Postnoon E-Paper for 17 March 2012 by Scribble Media & Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.

3 KILLED, 2 HURT IN ROAD MISHAP

CLOONEY ARRESTED

ctor George Clooney and his father were arrested on Friday, along with other protesters, outside the Sudanese embassy in Washington. The arrest came a day after he had met President Obama with concerns about the troubled region.

hree people fell prey to a road accident early this morning. A group of artisans from Bellary were travelling in a hired SUV. Near Peddashahpur village under Shamshabad police station limits, the driver felt drowsy and lost control. The vehicle rammed into an RTC bus, killing Sri Laxmi, 35, Ramakrishna, 32 and driver Basha, 28, on the spot while two others sustained injuries.

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MARCH 17, 2012 HYDERABAD

WATER WAR

A man immolates himself after a brawl over water — tough times ahead as mercury soars REPORT ON PG 4

NARROW ESCAPE FOR TRAIN PASSENGERS

assengers of Venkatadri express had a providential escape today at the Kacheguda railway station. The train was at the platform when another train, which was getting its engine changed, rammed it from the rear. Two bogies were damaged but nobody was injured, said South Central Railway Superintendent of Police M Kanta Rao. An inquiry has been launched.

32 PAGES

ON SATURDAY

PAGE TWO SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2012

PICTURE-WORTHY!

Cotton and silk mela

N SHIVA KUMAR

Bring out your shopping bags. Lepakshi Cotton and Silk Mela is on at Kalinga Cultural Centre. Choose from a variety of cotton and silk sarees and dress materials. Where: Kalinga Cultural Centre, Banjara Hills, Rd No 12. When: Ongoing, 11am onwards Contact: (040) 2330 3889

Photo exhibition A photo exhibition titled Milestone is on at Iconart Gallery. The exhibition which is being held till March 19. The photographs by 16 photographers are based on the Himalayas. Where: Iconart, Banjara Hills, Rd No 12 When: Ongoing, 11am onwards Contact: 98499 68797

Bengali food festival A Bengali food festival is being held at Firdaus, Taj Krishna. Sample a variety of Bengali delicacies. Where: Firdaus, Taj Krishna, Banjara Hills, Rd No1 When: Ongoing, 11.30am onwards Contact: (040) 6666 2323

Unique buffet Yellow Chilli is offering a lunch buffet which is truly different. The Buffet which costs `199 (Monday to-Friday) and `249 (Saturday and Sunday). The dinner buffet costs `299 and `349. Where: Yellow Chilli, Banjara Hills, Rd No 12 When: Ongoing Contact: (040) 23383838

Acting workshop Samahaara — an acting and dancing workshop is being held to help you hone your acting skills. The workshop focusses on a variety of topics such as understanding the basics of stage acting and character analysis, stage geography etc. Where: The Actor’s studio, Madhapur When: Ongoing, 7pm to 9pm Contact: 98854 04784

George Hull, Ujjal and Joe Koster on Saturday, March 17. Where: Lamakaan, Banjara Hills, Rd No 1 When: March 17 Contact: 96427 31329

Temporal is being held. Where: Shrishti Art Gallery, Jubilee Hills, Rd No15 When: Ongoing, 11am onwards Contact: (040) 2354 0023

Asian barbeque

New works

Rolls — boring did you say? Head to Promenade at Ameerpet for a wide variety of rolls,such as sea food rolls and grilled chicken rolls for the non-vegetarians and cabbage roll and stir fried vegetable wrap, for the vegetarians. Where: The Promenade, Ameerpet When: Ongoing Contact: (040) 6678 8888

The Square, Novotel, Madhapur plays host to an Asian barbeque.Sample grilled specialities from around the world — from lebanon to Japanese to even South Indian. Where: The Square, Novotel, Madhapur When: Ongoing, 7pm onwards Contact: (040) 6682 4422

New works by artists Laxma Goud and Ramesh Gorjala will be displayed at Gallery Space. Where: Gallery Space, Banjara Hills, Rd No 12 When: Ongoing, 11am onwards Contact: (040) 6554 1836

Thaali festival

Go Splash

exhibition presents art work by Karunakaran and Satheesh Kanna. Where: Iconart Gallery, Banjara Hills, Rd No 12 When: Ongoing, 11am onwards Contact: 98499 6879

Wraps and rolls

An exhibition showcases 58 designs which are a combination of tradition and innovation. Where: Salarjung Museum, Afzal Gunj When: Ongoing, 10am onwards Contact: (040) 2452 3211

Spice Junxion is offering a variety of favourites from different regions such as Rayalseema and Telangana. The unique aspect of the thaali is that it represents the traditional home-style cooking. Where: Spice Junxion,Banjara Hills,Rd No 1 When: Ongoing Contact: (040) 6666 3939

Splash lounge is the perfect leisure destination for you to unwind. During the evenings, there is great music, martinis and aperitifs. Where: The Westin, Mindspace, Madhapur When: Monday - Friday, 5pm - 10.30pm Weekends, 8am - 10.30pm Contact: (040) 6767 6828

Temple Art

Musical evening

Sacred Women

Tradition and innovation

A painting exhibition titled, Temple Town is on display at Iconart Art Gallery. The

CINEMAS

Catch an evening of Jazz, Blues, Pop and Rock by artistes such as Shakila, Sarosh, Sukanya, Sanchita,

On the occasion of Shrishti Art Gallery’s 10th anniversary an exhibition called Women-Sacred and the

Water colours Iconart is hosting Aquarelle as a part of it’s Buy Art initiative. It features water colour paintings. Where: Iconart Gallery, Banjara Hills, Rd No 12 When: March 20 onwards, 11.30 am Contact: 98499 6879

Reflection of women Aiana — Reflection of Women, a painting exhibition is being conducted at Kala Bhavan, Saifabad. The exhibition is by Bhavana and Sindoor. Where: Kala Bhavan/ ICCR Art Gallery, Saifabad When: Ongoing, 11am onwards Contact: (040) 2323 6398

Big Cinemas, Ameerpet: 30581470; Cinemax, Banjara Hills: 44565555; Cine Planet , Kompally: 61606060; INOX, Banjara Hills: 44767777, Prasads, Tank Bund Rd: 23448888; PVR, Punjagutta: 8800900009; Talkie Town, Miyapur: 40214175; Tivoli, Secunderabad: 27844973

CITY SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2012

Ganja seized from prison

n a shocking incident, scores of mobile phones and Ganja sachets were found in the Cherlapally Central prison during a surprise inspection by the jail authorities on Saturday morning. Prisoners are usually denied access to phones, let alone narcotics. The authorities are interrogating inmates and have launched a thorough search of the premises.

All set for the bypolls

Mother and daughter killed

he Election Commission has set up 660 polling booths in seven assembly segments where bypolls will be held tomorrow. More than 5,000 police are posted in Mahbubnagar district alone. About 25,000 voting machines were in place. A ban on sending bulk SMS for the next 48 hours and sale of liquor has been imposed till voting ends.

mother and daughter were run over by a train at Duvvada railway station in Visakhapatnam this morning. The incident is said to have occured when the mother and her daughter were trying to cross the railway line. Unfortunately, the duo did not notice the Simhadri Express hurtling down the track and it ran over them. They both died on the spot.

Dispirited Congress in match fixing now U SRINIVAS

srinivas.u@postnoon.com

ampaign over, betting takes over. In the seven Assembly constituencies where byelections have been conducted, betting is on full swing which knowledgeable circles put it not less than `100 Crore. But the betting this time is less on winning or losing but more on victory margin of first two leading parties, say Congress and TDP or TRS and TDP. This

becomes trickier because winning margin is pure number that goes with luck rather than thoughtful consideration but betting on a candidate’s victory was easier and simpler. Six out of the seven seats that have gone for elections are in Telangana region and there is no let up in the enthusiasm as far as putting money on betting is concerned. Betting is heavy in Kovvur where margin of YSR party candidate is the punter’s delight. Pollsters believe that YSRC candidate Nallapureddy Prasanna Kumar Reddy’s victory is a foregone conclusion but with what margin he would carve out is the question put to test. You could predict a margin, if the

POST THE CAMPAIGNS, BETTING HAS BEGUN ON NOT WHICH PARTY WILL WIN BUT BY HOW MUCH MARGIN THEY WILL WIN. actual come below it you lose the money, if it is true or if it is more than what you forecast you win double the sum. Betting in the Elections has always been a big game in Andhra Pradesh. There were instances where people lost vast tracts of agriculture lands betting for Congress or TDP. Mahabubnagar is a tough bet-

ting point. Here, the betting is heavy on the TRS margin. Some punters have invested on the BJP winning also. Some others calculate that since votes are likely to be split between the BJP and TRS, the Congress may win. Those putting money on the Congress are offered a premium `2 for 1. It is not money alone. Many who do not have hard cash and yet want to bet can put at stake their plots, animals, houses, bullocks. Reports say those encouraging betting are political enthusiasts and pawn brokers. Pawn brokers at Mahabubnagar constituency are encouraging the betting for Congress as they are offering a high stake and

here major chances are that the punter will lose. Even at Kovvur, TDP is being equally favoured by the punters irrespective of the margin, there are hopes that the TDP could be a surprise element. But in all other places the TRS is the first choice while the TDP is the second and the Congress the third. Intelligence reports to the government are said to have indicated that the Congress does not have much to hope for. Now, having little hope of emerging winner in the game, the Congress seems to be concentrating on match fixing. The leaders from the respective caste groups are lured over night with huge promises to tilt the support for Congress in the last minute.

CITY SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2012

Liquid trouble stares City

A man taking his life after a brawl for a bucket of water in Moula Ali is a grim reminder of what is in store for the City. Mindless exploitation of groundwater and killing of water bodies have led the situation to this pass. War for water is a near possibility now M ANIL KUMAR

RAHUL RAMAKRISHNA

rahul.r@postnoon.com

ater problems continue to scar the lives of people in Hyderabad. Venkat Raju, a resident of RTC Colony Moula Ali, committed suicide by setting himself on fire after being denied an extra bucket of water. Raju who worked as a tower operator for the Reliance group was irked by the desperate need for water, a little more than the stipulated share of 10 buckets that every household gets, and decided to claim a little more. On March 6, he carried a drum which other water-seekers objected to. It led to a quarrel and violence in which he was beaten black and blue. In the heat of the moment, Venkat Raju who is said to have had a couple of pegs, went home, poured kerosene on himself and set himself ablaze. He was admitted to Gandhi hospital with serious burn injuries, where he died a few days later. This shocking incident brings to light, the plight and misery of the City’s suburban residents, for whom water supply has become a painful episode fraught with violence. “Raju was a gentleman. He would never get into fights,” said S Vinoda, Raju’s wife. “I cannot yet believe that he could take such an extreme step. I was not at home when it happened.

There has been no compensation so far nor do we expect any justice,” she said. While Venkat Raju’s case is a grim statistic of how neighbours and relatives can turn upon each other for their most basic essentials, residents believe that their issues are far from being resolved. Vinoda’s family sustains now with her lowly job at the Kushaiguda printing press where she works as a helper. Her neighbours say that fights and brawls are a common sight when a water tanker appears once every 10 days in the locality. Anjamma, a housewife and Vinoda’s neighbour said, “All the

Venkat Raju

wells in this area have dried up. The bores that people have drilled have failed to bring up water. There is just mud left at the bottom of the wells and the bores. We have a total of 12 wells just in this particular street and not one of them has any water. We have filed umpteen complaints in the last five years but there has been no response whatsoever.” Where does the water tanker appear from every 10 days? “Our colony leader Ayub brings in a water tanker every week for this locality. Water supply once a week explains why people fight mindlessly for every bucket.

This locality has gotten used to fights over water and some of them are very violent,” said Ravinder a barber who had been living in the area for 15 years. “There has not been one single step taken for solving this issue. Furthermore, a lot of the water tanks in this area have been covered up or demolished to make way for constructing houses. None of the authorities here are of any help,” he said. Water supply in this area is limited to the private water tanker that appears at the behest of the local authority, a certain Ayub who happens to be the excouncillor of the Moula Ali area. This tanker appears once in every 10 days that leaves most of the residents wanting for more. As things are expected to get even more serious this summer, the residents of Moula ali will only have to wait and hope for better times. However, the local corporator of the area, Bharati Raj Goud appeared unfazed and blindly optimistic about the situation. “We have held a meeting with the HMWS&SB. All of Moula Ali has been categorised into four key areas, especially those that receive water once a week and we will be concentrating on these areas with the help of linesmen who will try and lay water connections for these four areas,” she said. “I was not present here while the Venkat Raju issue had happened as we were on a study tour project in North India. However, I shall look into the matter and make sure adequate measures are taken to serve the people of this area.”

Telugu wikipedia hits 50,000 mark Telugu has become the third indic language to have more than 50,000 articles on Wikipedia. However, there are plenty of challenges which Wikimedia Foundation wants to address HEMANTH KUMAR

hemanth.k@postnoon.com

lmost six years after Wikipedia users were allowed to post and edit articles in Telugu, the wikipedia community has crossed a major milestone. Telugu has become the third indic language after Hindi and Marathi to have more than 50,000 articles. Interestingly, Telugu was the first indic language to integrate a typing solution in Wikipedia. While it’s certainly a matter of pride for the Wikipedia community, there are several concerns

which the Wikimedia Foundation is trying to address. “When we launched Telugu Wikipedia, there was a phenomenal response from the people. In 2006, we crossed 10,000 articles and by 2007 the number of articles crossed 30,000. However, the community has been slightly inactive over the past few years because it took us almost five years to cross the 50,000 articles barrier,” says Noopur Raval, Consultant-Communication, WMF-India Programs, adding, “It’s a problem which Wikipedia is facing across the world. A lot of old editors aren’t so active these days.” To address this problem, Wikimedia Foundation has begun conducting several pro-

grammes across the country to reach out to more people to encourage them to write and edit content in English and other indic languages. One such programme is being held at ISB Hyderabad today. “Anyone can post on Wikipedia and that’s the message we want to drive home,” Noopur adds. Wikipedia has more than 21 million articles in 284 languages, out of which 3.8 million are in English alone. It’s interesting to note that English, which is the second most spoken language in the world constitutes less than 20 per cent of the entire content on the website. Is that one of the main reasons behind the drive to give a push to indic languages? “Although English is widely

spoken around the world, we still speak our regional languages at home. In countries like Germany, people don’t even look at English Wiki for any information. There’s a need to document knowledge on various issues and the best way to spread knowledge is by writing about issues in regional languages,” Noopur says. The type of content which goes on Wikipedia pages depends a lot on who’s editing them. “Right from the beginning, we have had more young men onboard. So, you’ll see that articles on sports, technology and politics are better edited than other topics. Honestly, we would like to have more women onboard,” Noopur informs.

FOCUS SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2012

DEEPAK DESHPANDE

A good story is all you need Ratna Pathak Shah confesses that the theatre scene today is bustling, thanks to young writers who are a lot more confident than her generation. In a conversation with Postnoon she talks more about her work, Ismat Chugtai and being Naseeruddin Shah’s wife

HEMANTH KUMAR

hemanth.k@postnoon.com

atna Pathak Shah’s passion for theatre is palpable. She puts it in perspective saying, “I have grown up backstage and my mother Dina Pathak and my aunt Shanta Gandhi have had a lot of influence on me. Theatre was a family pre-occupation right from my childhood.” She’s in Hyderabad today to stage a play named Ismat Apa Ke Naam. Directed by Naseeruddin

Shah, the play is based on Ismat Chugtai’s writings. So far, the play has been staged more than 350 times across India and other countries. “There’s a great intimacy in the way Ismat writes and it sounds like she’s narrating to you the story,” explains Ratna. “Initially, we were quite skeptical because we didn’t know if people will understand it. It’s not even a conventional play because there’s only one actor on stage who narrates the story. It’s been 11 years now and the play has become a big hit with the audience.” We ask her about her husband Shah's influence on her life and if his presence has

made a huge difference to her life. “Of course. I consider him as one of my gurus apart from Satyadev Dubey,” Ratna says. “Having seen his work from close quarters, his work has had a great influence on me. It’s great that everyone in my family is an actor.” While her romance with theatre has been going on for years, she also dabbles with acting in TV serials and films. She is also very much involved in social work. “ I am part of an educational NGO named Avehi Abacus project,” she reveals. “We work with over 900 municipal schools in Mumbai and we focus on developing children’s skills of thinking and analysing. In our

schools, children are not encouraged to think and learn which is quite sad.” Ratna is all praise for young writers, who she thinks are a lot more confident than those of her generation when they were young. “Back in our time, there were a handful of people like Mohan Rakesh, Sarath Joshi, Nirmal Varma, Girish Karnad and Tendulkar who would write, but now there are so many young writers who write plays in English, Hindi, Marathi and other languages,” she points out. Ratna says that most of the plays aren’t great, but she is quick to add that “the important thing is that they are not afraid

of taking risks”. “Today, writers are well-educated and they approach life with a lot more confidence,” she says. “Moreover, younger actors act better on stage and they make lesser mistakes which we used to make.” What about the audience? “They have always risen to the occasion. A place like Prithvi Theatre in Mumbai is always full. In fact, the biggest problem in Mumbai is that there’s a dearth of venues to stage plays.” However, Ratna says the most important thing is telling the story. “Even if there are no sets or interactions with the audience, if you can tell a good story, it’ll reach out to a wider audience,” she signs off.

NATION SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2012

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BATHINDA: National Disaster

KISHTWAR, (J&K): An

actress allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself at her inlaws’ house in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir and police arrested her husband, his two brothers and parents. 22-year-old Suman Rathore, who had married eight months ago, was found hanging on Friday. PTI

three youths in connection with the gang rape of a 23-year-old girl in a moving car in Noida. The girl, who had been living with her relatives in Vijay Nagar area here, was allegedly gang raped in a moving car by a neighbour and his three friends on March 13 while she was travelling to Gurgaon in search of a job.

Akhilesh sets new directives LUCKNOW: Haunted by

Actress found dead at inlaws’

GHAZIABAD: Police have arrested

Response Force (NDRF) organising a mock drill at the Bathinda Railways Station on Friday for the awareness of passengers on how to react in the event of a railways accident. A spate of accidents in the recent past have brought to the fore the need for enhanced safety measure in the railways.

Mohit Dubey

COMPUTERS

3 arrested for gang rape

To cope with accidents

the spectre of a repeat of hooliganism that marred the 2004–2007 tenure of the Samajwadi Party government, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Friday issued fresh guidelines with regard to putting up of hoardings and use of party flags on vehicles and asked them to remain within the ‘Lakshman rekha’. According to the diktat, the chief minister has put a blanket ban on putting up of hoardings — congratulatory and otherwise in the state capital. Mujeeb-urRahman, the city president of the Samajwadi Party (SP) said he “had direct orders from Akhilesh Yadav to crack down on any such party worker” who used the party symbol on flags, buntings, banners and hoardings. “Such hoardings we

know are being put up by shady elements, mafias and land grabbers and we have passed on instructions to the Lucknow Municipal Corporation officials to remove such hoardings and penalise them as per the law,” a close aide of the chief minister told IANS. The missive from the chief minister also bans putting up of cut-outs, posters and distribution of pamphlets with his picture or that of the party national president Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Fighting hard the image of the ‘return of hooliganism’, a charge levelled by former chief minister Mayawati, Akhilesh Yadav also issued late night instructions to police officials to take action against all people who flaunt the party flag on their four wheelers and breaking traffic norms and “act in an unlawful manner”. Only a day ago, party workers supporting an MLA had tried to run over their SUV on a constable at Aminabad. The chief minister has directed the party office bearers to ensure that the party flags are only put up on vehicles of members of the national executive of the party, members of the state executive, Member of Parliament (MPs), former MPs, MLAs, MLCs and former MLAs and MLCs. To party functionaries, Akhilesh Yadav made it clear that no indiscipline would be tolerated.

Now Pranab, Omar drop out NEW DELHI: Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today (Saturday) cancelled their participation at the India Today Conclave that is to be attended by controversial author Salman Rushdie. The organisers did not cite any reason for the cancellation, but their dropping out is said to be over the participation of Rushdie. Mukherjee, who was to appear at the conclave a day after his budget presentation, regretted his inability to attend, apparently because of pressure from his constituency, Jangipur, in West Bengal that has a large Muslim population. Rushdie is in the capital for the concluding session of the two-day annual conclave. On Friday, Rushdie’s literary session was postponed to Saturday after Pakistani opposition leader Imran Khan dropped out, ostensibly over Rushdie. Rushdie’s participation at the two-day conclave that started on Friday at a five-star hotel here comes two months after he had to cancel his visit to the Jaipur Literature Festival. IANS

Where the sea disappears

Azera Rahman

CHANDIPUR (ODISHA): Have you seen the sea disappear in front of your eyes? A unique phenomenon rarely seen anywhere else, the sea recedes by as much as five kilometres every day on the Chandipur beach in eastern India, not just enthralling the onlooker but also offering an opportunity to literally walk into the sea. One of nature’s many wonders, the sea recedes massively from the beach during ebb and returns to fill the emptiness during high tide. This hide-and-seek of the sea comes to play twice a day and seeing the sea disappear and then return is an unforgettable experience. Chandipur lies around 200km from state capital Bhubaneswar. From here, one can either take the train to Balasore, the closest town at a distance of 10km, and then

travel by road, or take the entire journey by road on National Highway 5. One can be assured of a good journey thanks to the green scenery that follows you throughout and good roads. Adding to the peaceful ambience are the swaying casuarina trees and the solitary sand dunes, with the constant hum of the waves as they rise and fall gently. Considering its uniqueness, the beach supports a varied range of biodiversity. It’s not rare to thus find a horseshoe crab or red crab crawling beside you. While it’s still not very well known among tourists who flock to its cousin beaches of Puri, or the temple destination of Konark, local tourists often visit Chandipur. “The best time to visit Chandipur is winter, and most tourists come during this time,” Dasarath, a coconut seller said.

WORLD SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2012

Jason Russel hospitalised

Plot to kill Obama

Indian student found guilty

he co-head of a viral online campaign to hunt down Ugandan war criminal Joseph Kony has been hospitalised after being found seminaked in the street, masturbating, police said on Friday. The head of Invisible Children, said Jason Russell was receiving medical care for “exhaustion, dehydration, and malnutrition.”

ndian American student Dharun Ravi,who was accused of spying on his gay roommate, faces up to 10 years in jail and deportation to India after a New Jersey jury found him guilty on all charges. Sentencing was set for May 21 after the jury Friday named Dharun Ravi, a former Rutgers New Jersey State University student, guilty on all counts including invasion of privacy and the more severe charges of bias intimidation.

efore being killed Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden had ordered for organising special cells in Afghanistan and Pakistan to attack the aircraft of US President Barack Obama and General David Petraeus, the US media reported. The plot was discovered in documents taken from Osama’s compound by US forces on May 2, 2011, the night he was killed.

Afghan massacre shooter identified WASHINGTON: The US soldier who allegedly shot and killed 16 civilians in Afghanistan was identified on Friday, and a picture emerged of a decorated veteran who saw tough battles and plenty of death in Iraq. US Army Staff Sergeant Robert Bales had served three combat tours in Iraq, and was on his first deployment to Afghanistan. US media identified Bales, 38, as the alleged shooter, and a US official speaking on condition of anonymity told AFP the reports were “correct.” Bales allegedly left his base in the southern province of Kandahar before sunrise Sunday, entered an Afghan village and opened fire, killing

A file image of Robert Bales (left).

Clooney held for embassy protest

Actor and activist George Clooney is handcuffed by a member of the US Secret AFP Service Uniform Divison.

ctor George Clooney and his father were arrested on Friday, along with other protesters, outside the Sudanese embassy in Washington, DC, according to the Associated Press. The arrest came a day after he had met President Obama with concerns about the troubled region. The protesters accused Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir of provoking a humanitarian crisis and blocking aid from entering the Nuba Mountains, a border region near South Sudan, said

the AP. Democratic Republican Jim Moran of Virginia and NAACP President Ben Jealous were also among those arrested. Clooney met with President Barack Obama on Thursday to discuss Sudan, said CNN . The Senate Foreign Relations Committee also heard Clooney’s testimony earlier this week about violence in the Nuba Mountains. The Washington Post reported that Clooney and the gathered activists, congressmen, and religious leaders spoke of Sudan’s humanitarian crisis. Moments before his arrest, Clooney said: “We are here really to ask two very simple questions. The first question is something immediate — and immediately we need humanitarian aid to be allowed into the Sudan before it becomes the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.” The second was “for the government in Khartoum to stop randomly killing its own innocent men, women and children. Stop raping them and stop starving them. That’s all we ask,” according to CNN. Clooney and the group of protesters stepped onto the embassy’s grounds and were given three warnings that they should leave or face arrest. After the third warning they lined up and were arrested on Massachusetts Avenue and taken away in handcuffs. Clooney had just returned from a trip to Sudan two days prior and has been involved with The Enough Project, a human rights advocacy GLOBAL POST group.

AFP

men, women and children. The incident has plunged US-Afghan relations into the deepest crisis since the 2001 US-led invasion. The US military has not officially released the soldier’s name, nor charged him with a crime yet. On Friday Bales was en route from Kuwait to the US military prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, his civilian lawyer John Henry Browne told US media. Several websites containing pictures and stories about Bales, including a 2009 Department of Defense page, were taken down by the time his identity was revealed on Friday, but some versions of the webpages could still be accessed.

According to a cached online article, dated February 2009, from the official US army homepage, Bales participated in one of the bloodiest clashes of the Iraq war. In the 15-hour engagement, according to the US army article, 250 fighters were killed, all enemy and Bales said he was proud his unit “discriminated between the bad guys and the noncombatants and then afterward we ended up helping the people that three or four hours before were trying to kill us. “I think that’s the real difference between being an American as opposed to being a bad guy, someone who puts his family in harm’s way like that,” Bales AFP said.

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COMMENT SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2012

Einstein rocks

Changing face of our city

have read umpteen articles on Einstein and I just can't get enough of the mad genius. And your article was interesting. It was interesting to see how they brought alive Einstein in popular culture. Much has been disputed about his belief in god, and of course the debate will continue. Ramya K Himayatnagar

look forward to reading your Women's pages every weekend. Some of your columns are really interesting. This is one of the best afternoon newspapers I have laid my hands on in a long time really. Your paper is reflective of the changing face of my sleepy Hyderabad. Ajit Sethi Madhuranagar

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 4067 2222.

We stand corrected

t is with deep regret that we bring to your notice a printer’s devil that went into our front page of yesterday (Postnoon dated Mar 16). It should have been `50,000 tax exemption for retail investors under Rajiv Gandhi Equity Scheme and not `50,000 crore tax exemption for retail investors under Rajiv Gandhi Equity Scheme. Sorry!

ROBERT

EDITORIALS UP RETURNS TO goondaraj? India’s most populous state has chosen to give the boot to Mayawati after they realised that there was no relief from crime and corruption as long as she was in power. Even expelling 26 ‘tainted’ ministers during her tenure could not stop the public from giving the Samajwadi Party a resounding mandate in the recently concluded elections. The SP chose to make Akhilesh Yadav the Chief Minister, and not his father, after it correctly read the people’s desire for a change. The highly-educated, tech-savvy MP who talked about development was seen as a refreshing change from the politics of caste and community the state had witnessed for the past several decades. However, the young CM’s decision to include Raghuraj Pratap Singh, better known as Raja Bhaiya, in the ministry has raised doubts about his intentions. The MLA has multiple criminal cases against him, which include multiple counts under the anti-terror law POTA – repealed in 2004. One main aspect of the previous term of SP-rule in Uttar Pradesh was the reign of lawlessness unleashed by politically connected goons. Though the new CM dismisses charges against Raja Bhaiya as ‘politically motivated’, only time will prove if he lives up to the expectations of the electorate.

WHY WE LOVE... neutral forms Britain is planning to introduce forms for official business which will use neutral language sections seeking personal data. Terms such as ‘husband’ and ‘wife’ will be replaced by ‘spouse’ and partner — in a move that will make these forms more friendly towards minorities like gays, single parents and transgenders. The proposal is a move in the right direction. Inclusiveness is the way.

The spiritual rupee Soul Curry SUMAA TEKUR

he union budget has just been presented. A number of thoughts were running in my mind as I watched Pranabda make the budget speech on Friday. How much money will I be able to save this year? How much more is the government going to take from me this time? Will I be happier filing my returns this financial year? I didn’t get a clear answer to the last of these questions. But it set me thinking on another path altogether — are spirituality and money connected at all? The common perception is that money and spirituality are conflicting goals. An average human cannot achieve one

while pursuing the other. If he focusses all his energies on the outer material world and trying to make this physical world a comfortable one, it means that he will not be able to give the same amount of time and attention to his spiritual needs. Most often, we end up choosing what’s more urgent and important to us. It’s more important to have a secure home; it’s more important to be able to assure our families three meals a day; it’s more important to insure our loved ones against danger and disease. We, therefore, focus a lot of our time on these goals. On the other hand, this means that we are left with little time for more spiritual goals. Going down the spiritual path becomes more of a hobby then. We can argue; can an empty stomach allow the mind to meditate peacefully? Absolutely not. But this is where balance comes into play. Balance is about making

enough for our needs, not our greed. Balance is about sharing what we have — not as a way to assuage guilt stemming from how we’ve made that money but as a way to genuinely (and methodically) improve the lives of others around us. Balance is also about striking the right notes when it comes to hitting upon what’s important to us in the long term versus what’s urgent to us in the short term. Bill Gates, Warren Buffet and, closer home, NR Narayana Murthy, Azim Premji and Ratan Tata have achieved this balance. It all boils down to the value we place on the different aspects of life. A couple of years ago I was visiting the Tibetan refugee settlements in Bylakuppe near Mysore. I found young Llamas sitting on stone benches by a pond silently watching the ripples in the water. I asked them about their interest in Facebook — something their urban counterparts

would spend many hours a day on — and they said it didn’t hold their interest all that much. Not just this, the material aspects of life was low on their list of priorities. To them, losing that inner peace will make them feel a sense of deep loss. While watching the budget coverage on TV on Friday, I saw many finance experts speak about money with high passion and energy. These are people who have spent a large part of their lives studying how to build an empire and make money. To them, losing money will make them feel a sense of loss. What we value in life most is what it eventually boils down to. As social beings, the biggest challenge would be to strike that perfect balance among the different spheres of life. Then, money and spirituality may not seem like two opposing values. (The writer is a Bangalorebased commentator)

COMMENT SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2012

Playing cat-and-mouse with sad victims; our style Hard talk PK SURENDRAN

adism of our bureaucracy is legion. But it is not blind sadism, it is discriminate in nature. It very well knows where it hurts, and so, it winks at whales and snaps up mackerels. The bureaucracy that helps wily politicians amass wealth beyond avarice and issues GOs at midnight is the same that denies a paltry compensation of Rs50, 000 to the next of kin of an unfortunate victim of a building collapse. Mohd Safiulla Khan had done no wrong as far as we can see except that he happened to be vending near the Monda Market building under demolition when the building came crashing down like a bolt from the blue. He was 30 years old with a wife and a six-month-old daughter to provide for. He came from Dharbanga of Bihar. Khan died after suffering untold pain for many hours. Not only Khan, three others, all poor vendors or daily-wage earners died in the tragedy. Of the four killed, two were from outside the

Urban sketches

Metro dreams

VISWAPRASAD RAJU

City, Safiulla from Bihar and Srinivas from Warangal. The collector announced Rs50, 000 from the Apadbandhu scheme, while the mayor ordered Rs1 lakh each to the dependants of those dead. The dependants of the killed submitted the papers to both revenue authorities and GHMC. His brother Zafarulla Khan helped the family in putting up claims for the compensation and the revenue officials first accepted it. Afterwards, they asked him to go through the e-seva, then they demanded the identify proof of the man and his residential proof. He pleaded with them saying the family have the voter ID and bank account, all back home in Bihar. But, now, that will not suffice. Thus after several attempts Zafarulla spurt out, “we will give up the money.” But the family after reconsidering that they couldn’t afford to let go even Rs50, 000, they are all, as I write this, travelling to their native village to collect the ID proof. The other outsider victim’s kin, Srinivas, too has not received the compensation yet. Bureaucratic rigmarole has generated enough troubles for him too. Don’t tell the officials that

the Apadbandhu scheme is meant for giving quick relief to the victims or their kin of manmade accidents. On another plane, let us see how much cruelty we do to a poor fellow being. When the new owners of the erstwhile Punjabi hotel in Monda Market were demolishing the massive building in a brazen way with no safety measures around, the bureaucracy that now puts forth lame excuses for not paying the compensation were nowhere to be seen asking why the contractor was doing such a perilous job in an extremely congested market. The victims’ relatives say the mayor had played square to them. He asked the GHMC officials to pay the amount immediately, but the officialdom too has its own constraint. It has to get the revenue department’s cooperation, which it is not getting and in the process it is the fair name of the mayor that is getting tarnished. As always, there are good faces in the ossified bureaucracy too. Listen to one of them, “I don't think there is any rule that prevents a victim of an accident that took place in the jurisdiction of a particular district, from receiving the aid. The Apadbandhu scheme is meant

THE VICTIMS’ RELATIVES SAY THE MAYOR HAD PLAYED SQUARE TO THEM. HE ASKED THE GHMC OFFICIALS TO PAY THE AMOUNT IMMEDIATELY, BUT THE OFFICIALDOM TOO HAS ITS OWN CONSTRAINT. for helping poor victims," said GHMC Assistant Town Planning Officer Philips. Distribution of aid to victims or their relatives of natural tragedies or manmade disasters do not require too many documents. In fact, the application form of the Apadbandhu scheme, for instance, does not ask for voter ID. The bare details it asks for is as below. Documents to be enclosed: (a) Death certificate (b) FIR (c) Report of post mortem/ panchanama The particulars furnished above by me are true and correct to the best of my knowledge. The particulars furnished by me, if found false, I will be responsible

for legal action. Why then play around with a hapless family of a sad victim? As usual, we have only questions and no answers. Learned people have pointed out that the bane of our system is not the lack of laws but a surfeit of laws that give enough scope for bureaucracy and legal practitioners to play a cat-and-mouse game with the common man. This, while provide livelihood to millions of legal practitioners and the go-between, it binds ordinary people in knots. “Corruption is at the root of every evil today,” observed former CVC chief N Vittal. He couldn’t be truer. We only have to browse through the “I paid a bribe” web link to know how rotten our system has become. A break from it is possible once we accept this first: each one of us is guilty of encouraging bribery. What can I do about it? It starts with first person singular: I. Tailend: The only way to outwit the smart bureaucracy is to be street-smart. Years ago such a crafty man (obviously in collusion with the bank officials) got a sizeable loan after hypothecating the Patna railway station! Ha, ha, he laughed at the judge when asked why he did it.

Innocents’ blood will bog down US Perceptions ARUN K PHILIP

he US is finding itself caught between the rock and hard place in Afghanistan. The ground scenario has undergone a sea change since cheering Afghans welcomed the Nato and Northern Alliance troops to Kabul. Today the liberators are facing public anger as civilian casualties mount from the operations of the international troops. Adding to the woes of the US-led forces are culturally insensitive behaviour of the coalition troops — the latest one involving burning of Korans at a US base that triggered a wave of violent protests that claimed 50 lives. The US government apologised and tried to pacify the local anger. Even before the dust settled over the issue, a heavily armed US soldier left his base in the wee hours and gunned down 16 civilians, including

women and children, in the nearby village. The soldier, now identified as Staff Sergeant Robert Bales was on his first tour of duty in Afghanistan and arrived in December. He had served three tours in Iraq with a combined duration of about three years. The public outrage over the massacre by the US soldier has been so much that Afghan President Hamid Karzai has asked the foreign troops to stay off villages and has demanded the ISAF handover security to Afghan forces in 2013 instead of 2014 as was agreed earlier. The post-9/11 wars have taken a heavy toll on the mental health of the serving soldiers. With multiple duty tours, sometimes exceeding a year, in extremely hostile environments puts tremendous pressure on the young men. And at times something snaps. The result is deranged behaviour devoid of any humane emotions and it is usually the civilians of the local population who are at the receiving end. As long as the blood of innocents feed the parched terrain, there will be no easy exit for the Americans.

BUSINESS SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2012

Traffic and parking

US Cos seek more reforms

alling the Indian budget "measured but without game-changing reforms,” a US-India trade group has expressed the hope that the government would deliver on foreign investor friendly key reforms during the budget session. "Several policy announcements in the Budget, especially in taxation-raised concerns," said the US-India Business Council (USIBC).

MADC offers SEZ projects

ll the visitors having valid tickets should park the vehicles at the Hyderabad Public School or at Hockey Grounds/ Anand Theatre / Gymkhana Grounds. The visitors will be ferried from parking places to the Begumpet Airport in the shuttle buses kept at parking places. Visitors without tickets can purchase the tickets at HPS, Gymkhana and Hockey Grounds.

aharashtra Airport Development (MADC), a nodal agency of the government of Maharashtra, is offering investment opportunities in multi-modal international passenger and cargo hub airport (MIHAN) SEZ at Nagpur. MADC is also in talks with a major company to develop a second MRO facility. It is also developing nine other airports.

A spanner in time saves the aircraft OSAMA SALMAN

salman.o@postnoon.com

We have confidence in the Indian market Postnoon News

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assault Aviations, the French business aircrafts manufacturing giant, is confident about the Indian market. India would be a major contributor in business aircraft sales especially in the long term, says Vadim Feldzer, communication manager in an exclusive interview with Postnoon. What is the growth rate of the company? The short term growth in 2012 would be at a steady pace. The business aviation worldwide was seriously hit by the global recession in 2008. The company had 203 bookings in 2007 and only 92 in 2008. It has come to minus 98 (including cancellations) in 2009 and minus 6 in 2010. However, even with the unsteadiness of the orders, the company has maintained consistency in delivering around 70 aircrafts since 2007, and did not layoff even in crisis.

How are the business aircraft sales around the world? Prior to 2003, two-thirds of the business aircraft sales came from USA. Things have changed now. The world’s business aviation does not depend on USA any more with the growth of Asia-Pacific, Brazil and Latin American markets. What are the current trends and customer expectations when it comes to purchasing aircrafts? The demand is continuing for large cabin business aircrafts and is the only segment that is less impacted by the crisis. The turbo propeller market was seriously hit during the recession. Customers are now asking for 12-14 seats in the long cabin aircrafts. The other factor that is leading the sales is the fuel efficiency. We are trying to exploit the trends in the market with Falcon 200S for the fuel efficient customers. There are 1500 engineers conducting research on the Falcon SMS, which is still in the manufacturing

stage and is due to hit the market in 2014. What is the share of different segment in the sales? About 80 per cent of the purchases have come from corporate and charter companies segment and about 10 per cent each from the government and private-owned segments. How many large cabin business aircrafts have you delivered in India? We have delivered 20 aircrafts and are still to deliver another 10 in the next three years. The company has a 50 per cent share in large cabin aircrafts in the country. How do you foresee the business in India? We have invested huge capital in building up after-sales service partnering with Air Works in the country, and also put a spare parts inventory in Mumbai and Chennai. There is also a technical office in Mumbai. This shows the confidence we have in the Indian market.

hen you have a car, it has to be serviced, tuned and conditioned. The same goes for an aircraft. It is not as simple as a maintaining a car and there is a massive demand for these services in the aviation sector and business is booming. In layman’s terms, maintaining an aircraft starts with line maintenance, where a brief aircraft check is made. Once the parts that need to be repaired or renewed are identified, work is done immediately. This happens before every take-off. Then there are much bigger areas that need to be looked into; such as components that need to be changed. The lifetime of aircraft parts depends on the flying hours. Though they may not necessarily be damaged, they still have to be replaced. Checking the engine for wear and tear and damage is also very important. Sometimes, the aircraft structure is checked to see if there are damages, especially if the airplane is over 20 years old. The aircraft manufacturer suggests maintenance timetables. But it’s no easy task. With a highly regulated aviation industry, only a handful of experts can take on this job. Lufthansa Technik, one of the biggest players in the market, is well set in India. They maintain the Jet Airways fleet. Wolfgang Harti, sales manager (Sub-Continent India), Lufthansa Technik ,said, “We have teams of 30 and have our own warehouse in Bangalore. We supply India and Sri Lanka. The aviation business is growing and Lufthansa is taking a big share of it. In our Hamburg Innovation Centre, we always come up with innovations to better aircraft maintenance.” Some of the new technologies that Lufthansa Technik has introduced in aircraft maintenance are washing the engine from the inside. The technology is called ‘Cyclean’. The business of maintaining commercial aircraft is booming, but is maintaining company-owned or privately-owned aircraft equally buoyant? Air Works, a leading general aircraft maintenance company, says that the market is as good as ever. “Aircraft maintenance is not time bound. The general aircraft market has been steady. In India, aircraft maintenance is fairly new,” opined Dhiraj Chhabra, associate vice-president (marketing), Air Works. Deccan Charters limited, the second biggest maintenance company in India, maintains a fleet of 55. “There is stiff competition in the market. There are about 800 aircrafts in India and that is significant,” said Sanjay Saihgal, VP business development, Deccan Charters. But all said and done Sanjay opines that innovation happens mostly at the aircraft manufacturer level.

BUSINESS SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2012

MC21: For a better journey

MODEL DISPLAY

Postnoon News

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he IRKUT’s vice president for sales and marketing Kirill Budaev invited the media to experience the company’s upcoming aircraft MC21. The mock aircraft built into the company's chalet at the Indian Aviation 2012, gave a glimpse into what customers can expect once it comes into full production. The company claims the singleaisle aircraft to be more comfortable and spacious than its contemporaries. When a flight attendant gets a tray to serve you, or when a fellow passenger stands up to walk to the restroom, there is enough space to move around, thanks to the wider aisle. The windows are also bigger. A new addition is the hand baggage storage. In most airlines, only two small pieces can fit and the storage opens from downside-up. But in MC21, the overhead bin opens upside down and has enough room to store more than two bags. “This gives the passengers the advantage of carrying their luggage into the aircraft rather than checking it in. They can save on weight as well. We give a wide scope for interior options and the cabin layout” said Kirill.

Model Shadana Singh poses in front of a Beechcraft Hawker 4000 on display at the Indian Aviation 2012.

N SHIVA KUMAR

HAL eyes civilian biz

PRUDHVI RAJU K

prudhvi.k@postnoon.com

hen one hears the name Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) the first thing that comes to the mind are the military aircraft

that are on display during Independence Day and Republic Day parades. Few know about the rapid inroads the State-owned aircraft development company is planning to cut into the civil aviation sector with its light utility helicopter (LUH). The company has so far supplied 140 helicopters to the armed forces, and paramilitary forces such as the Border Security Force, is seriously

looking to exploit the market opportunities in the domestic civil aviation market. The LUH, which is at a design stage, is estimated to be priced about `25 crore — 25 per cent cheaper than the imported counterparts in the same category. The whole range of after sales services support is available within the country without any hassles. LUH is a single turbo shift engine can easily handle high

attitude missions up to 6.5km with night flying capacity. The helicopter can carry eight people that include two pilots can be utilised for aerial reconnaissance, area surveillance, VIP transport and for medical airlifting purposes. Indian defence forces have already ordered 197 helicopters, and the first helicopter would be delivered in December 2015. The chopper will be made with composite material and will have an empty weight of 1,910 kg, said HAL deputy general manager A Ramamoorthy. The helicopter can be customised according to the needs of the customer as it is indigenously manufactured. The skidlanding version helicopter can be modified to a wheel version. “Indian civil aviation sector will definitely grow along with the economy of the country. We are confident that every district headquarter will have an airport in 10 years. Helicopters would be more affordable to the public for tourism and this will further boost the civil aviation sector,” he said. HAL has clocked 10 per cent growth since inception does not want to reveal further details of the order book. However, the company has enough to manufacture and to deliver for next 15 years.

Cool guide to the skies and roads Postnoon News

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ne of the innovations that caught our eye at the Indian Aviation 2012 was a GPS by Garmin. No, this isn’t an ordinary GPS. On the contrary, it’s a super device! Obviously being on display at the aviation show, it had to be an aircraft GPS. But there is more than you can imagine. The Aera 500 is a portable GPS that you can use as even if you aren’t a pilot. Yes, you read it right! Featuring crisp 4.3-inch QVGA wide-format displays with menu-driven tap-and-drag user interface, the versatile “dual boot” model lets you transit seamlessly from runways to roadways with the best in Aviation and Automotive moving-map navigation. The Aera series offers a full range of smart, easy-to-use guidance solutions for `50,000.

TECHNOLOGY SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2012

WEBSITE OF THE WEEK

GAME REVIEW

APP OF THE WEEK

news.nationalgeographic.com/news ational Geographic has a terrific section on the site that's dedicated to daily nature and science news and headlines. The superb images and outstanding writing make the site a great place to spend time.

TETRIS

PXL

etina screens are beautiful! But dangerous. It is something very similar to the events that take place in Inception. The application pixelates your stuff,and makes it look like that photo up above.

It’s Tetris. Do we need to paint you a picture? Bricks fall down, you rotate them to fit it, you make lines, the lines disappear. Russian music plays in the background. Play online and spend some good 'ol personal time.

JOURNEY

Silent Hill: Downpour Console: PS3 Developer: Konami Silent Hill: Downpour is a celebration of gaming's most notorious ghost town. It taps into the madness and surrealism that has made this series legendary. Developer Vatra Games has not shied away from making some stark changes to this American nightmare. Some fit well into the Silent Hill formula, while others are a little off the mark.

Microsoft Flight Console: PC Developer: Microsoft This revival of the famous flight simulation series drops the dreaded ‘S’ word from its title in an attempt to draw in those scared off by the rather somber reputation of its exacting forebears. Diehard simmers won't like the changes, but Microsoft Flight is a success in its own right.

Incoboto Console: iPad Developer: Fluttermind Inco is alone. He is the sole being to occupy a universe bathed in darkness. Spheres of spectacular contraptions circle his home planet; all of them are the last remnants of a society long extinct. Inco knows nothing of humankind's fate. He simply watches the world spin by through the eyes of a telescope, powerless to escape the solitude.

March madness Nexuiz Console :X360 Developer :IllFonic One drawback of speedy arena shooter Nexuiz is trying to pronounce its name, which seems like it's supposed to be something like ‘Nexus’. Developer Illfonic has done a great job of resurrecting the classic craziness of run-and-gun multiplayer first-person shooter games. Innovation may be in short supply, but pure speed and excitement are not. This $10 Xbox Live game soars.

We bring you the best videogames released this month

Wargame: European Escalation Console : PC Developer: Eugen Systems If the best wargames and best real-time strategy games were selectively bred over several generations, the result would be Wargame: European Escalation, an "easy to learn yet difficult to master" wargame that plays out in real time. In addition, it lets you zoom out the camera far beyond the normal confines of RTS games. Eugen Systems has managed to craft both a great wargame and an entertaining RTS in one exhilarating package.

I Am Alive Console :X360 Developer :Ubisoft Your city is in ruins. Some people travel in wolfish packs, scrounging on the weak to feed their insatiable desires. Others huddle with their loved ones, thankful just to survive another day. How will you react in this bleak world? I Am Alive effectively conveys the broken state of society when devastation hits and no police force exists to keep order. There is no good or bad here, just alive or dead.

Mass Effect 3

Silent Hill: Downpour

Console: PC Developer: Electronic Arts Sacrifice. It's Mass Effect 3’s major theme, and rightly so. After all, the reapers were coming — it was only a matter of time. And now, those sentient space vessels are here, and with them, a galaxy's worth of destruction. Mass Effect 3 brings the sound and the fury, but these aren't meaningless shows of laser fire and alien devastation. The series has earned its right to showcase such destruction by drawing us close to its characters and teaching us of its universe.

Binary Domain Console: PS3 Developer: Sega What if you lived in a world where robots were as prevalent as humans? What if the gap narrowed to the point where human and humanlike robot were indistinguishable to the naked eye? The soldiers in Binary Domain have dedicated themselves to preventing such a world. Binary Domain reveals intriguing elements that boost its appeal.

Street Fighter X Tekken Console: X360 Developer: Capcom Capcom loves crossovers. With Street Fighter X Tekken, the stylish cast of Tekken fighters is next in line to go blow for blow with Ryu and company. But this is just one of the many surprises waiting in this complex fighter. With a host of new mechanics and modes, Street Fighter X Tekken has a lot to offer.

Journey Console: PS3 Developer: ThatGameCompany In simplest terms, Journey is a third-person, sporadically twoplayer adventure in which you travel through a desert towards a mountain. By the alchemy of developer thatgamecompany's skill and vision, it is also unique, exciting, mysterious, and utterly lovely, with mesmerising landscapes and stirring music.

ANIMAL KINGDOM SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2012

PET NEWS

True friends

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

Finding a match

ashew, a 14-yearold yellow Lab, is blind and deaf. It's best friend is Libby, 7, a seeing-eye cat. Libby steers Cashew away from obstacles and leads it to its food.Libby is truly Cashew's best friend.

Bulldog

et owners are flocking to the 2012 Shanghai Pet Fair in the hopes of finding their dogs or cats a partner. With photos of cute pets posted on the huge whiteboard, this year's Pet Fair - from March 16 to 18 - is a popular matchmaking haunt.

nown for their loosejointed, shuffling gait and massive, short-faced head, the Bulldog is known to be equable, resolute and dignified. A medium-sized dog, they are not your typical lap dog, but would like to be!

CATS AND DOGS The Animal Care Clinic 040-2335 2474 Petâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s World Dog Clinic 98856 46259 Blue Cross of Hyderabad 040-3298 9858, 23544355/ 5523 Vet-N-Pet 040-6553 9535, 93463 05890 Bluplus Pet Clinic 040-2712 1739, 2716 2636 Sri Sai Pet Clinic

040-2779 7458, 9848645350 Claws & Paws 98662 82772 All Creatures Animals Clinic 040-2773 0885 BIRDS Govt Veterinary Hospital 040-2331 9656, 2753 5755 Bird Watcherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Society 040-2355 6166 Friends of Birds9391048315 SNAKES Friends of Snakes 8374233366

Queen Elizabeth crowned AFP

Italian Greyhounds enter the show

A standard poodle walks into the ring Lhasa Apso Elizabeth

Yorkshire Terrier looks around

A chinese crested dog gets a treat from its owner

A rather hairy Sheepdog

Lhasa Apso called Elizabeth on March 11 won the Best in Show award at Britain's Crufts festival, the world's largest annual dog show. Elizabeth, from Coventry, central England, earlier won the Best Utility category before being crowned champion ahead of 21,000 other dogs at the NEC arena in Birmingham, central England. "I can't believe it," said Margaret

Anderson, the winning breeder. "I'm sure somebody's going to pinch me in a minute and I'll wake up and it'll all be a dream," she added. "It hasn't sunk in at all. I'll go home and probably burst out crying." Anderson described the winning dog as "very easy going and laid back". The show, which is organised by The Kennel Club, celebrates its 121st anniversary this AFP year.

A dalmatian looks at its owner writing

A Bedlington Terrier awaits its chance

Irish wolfhound waiting for the show to begin

BOOKS SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2012

SHORT READS Title: I never knew it was you Author: Kalpana Swaminathan Publisher: Penguin Books India Sita, detective Lalli’s niece runs into former classmate Anais at Mumbai airport. A few days later, Anais herself turns up dead in the slimy Mithi River. Lalli must find answers, fast, if she is to prevent more deaths.

Title: The Lucky One Author: Nicholas Sparks Publisher: Grand Central Publishing The story revolves around a US Marine named Logan Thibault who finds a photograph of a smiling young woman half-buried in the sands of Iraq during his third tour of duty. It becomes a lucky charm for Thibault, who then finds the woman in the photo.

Title: The Sweetest Thing Author: Barbara Freethy Publisher: Avon Books Alex Carrigan liked fast cars, fast women and fast dealsthen a tough talking teenager arrived on his doorstep claiming she was his long-lost-daughter, and his meddling grandfather decided to move in. Suddenly, Alex has to face the family he never expected.

Title: Fifty Shades of Grey Author: EL James Publisher: The Writer's Coffee Shop Anastasia Steele is drafted to interview the successful young entrepreneur Christian Grey for her campus magazine, she finds him attractive, enigmatic and intimidating. Convinced their meeting went badly, she tries to put Grey out of her mind — until he turns up where she works part-time.

Stop, pause, rewind and play The watershed moment —what if Oswald had not killed JF Kennedy? What would have then been the future of America? Stephen King answers these questions and more FLEME VARKEY

fleme.v@postnoon.com

is stories live in the deepest crevices of your mind... crouching behind your deepest fears are his characters. He was once called “a writer of fairly engaging and preposterous claptrap" in a New York Times review. Today Stephen King is known as the 'King of horror fiction'. Compared with his 800-page long books like Carrie and It, his latest offering 11. 22.63 is a breeze in which King gives time travel a try. This is not the first time that King is tackling the possibility of altering the course of history. The first was with Dead Zone (1979). As the title suggests, 11. 22.63

Name 11.22.63 Author Stephen King Pages 733 Publisher Hachette India

revolves around the assassination of president John F. Kennedy. The protagonist, Jake Epping, a divorced high-school teacher, enters a time bubble to emerge in the America of September 1958. His aim is to stop Lee Oswald in Dallas from assassinating president John F. Kennedy on 11.22.63. Time passes normally in 1958 but regardless of the fact, the traveller from 2011 will only be gone for two minutes. But in the America of the past, Jake learns something that the novel subtly conveys throughout: the past is obstinate and does not want to

be changed. King has done his research pretty well and succeeds in bringing to his readers the simple pleasures of 1950s: the cars, games, root beer, cheap gasoline, cheap food and trusting neighbours. He also shows us the dark side of that time — racism, pollution and the church bombings. The first half of the novel, set in Derry, is redolent of another work of King's — It. One cannot escape the parallels drawn between Barack Obama and JFK in the latter part of the book set in Jodie,

Mission Arctic Escape arun.k@postnoon.com

omeone is organising jailbreaks, sabotages and assassinations in the process of organising an army of highly skilled and ruthless fighters from across the globe. Soon the world finds itself staring at a man-made disaster of global scale as a forgotten Soviet Cold War weapon is being primed. As the Army of Thieves proves to be ineffective in countering conventional responses, the government is forced to look for alternatives.

In the snowscape of the Arctic, a battle-scarred marine Captain Shane M Schofield, callsign Scarecrow, and his three comrades-in-arms are assigned to a team testing weapons and military gadgets for performance in extreme climatic conditions. As a desperate administration runs short of options to prevent a global catastrophe, Scarecrow and his motley crew are roped in as the back-up if the designated strike team fails to thwart the terrorists’ plans. As disaster strikes, the mission becomes a test for the teams’ skills and an acid test for

integrity as the dark secrets, which they assumed to have locked away and forgotten, come to haunt them. How the team goes about their world-saving mission in the face of a hostile terrain, mysterious yet powerful enemy and hard choices keeps you glued. The first half of the book is nothing short of a brilliant narrative. There is a seamless transition from scenes separated by thousands of miles. The military jargon is kept at optimum level and the brief descriptions of high-end technologies are kept simple enough for the grasp of

Books available at Walden Name Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves Author Mathew Reilly Pages 400 Publisher Orion publishing group

Matthew Reilly, the teller of tall tales is back in action with Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves. Read to see what fun he has to offer Arun Koshy Philip

Texas, and then in Dallas. Both charmed the youth and are charismatic speakers and leaders. They were also men who inspire true hate in their rivals. And once the fear of change takes over, there is always a man with a gun in the end. This is a completely captivating book. King ensures that the reader is with Jake every bit of the journey, living his life. The story stays with you long after you finish with it and this is what makes King a master storyteller.

an average reader. The sequence of action is spelled out in a tight sequence and more surprises are sprung at every module. However, in the second half, the script moves at a sluggish pace and looks more like a train of thought stopped in the tracks and was revived to finish the

journey to its conclusion. Some daredevil stunts and action sequences make you wonder if this is one of those books which does an overkill of the hero’s skills. Despite surviving multiple ordeals and showing commendable resilience throughout, the hero pales before the sheer genius of the villain. The overstretched storyline and the patchy detailing to keep it intriguing take the sting out of an otherwise brilliant plot.

BOOKS SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2012

Confessions of a writer PETER CHAPPELL

Mother India in the form of a book? I have tried to write books, and make documentaries about the history makers of Hindi cinema, to chronicle the lives of artists who have had, or will have a long term impact. As far as the dialogue books are concerned, I think the dialogue of the 1950s is excellent and the book form allows you to strip away the rest of the film, and concentrate on the words. Also, the idea of presenting a four language format was very new and appealing; these books are presented in Urdu, Devnagiri, Romanised Urdu, and also have an English translation. They are great teaching tools for language and cinema, and so they have found their way into international universities where Hindi and Urdu are taught.

Nasreen Munni Kabir has spent most part of her life juggling between making documentaries and writing about Indian cinema. Having written about great artists like Lata Mangeshkar and AR Rahman, she tells Hemanth Kumar that it’s the talent of filmmakers which keeps her going

Having interacted with quite a few filmmakers, actors and artistes, did it surprise you that they were so vulnerable? It is interesting to know that people who seem to have it all in life, have dark thoughts and bleak days. Being a celebrity isn’t enough to steer clear of troubles. In fact, people who are surrounded by people can be lonely and vulnerable too. So I wasn’t very surprised, but humbled that they trusted me to reveal their feelings.

Books written so far : You have dedicated all your life to writing about Indian cinema. What keeps you going? I think once you start working in one area, it’s very difficult to switch and apply the same energy all over again. Hindi cinema has such a rich history so it was a challenge to find new ways of writing about it or documenting it. I have spent most of my time researching on some filmmakers of the 1950s, so their talent has driven my energy. Your books have become an important part of introduction to

Indian cinema in several European universities. Do you think the notion that Indian films are all about song and dance will ever change? The problem isn’t with the music. In fact, many find the musical numbers as the most original aspect of the Indian film. The critics in the West however aren’t in general keen on the music. You can see it has disappeared from Hollywood productions, only rarely does a musical do well. I don’t think film critics will see Indian cinema differently. We must also not forget that film critics there

nBollywood : The Indian Cinema Story nTalking Songs : Javed Akhtar in conversation with Nasreen Munni Kabir nLata Mangeshkar... In her own voice nGuru Dutt : A life in cinema nA R Rahman : The Spirit of Music nThe Dialogue of Devdas nThe Dialogue of the film ‘Mother India’

follow the work of one or two international directors rather than say write about the whole of Iranian cinema or Korean cinema. In that context, great filmmakers like Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak, and even Guru Dutt, Mehboob Khan, Raj Kapoor and Bimal Roy are appreciated. University students are young and they like the recent films too. If they sign up for a course on Indian cinema they have to open to the music as well. Is there a particular reason why you chose to write the dialogues of classics like Devdas and

What do you think about the latest trends in Indian cinema? Has making money become the priority? I think money has become the priority. I suppose no one makes films not to make money, but if box office success is the only aim, it’s a dangerous aim because you can easily slip into formula, thinking if that film worked, then another one on the same lines might. The biggest problem is the limited numbers of subjects tackled in films. And that has a negative impact on creativity. Also cinema has become far too dependent on a handful of stars. As the talent pool in Indian film is small, that again reduces the potential for originality.

WHAT’S SELLING Walden best in fiction

Walden’s best in non-fiction

New York Times best in fiction

New York Times best in non-fiction

n Secret of the Nagas by Amish Tripati

n Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

n Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult

n American Sniper by Chris Kyle

n Thinking fast and slow by Daniel Kahneman

n Victims by Jonathan Kellerman

n Killing Lincoln, by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard

n Journey by Brandon Bays

n Kill Shot, by Vince Flynn

n Steve Jobs by Walter Issacson

n Great by Choice by Collins and Hansen

n Celebrity in death by JD Robb

n The Power of Habit by Charls Duhigg

n Best Thing About You is YOU by Anupam Kher

n Private Games by James Patterson

n Becoming China’s Bitch by Peter D. Kiernan

n Can Love Happen Twice by Ravinder Singh n Revolution 2020 by Chetan Bhaga n Incredible Banker by Ravi Subramanian n Zero Day by David Baldacci

WOMEN SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2012

WEBSITES OF THE WEEK BRAVEHEART WOMEN: Braveheart Women considers itself a social networking site for women but it's so much more than that. Here is where professional women gather and form groups to inspire, encourage and empower. http:// www.braveheartwomen.com

WOMEN'S eNEWS: This website covers a lot of ground. It includes news pertaining to women both broadly and with focus. Easy to navigate dropdown links detail everything from the arts and history to politics and education to health and the environment. http://www.womensenews.org

SHE TAKES ON THE WORLD: Canadian Natalie MacNeil who is an awardwinning entrepreneur is the brainchild of this comprehensive blog. It is a muststop website for the thinking woman. http:// shetakesontheworld.net

Riding for the rush

Riding is something that runs in her veins, but it is truly her fascination with nature, that calls out to her says Sheetal Iyer SANA MIRZA

sana.m@postnoon.com

had only read about riders and my imagination fairly sketched out the exact picture. They rode customised power bikes wearing personalised helmets and black leather jackets, the wind blowing through their hair, the road ahead, simply a reflection in their Ray Bans. Riders have always, through books, been termed as rebellious. More like the hippies. Rather distant and in a league of their own. But when you first meet Sheetal Iyer, she puts to rest all these baseless notions. Laid back, simple and quite friendly, 23-year-old Sheetal talks about her journey as a female rider in the more conventional male dominated setting. She kick-started her riding journey at the tender age of 16, perfecting her skills on friends’ bikes, whatever she could lay her hands on it could have been either a Pulsar or an Avenger. Her first real bike, however, was a Royal Enfield, a Machismo 350, which took her three years to convince her mum to buy. Sheetal’s tryst into the riding world happened by chance. With a bachelors in Mass Communication and Journalism from St.Francis College, Sheetal was researching for a story on biking clubs as part of an assignment. To get ahead with her story, she met up with members of the biking community who egged her on to join the club. Without further hesitation, Sheetal decided to throw herself into the danger zone. She credits it all, much too humbly, to her father, and considers him to be her biggest source of inspiration. “Back in the day when my father was a racer in Chennai, he always wanted me to be out and about with him rather than in the kitchen. We used to dismantle a bike and then put it back together.”

A female biker in a male dominated zone, was it easy fitting in? “Unlike other girls, I love dirt! I have been riding since 2007 with the Highway Nawabs Motorcycling Club. When you are a part of these clubs, you are given the opportunity to learn from your own experiences as well as others. The biker meets is a good platform to meet people from different fields. These riders are from well-to-do families having a 9-5 job. Some of them even have kids! Fortunately, I got to learn a lot while riding with these guys,” she says. Her first long endurance ride was to the North East. “Back in September, 2011, I went on a 10 day trip to Ladakh along with the Biker Knees Association of India. We were about 10 ladies and the trip was sponsored by Royal Enfield in

THE CV First job: Was into event management Motto: Never rush for the ride, always ride for the rush Inspiration: Dad and Mother Nature Last movie seen : Don2 Last book read: Eat, Pray, Love Signature:

association with UTV Bindaas. Getting sponsored for the trip was easy as our USP was the number of ladies in the group,” winks Sheetal She goes on to add,“The governor of Arunachal Pradesh himself rode with us till his constituency’s border and even hosted dinner for us that night.” Riding is a dangerous hobby but if you possess the passion to ride, then there is no stopping you admits Sheetal. “My fascination with nature makes the ride all the more interesting and I love being on the highway. I hate monotony so it’s more of a passionate getaway for me. Everyone loves to travel. Those who do probably will end up taking the bus but you will find me piling up on a bike for it.” Endurance rides require hours of mental preparation because the body needs to get used to harsh temperatures. In order to keep fit, Sheetal does martial arts. “I have been doing martial arts for a whole year now and I also do jukaado. It not only keeps you fit but then it also helps you defend yourself in times of need. You never know what the highways hide,” she says. A self-declared sports enthusiast, Sheetal loves watching cricket and used to play basketball in college. Sheetal also used to be part of a local band called Alteregoz. “I love to sing but unfortunately the band went on to take a backseat because I was working and riding as well. My mother always insisted that I work on my singing than take up riding, but she never discouraged me from it either,” confesses Sheetal. This year Sheetal has a lot more plans that just riding. “I plan to do my masters in journalism so I have been dedicating my time to filling up application forms,” she informs. Nothing comes in the way of passion, be it education or work. Sheetal admits that she is just starting and has a long way to go and strongly believes that she will well be riding into her greying years.

No words just thoughts All About Eve

INDIRA ATLURI

here is so much talking happening from the minute I step out of the house — from the wary watchman to the bossy boss. But the kind of communication that takes place without the talking is what amuses me — the kind that in popular parlance is called nonverbal communication. And for your convenience let’s call it NVC. And here go a few of my NVCs : Apartment watchman: Ah, here she comes again – wonder why she wears those torn denims. Perhaps, she doesn’t earn too much. No point being nice to her, there will be no substantial Diwali gifts from her anyway. Receptionist at the supermarket: ‘Lady seems to be rich – look at all the stuff she can afford’! (No wonder, I love going to the supermarket even before my ration has run out). The ladies and gentlemen walking in the park sizing me up, as I jog — Ayyo, what is she doing here I say? This place is not for ‘drumsticks’, but ‘bottle gourds’! Traffic Police: Kya attitude dikhati hai. Someday, I am pretty sure to challan her — after all, a woman and a driver at that — how far is she from breaking rules eh? Boss (the bossy one): She is smiling as she doesn’t know what’s in store for her – double load of work for this week… chuckle chuckle…. after all who’s the boss, eh? Colleague: I hope my article comes out better than hers. (Come on guys, we don’t need to play a cat and mouse game here) Co-trainee in the Gym: Man does she look hot in those blue tracks of hers (accompanied with a slurping sound (let’s count that as verbal communication). Like this is not enough, finally when I go home seeking solitude, I think I can hear my fish scream at me, “You can’t be this late everyday! Now move , and bring us our food!” And I am thinking —was it verbal or non-verbal. Ah well, another day just got over….well, almost!

SPOTLIGHT SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2012 DEEPAK DESHPANDE

DEEPAK DESHPANDE

Andi Ghalib

Pure bonhomie Indonesian Ambassador Lt Gen (retd) Andi M Ghalib with the Confederation of Indian Industry,(AP) members at Taj Krishna.

Three princesses

Winners of the Indian Princess 2012 beauty contest, Ana Chowdhry, Nikita Sharma and Bobby Layal strike a pose at the Golconda Hotel on Friday.

Harish Chandra Prasad

Getting the party started

DEEPAK DESHPANDE

Leonard DEEPAK DESHPANDE

Guests arrive at Fusion 9, Banjara Hills to wish RJ Raj Jamalpur on his birthday on Friday.

Parul & Sameer

Siddharth & Anandi

A moment of great pride Eighteen cars were delivered in one day from Pride Honda at Madhapur recently. Seen in the picture is the CEO GRajesh Kumar. Harish

Radhika, Indraja, Raj & Pooja

Ashwin

RELATIONSHIPS SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2012

FOR YOUR HEART

I AM ALL EARS

am 21. I study in a reputed college in the city. There is a young professor of mine, whom I have developed a liking for. I never made it evident, but of late, I have begun to notice that he also notices me. He is 30 and he invited me to out for coffee with him. What should I do?

arried heart surgery patients are far less likely than single patients to die in the first three months after their operation, a new study finds.The survival rate was more than three times as high for married patients as for single patients three months after surgery, the researchers report in the March issue of the Journal of Health and Social Behavior.

Dear college kid, I am surprised why you are writing to me on this. You should be overjoyed that the fly has come into your web itself, instead of you having to coax it. Having to think of this let’s hope he does not have any ideas in his head. Professors are a very tricky lot, take my advice steer clear of them. Or else you might just land up with some grades lower, in case he doesn’t get what he wants from you.

Many rivers to cross Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. - Mark Twain

SUDESHNA KOKA

sudeshna.k@postnoon.com

edicines: check; packaged food: check; snacks: check; travel tickets: check; umbrellas: check. No, it’s not my mother’s checklist to help me keep my things in place; it belongs to a bunch of 60-70 year-olds, who for the eighth time are set to go discovering India. This time their destination is Orissa. With old age comes a second childhood. This group of veterans seem determined that they are going to enjoy it to the full. Everyone in the group is related to each other and go back ,a very long way back. When they were kids, they used to meet up at their grandmother’s in Kakinada every summer vacation. “We cherish those good memories when we had no responsibilities and we lived every moment as though it were our last,” says Vishnu Priya. Little did she know that 50 years later she would be camping all over India with the same bunch of cousins who believe that their bond of friendship is stronger than the ties of blood. The moment these livewires are back from a trip, they are

already planning the next one. Like teenagers, they are constantly glued to their cell phones updating each other about their daily activities or discussing ideas about their next trip. The travel bug bit them when a member of the gang, Raja Lakshmi, a senior professor in one of the leading colleges in Tirupathi, proposed a reunion — a trip to the south in 2009. Then they were a gang of six. Now they are 10-member strong. Age and diseases that come with that are some of the hurdles these travel lovers face. Some are diabetic, some have high blood pressure, but they surge ahead, taking everything in their stride. Loosing eye glasses and cell phones is also a problem, but nothing compared to getting lost themselves. “When we go shopping each one goes their own way and that’s how the whole hide and seek game begins. During the last trip, one of my cousins got down at some railway station

just to buy coffee, leaving the rest of us worried, and then when the train was just about to leave the station, in she ambled with two cups of filter coffee in her hands,” says Kusuma K. But the biggest challenge is reassuring their family that they are fine during trips. At times, they do fall ill. “While travelling we feel so energised and a new outlook develops towards life. However, sometimes we fall ill and then it's terrible,” says Bhagawathi P. But the experience makes up for all the trouble. The purity of the Ganges, the beauty of Kanyakumari, the mysticism of Indore, the colours of Vrindavan, the charm of Gokarna, the bustle of Delhi, they have taken in all, discovering new things at these places and about themselves. Just like what Mark Twain said, they are forever willing to explore, dream and discover.

Loving the single life Single & Loving it

MARIE CLAIRE

“I

’m single because I was born that way.” These lines by Mae West couldn’t be more appropriate. We come into this world alone and we leave it the same way, so why is it we spend so much of our time in between desperately trying to find a soulmate to walk through it ? Are we too afraid as individuals that we’re not enough to leave a footprint of our own or is it just that we are conditioned by society to believe that our lives aren’t whole unless we have someone to complete us? Admittedly, life is a whole lot more fun when we have people to share it with but as with everything, too much of a good thing becomes a bore. Eat the same food or listen to the same song every day and soon enough you’re going to be bored. We are a greedy and voracious race and variety is the spice of life, so why are we so indoctrinated with the thought that we should share our lives with only that one special person? Living the single life doesn’t have to mean never being in a relationship or spending long lonely nights at home with nothing but the television for company. It simply means living the life we want to live with who we choose to be with at the time and taking time out for ourselves when we need to, without being held accountable to someone else. Selfish? Yes, but so what? Being selfish is intrinsically human so we may as well embrace it. My adult life in a nutshell: I got married, had a child and got divorced. Been there, done that, wrote the book, bought the t-shirt and now still young enough to really enjoy single life. By no means a ‘traditional’ way of doing things but if I had it all to do again I wouldn’t change a thing. No, not even the choice of husband, because if I’d met a better man I might not have divorced him and then I would never know how much fun living the single life can be!

CINEMA SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2012

T-TOWN TWEETIES @LakshmiManchu

@RanaDaggubati

I bow down to man who always bring this country together in joy de barring religion caste and creed. @sachin_rt tu god ho...

A series of superb events in Bangalore come to an end. Now headed back home. Looking fwd to cming back and wrking in Blr real soon.

@shrutihaasan

@actressanjjanaa

Thankyou to the powers that be for giving us Ryan Gosling :) and hot chocolate with mini marshmallows ;)

Sachin fever is bac, d legend of cricket becomes d god of d season,we lov u n u make India proud of ur being,no body can condemn success.

@richyricha

@prakashraaj

@shraddhadas43

@me_sushanth

Finally got home after 30 hrs of travel. No better feeling than stepping into my car w mom n crashing to bed w my dear fluffy :)

On the sets of DABAANG 2. Nice to see Arbazz n his team charged up. And its always a joy to bond with Salman bhai.

Work work work work work... work is on my mind... soooo much to do... independence gives me the biggest high!

Love Sachin! Would want him to score a 100 every game... But the 100th, would undoubtedly give a cricket high if its against Pak.

ALSO IN THEATRES

A story about young love

irected by Thiru Krishnamoorthy, Khiladi is the dubbed version of a Tamil film titled, Theeradha Vilaiyattu Pillai. The film stars Vishal, Sarah Jane Dias, Tanushree Dutta and Neetu Chandra in lead roles. The plot revolves around a young man who wants the best of everything in his life and one fine day he decides to make three women fall in love with him and select the best among them. Yuvan Shankar Raja has scored the music and the film boasts of some peppy tracks.

RGV finds Kasab's lookalike! R

An insipid battle for love Nuvva Nena starts on a promising note; however, it ends up being quite repetitive which diminishes the prospect of enjoying this film thoroughly Hemanth Kumar

hemanth.k@postnoon.com

uvva Nena is about two guys trying their best to impress a girl and the bickering that follows takes off the sheen from the excitement which the film promises in the beginning. Directed by Narayana, the film has Allari Naresh, Sharwanand and Shriya Saran in lead roles. There have been quite a lot of triangular love stories in the past, but the USP of this film is

Movie Cast

: Nuvva Nena : Allari Naresh, Sharwanand, Shriya Saran Director : Narayana Rating : that the girl is unaware of the battle between the two guys. Allari Naresh stars as Avinash, who poses as an NRI to impress Nandini (Shriya). She's a doctor by profession and one

fine day she meets Anand (Sharwanand) who's afraid of everything. Soon, Anand recovers from his trauma and falls in love with Nandini. While Avinash and Anand lock horns over Nandini, Aaku Bhai (Brahmanandam) also falls in love with her. Whom does Nandini choose in the end forms the rest of the story. Allari Naresh, Sharwanand and Shriya Saran have done a decent job and the comedy track between Brahmanandam and Kovai Sarala is hilarious. Ali too

pitches in with some fine gags every now and then. Apart from the endless fights between Anand and Avinash, what really knocks out the film is the screenplay. It gets quite predictable towards the end and honestly, most of these twists and turns have been used so many times in Telugu films that they don't come as a big surprise. Music by Bheems is disappointing. Nuvva Nena has good dose of humour and if not for the fine performances of its lead actors, this would have completely fallen flat.

GV has found a lookalike of Ajmal Kasab for his upcoming film The Attacks of 26/11. Sanjeev Jaiswal, a theatre artist has been selected after a thorough screening process. "It's one of the biggest and most important projects I have ever worked on. If you take into consideration the calamity and its aftermath, I think the terrorists attacks in Mumbai on 26/11 are far more terrifying that 9/11. I would like to think all the police officials who have helped me while I was doing my research on the film. The Attacks of 26/11 is being made on a budget of `40 crore and the characters are going to speak Urdu, Marathi, Hindi and English to bring in more authenticity to the film," RGV said. The film's principal shooting has already begun and the film will feature new actors.

CINEMA SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2012

B-TOWN TWEETIES @rampalarjun

@MadhuriDixit1

@RGVzoomin

@NeilNMukesh

Phew!!! Love u Sachin, truly remarkable well deserved, thank you for making us enjoy every one of those Tons. Sooooo happppppyyyyyy.

Check out my website blogzine for an exclusive video from Madame Tussaud's unveiling! Enjoy! Xoxo M.

A friends real funny msg... I heard tht ur first day of 26/11 was shot at sea... I was thinking all films go on floor and yours went to sea.

Interesting day with work. Met a couple of people. Now lets wait and watch how this progresses.

@FarOutAkhtar

@DuttaLara

@realprietyzinta

Baby Falak. RIP. We should all be ashamed to be part of a society in which violence like this is no longer uncommon.

At 5.30 am when ur fridge throws you oranges, make orange juice! Good practice for when the limes come!:-)...

Goodmorning folks ! Back frm the gym & ready 4 a busy day ahead ! Thanx 4 entertaining me with ur choice of film roles :-)

John, Prachi to dance on a Sridevi song J

Emraan finds journalist's life tough

ohn Abraham and his leading lady Prachi Desai will be seen doing an item number on Sridevi's Na jaane kahan se aayi hai in their upcoming film I Me Aur Main. “Na jaane kahan se aayi hai as an item number at that time also. We have decided to go for a duet version for I Me Aur Main,” TSeries head-honcho Bhushan Kumar said. “The song will be picturised with John and Prachi Desai. We are also trying to rope in Sunidhi Chauhan to sing the female version,” he added. Directed by Kapil Sharma, I Me Aur Main also features Chitrangada Singh and Zarina Wahab. T-Series has the music rights of the project and it was Kumar's idea to revive the song. He said: “This is one of my personal favourite songs. I am sure it will hit the chartbusters.”

ctor Emraan Hashmi, who will play an investigative journalist in Rush, says he finds a journalist’s life very tough. The film was started by Shamin Desai but it could not be completed due to his sudden death. Later his wife Priyanka completed his directorial debut. “I was blown away by Shamin's script. It's a film I'm very excited about and something I've never done before. I found a journalist's life tough. I play an investigative crime journo in a news channel,” Hashmi, 32, said in a statement. The film is being produced and distributed by Percept Picture Company. Also starring Neha Dhupia and Sagarika Ghatge, Rush is scheduled to release in the second half of 2012. IANS

IANS

For studios, filmmakers are mere caterers: Kashyap

nurag Kashyap believes that filmmakers have been reduced to mere caterers because it is the studios that decide the product. “Instead of being filmmakers, we have become caterers. It is already decided by the

studios what we should be doing. Some of us stand up and fight against it,” the 39-year-old said on Thursday at a FICCI FRAMES session. Kashyap, who has directed films like Dev D and produced the internationally acclaimed Udaan,

says he created his own production house — Phantom — to enjoy creative freedom. “On a larger scale, from the time you are writing the script that is what is happening when you are dealing with a studio. The whole idea why we formed

@akshaykumar Salute to the man who never gave up in spite of all the criticism. Finally he did it. #Sachincreates history in world…

Phantom was to keep that with us, where we decide what we want to make, who to make it with and how to go about it,” said the filmmaker who is running the production house with Vikramaditya Motwane and Vkash IANS Bahl.

CINEMA SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2012

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D S RATE ` 150 sq. cm

For Further Details Please Contact Abhinay 9989399972 Nandlal 9951467988 Ravi Chander 8106039919

CINEMA SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2012

ctress and singer Jennifer Lopez has blamed an internet hacker for spreading rumours suggesting she is to wed her new dancer boyfriend. Gossips spread when a post on Roberto Cavalli’s Twitter.com page suggested Lopez had asked the fashion designer to make a wedding dress for her upcoming marriage to Casper Smart. The message read, “Today, Jennifer Lopez. Call me (sic)... She ask me. To create a special dress. For her next wedding! Which colour... Do you advise me?” However, Lopez confirmed the wedding rumour is not true. “Here’s the truth now: Roberto Cavalli’s Twitter account was hacked. The rumour is not true,” she wrote on the website. IANS

Lopez blames wedding rumours on hacker

CINEMA SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2012

A bone chilling story A major flip in the coin for the boy wizard, the movie packs the right amount of thrill and chills

ased on Susan Hill’s 1982 novel, Daniel Radcliffe stars as Arthur Kipps in this creepy, haunted-house thriller complete with gloomy weather, dark shadows and creaking doors. An estate lawyer by profession, he travels to a small English town to put a bid on an eccentric client’s remote country estate, the Eel Marsh House. While the

Movie: The Woman in Black Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Ciaran Hinds, Janet McTeer, LizWhite, Shaun Dooley Directed by: James Watkins Rating: whole town seems to keep Kipps at a distance, only Daily (Ciaran Hinds) befriends him. His mentally

disturbed wife dines with dogs after the tragic death of their son a few years back. The story seems to be well adapted from the book with the woman in black appearing in windows in unkempt grounds and dark rooms. It has the right amount of thrills and chills without the much added gore and blood. Radcliffe looks convincing but it might get a bit too bor-

ing looking at his stubble face for long periods. He still has a long way to go. The gloomy cinematography works well adding to the eeriness of the plot as well as Marco Beltrami’s score adds to the tension.The short lyric narrated as part of the trailer gets you curious enough to watch the movie and our verdict is you should. SANA MIRZA

Saldana, Fox team up for Swindle Paltrow loves bees O

scar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow admits she loves small black and yellow bees and that she has even undergone bee venom therapy to help rid her of an injury. “This has been happening to be lately in regards to, well, bees. I was recently given bee venom therapy for an old injury and it disappeared. I was recommended bee pollen, raw honey for various purposes. So far these recommendations have worked for me,” wrote the actress in her Goop newsletter. The

actor has been doing research about the benefits of by-products created by the insect, reports contactmusic.com. “I started to research and found some very interesting facts, products and recipes,” said the actress. Gwyneth says her other passion is room furnishings. “A few weeks ago, I took a quick trip to Paris for the biannual Maison and Objet trade show that specialises in home goods and furniture. I am slightly obsessed with interior IANS design,” she wrote.

oe Saldana and Megan Fox will star in Swindle. The pair are also signed on to produce Paramount Pictures’ newly acquired heist movie, reports Deadline. Saldana and Fox will team with Moneyball producer Michael De Luca on the film, which is based on Enzo Mileti and Scott Wilson’s spec script. Fox stars in the newly-released Friends with Kids and will appear in Sacha Baron Cohen’s forthcoming comedy The Dictator. Saldana is currently shooting JJ Abrams’s Star Trek 2 and was announced this week to appear with Clive Owen and Mila Kunis in crime drama Blood Ties. The storyline for the film is being kept under wraps. Swindle came about through Fox and Saldana’s desire to work together.

CHAI TIME SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2012

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

SOLUTION ON PAGE 32

SUDOKU

KAKURO

How to Play Kakuro

SCRIBBLING PAD

Kakuro is a popular game similar to sudoku in some ways. But is also suitably different. The key question: “How do you play Kakuro?”, well here are the rules of kakuro. The answer: The kakuro grid, unlike in sudoku, can be of any size. It has rows and columns, and dark cells like in a crossword. And, just like in a crossword, some of the dark cells will contain numbers. Some cells will contain two numbers. However, in a crossword the numbers reference clues. In a kakuro, the numbers are all you get! They denote the total of the digits in the row or column referenced by the number. Within each collection of cells - called a run - any of the numbers 1 to 9 may be used but, like sudoku, each number may only be used once. Let’s have an example to explain this concept more clearly: In the image above, which shows a section of a kakuro puzzle, you will see the numbers ‘26’ and ‘14’ in the top row. Look at the 14. This means that the total of the three cells underneath must sum to 14. Therefore 9, 4, 1 could be the answer, or perhaps 7, 4, 3 and so on... So, how do you work out the actual combination? Well, this is done through elimination and cross-referencing. For instance, as you work out the answers for other kakuro clues, this will naturally limit the valid combinations, and hence the answer for this particular run. Note the second cell in row two - it contains two numbers, 30 and 11. The 30 refers to the vertical run underneath the number 30 and the 11 refers to the two cells to the right, horizontally, of the number 11.

You got to be careful if you don’t know where you’re going, because you might not get there. – Yogi Berra

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS

1 Hair line 5 Poetic foot 9 Cowboy boot feature 13 Filled cookie 14 Juicy pear 15 Superboy’s sweetheart Lang 16 What an also-ran may get? 18 Part of the eye 19 Granola grain 20 Belfry resident 21 Garden walkway 22 Literary sisters Emily and Anne 26 “You’ve got a ____ nerve ...” 28 Didn’t linger 29 Letters with “messenger” or “transfer” 31 Like many diet products 34 ___ grabs (available) 36 Relevant, to lawyers 38 More than displeasure 39 Abbr. after many a general’s name 40 They may be current or foreign 42 U.S. gun lobby 43 “A Christmas Carol” comment 44 Adhered (to) 45 Birds or fruit 47 Acoustic term 49 Televise 51 Jazz great Brubeck 52 “Dear ____ Madam ...” 54 Spent time at Betty Ford’s 56 One of the four Gospels 58 A day in Spain? 60 Feel sick 61 Potent pints 62 Small kitchen appliance 67 Hardly healthy-looking 68 TV group featuring Mr. T 69 Celsius freezing point of water 70 Report-card blemishes 71 Hint to an unexciting speaker 72 “Thanks ___ so much!” DOWN

1 “The Gold-Bug” author 2 “Woof” alternative 3 ___ Speed Wagon (old vehicle) 4 Rogers Centre locale 5 Schubert’s “Fantasia ___ Minor” 6 “This looks like ___ for Superman!” 7 Point of a fable 8 Certain garment worker 9 Don, as a sweater 10 What Halloween lips are made of 11 Inventory item 12 Allergy reaction, sometimes 14 Second photo in a testimonial ad 17 Scarf down 22 Book jacket bits 23 Already-aired TV show 24 Readily available, as parts

25 A big mess comment 27 Russian city or oblast 57 Count ___ (Lemony 30 Site of Churchill’s Snicket villain) 1943 Turkey confer59 Cruise film, “____ ence Good Men” 32 Get there 63 Summer air circulator 33 Made one’s hair 64 Gun, as an engine stand on end? 65 Miner’s vein contents 35 It’s kept on track, 66 “Neither rain ___ hopefully sleet ...” 37 Far from flexiPREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER ble 41 Path of a cresting river 46 Put on a pedestal 48 Gets the suds out 50 Coin of the ___ 53 Cowboy’s calf catcher 55 Evensteven situation 56 Mocking

CHAI TIME SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2012

Aries

Taurus

Knight of Cups

Three of Pentacles

ork – Find solutions to work related problems more intuitively rather than going by the book. You’d be surprised at how well they’ll work. Romance – You achieve a deeper, stronger connection with your partner. Singles are likely to meet someone at a workshop or class. Health – Pamper yourself. A body massage and a day at the spa may do what no shrink or doctor can do for you. Money – Lottery wins and surprise inflow of money will make you happy. High returns from an investment will take you by surprise. Tarot message – You develop a deep understanding of the connection between how you perceive life and what ultimately happens to you.

ork – There’s much learning to do on the job. New processes and systems, or different expectations from your boss unnerves you. Romance – You may suspect your spouse of having an affair. Don’t let the suspicion get to you. You’re likely to find out it was nothing after all. Health – You may need a personal trainer to help understand the nuances of your exercise regimen. Hire an instructor. Money – Finances are looking in good shape. You’ve accounted for everything while budgeting for the month. Wait to see your money grow. Tarot message – Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you’re doing something the first time round. You’d be surprised at the help you get.

Gemini Ace of Cups

ork – You’re swamped with work but are able to manage mostly because of your ability to multi-task. Ask seniors for help if you need it. Romance – Singles will likely meet someone interesting, at a book store or an art show. You hit it off but refrain from committing. Health – You’re in good shape though you’re not doing much to maintain yourself. Start the gym routine or simply a one-hour walk everyday. Money – Stop worrying because you’ve got everything in control. Some additional income through a freelance job pumps up your bank balance. Tarot message – You go with the flow and everything clicks just right. You don’t question anything and discover a synchronicity.

Cancer

Leo

King of Cups

The Star

Six of Cups

ork – If you have been unhappy in a current team, expect new windows of opportunity to come up. A new opening will work its magic. Romance – A new romance wings its way into your life and you feel the freshness of innocent love. Enjoy the time. Health – You benefit from alternative therapies like eating right, massages, meditation, etc. You find that magical mind-body connection and are able to utilise it well. Money – Don’t close your mind to a potentially profitable financial venture. Just because it is new or you don’t know of it doesn’t mean it’s not good. Tarot message – You reverberate with energy. You are linked to a higher plane and make deeper connection.

ork – You want creative satisfaction from your work, and have been working toward that goal for a long time. Self-employment is your ultimate goal. Romance – You’re in a flirtatious mood. You live in the moment and go by your gut feel. Don’t expect great understanding from a potential partner. Health – You need to unwind. May be a good idea to get a massage or simply take a day off to sit and read by yourself. You need me-time. Money – Money flow is good, and this is what is keeping you on your toes at your office. Tighten your purse strings some more. Tarot message – You are emotional and are trying very hard to get in touch with your inner feelings. Keep at it, and you will know yourself better.

SUMAA TEKUR tarotreadhyd@gmail.com

Libra Ace of Wands

Eight of Pentacles

ork – Your boss trusts you with a new job and although you have little experience in it, you do extremely well. Romance – It’s the small things that matter in a relationship. Bring your partner flowers, cook for them or woo them again if it improves your chemistry. Health – You’re feeling slightly off balance given the demands of every other area of life. You haven’t been paying attention to your health. Money – Your loan is approved or you are able to arrange the finances you needed to start a dream project. Now, there’s no looking back. Tarot message – Live in the moment and enjoy what you do. Your choices will not feel like a burden.

ork – You’ve been chosen for a coveted assignment at the office, one that requires you to be creative and think differently. Romance – A new relationship enters your life or you find a fresh spark in an existing relationship. Go with the flow. Health – You may consider starting a new health regimen, veering towards the alternative therapies. It works well for you. Money – A new job opportunity presents itself giving you the options to choose from. It may even be a freelance opportunity through which to increase your finances. Tarot message – You probably perceive the world around you differently, which is making you accept situations more readily than before.

Sagittarius

Scorpio

King of Swords

ork –Your sharp intellect helps you solve a work problem. You also avoid being pushed to the corner by competitors. Romance – Love, to you, is all about being practical and making a comfortable life. No harm in indulging in flowers and chocolates sometimes. Health – You need to pay attention to your health. Working too hard and not relaxing enough is taking a toll. Take a weekend break. Money – You go by the book and stick to the rules. Think creatively to make the most of the money you’re making. Tarot message – By placing too much emphasis only on the mind, you’re ignoring the heart’s desire. You need to strike that balance, and do it well.

Virgo

Date 18-3-2012

Capricorn

Aquarius

Three of Wands

Five of Swords

ork – Team work is important. It will help you see your job in new light. Lend a patient ear to your coworkers and consider their ideas, too. Romance – Put your best foot forward at a party. You’re likely to meet someone interesting. The attraction is immediate. Health – You feel energetic. Your blood pressure is in control and your diet also is showing the expected results. Money – You start making profits from a creative venture, which you didn’t expect will be so successful. Your investments have been wise. Tarot message – Dream. Plan. Then make it happen. You’ve been on a lucky phase where things click and everything goes right.

ork – Your memory plays a crucial role in how a certain job turns out. You will have to rely heavily on what you remember for a project to take off. Romance – You are likely to bump into an old flame. Old memories are stirred, and you want to be left alone with your thoughts. Health – A recurring health problem, like a migraine or a sore throat, is back to slow you down. Take rest and drink lots of healthy fluids. Money – Smart investments you made at the beginning of your career or your first job may need reviewing. They may no longer be serving your purpose. Tarot message – You need to stay stable in the ebb and flow of life. Don’t get perturbed by events or people.

ork – Don’t get into a confrontation with any of your coworkers or clients with regard to an important project. Romance – You may have to iron out some differences or misunderstandings. Communicate clearly and all will be well. Health – Take extra care of your health. Do not overindulge in food and drink. Everything in moderation is good for you. Money – There may be some confusion over some money which you think is due to you. Go over the details again before you pick a fight. Tarot message – Being in the middle of a confusing conflict situation may be unavoidable. Keep a low profile and continue to work.

Pisces Eight of Wands

ork – You may need to blow your trumpet about the amount of work you do. In the age of Facebook, an introvert may lose out at times. Romance – You meet someone interesting at a museum or book shop and spend time together. All doubts about it not working out will be cleared. Health – Your body’s in great shape but you may need to work on keeping your mind healthy, too. Take up meditation or any de-stressing activity. Money – Finances are looking good and your forethought and planning have paid off. A windfall is also expected. Tarot message – Going by the happiness in your life and how everything’s going right, you turn from a skeptic to a believer.

Vol: 1, No 244 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 040-4067 2222, Fax: 040-4067 2211

THE SATURDAY QUIZ SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2012

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

FAMOUS SPOUSES

most about America is the way parents obey their children?” 9. What inscription on U.S. coins did Theodore Roosevelt try in vain to have removed? 10. Which nation has the longest school year? 11. What Scandinavian country

are you in if you’re vacationing in Hell? 12. Which Australian cricketer announced his retirement in February this year ? 13. Which footballer was awarded the 2011 FIFA Ballon d’Or? 14. IC chips used in computers are usually made of what?

IDENTIFY THESE TALL BUILDINGS

IDENTIFY THESE FAMOUS BETTER HALVES

Marie Curie was a Polish physicist and chemist, famous for her research on radioactivity. Her husband was also a physicist and shared her Nobel Prize with her Who is he?

Answers

were not understood because his nurse did not speak German? 6. What type of creature was the star of the film Jaws? 7. Where in America was the world’s biggest rock festival staged? 8. Which monarch said, “The thing that impresses me

1.North Korea 2.Anemometer 3.Shamrock 4.Netherlands 5.Albert Einstein 6.Shark 7.Woodstock 8.Edward VIII 9.In God We Trust 10.Japan 11.Norway 12.Ricky Ponting 13. Lionel Messi 14. Silicon

1. Pyongyang is the capital of which country. 2. Which instrument is used for measuring wind speed? 3. Which is the national flower of Ireland? 4. Which is the only country in the world to have a national dog? 5. What physicist’s last words

SPORT GYAAN TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE WORLD OF SPORTS

1 2

Who was sacked as the Bowling Coach of Indian Cricket Team in February this year?

She is an Indian social activist and retired IPS officer. She was the first woman IPS officer. She is married to social activist Brij Bedi. Who is she? He is better known as Khiladi Kumar. His real name is Rajeev Bhatia. He married actress Twinkle Khanna. He has two children. Who is he?

Which team defeated Indian women’s hockey team in the final match of London Olympic qualifiers? Which squash player retained the men’s crown in the Senior National Squash Championship in Chennai in December 2011?

1. Pierre Curie 2. Kiran Bedi 3. Akshay Kumar

Answers

Which country defeated Spain 1-0 to clinch the Champions Trophy title for the fourth consecutive time in December 2011?

KNOW YOUR COUNTRY

Which Indian company on 16 February 2012 withdrew its decision to quash all its ties with the BCCI?

Which Indian state was originally known as the North East Frontier Agency (NEFA) ?

Yakshagana, literally meaning celestial music, is a popular dance drama of which Indian state ?

with Santosh Ghule Who will join this damsel in a song?

Answer for

PICTURE PUZZLE 6

5: The woman was sitting between the trees

Which Ramon Magsaysay Award winner, popularly known as Water Man, founded an NGO called ‘Tarun Bharat Sangh’ near Alwar in Rajasthan to work on watershed projects & rain-water harvesting ?

Hotel Clock Tower 3.Taipei 101

4. Marina Torch

Which coastal town in Gujarat is world famous for its ship-breaking industry ?

Answers 1. Empire State Building 2. Mecca Royal

WHO AM I? I am smart, I am fast, I am funny and I am always one step ahead. Some call me sarcastic, arrogant and at times disrespectful, but in reality, I am just a cool guy who chomps away on a carrot. I am a great favourite with kids. I am not malicious by nature, but I can be nasty when my aggressors (such as Elmer Fudd) give me no choice. Who am I?

Answer : Bugs Bunny

Answers

On account of its numerous temples, which city is also known as the ‘Cathedral City of India’ ?

1.Eric Simons 2.South Africa 3.Saurav Ghoshal 4.Australia 5.Sahara Group

1. Bhuvaneshwar (Odisha) 2. Arunachal Pradesh 3. Alang 4. Rajendra Singh 5. Karnataka

Answers

SPORTS SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2012

Philander crushes Kiwis

Knicks outplay Pacers

ernon Philander produced the best figures of his remarkable career for South Africa to wrap up the second Test against New Zealand by nine wickets inside three days on Saturday. The tourists needed just 20 overs to reach the 101-run target in Hamilton, after New Zealand’s second innings crumbled and were restricted to 168.

he New York Knicks, and Jeremy Lin, continued to thrive under interim coach Mike Woodson Friday with a 115-100 NBA victory over the Indiana Pacers. It was the Knicks’ second victory since the departure this week of coach Mike D’Antoni, a move that many predicted would spell the end of “Linsanity”that has gripped the fancy of the world.

Thorpe suffers setback

lympic great Ian Thorpe suffered major setbacks in his bid to make the Australian team for the London Olympics at the selection trials in Adelaide on Friday. Thorpe, on the comeback trail after five years out of the pool, bombed out on qualifying for Saturday’s 200-metre freestyle final when he slumped to the 12th fastest time in the semi-finals.

Azarenka, Sharapova to meet in title round

AFP/ ROBYN BECK

CALIFORNIA: World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka reached the Indian Wells final Friday, beating rising German star Angelique Kerber 6-4, 6-3 to extend her seasonlong match win streak to 22-0. Reigning Australian Open champion Azarenka has three titles already this year and has now reached the final of her last six tournaments. “I am so excited because this is the first time for me to be in the final. I love to play here,” Azarenka said. Azarenka’s win streak is the longest on the WTA Tour since 1997, when Martina Hingis won 37 in a row. Serena Williams had a 21-match win streak in 2003. Azarenka pulled out of last year’s Indian Wells tournament after getting injured during her quarter-final match against Caroline Wozniacki. She suffered the hip injury just 10 minutes into the match on the second point of the third game while stretching to try and return a shot. Friday’s night match on centre court was played in cooler and windy conditions as forecasters are predicting rain showers on Saturday when the men are scheduled to play their semifinals. “It made it a little more interesting,” Azarenka said of the wind. “A little adversity and a challenge for us.”

Nadal, Fedex to clash in semis

I am so excited because this is the first time for me to be in the final. I love to play here Victoria Azarenka Azarenka, who won 70 percent of her first-serve points, needed 88 minutes to beat Kerber. She broke Kerber’s serve in the final game of the match and on match point Azarenka hammered a cross-court forehand that Kerber returned long. Kerber had five double faults, held her serve just four times and was broken six times in the match. “I had some chances,” Kerber said. “I didn’t get it done. But she’s a great player and she plays very good in these moments. “I did everything I could today. But she was better.” The 22-year-old from Belarus will now face Maria Sharapova, the winner of the other semifinal. Sharapova advanced to the final when 15th seeded Serb Ana Ivanovic retired from their semifinal with a hip injury. Sharapova was leading 6-4, 01 when Ivanovic decided she couldn’t continue.

CALIFORNIA: World No. 2 Rafael Nadal and world No. 3 Roger Federer set up their first semi-final clash at the Indian Wells ATP Masters with contrasting victories over Argentinian opponents on Friday. Nadal, who is chasing his first title of 2012, survived an opening set scare en route to a 46, 7-5, 6-4 win over David Nalbandian in their quarterfinal match. Swiss star Federer had a much easier time, rolling to a 63, 6-2 win over a frustrated Juan

Martin del Potro in the joint WTA/ATP tournament in the California desert. Federer and Nadal have met 27 times previously with Nadal having won 18, including four of the last five. “We played 27 times. It will be the first time here at Indian Wells,” Nadal said. “Tomorrow I have a fantastic match to enjoy and to try to play aggressive.” Added Federer, “I have had some great matches with him all around the world by now.” But this will be the first time

Nadal with Ben Stiller after his match against David Nalbandian.

16-time grand slam winner Federer and reigning French Open champ Nadal will meet on the hardcourts of Indian Wells. World number one Novak Djokovic will face American John Isner in the other semifinal on Friday. Nadal, who hit three aces, clinched the victory in the 10th game of the final set Friday when Nalbandian’s running backhand went wide. Nalbandian’s momentum carried him forward and he almost crashed into his chair.

SPORTS SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2012

A TON OF JOY Twelfth Man BABU KALYANPUR

ack on a wintry morning in 1988, a young lad of 15 went out for to bat for Mumbai against Gujarat and stroked his way to an exact 100. Twenty-four years later, Sachin Tendulkar has become the first player to get to a hundred centuries in international cricket. And own probably every record in the book. Yes, statistics will always mark him as the greatest batsman in the world. But what is more important is the the joy he brought to millions of cricket lovers in over two decades of sheer brilliance. He always meant a lot to people all over the world. If India plays, then anyone from a factory worker or a chairman of a company would ask – how much did Tendulkar get? Even housewives and children would drop whatever they were doing to watch the great man play, whether they knew the game or not. So what makes Tendulkar

tick? The sheer volume of runs were there but what was more pleasing was how he got them. He was not a stylist like Mohammed Azharuddin or VVS Laxman. It was his aura of a systemic destroyer of all kinds of bowling which made Tendulkar a stand-out. A straight drive or a shot through the covers and point area had a stamp which was unmistakably his own. And he scored quickly with total domination. At his peak, he was never afraid to hit the ball for maximum. There were a few detractors though. Statistics-mad India always came up with something illogical. A few critics said that he had not led India to victory often enough. Someone will point out that though Tendulkar scored his landmark hundred against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup, India lost the match. That’s crazy when you consider somebody with over 15,000 runs in Test cricket and 18,000 in one-day cricket. If he did not score, would India have even got to striking distance, let alone win? The signs of greatness were there since the early teens. Tendulkar’s massive 664-run

YES, STATISTICS WILL ALWAYS MARK HIM AS THE GREATEST BATSMAN IN THE WORLD. BUT WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT IS THE THE JOY HE BROUGHT TO MILLIONS OF CRICKET LOVERS partnership with Vinod Kambli in a Harris Shield match in 1988 had put him in the limelight. His Test debut, aged 16, in Pakistan may have been unproductive in terms of runs. But the way he took the short stuff from the Pakistan bowlers unflinchingly on his body was revealing. The sight of Tendulkar batting with blood pouring out from his nose is still etched in many minds. The boy was man enough. Once he cranked up the run machine, the world began to notice. Grudgingly at first, because may of the stronger teams believed that their star player was the best. He peaked from 1994 to 2002. Then came a period when selfdoubt crept in. The aerial shots were now in the cold storage. Then Indian coach Greg Chappell did not help matters

much. He asked Tendulkar to bat down the order in the onedayers when the player had scored heavily while opening. There were allegations galore too. That was the lowest point in the great man’s career. Tendulkar chose the tour of Bangladesh to emerge from the shadow. And he never looked back. He was particularly productive at the the end of the last decade, stroking freely though not as quickly as before. The burden of getting to the remarkable landmark seemed to weigh on him since the start of the Australian tour last year. He looked India’s best batsman during the disastrous tour. But he began to choke a bit when he passed the half-century mark. He lost form in the trination one-day series and the hundred was getting elusive. Fans were losing patience. The retirement of Rahul Dravid also added pressure on Tendulkar. Now that the burden of the 100th hundred is over, Tendulkar must forget all inhibitions and enjoy the game once more. But the curtain call may not be too far now. But it is hoped that he continues at least for another year.

CITY’S REACTIONS PRAGYAN OJHA Cricketer It’s a proud moment for every Indian. The whole nation has been waiting for this. He has proved why he is called the God of cricket. It’s doubtful if anyone else will cross this milestone.

VIJAY MOHANRAJ Former cricketer I wish it had come earlier, especially against the Australians. I don’t think he should call it a day. If the country needs him, he must carry on till the youngsters are capable to hold the fort.

D. HARIKA Chess player I am glad that Sachin made it finally. He has been an inspiration to me as a sportsperson. I don’t think just because some people say that his time has come he should quit. Only he has the right to do that.

VICTOR AMALRAJ Former footballer It’s a big honour. People have been waiting for this. I don’t think he should quit now. Maybe this is a good time to say bye. But he can continue as he still has the stuff.

SPORTS SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2012

‘Stepped noses’ may go MELBOURNE: Fan power may lead to a ban on the ugly new “stepped noses” on this year’s Formula One cars, the sport’s ruling body has conceded. International Motoring Federation (FIA) technical chief Charlie Whiting said that he will raise the matter as soon as he can — hoping to remove them for next year. “Everybody would like

THERE HAD BEEN A CRITICAL REACTION FROM MANY F1 FANS COMPLAINING AT THE NEW LOOK OF THE CARS.

McLaren-Mecedes drivers Lewis Hamilton of Britain slides his car through a corner during the first practice session for Formula One’s Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on Friday. The opening race of the 2012 season will be held at the 5.3km Albert Park road circuit on March 18. AFP/WILLIAM WEST

Hamilton fastest in final practice

MELBOURNE: McLaren’s

Lewis Hamilton clocked the fastest time in the third and final practice for Sunday’s seasonopening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, but there was trouble for Sebastian Vettel. The 27-year-old Englishman produced his best lap in the final seconds of a welcome dry session run in warm conditions at the Albert Park circuit, where he outstripped Lotus’s rookie Frenchman Romain Grosjean. Grosjean was second fastest ahead of local hero Mark Webber of Red Bull and Briton Jenson Button in the second McLaren. German Nico Rosberg was fifth, ahead of his Mercedes team-mate and compatriot Michael Schumacher. Another

German, defending double champion Vettel of Red Bull, was back in a disappointing seventh. Both Vettel and Schumacher spun off the circuit in the closing stages of the hour-long session, beaching their cars in gravel traps. McLaren team chief Martin Whitmarsh said: “It’s nice to be fastest, again, but really it does not mean anything. It looks tight and very close. We think we are competitive, but so are Mercedes and Red Bull, and maybe Lotus too.” Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado of Williams was eighth ahead of Mexican Sergio Perez of Sauber, with Australia’s second entrant Daniel Ricciardo taking 10th for Toro Rosso.

Returning 2007 champion Finn Kimi Raikkonen was 12th in the second Lotus, two-time champion Fernando Alonso was again off the pace in his Ferrari, as was team-mate Felipe Massa, down in 18th. On a bright, dry and sunny day at Albert Park, with the air temperature rising to 23 degrees Celsius and the track temperature at 34 degrees, there was none of the capricious weather, or the humidity, of the previous few days. Rosberg was the first man to clock a competitive time and initially he topped the lists before Hamilton and then Schumacher overhauled his effort. The German then swept back to the top with a lap in 1:25.929 after 35 minutes of the hour,

shortly before Vettel lost control — and the rear end of his car — at turn six. His Red Bull was left in the gravel and out of action for the rest of the session. Earlier, Felipe Massa had supplied the first spin of the day and Bruno Senna had recovered after running off the circuit at turn five. Vettel’s embarrassment was eased somewhat when Schumacher went off at turn nine, the entry to the Clark chicane, just seconds after Grosjean, on his Albert Park debut, clocked the then fastest lap with 1:25.758. It was a dazzling effort by the winner of last year’s GP2 title, but not quite good enough as Hamilton responded in the final seconds to top the lists.

to see something that looks nicer,” said Whiting. “So of course I will raise the question at the next meeting of the Technical Working Group.” He agreed that there had been a critical reaction from many F1 fans complaining at the new look of the cars, made as part of a way for teams to conform to new safety regulations. “In 2014 the rules will be entirely different and there will be much, much lower noses so that problem will disappear that year, I imagine,” Whiting told autosport.com. He added that there may have been more appetite to change the noses sooner had they realised just how widespread the new style would be. “At that point, I don’t think anyone outside of the very small group of designers that were creating the cars knew what they might look like,” he said. “It was pointed out that there could be a bit of a step there, as it was put, but frankly it didn’t seem important for us to get excited about. “Hopefully we can resolve the situation, but by the time we do that maybe everyone will have got used to what we have got.” AFP

SPORTS SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2012

Matteo swears by ‘player power’ LONDON: Roberto Di

Roberto Di Matteo celebrates with Fernando Torres.

Scrabble

Kuyt says Reds got plenty of potential LIVERPOOL: Dirk Kuyt insists Liverpool still have plenty of unfulfilled potential as they prepare to step up their quest for a cup double with an FA Cup quarter-final against Stoke. Kenny Dalglish’s side ended a six-year wait for a trophy when they beat Championship side Cardiff in the League Cup final on penalties last month. Despite their cup success, the Reds are 10 points adrift of fourth-placed Arsenal and are facing the prospect of a third consecutive year outside the Champions League. AFP

AFP

AFP/GLYN KIRK

Boggle Number game

SOLUTIONS

charge until the end of the season, there was already speculation that Terry and company had stepped into the power vacuum and were effectively running the team. That impression was strengthened when television pictures showed Terry standing just behind Di Matteo on the touchline and appearing to urge Essien to drop back into defence during Wednesday’s 4-1 Champions League triumph over Napoli. But Di Matteo, who will look to extend his 100 percent record as Blues manager when Chelsea host Championship club Leicester in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Sunday, is adamant the likes of Terry rightly have an input into how the team is run.”I’ve had a long playing career myself at the highest level,” the former Chelsea midfielder said.

HILL CLIFF BLUFF VALLEY RAVINE

Suduko

Matteo insists Chelsea are reaping the rewards of his bold decision to embrace the player power that forced Andre Villas-Boas out of Stamford Bridge. Di Matteo took over as Chelsea’s interim manager after Villas-Boas was sacked following a brief, miserable reign scarred by constant rumours that he was engaged in a power struggle with John Terry, Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole and Didier Drogba. Villas-Boas often dropped Lampard and caused a major stir when he also axed Michael Essien and Cole for the Champions League last 16 first leg defeat to Napoli. But in the end the young Portuguese coach couldn’t win his battle with the cabal of aging stars who have developed significant influence with owner Roman Abramovich. With Di Matteo only in