Children For Sale
For as little as Rs 3,000, impoverished parents sell their children to adoption centres and unscrupulous operators in Andhra Pradesh, who in turn earn up to Rs 3 lakh from foster families. A look at the people involved, the law and where the process went wrong.

Amma Turns Red
J. Jayalalitha's hopes for contesting the elections have been dashed with the rejection of her nomination papers. But this does not deter her from stepping up her campaigning efforts for the AIADMK and assuming an aggressive stance.

Past Tense
The muted reaction of the Government to the massacre of the BSF troops raises many questions. A look at the past skirmishes between the BSF and BDR gives an insight into what led to the heightening of tension at the border.

Coming To Life
With the end of state monopoly, private insurance companies are offering wider risk coverage and better customer relations.

Starting Over
It's been three months since nature shook Gujarat, killing over 30,000 and shattering dreams. Despite government promises and generosity of individuals, rehabilitation is still to touch the lives of many. The story in pictures.

MUSIC: MUSINGS

REVERBERATIONS
A Debut And A Departure

This is the maiden album of Kalapini Komkali-daughter of the late Kumar Gandharva-currently being trained by her mother Vasundhara. "I didn't want Kumarji's picture on the cover. I do not want to take advantage of my lineage. My music should speak for him," says Kalapini. She does not have a soprano voice. Hers is a husky alto, earthy in sound. She has chosen two compositions of her father. The first is Bal gayi jyot in raga Puriya Dhanashree in vilambit ektaal and Aajra din duba in drut teen taal. The other is Shiv-Kedar, sung in two compositions set to ektaal and teen taal. The Gandharva influence is obvious in her akars and her slide to higher octaves. The khayals seem to be inspired by folk melodies which Gandharva was famous for. Kalapini has sung them in a lively manner. The swift tempo and the rhythm are what makes her singing engaging.

After a lull here finally is an album from A. R. Rahman which is a departure from the past. Lagaan being a period film the music is in keeping with the theme-hence the mix of Indian classical, folk, Methodist church choir and western percussion. The first number, Ghanan ghana-a happy song based on raag Megh sung by Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik, Shankar Mahdevan, Shaan and Sukhvinder Singh-is already climbing the charts. While Rahman's voice finds its place in the fast-moving Chalo chalo, it is Narayan's which stands out, especially in Radha kaise na jale with its typical Rajasthani touch. Rahman invariably uses classical music to enhance his scores. The soundtrack has Vishwamohan Bhatt's mohan veena and Sultan Khan's sarangi to fill in the interludes. A delightful album.

—S. Sahaya Ranjit

SCREEN N SURF
Site In Name

Did you know the Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA), the national academy of music, dance and drama, has a website: sangeetnatak.org? But having laid out the site four years ago, it seems to have forgotten it as well. The site has not been updated since March 1999. Even the list of awardees has not been changed since 1998.

The website lists the schemes and programmes offered by SNA but is silent about application procedures. The redeeming feature is its archives. One can order photographs/audio/video clippings and forms too are available online. Try this out and let us know.

HOT TRACK
Just Push Play
Aerosmith
(Sony; Rs 150)

Whether or not you like this album depends so much on who you are and what exactly you are looking for. If it's typical Aerosmith you want, you'll find it most of the way, but it's not quite what you think. Just Push Play contains all that one might expect of Aerosmith: Steven Tyler's trademark wail, the raucous ruckus that melts into music, the shocking lyrics ("she gave you a flower/the one that God gave her"). But that's the whole point, there's nothing remarkably new from the Aerosmith genre of rock here. Sunshine, for one, is sadly reminiscent of the album Get A Grip. It's like you've been there, seen it, heard it all, and might as well not bother with this one. Where the album shines, surprisingly, is where the group gives a nod to the pop-crazy new generation. There's Just push play the single, infused with reggae sounds. And Fly away from here is a ballad of the Jon Bon Jovi kind. It's not enough though to make you want to just push play and run right through to the end. You might be tempted to jab at the pause button too.

—Anna M.M. Vetticad

ARRIVALS
Vasantha Ninaivu	Fiesta Latina	Shaswat	The Best of Qawwali
(VMT; Rs 100 ) Excerpts from Nithyashree Mahadevan's concert in aid of cancer victims.	(Virgin; Rs 65) Hindi film song remixes by Indi-pop singers Shaan, Sagarika, Amit Kumar and others.	(Times Music; Rs 65) Santoor exponent Satish Vyas' six compositions for peace and relaxation.	(Music Today; Rs 75) Jafar Husain Khan Badauni and Warsi brothers excel in this sufi album.

MetroScape

Focusing On Art
The brief for participants at
"Exhibit 'A' 2001" organised by the
200-member
Photographers'
Guild of India at the Nehru Centre, Mumbai, was clear—no advertisement and portfolio photos. more...

Looking Glass

Delhi Poster:
One Page Classics

Calcutta Pub:
London Pub

Bangalore & Mumbai Rock Concert:
Bryan Adams

West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharya reflected optimism about winning the state election when he spoke to INDIA TODAY Senior Editor Sumit Mitra at the CPI(M) headquarters in Kolkata, minutes before rushing off for campaigning.
Excerpts: