A BYTE OF LIFE Friday, June 12, 2009

08
SEQUINNED SEQUENCE
Bold sequins are the way to go

FREE CIRCULATION Vol. 3 No. 109

Breeding
CONTROVERSYAnimal rights activists and
zoo authorities in the
country are divided by
their opinion on captive
breeding of wild animals.
Ayon Sengupta reports.

» PAGES 4 & 5
02 ERGO Friday, June 12, 2009

Essay competition

Namma Chennai
Chennai-based NGO Nandini Voice for the Deprived is organising an
essay competition for college students on the topic ‘Future of Indian
Democracy Under Control of Families’. Entries should reach in before
August 5, and the essay can be written in English, Hindi or Tamil. For
details call 2491 6037.

Exhibition

Brush with colours

A few months back the Alliance
Music Francaise of Madras and the Assema
Trust has organised a workshop with
the
Work hard, French hip hop band Salve Farm Crew
and the students of Navabharath
Matriculation School.
party harder
Here’s one good reason why you
On Friday, graffiti art done by the
students will be put up at the Alliance
Francaise, College Road.
must party at 10 Downing Street This will be followed by a rap and hip
today. Caldion, an international hop dance performance by the children.
brand of perfumes and Take your seats by 4 p.m. For details call
deodorants, will be presenting 2827 9803/ 2827 1477.
the Caldion Evening. Besides
experiencing the fragrance,
there are prizes, games and
competitions to be won. Prizes will be given for ‘Mr. Caldion
Personalisty’, ‘Jolie best dance couple’ and ‘Miss Caldion Personality.’ Food
The event is on from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Happy
Music Sunday
Make your
Sundays more
Sing aloud relaxing and
entertaining
Bike and Barrel at The with The
Residency is playing host to a Raintree. The
karaoke competition. hotel has
All what you have to do us introduced the
bring out the golden voice in Sunday brunch,
you. croon to the tunes that bringing the
you grew up with or try some ambience of the
of the new favourites. The sing European street,
and swing ‘Karaoke the famed
Competition’ will be held Bombay Chowpatty and Chennai, all rolled in to one.
today at 9 p.m. The To add fun to the morning there are tattoo and nail artistes, live band,
competition will be hosted by mehendi, etc. The main attraction are the live food counters serving
Nabarun Ghosh and judged by chaat, pav bhaaji, egg and dosas. The brunch is on from noon to 3.30
Swapna Abraham and Kavitha p.m. and is priced at Rs. 800 + taxes. For reservations call 4225 2525.
Maria Thomas.
For details call 2815 6363.

Sale
Cinema
Docu fest Go green
The Madras Terrace
The Goethe-Institut/ Max House is organising a
Mueller Bhavan Chennai in sale of eco-friendly
association with Indo Cine products till June 30.
Appreciation Foundation and Table mats, bags,
the Madras Film Society will footwear, organic bed
present a festival of short films linen, recycled plastic
till June 19. The films are recent baskets, organic
German documentaries, breads,
which include Full Metal Village, Die Champions, Football Under Cover, stationery....there is lot
Die Spielwutigen and Losers and Winners. to choose from at the
The documentaries will be screened at the the Film Chamber Theatre, Eco Fest.
from June 15 at 6 p.m. daily. Shop at 15, Sri Puram,
All the German films come with English subtitle. For details call 2833 IInd Street, Royapettah.
2343/ 1314. Ph: 4503 8391.
 Friday, June 12, 2009
03
Mehandi designing
A workshop on
mehandi design has
been organised today
and tomorrow by
Zaitoon Abbas, a
mehandi design expert
with more than 15 years
of experience, at 4A,
Abhirami Krishnatulasi
Apartments, Second
Main Road, Kasturibai
Nagar, Adyar. Those
who are interested in
attending, contact
9381059721,
9884049371. ■

Laugh riot SRM Sivaji Ganesan Film and Television In-

stitute and theatre group ASAP will present the
play on June 13.
The story is about how the taxi cab driver gets
away with his double life because of his irregular
If you can’t make it for the
play on June 13 then make
you are present on Sunday
(June 14) at the Museum
Theatre; 7.30 p.m. NGO
Bhumi is organising a

A scene from Run for your Wife.
FILE PHOTO: S. THANTHONI
H
ow do you react when your wife thinks
you are gay? Why do you always get into
trouble, when all you wanted was to help
the poor guy living downstairs? What
happens when you have two wives who have no
clue that the other exists? Do any of these in-
cidents sound familiar? So, how did you get out
from them?
Or, watch Run for your Wife, a hilarious come-
dy by ASAP Productions, to know the story of
cab driver John Smith and his two wives, Mary
and Barbara, to see how their plot unfolds.
work schedule, until he is involved in an acci-
dent. However, things fall apart after the police
come to investigate. Another round of rib-tick-
ling comedy starts. The play has Amit Singh,
Naveen George Thomas, Dipika Pethe, Venky,
Karan Ram, Sunandha and Rithvik in the cast. It
is directed by Amit Singh and the sets are by
Michael Muthu. Tickets for the show are priced
at Rs. 200, Rs. 300 and Rs. 500.
To buy online log on to www.asapproduction-
s.in or call 98945 11801 / 95000 00188
Ergo Correspondent
special fund-raiser for Run
for your Wife. Donor passes
are priced at Rs.150, Rs. 300
and Rs. 500. The proceeds
from the show would be
utilised for Bhumi’s projects
for supplementary education
of under-privileged children.
Contact 98942 09741 /
98408 68441 / 98403 16677
for passes.
04 ERGO Friday, June 12, 2009

A two-week-old Pigmy Hog at the Pigmy Hog Conservation

Programme Centre in Guwahati. About 68cm in length, 28cm in

Big Story
height and 8-10kg in weight – Pigmy Hog is the smallest and
the rarest wild pig in the world. Pigmy Hog is at the brink of
extinction and only a viable population (less than 500) of the
species exists in the Assam’s Manas Tiger Reserve situated in
Indo-Bhutan international border and nowhere in the world.
PHOTO: RITU RAJ KONWAR

‘Wearing funny costumes for media attention

won’t make the world a better place for animals’
The Central Zoo Authority sees captive
breeding as a means to prevent the
disappearance of threatened species. Several
red pandas and pigmy hogs have already
been released in the wild after long captive-
breeding programmes. Others are in line.
say that they were readily accept-
ed by the groups in the wild,” Hi-
malayan Zoo Director A.K. Jha
says. “We are still evaluating all
the data available and are confi-
dent of releasing two males so-
metime this August.”
High in demand for its fur
across the world and also as a
good-luck charm in parts of Chi-
na (Red panda tail hats are consi-
dered lucky by Chinese
newlyweds), the red panda was
enlisted as a “threatened species”
in 1996 by the International
Union for Conservation of Na-
ture. A naturally low birth rate
(usually single or twin births per
year), and a high death rate in the
wild does not help their cause
either.
In India they are only found in
stretches of the lower Himalayas
in Darjeeling, Sikkim and Aruna-
chal Pradesh. “Their domain is
shrinking everyday and this is the
only method to maintain a
healthy balance,” Jha says. All the
released animals were fitted with
radio collars and monitored over
a year. Unfortunately, one of the
first females from the 2003 lot
RED PANDAS AT
THE DARJEELING ZOO.
was killed by a snow leopard in
PHOTO: PARTH SANYAL 2004. Otherwise, Jha claims, the
other three are all hale and
hearty.
The pigmy hogs of Assam were
AYON SENGUPTA species in the world. environments.” the next “chosen ones” to be re-
ayon@goergo.in Supporting this argument, According to Dr. Sharma, the leased in the wild after a long
Central Zoo Authority’s (CZA) ultimate aim of the CZA and oth- captive breeding programme
mating an 80 per cent survival
rate,” Chief Wildlife Warden of
Assam, D.M. Singh, says. “But we
want an independent agency to
corroborate it.”
Plans are also on by the wildlife
department to install small trans-
ponders in the next-to-be-re-
leased batch. “We want to
operate and implant transpon-
ders on a few of the animals. But
the cost is high and we are await-
ing clearance from the central au-
thority,” Singh adds.
To sum up the whole debate,
CZA member secretary Dr. Shar-
ma says: “We have six Asiatic li-
ons in the wild and only a few
hundreds of various other spe-
cies.
The nilgiri thar, lion-tailed ma-
caque, bison and even the tiger
are fast losing space to humans.
And it demands concentrated
drastic measures.”
From a regulator, the CZA has
slowly become a conservator and
has shifted its attention from
closing down faulty facilities to
actually preserving and conserv-
ing species. “Since its inception
in 1992, we have evaluated 347
zoos, out of which 164 have been
recognised and 183 disaffiliated.
Out of these 183, 92 have already
been closed and their animals re-
located suitably.
The others too will be packed
off soon if adequate measures are
not taken,” Dr. Sharma says.

O
ne of the main concerns of
animal rights groups, both
in India and abroad, has
been captive breeding of
animals in zoos.
While they question the ethical
validity of such programmes, a
certain number of conservators
(government officials, usually)
say it’s probably the “only” and
“best” way to maintain certain
numbers of the most endangered
member secretary Dr. B.S. Shar-
ma, the sole authority on captive
breeding programmes in zoos,
says: “The influx of population
impacts wild vegetation, which
turns out to be a great threat eve-
rywhere, particularly in develop-
ing countries. With the alarming
reduction of indigenous species
in the wild, we are not left with
any other option but to breed and
keep up the numbers in closed
er concerned departments is to
release these animals in the wild
after “careful scientific study”.
Various such initiatives have al-
ready been undertaken and the
Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoo-
logical Park has reintroduced
four female red pandas into the
wild. “We had introduced a pair
of females in 2003 and then an-
other two in 2005. We stood on
constant vigil and are proud to
from 1996. A batch of 16 was re-
leased last May in the Sonai Ru-
pai wildlife sanctuary, 181 km
from Guwahati. A further 10 were
added last month and the pro-
gramme boasts of a 80 percent
survival rate. “It was not possible
to have radio collars for these ani-
mals because of their miniature
size. It would affect their mobil-
ity. But through various other
spotting mechanisms we are esti-
“Now after riding over the initial
troubles we are concentrating on
conservation efforts because
that’s a step we have to take for
our future. Just crying hoarse and
wearing funny costumes for
media attention won’t make the
world a better place for animals.”
Next on the “chosen ones” list
is the lion-tailed macaque, which
is being bred in captivity at both
the Mysore and Chennai zoos. ■
 Friday, June 12, 2009
‘Ret u r n i n g
e - b r e d
captiv t h e
animal s t o
i s d i f fi c u l t
wi l d
o s t l y ’
and c
The Supreme Court,
following a petition by
PETA in 2006, had asked
the CZA to enquire into the
conditions of zoos in India. PETA
had said 30 zoos in the country
did not have adequate
infrastructure and facilities to care
for the animals. Has anything
changed since then?
Sadly, there has not been any signif-
icant improvement in the condition of
zoos across the country; animals contin-
ue to suffer. What saddens us most is
that zoos that have been derecognised
by CZA continue to exist in contraven-
tion of the law. Is PETA happy with
CZA’s efforts? What more can be
done?
The CZA is a toothless organisation, as
they highly depend on the local forest
government and municipalities to im-
plement their directions and are unable
to take any punitive action against those
who do not comply with their direc-
tions. The CZA needs to be empowered
and more staff provided to ensure effec-
tive implementation of the guidelines.
Non-implementation of CZA action
must make the government officer liable
for action under conduct rules.
Which are the Indian zoos that are
right on the top when it comes to
animal welfare?
There is nothing as a good zoo. Even
A leopard in captivity at the Vandaloor Zoo in Chennai. PHOTO: K. PICHUMANI under the best of circumstances at the
best of zoos, captivity itself is cruel for
animals meant to roam free. Zoos’ man-
ufactured habitats usually preclude nat-
ural behaviours like flying, swimming,
Animal activists and the country’s running, hunting, climbing and sca-
Central Zoo Authority have been venging and partner selection. The
physical and mental frustrations of cap-
at loggerheads regarding almost tivity lead to abnormal, neurotic and
every subject related to wildlife even self-destructive behaviour such as
self-mutilation.
conservation. In a chat with
PETA has always promoted a policy
Ayon Sengupta, Anuradha of “no new animals” and “zero
Sawhney, Chief Functionary of breeding” in zoos, but hasn’t the
breeding programme helped in
PETA India, lists their grievances conserving the Red Panda in the
against the “established” Darjeeling Zoo and also the Lion-
tailed Macaque in Chennai zoo?
government machinery The captive breeding of big cats, Asian
05
elephants, hippopotamuses and other
animals has not resulted in their release
into the wild. Zoos tout captive-breed-
ing programmes only to ease the anxiety
that humans feel about the extinction of
species and to attract paying customers
with baby animals. Most of the zoos are
already filled to capacity, and captive
breeding only adds to the huge number
of older, unwanted animals with no-
where decent to go.
If not bred in captivity there is a
possibility of these animals
disappearing completely from the
face of the earth. In what other
ways does PETA hope to conserve
them and increase their number
both in the wild and in general?
True conservation requires the ani-
mals to be protected in their natural
habitats, not in concrete jungles. Propo-
nents of zoos like to claim they protect
species from extinction, which sounds
like a noble goal, but wild-animal parks
and zoos almost always favour exotic or
popular animals that draw crowds and
publicity and neglect less popular spe-
cies. Confining endangered species to
zoos keeps them alive. It does nothing to
protect wild populations. Returning
captive-bred animals to the wild is diffi-
cult and costly, and most zoos can’t
even attempt it. And, of course, animals
that are endangered are no happier in
zoos than animals that are plentiful. Wa-
rehousing animals is not the answer to
saving them from extinction; their ulti-
mate salvation lies in the protection of
their habitats, not in a life sentence in a
zoo.
Zoo officials always say that
observing an animal from close
quarters gives you a better
understanding of wildlife. How
does PETA oppose that statement?
Although zoos claim to educate peo-
ple, they are teaching the wrong lesson.
They teach it is acceptable to keep ani-
mals in captivity – bored, cramped,
lonely and far from their natural homes.
Furthermore, what we see at the zoo is
hardly a true picture of these animals.
Bears do not, for example, pace back
and forth constantly within a space of a
few feet. Elephants do not sway and rock
in one position endlessly. ■
06 ERGO Friday, June 12, 2009

Sehwag to stay back

Sport
The Indian team management on Wednesday confirmed that injured opener Virender Sehwag will stay back in
England and continue treatment on his troublesome shoulder. “Sehwag is here but not as team member because
Dinesh Kaarthick is coming. The BCCI has asked him to see some expert here. We will be treating him here or he will
be seeing some other expert in some other country. The BCCI has asked to take rehab from the physio here, who will
be taking him to a specialist here,” team manager Chamundeshwar Nath said in Nottingham.

Back with a bang

Tamil Nadu skipper Kulothungan is rated as one of the best medios in the country. After a
couple of unimpressive seasons, the man from Tanjore is now dreaming of a national call
AYON SENGUPTA playing with icons like Baichung of the team’s effort and that pres-
ayon@goergo.in
(Bhutia) and Alvito D’Cunha was sure showed on the field.”
a learning experience.” But a move to newly promoted

Tamil Nadu skipper Kalia Kulothungan (right) creating his
magic during the 63rd Santosh Trophy at the Jawaharlal
Nehru Stadium. PHOTO: K. PICHUMANI
T
amil Nadu skipper Kalia Ku-
lothungan has been a role
model for young players in
the state. In 2002 as a prom-
ising midfielder he moved to
newly formed national League
side Kochin FC. Back then, Kulu
was the only Tamil Nadu player
in the elite football setup. Follow-
ing his footsteps six more players
from the state have made them-
selves indispensable to various
clubs across the country.
A good season in Kerala in-
creased his market value. Soon
Kolkata was calling and he signed
on the dotted lines for East Ben-
gal. His tryst at the club was fruit-
ful as East Bengal went on to win
five championships, including
the coveted Asean Cup in 2003,
Kulu’s first season in the Kolkata
maidan. “It was very hard initia-
lly. My knowledge of Hindi was
zilch and for the first few months
I couldn’t even understand what
the coach was instructing. Food
too was a headache but with time
I settled down fine,” Kulu says. “It
was always a dream to play in the
Mecca of Indian football. Al-
though as a junior member there,
I hardly made it to the first team,
The move to Kolkata bore more
joy for him as he had once toured
the football-crazy city as a junior
and was overawed by the lakh-
plus crowd at an East Bengal
game in the Yuva Bharati Kriran-
gan in Salt Lake. “I was probably
15 and I went to see a club game
while I was on a camp there. And
those red-and-gold flags, the exu-
berance of the crowd rubbed in. I
decided once in my lifetime I had
to play for East Bengal.”
Under the able guidance of tal-
ismanic coach Subhas Bhowmick
within years Kulu was one of the
most effective attacking midfiel-
ders in the country. A host of I-
League clubs were queuing up to
sign him, but Kulu followed men-
tor Bhowmick to the other Kolka-
ta giant Mohammaden Sporting.
“The main reason behind signing
for Sporting was Bhowmick. He is
probably the best coach I have
played under. He instils confi-
dence among his players. David
Booth, my coach at Mumbai FC,
comes a close second,” the 29-
year-old says. “But unfortunately
my two-year stint at Sporting was
not the greatest. The manage-
ment there were not supportive
I-League side Mumbai FC in the
last season changed his fortunes.
Playing 21 of the club’s 22 I-
League games, Kulu was instru-
mental in Mumbai FC staving off
any relegation threats. “My best
season so far. I enjoyed my role as
the hinge between the midfield
and attacking line. As a senior
player I had to take a lot of wor-
kload and I think that added re-
sponsibility improved my game,”
he says.
His seven goals and superior
ball control have again brought
him back to the limelight and Ku-
lu is hoping for a national call. “I
know Bob Houghton (national
coach) has already released a list
of 27 probables for the side but I
am optimistic. A few more names
are expected to be added and the
seniors are saying I have a good
chance,” Kulu adds.
For now he wants to take a
well-deserved rest after the San-
tosh Trophy before joining duty
for his new club Mohun Bagan in
mid July. “The crowds pulled me
back to Kolkata. I was missing the
frenzy in Mumbai and hence de-
cided to switch back,” he says.
{Zsqf}

Recall for ‘rebel’ Razzaq
The International Cricket Council has
approved former “rebel” Indian Cricket
League player Abdul Razzaq as
replacement for injured Yasir
Arafat in the Pakistan squad
for the remainder of the
ongoing Twenty20 World
Cup.
The ICC said in a statement
that the event technical
committee of the ICC World
Twenty20 has approved
Razzaq as Arafat’s
replacement and the
confirmation has been
conveyed to the Pakistan Cricket Board
(PCB). Arafat suffered a hamstring
injury during the group stage of the
Twenty20 World Cup and was advised
12 days rest. The ICC said Razzaq has
been deemed eligible to take part in
the tournament after he terminated his
contract with the ICL and received a
sanction from the PCB for his
involvement in unofficial cricket. “The
PCB has advised the ICC it has imposed
a sanction on Abdul Razzaq
in accordance with the ICC
Board resolution,” ICC Chief
Executive Haroon Lorgat said.
Meanwhile, an overwhelmed
Razzaq said it was great
feeling to don the national
colours after a long time. “It’s
a great feeling to know that I
am going to return to action
in the Pakistan team. I would
be playing for Pakistan after
nearly two years. I have missed playing
for my national team all this time,” said
the all-rounder who is expected to play
Pakistan’s first Super Eight match
against Sri Lanka on Friday.
PTI
Divided unit?
Simmering tensions within record 29-
time champions Bengal’s camp may
derail their Santosh Trophy campaign.
The 2-0 win over Services and a
move to the final was
overshadowed by a rift between
No. 1 keeper Subhasish Roy
Chowdhury and the team
management. Roy Chowdhury,
who had a good semi-final
outing saving three blinders, did
not join the post-match
celebrations and instead retired
to the dressing room. Visibly
upset with comments from
teammates after a poor first game, Roy
Chowdhury wanted to walk off saying
his job was done as he had helped the
team to the final. Indian Football
Association secretary Utpal Ganguly,
who is also in town, had to intervene
and only after assurances from the boss
a reluctant Roy Chowdhury somewhat
agreed to stay back for the final.
Ganguly also had a separate meeting
with coach Raghu Nandi and manager
Prasun Banerjee and has asked
them to keep a tight leash.
Meanwhile, Bengal captain
Habibur Rahaman Mondal had
to be rushed to hospital after
falling ill following
Wednesday’s game. Mondal,
suffering from dehydration,
was administered a saline dose
before being discharged.
Coach Nandi said: “He has the
tendency to lose a lot of fluid
during games and the conditions here
did not help matters. It was nothing
serious as he has faced this problem
before and he will be part of the team
for the final.”
Ergo Correspondent
 Friday, June 12, 2009
‘‘
There’s always the expectation because of the players we’ve got but we’ve got to be careful. We’ve
won seven games and put in seven good performances but we’re not a team who gets carried away,
we can’t afford to. Most teams going into the World Cup are contenders. There’s some great teams, great
countries, great players out there so let’s qualify first and then we can start thinking about South Africa.
A
rgentina’s World Cup
fear of heights resurfaced
on Wednesday when they
lost 0-2n Ecuador while Bra-
zil and Chile both moved closer to a
trip to South Africa with home wins.
South American group leaders Bra-
zil came from behind to beat Para-
guay 2-1 in a top-of-the-table clash
while surprise package Chile
thumped a negative Bolivia 4-0. Ar-
gentina, who have 22 points from 14
games, stayed in the top four posi-
tions which guarantee a place in
South Africa but are only two points
clear of fifth-placed Ecuador after
their defeat at altitude in Quito.
The team which finishes fifth in the
10-team group must play off over two
legs against a team from CONCACAF.
Uruguay, who have 18 points, and
Venezuela, who have 17, stayed in
contention after their 2-2 draw in
Puerto Ordaz while Colombia, also
on 17, kept their hopes alive with a
1-0 win over Peru.
Missed chances
Argentina paid for missing several
first-half chances before Ecuador’s
Maradona’s
Argentina humbled again
Wal-
ter
Ayovi and
Pablo Palacios
scored in the last 20
minutes in rainy Quito at
2,800 metres above sea level. Diego
Maradona’s men were thumped 1-6
by Bolivia in their last away fixture at
altitude in La Paz two months ago.
Lionel Messi missed a glaring
chance in the 10th minute before
Carlos Tevez had his penalty saved
by Argentine-born Ecuador goal-
keeper Marcelo Elizaga. “They didn’t
do anything in the first half,” Mara-
dona told reporters. “In the second
half, they got a couple of rebounds
and they scored two goals.
Philosophical coach
Chile were faced by five defenders
and
three de-
fensive midfiel-
ders against Bolivia in
Santiago but finally broke through
with a Jean Beausejour header just
before halftime.
Two goals from Alexis Sanchez and
one from Marco Estrada in the sec-
ond half completed their third win in
four qualifiers.
Chile’s enigmatic Argentine coach
Marcelo Bielsa was philosophical
about his team’s chances of a first
World Cup appearance since 1998.
“Like the public, we have dreams and
clear objectives in this sense,” he
said. “But football is so full of the
unexpected that it’s never a good
idea to pre-announce something
07
David Beckham
which has still not
happened.”
Samba magic
Brazil coach Dunga was more
direct in his assessment of the win
over Paraguay in Recife. “We need
three more points to be sure (of qual-
ifying),” he said. Salvador Cabanas
gave Paraguay a shock first-half lead
with a deflect free kick.
However, Robinho volleyed the
equaliser four minutes before half-
time before a fortuitous Nilmar goal
in the 50th minute gave the hosts
their third straight win. Paraguay,
who have taken one point from their
last four games, dropped to third
with 24 points.
Brazil have 27, one more than
Chile. Uruguay appeared set for a win
in Venezuela when Diego Forlan put
them 2-1 ahead in the 73rd minute
only for Jose Manuel Rey’s free kick
to earn the hosts a point two minutes
later. Radamel Falcao Garcia scored
the only goal in Medellin as Colom-
bia handed Peru their eighth straight
defeat. ■
Reuters
Brazil and
Chile steam
ahead
08
Malin Akerman at the Watchmen
premiere
Miss India 2008 Parvathy
Omanakuttan at Cannes
Tracing the
sequins of
EVENTS
Sequins are the most
fashionable embellishment
now. And they come in bulk
Bono at the 2009 Brit Awards
L’Oreal face Elizabeth Banks in an Andrew
Gn gown at Cannes
ERGO Friday, June 12, 2009
T
he hottest trend internationally this
season is something that has been
part of Indian attire and traditional
embroidery since centuries. Now,
everyone from Matthew Williamson to
Donatella Versace and Jenny Packham is
using sequins so extensively that even la-
mé, the traditional red-carpet fabric for
those who want it shiny and dazzling, has
taken a backseat.
Initially limited to minor embellish-
ments in the neckline, bodice or hemline,
designers are now going in for a carpet-
look, i.e., entire dresses covered in se-
quins. While lamé sometimes tends to
look like shiny Rexene, sequins lend gar-
ments a more fluid glitter.
Malin Akerman, at the UK premiere of
Watchmen, wore a black sequinned dress
by Jenny Packham, the sequins almost ar-
ranged in a spray-paint effect. Other
head-to-toe sequinned looks were show-
cased by Miss India 2008 Parvathy Omana-
kuttan at the Bright Star premiere and
L’Oreal face Elizabeth Banks at the Spring
Fever premiere in an Andrew Gn navy
gown, both at Cannes.
Matthew Williamson’s collection for re-
 Friday, June 12, 2009
tail
chain
H&M has
a good collection of sequinned dresses,
while the season’s Versace gowns rare-
ly appear without sequins. Michelle Ye-
oh’s emerald Versace chiffon
floor-sweeper at Cannes, with snaking
sequinned straps, was a showstopper
and Penelope Cruz continued her red
carpet success story in a lilac Marchesa
gown with sequinned bodice.
The men are not behind. For instance,
look at Bono’s sequinned collar during U2’s
performance at the Brit Awards 2009. But
then, that’s Bono.
Translating red carpet couture looks to
street wear is seldom easy or possible. Never-
theless, one can incorporate sequins in the
wardrobe without looking like light bulbs in
people’s faces. A sequinned LBD is a good in-
vestment. If sequinned dresses don’t work for
you, try a sequinned clutch. Or a sequinned top
with a pair of skinny jeans. Also, the old trend of
scattered sequins on sheer fabrics is out. The new
look is bolder. ■
09
Portfolio
BULLETIN
Emma Watson is new
face of Burberry
Harry Potter star Emma Watson has joined
the league of supermodels like Kate Moss
and Agyness Deyn after she was
announced the new
face of British
luxury fashion
house Burberry.
The 19-year-old
caught the eye of
the brand’s creative
director Christopher
Bailey and was
signed in for an
Autumn-Winter
collection shoot, reports thesun.co.uk.
“I felt Emma would be strong enough to
hold the campaign... Emma’s charm and
intellect and brilliant sense of fun (even)
made the whole shoot feel like a picnic,”
said Bailey.
IANS
Hello Kitty in Scottish
tartan for 35th birthday
Hello Kitty, the Japanese-made global icon
of cuteness, will mark her 35th birthday
this year by going back to her British roots
with a new tartan collection, her makers
said on Wednesday.
Sanrio Co. will launch the checkered-pink
series – featuring handbags, trinkets, a
shawl and a Kitty version of a teddy bear –
in September in Japan ahead of her official
birthday on November 1.
The British embassy in Tokyo on
Wednesday threw an early party for the
feline with the trademark ribbon who,
according to the Kitty legend, lives in
suburban London.
Yuko Yamaguchi, the Hello Kitty designer
since 1980, said the British capital was
chosen as the feline’s home because
“London was the place Japanese girls
admired in the 1970s.”
Since her 1974 debut, Kitty has spawned a
massive global industry with sales of some
50,000 Kitty products in 70 nations,
including dolls, clothes, accessories and
homeware.
AFP
10 ERGO Friday, June 12, 2009

Susan Boyle ‘moves into new pound 2m flat’

Flick Britain’s Got Talent star Susan Boyle has reportedly moved into a new
2-million pound flat provided by Simon Cowell along with her beloved cat
Pebbles.

““Wished
Wished sshe
he
w ould pput
would ut oon
n
m ore cclothes”
more lothes”
Megan Fox’s male co-star Michael Papajohn earned the envy
of his friends after they learnt he was working alongside her

T
ransformers star Megan
Fox’s male co-star Michael
Papajohn has revealed that
playing the actress’ father
left him wishing that she would
put more clothes on.
Papajohn, 44, earned the envy
of all his friends after they learnt
that he was working alongside
23-year-old Fox in both the
Transformers movies, and had
to keep answering questions
about her.
“I can honestly tell
you she’s beautiful,
but my buddies
are still calling me and emailing
me going, ‘Hey, how hot is she?’
and the verdict is I stayed in char-
acter the whole time,” Fox News
quoted him as saying last week
at the Palm Pre launch event at
Hollywood’s Raleigh Studios.
“So I just looked at her from a
father’s point of view and I just
kept saying in my mind, ‘Oh
Megan, I wish you’d put more
clothes on’. But I did text my
buddies back and said
’good genes, what can I
say?’” he added.■
ANI

GETTY IMAGES

Bullock refuses Michael Jackson’s

to part with mutilated ear seen
15-year-old car in picture
Hollywood actress Sandra A picture of pop star Michael
Bullock still drives around the car Jackson’s mangled ear, pieces of
she bought from her first which were taken to rebuild his
paycheque. nose, has emerged recently. Fans
Bullock, who gave the car to her have been shocked by the photo
mother, doesn’t want to part with taken just days ago in Beverly Hills,
the vehicle which is more than 15 California.
years old. She still uses it when Thesun.co.uk reports that over the
she goes to her native city of years, bits of skin and cartilage had
Austin, Texas. been taken from Jackson’s ear to
“I have the car... in my driveway rebuild his nose. He has managed to
in Austin. My dad was going to hide the damage under his long hair
get a new car, and I was like, ‘You since the late 1990s when he first
are not selling the first thing I had tissue removed for his nose.
ever bought - and that was mom’s Douglas McGeorge, president of
baby!’ It literally runs as well as it the British Association of Aesthetic
did then. So now it’s my car in Plastic Surgeons, claimed the shape
Austin,” contactmusic.com quoted of the ear was “consistent” with
her as saying. cartilage removed from the shell.
IANS IANS
 Friday, June 12, 2009
The surprise
did not stop there
Shilpa Shetty blogs about the birthday party
which her beau Raj Kundra arranged in
London recently
B
ollywood actress Shilpa Shetty,
who recently turned 34, says she
had the most special birthday
this year as her beau Raj Kundra
threw a surprise party with friends, vio-
linists and a pop group for her in Lon-
don.
“I’m still reeling under the pleasant
but shocking surprise party thrown by
Raj. I froze when I entered the pen-
thouse suite, Mayfair because there
were 55 of my friends who screamed
‘Happy Birthday’. Unbelievable!,” Shil-
pa, whose birthday was Monday, post-
ed on her blog shilpashettylive.com
“The surprise didn’t stop there, the
next thing I knew (sister) Shamita
popped up from nowhere... she flew
down especially all the way from Mum-
bai (for the bash),” added the actress.
PTI PHOTO
11
Freida Pinto admits relationship
with Dev Patel
Slumdog Millionaire actress Freida Pinto has come out and
spoken for the first time about her friendship with co-star
Dev Patel saying it has become stronger.
Cine City
It’s a hoax SMS
Want to know how a hoax SMS can cancel a day’s
shoot? During the shoot of Aayirathi Oruvan, starring
Karthi, Reema Sen and Andrea, on an island one of
the crew members received an SMS about a possible
tsunami. The on-location had around 2,000 artistes
and there were only 10 boats. As the artistes were
brought in from different states, cinematographer
Ramji had to use his multilingual ability to calm the
situation. No tsunami hit the shores, but the shoot
for the day was cancelled.
Kundra, a London-based business-
man, had especially arranged for vio-
linists and also Sugababes, a popular
female pop group for the celebration.
“I nearly jumped out of my skin when Shantanu
I saw this girl band walk in. They per-
formed and everyone loved them, my to act in
jaw was still open from the shock,”
wrote the actress. Malayalam
Shilpa, who co-owns the Indian Pre- His debut movie
mier League (IPL) team Rajasthan Roy- Sakkarakatti did not do
als with Kundra, was extremely happy well at the box office. Now,
with the arrangements made by her actor Shantanu Bhagyaraj is
beau. trying his luck with Puthiya
“It was amazing how Raj pulled it off Varpugal. To be on the safe
all on his own and still managed to keep side (if it also turns out to be
it a surprise, genius! On the whole it was a dud), we hear that the actor
definitely my best and most special has signed a Malayalam movie.
birthday, it was perfect,” she said. ■ Titled Angel John, the movie
IANS has Mohanlal playing a cameo
and is being directed by
Jayasurya of Speed Track fame.
12 ERGO Friday, June 12, 2009

Sachin
Thursday’s Query: from Wipro
has
Captain Cool Mahi has been nominated
his friends
losing it of late at the official as Partners
in Crime.
press conferences. What should This pic
was clicked
he do to maintain his calm? at Yercaud.

■ Yoga the best treatment

Mak, Sindhujaa Wipro, G.Sudha Cognizant

■ Oil bath on every Saturday

Krishnababu, HCL

■ I would suggest him nannari sarbath to cool himself

Selva, Infosys

■ I think it’s his batting form more than anything else Pravin from
that’s worrying Mahi. So if he drops down the order Cognizant
himself, instead of wasting balls at no.3, it would has
make a hell lot of difference to his temper and to the nominated
team his team as
Conan, Accenture Partners in
Crime.
■ He should use Navaratna cool oil
Jothikumar IGT, Ramesh Wipro, Hitesh Khatri
TCS-eserve, Raghav TCS, Rajan Andhra Bank,
Sridhar R. STG, C.S.Shankar CSS

■ I think he learned from Vijay (Villu press

conference), for calm he will have to learn from Thala
Mayilraj, Allsec

■ He should take Amul milk

Nasurudeen, Allsec

■ He has to take a short vacation to Kashmir

Soumya, HCL

■ Dhoni ji, chew beetle leaf or swallow some two to

three chewing gums and utter the lyrics of some old
Hindi songs for any question Vinodh
Prasad.Y TCS Philip from
Changepond,
■ Ask him to use the PSPO fans to stay cool Siruseri has
Vasumathy, Cognizant nominated
the ’Black
■ Ask him to prerecord all answers and play it in press Shirt Boys’ as
conferences Partners in
Madhumita, Cognizant Crime.

Today’s Query:
Your favourite personality from
the world history and the reason
why you like them?
 Friday, June 12, 2009
Vasanth Raj of
HCL has been
Belated Wishes
■ To our Captain,
nominated as Of- Wish you happy birthday.
fice Angel by Pra- May this year bring all success
sad N. and wealth & good health in
your life.
Vasanth is a very
Wishes from
talented techie . He
Wipro, Avago Cricket Team.
is a fun loving
person and also a
■ Dear Ruby
hard worker. He is
Farewell
a great assest to our
To you my ever dearest friend
organisation.
Today you were here
Smiling to me in your own
special way, The morning after
you were gone,
Your smile frozen in death for
ever, Last moments of
togetherness
Though destiny decided
otherwise, Remembrance of
you will stay in mind,
But in no way shall I forget
Those precious moments of
happiness We had the
pleasure to share
earning for a last time
To see this wonderful
mischiveous, Look in your
tender brown eyes
No way however this could
happen, You were torn from
this world. Farewell to you my
ever dearest friend
Rajiv A
THD Utilities,
TCS eSERVE
■ Dear Shyam,
Having someone like you with
us, means a lot. Wishing you
Wonderful Birthday.
With lots of love, this message
comes 2 say u’re wished the
joys u so deserve especially
today & may the days that lie
ahead be extra-nice one, filled
with great happiness and
success..
"Happy birthday" !!!
Usha Raja of Satyam Tesco Team,
Computers doodled this. Steria
June 12
■ Dear Sujithra
Because today’s so special
it really wouldn’t do,
to send one simple birthday
wish to last the whole year
through... So this wishes happy
moments, a day when dreams
come true, and a year that’s
Teacher : Yennada naan varumpothu mattum kannadi filled with all the things
podura ? that mean the most to you.
Student : Doctor dhaan thalavali varum pothu mat- Also Wishing you the best for
tum..... everything in this special year
kannadi...... poda sonnaru... for you dear,
Careshine, The Chennai Future Bright team,
STG Wipro Technologies
■ Hi Rajan,
Wish U Many More Happy
Returns of the Day!! Let all
your dreams come true. Treat
must be given.
With Warm Regards,
Route-15 Sangam Members,
Accenture.
■ Dear Saravanan,
Many More Happy Returns of
the Day. All your dreams come
true. Have a special day & a
beautiful year ahead.
Happy Birthday dear Sarav
With Love,
Menaka
Kumaran Systems
■ Hi Bakrudeen and Nisha,
Wish you a very happy,
wonderful and prosperous
married life.
cheers,
Jana
TCS
■ Dear Mittu,
Advance birthday wishes!!!
Wish u many more happy
returns of the day… I hope
YOU treasure this friendship
and nothing can succedaneum
this, as much I do.
Look forward, for many more
happy birthdays to follow, in
friendship with YOU. Here is a
wish coming in this wonderful
occasion for you from your
friend….
Ur luving frend…
Madhu.
HCL Technologies
■ Dear Shradhardik,
We ,the customer world lab
wish you hearty congrats for
the new beginning of your life
with shradha.
TREAT ????
Wishes ,
Customer world Lab.
■ Dear Sujatha
ALWA pola Office vandhu..
JAVVU MITTAI pola velai
seidhu
KADALAI-MITTAI pola pesi...
LADDU pola urundu veetukku
sellum
Yengal nadamadum Sweet
Kadai Sujathavukku....
Iniya Pirandhanaal
Vaalthukkal....
Mittai Kadai Anbargal...
Thd Utilities
TCS eSERVE
■ Dear Prabakaran,
I wish you all success
Aravind Joe
13
■ Dear Vasan,
Its your birthday today
And we know its time for us
to say
Happy Birthday to you.. Happy
Birthday to you...
Happy Birthday dear Vasan..
Happy Birthday to you..
So now you have to say
WHERE IS THE PARTY
TONIGHT?????
Iniya Piranda Naal Nal
Vazhthukal
Many Many More Happy
Returns Of The Day Vasan!!
Regards,
ITAMO
Tata Consultancy Services,
Tidel Park
■ Dear Charu & Murali,
Our greatest wish for the two
of you is that through the
years, your love for each other
will so deepen and grow, that
years from now you will look
back on this day, your
wedding day, as the day you
loved each other the least.
Happy Wedding Day!!!
Best Regards from
GPA (Guru, Prasanna, Ashish)
■ Dear Dad,
Wish you many more happy
returns of the day. Happy
Birthday.
Your Loving Son
Arun Baskar,
Allsec Technologies
June 13
■ Dear Bhuvi,
HAPPY BIRTH DAY TO U.
This msg has No Fat
No cholesterol n No Addictive
this is all natural except, with
a lot of sugar. But it can never
be as sweet as the one
reading it.Happy Birthday to
you!!!
With lots of love,
Bhavani Ananthan.
Team-Beacon.
HCL Technologies Ltd.
June 14
■ Dear Dad
I wish u a long and healthy
life with lots of happiness
forever with god’s grace.
Love U DAD”
Thanx in advance
With love
Krishna Kumar
Cognizant Technology
Solutions
14 ERGO Friday, June 12, 2009

Traffic Jam
Community tree
Villagers in China have turned the
boughs of a 1,800-year-old tree into a
gathering place and community centre.

sudoku

Abinaya from
Allsec
Technologies
shot this
picture using
SONY DSC-T5
Digital
camera
Hobbies:
Reading and
photography

KAKURO
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 Friday, June 12, 2009
15
Word’s worth Swimsuit pursuer
Sarvodaya (Sahr-voh-duh-yuh) a word meaning ‘the well-being of all.’ A man has been arrested for
Used by Gandhi (1869-1948) to mean a new social order without caste, harassing people on the street while
based on non-violence and service. From a Sanskrit word meaning dressed in a woman’s green one
‘prosperity.’ piece swimsuit.

B.C

ARIES MARCH 21 - APRIL 20

Work is worship: this will be your motto today.
Brushing aside pressing domestic affairs, you focus
solely on the task in hand. In meetings, conceding
to other’s point of view might be the smartest
course of action.

TAURUS APRIL 21 - MAY 20

Apathy in domestic affairs may invite trouble, warns
Ganesha. It’s time you took the bull by the horns.
Keep your cool at work. Don’t let personal matters
hamper your performance. A hassle-free rendezvous
with your lover will be your only respite today.

GEMINI MAY 21 - JUNE 20

Today is a wonderful day to make new beginnings.
BORN LOSER At work, projects you start today will see the light
of day sooner than your expect. Don’t let your
emotions play havoc with your love life. Don’t stifle
your beloved by being too possessive.
CANCER JUNE 21 - JULY 20
Diplomacy will help you deftly handle domestic
issues. Your boss will assign some important tasks
to you. Ganesha espies some serious issues in your
love life. Time is ripe to discuss them before a mole
hill becomes a mountain, says Ganesha.
LEO JULY 21 - AUG 20
At first, it is the everyday tasks which will keep you
on your toes; but later in the day, important
assignments will gain precedence. The finesse with
which you will finish off your work will amaze your
colleagues and boss.
VIRGO AUG 21 - SEPT 20
Just because things didn’t go as you planned is no
FREE RANGE WORKING IT OUT reason for you to lash out at everyone in office.
Unfavourable stars are another reason why you may
not win any argument today, so stay away from
them.
LIBRA SEPT 21 - OCT 20
In love life, you will have your feet on the ground,
which will help you reach the next level of intimacy.
You’ll be earning a lot of praise from your superiors
for a job well done. Somebody has rightly said,
“Appreciation can make a day, even change a life.”
SCORPIO OCT 21 - NOV 20
Be cautious today, says Ganesha. You may have a
heated argument with one or all of your colleagues,
so be alert as there’s trouble in the offing. In
personal life too, you must skirt topics that may
lead to a fight between you and your partner.
SAGITTARIUS NOV 21 - DEC 20
Intellectual discussions with colleagues and superiors
will be the high point of your day. So get ready to
exercise your grey cells. You can be a winner only if
you focus on your targets and nothing else, says
Ganesha.
CAPRICORN DEC 21 - JAN 20
Have you been waiting for an increment for way
too long? Then knock on your boss’s cabin and sit
down for a frank discussion today. You may tell
him/her how much you love your job and are willing
to work harder.
AQUARIUS JAN 21 - FEB 20
PREVIOUS A great day at the personal front, says Ganesha.
You may bump into old buddies, so be prepared for
ISSUE’S a get-together. On the work front, you may have to
put in a lot of efforts to make optimum use of the
SOLUTIONS available time.
PISCES FEB 21 - MARCH 20
Meeting targets and deadlines will haunt you today.
But don’t worry, says Ganesha. You won’t have to
toil too much. Your sweetheart will be bowled over
by your knowledge of philosophy and the occult.

Predictions by Bhavesh N. Pattni

16 ERGO Friday, June 12, 2009