Oscar-nominated
'Shwass' gets 21 lakh donation to promote film (Go
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Panaji:
'Shwaas', the first Marathi film to get entry in the
Oscar in the best foreign film category today got a donation
of Rs. 21 laks from the Chief Minister of Goa, Manohar Parrikker.
The donation is aimed at marketing, supporting and promoting
the screening of the film. 'Shwaas' may be India's official
entry for the Oscar this year, but not many people know
about this small budgeted Marathi film, which ran to packed
house this year at the International Film Festival of India
(IFFI), Goa. The producer of the film needed atleast Rs.
1.6 crores to promote the film and the donation from Goa's
Chief Minister has come as a respite to the producers of
the film. The entire team of Shwaas was present at the screening
of the fim at IFFI and to collect the donation. "Our film
has become siver jublee at Mumbai and Pune. But to promote
the film at the itenational level we need lot of funds.
And being a small regional production house we don't have
enough funds with us," said Sandeep Sawant, Director,Shwaas.
Made for just 6 million rupees, Shwaas (Breath) is about
a poor villager who shows his grandchild the world around
him one last time before the child loses his sight in an
operation.
Was
Diana's driver an MI6 spy? (Go
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London:
Seven years after Princess Diana was killed in a road
accident inside a Paris tunnel, her death still remains
a mystery. Now, rumours are rife that her driver during
that tragic night, Henri Paul, was a MI6 spy. The top brass
of British Police is expected to question the Intelligence
chiefs over the issue. According to The Daily Mail, Scotland
Yard Commissioner Sir John Stevens,who is leading an investigation
into the death of Diana and her lover Dodi Fayed, is said
to be examining the possibility that Paul was on the payroll
of the security services when he drove the Princess to her
death in a Paris tunnel along the River Siene on August
31, 1997. John would also be interviewing the intelligence
officers about suspicions that Paul was supplying information
to them in lieu of money. The rumours further fuel various
conspiracy theories surrounding the tragedy, including the
one of Dodi's father, Harrods boss Mohamed Al Fayed, who
has frequently voiced his belief that the couple were killed
in a plot involving the intelligence services.
Posh
kisses and makes up with Ginger (Go
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London:
Former Spice Girls Victoria Beckham and Geri Halliwell
have decided to bury the hatchet and make up. Posh reportedly
invited Geri to the Christmas christening of her sons Brooklyn
and Romeo, according to The Sun. The two had fallen out
after Geri quit the Spice Girls in 1998. The feud turned
bitter later after Victoria refused to invite Geri for her
wedding to soccer star David Beckham.
J
Lo wants her step-daughter to sing (Go
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London:
Latino diva Jennifer Lopez has reportedly asked eleven-year-old
Arianna Anthony, the daughter of her hubby Marc Anthony,
to sing on her latest single Get Right, which is slated
for release next month. "Jennifer was impressed with Arianna's
voice," The Sun quoted a friend of the star as saying. "She
spends a lot of time with Arianna and thought it would be
lovely to include her on her album," he said. J Lo is currently
in London to launch her new album at the Soho Hotel.
'Naomi
was like being hit by a lightning bolt': Usher (Go
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London:
Supermodel Naomi Campbell's boyfriend Usher has described
their first meeting as one where the sparks started flying
immediately, saying that meeting her was like being 'struck
by a bolt of lighting.' The couple, who have been seeing
each other for three months now, are also very open about
how much they love each other. Earlier 34-year old Campbell
had expressed her pride in Usher's work and had also revealed
that she is now looking to have children. "I met Naomi three
months ago and it was like I'd been hit by a lightning bolt.
We have a real special, special relationship. Naomi is a
beautiful woman and I like her a lot," Female First quoted
Usher as saying.
Fergie
goes boyfriend hunting with her daughter (Go
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London:
The Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, has revealed that
she and her 16 year old daughter are constantly trying to
fix each other up with eligible men. The Duchess, who split
with her husband the Duke of York, Prince Andrew more than
ten years ago, also revealed how she hangs out with her
daughter all the time and points out all the good looking
men to her. "It's such fun because we go out on the pull
together. She longs for me to have one (a boyfriend) and
I long for her to have one. I say, 'Look what about him?'
and she says, 'Oh Mum, no!' We're mates," the Daily mail
quoted her as saying.
Himalayas
to get more chilly with Coldplay (Go
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London:
The Himalayas are in to experience a different kind
of chill now, with Coldplay deciding to play their highest
concert, halfway up a mountain in the Himalayas. The rockers,
led by frontman Chris Martin, have confirmed that they will
hold a gig at Nepal's Kathmandu National Stadium for free
and the show, in the shadow of Mount Everest and 1,372m
above sea level, will raise money for a local children's
charity. "We're very excited by it. You don't get to play
a place like this every day,guitarist Jonny Buckland was
quoted by the Female First, as saying.
Mel
Gibson to buy 19 million dollar Fijian island (Go
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Melbourne:
Fiji seems to be Mel Gibson's favourite destination,
for he is considering buying a Fijian island, if reports
are to be believed. According to the Herald sun, Gibson
was flown by helicopter to Mago Island which is on the market,
the Fiji Times reported. Mago Island's asking price is 19
million dollars and it has pristine ecology and terrain.
It is fringed entirely by reefs, powder white beaches and
turquoise lagoons.
Colin
Salmon might be the first black Bond (Go
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London:
James Bond might soon be breaking away from the archetypal
white image, for a leading black actor, is all set to step
into Pierce Brosnan's shoes. According to The Telegraph,
Colin Salmon who played Charles Robinson, M's suave chief-of-staff
has emerged as a front-runner to replace Pierce Brosnan
as James Bond in the next 007 flick. The Broccoli family,
who are casting the film, the 21st in the series, are said
to fear that the films have become anachronistic.
Britney
Spears pooch gets a fancy doggie cot (Go
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London:
It seems that celebrity pet pooches never had it so
good before. After Paris Hilton, who simply dotes on her
pet, its now Britney's turn to lavish love on her canine
companion. According to The Sun, the "Toxic" singer dresses
her Chihuahua in designer clothes and has recently bought
a doggie cot for it. "Britney has given it designer clothes
and a Burberry-style dog cot which has its own water bowl.
It's a good job somebody dressed up for the meal," a friend
of the singer was quoted as saying.
