News

The Hindu : y>Tune in to Star World forLipstick Jungle

From best-selling author Candace Bushnell (“Sex and the City”) comes the hit series “Lipstick Jungle”. Premiering exclusively on Star World on May 30, Saturday at 10 p.m., the series gives a sneak peak into the lives of Manhattan’s three high-powered women. “Lipstick Jungle” features a glittering cast including Brooke Shields (“Suddenly Susan”), Kim Raver (“24”) and Lindsay Price (“Beverly Hills, 90210”). The show is a winning mix of gripping drama and witty comedy.

Tune into this exciting series starting May 30, every Saturday and Sunday at 10 p.m. on Star World.

<FONT …More

The Hindu : y>

Lal Quile Ki Saughat offers a range of dishes with the diversity of Paranthewali Galli in Old Delhi to desserts like Zafrani phirni, presented by chef Farman Ali

Venue: Jamavar, The Leela Palace Kempinski

Date: June 1to12

Contact: 30571344

<FONT …More

The Hindu :

Writing is no easy task. You need to be at it constantly, says Jeffrey Archer

Photo: R. RavindranNo short-cutsJeffrey Archer: ‘Don’t underestimate hard work’

A few minutes into the conversation with Jeffrey Archer, I know that this here is a man well-pleased with himself. And why not? He has much to be pleased about. The previous evening’s book-signing session at Crossword, for example, where “It was three hours before we could even see the line; at one point I began to feel a little tired, but then I told myself ‘Get a hold on yourself Jeffrey Archer, you wouldn’t really want a line that’s only four people long.’”

Like the many aging musicians of the West, who’re suddenly bringing their concerts to India, Lord Archer was also here to woo the Great Indian Market. Indians, he says, constitute a large percentage of his fans, and they buy more of his books than anyone else.

There is no formula for the success of his books; as he points out, if there were, then “You would be writing my books…that’s the gift, I don’t play the violin, I don’t sing opera, I don’t do art, though I would like to; my gift is telling stories.” Book ideas come from everywhere: a new short story collection due in 2010, has one called “Caste off”, based on a real couple from Mumbai; “The Gospel of Judas” is inspired by the Christian gospels. “A story is ageless. Look at ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’, look at Dickens, Jane Austen. I don’t underestimate hard work, and I don’t underestimate the energy needed to write.”

When Archer is writing, he writes every day in stretches of two hours, till he has a first draft at the end of forty hours and by the time he has the final draft, he would have worked on it for a 1,000 hours. He believes that…More

The Hindu : y>

A special shopping weekend discount in benefit of Khushii – Kinship for Humanitarian Social and Holistic Intervention in India.

Venue: Tod’s Boutique, U.B. City

Date: May 30 to 31

Time: 11 a.m. to 9.30 p.m.

Contact: 42800000

<FONT …More

The Hindu : y>

Nebu Mathew Thomas wins a meal voucher from Darbar

Readers are encouraged to send in their sightings: bloopers, UFOs or anything out of the ordinary they have snapped. Send your photographs to caughtsnappingblr@gmail.com titled CaughtSnapping along with a caption, your address and contact number. The best photograph featured in this column wins a meal voucher for a couple from The Nawab, Hotel Solitaire every week.

<FONT …More

The Hindu : y>

Shruti presents classical Carnatic and Hindustani harmonium concerts by C. Ramadass and Vyasmurthy Katti. The concerts are open to all.

Venue: Kalashree, Opposite E.S.I. Hospital, Rajajinagar

Date: May 31

Time: 5 p.m.

Contact: 23355687

<FONT …More

The Hindu : y>Filmmaker, activist, jazz fan… Ranjan Kamath talks about his life and work to AYESHA MATTHAN

Photos : Bhagya Prakash K.Reality Check Ranjan Kamath: ‘Urban India is living in a delusion’

Ranjan Kamath was born in Bangalore, but grew up in Kolkata. He enrolled in the speech and drama programme of the Trinity College of Music while actively participating in drama in school and college.

He was called by Prakash Jha to assist/act in his debut film “Damul”. “He was shooting in Bihar and I ended up in playing the role of the villainous younger brother,” says Ranjan, who studied political science at St. Xavier’s, Kolkata. Ranjan then travelled around India on the “Dances of India” project and others so he learnt plenty while on the job.

He joined the London Film School for he felt he needed an education. From ’87 to ’90, Ranjan was in the heart of London where the college was, and had classmates from different nationalities — giving him the multi-cultural experience that he yearned for. He began working on various feature documentaries ranging from music, wildlife to politics for the BBC, National Four, National Geographic and Discovery Channel. “One project led to another, primarily via word-of-mouth and I had a great time travelling.”

Finally, Ranjan was able to afford his own camera and started making his first film — “Fishers of Men” shot in Eastern Madhya Pradesh from ’96 to ’97 on the politics of conversion.

“When Kandhamal happened, the film was once again in great demand; earlier also when the killings of missionary Graham Staines and his sons occurred in Orissa in ’99.”

Picture Perfect Samples of Ranjan’s work

Ranjan feels that we’re not paying attention to what’s going on in rural and remote India, till it finally flares up into a Kandhamal or Mangalore.

Growing up in Kolkata enabled Ranjan to hear stories of the Naxal movement in Bengal and neighbouring…More

The Hindu : y>

Melissa Soalt aka Dr. Ruthless, said to be one of the best women’s self defence trainer, will teach women self defence techniques to protect themselves in any situation.

Venue: Indian Heritage Academy, Koramangala

Date: May 31

Time: 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Contact: 9916096304

<FONT …More

The Hindu :

All you wanted to know about baking and what the world is baking will feature on Rachel Allen’s show

Easy as pie Rachel Allen is partial to baking

Rachel Allen has authored four bestselling cookery books, including “Rachel’s Favourite Food at Home” and “Rachel’s Food for Living”.

She is also renowned for a range of popular television series that have been broadcast internationally. She is currently hosting “Rachel Allen: Bake”, a show on Discovery Travel and Living.

Rachel says, “I love baking a great deal. I used to bake cakes, biscuits and cookies with my siblings and mother, when I was growing up.”

On the show, Rachel presents essential baking skills and showcases the fun side of baking.

She churns out quick snacks, wholesome breads and pies, exotic cakes and tarts or easy-baked meals and shall also offer troubleshooting techniques for common problems one may encounter in the kitchen.

Talking about the show, Rachel says, “I will be whipping up many dishes in the course of the show. I shall also be travelling and learning more about baked food products across the world, from street food to big hotels. This show manages to combine two of my favourite activities — eating and travelling.”

She adds, “I will also visit the champions of the baking world such as Eric Lanlard and Mich Turner.”

When Rachel is not cooking, she writes cook books and teaches students at Ballymaloe Cookery Institute.

“I enjoy teaching a great deal, since it helps me learn many new things myself. I feel that teaching a class has helped me hone my culinary skills a great deal. It also keeps me updated with the latest fads in the trade.”Creative profession

She feels that professional training, even in a discipline like cooking, helps a great deal in understanding the concept behind various preparations and provides a professional touch to most preparations. She says, “I learnt a lot and developed…More

The Hindu : y>

Reliance TimeOut has various activities and contests for children aged eight to 14.

Venue: Reliance TimeOut, Cunningham Road

Date: May 29 (glass painting on canvas)

May 30 (handwriting competition)

May 31(drawing competition)

Time: 4 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.

Contact: 41286025

<FONT …More