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'Jai Gangaajal’ trailer - Prakash Jha First time on Screen and Priyanka Chopra with Her Impressing Acting

noreply@blogger.com (srijan saurya) — Thu, 24 Dec 2015 20:35:00 +0000

Prakash Jha will see first time on screen and Unbreakable and determined, Priyanka looks tough in her character who is hard to manipulate and knows the rules of the game well. The film talks about the hardships of a woman in the police force and how she will stand fearless to give the corrupt forces a handful. Director Prakash Jha marks his screen debut with the film as a corrupt police officer and even shaved off his trademark beard for the role.

Jha has already made it clear that the film is not a sequel of his 2003 film, 'Gangaajal' but is instead a fresh story about the society-police relationship. How well Priyanka manages to establish that is to be seen, but from what we've seen in the trailer so far, PC seems to have done a great job. 'Jai Gangaajal' is slated to hit the theatres on March 4, 2016.-[TOI]

Cast:
Priyanka Chopra as SP Abha Mathur
Prakash Jha as Beant Singh
Manav Kaul
Rahul Bhat
Ninad Kamat
Ayush Mahesh Khedekar
Murli Sharma
Vega Tamotia

Queen Harish

10 New upcoming Cars In India in 2015

noreply@blogger.com (srijan saurya) — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 06:17:00 +0000

Maruti Suzuki XA Alpha

Maruti Suzuki SX4 S-Cross

Maruti Suzuki iK-2 aka YRA Premium Hatchback

New Honda Jazz

Maruti Suzuki Celerio Diesel

Hyundai ix25 Compact SUV

Renault 800cc Hatchback

Mahindra's Sub-Compact SUV

Ford Figo Sedan

Tata Kite twins

How to Install DB2(DB2 v9.7fp1_ntx64_server) in Windows

noreply@blogger.com (srijan saurya) — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 05:18:00 +0000

Step 1 - Click on DB2 Server.msi from folder(db2>>DB2 v9.7fp1_ntx64_server>>SERVER>>db2>>Windows)

Step 2- Click Next

Step 3- Choose 'I accept the ...' and click on Next

Step 4 - Choose Installation type (Typical) & click on Next

Step 5 - Choose 'Install DB2 Server ...' as shown in Figure and click Next

Step 6 - Choose Directory and click on Next(Better dont change the directory)

Step 7 - Type Password & Conform password. (Remember the password because this will be use in Opening DB2 user login.

Step 8 - Click on Next

Step 9 - Tick the 'Prepare the DB2 tools catalog'. click on Next

Step 10 - Untick the 'Set up your DB2 server to send notification' and click on Next

Step 11 - Tick the 'Enable operating system security'. (Don't change the group name for both administrative group and user group) and click Next.

Step 12 - Click on Finish. (Your Installation will start).

After Installing DB2, Restart the Computer/laptop.

Choose DB2 login and type the password as you have typed in "Step 7".

Bajaj Pulsar RS200 vs Yamaha R15 vs Hero Karizma ZMR

noreply@blogger.com (srijan saurya) — Tue, 19 May 2015 08:24:00 +0000

Bajaj Pulsar RS200 Yamaha R15 Version 2.0 Hero Karizma ZMR

Engine	199.5cc, liquid-cooled, fuel injected, single-cylinder	149.8cc, liquid-cooled, fuel injected, single-cylinder	223cc, air-cooled, fuel injected, single-cylinder
Power	24.5PS @ 9,750rpm	17PS @ 8,500rpm	20PS @ 8,000rpm
Torque	18.6Nm @ 8,000rpm	15Nm @ 7,500rpm	19.7Nm @ 6,500rpm
Gearbox	6-speed	6-speed	5-speed
Suspension	Front- Telescopic fork Rear- Nitrox monoshock	Front- Telescopic fork Rear- Monoshock	Front- Telescopic fork Rear- Twin shock
Brakes	Front - 300mm dia disc (ABS optional) Rear - 230mm dia disc	Front - Disc Rear – Disc	Front - 276mm dia disc Rear - 240mm dia disc
Fuel Tank Capacity	13 litres	12 litres	15.3 litres
Wheelbase	1,355mm	1,345mm
Length x Width x Height	1,999 x 765 x 1,114mm	1,970 x 670 x 1,070mm	NA
Kerb Weight	165kg	136kg	157kg
Ground Clearance	157mm	160mm	NA
Price (ex-showroom Delhi)	Rs 1.18 lakh Rs 1.30 lakh (ABS)

Iphone 7 Concept with Integrated Home Button into Dsiplay | Watch Video of Iphone 7 Concept

noreply@blogger.com (srijan saurya) — Sat, 16 May 2015 12:15:00 +0000

How to Install Code Block and Glut packages For OpenGL Step by Step Process

noreply@blogger.com (srijan saurya) — Sun, 26 Apr 2015 08:11:00 +0000

1) First Intall The CODE BLOCK from installer.

2) The you have to copy the Following Glut packages into desire Folder(Picture Given Below Step by Step)

-glut.h

-glut32.dll

-libglut32.a

First copy the "glut.h" into C:/ where you hav installed Code Block>>Program Files(x86)>> CodeBlocks>>MinGW>>include>>GL and paste as shown below

Second copy "glut32.dll" into C:>>Windows>>SysWOW64 folder and paste as show in below.

Third copy "libglut32.a" into C:>>Program Files(x86)>>CodeBlocks>>MinGW>>lib folder and paste as shown below.

3) Then Open Code Block. Go to Setting>>Compiler and follow the steps as show below.

4)Add all the linker as shown below.

If you don't have Code Block and Glut package. Download Here

Massive Earthquake in Nepal & North India,CCTV Catches Some Clip of Earthqauke in Nepal.

noreply@blogger.com (srijan saurya) — Sat, 25 Apr 2015 19:16:00 +0000

An earthquake with magnitude 7.8 occurred near Lamjung, Nepal at 06:11:26 UTC on Apr 25, 2015.
The massive 7.9 magnitude earthquake hit Nepal with devastating force less than 50 miles from the capital, Kathmandu causing tremors in northern India as well.

The intensity of tremors that have hit Nepal can be gauged by the fact that after the massive 7.8/9 magnitude first one, it has had 18 more tremors since then, all of them with the magnitude of over 4 on the Richter scale.

NEW DELHI: More than 1,300 people have died in a massive earthquake of 7.9 magnitude on the Richter scale which hit large parts of Nepal on Saturday, news agency Reuters said quoting the police. Major tremors were felt for nearly a minute across large swathes of Northern India including Delhi. Over 40 people have died in India, 32 in Bihar, eight in Uttar Pradesh, and three in West Bengal, where 40 children have also been injured after their school was damaged in Malda town.

This earthquake of magnitude 7.9 on the Richter scale was the worst to hit Nepal in 80 years.

It triggered an avalanche that has buried a part of the base camp for climbers bound for Mount Everest.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi convened a high-level meeting in Delhi with ministers and top officials to assess the situation. After the meeting, the Prime Minister directed evacuation of tourists and immediate dispatch of relief and rescue teams to Nepal, as well as to affected areas in India.

He has appointed Union Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy to handle the aftermath in the states bordering Nepal.

Nepal's capital of Kathmandu has been left devastated with roads split open, and homes and iconic landmarks collapsed into rubble. There was little information coming from the outlying areas of the mountainous country and helicopters were circling overhead to get a sense of the damage.

A shallow quake like this morning's is usually more dangerous because the amount of energy released is focused over a smaller area.

At the main hospital in Kathmandu, people with broken limbs and arms were being rushed in for treatment. It was unclear how many people were injured.

The historic Dharahara Tower built in the 19th century in Kathmandu collapsed, trapping at least 200 people, Nepal police said. The tower had been open to visitors for the last 10 years and had a viewing balcony on its eighth floor. Witnesses spoke of dead bodies being removed from the site.

Photographs from Kathmandu posted online showed buildings left in rubble, large cracks along roads and residents sitting in the street holding babies.

The US Geological Survey said the quake, initially measured at 7.7 but upgraded to 7.9 magnitude, struck 80 km east of Pokhara.

Video

You will Love this Video if You Love Sachin, Happy Birthday Master Blaster, God Of Cricket 'Sachin Tendulkar'

noreply@blogger.com (srijan saurya) — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 19:28:00 +0000

There Are Two Types of Batsman in Cricket, One is 'Sachin Tendulkar' and other is 'Others'. Cricket is incomplete without you.

Sachin Tendulkar
Cricketer
Sachin Tendulkar is a former Indian cricketer and captain, widely acknowledged as one of the greatest cricketers of all time and by many as the greatest batsman of all time. Wikipedia
Born: April 24, 1973 (age 41), Mumbai
Height: 1.65 m
Full name: Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.
Education: Kirti M. Doongursee College.
Awards: Bharat Ratna, Wisden Cricketers of the Year, more.
Books: Playing It My Way.

Watch This Small Video on Sachin Tendulkar.

Now You Can Schedule Your Email To 'Send Later' in GMAIL Using Boomerang Tool

noreply@blogger.com (srijan saurya) — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 17:05:00 +0000

Send an email later

With Boomerang, you can write an email now and schedule it to be sent automatically at the perfect time. Just write the messages as you normally would, then click the Send Later button. Use our handy calendar picker or our text box that understands language like "next Monday" to tell Boomerang when to send your message. We'll take it from there.

Remind you if you don’t hear back

There are times you need to make sure you follow up within a specific time frame after sending a message. You can select to only be reminded if nobody replies, or regardless. This way you won't let messages slip through the crack and will never forget to follow up with people.

The best follow up reminders

Want a cleaner inbox, but don't want to lose track of important messages? Use Boomerang to take messages out of your inbox until you actually need them. Just click the Boomerang button when you have an email open, and choose when you need it again. Boomerang will archive your message. At the time you choose, we'll bring it back to your inbox, marked unread, starred or even at the top of your message list.

For mobile and Android!

Have you ever been out at dinner and remembered that you need to do something when you get to the office tomorrow morning? Now you can write an email while you're on the go, and have it arrive exactly when you need to be reminded - like 8AM the next morning.

Here You Get Click Here.

Download Some HD Wallpapers of Hyper Cars of 2015

noreply@blogger.com (srijan saurya) — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 13:41:00 +0000

Watch Awesome Video of miami dolphins "Call me maybe" by IIT Delhi Students

noreply@blogger.com (srijan saurya) — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 19:19:00 +0000

Net Neutrality: Airtel CEO Gopal Vittal's email to Customers about misconceptions of Airtel Zero

noreply@blogger.com (srijan saurya) — Sun, 19 Apr 2015 15:11:00 +0000

Airtel CEO Gopal Vittal sent a mail to the Customers telling about the Airtel Zero plan, which is not Voilating the rule of Net Neutrality.
Here is the mail given below.

Dear Customer,
Over the last few days you may have seen a lot of conversation on our toll free platform Airtel Zero. It has been painted as a move that violates net neutrality and we have been very concerned at the incorrect information that has been carried by some quarters in the media as well as in social media. I wanted to take this opportunity to clear the air and reiterate that we are completely committed to net neutrality. Let me clarify.

Our vision is to have every Indian on the internet. There are millions of Indians who think that the internet is expensive and do not know what it can do for them. We believe that every Indian has the right to be on the internet. We know that if we allow them to experience the joys of the internet they will join the digital revolution.

Airtel Zero is a technology platform that connects application providers to their customers for free. The platform allows any content or application provider to enroll on it so that their customers can visit these sites for free. Instead of charging customers we charge the providers who choose to get on to the platform.

Our platform is open to all application developers, content providers and internet sites on an equal basis. The same rate card is offered to all these providers on a totally non discriminatory basis.

There is no difference between this and toll free voice such as 1-800. When a company selling an insurance product enrols into the toll free voice platform, customers who call the number are not charged but when they call a normal number they are charged. Calls are not blocked or given preferential treatment else our whole business would be jeopardized. Toll free voice helps the business owner engage with their customer. At the same time it provides the customer the benefit of reaching the business for free. Toll free voice is not a product or a tariff plan, it is merely a technology platform. We are simply taking the same concept of toll free voice to the world of data. As a result it is for the application developer and their customer to decide how data charges will be paid for. If the application developer is on the platform they pay for the data and their customer does not. If the developer is not on the platform the customer pays for data as they do now. Companies are free to choose whether they want to be on the platform or not. This does not change access to the content in any way whatsoever. Customers are free to choose which web site they want to visit, whether it is toll free or not. If they visit a toll free site they are not charged for data. If they visit any other site normal data charges apply.

Read also: CEO defends Airtel Zero despite backlash

Finally every web site, content or application will always be given the same treatment on our network whether they are on the toll free platform or not. As a company we do not ever block, throttle or provide any differential speeds to any web site. We have never done it and will never do it. We believe customers are the reason we are in business. As a result we will always do what is right for our customers.

There has been a deliberate effort by some quarters to confuse people that we will offer differential speeds or differential access for different sites. This is untrue. After all we earn revenues from data. If there are more customers who are on the Internet the better it is for our business. Our revenues are not dependent on which sites they visit because we charge on the basis of consumption of mega bytes not which site they visited.

In sum our platform is a technology platform and is open to all application developers and their customers. Our platform only provides a choice of how the data that is consumed is paid for by any of the two - the application provider or their customer. Whether any application provider enrolls on the platform or not is entirely their choice. All we have is a technology. We do not have a product or tariff plan that we have launched. We simply have a platform. And every application developer and their customer is free to choose in an entirely neutral way what they want to do.

In conclusion, we stand fully committed to net neutrality to ensure the goals of the Prime Minister`s vision of digital India are met.

Regards,
Gopal Vittal MD & CEO
Bharti Airtel Ltd.
India & South Asia

Difference between 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G & 5G at a Glance

noreply@blogger.com (srijan saurya) — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 18:55:00 +0000

Solution For Albert, Bernard, Cheryl's Birthday Problems, Viral Maths Question

noreply@blogger.com (srijan saurya) — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 18:32:00 +0000

When we concentrate on the Problems, It tell Cheryl only tells Albert the month of her birthday while only telling Bernard the date.
The solution and explanation to the problem are given below.
Now let’s examine what Albert and Bernard say. Albert goes first:

I don’t know when your birthday is, but I know Bernard doesn’t know, either.

The first half of the sentence is obvious — Albert only knows the month, but not the day — but the second half is the first critical clue.

The initial reaction is, how could Bernard know? Cheryl only whispered the day, so how could he have more information than Albert? But if Cheryl had whispered “19,” then Bernard would indeed know the exact date — May 19 — because there is only one date with 19 in it. Similarly, if Cheryl had told Bernard, “18,” then Bernard would know Cheryl’s birthday was June 18.

Thus, for this statement by Albert to be true means that Cheryl did not say to Albert, “May” or “June.” (Again, for logic puzzles, the possibility that Albert is lying or confused is off the table.) Then Bernard replies:

I didn’t know originally, but now I do.

So from Albert’s statement, Bernard now also knows that Cheryl’s birthday is not in May or June, eliminating half of the possibilities, leaving July 14, July 16, Aug. 14, Aug. 15 and Aug. 17. But Bernard now knows. If Cheryl had told him “14,” he would not know, because there would still be two possibilities: July 14 and Aug. 14. Thus we know the day is not the 14th.

Now there are only three possibilities left: July 16, Aug. 15 and Aug. 17. Albert again:

Well, now I know too!

The same logical process again: For Albert to know, the month has to be July, because if Cheryl had told him, “August,” then he would still have two possibilities: Aug. 15 and Aug. 17.

The answer is July 16.

Rahul Gandhi returns from sabbatical after 56 Days, ET Reports

noreply@blogger.com (srijan saurya) — Thu, 16 Apr 2015 16:45:00 +0000

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi returned home from his 56-day unexplained sabbatical, which had raised questions over his leadership of the party that is struggling to find its feet after a string of electoral defeats.

The 44-year-old leader arrived here at 11.15 am on a Thai Airways plane from Bangkok, ending days of intense speculation over his return and amidst celebrations by party workers who burst crackers outside his residence.

Wearing a dark shirt and seated in the back seat of his vehicle, he arrived escorted by his security personnel and drove straight into the house without interacting with the waiting mediapersons.

The return of Rahul comes ahead of the party's planned farmers' rally here on the contentious Land Bill issue which he is likely to address.

The plane, which was scheduled to land at 10.35 am, was delayed by 40 minutes, sources said. Shortly later, Rahul drove to his 12, Tughlaq Lane residence where his mother and Congress President Sonia Gandhi and sister Priyanka were waiting.

Rahul had left quietly before the Budget session began on February 23 but it is still not known where he had spent the days.

Net Neutrality in India, Defend Internet Freedom In India

noreply@blogger.com (srijan saurya) — Thu, 16 Apr 2015 13:48:00 +0000

What is Net Neutrality..?

It is the principle that all legal Internet content must be equally accessible to all and ISPs mustn’t favour, block or slow down access to any of it.

Save the Internet. Vote for Net Neutrality.

Due to intense lobbying by telecom operators, TRAI is planning to allow them an extreme violation of net neutrality, putting at stake our freedom to choose & privacy.

Submit Your Response

Defend Internet Freedom in India!

The internet's success in fostering innovation, access to knowledge and freedom of speech is in large part due to the principle of net neutrality — the idea that internet service providers give their customers equal access to all lawful websites and services on the internet, without giving priority to any website over another.

Due to intense lobbying by telecom operators like Airtel and Vodafone, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is planning to allow them to block apps and websites to extort more money from consumers and businesses — an extreme violation of net neutrality.

TRAI has released a consultation paper with 20 questions spread across 118 complicated pages and wants you to send them an e-mail by 24th of April, 2015.

Join us in fighting for net neutrality. Let’s remind TRAI that their job is to protect the rights of consumers, not the profit margins of telcos. Let’s demand access to the free, open internet.

Rural Development Minister Gopinath Munde dies of cardiac arrest after road accident in Delhi- India Today

noreply@blogger.com (srijan saurya) — Tue, 03 Jun 2014 06:08:00 +0000

In a major setback to the Narendra Modi-led NDA government at the Centre, Union Minister for rural development, Gopinath Munde, died in a car accident early in the morning in Moti Bagh.

As mark of respect to deceased leader, Government has decided that the National Flag will be flown half mast Tuesday in Delhi and capitals of states and Union Territories.

Gopinath Munde's body will be kept at BJP's heaquarters at Ashoka Road for leaders to pay respect. Later, it will be sent for autopsy and then later to Beed in Maharashtra wherein he was supposed to address a victory rally.

Expressing his shock, Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the death of Union Minister for Rural Development, Gopinath Munde, in the road accident. Expressing his sadness and shock, the Prime Minister described Munde as a true mass leader, who rose to great heights and tirelessly served people.

In four tweets, Modi wrote: "Extremely saddened & shocked by The demise of my friend & colleague Gopinath Munde ji. His demise is a major loss for the Nation & the Govt. Gopinath Munde ji was a true mass leader. Hailing from backward sections of society, he rose to great heights & tirelessly served people. My tributes to a dynamic leader whose premature demise leaves a void hard to fill. Condolences to Munde ji's family. We stand by them in this hour of grief."

Munde, appointed just over a week ago to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's new government, suffered serious injuries while driving to the IGI airport and died in hospital.
"An accident took place earlier in the morning, following which he was taken to the Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi. Doctors declared him dead at about 8 a.m.," Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari told reporters.
Munde, 64, died in hospital from cardiac arrest. His body will be taken to Beed, Maharashtra where he was supposed to address a victory rally. The funeral will take place in Latur tomorrow.
"On his arrival to the AIIMS trauma centre, there was no spontaneous breathing, no blood pressure, no pulse and there was no cardiac activity. So immediately CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation) was started and continued for the next 15 minutes.
"Despite all aggressive resuscitative measures, he could not be revived and has been declared dead at 7.20 a.m. Immediately the CPR was started and was continued for the next 50 minutes," an AIIMS doctor told media.
The driver of the Indica car which hit the minister's car has been taken into custody.
Munde was going in his SX4 vehicle at Aurobindo Chowk when an Indica car hit him.

Munde was on his way to the Delhi's IGI Airport from where he was scheduled to catch a flight for Mumbai. He was supposed to attend a victory rally in Beed, Maharashtra on Tuesday.

He was deputy chief minister in Maharashtra from 1995 to 1999 and elected twice to India's lower house of Parliament, in 2009 and 2014. He had served as deputy leader of Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Parliament.
The position of rural development is a crucial one in Modi's government, which faces a huge challenge to tackle rural poverty. Over half the population lives in the countryside but generates just 14 percent of gross domestic product.
Modi won a landslide victory in last month's general election, ending a decade of rule by the Congress party that has dominated Indian politics since independence.
Munde is the brother-in-law of late BJP leader Pramod Mahajan.

Campaigns on ‘why’ you must quit smoking are effective

noreply@blogger.com (srijan saurya) — Thu, 29 May 2014 08:25:00 +0000

Anti-smoking TV ads with messages about why to quit smoking can influence a smoker to quit within a month, while ads about how to kick the butt do not influence smoking behaviours, according to new research. Smokers who viewed ads featuring reasons why to quit were substantially more likely to quit smoking after the four-week study period, researchers said. However, ads with messages about how to quit smoking had no effect on an individual's smoking behaviour. "Why to quit smoking messages are more powerful because those ads typically show graphic portrayals of the health consequences of smoking or feature personal testimonies to evoke emotion," said Jennifer Duke, senior research public health analyst at RTI International, a nonprofit organisation in North Carolina, and co-author of the study.

"Whereas, how to quit messages are designed to increase an individual's belief that he or she can quit," Duke said. The new research findings are consistent with the results of previous studies; however, this study is unique because it is the first to find that brief exposure to ads containing messages about why to quit smoking that feature strong, negative emotions or graphic images can influence smoking behaviours. The study examined the effectiveness of various combinations of why to quit and how to quit message strategies in a randomised controlled experiment among a nationally representative sample of 3,000 smokers in the US. During the four-week study period, participants completed a baseline survey and follow-up interviews at two and four weeks to determine the short-term impact of the ads. After two weeks, the study found that smokers who viewed ads with messages about why to quit smoking reported increased concern about the health consequences of smoking and greater intentions to quit smoking in the following six months as compared to smokers who did not view the ads. After four weeks, smokers who viewed ads with messages about why to quit smoking were six to 10 times more likely to have quit smoking as compared to smokers who viewed no ads. Smokers who only viewed ads about how to quit smoking did not change their smoking habits or intentions to quit at either stage of the study. The study also found that exposure to a combination of messages about why to quit and how to quit smoking did not improve the impact of the ads more than only viewing ads about why to quit smoking. "Smokers are more likely to pay attention to graphic or emotional content," Duke said. "Anti-smoking TV media campaigns should use hard-hitting ads emphasising why to quit smoking because they are effective at increasing cessation over a brief time period," Duke added.

Moto E Full Review And Specification : Best At Cheap

noreply@blogger.com (srijan saurya) — Thu, 29 May 2014 08:21:00 +0000

After Motorola released the well-received Moto X into the world last year, most of us had just one question: What's Google's expensive mobile division doing next? Then-chief Dennis Woodside was surprisingly forthcoming for a tech CEO -- he said Motorola wanted to reinvent the experience of using a low-cost smartphone. When the Moto G appeared later that year, I thought the company had done what it set out to do. Oh, how wrong I was. Motorola still hasn't given up on its dream of putting smartphones within reach of anyone who wants one, and the latest weapon in the company's arsenal is its cheapest yet.

The Moto E costs a scant $129 here in the States, and Motorola seems confident that its low-cost formula will do some real good for the people of the world (not to mention the company's bottom line). Now we're left with another set of questions: Does the Moto E live up to Motorola's lofty goals? Can it stand out against a clamoring crowd of competitors? Are you actually getting what you pay for? Read on for our take.

The Moto E is one of those curious devices that's unassuming and yet immediately recognizable at the same time. That sounds a tad paradoxical, but hear me out. Its face is spartan, to put it politely, and the E's 4.3-inch qHD screen (swathed in Corning's Gorilla Glass 3 no less) is bounded by some unobtrusive bezels. Your eyes can't help but be drawn to the two silver strips that run in parallel above and below the screen, comprising the speakers and microphone. Together, they make for a very tasteful touch of personality that gives the E a sense of self without much extra visual noise.

Flipping the Moto E over reveals that the company's design DNA hasn't been diluted at all. The recessed Motorola logo, the swooping curve around the 3.5mm headphone jack -- if Superman took hold of a Moto G and compressed it a bit (you know, without turning it into a diamond or something), you'd basically have the Moto E. Meanwhile, a 5-megapixel camera sans flash sits high on the E's rear and selfie fanatics will be crushed when they discover there's no ego-stroking front camera here. The E skews toward the chubbier end of the size spectrum (compared to the lithe Moto X, at least), but its curved rear means it'll fit quite comfortably in your mitts. During my testing, I actually found myself cursing at my otherwise trusty iPhone 5s and its prominent edges. The E is awfully nice to hold, even when compared to premium gadgets like HTC's One M8.

	MOTO E
Dimensions	124.8 x 64.8 x 6.2 - 12.3mm (curved)
Weight	5.01 oz. (142g)
Screen size	4.3 inches
Screen resolution	960 x 540 (256 ppi)
Screen type	IPS LCD
Battery	1,980mAh Li-Polymer (non-removable)
Internal storage	4GB
External storage	Up to 32GB
Rear camera	5MP with 4x digital zoom
Front-facing cam	None
Video capture	854 x 480/30 fps (rear)
NFC	No
Radios	Global GSM Model: GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850/900/1800/1900) UMTS/HSPA+ up to 21 Mbps (850/900/1900/2100) North America GSM Model: GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850/900/1800/1900) UMTS/HSPA+ up to 21 Mbps (850/1700 [AWS]/1900) CDMA Model: CDMA/EVDO Rev A (850/1900)
Bluetooth	v4.0
SoC	Qualcomm Snapdragon 200
CPU	1.2GHz dual-core
GPU	Adreno 302
RAM	1GB
Multimedia	FM radio, Digital TV tuner (Brazil only)
WiFi	Dual-band, 802.11b/g/n
Wireless Charging	No
Operating system	Android 4.4.2 (near stock)

Our review unit pairs a glossy, black plastic face with a curvaceous, matte rear. Those of you itching for something more chromatically pure can pick up the white-on-white model, and you can replace those default backs with more colorful ones for another $15 a pop. Prying off those back plates reveals... not much, aside from the non-removable 1,980mAh battery, the SIM slot and the microSD card slot. That expansion slot is downright crucial, too, since this little guy comes with a paltry 4GB of internal storage -- easily the surest signifier of the Moto E's wallet-friendly ambitions. Once you factor in all of the preloaded bits, you're actually left with just north of 2GB of open space for your apps and media; suffice to say, a hefty memory card (the E can handle up to an additional 32GB) should be on your shopping list too. Diving further still reveals the E's brains: a dual-core Snapdragon 200 clocked at 1.2GHz, paired with 1GB of RAM and a single-core Adreno 302 GPU.

The North American version I've been playing with is slightly boring compared to some international variations. Models for other markets include a digital TV tuner or dual SIM slots. The vanilla US model is pretty sparse in terms of niceties, though it does (like the Moto G) have a built-in FM tuner for when you need some music that didn't come from the Google Play Store. There's no LTE to be found here, alas -- just a GSM radio that plays nice with the 850/900/1800/1900MHz bands, and UMTS/HSPA+ support for 850/1700 (AWS)/1900MHz frequencies. Really, though: For $130 off-contract, what did you expect? It's less than half the price of the Nexus 5 and the Moto X, but as you'll see, cheap doesn't always equate with crappy.

Display

For a phone of such humble means, the 4.3-inch IPS LCD sitting front and center still manages to impress... even if it's the lowest-resolution display I've laid eyes on in a long time. In a bid to keep costs as low as possible, Motorola ran with a qHD (960 x 540) screen -- if you're doing the math, that works out to a pixel density of 256 ppi. The number by itself isn't very exciting, but I think we can agree that the quality of a screen hinges on more than just how many pixels a manufacturer can squeeze in there.

Sure, you can pick out individual pixels if you peek closely enough. Taking a step back offers up a different, more positive perspective, though. The display itself is plenty bright, with crisp whites and passable blacks (we're not in AMOLED territory, after all), though I wish it fared better under the blazing sun. Colors are vivid and manage to pop without dipping into lurid, oversaturated territory. Viewing angles are similarly solid -- just be warned: Images can take on a peculiar cast when you peer in from an angle that's oblique enough. You'll also have a tough time trying to obscure that screen with your greasy fingers thanks to the anti-smudge coating Motorola has liberally applied. Is this screen perfect? Hardly, but its strong showing helps make the entire Moto E package that much more enticing.

Software

Like its brethren before it, the Moto E runs a nearly stock build of Android 4.4.2 KitKat, which means there isn't anything terribly exciting to report on the software front. That's just fine by me -- I hate clunky, overwrought interfaces and "features for the sake of features" as much as the next elitist nerd. What you're ultimately left with is a clean-ish slate that stays true to Google's mobile vision, but still retains a few of Motorola's curious software fingerprints.

Take Motorola Migrate, for instance. It first appeared on the Droid Ultra, and it still lets phone switchers transfer their existing data (e.g., contacts, messages) to their new E's once the app has been installed on the original phone. Assist is still around too, though it lacks some of the smarts it packed when it first appeared on Moto's most recent Droids. As always, it can monitor your calendar to deflect callers at inopportune times, as well as let only VIPs reach you in your slumber, but there's no way for the E to detect when you're driving and auto-respond to folks texting you. As it happens, though, Motorola's newest preloaded app is also its most curious. The new Alert is of two minds: You can use it to blast your location so a curated list of friends will know where to meet you, and it packs an emergency mode that starts reaching out to those contacts (and emergency services) if you find yourself in trouble. Alert is a surprisingly thoughtful addition to Motorola's software mix, but with any luck, you'll never need to touch that emergency feature.

Motorola also promises that it'll get the next big version of Android in a timely fashion, even with a divorce from Google on the horizon. We'll see just how well Motorola can keep this promise soon enough -- for now, it's heartening to see a budget smartphone running the latest and greatest version of Google's mobile OS.

CAMERA

Smartphone cameras are tricky enough to get right when you're trying to cobble together a top-tier device, so you've got to have the proper expectations when you go downmarket. In the case of the Moto E, I expected very little and I got it. That may sound a bit harsh, but the Moto G's camera was a pleasant surprise and I was quietly hoping for the same to happen here. Instead, the 5-megapixel rear shooter consistently turned in soft shots with colors that seemed muted at best and downright lifeless at worst. That last issue can be mitigated a touch if you fire up HDR mode -- it's set to auto by default, so you'll occasionally find a vibrantly colored photo mixed in with the rest of the mud. Low-light performance left plenty to be desired too: The E's camera isn't great at sucking up photons, so there's smudginess and grit all over the place, a situation that isn't helped by the lack of a rear flash. Oh, and in case you already forgot, there's no front-facing camera to be found at all here.

If anything, Motorola's dead-simple shooting interface is the camera's saving grace. Quick refresher if you haven't used it before: Snapping a photo requires just a single touch anywhere on the screen, which means it's nearly impossible to screw up in the heat of the moment. Sliding my finger up and down the screen to digitally zoom in and out feels remarkably graceful too, even if digital zoom by nature makes for lousier shots. You may not absolutely love the shots you end up with, but I suspect you'll at least enjoy the process of taking them. My only major niggle is a strictly personal one: Despite using the E for over a week, I still had trouble remembering that touching the screen snaps a photo instead of focusing the camera where I wanted. That's a particular sort of muscle memory that's only really taken hold after a (shortish) career manhandling high-end phones, so the Moto E's target audience may not have the same trouble.

Video leaves much to be desired too, which is hardly a shocker. The Moto E is incapable of shooting HD video -- resolution maxes out at 854 x 480, which is good enough for Instagram, but slightly less so when trying to capture important moments as they unfold.

PERFORMANCE AND BATTERY LIFE

Ah, now we're getting to the meaty part -- what's the Moto E actually like to use? Despite a spec sheet that looks like it was pulled from the headlines two years ago, the E has more than managed to keep up with my daily grind. I can't in good conscience call the Moto E a speed demon, but it's still been a worthy companion during my week of testing.

And what exactly did that week consist of? Plenty of frenzied swiping between pages of apps and widgets, to start. The whole process was consistently and pleasantly buttery, with nary a hint of stuttering or visual slowdown to be seen (though in fairness, KitKat probably deserves some of the credit for that). Scrolling down long websites was generally smooth, too... most of the time, anyway. An abundance of images on a web page (like Engadget!) occasionally threw the E's modest brains for a bit of a loop. The act of actually firing up apps usually took a few seconds more than on some premium handsets, but that's just par for the course considering what we're working with. The games I did manage to install on the Moto E (I'm looking at you, Minecraft: Pocket Edition) fared rather nicely considering the dearth of sheer processing power they had to work with. This is all anecdotal, of course -- here are some hard numbers, if that's more your speed.

	MOTO E	MOTO G	MOTO X	HTC ONE MINI
Quadrant 2.0	5,264	8,723	8,958	5,200
Vellamo 2.0	1,173	1,962	2,427	2,118
AnTuTu 4.0	12,510	17,364	20,292	10,048
SunSpider 1.2 (ms)	1,626.2	1,377	1,023	1,442
GFXBench 2.7 Offscreen (fps)	4.4	16	15	15
CF-Bench	6,483	15,030	14,092	6,542
SunSpider: lower scores are better

The funny (or sad) thing about downloading games for testing was that, well, it was more troublesome than it should've been. It had nothing to do with network connectivity (though I only hit down/up data speeds of 1.82 Mbps and 0.84 Mbps, respectively in San Francisco over AT&T's HSPA connection). Those headaches were all because of a dearth of storage space. Like I mentioned before, the E ships with just 4GB of internal storage, and only about half of that is available for your stuff right out of the gate. It didn't take long to almost completely fill up that modicum of space with just our usual suite of test apps and files. And those two-stage game downloads from the Google Play Store? The ones (like Need For Speed: Most Wanted, for instance) that prompt you to download an installer that then downloads more stuff once it's in place? Yeah, good luck with that. Picking up a microSD card is damn near a necessity, and even then, you can't move all of your apps from their current homes onto an external card. I get that it's a concession Motorola made to keep the E's price under a certain threshold, but I can definitely see some cost-conscious consumers ruing that decision.

On the upside, the Moto E's modest spec sheet means that its 1,980mAh battery can hang in there longer than you might think. When Motorola says it's got an "all-day" battery, it actually means it. I spend my days dealing with a barrage of emails, chatting with colleagues, taking phone calls and generally running my device into the ground. There wasn't a time when the E failed to hang in there for a full 12-hour day, despite my best efforts. Things were a bit more subdued when it came time for our standard video rundown test (screen brightness set to 50 percent with a 720p video set to loop indefinitely): It stuck around for 5:45 before it needed to be lashed to a wall outlet.

PROS

Runs an almost untouched version of Android 4.4.2
The vivid screen is a pleasant surprise
Rounded design makes for comfy gripping
Incredibly affordable

CONS

Only 4GB of internal storage
Rear camera is mediocre at best
No flash or front-facing camer

Clashes in Meerut after spat over well; four shot at, 15 injured -TOI

noreply@blogger.com (srijan saurya) — Sun, 11 May 2014 07:11:00 +0000

MEERUT: Shops downed shutters in Meerut as rioting and bullet shots rent the air in the walled city's Teer Gran area. Four people sustained bullet injuries. One of them is stated to be critical and on ventilator.

The riots erupted after a dispute over an ancient well in the area snowballed into communal clashes and stone-pelting. The district magistrate and the senior superintendent of police arrived in the area, but the crowds had gone berserk by then. A section of the crowd raised slogans against ruling SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Two cameramen were injured, and the cameras of two other photographers were broken. Rioting spread also to the Ghanta Ghar area, and a motorcycle was burned there. With police forces on poll duties, there was a shortage of security personnel.

Amit Jain, a resident of Teer Gran, said, "The ancient well adjacent to a mosque has been the bone of contention. Earlier, the two communities used to frequently clash over the possession of the well. In 1952, the city magistrate ordered that the well was public property, under the possession of the nagar nigam. In 1982, a permanent police picket was deployed there because Muslims would take possession of the well from time to time, as it was near the mosque. The police picket was removed two years ago."

Saturday's incidents started after a few people led by municipal councillor Vijay Anand tried to prevent the construction of a structure around the well, at around 2 pm. "I was pulled by the crowd and received blows on my face and head. In no time, stone-pelting started and about 15 people were left injured," Anand told TOI.

Akram, another resident of Teer Gran, said, "We were installing a temporary water cooler here and a gate was being installed to safeguard it. A big crowd gathered and objected to the installation of the cooler."What began as a verbal spat erupted into clashes, leaving many people injured. Two young men who received bullet injuries — Kshitij Arora and Babloo — are being treated at KMC Hospital. Sanjiv Verma, Hospital in charge of KMC, said, "One received a gunshot in the thigh, and the other in the hip. They are being operated upon."

Shubham Rastogi and Aamir, two others who have sustained serious injuries, have been admitted to the LLRM Medical College. Shubham, injured in the head, is critical and on ventilator. Aamir was shot in the right hand.

Pradeep Bharti, principal of LLRM medical college said, "It is too early to say anything. We are providing the best of treatment to both victims."

Meerut DM Navdip Rinva said, "I don't think we need to impose curfew. We have demanded five companies of forces, which are on their way to Meerut. There is no casualty. Those who are injured are being treated."

Passive smoking causes irreversible damage to kids’ arteries

noreply@blogger.com (srijan saurya) — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 08:51:00 +0000

London: Exposure to second-hand smoke in childhood causes irreversible damage to children's arteries - increasing their risk of heart attacks or strokes when they grow up, according to a large international study published on Wednesday. The research, which lends weight to campaigns for smoking to be banned in private cars and homes, found passive smoking leads to a thickening of children's artery walls, adding some 3.3 years to the age of blood vessels by adulthood. "Exposure to passive smoke in childhood causes direct and irreversible damage to the structure of the arteries," said Seana Gall, a researcher in cardiovascular epidemiology who led the study at the University of Tasmania. She said parents, or even those thinking about becoming parents, should quit smoking - both to aid their own health and protect the future health of their children.

Smoking causes lung cancer, which is often fatal, and is the world's biggest cause of premature death from chronic conditions like heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure. On top of the 6 million people a year killed by their own smoking, the World Health Organisation (WHO) says another 600,000 die a year as a result of exposure to other peoples' smoke - so-called second-hand or passive smoking. Of the more than 4,000 chemicals in tobacco smoke, at least 250 are known to be harmful and more than 50 are known to cause cancer, the WHO says - and creating 100 percent smoke-free environments is the only way to protect people fully. About 40 percent of all children are regularly exposed to second-hand smoke at home, and almost a third of the deaths attributable to second-hand smoke are in children. ARTERY WALLS This latest study, published in the European Heart Journal, was the first to follow children through to adulthood to look at links between exposure to parents' smoking and thickness of the innermost two layers of the arterial wall, known as carotid intima-media thickness (IMT). Researchers from Finland and Australia looked at data from 2,401 people in Finland 1,375 people in Australia who were asked about their parents' smoking habits. The scientists used ultrasound to measure the thickness of the children's artery walls once they had reached adulthood. The results showed that carotid IMT in adulthood was 0.015 millimetres thicker in those exposed to both parents smoking than in those whose parents did not smoke. Gall said that while this was a "modest" increase, it was nonetheless an important extra and irreversible risk for suffering heart attacks or strokes later in life. Since children of parents who smoke are also more likely to grow up to be smokers themselves, and more likely to be overweight, their heart health risks are often already raised, she said, and the second-hand smoke adds yet more risk. The researchers said the findings showed reducing children's exposure to smoke is a public health priority. "Legislation can reduce passive smoke exposure, with restriction of smoking in public places reducing hospitalisations for cardiovascular and respiratory disease," they wrote, adding that banning smoking in cars with children in them would also have a significant positive effect. The United States, Australia and Canada have already banned smoking in cars carrying children, and Britain said last month that it too would be introducing a ban soon.

Delhi remains most unsafe say women travelers

noreply@blogger.com (srijan saurya) — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 08:48:00 +0000

Delhi has been pegged as the most unsafe city in the country, for the second time in a row, by women travellers, a recent survey has found.

"Delhi retained its notorious reputation as the most unsafe city amongst the top 10 Indian cities polled with 95 percent respondents expressing the opinion as opposed to 84 percent in 2013" according to a survey by travel portal TripAdvisor. Kolkata and Jaipur were ranked second and third most unsafe cities respectively with 64 percent and 53 percent votes respectively. Ahmedabad toppled Mumbai to be rated the safest city by 85 percent of respondents even as Maharashtra and Gujarat were voted to be the safest states with 16 and 14 percent votes each. Mumbai (72 percent) dropped to the 5th spot this year from the number 1 position in 2013. The survey also noted that it was surprising to find that only 16 percent women use the women safety applications that are available. "Whether travelling alone or in a group of women, majority of respondents preferred travelling to a city as it offered a higher sense of security, law and order. Hill stations and beaches were second and third choice respectively," the annual women traveller survey 2014 said. The findings which come ahead of the International Women's day are based on information collected from 1068 women and are aimed at at understanding travel sentiment and preferences of Indian women with respect to leisure travel while travelling solo or as part of an all-women group. Forty seven per cent of the respondents said they took leisure trips as part of a group of women compared to 35 per cent who travelled solo in the last two years. "Forty three percent of respondents were between the age of 18 and 35 years and 27 percent of them fell into the category between 35 to 45 years," Nikhil Ganju, Country Manager for TripAdvisor told PTI. Ganju said there seemed to an rising trend of women who travelled solo or in womens only groups. Out of 37 percent respondents who have traveled solo, 56 percent said they liked travelling alone and will continue to do so in the future. A total of 53 percent said they travel alone only to destinations (India or abroad) that are perceived as "safe." "Solo women travellers preferred yoga and other spiritual retreats three times over to those travelling in a group who preferred to do activities like sightseeing and shopping," Ganju said. For solo travellers other preferred activities include festivals of music or literature (29 percent), health or wellness (24 percent) as well as light adventure like camping and hiking (23 percent). For women travelling as a group preferred activities include Sightseeing-Eco tours or village tours (28 percent), light adventure-camping, hiking (39 percent), festivals of music or literature (20 percent) and cruise or house boat (20 percent). The respondents included a mix of working professionals self employed women as well as homemakers.

Too much Facebook use may fuel eating disorders

noreply@blogger.com (srijan saurya) — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 08:45:00 +0000

Washington: Frequent Facebook users might be sharing more than just party pictures, vacation videos and selfies - they also share a greater risk of eating disorders, according to a new study. Researchers led by Florida State University Psychology Professor Pamela K Keel studied 960 college women and found that more time on Facebook was associated with higher levels of disordered eating. Women who placed greater importance on receiving comments and "likes" on their status updates and were more likely to untag photos of themselves and compare their own photos to friends' posted photos reported the highest levels of disordered eating. "Facebook provides a fun way to stay connected with friends, but it also presents women with a new medium through which they are confronted by a thin ideal that impacts their risk for eating disorders," Keel said. While other studies have linked social media and eating disorders, the study is the first to show that spending just 20 minutes on Facebook actually contributes to the risk of eating disorders by reinforcing women's concerns about weight and shape and increasing anxiety.

The finding is significant because more than 95 per cent of the women who participated in the study use Facebook, and those with Facebook accounts described checking the site multiple times a day, typically spending 20 minutes during each visit. That amounts to more than an hour on the site each day, according to Keel. Researchers have long recognised the powerful impact of peer/social influences and traditional media on the risk for eating disorders. Facebook combines those factors. "Now it's not the case that the only place you're seeing thin and idealised images of women in bathing suits is on magazine covers," Keel said. "Now your friends are posting carefully curated photos of themselves on their Facebook page that you're being exposed to constantly. It represents a very unique merging of two things that we already knew could increase risk for eating disorders," Keel said. The research is important because it may lead to interventions to reduce risk factors for eating disorders, which are among the most serious forms of mental illness. "Eating disorders are associated with the highest rates of mortality of any psychiatric illness," Keel said. Ironically, Facebook may be one of the best ways to employ intervention strategies, such as encouraging women to put a stop to so-called "fat talk," researchers said. The findings were published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders.

Marijuana linked with reduced anxiety: Research study

noreply@blogger.com (srijan saurya) — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 08:31:00 +0000

Cannabinoid receptors through which marijuana exerts its effects can help in regulating anxiety, researchers, including one of Indian-origin, have claimed. An international group led by Vanderbilt University researchers found cannabinoid receptors in a key emotional hub in the brain, involved in regulating anxiety and the flight-or-fight response. This is the first time cannabinoid receptors have been identified in the central nucleus of the amygdala in a mouse model, they said.

The discovery may help explain why marijuana users say they take the drug mainly to reduce anxiety, said Sachin Patel, the research paper's senior author. Led by first author Teniel Ramikie, a graduate student in Patel's lab, the researchers also showed for the first time how nerve cells in this part of the brain make and release their own natural "endocannabinoids." The study "could be highly important for understanding how cannabis exerts its behavioural effects," Patel said. The researchers used high-affinity antibodies to "label" the cannabinoid receptors so they could be seen using variousm microscopy techniques, including electron microscopy, which allowed very detailed visualisation at individual synapses, or gaps between nerve cells. "We know where the receptors are, we know their function, we know how these neurons make their own cannabinoids," Patel said. "Now can we see how that system is affected by stress and chronic (marijuana) use. It might fundamentally change our understanding of cellular communication in the amygdala," said Patel. The study was published in the journal Neuron.

Gulaab Gang review: Juhi Chawla, from crush to crushing disappointment

noreply@blogger.com (srijan saurya) — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 08:28:00 +0000

There are two confessions I must make right at the start. The first is that I am yet to watch Nishtha Jain’s much-acclaimed documentary, Gulabi Gang, which profiles renegade leader Sampat Pal and her band of pink-sari-clad women. The second is that Juhi Chawla was, as far as I can remember, my first celebrity crush. The first isn’t as important because it doesn’t really affect my views on Soumik Sen’s directorial debut. After all, Gulaab Gang aspires to be a completely different animal: a typically escapist action flick in the vein of films made by Prakash Jha and Abhinav Kashyap. The second one, however, is a problem for me, personally. I am now forced to admit that my once-favourite actress has devolved into the single worst thing in a movie. Director Soumik Sen has obviously taken great glee in casting Madhuri Dixit, who plays Rajjo Devi, against Chawla’s Sumitra Devi, a crooked politician who is the primary antagonist. Much has been written about both actresses, both of whom were at the top of their games in the early ‘90s, finally sharing screen space together. In the ‘90s, after capturing hearts with Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988), Chawla was India’s sweetheart. She made her mark in Aziz Mirza’s fluffy rom-coms Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman (1992) and Yes Boss (1997); and, of course, as K-k-k-Kiran in Yash Chopra’s Darr (1993). In the noughties, she got married to industrialist Jay Mehta and stepped away from Bollywood, making acclaimed occasional appearances in non-mainstream films such as Teen Deewarein, My Brother…Nikhil and I Am. Unlike other Bollywood actresses from her era who had all but disappeared (such as Dixit and Sridevi, who have only recently made comebacks), Chawla appeared in a film a year, but either as special appearances or playing supporting characters. A wise move, given the double standards of the industry.

In Gulaab Gang, she plays her first lead role in a commercial film since Mirza’s Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani (2000) and it also marks the first time she has played and out-and-out negative role. However, while the idea may have seemed great on paper – of appearing in a masala film that has two strong female leads doing all the brawny things male leads do – this is a career move that has misfired spectacularly for Chawla, in my opinion. Gulaab Gang starts off quite well, with a well-executed, animated sequence for the opening credits setting the tone for the film. It’s evident that Sen is not aiming for realism here – this is like a film adaptation of an imaginary graphic novel. Which is why it’s easy to forgive and even enjoy the first half hour, which introduces Dixit and her band of women (prominent amongst them are Divya Jagdale and Priyanka Bose, who turn in competent performances). It’s over-the-top and cheesy, but you can’t help enjoying the spin Sen has put on the traditional masala film. After the countless films we’ve all watched, where men make all the plans and women are reduced to sex objects or damsels-in-distress, it’s refreshing to watch a bunch of grown men get their just desserts without a Khan/Kapoor/Kumar having to take their shirt off and beat up the baddies. The ladies are doing just fine, thank you. In fact, Gulaab Gang tries so hard to pass the Bechdel Test that it overcompensates – there isn’t one male character in this film who isn’t cowardly, weak, corrupt or a rapist. As a male feminist, I’m not sure how to feel about this. Then Chawla arrives at the half-hour mark, to break my heart and not do Gulaab Gang any favours while she's at it. From the moment Chawla comes on screen, the film starts to mistake shrillness for intensity and pompousness for gravitas. Put simply, it becomes a caricature of itself. There are many actors who have been able to pull off roles no one would’ve expected them to, but Gulaab Gang, I’m sorry to say, has been no example of this for Chawla. As Sumitra Devi, Chawla’s idea of appearing menacing is to continuously arch her eyebrows and smile sardonically, like she's a mixture of Aamir Khan and Jack Nicholson. Occasionally, when her character does or witnesses something terrible, she does this weird lip-bite smile sort of thing as though aroused, reminding one of Famke Janssen from Goldeneye. She is not in her comfort zone and, unfortunately, it shows. I would like the casting director to share some of the blame for this. Granted that the Madhuri Dixit-Juhi Chawla combination makes for an irresistible pairing, but there is something about her that just doesn’t suit this role. Perhaps it’s her voice, which has always been a little reedy. Or maybe it’s her smile, which doesn’t lend itself too well to sardonic lip-bite smiles. By the time the end rolls around, the film has descended into chaos and is impossible to take seriously. Sincere efforts from the entire cast can’t save this well-intentioned venture from its own mediocrity. Meanwhile, I’m going to pretend that Juhi Chawla never did this film so as to keep the sanctity of my childhood crush intact.