Bangalore: A senior executive at Indian outsourcer Infosys Technologies’ business process outsourcing arm has resigned, a spokesman said on Thursday, two days after the division’s chief executive quit.

Joydeep Mukherjee was heading the knowledge process outsourcing services at Infosys BPO, the spokesman said without giving details.

On Tuesday, the company said Amitabh Chaudhry, who took over as the chief executive of Infosys BPO in March 2006, had submitted his resignation.

source: IBN

Bangalore: Leading software product firm Manthan Systems secured $15 million from three venture capital partners in the second round (series b) of funding, the company said on Thursday.

Besides the two existing investors – IDG Ventures India and DFJ ePlanet Ventures – Fidelity International has participated in the second round of funding, the company said in a statement here.

IDG and DFJ participated in the first round (series a) of funding in March 2007, investing $2 million each in Manthan.

The company, however, did not disclose the specific investment made by the three venture capital funds in the second round and their holding pattern.

“The funds will be invested to enter new geographies and invest in expanding our sales and marketing force,” a company spokesman said.

The Bangalore-based Manthan develops business intelligence and analytical solutions for retail and consumer packaged goods industries.

Post-funding, Raj Dugar, managing director of FIL Capital Advisors, Fidelity’s private equity advisory firm in India, will join Manthan’s board of directors.

source: samaylive

Fiery Ross Taylor struck 65 runs in 38 balls, as Royal Challengers Bangalore defeated Delhi Daredevils by 8 wickets in their Champions League Super Eight match at M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

» Full Story on cricket.yahoo.com

Bangalore, Sep 17 (IANS) Actor-director Roopa Iyer’s Kannada film ‘Mukhaputa’, about children suffering from HIV/AIDS, has won the best feature film award at the recently concluded International Film Festival in Ireland and she says juries chose her film because they could feel the emotion throughout the narrative.

‘There were films from 34 countries which were jostling for the award. I was very happy to hear why juries chose ‘Mukhaputa’ for the top honour. One speciality of the Ireland film festival is that there you have a special session where judges tell you why they chose a film as the winner. Judges said that they could feel the emotion through my film. They were also impressed with the script and songs,’ said Roopa.

The one week long festival concluded Sep 12.

Roopa is also happy that ‘Mukhaputa’ has won the Silver Sierra Best Feature Film in California. The award will be presented Oct 23.

‘My film has been nominated for screening in various countries like South Africa, Egypt, Thailand as well as international film festivals such as Swansea Bay (Wales),’ said Roopa.

Roopa too features in her award winning film that was premiered here in June 2008. She plays an educated woman who adopts a small girl suffering from HIV/AIDS.

‘I have tried to convey that HIV patients need love and not sympathy. I wanted to remove many misconceptions about the disease from the minds of the people. My film’s premiere in Bangalore received a huge reaction from people who could understand the language.

‘The film was also screened in Britain in special screening by Kannada Balaga. I was equally pleased when I got similar reactions in many other places and film festivals where I screened the film for audience who did not know Kannada language.

‘We have to take care of the HIV positive kids and try to keep them as happy as possible,’ said Roopa.

The movie, which is produced by Narayan Hosmane, a cancer specialist in the US, and Roopa, also stars Sanya Iyer, Ananda Theertha, Sumithra and Badri Prasad in leading roles.

Composer Hamsalekha, who has scored music for the film, too makes a special appearance in the film.

Bangalore, Sep 11 (IANS) Kannada actress Uma Shri, who has just won the best actress National Award for her performance in ‘Gulabi Talkies’, teams up again with director Girish Kasaravalli for ‘Kanasemba Kudureya Benneri’.

‘Working in Girish Kasaravalli’s film is like taking a training in acting. I will learn many things. I will just follow the principle of following his instructions even for this film,’ said the veteran actress who has already worked in more than 300 films.

‘Kanasemba Kudureya Benneri’ is based on well-known author Amaresh Nugudoni’s Kannada novel of the same title.

Talking to IANS Kasaravalli said: ‘Besides Uma Shri, well-known actor Biradar will also feature in an important role in the movie.’

‘We have selected most of the artists from Uththara Kannada district. We have given preference to artists with theatre background.’

The film will go on floors Sep 20 and Kasaravalli will shoot it in Bijapur and surrounding areas. It is being produced by Basanth Kumar Patil, who had produced ‘Gulabi Talkies’.

‘Kanasemba Kudureya Benneri’ is about a poor couple who predict future based on their dreams. They become popular in and around their village. But after some time, predictions don’t work and they are ridiculed and humiliated by villagers. The couple get disillusioned later.

London, Sep 10 (IANS) American rock band Guns N’ Roses is planning a tour of India in November.

The heavy rockers, fronted by Axl Rose, have signed on to perform at the Palace Grounds in Bangalore Nov 7, reported contactmusic.com.

‘It is true that we are bringing Guns N’ Roses to India. As of now, I can tell you that the Bangalore concert has been confirmed. We’re still in talks with people in Mumbai and Delhi, so let’s hope that works out. However, there is a good chance we can take the band to Shillong as well,’ said Raj Sinha, director of Rhapsody Inc., the company organising the Bangalore concert.

Bangalore, Sep 7 (IANS) Kannada actress Uma Shri, winner of best actress National Award for ‘Gulabi Talkies’, gives credit to her director Girish Kasaravalli for the honour and says that for her role she had to ‘unlearn many things and just submit to the director’.

‘The National and state government award for ‘Gulabi Talkies’ is certainly the biggest achievement of my career and I should only thank Girish Kasaravalli sir for that,’ Uma Shri told IANS.

‘Gulabi Talkies’ is the screen adaptation of Kannada writer Vaidehi’s book ‘Gulabi Talkies and Other Stories’. It is about an expert midwife Gulabi, played by Uma Shri, who is neglected by a number of people for being a Muslim. The actress says she never took on the film to win awards, but just to work with Kasaravalli.

‘I did not act in this film hoping for an award. The call from Girish Kasaravalli was enough for me to accept the offer. I did not think about anything else and just said yes. I did not know my role in the film, the background of the role or the number of days I had to work. I just went to the shooting spot without expecting anything. I was excited to just be a part of a film directed by Girish Kasaravalli,’ said Uma Shri.

‘Girsh had watched me in some of my films and plays. He had even appreciated my performance in much acclaimed plays like ‘Odalaala’ and others. But I never got an opportunity to work with Girish sir earlier. ‘Gulabi Talkies’ was my first film with him. Oh, what an opportunity I thought. But I did not think this would fetch a National and State Award for me,’ she said.

‘It would be an understatement if I say that I am excited to hear this news of winning the award. Though I have won several awards in my career, this is certainly special for me. This was one film where I had to unlearn many things and just submit to the director,’ said Uma Shri who won the Best Actress State Award for the same film from the Karnataka government.

The actress, who is active in theatre too, has acted in more than 300 Kannada films. She became popular for working in comedies, but showed her potential in a number of other Kannada films like director Ravichandran’s ‘Putnanja’, Mahesh’s ‘Thumbida Mane’ and ‘Kurigalu Saar Kurigalu’ which was directed by S.V. Rajendra Singh Babu.

Bangalore, Sep 5 (ANI): Cricketer Rahul Dravid graced a weeklong fund raising campaign called ‘Joy of Giving Week’ for the poor and downtrodden in Bangalore.

The scheme has been conceptualised by ‘Give India’ an organization, which works with voluntary groups all over the country.

The stars and celebrities from all walks of life including Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, former badminton player Prakash Padukone and corporate bigwigs have extended support to the cause.

“It is a great concept to get so many people together. It is not necessarily just about celebrities and the well known figures. It is really about each one of us, every one of us, in our own small way contributing during that week and just getting a movement together which is something that can grow into something really big in the years to come,” said Dravid.

The weeklong scheme would include giving clothes to the needy, helping orphanages, providing school bags, health aid and educational support to the downtrodden. (ANI)

Bangalore, Sep 1 (ANI): Former New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming has said that the upcoming One Day tri-series in Sri Lanka would see a tough competition.

The series in Sri Lanka, which also involves New Zealand and India, will be held from September 8-14.

The hosts are upbeat after clinching a recent two match test series over Kiwis 2-0.

“Well I think Sri Lanka is a decent side…this series is going to be great…India is of course a good one day side, New Zealand have been in one day format. So, Kiwis are the underdogs…” Fleming told reporters here on Monday.

India earlier this month declared the squad for the Sri Lanka tri-series followed by the Champions Trophy, recalling Rahul Dravid and leaving out explosive batsman Virender Sehwag due to his shoulder surgery.

The former captain, Dravid’s last one-day international appearance came in October 2007 before selectors opted for a more youthful side with an eye on the 2011 World Cup.

Indian selectors hope Dravid will bolster the batting in the Champions Trophy on pacy South African pitches. A young Indian batting unit struggled against short-pitched bowling at the Twenty20 World Cup in England in June.

Sachin Tendulkar returned to the frame after opting out of the one-day series in the West Indies, which the tourists won 2-1 last month. (ANI)