Snapshots

Sour Sweeteners

Going back on its earlier decision, the Government has succumbed to pressure from the two national carriers 8212; Air India and Indian Airlines 8212; and directed all officials to travel by them. Two years ago,instructions were issued, relaxing the travel rules and allowing officials to fly other carriers. To retain this large chunk of captive business, Air India and Indian Airlines have offered the high-flying officials several sweeteners, including automatic upgrade to first class. But the Indian babu is extremely disgruntled as the Government has banned, albeit reluctantly, the free companion offer which was used indiscriminately. The CBI is now sniffing around the two airlines trying to find out more details of officials who had earlier flown with free companions. IA and AI are busy trying to stonewall the inquiry.

No Rivalry

Crooner Mehnaaz Hoosein of Miss India fame was into dancing with Shiamak Davar8217;s troupe for six years, before pop singing happened. 8220;He8217;s my idol. I think he8217;s a phenomenal dancer and choreographer,8221; she said at a pub in Pune, where she performed as part of a promotional campaign for her new album Mausam. Davar is not seen as a rival, but on being questioned on rumours ofher clashes with Anaida, Mehnaaz says quite brusquely, 8220;the whole thing is bizarre. There was absolutely nothing from my side, I8217;m cool with everyone and I wish her well8221;. But Mehnaaz is a fan of Daler Mehndi. As she rightly points out: 8220;His bhangra style is appreciated because those are his roots. If I tried something like that, nobody would like it, it8217;s not me. 8221; Smart strategy!

Sigh, Sai

The diminutive director of children8217;s films, Sai Paranjpye, has declared that she 8220;intends to fight a war8221; with the Prasar Bharati board, which is contemplating shifting her tele-serial Baldoot from Sunday to Saturday 12 noon. Paranjpye, who claimed at a function at the Pune University recently that 8220;she is a communicator at her worst in front of a mike,8221; sure surprised the local press with her frank announcement that she had written a strong letter to the Prasar Bharati saying she would take Baldoot off the air if the time change was carried out. 8220;A majority of the children are away at school and notin front of the idiot box at noon on Saturday,8221; she said, protesting against the prospective drop in viewership. Though the contract with the Prasar Bharati permits the board to change time slots, Paranjpye categorically said that 8220;I have not accepted any change. I will be on the war path if it is shifted to Saturday8221;.

IA Indictment

Silence is golden. Air India has chosen to turn the other cheek to Indian Airlines8217;s recent blistering attack on its dismal performance and its attempts to grab the lucrative Gulf sectors. Senior AI officials say that while they feel a sense of 8220;outrage and revulsion8221; at the fact that their sister airline has turned on them they will maintain their dignity. At a meeting held in Mumbai at Air India house the day the IA indictment appeared, the managing-director, Michael Mascarenhas, told livid employees not to react. Perhaps the real reason is that every word in the well-researched IA note was true.