Since yesterday the only discussion going on is ‘did you listen to Mohan Babu’s speech at Hare Ram audio?”. Well, why blame him? It has become  a fad to invite two people, Dasari  (OM audio) and Mohan Babu to important audio functions because they know they will make some sensational comment that will bring sadistic pleasure to anti chiru camp and next some publicity to the function itself. Saanp mare par laati na toote.

Somebody empathise because he is still that goda meedha pilli, professing friendship to Cong & love (?) to TDP, naa routey veru anataniki mundhu route undaali kadha. Kuppiganthulu vese kothiki lanka dahanam chese capacity kooda vuntundhi. BTW are his ancestors different?

Founder of Ashwini Hair Oil, Shri Subba Rao is sponsoring the complete education of a B.Sc Nursing Student.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/06/30/stories/2008063056830800.htm

Next time if any of these TRS guys are seen eating idlis, what do we do?

It’s rare for people to keep up their word. When it comes to celebs, it is lot more difficult as they tend to overlook certain things because of their busy schedules or because of delegation of responsibility. This is not the first time Tarak has donated money to the needy, he has supported economically weaker students to pursue further studies. The picture below is an act of fulfillment of a promise. He wanted to help a moviegoer who lost his life at a theatre screening Kantri.   

Konchem Kotthaga is a straight and a focused film and the director tells his story without cheating or leading the audiences astray. It is a good film, mostly but not entirely in the current horror mould, suspenseful and skillfully made. He sticks to his point, makes it short and bearable. No revealing costumes by the heroine, no pop remixes and no overdose of screams and heightened, tense atmosphere. But genre enthusiasts will be pleased and other seasoned movie goers might be mildly enthused to stay glued just to know what happens in the end.

The film won’t shock or scare you but the narrative is interesting. After the initial mood is set, the first 30 minutes drags, it has a slow opening and one keep’s guessing who Venkat and Tulip Joshi are and what they are doing in a huge home oblivious to each other’s presence.The spookiness is replaced by ridiculousness but then the director knows  what he wants. Pre-interval is completely sans dialogues and all you see is a young man and a woman walking around aimlessly, bored and sometimes perplexed  with the strange noises and development. The entire film takes place in the house.

 A burglar breaks in and only then the three realise that they are in the wrong place and at the wrong time. There are more developments on the trio’s part, a couple of dead bodies, a policeman and the puzzle is solved eventually.  There is no over dramatisation by either Venkat, Tulip Joshi and their work is convincing enough. Ali’s comedy is subtle and situational and there are not more than half a dozen  people as the cast. Looks like the film is made with some tight budget, a nice time pass movie and assures safe adrenaline rushes.

Leakages not over still. At regular intervals train party followers are coming up with interesting bytes. Today the scrolling concentrates on another loyalist Dr Samaram, he says Party on 15^th. Andharu almost anni cheppestunnaru. Konchem aina daachandi lekapothe annaiyya ki  independence day naadu declare cheyyataniki emi migaladhu. We want to see more than hand waving.

Goud is behaving like one freedom fighter, he thinks that his telen’gaana’ bajaana will earn him some sort of iconic status. God save people like him who think that whipping up passions, dividing people and splitting the State is the ultimate answer to development.

 Ippude oka mag lo chadivanu. Sri and Boney Kapoor 2000euros per day petti oka posh hotel lo unnaranta Cannes and it questions eeme yeppudu bounced cheques problem endhuku face chestundi?

http://www.hindu.com/mp/2008/06/28/stories/2008062852890800.htm 

“Hi, this is Bob from Thailand”, says a distinct, easy going and a sweet voice over the phone. For those Thai, Thai Indians and Indians , Bob is a eminently a recognizable name. One can call him Sahni Saab or by his real name Dilbir Singh. A graduate and a native of Vijayawada Bob’s family was in a financial mess in 92-93 and he decided to do something about it. He left for Delhi where he struggled for a couple of months  for a tourist visa and landed in Thailand with just 100 dollars in his pocket.

Speaking sometimes in chaste telugu and fluent English,Bob says he had like any other Sikh started upfront in life and did so many things to survive in an alien land. He met Gopal Nair from Travel Trade one day and the stranger trigerred the thought process in him and Bob resolved to become a travel representative for the Thai dealing with Indians. He joined Karey and by 2005 he established his own agency called the Indo-Bangkok Travels and also a Company named Indo-Bangkok Films.

His work primarily was to make arrangements for the tourists, film people, accommodation, permissions for shooting in various locations, providing junior artistes and in short all the movie requirements and eversince there was no looking back. Apart from the Travels and Film Company he single handedly set up a restaurant Namaste India on the highway between Bangkok Airport and Pataya City and one restaurant Spices on the Pataya Beach.

How does it feel to be the most popular Indian in Thailand? Bob replies modestly, “There are many tourists coming here and they have their people or someone picking them at the airport. But even then they have a vague feeling looking for directions as if they are lost in this city. I feel I’m in a far better position than them. I came here to make something of myself and even today if I were to lose everything, I’m confident I can face any adversity. I don’t wish even my enemy to go through what I went initially.”

There are many rich Thai Indians but Bob is known to be the richest of all for having  a big heart. He is not all about money, he has created a little India in Thailand, throws the most lavish of parties and is famous for spreading goodwill. While money does play an important role it gives Bob a major kick that he is an Indian while his birthday party is telecast live in the TV channels in Thailand. He says animatedly and extends an invitation, “Everyone waits for Bob’s party. My friends come from India to my place to celebrate, you are welcome too. It’s on 12^th November.”

The biggest advantage for him is knowing telugu thoroughly. “Many people Ramanaidu, EVV, Puri Jagan etc feel comfortable when I am around. Many producers and filmi personalities call me up and tell me that around 15 ladies are visiting Thailand for a holiday and they ask me to take care of them. They feel the family is in safe hands.” Bob has now taken care of over 100 films including music videos in Thailand and is silmultaneously handling his restaurant and travel business. How does he manage all of this? He sounds cool, “I’m 24×7 on my mobile giving instructions and running the show and when ever my phone rings in the middle of the night I can breathe deeply, I have no wife to crib over my lifestyle. Yes, I’m a bachelor, my folks tell me that I should settle down.”

Though Bob speaks impeccable Thai, he still craves to go to the Gurudwara every Sunday for Indian food. Indian food is very expensive and his first meal when he landed here has been Thai, it’s all about survival ain’t it? And finally before he pleads to hang up the phone ask him the secret of his success, he just says, “nothing! Just showers of blessings!”…..

Land prices show no signs of receding, land scams and mafia operations have reared their ugly heads in every city. Director Ravi C Kumar touches a topical issue again after Samanyudu, this time he shows how the mafia buys land at rock bottom rates from gullible people, how signed documents are not registered, sold lands which are not in their names and corrupt government servants who have made bribery an order of the day.

Nitin, Shashank and few other youth form a group of vigilantes after they become victims of land mafia. The story begins on a not so interesting note throwing light on a the characters,touching romance which looks inane and out of context for such a serious subject but eventually just before the interval it builds the tempo and drags one into it. Ashutosh Rana and his bitter rival Supreet make it their goal to usurp all the prime land in the city and Supreet tries to use Nitin as a pawn to eliminate Rana. Nitin chalks out a strategy, outsmarts both of them with the help of media and police officials and heralds the victory over the system.

The hero here is not only about brawn. His eight pack doesn’t raise eyebrows but goes with the flow and keeps the audience glued with his role which is an ample mix of toughness and gentleness. The premise is strong but the director falters on the narrative in the second half. This one is not as flamboyant as Samanyudu but it is dealt with a fair amount of conviction. Mamta Mohandas is a decorative doll and there is zilch chemistry between Nitin and her.

Shashank and Ashutosh Rana add candour and credibility but the best part is from MS Narayana who appears here and there as a self righteous citizen who doesn’t take anything lying down. Ali keeps greasing the palms of the realtor-friendly clerk played by Brahmanandam who as usual gets his share of rabblerousing rhetoric  and  Sindu Tolani is a TV journalist who runs a home for the handicapped. The film is little formulaic but one can definitely watch it once…

http://www.hindu.com/2008/06/28/stories/2008062856690200.htm