Vishal Chandrashekar - Music Composer

He learnt music from the age of six, Vishal has been composing music for numerous ads and short films for quite some time. He has also done a course in A R Rahman's music school. He was originally an arranger and used to arrange music for stage shows,says this composer who has now scored the music for Hai Da , a youthful story featuring newcomers. The director Brinda Das asked to come up with a promo track for the film and after listening to it, she made me the film's composer.

After That: The youngster has been signed up by maverick cinematographer Santhosh Sivan for his next directorial effort Ceylon . One of my friends is working as an assistant with Santhosh sir and he heard about me through him. He asked me to do one demo track, which had to showcase pain, suffering and relief all at the same time. He was impressed with the track and has asked me to be the film's music director, reveals Vishal.

Vishal As Background Composer:
He debuted in 2009, with Indira Vizha , which did not do well . Sonna Puriyathu, directed by Krishnan Jayaraj (the co-director of Tamizh Padam ), is actually a comeback of sorts. He got into music by composing jingles and non-film albums. In fact, I have worked with Jayaraj for many advertisements, and when he decided to turn director, he roped me in for the project.The composer says that he has got the right material with Sonna Puriyathu . It is a romantic comedy and I have tried out various genres in all the eight songs, he says and adds that the challenge here was to not make the songs too serious as the film's lead is played by actor Shiva.

M.F. Hussain

M.F. Hussain, or Maqbool Fida Hussain, was born on 17th September 1915 in Pandharpur town of Maharashtra. He is one of the most famous artists of India, both at the national as well as the international level. So huge is the popularity of his paintings, that Maqbool Fida Hussein was once called as the 'Picasso of India' by the Forbes magazine. In the following lines, we have thrown some more light on the biography and life history of the great artist:

M.F. Hussain lost his mother when he was only one and a half years old. Some time later, his father remarried and moved to the Indore city, where Maqbool completed his schooling. He moved to Bombay (now Mumbai) in 1935 and took admission into Sir J. J. School of Art. MF Hussain started his painting career as a painter of cinema hoardings. It was only in the 1940s that his work started getting some recognition. In the year 1947, he joined the Progressive Artist's Group, which was founded by Francis Newton Souza.

Slowly and gradually, Hussain climbed the ladder of success to become one of the highest paid painters of India. Recently, a single canvas of MF Hussain fetched 2 million dollars at a Christie's auction. Some time back, Hussain started directing and producing movies also. His movies include Gaja Gamini (with Madhuri Dixit) and Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities (with Tabu). His film 'Through the Eyes of a Painter' was shown at the Berlin Film Festival and won a Golden Bear also. The autobiography of M.F. Hussain is being made into a movie, which has been tentatively titled as 'The Making of the Painter'. 

His Painting Recognition :

The first solo exhibition of M.F. Hussein was held at Zurich in the year 1952. Over the next few years, his paintings were widely appreciated in Europe and USA. In 1966, the Government of India awarded him the prestigious Padma Shree. He has also been awarded the Padma Bhushan. The Government of India also appointed Maqbool Fida Hussein to a term in the Rajya Sabha, in recognition of his contribution to art.

Jatin Das

Jatin Das was born in the year 1941 in the Mayurbhanj district of Orissa. He is counted amongst the most creative artists of India and is proficient in painting, graphic art, sculpture, murals and even poetry. Jatin Das received training in the field of art at Sir J. J. School of Art in Bombay. His term at the school lasted for a period of five years, from 1957 to 1962. Thereafter, he started participating in the art exhibitions, both at the national as well as the international level. Some important exhibitions where he participated include the Biennales in Paris (1971), and in Venice (1978) and the Documenta in Kessel (1975). Read on to explore the life history and biography of Jatin Das

His Professional Life :
During the period of 1965 to 1991, Jatin Das organized thirty-seven solo exhibitions, both national and international. He also attended twelve artist camps and four workshops and even offered his amazing art works at fourteen charity shows in India. Fourteen limited editions of his theme-based graphics and conte drawings have been taken out in India, Germany and U.K. Jatin Das served as the Consultant to the Handicraft Board for the seven northeastern states in India, for the 'Festival of India' organized in Russia.

He taught at the Jamia Milia Islamia University, School of Planning and Architecture and the prestigious National School of Drama. Jatin Das has also been on the jury for the National Film Festival. He is one of the founder members of 'The Poetry Society', New Delhi. Jatin Das has also executed exquisite murals for numerous public as well as private buildings. Presently, he is living and working in the capital city of India, New Delhi.

His Painting Style :
Jatin Das comes across as an innovative artist who always tries to find new and dynamic ways of depicting human figures. His paintings mainly revolve around the various aspects of a man-woman relationship, such as crisis, contacts, disclosures, emotional tensions, etc. The treatment of human forms in the paintings of Jatin Das is exceptionally great and the colors seem to be charged with the emotional tinges. The linear arrangement and brisk brushwork further add a unique dimension to his paintings.

Jamini Roy

Jamini Roy was one of the greatest painters of the 20th century. He was born in the year 1887, at Beliator village in Bankura district of Bengal. His father, Ramataran Roy, was a middle class man who resigned from government service to pursue his interest in art. In 1903, when he was only 16 years old, Jamini Roy came to Calcutta (now Kolkata) to enroll himself in the Government School of Art. There, he received tutelage from Abanindranath Tagore, famous for his valuable contribution in the field of modern art.

As the biography and life history of Jamini Roy unfurls, we get to know that in the early days of his career as an artist, his paintings came across as bland and dull. In the mean time, he started doing odd jobs in order to survive. It was in 1925 that he discovered his true calling outside the Kalighat temple in Calcutta. Jamini recognized his preference as well as interest in the field of Kalighat paintings. From that time onwards, his paintings started reflecting the Kalighat style. By the early 1930s, Jamini Roy became fully conversant with the lines of the Kalighat idiom and switched over to the native materials.

With the passage of time, his paintings started reflecting more and more influence of the indigenous art of Kalighat painting, along with the terracotta's of the Vishnupur temple. However, around mid-1930s, Jamini Roy left the conventional practice of the canvas and started making painting surfaces out of cloth, wood or even mats coated with lime. He even started experimenting with natural colors, using earth, chalk powder and vegetable colors instead of dyes. From 1930 onwards, the career of Jamini Roy took an upward turn and the trend continued till he left for the holy abode, in the year 1972.

His Painting Style :

The paintings of Jamini Roy, which belong to the early 1920s, reflect the influence of Bengal School mannerisms. He also made some excellent paintings that marked his entry into the Post-Impressionist genre of landscapes and portraits. Many paintings of Jamini Roy have been based on the everyday life of the rural Bengal. Then, there are numerous ones revolving around religious themes like Ramayana, Radha-Krishna, Jesus Christ, etc. Jamini Roy also painted scenes form the lives of the aboriginal Santhals.

Paintings Recognition :
Jamini Roy's paintings were put on exhibition for the first time in the British India Street of Calcutta (Kolkata) in 1938. During the 1940s, his popularity touched new highs, with the Bengali middle class and the European community becoming his main clientele. In 1946, his work was exhibited in London and in 1953, in the New York City. Jamini Roy was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 1955. 

F.N. Souza

Francis Newton Souza was born in the year 1924 in Saligao, a small town in the state of Goa. Tragedy struck him at a very young age, when he lost his father. He was also bogged down by a serious attack of small pox. Such incidents provoked him to create his own niche in this world. Francis Newton Souza took admission into the Sir J.J. School of Art of Mumbai. But, was expelled for participating in the Quit India Movement. Thereafter, he founded Progressive Artist's Movement in 1947, along with S.H. Raza, M.F, Hussain, K.H. Ara, etc.

F.N. Souza's biography and life history tells us that he left the country in 1949 and went to London to pursue his interest in painting. After struggling for a few years, he finally received recognition in the 1950's with his solo exhibition at the 'Gallery One' in London. Around the same time, his autobiographical essay 'Nirvana of a Maggot' was published. In 1959, another one of his books 'Words and Lines' was published and it received literary recognition.

In the year 1967, F.N. Souza migrated to the New York City in America. He participated in the 'Commonwealth Artists of Fame' exhibition in London in 1977. Souza participated in an exhibition in Detroit in 1968. His retrospectives were held in New Delhi and Mumbai in 1987. Francis Newton Souza also had shows at the 'Indus Gallery' of Karachi in 1988 and the 'Bose Pacia Modern' of New York in 1998. He breathed his last in the year 2002. Presently, the paintings of F.N. Souza adorn the Tate Gallery of London and the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi.

His Painting Style :

The subjects covered in the paintings of Francis Newton Souza comprise of still life, landscape, nudes, icons of Christianity, etc. One of the most recurring themes is that of the conflicts in a man-woman relationship. However, the figures have been deliberately distorted and reveal an uninhibited and realistic style. Souza was a rebel and non-conformist and these views reflect in his painting style also. At the same time, there is a visible influence of the folk art of Goa, the Renaissance paintings, landscapes of the 18th and 19th century Europe, etc.

Amrita Shergill

Amrita Shergill, one of the most famous painters of India, was born on 30th January 1913 in Budapest city of Hungary. Her father, Umrao Singh Shergill Majithia was a Sikh aristocrat, who was a scholar in Sanskrit. Her mother was a Hungarian singer, Marie Antoinette Gottesmann. Amrita Shergil was the eldest of the two daughters born to her parents, her younger sister being Indira Sundaram, now the mother of the modern artist Vivan Sundaram. The beauty and depth of Amrita Sher Gil's paintings has led to her being popularly called as 'India's Frida Kahlo'.

As Amrita Shergill's biography and life history unfolds, we get to know that the painter spent her early childhood in the Dunaharasti village of Hungary. In the year 1921, her family shifted from Hungary to the beautiful hill station of Shimla. It was during her stay in Shimla that Amrita developed an interest in the art of painting and she started receiving tuitions from an Italian sculptor living there. When the painter moved back to Italy in 1924, Amrita and her mother also followed him. After reaching Italy, she joined Santa Anunciata, a Roman Catholic institution.

In Santa Anunciata, Amrita Shergil received exposure to the works of the Italian artists, which furthered her interest in painting. She also received formal training in painting at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, under Lucien Simon. During that time, she was greatly influenced by the European painters, like Paul Cézanne and Paul Gauguin. Her paintings reflect a strong influence of the Western modes of painting, especially the ones practiced in the Bohemian circles of Paris in the early 1930s.

Amrita Sher Gil returned to India in the year 1934 and from then onwards, began her never-ending journey in the field of the traditions of Indian art. In the country, she was influenced by the Mughal miniatures schools as well as the Ajanta paintings. Her journey of the southern parts of the Indian subcontinent resulted in her painting the famous South-Indian trilogy paintings.

Amrita married her Hungarian first cousin, Dr. Victor Egan, in 1938. Thereafter, she moved with her husband to her paternal family's home in Gorakhpur city of Uttar Pradesh. Later, the couple shifted to Lahore city of, the then, undivided India. Amrita Shergil left this world in the year 1941.

Her Works & Achievements :
Amrita Shergill was one of the most impressive as well as the most gifted Indian artists belonging to the pre-colonial era. She was also the youngest as well as the only Asian artist to be elected as an Associate of the Grand Salon in Paris. The paintings of Amrita Shergil show a significant influence of the Western modes of painting. Her works also reflect her deep passion and sense for colors. Her deep understanding of the Indian subjects also comes across through her paintings.

Her Painting Recognition :
The works of Amrita Shergill have been declared as National Art Treasures by the Government of India. Most of her paintings adorn the 'National Gallery of Modern Art' in New Delhi. There is also a road named after the painter in Lutyen's Delhi, known as the Amrita Shergill Marg.

Abanindranath Tagore - Artist

Abanindranath Tagore, the nephew of Rabindranath Tagore, was born on 7th August 1871. He was one of the most prominent artists of the Bengal school of painting, along with being the first major supporter of swadeshi values in the Indian art. Abanindranath is also regarded as a proficient and accomplished writer. The painter tried to modernize Moghul and Rajput traditions as an answer to the growing influence of Western art under the British Raj. With this biography, we are trying to throw light on the life history of Abanindranath Tagore:

Abanindranath Tagore was born in the Jorasanko town of West Bengal. The younger bother of Gaganendranath Tagore, an eminent artist, Abanindranath was introduced to art in the 1880s, when he was studying at the Sanskrit College. In the year 1889, he married Srimati Suhasini Devi, the daughter of Bhujagendra Bhusan Chatterjee. It was around this time that he left the Sanskrit College and joined St. Xavier's College as a special student for one and a half years.

In 1897, the Vice-Principal of 'Calcutta Government School of Art' started teaching the traditional European academic manner to Abanindranath Tagore. During that time, Tagore developed an interest in watercolors and also came under the influence of Mughal art. He made some beautiful paintings based on the life of Lord Krishna, reflecting a strong influence of the Mughal style. A meeting with E.B. Havell convinced Abanindranath Tagore to work with him in the process of the renewal of the style of teaching at the Calcutta School of Art.

His Painting Style :

Abanindranath Tagore believed in the traditional Indian techniques of painting. His philosophy existed in rejecting the materialistic art of the west and coming back to the Indian traditional art forms. He was very much influenced by the Mughal School of painting as well as Whistler's Aestheticism. In his later works, Abanindranath started integrating Chinese and Japanese calligraphic traditions into his style. The intention behind this move was to construct an amalgamation of the modern pan-Asian artistic tradition and the common aspects of Eastern spiritual and artistic culture.

Bhagat Singh -- The Legend

Bhagat Singh was an Indian revolutionary who played a pivotal role in the Indian Independence movement against British colonial rule. Born into a family of patriotic Sikhs well-known for their participation in revolutionary activities against the British Raj, he was inspired greatly by the courage of his father and uncles. As a young man he became attracted to anarchist and Marxist ideologies which further kindled revolutionary ideas in his mind. Bright and intelligent he was also an avid reader and actively participated in extra-curricular activities as a college student. He was involved with several revolutionary organizations including the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA), which changed its name to the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) in 1928. He had great respect for Lala Lajpat Rai who was injured in a protest against the Simon Commission. When Rai died a few days later, Singh decided to avenge his death and assassinated John Saunders, a British police officer. Evading arrest, he went on to throw bombs inside the Central Legislative Assembly and then offered himself for arrest. He garnered tremendous support from other patriots while in jail and his execution boosted the revolutionaries’ determination to continue fighting for independence. He was also criticized for his violent stance towards the British but that did not prevent him from becoming a legend of the Indian independence movement.

Childhood & Life:
Bhagat Singh was born in September 1907 in Banga, Jaranwala Tehsil, Lyallpur district, Punjab, British India, into a family of Punjabi Sikhs. His father and two of his uncles were members of the Ghadar Party and were actively involved in the Indian independence struggle. They were in jail at the time of Bhagat Singh’s birth due to their participation in revolutionary activities.
He received his primary education from the Dayanand Anglo-Vedic High School, an Arya Samaji institution.
Inspired by father and uncles, he grew up to be a patriotic young man and decided to dedicate his life to the independence movement. He became disillusioned with Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violence and joined the Young Revolutionary Movement and began to advocate for the violent overthrow of the British Government in India.
He joined the National College in Lahore in 1923. His participation in the freedom struggle intensified during this period. He joined the Hindustan Republican Association which had prominent leaders like Chandrashekhar Azad, Ram Prasad Bismil and Shahid Ashfaqallah Khan who further kindled his patriotic fervor. The name of the organization was changed to Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) at Singh's insistence in 1928.

Bajirao -- fourth Maratha Chhatrapati (Emperor)

Bajirao I was the Peshwa (Prime Minister) to the fourth Maratha Chhatrapati (Emperor) Shahu. A courageous warrior, he is credited with expanding the Maratha Empire, especially in the north. Also known as Bajirao Ballal and Thorale ("Elder") Bajirao, he was born into a Marathi Chitpavan Brahmin family. His father was the first Peshwa of Chhattrapati Shahu, and Bajirao used to accompany his father on his campaigns from a young age. He inherited his father’s courage and valor, and grew up to be a brave and daring warrior himself. He gained much fame for his military skills while still a teenager and was appointed as the Peshwa when he was just 20 years old. In this position he proved himself to be an outstanding cavalry leader who took up the charge of leading his troops and helped to greatly expand the Maratha Empire. Famed for his military skills, Bajirao made use of rapid tactical movements in battle which greatly contributed to his success. He fought several major battles and is reputed never to have lost one. He was a much respected figure who earned the love of his troops and his people. In addition to his exploits as a warrior, Bajirao was also known for his love for his half-Muslim wife Mastani.

 

Childhood & Life:
Bajirao was born on 18 August 1700 into a Marathi Chitpavan Brahmin family as the son of Balaji Vishwanath and Radhabai. He had a younger brother called Chimnaji Appa.
His father was the first Peshwa of Chhattrapati Shahu. As a young boy he often used to accompany his father on military campaigns and was well trained by the Maratha cavalry generals. Under his father’s able guidance, he grew up to be a disciplined and highly skilled warrior.
His father was treacherously arrested by Maharaja Shahu’s army-in-chief Dabhaji Thorat in 1716. Bajirao chose to accompany his father to jail and remained with him for two years till he was released. He travelled with his father to Delhi in 1718.

Benny Dayal Singer

Benny Dayal is so far known to be the ‘sensational voice’ for this young generation. He is a versatile Indian singer.He was born on 13th may, 1984 and rised in Abu Dhabi, UAE. He completed his schooling in Abu Dhabi itself,  from ADIS. He completed his B.com from the college of ‘Madras Christina’ and further he switched for the completion of journalism for the same college.He then joined a BPO ( Business Processing Outsourcing ) company where he worked as an Events Coordinator with RR Donnelley.He quit his job to dedicate his passion for music and his penchant finally received the apt recognition.His first live performance was at National Institute of Technology (NIT) Calicut in 2009 when he performed at the annual festival of the institute. Singer Benny Dayal has sung with elite singers like A. R. Rahman, Sanam Puri and music composers like Karsh Kale, Harris Jayaraj and many more. Singer Benny Dayal wiki has grown prominent with his successful music. 

45% of lawyers fake?

NEW DELHI: The number of fake lawyers across the country may well touch the halfway mark, if the Bar Council of India's two year old verification drive is to be believed.

Earlier this week, BCI chief Manan Kumar Mishra announced before Chief Justice of India J S Khehar and other senior Supreme Court judges that its ongoing drive had already cut the number of genuine lawyers to 55-60% of those roaming court corridors across the country.

"The number of practicing lawyers is about to come down to 55-60% after the completion of the verification process. This will certainly improve the quality of our legal profession," Mishra told a gathering of lawyers and judges at a function held to felicitate CJI Khehar. Citing figures, Mishra said: "...as per the 2012 election statistics of BCI, we had almost 14 lakh voters, but since this verification process has started, we have received only 6.5 lakh applications."


Courtesy: Times Of Inda

Android Nougat (" 7 ") to come to Samsung smartphones in mid half of 2017

Samsung has this week begun rolling out Android 7.0 Nougat to Galaxy devices and has listed further devices that will get the update in the first half of 2017.

1. Samsung-Galaxy-S6

2. Galaxy Note 5:

As Samsung latest news, Android 7.0 Nougat will be expanded to additional countries on the following devices in the first half of 2017: the Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 edge and S6 edge Plus, Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy Tab A with S Pen, Galaxy Tab S2 (LTE unlock), Galaxy A3, and Galaxy A8.

Microsoft announces e-governance partnership with Andhra Pradesh government in India

Microsoft has offered to collaborate with Andhra Pradesh in the areas of e governance and cyber security, an official statement said here on Tuesday.

Chief Minister Nara. Chandrababu Naidu,currently in Davos was met Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella on Tuesday.

Nadella suggested that Andhra Pradesh should protect hybrid cloud technology and it will be a great leap in technology for India and Andhra Pradesh.

And also skill profile of the population, professionals etc are also being digitized and replicated in Andhra Pradesh, said the Microsoft CEO.

Courtesy: Gadgetsnow

Samsung Galaxy A9 Pro

Samsung Galaxy A9 Pro The phone comes with a 6.00-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 1080 pixels by 1920 pixels. Samsung Galaxy A9 Pro price in India starts from Rs. 32,490.

The Samsung Galaxy A9 Pro is powered by 1.8GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snpadragon 652 processor and it comes with 4GB of RAM. The phone packs 32GB of internal storage that can be expanded up to 256GB via a microSD card. As far as the cameras are concerned, the Samsung Galaxy A9 Pro packs a 16-megapixel primary camera on the rear and a 8-megapixel front shooter for selfies.

The Samsung Galaxy A9 Pro runs Android 6.0 and is powered by a 5000mAh non removable battery. It measures 161.70 x 80.90 x 7.90 (height x width x thickness) and weighs 210.00 grams.

The Samsung Galaxy A9 Pro is a dual SIM (GSM and GSM) smartphone that accepts Regular and Regular. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, NFC, USB OTG, FM, 3G and 4G. Sensors on the phone include Compass Magnetometer, Proximity sensor, Accelerometer, Ambient light sensor and Gyroscope.

Courtesy: gadgets.ndtv.com

Trump worries Nato with 'obsolete' comment

A statement by US President-elect Donald Trump that Nato is "obsolete" has caused "worry" in the alliance, Germany's foreign minister says.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier said it was a contradiction of comments made days ago by Mr Trump's incoming defence chief.

Mr Trump also said German Chancellor Angela Merkel had made "a catastrophic mistake" by admitting more than one million migrants.
And he threatened German car makers with high import tariffs.
Shares in BMW, Volkswagen and Daimler fell after he warned that cars built in Mexico, where they have invested in factories, would be taxed at 35% if exported to the US.
BMW said the company would stick to its plans to open a Mexican plant in 2019.
Mr Trump was giving an interview in New York to two British and German newspapers, the Times and Bild, at Trump Tower.

China policy paper says bilateral relations have 'deepened' with India.

NEW DELHI: China has painted an upbeat picture of its ties with India in its latest policy document on Asia-Pacific security, saying their partnership has "deepened", but skirted references to contentious issues such as India's NSG bid and efforts to get JeM chief Masood Azhar banned by the UN.

A white paper titled "China's Policies on Asia-Pacific Security Cooperation", released on Wednesday, said China and India made "new progress" in bilateral exchanges amid divergence in ties over China-Pakistan-Economic Corridor and India's growing strategic partnership with Vietnam.


Besides, in an interesting reference to counter-terrorism, the document without naming Pakistan, noted, "China believes that dialogue among different civilizations should be enhanced and a holistic approach taken to eliminate the breeding grounds of terrorism by addressing both its symptoms and root causes by political, economic and diplomatic means.


At the same time, there should be no double standard in fighting terrorism, which should not be associated with any particular country, ethnicity or religion.""Since 2015, the China-India strategic and cooperative partnership for peace and prosperity has been deepened. The two countries have set the goal of forging a closer development partnership, made new progress in exchanges and cooperation in various areas and stayed in close communication and coordination on regional and international issues," the paper said.
on Jan 13.2017

Lenovo P2

Lenovo's approach towards the ever-burgeoning Indian smartphone market has been quite aggressive off lately. The company launched a slew of handsets in the country last year, under its own brand, as well as under its Motorola and Zuk subsidiaries, making its smartphone portfolio quite an extensive one.

But we're into 2017, and the Chinese technology group is going full steam ahead into the New Year with yet another addition to its smartphone family - the P2. Successor to the Vibe P1, the Lenovo P2 ditches the Vibe branding, but retains its predecessor's defining feature - big battery.

Over that, almost all the other specs have received an upgrade as well. But, in a market increasingly getting populated with big battery smartphones, does the P2 manage to hold its own? More importantly, is it worth shelling out Rs 16,999 (for the 3GB RAM variant) on?

The answers await on the other side of this review of the Lenovo P2.

Design and build quality

There's only so much one can do with a rectangular slab. As such, the P2's design isn't going to win any awards. However, make no mistake about it, this is still a solidly-constructed smartphone.

The front panel of the Lenovo P2 is all about its 5.5-inch Full HD Super AMOLED display. Above it lies the earpiece, a notification LED, a 5MP selfie-snapper and proximity/ambient light sensor. Below the display is a rectangle-shaped fingerprint sensor that also supports some nifty gestures (more on that a little later).

Flip the P2 and you'll see its full-metal unibody construction in all its glory. There's a 13MP primary camera situated at the top centre, with a two-tone dual-LED flash placed right below it. Also, there is an NFC logo imprinted right under the flash, while the lower section of the back panel is where the Lenovo branding and some other important information (e.g. model identifier) are imprinted.

Let's talk about the sides now. On the left, there's a hybrid SIM/microSD card tray that can accept either two nano-SIM cards, or one nano-SIM and one microSD card. So, you'll have to pick either dual-SIM functionality or can expand storage. Below the tray is a unique 'One-key Power Saver'.

Coming to the right, it's where the volume rocker and the power button are located. Both have good tactile feedback. The bottom has a microUSB port, flanked by two grilles (the Mono speaker is located behind the right one and MIC behind the other). Lastly, the top has a 3.5mm audio jack. The chamfered sides look good too, as do the dual antenna lines on the top and bottom.

Display

As said before, the Lenovo P2 uses a 5.5-inch Full HD Super AMOLED display with 1,080x1,920 pixel resolution. With a resultant pixel density of around 401ppi, the P2's panel does full justice to everything from Full HD videos and graphically-loaded games to text and UI elements.

In true AMOLED fashion, Lenovo P2's screen renders vivid colours and deep blacks. Viewing angles are quite impressive and sunlight legibility isn't an issue either. No complaints here.

Performance and camera

Delivering muscle to the P2 is an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 CPU paired with 3GB of RAM (There's also a 4GB RAM variant that costs Rs 1,000 more). There's 32GB of internal storage (of which about 23GB is user-accessible), and you can use microSD cards of up to 256GB in size to expand it further. So, are these innards capable enough to make the Lenovo P2 power through the everyday tasks easily?

The answer, in short, is yes. From mildly intensive multitasking to random app switching, the P2 handles everything without breaking a sweat. During our testing, I used the P2 for playing demanding games like WWE: Immortals, browsing with close to ten Chrome tabs opened simultaneously and then some more, and the smartphone didn't show any signs of lag or performance degradation. It does get a little warm during long stretches of gaming, but not something that should be a matter of concern.

Lenovo P2 comes preloaded with a near-stock version of Android 6.0 Marshmallow, sprinkled with quite a few useful additions here and there. You can either use Vibe UI - which arranges all app icons on one or more home screen, or go for Android - Lenovo's custom launcher that's fast, lean and has an app drawer.

Gestures like double-tap to wake, automatic reduction in ringtone volume on picking up the phone and dual-app profile are also included.

The front-mounted fingerprint sensor on the Lenovo P2 comes with some handy gestures. When enabled, a single tap on the sensor button goes back, while pressing it shows recently-opened tasks. The on-screen navigation bar can be hidden as well. It also features 360-degree recognition and unlocks the device almost instantly. Over that, up to five fingerprints can be saved on the smartphone.

Overall call quality on the Lenovo P2 turned out to be admirably good. The smartphone latches on to 4G VoLTE networks easily and the reception is also fine, even in areas of spotty coverage. That said, this is obviously something that's dependent on network coverage in different areas.

For imaging duties, the P2 sports a 13MP rear camera with Phase Detection Auto Focus (PDAF). In well-lit conditions, shots taken with the Lenovo P2's primary shooter turn out to be quite nice. They pack a reasonable amount of detail, even if the post-processing is a little bit on the higher side. Turning on the Artistic HDR mode in the camera app's settings does help in making things a tad better. Speaking of the app, it does include all standard modes like Panorama and Slo-mo, in addition to a Pro mode that offers full manual controls. However, low-light images are a bit unsatisfactory. As for the 5MP front-facing imager, it clicks average selfies.

Last but definitely not the least, few words about the P2's standout feature - battery. This thing packs a mammoth 5,100mAh cell. And it's as incredible as it seems. The P2 easily lasted 2 days on a single charge. Our usage involved an hour or so each of web browsing, gaming, music streaming and video playback, all with Wi-Fi/cellular data turned on.

What's more, the above mentioned 'One-key Power Saver' toggle instantly transforms the P2 into a 'feature phone,' capable of only handling calls and SMS. This 'Ultimate Power Saver' mode also shows the battery life remaining in real-time. This is going to come handy in situations when the phone is about to run out of juice and you need it to last a few more hours.

In summation, battery life is one aspect in which the Lenovo P2 absolutely nails it. This is one phone you won't have to worry about charging every night.

Verdict

The Lenovo P2 is a worthy successor to the P1, and refines on almost every feature that made the latter a great buy. It's sturdily built, handles day-to-day tasks efficiently and has a battery that is nothing short of stellar. The only sore point of the Lenovo P2 is its camera experience, which could have been much better.

If you're not interested in taking a hundred photos with your smartphone daily and just want a device that'll last you more than a day without needing a recharge, the P2 is the phone you should get. At a starting price of Rs 16,999, this thing is an absolute value-for-money proposition.

Courtesy: Gadgetsnow.com

Stunning place to visit in Japan

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, Tokyo, Japan

The Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is a large park in Tokyo with an eminent garden. And if you have a thing for flora, this park offers every kind of landscape to tickle your fancy: typically English, French formal and even Japanese traditional. An ideal time to visit this garden would be after late March or early April which happens to be the beginning of the cherry blossom season

Best location for Readers

Tyrol, Austria

Often called the ‘heart of the alps’, this Austrian wonder is packed with tourist attractions to delight everyone. Romantic lakes, marvelous castles and many local beers to pick from, make Tyrol an inviting destination. This picture proves that this place is also a
great place to be left to your devices.

K Jo

Karan Johar born May 25, 1972 in Mumbai, India  an Indian film director, producer, and TV celebrity. He is the son of Hiroo Johar and the late Yash Johar. He is one of the most successful young filmmakers in Bollywood.


Johar studied at the Greenlawns High School and attended H.R. College of Commerce and Economics. He received a Masters degree in French.Dharma Productions, founded by his father, is Johar's production company. As a child, He was influenced by commercial Indian cinema and he cites Raj Kapoor, Yash Chopra and Sooraj R. Barjatya as his inspirations. 

Johar formally entered the film industry as an actor, portraying Raj's (Shahrukh Khan) close friend in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995). He was also assistant director on this film and helped director Aditya Chopra in writing the screenplay for this film.[2] In addition, he selected Shahrukh Khan's costumes, something he continued to do for Shahrukh Khan's other movies like Dil To Pagal Hai (1997), Duplicate (1998), Mohabbatein (2000), Main Hoon Na and Veer-Zaara (2004) and Om Shanti Om (2007).

Johar is also the host of a television chat show called Koffee with Karan commissioned by Star World, in which he interviews renowned celebrities from Bollywood and India's glamour world.[13] The first season of the show began in 2004 and ended in 2006. The 2nd season began to air in February 2007 and ended in August..[13]

Honors
    > In 2007, Johar was chosen as one of 250 Global Young Leaders by the Geneva-based World Economic Forum 2006.
    > On September 30, 2006, Johar became the first Indian filmmaker to be a jury member in the Miss World competition, in Warsaw, Poland.