Fashion Fusion: Indian designs get a western touch

Haute Monde: Surprise guest Kapoor

A collaborative effort led by the British Council, FDCI and NIFT was a literal jumble. Anshu Arora Sen's pants, J.J. Valaya's capes, Aki Narula's crunches, David Abraham's and Rajesh Pratap's overscrupulous cuts and Rohit Bal's globular motifs got cut and pasted on eight mannequins in a look fabricated by UK stylist Zoe Stevenson. But Stevenson wasn't the only one from UK's fashion contingent at the display at British Council's courtyard in Delhi. Photographer Jonathan Bloxam showed shots he'd done for Hussein Chalayan and designer Russel Sage gave the idea that he works with kimono derivatives and bank notes. The surprise guest was London-based sculptor Anish Kapoor, coincidentally in town to announce his first India show in 2003 in Delhi. He's still looking for a venue ... and is open to suggestions.

-Anshul Avijit

Virus Scan

"Spread the Message, Not the Virus!" At the MTV Music Summit for AIDS at Mumbai-in aid of World AIDS Day-witticisms like these were used liberally on 10,000 attending youngsters to hammer in the threat of AIDS.

Words weren't the only weapons in the armour of the two Cyrus (left) to shape the minds of the young ones though. The day-long concert at SNDT grounds also included performances by 18 music groups like Colonial Cousins, Shaan, Euphoria; a carnival with activities like hair braiding; and the lure of stars like Arbaaz Khan. The most popular stall? The screamometer at the Evert stall that "dared" people "to care". Looked like they did.

-Natasha Israni

Final Verdict?

On The Defensive: Sen as Lady Macbeth argues her case

Did Lady Macbeth get off too easy? Or should she have been punished for being an accomplice to her husband's crimes? Since the Bard of Avon isn't there to answer questions about one of his most baffling leading ladies, a group of Kolkata lawyers and litterateurs took it upon themselves to do so. In a mock trial last week, Lady Macbeth-played by theatre personality Sohag Sen-was accused of "aiding and abetting" her husband. "Why did you smear blood on the soldiers and ask Macbeth to wash his hands?" asked the prosecutor. The lady, of course, was heard by a jury comprising eminent citizens and a retired judge. Macbeth's role was enacted by actor Prabir Ghosh.

The idea of a courtroom drama with a fictional character in the dock struck some "Shakespeare buffs" after they read about the "trial" of King Lear conducted by the New York Times. Advocates Yezdezard Dastoor and Vikramjit Banerjee actually scripted the play where everyone could watch the open trial of Lady Macbeth. And Oxford Bookstore Gallery in Kolkata was turned into a mini courtroom, with witness stands, bailiffs and seats for the jury.

So what's with this little literary exercise? "It's a good beginning," says Sen, who defended her character well, says. "We should always have new interpretations of any classic." And the verdict? Great entertainment!

-Labonita Ghosh

All In A Name

UK band Maroon Town has a thing for quirky names. It borrows its title from a Jamaican community of runaway slaves, has vocalists nicknamed "Blue" and "San-jay" (short for Sandra James), plays "SKA" and has just released Don Drummond. Couldn't they have just picked easier handles? Perhaps not. In this multiracial band, you find myriad influences. Last week, after a performance, it held a workshop to let Kolkatans tune in to their styles. This Jamaican precursor to Reggae might have disappeared but for bands like Maroon Town. Their album is a tribute to Don Drummond, who carried SKA out of Jamaica. Maroon Town will carry it further across India. Says frontman Rajan Datar: "We want everyone to know about it." Sure. Drummond would be proud.

-Labonita Ghosh

Dance In Time

When a contemporary dance performance is titled "Indian Erotica: Vedas to the Millennium", the name is enough to draw people. But Kolkata troupe Sapphire Creations Dance Workshop were not in Delhi last week to satiate porno maniacs. Thrown in with the well-toned bodies and synchronised movements was a message to mark World aids Day. Sapphire's show-presented by unaids at Kamani Auditorium on December 1-traced Indian sexuality down the ages. It covered everything from Menaka's seduction of Vishwamitra to a frolicking Radha and Krishna, the courtesan Vasantsena in conversation with her lover Charudutt, love in the times of the Taj Mahal, and finally, love in the time of aids.