Victor's Cross
Re-election as party president was the least of Sonia's problems. She will have to balance coteries, and make difficult choices.

"It's like a re-birth"
Rajkumar is free, his fans are ecstatic but in the melee, the issue of Veerappan is forgotten.

Fifth Column
by Tavleen Singh
Comic Relief

Verse and Worse

Friends Forever

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Fight the Draught

LOOKING GLASS

Delhi
Art
These aren't really photographs, more like photographic aggregates and surreal collages. Artist Jiri Chmelar, a Czech-born Frenchman (he was exiled in 1980), now living in the delicious climes of the south of France, has spent the last 20 years devoted to the kneading and layering of images and the storing of shapes in box assemblages. He says that at the time of breaking politically free and discovering a new national identity his boxes were a way of communicating with the world. His exhibition, Underlays and Overlays, at the Alliance Francaise focuses on his photographic works that make the human face the central point of all his artistic departures. The exhibition is on till November 26. For more information and details call (011) 625-1408.

Mumbai
Music
Watch out for the 24th Gunidas Sangeet Sammelan presented by Maharashtra Lalit Kala Nidhi at the Nehru Centre, Worli between November 23-25. The festival, to pay tribute to the master musician Gunidas, will feature Ronu Mazumdar (flute) and Pandit C.R. Vyas (vocal) on opening day and Kala Ramanah (violin) and son of Kumar Gandharva, Mukul Shivputra (vocal) the following day. But the biggest draw is expected to be Pandit Bhimsen Joshi on the 25th. Call (022) 5221244.

Pune
Cafe
After Delhi and Chennai, Pune also seems to be getting a whiff of the caffeine craze-its hottest hangout is Cafe Nescafe, a coffee bar, at Moledina Road. Of course, there's cappuccino, moccacino, along with the regulation (and hugely popular) decaf white and black, but habitues recommend a steaming cup of Nes- quick chocolate. In the icy section is Nestea, Nesquick and Nescafe frappe. Prices are comfortable (between Rs 10 and Rs 20) and the bar also serves a variety of savoury accompaniments, fresh from the local bakery. Open on all days between 10 a.m. and 8.30 p.m.

Compiled by S. Sahaya Ranjit, Anshul Avijit and Kanchan Apte

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MetroScape
Home Run
Stage specialists The Company Theatre has been making life a lot easier for sluggish Mumbaikars by bringing plays right to their sofa sides.
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Looking Glass

Mumbai: Music

Delhi: Art

Pune: Cafe

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A TV channel turns good Samaritan and helps trace missing NRIs in the Gulf. INDIA TODAY Principal Correspondent M.G. Radhakrishnan reports on its six-month successful run in Despatches.