Rumours of Law Minister's resignation

    New Delhi: Amidst the political storm brewing on the Bofors Scam and allegations levelled against the Union Law Minister Bhardwaj, the Core Committee of the Congress Party met tonight at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's official residence- 7, Race Course Road. Although no official statement was released about the meeting, internal party sources said that the issue relating with Bhardwaj's alleged role of scuttling the CBI investigation against Ottavio Quattrocchi in the Rs 133 crores Bofors pay-off case figured at the meeting. The meeting chaired by Manmohan Singh was attended by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Ahmed Patel. Law Minister Bhardwaj had earlier given a clean chit to the Additional Solicitor General B Dutta's visit to London last month where he had made a personal request to defreeze the operations in two bank accounts of Ottavio Quattrocchi in the BSI AG bank in London.

Disney stars enthrall Delhi kids (Go To Top)

    New Delhi: The world famous Disney characters enthralled children in Delhi today and kept them spellbound through their half-an-hour performance. The stars visited the national capital as a part of their tour to the country in association with Make-A-Wish Foundation of America to offer help to terminally ill children. Walt Disney Television International (India), as part of its tie- up with Make-A-Wish Foundation of America to fulfil wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy, is touring worldwide with its most popular characters. "Make-A-Wish Foundation is a very popular community service organisation in India and we have an international tie-up with them in the US to fulfill the wishes of the Make-A-Wish Foundation kids. We've just extended that relationship in India. Disney has a worldwide outreach programme and we have an association with Make-A-Wish Foundation starting with this tour in India. We're touring six other cities in the country with these characters and we've identified places where we can take them and meet children suffering from life threatening illnesses and spread some smiles on their faces," said Tushar Shah, director marketing and communication, Walt Disney, India.

   The characters began their India tour with Mumbai's Tata Memorial and later did some kite flying with kids in Ahmedabad. Delhi was their third destination in India. The stalls at the venue were colourfully decorated with balloons, festooned everywhere and Mickey mouse caps being distributed. The stalls also had competitions for children, who enjoyed thoroughly. "These competitions give the children so much confidence. By participating with them, they can win a cap which makes them so happy and also boosts their confidence so as to participate again and again. They have to eat toffees at the stalls and they get a gift and there are also lucky draw, which makes them so happy," said Nandita, mother of a five-year-old son. "I love the series on television as it has all the stars in it like Cindrella, Mickey mouse, Mini mouse and Pluto. I just love Mickey mouse," said Ashita, a nine-year-old. Children during the programme enjoyed a lot even though they could not understand the seriousness behind the visit of their favourite characters.

Pune Film Festival award for Yash Chopra  (Go To Top)

    Pune: In a star-studded evening, the fourth Pune International Film Festival (IIF) commenced this Thursday. The week-long event will showcase films belonging to thirty-five countries of the world. Inaugurated by Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Priyaranjan Das Munshi, the first day of the festival was attended by notable film makers and veteran actors. The jury member and veteran actress of Hindi cinema, Deepti Naval said films would always be an area of "great curiosity and inquisitiveness. "Not only as an actress but as a cinema enthusiast, I feel films will always remain an area of great curiosity and inquisitiveness for people. It will always interest movie-goers to know about upcoming films, what are now being made, what are people's minds, what are we saying through these films and films all over the world. It is a great opportunity to be in the festival." Great film makers say it is futile if films are not appreciated by the movie goers. Such film festivals help to create awareness among the people about films. "Film festivals have importance not only for the students of films and drama but also for the public because it helps in creating awareness among them how to appreciate films. No country can make good films if the people do not appreciate it.

   In the recent years, there have been technical developments but the values are changing with time. Films are only reflections of what is happening in the world. As far as the Pune Film Festival is concerned, my emotions are attached to it," said Subhash Ghai, the notable filmmaker. Veteran filmaker Yash Chopra and actress Vyjayantimala would be awarded with the Life-Time Achievement Awards. Besides, notable filmmaker and actor Amol Palekar was felicitated for his film "Peheli" and Shaksham Kulkarni a child actor for best actor award during the function. Moreover, the National premiere of film "Rang De Basanti" will be held at the festival on January 18. The inaugration ceremony was attended by many others that included Bollywood's Sanjay Dutt, John Abraham, Chairman of Pune International Film Festival Suresh Kalmadi and Nana Patekar. The first lifetime achievement award for an international artiste will be conferred to well-known American cinematographer Victor Kemper whose films "Jingle All The Way", "American Pie" and "Coma" have received a lot of appreciation around the world. The ceremony sizzled with the scintillating dance performance of Yana Gupta. The 8-day ceremony will conclude on January 19.

Shah Rukh Khan against onscreen smoking ban (Go To Top)

     Kolkata: Superstar Shah Rukh Khan lashed out at the Central Government for imposing a ban on onscreen smoking, saying, it hampers the creativity of the filmmaker. Khan said imposing a ban on smoking in films should be left to the discretion of the director or producer. "What is the limit of this kind of censorship? It is smoking today and next it may be drinking. Then what ban showing murder and love-making scenes? Where does this stop. This scuttles creativity. I think creativity needs to go on. Kolkata is a culture centre of our country, whether its painting, its poems or films by Mr. Ray, you cannot be telling what to do and what not to do," Khan told reporters in Kolkata at the sidelines of inaugurating a hospital. Personally though he wants to stop smoking and claims he has cut down on smoking, Khan said, "I respect the law and the ministry. As a cinema person I think banning smoking is not required".

   The Govt had last year banned smoking scenes in movies and on television, saying that they glamorise the use of cigarettes. In tough new regulations, the Health Ministry said distributors and directors would have to show health warnings on screens in old movies and TV shows, whether Indian or foreign, that showed actors smoking. Health Ministry has already missed out several dates set for imposing the ban and there is still confusion among the film and television producers over its future as no intimation has been received yet. However, the ban was to come into force from January 1, according to reports, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry is firm on not implementing the ban as it is. The first deadline -- August 15 -- was announced by Health Minister A Ramadoss on World Anti-Tobacco Day on May 31. Later, the date had been put off to October 2 following representations from the entertainment industry which got support from the Information and Broadcasting Ministry. Filing an affidavit in Delhi High Court on December 2, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry said it shared the concern of the Health Ministry to impose a ban on showing the use of tobacco products in films and television, but the creative expression of artists should not be curbed.

   Actors smoking in movies is now a controversial issue in India. When Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister, 25,000 signatures were sent to him demanding legislation in this regard. Pressure from domestic and global health groups, Health Ministry and Supreme Court led to the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003. In May 2004, India banned smoking in public places such as railway stations and parks as well as tobacco advertising and sponsorship by tobacco firms of sporting events. On September 26, Bollywood director-producer Mahesh Bhat had challenged the government's direction to ban smoking scenes in films and TV serials, saying it would violate the right to freedom of expression enshrined in the Constitution. Recently, Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan had to apologise to anti-tobacco lobby for appearing with a cigar on posters of his latest film, and promised not to be seen promoting smoking in films. Hit by a barrage of criticism from social organisations and the public, 63-year old Bachchan promised to ensure that he would not promote smoking in Bollywood promotions in future. According to the World Health Organisation's estimations, smoking is linked to more than 800,000 deaths in India per year. Thailand also banned smoking scenes in films in 2000.

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