Doordarshan crew detained, let off
The Shadnagar town police detained a senior Doordarshan correspondent and videographer covering a police lathicharge on a group of Left party workers demonstrating against the World Bank President’s visit to the village.
The crew was released after a senior police official intervened, an official spokesman said. The security incharge at the protest site objected to the coverage of the police action and took the crew to police station.
PTI

Bhimsen Joshi honoured
Noted classical vocalist Pandit Bhimsen Joshi was awarded the fifth Aditya Vikram Birla Kalashikar Puraskar for his lifetime achievement in the field of Hindustani classical vocal.

The award comprises of cash prize of Rs. 1.5 lakh, a memento and a scroll of honour. Previous recipients have been Lata Mangeshkar (1996), M F Hussain (1997), Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra (1998) and Pandit Ram Narayan (1999).
The award will be presented to Pandit Bhimsen Joshi by the Maharashtra governor P. C. Alexander.

The other two recipients of the Aditya Vikram Birla Kalakiran Puraskar 2000 awards are Kaivalya Kumar Gurav, the 37-year-old Belgaum born singer, trained under the guidance of his illustrious father Pandit Sangameshwar Gurav and Shanshank Maktedar born in Nanded. This 29-year-old has trained under Pandit Nath Neralkar of Kirana gharana. These awards carry a cash component of Rs. 35,000 each, a scroll of honour and a memento.
UNI

Elvis jacket sale flops return to seller
Bids for Elvis Presley’s U.S. Army uniform, complete with the stain where he lent against a newly painted window, failed to reach the reserve price at a London auction last week.

Auctioneers had expected the uniform dress jacket to fetch up to 25,000 pounds (35,570 dollars). But the highest bid was a mere 7,000 pounds. The jacket, owned by diehard British Elvis fan Johnny Earle, was issued to the late king of rock ‘n’ roll in the United States for his posting to Germany.

During the press conference arranged for his arrival in Germany in October 1958, Elvis leant against a window and coated the jacket arm in fresh paint.
He was quickly issued with a new jacket and a lucky member of the painting crew kept the stained one as a souvenir.

South India comes alive on DD news channel
South India has come alive on Doordarshan news channel with the commencement of a series called South file scheduled to be aired twice a week.

The new series, which would cover the four southern states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil nadu and Kerala, would be presented by noted TV anchor Sashi Kumar. It will be telecast on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 1830 hrs.
The programme also features as co-anchor political satirist Cho Ramaswamy, MP, and noted journalist N. Ram. The series would also air the field coverage inputs produced by the South file bureau.

The abduction of Kannada actor Rajkumar by forest brigand Veerappan was the theme of first edition anchored by Cho.
South File is being produced in the city-based studio of the Asian College of Journalism set up by the Media Development Foundation, a release said.
UNI

ETC Networks H1 net up 57 per cent
ETC Networks Ltd. has registered a 57 per cent increase in its net profit at Rs.2.18 crore for the half year ended September 30, 2000. The company has registered a turnover of Rs.18.67 crore for the period.

Balaji Telefilms to produce two serials for SABe TV
Balaji Telefilms Limited, promoted by Hindi film star Jeetendra, will be producing two serials for SABe TV. The serials titled Karm and Kudiyon Ka Hai Zamana are currently at different stages of production. This will be Balaji’s first venture with SABe TV.

At this stage, the company has tie-ups with eight channels. These include Doordarshan, Zee, Sony, Star Plus, Sun and Gemini. There has not been any decision taken on the time slot for the two serials on SABe TV. Sources when contacted said they will be aired during prime time.

Karm is scheduled to go on air next month. Directed by Sapna Joshi, the theme centres around the tribulations of a woman who is raped by her fiance. Kudiyon Ka Hai Zamana is still being shot and is expected to go on air early next year. The serial will be directed by Sunil Salgai and is a comedy about the life of spouses.

Both the serials will be aired once a week. According to Balaji Telefilms, CEO, Sanjay Dosi, “We will start with 52 episodes initially and extend it depending on how they are received. Balaji Telefilms has earned a revenue of Rs. 16 crores from September 2000 through its tie-ups with different channels,” said Dosi. He was, however, not willing to disclose the financial details of his company’s venture with SABe TV.

Balaji Telefilms, set up in 1994, has just concluded its public issue for Rs. 36 crore. This was to fund its future projects. The plans on the anvil include setting up integrated studios in four cities in India and procurement of shooting and post production equipment.

SABe TV, promoted by Shri Adhikari Brothers, was launched in April this year in alliance with Turner International India. The company is already producing serials for Zee TV and Doordarshan.
KG