MUMBAI: The stage is set for the best in Indian Business to come together and honour the best minds in India Inc with India Business Leader Awards presented by Accenture & CNBC-TV18, India‘s No.1 business medium.

The year 2008 has been a difficult year for business across the world. But it is in the trying times that the best minds show their brightest side. The year would be remembered as the one that exposed the flaws in corporate affairs but also highlighted the best business leaders who steered their companies through the most difficult times and situations.

To honour those who have set shining examples in business leadership CNBC-TV18 will present the 4th India Business Leaders Awards on 22nd January, 2009. Based on CNBC Asia Business Leader Awards that recognize the best corporate leaders, The Indian Business Leader Awards are, today, the most definitive awards in business excellence in India.

The jury for these awards includes Mr. Mukesh Ambani, Reliance Industries Ltd. (Chairperson, Jury) , Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman, Aditya Birla Group, Mr. Deepak Parekh, Chairman, HDFC, Mr. R. Seshasayee, Managing Director, Ashok Leyland, Mr. Jagdish Khattar, CMD, Carnation Auto India Pvt. Ltd. And Mr. Raghav Bahl, MD, Network18.

Talking on what makes for an ideal business leader, Mr. Ambani said, "A leader has to navigate the path and protect the interests of all the stakeholders in a consistent way so that they can deliver performance on an ongoing basis." According to Mr. Birla, track record is important. Long term viability and sustainability of the business model is also vital. Mr Parekh believes that individual contribution to the company is very important especially in troubled times like these.

Speaking about the awards, Mr. Ajay Chacko, Director, TV18, Business Media said, "India Business Leader Awards are an unparalleled tribute to the excellence in business in India. The awards have become in institution by itself and the winners epitomize strength, ingenuity, knowledge, foresight and who drive the growth of their businesses with vision and inspiration."

The awards will be presented for excellence for following categories:

? First Generation Entrepreneur Of The Year

? Most Promising Entrant Into The Big League

? First Generation Entrepreneur Of The Year

? Most Promising Entrant Into The Big League

? Indian Global Achiever

? Taking India Abroad! (Brand India)

? Social Enterprise Of The Year

? Outstanding Contribution To The Cause Of Indian Business

? Lifetime Achievement Award

? CNBC-TV18‘S Entertainment Business Leader Of The Year

? CNBC-TV18‘S Sport Business Leader Of The Year

? CNBC-TV18‘ Outstanding Woman Business Leader Of The Year

? CNBC-TV18‘S Outstanding Business Leader Of The Year

? CNBC-TV18‘S Outstanding Company Of The Year

? The India Business Leader Of The Year

? India Innovator Of The Year

? The India Corporate Citizen Of The Year

? The Talent Management Award

MUMBAI: Shemaroo Entertainment?s animation film ?Bal Ganesh? - world‘s 1st 3D animation on Lord Ganesh ? saw an overwhelming premiere at Thailand on 05 January 2009.

This premiere was held at the Siam Paragon Cineplex - one of the biggest shopping centers in Asia - with a multiplex movie theater, consisting of 15 large size theaters, with one of them having the biggest screen and seating capacity in Asia.

The function was co-hosted by Thai Bharat Cultural Lodge and Agaligo Entertainment Co. Ltd. and supported by PROFLEX marketed by Power Corp., Jet Airways, India‘s Airline, A-Thip - the manufacturer of Canned Fruit Drinks and Channel 7 TV Station.

The premier and press show was presided by Shri Bhagwant S. Bishnoy - the Deputy Chief of the Mission and Madam; along with Mr. Naresh Khorana - the Hon. Secretary of Thai Bharat Cultural Lodge; Mr. Krishna Upadhay - the President of Hindu Dharam Sabha; Prof. Dr. Chiraphat Praphanvidya and many more distinguished guest along with over 400 media reporters. Mr. Kalapi V. Nagada - Manager International Sales and Marketing, Shemaroo Entertainment - was also present at the premiere.

The function started with Bhajans praising the Lord, by a well known bhajan singer Mahant Tilak Raj Sharma, followed by prayers to the Lord seeking his blessings for the project. The prayers ceremony was conducted by Pandit Lalit Mohan Vyas - the Poojari of Shri Dev Mandir ? which was followed by Indian Classical Dance. The whole event was highly appreciated by the audience present, who were all having a small Shri Ganesh idol with them. The Thai dubbed ?Bal Ganesh? was then screened to all the invitees.

From 08 January 2009, this Thai dubbed animation film, is being screened at more than 50 cinema houses, in and around Bangkok; while the Hindi version will be screened at Siam Pavilai Theatre at Siam Paragon and at Central World Plaza.

Apart from this, Jet Airways is making arrangements to bring the less fortunate students, to see the movie in the near future.

Smita Maroo, VP Animation, Shemaroo Entertainment, shares her thoughts, ?This grand premiere of Bal Ganesh at Thailand is a definite win for Indian Animation as well as for the entire Bal Ganesh team at Shemaroo and Astute Media. This only goes to show that, Bal Ganesh film is very popular among children and audiences across other countries. We are glad that all our efforts including marketing and publicity have effectively and successfully connected with the target audience.?

Shemaroo Entertainment has released two animated films in less than one year namely ?Bal Ganesh? and ?Ghatothkach ? Master of Magic?. Other animated films namely - ?Return of Hanuman? and ?Dashavatar? - are also being marketed and distributed by Shemaroo across various platforms. Shemaroo Entertainment has emerged as one of the foremost players in the animation industry.

MUMBAI: Watching outrageously hot, ambitiously conniving and spectacularly stunning women is every man‘s desire and [V] are about to fulfill it. Channel [V] gets temperatures soaring with Oxygen Network‘s hit television series The Bad Girls Club hitting television screens from January 16th 2009 @ 11.00pm.

With hours of drama, cat fights, tears and all of the other trashy goodness, The Bad Girls Club will include a diverse group of women trying their best to be cordial with each other. But nasty being the only word in their dictionary, the girls take each other head on leaving room for only fist fights!

A living hell for those who don‘t ‘fit in‘ while bliss for those with a devious attitude! Catch the drama as this group of loud, binge-drinking, angry women try to get along and follow their noisy journey every Friday @ 11pm only on Channel [v]!

MUMBAI: This week Salaam Zindagi salutes the spirit of some HIV positive people who live with the deadliest virus on earth. As they lead this difficult journey of life, the episode tries to bring forth the mental trauma and ostracisation by the society they face.

Watch Nagma Sahar as she tries to empathise with the pain of these people on the show this Sunday, January 18, 2009 at 2:00 pm, only on NDTV India.

MUMBAI: BIGFlix, a part of Reliance BIG Entertainment Ltd, India‘s largest video-on-demand and movie rental service plans to bring some luck for the Bollywood audience this season. The portal gives you the chance to participate in LUCK?BY CHANCE Contest, a film by BIG Pictures & Excel Productions.

The first film promotion on the portal began with the Music of the Month contest that commence this week. The contest is a simple two step process towards your fate of wining autographed Luck?By Chance music CDs by Farhan Akhtar and Konkana Sen Sharma. Logging on to www.broadband.bigflix.com and answering two simple questions about the music of the film Luck By Chance is all it takes to put you in the line of destiny. 25 lucky people stand to win from the pool of lucky draws. The winners would be chosen by a lucky dip.

Speaking on this occasion, Mr. Kamal Gianchandani, COO, BIGFlix.com, said, "Luck by Chance‘ is one of the most awaited movies this year with a very powerful star cast attached to the film. BIGFlix.com which is a destination for all film buffs shall be partnering to promote the film, which will include various initiatives on our acclaimed site and state-of-the-art stores. This film would mark the beginning of some brilliant new careers and it is very exciting for us to be able to be part of that"

A BIG Picture‘s representative stated that -"We decided to go ahead with a music contest as the music of the film is already ruling the hearts of the people. Apart from this there will be more of such pre-release online marketing and publicity of the film‘s music videos, trailers, downloads, movie previews, preview shows and contests. The activities will follow through the post release of the film with meet-n-greet events with the star cast at select cities."

BIGFlix.com will promote Luck by Chance across all 112 stores in 10 cities in the country as well to the international audiences through its Video-on-Demand (VOD) site. The pre-release promotional activities will include online marketing and publicity of the film‘s music videos, trailers, downloads, movie previews, preview shows, contests and continue with other promotional activities post the movie release like meet-n-greet events with the star cast at select cities.

The film which is set to release on the 30th of January is already ruling the music charts with ‘Sapnon Se Bhare Naina‘ and ‘Baawre‘, songs composed by Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy. Produced by BIG Pictures & Excel Productions, the film portrays different characters who come to the city with startling dreams in their eyes to make it big in Bollywood. Directed by Zoya Akhtar, the film stars Farhan Akhtar Juhi Chawla, Konkana Sen, Isha Shervani, Rishi Kapoor, Dimple Kapadia & has Hrithik Roshan in a special appearance.

So the next time you see a shooting star it‘s either your luck is heading your way or you just won a CD autographed by Farhan and Konkona Sen Sharma!