Feb 2010_Preptalk new.cdr - Student Resources Centre

Murthy said, "I met Guru Dutt for the first time whileworking for the Famous Studios as an assistant cameraman. It allbegan when I suggested a difficult shot, which Guru Dutt saidhis cameraman would not be able to execute. I requested him toask his cameraman to allow me to attempt the shot. Guru Duttallowed me to make two or three attempts. But I managed theshot in the first take. After pack-up, he asked me to work for thefilm. I told him that it was not right to desert a cinematographerin the midst of a film and I would work with him on his next film."Murthy worked for Hoovu Hannu, a classic in Kannadacinema, directed by Rajendra Singh Babu. He created some ofthe most significant shots in the black and white era. Whiletraining in London to work on colour films, he worked with thecrew of The Guns of Navarone.AIR-TO-AIR ASTRA MISSILE TEST-FIREDIndigenously developed andbeyond visual range (BVR) air-toairmissile 'Astra' was test-firedfrom the Integrated Test Range(ITR) at Chandipur in Orissa.The missile was fired from alauncher in the launch pad No. 2 ofthe ITR complex at about 9.45 am,defence sources said.After thorough data analysis of the flight test, another test isexpected to be conducted shortly, they said."Before being made fully operational, the complex missilesystem will undergo some more trials, though tests on itsnavigation, control, air frame, propulsion and other sub-systemshave been validated," said a source from the Defence Researchand Development Organisation (DRDO) at ITR.The single-stage, solid fuel 'Astra' missile "is more advancedin its category than the contemporary BVR missiles and it iscapable of engaging and destroying highly manoeuvrablesupersonic aerial targets," the source said.Describing 'Astra' as futuristic missile, DRDO scientistssaid the weapon could intercept a target at supersonic speedsbetween mach 1.2 to 1.4 (mach one is equivalent to 1236 kmph).Though the exact range of trial was not disclosed, scientistsare working to ensure that 'Astra' performs effectively atdifferent altitudes - one cruising at an altitude of 15 km with 90to 110 km range, another at an altitude up to 30,000 ft, having arange of 44 km and the third at sea level with a range of 30 km.CENTRE LIFTS BAN ON PRE-PAID MOBILE PHONES IN J-KThe prepaid mobile phones banin Jammu Kashmir has been liftedby the Centre on Jan 21, 2010.According to officials sources,the decision was taken after theCentre finalised a "foolproof" plan toensure proper verification of nearly38 lakh cell phone subscribers inthe state.Recently, Home Minister, P. Chidambaram had said, "If theservice providers come up with a foolproof plan of 100 per centverification and the ministry was satisfied with it, then the issuemay be revisited."The Union home ministry had imposed the ban on pre-paidmobile phone services due to security reasons on Nov 1, 2009.HASINA HONOURED WITH INDIRA GANDHI PRIZE FORPEACEThe coveted Indira GandhiPrize for Peace, Disarmament andDevelopment was on January 12,2010 bestowed on Prime MinisterSheikh Hasina, who said India andBangladesh should work togetherto achieve peace and progress inSouth Asia."We want to have good andfriendly relations with all ourneighbours. We must work for aSouth Asia where peace, harmonyand progress will prevail. Till weachieve this, our struggle willcontinue," she said after accepting the prestigious award fromPresident Pratibha Patil.Recalling her association with Indira Gandhi, an emotionalHasina referred to the gruesome assassination of her father,Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and 18 other familymembers and said, "We had nowhere to go at that time. Ourgovernment then did not allow us to return to our homeland.""It was Indira Gandhi who gave us shelter. We took politicalasylum and stayed in Delhi for six years," she said, adding thatIndira Gandhi was "truly like our mother.”PT’s PrepTalk – February 2010 17