Postnoon E-Paper for 24 January 2012 by Scribble Media & Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.

BREAST IMPLANT? BREATHE EASY Breast implants are a hot favourite with City women. And even news of ruptured French-made implants don't deter them, as City doctors assert that they only use reputable brands that are absolutely safe. P13 Hyderabad’s first compact afternoon newspaper

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WEATHER: CLEAR WITH CLOUDY PERIODS. WINDY AT TIMES; 23°C

FLASH

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012 HYDERABAD

P31

PONTING, CLARKE STEAL THE SHOW

CITY SHYLOCKS SHEAR POOR Five days into the crackdown on the City’s private moneylenders, and startling things are coming out. In South Zone alone, 60-70 financiers employ hundreds of roughnecks who abuse poor borrowers every day. REPORT ON PG 3

RBI SLASHES CRR, NO RATE CUT FOR NOW RBI slashed cash reserve ratio from 6 per cent to 5.5 per cent

Repo rate at 8.5 per cent and reverse repo rate at 7.5 per cent remain unchanged

It is premature to begin reducing policy rates

Future rate actions will be towards lowering the interest rates

Next policy review on March 15, 2012 P11

32 PAGES

HIGH COURT ANNULS TDP MLC’S ELECTION AP High Court annulled the election of MLC Narsa Reddy (TDP) from Nizamabad district local authorities’ constituency and declared R Venkatram Reddy (Congress) elected by two votes.

Page Two

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012

Spirit of Twin Cities

Old City gears up for Milad-un-Nabi Anubha K Singh

COMMUNITIES

anubha.k@postnoon.com

t is that time of the year when the entire Purana Shaher is enveloped by the colour green as Muslims in the City gear up to celebrate Milad-unNabi. Enter Old City and every by-lane is dotted with green flags and decorative lights with fliers and posters floating around. The festival is celebrated with religious fervour and gaiety. The day is marked with processions, public meetings and feeding of the poor. However, locals say that with various sects and schools mushrooming in Hyderabad, the way of celebrating has also changed.

Lost traditions “We believe in celebrating the festival in a simple way. The Prophet, who lived a simple life, did not encourage huge celebrations. However, these days,

more than practising the religion, expressing it has increased. Earlier, Milad-Un-Nabi used to be a low-key affair with only small processions being taken out. However, with various political parties pitching in, the festival is now celebrated on a grand scale. There used to be about 50 to 100 people in each procession earlier. But now the number is over 20,000,” said Mohammed Asif Khan, who runs a family business selling Kashmiri apparel in Old City. Like every year, thousands of people will participate in the Milad-unNabi celebrations this time too. However, society elders believe that as per the Shariat (the body of doctrines that regulate the lives of those who practice Islam), only festivities that do not harm others can be carried out. Many have a different view about

how Milad-un-Nabi should be celebrated since the Prophet’s birth and death occurred on the same day; people should neither celebrate nor mourn on this day.

Celebration of faith Every year, the celebration begins at dusk when devotees assemble to offer prayers. Mosques, community halls and other places of worship turn into public venues to gather and recall the preachings of the Prophet. Importance of the Prophet’s birth and his teachings are highlighted by Aalims (learned persons). The biggest procession of the day starts from the Mecca Masjid once the morning prayers are over. After going around Old City, it culminates in a huge public meeting at the Moghalpura playground. Thousands of people participate in the central procession, while smaller processions will continue throughout the day.

Around the city: Your guide to the Twin Cities Bapu in colours

Get a taste of Lahore at the Great Kabab factory’s Lahori food festival . Where: The Great Kabab Factory, Banjara Hills When: 12 pm onwards Contact: (040) 23302244

A painting exhibition titled, “ Bapu-Mohandas KarmChand Gandhi” by Siva Kesara Rao. Where: Marriott hotel & Convention Centre, Tank Bund When: Ongoing, 11am Contact: (040) 27522999

Martini ‘n music Enjoy the winter evenings with grey goose martinis and crooner Kelly dishing out your favourite numbers. Where: Taj Krishna, Banjara Hills When: Every Evening Contact: (040) 66662323

Cognac and Cigar The Seasons Bar opens up again as a Cigar and Cognac lounge with a wide selection of cognac, rare whiskies, single malts and cigars. Where: Taj Krishna, Banjara Hills When: Ongoing, 7pm Contact: (040) 66662323

Visual art An exhibition cum sale of paintings by Hari Srinivas. The exhibition is on display till January 30 2012. Where: VSL Visual Art Gallery, Plot No 100, AP Text Book Colony, Gun Rock Enclave When: Ongoing Contact: 9247175135

Numaish A childhood favourite of every Hyderabadi, The All India Industrial Exhibition is on. Where: Exhibition Grounds, Nampally When: Ongoing

CINEMAS

Remembering Amrita

LET’S PLAY BALL

PIC: N SHIVA KUMAR

Lahore on your plate

Eat in the dark Have you ever wondered how it feels to eat in the dark? Come and experience this. Pay `499 to enjoy a 4-course meal worth `1,000 at Dialogue in the Dark. Where: Dialogue in the Dark, Inorbit Mall, Hitech City When: Ongoing, 12.30pm Contact: (040) 64603341

A play based on well known poetess Amrita Pritam’s life titled, Amrita will be presented at Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan. Where: Bharitiya Vidya Bhavan, Basheerbagh When: January 24, 7.30pm Contact: (040) 23237825

1001 nights An exhibition titled 1001 nights featuring drawings and paintings by Santosh Kotagiri. Where: Iconart Gallery, Banjara Hills When: Ongoing, 11am Contact: 98499-68797

One love One Love is an International exhibition by artists from around the world who aim at promoting humanity and love all over the world. Where: State Gallery Of Fine Arts , When: Ongoing, 11am Contact: (040) 32913922

Childhood memory Kites are a childhood memory of carefree life, of cheery sunny days .They have become a metaphor of soaring freedom, of flights sky-high, towering above the humdrum of life. Artkites are such an expression of festivity and creative vision. Where: Iconart, Banjara Hills When: Ongoing Contact: (040) 32411554

Romancig art An exhibition titled Romancing the Reminiscence by Masuram Ravikanth. Where: Daira, Banjara Hills When: Ongoing, 11am Contact: (040) 66618628

Controlled freedom Catch Controlled Freedom, an exhibition of portrait photography that showcases the works of two photographers with contrasting approaches to capturing people — Sucharitha Rao and Lakshmi Prabhala. Where: Alankritha Art Gallery, Kavuri Hills When: Ongoing, 6.30pm Contact: (040) 23113709

Lunch treat Come eat n feel our lavish lunch buffet@ `199/Where: Equator Lounge, Jubilee Hills, Rd no36 When: 12 to 3:30pm Contact: (040) 64566161/2 A boy plays basketball at YMCA in Secunderabad.

Big Cinemas, Ameerpet, 30581470; Cinemax, Banjara Hills, 44565555; Cine Planet , Kompally, 61606060; INOX, Banjara Hills, 447677770, Prasads, Tank Bund Rd, 23448888; PVR, Punjagutta, 08800900009; Talkie Town, Miyapur, 40214175; Tivoli, Secunderabad 27844973

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012

Campaigns, hard news and spirit of Twin Cities

Shylocks reign over City’s poor

DAMAGED GOODS

Mohd Subhan Mohd.s@postnoon.com

CRIME

R A car that was damaged in a collision with an RTC bus at Siddiamber Bazar. PIC: N SHIVA KUMAR

Another Jagan aide in CBI net Sunil Reddy, a distant relative of Jagan Mohan Reddy, was questioned by the CBI in connection with disproportionate assets case Postnoon News

HYDERABAD: Sunil Reddy, a distant relative of YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, was questioned by the CBI in connection with disproportionate assets case and later unconfirmed reports stated that he was arrested. Sunil Reddy’s wife Krishna teja told media that the CBI officers took Sunil Reddy from his house for questioning and she rushed to Dilkusha Guest House to find out if he was arrested. She said that Sunil had nothing to do with the cases of Jagan but confirmed that he was a distant relative of Jagan.

Meanwhile it was reported that Sunil was ‘very close’ to

Jagan and his family as he used to look after the day-to-day financial transactions and other businesses of the YSR family. He is one of the close associates of Jagan like Vijaya Sai Reddy. All assets and properties owned by Jagan were supervised by Sunil Reddy. However, the CBI did not confirm the arrest even by noon. Jagan an his associates are being investigated by several agencies over illegal wealth acquired while YS Rajashekar Reddy was the chief minister. Recently his confidant Vijay Sai Reddy too was arrested by the CBI.

I have no weekends: Imran and Sundays really. So to make my life interesting, I try to work with good people, so work is not drab and boring. And my choice of movies is primarily based on that — good co-actors reduce my stress by half. I am, and will always remain unintimidated by competition or another actor sharing screen space with me.”

Indira Atluri Indiraa@postnoon.com

n the City to promote his new movie Ek Main Aur Ek Tu, actor Imran Khan spoke to Postnoon on his love for movies, and how he remains unaffected by stardom. Asked about his latest movie, Imran says, “It is the story of a guy who is pampered as a child, and who never has to take any decision in life. How it gradually changes is the plot of the movie.” He is upbeat about his chemistry with Kareena Kapoor, and believes that she is a great co-actor. “I have always liked Kareena even before I started to act, and having worked with her in this movie, I know how effortless and bril-

liant she is,” says Imran. On life as an actor, he reminisces, “I spend most of my life at work — there are no Saturdays

I have always liked Kareena even before I started to act

ahim, an auto driver, gets `500 every morning from a known moneylender in Charminar area. He needs the money so he can give half of it to his family for day’s sustenance and the remainder to fill fuel and start work. By evening, he gives back `700, which works fine for him if the day has been normal. But when someone in the family falls sick or the City has some problem and business is dull, he is stuck with the loan which snowballs into big sum eventually. In yet another instance, a push-cart vendor of the same area, Saleem Khan, has taken amount `6,000 and paid `12,000 after a few days. There are hundreds of Rahims who are in the firm clutches of the private moneylenders who make a safe killing because they have muscle and political backing to

depend on. Crackdown on illegal financiers in the core city (South zone) that began on January 19 has brought out how the parallel financing system thrives. In all, 32 financiers have been booked. Interrogation of the arrested reveal that they are not just lending money but also indulge in many other crimes like barging into homes and molesting women whose husbands or sons have defaulted. But a question that is on every lip in town is why these Shylocks thrive and how do they get freed? The answer, say worldly-wise men, rests with Secretariat. Total arrests so far 32 Daily collection (estimate) `10 lakh Interest part `4 lakh Agents employed for collection (approximate) 750 Books, ledgers seized 200 Number of victims unknown

Special Report

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012

Lake-lustre affair at Yellamma Cheruvu

Osama Salman salman.o@postnoon.com

hen you visit a lake, you’d expect to see clean water and scenic beauty. However, your expectations will be shattered as soon as you visit Yellamma Cheruvu in Kukatpally. According to a report by the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) dated July 20, 2010, the lake contains contaminated water. This is the reality of Yellamma Cheruvu that is shrinking due to encroachment and extreme water pollution. Yellamma Cheruvu, located near Husnabad Bus Stop, is a dying lake, says Jasveer Jairath, member, Save Our Urban Lakes (SOUL). One of Hyderabad’s top real-estate developers has encroached upon the land reclaimed from the lake shrinking its size, she alleges. “Despite a Supreme Court order to remove all illegal construction near the lake, nothing has been done so far,” she said. When Postnoon contacted Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA), a senior official said that he wasn’t aware of this lake as they only looked after major lakes in the City. “Pollution levels are staggering because sewage water is let into it. The water can only be used for irrigation. We will conduct another round of tests in a few weeks to determine if the pollution levels

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have increased,” said Dr P Ramesh Chandra, senior environmental engineer, APPCB. Jasveer also points out that there is a buffer zone of 30 metres from the Full Tank Limit (FTL) and in this zone, nothing can be constructed. “This has clearly been violated,” she adds. According to a report filed by the government, construction on Survey Nos 147, 146, 151 and 152, belonging to the same real-estate developer, was found to have encroached the lake. Apparently, the FTL marked by stones, was found hidden by dried-up branches and leaves when SOUL conducted a survey of the lake. In fact, a letter dated July 11, 2011 revealed that the Mandal Revenue Office was not able to demarcate the FTL of this lake. The debris and sand that was dumped into the lake, is well beyond the FTL stones, indicating encroachment, points out Jasveer. Ironically, encroachers have even built a temple on the banks of Yellamma Cheruvu. Meanwhile, residents of the surrounding colonies are crying foul over the increasing stench emanating from the lake. “When I moved here six years ago, the lake was relatively less polluted. Due to development, the pollution levels have increased. The stench is unbearable in the rainy season,” says Indrajith Menon, a businessman. Vishal Rochiramani, a resident, pointed to the algae-infested water and said, “This is a clear indication of how polluted this

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WATER FOLLIES Yellamma Cheruvu lake is. Residents choose to let the waste water flow into the lake. The lake has been shrinking in size too,” he says. “I have been living here ever since I was born. Until about 15 years ago, I used to swim in the

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lake with my friends. It was very clean and we used to spot plenty of birds. That is a rare sight now. This lake was beautiful and needs to be restored urgently before we lose it completely,” says Rahul Saraf, a property owner.

In the AP Pollution Control Board report dated July 30, 2010, Yellamma Cheruvu’s pollution details are: n Ph level – 7.9 n Total dissolved solids – 673ppm n Suspended solids – 39ppm n Chemical Oxygen Level (CLO) – 64ppm n Dissolved Oxygen (DO) – 3.4ppm n Free ammonia – 1.2ppm n Biochemical Oxygen Level (BOL) – 11ppm n Soluble phosphate – 2ppm n Green algae – present The permitted levels are: n DO – 4ppm n BOD – less than 3ppm n Phosphorus – less than

1ppm n Ammonia – less than 1ppm

(ppm = milligram per litre)

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AIRLINES Airport Director 27903785, 27906001 For Air India Flight Information Toll free (from any network) for IC Flights 18001801407 And for All Flights: 1800227722 Air India has revised its flight timings. For more information call (Toll free) 18001801407, 1800227722 from BSNL/MTNL 04023430334 from other lines and mobile Website; www.airindia.in TOURISM OFFICES AP Tourism, Hyd 23262152/53/54 Sec’bad 27893100 Dept of Tourism 23453110 India Tourism 23261360 AP Tourism information Centre (24x7) 23450444, 23455999

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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

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012

Campaigns, hard news and spirit of Twin Cities

Off-screen action, no tickets

The filmy tantrums of Balakrishna and Chiranjeevi, who, it has been proved time and again, are inconsequential in politics, are entertaining their fans for free POLITICS A Saye Sekhar Saye@postnoon.com

hey never fought on the celluloid. Though there has been some implicit bitterness, the two actors never crossed swords in public. On the other hand, they always tried to demonstrate camaraderie. But, politics is altogether a different ballgame. Megastar Chiranjeevi, who is still taking baby steps in politics, proved to be an early burnout at least, with regard to sustaining the fledgling political party that he floated. Whereas, the scion of the Nandamuri clan, Balakrishna, doesn’t have the onus of running the party, as his astute brother-inlaw Nara Chandrababu Naidu is fully in-charge of the situation in the Telugu Desam Party. Balakrishna, who remained a star campaigner for the TDP for

almost three decades, has moved an inch ahead. The war of words between the two stars of the Telugu tinsel town is providing a lot of free entertainment to the people who, by now, are adept at delineating between the political amphitheatre and silver screen. As the week unfolded, the two stars began sparring; packing punches in their words. It all started when Balakrishna began his political tour to Krishna district.

He directly took a potshot at Chiranjeevi, jibing at the latter’s oft-quoted ‘social justice’. Making light of Balakrishna’s remarks, Chiranjeevi likened the Nandamuri star to a ‘kid’ and said, “We have been good friends.” But Balakrishna’s repartee in his Visakhapatnam tour indeed made the political combustion in the State hotter in a filmy style; thumping his thighs, Balakrishna challenged Chiranjeevi. He did not stop at that. He tried to bring

Cash-strapped HMDA loses `216cr as interest CIVIC U Srinivas Srinivas.u@postnoon.com

yderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) has lost `216 crore towards interest for a `500-crore loan. While the HMDA paid this whopping sum towards interest, the agency wants the State government to reimburse the same. The HMDA appealed to Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy to consider its request for reimbursement through a letter written on January 16. However, it is to be seen if minister for finance Anam Ramanaryana Reddy will concede the request for the reimbursement. An interesting request has come to the government to release `716 crore, allocating the same as part of the proposed Budget for 2012-13. The HMDA borrowed `500 crore from the Indian Overseas Bank, Himayathnagar branch, a principal banker of HMDA, and `216 crore has been paid as interest so far. The amount has been borrowed as part of the ambitious resource mobilisation drive ordered by the then chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy in 2008-09. The target fixed for the then vice-chair-

`216 crore

Interest paid on `500cr loan

`716 crore

Bailout request to State

man of Hyderabad Urban Development Authority (HUDA) was `3,000 crore. Ironically for the HMDA, while mobilisation went haywire, it had to take a drubbing in the form of the `216 crore interest to the bank. The exact amount paid towards interest is `215,92, 08,426.00. The letter said: “to meet the targets fixed by the government towards resource mobilisation and to tide over the contingency, the HMDA (HUDA) has borrowed from the Indian Overseas Bank, Himayathnagar. The HMDA was not able to repay the loan owing to financial crunch due to the drop in the realestate demand.” It also mentioned that the HMDA had to incur heavy amounts on some ongoing projects. “… in view of this, we may request the government for reimbursement of the `716 crore including the interest… the same may be approved by the Government duly considering the Budget of 2012-13.” With depleting income and increasing debts, the HMDA is in dire straits.

his late father into the spat and began drawing comparison between Chiranjeevi and the legendary NTR. While NTR brought the Telugu Desam to power within nine months of floating the party, “‘someone’ sold off his party for thousands of crores of rupees,” he said. Angered by this, leaders of the ‘yet-to-get-disbanded’ Praja Rajyam Party began spitting fire at Balakrishna. Vijayawada legislator V Srinivasa Rao and Praja Rajyam’s leader Gowtham recalled the incident of Balakrishna opening fire at producer Bellamkonda Suresh and another family acquaintance Satyanarayana Chowdary. NTR’s widow Lakshmi Parvathi suddenly surfaced from nowhere and said Balakrishna’s IQ levels were too low. She went on to say, but for the timely intervention of the then chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy, NTR’s son would have been behind bars by now in the firing case.

Balakrishna’s utterances that he would show his ‘other side’ evoked so much of reproach that the firing case is now being discussed in public. Chiranjeevi, on his side, went hammer and tongs against Chandrababu Naidu too, rubbing the entire TDP ranks on the wrong side. While he questioned Naidu’s locus standi on talking about the welfare of backward classes, one section of the TDP is busy painting the Chiranjeevi group as a ‘total sell-out’ to the Congress. As things stand, neither the Congress, nor the serious political brass of the TDP seem to evince any interest in getting entangled in the task of scraping the grease paint from the faces of the two non-leaders. While some TDP leaders are using their lung power to throw weight behind Balakrishna, the Congress is maintaining a strategic silence over the issue, leaving Chiranjeevi to his fate.

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012

Parents battle traffic near schools Traffic woes torture teachers and the taught alike in the City, reports Sudeshna Koka

TRAFFIC

T TNSF leaders held

eaders of Telugu Nadu Students Federation (TNSF) were arrested by the police, for laying siege to the house of Social Welfare minister Pitani Satyanarayana, against the government’s proposal to limit fee reimbursement only to government colleges. The student leaders demanded that fee reimbursement be offered to every eligible student. They raised slogans against the government.

raffic poses a severe problem in front of schools. Autorickshaws, cars, school buses, motorcycles, and vans come from all directions to descend on the schools, choking the roads. Every morning and evening, the traffic congestion at schools appears as if it would explode any moment. This scene is common at most places in the City. Abids, Chapel Road, Secunderabad, Bowenpally, Mehdipatnam, Narayanaguda, Marredpally; name the area, the problem persists. It is perennial. However, there is no solution in sight for this. At some large schools, the traffic police are deploying volunteers to regulate the traffic on their own. However, there is no way this problem can be addressed as almost every child is dropped and picked up by private transport, if not a school bus. If both parents of a child are employed, their travails stretch beyond the usual. Their daily drudgery is horrifying indeed. Exhaustion sets in for those who do all kinds of feats to wriggle out of the traffic while dropping their kids at school and then fetching their wards back home. “When I drop my daughter at St Francis High School, I invariably pass through chaotic traffic. The whole problem starts from East Marredpally and it lasts up to Secunderabad station. Often, we keep 10–15 minutes as buffer time due to this problem,” says Sridhar K, a parent. It is a Herculean task to commute

during school time, as most of them don’t have enough parking or manoeuvring space. Hordes of vehicles of different genres swarm the school entrance gates clogging the roads, causing inconvenience to regular commuters of the roads. “Due to the heavy traffic during the school hours, both while opening and closing, we do confront several problems. Apart from traffic blockage, students also face difficulty in crossing the road to reach City bus stops. If the roads are wide

THE FACES OF HYDERABAD Surya Prakash Jain, Photographer, Basheerbagh

or Surya Prakash Jain, photography runs in his blood. His grandfather Parasumal Jain was a photographer for the Britishers and owned a photo studio called Victory Lab. The studio was passed on to Surya Prakash. Way back in 1920, Parasmul was a photographer for the Britishers and he set up Victory Lab. Earlier, the studio was located at Tirumelgherry under the British rule and for the last 30 years it has been at Liberty. The photo studio has been running successfully ever since.

U Srinivas A city is defined by the people who live and work in it. Here we take a look at the human threads that make up our urban tapestry

But now Prakash says the future of photography and photo printing business seems bleak. The latest technology and inkjet printing is eating into the photo studio business, according to Surya Prakash. The printing business is down by 60 per cent. These days youngsters prefer downloading pictures and print them on inkjet printers. So where is the business for a printing lab? he questions. These days kids can handle photography, digital technology and printing at home. Youngsters and technology is the future of photography, but the business of printing labs will go down, he predicted.

enough, these problems would not crop up. Office staff, security guards and other employees go on to the road to help manage traffic,” says Vani, who works in the administration wing of Sunflower School. Not all schools in the vicinity of a particular locality in the City work at the same timings. They have different schedules only with a view to avoid this problem. “We give a 15minute gap between the timing of commencement and closing,” said Malika, academic co-ordinator, PIC: N SHIVA KUMAR

Pallavi Model School. “It’s a terror. I dread travelling in the by-lanes when schools end. Himayatnagar is a mess during these hours. There are more than six schools in the area. It’s a test of patience even to walk on these roads,” says Kulpreeth Singh, a resident. “Everybody is in a hurry and pay no heed to security guards. So we send traffic police to help. There is discipline only when we are around,” says Venketeshwarulu J, assistant sub-inspector, Marredpally.

‘Regularise contract employees’ services’

DP chief N Chandrababu Naidu has demanded that the State government immediately regularise the services of all contract employees working in the Electricity department. A delegation of Telugu Nadu Electricity Employees’ Union today met Naidu at the TDP headquarters. Addressing the TNEEU leaders, Naidu said that it was wrong on the part of the government to refuse to regularise contract operators working for the past 15 years on pretext that they do not possess the requisite qualifications. He also demanded that the State government pay to electricity employees medical allowances on par with government employees. He also said that as per GO No 11, the government should enhance the wages of contract labour. He alleged that the government was weakening the Electricity department by denying it sufficient funds.

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012

Campaigns, hard news and spirit of Twin Cities

Railways derail bridge, cost doubles

PM to launch metro works Postnoon News feedback@postnoon.com

rime Minister Manmohan Singh will visit Hyderabad on February 4 to lay the foundationstone for the `14,132-crore Hyderabad Metro Rail project. Apart from this, he is also scheduled to launch the Rajiv Yuva Kiranalu, the pet project of Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy. Arrangements are being made for the PM’s visit. The CM, along with some of his Cabinet colleagues and senior bureaucrats, visited the Gachibowli stadium and reviewed the possibility of conducting the programme there. He also wanted the HMR foundation stone programme to be conducted at Hitec City. This place too, was inspected. The PM would be handing the appointment letters to some youths who have been placed in private jobs as part of the Rajiv Yuva Kiranalu programme, said minister Danam Nagender.

Will TRS get a saffron band? Postnoon News

PIC: N SHIVA KUMAR

feedback@postnoon.com

U Srinivas Srinivas.u@postnoon.com

he construction of the road over-bridge (ROB) across the railway line bisecting the main arterial road from KPHB to Hitec City at Kukatpally is getting delayed from time to time. While the Railways and the State government are shifting the blame on each other, the project remains incomplete even after five years of commencement. The project was taken up by the Hyderabad Metropolitan

CIVIC Development Authority (HMDA) in April 2007 and it was to be completed in 15 months. But the work is still going on and might continue till the end of 2012. As part of the ‘100 days programme’ review, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy pulled up the officials over the delay. He wanted a report on the delay; even though the latest technology was being used. The construction of an ROB near the MMTS railway station at

Kukatpally was taken up at a cost of `24.38 crore. The officials blamed the Railways for frequent design changes. The project cost was revised based on the composite girder system made by the Railways for `47.79 crore. The administrative sanction for the same was given by the Government in May 2011. Later, the Railways changed the drawings of the sub-structure and superstructure and the approval for the same was given in January 2012. Now they have decided to discard the skew structure and want a composite structure. The foun-

dations for the structure are underway. There will surely be an upward revision of cost once again. The detailed cost, along with new designs and drawings will have to be sent to the South Central Railway for approval. An official said that the time taken for approvals and changing the designs from time to time caused the delay. Government officials told the chief minister that 90 per cent of the work related to the State Government was complete, while that of the Railways would have to be taken up.

ith the Congress unwilling to accept the idea of a separate state, KCR has finally put up the idea of going with the BJP first in the forthcoming bypolls and then in the 2014 general elections. Senior TRS leader Nayani Narsimha Reddy, who is a close confidant of KCR, said as of now nothing has been decided and they would discuss it. Ideally, he said, all like-minded parties that are for a separate Telangana should have a broad understanding during the polls. But it is not true with YSRC, which is saying it’s not against Telangana.

Prizes

they were sure they would see but did not. The last date for receiving the entries is 6pm on February 5. You can give your names and contact details including those of your team members to Asif Husain Arastu — 9908611496/ asifjoy @yahoo.com or Mr Shafaatullah — 9849229552/ shafaat_ulla @yahoo.co.in.

Race to spot winged beauties Anubha K Singh anubha.k@postnoon.com

as one spotted the elusive pelicans or the floricans and the Northern Pintail in the City? The answer of many will be a “no”. Then just pack your backpack and participate in the dawn-to-dusk Hyderabad Bird Race. This year, BSAP and Great Hyderabad Adventure Club are jointly organising the race under HSBC programme on February 12.

Open to all The race will be flagged off from the Hyderabad Public School, Begumpet at 6am and is open to all, irrespective of their age. There is no entry fee. Each team

ENVIRONMENT comprising four or five persons, will be named after a bird found in the region and will be led by an experienced bird enthusiast. They have to spend the entire day searching for as many species of birds as possible. Team members are supposed to use their own vehicles for transportation. If a participant doesn’t have a car he/she can be accommodated in another participant’s car. Each car will have a captain who will be familiar with the geography of Hyderabad and its environs and enough knowledge to identify different birds. People who are not familiar

with bird watching and yet want to be a part of this race may also participate. The cars will be flagged off at sunrise and have to report back at sunset. Each team will be given a logbook containing a list of birds found in their region, along with names of places and possible locations that they can be spotted in. One needs to record every bird they have spotted and where it has been spotted. These logbooks will be given to the judges in the evening for their scrutiny. One can choose any location, as long as it is in the radius of about 50–60km. The criterion is that you try and record as many bird species as possible to win the race.

If a winning team comprises of more than four members, the number of prizes given will still be limited to four. Bird of the Day: Each team can select one bird from their list of sightings, which they feel is the highlight. Dip of the Day: Each team should mention one bird, which

Spotlight

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012

PICS:SRINIVAS SETTY

MARYAM, MS SATHYU

ALEKHYA

SAMEERA KHAN, RASHMI SETH

AK KHAN, MOHAMMED ALI BAIG

LAKSHMI DEVI RAJ

A GRAND CELEBRATION MADHU SWAMYNATHAN

Well-known theatre artist and activist Mohammed Ali Baig celebrated his birthday in the presence of some of the more popular faces of Hyderabad.

A date for every thought The 2012 Kalamudra Calendar by Kalamandir was launched by Badminton player Jwala Gutta along with Kalamandirâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s CEO Kalyan at PVR at City Central.

BEGUM RAZIA BAIG

JAYANTI

Lucky winner Actress Kamna Jethmalani announces a winner from the special draw, which was conducted for the customers of us2ap.com on the eve of their 10th anniversary.

India‑View

Jail terms for six in Sachin abduction plot NEW DELHI: Six Harkat-ul Jihad-al-Islami terrorists, including three from Pakistan, who plotted to abduct cricketers Sachin Tendulkar and Saurav Ganguly in 2002 were on Monday sentenced to eight-year jail terms by the Delhi High Court. A trial court had earlier awarded them life terms. A division bench of Justice S Ravindra Bhat and Justice SP Garg modified the order on sentence and reduced the convicts’ life term to eight years on the ground of parity with three other convicts. The lower court had held all the six men guilty under various anti-terror and penal provisions. The convicts from Pakistan are Tariq Mohammed, Arshad Khan and Ashfaq Ahmed. The three Indians are Mufti Israr, Ghulam Qadir Bhatt and Ghulam Mohd Dar. Bhatt on Monday sought acquittal in the case in the high court. To this the court asked him to file an affidavit on Tuesday as to whether he accepted the reduced sentence or he wanted to argue for an outright acquittal. The court said that the period for which Dar remained out on

India assumes charge of Saarc business chamber NEW

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012

India unveiled

DELHI:

India on Monday assumed presidency of the business chamber of the eightmember South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) after a gap of 12 years and said it would liberalise business visa norms to boost cross-border trade and investment in the region. Vikramjit Singh Sahney, corporate president of Sun Group, took over the presidency of the Saarc Chamber of Commerce and Industry from Bangladesh’s Annisul Haq for a period of two years. After taking over , Sahney said the chamber would press on member countries to liberalise business visas, trade and investment norms. “Cost of trading at the borders in the region is one of the highest in the world. We should work together to reduce it,” he said. IANS

bail would be declared as part of the “undergone” jail term. Dar has spent more than six years in jail. The HuJI terrorists contended that the court earlier reduced the jail term of three of their associates, who pleaded guilty earlier, to eight years. On January 15, 2011, the lower court awarded life imprisonment to all the six HuJI terrorists under the stringent Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) saying the punishment “must send a clear message that India is not nor will it become a safe haven for terrorists”. Apart from plotting to abduct the two cricketers, the accused also planned to attack Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in Mumbai and assassinate then president APJ Abdul Kalam in 2002. The convicts faced trial for offences of collecting arms with the intention of waging war against the nation and conspiring to commit offences against the state. Besides the POTA, the accused were charged under the Arms Act. IANS

READY... AIM...

A schoolgirl handles a 7.62mm Dragunov sniper rifle during an Army Mela and Exhibition at Khasa. The Army Mela, organised by the Flaming Arrows Brigade, displayed weapons and military AFP equipment to civilian visitors.

Jaya sues daily, bi-weekly for defamation CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Tuesday filed separate complaints in the Principal Sessions court in Chennai against a Tamil biweekly and a leading English national daily accusing them of publishing ‘derogatory and defamatory’ comments against her about her eating habits. The complaint which has been filed on behalf of the chief minister by the city public prosecutor against the editor, joint editor and a reporter of Nakkheeran and a reporter and the editor-in-chief of The Hindu, seeks to punish them under IPC sections 500 (punishment for defamation) and 501 (printing or engraving matter known to be defamatory). PTI

Malayalam writer Azhikode passes away THRISSUR: Malayalam writer and orator Sukumar Azhikode passed away at a private hospital here on Tuesday morning, family sources said. He was 85. The end came at 6.33am. After being detected with bone cancer, Azhikode was admitted to hospital on December 7, last year and his condition had deteriorated in the past few days. Family sources said his body would be taken to his home here and would be kept for an hour and then moved to the Sahitya Academy hall till 4 pm.

The body will then be taken to his home town in Azhikode in Kannur district and the funeral will take place on Wednesday afternoon at the Payamabalam beach. Azhikode was a bachelor and he retired as pro-vice

chancellor of Calicut University in 1986. A multi-faceted personality, Azhikode won 12 awards, including the Sahitya Akademi Award. In January 2007, he refused to accept the Padma Shri conferred on him stating that such honours are against the Constitution. “The Constitution says everyone should be treated as equal. Giving such honours, the State discriminates between people. I see the Padma Shri conferred on me as an opportunity to expose this discrimination.” AFP

Centre baffled by Mumbai police 13/7 arrest claims

Anna has no right to lecture political class: Congress

NEWDELHI/MUMBAI:

Monday took strong exception to the tone and tenor of letters written by Anna Hazare to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and some other political leaders, saying “no self-appointed preachers and guardians of political morals” have a right to lecture the entire political class. Answering queries about Team Anna writing letters to the PM, Rahul Gandhi and presidents of BJP, Samajwadi Party and the , BSP, the Congress spokesman said it was for individual leaders to answer the letters. IANS

Hours after the Mumbai police claimed to have arrested two key suspects in the July 13, 2011 serial blasts that killed 27 people, the Union home ministry on Monday expressed dismay over the claims, noting that one of the two held was an informer for the Delhi Police and the Intelligence Bureau. The Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) of Mumbai police has also sought the custody of another suspect, held in a separate fake currency case, for the Mumbai terror attack probe. “Naqi Ahmed Vasi Ahmed Sheikh, 22, and Nadeem Akhtar Ashfaque Sheikh, 23, have been arrested from different areas of south-central Mumbai in connection with the case,” ATS chief Rakesh Maria told reporters in Mumbai. In New Delhi, home min-

Mumbai ATS chief Rakesh Maria holds photographs of the alleged 13/7 Mumbai attacks mastermind. AFP

istry officials, unwilling to be named, countered the ATS claim, clearly demonstrating that there had been no coordination among security agencies probing terror cases. “We are baffled at the arrest of the 22-year-old Naqi Ahmed Vasi Ahmed Sheikh, who has in fact been helping Delhi Police special cell and the Intelligence Bureau. He was the person who provided crucial leads to Waqas and Tabrez, the two bombers in the 13/7 blast,” the officials said. “Naqi Ahmed was in Mumbai to help track down the two bombers. It was a highly secret operation monitored by the nation’s security top brass from the Capital,” they added. Claiming to have cracked the serial blasts in Mumbai in July last year, Maria said the third suspect was already behind bars in Mumbai. IANS

NEW DELHI: The Congress on

Around the World

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012

Beyond Borders

EU targets ‘threats’ of Iran’s nuclear programme BRUSSELS: The E Union’s move to slap an embargo on Iranian oil, along with new US measures in response to Tehran’s suspect nuclear drive, appeared to have an immediate effect and brought swift condemnation from Tehran. The oil ban announced on Monday, along with sanctions against Iran’s central bank and other measures, came as western powers rounded on Tehran to return to negotiations amid concerns it is inching ever closer to building a nuclear bomb. Iran denies that its nuclear programme is for military purposes and furiously denounced the unprecedented European Union measures as the United States further tightened the noose, announcing sanctions against Iran’s state-owned Bank Tejarat, one of the few still accessing the

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton at a press conference in Brussels. AFP international financial system. US President Barack Obama lauded the EU move to choke Tehran’s oil exports, amid evidence that sanctions are beginning to bite.

“I applaud today’s actions by our partners in the European Union,” Obama said. “These sanctions demonstrate once more the unity of the international community

when it comes to the issue of addressing the serious threat presented by Iran’s nuclear programme. “We will continue to increase the pressure unless Iran acts to change course and comply with its international obligations.” The Iranian currency, the rial, tumbled to a record low against the dollar on Monday, after several months of steady declines. According to one of the senior Treasury officials, the Iranian currency has lost more than 70 percent of its value against the dollar since autumn. Oil prices were also up modestly on Monday after the EU announced its embargo on Iran’s crude exports with Brent North Sea crude for March climbing 72 cents to $110.58 a barrel in London. AFP

Senators support ban Gingrich is an ‘Influence peddler’: Romney on genocide denial PARIS: French senators have

Turk television that it was “a passed a bill outlawing the great injustice and shows a total denial of Armenian genocide in lack of respect for Turkey.” 1915, with a seething Turkey “We strongly condemn this slamming the move and warn- decision which is... an example ing of consequences wile of irresponsibility,” the Turkish Armenia hailed a day “written foreign ministry said in a writin gold.” ten statement, adding that the The French Senate on government would not hesitate Monday approved, by 127 votes to swiftly implement retaliatory to 86, the measure which measures. threatens with jail anyone in “Politicising the underFrance who denies that the standing of justice and history 1915 massacre of Armenians by through other people’s past and Ottoman Turk forces amounted damaging freedom of to genocide. expression in a tactless manner French President Nicolas are first and foremost a loss for Sarkozy, whose right-wing UMP France,” it added. party put forward the bill, must Armenia meanwhile praised now sign the bill for it to the vote, with Foreign Minister become law. Edward Nalbandian saying: Turkey furiously denounced “This day will be written in gold the move, with Justice Minister not only in the history of friendSadullah Ergin telling CNN- ship between the Armenian and French peoples, but also in the annals of the history of the protection of human rights worldwide.” The vote “will further consolidate the existing mechanisms of prevention of crimes against humanity”, the statement said. France has already recognised the killings as a genocide, but the new bill would go further, by punishing anyone who denies this with a year in jail France’s UMP senator Serge and a fine of 45,000 euros Dassault attends the French Senate vote session. AFP ($57,000).

GLOBE AT A GLANCE Venezuelan prez has just one year to live MADRID: Cancer-stricken Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has between nine and 12 months to live, his doctors said. Doctors have prescribed him a high dose of pain-killers, which account for his recent flurry of political activity. According to reports, Chavez has told doctors he will no longer subject himself to more aggressive treatments that would take him away from his public duties.

Nigeria violence toll rises to 185 ABUJA: The toll in the killings in Nigeria has risen to 185, police said in a statement. A statement issued by police in Kano state on Monday night said the dead included 150 civilians, 29 police officers, three secret police officers, two immigration officers and one customs officer, Xinhua reported.

Commuters walk slowly on an icy road in Tokyo as it received 4cm of snow with traffic being partially paralysed AFP

Pakistan to reopen its foreign FIA offices ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is likely to

Rick Santorum, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul take the stage for the Republican Presidential debate. AFP TAMPA: Mitt Romney painted rival Newt Gingrich as a Washington “influence peddler” who was unfit to lead the nation Monday at the start of a bitter Republican presidential debate. Romney, once considered the presumptive nominee, opened the debate in the Florida primary swinging at Gingrich’s record, as he tried to regather a poll lead in the Sunshine State that had appeared unassailable just a week ago. “I think this is going to come down to a question of leadership,” said Romney, castigating Gingrich’s stints in Washington as a lawmaker and as a lobbyist and throwing them up as evidence the former speaker of the House of Representatives is unfit to lead. “In the 15 years after he left the speakership, the

speaker has been working as an influence peddler in Washington.” Two new polls showed Gingrich overtaking the former Massachusetts governor in Florida, which votes next on January 31 and could either confirm Gingrich’s surge or reinstate Romney as the frontrunner. Gingrich tried to rise above the particularly personal attacks, claiming that Romney had said “at least four things that are false.” “I don’t want to waste any time on it,” he said, “It is the worst kind of trivial politics.” “Governor Romney can’t tell the truth,” he said, echoing criticism from Democrats about his opponent’s consistency on key issues. Romney has struggled to win over the Republicans base points. AFP

reopen its Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) liaison offices, closed down about a decade ago, in 11 countries in a bid to curb human trafficking and deal with immigration issues, the Dawn reported. According to an official, the FIA has submitted a proposal to the interior ministry in this regard.

Russian polls favoured ruling party: Observors MOSCOW: Russia’s parliamentary elections held in December were “slanted in favour of United Russia, says a report by election observers from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). The report, said that despite the fact that the polls were well-administered, they were “marked by a convergence of the state and the governing party.”

A pro-life activist stands in front of pro-choice activists at a vigil outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, DC. AFP

16,913.52 162.93

5,098.25 52.00

10g= `27,800

1kg= `56,000

`50.05

BSE

NSE

GOLD

SILVER

DOLLAR

Business

Matters of saving and spending

`77.79

POUND TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012 11

Anti-VAT ire bonds textile traders PICS: N SHIVA KUMAR

Prudhvi Raju K prudhvi@postnoon.com

HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh is the only state in India collecting VAT on textiles. It is jeopardising two lakh textile wholesale traders who provide direct employment to more than 20 lakh people. Almost one crore people depend on the textile industry in the state today. This is also affecting 10 lakh retailers with the outlets and 20 lakh small retailers who are doing business from home, said HP Davda, vice-president, Secunderabad cloth merchants association. The State textile dealers under the aegis of The Andhra Pradesh Federation of Textile Associations

No rate cut for now

Textile merchants attending a meeting at Indira Park in the City on Monday (inset) HP Davda, vice-president, Secunderabad cloth merchants association have been protesting against the five per cent levy of value-added tax (VAT). Traders from different states are coming to the Capital to make the bandh successful. The four lakh Andhra Pradesh retailors have closed their shops in support of it. Consumers in Andhra Pradesh have to pay Rs110 for a Rs100 product by the addition of VAT at

various levels. The consumers who are living in border areas and people who are making bulk purchase are going to other states to buy clothes, he said. The wholesale traders are purchasing products from various states and levying five per cent tax to sell it to retailers. The small retailers may skip the traders to buy these products directly from the manufacturers in

ULIPs are not a failure:ZM PIC: N SHIVA KUMAR

Postnoon News

LIC is the most trusted brand

Postnoon News

HYDERABAD:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Governor D Subbarao on Tuesday said as a result of the reduction in the CRR, around Rs. 32,000 crore of primary liquidity will be injected into the banking system. Based on the current inflation trajectory, including consideration of suppressed inflation, it is premature to begin reducing the policy rate. The reduction in the policy rate will be conditioned by signs of sustainable moderation in inflation. However, the persistence of tight liquidity conditions could disrupt credit flow and further exacerbate growth risks. In this context, the CRR is the most effective instrument for permanent liquidity injections over a sustained period of time. The reduction can also be viewed as a reinforcement of the guidance that future rate actions will be towards lowering them. The next mid-quarter review of Monetary Policy for 2011-12 will be on March 15, 2012 .

other states to avoid taxes. This will wipe out the whole business of textile traders. This tax is breeding corruption. Many traders do business with a margin of 2-3 per cent. They are trying to escape five per cent of VAT and forced to take other options when they are caught by department. Some commercial tax department employees are already

exploiting the situation at all the entry points into the State. This VAT will not bring in any revenues to the government but helps to fill the pockets of corrupt employees, said Davda. There will be no increase in revenues to the government by collection of VAT. It is necessary to note, when NT Rama Rao has decreased VAT on a product from 5 per cent to two per cent, the VAT collection has gone up to the government. Businesses started paying two per cent taxes directly rather paying money illegally to escape it, he explained. Textile is the second highest employment generator after agriculture. This is a socially sensitive industry that employs unskilled, economically backward and illiterate workers. If the government does not respond to the situation by this month end, textile traders close their business and hand over the keys to respective collectorate offices. Such a scenario will create unemployment and one core socially backward people will be deprived of their livelihood, said Srinivas, Member of Joint action committee. He said there is still a hope that the State government would understand the situation and abolish the tax to save the industry like in other states.

The key strength of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) is the trust that people repose in it. LIC is constantly updating itself according to the needs of customers to withstand the competition. The market share had gone down to 64 per cent due to the rigorous competition with private players before two years. The LIC has regained its customer base, holds 73.3 per cent market share as far as the premium is concerned and almost 80 per cent market share in number of policies, said A K Sahoo, zonal manager, South central zone, LIC India. Talking about Unit-linked polices (ULIPs), He said the ULIPs are not exactly a failure. The terms and conditions of the unit linked policies were changed by Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) for transparency and betterment of the system.

ife Insurance Corporation (LIC), the country’s biggest insurer, has emerged as the country’s most trusted brand in the Banking, Financial Service and Insurance (BFSI) sector, as per the research conducted by the Brand Trust Report, India study, 2012. LIC was ranked 8th among 17000 brands studied in the brand and the BFSI category had 70 brands listed. LIC leads the State Bank of India (SBI) ranked 2nd in the BFSI sector by 56 per cent on the Brand Trust Index, Trust Research Advisory’s unique metric for measuring Brand Trust. The minimum lock-in period was changed to five years from three years. The customers used to buy the unit linked policies to encash and sell the units after three years. The companies are launching new products according to the new policy conditions. LIC has applied for the IRDA approval and would soon launch ULIPs. LIC is concentrating in areas of health insurance, children insurance and pension poli-

cies. There is a challenge to attract the 27 per cent customer base, which is with the competitors. It wants to be with every household and be present in range of segments. There is negative growth in the industry due to slowdown in the economy. The ULIPs were contributing in a big way to industry. LIC is striving hard to replace the loss of ULIPs with the sale of conventional policies, said

Sahoo. LIC has launched Jeevan Ankur to ensure financial security to children in the event of expiry of the parent (insurance payee). The plan covers the risk on the life of the parent and the named child shall be the nominee under the plan. The LIC is expecting to get 10 per cent of its total sales from the policy. It wants to sell 6-7lakh policies by March 31, 2012.

Comment

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012

Fair, free and forthright

Editorials THE CURIOUS CASE of dead accused

ne of the key accused in the `9,000 crore NRHM scam has committed suicide at his residence. He shot himself with his revolver, according to the police. Interestingly, this is the fourth major conspirator ‘dying’. With two CMOs and a DCMO being murdered in the jail, it is very difficult to believe this one ended his life out of depression. Sadiq Batcha, a key accused in the 2G scam, too ‘committed suicide’ a couple of days after he told a friend that he wanted to turn approver. With all the due respect to God working in his mysterious ways, the coincidences are too good to be true. One fundamental flaw with our investigating agencies is that they rarely keep a close watch on the accused and witnesses when its not the thick of action. The sleuths need to buck up before losing more key people to machinations of fate.

Regain walking space, Surat shows the way Hard talk PK Surendran

ahul Gandhi became the latest to be accorded the honour of being thrown at with a shoe. He joins a long list of VIPs: former US president George W Bush, Chinese PM Wen Jiabo, home minister P Chidambaram, Omar Abdullah and Arvind Kejriwal. Rahul’s attacker was protesting against the reopening of court cases against Baba Ramdev. Rahul was unruffled — he responded, “Phenko, phenko, ek aur phenko.” He also told the cops not to beat his attacker. There may be many takes on Rahul as a leader, but there’s no doubt that he’s a sport.

enrick Thomme, the Swedish entrepreneur who visited Hyderabad two weeks ago had, in a chat with Postnoon said, he wondered at the insensitivity of the motorists who care not for the pedestrians. When he was told it is not entirely the fault of the motorists but the indifference of the city authorities, he asked with a visitor’s innocence: then why are you not holding the authorities responsible? How do I tell the good Swede that the people of Hyderabad hold the world trophy for passivity? Motorists’ disrespect for walkers is only symptomatic of a larger malaise, a collective psyche that believes the 30 percent of the motor owning populace hold the right of 100 percent roads. If anybody challenges it as calumny let them take a walk of the pride of Hyderabad —Jubilee Hills. Not one of the wide and relatively clean roads has a footpath. Not quite, perhaps. There are footpaths earmarked, but have all been annexed by the house owners who use their portion of the footpath in a variety of ways: garden, security cabin, lawns, and even as kennel. The art is so perfected that one of the appropriated footpath has a swing and garden chairs for their kids! More than 3000 avenues/ areas/ cities in the world today are declared carfree areas so that people could walk and shop freely. It also brings down heat and carbon footprint which are eventually going to kill this blue planet. September 22 is treated as the world carfree day though each city, area or avenue is free to observe a car day any day. A few years ago some conscious citizens, stricken by the abject rejection of a fundamental right of walking, formed a Right 2 Walk forum and it does whatever little it can but the situation remains as bad as before. Petitions had been filed before court, appeals submitted to the government and demonstrations held but all of no avail. A Sure way While the collective will is notoriously

Smart farmers

Overloaded buses

The story on the farmers' plight was well-covered. This is a fact that is really true. Often when I go to the vegetable market I get rotten and substandard vegetables and often the vegetable sellers are rude and behave in an uncouth manner. While at the roadside there, the people are very wellbehaved. The produce that is being sold is also fresh and is available at decent prices. But one thing that remains to be seen is that whether these people will be chased off the highway for setting up their make-shift shops there illegally. Manish Kumar Punjagutta

The 'Buses loaded beyond limit' highlights some very important issues. Every morning when I hire an auto to go to office, I see people struggling to find space in the buses, But it is even sadder to see school children who have to catch a bus to get to school on time. I wonder why with APSRTC doesn't increase the frequency of the buses to avoid this scenario. They have money and finances, but choose to keep it with them. Aditya Pillai Begumpet

WHY WE LOVE Rahul Gandhi

lazy, the only way to do it is to bulldoze the encroachment without much ado. For this we don’t have to go to Calgary or Honolulu, world’s first and second cleanest cities. We have our own Surat City in Gujarat and its architect IAS officer SR Rao. When bubonic plague hit the dilapidated, rodent-ridden city in 1994, the Congress Government sent SR Rao with a blank cheque — pull down all encroachments, execute the rule of law and municipal Acts. Rao spent sleepless days, feared for his life but he did what amazed many foreign urban planners—He bulldozed mercilessly all the encroachments of public roads and property. Judiciary was taken into confidence and the work began. In two years Rao made Surat India’s second cleanest city!

TALK BACK 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

How did he do that? Therein rests the answer. First he made the list of the rich encroachers of public roads, footpaths and properties. He hit the most powerful first, a gun-toting MLA. Then he targeted one each of a temple, a church and a mosque. Everybody was stunned but after this it was a cakewalk because he had little trouble convincing the small traders and encroachers. Surat regained its footpaths, trees, playgrounds, and its poise. Of course, behind Rao was a government that said, go ahead. And once the work progressed masses came forward to help municipality to pull down encroachments. Do we have the will? Moral of the story: When patient is suffering from small pox you can’t treat for pimples.

Censor Board hypocrisy Gangster’s tale This letter comes to you in regards to your Bollywood story about Kiss and Tell. What I fail to understand is that why an action of love is to be the subject of a story? Personally I didn't think that it made much of a Bollywood story, not much that you can dedicate a whole page to it. What I would like to know is why is the censor board such a hypocrite when it comes to censoring scenes. It would have been a good read as to why we are forcing ourselves to walk on a path that a majority of the Indians are still so uncomfortable to tread upon. Maria Shinchala Secunderabad

Gora Khan’s story is amusing. I begin to wonder what made him become a gangster if he is scared of coming out of prison now. I am sure he knew what he was bringing on himself by choosing the path of crime. The court must under no circumstances decide to keep him in jail for his protection. A man who knew what he was doing must reap the consequences of his action. That will serve as a lesson to all those who choose crime for a career. Azam Khan Nampally

H‑Factor

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012

Holistic view of mind, body and soul

Cost of an implant `30,000 to `40,000 Cost of the surgery `1 lakh to `1.5 lakh

Size matters Ranjani Rajendra ranjani.r@postnoon.com

hat is common between Katie Price, Pamela Anderson, Sushmita Sen, Rakhi Sawant and Minissha Lamba? All of these women have had their assets augmented, flaunted them and then at some point had their implants removed. Hour glass figures with full breasts to boast is every woman’s dream. And in a world that is obsessed with physical perfection opting for breast implants is not as unthinkable as it was earlier. In fact, City cosmetic surgeons are kept on their toes with nearly 10 breast implant procedures scheduled for each of them every month. “It is usually women who’ve just had babies who come to us for breast augmentation. We don’t encourage breast implants in women below the age of 17 as their bodies haven’t developed completely yet. Nor do we encourage them in women after their mid-40s since by then the breasts may begin to sag,” says Dr Sudhakar Prasad, plastic surgeon at Apollo Hospital. So while breast implants are a popular choice with

urban women, the recent incident where a French manufacturer’s implants exploded have created quite a flutter amongst women with implants worldwide. According to reports, in this particular incident the implants were made with substandard silicone usually used to make mattresses. While authorities have dismissed fears of cancer from the implants, they did state that these devices could be prone to rupture and could cause complications in the women using them. Ever since the news broke, more than 500 French women had their implants removed. But since this particular brand of implants are not widely used in India, the complications and scare here were not as bad. Yet, doctors do from time to time get queries regarding the safety of silicone implants. “Breast implants don’t really explode. They at the most rupture and the material may leak. But all said and done it is not safe,” says Dr N Hemantha Kumar, consultant cosmetic surgeon at KIMS Hospital, adding, “In India we use good brands and the risk of such accidents is negligible.” Dr Sudhakar agrees. “The French brand that had the mishap is not widely used here. Besides, before performing the procedure we educate our patients on what it involves, the risks associated and the care to be taken. But for the most part, breast implants are safe,” he says.

Risks involved Like all surgeries, breast augmentation surgery involves some of its own risks. “Every procedure has its associated risks, but they are not major. Besides, we explain everything to our patients beforehand,” says Dr Sudhakar. Some of the associated risks in a breast augmentation surgery are chances of infection, risk associated to anaes-

thesia (since general anasthesia is used), capsular contraction around the implant which makes the implant harder and globular. Most of the newer implants use silicone gel which feels more natural and is a lot safer than saline implants. Saline implants lose volume over the years and also risk becoming harder.

Who gets them done Breast implants are usually sought by young women in their 20s and early 30s, especially after childbirth, when they lose confidence about their lost shape. “We sometimes get requests from minors whose breasts and body are still developing. In such cases we discourage a breast implant and advise them to wait. In other cases women who even after reaching adulthood remain flat chested opt for this surgery as remaining flat chested can be rather traumatic for them,” says Dr Hemanth.

Electromagnetic waves now for scanning WASHINGTON: A breakthrough in exploiting electromagnetic waves has potentially opened the way for more advanced medical diagnosis. This should allow future terahertz waves (T-rays) systems to be smaller, more portable, easier to operate, and much cheaper than current devices, for medical diagnostics. T-rays are already in use in airport security scanners, prototype medical scanning devices and in spectroscopy systems for materials analysis. They can also sense molecules such as those present in cancerous tumours and living DNA, since every molecule has its unique signature in the THz range, the journal Nature Photonics reports.

Or detect explosives or drugs, for gas pollution monitoring or nondestructive testing of semiconductor integrated circuit chips, according to Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, and Imperial College London. The researchers say their more efficient continuous wave T-rays, the technology behind full body scanners, could be used to make better medical scanning gadgets, similar to the ‘tricorder’ scanner used in Star Trek. Current T-ray imaging devices are very expensive and operate at only a low output power, since creating the waves consumes large amounts of energy and needs to take place at very low temperatures. Materials science researchers have made T-rays into a much stronger directional beam than was previously thought possible, at room-temperature conditions. Research co-author Stefan Maier, a visiting scientist at A*STAR and professor of physics at Imperial College, said: “T-rays promise to revolutionise medical scanning to make it faster and more convenient, potentially relieving patients from the inconvenience of complicated diagnostic procedures and the stress of waiting for accurate results.”

H‑Factor

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012

Holistic view of mind, body and soul

BREATHE EASY

Dr Mohd Samiuddin consultant pulmonologist at Global Hospitals

Stress can cause asthma

Postnoon News

TEARDROP PROTEIN HAS JAWS TO CHEW UP HARMFUL BACTERIA WASHINGTON: Lysozymes, antiseptic proteins in our teardrops, have jaws that latch on and chomp through rows of cell walls of harmful bugs like someone hungrily devouring an ear of corn. “Those jaws chew apart the walls of the bacteria that are trying to get into your eyes and infect them,” said molecular biologist and chemistry professor at University of California Irvine Gregory Weiss, who co-led the project with associate professor of physics and astronomy Philip Collins. The research could prove critical to longterm work aimed at diag-

nosing cancers and other illnesses in their very early stages, the journal Science reports. The researchers decoded the protein’s behaviour by building one of the world’s smallest transistors — 25 times smaller than similar circuitry in laptop computers or smartphones. Individual lysozymes were glued to the live wire and their eating activities were monitored, according to a University of California statement. “Our circuits are molecule-sized microphones,” Collins said. “It’s just like a stethoscope listening to your heart, except we’re listening to a single molecule of protein.”

It took years for the university scientists to assemble the transistor and attach singlemolecule teardrop proteins. The scientists hope the same novel technology can be used to detect cancerous molecules. It could take a decade to figure out but would be well worth it, said Weiss, who lost his father to lung cancer. “If we can detect single molecules associated with cancer, then that means we’d be able to detect it very, very early,” Weiss said. “That would be very exciting because we know that if we treat cancer early, it will be much more successful, patients will be cured much faster, and costs will be much less.” IANS

early 18 to 29 per cent of our population is prey to asthma – a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that can cause shortness of breath and wheezing. While no single cause has been pinpointed for the incidence of asthma, it is thought to be hereditary with a few trigger factors. Although there have been no studies conducted, there is said to be an increase in the incidence of asthma. “Factors like increase in stress, changing lifestyle habits, dietary patterns and increase in pollution can be blamed for the increase in the incidence of asthma,” says Dr Mohd Samiuddin, consultant pulmonologist at Global Hospitals. He adds that factors like viral fevers, upper respiratory allergies, smoke, indoor pollution like kitchen fumes, incense sticks and aerosol sprays can also be responsible for asthma. A common question that arises, says Dr Samiuddin, is whether there is any difference between allergies and asthma. “But the two are interlinked. A person with allergies is at a higher risk of getting asthma,” he says. And while asthma can’t be cured, it can be controlled, he says. “The incidence of attacks can be controlled with medication and by avoiding precipitating factors. There are several tablets, injectibles and inhalers available to control asthma. These should be taken under a doctor’s guidance. These medicines are again available in two types – preventors and relievers.” Breathing exercises and healthy living can help, curb the incidence of asthma, says Dr Samiuddin. “Often people think that inhalers are a last resort. In fact, inhalers are used as first line of treatment. These are safe and can be given for a longer time and have minimal side effects,” he explains. Another crucial factor is when a pregnant woman has asthma. “It is extremely important for a pregnant woman to try and avoid attacks as hormone changes can play a role here. Inhalers are the best preventors here and are safe. If asthma is not controlled during pregnancy then it could lead to an abortion, low birth weight, pre-term delivery or growth retardation,” he says.

Rhythm Nation

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012

I have always been in the news Taniya Talukdar

The death of the matriarch of Blues, Etta James, has left a huge void in the music industry. Soulmate, the country’s most popular Blues band tells us what Etta James meant to them

Indira Atluri Indira.a@postnoon.com

lues are the root, the rest is the fruit, said Willie Dickson, the famous American Blues musician. If there is one form of music that just cannot be faked, it is the Blues. This is the belief of Tipriti Kharbangar and Rudy Williams of Soulmate — India’s first ever revived Blues Band. Postnoon caught up with them to understand how Etta James, the quintessential queen of Blues was their inspiration, and what it means to be part of a once faded genre of music. Tipriti Kharbangar is in a

taniya.t@postnoon.com

A TRIBUTE TO THE QUEEN OF BLUES melancholic state of mind when she tells us, “I saw some of my friends posts on Facebook on the death of Etta James. She is my hero – she always has been, and it hurts to know she is no more.” Tipriti’s journey as a Blues singer started a decade ago when she met Rudy Williams, the singer and songwriter for the band. She recalls, “Rudy gave me some songs to listen to, a few of which were sung by Etta James. Her deep and intense voice was so amazing, and I knew I wanted to become a Blues singer myself.” Cut to 10 years back, there were no takers for this genre of music. Soulmate

put an end to speculations on its survival and it is soon set to enter its 10th year. “We feel honoured to be the ones to keep the genre alive. Interestingly, during our recent performance in Bengaluru, I wanted to sing one of Etta’s songs — I just want to make love to you — perhaps, it was my way of paying tribute to her,” says Tipriti. Rudy’s love for music began at an early age. He says, “My first exposure to music was with The Beatles. In the 80s and the 90s, I played with other bands, and gradually realised that the base for all forms of music stemmed from the Blues. That’s when I decided

iTUNES Top 10

1.Turn Me On (feat. Nicki Minaj) David Guetta & Nicki Minaj 2.Set Fire to the Rain ADELE 3.What Doesn’t Kill You (Stronger) Kelly Clarkson

4.Good Feeling Flo Rida 5.We Found Love (feat. Calvin Harris) Rihanna 6.Sexy and I Know It LMFAO 7.Domino Jessie J 8.At Last Etta James 9.International Love (feat. Chris Brown) Pitbull 10.It Will Rain Bruno Mars

to re-school myself, unlearn all that I learnt, and start from the beginning.” On Etta James, Rudy says pensively, “There was a amazing power in her voice — what she went through in her life was a sort of motivation to all us.” Rudy believes that the band’s love for Blues stems from their personal experiences. He reminisces, “Personally, we had a lot of blues in our lives like Etta did. Which is probably why there is a lot of emotion in what we do. Purists and critics aside, today Soulmate takes pride in inspiring young musicians and promoting Blues in the country. As the saying goes, ‘The show must go on’.

f you are not a part of mainstream Bollywood music, then it only makes sense to make your presence felt through the digital medium and singer Gary Lawyer only knows it too well. Recently in association with artistaloud.com, Gary released his songs digitally. Talking about his decision, Gary says, “Digital is pretty much the way to go now. The world is slowly turing digital and anyone and everyone can access the music.” Quiz Gary as to how he feels on being a pioneer and he is quick to clarify, “I have not been at it as long as people think I have been. It’s just that I have always been in the news but it’s nothing contrived. Whatever I have done, it has always been from the heart and it wasn’t any marketing gimmick for me. It feels nice to be appreciated like that though it is not right to call me a pioneer. But Gary rues that the conditions in India are not conducive for the growth of Western music here and he believes that the country needs to get pro digital. The musician also feels that only by bringing international bands into the country, can the music scenario change and western music be popularised. He feels that competition is good as long as it is healthy since the goal is to promote talent. “I am not being negative for the sake of being negative, I am being factual. Even if I make a video today, I will have only one channel playing it and if I am lucky then they will play it once a day which is criminal and unfair. So these days, a lot of bands are resorting to digital releases,” says Gary expressing his displeasure. Gary signs off by saying, “India can also change if Indian artists get a chance abroad and get recognition which is highly improbable not impossible.”

Bollywood Top 10

Billboard Top 10

1. 21 Adele 2. Give us rest

David Crowder*band 3. El Camino The Black Keys 4. Take Care Drake 5. Fallen Empires Snow Patrol 6. TM:103: Hustlerz Ambition Young Jeezy 7. Talk that talk Rihanna 8. Mylo Xyloto Coldplay 9. Here and Now Nickelback 10. NOW 40 Various Artists

1.Chikni Chameli Agneepath 2.Hosanna Ek Deewana Tha

3.Jhoom Jhoomta hu main Players 4.O Saiyann Agneepath 5.Ek Main aur ekk tu Ek main aur ekk tu 6.Aromale Ek deewana tha 7.Chal karna shuru tu Ek deewana tha 8.Zara dil ko thaam lo Don 2 9.Dil yeh bekaraar kyu hai Players 10.Sharminda Hoon Ek deewana tha

F‑Folio

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012

Because you are what you wear

The power of accessorising still lies undiscovered by most men. No matter what style dilemma you are in, there is always an accessory at hand. Our star of the week is the wristwatch

Watch what you wear Shiba Minai

shiba.m@postnoon.com

MEN ONLY

t is one accessory that has been associated with men for a long time. While women have a lot of statement pieces which can be worn as accessories, for men a wristwatch speaks volumes about who he is. You could be a great decision maker, but putting a finger on the watch that is apt for you can be quite a challenge. Fashion designer Ramzi D'Costa says, “I love watches and I can’t imagine myself without an appropriate watch, ever! Watches with bling are the best. I think the stone-studded watches are classic, they make quite an impression.” He goes onto say, “However it is important that you don’t crossover to femininity and I also think that the bulkier a watch is, the manlier it gets. Also, bulky watches, with metal and stones are the best a man can wear.” Leather watches are the most popular choice with all ages. Fashion designer Aliya Baig tells us why. “Whether it’s for a high-school boy, a businessman or a corporate employee, leather straps can be used by all. Leather straps seem to have a formal yet rugged stylishness that gives it the appeal. The trick to make your

leather watch look cool is to pair sport dials with leather straps, it’s a great combination and can be worn at anytime with any attire,” says Aliya. Stop watches, chronographs, tachometers, calculators, alarms– Yes, you guessed it right, we are talking about sports watches! A must-have for every man, RJ Prakriti tells us more, “I think sport watches are one of the best kinds. Some of the best ones are the stainless steel, leather and rubber straps. The waterproof watches and the 'shine in the dark' are features that are great for sports watch lovers and add that extra element of sportiness to it!” She adds, “Most of the men I know have a sporty streak in them and I think it is a great declaration of their style.” For all those who find a classy option and find it difficult to make a choice between the zillions of styles and designs — lucidity is your answer! On that, socialite Kunal Mathur, a watch aficionado with a collection of over 600 watches says, “The safest and classiest way out, is to wear clear dials (a stud will enhance it) with plain yet shiny leather straps in white or black. Also, one simple straight metallic band strap will give you the aristocratic look.” So dear men, remember watches are an extension of your sex appeal, so go ahead and flaunt your time piece!

Magic Screen

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012

The glamour behind the glitz

CONFESSIONS OF A

Hemanth Kumar

hemanth.k@postnoon.com

ot everyone can be as lucky as Abburi Ravi. How many writers can boast about having Trivikram Srinivas as their guru? Or getting a chance to work with directors like K Raghavendra Rao, VV Vinayak before the release of their first film? “It’s true that I wouldn’t have been in the industry if I hadn’t received support from Trivikram Srinivas and other big directors. They taught me everything I know about writing,” Ravi says. After completing BSc in Biology, he went on to do an MBA in marketing from Nagarjuna University. The year was 1996 and soon he started freelancing as a copywriter for several ad campaigns including Janmabhoomi, TDP’s election campaign, Lok Satta and Dr Reddy’s among other things. “My only qualification was that I was adept in Telugu,” he says with a smile. Soon he got bored of what he was doing and one fine day, his childhood friend Trivikram Srinivas asked him to join his team as an assistant director. “Trivikram was making Nuvve Nuvve back then and he convinced me to hang around on the sets to learn about filmmaking. I used to love watching films, but I had no idea about how the film industry worked. Since I was a copywriter, I narrated a few concepts to Trivikram and he was the first one to tell me that I have a knack for writing dialogues,” Ravi confesses. He’s extremely touchy while talking about Trivikram Srinivas. “I

WRITER

hate it when people compare me to him. It’s difficult to reach the standard he has set in writing,” he claims. After working on Nuvve Nuvve, he decided to stick to writing and within a short period of time, he ended up working with K Raghavendra Rao and VV Vinayak before getting a call from Dil Raju for Bommarillu. That was his turning point as a writer. In the last few years, he has worked in films like Annavaram, Don, Bhale Dongalu, Classmates, Koncham Ishtam Koncham Kashtam, Kick, Mr.Perfect and Panjaa to name a few. He made such a good name for himself

in a short time that when Shankar was planning to remake 3 Idiots in Telugu, he chose Ravi as the dialogue writer. “That

came as a big surprise and it was one of the toughest jobs I had ever taken up. 3 Idiots was a fantastic film and when a maverick director like Shankar is directing the remake, I had to raise my standards as well,” Ravi says. He reveals that he saw all the 109 scenes in the original film 109 times and completed writing the dialogues within a month, much to the surprise of Shankar. “Finally, when I narrated the scenes to Shankar, he applauded and told me that he would write the dialogues for the Tamil version based on what I had written. It’s a huge compliment for me,” he gushes. Currently, Ravi is working on Ram Charan Tej’s upcoming film Yevadu. Ask him about what he prefers not to include in his writing and he replies, “I don’t like indulging in nonsense or write dialogues which may convey a wrong meaning. Vulgarity in dialogues is a big no-no for me.” So what’s the secret of being a successful writer? “You have to understand life, society, characters and deliver what the director wants because ultimately it is his vision which is important. You have to work really hard to prove yourself every minute. And I have always believed that more than money, it’s how sincere you are at your work which is important in this field,” he says.

Abburi Ravi has come a long way as a dialogue writer in the Telugu film industry. He opens up about his journey into films and working with some of the biggest actors and directors in an exclusive chat

Magic Screen

The glamour behind the glitz

KAMAL HAASAN

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012

T-TOWN TWEETIES

to direct a film on corruption @sneha_ullal My horoscope for today- Rob some rich guys, share their money with the poor. Kill some criminals, Smile at strangers, Bite my dogs noses...heeeee

@shriyasmiling Promoting Gali Gali Chor hai tomorrow !Anna Hazare, Some one I admire and appreciate is watching the movie in his village!

@Actor_Siddharth

K Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum begins

ana Daggubati is back from Macau and it’s business as usual for the actor who won the Best Newcomer Award at Zee Cine Awards for his performance in Dum Maro Dum. His next Telugu film Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum began its regular shooting yesterday afternoon in Hyderabad. Krish is directing the film and it’s the first time he’s collaborating with Rana. A new actress will be cast opposite Rana in this film. Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum is an action revenge drama and Rana is reportedly playing the role of a theatre artiste in the film. Y Rajeev Reddy and Saibaba Jagarlamudi are producing the film. MM Keeravani is composing the music and VS Gunasekhar is the cinematographer. Meanwhile, the post production of Rana, Genelia starrer Naa Ishtam is already under progress and the film will hit the screens early this summer.

amal Haasan is all set to direct and play the lead role in a bilingual film titled Amar Hain. The film dabbles with the theme of the legitimisation of corruption in India. Back in 1996, he had acted in Shankar’s Indian, which was also dubbed in Telugu as Bharateeyudu which was about an old man taking on corruption. After more than 15 years, Kamal Haasan seems to have found enough source material to make a film about legitimisation of corruption and global crime in the present era. After completing the shooting of Vishwaroopam, Kamal Haasan is going to begin working on Amar Hain which will be simultaneously made in Tamil and Hindi.

I tease Priyanka Chopra a lot : Ileana

ontrary to the rumours about Priyanka Chopra and Ileana’s cold war on the sets of Anurag Basu’s Barfee, Ileana has revealed that she’s quite fond of Priyanka Chopra. “I tease her a lot on the sets. We call her ‘firebrand’,” Ileana said. The film marks the debut of Ileana in Bollywood and she’s playing the role of a translator. “Barfee is an emotionally charged film. There were scenes where I ended up crying a lot,” she said. The actor is currently awaiting the release of Shankar’s Snehitudu which is all set to release in Andhra Pradesh on January 26. The film is the official remake of 3 Idiots; however, Ileana has claimed that she didn’t imitate Kareena Kapoor in the film. Last year, both her films Shakti and Nenu Naa Rakshashi failed to click and a lot depends on how Snehitudu and her upcoming film with Allu Arjun perform at the box office if she has to regain her numero uno status in Tollywood.

Thaman’s uber fresh soundtrack for #Love Failure and #KSY is the start of a new mode for him.You're going to fall in love for sure:) cheers!

@taapsee It is so funny dat 90 percent of my BBM updates n many tweets I c r all bout Monday blues. Wondering what blues should actors have.

@devakatta “Only the small secrets need to be protected. The big ones are kept secret by public incredulity.” - Marshall McCluhan

@Alwayscharan Shooting the last day of Racha opening song near Buddha statue. Prem Raksith is choreographing.

@RanaDaggubati Film no.6 "Krishnam Vandae Jagathgurm" #KVJ shoot begins post noon today. Never so prepared, Never so tensed!!

@mamtamohan The movie which taught me to milk a goat.. Nhaanum Ente Familyum is now releasing on Feb 3rd :) Just landed back in Cochin.

Magic Screen

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012

The glamour behind the glitz

Victoria No.203:

t wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be surprising if many have not even heard of this movie. The remake of the 1971 original Victoria No.203, starring Navin Nischol and Saira Banu met with the same fate as RGV ki Aag. The only difference was that this one did not receive as much criticism as RGV ki Aag for the simple reason that it sank even before anyone could notice it.

Don and Don2:

With the remake of Agneepath hoping to make it big this Thursday, we look at a few remakes in the past which failed to set the box office on fire

nlike the other remakes this one managed to still hold on. Although, many felt that it did not match the original in terms of the earthy appeal that it showed. It was liked by a certain section for the same reason that it had style and good music and of course the most saleable factor, King Khan. The sequels did not garner as much popularity as the first one and in fact received some scathing reviews.

FLOP FORMULA Isha Mukoo

isha.m@postnoon.com

xperiments and remakes, these are the two rather obvious patterns that Bollywood has been following since time immemorial. 2012, a year of remakes will have people looking at the recreation of some of the old classics. Bollywood has tried to recreate the magic by bringing some great movies back to celluloid with a little more masala, only to see them go down in ashes. If one were to see Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Devdas, then it is probably the only movie that managed to charm movie-goers. Other remakes hardly managed to create a stir. The upcoming remakes that are being talked about is Golmaal, Chasme Buddoor, Satte pe Satta and many more. We only hope that 2012, which is touted to be the year of remakes breaks the jinx of the flops. Here's looking at the movies that bombed at the box office.

Karzzzz:

espite all the efforts by our nasal crooner Himesh Reshammiya from extreme publicity to the numerologically correct extra Zs, the movie was a total turn off. This remake of the 80s super hit Karz which had Rishi Kapoor and Tina Munim did not reach anywhere close to the original.

Umrao Jaan:

he Rekha starrer, Umrao Jaan received accolades for its music and Rekhaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s acting but the remake hardly did any justice to the original. Despite the beautiful Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan in the movie, it failed to rake in the moolah at the box office and was a drag.

RGV Ki Aag:

ne of the biggest disasters in Bollywood, this movie broke all the records in being the worst remake or for that matter even the worst movie ever. Even before the film hit the screens, the promos had major flop written all over it. Big names like Amitabh Bachchan who acted in the original and Ajay Devgn could not save this remake of the superhit film Sholay.

Magic Screen

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012

The glamour behind the glitz

Amy and I? keep guessing: Prateik A

Neil to sing for Shortcut Romeo N

SONAM

eil Nitin Mukesh’s musical legacy doesn’t seem to leave him anytime soon. The actor is set to sing once again for the big screen for his new film Shortcut Romeo. “Recording a song today! For Shortcut Romeo. Music by the great Himesh Reshammiya. Will give you details once it’s done later in the evening,” Neil wrote on his Twitter page. Shortcut Romeo is a romantic thriller directed and produced by Susi Ganeshan. It

is the remake of the Ganeshan’s 2006 Tamil film Thiruttu Payale. The film also features Puja Gupta and Ameesha Patel. While Puja will be playing Neil’s love interest, Ameesha would be seen in a negative role. This is not the first time that Neil has turned a actor-singer. He has previously sung the title track of his film Aa Dekhen Zara and later gave his voice for another song in Madhur Bhandarkar’s Jail. IANS

wary of ‘youth style icon’ tag

tylish actress Sonam Kapoor is fearful of being called a fashion icon for the youth as she feels the tag comes with a lot of responsibilities. “It’s only been four years since I have been in the industry, and if in such a short time someone calls you iconic, it is scary and overwhelming,” the 26-year-old actress said at a derby event. However, she feels it is more important to prove herself as a good citizen first. “As long as I am a responsible adult, a responsible citizen and a good Indian, that is the most important thing,” said Sonam. Sonam turned up at the derby event clad in a coral red sari paired with silver jewellery. While most women doll up in dresses and a hat at a derby, Sonam decided to go unconventional. “Everyone wears a predictable dress and hat and comes to the derby. I said why don’t I do it the old Indian style where they used to wear cotton and chiffon saris. That’s why I wore silver and coral,” said the actor, who was recently seen in Players. Sonam is currently busy shooting for Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and Rajkumar Santoshi’s untitled film. IANS

ctor Prateik refuses to divulge whether the rumours that he is dating his Ek tha Deewana co-star Amy Jackson are true or not. “Whether it is true or false, I think it is for me and Amy to know and for the whole world to keep guessing,” the 25-year-old said at a promotional shoot of the Gautham Menon-directed film, releasing on February 17. Prateik and British model Amy are being spotted together a lot thanks to the movie’s promotion, adding fuel to the fire about their relationship status. However, the only subject Prateik preferred to talk about was his character in the film. “I am playing the character of a middle class, 25-year-old Maharashtrian boy who wants to become a film director. Then Amy’s character enters his life and he falls in love at first sight and then he wants both the things. He wants to become a film director and get his love as well,” said Prateik, who was last seen in My Friend Pinto. The son of actor Raj Babbar and late actress Smita Patil, Prateik made his Bollywood debut with Jaane Tu...Ya Jaane Na in 2008. IANS

B-TOWN TWEETIES

@sonamakapoor Packing for paris. Why can't I have a small button which does it automatically!

@rampalarjun The whole cast and crew can start chilling the bubbly its another feather in the cap of @kjohar25 and Dharma, well done guys. chikni chameli.

@RGVzoomin An idiot is incapable of recognizing genius cos then he won't remain idiot nd genius wil nt recognize idiots cos he's busy dng better things.

@realprietyzinta Hi guys, howz it going? Back from another Gruelling session at the Gym thanx to @yasminbodyimage ! No pain, no Gain :-) Ting!!!!

@imarshadwarsi Seeing my state at shoot today, my director of Hai Rabba.... Amrit Sagar gave me 2 days off to recover... Have 2 days to get back in shape.

@FarOutAkhtar Meanwhile my work life is in reboot mode. Back to prep stage. The only thing constant in our work is going back to the starting line.

@iamsrk Filmfare prep on. Late nights coffees discussion & then see the jokes being taken as gospel truth by media. Will v ever get a sense of humour?

@SrBachchan T 632 -'Shoot at birds' a film terminology... wonderful back waters and migratory birds from the cold Northern Hemisphere ...such a revelation.

Magic Screen

rib c s b Su

! y a Tod

6 Months

` 199/-

1 Year

` 349/-

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012

Magic Screen

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012

The glamour behind the glitz

Julianne Moore

designs Valentine’s cards A

ctress Julianne Moore is spreading love this Valentine’s Day — by helping to create a collection of greeting cards for charity. The 51-year-old is collaborating with authors of the book Freckleface Strawberry, and a number of writers and illustrators to release a 30-card set dedicated to those in love, reports a website. “They’re a great choice for your kids to give to their school mates or anyone... because they represent the love of reading. I personally chose each author and illustrator of the cards and I think you’ll love them,” said Moore. The cards will be priced at $25, and all proceeds from the sales will benefit the Save the Children charity. IANS

Diane Kruger lined up to play The Seeker in The Host

ccording to a report by a newspaper, Diane Kruger is in negotiations to join the movie adaptation of Stephenie Twilight Meyer’s non-Twilight novel The Host. She’ll play The Seeker, a member of ‘the souls’ who have invaded Earth and taken control of the planet’s inhabiting humans. She’s none-too-happy that rebel human Melanie (Saoirse Ronan) is proving resistant to the influence of her assigned parasitic ‘soul’. Kruger joins Ronan, William Hurt and Max Irons in the movie, which will be written and directed by Andrew Niccol (Gattaca — yay! In Time — not so much...) Former model Kruger has thus far struck a nice balance between European fare and Hollywood blockbusters. She plays Marie Antoinette in Farewell, My Queen, which is scheduled to open the Berlin Film Festival in February. The Host will open on 29 March 2013.

Jay-Z’s club shuts down

apper Jay-Z has shut down his 40/40 club.The club was shut down following a slew of health-code violations just a day after its relaunch, reports a gossip column. It is said that health inspectors found perishable food at dangerously warm temperatures inside the walk-in refrigerator and discovered ‘hot’ food left out on the counter. A worker was also seen mixing salsa with his bare hands. “If you have a walk-in place with food like this, you put a hell of a lot of people at risk,” a source said. IANS

Magic Screen

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012

The glamour behind the glitz

Witherspoon and Ryan are Margaret and Walter Keane R eese Witherspoon and Ryan Reynolds will star as Margaret and Walter Keane, the 1960s artists who gained worldwide fame for their paintings of watercolored gothic waifs, in Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski’s Big Eyes. Lynette Howell and Jamie Patricof will produce through Electric City Entertainment, with Tim Burton producing via Tim Burton Prods. Karaszewski and Alexander previously worked with Burton on Ed Wood. The film is expected to begin production in the spring. Alexander and Karaszewski’s screenplay details the strange world of the Keanes, in which Margaret did the paintings in obscurity while Walter took the credit and the fame.

Kate took Underworld to get rid of nice girl tag K ate Beckinsale took on her tough role in the hit Underworld franchise after she started to get typecast for ‘delicate’ and ‘fragile’ roles by Hollywood executives. The British beauty has played vampire warrior Selene since 2003, and the fourth installment, Underworld: Awakening, topped the US box office over the weekend (20-22 January 12). The star now reveals that producers’ opinion of her as a good girl pushed her to tackle such a sinister part. She says, “I’d had some feedback from casting directors kind of saying, ‘We don’t know if we really want to see her for this part, ‘cause it’s a cop, and she’s really very delicate and British and fragile.’ “And I thought, ‘I’ve got to do something about that. I’ve got to play something that has a little bit more edge to it’. I love this character (Selene). I really am proud of the fact that I’ve gotten to play this kind of rather iconic, empowered, empowering woman.”

Tracy Morgan collapses at Sundance, rushed to hospital

racy Morgan was rushed to a Park City hospital on Sunday night after collapsing outside a charity event, TheWrap has confirmed. The 30 Rock star, who media reports said was acting inebriated at the Creative Coalition Spotlight Awards, collapsed just after the ceremony and was taken to Park City Medical Center. But Morgan’s publicist Lewis Kay told TheWrap: “From a combination of exhaustion and altitude, Tracy is seeking medical attention,” adding, “ Any reports of Tracy consuming alcohol are 100 per cent false.” A spokeswoman for the hospital would not release any further information about the comedian but told other outlets that no drugs or alcohol were found in his system. Morgan was being honoured for best actor and comedian.

Chai Time

KAKURO

How to Play Kakuro 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.

SCRIBBLING PAD

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012

Take a shot at the brain game while sipping your cuppa

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Grp. that includes Iran and Iraq 5 "... to thine own ___ be true" 9 Demolishes, as a building 14 Topological shapes 15 Colored part of the eye 16 A-list group 17 Egyptian goddess of fertility 18 Bit of fishing gear 19 Backyard border 20 Nixon delivered it in 1952 23 Awful dancer 24 Jug part 25 Crowd that needs controlling 28 Pomeranian barks 31 Sale enticement 36 Longfellow's bell town 38 Fiddler's place? 40 Chalet overhangs 41 Moving form 44 "Siddhartha'' author 45 Add to the faculty 46 Art deco illustrator 47 Welles and Bean 49 Javelin paths 51 Job-application datum (Abbr.) 52 And so on, for short 54 ___ de Janeiro, Brazil 56 Rebuke from a wife to her husband 64 Child of Japanese immigrants 65 Sticky semiliquid 66 Beat a path 67 Type of training 68 Start to freeze? 69 "Great Caesar's ghost!'' 70 "The agony of de feet" 71 Take five 72 "I changed my mind" on a computer DOWN 1 Applying to ears 2 Luxuriously fashionable 3 One of the Great Lakes 4 Kid who rode Diablo

5 Like guns that shoot every time? 6 "Be it ___ so humble" 7 Wine dregs 8 "F" on a quiz 9 Acted as arbiter 10 Away from the bluster 11 "From A to ___" (multivitamin ad line) 12 Apply acid artistically 13 "Didn't I tell you?" 21 Mary ___ (cosmetics name) 22 Avoid a bogey 25 Hardly a sissy 26 Catchall category 27 Military muckamucks 29 Winnie-the-___ 30 Director Coppola 32 Expose 33 Alleges as fact 34 Items often passed

35 German birthplace of Big Bertha 37 "___ many words" 39 Klinger portrayer on "M*A*S*H'' 42 Science of heredity 43 Dilapidated 48 Grand Central, e.g. (Abbr.) 50 "___ 'im, Fido!" 53 Practical joker's exploder 55 Aquatic critter 56 "Adios" 57 1984 Summer Games boycotter 58 Horse's

SUDOKU

restraint 59 Second to ___ (tops) 60 A whole bunch 61 Cajole 62 Area between the shoulders 63 Caribbean taro 64 Peacock network PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

THOUGHT OF THE DAY An expert is one who knows more and more about less and less until he knows absolutely everything about nothing. – Anonymous

Chai Time STAR POWER

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012

Your tomorrow today̶Star Power and Tarot

Date 25-1-2012

THIRUVAIKUMAR

As per Hindu panchang

thiruvaikumar@yahoo.co.in 040-27177230 / 9177596118

TAURUS

GEMINI

Employees will be cheerful as they are appreciated and recognised by superiors. Promotion is certain along with a pay hike. Businessmen will see increased proﬁts. Plan fresh ﬁnancial investments.

Bold decisions will give desired results. Employees may ﬁnd it difﬁcult to complete work as per plans. However, they will be favoured with elevation and increase in emoluments.

Avoid arguments with anyone. Employees will get favour from superiors. However, de‑ mands may not be fulﬁlled. Colleagues too, may not support as expected. Businessmen will see proﬁts multiply and be happy.

CANCER

LEO

VIRGO

Health looks ﬁne. You will involve in reli‑ gious activities. Employees might face hur‑ dles that might delay their works comple‑ tion. Also, as work load will increase, they have to struggle hard. Avoid arguments.

You will spend good time with friends and relatives and feel cheerful. Problems in an‑ cestral property get resolved by mutual di‑ scussions. Expected loan will come through, which you will implement in new business.

Take care of your health. Employees will perform with perfection and elevations are possible, which might be a surprise. Businessmen will see a good trend and income will be as per their expectations.

LIBRA

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS

You will be very affectionate towards parents and family members will feel happy. Income will be good so that you will not fail in making any payment. But avoid giving guarantee to anyone.

Happy events to take place at home. Busi‑ nessmen are advised to keep control of tra‑ nsactions with themselves. Avoid entrust‑ ing them to anyone. Be within limits with blood relations; avoid discussing all issues.

Hand loans given to friends and rela‑ tives long back will come and surprise you. Avoid giving commitment to any‑ one. Employees need to work hard. Colleagues will extend their support.

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

Your name will get importance as you take bold decisions, which give good re‑ sults. Family will be happy and in a pea‑ ceful atmosphere. Parents will be healthy; hence, no medical expenses.

Some have bright chances to change re‑ sidence. Expected bank loans will come through and business will be expand as per plans. Family members will respect your advise and suggestions.

Enemies might gain an upper hand, but you will manage the situation easily. Petty issues with elder brothers or sis‑ ters will rise and disappear. Parentsʼ support will work as a morale booster.

SUMAA TEKUR

tarotreadhyd@gmail.com

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

The Magician – Use intuition to make im‑ portant decisions, es‑ pecially if it involves moving cities or any big, physical moving. Trust that your heart will guide you.

Eight of Pentacles – You need to upgrade your skills. What you know now may not be enough for you to grow any fur‑ ther in your chosen career path.

The Moon – Youʼre moody. But donʼt let it impact your repu‑ tation in a profes‑ sional environment. Take the day off if it will allow you to cool off.

CANCER

LEO

VIRGO

Page of Wands – Some good news is on the way. You may not have been expecting it, and it, therefore, comes as a pleasant surprise. Keep an open mind.

Eight of Swords – A relationship may have run its course and you need to take the tough call of breaking it off. There is no point holding on to something.

The Fool – Youʼre in the mood to plunge into a new situation without fully know‑ ing what youʼre get‑ ting into. How about doing some research?

LIBRA

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS

Page of Pentacles – Your focus is on making money right now, and that may be forcing you to put the other interests of your life on hold. Plan better.

Seven of Swords – You donʼt know the whole story and, therefore, your logic may be ﬂawed. Someone is deliber‑ ately keeping crucial information from you.

Page of Cups – Youʼre feeling vulnerable – like a child in a new school. Take it in your stride, make new friends and be an observer. Donʼt react to anything.

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

For Better or for Worse Stone soup

Three of Swords – Heartbreak or loss is indicated. This is something that you could not have avoid‑ ed. Pick up the pieces and move on. Donʼt look back.

Two of Pentacles – Youʼre having a tough time doing the jug‑ gling act. Work and home are demanding your equal attention and you are having to stretch yourself.

Five of Swords – Th‑ ere is some conflict indicated. It may be inner conflict, where choices and decisions are becoming harder to make, or conflict with another person.

SOLUTIONS

Boggle COLON HYPHEN COMMA PERIOD

Number game

Suduko

Scrabble

Ink pen

COMICS

Fred Basset

ARIES

TAROT READ

Vol: 1, No. 191 RNI No: APENG/2011/39337 Published for the proprietors, Scribble Media and Entertainment Pvt Ltd, by V Harshavardhan Reddy, at #1246, Level 3, Jubilee Casa, Road No. 62, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad–500033 and printed by him at Jagati Publications Ltd, Plot No D-75&E-52, APIE Industrial Estate, Balanagar, Ranga Reddy Dist, Hyderabad–500037, Editor: Dean Williams – Responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. For feedback, please write to: feedback@postnoon.com and for subscription, please call 040-40672222, Fax: 040-40672211

Chai Time 1400 Naadi Aadajanme 1430 Pavitra 1500 Movie 1800 Sri Shanidevuni Mahimalu 1830 Vasantha Kokila 1900 Chinnari Pelli Kuturu 1930 Anna Chellelu 2000 Missamma 2030 Edureetha 2100 Bhale Chancele 2200 CID 2300 Challenge 0700 Silver Screen 0730 Just For Fun 0800 Ayurvedam 0830 Chaganti Arunachala Mahatyam 0900 Bhale Chancele

1400 Kannavaari Kalalu 1430 Maavichiguru 1500 Jeevitha Chakram 1530 Movie 1800 Jai Shri Krishna 1830 Shraavani Subramaniam 1900 Mandhara 1930 Auto Bharthi 2000 No. 23, Mahalakshmi Nivasam 2030 Mogali Rekulu 2100 Aparanji 2130 Devatha 2200 Mamathala Kovela 2230 Anveshana 2300 Gemini Vaarthalu 0800 Gemini Talkies 0830 Movie 1130 Aha Emi Ruchi 1200 Jeevitha Chakram 1230 Maa Inti Aada Paduchu 1300 Chittemmaa 1330 Gorintaku

1400 [V] My Big Decision 1430 [V] D3 Dil Dosti Dance 1500 [V] Humse Hai Life 1530 [V] Trailers 1555 [V] Fresh Songs 1600 [V] Zabardast Hits 1800 [V] Fresh Songs 1830 [V] Humse Hai Life 1900 [V] D3 Dil Dosti Dance 1930 [V] Humse Hai Life 2000 [V] Steal Ur Girlfriend 2100 [V] Vignettes 2130 [V] Trailers 2155 [V] Fresh Songs 2200 [V] Love Net 2300 [V] Humse Hai Life 2330 [V] D3 Dil Dosti Dance 2355 [V] Fresh Songs 0700 [V] Trailers 0730 [V] Zabardast Hits 0800 [V] Mind Blasting Mornings 1100 [V] Fresh Songs

‘[V] Humse Hai Life’ at 1930 Hrs on CHANNEL [V]

1300 News Now At1 1330 News Now 1800 6 Pm 1830 Live Report 1900 Primetime 1930 The Game 2000 News Now At 8 2030 Live Report 2100 The Newshour 2200 The Newshour - Plus 2230 E Now 2300 News Now At 11 0800 The Morning News 0900 News Now 1200 Live Report 1230 News Now

‘The Game’ at 1930 Hrs only on TIMES NOW

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012

Telly sitcoms, news and movie listings

1400 Abhishekam 1430 Aadade Aadharam 1500 Antahpuram 1530 Aakasa Ganga 1600 Prema Mandiram 1630 Jagadeeswari 1700 Super 1800 Devimahathyam 1830 Puttadi Bomma 1900 Kumkuma Rekha 1930 Manasu Mamata 2000 Chandra Mukhi 2030 Bharyamani 2100 Etv News 2130 Ali 369 2245 Movie 0800 Jeevana Jyothi 0830 Tollywood Time 0900 Movie 1130 Abhiruchi 1230 Star Mahila

1400 Ardhangi 1430 Movie 1800 Veera Naari Jhansi Laxmi Bhai 1830 Kalavari Kodallu 1900 Chinna Kodalu 1930 Pasupukunkuma 2000 Muddu Bidda 2030 Radha Kalyanam 2100 Kanyadanam 2130 Comedy Club 2230 Shree 2300 Bindas 2330 Latest Superhit Songs 0800 Gopuram 0830 Bhakti Samacharam 0900 Sri Raghavendra Vybhavam 0930 Ayurveda Jeevana Vignanam 1000 Zee 70 Mm A.C 1200 Mee Inti Vanta

‘Business Tonight’ at 2100 Hrs only on ET NOW 1400 The F And O Show 1430 Closing Trades 1530 Tomorrow's Trades 1600 Business Day 1730 Markets Tomorrow 1800 Rush Hour 1830 Brand Equity Special 1900 Global Business Report 1930 Business Express 2000 Business First 2030 Markets Tomorrow 2100 Business Tonight 2200 Top 10 At10 2230 Leaders Of Tomorrow 2300 Starting Up 0900 First Trades 1000 Hot Stocks 1100 Buy Now Sell Now - The Stock Game 1130 Buy Now Sell Now 1200 Market Sense 1300 Business Day 1330 Markets Now

‘E T S T W’ at 2000 Hrs on DISCOVERY CHANNEL 1400 Dino World 1600 Swords 1700 Discovery Showcase 1800 Wild Discovery 1900 Man Woman Wild 2000 Events That Shook The World 2100 Man Vs Wild 2200 Swords 2300 Desire & Pleasure Decoded 1000 Man Vs Wild 1100 Dinosaur Revolution 1200 I Should'nt Be Alive 1300 Wild Discovery

1415 CSI - Crime Scene Investigation 1510 The Real Housewives Of New York City 1605 The Voice 1800 Reaper 1900 Breaking The Magician's Code - Magic's Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed 2000 The Challenger Muaythai 2100 Minute To Win It 2200 Wipeout 2 2300 Criss Angel Mindfreak 0900 Sky Teleshopping 0930 Criss Angel Mindfreak 0955 Infomercial/5 Min 1000 Criss Angel Mindfreak 1025 Infomercial/5 Min 1030 The Challenger Muaythai 1130 Sports Crash 1225 The Voice

‘Criss Angel Mindfreak’ at 2300 Hrs on AXN

‘Haar Jeet’ at 2230 Hrs on IMAGINE 1400 Haar Jeet 1500 Baba Aisa Varr Dhoondo 1600 Haar Jeet 1700 Dharampatni 1730 Sawaare Sabke Sapne – Preeto 1800 Beendh Banuga Ghodi Chadhunga 1830 Baba Aisa Varr Dhoondo 1900 Haar Jeet 1930 Mahima Shani Dev Ki 2000 Dwarkadheesh - Bhagwan Shri Krishn 2030 Sawaare Sabke Sapne – Preeto 2100 Beendh Banuga Ghodi Chadhunga 2130 Dharampatni 2200 Baba Aisa Varr Dhoondo 2230 Haar Jeet 2300 Dharampatni

1400 Parichay 1430 Balika Vadhu 1500 Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha 1530 Uttaran 1600 Phulwa 1630 Parichay 1700 Sasural Simar Ka 1730 Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha 1800 Uttaran 1830 Balika Vadhu 1900 Hawan 1930 Sasural Simar Ka 2000 Balika Vadhu 2030 Veer Shivaji 2100 Phulwa 2130 Parichay 2200 Uttaran 2230 Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha 2300 Na Aana Is Des Laado 2330 Balika Vadhu

‘Na Aana Is Des Laado’ at 2300 Hrs on COLORS

‘Hitler Didi’ at 2000 Hrs on ZEE TV 1400 Hitler Didi 1500 Afsar Bitiya 1530 Yahaaan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli 1600 Pavitra Rishta 1630 Shobha Somnath Ki 1730 Ram Milaye Jodi 1800 Hitler Didi 1830 Mrs. Kaushik Ki Paanch Bahuein 1900 Afsar Bitiya 1930 Choti Bahu 2 2000 Hitler Didi 2030 Yahaaan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli 2100 Pavitra Rishta 2130 Ram Milaye Jodi 2200 Mrs. Kaushik Ki Paanch Bahuein 2230 Bhagonwali 2300 Afsar Bitiya

1400 Saas Bina Sasuraal 1430 Bade Achhe Lagte Hai 1500 Kuch Toh Log Kahenge 1600 CID 1800 Saas Bina Sasuraal 1830 Bade Achhe Lagte Hai 1900 Crime Patrol - Dastak 2000 Kuch Toh Log Kahenge 2045 Dekha Ek Khwaab 2130 Parvarrish - Kuchh Khatti Kuchh Meethi 2200 Saas Bina Sasuraal 2230 Bade Achhe Lagte Hai 2300 Kuch Toh Log Kahenge 0730 Sky Star Advertising 0900 Adaalat 1000 CID 1200 Kuch Toh Log Kahenge 1245 Dekha Ek Khwaab 1330 Parvarrish - Kuchh Khatti Kuchh Meethi

‘Bade Achhe Lagte Hai’ at 2230 Hrs on SONY

‘Pratigya’ at 2230 Hrs on STAR PLUS 1400 Sapnon Se Bharey Naina 1500 Survivor India - Highlight 1530 Diya Aur Bati Hum 1600 Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behnaa Hai 1630 Sasuraal Genda Phool 1700 Saath Nibhaana Saathiya 1730 Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon 1800 Survivor India - Highlight 1830 Ruk Jana Nahin 1900 Saath Nibhaana Saathiya 1930 Sasuraal Genda Phool 2000 Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon 2030 Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behnaa Hai 2100 Diya Aur Bati Hum 2130 Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai 2200 Navya 2230 Mann Ki Awaaz… Pratigya 2300 Maryaada ... Lekin Kab Tak?

MOVIES OF THE DAY AND OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

1310 The Fugitive 1540 Tekken 1725 Cobra 1900 Music And Lyrics 2100 Scooby-Doo 2245 Get Smart 0755 Friends 0825 Good Morning, Miami 0855 Friends 0925 Cats & Dogs 1105 The Island 1340 Scooby-Doo

Yeh Rishta Kya The Shield Kehlata Hai Storyline - When Monica

1425 Death Race 2 1625 Constantine 1900 Ace Ventura - When Nature Calls 2100 The Mask 2315 Paranormal Activity 2

Storyline - Naitik gets anxious to know that Akshara has been admitted to the hospital and can dleiver anytime now. ‘Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai’ at 2130 Hrs on STAR PLUS

puts Vic on the trail of an escaped fugitive in Farmington, he must continue to prove his worth while playing it straight. ‘The Shield ’ at 2200 Hrs on STAR WORLD ‘The Mask’ at 2100 Hrs on HBO

1400 Outsourced 1430 $H*! My Dad Says 1500 In Plain Sight 1600 Parenthood 1700 Outsourced 1730 $H*! My Dad Says 1800 E News 1900 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 2000 Outsourced 2030 America's Funniest Home Videos 2100 In Plain Sight 2200 Parenthood 2300 Outsourced 2330 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 0800 In Plain Sight 0900 Parenthood 1000 Outsourced 1030 America's Funniest Home Videos 1100 In Plain Sight 1200 Parenthood

‘In Plain Sight’ at 2100 Hrs on ZEE CAFE

‘The Simpsons’ at 2030 Hrs on STAR WORLD 1400 Supernatural 1500 Combat Hospital 1600 The Big Bang Theory 1630 The Simpsons 1700 The Shield 1800 Supernatural 1900 Love2 Hate U 2000 Two And A Half Men 2030 The Simpsons 2100 Supernatural 2200 The Shield 2300 The Big Bang Theory 2330 Two And A Half Men 0700 The Shield 0800 Las Vegas 0900 Combat Hospital 1000 The Shield 1100 Love2 Hate U 1200 Two And A Half Men 1230 The Simpsons 1300 The Big Bang Theory 1330 Friends

1400 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta Chashma 1430 R.K. Laxman Ki Duniya 1500 Lapataganj 1530 FIR 1600 Chidiya Ghar 1630 Gutar Gu 1700 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta Chashma 1830 R.K. Laxman Ki Duniya 1900 Chidiya Ghar 1930 Lapataganj 2000 Chintu Chinky Aur Ek Badi Si Love Story 2030 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta Chashma 2100 Chidiya Ghar 2130 R.K. Laxman Ki Duniya 2200 Lapataganj 2230 FIR 2300 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta Chashma 2330 Chidiya Ghar 0900 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta Chashma 0945 Ring Wrong Ring 1030 Gutar Gu 1100 Chidiya Ghar

‘Chidiya Ghar’ at 2100 Hrs on SAB

‘Style Strip’ at 2000 Hrs on ZOOM

1430 Storm Chasers 1530 Discovery Science Classics 1630 Superweapons Of The Ancient World 1730 Weapon Masters 1830 Best Of Discovery Science 1930 Machines 2000 Oddities 2030 Ultimate Cars 2100 Deconstructed 2130 Mythbusters 2230 Futureweapons 2330 Industrial Revelations 1030 Superweapons Of The Ancient World 1130 Storm Chasers 1230 Best Of Discovery Science 1330 Machines

1400 Movie 1730 Star Bonanza 1800 Letz Go! 1900 Planet Bollywood News 1930 Link'd 2000 Style Strip 2030 Letz Go! 2100 Zabar 10 2130 Link'd 2200 B - Tonite 2230 Let's Design 4 2300 Bollywood Bonanza 0700 Fresh Mornings 0800 Red Carpet 0805 Fresh Mornings 1100 Zoom Box 1200 Garma Garam 1300 Planet Bollywood News 1330 Page 3

‘Mythbusters’ at 2130 Hrs on DISCOVERY SCIENCE

‘The Defenders’ at 2300 Hrs on BIG CBS PRIME 1430 Jerry Springer 1530 Big Wheels 1600 Survivor 1700 Bellator 1800 Galileo Extreme 1900 Defenders 2000 Entertainment Tonight 2030 Galileo Extreme 2100 Survivor 2200 Jerry Springer 2300 Defenders 0700 Big Wheels 0730 Aspire 0800 Galileo Extreme 0900 Survivor 1000 Bellator 1100 Jerry Springer 1200 Big Wheels 1230 How To Be A Gentleman 1300 Galileo Extreme 1330 Defenders

Playing Field

The games people play

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012

Azarenka in semis MELBOURNE: Belarus’s Victoria Azarenka recovered from an error-strewn first set to became the first woman into the Australian Open semi-finals with victory over Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska on Tuesday. Both players were broken four times in a low-quality opener, and Azarenka capitulated 0-7 in the tiebreak. But she bounced back to win convincingly 6-7 (0/7), 6-0, 6-2 in two hours in soaring heat on centre court. Azarenka is into her second grand slam semi-final, after reaching the same stage at Wimbledon last year, and will now play either defending champion Kim Clijsters or world number one Caroline Wozniacki. “We can’t play each other without it going to three sets, we have to push each other to the limit,” said Azarenka, who has now played six three-setters with Radwanska in their 10 meetings. In a bewildering first set, neither player appeared comfortable on serve and breaks came thick and fast despite both landing a

Coach Lendl denies mercenary motive MELBOURNE: Ivan Lendl has denied money was behind his surprise decision to coach Andy Murray after fellow great Jim Courier suggested there were “mercenary” reasons for the move, a report said on Tuesday. The eight-time grand slam winner has returned to full-time tennis after playing for the last time in 1994 and has been everpresent in Murray’s box during the Australian Open’s early rounds. But he was hit by a broadside from Courier, a commentator for Australian TV, who said the Czech had financial incentives for his move. “There is a reason and it is a little bit more mercenary,” Courier told Channel Seven, according to Britain’s Daily Telegraph. “He hasn’t been allowed to make any money from tennis for the past 15 years because he cashed in disability insurance. That is the reason Ivan is back playing. There are all sorts of complexities there.” But Lendl called Courier’s comments “ridiculous”, according to the Telegraph. “That’s ridiculous,” he was quoted as saying. “Jim shouldn’t be saying stuff like that. First of

January 16 – January 29

high percentage of first serves, 73 percent for Azarenka and 76 percent for Radwanska. But after sharing eight service breaks Radwanska was able to lift when it counted and she raced through the tiebreak without dropping a point. However, Azarenka responded well and at last began to hold serve with authority, while Radwanska continued to struggle. The Pole handed over three more breaks of serve in the 26minute second set as Azarenka drew level. The Belarusian now began to find her range with her powerful ground strokes and she won the opening game of the third set, before Radwanska at last stopped the rot by holding her serve for just the third time in the match. But Azarenka’s superior firepower was telling and she turned the screws by holding her next serve to love and then breaking Radwanska to open a 3-1 lead, only to immediately surrender the break with a nervous service game.

Mentality is the key: Joker MELBOURNE: Novak Djokovic said

There is a reason; it is a little bit more mercenary. That‘s the reason Ivan is back playing. There are all sorts of complexities Jim Courier Former tennis great all, it’s wrong and he doesn’t have the proper information. End of story.” Both Lendl and Murray have been positive about their partnership, which only began at the start of this year. “When you just get that little bit of extra help from someone that’s been there and done it many, many times, it helps,” Murray said on Monday, after reaching the quarter-finals.

mental toughness at key moments sets tennis’s “Big Four” apart after he subdued battling veteran Lleyton Hewitt to keep his Australian Open title defence on track. The Serbian world number one joined second seed Rafael Nadal, fourtime winner Roger Federer and Andy Murray in the quarter-finals after putting out Australia’s last hope in a thrilling contest on Rod Laver Arena. It is the first time since 1983 that the top five men’s seeds have all reached the quarter-finals. But Djokovic was tested by the grizzled Hewitt, who looked down and out at two sets down and 0-3 in the third before he fought back to seize the third set. However, the Serb recovered his poise to wrap it up in the early hours of Tuesday, Afterwards he said staying calm at difficult moments was what made the big four so dominant. “And just being able to overcome that pressure with that mental strength, you know, your skills and physical ability as well.” Djokovic, who next faces fifth seed David Ferrer of Spain, said standards in tennis had improved “tremendously” in recent decades.

INDIA VS AUSTRALIA TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012

Indians lose advantage

Shaun Marsh starts to walk off the pitch after he is bowled.

Ravi Ashwin (C) is congratulated by teamates after bowling Shaun Marsh on Day 1 of the fourth cricket Test match against India.

GOOD START, BUT... Twelfth Man Babu Kalyanpur

n Luck was on India’s side as Australia won the toss and decided to bat first. This was a relief as the Indian batsmen were left to bask in the sun instead of facing the heat of the first session of the Test. n India’s bowlers started off well for a change on a good batting wicket. The line and length was good. The only culprit was Umesh Yadav, who was hammered for his lack of length and direction.

Zaheer Khan gets a physiotherapy session before the start of the fourth and last test of the Border-Gavaskar series at Adelaide.

n Stand-in captain Virendra Sehwag had the one great inspiration of the day. Ravichandran Ashwin came on in the fourth over of the day and dried up the runs. The wickets began to fall and India had snapped three by lunch to give them a good chance to control the match. n After lunch, India surrendered the initiative through some inexplicable decisions by Sehwag. There were some bizarre field placements and the choice of bowlers was baffling. The game began to drift. n Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke once again piled the agony with brilliant centuries. Both batted aggressively to rescue Australia and seize the advantage. India’s bowling wilted and a replay of the earlier Tests was witnessed.

Australian captain Micheal Clarke plays a defensive shot. Clarke went on to score a century.

Ed Cowan faces a rising ball. Cowan was another of Aswhin’s victims. He was caught by VVS Laxman.

INDIA VS AUSTRALIA TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012

Aussies Ricky Ponting and Micheal Clarke in action against India in the fourth and last Test of the Border-Gavaskar series.

IT’S THOSE TWO AGAIN R

icky Ponting passed 13,000 Test runs Tuesday as he shared a big partnership with Michael Clarke to put Australia in a strong position on the opening day of the fourth Test against India. Ponting, the third all-time highest Test runscorer behind Indians Sachin Tendulkar (15,432) and Rahul Dravid (13,262), batted throughout the middle session with Clarke to rescue the home side after the loss of three morning

36,643

wickets. When Postnoon was going to press, Australia were 323 for three after winning the toss with Ponting unbeaten on 134 and Clarke on 131. India, looking to restore some pride after drubbings in the first three Tests, were thwarted by the pair on a flat batting strip. Clarke, who scored an unbeaten 329 in the Sydney Test earlier this month, had a life on 50 when Dravid put down a low chance off Ishant Sharma.

Day’s attendance

Adelaide Oval is a happy hunting ground for former skipper Ponting, who has scored five of his 40 Test hundreds there including a knock of 242. The tourists claimed the wickets of David Warner (8) and Shaun Marsh (3) cheaply in the opening 10 overs and Ed Cowan (30) nearing lunch. Warner, who smashed a 69ball century on the way to a swashbuckling 180 in the third Perth Test win, lasted only 23 balls before he

3.93

Australia net run rate

was trapped leg before wicket by Zaheer Khan. He was followed by the imperilled Marsh, who again fell cheaply, lasting only 12 balls when he was bowled by a straightened delivery from off-spinner Ravi Ashwin. Stand-in skipper Virender Sehwag was proactive with his bowling changes in the morning session, wheeling in Ashwin in the fourth over of the innings and was rewarded with Marsh's wicket in Ashwin's fourth over.

SCOREBOARD Australia 1st innings EJM Cowan c Laxman b Ashwin 30 DA Warner lbw b Khan 8 SE Marsh b Ashwin 3 RT Ponting not out 134 MJ Clarke not out 131 Extras: (lb 11, w 6) 17 Total (3 Wick; 80 overs) 323 Fall of wickets: 1-26, 2-31, 3-84 BOWLING: Z Khan 14-1-47-1 U Yadav 12-0-87-0 R Ashwin 20-4-59-2 I Sharma 16-4-43-0 V Sehwag 10-0-35-0 V Kohli 1-0-3-0

DAY’S PERFORMERS BATTING: M CLARKE BATTING: PONTING

Playing Field

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012

The games people play

Baloteli faces 4-match ban

Mario Balotelli with Sergio Agüero in their match against Spurs which they won 3-2.

LONDON: Manchester City's controversial Italian striker Mario Balotelli could be suspended for four matches after he was charged on Monday with violent conduct by the Football Association (FA). The 21-year-old Italian international has been charged over images appearing to show that he deliberately stamped on England midfielder Scott Parker's head during Sunday's 3-2 Premier League win over the London side. The incident infuriated Spurs manager Harry Redknapp, even more so as referee Howard Webb waved play on without sanctioning Balotelli and the striker was to add insult to injury

when he converted a penalty in time added-on to secure the points and deal a serious blow to Spurs own title hopes. Webb, though, has subsequently told the FA that had he seen the incident he would have sent him off. Balotelli has until 1800GMT on Wednesday to reply to it. Should he accept it he will begin his four match ban immediately and miss Wednesday's League Cup second leg semi-final clash away at Liverpool, who hold a 1-0 advantage after the first leg. If he appeals he will be able to play in the game and argue his case later this week.

Ramos denies rift rumours MADRID: Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos, who is at the centre of a reported bust-up between players and coach Jose Mourinho, has denied there is now a rift in the dressing room ahead of the El Clasico this Wednesday at the Nou Camp which will decide who will go through to the semi-finals of the King’s Cup. Despite Real’s blistering form in the league which has seen them score a record 67 goals at the halfway stage of the season and has helped earn them a five-

point lead over reigning champions Barcelona, all is not well at the club and that is partly because they have been outclassed by their bitter rivals in their two meetings so far.

Clippers decide to rest Paul LOS ANGELES: The Los Angeles Clippers won't take any chances with All-Star guard Chris Paul, even if it means his hamstring injury will force him to miss Wednesday's match-up against the cross-town rival Lakers. Paul sat out his fifth straight game on Sunday as the Clippers defeated Toronto. Coach Vinny Del Negro said Paul had worked out on Saturday but that the "smart, prudent thing to do" would be to take it slowly. "There's a protocol that guys have to go through, in terms of injuries and things," Del Negro said. "We went through that in terms of his workout and conditioning. He felt good. It's just that I think we have to be smart about the process." Del Negro said the team would decide after Tuesday's practice whether Paul was ready to return to competition. "Chris is ready to play. He wants to be out there," Del Negro said. "But he also knows that he hasn't had this injury before and he wants to be smart about it as well.

Mourinho is now in his second season at the Bernabeu and has still not found a way to beat Barcelona — with the one exception the Cup final last year. He has reverted to defensive and ruthless tactics in a desperate bid which have not only failed but also are not good for the image of the club. It was reported on Sunday by a Spanish sports daily that there was an argument after the 2-1 first leg defeat in the cup by Barca last Wednesday and this reignited on Friday at a training session.