20th Annual Screen Awards: The countdown begins

The stage is set for audiences to enjoy a star-studded affair with glitz, glamour and drama.

While the Big Star Awards kicked off award season in Bollywood of 2014, they haven’t snatched the spotlight away from the Screen Awards. The most-awaited award shows from B-town comprise a prominent and well-selected jury. As the audiences are eagerly gearing up for a star-studded evening, the Life Ok Screen Awards announced its list of nominations and jury panel on January 7 among a host of film and television celebrities, reports ibnlive.com.

According to Television Post, the jury list includes renowned celebrities from both the Hindi and Marathi film fraternity, as usual. This year’s list of nominees comprises Govind Nihalani, Atul Agnihotri, Homi Adajania, John Matthew Mathan, Moushumi Chatterji, Prosenjit, Sonali Kulkarni, Rahul Dholakia, Kiran Shantaram, Sriram Raghavan, Umesh Shukla, Shreyas Talpade, Sam Balsara and Tarun Katial amongst others.

The event will be premiered on Life Ok channel on January 25 and promises to have a lot in store for its viewers, including gimmicks of none other than Bollywood king Shahrukh Khan who will be hosting the show. With the who’s who of Bollywood competing with each other this year, here is our lowdown on some of the popular nominees:

Best Film

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag

Kai Po Che

Madras Café

Ram-Leela

The Lunchbox

Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani

Our Verdict: Considering the reviews and ratings, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is likely to bag this one on the basis of its patriotic storyline. However, we feel Kai Po Che will be an underdog to watch out for.

 Best Actor (Male)

Aamir Khan — Dhoom: 3

Dhanush — Raanjhanaa

Farhan Akhtar — Bhaag Milkha Bhaag

Irrfan Khan — The Lunchbox

Ranbir Kapoor — Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani

Rajkummar Rao — Shahid

Shah Rukh Khan — Chennai Express

Our Verdict: Any win other than Farhan Akhtar from this list will undoubtedly be a shocker!

Best Actor (Female)

Chitrangada Singh — Inkaar

Deepika Padukone — Ram-Leela/Chennai Express

Nimrat Kaur — The Lunchbox

Parineeti Chopra — Shuddh Desi Romance

Shraddha Kapoor — Aashiqui 2

Sonakshi Sinha — Lootera

Our Verdict: Deepika Padukone for Ram-Leela hands down! Her impeccable performance not only wooed fans but also stunned critics, who showered her with constant praise.

Best Director

Abhishek Kapoor — Kai Po Che

Ayan Mukherji — Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani

Hansal Mehta — Shahid

Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra — Bhaag Milkha Bhaag

Rakesh Roshan — Krrish 3

Sanjay Leela Bhansali — Ram-Leela

Shoojit Sircar — Madras Café

Our Verdict: If there is anyone who deserves this the most, it’s Abhishek Kapoor for Kai Po Che. The man deserves credit for making an outstanding emotional film with three complete newbies.

Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Male)

Amit Sadh — Kai Po Che

Anupam Kher — Special 26

Jimmy Shergill — Bullett Raja

Nawazuddin Siddiqui — The Lunchbox

Saurabh Shukla — Jolly LLB

Mohammad Zeeshan Ayub — Raanjhanaa

Our Verdict: This one is rather tricky and we are torn between Anupam Kher and Nawazuddin Siddiqui. However, considering the Oscar rave behind The Lunchbox, this one is likely to land in Siddiqui’s pocket.

Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Female)

Divya Dutta — Gippi

Huma Qureshi — Ek Thi Daayan

Kalki Koechlin — Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani

Richa Chadda — Ram-Leela

Swara Bhaskar — Raanjhanaa

Our Verdict: Based on popularity and success, this is Kalki’s win, but if the role and character is a deciding factor, Richa Chadda is also a possible winner

Aaron Finch continues Australian assault

Australia's batsman Aaron Finch (L) celebrates scoring half century against England next to team mate David Warner (R) during the first one day international cricket match of the series between Australia and England in Melbourne on January 12, 2014. PHOTO: AFP

MELBOURNE: Aaron Finch struck his second 50-over hundred as Australia maintained their dominance over England with a six-wicket victory in the first One-Day International (ODI) on Sunday.

Finch (121) and fellow opener David Warner (65) dazzled while captain Michael Clarke contributed 43 brisk runs as the hosts eased to a victory target of 270 with 4.2 overs to spare.

Earlier, half-centuries from Gary Ballance (79) and Eoin Morgan (50) helped England put behind a wobbly start and post 269 for seven.

The 163-run stand between Finch and Warner in 28 overs laid the foundation for Australia’s comprehensive win which prolonged England’s misery after their Test series whitewash.

Australia’s openers enjoyed their share of luck with Finch being dropped by Ballance on eight and Warner, when on 22, was called back from the boundary line after replays could not establish conclusively whether Jos Buttler had taken a clean catch behind the stumps or not.

Batting first, England had suffered an early blow when Cook got caught behind for four. Clint McKay claimed his second victim in Joe Root to reduce the tourists to 22 for two before Ian Bell and Ballance steadied the ship.

Some big hitting late in the innings from Buttler (34) and Tim Bresnan (16) allowed England to reach a defendable total, but it was not enough against the rampant Australian batting line-up.

Top players brace for heat as Australian Open kicks off today

35 is the number of matches top seed Rafael Nadal has won in the Australian Open, while losing only seven times. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE

MELBOURNE: 

The opening Grand Slam of 2014 gets underway in the scorching heat of Melbourne from Monday, where all the top players will be looking establish early dominance in the New Year.

All players are bracing themselves for extreme heat in the first week with temperatures set to soar above 40 degrees Celsius from Tuesday onwards.

In the men’s singles, it is tennis’s most intense rivalry between the top two seeds, but recent momentum has given Novak Djokovic the edge over Rafael Nadal as he seeks a record fourth straight Australian Open title.

While Serena Williams is the unbackable favourite for the women’s trophy, Djokovic and Nadal are nearly inseparable at the top of the men’s game.

When they last met in Melbourne in 2012, it took five hours and 53 minutes, the longest ever Grand Slam final, before Djokovic finally prevailed in five exhausting sets.

Nadal missed last year’s Australian Open with injury, but on his return, he denied Djokovic in the French Open semis and US Open final.

However, Djokovic beat Nadal convincingly in two deciders in the latter part of last season, including at the year-ending World Tour Finals, and has somewhat seized back the psychological advantage.

Meanwhile, after three runner-up finishes at Melbourne Park, fourth seed Andy Murray would be looking to lay claim to the elusive Australian Open crown and add to his Wimbledon and US Open titles.

Local favoutire Lleyton Hewitt will be feeling confident ahead of his record-equalling 18th Australian Open after shocking Roger Federer to stay unbeaten this year.

Hewitt comes to Melbourne on the back of a stunning win over Federer in the final of Brisbane International for his 29th title on the ATP tour.

Azarenka coy about Serena rivalry

Victoria Azarenka is relishing her return to Melbourne Park as double defending champion and while Serena Williams is a hot favourite to deny her a hat-trick of titles, the Belarusian says she will not focus solely on the challenge from the world number one.

Azarenka’s two grand slam titles have both been achieved without facing the American, who was eliminated in both those tournaments after being hobbled by foot injuries.

As second seed on the lower half of the draw, Azarenka would not meet Serena until the final but she was reluctant to talk up their grand slam rivalry, which has her on the wrong side of an 8-0 head-to-head record.

“I don’t really care about it, honestly. I never cared about it,” she said, when asked if it bothered her that Serena was considered as the main title contender.

“For us, it’s a matter of playing tennis and giving your best on the court. But I think everybody is the one to beat here. We have such a high competition right now.”

World number one Serena has been in sparkling form, losing just five matches last year and beating Azarenka in the final of the Brisbane International tournament this month.

It has seen her installed as firm favourite to dethrone Azarenka and claim a sixth Australian Open title.

Meanwhile, after spending over four months nursing a shoulder injury, Maria Sharapova is happy to be playing at a major event again.

Sharapova says she is pleased to be returning to the venue where she triumphed at back in 2008.

“I’m happy to be back playing a grand slam,” she said. “I’m happy to get myself back in form and really start well here.”

RECENT CHAMPIONS – Men

2013

Winner: Novak Djokovic

Runner Up: Andy Murray

Score:  6–7, 7–6, 6–3, 6–2

2012

Winner: Novak Djokovic

Runner Up: Rafael Nadal

Score: 5–7, 6–4, 6–2, 6–7, 7–5

2011

Winner: Novak Djokovic

Runner Up:Andy Murray

Score: 6–4, 6–2, 6–3

2010

Winner: Roger Federer

Runner Up: Andy Murray

Score: 6–3, 6–4, 7–6

2009

Winner: Rafael Nadal

Runner Up: Roger Federer

Score: 7–5, 3–6, 7–6, 3–6, 6–2

2008

Winner: Novak Djokovic

Runner Up: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

Score: 4–6, 6–4, 6–3, 7–6

2007

Winner: Roger Federer

Runner Up: Fernando González

Score: 7–6, 6–4, 6–4

2006

Winner: Roger Federer

Runner Up: Marcos Baghdatis

Score: 5–7, 7–5, 6–0, 6–2

2005

Winner: Marat Safin

Runner Up: Lleyton Hewitt

Score: 1–6, 6–3, 6–4, 6–4

2004

Winner: Roger Federer

Runner Up: Marat Safin

Score: 7–6, 6–4, 6–2

2003

Winner: Andre Agassi

Runner Up: Rainer Schuttler

Score: 6–2, 6–2, 6–1

RECENT CHAMPIONS – Women

2013

Winner: Victoria Azarenka

Runner Up: Li Na

Score: 4–6, 6–4, 6–3

2012

Winner: Victoria Azarenka

Runner Up: Maria Sharapova

Score: 6–3, 6–0

2011

Winner: Kim Clijsters

Runner Up: Li Na

Score: 3–6, 6–3, 6–3

2010

Winner: Serena Williams

Runner Up: Justine Henin

Score: 6–4, 3–6, 6–2

2009

Winner: Serena Williams

Runner Up: Dinara Safina

Score: 6–0, 6–3

2008

Winner: Maria Sharapova

Runner Up: Ana Ivanovic

Score: 7–5, 6–3

2007

Winner: Serena Williams

Runner Up: Maria Sharapova

Score: 6–1, 6–2

2006

Winner: Amelie Mauresmo

Runner Up: Justine Henin

Score: 6–1, 2–0 (retired)

2005

Winner: Serena Williams

Runner Up: Lindsay Davenport

Score: 2–6, 6–3, 6–0

2004

Winner: Justine Henin

Runner Up: Kim Clijsters

Score: 6–3, 4–6, 6–3

2003

Winner: Serena Williams

Runner Up: Venus Williams

Score: 7–6, 3–6, 6–4

Diplomacy at work: PM Nawaz calls on UAE president

UAE President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed al Nahyan. PHOTO: REUTERS

ISLAMABAD: 

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif paid a visit to UAE President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed al Nahyan in Rahim Yar Khan on Saturday.

The visiting head of state had been staying in Rahim Yar Khan for the hunting season, according to sources.

According an official statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, “Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif discussed bilateral and regional issues with His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed al Nahyan.”

“[He] also extended good wishes on behalf of the people of Pakistan to His Royal Highness and the people of the UAE,” the statement added.

Prime Minister Nawaz spoke of the existing cordial relations between Pakistan and the UAE, pointing out that both sides valued their bilateral cooperation. He also thanked the UAE government for extending help to the Pakistanis residing in the Emirates and termed the community “a human bridge between our two brotherly nations.”

The prime minister later saw off the UAE president at Al Habib airport in Cholistan. He was accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

Talking to The Express Tribune, an official privy to the minutes of the meeting said Sheikh Khalifa advised Prime Minister Nawaz to resolve as soon as possible the uncertainty surrounding former president Pervez Musharraf’s treason case.

“Pakistan is facing multi-dimensional problems which need to be resolved on a priority basis to provide maximum relief to the common man. Other matters should not be allowed to suck the time and energy of the government at this stage,” the UAE president was quoted by the official as saying.

According to the official, the prime minister told the visiting dignitary the issue is sub judice and a matter of ‘constitutional concern’.

Who’s who of the Privatisation Commission Board

With so much at stake, many are curious as to find out who are the members of the board, entrusted with the task to implement the privatisation plan so that eyebrows are not raised over transparency and conflict of interest. PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD: 

The government has embarked upon the country’s biggest privatisation programme, the estimated value of which is no less than Rs1 trillion by any stretch of the imagination.

Responsibility of ensuring transparency and earning maximum gains for the state has been given to the Board of the Privatisation Commission (PC).

With so much at stake, many are curious as to find out who are the members of the board, entrusted with the task to implement the privatisation plan so that eyebrows are not raised over transparency and conflict of interest.

The power to appoint the board members lies with the chief executive of the country.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif recently appointed Mohammad Zubair Umar – a key member of the PML-N election manifesto committee – as the chairman, reconstituted the board and appointed six members of his choice. His decision came after he disapproved the original list of proposed members sent by the PC and, instead, gave his own.

Appointing a political head is usual and, somewhat, even acceptable in the developed nations. But putting in place politically-connected officials as board members raises suspicions of foul-play.

Amid the hype, we take a look at the board members who will be leading the privatisation programme.

Farooq Khan: One of the richest industrialists in Punjab with hands and feet in the sugar and beverage industry. He is said to be one of the leading financier of PML-N, according to his family sources. Farooq is said to be close to the premier. He is also a beneficiary of the PML-N privatisation that was carried out in its previous tenure. Then, Farooq had bought an industrial unit.

Munir Kamal: The brother of the PC chairman and Asad Umar, PTI’s MNA from Islamabad constituency. Kamal is also the Karachi Stock Exchange board of directors chairman and holds the same post at the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP). He is a leading contender for the post of NBP president as well.

Out of 32 shortlisted companies the government has chosen for the privatisation programme, 11 entities are for capital market transactions. Five have already been approved by the PC Board that include three banks and two oil and gas exploration companies.

Chaudhry Arif Saeed: A Punjab industrialist and owner of the Services Industries Limited. His company is registered at the Karachi Stock Exchange and is one of the leading footwear, tyre and tube manufacturers. He is also said to be close to the Nawaz family.

Zafar Iqbal Sobani: He has remained associated with the Hub Power Company and was chief executive officer at Hubco till recently. He is a chartered accountant by profession.

Hubco is aiming to acquire stakes in power generation and distribution companies, but has not publicly announced its intention. Kot Addu Power Company, Islamabad Electricity Supply Company, Hyderabad Electricity Supply Company, Jamshoro Power Generation Limited and Northern Power Generation Limited have been shortlisted for privatisation.

Arsala Khan Hoti: A PML-N election manifesto committee member from Khyber-Pakthunkhwa. He was also a candidate for the provincial assembly seat PK-24, Mardan-II and is a PML-N Mardan district general secretary.

Nasiruddin Ahmad: A retired bureaucrat, who has served with former prime minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali, and is said to be in the good books of the Nawaz family.

The stated objective of the privatisation programme is to improve efficiency within key economic activities and ease fiscal financing pressures. A three-pronged strategy for the purpose has been devised. But analysts’ concerns are whether the privatisation will benefit the few already rich families and will the associates of the ruling class be the beneficiaries of the process?

To address these concerns and many others such queries, the government needs to be careful and ensure that decision-makers do not lie in the conflict-of-interest area.

Smuggling in: Analysis of the grey traffic phenomenon

Anecdotal evidence says that 50% to 90% of the total incoming international traffic is grey. CREATIVE COMMON

ISLAMABAD: 

For those who do not know, grey traffic is smuggling-in of international calls, measured in minutes, through channels other than licensed. It not only means national wealth going into pockets of smugglers, make no mistake, grey traffic is also a threat to national security as a call coming through the grey channel may be nearly impossible to trace back. What is more alarming is that in Pakistan grey traffic is on the rise.

According to Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s (PTA) annual report, total international incoming call-minutes coming legally in 2011-12 had increased by 109% over the previous year, but decreased in 2012-13 by 26%. Over the last 13 months, international telephone traffic coming through legal channels has plummeted to less than half – from 1 billion minutes in October 2012 to 460.7 million in December 2013.

It is safe to assume that most of the call-minutes that “disappeared” actually got converted into grey traffic, adding to the grey traffic that existed even before October 2012.

Story behind grey traffic

It all started when the smugglers discovered that on every minute of calls coming into the country, there is a premium in the form of two charges, which could be stolen and pocketed. These charges are: (a) Access Promotion Charge (APC) meant for Universal Service Fund (USF) to provide telecom services universally, and (b) share of Long Distance International (LDI) operators who have the licences to legally bring in those minutes.

Both these charges are part of the Account Settlement Rate (ASR). ASR is a necessity because the local operators (both LDI as well as last-mile) get paid out of it. Plus the government also gets a part of it. But if the government becomes greedy and jacks up the ASR by increasing charges like the two mentioned above, smuggling becomes lucrative and the state ends up getting nothing.

These two charges were initially added to the ASR at the time of deregulation and issuance of new licences in 2003-04. At that time, it was foreseen that as the businesses of the licensees became stable, and enough money got accumulated in USF, the ASR would be gradually brought down to a very bare minimum. Between January 2005 and October 2007, it was brought down from 16.3 US cents per minute to 7 cents.

However, the previous government, soon after coming into power, suddenly raised these charges, taking the ASR from 7 cents, first to 10 cents in May 2008, and then to 12.5 cents in February 2009. It was only after 26 months, in April 2011, that ASR was lowered to 7.75 cents (still higher than 7 cents of 2008).

The reduction did not last very long. In August 2012, the then prime minister, in his capacity as minister in charge of IT, directed PTA to midwife an agreement among all 14 licensed LDI operators to form an International Clearing House (ICH) whereby all international voice calls coming to Pakistan would be routed, and each one of them would get a guaranteed percentage share from ASR. Simultaneously, ASR was increased to 8.85 cents per minute.

At that rate, 1 billion legal minutes in one month translated into $88.5 million for October 2012 (it is not known if all of it actually came into the country, but that is another story). However very soon, legal minutes started to disappear, coming down to 460.7 million in December 2013, which translates into $40.77 million. At least, some of the balance $47 million per month is going in some pockets!

It must be conceded that some of the legal minutes are disappearing because of the so-called ‘Over The Top’ (OTT) services like Skype, Viber, etc. We have no means to determine the exact amount of grey traffic. But most of us are now used to frequently seeing local numbers appear when we receive calls from abroad.

Anecdotal evidence says that 50% to 90% of the total incoming international traffic is grey. How much is total incoming international traffic (including grey traffic)? No one knows. Estimates vary from 1.2 billion minutes (says ICH Agreement itself) to above 2 billion minutes.

How to stop grey traffic?

One proposal to stop grey traffic is to offer the last-mile operators (mainly mobile) a share from ICH revenues. The argument is that since the grey calls are connected to end-subscribers by these operators – the reason why we see local numbers in case of international calls – giving them a share would make them curb grey traffic. But this would neither make calls to Pakistan cheaper, nor would it remove the incentive to smuggle.

As long as there is premium in ASR, grey traffic will flourish, as we have seen above, the more the premium, the more the grey traffic. Therefore, it is the premium in ASR that needs to be eliminated.

It is estimated that it costs grey traffickers between 2 and 2.5 cents per smuggled minute, which means an ASR of around 3 cents will significantly reduce the incentive to smuggle.

If one assumes the international incoming minutes to be 1.5 billion, and ASR is set at 3 cents, the result would be $45 million per month ($4 million higher than last month’s actual).

Reducing ASR involves two steps: a) Do away with ‘APC for USF’, at least for the present. USF has enough, even if the money is now with the government. In any case, the USF contribution (1.5% of operators’ revenues) would still keep adding to the fund. b) Do away with guaranteed share of LDIs – presently nearly 6 cents per minute. Let there be real competition where the operators earn whatever they can.

The writer is the former CEO of Universal Service Fund and is presently working as ICT consultant in various countries of Asia and Africa

Private business: Lawlessness in Karachi and the death of entrepreneurship

Most people including potential entrepreneurs the target of the PM’s loan scheme are reluctant to invest in the city because of fears ranging from extortion threats to kidnapping for ransom. PHOTO: FILE

KARACHI: The Prime Minister’s Youth Business Loan Scheme comes at a time when the country is desperate to boost its economy, which grew by a meager 3% on average in the last five years – between fiscal year (FY) 2009 and FY2013 to be exact.

A lot has been written about the merits and demerits of the youth loan scheme offered by the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz government, but the project certainly has a potential to spur much-needed economic activity across the country, create jobs and help the national exchequer increase its revenue base if brought in the tax-net.

If utilised to its full potential, the project can provide some support to the federation as it tries to meet the conditions set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Washington-based lending agency that helped the country avoid bankruptcy last year.

The IMF approved a $6.7 billion loan for Pakistan for the next three years on conditions of economic reforms such as broadening the tax-net, privatisation of loss-making entities and cutting of government expenditures. Though it has revised Pakistan’s economic growth forecast to 2.8% for FY14, the lending agency expects the country’s GDP to achieve 5% growth in the medium term. These conditions are in addition to a quarterly review of the country’s economic growth.

It is, therefore, important for the government to ensure that the loan scheme is a success. It cannot afford to fail at this stage. One can dig into the procedural transparency or technicalities of the project to find its demerits which is not the topic for this article  but the government must acknowledge that among other issues, restoring peace in its largest metropolitan city of Karachi is a pre-requisite for the project’s success.

Most people including potential entrepreneurs−the target of the PM’s loan scheme  are reluctant to invest in the city because of fears ranging from extortion threats to kidnapping for ransom and the worst of all, getting killed upon failure to pay the extortion or ransom money.

There are militant wings of political parties, gangsters and banned outfits with links to the Taliban that are very active in the city and pose a great personal and financial threat to the business community. Many businessmen have relocated to the other cities, abroad in some cases, while those who have established their businesses are compelled to pay the extortion money. These groups frequently target businessmen, mostly small and medium size businesses, to spread fears.

The private businesses covered by The Express Tribune do not disclose their revenues and those who did later got them removed from the website for security reasons. Such is the fear they experience.

Similarly, a bulk of the youth who have returned to the country after completing their education abroad, want to launch their own business but fear they will meet the same fate as those killed for non-payment of extortion money. One entrepreneur said he wanted to invest Rs10 million to start a restaurant but did not go ahead with his plan because of security reasons. Those who have established their businesses can afford an army of private guards but most people can’t, he said.

Karachi, which accommodates more than 10% of the country’s population accounts for 15% of the country’s GDP, according to conservative estimates and up to 30% according to some studies. The port city, therefore, can play an important role in the success of the PM’s youth loan scheme.

But before expecting Karachi’s youth to avail this loan scheme and make their contribution to the economy, the federation has to restore peace in the city.