Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Style file
Two years after they launched the annual Elle Style Awards in Britain, Elle has taken the bold step of launching their style awards in India. Bold because one wonders if this move is a bit premature. Style hasn8217;t exactly penetrated deep into the hearts of the sari-clad housewife. And as yet, it is really limited to a handful of people 8212; who just their numbers, don8217;t qualify as a fashion movement.
Anyway, going by the sampler, there seems to be a lot of pyaar in this flick written and directed by Subhash Sehgal 8212; with virtually every dialogue featuring lead stars Sunny Deol, Mahima Choudhary and Apoorva Agnihotri dripping with sentimentality.
Jatin-Lalit have picked up their Khamoshi background track for the title number, which is quite pleasant. For added commercial value there8217;s Falguni Pathak8217;s Yaad piya ki aane lagi8216;. Now we8217;ll have to wait and see if all these ingredients and lots of hardsell can ensure a winner.
Machine made
India is fast becoming like the West with vending machines becoming the new roadside accessory. First there were the coffee and chocolate vending machines, then came the cigarette counters and now there is something on sale for the Swadeshi brigade. Haldiram Foods, responsible for some of the best desi naashta, has installed its first ever naashta-mithai vending machine atVT, or to be more politically correct, CST. For a few coins, you can get all the flavours of India that you might ever want. Hurry, vending machines offer on for a limited period. Why? Like the West, vending machines work only for a limited period 8212; then, they need manual labour to work them. Don8217;t believe us? Check the coffee machine at Nariman Point 8212; a vendor puts in the coin, punches in your order and even hands you your change!
Fat free
Mickey Mehta, self-styled fitness guru, really has his hands full at the moment. Having just finished training Gul Panang for the Miss Universe contest 8212; which took place day before yesterday 8212; he now starts Miss India-World Yuka Mookhey for her D-Day in December. While workouts start in full sweat next month, Mickey has no time to even wring his hands.
Healthy living seems to be the new mantra for many. Sanjeev Chowdhury, the Canadian vice-consul, has put together an anti-smoking lobby that will go around giving talks in schools on smoking and itsdamaging side-effects. And since Monday is World Anti-smoking Day, Sanjeev has tied-up with the Cancer Patients Aid Association and has persuaded seven of the city8217;s hottest night spots to declare themselves smoke-free for a day. The nightspots participating, in this project are Fashion Bar amp; Bistro, Flavours, Copa Cabana, Three Flights Up, The Ghetto, Soul Fry and Headquarters. He has also convinced about 30 of his celeb friends to join the anti-smoking lobby and help him go around schools and promote his cause. Helping out are Suchitra Pillai, Sonia Garware, Vikas Bhalla, Queenie Dhody, Sonali Bendre, Aarti Surendranath, Noyonika Chatterjee, Ruby Bhatia and Madhu Sapre. By the way, ever wonder how Madhu looks so great? She gave up smoking 10 months ago.
Model living
For most models marriage means the end of their careers but not for Rhea Pillai-Dutt. Since her marriage to Sanjay, she is busier than ever, though she has cut down on her modelling assignments. Besides being a brand ambassadress forChopard and Piaget, she is also the contributing editor for Elan, a new fashion magazine. So it comes as no surprise that she is eminently qualified to teach the Art of Living, a form of meditation that has caught the fancy of many celebs, including Nandini Sen and Hasina Jethmalani.
For more information contact Malini at: 820 3557 / 834 6960.Devi danseuse
Introduced to Bharatnatyam at the age of seven, under the guidance of Kalaimamani K J Sarasa, Srekala Bharath has lived up to her legacy. Named Srekala quot;one who shines in the artsquot; it was her parents fondest wish that she imbibe and excel in the arts. And she has. Against all odds.
Six years later, in 1990, she was stricken by myasthenia gravis 8212; a condition where the eyes tend to droop and even smiling becomes difficult. The worst possible scenario for a dancer to be confronted with. Yet, Srekala continued to dance taking a break only when further surgery forced her to call it a day for two more years.
At the Godrej DanceAcademy Theatre, NCPA. On May 28. Time: 6.30 pm.
