MY SANSAR

Upgraded Aakash tablet to be available at same price: Kapil Sibal

2012-02-20T11:19:00.001+05:30

Aakash, the world's cheapest tablet, will be fully indigenous soon and its improved version will be launched by the government at the same price.

Telecom and HRD Minister Kapil Sibal said Datawind - the manufacturer of the product -will not be associated with it anymore and the Government has roped in C-DAC and ITI in further development of the tablet computer.

"There have been some problem with Datawind I must confess. Therefore, I have got into the act. IT Ministry has got C-DAC and ITI into the act and I am going to ensure that this product is fully indigenous and truly an Indian product," he said.
On whether the new tablet will be available within the same price range as that of the earlier product, he said, "Yes that's what we hope. It is to be upgraded."

On the possible timeline for launching it, he said, "Well, 2012 should seen the sun... Aakash-II should be launched. There have been some hiccups in the way. Remember when you do a project of this nature and when your dream is as big as this, things are never that smooth."

Welcoming competition from market for development of the tablet, he said the ultimate objective is to give a quality product to the children. "I think its a great thing if there is competition. Ultimately my objective is to get a quality product in the hands of the children. I have set the benchmark, it has changed the mindset of the world, I can tell you that," the Minister said.

Everybody now wants to produce a tablet which is of quality and which is reasonably affordable, he noted.

"So if the whole world wants to produce, I don't care who produces, if ultimately it is produced by somebody for children," he underlined.
The Aakash tablet is priced at
approximately USD 49 (Rs 2,414).

Most Lengthy Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel

2012-02-06T17:24:00.000+05:30

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel {CBBT} is a 24 kilometer extensive bridge and tunnel program that attaches south-eastern Va with Delmarva Peninsula in the U. s. Declares.

The bridge attaches the subsequent separate places Va Seaside, and Norfolk, Va to Cpe Charles in Northampton Nation along the southern ocean of Va.The bridge-tunnel was started out on May Fifteenth, 1963, in May 1986 it was basically known as the Lucius J. Kellam Jr. Bridge-Tunnel following one of the social management who labored for its progression.Even so, it is yet the well known as Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.

Ice Hotel In Sweden City

2012-01-31T17:25:00.000+05:30

The hotel which is the much strange of the entire world is certainly the Swedish Ice Hotel, which reinvents itself each winter tons of snow and ice materialize.

The hotel can accommodate over hundreds guests in the room of origin, where the temperature is at the limit of 5-7 degrees Celsius. Incredible hotel and chapel are ice perfect Art Gallery and bar, ice bar home first time in 1995. For those that do not support a temperature so low, also Ice Hotel has numerouse rooms with heat.

What to Do When Wikipedia Blackouts

2012-01-18T11:55:00.001+05:30

Wikipedia has gone dark on today for 24hrs in protest of the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) legislation.

Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales had advised students to do their homework earlier to avoid the downtime, but that's not your only option.
If you really must do research tomorrow, here are
Some Wikipedia alternatives.

Encyclopedia Britannica Online

Remember regular encyclopedias? Britannica, formerly the most referenced encyclopedia on earth, offers up expert summaries of a wide range of topics online. Though it's been overshadowed by Wikipedia's crowd-sourced approach in recent years, Encyclopedia Britannica is still one of the most respected reference works in the world.

Scholarpedia

Scholarpedia uses the same software as Wikipedia, MediaWiki, but keeps the philosophy of a more traditional encyclopedia. Scholarpedia is written only by experts and as a result has less breadth but more depth than Wikipedia. Articles on Scholarpedia are better sourced and more stable than the average article on Wikipedia.

Infoplease

Infoplease started as a quiz show back in the 1930's before evolving into a yearly almanac. Now it's a huge online encyclopedia managed by educational publisher Pearson Education. Infoplease's main advanatage over Wikipedia is that it has a much larger selection of multimedia entries and tools.

Citizendium

Citizendium aims for a comfortable middle ground between the "anything goes" world of Wikipedia editing and the more formal inclusion process of traditional encyclopedias. Citizendium does allow for contributions from the public at large, but contributors must use their real names and conform to the site's rules and regulations or they will be banned from editing in the future.

The Free Dictionary Encyclopedia

If you've ever Googled for the definition of a word, you've probably run across Free Dictionary. In addition to dictionary functionality, the Website also offers an encyclopedia section with much longer explanations of over 100,000 people, places, and things.

Wikipedia's offline archives (can't download during blackout)

Consider downloading Wikipedia's offline archives. Wikipedia offers a 1.7GB archive of the entire Website that you can download and consult when the site is down.

30-story Chinese five-star hotel constructed in 15 days

2012-01-15T01:01:00.000+05:30

Features of the T30 Hotel

T30, a 30-story, five-star hotel
Area - 17000m²
Construction time - 15 days
350 rooms, a restaurant, bar, gym
swimming pool on the top floor
underground parking
helicopter pad
9m earthquake resistant, 5x energy efficient, 20x pure air
total cost - 17 million

They began the week with the destruction of Houston’s historic Prudential Building and now end with a time-lapse documenting a 30-story, five-star Chinese hotel constructed in only 15 days.

The Chinese construction company, Broad Group, is gaining international attention for their efficient construction methods made possible by through prefab construction techniques, as ninety-three percent of the high-rise was quickly pieced together with pre-made components.

The 17,000 square meter hotel known as T30 is located in the Lin Gang Industrial Zone in Xiangyin County. It started construction on December 2, 2011 and was completed in 360 hours. The hotel is comprised of over 350 rooms, a restaurant, bar, gym, swimming pool on the top floor, underground parking and a helicopter pad. All rooms have quadruple-paned windows, external solar shading, LED lighting, water efficient toilets and an innovative air filtration system that promises pure air. The total cost of the hotel was 17 million.

Using a new structural system design and developed by Broad Sustainable Building (BSB), a simulation model of the building was said to have withstood a series of earthquake resistance tests ranging from 7.0 to 9.0 magnitude – conducted by the China Academy of Building Research last May.

Moshe Safdie Design: Condominium at Bishan Central, Singapore

2012-01-14T04:07:00.000+05:30

Safdie Architects recent design, ‘Condominium at Bishan Central’, a 38-story residential complex in the Bishan district of Singapore.

The structure specially provides air movement to individual units while the upper balconies provide ventilation. The cluttered blocks of vertical space helps blend in the connections with natures with personal access to outdoor gardens. Who would have known gazing at a mind blowing complex would personally release endorphins and dopamine?

Concept Buildings

2012-01-11T08:57:00.000+05:30

The Tornado Design Tower

This high rise building in Taipei, Taiwan will accommodate the activities of theater and observation tower. This building design is an entry for an opera competition in Taiwan which was designed by Visiondivision collaborates with Markus Wagner, a member of Svensk Standard. By raising the building up, it is possible to create a public space around it. The entrance is surrounded by pearls to give the theater experience. Actually the pearls in different sizes around the landscape are non-toxic and non-flamable acrylic balls with a tint of reflection.

Apeiron Hotel Dubai

The hotel is based on the concept of infinity.

Apeiron Island Hotel is a design concept for a new 7 star hotel in Dubai. Developer and construction schedule have not been announced as of October 2007. The Apeiron Hotel would be the second (self-awarded) 7 star hotel to be built in Dubai. The Burj Al Arab hotel was the first 7 star hotel (also a self-awarded rating).

The Apeiron will have 350 luxury apartment suites and be a jungle-themed hotel built on an island about 300-500 m off the coast of Dubai - close enough to swim to but that's not the intended mode of transport to access the island. It will be accessible by boat or helicopter only. The top two floors of the Apeiron will contain a jungle with butterflies and other insects. As yet, it is unknown if insect repellent will be included with your bathroom goodies. Other features will include an art gallery, cinemas, conference facilities, shops, underwater spa & gym, an underwater restaurant, and private lagoons & beaches for the guests.

The Water Building Resort

The water building resort has been conceptually and architecturally designed in the shape of a water drop and intends to be the world’s first building that can convert air into water by using solar energy. The technique is nothing but a combination of technology and nature. A photovoltaic glass made southerly facing facade will harness the required solar energy and let light to pass through. Conversely, the northern façade includes a latticed ventilation design and utilizes Teex Micron equipment to convert humid air into pure drinking water through condensation. Moreover, the bottom floor of this resort complex will have a water treatment zone for purifying rain water and salty sear water and a technological investigation center to control and verify water quality.

Pics: Spectacular Architecture in Spain

2012-01-02T20:41:00.001+05:30

Take a virtual tour of Spain and admire the architectural beauty that can be found there.

La Almudena Cathedral – Madrid (Spain)

Pond of the Fisher’s Cabin

Cathedral – Catedral, Cuenca (Spain)

Hanging Houses – Casas Colgadas, Cuenca (Spain)

Church of San Manuel and San Benito in Madrid (Spain)

Crystal Palace – Palacio de Cristal, Parque del Retiro, Madrid

Monument to King Alfonso XII – Madrid

Plaza Mayor, Salamanca (Spain)

St. Vincent’s Basilica

Covent of Saint Esteban

Crystal Palace – Palacio de Cristal, Parque del Retiro, Madrid

City Hall of Cadiz, Spain

View of the Cathedral of Cadiz

Plaza Zorrilla, Valladolid (Spain)

Cathedral – La Seo Cathedral – Catedral, Zaragoza (Spain)

Plaza Mayor, Salamanca (Spain)

Basilica-Cathedral of Our Lady of the Pillar

Dubai Hotel Under Water

2012-01-02T20:36:00.000+05:30

Unbelievable Hotel under the water not anywhere but just in Dubai city, the planned of building a luxury hotel which is minimum sixty six feet underwater for away from any noise. Right next to the Burj al-Arab, manufactured islands and indoor ski slopes, the commercial capital of the island, Hydropolis will agree in the ideal estimate of £ 300 000 000 United Kingdom, this amazing technical challenges, so that customers can rejoice true peace and getting relax to come there beautiful and calming place.

Cricket: Australia beat India by 122 runs

2011-12-29T11:50:00.005+05:30

Melbourne debacle: Australia beat India by 122 runs

The famed Indian batting line-up collapsed like a pack of cards as the visitors faced a big defeat on the fourth day of the first cricket Test against Australia in Melbourne on Thursday.

Chasing 292, India's top-order batsmen produced a toothless batting display to see the visitors reel at 117 for six during the final break of the day. In their quest for the highest fourth- innings chase at the MCG in 58 years, India lost half of their side inside the 100-run mark with skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (14 batting) and Ravichandran Ashwin (30 batting) holding the fort for the visitors.

India, 24 for one at lunch, lost Gautam Gambhir (13), Rahul Dravid (10), VVS Laxman (1), Virat Kohli (0) and Sachin Tendulkar (32) in the afternoon session as the pace trio of James Pattinson (2/32), Ben Hilfenhaus (2/28) and Peter Siddle (2/40) wreaked havoc in the tourists' ranks.

Siddle started the rot when he had Gautam Gambhir caught by Ricky Ponting at second slip, fiddling at a bouncy delivery in the same manner as he had done in the first innings. Tendulkar, who once again entered the ground to a standing ovation, came and drove his first ball into covers for three runs to convey his intentions clear.

An on-drive, with virtually the full face of the bat, by Tendulkar brought up the 50 of Indian innings.
Dravid was sedate but solid at the other end, yet Pattinson was able to create a huge gap between his bat and pad to knock back his middle stump. The right-hander hit one four during his 29-ball stay.
Dravid's exit opened the floodgates for Australia.

VVS Laxman took his first run off the seventh ball he faced but then flicked Pattinson into the hands of Ed Cowan at square leg to make it four down for 68 runs.

Kohli fell off the first delivery he faced, LBW to Hilfenhaus. But the biggest blow came soon thereafter when Tendulkar drove a swinging delivery from Peter Siddle straight to Hussey at gully.
Tendulkar batted for 73 minutes and faced 46 balls. He hit four fours before disappearing into the MCG tunnel amidst a standing sendoff, possibly for the last time.

Dhoni chose attack as the best defence and decided to take matter into his hands by slamming Hilfenhaus over wide long on for a six.

Ashwin rode his luck well, inside and outside edging boundaries behind square but ended the session with a brilliant straight drive off Siddle. Earlier, Australia, resuming at the overnight score of 179 for eight, rode on mixture of luck and bold hitting to stretch their innings to 240 before being bowled out 42 minutes before the lunch break.

Caracella Club in Delhi, An upside down club

2011-12-23T12:31:00.000+05:30

The club, which forms part of the new Orange County build by Meriton Group, was inspired by the Wonder Works 'inverted amusement parks' in Tennessee and Florida in the United States.
Built for their entertainment value, these structures are equipped with extreme experience zones - the disaster zone, the challenge zone, space, sound and light zones and laser tag zones.

But the Caracella Club - named after the first club built by ancient Romans - will be a space for local residents to socialise, but with a twist.
From some angles, the building gives the illusion of tipping over and Meriton director Avnish Agrawal said it would hopefully provide a focal point for the refurbished area, as well as a draw for tourists.
'At present, Indirapuram is looked at as a mere junior cousin to Noida, despite the fact that the former is better connected to Delhi,' he said.
'Over 80 per cent of the 700 apartments have already been sold.'

The inverted building is said to be the first of its kind in India, although there are already a few examples of similar structures around the world - aside from the Caracella Club's inspirations.
In Japan's Matsumoto city in Nagano, the Sakasa restaurant features fittings including buckets as lampshades, in addition to the outside of the building being 'on its roof'.
Poland, Russia and Turkey also boast their own 'upside-down houses', some built as tourist attractions and some by (rather strange) private landowners.

The club is the third ‘inverted’ building in the world. To give the impression that it has fallen from heaven, inverted pillars and some part of its walls and roof is given a broken look outside. The interior, however, does not not only look right side up but it is stronger than many other clubhouses.

The exclusive country club for Orange County residents provide top quality facilities. The club is equipped with the latest recreational facilities, such as relaxing spas and saunas, a fully modernized gymn and a Jacuzzi. It also has an elite bar as well as massage and yoga centres.

Review: SRK makes Don 2 work

2011-12-23T11:33:00.000+05:30

Film: Don 2

Director: Farhan Akhtar
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Boman Irani
Rating: ****
Ever since Farhan Akhtar gave us the delectable Dil Chahta Hai (smartly written, well acted, a trendsetter of sorts), he has failed to better, or even get close to, his debut effort. His production company may have churned out some pretty memorable films since (Honeymoon Travels, Rock On, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara), but his own directorial ventures have been mediocre. Lakshya suffered from a Dil Chahta Hai-wannabe first half fused with a JP Dutta-styled second. Don, the remake of Chandra Barot’s highly enjoyable 1978 caper, with its harebrained finale, was a complete letdown.

Unsatisfying as Akhtar’s Don was, the sequel promos have been promising. And with Akhtar and Co free of the baggage of recreating the original Don, they could take things in a new direction. Which they do. Except, others have trodden this path already.

Like Danny Ocean. And John McClane. In Don 2, Akhtar manages to blend elements from various H’wood films, mostly Ocean’s Eleven and Die Hard, with a bit of Mission Impossible thrown in. This is our answer to Hollywood - a rehash of what they’ve done already. No points for originality.

No points for writing either. If Akhtar’s film lulls you to sleep initially, in spite of some slick editing, it’s because the writing (Akhtar, Ameet Mehta, Amrish Shah) falters. Characters say boring, random things to each other, there’s a pointlessly long dance sequence (Hrithik Roshan, looking dapper in an unintentionally hilarious cameo), and the attempt at dialoguebaazi is laughable (“Jab tak Don ko asliyat ka pata chalega, tab tak Don mar chuka hoga”).

The situations are alarmingly unimaginative. Sample this: Don-ny Ocean (SRK) plans to get out of a high security prison by mixing the food given to prisoners with a liquid that results in mass food poisoning. Johar Mehmood In Hong Kong had a similar sequence where prisoners in a jail are given julab (laxative) on the sly, helping them flee. That was a farcical comedy. Here, it seems like a cop-out.

What keeps Don 2 alive, then, is its pulsating action. It helps the pace quicken as the film progresses, including a thrilling chase sequence and a wonderfully choreographed-and-shot pre-climax sequence. Cinematographer Jason West (Rock On) and stunt director Matthias Barsch enthuse life into proceedings, ensuring that action junkies get their fill.

The film, however, is nothing more than an attempt to cash in; to set opening weekend records. And to provide a vehicle for its lead star to dazzle (so much so, every other actor seems inconsequential). Thankfully, Shah Rukh Khan is in form. The body language is cocky, the attitude flamboyant, and the smirk consistent. In a full-fledged action role, Khan goes the whole hog, pulling off the stunts with panache. Only for him, Don 2 is pretty enjoyable.

Sadly, with a director who showed much promise with his first film, Don 2 should have been more than just another big-ticket Friday film that rests solely on the shoulders of its lead actor. Anees Bazmee has one of those coming out every few months. Akhtar seems to have found his own money-churning superstar. The filmmaker’s voice, then, has been muted.

Watch Don 2 for some kick-ass action. And Shah Rukh Khan.

Sustainable ‘Vertical Village’, Dubai

2011-12-21T03:23:00.000+05:30

Sustainable ‘Vertical Village’ For Dubai Designed By GRAFT Architects

Expected to gain gold LEED certification, the Vertical Village by Graft Architects is another Eco architecture found in the desert of Dubai. Designed by Graft Lab, the structure is a multi-use development designed to house residential, hotel, and entertainment facilities while collecting solar energy up to the maximum. Designed to reduce solar gain and maximize solar production, the Village has buildings that are massed as self-shading slabs in the north side of the site on the east-axis in order to reduce a lengthy sun penetration.

The southern end of the site on the other hand is equipped with solar collectors that automatically position themselves towards the sun. It has the solar roofs that break the solar energy and turns it into manageable portions. The roofs also help transport energy.

‘Vertical Village’ is a residential, hotel and entertainment development that harnesses the most powerful renewable energy source in the desert, the sun.

Organized to reduce solar gain and maximize solar production, the buildings are massed as self-shading slabs at the North of the site on the East-West axis to reduce low-angle sun penetration.

At the southern end of the site, a vast solar collector array optimally angles itself toward the sun and faces the main public strip as a potent gesture to the developments sustainable intent and minimum LEED Gold rated performance.

The solar roof behaves much like a leaf, with veins that break the solar field up into serviceable units to provide structure but also transport energy, in this case hot water, back to the building where the energy is used to significantly reduce air conditioning consumption and provide hot water.

Beneath the roof lies an urban scale entertainment district of cinemas, restaurants, shops and a theater that shifts in degree of privacy and scale between the main entertainment strip to the South and the residential and hotel towers to the North.

The hotel and residential buildings have been sliced and leaned to firstly create large scale focal points, giving a unique address to each slab, and also to create a powerful and constantly shifting skyline as one drives by.

Spaces captured between the slabs open up, interlock, disappear and then reappear ar one approaches the building, offering a theatrical play of volumes that gesture towards the development’s entertainment and theater program.’

Review: Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol

2011-12-18T22:15:00.001+05:30

Movie: Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol Critic's Rating****
Cast: Tom Cruise, Paula Patton, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Michael Nyqvist, Anil Kapoor
Direction: Brad Bird
Genre: Action
Duration: 2 hours 13 minutes

Story: The high profile IMF is falsely accused of bombing the Kremlin and agent Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his teammates are forced to become rogue agents, with the government declaring a ghost protocol (no protection) against them. In a race against time, they must clear their name and save the world from armageddon, as a deadly megalomaniac, Cobalt (Michael Nyqvist) wants to start a nuclear war.

Movie Review: Action has always been the high point of the Mission Impossible series. But this kind of action: Wow!

The new film is essentially a relentless roller-coaster ride that doesn't give you a moment to sit back and keeps the adrenalin pumping to dizzy heights as Tom Cruise gets on his regular mission of saving the world, one more time. And once again, he has nothing on his side, not even his government, other than his physical prowess, his ability to perform the most death- defying stunts and an abundance of sheer luck which redefines the word 'impossible' as 'possible'.

This time however, he isn't working as the lone ranger but has a close knit crack team comprising agent carter ( Paula Patton), Brandt ( Jeremy Renner) and Benji ( Simon Pegg). While Carter adds the glamour quotient, apart from being a female action hero, Benji takes care of the humour element even as he manages the techie stuff and the funky gadgetry and Brandt, the analyst, remains unpredictable and mysterious with a deadly secret. It's a winning team, despite the individual differences and the foursome end up as an endearing family with each character having a substantial role to play.

But essentially it is the exquisite stunts and the high- decibel action set pieces which create magic on screen. The mission basically entails four main tasks: stealing a missing file, getting hold of the Cold War nuclear codes, infiltrating a satellite and finally, defusing a nuclear warhead before it strikes its target and decimates the world.

But before the task is executed you get to witness some genre-defining action sequences which include a daring prison break in Russia, the infiltration of the Kremlin, Cruise's high-rise leaps and jumps followed by his awesome ascent over Dubai's tallest tower, Patton's cat fight with the blonde assassin, Brandt's satellite entry and the final confrontation in Mumbai's multi-level car parking. Performance-wise, Cruise is in total command of the drama which boasts of several engaging twists and turns.

A word about Anil Kapoor: he plays playboy Brij Nath with a penchant for pretty girls and shady deals, in a comic vein. It is just a bit more than a blink- and-you'll-miss role as Patton unleashes her charms on him.

Cricket- Sehwag surpasses Tendulkar, scores 219

2011-12-08T22:02:00.001+05:30

Sachin Tendulkar stepped on a plane yesterday as the proud owner of the highest individual score in 50-over cricket but will land on Australian soil to find that he has been robbed of the record by his one-time protégé Virender Sehwag.

Sehwag has come a long way since his early days when he was called a ‘Tendulkar-clone’ and the 33-year-old struck a blazing 219 against West Indies to surpass his mentor in his 240th one-day international.

Tendulkar, who hit 200 not out against South Africa in Gwalior in February 2010, was among the first batch of Indian cricketers to leave for the team's Australia tour. Sehwag fiercely cut an Andre Russell delivery for the most memorable of the 25 fours he hit yesterday as Indore's Holkar Cricket Stadium went into a delirium.

One of the few batsmen considered capable of hitting 200 in one-dayers, Sehwag punched the air before hugging batting partner Rohit Sharma. He then took the helmet off to acknowledge the cheers from the hollering fans. One male supporter even managed to sprint on to the ground with a bouquet and tried to present it to a bemused Sehwag before being escorted out.

"Everybody was expecting me to score a double hundred and I think I lived (up to the) expectation," a visibly tired Sehwag said at the innings break, happy to have made the most of the perfect batting conditions. "Whenever I wanted to hit a ball, I hit into the gaps and it went for four. Whenever I wanted to hit a six, I just tried to hit it with a straight bat," said the opener with perhaps the most uncomplicated batting philosophy. "I was telling myself and Gautam Gambhir that if we batted with a little patience, we could score a big one here."

Fortune also favoured the brave opener in his pursuit of the milestone. Sehwag survived a run-out chance when he was on 20 and could have been dismissed on 170 as well but his opposite number Darren Sammy running in from extra cover, dropped an easy catch off Ravi Rampaul. "When Sammy dropped my catch, I thought God is with me and God is telling me 'just bat until the 45th-46th over and you will achieve your 200'," said Sehwag, one of the most devastating batsmen in contemporary cricket.

Sehwag took 41 balls to reach his half-century and needed 28 more to score his 15th ODI century. His 150 came off 112 balls and by the time Kieron Pollard ended his 149-ball batting pyrotechnics studded with seven sixes, Sehwag had entered the record book after a breathtaking knock that left him drained. Sehwag scored his previous highest ODI score of 175 against Bangladesh in the February 19 World Cup match in Dhaka. "I'm very tired because I'm a 33-year-old. I'm an old man and my back and glutes are tight," Sehwag said.

Veteran actor Dev Anand dies of cardiac arrest in London

2011-12-04T14:56:00.001+05:30

Dev Anand, the 'Evergreen Romantic Superstar' of Indian cinema, passed away in London on Saturday night following cardiac arrest. He was 88.

Dev Anand, who had come to London for medical check up, was not keeping well for the last few days, family sources said. His son Sunil was with him when he breathed his last. Dev Anand made his debut as an actor in 1946 in Hum Ek Hain. By the time his Ziddi was released in 1947 he was a superstar and has never looked back.

Versatile Dev Anand has given countless hits like Paying Guest, Baazi, Jewel Thief, CID, Johny Mera Naam, Amir Garib, Warrant, Hare Rama Hare Krishna and Des Pardes. For his outstanding contribution to Indian cinema, Dev Anand was honoured with the prestigious the Padma Bhushan in 2001 and Dada Saheb Phalke Award in 2002. He established his film production company Navketan International Films in 1949 and has produced more than 35 movies.

Dev Anand has won two Filmfare Awards - India's equivalent of the Oscars - in 1958 for his performance in the film Kala Paani (Black Water) and in 1966 for his performance in Guide. Guide went on to win Filmfare Awards in five other categories including Best Film and Best Director and was sent as India's entry for the Oscars in the foreign film category that year. He co-produced the English Version of Guide with the Nobel Laureate Pearl S Buck (The Good Earth). In 1993, he received a Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award and in 1996 he received a Screen Videocon Lifetime Achievement Award.

Of late he was involved in the direction of a new all American film Project Song Of Life - a musical love story which was to be shot in the United States. He was to play the central character in the film which was to have a predominantly American star cast. Dev Anand is the second of three brothers who were active in Hindi Cinema. His brothers are Chetan Anand and Vijay Anand. Their sister, Sheel Kanta Kapur, is the mother of renowned film director Shekhar Kapur.

Nizami Brothers qawwali in Jamia Millia Islamia

2011-12-03T14:07:00.000+05:30

Nizami Brothers qawwali in Jamia Millia Islamia singing Kun Faya Kun from Rockstar

Review: The Dirty Picture

2011-12-02T00:47:00.005+05:30

Film: The Dirty Picture
Director: Milan Luthria
Cast: Vidya Balan, Naseeruddin Shah, Emraan Hashmi and
Tusshar
Rating: ****

It’s the mid-80s. An ageing, vain superstar is surrounded by his cronies as a script writer
narrates a story about an orphan to him.”This orphan hero angle is so '60s,” cuts in the star. “Let’s give the hero a family for a change. Let’s give him a sister too. Then let’s get her raped.” Everyone around
can’t stop marveling at the idea. The writer is impressed too. “Let’s make this movie,”
he says. The ’80s was probably the lowest point in our cinema.

Doodh ka karz, behen ka badla and maa kasam ruled, as plot lines of each film resembled
that of the other. The story almost always revolved around the film’s lead star, a
comedy track was a must, there had to be a punch line in every scene, and crassness
was a necessary ingredient. There was also a vamp prancing in skimpily clad
outfits around the good-hearted hero, before he spurned her advances for the
pristine heroine. But even as we may squirm at some of these films today, many of
them continue to entertain us on lazy Sunday afternoons.

Even camp, after all, must be celebrated. And that is what The Dirty Picture does. Meant to be a
biopic of south siren Silk Smitha, the film really is a recreation of an era when
hyperbole in cinema was cool. It also pays tribute to all things inane about our films. Even as
it depicts an era when the formula ruled, The Dirty Picture lives the formula itself. Director Milan Luthria and writer Rajat Arora give us a dialoguebaazi-filled potboiler that plays to the gallery, and is
a vehicle for its lead actor Vidya Balan to display histrionics.

Entertainment is the sole purpose. It has its shares of inanities, especially in the latter half (another trait
typical to our films – the post- interval mishmash), but has enough masala and good
performances to ride us through to the end. If I may use the oft-repeated trade
jargon, The Dirty Picture is complete paisa vasool. The tempo is racy. The Tamil
song, ‘Nakka Mukka’ (from the 2008 film, Kadhalil Vizhunthen), blares as the
opening credits roll. The song then appears at strategic points in the narrative, one
where Vidya gyrates suggestively, licking her lips as she thrusts her hips hard. It’s a
masterstroke, buying the rights to the song, and it continues to ring in your ears
much after you’ve walked out of theatre.

The Bappi Lahiri ditty ‘Ooh la la’ is, then, second best. Vidya plays junior artist Reshma (Hindi for silk, also probably a reference to one of Silk Smitha’s popular films, Reshma Ki Jawani), before film producer Silva Ganesh christens her Silk. She goofs up her first big break – an item song with superstar Suryakant. Naseeruddin Shah gives a pitch-perfect performance as matinee idol Suryakant, each body
movement laudable; every expression priceless. Shah makes the role his own,
making it impossible to envision any other actor in his place. “What makes you
special?” he asks Silk. “I have had 500 women before you.”

She looks at him, eyes sparking, and says, “But have you had the same woman 500 times?” He’s visibly surprised; even pleased. So are you. To have a Hindi film heroine who is unapologetic about
using her sexuality to achieve means is always welcome. To have a Hindi film heroine who
does it with such relish is a real victory. And Vidya Balan pulls off Silk in a manner no
current female actor can.

Heck, no actor in recent times has shown – if I may say so – the balls to give himself/herself to a role as wholeheartedly as Vidya has (barring, probably, Ranbir Kapoor in Rockstar). She is fearless, giving an uninhibited portrayal of someone who enjoys adulation, but dies a lonely death. She is the fantasy of
millions, but craves love. She doesn’t get it. And Vidya brings all that – the
flamboyance, the sensuality, the heartbreak – to her role (and without coming across
even a tad vulgar). And she is aided by some fiery dialogue by Arora. The one-
liners come thick and fast (so many, you lose track after a point), some meant to amuse,
others a tool to shock.

Nudity is minimal (although there’s ample cleavage at display); it’s the dialogue that makes The Dirty Picture sassy. But post-interval, the writing lags. The track involving Silk and Suryakant’s brother, played by Tusshar, slows down proceedings mainly because Tusshar fails to rise to the challenge of performing
with far more able actors. He sticks out like a sore thumb. Emraan Hashmi, on the other
hand, is good. The chemistry between him and Vidya is sizzling (the two dislike each
other, making their camaraderie interesting).

But the need to pander to Emraan’s ‘hero’ image jars. Why else would a filmmaker (played by Hashmi) turn hero suddenly, especially when there was a clear alternative Arora/Luthria could have opted for? He’s given a song too, one that is lilting but slows down the tempo. It’s kinda funny – the film speaks of the
misogynistic nature of the film industry but can’t entirely escape it. Luthria seems to have been
stuck between making a wholly commercial product and staying true to the story.
While he does balance it well for most part, and quite efficiently too, he could have
done without resorting to convenient twists in the film towards the end. His isn’t
really a biopic, surely not an authentic one, as he picks up threads from different sources
(Suryakant seems to be influenced by two-three superstars, for example) and
uses it to his advantage (he never claimed to make an authentic telltale, so it’s okay).
Sadly, though, he fails to make Silk’s downward spiral as engaging as her rise to fame. With a highly entertaining first half, and a mediocre second, The Dirty Picture falls short of
being truly remarkable. But for that ‘boombaat’ of a performer, Vidya Balan (one star solely for her), and
entertaining dialogue, the film is worth the ticket price. Watch The Dirty Picture for the
gutsiest, most versatile actor we have today.

PPT: Calligraphy: Textual to Contextual

2011-11-24T20:10:00.001+05:30

Taj Mahal Painting worth Rs 5cr at Trade Fair

2011-11-19T18:25:00.007+05:30

A Taj Mahal miniature painting worth rupees 5cr at India International Trade Fair 2011 (IITF 2011) is the major attraction.

A london based business man has offered 5cr rupees to buy this painting.
Rajasthan govt decided Rs 1 crore as the value of the painting. "The value of the painting may even touch Rs 20 crore in some countries. The painting has also been selected for a national award.

The painting is charmed by Taj Mahal's popularity, beauty and the finest art work. This painting of Tajmahal shows everything about it from its foundation to establishment.
Why so Famous?

Size: 20 X 24 inch painting.
4 lakh human figures. (kings, ministers, armies)
2 lakh elephants and riders.
50 thousand miniature Taj Mahals and other monuments.

To have a good view of the painting lense has been provided which gives the clear view of every small details. This painting tell the story of the construction of the Taj Mahal. It begins with the burial of Mumtaz Mahal and ends with Shah Jahan, imprisoned at the Red Fort (Agra), looking at the Taj Mahal with his daughter Jahanara through the window. The retelling of this part of Mughal history covers the construction of the Taj - the gathering of stone, the increase in taxes to fund construction as well as the rebellion of Shah Jahan's sons.

This piece of amazing arts has been created by artist Naveen Sharma of Jaipur.

Painter Navin Sharma in the centre

Making of the Painting
It took him more than four years to complete this painting. To plan this painting he took one year.

Sharma began work on the painting in 2006 and finished in October 2010.

For the painting Sharma has used wasli - handmade paper - and a brush he makes himself. "It's made of wood and squirrel hair," he says. He wets the brush with spit and draws attention to the single strand that is longer than the rest and sticks out. "It's with this one hair that I did most of the painting," he explains.

The most noticeable part was that he has no degree or certificate from any school of art and the irony is that a Jaipur professor is doing doctorate (Phd) in his painting.

In coming days this painting will be a subject of learning in school of arts.

The artist is on the way to popularize this painting so that one day it can beat the most famous and the priceless painting of Monalisa. Artist is confident that his hard work, dedication and peoples blessing will help him achieve his goal..

After a successful run at trade fair the painting will go on display in various art galleries across the country. The next destination will be Mumbai where bollywood biggies are expected to have a look of the painting.

Currently painting is in safe custody and the scanned copy is in display at trade fair. Artist has got various offers including 50000 rupees to sell the replica of original painting.

"The painting was completed after consistent hard work and dedication of four years," said Navin Sharma, the painter. "I want to see my painting more beautiful than the famous 'Monalisa'," he said.