Big B wins again

Big B Amitab Batchan wins the third time the Best Actor award at the 57th National Film Awards. Bengali actress Ananya Chaterjee won the Best Actress award for `Aabo Hawa` and Rituparno Ghosh became the Best Director.

``Kutty Srank``, directed by Shaji N Karun got the awards for the Best National Feature Film, Best Cinematography (Anjali Shukla), Best Screenplay and Best Costume (Jayakumar).

Farooque Sheikh won the Best Supporting Male Actor Award for his performance in ``Lahore``. Arundhati Nag won the Best Supporting Female Actor Award for her performance in ``Paa``.

Malayalam film "Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja" won Best Film in Malayalam, Best Sound Designer (Resul Pookutty) and Best Background Score (Illayaraja).

Rupam Islam and Nilanjana Sarkar were adjudged the best male and Female Playback Singer awards.

Hindi film ``3 Idiots`` won the award for the Best Popular Film for wholesome entertainment and ``Delhi 6`` won the Nargis Dutt Award for the Best Film on National Integration.

Sanjay Chauhan got the Best Debut Director award for ``Lahore``. Shyam Benegal's ``Well done! Abba`` got the award for Best Film on Social Issues.

Local body elections in 2 phases

The elections to the local bodies in Kerala will be conducted in two phases on October 23 and 25.

Announcing the decision, the state election commissioner said Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kasargodu & Kannur districts would go to polls on October 23. Kottayam, Alapuzha, Palakkad, Thrissur, Idukki, Malappuram and Ernakulam districts will go to polls on October 25.

The model code of conduct came into effect as soon as the date of elections was announced. The official notification regarding elections would be published on September 27.

The Nominations would be accepted till October 4. The scrutiny of the nominations would take place on October 5 and the last date of withdrawal of nominations is October 7.

Counting of votes is scheduled for October 27. The new office bearers would assume office on November 1.

Elections would be held to 978 Grama Panchayats, 152 Block Panchayats, 14 District Panchayats, 59 Municipalities and five corporations. Mattanoor municipality would not go for polls as the term of office of the governing body would end only on 2011.

Virginity behind 106 long years

A woman living in Edinburgh who turned 106 thinks that her virginity is the reason behind her long life.

Isa Blyth has never been kissed and attributes her strong will to being single, the media reported.

"I'm not sure if anyone ever tried it on - but they never got anywhere! She says she never felt the need for romance and never had time for a man. She never had time to be sad. She's an amazing character. You wouldn't believe she is106," the Sun quoted the lady's niece, Sheena Campbell, as saying.

Isa born in 1904 kept busy by going to flower club and church."I think she was also a bit of a maiden lady as she was the first-born and acted as a head with her six brothers and sisters," the Sun quoted the niece.