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Tag: Lucknow

  • Star Sports launches marketing campaign to build Hero Hockey India League

    Star Sports launches marketing campaign to build Hero Hockey India League

    MUMBAI: Star Sports, India’s leading sports broadcaster, has launched a unique marketing campaign to build the second edition of Hero Hockey India League (HHIL) which starts later this month on January 25, 2014. Star Sports has shot the marketing campaign across all six team states which are participating in the league. The campaign shows star players of all the teams showcasing their hockey skills at the most iconic locations of the regions. Leveraging the presence of elite national and international hockey players, the broadcaster has positioned the league as ‘The new face of Hockey’.

     

    The second edition of HHIL will see world’s best hockey players playing in diverse cities across the country. This year 72 Olympians from 11 countries will participate in the league which will be played in 6 cities including New Delhi, Lucknow, Mohali, Bhubaneswar, Mumbai and Ranchi. A total of 34 matches will be played across 29 match days on home and away basis.

     

    Speaking on the occasion, Gayatri Yadav, Executive Vice President Marketing & Communications, STAR India, said, “HHIL in just its second edition has emerged as a truly global league and has attracted the world’s best Hockey talent to its fold. We will complement the standard of the league and mount a special production effort to showcase Hockey like it has never been done before. We will create an exciting visual spectacle for Hockey fans. We will present ‘The new face of Hockey’.

     

    This intent emanates from our ambition which is to change the face of sports broadcasting in India and provide world-class sports coverage to fans across the country. It is in-line with Star Sports’ philosophy which urges India to ‘Believe’. Hockey is a priority sport for us and we want to bring the fans closer to their heroes than ever before.

     

    In a bold and unprecedented move, we shot the campaign for HHIL across all the team states using iconic backdrops and elements of each team’s hockey heritage. The visuals show star players of each team presenting the ‘The new face of Hockey’ at the landmark locations in their regions whether it is the by lanes of Varanasi for Uttar Pradesh Wizards team or Jantar Mantar for Delhi Waveriders team. The idea is to build team affinity as well as local pride for each and every participating team.”

     

    Speaking on the occasion, Juju Basu, Head of Communications for Sports business, Star India, said, “The campaign has been created to strengthen the bond between the fans and the teams using their team stars at the locations they are proud of. The films are a cheer for the great hockey action that this league has started bringing to India.”

     

    Overall, the campaign will have 7 different films – 1 for each team and an overall thematic one. The campaign has been shot at the most iconic locations in each of the participating franchise cities/ regions. The campaign for Delhi Waveriders team was shot at the Jantar Mantar while players from the Uttar Pradesh Wizards teams were filmed playing Hockey in the lanes of Varanasi. The Kalinga Lancers campaign was shot at the Puri beach. Star players of Dabur Mumbai Magicians were shot playing Hockey in a Mumbai local train while Ranchi Rhinos ad-campaign was shot with star players playing at the Dassam Falls.  The star players of Jaypee Punjab Warriors team were filmed in Amritsar with the Golden Temple as the back drop.

     

    The high decibel campaign will be played across key channels of Star network.

  • …bites the bullet

    …bites the bullet

    MUMBAI: The tendency of filmmakers from the North and other Hindi speaking regions is to opt for a subject with a local flavour typical to their home turf. Tigmanshu Dhulia does just that. In Bullett Raja he creates an oft-seen UP drama about guns and goons and politician puppeteers. This is the region where either the other person is your enemy or he is a prospective backstabber. Like in all such films, the educated youth is unable to find jobs so they take to guns and join the underworld.  Not long ago, such films fitted in a slot described as B Grade films, and also enjoyed the patronage of masses; the gentry were usually oblivious of such fare. What worked for such films was that their budgets were sensible. Now when big bucks are spent, the cast and promotion had better guarantee an initial to secure the investment and guard a lot of reputations.

    Saif is Raja Mishra, a Brahmin from Lucknow looking for a decent job when he gets into trouble with a bunch of goons. He fights his way through while on the run. He spots a baraat and blends in with the crowd, landing up at Sharat Saxena’s house where he meets and befriends Jimmy Shergill. The occasion is Saxena’s daughter’s wedding, an excuse for the performance of something like a mujra performed by Mahie Gill, through which Shergill and Saif clink glasses of alcohol and strengthening their friendship further. 

    Producer: Rahul Mittra, Nitin Tej Ahuja, Tigmanshu Dhulia.
    Director: Tagmanshu Dhulia.
    Cast: : Saif Ali Khan, SonakshiSinha, Vidyut Jamwal,
    Jimmy Sheirgill, Gulshan Grover, Raj Babbar, Mahie
    Gill (sp App), Chunky Pandey, Ravi Kissen, Vishwajeet Pradhan,
    Sharat Saxena, Vipin Sharma.

    Mahie Gill notices Saif ogling her and is game for a fling. As the pair move towards the woods for some privacy, Saif eavesdrops on a conspiracy to raid the Saxena house by surprise and kill everybody present. The conspirer is Chunky Pandey, who has been brought up by Saxena as one of his own. He has now joined Saxena’s rival, Vishwajeet Pradhan.

    Saif feels he owes allegiance to the Saxena household and to Shergill for the shelter he got there. He rushes to alert them. The Saxena clan is ready for the gunfight; Saif and Shergill form a formidable team as they shoot one raider after the other while also covering each other. The fight gets over and Saxena is impressed by the duo’s heroics and Saif’s in particular since he had nothing to do with the family. Saxena asks them to join his gang where he will be rewarded well as against a job outside. Their desires to stay within law and find a job notwithstanding, both finally give in and take to guns for Saxena. They take refuge in jail while things blow over, where they meet a very influential prisoner, Vipin Sharma, who is always on one of his multiple cell phones.He is a fixer and wheeler-dealer for local politicians, Raj Babbar being a prime one.

    Babbar is the most powerful politician in the region and on Vipin’s suggestion he takes Saif and Shergill under his wing. Now they shoot for him. Babbar asks them to attend a fundraising pre-election conference headed by Gulshan Grover, who is described as Kuber, the Lord of Wealth. The duo rubs Grover the wrong way and he in turn insults and humiliates them. The pair decide to take revenge. They barge into a hotel room where Grover has planned a casting couch session for a film he is financing. The aspirant is Sonakshi Sinha who is offering to kiss Grover on the cheek because that is as far as she will go when the duo arrive. They kidnap Grover and later release him for five crore rupees.

    A bit late in the film but it is time for some romantic light moments between Saif and Sonakshi. Luckily, both take no time to say ‘I Love You’ to each other with Gill as a bystander. In celebration, they fly to Mumbai, sing a song and return to base and back to business. A very angry Grover is waiting for them as he wants revenge for what they did to him. Grover has also sought the services of Ravi Kissen, a sharpshooter who can shoot somebody dead from 100 yards. They catch Shergill alone with Sonakshi in the house. It is time for Shergill to die so that Saif can justify the title Bullett Raja as well as find the motive to wipe out all enemies. The second half is left to Saif to carry on his shoulders.

    But Saif can’t carry on a film that has no story, only people planning and plotting against others. To liven up things, Vidyut Jamwal is introduced in the story. Jamwal has already proved his prowess in martial arts with his earlier outing on the big screen and here, in measured doses, it is fun to watch him in action. He and Saif also plan and plot but only for the sake of creating an opening for the sequel!

    UP-Bihar background with totally local issues and flavour don’t appeal. Even an interesting film like Sehar had not worked. They offer nothing novel in their local bahubalis and gun wielding goons. Bullett Raja lacks romance, emotion, music and drama. It becomes monotonous as somebody or the other is trigger happy at all times. If this was Dhulia’s idea of a full-fledged commercial film, he is about half a century behind. The trick now is to cater to a mixed audience of multiplexes, single screen, overseas and satellite. If first two are drawn, a film is safe and rest is assured. Dhulia’s creative touch is missing here. Music fails to prop up the film. Photography is good. The film can be trimmed a little. Despite so many enmities, the dialogue is uninspiring; real fights are provoked by cutting edge dialogue and keep the audience along. The film was somewhat interesting till Saif and Shergill operate as a pair but loses steam thereafter except when Jamwal makes an entry.

    Saif looks very un-UP like but he does okay. Shergill brightens up the goings on while he is around. Jamwal is good in a brief role. While Babbar, Grover, Saxena, Pradhan and Ravi Kisan stay true to their respective images, Pandey is a misfit. Vipin Sharma is sincere as ever. Sonakshi Sinha is ready to burst at seams and contributes nothing to the film.

    Bullet Raja has had a weak opening, failing to manage a draw even at single screens. It faces poor prospects at the box office.

  • Case against Sanjay Leela, Censor Board Chief

    Case against Sanjay Leela, Censor Board Chief

    NEW DELHI: The Chief Judicial Magistrate, Lucknow, has sought report by 8 December from the Station Officer, Gomti Nagar, regarding social activist Nutan Thakur’s case for registration of FIR against Kishore Lulla, producer, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, director of Goliyon ki Raasleela: Ram Leela and Leela Samson, Censor Board Chairperson.

     

    As per the complaint, this title was given despite specific order of the Allahabad High Court in a previous case filed by her where the Court had said that religious sensitivity needs to be addressed.

     

    Later the Censor Board under Samson passed this film despite knowledge of orders of Allahabad High Court in Vinod Shanker Misra case where Court had regarded use of word Raasleela as hurting the sentiments of Hindus, a fact which was proved when the High Court banned this film in UP, saying that its title hurt the Hindu sentiments.

     

    Based on these facts, Thakur had presented an FIR before the Police and approached the Court when the police refused to register the FIR.

  • Notice to I&B Ministry, NBA on allegations of paid news

    Notice to I&B Ministry, NBA on allegations of paid news

    NEW DELHI: The Allahabad High Court today issued notice to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) and the News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA) in a petition relating to paid news.

     

    Justice Devi Prasad Singh and Justice Ashok Pal Singh of the Lucknow bench said that in a democratic country while freedom of expression is a basic requirement, there are problems related to paid news and other vested news if there is no forum with the government for complaints to be presented by the public.

     

    The court has asked the ministry as well as the media organisations to present their reply about social activist Dr Nutan Thakur’s complaint and the present grievance redressal mechanism for viewers against news channels, within four weeks.

     

    Thakur had previously sent her complaint relating to news channels reports about the role of Raja Bhaiya in DSP Ziaul Haq murder being one-sided, but the NBSA had concluded that no impropriety was done in broadcasting of these news items. She then approached the High Court against this decision.

  • Delhi High Court dismisses plea seeking ban on movie ‘Ram-Leela’

    Delhi High Court dismisses plea seeking ban on movie ‘Ram-Leela’

    NEW DELHI: Even as the Delhi High Court has dismissed a public interest litigation seeking a ban on the release of the movie Ram-Leela on the ground that it would hurt the religious sentiments of people, a review petition is coming up on this issue in the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court later this week.

    A division bench of Chief Justice N V Ramana and Justice Manmohan of Delhi High Court imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on NGO Rashtravadi Shiv Sena which filed the plea wanting a change of title of the movie starring Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone should be changed as it hurts the religious sentiments of people.

    (The Allahabad High Court had earlier rejected a similar petition by social activist Nutan Thakur on the ground that the film had not been cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification. However, Thakur has filed a review on the plea that the trailer has been passed by the CBFC.)

    Ram-Leela, which is scheduled to be released on 15 November, has been directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

    The plea in Delhi filed by the NGO’s president Jai Bhagwan Goyal said: “The title Ram-Leela which is understood by Hindus as enactment of the life and story of Lord Ram (Maryada Purshottam), is nowhere doing the same but on the contrary the film is portraying sex, violence and vulgarity, which is deeply hurting the religious sentiments and feelings of Hindus.”

    “The enactment, production and scheduled release of the film Ram-Leela is a gross insult to the religious feelings of Hindus,” the plea said, adding the objection is only in respect of naming such a film Ram-Leela.

  • Radio City Super Singer returns with Season V

    Radio City Super Singer returns with Season V

    MUMBAI: FM Bole Toh Radio City is back with Season 5 of Radio City Super Singer across India. Taking off from the super success last year, this time Radio City Super Singer assumes a scale larger than ever before.The winner gets felicitated with a prize money of Rs. 1 Lakh and a break with popular music directors across India. The mega talent hunt rolled out carpets on the 8th of September, across India.

    Radio City Super Singer is one of the biggest celebrations of music on an FM radio platform. For the first time, Radio City introduces a WAP site, where participants can upload their audio clips through a simple log-in (http://myradiocity.in) from any mobile phone. Other than this, interested contestants can avail of any of the traditional avenues of auditioning. They can either come and audition at our studios or upload / record voice clips on the Super Singer Tab on our Facebook page. The other options include the on-ground auditions (malls & colleges) & IVRS.

    The auditions are followed by short listing a few contestants who have an edge over the others. Rough edges will be polished off, as the shortlisted few get trained by musical geniuses. The final five across each city will fight it out for the title of ‘Radio City Super Singer’.

    Speaking about Radio City Super Singer, Ms. Apurva Purohit, CEO, Radio City 91.1 FM, says, “Radio City Super Singer started as an experiment & was the first ever talent hunt by a radio station. Through the years it has grown in stature & size to carve a niche & become one of the most awaited engagement activities. Last year we had over 80000 enthusiastic singers across the country registering & auditioning with us. The aim has always been to discover the amazing singing talent from across the country and provide a platform that befits the talent. By the sheer number of touch points we create, we reach out to people like no other property does. Moreover, this is the only singing talent hunt show in India that runs in 5 languages (Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada & Marathi) at the same time. The overwhelming success of the previous years not only justifies our aim but also makes us want to scale newer heights.”

    Radio City Super Singer has emerged as an incubator of talent through the years, bringing India’s latent talent to the limelight. This year, our winners get a head-start in the music industry, with the opportunity to work with eminent music directors across India. Additionally, they get featured on ‘Freedom Hour’ – an hour dedicated to unplugged music on Radio City. Radio City Super Singer wraps up on the last week of September.

    Radio City Super Singer pits singers of contemporary music across a cross-section of genres, to compete against each other.. Through the years, the talent hunt has carved out a fan-base of its own. This time, it just gets bigger and better.

    Stay tuned to Radio City 91.1 FM to get more updates on Radio city Super Singer, This year the hunt for the best voice takes place across Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Lucknow, Hyderabad, Pune, Jaipur, Baroda, Surat, Ahmednagar, Nagpur, Vizag, Coimbatore. Also log on to www.facebook.com/radiocityindia.

  • Other newspapers cannot be forced to give names of rival newspapers or channels

    Other newspapers cannot be forced to give names of rival newspapers or channels

    NEW DELHI: The Information and Broadcasting Ministry is of the view that Print and Electronic Media cannot be forced to take specific names of other newspapers and news channels they refer to in their news.

    This has been stated by the Ministry in a letter to social activist Nutan Thakur who had made certain representations in this regard in the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court.

    The Ministry said that Chairman of the Press Council is of the view that as per section 7 of the Press and Registration of Books Act 1867, the editor is the sole authority to decide the contents. Hence, it does not deem fit to lay rules making it mandatory to state the names of other newspapers being referred to and this decision shall be left to the Editor.
    As regards need to keep record of their newspapers for a definite period, the Ministry said under section 25(1) of the proposed Press and Registration of Books and Publications Bill, there is a provision to deliver a copy of the newspaper as and when demanded by the Press Registrar General.

  • Kamal Khan gets a breather on his comments on YouTube

    Kamal Khan gets a breather on his comments on YouTube

    NEW DELHI: A Lucknow court has dismissed the petition filed by UP cadre IPS officer Amitabh Thakur for wanting to file a first information report against producer-actor-director Kamal R Khan with regard to alleged remarks against two scheduled castes in a comment about the film Raanjhana.

     

    Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Manish dismissed the petition alleging the objectionable criminal comments were made in a Video on YouTube. The petition was filed after the police refused to register an FIR. Thakur had given an FIR to Gomtinagar police station, Lucknow and SSP, Lucknow saying that Khan’s comments are clearly casteist in nature and constitute an offence under section 3(1)(x) of the SC, ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989.

     

    The ACJM said that an offence under the SC/ST Act is made only when it is aimed at a particular individual which is not the case here, and so no cognizable offence is being made.

     

    In the 09.40 minute video review uploaded on YouTube on 20 June, Khan said: “Sir, I don’t know whether you are from UP or not, but I am. In the whole of UP, you will find cobblers and sweepers who look like Dhanush but you will not find such single rotten Brahman as him in entire UP.” He also made some other extremely improper personal comments against the actor Dhanush.

     

    Khan has earlier invited controversies with his film Desh Drohi and his presence in Bigg Biss 3, is once again in trouble.

     

    In his very first film Desh Drohi, Khan indirectly referred to the Shiv Sena through his dialogue “Jitni nafrat humhare liye tumhare dil main hain , usse zyada pyar tumhare liye humare seene main hain. Kabhi UP Bihar aake dekhna, mehman ko bhagwan samajhte hain hum.”

     

    This resulted in the film being banned in Mumbai for two months.

  • POGO & Chhota Bheem make learning fun for Delhi kids

    POGO & Chhota Bheem make learning fun for Delhi kids

    August 21st 2013, Delhi: In today’s world, kids need to be healthy, smart, popular and secure to be successful and thrive! POGO, through a fun and interactive School Contact Program (SCP) called Bheem’s Masti Ki Class, aims to equip school children across the country with skills, tips and tricks to help them do just that!

    The Bheem’s Masti ki Class SCP will be conducted with over 5lakh students from approximately 550 schools across 8 cities in India. In this activation, POGO will take an ordinary day of a school-going child and invigorate it with Chhota Bheem’s tips on etiquettes, safety, games and quiz contests. The session is guaranteed to be interactive and engaging, providing an innovative and fun learning experience for the children.

    In Delhi, POGO will cover approximately 100 schools and engage around one lakh students between July to September 2013. To add to the excitement, Chhota Bheem made a surprise visit at Ryan International school in Vasant Kunj today and entertained kids with a special performance. Children were thrilled to see their favourite toon star and were eager to learn new tips from Chhota Bheem himself.

    Commenting on this initiative, Krishna Desai, Senior Director & Network Head – Kids, South Asia, Turner International India Pvt. Ltd.said, “Year after year, the POGO School Contact Programme has been a successful platform to bridge the gap between kids and their favourite channel and cartoons. The idea behind Bheem’s Masti ki Class SCP is to not only to entertain kids but also teach them how to be proficient, healthy and vigilant like Chhota Bheem.”

    In addition, kids across the country can participate in the Bheem’s Masti ki Class contest on POGO and win exciting prizes. Three lucky winners will win an all-expenses paid trip to Singapore & Sentosa along with their parent. And that’s not all! Chhota Bheem and Chutki will personally come to see them off to the airport! To participate and win many more prizes, all kids have to do is tune in to POGO from 3:30pm onwards every Monday to Friday uptil September and answer the simple questions.

    POGO’s Bheem’s Masti ki Class SCP will be conducted in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, and Ludhiana from July to September 2013.

  • Enquiry by PCI begins in Azam Khan whipping statement

    Enquiry by PCI begins in Azam Khan whipping statement

    NEW DELHI: The Press Council of India has started its enquiry into the complaints relating to senior Uttar Pradesh Minister Azam Khan’s whipping statement on bureaucracy by asking the editors of the newspapers to explain their side of the story.

     

    Azam Khan had allegedly said in a meeting in Samajwadi Party office at Lucknow on 30 January 2013 that the officers understand only the language of whipping, but the next day his official statement came that such media reports were baseless and had been done to tarnish his image and that of his government.

     

    In view of the credibility of Media, social activist Dr Nutan Thakur had requested PCI Chairman Justice Markandey Katju to conduct a detailed enquiry in the matter so as to bring the truth of whether the initial media reports regarding his whipping statements are correct or not, which will also clarify the situation about his later denials.