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Photo: Rajeev BhattGloom and doom Rathore’s new collection, Left, is inspired by recession

One of India’s most popular designers, Raghavendra Rathore, will be participating at the upcoming WIFW 09 for fall winter in Delhi and his theme this time is aptly titled “left”, keeping the turbulent economic scenerio in mind. Theeconomic gloom provides the inspiration for the collection. The line is inspired by this dark mood and goes to re-emphasize the left side through cuts and stitching lines.

Raghavendra Rathore says, “Diversification into other areas of design has given us a good understanding of the present market conditions. Moving from real estate design and development to iphone software and various other products, has enabled us to get the pulse of the market right.”

Mixing old-fashioned workmanship with modern aplomb, Rathore finds newer, subtle ways to evoke the spirit of a by-gone age with a fresher approach. He enjoys working in various mediums such as lifestyle and home, interior and furnishing design, fashion design and now gourmet products.

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ART

Mahua — The Art Gallery is presenting “Myth and Movement” featuring artists Atul Talukdar, Seema Kohli, Dimpy Menon and Ramesh Gorjaia from March 15 to 31, No. 344/8, above Vijaya Bank, IV Main Road, Sadashivnagar.SUMMER CAMP

Active Canvas is having “Around the world”, a five-week summer camp for age groups three to five, six to eight, nine to 13 from Monday to Friday, April 6 to May 8, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Call 41609122.SALE

Select Bookshop is having a sale of old magazines on every Sunday of this month on March 15, 22 and 29 at No. 35/1, Brigade Road Cross.

Sakhi by Chandras is having their six yard sale with discounts of up to 50 per cent off on a range of designer saris and salwars from March 13 to 22, 10.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. at No. 305, 6th Main, Defence Colony, Indiranagar. Call 25252007/ 41155551.EXHIBITION

Vermilion House is presenting a summer collection of Chettinad saris from Sri Mahalakshmi Weaving Centre from Karaikudi, designed by Vishalakshi Ramaswamy, on March 13 and 14, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Vermilion House, No. 3/12, Cleveland Road Cross, Frazer Town. Call 41225830.OFFER

Collection i, a part of Future Group, is offering great value for old furniture at ‘Biggest Exchange Offer’, where consumers can get best value for their old furniture, by producing original purchase bills of the old furniture. Collection-i will issue them coupons, of the same value. To avail these coupons, all consumers need to do is buy products worth four times the value of the coupons they have. This offer is on till March 29 at Esteem Mall, Hebbal and Cosmos Mall, Kundlahalli Village, Brookefield.BOOK LAUNCH & READING

Crossword and Toto Funds the Arts is presenting a reading by Jaithirth Rao of his published poetry and the launch of Aditya Surdarshan’s mystery novel “A Nice Quiet Holiday”, where he…More

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Mythili Prakash talksabout growing up surrounded by art

Photo: S.S. KUMARIn step Mythili Prakash traces her cultural roots

“At different times I wanted to be a gymnast, journalist or screenplay writer. Just to be more normal you know, do what others were doing,” she smiles. As a child, studying and performing Bharatanatyam with her mother’s Shakti company made her stand out in her Los Angeles school. Right from her arangetram at age eight, Mythili Prakash could not give up dancing. “What enticed me was not the brilliant costume or jewellery, but the music.” A young dancer with regular tours in Europe, Asia and North America, Mythili has disproved the long-held belief that no one trained in Bharatanatyam outside India can be as good as an artiste brought up on “native” soil. “But then, our home is not typically American, it smells of spices,” Mythili laughs.First guru

Her mother, Viji Prakash was Mythili’s first guru. “Because we’re so close I was extra critical; wasted a lot of energy in arguments,” Mythili admits. With a Los Angeles home abuzz with dance and music, why did Mythili opt to shift to Chennai? “My dance tours meant interruptions in my Masters’ course in Fine Arts at the UCLA. There was the added frustration of not being able to do justice to either. So, in 2006, I moved to Chennai. Theoretically I can go back. But do I want to?” Though she still lisps in Tamil, Mythili is making a valiant effort to speak English with what she calls a “Tamil-British” accent. She even enjoys train travel, second class.

Brother Aditya Prakash spends his vacations from his course in ethnomusicology at UCLA in Chennai, learning Carnatic music from P.S. Narayanaswami, and performing. “Sometimes, he sings for my shows. Not something he wants to do regularly, though we enjoy the creative process of working together.” Life in Chennai also…More

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Learn about traditional arts and crafts at the ongoing Kuteera exhibition

Photos: K. GopinathanIn vibrant hues Shop for traditional crafts at Kuteera (below) Chittaara artist at work

It is fascinating to watch Radha and Indira Sullur at work. The artists from Shimoga are giving final touches to their art work butti Chittaara on bamboo baskets. They pick up thin strands of jute, dip it in a bowl of white paste made from rice, andadd that touch of finesse to complete the motif. “Nowadays, we use white paint to make the baskets look more decorative,” smiles Radha, a State award winning artist.

The bamboo baskets are first given a coating of cow dung, followed by red mud and then rice paste.

“Traditionally, women in every house of the village create the designs,” the artist adds as she takes me through her collection of wall paintings arati Chittaara (lamp designs), hase Chittaara (complete with a marriage procession announcing the arrival of spring and happiness) and teru Chittaara (temple motifs). “Every design tells a story, of our rich culture and tradition,” Radha adds.

Decorative bamboo baskets, wall paintings, pen holders, flower pots, greeting cards and bookmarks occupy the stall, which is part of Kuteera, an exhibition organised by the Crafts Council of Karnataka at Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath.

Toys galore

Variety is the keyword at Kuteera. You will find exquisite Banjara embroidery works of Lambaani tribals from Sandur in Bellary district, Ganjifa paintings from Mysore (miniature paintings on cardboards), ethnic kurja pottery with Warli work, traditional floral motifs and contemporary designs and an entire collection of Channapatna and Kondapalli toys. Cushions and mats made from elephant grass, jute durries, decorative flower vases made from sea shells, Kalamkari products and the traditional game boards of ‘chowkabara’ and ‘huli kuri’ are the other attractions.

Cut work bed sheets from Jodhpur present intricate craftsmanship. “It takes 45 days to finish…More

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Wearable cinema Anurag Kashyap’s film has inspired a line of clothes

Planet M has launched an exclusive range of Dev D. T-shirts. They are available in two designs — Emotional Attyachaar and Chand Ho Ya Paro – and are said to be created specially for “those who reflect an independent attitude fuelled by energy, heart and a heavy dose of self-indulgence,” say the makers.

The collection is priced at Rs. 249 and is available at all Planet M stores (on Brigade Road, Kasturi Nagar, BTM Layout, Spar and Indiranagar-100ft Road).

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The recent arrest of more than 100 revellers by the police at an alleged “rave” with charges of obscenity has restarted the debate about moral policing, since the police have not managed to seize any drugs from the party scene. MetroPlus asked city residents whether the police were correct in carrying out the arrests.

The incident drew mixed reactions, with many residents feeling that though the organisers should have been apprehended, the other revellers should have been let free after a blood test. Some felt that the organisers of the party had broken the law and needed to be punished in accordance with law. Many also felt that charging all the guests and arresting them could have been avoided.

They felt that after a compulsory drug test, all the revellers should have been set free, after furnishing their details. Some felt that the police should improve the law and order situation and not indulge in moral policing.

They felt that the organisers should have been apprehended and the party should have been stopped. Many also felt that if there were complaints from the neighbours, regarding disturbing sound levels, the police action was not unwarranted. We sample some responses

I feel that the police should not have arrested all the revellers, especially since no drugs were found at the site. They should have been let free after a drug test. The organisers must be charged for these offences. It is not a case of moral policing.

Raghu

IT professional

Since the police had acted on the complaints of some neighbours, they cannot be faulted with making arrests and stopping the party. You are free to party, but it must not prove to be a nuisance to other people. Some degree of civil conduct is necessary.

Arif

Software engineer

Both sides were at fault, the police should not have arrested all the guests. On the other hand, party…More

The Hindu : y>There are studies delving into the most inane topics. APARNA NARRAIN wonders whether they serve any purpose

Photo: APDumb and dumber A study found out that men perceived bikini-clad women as objects

According to a recent study, men perceive women in bikinis as objects. Yes, take a second to roll your eyes and go “Well duh!!” After all most people will agree that the study is just stating the obvious. Really just how many men out there will look at a picture of a woman in a bathing suit and say, “She seems really intelligent”.

Another study explained why it’s easier to see someone close than far away and one entitled the wealth effects of smoking said that smokers spend quite a bit of money on their habit. Another study showed that memory and concentration fade with age.

Why do researchers even bother spending time and money on studying such obvious things, you are asking yourself. But wait a minute. If you think these are pointless studies, what about those studies which can only be described as weird or downright ridiculous?

During World War II, it was hard to ensure that bombs hit their targets. A psychologist B.F. Skinner thought that an animal with excellent eyesight and high manoeuvrability could be trained to guide anti-aircraft missiles to their targets. Wonder what animal rights activists would have to say to that. And so Project Pigeon was started. He conducted experiments to train pigeons to look at a target and then peck on one of four levers that moved the ‘target’ up, down, left and right. This prototype seemed to work.

Skinner thought this was proof that a pigeon-guided missile was a real possibility. The military got as far as adapting some missiles to accommodate the pigeons before killing Project Pigeon. Phew! Researchers of course feel that these studies are necessary and will promote greater understanding of ourselves and…More

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Neetu Chandra is all excited about her new film, 13 B

Photo: k. gopinathanRunning scared Neetu Chandra

Neetu Chandra caught the audience eye with her glamorous air hostess act in “Garam Masala”. She then played a homeless person in the critically-acclaimed, “Traffic signal”.

Her excellent work won her a National Award nomination. Neetu likes to experiment with her roles and feels that playing a range of characters enhances her acting experience.

In the city for a promotional event for “13 B”, a horror movie that also stars R. Madhavan, she says excitedly, “It has been done brilliantly. The story is very different.”

She adds, “It does not feature tantriks, or an overdose of philosophy. It is basically a story on how the TV has managed to turn people into addicts.”

Elaborating Neetu says, “It is a story about a joint family that moves into a new apartment.

“I play Madhavan’s wife. Regular family life gets disrupted and a series of unfortunate events strike the family.

“The TV plays a central part. The main protagonist played by Madhavan realises that a particular show is telecast only in their house.

“This show holds the key to unravelling the mysterious incidents that are affecting the family. The film talks about what would happen if the TV took charge of our lives.”

The bubbly actress grins saying, “The fear factor is weaved into the story subtly. The film does not have ghosts, which emerge out of closets to provide the chills.”

Neetu feels audience would be able to relate to the film. “The TV is an integral part of most people’s lives.

“Once you switch on the telly, many people feel at ease, since they feel that there is another person.” Neetu feels among Hindi horror films, Ramgopal Varma’s “Bhoot” is the closest in concept to “13 B”. “I feel this film will be scarier than ‘Bhoot,’ which is also my favourite horror flick. It…More

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C.S. Sunder Raju, secretary of the KSLTA, feels tennis in the State is all set to bounce back

Hope floats Sunder Raju

“Glad to see Indian tennis doing well even if the KSLTA is not,” said C.S. Sunder Raju, secretary of the KSLTA watching Somdev Devvarman uncork a great win for India in the Davis Cup. The State association, which had brought several marquee events to Bangalore like the Legends Tour (2000), World doubles championship (2000) and World doubles cup (2001), WTA Tour events in 2007 and 2008, featuring tennis stars such as Serena Williams, Venus Williams and Jelena Jankovic hit a rough patch.

The pull out of main sponsor, hit KSLTA hard. That unforeseen event put KSLTA forced it to drop the championship scheduled for 2009. “It was a setback, faced with clearing huge liabilities was a Herculean task. We are coming out of it and hopefully, WTA will be here next year,” said Sunder Raju.

Is KSLTA going in the right direction by conducting mega events at the cost of nurturing grass root tennis, domestic tournaments and promoting local talent?

Sunder Raju feels the issue has to be viewed in proper perspective. “It is like a pyramid, where we have to get other things based on a marquee event. Yes, I admit we could have spread out but then again, the funding problem did affect our focus.”

“We will cross the hurdles and get back to promoting tennis in a big way in the State and of course, big events will remain in our scheme of things,” said Sunder Raju. One of the biggest achievements of KSLTA, had been spreading the game to districts and generating interest in unlikely centres like Gulbarga, Bellary and Davangere.

The association took the initiative of taking ITF Future events for men and women to these places and creating a huge awareness for the game. But again lack of events…More