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Author Archive

I-View Film – and the Moon

By Lavina Melwani • Sep 2nd, 2010 • Category: Little Black Book: Events

At I-View Film Festival 2010 , a powerful band of cinema warriors is coming to town – imagine directors like Vishal Bhardwaj, Aparna Sen, Onir, and Rituparno Ghosh in the flesh along with wonderful actors like Rahul Bose, Rituparna Sengupta, Konkona Sen, Raima Sen, and Juhi Chawla.



Karan Johar, Mira Nair, Suketu Mehta at ‘An Evening in Mumbai’

By Lavina Melwani • Sep 1st, 2010 • Category: CyberCircles: For You!

This year on 10/10/10 everyone is a Mumbaikar at heart and together we celebrate that great city by the sea which has shown a lot of courage and resilience under attack. Children’s Hope India presents An Evening in Mumbai Gala



Simply Dosa-licious!

By Lavina Melwani • Aug 31st, 2010 • Category: Food

Ten years down, who knows what we’ll find. Dosas being served in American schools and college campuses? Dosas in vending machines? Dosas-to-Go at fast food outlets?



Asema Ahmed, Wizard of Weddings

By Lavina Melwani • Aug 31st, 2010 • Category: 24/7 Talk is Cheap - The Blog

For all those hankering for details about the Chelsea Clinton wedding – at least one cat is out of the bag! We can say with definite authority that the linens at the wedding of the year were designed by Asema Ahmed’s Magnolias Linens.

Indeed, Middle Eastern royals, Hollywood stars and blue blooded society princesses have all turned to Asema when they need some high drama in their lives, be it a glittering wedding or a black tie gala.



Janmashtami – The Birth of Krishna

By Lavina Melwani • Aug 31st, 2010 • Category: The Buzz

Lord Krishna is the Cosmic Cowherd, the mischievous deity that Hindus love the most for his pranks, for his butter-thievery, for his melodious flute, for his romantic interludes with Gopis, the milkmaids.
He fought demons, danced on the mighty serpent’s head and lifted Govardhana Hill with his little finger, using it as an umbrella to protect the people from torrential rains.
This year Janmashtami – the birth of Lord Krishna – falls on September 1, 2010.



Saran Kohli: Fashion That Rocks

By Lavina Melwani • Aug 31st, 2010 • Category: 24/7 Talk is Cheap - The Blog

He’s designed togs for Jay Sean, Fugitive, Mumzy Stranger, Juggy D, Ameet Chana, Bikram Singh and several other musicians and actors. Now he’s designing for the new film ‘London Town’ and soon the staff of Bloombury Hotel in London will be wearing uniforms styled by him.

Meet Saran Kohli, 24, a fashion designer from London who translates musicality into a fashion statement with an urban collection of menswear launching in New York.



Ayurveda – an American Story

By Lavina Melwani • Aug 27th, 2010 • Category: 24/7 Talk is Cheap - The Blog

Will students be heading to American universities to get their degrees as Ayurvedic doctors? Will patients seek out practitioners of this 5000 year old system of medicine from India when next they have health problems? And will Ayurveda form the basis for new health and beauty products, even of restaurant menus, in the US?



Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai Rises Again

By Lavina Melwani • Aug 24th, 2010 • Category: 24/7 Talk is Cheap - The Blog

For all those who sat horrified and heavy-hearted as the terrorist drama unfolded on television, watching firsthand the destruction of the iconic Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai, there is good news: you just can’t keep a good hotel down. The Taj is resilient – no doubt about it. This Independence Day, the 100 year old hotel is back in business with a beautifully restored wing.



‘Hiding Divya’ Stirs Up a Taboo Topic

By Lavina Melwani • Aug 18th, 2010 • Category: 24/7 Talk is Cheap - The Blog

‘Hiding Divya’ is a provocative Indie film which takes on hard issues – and delivers. Mental illness is a taboo word in the Indian-American community – it’s about loss of face, ‘bad blood’ and failure – and is often kept under wraps. Filmmakers Rehana Mirza & Rohi Mirza Pandya get the dialogue going…
Above: Pooja Kumar and Madhur Jaffrey in ‘Hiding Divya’
WATCH THE VIDEO



SAKHI – A Circle of Strength

By Lavina Melwani • Aug 15th, 2010 • Category: CyberCircles: For You!

“It is one thing to get out of an abusive relationship. It is another thing to be able to support yourself and your children afterwards,” says Reshma.