August 3, 1998

Her first album was called Miss India and now Mehnaz is on her way to becoming Miss Malaysia. Well, almost. Bowled over -- so he says -- by her voice, Malaysia's top singer-composer Iwan recently invited her to sing a duet on his new album. Bowled over too were the Malays: the song was such a hit that the Mumbai girl was invited to sing at the launch of Malaysia's new TV channel NTV 7. Quite appropriately called Dua hati berlagu -- which means "two hearts meeting together for a song" -- it was Mehnaz's first shy at singing in Malay. But for those not linguistically gifted, the song also has a desi version titled Aaja tu baahon mein. Alas, Iwan in Hindi is not quite Mehnaz in Malay. The bubbly Miss India couldn't care less, she's floating on her new-found success. As she gushes: "Today Malaysia, tomorrow the world." Now then, steady on.

Q&A: SHYAM BENEGAL

In 1973 he made Ankur. It's been 25 years since and he hasn't stopped. Well, he did when we dropped by to chat.

You've been friend, philosopher, even a shrink to those you've worked with. Do these dovetail into directing?
(Laughs) That's what Girish Karnad has to say about me. But these are roles most directors get caught with. Unlike a painter who works with paints and brushes which cannot complain, we are dealing with human beings.

Has it been enriching?
It's inevitable if you are working with a host of very intelligent people. Filmmaking is a wonderful picnic, a great adventure, where you're constantly discovering new things.

How does it feel to be a Svengali?
I doubt if I have been a Svengali. The actors and actresses don't think so. (Laughs). The word has sinister connotations.

Would you make a film with a star like Govinda?
I would love to. But the problem is with the strong public image of our stars. The viewers find it difficult to separate the screen character from the star. But I'm willing to experiment. That's filmmaking for me.

Flight of Charity

Strange things happen when strangers collide. Storm Smith from Rolls-Royce, India, wanted to use his unusual flight from India to the UK in a powered hang-glider to raise money for a cause. Titan Watches was looking to help the cry fund. Then they met. The result is Free A Dream, a unique effort to help underprivileged kids. At each of Smith's stopovers in India -- Bangalore, Delhi and Mumbai -- charity dinners are being organised by Titan. To eat and listen to Usha Uthup, Lucky Ali and Pandit Jasraj you have to pay -- a table for six in Delhi costs Rs 30,000. "It's a way of using your talent not just for some commercial interest but something far larger than that," says Titan's V.P. Kurien of Smith's unique flight. These guys we like.

Booker Beckons

Most will give their write hand for it. But for I Allan Sealy, the Booker has almost come knocking at his door. His new novel, The Everest Hotel, recently released in England, didn't figure in the publisher Doubleday's list of nominations. But, in an extraordinary gesture last week, the Booker Prize Committee themselves asked for the book to be included. Maybe it's the hill air of the Himalayas where he grew up, but Sealy reacted with cultivated cool. Asked about the Booker Committee's gesture, he shrugged: "I don't know whether these things matter." Well, what's one lakh extra copies sold to the true artist?

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