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The Hindu : y>

Bizarre and entertaining Globo Loco

Nick joins the grand league of reality game shows and brings to all its beloved Nicksters the craziest, funniest and most entertaining game show in the world, “Globo Loco.” The three times BAFTA-nominated show premiered on Nick on October26 and will continue to enthral children Monday to Friday. The game show promises to keep the children thoroughly engaged and amused as it is fun, colourful, lively and fast-paced. Children love challenges and this show makes sure they use their skills. The high-energy outlandish show is presented by popular host, Stephen Mulhern with the larger than life comic character of Dad! The aim of the game is for each team to predict the outcome of bizarre and entertaining challenges such as who will slide the furthest, the one smeared with olive oil or motor oil and can a beautician rip sixty plasters off a hairy man in just 60 seconds!

So sit back and enjoy this side splitting, fascinating and exciting show with a strong sense of madness.

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The Hindu : y>Banyan Tree Events and Birla Sun Life Insurance present the Teen Prahar festival

Jugalbandis At the festival

Banyan Tree Events & Birla Sun Life Insurance will present the Teen Prahar festival on November 1 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Chowdiah Memorial Hall.

Teen Prahar in Bangalore will feature Ganesh-Kumaresh (violin duet), Venkatesh Kumar (vocals) and Shashank (flute) in the morning session from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The evening session is from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

There will be performances by Rakesh Chaurasia (flute) with Ravindra Chary (sitar) in an ensemble. Ajay Pohankar (vocals) with Abhijit Pohankar (keyboards) and Vishwa Mohan Bhatt (mohan veena).

Donor passes priced at Rs. 250 and Rs.150 per session are available at Chowdiah Memorial Hall, Landmark, Prestige Forum in Koramangala, Garuda Swagatha Mall in Jayanagar, K.C Das St. Marks’ Road, Indiranagar.

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The Hindu :

J. Arun Kumar, captain and coach of the Belgavi Panthers in the recently-concluded KPL, feels that self-confidence and a positive attitude are imperative to a team’s success

Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.Opening stand Arun Kumar: ‘As captain, I have never believed in tedious team meetings’

For the last 16 years, Jagadeesh Arun Kumar, also known as JAK has contributed a lot to cricket in Karnataka .

His cricketing career began at the age of 10 and there was no looking back. He grew from strength to strength and eventually began playing competitive cricket for the State. Known for his aggressive stints as an opener, Arun was inspired by his father who taught him the basics and backed him whole heartedly.

Following a good run in the domestic circuit, Arun was offered a place in the Air India team. He captained the Karnataka team and scored 7,208 first-class runs at an average of 42.90. He has also played for Goa and was part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore squad.

His experience and knowledge of the game were on display during the recently concluded Karnataka Premier League (KPL).

He assumed the role of captain and coach for the unfancied Belgavi Panthers team and helped them reach the finals. Arun bagged the Man of the Series award, with 326 runs and seven catches in eight innings.

On his success at the KPL and the experience of captaining and coaching a team, Arun says, “It is important to reduce the pressure and to instil confidence in the team. As a captain, I have never believed in tedious team meetings and the works. It all boils down to the confidence of the players.”

He contends that it was self confidence and a positive attitude that propped the team to reach the finals. He adds, “The fact that I had players like Manish Pandey, R. Vinay Kumar and David Johnson in my team also…More

The Hindu : y>Stringing together Carnatic and Hindustani genres on the same pulse is rhythm band Taalization, finds ALLAN MOSES R.

Photo: K. GopinathanJUST BEAT IT Taalization, as the name suggests, plays with rhythm

The lights come on slowly as an effortless combination of notes fills the audience with anticipation of what is to come. Almost immediately, the beats blitz in, sending a plethora of rhythmic music into the awed crowd. A rush of cadence beats exudedoff the stage of Kyra theatre as Taalization delivered a heart thumping performance recently.

Blending a concoction of familiar traditional and contemporary styles that transcend music heard before, they believe everything orbits around the taal or rhythm. Taalization is the brainchild of tabla player and percussionist Muthu Kumar, drummer Karthik Mani and bass guitarist Dwight Pattison. Though coming from completely contrasting roots, the rhythm junkies have crafted an intensely elaborate conglomeration of beats to generate some exquisite music.

The idea behind Taalization was to blend Carnatic and Hindustani music. “Both are totally different concepts but we decided to bridge this north-south divide and come up with something that is distinct,” says Karthik. Formed just over a year ago, the Bangalore-based band has already rendered over 40 shows and taken their music across the country. They are also on the verge of an international tour.

“We call ourselves a rhythmic civilisation or a civilisation of taal. Karthik brainstormed the name. We found the idea contemporary and quite appealing,” claims Muthu. Being freelance musicians, the duo happened to meet at different gigs and decided to concentrate on experimenting. “Since drummers are never in the forefront in a typical band setup, we wanted to highlight our music exclusively; thus came Taalization.” Dwight pitched in soon after and is an invaluable asset to the band with his synchronised bass movements and tight soundscapes. Their compositions are intelligently and logically developed.

“Using software we loop simple melodic grooves and…More

The Hindu :

Aladin boasts of superstars and superb effects

Photo: V. Sreenivasa MurthyWE love GENIE Jacqueline and Ritiesh

Aladin is the story of a boy who gets bullied in schoolyards and is not able to fight back, who is unable to divulge his love…the perennial loser, whose name makes him the butt of many jokes. It is a simple story, with many elements of magic thrown in,” says Ritiesh Deshmukh, about his character in the movie “Aladin” that is scheduled to be released soon.

“However, a genie does materialise and Aladin learns about his destiny. It is a movie that talks of hope, magic and love,” beams Ritiesh. He is in awe of his fellow star performers Amitabh Bachchan and Sanjay Dutt. And the spectacular special effects. Amitabh plays a genie, who helps Aladin achieve his goals and prevents the dark forces led by the ringmaster (Sanjay Dutt) and his cronies from seizing power. “It has all the elements that a good movie requires — action, comedy, suspense and superb special effects.” Jacqueline Fernandez, the female lead in the movie quips, “I had grown up listening to tales of Aladin and often imagined myself as Jasmine. I never imagined that I would end up playing the character myself.”

She adds, “Initially, I was a bit apprehensive and nervous, since I was acting with legends like Amitabh Bachchan and Sanjay Dutt. However, I was soon put at ease and enjoyed the entire shooting experience.”

Ritiesh believes that though “Aladin” is a commercial flick, it has offered him a very different twist from the characters he usually gets to play. “I am now experimenting with many different roles. I play a variety of different characters, ranging from comedy to romantic in my upcoming films.”

Jacqueline has a line up of films coming next, including a romantic movie with Ritesh.

NIKHIL VARMA

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The Hindu : y>

Kodak has launched the “India’s best wedding photographer of the year” contest, in association with Better Photography.

The aim, say the organisers, is to recognise those who capture moments and make them timeless in wedding ceremonies.

The photographers will be judged under six categories — bridal portraits, family and friends, behind the scenes, couple portraits, emotions and photo series on a single wedding.

The six first-prize winners of each theme will compete for the title of “Wedding Photographer of the Year 2009” through a face-off contest.

Entries will be judged on the basis of interpreting and expressing the theme, with the technical and aesthetic quality of the photograph.

Participants can submit their entries online by logging on towww.betterphotography.in/wpoy and upload their images.

Participation forms are also available at select Kodak labs. Those interested can also participate by filling up participation form available in Kodak labs or latest issue of Better Photography magazine and send their photographs printed on Kodak Paper by courier / post / hand delivery to Infomedia18 Limited, Better Photography, Ruby House, J K Sawant Marg, Dadar (w), Mumbai – 400 028. The last date to submit entries is January 20, 2010. Award nominees will be announced in the March 2010 issue of Better Photography and the final winners will be showcased in the April 2010 issue. The winner get prizes worth Rs. 1 lakh and each category winner will get prizes worth Rs. 25,000 each.

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The Hindu :

Stuart Clark, who was in Hyderabad recently, interacted with trainees at a coaching academy

Enjoying life Stuart Clark with his teammates

It is all about masala dosaand crowded streets forthe gentle giant of Australianpace attack – StuartClark. This fast bowler, whowas in Hyderabad to play forNew South Wales Blues inthe Champions LeagueTwenty-20 final against Trinidad& Tobago, simplyloves the dosa. Don’t youfind it spicy? `No. I love dosaand I had eaten it quite a fewtimes,” says the unassumingfast bowler. How do you findHyderabad? `Ok. But it iscrowded and very noisy,” hesays. When Clark interactedwith some of the engineeringcollege students attendingselection trials at a coachingacademy in the city, thetemptation to bowl to themwas irresistible. Srikanth, anyoungster at the Academycouldn’t hold his excitement.”I never imaginedsuch a proposition even inthe wildest of my dreams,”he exclaimed. Clark was allpraise for the facilities putup for the young trainees.”This is essential in ensuringa continuity in training,” hepoints out after facing a fewballs from the electronicbowling machine. Clark isthoroughly enjoying thestint with New South Wales.He is not disappointed withthe fact that he doesn’t figurein the one-day squad forAustralia against India in theseven-match series startingin India. Clark’s philosophyseems to be simple -keep goingand take things as theycome. No wonder then,Clark, who played a majorityof the 24 Tests so far in theAshes `Down Under’ is a tributenot just to the Australiansystem but the way thecricketers from that `zone’display their commitment.And, proof of his class wasevident the very next daywhen Clark mopped the tailof Trinidad & Tobago to playa key role in New SouthWales Blues’ impressive winin the finals .In the final analysis,if a couple of youngsterspicked up a few tricks fromthis gentle giant of Australianpace attack, it will onlyhelp them to be better bowlers.

It is not about bowling orbatting but the typical Australianattitude which wouldhave impressed the youngstersat the Sports CoachingFoundation.

V.V. SUBRAHMANYAM

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The Hindu :

The migratory bird Brown Shrike is thronging Nandi Hills in large numbers

Spotted Look for a hooked beak, white eyebrows and a black mask around the eyes

How many of us are aware that each winter, millions of birds belonging to different species, migrate to India to escape the cold of countries further north? No onehas exact dates of their arrival and how and where they go to various parts of the country.

And with climate change happening across the globe, are their migrating habits changing as well?

So, groups of volunteer birderskeep an eye out and then alert their fellow bird loversabout the presence of a particular species in the area.bngbirds@yahoogroups.com is an active group which postsactiveinformation regularly on various bird sightings.

At the moment, the birding population of Bangalore have been excitedly sharing ‘sighting’ notes about the Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus ) in the Nandi Hills.

“The Brown Shrike is a common winter visitor in India. It’s size is just 19 cm. It is a regular winter visitor to South India (East Coast, Kerala and southern Karnataka),” reveals Praveen, a bird lover.“ We saw the Brown Shrike on October 15 while on our way to Nandi Hills. Really a great sighting ,” says Abhijna Desai, a student.

“I photographed the bird at the foothills . Shrikes get away at the slightest disturbance. There are loads of Lantana bushes at the foothills infested with butterfly larvae which arejuicy meals for the Shrikes, hence it was spotted in good number out there,” he adds. ”

“People can spot the bird inopen areas filled with scrubs and bushes, ” says Clement Francis Martin who has clicked the bird on his camera. “The Migrant Watch programme collects information on the timing of migration of many species, including the Brown Shrike, from all over the country. All the information is freely available, if you register athttp://www.migrantwatch.in,” says Suhel Quader, research fellow…More

The Hindu :

Milind Soman is back on television as judge for the Hunt for the Kingfisher Calendar Girl

Haute host MILIND SOMAN

Sun, sand, sea, swim wear and Milind Soman. Did I just say all that in the same sentence? Hold your breath, for this hot and not-so-young man is back on television with a new show — “Kingfisher Swimsuit Calendar Girl”. Do I see themen smiling now? Milind will host as well as judge the show with co-judges Shobhaa De and Atul Kasbekar.

“The show has a unique concept. I wouldn’t have done it if I was not producing it. Because then, I wouldn’t be able to control many aspects of the show. And, it’s great to be around beautiful girls in bikinis,” smiles Milind. The show will see 12 short-listed participants battling it out in the beautiful locales of Goa, to win the coveted title of the ‘Kingfisher Calendar girl’. The girls are aged between 19 and 24. “Legal age,” as Milind puts it, “with great bodies and a range of personalities.”What it takes

The participants should also possess poise, elegance, sensuality, team spirit and the right temperament. According to him, the job isn’t easy, and the tasks in the show are going to be gruelling.

The girls should to be able to handle stress and be ready to perform every moment.

They have to get used to shooting at any time of the day, because, sometimes, you have to wait for the perfect lighting for a particular shot, no matter what the surrounding is like. Giving an example, he says: “They’ll have to wear bikinis in the snow and look elegant. Can’t just say ‘Oh! I am tired. My feet are aching’.”

So, what does the winner get apart from an opportunity to pose for the calendar, which has had glam queens such as Katrina Kaif, Deepika Padukone and Vidhisha Pavate on it?

“The prizes don’t…More