CHIEF WHIP: Thackeray (right) has energised the IMMPA

The one-time receptionist-cum-telephone operator has produced only one film, Haseena Maan Jayegi, till date. Yet Bal Thackeray's daughter-in-law Smita Thackeray, since she was elected president of the Indian Motion Pictures Producers Association (IMPPA)-all other candidates bowed out in the "larger interest of the industry"-has been rather busy. The memorandum of understanding with cable operators like Star's Siticable and the Hindujas' In Cable Network, signed in December 2001, is saving filmmakers Rs 1 crore daily, according to Film Federation of India (FFI) estimates. This is the amount lost to producers due to the illegal telecast of films on cable TV. Says Pahlaj Nihalani, president of the Association of Motion Pictures and Television Programme Producers: "Smitaji has given us support on producers' problems which was lacking for some time now."

It hasn't stopped at that. Plans are under way to organise a concert with film stars and to acquire government land to set up a medical and educational centre for those working in the film industry, besides efforts to perk imppa's sagging treasury. Bollywood's Viagra?

-Himanshi Dhawan

Right Love Laws

When HIV/AIDS NGO Naz Foundation filed a public-interest petition in the Delhi High Court in December 2001 questioning the anti-gay Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, what they wanted most was a willing listener. Last week, the court sought Attorney-General Soli Sorabjee's help in dealing with the matter. "It shows they are serious about it," says Shaleen Rakesh of Naz. The contentious legal provision criminalises "carnal intercourse against the order of nature." The petitioner contends that Section 377 is used to harass gays. Worse, it interferes with HIV/AIDS intervention work among them. Case in point: workers of a Lucknow NGO were arrested last year allegedly for running a sex racket. Since homosexual relations are illegal, logically, where does that leave aids awareness work among such groups?

-Anna M.M. Vetticad

HONOUR ROLL

FLYING SIKH: Singh rises again

The uniform with an extra band is ready and so is the Indian Air Force flag with five stars and a full-fledged secretariat at Air Force Station, Delhi. Now the wait is for President K.R. Narayanan to officially install Arjan Singh as the first ever Marshal of the Indian Air Force (IAF). The army has had two Marshals in Sam Maneckshaw and K.M. Cariappa. As the longest serving IAF chief (1964-69), there are many faces to Singh: World War II hero, winner of the Distinguished Flying Cross, 1965 war commander, diplomat, academician, corporate head and former lieutenant-governor of Delhi. Singh, who put the air force into action at "an hour's notice" in the 1965 Indo-Pakistan conflict, is modest about his new appointment. "I don't want any office ... I will only wear the uniform for official functions," he says. Marshal's are retired only by death. In his time Singh flew 30 types of aircraft. Now the man with Air Force 10 as a call sign is set to fly again.