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The article outlines the history of ashram literature in India and the West. Five ashram libraries were visited to document a history of sacred publications and of spiritual literature in all relevant languages. Teachers who brought Vedanta, Buddhism and other Asian traditions to the West at the end of the nineteenth century and throughout the twentieth century began publishing houses related to their ashrams and organizations. Ashram-produced journals tell their own story.

The article announces the plans of the Hollywood, California-based film company, Paramount to co-produce motion pictures with Bollywood in India, according to Prexy-chief executive officer, Tom Freston. The CEO further expressed that Paramount would not only produce and distribute films, but they would also want to work with Indian film producers. The company also announced its plans to explore the homevideo market, citing its commitment to localization.

The article reports on a recent visit by outgoing Walt Disney Co. chief executive Michael Eisner and his successor, Bob Iger, to the Indian subcontinent in search of new business opportunities. The pair met both President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and held talks with finance minister P. Chidambaram, information and broadcasting minister Jaipal Reddy and senior bureaucrats. Leaders of the world's top media and entertainment groups are increasingly beating a path to the subcontinent as they recognize its huge potential as an emerging market with a population of 1.3 billion.

Reports on the allowance given to Rupert Murdoch's StarTV to continue broadcasting its 24-hours news channel by the Indian government. Investigation of the firm's equity structure by the government; Increase in the market share of the firm; Competition of Star with Aajtak.

Reports on the deal between Outlaw Productions and producer-director Vidhu Vinod Chopra in New Delhi, India. Production of a psychological thriller motion picture; Cost of the motion picture; Storyline of the motion picture.

Reports on the criticisms of the Hindi movie 'Ek Chhotisi Love Story' shown in various theaters in India for the alleged nudity by female characters. Plot of the film; Controversy started by female lead Manisha Koirala; Argument raised by theater owners despite the court order banning the showing.

The article reports that NDTV, a private news channel, will expand in the Middle East and North Africa region following its plan to launch NDTV Arabia, a 24-hour channel mixing business, news and lifestyle, in India. According to Prannoy Roy, chairman of the station, the free-to-air channel is aimed at South Asian expats and will be based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The article reports on Walt Disney's acquisition of Hindi-language children's channel, Hungama TV. Walt Disney also acquired a 14.9 percent equity interest in UTV Software Communications based in Mumbai, India. Industry analysts are speculating that Walt Disney's acquisition deals are in preparation for its plan to challenge the market dominated by Cartoon Network.

The article reports on the negotiation between Walt Disney Inc. and UTV for a 30 percent stake in India. The move of the company is intended to curb down the dominance of Time Warner Inc.'s Cartoon Network in the country. Currently, the company's market share is determined at 11 to 13 percent. If completed, the negotiation will pave the way for the addition of a children's network to the company.

The article analyzes some provisions of a draft Broadcasting Reform bill likely to come before the Indian parliament. A provision limiting foreign ownership to 20% may adversely impact the Star Group, owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. The article mentions that provisions relating to content may be detrimental to the revenues of the Group.

The article reports on Walt Disney's expansion into the Indian telecommunication market with a deal that will see Reliance Communications offering Disney mobisodes and animation to its millions of mobile phone customers. Deal follows April's deal between Walt Disney Internet Group and Indian telecommunication firm Airtel to distribute mobisodes on cell phones. Walt Disney already has mobile content deals in 12 Asia-Pacific territories including China, South Korea, and Singapore.

The article reports that Pakistan has decided to lift the ban on Indian actors working in domestic films. Pakistan also dropped its opposition to Bollywood films being shown locally. According to Saeed Rizvi, chairman of the Pakistan Film Producers Association, the ban has been a major obstacle for Pakistani filmmakers wanting to hire Indian actors.

The article reports on the premiere of Bollywood's "Krrish" in New Delhi, India. The motion picture, which was directed and produced by Rakesh Roshan, serves as a sequel to its 2003 hit "Koi...mil gaya". The character Krrish inherits supernatural powers from alien visitor and becomes a crimefighter in Singapore.

The article reports on the success of the film "The Da Vinci Code" in India despite the ban in several areas in the country. According to the article, the English and Malayalam-language versions of the film opened in 11 theaters in southern Kerala. The article claims that the film has been approved by the Central Board of Film Certification of India.

The article reports on the success of the motion picture "Fanaa," produced by Yash Chopra at the Bollywood's opening weekends in India. "Fanaa" got the highest stake of the lucrative multiplex take than usual. Industry analysts stressed that the film got a total box office gross of more than 10 million rupees during the opening-weekend. However, the movie business faced uncertainty about multiplexes after Raj Films demanded a 60-40 split rather than 50-50.

The article reports on the production of Indian screen versions of two Shakespeare plays despite the 2003 disappointment of "Maqbool," described by critics as "Macbeth" meets "The Godfather." Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor and Ajay Devgan will participate in "Omkara," Vishal Bharadwaj version of "Othello." Director Onir, completed the script for his version of "Hamlet."

The article reports on the plan of Indian director Deepa Mehta to launch another motion picture titled "Exclusion." Mehta had won best film at the Bangkok Film Festival in her film "Water" that deals about the struggles of widows in colonial India. Her latest movie deals with 300 Indians on a ship that have refused entry to Canada.

Reports that Bollywood director Mahesh Bhatt has taken the Indian government to court in a bid to overturn its decision to ban smoking on movie screens in New Delhi, India. Lawsuit filed by Bhatt against a government directed that will ban the production of movies in which characters are shown smoking; Deadline given by the court to health ministries to respond to Bhatt petition; Division of Bollywood on the subject.

Reports on damages and impact brought about by the monsoon rains on the entertainment industry in Mumbai, India.

Reports that screenings of actor Salman Khan's "Why Did I Fall in Love" were disrupted by right-wing Indian People's Party workers in selective cities across India. Enhancement of police protection around the Bollywood star's house in Mumbai; Allegations that Khan had threatened ex-girlfriend Aishwarya Rai if she failed to attend specific events linked to the underworld.

Announces the plan of private-sector group, Reliance, to acquire a stake in film production and processing company Adlabs Films in New Delhi, India.

Reports on the opposition of censor board chief Sharmila Tagore against the decision of the government to ban smoking in movies and television serials in India.

The article reports that India's largest media conglomerate, the Times Group, has teamed up with news agency Reuters to launch a television news channel in India later this year. Times Global will tap the growth in cable television in the Indian subcontinent. Reuters, which has acquired a 26% equity stake in Times Global Broadcasting. the broadcasting arm of the Times Group, will supply branded programming.

Reports on the 12-day film festival in New Delhi, India featuring the works of Amitabh Bachchan.

The article reports that India's burgeoning entertainment industry is set to grow by 18% each year to more than $13 billion in revenue by 2010, according to Swiss-based global researcher KPMG. In a report released in Mumbai, KPMG said TV would be the main growth driver, accounting for 62% of revenues. The industry grew about 12% annually between 2001 and 2004. Films will contribute 27% of revenues, with other segments such as music, radio and live entertainment making up the balance. Film industry revenues are expected to hit $3.2 billion in 2010, and although film contributes only 27% to entertainment revenues, it is the industry heart.

The article reports that Indian producer-distributor UTV Software Communications made a strong showing in its first day on the Mumbai Stock Exchange on Thursday, closing at 168 rupees or $3.85, 29% higher than its initial public offering price. The initial public offering raised $21 million through an issue of nearly 7 million shares, representing 34.1% of UTV's post-issue equity capital. Proceeds will be used to improve UTV's production facilities and offices in Mumbai, India, fund post-production expansion and invest in film production and distribution.

Reports on movie theater owners' opposition to the plan of local authorities in India to increase the entertainment tax. Impact on single-screen cinemas and multiplexes; National Association of Motion Pictures Exhibitors' efforts to hold a meeting with Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit to press for the proposals to be shelved.

Reports that Warner Bros. is about to ink in 2005 to distribute movies in India from the 20th Century Fox stable.

This article reports that India's sole Oscar nominee, "Little Terrorist," will get a theatrical release, the first for a short in the country. Director Helmer Ashvin Kumar's "Little Terrorist" tracks ten year old Jamal, a Pakistani Muslim, who chases his cricket ball into Indian territory and is branded a terrorist by security forces. It has won awards for film in Montreal, Manhattan, at the Flanders Film Festival and at the Tehran Short Film Festival. It will be released on 15 prints in Mumbai, Jaipur, Delhi and Bangalore.

This article reports that Rupert Murdoch's Star has inked a multiyear deal with Walt Disney Television Intl. Asia Pacific to distribute Disney Channel and Toon Disney Channel in India.

The article reports about new motion picture releases in the Bollywood film industry in India. Bollywood kicks off the start of the biggest moviegoing period in India with four films of great pedigrees clashing at the box office. "Aitraaz" from producer Subhash Ghai, is based on a real-life rape accusation and its retraction, "Veer-Zaara" from producer Yash Chopra, is a family film "Naach" from producer Ram Gopal Varma, is a romancer and "Mughal-e-azam" is a newly colorized version of a 1960 classic.

The article focuses on the obstacles faced by actor and film producer Jackie Chan during the shooting of his latest movie "The Myth," at the historical town of Hampi, India. India's Directorate of Archaeology and Museums ordered cranes and sets to be removed from grounds of the 15th-century Virupaksha temple at Hampi over the weekend, saying the production had not sought permission to film. Chan hasn't commented on the disruption but he described Hampi as an excellent place, magnificent and unexposed.

Reports on the exclusion of two motion pictures about the Dalai Lama in the Third Eye Asian Film festival in India.

Reports on the commendation of the United Nations on the motion picture "Phir milenge" that focuses on HIV/AIDS in India.

Reports on the move of cable operators to suspend its television blackout after the television viewers missed to watch a marksman winning in the Olympic Games in India.

Reports on the plan of Star Group Ltd. to acquire a stake in Balaji Telefilm Ltd. in India.

Reports on the protest of cable providers about a new additional service tax in India. Move of the operators to black out Olympic coverage and other channels; Reaction of sports followers to the move.

Reports that the Sesame Street puppets will be joined by Indianized Muppet characters in a venture funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development for preschoolers in India. Grant from the agency for cable and broadcast channels as well as radio programs to fund the project; Aim of the program to prepare children for school by introducing them to simple concepts; Development of the content for the program in consultation with Indian educators, media programmers and child development experts.

Reports that the motion picture “Spider-Man 2” is the number one film in India, as of July 27, 2004. Amount of money earned by the film; Records set by the film; Reason why the film is expected to beat, in India, the record set by the film “Titanic”.

Reports on the efforts of India to produce its own version of a reality television based program entitled "India Child Genius." Design of the program to show preteen children displaying reasoning skills, literary and artistic abilities and mathematical and scientific concepts; Aim of the show to discover the brightest child in India; Plan to test the children on geography, history, mythology, the English language, general knowledge and spelling.

Announces the decision of Bollywood star Govinda to withdraw from campaigning by car for fear of causing a stampede. Commonality of road campaigns in Indian politics; Views of Govinda regarding the political campaign.