Little Birdies
All that mindless partying—the stuff that our Page 3 is made of—did seem to havea higher purpose. It’s got a nod of approval from the haughty literary world and twobooks on the celeb circus are soon to hit the stands. There’s one by Kanika Gahlaut,an Indian Express staffer whose unenviable beat it was to hobnob with certifiedPage 3 artistes. Tentatively called Among the Chatterati (Penguin; expected inMarch-April), it’s an extension of what many of her acquaintances call"non-serious journalism". Another one obsessing over Page 3 foibles isPerfect Relations’ head Dilip Cherian’s newspaper columnist wife, Devi Cherian.Says she: "Page 3 (Roli Books; out later this month) is a coffeetabler that shows theparty tricks people employ to wrangle their 15 minutes of fame." In fact, the Page 3ball is a bit like being held captive at one of Jay Gatsby’s joyless soirees. Justswap present-day New Delhi with New York City of the 1920s. Its Long Island with theCapital’s new-money suburbs and socially-mobile farmhouses. The pathologicalshoulder-rubbing, the exhaustive air-kissing, the climbing on ladders of big names andassociations, the shameless mongering of ‘personal effects’ and talents, thesartorial coups, they all ring a bell. "It’s tempting to take a look at what itmeans to be part of this whole charade. The power play, the connections trap, thevelvet-gloved I-know-your-Editor threats, the who’s-with-who pictures, thesugar-coated exchanges of gossip, the deep-rooted hyposcrisy, it could well be anotherplanet," says Gahlaut. And before you think that’s cakewalk, also consider thatshe’s been manhandled, threatened on the phone and lobbied against because she wroteand spoke her mind.
Reality Biters
Hey have been amassing awards for their environment and travel shows. Now the Alva Bros,Nikhil and Niret, have switched to reality TV. And for a start it’s Commando,a programme that captures the special commando training for army personnel spread over 39days in Belgaum, that’s begun its run on BBC World. On Zee, the duo have an adventuregameshow called Raah. "It’s a spectacular stage for five couples tocompete against each other," says Nikhil. And to further fuel their inherent sense ofadventure, Nikhil and Niret have Kahani Jurm Ki, their first attempt at fictionwhich dramatises real-life crime stories.
De-Stress Calls
What do you do when the going gets tough? Well, you just make the best of it. In a bid toattract customers in these recession-hit times, Air Sahara has come up with a unique deal.A Sahara ticket will now double up as a pass for a music concert. Beginning February 1,and coinciding with Sahara India’s silver jubilee celebrations, a live music festivalwill be held aboard its flights. The repertoire will range from rock to Hindustaniclassical. "Our inflight entertainment guarantees there won’t be a dull momentwhen you’re flying," claims Uttam Kumar Bose, CEO, Air Sahara. "We want tode-stress our corporate clientele."
Wind-Blown Rockies
More than just another fashion show, this was a unique collaboration between a designerand a textile manufacturer. Designer Rocky S’s recent show in Mumbai’s Retreatmarked the launch of a new textile brand from Siyaram’s, Mistair. Pitched as apremier fabric, the company honchos claim, "It allows the air to flow through andkeeps the skin fresh all day long." The launch event was titled International Exoticaand had the who’s who from the world of modelling—Rahul Dev, Aryan Vaid, InderSudan, Aditi Govitrikar and Diandra Sores among others. Rocky S., meanwhile, continues hisassociation with the group by creating fashion literature for retailers to keep themabreast of the latest designs, colours and fabrics of the season.
Lessons From Alessi
To the true aesthete, Giovanni Alessi’s name must surely ring a bell. So should thenames of Aldo Rossi, Alessandro Mendini, Philippe Starck and Ettore Sottsass, all designgurus from Italy’s high-profile Alessi stable. The lifestyle-conscious Indianscouldn’t have asked for more—thanks to the vis-a-vis: Alessi collection, theytoo can flaunt Mendini’s Peyrano Chocolate Box, designed in 1988, or Giovanni’sLilliput, a highly original and inventive salt and pepper set, or the juicy salif lemonsqueezer of Starck. Then there are the brass and steel ashtrays, funky cat-face diabolixbottle openers and Rossi’s La cupola series of espresso coffee makers. Says AmitGupta, director, vis-a-vis: "Indians are becoming increasingly discerning, theydon’t want anything short of original works." In the price range of Rs 700 to Rs70,000, the products are available in Bombay and Delhi to begin with.
Bobby John Varkey
