Arthur J Pais

Stories by Arthur J Pais

New York: Pioneering subway chief Nagaraja resigns

New York: Pioneering subway chief Nagaraja resigns

Rediff.com   25 Feb 2008

Mysore L Nagaraja, who managed mass transit projects costing $20 billion for New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority, has resigned.

Leela Prasad: Interpreter of moralities

Leela Prasad: Interpreter of moralities

Rediff.com   21 Feb 2008

For many years Leela Prasad, associate professor of ethics at Duke University, had known Sringeri only as visitors know it: As the home of a 1,200-year-old Shankara Math and Sharada Temple. But in this pilgrimage town in Karnataka, she also discovered the importance of orally transmitted stories in shaping ethics and daily life.

Jodhaa Akbar may make more money than OSO

Jodhaa Akbar may make more money than OSO

Rediff.com   19 Feb 2008

Jodhaa Akbar grabbed an estimated $1.3 million in North America and $750,000 in the UK.

Jodhaa Akbar is a spectacular watch

Jodhaa Akbar is a spectacular watch

Rediff.com   14 Feb 2008

With an appealing story of two unlikely people falling in love after their politically arranged marriage, the film is filled with several intriguing plots and out-of-the-world songs.

Ronnie Screwala on Jodhaa Akbar

Ronnie Screwala on Jodhaa Akbar

Rediff.com   13 Feb 2008

Jodhaa Akbar co-producer Ronnie Screwala speaks to Arthur J Pais about the film.

Lost in translation

Lost in translation

Rediff.com   8 Feb 2008

Arthur J Pais on why Indian novels seldom make the transition to the movies.

Kiran Desai on the mother, Anita Desai

Kiran Desai on the mother, Anita Desai

Rediff.com   25 Jan 2008

For Kiran Desai, her 70-year-old mother is much than an inspiration and mentor. It is her mother's humanity and example as a writer without vanity that have made the biggest difference in Kiran's life.

Can a $3 million film win Best Picture

Can a $3 million film win Best Picture

Rediff.com   23 Jan 2008

The announcements made in Los Angeles Tuesday morning saw No Country for Old Men getting eight but the big surprise was the same number of nominations for the much acclaimed There Will Be Blood which was expected to pocket three or four noms. Both films were nominated in the best picture categories.

At the Oscars this year...

At the Oscars this year...

Rediff.com   21 Jan 2008

Here's a look at the Oscar favourites.

Another Indian student murdered in US

Another Indian student murdered in US

Rediff.com   20 Jan 2008

Abhijit Mahato, described by his friends as an outgoing graduate student who was seldom seen without a smile, was found shot and killed at an off-campus apartment complex on Friday night.

Cage's Book of Secrets picking up

Cage's Book of Secrets picking up

Rediff.com   9 Jan 2008

Book of Secrets on its way to be the highest grossing film of Nicolas Cage's career.

Adventure and intrigue in Golden Compass

Adventure and intrigue in Golden Compass

Rediff.com   3 Jan 2008

Golden Compass is no Harry Potter; but the film is an interesting watch.

Teen's new book makes waves

Teen's new book makes waves

Rediff.com   18 Dec 2007

Though he is a member of Students Against Violating the Environment for several years, Abhishek got really excited about global environmental problems only after getting to know the book and the film An Inconvenient Truth.

A promising Golden Compass

A promising Golden Compass

Rediff.com   7 Dec 2007

Whether the film, which has some of the most notable artists of our times including Oscar winners Nicole Kidman and Ian McKellen, along with Daniel Craig, will turn out to be another The Lord of the Rings will depend a lot on word of mouth to a great extent and on the critics for a lesser extent.

Revisiting Anita Desai

Revisiting Anita Desai

Rediff.com   4 Dec 2007

Arthur J Pais has interviewed Anita Desai many times over the years. Here, he shares impressions and anecdotes about the celebrated author.

Mira can't wait to start Shantaram

Mira can't wait to start Shantaram

Rediff.com   29 Nov 2007

Mira Nair, in New York to release The Namesake on DVD, talks about Shantaram and lots more.

SRK can't beat John Abraham

SRK can't beat John Abraham

Rediff.com   28 Nov 2007

Shah Rukh Khan won't be able to beat the John Abraham record with Water, the highest grossing Hindi film ever, with a $5 million plus gross in North America.

Mumbai boy's invention may change how copters fly

Mumbai boy's invention may change how copters fly

Rediff.com   19 Nov 2007

The IIT-Bombay graduate has earned a name for himself in the world of aerospace engineering thanks to his out-of-the-box ideas.

3 Indian students chosen for Rhodes scholarship

3 Indian students chosen for Rhodes scholarship

Rediff.com   19 Nov 2007

Past Rhodes scholars from America who have studied at Oxford University include president Bill Clinton, the newly elected Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal and the eminent surgeon and bestselling writer Atul Gawande.

OSO holds strong overseas

OSO holds strong overseas

Rediff.com   16 Nov 2007

Farah Khan's new film has set a record of sorts.