MERRY CHRISTMAS to all from Starz&Showz.LLC #Christmas2012 on Twitpic

MERRY CHRISTMAS to all from Starz&Showz.LLC #Christmas2012 on Twitpic

Bollywood film-makers vie for larger screen pie - The Economic Times

Bollywood film-makers vie for larger screen pie - The Economic Times:

'via Blog this'

GET WELL SOON SALMAN KHAN

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan will be traveling to the United States in order to undergo treatment 

The 45-year old confirmed rumors that he suffers from a medical condition

known as,Trigeminal neuralgia

Which is a facial nerve disorder that causes unbearable pain in the face and jaw.

The actor’revealed that he will be leaving to the United States either on August 27 or 28,

Salman said that the problem first stated during the shooting of Partner
back in 2007 and worsened last year when he was shooting for Veer. 

“The pain is a bit too much now.So I am going now to the US to get it fixed."

There is constant pain and if you google this thing you will find out that the amount

of pain it causes resultsin maximum amount of suicides”, he said.

Bhai we all luv you our prayers and thought are with you,

kaizaad kermani

Kaizaad Kermani - Google+

Kaizaad Kermani - Google+

Dolly's hubby doesn't watch Bigg Boss Cauz hes too BUSY......

By: Shaheen ParkarDate: 2010-11-11 MIDDAY

Prefers to get updates, if needed, from Salman Khan!

Dolly Bindra may be creating a ruckus on Bigg Boss, high-pitched voice et al, but her hubby Kaizaad Kermani claims he doesn't watch the reality show!

"I have barely seen it and prefer to keep myself away from all this. But I do get updates from people and via email about the happenings.


Dolly Bindra with husband Kaizaad Kermani

Of late, I have been spending a lot of time in Malaysia," says Kaizad who runs a Bollywood event management company, Starz &Showz.

He states that he knows the show's host Salman extremely well for a decade now. And Dolly calls him Bhai like those close to him do. "If I need to know anything about the show, I just call Salman," he says.

According to him Bigg Boss is a game and like any game, which you play for money, the stakes are high and you have to go all out. "The contestants are playing for money and so is Dolly."

When his actress wife was approached for the show, he had no reservations. "It was her decision to be part of it.

And I knew what to expect. I have seen the international versions like Big Brother so I was familiar with the format.

About the doings of the housemates he says, "That is expected. They have been selected because of a certain reason their reputation. Except for the wrestler The Great Khali, all the rest have one and they have to maintain it."

Personal attacks are all part of the game. "If you keep 10-12 people in a small space with no stepping out, what can you expect?. Even in Big Brother, the happenings get really ugly."

Those who know Dolly off-screen know that she is full of life with a bindaas attitude. Her extrovert nature with a care-a-damn attitude gels well with the show's format.

Sunny Deol and Dolly Bindra thrill Patna during unique launch of Anil Kumar Singh's Aryan TV Channel

He came, he met and he conquered fans! Superstar Sunny Deol, sporting the new adorable Sardarji look of his forthcoming film "Amla Pagla Deewana”, launched technocrat Anil Kumar Singh's Aryan Channel in Patna, heart of the Hindi belt. Accompanying him in this unique rare feat attempted by any channel in the region were several other Bollywood and Bhojpuri stars including Raju Shrivastav and Bhojpuri superstar Manoj Tiwari.

The event was organized to mark the inauguration of the Aryan News Channel, a unit of the Pataliputra Group of Companies, at the Sanskrit Vidyapeeth premises in Raja Bazaar. Anil Kumar Singh's Aryan Channel of Starzshowz LLC was overwhelmed with the rocking response the launch got. Kaizaad Kermani also of Starzshowz LLC ensured a great show. Sporting blue jeans and a blue shirt along with the traditional Sikh turban, Deol, the son of yesteryear's superstar Dharmendra, mixed freely with the audience while impressing them with dialogues from his past films. Sunny Deol looked cool in a jeans and a shirt while Dolly Bindra wore a green stole with a kurta and looked cute. They both bonded really well.

Aryan is the local news channel launched in Bihar and Jharkhand. The channel aims at providing an exciting blend of news, views and entertainment. It will offer the right blend of Hindi and Bhojpuri compelling content to the locals. Amidst the 20,000 people who were frenzied in delight as they set sight on the Bollywood and Bhojpuri superstars, Sunny Deol rocked in Patna.

A delighted Sunny, said, “I am glad being in Patna and I ma delighted to see the efforts Dolly and ail have put into organizing this wonderful and enigmatic event. This has given me the opportunity to once again connect with my fans. And the response here has been tremendous. I hope the Aryan channel will show the truth.”

Anil Kumar Singh, owner of the channel, said, “Aryan Channel will do what no one has ever done before in Bihar and Jharkhand --- a big bang in everything it attempts. It was a pleasure getting Aryan channel launched in the presence of superstar Sunny Deol, who is adored by fans in this part of India! We wish him all the very best for his forthcoming film ‘Amla Pagla Deewana’ as well. We hope the channel and the movie reaches the hearts of all Indians.”
Bhojpuri superstar Manoj Tiwari, also owner of the channel, said, “Sunny Deol, the star of Gadar, is so popular that fans went berserk We are happy that Aryan TV has begun with a big bang in true Bollywood style. I’m sure the channel is going to go miles and endear itself to fans.”

VIDEO LINK  -http://videos.ta2.in/2010/09/30/aaryantvsunny-deol-mp4/
              

Sunny Deol with Anil Kumar Singh owner of Aryan channel 

Anil Kumar Singh opens the event  with Sunny Deol ,Dolly Bindra,Manoj tiwari

Sunny Deol &Aryan tv Owner Anil Kumar Singh

Vinod Sinha  Receives Sunny Deol at Patna Airport

Selling controversy the Bollywood way

SRK’s My Name is Khan saw one of the biggest controversies in Bollywood recently. We take a look at some headlines from the past.

While the Shiv Sena rage in Mumbai over My Name is Khan finally favoured the film's makers, Shah Rukh Khan rubbished that it was a calculated publicity gimmick. "I want to enjoy my film everywhere, I want to enjoy it within myself and to sickos who think this is for publicity, I have two words, 'SHUT UP',” tweeted Shah Rukh to clear his stand.

We look back at similar controversies raising questions on films that smell strongly of having resorted to marketing strategies, stage-managed to look like controversies.

The early days of online publicity

Every passing day, top stars of Bollywood are tearing their hair out to reach out to their target audience - India first and then the world.

Priyadarshan apologises to SRK over 'publicity' comment

One such strategy they discovered two years ago was blogging. Amitabh Bachchan set the ball rolling. He blogged about everything from game shows to losing his luggage at Toronto airport to his anger against the 26/11 tragedy. Aamir Khan used his blog to take pot-shots at rival Shah Rukh Khan.

But this did not have the desired effect, so everyone decided to go back to mainstream ways of promoting their films.

The Om Shanti Om technique

Ghajini and Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi are two very good examples that did not try either controversy or strategised product placements. Blogging is now being replaced by tweeting on Twitter or 'facing' on Facebook, two blog-friendly sites Bollywood celebrities love. They even direct readers to the controversy about their film/role - as Shah Rukh did about the controversy over the release of My Name is Khan.

My Name Is Khan earns Rs.250 mn on opening day

Khan, however, has always been open about his brazen marketing and promotional strategies. This makes it difficult to link him to a cooked up controversy staged with the connivance of one of the most notorious political parties in Maharashtra.

For Om Shanti Om, his marketing strategy was a precisely planned exercise that offered a model lesson in mainstream marketing. Non-stop television promotions, tie-ups with news channels and popular online websites, birthdays celebrated with the media, his six-pack tagline created for the film, cricket matches and the Om Shanti Om clothesline.

The result - in spite of the storyline borrowed from earlier films of Bollywood and Hollywood, in spite of a weak script, crowded by paper-thin characters and average acting, the film went on to become a box-office hit.

The big Bhagnani fight

Pre-release controversies are not new. No one really knows whether these are stage-managed or coincidences or genuine controversies. The media in print, on television news channels and on the Internet, ever hungry to pounce on such controversies, go ga-ga over these while the actor/producer/distributor/exhibitor laugh all the way to the box office.

No MNIK row if Bollywood had unity: Anurag Kashyap

"Controversies create awareness, but there is no guarantee," says Mahesh Bhatt, who plugged a couple of his films to his link-up with Parveen Babi.

On the eve of the release of Vashu Bhagnani's Kal Kissne Dekha, director Vivek Sharma went public with his problems with Bhagnani during the making of the film.

One story, denied vehemently by both Bhagnani and Sharma, is that Bhagnani had slapped Sharma. The more believable one concerned payment.

My Name Is Khan running big in Karachi

Sharma insisted that Bhagnani had paid him just 30 per cent of the money agreed upon for his earlier film Bhootnath. Bhagnani claimed he was innocent. Sharma then said that though he directed KKD, he was not allowed to see the entire film because Bhagnani had re-edited it to focus on his son Jackky who was making his debut.

Sharma was about to take Bhagnani to court when the Bhatt brothers intervened, and requested him to opt for an out-of-court settlement. We do not know if this controversy was genuine or not. All we know is that it did nothing to boost box office stakes of KKD.

Lesbians and Monisha Koirala

Karan Razdan's low brow Girlfriend, released a few years ago, gained at the box-office after a tame start. Touted as a film on a lesbian relationship between two young girls, it attracted protests from political parties and generated a lot of debate in the media. The film made on a budget of Rs.20 million (approximately), finished its first week with an improved collection of 50 per cent, which would never have happened minus the protests and the media hype created not by publicity posters and advertising inserts, but by news stories.

"The post-release controversy and the hype generated seem to have helped the first week's performance of Girlfriend remarkably,” said film writer and industry analyst Taran Adarsh.

SRK apologises for 'giving stress' to fans over My Name Is Khan row

Actress Monisha Koirala took filmmaker Shashilal Nair to court. She claimed that he had used a body double in a negative way in Ek Chhotisi Love Story, plagiarised from Krzysztof Kieslowski's A Short Film About Love. A political party blocked the screening of the film in metro theatres. Trade journals insist that this controversy turned out to be a windfall for the producer who reaped unexpected revenues from its run.

But Nair says the court case lightened his pocket by Rs 5 million and the controversy actually backfired.

Keep 'em coming

A staged controversy can act like a blessing in the hands of a strategic manipulator. If used by the wrong group in the wrong place at the wrong time, it can equally become the most lethal weapon that can kill a film. Non-cooperation from stars, sudden changes in scripts, casting, technical team troubles, rumoured romances and splits, publicity posters and 'anything and everything' are being used as an important ingredient for creating and then solving controversies to ensure the commercial success of a film.

Why we need controversy

Every producer, actor, financier, distributor, exhibitor and director involved in each of the 1,000 films released every year fight the same war at the box office, which is a rather fickle master. In an ambiance dominated by elite multiplex theatres with up-market, sophisticated infrastructure, to resort to any strategy, ethical or unethical, direct or subversive is mandatory to ensure that the audience feel that this is a not-to-be-missed film. This is the only way to win in the cut-throat competition where a film like 3 Idiots rules the roost with its very unconventional marketing strategy.

This makes it problematic for successors to race it to the winning post. The media, in such cases, is mere putty in the hands of these manipulators-that-be.

A Bengali television channel moderator turned filmmaker, Aniket Chatterjee, said the controversy over My Name is Khan will make it to front page headlines in the national press on Saturday morning, the day after its release on February 12.

At the end of the day

He could not have been more correct. He added that 70+ men and women who followed the controversy on television or in the papers, who hated Hindi films, and never went to the theatres would surely want to watch this film just to find out what the controversy was all about. Shah Rukh Khan may still say 'SHUT UP' since the MNIK controversy stemmed from his harmless comment on Pakistani players, but the film industry has always been controversy's favourite child.

Maldives Starzshowz

 

Katrina does it again

Whether it may be it her tempestuous romance with Bollywood’s bad boy Salman or her Box Office hits, Katrina Kaif is one such B-town dame who is riding high on the wave of limelight.
Be it her sex quotient or oomph factor, Katrina has pipped reigning queens of Bollywood – Kareena, Priyanka, Deepika and Bipasha time and again.

According to the latest Bollywood news, Katrina Kaif has once again been voted as India’s Sexiest Woman by an international men’s magazine. Last year too, the dainty beauty pipped Kareena, Bipasha and Priyanka. This time, with all these actresses strutting in swimsuits in their flicks, Katrina still topped the popularity charts.

When enquired the graceful actress about her India’s sexy woman tag, Katrina said, “It feels good to be voted by fans and that too in such huge numbers, but I don’t think if you wear a bikini or show skin, you look sexy. I would rather say I’m pretty.”

The actress maintained that the magazine links the gap between East and the West as urban men like her because of her cosmopolitan looks. Of late, Katrina recently topped the Most Seached Actress on the internet.

When asked who is the hottest hunk in Bollywood from among those the svelte actress is working with —Neil Nitin Mukesh, John Abraham, Ranbir Kapoor? “Only if I’m in love with a man, I find him hot. But I think Neil is the cutest,” quipped the actress!

Bollywood losses pegged at Rs 350 crore (75 MILLION $)

As we go to press, news comes in from an official source in the United Producers and Distributors Forum that Amit Khanna, who has been mediating
Shah Rukh Khan, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Mahesh Bhat in a discussion with the multiplex owners
between the producers and the multiplex lobby will host the final round of talks between the warring parties.

Mahesh Bhatt says, “The champagne will only be uncorked once the paperwork is done.’’ Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh Khan were involved in the final stage of talks, along with Yash Chopra, Ronnie Screwvala, Mukesh Bhatt and Vidhu Vinod Chopra.

Trade analyst Amod Mehra says, “The first quarter of 2009 was disastrous for the film industry. Both film corporations and mutliplexes lost money on movies like Chandni Chowk To China, Victory, Billu and Tasveer 8X10.’’ Dev D is the only one that sailed through with a decent profit margin.

Describing the second quarter of the year 2009 (April to June) as an even bleaker period for the entertainment companies, a trade source says, “This is the darkest period in Bollywood history, thanks to the multiplex-producer stand-off.’’ With revenues hitting an all-time low, it’s almost like writing off the quarter. For producers whose films are on hold, it’s money deferred, but it is a disastrous quarter for multiplex players as well.

“The stand-off will show in every company’s quarterly result. But at the same time, we need to take into account that this is a major crisis. Everyone kept ignoring it, but at some point it needed to be addressed,’’ says Priti Shahni, from one of the leading film corporations.

Though markets have jumped considerably, the share prices of multiplex companies have underperformed mainly due to the stand-off.
Even assuming the strike is called off on May 29, the collective losses between multiplexes, producers and allied businesses is being pegged at Rs 350 crore by industry estimates, with each day of strike costing around Rs 5-7 crore.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Bollywood/Bollywood-losses-pegged-at-Rs-350-crore/articleshow/4593123.cms

Unite For Hunger And Hope

A great human being Remembering the actor-filmmaker who personified style Obituary: Feroz Khan

Known for his flamboyant persona, Feroz Khan was an actor, director and producer who had a long innings in the Hindi film industry. The actor known for his stylish films "Dharmatma" and "Qurbani" continued to charm audiences with his inimitable style till as late as 2007.

"He always had a star feel in him. He was stylish and elegant even in his old age. He remained a style icon. I met him three or four times after my father's death. Even in his old age he remained stylish and suave and proved that even baldness can be beautiful," Dinesh Gundu Rao, a Karnataka legislator, told IANS.

Members of the Hindi film industry also mourned his death.

"Feroz Khan was, is and will always be there for me. I have no qualms in saying that my life is inspired by him. He is basically a reason why I became a filmmaker. He is a hero figure to me. His death is a very sad moment for all of us," said Bollywood filmmaker Sanjay Gupta.

Other friends of the actor here remember him as a fun loving person who loved Bangalore, the city of his birth.

"He loved Bangalore where he was born. He stayed in Bangalore most of the time in his farmhouse. More than Mumbai, it was in Bangalore that he had spent a larger part of his life. He was part of the racing world of Bangalore. He had shot many films in his farm house in Bangalore," Shivu, a close friend of the actor, fondly recalled.

Feroz Khan was born in Bangalore -- his father Sadiq Ali Khan Tanoli was a Pathan from Ghazni province of Afghanistan and his mother Fatima was an Iranian. He has three brothers Sanjay Khan, Sameer Khan and Akbar Khan.

The actor did his schooling in Bangalore after which he went to Mumbai to pursue a career in Bollywood. He made his debut in "Didi" in 1960. Getting good roles was not easy for the actor and he ended up working in a lesser known English film "Tarzan Goes To India".

But he went on to act in popular films like "Arzoo", "Aurat" and "Safar" as well as playing important roles in his own directorial ventures "Qurbani" and "Dharmatma". He won a Filmfare award for best supporting role in "Aadmi Aur Insaan" in 1970 and was honoured with the lifetime achievement award in 2000.

In 1972, Feroz Khan debuted as director and producer with "Apradh", made under the banner of F.K. Films Pvt Ltd. But it was his second film "Dharmatma", based on the then successful Hollywood thriller "Godfather”, which catapulted him into the big league of Hindi film industry. "Dharmatma", the first Indian film to be shot in Afghanistan, became a blockbuster.

After the success of the film, Feroz Khan became a name to reckon with as an actor, director and producer. His another big hit was "Qurbani" in which he teamed up with Vinod Khanna and Zeenat Aman.

In the Eighties and Nineties, he made films like "Dayavan" and "Yalgaar".

While struggling to find a firm foothold in Bollywood, Feroz Khan married Sundari in 1965. They had a son Fardeen Khan, who is an actor, and a daughter Laila, a painter married to tennis player Rohit Rajpal. Fardeen tied the knot with Natasha Madhwani, daughter of yesteryears actress Mumtaz who had played the leading role in many of Feroz Khan's films.

His brother Sanjay is also an actor and both of them worked together in the hit film "Mela". His brother Akbar too is in films and recently produced and directed "Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story", while Sameer stays in Bangalore.

He also launched his son Fardeen with "Prem Aggan" in 1998 and directed him again in the 2003 film "Janasheen", but both failed at the box office.

Feroz Khan was last seen in the 2007 comedy "Welcome" with Akshay Kumar and Anil Kapoor.

He passed away late on Sunday (April 26) at his farmhouse in Bangalore after a prolonged battle with cancer. He was 69.

Indo-Asian News Service

Copycats get warning from Hollywood

MUMBAI: From lifting tunes to transporting entire scenes and sometimes even "adapting" a storyline to suit the desi audience, in Bollywood, sab
chalta hai. Until April 4, when Hollywood entertainment giant Warner Brothers issued a public notice across newspapers warning members of the Indian film fraternity that Warner Bros Entertainment Inc (Warner) is the joint author and co-owner of the 13-Academy Award-nominated film, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

The notice, issued by the studio's attorneys Lall & Seth Advocates, clearly stated that there were recent press reports indicating that certain parties were in the process of producing a film in Hindi based on the Brad Pitt-Cate Blanchett movie. The notice warned anyone infringing copyright with legal action.

Industry sources say Warner probably pre-empted the notice because a reputed producer who has tied up with another foreign giant is making a Hindi film with an "A-list action star and a light-eyed heroine"-with a storyline resembling that of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

"To the best of my knowledge, this is the first time that a Hollywood studio has issued a public notice warning Bollywood producers not to infringe on copyright,'' says Vikramjit Roy, media advisor to a leading Boollywood company.

Earlier, Hollywood actor Will Smith's company Overbrook Entertainment had issued a notice to actor Sohail Khan's production house for making Partner, a film that borrowed its plot from Smith's Hitch. Says an industry source, "Salman's brother Sohail got away with the Partner issue lightly because it was sorted out by a foreign studio who played mediator.''

With infringement of IPR (intellectual property rights) becoming such a focused issue, Hollywood giants have started to watch the Indian film space with a hawk's eye.

Says UTV Motion Pictures CEO Siddharth Roy Kapur, "Many Hollywood studios themselves have plans for the Indian market. They're probably planning to remake some of their own films in India. So, they feel it is best to warn those who may cross the line.''

meena.iyer@timesgroup.com

Invest Maldives

Why invest in the Maldives

http://maldivesinvest.blogspot.com/

The Maldives is one of the most attractive investment places among the south-east Asian countries. The Maldives takes an outstanding place, due to its exotic nature and its natural beauty. The country is still considered to be developing and offers very attractive opportunities for the keen investor.

The number of foreigners investing in the Maldives has been rapidly increasing over the past few years. Services provided through such investments include resort management, sea and air transportation, accounting and management and manufacturing.



Potential investment opportunities for the keen investor to tap in are:

* Tourism industry: e.g. development of exotic holiday resort islands
* Property development in the capital Male' and nearby islands
* Air and sea transportation
* Marine based industries such as fish processing, aquaculture and marine culture
* Infrastructure development
* Buy out shares in existing businesses
* Participate as an investor in a new company

With a thorough local knowledge, our experts will advice you how to avoid potential risks to maximise the gain through your foreign capital.

WISHING YOU A HAPPY NEW YEAR

Wish New Year in many languages


Afgani Saale Nao Mubbarak
Afrikaans Gelukkige nuwe jaar
Albanian Gezuar Vitin e Ri
Armenian Snorhavor Nor Tari
Arabic Kul 'am wa antum bikhair
Assyrian Sheta Brikhta
Azeri Yeni Iliniz Mubarek!
Bengali Shuvo Nabo Barsho
Breton [Celtic Brythonic language] Bloavezh Mat
Bulgarian ×åñòèòà Íîâà Ãîäèíà(pronounced "Chestita Nova Godina")
Cambodian Soursdey Chhnam Tmei
Catalan FELIÇ ANY NOU
Chinese Xin Nian Kuai Le
Corsican Language Pace e Salute
Croatian Sretna Nova godina!
Cymraeg (Welsh) Blwyddyn Newydd Dda
Czech Šťastný Nový rok (or Stastny Novy rok)
Denish Godt Nytår
Dhivehi Ufaaveri Aa Aharakah Edhen
Dutch GELUKKIG NIEUWJAAR!
Eskimo Kiortame pivdluaritlo
Esperanto Felican Novan Jaron
Estonians Head uut aastat!
Ethiopian: MELKAM ADDIS AMET YIHUNELIWO!
Finnish Onnellista Uutta Vuotta
French Bonne Annee
Gaelic Bliadhna mhath ur
Galician [NorthWestern Spain] Bo Nadal e Feliz Aninovo
German Prosit Neujahr
Georgian GILOTSAVT AKHAL TSELS!
Greek Kenourios Chronos
Gujarati Nutan Varshbhinandan
Hawaiian Hauoli Makahiki Hou
Hebrew L'Shannah Tovah
Hindi Naye Varsha Ki Shubhkamanyen
Hong kong (Cantonese) Sun Leen Fai Lok
Hungarian Boldog Ooy Ayvet
Indonesian Selamat Tahun Baru
Iranian Sal -e- no mobarak
Iraqi Sanah Jadidah
Irish Bliain nua fe mhaise dhuit
Italian: Felice anno nuovo
Japan: Akimashite Omedetto Gozaimasu
Kabyle: Asegwas Amegaz
Kannada: Hosa Varushadha Shubhashayagalu
Kisii: SOMWAKA OMOYIA OMUYA
Khmer: Sua Sdei tfnam tmei
Korea: Saehae Bock Mani ba deu sei yo!
Kurdish: NEWROZ PIROZBE
Latvian Laimīgo Jauno Gadu!
Lithuanian: Laimingu Naujuju Metu
Laotian: Sabai dee pee mai
Macedonian Srekjna Nova Godina
Madagascar Tratry ny taona
Malay Selamat Tahun Baru
Marathi : Nveen Varshachy Shubhechcha
Malayalam : Puthuvatsara Aashamsakal
Mizo Kum Thar Chibai
Maltese Is-Sena t- Tajba
Nepal Nawa Barsha ko Shuvakamana
Norwegian Godt Nyttår
Papua New Guinea Nupela yia i go long yu
Pampango (Philippines) Masaganang Bayung Banua
Pashto Nawai Kall Mo Mubarak Shah
Persian Sal -e- no mobarak
Philippines Manigong Bagong Taon!
Polish: Szczesliwego Nowego Roku
Portuguese Feliz Ano Novo
Punjabi Nave sal di mubarak
Romanian AN NOU FERICIT
Russian S Novim Godom
Samoa Manuia le Tausaga Fou
Serbo-Croatian Sretna nova godina
Sindhi Nayou Saal Mubbarak Hoje
Singhalese Subha Aluth Awrudhak Vewa
Siraiki Nawan Saal Shala Mubarak Theevay
Slovak Stastny Novy rok
Slovenian sreèno novo leto
Somali Iyo Sanad Cusub Oo Fiican!
Spanish Feliz Ano ~Nuevo
Swahili Heri Za Mwaka Mpyaº
Swedish GOTT NYTT ÅR! /Gott nytt år!
Sudanese Warsa Enggal
Tamil Eniya Puthandu Nalvazhthukkal
Tibetian Losar Tashi Delek
Telegu Noothana samvatsara shubhakankshalu
Thai Sawadee Pee Mai
Turkish Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun
Ukrainian Shchastlyvoho Novoho Roku
Urdu Naya Saal Mubbarak Ho
Uzbek Yangi Yil Bilan
Vietnamese Chuc Mung Tan Nien
Welsh : Blwyddyn Newydd Dda!

Merry Xmas to all

Congratulations to America and the 44th President Obama

THERE have been moments in the past months while monitoring the progress of the democratic battle for nomination between Obama and Hillary Clinton that I have been pessimistic about the process of election.

However, today after Obama's victory for nomination has been sealed, I began to understand that beneath all that bravado that sometimes is erroneously projected to outsiders, lies a hidden strength that personifies America as a nation of great souls.

Yes, it has been a hard fought battle by Obama and Hillary but victory goes to the people of America. Twenty years ago, it would have been almost unthinkable for any African-American to aspire to occupy the Oval Office.

Today in 2008, Barack Obama has broken all the stereotyped notions of the Land of Milk and Honey by peoples living on the opposite sides of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

I am glad that America has taken this brave step forward. If foreigners had misgivings about US involvement in Iraq, Somalia, and other troubled spots around the world, it is because America as a superpower had not always been able to do its best under the worst circumstances.

Nevertheless it tries despite the adverse publicity and its noble intentions. The lives of its own people is its gift to the rest of the world. I can't speak for the other nations, so I will speak for myself.

I for one appreciate the trouble taken by US to lay down the lives of its own men and women in foreign lands so that others may live in freedom. Time will soon eclipse all sad and bad memories of engagements abroard but the fallen soldiers symbolic of what is good about America will not be forgotten. It cannot be.

We who live so far away of the US shores have always been appreciative of the fact that whenever a major natural disaster strikes, US is constantly among the first to extend a helping hand.

Sometimes we forget our manners. In our sorrow and our grief, we forget to thank our benefactors and our rescuers, many of whom wear the US flag on their lapels and uniforms.

But as a person from a land not unaccustomed to the US Peace Corps, let me say with pride as well as with humility that all the good America has done all over the world and over the decades have not been forgotten.

One day when America needs help from the rest of the world, I am sure there will be many among us who will jump at the opportunity to help an old friend.

Once again, congratulations America!

COKE HEAD ARMAN KOHLI BEGS FOR FORGIVINESS !

As we know arman kohli got arrested in Mauritius ,

has now paid up his dues and has asked for forgiveness for his misbehavior ,from dbindra , cauz of the mumbai police case now on his head ,so now it comes to this!

HERE IS THE LINK TO 1 ARREST -http://starzshowz.blogspot.com/2008/02/arman-kolhi-arrested-in-mauritius-for.html

Spielberg looks to Bollywood India for cash !

International Herald Tribune
Spielberg looks to Bollywood for cash
By Michael Cieply and Brooks Barnes
Wednesday, June 18, 2008

LOS ANGELES: Steven Spielberg and other top executives at DreamWorks SKG may get a boost from an ambitious Bollywood player, but their planned alliance could be less grandiose than dreams past.

After a drawn-out tussle with the boutique film studio's owner, Paramount Pictures, one filled with perceived slights over respect and credit, Spielberg and his partner, David Geffen, are now in discussions with Reliance Big Entertainment of India about a cash infusion of $500 million to $600 million, say several executives briefed on the negotiations.

That investment, and access to a revolving credit line of about $400 million, would allow them to split from Paramount, a unit of Viacom, and make about six major movies a year. Yet for all the turmoil, they could conceivably remain in business with Paramount, by having it distribute their movies.

Any deal is still at an early stage, these people cautioned, and it may be several weeks before an agreement is signed, if at all. The talks were first reported by The Wall Street Journal.

While $500 million is not a lot of money in Hollywood, executives briefed on the negotiations said the commitment was favorable to the DreamWorks team. Reliance, without gaining much control over the enterprise, would be paying for a grand introduction to the United States movie business.

"Why the Indians? It is all about terms," said one of the executives who had been briefed. "These people are willing to pay a lot of money for little more than the right to go sit at a premiere with Steven Spielberg."

The Reliance deal being discussed would create an operation on a par with DreamWorks's activity since Viacom bought the company for $1.6 billion in 2005, while stopping short of the company's peak activity during its 11 years as an independent. But part of Geffen's strategy, said the executives, is to use a possible Reliance deal to draw additional investor interest, which in turn could pressure Reliance to put more money on the table.

A heftier investment would give the DreamWorks principals more insulation against the hazards of an industry accomplished at separating investors from their dollars.

DreamWorks itself is expected to remain part of Viacom. But the unit's top executives — including Geffen, 65, Spielberg, 61, and the chief executive, Stacey Snider, 47 — would be free to leave under their contractual arrangements.

DreamWorks began in 1994, backed by more than $700 million from Paul Allen, a founder of Microsoft, who remained an investor for over a decade. The studio, complete with an animation division, was heralded as the first true challenger to the major studios in decades. But it was slow to release its first movie — "The Peacemaker," which did not arrive until 1997 — and its slate was uneven. "Saving Private Ryan" and "Gladiator" were both critical and box-office successes, but other movies, like "The Mexican" and "The Island," fizzled on both fronts.

For Spielberg and friends, starting anew brings perils of its own. Their company would begin life with great cachet, but little income. Without a steady income from a film library, and perhaps without unfettered access to the dozens of scripts, books and other development properties they sold to Paramount, their new company would not start generating meaningful income for a couple of years.

Their money would be quickly depleted if their films in the next year or two did not match the strong performance of last year's crop, which included "Transformers" and "Norbit." Moreover, the new company could well end up looking like a smaller version of its predecessor, especially if its executives, who have worked in Spielberg's adobe-style quarters on the Universal lot, were to continue distributing through Paramount.

The DreamWorks' principals have been searching at least a year for a cash infusion that might allow them to adjust or end their relationship with Paramount. One person briefed on the team's plans said the new company was expected eventually to distribute its wholly financed films through a studio for a fee, though no talks on such a deal are under way. A DreamWorks spokesman declined to comment on the financing. Paramount also declined to comment.

DreamWorks has provided Paramount with some of its most successful recent movies. The separately owned DreamWorks Animation studio, under its chief executive Jeffrey Katzenberg, distributes animated films like "Kung Fu Panda" through Paramount under a deal that was distinct from the purchase of the live film operation.

Yet Geffen and his colleagues have chafed from the beginning at their relations with Brad Grey, the Paramount chairman, whom they tended to regard more as their partner than boss. There was a big tiff over how much authority Snider should have. And Geffen was miffed at what he saw as Grey's move to take credit for DreamWorks's "Dreamgirls" at industry screenings in New York and Los Angeles.

As much as it could hurt Paramount to lose the principals behind a string of hits, any blow would be softened by its status as the top studio this year, mainly because of Marvel Entertainment's "Iron Man," and of course, Spielberg's "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull." Paramount also controls the rights to the coming "Transformers" sequel.

A deal between Reliance Entertainment and the DreamWorks principals would represent the first significant capital flow from fast-growing emerging markets into Hollywood. The president of Reliance Big Entertainment, Rajesh Sawhney, would not comment on the negotiations, but in a telephone interview Wednesday, he did discuss the company's plans to streamline the moviemaking process in Hollywood.

Reliance Big Entertainment hopes to help bring a "new sensibility" to Hollywood and other established markets, he said. In mature media markets "the bureaucracy of the system takes over," he said, and talent, in the form of directors and producers, often "gets lost." Reliance Big Entertainment will "try to engage directly with the talent, to create the biggest value," he said.

Reliance Big Entertainment, part of the Reliance ADA Group, said in May that it would finance films by production companies run by eight of Hollywood's biggest stars, including George Clooney and Tom Hanks. These deals, brokered by Creative Artists Agency, would give the producers full creative freedom, Reliance said at the time. Thirty projects are being discussed, with 8 to 10 expected to begin in the next two years.

Reliance expects overall revenue from the films to be about $1 billion.

"At the core of all this is making the movies that the talent wants to make," Sawhney said about the company's Hollywood plans.

Beware of GoldQuest or QuestNet-Schemes

Recently I have been approached by some of my close friends to join GoldQuest(also known as Questnet). GoldQuest is yet another multi-level marketing scheme. GoldQuest/ QuestNet operate under the name “QuestNet LTD” co. ref no. “993949-P”. It works onthe principle of Pyramid Scheme. A pyramid scheme is a non-sustainable business model that involves the exchange of money primarily for enrolling other people into the scheme. Pyramid schemes are illegal in many countries, including the United States, Great Britain, France, Canada, Malaysia, Norway, Australia, New Zealand, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Iran. Normally, 99.99% of the people lost their money in any MLM or pyramid scheme.

















First see the dictionary of QuestNet ::

According to the dictionary of Quest members world is divided into two types of people, one is Prospect and other is IR (Independent Representative).

C.A.P. stands for Contacts, Appointments and Presentations. This will serve as “tracker” when they start in the business and treat each day as a business day. They keep with them, a list of all the names that they will call or contact, all the schedules appointments for the day and planned business presentations held during the day. For weekend, they have some special plans, that is called weekend plan.

Inviting is the first and one of the most important skills you will need to master in order to be successful in this business. Master the art if inviting with this following techniques
a) curiosity is the key to inviting, create one and not satisfy it. (DO)
b) It’s a major no-no to present the business over the phone. (DON’T)
c) The members always review the names in their memory builder. (DO)
d) When contacting the prospects, they behave as if they are not soliciting but offering an opportunity to discover a business idea that could literally change the life of the prospect. (DO)

Presenting
The information packet of Quest Members normally contain
a) Company Profile and then MLM AND RM.
b) Business Model
c) Company brochures.
d) Teamwork all over INDIA (how they are working)
e) Fake Cheques.

Follow Up:
Most people are not ready to commit instantly or just after one meeting. Actually it is difficult to make some people fool easily . So follow-up comes next. At this time, all the quest members talk with that person and go over with any questions that he might have. In this follow up, the members act like Hollywood actors and show that they are very happy, making so much money etc.

What these fraud quest members do to make their friends fool ::

* They never explain the business to anybody by them self before going through the training session and getting sufficient experience. Normally in 2-3 months, they get full experience in cheating persons so after loaded with all the guns they target their innocent friends.
* Normally they do not approach their friend and tell him everything about Quest. They only tell that they are into an business and earning. They try to make their friend curious about what business they are into. What business, no clue. They show their friend as if they are earning a lot and happy with how the business is going. Then when the innocent person insists a lot, then they will tell him to come and discuss the business. Remember, they never tell anything like its networking, its quest. Just they use the word BUSINESS. That is it. Their aim is to get the presentation done. The presentation is actually a mind was session.
* They will show full confidence on the system and the team work is excellent. But normally it will be all fake, you would know all these things after becoming member of the QuestNet.
* When the friend insists on telling what business they are doing, they ask him to meet them and discuss the business along with their business associates. They will never use the word presentation. These day, these cheaters are using the word “meeting” for this.
* When friend might ask you that is it networking. They Say NO. They tell him its not network marketing and they are not selling toothpaste and all (Actually Amway is competitor of QuestNet in this business). They are doing a business and not salesman job. They tell him that if he is interested then come for a meeting. They show as if they are least bothered if he does not turn up. But you know all these things when you will become members. Normally they spend many days and nights for a single person and try to act that they don’t care.
* When after all frauds and lies friend becomes ready to come for a meeting, they tell him that the guy with whom he would be meeting a guy who is master of the business. He has earned this this amount (all false data, full of lies, they never give the correct data). The Quest members call this method of attracting the attention of the friend as “Edification”
* After the presentation Follow up takes place. It is the most important thing in the business of making people fool. As soon as the presentation is done, they Quest members ask their friend “CHALE LOGIN KARNE”. If the innocent friend says I would think, would ask mummy, would ask friends, etc., then these Quest members try everything to get those things out of his mind.

What these people will tell when the friend will talk about money problem ::

• Money problem : Arrange 15-20k and then take 10-15 from your friends. Or else shop from friends credit card and then apply for a loan and give back. I also did the same. What u think, did I had 30k with me when I joined. I also had the same case but I managed.
• A and B problem : Everyone is so helpful and we would definitely get our common friends under you. If you wont grow, do u think I would grow. So I would have to help u. I have no other option. Rest you’re my friend, do you think I would have contacted you just for your 30k. You have such a good friend circle and I want that all of them should come under you only.
• My friends would never join : When we both have joined all others will also join. Its just a matter of how the things are explained to them. If I would have told you about the business in 10 mins, about 3 left 3 right 11.5k and 30k investment, you would have also not listened to me. But one should get the clear picture and then only, one would join. So its better that you don’t discuss the business before you get the do’s and dont’s session or else you would spoil your own business.
• Would ask my parents, brothers, sisters, friends : Don’t tell about the business to anyone. You would just misguide them. What u would tell. You got the clear picture in 1.5 hrs and what u think u can tell your friends and relatives in 15 or maximum ½ hr. Its just not possible. Its better you don’t ask them. I can tell their response , i.e a BIG NO. Network marketing has got a very negative image because of Amway and all…ml concepts.
• I would tell them nicely that its not ml and very good business model : What u will tell. Then tell him the flaws. Your relatives and friends would ask for cheques and all. I have got a personal experience.
• I would think and tell You in two days. If you would think in that sense u can never succeed in any business. If u want to open a restaurant, u first hire cooks and all. You don’t go out for customers first and then cook the food. Anyways, it is your personal wish, if u would contact anyone u would spoil your own business. I would advice you to start with the business right now and have your do’s and don’ts session and start with the business. If you still want to think, you can but don’t discuss or try to take advice from anyone because you would get a negative reply only. That is my personal experience.
For knowing more about this company I searched on Google. The search results were really alarming which I want to share with you.

CHENNAI AUG. 21. With the arrest of Goldquest officials in Chennai, where the company’s India headquarters is located, police claimed to have exposed yet another alleged money circulation racket. Over 50 members have filed complaints stating that the company owed around Rs 12 lakhs to them. The arrested persons include Pushpam, a Malaysian citizen of Indian origin and company managing director, Joseph Augustine, accounts executive, and Pushpendra Kumar Shukla, public relations officer.

Source :: http://www.hinduonnet.com/2003/08/22/stories/2003082210240300.htm for this reason they have changed their name to questnet.

Gold Quest is illegal in Srilanka07may16wanted.gif. — GoldQuest, the controversial network marketing scheme, is now illegal in Sri Lanka after its scam drained US$ 15 million in foreign exchange from the country, the Central Bank said Friday.

The Questnet’s MD and his associate have been issued a red alert notice by Interpol and have been arrested by Indonesian police.

If you try to see the details of quest.net domain name through viewwhois. There is no contact information, everything is encrypted. If this is honest company then why they are not showing their identity.

Read this article “Albania under the Shadow of the Pyramids” It is from World Bank official website.

There is a company called Gold Quest chain marketing. One of my friend took me to their office without giving any prior information. There 10 members put e in a closed room and forced to take thier product membership. For this I was asked to pay 30,000Rs. and 450Rs. registration charges. They claimed that if I can get 2 more members I will be paid some bonus amount and as the chain will grow I will be getting more bonus. When I refused to take the membership, they harrassed me for about 4 hours. I was able to escape from there anyhow.

Source:: IndiaComplaints.com.

TEHRAN, Oct. 26–Judiciary Spokesman Jamal Karimi-Rad said Wednesday the Hong Kong-based GoldQuest company has agreed to pay compensations to the government and the people, ISNA reported.
Karimi-Rad added that the company, which has representatives in Iran, has agreed to compensate following the measures of judiciary, which labeled their activities ‘fraudulent’.
Asked if any organization had authorized the company to print coins with Imam Khomeini’s picture on it, Karimi-Rad said the company has not received any authorization and the Center for Publishing Imam’s Works has filed a complaint.
The company offered gold coins and other valuable items via the net, promising the buyers hefty profits in a short period. The government announced that their activities were damaging the economy by causing an outflow of capital.
Subsequently, the judiciary launched an investigation into the case, saying their activities were illegal. Later, a group carrying coins into the country was arrested upon arrival and the coins were found to be counterfeit.

Source :: IranDaily.com

GoldQuest products are collectors items and will show rapid price appreciation.Or so they told their unfortunate victims, claiming 30% or more appreciation for their Princess Diana ??Coin?? The truth, as it is often happens, appears rather less palatable, as an advertisement on ebay testifies. ??Goldquest gentlemens numismatic watch / leather box. Worth P34,000.00. Will sacrifice sale for P23,000.00. Will ship in philippines??. The buyer was trying to sell it for 30% LESS than he paid for it. However, to be doubly certain of a sale, the starting price on the auction was set at P19,500, a little more than half its purchase price. The valuable ?numismatic watch? received no bids.

Source:: ebay

Now, he knows , its time to let you know about the actual game plan. He asks you, if you possess a credit card. If you have already, he advises you to apply for two more. (after all he is your friend and he would never want you to run after him for money). So once the deadline for one credit card approaches, simply transfer the amount to another card. Sounds so easy isnt it? So he already wants you to start cheating. At this point you cant think that even you are on the verge of being cheated.
He then tells you about the investment. He wants you to buy his product for Rs 32000/- . Which includes a Gold coin and a silver one too. . As said by him, “Once you make the payment, you become a member and you are ready to start your own business. And if you are not interested in the coin , you put a post on ebay, you can literally have an auction and the price you can get is upto Rs 40000/- .
You Pay the money!! and its over. You get the coins, now play with them. Try putting them up on ebay and find me one single man who paid more than Rs 8000/- for that.
Me and my friends have suffered from this. Just to warn you about that. the real picture is quite different than they actually present it in front of us.
I request you to learn to say No!! . Dont get pusshed out of the limits. Just say No!

Source:: http://goldquesttragedy.blogspot.com/

Once again I would like to reiterate

Quest.net OR Goldquest OR Questnet is a big Fraud and Scam. Please stay away from it. It will ruin you, your friends and your country. Thirty thousand or 800$ is not a big sum for me but the main point is that Shayam, Ravi, Ashmit and Deepak have lost their good friend. I will never trust these people in this life. Read this BBC report: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3641100.stm

The report clearly mentions how the goldquest ruined Sri Lanka and their President had to issue a warning. The company is banned in Sri Lanka since then.

Big Finanical loss for the country :: Try to understand this, You pay 800 USD for a 200 USD coin. That means 600 USD goes out of your country . Now, you get commission for every new member. Which means for every new member, 600 USD goes out of your country. Assuming, there are say 100,000 members. Which means 600,00,000 USD go out of your country. This is what creates the economic problem for the country.

Don’t become a victim. Protect other innocent people from this fraud and scam. Please don’t ruin your family and friends. Don’t even attend the quest presentations and seminars.

Therefor I request all Indians not to join this company, this company is draining foreign exchange from our country without doing any development and invest. IT Professionals are soft targets so Beware !!!

Remember Wealth is only gained through honest and hard work, so LIVE WITH IT !


warm regards too http://abhisays.com for grt input