Chandigarh, November 19
The Panjab University syndicate today decided to re-examine the request of Dr Bhuvan Chandel for waiving of the penal rent of his residence in the varsity.

Citing previous cases, where the varsity staff had paid rent, the syndics discussed that the rules should be similar for everybody and no exceptions should be made.

The recommendation of the faculty of education, regarding failed/ dropout students of MEd of Department of Correspondence Studies be given a chance to clear their first-year papers in the second year, was cleared by the syndicate.

It was also decided in the meeting to re-advertise the post of Director, Sports. Interviews for the same were held on November 14, however, no candidate was found suitable.

The post has already been advertised thrice in the past about four years. The post is lying vacant since Dr Ajmer Singh retired. It was after his retirement that a huge scam was unearthed in the Department of Sports which saw Arjuana Awardee Dr Ajmer’s Singh involvement also.

It was also decided to implement the pension for PU employees from August 24, 2005 instead of April 1, 2005. It was also decided that refund of fee of all students, who had applied for admission and paid their fees in after the year 2004, but were found ineligible, would also be considered.

The syndicate also gave the nod to exempt payment of requisite fee of Rs 375 for writers of handicapped students (defect in hand).

The syndicate also condoled the death of Amrita Pritam, eminent writer and poet, and K.R. Narayanan, former President of India. 

Chandigarh, November 19
A talent search competition was organised at Government Senior Secondary School, Sector 45, here today.

More than 350 children participated in hair cutting, welding, paper bag making, embroidery, flower making, clay modelling, rangoli, salad decoration, heena application and fancy dress competitions.

The winners were Parvez, Gurvinder, Kitty, Simran, Shama, Chand Bibi, Chhaya, Subhas, Sonu, Nisha, Manish and Pushpa. OC

Here comes another tribute to our beloved monument in “Taj Mahal”.

It has silver-haired Kabir Bedi as Emperor Shahjahan who enthrals us with his acting acumen. And model Syed Zulfi, who plays Prince Khurram, comes out as a full-fledged actor here.

Zulfi’s chiselled face is highlighted suitably by his long black hair. Very natural, he displays the potential to charm female viewers. But he lacks the passionate energy needed to cast a spell. And heroine Sonya Jehan (Mumtaz) ditto. Her expressions, unlike that of Manisha Koirala (Jahaan Aara) fails to move you.

The music is apt and nostalgic. The sets are lavish and unbelievably seductive. Credit goes to cinematographer R.M. Rao who has managed to evoke our sentiments. Hats off to director–maker Akbar Khan, who creates a poetic ambience and maintains it throughout.

Adding to the glamour index are women characters, who bedecked in Mughal period jewellery and costumes, seem to challenge Ms Worlds.

However, “Taj Mahal” fails to explore any extra dimension of the historical masala. But here it is more evocative and thankfully less emotional. So the dialogues do not get heavy, though the editors’ scissors goes missing several times. The movie never uplifts you like the monument of love — Taj Mahal. Nevertheless, watching it is quite a pleasant experience. TNS

Chariots flying in the air; books getting rearranged on their own on shelves in the library—welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.Its most famous student, Harry Potter, has become a "potter" and his wheel has spun "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" (Kiran, Fun Republic).

Harry Potter (Daniel Redcliffe) has now come of age. If the earlier movie had him going through the motions of acting, the new venture has the boy-wizard more focussed. Even as he comes to terms with his terrible dreams about conspiracies and serpents, he is called upon to contest in the Triwiz Tournament where he competes with older and more experienced students from other schools of wizardry. He fights a fire-spitting dragon and jumps into a deep lake as part of the competition. Backing him in his endeavour are the venerable Professor Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) and his friends, Ron (Rupert Grint), and Hermione (Emma Watson).

As if this is not enough, Harry has also to contend with evil-personified Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) whom he hates and fears for killing his parents and now for going after him (Harry). In the midst of all this, he falls for the infectious charms of fellow student, Cho Chang (Katie Leung).

With British director Mike Newell at the helm, the franchise is more dramatic and less ghastly than the earlier," Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azbakan". However, the director 's efforts at inducing humour are bad, if not downright pathetic. Missing are the funny antics of Harry's friend, Ron, who had impressed more than the protagonist in".....prisoner of Azbakan".

Special effects have the staple of all Potter movies and deserve no special mention. The trouble with films like these is that in the long run, they carry the risk of becoming pedestrian with their all-too familiar faces and themes. How long will it take Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to turn into "Hogwash School of Witchcraft and Wizardry" is anybody' s guess.