Downtown :The Delhi-Mumbai Gazette

She may be the latest import from Mumbai into Delhi’s fashfrat, but designer RadhikaNaik’s never been more confident of the silhouettes and finishes of her kurtas,sarees and lehngas. Says she: "My collection is not inspired by any particularsubject. I’ve created it for Delhiites, with a unique blend of colours andcombinations." The Radhika Naik Couture (RNC), on display for the first time inDelhi’s Ogaan, has all you could ask for—her designs and colours exude anupmarket look rarely seen in the fashion industry. A self-named design studio specialisingin haute couture for women, RNC’s forte is the traditional and contemporary bridaland trousseau wear. With its opulent and intricate embroidery, it’s little wonderthat RNC’s clientele is as widespread as the flight of Radhika’s imagination.

It’s not always Salman Khan who loses his shirt. Shahrukh did so recently after somecriticism on Asoka. He called up B4U to complain about their programme Lehren,which has a film-rating segment anchored by reputed trade pundit Komal Nahata. SaysNahata: "I made some references about Asoka after which B4U told my producer ofShahrukh’s complaint. I’m horrified at the spineless channel, which told myproducer that it didn’t like my face, my shirt or the way I speak." B4U’sprogramme executive Ravi Nair denies the Shahrukh angle but does "intend making Lehrenmore business-like with facts and figures." What official channels haven’t madeclear is if Shahrukh still has a monetary stake in B4U.

Designers Ashima and Leena Singh have scored a first, taking their bridal collection intoa signature store for menswear. Last week Delhi’s Study by Janak introduced a specialtrousseau range by the duo—the Swayamvara collection. It showcases ensembles that areheavily embellished, bejewelled and intricately embroidered. "The trousseaucollection is uncompromising in designs but offered at prices that bring it closer to themarket," says Ashima. Echoes Leena: "It’s a culmination of our presence inthe upper-end market."

Whoever said Dilliwalahs have taste only for good butter chicken? Not only did Delhi findstomach, but also a lot of heart, for Sarah Jones’ Women Can’t Wait, amoving monologue on discriminatory laws against women, performed here five times lastweek.It isn’t easy turning activism into high art, but Jones’ blemishless,self-authored performance did just that. Using nothing but a scarf as prop, shetransformed herself into eight women of different nationalities. Each hurt, each batteredby the impact of some discriminatory law. Jones fashioned her accent, her mannerisms tobecome India’s Praveen, France’s Emeraude, Japan’s Tomoko, Jordan’sHala, Uruguay’s Alma, US’ Bonita and Israel’s Shira. Brought to India bycrea, a Delhi-based activist outfit that aims at enhancing the capacities of a newgeneration of women leaders, the play will travel to Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai andCalcutta.

What are Suman Dubey and Maxwell Pereira doing together? Making music. You can catch thempractising at Delhi’s Hungarian Cultural Centre with their choral group, Capital CityMinstrels (CCM). Founded by Zohra Shaw in 1994, ccm is currently busy providing singingsupport for the Indo-French opera, The Fakir of Benares, to be staged early nextyear under the baton of French conductor Frederic Ligier. They’ll also performVivaldi’s Gloria at the Habitat Centre’s X-mas concert. Looking forwardto the musical soirees, Pereira says: "I enjoy the companionship and joy of singingtogether," he says. Pleasant note, that!