Journalist throws his shoe at Bush!

A television correspondent, Muntadar al-zaidi, threw a shoe at the US president George Bush in a press conference at Baghad. The press conference was being addressed by Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
In the press conference, suddenly the assailant leaped up from his chair, took his shoe out and threw it on Bush who was 20 feet way from him. Bush, however dodged the attack. In Arabic the journalist called after, "This is a farewell kiss, you dog. This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq."
Muntadar al-zaidi, is a TV correspondent working for the Iraqi owned station, Al-Baghadadia which is situated in Cairo, Egypt. As soon as the incident occurred he was taken in custody by the security officials and is now under arrest.
President Bush however took the whole incident as a joke. He added ‘It’s a publicity stunt, just to gain attention. It’s just like when you go to a rally and you see people showing their middle fingers to get ‘noticed’. I didn’t even know the guy’.
Al-Baghadadia’s manager however had no clue as to why did Muntadar take an action which will are bound to have bad repercussions on his career and life. He hasn’t been able to reach Muntadar himself and talk to him. However, the station issued a request on the channel, addressed to the Iraqi government to spare Muntadar’s life, asking for the journalists world over to stand by them.
I know that such an extreme action on the part of a journalist has to be condemned, and the journalist punished but irrespective of what the world thinks, I feel that for a person like Bush, the cause of the deaths of millions of innocent people, I’d say that he just missed by what he deserved.

Slumdog Millionaire: Bollywood, Critics' Choice For The Oscars?

Indian movies might not have had a lot of luck in the prestigious Annual Academy Award’s- The Oscars, but the Indian connection to it cannot be denied.
‘Slumdog Millionaire’, a movie by the critically acclaimed British director, Danny Boyle, is being considered as the hot favorite for bagging the well famed Oscars in the Best Movie category. Slumdog Millionaire is a movie based on the novel ‘Q and A’ by the Indian Diplomat, Vikas Swarup. Based on the game show ‘Kaun Banega Karorpati’, it revolves around the life of an Indian boy and his journey through the ups and downs of life. Loss, gain, love, hatred and survival through all of it in the most vicious of circumstances that life had to offer him-which ultimately takes him to the hot seat for the 1 crore question.
The movie stars Bollywood superstar Anil Kapoor taking on the role of Mr. Amitabh Bachhan as the show host, along with another huge Bollywood star, Irfaan Khan. The film also stars Dev Patel, Madhur Mittal and Frida Pinto, who are now paving their way to stardom because of the huge success of the movie all around the world.
The movie is shot in the streets of India- cities like Mumbai and Agra, shooting right outside the Taj Mahal. One third of the movie is in Hindi, adding to the quintessential Indian feel that is espoused in the viewers. World renowned Indian music composer, A.R. Rahman has given the movie its connection to the famous Bollywood music, by using the megahit song ‘Choli Ke Peechey Kya Hai’ from ‘Khalnaayak’. There’s another famous song, ‘Aaj Ki Raat’ from the movie ‘Don’.
But the thing that makes Slumdog Millionaire as the top runner for the Oscars is the coveted best film of the year 2008 award by the National Board for the Review of Motion Picture (NBRMP). The prestigious awards have been considered as the ‘pre-Oscars’ or the first major awards of the Oscar Season.
The Board President, Annie Schulhof said, "Slumdog Millionaire, with brilliant direction by Danny Boyle and incredible performances, shares a passionate story about one man's courage and determination for the woman he loves."
The NBRMP awards are a major achievement adding to the phenomenal awards studded kitty of the film which includes- Best Film, Best Director (Danny Boyle) and The Best Newcomer (Dev Patel) for the lead actor at the British Independent Film Awards; 2008 Toronto Film Festival People’s Choice Award, The Austin Film Festival's Audience Award and The Chicago Film Festival's "Audience Choice Award".
Critics all over the world have already hailed Slumdog Millionaire as ‘larger than life’, ‘a stunner’, ‘unforgettable’, ‘Bollywood-style’, a ‘phenomenon’, a ‘cinematic stunt’ which has presented the ‘real India’ to moviegoers.
Peter Travers, of the eminent magazine, Rolling Stones said, ‘It's modern India standing in for a world in full economic spin. It's an explosion of color and light with the darkness ever ready to invade. It's a family film of shocking brutality, a romance haunted by sexual abuse, a fantasy of wealth fueled by crushing poverty." He admitted that what he felt for the movie wasn’t just admiration, but ‘mad love’.
Well, with that said, it’s time to wait and watch who wins the battle at the Oscars: Bollywood or Hollywood?