MUMBAI: Zee TV proudly announced the winner of the second season of India‘s biggest dance reality show, ‘LUX DANCE INDIA DANCE‘. The Grand Finale was held at Shahaji Raje Krida Sankul (Andheri Sports Complex) on April 23rd and telecast LIVE on Zee TV. In an intense, nerve-racking finish, Shakti Mohan was voted the winner by millions of viewers from across the nation. Heartthrobs Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif were the star attractions at the Grand Finale. The crowd went berserk when the winner was announced.

The evening of the Grand Finale was packed with one breathtaking act after another. Be it Remo‘s spirited act to a medley of Micheal Jackson‘s chartbusters or Terence‘s jaw-dropping zip-line entry seated atop the Avatar bird, the crowd couldn‘t get enough of their favorite masters. Punit‘s rocking rendition of ‘Dhoom‘, Shakti‘s spunky jig to Shut Up n Bounce & Chamma Chamma, Binny‘s mermaid act to the soul-stirring Mar Jawaan & Dharmesh‘s stunning turn on a giant cassette player prop had the audience begging for more. On public demand, Shakti joined hands with Amar for an encore of the Best duet act of Season 2, Khuda Jane. The audience stood up and applauded when the four finalists performed a special aerial act to Jhoom Barabar Jhoom. As if this wasn‘t exciting enough, Grand Master Mithun Da joined hands with anchors jay Bhanushali & Saumya Tandon for a comic act that had the audience in splits!

Commenting on the finale, Mr. Nitin Vaidya, COO, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. and Business Head, Zee TV said, "Lux Dance India Dance has redefined reality programming on Indian television. Our esteemed mentors, Remo D‘ Souza, Geeta Kapoor and Terence Lewis have nurtured the participants, creating dancing stars out of dancers. Our honored Grand Master Mithun Chakravarty‘s steady guidance and grooming has helped us make the show a grand success. With Shakti‘s victory, the second season of ‘Lux Dance India Dance‘ has surpassed the benchmarks set by the first season. Lux Dance India Dance has offered immensely talented dancing stars to the entertainment industry and will continue to do so. My best wishes to all the finalists for their future endeavors."

Vote Count
" Shakti Mohan- 734140 votes
" Dharmesh Yelande- 730931 votes
" Punit Pathak- 723867 votes
" Binny Sharma- 697914 votes

The winner, as promised, got the Sunheri Taqdeer Ki Topi (The Golden hat). Apart from this, the winner was also bestowed with a contract of Rs. 50 lakhs with Zee TV, a Wagon-R car and an exclusive opportunity to star in Farah Khan‘s next film ‘Tees Maar Khan‘.
 

MUMBAI: IBN-Lokmat brings to its viewers an amusing Great Bhet with the extremely talented ventriloquist, puppeteer and puppet-maker Ramdas Padhye. Entertainment is one of the toughest jobs in this world as there is huge amount of hard work and talent required. IBN-Lokmat brings to its viewers an opportunity to know the artifacts of this entertainer and his life behind the curtains. Witness Ramdas on IBN-Lokmat as he shares a slice of his puppeting career with Nikhil Wagle Editor, IBN-Lokmat on Saturday 24th April 2010 at 9:30 pm

Ramdas has performed more than 9000 ventriloquism and puppet shows in India and abroad. His website is the first Indian website on ventriloquism and puppetry. Ramdas has been regularly entertaining the viewers since 1972. He was the first Indian ventriloquist to perform ventriloquism and puppet-based shows on American television. We all know the famous advertisement of Lijjat Papad, which was performed by Ramdas and the "Bunny" which became popular in the advertisement.

His recent achievements include puppet serial for Singapore TV ? 12, this is the first time that a foreign T.V. station has invited Indian Puppeteer for a full-fledged puppet serial. Ramdas a second Generation puppeteer has been an invariable entertainer in this field and has taken up his family tradition of entertaining from his Father who introduced this art to India in 1920. He has done many commercials and one of them being the TATA SKY advertisements with Aamir Khan. Ramdas created more than 50 puppets in his exclusive puppet studio.

Witness this great entertainer narrate his amazing and entertaining journey exclusively on IBN-Lokmat Great Bhet on 24th April 2010 at 9:30pm.

You can also watch this entertaining Great Bhet on Sunday i.e. 25th April 2010 at 12pm and 5 pm.
 

MUMBAI: In the run up to the UK General Election on Thursday 6 May 2010, the BBC?s international news services are broadcasting informative and in-depth coverage, available to international audiences.

On UK election night, BBC World News will show a live BBC News Special from 21:45 GMT. David Dimbleby will host the programme, joined by Jeremy Paxman, Nick Robinson and Jeremy Vine and the new-look Swingometer. There will be analysis of seat-by-seat results and regular news updates in addition to live interviews.

BBC World Service will also broadcast a seven-hour election night special. The programme will offer global audiences bespoke analysis and regular updates throughout the night. Presenter Robert Lustig will be joined by leading politicians and political pundits from 21:00 GMT as they bring the results to the world.

In the lead-up to the General Election, the BBC?s international news services are broadcasting a selection of programming, which follows the campaign trail:

On BBC World News:

BBC World News is airing the televised Prime Ministerial Debates between the leaders of the three biggest political parties in the UK. Gordon Brown (Labour), David Cameron (Conservative) and Nick Clegg (Liberal Democrats) will take questions from a studio audience, based on important themes shaping UK and worldwide politics. The debate on international affairs will air on 22 April at 19:00 GMT and the final debate, which focuses on the economy, will air on 29 April 19:30 GMT.

The Campaign Show, airing from now until 5 May*, provides a round-up of the day?s essential events from Westminster, including interviews with top politicians and commentators.

On BBC World Service:

BBC World Service will be covering the election campaign, and examining the issues and debates that impact not only on the UK itself but its relations with the rest of the world.

In the lead-up to the election, BBC World Service?s news coverage will include a range of unique international perspectives on events, including: BBC World Service?s Political Correspondent, Rob Watson; British Affairs Correspondent, Rob Broomby; and Joseph Warungu, Head of News from BBC World Service?s African Service. Each will take a personal look at what marks out the UK elections from those of other democracies in a series of news reports.

BBC World Service will also be broadcasting the Prime Ministerial Debates, including the debate on international affairs, which will air in a special edition of Newshour on Thursday 22 April, 19:00-21:00 GMT (23.30-1.30 IST) Rob Watson will be in each of cities hosting the debates to follow events, while Rob Broomby will be joined by a group of voters to find out how they react.

Every Friday, throughout the lead-up to the election, the weekly strand Politics UK will be covering the latest news, interviews and issues emerging from the campaign.

BBC World Service?s Steve Evans and Lesley Curwen, from Business Daily, return to their home towns in a special Election feature. Examining the economic issues facing the UK public from the standpoint of Bridgend in South Wales and Preston in England?s industrial North West, the two bring a uniquely personal perspective to their respective reports.

For more details on BBC World Service?s election coverage go to bbcworldservice.com.

Online:

bbc.com/ukelection will provide up-to-date coverage, in-depth guides and a constituency tracker detailing the latest news and results. Audiences can share their views and opinions via BBC World News? official Facebook site.

MUMBAI: ZoOm, the 100% Bollywood entertainment channel brings its viewers a double treat this weekend with super exclusive songs from the much awaited film ?Kites? and ?Badmaash Company?. Slated for telecast on Friday April 23 and Saturday April 24, 2010, ZoOm audiences can be the first to catch the exclusive telecast of the latest songs prior to the release of the film.

Kites features Hrithik Roshan in his grungy new look, with the hot Bollywood babe Kangana Ranaut and the ravishing Mexican beauty Barbara Mori. Kangana Ranaut marks her presence as the exceptional beauty in the latest song ?FIRE? in the film.

Shahid Kapoor and Anoushka Sharma show off their sizzling chemistry in Badmaash Company. Check out the latest song track of the film that features the duo including Vir Das and Meing Chang and find out if they are actually acting like Badmaash rogues in the film?

So tune in to find out which latest Bollywood film is sizzling the charts this weekend, Friday-Saturday, April 23-24, 2010 only on ZoOm

MUMBAI: The witty Rocky and Mayur are back on Highway to do their best ? eating food, meeting people and clocking in more miles!

In the first episode of the new season, join them in their journey to the city of lakes, Udaipur, as they gorge on a mix of traditional and foreign treats. But what satiates them most is the bountiful Thali from the neighbouring state of Gujarat.

Don?t miss ?Highway on my Plate? this Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 8:00 pm and repeat on Wednesday, April 28th at 9:00 pm only on NDTV Good Times.
 

MUMBAI: Global views of the United States have improved markedly over the last year while views of many countries have become more negative, according to the latest BBC World Service poll across 28 countries. For the first time since the BBC started tracking in 2005, views of the United States‘ influence in the world are now more positive than negative on average.

The survey, conducted by GlobeScan/PIPA among more than 29,000 adults, asked respondents to say whether they considered the influence of different countries in the world to be mostly positive or mostly negative. It found that the United States is viewed positively on balance in 20 of 28 countries, with an average of 46 per cent now saying it has a mostly positive influence in the world, while 34 per cent say it has a negative influence.

Compared to a year earlier, negative ratings of the United States have dropped a striking nine points on average across the countries surveyed both years, while positive ratings are up a more modest four points. Ratings of the influence of many other countries, meanwhile, have declined over the past year. On average, positive ratings of the United Kingdom and Japan are down three points, Canada down six points, and the European Union down four points. Ratings of the United Kingdom‘s influence in the world declined significantly in 11 countries and rose in only three.

Germany is the most favourably viewed nation (an average of 59% positive), followed by Japan (53%), the United Kingdom (52%), Canada (51%), and France (49%). The European Union is viewed positively by 53 per cent. In contrast, Iran is the least favourably viewed nation (15%), followed by Pakistan (16%), North Korea (17%), Israel (19%), and Russia (30%).

While it is not among the most favourably viewed nations, the improvement in the ratings of the United States means it has now overtaken China in terms of positive perceptions. Fifteen countries view China favourably on balance, with an average of 41 per cent feeling it has a mostly positive influence in the world and 38 per cent feeling its influence is mostly negative.

Iran attracts mostly negative views in all countries polled except Mexico and Pakistan-on average, 56 per cent rate it negatively. Views of Iran in China and Russia have deteriorated-positive views have dropped 11 points among the Chinese people (30%) while negative views of Iran have jumped up
13 points among Russians (to 45%).

The BBC World Service Poll has been tracking opinions about country influence in the world since 2005. The latest results are based on 29,977 in-home or telephone interviews conducted across a total of 28 countries by the international polling firm GlobeScan, together with the Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA) at the University of Maryland.
GlobeScan coordinated fieldwork between 30 November 2009 and 16 February 2010.

GlobeScan Chairman Doug Miller comments: "People around the world today view the United States more positively than at any time since the second Iraq war. While still well below that of countries like Germany and the UK, the global standing of the US is clearly on the rise again."

Steven Kull, director of PIPA, comments, "While China‘s image is stuck in neutral, America has motored past it in the global soft-power competition.

"After a year, it appears the ‘Obama effect‘ is real. Its influence on people‘s views worldwide, though, is to soften the negative aspects of the United States‘ image, while positive aspects are not yet coming into strong focus."

India

Worldwide, views of India lean only modestly to the positive, barely edging out views of China. Among 27 countries polled, 15 are positive about India‘s influence in world affairs, ten are negative and two are divided. On average, among 27 countries, 36 per cent are positive and 31 per cent negative about India‘s influence. A high 33 per cent do not provide an answer or are neutral.

Among the tracking countries negative views have dropped by four points, but positive views have also dropped by two points, suggesting little net gain.

While views of India were fairly negative in Europe in 2009 there has been something of a warming trend. Among the French, positive views have grown by nine points (now 38%, up from 29%). Germans‘ favourable perceptions have increased by ten points (now 32%, up from 22%). Among Portuguese, negative attitudes have fallen by 11 points (now 35%, down from 46%). But in all three cases, views are still predominantly negative. Italians‘ unfavourable views have fallen by nine points (now 34%, down from 43%), shifting them from a divided view in 2009 to leaning positive in 2010.

There has been a distinct cooling with its counterpart, China. While in 2009 views were divided there, Chinese favourable views have fallen by 15 points, so that negative views (47%) now strongly outweigh positive ones (29%).
China together with Pakistan (48% have negative views) have the most negative views of India, followed by Germany (46%).

However positive views are up in its other large neighbour, Indonesia (now 50%, from 38%). Filipinos have also warmed a bit with negative feelings decreasing by eight points (45%, down from 53%), but they still largely outweigh positive feelings (28%).

In the USA negative views are down by eight points (now 18%, from 26%) and a robust 55% say they have positive views of India. South Korea is the only country with a larger percentage (56%) saying that they see India having a positive influence.

Ghanaians views have had a sharp downturn with positive views decreasing by
24 points (now 33%, from 57%). Australians have also cooled with positive views dropping from 53 to 44 per cent. But in both cases positive views continue to prevail.

In Central America, unfavourable perceptions have increased by nine points (42%, up from 33%) and is the dominant position.