Q 1. When Indian Airlines captain converted a penalty in the Nehru Cup hockey tournament, an enraged Dhanraj Pillay ...
a. complained to the referee
b. manhandled the umpire.
c. beat up IA captain Gagan Ajit Singh.

Q 2. WWE superstar Spike Dudley ...
a. was a third grade teacher in a San Francisco school.
b. was in the US Army.
c. was a football player.

Q 3. At the Vijayawada match against West Indies, when India faced defeat, some fans ...
a. threw empty bottles on the ground.
b. set fire to the stands.
c. held up a placard declaring "We want rain".

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

Cricket Mania in Acrylic

MASTERSTROKE: Paul at the Mumbai show

Jo Brown Paul's fascination with cricket began when she spotted a group picture of Indian cricketers celebrating a home win in 1992. "That was when I knew that I would enjoy painting cricket and cricketers," she says. Based in France, Paul has been frequenting India for the past 20 years and calls it her spiritual home: "I need India like a fix. I visit twice a year."

Today, Paul is one of the first painters to capture cricketers in action on the field. Her first exhibition, "Pitch Portraits" at Mumbai's Artist Center sponsored by Wisden Cricket Asia, has 20 out of the 41 acrylic paintings on Indian cricketers. Framed are Sachin Tendulkar, Kapil Dev, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag and many others. Paul's favourite is Ganguly. "He is a neat cricketer. Sachin is harder to paint," she says.

Paul paints landscapes and horses too, but cricket is her favourite theme for its sheer visual drama. "To capture Sunil Gavaskar on his toes driving at the ball is a challenge that I enjoy." And Gavaskar himself was bowled over by his portrait. An artistic stroke indeed.
-Nidhi Taparia Rathi

"Don't put a Bollywood tag on all things Asian"

British TV personality Meera Syal's autobiographical book, Anita and Me, had won Betty Trask Award. Now a film on the book is set for release.

Q. With your background, the film must have been easy to make?
A. It took me almost five years to raise £3 million (Rs 22.5 crore). The fact that the two lead characters are children made it harder to sell.

Q. Do you still feel uncomfortable in your skin today as you did as a schoolgirl?
A. I was not uncomfortable all the time. Children always try to fit in.

Q. Have things changed for Asian actors?
A. Yes, things have changed but you have to be proactive. I started writing more because there were no good script for Asians.

Q. Is Bollywood fever in the UK good or bad for British Asian films?
A. Bollywood has opened new doors this year. But I hope people do not slap the Bollywood tag on anything and everything Asian. We are taking it with a pinch of salt.

-Ishara Bhasi

Binding Spell

SACRED CHANTS (Kosmic Music; Rs 50)

A mantra is a word or a phrase with spiritual significance. Listening to a mantra helps one to relax and meditate, and that is precisely what this album does. Eleven chants are imaginatively arranged by a young Chennai-based Indi-pop group Seven. They have set the mantras to a contemporary style using modern instruments like sarod, organ and drums.

It is difficult to get 12 singers to chant together. This requires perfect coordination in diction and delivery. The sparkling voices are soothing. The use of voices for harmony produces excellent result. The Shivashtakam and Krishnashtakam mantras stand out. It is a joyful experience. It grows on you.

-S. Sahaya Ranjit