MUMBAI: With Christmas and New Year round the corner, celebrations are not far as NDTV Good Times brings to you some of the most entertaining, engaging and enjoyable shows that will make this festive season a memorable one.

Touching Lives: Lean is In

December 24, 2008, Wednesday, 9 pm

NDTV Good Times

It?s Christmas, a time when you?re surrounded by heavy starters and creamy desserts. We intend to do things differently - heighten this festive spirit with fun, frolic and food, which is not just healthy but low on calories yet great to taste. Devour traditional Indian delicacies like Hara Bhara kebab followed by a western classic low cal Chocolate Rum Cake, while Aditya and Devanshi make sure that their culinary treasures don?t show up on your weighing scales! Also catch them preparing an Eggless Date Cake and churning out Indian specialties like Nan Khatai and Ghungi.

All this and a lot more only on ?Touching Lives: Lean is In? - Christmas Special only on NDTV Good Times.

Royal Reservation

December 24, 2008, Wednesday at 10 pm

NDTV Good Times

This week our anchor, Amrita Gandhi, loses herself in the sheer green among the mountains of Meghalaya that echo the enchanting history of the world‘s second oldest surviving dynasty, the Manikyas. Watch her discover what makes Shillong ideal for a break. From Khasi food to archery to jamming in the local language of Khasi? watch Amrita discover the many delights of the region only on Royal Reservation.

Catch Amrita Gandhi as she gives you a peak of India?s royal lineage, on Royal Reservations only on NDTV Good Times.

Weekends with SX4

Starting December 25, 2008, every Thursday at 10 pm

NDTV Good Times

Two days away on a Road Trip ? we have two people, they are of the opposite sex, with completely opposite interests, in one car, on one journey?with one mission - to head far away from the hustle and bustle of the city in a Maruti SX4 to create that perfect Weekend Getaway!

The journey is as important as the destination? And the mode of transport, the Maruti SX4, is as important as the travelers. This week join our adventurous anchors Uday Jhala and Neha Dixit as they trip up and away to the Himalayan mountains. While Neha‘s wish list this Christmas is some delicious fruit wine, Uday golfs away to glory in one of the world‘s highest golf courses. Our weekend travellers discover the spirit of Santa in the mountains of Naldhera and enjoy the good times.

Making of Kingfisher Calendar
December 31, 2008, Wednesday, 10 pm

NDTV Good Times

The Kingfisher Swimsuit Calendar 2009 this year travels to sunny Thailand, which was not as sunny this year! But how does the ace photographer defeat the weather? Improvisation. It gives the calendar an unexpected edge this year. Apart from great locations and gorgeous faces, this edition of the Kingfisher Calendar uses "United Nations" as its central theme. Check out girls from around the world, like the Ugandian-Norwegian Mimi Blix, the Russian Katya, the Thai superstar Sunisa, the half Czechoslovakian-half Pakistani New Yorker Nargis Fakhri, India‘s best-loved fashion model Moni Kangana Dutta and the free spirited Indo-Dutch Tamara Moss. They will also take you around the Kingfisher Calendar sets, around exotic Thailand and will discover the secrets of a girl and her suitcase.

For more, watch anchor and model Tamara Moss as she gives you a glimpse of the ?Making of Kingfisher Calendar 2009? exclusively on NDTV Good Times.

Cut!
December 31, 2008, Wednesday, 11.30pm

NDTV Good Times

Bollywood is in our blood. We love the stars, the bling, the heartbreaks and the link-ups. Catch this buzzing show where we ‘Cut‘ through the nonsense, ‘Cut‘ through the sensationalism and ‘Cut‘ down to size, to bring you our take, on everything that‘s making waves in the world of entertainment. Join us on New Year‘s eve as we bring to you a round-up of the year that was - Bollywood 2008 ? the flops, the trends, the block busters. And take a sneak peek at what 2009 promises.

Catch the special New Year episode of Cut! only on NDTV Good Times.

MUMBAI: The first chapter of Heroes 3 kick starts today. Tune in to Star World at 10 p.m to discover the shocking identity of Nathan?s (Adrian Pasdar) assassin throwing Peter (Milo Ventimiglia) and Matt (Greg Grunberg) into unexpected, uncharted territory.

What is the family secret that Hiro (Masi Oka) & Ando (James Kyson Lee) are safeguarding that could split the planet apart? Will Sylar (Zachary Quinto) be able to restore his superpowers? Will the startling breakthrough of Maya (Dania Ramirez), Suresh (Sendhil Ramamurthy) change the world or just DESTROY it?

Catch all the action LIVE as it unfolds in the all-new season 3 of Heroes premieres exclusively on STAR WORLD on Tuesday December 23rd, 2008 at 10pm.

MUMBAI: Ghajini mania grips India?s favourite multiplex chain ? INOX, as it lines up a host of activities to promote the much awaited Aamir Khan film releasing on the 25th of December. With advances of the film opening as early as Sunday, 21st December and Special Previews scheduled across all INOX properties on Christmas Eve - 24th December, Aamir Khan fans can brace themselves for a ?memorable? movie experience even if their favourite hero battles memory loss in the film!

As a part of the film?s unique promotional blitzkrieg, INOX has joined hands with the makers of the film to splash the entire multiplex chain with Ghajini promotional material. In a first of its kind promotion - INOX multiplexes across India will exclusively bear an all-Ghajini look with all the poster cases carrying Ghajini posters on Sunday 21st December to attract visibility and grab maximum eyeballs. Over a 1000 posters of the film will be on display across INOX multiplexes.

Patrons at INOX will also get exclusive Ghajini tattoos and a special Ghajini combo is also on offer at Refuel- INOX?s in-house caf?; where patrons get audio CD?s of the film autographed by Aamir Khan himself.

INOX has also rolled out an exciting contest called ?INOX Ghajini? contest where all 27 units across the country vie for a certificate and trophy from Aamir Khan by conceptualizing the most original and innovative means of promoting the film in terms of d?cor, thematic activities etc. The winning unit will be awarded a trophy & certificate by Aamir Khan in person.

?There is a lot of buzz around Ghajini and patrons are eagerly awaiting the film as is evident from the huge number of enquiries we have been receiving from all quarters. We at INOX, are leaving no stone unturned to provide our patrons with the very best entertainment ? both on screen and off it?, said Harshavardhan Gangurde ? VP Marketing, INOX Leisure Ltd.

Ghajini is a romantic thriller which explores the life of a once rich businessman, Sanjay Singhania (Aamir Khan) now suffering with short term memory loss, seeking revenge over the man who killed his fianc?e.

INOX, India?s favourite movie destination is constantly looking at ways and means to reach out to the patrons and make the movie going experience more interesting for them. To this end INOX regularly hosts different events, contests and promotions. INOX currently has 27 multiplexes & 94 screens in 19 cities across India.

MUMBAI: Chandamama India Limited, the publishers of the much loved Chandamama range of children‘s magazines, today announced the national launch of the epic Chandamama‘s Ramayana. Swami Sukhbodhananda, the International Management and Spiritual Guru and Founder Chairman of Prasanna Trust, released the first copy at a function in Bangalore today.

The launch signifies the first time the Ramayana is being published in an illustrated book format as a single book. A sweeping epic of enduring love and sacrifice, Ramayana is the ultimate tale of war where Good triumphs over Evil.

With 400 pages of rich, hand drawn illustrations, Chandamama presents the tale of Rama and Sita in full colour, in a simple narrative style. Several little known episodes, within the larger framework from the epic have also been included in this version. The preface capturing the essence of the Ramayana, has been written by Swami Sukhbodhananda and there are practical and philosophical quotes by the Swamiji on every alternate page.

Mr. L Subramanyan, Publisher & CEO, Chandamama India Ltd. said "This is one more milestone in our journey. For the last 61 years, Chandamama has stood for story-telling in a simple manner and bringing to the young the great storehouse of knowledge in our history and tradition. Chandamama‘s Ramayana tells the story of Rama and his victory over Ravana in a simple narrative, which is bound to resonate with the current generation of youngsters."

Further Mr. Subramanyan added that more such products are on the anvil, and the mandate of the team at Chandamama is to re-introduce the brand to the children of today by making it contemporary and present in all the relevant platforms where such content is consumed.

Speaking on the occasion, Swami Sukhbodhananda said "I wish and pray that Chandamama‘s effort in bringing out the Ramayana in pictorial form will bless the reader, and help him/her truly grow up and not merely grow old. Growing up happens by design and growing old happens by default. The Ramayana is a great design for us to grow up in life."

MUMBAI: Its all about thrills and chills of movies? Seventymm, India?s largest organized movie rental service and Philips Electronics India Limited, India?s leading lifestyle and healthcare company have joined hands to bring consumers an enhanced home-entertainment experience this festive season.

As part of this celebration, on purchase of a Philips DVD player, consumers get a Seventymm voucher that entitles them to a free movie DVD (3 movies in 1 DVD) and a chance to win exciting prizes vis Philips LCD TVs, Home Theatre systems, GoGear range of personal MP3/4 players and Seventymm subscriptions. All that the consumers are required to do is SMS a unique code mentioned on the voucher and get the winning prize home delivered! This offer is valid from December 15th, 2008 till the end of January 2009 in Bangalore, New Delhi & NCR, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chandigarh.

Commenting on the partnership, Mr. Subhanker Sarker, COO, Seventymm said, ?With tightening purse strings and multiplexes being low on the consideration set due to costs involved, home entertainment has hit a new high. We are confident that this partnership with Philips will provide consumers with an enhanced movie viewing experience coupled with the thrills of winning gifts.?

Elaborating on the partnership, Mr. S. Nagarajan, Vice President - Consumer Lifestyle, Philips Electronic India Limited said, ?Coming together with Seventymm further strengthens our position in the market. Since December is a month of gifts and joys, through this offer we have brought to our consumers a win-win proposition. I am confident that this offer will make the festive season more enjoyable and memorable for our consumers, especially the movie lovers.?

MUMBAI: Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan says tougher laws are needed to tackle terror but human rights values should also be taken care of.

In an exclusive interview to NDTV, CJI K G Balakrishnan said, "We should have strong laws. But it should take care of human values providing basic human values to the accused. Strict law is good. I am in favour of it. But how the law should be it is for the Parliament to discuss and deliberate. People of the country should feel safe to live in the country".

Talking about whether Kasab, the terrorist under custody, should get a lawyer to defend himself, CJI said, "I don‘t think he will go undefended. Even for helping the court for a proper trial, assistance of a lawyer is required. What is the role he has played will come to light if there is a fair trial. Somebody will have to defend. It shall not be one way traffic".