Harry Potter London Studio Tour

New behind the scenes Harry Potter Tour launched in London,Orlando.Now fans of the Harry Potter have a better chance at delving deeper into the world of the boy wizard. This tour will showcase the British Artistry, Technology and Talent that went into the film series, the authentic sets,costumes, animatronics, props and effects used the production of all eight Harry Potter Movies.

                                           Ronald Weasley, Hemoine,Harry Potter

Place Resembling Harry Potter Home at Leavesden Studio in Park

                                            A Resemblance of wand testing at Digon Alley

   

The three hour long walking tour will allow fans to see the intricate detail that goes into the working sets and experience first hand what the camera doesn’t show.It is believed to be one of the most exciting and memorable visitor attractions in Europe.

Tickets will be made available online later this year.For further details on Ticket Booking,interested Guests are encouraged to visit www.wbstudio tour.co.uk to register.

 http://www.discovery-walks.com/london-walks/harry-potter-walk/

http://scoop.today.com/_news/2011/03/04/6189160-pack-up-your-wands-for-tour-of-harry-potter-set-in-london-

Orange British Academy of Film and Television Awards( BAFTA AWARDS 2011)

BAFTA Awards recognize the best talents in the Film Industry, Television and Video Games. This year, the awards ceremony was held at  London’s Royal Opera House. The award nominees include films such as “The Social Network”, “The King’s Speech”, “Black Swan” and “Inception”.

Nominations

The King’s Speech  :  14 nominations

Black Swan             :  12 nominations

Inception                 :    9 nominations

127 hours and True Grit :  8 nominations

The Social Network       :  6 nominations

A.R Rahman was nominated for BAFTA Awards for his composition in Danny Boyle’s “127 Hours” for Original song. Other nominees under the same category are Danny Elfman( Alice In Wonderland),John Powell(How to train your Dragon),Hans Zimmer(Inception) and Alexandre Desplet( The King’s Speech). However, Alexandre desplat  was awarded the coveted trophy under the same catgory.




On the whole, The King's speech alone picked up 7 BAFTA awards.

Category	Winners
Best Film	The King’s Speech-Iain Canning,Emile Sherman, Gareth Unwin
Outstanding British Film	The King’s Speech Tom Hooper, David Seidler,Iain Canning,Emile Sherman, Greth Unwin
Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer	Four Lions- Chris Moris(Director/Writer)
Best Director	David Fincher – The Social Network
Original Screenplay	King’s Speech by David Seilder
Adapted Screenplay	The Social Network by  Aaron Sorkin
Film not in English Language	The Girl with a dragon tattoo by Soren Staermose
Animated Film	Toy Story 3 by Lee Unkrich
Leading Actor	Colin Firth, The King’s Speech
Leading Actress	Natalie Portman for Black Swan
Supporting Actor	Geoffery Rush, The King’s Speech
Supporting Actress	Helena Bonham Carter, The King’s Speech
Original Music	The King’s Speech, Alexandre Desplat
Cinematograpghy	True Grit, Roger Dokins
Editing	The Social Network, Angus Wall, Kirk Baxter
Production Design	Inception Guy Hendrix Dyas, Lary Dias, Doug Mowat
Costume Design	Alice in Wonderland,Collen Atwood
Sound	Inception, Richard King
Special Visual Effects	Inception Chris Corbould,Paul Franklin, Andrew Lockley,Peter Bebb
Makeup and Hair	Alice in Wonderland, Valli O’Relly,Paul Gooch
Short Animation	The Eagleman Stag Michael Please
Short Film	Until the River Runs by Red Paul Wright, Poss Kondeatis

                                                Colin Firth: Best Actor -"The King's Speech"

               

 Best Actress: Natalie Portman- "Black Swan"

 http://www.locatetv.com/blog/bafta-winners-2011/

 http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/the_kings_speech_takes_7_bafta_awards_including_best_picture_david_fincher_/

Valentine's Day Celebrations with a twist

 Hearts, Cakes, Heart-Shaped Strawberries, heart balloons, red cards, roses, other gifts that we got from our loved ones and even that red sexy dress that we wore last Valentine’s Day will be what we can relate to this Valentine’s Day. So what is new this Valentine’s Day?

 

Heart Balloons

 

   Heart Cake

It’s all about letting others know you love them. It’s not just the ones whom you love. This valentine’s day, you can start by sending your greetings as words express what you want to say perfectly. You can start by acknowledging those people who teach you, serve you, and train you, those friends who tolerate you for who you are and what you do with a simple “I love you” card or a message.

Then, to take things one level up, you can plan small outings with your loved ones. Just by spending quality time with them, you will feel your heart ignited with happiness. Going for a movie or a quiet dinner out makes the day an enjoyable and pleasurable one.

                                                                 Dressed in Red

  

To make the memories last, you can bring along a digital camera to capture the moments you loved and was loved. These help revitalize your strength when you are blue. Who do we live for in the end? It’s for our loved ones? The love we earn during our lifetime is more important than the professional success and the amount of money we acquire.  Even after we perish, our love and the way we loved will be remembered. Our Love will hold an unshakable place in those hearts that we have touched.

http://www.travelgrove.com/blog/fun-and-travel/valentine%E2%80%99s-day-celebrations-around-the-world/

http://raghurame.sulekha.com/blog/post/2011/02/valentine-s-day-a-universal-celebration.htm

Food Expo 2011: 13th- 17th february, 2011

“Food Expo” is an annual affair in Chennai. This year, it has been planned out over a 5 day period with lots of food of course.  Mouth watering food from the various regions of India will be made available at Island Grounds by Tamil Tourism Development Cooperation  as part of the ongoing 37^th  India Tourist and Industrial Fair 2011 commenced in Chennai 12^th February.

Chettinad Food Festival will be held on the first day of Expo followed by Gramathu Virundhu on  the second day.

Chettinadu food itself has a wide range of food itmes ranging from dhosa, idlli, vaddai, pongal for tiffins items and lunch set with the various spiced up vegetables.You can never get enough of them.Once you try, you cannot stop trying more.

                                                                       

                "South Indian Cuisine"                                                                                                                                         

The theme for the Valentine's Day is ‘Couple Candle Light Dinner'.

The next two days will witness conduct of Fruit Festival and Sea Food Festival.

Fruit Festival consists of  variety of fruits which are cut to perfection for appetising look


.Even dried fruits are being exhibited in the expo.

                                                                  "Dried Fruits"

                                                                                          

   "Sea Food Plate"

This is an opportunity to try out the different types of authentic foods from the wide array of Tamil cultural groups within Chennai itself at affordable rates.

“Food Expo 2011” was set up with 20 stalls which were erected for this purpose. Food will be served from 3pm till 10pm.

There are also food demonstrations cum competitions to be held for the women in this stalls on Saturday.

TTDC is planning to hold fashion show, dancing and singing competition for the public.

On the last day, a bumper prize which includes TVS apache, TVS scooty pep and other prices will be given away.

So, lets join in the food fiesta and relinquish our tastebuds  to the fabulous food.

 http://events.hellotrade.com/tradeshows/indiamart-food-technology-expo/

http://chennai.servicesquare.in/chennai-news/arts-exhibition/exhibitions-in-the-city

The Latest Sexy Kezashi( Maruti's Luxury Car)

This season, Maruti, India’s largest Carmaker launched  Maruti Kizashi, made in Japan.It daunts a sporty look and has numerous plus points to it.Maruti sells 1.2million cars annually.This model alone, Maruti aims to sell 48,000 annually.This sporty, luxury car is a must have for car lovers who want Luxury feel for their Maruti. It spots an European look with its taut shape, tightly skinned body, flared wheels.Its 17 inch wheels give an aggressive look to it. It spots a 7 series like lights and it has compact dimensions.Legroom at the rear is spacious giving more room to sit comfortably.

It also boasts a solid base for front seats with nets for storage which gives a Luxury feel to the car.The Kizashi comes with a seat memory and full automatic adjustments which  makes it more user-friendly.

The 461 litre boot is adequate and will hold a couple of bags.

Everything that a car driver needs is available in Kizashi.Kizashi boasts to be a protected car with airbags for protection of driver and passengers in case of accidents or emergency.

Seat Belts pre-tensioner with load limiters, multi-reflector projector headlamps and keyless start is also an added perk that every driver will love to enjoy.Kizashi is said to be better off than Vitara as it produces more power and torque for the same 2.4 litre engine.

Power of 176 bhp at 6500rpm and torque of 22.54kgm promises  good performance.

Experts advise drivers to opt for manual gear box as it is more responsive and quicker than auto gear. Kazashi’s price is set to range from Rs17 lakhs to Rs18 lakhs. Making Kazashi a success is far cry for now but Maruti might just enter the Luxury segment along cars like Honda,Toyota,Skoda and Volkswagen


http://blog.cardekho.com/2011/01/maruti-kizashi-launch-slated-tomorrow.html
http://indianautosblog.com/2010/12/maruti-suzuki-to-launch-kizashi-january

THAIPUSAM in SINGAPORE( 20th January and 21st January 2011)

   Murugan, Lord Shivan and Parvati's Son

Thaipusam is a Hindu festival celebrated on the full moon in the Tamil Month of Thai(January/ February) from 20 th January and 21st January 2011 this year.The word Thaipusam comes from the month name Thai and Pusam, which refers to a star that is at its highest point during the festival. The festival commemorates the occasion when Parvati gave Murugan a vel(spear) so he could vanquish the evil demon Soorapadman.

Devotees throughout Singapore and people around the world come to seek prayers from Lord Murugan to get his favour by taking part in the ceremonies like Kavadi Attam, Pal kudam and Mottai for Lord Murugan.They will have to get their tickets, book their Kavadis and decorate their kavadis for the big day.Family members too come to temple to support the "Kavadi Pillais" by singing religious songs pertaining to Lord Murugan and they chant "Muruganuku Vel Vel till the pocession gets over.

                                                      

  Kavadi   Attam

Kavadi  Attam is a dance performed by the devotees during the ceremonial worship of Murugan, the Tamil God of War.It is often performed during the festival of Thaipusam and emphasizes debt bondage. The Kavadi itself is a physical burden through which the devotees pray to Murugan to take away all their troubles.

Generally, Hindus take a vow to offer a kavadi to idol(Murugan) to weed away bad evil and gain favour of Tendavuthabani(Murugan). For instance, if the devotee's son is laid up with a fatal disease, he would pray to Shanmuga to grant the boy a lease of life in return for which the devotee would take a vow to dedicate a kavadi to Murugan.

                                                               "Mottai  for Murugan"

On the day of the festival, devotees will shave their heads and undertake a pilgrimage along a set route while engaging in various acts of devotion.They will carry various types of kavadi (burdens). Some devotees who want to do simple prayers will carry a pot of milk.Some other devotees will do mortification of the flesh by piercing the skin, tongue or cheeks with vel skewers which is said to be done fulfill the wishes that they pray to Lord Murugan for.

         PalKudam

In Singapore, Hindu devotees start their foot procession at the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple in the early morning, carrying milk pots as offerings or attaching "kavadis" to their bodies. The procession travels for 4 kilometres before finishing at the Tank Road Temple.

To facilitate the event, the following roads will be closed during the stipulated timings:

S/N	Roads	Timing
a	Tank Road	From 7.00 pm on 19 January 2011 to 3.00 am on 21 January 2011
b	Extreme right lane of Serangoon Road in the direction of Upper Serangoon Road	From 8.00 pm on 19 January 2011 to 3.00 am on 21 January 2011
c	Petain Road (between Sturdee Road and Serangoon Road )
d	Kitchener Link (between Serangoon Road and the carpark exit of City Square Mall)
e	Hastings Road (between Serangoon Road and Clive Street )
f	Campbell Lane (between Serangoon Road and Clive Street )
g	Dunlop Street (between Clive Street and Serangoon Road )
h	Upper Dickson Road (between Serangoon Road and Clive Street )
i	Baboo Lane (between Serangoon Road and Block 2 of Baboo Lane )
j	The carriageway of Handy Road in the direction of Plaza Singapura (between Orchard Road and Penang Road )	From 9.00 pm on 19 January 2011 to 3.00 am on 21 January 2011
k	Extreme right lane of Selegie Road in the direction of Serangoon Road
l	Extreme right lane of   Prinsep Street in the direction of Selegie Road
m	Extreme right lane of Penang Road in the direction of Somerset Road
n	Slip Road of Prinsep Street from Selegie Road
o	The carriageway of Clemenceau Avenue in the direction of Penang Road (between River Valley Road and Penang Road )

In addition, the following roads will be converted to have 2-way traffic access to facilitate the movement of vehicles to and from Kampong Kapor Road and Jalan Rumbia respectively .

S/N	Roads	Timing
p	Veerasamy Road (between Kampong Kapor Road and Serangoon Road )	From 8.00 pm on 19 January 2011 to 3.00 am on 21 January 2011
q	Oxley Rise (between Clemenceau Avenue and Jalan Rumbia)	From 9.00 pm on 19 January 2011 to 3.00 am on 21 January 2011

http://www.travbuddy.com/blog/archives/281-Cultural-Festivals-and-Celebrations-Thaipusam.html

http://www.hindudevotionalblog.com/2011/01/thaipusam-festival-2011-thai-poosam.html