Ashok Pandit's brush with death

Pandit, who was stuck between Mahim and Khar, had to abandon his car and wade through water whole night before reaching home.

Among the thousands of people who can never forget the fateful day of July 26 when the rains unleashed their fury on the city of Mumbai and help was hard to come by was filmmaker Ashok Pandit.

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Pandit, who was stuck between Mahim and Khar, had to abandon his car mid-way and wade through the water the whole night before he reached his Juhu bungalow the next afternoon, reports Bollywood Trade.

On reaching home, he was in for a bigger horror when he saw his bungalow completely submerged in water and his important documents and videocassettes floating in the vicinity. His wife, children and parents, who had hurriedly shifted to a neighbouring house on the second floor, were apprehensive about coming down.

Recalls Pandit, "Even the valuables in the house and the electronic items could not be saved in time. It was as if misfortune was waiting at my doorstep."

More traumatizing was the one-and-a-half days he spent trying to reach home when like thousands of people he had a close brush with death.

Atul Kulkarni not amused

The National Awards have never been bereft of controversy. This year too was like every other year.

First there were reservations about Saif Ali Khan walking away with the Best Actor award for "Hum Tum" and how he managed to score over the other deserving actors in the race. Now it is actor Atul Kulkarni who has expressed his displeasure about his film "Devrai" winning an environment-conservation award, reports Bollywood Trade.

"I was totally surprised that the film had won an environment-conservation award. I had worked on the role for several months and never ever did I get the impression that the film had something to do with environment conservation. The award has sent a completely different message about the film to the layman, when we all know that it is about the trials and tribulations of a schizophrenia patient trying to battle with the disease," he says.

"Those who have seen the film have been extremely surprised about the decision, including actress Sonali Kulkarni. I am glad that the decision has come at a time way after the film released, lest it would have sent confusing signals to the audiences," Kulkarni said.

However, he feels that the jury is not to blame for the decision.

He is also happy about the performance of the film at the box-office despite the limitation of it being a regional film.