Mamatha Mohandas wallpaper
Indian film actress Mamta Mohandas has been modeling for quite some time doing both print ads and on the ramp, before taking up acting in films as a career. She debuted in the Malayalam film Mayookham in 2005 directed by Hariharan. It was followed by movies such as Bus Conductor, Adhbutam, Lanka, Madhuchandralekha, Sivapathigaram, etc. Mamatha Mohandas has acted in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada language movies. A trained classical singer, Mamta has also excelled as a playback singer.
Manorama calls for impotency tests before marriage
Are you ready for declaring your sexual potency to your future life partner before marriage? Are you capable of fathering a child, or delivering a child? Get ready to answer these questions if you are planning to marry, at least in Tamil Nadu, if the veteran actress Manorama succeeds in her efforts in what most people consider as a social cause. And not only in Tamil Nadu, it may become legally binding in the rest of India too.
As is well known, actor Manorama is now campaigning for a cause that is widely prevalent but that is mentioned only in secret. "I met the chief minister a few days ago and briefed him on the trauma of discovering that one has married an impotent person. I have asked him to bring in a law whereby it is necessary for the bride and groom to produce a medical certificate before marriage stating that they are not impotent and another saying they have tested negative for HIV/AIDS," she added.
Apart from Chief Minister Dr M Karunanidhi, Manorama has also met Deputy Chief Minister M K Stalin and Health Minister M R K Paneerselvam for legalizing the cause, and reportedly all the three have assured her that they would study the matter.
Mostly impotency comes to light only after couples are married, said Manorama. Apparently she was moved by the case of a young woman who, a few weeks ago sought Rs 1 crore (Rs 10 million) as compensation from her impotent husband who had been married off with the full knowledge of his condition by his parents. The woman has also filed a police complaint against him.
"More recently, a close family member underwent a similar fate, and after discussions with fans, friends and family I learnt that impotency is a major factor in today's life," said the legendary actor. The current lifestyles, often blamed for diseases like diabetes and hypertension, are embarrassing many couples in their bedrooms. The rate of impotency is rising, according to sexologists.
"Ours is a traditional society and a marriage is considered binding. However, with growing instances of strains in physical relationships, the problem of impotency has huge sociological implications," said sexologist Dr Narayana Reddy.
There are divorce cases pending in courts and the reason for seeking divorce is sexual impotency. "However, when a person is aware of impotency it is better to disclose the same," said fertility specialist, Dr Priya Selvaraj. "Unlike the 80s, women are unwilling to suffer in silence anymore," she added. "However, an act of law alone may not be enough. We need to create awareness and make it easier, as a society, for voluntary disclosures," she added.
"Everything cannot be monitored by law," said lawyer Sudha Ramalingam. "The increasing number of cases shows that rather than looking at horoscopes, parents need to go in for background checks on medical history," she added. "Only then can you make married life work for you," she added. "Creating awareness through campaigns and sex education is the way forward," said Selvaraj.
In India, verifying and matching horoscopes of the brides and bridegrooms are considered a “must” by most believers in Hindu religion and most other religions. Though it is not a legal requirement, it is sometimes followed stricter than legal requirements. In such cases if the horoscopes do not match, there won’t be any marriages. It is almost an unwritten law. If it can be given social sanction, why can’t a “medical matching” be considered? It will simply make relationships more transparent, avoid cheating by impotent brides/bridegrooms, avoid unwanted divorce proceedings and avoid being gifted with HIV/AIDS along with solemnization of marriages!
But Manorama is getting more support for the cause and she said, "I will not rest until the issue of impotency is brought out in the open and not whispered behind veils." Manorama, still very active in her career and who has three generations of addicted fans, can harness enough support for her social cause, her fans and others feel.
In a career spanning about 55 years, Manorama has the rare distinction of having acted with five Chief Ministers; C N Annadurai, Dr M Karunanidhi, Dr M G Ramachandran, Dr Jayalalitha Jayaram, and Dr N T Rama Rao. Also she holds a Guinness World Record for acting in the most number of films. Some sources place her performance records as having acted in more than 1500 films, 1000 stage performances, and a few television serials. She is affectionately called as Aachi by the Tamil people, about which she once told the press, "Aachi? As Pannyur Bhagyam, I spoke Chettinad lingo. And the name stuck”.
Having started her acting career at age 12, Manorama is a theatre actress, 'Neethipathi' (1955), stage playback singer, film actress 'Maalayitta Mangai’ (1958), TV actress, and has acted in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi films, and have paired with leading comedians like Chandrababu, Cho Ramaswamy, Thangavelu, Thengai Srinivasan, M R Ratha and Nagesh. Apart from character roles and comedy roles, Manorama has acted as heroine in Konjum Kumari, Alangari and Periya Manithan.
Kavya Madhavan to return to movies
Here is good news for fans of Mollywood’s popular heroine Kavya Madhavan. She is on a come back mood and considering some good scripts and she can be expected to sign some very soon. However, she is not in a hurry, but she is looking for the right kind of roles. She is quite fond of classical dance forms and she has had training in Bharatnatyam and Mohiniyattam both of which she has been learning from childhood. But she could hardly show her dancing skills in films so far. So, it would be her priority to do a role that has classical dance. Recently she was in Kozhikode to inaugurate a beauty salon when she talked to a national newspaper about her future plans!
MTV VMA 2009: Beyonce Knowles and Taylor Swift
The 2009 MTV Video Music Awards extravaganza at Radio City Hall in New York witnessed Beyonce Knowles' "Single Ladies" winning the MTV award, known as Moonman, for the Best Video of the year. Britney Spears won the Best Pop Video, Green Day won the Best Rock Video and Eminem won the Hip Hop, while the flamboyant Lady Gaga was picked for the Best New Artist Award.
Madonna opened the evening extravaganza by commemorating "one of the greatest talents the world has ever known", Michael Jackson, who "didn't just make you want to dance, but actually made you believe you could fly". But after praising Jackson, Madonna sounded a darker note, saying she felt many failed to go to his help when his life began to fall apart amid health problems, a fading career, and child abuse allegations. She finally said, "Long live the king!" Following it, Janet Jackson recreated the dance moves from her only video made with her brother, "Scream".
Video Of The Year Award was won by Beyoncé Knowles for "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)", directed by Jake Nava. Best Choreography (choreography by Jaquel Knight & Frank Gatson Jr.) and Best Editing (edited by Jarrett Fijal) Awards also went to Beyonce’s Single Ladies.
Lady Gaga won the Best New Artist Award for "Poker Face", directed by Ray Kay. Best Art Direction Award ("Paparazzi", Art Direction by Jason Hamilton), and Best Special Effects ("Paparazzi", Special Effects by Chimney Pot) also went to Lady Gaga.
Eminem won the Best Hip-Hop Video Award for "We Made You", directed by Joseph Kahn.
T.I. and Rihanna won the Best Male Video Award for "Live Your Life", directed by Anthony Mandler -- the entire video for "Live Your Life" was shot in a memento-like reverse chronological order.
Britney Spears bagged the Best Pop Video Award for "Womanizer", directed by Joseph Kahn.
Best Rock Video Award went to Green Day for "21 Guns", directed by Marc Webb. Best Cinematography (cinematography by Jonathan Sela) and Best Direction (Marc Webb) Awards were also bagged by Green Day for "21 Guns."
The Best Female Video Award was won by Taylor Swift for "You Belong With Me" (directed by Roman White).
The Best Video Award went to Beastie Boys for "Sabotage" directed by Spike Jonze.
Matt and Kim won the Breakthrough Video Award for "Lessons Learned", directed by Taylor Cohen & Otto Arsenault.
The teen country music star Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech for Best Female Video Award was interrupted when rapper Kanye West crashed the stage and grabbed her microphone to tell the hall that he favoured Beyonce's video. However, Beyonce later made up for the incident by inviting Swift to share the stage during her own award triumph.
However, it was Michael Jackson, who died aged 50 on June 25, who received the most accolades, with host Russell Brand and award winners lining up to pay tributes to The King of Pop.
The Best Female Video Award winner Taylor Swift
2009 MTV Video Music Awards' The Best Female Video Award was won by Taylor Swift for "You Belong With Me".
Kanye West belittles Taylor Swift for Beyonce
Taylor Swift won the Best Female Video Award for You Belong With Me and she was delivering the acceptance speech when rapper Kanye West grabbed her mic and said, "Taylor, I'm really happy for you and I'm gonna let you finish, but Beyonce has one of the best videos of all time". Look at Taylor's face! He made her feel really bad.
Taylor Swift being interrupted by Kanye West
The teen country star Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech for MTV VMA Best Female Video Award was interrupted when rapper Kanye West crashed the stage and grabbed her microphone and told the the hall that he favoured Beyonce's video for the Award.
Salman and Kareena in Main Aur Mrs Khanna
The upcoming Bollywood comedy ‘Main Aur Mrs Khanna’, starring Salman Khan and Kareena Kapoor in the lead roles, also has Govinda in a special appearance and Preity Zinta in an item number. The music, composed by Sajid-Wajid, is already launched. Sajid-Wajid, known for hits like ‘mujhse shaadi karogi’, ‘maine pyaar kyun kiya’ has been credited also with the music for the latest ‘Wanted’, also with Salman Khan. Main Aur Mrs Khanna is slated for release during the coming Diwali.
Priyanka Chopra promotes Lux soap
There was a recent collaboration between Priyanka Chopra and Lux soap, and this photo is one of her stills from her ad/video campaigns for selling the Rs 10 soaps.
Lisa Ray thanks her Indian fans for their love
Reports flashed on internet recently that Lisa Ray, who can be seen in the film Cooking with Stella at the Toronto International Film Festival, wrote in her blog that she is suffering from Multiple Myeloma (also known as MM, myeloma, plasma cell myeloma, or as Kahler's disease), a cancer of the white blood cells known as plasma cells. Plasma cells, or B cells, are part of the immune system, formed in bone marrow.
The Canadian born (April 4, 1972) actress Lisa Ray has her roots in India too through her Bengali father, though her mother is from Poland. She describes herself “good, dutiful half-Bengali daughter” in her blog!
She writes in her blog, “And I blame you India. You have sent me so much love. And advice. So I went through each and every message. Like the good, dutiful half-Bengali daughter I am. Except I’m not studying for my medical finals, I’m looking at each and every word you have sent.”
Also she wrote, “I was in Kerala on a yoga/Ayurvedic retreat when I had to have my first blood transfusion this year. That was in March. I’ve been practising yoga for ten years now. I go to Dharamsala for month long silent meditation retreats at Tushita Meditation Centre once a year. And then on the other end I chant Mantras for hours. I also practise Vipassana, Metta, Shambala and as many other meditation techniques as I can find. My cupboards are full of naturopathic, Chinese and homeopathic remedies…”
Lisa Ray’s films include Kasoor, Defender, Trader Games, Cooking with Stella, Toronto Stories, Kill Kill Faster Faster, The World Unseen, I Can't Think Straight, All Hat, A Stone's Throw, Water, Bollywood/Hollywood, and her selected television include Psych, Great Canadian Book Club, Blood Ties and The Genies- 2006.
Wish the talented actress speedy recovery! Click on the links above to visit her official website and to visit her blog to know more about her ailment and to wish her speedy recovery!
Lisa Ray - The World Unseen
The World Unseen (2008), a South African movie, written and directed by Shamim Sarif, based on a novel she had written, stars Lisa Ray, Sheetal Sheth, David Dennis, Grethe Fox, Parvin Dabas, Colin Moss, Nandana Sen, Natalie Becker, Leonie Casanova, Bernard White, Avantika Akerkar, Amber Rose Revah and Rajesh Gopie.
The story is set in 1950's South Africa where apartheid was just beginning. Free-spirited Amina (Sheetal Sheth) is free-spirited woman who has broken all the rules of her orthodox Indian community in South Africa. She runs a café, a safe haven for happiness, laughter, music and delicious homemade food, a grey area for those who fall outside the strict ‘Black and White’ rules of the South African government running on apartheid.
Amina’s café regulars include Amina's feisty waitress Doris (Leonie Casanova), her gentle ‘colored’ business partner Jacob (David Dennis) and the sparkly white local postmistress Madeleine (Grethe Fox). Madeleine and Jacob have developed a budding attraction for each other.
Miriam (Lisa Ray) is a doting mother to her children and a subservient wife to her chauvinistic and frustrated husband Omar (Parvin Dabas). But when Miriam meets Amina their unexpected mutual attraction throws them both off-balance. Miriam tries to overcome her attraction and feelings, but she is more and more drawn towards the unconventional Amina. She gradually starts confronting all the restraints. But, then Miriam moves to an isolated life in the countryside, but she is not spared by the poisonous fangs of apartheid. There are many biases and injustices all around. And this brings Miriam and Amina together again and their mutual attraction and feelings are cemented further more strongly.
Jacob and Madeleine are now in a relationship. But they are also confronted by social challenges and indignities just because they spend time together. And the fearless Amina, faced with the strength of her feelings and the reality of Miriam's situation, now gets into confusion and self-doubting. But Miriam is now clearer about herself and more courageous to make her own choices that change her life forever.
The film is appreciated for the stunning South African landscape, social themes, injustices, and at the same time influenced by the jazz tunes of that period. The World Unseen is a decisive and courageous exploration of the social system that divides White from Black and women from men, and it highlights the unconventional love that survives the system.
Lisa Ray in a 2007 interview
Shenaz Treasurywala
Aagey Se Right is the Bollywood film in which Shenaz Treasurywala appears as the bar dancer Pearl. The other stars are Shreyas Talpade, Kay Kay Menon, Vijay Maurya, Mahie Gill, Shruti Seth and debutante Shiv Pandit.
Shenaz Treasurywala is an Indian model, travel writer and actress. She has had modeling assignments for the soft drink Gold Spot, and has done advertising for Akai and Philips. Then MTV Networks Asia picked her up as a VJ on their Most Wanted program. It was followed by her film debut in the 2003 Bollywood film Ishq Vishk. Her performance was appreciated very much by the viewers and critics and she was nominated for the best supporting actress award by the Filmfare Film Awards. She loves travels and has written travelogues for Cosmopolitan, ELLE, and Femina.
After having her initial education in Mumbai, in 2001 Shenaz moved to New York City where she studied method acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute. Shenaz was offered the lead role in Ishq Vishk by director Ken Ghosh, when she visited Mumbai during her New York days.
The busy bee Minissha Lamba
Recently there were reports that Minissha Lamba is too busy with her shooting schedule that she did not have time for friends. 2008 was an year with four high profile films to her credit, including Bachna ae Haseeno (starring Ranbir Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Bipasha Basu, etc.), and she had donned the bikini for the action-cum-romance movie 'Kidnap'. She did not have any film released this year. It was reported that she is cast in ‘Acid Factory’, an upcoming action thriller being directed by Suparn Verma, slated for release in October 2009, and Shyam Benegal's film 'Abba Ka Kaun' (renamed as Well Done Abba). The film also stars Ila Arun, Sonali Kulkarni, Rajit Kapur and Yashpal Sharma.
However, though she earned the title, ‘Bollywood’s most underrated actress’ from her critics, there is enough reason for Minissha Lamba to celebrate, as ‘Well Done Abba’, has been selected for the 33rd Montreal World Film Festival, to be screened throughout the weekend and it has been selected for the ‘World Greats’ section in the Film Festival. Quite an honor!
Her co-star Sammir Dattani says, “It’s an honour to have the film showcased at a festival as prestigious as Montreal World Film Festival.” Minissha too is quite excited about Well Done Abba. She says, "Even though the film has a village setting, I play an educated girl in Well Done Abba. Shyam sir is very pro-education of girl child; this is something that he feels very strongly about."
The film has the gripping story of Armaan Ali (Boman Irani), a driver working in Mumbai. He goes on a month’s leave to find a suitable groom for the marriage his teenage daughter, who lives in a small locality close to Hyderabad. On his return, his employer wants to sack him because Armaan Ali returns to work only after three months, after overstaying his leave.
"Minissha will be seen in something very different from what she has done till now. I hope with ‘Well Done Abba’ she gets the appreciation she deserves. She is an exceptionally fine actress and I feel that she has not got her due in the industry," Shyam Benegal said about Minissha Lamba.
