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The Hindu : y>Nano diesel and auto options onthe cards

Tata Motors is expected to make a diesel and automatic variant of the Nano available for sale. While Tata’s primary focus at the moment is on making sure the much-talked about small car is made available to the public, it is also working on further diversifying the car’s model range that currently consists of three variants (Nano, Nano CX and Nano LX).

The first diesel variants are likely to roll out once the company’s Sanand plant is ready for full-scale production.

It would not be hard to imagine a diesel powered Nano setting new benchmarks in terms of operating costs with mileage that could very well be in excess of 25kpl.

The automatic variant will follow soon after. The Kinetic Group will manufacture the Nano’s ‘variomatic’ CVT gearbox. The Pune-based company is currently making the car’s four-speed manual gearbox.

Kinetic is to share the load of supplying the CVT for the automatic variant with Avtec Ltd as well as with Canadian firm CVTech-IBC.

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The Hindu : y>With no new releases, thanks to the standoff between producers and multiplex owners, city folks are looking at entertainment alternatives, writes NEETI SARKAR

Photo: AFPYou are in queue Everyone is waiting for the impasse to end for their weekly film fix

For all who are wondering when “Wolverine” or the new “Star Trek” movie is coming out, they just have to wait till what seems like forever. The standoff between Hindi movie producers and multiplex owners has resulted in no newreleases after “8 X 10 Tasveer”. Even Hollywood seems to be holding a watching brief before releasing its summer blockbusters.

The city is looking at other entertainment options. Neha Ranbhise, a student says: “It seems pointless to wait for the standoff between the two parties to end. If we can’t watch new movies we must find some other way of keeping ourselves entertained.”

One option is to rent DVDs. You could watch all those films you have been planning to, at your time and space and for one fourth the money! “Renting a movie is the best thing to do. You can choose what movie you want to watch and who cares if we’re not eating popcorn, a plate of kebabs is better!” says Sudheer, another student.

Then there are the cineastes who can catch up with the best of world cinema at multiplexes. According to Vasudev Kanthraj, Creative Head of Stage Left, a Bangalore-based theatre group, “I have been able to watch some excellent gems in world cinema. The only problem is the screening schedule is not always available making it difficult for us to plan our day.” Also, world cinema attracts a niche audience and is not directed towards the masses, therefore, in terms of business, it isn’t like multiplex owners are raking in the moolah.Straight bat

The cricket-crazy could not care less if no films are screened from now to eternity, thanks to…More

The Hindu :

Can anyone reach their destination with little or no money? That’s what Beg Borrow Steal, a new reality show, will put the contestants through

lift please No wallet on me

“Beg, borrow or steal!’ Three words that immediately bring out the extreme in you when you are pushed over the hill and are helpless.

Rest assured that anyone at the receiving end of these three words is definitely not in the happiest of situations. But trust reality shows to revel in other people’s woes, and there is a new one on the block.

Titled “Beg Borrow Steal”, it airs on UTV Bindass at 7 p.m. on Sundays.The reality of money

The reality show explores the adventures of the chosen contestant as he/she makes their way to various destinations with little or no moolah to get them there!

For instance, one contestant was asked to get from Mumbai to Goa with Rs. 100. Which means that lodging, boarding, travelling and whatever else needs to be done within that money.

It gets better still.

The contestants are asked to carry a backpack with a map, a mobile phone and the grand sum.

Besides these, they are given a choice of any three of the following essentials — a bottle of water, a packet of biscuits, a tube of mosquito repellent, a torch, a sleeping bag and sunglasses.

And to top it all, the contestants have a list of some wild and whacky tasks to be done. The grand prize? Rs. 20,000.

As they say, pain, when others have to bear it, becomes amusing.

Catch the antics of the contestants and their survival tricks and pick up some yourself. (God forbid, should you ever be stuck in a similar situation!)

HARSHIKAA UDASI

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The Hindu :

The Supreme Court’s directive to initiate measures to prevent ragging invokes scepticism about its practicality

Photo: S. SubramaniumIn one voice The death of Amann Kachroo, an M.B.B.S student, from ragging, sparked off a protest wave in the country

When Sarada Rao, a housewife switched on the television recently to watch the evening news, the ragging monster was all set to be whipped. Her anxiety levels crashed and her spirit soared as she shared the news with her banker husband.

“My son is a wannabe engineer and we were really worried as to how he will be treated by his seniors. Thanks to the Supreme Court, now it is not just colleges, even the State governments have to be accountable,” she says with happiness writ large on the face.

The apex court’s landmark order has directed all the State governments to set up committees to look into ragging incidents and prevent them.

It has also directed a series of measures like appointing psychiatrists in colleges to counsel students who resort to ragging and in the case of alcoholism, colleges will have to take measures for de-addiction.

The friendly introduction, a customary salute and other ‘simple’ singing, and dancing acts were once considered ragging. Now, it has metamorphosed into a nightmare giving sleepless nights to scores of teenagers. Parents too feel the heat.

In some cases, like that of Amann Kachroo, a first year M.B.B.S student, even lives are lost.Counselling concerns

Rabbi Puthiran, a college principal gives a thumbs-up to the decision. “It is great news for young boys and girls who feel traumatised while joining a college, especially engineering and medical colleges. However, the college managements should handle the matter sensitively. If a student is counselled by a psychiatrist, there is scope for backlash as others might make fun of him/her as being mentally unstable,” he says.

The guidelines find vocal supporters in Diksha Marur and her junior Priyanka…More

The Hindu :

PASSIONS Entrepreneur Mukta Darera helps people find their groove

Photo: Murali Kumar K.MISSION VISION Mukta helps those who want to be what they want to be

She is an engineer with a degree in Kathak. An entrepreneur who moonlights as an RJ. When Mukta Darera was in high school, she with a group of friends, gathered interesting material from the Internet and elsewhere to draw up a newsletter. The youngsters then set about printing copies of the same and convinced their peers to buy it, rather than read it for free.

“Maybe, it’s in my blood” says 24-year-old Mukta, of this entrepreneurial streak. Like many academically-proficient students, Mukta, who hails from a business family, started off on the conventional route. First-rate marks in school, an engineering degree and a dream posting with an IT major. Two years into her job, and despite being part of many activities at her workplace, she felt the experience was not fulfilling in terms of “all the things I wanted to do in life”. “I also saw peers not living the dreams they had always had,” she observes.

The customary next step at this stage was to try and get into a B-school and Mukta succeeded here too. The thought of doing an MBA however, didn’t really excite her. The school, which had offered her admission, also offered a programme for those wanting to start their own business and this is when Mukta felt something click. While it was too late to apply for this particular programme, a search led her to the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore’s program for women entrepreneurs, and she enrolled. When it was time to come up with a business plan at the end of the course, Mukta presented an idea which had sprung up from her days at the tech firm.Rebooting lives

Hence was born iReboot. According to Mukta, iReboot is about “helping…More

The Hindu :

Madhushree Baral’s rendition of Tagore invoked the subtle texture of music

Photo: Sampath Kumar G. P.LONG ALLIANCE Madhushree Baral

Think of Rabindra Sangeet and a mood sets in — a lilt, a cadence, and the tunes, ever so subtle. Much of this tone and feel was invoked in Madhushree Baral’s Rabindra Sangeet chamber concert, organised by the Toto Funds the Arts, recentlyin Bangalore.

Madhushree, a true-blue Bengali could not help getting drawn into Rabindra Sangeet. “My parents were singing all the time, and so did my grandmother even if I didn’t want to listen to it, I couldn’t have helped much,” she recalls. The fascination for the wonderful world of Tagore intensified only as Madhushree grew older. “I developed a strong bond. Tagore has not left any emotion untouched. He has a song for every moment of one’s life, and every emotion that one goes through,” says Madhushree, who soulfully rendered ten songs from the categories of Puja, Prem, Prakriti and Swadesh of Tagore’s poetry.

Where does Prem end and Puja begin? Tagore, a firm believer of the Brahmo religion had a nuanced understanding of the complexities of the man-woman relationship which comes through in these two categories. But the poet believed that it was only through the physical that one achieved the spiritual. For instance, “Bheni mora gharer chaabi” a soft rhythmic number from the Puja category and the wistful song of gentle inflections “Aha, tomaar sang praner khela” made perfect examples. While the former pleads the beloved to break the lock of the house and carry her away, the latter urges the beloved to surrender, at least once. ‘I want your being to be stained with my colours’ it says beautifully.

“Songs of the love segment touch me the most,” admits Madhushree. The stirring tunes coupled with the lovely lyrics make a heady combination. Though she has been an avid reader of Tagore,…More

The Hindu : y>Car and bike questions? We have the answers

I want to buy an automatic scooter. I am unable to decide among the new Activa, Aviator and Access. I want to know which bike is good overall — performance, looks and mileage.

Yogeshwar Kumar

The Suzuki Access is the most buoyant of the three with its 124cc engine that produces 8.6bhp, and the Honda Activa’s all new styling and 1bhp more than the previous model (now 8bhp). But we suggest the Honda Aviator —simply for its new-age styling and overall functioning. The Aviator, that returns a respectable 39.4kpl, scores over the other two in the looks and performance departments respectively.I’m keen on buying a diesel SUV. This car will be driven on my proposed journeys across South India. As you know, the terrain and climate vary. The vehicle should perform well, in terms of comfort and fuel efficiency. The car’s price should be under Rs. 10 lakh. I would greatly appreciate it if you can guide me in selecting an SUV that is economical to maintain and easy to drive.

K S Nayar

The Mahindra Scorpio SLE, should be right down your alley. The SLE costs Rs. 9.30 lakh in Mumbai and Rs.10.49 lakh in Bangalore. Plus points of the Scorpio are its strong engine and good feedback on driving. The SLE returns decent fuel economy figures of 10.6kpl in the city and 13.6kpl on the highway. The Scorpio will also adapt well to the Southern climate and road conditions.I own a four-year-old Santro Xing which I wish to replace with a higher-end hatchback, within four months. My budget is around Rs. 5 lakh. I drive around 12,000 km every year, which includes two or three long drives of around 1,000 km each. I am looking for a sturdy car with drive comfort, low maintenance, fuel economy and value for money. Please suggest a car.<p…More

The Hindu : y>

Classic BiopicKundun, about the Dalai Lama, is one of the films to be screened

The Foundation for Universal Responsibility of the XIV Dalai Lama and Choe Khor Sum Ling are presenting the Tibetan film festival in Bangalore from May 14 to 19. The films will be screened at the Choe Khor Sum Ling Center, Ashwini, No. 24, 1st floor,3rd Main St, Domlur Layout. “Kundun”, a story of a man whose struggle would lead a nation. The classic biography of the young Dalai Lama, directed by Martin Scorsese will be showcased at the festival on May 14 at 6.40 p.m.

On Friday, catch “Dreaming of Tibet”, a movie about the resilience of the human spirit and directed by Will Parrinello will be showcased at 5.30 p.m. At 6.30 p.m. on Friday, watch “Windhorse” directed by Paul Wagner. The searing political drama rips the veils off Western idealism about Tibet. Entry is free and open to all. Visit the Festival web-sitewww.furhhdl.org/ttib-film-fest09 for more information.

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The Hindu :

The retelling of Anton Chekov’s stories once again proved the timelessnessof his works

Photo: Bhagya Prakash K.Funny bone The Surgery

Cult Productions’ theatrical retelling of Anton Chekov’s short stories, “Comically Incorrect”, had the warmth of comfort food. The travails of the gouty bank manager in “The Defenceless Creature” as he tries to make sense of the shrieking, obtuse woman are all our own as much as the pain of the poor sexton as the almost-dentist tries his hand at extraction in “The Surgery”. The shy boy and worldly father in “The Arrangement” are as well known to us as the smooth seducer in “Seduction.”

The production was competent if not outstanding. The changes of scene were brisk and the actors’ timing on the button. The sets and lighting were serviceable. Director Avinash Daniel showed off his versatility as the doctor in “The Surgery” and the seducer in “Seduction.”

Karthik Prabhu made for the charming ingenuous husband in “Seduction” while Krithika Rao hit the right shrieky notes as the woman in “The Defenceless Creature”.

“Comically Incorrect” provided for a pleasant hour at the theatre.

M.A.C

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The Hindu :

Author Manreet Sodhi Someshwar traces history through the personal

Photo: Shanker ChakravartyA keen eye and ear Manreet Sodhi Someshwar

Manreet Sodhi Someshwar wrote “The Long Walk Home” believing, “it’s good not to forget, it’s important to keep the past alive”. Set in Ferozepur, a border town in Punjab, her book traces an arc from 1946 to the present, through the Bhalla family.

While covering the tumultuous history of Punjab, this Harper Collins publication never ignores the human story at hand. While providing a historical chronicle, it does much more by telling an honest and earthy tale.

Having spent her childhood in Ferozepur, the author’s earliest memories extend to fleeing the 1971 war, as planes shelled artillery. Sitting at the Harper Collins office, the author recalls, how as they fled, she lost her favourite pink slipper. To stop her crying, her father went to search for it, even as a “randomly dropped shell could finish them off”. As her father was a criminal lawyer, she also remembers overhearing the hushed conversations about men who had disappeared at night, during the horrors of Punjab militancy. She writes of these experiences with the detail and sentiments that only firsthand accounts offer. The book arises from her experiences, but stretches further. While she had initially planned to cover the 20 to 25 years of militancy, she soon realised she would have to begin at Partition, when “Pakistan was surgically removed from India”.True to life

This Hong Kong based ex-corporate says the protagonist Baksh is based largely on her father. He is a vital figure not only for the book but also for our times. Manreet explains, “For my father, religion was an internal matter. It was not something to be worn on the sleeve,” adding, “I feel today’s Punjabis are far less secular. Today, we are much more aware of our religion.” Manreet is worried at the lack…More