Top 10 Colleges
Of India
As admission time approaches, students face the dilemma of making a choice from among the 10,000-odd colleges. INDIA TODAY-Gallup's fifth survey ranks the centres of excellence on key factors. The best in Arts, Science, Commerce, Law, Medicine and Engineering.

Foreign Policy Privatised
Leaked letters in London imply that Brajesh Mishra, principal secretary to the prime minister, trusted the Hindujas more than the Indian High Commission. The brothers even negotiated with Prime Minister Tony Blair on CTBT.

The Heat Is On
The Raja of Bihar is in trouble again. The CBI has filed yet another chargesheet against him in the multi-crore fodder scam, this time in Jharkhand. A non-bailable arrest warrant issued against him has Laloo in a panic.

Fuzzy Logic
Key nations, including India, are briefed by aides of Bush on the new nuclear doctrine he proposes, but find that there are more questions than answers.

Consumed By Hunger
Maharashtra has a surfeit of foodgrain. Yet, over 500 infants have died in Nandurbar district since January this year of malnutrition and related complications.

EYECATCHERS

Well Meaning

Daler Mehndi thought he had another hit on his hands; the Mumbai-based Raza Academy, self-styled defenders of Islam, screamed blasphemy. Nabi Buba Nabi, the latest from the singer's stable inspired by a "dream of chanting Pathans", has been targeted for "hurting Muslim sentiments". Says Saeed Noori of the Academy: "It uses the word Nabi meaning Prophet and among Muslims no one can become a Nabi. The video also shows women dancing in an obscene way." Mehndi has relented, changing Nabi and the other objectionable words. (The dancing women emerge unscathed.) Noori added that he had nothing against Mehndi. "In fact we didn't even know he existed before this." Ouch, that must have hurt more.

Sister Talk

You know her as the mum-to-be who has her baby on a football field in a mobile-phone ad. That's one way of getting noticed. Another is happening soon: Sushama Reddy, sister of voluble veejay Meghana Reddy, has been signed up by Channel V to do some veejaying herself. An economics graduate of Mumbai's Mithibhai College, Sushama has already modelled for a string of big companies and also runs her own skin and hair care company. And she's got that trademark Reddy trait: confidence: "I think I have a flair for TV, but I've been looking for the right break." Looks like she's got this too.

Knot A Problem

Indian filmdom has never looked approvingly at just-married actresses, a fact highlighted in the unfortunate case of Tamil star Devyani. The 28-year-old had clandestinely tied the knot with director Rajakumaran (who cast her as the heroine of his last two films) last month, but when she finally announced her nuptial status, she was made a Mollywood pariah-dropped from three films, one with Kamal Haasan. Devyani is unfazed: "Good actresses are always in demand. This is a passing phase." Her husband, the culprit, will hopefully come to the rescue just in case it's not.

Ramp To Reel

Model John Abraham, 28, catapulted into rampdom by a chance win at a model contest in 1999, is now moving a notch higher. The former adman, also admired for his purposeful pecs (right), has been selected by Mumbai director Rahul Rawail to take the lead in an unnamed "love story". His co-star will also be a newcomer, possibly an equally famous model. Abraham, troubled by the ephemeral lifespan of modelling, is relieved: "Not many models get the lead on their debut, so it's a damn good offer." The film will be released in 2001 ... and Abraham is pretty sure he'll survive as a model till then.

—Compiled by Anshul Avijit

MetroScape

Summer Of 2001
Flippant and elusive, he can best be described by what he is not. Meet
Bryn Adams in an uncharacteristically forthcoming mood.
more...

Looking Glass

Delhi Concert:
"United for Gujarat"

Mumbai Ceramics:
Zareen Mistry

Mumbai Club Music:
Melting Pot