Bhubaneswar: Orissa-based Prince Dance Group to perform at the opening ceremony of Commonwealth Games. It should be noted that the  Games slated to be start from October 3 in New Delhi.

It should be noted that Prince Dance Group came into the national fame in August 2009 after they won the reality show – India’s got talent. Notably, the Prince Dance Group of the Ambapua village located on the outskirts of the Berhampur city. This dance group is headed by Krishna Mohan Reddy and his group comprise of the children.

Kendrapada: “I Am Kalam’, a feature film directed by young debutant Odia director Nila Madhab Panda has won accolades in the recent 63rd Cannes Film Festival held from May 12 to 23.

The movie revolves around the trials and tribulations of a small boy yearning for education and toiling hard to realise his cherished dreams.

Produced by the Indian development organisation Smile Foundation and Panda’s Eleeanora Images, the film stars Gulshan Grover, child actors Harsh Mayar and Hussan Saad and French actress Beatrice Ordeix.

During production, it was selected to participate in the Cinekid co-production market in Amsterdam and also the ‘Work-in-Progress’ Lab at India’s Film Bazaar.

It is a story of struggle that I have faced and observed since my own childhood, Panda said, adding that the film celebrates the survival of the human spirit against the overwhelming odds and it is an inspirational film and he has given the treatment of a contemporary fable.

Panda has directed some 60 short films before debuting into feature.

I Am Kalam is stated to be India’s first feature film to be produced by a development organization in India.

The movie aims at sensitizing the masses about the quest of a child to nurture his dreams and subtle portrayal of basic child rights and subsequently the achievement of one’s aspirations, stated Panda.

The film stars Delhi slum resident Harsh Mayar as Chhotu, who represent millions of other children with a similar economic background and it is scripted by Sanjau Chauhan of Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Maara fame.

Set in Rajasthan, the film is the story of Chhotu alias Kalam and his hunger for education deprived of by poverty.

The film takes the viewer to Chhotu’s world as he starts referring to himself as Kalam after listening to the former Indian President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam speak on television about the struggle to educate himself.

Notably, the film is sure to stir the conscience of every individual with its fantastic story line, excellent folk music and has been shot extensively at the rustic locations of Rajasthan.

In fact, even before the shoot was complete, the film was selected for the International film co-production market in Amsterdam (Cinekid) and was duly appreciated because of its heart-moving trailer, informed Panda.

The film is now officially selected for the Vienna International Children’s Film Festival.

Going by the acclaim, the film may also become a part of the coveted film festivals such as Venice, Lucas, Cinekid, Shanghai, Korean Kinder Festival, Germany International Film Festival, Mostra Internazionale d’Arte Cinematografica and Festival For Children And Youth as they have shown a keen interest in the work.

To make it more interesting I have given the treatment of a contemporary fable, which would surely attract children more since it promises you something that hard work will win half of the battle in life rather than luck. However, I would also see it as a world cinema, Panda said, adding that it was the former Indian President’s vision to educate the underserved children of India that inspired the making of a full length feature film.

This film is an effort to appeal to all the privileged mass to come forward so as to make the Act a reality, Panda pointed out.

Panda previously made documentaries and TV dramas for broadcasters including the BBC, Discovery Channel and the National Geographic.

Bhubaneswar: The Niladrivihar Youth & Cultural Association, which has been working for growth of cultural ethos, will stage a two-day opera festival at the Niladri Vihar Durga Puja pandal here from Wednesday.

On the inaugural day, Kuhudi Ghara, written by Kalinga Das, and on Thursday Michha Sampark, penned by lecturer Golak Maharana, will be staged amidst cultural extravaganza by the local artists. Bhagaban Panda has directed both the plays.

A release to this effect was issued by the association’s president Dr Prakash Chandra Panigrahi, general secretary Biswajit Patnaik (Silu) and cultural secretary Dayanidhi Swain.

Bhubaneswar: Odiya  girl Shreya Mishra and Ipsita Pati entered the final round of ‘I Am She 2010′ to be held in Mumbai for Miss Universe India on May 28. She hails from Sambalpur.

After qualifying in the initial rounds in Italy and Goa, Shreya was selected for the final round along with 28 other girls. Earlier, Shreya had entered the final round of the Femina Miss India but was deprived by a thread margin from the championship.

A resident of Kolabira in Jharsuguda district, Shreya’s family lives in Santi Nagar, Sambalpur. While her father Col KK Mishra is a Defence officer stationed in Ranchi, her mother Sabita Panda is an Inspector of Police in the officer of the SP (Vigilance), Sambalpur. After passing Class X from St Joseph’s Convent at Sambalpur, Shreya completed her +2 from BJB College, Bhubaneswar. She is now pursuing her graduation with Applied Psychology Honours in the Delhi University.

Ipsita Pati originally hails from Ganjam district in Orissa. She has made Visakhapatnam (Vizag) her home. She had also won the Miss South India 2008 title.

Odia director’s film to be screened at CannesBalasore: ‘The Uncaptured Passion’, a 30-minute film, made by an engineering student of the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Durgapur about the life of a photographer will be screened at the international film festival at Cannes in France this month.
While seven final-year students took the initiative to make the film, it has been directed and edited by Harsh Vardhan Singh of Balasore district.
While the rare opportunity has been a matter of pride and celebration for both the district and the state, it is one of their happiest moments for the parents.
Although we have been the motivating and guiding factors like any other parents, we never knew that he has the talent in the field, said Bidyadhar Singh, a retired Army officer, quipping this is really a surprising pleasure for us to learn about the invitation for the prestigious show.
Owner of the Entertainment Creations Pulak Mukharjee, the producer of the film, had met Harsh Vardhan during the Global Film Festival at Indore in October 2009.
After seeing one of his short films Khatah (mistake on terrorism), well appreciated by the audience, Mukharjee offered his next film for direction to Harsh Vardhan, informed Singh.
The film has got slot to be screened on Friday, Singh informed.
The film is based on the story of a man who intended to become a photographer of some repute, but could not pursue his dream due to various circumstances.
With his dream shattered, he loses his mental stability and becomes a homeless wanderer.
But, his passion to be a photographer lives on.
The students set up a production house called Paper Weight Entertainment.
The budding film-maker and his association received encouragement and support from the teachers of the college.
While the students wrote the script, Harsh Vardhan directed and his friend Imran Ahmed and Menakshi Mour were in the lead role.
The film saw the light of the day and the budding film makers are hopeful of getting a prize in the Cannes Film Festival.
According to Harsh Vardhan, the film is realistic as dreams and hopes of many people get shattered because of various circumstances.
The students also managed to contact the French and US-based music composers Noelle Vintesca and Gael Dijean Hugo, who composed the sound track of the film.

Report by Dipti Ranjan Kanungo; Cuttack : Distinguished Oriya film actor and Director Hemant Das died on Tuesday after a prolonged illness. He was 76 and his wife and only son had died before him.

While he was shifted to SCB medical college in serious condition from his native village, Khuranga of Banki Sub Division of Cuttack district he expired in the way.He had acted in Oriya Film Sesha Sraban, Jajabara, Niraba Jhada, Danda Balunga, Kanyadana etc. more than 50 oriya films and TV serials. He has also acted in Hindi film Sodh. He was awarded Jayadev award , Kelucharan award and Orissa Cine critic Association award.Many Oriya film artistes, his fans and friends rushed to his village to pay homage to the veteran actor.

The Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has expressed his hearty grief on the death of veteran actor and Director.

Bhubaneswar: The first Odia spiritual channel Prarthana was launched by Odisha Television on the occasion of the Maha Visuva Sankranti on Wednesday. Chief of the channel and OTV senior general manager Ratikanta Satpathy said the channel would show programmes based on religion, tradition, reforms and culture and give special emphasis on Odia festivals and culture.

Blistering heat wave conditions continued to sweep across Orissa

Report by Orissadiary correspondent; Bhubaneswar: Scorching sun throws normal life out of gear in Orissa. On Friday Capital city of Bhubaneswar recorded maximum day temperature of 43.6 degrees Celsius. As the temperature soared to 43.6 degrees Celsius in capital on Friday breaking all previous records during the second week of April.

Jharsuguda recorded the highest temperature with 44 degrees Celsius. Cuttack recorded 42.6 degrees Celsius, Puri 31.8, Cuttack 42.6, Balasore 40.8, Keonjhar 39.2, Sambalpur 41.0, Titilagarh 43.5, Balangir 43.0, Malkangiri 41.0, Sundergarh 43.0, Phulbani 40 degrees, Angul 42.7, Baripada 43.6 and Bhawanipatna 41.5 degrees Celsius.

Local Meteorological Centre said the heat wave condition would prevail in some parts of the state during the next 24 hours. It should be noted that the state has already reported at least 23 deaths due to alleged sunstroke during the past few days due to persisting heat wave conditions.

Bhubaneswar: Workers and leaders of Left parties on Thursday staged demonstrations and courted arrest across Orissa protesting rise in prices of essential commodities as part of their country-wide agitation against the UPA government at the Centre.

Leaders of CPI-M, CPI, Forward Bloc and RSP criticised the economic policy of the UPA and threatened to intensify their agitation if the Centre failed to take concrete steps to check inflation.

Demanding steps to provide jobs to the unemployed and strengthen public distribution system, CPI’s state secretary Dibakar Nayak claimed that a large number of party workers courted arrest while proceeding towards Raj Bhavan here.

CPI-M state secretary Janaran Pati claimed that about 15,000 party workers courted arrest in different places of Orissa during Thursday’’s protest action.

The Left leaders demanded that the Central government roll back the hike in fuel prices as it had resulted in escalation in prices of items of daily use.

Demonstrations and ‘jail bharo’ agitation were held in Cuttack, Berhampur, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Khurda, Puri, Nayagarh, Baripada, Sundargarh and many other places.

Left workers courted arrest while demonstrating near the offices of district collectors, post offices and on national highways, sources said.

Bhubaneswar: Despite global meltdown and sluggish export-import business, Paradip port handled all-time record traffic of 57.01 million tonnes in 2009-10, scoring a 22.84 per cent growth, which prompted it to plan 59 MTPA capacity addition by 2012.

‘The 57.01 million-tonne traffic, handled during 2009-10, was a record surpassing previous year’s record of 46.41 million tonnes and registering a growth of 22.84 per cent,” chairman of Paradip Port Trust K Raghuramaiah told reporters here.

There was also substantial improvement in financial performance in 2009-10 as the port made an operating income of Rs 786.41 crore against Rs 696.71 crore in 2008-09, he said.

Similarly, the operating expenditure of the port during the current financial year comes to Rs 409.17 crore as against Rs 358.17 crore, Raghuramaiah said.

Paradip Port achieved the highest growth rate amongst all the major ports in handling of traffic during 2009-10, he said adding its position improved to fifth from earlier 8th among major ports in terms of volume of traffic handled.

Stating that traffic handled years more than doubled from 25.3 million tonnes in 2003-04, the PPT Chairman said a record 6.83 million tonnes of Iron ore was handled mechanically in Iron Ore Handling Plant in 2009-10, beating the previous record of 5.84 million tonnes in 2008-09.

Encouraged by traffic boom despite recession, the port plans to raise its capacity to 135 MTPA by 2012 from 76 MTPA at present by adding 59 MTPA, he said.

On future plans, Raghuramaiah said the port has initiated a project for ‘Construction of Western Dock System’ for building six berths at an estimated cost of Rs 2,000 crore for which preparation of a detailed project report and detailed engineering work are under progress.

It has also initiated a project for construction of an island breakwater with berthing facilities on the lee side of the breakwater at an estimated cost of Rs 800 crore, he said.

A proposal has been initiated to construct an Oil berth with a capacity of ten MTPA at an estimated cost of Rs 172.97 crore for which detailed engineering work is under progress, he said adding the project is likely to be completed by March, 2012.

Second Single Point Mooring in association with Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) would be set up at Paradip for handling of their Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) by March, 2012. It would ass about 15 million tons of cargo to the present volume, the PPT Chairman said.

Similarly, construction of a multipurpose berth on BOT basis through PPP mode is under way for handling containers and other clean cargoes and the facility would add about five MTPA to the present capacity of the port, he said.

Regarding ongoing projects, he said Paradip port is undertaking the work of ‘Deepening of Channel’ at a cost of Rs 253.36 crore and the work is likely to be completed by June, this year. It would enable the port to handle cape size vessels.