BigB in chorus on 26/11 tragedy

Big B in chorus on 26/11 tragedy  

New Delhi, Nov 3 (IANS) Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan recently joined the chorus for a special song as a tribute to the victims of the 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai.

"Sonu Nigam had asked me to participate in a song that he was doing for those whom we lost that fateful day. I did," Amitabh wrote on his blog bigb.bigadda.com.

"Many different singers from our trade had participated in it to lend it a spirit of togetherness and strength, of faith in our independence, and the love for those that became ours in defending our freedom. I am joyed by the effort and give voice to it," he added.

Amitabh is also expected to be part of a day-long commemoration on the first anniversary of the 26/11 terror attacks to be organised by the Mumbai Police.

On Nov 26, 2008, 10 armed terrorists sneaked into Mumbai and unleashed mayhem that left over 170 people dead. 

BigB grand plans to celebrate father 101st birth anniversary

Big B's grand plans to celebrate father's 101st birth anniversary  

New Delhi, Nov 2 (IANS) Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan has big plans for the 101st birth anniversary of his father, well-known poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan, on Jan 18 next year. Among other things he plans to re-release his father's acclaimed book "Madhushala" and hold a dance recital.

"There are discussions on now on how to celebrate 101 years of my father's birth anniversary. 'Madhushala' in its modern format shall be released, a journey of my father's creative works shall be conducted through the recitation of his various works, a dance recital on one of his works," Amitabh posted on his blog bigb.bigadda.com. 

Big B says that he will also release of some of his father's most important works as a collection put together by Pushpa Bharati, wife of late writer Dharam Vir Bharati.

The 67-year-old has been planning the event for a long time and has been especially devoting time to writing the foreword for the new avatar of "Madhushala", which was first published in 1935 and considered Harivansh Rai's greatest work. 

The new edition of the book will be a large coffee table sized version - it will have the original verses of the late poet accompanied with English translations by Marjorie Boulton of Oxford University. The book will also have paintings by Amitab's niece Namrata Bachchan. 

"The proof is looking very good. The paintings are unique and hopefully with the written foreword should form a fitting tribute to my father's 101st anniversary," Amitabh wrote in a previous blog entry. 

Amitabh Bachchan gifts land to village council for girls college

Amitabh 'gifts' land to village council for girls college  

Lucknow, Nov 1 (IANS) The controversy over Amitabh Bachchan buying agricultural land in Barabanki district of Uttar Pradesh ended when the Bollywood star 'gifted' the land to Daulatpur village council for building a girls college named after his daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai.

Raj Kumari Singh Oct 27 complained to the district magistrate that though Bachchan in his 2007 letter to the Barabanki magistrate expressed his wish to gift the land to the village council, he had three years ago made the gift to an NGO to run the college. 

Singh said Bachchan changed his mind and instead of the village council decided to gift the land to Nishtha Foundation headed by film actress-turned-Samajwadi Party MP Jayaprada. The foundation had taken the responsibility to build the girls' college, and the construction has been pending for more than three years.

As the district magistrate set up an inquiry into Raj Kumari Singh's complaint, Bachchan promptly revoked his earlier 'gift' to Nishtha Foundation and decided to keep his earlier word of giving the land to the village council.

Bachchan's land purchase has been dogged in controversy since he bought it. He was accused of using illegal means to acquire the land. 

Big B wishes Aishwarya happiness long life on b'day

Big B wishes Aishwarya happiness, long life on b'day  

New Delhi, Nov 1 (IANS) She celebrates her third birthday after marriage to actor Abhishek Bachchan and her megastar father-in-law Amitabh Bachchan has wished Aishwarya Rai a "long prosperous life" on her 36th birthday Sunday.

"We have... just brought in Aishwarya's birthday and wished her love and happiness and a long prosperous life. It was just the family," Amitabh posted on his blog www.bigb.bigadda.com early Sunday morning.

The former Miss World, whose future projects include "Raavan", "Action Replay" and "Guzaarish", has also been named the first goodwill ambassador for Smile Train Sunday for the charity that works worldwide for children born with a cleft lip.