Shiv Sena reward for chopping off MF Hussain's hand

     New Delhi: Hundreds of activists of the Shiv Sena took to the streets in New Delhi on Sunday to protest against Maqbool Fida Hussain, after one of his works portrayed "Mother India" in the nude. Shiv Sena activists burnt an effigy of Hussain and one leader even announced a bounty for any activist who cut off Hussain's arms. Indian police are investigating a complaint against Hussain after he portrayed "Mother India" as a naked woman, angering many Hindus. Nationalist politicians and activists routinely criticize Hussain's paintings, which often depict revered Hindu gods and goddesses in the nude. A decade ago, radicals even attacked his Mumbai home. The maverick artist's latest work, part of a series to be auctioned in aid of Indian victims of last year's South Asian earthquake, shows a naked woman in front of a wheel resembling the one used in India's national flag. The names of some of India's states are written across her body. A similar composition of a sari-clad woman with a wheel -- a Buddhist symbol known in Hindi as the dharma chakra -- in the background is used to portray "Mother India" in many patriotic publications.

   Shiv Sena leader Bhagwan Goel demanded that Hussain be booked under law, and threatened that the party would take action on its own, if nothing was done in two days time. "If the Central government or whichever state's government, which ought to take action on the acts of this blasphemous painter- who has dared to insult Mother India, fails to bring to book the errant within two days time, we will do it ourselves," said Goel. "On this auspicious occasion of Maha Shivratri, I swear that this man, who dared to insult Mother India and Mother Parvati by making despicable nude paintings, should be brought to book. If the government fails to do so in two day's time, I am announcing a reward of half million rupees for each of Hussain's arms," he added. Ninety-year-old Hussain, with his flowing white locks and beard, and his habit of walking barefoot has become an icon in India's art circles. In the past, Hussain, a Muslim, has received support from moderate, progressive Hindus, and on one occasion a former Prime Minister intervened to ensure no action was taken against him. In 2004, Hussain sealed a deal with a leading businessman to paint 100 canvases for one billion Indian rupees in one of the biggest sales in the country's growing art market.

Muslim women in Kanpur join cartoon protest (Go To Top)

     Kanpur: Thousands of Muslim women in Kanpur took to the streets on Sunday to register their protest against the Danish cartoons on Prophet Mohammed. Holding banners and placards, the women walked silently through the streets. They said the cartoons smacked of hatred and disrespect to their faith, and had hurt their community's pride. "We have launched this rally to show to the world that, we, the Muslim community, are a proud community and will not watch silently as the world crushes our Shariat (Islamic law). We will raise our voice against such happenings," said Sohalia Begum, a protestor. Subaiyya Fatima, a young girl said that by organizing the rally they were only upholding their faith in accordance with the tenets of Islam. "Certain people have dared to insult the divine founder of the religion. Some blasphemous caricatures have made a mockery of him and the Muslim community will not tolerate it. Our Master had said that only those who protect the religion beyond his life, dear ones beyond all material love are the truest of Muslims and anyone else is only masquerading as a Muslim. So, here we are, protesting for his position of pride and 'God is Great', as my sisters in the Muslin community have participated in good strength of numbers today," she said.

    The Danish paper Jyllands-Posten first published the cartoons last September, but Danish Muslims brought them to the attention of imams (clerics) in the Middle East, only in December and January. The cartoons have evoked a strong reaction from Muslims all over the world. Angry protestors have set afire the Danish embassies in Syria and Lebanon, and at least 50 people have been killed during demonstrations around the world. Uttar Pradesh Haj Minister, Yaqoob Quereshi, had last week, announced a reward of over 11 million dollars to anyone who killed the Danish cartoonists responsible for drawing the caricatures, while a Pakistani Muslim cleric offered more than one million dollars for the same. Several religious leaders in India have however, condemned the announcement of a prize for the head of the cartoonists, saying it is "un-Islamic." The reprinting of the cartoons by several other newspapers and magazines in Europe, in what they termed as defence of free speech, has only fuelled the agitation. While expressing concern about the growing controversy over the publication of the offending cartoons, Indian government had said any action that hurt the sentiments of any segment of its people are not acceptable.

'Black' makes a clean sweep at Filmfare Awards (Go To Top)

     Mumbai: Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali's hit movie 'Black' hogged the limelight at the 51st Filmfare awards held in Mumbai recently by winning a total of 11 awards including in the categories of Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Actress. Amitabh Bachchan, who made his first public appearance after undergoing surgery for intestinal problems more than two months ago, took the award in the Best Actor category for his portrayal of the teacher of a visually impaired girl in 'Black'. Rani Mukherjee, who co-starred with Bachchan in the movie, took home the award for Best Actress. Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who was named the Best Director, also saw his movie win in the Best Film category. 'Black' also managed to make a clean sweep of the Critics Awards at the glittering event. Ayesha Kapoor won the award in the Best Supporting Actress category for her portrayal of the young Michelle McNally in 'Black'. 'Parineeta' was the other big winner of the night with 5 awards, including the Best Debut (Female) for Vidya Balan. Bollywood veteran Nana Patekar was awarded the Filmfare award for the Best Performance in a Negative Role, for 'Apaharan'. 'Morning Raga' star Shabana Azmi was the recipient of the The Lifetime Achievement Award.

Aamir sues Filmfare for using his name in advt (Go To Top)

     Mumbai: Film actor Aamir Khan has sent a legal notice to film magazine Filmfare for "falsely" using his name to promote its annual award ceremony which held here on the night of February 25. The actor has sought a damage of Rs 21 crores (4.7 million dollars) for using his name in a Filmfare award advertisement without his consent. The advertisement shows a photograph of Aamir Khan and a caption that read, "I incited a revolt to win her (the trophy, called 'lady in black') over!". The ad was published on February 20 as a promotion campaign for the 51st Filmfare awards. Filmfare, which organises an annual awards function for Bollywood, had used the names of several actors in the advertisements in the run-up to the awards function. Aamir, however, is said to have avoided attending any film awards function in the past few years. Sources close to the actor said that Aamir never gave permission for the using his name and picture in the advertisement and has charged the magazine with misrepresenting him. Aamir Khan's lawyer Anand Desai has reportedly said that what Filmfare had done was unethical.

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