Friday 30 November 2012

Vinayak Chatterjee: Ready action points for railways

Three clear reform-oriented reports show the path ahead for the sector

Pawan Bansal taking over the railway ministry, and not a representative of the “allies”, has raised hopes that the United Progressive Alliance government may be at last getting serious about railways. With this appointment, the railways are back with the Congress party after 17 years. The last Congress railway minister was Jaffer Sharieff. He was followed by Messrs Paswan, Nitish Kumar, Lalu Prasad, Mamata Banerjee, Dinesh Trivedi and Mukul Roy. At one point, there was a speculation that the prime minister may himself keep the portfolio and get the Prime Minister’s Office and the Planning Commission to directly interact with the Railway Board and push the reform agenda.

There was a brief period, under Lalu Yadav’s watch, when Indian Railways did indeed attempt to transform itself from near bankruptcy to post a Rs 25,000 crore annual cash surplus in 2008. However, this “turnaround” was often viewed with a degree of suspicion that it was no “real” improvement but an astute play on increased axle-loads, clever rejigging of commodity freight rates, and creative accounting. It is also clear that post-Lalu, Indian Railways has once again lost its sizzle, and turnaround economics and Harvard and IIMA (Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad) case studies have faded away to be replaced with numbers pregnant with serious apprehensions. Moreover, compared to other sub-continental nations, India’s road-rail mix is getting far too skewed towards road with all the consequential downsides.
The new railway minister has three well thought-through reports to immediately convert into an action agenda. They are:

The Rakesh Mohan Committee Report submitted in 2002
The report by the high-level safety review committee submitted in February 2012 (referred to as the Kakodkar Committee Report), and
The Report of the Expert Group for Modernisation of Indian Railways — under the chairmanship of Sam Pitroda. (Disclosure: The author was a member of this expert group.)

Individually and collectively, these three reports provide a bed-rock of well-argued reform initiatives that need to be rolled out like there was no tomorrow.
The Rakesh Mohan Committee suggested, a decade ago, that Indian Railways must eventually be corporatised into the Indian Railways Corporation ( IRC). The government would need to set up an Indian Rail Regulatory Authority ( IRRA), which would be necessary to regulate IRC’s activities as a monopoly supplier of rail services. IRRA was necessary to distance IRC from the government. IRC would be governed by a reconstituted Indian Railways Executive Board ( IREB). The government should be in charge of setting policy direction and constituting IRRA and IREB.
The report suggested that once the broad framework of a proposed restructuring is accepted, the Government of India and the railway ministry would need to set up a special task force to frame new legislation enabling a new organisational framework. This task force would have to commence operations with a thorough review of the Indian Railways Act and the Indian Railway Board Act. New legislation would need to be drafted so that it:

Mandated corporatisation of the Indian Railways into IRC
Permitted a revamp of the Railway Board
Redefined the relationship between the government and a revamped IREB
Provided for exemption from taxation (excise, sales tax, and so on) for the period of transition, say five to seven years
Permitted private participation in railway operations
Facilitated the induction of personnel form outside the railways
Mandated the subsidisation of social responsibilities to the extent of funds provided by the government
Set up a social safety net to take care of surplus labour

The committee report had pointed out in 2002 with much anguish that: “Indian Railways over the past decade has fallen into a vicious cycle of under investment, mis-allocation of scarce resources, increasing indebtedness, poor customer service and rapidly deteriorating economics. The root cause of the decade of decline is an unstable political system increasingly driven by short-term political compulsions.”
All this was quite path-breaking, and politically, ahead of its time. Succinct and hard-hitting with a bold reform agenda, it was little wonder that the entire railway establishment took great pains to distance itself from it and put it into cold storage. Still, few can argue against its call for a separation of roles into policy, regulatory and management functions.
The report of the high-level safety review committee under the Chairmanship of Anil Kakodkar was submitted in February 2012. The Kakodkar Committee has made a slew of recommendations of which some of the key ones are:

Stopping the practice of introduction of new trains without commensurate inputs to the infrastructure
Having a statutory Railway Safety Authority and measures to strengthen the present Railway Safety Commission to undertake meaningful regulatory inspections
Setting up a Railway Research and Development Council at the apex level directly under the government. This council should have Advance Railway Research Institute and five railway research centres for key safety-related railway disciplines
Adoption of an advanced signalling system based on continuous track circuiting and cab signalling similar to European train control system Level-II
Total elimination of all level crossings (manned and unmanned) within five years

To “modernise” Indian Railways, the Pitroda Committee suggested five strategic planks. They are modernisation of core assets, exploration of new revenue models, review and assessment of capital projects sanctioned and work-in-process, focus on enablers and mobilisation of resources.
Based on this five-pronged strategy “15 focus areas” were identified and selected for attention.

MODERNISATION GRID: 15 FOCUS AREAS
Core assets	Track and bridges	Signalling	Rolling stock	Stations and terminals
Revenue models	PPPs	Land	Dedicated freight corridors	High speed trains
Projects	Review of existing and proposed projects
Enablers	ICT	Indigenous development		Safety
Resources	Funding	Human resources		Organisation

The Pitroda Committee strongly recommended the “mission mode” approach for all these 15 focus areas with clear objectives, measurable milestones, tangible deliveries and well-defined timelines. To achieve these modernisation objectives, the committee outlined an investment requirement of Rs 8.39 lakh crore during the 12th Plan period.
Thus, these three reports together provide an actionable agenda for action. The biggest strength of Indian Railways has always been its well-knit cadre of recognised technocrats, who have been fiercely loyal to the institution. The time has come to use this strength and reform the institution with courageous and visionary political will and acumen.

Lindsay Lohan arrested: Real-life performance at Avenue lounge much more entertaining than 'Liz & Dick' effort

Lindsay Lohan (second right) hides her face as she's escorted from the 10th Precinct on Thursday after being charged for assaulting a woman at Club Avenue in Manhattan.

The video of Lindsay Lohan crying and yelling “Are you kidding?” to cops as they hauled her away in handcuffs probably had more viewers than her movie “Liz & Dick” on Sunday night.

Lohan’s real-life repeat performance at the Avenue lounge on Thursday was in Lohan’s usual time slot — last call after Lohan punched Tiffany Mitchell in the face. Mitchell is a psychic who reportedly charges $2,500 to “cleanse people’s auras.” Oddly, she never saw this coming.

RELATED: LOHAN ARRESTED AGAIN

Some witnesses claim that Lohan became jealous when musician Max George, whom she latched onto after his band The Wanted opened for Justin Bieber at Madison Square Garden, began talking to Mitchell. The 28-year-old psychic was wearing a fur coat, circa 1980, and George had his choice of far younger women.

Lohan fled out the back door and into an SUV, a police source told the Daily News, trying to get away yet again.

Lindsay Lohan stars as Elizabeth Taylor in Lifetime's biopic 'Liz & Dick.'

Why not? She gets away with everything. The 26-year-old has a rap sheet longer than many rappers and athletes, but you rarely see her behind bars. Lohan has slugged people, chased them down like dogs in her car, she’s been busted for cocaine and virtually got off scot-free.

In February 2011, police say Lohan stole a $2,500 necklace from a California jewelry store. She was sentenced to 120 days in jail, but got community service instead. She never performed it, so on the following Nov. 7, a judge sent her to jail for 30 days. Lohan was out within hours.

In June, she crashed her Porsche into an 18-wheeler and authorities said she lied to cops, saying her assistant was driving. She was charged on that lie in California Thursday — the same day she was arrested in the New York assault.

Here’s my question: What if a black or Hispanic man committed the same crimes that Lindsay Lohan was accused of?

“If (one of my clients) stole a necklace worth over $1,000, the judge might reduce the felony to petit larceny, a misdemeanor, if he had no prior record,” top defense lawyer William Rita said. “At best, they would get three years probation. But if that probation was violated, they would be incarcerated.”

It remains to be seen whether there’s a judge on either coast who will treat Lindsay Lohan like anybody else who breaks the law.

Lunar Eclipses for Beginners

Introduction

What is an eclipse of the Moon? What causes eclipses and why? How often do eclipses happen and when is the next eclipse of the Moon? You'll learn the answers to these questions and more in MrEclipse's primer on lunar eclipses.

The Moon is a cold, rocky body about 2,160 miles (3,476 km) in diameter. It has no light of its own but shines by sunlight reflected from its surface. The Moon orbits Earth about once every 29 and a half days. As it circles our planet, the changing position of the Moon with respect to the Sun causes our natural satellite to cycle through a series of phases:

New Moon > New Crescent > First Quarter > Waxing Gibbous> Full Moon >
Waning Gibbous > Last Quarter > Old Crescent > New Moon (again

Phases of the Moon.

The phase known as New Moon can not actually be seen because the illuminated side of the Moon is then pointed away from Earth. The rest of the phases are familiar to all of us as the Moon cycles through them month after month. Did you realize that the word month is derived from the Moon's 29.5 day period?

To many of us, Full Moon is the phase of love and romance. When the Moon is Full, it rises at sunset and is visible all night long. At the end of the night, the Full Moon sets just as the Sun rises. None of the Moon's other phases have this unique characteristic. It happens because the Moon is directly opposite the Sun in the sky when the Moon is Full. Full Moon also has special significance with regard to eclipses.

Geometry of the Sun, Earth and Moon During an Eclipse of the Moon
Earth's two shadows are the penumbra and the umbra.
(Sizes and distances not to scale)

Types of Lunar Eclipses

An eclipse of the Moon (or lunar eclipse) can only occur at Full Moon, and only if the Moon passes through some portion of Earth's shadow. That shadow is actually composed of two cone-shaped components, one nested inside the other. The outer or penumbral shadow is a zone where the Earth blocks part but not all of the Sun's rays from reaching the Moon. In contrast, the inner or umbral shadow is a region where the Earth blocks all direct sunlight from reaching the Moon.

Astronomers recognize three basic types of lunar eclipses:

1. Penumbral Lunar Eclipse

The Moon passes through Earth's penumbral shadow.
These events are of only academic interest because they are subtle and hard to observe.

2. Partial Lunar Eclipse

A portion of the Moon passes through Earth's umbral shadow.
These events are easy to see, even with the unaided eye.

3. Total Lunar Eclipse

The entire Moon passes through Earth's umbral shadow.
These events are quite striking due to the Moon's vibrant red color during the total phase (totality).

Now you might be wondering "If the Moon orbits Earth every 29.5 days and lunar eclipses only occur at Full Moon, then why don't we have an eclipse once a month during Full Moon?". I'm glad you asked! You see, the Moon's orbit around Earth is actually tipped about 5 degrees to Earth's orbit around the Sun. This means that the Moon spends most of the time either above or below the plane of Earth's orbit. And the plane of Earth's orbit around the Sun is important because Earth's shadows lie exactly in the same plane. During Full Moon, our natural satellite usually passes above or below Earth's shadows and misses them entirely. No eclipse takes place. But two to four times each year, the Moon passes through some portion of the Earth's penumbral or umbral shadows and one of the above three types of eclipses occurs.

When an eclipse of the Moon takes place, everyone on the night side of Earth can see it. About 35% of all eclipses are of the penumbral type which are very difficult to detect, even with a telescope. Another 30% are partial eclipses which are easy to see with the unaided eye. The final 35% or so are total eclipses, and these are quite extrordinary events to behold.

What is the difference between a lunar eclipse and a solar eclipse? A solar eclipse is an eclipse of the Sun. It happens when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun. This is only possible when the Moon is in the New Moon phase. For more information, see Solar Eclipses for Beginners.

Total Lunar Eclipse of 2004 Oct 27-28
Beginning (right), middle (center) and end (left) of totality

Why is the Moon Red During a Total Lunar Eclipse?

During a total lunar eclipse, the Earth blocks the Sun's light from reaching the Moon. Astronauts on the Moon would then see the Earth completely eclipse the Sun. (They would see a bright red ring around the Earth as they watched all the sunrises and sunsets happening simultaneousely around the world!) While the Moon remains completely within Earth's umbral shadow, indirect sunlight still manages to reach and illuminate it. However, this sunlight must first pass deep through the Earth's atmosphere which filters out most of the blue colored light. The remaining light is a deep red or orange in color and is much dimmer than pure white sunlight. Earth's atmosphere also bends or refracts some of this light so that a small fraction of it can reach and illuminate the Moon.

The total phase of a lunar eclipse is so interesting and beautiful precisely because of the filtering and refracting effect of Earth's atmosphere. If the Earth had no atmosphere, then the Moon would be completely black during a total eclipse. Instead, the Moon can take on a range of colors from dark brown and red to bright orange and yellow. The exact appearance depends on how much dust and clouds are present in Earth's atmosphere. Total eclipses tend to be very dark after major volcanic eruptions since these events dump large amounts of volcanic ash into Earth's atmosphere. During the total lunar eclipse of December 1992, dust from Mount Pinatubo rendered the Moon nearly invisible.

All total eclipses start with a penumbral followed by a partial eclipse, and end with a partial followed by a penumbral eclipse (the total eclipse is sandwiched in the middle). The penumbral phases of the eclipse are quite difficult to see, even with a telescope. However, partial and total eclipses are easy to observe, even with the naked eye.

Total Lunar Eclipse of 2000 Jan 20-21
Beginning (right), middle (center) and end (left) of totality

Observing Lunar Eclipses

Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are completely safe to watch. You don't need any kind of protective filters. It isn't even necessary to use a telescope. You can watch the lunar eclipse with nothing more than your own two eyes. If you have a pair of binoculars, they will help magnify the view and will make the red coloration brighter and easier to see. A standard pair of 7x35 or 7x50 binoculars work fine. Remember to dress warmly and enjoy the spectacle!

Amateur astronomers can actually make some useful observations during total eclipses. It's impossible to predict exactly how dark the Moon will appear during totality. The color can also vary from dark gray or brown, through a range of shades of red and bright orange. The color and brightness depend on the amount of dust in Earth's atmosphere during the eclipse. Using the Danjon Brightness Scale for lunar eclipses, amateurs can categorize the Moon's color and brightness during totality.

Another useful amateur activity requires a telescope. Using a standard list lunar craters, one can careful measure the exact time when each crater enters and leaves the umbral shadow. These crater timings can be used to estimate the enlargement of Earth's atmosphere due to airborne dust and volcanic ash.

Of course, an eclipse of the Moon also presents a tempting target to photograph. Fortunately, lunar eclipse photography is easy provided that you have the right equipment and use it correctly. See MrEclipse's Picks for camera, lens and tripod recommendations. For more photographs taken during previous lunar eclipses, be sure to visit Lunar Eclipse Photo Gallery.

Lunar Eclipse Frequency and Future Eclipses

Penumbral eclipses are of little interest because they are hard to see. If we consider only partial and total lunar eclipses, how often do they occur?

During the five thousand year period from 2000 BCE through 3000 CE, there are 7,718 eclipses of the Moon (partial and total). This averages out to about one and a half eclipses each year. Actually, the number of lunar eclipses in a single year can range from 0 to 3. The last time that 3 total lunar eclipses occurred in one calendar year was in 1982. Partial eclipses slightly outnumber total eclipses by 7 to 6.

The table below lists every lunar eclipse from 2009 through 2015. Click on the eclipse Date to see a diagram of the eclipse and a world map showing where it is visible from. Although penumbral lunar eclipses are included in this list, they are usually hard to see because they are faint.

The Umbral Magnitude is the fraction on the Moon's diameter immersed in the umbra at maximum eclipse. For values greater than 1.0, it is a total eclipse. For negative values, it is a penumbral eclipse. The Eclipse Duration column lists the length of the partial eclipse in hours and minutes. If it is a total eclipse, two values are given. The first is the amount of time between the start and end of the partial phases while the second (in bold) is the length of the total eclipse.

Eclipses of the Moon: 2009 - 2015
Date	Eclipse Type	Umbral Magnitude	Eclipse Duration	Geographic Region of Eclipse Visibility
2009 Feb 09	Penumbral	-0.088	-	e Europe, Asia, Aus., Pacific, w N.A.
2009 Jul 07	Penumbral	-0.913	-	Aus., Pacific, Americas
2009 Aug 06	Penumbral	-0.666	-	Americas, Europe, Africa, w Asia
2009 Dec 31	Partial	0.076	01h02m	Europe, Africa, Asia, Aus.
2010 Jun 26	Partial	0.537	02h43m	e Asia, Aus., Pacific, w Americas
2010 Dec 21	Total	1.256	03h29m 01h12m	e Asia, Aus., Pacific, Americas, Europe
2011 Jun 15	Total	1.700	03h40m 01h40m	S.America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Aus.
2011 Dec 10	Total	1.106	03h32m 00h51m	Europe, e Africa, Asia, Aus., Pacific, N.A.
2012 Jun 04	Partial	0.370	02h07m	Asia, Aus., Pacific, Americas
2012 Nov 28	Penumbral	-0.187	-	Europe, e Africa, Asia, Aus., Pacific, N.A.
2013 Apr 25	Partial	0.015	00h27m	Europe, Africa, Asia, Aus.
2013 May 25	Penumbral	-0.934	-	Americas, Africa
2013 Oct 18	Penumbral	-0.272	-	Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia
2014 Apr 15	Total	1.291	03h35m 01h18m	Aus., Pacific, Americas
2014 Oct 08	Total	1.166	03h20m 00h59m	Asia, Aus., Pacific, Americas
2015 Apr 04	Total	1.001	03h29m 00h05m	Asia, Aus., Pacific, Americas
2015 Sep 28	Total	1.276	03h20m 01h12m	e Pacific, Americas, Europe, Africa, w Asia

Geographic abreviations (used above): n = north, s = south, e = east, w = west, c = central

For an extended version of this table, see: Lunar Eclipse Preview: 2001-2020.

The last total lunar eclipse visible from the U.S.A. occured on Aug. 28, 2007. The next total lunar eclipse occurs on Feb. 21, 2008.

Upcoming lunar eclipses visible from the U.S.A. include Feb. 21, 2008 (total), Jun. 26, 2010 (partial), Dec. 21, 2010 (total), Jun. 04, 2012 (partial), Apr. 15, 2014 (total) and Oct. 08, 2014 (total).

Total Lunar Eclipse Over Maui
A Nikon 8008 was used in multiple exposure mode to capture the entire eclipse
on one frame of film. A second exposure captures morning twilight.
Total Lunar Eclipse of 2000 July 16 (Lahaina, Maui)

‘Talaash’ review

Story: Surjan Singh Shekhawat who has been entrusted the task of solving a high-profile murder case of a film star is up against a dead-end. Will he, won't he be able to take the case to a natural conclusion?

Cast: Aamir Khan, Rani Mukerji, Kareena Kapoor, Nawazuddin Siddiqui

Direction: Reema Kagti

Genre: Thriller

Duration: 2 hours 20 minutes

Movie Review: Talaash belongs to the genre of cinema noir of which there are few examples in recent times. This film is a good attempt at revisiting suspense flicks that were a huge craze in the 50-60s. To bring Gen-Now up to speed, back then movies like CID, Mera Saya, Woh Kaun Thi weaved magic on celluloid for patrons back then. But, make no mistake here. Though, Talaash has the mystique of the cinema Raj Khosla; it is modern in its approach and the setting is contemporary.

The plot revolves around a bizarre high profile death of a movie star Armaan Kapoor (Vivaan Bhatena). Aamir Khan (Surjan Singh Shekhawat) is the cop in charge of the case. The clues lead him to Mumbai's red-light area where he jostles between pimps and prostitutes looking for answers.

It's also revealed that Surjan is married to Roshni (Rani Mukerji). But he is like a man possessed on the job because of a sensitive incident in his life.

In a bid to bury his head in the sand and escape his personal demons, he directs all his energies into his khaki uniform.

Coming to the Armaan Kapoor case, vital clues keep taking him to a working girl called Rosie (Kareena Kapoor). Between piecing the mystery together, the cop and the call-girl, develop a relationship that goes slightly beyond the regular.

In the performance department, Aamir Khan should pat himself on his back for a superlative act; he's a powerhouse, flawless from frame one to 10. This superstar-actor should also be lauded for raising the bar in his choice of films and roles, unlike many of his contemporaries who neither have the inclination nor the capacity to move away from the 'mould' they have been typecast in.

Rani Mukerji is one of the finest actresses of this generation. In Talaash she is effortless in her part of a wife in a strife ridden marriage and a mother who has faced a tragedy. Kareena Kapoor looks lovely and sits pretty in her hooker act, going from coy to brazen like a pro.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui (Taimur) has an interesting role as a street-savvy chai-serving sidekick in the flesh bazaar. Again, this is one actor, whose potential Bollywood is discovering slowly but surely.

Ram Sampath's music haunts—especially Muskaanein jhooti hai and Jiya lage na .

Farhan Akhtar's dialogue has fire. But the story written by Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti oscillates between real and implausible; making it hard for the screenplay to bridge the gap, especially in some key portions in the second half. At time the pace also numbs you making you shift in your seat. But if you average it out, Talaash is well-worth the price of a ticket.

Writing and making thrillers is never easy. It has to be gripping, should engage the viewers and has to steer away from predictability. And Reema Kagti’s ‘Talaash’ scores in all these aspects.

Written by Reema and Zoya Akhtar, ‘Talaash’ grips you from the very first shot and keeps you hooked through the two and half hours of its runtime. A tale of loss, betrayal and revenge, the film explores the many versions of truth and questions the obvious, leaving the viewer thinking of things unexplained.

Superstar Armaan Kapoor’s car nose dives into the sea one late night in Mumbai. While initial reports suggests it to be an accident, Inspector Surjan Singh Shekhwat (Aamir Khan), who is investigating the case, finds a murky case of blackmailing which may have a connection with the accident.

While investigating the case, he comes in contact with Tehmur (NawazuddinSiddiqui) a pimp’s right hand man and a prostitute called Rosy (KareenaKapoor) who may have the missing link to the jigsaw puzzle. Meanwhile, Shekhawat, himself is fighting demons of his past which has a direct impact on his marital life. Suffering from insomnia, Shekhawat roams around the empty streets of the city while his wife Roshni(Rani Mukerji) engulfs herself in grief and solitude back home.

By the looks of it, the film seems like an uncomplicated story, almost an ‘open and shut’ case. But as the story unfolds, layers of sub plots unravel truth which pushes Shekhawat to question his own beliefs.

The film’s narrative is slow and takes time to establish itself. In fact the initial shots almost make the viewer think that there are parallel plots in the story. But Kagti beautifully joins all the dots. Kagti unravels only bit by bit but never really gives in to the viewer’s curiosity until the very end. In fact, the director makes you think in a certain way, just the way she would want people to think which culminates to a mind boggling end.

While the story is clearly the highlight of the film, the cast beautifully takes it forward. Aamir Khan lives up to his image of experimenting with a role of a dark Surjan Singh Shekhawat. Aamir gives a very restrained performance and stays away from the stereotype, giving depth to his character. He plays a gritty cop but is also messiah to the needy. He is concerned about his wife’s mental state but himself finds it difficult to come to terms with his past.

Rani Mukerji delivers a sensitive portrayal of a mother and wife who is grappled with grief and is helpless to the present problems that are in front of her. A stark contrast from her over the top portrayal of Meenakshi in her last outing ‘Aiyyaa’, Rani makes the de-glam, depressive Roshni a character who you want to sympathise with.

But of the three leading cast, it is Kareena who shines the most as the friendly, helpful prostitute Rosy. She looks beautiful, in spite of her gaudy outfits, doesn’t over act (which she tends to do in many of her films) and demands all your attention when on screen. In fact in certain scenes, she overshadows Aamir, partly because her character is such and partly because at the end of the day she can act, provided she is given a good script and a good director. Good thing that the two leading ladies have a ‘Talaash’ releasing the same year when their earlier films (Aiyyaa and Heroine) almost had them packing their bags and heading towards retirement. The film puts them back in the place where they rightfully deserve to be, owing to their body of work.

The other shining star in the film is a man who has been making waves this year in various roles. As the limping Tehmur, NawazuddinSiddiqui gives a flawless performance. But then, when does he not mesmerize the viewers? He plays a no nonsense cop in ‘Kahaani’ with as much élan as a revenge seeking gangster from ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’ to even a limping pimp in ‘Talaash’. Each role varied, each character well defined by this incredibly talented man.

Shernaz Patel as the creepy, inquisitive neighbour ads to the story’s narrative but a talented actor like Rajkumar Yadav is somewhat wasted as Shekhawat’s assistant DevrathKulkarni as he doesn’t get the chance to prove his mettle.

The camera work of Mohanan captures Mumbai in all its glory. The opening sequence, where the credits roll, is especially well shot and sets the mood of the film well. Most of the film is shot at night, and the contrasts between the plush suburban households to the murky lanes that lead to the brothels are well captured. Music by Ram Sampath is praiseworthy and is used in the background.

The film demands your patience as it establishes several characters in a leisurely pace and intertwines them beautifully into a story which makes an conscious effort to steer away from the clichés. Yes, there are few moments when the film tends to slack but soon enough a new twist demands you to sit up and concentrate properly on the film.

Watch it for the story. That is the actual hero of the film. The brilliant actors are just an icing on the cake.Tip-off: You may not like Talaash, if mystery and intrigue set at a languid pace is not what you look out for in your matinee outing.

Trailer

Shahrukh Khan Video Songs.......in HD

Shah Rukh Khan

Date of Birth : 2 November 1965, New Delhi, India

Nickname

King Khan
SRK
The Badshah of Bollywood
Shahrukh
The King of Bollywood

Height : 5' 8" (1.73 m)

Mini Biography Sharukh Khan was born on 2 November 1965 in New Delhi, India. He married Gauri Khan on 25 October 1991. They have two children, son Aryan Khan (b. 1997), and daughter Suhana (b. 2000). Khan started out his career by appearing in several television serials during 1988-1990. He made his film debut with the commercially successful Deewana (1992). He began to achieve success at the box office from his villainous roles in films such as Darr (1993), Baazigar (1993), and Anjaam (1994). During his years in the Indian film industry, he won seven Filmfare best actor awards and had significant box-office success. Some of his films include Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Om Shanti Om (2007), and Chak De India! (2007). While he does his romantic scenes during songs or in his films, he copies the style of Rajesh Khanna, and his acting style has influences of his inspirations--Dilip Kumar and Rajesh Khanna.

Video Songs
1.Kuch Kuch Hota Hai - Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998)