Mathures Paul

Mathures Paul Prejudice against AIDS victims, communal harmony, an “item number”, a modest budget, Sonu Nigam among playback artistes, the involvement of Mahesh Bhatt… a perfect combination for a Bollywood blockbuster? Hang on. Let’s add another ingredient to the list. Signis India (Catholic Association for Radio, Television and Cinema) national president and spokesperson for the Delhi Catholic Archdiocese, Dr Dominic Emmanuel, SVD. Sounds unbelievable? For the first time the Catholic church in India is taking the help of Bollywood to make a film, Aisa Kyon Hota Hai (Why does this happen?), which highlights different aspects of being AIDS-infected. And Kolkata has a small but important role to play in the film. Among the leading characters is Megha Chatterjee, an actor of Bengali origin. Credit is also due to Kolkata-based Father CM Paul, an enthusiast of the project. “Documentaries are popular but feature films have a wider reach. Using Bollywood we are going beyond a small audience.

Mathures Paul caught up with BBC broadcaster and science writer Simon Singh who was in Kolkata recently IN five billion years’ time, the sun may swallow us up. And that, according to Dr Simon Singh — BBC broadcaster and science writer who was in town recently to address students of Jadavpur University — is that! He has written critically acclaimed books like Fermat’s Last Theorem, the first book about mathematics to become a number one bestseller in the UK, The Code Book, a history of cryptography, and The Big Bang, a history of the universe. “We have always wondered where the universe came from. When the Big Bang theory was propounded around 100 years ago, nobody believed it. The universe was formed 14 billion years ago, it exploded and the debris formed the galaxy. So, there are three questions that need answers — what is the universe, who came up with the theory, and why do we believe in it? My book is essentially the story of the Big Bang theory. It begins with the theoretical foun

Houses in Kolkata give Patrizia Guiotto the bends and she aims to make amends, writes Mathures Paul PATRIZIA Guiotto takes pride in believing that “nothing in life flows in a straight line. Life is full of curves”. This renowned Italian industrial designer was recently in Kolkata to not only address architects and interior designers but to discuss projects she may work on next year. An industrial designer since 1984 for numerous firms like Linea Zeta and Tosimobili — world-leaders in kitchen design – she kicked off on her own from 1990 by designing chairs, sofas and tables for companies like Tonon, Bross, Varaschin, Finazzer and Segis. “I look at houses in the city and feel there’s no architectural harmony, just casual pieces put together. There’s no connection between floors, walls and ceilings. It’s an artistic disaster, with a few exceptions,” she says. “But I’m fascinated by architectural techniques prevalent in India. More and more people are getting in touch with me for various p

Mathures Paul She sat by the ghats of Howrah trying to hide her modesty with whatever was left of a sari as a group of tourists tries to capture on film “conditions of the Indian way of life”. Outrageous? Horrifying? Your thoughts are shared by the Flying Fish Theatre Company currently touring India. A troupe of top-notch actors are trying to capture the sights and sounds, thoughtlessness of international tourists, hobbies… the very essence of India. On returning to Germany, it will give birth to a play. “Our production will be a record of our impressions of India — poverty, rights of women, different cultures… we will work on these feelings,” says Harald Fuhrmann, director of the company. Before their performance at the Nandikar festival on 17 December, the group is trying to get a feel of the City of Joy. To understand their mode of acting, one has to see them practise — an opportunity of a lifetime. During practise sessions they play the “curtain game”, an exercise that can be witne

You have jived to the music of Baby Doll at music stores or slept to Mozart’s compositions played in five-star hotel lobbies. But did you know shop owners or hotel authorities might be indulging in “non-physical” music piracy? Amendments to the original Copyright Act have been made over the years to empower organisations that were incorporated to protect the interests of member-constituents, one of them being the Phonographic Performance Ltd. In other words, trouble maybe lurking around the corner for a few established institutions in the city. “It deals with playing music in a public place. Generally, a public place includes anything beyond private-owned cars and homes. If music is played elsewhere, then those institutions - nightclubs, hotels or hospitals - have to apply to the PPL for a licence. Normally, non-sponsored and ‘non-ticketed’ events attract a one-time minimum fee of Rs 15,000 and a sponsored event, Rs 20,000. For playing music in the lobby of a hotel or discotheque, an

It could be a chirpy icon, a two-piece bikini or a glamorous film star. In the world of brands, it’s the survival of the fittest. Mathures Paul redefines the pitch The great Indian brandwagon started nearly four decades ago. Great brands sometimes outlast their ambassadors as proven by Lux which is celebrating its 75th anniversary in India.The first ambassador, Leela Chitnis featured in a Lux advertisement which flagged off the Lux wagon. She gave way to a galaxy of stars which includes Madhubala, Nargis, Meena Kumari, Mala Sinha, Sharmila Tagore, Waheeda Rehman, Saira Banu, Hema Malini, Zeenat Amaan, Juhi Chawla, Madhuri Dixit, Sridevi, Aishwarya Rai and Kareena Kapoor. The last frontier for most actors aspiring to stardom is becoming a Lux ambassador. The brand has outlasted many soaps. From the beginning, Lux became a household name across the country. Actor Hema Malini says, “One of the turning points in my career was when I was signed up by Lux. It was then that I knew I had made

She has set the small screen and calendar pages on fire. And viewers still can’t get enough. Pia Trivedi speaks to Mathures Paul Legs that go on for miles and a smile to set cameras clicking, Pia Trivedi has made strides on ramps across the globe and has sizzled on Kingfisher swimsuit calendars. Now she’s all set to take on a new role as VJ for Channel V. She has all the attitude to charm youngsters who adulate VJs and is ready to spread her freshness on a new show for the music channel. “Things just fell into place. I simply auditioned for Kingfisher calendar and was selected. Later, Channel V approached me. I tried VJing and felt comfortable with the new role,” she says. Born in Mumbai, Pia did her schooling from Bombay Scottish and then following her sister's footsteps, made her foray into the modelling world. Pia’s first modelling assignment was at the India Fashion Week in 2003. She soon became popular among fashion gurus like Suneet Verma, Manish Malhotra, Rohit Bal, Ritu Ber