Amitav Ghosh among top 10 finalists for Man Booker International Prize 

Indian author Amitav Ghosh is among the 10 finalists for this year’s Man Booker International Prize. Kolkata born, 58-year-old Mr. Ghosh had narrowly missed out on the Booker Prize back in 2008 when he was shortlisted for his work “Sea of Poppies”. The Man Booker International Prize is an international literary award given every two years to a living author of any nationality for a body of work published in English or generally available in English translation. The awards comes with a £60,000 cheque and can be won only once in an author’s lifetime.

SC quashes Section 66A, says it curbs freedom of speech

The Supreme Court on Tuesday quashed Section 66A of the Information Technology Act, 2000 holding that it was violative of Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution guaranteeing freedom of speech and expression. Section 66A gives power to government authorities to issue directions to block public access of any information through any computer resource. It also allows authorities to arrest a person for posting allegedly offensive content on websites and imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and with fine.

62nd National Film Awards

The 62nd National Film Awards 2014 were announced on Tuesday by the Chairpersons of the three juries on Feature Films, Non Feature Films and Best Writing on Cinema. The National Film Awards are most prominent most prominent film award ceremonies in India.

The 62nd National Film Awards in the various categories are as follows:–

  • Best Feature Film:- “Court” (a Film made in Marathi, Hindi, Gujarati & English).
  • Best Popular Film for Providing Wholesome Entertainment:- “Mary Kom” (Hindi)
  • Best Hindi Film:- “Queen”
  • Best Actor:- Vijay for Nanu Avanalla Avalu (Kannada).
  • Best Actress:- Kangana Ranaut for Queen (Hindi).
  • Best Direction:-Srijit Mukherji, Director of Chotushkone (Bengali).
  • Best Film on Social Issues:- Chotoder Chobi (Bengali) directed by Kaushik Ganguly.
  • Best Supporting Actor:- Bobby Simhaa for film Jigarthanda (Tamil).
  • Best Supporting Actress:- Baljinder Kaur for film Pagdi The Honour (Haryanavi).
  • Best Children’s Film:- Kaakkaa Muttai (Tamil) and Elizabeth Ekadashi (Marathi).
  • Best Child Artist:- Vignesh & Ramesh for Kaakkaa Muttai (Tamil).
  • Best Female Playback Singer: Uttara Unnikrishanan for song Azhagu in Saivam (Tamil).
  • Best Male Playback Singer: Sukhwinder Singh for song Bismil from Haider.
  • Special Jury Award:- Bhaurao Karhade, Director of Khwada (Marathi).
  • Best Cinematography:- Sudeep Chatterjee for film Chotushkone (Bengali).
  • Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director:- Aditya Vikram Sengupta for Asha Jaoar Majhe (Bengali).
  • Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration:– Chotoder Chobi (Bengali) directed by Kaushik Ganguly.
  • Best Writing on Cinema- Silent Cinema:- (1895-1930) authored by Pasupuleti Purnachandra Rao.