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The Hindu : y>Bajaj plans to launch a low-cost car in 2011

Bajaj Auto has recently confirmed that the development work on its low-cost car is on track. The new model, which is expected to compete with the Tata Nano, is expected to be launched in 2011, despite partner Renault’s recent go-slow policy on its India plans.

According to Rajiv Bajaj, managing director, the company is committed to the project, but he also admitted that Bajaj Auto is yet to iron out certain “branding issues” with partners Renault and Nissan. He added that while the new car may be more expensive than the Nano, it will offer good fuel efficiency and running cost.

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The Hindu :

David Davison’s photographs capture the rich architecture of the Trinita church in Northern Italy in shadows

Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.Finding moments of grace Professor David Davison’s work reveals what is not easily seen through shadows

Three years ago, he spotted a 15th century church in Northern Italy. The daylight was eating away the image. “The sun was burning out. I couldn’t see much, it was obscuring my image,” says artist David Davison from the U.S.

He also noticed that the sunlight cast a shadow on the portico. “The shadow of the tree created new arches and I could see the arch of the church clearly and the graffiti,” he says pointing to his photograph. His body of work — “Trinita series”, a total of 15 photographs which capture the outside architecture of the church of SS Trinita, located in a small village of Casnigo, near Bergamo, Italy are currently on display at Swasti Art Gallery.

“We always think we only see in the light. I realised that sometimes with illumination you just cannot see,” the artist adds. And, what is not easily seen is revealed through shadows in his work.

Shadows, he says, has a mystery to it of death, sex and various other things and it fascinates him. He clicks the photographs in colour, puts them in gradient green neutral (Celedone, a 15th century colour, which he calls a genetic colour representing a culture ) and flips the blacks and whites of the image. “It gives an X-ray like quality. What was light becomes dark and it conveys that these spaces are not quantifiable.” No manipulation; but an artistic creation of layers.

His work is about exploring psychological and poetic spaces through the lens. “I saw those magical spaces. The shadows create a cacophony of images —of arches, frescos, and the portico and redefine the architecture. The metaphor I infer is that there is a…More

The Hindu : y>Mahindra has revved up the gearless scooter market with its first two-wheeler, the Flyte, even as Honda’s flagship product, the Aviator continues to fly high. Rishad Cooper takes a ride

Mahindra took the Kinetic model as it was and transformed it into the new Mahindra Flyte, keeping the trusty SYM (Sanyang Industry Company, Taiwan)-designed template a constant but improving on Kinetic’s manufacturing techniques and upping quality levels.

The 124.6cc Flyte has a lot going for it given that it is Mahindra’s first two-wheeler. Still, it must brave the best in the business, especiallyHonda’s flagship Indian scooter, the Aviator.

These two scooters have very distinctive profiles —the Flyte has a sleek, small silhouette that will appeal more to women, the Aviator looks bulky and sports decidedly macho lines. The Mahindra’s raked front apron with flush indicators smartly doubles up as a mudguard, in contrast to Honda’s pointedly European-looking fender that sits just under its rounded panel. While the Flyte uses more ABS moulded panels, the Aviator deploys a mix-and-match of stronger metal, with ABS panels used where possible. Both scooters come with evenly matched switches as well as good levers.

Let’s talk features. The Mahindra comes with a four-in-one locking system that operates the handle lock, magnetic key lock and fuel filler lid in addition to the ignition. The fuel filler lid is conveniently located at the front, which means riders and pillions needn’t dismount. Plus, the Flyte comes with extra storage cubbyholes which are good to put away a few knick-knacks, in addition to the lockable underseat storage bays that come standard on both scooters. The Flyte has a chic handlebarand its headlight provides good illumination while the Aviator has a more conventional and rounded handlebars.

Both come with flat, broad and comfy footboards and wide seats that run back to alloy grab-handles. However, the Flyte would do well to perk up its rear…More

The Hindu :

Sadhana Sargam on her career and reality shows

Photo: K.V. SrinivasanSongbird Sadhana Sargam

No Hindi movie was complete without a track sung by Sadhana Sargam and now the time has come when Sadhana Sargam says, “I will not fight tooth and nail or try gimmicks to be in the limelight.”

Sadhana looked upbeat about her career on TV and seemed quite happy with the regional tracks she is lending her voice to. “I am judging a reality show for children on TV and it is nice to see so much talent. But unless these children pursue singing as a passion they cannot make it big. Voice keeps changing as we grow and it needs to be tuned to adjust to the ragas and the surs. ,” says Sadhana.

Discussing her career Sadhana said “I am not keen on fighting and hanging around for assignments. If music directors think my voice suits a track, they will anyways contact me. Otherwise I am happy singing what is coming my way. I am singing in every language I have sung quite a few songs in Assamese but I cannot remember them now.”

A Maharashtrian by birth, Sadhana took to singing at a very young age and hopes to continue as long as she can.

Talking about the changes in the recordingindustry, Sadhana says, “With talented writers, composers and directors around, singing in any Indian language isn’t a problem.

“Playback singing has undergone a sea change. New talent has something different to offer to the listeners. Songs too can be written keeping the singers in mind.”

Sadhana sings regularly for A.R. Rahman and says, “I consider myself lucky with thisassociation.”

PRABALIKA M. BORAH

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The Hindu :

A film on the Naxal issue, a ramp debut at WIFW …Jayaprada continues to surprise

Photo: Shiv Kumar PushpakarName game Jayaprada calls Rajahmundry her janamabhoomi and Rampur her karamabhoomi

Jayaprada is never short on surprises. Just when critics thought she had had her innings as an actor and was concentrating only on her Lok Sabha constituency Rampur, she decided to walk the ramp for Ashima-Leena at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week in New Delhi.

Then just the other day when one went to meet her at her Canning Lane residence, just off Feroz Shah Road, she pulled off another surprise. Far from her screen and political image of a traditional Indian woman dressed in unending yards of sari, there she was flashing a figure-hugging black jacket to go with a long skirt that kissed her ankles and a black hat that teased her brown hair that fell playfully on her shoulders! If she is 47, she hid it gamely! Balancing on her six-inch black boots, and striking poses that would do a model proud, she came up with another surprise.Delhi via Rampur

Delhi has certainly opened its doors to the lady who calls Rajahmundary her “janamabhoomi” and Rampur her “karamabhoomi”.

She has made her debut as a producer of a Bengali film and come back to the silver screen playing a tribal insurgent in Ashok Viswanathan’s “Sesh Sangath”.

And many summers after she was the talk of the town for films like “Tohfa” and “Sharaabi”, each of whom was a well publicised affair, Jayaprada reveals, “It is my Bengali debut. I am happy the film is getting good vibes.

It is also being promoted very well. I seek everybody’s blessings, particularly Buddhadeb Dasgupta ji with whom I am very eager to work.”

Incidentally, she was supposed to work with the ace Bengali director for “Rahasmay” that was supposed to be shot earlier this year.

“Yes,…More

The Hindu :

Do you miss your old friend Tamagotchi? Worry not, here is FarmVille!

Photo: Ch. Vijaya BhaskarGLOBAL ADDICTION FarmVille on Facebook

This new application on Facebook is more than a little game; it is the new obsession of social networkers on the Internet. Started this June, Facebook’s new buzz has already counted 65-million addicts.

The rules are simple: develop a virtual farm, breed animals, sell your products, and earn (virtual too), but mind the clock, your new friends need permanent attention! With the coins earned, refurbish your house, buy new animals or new installation for your farm, and become the best farmer of the community.

For the nostalgic, it is a lovely comeback to their lost childhood and their old pocket friend, the Japanese Tamagotchi!

This old electronic toy created in 1996, and since, released in 44 versions, has been the friend of many children. Based on the same principle — take care of growing lives — FarmVille added social and interaction aspects, taking advantage of Facebook’s endless network.

Like all Facebook applications, FarmVille’s main interest remains on the possibility of interacting with other players, exchanging advice or animals, helping them, etc… Funny, easy and with a shrewd concept, the game has seduced a huge amount ofFacebook members (more than one in five), and it is now your turn to wear the farmer’s clothes if you want to be cool.

The game provokes passion and reactions on the Internet, enriching Youtube and Dailymotion with videos, miscellaneous fora and hundreds of varied fans group on Facebook, such as like ‘I left my Job, I am a professional farmer now’, ‘I share my life with FarmVille’, but also ‘I hate FarmVille’, and or ‘I am going to stop FarmVille tomorrow’. FarmVille’s exciting feature is undeniably its new challenges that make the game endless. Incidentally, a survey by Uppsala University, Sweden, shows that on an average, people who have a Facebook…More

The Hindu : y>Here are some quick-fix ways to treat ailments effectively at home

Sweet Solution A couple of squares of dark chocolate can relieve cough

Your body can throw you for a loop at any time. You wake up with a sore throat on the day of your office Christmas party, a seafood-salad sandwich leaves you with grumbling indigestion, or you overdo it at the gym and arrive home with a stiff neck. Wouldn’t it be great to have a live-in doctor/therapist/trainer to tend to your everyday aches and pains?

Here’s the next best thing: all-natural, expert-recommended ways to treat ailments quickly, safely, and effectively at home. So clear some space in your bathroom cabinet, refrigerator, and kitchen cupboard for these surprisingly effective (and inexpensive) remedies. They’re like having a doctor on call 24 hours a day.

To quell nausea

Try frozen ginger chips. Infuse fresh ginger in hot water. Strain, then freeze the concoction in ice cube trays.

Crush the cubes and suck the icy chips throughout the day to provide your tummy with a steady soothing dribble.

To stifle hiccups

Swallow one to two teaspoons of sugar. The dry granules stimulate and reset the irritated nerve that is causing the spasms of the diaphragm. Any coarse substance, such as salt, can work in a pinch, but sugar tastes best.

To soothe a sore throat

Gargle twice daily with a solution of six pressed garlic cloves mixed into a glass of warm (not hot) water. Follow the regimen for 3 days. A recent study shows that fresh garlic juice has antimicrobial properties that fight pain-causing bacteria.

To curb a cough

Indulge in a square or two of dark chocolate. Researchers found that chocolate’s theobromine compound is more effective than codeine at suppressing persistent coughs without the side effects of drowsiness and constipation.

To cool a burn

Apply aloe vera gel to the burn as needed.

The soothing and anti-inflammatory gel creates a second skin to protect…More

The Hindu : y>Jayce Lewis, whose single, Icon, has topped the charts tells Allan Moses R. he prefers striking his own path as there is no democracy in a band

From the heart Jayce Lewis: ‘Music is a kind of therapy to me; a way of venting my feelings’

Hands blurred as the sticks thrum the drums. Each time wood met membrane, the stage reverberated with rhythm. International solo artiste Jayce Lewis performed in the city at the Hard Rock Café recently.

The former member of the reputed Welsh band, Losing Sun, Jayce has been a musical sensation since his childhood. Growing up in Wales, this self-taught virtuoso has unbridled confidence and a flair for producing his signature styles of choppy rhythm changes and fills.

Touring Bangalore as part of a national tour organised by Rayban Vh1 Global Music Xpress, Jayce played with an Indian rock band in each city. In the city, Bhoomi did the honours. “The tour has being fantastic so far. The bands I played with have some great music up their sleeve. Melodic rock is a huge market outside India especially in Europe and the United States and I see it is thriving here in the subcontinent too. People love it here,” said Jayce.

Jayce’s single, “Icon” topped charts and he was also chosen as Artist of the Month by VH1. With tight drum patterns and ambient guitar overlays, “Icon” is a revolutionary composition. Jayce’s vocals lend a powerful intensity to the song’s frequency. ‘“Icon’ is my debut song and it’s also the first time I ever sang! It is a fantastic feeling to do well in my first single and be chosen by VH1,” he added with a grin.

Talking from the heart, the Welshman wrote “Icon” when he was coming out of a difficult personal experience. “Music is a big comfort for me and helps me deal a lot with emotional things that happen…More

The Hindu : y>

photo: REUTERSThe successor Rafael Nadal talks about his comeback

World number two and winner of six grand slam titles Rafael Nadal will be interviewed on “Talk Asia” on CNN. Fighting his way back from injuries, the Spaniard shares his thoughts on the comeback and his legendary rivalry with Roger Federar.

He also talks about the impact that the games with Federar had in making him a better player. Nadal also discusses his inspiration and passion for the game, the epic Wimbeldon final in 2008, where he defeated Roger Federar in one of the best games of tennis in the open era.

Catch the interview today at 7 p.m. and November 5 at 10 a.m.

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The Hindu : C.K. MEENA

Society Supremacy of one language over the other is not the answer. Equality is

B who works for me asked her two-year-old daughter what she wanted to be when she grew up. She replied, in English, “I want to be architect” (a word she had picked up from TV, perhaps). B, who had never heard the word before, thought the kid was saying she wanted to have a heart-attack. Shocked by this highly inauspicious comment she scolded her, “You must not say such things in future.”

When the meaning was explained to B she laughed, revelling in the contrast between her own ignorance and her daughter’s cleverness. Architect or not, that child definitely won’t be doing a sweeping-wiping-washing job when she grows up, because she goes to “English-medium”, you know. I’m sure her class teacher can’t spell “architect” to save her life, because the school is one of the hundreds of D-grade teaching shops in the city that make money off the aspirations of the working class. But who cares whether perfect written English is taught, when a smattering of spoken Inglees can get you jobs in the burgeoning service sector?

In the Kengeri bus stand, from an auto fitted with speakers came an announcement in Kannada on “Perfect English”, a set of three books for Rs. 10 that gave you translations of Kannada words into English. I’m sure the books sold like hot vadas. Everyone yearns to learn English – the migrant worker, the courier boy, the plumber, the lift-operator. It is, after all, the language of power and money. It is financial clout that allows an employee to demand a servant who speaks Hindi, but can the servant refuse to work for someone who doesn’t speak Kannada? She serves, and therefore has to be proficient in five languages. Those she serves need only one – and one more at the most….More