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A mixed matrix of events. A pot pourri of culture, music, theater, fashion, parties.... Its amazing how the culture vulture follows the diktat of the weather. As soon as the writer chill the eases the air it is time for both Delhi’s hoi-polloi and glitterati to don their party shoes on and go in some ‘neat capital capers’. This weekend to the calendar for most was cho-a-bloc full. What with the wighfield girls, better known for their hit number: Saturday Night, carrying the festivity forward even to a Manic Monday. But it were on a Sultry Saturday that designer Madhu Jain eventually decided to rise ( from the backdrop of blissful anonymity) and shine. A graceful backdrop of colonial bungalow down Prithviraj Road, just the right kind of crowd (and thankfully there were no on ear pierced boisterous variety here), perfect weather and a clear sky.... Madhu used industrialists and brother Kamal Meattle’s (Paharpur Business Center fame) sprawling lawns to introduce her repertoire of work with the Bangladeshi NGO: Brac. A show that initially was supposed to just contain a visual display also packed in a ramp presentation as, “The expatriate guests wanted to see the actual garments on some pretty, Indian belles.” The
ramp that began from the roof and then stepped down to the ground level
had them models taking one precarious step at a time in Madhu’s billowy
skirts and hand-woven saris. Yes Many of them later admitted that they
were hit by vertigo whilst cat walking. Brac, brain child of the elegant
Maheen Khan reworked with Jain on some museum weaves and embroideries:
Kantha, jamevar, dhakai muslim.... it were the look of the subtlety that
wove the entire collection together and launch Madhu as a designer presenter.
Wonder though what spell she will weave on Delhi crowds next! Talking
of spells Feroz Khan sure has cast one on Delhi. just when one of his
plays fades from the mental palate he brings in yet another to keep the
theater goer’s taste buds ticking. Tumhari Amrita, Best Of Luck. Saalgirah
(In this one though, the trite and predictable acting by Anupam and Kiron
Kher did let the director down), and now Mahatma vs Gandhi .... a play
initially premiered by the Indian Habitat Center, it was back again and
running to full crowds. Autobiographical in content the play focuses on
the complex relationship that Gandhi had with his eldest son Harilal Gandhi.
With Nassir in the lead role that he is his own admission has coveted
for long and equally competent cast, the play adapted from a Gujrati play
was of the stuff, spine chiller are made of. And as you sat and watched
the systematic degeneration of this ambitious son in the hands of the
principled father, you were exposed to many an unwritten laws of parenthood.
Definitely a play all parent ought to see. As Naseruddin himself
admitted. “ It has opened my eyes to a few blunders I committed as a parent”.
Another event that fetched the crowd, but the classy variety, was the tenth year celebration of Le Meridien. A hotel that, under Charanjit Singh widow Bubbles Singh, has shown an ever swelling bottom line and is also known for it’s true blue puppy hospitality literally ‘laid out the red carpet’ when it came to it’s own do. To begin with was the cake 6,600 Kg and in a pyramid shape in a ten layer (symbolic of the ten years, obviously) that the management called the tallest in Asia. Then there was Shiamak , thankfully not singing but doing what he is best at : dancing down dinner, some oysters and crabs and just the right kinda crowd. This one is a party that will not be forgotten in a hurry. But then isn’t Bubbles supposedly the Best hostess in town ?
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