Eyecatchers

It's war in amchi Mumbai.Defying the state's Stage Performances Scrutiny Board, the rock group Pentagram took the number Rage against the machine, renamed it Rage against the state, and inserted the word f*** 16 times in the song. All this at a show last week. Well, you know rock is about rebellion. And some rules are for fools. The crowd, when ordered to shout "Vande mataram" after each song, simply refused. Now what, Big Brother? "We don't know what to do," shrugs a board member, "because everyone, from the artist to the audience, broke the rules." Oh ... dear!

Rakesh Mathur, Venky Harinarayan, Anand Rajaraman and Ashish Gupta

They call their company junglee. and like Shammi Kapoor in the film, it's time they yelled, Yahoo. Ex-IIT-IANS Rakesh Mathur, Venky Harinarayan, Anand Rajaraman and Ashish Gupta set up shop in California in 1996 with $60,000 (Rs 26.1 lakh) and a dream. Smart guys. Their infotech firm has just been acquired for $174 million (Rs 756 crore) in stock by online bookseller and Wall Street darling, Amazon.com. Says Harinarayan, modest despite the millions: "We're trying to get Anand to upgrade his car. He still drives a 1985 Toyota Tercel." Ah, but that Rolls is right round the corner.

Millionaires' spouses make good copy. Do they make good writers? To find out, read Chief Longhooknose and Trader Jim by Mohini Kent. The UK-based journalist, filmmaker and wife of British Asian millionaire G.K. Noon, was in Delhi last week to promote the book. "It's for young adults, those who are 14-plus," she says. Never mind that the guests at the party -- including Roshan Seth, L.M. Singhvi, Jatin Das -- averaged 50-plus. Don't ask about her next book. Deadlines are such a bore. "I'll finish when I finish. My friend Gita Mehta took nine years to write Raj." Interesting comparison!

Still Angry After All These Year

Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan

The angry young man was born with Zanjeer. As director Prakash Mehra plans Zanjeer II -- again starring Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya, Pran and Bindu -- let's find out what's new:

THEN

& NOW

THE STORY Child witnesses parents' murder, grows up to be cop, avenges their death.

THE TIME That was 1973. AB was 31 and just making it. Jaya in her mid-20s was the star.

THE BOX OFFICE Start of the Bachchan legend. Story's been cloned so often, it's not tired, it's dead.

Angry cop is now angry commissioner. Dead crook's moll (Bindu) plans revenge. Again!

He's 31+25=56. She's 50-ish. He's a fading megastar, she's the women behind the man.

AB will "hit the bull's eye with it", say Mehra. But hey,, he's not yet said yes. Pran is willing.