Citygritty 8212; Pune

The show goes on, and on8230;
It has travelled 65 countries, is 34 years old and has completed 9,500 shows. That is Adrak Ke Panje, Babban Khan8217;s play written way back in 1965. The play makes another stop in Pune on March 13 and 14 at the Nehru Memorial Hall and the Tilak Smarak Mandir, respectively. 8220;I was hungry and frustrated, so one day, I just sat under a lamp post and wrote the play,8221; says the playwright.

Having lost a few siblings to hunger and malnutrition in his childhood, Khan took up humour to pen a play on the ill-effects of an unplanned family. It started off as an affair with a few friends 8220;I couldn8217;t pay anyone8230;8221;, though the first show was a 8220;commercial disaster.8221; Khan had to go from house to house to sell the tickets and 8220;nobody turned up. Only those with free time came over. But their word-of-mouth publicity helped8221; and subsequent shows became a hit. Since then it has travelled outside Hyderabad and gone abroad, earning laurels all over. Check it out when it hits town8230;.

Springtime fare
Since spring is in the air, Zeenisha8217;s Talent Window presents a Food Fare and Summer Fair, comprising delectable food items and novelty handicrafts, on March 13, at Saifee Street off Main Street, from 10.30 a.m. to 7.00 p.m.

The enterprising Poonawalas Zeenat, Niloufer and Irisha are behind this effort, setting up stalls for creative people who probably pass off their talents as a hobby. The stalls will have a variety of cuisines 8211; Bhori, Irani, Parsi and Goan 8211; chocolates, cakes, fiery pickles, jams and sauces, frozen foods, canned foods, chaats and sherbets. For non-foodies, there are clothes, gift articles, books and novelties to choose from. All at reasonable prices. Be there to usher in the summer.

Kids8217; summer
Summer time8217;s here, which means that it is vacations and a lot of free time! Keeping that in mind, the really young members of the Bubbles Choice Club have put their talents together for a variety entertainment show scheduled for March 13 at the Nehru Memorial Hall.

Along with three plays and some song performances, the kids also have a fashion show and games for the young audience members. Open for those between two and 15 years, this is fun time for kids by kids!

Times, they are a rockin8217;
It8217;s back! The good old Friday Nite Live shows at Jaws are back. About time, too, with the open-air joint just right for some straight rock n8217; roll. And performing this Friday is local band Switch. The opening night is dedicated to Deep Purple and Guns n8217; Roses and entry is free. Just bite into a burger or grab a drink and listen to some guitar grooves and Switch8217;s versatile vocalist. According to the organisers, talks are on with other bands 8211; like Agni, Airwave and the Strangers 8211; to showcase their talent. Looks like things can only get better. Rock on!

Fame8217;s fortune
Fame does a lot of things to many people. And even the Oxford University Press OUP is not immune to its charms, or so it seems. For a long time, books by Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen were unavailable. But when the economist became a celebrity, the OUP rushed reprints of his books.

In fact, they are the main attraction at the OUP exhibition being held at the International Book Service and Manney8217;s. In the first three days of the exhibition, 30 sets of his books have already been sold. And this is not just in Pune but all over the country. Quite Sen-sational!

Inn for a challenge
At the third anniversary bash of the Holiday Inn that was celebrated on the evening of March 9, drinks flowed freely and dinner was a lavish spread. The ambience was cheerful. Even the staircase that goes down to the Peshwa Inn was decorated with a series of flower arrangements, draped in net cloth. L.R. Bhojwani stressed on how his hotel is service-oriented and attends to complaints with a smile. The statement seems apt, considering that the hospitality industry in Pune has suddenly become more alert, what with the entry of Le Meridien, that is scheduled to open its doors shortly.

That the latest addition cannot be ignored was graciously accepted by the general manager of Holiday Inn, Dilip Puri, who stated, 8220;People ask me how I feel after three years of Holiday Inn in Pune, and I tell them that this year is going to be the most challenging one.8221; Now, that8217;s the spirit!

Trading places
8220;India has emerged as one of the leading software exporters amongst developing countries, with exports expected to touch 10 billion U.S. dollars within the next three years,8221; says S.H. Kopardekar, assistant secretary, Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture MCCIA.

The MCCIA, in association with Lawrence Jones, Solicitors, London, will hold a one-day seminar on the legal, tax and regulatory aspects of software exports on March 22 at Hotel Blue Diamond.

The seminar will include studies related to practical problems faced by software exporters and bankers with regard to international trade documentation, customs, trademark and copyright issues along with marketing of software. The last date for registration for those interested is March 15.