Ashutosh Gowariker’s film’s master print stolen

Hours before the release of his new film “What’s Your Raashee” Director Ashutosh Gowariker is trying to understand how the master print of his film was purportedly stolen and pirated from a laboratory.

“I’ve been travelling to Toronto and then to Ahmedabad, so I’m not aware of the full situation. However, it’s a scary thought that films have been going out for piracy from the lab,” Gowariker said.

UTV, which has co-produced “What’s Your Raashee” with Ashutosh Gowariker Productions Pvt Ltd, has slapped a legal notice of Rs.50crore each on Adlabs and UFO Moviez for allegedly helping the theft of the master print.

UTV suspected that the master print went missing days before the movie’s scheduled release September 25.

The business development manager of Adlabs Processing, Durgadas Bhakta, was arrested in Mumbai for supposedly stealing and selling the master print. Bhakta allegedly sold it for Rs.2lakh to movie pirates.

“I’m glad they were caught out when my film was smuggled out. We don’t know the extent of the damage. I can only be thankful my master print was recovered. But we don’t know how many copies were made,” said the director.

Choosing to see the lighter side of the harsh situation, Gowariker said, “I hope the pirates didn’t cut the film. I don’t want them to watch an in-complete film.”

The film stars Priyanka Chopra and Hurman Baweja in the lead roles.

Balarama the hero of Mysore

Balarama carries himself with the greatness of a 52-year-old used to special treatment.

For the last 11 years, this elephant has carried the 750 Kg golden howdah (a seat or platform for one or more persons, commonly with a railing and a canopy, placed on the back of an elephant) in the Mysore Dasara procession. The weight doesn’t bother him. He’s a healthy 5000 Kg himself.

But that’s not the only reason why the 52 year old from the Hunsur forests is chosen for the ceremony and glory. “He has got two beautiful tusks. And a very plain flat back on which the howdah can be safely seated,” said Dr Nagaraja Sharma, Director, Centre for Indian Studies, Mysore.

Balarama has also never been caught throwing a tantrum (a violent demonstration of rage or frustration; a sudden burst of ill temper). So he’s counted upon to take the procession and its crowds in his jumbo march.

His perques include meals fit for a king. Every day, he gets 500 Kg of banyan tree branch fodder; 200 Kg of green grass; 15 Kg of paddy, 500 g of jaggery and a 2 Kg groundnut cake. Tied with abundant love from his mahout (the keeper or driver of an elephant, esp. in India and the East Indies), Thimma, who says if Balarama is happy, he’s happy. “Sometimes, we forget even our wife and children. If he is good, only then will our wife and children get food.”

He may be a senior now, but there’s no question of retirement for Balarama. He’s still the hero of the Mysore Dasera procession.

“This Is It” by Michael Jackson

An unheard Michael Jackson song is to be released as a single next month.

“This Is It”, which features backing vocals by Jackson’s brothers, will go on sale on 12 October.

Jackson’s record label Sony Music said the song would also appear on a new album, as will unheard versions of his classic hits.

It is not clear when Jackson wrote and recorded the new track. The pop star had been working with artists like Akon and Will.i.am before his death in June.

The song will be the first new material to see the light of day since he died.

It takes its name from the ill-fated series of comeback shows that were to have been held at London’s O2 arena.

“This song only defines, once again, what the world already knows – that Michael is one of God’s greatest gifts,” said John McClain, the music executive who is co-executor of his will and has co-produced the new two-disc album.

The first disc will feature his greatest hits, ending with the new song.

The second disc will include previously unreleased versions of his best-loved tunes. 

The new song will also feature in the closing credits of a film, called This Is It, which has been made using footage of rehearsals for his O2 concerts.

Water dicovered on Moon by Chandrayaan

It could be one of the biggest finds in the history of space research – water on the moon. And proof of this may have come from India’s own Chandrayaan satellite before it was aborted.

The water found as a thin, invisible film, which has been found on moon rocks.

The credit for this much-awaited discovery could go to NASA’s Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) on board the Chandrayaan, which has mapped 97 per cent of the lunar surface change.

ISRO is analysing this data and will be able to make an announcement soon.