Citygritty 8212; Pune

Stars shine downIt is to be a bright evening, what with so many luminaries on stage. Gathered for the Manik Ratna Puraskar Sohala, presented...

Stars shine down
It is to be a bright evening, what with so many luminaries on stage. Gathered for the Manik Ratna Puraskar Sohala, presented by the Manik Varma Prathisthan, the audience gathered at the Balgandharva Rangmandir on the evening of November 8 will witness a series of three programmes.

Beginning with Pulakit Gaani8217;, dedicated to P.L. Deshpande on the occasion of his 80th birthday and anchored by Arun Nulkar, it will feature Bharati Achrekar, Rani Varma and Anuradha Marathe amongst others. The felicitation programme will be next on the agenda, with Padmabhushan awardee Gangubai Hangal taking centrestage. Compered by Sudhir Gadgil, the chief guest is to be Ustad Abdul Haleem Jafar Khan. Winding up the evening will be a recital by Malini Rajurkar, strains of her music promising to remain with you long after you8217;re out of Balgandharva.

Univ perspective
Want to know all about the University of Pune but did not know whom to ask? Now a 10-minute film, being made by the Educational Media Research Centre EMRC on the university, which is celebrating its golden jubilee, will soon provide that information.

8220;In September, Vice-Chancellor Arun Nigavekar mooted the idea of an audio-visual presentation which would help visitors get a quick introduction to this university. The film, directed by Vivek Apte, will cover its history, information about the various department and the progress it has made in the past 50 years,8221; says Dr. Vishwas Mehendale, director, EMRC.

The film, scripted by Prof. Raja Dixit of the University8217;s history department, and compered in Marathi and English by noted actress and president of the Akhil Bharatiya Natya Sammelan, Bhakti Barve-Inamdar, will be ready by November 14.

Yet another 30-minute film is also on the anvil 8211; this time of those who have been associated with this seat of learning. 8220;The film, which will be ready by the end of this month, will comprise interviews of the past vice-chancellors of the University of Pune, who will present their impressions about the university,8221; says Mehendale.

Canine on the catwalk
If you own a fine dog, show it off 8211; that, in a nutshell, is the thought behind the Indian National Kennel Club INKC Mumbai8217;s Centenary Dog Show being organised in Mumbai on November 28 and 29 and in Pune on January 17 next year.

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8220;Shows such as this one will not only provide the dogs with an opportunity to show their talent but will help dog-lovers increase their knowledge in matters relating to pedigree papers and registration,8221; says Bhakti Wagle, representative of the INKC Mumbai.

Dogs registered at the club will be admitted to the show and can be entered into the competition in two sections 8211; obedience and police dog trials and breed standards. Dog-lovers, now8217;s the time for your dog to have its day!

Fare enough
While all roads may lead to Rome, most State Transport buses right now are headed towards Mumbai, with farmers from all over the state setting out for the Agro Advantage Maharashtra 8211; a farmers8217; fair. And the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation is also doing its bit, organising extra buses for the occasion. The Pune zone 8211; including Pune, Satara, Kolhapur, Sangli and Sholapur 8211; is prepared with 600 buses. 8220;We had received requests for 650 buses, as and how the demand is, we shall supply them. Currently, 103 buses have been finalised,8221; informs an official of MSRTC. Not just that, the travel to Mumbai is also promised at half the usual rates. The fare8217;s fair, we must say!