Narendra Modi takes on Congress, says it denied deserving Pranab Mukherjee the PM's chair

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="font-family: Lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ3L6iWk3j7s7-n-d4z3xmwSVA-L8Ylz9OQWnrqpbAzgmnLF-eXpyFAX8VYuq_yXI1oYI2hjZrmIt7fidS_qgT2ey8PpTnVVJdGxHO9ZiLwYhdyXI6DsaRxmdMg4DfzQm6A-YClqApZ-yl/s1600/narendra-modi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ3L6iWk3j7s7-n-d4z3xmwSVA-L8Ylz9OQWnrqpbAzgmnLF-eXpyFAX8VYuq_yXI1oYI2hjZrmIt7fidS_qgT2ey8PpTnVVJdGxHO9ZiLwYhdyXI6DsaRxmdMg4DfzQm6A-YClqApZ-yl/s1600/narendra-modi.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <div style="font-family: Lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi took on the Congress in Kolkata on Wednesday, saying that President Pranab Mukherjee should have been made the Prime Minister after Indira Gandhi's death in 1984.</span></div> <div style="font-family: Lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <span style="background-color: white;">"Pranab Da should have become the PM after Indira Gandhi's death. In 2004, he was the senior most. He should have been made the PM, not Manmohan," Modi said amid chants of 'Modi, Modi' at the historic Brigade Parade Grounds in Kolkata.</span></div> <div style="font-family: Lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Modi also hit out at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, saying that she had failed to bring about the change (poribortan) she had promised.</span></div> <div style="font-family: Lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Lashing out at the Third Front leaders, Modi said, "Western states in India have developed more than the eastern states because no Third Front leader has ever ruled a western province."</span></div> <div style="font-family: Lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Hitting out at the Left leaders' constant secular chant, Modi said they have never done anything for minorities.</span></div> <div style="font-family: Lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Modi said that Gujarat had the Hajj travellers' quota of 4,500 while there were more than 37,000 applications. On the contrary, he said, West Bengal had only 12,000 applications against a quota of 11,600. He said the high number of applications show the prosperity of minorities in Gujarat.</span></div> <div style="font-family: Lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Rolling out his own definition of secularism, Modi said, "For a government, secularism means nation first."</span></div> <div style="font-family: Lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <br /></div> <div style="font-family: Lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Give us all 42 seats</span></div> <div style="font-family: Lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Modi appealed to the voters to indulge in some experimentation for 2014. "People should send all 42 BJP candidates to the Lok Sabha from here and fix accountability for each of our actions. At the same time, people should also fix accountability of the state government for the change Banerjee promised," he said.</span></div> <div style="font-family: Lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <span style="background-color: white;">The Gujarat chief minister said the Third Front leaders in Delhi should hire a chopper to see the crowd here and realise the ground reality.</span></div> <div style="font-family: Lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Modi said that all political calculations are going to fail in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. "This is the first Indian polls since Independence where people not political parties are contesting elections. People have set the agenda for the polls this time." Modi said people are deprived of even basic amenities after 65 years of Independence. </span></div> <div style="font-family: Lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <b style="background-color: white;">Why does Bengal suffer?</b></div> <div style="font-family: Lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Listing out his vision for eradicating poverty, Modi said, "Vikas bhi, imaan bhi, garibon ka samman bhi (Development, honesty and respect for the poor)."</span></div> <div style="font-family: Lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Tracing ties of Bengal and Gujarat, Modi said many prominent Bengalis stayed in Gujarat for many years and contributed immensely to building the state. He lauded West Bengal as being the country's teacher in many aspects and said if India were to become a world leader, Bengal had to get back its former glory.</span></div> <div style="font-family: Lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Referring to Jan Sangh co-founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee, Modi said the BJP was his brainchild which now occupies the mind of every Indian.</span></div> <div style="font-family: Lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Blaming the 35 years of Left rule for lack of development in the state, Modi said the so-called party of workers and labourers did not change the plight of them either. Modi said it was his party's vision to recognise labour as investment and give the worker his right to dignity.</span></div> <div style="font-family: Lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <span style="background-color: white;"><b>Also read: What Modi can achieve in Mamata's Bengal</b> </span></div> <div style="font-family: Lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Projecting Gujarat as the role model of development, Modi said, "If Gujarat could have 24x7 supply of electricity, why is Bengal deprived of this?" He added that this was because no new power plants were set up in the state.</span></div> <div style="font-family: Lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Lamenting the poor state of education in the state, Modi said, "Only 60 per cent of schools in West Bengal have toilets for girl students while many schools are not even electrified. How would kids learn computers then?"</span></div> <div style="font-family: Lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Modi concluded his speech in a typical Bengali way by making crowds roar "cholbe na" to his vows of uprooting misrule from the state. </span></div> <div style="font-family: Lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <b style="background-color: white;">Rajnath bares love for Bengal</b></div> <div style="font-family: Lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <span style="background-color: white;">BJP chief Rajnath Singh showered lavish praise on prominent Bengalis including Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Swami Vivekananda, Rabindranath Tagore, Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, etc. Tracing the party's long ties with the state, Singh recounted and praised Jan Sangh co-founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee's contribution to the country.</span></div> <div style="font-family: Lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Taking on the state's Left politics, Singh said the party destroyed the state's flourishing economy in its 35-year-old rule. The BJP chief said that if the Left's long rule could be credited for having started any industry, it should be the crime industry.</span></div> <div style="font-family: Lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Congratulating the people of Bengal for uprooting the Left from the state, Singh took on the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress rule in the state, saying that she has yet not brought in the change she had promised. He did not say anything else against Banerjee.</span></div> <div style="font-family: Lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Clearing the air on the 2002 Gujarat riots, Singh said the state did not witness any other riot since then and Modi should be credited for this. He said minorities in Gujarat had the highest per capita income in the entire country.</span></div> <div style="font-family: Lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Magician PC Sircar and music director and singer Bappi Lahiri were also on the dais with him. </span></div> <div style="font-family: Lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <b style="background-color: white;">When Shahnawaz took on TMC</b></div> <div style="font-family: Lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <span style="background-color: white;">BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain, who addressed the gathering before Modi, blamed the Congress for the frequent disruption in Parliament. "They say that we are not allowing Parliament to function, but the reality is that we have opened the veil of Congress."</span></div> <div style="font-family: Lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Clearing the air about his party being labelled communal by rivals, Hussain said, "Congress is betraying the people but we want to fight on the issue of corruption and development. We will not divide our country into Hindu and Muslims. People have started believing that he (Modi) will harm Muslims but this is only a fear of the people."</span></div> <div style="font-family: Lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Hitting out at Mamata Banerjee, he said, "TMC is close to Congress and they are like the same water in a different glass."</span></div> <div style="font-family: Lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Hoping that people in West Bengal will vote for Modi in hordes, Hussain said, "We are at one seat now, but will soon be voted to power by people of Bengal. We are fighting for saving the nation." </span></div> <div style="font-family: Lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <b style="background-color: white;">How party prepared ground</b></div> <div style="font-family: Lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <span style="background-color: white;">The BJP had been using novel ways to drum up support for Modi's Jan Chetna Sabha rally in Kolkata. These included hosting regular road shows, party workers and supporters organising runs and walks sporting Modi masks and online sale of seats at the rally.</span></div> <div style="font-family: Lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <span style="background-color: white;">In keeping with Modi's humble 'tea vendor' appeal which he has highlighted all across his rallies in different parts of the country, nearly 100 'NaMo tea stalls' were put up across the state.</span></div> <div style="font-family: Lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <span style="background-color: white;">But tea is nothing compared to sweets when it comes to moving Babu Moshais. BJP workers had been distributing specially made 'NaMo sweets' in the state. </span></div> <div style="font-family: Lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <b style="background-color: white;">Where BJP stands in Bengal</b></div> <div style="font-family: Lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <span style="background-color: white;">The BJP's past record in the 42 Lok Sabha seats in Bengal has been bleak. The party bagged a solitary seat here in 1998 and doubled its tally in the next elections in 1999. However, in the last elections in 2009, the party managed only the Darjeeling constituency when senior BJP leader Jaswant Singh -- backed by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha which holds sway in the region -- came up trumps.</span></div> <div style="font-family: Lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <span style="background-color: white;">The BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) have traditionally never been able to make much of an impact in West Bengal, though the party's former avatar Jan Sangh was co-founded by the son of the soil, Syama Prasad Mookerjee.</span></div> <div style="font-family: Lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <span style="background-color: white;">But the 2014 poll brings new hope for the Modi-led party. The party has witnessed more than a two-fold increase in the membership of the BJP's state unit.</span></div> <div style="font-family: Lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <span style="background-color: white;">A local leader of the party claimed the total membership has increased from three lakh in 2011 to more than seven lakh in 2013. Two lakh new members have enrolled in the last six months, which party leaders have attributed to Modi's anointment as the prime ministerial candidate.</span></div> <div style="background-color: #e5e5e5; font-family: Lato, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <br /></div> </div>

Narendra Modi takes on Congress, says it denied deserving Pranab Mukherjee the PM's chair

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi took on the Congress in Kolkata on Wednesday, saying that Presi...

Read more »

Birthday boy Abhishek's tweets worth millions!

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">                                            <img alt="Birthday boy Abhishek's tweets worth millions!" border="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" pg="" src="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/thumb/msid-29891656,width-300,resizemode-4/Abhishek-Bachchan.jpg" title="Birthday boy Abhishek's tweets worth millions!" vspace="0" width="300" /><br /> <em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Abhishek Bachchan turns a year older today. The actor who is enjoying the success of 'Dhoom 3' is all set to entertain his fans in SRK's 'Happy New Year'.</em><br /> <br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /> <span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Abhishek is busy shooting for </span><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Happy New Year</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">and also managing his time for rehearsing to host an awards show later. In an interview given to Hindustan Times, the actor said that he likes to work on his birthday. He also added that the</span><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Dhoom</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> films were shot on his birthday, and so were </span><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Bunty Aur Babli </em><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">(2005) and </span><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Bol Bachchan</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">(2012).</span><br /> <br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /> <span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Birthday is just another day for Abhishek. The actor said that it's his fans support that matters to him.</span><br /> <br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /> <span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Abhishek Bachchan had also recently tweeted, "Today's stats: My Twitter account's value increased by $4,786.80 to $4,143,740.40. Automatically checked by http://HowMuchIsMyTwitterWorth.com."</span></div> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/qutvFdPbdBg?feature=player_embedded" width="640"></iframe></div>

Birthday boy Abhishek's tweets worth millions!

                                            Abhishek Bachchan turns a year older today. The actor who is enjoying the success of 'Dho...

Read more »

Baahubali all set to create a VFX splash

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">                                        <img alt="Baahubali all set to create a VFX splash" border="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" pg="" src="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/thumb/msid-29855892,width-300,resizemode-4/prabhas-bahubali.jpg" title="Baahubali all set to create a VFX splash" vspace="0" width="300" /><br /> <span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Loaded with VFX splendor, Rajamouli's film promises to be a visual extravaganza on an unprecedented scale. Director SS Rajamouli's Baahubali is set to create a new benchmark for visual effects in Indian cinema. The film promises to be a visual effects extravaganza with over 4,500 VFX shots. This is a new record in Indian cinema, surpassing the likes of Shah Rukh Khan's Ra.One and Hrithik Roshan's Krishh 3. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Set in an imaginary medieval realm, the film is loaded with computer generated imagery that promises to blur the lines between real and imaginary. Producer Shobu Yarlagadda reckons the movie will be a 'technical marvel'. "We want to offer the audience a real visual spectacle and have been working in that direction from the outset. It's a period drama that will transport the audience into a world of ancient forts, palaces, epic war sequences and the works. The VFX is going to be the most crucial element in the movie. We have the best national and international experts working on the film," says Shobu. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Srinivas Mohan is working as the VFX supervisor for the movie which has a slew of internationally renowned VFX artistes. Some of the visual effects are being done locally while some are being outsourced to foreign technicians around he world. Considering the scale and quality of the VFX work, the film is tipped to have the highest budget for VFX in Indian cinema. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Buzz is that the budget of the film is a staggering `100 crore. However, Shobu gets a little cagey when talking about the budget. "I cannot comment on that since I don't know about the budgets of other films. It is a very expensive film," he says. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Starring Prabhas, Rana, Anushka and Tamannaah in lead roles, the film is set for a 2015 release across all South Indian languages.</span></div>

Baahubali all set to create a VFX splash

                                        Loaded with VFX splendor, Rajamouli's film promises to be a visual extravaganza on an unpreced...

Read more »

Dark clouds hover over Vijay Mallya's empire

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHstpk49Og2ear3ZOQs2tCYKZ9cc4al8gPdHDSTCp6tynRswzHnvfftXX-Ba63D6rzFmQSQ32wis9jPJFRexa0qZA2vIYMS0C3KSf8DpaudtNG7aFawTsFXS6KjwwOR51lRU5MhkQDXN9L/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-02-05+17:29:38.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHstpk49Og2ear3ZOQs2tCYKZ9cc4al8gPdHDSTCp6tynRswzHnvfftXX-Ba63D6rzFmQSQ32wis9jPJFRexa0qZA2vIYMS0C3KSf8DpaudtNG7aFawTsFXS6KjwwOR51lRU5MhkQDXN9L/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-02-05+17:29:38.png" width="320" /></a></div> <span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">MUMBAI: More than a year after one of India's top airlines, Kingfisher, stopped flying, its flamboyant owner </span>Vijay Mallya<span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> is battling against losing control of his $2.2-billion corporate empire.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Mallya, once the self-proclaimed "King of Good Times", made his fortune in the liquor business and controls a conglomerate spanning beer, airlines, fertilisers and engineering. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">But in several firms in his United Breweries Group, 58-year-old Mallya's ownership has substantially shrunk, while in others, large portions of his holdings are pledged with banks -- and in some cases are starting to be sold off. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">"The legacy of the empire, which he inherited from his dad, is at risk," said a Mumbai-based analyst from a group that has lent to Mallya's companies, asking not to be named. </span><br /> <div id="gads" style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </div> <br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Mallya, owner of a Formula One team and host of lavish yacht parties with Bollywood stars and politicians as guests, was India's 29th richest man in 2007, worth an estimated $1.5 billion, according to Forbes. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">But pressure on Mallya has mounted over the past two years since </span>Kingfisher<span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> Airlines' fortunes went into a downward spiral, hit by high fuel prices, fierce competition and heavy interest costs. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">The company, which has never made a profit since it began flying in 2005, owes vast sums to banks, airports, fuel suppliers and staff, while owners of Kingfisher's grounded planes have taken them back. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Bitter legal battle</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Last year, banks which say they lent more than $1.5 billion to Kingfisher started demanding immediate repayment after Mallya failed to come up with a convincing airline revival plan. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Mallya is now in a bitter legal battle with lenders to prevent them from selling properties and assets given as security against loans, which the banks say include his beloved personal villa in Goa. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">As part of a money-raising strategy, Mallya in 2012 abandoned control of his United Spirits to British drinks group Diageo -- although a court has since annulled the decision in response to a petition from Kingfisher creditors chasing their dues. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Meanwhile, Dutch brewer Heineken last year upped its holding in United Breweries, which makes Kingfisher beer, to near 39 percent, overtaking Mallya's stake. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">"These are difficult times for the Mallya group," said Sonam Udasi, head of research at Mumbai brokerage IDBI Capital. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Mallya took over the </span>United Breweries group<span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> in 1983 when he just 28 after his father died. After re-launching the Kingfisher beer brand and consolidating arms of the business, he expanded into aviation.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Mallya is reportedly still keen to find an outside investor to get Kingfisher back into the air, a year after India liberalised investment rules for foreign airlines, but no deals have materialised. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Airline staff, some of whom have not been paid for 15 months, have little faith in his intentions. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">"If he wants to shut the airline, do so. But pay us first," a Kingfisher engineer, asking not to be named, told AFP. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Low-key birthday</strong><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">There is also talk Mallya may also end up a minority shareholder in his fertiliser business, Mangalore Chemicals and Fertilizers. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">As Mallya struggles to stay on top of his business, his appearances have become rarer -- he celebrated his birthday in uncharacteristically low-profile style at his south Mumbai home in December. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Kingfisher spokesman Prakash Mirpuri declined to comment on Mallya's financial future, although analysts say it may be too early to write his empire's epitaph. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Forbes magazine in October said Mallya's net worth had halved to $750 million, but that rising stock prices of United Breweries have kept him "afloat". </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">In need of cash to recover their dues, lenders are eyeing Mallya's personal properties, analysts say -- but this would depend on the extent, if any, of Mallya's personal guarantees for the loans. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Mallya has argued that it is the airline that owes money, and not him personally. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">In India, recovery of sums through the legal system is time-consuming but "it's better than countries like China and Indonesia," said H. Jayesh, founder-partner at advocate firm Juris Corp. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">India's government has told banks to be firm against "wilful defaulters" -- those able but unwilling to pay or who have diverted loan proceeds for unstated purposes. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Mallya has not yet been declared a defaulter. But both the Reserve Bank of India and the government want to send a message to corporate India that the country cannot "afford to have affluent promoters and 'sick' companies", the finance minister said last year. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Banks could recover dues from Mallya if they are "really serious and there is no political interference", said Jayesh. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">But "it will take time as you will need to go after individuals and their assets around the world", he said.</span></div>

Dark clouds hover over Vijay Mallya's empire

MUMBAI: More than a year after one of India's top airlines, Kingfisher, stopped flying, its flamboyant owner  Vijay Mallya  is battli...

Read more »

Directors’ new mantra for success: repeat lead pair

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">                                               <img alt="Directors’ new mantra for success: repeat lead pair" border="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" pg="" src="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/thumb/msid-29775777,width-300,resizemode-4/settai.jpg" title="Directors’ new mantra for success: repeat lead pair" vspace="0" width="300" /><br /> <div class="Normal showpage1" id="artext1" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <div class="Normal" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Be it the comfort factor or the fact that their last film together was a box office success, directors in Kollywood are now repeating the actor-actress combination more frequently. While Hansika andArya are the latest to join hands for the second time in Magizh Thirumeni's film, we take a look at some of the other recent 'hit pairs'...</em><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Who: Arya and Hansika Films:</strong> <em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Settai </em>and<em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Meegaamann </em>Even though Arya and Hansika didn't end up together onscreen in Settai, the pair are coming back together for the second time in Magizh Thirumeni's <em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Meegaamann</em>. While several names were being bandied about to play the female lead in this thriller, it finally went to Hansika. And, we hear the two are happy to work together because they had a good working equation the last time.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Who: Udhayanidhi Stalin and Nayanthara Films: </strong><em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Idhu Kathirvelan Kadhal </em>and <em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Nanbenda</em> Udhay and Nayan's first film together, <em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Idhu Kathirvelan Kadhal,</em> has not even hit screens, but the two have already been cast in Nanbenda next. Sources tell us that Nayan liked her role in the film and since she shares a great working relationship with Udhay, she was more than happy to do a second film with him.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Who: Vijay and Kajal Aggarwal Films: </strong><em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Thuppakki </em>and <em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Jilla </em>As AR Murugadoss's <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Thuppakki" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #024d99; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Thuppakki</a> went on to become a huge success, filmmakers considered Vijay and KajalAggarwal a hit pair. Later, Neason cast them together in his <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Jilla" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #024d99; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Jilla</a>, which again was received well by the audience. Looks like sentiments do work in Kollywood!<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Films:<em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </em></strong><em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Kedi Billa Killadi Ranga </em>and <em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Desingu Raja</em> Both Vemal and Bindu teamed up back-toback for<em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">KBKR </em>and Desingu Raja. Interestingly, while Vemal played a demure person in both the films, Bindu seemed to have enjoyed making him dance to her tunes. Needless to say, the pair delighted the audience with their sense of humour.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Who: Jai and Swati Films: </strong><em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Subramaniapuram </em>and <em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Vadacurry </em>Though it might have taken a few years for the two of them to team up again, Jai and Swati were considered a hit pair since <em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Subramaniapuram</em>. Now, the two are back with <em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Vadacurry</em>, a comedy thriller.While their first outing was a dark romance, this one might just give them an opportunity to showcase their breezy romantic side. Interestingly, Swati made a cameo appearance in Kanimozhi as Jai's wife!<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Who: Vishal and Lakshmi Menon Films: </strong><em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Pandiya Naadu </em>and <em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Naan Sigappu Manithan</em> We hear that one of the major reasons why the makers of <em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Naan Sigappu Manithan</em> cast Lakshmi Rai opposite Vishal again was because of their cute chemistry. And now, looks like the two are set to make their chemistry quite sizzling, as they have already shot for a kissing scene in this film.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></div> </div> <div class="clrbth" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 10px 0px 0px;"> <br /></div> </div>

Directors’ new mantra for success: repeat lead pair

                                               Be it the comfort factor or the fact that their last film together was a box office succe...

Read more »

Tollywood stars on an experimental spree

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">                                         <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/thumb/msid-29772691,width-300,resizemode-4/mahesh-babu-nerd.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Tollywood stars on an experimental spree" border="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" pg="" src="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/thumb/msid-29772691,width-300,resizemode-4/mahesh-babu-nerd.jpg" title="Tollywood stars on an experimental spree" vspace="0" width="300" /></a><br /> <span id="storyendpath" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /> <div class="Normal showpage1" id="artext1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"> <div class="Normal" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"> Tollywood stars are not known for experimenting with their films too much. While most prefer to play safe 'sticking to the formula', a handful of leading superstars seem to be breaking free of their comfort zone and trying things that haven't been done before in Telugu cinema, be it in terms of characterisation or genre. And going by the recent spate of films, it seems like Tollywood has taken a step in the right direction. <br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><strong style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">BEND IT LIKE MAHESH</strong><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />After scoring a hit with the action-comedy- sentiment package of Dookudu, Mahesh Babu has tried to push the envelope constantly. He experimented with grey shades in Businessman and then, played a no-frills character in the family entertainer Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu. Mahesh broke away from the Tollywood formula of six songs, five fights and a dash of slapstick comedy with his recent release 1 Nenokkadine. <br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />The actor played the role of a rock star suffering from a mental disorder in the psychological thriller, something which was unprecedented in Tollywood. Mahesh spared no effort in getting into the skin of the character. The superstar teamed up an renowned transformation specialist, known for his DTP or Dramatic Transformation Principle, to get a slim new look. <br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />"Sukumar should be credited for coming up with such a genre defining film — something which Tollywood has never seen. I relish experimenting with different roles, and was thrilled when Sukumar narrated me the script and I thought it would be a landmark film if we can pull it off. I knew I had to do a few dare-devil action sequences and undergo change in the looks department. I knew it was a tough task, but I was prepared for it," explains Mahesh. <br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><strong style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">REBEL STAR EXPLORING NEW TERRAINS...</strong> <br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Rebel Star Prabhas also seems to be headed in the same direction. After the success of Mirchi, the actor is undergoing extreme physical transformation for his role in director Rajamouli's magnum opus Baahubali. Prabhas hit the gym with a vengeance and has transformed himself into a veritable hulk to play a warrior prince Bahubali in the movie. The actor has undergone rigorous weightlifting and workout programmes to get the desired 'monster look'. The actor has set aside two years for the movie and even postponed his wedding plans to focus on the film. <br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><strong style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">BUNNY UPPING THE STYLE QUOTIENT</strong> <br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Allu-Arjun" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #024d99; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Allu Arjun</a> brought style to Tollywood like no one else did. The stylish star is known for his glam appeal, but if we go by the choice of his roles, you wouldn't have ever found him running around the trees. Looks like Bunny is following a similar track too as the actor, after the success of Julayi, came up with Iddarammayilatho — a film that had a lot to do with his wardrobe. The film got a major fillip when the actor's styling was lauded for being 'first of its kind' in T-Town. <br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />The movie received mixed reviews from critics while consolidating Allu Arjun's standing as a star who can pull in crowds. Explaining why he did the romantic entertainer, Allu Arjun said, "Desamuduru (directed by Puri Jagannadh) was one of the biggest turning points in my career. So, I was very confident that Iddarammayilatho will be one of the most stylish films ever made. The script was very unique from Puri's earlier films and I thought it would be very distinct in terms of narration. And I wanted to be a part of a slick flick that has a lot to do with my styling." <br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><strong style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">NAG'S NEW RESOLVE</strong> <br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Similarly,Nagarjuna is one actor in Tollywood who never ceases to experiment with his roles and movies.Over the past few films, he has come to be known for changing his look to fit the role. And it is not just about wearing different clothing or adding makeup, but a complete makeover, from weight to walk, from hair to heels. Nag is trying his hand at interesting roles. <br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />After testing waters with films like Rajanna, Damarukam, Greeku Veerudu, Bhai, Nagarjuna would be seen in a conventional clean shaven and moustache look for his upcoming 'Akkineni multistarrer', Manam.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />"I've resolved not to do formulaic films again. While Bollywood and Tamil films have gone back to their roots in the last few years, Tollywood has been caught up in the urban landscape. Winds of change are sweeping the country and our films also need to change. I have committed myself to produce more such innovative genres. Unless some film excites greatly, I won't act in formulaic films anymore," says Nagarjuna.</div> </div> </div>

Tollywood stars on an experimental spree

                                         Tollywood stars are not known for experimenting with their films too much. While most prefer t...

Read more »

Dilunnodu Theatrical Trailer

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4xllIhl96vumS9-onThVvNSfmE-Laz7TjZbneBe77vPFlhhDqWFV2pmyFOAfO9BttaEeLJzstnfJKcN7KxDcRY1uiRjVMpKwDvkx9QevRm8G6Q3SH5_W8YZkp9x-giL67nDIYgW_YfgDM/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-02-03+17:29:25.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4xllIhl96vumS9-onThVvNSfmE-Laz7TjZbneBe77vPFlhhDqWFV2pmyFOAfO9BttaEeLJzstnfJKcN7KxDcRY1uiRjVMpKwDvkx9QevRm8G6Q3SH5_W8YZkp9x-giL67nDIYgW_YfgDM/s1600/Screenshot+from+2014-02-03+17:29:25.png" width="320" /></a></div> <br /></div> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/9PdVhjBuCzQ?feature=player_embedded" width="640"></iframe></div>

Dilunnodu Theatrical Trailer

Read more »

Rohit, Rahane get 50s, India's practice match ends in draw

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/thumb/msid-29806192,width-300,resizemode-4/Rahane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Rohit, Rahane get 50s, India's practice match ends in draw" border="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" pg="" src="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/thumb/msid-29806192,width-300,resizemode-4/Rahane.jpg" title="Rohit, Rahane get 50s, India's practice match ends in draw" vspace="0" width="300" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">WHANGAREI: The Indian top-order failed to convert good starts but </span><a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Rohit-Sharma" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #024d99; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">Rohit Sharma</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> and </span><a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Ajinkya-Rahane" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #024d99; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">Ajinkya Rahane</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> struck morale-boosting fifties ahead of the Test series as the visiting team's two-day practice match against New Zealand XI ended in a tame draw on Monday. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">India batted out the second day, finishing at 313 for seven declared in 93 overs, with Rahane (60) and Rohit (59) getting some much-needed runs ahead of the two-Test series against New Zealand starting February 6 in Auckland. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">This was in reply to the hosts' score of 262 for nine declared on the first day. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">The Indian batting started from their overnight score of 41/0, with openers Shikhar Dhawan and </span><a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Murali-Vijay" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #024d99; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">Murali Vijay</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> looking to bat for time. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">But they couldn't stay at the wicket for a long duration, as both fell early in the first hour of play. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">Vijay was the first to go, bowled in the second over of the day, without adding to his overnight score of 19, which came off 56 deliveries and included one hit to the fence. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">Dhawan needed to spend more time in the middle after his repetitive failures in the ODI series but going for a third run, a misunderstanding with non-striker </span><a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Cheteshwar-Pujara" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #024d99; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">Cheteshwar Pujara</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> meant that he was run-out. He scored 26 runs, off 68 balls, with four fours. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">New Zealand XI skipper Anton Devcich described Pujara as "the toughest Indian batsman to bowl to", and it certainly looked so while he batted for an hour and half, scoring 33 runs (66 balls, four fours) before he was trapped LBW by Roald Badenhorst (1-38). </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">It brought together Rohit and Rahane at the crease, and the duo didn't face much trouble as the pitch eased out under the bright sun. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">They added 99 runs on either side of lunch. Post-break, Rohit brought up his half-century off 83 balls, with seven hits to the fence. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">Shortly afterwards, with the score on 192, he retired-out after scoring 59 runs (101 balls, seven fours) to give a chance to Ambati Rayudu (49) to get a feel for the conditions. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">At the other end, Rahane too completed his half-century off 91 balls, with three fours and one six. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">With the Indian total past 200, he too walked off, having scored 60 runs off 97 balls (five fours, one six) and Wriddhiman Saha (4) came out to bat. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">The Bengal wicket-keeper couldn't stay for long, as he was bowled by Jono Boult (1-74). </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">R Ashwin then came to the crease and put on 66 quick runs with Rayudu, playing some exotic shots on both sides of the wicket. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">Ashwin scored 46 runs, off 57 balls, with six fours and two sixes, and was the last batsman out four overs before the end. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">The match meandered and finished in the 93rd over with Rayudu staying unbeaten on 49. He faced 93 balls and hit five fours, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3), rounding up a decent outing with the bat for the visitors. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" /><strong style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">Brief Scores:<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />New Zealand XI: </strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">262/9 dec</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" /><strong style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">India: </strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">313/7 declared in 93 overs (Ajinkya Rahane 60, Rohit Sharma 59, Rayudu 49, Ashwin 46; Ill Tugaga 1-56, Shawn Hick 1-8). </span></div> </div>

Rohit, Rahane get 50s, India's practice match ends in draw

WHANGAREI: The Indian top-order failed to convert good starts but  Rohit Sharma  and  Ajinkya Rahane  struck morale-boosting fifties a...

Read more »

Miss India Audition: Registration now open!

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_BQphw2Hdk6se1XOV4Kgot5onE9g_ennkK25RD0xBWNhanWLzB7qBbKNUm4kioNJNOkTAEA7DcWv6tl91X2aXkEs71L5-mKZavAJ_UVqjTebqhn_G-JX2HmsxV7dDLJdiFuOuVf7GDiOH/s1600/trpar3145454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_BQphw2Hdk6se1XOV4Kgot5onE9g_ennkK25RD0xBWNhanWLzB7qBbKNUm4kioNJNOkTAEA7DcWv6tl91X2aXkEs71L5-mKZavAJ_UVqjTebqhn_G-JX2HmsxV7dDLJdiFuOuVf7GDiOH/s1600/trpar3145454.jpg" width="205" /></a></div> <a href="http://beautypageants.indiatimes.com/feminacontestform2014.cms" target="_blank">MIS INDIA REGISTRATION FORM</a>......<br /> click the above link in order to registrate.....in miss india context......</div>

Miss India Audition: Registration now open!

MIS INDIA REGISTRATION FORM ...... click the above link in order to registrate.....in miss india context......

Read more »

Why did the elephant cross the road? To avoid the drunks

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYXSNUurGQUw73OIzr_ju5LJ2fWfdddlZGXv1LTQ8SIfwRDypxxICQKwiHudQWMhP38WuB03cTRslVkK6jsxusaDPsgUa2VijZM4ReIqWcJQyI334QWBTb6Vu3SVn1ZRcXVpC0ppEAwmwe/s1600/140116144142-elephants-without-borders-5-horizontal-gallery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYXSNUurGQUw73OIzr_ju5LJ2fWfdddlZGXv1LTQ8SIfwRDypxxICQKwiHudQWMhP38WuB03cTRslVkK6jsxusaDPsgUa2VijZM4ReIqWcJQyI334QWBTb6Vu3SVn1ZRcXVpC0ppEAwmwe/s1600/140116144142-elephants-without-borders-5-horizontal-gallery.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <div class="cnn_strylftcntnt" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: left; float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 10px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="cnn_strylctcntr" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 166px;"> <div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">STORY HIGHLIGHTS</strong></div> <ul class="cnn_bulletbin cnnStryHghLght" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 9px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <li style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.e/img/3.0/global/red_bull.gif); background-position: 0px 5px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 9px 7px; vertical-align: baseline;">Africa's largest elephant population can be found in Botswana</li> <li style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.e/img/3.0/global/red_bull.gif); background-position: 0px 5px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 9px 7px; vertical-align: baseline;">Elephants Without Borders is testing small-scale urban wildlife corridors</li> <li style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.e/img/3.0/global/red_bull.gif); background-position: 0px 5px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 9px 7px; vertical-align: baseline;">The goal is to see whether these passages can be used to avoid human-wildlife conflict</li> <li style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.e/img/3.0/global/red_bull.gif); background-position: 0px 5px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 9px 7px; vertical-align: baseline;">Conservationists say elephants learn to adapt to changes in their environment</li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="cnnEditorialNote" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Every week, <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/CNNI/Programs/insideafrica/" style="border: 0px; color: #004276; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Inside Africa</a> takes its viewers on a journey across Africa, exploring the true diversity and depth of different cultures, countries and regions. Follow host Errol Barnett on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/subaindia" style="border: 0px; color: #004276; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Facebook</a>.</em></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">(CNN)</strong> -- Crossing the road can be dangerous -- even if you're the largest land animal on the planet.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph2" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a href="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/140113132503-spc-inside-africa-elephants-botswana-b-00054430-story-body.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" class="box-image" height="120" src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/140113132503-spc-inside-africa-elephants-botswana-b-00054430-story-body.jpg" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="214" /></a>Thousands of elephants roam Chobe National Park in northern Botswana, a wildlife haven that's home to one of the highest elephant concentrations in Africa. Right next to the vast park lies Kasane, a small town situated on the banks of the Chobe river. Here, humans live side by side with large herds of migrating elephants that wander through the area in search of food and fresh water -- and this has created a lot of tension.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph3" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;"> "The conflict here is about space," says Tempe Adams, a PhD candidate monitoring the movement of animals in Kasane as part of her work with conservation group Elephants Without Borders. "That's what it comes down to," she adds. "Allowing wildlife to have space to move through."</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph4" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a href="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/140113125229-spc-inside-africa-elephants-botswana-a-00002118-story-body.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" class="box-image" height="120" src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/140113125229-spc-inside-africa-elephants-botswana-a-00002118-story-body.jpg" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="214" /></a>Adams's research is looking at the functionality of small-scale wildlife corridors within urban communities, examining whether they can be an effective way to avoid human-wildlife conflict before it happens. Using motion detection cameras, the researcher is monitoring eight different corridors in the area, some of which are as small as five meters wide.</div> <div class="cnn_strylftcntnt cnn_strylftcexpbx" id="expand15" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: left; float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 27px 0px 10px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="clickToPlay" id="clickToPlayvideoContainerexpand15" style="background-image: url(http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.e/img/3.0/video/416_player_Click_to_play_off.png); border: 0px; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 42px; left: 45px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 27px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 136px; zoom: 1;"> </div> </div> <div class="cnn_strylftcntnt cnn_strylftcexpbx" id="expand25" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: left; float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 27px 0px 10px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="clickToPlay" id="clickToPlayvideoContainerexpand25" style="background-image: url(http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.e/img/3.0/video/416_player_Click_to_play_off.png); border: 0px; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 42px; left: 45px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 27px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 136px; zoom: 1;"> </div> </div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph5" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <br />One of the key points of the human-wildlife conflict in Kasane is a two-lane highway that cuts through the corridors the elephants use as they make their way to the Chobe river to drink and bathe.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph6" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a href="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/140113140823-spc-inside-africa-elephants-botswana-c-00010001-story-body.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" class="box-image" height="120" src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/140113140823-spc-inside-africa-elephants-botswana-c-00010001-story-body.jpg" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="214" /></a>"All the corridors I'm monitoring have to go past this road," explains Adams. "There are a high number of accidents each year," she adds, "generally in the evening when visual acuity is poor, which coincides with the busiest time for wildlife utilization."</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph7" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <br /></div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph8" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;"> As part of her study, Adams is looking at the frequency of car usage and whether that correlates to how the herds of elephants are moving through the area.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph9" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;"> As it turns out, the majestic mammals are adapting to human behavior -- especially on weekends.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph10" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;"> "It's amazing," she says. "There's a bar at each of the corridors they have to pass by. I was looking at the results and I could suddenly see there's this big drop in wildlife coming through on Friday and Saturday nights. I thought what's going on? It's so obvious ... animals are adapting to our habits -- and our drinking habits," adds Adams.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph11" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;"> "It's amazing to think they know when it's going to be lots of people and rowdy and very busy and they just don't come at that time; or they'll come in later or come in when it's quieter."</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph12" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Why corridors are important</strong></div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph13" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Elephants Without Borders was recently tasked with leading what's being called the Great Elephant Census, a pan-African aerial survey aimed at securing more accurate data on the continent's elephant population.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph14" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;"> But while the group is known for its extensive, cross-border research, it believes that urban small-scale corridors, the effectiveness of which is examined now for the first time, could be just as important.</div> <div class="cnn_strylftcntnt" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: left; float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 10px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="cnn_strylctcntr cnn_strylctcquote" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: arial; font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 244px;"> <div class="cnn_strylctcqcntr" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 27px 20px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.e/img/3.0/mosaic/60x50_quote_marks.gif); background-position: 100% 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 10px 20px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Elephants are extremely intelligent and have the capability to learn how to adapt to changes within their environment.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="border: 0px; color: #999999; display: block; font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 8px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Kelly Landen, program manager, EWB</span></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph15" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;"> "It's such a basic concept," explains Adams. "Just give wildlife the space to come in; they will use and the conflict will be reduced."</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph17" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Kelly Landen, EWB program manager, says that in a human-dominated landscape, corridors provide safe passage for wildlife to access valuable resources like food and water. "If corridors aren't provided for or are blocked, then the wildlife will do what they must to get to those vital resources, as their survival depends on it -- even if it means having to forge through villages, homesteads and farms. And that creates human and wildlife conflict, in which both people and the wildlife suffer."</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph18" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;"> EWB says that currently if a passage is labeled a wildlife corridor it is designated on the town's land management and development plans, indicating that the area cannot be allocated for another use other than as an access route for wildlife.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph19" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;"> However, the group is pushing for more stringent terminology and adapted legal rules to be applied to these passages. The overall plan is to have designated wildlife corridors in legislation, so as towns grow there are set paths for elephants to use and ultimately lessen the impact of their growing numbers.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph20" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;"> "Elephants are extremely intelligent and have the capability to learn how to adapt to changes within their environment," says Landen. "So, as a town becomes more and more developed, they will look for new routes allowing them access to what they need -- as long as there are those access routes."</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph21" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Returning to ancestral homelands</strong></div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph22" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;"> With around 130,000 African elephants, Botswana has the continent's largest elephant population. It is seen as the last stronghold of the magnificent mammals in the continent; while other countries rare facing declining populations, Botswana must deal with rising elephant numbers and their impact on local communities and the environment.</div> <div class="cnn_strylftcntnt" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: left; float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 10px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="cnn_strylctcntr cnn_strylctcquote" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: arial; font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 244px;"> <div class="cnn_strylctcqcntr" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 27px 20px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.e/img/3.0/mosaic/60x50_quote_marks.gif); background-position: 100% 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 10px 20px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Elephants are repopulating ancestral homelands where they were evicted from 30 years ago.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="border: 0px; color: #999999; display: block; font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 8px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mike Chase, founder, EWB</span></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph24" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;"> "That's the tragedy and the paradox of conservation in Botswana," says Mike Chase, founder of EWB. "Elephants have become a victim of their own success.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph25" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;"> "Can this environment sustain 130,000 elephants, eight elephants per square kilometer that are chewing up 250 kilos of vegetation per day?" asks Chase. "Clearly not -- so we've got to create safe passages and corridors so that these elephants can move out of Botswana, release this bottleneck and repopulate areas such as southeast Angola and southwest Zambia, where elephants occur at very low densities and can be a magnet for eco-tourism."</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph26" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Research has shown that the home ranges in northern Botswana are the largest ever recorded for African elephants, which are free to roam across Zimbabwe, Namibia, Angola and Zambia. The EWB's findings helped create the world's largest wildlife preservation known as The Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area, or KAZA. This is an international conservation region in southern Africa, spanning 440,000 square kilometers across five countries. The initiative is protecting some of the wildlife corridors and habitats identified by EWB.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph28" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;"> "Despite all the despair and loss of hope, there's a glimmer of opportunity here in the KAZA area, where elephants are repopulating ancestral homelands where they were evicted from 30 years ago," says Chase.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph29" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;"> "KAZA is really the last hope for elephants," he adds. "This romance of elephants moving from the coastal plains of Cape Town, through Victoria Falls, across the Zambezi river to the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro -- I yearn for that; I see that in elephants and KAZA provides for conservation at a scale at which these species evolved."</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph30" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;"> This is a grand vision for these great giants -- reestablishing their footprint across the continent.</div> <a href="" name="em1" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"></span><a href="" name="em2" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"></span><a href="" name="em3" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"></span><br /> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph32" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <br /></div> </div>

Why did the elephant cross the road? To avoid the drunks

STORY HIGHLIGHTS Africa's largest elephant population can be found in Botswana Elephants Without Borders is testing small-scale...

Read more »