God's Acre
Kerala is the undisputed tourism hot spot of India, the must-see destination for heads of states, the wealthy, the tired. This is the story about the colour and hardsell that have made this state of stunning backwaters, impossible greenery and great beaches what it is.

No Chance for Peace
With the jehadis stepping up their terrorist attacks and the Hurriyat issue embroiled in confusion, hopes of a breakthrough in Kashmir are receding.

Fear Factories
As two senior executives are killed by workers, the persisting violence in mills is forcing the state's antiquated jute industry to move to the peaceful environs of Andhra Pradesh.

Should Will Prevail?
TRAI's recommendation has opened a can of worms.

Fifth Column
by Tavleen Singh
Bypass Democracy

Kautilya
by Jairam Ramesh
Mao to Murthy

Right Angle
by Swapan Dasgupta
Bush Is Good News For Us

Flip Side
by Dilip Bobb
The Wishlist Year

News Priority

People's President

More...

ENTERTAINMENT: CINEMA

Shehnai Season

After Chimpoo Kapoor, action-man Akshay Kumar and heartthrob Hrithik Roshan, it's the turn of film director Aditya Chopra, creator of seminal screen romances like Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jeyenge and Mohabbatein. Adi, who is even more camera-shy than successful (he's done only one interview in five years), is tying the knot on February 4 with interior designer Payal Khanna. Needless to say, the press won't be invited.

Going Global

After going mainstream with Thakshak, director Govind Nihalani is going global. His latest, Deham (Sanskrit for human body), is in English and is based on Harvest, an award-winning play by Manjula Padmanabhan. Along with Joy Sengupta and Kitu Gidwani, it stars Los Angeles-based actress Julie Ames. The soundtrack is by Roy Venkatraman, a guitarist who has accompanied the legendary Bob Marley and the Wailers. Says Nihalani: "It is perhaps the first futuristic film that has no gizmos and robocops." It is about serious issues. Given his calibre, we expect nothing less.

4 Reasons Why Director Raj Kanwar Needs A Long Holiday

FARZ
Released in: January 2001
A loud predictable vendetta film
Status: losing

DHAI AKSHAR PREM KE
Released in: September 2000
Boring long-winded love story
Status: flop

HAR DIL JO PYAAR KAREGA
Released in: August 2000
Syrupy remake of Hollywood hit
Status: average to losing

BADAL
Released in: February 2000
A mediocre terrorist saga
Status: above average

Box Office

FARZ
Weeks in release: 1
Collections: Rs 45,22,770
After Champion, another Sunny Deol action film fails to find the audiences.
Verdict: Losing

RAJU CHACHA
Weeks in release: 3
Collections: Rs 27,84,731
The kiddies flick falls further.
Verdict: Flop

KHILADI 420
Weeks in release: 3
Collections: Rs 3,96,532
Khiladi Akshay Kumar clearly needs another act.
Verdict: Flop

Mumbai collections only
Source: Trade magazines

Top

American Sigh
Those who found Anurag Mathur's 1991 bestseller
The Inscrutable Americans ribtickling, its eponymous film adaptation should come as no revelation.

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Looking Glass

Kolkata: Recreation Centre

Mumbai: Sports Centre

Bangalore: Restaurant

The Kumbh mela is certain to lead to yet another explosion
of religiosity but is this good for India, asks India Today
Deputy Editor
Swapan Dasgupta in
Day Dreams.

This is just the beginning, V.K. Aatre, who is at the core of the LCA action, tells India Today Principal Correspondent Stephen David in an exclusive
Interview.

As the much-dodged liquor policy comes before the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet for clearance, there are fears that the liquor mafia may continue to have its way. India Today Special Correspondent
Subhash Mishra
reports in
Despatches.