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METROSCAPE
To Hold The Reins
It doesn't get busier
than this. With just days to go for the release of his Rs 25 crore debut
production Lagaan, actor Aamir Khan flew in to Delhi for a press conference,
a zillion interviews, and somewhere in between, special screenings for
two other very busy men, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L.K. Advani. If he was
flustered by the packed schedule, Khan didn't show it. Not even when reminded
about the not-so-minor episode of Rachel Shelley.
 For
those who don't know: the British actress, one of Lagaan's heroines, complained
bitterly through a recent first-person account in the British press about
what she considered a disorganised production, an insensitive team that
made a "public study of the declining state of my complexion",
and an itchy back that resulted from an unwashed corset, among other things.
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| THREE IS DISCOMFORT: Khan with Gracy Singh;
(above) Outcast Shelly |
A source close to Khan says he plans to sue Shelley
for also revealing the storyline prior to the film's June 15 release.
When prodded, Khan points to a secrecy clause in the lady's contract,
but insists he's yet to decide about legal action. This much he will say
though: Shelley will not be brought to India for the film's publicity.
And he's sure the controversy won't affect Lagaan's prospects: "People
in India know me fairly well for the past 10-12 years now and I don't
think a statement by somebody else will so easily sway them."
The film's other leading lady, Gracy Singh, is
one fan who's sticking by him. "Aamir," she says, "was
very helpful as a co-star and generous as a producer." As for Khan,
he says Lagaan is all that matters.
-Anna M.M.
Vetticad
Library Of The Law
 Criminal
Major Acts and Dr Spock's Baby and Child Care. What could they possibly
have in common? Last week, when Kolkata Police opened a library at its
headquarters at Lalbazar, the 1,400-book collection was full of unlikely
titles: the Harry Potter series, Nobel prizewinners and Indo-Anglian.
Not just the whodunits one would expect. But that's because the top policemen
are on a drive to inculcate the reading habit in the ranks. "I think
it's the best thing a policeman can do," says Commissioner Sujoy
Chakraborty. "Now when they get off duty, officers can head for the
library instead of whiling away their time."
According to Joint Commissioner (Organisation)
S.N. Sarkar, the library is open to everyone, from constable to commissioner.
Lalbazar does have a few department libraries-a staff section which only
has Bengali books, a detective department which has only criminology tomes
- but nothing by way of a general browse-and-borrow.
The idea was mooted by former commissioner D.C.
Vajpai and carried through by his successor, who handpicked many of the
titles in the Rs 1.5-lakh stockpile. Including some "offbeat stuff"
that will give the lawkeepers a new, sociological look at crime: victimology,
human rights and-soon to follow-cybercrime. Chances are, the next time
a criminal is nabbed, he might just be treated to some Walt Whitman as
well.
-Labonita
Ghosh
Metro Minutes
 Aparna
Sen's daughter Konkona Sen Sharma has not disappointed. Her first film,
Ek Je Aache Kanya (The Girl), directed by first-timer Subrata Sen was
released earlier this month in Kolkata to rave reviews... mostly
on Konkona's performance. Mum Aparna, who said at the film's launch a
year ago that she'd like to tap into her daughter's potential, better
get cracking on a script.
 This
sturdy condom-vending machine, installed on a trial basis at the Nirman
Bhavan in Delhi next to the office of the secretary, Ministry of
Welfare, also dispenses sweets and soaps, apart from an impressive assortment
of contraceptives. But most officials on the floor, it appears, are going
red in the face ... they find the idea suggestive and unappealing. So
even the chocolates haven't had a refill.
 Bejewelled
Bappi Lahiri (it's rumoured that his gold chains weigh more than him)
has not been sitting idle since the sad demise of his last album dedicated
to Mother Teresa. His latest, called Housefull, was released in Music
World, Kolkata to a frenzied response. Sam Fox could be reading this and
getting nostalgic.
 The
Bangalore passport unit, headed by tech-savvy ifs officer T.V.
Nagendra Prasad (below), got the award for Best Passport Office from the
Ministry of External Affairs for processing 500 passports a day, more
than double the national average. Reason: elimination of touts, computerisation,
info kiosks and online help. Prasad's prize: a posting in London.
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