Mumbai: Prime Focus Limited (PFL), a global visual entertainment services group that provides creative and technical services to the film, broadcast, and advertising market is proud to announce that it has contributed services to 5 out of 10 Oscar contenders.

With the shortlist for the Visual Effects Oscar 2012 announced, Prime Focus has contributed to 5 out of the 10 films which are in the running. The work ranged from creating complex VFX shots for Tree of Life and X-M en, to being the lead 2D-3D converter for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, to completing 3D conversion and delivering stereoscopic VFX shots for Transformers: Dark of the M oon and supplying on-set equipment to Hugo.

Prime Focus was the lead contributor in the 3D conversion of the highest grossing film of 2011 and third in the all time list, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, delivering 400 3D shots in the movie. On completion of the film director David Yates said, "Prime Focus delivered on every level and helped make our 3D conversion all that we could have hoped for and more."

As the leader in the 2D-3D conversion space, Prime Focus delivered stereoscopic 3D visual effects and converted 230 shots into 3D for Michael Bay?s Transformers: Dark of The Moon which went on to be the fourth highest grossing film of all time and second highest grossing film of 2011, collecting around $1.12 billion at the box office.

MUMBAI: As we are coming close to Republic Day, the feeling of patriotism has started getting stronger within all of us. It was on January 26th, 1950 that the constitution of India came into force and India became a truly Sovereign, Democratic and Republic country. Let us on this day, recount all the sacrifices given by our leaders to get us where we stand today!

Celebrate the Spirit of Patriotism with Blockbuster Movies like Hum Dono, Khakee, Firaaq, Aakrosh and many more on YouTube Or watch selected scenes and stellar performances from movies like Pukaar, Sarfarosh and Mr.India.

Who can forget the scene from Sarfarosh in which Aamir Khan says "Rupaiyo ki lalach mai apne desh ko bechne chala hai,Haramzada" Or the Power pact performance by Anil Kapoor in Pukaar.

Music forms a special part of any celebration. Get Access to a devoted playlist that will have all your favourite patriotic songs like ?Apni Aazadi Ko Hum?, ?chhodo kal ki batein.?, ?ye desh hai veer jawanon k.? and many more. The list also includes The Anna Hazare Anthem that shows the impact of Anna on the youth as well as the public respose that he got. Simply Log on to http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEED8D663B42EDA9B

MUMBAI: This Republic Day, UTV Action is all set to take action a notch higher with the legendary superhero Batman. Upholding its brand proposition of bringing the biggest action heroes and best Hollywood action content to viewers, UTV Action showcases the epic thriller ? The Dark Knight? on 26th January at 8.45pm.

Building up the thrill of the movie is an innovative trade activation which has branded stickers of the malicious Joker?s famed statement ? ?Why so serious?? ? pasted in washrooms across 11 agencies in Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi. Viewers can also win interesting Dark Knight 3D posters by answering a simple question on the UTV Action FB page.

Speaking on the acclaimed movie, Manasi Sapre, Programming Head, UTV Action said, ?One of the most celebrated superhero films ? The Dark Knight - sees Christian Bale return to the role of Batman and Heath Ledger don the ghoulishly gleeful Joker which won him the well deserved Oscar. Director Christopher Nolan returns with a darker, more powerful and action packed plot in his latest Batman instalment. With extraordinary special effects and talented performances, Dark Knight is an action extravaganza sure to be enjoyed by action aficionados who can now watch the film for the first time in Hindi on Indian television.?

MUMBAI: Monnet Ispat & Energy Ltd today announced the prestigious relay torch run for the "Go for Gold" relay campaign. The torch run campaign which will commence from Kashmir will culminated in Kanyakumari on May 27th 2012. Last year, the ‘Go for Gold‘ campaign was announced in Mumbai amidst much fan fare. The objective was to pledge the country?s support for athletes who will attempt to put India on the world map in the forthcoming Olympics.

The torch was unveiled by Shree Ajay Maken, Honorable Sports Minister of India, Mr. Sandeep Jajodia, Executive Vice Chairman & Managing Director, Monnet Ispat & Energy Ltd,Mr Shailendra Singh, Managing Director, Percept Ltd, Mr. Kapil Dev former Indian cricket team captain & Brig. P.K.M. Raja deputy chef-de-mission, Indian Olympics

The torch relay run will be flagged off on 10th February 2012 from Jammu & Srinagar and will travel 50 cities including Patiala/Chandigarh, Jaipur, Delhi NCR, Lucknow, Kolkata, Shillong, Indore, Ahmedabad, Pune, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kochi, Chennai, and Kanyakumari under the auspices of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI).

The run will be joined by local & prominent athletes in its impressive journey. The torch will return back to New Delhi on 30th May.. People from every local centre that the torch travels will be appealed through various multimedia campaigns to join the relay. Go for Gold merchandise will be distributed along the journey. The element of participation is the main purpose of this esteemed relay. Prominent celebrities will also join the relay at specific strategic points in this journey of the torch from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.

Monnet Ispat & Energy through this initiative will highlight the incredible potential Olympic sports holds for an emerging economic powerhouse like India. For the country that has the youngest population in the world and constantly aims to make a mark on the global map, what better platform than the Olympics to offer the youth an aspiration to be on the global sporting arena.

Mr. Sandeep Jajodia, over a discussion with Mr. Shailendra Singh, expressed his desire to support and promote Indian Olympic Sport. This subtle conversation over coffee was converted and created into a mammoth communication plan by Percept. "Go For Gold" will be rolled out in a phased manner where awareness will be created through a series of events.

Mr. Sandeep Jajodia, EVC & MD, Monnet Group said, "It definitely is a very novel way to get together the whole country for a social / noble cause. This will help as a major morale booster for our Olympian squad to give their very best in the forthcoming Olympics. Monnet as a corporate has always believed in supporting Indian sports in a very major way. Going forward we definitely would look forward to continue our alliance with various sports of our country in a very prominent way.

We understand there are several people across the country who want to show their support for athletes, but they do not know how to. This is an opportunity for them to come together and run for a cause. ?Go for Gold? campaign is spread across the country to create maximum support from every corner of the country. Our athletes have already put India on the World map, this is our way to show support and encourage them to attain further glory."

Speaking on the initiative, Mr. Shailendra Singh, Managing Director, Percept Ltd we are extremely proud that Percept carried forward the thought and vision of Mr. Sandeep Jajodia of supporting Indian Sport and created this unique platform "Go for Gold" ; a movement of global magnitude. This truly is a great opportunity wherein the whole nation will be united through the power of sport

Ajay Maken, Honorary Sports Minister in support of the ?Go for Gold? campaign said, "It is a great initiative by a corporate like Monnet to come out in favor of the athletic contingent for the London Olympics and arrange for a nationwide campaign for them. It is a great motivation for our young athletes to know that the entire nation is backing them as they go in search of glory for the tricolor."

Monnet Ispat & Energy Limited has associated itself with the Indian Boxing Federation (IBF) by becoming the official team and kit sponsors of the Indian Boxing Team for a period of 3 years starting from 2010.The support extended has been collectively acknowledged by the Federation and boxers alike as a silent driving force behind the stellar performances of the boxers. Infact, these achievements have prompted the IBF in further extending the commercial partnership with Monnet Group till 2017 so as to ensure a solid platform for the future of the sport in the country.

Mumbai? MAX, the Premium Hindi Movies and Special Events channel, invites you to watch the Television Premier of the blockbuster hit Aarakshan, this Republic Day, 26th Jan Thursday at 12:00 PM and 8.00 PM.

Aarakshan is socio- political drama on one of the most controversial policies of caste based reservations in educational institutions.
It is the story of Mr. Prabhakar Anand (Amitabh Bachchan), an idealistic principal of a college who has single-handedly made STM College, one of the best institution in the state.

Deepak Kumar (Saif Ali Khan), who is Dr. Anand‘s favorite student belongs to a low caste background and helps and supports his idol, Mr. Anand. Deepak and Mr. Anand‘s daughter, Poorbi (Deepika Padukone) are close friends and study together in college along with Sushant (Prateik Babbar).

The movie suddenly becomes a rollercoaster ride of high drama, conflict, and rebellion, when the Supreme Court grants reservation for backward classes and here is conflict created between the upper class, who are against the idea of reservation and the backward class, who are for reservation.

This Republic day, 26th Jan Thursday, tune in to Double dose of entertainment with Aarakshan at 12:00 PM and 8.00 PM, Only on MAX, Deewana Bana De!

MUMBAI: What would you choose ? a good book or a mediocre film adapted on it? For most kids today apparently it is a no contest, they wouldn?t go anywhere near the book. So what can we do about it? Strand has the answer. It was in the form of a large installation at their annual sale. To promote reading among kids you need more than just a SALE you need an idea that persuades them especially their parents.

At the book sale in Mumbai, Strand installed a large autobiography of Mahatma Gandhi. As you approach the book and asked a question, it started answering it.

People found it intriguing as well as fascinating. Not just Gandhiji, kids present at the venue got to ask questions to Helen Keller, Nelson Mandela, Steve Jobs and a few more great people. It was as if the great legends were preaching their philosophy and surprisingly, the children were excited to learn from them.

?People may not like reading but they still love talking, the book may not be a big hit with kids but cell phone definitely is. We decided to position books as a means to have breakthrough conversations in life. And that?s where the idea of a talking book emerged.? Revealed KV Sridhar National Creative Director, Leo Burnett, India.

Vidya Virkar, Managing Partner, Strand Book Stall strongly feels that parents should read at least one story a day to their kids which will turn their kids into active readers.

All in all, the Talking Book was a great success, Strand Book Stall is eager to take the activity to more places like in Mumbai and outside.Surely kids will have a great time and will hopefully start a relationship with books.