Flash News:4 Andhra Students Died in St. Louis

We regret to inform you that Four Telugu Students died in a fatal car accident and one Critically Injured.

The accident happened at 1:45 a.m. Saturday in the west St. Louis County town of Des Peres. The Highway Patrol said Miller, a 12-year veteran of the Sunset Hills department, was driving in the wrong lane at the intersection of Des Peres Road and Dougherty Ferry Road when her 2001 Mitsubishi struck a 1999 Honda with five people inside.

Everyone in the Honda except the driver died instantly. Miller and the Honda driver were both taken to St. John's Mercy Medical Center. She was undergoing surgery and was in critical condition. The Honda driver was initially in critical condition but was later upgraded to fair.

The four Victims who lost their lives:
(Studying at Eastern Illinois University, Chicago)
Priyadarasini Muppavarapu (22 Year Old Student)
Anitha Lakshmi Veerapaneni (23 Year Old Student)
Anusha Anumolu (23 Year Old Student)
Satya Subhakar Chinta (25 Year Old from Schaumburg)

Honda Driver Critically Injured:
Nitesh Adusumilli (27 Year Old Student, St. Louis)

Trusted sources inform that three of the above five listed are engaged and are getting married in the Month of May, 2009.

Jade Goody in last hours of her life

London, March 15 (ANI): Cancer-stricken Jade Goody has just few hours to live now, according to her pals.

The British reality TV star has been in tremendous pain after cervical cancer spread to her entire body.

“It IS now a matter of hours, she has deteriorated dramatically overnight. Sadly she is very close to the end,” News of the World quoted a source as saying.

The 27-year-old was granted her last wish after doctors allowed her to go home so that she could spend her final days with her beloved sons, Bobby, five, and Freddie, four.

Goody had recently returned from London’s Royal Marsden Hospital to her house in Upshire, Essex, where she suffered excruciating pain that led officials to lift the curfew on her jailbird hubby Jack Tweed so that he could spend time with his terminally ill wife.

Tweed said: “When I got the call I was absolutely terrified. The thought that our fairytale could be over already filled me with dread and sadness.”

And now, family and close friends have come together to be with Goody, who is “terrified of falling asleep because she’s afraid she’ll never wake up”.

Her rep Max Clifford confirmed: “She has deteriorated. She is very weak. The answer is, who knows? We are on the edge of a precipice.” (ANI)

Dharamavarapu Comedy Ding Dong on chandra Babu , Allu aravind & Pal-Videos

Comedy Show on Bala Saibaba- Videos

US consulate in Hyderabad starts Operations

Hyderabad, March 5: Five months after it was inaugurated,the US consulate here has started visa services, fulfilling a long pending demand of visa seekers from Andhra Pradesh and boosting Hyderabad's image as an international business destination.

The consulate started partial functioning Wednesday, taking over 20 percent of the work being handled by the US consulate in Chennai.

Functioning from Paigah Palace, a heritage building in Begumpet near the old airport, the consulate will initially conduct 100 visa interviews a day. The number of daily visa applications will be increased to 400 next month.

The US consulate in Chennai is presently handling 500 applications every day for visas from Andhra Pradesh.

Consul General Cornelis M.Keur said full consular services for US citizens would also be available in Hyderabad, according to a statement issued late Wednesday.

Officials said the opening of the facility would save 70,000 trips from Hyderabad and other parts of Andhra Pradesh every year to Chennai.

US Ambassador to India David C.Mulford had formally inaugurated the consulate, the fourth in India after Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai.

Then US president George W. Bush, during his visit to Hyderabad in March 2006, had announced the setting up of the consulate.

"When we selected Hyderabad to be the host city to our new consulate general, we did so in clear recognition of its importance as a major social political and commercial centre. Hyderabad is a city that works," Mulford had said.

The US consulate, which will initially have 16 visa windows, will work out of the temporary facility for six years before moving into a proposed permanent facility to be built in Gacchibowli area at a cost of $60 million.

The state government has allotted 12 acres of land for the consulate in Gacchibowli, an area where several US giants including Microsoft have their campuses.

Out of about two million Americans of Indian origin, an estimated 400,000 hail from Andhra Pradesh.

King County Cops Beat Up Teenage Girl-Video

Teenage Girl Attacked In Jail Cell

"Caught On Tape": Surveillance video released from Seattle, Wash. shows a violent confrontation between two King County sheriff's deputies and a 15-year-old girl inside a jail cell. One deputy has been charged with assault.

Latesh Interview with Pawan Kalyan -Videos

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Rajini piggybacks on Obama!

After Sushmita Sen, it will be our very own Rajinikanth whose 1991 Hindi film Khoon Ka Karz (KKK) will be dubbed into Tamil as Arasan. The movie will be ready for release in March. A spokesperson of the Rajinikanth fans association says, “After a gap of nearly a decade , a Rajinikanth movie is once again being dubbed into Tamil from Hindi.”
KKK was an action flick starring Rajinikanth, Sanjay Dutt, Vinod Khanna, Dimple Kapadia, Sarika and Sangeeta Bijalani (now Mrs Azharuddin). The film, which was produced by Bhappi Soni (Raveena Tandon’s father), had music by Laxmikant Pyarelal and was directed by the late Mukul Anand. Despite the fact that the Hindi version flopped, the distributors in Tamil Nadu feel that the film’s Tamil avatar has the potential to be a hit. The background score and the songs have been recreated and remixed in 5.1 DTS surround sound and will be released in digital format. The two hour-and-15-minute movie will feature Rajinikanth for nearly 70 minutes. Some scenes and songs featuring other heroes have been deleted and the emphasis is on three songs and fight sequences featuring the superstar. One of the posters of Arasan compares Rajinikanth with US President Obama, with the tag line — ‘Black Men, Big History

Tata's Nano to be launched on March 23-Video

Raja vari Rambantulu @ Sakshi TV Launching

Why Rahman has nothing to do with Tollywood

Hyderabad: The world and India celebrated when music composer-director A R Rahman won two Oscars on Monday, but Tollywood could not drag itself into the celebrations. The reason: the sensible music director has so far steered clear of Telugu cinema. So Tollywood too did not quite embrace him.
In the 17 years that he has been a music director, Rahman consciously and deliberately chose not to work for Telugu films. He did not openly or blatantly declare his dislike for Telugu films, but Rahman showed it by avoiding them.
So on a day when Rahman was on top of the world, hardly anyone in the Telugu film industry showed an enthusiasm to celebrate or even display their happiness. The only exception was an emotional music director Koti who declared his love for Rahman on television. Rahman had worked for Koti before the former himself became one.
Rahman had in fact rendered music for only two Telugu films, both of which failed to impress Tollywood audience. Whether it was due to that strange experience or simply a matter of sensibilities that did not match, Rahman never worked on Telugu films thereafter.
Telugu film audiences know Rahman from the films that have been dubbed from Tamil into Telugu and were major hits. These included films like his debut film ‘Roja’, ‘Bombay’, ‘Jeans’, ‘Gentleman’, ‘Boys’, and ‘Sivaji’.
The two direct films that he did in Telugu were Venkatesh and Nagma-starrer ‘Super Police’ in 1993 and Mahesh Babu and Amisha Patel-starrer ‘Naani’ in 2004. It is said S J Suryah, who directed ‘Naani’ has once again roped in Rahman to compose music for his under-production film ‘Komaram Puli’ starring Pawan Kalyan.
“Rahman has hardly done any Telugu films because he is choosy about the directors he works for. The directors should not only have a music sense but should be able to understand his music and its relevance for the film,” a producer in the Telugu film industry said. Overtures by cash-rich Telugu producers and directors to rope in Rahman were politely but firmly declined, on the pretext that he had prior commitments and could not give the right dates.

A R Rahman's Performance In Oscar for Song in 'Slumdog Millionaire'

Oscars: Rahman Received his First Oscar Made India Proud

'Slumdog Millionaire' has won five awards including Best Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography, Sound Mixing, Film Editing and Original Score. India's Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, Dev patel and Freida Pinto
Smile Pinki wins best documentary short subject award.

THE OSCAR WINNERS...

The Indian music maestro, Rahman wooed the audience with ‘O Saya’ and ‘Jai Ho...’ the nominated songs from ‘Slumdog...’, as the nominees for Best Original Song were being announced.

Best Original Score: A R Rahman for Slumdog Millionaire . “I have nothing but my mother and she is there with me. I thank her for making me coming all this way with her blessings,” said a proud Rahman.

Best Film Editing: Chris Dickens for Slumdog Millionaire

Best Sound Mixing: Ian Tapp, Resul Pookutty for Slumdog Millionaire. “This is just not a sound award, but a history being handed over,” said Indian receiver Pookutty.

Best Cinematography: Anthony Dod Mantle for Slumdog Millionaire

Best Adapted Screenplay: Simon Beaufoy for Slumdog Millionaire. “The cast and crew of the film told me so much about India and writing,” said a proud Beaufoy.

Best Documentary Short Subject: Megan Mylan for Smile Pinki

Best Sound Editing: Richard King for The Dark Knight

Best Visual Effects: Eric Barba for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Best Documentary Feature Film: James Marsh for Man on Wire

Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight . It was a special moment for actor’s family - mother Sally, father Kim and sister Kate who came to receive the trophy on Ledger’s behalf.

Best Live action short film: Jochen Alexander for Spielzeugland Toyland

Best Make-up: Greg Cannom for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Best Costume Design: Michael O’Connor for The Duchess

Best Art Direction: Donald Graham Burt for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Best Animated Short Film: Kunio Kato for La Maison En Petits Cubes

Best Animated Feature: Andrew Stanton for Wall-E

Best Original Screenplay: Dustin Lance Black for Milk

Best Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz for Vicky Cristina Barcelona. “Has anyone fainted here, may be I will be the first one,” exclaimed Penelope immediately after receiving the award.

THE SHOW BEGINS...

Hilarious host Hugh Jackman opens the ceremony with a grand performance.

THE HOST...

Will Smith announced the awards for best visual effects, sound mixing and film editing categories.

Natalie Portman and Ben Stiller were the next to grace the stage to announce the award for best cinematography.

Sarah Jessica Parker clad in a shining silver off shoulder gown with Daniel Craig played the perfect host to a set of awards including best art direction, costume design and make-up.

Tina Fey and Steve Martin opened the awards ceremony announcing the first set of awards including best supporting actress, original screenplay and adapted screenplay.

Hilarious host Hugh Jackman opens the ceremony with a grand performance with actress Anne Hathaway.

Australian entertainer Hugh Jackman, stands tall as the first-time host to the ultra-glam evening. Though, he had hosted Broadway's Tony Awards three times in the past.

Robin Roberts welcomed the guests at the Red Carpet in a sensuous red gown designed by J Creww as she arrives for the 81st Academy Awards in Los Angeles.

RED CARPET

The much awaited and much anticipated, 81st Academy Awards will begin shortly with the Red Carpet already rolled out at the Kodak Theater.

Some of the stunning arrivals at the Red Carpet include teen idol Miley Cyrus, Aliciya Keys, actress Meryl Streep, Kate Winslet, Angelina Jolie, Penelope Cruz, ‘Slumdog...’ star Freida Pinto, ‘The Wrestler’ star Marisa Tommei to name a few.

British director Danny Boyle shepherded the extended ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ family down the red carpet. The nine cast members, who played the three main characters in the rags-to-riches fairy tale were all on hand for the Oscars ceremony. The two youngest cast members, who still live in Mumbai's slums, were making their first trip outside India

After months of controversy and speculation, the wait will finally be over. With movies like Slumdog Millionaire , The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and The Reader leading the way in major categories, it's tough to predict who will take away the trophy. So do you think 2009 will be the year that ends India's dry run at the Oscars
(Source TOI)

A.R Rahman Received his first Oscar Award for Slumdog Millionaire

HOLLYWOOD: A R Rahman was celebrating a double Oscars triumph here on Sunday after winning two Academy Awards for his work in the hit film "Slumdog
Millionaire."

The talented music maestro picked up the best original score statuette before scooping the best song Oscar moments later after a medley performance featuring all three nominated tunes.

"I just want to thank again, the whole crew of 'Slumdog Millionaire' especially Danny Boyle for giving me such a great opportunity," said the delighted Rahman.

He hailed "all the people from Mumbai and the essence of the film, which is about optimism and the power of hope and our lives. All my life I've had a choice of hate and love. I chose love, and I'm here. God bless."

The awards took "Slumdog's" tally to 7 for the evening, with Danny Boyle winning the best director Oscar

Oscar Best Documentary Film 'Smile Pinki'

Protests over Oscars Favourite Slumdog Millionaire

‘Slumdog’ closing in on Oscars glory

Hollywood: Final preparations for the Oscars are being made, with uplifting drama “Slumdog Millionaire” poised to romp home in the race for the coveted best picture prize.
The red carpet was being vacuumed and streets surrounding Hollywood’s Kodak Theatre were sealed off to the public with the 81st edition of the Academy Awards less than 24 hours away.
The build-up to this year’s ceremony has been dominated by the Bollywood-inspired “Slumdog”, which has dominated other awards shows and is considered the overwhelming favourite for the best picture statuette.
Although period drama “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” will start the night with the most nominations, 13, compared to 10 for “Slumdog,” experts say that British director Danny Boyle’s film is unbeatable.
“It would be the biggest upset in modern Oscars history to see ‘Slumdog’ lose,” said Pete Hammond, a veteran awards season pundit and Maxim film critic.
“It hasn’t stumbled once this awards season. It has had an unprecedented sweep. It’s the equivalent of the perfect season in football or baseball.”
Pundits say “Slumdog” has delighted audiences with its rags-to-riches plot about a Mumbai teaboy who rises out from poverty and enters a television quiz show to win millions and be reunited with the love of his life.
The against-the-odds triumph of the film’s central character is mirrored by the movie’s improbable march towards Oscars glory. Made for only 15 million dollars, the film features a cast of unknown actors and is partially subtitled.
British bookmakers William Hill have priced the film at 1/10, making it one of the shortest price best picture contenders in history.
“It’s always been our theory that at the end of the day Hollywood is about putting bums on seats and that this year, an uplifting feel-good movie like ‘Slumdog’ would be the clear favourite,” spokesman Rupert Adams said.Other rivals in the best picture category are “Benjamin Button,” political drama “Frost/Nixon,” biopic “Milk” and Holocaust drama “The Reader.”

Goud’s NTP to merge with Chiru’s PRP

Hyderabad: The eight-month-old Nav Telangana Party led by T Devender Goud is all set to merge with Chiranjeevi’s Prajarajyam party and a formal announcement is expected sometime next week before the poll notification is issued, NTP sources said.
While the official reason for the merger is said to be common ideology of the two parties—social justice and separate Telangana, the reality is that Goud has been finding it difficult to run the party as it had failed to create the kind of impact he expected before he quit TDP in June 23, 2008.
It may be mentioned here that before starting his own party Goud was a strong leader in TDP and from the position of ZP chairperson he rose to become virtually number two in TDP. He was also the revenue, panchayati raj and home minister during TDP regime under N Chandrababu Naidu. He was also the TDP deputy leader in the state assembly and used to share the seat of opposition leader in the assembly with Naidu.
While the TDP had constituted a committee to recommend the stand it should take on separate Telangana, Goud quit TDP alleging that it was anti-Telangana and floated his own outfit. But contrary to his expectations, except E Peddi Reddy, a former minister, no other leader went with him. Even the cadre did not desert TDP.
Since then, Goud had made several attempts to strike an alliance with TRS, PRP and even BJP. Now finally, Goud is said to have been assured by PRP leader Chiranjeevi that the party would include the promise of supporting separate Telangana in its manifesto. This was preceded by several rounds of talks between Chiranjeevi and Goud, NTP sources told TOI.
Once the merger is formalised, Goud is likely to get a key position in PRP and will contest polls on PRP symbol. Party sources say that Goud is keen to contest from Malkajgiri Lok Sabha constituency and jump to national politics. So far he has represented Medchal assembly constituency in Ranga Reddy district. Sources said he is likely to be named as in charge of party’s Telangana affairs committee.
(Source TOI)

Rahman’s Tolly Days

TThis time as the Oscar winners get known to the world, us Indians were particularly eager to get the results. And we all know why. It is the Rahman effect, as the music maestro got nominated for more than one category for the Oscars. And like everybody else, Telugu director Koti too sent up a prayer as he not just hoped but believed that Rahman deserves the honour. What gives him this conviction one wonders. For those who don't know, Rahman's meteoric rise had humble beginnings in Tollywood -- he started his music career working as a keyboard player with Tollywood's music director, Koti!
"He was very young, about 17 years old at that time," remembers Koti and says he joined him in 1985. "At that time, there was not much computer technology available to music directors. But Dileep (his first name then, later changed to AR Rahman) always showed interest in the new technology and was keen to study it. He worked with me relentlessly all day and night, till as late as 10pm. And after that he'd work the night through with the instruments until the early hours of the morning," Koti remembers.
After working with maestro Ilayaraja for many years, Rahman joined Koti. At that time his remuneration was just Rs 600. "He was a hard worker and always thinking about music. When he started his small studio Panchathan Record Inn he invited me to his studio. Back then he used to compose music jingles for advertisements, TV channels and documentaries," recalls Koti.
Koti says that apart from his hard work, Rahman has reached the top because of his mother's unstinting support. "She has given everything to Rahman. I still remember that she sold her gold ornaments and got into deep debt to get the latest musical instruments which at that time had to be bought from Singapore. But Rahman too worked with dedication and discipline and spared no efforts," said Koti. He adds that Rahman never worked to impress the director or producer he just composed quality music with the story in mind.
Rahman always looks for innovation in music. "At that time our Telugu directors and producers couldn't fathom the music we were doing. Their interest was in the commercial formula scores. That maybe one reason why Rahman didn't get to do many Telugu films," opines Koti. This did disappoint and upset Rahman, said Koti. And then, he recalls, it was a song in Nagarjuna's film Iddaru Iddare recorded at Rahman's studio that broke the jinx and the song became a huge hit. And then, he did the entire rerecording for the film Nalla Trachu and people began to notice his talent."
Koti thinks that Rahman is a gifted player. "Luckily Rahman got to work with many creative directors and producers. Once he made a mark with 'Roja' he never looked back. But I still see him as Dileep, the little boy who worked with me," Koti remembers nostalgically. “Today I am confident he will get the Oscar. But even if he doesn’t it won’t matter--- Rahman is a great musician,”he adds.
And on a closing note what does Rahman have to say about Koti? Well, as long drawn struggles gave way to success and Rahman came into his own, Koti recalls that at an audio function in the city last year, as chief guest Rahman said , "Initially, some of the directors with whom I had worked couldn't understand my tunes. It was Koti, who recognized the talent in me. I will never forget my association with Koti

New Vizag airport terminal opened

VISAKHAPATNAM: The Rs. 95-crore new integrated terminal building at Visakhapatnam airport was inaugurated here on Saturday and named after the first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

With a sprawling built-up area of nearly 22,000 sq. metres, the new terminal building is made of glass and steel and billed as environment-friendly. Union Minister for Civil Aviation Praful Patel, who was scheduled to attend, cancelled his visit at the last minute.

Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, who inaugurated the swank new facilities, noted that facilities for 24-hour operations and night landing had not been provided.

He would make efforts to get these facilities.

On a whirlwind tour of the district, Dr. Reddy went on a spree of laying foundation stones.

These included stones for the Rs.7,214-crore Babu Jagjeevan Ram Uttarandhra Sujala Sravanthi project at Sabbavaram, to irrigate eight lakh acres in the region, the AP University of Law, a new project to upgrade the road between Anakapalle and Anandapauram via Sabbavaram into four lanes at a cost of Rs. 347 crore, and for Apollo Hospitals in the Health City. He also distributed cheques to self-help group women.

Reacting to the Opposition’s criticism that the spree of foundation stones was aimed at the general elections, he stated at a meeting in Sabbavaram that development was a continuous process and the Congress government wanted to create permanent assets through major irrigation projects
(Source The Hindu)