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CHICAGO - President Barack Obama's love of golf hit a milestone today as he marked his 100th time on the links. His Father's Day achievement was reached at the Beverly Country Club in his hometown, the windy city.

 Mark Knoller, CBS radio correspondent and chronicler of all things presidential, pointed out the quiet occasion to the traveling press.

 Like 15 of the 18 presidents since Theodore Roosevelt, Obama has used golf as a way to unwind outdoors, but away from the prying eyes of press and onlookers. And despite the fact that he had never golfed before taking office, his love of the game is well known.

 On warm-weather weekends he frequently visits two courses in the Washington area, Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland and Fort Belvoir in Virginia. Typically close friends or junior aides join him as partners, as was the case today when he brought Marty Nesbitt, a chum and neighbor from this city.

 Matching predecessors, he is also known to bring business to the green on occasion. Among others, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, former President Bill Clinton, and House Speaker John Boehner have all teed off with Obama at some point.

 But which White House occupant was the most devout golfer? George W. Bush was a fan but only hit the links 24 times in his eight years. Golf Digest considers Clinton about par with Obama, the Democrat known to even practice his putting aboard Air Force One. But they don't even come close to the true Golfer in Chief.

 That title falls to Woodrow Wilson, who reportedly played about 1,200 rounds during his presidency. Dwight Eisenhower is the runner-up at 800, according to his memorial commission.

 Obama was in Chicago this weekend to attend the wedding Saturday of longtime friend and adviser Valerie Jarrett's daughter. As of press time it is unknown if his family has further Father's Day plans, but first lady Michelle Obama is scheduled to deliver a commencement address at Oregon State University this afternoon.

 Tonight the president embarks directly for Los Cabos, Mexico, from this city for a G20 summit.

 Republicans have attempted to target the president's hobby as a sign of taking too much time off in an era of economic trouble for the country. In April, Mitt Romney, who does not play the game, told a conservative radio host it displayed a poor work ethic.

 "I scratch my head at the capacity of the president to take four hours off on such a regular basis to go golfing," he said. "I would think you could kind of suck it up for four years, particularly when the American people are out of work."

DENVER  — Authorities ordered more evacuations as fire crews struggled against powerful winds fueling a wildfire that has charred more than 87 square miles of forested mountains in northern Colorado.

The firefighting force has steadily increased and by Sunday night officials said about 1,750 personnel were working on the fire, which was sparked by lightning and was 45 percent contained.

The High Park Fire burning 15 miles west of Fort Collins has destroyed at least 181 homes. The figure represents the most in state history, surpassing the Fourmile Canyon wildfire that destroyed 169 homes near Boulder two years ago.

Julie Berney with the Larimer County Sheriff's Office said firefighters dealt with winds of 30 mph with gusts of up to 50 mph Sunday. Some rain moved through Saturday evening, but it wasn't enough to quell the fire.

"The problem is that when you have a fire like this, even if it rains it evaporates before it hits the ground," Berney said.

Despite the winds, fire officials said crews Sunday were able to maintain most existing fire lines, with the fire chewing through about 1,000 more acres.

Incident commander Bill Hahnenberg said he was pleased with the firefighters' progress.

"A scenario could be we'll lose some line, and then we just go after it the next day and the next day," he said.

On Sunday afternoon, high winds prompted fire managers to ground all helicopters working on the blaze and to send 96 notices to residents, ordering the immediate evacuation of the Hewlett Gulch Subdivision in the Poudre Canyon area north of the fire. It was unclear how many homes were affected.

Sunday night, Larimer County officials said evacuations orders were also issued for Soldier Canyon and Mill Canyon areas. The officials said 331 notifications were sent.

A high wind warning was in effect all day, and crews are expecting more of the same Monday: winds of 30-50 mph, low humidity and high temperatures.

As firefighters try to get the upper hand on the blaze, which has burned large swaths of private and U.S. Forest Service land, local authorities have dispatched roving patrols to combat looting.

On Sunday, deputies arrested 30-year-old Michael Stillman Maher, of Denver, on charges including theft and impersonating a firefighter. The sheriff's department said Maher was driving through the fire zone with phony firefighter credentials and a stolen government license plate.

His truck was later seen near a bar in Laporte, and investigators say they found a firearm and stolen property in the vehicle.

"There's a handful out there that are taking advantage of others," said Sheriff Justin Smith, adding that "if somebody's sneaking around back there, we're going to find them."

Also Sunday, a fire erupted in the foothills west of Colorado Springs, prompting the evacuation of some cabins and a recreation area near the Elevenmile Canyon Reservoir. U.S. Forest Service spokesman Ralph Bellah told The Gazette (http://bit.ly/MiQvne ) that the fire was reported at about 12:30 p.m. and quickly grew to up to 100 acres.

Meanwhile, a fire near Pagosa Springs in the southwestern part of the state has grown to 11,617 acres and is 30 percent contained. Hot, dry conditions Sunday are expected to fuel the fire, which was sparked by lightning May 13.

Across the West:

— California: Authorities are evacuating homes in eastern San Diego County as firefighters battle a 100-acre wildfire that has destroyed one structure. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection says the fire began Sunday afternoon in a rural area northeast of Campo and near the Golden Acorn Casino.

—New Mexico: A wildfire in southern New Mexico has destroyed 242 homes and businesses, and firefighters are working to increase containment and keep an eye out for possible lightning.

The 59-square-mile Little Bear Fire in Ruidoso is 60 percent contained. Dan Bastion, a spokesman for crews fighting the fire, says most of the fire is in the mop-up stage, but crews need to build more containment on the fire's active west side to deprive it of fuel.

— Arizona: Firefighters are focusing on protecting electrical transmission lines near a 3,100-acre blaze on the Tonto National Forest in northern Arizona. Officials say hot weather and steep slopes remain a concern, and firefighters are on the alert for thunderstorms and possible lightning strikes. The fire is 15 percent contained.

TROY, Ohio—House Speaker John Boehner made his first public appearance with Mitt Romney this campaign, touting the Republican nominee as someone who has the ability to put "the economy back together again."

Speaking to several hundred supporters at a rally along a cordoned-off downtown street in this Western Ohio town, Boehner cast Romney as someone who would be an ally to a Republican-led Congress. He called President Obama a "roadblock" to GOP-led efforts to revive the economy.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the president's policies have failed," Boehner said, as Romney stood over his left shoulder. "They are actually making the economy worse, and it's time we put someone in the White House who understands how to put the American people back… to work again."

But Boehner's remarks were somewhat drowned out by a group of about 20 protesters, like another group who aimed to disrupt a Romney event in Newark earlier Sunday, chanted as the GOP leader spoke.

"GO HOME ROMNEY! GO HOME ROMNEY!" the group yelled again and again.

The group relented only when Ann Romney, who earlier in the day had addressed protesters aiming to disrupt her husband's event, took the microphone. When Romney took the microphone back and began to deliver his stump speech, the group began chanting again.

"WE ARE THE 99 PERCENT. WE ARE THE 99 PERCENT," they yelled.

Afterwards, Romney and Boehner grabbed dinner at K's Hamburgers, a classic hamburger joint in downtown.

The event was Romney's last stop on his day-long bus tour of Ohio. He now heads to Wisconsin, for a Monday event with Rep. Paul Ryan, chairman of the House Budget Committee and a potential vice presidential pick. Later in the day, he's scheduled to campaign in Eastern Iowa.

Jakarta, June 17  India's Saina Nehwal won her third title in Indonesia, beating Xuerui Li of China 13-21, 22-20, 21-19 in the Super Series Premier event here Sunday.

Saina got the better of her gritty opponent for her second title in as many weeks. She had won the Thailand Open Grand Prix Gold in Bangkok last Sunday.

Las Cabos (Mexcio), June 18  'Aap ka swagat hai' (You are welcome), read a giant billboard en route Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's convoy from the San Jose del Cabo International Airport to his resort hotel as he arrived here half way around the world from India for the G20 Summit Sunday evening.

In fact, Manmohan Singh is among the first leaders his host and Mexican President Felipe Calderon had scheduled for a bilateral engagement on the margins of the summit. The two sides had elevated their ties to what is officially called priviledged partnership when Calderon visited New Delhi in 2007.

At 79, Manmohan Singh is also the oldest leader in the G20 grouping, which was primarily formed at the level of finance ministers and central bank governors to find ways out of the economic crisis that had gripped the world in 1999. It was raised to summit level in 2008, with the first one hosted in Washington. The Mexico G20 is the seventh in the series.

Los Cabos is a World Heritage site

Los Cabos, which is hosting the G20 Summit, is a resort town in the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California Peninsula, surrounded on three sides by the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of California.

A famous landmark here is El Arco, a natural arch of rock formed by erosion that juts out of the waters. It was recently declared a World Heritage site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco).

One of the best pastimes is whale-watching as these giant marine mammals come near the shore during winters to savour the warm waters.

India-Mexico trade shows significant jump

Trade between India and Mexico has been on the rise. From $2.95 billion in 2008, it jumped to $4.15 billion in 2011, as per official estimates with the Indian side. Some 25,000 Indian tourists also visited this country last year.

Even though the Indian diaspora in this country is no more than around 2,000 people, Mexicans have shown a lot of interest in India, thanks to the Gurudev Tagore Indian Cultural Centre in Mexico City.

This apart, there is an Indian Women's Association in the capital, an India-Mexico Business Chamber, a gurudwara, an Iskcon temple and even two Indian restaurants .

MUMBAI  - The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) defied widespread calls on Monday to revive the flagging economy with cuts in interest rates and cash reserve minimums at banks, putting the onus on a fractious coalition government to pull the country out of crisis.

The RBI left its policy repo rate at 8 percent and the cash reserve ratio at 4.75 percent, saying a rate cut now could "exacerbate" the country's inflation, the highest among industrialised or BRIC nations.

Bonds, stocks and the rupee fell after the decision and economists scaled back their expectations for future rate cuts. Calls for action from the central bank, including from corporate India, had intensified after economic growth in the March quarter slumped to its weakest annual pace in nine years.

"India is in this deep crisis due to the lack of proper governance," said A. Mahendran, managing director at Godrej Consumer Products Ltd (GOCP.NS). "What happened today is extremely disappointing. We needed the central bank to act because of the current condition of the economy."

After cutting its policy rate by a sharper-than-expected 50 basis points in April, the RBI had been expected to leave rates unchanged in June.

But global and domestic economic conditions had deteriorated sharply since then. Many had expected the central bank to act because a politically hamstrung government is unable to drive reform to revive investment or curtail populist spending, fa ct ors that led Fitch Ratings on Monday to cut India's credit rating outlook to negative.

India's benchmark 10-year bond yield rose 9 b asis points from before the policy announcement to close at 8.43 percent.

The main BSE index erased gains before the decision to end 1.44 percent lower, missing out on a rally in Asian stocks after the election in Greece eased fears for a break up of the European currency bloc.

The rupee, which has slumped to a record low against the dollar as India's economic fortunes waned, tumbled to close at about 55.91 per dollar from around 55.35-55.40 before the rate decision.

"It is to the central bank's credit that it managed to stand up to the pressure from the government and businesses, and remains justifiably concerned about inflation," Rajeev Malik, an economist at CLSA in Singapore, said in a client note.

CRUMBLING BRIC

The RBI made clear it expects the government to do its bit to bring down inflation, which rose in May to 7.55 percent on the wholesale price index, the country's main gauge.

Many analysts argue that structural bottlenecks in the economy are the main reasons inflation in India is so high, so monetary policy can have little affect.

The RBI said on Monday that its "frontloaded" April rate cut "was based on the premise that the process of fiscal consolidation critical for inflation management would get under way, along with other supply-side initiatives."

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had called for a rate cut and the chairman of State Bank of India (SBI.NS), the country's biggest lender, had sought a 1 percentage point cut in the cash reserve ratio.

"Unless the government takes steps on fiscal adjustment, the RBI is not prepared to cut rates. Based on this document, there's unlikely to be a rate cut in July," said A. Prasanna, economist at ICICI Securities Primary Dealership in Mumbai.

The government has failed to contain its fiscal deficit by enacting reforms or slashing costly subsidies on diesel.

Opposition from partners in the ruling coalition forced India to backtrack in December on a decision to open the retail sector to foreign supermarkets, which had been aimed at bringing investment into supply chains in a country where an estimated one-third of fresh produce is wasted.

INDIA'S CREDIT RISK

The slump in March quarter growth to 5.3 percent was far worse than expected and sparked calls for action to lift an economy that Standard & Poor's and Fitch Ratings have threatened to cut to junk credit status.

Both rate India BBB minus, the lowest investment grade.

"Against the backdrop of persistent inflation pressures and weak public finances, there is an even greater onus on effective government policies and reforms that would ensure India can navigate the turbulent global economic and financial environment and underpin confidence in the long-run growth potential of the Indian economy," said Art Woo, a director at Fitch.

Chief economic adviser Kaushik Basu said he had expected Fitch's action because there is a "herd mentality" among ratings agencies, while Mukherjee said Fitch "has ignored the recent positive trends in the Indian economy."

April industrial output figures last week suggested little pickup in growth heading into the current quarter.

Rahul Bajoria, regional economist at Barclays in Singapore, said he expects the RBI to cut interest rates by a total of 1 percentage point in the current fiscal year, possibly starting at the central bank's next review on July 31.

"The growth weakness is such that it does call for monetary easing," he said.

A Reuters poll after Monday's RBI decision showed economists had scaled back their rate cut expectations.

Economic policymaking was cast into further uncertainty on Friday when India's ruling Congress party named Mukherjee as its nominee for the largely ceremonial post of president, ending a protracted political drama that had exposed the weakness of the coalition government.

With no obvious successor, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, 78, is expected to take charge of finance on an interim basis.

"We are very disappointed by the lack of action from any quarter. What is happening here is that you are getting the worst of both worlds, neither getting growth or inflation down," Rajiv Kumar, secretary general of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) told Reuters.

BERGEN, Norway - Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has enjoyed pop star treatment wherever she has gone on her first trip to Europe in nearly a quarter of a century, after Myanmar's rulers finally freed her from house arrest.

 She has been showered with flowers, Norway's King Harald almost ran to greet her, and 12,000 people waited patiently in Oslo's icy rain just to say "Thank you Mother Suu".

 "We fought so long for her release and she's finally here," said Brigt Olav Gaasdal, who travelled half a day from his country home on Sunday to join thousands in Norway's second biggest city Bergen to catch a glimpse of Suu Kyi.

 "She could have left Myanmar, she could have given up and I want to celebrate her incredible commitment," said Gaasdal.

 Suu Kyi, 66, the Oxford-educated daughter of Myanmar's assassinated independence hero Aung San, arrived in Norway on Friday to accept her 1991 Nobel Peace Prize and the 1990 human rights prize from the Bergen-based Rafto Foundation.

 "We don't have to see the end of the road far away in one instant, we just have to see the right road to get there," Suu Kyi told thousands near Bergen's historic waterfront.

 "One step is enough for me. If there is enough light to make us take the right steps one by one, then we'll reach our goal in safety and peace."

 One woman cried. An elderly Asian man clutched Myanmar's flag. Children took pictures. Burmese girls, having waited hours, nervously walked up on stage to kiss Suu Kyi. Even the relentless rain, which drenched Bergen all morning, stopped.

 From the moment she landed in Norway, she has received star treatment. Arriving in Oslo on Friday, a screaming, chanting, and dancing crowd, a mix of Norwegians and Burmese, welcomed her at the iconic Grand Hotel.

 VISIBLY MOVED

 A visibly moved Suu Kyi turned back from the hotel door, even as her protocol team tried to usher her through, to accept as many flowers as she could carry from the crowd chanting "Mother Suu".

 Two weeks earlier, the crowd awaiting teenage pop idol Justin Bieber in front of the same hotel was tiny by comparison.

 On Saturday, 12,000 people stood hours through downpours to see her, prompting Suu Kyi to deliver an unscheduled speech.

 "In a world filled with so much violence, her message of non-violence and tolerance is extremely important and deserves that we should all come to see her," said Ingrid Daae, who was just two when Suu Kyi won the Rafto Prize.

 Suu Kyi's trip would have been unimaginable just 19 months ago when she was freed from house arrest days after an election seen as rigged in favour of an army-backed party to entrench the military's grip on power behind a facade of democracy.

 She spent a total of 15 years under house arrest between 1989 and her release in late 2010, never leaving Myanmar even during brief periods of freedom after 1989, afraid the military would not let back in.

 The quasi-civilian government which emerged from a 2010 vote, although approved by a parliament packed with retired and serving military, has surpassed expectations in introducing a series of reforms to try to rid the country of its pariah status after decades of isolation and decay.

 Suu Kyi became a member of parliament this year following her triumph in a parliamentary by-election that reformist president and former junta general Thein Sein had convinced her to take part in after winning her trust.

 The world's major powers honoured the shift in Myanmar, suspending long-standing sanctions to encourage a full move to democracy and to share Suu Kyi's cautious optimism.

 Some rock stars wish they could be more like her. U2 frontman Bono will fly to Oslo to accompany Suu Kyi to Dublin on Monday for the next stop on her 17-day trip.

Kolkata, June 18 : Amid the growing strain between the Congress Party and its largest ally, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), over the choice of Pranab Mukherjee as the UPA's presidential candidate, the latter has said it would quit the ruling alliance only if asked to.

TMC leader Kunal Ghosh told media here that the TMC had no intention of leaving the central coalition on its own.

"If the top leadership of the top party of the UPA thinks that the Trinamool Congress is unwanted, and they should officially request the TMC leadership to be away from the UPA, then it may be considered. Otherwise, on our own, we do not want to get out of the UPA," Ghosh said.

He further said the party still stood by its decision to support former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam for a second stint in Rashtrapati Bhavan.

"Mamata Banerjee and the Trinamool Congress had earlier declared that they will support A.P.J. Abdul Kalam as the presidential candidate, and there is no change of that stand," added Kunal Ghosh.

The TMC's decision to oppose the Congress party's decision to field Mukherjee is being seen as a move to destabilise the government.

However, the nomination of Mukherjee was endorsed by the Congress party' allies in the UPA and other regional parties such as the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).

The presidential elections will be held on July 19. The vote count will take place on July 22.

Pratibha Devisingh Patil's term as President ends on July 24.

Piranha 3D is too lazy to entertain in any way, writes Raja Sen.



When it comes to carnivores and cleavage, more is often better.

Especially in 3D.

Yet while the first Piranha 3D was a riotously enjoyable -- and shamelessly schlocky -- piece of camp lunacy, the sequel with the pushed-up title gag, Piranha 3DD, is too toothless to be any good. Haute Tension director Alexandre Aja, who helmed the first and wonderfully wet film, has abandoned the sinking, one-joke franchise, as have his writers Peter Goldfinger and Josh Stolberg. All we have now are leftovers after the killer fish have already attacked: stray limbs, damp plot ideas and actors embarrassing themselves. In 3D.

This time, the piranhas attack a waterpark. Only, they don't get to it for an interminably long time, as amateurish actors beat around the bush (oftentimes literally) and we're reintroduced to the nippy predators. When they do attack, it's all old-hat, and while the first film had an undeniably engaging energy and a gripping narrative, this one never really makes an impact.

While passing qualitative judgements on a film with such clearly defined assets, it must be said that even the breasts are sub-par. As are the scares. There is one decent half-minute in a bathtub, and David Koechner's decapitated head gets motorboated rather spectacularly, but this film is too lazy to entertain in any way.

It's all such a waste. We're introduced to exploitative underwater cameras but they aren't used to liven up the climax. The 3D promises but never delivers. We see the hot girl from 30 Rock, but she doesn't get naked (which, in a film with merit this limited, is absolute cheating.) and while we had Jaws actor Richard Dreyfuss in the first film, this time all we get is David Hasselhoff. Ugh.

With four hits in a row and a rousing performance in his latest release Shanghai, Emraan Hashmi is on a high.

The actor is not only being courted by several A-list filmmakers to act in their films, according to latest reports, he may be on his way to star opposite Katrina Kaif in a new film.

According to sources, Emraan has been chosen to play the lead in Karan Johar and Ekta Kapoor's first joint production.

"The coming together of Karan's Dharma Productions and Ekta's Balaji Telefilms [ Get Quote ] is monumental and the cast has to reflect the importance of the union. The film, to be directed by newcomer Akhshoy Roy, is an edgy love story and an unconventional actor was required for the lead role.

"Ranbir Kapoor and Imran Khan were the first choices but Emraan was eventually selected," the source says.

While both Kareena Kapoor and Katrina Kaif have been approached to play Emraan's love interest, Katrina's having trouble giving dates away from her busy schedule. Says the source, "Both Karan and Ekta feel that the Emraan-Katrina pair would be magical."

It's only a matter of time before we know who gets to act with Emraan first -- Katrina or Kareena.

Ferrari Ki Sawaari has its great moments but falls short of being a great film, writes Preeti Arora


Ordinary people have simple dreams. And when they do aspire to lofty heights, they will leave no stone unturned to fulfill their fantasies. It's what we desis love. Cheering for our protagonist when he's down on his luck, holding our breath when he struggles to overcome the odds.


Ferrari Ki Sawaari isn't something that was put together in a hurry because the actors were available. This was a tribute to all the young boys who spend countless hours, dreaming of the day when they can wield the bat with the same passion as the master blaster does. A sweet feel good film with its heart in the right place.

But somewhere one fails to connect with the characters. There's Rustom Deboo (Sharman Joshi) the luckless dad who needs to strike a balance between his embittered father and his son's ambitions. It's kind of hard to feign enthusiasm for his Gandhian values, but when you realize he doesn't even own a mobile phone, now that makes it a tad incredible.

And though Sharman has delivered an amazing performance, (this is his first solo outing) his sugary-sweet personality leaves a cloying taste in the mouth. Then there's Kayoze Deboo (Ritwik Sahore) his model son with the potential to outdo Sachin Tendulkar . And their close-to-perfect relationship.

So much love flows around but nothing is really happening on screen. Sit back and admire the father-son duo, the narrative will move ahead at it's own pace.

It's the predictability which pulls the story down. Like one knows even as Kayo's father searches desperately for a new bat, he will reach the cricket field in time to hand it over to his son.

Or when we see him enviously eyeing a new pair of shoes, Kayo's shoes will come undone on the field, causing him to stumble mid-run. Ho-hum.

And then of course the twist in the tale. And much as we love to see Sharman zipping around the city behind the wheels of a Ferrari, it is kind of surprising that a petty government official whose normal mode of transportation is an old two-wheeler can comfortably handle a car of that stature.

Rustom's embittered father (Boman Irani) was an aspiring cricketer who got ousted from the game due to the machinations of his ambitious friend Dilip Dharmadhikari (Paresh Rawal). So the ubiquitous villain makes an entry.

When the grandfather does swallow his pride and approach his old friend-turned-foe for a loan you know he will get turned down. One more effort to get your tear glands flowing. Which is what Sharman does right through the second half. Too much mush.

Of course parodying an entire community to depict a corrupt petty government official and his ill-gotten wealth isn't exactly admirable. But it does provide the perfect opportunity for Vidya Balan's Lavani song.

This is director Rajesh Mapuskar's first outing as a director and he should be given full credit for a screenplay which steers clear of subplots, sexist jokes or the general paraphernalia foisted on hoping to make the film a hit. The story zigzags between real, fantasy and make-believe and bizarre co-incidences which is a formidable task for any director leave alone a first timer.

Technically the film can't be faulted and the excellent cinematography works in its favor. The supporting cast, most especially Seema Bhargava as the irritating ingratiating wedding planner Baboo didi provided some much needed laughter.

The dialogues by RajKumar Hirani entertain us with a handful of LOL-worthy moments.

And that is the best that can be said about Ferrari Ki Sawaari. One or two brilliant moments, a handful of good moments but they don't come together to give us a great film.

Rock Of Ages is  like digging into a scrumptious chocolate croissant. Take out the sinful goodness of the rich Tom Cruise filling and you're left with only bland crumbs of bread, writes Sukanya Verma



Bring out those Tom cruise posters, the man's ready to be plastered on those lifeless walls and inanimate wardrobe doors once again. Coz it's Stacee-time!

From Maverick to Stacee Jaxx, the gummy grinner hasn't lost an ounce of his allure but his definition of bad ass heroics and big screen adventure has positively undergone a wicked upgrade. What remains consistent is his talent for astonishing his viewers when he chooses to play it twisted. Be it as luxury-loving vampire (Interview with the Vampire), gyaan-lending sex guru (Magnolia) or a potty-mouthed film producer (Tropic Thunder).

As the 80s-themed sensation championing the cause of rock and roll in skin-smothering leather, tattoo embellished torso and semi-emo makeup, Cruise is every bit a gorgeous, glamorous, overblown megalomaniacal debauch with a heady entourage of naked groupies, burly bodyguards and a temperamental baboon called Hey Man. But for all his over-the-top, oversexed pomposity that makes light of an era of 'sweat, ear-shattering music and puke' and its patent icons, Cruise plays an Axl Rose-reminiscent Stacee Jaxx with never-before-seen sleek eroticism.

And boy, can he carry a tune? His spontaneous sing-along session to a car radio blasting Tom Petty's Free Fallin' hardly confirms his capabilities as a possible frontman for epic bands like Def Leppard, Bon Jovi and Guns 'n' Roses. But his covers (and on-stage gig) of their popular songs like Pour Some Sugar On Me, Wanted Dead or Alive and Paradise City  simply blow your mind. From rock climber to rock singer, is there anything this man cannot do?

Pity how the musical itself doesn't resonate any of the quirky, stupendous qualities of its most famous cast member or other meritorious supporting acts by Alec Baldwin , Russel Brand, Paul Giamatti, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Mary J. Blige and Malin Akerman.

 With a music video of a plot, director Adam Shankman's (of Hairspray fame) star-studded musical packs in every conceivable cliché to go.  Boy dreamer-meets-girl dreamer in the dream-populated metropolis of Los Angeles, dreaming up a rock idol status. They try to achieve this doing menial jobs at a broke nightclub on the famed Sunset Strip until they are rudely interrupted by a lame misunderstanding.

It's only when Rock of Ages sidelines the lovebirds, Sherrie and Drew (Julianne Hough, Deigo Boneta are earnest enough but lack the poise to hold up against its starry supporting cast) and their two-hour long banal romance to concentrate on its more exciting sub-plots that it begins to modify 'rock' from a genre to a verb.

Even if only fleetingly, Shankman pitches in interesting secondary plots relating to morality-driven protests  triggered by the 'satanic display' of rock culture as well as the awkward transition of musical trends -- rock to pop.

Considering Rock of Ages is an adaptation of Chris D'Arienzo's Broadway musical of the same name, the narrative plays out as a foreplay for initiating rock anthems like I Love Rock 'n' Roll, More than Words and I Wanna Rock while the choreography, production design and costumes work like flashcards to unleash the wild and wacky face of the1980s -- leather, rhinestone, distressed fabrics, sequined boots, voluminous hair, studded denims, large buckled belts, fringed jackets, cowboy hats, star-spangled bandanas and, of course, that old-school raunchiness.

Ultimately, Rock of Ages is like digging into a scrumptious chocolate croissant. Take out the sinful goodness of the rich Tom Cruise filling and you're left with only bland crumbs of bread.

Kshay has picked up quite a few awards at international film festivals. Yet, it saw a very limited release in India last week. Aseem Chhabra appeals to every filmgoer, who cares for good cinema, to watch this beautiful movie and support its kind.



Karan Gour is an audacious filmmaker.

At a time when Hindi cinema is defined by humongous hits like Rowdy Rathore and last week's new release -- the good intentioned, but manipulative Ferrari Ki Sawaari, and the conversation about independent cinema has been taken over by young masters like Dibakar Banerjee and Anurag Kashyap, Gour has the audacity to make a black and white film called Kshay, with unknown faces, centered around a woman's obsession.

To top that, Gour not only wrote the gripping film -- shining in its true independent spirit -- he also edited it, scored it with Siddhartha Bhatia and co-produced it with Shaan Vyas.


That Kshay got made is remarkable. That it got released in India is even more remarkable. But it is a very telling statement about the current state of filmmaking and distribution that Kshay was released on Friday on only four screens in all of India -- two in Mumbai , one in Delhi and one in Gurgaon.


There is something very wrong with this situation. I know for certain that in a country of 1.2 billion, there are enough educated and discerning people -- in large cities and elsewhere, who are interested in good engaging storytelling, whether it is a strong novel, a play, a television serial or a psychological thriller like Kshay.  It is very unfortunate that even with an audience, films like Kshay have such a small, limited release.


India's new cinema is making the rounds of major film festivals. Kshay played in four festivals including last year's Dubai International Film Festival. It won awards and critical praise by western critics.

But back home in India, hardly any distributor or exhibitor wants to take the risk to break from the traditional methods of releasing films and supporting very small productions like Kshay. I do commend those who put their faith in this film. There is a special place reserved for them in heaven!




Kshay's plot is simple, yet highly original. The film focuses on Chhaya (a winning performance by Rasika Dugal), a bored housewife, coping with the sadness of a miscarriage and essentially taking care of her stressed out, but caring husband Arvind (Alekh Sangal). Then one day Chhaya quite by chance walks into a small shop selling statues of Hindu deities. She is drawn to the large incomplete statue of Goddess Laksmi.


The statue becomes an obsession, even as she knows her husband will not be able to afford it. This coupled with a small piece of news from her neighbour Shruti (Nikita Anand) convinces her that the Lakshmi statue will ensure that she will be able to conceive another child.


Much of Kshay explores Chhaya's psychological decline, but the film is so engaging that it is hard to take one's eyes off the screen. There is a gun, blood, violence, disturbing imagery, a tragedy, but Kshay manages to stay above the standard thrillers.

Gour's script translated into a 92 minute film, takes many surprise twists and it is always one step ahead of the audience.


Dugal is a terrific, natural actress. Her face glows in the first half of the film and so her descent and near mental breakdown is frightening to watch. Sangal is very likeable as a young husband, who is pushed to the extreme by his love for his wife and her relentless pursuit to acquire the Lakshmi statue.


Kshay is beautifully shot by Abhinay Khoparzi. The black and white tones give Kshay a particular quality that enables the plot to unfold in a hypnotic mood. All of it is aided by Gour's and Bhatia's haunting score -- powerful western sounds that never become overbearing and are used very maturely to narrate an Indian story.


Kshay's independent quality -- especially its mood and texture -- reminded me of Darren Aronofsky's first feature Pi. That film became a cult classic and Aronofsky went on to become an Oscar nominated director.


I do not know where Gour's career will go. But I can definitely say that Kshay is a very satisfying film and it needs the support of every filmgoer who cares for good cinema.