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When ABCD won plaudits at a number of film festivals, including the one in Austin-Houston, Texas, its makers must have gloated with glee. And when, despite being on the shelf for close to a year, most of the mainstream publications heralded it as a "sensational" film, they must have been certain about its imminent unmitigated success. Alas for Krutin Patel, ABCD's 34-year-old debut director, co-producer and co-writer, when the film finally released, it was only to a disappointing opening: ABCD had grossed a meagre $83,372 on 38 screens in North America, for a disappointing average of $2,194 per screen. Some in the audience complained that its makers were misogynist, others thought it was a little too melodramatic, many rued about the badly-etched characters. However, the one saving grace for Patel was the unanimous verdict that he had made a good beginning.

RAVE REVIEWS: Sheetal Shethin ABCD

Patel hopes that the box-office will pick up in the second week, defying the usual trend of desi movies losing about 50 per cent of the audience in the second week. The movie, which cost about $300,000, has to earn about $500,000 to recoup the investment. If the box-office follows the usual path, ABCD may end with about $200,000. If its video version isn't pirated, it might earn a decent coin there.

The movie, released by Eros International, stars Madhur Jaffrey, Aasif Mandvi and Sheetal Sheth.

-Mabel Pais

LOOKING GLASS

BANGALORE
Exhibition

One of India's most well-known woman cartoonists, Maya Kamath, 50, passed away on October 26. In a career spanning 16 years, Kamath dealt with a range of themes in her cartoons, beginning with strips on family life and moving to women's and civic issues, the environment and business. Later, she exposed through the paint brush the shenanigans of polity, the corruption and hypocrisy in the system and the neglect of issues like poverty, education and civic affairs in India. An exhibition of some of her works, The World of Maya-A Tribute, opened in Bangalore on November 29. It will later travel across many cities in India. At the Alliance Francaise, Thimmaiah Road, Bangalore. Call (080) 333-9988.

DELHI
Restaurant

You assume the Wok 'n' Noodle Bar is yet another Chinese joint rustling up Indianised Chinese fare. But it's not, says its Director Manav Deep Singh. He prefers to call it "an Oriental restaurant offering five-star concepts at restaurant rates". The "concepts" are the Wok and stir fry buffet spreads, including over 27 varieties of vegetables, seven non-vegetarian stand-alones and six sauces. What's new is that you can walk up to the Wok and play chef, mixing all the ingredients and sauces to make a do-it-yourself stir fry meal. The ceramic starter plates, centre-table bonsai, the vertical scrolls and masks add to the savouring experience. Try the dimsums (up to Rs 180) and the fried ice cream (Rs 110). An a la carte menu for two costs Rs 225 (plus taxes), and the unlimited buffet Rs 600 (plus taxes). At M-74, Greater Kailash-II. Telephone: (011) 643-8641/42/43.