COURTS

Plea to ban demos dismissed
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 1
The Delhi High Court said today that the citizens had the fundamental right to protest and demonstrate against what they felt unjust and unlawful. “The constitution has given a fundamental right to every citizen to assemble and demonstrate peacefully,” a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice B.C. Patel and Justice B.D. Ahmed said, dismissing a petition seeking ban on demonstrations and rallies organised by the political parties in the capital.

The Bench asked, “We are not ruled by armed forces. We are living in a democratic country. How can we ban such rallies?”

Petitioner Salekh Chand Jain had sought a direction to the Centre, the Delhi Government and the Commissioner of Police, Delhi to take appropriate steps to stop the demonstrations and rallies for better traffic management and mitigate the inconvenience caused to common people due to such events.

“The Father of the Nation has also taught the people to unite together and make demonstration for just causes. We have been doing this since British days,” the Bench said.

The court pointed out that there were demonstrations being held all over the world against the American-led attack on Iraq. India was no exception. Terming the plea made in the petition as vague and general, the court said, “We cannot entertain this kind of petitions.”

CULTURE

Chefs-d’oeuvre: Showcasing 50 years of poster art
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 1
Having emerged in the middle of the 19th century in France, modern publicity posters are an accepted means of communicating messages. They also offer the advantage of double reading, as a work of art and a sociological document.

The Apeejay Media Gallery in collaboration with the Embassy of France and Alliance Francaise are celebrating 50 years of French Poster Art. A selection of posters of great poster artists spanning the last 50 years have been put on display, showcasing the sociological and economic changes that France has undergone.

The exhibition that began here on March 30 will continue till April 7. Also included was a lecture by renowned French artist and curator Alain Weill. Speaking on the occasion, he said, “The hundreds or so posters that are exhibited here cover more or less 50 years of creativity in advertising. We have tried, while making this selection, not only to show in the best possible way all the facets of this street art, the greatest poster artists, but also the trends and graphic styles while choosing images, which illustrate to our mind in the best way salient aspects of the history of our country over the last 50 years.”

The idea behind the event, according to the Cultural Attaché, Mr Jerome Neutres, was generated from the fact that French Poster Art Exhibition is the perfect sociological, political and aesthetic mirror of the French society in the last five decades.

On display are the works of Raymond Savignac, Andre Francois, Christian Chaipiron, Michel Bouvet and Pierre Peyrolle among others. 

GLITZ&GLAMOUR
Fashion gurus unveil fabrics for the season
Smriti Kak

Just when designers have started unveiling there Spring/Summer 2003 collections, the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) has announced the fabrics for the season.

According to Mr Vinod Kaul, Executive Director, Fashion Design Council of India, “Fibres-of-fashion is an attempt by FDCI to bring the industry closer to not just the mills and organised players, but also the handloom and handicrafts sector and at the same time provide a platform for cross fertilisation of ideas.”

The big bang(le) theory: Adding colour to style

A model showcasing bangles from 'Aswera', the bangles shop at Sab Mall, Noida. Gorgeous bangles from 'Aswera'.

Darwin’s theory of evolution does not remain restrained to just the living world. It does not alone pertain to things with a DNA, for instance the ordinary circular ornaments that are worn around the wrists. We are talking of bangles, the humble accessory, popularised by a countless number of film songs, which now have evolved to emerge a fashion statement.

Wearing bangles with western outfits, la East meets West is just as acceptable as wearing duppatas with jeans. Reason why the old world charm of colourful bangles is still matching steps with the ever and fast changing fashion dictates.

From the tinkling glass to sheer silver, plain round ones and others more elaborate there is a dizzying number and assortment of bangles to choose from. At one such stop, Aswera, there are bangles and more bangles.

Aswera takes pride for being the first of its kind, a bangle shop with a difference. Nestled in the Sab Mall, the store was conceived and managed by Mrs Priya Jain, who is also the vice-chairperson of the Mall.

Says Jain, “Aswera attempts at meeting every taste and style of dressing. Be it an Indian ensemble, a flowing sari, a formal lehnga or chic narrow pants. Aswera can offer you a bangle to go with every look.”

The store mangers exclaim that Aswera has something for everyone. “For the classicists there are clear glass bangles that Indian woman have adorned on their wrists since time immemorial, in every colour and every hue, this range of bangles adds spring to every style.”

The Laakh bangles dextrously made by the tribal from Rajasthan also find a shelf in Aswera. Jewel encrusted Bangles in lakh, are available in bright shades, this collection also includes bangles with coloured crystals studded on bright coloured surface in a bid to modernise the technique.

There is fine filigree, bells and bobs for those who prefer the shine of silver to the yellow of gold. The silver collection has a range in white metal fussed up to create an alluring look. “For the contemporary woman there are clean lined bangles in silver and a wide range in pearl and stone. Pearls in fact are a strong collection with both the cultured and real variety,” point out the people behind Aswera.

Ash effect

Aishwarya Rai will soon unveil a diamond jewellery collection. Bollywood inspired: Neeta Lulla.

Aishwarya Rai, who has been endorsing Nakshatra brand of jewellery, will soon unveil a new series comprising her own signature diamond jewellery collection. The series will have stunning and exclusive designs.

Nakshtra offers a range of diamond pendants, rings, earrings and bracelets. The jewellery is designed as a cluster of five to seven diamonds and inspired by kudajodi. TNS

Outfits that speak of her Bollywood connections 

After dressing Bollywood, well at least part of it, Neeta Lulla came to town with her collection that was ‘Bollywood Inspired’. The designer, who was showing in the Capital for the first time, chose to come with a collection that spoke of her Bollywood connections.

What Neeta had to offer was a collection comprising of, “Ethnic bridal wear, Indo western wear, cocktail wear and semi-formals”. The designer pointed out that her collection had a, “lot of blending of colours and embroideries inspired from various parts of India.”

She went on to add, “My bridal collection epitomises the traditional Indian woman who believes in tasteful things of life complete with class and elegance.” With fusion being the focus, the cuts were inspired from the renaissance period and were combined with traditional fabrics to attain an Indo-western look.

‘Bollywood Inspired’ is a limited label collection and was put up in the Capital for two days. As for the promoter of the show, the collection was not just affordable but worth lavishing a whole lot of praise. In her words, “My personal perception is that a work of beauty can only be created by an individual with a beautiful heart as it has to come from within. One look at her creations and you know what I mean.” TNS

MUSIC ZONE
Anand hi Anand

Anand is waiting for the release of Firoz Khan's Janashin.

Masoom was his debut as a music director, but with Kaante, Anand Raj Anand concedes that he has arrived. Ishq Samundar, the popular number from Kaante, claims Anand, is the “flower in my career”.

However, he adds that composing music for the film was no easy job. “The director, Sanjay Gupta, was confused as to what kind of music should he use for an action film like Kaante, but after hearing Ishq Samundar he asked me to compose the music for the film.”

Justifying his role as a singer, musician and a lyricist, Anand says, “Only those people become good music directors who have a sound knowledge of lyrics and the talent to turn it into songs”. Incidentally, Anand came to Mumbai to fulfil his ambition of becoming a singer, but donned the role of a music director.

“Despite being able to sing, I never ask my producers to enrol me for playback singing. I sing only those songs which suit me.” Anand has also scored the music for popular numbers like Sunita Rao’s Ab ke baras, Kamla Khan’s Suno to diwna dil and Hans Raj Hans’ Chorni.

Anand is now waiting for the release of Firoz Khan’s Janashin, Jackie Shroff’s Sandiya and Vijeta and is also working on a multilingual Hanumaan being produced and directed by an NRI. TNS