Dilip Pai - The raising hero in Kannada Cinema

With a title like 'Road Romeo' the eminent director Saiprakash gives something different for the youths and elders at a time. The main focus he lays on the responsibility before love blossoming and the caring attitude of a son in the house. From a senior director of Kannada cinema these two relevant points are expected. How it is interspersed with the entertainment element is also interesting to watch. There are very good action scenes, performance from lead artist; music and cinematography are all above average.

Dilipa (Dilip Pai) is a Road Romeo. He hails from middle class. His intention is to get a good job according to his education. He wants to enjoy the life in the motorbike his father gifted him. He is a Good Samaritan too. But that locks him in the problem. After initial pranks he falls in love with Anjali (Ashitha). But it is Anjali who brings in responsibility in him. She asks him what is his earning to get married to him. She even slaps Dilipa asking this question in pent up frustration. Dilipa now changes his attitude. He gets hold of a sale boy job and grows up with innovative ideas in his company. He is posted as Manager to Chennai branch. Anjali is still waiting for Dilipa to come forward and marry her. Dilipa is not interested. What is the guarantee that you can be happy with Rs.10000 salary he gets every month he hits back at Anjali. He rejects her outright. That is because Anjali had told him life is more important than love. For that life sufficient money is required. This is what Dilipa reminds Anjali.

So all is not good for lovers you would say. But director Saiprakash has something else in his mind. Anjali's elder sister who has a child, dies. Anjali's father wants her to marry the son-in-law so that the child is taken care by Anjali. Anjali agrees to this because this is the only option left for her. But the true love surfaces. Anjali joins the right person in her life.

Dilip Pai has given excellent performance and in action scenes he is chilling. Especially the one leg fight is very absorbing. In the romance and dialogue delivery he has not failed. He is a man to watch in Kannada filmdom in the forthcoming years. Ashita is bubbly and beautiful. The performance in her is promising. She can occupy very good roles. Avinash in the role of father has come out as a fitting father of a middle class family. He is class in his acting.

Three of the film song is very good. Cinematography by BL Babu is impressive.

Go watch this 'Road Romeo'. It is worth your ticket value.

Scoring 7/10

SBI announces Rs 5 lakh for sulking hockey team

State Bank of India today announced a cash award of Rs 5 lakhs for the Indian hockey team which recently won the Asia Cup tournament in Chennai.

SBI Chairman O.P. Bhat today announced the sop for the hockey players who were sulking after India's Twenty20 World Cup winning cricketers were showered with cash prizes.

"We have decided to give them a small token of appreciation to the hockey team," Bhat told PTI.

The decision to this effect was taken in today's Board meeting.

"This is not something great we have done to the Indian team. What we have done is to show how much we care for Indian hockey," he added.

Chief coach Joaquim Carvalho lashed out at the politicians and said that four players were planning to go on a hunger strike to protest the 'step-motherly' treatment meted out to them.

They were particularly unhappy with Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel announcing out-of-turn promotion of some of the players who work with Indian Airlines and Air India.

Four state governments also announced sop for the cricketers on their arrival from South Africa.

The hunger strike threat, however, prompted the Civil Aviation Minister to announce cash award for the hockey players who are on the payroll of Indian and Air India.

The Karnataka government also announced Rs 2 lakhs for the players.

Chennai filmmaker talks about That Four Letter Word

Its a film that you probably would never had the opportunity to watch had it not been for the multiplex revolution.

We are talking about That Four Letter Word a film directed by Sudhish Kamath from Chennai who happens to be a film critic.

Kamath is grateful, as his film has finally got a theatrical release in Mumbai. After releasing the film in Chennai, the filmmaker wanted film buffs in Mumbai to watch his film as well.

Made with a budget of Rs 3 lakh, That Four Letter Word is the story of four young boys and their journey through the four letter word called 'life'.

"Multiplexes have revolutionised filmmaking. Our film is not about snake charmers. Its about India today,” says Kamath.

And at helping the young filmmakers get a theatrical release is of course the multiplexes that have encouraged an entire set of filmmakers who may have the passion but not necessarily the means to shoot it on conventional film format.

"Its a thing we wanted our customers to enjoy. Experience different things,” says Assistant VP, Fun Cinemas, Rahul Takalkar.

And if you harbour any such cinematic leanings, then you can be assured of a screening, at least in a multiplex irrespective of the format it has been shot in.

Documenting the Konkani tradition

Work on documenting the literature, culture and traditions of 32 Konkani-speaking communities taken up the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy has almost been completed.

Registrar of the academy S.H. Shivarudrappa and programme convener Kudla Anand Shanbhag told presspersons here on Thursday that the academy was bringing out a book titled “Naavu Konkani Janaru” on the culture and traditions of these communities, which would be released next month.

Mr. Shivaprasad said the academy had begun documentation work in January and had taken steps to videograph the traditions and rituals followed by 32-Konkani speaking communities.

The work on bringing out a VCD on the subject was likely to take some more time. It would be, most probably, ready in December, he said.

The academy organised 14 literary and cultural programmes during 2007-08. Five translation works had been taken up and an English-Konkani dictionary published, Mr. Shivaprasad said. Mr. Shanbhag said the academy, in association with the G.S.B Samaj, was organising the annual literary award presentation ceremony in Hubli on October 7.

“Tambdi Mirsang” by Stein Agera had been selected for the award under the short story category for the year 2006, while in the poetry section “Dharbarantli Pingorn” of Valli Quardres had been selected.

“Kanunu Darshan” by Shirtadi William Pinto had been selected for the award under study work, he said.

Mr. Shanbhag said that the demand by some persons for inclusion of Konkani-speaking areas in Goa was aimed more at getting personal benefits.

He termed it as “unreasonable.”

Precaution not expenditure, but investment: A G Pai

“We are brought up by nature, in nature and we belong to nature. So we can not go against it,” said Chief Operating Officer of Mangalore Special Economic Zone (MSEZ Limited) A G Pai.

Delivering the inaugural address of Magma-2007, the national level PG management fest organised by Srinivas Institute of Management Studies here on Saturday, he stressed on the theme of the fest, ‘India as a green economy’ and added that we need a green environment around us to lead a healthy life.

Speaking on the challenges to establish a green economy, he took the ‘churning of the ocean’ from the epics as an example and said that there is always the poison in the beginning and we need a Lord Shiva to consume it, but what comes later is all for good.

Stating the importance of remembering the environmental base, he said that it is always better to take the preventive steps to avoid problems like what happened in Chernobil and Bhopal.

“The precautionary measures are not expenditure, but investment for a better future”, he added. He also flayed the practice of bypassing the automated systems, as the error possibility is higher with human intervention.

“Solid two years are needed to do the environmental planning for a mega industry. You need to know what you emit and whether it is within the sustainable limits”, Pai said and added that it is important to have clean and green energy for any project.

However, atleast for the time being, we have no other option than exploiting the fossil fuels for energy, he said, but hoped that the situation would change with the technology to develop energy from garbage.

He pointed out the meaninglessness in banning plastic, but appreciated the idea of recyclable plastic. He also urged the public to see that whatever they purchase is recyclable.

SIMS Principal Prof P S Aithal, Lecturer Prof R K Acharya, Staff Co-ordinator Prof Nivedita Mirajkar and Student Co-ordinator R Srijith were present on the occasion. As many as eleven colleges participated in the fest.

Bank scuffle: Guards thrashed by students

Central College students are alleged to have manhandled security personnel of the State Bank of Mysore branch on Kempegowda Road on Wednesday.

Central College students are alleged to have manhandled armed security guards of the State Bank of Mysore, branch on Kempegowda Road on Wednesday. The two security personnel Subramanya Naidu and Ravi Sukumar were reportedly bashed up and are undergoing treatment at a government hospital. Police said that around 10 am, before the bank could open, a group of IIIrd semester MFA (Management Finance & Accounts) students led by Nirmala Pai, Kavitha and Sumanth approached the bank and ordered the security to hand over the challans to pay the exam fee. In turn, Subramanya Naidu, the security guard told them to come after half-an-hour. This irked the students, leading to a war of words, the police said. Finally, the students managed to collect the challans from the security guard before the bank began to function. When one of the students wanted to carry the entire bundle of challans, the security guard objected which made some of the students leave the place fuming. Police said at 2:51 pm, Nirmala Pai and her friends along with her relatives and some Karnataka Rakshana Vedike activists headed by Praveen Shetty forcibly entered the bank and manhandled security guard Ravi Sukumar who stood guard at the gate. The mob tore the uniform of the security and rained blows. With the intervention of DGM Sridharan, the frayed tempers cooled and the gang was forced to leave the premises. Trouble returns When all was fine, again at 4:25 pm, the same gang with more men returned to the bank and attacked another security guard Subramanya Naidu. The gang chased and pulled Naidu all around the main hall, dragged him and thrashed him black and blue, the police said. Students said the security staff used foul language against girls, which resulted in the scuffle. Meanwhile, things went out of control when one of the students’ associates B N Anand (35) entered the premises with a .32 fully loaded revolver. During the thick of action, the revolver fell down and immediately, an alert police officer, who was at the spot, confiscated it. Police said that Anand, a document writer at the Gandhinagar sub-registrar’s office was carrying a licensed revolver and his intention was not to harm. He was accompanying student Nirmala Pai’s relative Guru Prasad. Bank’s version DGM Sridharan said: “For decades, our staff has been serving the Central College students and I don’t understand what fuelled them (students) to create trouble on Wednesday. CCTV footages will reveal the whole story and it’s up to the police to take decision.” Should bank object? Meanwhile, Harish who suffered a minor injury in the incident said: “The challans are printed and given to the bank by Bangalore University. Why should bank officials object when students carry it?” By Wednesday evening, hectic lobbying was on and students were mounting pressure on the bank manager “not to press the case”.

Formula One cars will zoom in India in 2010 - Mallaya

Formula One is all set to come to India in 2010.

The announcement from Suresh Kalmadi, chief of Indian Olympic Association, about the near certainity of hosting Formula One Grand Prix in the outskirts of New Delhi in 2010 came close on the heals of Vijay Mallaya's offer to purchsae the F1 team of Spyker NV for $109 million.

Chief Architect of Formula One tracks, Hermann Tilke, was in India earlier this month to inspect sites for the proposed race.

Kalmadi said that Bernie Ecclestone, chief of International Automobile Federation (FIA), had handed over 2 draft contract when they met in London.

The draft contracts signed between Kalmadi and Bernie were for race promotion of the Grand Prix of India in F1 World Championship and the circuit rights agreement.

FIA organized a series of Formula One races in several countries all round the year. The world championships are decided on the basis of the points gathered by the different teams and their drivers in these races.

GSB Ganpati donations go the right way

In this season of joy and merriment a few mandals in Mumbai city, try to ensure that some of the huge donations they receive, helps the needy.

Ganesh Chaturthi, a time when hundreds of mitra mandals across the city gear up for their annual celebrations.

A festival of abundance where money flows in freely. But much of the money earned by the various mandal trusts finds its way right back to the people.

''The mandal gave me everything, thanks to their scholarship I am here today,'' said 32-year-old Ramesh, who works for a bank in Riyadh.

Born and brought up in a chawl in Bhandup, he never thought he would one day afford a home for his family.

Ramesh's father, a priest could not afford him a proper education. But the Gaud Saraswat Brahmin Seva Mandal's annual student scholarship did just that.

GSB first celebrated its Ganesh Utsav in 1951. Since then the idols have grown, so has the collection. Donation boxes are filled with over 10 lakh rupees every year and some is reserved for educational give aways.

Small and crowded chawls are where the mandal's services are needed most.

Helping hands

The Sarvajanik Ganesh Ustav Mandal in Lalbaug, set up a study centre five years ago that offers free courses in computer programming.

It also holds free lectures for the Maharashtra Public Service Exam and gives away books for free.

''This is a neighbourhood of mill workers where each home is very small. It's really small for the whole family to fit into that space.

''Very often there is no space for children to study. This study centre helps them to concentrate on studying,'' said Dattaram Joshi, Chairman of Trust.

The spirit of the festival is kept alive by funding the dreams of many, who otherwise have no other recourse.

CM does balancing act on Roman, Devnagri scripts

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat has reaffirmed his Government’s commitment to uplift Konkani in the Roman script, including in the literary field, saying that the Tiatr Academy should hopefully start functioning within the next 2-3 months.

“My Government will not discriminate between Konkani in the Roman and Devnagri scripts. Whatever existing shortfalls, can be rectified by working out suitable measures,” Kamat asserted, while speaking as chief guest at the first anniversary of Konkani magazine Jivit, Tuesday evening.

In the literary field, the chief minister said it is the Government’s duty to extend all support and assistance to Romi Konkani script writers.

“It’s the Government’s firm commitment to see that the language (Konkani) prospers along with the State’s development,” he said.

Outlining various steps taken by the Art and Culture Department towards the promotion of Konkani art and culture, Kamat said, “I initiated the process to set up the Tiatr Academy. A committee is presently drafting the constitution and it should be ready within 2-3 months.”

He further said that the Government has already accepted the demand to name the 1200-capacity AC auditorium of Ravindra Bhavan at Margao after Pai Tiatrist.

“Konkani is the identity of Goans. All should work towards its progress,” he said.

Deputy Speaker Mauvin Godinho urged the Chief Minister to work out schemes for Konkani artists – no matter which script they adopt — in the overall interest of the language.

“Tiatrists have sacrificed immensely to protect Konkani. They certainly deserve better assistance from the Government,” Godinho pointed out.

Fr Conceissao D’Silva, who was felicitated along with others, made an impassioned plea to the Government to give Roman script its rightful place. Former Goa Speaker Tomazinho Cardozo urged the Government to protect Goa’s traditional occupations that are on the verge of extinction for want of support.

7cr GSB Ganesh Idol arrives!!

Ganesh Chaturthi is the day Lord Ganesha is believed to bestow his presence on earth.

Mumbai's favourite god arrived in the city using various modes of transport. The festivities began early Saturday morning, celebrated all over and by people from all walks of life, from politicians to film stars.

''This is the festival of the remover of obstacles. Just as the festival will pass off peacefully, so will all the problems in politics,'' said Vilasrao Deshmukh, Chief Minister, Maharashtra.

''This is a festival for all believers,'' said Govinda, Actor.

To the common Mumbaikars, the festivities are carried out in their own unique style - from the richest like the Rs 7 crore GSB Mandal Ganpati in Wadala to the strangest, like a Harry Potter version in South Mumbai.

But this is only the beginning of the ten-day long celebrations, certain to get more vibrant and exciting in the days to come.

CM assures equal facilities to Devnagiri, Roman Konkani

The Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat, today, assured to give all facilities to Roman script as enjoyed by Devnagiri, in an effort to help the development of Konkani language in the state. He also promised government help to all magazines published in Konkani.

The Chief Minister was speaking as the chief guest, at the one year celebration of the Konkani magazine `Jivit’ in his home town. The Deputy Speaker, Mr Mauvin Godinho was also present.

Stating that Konkani language was the only identity of Goans, Mr Kamat opined that for Goa to progress, development of Konkani language was crucial. “We have to put our best foot forward to develop Konkani language,” Mr Kamat said and promised all necessary help from the government to develop Konkani literature.

He said government has taken a decision to name the air-condition hall in Ravindra Bhavan after `Pai Tiatrist’, who staged the first tiatr in Goa. The Chief Minister also disclosed that he had put in motion the idea of setting up the `Tiatr Academy’ and promised to take it forward.

Reminding the gathering that last year, he was instrumental in sending a Quepem mando group to Saudi, he disclosed that this year another mando group was sent to Dubai.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Mauvin Godinho emphasized on the fact to maintain unity amongst Goans instead of fighting on scripts. “We Goans are known to come on streets for every little issue,” Mr Godinho said and appealed to remain united to protect Konkani.

He informed that many tiatrists had sacrificed their lives and time to protect the identity of Konkani. For Konkani language to progress, Goans should stop fighting in the name of scripts and fight to get equal grants for Roman script writers and tiatrists, he reasoned.

He further told the gathering that Goa had the privilege of having a good CM, who was objective and ever obliging. “Let us all strengthen his hands and help him to take Konkani and Goa to greater heights,” he said.

Earlier the organizers released three Konkani books at the hands of the dignitaries and felicitated five prominent personalities who contributed for the growth of Konkani language.

They also posthumously felicitated late Andrew G C Viegas for his research work on ’50 years of Konkani cinema’.

Organic Tobacco Could Be A Safer Substitute

Researchers from the Central Tobacco Research Institute (CTRI) near Mysore claim that organically grown tobacco contains fewer harmful substances than its conventional peer.

CTRI’s startling revelations come at a time when the World Health Organization (WHO) is pressurizing the Union Government, which is a signatory to the Framework Convention Tobacco Control, to discourage cultivation of tobacco on account of its harmful effects.

Head of CTRI, M.M. Shenoi was quoted that CTRI research proved that organically grown Flue Cured Variety tobacco, used in cigarettes, contained fewer harmful substances such as nicotine, tar and carbon monoxide.

“It is possible to produce safe cigarette tobacco through organic farming,” Shenoi claims. He does add that the findings were only the “trends” of the research, which is expected to continue for two or three more years before a “conclusion” could be arrived at. “The findings are based on the first year’s trials. We are now in the second year of research. Only after continuing the research for two or three more years, will we be in a position to decide on the promotion of organic cultivation of tobacco among farmers,” Shenoi said.

While organic farming does promise to slash the content of harmful substances in tobacco, Shenoi concedes that the yield of tobacco would be decreased by about 35 per cent, in comparison to conventionally grown tobacco. Yet, he adds that research is on to reduce this gap of yield.

During field trials, tobacco was grown without the use of any chemical fertilizer or pesticide used in conventional tobacco farming methods. “We used vermi compost and neem-based bio- fertilizers and pesticides,” Shenoi informs.

Though the yield of organic tobacco did come down by a third, in comparison to conventional farming, Shenoi says that the percentage of bright grade tobacco or superior quality tobacco did increase substantially. The research was confined to Flue Cured Variety of tobacco, used in cigarettes.

Incidentally, this is the first time research had been taken up on organic farming in tobacco. According to Shenoi, the results can be termed so far successful, as far as ‘safe cigarette tobacco’, is concerned.

Shenoi adds that the Flue Cured Variety of tobacco grown in Mysore region has a moderate amount of nicotine and admissible levels of tar. The other harmful substance of tobacco known as TSN (Tobacco Specific Nitrosamines) is below detectable range in Flue Cured Variety of tobacco grown in the region, he states.

Konkani music fest

As many as 22 songs, back to back, were performed at the Konkani Sangeethotsav-2007 organised by Konkani Sahitya Academy at Guru Nanak Bhavan last week.

The singers, accompanied by a full-fledged orchestra, in their 22 songs demonstrated the various facets of the Konkani language. “Yoddling King” Melwin Peris received thundering applause for his song. The programme ended with a Baila (medley of songs).

The special guest for the evening was Kannada film music director Guru Kiran, who recalled his association with the Konkani people and also sang a Konkani song.

Meanwhile, Mandd Sobhann, a premier cultural organisation, founded by Konkani Sahitya Academy Chairman Eric Ozario has announced “Konkani Nirantari”, world’s longest singing marathon by multiple singers at Kalaangann, Mangalore. As many as 1,200 singers will sing for 40 hours non-stop from 6 am, January 26, 2008 to 10 am on January 27.

This is an attempt to earn a place for Konkani in the Guinness Book of World Records by beating the existing record of 36 hours (July 3 to 4, 2004) standing in the name of “Communidade Evangelica Luterana Sao Paulo” Ulbra, Brazil.

Happy Krishna Janmashtami to all!!

Good to the last puff

Want to smoke a quality cigar? Head to R A Baliga & Sons at Princess Street in Fort Kochi.

Baliga's little shop has been there since October 1910, yes, from the days of the British Raj. "My grandfather started the shop to cater to the officials and 5000-odd British troops stationed in Kochi who took many puffs till the fag end of their stay here," says A.S. Baliga, present owner of the shop.

On well painted racks are cigar boxes of various hues and sizes. "We have over 12 varieties," says Baliga with a proud smile.

Habana cigars are blended and hand-rolled. And they are qualitatively better than the machine-rolled ones, taking any smoker to new heights. Packaged in square wooden caskets, these come in boxes of 25 or 50.

The cigars come in two sizes. "One can smoke the king-size ones, almost palm-length, the way foreigners do over a couple of drinks and snacks for one and- a-half hours, while the smaller ones are for those who want a quick smoke that lasts for 15 to 20 minutes," Baliga explains.

Ramachandra Baliga started the cigar business which expanded to tobacco, snuff and beedi leaves after his successors took over. "In Fort Kochi, our shop is probably the only one of the old lot," he says. That makes it antique - 97 years and still running!

The cigars in Baliga's shop are from Cuba. "No other country makes cigars the way Cuba does," he says.

The brand names are fancy: London Calling, Royal Crown and My Lord to name a few. Ironically, that's the only thing that's English. The names have come down the years, as the first customers were Britishers.

It's another story that cigars found in Britain are exported from India. It's probably owing to the US-Castro political standoff that Britishers can't enjoy a Cuban cigar.

So who are Baliga's customers? Baliga smiles, "Foreigners, who else? I don't have to advertise anywhere here." Foreigners know exactly whom to approach as Baliga is listed in several foreign tourist guides.

"When they come, they take away a couple of boxes. They try them out and buy what they like."

The life of a cigar is six months. But it can last even a year if it's not taken out of its box.

"Indian tobacco is very strong, so not many can smoke it. It's something like toddy or gin," he says, drawing a comparison.

Recently, Baliga was felicitated by the Konkani Bhasha Prachar Sabha for being the only member of the community to have done business in the same shop for so many years.

"I had many Anglo-Indian friends here. While some left decades ago in search of greener pastures, many left recently when the land prices started sky-rocketing. I'm the only Konkani left here in British Kochi," he says.

He asks, "Do you read French?" "If yes, I can show you some of the comments written by visitors to this shop." Baliga takes out a book from the drawer and opens it meticulously. Look here, this is written by a Britisher, and this by a German. There are French and Swiss visitors too.

One thing is obvious: at least 70 percent of his buyers do not know English. So how does he communicate with them? "I have been in this business for so many years that I can sense what people want from their very expression," he says.

Call A S Baliga on 9446865756.

Vijay Mallya in joint bid for Formula One team

Indian businessman Vijay Mallya has teamed up with Spyker's director of Formula One, Michiel Mol, to make an 80 million euro ($109.3 million) bid for the cash-strapped team.

"This offer has been accepted by the Board of Spyker Cars N.V. and exclusivity has been granted to the consortium Orange India Holdings Sarl to proceed with due diligence... to achieve completion within 30 days," the partners said in a joint statement late on Friday.

Strongwind, the investment arm of the Mol family, and Watson Limited, which is owned by Mallya, are making the offer. Mallya is the chairman and controlling shareholders of the UB Group, which has beer, spirits and airlines operations in India.

Spyker Formula One team is owned by Dutch luxury sports car maker Spyker Cars NV.

Spyker, founded in 2000, is now reviewing its financing and strategy due to liquidity problems. It acquired the Formula One team from Midland for $106.6 million last year.

Spyker posted a net loss of 29.9 million euros in the first half of the year, up from a loss of 1.1 million euros in the year-ago period. It has said it expects to make a loss this year. The Formula One team had a 13 million euro loss.

King of good times enters TV

First: UB Group Chairman Vijay Mallya.
Second : Group Chairman Vijay Mallya shakes hands with NDTV Chairman Prannoy Roy at the launch of NDTV's lifestyle channel NDTV Good Times at Mumbai's Taj President hotel on August 30.


The 'king of good times' has finally made his foray into television with another doyen of the industry. NDTV announced the launch of a lifestyle channel -- NDTV Good Times -- on Thursday amid the usual pomp and glitz one would expect in any Mallya event. The channel, according to NDTV sources, will target a largely cosmopolitan, socially upbeat audience who does not mind spending a fortune for a better living.

The free-to-air channel, to go on air from September 7, will be available to viewers across India, West Asia, South Africa, England and USA. The channel is led by a '16-year-old' team as Roy put in jokingly while speaking about the tremendous enthusiasm and vibrancy of its members. "NDTV is proud to pioneer yet another step in Indian television industry. Our new offering will leverage the NDTV Group's proven programming and broadcasting skills in partnership with the lifestyle appeal of the Kingfisher brand," Roy added. The NDTV chief was optimistic that the strength of Kingfisher brand combined with NDTV's depth will give the new channel a distinct edge.

Mallya was at his usual flamboyant best as he spoke about how he was once thrown out of his father's office for having asked for a princely sum of Rs 10 lakhs (Rs 1 million) to launch a brand that 'would make the youth rock'. But now that his dream has come true, Mallya said, "The Kingfisher brand has come to epitomise a lifestyle that encompasses some of the finest things in life." The shared values of Kingfisher brand and NDTV Good Times will definitely have on offer a world-class television show, he added.

NDTV Lifestyle CEO Smeeta Chakrabarti said, "NDTV Good Times will target the global, urban Indian who lives in style and svaours every moment of life. ... Now NDTV presents a channel that answers all your questions on food to fitness, travel to leisure, fashion to gadgets and from marriage to parenthood." The programmes (about 50 to 60 per week; more than 6 hours per day) will be presented by experienced hosts like actor Rajat Kapoor, Manju Malhi, said to be Britain's next Madhur Jaffrey, tech guru Rajiv Makhni, cocktail queen Shatbhi Basu, Arun Thapar of Chuppa Rustam fame and spa queen Devika Anand, among others.

Bangalore woman SHOWS how garbage is 'exciting'

Bangalore: Waste management has always been an issue in Bangalore. But a residents association in the city has been working on garbage management for the past 12 years and succeeding.

"Garbage is not a very exciting thing for others, but for us, at least for me it is very exciting,” says President, Scientific Handling of Waste Society (SHOWS), Shalini V Shenoi.

Sixty three-year-old Shalini is a founder member of SHOWS. A residents association in RM Vihar second stage in Bangalore, the society has been managing the disposal of the locality's garbage for the past 12 years.

From segregating waste, to converting biodegradable waste into compost, the organisation ensures that only a third of the total garbage collected is sent out to the city's dumping grounds.

"Our motto is to reduce the garbage going out of our area. Recycle and reuse is alright, but take care of your own garbage,” says Shalini.

The manure produced in the process is sold to the residents at a fixed price and the proceeds are used to pay society employees and to maintain the community park. The Greater Bangalore Municipal Body has also lauded the initiative.

"In Bangalore city we are collecting almost 3,500 tonnes of garbage. Half of the quantity of garbage, which we transport can be reduced if all residents resort to this type of activity,” says Zonal Commissioner, BBMP, S N Nagaraj.

The idea is now being adopted by several other localities in the city. And with a 100 per cent success rate, and 1,500 kilograms of manure per annum as the only end result, the initiative is bound to make the city cleaner and greener.

Jet to fly abroad from Bangalore

After Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai, Jet Airways is now looking at the possibility of flying international from the IT capital.
According to present indications, it should begin its international flights from Bangalore by April next once the new international airport at Devanhalli starts operations. Originally, it proposed to start its flights in October this year but has deferred its plans for now.
According to Mr Harish Shenoy, general manager, Jet Airways, the first private sector airline to fly international, would target a daily frequency to the USA from Bangalore.

KarMic celebrates its anniversary

MANIPAL: The Karnataka Microelectronic Design Centre (KarMic) organised Srishti to commemorate its eighth anniversary celebrations recently, said a press release from the KarMic.

It stated that the engineers had established a high-level of customer service and was proud to have over 250 engineers, who have been trained in transistor level VLSI design, and had the highest retention rate in the industry. It was one of the largest analog chip design companies in India.

Padmavibhushan Prof Valiathan, Dr Shanthipavan, Dr Narasimha Bhat, Sitharam Hegde, Niranjan, managing director of the KarMic Mahant Shetty, vice-president (Business and Strategy Development) Muthukrishnan, executive directors Suman Pai, Vaibhav Prabhu, Srinivas Bhat, Deepa Prabhu, Prasad Mirji and Mahesh K V were present.

�Colaiste,� a KarMic magazine, was released on the occasion and to mark the occasion, engineers planted saplings.