7 easy ways to avoid a cold

Cold and flu season seems to be upon us. Everywhere you look there are people sneezing, wheezing or looking downright miserable thanks to a stuffy nose, sore throat or heavy head -- and there seems no way of escaping it. However, if you are determined to keep the common cold at bay, try these seven easy-to-do steps.
The hands-off approach: According to the health portal commoncold.org, the cold virus resides in the nose and is most contagious during the first three days of a cold. So, if you have a cold, try not to use your hands to shield a sneeze or cough. The nasal secretions will transfer the virus to your hands and then on to everything else you touch. If you haven't yet fallen prey to the cold virus, the first thing to do keep your hands clean. For most of us, at work, at home or outdoors, it's impossible to keep your hands as clean as they could possibly be. The best thing to do is avoid touching your nose, mouth and face. The cold virus can be transferred even from brief contact with a person suffering from a cold or a contaminated surface, so try wash your hands as often as you can or buy a hand sanitiser available at almost all medical stores.
Liquids: Mayoclinic.com recommends you ensure your liquid intake is high. Whether in the form of water, juices or soups, the fluids will help flush out the toxins in your system and keep illness at bay.
Air it out: For most city-dwellers, air conditioned offices and homes are inescapable. While this modern convenience is no doubt a blessing, it can also be a Pandora's box of illnesses. Thanks to the recirculated air, germs tend to reside in air-ducts with no place to go. If colds and coughs seem to be afflicting colleagues or relatives constantly, get your the ducts cleaned professionally and open the windows to let in some fresh air in. Health portal webmd.com recommends getting a regular dose of fresh air particularly during winter.
Work it out: The internet abounds with studies and articles that demonstrate the benefits of regular exercise to the human immune system. Even 20 minutes of aerobics or moderate-intensity physical activity at least five days a week can make a world of difference to your body's energy levels and immunity.
Get a vitamin boost: Studies have found that a regular intake of vitamins, particularly vitamin C, boosts the immune system. If you're not the pill-popping type, load up the natural way with plenty of green leafy vegetables, the red and yellow variety help too.
Cut down on smoking and drinking: According to webmd.com, statistics show that heavy smokers are more prone to colds and suffer more severe bouts. Heavy alcohol consumption dries out the body, taking away valuable fluids. This again makes you susceptible to the cold virus. So, if you can't kick the habit completely, make sure to cut down your consumption to improve your chances of staving off cold.
Relax: Stress impacts your immune system, making you more vulnerable to infections and illnesses, says most research on the subject. While it is easier said than done, there are methods by which you can teach yourself calming techniques, the most popular of which is yoga. Practice these techniques regularly to keep your mind and body in peak condition.

Yogic backbends

Backbends, like twists, are unique to yoga. They are potent anti-depressants and seen as instant mood-elevators. They also wring out fatigue, lethargy and lack of enthusiasm. Because these demand strength and focus, they also build muscular and mental stamina.
Again, by correcting subtle postural defects they prop us up both physically and mentally. A yoga practice can be termed incomplete if backbends are neglected.
Though other modern-day exercises have borrowed from them, it would be wise to stick to the technical finesse that yoga gives its many backbends. Amongst all categories, yogic twists and backbends can be termed as difficult. The latter also, unfortunately, have several contraindications: they can strain a weak back.
So, those with back problems must first focus on rectifying the problem before attempting backbends. Since these poses tone the entire back, spinal nerves, the powerful and supportive back muscles, these poses when done regularly, are actually help prevent all back problems.
They release trapped tension from the back muscles. They encourage circulation in this part of the body which is usually neglected. By opening up the chest, they also boost respiration. However, those with acute respiratory problems or severe migraines must learn to do these poses in a phased manner due to their powerful impact on the system. All backbends boost the immune system powerfully by their effect on the thymus gland.
Also, those with heart problems need to start off mildly with these poses. They are contraindicated in all cases of abdominal flare-ups or problems and hyper-thyroidism since these poses apply tremendous pressure on the abdomen and thyroid respectively.
They are powerfully therapeutic in adrenal gland exhaustion and high stress, diabetes and digestive problems like inadequate nutrient absorption, acidity, flatulence, constipation and obesity. They hike the metabolism, helping you lose weight faster. They tone the uro-genital system superbly. They shape your hips and legs superbly.

Buy low, sell high to make money in stocks

I believe there is only one way to make money in the market. That is 'buy low and sell high'.
Sounds simple, doesn't it? But the execution is not very easy. However, if you are disciplined and patient you can master this art and make money.
After a lot of experiment I have found one strategy that works.
There are 4 rules you need to adhere, though, come what may, to achieve success using this plan:
~ Decide the quantum of investment you will make on every fall (say Rs 5,000)
~ Buy units/shares on any day when the market comes down by more than four per cent
~ Sell the same amount of units/shares that you would buy when the market goes up by more than five per cent on a given day
~ And, of course, keep doing it regularly
Now don't take my word for it. For all you want let's validate this data on the Sensex and let's do it for a very long period of time, say from 1980.
The trick here is you will buy shares/units worth Rs 5,000 on every buy opportunity and sell shares/units worth Rs 5,000 on every sell opportunity as per the rules decided above.
On June 6, 1980, the Sensex was at 122.55 levels (for simplicity let's assume that one unit of Sensex could be bought as a share/unit at Rs 122.55). On this day the Sensex had come down by more than four percent. Let's consider the closing prices as your buy price; therefore you could purchase 40.8 units of the Sensex with Rs 5,000 (Rs 5,000/122.55 = 40.8).
Similarly, when on August 5, 1980 when the Sensex reached 135.5 levels (a gain of more than 5 per cent on that day), you could have sold 36.89 shares/units worth Rs 5,000. This will leave you with nearly four units (3.91 to be precise � 40.8 less 36.89) of the Sensex and that too free of cost. In money terms, your gain would have been Rs 527.91 (Rs 135.52*3.9 units).
Now you need to keep in mind that there could be more than one buying opportunity in a year. This is what happened in the year 1981. You had two days when our rule told us to buy (ie a fall of more than four per cent on a single trading day). On May 4, 1981 and on July 17, 1981 the Sensex fell by 4.17 per cent and 4.36 per cent respectively. Therefore we bought the Sensex at Rs 178.5 and Rs 197.1. The average price at which we bought the Sensex was Rs 187.8 and we made a purchase of (28+25= 53 units).

Indian economy slows down to 8.7% in 2007-08

Projecting an 8.7 per cent growth in the current fiscal, the Economic Survey on Thursday said the government should ensure a non-inflationary growth along with speeding up of reforms for sustaining 9 per cent expansion in GDP.
"Maintaining growth rate at 9 per cent will be a challenge and raising it to two digits will be an even greater one," Economic Survey for 2007-08 presented in Parliament said.
The survey, tabled by Finance Minister P Chidambaram in Lok Sabha, said that while the gross domestic product is expected to grow by 8.7 per cent in 2007-08, "this represents a deceleration from the unexpectedly high growth of 9.4 per cent and 9.6 per cent, respectively, in the previous years."
The manufacturing sector to grow at 9.4 per cent in current financial year, lower from 12 per cent in 2006-07, the survey said.
The government projects lower agriculture growth at 2.6 per cent in 2007-08 from 3.8 per cent in 2006-07, and inflation has been projected at 4.4 per cent in 2007-08, says the Economic Survey.
The government has set a target of 9 per cent GDP growth during 11th Five-Year Plan (2007-2012).

Kadambari Gave Voice For Laxmipathi

The loss of Lakshmipathi is felt big in the industry and the sympathy wave is still continuing. He was last seen in the movie 'Andamaina Mansulo' making audience spill laughs in the theater. He gave his voice for dubbing for almost 70 percent of his character and the remaining was filled by Kadambari Kiran Kumar. But the difference is not felt in big way and the audiences got accustomed to his voice without making out the thin line of difference. It is said that Kadambari Kiran Kumar, the senior-most actor cum small time director has imitated Lakshmipathi in lending his voice for him.

Paruchuri Indirectly Says Chiru Turns CM

Paruchuri Gopalakrishna and Paruchuri Venkateswara Rao have been writing the dialogues for films for many years. They have written dialogues for NT Rama Rao's films too. The two are now busy with working on the script for Chiranjeevi's 149th film. The film will be based on contemporary issues and is touted as a sort of a launch pad for Chiranjeevi's political entry. Speaking at a function recently, Paruchuri Gopalakrishna talked about his work and films. He said that many 'Actors' who mouthed the dialogues written by him turn chief ministers. He has written dialogues for NT Rama Rao and he became the chief minister. But then he is the only actor from the state to have become the chief minister. By saying 'Actors' is Paruchuri referring to Chiranjeevi? Is he so sure that Chiranjeevi will become the chief minister that he used a plural word 'Actors'? Is he also hinting that he and his brother are kingmakers?

Babu Supports Kaka on Telangana issue

Former chief minister and Telugu Desam president N Chandrababu Naidu is unhappy these days. Not because his Telugu Desam is bogged down with internal fighting and dissidence. But because senior Congress leader and former Union minister G Venkataswamy, popularly known as Kaka, has been "humiliated" by none other than AICC chief Sonia Gandhi.
When Kaka led a delegation of Telangana Congress leaders to Delhi to meet Sonia Gandhi, the delegation did not get appointment. The T leaders had to return empty handed. Chandrababu Naidu now says that Venkataswamy, also the Congress Working Committee member, was humiliated in New Delhi for the simple reason that he is a Telugu personality.
"Former chief minister and Telugu Desam founder NT Rama Rao launched the Telugu Desam after he noticed that then chief minister T Anjaiah was humiliated. Rama Rao talked of the Telugu pride and self-respect. The TD will not tolerate any sort of humiliation to Telugus by others," Chandrababu Naidu said stunning everyone including Chief Minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy.
But no one knows why Chandrababu Naidu has developed love towards Kaka so suddenly. There was no provocation from the Congress side and yet Kaka has emerged as the favorite leader for Chandrababu Naidu, after NT Rama Rao.
What Chandrababu Naidu has failed to realize is that by supporting Venkataswamy, he is indirectly supporting the cause of Telangana. Chandrababu Naidu is dead against separate Telangana. And yet supports Venkataswamy. This is but common in politics, particularly Telugu Desam's strategic politics.
Chandrababu Naidu is now the man with many tongues and many brains.

Babu Makes Fun of 'Saakshi Advertisements'

Chief Minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy and his son YS Jaganmohan Reddy are nowadays busy with the new venture of the family i.e launch of a new Telugu newspaper. The newspaper has been named Sakshi (witness). There has been a media blitzkrieg on the new newspaper. The advertisements are displayed on buses, auto rickshaws and on hoardings at prime positions. "You are witness to this", says the advertisement showing a potter's girl dreaming about becoming the world's greatest Kuchipudi dancer.So imitating the advertisements of Sakshi, Chandrababu Naidu spoke about "corruption" in Congress government at length and finally winded up the speech saying that "the Congress government will be a mute witness (sakshi) to the corruption that's going on in the State and in the Chief Minister's office". Everyone in the Assembly smiled away the new "advertisement" of the Telugu Desam imitating the media blitzkrieg of the Sakshi newspaper.These days Chandrababu Naidu has been taking every precaution to ensure that his address in the State Assembly is free from error and the points he makes are forceful enough to put the Congress in the dock. But quite often he fails in this mega task and ends up with a long and boring speech. But the Sakshi advertisement was a whip of fresh breeze from the Telugu Desam quarters.

Mulayam is third front’s PM candidate

The United National Progressive Alliance on Monday unveiled its roadmap to New Delhi, endorsing its chairman Mulayam Singh Yadav as the prime ministerial candidate.
The UNPA leaders said the Centre was within their reach and the front would gain nothing less than 100 seats in coming Lok Sabha elections. “We have stirred the national political scene and the UNPA will make the government led by Mulayam Singh Yadav,” Telugu Desam Party chief Chandra Babu Naidu said.
The leaders accompanied Mulayam, the former UP chief minister, to address maha rallies across the country to champion the cause of farmers.
The leaders predicted a larger role for the UNPA in national politics and asserted the coming polls would show that they were not used up cartridges, a perception the political rivals are vigorously pushing.
Addressing a large gathering at the Numaish Maidan, Mulayam said all the UNPA allies are surging in their respective states.
“The kind of consolidation we see will facilitate increase in our tally. Uttar Pradesh alone will give us the maximum seats. The UNPA will come out stronger in Lok Sabha polls.”
“The people are feeling cheated and robbed. The farmers have been made false promises. The UNPA will continue to fight for their rights and it will pressure the Centre to waive loans taken by all the farmers,” he said.

First flight lands at new Hyderabad airport

A Kingfisher flight A320 with 86 journalists, company officials and crew members became the first plane to land at India's first world-class international airport near here Tuesday.
The passengers aboard the aircraft and the officials and workers on the ground clapped and cheered loudly as the aircraft flying from Mumbai touched down at 3.10 p.m. at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Shamshabad, about 25 km from here.
This correspondent was among the passengers of the momentous flight, which had a smooth landing on the 4,260 metre-long runway, the longest in South Asia.
The aircraft hovered over the area for about 20 minutes as Captain D.D. Gandhi conducted necessary procedures. He lowered the aircraft on the first runway before lifting it again as part of calibration procedure. Minutes later, it landed on the second runway, evoking loud cheers from hundreds witnessing the historic moment.
'The runway is simply excellent. It is truly world class,' Gandhi told IANS. The pilot, who has 25,000 hours of flying experience, later took off and again landed, this time in cloudy weather and wet conditions.
'It was a great feeling to be on the first flight,' said V. Raja of Kingfisher Airlines.
Two hours later, a second aircraft, a Boeing 747 of Jet Airways, landed at the new airport. This special flight too came from Mumbai.
Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said on the occasion: 'This is India's first truly world class airport. It is an important milestone in the history of India's civil aviation and will begin a new chapter.'
Termed as India's first airport that matches global standards, it will be formally inaugurated by United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi March 14. Commercial operations will commence two days later, shifting the focus from the existing airport at Begumpet in the heart of the city.
The Rs.24.7 billion ($60 million) airport, built on 5,000 acres of land, features the best of facilities in Oslo, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore airports, officials said. It has been built in public-private partnership.
The airport will be capable of handling 12 million passengers and more than 100,000 tonnes of cargo per annum. The ultimate capacity of the new airport is over 40 million passengers and one million tonnes of cargo annually.
The project was completed ahead of schedule and well within the tenure of the same government, minister Patel said, recalling that Sonia Gandhi laid the foundation stone March 16, 2005.
Patel assured Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy that another international airport would come up in the coastal city of Visakhapatnam. He also announced that the Rajhamundry and Vijayawada airports would be upgraded.

ETV May Get Killed with New Channels

The small screen is turning into a big battleground. Every day a new channel is coming up to woo the viewer with new and newer programs. The number of news channels is also going up day by day.
The frontrunner all these days as far as news channels go was TV9. A relatively new entrant into the 24x7 news bracket, NTV, is challenging the monopoly of TV9. The new channel is giving a tough competition to TV9 in giving 'breaking news' and exclusive live stories.
Another new entrant, TV5 is slowly picking up. Many new channels like 'Vanitha' and Sreegiri are on the anvil. Vanitha is from NTV and it will be a full-fledged entertainment channel. Sreegiri is another spiritual channel that is ready to hit the airwaves.
All this tough competition and fresh programming has pushed ETV to the third or fourth spot. It is said that about 25 new Telugu channels are in line to emerge.

Who is this Reddy?

With chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy hailing from Kadapa, those from his district are naturally inclined to call the shots. Take the case of K S Jawahar Reddy, an IAS officer of the 1990 batch and currently managing director of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board. Claiming critical financial position, Jawahar has stopped the salaries of at least 40 top officials of the board. It turns out that the babu is a Kadapa Reddy, hailing from Pulivendula region which falls under YSR’s assembly constituency.
The grapevine has it that Jawahar should have made it to the chief minister’s office, but was pipped to the powerful peshi by K Prabhakar Reddy, another Kadapa Reddy. Jawahar has served as collector of Srikakulam and East Godavari and is described by his colleagues as ‘non-controversial but nobody extraordinary.’

Chandrababu's False Claims On Airport

Former chief minister and Telugu Desam president N Chandrababu Naidu claims that the new airport at Shamshabad near Hyderabad was his brainchild. And since the government is a continuous process, the Congress government had just completed the project which was taken up by the previous Telugu Desam government he had headed.
Not many know that the airport was actually conceived about eight years ago. The work began only three years ago. Of the eight years, the Telugu Desam was in power for four years. The project remained on paper and it did not move even an inch. It was only after the Congress came to power that things started moving. It took pace and was completed in just three years, six months ahead of schedule. It is really an achievement as far as the Congress government is concerned. Chief Minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy has translated a paper airport into a real airport. The credit goes to him alone, says scholars and analysts.
But now Chandrababu Naidu claims credit for the airport. Though he was reportedly extended an invitation by the State government to participate in the official calibration tests at the new airport, he chose to stay away. According to sources, Chandrababu Naidu will not participate even in the inaugural function to be presided over by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. If Chandrababu Naidu really thinks that the new airport was his brain child, he would have participated in the trial run and would proudly announce of his participation in the official inaugural function. Lack of Magnanimity, after all, is what matters in politics.

T-leader's family in trouble in US

Senior Telangana leader and chairman of Telangana Planning Board Vuppunuthala Purushotham Reddy is not worried not just about his position in the next elections. He is also worried about his family members in the US.
According to sources, Purushottam Reddy's grand daughter Swetha Reddy is facing a legal battle in Denver court in the USA for illegally possessing jewellery worth Rs 52 lakh. It is not exactly known who filed this case, but the complaint is that Swetha and through her mother and aunt, both daughters of Purushotham Reddy, are unjustly holding this jewellery. Even Purushottam Reddy's name is said to have been mentioned in the complaint, as the jewellery was being held at his instance.
The court trails is set for hearing in May 2008, sources said

YSR to highlight 'development sentiment'

Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy is of the view that his "development sentiment" can outwit the Telangana sentiment in the next elections.
He is asking the Congress MLAs to focus on developmental issues and "development sentiment" than division of the State. He also mooted a proposal to increase the constituency development fund from the present Rs Rs 1 crore to Rs 2 crore to step up the developmental activities and another Rs one crore each to every mandal and major municipalities.
YSR feels confident that if the party leaders go out aggressively campaigning about the developmental programmes, particularly in Telangana, there would be any scope for sentiment. They should create an impression among the people that the government was more concerned about the development of the region. Let us see which sentiment will prevail on the people.

YS Jagan To Give Big Blow To Ramoji Rao

YS Jagan is now giving sleepless nights to the proprietors of big Telugu papers like Eenadu and Andhra Jyothi. Jagan's New Telugu daily 'Saskshi' is now all set for launch by the end of this month. Vundavalli Arun Kumar fired the first salvo against Ramoji Rao by exposing the unlawful activities of Margadarsi finaciers. Vundavalli's allegations have put Ramoji Rao in a soup and he has been battling court cases ever since. Vundavalli even launched a Telugu weekly 'Ee Varam' with an aim of exposing Ramoji Rao and his group. YS Jagan has now dealt a further blow to Ramoji Rao by luring away many senior journalists from Eenadu by offering them huge salaries. Jagan is also reported to have collected enough material on Margadarsi and Eenadu and will publish them in his 'Saakshi'. Jagan plans to attack Ramoji from two sides, Saakshi will take on Eenadu on one hand and the special investigative stories about Ramoji group will take on Ramoji Rao from the other side. While Vundavalli lit the fire to increase heat on Ramoji Rao, Jagan is now set to pour petrol on it.

'Saakshi' Leaping On Leap Day

YS Jagan Mohan Reddy's 'Saakshi' is hitting the market on 29th of this February. So, it's all set to leap on leap day. It celebrates its birthday once in four years that way. The News Paper is set to give tough competition for Eenadu and as of now many have subscribed for this in big number. In some areas Saakshi subscriptions surpassed Eenadu's subscriptions as well. Expectations and assumptions are saying that it is going to give a big blow for Eenadu. Saakshi is going to hit many households free of cost initially as per a talk. The complete color pages are another attraction that pulls crowds. We have to see how it influences the population of AP down the line.

Suhani Is Desperate For Sensation

The young and beautiful Suhani is still in her teens. The former child artist is now making a comeback as a heroine. The actor is yet to see the release of her first film as heroine but is already showing signs of a big 'star' in the making.She is desperate to hog the media limelight and see her pictures and stories about her in the papers and on television regularly. She keeps on trying to make news one way or the other.Suhani is now acting as heroine in 'Sawal' and 'Krushi'. The photographers who have worked with her for some time feel that if this is the way she behaves even before her first film has been released, what would she do once he becomes a star?But Suhani's mother is totally different. She is also very strict and wants her daughter to concentrate more on her work than on other things. But Suhani seems to be a girl in a hurry. She wants name, fame and money instantly.

Padmanabham In Deep Financial Troubles

Padmanabham is one of the best known as well as the best-loved comedians in the Telugu film industry. He was a must in all films at one time. He and Rajababu made a whole generation of audience laugh happily with their antics and action. Padmanabham earned a lot of money too but he was not wise enough to invest the money for future needs. He is now in deep financial problems. It is no exaggeration to say that he is unable to make even ends meet. The same Padmanabhan was so influential at one time that he introduced SP Balasubrahmanyam to the film industry. Same is the case with another actor – Kantha Rao. Kantha Rao at one time was the top hero. He also made a fortune by acting in many mythological films as well as folklores. Today, the same Kantha Rao is leading a life of penury and misery. This is just an example of what lies beneath all the glamour and glitter on screen, at least in case of some individuals.

Rumors: EVV Has Last Laugh for Lawrence' Debacle!

Senior directors like EVV had their last laugh for the mishap of 'Don'. Lawrence had vowed he would outwit all the directors who were belittling him, when he was only a choreographer. EVV was one among them who pointed his talent. As his much touted directorial venture 'Don' failed to draw crowds, EVV shared his joy with many of his counterparts over phone. "To cover up the insult, Lawrence has concocted a rumor about his next flick with Rajnikanth in Tamil", EVV says. According to EVV, Rajni is busy with a multi crore film proposed by Director Shankar. EVV says in his private conversations that Lawrence is a great impostor. In fact, Lawrence is spending most of his time in Chennai ever since the debacle of 'Don' working on his next Tamil project.

Film Nagar Talk on Ravi Babu's Perverted Creativity

A director's attitude can be known by watching his films. Allari Ravi Babu has now made a mark as a director. The only problem is that he is making film after film in a particular genre. The genre that he has chosen is away from the routine formula mainstream.
He is also known to show too much vulgarity in all his films. His movie 'Allari', 'Party' and also 'Ammayilu Abbayilu' are well known for the bigger dose of vulgarity in them. An example from his latest film 'Anasuya' will give a clear idea about Ravi Babu's perversion. The inspector says after looking at the dead body of Ankitha – 'what a beautiful figure – it has been wasted". This particular dialogue was not received well by the audience as the situation was a ghastly one but not comedy or romantic. There are many examples in this line.
The talk in Film Nagar circles is that Ravi Babu is taking his perversion to higher levels with each new film. He is a good example of the saying – "Eccentricity of Creativity is Perversion".

Sq Feet Shooting Up To Rs 3000 At Patancheru

The rather unpredictable nature of the political situation and suspense over separate Telangana notwithstanding, the real estate prices in some areas are set to zoom. The areas in and around Patancheru have now shot up to about 3,000 per sq. feet. Patancheru is about 30 kms from the city but the prices are very high and are going higher by the day. The road leading to Isnapur from Patancheru is being developed at a furious pace. The area around the proposed IIT is seeing a mad rush of realtors. A new venture 'IIT Meadows' is already coming up fast. That is laid very close to the proposed IIT site. Another 150-acre township with all modern amenities is also coming up in the area. With many of the polluting industries shutting down, they are making way for residential townships. In places like Balaji Nagar and Anand Nagar, the rates are touching to the numbers between 3,000 and 4,500 per sq. feet. The adjoining areas along the Mumbai highway are also developing fast. Some real estate dealers say that at the present rate of growth, the prices would shoot up to 7,000 rupees per sq. feet by the year 2010.

Mumbai simmers, Big B house 'attacked'

Days after Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) supremo Raj Thackeray questioned actor Amitabh Bachchan's loyalty to Maharashtra, stirring up a Marathi vs north Indian debate, two youths – supposedly MNS workers – attacked the actor’s residence early on Monday morning.
News agency PTI reports two men on a motorcycle threw glass bottles at Bachchan's Juhu residence ‘Prateeksha’ and were heard shouting abuses in the direction of ‘Prateeksha’ main gate.
"At around 1:30 am, some cameramen, who were posted outside the bungalow anticipating trouble, heard the abuses and also saw a bottle being thrown at the direction of bungalow,” a media person was quoted as saying by the agency.
But Mumbai police denied the incident. "Apart from the private security guards posted there, we had also deployed our own men at the spot and no such incident has been observed there during the night,” senior police inspector Deepak Katdare of the nearby Juhu police station, was quoted as saying.
Security was stepped up at Prateeksha on Sunday itself following Raj Thackeray's attack on the superstar for “preferring Uttar Pradesh over Maharashtra” for opening a girls' college.
Raj Thackeray's controversial remarks on north Indian population in the state led to clashes in parts of Maharashtra on Sunday. While the state government ordered a high-level probe into the violence, the Uttar Bharatiya Development Forum - an umbrella organisation of various groups of north Indians in the city - called for a protest closure.
Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil announced late on Sunday that the state's Director General of Police and Mumbai's Police Commissioner will probe the violence.
Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh had lodged an FIR against Thackeray and others in south Mumbai's Azad Maidan police station regarding the incident of protest by MNS activists during his press conference on Saturday.
A couple of theatres staging Bhojpuri films outside the metropolis were attacked and five cars were damaged during Sunday’s violence after which 15 MNS and five SP activists were arrested.
How it started
In the last few days, Raj, the estranged nephew of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, has repeatedly ridiculed people from north India settled in Mumbai and also Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, who is close to the Samajwadi Party, the leading opposition party in Uttar Pradesh.
Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav held a rally that was also addressed by other leaders of the United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA), including Telugu Desam Party chief N. Chandrababu Naidu, National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah and Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh and his party's Maharashtra unit chief Abu Asim Azmi.
Yadav pointed out that all Indians have a right to live and work anywhere in the country. "The Samajwadi Party will give a fitting reply to anybody who dares to stop them."
Deputy Commissioner of Police Niket Kaushik told IANS that police had stepped up security measures following widespread rumours that MNS activists would attack north Indians arriving by trains at the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus near the Bandra-Kurla Complex.
Last week, on several fora, Raj Thackeray lashed out at the north Indians on different issues, including performing Chhath Puja, a festival especially popular in Bihar. He demanded that they must celebrate only Maharashtrian festivals.
Raj ridiculed Amitabh Bachchan's decision to promote Uttar Pradesh as its brand ambassador earlier. "Since he has lived and flourished in Maharashtra, why can't he promote this state?" he said.
He also questioned the move to construct a girls school in Uttar Pradesh named after Amitabh Bachchan's daughter-in-law and film star Aishwarya Rai, for which the foundation stone was laid last Sunday.
"Are there no girls in Maharashtra? Why can't they construct a school here?" he asked.
While the star has refrained from replying to him, his wife and actor Jaya Bachchan said: "For me, Shri Bal Thackeray is a like a father and (his son) Uddhav is like a son. I don't know any other Thackeray."
When reporters asked her about the school project, Jaya Bachchan said the Bachchans would gladly construct a school in Maharashtra too if Raj was willing to donate land.

10% of smokers in India

Ringing alarm bells for the health establishment, a new WHO report has claimed that 10 per cent of the world’s smokers live in this country.
According to the report, two thirds of world’s smokers live in 10 countries. While 30 per cent live in China, India accounts for 10 per cent.
The use of tobacco in India among young girls has risen with 9.7 per cent girls between the age of 13 and 16 years using some form of tobacco as against 3.1 per cent adult women.
Tobacco prevalence among adult men is a high 57 per cent, while 32.7 per cent of them smoke bidis.

Real Estate Boom Dooms In Hyderabad!

Is it the right time to buy land in Hyderabad, or is it wise for buyers to wait for some more time to gauge the actual real estate scenario, especially as the Telangana movement is now in full swing, ahead of the elections next year? In what one may call a cooling-off period, there has been a slight drop in real estate in the last couple of months. Realtors, especially those selling land and houses on and near the outskirts of the city, had to drastically bring down the prices. For instance, Hari Haran, a call centre employee, who had been hunting (to buy) a house at Turkamjyal near Hayathnagar, was surprised to find a house being sold for Rs 10 lakhs. Six months ago, the same one was priced at Rs 16 lakhs. "There is a fear that with the division of the state, much of the Andhrite population would stop investing in Hyderabad and would go back to their native place. And this would mean a reduction in the population which would result in a reduction in land prices. Hyderabad's loss is Vizag's gain as there are many IT companies coming up there too. Land which was at Rs 5,000 per sq yard has gone up to between Rs 8,000- 10,000 per sq. yard in just a couple of months in Vizag," says DBR Murthy, a real estate agent. Parts of Hyderabad where land prices may be adversely affected include areas like Hayathnagar, Dilsukhnagar, ECIL etc. where it is believed there is a high proportion of Andhrite population.
In Hayathnagar, where land was around Rs 6,000 per sq yard has now come down to Rs 3,000 to 4,000 per sq yard, and wary buyers are careful in investing in land here. This also applies for areas beyond Ramoji Film City, Timmapur near Shamshabad and Shameerpet, where the prices have not gone up but remained steady. Suggesting an alternative to investing in land, Mayank B, a software employee, says, "Investing in land right now ,with fluctuating prices will be a high risk. Instead, it is better to invest in gold."
However, some industry watchers like Vishwanadha Manohar feel that this could only be a temporary phenomenon. "In the long run, the prices would remain steady. Telangana is one of the factors. But the primary reason is that prices have gone beyond the margins of reason and a slowdown is necessary."
Others like Nikhil Trivedi, a realtor from Shameerpet, are more optimistic, " The real estate growth has become oblivious to such issues. IT employees, who constitute a majority of our clientele is hardly disturbed by it." While the debate continues, investors eagerly await a clearer picture.

Apples, bananas and oranges boost memory

Regular consumption of apples, bananas and oranges can protect the brain from damage and also improve memory, suggests a new study by American and South Korean scientists.
These fruits are important sources of vitamins, minerals and fibre. Of the three, apples appeared to contain the most antioxidants, followed by bananas and oranges, the study found. Scientists at Cornell University, New York, and their colleagues from several universities in South Korea exposed cancer cells to phenolics — a class of chemical compounds extracted from the three fruits, health portal Medical News Today reported. The scientists then put the cells under oxidative stress — a general term used to describe the damage in a cell, tissue or organ caused by reactive oxygen species. The researchers discovered that the chemical of the fruits had prevented a significant proportion of cells from succumbing to damage from oxidative stress, with varying degrees of success. IANS

Hyderabad New International Airport Highlights

The new international airport in the city is almost ready and the first trial run will take place on Tuesday. The first flight is scheduled to land at 4 pm, at the airport that is being touted as a traveler's paradise.
The Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad which has been open since the days of Nizam's rule will soon be consigned to history. The city is getting a new, modern replacement — the 2500 crore Rajiv Gandhi International Airport.
The airport will be equipped with the following.
A 70 meter high Air Traffic Control tower.
4,260-metre-long runway— India's longest, and capable of handling the world's largest aircraft—the Airbus A380.
4,260-metre taxiway for emergency takeoffs.
A seven-storey passenger terminal.
42 parking bays.
60 check-in counters.
An airport village.
A business hotel with 308 rooms.
And many shopping outlets.
In its initial phase, the airport will be capable of handling over one crore passengers and more than one lakh tonnes of cargo a year. And once the airport is completed, it will handle over four crore passengers and ten lakh tonnes of cargo a year.
The new airport will be commercially operational from March 16, and the first trial run of a passenger aircraft will take place on Tuesday.

'Krishna' marches ahead among Telugu films

Hyderabad, Feb 8 (IANS) "Krishna", a Makar Sankranti release, is marching ahead in the Telugu film charts. "Pourudu", another Sankranti fare, is in the third spot. "Swagatham", released a week ago, makes its way to the top five.
The top five Telugu films are:
1. "Krishna" - It is] perhaps the most successful Sankranti release. The Ravi Teja and Trisha starrer is doing well in the box office. Director V.V. Vinayak chose a rather stereotypical story, but Ravi Teja ably carries it on his shoulders.
2. "Swagatham" - Director Dasarath's sentimental drama have appealed to the audience. Though an old, run-of-the-mill story, "Swagatham" seems to be luring family audiences, as it is free of violence. Jagapathi Babu, Bhumika Chawla and Anuskha's performances are the highlights of the film.
3. "Pourudu" - Sumanth is back in action with the film and does a good job. Although the story is a done-to-death one, the movie is doing well.
4. "Anasuya" - Bhumika Chawla steals the show in the tile role. The film has been running for more than a month and a half. As a television journalist, Bhumika portrays the right kind of emotions. Ravi Babu, who has directed it, impresses in the role of a villain. This edge-of-the-seat noir-like thriller has received critical acclaim and is faring well at the ticket window.
5. "Mantra" - The whodunit starring Charmee and Sivaji is faring well in terms of revenue. Suspense thrillers and murder mysteries are not common in the Telugu film industry and "Mantra" and "Anasuya" have shown that this genre goes down well with the audience if the movie is made well.

Shankar's Future Plan To Make 'Rajni Kanth' in 2012

Director Shankar of 'Sivaji' fame is now working on his pet project titled 'Robo'. Superstar Rajnikanth is the hero. But Shankar had always dreamt of making a film on Rajnikanth, starting from his life as a humble bus conductor to that of a superstar. Shankar has now made up his mind to make a film on Rajnikanth and it will be titled simply 'Rajnikanth'. The film will be based on a book 'The Name is Rajni' written by Gayathri Srikanth, a doctor by profession. Shankar is in talks with her to buy the rights of the book to make a film. The film will be made only in 2012. Rajnikanth will become old by that time. So it would be a big challenge for Shankar to find a young man with similar features to play the role of a young Rajnikanth.

I saw actor Kunal Singh hanging, says friend

Mystery surrounds the death of actor Kunal Singh. Was it suicide or an accident? The only clue to what happened at Singh’s Oshwara residence on Wednesday night has been provided by another actor, Laveena Bhatia, 23, say the police.
Bhatia, Singh’s friend, was freshening up in the bathroom when the incident took place. She called up her father at her residence, in Lokhandwala, who rushed to the scene. The watchman was informed and so were the police around 9 pm. In fact, Bhatia believes it was an act of suicide, said the police.
But senior police inspector Kiran Sonone is not so sure: “We have registered a case of suicide. While the motive is not yet known, we are investigating to find out details.”
Although details of what happened are still skimpy, Singh’s see-sawing career may have played a part in his ghatly end. In his hey day, Singh had acted in the Bollywood flick Dil Hi Dil Mein with actor Sonali Bhendre. He had also starred in the Tamil flick Parvai Ondre Podhume with Monal, who strangely committed suicide in 2002.
Singh’s stars were apparently on the decline in recent times, forcing him to take up behind-the-camera assignments as assistant editor, say people close to the actor. “In fact, he was finding it difficult to get a role as an actor,” says a friend.
“The police have reason to believe that a dress designer had arrived at Singh’s residence around 7.30 pm with a bag of clothes. We have also found out that an SMS had been sent by Singh to a script writer who was scheduled to visit him,” says a police official.

Shah Rukh Khan takes on Rajanikanth

The buzz is almost sure about this bit of news. King Khan is going to ape Tamil super star Rajanikanth in his Rukh's home banner Red Chillies Entertainment is attempting hindi a remake of Kuselan. The film is expected to go on floors in July with Priyadarshan as director. The original which is a Malayalam film, Katha Parayumbol, starring Mamooty and Sreenivasan is currently enjoying a great run at box office. Irrafan Khan will essay Sreenivasan's character.

Haniskha escaped from major fire

Hansikaa had a narrow escape yesterday afternoon when a fire broke out in the slums just behind her bungalow in MHADA, near Versova Telephone exchange. The fire occurred when a gas cylinder exploded in the slums and its flames reached her adjoining bungalow.
Hansikaa was fast asleep when the fire broke out. When we contacted the actress, she was still in a state of shock and said, "I was sleeping in my bedroom and was completely unaware of the fire when my domestic help raised an alarm and woke me up. I just saw my air conditioner burning and I was in shock. The glasses around me also started cracking. I rushed down and saw lots of people in my house trying to take the gas cylinders out of the house to prevent what could have been a major tragedy. I am still in a state of shock."
In the confusion that followed Hansikaa lost her cell phone. Sounding rather distressed, she said, "The fire erupted right behind my house and it's horrifying that it was so close to me. There were so many people inside my house and I have misplaced my cell phone. I am worried as many friends might be trying to contact me."
Dr. Mona, Hansikaa's mother, says, "It was a huge fire and it took some time for the fire brigade to control it. All the bungalows in our row have been damaged. The walls of my room and four air conditioners have damaged and all the window panes are smashed. I am grateful to God that nothing drastic happened and Hansikaa was saved in time."

What Happened To MS Raju-Teja Project?

It was announced with great fanfare the MS Raju was ready to launch his son Sumanth Ashwin in films. He was supposed to make his debut with 'Vaana'. But MS Raju later dropped that plan, as he was not sure if his son would be able to give a good performance, as the role requires the hero to show a lot of emotions.
MS Raju said that he would launch his son soon. He even announced Teja as the name of the director. But even after so many months, there is no news about the film.
Great Andhra had reported at that time itself the project was in doubt. The reasons given by us are that Teja is a very independent director and he does not brook any interference in his work. Producer MS Raju is known very well in the industry for involving in the director's work and also interfering in the day-to-day shooting too.
So it is very difficult for the two to come together. Teja has now announced that he is ready to start work on his new film 'Keka' with complete new faces.

Suresh Babu's Keenness in Browsing Websites

Suresh Babu is a big name in the film industry. He is well known for his ability in spotting good films. The films released on his Suresh Films Banner generally do well at the box office.Suresh Babu is a keen follower of websites. He makes it a point to surf the net first thing in the morning and catch up with the latest news and gossip on the websites. He keeps himself abreast of the latest developments and also about news on him and his father Rama Naidu and also about brother Venkatesh.Suresh has imbibed some good qualities from his father D Rama Naidu. Rama Naidu is known for his meticulous planning and attention to detail. He does not waste money and Suresh Babu follows his father in this respect. Suresh Babu is now considered a master in business economics. Everyone in the film industry agree that Suresh Babu is a true and worthy successor of Rama Naidu.

At Last Chiru's Party Confirmed as 'Swayamkrushi'

The party name of Chiranjeevi is 'Swayamkrushi'. His symbol is 'Netram'. The Chiranjeevi camp has kept this secret till this afternoon, but the sensation couldn't hide it further. The party is announcing officially on 7th April.
Chiranjeevi fans President from Narasapur, Sattibabu said, "Chirajeevi sir! You have to announce party officially on 7th April as decided. Please don't maintain silence further. We may forget you if you delay further. Sorry for saying this. Please understand our curiosity".
So, the news is getting unleashed from now.

Chiru "eyes" on power, party on April 7

It is now final. Megastar Chiranjeevi will announce his "mega party" on April 7, the Ugadi day, according to a "leak" from the family.
According to these sources, Chiranjeevi has decided to take a plunge into politics on the Telugu New Year Day, which is considered to be very auspicious for politicians. Though the name of the party is still a suspence (probably Swayamkrushi party?), the family sources leaked the symbol of the party – It will be the 'Third Eye" of Lord Siva. The logo and design are being readied and a formal application to the Election Commission would be made shortly, sources said.
The announcement of the party and flag would be made at a big public meeting to be held in the State capital, in which lakhs of Chiranjeevi fans would take part. A prominent event manager has also been invited for talks in this regard, sources said.

Raasi Chasing Producers For Hubby's Sake!

Raasi has not lost hope in the directorial abilities of her husband Srinivas. Though his debut 'Maharajasri' turned a disaster, throwing the couple in deep financial crisis, she has not given up making a film. The duo is now terribly in need of a potential producer to make the venture. She is now taking lead in meeting producers by making them merry in 'many' ways. She spends long hours with them, just to promote her hubby as director. Srinivas, who is thirsty of success, let Raasi to go professional and bag projects aggressively.

Postpone Idea For Visakha Express?

Two films are slated for release on February 8. The advertisements about the release date are appearing in the papers for some time now. The first is Visakha Express. Allari Naresh and Rajiv Kanakala are the heroes. Vara Mullapudi is the director. The second film is Bapu's 'Sundarakanda'. Charmi is the heroine and Allari Naresh is the hero. Now the director of Visakha Express, Vara Mullapudi is in two minds about releasing the film on February 8. The reason is that Allari Naresh is the hero in both the films. It means that Naresh will compete with himself for box office honors. The result will be that one of his films will bite the dust. To avoid this, Vara Mullapudi is now thinking of postponing the release of the film by about a week.

Heroines Surpass Heroes In Collections!

Heroines have surpassed heroes! Yes. The recent hits of 'Anasuya' and 'Mantra' are the latest examples. These two films are heroine-centered. The two talented heroines, Bhoomika and Charmy , have excelled their male counter parts in lead roles.
Though the hero Shivaji is a popular hero, the makers of the film have taken every care not to carry his still anywhere in the publicity.
The makers of these two films have exhibited extraordinary skills in molding screen play for these two films.
While the films of Top heroes turned disasters, these films have registered sustained flow of audiences. And indeed the remunerations of these heroines are also shooting up.

VV Vinayak Is Not Inclined To Work With Chiru

Director VV Vinayak is now a much sought after man, particularly after the stupendous success of his latest film 'Krishna' with Ravi Teja. Vinayak's name is being mentioned very prominently as to be the one to most likely direct Chiranjeevi for his 149th film.
However, there is no official announcement about the film. The delay is being attributed to the non-confirmation of Vinayak. The director has not yet given his nod to direct the film.
The story is not yet ready. It is normally Vinayak who plans the story for all his films. And if the story is some others, then Vinayak expects complete freedom in direction. But in Chiranjeevi's case, it is an altogether different matter. It is well known that there was a lot of interference for 'Tagore' as that was not his own story.
Vinayak is a fiercely independent director and he does not like anyone to interfere in his work. But he cannot expect this with Chiranjeevi's film. It has also come to light that Allu Aravind is putting a lot of pressure on Vinayak to accept the film. He is in fact forcing Vinayak to take up the film with Chiranjeevi and also complete it quickly. We have to see what happens to this 'Adhinayakudu'.

Murali Mohan Lives In Apartments

Actor Murali Mohan is one of the biggest real estate developers not only in Hyderabad but also in the entire state. His Jayabheri group is a well-known and trusted name in the real estate business. But it may come as a surprise to know that Murali Mohan actually lives in a simple flat. The flat is also not his own but belongs to his daughter. Murali Mohan pays rent to his daughter for staying in the flat. Murali Mohan can actually construct a big palatial bungalow spread over several acres if he wants. But he wants to lead a simple life and is opposed to any ostentatious living. Murali Mohan's wife too follows her husband in this regard. She is not interested in wearing expensive jewellery or buying the latest and expensive saris. She is happy and contended to remain like a simple wife of a middle class person. Murali Mohan and his daughter often tease her for this and say that she does not look like the wife of a big actor and real estate businessman, but looks like a servant maid in her simple clothes. Murali Mohan said this in his fresh interview.

Ravi Teja's Remuneration Is Now 3 Cr

Ravi Teja is the opening hero of 2008. The actor gave the only big hit of this year with his new film 'Krishna'. He paired up with the young and sexy Trisha in the film. VV Vinayak directed the film and the story is about a young man from Vijayawada who falls in love with a girl at first sight. Krishna opened a day after Okka Mogadu. While Balakrishna's Okka Mogadu bombed at the box office, Krishna is going great guns. The film is running to packed house at all places even today. Ravi Teja is now one of the most safe and bankable stars in the industry. With the success of Krishna, Ravi Teja has now hiked his remuneration to around 3crore as per sources. He was charging about 1.5 to 2.00 crore till now. Ravi Teja came up in the industry through his hard work and determination.

Rajni Decided To Help K Balachander?

Superstar Rajnikanth is not only a man of humble living and high thinking but he is also very kind natured. His charitable activities are now legendary. He always goes out of his way to help those in need. He also never publicizes any of his charitable activities but likes to keep them a secret.
There are scores of artists and technicians in Kollywood who have been the beneficiaries of Rajnikanth's largesse over the years. Rajni also is known to literally act for free if a producer is in the doldrums. He took a packet of cigarettes as remuneration once for working in a film. Rajnikanth also acted in a film by charging just 1500 rupees as remuneration. That was to bring out the producers or directors from debts.
The superstar is now doing something similar once again. It is well known that K Balachander is producing the film 'Kuselan' on his Kavithalaya banner. Balachander is in a financial crisis, and Rajni is now helping him by acting in the film. It is like Rajnikanth's 'gurudakshina' for his mentor.

Sultan The Warrior: A daughter's gift to her father

Tamil superstar Rajnikanth needs no introduction. After the super duper success of Sivaji: The Boss, the actor will be seen in a new avatar -- animation!
And the person responsible for this is his 23-year old daughter Soundarya Rajnikanth, who is directing her father in the 3D animation feature film titled Sultan The Warrior.
Soundarya, who is the Managing Director of Ocher Studios, the first Indian studio to venture into a 3D animation feature film, has teamed up with Adlabs for the same.
"Whatever you see in a Rajnikanth film, you will see in Sultan... too; fights, romance, dance, music, heroine, villain...everything," Soundarya said during the film's trailer launch in Chennai.
Soundarya, who was accompanied by her mother Latha Rajnikanth (Chairman of Ocher Studios), however refused to reveal anything about the story.

It's harvest time for Telugu films!

It's harvest time not just for crops but films as well. Sankranthi, the harvesting season also ushers in a period of plenty in the Telugu film industry.
This year there are four films vying for release dates between January 10 and 15. A look at some of them:
Okka Magaadu Director: Y V S Chowdhary Cast: Nandamuri Balakrishna, Anushka Shetty
Nandamuri Balakrishna (Balayya) is set to appear in a dual role with different makeovers in this film directed by Y V S Chowdhary.
Balayya's first film in 2008 will have the usual dance and fight scenes the hero is known for.
Anushka Shetty (paired with Nagarjuna in Don and whose Lakshyam was a super hit last year) and Nisha Kothari share screen space with Balayya.
Simran is said to appear in a "well-etched cameo".
Music is by Mani Sarma while Anand Sai is the art director.

Pourudu is just average

The Telugu film, Pourudu is all about the murky world of dons, violence and ideological conflict between a father and a son. And in this world lives Ajay (Sumanth), an IAS aspirant, the son of Pandu (Suman), the main henchman of don Zaheerbhai (Nasser). Pandu has blind faith in Bhai while the son does not. Ajay believes in the system and not in the don's rule. So father and son don't see eye to eye. This forms the crux of the story.
While Sumanth is shown to be readying himself to appear for the Civil Services interview (though he is never shown doing any preparations) he is drawn into the dark world of his father. But in between all this he has the time to romance Samyukta (Kajal Agarwal). Meanwhile, the clash between father and son deepens so much that father and son stay apart.
The storyline is very familiar and predictable. Hasn't one seen enough films with the same run-of-the-mill plots? Raaj Aadhitya, the director, has only ensured that the movie is slick with all the same commercial elements like fairly well orchestrated fight sequences, some dances in different locales and the usual dose of unnecessary humour.
The film stretches too much and after a point, becomes tedious. There is a superficial reference to a chit-fund scam. The police-don nexus too is shown till a young police officer comes to shake it off. Ultimately even the hero does not really become a 'messiah' -- he just remains a citizen who seeks personal revenge though he talks of cleansing the system.
Sumanth's performance is perhaps the best part of the film. As the angry, simmering hero, he does a good job with his eyes reflecting the varied emotions -- anger, pain and pathos -- well. He also manages to shake a leg quite well. But since the script is so time-worn, even his acting cannot do much to salvage the film. Kajal Agarwal has the usual glam role while Suman does his job well. Nasser is his usual self.
Even though the film has an interesting premise (the tagline reads, 'when the system fails a power will rise, when that power fails, a man will rise'), it fails to live up to the expectations.

'I'm a person who is always okay'

Life is looking great for newly wed actress Bhumika Chawla. Her performance in the latest Telugu film, Anasuya got rave reviews.
And now with another film, Swagatham with Jagapathi Babu and Anushka (directed by Dasrath) slated for release, Bhumika has every reason to cheer. Read on as she tells Radhika Rajamani about her films and more. Excerpts:
You play a TV journalist in Anasuya. It's a fairly substantial role for a female actor. Normally female actors in most Telugu movies do not get such large roles. Did this aspect make you sign the film?
This was the major reason that made me pick up the project. Opportunities like these do not come very often, and when Ravi Babu narrated the script to me, I was quite thrilled. I said to myself this is a challenge, and I am going to do this project.
In what sense is it a challenge? Is it because it's a character you never played before?
Yes. I had never done a role like this in any language and I did not want to miss this chance.

'Nenu Meeku Thelusa' Is Another 'Satyabhama'

The trailer of 'Nenu Meeku Thelusa' was shown at all theaters that screened Mohan Babu's latest offering Krishnarjuna. The trailer shows Manchu Manoj, son of Mohan Babu in the lead role in the film. The theme of the film is similar to the English film 'Fifty First Dates'. The film has already been remade in Telugu as 'Sathyabhama' with Bhumika and Sivaji in the lead roles. The new film on Mohan Babu's Lakshmi Prasanna films banner titled 'Nenu Meeku Thelusa' simply replaces a heroine (Bhumika) with a hero, Manoj. Sathyabhama failed to make an impact at the box office. It now remains to be seen what impact the new film will have at the box office. The story of the film is about a young boy who suffers from a strange ailment. He forgets everything, even his name, once he goes to sleep in the night. When he wakes up in the morning, his mind is totally blank.

Dasari Is No Way Connected To Srija and Rajasekhar

The congress party has been in the news over the incident of the attack on Rajashekar by some Chiranjeevi fans. Congress leaders like Danam Nagendar and Bothsa Sathyanarayana rushed to the residence of Rajashekar and offered their sympathies to him. Nagendar even went to the extent of saying that Rajashekar is a congress worker and hence the party would stand by him fully. Some people say that union minister Dasari Narayana Rao may be behind Rajashekar's outburst against Chiranjeevi. Dasari is said to be close to Chiranjeevi but his name is always being taken as the one who is causing much trouble to Chiranjeevi. Dasari's hand was also suspected when Chiranjeeevi's daughter Srija ran away from home and married Sirish. The two fled to Delhi and spent about a week there. They stayed at a posh bungalow on Lodhi road in Delhi. They even went around in swanky cars. It was rumored that Dasari funded the entire stay of Srija and Sirish in Delhi and he even arranged for the services of lawyer Pinky Anand. But Dasari had been stoutly refuting all this. He says that he still shares an extremely cordial relationship with Chiranjeevi. Dasari was the chief guest at the 100 days function of Chirutha that was held at Hitex on Wednesday. He also took part in the ceremony of Late Konidela Venkat Rao as a family person of Chianjeevi. Both Dasari and Chiranjeevi are found chatting for longer minutes in that occasion.