Karthi's 'Biriyani' awarded 'U/A' certificate

Img Karthi's 'Biriyani' awarded 'U/A' certificate
Karthi's 'Biriyani' awarded 'U/A' certificate
» » Karthi's 'Biriyani' awarded 'U/A' certificate Karthi's 'Biriyani' awarded 'U/A' certificate December 10th, 2013 | | Tags: Biriyani, Karthi Karthi's upcoming film 'Biriyani' which is scheduled to hit the screens next Friday (20thNovember) has been awarded 'U/A' certification by the Censors. The Regional Censor Board first refused to award an 'U' certification to the film after which producer K.E. Gnanavel Raja took the film to the revising committee in Hyderabad. The Committee, which to refused an 'U' certificate, has now awarded 'U/A' certification for the film. Scripted and directed by Venkat Prabhu, 'Biriyani' has a huge star-cast in Karthi, Hansika, Mandy Takhar, Ramki, Premgi Amaren, Nassar, Prem, Jayaprakash, Madumitha, Nitin Sathya, Subbu Panchu and Uma Riyaz Khan. Yuvan Shankar Raja has scored the music of the film and enters the 3-figure mark in terms of the number of films he has scored music for. Sakti Saravanan has cinematographed the film while the duo of Praveen and Srikanth has edited the film's final version. After the hat-trick of debacle in the form of Saguni, Alex Pandianand All in All Azhagu Raja, Karthi is hoping to reverse the trend with Biriyani which promises to be a wholesome entertainer. The film would be released simultaneously in Tamil and Telugu with Dolby Atmos sound effect.
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Pooja Chopra under pressure with Vipul Shah

Mumbai: Pooja Chopra, who was was last seen in Vipul Shah's "Commando" has been repeated again by the filmmaker in his next film "Roop Nagar Ke Cheeteh". The actress says she is extremely happy but is under pressure to prove herself again.

"Yes, there is a lot of excitement and it also gives me a lot of encouragement that a filmmaker like Vipul Shah wants to repeat me. I will not lie but I am under pressure which comes with lot of happiness. He has given me a second opportunity and I will not let him down," said Pooja.

The film is directed by Vihaan Suryavanshi and produced by Shah.

Unlike her role in "Commando", "Roop Nagar Ke Cheeteh" will see Pooja in a different avtaar.

"The film is going on floors Jan 4. This film is different from 'Commando' and it revolves around friendship. It's a very relatable, youthful story," said the actress.

"My look in the film is also different. I am playing a very modern girl from Delhi. So, I am thrilled and excited and can't wait to start working on the film," she added. IANS

Pranab and Obama attend Mandela memorial service

President Pranab Mukherjee arrived here on Tuesday to attend a memorial service in honour of South Africa's anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela, whose death triggered an unprecedented outpour of rich tributes worldwide.

Mr. Mukherjee will join the heads of governments and states from more than 53 countries, including US President Barack Obama, in the two-hour long memorial service to be held at a 95,000-seat FNB Stadium, where Mandela made his last major public appearance during the 2010 football World Cup.

Mandela (95) who had been suffering from a recurring lung infection and a prolonged spell of ill-health, died on December 5.

President Mukherjee is accompanied by UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj, Union Commerce Minister Anand Sharma, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury and BSP leader Satish Mishra, reflecting the high-esteem Mandela held across the entire political spectrum in India.

He is one of only six Heads of State who will address the crowd at the memorial service. He will join Mr. Obama, Brazilian leader Dilma Rousseff, Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia and Raul Castro of Cuba as well as Chinese Vice-President Li Yuanchao on the podium to address the crowd.

Mr. Mukherjee summed up the mood when he said shortly before leaving for Johannesburg that his visit to South Africa "reflects the high degree of love and respect which Dr Mandela commanded in India."

"My delegation and I hope to convey to the government and people of South Africa the intense grief and personal loss that we in India feel over the sad demise of the great soul - our beloved 'Madiba'," he said.

"His life was a living example of human strength and courage in the face of brute force and gross injustice.

"He was the last of the giants who led the world's struggles against the colonialism and his struggle held special significance for us as we saw in him a reflection of our own prolonged anti-colonial struggle led by Mahatma Gandhi," he said.

After Tuesday's memorial service, Mandela's remains will lie in state for three days at the government buildings in Pretoria, the same where he was sworn in as president in 1994.

He will be buried on Sunday in Qunu, 450 miles south of Johannesburg, at an event only a few world leaders are expected to attend.

Scores of other foreign dignitaries have already arrived in the country for the memorial service.

There has been an "unprecedented interest" to attend the revered statesman's funeral, South African Foreign Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane told a news conference here.

AAP may extend issue-based support to BJP, says Prashant

Even as the stalemate over government formation continues in Delhi, Aam Aadmi Party leader Prashant Bhushan has said his party may consider extending issue-based support to the BJP, which has emerged as the single largest party with 31 seats in the 70-member Assembly.

In an interview to NDTV, Mr. Bhushan said: "If the BJP gives us in writing that it will pass the Jan Lokpal Bill by December 29 and set up 'Jan Sabhas' (public assemblies) in Delhi, as promised by the Aam Aadmi Party, we may consider supporting the party."

But he said it was his view and not that of his party, which stands second with 28 seats. "It's my view and it has not been discussed within the party."

This is the first time an AAP leader has talked about extending limited support to the BJP since the results of the Assembly elections were declared on Sunday. Both the BJP and the AAP have been reluctant to form a government so far, citing lack of numbers.

In fact, till Monday evening, AAP leader Yogendra Yadav had maintained that his party would not form a government; it would instead sit in the Opposition.

Even at a meeting of AAP winners in the evening, party convener Arvind Kejriwal ruled out support to both the BJP and the Congress, and said the AAP would not stake claim to form a government.

Delhi Lt-Governor reviewing developments

A day after the Assembly elections to the Delhi Assembly threw up a hung verdict, Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung was reviewing the developments, according to informed sources in his office.

Sources in the Home Ministry said the Lt-Governor was likely to call the single largest party, the BJP, which along with its partner Akali Dal's one seat, has 32 MLAs, to ascertain if it was ready to form a government. In the event of the BJP declining to form the government, the Lt-Governor may explore the option of asking the AAP if it will be in a position to do so.

Both the BJP and the AAP have asserted they are not inclined to stake claim. After exhausting all options, the Lt-Governor would submit a report to the Home Ministry recommending the future course of action, which could be imposition of President's Rule and keeping the Assembly in suspended animation.

Party meet

The political affairs committee of the AAP met at Arvind Kejriwal's residence to consider the party's future course of action. Emerging from the meeting, AAP leader Yogendra Yadav said that even if the Lt-Governor invited the party to form government it would decline the offer, citing lack of majority.

"We've stated right from the beginning that we will not seek or offer support to the Congress or the BJP. There is nothing in the results which can change our stand. The result is the moral and political victory of our party, but we don't have the numbers... We are also not the single largest party. I don't know why the onus of forming the government is being shifted on us," said Mr. Yadav.

Keywords: Delhi Assembly elections, Assembly polls 2013, Aam Aadmi Party, Arvind Kejriwal, Prashant Bhushan