Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Goa Blog

Goa Blog

Indian Women Don’t Have Multiple Affairs, Nor Do They Cry: Mike Pandey

Posted: 30 Nov 2010 05:34 AM PST

Indian women do not have multiple affairs, nor do they cry all the time, three-time Green Oscar winner Mike Pandey said Monday while making his case for creating a mandatory half an hour slot on private television channels dedicated to socially oriented short films and documentaries.

“The saas bahu serials on TV send wrong signals out to the society… Indian women do not cry all the time or have multiple affairs. I am glad the trend of these serials stopped following public opinion,” Pandey told reporters at a press conference in Panaji on the sidelines of the 41st International Film Festival of India (IFFI).

Hollywood/Bollywood actor Freida Pinto seen interaction with the media during the special press conference in regards to her film ‘You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger’.
at the media Centre during the ongoing 41st International Film Festival of India in Panaji on Monday.

Mike Pandey seen during the press conference on the short film culture in the country at the media centre during the ongoing 41st International Film Festival of India in Panaji on Monday.

Noted French film maker Jean Becker seen addressing the press conference on the retrospective on his films at the media centre during the ongoing 41st International Film Festival of India in Panaji on Monday.

Courtesy:Daiji

Tribunal will frame apropriate issues on Mhadai ; MP ,Goa

Posted: 30 Nov 2010 05:13 AM PST

State of Goa will have to plead their case for framing of appropriate issues regarding their objection to the Karnataka Irrigation Project , before the tribunal , and that, Central Government ,has not , laid down any terms of reference in cases of tribunals constituted in the country so far , and therefore, in Mhadei case also,  the Government has not fixed any terms of reference, Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal told Mr Shantaram Naik M.P., today.T

At the request of Mr Naik Mr Bansal organized a meeting in his office at Parliament House, in which,  besides Mr Bansal and Mr Naik, Secretary for Water Resources Shri U.N.Panjiar and Commissioner of Projects who deals with Mhadei Project Shri A.B.Pandya , were present.

Mr Bansal told Mr Naik that all the pleadings of the parties will be sent to the tribunal which will then look into the various aspect of the dispute.

Normally,  tribunals deals with the distribution of  water, however, since it is the case of Goa that Karnataka is attempting to obstruct the flow of river water , Goa can  plead for the removal of obstruction, Mr Naik was told at the meeting.

Mr Panjiar told Mr Naik that it is in case of Inquiry Commissions,   terms of reference are specifically  laid down by the government but , Tribunals being a judicial bodies, framing of appropriate issues are left to them.

Mr Naik in a statement issued from New Delhi, after his meeting with Mr Bansal, said that Goa Government's lawyers will have to effectively plead before the tribunal,  so that,  tribunal holds proper inquiry into the very legality of the construction of dam by the State of Karnataka.

It may be recalled that Mr Naik had earlier through his letter and subsequent meeting with Mr Bansal, had expressed apprehension that if proper terms of reference to meet Goa's objection to the project are not framed, Tribunal will not serve any purpose,  as far as State of Goa is concerned.

The Chief Minister of Goa Shri Digamber Kamat was to join Mr Naik in today's meeting but he had to cancel his visit to New Delhi at the last moment.

On the issue of Special Economic Zones, Mr Naik said that Union Commerce Minister Shri Anand Sharma is abroad and he will  be returning tonight. He will meet Sharma in a day or two,  to request him to denotify the three notified SEZs in Goa in view of the fact that the Panaji Bench of Bombay High Court has disposed of the petition pending on the subject , on account of which , Commerce Ministry had deemed it fit not to denotify the three SEZs.

Mr Naik said that since the  developers are are  now not having any land with them , the three SEZ proposals are deemed to  stand de facto  denotified,  and that,  only formal notification have to be issued by the governmet.
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Monday, November 29, 2010

Goa Blog

Goa Blog

Big Budgets Have Driven Experimentation Out of Hindi Cinema: Palekar

Posted: 29 Nov 2010 06:50 AM PST

Noted actor-director Amol Palekar feels big budgets have driven sensitivity and experimentation from mainstream Hindi cinema.

Addressing a press conference on the sidelines of the 41st International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Palekar, whose Marathi film “Dhoosar” was premiered here Saturday, said regional cinema has contributed “nicely and strongly” towards the palette of Indian cinema.

Noted veteran film maker and actor Amol Palekar seen during the press conference at the media centre on the seventh day of the ongoing 41st International Film Festival of India in Panaji on Sunday.

Noted Marathi actor Smitha Tambe seen during the press conference at the media centre on the seventh day of the ongoing 41st International Film Festival of India in Panaji on Sunday.


Noted Marathi actor Amruta Khanvilkar seen at the media centre
on the seventh day of the ongoing 41st International Film Festival of India in Panaji on Sunday.
Hollywood/Bollywood actor Freida Pinto walks the Red Carpet for the screening of her film ‘You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger’ at the Inox multiplex on the seventh day of the ongoing 41st International Film Festival of India in Panaji on Sunday.

Noted film producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra seen along with song writer Swanand Kirkire during the Red Carpet welcome on the seventh day of the ongoing 41st International Film Festival of India in Panaji on Sunday.

The Taiwanese film delegation walks the Red Carpet at the Old GMC complex on the seventh day of the ongoing 41st International Film Festival of India in Panaji on Sunday

Courtesy:Daiji

Vijay Mallya to be chief guest at IFFI 2010

Posted: 29 Nov 2010 06:09 AM PST

International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2010 will have United Breweries Group boss Vijay Mallya visiting on November 30, officials said on Monday.

Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) Chief Executive Officer Manoj Srivastava said that said that Mallya would be the Chief Guest for the award function of Short Film Centre (SFC) on Tuesday.

"SFC concept has clicked very well and it has given a platform for the documentary filmmakers. Presence of a personality like Mallya would give further boost to the concept," Mr. Srivastava told PTI.

UB is a major partner for SFC, showcasing 30 documentaries in its competition sections and lending platform to several other short films during IFFI.

ESG officials said that this is for the first time that Mr. Mallya would be visiting IFFI since its shift from Delhi to Goa.

UB's Kingfisher brand has raked in sponsorship to the tune of Rs 50 lakh for the festival. The company has also set up activity centre 'Kingfisher Village' alongside the festival venue.

Short Film Centre, a concept introduced by ESG, has two competitions — International films and Environmental Films (Vasudha Awards). Environmental competition has 10 films and international competition has 20 films in this section.

The International films jury is headed by renowned filmmaker Goutam Ghose and Environmental films competition is adjudged by a team led by Green Oscars winner Naresh Bedi.

The short film centre concept was severely criticised by Goan filmmakers who had termed it as a waste of money. ESG had even trimmed down the budget of this section forcing the society to get Kingfisher as a partner.

Courtesy:Hindu

IFFI 2010: Charity Chase

Posted: 28 Nov 2010 09:03 PM PST

Charity Chase’, an event to create awareness about children suffering from AIDS in India will take place on November 28. The event is supported by Ministry of Goa Tourism, International Film Festival of India (IFFI), The Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG), The Indian Armed Forces, Directorate of Goa & Emergency Services, Department of Goa Police, The Rotary Club and Youth For Goa, UB Group, The Dempo Group, Tata and other corporates.

 

CCG 2010 is a half marathon of eight kilometers with the flag off beginning at the Tonca Circle. The event intends on enabling charities that support children suffering from AIDS, to provide the disadvantaged children with food, shelter and medical facilities.


Director and producer Haobam Paban Kumar, whose film ‘Mr. India’ based on the life of K H Pradip Kumar Singh who battled HIV to rebuild his life and sculpt his body said that a person with HIV/AIDS can do anything, anything at all. "All they need is moral support, because it is not the AIDS which kills a person, but the response of the society that does. Great to see this initiative being rolled out at IFFI 2010," he added.


According to the organisers, the participation and sponsorship fee raised collectively will be donated to children with AIDS. Individual donations will be accepted, as a boon to the charity providing hopeCourtesy: CC

The winners of the marathon will be awarded cash prizes of Rs 50,000, Rs 25,000 and Rs 15,000 for first, second and third place respectively. Loads of entertainment, activities for kids and on the spot prizes are to be won at this ‘marathon’ event.

Big Budgets Have Driven Experimentation Out of Hindi Cinema: Palekar

Posted: 28 Nov 2010 08:36 PM PST

Noted actor-director Amol Palekar feels big budgets have driven sensitivity and experimentation from mainstream Hindi cinema.

Addressing a press conference on the sidelines of the 41st International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Palekar, whose Marathi film “Dhoosar” was premiered here Saturday, said regional cinema has contributed “nicely and strongly” towards the palette of Indian cinema
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Saturday, November 27, 2010

Goa Blog

Goa Blog

Facebook ‘friend’ robs techie in Goa

Posted: 27 Nov 2010 03:35 AM PST

An IT engineer from Bangalore learnt the hard way that everyone considered a “friend” on Facebook may not have friendly intentions. Anil Kumar Singh (30) befriended a “Goa-based Russian girl” on the social networking site and was robbed by his virtual “friend” when he arrived in Goa to meet her.

The Goa police arrested four persons involved in the racket and claimed that there was no girl in the gang. Instead, one of the accused would pretend to be a Russian girl and entice males to Goa. “The group also admitted to have lured two professionals from Mumbai and Delhi to Goa,” said a police official. SP (anti-narcotics cell) Veenu Bansal, who headed the team that arrested the accused, said: “We arrested the four and have recovered most of the items.” Those arrested are Shawn Fernandes, Salim Qureshi, Manish Srivastav and Danish Khan.

Few months back , A techie from Hyderabad was similarly called on date and then robbed and killed in US by a gang of four including the girl friend of one of the gangsters .

Courtesy:TOI

Shantaram Naik, Goa MP to insist for denotiification of SEZ

Posted: 26 Nov 2010 09:28 PM PST

Decks are now clear for the Union Ministry of Commerce to denotify the three notified SEZ in Goa,said Mr Shantaram Naik M P who has been vigorously persuing the issue of denotification for the last two years.

In a statement issued today Mr Naik expressed his happiness over the judgement pronounced by Panaji Bench of Bombay High Court declaring allotment of land to the SEZ developers in Goa as illegal.

Mr Naik said in the talks that the three developers of notified SEZs had with the then Union Minister of Commerce Shri Kamal Nath about two years back, the developers had indicated to Shri Nath in presence of Chief Minister Shri Digamber Kamat, myself and South Goa M P Shri Francisco Sardinha that they were willing to give up their SEZ proposals as they were convinced of the Commerce Minister’s argument that they cannot go on with the SEZ in Goa against the wishes of the people and the government .

Mr Naik said that the developers thereafter cunningly filed petitions in the court when in fact they were supposed to discuss the matter of compensation or some alternate smaller plot for non SEZ actvity as one of the developers sounded the minister about the same.

Mr Naik said that, to the misfortune of Goa ,Union Commerce Ministry took a stand after their clear assurance to Goa delegation that the three SEZSs will be denotified after the minister accepted Mr Naik’s argument that as per law, authority which has power to notify has, an inherent power to denotify, although under Sez Act there was no specific power to denotify an SEZ, that the government took a stand that they would wait for the disposal of the pending petition.

Mr Naik said that he argued with Shri Anand Sharma who had taken over the Commerce ministry that there was no order of injunction issued against the Union Government by the Panaji Bench restraining them from denotifying the said three SEZs but Shri Sharma did not appear to be in a mood to do anything while petitions were pending on the subject were pending in the court.

Mr Naik said that he would meet the Commmerce Minister Shri Sharma on Monday and insist on issuing the notifications to denotify the three SEZs

It may be recalled that State of Goa requested the Commerce Minister to denotify the said three SEZs after an agitation started in Goa and the people of the State realised that SEZ developers are only interested in land grabing without any assurance to give jobs to Goans. It was also discovered that the area of land that they sought was many times more than their actual requirement thus indicating that a the developers had a hidden plan to use most of the land for commercial purpose.

Iffi 2010 Day - 4

Posted: 26 Nov 2010 08:43 PM PST

Noted Turkish-German film maker Fatih Akin seen along with Nina Gupta of the NFDC at the Film Bazaar on the fifith day of the ongoing 41st International Film Festival of India in Panaji on Friday.

Noted Turkish-German film maker Fatih Akin seen along with Indian film maker Anurag Kashyap and others releasing the movie booklet dluring the knowledge series at the Film Bazaar on the fifith day of the ongoing 41st International Film Festival of India in Panaji on Friday.

Eminent Mohiniattam dancer of yesteryears, Padmashree Dr. Kanak Rele seen during the Red Carpet welcome at the Old GMC complex on the fifith day of the ongoing 41st International Film Festival of India in Panaji on Friday.

Noted bollywood film maker Govind Nihalai seen expressing himself during the warm Red Carpet welcome on the fifith day of the ongoing 41st International Film Festival of India in Panaji on Friday.

Noted Katahk dancer Uma Sharma seen during the Red Carpet welcome at the Old GMC complex on the fifith day of the ongoing 41st International Film Festival of India in Panaji on Friday.

Writer Nilesh Mishra and young upcoming playback singer Shilpa Rao seen during the Red Carpet welcome at the Old GMC complex on the fifith day of the ongoing 41st International Film Festival of India in Panaji on Friday.

Noted film maker Goutam Ghose seen interacting with the media on his film ‘Moner Manush’ at the media center on the fifith day of the ongoing 41st International Film Festival of India in Panaji on Friday.

Noted bollywood actor Gulshan Grover.
Courtesy:DW
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Friday, November 26, 2010

Goa Blog

Goa Blog

Goa filmmaker threatens IFFI official

Posted: 26 Nov 2010 08:08 AM PST

Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) Chief Executive Officer Manoj Shrivastava has complained to Panjim town police station that a Goan filmmaker has threatened him in his office.

As per the complaint, Sanjiv Prabhudessai, a Gaan filmmaker threatened him and Information & Broadcasting senior bureaucrat during a meeting on the sidelines of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2010.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Deu Benaulikar informed that they have registered a non-cognizable case under section 506 (threatening) of the Indian Penal Code.

Shrivastava said that during the meeting, the filmmaker stood and threatening before walking out of the office.

ESG, a nodal agency by the Goa Government is a co-host for the festival that was flagged off in the state on November 22 at the hands of Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee.

The filmmaker's Konkani film 'Sood' was screened during the IFFI 2004.

Courtesy:IB

Beer is cheaper than a cup of tea at IFFI in Goa

Posted: 26 Nov 2010 02:53 AM PST

In an instance of “if they do not have bread, let them eat cake,” beer is available at cheaper rate than tea at the ongoing International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa.

While one has to shell out Rs58 for a cup of tea, a glass of beer is sold at Rs25!

The tea stall allotted to a well-known coffee chain is selling tea at Rs58 while a cup of coffee costs even more.

“We do not control the pricing at the festival. If delegates want, they can just walk across the road where tea is available at market rate,” said Manoj Srivastava, chief executive officer of Entertainment Society of Goa.

The ten-day-long festival is being jointly organised by the state government and directorate of film festival.

He said the need to rake in money for the festival forces the organisers to go in for big brands, who usually charge high.

Several state-level women’s organisation have objected to the promotion of beer at the festival.

The organisers have, however, not bogged down to the protests and allowed beer stall at the venue, in abid to get sponsorships.

The state this time has collected Rs1.5 crore through sponsorships as against Rs1.25 crore last festival. The budget of the festival is Rs7.35 crore.

Several delegates attending the festivals have also complained of inadequate transport facilities at the venue.

The organisers this year have replaced the rickshaws with cabs to ply delegates between Inox and Kala Academy, the festival venues.

“The cab service exists but they are not prominently seen. Now, we have asked them to stand in front of the gate,” Srivastava said.

On the absence of 30 cars pressed into service to ferry delegates to the venue from hotels where they are staying, Srivastav said the vehicles were withdrawn as six buses are plying between the hotels and the venue.

Courtesy:DNA

The David Headley Confessions: Part-II

Posted: 26 Nov 2010 12:56 AM PST

'How I waged war on India'

The following is a first-hand representation of what David Coleman Headley, a Pakistani-American terrorist in a US prison, confessed to the sleuths of India's National Investigation Agency in June this year. It was obtained by Dinesh Sharma of Zee News from highly placed sources in the agency and is being reproduced in a two-part series on the second anniversary of Mumbai terror attacks.

“There is no doubt I am an LeT operative who was a part of the conspiracy to wage war against India.

The following LeT men were involved in the planning of 26/11: Hafiz Saeed (chief of LeT), Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi (LeT chief military commander). Middle level commanders like Sajid Mahid, Muzzammil, Abdur Rehman alias Pasha, Abu Alqama, Abu Qahafa, Abu Anas, Abdul Aziz, Abu Hamza (considered to be an India expert who took part in the Bangalore attack of 2005) and Yaqub.

Hafiz Saeed was in the complete know of Mumbai attacks plan which could be launched only after his go-ahead. He keeps abreast with each and every LeT activity, though does not show it in public. Sajid, Alqama and Qahafa controlled the Mumbai attackers from Karachi on GPS and mobiles. Sajid was in contact with the attackers of Chhabad House and told them to kill everybody there while Alqama directed the operations at Taj. Qahafa encouraged the attackers by repeatedly saying that the entire Muslim Ummah looked upon them.

I was also in direct contact with ISI officials Major Iqbal and Lt Col Hamza who have influence and control over LeT's top brass. I briefed Major Iqbal, my ISI handler, about each reconnaissance visit to Mumbai. I carried out certain exclusive reconnaissance tasks for him as well.

I arrived in India for the first time on September 14 in 2006 at the Mumbai airport. I stayed at Hotel Outram and never called my Pakistani contacts from my new cellphone. This was done for me by Tahawwur Rana in Chicago. Here I submitted a form with RBI to open an immigration office for which I even appointed a Parsi woman as my secretary. This was a cover for me as I was super secretive – no one in India could imagine what I was up to.

I made extensive photographs of places like the Brihan Mumbai Corporation building, Haji Ali, Gateway of India, Hotel Taj, State police HQs, Azad Maidan, Marine Drive, VT Railway Station, Mumbai Central Railway Station, Leopold Cafe etc. My reconnaissance videos were appreciated by ISI and LeT and were crucial in carrying out attacks in Mumbai in 2008. Qahafa and I did a serious study on Google Earth to conduct the reconnaissance of Hotel Taj. We plotted the entire route and spot that the attackers would use through GPS and Google Earth.

I have also made videos of targets in Delhi, Pune, Goa and Pushkar and these too will be used by LeT and al Qaeda to attack India in future. Even the Kumbh Mela is a target. I shot some things on a camera given to me by my Pakistani mother-in-law. But I mostly used my mobile's camera to do the recordings from April to June 2008 as well as in 2009 in India and Denmark. It has of course been seized by the FBI when they caught me from the Chicago Airport.

I think the LeT and ISI plotted the Mumbai attacks to shift the interest of the world from Afghanistan and to instill a new spirit among their own cadre which were getting restless to join jihad in that country.

Mumbai attacks were financed and supported by the ISI, pretty much like every other plan of the LeT is. Every important LeT member is handled by ISI officials. My handlers were Major Iqbal and Major Sameer Ali. Similarly Lakhvi was controlled by Brigadier Riyaz who is based in Muzaffarabad. Major Iqbal provided money for my surveillance in Mumbai. In fact the Rs 25 lakhs used to buy the first boat used to reach Mumbai was ISI money. This boat was used in September to reach Mumbai but that attempt failed and the boat was destroyed. Yes, there was a failed attempt by the LeT in September 2008. It was Ramzan and Lakhvi had gone to Mecca to pray for the operation's success but the boat hit a rock and the attackers had to be brought back in another one. The clearance of this boat at the end of the Pakistani government and was arranged by Sajid.

Courtesy:ZEE

IFFI 2010 Day 4

Posted: 25 Nov 2010 08:30 PM PST

“I am Kalam”, a children’s film based on former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, is aimed at inspiring the poor to educate their children, director of the film Nila Madhab Panda said at the 41st International Film Festival of India (IFFI) here.

The film will be screened at the festival Thursday.

“The aim is to ensure that even under privileged people are inspired to educate their children even the most backward, poorest of the poor areas,” Panda told reporters at a press conference here Wednesday.

The film celebrates the survival of the human spirit against overwhelming odds and highlights the need for underprivileged children’s education.

She said they were trying to engage the Unesco and the central government to take the film to the rural masses of India.

“We have also engaged moving theatres which are a feature in rural India to screen this film. They charge Re.1 or Rs.2 per person to screen these movies on DVD all we have to do is give then a DVD free for screening. The message of the film has to percolate,” Panda said.

“I am Kalam” has won a host of awards including the best feature film at the Lucan International Film festival, “Don Quixote” prize at of the Federation Internationale des Cine-Clubs in Germany and a special mention at the Cinekid international film festival at Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

The scary and funny IFFI street is attracting people from all walks.

The noted bollywood director Rajkumar Hirani and Screenplay writer Abhijat Joshi seen putting their thoughts forward during the Knowledge Series at the Film Bazaar on the fourth day of the ongoing 41st International Film Festival of India in Panaji on Thursday.

Screenplay writer Abhijat Joshi seen during the Knowledge Series at the Film Bazaar on the fourth day of the ongoing 41st International Film Festival of India in Panaji on Thursday.

The cast and crew of the Marathi film ‘Vihir..The well’ seen interacting with the media at the media centre on the fourth day of the ongoing 41st International Film Festival of India in Panaji on Thursday.


Bollywood character actor Nana Patekar seen at the Inox multiplex on the fourth day of the ongoing 41st International Film Festival of India in Panaji on Thursday.

Noted actress Mrunal Kulkarni at the Inox courtyard.
Courtesy:Daijiworld
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Thursday, November 25, 2010

Goa Blog

Goa Blog

Films Division features dancers in IFFI 2010

Posted: 25 Nov 2010 06:11 AM PST

Continuing the series on 'Moments with the Maestros' for the second year, the Films Division is this year showcasing 22 select documentaries on eminent dancers of the country.

Veteran dance gurus Sitara Devi, Birju Maharaj and Sonal Mansingh were feted by Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat to mark the opening of the section 'Dancing Feet' at the ongoing 41st International Film Festival of India. The four-day documentary film festival on Indian classical dances and gurus is being held till 27 November at the Black Box in Kala Academy. Division Director General Kuldeep Sinha was also present on the occasion.

“Dancing Feet” offers connoisseurs of dance from India and abroad glimpses of important classical dances like the Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Kathakali, Kathak, Mohiniattam and Manipuri through biographical films on dancers.

Some of the dancers on whom films made by the Division are being shown include Sitara Devi, Pandit Birju Maharaj, Yamini Krishnamurthy, Sonal Mansingh, Padma Subramaniam, Raja & Radha Reddy, Uma Sharma, kanak Rele, and Mallika Sarabhai.

These dancers are expected to attend the screenings and take part in question-answer sessions, apart from discussions on their art forms.

Courtesy:Itv

Iffi 2010 day 3

Posted: 24 Nov 2010 11:38 PM PST

Barely two days after veteran Bollywood filmmaker Yash Chopra gave a tongue-lashing to the Goa and central governments for imposing new taxes on the film industry, an embarrassed state government has taken cue.

“We are considering offering tax reimbursement to the filmmakers who are keen on shooting in Goa,” chief executive officer of the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) Manoj Srivastava said Wednesday.

Producer of Kahwa Entertainment, Sanjay Suri seen during the Knowledge Series at the Film Bazaar on the third day of the ongoing 41st International Film Festival of India in Panaji on Wednesday

The busy Film Bazaar zone.
Goa Police Service officer seen waiting to get into the screening theatre along with the delegates during the screening of ‘3 Idiots’ on the third day of the ongoing 41st International Film Festival of India in Panaji on Wednesday.

Director of ‘3 Idiots’ Rajkumar Hirani seen addressing the full house along with lyricist Swanand Kirkire , screenplay writer Abhijat Joshi and others during the screening of their film ‘3 Idiots’ in the Indian Panorama section in Panaji on Wednesday.

Delegation from the Georgian Film Industry seen addressing a press conference at the Media Centre on the third day of the ongoing 41st International Film Festival of India in Panaji on Wednesday.


Bollywood actress Riya Sen seen during the interaction session with the media minutes after the Indian Premier of her Bengali film ‘Nauka Doobi’ at Kala Academy in Panaji on Wednesday.

Courtesy:Daijiworld
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Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Goa Blog

Goa Blog

Goa looks at offering tax reimbursement to filmmakers

Posted: 24 Nov 2010 06:20 AM PST

Barely two days after veteran Bollywood filmmaker Yash Chopra gave a tongue-lashing to the Goa and central governments for imposing new taxes on the film industry, an embarrassed state government has taken cue.

“We are considering offering tax reimbursement to the filmmakers who are keen on shooting in Goa,” chief executive officer of the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) Manoj Srivastava said on Wednesday.

The official was speaking at a seminar on film trade on the sidelines of the 41st International Film Festival of India (IFFI) being held in Goa.

“We are looking at returning the tax amount back to the filmmaker after he produces proper bills for the amount spent while shooting in Goa,” he said.

“I am echoing the sentiments of Yash Chopra who has also expressed a need for relaxation of taxes,” Srivastava said.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the IFFI in Panaji on Monday, Chopra said the state was meting out step-motherly treatment to filmmakers.

“Why is the government treating us in a step-motherly manner? If these new taxes come, I am sure they will come because they have made up their mind, filmmakers will not be able to make movies anymore,” he said.

“India celebrates 100 years of cinema in 2012 and maybe they will be writing the obituary of Indian cinema then,” the Dadasaheb Phalke award winner added.

Courtesy:IBN

Goa’s opposition to Mhadai project should be covered under terms of reference

Posted: 24 Nov 2010 06:10 AM PST

Shri Shantaram Naik M.P. has requested the Union Minister for Water Resources Shri Pawan Kumar Bansal that the Central Government should incorporate terms of reference to the notification,  issued by it,  appointing tribunal for Mhadei river dispute.

It may be recalled that the Central Government has issued a notification for constituting Tribunal under the Chairmanship of Justice J.M.Panchal , justice Viney Mittal of Madhya Pradesh High Court and Justice P.S.Narayana  former Judge of Andra Pradesh High Court, being the two other members.

In a letter written by him to Mr Bansal today, Mr Naik has said that the State of Goa is not demanding any share in the water and,  as such,  there is no "water dispute"  existing between the states in that sense.

The State of Goa is basically opposed to the project on grounds that the project,  if completed,  would destroy the ecology of the State of Goa and, it would constitute a dangerous environmental hazard to the State.

In these circumstances, one of the fundamental terms of reference in this case has to be whether the Government of Karnataka  should be permitted to construct the project, Mr Naik has said in his letter to Mr Bansal.

I have gone through the notification dated 16th November,2010, issued by the Central Government under section 4 of the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act,1956.

Goa: International Film Festival of India 2010-Day 2

Posted: 23 Nov 2010 07:55 PM PST

Photographic Glimpses of International Film Festival of India.

Bollywood film director Madhur Bhandarkar seen along with the Chief Secretary of the Goa State, Sanjay Shrivastav during the inaugural ceremony of the Short Film Centre on the second day of the ongoing 41st International film festival of India in Panaji.

Delegates seen experiencing the thrill of 3d movies during the film bazaar on the second day of the ongoing 41st International film festival of India in Panaji.

Food stalls at the Inox courtyard.

A special stage has been provided to R.K.FILMS on IFFI corniche.

Noted playback singer Amit Kumar seen addressing a press conference with Bollywood actress Anooradha Patel during the ongoing 41st International film festival of India in Panaji.

Knowledge session at the Film Bazaar on the second day of the ongoing 41st International film festival of India in Panaji.


Pics by Applied Art

Courtesy: daijiworld

Urbanisation will spell disaster for Goa: Green filmmaker

Posted: 23 Nov 2010 10:17 AM PST

A woman who has tracked down and visually documented disappearing lakes in New Delhi’s periphery now says rampant unplanned urbanisation will spell disaster for Goa.

Ishani Dutta, whose documentary film The Land of the Vanishing Lakes will be screened at the Short Film Centre (SFC) of the 41st International Film Festival of India (IFFI), told that planned urbanisation was the only way for Goa to sustain itself.

“Rampant unplanned urbanisation will spell disaster for the local inhabitants of Goa. It is imperative that you learn lessons from other cities and encourage planned urbanisation,” she said.

Aggressive civil society groups in the state have demanded an end to mega housing projects and rampant, indiscriminate mining in the state.

Already screened at the American Centre for the Red Earth Festival 2009 and the CMS Vatavaran Film Festival 2009, Ishani’s The Land of the Vanishing Lakes is competing for the coveted Vasudha Award at the festival this year. The Vasudha Award is the only state sponsored award for a film on environment and carries a purse of Rs.3 lakh.

Speaking about how she came up with the subject of vanishing lakes as a subject for her documentary, Ishani said, “I have been visiting these lakes since childhood and the lakes completely disappeared in the last two to three years. I wanted to dig out the reasons and one thing led to the other”.

“The most popular lakes of NCR have disappeared. The two billion year old water bodies of the Aravallis - Surajkund, Badkhal and Damdama - have all dried up,” she said.

“This film looks at the nexus between the corrupt bureaucracy with the construction and the mining mafia. With exclusive bytes from retired forest officers, environmentalists and scientists, we piece together the whole story behind the current mess,” Ishani said, adding that the film ends with a ray of hope, in spite of apparent ecological disaster and offers a way-ahead in devastated areas.

She said the film took six months to complete and several reconnaissance trips, but would require support from the media and NGOs to reach out to people at several levels in the government agencies who have the power to stop illegal mining and urbanisation.

“They (illegal miners) may not stop because there is a huge amount of money involved in the mining business, but yes it did raise awareness among people. There was a huge uproar on the issue in the media. Today there is only limited mining allowed in the region. Clandestine mining is on as reported by some agencies,” she pointed out.

Speaking about the importance of initiatives such as the short film centre at the IFFI, she said such forums provided a huge platform to voice concerns involving environment and society.

“This might further help us get funds for our future endeavours,” said Ishani, whose earlier documentaries have focused on subjects like the alarming growth of HIV/AIDS in the transport sector, environment conservation through nature worship and groundwater depletion in Haryana.

Courtesy:IBN
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