MUMBAI: Anil Machado, Programming Director at Radio One FM 94.3 in Bangalore was awarded the ‘Super Achiever‘ by the ‘INDIRA Super Achiever Award 2007‘ at The Times Ascent Asia Pacific HRM Congress held in Bangalore last week.

MUMBAI: The grand finale of Indian Idol is just a step away. As one looks back on the last few months --from the auditions in different parts of the country, through the piano rounds, theatre rounds and to the last gala round it has been a truly memorable journey. Season 3 of Indian Idol has unanimously been declared the most popular with its worldwide viewers, talent and popularity of its contestants.

The gala round culminates this week. The two contestants who met during the piano round in Mumbai and became friends almost instantly and have remained room mates and best buddies throughout the contest are ironically pitted against each other in the finals. To their credit, Amit Paul and Prashant Tamang are fighting to the finish to do deliver their best yet with not a dent in their friendship which speaks volumes about the people they are.

The last gala round before the finals was a very special event. It had two very special guests ? John Abraham and Bipasha Basu. The two decided to be on opposite teams to play a different ball game. Their "Goal" was to support the two competitors. Bipasha chose to support Amit (her mother too was there to support him) while John threw his weight behind Prashant.

In the first round each contestant sang a song of their choice. In the second they sang a song given by the other as challenge. Prashant sang Amit‘s choice of song for him Badi mushkil hai ? with such gay abandon that he had Annu Malek‘s vote for the Indian Idol title! Prashant‘s challenge for Amit was to sing Bulla ki jaana main kaun.. Amit got a standing ovation from all the four judges for it! Bipasha hoped some day soon Amit would do playback singing for John so that she would have the pleasure of hearing a romantic song in Amit‘s voice sung for her! Did someone say the two had broken up.

In the final segment both contestants sang Tanhaiyee? from Dil chahta hai? the judges found it hard to decide who was better. It is going to be even harder for the viewers. Once again every viewer wishes that the best man wins the Indian Idol title. Go ahead and select your best man!

MUMBAI: Sania Mirza?s quest of adding a second WTA Tour title ? when she starts as one of the overwhelming favourites in the Sunfeast Open ? will be available live and exclusive only on Ten Sports, the most watched sports channel of the sub-continent.

The $175,000 Sunfeast Open, the biggest women?s tournament in India, is a WTA Tier III tournament. It starts in Kolkata from 17 September, with the final scheduled for 23 September.

Sania, who has improved to a career-high 27th rank in the world, is in good form as her performance in the pre-US Open tournaments shows. She reached the final at Stanford, semi-final at Cincinnati, and quarterfinals at San Diego. She also reached the third round of the US Open.

But she will have her task cut out, given the presence of such stars as world number 10 and the Wimbledon runners-up Marion Bartoli of France, and number 12 Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia. Also making an appearance will be the Russian, Maria Kirilenko, currently ranked 35th in the world.

Live telecast of the matches start at 7:00 pm on the first two days, and from 5:00 pm IST on the next four days, including the final on Sunday, 23 September.

The Sunfeast Open is yet another blockbuster in the impressive tennis portfolio of Ten Sports. The channel recently showed the US Open live.

Chris McDonald, CEO, Taj Television Ltd, commented: "Sania Mirza?s popularity easily rivals some of the best cricketers in the country, and the expectations from her are huge given that she has shown excellent form in the US hard court season".

?Ten Sports is committed to promoting sport in the sub-continent, and the Sunfeast Open forms a very important event on our programming calendar.?

As a build-up towards this most anticipated event, Sania is also the Legend of the Month on Ten Sports, and a half-an-hour preview show of the tournament will also be aired on 14 September at 8:30 pm IST and 17 September at 4:30 pm.

MUMBAI: The eighth episode of NDTV India‘s Bombay Lawyers is an interesting blend of serious issues with some light moments.

The first case raises the very potent question of a patient‘s right to information about the potential risks of a delicate operation and shows Raj from the law-firm Roy and Raghavan, while credibly fighting the case is also trying to impress Dr Radhika, who has brought the case to him. Meanwhile, his colleague at the firm Maggie for the first time in her legal career is the advocate for a husband in an amusing divorce case, where the wife refuses his generous offer of a huge maintenance package.

Watch this kaleidoscopic eighth episode of the one-of-its-kind fiction based mini series ‘Bombay Lawyers‘ only on NDTV India on Saturday September 15, 2007 at 10:00 pm and the repeat telecast on Sunday September 16, 12 noon.

MUMBAI: Relations between humans and sharks have not always been friendly, but the animal fascinates us as much as it frightens us.For decades, programmes on sharks have intrigued and enthralled viewers. Intensifying their knowledge quest, researchers are now discovering much more about the intelligence and personality of this huge fish than they ever did.

Discovery Channel will feature some of the most renowned shark experts and experienced underwater cinematographers to bring viewers the latest information about the ocean‘s perfect predator in its special "Shark Week" slated to air from 17 to 20 September at 7 pm.

For the past two decades, Shark Week has entertained viewers on Discovery Channel. First launched in 1988, Shark Week was Discovery Channel‘s very first week-long event, designed to fulfill viewers‘ thirst for knowledge about the natural world.

In its special schedule of programmes devoted to the behaviour of one of the most mysterious and majestic creatures on the planet, Shark Week will take viewers to witness the dynamic adventures of these predators, expose people who hunt them and present those who attempt to conserve them. This jaw-dropping programming sequence bravely travels through the world‘s shark-infested waters for hair-raising encounters with the premier predator of the seas. Viewers will learn the thoughts and behaviors of these most-feared creatures like never before.

Shark Week Schedule

Sharks! Beyond The Jaws, 17 September at 7 pm
Who can forget the footage of huge Great Whites bursting out of the water and ten feet into the air shown on the channel? It‘s the only fish to regularly hit newspaper headlines. Yet it remains a one-dimensional character. What goes on behind the dark gaze of this huge fish? Could the shark be intelligent and social? Could it have even have personality? If so, it‘s time to pause and look for a new view of the Great White Shark- beyond the jaws.

Shark Tribe, 18 September at 7 pm
Animal behaviorist Dave Salmoni and South African shark scientist Ryan Johnson journey to the remote, tribal shores of New Guinea to unravel the mysterious secrets of the local shark whisperers who "call" in sharks from tiny canoes, without bait. As Dave and Ryan immerse themselves in this extraordinary ancient ritual, they gain knowledge that could help humans and sharks coexist.

Sharks of The Golden Triangle, 19 September at 7 pm
Hammerhead, Silky, Ragged Tooth and Whitetip Reef sharks all share the azure blue waters of the southeast Pacific Ocean in an area known as the Golden Triangle. Bounded by the coasts of Costa Rica, Columbia and Ecuador, the Golden Triangle has a rich nutrient supply from underwater volcanic activity and is the reason a vast array of fish and sharks come here to feed. Meet the voracious predators of the Golden Triangle face to face and experience the "thrill of a lifetime."

Shark Battlefield , 20 September at 7 pm
This episode combines cutting-edge underwater photography with state-of-the-art graphics to capture the day and night battles on a tropical coral reef where the principle players are deadly sharks. With incredible clarity and detail, the programme reveals their search patterns and attack strategies to present a window on the life of sharks as never seen before. Viewers witness the raw drama of the submarine - the conflicts, subterfuge, battle plans and attack tactics of underwater warriors in an alien world.

MUMBAI: This weekend will surely be marked as a red lettered day in India?s musical history. Bollywood?s one of the most renowned & celebrated musical brothers will again come together after their much talked about separation. After a very long time, Jatin & Lalit will again be seen hugging each other with brotherly affections this Friday only on the sets of Amul Star Voice of India. To add credence to the parents? special episode this Friday, the legendary actress & social activist Shabana Azmi will be the celebrity guest along with Ayesha Dharker & Manish Acharya. Moreover all Amul Star Voice of India finalists will bring their families on the sets to make this episode a very memorable one for one & all. But that?s not all for the weekend.

Saturday will have in store a huge surprise element for all charming guys of Amul Star Voice of India. The pretty girls will also have their lifetime opportunity to dress up in bridal wear as Amul Star Voice of India will celebrate Shaadi special on Saturday with the hottest & happening Bollywood couple ? Malaika & Arbaaz Khan; Rakhi Sawant & Abhishekh Awasti. So this weekend Amul Star Voice of India is all set to present a perfect musical blend of all emotions & sentiments.

One of the most competent finalists of Amul Star Voice of India, Sumitra Iyer will sing the slow melody ?Jaha Pe Sawera Ho? on her father?s special request. Shabana Azmi & Ayesha were moved by the depth of her singing. Although Irfan?s mother couldn?t make it to the show, but Irfan dedicated his song ?Luka Chupi? was dedicated to her. Irfan?s stupendous performance will make Abhijeet salute him on stage. The cake which Mirande?s parents will bring for her on the sets of Amul Star Voice of India will show its magic when she will make an astounding performance on the song ?Bagban?. Ishmeet?s parents will come down all the way from Ludhiana with his favorite aloo paratha. This will undoubtedly influence Ishmeet to perform his best on the song ?Ma de hathiya?.

It will be a very touchy moment when Lucknow Ke Meet, Harshit will carry his grandmother in his arms & bring her on stage while he will sing ?Ruth Ke Humse Kabhi?. This song will make each one of the judges emotional & will drive them to tears, thus bringing Jatin & Lalit together again. Abhilasha will accolades when she will sing to her father?s favorite song ?Mayeeri main ka se kahu?. The youngest finalist of Amul Star Voice of India, Abhaas will be completely charged up when he will lend his voice to the song ?Mera to Jo Bhi?. His parents & dadi will come down from Jabalpur to shower their blessings & watch him perform on such a prestigious platform.

All these heart melting performances will bring Shabana Azmi into tears. She will be extremely touched by the bonding, love & affection each of the contestants share with their families. Moreover the emotional patch up of Jatin & lalit will make each moment of the show memorable for her.

So cancel all your dates & stick to your television sets, as the Amul Star Voice of India weekend dhamaal won?t let your lashes fall.

Don?t miss to catch up with the extremely emotional Friday Parents? Special & the gorgeous eventful Saturday Shaadi special on Amul Star Voice of India, Fri & Sat, Sept 14th& 15th, 10 p.m. only on Star Plus.