Bollywood enters the realm of education

Never again will anyone be able to run down Bollywood as trash. As if in response to those who thumbed down popular Hindi cinema, the medium has entered British school rooms. Bollywood and Beyond, the first-ever teaching guide on Indian cinema launched by the British Film Institute (BFI) this week, will be used to teach A-level students. Offering a comprehensive overview of Indian cinema-from the silent era to the big-budget extravaganzas of today, including British Asian films-Bollywood and Beyond is an activity-based guide on a cd-rom and is supported by a video compilation of film clips. Says BFI Education Resource Editor, Wendy Earle, "It provides a valuable resource about this fascinating area of world cinema. It has been produced in response to the growing interest among students and teachers in this cinema-which, after all, is the biggest in the world-and as part of ImagineAsia, the BFI's eight-month celebration of South Asian film." Prancing around trees, clearly, is the stuff that academics are made of.

The Other 'B'

Just when everyone was associating the British-Asian's penchant for Indian cinema with Bollywood fare, BFI went and changed the belief. The institute is to launch a book on Shyam Benegal-"the first major overview of the best known and most prolific contemporary filmmaker from India's art house"-as part of its "World Director" series. Written by Sangeeta Dutta (left), a film scholar and filmmaker, it will be launched to coincide with a month-long season of Benegal at the National Film Theatre that will showcase 12 of
his films.

Site and Sound

If looks could kill, what would you call a number that looks and also sounds terrific? Deadly? That's what Mehbooba is. The track from UK-born Haroon's newest album is already creating waves though Lagan (Astir Records) is yet to be released. Shot in Egypt and sung in Urdu and Arabic by Haroon and two Lebanese crooners, it is a sell-out. Now wait for the rest.

The Zing Thing

When it rains art, it certainly pours. New York, which seems to have suddenly woken up to Indian art, is looking to make up for lost time. The latest in the litany of exhibitions is a solo by Delhi-based artist Anjum Singh at the Talwar Gallery. The 34-year-old Singh, a product of Santiniketan, brings to the Big Apple her artistic impressions about the daily grind in India's capital. She describes her current phase as part of the process of her evolution as an artist. More so as she has been vastly influenced in her initial years by Arpita and Paramjit Singh-her parents. "Earlier I was influenced by my mother's work. Guess that is part of my evolution as an artist," says the artist. Her current work reflects the imagery-which "like the ubiquitous coke bottle," she says-is global today. "For me the painting process and colour are very important parts of my work," adds Singh.

World's Wonder

Don't attempt getting into the figures-they're mind-boggling-concentrate, instead, only on the figurative: it is one of the world's biggest indoor sculptures. Anish Kapoor's Marsyas, the sensation that was recently unveiled at London's prestigious Tate Modern Gallery, consists of three steel rings connected by a specially-made PVC membrane. Two rings are positioned vertically at each end of the space while the third is suspended above the bridge spanning the centre of the Tate. The design is the third commission for the space as part of The Unilever Series. Kapoor, a Turner Prize-winner, hopes that his work, that covers the entrance of the gallery, will have the "wow factor". The logistics are impressive too as it took 40 people about six weeks to build the sculpture for the gallery's Turbine Hall. Says Kapoor, who spent almost nine months planning his work: "It (the sculpture) requires three things: money, time and feasibility." By the way, know about its dimensions if you must: 150 m long, 23 m wide and an unbelievable 35 m high.

Alms, Not Arms

Like every couple, Tampa physicians Kiran and Pallavi Patel may have their disagreements but there is one thing they are unanimous about: charity. And the recent gift of $5 million to the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center's capital campaign is just another example of the couple's philanthropy. As a result of the donation, the center's new education building will be named the Dr Pallavi Patel School for the Performing Arts. Groundbreaking on the four-storey, 45,000 sq-ft school-a $30 million-project-is set for May of next year. "Kiran and I dream that the school will create some great artists," says Pallavi. "Arts, instead of arms, will make this world a better place where people can live in peace, harmony and love." Adds Kiran: "We hope we can make a difference to our community and the world."

Stamp of Approval

The festival of lights has struck a chord. Frank Pallone, the Democratic representative in the House of Representatives and founder of the India Caucus, has moved a resolution that the US Postal Service issue a stamp commemorating Diwali. "It is one of the most important and colourful Indian festivals and is celebrated enthusiastically by Indians all over the world," Pallone said. "It marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year and is seen as a new beginning." It could also mean a new growth in India-US ties.