The Hunger Games Movie Review

Critic's Rating: 3½/5
Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, Donald Sutherland, Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Banks
Direction: Gary Ross
Genre: Action
Duration: 2 hours 22 minutes
Avg Readers Rating: 3½/5

Story : In the evil nation of Panem are some twelve odd districts. And there are some twelve 'tributes' competing against one another in the Hunger Games. So who will be the winner?

Movie Review: The expectations are pretty high on this one. No prizes for guessing why. The Hunger Games, the movie, is based on the bestselling young adult novel by Suzanne Collins. Naturally then, like the book, the film raises some thought provoking questions often read between the lines all throughout its screenplay. Will the next World War be all about food? Are most of the government strategies all about playing big brother to the common man? Will the on-going crisis the world over -- Iraq, Syria, Somalia, to name some -- ever reach a fruitful conclusion? Are reality games tweaked to pump up TRP ratings? How much is too much when it comes to seeking all that audience support (votes) in a reality show? Will survival of the fittest be the only driving force in the world that lies ahead? Whatever it is, Greek mythology gets all contemporary (and topical) in here.

The annual Hunger Game event held in the ruined city of futuristic North America, now Panem (Rome anyone?), forces a teenage boy and girl from District 12 to compete in it along with similar pairs from other Districts. The games, of course, are a nationally televised event in which tributes must fight with one another until one survivor remains (the Roman gladiator games anyone?). One such tribute is none other than huntress Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) working sharply on her physical as well as mental skills to get the game bang on (the future Theseus of Greek mythology anyone?). Her aim is to return home - District 12 -- victorious, but before that it's a pick-and-choose game she needs to excel in: the may-you-win-against-all-odds game against her opponents and the game of love, courtesy Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson).

It's actually Jennifer's preparation for the big game that holds your attention as she pits against some highly-trained tributes who have prepared for these Games since time immemorial. That's another story, nothing seems to intimidate our PYT (Pretty Young Thing) -- not even her lack of confidence when it comes to getting people to like her. Watch her strike the apple for the first time she is all out to make an impression and ensure she is 'remembered' amongst those who matter. She scores a perfect eleven! And then there are more of Jennifer's expertise with the bow and arrow coupled with her moments of anger, desperation, will power and vulnerability. She successfully portrays just what every 16-year-old girl would want to be. A perfect ten, we say! Next is Stanley Tucci (as the talk show host), Donald Sutherland (as President of the evil nation. Wish we had more of him), Woody Harrelson's Haymitch (as the 24X7 drunk mentor and father figure) and Elizabeth Banks's Lady Gaga-inspired Effie Trinket who not just escorts tributes, but brings in ample comic relief.
For the rest, there are swords, bows and arrows, knives, deadly bees, dense forests, computerized beasts multiplied by the click of a mouse, tree climbing, balls of fire, fire fashion statements, do or die instincts, a (not-so-happening) romantic plot....

Agent Vinod Movie Review

Critic's Rating: 3/5
Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor
Direction: Sriram Raghavan
Genre: Thriller
Duration: 2 hours 38 minutes
Avg Readers Rating: 2/5

Story: Mission: Secret Agent to trace a lethal nuclear bomb that can trigger World War III.
Location: 9 exotic countries.
Mission Man: Agent Vinod.

Movie Review: He's not blond, but desi Bond meets Bourne for a spy masala mix - apna Agent Vinod. With all the makings of a suave 007, always shaken, never stirred. With guns, gadgets, girls and guts. Throw in style and sex-appeal, and we almost have it all. AV, in his slim-fit suits, bow-ties and tuxedoes, is your metrosexual man on a mission. Cut to the chase, the story explodes in Afghanistan and the smoke trail leads to places like Russia, Morocco, Pakistan, Turkey, Latvija; with our agent ( Saif Ali Khan), high on his loaded ammunition of testosterone and wit - on the job. He's tracing a nuclear suitcase bomb (talk about retro), which could possibly trigger a Nuclear War. His only clue, a number - 242. And a siren; sexing up the mission. Read: ISI agent, Iram ( Kareena Kapoor).

Saif, like 007, is never averse to spouting a clever line even while drugged by the baddies - 'My name is Anthony Gonsalves' the most creative among them. Stripping his shirt to show off a chiseled six-pack, but decently desi enough to keep the pants on, and sensitively shed a tear. At his stylish best, Saif is the spy-to-die-for.

And while a random bronzed bikini babe makes a mandatory appearance, she's not missed as Kareena is sexier by far; and effortlessly does the sometimes mysterious, sometimes vulnerable act.
Ram Kapoor rolls his 'R's (for a Russian accent) as smoothly as his character trades arms, drugs and flesh. Prem Chopra weeps heartily for a dying camel but shows a mean-streak with good ol' 70's villainy. Adil Hussain, cut 'n' d(r)ied, plays the devious Colonel. Gulshan Grover pops up, only for a mujra, it seems.

Director Sriram Raghavan, who's made fine mind-twisters (Ek Haseena Thi, Johnny Gaddaar), attempts a spy-thriller this time. His obsession for retro reflects here again, whether it's casting Prem Chopra and Gulshan Grover, references to classics, or infusing soundtracks from the bygone era. Aaah! Nostalgia! 'Agent Vinod' is slick and visually stylized, but loses steam at times. The movie is a tad long and often creatively compromised - for style over substance. With well-designed stunts and car chases, there are very few high points or shock value. One being the background score (Daniel B George) that changes beautifully with the locations.
Otherwise, Agent Vinod is cool. But not steamy enough to win a license to thrill.

Benefits of ginger

Ginger is known to be beneficial in reducing the symptoms of morning sickness.

Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, ginger is beneficial for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

To seek relief from menstrual cramps and heart burns too, sip on ginger tea.

Ginger provides a great remedy for cold and cough.

To curb motion sickness, chew ginger candy.

For the beneficial properties of ginger, it's best had raw.

I will get married by the end of this year: Kareena Kapoor

Actress Kareena Kapoor, who is busy shooting for Madhur Bhandarkar's "Heroine", says she will get married to beau Saif Ali Khan by the end of the year.

Reports suggested that the Bollywood couple was planning to tie the knot after the release of Saif's home production " Agent Vinod" this March but Kareena says they are in no rush.

"I will get married hopefully by the end of this year... because I am busy doing 'Heroine' and I have to finish the film first. We are not yet going to announce the date. We are in no such rush but it will happen this year," said Kareena, who was in the Capital to attend the India Today Conclave.

The 31-year-old, who has been dating Saif since 2007, says she does not consider herself as a "star" but just "a simple girl in love".

"I am actually just a simple girl in love whose dreams have come true. Ever since I was 9 I would see Karisma (sister) rehearse and I would go backstage and repeat the same things. I always wanted to act and I know nothing other than acting. I have no degree and so I hope to act forever," she said.

Kareena has done a variety of role in her career spanning over a decade. She has given hits like "Jab We Met", " 3 Idiots", "Omkara", "Bodyguard" and "Ra.One".

Talking about her film "Heroine", Kareena said, "It's turning out pretty well... It's an exciting journey of an actress, she is slightly schizophrenic and she has got these different mood swings it's very difficult for me to do...But I am glad there is a role like this. It is fun not to stand behind Shahrukh and Salman in a movie but prove yourself as an actor."

Zareen Khan to replace Katrina Kaif in Partner 2?

It seems the makers have found an ideal replacement for Katrina Kaif in Partner sequel.

Zareen Khan's new slim look seems to be taking her to places. The actress who was criticized for being overweight has lost oodles of weight. And if the buzz if to be believed, she is being considered as Katrina Kaif's replacement in the sequel of Partner.

Apparently David Dhawan's Partner 2 is supposed to go on floors next year. Zareen never liked the fact that she was tagged as a Katrina Kaif look-alike. However, her resemblance to the actress seems to be working in her favour now. It might just give her another chance to revive her career.

Zareen is presently making news for her sizzling hot avatar in Sajid Khan's Housefull 2. The actress is looking forward to do good films more than hot item numbers.

'Item song' sounds derogatory: Kareena Kapoor

She has grooved to chartbusters like "Chhammak challo", "Chhalliya", "It's rocking" and "Mauja hi mauja" - but actress Kareena Kapoor says she finds the term "item song" derogatory. She has also clarified that she is yet to accept a song in Salman Khan's "Dabangg 2".

"I hate that word item song," Kareena said in an emphatic tone at the India Today Conclave 2012 Friday.

"It's become a trend among directors and producers...'Chalo ek item number daal dete hain (Let's put in an item number)'. I don't like this word item number. Why can't it just be called a song," she added.

The 31-year-old says hit dance numbers deserve more respect, just the way yesetryear dancer Helen used to command through her songs.

"In the 1960s, when Helen aunty used to do a song, my mom has told me, that she used to get scared and used to say 'Oh my god, Helenji is going to do a song in our movie'. So she always knew she might not be noticed (in the film), given Helen aunty's personality and the command that she respected," said Kareena.

"I just find something very derogatory about songs being called item numbers. I wish people just refer to them as just songs because songs make our Hindi films. They are what make our films global.

"When I walk the streets of London, fans come up and talk about 'Chhammak challo', 'You are my soniya' and songs of 'Jab We Met'. Songs are part of our culture, we should be proud of them," added the actress, who has shot a mujra song for her forthcoming film " Agent Vinod".

She has also been offered a song in the sequel to blockbuster "Dabangg".

"They have spoken to me about it. But we haven't decided anything yet. Salman has been saying you should do it, it will look great. But I don't want to do an item song...I want to do a good song in a good film like 'Dabangg 2'," she said in a diplomatic way.

Budget 2012: Mobile talk gets taxed a little more

More than 900 million mobile phone users in India should get ready to pay more for their monthly mobile phone bills on the back of a 2% hike in service tax announced in the annual budget on Friday. The service tax across the board will go up from an existing 10% to 12% affecting both pre-paid and post-paid subscribers.

So if you were paying Rs 1,000 as your monthly post-paid bill you will need to shell out another Rs 20 while if you are a pre-paid customer your talk time is likely to reduce as the service tax is priced in the voucher. So if you bought a Rs 100 voucher and got Rs 88 worth of talk-time with Rs 10 going as service tax and Rs 2 as processing fee now you will get Rs 86 of talk-time.

This move, operators said, will make it difficult for them to plan any tariff hikes considering the hyper-competitive nature of the industry.

"This will have an impact on the consumers and the industry at large. At the end of the day consumers have a fixed monthly budget and this hike along with the others will make it difficult for them. If operators don't pass through the entire tax hike we will have to tinker with our tariff structure," said Himanshu Kapania, MD, Idea Cellular.

It's not only the GSM players like Idea, Vodafone and Airtel which are a worried lot. Even CDMA operators expressed concern on the service tax hike considering their subscriber base is largely at the bottom of pyramid. "From a global perspective, the telecom industry in India continues to attract the highest tax rate of 23%. It would have been good, if this could have been rationalized as the telecom industry continues to face numerous challenges," said Vsevolod Rozanov, president & CEO MTS India.

Analysts tracking the sector said that the 2% hike in service tax may not completely deter operators from going ahead with tariff increases later. " Operators have been talking about 20-30% increases so this 2% hike should not stop them from taking up call rates in the future," said Ashish Basil, partner, telecom practice, Ernst & Young, a consultancy firm.

The one silver lining in the budget for consumers was the announcement of exemption of basic customs duty on mobile phone parts. This could help boost local manufacturing of mobile handset makers and prices may come down while even as imported handsets may get costlier.

Budget 2012: Gains and pains

NEW DELHI: The finance minister has taken a pragmatic approach in this year's Union Budget, which, while not taking its eye off the inclusive growth agenda, has taken steps to urgently address the need to fix stretched government finances. Analysts said the changes on the indirect taxes front unveiled on Friday suggested that it is clear that progress was being made on launching the most ambitious tax reform.

Here is a look at what taxpayers, consumers, investors and businesmen are likely to gain and lose from this Budget.

GAIN FOR TAXPAYERS

• I-T exemption limit raised to Rs 2 lakh, 30% tax bracket now at Rs 10L
• Interest up to Rs 10,000 on saving bank account to be exempt from tax
• Deduction of 50% for investments up to Rs 50,000 in equity by new investors with an annual income up to Rs 10 lakh
• Age limit for senior citizens reduced from 65 to 60 for several tax benefits
• Deduction of Rs 5,000 for preventive check-up expenses allowed within health insurance benefit

PAIN FOR TAXPAYERS

• Additional deduction for infra bonds of Rs 20,000 removed
• Income tax officers can now reopen assessments pertaining to foreign assets for up to 16 years instead of the current six years

GAIN FOR CONSUMERS 

• Threshold for payment of service tax on apartment maintenance raised from Rs 3,000/month to Rs 5,000
• No excise on branded silver jewellery
• Duty-free baggage allowance at airports raised by Rs 10,000 to Rs 35,000
• Excise duty on branded readymade garments reduced from 4.6% to 3.7%

PAIN FOR CONSUMERS

• Service tax (cess included) up from 10.3% to 12.36%; excise hiked from 10.3% to 12.36%, from 5.15% to 6.18%, and 1.03% to 2.06%
• Excise duty on cars of 1500cc and above raised to 27%.
• Basic customs duty on imported SUVs worth over $40,000 (3,000cc or more for petrol, 2,500cc or more for diesel) raised from 60% to 75%
• Customs duty on high-purity gold in various forms doubled

GAIN FOR INVESTORS 

• Securities transaction tax on delivery-based deals reduced to 0.1%
• More options for investing in tax-free bonds (like NHAI and Hudco)

PAIN FOR INVESTORS 

• TDS mandatory for sale of immovable property of over Rs 50L in urban areas and Rs 20L in rural areas
• 1% tax to be collected at source by seller for any sale in cash valued over Rs 2L of jewellery, bullion, etc
• TDS for interest from debentures if amount exceeds Rs 5,000
• No tax sops for new life insurance policies with annual premium over 10% of sum assured (currently 20%) excluding loyalty bonus

GAIN FOR BUSINESSMEN 

• Withholding tax on interest on ECBs reduced from 20% to 5% for power, airlines, roads etc for 3 years
• A year's extension for exemption under section 80IA for power firms; also for lower tax on overseas dividend
• Small service provider exemption increased from Rs 10L to Rs 50L

PAIN FOR BUSINESSMEN 

• Alternate Minimum Tax now on partnerships, sole proprietorships too
• All foreign assets must be declared
• Penalty up to 90% on undisclosed income found during search
• I-T Act amended retrospectively to tax 'offshore M&A deals' involing transfer of assets in India. Example: Hutch-Vodafone transaction

Budget 2012: Ice-cream & chocolate melt under tax heat

The Budget has not entirely been a sumptuous one for the food sector. Apart from a few sops announced on R&D and agriculture that benefit the industry, consumers will have to digest an across-the-board excise duty increase, making packaged food products and ready-to-eat products costlier.

The divisional chief executive (foods) of ITC, Chitranjan Dar, said there will be an impact across all food categories. "We are now assessing the actual impact," he said. Dar said processed food products like biscuits used to attract different excise duties at 5% and 10%. Both have gone up by 1% and 2%, respectively.

"The hike in excise, service tax and transportation will have an impact on prices. We will have to work out the final consumer price after taking into account all these factors. However, benefits to farmers and on agriculture will be positive for the sector," said RS Sodhi, managing director, Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation.

Reduction in basic customs duty on probiotics from 10% to 5%, would benefit the likes of Amul. But the increase in excise duty on ice-cream and flavoured milk from 1% to 2% at the onset of the summer season, may not augur well for the largest maker of ice-cream. "We had represented to the government to remove excise on these products which are largely consumed by the children and youth. The excise duty on chocolates and malted milk food also has increased from 10% to 12%, again affecting the kids and youth," said Sodhi.

Those who are health conscious have not been spared either. Prices of low fat spreads and margarine could go up as excise duty has been hiked by 1% to 6%. However, prices of soya food products would come down because of excise duty reduction. Dinesh Shahra, managing director, Ruchi Soya Industries, said benefits from reduction in excise duty on soya food products to 6% will be passed down to the consumer.

"A few of the positives of the budget include raising the plan outlay for agriculture by 18%, initiatives for R&D in agriculture, allocations for improving warehousing and storage facilities for agricultural produce. All of these, executed well and on time, will address the supply side on food and agriculture that will drive domestic demand and consumption, which is one of the key priority areas," said Vinita Bali, managing director, Britannia Industries.

As to whether this will impact growth of the Rs 2,50,000-crore food processing industry, Rasna's chairman Piruz Khambatta said: "Food processing industry will grow in spite of the government... it will grow because people want to eat more processed foods."

Keventer Agro MD Mayank Jalan said potato chip will cost more as there is a hike from 10% to 12%. But Nadia Chauhan Kurup, joint managing director & chief marketing officer, Parle Agro, said with the season just around the corner, the company would not pass on the excise duty hikes to consumers.

LCDs get a sharper picture, fridges in the deep freezer

Consumer durable industry is in a quandary. Growth is either flat or negative in some segments. And here comes a budget which will hike prices by 3%-4% for excise duties have been hiked across the board. Above all, the cost scenario looks anything but rosy.

On a refrigerator costing, say Rs 10,000, a consumer would have to pay Rs 300-Rs 400 more. While on an air-conditioner priced at the same level, the consumer could end up paying Rs 500 more.

Soon Kwon, MD, LG India, said, "While the raise in income tax exemption should provide some increase in disposable income for consumers, it will be offset by the hike in central excise duty from 10% to 12%. The custom duty exemption on LCD/LED panel and part of memory card of mobile phones is a welcome step, though it will only partly affect our costs."

The last quarter of 2011 was not favourable for the Rs 35,000-crore consumer durables industry due to factors like inflation, petroleum prices and depreciation of rupee against the US dollar. The industry was forced to increase the prices ranging between 5% and 10%. The increase of excise duty and service tax from 10%-12 % will straight away affect the end consumer, right from lower middle class to upper class of the society.

Manish Sharma, MD-consumer division, Panasonic India, said, "For LCD & LED TVs, Panasonic is still quantifying the impact of increase in excise duty and the decrease in import duty on LCD panel to zero."

George Menezes, COO, Godrej Appliances, said the proposal will have a dampening effect on sentiments, thus impacting market performances. "This year, the growth in refrigerators was flat, while that in air-conditioners was a negative 20%. We are passing down the cost increase to consumers. There is no way we can absorb this excise hike," said Menezes. The last time around the industry took a price hike in the range of 4%-15% was 3-4 months back.

"It's not a good sign as the market was not doing well at all," said Nilesh Gupta, managing partner, Vijay Sales.

Anirudh Dhoot, director, Videocon Group said majority of the products are still being manufactured in India, making it challenging for the players to register growth.

The one silver lining in the budget for consumers was the announcement of exemption of basic customs duty on mobile phone parts. This could help boost local manufacturing of mobile handset makers and prices may come down for made in India handsets.

This Means War Movie Review

Critic's Rating: 3½/5
Cast: Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine, Tom Hardy, Chelsea Handler
Direction: McG
Genre: Romance
Duration: 1 hour 37 minutes
Avg Readers Rating: 3½/5

Story: Two CIA agents have one common target: Lauren, the woman of their dreams. Lauren of course, chooses one to the other. So who is the lucky guy?

Movie Review: Reese Witherspoon has a problem: She can't really finalise on her Mr Right. And you can't really blame her when she's dating Chris Pine and Tom Hardy simultaneously. One is the can-make-every-girl-laugh mushy man, the other the-man-into-one-day-rental.

All is fair in love and war. And all is fair in love, war... and dating. Or so it seems, for FDR Foster (Chris Pine) and Tuck (Tom Hardy) who are CIA agents and best buddies with a dual mission: win over the woman they both claim to be falling in love with -- Lauren (Reese Witherspoon) -- and keep the friendship going no matter who gets the girl. Now it's just when the gentlemen's agreement goes kaput does all the war (of words) in the movie come into play. In fact, more than who wins the girl, it's the how-they-win-the-girl that keeps the funny bone tickled on and off. Take for instance FDR Foster who gets his knowledge of Gustav Klimt mixed up with the objectionable and Tuck who puts up a fake action stunt to show he is not 'just the caring' type. Not to miss out is Trish ( Chelsea Handler) who unabashedly concludes the best way to fall for a guy is to check him out in bed! As for Reese, watch this woman capable of choosing her own movies go weak in the knee when it comes to choosing the two men chasing her. For the rest, it's over to the real war - yes, there's even a warlord on the lose who gives you a couple of short-lived action cuts -- you don't really seem to care about.

But then you do care about who gets the girl in this romcom. Who? Well, as the CIA agents on the run put it: 'May the best man win... for the lady'!

Chaurahen-Crossroads Movie Review

Critic's Rating: 3/5
Cast: Soha Ali Khan, Ankur Khanna, Victor Banerjee, Kiera Chaplin, Roopa Ganguly, Zeenat Aman, Shayan Munshi, Karthik Kumar, Arundhati Nag
Direction: Rajshree Ojha
Genre: Romance
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Avg Readers Rating: 3½/5

Story: A slice of life film, focusing on three separate relationships that intertwine through love, loss, light drizzles, heavy literary references and destiny.

Movie Review: You don't need to pass an IQ test (read: Intellectual Quotient) to watch this one. Yes, the story meanders listlessly through intense characters, complex relationships, intellectual quote-dropping and dialogues that are straight out of a philosophy class; yet it's not a total bouncer, one does end up understanding some of it.

Chaurahen is three stories set in different cities - Mumbai, Kochi, Kolkata - that eventually converge, or are at least meant to. Ira (Soha Ali Khan) is caught in a relationship with Farooq ( Ankur Khanna), a grief-stricken man grappling with the memories of his dead parents. Weirdly, this depressed soul even preserves his dead daddy's dentures, with the 'last crumbs of bread' still stuck in those teeth (gross). Dr. Bose (Victor Banerjee) and Mrs. Bose (Roopa Ganguly) are suffering a passionless marriage constantly enveloped in a ghostly silence, from a painful past. Lea (Keira Chaplin) is a stereotypical foreigner trying to find the 'meaning of life' in the mystical land of India. Nandu (Karthik Kumar), along with his family is coping with unbearable loss, while finding an identity in his own home. Caught between intellectual dilemmas, overbearing grief and unchangeable truths - they are all at crossroads.

Soha Ali Khan carries this role with grace and a casualness that is impressive. Though her intellectual riddles throughout the film, are sometimes overbearing. Victor Banerjee and Roopa Ganguly, play the estranged married couple with a strong, silent dignity. Kiera Chaplin seems fairly inexpressive on her part. Arundhati Nag's dialogues and emotions are endearing. Karthik Kumar underplays his character well, displaying a reserved restlessness that makes him very likeable.

Rajshree Ojha works on this complex subject with a certain sensibility, without dramatizing it beyond reason. Though at times she over intellectualizes it with too many literary references and prolonged moments. There are some scenes that are well executed (like the outburst and subsequent unfolding of emotions in Nandu's family), but it ends on a predictable note that doesn't move you to tears, or fuel an intellectual overdrive.

Tip: If you are looking for a masala entertainer; this indie film isn't for you. For lovers of the artsy, here's the green signal. Cross over.

Sachin Tendulkar finally hits 100th international century

NEW DELHI: Indian cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar, treated like God by his fans, ended the long and tiring wait for his 100th international century on Friday at Dhaka's Shere Bangla National Stadium.

Tendulkar, the leading run scorer in the history of both Test and one-day cricket, achieved the most-coveted ton by taking a single off Shakib Al Hasan against Bangladesh in Asia Cup. Tendulkar's century came off 138 balls and was studded with 10 fours and a six.

The master blaster's 99th century had come against South Africa on March 12, 2011, at Nagpur during the World Cup. Friday's century was Tendulkar's 49th in one-dayers; he has 51 Test centuries.

Tendulkar, who was left stranded on 99 international hundreds for a year and four days, played Test series against England, the West Indies and Australia. He also featured in the recently concluded triseries in Australia but his bid to become the first batsman to score 100 international hundreds remained unfulfilled, although he came close on a few occasions.

Tendulkar has defied age and injury at every stage of his career. Whenever injuries threatened to stall his career, he pushed his body to the limit, and sometimes even beyond. Even the most threatening of all his injuries - the painful tennis elbow (in 2004) - couldn't break him. He cried out in agony, waited with hope for almost a year, tackled it with determination and ultimately conquered it like only he can.

In February 2010, Tendulkar became the first in world cricket to score a double hundred in one-day internationals, while in December 2010 he became the first to score 50 Test tons, both landmarks achieved against the best pace attack in world cricket - South Africa.

Wisden, regarded as the bible of cricket, named Tendulkar as the leading cricketer in the world for the year 2010.

In 2007, Wisden had identified Tendulkar as the player to have won such an award for 1998 - had it been instituted then.

Tendulkar, who realised his long-cherished dream when India won the World Cup in April 2011, was also named in Wisden's 2009 Test XI, at his accustomed number four position.

His passion for the game not only keeps him going, but also gives him the opportunity to reinvent himself. Each time he goes out on to the field he seems to be raising the bar for himself.

I’m a wanna-Bong: Vidya Balan

She calls "my favourite city, Kolkata," her last film's hero and one really can't stop Vidya Balan from gushing about the City of Joy.

Between responses and giggles, she sweetly broke into Bengali, and even went as far as saying, "I'm a wanna-Bong." She added, I shot for Bhalo Theko in Kolkata, went back for Parineeta, parts of No One Killed Jessica and now Kahaani.

I have a soft corner for Bengali people and the city is almost like my second home. We shot on crowded roads and in rustic bylanes, it was a great experience." When we asked her for a couple of lines in Bangla, she recited an entire poem in the language, making our jaws drop. Well, what can we say? Khoob bhalo, Bidda! And that's just adding the Bong touch to it...

Foods for your eyes, skin, hair

Get glowing skin, thicker hair, lustrous peepers and a fitter body, all with a little help from these super foods, says nutritionists.

You don't have to starve yourself to look good. All you need is to eat the right foods. Here's a beauty diet plan carefully put together by our expert to help you look fabulous

Eyes 
Green vegetables: Spinach, zucchini, broccoli and brussels sprouts contain a caroteinoid called lutein and a pigment called zeaxanthinan. Both defend your cells from free radicals and help keep your eyes lustrous. Avoid overcooking for best benefits. Steam or saute, instead.

Orange and other vegetables that are rich in antioxidants and fibre work against under-eye puffiness.

Skin 
Probiotic yoghurt: It contains good bacteria that help your skin look healthy. Eczema sufferers can benefit a great deal from a daily intake.

Fish: Oily fish such as sardines and mackerel contain omega-3 fatty acids that reduce skin inflammation and keep it moisturised. They also promote elasticity, keeping wrinkles at bay.

Berries: Strawberries, blueberries, etc., contain antioxidant phytonutrients that get rid of free radicals in the blood and guard your collagen, thereby boosting skin repair. Collagen makes your skin supple, smooth and plump.

Nails 
Have chicken, turkey, pork, milk, cheese, yeast, peanuts, beans, wholegrain cereals to avoid brittle nails. Pumpkin seeds are one of the most concentrated non-meat sources of zinc. But many vegetarian foods also contain phytic acid that binds with zinc, making it unavailable to the body. Hence, take a Vitamin C supplement. It will make zinc more available.

Hair
Poultry: Lean meats like chicken and turkey provide high quality proteins, essential for growth, repair and maintenance. Low-fat milk products such as skimmed milk, yogurt and cottage cheese are great sources too. If you like eggs and don't suffer from high cholesterol, have one yolk a day. It contains Vitamin B-12 which promotes hair growth and prevents hair loss.

Salmon: It contains omega-3 fatty acids, B12 and iron.
Flaxseeds: What salmon does for non-vegetarians, flax seed does for vegans.
Oysters: Try oysters for faster hair growth. They contain zinc.
Whole wheat and brown rice : Make sure you include whole wheat, brown rice and fortified cereals in your everyday diet.

Health benefits of watermelon

Juicy watermelons are indeed packed with some of the best antioxidants in nature

It is the season of watermelons. They are best during the summer as they will be soft, sweet and juicy.

They are indeed the best thirst quenchers, no doubt, but did you know that they are rich in anti-oxidants as well? Juicy watermelons are indeed packed with some of the best antioxidants in nature. Research has shown that they are good for cardiovascular diseases, colon cancer and diabetes too.

They are rich in Vitamin A, B and C. What's more, they are low in calories and very nutritious.

It is an ideal health drink because it is 92 per cent water, and does not contain any fat or cholesterol. It also fills you up fast because of its water content. So have it along with your barbeque or grills as watermelons will prevent you from overeating.

The right pick
Choose the right watermelon. Always choose one that is symmetrical and firm without any cuts and bruises. Turn it over and you will see a yellow colour on one side. The yellow area is a good sign as it shows that the watermelon was rested on the ground while ripening under the sun. It is also an indication that your melon is sweeter and juicer. Slap your melon and if it sounds hollow, then it is ripe.

Are you hesitant to buy watermelon frequently because of its size which will occupy a lot of space in the refrigerator? But now plenty of micromelons are available in the market which will easily fit into any small space. So, next time you hit a fruit shop, don't forget to shop for a watermelon.

Katrina Kaif dumps Rs 1 crore offer for Shah Rukh Khan

Katrina Kaif has reportedly turned down an offer worth Rs 1 crore, in favour of Yash Raj film's new project opposite Shah Rukh Khan.

The buzz was that the 27-year-old would get the whopping amount just to walk the ramp for 10 minutes in an upcoming fashion show in Kochi.

However, the beautiful actress cancelled the show as the dates were clashing with YRF's shooting schedule of 'London Ishq'.

Beti B finally has a name Aaradhya Bachchan

Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan had a baby girl on November 16, 2011. Four months later, she finally has a name - Aaradhya Bachchan.

There was a lot of curiosity and speculation about the name of the Bachchan granddaughter, but the family refrained from revealing her name.

She was christened 'Beti B' in the media for lack of a better name, and now that's a monicker that will stay with her for life. Aaradhya's name was registered two days ago. Remember, you read it here first!

Apple sued by buyer over Siri

SAN FRANCISCO: An iPhone 4S buyer has sued Apple for promising more than it delivered with automated "Siri" voice-activated assistant software built into the coveted smartphones.

A suit filed in a California federal court argued that Apple advertising touting the wonders of Siri amounted to "intentional misrepresentation" and unfair competition, according to documents available online Tuesday.

Lawyers representing a New York City man who bought an iPhone 4S want class action status to represent millions of people who bought the latest generation Apple smartphone.

The suit included Apple, which runs showing people asking Siri to help them find restaurants, learn chords to songs, tie neck ties, and even figure out if there is a rodeo in town, had disappointed some users.

Lawyers representing the iPhone 4S buyer, identified as Frank Fazio of Brooklyn, argued that Siri claims were "misleading and deceptive," and are calling for California-based Apple to pay unspecified damages.

"Promptly after the purchase of his iPhone 4S, plaintiff realized that Siri was not performing as advertised," the lawsuit said. "For instance, when plaintiff asked Siri for directions to a certain place, or to locate a store, Siri either did not understand what plaintiff was asking, or, after a very long wait time, responded with the wrong answer."

Apple does not comment on pending litigation.

Siri has been a hit since its US debut with the iPhone 4S in October and was even referred to as a direct challenge to Google's search engine by the internet giant's chairman Eric Schmidt.

Siri artificial intelligence software was derived from research conducted to make computers more intuitive at understanding and working with soldiers in action. Siri is designed to understand context so people can speak naturally when asking it questions.

For example, spoken queries of "Will I need an umbrella this weekend?" and "What is the traffic like around here?" will prompt online searches for local weather forecasts or road conditions.

Siri helps make calls, send text messages or email, schedule meetings and reminders, make notes, find local businesses, and get directions. Siri will even perform mathematical calculations if asked.

Kinshuk Mahajan and his wife Divya Gupta Photos

Kinshuk Mahajan wife Divya Gupta share her love story

They have a wonderful love story to share with us…

Kinshuk says "I met Divya when I was in 11th standard at our economics tuition classes. Initially I was a shy boy and was very reluctant to interact with people. But Divya, on the contrary, was a very interactive girl and intelligent as well. I realized that she is a very sensible and intelligent girl and that's what caught me. Initially, we used to interact for notes and clearing the doubts".

He adds "But the look I had was not so impressive; I used to be with my glasses, oily hair and was the silent boy".

Divya shares "But I felt him really cute at first sight because of the glasses he was wearing. I remember he was wearing a blue shirt and I was wearing a pink top, and he used to speak fast and I loved his voice".

Kinshuk avers, "After the economics class I used to have other classes also which I bunked later on so that I could talk more to Divya when we headed back home. In spite of having a bicycle I used to pull it walking with her nearly for one km".

Divya complements "We used to talk a lot outside my house, and even after getting home we used to feel the need to talk to each other".

What about the declaration?

It was after three months that I told her about my feelings (5th September). And at first she said no because she was also confused", states Kinshuk.

Divya says "After two to three months he popped up the question to me for which I said no. I really I don't know why I said that, but I knew I really loved him because I wanted to be 200% sure and not just 100%. And one fine day when we went for lunch I told him about my feelings".

Kinshuk shares, "Then after college I came to Mumbai to get a hold on my career and more than me, she was sure that I can become an actor for which she always encouraged me".

Informing the news to the parents?

Kinshuk says "I manipulated things in a good way when I presented the news to my parents about Divya. I was a little apprehensive also because we both are of the same age. I told it to my dad, the person who I am very much afraid of. But to my surprise, he was really cool about her and today she is already a member of the family. Mom is my best buddy and she is really cool about her".

Divya shares "My sister knew that I knew Kinshuk and were friends, but had no idea about our relationship. We said it when he was about to do Bidaai. And when they came to know about it, they were really surprised and happy at the same time. Today he is really close to them".

What kept you away from the media?

Divya says "I am working as a German teacher in Delhi and sometimes there is a tendency that the students get excited on such news and it might affect the profession too. Sometimes it goes out of hand."

So does Divya take the teachergiri on Kinshuk?

"No, not at all but since she is into dancing, choreography and dramatics, she pin points on my acting skills", is what Kinshuk has to say. 

What about Kinshuk being romantic with his co-actors?

Divya clears "I believe that acting is his profession and whatever he does is a part of his job and I should give that space and have the trust in him. I know that at the end of the day, he is only mine."

Divya shares about the memorable gift that Kinshuk gave her, "When we were in 11th, he gave me a diary wherein he had written poems with rhyming lines about our relationship and had decorated with glitter pens and cute drawings. The gift is still a treasure for me because never have I thought that Kinshuk could do stuffs like that".

Now they are husband and wife.

When Rahul Dravid got angry and threw a chair

NEW DELHI: Rahul Dravid throwing a chair? It may seem hard to believe but that is what the Indian batting great, known for his calm and composed demeanour, once did after a heavy defeat.

Dravid's rare act of indescrition has been disclosed by his wife Vijeeta in an insightful article about the batting stalwart, who announced his retirement from international cricket last Friday.

In all these years, Vijeeta says, Rahul has kept his cool but one time he too lost his temper.

"Only once, I remember, he returned from a Test and said, "I got a bit angry today. I lost my temper. Shouldn't have done that." He wouldn't say more. Many months later, Viru [Sehwag] told me that he'd actually thrown a chair after a defeat to England in Mumbai. He'd thrown the chair, Viru said, not because the team had lost but because they had lost very badly."

Vijeeta says that Rahul expected to play till 2007-08 but with his sheer passion, dedication and obsessive fitness routines he could stretch his career to 2012.

"Just after we got married, I remember him saying to me that he hoped to play for "the next three or four years", and that he would need me there to support him in that time. Now that he has retired, I think: "Not bad. We've done far better than the three or four years we thought about in May 2003," Vijeeta wrote in her article for 'Cricinfo'.

"Now I know that with Rahul's cricket, nothing is casual, unconscious or accidental. Before he went on tour, I would pack all his other bags, but his cricket kit was sacred - I did not touch it; only he handled it. I know if I packed only two sets of informal clothes, he would rotate them through an entire tour if he had to and not think about it. He has used one type of moisturising cream for 20 years because his skin gets dry. Nothing else.

"He doesn't care for gadgets, and barely registers brands of watches, cologne or cars. But if the weight of his bat was off by a gram, he would notice it in an instant and get the problem fixed," she wrote.

Rahul's humility off and on field is well known and Vijeeta did write about that trait of his personality.

"People always ask me the reason for Rahul being a "normal" person, despite the fame and the celebrity circus. I think it all began with his middle-class upbringing, of being taught to believe in fundamental values like humility and perspective. He has also had some very old, solid friendships that have kept him rooted."

Vijeeta, who has travelled with Rahul all these years, also revealed how dedicated her husbad was with his preparation routines.

"When I travelled with him for the first time, in Australia in 2003-04, I began to notice how he would prepare for games - the importance of routines, and his obsession with shadow practice at odd hours of day or night. I found that weird. Once, I actually thought he was sleepwalking!

"The day before every game, the boys (their kids) were told that their father had to be left alone for a while, and Rahul would go into his room for his meditation and visualisation exercises. On the morning of the game, he would get up and do another session of meditation before leaving for the ground."

Talking about Rahul's superstitions, Vijeeta wrote,"Like all players, Rahul has his superstitions. He doesn't try a new bat out for a series, and puts his right thigh pad on first."

Vijeeta also wrote that Rahul had this "fantastic ability to switch off" after the game.

"His batting may bother him, he will be itching to go back and try again, but he can compartmentalise his life very well. He won't order room service or brood indoors, he would rather go out, find something to do - go to a movie or watch a musical, which he loves. He will walk out to the sea to wind down or go to bookstores, or find something else to do."

"No matter what was happening in his cricket, at home he is husband, father, family man. He has never said, "Oh I've had a bad day." He wouldn't speak about his work unless asked. Other than dropped catches."

Slowdown: What IT cos are doing

BANGALORE: A rising number of information technology firms are consolidating and re-aligning leased office spaces across the metros, hoping to save their rents and operating costs that will help them sail through the global economic storm.

Among the big-ticket lease agreements locked recently is that of Mahindra Satyam. The IT services provider, which operates from multiple locations in Bangalore, has taken up 5,00,000 sq ft of space in Manyata Tech Park in the city.

Following suit are IT majors, such as EMC, Cognizant, Persistent Systems and Nokia-Siemens, all of which have leased large office spaces to house multiple units under one roof.

According to real estate services firm Jones Lang LaSalle, 80-85% of the demand for office spaces in India comes from the IT/ITeS sector. The sector occupied 28 million sq ft of office space last year compared with 32 million sq ft in 2010.

"IT firms grew in sporadic manner as their clients were located in multiple locations," said Ram Chandnani, deputy managing director at commercial real estate broker CB Richard Ellis. "Now companies are looking at moving into one or two locations to bring efficiency and reduce transport and other costs."

While EMC, a provider of storage hardware solutions, has picked up 3.5 million sq ft of office space on the outskirts of Bangalore, Cognizant has taken up 250,000 sq ft in DLF Akruti in Pune.

The IT and BPO services firm has also rented three strategic sites to expand operations in Hyderabad. This is in addition to around 7,00,000 sq ft the company had recently taken on lease in Hyderabad's K Raheja Mindspace SEZ.

Earlier, Persistent Systems, a software product development services provider, had taken up 4,70,000 sq ft of space on lease in Pune, while wireless equipment maker Nokia-Siemens rented 8.5 million sq ft in Bangalore's Manyata Tech Park.

Real estate and transport of staff constitute about 24% of an IT firm's total costs. Consolidating offices could translate into a 15-22% saving under this head, according to some analysts. Moreover, housing staff under one roof saves expenditure on energy and housekeeping and maintenance staff.

"Rental forms a large part of the total operational costs and we are looking at maximum utilisation of real estate," said N Venkatraman, CFO of Sonata Softwares, which recently closed its facility in Bangalore's central business district and moved to Global Village Tech Park. "Even if we can save a rupee on fixed costs, it will directly reflect on our bottom line. All our new headcount addition will be in the new campus."

Sonata, a technology solutions provider, occupies 1,15,000 sq ft in the Global Village Tech Park. The company also owns a campus in Hyderabad besides the corporate headquarter in Bangalore.

Slowdown in the US and the lingering debt crisis in Europe have put nearly 85% of Indian IT firms' revenues under a cloud. Experts say the global outlook will determine real estate spends by IT firms in the days ahead.

Why Samsung is No. 1 and Apple No. 5 in China

BEIJING: Apple Inc got a second partner in China to sell the iPhone in the world's biggest mobile-phone market. The deal may be too late to catch Samsung Electronics Co, with a market share that's three times larger and growing.

China Telecom Corp began selling the iPhone last week as Apple tries to build on its 7.5 per cent share of the country's smartphone sales. Samsung controlled 24.3 per cent of the market for phones that can play videos and games, according to Gartner Inc, using a strategy of allying with all three of the nation's third-generation networks since such services started in 2009.
Models display Samsung Electronics Co Galaxy Nexus smartphones in Hong Kong. Samsung controls 24.3 per cent of the market in China for phones that can play videos and games, according to Gartner Inc, using a strategy of allying with all three of the nation 's third-generation networks since such services started in 2009.

Succeeding in China is important for Apple as shipments of smartphones in the country are projected to jump 52 per cent this year to 137 million units, overtaking the US for the first time as the world's biggest market. Unlike Samsung's strategy of partnering with all carriers, Apple has limited its own success by not making a device compatible with the nation's biggest operator, China Mobile Ltd.

"I don't expect Apple to replace Samsung any time soon," Gartner analyst Sandy Shen said in an interview. "China Telecom is the nation's smallest carrier, so the extent to which they can help Apple is quite limited."

The 16.8 percentage-point gap in China between Cupertino, California-based Apple and Samsung almost doubled from the third quarter. While Samsung is No. 1 and Apple No. 5 in China, the global story is different: Worldwide, Apple passed its Suwon, South Korea-based competitor to become the biggest smartphone vendor in the fourth quarter, according to Gartner.

China Mobile 

Apple's partnerships with China's second- and third-largest carriers give it access to about 34 per cent of the nation's 988 million mobile users, while Samsung targeted the whole market. iPhones aren't sold to China Mobile's 655 million subscribers, a number almost equal to the combined population of the US, Brazil and Mexico.

"Having access to more subscribers gives vendors like Samsung an advantage," said Teck Zhung Wong, a Beijing-based analyst with IDC China, who forecast the 52 percent jump in smartphone sales this year. "If Apple is going to continue to grow in the Chinese market, it has to consider very seriously a handset with China Mobile."

China Telecom had a total of 129.3 million wireless users at the end of January, including 38.7 million 3G subscribers. Apple introduced the iPhone in 2007 in the US exclusively with AT&T Inc and added a second carrier partner last year in Verizon Communications Inc.

Pelting eggs 

Apple chose not to make a phone with China Mobile because the operator had a unique 3G standard called TD-SCDMA, even after the Chinese company's Chairman Wang Jianzhou met with the then Chief Executive Officer Steve Jobs in early 2010. Wang told the company's annual meeting in May that he didn't expect Apple to introduce an iPhone until the carrier rolled out the fourth- generation TD-LTE network by end of this year.

China Unicom (Hong Kong) Ltd was the nation's first carrier to offer the iPhone with a service contract in October 2009. Even though Apple trailed Samsung, Nokia Oyj, Huawei Technologies Co and ZTE Corp in China's smartphone market, people still crave an iPhone.

Apple's oldest store in China was pelted with eggs from a crowd of customers on Jan. 13 when the shop, in Beijing's Sanlitun district, failed to open on the first day of sales for the iPhone 4S. After police sealed off the area to remove more than 500 people, Apple said it would suspend sales of iPhones at all its stores.

'Didn't bet high enough' 

The maker of iMac computers and iPad tablets underestimated the "staggering" demand for the iPhone 4S when it started sales in China in January, Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook said. "We thought we were betting bold," Cook said Jan. 24. "We didn't bet high enough."

The iPhone 4S has been "an incredible hit" with customers around the world, Apple spokeswoman Carolyn Wu said in an e-mail. Apple "can't wait to get it into the hands of even more customers in China," Wu said, declining to comment further on the company's handset strategy in China.

Samsung's approach to China is "the same" as other markets, Juha Park, senior vice president of product strategy, said in an interview in Barcelona.

"We make product innovation and make our brand very desired in the market," Park said. "That's what we do to become a major player. We have been doing quite strong growth in the China market."

Unlocked iPhone 

Even without an agreement with Apple or a device that's compatible with its high-speed 3G network, China Mobile still has 15 million iPhone users, spokeswoman Rainie Lei said. Those China Mobile users buy unlocked devices and surf the web at slower 2G speeds, or else connect to Wi-Fi hotspots for a faster connection.

China Telecom projects that the iPhone will "significantly enhance its long term sustainable growth and value creation despite the short term pressure on its profitability," spokeswoman Lisa Lai said in an e-mail.

"For China Telecom, its 4S launch comes late and the low- hanging fruit may already be exhausted," said Lisa Soh, a Hong Kong-based analyst at Macquarie Group Ltd.

The egg pelting also resulted in Apple losing one advantage it had over Samsung -- its own retail stores stopped selling iPhones. Apple said at the time the move was "for the time being." Apple's Wu said the phones remain available through Apple's online store in China, and declined to provide an update on when the shops would resume sales of the devices. That leaves Samsung free to further widen its gap.

"It's just one country, but it's such a big market and its portion in the global market is huge, so Samsung is trying to act fast to capture the market," said Kim Young Chan, a Seoul- based analyst at Shinhan Investment Corp. "Dealing with different network standards will give them a pretty valuable competitive edge."

Apple delays delivery of new iPad

People pre-ordering Apple Inc's new iPad to avoid the release-day crowds at the company's retail stores will have to wait longer to get their hands on the devices.

The latest version of the company's tablet, which was unveiled this week, is set to hit shelves next Friday.

But tablets pre-ordered online will not ship to buyers until the following Monday, March 19, according to the company's website.

Earlier in the week, Apple had promised the newest tablet would arrive at customers' homes on the launch date.

Trudy Miller, an Apple spokeswoman, said the change was made because customer response to the new iPad had been "off the charts," quickly exhausting the supply set aside for pre-order and delivery by March 16.

Apple's new product releases are some of the hottest events on the tech calendar, scrutinized by investors, the media and industry insiders alike.

To the company's devoted fans, who vie to be the first to own the latest device, a three-day delay would be an eternity and could add to the crowds at the company's retail stores.

In January, enraged Chinese shoppers pelted Apple's flagship Beijing store with eggs and shoving matches broke out with police after customers were told the store would not begin sales of the iPhone 4S as scheduled.

The new iPad sports a crisper display and an array of technology advances and tweaks.

Apple said it will continue to sell the iPad 2 but dropped its price by $100. The older tablet now starts at $399 while the new third-generation Wi-Fi only iPad starts at $499.

The high-end model of Apple's latest iPad starts at $629 and will be capable of operating on a high-speed 4G " LTE," or Long-Term Evolution, network. At speeds roughly 10 times faster than current 3G technology, that may help banish the sometimes shaky video quality of older devices.

Joy Mukherjee was a hassle-free fun-loving co-star: Asha Parekh

 Actress Asha Parekh recalls late Joy Mukherjee with whom she did four films together and all of them were super-hits.

"We did four films together, Hum Hindustani, Phir Wohi Dil Laaya Hoon, Ziddi and Love In Tokyo and all of them were super-hits. I am happy to see it was a 'Joy' working in these films. He was a hassle-free fun-loving co-star, kind and considerate. But he also had a habit of coming late on the sets, which I soon got used to. When we did Hum Hindustani together in 1960 he was a newcomer and I already had done films. Joy and I didn't have any scenes together in Hum Hindustani, so we barely met," says Asha Parekh remembering the late actor.

"When we did Phir Wohi Di Laya Hoon it was a different story. We had a ball shooting the film in the lovely outdoors. I suppose it was the picnic mood of the film and all those 10-11 terrific O.P. Nayyar songs. I remember when we were shooting for my solo song Aankhon se jo utri hai dil mein we were running out of raw stock (film). Joy went out of the way to complete the song before the day was over. We shot Love In Tokyo in Japan. I think ours was the first Hindi film to be shot there. Again, shooting was like a picnic. Joy and I did a lot of sightseeing. I remember he threw a party on the last of shoot in Japan," she says.

"A funny thing happened during the shooting of our last film together Ziddi. Joy was supposed to pick me up forcibly, and throw me on the bed. He, poor thing, didn't realize there was no mattress on the bed. I landed on the bed with a thud. My back was gone I couldn't get up for days. Yeh sab chalta hai. It's all part of entert inment business. The sad thing is, Joy went too early. He was in his 60's. I believe he wasn't keeping good health. He should have looked after himself. I met him for the last time in October 2011 in Kashmir. We were all there for a function. He wouldn't even come out of the car. He screamed after me to come home. I wish I had taken up the invitation," recalls the actress.

I don’t believe in cheap publicity: Abhay Deol

Abhay Deol issues an ultimatum to Shanghai makers over cooked-up stories of his rivalry with Emraan

At a time when cooked-up stories of rivalries and link-ups have become the order of the day for promoting a film, Abhay Deol refuses to be a part of the bandwagon. The actor is reportedly unhappy with the stories of rivalry between him and co-actor Emraan Hashmi on the sets of Dibakar Bannerjee's Shanghai.

And he has chosen to speak out rather than remain silent. Opening up to Mumbai Mirror, the actor said, "I am at a loss for words and I don't know who is behind all this. I am inclined to believe that this is a marketing strategy to promote the film when there is no need to do it. When the story about my so-called rivalry with Emraan came out, I spoke to Dibakar who said that he is not aware of anything.

I just want to say that these reports seem to disrespect me. If these things do not stop now, I intend to convey that instead of making up controversies, I will give them a real one: I am no longer a part of any marketing or promotional campaign for Shanghai. Either Dibakar or the producer will have to come forward and clear the air."

Recently, there have been stories suggesting that Banerjee is partial towards Hashmi. The industry was buzzing with rumours of Deol playing spoil sport by insisting to redub and wanting to be a part of the promotional track. These marketing tactics have rattled the otherwise unflappable Deol.

"I don't believe in cheap publicity for any of my films. As an actor, if I want to correct my dubbing, it does not mean I'm insecure. The film should be given its due respect because it's a fantastic one," Deol said emphatically. Dibakar remained unavailable for comment.

IT majors like Mahindra Satyam, EMC, Cognizant save on office rents to weather slowdown storm

BANGALORE: A rising number of information technology firms are consolidating and re-aligning leased office spaces across the metros, hoping to save their rents and operating costs that will help them sail through the global economic storm.

Among the big-ticket lease agreements locked recently is that of Mahindra Satyam. The IT services provider, which operates from multiple locations in Bangalore, has taken up 5,00,000 sq ft of space in Manyata Tech Park in the city.

Following suit are IT majors, such as EMC, Cognizant, Persistent Systems and Nokia-Siemens, all of which have leased large office spaces to house multiple units under one roof.

According to real estate services firm Jones Lang LaSalle, 80-85% of the demand for office spaces in India comes from the IT/ITeS sector. The sector occupied 28 million sq ft of office space last year compared with 32 million sq ft in 2010.

"IT firms grew in sporadic manner as their clients were located in multiple locations," said Ram Chandnani, deputy managing director at commercial real estate broker CB Richard Ellis. "Now companies are looking at moving into one or two locations to bring efficiency and reduce transport and other costs."

While EMC, a provider of storage hardware solutions, has picked up 3.5 million sq ft of office space on the outskirts of Bangalore, Cognizant has taken up 250,000 sq ft in DLF Akruti in Pune.

The IT and BPO services firm has also rented three strategic sites to expand operations in Hyderabad. This is in addition to around 7,00,000 sq ft the company had recently taken on lease in Hyderabad's K Raheja Mindspace SEZ.

Earlier, Persistent Systems, a software product development services provider, had taken up 4,70,000 sq ft of space on lease in Pune, while wireless equipment maker Nokia-Siemens rented 8.5 million sq ft in Bangalore's Manyata Tech Park.

Real estate and transport of staff constitute about 24% of an IT firm's total costs. Consolidating offices could translate into a 15-22% saving under this head, according to some analysts. Moreover, housing staff under one roof saves expenditure on energy and housekeeping and maintenance staff.

"Rental forms a large part of the total operational costs and we are looking at maximum utilisation of real estate," said N Venkatraman, CFO of Sonata Softwares, which recently closed its facility in Bangalore's central business district and moved to Global Village Tech Park. "Even if we can save a rupee on fixed costs, it will directly reflect on our bottom line. All our new headcount addition will be in the new campus."

Sonata, a technology solutions provider, occupies 1,15,000 sq ft in the Global Village Tech Park. The company also owns a campus in Hyderabad besides the corporate headquarter in Bangalore.

Slowdown in the US and the lingering debt crisis in Europe have put nearly 85% of Indian IT firms' revenues under a cloud. Experts say the global outlook will determine real estate spends by IT firms in the days ahead.

Nokia to shut mobile money service in India

NEW DELHI: Nokia will close down Nokia Money, a financial service it runs in India, as it continues to narrow its focus on its phone business and location-based services.

"The mobile financial services business is not core to Nokia so we plan to exit the business," said a spokesman for the company.

After regional launches Nokia opened the India-wide service only late last year and was planning to expand it into several other emerging markets.

Financial services are seen as one of the major business opportunities in the wireless industry but so far have become a big business only in Kenya and the Philippines, as tight regulations and the lack of a business model have restricted take-up elsewhere.

Telecom operators, banks, credit card companies and technology firms like Nokia have been fighting to get a piece of the potentially lucrative business.

"The market is crowded and the role of Nokia in that business was questionable," said John Strand, head of mobile consultancy Strand Consult.

Nokia is in the midst of revamping its operations under Chief Executive Stephen Elop, who was hired in September 2010 to turn the company round.

The company has closed down most of the mobile services launched under previous management and has also cut thousands of jobs as it continues to battle falls in its market share.

New iPad launch: Tim Cook vs Steve Jobs

This was Tim Cook's first big product unveiling since Steve Jobs died last year. Yesterday's iPad unveiling was Apple's first big announcement since the death of Steve Jobs, whose legendary skills as a pitchman set the bar for product introductions.

How did CEO Tim Cook & Co do?
As others have pointed out, the presentation lacked the build-up and drama of a "Stevenote." Cook moved quickly through the update on Apple's recent accomplishments, and before we knew it, Eddy Cue had announced the Apple TV. Then product marketing chief Phil Schiller was on stage for the main event. But there was no big reveal of an actual iPad on stage, and no "one more thing" - a trademark of The Apple Show.

In fact, there was no substantial new information that hadn't already shown up in the press. The closest thing to a surprise was the decision to just call the new device the iPad, rather than the iPad 3 or iPad HD.

The pitch for the iPad was somewhat techier than the typical Stevenote - more about speeds and feeds, than the stuff needed to create a strong reality-distortion field. For longtime attendees of these events, yesterday's presentation may have hearkened back to when Apple was just a computer company selling to Mac fanatics.

Jobs had a genius for identifying a few product features - the clickwheel in the first iPod, or the multitouch screen on the iPhone, for example - and telling a story that simplifies and humanizes the technology. It was another dimension of the "less is more" philosophy that set Apple apart. The job yesterday was to convince the masses that the new retina screen is a "gotta-have" rather than a "wanna-have." We'll know soon how many people were convinced.

One couldn't help notice the increased use of videos during the show, as well. Jobs almost always included a few. But there were six yesterday, including one about the opening of the Grand Central store and another one about a new feature of the GarageBand music app called Jam Session. Apple may not have had this in mind, but it began to feel as if they were being used as a crutch. The reporters packing the Yerba Buena Center were there to hear from live executives, not watch videos.

None of these changes will threaten Apple's status as the best in tech when it comes to putting on a show. Presenters had no signs of jitters, there was plenty of humor, and enough reality distortion to elicit repeated outbursts of whoops and applause for particular features. The only noticeable glitch, if it even counts as one, was a brief delay as a movie clip came up during Eddy Cue's demo of the new Apple TV.

Over the long term, Apple's ability to generate the same enthusiasm without Jobs as emcee will matter. It's one thing to hawk the latest upgrade of an already phenomenally popular product such as the iPad, iPhone or iMac. It's quite another when the company needs to grab the world's attention and convince it to give some brand new thing a chance.

When Jobs unveiled the iMac, various iPods, the iPhone and the first iPad, each performance left attendees chomping to review or even line up to buy the new product. In Apple's Jobs-less era, maintaining that marketing magic may be one of the trickiest challenges the company faces.