Barbara Mori Wallpaper

Neil, Mugdha to act in Madhur’s comic flick

Madhur Bhandarkar is known for his dramatic cinema with a realistic touch and a social message in each of his film. The films like Chandni Bar, Page 3, Corporate, Traffic Signal and Fashion have proved this once and again.

But, this time Madhur is ready to surprise the viewers as he is trying hands at comedy. The film will be titled Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Ji and will be releasing sometime in 2011. Madhur had signed Neil and Mugdha as the lead pair for the film. But as suggestions are coming that he should make it a big budget film, he has also signed Emraan Hashmi and Ajay Devgan.

Everyone was amazed when Madhur announced a comedy against set thought of people that he would start a film about a fading frustrated actress with Kareena Kapoor.
It seems that Madhur wants to take a break from serious cinema and will make something light hearted this time. Madhur wanted to make a comedy since a very long time but was waiting for the right story and subject.

Ajay is known for his perfect comic timing and Madhur is very excited to cast him in his comedy flick. Ajay wanted to work with Madhur for quite some time and seems that the time has come. The duo will come together for the first time and the film’s shoot will start sometime in July. We are sure that the audience is already waiting to watch the deadly combination creating ample amount of laughter in the theatres.

Gracy Singh all set for a comeback?

Remember Gracy Singh? Yes, the same girl who made her super debut with super star Aamir Khan in Lagaan and then followed it up with Gangaajal, with Munnabhai as the cherry on top. She instantly became a star, with infinite fan following, who maybe took it for granted that she was going to always be a part of blockbusters and entertaining the audience with her commendable acting.

So where did this pretty and talented actress disappear from Bollywood? Or rather why did she disappear? Rumor has it that, Gracy had become a victim of her own arrogance! Thanks to her stuck-up up outlook and difficult ways, none of the directors, who laid the foundation of her once-upon-time bright future, want to work with her again!
After that she graduated towards wasting her talent in mediocre movies like Deshdrohi (ahem! Yeah) and Shart: The challenge.
She is also now working down South, and is doing moderately well!
We have seen actresses making it big in the south film industry, and gradually entering Bollywood to fulfill their dreams, but in Gracy’s case she had it all; the talent, the looks, and an impressive resume. But it was her alleged drama queen behavior got the best of her and she was responsible for the downfall of her own bright career.
So the latest news has it that Gracy’s PR team is trying hard to revive her career, by planting stories, about her “new glamorous, self assured, and more vivacious look”.

Well, we just hope, the directors give Gracy another shot, because everybody deserves a second chance, right? And let's hope that Gracy won't repeat her mistakes.

Lara Dutta to star in Don 2

There has been a new addition to Farhan Akhtar’s Don2. Along with Priyanka Chopra, Akshay Kumar and Arjun Rampal, Lara Duttawill also be seen donning a role completely different. Though producer Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan are tight-lipped about where Lara Dutta will be fitting in the film, it is confirmed that she will not be replacing Esha Koppikar.

A source said, “Lara’s not replacing Eesha (Koppikhar). She’s a completely new addition to the cast with an entirely new part written for her. But yes, the role will require Lara to learn some form of martial arts and she is very kicked about doing an action role.”

Lara loves doing actions and it is said to be her dream role. ‘Don’ was a blockbuster and ‘Don 2’ is said to be more entertaining and highly action packed.

Sonam Kapoor refuses Mani Ratnam

Two films old and Sonam Kapoorhas started showing attitude. Where industry dies to work with ace director Mani Ratnam, here Sonam Kapoor preferred to say no to Mani Ratnam’s offer. Mani approached Sonam Kapoor to work with in his dream project to be directed by his assistant, Sonam after listening to the script refused the project.

Sonam’s spokesperson confirmed the news and said, “Yes, Sonam was offered Mani Ratnam’s assistant’s film. However she did not want to do it because she did not like the role."

The film has been scripted by Mani and it is titled ‘Paki’. Vivek Oberoiwill play the lead role. Vivek had earlier worked with Mani in ‘Yuva’ and desperate to work with him again.

Sonam’s attitude is not hidden in Bollywood and she has again showed it. Next she will be seen in ‘I Hate Luv Storys’ with Imran Khan.

HEY! BRADLEY MANNING . . .

Arshad and Maria ends up their marriage

All is not well in Maria Gorettiand Arshad Warsi’s paradise. The couple is on the way of ending their relationship. They have decided to go separate ways after involving in a brawl for couple of months. Maria complained that Arshard always remains busy in his work and gives no time to his family. She is also not happy with Arshad’s closeness to actress Dia Mirza. They are involved in a tussle for quite a long time and finally Arshad Warsi moved away from their Yari Road house.

Commenting on the reason behind the constant fights, the source added, “The bone of contention has been Arshad’s link-up with Dia Mirza. Maria obviously is not happy about it. It looked like they had reached a compromise in the past, but it was clearly a temporary arrangement.

The entire industry was shocked last year when reports of their tumultuous relationship started doing the rounds. Arshad finally decided to move out of the house. Their two children are with Maria.”

They were not in good terms for quite a long and gave number of chance to their relationship in the past but nothing worked out and finally their long time marriage is on the edge of break-up.

Deepika speaks about her marriage

here might be many speculations regarding Deepika Padukone’s love and marriage but the actress has made it clear that marriage is a distant dream for her as now she is totally focused on her career. She clarified that she is not going to get married so soon. "I am just 24 and I have a enough time to decide whom and when to get married to. So, whenever that happens, I will let you people know," Deepika told reporters at a press conference.

Deepika is enjoying and working hard to achieve her goal. She has good number of films and ads in her hands and currently looking forward to walk the red carpet at the ongoing 63rd Cannes International Film Festival for liquor brand Chivas Regal.

"This is the first time I am going to a festival like this. Initially I was a bit hesitant but now I am looking forward to meet great people from all across the globe," she said.

As dress is concern, she will be wearing a sari specially designed for the occasion by famous fashion designer Rohit Bal.

"Sari is a very sensual garment and whenever people from other countries discuss about sari, they just say one word - wow!!," said Deepika.

She also admitted that she is very expect in wearing a sari and can drape one in just 30 seconds. She is also comfortable with the costume and prefers wearing it in various occasions.

Ranbir – Bipasha spotted having fun together at nightspot

In today’s film world, it’s a rare sight to find two co-stars as thick buddys.
However, Ranbir Kapoor has found a friend in his once upon a time costar Bipasha Basu, who he shares a very comfortable equation with. When they are together, they very well know to enjoy themselves.

Ranbir and Bipasha were seen walking in together at a famous suburban nightspot on Thursday night, accompanied by director Siddharth Anand and his wife Mamta.

Says an eyewitness, “After they entered, Ranbir and Bipasha went to a separate corner. They looked very comfortable in each other’s company.”

“They stayed in the premises for an hour-and-a-half. It was a very happening night on Thursday but after Ranbir and Bipasha entered, most people were only looking at them,” adds the witness.

Bipasha said, “Yes, Ranbir and I do go to the nightspot you mentioned. Is there any problem with that?” She, however, declined to comment on the occasion for the dinner date.

It is a known fact that Deepika is not too fond of Bipasha. Their friction started on the sets of a television show where Deepika, Bipasha and Ranbir had to promote Bachna Ae Haseeno.

Sonam Kapoor following Katrina’s footsteps

The recent B-town ladies have become very pricey and choosy when it comes to selecting roles.

Like Katrina, bollywood’s new bee Sonam Kapoor too doesn’t approve films having two heroine in it.
Recently, Sonam rejected a film with Ranbir Kapoor which has Deepika Padukone playing his love interest.

If recollected, Katrina too had recently declined the most-sought after director Anurag Basu’s Khamoshi which has Ranbir and Priyanka in the lead role.

As far as Ranbir and Deepika’s film is concerned it will showcase Ranbir in a double role where one character will be set in the 1950s background and the other character will be today’s youth.

The title of the film is Mera Jahan which will directed by Vikramjit Singh. Mera Jahan is revolves around a comic book writer played by Ranbir who is lost in his world and his own perceptions of the world.

John Abraham smooches director’s wife Pakhi

Director Abbas Tyrewalahas repeated the same which many directors have done in the past. He has made his wife Pakhi to kiss Bollywood hunk John Abrahamin a film directed by him. The film titled ‘1-800-Love’ in which John Abraham will be seen kissing Abbas Tyrewala’s wife Pakhi Tyrewala. This intense love story has been penned by Pakhi herself. Pakhi had a severe crush with John during her college days and the story was written keeping the very love angle in mind.

Abbas commented about filming the kissing scene between his wife and John, "Pakhi and John share a tremendous chemistry on screen. And I'm glad! Imagine, if they looked incompatible or anything less than made for each other! What would have happened to my film?!"

Abbas and Pakhi seems to be very much professional on the set and they left behind their personal relationship at home, "The girl I was directing in the film was not my wife. She was the actress chosen because she suited the role." He candidly admits, "Initially I was a little apprehensive. But once the camera rolled Pakhi and I forgot our personal relationship." He himself filmed a kissing scene between his wife and his hero. Reasons John, "It is an intensely romantic film. And the kiss is an integral part of romance. But the film is very clean, sweet and innocent."

Shiney Ahuja finds no actress

Rape accused Shiney Ahujaresume his Bollywood career but he finds no actress to star opposite him. Recently, actress Vaishali Desaiwalked out of Shiney starred film, ‘Shunya’ following the dirty accusation in his behavior. At first, she agreed to act in the film because the role of the lead actor was offered to Adhyayan Suman but when the role went to Shiney, she expressed her opinion and said no to the project.

Shiney wanted to make a fresh start but looking at his dirty manner no actress in Bollywood are keen to associate with him. Last year, he was charged with dirty accusation of raping his housemaid. ‘Shunya’ will be produced by Pooja Bedi’s niece Bobby Bedi.

Vaishali was keen to associate with the project but when she came to know that instead of Adhyayan, Shiney will enact the role, she bade adieu to the venture. A source close to her reveals, "She comes from a very conservative background and doesn't want to be associated with Shiney. She reasoned that she wouldn't be comfortable working with him. She thought it would be a bad move for her to be cast opposite him."

Vaishali confirms that she no longer associated with the film. "I have opted out of Shunya, and it's because of some personal reasons I don't wish to reveal. It's true that the film was first offered to Adhyayan, but later on they decided to go ahead with Shiney."

Raavan : Director's Note

Ten Heads
Ten Minds
A Hundred Voices
One Man

Did such a man ever exist....?
Was he just a myth.... or a metaphor.....?

Is Raavan the line that divides Good from Evil....?

Does our understanding change when we look from the opponent's perspective....?

The bond between the Hunter and the Hunted - between the Captor and the Captive seems to be a bond of do or die....

The tension between opposites often seems so electric, that it isolates them from the rest of the world, leaving just the two - All alone....

Are Ten Heads better than one ?

Is there a Ram inside Raavan ?
And a Raavan inside each of us?!

OPERATION WETBACK

OPERATION WETBACK was a repatriation project of the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service to remove illegal Mexican immigrants ("wetbacks") from the Southwest.

During the first decades of the twentieth century, the majority of migrant workers who crossed the border illegally did not have adequate protection against exploitation by American farmers.

As a result of the Good Neighbor Policy, Mexico and the United States began negotiating an accord to protect the rights of Mexican agricultural workers. Continuing discussions and modifications of the agreement were so successful that the Congress chose to formalize the "temporary" program into the Bracero program, authorized by Public Law 78.

In the early 1940s, while the program was being viewed as a success in both countries, Mexico excluded Texas from the labor-exchange program on the grounds of widespread violation of contracts, discrimination against migrant workers, and such violations of their civil rights as perfunctory arrests for petty causes. Oblivious to the Mexican charges, some grower organizations in Texas continued to hire illegal Mexican workers and violate such mandates of PL 78 as the requirement to provide workers transportation costs from and to Mexico, fair and lawful wages, housing, and health services.

World War II and the postwar period exacerbated the Mexican exodus to the United States, as the demand for cheap agricultural laborers increased. Graft and corruption on both sides of the border enriched many Mexican officials as well as unethical "coyote" freelancers in the United States who promised contracts in Texas for the unsuspecting Bracero.

Studies conducted over a period of several years indicate that the Bracero program increased the number of illegal aliens in Texas and the rest of the country. Because of the low wages paid to legal, contracted braceros, many of them skipped out on their contracts either to return home or to work elsewhere for better wages as wetbacks.

Increasing grievances from various Mexican officials in the United States and Mexico prompted the Mexican government to rescind the bracero agreement and cease the export of Mexican workers. The United States Immigration Service, under pressure from various agricultural groups, retaliated against Mexico in 1951 by allowing thousands of illegals to cross the border, arresting them, and turning them over to the Texas Employment Commission, which delivered them to work for various grower groups in Texas and elsewhere.

Over the long term, this action by the federal government, in violation of immigration laws and the agreement with Mexico, caused new problems for Texas. Between 1944 and 1954, "The Decade of the Wetback," the number of illegal aliens coming from Mexico increased by 6,000 percent.

It is estimated that in 1954 before Operation Wetback got under way, more than a million workers had crossed the Rio Grande illegally. Cheap labor displaced native agricultural workers, and increased violation of labor laws and discrimination encouraged criminality, disease, and illiteracy. According to a study conducted in 1950 by the President's Commission on Migratory Labor in Texas, the Rio Grande valley cotton growers were paying approximately half of the wages paid elsewhere in Texas.

In 1953 a McAllen newspaper clamored for justice in view of continuing criminal activities by wetbacks. The resulting Operation Wetback, a national reaction against illegal immigration, began in Texas in mid-July 1954. Headed by the commissioner of Immigration and Naturalization Service, Gen. Joseph May Swing, the United States Border Patrol aided by municipal, county, state, and federal authorities, as well as the military, began a quasimilitary operation of search and seizure of all illegal immigrants.

Fanning out from the lower Rio Grande valley, Operation Wetback moved northward. Illegal aliens were repatriated initially through Presidio because the Mexican city across the border, Ojinaga, had rail connections to the interior of Mexico by which workers could be quickly moved on to Durango. A major concern of the operation was to discourage reentry by moving the workers far into the interior. Others were to be sent through El Paso.

On July 15, the first day of the operation, 4,800 aliens were apprehended. Thereafter the daily totals dwindled to an average of about 1,100 a day. The forces used by the government were actually relatively small, perhaps no more than 700 men, but were exaggerated by border patrol officials who hoped to scare illegal workers into flight back to Mexico. Valley newspapers also exaggerated the size of the government forces for their own purposes: generally unfavorable editorials attacked the Border Patrol as an invading army seeking to deprive Valley farmers of their inexpensive labor force.

While the numbers of deportees remained relatively high, the illegals were transported across the border on trucks and buses. As the pace of the operation slowed, deportation by sea began on the Emancipation, which ferried wetbacks from Port Isabel, Texas, to Veracruz, and on other ships. Ships were a preferred mode of transport because they carried the illegal workers farther away from the border than did buses, trucks, or trains.

The boat lift continued until the drowning of seven deportees who jumped ship from the Mercurio provoked a mutiny and led to a public outcry against the practice in Mexico. Other aliens, particularly those apprehended in the Midwest states, were flown to Brownsville and sent into Mexico from there. The operation trailed off in the fall of 1954 as INS funding began to run out.

It is difficult to estimate the number of illegal aliens forced to leave by the operation. The INS claimed as many as 1,300,000, though the number officially apprehended did not come anywhere near this total. The INS estimate rested on the claim that most aliens, fearing apprehension by the government, had voluntarily repatriated themselves before and during the operation. The San Antonio district, which included all of Texas outside of El Paso and the Trans-Pecos, had officially apprehended slightly more than 80,000 aliens, and local INS officials claimed that an additional 500,000 to 700,000 had fled to Mexico before the campaign began.

Many commentators have considered these figure to be exaggerated. Various groups opposed any form of temporary labor in the United States. The American G.I. Forum, for instance, by and large had little or no sympathy for the man who crossed the border illegally. Apparently the Texas State Federation of Labor supported the G.I. Forum's position.

Eventually the two organizations coproduced a study entitled What Price Wetbacks?, which concluded that illegal aliens in United States agriculture damaged the health of the American people, that illegals displaced American workers, that they harmed the retailers of McAllen, and that the open-border policy of the American government posed a threat to the security of the United States. Critics of Operation Wetback considered it xenophobic and heartless.


BIBLIOGRAPHY: Carl Allsup, The American G.I. Forum: Origins and Evolution (University of Texas Center for Mexican American Studies Monograph 6, Austin, 1982). Arnoldo De León, Mexican Americans in Texas: A Brief History (Arlington Heights, Illinois: Harlan Davidson, 1993). Juan Ramon Garcia, Operation Wetback: The Mass Deportation of Mexican Undocumented Workers in 1954 (Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1980). Eleanor M. Hadley, "A Critical Analysis of the Wetback Problem," Law and Contemporary Problems 21 (Spring 1956). Saturday Evening Post, July 27, 1946. Julian Samora, Los Mojados: The Wetback Story (Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press, 1971).

Fred L. Koestler