Eyecatchers

India Today, May 3, 1999
May 3, 1999

Singin' in the Rain
Shubha Mudgal singing rock? There's more. The lady who crooned Ali More Angna is dancin' in the rain too in her to-be-released album, Ab Ke Sawan. Conceived by young composer Shantanu Moitra, the album blends Indian music with tunes from all over the world. So we have Mudgal experimenting with East African folk, Latin samba, rock and the good ol' thumri in which the lady is a specialist anyway. "It's musically very satisfying," says the otherwise classical singer. But why on earth did she sing in the rain? "Well, I was terrified initially, but it was great fun doing it." And she did catch a cold during the two-day shoot. But then the soaking will be worth it if success comes pouring in. Right?

Sweet Symphony
She's known Jane Campion for long and played host to the acclaimed director when she was in India a year ago shooting the Kate Winslet starrer Holy Smoke. And now Shiva Vyas scores the background music for the film. It happened when Campion heard this assistant professor in a Jaipur music college play the sitar. Impressed, Campion asked her to provide music that went with the film's theme of Indian spirituality. Vyas did that and has just received the contract letter. "I am delighted," says she. What next? "Umm ... I know a few classical dance forms too." Holy smoke.

Pulse Racer
She's a doctor but those who've seen Kalpana Pandit would certainly think she's a heart stopper. In her "early 20s", this stunner from Iowa was all set to specialise in emergency medicine but changed track after some Hindi film directors spotted her at a party and "suggested I consider acting". Next the pretty medic moved to Mumbai and soon bagged a role in M.F. Husain's Gajagamini without even a screen test. There's another "prestigious project but I can't talk about it". And in case acting doesn't take off, there's always medicine. "I know actresses don't have a very long career." Good diagnosis ma'am.

Fizz-ical Appeal
The cola war is becoming fizzier by the minute. With Khans Aamir and Shah Rukh and Mukherjees Rani and Kajol guzzling one down or the other. Now the third of the Khans, Salman, has company as Thums-Up's mascot: Bollywood brawny Sunil Shetty. He's signed a one-year contract with the homegrown cola and will be shooting the video over 10 days next month. The accent will, of course, be on adventure and stunts. Macho man Shetty thinks the brand suits his "funky and tough" image. "I'm aware this drink's very popular," he grins, "and sells well. I may have a winner here." The feeling's mutual.