There are thousands of East African Asians in the UK who can relate to Jameela Siddiqi's first novel, The Feast of the Nine Virgins, which has captured the world of displacement. Kenya-born Siddiqi explores religious and cultural contradictions seen through the eyes of an eight-year-old, a miserly shopkeeper in a small town of Africa, a 19th century Indian courtesan concealed behind a black veil, a multimillionaire determinedly spending every last penny on a lavish film, an elegant young man reduced to cleaning toilets, lusty musicians and sulky starlets and an oppressed widow who prays to get away from it all. The novel is based in British East Africa during the 1960s and in London during the '90s. Throughout the book, one can also feel the oppressive, unmistakable presence of a dictator. An interesting read, the book characterizes the life of people who lived and are still living in post-colonial Africa.

-IB

Packaged for India

We know that since time immemorial Hollywood fare has been rehashed in India. It would appear that the focus has now moved to game shows which are being copied and repackaged with Indianised versions. Who Wants To Be A Millionaire became Kaun Banega Crorepati and made Star the real star. Now the channel is adding Indian spice to popular British television show, Weakest Link, with Kamzor Kadii Kaun. It will be broadcast across the UK and the Indian subcontinent as part of STAR Plus' New Year line-up and sees actor Neena Gupta take on the formidable role of question master, effectively stepping into Anne Robinson's shoes. Will the shoes fit? Robinson has remained a controversial character for shooting off her mouth, especially against the Welsh, and flouncing about in her arrogant style. Gupta has also had her brush with controversy, but whether she will live up to the acerbic Robinson's stature only time will tell.

-IB

CLASSIC FARE: The theatrical Baiju Bawra

Legend on Stage

Theatre Royal Stratford East are back in business after a hiatus of four years and rehearsals are underway for a musical reworking of the 1950s epic Baiju Bawra. Produced under the tutelage of artistic director Philip Hedley, the stage version of the cinematic classic tells the story of the clash of talents between the inimitable composer Tansen and the humble, but equally gifted, young singer Baiju, who he challenges to a musical duel. The group is committed to developing innovative stage productions that cater to a diverse multicultural community.

-Poonam Joshi

On the Prowl

It is a scourge that has got parents upset, the police worried and the young hassled. Schoolboys in London are being robbed of their cell phones, reportedly by black gangs. According to a Home Office report, 710,000 phones were stolen last year while a survey suggests that more than half a million of those thefts targeted children aged between 11 and 15. Reasons for the surge in mobile thefts could be the existence of a ready market abroad for stolen phones. Besides, cell phones are being stolen to wield territorial control on mean streets.

-Ishara Bhasi