MUMBAI Twelve years on, the love letters have turned into hate mail. An association that began with sheaves of paper continues, albeit in a different vein. Aapki Soniya is a sequel to the immensely popular Tumhari Amrita, which has enjoyed acclaim and growing audiences over the past 12 years. And now where artist Amrita Nigam, played by Shabana Azmi, and her soulmate/penpal Zulfiqar Haider, played by Farooque Shaikh, signed off, Soniya pens in.

Bendre makes up for her tentative start with a strong ending

The hugely talented Shaikh slips effortlessly into Haider's skin and has Sonali Bendre for company, in her first stage appearance as Soniya. An engrossing mix of word play, scathing humour and succinct dialogues characterise Javed Siddiqi's Aapki Soniya. Except here the written word doesn't warm and seduce, but cuts and scrapes. Now an important political leader in the twilight of his life, Haider is shaken out of his quietude by letters from Paris, penned by a mysterious Soniya who attacks him with venom and hatred. Unable to understand the odium directed at him, Haider attempts to understand the younger woman and there starts an exchange of mail that slowly evolves into an unlikely affiliation.

Shaikh, as the ageing Haider, is at his brilliant best-the nuances in his voice conveying mirth, ill health and caustic humour. Bendre, on the other hand, falters in the beginning, the chaste Urdu often sounding a little tentative, but gradually her performance smoothes out. In fact, in the closing moments some dialogues are delivered with great balance and sincerity.

Many Amrita fans might say Bendre lacks Azmi's vintage touch, but her performance should be received with an open mind, much like Azmi's warm embrace for the younger actress at the end of the show.

Aapki Soniya boasts of many firsts-a probable first sequel of a Hindustani play, Bendre's stage debut, Sharmishta Roy's first outing in theatre as a set designer. It is slated to travel to other major cities soon.

-By Kimi Dangor

DELHI The plate is full if the food and the décor in a restaurant compete with each other. Q'BA in Delhi's Connaught Place serves this double deal. Spiked glass panels, bronze urns and deep sofas make this two-level restaurant a special stopover. Crunchy spinach croquettes and pan-seared red snapper leave lovely lunch memories. Q'BA dresses up for dinner with candles and loud music. The menu changes but the aroma of fresh bread continues to waft out of the bakery. With Q'BA planning to open its terrace soon, there will be one more reason to enjoy winter.

-By Shefalee Vasudev

Mrichchakatika still enthralls

DELHI Shudraka's classic Sanskrit play Mrichchakatika, written in the 5th century, continues to lend dramatic inspiration. Shashi Kapoor had based his film Utsav on this play. Theatrepeople worldwide have adapted it in more than a dozen languages.

While A.L. Basham did it in English, Habib Tanveer staged it for the first time in independent India in 1958. In the last decade, writer Hrishikesh Sulabh wrote it as Maati Gadi, in Bhojpuri in the Bidesia style, the most popular theatre form in Bihar. Now, theatre director Sanjay Upadhyaya wants to stage it in the Bidesia format with the Sri Ram Centre Repertory.

Maati Gadi is the love story of Charudatt and Vasantsena and brings out the cultural details of that era. Upadhyaya has turned it into a complete musical by bringing in the tabla, harmonium, dhol, sarangi and manjira. There are more than 20 songs in different gayaki styles. The play will be staged on a multi-layered stage created by Robin Das. At Sri Ram Centre, from October 7 to 10.

-By Sheokesh Mishra

MADHOSHI Director: Tanveer Khan Cast: John Abraham, Bipasha Basu, Priyanshu Chatterjee

In Bollywood, it is clearly the season to be medically challenged. After the tell-tale heart in Dil Ne Jisse Apna Kahan, we get Madhoshi's even more ludicrous premise.

Here a woman, Bipasha Basu, unhinged by her sister's death in the 9/11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York, has a lover, John Abraham, who kills terrorists and makes love with equal finesse. Trouble is he is imaginary. But this dream lover renders the girl psychotic-so much so that her real life fiance, Priyanshu Chatterjee, undergoes plastic surgery and converts himself into her phantom lover.

Each plot twist contends for Bollywood's worst ever-Chatterjee does a face/off with incredible ease and then reverts to his original face once Basu is cured; a thoughtful psychiatrist listens to two minutes of the patient's history and solemnly declares: she is suffering from schizophrenia. Basu, statuesque in bustiers and ethnic skirts, quivers in her best imitation of Hindi movie madness. It's death-by-cinema.

-By Anupama Chopra

(Left) Shah's bejewelled corsets; grass necklace

FASHION Naina Shah's line of bejewelled corsets are perfect for the festive season. Pair them with embroidered saris, skirts or jeans. Available at Naina's, Oomer Park, Mumbai.

JEWELLERY "Grass to Gold- Jewellery Through the Ages", the jewellery convention organised by the Crafts Council of India includes a three-day training programme from October 3 and exhibition-cum- sale from October 6. At the Taj Coromandel, Chennai.

Boy band Blue

BANGALORE India's newly acquired status as one of the best stopovers for international bands continues. The latest visitors are members of the popular Brit boy band Blue, whose fan following includes, among others, Prince William and Prince Harry.

Still going strong at a time when most other boy bands are in their sunset days, Blue comprises Duncan James, Anthony Costa, Lee Ryan and Simon Webbe. James incidentally has also sung the lead track on video for Andrew Lloyd Webber's latest musical Woman in White. After making their debut in 2001, the band has entered the UK charts every time they have released a track. Their album All Rise is estimated to have sold over 1.5 million copies in the UK alone. Smash hits include All rise, Too close and If you come back.

The entire troupe travelling to India will have 26 members, including "four red hot dancers" in keeping with the scintillating choreography made famous by boy bands across the world. Not to be missed by true Blue lovers. At Palace Grounds, Bangalore on October 2.

-By Nirmala Ravindran

World class musician and percussionist Trilok Gurtu talks to S. Sahaya Ranjit about his foray into Bollywood with Siddharth Srinivasan's film Amavas.

Q. What is so special about the music of Amavas?
A. It is a unique film with no songs but a lot of background music. It was a challenge because I am a musician who plays live.

Q. There have not been too many good releases in recent times.
A. Yes. But this has not affected my passion for music. I have created my own sound with the blessings of Ranjit Maharaj. Music is my religion.

Q. Is Ranjit Maharaj your spiritual guru?
A. Yes. He is my guardian and author of my creativity.

Q. Do you pay any attention to critics?
A. I don't need a critic to tell me whether my work is bad or good. I am my own critic. I am an honest musician.

Q. There is a huge surge of popularity in fusion music. What do you feel about it?
A. There isn't much substance in fusion. It is more like confusion.

Q. Do you look back?
A. I don't look back or forward. I am involved with the present.

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