MUMBAI: Ashley Judd, acclaimed Hollywood actress is in Mumbai to understand the issues surrounding HIV in India. She comes in her role as Brand Ambassador to Population Services International - an international non-profit working in the area of HIV. Ashley also has a personal mission on this trip. She is hoping to raise funds for a care and nutrition program for women who are HIV positive.

PSI and National Geographic Channel come together for a documentary film on her trip to India. The film is being produced by Miditech and will premiere on NGC on World Aids Day, 1st December 2007.

Vice-President Programming, NGC India, Joy Bhattacharjya comments, "Our enduring partnership with Miditech has given us the opportunity to together create international quality documentaries which manage to retain a uniquely Indian sensibility. This is just one of the many examples where the best Indian talent has been harnessed to create a world class product. This film will be telecast on all the National Geographic channels around the globe."

The film follows Ashley as she embarks on the HIV trail in India to see how this deadly disease spreads from Mumbai, the AIDS hub of the country to other places across the country. She is joined by Bollywood stars Sushmita Sen and Akshay Kumar who hope to create some kind of positive change through their public personas. Shahrukh Khan who also appears in the film invited Ashley to his film set and promised to help in the fight against AIDS.

While Ashley and Sushmita interact with Sex workers in Kamathipura, Akshay connects with the Truck Drivers in Jaipur to understand the real state of the disease and its victims in India.

As they interact with high risk groups, and other people whose life has been changed by HIV, the film will explore the rapid spread of AIDS in India and complex concerns like stigma, sexuality and behaviour patterns that surround this issue.

The filming was done under difficult conditions but director Chandramouli Basu feels, "Everyone we met and interacted with for this film, had a heart wrenching story to tell. I was amazed at their genuine warmth and understanding despite their difficult circumstances that aptly showed during the filming. Ashley had a beautiful connection with everyone she met. Sushmita too struck a chord with the sex workers who were touched that a Bollywood star had taken time out to meet them."

Today India is at the epicenter of the AIDS epidemic - there are an estimated 5.7 million adults living with HIV, higher than the entire population of the New Zealand. And many of the victims are women infected by their husbands or partners and struggling to survive. Ashley hopes that through her interaction with these women, she will be able to raise awareness about HIV related issues.

Dana Ward, Operations Director, PSI says "Women in India are increasingly at risk from HIV/AIDS from their partners who indulge in sex with commercial sex workers while living with their wives. This puts women and the entire family at a great risk. Thus, empowerment of women is essential to prevent the disease from spreading into the general population and to prevent the stigma associated with it. The film is about empowerment of women and HIV/AIDS and we are grateful that Ashley, Sushmita and Akshay have agreed to be a part of this film. We are positive that this will help us to communicate the message we want to."

Mumbai: UTV Motion Pictures, one of India‘s leading studios, announced the online release of its forthcoming film ‘Hattrick‘, day and date with its worldwide theatrical release, on India‘s leading broadband video portal, Rajshri.com.Directed by Milan Luthria and produced by Ronnie Screwvala, ‘Hattrick‘ features Nana Patekar, Paresh Rawal, Kunal Kapoor, Rimi Sen & Danny and is scheduled for worldwide release on March 16, 2007.

Says Siddharth Roy Kapur, Executive Vice President - Marketing, Distribution & Syndication, UTV Motion Pictures, "UTV is committed to increasing opportunities for audiences around the world to legally access our content in as convenient a manner as possible and in the best quality. Coupled with this, we are constantly looking to innovate on developing new revenue streams and this initiative is another example of that. We are very excited about this partnership with Rajshri.com and believe it is a win-win for all, the biggest winners being consumers worldwide.

Rajshri.com has proved this model and its technological competence with the successful online premiere of Vivah and we are proud to partner with a company as transparent as Rajshri Media for the online distribution of ‘Hattrick‘."

Rajshri Media (P) Limited Managing Director Rajjat A. Barjatya says "The Internet is emerging as an effective new medium of distribution and a potential new territory of exploitation of films for content owners. After the overwhelming response to the online release of Vivah, we were confident that progressive Indian filmmakers would realise the potential of online distribution and tap into this additional revenue stream."

"We could not have asked for a better partner than UTV in our quest to provide a legal alternative to moviegoers worldwide. Rajshri.com currently serves over 100,000 consumers on a daily basis from over 50 countries, many of which are not served by legitimate theatrical or home video distribution. In a very short span of time, Rajshri.com has become the first choice and one of the only sources of legitimate Indian entertainment content for global Indians and South Asians."

This offering is primarily designed to cater to the South Asian and NRI diaspora overseas. The original Hindi version of ‘Hattrick‘ as well as subtitled versions will be available online. The film will be available for a 72-hour download on-demand 24/7 starting 12 noon IST from March 16. Low and High (DVD quality) bandwidth versions of the film will be available at USD 9.99 and USD 19.99 respectively.

MUMBAI: Bhaskar Group‘s My FM has roped in Aayaz Memon to provide World Cup live feeds and match updates for My FM listeners in Jaipur and Chandigarh. So now My FM Listeners will have the pleasure of hearing one of India‘s foremost cricket correspondents provide basic match Analysis with facts & figures, post match analysis the next day morning and views about the key players to look out for in each match.

Said Jaipur Programming Head, My FM, Viplove Gupte, ‘We are delighted to bring Aayaz Menon‘s expert cricket analysis to our cricket fans. Once again, My FM proves its focus on its listener‘s interests by giving them what they want, when they want it." FM is the right medium for providing the updates and instant analysis for the World Cup considering the timings of the matches.

MUMBAI: The ratings for the pre-ICC Cricket World Cup warm-up matches are out, and MAX has shown a 21% increase in viewership even before the first official ball has been bowled.

Commenting on the ratings, Sneha Rajani, Business Head, MAX, said, ?It?s heartening to see how Cricket binds India. A response like this for the warm-up games is a vindication of the fact that the entire nation is caught up in the World Cup frenzy.? In the warm-up matches, MAX notched an average prime time rating of 2.8 TVR (all India) for India v/s Netherlands and a 3.8 (all India) TVR for India v/s West Indies. These numbers clearly demonstrate that MAX is nicely poised to deliver the best cricket ratings ever.

MUMBAI: NDTV brings you an exclusive, behind the scene action of the making of this year?s much awaited movie Vipul Shah?s Namastey London.

Watch Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, Upen Patel and Rishi Kapoor as they turn into reporters and take viewers of NDTV through the making of the film, an exciting trip down their favourite locations in London.

The show has more in store for viewers with the actors? special meeting with Jonathan Bloom, cinematographer of Hollywood blockbuster-?Troy?.

Also an exclusive sneak peek into the filming of a sizzling track choreographed by none other than Saroj Khan, Akshay?s Punjabi-ness and a lot more?

Watch the making of ?Namastey London? on Sunday, March 18, 2007 at 1.30 pm only on NDTV 24X7.

MUMBAI: Nirmal Lifestyle, Mulund was the venue for the second public appearance by the master of the 619 on his 2 day visit to Mumbai.The fans certainly didn?t disappoint and were there in full strength to meet one of the greatest wrestlers to enter the WWE arena.

DJ Shiva started proceedings spinning a mix of the latest hip hop hits and was accompanied by singer Abbey who got the house down with his tunes. They got the fans all ready and warmed up to meet the Mysterio Express. Then to the explosive beat of Booyaka 619 entered the Master of the 619, with the entire venue chanting 619. The master greeted his clan and they responded back, a lucky few got to get onto stage and ask him about his road to the top. ?Mumbai has been a revelation, the love and warmth that I have received on my visit here has been overwhelming said a visibly touched Rey Mysterio. The fans tonight made me truly aware of the power of the WWE, and I thank Ten Sports for making this a night to remember.?

Rey Mysterio a WWE SMACKDOWN superstar known for his high flying style and dropping signature moves like the Mysterio Express, Air Mysterio and the legendary finishing move the 619 enthralled audiences and fans as he talked to them and signed autographs.

Over the years Rey has created a following that establishes him alongside all time wrestling greats. With eight Cruiserweight Championships, four WWE Tag Team Championships and one Royal Rumble Championship under his belt, Rey has created loyal fans across all ages, who never stop screaming 619! The definitive high-flying Superstar Mysterio, despite his size, is an innovative underdog that fans of all ages have grown to respect and love.