Q 1. Union I&B Minister Sushma Swaraj has private detectives...
a. Watching FTV round the clock.
b. Spying in theatres to see if they comply with censors' cuts.
c. Attending lingerie fashion shows to ensure there's no nudity.

Q 2. Sushmita Sen and Palash Sen are appearing together in...
a. The new, raunchy Kama Sutra ad.
b. A rock concert organised by Thackeray.
c. A movie called Filhaal.

Q 3. Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee couldn't wear a jacket gifted him by the Japanese because...
a. It didn't go with his pink dhoti.
b. Of his girth.
c. Of the heavy metal logo and design.

Answers: 1(b), 2(c), 3(b)

FASHION
Male Bric-a-Bra

If the early 1900s started with Coco Chanel's garcon look-women dressed in menswear-it's a different gender twist for the early "noughties". For Jean Paul Gaultier's summer collection 2002, the ubergarment is the male bra. In flame orange silk and lace, it gives a sexy cleavage to anyone with Schwarzenegger's pectorals. Gaultier's next male couture is black skirts fringed with jet, exclusively for men to be worn with motorcycle jackets and boots. Female clothes for men seem to be a designer rage in the West, with Vivienne Westwood and Moschino also making skirts for the boys. Dolce & Gabbana is offering black lace blouses and Christian Dior has the ideal embellishment for the beau monde-a black male bodice with a black rose in the middle.

In the 1970s, Donna Karan gave fashion slaves the gentleman's formal evening skirt and failed; like Calvin Klein's tights for males did too. But accessories like shopping bags could be de rigeuer for the fashion victim. While Prada brought out the "man bag" a few seasons ago, it's Fendi's turn this year to surprise with male shopping bags. With our Indian darzis ready to sniff out emerging trends on international ramps, India Fashion Week 2002 might see Rohit Bal dressing Ajay Balhara in Rajasthani mirrored miniskirts or catch Muzaffar Ali embroidering saris for bearded men in chikan.

-Ravi Shankar

MUSIC REVIEW
A Melange of Moods

Music is capable of a thousand indescribable moods," believes Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, composer of this album. "This is characteristic of raga music."

His latest album attempts to make us experience a few of those moods. Celebration evokes the vatsalya bhava (love for a younger one) and the bonding between a mother and child, while the tarana by Sadhna Sargam in raga Hamsadhwani evokes the shringar rasa.

Comprising eight melodies based on ragas Yaman, Hamsadhwani, Kafi, Jog, Bagesheri, Kirwani and Bhairavi, these compositions do not fit the pure classical mould. Instead, Bhatt has fused a melange of influences to create a harmonious whole, along with Ronu Mazumdar on the flute, Ulhas Bapat on the santoor and son Saurabh who assisted in composing. Bhatt plays the primary instrumental melody himself on his Mohanveena, an instrument that combines the sounds of the guitar and sitar. The opening number, Iptada, is a soothing interplay of the Mohanveena, piano and vocals based on raga Kirwani. This is music that grows on you-it sounds better each time you hear it.

-S. Sahaya Ranjit

Sotto Voce

The West Bengal assembly has banned smoking in public places. Opposition demands for a smokers' corner in the Assembly were stubbed out ... The new Afghan regime wants India's help in setting up schools and colleges. Murli Manohar Joshi should be delighted ... Dinner may no longer be on the House. At Rs 1.5 lakh each time discussions go beyond 6 p.m., the Parliamentary Affairs Ministry feels it is too expensive. Members do work up an appetite rushing to the well each time ... Former BJP mp Justice (retd) Guman Mal Lodha plans to visit Kandahar to bring back the remains of emperor Prithviraj Chauhan. He plans to take 100 volunteers with him...