By Kajol Singh
In the backdrop of mobile phones having Indian SIM cards and UAE’s Thuraya satellite phone being used by Pakistani terrorists during Mumbai attack last week, the home ministry on Wednesday asked the department of telecommunication (DoT) to quickly devise a mechanism for a “strict consumer verification” exercise and formulate a comprehensive policy on “monitoring and intercepting” sat phones.
The ministry’s concerns were conveyed to DoT after the issue came up for discussion in a highlevel meeting chaired by home minister P Chidambaram who reviewed all aspects of telecom having security implications.
The issue of use of Chinese mobile phone handsets — which do not have International Mobile Equipment Identities (IMEI) — also came up for discussion. Since it is the IMEI number that mainly helps agencies to trace the handset user, the intelligence agencies had recently pitched for a ban on Chinese handsets.
The minister was, however, informed that DoT, taking such concerns in mind, has already “directed all the access service providers to make provision of Equipment Identity Registry (EIR) so that calls without IMEI or Electronic Serial Number (ESN) or those with IMEI or ESN with all zeros are not processed, and rejected”.
Besides senior home ministry and DoT officials, the meeting was also attended by senior officers of IB, RAW and the National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO). The NTRO keeps track of technological aspects of intelligence in coordination with other agencies.
Sources in the ministry said that DoT had proposed to set up a National Surveillance Grid to create a centralised communication monitoring agency. The Grid would help remove multiplicity of authorities in telecom/internet/Voice Over Internet Protocol monitoring exercises as currently it is being done by different agencies, they added.
At present, interception of sat phones is a big problem in India as none of the international operators have a hub here. Since these phones — provided by operators like UAE’s Thuraya and a consortium led by Inmarsat — do not need interconnectivity with the network of any country’s domestic network, they can be used anywhere in the world without any hitch.
An official said that sat phones could be intercepted only with the help of the country where it is licensed, which is time-consuming and often ineffective. The problems of interception and the absence of hubs come because India does not provide licences for operating satellite phones on a commercial basis, he added.
After having discussed such issues, the ministry asked DoT to come out with a solution within a month so that the government could formulate a comprehensive policy on sat phone monitoring and interception.
As far as safety mechanism of SIM cards is concerned, the ministry suggested that DoT consider a system of “guarantor” for getting a new connection. The home ministry also suggested that DoT come out with a guideline, which makes it mandatory for SIM card vendors to take instant photographs of new customers using web cameras and to pass them on to the service provider with the reference number.
It was earlier proposed that the consumers can carry reference numbers of two existing mobile phone customers as “guarantors” for getting new SIM cards.
Friday, December 26, 2008
LAND TILLERS’ OUTBURST - A Singur in the Making
By M H Ahssan
Pataperumallapuram, a nondescript village in East Godavari district looked like a warzone on Tuesday with farmers and police fighting a pitched battle, with the former refusing to part with their land for the Kakinada Special Economic Zone (KSEZ).
The revenue department’s haste in coercing them to part with the land for a mere Rs 3 lakh per acre has upset the farmers. “The promoters will in turn sell the land at Rs 40 lakh per acre to the big players ready to invest in KSEZ,” a village elder told TOI.
Highlighting the plight of small farmers, Gopalakrishna of district Rythu Coolie Sangham said they were unable to get cultivable land elsewhere at the amount that was being offered to them as compensation. The portbased multi-product KSEZ, coming up in nearly 10,000 acres, is set to wipe out 16 villages in U Kothapalli and Thondangi mandals. While the promoters (Kakinada Sea Ports Ltd, GMR group, Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services Ltd of Delhi, besides the state government) claim that the KSEZ would catapult the district by attracting investments worth over Rs 50,000 crore, anti-SEZ activists are crying foul over the tall claims.
Stating that thousands of ryots, farm labour, fishermen and artisans have been displaced with the use of brute force, K Rajendra Kumar of Kadali Network, spearheading the movement against the SEZ, demanded that the land be reverted to the affected farmers. Sources said the administration deployed revenue and police authorities to illegally fence both the acquired as well as unsold land.
“The cardinal principle that cultivable land should not be converted to set up industries has been ignored in this land acquisition process,” KSEZ Vyathireka Porata Samithi convenor Ch Suryanarayana Murthy alleged. The KSEZ has already acquired 6,500 acres — 5,800 acres through consent award and the rest by invoking the Land Acquisition Act.
That the lands proposed to be acquired are fertile and there are other lands which are fallow and infertile which can be acquired is the contention of the ryots and the fishermen. “In Moolapeta village alone, ryots are in possession of nearly 4,700 acres which the promoters are eyeing,” Srinivasa Rao of district fishermen samakhya said.
Sources said the government shifted the KSEZ site in 2005 bowing to pressure from real estate lobby and political leaders — it had initially notified 10,000 acres in Kakinada rural, Pithapuram and Samalkot mandals. “There is a clear profit motive in setting up an SEZ, that’s why big industrialists enter it. Let the industries buy land directly from the willing farmers. Why should they sell it to the promoters who are acting more like real estate brokers,” Gopalakrishna said.
Joining the issue, Murthy said that besides police repression the administration facilitating unlawful registration of fertile land to KSEZ Pvt Ltd in itself is a gross violation of the SEZ Act. However, the promoters said that the SEZ once completed would change the entire economic scenario of East Godavari.
HC Directive Against using Force for Acquiring Land
A division bench of the AP High Court on Wednesday directed the state government not to use police force to take physical possession of land from farmers for the sake of the developer of the Kakinada Special Economic Zone (KSEZ).
The bench comprising Chief Justice Anil Ramesh Dave and Justice R Subhash Reddy, while hearing a petition filed by KSEZ Vyathireka Porata Committee, wondered why the police were being used in this case. It, however, said it cannot restrain purchasers from taking possession of the land.
Appearing for the farmers, whose lands are now being taken away for KSEZ, senior counsel Bojja Tarakam said the KSEZ developer was seeking to take over land from farmers with the help of the police force.
When it was brought to the notice of the bench by the government counsel that the farmers themselves sold their lands to the developer, the bench said it cannot do much in such a situation.
Saying that the developer played a fraud on the farmers by purchasing from them the lands already notified by the government for acquisition, Tarakam sought such land transactions to be declared as invalid as they were done under coercion and during the pendency of a land acquisition notification.
Pataperumallapuram, a nondescript village in East Godavari district looked like a warzone on Tuesday with farmers and police fighting a pitched battle, with the former refusing to part with their land for the Kakinada Special Economic Zone (KSEZ).
The revenue department’s haste in coercing them to part with the land for a mere Rs 3 lakh per acre has upset the farmers. “The promoters will in turn sell the land at Rs 40 lakh per acre to the big players ready to invest in KSEZ,” a village elder told TOI.
Highlighting the plight of small farmers, Gopalakrishna of district Rythu Coolie Sangham said they were unable to get cultivable land elsewhere at the amount that was being offered to them as compensation. The portbased multi-product KSEZ, coming up in nearly 10,000 acres, is set to wipe out 16 villages in U Kothapalli and Thondangi mandals. While the promoters (Kakinada Sea Ports Ltd, GMR group, Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services Ltd of Delhi, besides the state government) claim that the KSEZ would catapult the district by attracting investments worth over Rs 50,000 crore, anti-SEZ activists are crying foul over the tall claims.
Stating that thousands of ryots, farm labour, fishermen and artisans have been displaced with the use of brute force, K Rajendra Kumar of Kadali Network, spearheading the movement against the SEZ, demanded that the land be reverted to the affected farmers. Sources said the administration deployed revenue and police authorities to illegally fence both the acquired as well as unsold land.
“The cardinal principle that cultivable land should not be converted to set up industries has been ignored in this land acquisition process,” KSEZ Vyathireka Porata Samithi convenor Ch Suryanarayana Murthy alleged. The KSEZ has already acquired 6,500 acres — 5,800 acres through consent award and the rest by invoking the Land Acquisition Act.
That the lands proposed to be acquired are fertile and there are other lands which are fallow and infertile which can be acquired is the contention of the ryots and the fishermen. “In Moolapeta village alone, ryots are in possession of nearly 4,700 acres which the promoters are eyeing,” Srinivasa Rao of district fishermen samakhya said.
Sources said the government shifted the KSEZ site in 2005 bowing to pressure from real estate lobby and political leaders — it had initially notified 10,000 acres in Kakinada rural, Pithapuram and Samalkot mandals. “There is a clear profit motive in setting up an SEZ, that’s why big industrialists enter it. Let the industries buy land directly from the willing farmers. Why should they sell it to the promoters who are acting more like real estate brokers,” Gopalakrishna said.
Joining the issue, Murthy said that besides police repression the administration facilitating unlawful registration of fertile land to KSEZ Pvt Ltd in itself is a gross violation of the SEZ Act. However, the promoters said that the SEZ once completed would change the entire economic scenario of East Godavari.
HC Directive Against using Force for Acquiring Land
A division bench of the AP High Court on Wednesday directed the state government not to use police force to take physical possession of land from farmers for the sake of the developer of the Kakinada Special Economic Zone (KSEZ).
The bench comprising Chief Justice Anil Ramesh Dave and Justice R Subhash Reddy, while hearing a petition filed by KSEZ Vyathireka Porata Committee, wondered why the police were being used in this case. It, however, said it cannot restrain purchasers from taking possession of the land.
Appearing for the farmers, whose lands are now being taken away for KSEZ, senior counsel Bojja Tarakam said the KSEZ developer was seeking to take over land from farmers with the help of the police force.
When it was brought to the notice of the bench by the government counsel that the farmers themselves sold their lands to the developer, the bench said it cannot do much in such a situation.
Saying that the developer played a fraud on the farmers by purchasing from them the lands already notified by the government for acquisition, Tarakam sought such land transactions to be declared as invalid as they were done under coercion and during the pendency of a land acquisition notification.
RECAP 2008 - III
By M H Ahssan
BOUQUETS AND BULLETS
The last leg of 2008 had Satyam in the news for all the wrong reasons. In addition, there were more AP student deaths in the US and the crashing stock market took a toll on investors with a family suicide pact rocking the city. Here’s a look at a grim September to December story that would hopefully end on a positive note.
It was a month of Hyderabadis making it big. IAS officer from the state Duvvuri Subbarao was appointed as Reserve Bank of India governor and Saina Nehwal made the city proud as she clinched the $ 175,000 Chinese Taipei Grand Prix Gold Championship.
But it was in the same month that a big name in the state, Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi, departed. President of Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, Owaisi died after a prolonged illness. His 39-year-old son Asaduddin Owaisi took up the reins of the party, just months before the elections.
An armed daylight robbery of 10 kg gold at the Shamshabad airport and a Cessna flight crash in the thickly populated Subashnagar area in Sanatnagar killing an assistant flight instructor Captain Neeraj Jain, 24 and a trainee pilot P Srinivas of the AP Aviation Academy were two freak incidents reported this month.
There were more young deaths. The railing of Narayana Junior College in Chengicherla collapsed leaving one student dead and 28 injured. Another city-based student, 23-year old Tummala Soumya Reddy, was shot dead in Chicago in the US.
But September was essentially a grim month. If not for student deaths, it was the recession and the market crash that had citizens worried. A Saidabad resident K Upender, 34, killed himself, his wife Swati and their two-year-old son Sai Ashij by setting the house ablaze using an LPG cylinder after he incurred huge losses in the stocks business. Layoffs by IT firm started making headlines from this month, a pattern that was to repeat itself for the rest of the year.
But what left the state government red faced was a letter by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) managing director E. Sreedharan to the planning commission in which he called the project a ‘political scam’ in the making. Coming days saw a serious war of words between the state government and Sreedharan with the state demanding an unconditional apology, which Sreedharan denied.
There were more upheavals. People thronged ICICI ATMs to withdraw money as rumours of the bank going bust did the rounds. However, if something did bring some relief to Hyderabadis was the governments decision to not chop a 400-year-old tamarind tree, that had saved nearly 150 lives 100 years ago during the the Musi flood.
ROADSHOW BAN
Amurder behind bars and two more student deaths on US campuses. And a setback to drama-friendly political parties when the high court puts a ban on roadshows. Well, November saw all this and more.
While the month kicked off with actorturned-politician Chiranjeevi chanting the T mantra saying that Praja Rajyam would support the formation of a separate Telangana state, YSR stuck to a united AP stand in his AP formation dayspeech. Another political event that sent ripples across the state was that of Nandamuri Balakrishna announcing his entry into politics at a massive rally in Guntur. Heaping praises on TDP supremo Naidu, Balaiah said he would play second fiddle to him.
DMRC chief E Sreedharan’s statement continued to give the state jitters and it thundered to drag him to court for defamation.
The most noteworthy incident in November was the “politically motivated’’ murder of Moddu Seenu, the alleged sharpshooter in the sensational murder of TDP leader Paritala Ravi. Seenu, alias Julakanti Srinivasa Reddy was brutally killed in the Reddypalli district prison in Anatapur allegedly by Omprakash, a dacoit and an accused in a triple murder case. Another cop story that unfolded through the month was that of senior IPS officer Rajiv Trivedi’s lift saga.
Two deaths that put the focus back on the student community from Andhra Pradesh in the US were the murders of city-based Arpana Jinaga in Seattle and that of Warangal-based Shashank Pulluru in Tennessee.
Death came calling for some star-struck citizens as two persons died in Dharmavaram during Chiranjeevi’s ‘Praja Ankita Yatra’. Chiru continued to draw masses, however, and created a storm of sorts at Pulivendula as he conquered YSR’s territory with his reel appeal.
Nonetheless, such massive rallies snowballed into a AP High Court ruling banning roadshows. Coming at a time when political parties were building up the campaign momentum for the elections next year, the order had two strong opponents in the form of TDP and Praja Rajyam while the Congress, not too surprisingly, supported it.
It wasn’t the roadshow ban but the soaring onion prices in November that left citizens teary eyed. Moreover, grim moments were witnessed in IT and financial sector firms as ‘right sizing’ continued in November.
DAMP FESTIVITIES
While Hyderabad was still mourning Owaisi’s death, the state also lost its chance to host Tata’s Nano after it was shunted out of West Bengal. Like this was not enough, the state woke up to the news of communal violence in Adilabad districts Bhainsa town that left three dead and 25 people injured. And even before this communal fire could be doused, six persons of a family, including three children, were burnt alive, just 12 kms away from Bhainsa, after their tile-roofed house was engulfed in a mysterious fire on October 12.
Another gruesome act that shook the city was that of an acid attack on television journalist, Shaik Kareemulla and his wife, allegedly by his in-laws.
The problem of unhappy families took yet another tragic turn in the last week of the month. After losing his job due to the global meltdown, Telugu software engineer, Lakshminivasa Rao Nerusu shot three members of his family (wife and two children) in Detroit, US and went missing himself.
Pink slips continued to make headlines with IT companies and major airlines showing their staff the door. Even the maiden air show organised on Nizam’s land spoke of the sorry state the aviation sector was in.
Amidst all these stories of sorrow and disappointment Diwali brought some smiles, especially to the faces of central government employees. With the implementation of the sixth pay commission, their houses had the brightest diyas this time even as others, reeling under recession blues, were trying hard to brighten up the festival of lights.
The Sanghi brothers calling it truce after a long-drawn dispute and Saina Nehwal making it to the No.11 spot in world rankings also gave Hyderabadis a reason to rejoice this month.
City lovers, however, had to settle for a not-so-happy ending with officials deciding to go in for an image makeover of the Sanjeeviah Park, which they felt had become a lovers den. With a ban on couples, they now plan to keep it open only for families and children.
SATYAM GOOFS UP
The last month of the year may have opened on a positive note as the rising city sensation Saina Nehwal broke into top ten on the latest Badminton World Federation rankings but corporate India was shocked at Satyam’s bid to acquire Maytas, which was later aborted. The company’s stocks plummeted, key clients stepped out and questions regarding the independent board of directors were raised. The dust still has to settle on the matter with fresh rumours doing the rounds each day.
Crucial arrests made this month included ‘Big Fish’ V Suryanarayana’s, who was arrested on charges of massive corrupt deals. His still unfolding case files continue to embarrass babus and ministers. Another high profile arrest was that of Nagarjuna Group chairman K S Raju for allegedly cheating thousands of depositors.
The city received another shock earlier in the month when two college girls from Kakatiya Institute of Technology and Sciences (KITS) saw probably the worst day of their lives as two men poured acid on them outside the premises of their institute. A few days later the accused were killed by police in an “encounter’’ that was strongly condemned by human rights activists and Lok Satta leader Jayaprakash Narayan.
With the country still reeling under the Mumbai terror strikes, denizens here soon hit the panic button when an alleged Mecca Masjid blast accused opened fire at two constables at Santoshnagar and escaped.
There were more tense moments in store. Violent incidents including stabbing, torching of a jeep and stoning of RTC buses were witnessed this month over the demolition of Nalla Pochamma temple. Traffic was paralysed and people went berserk over the demolition that had to be stayed.
Another incident that had city glued to the telly was the murder-suicide of Telugu film heroine Bhargavi and her husband. She was stabbed to death at her flat at in Banjara Hills by her partner Praveen Kumar alias Bujji, who committed suicide after the act, the reason being failed love.
THEY ALSO MADE NEWS
SECULAR BEGGAR
A city beggar makes Rs 4,000 a month as he stations himself religiously at Nampally dargah or Saibaba temple. Politicians could take a lesson or two on garnering votes the same way.
PAISA VASOOL
A sub inspector caught accepting a bribe of Rs 4,000 swallowed Rs 500 notes wiping all evidence. Now we can’t blame cops if they start seeking bribes in larger denominations for easy digestion. Burp!
UNISEX LESSONS
City techies stormed into cookery classes taking lessons in chicken do pyaza to save money during their offshore assignments. Snooty women called them stingy.
CLEARASIL, PLEASE
A man sought separation over his wife’s pimples even as others sought divorce over the speed of fan, snoring and pets. Er, better excuses in 2009?
NO SMOKE WITHOUT FIRE
The smoking ban initially had smokers rushing out of pubs for a puff. Now they do it inside and pub managers say they can’t see any smoke. Classic case of ‘see no evil’.
SPIRITED FLIGHTS
Last January 1 saw pilots reporting to work in a drunken state promising to take their flights to new heights. Frequent flyers now demand the same spirits to enjoy the flights.
BOUQUETS AND BULLETS
The last leg of 2008 had Satyam in the news for all the wrong reasons. In addition, there were more AP student deaths in the US and the crashing stock market took a toll on investors with a family suicide pact rocking the city. Here’s a look at a grim September to December story that would hopefully end on a positive note.
It was a month of Hyderabadis making it big. IAS officer from the state Duvvuri Subbarao was appointed as Reserve Bank of India governor and Saina Nehwal made the city proud as she clinched the $ 175,000 Chinese Taipei Grand Prix Gold Championship.
But it was in the same month that a big name in the state, Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi, departed. President of Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, Owaisi died after a prolonged illness. His 39-year-old son Asaduddin Owaisi took up the reins of the party, just months before the elections.
An armed daylight robbery of 10 kg gold at the Shamshabad airport and a Cessna flight crash in the thickly populated Subashnagar area in Sanatnagar killing an assistant flight instructor Captain Neeraj Jain, 24 and a trainee pilot P Srinivas of the AP Aviation Academy were two freak incidents reported this month.
There were more young deaths. The railing of Narayana Junior College in Chengicherla collapsed leaving one student dead and 28 injured. Another city-based student, 23-year old Tummala Soumya Reddy, was shot dead in Chicago in the US.
But September was essentially a grim month. If not for student deaths, it was the recession and the market crash that had citizens worried. A Saidabad resident K Upender, 34, killed himself, his wife Swati and their two-year-old son Sai Ashij by setting the house ablaze using an LPG cylinder after he incurred huge losses in the stocks business. Layoffs by IT firm started making headlines from this month, a pattern that was to repeat itself for the rest of the year.
But what left the state government red faced was a letter by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) managing director E. Sreedharan to the planning commission in which he called the project a ‘political scam’ in the making. Coming days saw a serious war of words between the state government and Sreedharan with the state demanding an unconditional apology, which Sreedharan denied.
There were more upheavals. People thronged ICICI ATMs to withdraw money as rumours of the bank going bust did the rounds. However, if something did bring some relief to Hyderabadis was the governments decision to not chop a 400-year-old tamarind tree, that had saved nearly 150 lives 100 years ago during the the Musi flood.
ROADSHOW BAN
Amurder behind bars and two more student deaths on US campuses. And a setback to drama-friendly political parties when the high court puts a ban on roadshows. Well, November saw all this and more.
While the month kicked off with actorturned-politician Chiranjeevi chanting the T mantra saying that Praja Rajyam would support the formation of a separate Telangana state, YSR stuck to a united AP stand in his AP formation dayspeech. Another political event that sent ripples across the state was that of Nandamuri Balakrishna announcing his entry into politics at a massive rally in Guntur. Heaping praises on TDP supremo Naidu, Balaiah said he would play second fiddle to him.
DMRC chief E Sreedharan’s statement continued to give the state jitters and it thundered to drag him to court for defamation.
The most noteworthy incident in November was the “politically motivated’’ murder of Moddu Seenu, the alleged sharpshooter in the sensational murder of TDP leader Paritala Ravi. Seenu, alias Julakanti Srinivasa Reddy was brutally killed in the Reddypalli district prison in Anatapur allegedly by Omprakash, a dacoit and an accused in a triple murder case. Another cop story that unfolded through the month was that of senior IPS officer Rajiv Trivedi’s lift saga.
Two deaths that put the focus back on the student community from Andhra Pradesh in the US were the murders of city-based Arpana Jinaga in Seattle and that of Warangal-based Shashank Pulluru in Tennessee.
Death came calling for some star-struck citizens as two persons died in Dharmavaram during Chiranjeevi’s ‘Praja Ankita Yatra’. Chiru continued to draw masses, however, and created a storm of sorts at Pulivendula as he conquered YSR’s territory with his reel appeal.
Nonetheless, such massive rallies snowballed into a AP High Court ruling banning roadshows. Coming at a time when political parties were building up the campaign momentum for the elections next year, the order had two strong opponents in the form of TDP and Praja Rajyam while the Congress, not too surprisingly, supported it.
It wasn’t the roadshow ban but the soaring onion prices in November that left citizens teary eyed. Moreover, grim moments were witnessed in IT and financial sector firms as ‘right sizing’ continued in November.
DAMP FESTIVITIES
While Hyderabad was still mourning Owaisi’s death, the state also lost its chance to host Tata’s Nano after it was shunted out of West Bengal. Like this was not enough, the state woke up to the news of communal violence in Adilabad districts Bhainsa town that left three dead and 25 people injured. And even before this communal fire could be doused, six persons of a family, including three children, were burnt alive, just 12 kms away from Bhainsa, after their tile-roofed house was engulfed in a mysterious fire on October 12.
Another gruesome act that shook the city was that of an acid attack on television journalist, Shaik Kareemulla and his wife, allegedly by his in-laws.
The problem of unhappy families took yet another tragic turn in the last week of the month. After losing his job due to the global meltdown, Telugu software engineer, Lakshminivasa Rao Nerusu shot three members of his family (wife and two children) in Detroit, US and went missing himself.
Pink slips continued to make headlines with IT companies and major airlines showing their staff the door. Even the maiden air show organised on Nizam’s land spoke of the sorry state the aviation sector was in.
Amidst all these stories of sorrow and disappointment Diwali brought some smiles, especially to the faces of central government employees. With the implementation of the sixth pay commission, their houses had the brightest diyas this time even as others, reeling under recession blues, were trying hard to brighten up the festival of lights.
The Sanghi brothers calling it truce after a long-drawn dispute and Saina Nehwal making it to the No.11 spot in world rankings also gave Hyderabadis a reason to rejoice this month.
City lovers, however, had to settle for a not-so-happy ending with officials deciding to go in for an image makeover of the Sanjeeviah Park, which they felt had become a lovers den. With a ban on couples, they now plan to keep it open only for families and children.
SATYAM GOOFS UP
The last month of the year may have opened on a positive note as the rising city sensation Saina Nehwal broke into top ten on the latest Badminton World Federation rankings but corporate India was shocked at Satyam’s bid to acquire Maytas, which was later aborted. The company’s stocks plummeted, key clients stepped out and questions regarding the independent board of directors were raised. The dust still has to settle on the matter with fresh rumours doing the rounds each day.
Crucial arrests made this month included ‘Big Fish’ V Suryanarayana’s, who was arrested on charges of massive corrupt deals. His still unfolding case files continue to embarrass babus and ministers. Another high profile arrest was that of Nagarjuna Group chairman K S Raju for allegedly cheating thousands of depositors.
The city received another shock earlier in the month when two college girls from Kakatiya Institute of Technology and Sciences (KITS) saw probably the worst day of their lives as two men poured acid on them outside the premises of their institute. A few days later the accused were killed by police in an “encounter’’ that was strongly condemned by human rights activists and Lok Satta leader Jayaprakash Narayan.
With the country still reeling under the Mumbai terror strikes, denizens here soon hit the panic button when an alleged Mecca Masjid blast accused opened fire at two constables at Santoshnagar and escaped.
There were more tense moments in store. Violent incidents including stabbing, torching of a jeep and stoning of RTC buses were witnessed this month over the demolition of Nalla Pochamma temple. Traffic was paralysed and people went berserk over the demolition that had to be stayed.
Another incident that had city glued to the telly was the murder-suicide of Telugu film heroine Bhargavi and her husband. She was stabbed to death at her flat at in Banjara Hills by her partner Praveen Kumar alias Bujji, who committed suicide after the act, the reason being failed love.
THEY ALSO MADE NEWS
SECULAR BEGGAR
A city beggar makes Rs 4,000 a month as he stations himself religiously at Nampally dargah or Saibaba temple. Politicians could take a lesson or two on garnering votes the same way.
PAISA VASOOL
A sub inspector caught accepting a bribe of Rs 4,000 swallowed Rs 500 notes wiping all evidence. Now we can’t blame cops if they start seeking bribes in larger denominations for easy digestion. Burp!
UNISEX LESSONS
City techies stormed into cookery classes taking lessons in chicken do pyaza to save money during their offshore assignments. Snooty women called them stingy.
CLEARASIL, PLEASE
A man sought separation over his wife’s pimples even as others sought divorce over the speed of fan, snoring and pets. Er, better excuses in 2009?
NO SMOKE WITHOUT FIRE
The smoking ban initially had smokers rushing out of pubs for a puff. Now they do it inside and pub managers say they can’t see any smoke. Classic case of ‘see no evil’.
SPIRITED FLIGHTS
Last January 1 saw pilots reporting to work in a drunken state promising to take their flights to new heights. Frequent flyers now demand the same spirits to enjoy the flights.
RECAP 2008 - II
By M H Ahssan
From saving trees to protecting scribes’ right to freedom of expression to a massive gathering to hail a superstar’s entry into politics, warring business families and a burning train claiming many lives. Andhra Pradesh woke up to a rather eventful May to August stretch of 2008
CITIZENS DO A CHIPKO
Agreen drive, murder of an AP girl in the U.S, by-elections and the encounter-death of gangster Aziz kept readers hooked on to the newspaper all of May. However, what grabbed maximum eyeballs was the attack on Telugu daily Andhra Jyothi’s Jubilee Hills office, in the last week of the month.
Angered at a report in the paper that allegedly castigated leaders of caste-based organisations, around 50 activists of the Madiga Reservation Porata Samithi (MRPS) barged into the newspaper office and pelted stones on the glass doors, smashed windshields of cars and set the reception desk on fire. There was more action with newspapers and management effigies being burnt by MRPS activists outside other Andhra Jyothi centres as well.
This attack on the press was preceded by a massive attack on trees earlier in the month beginning May 6 when a 200-yearold banyan tree was hacked down outside the historic Paigah Palace. Along with it, the US Consulate also brought down 32 Ashoka trees. Like this was not enough, just three days later the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) was all set to fell 18 more trees.
After a sustained campaign by TOI, on March 12, GHMC passed orders cancelling the cutting of any more trees in the city. However, the ban did not even last 48 hours with fresh cutting of 70 trees undertaken at Rajendranagar, citing road-widening as the reason. It finally took a chipko movement of citizen activists to stop this mindless act and save the 400 other trees that were to face the axe soon.
Lucky trees but unlucky Jyothirmayi. The 23-year-old student from AP was found murdered in her apartment in Birmingham, UK, with the reason for the killing being a mystery initially. However, it was later established that her roommate Nagaraju Kumar Nalluri, who was upset with Jyothi for spurning him, was the face behind the heinous act.
Another face behind several acts of crime, Venkat Reddy alias Aziz Reddy was shot dead in an alleged encounter this month. He was reported to be a close aide of Mumbai don Chhota Rajan and was a dreaded extortionist.
What sent shock waves across the state was the death of wannabe cops during their physical endurance tests. The physical endurance test for recruiting constables was being conducted in peak summer. The drive claimed a third life this month.
But all this was forgotten with the month nearing its end as cameras turned to catch the by-poll action. Elections ended on a peaceful note for all four Lok Sabha and 18 Assembly seats on May 29 though it left voters still wondering if the T wave would prove effective.
SPLIT WIDE OPEN
Events in this month left many shaken and stirred. If city scribes were stirred into action opposing the attack on Andhra Jyothi offices, TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao was shaken by the party’s debacle in the bypoll and even quit from his post, only to resume it a day later. Also shaken was the Rs 1800 crore-Sanghi group, with the warring Sanghi brothers locking horns over various issues and even seeking a settlement to split the group. Another ‘split’ this month was that of senior TDP leader T Devender Goud parting ways with the party over the separate Telangana issue.
But it was the Maoist rocket attack on a 64-strong Greyhounds police team in June end that left the state police gasping. The boat carrying the team, that was returning after a combing operation near Malkangiri in south Orissa, capsized after the Maoists started firing indiscriminately killing 39 cops.
Before the attack, however, the mood in June was ‘spirited’ intermittently. Liquor shop licence bids touched a whopping Rs 2 crore for a shop in Kothaguda. Another shop near Cyber Towers fetched almost the same amount. Dampening spirits was the monsoon playing truant. While torrential rains were lashing the rest of the country, AP suffered a longish dry spell with agriculture officials and even mana CM pinning his hopes on a wet July.
In the midst of such concerns was the Metro rail story unfolding, each time with a controversy. The one to hit papers this month was that of Bharat Scouts and Guides refusing to hand over its property on SP Road to the metro project for setting up a station, parking and circulation area.
A stand-off that worsened this month was the one between Telugu daily Andhra Jyoti and Madiga Reservation Porata Samithi with the police arresting the daily’s editor and two journalists. This led to journalists from across the state assailing the state government for attacking freedom of press.
POWER GAMES
The state and the city reeled under a severe power shortage in July with rains eluding AP and four units of the Vijaywada Thermal Power Station tripping in mid-July. The Central Power Distribution Company of AP Limited even issued an advisory asking people to stop switching on lights and fans and discouraged them from using air conditioners and geysers. This even as areas inhabited by babus received uninterrupted power supply while citizens sweated it out, forcibly undertaking austere measures.
Another development that had citizens seeing red was the call for financial bids for the metro rail project. The Navbharat-led consortium bagged the project, curiously offering to pay the government Rs 30,311 crore as against charging it for execution of the 71 km three-corridor project. The consortium included Maytas, Ital Thai of Thailand and IL&FS.
A shocking development this month was a government move exempting all schools from having playgrounds. As per GO No. 88, schools were suggested to send their children to play in the nearest municipal ground or park under the supervision of their teacher. The decision, it was found, was rooted in the skyrocketing real estate prices and using open space for a non-commercial activity such as a playground seemed like a poor usage idea to the government.
Citizens were not only complaining about the dearth of parks and power in the city but also another shortage— that of diesel. July 17 saw serpentine queues outside petrol bunks, with some bunks even resorting to rationing of the fuel. Disappointed denizens, however, had some reasons to smile as well. A mountaineer rescued three bank employees from a building in Himayatnagar that had caught fire.
THE RISING OF A STAR
This month gave state politics its greatest launch more than 25 years after N T Rama Rao wowed the masses with his star appeal. Superstar Chiranjeevi after a year of “will he, wont he’’ speculation marked his entry into state politics. Chiru announced his political party Praja Rajyam at a packed Tirupati meeting on August 26. Both the Congress and TDP had then broken into cold sweat with the star vying for the CM’s post.
Such political dramas aside, the state had to deal with serious tragedies. August began with the Gautami Express catching fire, killing 31 passengers. Though unofficial estimates indicated a higher figure. Five coaches of the Secunderabad-Kakinada Gautami Express were engulfed in flames. It wasn’t just fire but even water the city was battling with. Rains played havoc in many areas of Hyderabad with incessant downpour claiming 29 lives. Traffic and life in Hyderabad were thrown out of gear. Crops in the state were damaged.
Many buildings collapsed claiming more lives. If the natural disasters were any less, a communal clash in Vijaywada also kept a part of city tensed. An angry mob in Vijaywada pelted stones and injured cops after a girl from the minority community married a boy from the backward class. Another jolt came in the form of city tennis sensation Sania Mirza making an exit from the top 50 women tennis players’ ranking.
From saving trees to protecting scribes’ right to freedom of expression to a massive gathering to hail a superstar’s entry into politics, warring business families and a burning train claiming many lives. Andhra Pradesh woke up to a rather eventful May to August stretch of 2008
CITIZENS DO A CHIPKO
Agreen drive, murder of an AP girl in the U.S, by-elections and the encounter-death of gangster Aziz kept readers hooked on to the newspaper all of May. However, what grabbed maximum eyeballs was the attack on Telugu daily Andhra Jyothi’s Jubilee Hills office, in the last week of the month.
Angered at a report in the paper that allegedly castigated leaders of caste-based organisations, around 50 activists of the Madiga Reservation Porata Samithi (MRPS) barged into the newspaper office and pelted stones on the glass doors, smashed windshields of cars and set the reception desk on fire. There was more action with newspapers and management effigies being burnt by MRPS activists outside other Andhra Jyothi centres as well.
This attack on the press was preceded by a massive attack on trees earlier in the month beginning May 6 when a 200-yearold banyan tree was hacked down outside the historic Paigah Palace. Along with it, the US Consulate also brought down 32 Ashoka trees. Like this was not enough, just three days later the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) was all set to fell 18 more trees.
After a sustained campaign by TOI, on March 12, GHMC passed orders cancelling the cutting of any more trees in the city. However, the ban did not even last 48 hours with fresh cutting of 70 trees undertaken at Rajendranagar, citing road-widening as the reason. It finally took a chipko movement of citizen activists to stop this mindless act and save the 400 other trees that were to face the axe soon.
Lucky trees but unlucky Jyothirmayi. The 23-year-old student from AP was found murdered in her apartment in Birmingham, UK, with the reason for the killing being a mystery initially. However, it was later established that her roommate Nagaraju Kumar Nalluri, who was upset with Jyothi for spurning him, was the face behind the heinous act.
Another face behind several acts of crime, Venkat Reddy alias Aziz Reddy was shot dead in an alleged encounter this month. He was reported to be a close aide of Mumbai don Chhota Rajan and was a dreaded extortionist.
What sent shock waves across the state was the death of wannabe cops during their physical endurance tests. The physical endurance test for recruiting constables was being conducted in peak summer. The drive claimed a third life this month.
But all this was forgotten with the month nearing its end as cameras turned to catch the by-poll action. Elections ended on a peaceful note for all four Lok Sabha and 18 Assembly seats on May 29 though it left voters still wondering if the T wave would prove effective.
SPLIT WIDE OPEN
Events in this month left many shaken and stirred. If city scribes were stirred into action opposing the attack on Andhra Jyothi offices, TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao was shaken by the party’s debacle in the bypoll and even quit from his post, only to resume it a day later. Also shaken was the Rs 1800 crore-Sanghi group, with the warring Sanghi brothers locking horns over various issues and even seeking a settlement to split the group. Another ‘split’ this month was that of senior TDP leader T Devender Goud parting ways with the party over the separate Telangana issue.
But it was the Maoist rocket attack on a 64-strong Greyhounds police team in June end that left the state police gasping. The boat carrying the team, that was returning after a combing operation near Malkangiri in south Orissa, capsized after the Maoists started firing indiscriminately killing 39 cops.
Before the attack, however, the mood in June was ‘spirited’ intermittently. Liquor shop licence bids touched a whopping Rs 2 crore for a shop in Kothaguda. Another shop near Cyber Towers fetched almost the same amount. Dampening spirits was the monsoon playing truant. While torrential rains were lashing the rest of the country, AP suffered a longish dry spell with agriculture officials and even mana CM pinning his hopes on a wet July.
In the midst of such concerns was the Metro rail story unfolding, each time with a controversy. The one to hit papers this month was that of Bharat Scouts and Guides refusing to hand over its property on SP Road to the metro project for setting up a station, parking and circulation area.
A stand-off that worsened this month was the one between Telugu daily Andhra Jyoti and Madiga Reservation Porata Samithi with the police arresting the daily’s editor and two journalists. This led to journalists from across the state assailing the state government for attacking freedom of press.
POWER GAMES
The state and the city reeled under a severe power shortage in July with rains eluding AP and four units of the Vijaywada Thermal Power Station tripping in mid-July. The Central Power Distribution Company of AP Limited even issued an advisory asking people to stop switching on lights and fans and discouraged them from using air conditioners and geysers. This even as areas inhabited by babus received uninterrupted power supply while citizens sweated it out, forcibly undertaking austere measures.
Another development that had citizens seeing red was the call for financial bids for the metro rail project. The Navbharat-led consortium bagged the project, curiously offering to pay the government Rs 30,311 crore as against charging it for execution of the 71 km three-corridor project. The consortium included Maytas, Ital Thai of Thailand and IL&FS.
A shocking development this month was a government move exempting all schools from having playgrounds. As per GO No. 88, schools were suggested to send their children to play in the nearest municipal ground or park under the supervision of their teacher. The decision, it was found, was rooted in the skyrocketing real estate prices and using open space for a non-commercial activity such as a playground seemed like a poor usage idea to the government.
Citizens were not only complaining about the dearth of parks and power in the city but also another shortage— that of diesel. July 17 saw serpentine queues outside petrol bunks, with some bunks even resorting to rationing of the fuel. Disappointed denizens, however, had some reasons to smile as well. A mountaineer rescued three bank employees from a building in Himayatnagar that had caught fire.
THE RISING OF A STAR
This month gave state politics its greatest launch more than 25 years after N T Rama Rao wowed the masses with his star appeal. Superstar Chiranjeevi after a year of “will he, wont he’’ speculation marked his entry into state politics. Chiru announced his political party Praja Rajyam at a packed Tirupati meeting on August 26. Both the Congress and TDP had then broken into cold sweat with the star vying for the CM’s post.
Such political dramas aside, the state had to deal with serious tragedies. August began with the Gautami Express catching fire, killing 31 passengers. Though unofficial estimates indicated a higher figure. Five coaches of the Secunderabad-Kakinada Gautami Express were engulfed in flames. It wasn’t just fire but even water the city was battling with. Rains played havoc in many areas of Hyderabad with incessant downpour claiming 29 lives. Traffic and life in Hyderabad were thrown out of gear. Crops in the state were damaged.
Many buildings collapsed claiming more lives. If the natural disasters were any less, a communal clash in Vijaywada also kept a part of city tensed. An angry mob in Vijaywada pelted stones and injured cops after a girl from the minority community married a boy from the backward class. Another jolt came in the form of city tennis sensation Sania Mirza making an exit from the top 50 women tennis players’ ranking.
Tollywood 'Flop Show' 2008
By M H Ahssan
The statistics are none too bright for Tollywood, as a staggering 90 per cent of Telugu films bombed at the BO in 2008. HNN presents the Tollywood report card
Adozen odd films out of 100 is a rather dismal figure. A shattering verdict indeed by the audience, who seem to have delivered the message to Tollywood's filmmakers this year – that they need to improve in many departments. Out of the 121 films released, only eleven were hits and the best money churners were actually small budget films with debutants!
YEAR OF THE DEBUTANTS
2008 was truly the year of debutants and of small budget films. Radhakrishna's debut film Gamyam not only did good business but also won critical acclaim. Kotha Bangaru Lokam directed by another debutant Srikanth Addala also did roaring business. Produced by Dil Raju, this film had the young pair of Varun Sandesh and Shweta Prasad as the lead actors. Films like Gorintaku, Ready, Ullasanga Utsahanga, Souryam, Vinayakudu and Ashta Chemma did good business. Another star son Naga Chaitanya, was introduced amid much fanfare by ANR and Nagarjuna.
STARS SANS THE SHINE
On the flipside, big-budget films that were expected to do well were miserable failures.
Kathanayakudu, Pandurangadu, Jalsa, Krishnarjuna, Bujjigadu, Kantri and Okka Magadu featuring big stars bit the dust. Balakrishna's Okka Magadu and Nagarjuna's Don did collect fantastic revenues initially, but could not really live up to audiences' expectations and buyers who paid fancy prices for the film suffered heavy losses.
When it comes to the big stars, only Venkatesh seems to be the saving grace with Chintakayala Ravi doing decent business. Ravi Teja had one hit Krishna and a flop Baladoor. His forthcoming project Neninthe directed by Puri has been released a couple of days ago and the much-hyped spoof on Tollywood is receiving poor response across the state. Vishnu's Krishnarjuna, with Nag in a guest role, was also a dud at the BO while Tamil director P Vasu followed it up with another damp squib Kathanayakudu which didn't work in spite of Rajanikanth. Mahesh Babu, one of the top stars of Telugu cinema, had no release this year.
Teja, who's shown good promise with his other films, also couldn't move much water at the BO with his Keka.
SURPRISE SURPRISE
The surprise hit this year was Gorintaku, starring Rajasekhar and Meera Jasmine. The film was a remake of a Kannada film, and despite unfavourable reviews, it did well at the BO and is actually one of Rajasekhar's best efforts. Among the directors, Srinu Vytla scored a hattrick with Ready, starring Ram and Genelia. On the other hand, another young director VV Vinayak, who was looking for a good hit, came out with flying colours with the blockbuster Krishna. Bommarillu Bhaskar continued his run of success with Parugu and Indraganti too had a hit with Ashta Chemma which featured mostly new faces. Karunakaran, who delivered a successful film Ullasanga Utsahanga is now on cloud nine as Ram Charan Tej announced that he is going to do a film with him next year. Small films starring smaller heroes tasted big success this year. Bommana Brothers Chandana Sisters and Blade Babji with Allari Naresh and other comedians did good business.
THE HIT-LIST
Krishna
Gamyam
Bommana Brothers Chandana Sisters
Parugu
Ready
Gorintaku
Ullasanga Utsahanga
Ashta Chemma
Souryam
Kotha Bangaru Lokam
Yuvatha
Vinayakudu
THE FLOP SHOW
Okka Magadu
Salute
Jalsa
Kantri
Kathanayakudu
Pandurangadu
Krishnarjuna
Bujjigadu
Chintakayala Ravi
Baladoor
Bale Dongalu
Hare Ram
Nenu Meeku Telusa
The statistics are none too bright for Tollywood, as a staggering 90 per cent of Telugu films bombed at the BO in 2008. HNN presents the Tollywood report card
Adozen odd films out of 100 is a rather dismal figure. A shattering verdict indeed by the audience, who seem to have delivered the message to Tollywood's filmmakers this year – that they need to improve in many departments. Out of the 121 films released, only eleven were hits and the best money churners were actually small budget films with debutants!
YEAR OF THE DEBUTANTS
2008 was truly the year of debutants and of small budget films. Radhakrishna's debut film Gamyam not only did good business but also won critical acclaim. Kotha Bangaru Lokam directed by another debutant Srikanth Addala also did roaring business. Produced by Dil Raju, this film had the young pair of Varun Sandesh and Shweta Prasad as the lead actors. Films like Gorintaku, Ready, Ullasanga Utsahanga, Souryam, Vinayakudu and Ashta Chemma did good business. Another star son Naga Chaitanya, was introduced amid much fanfare by ANR and Nagarjuna.
STARS SANS THE SHINE
On the flipside, big-budget films that were expected to do well were miserable failures.
Kathanayakudu, Pandurangadu, Jalsa, Krishnarjuna, Bujjigadu, Kantri and Okka Magadu featuring big stars bit the dust. Balakrishna's Okka Magadu and Nagarjuna's Don did collect fantastic revenues initially, but could not really live up to audiences' expectations and buyers who paid fancy prices for the film suffered heavy losses.
When it comes to the big stars, only Venkatesh seems to be the saving grace with Chintakayala Ravi doing decent business. Ravi Teja had one hit Krishna and a flop Baladoor. His forthcoming project Neninthe directed by Puri has been released a couple of days ago and the much-hyped spoof on Tollywood is receiving poor response across the state. Vishnu's Krishnarjuna, with Nag in a guest role, was also a dud at the BO while Tamil director P Vasu followed it up with another damp squib Kathanayakudu which didn't work in spite of Rajanikanth. Mahesh Babu, one of the top stars of Telugu cinema, had no release this year.
Teja, who's shown good promise with his other films, also couldn't move much water at the BO with his Keka.
SURPRISE SURPRISE
The surprise hit this year was Gorintaku, starring Rajasekhar and Meera Jasmine. The film was a remake of a Kannada film, and despite unfavourable reviews, it did well at the BO and is actually one of Rajasekhar's best efforts. Among the directors, Srinu Vytla scored a hattrick with Ready, starring Ram and Genelia. On the other hand, another young director VV Vinayak, who was looking for a good hit, came out with flying colours with the blockbuster Krishna. Bommarillu Bhaskar continued his run of success with Parugu and Indraganti too had a hit with Ashta Chemma which featured mostly new faces. Karunakaran, who delivered a successful film Ullasanga Utsahanga is now on cloud nine as Ram Charan Tej announced that he is going to do a film with him next year. Small films starring smaller heroes tasted big success this year. Bommana Brothers Chandana Sisters and Blade Babji with Allari Naresh and other comedians did good business.
THE HIT-LIST
Krishna
Gamyam
Bommana Brothers Chandana Sisters
Parugu
Ready
Gorintaku
Ullasanga Utsahanga
Ashta Chemma
Souryam
Kotha Bangaru Lokam
Yuvatha
Vinayakudu
THE FLOP SHOW
Okka Magadu
Salute
Jalsa
Kantri
Kathanayakudu
Pandurangadu
Krishnarjuna
Bujjigadu
Chintakayala Ravi
Baladoor
Bale Dongalu
Hare Ram
Nenu Meeku Telusa
Tollywood 'Flop Show' 2008
By M H Ahssan
The statistics are none too bright for Tollywood, as a staggering 90 per cent of Telugu films bombed at the BO in 2008. HNN presents the Tollywood report card
Adozen odd films out of 100 is a rather dismal figure. A shattering verdict indeed by the audience, who seem to have delivered the message to Tollywood's filmmakers this year – that they need to improve in many departments. Out of the 121 films released, only eleven were hits and the best money churners were actually small budget films with debutants!
YEAR OF THE DEBUTANTS
2008 was truly the year of debutants and of small budget films. Radhakrishna's debut film Gamyam not only did good business but also won critical acclaim. Kotha Bangaru Lokam directed by another debutant Srikanth Addala also did roaring business. Produced by Dil Raju, this film had the young pair of Varun Sandesh and Shweta Prasad as the lead actors. Films like Gorintaku, Ready, Ullasanga Utsahanga, Souryam, Vinayakudu and Ashta Chemma did good business. Another star son Naga Chaitanya, was introduced amid much fanfare by ANR and Nagarjuna.
STARS SANS THE SHINE
On the flipside, big-budget films that were expected to do well were miserable failures.
Kathanayakudu, Pandurangadu, Jalsa, Krishnarjuna, Bujjigadu, Kantri and Okka Magadu featuring big stars bit the dust. Balakrishna's Okka Magadu and Nagarjuna's Don did collect fantastic revenues initially, but could not really live up to audiences' expectations and buyers who paid fancy prices for the film suffered heavy losses.
When it comes to the big stars, only Venkatesh seems to be the saving grace with Chintakayala Ravi doing decent business. Ravi Teja had one hit Krishna and a flop Baladoor. His forthcoming project Neninthe directed by Puri has been released a couple of days ago and the much-hyped spoof on Tollywood is receiving poor response across the state. Vishnu's Krishnarjuna, with Nag in a guest role, was also a dud at the BO while Tamil director P Vasu followed it up with another damp squib Kathanayakudu which didn't work in spite of Rajanikanth. Mahesh Babu, one of the top stars of Telugu cinema, had no release this year.
Teja, who's shown good promise with his other films, also couldn't move much water at the BO with his Keka.
SURPRISE SURPRISE
The surprise hit this year was Gorintaku, starring Rajasekhar and Meera Jasmine. The film was a remake of a Kannada film, and despite unfavourable reviews, it did well at the BO and is actually one of Rajasekhar's best efforts. Among the directors, Srinu Vytla scored a hattrick with Ready, starring Ram and Genelia. On the other hand, another young director VV Vinayak, who was looking for a good hit, came out with flying colours with the blockbuster Krishna. Bommarillu Bhaskar continued his run of success with Parugu and Indraganti too had a hit with Ashta Chemma which featured mostly new faces. Karunakaran, who delivered a successful film Ullasanga Utsahanga is now on cloud nine as Ram Charan Tej announced that he is going to do a film with him next year. Small films starring smaller heroes tasted big success this year. Bommana Brothers Chandana Sisters and Blade Babji with Allari Naresh and other comedians did good business.
THE HIT-LIST
Krishna
Gamyam
Bommana Brothers Chandana Sisters
Parugu
Ready
Gorintaku
Ullasanga Utsahanga
Ashta Chemma
Souryam
Kotha Bangaru Lokam
Yuvatha
Vinayakudu
THE FLOP SHOW
Okka Magadu
Salute
Jalsa
Kantri
Kathanayakudu
Pandurangadu
Krishnarjuna
Bujjigadu
Chintakayala Ravi
Baladoor
Bale Dongalu
Hare Ram
Nenu Meeku Telusa
The statistics are none too bright for Tollywood, as a staggering 90 per cent of Telugu films bombed at the BO in 2008. HNN presents the Tollywood report card
Adozen odd films out of 100 is a rather dismal figure. A shattering verdict indeed by the audience, who seem to have delivered the message to Tollywood's filmmakers this year – that they need to improve in many departments. Out of the 121 films released, only eleven were hits and the best money churners were actually small budget films with debutants!
YEAR OF THE DEBUTANTS
2008 was truly the year of debutants and of small budget films. Radhakrishna's debut film Gamyam not only did good business but also won critical acclaim. Kotha Bangaru Lokam directed by another debutant Srikanth Addala also did roaring business. Produced by Dil Raju, this film had the young pair of Varun Sandesh and Shweta Prasad as the lead actors. Films like Gorintaku, Ready, Ullasanga Utsahanga, Souryam, Vinayakudu and Ashta Chemma did good business. Another star son Naga Chaitanya, was introduced amid much fanfare by ANR and Nagarjuna.
STARS SANS THE SHINE
On the flipside, big-budget films that were expected to do well were miserable failures.
Kathanayakudu, Pandurangadu, Jalsa, Krishnarjuna, Bujjigadu, Kantri and Okka Magadu featuring big stars bit the dust. Balakrishna's Okka Magadu and Nagarjuna's Don did collect fantastic revenues initially, but could not really live up to audiences' expectations and buyers who paid fancy prices for the film suffered heavy losses.
When it comes to the big stars, only Venkatesh seems to be the saving grace with Chintakayala Ravi doing decent business. Ravi Teja had one hit Krishna and a flop Baladoor. His forthcoming project Neninthe directed by Puri has been released a couple of days ago and the much-hyped spoof on Tollywood is receiving poor response across the state. Vishnu's Krishnarjuna, with Nag in a guest role, was also a dud at the BO while Tamil director P Vasu followed it up with another damp squib Kathanayakudu which didn't work in spite of Rajanikanth. Mahesh Babu, one of the top stars of Telugu cinema, had no release this year.
Teja, who's shown good promise with his other films, also couldn't move much water at the BO with his Keka.
SURPRISE SURPRISE
The surprise hit this year was Gorintaku, starring Rajasekhar and Meera Jasmine. The film was a remake of a Kannada film, and despite unfavourable reviews, it did well at the BO and is actually one of Rajasekhar's best efforts. Among the directors, Srinu Vytla scored a hattrick with Ready, starring Ram and Genelia. On the other hand, another young director VV Vinayak, who was looking for a good hit, came out with flying colours with the blockbuster Krishna. Bommarillu Bhaskar continued his run of success with Parugu and Indraganti too had a hit with Ashta Chemma which featured mostly new faces. Karunakaran, who delivered a successful film Ullasanga Utsahanga is now on cloud nine as Ram Charan Tej announced that he is going to do a film with him next year. Small films starring smaller heroes tasted big success this year. Bommana Brothers Chandana Sisters and Blade Babji with Allari Naresh and other comedians did good business.
THE HIT-LIST
Krishna
Gamyam
Bommana Brothers Chandana Sisters
Parugu
Ready
Gorintaku
Ullasanga Utsahanga
Ashta Chemma
Souryam
Kotha Bangaru Lokam
Yuvatha
Vinayakudu
THE FLOP SHOW
Okka Magadu
Salute
Jalsa
Kantri
Kathanayakudu
Pandurangadu
Krishnarjuna
Bujjigadu
Chintakayala Ravi
Baladoor
Bale Dongalu
Hare Ram
Nenu Meeku Telusa
EXTRA BURDEN TO AIR PASSENGERS
By Subia Khan
New Year to bring more burden on flyers. Mumbai, Delhi Airports Fees Set To Rise.
The aviation ministry is playing Santa Claus this Christmas. After getting lifesaving relief for airlines, it is now allowing Delhi and Mumbai airports developers to raise more money for funding their projects. The common passenger, who is yet to get any benefit like cheaper airfares, will end up paying more as airports are being allowed to charge more.
The Mumbai airport will be able to hike aeronautical charges by 10% from January 1. This charge includes landing and parking charges that airlines pay and also the passenger service fee component that flyers pay to the carriers. Airlines say they will have to pass on any increased charge to passengers, something that might lead to higher airfares.
While airlines say they will announce the extra burden for passengers only after some time, the passengers service fee that fliers pay directly at time of booking will rise from Rs 225 to Rs 233 after the hike.
The GVK-backed Mumbai airport developers are likely to see their revenue increase by Rs 35 crore in a year because of the hiked charges. Both Mumbai and Delhi airport developers were allowed to raise aero charges by 10% in their third year of operations. This move had so far not been allowed due to poor health of airlines but now since the latter have got huge relief, the ministry has decided to give airports their dues.
The GMR-backed Delhi airport, on the other hand, faces a revenue shortfall of around Rs 3,000 crore which can’t be filled by a 10% fees hike alone. So the aviation ministry is trying to get GMR’s plea for levying an airport development fee of Rs 200-300 and Rs 1,000 for each outgoing domestic and international passenger, respectively, cleared by the government. “We have got airlines adequate relief and will have to look at problems of other players like airport developers,” said a senior ministry official. When asked if passengers should also expect some relief, the official added: “It’s time for airlines to pass on benefit of lower costs by reducing fares.”
New Year to bring more burden on flyers. Mumbai, Delhi Airports Fees Set To Rise.
The aviation ministry is playing Santa Claus this Christmas. After getting lifesaving relief for airlines, it is now allowing Delhi and Mumbai airports developers to raise more money for funding their projects. The common passenger, who is yet to get any benefit like cheaper airfares, will end up paying more as airports are being allowed to charge more.
The Mumbai airport will be able to hike aeronautical charges by 10% from January 1. This charge includes landing and parking charges that airlines pay and also the passenger service fee component that flyers pay to the carriers. Airlines say they will have to pass on any increased charge to passengers, something that might lead to higher airfares.
While airlines say they will announce the extra burden for passengers only after some time, the passengers service fee that fliers pay directly at time of booking will rise from Rs 225 to Rs 233 after the hike.
The GVK-backed Mumbai airport developers are likely to see their revenue increase by Rs 35 crore in a year because of the hiked charges. Both Mumbai and Delhi airport developers were allowed to raise aero charges by 10% in their third year of operations. This move had so far not been allowed due to poor health of airlines but now since the latter have got huge relief, the ministry has decided to give airports their dues.
The GMR-backed Delhi airport, on the other hand, faces a revenue shortfall of around Rs 3,000 crore which can’t be filled by a 10% fees hike alone. So the aviation ministry is trying to get GMR’s plea for levying an airport development fee of Rs 200-300 and Rs 1,000 for each outgoing domestic and international passenger, respectively, cleared by the government. “We have got airlines adequate relief and will have to look at problems of other players like airport developers,” said a senior ministry official. When asked if passengers should also expect some relief, the official added: “It’s time for airlines to pass on benefit of lower costs by reducing fares.”
A 'BIG FIGHT' BETWEEN AUTO DEALERS & MANUFACTURERS
By Kajol Singh & Parthiv Shukla
Dealers Want Excise Relief On Inventories Available With Them As On Dec 7
There seems to be a never ending trouble in the auto industry over who shares the ‘hit’ due to the 4% excise duty reduction. As reported by TOI on December 9, a major fight is now brewing up over sharing of the burden on the inventory bought at higher excise duty.
Federation of Automobile Dealers Association (FADA) has estimated that the burden could be to the tune of Rs 600 crore. And with manufacturers not very forthcoming to help meet this cost, they have now petitioned the government for relief, requesting that excise relief be also applicable on the inventories/stocks available with them as on December 7 (the day the government’s financial package was announced).
Dealers, who are cash-starved because of poor margins and low demand, on Tuesday wrote letters to various ministries, including finance and commerce, as well as to the Planning Commission and Cabinet secretariat for help to “correct the unpleasant, anomalous situation”.
“The automobile dealers, saddled with huge inventories due to slowdown, find themselves in a bind. The automobile retail trade collectively may have to take a hit of Rs 500-600 crore in clearing the existing stocks at the revised prices announced by the manufacturers. We, therefore, request that the benefit of 4% excise duty cut may also be extended to the stocks already lying with the automobile dealers as on December 7,” FADA secretary general Gulshan Ahuja petitioned.
“The situation is particularly bad in two-wheelers where some companies have said they are ready to share only 50% of the burden while the dealer will have to chip in with the rest. This is just not acceptable as dealers are cash-crunched and are carrying huge inventories following very poor demand in the market,” a leading dealer said on condition of anonymity.
Another dealer said instead of helping dealers meet the burden, companies were now coming out with indirect schemes that were of no use. “We have been given a ‘target-based’ scheme under which the company will only compensate us if we are able to achieve a particular sales target,” the dealer said.
FADA officials said this was “not at all acceptable” and they were looking at greater engagement and support from the manufacturers. The dealer association has already written to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), the grouping of auto manufacturers, for support. “We hope that the manufacturers would come forward to compensate the automobile dealers for the inventories already held by them,” it said in a letter to SIAM.
Dealers Want Excise Relief On Inventories Available With Them As On Dec 7
There seems to be a never ending trouble in the auto industry over who shares the ‘hit’ due to the 4% excise duty reduction. As reported by TOI on December 9, a major fight is now brewing up over sharing of the burden on the inventory bought at higher excise duty.
Federation of Automobile Dealers Association (FADA) has estimated that the burden could be to the tune of Rs 600 crore. And with manufacturers not very forthcoming to help meet this cost, they have now petitioned the government for relief, requesting that excise relief be also applicable on the inventories/stocks available with them as on December 7 (the day the government’s financial package was announced).
Dealers, who are cash-starved because of poor margins and low demand, on Tuesday wrote letters to various ministries, including finance and commerce, as well as to the Planning Commission and Cabinet secretariat for help to “correct the unpleasant, anomalous situation”.
“The automobile dealers, saddled with huge inventories due to slowdown, find themselves in a bind. The automobile retail trade collectively may have to take a hit of Rs 500-600 crore in clearing the existing stocks at the revised prices announced by the manufacturers. We, therefore, request that the benefit of 4% excise duty cut may also be extended to the stocks already lying with the automobile dealers as on December 7,” FADA secretary general Gulshan Ahuja petitioned.
“The situation is particularly bad in two-wheelers where some companies have said they are ready to share only 50% of the burden while the dealer will have to chip in with the rest. This is just not acceptable as dealers are cash-crunched and are carrying huge inventories following very poor demand in the market,” a leading dealer said on condition of anonymity.
Another dealer said instead of helping dealers meet the burden, companies were now coming out with indirect schemes that were of no use. “We have been given a ‘target-based’ scheme under which the company will only compensate us if we are able to achieve a particular sales target,” the dealer said.
FADA officials said this was “not at all acceptable” and they were looking at greater engagement and support from the manufacturers. The dealer association has already written to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), the grouping of auto manufacturers, for support. “We hope that the manufacturers would come forward to compensate the automobile dealers for the inventories already held by them,” it said in a letter to SIAM.
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