It is difficult to associate such a pleasant person who believes in god and destiny with the sad accident on a football field leading to the demise of Brazilian Cristiano Junior five years ago.

Apart from having to live down that tragic incident, Paul had to face a lot of hurdles in his career. The two well-known Kolkata clubs Mohun Bagan and East Bengal would not look at him.

Paul was charged by Mohun Bagan coach Amal Dutta for allegedly taking bribe in 2006 while he was thrown out of East Bengal this season allegedly for unbelievably poor performance.

But the one man who noticed immense potential in Paul is India’s chief coach Bob Houghton who thought he is the right man to tend the India goal.

“I have no grudge against East Bengal and Mohun Bagan. I had nothing to prove tonight. I always felt that we could win against Syria. But for me I didn’t want to let down Bob sir. He had a lot of faith in me and I am happy that I made my contribution in the win,” said the 23-year-old, after making three stupendous saves in the penalty shoot-out.

Paul also remembered his coach and former India goalkeeper Debashish Mukherjee. The former goalie played a crucial role in bringing a change in his behaviour after the Cristiano episode.

“Had it not been for Debashish da, I wouldn’t have been playing at the Ambedkar Stadium on Monday. I shall always be grateful to him,” said Paul, who has been signed for newly promoted I-League team, Pune FC.

India skipper Bhaichung Bhutia and Houghton were all praise for Paul and felt that his best was yet to come.

“Subrata has been in an outstanding form and I have always maintained that he is the No.1 goalkeeper in the country.”

Source: IANS

In action on the first day of the 2009 Open, the recently engaged Mirza defeated Olga Govortsova of Belarus 6-2 3-6 6-3; while qualifier Devvarman beat Portugal’s Frederico Gil 6-3 6-4 6-3.

After her win, Mirza told Reuters it was wonderful few days for Indian sport as the milestone in New York followed the success of the Force India Formula One team, which secured pole position for last weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix before the outfit’s Giancarlo Fisichella finished the race in second place. “It’s great,” she said. “Things are looking up. They have been for awhile now, but I guess they’re looking further up.”

Mirza, who missed most of the 2008 season because of a career-threatening wrist injury, said this is her comeback year adding she is currently at the peak of her physical fitness.

Mirza also had words of praise for Devvarman after he defeated his higher-ranked opponent in under two hours. “For a long time… I was the only one (from India) playing singles in the main draw of the Grand Slams. It’s great that Somdev is playing so well since the beginning of the year and getting better,” Reuters quotes Mirza as saying.

In the second round, Mirza will be up against 10th seed Flavia Pennetta of Italy, while Devvarman is likely to face 22nd seed Philipp Kohlschreiber in the next round.

Source: IS

In action on the first day of the 2009 Open, the recently engaged Mirza defeated Olga Govortsova of Belarus 6-2 3-6 6-3; while qualifier Devvarman beat Portugal’s Frederico Gil 6-3 6-4 6-3.

After her win, Mirza told Reuters it was wonderful few days for Indian sport as the milestone in New York followed the success of the Force India Formula One team, which secured pole position for last weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix before the outfit’s Giancarlo Fisichella finished the race in second place. “It’s great,” she said. “Things are looking up. They have been for awhile now, but I guess they’re looking further up.”

Mirza, who missed most of the 2008 season because of a career-threatening wrist injury, said this is her comeback year adding she is currently at the peak of her physical fitness.

Mirza also had words of praise for Devvarman after he defeated his higher-ranked opponent in under two hours. “For a long time… I was the only one (from India) playing singles in the main draw of the Grand Slams. It’s great that Somdev is playing so well since the beginning of the year and getting better,” Reuters quotes Mirza as saying.

In the second round, Mirza will be up against 10th seed Flavia Pennetta of Italy, while Devvarman is likely to face 22nd seed Philipp Kohlschreiber in the next round.

Source: IS

Mumaith completes yet another successful year in tinsel town on September 1, her birthday. Happy B’day, Ms Khan!

Source: www.filmysouth.com

It’s a Ramadan month and despite being a devout Muslim, the veteran actor is busy moving from one set to another and running from one dubbing studio to another.

“Rain or sun, I have a job in hand and I do it with all my sincerity. Right now I’m driving towards Chennai to complete the dubbing of the Tamil version of ‘Pazhassi Raja’. Due to lack of time I’m not doing the Telegu and Hindi dubbing,” said Mammootty.

Scripted by M.T. Vasudevan Nair and directed by Hariharan, the film is set in the 18th century and is about Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja of the Padinjare Kovilakom of the Kottayam family. Irked by the revenue policy of East India Company in Malabar, he threatened to cut down all the pepper vines if the British persisted in revenue collection. It is releasing in September.

In short, Pazhassi Raja’s was one of the first voices to be raised against British rule in India and he was one of the first freedom fighters, but not many people are aware of this outside Kerala.

After a gap of 20 years, Nair, Hariharan and Mammootty have come together for the film. The trio last time teamed up for “Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha” and created magic on celluloid. The film fetched the actor his first of the three national awards.

“Since I’m the hero of the film, I will certainly be involved in all sort of promotion of the film. This is the first Malayalam film which will have a national release and of course, I’m excited. But I’m certainly being apprehensive too, because too much expectation is not a good thing,” said Mammootty.

“Resul Pookutty has designed the sound and we were together last week and he too appears to be happy. Any way, now we will wait,” said Mammootty.

Source: IANS

He was speaking to media persons at a function in Tiruchy where a CD on the superstar, titled ‘Makkal Manam Kavarndha Mannan’, was released.

Rao made it clear that Rajni was totally focussed on the Shankar movie at hand and once it was over, he was sure to make an announcement on his much delayed entry into politics.

The speculations about Rajni’s political entry has been going on for years. Some of his films had dialogues signifying his political ambitions. The fans of the superstar have been frustrated and even angry at his hesitation to take the plunge into politics.

Source: www.filmysouth.com

Mohanlal plays a criminal lawyer in the film. Only his brilliance can save the friends from certain punishment. Will he be able to do that? That is the question.

The film has been written by S.N Swamy. The cast includes Sampath, Vijayaraghavan, Ganesh Kumar, Vijayakumar, Jyothirmayi and Ranjita Menon.

Source: www.filmysouth.com

Chiyaan Vikram, the hero of the film, was all praise for director Susi Ganeshan. “He is the showman of south cinema’ like Raj Kapoor. ‘Kanthaswamy’ is the most stylish film I have ever done.” When asked about the negative talk on the film, Vikram said, “I know that there has been a lot of negative talk about the film, but who cares? The figures at the box-office say a different story. What more can an actor ask for?”

Shriya Saran, the heroine in the film, said that her character in the film was the best she had done so far.

Source: www.filmysouth.com

It’s a Western bhangra fusion feel that “Zindagi Jaise Ek Radio” carries. Based on the folk flavor of Punjab and carrying a similarity feel to it, “Zindagi Jaise Ek Radio” is high on rhythm with the ‘dhol’ beats ensuring that the ‘bhangra’ mood is set right away. Himesh gets into his full throated rendition with this number (which also appears in a ‘remix version’) that does come with a sense of deja vu but one doesn’t mind that due to it’s foot tapping ability.

The real album begins though from this stage on as there are six straight songs that bring that side of Himesh that hasn’t been heard in the present times. It’s the sound of guitar strings which begin “Jaaneman”, a soothing number that is sung in almost an unplugged manner. A brilliant track that announces loud and clear the melodic mood that the album develops from here on, “Jaaneman” has minimal instruments in the background with Himesh holding centre-stage. His voice too sounds all smooth-n-silky which makes “Jaaneman” an ideal number for a candle light dinner. Shreya Ghoshal joins Himesh in this romantic outing and makes sure that “Jaaneman” turns out to be one of the best songs to have arrived this year.

Looking at the lyrics of “Piya Jaise Ladoo Motichur Wale”, one would have imagined this to be a celebration number. However, there is a pleasant surprise in store as it turns out to be a semi-classical track which has Rekha Bhardwaj beginning the proceedings. A love song which again has just Rekha’s voice on the forefront with emphasis on the quality of rendition rather than any musical instruments bringing on the beats, ‘Piya Jaise…’ too demonstrates Himesh’s stranglehold over classical music.

In fact Himesh even curbs himself as a singer and only brings him on the scene a couple of times while allowing Rekha to hold centre-stage. Yet another excellent track which only makes one start expecting a lot more from Radio. In fact “Piya Jaise…” would be the last to warrant a ‘remix version’ but Himesh Reshammiya and Akbar Sami make it happen and present it in a format that would make an entry into the lounges and clubs.

Feeling of some pure and unsaid love continues with “Koi Na Koi Chahe” and by this time one gets to know that all the beats and the musical instruments were reserved for the ‘bhangra’ number in the start – “Zindagi Jaise Ek Radio”. That’s because from that point on, none of the songs had focus on anything other than the vocals, something that shows in “Koi Na Koi Chahe”. A ‘raaga’ based love song, this Himesh Reshammiya and Shreya Ghoshal track goes perfectly well with the mood that has been set in ‘Radio’ so far.

The sound of piano marks the beginning of “Teri Meri Dosti Ka Asmaan” and one knows there and then that Himesh has indeed set his heart in for creating the soundtrack of ‘Radio’. If one liked the music of his last brilliant album ‘Ahista Ahista’ then one is bound to grab ‘Radio’ too with both hands, courtesy a song like this which continues the unadulterated feel of the album. Subrat Sinha too spins some interesting lyrics for this number that has Shreyal Ghoshal getting that little girl act well with Himesh giving her company in a full throated rendition.

It isn’t every day that another male singer makes an appearance in a Himesh Reshammiya album; let aside sharing the stage with him. Well, impossible happens in case of “Damadji Angana Hai Padhare” where Kailash Kher gets this opportunity. A number that has a folk base to it, “Damadji…” has Kailash beginning the proceedings. However, two minutes into the song and Himesh enters the scene while bringing a different pitch and momentum. Yet another number that is attached to the roots and stays Indian throughout, it should make for a good situational outing.

It’s back to a romantic duet with Himesh and Shreya coming together for “Shaam Ho Chali Hai”. After “Janeman”, this is the love song that impresses most and deserves to be promoted to the hilt. With a touch of wait and sadness to it, this one too carries a certain ‘pure’ feel to it and stays unconcerned about any commercial trappings. Carrying the kind of sound (that does remind of “In Dino Dil Mera” – Life In A Metro) that is bound to work well with the youth of today who are looking at hearing something different from the usual club outings that are being presented in many a album in recent past, “Shaam Ho Chali Hai” deserves a repeat hearing.

Before the album concludes, Himesh presents himself a solo in the form of “Rafa Dafa Kiya Nahi Nahin Jaaye”. A number about moving on in life, this one is a good attempt by Subrat Sinha as he pens something different from the ‘dard-e-tanhai’ genre that has been beaten to death. A slow moving track that is primarily for situational appeal, it doesn’t harm the overall flow of ‘Radio’ which ultimately turns out to be much more than just a satisfying album.

While his fans enjoyed actioners like ‘Khiladi’, ‘Mohra’ and ‘Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi’, Akshay also drew audiences for laugh riots ‘Hera Pheri’, ‘Mujhse Shaadi Karogi’, ‘Welcome’ and ‘Sing Is Kinng’ among others.

“…I’ve done quite a lot of comedy now and I don’t know…sometimes an actor is very sensitive about what he’s doing and where he wants to go ahead and do. I know comedy has worked a lot and it has worked brilliantly for me.

“Earlier, when I used to do action I would never think about comedy and then I started getting into it and I was quite successful. So now I’ve never done a complete romantic film. I did ‘Dhadkan’, which was eight years back. But now I wanna get into it and do at least two or three romantic films now,” said the actor, who entered Bollywood in 1991.

One of the highest earning members of the Hindi film industry, Akshay maintains that there is no sure-shot secret to success, but stressed that hard work and being “a producer’s actor” is essential.

“It’s actually your hard work, your punctuality…Even if you’re not a good actor, to be a producer’s actor is very essential…If you finish your films on time, save a lot of money for the producer. I remember there was a time when I had delivered 14 flops in a row. But I still had movies along with me for a very simple reason, because I was a producer’s actor.”

“I had good films still coming… I had finished all films in a three-month span. Even if they went for loss, they still preferred working with me. And after that, even I thought my career was over. But it still carried on,” Akshay added.

And luck, he said, is of supreme importance for remaining on top.

“I’ve just been lucky… a lot of times I’ve watched my films and I felt it’s not good. And those films worked. Like I tell you another film of mine was “8x10Tasveer”. I love that film… When I saw it, it’s good but it didn’t work at all. So I don’t know exactly what works and what doesn’t work. You just flow. I liked “Chandni Chowk To China”. I did it with Warner Brothers, I was very confident and it didn’t work at all.”

So why didn’t it work?

“I think it was the storyline. Like ‘Kambakkht Ishq’ was another film where that combination got together (Bollywood and Hollywood); so that worked. But this one didn’t. So it’s not the combination, it’s actually the script – and sometimes the script doesn’t work.”

The actor also firmly believes that the blessings of his parents too go a long way in making him the star he is today.

“I would say my success lies at the feet of my parents because that’s been my biggest strength and that’s what we Hindus believe in. Every morning before going to work just touch your parents’ feet and go ahead in life. That’s my personal belief and I followed that in my life. And I told a lot of people and they have also been successful. People may believe it or not, but that’s exactly what I believe in,” Akshay said.