• CNN special investigations unit documentary: Afghanistan - Lifting The Veil


    Submitted by ITV Production on Sep 10, 2007

    MUMBAI: Six years after CNN broadcast the groundbreaking and award-winning documentary ‘Beneath the Veil,‘ the international network returns to Afghanistan and discovers that women still face dangerous and harsh living conditions even after the U.S. and coalition forces invaded the country following the September 11th attacks.

    In Afghanistan ? Lifting the veil celebrated journalist and filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy criss-crosses the impoverished country, meets with ordinary Afghans and witnesses firsthand the struggles women face in a nation trying to rebuild amid continued war, corruption and chaos. Obaid-Chinoy learns that stalled foreign aid, repressive clerics and a dysfunctional government stymie progress.

    Despite Afghanistan‘s new democracy, little appears to have changed for the better, particularly for women. Six years after the Taliban was overthrown, many women are still forced by their husbands and families to wear burqas. Only two out of five Afghan girls attend school and since most women lack the skills and training to work, begging is often the only option even for a bleak life.

    With such limited options, many women have chosen a devastating route of escape from their brutal oppression: self-immolation. Obaid-Chinoy speaks with suicide survivors in hospitals to try to understand what drives them to such desperate actions as setting themselves on fire.

    In a country of nearly 32 million, more than one million are widows ? a consequence of 20 years of wars and conflict. Without husbands, the widows are essentially condemned to a life of abject poverty. Even married women do not appear to fare much better. In a culture in which most marriages are arranged and young girls are often sold into marriage by their early teen years, women are frequently doomed to lives of abuse by their husbands and in-laws.

    But Obaid-Chinoy does find some faint signs of hope as well. In the northern town of Taloqan, she finds a girls‘ school which seems to embody the promise of the "new Afghanistan." A fiercely courageous teacher, who once risked her life to teach girls in secret, now teaches in a modest facility that educates 4,000 girls. Despite this progress, the school has not received the aid it needs to build new classrooms and the girls say they face strong resistance to study at home.

    In 2001, Beneath the Veil introduced viewers to one family devastated by the Taliban. The father had been kidnapped, the mother executed and their young daughters were left alone in a house with Taliban fighters for days. Obaid-Chinoy returns six years later to find out how the father and two daughters have fared since liberation, finding a mixed message of Afghanistan‘s pain and progress.

    In a nearby village, Obaid-Chinoy speaks with a cleric who also speaks hopefully. He tells her that despite the crushing poverty, he is optimistic for the reconstruction of his war-ravaged village ? perhaps a health center might open someday and more food may become available for the people.

    Obaid-Chinoy concludes: "I have found joy and hope in places I least expected it, but I have also learned that progress is slow. Afghanistan‘s problems were not fixed by the invasion?hanging in the balance, are the future of Afghanistan and the lives of its people, people desperate for peace?and for hope."

    Airtimes: Indian Standard Times

    Saturday, September 15 at 1130 & 1930

    Sunday, September 16 at 0030 & 1130

    Monday, September 17 at 0030

  • Amrita TV comes to Bangalore,Chennai for auditions of two New Reality shows

    Submitted by ITV Production on Sep 08, 2007

    MUMBAI: Amrita TV which pioneered trend-setting reality shows in South Indian television like "Super Star","Super Star Junior"," Super Dancer " and "Vanitaratnam" has generated phenomenal audience response in Bangalore and Chennai

    The Amrita TV crew caravan plans to hit Bangalore and Chennai again in mid-September.

    On 15 September, the channel is holding auditions at Bangalore for "Raga Ratnam Junior" a Carnatic music talent hunt in the 10-15 age group .

    On 16 September auditions will be held for " Super Dancer Junior", for the 10-15 age-group aspirants -- which is a sequel to the hugely successful "Super Dancer" which ended in August, with the winner driving home a Suzuki Swift and the runner-up a Suzuki Alto .

    The Bangalore auditions for both the reality shows will be held at Hotel Grand Ashok

    From Bangalore, the Amrita crew will proceed to Chennai for auditions of "Raga Ratnam Junior" on 19 September.

    It is the positive feedback that prompted Amrita TV to conduct auditions of "Super Star Global " in Bangalore in June - the only music talent hunt in Indian television which promises a Mercedes for the winner .

    It was soon followed by auditions in Bangalore in July for "Best Actor", a reality show targetting potential acting aspirants in the 18-35 age group,wherein the first prize winner earns a trip to Hollywood .

    Both "Super Star Global" and "Best Actor" are now being aired Monday through Friday, on prime time on Amrita TV

    Amrita TV,launched in 2005, as a 24-hour Malayalam, general entertainment & news satellite channel with a global footprint, has been honoured with 26 State Awards for Excellence in Television--the only channel in India to be bestowed with such a recognition in just two years since inception.

  • Radio City supports Ahmedabad Traffic Police

    Submitted by ITV Production on Sep 07, 2007

    MUMBAI: Come rain, come storm - the Ahmedabad Traffic Police has always been vigilant in its duty to regulate the busy Ahmedabad traffic and to ensure the Amdavadis‘ reach their destination - hassle free! In a continued endeavor to contribute to society, Radio City 91.1FM, India‘s Leading Radio Network is extending support to the Ahmedabad Traffic Police in a unique initiative. Helping the traffic police overcome a shortage of staff in managing the challenging traffic situation of the growing city of Ahmedabad, Radio City is urging the Cityzens of Ahmedabad to come forward as traffic volunteers to help the Traffic Police create traffic awareness in the city. Also in recognition of their unwavering dedication and efforts, the FM station gifted 500 protective raincoats to the Ahmedabad Traffic Police at the Traffic Park, Laldarwaza today.

    Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Manoj Aggarwal, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Ahmedabad said, "We would like to thank the people of Ahmedabad and Radio City in particular to recognize and value our efforts. We are very happy that Radio City has come forward to associate with us to our endeavor to make Ahmedabad a better city! Thanks to Radio City, Ahmedabadi‘s who are proud of their city and want to do something for the betterment of it, now have the opportunity to volunteer for this activity."

    Mr. Rana Barua, National Head - Marketing, Radio City 91.1FM said, "As pioneers to private FM in India, Radio City is not only an innovative infotainer but also an organization sensitized to the needs to the society we live in. The provision of raincoats for the traffic personnel is Radio City‘s effort to make life a little easy for these traffic guardians who are trying so hard to manage the bustling traffic of Ahmedabad."

    Mr. Barua added, "We would want to sustain the great work done by the Ahmedabad Traffic Police. To help them serve Ahmedabad better, we invite our listeners to join in with a helping hand by assisting the Traffic Police in improving the city."

    Recognized as a radio station that has always stepped forward to contribute and appreciate the efforts put in for the betterment of the society, Radio City contributed 500 raincoats to the Traffic Police in Ahmedabad.

  • Watch the Janmashtami celebrations on Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi


    Submitted by ITV Production on Sep 07, 2007

    MUMBAI: Shantiniketan will once again get smeared in colors of festivities as the Virani‘s celebrate Janmashtami on - Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Tues, Sept 11th, 10.30 pm , only on Star Plus!

    The entire Virani parivaar comes together to make this occasion into a grand celebration, it will be a special evening for one & all in the family. The main theme of the evening will be to express love & devotion for Lord Krishna & to celebrate his birth. This will be the perfect ground when the entire Virani family will again come together keeping their past behind! A sjolentacred occasion, the spirit of festivity & joyous will blend together a spurt of positive vibes in the family? leaving every one elated !

    To make the occasion even more special, the senior most member of the Virani family- ‘Ba‘ , has also invited some other family members of the STAR Parivaar including Saksham & Aarti (Kasauti Zindagi Kay), Daksha (Kyunki), Karan & Sudha (Meri Awaaz Ko Mil Gayi Roshni), Kasturi and many others. All the guests will express their devotion by their performances. The love birds Karan & Sudha will showcase the love of Lord Krishna & Radha by dancing to the tune of ‘Maduban Me Jo Kanhaiya‘ . Likewise Saksham, Aarti & Daksha will enhance the festive mood by performing on the song ‘Dholi Taro Dhol Baje‘. Ba has also invited some special guests who will be dancing & singing to the tunes of Lord Krishna.

    The young & talented duo of singer -Abhijeet Sawant & Antara will set the perfect mood for the evening with the song ‘Wo Kisna Hai‘ and the Sudha Chandran will once again remind people of the Naache Mayuri days with her astounding performance, leaving everyone in high spirits! But that‘s not all?.the entire celebration will culminate into a grand Aarti which will be sung by the contestants of Amul Star Voice of India joined by the entire Virani Parivaar.

    Celebration, devotion, fun & togetherness .. Watch this colourpul episode of Janmashtami on Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, as the episode marks the return of the its two most favorite Virani bahus - Ganga & Nandini, on ?

    Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi , Tues, Sept 11th, 10.30 p.m. only on Star Plus!!

  • Star Majha to interview Sachin Tendulkar in London

    Submitted by ITV Production on Sep 07, 2007

    MUMBAI: In an exclusive interview to the path breaking Marathi News Channel - Star Majha, Sachin Tendulkar spoke at length with reporter Udita Dutta from London.The Master Blaster gave this exclusive interview in Marathi for Star Majha, speaking on his interview to the Times, the Team?s current shape and preparedness and the overall patriotism in him and the Indian Team. Sachin Tendulkar felt that unnecessary controversies have been created out of his comment that one day cricket was taking a toll on his body. ?Obviously more one-dayers are played. I heard about the controversy on it in India, but I don?t see any controversy as I say I am no longer 23 which is a fact. I am 34. And if someone sees a controversy in it, I really can?t help it. I don?t want to entertain such controversies?, he said while answering the question relating to his interview to The Times.

  • Sahara Shri Subroto Roy in a candid chat on Radio One FM 94.3

    Submitted by ITV Production on Sep 07, 2007

    MUMBAI:The Sahara Shri, in an exclusive interview with Sanjay Srivastava, the India Editor of BBC Hindi, shared the passion he has for his work and actually putting into practice the learnings he got from his father about standing by friends in their bad times..

    The Sahara Shri has been hailed and accepted as a visionary by one and all but he says his secret lies in living for the present. "I want to say again that I wasn‘t one to dream. I always lived in the present. If you ask me about today then I can tell you everything about what we are doing, but if you ask me what are plans are for ten years down the line, I won‘t be able to tell you anything," is his candid confession.

    The interview that traces his life and times right from his starting days, his phenomenal growth, his brush with glamour, entertainment, showbiz; his respect and admiration for Mother Teresa, his closeness to the Bachchan family, the Ambanis and his soft corner for Waheeda Rehman, the actress of yesteryears, promises to be entertaining and informative as he opens his heart out to the listeners, giving them a chance to know the real Sahara Shri.

    Tune in to Radio One FM 94.3 to know more about the persona of Subroto Roy at 12 noon on Sunday, 9th September 2007.

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