Vishal’s Hamlet to star Tabu

            Their last attempt at Shakespeare yielded the critically acclaimed Maqbool and now, Vishal Bhardwaj and Tabu are set to collaborate on Haider, an Indian adaptation of Hamlet.

           The filmmaker, who has already zeroed in on the leading pair of the film, Shahid Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor, offered a meaty part to the actress in the dark revenge drama.
          A source close to the film told us, “Tabu was his first choice for the role and Vishal has been trying to cast her for a long time and it is finally working out.”
Tabu had previously played a desi version of Lady Macbeth in Vishal’s 2003 film Maqbool and we asked the source whether she plays Queen Gertrude, the siren who drives Hamlet to incest, in the upcoming film.
         “No, she does not play Gertrude. But the story of the film progresses through Tabu’s character. She plays a strongwilled woman,” the source replied. Vishal’s version of Hamlet will be set in Kashmir and the film is expected to go on floors by the end of this year.

Healthy Brain for 4 Easy Tips

1. Get Fit

As if this isn’t beaten into our heads enough, we now have another reason to get our butts, or brains, to the gym. Your brain needs circulation, blood flow, and oxygen just as much as other organs and muscles do in order to function productively. Accordingly, aerobic exercise has been found to reduce brain cell loss in elderly patients and allows for new cells to grow. There aren’t requirements on duration so long as you are actively exercising each day or regularly.

2. Feed Your Brain

Research shows eating a diet specifically low in fat and cholesterol but high in protein and sugar can reduce the risk of developing dementia and side effects leading to the disease. We are all pretty much aware of what "body healthy" is but what is "brain healthy?" If you’re on a clean eating diet now you’re on the right track. Staying away from foods high in fat will greatly reduce the risk of blood clots as they greatly increase your risk in the development of Alzheimer’s. 

Products such as vegetables and dark-skinned fruits promote excellent brain health because of the antioxidants, vitamins, and nutrients they provide directly, rather than from a pill. Also recommended are nuts and cold-water fish for the omega-3 fatty acids they contain.

3. Become a Social Butterfly

Staying close with friends and family and being involved in social activities and social situations can greatly contribute to a long life of strong cognitive health. (NOTE: This does not promote ditching Tips 1 & 2 and only maintaining a large social group!) Along with physical exercise and a healthy diet, you should be incorporating activities into your life to maintain those social skills we developed and honed as kids. Keeping your brain active through conversation can make an enormous difference as you age. Not only that, but if you work out with a friend or work with your partner to maintain a healthy diet, you can kill two birds with one stone.

4. Let your Brain Work

If you’ve nailed Tips 1-3 you’re doing great but Tip 4 is where many people struggle - including me. In a time with so much technology around us, it’s hard to turn off Angry Birds or the Kardashians and take 30 minutes to get lost in a book. When is the last time you did a crossword puzzle? What about Scrabble? Using games where you have to use strategy to participate, are great ways to keep your brain sharp and active on the inside. We may need exercise to bring our brain some much needed blood flow but let it out of its proverbial cage and play sometimes.

Studies show that lower levels of education led to higher risk of Alzheimer’s, which is possibly due to less mental stimulation. That’s not to say those with higher education levels can’t develop Alzheimer’s as well, but research has shown those individuals developed the disease much later. If you can’t possibly read a book or Zen out and prefer to be glued to the computer, do some research on a topic you’ve always wanted to learn about. If you’re going to get butt sores from wasting away on the couch for six hours, make one of the shows you watch a documentary.

The great part about these tips are that a lot of people are already using them in pursuit of other health benefits – so building brain health doesn’t take that much more work. It’s important to remember, however, that in using these methods to nourish your brain, they work best in combination with one another. Don’t be running off telling your friends you found the cure to dementia and it requires a couch and “Super-High Me.”

Great hair will get you noticed, a great body will give you confidence but a great brain is the sexiest and strongest thing you have, so take care of it!

100 years of indian cinema

50 tips on how to lose weight in 10 days

       A person's weight is a combination of fat and water retention in his body. It is not a very difficult task to lose the initial few kilos. With a combination of right diet and right amount of exercise, you can actually lose up to 5 kgs in just 10 days. Follow at least a few of these 50 tips to see a wonderful change in your body structure.

1. Begin with doubling the amount of water intake. Drink at least 3 litres of water everyday.
2. Begin your day with a glass of lemon water. It increase your metabolism.
3. Do not miss your breakfast.
5. Take cereals, egg and milk in your breakfast. They keep you satiated for long.
6. Snack on nuts, but not more than a handful.
7. Avoid more than two cups of tea/coffee a day. 
8. Take stairs instead of the elevator.
9. Walk for 10 minutes after every two hours.

10. Sleep for at least eight hours a day.
11. Have an early dinner. Finish it before eight p.m.
12. Have a walk after your dinner.
13. Cut down on sweets.
14. Say no to colas and fruit drinks.
15. Banish alcohol altogether.
16. Avoid tobacco.

 17. Do not use artificial sweetners, they are nothing but harmful chemicals.
18. Diet colas are harmful too, so avoid them.

19. Do not sleep immediately after having food.
20. Do not consume more than three tea spoons of oil a day in any form.
21. Biscuits are really harmful, so simply avoid them.
22. Do not have fruit juices; they are direct source of sugar.
23. Eat whole fruits with their peels.
24. Avoid butter and clarified butter.
25. Sweets are dangerous if you want to lose weight, so steer clear of them.
26. If you are dining out, choose steamed food.
27. Include at least half a kg of mixed fruits in your diet everyday.
28. If you must have sugar in your tea, substitute it with honey.
29. Include yoghurt in your diet.

30. Be careful in choosing low calorie products, most of them are deceptive.
31. Eat food which is fresh and has been prepared not more than four hours earlier.
32. Avoid street food and fried foods.
33. Include vitamin supplements like Vitamin B, C and zinc in your diet,.
34. Consult a doctor and also eat an iron and calcium pill at least for a couple of days.
35. Say no to cakes and chocolates.
36. Exercise for at least 30 minutes a day.
37. Include veggies like cabbage and pumpkin in your diet, they help in weight loss.
38. Try to drink warm water as much as possible.
39. Every time after having food, drink a glass of warm water.
40. Avoid carbs at night.
41. To add flavour to food add herbs like thyme, basil, cilantro etc.
42. Healthy snack options are- a handful of unsalted groundnuts, butter milk, salted lassi, fresh fruits, nuts, granola or muesli.

43.  Healthy breakfast options-egg on toast and unsweetned milkshake, poha, dalia, paratha(in very little oil), upma, cereal with milk, idli and dhokla.
44. Healthy lunch options-Veggie sandwich, rice, daal and subzee with curd, curd rice, chapatti, subzee/chicken and salad.
45. Go for lean meat like chicken and fish.

46. Avoid ice creams and milkshakes.
47. Go for unsweetened smoothies, they are very filling.
48. Avoid stress.
49. To bring down stress, meditate for at least 10 minutes everyday. You can do this even while offering your daily prayers.
50.  Maintain a food diary to keep a tab on every morsel that you are eating.

SRK does his business like a king

Actor- producer Shah Rukh Khan (SRK) has a good strategy of derisking a film business model. First he makes a co-production deal with a prominent production house or a wellknown producer and then he charges his own fees at market value for acting in the movie.

Chennai Express is a classic example of this business model. The movie was produced by Red Chillies with Disney UTV as co-producers.

Sources say the actor charged Rs 20 crore for working in the film. At the last count , Chennai Express has broken all records with a collection of over Rs 225 crore.

Sachin has always kept it simple, says John Wright

The focus is understandably on Sachin Tendulkar as he pads up in the T20 format of the game for one last time. The Master Blaster arrived in Jaipur on Wednesday for Mumbai Indians' opening match against Rajasthan Royals here on Saturday.

"We know that this is the last time that he would be playing in the T20 format," Mumbai Indiansskipper Rohit Sharma said on Thursday. "We will try to make it special."

Sharma doesn't want to speculate on Tendulkar's retirement. "He knows what is best for him. Now, he wants to take one game at a time and right now, it is CLT20," the skipper said.

For Royals skipper Rahul Dravid, it is just another game. "I have played so many times with and against him that it doesn't really matter now," he said. "That's what the game is all about."

Even Dravid will be playing competitive cricket for the last time and the focus for him is to lead the Royals to another successful outing.

John Wright has been following Tendulkar's career since he was 16 and feels the reason for the Master Blaster's longevity is keeping things simple. "I first saw him as a rival player when he was 16," Wright, the Mumbai Indians' coach, said. Tendulkar had toured New Zealand with the Indian team in 1990 when Wright was still playing for the Kiwis. "I interacted with him a lot when I was the India coach," the New Zealander said. "And now, as the Mumbai Indians coach, it is once again a pleasure working with him. The best part is that Sachin hasn't changed since he was 16, in his approach towards the game. He continues to be sincere, hard-working and very dedicated."

Wright went on to add that the Master Blaster knows the game in and out. "He has kept it simple. He is the same old Sachin, a great person and a tremendous cricketer."

Mumbai Indians underwent a four-day preparatory camp at Ahmedabad before coming to Jaipur and, Wright said, Tendulkar was as sharp as ever. "It is a pleasure to inform you that he has been batting well and looks very keen and fresh."

Govt starts enforcing new fares, 129 autos impounded - chennai

Government officials on Monday hit the road to crack down on autorickshaw driverswho have been having a free run for the last 15 years. By 7pm, 59 police and transport authority teams had checked 2,454 autorickshaws in the city. Of these 129 were impounded for not having proper papers. The going — as expected — was not smooth.

"At Mandaveli, about 100 auto drivers came on to the road and protested against our officials," said Karuna Sagar, additional commissioner of police (traffic). 

The drivers surrounded the regional transport office inspectors, who had booked close to 20 cases. "We had a difficult time calming them down. They did not expect to be stopped and fined. They gave excuses like they did not have the time to fix meters and they didn't get the rate card," said Kavin Ray, a transport official at Mandaveli.

September 15 was the last day for auto drivers to collect the new rate cards, and the fares came into effect from Monday. Chennai Traffic Police and state transport authorities drew up a joint action plan to have 230 officials spread across the city to fine auto drivers who were not using meters and detain vehicles without papers. The detained vehicles were kept in the nearest MTC depot and the owners will get 15 days to explain why the government should not take action against them.

With 71,000 autorickshaws in the city and just 230 officials involved in the crackdown, police say they have an uphill task ahead. "But it is not impossible. This requires a change of attitude and we cannot expect it to happen overnight. We will not stop till we see results," said Sagar.

The change, though slow, has begun. A few drivers have embraced the new fares, and some commuters are insisting on them. Nuha Afra, a 23-year-old catering college student, stopped using autos without meters three days ago. "At signals, I noticed that all the autos had meters today," she said.

Auto driver Rajendran from T Nagar has found an innovative way to attract more passengers. He has stuck the new rate card on his windshield. "I am happy with the new fares and want to get more passengers. More people have been flagging me down since I stuck the rate card, which is visible from the road," he said.

The crackdown from 6am to 9pm every day will continue for the next two weeks, after which the transport department and police will review and revise their plan. 

"I have been on rounds since morning. I want to ensure that the current staff strength is enough to rein in the auto drivers," said transport commissioner T Prabhakara Rao.

Death toll from Colorado floods rises to seven, 1,500 homeless

 The confirmed death toll from massive floods in the US state of Colorado has risen to seven, while more than 600 people remain unaccounted for, officials said on Monday.

Helicopters resumed search and rescue missions, helped by clearer weather after days of torrential rain that has left over 1,500 homes destroyed and more than 17,000 damaged.

Five teams from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are bolstering hundreds of state and local officers trying to reach hundreds of residents stranded by the floods, centered on Boulder County north of Denver.

"We have a strong opportunity here, with FEMA's help, to come out of this whole situation with a stronger infrastructure," Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper told a press briefing.

On Sunday, heavy rain prevented helicopters from taking off for most of the day as officials put the number of people unaccounted for at more than 1,200 across the western state.

But on Monday there was even blue sky in places, allowing some 21 helicopters to take to the air.

"We are hoping to take advantage of the weather today and get those rescue operations complete," spokeswoman Micki Trost of the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management was quoted as saying by the Denver Post.

In all seven people have died, including three in Boulder County, two in El Paso County and two missing presumed dead in Larimer County, said the Colorado Office of Emergency management (COEM) in its latest update.

The number of people unaccounted for stood at 658 Monday it said, while stressing that the number was "approximate and changing" as rescue crews gained access to more places, and as stranded people got in touch with authorities to confirm they were alright.

In all 11,700 people have been evacuated, the COEM said. A total of 17,994 residential structures have been damaged, and 1,502 destroyed.

Many of the missing may simply be unable to report their whereabouts, but Hickenlooper warned that the death toll may increase. "There are many, many homes that have been destroyed," he said.

Rain began pelting the western state early last week, with Boulder especially hard hit, seeing 7.2 inches (18.3 centimeters) of precipitation in about 15 hours starting Wednesday night.

Flash floods have afflicted 15 counties down a 200-mile north-south section of the Front Range, where the Rocky Mountains meet the Great Plains, the Colorado Office of Emergency Management said.

"We've got a heck of a lot of communities dealing with a heck of a lot of water," Jennifer Finch, a spokeswoman for Weld County northeast of Boulder, told Denver Channel 7 News on Sunday.

On Sunday, traffic on Interstate 25, Colorado's main north-south thoroughfare just east of the mountain range, was brought to a halt by water covering two of the three southbound lanes, according to an AFP correspondent on the road.

President Barack Obama has declared a major disaster in Colorado and ordered federal aid to support state and local efforts. Hickenlooper called the widespread flooding "a heck of a storm."

Although skies were clearer Monday, weather forecasters warned that scattered storms could still dump up to an inch of rain in less than 30 minutes, according to KUSA-TV.

Drier, warmer weather conditions are due to return to the battered state on Tuesday, lasting through to Thursday when there is a chance of showers through the region, it said.

Kamal Haasan to get a Lifetime Achievement Award

Universal Hero Kamal Haasan, will be honoured with the Life Time Achievement award at the 15^thMumbai Film Festival which is to begin on the 17^th of October. The festival is organized by the Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI) and supported by the Department of Culture, Maharashtra Government.
 

Kamal Haasan will receive this honour as a token of appreciation for his great work in movies like Moondram Pirai, Nayagan, Pushpak, Appu Raja and Hey Ram.  It must be noted that the French film maker Costa-Gavras will also be receiving a Life Time Achievement Award.
 

The Mumbai Film Festival will be an eight day long festival starting from 17^thOctober 2013 to the 24^th of October 2013.

Ashley Greene goes topless for Staten Island Summer

Hollywood actor Ashley Greene, currently shooting for "Staten Island Summer", has shot a topless scene for the movie.
The actress shot the sexy sunbathing scene in New York City, reports eonline.com.

In the scene, the actress is seen as lying on her stomach on a sun bed while wearing only yellow bikini bottoms. The 26-year-old used a towel under her to try and cover her modesty.
The "Twilight" actress accessorised her look with gold hoop earrings.

Penelope back in shape, goes topless

Hollywood actor Penelope Cruz is back in shape after giving birth to her baby girl Luna and flaunted her figure while holidaying in Corsica, France.

Cruz looked stunning in a skimpy floral bikini as she hit the beach with her husband Javier Bardem and her two-year-old son Leonardo. She was perfectly in shape and showed no signs of post pregnancy weight, reports dailymail.co.uk.

The 39-year-old splashed around in the water with her son. Keen on getting a tan, the "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" actress whipped off her bikini and relaxed in the water while chatting with her friends.

Ending 'Female Circumcision' in Practice and Name

An estimated 125 million girls and women--primarily in Africa--have had their genitalia cut, scraped, or sewn up. In their communities, this is done to preserve their marriageability by preventing anticipated promiscuity and social ostracization. The lifelong cost of non-conformity can be high; even parents who question the practice feel pressured to subject their daughters to the rite.
Recent release of UNICEF's fascinating report about the practice it refers to as "female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C)" triggered lively coverage in national and international news outlets. News media have explored the study's findings of an unexpected decline in incidence in parts of Africa, new trends towards medicalization of the practice, and nuanced shifts in social perception.

While the UNICEF report sparked critical discussion about the practice itself, the issue of terminology and its implications must not be overlooked.

The trouble with terms

Across recent articles discussing the practice, terminology is curiously mixed: within the NY Times itself, one article uses the term "female genital mutilation or cutting" (FGM/C) though still referring to "circumcisers," while another refers to "female circumcision." TheEconomist uses "female genital mutilation" or "FGM," but the BBC uses "FGM" in one article, and "female circumcision" in a more recent podcast.

Debate over vocabulary has persisted in the West for decades. It is not merely academic. Commentators, practitioners, and activists have wrestled with and about the words "mutilation" (potentially stigmatizing), "cutting" (sometimes inaccurate), and "circumcision" (falsely analogous).

In truth, there is no perfect term in Western languages. This is partly because the practice and its meanings vary dramatically across the communities where it exists, and partly because its myriad local names do not lend themselves to easy translation.

Of the different terms used in the West, at least "female circumcision" should be abandoned. At best, it is inaccurate. At worst, it inches the practice into the realm of the medicalized or sanitary, obscuring aspects that still undermine girls' and women's human rights.

"Female Circumcision": A false analogy

First, circumcision has been conducted for thousands of years in males, mainly for religious or supposedly hygienic reasons. It involves removal of the hood of the non-erectile foreskin over the head of the penis, which has little or no negative impact on the sexuality or future health of the male.

Male circumcision is in no way related to the motivation, acts, or health impacts associated with traditional alterations of the female genitalia as practiced across Africa. The procedure performed on young women and girls generally consists of ablation of parts or all of the inner labia and all or most of the clitoris, i.e. of a woman's most sensitive erectile tissue. This can cause a woman numerous physical and psychological consequences over her lifetime, including loss of genital sensation, scar tissue build-up, and adverse obstetric outcomes.

Use of the term "circumcision" for both genders sends the message that the
traditional rite imposed on women and girls is no more traumatic or consequential than what males experience without protest. This is not true. We should clarify once and for all that excision of the clitoris is the equivalent of removing the head of the penis.

"Female Circumcision" and medicalization

Second, the term "female circumcision" can be construed to support a trend noted in the UNICEF data and the BBC podcast: increased medicalization of traditional rites that obliterate female genital sensation. In Egypt, for example, more and more healthcare providers are performing the act with sterile razors, under hygienic conditions. This makes the practice seem like a "normal" surgical intervention akin to male circumcision - an attractive alternative to traditional procedures carried out on young girls with rough tools in often unsanitary settings.

However, this veneer of respectability or regulation obscures the fundamental question of whether extinguishing a woman's natural sexual response constitutes a human rights violation that must be stopped. It also raises serious ethical issues for healthcare providers. This dilemma was directly addressed by a landmarkWorld Medical Association Statement in 1993, which condemns the participation of physicians in procedures affecting the female genitalia that have no medical benefit.

Any medicalization of procedures aimed at deadening a woman's capacity for sexual stimulation only gives these acts a presumed respectability they do not deserve, potentially legitimizing practices which both the WHO and UNICEF have found to violate girls' and women's human rights. Medicalization is a harmful illusion and should be abandoned, not encouraged.

Of all the imperfect Western terms to describe this complex tradition, "female circumcision" should be discarded. It is medically inaccurate, falsely reassuring, and distracts from the fundamental question of whether alteration of the female genitalia for no medical benefit--and, indeed, to limit a woman's full sexual integrity--is a human rights violation.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kim-thuy-seelinger-jd/female-circumcision_b_3829467.html

Amitabh Bachchan presented with Global Diversity Award 2013

Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan has been honoured with the Global Diversity Award 2013 at the State Room of Britain's House of Commons in London.

Speaker of the House of Commons, Rt Hon John Bercow MP presented the ornately sculpted glass Award to the 71-year-old actor describing him as "a Bollywood icon and the most famous Indian film star of all time."

Describing Bachchan as a role model, Speaker Bercow said, "You have been a role model and Amitabh you deserve the award."

British actor Hugh Grant was present at the award ceremony which was chaired by Rt Hon Keith Vaz, MP, Chairman, Home Affairs Select Committee.

The citation noted that "Amitabh first gained popularity in the early 1970s as the 'angry young man' of Hindi cinema, and has since appeared in over 180 Indian films in a career spanning more than four decades. Bachchan is regarded as one of the greatest and most influential actors in the history of Indian cinema."

"He is a Global patron for the diabetes charity Silver Star and last year was presented with a Mobile Diabetes Unit for his home city Mumbai named 'Amitabh' in his honour," the citation said.

Receiving the award, Bachchan said he was overwhelmed to receive the "extremely historic award."

"I have been extremely overwhelmed by the love and affection of the people of Great Britain," and thanked his parents and family for their support in achieving what he did.

He said when Keith Vaz introduced him to the Diabetes awareness campaign, "It has been a great privilege and honour to visit various cities in helping people to tackle diabetes."

The actor thanked Vaz for naming one of the Mobile Diabetes Units in his name in Mumbai and welcomed the announcement to start yet another mobile unit in Delhi, named after his father Harvanshrai Bachchan.

"My father taught English in Allahabad University and in 1952 he was the first Indian to get a Doctorate in English Language at the Cambridge. He completed his Doctorate in two years instead of normal 4 years."

Referring to Bollywood, he said, "There are very few institutions which can boast of such unity as the Film industry."

Asked about his future plans, Bachchan said, "I just did a film called "Satyagraha" which dealt with socio-political issues. There are several other films in the pipeline including 'Bhootnath 2'. I am also currently busy with the latest Hindi version of "Who wants to become a Millionaire."

In his brief address, actor Hugh Grant said, "It is truly a great pleasure meeting Amitabh Bachchan. He is a gigantic actor, super star who is hugely popular. He is also like a saint in some way because of his charity and animal welfare work. If ever anyone who deserve the Global Diversity Award, it is Amitabh Bachchan. Congratulations."

Ganesh Chaturthi: 'heaviest' laddoo

A confectioner here is making efforts to prepare the world's 'heaviest' laddoo and enter the Guinness World Records for the third time.

A laddoo weighing 7,000kg is ready for tomorrow's Vinayaka Chaturthi festival organised by the Rajahmahendri Ganesh Utsav Committee (RGUC) at Pushkar Ghat in Rajahmundry in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh.

"We are preparing a 7,000kg laddoo for which the order was placed by RGUC. It will be handed over to the organisers tomorrow at 10 AM," S Venkatswara Rao, two-time Guinness record holder and owner of Sri Bhakatanjaneya Sweets in the district's Tapeswaram, told PTI.

The confectioner has used 2,000kg sugar, 2,000kg Bengal gram (chana dal), 1,500kg ghee and other ingredients, including cashew, almonds, cardamom and green camphor, to make the laddoo, which he said, would be taken in a procession to Pushkhar Ghat from Tapeswaram at 8 AM.

"The laddoo prepared with the help of 16 workers is ready. We have applied for a Guinness Book entry for the third time as our laddoo will be the heaviest prepared anywhere in the world.

"We have made it to the Guinness Book twice, in 2011 and 2012," he added.

The approximate cost of the laddoo is Rs 14.80 lakh, he said, adding that more than 500 laddoos have been prepared and another 150 orders have been received.

"Our laddoos have been ordered by Telangana region's Nizamabad, Hyderabad, Coastal Andhra Pradesh districts, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and other parts of the state," he said, adding that the ongoing Samaikhyandhra agitation had not impacted his business.

"We received 90 orders more than last year's 410 orders. We prepare laddoos weighing between 5kg to 5,000kg," he said.

Incidentally, the festival this time is dedicated to the ongoing Samaikhyandhra agitation for a "united" Andhra Pradesh.

RGUC spokesperson Ramamohan Rao told reporters yesterday that, this year, it would perform what it has termed the "Samaikhyha Homam" and chant the "Samaikhya Mantra" for nine days.

"We have named the laddoo and the Vinayaka idol as Samaikhya laddoo and Samaikhya Vinayaka, dedicating it to the ongoing Samaikhyandhra Pradesh agitation," he said. 

Vinayaka Chaturthi

Ganesha Chaturthi or Ganesha Festival is a day on which Lord Ganesha, the son of Lord Shiva and Parvati  is believed to bestow his presence on earth for all his devotees. It is also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi or Vinayaka Chavithi in Sanskrit,. The festival is observed in the Hindu calendar month of Bhaadrapada, starting on the shukla chaturthi (fourth day of the waxing moon period). Typically, the day falls sometime between August 20 and September 15. The festival lasts for 10 days, ending on Ananta Chaturdashi.

In 1893, Lokmanya Tilak, an Indian nationalist, social reformer and freedom fighter reshaped the annual Ganeshfestival from private family celebrations into a grand public event. It is interesting to note that the festival was not celebrated in a public manner until this time but was a family affair among Hindus, who used to celebrate it in a traditional manner.

Lokamanya Tilak visualized the cultural importance of this deity and popularised Ganesha Chaturthi as a National Festival “to bridge the gap between the Brahmins and the non-Brahmins” and find an appropriate context in which to build a new grassroots unity between them in his nationalistic strivings against the British in Maharashtra.

Tilak chose Ganesha as a rallying point for Indian protest against British rule because of his wide appeal as “The God for Everyman”. It was an important festival during the Peshwa rule in Maharashtra, but acquired a more organized form all over India during the Swaraj movement (Freedom struggle).

Tilak was the first to install large public images of Ganesha in pavilions, and he established the practice of submerging all the public images on the tenth day. The festival facilitated community participation & involvement in the form of learned discourses, dance dramas, poetry recital, musical concerts, debates, etc. It served as a meeting ground for common people of all castes and communities, in a time when social & political gatherings were forbidden by the British Rule to exercise control over the population.Ganesh chaturthi is a very sacred and auspicious occasion.

It is one of the most sacred and believed festivals among Hindus. Lord Ganesha is known as the God of prosperity and wisdom.

he birth of Lord Ganesha is celebrated massively in various hindu communities. Lord ganesha is worshipped before the worshipping of other Gods and Goddesses. He is worshipped all over India before getting started for any auspicious occasion. The festival is known for its community participation and involvement of people from all walks of life irrespective of their religion or culture; these 10 days include various religious and intellectually motivated activities. Ganesha chaturthi is celebrated massively throughout India.

There is a specific and special weet dish for this festival is the Modak which is basically a kind of a jaggerynut kind made from flour and fresh dry coconut, dry fruits etc.The Vinayakar Chathurthi is a much awaited festival. The occasion of ganesh chaturathi  would combine all the people from various casts to join together and be a part of this occasion. This festival holds a special significance among the Hindus. 

The festival is similarly celebrated all across the world with major celebrations in UK, USA and Canada with people wishing each other ‘Happy Ganesh chaturthi’

Rajini's Kochadaiyaan teaser ready

Rajinikanth’s upcoming Tamil film Kochadaiyaan’s teaser is ready to be unveiled, which is set to be released on September 9^th, on Vinayaga Chathurthi Day.

“On my way back to Mumbai after mixing the teaser of #Kochadaiiyaan..All Rajni fans wait!!!,” said Rasul Pookutty in his twitter page. Deepika Padukone is pairing opposite Superstar Rajinikath in Kochadaiyaan that is directed by Soundarya R Ashwin.

Veteran stars Shobana, Sarathkumar, Jackie Shroff, Nassar et al were part of Kochadaiyaan that was canned using motion picture technology with music by AR Rahman.

Keep checking way2movies for Kochadaiyaan teaser will be posted soon…

T Rajendra Rocks With Mumait Khan In Arya Surya

Tamil movie Arya Surya, which replaced Madha Gaja Raja’s release today, Sep 7, is getting mere response from the audience. The movie has Power Star Srinivasan and director-actor T Rajendran in the lead role.

It is said that the highlight of Arya Surya is T Rajendran, dancing with Mumait Khan for a ‘Kuthu number’, and the audience were all praise for T Rajendran’s energy level at this age.

Talking about his role in Arya Surya, T Rajendran said, “My confidence gives me energy to perform such kuthu numbers with ease. I have also composed a rap sequence for the song. This number, ‘Thagadu Thagadu’, is interesting because it’s a combination of rap and folk tunes. I shot for this number with Mumait Khan for my dear friend Rama Narayanan. If it was not for him, I wouldn’t have taken up that song. This number was screened at the audio launch, which was held in the city, and it was received well by the audience and the industry people alike. I also enjoyed dancing for this song.”

T Rajendra also said that there are many such offers coming for him, but he might not take up all the songs, and he would like to be choosy.

Saranya Ponvannan plays the lead role in Amma Ammamma

Saranya Ponvannan, winner of the national award for ‘best actress’ for her role in Seenu Ramasamy’s Thenmerku Paruvakaatru in 2011 and many Filmfare awards, plays the prominent role in an upcoming film titled as Amma Ammamma which is directed by debutant Balu Manivannan who also pens the screenplay and dialogues.

Produced by Mambalam Chandrasekar under his banner Chandrasekar Thiraikkalam, Amma Ammamma has its script penned by the producer himself. Sampath Raj plays Saranya’s pair in the film which has Anand, Sujitha, Devadarshini, T.P. Gajendran and Santhi Williams essaying significant roles.

K.V. Mani is the film’s cinematographer while Sunil Kumar takes care of the editing. M.V. Raghu has scored the film’s music. Talking about his debut film, Balu sounds emphatic. “I have worked as assistant director in films such as Mogamul, Bharathi and Periyar. In Amma Ammamma, Saranya and Sampath play a couple who aren’t blessed with a child even after 15 years of matrimonial life.

“Once they go to a temple where they meet the couple of Anand and Devadarshini who have two sons. The two couples become deep family friends soon. Devadarshini, who is pregnant with her third child, dies immediately after giving birth to her daughter. Saranya wants to bring up the daughter but Anand’s 10-year old son does not want to give away his now-born sister.

“The rest of the story has been narrated interesting and in an emotional manner. We are sure audiences would support our endeavour in making good cinema,” concludes Balu.

Indian American Suja Lowenthal announces bid to run for mayor in US city

Chennai-born Indian American Suja Lowenthal has announced her bid to run for Mayor of Long Beach, which is the second largest city in Los Angeles County of California in US.

Currently serving her second term as City Council, Suja is pitted against five other candidates.
Suja Lowenthal holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics from UCLA, a Master's in Business Administration from California State University, Los Angeles and a Doctorate in Policy, Planning and Development from USC.

In 2001, she was elected to the Board of Education in the Long Beach Unified School District, serving as Board president for two years, during which time LBUSD earned recognition as the best urban school district in the nation by the Broad Foundation.

"The essence of effective government is balance which has been the hallmark of my years of service on the school board and city council" Suja said after announcing her decision. "The challenge is to find the right balance promoting business and creating jobs that pay a decent wage," she said.

"The balance between strong law enforcement and keeping young people out of trouble and of course balancing what government provides with what we can afford," she said.

Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster is not seeking a third term.