Tamannah not part of Gopichand's next

 Southern actress Tamannah Bhatia hasn't been signed for Gopichand-starrer yet untitled Telugu project, says her manager and adds that she only has Mahesh Babu's "Aagadu" in her kitty.

"She hasn't signed any Telugu project besides 'Aagadu' with Mahesh Babu. The film is her top most priority as she has set aside bulk dates for the same," Tamannah's manager told IANS.

Srinu Vaitla directed "Aagadu" went on floors recently and will be wrapped up by mid next year. The 23-year-old, who has paired with all top stars in Telugu, will be sharing screen space with Mahesh for the first time.

Tamannah, who recently scored a hit with Telugu actioner "Tadakha", is simultaneously working for Tamil rural action-drama "Veeram" and Hindi film "It's Entertainment".

Google awards Rs 3 crore to four non-profit organizations

Four non-profit organisations in India were chosen for their work and plans that focus on innovative use of technology to make the world a better place.
"Our aim is to encourage and help younger people with technology skills to aspire to change the world," says Google director of giving, Jacquelline Fuller, who touched down in Delhi to be part of the final round of the Google Impact Challenge, the second such programme launched by Google, the first one being in the UK earlier this year.
Non-profit organizations in India were invited to be part of the challenge that focused on innovative use of technology to drive social impact. From "thousands of applications" since its India launch in August, four organizations, including a 'fan favourite' -- Agastya, Digital Green, Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship & Democracy and Social Awareness Newer Alternatives (SANA) respectively -- were selected for the awards. Ten of non-profits that were selected were invited to pitch their projects in front of a panel of judges. The four winners got Rs 3 crore each while the runners-up too have been awarded Rs 1.5 crore.
"The idea was to help non-profits that have a proven track record of accomplishing their goals," says Fuller giving the example of mobile labs to address the lack of science equipment and digital resources for rural children that swung the award in favour of the Bangalore-based Agastya.

Talking about it, Thiagrajan, chief operating officer of the 12-year-old organisation says, "Although we have already been taking mobile labs with about 100-150 science models to give children a hands-on experience, with this money, we plan to reach out not just to children but also teachers in remote villages."
Called TechLa Bike, it entails "a teacher driving a bike carrying a briefcase-like box with a number of mini models -- be it a microscope, ray projectors to understand the functioning and responses of light, etc -- to the interiors and make children there more digitally empowered," says Thiagrajan, an engineer who joined Agastya about four years ago. Over 65,000 children across Karnataka will benefit from this programme, he says.
Digital Green's project seeks to give useful information to small and marginal farmers through short digital films. "With about 2,600 of these in 20 different languages, we've already reached out to about 1,50,000 farmers in 2,000 villages," says Rikin Gandhi. With subjects as diverse as ways to improve agricultural production, making of vermicompost to how to connect with banks, Digital Green has plans to cover over 10,000 villages in the next few years.
"We get villagers themselves to make and produce these films that help not just in spreading awareness about different farming techniques etc to women, our target audience, who watch them on small projectors, but also gives these 'filmmakers' a new vocation. Many of these youngsters feel encouraged enough to make wedding and party videos too," smiles Gandhi.
Water and sanitation as an integrated model is what Delhi-based Sanchaita Gajapati Raju's SANA has been looking at. "We are already working in several villages purifying local water sources into WHO-standard drinking water. This is being done using solar-powered water-purification stations and not the conventional sources of energy," says Raju.
Now, she has plans for setting up bio-toilets in villages of coastal Andhra Pradesh that do not have a proper sewage network. "This will change the life of the people there considerably because the bio-gas that will be produced in the process will be used to light up the area and the water will be used for agricultural purposes," she adds.

Over the three years, with 54 million litres of drinking water and bio-digesting toilets being provided to ten villages, SANA promises to offer "improved health conditions for 25,000 people annually".
While three of the winners focus on rural India, the fourth in the list, Janaaagraha, aims to work in urban areas by creating online and mobile apps to bridge the gap between citizens and government representatives. "The idea is to make people more empowered through the use of technology," says Joylita Sardanha.
Talking about the 6,000 complaints her Bangalore-based organization has received since July, she says, 4,000 -- "these could be anything from garbage issues to open potholes" -- have already been resolved.
"With a team that's constantly helping in these follow-ups", Sardanha hopes that in the next three years, Janaagraha will connect 15,00,000 citizens to governments across three metropolitan cities in India. "Though we still have to finalize which ones we'll be working in, most probably Mumbai, Jaipur and Bhubaneshwar will be the chosen ones," she adds.

Goodbye Sachin Tendulkar

    

   Without doubt the most enduring phenomenon in modern cricket and India's biggest sporting icon, Sachin Tendulkar is all set for an epic curtain call starting tomorrow when he steps on the field against the West Indies for his 200th and final Test where emotions will weigh heavy.

Also read: The Final Act of 'Cricket God'; Goodbye Sachin

    For once, an individual would be the focus even though it is a clash of two teams and why not, given that the individual in question is a man who successfully transformed from a prodigal talent to a living legend in 24 glorious years.

    Tendulkar has been synonymous with the game in India for more than two decades and held in awe and admiration all over the cricket-playing world.

    As a curly-haired teen with unbelievable talent, he walked in to the cricket field and the hearts of his fans quite effortlessly ever since his debut in 1989.

   And Such has been his domination in both the places that the vaccum he would leave seems unfillable. Having won the first Test by an innings and 51 runs, Team India and their seniormost statesman will be focussed on inflicting another humiliating defeat on a mediocre Caribbean outfit at the Wankhede Stadium.

    But the scores and statistics will certainly take backseat for the next few days as a nation gets ready to bid farewell to arguably its greatest and most revered sporting icon.

  When Sir Don Bradman retired at the Oval in 1948, there were tributes but celebrations of a fantastic career were much muted. But now as world cricket's most celebrated No 4 batsman bids adieu to the game, there is a silent prayer on everyone's mind - let it be a farewell to remember.

    While the onus will be on Mahendra Singh Dhoni to control While the onus will be on Mahendra Singh Dhoni to control on-field proceedings, it will also be difficult for the players not to feel overwhelmed by the occasion and emotions associated with the great man's farewell.

    For the legend himself, he would like to sign off on a high in front of his friends and family with a knock that will be etched in everyone's memory in the years to come.

   Having got a raw deal from umpire Nigel Llong in his penultimate Test match in Kolkata, the highest run-scorer in Test history would expect that a Shane Shillingford or Tino Best do not 'do an Eric Hollies' on him as he walks out to bat at his beloved Wankhede for the last time.

   Legend has it that Sir Don's eyes became moist and he failed to spot Hollies' googly in his last Test innings to get out for a duck. It will be interesting how the 40-year-old Tendulkar keeps his emotions under check during the last few days of his glittering career.

   Maybe he would like to finish with a flourish like Greg Chappell, who scored a century in his final knock before calling time on his career. A bowling attack which has one quality spinner and some really average medium pacers (injured Kemar Roach is already on his flight back home) is something that Tendulkar can still negotiate playing from memory. However, after nearly two and half decades of top-flight cricket, even if the mind wants, the body at times does not respond to the rigours of international cricket.

    A young Tendulkar would always play the paddle sweep to an off-break bowler in his bid to smother the spin at the earliest. He has done that successfully against Saqlain Mushtaq and Muttiah Muralitharan.

   Therefore, expect an intriguing battle between Tendulkar and Shillingford as the senior batsman would definitely have a strategy in mind to counter the Caribbean offie's doosra which posed a bit of problem in the first Test.

Squads

 India: MS Dhoni (captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, R Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Pragyan Ojha, Amit Mishra, Ajinkya Rahane, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Rohit Sharma, Ishant Sharma.

West Indies: Darren Sammy (captain), Tino Best, Darren Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Sheldon Cotterell, Narsingh Deonarine, Kirk Edwards, Chris Gayle, Veersammy Permaul, Kieran Powell, Denesh Ramdin, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels, Shane Shillingford, Chadwick Walton.

Umpires: Nigel Long (England) and Richard Kettleborough (England)

Match Referee: Andy Pycroft (Zimbabwe)

Match starts at 9.30 AM IST

Who is Mahavatar Babaji?

Haidakhan Wale Baba lived in the foothills of the Himalayas, in the Kumaon region, birth place of many of India's great saints. He was acknowledged as Shiva Mahavatar Babaji, the eternal manifestation of God in human form.

Babaji's recent physical manifestation was between 1970 to 1984, when He appeared in a holy cave at the foot of the Kumaon Mount Kailash in a remote village called Haidakhan. Many people, from all over the world, have mystically been drawn to Babaji through extraordinary events, dreams and visions and are receiving His Blessings.

Babaji urged the people to "follow the religion that is in your heart." He said "every religion leads to the same divine goal" and that he had come to revive the eternal and ageless religion, the Sanatan Dharma; the three basic principles: Truth, Simplicity, and Love. He emphasized constant repetition of the ancient Sanskrit maha mantra OM NAMAH SHIVAYA -- "Lord, Thy Will be Done" and to live in harmony along with selfless service to humanity.

Shri Babaji is acknowledged as the Shiva Mahavatar Babaji described by Paramahansa Yogananda in "Autobiography of a Yogi"': a Mahavatar being a human manifestation of the Divine who can materialize a body at will. Babaji's devotees believe that He has continually manifested since Creation to help Humanity. One manifestation of Babaji was around 1800 at which time He traveled extensively in the Kumaon region of the Himalayas, gathering his devotees and disciples around Him. In 1922 He traveled to the meeting place of the Kali and Gori Rivers, seated Himself on the surface of the water and disappeared in a ball of light.

His latest manifestation was between 1970 and 1984, and was foretold by a great Saint, Mahendra Baba, who following a lifelong search for Babaji, experienced a miraculous meeting with Him at Siddhashram, near Ranikhet in Uttar Pradesh, India. Thereafter, Mahendra Baba devoted himself to traveling through India prophesying Babaji's return.

Babaji appeared in 1970, as a youth of 18 or 20 years, in a holy cave at the foot of Kumaon Mount Kailash at Haidakhan, near Haldwani in Uttar Pradesh, India. His divine power was experienced in many ways: in September of 1970 He ascended Mount Kailash and sat on the summit without food or sleep for 45 days; several people saw Him simultaneously in different places; He healed the sick; He brought transformation into many people's lives.

Babaji spent most of His 14 year incarnation at Haidakhan where he established a beautiful ashram, and near the village of Chilianaula, near Ranikhet, He built a large and breathtakingly beautiful Temple and Ashram overlooking the Himalayas.

Babaji taught that He had come to revive the Santana Dharma, the ageless Eternal Religion from which all religions have come. He stressed three basic principles: Truth, Simplicity and Love. He emphasized constant repetition of the mantra "Om Namah Shivaya","I surrender to God", and selfless service to Mankind.

Many people have been drawn to Babaji and many spiritual centers in the West have been dedicated to Babaji and His teachings. Thousands of people all over the world have received Babaji's blessings and have been called to the spiritual path through extraordinary events, dreams and visions.

Babaji left his body on 14 February 1984. He had come to give a message to the world, and having done this, He left. His last message was:

"I am always with you".

Vijay in awe of Hrithik in 'Krrish 3'

   

    Tamil actor Vijay, who managed to watch Hrithik Roshan-starrer "Krrish 3" recently at a private screening, was so impressed with the actor's work that he wanted to personally meet him and show his appreciation.

   Vijay was to meet Hrithik Roshan on Monday here but he couldn't as he was busy wrapping upcoming Tamil action-drama "Jilla".

   "Vijay sir recently watched 'Krrish 3' with his family and loved it. He was in awe of Hrithik and the amount of hard work he had put in to perform the stunts in the film. He said that he hasn't watched a better adventurous Indian film in a long time," Vijay's agent P.T Selvakumar told IANS.

   "He wanted to meet Hrithik and personally congratulate in a public gathering. Unfortunately, he was busy shooting for 'Jilla', and, therefore, couldn't make it," he added.

    Hrithik, Rakesh Roshan and cinematographer Tirru were in the Tamil Nadu capital Monday to celebrate the success of "Krrish 3", which has been received very well in the state as well.

    Rakesh Roshan-directed and produced "Krrish 3" reportedly minted over Rs.200 crore at the box-office. It also features Vivek Oberoi, Priyanka Chopra and Kangana Ranaut.

Kelly Brook's style icon was Madonna

   

  Actress Kelly Brook looked up to superstar Madonna while growing up and often copied her famous hairstyles.

    The 33-year-old says Madonna was her “idol growing up” and she always wanted to “dress like her” and she even “copied her iconic 1980s hairstyles”.

    "I would buy tonnes of hairspray. I had a bad perm and would scrunch my hair. I'd go through a can of hairspray a week,” contactmusic.com quoted Brook as saying.

Brook also took beauty inspiration from her grandmother.

   "My earliest beauty memory was at my grandmother's house. She was always into beauty products and I remember her teaching me how to cleanse my face using Anne French Cleansing Milk. 

  "Nowadays, my ethos is to take good care of my skin - but I also think that if you have a clear and happy mind, that shines through and makes you beautiful,” she said.

The box office report of Ajith's "Arrambam"

    

      "Arrambam", which was released on 31 October, has taken the box office by storm. "Arrambam" dominates over other Tamil releases at the box office raking in good collections.

     The action-packed entertainer gave Ajith his best ever opening by minting ₹8.75 crore nett from the Tamil Nadu box office. It continues to perform well thanks to positive feedback from critics as well as audiences. Senior fillm journalist Sreedhar Pillai tweeted,

    The Ajith starrer is doing good business at the overseas markets as well.

    According to film critic and trade analyst Taran Adarsh, "Arrambam" has earned ₹1.03 crore for three days including Thursday previews at the UK box office. The film's collections were good during the previews, but it dropped on Friday (1 November). On Saturday (2 November) the film witnessed a significant rise in collections. 

    "Tamil film #Arrambam *UK* Thu £ 34,831, Fri £ 29,868, Sat £ 40,223. Total: £ 104,922 [₹ 1.03 cr]. Note: Some screens yet to report," Taran tweeted.

    "Arrambam" has fetched ₹24.95 lakh in three days at the Australian box office. The film is expected to continue its run for a few more weeks as there are no other big Tamil releases.