The people of Belgaum have been pressing for private FM stations in Belgaum and during the Phase II of the FM radio licenses Belgaum was not covered.

But on July 7, the union cabinet gave it nod for the Phase III of the FM Policy which will cover 227 more cities with a population of more than one lakh.

As per the notification as many as Four stations could be operational in Belgaum.

Dont be gladsome immediately, still this is just a policy and the auction of the said slots has to be done which might take anywhere between 6-12 months. After the auction is done if there are bidders, then the frequency would be alloted and then each operator will have time to commence operations.

In Karanataka as many as 55 new FM stations could be operational.

CM B S Yedurappa along with other district ministers and officials had breakfast at the Floating cafeteria at the fort lake. Azrekar of Darshan Udyog Samuha who are maintaining the Fort the lake and the Floating cafeteria told this blog, CM was very impressed with the cafeteria and said that this will be a feather in the cap for development of tourism in Belgaum.

The said Floating cafeteria has an area of 720 sq feet and has LCD TV with a DTH connection. The Floating cafeteria has been built at a cost of about Rs.9 lakhs and is made of polyurethane.

“Indireche Arials” is a cultural programme based on the poems and life of Late Indira Sant.

The program is a fund raising event of “Runanubandh Seva Pratishthan”, Belgaum.

The event will be held on 31st July, 2010 at Raosaheb Gogte Rangamandir at 6pm.

The concept and direction is by Mrs. Swati Kulkarni. Music is directed by Nandan Herlekar and background music is composed by Shantanu Herlekar, Coreography is done Swati Kulkarni, Aditya Paranjape & Sunil Nangareall from Belgaum.

Poems of Indira Sant have been composed by Nandan Herlekar, many have been recited and have been enacted, some events in her life are also been enacted.

About Indira Sant:

Indira Sant (1914 – 2000) was a Marathi poetess from Belgaum.

She was born on January 4, 1914, as Indira Dikshit.

She studied at Rajaram College in Kolhapur, and Fergusson College in Pune where she met her future husband Narayan Sant. Four years after their marriage, the two published in 1940 a joint collection of their poems titled Sahawas (सहवास). Narayan Sant died in 1946. The pain of loss of her husband found its expression in some of her poems. The principal theme of most of her poetry is love and longing. The love of nature is also evident in her poems. Her poetry further pertains to different dimensions of a woman’s life.Sant wrote about 25 books. She worked first as a professor and then as the principal in a teacher’s training college in Belgaum.

For more details contact:

Swati Kulkarni 9900260243
Asawari Sant 9845311099
Nandan Herlekar 9448874836
Pradip Kulkarni 9448635693.

Cable wars are common in metros but Belgaum is now no different to this either. After four years of monopoly of cable distribution of Rdihi Vision one more cable network is trying to eat the market share, namely Vardaraj Cable network which has MOU with Siti Cable Bangalore.
Vardarj Cable is now available for only Rs.60 per month in which one can watch 60 channels and if you want to watch more than 200 channels one needs to buy a set top box and his monthly subscription will be Rs. 175.
On the other hand Ridhi Vision with its monopoly and monopolistic pricing charges anything between Rs.200 in city areas to Rs.300 in up market bungalow areas.
Ridhi Vision says that it has a subscription base of 50 thousand subscribers and Vardaraj has been able to get into 5000 cable homes and aims to get into 30 thousand in six months.
This price war will definitely be favorable for the consumer.
It is notable fact that four years ago Feroz Sait(MLA) had tired to open a cable network in competition to Ridhi Vision but later he had an agreement with Ridhi Vision. But this time Vardaraj is all set to give stiff competition. Vardraj also has a news bulletin in local languages.
Vardraj also plans to enter the rural market like Halga, Hindalga, Sulga, Machhe, Sambra, Muchandi where they would charge as low as Rs.70 a month. Ridhi Vision is already there in this market but they charge Rs.100.
In fact this cable war was visible in the recently held T20 championships in city. The Belgaum Premier League was shown live on Ridhi vision and Belgaum champions league was telecast live on Vardraj Cable network.
May what it be but healthy competition is always good for the consumers and the society. There have been instances of cable being cut and small incidents of beating up each others men but this all part of the game. For the people of Belgaum its another good reason to stay glued to the idiot box.
Source: Rajasthan Patrika

It is that time of the year, when one looks back at the 364 days gone by in the past year and makes promises to him/her and resolutions for the coming year.

Year-end celebrations are now common across the country with burning of old man and drinking. Earlier celebrations used to be indoor with family and friends but now DJ nights and hotels make use of this opportunity for a grand party with all sorts of themes etc.

This year there are many parties being organized in city, here is a list of few-

Hotel Eefa – Club Road– EVE 2010 party brew.

With a Live, band and DJ from Goa Tickets are available at Reception Counter Call: 08312498777/ 0 9449002900.There are special packages also made for a one night or two night stay at the hotel with pass to the party.

Saraswati Vachanalya Shahpur has organized a musical treat where artists from Belgaum will perform.

Dhamal De Dana Dan – Millennium Gardens -
This event is organized by hotel Adarsh Palace and will have DJ, competitions, dance and dine. Tickets are priced at Rs.500 for adults and Rs.300 for Children.

Hotel Shankam – Airport road – A party has been organized here as well.

Hind social Club at Hindwadi – Rock In – DJ, Dance floor

Shagun Gardens at Udyambag- A party is organized here as well with DJ

All the other hotels will be ready to serve you delicacies and a hotel owner told this blog that in the recent past the number of people opting for taking parcels home has grown 10 times. We take orders in advance and on the spot, they told. Other big sellers will the liquor shops that normally do a week’s turnover in a day.

At the end, have a wonderful and safe New Year’s party and Happy New Year 2010!

Azad, Radio, Rex, Kapeel are names synonymous with the old era of Belgaum. All these theatres which at one point were places of entertainment are now converted into complexes and shopping malls.

Ritz theatre in Konwal Galli, which was lying unused for a time will take a new breathe as the same will be converted into a modern hall for stage dramas. Announcing this Mr.Kiran Thakur said that, Belgaum needs a ultra modern hall where drams can be held and for the same Lokmanya society will go ahead with this and convert the Ritz theater into a ultra modern drama hall. 

The small wonders who have won hearts all over the country will perform live in Belgaum on 25 Ddecember 2009 at Subhash Maidan (Lele ground) from 6 pm to 9pm.

ZEE tv Lil Champs from both Hindi & Marathi will participate in this live concert being organized by Pragati Events in association with the Rotary club of Venugram Belgaum & Rotary club of Belgaum south. The funds collected will be utilized for the eradication of polio.

Tickets have been priced at Rs.200, Rs.500 & Rs.1000.

This could be a life time opportunity to the see these little wonders perform live in Belgaum and at the same time you will also be helping the world to be polio free.

For passes and donations contact: D B Patil: 9448963874

It’s a night for Families, Bachelors & youngsters of all ages.

Dj Allwyn will make your feet dance to the tunes of Bollywood tunes both new and old at the Jade Hall at Hotel Eefa, Club road.

Venue: Eefa Hotel at Jade Hall from 7:30 – 11:00 pm on the 28th of November 2009.
Tel. : 0831 – 2498777

Laxmi Rai

It’s destination Mumbai for Lakshmi Rai. The Belgaum beauty will now try her luck in Bollywood.

After the likes of Asin and Trisha the beauty from Belgaum is now getting ready to pack her bags and try her luck in Hindi films. She is mostly playing the lead heroine against Himesh Reshamiya in his new movie and she is working hard at the gym these days, because the Bollywood bosses want her to lose nine kilos for the part.

Lakshmi Rai said, she is playing the heroine in a Hindi movie that would begin early next year.

She also dismissed media reports that often link her with co-artistes, cricketers and much recently with her physical trainer, she said she has better things than these to do.

Laxmi Rai/Raibagi is from Belgaum and was the Miss Belgaum for 2 years. The 28 year old is a heart throb of the masses and she has reached the peak of a carrier in just 4 years after her debut in Karka Kasadara (2005).

This very blog had showcased her as a Star of Belgaum way back on 06 May 2008, see it here.

The mega show depicting the life of Sri Krishna is all getting ready and here is the making of the event. A huge stage is being built now on CPEd ground. The event is organized by Raj Media group and Goa-based Shri Vijayadurga Saunskrutik Mandal.

Mega stage in the making

About 103 local artists will get a chance to act in the play and the screening for the same began from today.

The ticket sale has begun and the show will be from 20^th November to 25^th November. Daily 7000 spectators can witness this extravagance show. The initial response for the tickets ahs been good and also very good response has come in from rural areas.

This is how the stage will look

The tickets have been priced from Rs.150 to 500 and are available at various locations.