Kuala Lumpur, Oct. 12 (PTI): Shah Rukh Khan has been conferred a Malyasian state honour equivalent to a British knighthood but the decision has been denounced by many who believe local artistes should get priority.

Malacca has conferred the governor’s award carrying the title “Datuk” on the 42-year-old star for promoting the southern state of Malaysia through his movies.

Shah Rukh was among the many who got the honour on the 70th birthday of Mohd Khalil Yaakob, Malacca’s head of state.

But Opposition politicians as well as many in the public have raised questions over how much Shah Rukh promoted Malacca, The Star daily said.

For quite some time now Bollywood has been the biggest movie industry in the world. But only recently did Hollywood turn its attention here. And by the look of the Hollywood transactions so far, it’s certain that the partnership is going to flourish. The Hollywood celebrity couple of Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones recently announced that they are working on a script which will be filmed in India. Zeta-Jones didn’t hesitate to say that she would pack her whole family and set base in India for the shoot. This follows another A-list celebrity couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie who brought their family to Pune for the filming of “A Mighty Heart”.

Chicago led the Academy Awards with six trophies, including best picture, at a ceremony Sunday that allowed Hollywood to exalt itself while muting the Oscar pageantry because of the U.S.-led war on Iraq.

The Academy Awards ceremony took place on Sunday allowed Hollywood to exalt itself while muting the Oscar pageantry because of the U.S.-led war on Iraq, was taken away by the Chicago who led the Academy Awards with six trophies, including best picture.

The razzle-dazzle satire Chicago became the first musical since 1968’s Oliver! to win the top Oscar. The other awards were given to Catherine Zeta-Jones for best supporting actress, and four technical honors including costume design and art direction.

Starring: Catherine Zeta Jones, Rene Zwelleger, Richard Gere and Queen Latifah
Director: Rob Marshall
Producer: Martin Richards

Velma Kelley (Catherine Zeta-Jones), a magnificent nightclub dancer who teams with her sister, is in jail for two murders. She shot her husband and her own sister when she catches both of them in bed. While in jail, Velma lives queen size, gets her name splashed all over the papers making her the heroine of the day. The warden, Matron Morton (Queen Latifah) tucks money for all the services. On the other hand Chicago’s top-notch lawyer, Billy Flynn (Richard Gere) is defending her and keeping her in news as well.