‘Gravity’ almost starred Angelina Jolie and Robert Downey Jr

By

-

February 21, 2014

Alfonso Cuaron has revealed that he had initially approached Angelina Jolie and Robert Downey Jr as leading actors for his space drama `Gravity`.

The 52-year-old filmmaker, whose film has been nominated in 10 categories at the Oscars, said both the actors had some problem with the film at its initial stage, reported a leading daily.

“Jolie dropped out of the project due to scheduling conflicts with her directorial debut `In The Land of Blood and Honey`, while Downey Jr exited because the film`s technology didn`t leave him room to improvise,” Cuaron said.

Production on `Gravity` had not started by the time Jolie and Downey Jr changed their minds, leaving Cuaron time to send offers to George Clooney and Sandra Bullock.

“It became very clear that, as we started to nail the technology, or narrow the technology, that was going to be a big obstacle for (Downey Jr `s) performance,”

“I think Robert is fantastic if you give him the freedom to completely breathe and improvise and change stuff.

But we tried one of these technologies and it was not compatible. And, after that, we had a week that we pretended as if nothing was happening and then we talked and said, `This is not going to work. This is tough.`”

‘Pompeii’ Review – a visual spectacle

By

Afternoon Voice

-

February 21, 2014

A historical drama based on the ill-fated Roman city of the same name, director Paul W.S. Anderson`s `Pompeii` is a far cry from Robert Harris` 2003 novel. Yet, the film is distinct and appealing. It`s a revenge drama with a tinge of romance and dollops of natural disaster.

The film begins eerily with the camera drooling over fossilized bodies. The stoned images, gruesome and weather-beaten, are accompanied by a quote – “In the darkness some prayed for help, others for death,” attributed to Pliny the Younger”. It claims it is accurate as far as the history and politics of Pompeii at that time.

Set in 79 AD,, the film dismisses the plot of the novel and invents its own set of main characters. It follows Milo (Kit Harington), a “Celta slave. He is the last surviving member of his tribe, The Horsemen.”

As a young child, Milo survived the massacre by being dumped beneath the corpses while he watched his mother and his entire tribe being slaughtered by the corrupt Roman General Corvus (Kiefer Sutherland) and his Aide Proculus (Sasha Roiz).

Seventeen years later, the boy, trained to be a deadly gladiator, is the star performer at the arena in Londinium, the capital of Britanny. Soon his greedy master packs him off to the city of Pompeii to serve as violent entertainment for its blood-hungry citizens.

En route to Pompeii, by pure happenstance Milo meets and creates an impression on Cassia (Emily Browning), the non-conformist daughter of the town chief Severus (Jared Harris) and his wife Aurelia (Carrie-Anne Moss), who`s heading back home after spending a rather turbulent year in Rome.

Meanwhile, Corvus too lands in Pompeii as the Senator of the Emperor Titus and is the deciding factor for investments from Rome. He craftily gets Severus to hand over his daughter in marriage to him.

Milo arrives in Pompeii on the eve of the Vinalia festival and is flaunted to the citizens. The next day, he is expected to fight the local champion – a massive black slave named Atticus (AdewaleAkinnuoye-Agbaje) who is nearly one last death-match away from earning his freedom.

With deadly sword fights in the gladiator`s arena, the love triangle, inclusive of horse chases and the rumbling Vesuvius followed by a killer tsunami, gives thrust to the narration that keeps you spell-bound and glued to your seat.

As far as the performances are concerned, there is nothing extraordinary. The characters are immediately recognizable as sympathetic or not, and on the whole, there is not very much complexity in character development.

The film is worth a watch for being a grand visual spectacle.

Troy Ribeiro

Seal, Heidi Klum not reuniting

By

Afternoon Voice

-

February 21, 2014

Supermodel Heidi Klum and former husband Seal are not going back together.

Klum`s representative has dismissed reports that said the couple would get back together following her split from boyfriend Martin Kristen, reportedly.

“Seal and Heidi have not reunited as a couple. Their children will always be their priority, and their focus remains on co-parenting.” the representative said.

The 40-year-old German supermodel and the singer were married for seven years before announcing their separation in 2012.
They have three children together.

Klum is also a mother to daughter Leni from a previous relationship.

Klum and her bodyguard boyfriend decided to go separate ways earlier this month after 18 months of dating.

MNS workers again vandalise toll booth in presence of Raj Thackeray

By

Afternoon Voice

-

February 20, 2014

Workers of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on Thursday vandalised a toll booth after an argument with employees stationed at the Kharegaon barrier.

Reports claimed that MNS workers were angered after a toll attendant allegedly refused to let MNS supremo Raj Thackeray’s convoy pass without paying the stipulated tariff.

He apparently told a lady MNS worker that he didn’t know who Raj Thackeray was.

MNS workers then went on a rampage attacking the toll booth and vandalising vehicles stationed there.

The MNS has been at loggerheads with the state government over the collection of toll tax across highways in the state. And earlier, the Maharashtra government had said that it was mulling the option of attaching Thackeray’s property to recover the cost of damage caused by party activists when they vandalize toll booths across the state.

Home Minister RR Patil said the government may recover the cost by attaching properties owned by Raj.

MNS workers have gone on the rampage, vandalising toll plazas in different parts of the state following party chief’s diktat not to pay the levy and “thrash” those who raise a voice against it.

Raj Thackeray topped up with a direct threat. He warned of “wreaking havoc” at houses of toll contractors who use force to collect the levy.

“I appeal to people of Maharashtra not to pay toll till the state government implements changes in the toll policy,” Raj told.

Clean chit to ex-CM Shivajirao Patil Nilangekar in Adarsh scam

By

Afternoon Voice

-

February 20, 2014

In a relief to former Maharashtra chief minister Shivajirao Patil Nilangekar, the CBI on Thursday gave him a clean chit in the Adarsh Housing Society scam.

The CBI, in an affidavit filed before the Bombay High Court, has said that the agency has already looked into the role of Patil Nilangekar but found no material or evidence to suggest any criminal misconduct on his part.

“The role of Shivajirao Patil Nilangekar and others in relation to Adarsh has already been looked into. The material unearthed during the course of investigation did not warrant action against them (Nilangekar and others) and, therefore, they are not included as accused in the charge sheet,” the CBI affidavit said.

The affidavit was filed in reply to an application of social activist Pravin Wategaonkar, seeking Patil Nilangekar to be arraigned as accused in the case.

Wategaonkar, who filed the application in the course of his Public Interest Litigation on Adarsh probe, alleged that Patil Nilangekar, during his tenure as revenue minister, granted certain approvals to Adarsh Society illegally. In return, his son-in-law was allotted flat in Adarsh, the application claimed.

The CBI in its affidavit said that probe into benami transactions was still in progress.

“Further investigations with regard to financial transactions involving KL Gidwani (former MLA and promoter of Adarsh) and Arun Dhawle, son-in-law of Shivajirao Patil Nilangekar, while acquiring flats and the flow of funds to the account of the society are still in progress,” the affidavit filed by SS Giri, investigating officer of CBI, said.

“With regard to role of Nilangekar as revenue minister, the investigation carried out by CBI earlier did not find any prosecutable evidence against him to arraign him as an accused,” the affidavit said.

There is no material on hand to suggest that Nilangekar extended undue favours to the society and that his son-in-law was allotted flat as quid pro quo, it added.

“Without prejudice it is submitted that while taking any decision at the level of government there would be recommendations and queries at various levels before final decisions are taken by the competent authority,” the agency said.

“In the process, simple recommendations made at various levels by various officers cannot be deemed as acts amounting to criminal misconduct,” it added.

Patil-Nilangekar was the revenue minister when Adarsh Society — accused of several violations of civic and environmental laws — was allotted land in upmarket south Mumbai in 2004.

HC more concerned with Mane’s mental status

By

Afternoon Voice

-

February 20, 2014

The Bombay High Court, hearing the death sentence confirmation petition of state transport bus driver Santosh Mane, said it will have to consider his mental status at the time of the incident and not whether he was undergoing treatment for insanity.

Mane (40) was awarded death penalty by a Pune sessions court in December last year for mowing down nine persons and injuring 37 others after he ran amok with the bus on busy streets in Pune.

Mane had challenged the lower court’s verdict on the ground that he was suffering from mental illness and was undergoing treatment for the same.

A division bench of Justices N H Patil and V L Achliya posted the matter on March 12 when it will fix a date for commencement of hearing on the appeal and death confirmation petition.

Advocate Jagdish Mane, appearing for the convict, today told the court that while the prosecution claims that the motive behind Mane going on a rampage was over his extended duty hours, the defence’s case was of insanity.

“There is medical evidence to show that Mane was undergoing treatment,” he said.

The court said “the fact that he was undergoing treatment is not of paramount importance. At the relevant time what was his mental condition is what is of paramount concern. What was his position at the time of the incident is what needs to be seen”.

The incident dates back to January 25, 2012 when Mane had allegedly hijacked an empty state transport bus from Swargate depot and sped off on the wrong side of the road ploughing through vehicles and pedestrians.

Mane rode for about 25 kms before he was caught.

Maximum laundering properties attached in Maharashtra

By

Afternoon Voice

-

February 20, 2014

With over 80 properties attached, Maharashtra tops the list of states where maximum properties have been attached on the charge of money laundering by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

According to official data, more than 80 per cent of these suspect properties obtained by alleged “criminal proceeds of crime” are located in the western state while other states like Punjab and Rajasthan only have few properties under this category.

The total such properties, as per latest data, attached stand at 96.

While there are many other states where central financial enforcement agency has issued “provisional” orders for attaching dubious properties on money laundering charges, the agency has been given approval of the Adjudicating Authority of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to attach and freeze immovable properties in a specified number of states as part of its criminal probe under the said provisions.

The ED has issued lockdown orders on these assets advising general public to not enter into any business of renting, purchasing or acquiring of these properties.

Under PMLA laws, once the Authority confirms ED’s provisional attachment, the property can be freed only after the permission of a superior court like the High Court of the Supreme Court.

The other states where the ED has got similar confirmation to attach properties include Punjab (6), Rajasthan (7), Kerala (1) and Himachal Pradesh (1).

According to latest data, the assets attached in Maharashtra include plots, flats, houses, shops and other residential space in cities like Mumbai, Pune, Navi Mumbai, Raigad, Alibaug and few other places.

Sources said these properties are involved in various cases being probed by the ED like the Hasan Ali Khan probe, probe against ‘Red Sanders’ wood smuggling mafia and investigation related to former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda among others.

An attachment action, under the PMLA, is aimed to deprive the accused benefits of his or her ill-gotten wealth earned through illegal means.

Government violated rules to appoint new police chiefs: PIL

By

Afternoon Voice

-

February 20, 2014

A PIL in the Bombay High Court on Thursday alleged that Maharashtra government had violated rules in appointing Rakesh Maria and Vijay Kamble as the police commissioners of Mumbai and Thane, respectively, and promoting Javed Ahmed as Director General of Police (Home Guards).

The petition urged that the court should issue a writ or direction to the state of Maharashtra and Chief Secretary (Home) to produce records in respect of appointment of Maria, Kamble and Javed Ahmed in their new posts.

The PIL, filed by social activist Hemant Patil, also urged for a direction to the respondents to produce records to show the recommendations made by the authorities in respect of their appointments.

The petition further prayed that the appointment of Maria and Kamble may be stayed during the pendency of the hearing.

The PIL said after the appointment of Rakesh Maria as the police commissioner of Mumbai, both Ahmed Javed and Vijay Kamble, who were running in the race for the same post, had openly declared that injustice had been done to them by not selecting them as the police chief of Mumbai.

The PIL further alleged that the seniority of both the officers, namely Javed Ahmed and Vijay Kamble, was not considered and instead Maria was selected for the top post.

Under such circumstances, the petitioner said he apprehended that the two officers might not perform their duties sincerely and this might have an effect on the interests of public. The petition would come up for hearing in due course.

Composer Nadeem Saifi wants to come back to India to see parents

By

Afternoon Voice

-

February 20, 2014

Bollywood composer Nadeem Saifi, living in self-exile in Britain since he was accused of involvement in music tycoon Gulshan Kumar’s murder in 2000, wants to return to India to see his parents.

One half of the successful Nadeem-Shravan duo, Saifi was implicated 16 years ago in the killing of Kumar, the boss of his record label T-Series, but has claimed his innocence ever since.

In 2002, a British judge ruled the case against him had not been proved but his arrest warrant has never been withdrawn in India. “I don’t want to die without getting justice,” said Saifi.

The musician broke down in tears as he spoke to the radio station, saying: “I don’t want my parents to die without hearing that I was innocent. “My parents are lying ill in their beds, I so much want to see them. I deserve this justice, it’s high time now.” Saifi was on holiday in the UK in 1997 when Kumar was shot dead by assailants outside a temple in suburban Mumbai. He soon became a prime suspect in the murder.

At the request of Mumbai police, the Indian government sought Saifi’s extradition but the musician’s legal team maintained the police’s evidence was flawed. After an extended legal battle, he successfully avoided extradition. A British High Court ruled that “the accusation of murder and conspiracy made against this applicant is not made in good faith and in the interests of justice”.

The verdict was later upheld by the House of Lords when the Indian government appealed.

Saifi must appear in an Indian court for his warrant to be cancelled but fears he will not get a fair hearing. He has suggested his implication in the murder case was part of a larger conspiracy. “It was just an act of jealousy from certain people who thought, ‘Let’s nail this good-looking hunk of a guy,'” he told BBC.

Saifi is now planning a musical comeback and reportedly working in Dubai on some projects but is yet to confirm a release date for his new material.

DGCA processing public feedback to AirAsia flying permit plea

By

Afternoon Voice

-

February 20, 2014

Aviation regulator DGCA has started collating feedback from the general public as well as affected parties on providing an air operator permit (AOP) to the Indian subsidiary of Malaysian no-frills airline AirAsia, sources said.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation had invited objections/suggestions on the issue on January 20, with a 20-day submission window.

“We have received a number of suggestions and objections, which are being collated now. We will consider their application (for AOP) once this exercise is completed,” DGCA sources said.

The sources, though, did not give any specific time line for the grant of a flying license to the new airline, saying only that “it is expected shortly.”

This is the first time the DGCA has invoked the rule seeking objections from the public before granting a flying license.

AirAsia India, a joint venture of AirAsia, Tata Sons and Telestra Trade Place, had planned to commence domestic operations by January, and now expects to start from April.

In April last year, the Foreign Investment Promotion Board approved the USD 30 million deal. It received a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Civil Aviation Ministry last year.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Civil Aviation K C Venugopal said in reply to a question in the Lok Sabha that the government received seven proposals last year for initial no-objection certificates to start scheduled flight operations, including from AirAsia India and Tata-SIA Airlines Ltd.

Of these, AirAsia India was granted an initial NOC. Besides, in-principle approval for the import of 10 Airbus A-320-200 aircraft was given to this company in December.

Apart from Tata-SIA and AirAsia India, other firms that applied for an NOC are Airone Aviation Services, Zexus Air Services, Freedom Aviation, Air Carnival and Turbo Megha Airways, Venugopal said.