Tags:
Journalism of Courage
TRAVEL
Go Archipelago
WHERE will all our floppy-hatted, shade-sporting tourists head for the next year? Travel agencies8212;among them, SOTC, TCI et al8212;feel that while the tried and tested Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala trail will still be on, the Andaman 038; Nicobar islands are slowly showing up on the domestic tourist8217;s radar. And the reasons are obvious. The around 572 emerald islands bobbing in isolation, while being out of the way, compensate with water sport activities, fabulous marine national park, and relatively less touristy surroundings. And obviously, miles of virgin beaches. If the domestic tourist will head towards the Andamans, Europe will beckon once again after the Iraq war and the World Cup in South Africa. There8217;s also an emergence of a niche market for Eastern Europe.
SPORTS
Guy Thing
IT8217;S seen as the ultimate macho sport: 30 men, big and strong, indulging in hand-to-hand combat on muddy fields. From the elite schools, colleges and clubs, rugby is set to take a Great Leap Forward. Don8217;t look at the World Cup just yet, but the sport is spreading out and becoming more organised. In fact, as you read this, one of the top coaches from New Zealand is training a group of soldiers at a Maharashtra Army camp.
What makes rugby special? For one, it8217;s great for Male Bonding. All those stories you8217;ve heard about the post-match drinking sessions are true: the dirtiest jokes, the biggest boozers. But it isn8217;t just about booze and birds; on the field, there8217;s a strict honour code and a complex set of rules, and it relies heavily on teamwork. Now doesn8217;t that sound like something out of the Techies8217; Manual? All this, and Rahul Bose too!
FASHION
The Sari Returns
ITS drape has inspired global names like Alexander McQueen and Jean Paul Gautier. Though in the last few years with Indo-Western kitsch and the kurti being the style mantra of the day, we have seen less of the ultimate Indian classic. But next year get ready to see the return of the sari.
Designers Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla will be designing five collections of saris next year. Says Khosla, 8220;People are looking at new ways to show off their bodies. For this, the sari is a great option.8221;
Designer Ritu Kumar says the sari is making a 8216;8216;major comeback8217;8217; simply because it8217;s 8216;8216;sexy, versatile, classic and flattering all rolled in one8221;.
MUSIC
Classic Rocks
Item numbers may be here to stay, but nothing can knock out Indian classical music. In fact, AR Rahman is the biggest defender of classical tunes and the genre will receive a shot in the arm in his forthcoming films. If Lagaan had a Kaale Megha, then The Rising promises a Mangal Mangal. And if all this doesn8217;t impress you think Devdas, which was one of the largest selling music albums of 2002, one of the worst years for the Indian music industry. So if it8217;s two big banner music directors that we8217;re listening to Rahman and Ismail Darbar, think classical.
Watch out for Mangal Pandey8212;The Rising and Lakeer.
BOLLYWOOD
Star Baar Baar
IF the small film was the talk of 2003, at its close, it8217;s the multi-starrer that8217;s grabbing all the spotlight. Right from Khakee that opens out early 2004, to Boney Kapoor8217;s marriage laughathon No Entry, there8217;s a whole line-up of stars under one script. The single hero is no longer a draw blame LOC:Kargil, say trade analysts. Look forward to other star bandwagons in 2004 that feature more than two hot couples: Bewafa, Aan:Men At Work, Deewar, Masti, Lakeer, Main Hoon Na, Ramesh Sippy8217;s next with Salman, Hrithik and Abhishek and Ramgopal Varma8217;s Ek.
FOOD
Try Tapas
THAI is tired, Italian so yesterday. For jaded palates in search of adventure, the succour could come from unexpected sources: rice, seafood, tomatoes, potatoes, chilli peppers, cumin, saffron, paprika, garlic and dhania patta. In other words, the now-you-know-it-now-you-don8217;t flavours of Spain.
Mediterranean may still be the buzzword in the restaurant circuit, but for 2004, we predict a breakaway. Spanish cuisine is finally coming into its own.
And the urban palate is finally ready for tastes beyond gazpacho and paella. As in India, Spanish cuisine varies wildly from region to region, from the rice-and-pork dishes of the south to the beef-and-potatoes of the north, but restaurateurs here will be looking for inspiration largely in the Moorish influenced-Southern Spain. This is where the Tapas8212;finger food that can double up as a whole meal8212;was born, and also the eminently adaptable paella. Though Spanish food can seem meat-heavy for the uninitiated, a must-try vegetarian dish is the fabada, a magnificent bean stew. Wash it all down with a glass of sangria, and there won8217;t be much wrong with the world. Buen provecho!
