khammam district. Several officers holding senior positions are now caught in the ACB dragnet, while many politicians find themselves in a piquant position on how to wriggle themselves out of the embarrassment that might spell doom to their political careers, if stretched far.
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INTERVIEW SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012
Dedicated to the dumb We are so selfish that we think other creatures are of no importance. The truth is, without plants and animals, man will perish. We speak to Nihar Parulekar about man’s cruel streak
“P
ARP M ANTRA
oor guy, he used to be King, you know, till he lost his jungle,” explains engagingly the Team Lions to young visitors to the City zoo. Not far, Team Tigers tells the story of ‘His Majesty’ the Tiger who thought himself invincible till the cruel man came with his horrible gun. Ah, Bison? “Well,” tells the Team Bison, “take a good look at him for you may never see him in flesh again. He is near extinct. Over there, a girl student in the Team Cobra has difficulty controlling the shrieks of a kid at the sight of the python slithering across the pit. “Snake,” she tells the baby, “is the most harmless creature. It will never strike
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When did you develop your love for your dumb friends? At a very young age. I used to be scared of reptiles and hid my face in mum’s bosom when I spotted a lizard scrambling along the wall. But now I know better. Snakes are the most harmless and check rodent population, and lizard has a nature’s duty to perform; to keep under check the vector population.
How did the idea of ARTP form and when? In December 2010 I visited the Hyderabad zoo with my parents. I saw how shabbily the animals were treated by visitors. I saw a man throwing a soft-drink bottle at a lion. It chewed the bottle and was struggling with it. I scolded the man who in turn challenged me. I informed the animal keepers, and they extracted the bottle from the cage and saved the lion. Then I saw the zoo strewn with plastic waste, which could kill these creatures. I told a close friend about this.
hat happens if animals extinct or the biodiversity is threatened? The Earth functions like an incredibly complex machine, and there’re no unnecessary parts. Each species — from the lowliest microbe to humans — plays a part in keeping the planet alive. Each part is related. If a lot of those parts suddenly vanish, then the machine that is Earth can't function. It decays and dies.
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Fortunately he knew the zoo superintendent Mallikarjuna Rao, a very competent and sincere man. He asked me to meet him, and meanwhile, I pleaded with my college chums to join me on an animal-save mission. First they laughed it off but later agreed. We, 20 of us, went to meet the superintendent. He saw the video I shot of the zoo and he was aghast. “So bad?” He exclaimed and asked what we intended to do. He suggested we form a zoo cop corps and we would be supplied uniforms and badges. Thus began the work. We began to devote our Sundays educating visitors on animals and the need to treat them with respect.
Besides the zoo, what else are your areas of work? We work in a systematic way. We have made several squads with varied purposes like rescue, treatment, protection and education. In one year we have rescued 37 animals and held 58 field works.
How good or bad is the popular
understanding of wildlife? Pretty bad. We are so selfish that we think other creatures are of no importance. The truth is, without plants and animals, man will perish.
What is your future mission and vision? I would love to get into IFS and be a zoo leader like Mallikarjun sir and I have a vision of making a panIndian ARTP. We have already opened our network in eight cities.
What of your parents? Do they approve? My parents too are animal lovers but they say I should work and earn and spend my spare time for this activity. But my father told me if it is my calling and I want it, so be it. I would like to spend my whole time to help preserve these beautiful creations of nature.
By the way, don’t you feel the urge to bunk a Sunday zoo and go out with a girlfriend? (Laughs). Oh no. Quadrupeds have all my love, not bipeds! (Buzz ARTP for help: 99120 34135)
he Animal Rehabilitation and Protection Front (ARPF) is the brainchild of 21year-old Nihar Parulekar, an engineering student. From 20 members last November, it has grown to 350 now. The whole effort of the young enthusiasts is to generate awareness about and affinity with the diverse creatures who are absolutely essential for human race’s survival.
PEOPLE
pksurendran@gmail.com
talks to Postnoon on his mission, vision and ambition.
THE
PK SURENDRAN
you unless you strike first. He is our friend!” She stops howling and looks at the snake in wonder. At the far end of the corner, lone George, the Giraffe, stands forlorn like the sad cast of a tragic film. He has been waiting for four years for a bride but they could not find one. He stands meditating at the dark future, unmindful of the clamour of visitors around. They are all teams of the dumb friends who spend their Sundays in the Hyderabad Zoo, which they could have spent having fun with their friends in theatres or game parlours. The Animal Rehabilitation and Protection Front (ARPF) is the brainchild of 21-year-old Nihar Parulekar, an engineering student. From 20 members last November, it has grown to 350 now. The whole effort of the young enthusiasts is to generate awareness about and affinity towards the diverse creatures who are absolutely essential for human race’s survival. Nihar
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WEEK IN PICTURES SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012
Candy and Carnage
Standing next to a man selling cotton candy, an Egyptian demonstrator uses a protective mask against tear gas fired by riot police during confrontations outside Cairo's security headquarters on February 6, 2012, as clashes continued in the Egyptian capital in the wake of deadly football violence and amid calls by activists for civil disobedience. AFP PHOTO/MARCO LONGARI
Jyoti Amge, 18, the world's "shortest woman living", sits in a car while campaigning for a local political party in the run-up to the civic elections in Mumbai. Jyoti was certified by Guinness Records as the world's shortest woman at measured as 62.8cm.
Motorists cross a damaged road destroyed at the height of the powerful earthquake in Guihulngan town, central Philippines on February 9, 2012. AFP/TED ALJIBE
AFP/PUNIT PARANJPE
A fireman attends the demonstration in Madrid, on February 7, 2012 against government policies and budget cuts imposed during the crisis. AFP/PEDRO ARMESTRE
A couple walk up Muswell Hill, north London. Heavy snow fell across, causing many roads to become blocked. AFP/LEON NEAL
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ART AND CULTURE SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012
Weiwei and the serpent
Whiteread for Whitechapel
Wedgwood museum woes
LONDON: Four years after designing the spectacular Bird’s Nest Olympic stadium in Beijing, the Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron and the Chinese artist Ai Weiwei are to reunite for a London 2012 project. The Serpentine Gallery announced on Tuesday that the Beijing team would collaborate again to design this year’s pavilion — the 12th commission in what has become a major annual event on the architecture calendar.
LONDON: Inspired by the Secession building in Vienna, and the ubiquity of a certain type of rapacious weed in Hackney, the artist Rachel Whiteread has designed a golden frieze that will finally solve a 111year-old problem. The Whitechapel Gallery in east London announced what its director, Iwona Blazwick, called ‘the realisation of a dream’ — a plan for a large and empty space on the front of its building to be filled by a permanent work of art.
STOKE-ON-TRENT: The head of a Unesco committee that shortlisted a British museum as one of UK’s top-20 cultural assets has condemned a high court judgment that is forcing it to close. The Wedgwood Museum in Stoke-on-Trent is to be broken up and sold to pay off a £134m pension deficit, following a high court judgment in December. The museum houses thousands of ceramics by Josiah Wedgwood, one of the world’s greatest pottery manufacturers.
SRINIVAS SETTY
Hot plate of Tapas He would have been a journalist had it not been his overriding passion for clay modelling. Meet Tapas Biswas, the man who creates magic with his fingers ISHA MUKOO
isha.m@postnoon.com
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enaissance Italian painter and sculptor Michelangelo famously said, “Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it.” Only in Tapas Biswas’ case the stone has been replaced with clay. Like most children, Tapas too loved to play with tiny clay figurines, but little did he know that his playtime friends would one day be the key to his career. He tells us about his childhood, “I hail from Bengal. There in my village you will find soft clay in abundance and will also see a lot of kids playing and making small models. I used to make clay models
as a hobby and gradually I took a liking for it and finally when I enjoyed doing it, I took it as a subject in my professional degree. Also, my mother used to make clay toys when I was young, which made me familiar with this art form.” But this was not something that he knew he would take up as a profession. “I would have been a journalist most probably if I had not taken up sculpting. I didn’t know my hobby will become my passion and finally my identity.” We ask him the one question that troubles most artists, ‘will their art get the desired recognition?’ “It’s not a cakewalk,” he says. “The consciousness is increasing slowly and people are warming up towards this age-old foundation of art. It is not easy to get recognition in this art form when compared to other crafts as people are still getting familiar with
Tapas’ exhibition titled Lively Meshes of Bronze is on at the Kalakriti Art Gallery till February 16.
One of the big opportunities was to display my work at Harmony Art Foundation in Mumbai organised by Tina Munim in 2006 and I was chosen as the Young Emerging Artist.
Post-minimalistic art Postmodernism might be the more popularly known genre in art and literature but Post-Minimalism is equally illustrious Padmini C padmini.c@postnoon.com
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he Post-Minimal movement rose in the late 1960s as a deliberate reaction against the ‘cold severity and authoritarian’ nature of minimal art. The term was first coined by the art historian and critic Robert Pincus in his 1971 article, Eva Hesse: Post Minimalism into
Sublime. Post-Minimalism reintroduced texture, soft-edges and references. This movement of art also includes tendencies such as body art, performance, process art, site-specific art, and aspects of conceptual art. Post-Minimalism is not rigidly defined but has certain characteristics. Unlike Minimalism, there is no strict purity of line,
shape or colour. Instead, there is an emphasis on texture, on shape and context. Where the minimalists preferred impersonal and industrial materials, post-minimalists responded with works that were more personal, sensuous, evocative and expressive. They believed in expanding the boundaries of conventional art and therefore ventured into new
this art. Painting and sculpting are like two sides of a coin; together, yet apart,” he adds. Despite being an old art form and unique in its own way, does it repay as much financially? He replies, “Apart from the awareness, it also depends upon the quality of work. Talking about satisfaction, an artist can never be satisfied in terms of work or price. If I am making 10 models, maybe only three will be taken. So yes, the mental and financial investment is always more than the receiving part but it is getting better gradually.” Talking about his achievements, he says, “One of the best opportunities I got, was to dis-
ART FOR DUMMIES
play my work at the Harmony Art Foundation in Mumbai organised by Tina Ambani in 2006 and I was chosen as the Young Emerging Artist, which was a very encouraging step for me.” So how has the city of Nawabs responded to his art? When asked this, he said, “Hyderabad is an old city with a rich culture and I really like it but at the same time, it is at a very nascent stage in terms of art, especially with regards to sculpting. Although it has evolved from the last time when I came here in 2010; it is taking baby steps when compared to other cities like Mumbai or Delhi.” While there are many who buy a painting or a sculpture as a status symbol more than they understand the value of it, there are artists like Tapas who are trying to change this mindset.
environments and art forms like Installation Art, and took interest in site specificity and land art. Some of the best-known Post-Minimal artists include Eva Hesse, Richard Serra, Martin Puryear, Richard Tuttle, Andy Goldsworthy, Richard Long, Robert Lobe, Mary miss and Alice Aycock among others. PostMinimalism dominated the late ‘60s and ‘70s showing a downward incline in the ‘80s. Yet, because of the contemporary themes and strategies of Post-Minimalism it remains current, making it one of the most enduring styles of the last half-century.
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DESIGN SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012
Glassmakers struggle
Corbusier building damaged
VENICE: Master glassmakers of Murano, an island in the Venetian lagoon are struggling to survive. These workers are heirs to a decorative tradition that goes back to at least the 13th century, and which is now in danger. Recent months have seen a flurry of protests and initiatives as the recession presents yet another challenge for an industry already under siege. Since 1990, the size of the workforce has shrunk from about 6,000 to less than 1,000.
BIG wins Kimball Art Park
MARSEILLE: One of France's most important landmarks of modernist architecture, La Cité Radieuse housing estate in Marseille, built by the architect Le Corbusier, has been damaged by fire. Fire services fought for over 12 hours to put out a blaze that began in a first floor flat in the nine-storey concrete complex, which is protected by special heritage status in France. The fire was brought under control at around 7am on Friday morning.
US: BIG has been announced as the winner of the competition for the new Kimball Art Center in Park City, Utah. The non-profit community centre for the visual arts, which started in 1976, invites people to experience art through education, exhibitions and events. The aging historic building (dated from 1929) was in need of restoration and an addition that could allow the organisation to increase their educational outreach and enhance the quality of the exhibitions.
My Home, My Hotel!
Just can’t get enough of that hotel room you spent your vacation in and think you just might be in love with it? Want to replicate that at home? Here are some suggestions
Serviced!
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Less media: When you’re on the road, it’s easy to lose yourself in the world around you and we don’t feel as focused on our home media as often. Save the iPod for the gym, turn the TV off and pretend you only have a few channels and opt instead for a book near a sunny window or just go for a walk around the neighbourhood instead. More still and chill versus loud and crazy!
2 SHIBA MINAI
shiba.m@postnoon.com
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urning your bedroom into a hotel room is like having the best of both worlds — creating a private sanctum while enjoying the luxury of a hotel room. And guess what? It can be just the way you like it, all you have to do is to make the right decisions. We ask interior designer Sirisha Praveen, what are the first things one must consider to make one’s bedroom look more like a hotel room. “You could begin with enlisting what are the activities that you would want to do in your room apart from sleeping. Depending on your wants, you decide what to include. For instance, maybe you would want a mini refrigerator, or a reading corner, also a place where you can catch up
on quick office work, a mini library, a coffee table, etc. And if you happen to meditate in your room then maybe a corner for that as well, or if you are an artist, then a table that will give you enough space to paint at ease,” she suggests. Lighting is considered to be an integral part of any kind of setup, but when you want your bedroom to resemble a hotel room then there are some things you need to be mindful about. Zarina Khan, a former student of interior designing, says, “Having automated lights give you that ‘hotel’ feel and also make your life easy. You could go for sensor switches that not only make you feel like royalty but will also save your electricity bill. Another good idea will be to add mirrors in the room to facilitate light to be reflected. “Also, if you prefer reading lights or lights at your work desk, having individually controlled lights would save time, effort and your bill. Having dimmers for all kinds of lights is
Having automated lights give you that ‘hotel’ feel and also make your life easy. You could go for sensor switches that not only make you feel like royalty but will also save your electricity bill. Zarina Khan
another addition that can do wonders for your mood.” Once you are done with the décor and other decisions, you can now move onto the most integral part — the bed. One of the most important factors that gives you the feel of a hotel is a real cosy bed, in which you can sink and relax. Socialite Gazala Baig suggests that it is best to buy a medicated mattress that is not only comfortable but also best for one’s health or one can also buy the high-end ones, which maybe on the steeper side, but will eventually be a fair gain. She adds, “Also, include a lot of pillows, cushions and bolsters, depending on your comfort level, but the key is to have a minimal setup that is not cluttered uncomfortably.” Armed with these tips, making that transformation in your room will be much easier. But remember once you descend from your throne (read your luxurious bed) there is no one to pick after you!
Would you pay for it? It’s easy to collect things we like, but don’t always love. It usually happens when there’s a sale sign around or someone gifts you something that although pretty, isn’t quite your taste. Examine your room from the viewpoint of a paying customer. If you wouldn’t pay to spend a night in a room in your house, make changes! De-clutter, add light, dim lighting down or thrown open the curtains!
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Stock something special: There aren’t many who don’t find travel-size products adorable on some level and even if they’re not your chosen brand, there’s still something about pint size packaging that makes people go weak in the knees. Try picking up a few small candies or special beverages that might add a little zip to your step and make today (or tomorrow) feel extra awesome.
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Clean before the weekend: The time spent in a hotel, although not long is always refreshing because it’s uncluttered and clean. Having the cleanest house possible during the time we occupy is the best thing. (Inputs from www. apartmenttherapy.com)
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FOOD SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012
Chocs for Grammy Awards
Whole Foods recalls bundts
Bulgarians pray for bees
STOCKTON: Mitch Koulouris isn't a chocoholic. Actually, he doesn't really like the stuff. Fried foods and coffee are more his go-to options. He's loving the mostly-sweet treat a lot during Grammy Awards week, though. That's because 40,000 of the Stockton native's gourmet fudge chocolates are among the big hits during events and parties surrounding Sunday's Grammy Awards presentation at Los Angeles' Staples Center.
CALIFORNIA: Whole Foods is recalling its Pumpkin Bundt Cakes because they contain undeclared milk. No illnesses have been reported. But the Emeryville-based company says people who have milk allergies run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reactions if they consume the cake. The recalled Pumpkin Bundt Cakes were made in Whole Foods bakeries and sold at stores in Fresno, Monterey, San Rafael, San Ramon and Santa Cruz.
BLAGOEVGRAD: Orthodox Christians in Bulgaria observed a holiday traditionally associated here with bees and honey. It was the Day of St Haralambos, a patron saint of beekeepers, who also is known as ‘the lord of all illnesses’. Hundreds prayed for an end to the freezing weather that has threatened honey bees and farm output in this Balkan country of 7.4 million. Beekeepers were among those who joined in a holy Mass for ‘the sanctification of honey’.
Feeding the labourers of love This Valentine's Day, show your sweetheart how much you care by creating a romantic and sensual home-cooked meal, courtesy the world’s top chefs
ASPARAGUS, MINT & LEMON RISOTTO BY J AMIE O LIVER For the risotto n n n n n n n n n n
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1 vegetable or chicken stock 2tbsp olive oil 1 large onion, finely chopped 4-5 sticks of celery, finely chopped 600g risotto rice 250ml dry white wine 2 bunches of asparagus, woody ends removed and discarded 700ml hot vegetable or chicken stock 100g butter 1-2 handfuls of freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus a block for grating mint leaves zest and juice of two lemons sea salt and freshly ground black pepper extra virgin olive oil.
METHOD
LAMB
WITH
ROSEMARY
BY
NIGELLA LAWSON INGREDIENTS
CHOCOLATE-DIPPED C ANNOLI n
FOR THE SAUCE
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METHOD Mix the oil and the Worcestershire sauce in a bowl, then smear this over the steaks Heat a heavy-based frying pan, and cook the steaks for about three minutes a side Wrap them in foil to rest in a warm place, while you make the sauce Put it in the butter, then add the rosemary sprigs to the pan. Add garlic cloves into the pan, then pour in the port Unwrap the steaks and put them onto plates and pour the sauce over them.
PAULA DEEN
INGREDIENTS
1tbsp olive oil 2tsp Worcestershire sauce 2 boneless lamb leg steaks 15g butter 1 sprig rosemary 1 clove garlic 4tbsp ruby port
BY
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3 tablespoons amaretto 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 2/3 cup heavy cream 1/3 cup confectioners' sugar 1/4 cup unsalted chopped pistachios 1 cup ricotta cheese 12 prepared cannoli shells 1/2 cup melted chocolate
PREPARATION In a large bowl, whip together amaretto, cinnamon, heavy cream and confectioners' sugar until soft peaks form In a bowl, combine the pistachios and ricotta and stir in half the whipped cream. Gently fold in the remaining whipped cream. Fill a pastry bag with no tip with the mixture to fill the cannoli shells Dip the tips of the cannoli into the melted chocolate. Place them in the refrigerator for two hours or until filling and chocolate is set.
1. Finely chop your asparagus stalks into tiny discs, keeping the tips whole. Then make your risotto 2. Bring the stock to a simmer in a saucepan. Put the olive oil and butter in a separate large pan, add the onion and celery and cook gently for about 15 minutes, until soft. Add the rice (it will sizzle) and turn up the heat 3. Quickly pour in the wine. Keep stirring all the time until it has evaporated 4. Add the stock to the rice, a ladle at a time, stirring and waiting before adding the next. Continue to add ladlefuls of stock until it has all been absorbed. After 1415 minutes, the rice starts to soften. Put to one side 5. Now put a large saucepan on medium to high heat and pour in half the stock, followed by all your risotto base and the finely sliced asparagus stalks and the tips. Stirring all the time, gently bring to the boil, then turn the heat down and simmer until the stock has been absorbed. Add the rest of the stock, a ladleful at a time 6. Turn off the heat, beat in your butter and Parmesan, mint, almost all the lemon zest and all the juice. Leave the risotto to rest for a minute. Serve with a drizzle of olive oil, a scattering of lemon zest and a block of Parmesan on the table.
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FOOD SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012
Don’t wait to get whisked away to Paris for a romantic getaway. Instead head over to Truffles Cafe, which recreates the old-world charm of European coffee houses
Noor's Kitchen NOOR JAFRI
The retro charm SANA MIRZA
sana.m@postnoon.com
A Truffles Cafe l l l
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376, Road No 10, Jubilee Hills Phone: 23550105 Cuisine: Cafe, Fast food, Continental, European, Mediterranean Timings: 10.30am to 11pm
three-storied, multi-level space carved into natural rock formations, shadowed by lush trees, effortlessly blends in quaint European settings with the new. As you climb between landings, the smell of freshly baked patisseries beckons. The wrought iron furniture in the open hall lends a rustic feel and as you make yourself comfortable, you notice the ample amount of space that Truffles Cafe has to offer. The decadent, art deco bar-cum-coffee house has tabloid newspaper cuttings, kitsch souvenirs and classic vinyl records gracing bright, yellow walls, instantly
transporting you to a diner in downtown San Francisco. The menu clearly glorifies simplicity with taste and so we picked the Mulligatawny soup, a Sri Lankan spiced pea and lentil Indian peasant dish and Fattoush salad, a Levantine bread salad made from toasted pieces of pita bread combined with crunchy iceberg lettuce, green, yellow, red bell-peppers, onion with a generous dose of olive oil, for starters. We, then broke into a run, working our way through crispy crumb fried shrimps and onion rings to soft cajun fried mushrooms and barbecue chicken wings served with tartar sauce poured in a dried lime rind. We took a moment to catch our breath and enjoy the view of the wood fire oven, but the visual impact of the dough rising and the sizzling cheese got us salivating that very instant. To satisfy
our cravings, we decided upon the Railway lamb curry with Khichri and the Chicken herb pizza and gulped it down with a tall glass of chilled peach iced tea. We were so full by the end of our gluttonous ordeal but the sight of Chocolate mousse cannelloni made it all the more difficult to ignore and so we naturally gave in and ended it on a rather sweet note. The music is, especially low giving an overall cosy feel. The downside to the cafe may be the loud noise from the constant traffic from the road. Truffles doesn't take reservations but thanks to the ample space and a weekly changing (and affordable) menu, it's the kind of place that you will definitely want to frequent, as an average spend of `700 for two won't be too heavy on the pocket.
Show mercy on your hunger SYED SHOAIB
shoaib.s@postnoon.com
S
ituated opposite a nownon-functional Milan cinema house is Al-Kareem, a clean and well-lit eatery. And since you have come to cater to the most important activity of your day, let’s get down to appeasing that deed rather professionally. With only three items on
the menu, your choice may be limited but be assured of the quality of those items. Nazir Anwar, originally from Bhagalpur and working in the City as a plumber, says between mouthfuls, “I have been a regular here for about 11 years. This Bagara daalcha I am eating used to cost `7 for a plate when I first ate here; it now costs `20. The food is very tasty and is always served hot.” The satisfied look on his face bore testimony to what he said. “I have changed my profession during these years but not my eating place,” he goes
on to add philosophically. To have survived the closing down of the biggest crowd puller in the area is no mean feat. A movie house just across where they are situated must have been the trump card for Al-Kareem but they have moved on and how! “It has been six years since the theatre closed down. Though I chose this place because of the theatre, I did not get disheartened at its closure. Instead I concentrated on quality and maintenance, which worked for the continuity of business,” explained
Abdul Moin Khan, the proprietor. Given the tasty offerings at attractive prices, the restaurant is a big draw with students and foodies alike. “The Tahri you get here is the second-best one in the city,” says event promoter Masood Quadri. “After my mum’s, that is,” he goes on to add after a short pause.
Name: Al-Kareem Place: Asif Nagar Most recommended: Tahri Meal for two: `100
Nargisi Kebab
V
alentine's Day is just two days away and there is much love in the air. Today, I will be sharing a simple yet exotic recipe for those who would like to impress their Valentine Nargisi kebab sounds poetic, and it even looks so. The deep fried minced kebabs stuffed with whole boiled eggs and when cut vertically into two pieces resembles two big and soft gazelle eyes just like the beautiful eyes of a woman, It can be eaten as snack or as a curry with gravy.
Ingredients (for kebabs) 1. Fine mutton minced/ chicken minced - 200gm 2. Hard boiled eggs -4 3. Egg white - (for binding) 4. Bread crumbs and corn flour (for coating) - 2tbsp each 5. Red Chilli powder - 1tsp 6. Ginger garlic paste - 1tsp 7. Salt to taste 8. Garam Masala powder - 1tsp 9. Oil - (for frying) 10. Chopped coriander leaves - 2tsp 11. Few drops of lemon juice
Procedure: Kebab 1. Mix all the masalas with minced meat along with coriander leaves. 2. Gently cover the boiled eggs, with the minced meat. 3. Dip it into cornflour paste and roll into bread crumbs. 4. Deep fry on medium heat, till golden brown (keep it aside).
Curry n This can be made with 2tbsp of oil, fine
chopped onions lightly fried. Add chilli, turmeric powder and salt to taste. n Ginger-garlic paste, tomato puree as required, garam masala powder and kasuri methi, about one teaspoon. n Cook till smooth gravy is formed. n Arrange the kebabs in a serving plate. They can be served separately or with gravy. Garnish it with chopped coriander. n Serve hot! Chef’s note: Being deep fried, it will have high calorie content, so weight watchers please eat and then burn your calories.
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HISTORY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012
Feb 13
2000 — Charles M Schulz's last original Sunday Peanuts comic strip appeared in newspapers. Schulz had died the day before.
Feb 13
2008 — Hollywood writers ended a 100-day strike.
Feb 14
1983 — A 6-year-old boy became the first person to receive a heart and liver transplant in the same operation.
Feb 15
1879 — Belva Ann Bennett Lockwood became the first woman to be allowed to argue cases before the US Supreme Court.
Feb 15
1965 — Canada displayed its new red-and-white maple leaf flag. The flag was to replace the old Red Ensign standard.
Feb 18
1564 — The artist Michelanglelo died in Rome.
Feb 16
1959 — Fidel Castro seized power in Cuba after the overthrow of President Fulgencio Batista.
Feb 16
1968 — In the US, the first 911 emergency telephone system was inaugurated at Haleyville, AL.
Feb 17
1817 — The first gaslit streetlights appeared on the streets of Baltimore, MD.
Feb 18
1930 — Elm Farm Ollie became the first cow to fly in an aeroplane.
Feb 19
1986 — The Soviet Union launched the Mir space station.
19
SPOTLIGHT SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012
Raji and Sonia
Gaurav and Athidi
Charmaine
Nikita
CELEBRATING LOVE With just one more day to go for Valentine’s Day, the young party animals got together for a pre-Valentine celebration at Rain on Saturday evening. If this evening is anything to go by, then Valentine’s Day promises to be filled with much fun and frolic
Sana
Deborah
Tanya
Meenaz
Divya
An artsy affair
Curator Nirmal Kuhad unveiled his art work at Muse Art Gallery in Marriott Hotel on Saturday evening in the company of family and friends
Naina
(L-R): Nirmal Kuhad, Anjali, Damayanti, Varun and Naina
Kunal and Pooja Kapoor
Shradda
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CINEMA SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012
T-TOWN TWEETIES @LakshmiManchu
@shriyasmiling
@shraddhadas43
@taapsee
RIP Whitney Houston. Thankq for ur voice and magic. Very sad :(
Hyderabad tomorrow for CCL Finals.
Finally boarding! Tired n sleepy,had one of the mad rush busy crazy days,finally to my 2nd home hydi! Xoxoxo
Attending a lot of fests wid my sister's dance team n really surprised n thrilled to c so many Tamil n Telugu ppl here in Delhi.
@arrahman Another shining star of the music world gone too soon…! We will miss you, Whitney... Respect and prayers for you!
@Actor_Siddharth
@actorsubbaraju
@trishtrashers
I bought 2 pieces. Mary kom's gold medal boxing gloves and the piece de resistance "spin quartet" jerseys...unforgettable night! Magic!!!!
Just used http://t.co/dyrgCeFW to put my Twitter followers on my Twitter background. Check it out!
Just used http://t.co/3ADsCI4z to put my Twitter followers on my Twitter background. Check it out!
Endhukante Premanta nears completion
R
am, Tamannaah starrer Endhukante Premanta is nearing completion. A Karunakaran is directing the film and Sravanthi Ravikishore is producing the film. More than 50 per cent of the film was shot in Switzerland and France and currently some action sequences are being shot in Hyderabad. Except for two songs, the rest of the film has been canned. Endhukante Premanta is touted to be the most expensive film in Ram’s career and the film’s rich look has caught everyone’s attention. GV Prakash has composed the songs and the film is going to release early this summer.
Eega creates a buzz
T
he audio of SS Rajamouli’s upcoming film Eega is going to be launched in the first week of March. Although the film’s principal shooting was wrapped up a few weeks ago, the film requires a lot of post production and hence Rajamouli hasn’t clarified when exactly the film might hit the screens. We hear that several distributors are eager to pay a bomb to buy the distribution rights for various areas in the state, despite the film not having a major star. One of the main reasons behind this incredible buzz is SS Rajamouli’s brand, visual effects in the film and the universal subject on which the film is based on. No wonder, the film was also shot in Tamil and PVP Cinemas is producing the Tamil version which, has been titled as Naan Ee. Nani, Samantha and Sudeep are playing the lead roles in the film. MM Keeravani has been credited with music and Senthil is the cinematographer.
Naa Ishtam’s logo launched
T
he logo and teaser of Rana, Genelia starrer Naa Ishtam was recently launched at an Engineering college in Hyderabad. Rana, Harshavardhan Rane, Maryam Zakaria and few others took part in the event. Talking about the film, Rana said, “It’s a beautiful love story and I am sure everyone will like it. My body language is completely different in this film. I am going to speak in an East Godavari dialect in the film.” It’s the first commercial film for Rana and he’s playing the role of an extremely selfish guy in the film. Prakash Tholeti is making his debut as a director and Parachuri Kireeti is producing the film. Except for a song, the rest of the film has been shot. Chakri has composed the music and the film is expected to hit the screens on March 23.
21
CINEMA SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012
B-TOWN TWEETIES @iamsrk and v waste so much time on inconsequential aspects of life. criticism..cynicism...voyeuristic.liv e ur life so u don’t miss it.whitney r.i.p @ActorMadhavan Get well soon Amit Ji. SuperHeros visit hospitals only to enquire about other patients
@priyankachopra “Bitter sweet..memories..that is all..I’m taking..with me..so goodbye..pls don’t cry”RIP Whitney..u made me believe in magic and dreams.. @NeilNMukesh My muscles are soar as hell. No recovery time. Specially after the major action sequence. Madnesssss.
@imarshadwarsi I have shot in Afghanistan for 2 months but the Society meeting of 1 hour for our new house is scarring the hell out of me...
@FarOutAkhtar RIP Whitney Houston.
@SrBachchan T 651 - Took almost 5 hrs on the OT, but could feel the concern and wishes of the TwFmXt every minute .. you all are incredible .. thank you
All animals used in Housefull 2 fake: John Abraham
A
ctor John Abraham , a supporter of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta), has clarified that all animals shown in his upcoming film Housefull 2 are fake, and a declaration in this regard will be issued too. The trailer of Housefull 2 is there for all to see, and just like the first franchise, this movie too has made use of some animals in certain scenes. “There’s going to be a statement to that effect even in the film that the animals used are fake. That’s something we have completely taken care of. I am saying it being a Peta activist. No animal was hurt and all animals used were fake. That was one condition,” the 39-year-old said at the promo launch of IANS Housefull 2.
@rampalarjun Ashish Soni celebrated 20 years in Fashion industry,found a 19 year old me staring back at me. Lol yfrog.com/nwp1gvfj
I’ve lost my voice: JP Dutta
F
ilmmaker JP Dutta is bereaved after his father OP Dutta’s death following prolonged illness. The Border director says he will miss the man, who wrote the screenplay and dialogues of all his films, right up to the last Umrao Jaan in 2006. “I’ve lost my voice. My soul. Who will write the words that come into my mind when I make a film? Who will fill the
void in my heart,” JP Dutta said, choked with emotions. Writer-filmmaker OP Dutta passed away on Thursday night. He was 90. He started his career as a director before India’s partition. Later, when his son JP Dutta turned into full-fledged director with Ghulami in 1985, the senior Dutta chose to sit and write the screenIANS play.
Bollywood very friendly: Aditi Rao Hydari S he started off with supporting roles and now with London, Paris, New York, Aditi Rao Hydari is set for her first lead role. The actress says she is humbled to see how accepting and friendly Bollywood is. “When you look from outside, it looks like a dream. But at the same time, there is fear as you hear mysterious stories like people are mean, the industry is very competitive. However, I don’t think that Bollywood is such a jungle as it is made out to be,” Aditi told in an interview. “People are
very friendly and accepting. It is true that they judge you, but a lot depends upon how you take it onto yourself. I have no connection with the film world, but the fact that I got here and my work is being appreciated makes me feel humbled,” she added. IANS
22
CINEMA SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012
Taurani files
complaint against Deepika
B
ollywood producer Ramesh Taurani has filed a complaint against actress Deepika Padukone with cine-associations for quitting Tips Films’ Race 2 at the eleventh hour. Deepika is said to have made an exit from the project following a Hollywood offer, and that too after hav-
ing shot for a week. The decision didn’t go down too well with Taurani, who filed a complaint with the Cine & TV Artists Association (CINTAA) and Association of Motion Pictures & TV Programme Producer of India (AMPTPP). Deepika has been informed by CINTAA about the complaint.
As per procedural norms, if an artist fails to respond to a complaint or grievance, the case then passes on to the FWICE (Federation of Western India Cine Employees). If still not addressed, the artist is then liable to face a NonCo-operation Directive. Explains senior producer Pahlaj Nihalani, “If Taurani
has filed a complaint against Deepika, she will have to honour the dates, which she had allotted to him. If she has given the same dates to any other producer, she cannot shoot for the other project.” An upset Taurani had said that he has been a part of the Hindi cinema industry for 25 years, but never faced such a situation
before.“Our directors and other actors are extremely annoyed with her. Tips as a company in its last 25 years has never had a dispute with anyone in this industry,” he said. Produced by Tips, the action thriller Race 2 is scheduled for a November release. IANS
Dad’s surgery went off smoothly: Abhishek
Great time to make films: Goldie Behl
M
G
egastar Amitabh Bachchan’s scheduled abdominal surgery went off smoothly on Saturday morning and is now resting in the hospital room, says his son, actor Abhishek Bachchan. “The abdominal pain was due to the pain that had started during the injury that he (Amitabh Bachchan) had got during Coolie (in 1982). He has been operated upon now and the surgery went on for two to three hours. It has gone smoothly,” Abhishek informed reporters at the Seven
Hills Hospital. “He has been shifted to the ward and is out of the operation theatre. It was successful, and he has been kept under observation by the doctors,” added junior Bachchan. The 69-year-old veteran was happy before being wheeled into the operation theatre in the morning, doctors attending on him said. He was wheeled in around 9am for the surgery, and his family was with him. IANS
oldie Behl, who is gearing up for the release of his next production London, Paris, New York, says filmmakers are under no pressure nowadays to please every section of the audience, and this allows them to venture into genre-based content. “I think it’s a great time to make movies. There is enough opportunity to do a low-budget movie and even to make movies designed for certain audiences. Today, you don’t have the pressure of trying to please the audience all over the country. So we can focus and make genre-based movies,” Behl
said. The movie, releasing March 2, is the directorial debut of Anu Menon, and features actress Aditi Rao Hydari and Pakistani actor Ali Zafar. “The unique thing in every romantic-comedy is the freshness, which its director and the cast bring from their side. Romantic stories remain the same. Freshness can be brought either by budding actors or by big stars. So we think Anu, Aditi and Ali have brought freshness to the film,” said Behl. IANS
CINEMA SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012
D I S P L A YA
D S RATE ` 150 sq. cm
For Further Details Please Contact Abhinay 9989399972 Nandlal 9951467988 Ravi Chander 8106039919
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24
CINEMA SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012
Breaking barriers
A
Moroccan gardener accused of murdering his employer on the French Riveria in 1991 makes for the focus of the story. Omar Killed Me is an adaptation of true events. In this crime-and courtroom drama it is the story, which is the real star. Sami Bouajila (Omar Raddad) is sent to prison for murdering his employer — with the film subsequently detailing both Omar's exploits and the ongoing efforts of a notorious crusader (Denis Podalydès, Pierre-Emmanuel Vaugrenard) at proving Omar's innocence. Punching holes into the theories of the police and the accusers is Vaugrenard, who is aided by a sprightly assistant (Salome Stevenin), and Raddad's
ROSCHDY ZEM IS A FRENCH ACTOR, WRITER AND DIRECTOR OF
MOROCCAN DESCENT. HE WON A BEST ACTOR AWARD AT CANNES FOR HIS ROLE IN DAYS OF GLORY (‘06). cunningly intelligent lawyer, Maitre Verges (Maurice Benichou), one of France's most famous defence lawyers. Along the way, the film shows how a simple guilty or not guilty verdict can become clouded by prejudice, procedural mistakes and subsequent cover-ups. Part of the story's fascination lies in the fact
it doesn't tell the tale of a clearly innocent man struggling against mighty odds, but rather an ugly true story fraught with racism, class problems and prejudice, and other assorted societal ills. Bouajila's nuanced, deeply humanistic beliefs — which neatly balances innocence and anger over his conviction, despite the fact Raddad isn't portrayed as a saint. Even the supporting cast has done a wonderful job.
ROAD TO OSCARS Name: Omar Killed Me Director: Roschdy Zem Cast: Sami Bouajila, Denis Podalydès and Maurice Bénichou Category: Foreign
25
CINEMA SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012
Scarlett on a break in Hawaii
S
carlett Johansson broke out her bikini and hit the beach in Hawaii on Friday with boyfriend Nate Naylor. The couple relaxed under the sun, and Nate even rubbed suntan lotion onto Scarlett’s back. The tropical getaway comes on the heels of Scarlett’s recent trip to Berlin and an appearance at Obama’s ‘Runway to Win’ fundraiser in NYC earlier this week. Nate and Scarlett went public with their romance last month. However, according to sources they’ve been dating for more than five months.
Nicolas Cage not a Vampire
A
ddressing one of the more bizarre rumors about his personal life, the actor says he’s almost certain he’s not a time-traveling vampire. “I don’t drink blood, and last time I looked in the mirror I had a reflection,” Cage told David Letterman on Late Show. Promoting his film Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, Cage does acknowledge he could be confused with the Tennessee man in the 1870 photo that an eBay seller had pitched as a ‘walking undead/vampire’ who ‘reinvents’.
First look at Beyonce and Jay-Z’s daughter M eet baby Blue Ivy Carter. The first photos of Beyonce and Jay-Z’s daughter Blue Ivy surfaced on Tumblr, revealing a beaming first-time mother holding her bundle of joy. There’s no doubt that Blue is the spitting image of her famous mom and dad. The 1-month-old baby girl is peacefully sleeping in the snapshots as Beyonce looks on with a smile from ear to ear and the proud new daddy holds his little lady close. Jay-Z shared the intimate family photos, via his website Life and Times, with the message, “We welcome you to share in our joy. Thank you for respecting our privacy during this beautiful time in our lives. The Carter family.”
26
CHAI TIME SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012
SUNDAY CROSSWORD
ACROSS
1 Trample underfoot 6 Deadly snake 11 Shed tears 15 Glider's place 20 Slapdash 21 Counting everything (2 wds.) 22 Mexican pots 24 LPGA star Lorena — 25 Not spaced-out 26 Palace dweller 27 Sluggish marsupial 28 Hushed 29 Substitute ruler 31 Rain forest parrot 33 Bridge support 34 Lone Ranger’s pal 35 Couldn't remember (3 wds.) 37 Weeded 39 Joey or Kiki 41 Slalom run 42 Growing mediums 43 Cell phone button 44 Sorts 46 Hockey structure 50 Bonaparte buddy 51 Build an appetite 52 Large movie ape 53 On the horizon 57 Decked out 59 Postcard, maybe 60 Tribal adviser 61 Freighter hazard 62 Gawks at 63 Marble streak 64 Puccini pieces 65 Ostrich look-alike 66 Elaborate inlays 67 Lemony 68 Verge 69 Wrapped, as a gift (hyph.) 72 Coach Parseghian 73 Very serious 74 Card below a trey 75 Forsake a lover 76 Globetrotter opposite 79 Popcorn nuisances 80 End of South America (2 wds.) 84 Wry face 85 Almond confection 86 Inflates 87 Mark of Zorro 88 Tuition check taker 91 Shortages 92 — Petty of NASCAR 93 Clearing 95 Language suffix 96 Icky 97 Rock's Jethro — 98 Went bad 99 Heavy burden 101 Takes an apartment 102 Achy 103 Breathing device 104 Lhasa monk 105 "Macbeth" trio 106 Thin board 107 1101, in old Rome 108 Salinger girl 109 Kipling tiger — Khan 111 Whittier's Miss Muller 112 Freak out (2 wds.) 114 Lettuce layer 117 Urge 118 — Mawr
119 Canis lupus (2 wds.) 124 Out on — —(at risk) 126 Footnote word 128 Hollow rock 130 More quickly 131 When pigs fly 132 Prohibitions (hyph.) 134 Small brown birds 136 Ambition 137 Violin maker 138 The fabulous Garbo 139 Wax theatrical 140 Roast host 141 Like most jackets 142 Fermi split it 143 Perceive 144 Textile workers
DOWN
1 Garden green 2 Chillier 3 Meter reading 4 Scatter around 5 Carrion feeders 6 First space station 7 Exception 8 Pyramid builders 9 Coffee preference 10 —breve 11 Stir-fry pan 12 Fled to wed 13 Like tartan
14 Doubtful story 15 Stationed 16 Eight, in combos 17 North Sea tributary 18 Foals 19 Moon rings 23 Tinned fishes 30 Steak orders (hyph.) 32 Walk a bicycle 36 More than misled 38 Hamilton's prov. 40 Cal Tech grad 43 Front of the calf 44 Eastman invention 45 Slump 46 Algiers quarter 47 Mr. Toscanini 48 Type of cracker 49 "Fatha" Hines 51 Be patient 52 "Soapdish" actor 54 Recognition 55 Matty of the diamond 56 Enjoy, as benefits 58 Da or ja 59 Only 60 Idle and Clapton 63 Be different 64 As — — (generally) 67 Gravitational effect 68 Pulley parts 69 Ice-cream servings
70 Bullring shout 71 Extreme degree 73 Unsmiling 74 Like twilight 75 Sculpture medium 77 911 responder 78 Elegant accessory 79 Uses a machete 80 Stock option 81 Missouri mountains 82 Cash in coupons 83 Knitting tool 85 Agreements 86 Ernie or Gomer 88 Sci. course 89 Annapolis inst. 90 Baba au — 91 Charge ahead 92 Russell or Waldheim 93 Glop 94 Artificial fly 96 Longing 97 Warty critter 98 Makes catty remarks 100 Airline to Stockholm 101 Syngman — of Korea 102 Threw 103 Nature's band-aid 106 Voice an opinion 107 Instants 110 Seed catalog offering
111 Peter Lorre role (2 wds.) 112 Fictional detective — Fell 113 Rusted away 114 Dull and ordinary 115 Fragrant resin 116 Couch 118 Stephen Vincent — 119 "The Velvet Fog"
120 Bad, as apples 121 In the bag (2 wds.) 122 Pry bar 123 Liberates 125 Ration out 127 — the Explorer 129 Wool suppliers 133 Snead or Shepard 135 Meet, in poker PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER
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CHAI TIME SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012
STAR POWER
Date 13-2-2012
As per Hindu panchang
THIRUVAIKUMAR
thiruvaikumar@yahoo.co.in 040-27177230 / 9949870449
TAURUS
GEMINI
Unwanted fears will disappear and good things will start happening. Problems faced by employees at workplace will disappear. Expected transfer and pay hike will come without hurdles.
Happy atmosphere will prevail at home. You will feel cheerful as blood relatives and friends extend wholehearted support. Avoid hurting others with your talk. Patience and flexibility required.
All bad things happening will end and whatever you touch will become successful. Employees will feel happy to receive support from superiors. Act with self-confidence to grow big.
CANCER
LEO
VIRGO
Your sweet talk and polite approach can do wonders. Avoid unwanted arguments with superiors at office. Those receiving an unexpected transfer can accept the same without hesitation.
All troubles will disappear and good events will take place. At the same time patience is needed while executing work. Avoid negligence and headstrong attitude at office.
Self-confidence and boldness will scale new heights. Dull period at workplace will change and you will perform well by exposing your skills. You will get due recognition for hard work you put in.
LIBRA
SCORPIO
SAGITTARIUS
Patience and caution are the need of the hour. Avoid unwanted arguments with anyone at workplace as you might be blamed and humiliated. Confusions at home will disappear.
Growth will be along expected lines, provided the efforts are wholehearted and serious. Don't boast at office to avoid unwanted issues. Never interfere in anyone's personal matters.
Happy events to take place at home. Plan work and adopt patient approach to get good results. Maintain punctuality in office work. Avoid hurting others when a good atmosphere is prevailing.
CAPRICORN
AQUARIUS
PISCES
You are destined to grow but caution is needed very much in all efforts put in. At office, flexibility and softapproach will pay off, rather than using your power. Deal with cash needs caution.
Be happy by working with patience and efficiency. Employees will get support from superiors and a pay hike is on the cards. Expected transfer and elevation also likely. Good money flow.
You have to act with patience and earn a good name by completing work with perfection and within the specified time. Headstrong and acting without any proper purpose must be avoided.
For Better or for Worse Stone soup
SUMAA TEKUR
tarotreadhyd@gmail.com
ARIES
TAURUS
GEMINI
Eight of Swords – You might be anxious about something. You’re restless and sleepless nights are not helping you think clearly. Meditate to de-stress.
Page of Wands – Some good news is about to come your way soon. You will be forced to think of a plan to make this work in your favour.
Five of Pentacles – You may be facing some loss or disappointment. Accept it full, and know that you perhaps could not have avoided it. Move on quickly.
CANCER
LEO
VIRGO
The Star – You may not be seeing it yet, but for every door closed there is a window of opportunity. Don’t be dejected about anything.
Six of Cups – Someone from your past might come back. The meeting is thick with synchronicities. How you take it forward will determine if it will grow or die.
Ace of Wands – You’re into mash creativity. You’re thinking creative to pour life into a boring piece of information. Nothing is weird. Just go with it!
LIBRA
SCORPIO
SAGITTARIUS
The High Priestess – You may not be noticing it. But you’re seeing things others would just ignore. It may be coincidences, strange occurrences or more rare.
The High Priest – You have the answers that you need within you. Pick up the key and move on. Don’t hesitate to trust your own instincts on anything.
Ten of Pentacles – A windfall may be in the offing. It comes at a time when it’s least expected. But your finances are in control anyway. So this’ll be extra good.
CAPRICORN
AQUARIUS
PISCES
Nine of Pentacles – You like your own company and prefer to spend time with yourself in the comfort of your own surroundings. Open up to new possibilities.
The Emperor – Control is giving you the confidence to try new ideas. You have it in you to transform a project with your intuition and creativity.
The Wheel of Fortune – What goes around comes around. It’s as simple or as complicated as that. Bad times will not stay bad forever.
Wise ones for wizards
W
Ink pen
COMICS
Fred Basset
ARIES
TAROT READ
hy is ‘abbreviated’ such a long word? If nothing ever sticks to TEFLON, how do they make TEFLON stick to the pan? Can fat people go skinny-dipping? Why is it that rain drops but snow falls? Why is the time of day with the slowest traffic called rush hour? Why isn't there a mouse flavoured cat food? There is fish flavoured! Why is it that doctors call what they do ‘practice’? Why is it called lipstick if you can still move your lips?
Why doesn't glue stick to the inside of the bottle? If you tied buttered toast to the back of a cat and dropped it from a height, which side would it fall on? Why do we drive on parkways and park on driveways? Why isn't phonetic spelled the way it sounds? Why are there interstate highways in Hawaii? Have you ever imagined a world with no hypothetical situations? Why do they put Braille dots on the keypad of the drive-up ATM?
Vol: 1, No. 210 RNI No: APENG/2011/39337 Published for the proprietors, Scribble Media and Entertainment Pvt Ltd, by V Harshavardhan Reddy, at #1246, Level 3, Jubilee Casa, Road No. 62, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad–500033 and printed by him at Jagati Publications Ltd, Plot No D-75&E-52, APIE Industrial Estate, Balanagar, Ranga Reddy Dist, Hyderabad–500037, Editor: Dean Williams – Responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. For feedback, please write to: feedback@postnoon.com and for subscription, please call 040-40672222, Fax: 040-40672211
28
WACKY WORLD SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012
Volcanic cuisine
W
hat could be more natural than having a barbecue party on a volcano? Apart from the obvious health and safety hazards, that is. But such things are not a concern at the El Diablo restaurant, where chefs actually cook food over the heat produced by an active volcano. Located on a Spanish island called Lanzarote, northwest of Morocco, El Diablo is a unique restaurant where the chefs have access to a volcano of their own.
Welcome to Divorce Hotel
Short-changed at the bank
I
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t is now possible to get divorced over a weekend getaway too, thanks to the Divorce Hotel. The concept of Divorce Hotel was developed by entrepreneur Jim Halfens, in the Netherlands. So all you need to do is check in at the Divorce Hotel over a weekend and all the necessary legal documentation to end the marriage will be done for you.
43-year-old man was charged with trying to rob First State Bank on Stock Island — while wearing shorts on his head. The Sheriff’s Office says Eli Escalera walked into the Maloney Avenue bank at 12.30pm with shorts on his head — not covering his face — and handed a teller a note that said: ‘Give me what are 20s and 50s.’ The teller asked, ‘What do you want?’ and Escalera said ‘never mind’ and walked out. He was caught later in the day. AFP
Frosty bite A life-size figure of a Tyranosaurus Rex is pictured at Sarajevo Zoo. Helicopters ferried food and medicine to iced-in villagers on Wednesday as Europe's 12-day-old cold snap tightened its frigid grip on the continent, where more than 400 have died as a direct result.
The perfect human hourglass
World’s first meteorite-aged wine
A seven-year-old sunrise
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hirty-year-old Ioana Spangenberg has something some skinny female models can only dream of. A 20-inch waistline and a body that doesn’t accumulate fat, no matter what she eats. Ioana seems to be blessed with the much-coveted ‘hourglass’ look, quite literally in fact. She says that she was of normal weight when she was a kid, and the transformation started to occur when she was a teenager. It was her husband who encouraged her to become a model, and she is now finally comfortable in her own skin.
hat do you get when you mix an interest in wine-making and a passion for astronomy? Why meteorite wine, of course. Meteorito, as it’s called, is a unique blend of wine that has been aged with a 4.5 billion-year-old meteorite. Meteorito, a Cabernet Sauvignon, is the creation of Norwich-born Ian Hutcheon. Ian has long been involved with wines as well as astronomy, and always wanted to find a way to combine his two interests. The Englishman now works out of Chile, where he owns a vineyard in the Cachapoal Valley. Out of his passion for outer space, he also opened an observatory in 2007, called the Centro Astrononomica Tagua Tagua. This is currently the only place in the world you can purchase Meteorito wine, although Hutcheon is interested in exporting it to other countries. The process, it turns out, wasn’t so complicated. It all started with the picking of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from Hutcheon’s Tremonte Vineyard in April 2010. The initial process of wine-making was pretty basic; the fruit was fermented for 25 days to convert grape sugar to alcohol. The next step, and the most important one in the creation of Meteorito was that of malolactic fermentation, which lasted a whole year. During this step, the wine was stored in a wooden barrel along with the meteorite for 12 long months.
rain tumor survivor Debbie Wagner has been painting the sunrise every single morning since December, 2005. In 2002, 56-year-old Wagnershe was diagnosed with brain tumor. Soon after surgery she was not able to do many of things. But she did not lose hope. She started painting the sunrise every day. So far she has completed 2,200 5-by-14 inch paintings and it takes her 30 to 45 minutes to do each one.
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Great day for James
Pep looks to Real for ‘mercy’
Lin stars for NY Knicks
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eigning 400-meter world outdoor champion Kirani James was among four runners to set this year’s indoor world-best times in triumphs on Saturday at the USA Track and Field Classic. James won the 400 in 45.19 seconds with Demetrius Pinder of Bahamas second in 45.40 as some top runners compete indoors looking to the London Olympics. “I had a great run,” James said. “Only good things come out of a day like today.”
arcelona coach Pep Guardiola admitted his side’s sinking hopes of hanging onto their La Liga crown were at the mercy of Real Madrid following Sat-urday’s shock 3-2 defeat at Osasuna. The loss left Real with the chance to open up a 10-point gap at the top if Jose Mourinho’s side beat Levante on Sunday. “Win the title? Well, we’’ll try to defend our Champions League crown and then att-empt to negotiate each match in La Liga.”
eremy Lin scored 20 points, including the go-ahead free throw with 4.9 seconds remaining, as the New York Knicks defeated Minnesota 100-98 for their fifth victory in a row. Lin, the first US-born NBA player of Chinese and Taiwanese heritage, has captured attention worldwide after coming off the Knicks bench and helping New York to triumphs while stars Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire were absent.
KARIM SAHIB/AFP
Lee leads in Dubai England’s world number three Lee Westwood shot a five-under par 67 and surged to the top of a crowded leaderboard at the $2.5 million Dubai Desert Classic DUBAI: Overnight joint leaders Rory McIlroy and Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn struggled as conditions became slightly tougher on the third day of the European Tour event, but Westwood was solid to open a one-stroke lead going into the final day. In tied second place at 14under par 202 was the trio of Spain’s Rafael Cabrera-Bello (70), Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher (68) and German Marcel Siem (68). McIlroy was a shadow of his hitting form over the past two days and mixed four birdies with four bogeys in an even-par round of 72 which tied him for the fifth place at 203 alongside world No4 Martin Kaymer (70), Scotland’s Scott Jamieson (70)
and Sweden’s Joel Sjoholm (66). Bjorn, champion here in 2001 when he beat Tiger Woods in a memorable showdown, hit his second shot into the water on the par-5 18th and finished with a double bogey to be tied ninth at 12-under par 204. Westwood was fast off the block as he made three birdies in his first four holes before sandwiching his fourth birdie on the seventh with bogeys on the sixth and eighth holes. Making the turn at twounder, he was again three-under for the first four holes of his inward journey, which was how he finished at 67. The Englishman, who has been a regular in this tournament since 1994 and has finished runner-up twice, said he was
confident of closing the deal this time. “I played well. I got off to a good start. The only time I dropped two shots was when I hit two poor drives - on sixth into the left rough and got a heavy lie, and eighth, when hit it into the sand on right. Other than that, I very solid and gave myself lots of birdie chances. “The first day I was a bit sloppy, shot 69 and should have been a 66 really. Yesterday played very solidly. And today, I played solidly again. “It was a little bit tougher today, with a tad more breeze up and I guess a few tighter flags, but I coped fairly well with that and 67 is probably about the worst it could have been. “I’ve put a lot of preparation
in, so I’m entitled to be confident really. Doing a lot of hard work off the golf course. I’m doing a lot of hard work on the range and around the greens. My short game is getting a lot sharper. So why not be confident?” McIlroy said he was surprised with his form after the way he played the first two days. “It was pretty ragged to say the least. I think the conditions were a little tougher, the wind got up, and had not really played in wind like that all week, so that sort of put me off a little bit. “Going to go to the range now and work on a few things, and see if I can iron it out for tomorrow,” he added. AFP
Wi to face his demons and Tiger PEBBLE BEACH: Charlie Wi is the first to admit he has always had a penchant for folding under pressure. The 40-year-old South Korean is in his seventh year and still looking for his first victory on the PGA Tour. “I am sure I will be fighting my demons all day tomorrow,” said Wi. “It is how I handle myself that is going to be the outcome of this tournament.” Wi, who shot a tournament course record nine-under 61 on Thursday, fired a three-under 69 Saturday to maintain his slim lead heading into Sunday’s final round of the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. Wi has a three-stroke margin over American Ken Duke after a bogey-free round that featured three birdies under rainy conditions on the more difficult Spyglass Hill course. He has had four runner-up finishes on the PGA Tour and was in contention as recently as three months ago at the Frys.com Open. The last time Wi had the lead heading the final round was last year when he had a one-shot cushion but lost to Davis Love at the Crowne Plaza Invitational. Wi said he has been working on preparing himself mentally for tournaments with a sports psychologist and he is just now seeing the results. “By demons, I mean I tend to get ahead of myself a lot,” he said. “Meaning self-doubt — can I really hit that shot or am I going to be nervous. “Something turned over the last couple of months where I really started to feel comfortable with myself out there on the course.” Wi said he found his game slipping a few times on Saturday but was able to reel in his emotions. “I definitely caught myself getting ahead today but I was able to get back to what I was doing and I am really happy about that,” Wi said. But it won’t help on Sunday that Wi has some heavy hitters breathing down his neck, including Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, who will be playing in the group right behind Wi and Duke. “He’s won 70-some times and I am trying to get my first and I have a lot more pressure on me than he does,” said Wi of Woods. “I’m sure I won’t sleep as well tonight as if I am in 50th place.”
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England scrape past gutsy Italy ROME: February 12, 2012 (AFP) - Sergio Parisse cut a dejected figure as possibily his best chance yet to experience victory against England evaporated at a frozen Stadio Olimpico. Following defeats by four and five points in their last two home Six Nations matches against England, Italy equalled their closest ever score but still went down 19-15. And yet when they scored two tries in the final two minutes of the first half to turn around with a 12-6 lead at the break, it looked like that historic first ever victory against the 2003 world champions was distinctly on the cards. The Stade Francais No 8 acknowledged this was a chance they had let slip through their fingers while insisting that they have to improve their decision making, particularly in the half-back positions. “Obviously we’ve missed a great opportunity but you have to look at the game as a whole,” he said. “The first half was not exceptional. Maybe in the first 10 minutes we did something that we had been working on in training and got the ball behind them. “We scored a try (through Giovambattista Venditti) and then (Tommaso) Benvenuti did well to go for the ball and score a try, but it wasn’t a great half, it was just the points that looked good. “We wanted to play in their half and put them under pressure but unfortunately at this level the choices you make on the pitch are very important, especially at nine and 10. “I’m proud of my team but heart and determination are not enough, we need to manage things better. “I’m not just disappointed for the team but also for the whole public because they deserved a positive result.” French coach Jacques Brunel lamented how quickly the lead slipped away at the start of the second half. Australian-born fly-half Kris Burton had just kicked a penalty to give the hosts a 15-6 lead when Italy stole the ball at a ruck. It was fed back to full-back Andrea Masi with time and space but he dallied over his clearing kick and Charlie Hodgson charged it down before going over to score. Within four minutes of that, Italy had lost the lead. “Conceding the try in this moment was a bit quick, the team was doing well but they scored 10 points in 10 minutes (actually four minutes) and that was very quick,” he said. “We still need to improve to manage the games in this intensity and when the
England’s Lock Mouritz Botha competes for the ball in the lineout against Italy’s captain Sergio Parisse (rigjt) during a Six Nations International rugby union match. GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP game is very tight like this one. “We need to improve to be more efficient with the penalties because we left 11 points on the field which is a bit too much at this level.” Burton missed a conversion and a kickable drop-goal while his replacement, South-African born Tobias Botes, hit two woeful penalties that were also in good positions.
Botes is first choice scrum-half at club level with Treviso, with whom he is keeping both Italy number nine Edoardo Gori and replacement Fabio Semenzato out of the team. But with regular fly-half Luciano Orquera injured, Brunel has used Botes as replacement number 10 due to his kicking ability.
English coach wants boys to earn team spot ROME: Stuart Lancaster wants to create competition for places in the England team following their second straight hardfought Six Nations match on the road. England will host Wales in just under two weeks time boosted by a pair of tough wins at difficult places to get a result. Italy gave England a scare at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday before going down 19-15, their joint best result against the English, whom they have yet to beat. That followed hot on the heels of a 136 win over Scotland at Murrayfield for Lancaster’s men and the interim coach is happy with how things are going. “Obviously our first initial thoughts are we’re delighted to get the win,” he said. “We put ourselves in a (good) position in the first 20 minutes. “I thought we started well then there was a bit of a mad five minutes and we came in down at the half. “The most pleasing thing from that point of view was that there was no sense of panic. “We felt there were one or two areas that we needed to work on, in particular getting balls in the number 10’s hands early and getting more tempo into the game. “I’m pleased we managed to do that and in the second half I’m delighted with the impact our substitutes made. “It’s a great win for us, it was tough, Italy played extremely well and put us under huge pressure. “They made lots of passes, it was very difficult conditions for the players but overall I’m pleased to get the win and we look forward to go to Twickenham in two weeks time.” Italy dominated the first half against a disjointed England, even though the visitors more or less gifted their hosts two late tries and a 12-6 half-time lead. But the introduction of scrum-half Lee Dickson and number eight Ben Morgan with just under a half hour left helped turn the game around. Owen Farrell was also immaculate with his place kicking and with centre Manu Tuilagi and lock Curtney Lawes due to come back into the squad, Lancaster believes things are looking good. “Italy missed a couple (of kicks) but from our point of view we felt that Owen was fantastic in terms of temperament and the ability to step up and get those kicks to keep our scoreboard ticking over,” said the coach. “Even though the conditions were difficult we had to be brave to be able to play. “Both Dickson and Morgan made a fantastic impact and gave us our best period of the game. “We’ve got some players who put their hands up and that’s part of what we’ll be considering as well as how they contribute and how they train.
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SPORTS SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012
Sua‘race’ does it again
Manchester United regained top spot in the Premier League with a 2-1 victory over Liverpool on Saturday in a stormy clash marred by fresh controversy stemming from the Luis Suarez racism affair LONDON: Two second-half goals in three minutes from United talisman Wayne Rooney — playing in his 500th game at senior level — saw the champions go one point clear of Manchester City, who face Aston Villa on Sunday. But the early kick-off at Old Trafford was dominated by incidents involving Suarez, who scored Liverpool's only goal in his first start since returning from an eight-match ban for racially abusing United captain Patrice Evra. Despite assurances from both clubs' managers during the week that Evra and Suarez would shake hands before the kick-off, the Uruguayan caused an unnecessary flashpoint by ignoring Evra's outstretched hand. Evra angrily grabbed Suarez's arm as the South American walked away, before United defender Rio Ferdinand then snubbed Suarez's offer of a handshake. Players from both sides had to be separated in the tunnel at half-time by police and stewards as Patrice Evra confronted Suarez, starting a game for the first time since serving an eightmatch FA suspension handed out for making racist comments to the United defender. There were also ugly scenes on the final whistle as Evra celebrated with United supporters and infuriated Liverpool players with his gestures. Again, stewards, police and
(Suarez) is a disgrace to Liverpool Football Club. He shouldn't be allowed to play for Liverpool again. Sir Alex Ferguson, Man Utd manager match officials were involved in keeping rival players apart. Disgusted United manager Sir Alex Ferguson branded Suarez a "disgrace" afterwards and said the striker should never play for Liverpool again. "I couldn't believe it. I just could not believe it," Ferguson said when asked for his reaction. "I had a chat with Patrice this morning and he said he was going to shake his hand. He said 'I have nothing to be ashamed of.' "(Suarez) is a disgrace to Liverpool Football Club. He shouldn't be allowed to play for Liverpool again. "The history that club's got, he could have caused a riot. It was terrible what he did. It was a terrible start to the game and it created a terrible atmosphere." Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish later insisted he had not seen the incident, but lost his cool with a television interviewer at the suggestion it had led to a bust-up between players from both sides at half-time. AFP
Liverpool's Luiz Suarez ignores Manchester United’s Patrice Evra while the teams’ were shaking hands before kick-off. ANDREW YATES / AFP
Patrice Evra celebrates with Manchester United’s fans as a dejected Luiz Suarez walks past him after their match. Man U beat the Reds 2-1. ANDREW YATES / AFP
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SPORTS SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012
Do you feel lucky, Harry?
Coach Redknapp's emotional week ended on a high when Spurs crushed Newcastle United 5-0 at White Hart Lane OLLY GREENWOOD/AFP
LONDON: Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Louis Saha struck inside the first six minutes before Saha's second and a strike from Niko Krancjar ensured the home side reached the interval with a four-goal advantage. Emmanuel Adebayor then completed the scoring midway through the second half as Spurs moved 10 points clear of fourth-placed Arsenal. For Redknapp, this was the perfect end to a week in which he was cleared of charges of tax evasion and been installed as the clear favourite to succeed Fabio Capello as England manager. The manager had described the stresses of his two-week court ordeal in the build-up to this game. He also admitted to being flattered at being linked with the England job, although added it would be a wrench to leave Tottenham. The reaction of the Spurs supporters will have done nothing to change that, with the home fans making it clear they would like the manager to remain at the club.
Tottenham Hotspur's Emmanuel Adebayor (R) scores past Newcastle's Mike WIlliamson, his team’s fifth goal. OLLY GREENWOOD/AFP
Both matters were cast to one side as he switched his focus back on to Tottenham and their continuing efforts to increase the pressure on Manchester United and Manchester City at the head of the table. Chelsea's defeat at Everton earlier in the day also meant Spurs could extend the gap between themselves and fourth place. And they were given the perfect start when they raced into a two-goal lead inside the first six minutes. If Redknapp was looking for an antidote to the off-field affairs that have dominated his week, then this was the ideal response from his players. Their intent was clear from the moment Adebayor exchanged passes with Kranjcar on the edge of the Newcastle area before delivering a low cross towards Assou-Ekotto who slotted the ball into an empty net. Two minutes later, and Newcastle were again carved open by Adebayor who this time picked out Saha with a deep, right wing cross. The former Everton striker was making his full debut after joining Spurs on transfer deadline day and he ensured it was an occasion to remember by finishing with a left foot volley. Tottenham were rampant while Newcastle simply looked shell-shocked. It could have got worse for the visitors in the 15th minute when Kranjcar shot over when he should have done much better. But that turned out to be only a temporary reprieve and four minutes later, Saha made it three when he drilled a shot past Tim Krul after Adebayor had laid off Luka Modric's cross. The visitors finally threatened Brad Friedel's goal when Demba Ba sent a free kick flying narrowly wide. That proved to be a rare moment of activity in the Spurs goalmouth and Redknapp's side established a four-goal lead in the 33rd minute.