Kanpur: VVS Laxman didn’t quite have the same success as Ganguly in the series, but he too was happy with how things turned out in the end for India, finishing on level terms with South Africa.

On playing on the Kanpur pitch

I’m used to playing on bad wickets. When you are playing domestic cricket, on the third and the fourth days of the match, usually the wicket wears out. So I have got the experience of playing big knocks on those tracks. So that really helps me whenever I’m playing on a bad surface.

On his first innings effort

More than the individual knock, my partnership with Rahul (Dravid) was very important, because we had lost Wasim (Jaffer) and Viru (Virender Sehwag) early on. It was very important that we put up a good partnership. I’m very glad that I was able to play my natural game and didn’t get bogged down and get the runs on the board.

On the South African bowling attack

It was not really easy, but it was a great challenge playing on that wicket, because South Africa have a good bowling attack. So I think it was a very important innings for me.

On India’s series-levelling efforts

I think it was a great team effort. It was very important that we win this Test match and level the series. The South Africans played well throughout the series, but the way our team played in this match was really commendable.

Kanpur: A grateful Mahendra Singh Dhoni sent a note of thanks and Rs 10,000 to Green Park Stadium’s pitch curator for preparing the turning track that helped the hosts clinch the series-levelling win over South Africa in the third Test here.

Curator Shiv Kumar said he was pleasantly surprised to receive a personal note of thanks and the cash reward from the stand-in Test skipper after the hosts beat the Proteas inside three days on a crumbling pitch to level the series 1-1.

Kumar said regular Test skipper Anil Kumble, who missed the decider due to a groin injury, also came down to meet and thank him for preparing the “spinner-friendly” pitch after the match.

Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who won the Man of the Series award for scalping 19 wickets, also met Kumar to praise and thank him.

However, Kumar maintained that the Green Park wicket was a sporting one and it was unfair to say that it only aided the slower bowlers.

“The South African batsmen just couldn’t get used to it (the pitch) and were unsure of how the ball would behave,” he said.

Meanwhile, BCCI Vice-President Rajiv Shukla denied that the money was a ‘reward’ for the curator.

“It is a general practice to give some money to the curator so that he can distribute it among the groundsmen. This money is contributed by the players and given to the curator,” he said.

“Even when India lost the match in Ahmedabad, the cricketers gave tips to the curator. It was not any special case in Kanpur,” Shukla said.

“If giving money to the curator ensured a win, we would have won all the matches,” he added.

Millions of children around the world suffer from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD. Fortunately for all of them there are many prescription drugs available these days for treating this particular disorder. These drugs are categorized under a separate category known as ‘psycho- stimulants’. These drugs are closely related to the drugs that are used for treating conditions of depression. There are many types of medication available for treating this condition these days. Apart from prescription drugs you can also find many types of medication with an all natural formula, which claim to cause zero negative side effects. It is always preferable though, that you consult your doctor before putting your children on a course of drugs for treating the disorder

Researchers in the US have come out with an astounding revelation that many of the commonly anesthetic drugs can in fact flush out what could be potentially painful memories. The research carried out in various parts of the US claims that these drugs play a major role when it comes to blocking out emotionally draining memories. Further research findings on this matter are awaited. If these reports were to be true, then it could prove to be a boon to millions of people who suffer from emotional disturbance caused by painful memories.

This Kollywood flick reunites the cast of Chennai-28 – Nithin Sathya, Premji Amaren, Vijay and Ajay Raj who play the lead roles in this film. Jennifer, who appeared in sister roles in Ghilli and Jambhavan makes her debut as the heroine. Gangai Amaren’s son Premji also makes  his debut as the music director in the film. The movie is centered around the struggles of four upcoming youngsters trying to make it big in the world. Although the film is not aimed at invoking nostalgia, it remains that the script would have suited a film that would’ve worked in the eighties.

Poonam Bajwa, had started her career with a telugu film Modati Cinema opposite Navdeep. She was first supposed to be launched opposite Dhanush in Polladhavan.  However, the actress was replaced by Divya for reasons unknown.

Following this, Poonam was back in Tollywood and did a role in Nagarjuna’s Boss. Finally, she now makes her Tamil  debut opposite Jeeva in a film titled ‘Thenavattu,’ which will be directed by Kadhir. She plays a bubbly and innocent college girl. Sai Kumar, Ravi Kale, Saranya are the supporting actors in the film. Srikanth Deva has composed the songs.

Kirat Bhattal, a popular model turned actress, who made an impressive debut in the Arya starrer Vattaaram migrated to Kannada films seeking greener pastures.

Now the pretty actress is making a comeback in Tamil with an Arjun film titled Durai, which is being directed by Venkatesh and produced by Thenappan.

She replaces Padmapriya who was earlier cast in the heroine’s role. Sources reveal that Padmapriya had a different of opinion regarding the costumes given to her and the director wanted to appoint a costume designer for her at the producer’s expense.

However, the producer put his foot down and instead replaced Padmapriya with Kirat. It seems Padmapriya has a Knack for staying in the news constantly, albeit for the wrong reasons.

After successfully casting the lead pair Sundar. C and Namitha in ‘Sanda,’ director Kichas has roped in the actress once again for his movie. ‘Thee.’ The film has already commenced production with the heroine Ragini. In fact, halfway through the making of the film, the director felt that it lacked the glam quotient and he approached Namitha. The latter was thrilled and says, “ It is a powerful role and nothing like the ones I have done do far.”

Diya in her yet to be released film ‘Kaadhal Endral Enna’ has outdone herself with her skin show in the film. According to director Kalimuthu, the hero Veera, a newcomer was uncomfortable in a kissing scene with Diya. However, the actress put him at ease saying that it was just ‘acting’ and the scene was successfully canned.

It seems that Kollywood is going through a season of dubbed films. Many Malayalam films are now being dubbed into Tamil as the producers believe that even a two-week run ensures good returns.

The latest one to join this bandwagon is Malayalam director Roshan Andrew’s previous offering  ‘Notebook.’ This big budget film produced by P.V.Gangadharan had an all-new star cast and was a runway hit in Kerala.

A small time model-turned –actress named Roma, who started with a Tamil film and then went into hibernation, resurfaced with this film and became a sought-after heroine in Malayalam films. The film deals with the problems of adolescence and conveys the message that children should grow up with families and not in boarding schools. Suresh  Gopi appears in a cameo role. The film’s dubbed Tamil version ‘Ilamaangal’ will be released this week.

Mumbai, (IANS) Dusky and doe-eyed glamour girl Bipasha Basu, who got a makeover in Madhur Bhandarkar’s “Corporate”, is trying to create a balance between commercial and art house cinema by doing unusual films like “Pankh”.

“I believe that I do have the intelligence to understand that I need to keep the balance between commercial entertainer and art-house and only then can I command different audiences,” Bipasha told IANS.

“It is interesting for an actor to think about audience interest, but then I would not do a film like ‘Pankh’.”

In director Shudipto Chattopadhyay’s “Pankh”, Bipasha plays an imaginary character.

“I play an alter ego. I am an imaginary character - the protagonist in the film is a boy called Maradona; he has done a fabulous job,” said Bipasha who was recently seen in “Race”.

“It is about a boy who goes through gender confusion. He is a child artiste but plays a female child artiste and is very popular. Then he grows up and wants to be launched as a hero but there is a kind of confusion in his mind.

“The boy’s family is poor and they want to make it big. The pressure of parents and ridicule make it a very sad situation for him. Eventually he creates this imaginary character he is in love with. And that imaginary character happens to be an actress as well. It is quite a crazy role and many would say why Bipasha has done it, but I like it so I do it.”

Bipasha is also doing Rituparno Ghosh’s Bengali film “Shab Choritro Kalpanik” where she plays Prasenjit Chatterjee’s wife who falls in love with her husband after his death.

Mumbai, (IANS) Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan will be in Miami for their first wedding anniversary next week. Not that they planned so. “It just happened,” says Amitabh Bachchan.

“Abhishek is shooting in Miami for ‘Dostana’ on their marriage anniversary. And Aishwarya is going to be with him,” Amitabh Bachchan told IANS.

“We’ll get them by a new technology called skyscape to speak from Miami to mediapersons in Mumbai at the launch of ‘Sarkar Raj’ - which happens to be on the same evening as their wedding anniversary,” he said.

“Sarkar Raj” director Ram Gopal Varma says it was just a coincidence that the unveiling of his film will take place the same day.

“I didn’t even remember it was Abhishek and Aishwarya’s wedding anniversary on April 20. We decided to do the First Look party of ‘Sarkar Raj’ on this day because it was six weeks before the release,” said Varma.

“It’s just a coincidence. I don’t keep track of anyone’s birthdays and anniversaries, not even mine.”

Ramu is excited about something else too. “This is the first time the actors of an Indian film will be connected to the media via satellite. We’re doing it through a technology known as skyscape. I think it’s very exciting to reach out by modern technology in this way. Aishwarya and Abhishek will be live from Miami in Mumbai.”

However, Big B will be present at the Mumbai event.

Tell Ramu that the “Sarkar Raj” event will be eclipsed by the excitement over its lead pair’s wedding anniversary, and he shrugs.

“It doesn’t matter. We cannot separate Abhishek and Aishwarya’s life from ‘Sarkar Raj’. Very soon after the First-Look event we’ll have the music release. T-Series is releasing the music soundtrack.”

Cast: Irrfan Khan, Arshad Warsi, Rajpal Yadav, Juhi Chawla, Suresh Menon, Rajat Kapoor
Director: Jaideep Sen
Rating: **

“Krazzy 4″ is a refreshing if not riveting change from the risqué-driven, innuendo-laden comedies that have recently infested our theatres.

Stand-up comedian Suresh Menon, playing one of four psychologically disturbed protagonists, utters barely one word in the film.

“Kidnap!” he stammers to tell his associates that the sweet doctor Juhi Chawla has been whisked away by baddies, who look like they could do with a spot of training in crime management.

“Krazzy 4″ has a point to make under the barrage of burlesque. And it’s all done in good spirit. Cinematographer Ajit Bhat shoots the streets and crowded places of Mumbai to signify the sense of freedom that the four heroes feel even in the claustrophobic atmosphere outside the confines of their world within stonewalls.

So who’s the crazy one? The guy (Rajpal Yadav) who thinks we’re still living in the era of Gandhian freedom fighters? Or the guy (Rajat Kapoor) who gets his sweet wife kidnapped for political gains?

Good question. And adeptly handled by debutant director Jaideep Sen as long as the audience doesn’t ask too many questions about the logistics of four men and a jalopy joyride into intrigue, adventure and crime.

Sen, with ample help from writer Ashwani Dheer, knows precisely which frontiers to open to ensure the comedy doesn’t slip into farce. The initial scenes introducing the characters are well executed. And if the pace doesn’t slacken it’s because the actors wouldn’t let it.

Each of the four main actors invest a certain something beyond the precincts of parody to their characters. Irrfan Khan as the literate cleanliness freak, Arshad Warsi as the inmate with an anger-management problem, Yadav caught in Gandhian time warp and Menon as the tongue-tied repressed vagrant, invest a definite direction to the wacky goings-on.

If you persuade a cine buff to choose one from the foursome it would have to be Rajpal who’s by now the maestro of mirthful manoeuvrings. Watch him give his patriotic mouthfuls to several scumbags in the plot. Rajpal brings the house down.

Agreed some of the plotting and narrative transitions lack finesse. But when have mainstream Hindi films been known for extravagant bouts of finesse?

The narrative packs in some seriously satirical and sensitive moments. Check out Arshad’s scene with his prospective father-in-law - it’s a superbly scripted encounter.

Or that isolated incident of pathos when the hygiene maniac Irrfan repositions the bindi on his wife’s head.

Such moments, delicately drawn and deftly defined get drowned in the din of devilish merrymakers on a rampage.

“Krazzy 4″ moves from one wacky adventure to another without sacrificing the sub-linear message on the definition of normal behaviour in a social structure that has lost all its sense of proportion and is hurling into mayhem and anarchy.

Laughter is the only medicine. “Krazzy 4″ isn’t quite the tonic for our wounded souls. But you can’t help but giggle at the goings-on.

On the film’s controversial item songs - Shah Rukh moves. Hrithik glides. And yes, Irrfan Khan tries to wipe Rakhi Sawant’s tattoo clean in her item song.

That’s where the laughter of the lewd is dispersed in the innocence of the ‘mad’. “Krazzy 4″ isn’t Milos Forman’s “One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest”.

Priyadarshan did that in “Kyun Ki”.

Cast: Ajay Devgan, Kajol, Sumeet Raghavan, Divya Dutta, Isha Sharwani and Karan Khanna
Director: Ajay Devgan
Ratings: ***1/2