Roving Eye 8212; Going no where

Silver season

It is the season for anniversaries, what with the nation going overboard with 50 years of Independence. Not wanting to be left behind, the Indian Institute for Interior Designers announced a list of events it has lined up to celebrate its silver anniversary. In an elegant lunch on Friday, at the Khyber restaurant at Kala Ghoda, it was announced that the celebrations would be a year long. Their anniversary year kicks off with a play, Once upon a Friday on August 14 and ends in March 1998.

What8217;s cooking?

We all know that the Shamiana is celebrating its silver anniversary this month. And adding to a platterful of favourites, Chef Hemant Oberoi is now trying to woo women to do lunch at the Zodiac Grill. In a special offer, every Saturday afternoon, women can invite a special someone to Mumbai8217;s best and certainly most expensive restaurant. And while the hotel will take care of the ladies8217; expenses, they8217;ll have to pull out those credit cards to take care of their date. Meanwhile, the President hosted three theatre productions to kick off their celebrations. I Am Not Bajirao, All The Best and Don8217;t Dress For Dinner were all a part of the independence celebrations. All the restaurants have special menus, special discounts and tri-coloured food to salute the nation.

Patriotic designs

Sangita Khatiwada, the designer with a conscience, is planning a fashion show as a part of Melange8217;s celebrations of 50 years of Freedom. What is unusual is that khadi will be the designer fabric this time instead of lace and chiffon. The lady is getting a host of high-profile designers to create haute couture in the homespun weave because she thinks it is high time khadi got its place in the international fashion scene. In the meantime, she is showcasing Avni Bhuva8217;s tribute to the sari. Exchange program

Anna Singh, whose Design Studio closed down because of a fallout with her partners, is setting up shop once again and under the same name at Linking Road. She is very excited about it and busy working hard. Film star Jackie Shroff8217;s favourite designer, Anna is very popular with both Bollywood and the glitterati. But right now, she took her own train to Pakistan and is checking out clothes there. Anna thinks that designers across the border have a better flair for designing salwar kameezes, while back home, this side of the tricolour, designers have been stuck with the same old look and same old fabrics for far too long.

Songs of freedom

Friday night, and half the Indi-pop world was partying at Rendezvous at the Taj. The occasion? Fifty years of independence and the launch of the biggest pop album in Indian music history. With nine singers, 10 songs, 10 videos and five ace directors, the album is Indeed, A Reason To Smile. And they were all there, relaxed and chatting away to glory. The Ghosh who walks, Ken, was there with a crooked smile and a glass in his hand. The way he drinks it8217;s surprising he walks at all. Kunal Kohli made an early entry, a late exit and concentrated on his lovely wife, Ravina a director, herself. Rachel Reuben too assumed a new role. For the first time she goes behind the camera to directs a music video for the album. Suneeta Rao, Sagarika, Anu Malik, Somesh, Stylebhai, Sonu Nigam and Baba Sehgal were all there, too.

Royal visit

On Saturday morning, Rapid Action Force personnel surrounded the premises of Rhythm House in Kala Ghoda, followed by several vans of the Mumbai Police and sundry on-lookers. No, not another income tax raid. It seems the Chief Minister of Jammu amp; Kashmir, Farooq Abdullah, was shopping for music to take back to his daughter. Taking advantage of the break in the Quit India commemorations, the huge and haughty CM roamed the aisles with a glum look and spotless kurta pyjama. An eerie silence pervaded the usually bustling store as he paid up for several CDs 8212; Gupt, Pardes and Yes Boss 8212; for his beti and some cassettes of ghazals for himself.

Bombay boy

On Sunday, Ardashir Vakil released the paperback version of his book Beach Boy. This might be the London-based, Mumbai-born writer8217;s first book but Vakil looked comfortable under the media glare. The function was held at his mother Jeroo Mango8217;s book store, Danai and white wine and whisky flowed. Rahul Singh, Frank Simoes and Sabira Merchant were in attendance as were a sprinkling of characters who looked as if they had stepped out of Beach Boy. Incidentally, the book stuns with its elegance of prose and simplicity of tale. Generating nearly as much attention was Vikram Chandra, who was kept busy signing copies of Love and Longing in Bombay. The two Mumbai boys meet again, at the British Council Library on Wednesday for a book reading.

And finally8230;

Anil Ambani knows how to appreciate a good car. He is often seen steering his cobalt blue Porsche in Nariman Point. Perhaps, he should pass on his passion to the B R Chopra family. They own a fleet of sleek wheels touched only by chauffeurs, while the Chopras prefer to lounge in the back-seat.