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You are here: Home / Archives for 2015

Archives for 2015

Supreme Court stays ban on dance bars in Maharashtra

October 15, 2015 by Nasheman

Supreme Court

New Delhi: The Supreme Court today stayed the operation of 2014 amendment in the Maharashtra Police Act that had banned dance performances at bars and some other places, paving the way for reopening of dance bars across the state.

Referring to the brief history of judicial pronouncement in the case and subsequent amendment in the state law, a bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and Prafulla Chandra Pant said “We think it appropriate to stay the provisions section 33 (A)(1) of the Maharashtra Police (second amendment) Act.”

The court however added a rider to its interim order and allowed the licensing authorities in the state to regulate indecent dance performances at bars and other places.

“However, we have a rider that no performance of dance will be remotely expressive of any kind of obscenity…the licensing authority can regulate such dance performances so that individual dignity of woman performer is not harmed,” the bench said.

The apex court has now fixed the petition filed by Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association for final hearing on November 5 and said that the matter pertaining to the similar issue had already been decided by this court in 2013.

Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Maharashtra said at the outset that interim relief may be granted to the Association and added that 2014 amendment in the Act is distinct by its nature.

The Maharashtra government had brought an amendment in 2005 — the Bombay Police Act — which was challenged in high court by an association representing restaurants and bars.

The Bombay High Court on April 12, 2006 had quashed the government’s decision and declared the provision as unconstitutional saying that it is against Article 19(1)(g) (to practise any profession, or to carry on any occupation, trade or business) of the constitution.

However, the state government had moved the apex court against the high court’s order that same year.

On July 16, 2013, the Supreme Court upheld the Bombay High Court verdict quashing the state government’s order and had said that the ban violated the constitutional right to earn a living.

(Agencies)

Filed Under: India Tagged With: Dance Bars, Maharashtra, Supreme court

I am being targeted for being Muslim; it really pains me: Naseeruddin Shah

October 15, 2015 by Nasheman

Naseeruddin Shah

New Delhi: Expressing dismay over the controversy in the wake of his participation in book launch function of former Pakistani foreign minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri in Mumbai, veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah said he was being targeted for being a Muslim.

“My name is Naseeruddin Shah and I believe that’s why I was targeted. It really pains me to say this. I have never ever been aware of my identity until now,” the celebrated actor told India Today news channel in an interview.

Shah said he was misunderstood and misreported in the media about his comments on Pakistan during the function held on Monday.

“I was quite astounded that everything I stated was interpreted as being anti-Indian and there was nothing of the sort that I actually said,” he clarified.

He said there were other people also expressing their thoughts on issues but it was his views that were being presented as if he had said something against the country.

“I do not actually understand why anything said as a compliment to Pakistan must be construed as anti-Indian. If I say Imran Khan is great, does that make Sunil Gavaskar any less a cricketer,” the Bollywood actor asked.

Emphasising that he was a proud Indian and would not allow anybody to question his patriotism, the 66-year-old actor said what eminent lawyer A.G. Noorani and veteran journalist Dileep Padgaonkar said during the function was not quoted at all even as they raised far more pertinent points than he did.

“I don’t understand why I am being picked on,” he said in the television interview.

Asked about his view on eminent writers returning their Sahitya Akademi awards to protest rising intolerance in the country under the BJP-led Central government, Shah said the protesting writers had written more strongly on what was happening in India.

During the book release function, the veteran actor regretted that performances of Pakistani artistes were disrupted in India.

“Hatemongers are unfortunately having a field day in India today,” he said, adding that awards mean nothing to him and therefore he won’t bother returning them.

On Shiv Sena’s argument that terror and cricket or music couldn’t coexist, Shah said, “The people who sponsor terror aren’t the same who bring the message of peace from across the border.”

“You have to make a difference and can’t tar everybody with the same brush,” the Bollywood actor said.

Shah is a recipient of Padma Bhushan, Sangeet Natak Akademi and other prestigious awards.

(Agencies)

Filed Under: India, Indian Muslims Tagged With: Indian Muslims, Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, Maharashtra, Naseeruddin Shah, Neither a Hawk nor a Dove An Insiders Account of Pakistans Foreign Policy, Pakistan, Shiv Sena, Sudheendra Kulkarni

Small Screen Round Up

October 14, 2015 by Shaheen Raaj

Sony

Danny The BBC Television Director Resigns

After a stint of 8 years, BBC director of television Danny Cohen has stepped down from his post to pursue a new leadership challenge.
Cohen will leave the pubcaster at the end of Nov, 2015. BBC controller of entertainment commissioning Mark Linsey will take on his responsibilities until an appointment is made.

Zee Cafe launches ‘The Criminal Minds’

America’s suspense – thriller show ‘The Criminal Minds is all set to get you to #ThinkLikeACriminal starting on 14th Oct, 2015 at 10pm on Zee Cafe. Led by special agent Aaron “Hotch” Hotchner, each member of the BAU (Behavioral Analysis Unit) brings in their unique art of profiling to track – the predators’ motivations and identify their emotional triggers in an attempt to stop them. Based in Quantico, Virginia, the BAU is a subsection of the FBI and are called in by the local police departments to assist with crimes that are of an extremely violent nature where the perpetrator is unknown. The highlight of the show is the fact that, viewers not only get to watch the profilers solve the crime, but also get to understand the criminal’s psychological intention while he commits it. The BAU uses evidence from the case and matches that information to historic precedents & psychological analyses as a means to solve the case.

Ashish The Executive Director & CEO Of ZMC Resigns

Zee Media Corporation’s executive director & CEO Ashish Kirpal Pandit has resigned from the company with effect from 12 Oct, 2015. He handled senior management roles for more than 27 years in industries ranging from telecom to retail. He has been associated with brands like Alcatel, Efirst Technologies, Fortis Healthcare Limited, Reliance Webstore & Tata Teleservices. Pandit joined Zee Media Corporation in Oct, 2014 and looked after senior management team. Pandit was with Digicall Global for 3 years before joining Zee.

Colors Firms Up Weekend Programming

After launching the new season of Bigg Boss, Colors is gearing up to firm up its weekend programming with the launch of another show titled ‘Naagin’starting from 31st Oct, 2015 the show will be aired on Sat & Sun at 8 pm. It will replace the channel’s celebrity talk show ‘The Anupam Kher Show – Kuch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai’ at 8 pm hosted by Anupam Kher. The concept of ‘Naagin’ is not new to India. There have been multiple movies based on the Ichhadhari Naagin like the Sridevi starrer ‘Naagin’, ‘Nagina’,’Sheshnaag’ and more recently, Mallika Sherawat’s Hiss. Moreover, in 2007 Zee TV launched a show on the same concept titled ‘Naagin – Waadon Ki Agnipariksha’, which was produced by A K Films. The series ran for 3 years and completed 219 episodes.

Big Magic & Big FM All Set To Launch ‘Fakebook With Kavita’

Reliance Broadcast Network’s entertainment channel Big Magic & 92.7 Big FM is all set to launch an integrated satirical comedy show called ‘Fakebook With Kavita’ with TV actress Kavita Kaushik. The show, which will be aired as a simulcast on television & radio for the 1st time in the industry, is a fresh take on the hypocritical Indian society, focusing on topical issues, which make you sit up, think & introspect, albeit with a pinch of humor. Starting from 19th Oct, 2015 ‘Fakebook With Kavita’ will be aired at 9 pm on Mons & Tues on Big Magic & from Mons to Thurs on 92.7 Big FM. In line with the programming strategy, the content will be sarcastic, irreverent, relatable & cutting edge. Kaushik will be seen doing sketches where her character will vary depending on the situations.

Sony Turns 20 In India

Glory, agony, poison, panacea…….As Multi Screen Media (MSM) (erstwhile Sony Entertainment Television India) completes 2 decades in the Indian broadcast space, it has witnessed it all. The broadcasting company, which started with 1 channel, is now 16 channels strong with even more additions in the pipeline. In a rapidly changing scenario, where the entire ecosystem is moving towards the digital platform, there are challenges & opportunities alike. And MSM CEO N P Singh is ready to take them all head on. A Sony veteran, Singh has been privy to the business affairs of the company for as many as 16 years since first joining the organisation in 1999 as chief financial officer (CFO).

Epic To Celebrate 1 Year Mark

In the entertainment world abound with clutter, niche television channels have to fight an uphill battle in order to get the necessary traction from viewers. As the Indian cable & satellite industry slowly but surely moves towards digital addressable systems (DAS), more & more niche channels will be viable with digitisation cutting distribution costs. One such niche channel that’s in it for the long haul, is The Epic Channel, which is on the brink of completing a year on air. Launched on 19th Nov, 2014, The Epic Channel will be celebrating its 1st anniversary by offering 2 news shows to its viewers. What’s more the channel also went High Definition (HD) on the Tata Sky DTH platform recently.

‘Aaj Ki Raat Hai Zindagi’ All Set To Air From 18th Oct 2015

Star India’s Hindi General Entertainment Channel (GEC) Star Plus is all set to launch its new show ‘Aaj Ki Raat Hai Zindagi’ (AKRHZ) with Amitabh Bachchan as the host on 18th Oct, 2015. The show will be aired on Suns at 8 pm. AKRHZ will replace the channel’s reality show Dance+, which concluded on 11th Oct, 2015. On Suns at 8 pm, Star Plus’ AKRHZ will be pitted against the following programmes across other Hindi GECs: While Colors’ airs ‘The Anupam Kher Show – Kucch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai’ in the 8 pm slot on Suns, Zee TV airs Hindi movies from 7.30 pm onwards. On the other hand, Star’s other Hindi GEC Life OK airs ‘Dafa 420’, Sab airs ‘Police Factory’, &TV airs the game show ‘Deal Or No Deal’ hosted by Ronit Roy & Sony Entertainment Television airs ‘Deva Shree Ganesha’.

Zing Launches ‘Bad Company’

Zee Entertainment Enterprises’ youth entertainment channel Zing launched a talk show called ‘Bad Company’ that will bring Indian television stars closer to the viewers. The show started airing from 10th Oct, 2015 in the 7 pm slot every Saturday. The no-holds barred talk show is being hosted by Vikas Gupta. The show will feature television stars like Ranvijay Singh, Gurmeet Choudhary, Karanvir Bohra, Kushal Tandon, Divyanka Tripathi & Prathyusha Banerjee amongst others.

Zee Pledges To Go Green

ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) once again leads the way by pledging to go Green with the launch of its ‘ZEE Is Green’ initiative recently. As a pilot project, ZEE has successfully transformed the set of &TV’s ‘Gangaa’ as a ‘Green’ set.

Filed Under: Film Tagged With: Small Screen

Southern Films Round Up

October 14, 2015 by Shaheen Raaj

Rudrama Devi

Raghava Changes Mind And Turns Corrupt

As a follow up to the blockbuster ‘Kanchana 2’ actor & director Raghava Lawrence announced 2 films ‘Motta Siva Ketta Siva’ with Kajal Agarwal as heroine and a supernatural thriller ‘Naaga’ both produced by Vendhar Movies. Now Lawrence has had a change of mind and has decided to 1st do a film for producer R. B. Chowdhary’s Super Good Films to be directed by Sai Ramani whose earlier film is the Jiiva starrer ‘Singam Puli’. Raghava has so far played the role of an innocent & loveable man but he is going for a complete makeover in this new untitled film in which he is going to appear as a corrupt cop. The film is a remake of the Telugu super hit ‘Pataas’ that had Nandamuri Kalyan Ram as the hero.

Keerthy Opts Out Of Mani Ratnam’s Film

Actor Dulquer Salman who was supposed to play one of the male leads in director Mani Ratnam’s upcoming bilingual film has been replaced by actor Naani as the latter is popular among both Tamil & Telugu audiences. Besides actress Keethy Suresh who had signed up for one of the female leads in the film has also opted out of the project. Keerhy’s father and Malayalam film producer Suresh Kumar has confirmed this and also explained the reason behind his daughter’s decision to let go off an offer that is still a dream for many actors & actresses across the country.

Amala Has The Most Dangerous Links Amongst The Tamil Celebrities

It was Dhanush In the year 2014, and now it is the much married & prettier by the day Amala Paul, who tops the list of the “Most Sensational Celebrities” according to Intel Securities Annual survey for the year 2015. Intel, the world’s largest computer chip manufacturing company keeps a watch on cyber criminals who take advantage of people’s search patterns and let loose malicious links to sites & lure unsuspecting users to reveal their sensitive information. Amala Paul’s name is linked to the maximum number of such malicious sites followed by Arya, Suriya, Vijay & Amy Jackson.

Actresss Aachi Manorama Is No More

Born as Gopishantha in Mannarugudi of Tamil Nadu, Manorama started acting in a theater group at the young age of 12. Her excellent skill of dialogue delivery won her a chance to act in films. She 1st acted in an unreleased film starring S. S. Rajendran & Devika. Then she was offered the lead heroine’s role in ‘Malaiyitta Mangai’ produced by ace lyricist Kannadasan and that became her 1st film. After that Manorama migrated to supporting characters laced with comedy and paired up with male comedians of those days like Nagesh. Cho, Thangavelu, V. K. Ramasamy, Thengai Srinivasan and many others. Her performance as Jil Jil Ramamani, a folk dancer in the Sivaji Ganesan – Padmini starrer classic film ‘Thillana Mohanambal’ was one of the highly regarded female supporting characters ever enacted in Tamil cinema and the same is also considered as the towering performance of her career in those days.

‘Rudrama Devi’ Buy 1 Get 1 In USA

Indian’s 1st and biggest historical 3D film, ‘Rudrama Devi’ is running strong in USA. It has already crossed half a million mark by collecting $570k recently and heading towards 1 million club in the overall run. Online ticketing website www.fandango.com offer a buy 1 get 1 free ticket scheme per transaction for those buying tickets and watching Rudrama Devi. This offer was valid only till 11th Oct, 2015 for ticket bought online at www.fandango.com but it was not valid at counter purchases at any other ticketing websites.

Srihari’s Statue Unveiled by Dasari

It’s been 2 years since Srihari passed away and a perfect replacement for him has been not found yet. He made a mark in Tollywood with his versatility and will be remembered forever not only for his acting skills, but also for the philanthropic activities he had done. A statue was unveiled as an honor of this late actor. Dasari Narayana Rao inaugurated the statue at Balanagar in Hyderabad on 11th Oct, 2015. A few Telangana minsters also attended the inauguration event.

Actor Raj Tarun Teams Up With Director Puri Jagannadh

Raj Tarun has now become one of the most sought after young actors in Tollywood. After acting in just 2 films, he got a chance to work with Sukumar for ‘Kumari 21F’, for which the director penned the story, the screenplay & the dialogues, apart from producing it. The latest news is that Puri Jagannadh will be producing one of Raj Tarun’s upcoming films. The ‘Temper’ director is said to have also penned the story & the dialogues for this film, which will be directed by yesteryear actress Revathi.

The Tamil Version Of ‘Akhil’ All Set To Be Released

The Tamil version of ‘Akhil’ will be released simultaneously with the Telugu version of the film on 22nd Oct, 2015. C. Kalyan bagged the Tamil rights of the film and he is planning to hold a grand event in Chennai to introduce ‘Akhil’ to the Tamil audiences. As per the latest update, the Tamil version of the film has been titled as ‘Surya Kavacham’, which is very much linked to the concept of the movie. The film will be a socio fantasy entertainer. V. V. Vinayak is the director of this film and Nithiin is the producer.

Sreenivasan in ‘Ceylon Cinema’

Versatile cine artiste Sreenivasan will play the lead role in a movie titled ‘Ceylon Cinema’. The movie has been written by M. Vineesh. He will also direct the movie. The pooja of the movie was held at Kozhikode.’Ceylon Cinema’ will also star Aju Varghese, Ramesh Pisharody, Dharmajan, Kalabhavan Shajon et al in pivotal roles. Gopi Sunder will handle the music department for this movie. Suesh Sastha is the cameraman.

‘Mulgudi Days’ Official Teaser Released

The official teaser of ‘Mulgudi Days’ has been released. The movie is based in a fictional village and revolves around a school high up in a hilly terrain. Anoop Menon & Bhama play the lead actors in the movie. The teaser of the movie depicts the actors along with school kids. Anoop Menon had gone on record saying that this was one of those movies which has changed him as a person and brought about a new dimension in him. The movie has been completed and is ready for release.

Srinivas Unhappy

Noted producer of Kannada cinema B. K. Srinivasa feels depressed for showcasing him and his Sri Harsha Productions in distasteful manner by the director of his film ‘Dove’ Alemari Santhu. B. K. Srinivasa who lives on the slogan ‘Nambikeye Jeevana’ (Belief is life) believed Alemari Santhu completely in the production of ‘Dove’ but did not know that he would project his name so poorly in his own film. In the title card his name is not spelt properly and the photo that comes with the name is not given prominence for investing crores on his film ‘Dove’. Director Santhu is solely responsible for it. Secondly his prestigious banner Sri Harsha Productions has been kept as the name of a bar & restaurant. Which has hurt B. K. Srinivasa no end.

Welcome To Anoop

A long stay in the cinema industry as producer, Kannada activist & KFCC active member Sa Ra Govindu is an anxious person today. That is because his son’s debut film ‘Dove’ is releasing all over Karnataka. It is a 1st test match for Anoop in the days of ’20:20’. Anoop’s late mother wanted to see his son in a cricket ground hitting six & fours. He has landed in another popular field of cinema. He is watched by lakhs of people like in cricket ground. This is what Sa Ra Govindu lamented when his son was introduced to media for the 1st time at Hotel Le Meredian. Anoop Sa Ra Govindu is taking birth in the profession that has given life for innumerable personalities all around the world. For the connection of a renowned father, there were several best wishes to Anoop in the print media. Anoop Sa Ra Govindu has been already invited for the 2nd film by noted producer Kanakapura Srinivas.

Filed Under: Film Tagged With: Film, Movie, South India FILM

Victims file suit against CIA torture architects for ‘systemic brutality’

October 14, 2015 by Nasheman

Psychologists James Mitchell and Bruce Jessen, who thus far escaped accountability, face charges of ‘cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment; non-consensual human experimentation; and war crimes.’

Suleiman Abdullah Salim, who survived the CIA's brutal torture regime, was released after five years of being held without charge. (Photo via ACLU)

Suleiman Abdullah Salim, who survived the CIA’s brutal torture regime, was released after five years of being held without charge. (Photo via ACLU)

by Lauren McCauley, Common Dreams

The two psychologists credited with creating the brutal, post-9/11 Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) torture regime are being sued by three victims of their program on charges that include “human experimentation” and “war crimes.”

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on Tuesday filed the suit against CIA contractors James Mitchell and Bruce Jessen, on behalf of torture survivors Suleiman Abdullah Salim and Mohamed Ahmed Ben Soud, as well as the family of Gul Rahman, who died of hypothermia in his cell as result of the torture he endured.

The suit, which is the first to rely on the findings of the Senate Intelligence Committee report on CIA torture, charges Mitchell and Jessen under the Alien Tort Statute for “their commission of torture, cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment; non-consensual human experimentation; and war crimes,” all of which violate international law.

The pair, both former U.S. military psychologists, earned more than $80 million for “designing, implementing, and personally administering” the program, which employed “a pseudo-scientific theory of countering resistance that justified the use of torture,” that was based on studies in which researchers “taught dogs ‘helplessness’ by subjecting them to uncontrollable pain,” according to the suit.

“These psychologists devised and supervised an experiment to degrade human beings and break their bodies and minds,” said Dror Ladin, a staff attorney with the ACLU National Security Project. “It was cruel and unethical, and it violated a prohibition against human experimentation that has been in place since World War II.”

In a lengthy report, the ACLU describes each plaintiff’s journey.

After being abducted by CIA and Kenyan agents in Somalia, Suleiman Abdullah, a newly wed fisherman from Tanzania, was subjected to “an incessant barrage of torture techniques,” including being forced to listen to pounding music, doused with ice-cold water, beaten, hung from a metal rod, chained into stress positions “for days at a time,” starved, and sleep deprived. This went on for over a month, and was continually interspersed with “terrifying interrogation sessions in which he was grilled about what he was doing in Somalia and the names of people, all but one of whom he’d never heard of.”

Held for over five years without charge and moved numerous times, Abdullah was eventually sent home to Zanzibar “‘with a document confirming he posed no threat to the United States.” He continues to suffer from flashbacks, physical pain, and has “become a shell of himself.”

Mohamed Ben Soud was captured in April 2003 during a joint U.S.-Pakistani raid on his home in Pakistan, where he and his wife moved after fleeing the Gaddafi regime in Libya. Ben Soud said that Mitchell even “supervised the proceedings” at one of his water torture sessions.

Describing Ben Soud’s ordeal, the ACLU writes:

The course of Mohamed’s torture adhered closely to the “procedures” the CIA laid out in a 2004 memo to the Justice Department. Even before arriving at COBALT, [a CIA prison in Afghanistan] Mohamed was subjected to “conditioning” procedures designed to cause terror and vulnerability. He was rendered to COBALT hooded, handcuffed, and shackled. When he arrived, an American woman told him he was a prisoner of the CIA, that human rights ended on September 11, and that no laws applied in the prison.

Quickly, his torture escalated. For much of the next year, CIA personnel kept Mohamed naked and chained to the wall in one of three painful stress positions designed to keep him awake. He was held in complete isolation in a dungeon-like cell, starved, with no bed, blanket, or light. A bucket served as his toilet. Ear-splitting music pounded constantly. The stench was unbearable. He was kept naked for weeks. He wasn’t permitted to wash for five months.

According to the report, the torture regime designed and implemented by Mitchell and Jessen “ensnared at least 119 men, and killed at least one—a man named Gul Rahman who died in November 2002 of hypothermia after being tortured and left half naked, chained to the wall of a freezing-cold cell.”

Gul’s family has never been formally notified of his death, nor has his body been returned to them for a dignified burial, the ACLU states. Further, no one has been held accountable for his murder. But the report notes, “An unnamed CIA officer who was trained by Jessen and who tortured Rahman up until the day before he was found dead, however, later received a $2,500 bonus for ‘consistently superior work.'”

The ACLU charges that the theories devised by Mitchell and Jessen and employed by the CIA, “had never been scientifically tested because such trials would violate human experimentation bans established after Nazi experiments and atrocities during World War II.” Yet, they were the basis of “some of the worst systematic brutality ever inflicted on detainees in modern American history.”

Despite last year’s release of the Senate Torture Report, the government has prosecuted only a handful of low-level soldiers and one CIA contractor for prisoner abuse. Meanwhile, the architects of the CIA’s torture program, which include Mitchell and Jessen, have escaped any form of accountability.

Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) issued a statement saying they welcomed the federal lawsuit as “a landmark step toward accountability,” and urged the U.S. Department to follow suit and criminally “investigate and prosecute all those responsible for torture, including health professionals.”

In the wake of the Senate report, the group strongly criticized Mitchell and Jessen for betraying “the most fundamental duty of the healing professions.”

In Tuesday’s statement, Donna McKay, PHR’s executive director, said: “Psychologists have an ethical responsibility to ‘do no harm,’ but Mitchell and Jessen’s actions rank among the worst medical crimes in U.S. history.”

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: CIA, Suleiman Abdullah Salim, TORTURE, United States, USA

Man Booker Prize 2015: Marlon James wins for A Brief History of Seven Killings

October 14, 2015 by Nasheman

Marlon James: "It's totally surreal... it's so exciting, so humbling"

Marlon James: “It’s totally surreal… it’s so exciting, so humbling”

by Tim Masters, BBC

Jamaican author Marlon James has won the Man Booker Prize for his novel inspired by the attempted assassination of Bob Marley in the 1970s.

Michael Wood, chair of the judges, described A Brief History of Seven Killings as the “most exciting” book on the shortlist.

The 680-page epic was “full of surprises” as well as being “very violent” and “full of swearing”.

James was announced as the winner of the £50,000 prize in London on Tuesday.

He is the first Jamaican author to win the Man Booker Prize. Receiving the award, he said a huge part of the novel had been inspired by reggae music.

“The reggae singers Bob Marley and Peter Tosh were the first to recognise that the voice coming out our mouths was a legitimate voice for fiction and poetry.”

The 44-year-old author was presented with his prize by the Duchess of Cornwall.

He admitted it was “so surreal” to win and dedicated the award to his late father who had shaped his “literary sensibilities”.

Set across three decades, the novel uses the true story of the attempt on the life of reggae star Marley to explore the turbulent world of Jamaican gangs and politics.

Wood said the judges had come to a unanimous decision in less than two hours.

He praised the book’s “many voices” – it contains more than 75 characters – which “went from Jamaican slang to Biblical heights”.

He said: “One of the pleasures of reading it is that you turn the page and you’re not quite sure who the next narrator will be.”

But he acknowledged that some of the content might be too much for some readers.

A Brief History of Seven Killings is Marlon James’s third novel

This year’s shortlisted authors: (from left) Sunjeev Sahota, Chigozie Obioma, Hanya Yanagihara, Anne Tyler, Tom McCarthy and Marlon James

“Someone said to me they like to give Booker winners to their mother to read, but this might be a little difficult.”

Wood admitted his own mother wouldn’t have got beyond the first few pages on the basis of the swearing.

“A lot of it is very very funny,” he added. “It is not an easy read. It is a big book. There is some tough stuff and there is a lot of swearing but it is not a difficult book to approach.”

In his novel’s acknowledgements, Marlon James himself thanks his family but adds: “This time around maybe my mother should stay away from part four of the book”.

‘Visceral and uncompromising’

This is the second year the Man Booker prize has been open to all authors writing in English, regardless of nationality.

James, who currently lives in Minneapolis, US, can expect a dramatic boost in sales following his win. After A Brief History of Seven Killings was named on the Booker shortlist last month sales tripled to more than 1,000 copies a week, according to Nielsen Book Research.

“It’s a visceral and uncompromising novel that sheds a stark light on a profoundly disturbing chapter of Jamaica’s history, but it’s also an ingeniously structured feat of storytelling that draws the reader in with its eye-catching use of language,” said Jonathan Ruppin, web editor at Foyles bookshops.

“For booksellers, it’s truly heartening to see such ambition and originality recognised and rewarded, and readers have already been embracing it with great enthusiasm.”

Australian author Richard Flanagan won last year’s prize for his wartime novel The Narrow Road to the Deep North.

Man Booker 2015 shortlist

The six novels on this year’s Man Booker short list

This year’s Man Booker shortlist featured two authors from the UK, two from the US and one each from Jamaica and Nigeria.

  • Marlon James (Jamaica), A Brief History of Seven Killings
  • Tom McCarthy (UK), Satin Island
  • Chigozie Obioma (Nigeria), The Fishermen
  • Sunjeev Sahota (UK), The Year of the Runaways
  • Anne Tyler (US), A Spool of Blue Thread
  • Hanya Yanagihara (US), A Little Life

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: A Brief History of Seven Killings, Bob Marley, Jamaica, Man Booker Prize 2015, Marlon James

Indore ODI: Dhoni’s unbeaten 92 takes India to 247

October 14, 2015 by Nasheman

India's captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni plays a shot during the second ODI against South Africa in Indore on Wednesday. AFP

India’s captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni plays a shot during the second ODI against South Africa in Indore on Wednesday. AFP

Indore: A fighting unbeaten 92 by captain M.S. Dhoni helped India post a respectable 247/9 in 50 overs against South Africa in the second ODI here on Wednesday.

The under-fire Dhoni smashed seven boundaries and four sixes during his 86-ball knock. Dhoni, who walked into bat with India, struggling at 82/3, added 41 runs for the seventh wicket with Bhuvneshwar Kumar (14). He continued the good work in the company of Harbhajan Singh (22) and took India past the 200-run mark.

Earlier, the hosts were off to a poor start with in-from opener Rohit Sharma being castled by Kagiso Rabada for three. Shikhar Dhawan and Ajinkya Rahane put the Indian innings back on track with a 56-run stand for the second wicket. Dhawan was dismissed by Morne Morkel for 23.

Virat Kohli was involved in a mix-up with Rahane and was run out for 12, with the total reading 82. Rahane, who made a fine 51 was bowled round the legs by leg-spinner Imran Tahir as the home side slipped to 102/4 in the 23rd over. Suresh Raina failed to open his account as he was caught behind off Morkel.

Dale Steyn claimed 3/49 for the South Africans.

(IANS)

Filed Under: Sports Tagged With: Cricket, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, South Africa

Shiv Sena reacts to Modi’s Dadri remark; says ‘we respect him for Godhra’

October 14, 2015 by Nasheman

modi

Mumbai: Just hours after the Prime Minister termed the Dadri lynching incident and cancellation of Ghulam Ali’s concert in Mumbai as ‘unfortunate’, its alliance partner in Maharashtra-Shiv Sena has retaliated that the statements have come from the ‘Prime Minister’ and not ‘dear Modiji’.

Senior Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut reacting to Modi’s comments raked up the 2002 Gujarat riots and said, “PM Modi got worldwide recognition because of Godhra and Ahmedabad incidents and we also respect him because of that, but if he has made such comments on Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri and Ghulam Ali then it is unfortunate.”

Shiv Sena had earlier forced the cancellation of Pakistan ghazal singer Ghulam Ali’s concert in Mumbai. Columnist Sudheendra Kulkarni was also attacked with black paint by Shiv Sena activists protesting former Pakistan foreign minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri’s book launch on Monday.

Earlier, in the day Modi while speaking to a newspaper had stressed that the BJP was opposed to pseudo-secularism.

On his party’s stand (on such incidents), Modi said, “The BJP never supported such kind of incidents. The opposition is raising the bogey of communalism against the BJP bringing those incidents but are they themselves not doing politics of polarisation”.

He said, “Such debate has taken place in the past. The BJP always opposed pseudo-secularism. Now again this debate is taking place in the face of unfortunate social malaise”.

“This debate can be resolved through dialogue and discussion,” he said.

Modi claimed that this a was merely vote bank politics and those parties resorting to such propaganda did not want the development of minorities.

(Agencies)

Filed Under: India Tagged With: Beef, BJP, Dadri, Ghulam Ali, Godhra, Mohammad Akhlaq, Mohammad Iqlakh, Narendra Modi, Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena

Kalburgi’s wife ​Umadevi refuses to accept Basavashri award

October 14, 2015 by Nasheman

M M Kalburgi

Dharwad: M M Kalburgi’s wife Umadevi has reportedly denied accepting the Basavashri award from Murugha Mutt in Chitradurga.

Reports state that Umadevi in a letter to the Murugha Mutt said that she was still in a shock after her husband’s death and was not able to receive the Basavashri award under such circumstances.

Professor MM Kalburgi was killed by two men on August 30.

The Murugha Mutt had planned on conferring the award on MM Kalburgi posthumously at an event scheduled for October 7. However, on October 9, Umadevi thanked the Murugha Mutt for choosing MM Kalburgi for the award but denied accepting it.

Another report adds that the Mutt wanted to send a person to convince them in accepting the award, but the family said that they were in no position to do so.

(Agencies)

Filed Under: India Tagged With: Basavashri Award, M M Kalburgi, Murugha Mutt, Umadevi

Dadri lynching and banning Pakistan singer regrettable; but don’t blame us: Modi

October 14, 2015 by Nasheman

Narendra_Modi

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in an interview to Kolkata-based Bangla language newspaper Anand Bazaar Patrika, termed the Dadri incident ‘dukhad’ (unfortunate) and questioned the logic behind blaming the Central government for the incident.

He said the Dadri incident and the banning of Pakistani singer Ghulam Ali’s concerts were regrettable, but asked if it “is it fair to blame the Centre?”

Mohammad Akhlaq was beaten to death by a mob which suspected him of having stored and consumed beef. Several members of the BJP are among the suspects in the case.

‘Always practiced secularism’

The Prime Minister said that the “BJP had always practiced secularism in any situation where there have been differences; the party has never supported anyone involved in such incidents.”

He took on the Opposition too, saying that by accusing the BJP of communalism and polarising communities, “isn’t the Opposition itself guilty of polarising the atmosphere?”

(Agencies)

Filed Under: India Tagged With: Beef, BJP, Dadri, Ghulam Ali, Mohammad Akhlaq, Mohammad Iqlakh, Narendra Modi

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