CLOSE UP SHOT: Nath (right) and Chaudhary

Sisters Pushpinder Chowdhury and Harvinder Nath have been gliding around with a benign smile on their countenance. Not without reason. Their festival, Tongues on Fire, meant to promote films of British Asian women, is burning bright in its fourth year with the spotlight on Mira Nair, who is holding a premiere of Hysterical Blindness in its auspices. The siblings are excited about the buzz their fest has created-it is heralded as the perfect opportunity for young aspirants to meet and work with icons like Shabana Azmi, Nandita Das and Gurinder Chadha, and showcase their oeuvre. "More people have started sending in their work because now there is a platform and they can network with established artists," chorus the two. A case of the net being cast right.

Sexy Tryst

NEW LOVE: Sir Ben with Christmann

Attribute it to the monicker. Acclaimed actor Sir Ben Gandhi Kingsley-a half-Gujarati originally christened Krishna Bhanji-has decided to live up to the antics of his mythological namesake. The Oscar winner's nine-year liaison with telly producer Kate Townsend, that followed a couple of failed marriages, went kaput when he developed a special fondness for Alexandra Christmann, a German advertising executive 31 years his junior. The two appeared entwined at last month's Oscars, where he missed out on the best supporting actor award for Sexy Beast. It now appears that Kingsley, 58, is so consumed by passion that he wants his new love to move permanently from Berlin to his Oxfordshire home. Krishna reincarnated?

Thomas Cook

FOODMEISTER: Chef John

This John of the transient world's bible is a food carpenter, fusing cuisines of India and France. A feat which has won Kerala-born Thomas John, 36, a slot in the Food and Wine magazine as one of the top new chefs in the US. He goes to Aspen for a four-day forum of wine and food and appears on the cover issue in July. Tres bien?

Supreme Chamber

TAKING CHARGE: Chandra

Second-generation immigrant Subodh Chandra, 34, is now the second citizen of Ohio courtesy his appointment as Cleveland's director of law. As a member of the Cabinet and the highest ranking person after the mayor, Chandra will oversee the work of 75 lawyers. The expert on prosecution of federal white collar crimes has also had his fair share of experience fighting civil rights cases. Proud of his root, the Stanford alumnus is active within the Indian community in Cleveland. "I stand on the shoulders of Indian-Americans who have toiled in law and public policy before me," he says. Politically correct too.

-Bureau Reports