Karan Johar's film in 'Bombay Talkies' is my favourite: Dibakar Banerjee

Karan Johar's film in 'Bombay Talkies' is my favourite: Dibakar Banerjee

Mumbai: While making 'Bombay Talkies' with three other directors, Dibakar Bannerjee has gone through the most fun experience of his life and he dreads leaving it behind.

"When again would I get the chance to work so closely with three of my friends Anurag Kashyap, Zoya Akhtar and Karan Johar," asked the successful auteur. 'Bombay Talkies' is an anthology film consisting of four short films released May 3.

"We were constantly in each other's space enjoying each other's works more than our own. Not only did we make these four films together we also promoted and marketed the finished product together. There was no sense of competition ,only deep kinship," Bannerjee said.

Dibakar Banerjee finds co-director Karan Johar\'s film the most interesting in \'Bombay Talkies\'.

Tell him that his film has been most deeply appreciated of the films comprising 'Bombay Talkies' and Bannerjee brushes off the compliment, saying: "I am too close to my own work to judge its value".

"But my favourite film of the omnibus is Karan Johar's. Not only has he yanked himself out of his comfort zone he has made sure that he hasn't compromised on the telling of his story. I've seen the response to the gay kiss in his film. There's pindrop silence. The audiences are stunned," the director said.

About the presence of an Emu as a pivotal character in his film Bannerjee laughs and says: "That was an idea given to me by two documentary filmmakers who helped me with the film."

"You see, Emu farming was a major enterprise in innumerable households across Maharashtra and other states some four to five years ago. It ruined so many families. The Emu in Nawazuddin's home is symbolical of his wasted life."

Filled with praise for Nawazuddin's performance he says: "I wanted to work with him for the longest time. For many years he had made a habit of doing brilliant cameos in film after film. For my film the biggest compliment Nawaz got came from Anurag Kashyap. After seeing my film Anurag said, 'Yeh Nawaz hai?' He is just unrecognisable in every character he plays."

Bannerjee urgently needed Ranbir Kapoor to make a cameo appearance in 'Bombay Talkies'.

"I needed him for one shot. But it was impossible to get his time. He was shooting far away for his film 'Besharam'. Ranbir and I both want to work together. And it will happen soon," he said.

At the moment Bannerjee is a hands-on producer for his erstwhile assistant Kanu Behl's film 'Titli' which he and Yashraj films are co-producing together.

"I am not thinking of directing another film at the moment.I just want the out-of-the-box experience of 'Bombay Talkies' to get optimum viewership," he says hopefully

Mumbai NSUI chief caught dancing naked, suspended

Mumbai NSUI chief caught dancing naked, suspended

Mumbai: Suraj Singh Thakur, the Mumbai unit chief of the National Students Union of India (NSUI), has been suspended for allegedly dancing naked at a party function in the Mumbai suburb of Kandivli last month.

Reports, Tuesday, said Thakur was reportedly drunk during the function and was caught on camera allegedly dancing naked in the NSUI camp held in Kandvili on April 14.

Thakur, who had been re-elected as NSUI president in December 2012, was suspended on Monday after the matter came to fore.

However, it is still unclear as to what made Thakur and two other NSUI office bearers do it.

Sources claim that there may have been a ragging of sorts with seniors asking the new entrants to button down their shirts.

The video of Thakur allegedly dancing naked was uploaded on YouTube and was trending, but it has now been removed from the files sharing website.

Beside Thakur, the NSUI national president has also suspended two other office bearers, who were also drunk at that time and caught shaking their legs with him.

Thakur shot to fame after he led vociferous protests against the book of Rajiv Gandhi's alleged killer AG Perarivalan in May 2011.

The NSUI is the students’ wing of the Congress and the party has taken the matter very seriously. According to reports, Suraj Singh Thakur and two other NSUI office bearers could be expelled from the organisation after proper verification of the matter.

Does the Jaguar XF 3.0 S/C have enough appeal to attract new fans who have otherwise sold their souls to the band of usual Teutonic suspects?

Does the Jaguar XF 3.0 S/C have enough appeal to attract new fans who have otherwise sold their souls to the band of usual Teutonic suspects?

With the XF 3.0, Jaguar believes it is in a stronger position in emerging markets. We think so too

In the charge of the mid-sized executive sedans, especially in Singapore, the usual suspects are Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz but many tend to overlook a slinky feline on the sidelines – Jaguar. We are guilty of this too as you can tell from the reviews and stories we have run in the last couple of years. Part of the reason for this oversight could be the common association of the brand with older folk, but the image of the marque has been shifting and getting ever-younger, or at least that is Jaguar’s intention. With that in mind, we finally got ourselves a Jaguar to test.
For starters, two feral supercharged variants exist in the XF’s line-up: a tyre-shredding 5.0-liter XFR and the 3.0-liter we tested. A mid-life facelift gives the XF a mean slant to its eyes, which are incidentally underlined by a row of LEDs for that intimidating thousand-yard stare. In addition to its revised aesthetics, the XF also sees a raft of under-body enhancements that should see its appeal, and hopefully its target audience, broaden immeasurably.

Fans will recall that Jaguar first used the eight-speed automatic transmission in the 2.2 liter XF

According to Adrian Hallmark, Global Brand Director at Jaguar Cars, “The technical improvements introduced to the 2013 Model Year XF demonstrate Jaguar’s determination both to exceed the demanding expectations of our customers around the world, and our ambitious plans for growth in emerging markets. Through the expertise of our engineering teams, the Jaguar brand is in a stronger position than ever before to achieve those goals.”

The LED slant of the headlights is mirrored on the rear-end in a nice bit of design cohesion

The iconic Jaguar grille might be associated with older generations but cars like the XF should change that

Mechanically, the 3.0 S/C is also equipped with a ZF-sourced slick-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission (Jag fans will recall it was first used in the 2.2-liter XF) that works in tandem with Jaguar's intelligent Stop/Start system – a transmission that has been used to such devastating effect in a host of other marques that you will be asking “dual-clutch what?” in no time. Apart from offering smoother acceleration, it also has the benefit of serving up reduced emissions and better fuel economy. 200 millisecond-shifts are executed with sufficient conviction for both up- and down-shifts that you won't miss the occasional dithering “are you sure?” at shifting-down that dual-clutch boxes often exhibit.
Apparently, the new power-train, which includes an aluminum-cased rear differential, means the new model is comparable (in terms of weight and packaging) with its six-speed automatic predecessor, albeit with the eight-speed boasting better efficiency. Gearshifts can either be left to the gearbox's own devices, or the driver can override the controls via the steering wheel mounted paddles.

The cabin architecture is clean and unfussy, although the merging of high-tech and old world designs may not please some

In Singapore, the impression of Jaguar that is commonly perpetuated is of an older demographic of owners, who continue to have the X-Type and S-Type in their minds but there is a lot more to the brand, especially with models such as the F-Type on the horizon. Inside the XF, there is certainly a welcome difference in cabin architecture that makes a refreshing change; some have commented that the rising cylindrical gear-shifter (or drive command dial), which is now a common feature in all the modern Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles, takes some getting used to. The cabin is an eclectic fusion of high-technology and old-world elements, which gives the XF a personality of its own. The 2909mm wheelbase translates to decent spaced for all occupants and there is a good amount of features to enhance life-on-board. Most can be engaged via the seven-inch TFT touchscreen.

The XF's transmission offers smoother accelaration and delivers better fuel economy and fewer emissions, in tandem with the start/stop system

Here we see that LED slant again, which makes the XF look like a mean customer. Like an angry Transformer perhaps

Displacing 2995cc, the XF 3.0 V6 produces 340bhp and 450Nm, which are strong figures for a model that doesn’t bear any extraneous go-faster nomenclature addendum. The 100km/h dash from standstill is dispatched in under 6 seconds – no mean feat considering its 1.8-tonnes kerbweight –with top speed rated at 250km/h; in contrast, the V8 XFR will demolish the 100km/h mark in under 5 seconds, even if the top speed remains inhibited to 250km/h, just like the XF.
On the drive command dial, S mode endows the car with more sprightly gearbox responses for driving fast in the city. Once the roads open up, the chequered flag button enlivens damping, steering and engine response, which ably demonstrate the XF’s engaging character, especially blasting down a series of familiar roads. We would have preferred for the steering weighting to be heftier but this is not to say it didn't communicate well via the chunky steering wheel as far as lateral forces were concerned. The other pet peeve is the car’s lack of aural drama, which we feel should be staple on every car with an iota of sportiness coursing through their exhaust vents.

The 100km/h dash takes less than 6 seconds - no mean feat considering the XF's hefty 1.8 tonnes kerbweight

With pedal-fully-to-metal, we’d have expected a great snarling and gnashing of teeth as the 3.0 issued forth a call to arms but it is more genteel and urbane than savvy street-fighter; gentlemen racers, you will have to decide for yourselves how you feel about this. As far as sports sedans go, we still have a soft-spot for rear-driven cars and the XF 3.0 never disappoints as far as handling finesse is concerned; coupled to the linear delivery of the supercharged engine, there is a sweet balance to the entire XF 3.0 package that could see it win fans over from the ubiquitous pool of Teutonic suspects.

Gentlemen racers may appreciate the rear-wheel drive of the XF

Technical Specifications

• Model: Jaguar XF 3.0 S/C Premium Luxury
• Engine: 2995cc, 24-valves, V6, Supercharged
• Power @ rpm: 340bhp at 6500rpm
• Torque @ rpm: 450Nm at 3500-5050rpm
• 0-100km/h: 5.9 seconds
• Top speed: 250km/h (M Driver’s Package: 305km/h)
• Transmission: 8-speed Automatic 

Raging Bulls and Cows on Parade in HK: Lamborghini’s 50th Anniversary

Raging Bulls and Cows on Parade in HK: Lamborghini’s 50th Anniversary

Recently, on the morning of April 27, the streets of Hong Kong were rife with the sounds of over 30 bulls rolling up to Central Pier. To celebrate Lamborghini’s 50^th Anniversary, Lamborghini Hong Kong organized a ‘Raging Bull’ car parade featuring an impressive fleet of Lamborghini supercars.

The celebrations also saw Lamborghini Hong Kong partnering with The Links and public charity organizer CowParade to establish a charity event. The event featured five life-sized cow sculptures designed by actor Aaron Kwok, A Bathing Ape designer Mankey, Italian flower artist Emilio Robba, New York’s Billy The Artist and the Lamborghini Hong Kong team. These creations went under the hammer during the charity auction.

Designed based on Lamborghini’s brand values, ‘Extreme, Italian, Uncompromising’, the individual designs are paired with the bodies of five Lamborghini supercars. The cow sculptures will be displayed at Stanley Plaza from April 28 to May 19. The five accompanying supercars will be showcased every weekend, till May 19.

Aaron Kwok with Lamborghini supercars and their accompanying cow sculptures

Satyajit Ray's 92nd birth anniversary: 15 classics by the director that you should watch

Satyajit Ray's 92nd birth anniversary: 15 classics by the director that you should watch

One of India's greatest filmmaker, Satyajit Ray, would have been 92 today. On his birth anniversary, we list 15 films by the director that you should watch.

Pather Panchali (1955): The film is perhaps Ray's best known work to date and is the first part of his Apu Trilogy. He sees the world through the eyes of his protagonist Apu and weaves his brand of lyrical realism in the film. It has won honours at the Cannes Film Festival and is counted amongst the best films in World Cinema.

Apur Sansar (1959): This is the third part of Ray's Apu Trilogy and charts the adulthood of Apu, his marriage to Aparna and tearing of his roots to feed the wanderlust in him. 

Aranyer Din Ratri (1969): Four friends explore the untapped wild charm of tribal Palamau in Bihar to get away from civilization. The lines blur when the so-called civilized and the uncivilized find themselves in company of women and wilderness. 

Nayak (1966): A nationally known film star takes a train journey and comes in contact with a journalist. His flamboyance and panache is a cover for deeper insecurities and inner demons. 

Goopi Gayen Bagha Bayen (1969): One of the greatest children's film ever made, Goopi and Bagha are exiled from their village. They seek shelter in a forest and come in contact with a cluster of ghosts living there. They grant the duo three wishes.

Hirak Rajar Deshe (1980): A children's film, it is also a powerful social commentary. Ray tackles with grave subjects such as corruption and exploitation through a lyrical and amusing tale.


Charulata (1964): One of Ray's finest films, Charulata tells the story of a lonely housewife whose husband runs a newspaper in colonial Calcutta. Ray explores relationships with Madhavi Mukherjee in the lead role.



Jalshaghar (1958): The film narrates the story of a zamindar in Bengal. The landlord, Roy (Chhabi Biswas), is a just but other-worldly man who loves to spend time listening to music and putting up spectacles rather than managing his fields ravaged by floods and the abolition of zamindari system by the Indian government.

Ghare Baire (1984): Based on a novel by Rabindranath Tagore, the film is a tale of conflicting ideals, the duel between realism and idealism

Joi Baba Felunath (1979): Part of the popular Feluda series, the action in this film shifts to Benaras where detective Feluda along with his assistant Topshe try to unravel the identity of a thief who burgled at a Bengali household in the city. 

Sonar Kella (1974): Sonar Kella is part of series on his self-created detective Pradosh Chandra Mitra. Feluda goes to Rajasthan to investigate the truth behind a boy's claims of re-incarnation and bust a gang that kidnaps him. 

Devi (1960): Set in the late 1800s in rural Bengal. Sharmila Tagore plays Dayamayee whose father-in-law considers her an incarnation of goddess Kali. 

Aparajito (1956): Aparajito is the second film in 'The Apu Trilogy'. The Bengali film charts the growing up years of Apu, the death of his father Harihar and his gradual drifting apart from Sarbajaya as emotional distance creeps in between him and his mother who was his anchor as a child.

Aparajito (1956): Aparajito is the second film in 'The Apu Trilogy'. The Bengali film charts the growing up years of Apu, the death of his father Harihar and his gradual drifting apart from Sarbajaya as emotional distance creeps in between him and his mother who was his anchor as a child. 

Ashani Sanket (1973): The film is set in a village in the Indian province of Bengal during World War II, and examines the effect of the Great Famine of 1943. 

Sarabjit Singh dies, Pakistan to hand over his body to India

Sarabjit Singh dies, Pakistan to hand over his body to India

LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thurday said the body of Indian death row convict Sarabjit Singh, who died in a Lahore hospital after a brutal assault in jail, will be handed over to Indian authorities after "the early completion of all formalities".

The Pakistan government will continue to facilitate the "early completion of all formalities and hand over the mortal remains of the prisoner to the Indian High Commission at the earliest possible", said a statement from the Pakistan Foreign Office.

The body of 49-year-old Sarabjit was moved to the mortuary of Jinnah Hospital in Lahore shortly after he died of cardiac arrest at around 1am. (1:30am IST)

He had been comatose since Friday, when he was attacked by six other prisoners within his barrack at Kot Lakhpat Jail.

The Foreign Office said the Pakistan government had been providing "all assistance to the family of Sarabjit Singh as well as to the Indian authorities since the occurrence of this unfortunate incident".

The statement said Sarabjit had died of cardiac arrest despite being "provided the best treatment available" and the staff of Jinnah Hospital working round the clock to save his life.

Pakistan's foreign secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani was quoted by the media as saying that the body would be "expeditiously" handed over to India after completing necessary formalities.

Official sources in Islamabad and Lahore said an autopsy and other formalities will have to be completed before handing over the body. A medical board will oversee the autopsy.

The Indian High Commission was in touch with both the federal and Punjab governments on the issue, the sources said.

Indian High Commissioner Sharat Sabharwal, who is in Lahore, is expected to meet Punjab caretaker chief minister Najam Sethi this afternoon.

Sarabjit sustained severe injuries when at least six prisoners attacked him in a barrack at Kot Lakhpat Jail on Friday, hitting him on the head with bricks.

In New Delhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed sadness over Sarabjit's death, saying criminals responsible for the barbaric and murderous attack on the Indian national must be brought to justice.

Sarabjit was convicted of alleged involvement in a string of bomb attacks in Punjab province that killed 14 people in 1990 and spent about 22 years in Pakistani prisons.

His family says he was the victim of mistaken identity and had inadvertently strayed across the border in an inebriated state.

Sarabjit's mercy petitions were rejected by the courts and former President Pervez Musharraf.

The previous Pakistan People's Party-led government put off Sarabjit's execution for an indefinite period in 2008.

The official sources in Lahore had yesterday said Sarabjit had slipped into a "non-reversible" coma and this could lead to "brain death".

His measurements on the Glasgow Coma Scale, which indicates the levels of consciousness and damage to a person's central nervous system, had dropped to a "critical level", the sources said.

Police have booked two death row prisoners, Amer Aftab and Mudassar, for the attack on Sarabjit. They reportedly told investigators that they had attacked Sarabjit because he had allegedly carried out bomb attacks in Lahore.

No action has been taken so far against officials of the jail for failing to provide adequate security to Sarabjit.

Following the rapid deterioration in Sarabjit's condition, New Delhi had requested that he be immediately released so that he could be treated in India or a third country.

Sarabjit should be declared a martyr: Family

The family of Sarabjit Singh, Indian prisoner who succumbed to injuries after being brutally assaulted in a Lahore jail, has demanded that his body be handed over to them and he should be declared a "martyr".

The family has set forth demand to the Union home ministry including that Sarabjit's body be cremated with full state honours, Raj Kumar Verka, vice chairman of National Commission for Scheduled Castes, told PTI.

They have also demanded that the Centre take full responsibility of the family, Verka said.

The government will hold a meeting today to consider the demands of Sarabjit's family, he added.

Verka said Sarabjit's family members, who are with him at his New Delhi residence, are in a state of shock after receiving the news of his death.

He said he has forwarded the demands to the Union home ministry and is in touch with the Central leaders, including home minister Sushilkumar Shinde himself.

Extremely anguished by Sarabjit's death: Salman Khurshid

Extremely anguished by Sarabjit's death: Salman Khurshid

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on Thursday said he was "extremely anguished" by the death of Sarabjit Singh in a Lahore hospital following a brutal attack on him in a high-security jail. "We are extremely anguished by the death" of the Indian prisoner, Khurshid told reporters when asked to react to the death of Singh.
"We are going to issue a statement in Parliament. The Prime Minister has expressed his anguish over the incident. It is a terrible psychological and emotional setback for us. We deeply regret his death. We are extremely angry," said Khurshid.
Sarabjit died of cardiac arrest in a Pakistani hospital in the wee hours on Thursday after being comatose for nearly a week following a brutal assault by fellow inmates in a high- security jail.