Ashanti OMkar

I am happy to announce that I am the editor in chief of UK’s newest Asian fashion glossy magazine, Henna. Get a sneak peak of the magazine here

It is available at all good newsagents, WH Smiths, Borders and Selfridges! I’m getting a tremendous response from readers, even the guys are loving it for the i-Henna, Ambition, Timeout sections! Get it now before it sells out, as it’s a limited print run for the 1st issue of 20,000 Nationwide in the UK only!

Check out my editor’s letter! :

What a journey it’s been! It all started with my birthday, the day we shook hands over cocktails and sumptuous Thai food when I agreed to join the small but talented team of creative minds. Together, we have half a century of experience collectively and we aim to show our unity in diversity. A stellar set of contributors adds to our equation.

In my opinion, Neena Kent, the publisher, couldn’t be more of an inspiration as a leader. More so, she is a phenomenal woman who embodies Henna as a magazine. Commencing in March, upon returning from India, where the boss and I enjoyed brunch and many Bollywood moments, the magazine came together. This venture sees us embark on a blazing trail and this is indeed a jam packed limited edition collector’s issue.

Indeed eventful, it doesn’t get bigger than the Big B who gave us an auspicious inauguration as a magazine. While flitting between the sets of the forthcoming Aamir Khan starrer, ‘Ghajini’, in Mumbai’s film city, catching up with AR Rahman and family in Chennai and sharing seats with the entire array of the Indian film fraternity at the Zee awards in London, it has certainly been a busy few months.

To create this issue, we shot the front cover at a top London casino, shared offices with Gurinder Chadha, Matt Damon and Poirot’s David Suchet. We also picked up and nursed a stray Asian girl in distress while having many fun moments like partying with Thara and Jay Sean at Chak 89. We chatted on the phone with Jimmy Choo and the boss was invited to the palace to have royal lunch with HRH Prince Charles.

This issue features some of the most fascinating insights into high fashion, Indian films and designers and top music, celebrity travel and lifestyle choices from around the world. While we present a beauty bible of sorts and feature many a top Asian designer, we haven’t left out new fresh talents in the equation.

Working with the likes of celebrity columnists like Karen Shenaz David (from the prequel to Scorpion King, Batman Begins and Provoked) and Kavitha Bhardwaj-Pushkarna (National award winning producer of the controversial Page 3), alongside some 1st person accounts, cheeky columns and many inspiring interviews, this issue showcases on of Bollywood’s royal families, The Bachchans and a lot of famous names who cross borders with their work.

We hope you enjoy the fruits of our labour as much as we enjoyed putting it together for you.

Ashanti OMkar

I didn’t know you that well

But I knew how much you loved me

As a child, you would call every day

I wold run riot and you named me the

“Bhoogambam”, the hyperactive hurricane

I saw you rarely

We were oceans apart

But seeing you in 2005

Was the honour God bestowed upon me

That glint in your eye

The ice-cream you gingerly ate

Memories that stay in my heart

As your photo flickered in front of me

The night of your passing

It was a sign

You said Goodbye

My dearest Grandad

May you Rest in Peace

May heaven show you joy

May reincarnation bring you back to me

We’ve now past our thrilling Silver Jubilee where everyone from Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan and Vikram were interviewed, to specials with Comedian Vivek, Singer Naresh Iyer, Sound Engineer H Sridhar and Actor Prasanna of Anjathey! Keep supporting, listeners! Mail us at southside@desihits.com

- It’s the only Southern targeted show in the mainstream - covering music, movies, culture of Goa, Karnataka, South India, Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius and those from the diaspora - I also cover countries like South Africa, Australia etc - where ever the 1/2 Billion South Indians worldwide or those who speak Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Tulu, Sinhalese reside.
The show is on www.desihits.com - 5-10 million hits per month - it has garnered a lot of press coverage for innovation.

- I play an eclectic variety of music (Hip Hop, R&B, Alternative, Rock, Roots, Remixes, Classical Raga insights) and interviews stemming from Southern South Asia and it’s diaspora - everything from film music and AR Rahman, to the likes of talented artistes like Anoushka Shankar (1/2 Bengali 1/2 Tamil), M.I.A (British Tamil), Anusha (Welsh 1/2 Mauritian 1/2 Tamil Sri Lankan), Sona Family (Kazz their female lead is British Tamil) Shruti Haasan (Indian Tamil), Bobby Moon (American Malayalee), Nivla (American Malayalee), Hema Nair (British Malayalee now in US), Ashanthi (Sri Lankan Sinhalese), Iraj (Sri Lankan Sinhalese), Ranidu (SriLankan Sinhalese), Delon (American Sinhalese), Dushyanthi (American Tamil), Shakti (American Tamil), Ranjini (American Kannada), The Leano (British Tamil), Sujeeth G (British Tamil), Shanti (Australian Tamil), Devan (American Tamil), Dialekt (British Sinhalese), Nachithira (Dr Burn & Emcee Jesz) & Yogi B (Malaysian Tamil), Rosh & Dan (British Sinhalese and English), Zambezi Funk with Blaaze (African American Tamil), Nandita Dias (Canadian Kannada), Sasi the Don (Malaysian Tamil), Nishi (American Malayalee), Satsangi (British Malayalee), Kavi (British Tamil), Jayasri (Austrian Tamil), Ahalya (British Tamil), Shyam Raj (Singaporean Tamil), Shine (Norwegian Tamil), Krishan (Sri Lankan Tamil), Dinesh & Gajan (Sri Lankan Tamil), Dushyanth (Sri Lankan Sinhalese), Ras Ceylon (American Sinhalese), Heaven’s Heathens (British Sinhalese), Ambika (British Kannada), Abi (British Tamil), Loven (British Tamil), Angela (British Tamil), Karthik Ragunathan (British 1/2 Tamil 1/2 Hindi), Shakthi (American Tamil), Karen David (Canadian 1/2 Tamil 1/2 Khasi), KLG Squad (Malaysian Tamil Chinese), The Sunpilots (Australian Tamil), My Vitriol (British Sri Lankan), Rudra (Indian Tamil), Battle (British Sinhalese), Twisted Trees (British Tamil), Jayou (Australian Tamil), Monk Brother (Australian Sri Lankan), Nalika (British Sinhalese) and many more talents.

- My show in itself gets a huge number of hits a week (email me to find out figures) - it is streamed online and can be played at any time with just one click - back episodes are available too and they go under the Bollywood channel. You can subscribe via Itunes.

- It is on the internet and reaches over 68 countries

- Desi Hits has offices in New York, California and London

- Desi Hits has the only Asian Apple itunes store and the show is a podcast on there too

- Tamil movies have been making waves in the recent years, where UK and European multiplexes and those in US have been showing figures and box office takings to be in Top 20, e.g. Pokkiri into Number 19 and Sivaji which got to Number 9 in 2007. The UK also shows Telugu movies in the cinemas and recently. Eros, one of the world’s biggest distributors bought out Ayngaran, the biggest Tamil distributor and companies like Ad Labs and UTV have also been distributing Tamil films.

- Many of the technical gurus in India hail from the South, e.g. AR Rahman, Ilayaraja, PC Sreeram, Ravi K Chandran, Rajeev Menon, Mani Ratnam. This show is to pay tribute to all of them and also showcase all those of the Southern heritage, those who have worked in the South and those from the North who have worked in the South - e.g. Southern director Ram Gopal Verma and my recent interviewee, Nisha Kothari - she debuted in Tamil with Madhavan in Jay Jay. Other examples of interviewees are Celina Jaitley, who made waves in the Telugu scene, Amrita Arora who is 1/2 Malayalee, Ateesh Randev from Sambar Salsa which has a Southern storyline and had worked in a Tamil movie called Nenjil jil jil when they shot it in the UK. Also, the crossover of actors/actresses from the South in the North - e.g. Vyjayanthimala Bali, Hema Malini, Sri Devi, Aishwarya Rai, Shilpa and Shamita Shetty, Sunil Shetty, Vidya Balan, Isha Koppikar, Deepika Padukone, Padma Lakshmi. Also, Devan, Vikku Vinayakaram’s son, Uma Shankar who did a live Ghatam session of Sutthi sutthi from Padayappa etc. Also, Welsh Asian singer, whose playlisted on MTV Base - Anusha! Pirashanna, Britians’s Prince of Percussion from Anoushka Shankar and Karsh Kale’s album (Breathing under water), also gave us some beats to reckon with!

Listen to the show SOUTH SIDE on:

www.desihits.com

Amitabh & Tabu soar in Cheeni Kum
By Ashanti OMkar

The UK is buzzing with Indian cinema right now. Cannes film festival was very much focussed on India’s 60th year of independence, with the festival itself being in its 60th year as a showcase for world cinema. Cannes sported an A-List of Indian actors, but of course, as usual, the other facets of Indian cinema were not highlighted in their entirety, with only a tiny handful of regional movies, for example, SandaKozhi in Tamil, which was shown. Southern director, Mani Ratnam, the director of Roja, Bombay, Dil Se, Yuva and Guru was also a noted appearance. The appearance of honeymooning couple, Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan was very much noted, while Big B (Mr Bachchan Senior), Preity Zinta, John Abraham, Bipasha Basu, Manisha Koirala, British Asian actress Archie Panjabi of ‘East is East’ fame and ‘Namastey London’ actress Swiss Asian Shaania Dia graced the red carpets. UK’s Anil Sinan and Suman Buchar were present to enjoy Cannes at its best, including the beach parties and schmoozing with the stars on the yacht. Tennis star and film mogul, Ashok Amritraj from the US threw the coveted yacht party which kept the revellers enjoying the flow of the festival.

As the summer of Indian cinema continues, The Bollywood Awards in New York take place over the weekend as a prelude to the biggest and most publicised ceremony, the IIFAs (Indian Oscars) which are taking place in Yorkshire, UK, this year. With Shankar’s ‘Sivaji – The Boss’ – one of India’s most expensive films (the salary of its hero is rumoured to be more than any other Indian hero - Rajini Kanth, whose fan base traverses Japan to Canada), also releasing during this busy period, it is set to be a glorious summer indeed.

There was one big Indian premiere at Cannes that deserves a special mention. Cheeni Kum – an EROS International film hits the screens after a very hearty reaction from the media in Cannes. EROS themselves are celebrating their 30th year in Indian cinema and their chairman, the recent Eastern Eye Business Awards winner, Kishore Lulla is indeed a proud man. The London special preview of the film saw not only a full house of select journalists and fans of the hero, the indomitable Amitabh Bachchan had his fans vying for a peek of their hero.

A formidable film, it was indeed a comedy with no relation to another film that came out in recent months, ‘Nishabd’. Take two South Indian directors, the cult Telugu director Ram Gopal Verma and ad-film guru turned debutant director, R ‘Balki’ Balakrishnan who both went for scenarios where an older man falls in love with a much younger woman – that’s where the similarity ends. In Nishabd, the age gap is much wider and it explores serious themes, whereas Cheeni Kum is a comedy of consenting adults who have a meeting of minds. Says a confident R Balki, who was present at the intimate press conference: “We started this film two and a half years ago and the age is incidental in Cheeni Kum. Mr Bachchan inspired me to do this film. In black and white, stripped to the basics, it is a simple love story.” The excellent cast which also consisted of Tabu, whose acting prowess has presented itself in so many movies and Paresh Rawal who needs no introduction to fans for the sheer variety of roles he has portrayed to utmost quality and many more key characters like 95 year old veteran actress, Zohra Sehgal, a child actress who is India’s answer to Dakota Fanning - Swini Khara and a plethora of supporting cast members who obviously perform to comic perfection while portraying serious aspects with equal ease. It was indeed a team effort in this film, what with Southern ace cinematographer PC Sreeram and the much sought after editor Chandan Arora on the case.

With such a creative team behind the venture and a very ‘hands on’ producer Sunil Manchanda on board it was no surprise that the Cannes and London audiences gave the film thumbs up – in fact receiving standing ovations in both France and England. The plush cinematography, the music, the storyline, Cheeni Kum was happily reminiscent of yesteryear Southern movies – Balki is re-introducing the ‘good’ storyline genre with a modern twist. It felt like watching a Mani Ratnam film, as indeed PC Sreeram is one of his favourite camera-men and before his split with Ilayaraja, his classics like Dalapathy and Mouna Ragam. The characterisation of Amitabh’s scathingly witty, lovingly called ‘Ghaaspoos’ – the vegetarian chef and Tabu’s ‘Tangdi Kebab’ – it is an adult love story. The kitchen staff watch and aid, as he falls for this gorgeous younger lass – Tabu not only emotes this role to the fullest, but is looking better than she has ever looked. The father who happens to be younger than his future son-in-law, Mr Rawal plays a Ghandian retiree whose principles and ageism comes into play, while the locales of London and Delhi are utilised to maximum. The script flows with a dichotomy if laughable lines, like: “Have you got any more eighteen rated films for children”, the umbrella that leads to romance and a very casual marriage proposal with tasteful sexual undertones.

Of course, to make his dream team complete, Balki went for his own personal favourite music director, Ilayaraja, the 64 year old ruler, of eighties South Indian music. He makes no secret that he is a die hard fan of Ilayaraja’s tunes and elaborates: “I am a great fan of Ilayaraja and was weaned on his music. I first went to Ilarayaja, a man who has composed for nearly 900 films which makes his song count around 4000. He liked the script and he wanted to do an original score for the film, but I felt that many of his songs had not been heard by the worldwide cinema going audience so I asked if he would share a handful through my film. He is the king of lavish background music and that too is a plus point, I feel. Though he was originally reluctant to re-hash tunes, he agreed and my personal favourite is Jaane Do Na.” In terms of the music, while watching, the whole screenplay moved seamlessly with poignant melodies like the title track which is the adaptation of Mani Ratnam’s ‘Mandram vandha thendral’ from Mouna Ragam. ‘Baaten hawa with’ is a revamped song from the hit film, Melle thirandhadhu kadhavu – Kuzhaloothum Kannakku and the director’s favourite is the reworked Kannada hit, Jotheyali jothe jotheyali from the film ‘Geetha’. Shreya Goshal’s pure voice and Vijay Prakash’s mature vocals lace the soundtrack which is a must buy for any discerning music fan. Listen out for the glorious instrumentation, the strings, and the sax – trademarks of the genius that is Ilayaraja (remember his excellent Ek duje ke liye & Kala pani). Here is a movie and music that will stay in people’s memories for a long while.

Kailash Kher – Kailasa Jhumo Re (Sony BMG) (PIC CREDIT – Pix Gremlin)

Having known Mr Kher for a few years and admiring his voice tremendously, it is a sentiment echoed by many – his songs, Mangala mangala, Tauba Tauba, Allah ke bande and more recently, Ye Rabba from Salaam E Ishq come to mind. His universal fan base of followers who love his Sufi style of singing and a voice that reminds them of the great legend, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. The last time I spent with him was an adventure – walking down Regent’s Street, then Piccadilly, culminating in an interview in Hyde Park! A tiny man with the energy of ten and the lungs of a lion, it was indeed great to catch up with him on his recent London trip.

Over breakfast, he spoke of his busy schedule with his band Kailasa, they guys who worked with him to produce his hit album of the same name he fondly misses them on this solo visit to London. He says: “Brothers Naresh and Paresh and my Kailasa boys are always touring with me, especially in India. We have so many gigs and hardly any time to relax. In fact, the only time we get alone, we tend to sleep and re-energise.”

On the trip to Birmingham, he decided to give his agent Uday, the driver Nav and yours’ truly a very special treat. The first listening to his next offering, Kailasa Jhumo Re. He was certainly excited about it: “We managed to complete the music and recordings during a period of less than six months and I am very thrilled at its sounds. I have incorporated my faith with a tribute to Lord Shiva (this is the club banger, Bhu) and also the fact that music is to move to, so it’s about having a party.” He explains: “Jhumo re means let’s freak out.” The track Jhumo re comes on and indeed, we all begin to sway to its beat. He also says: “Soft numbers are also part of the album. I like to play with my voice and its range.” In fact, he’s so thrilled about his new work, that is catchy at first listening and set to blow up the Indian music scene indubitably, he plays it repeatedly on the journey. It’s a hit with the group in the car, memorable tunes that stay with us through the day, while he lit up the NEC stage at the Asian lifestyle exhibition alongside popular singer, Usha Uthup, actress Jiah Khan (Nishabd) and gorgeous Fardeen Khan.

There was a challenge in Thelondonpaper, my favourite daily and I thought I’d send in this entry as a short 100 word story!

Treading on eggshells, that’s what I do day to day. When I hear the door open, a heartwrenching fear grips me. What mood will the one I loved be in? Today, he’s been drinking. I can smell that stench. I have to be brave. Get through this day. My escape is imminent. How will I get away from him safely? My friend has texted. Meet me on 8th Jan, she says. I sense an urgency. Does she know my plight? Should I open up and spill the beans, of my miserable existence, hoping to be saved? A grave decision indeed.

Ashanti OMkar investigates the phenomenon and lists many discernable South Indians who have made their mark in history and continue to do so.

Let’s start with the current president of India Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam who comes from the Dravidian lands and is a Tamilian from South India. The UK’s Royal Academy has been exhibiting some of the ancient bronzes in their popular Chola exhibition and Tamil Nadu has the world’s first all-female Special Forces police battalion. The strong culture of South of India is followed by immigrants like the Sri Lankans, Mauritians, South Africans, Malaysians, Canadians, British Asians, Australians and Asian Americans of that Diaspora. The languages of Tamil, Malayalam, Kannadam, Telungu, Tulu, Konkani are all from the South of India and in terms of the world, there are so many discernable people of those origins, scattered in professions like medicine, accounting and engineering through to media, arts and cinema. Embracing and holding onto their rich culture, forms a lot of their growth abroad and they continue to rise in the ranks of corporations in California’s silicone valley, not to mention the parallel counterparts which are one of the reasons for India’s booming economy – Bangalore and Chennai in the South are now very much the heart of Information Technology and outsourcing of work to highly trained staff in India is very much a common occurrence.

The Tamil movie market is making an impact on box offices internationally. The United Kingdom Box office recently saw Pokkiri, the Tamil remake of it’s US box office Telugu hit enter at 21st place and Ajith Kumar starrers, Varalaru and Aalwar at 24th and 27th from just a couple of screens. Music makers like AR Rahman (Bombay Dreams, The Golden Age) and Ilayaraja, and acclaimed film directors like Mani Ratnam (his movie Guru entered the UK box at number 15) becoming international names. A different style of filmmaking comes from Southern film directors like Bharatbala (Hey Ram), Priyadarshan (Virasat), Ram Gopal Varma (Rangeela), and Mani Ratnam (Dil Se) who have proven themselves in the Indian nationwide and hence worldwide realm, while cinematographers like Rajiv Menon (Bombay), Ravi K Chandran (Black), Santosh Sivan (Asoka), Ravi Verman (Shilpa Shetty’s Phir Milenge) and PC Sriram (Nayagan) make waves with their brilliant approach to photography.

Cinema is one of the biggest industries down South, with an output of a vast number of movies in regional dialects. One of the leading actors of the South, Rajini Kanth, for example has massive fan bases in places like Japan, where Indian movies are rarely screened and he commands more money for his film roles than some of the Mumbai elite. This remains a fact that often goes amiss in this very Bollywood centric perception of India. His new movie, Shankar’s Sivaji the boss, is expected in May 2007, with a bang of anticipation. Dr Kamal Hasan who was recently felicitated for his achievement in the industry was in the box office charts for his Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu and has his long awaited Dasavataram by K.S Ravikumar which alongside Sivaji, has a massive budget. The films also feature two of Tamil cinema’s most popular international stars – their careers have spanned decade after decade of hit movies and they still command hero roles into their fifties! The same goes for other regional South Indian heroes like Mamoorthy and Mohan Lal, not to mention Venkatesh, Balakrishna and Suresh Gopi.

A bevy of South Indian beauties stay in the news headlines, like Mangaloreans Shilpa Shetty, Aishwarya Rai and Vasundara Das (Monsoon wedding), Tamilians Padma Lakshmi (Model and wife of Salman Rushdie), Rachel Roy (Designer extraordinaire and wife of US Mogul Damon Dash) and actress Vidya Balan (Eklavya, Parineeta). Stunning models, like Deepika Padukone, Mridula Chandrasekar and Malaika Arora Khan all hail with some glorious South Indian blood. Actresses like Asin, Trisha, Nayanthara and actors like Vikram and Surya also boast a huge worldwide fan bases. Musically, Carnatic Classical Music of South India is akin to Western systems with not just a solid scientific basis, but the Trinity in terms of composers – Thyagaraja, Mutthuswami Dikshitar and Shyama Shastry are often drawn as parallels to Bach, Beethoven and Mozart. The new generation of singers like Naresh Iyer, Chinmayi and classically, Nithyashree and Sudha Ragunathan command sold out performances the world over. Drummer A.Sivamani is known to be one of India’s finest and was recently seen entertaining audiences at the Doordarshan launch in the UK with his 360 degree drum kit and innovative standing-up drumming stance. Susheela Raman and Karen David are well known singers in the West and are of South Indian origin, while Vikku Vinayakaram, the Ghatam (Clay pot) player, L Subramaniam and L Shankar (Violinist brothers) alongside top singers like Shankar Mahadevan, Hariharan and Kavitha Krishnamoorthy are always seen abroad, performing to hoards of loyal music fans.

South Indians abroad like PepsiCo President and CEO Indra Nooyi (Tamil) is classed by Forbes as one of the world’s most powerful women; Srinija Srinivasan of Yahoo is VP and editor in chief of the company – no mean feat on the international realm. Chairman and CEO of Hyde Park Entertainment, Ashok Amritraj is seen as one of Hollywood’s most successful producers, a wave of power is being represented by those of South Indian descent. Jay Chandrasekhar directed Dukes of Hazzard, the movie and is making his mark on Hollywood, as is Keralan American, Manoj Night Shyamalan, who remains ‘unbreakable’ in the box offices. Actors like Naveen Andrews (Keralan) and Sendhil Ramamurthy (Tamilian from Hit TV series Heroes) keep making waves in the acting arena and the Jazz world beholds Vijay Iyer (piano) and Prasanna (guitar) as its shining stars.

NASA’s Bangalore space station sends India’s first lunar spacecraft with its project leader as Mylswamy Annadurai from Coimbatore. In Malaysia’s space programme, Vanajah Siva Subramaniam of South Indian descent may well become the country’s 1st astronaut. The 1997 Booker prize winner, Arundhati Roy has Keralite blood in her and a few yesteryear top heroines in Bollywood are also of South Indian origin, namely Hema Malini (Mrs Darmendra and mother to Esha Deol), Sri Devi (Mrs Boney Kapoor), the stunning Vyjayantimala Bali of yesteryear and one of Bollywood’s most controversial actresses and the one who epitomised the character of Umrao Jaan, Rekha (the daughter of South Indian superstar Gemini Ganesan).

Whilst colonialism had it’s effect on South, the culture remains quite controlled in terms of ‘showbiz’ and the classical stream of dancing, especially in Tamilnadu, Bharatanatyam only became ‘honourable’ from being that of ‘Temple dance of prostitutes’ in the mid-20th century. Rukmini Devi Arundale, the founder of Kalakshethra, a top notch school in Chennai brought the arts of dance and music to the forefront, while Bharathanatyam dancers like Chithra Sundaram, Alarmel Valli and Shobana are taking it internationally. In terms of fashion, designers like Keralan brother and sister Anand and Sanjana Jon are ultra popular abroad. The cultural world is unravelling with so many big names who continue to make their mark not just in the business and professional industries but also in a thriving arts and lifestyle scene. With tourism, property and cutting edge fashion, South Indians are opening their talents to the world around them - these talented people are here to stay or have made their mark on a cultural landscape that many reminisce about! A bright future awaits; embracing the South of India with the rest of the world, while those propagating the culture like many from the linguistic diasporas, who continue to propel the heights.

Images of Kanyakumari, Shobana, Sivamani, Shri and Susheela Raman by Pix Gremlin

Amicable parting of Rishi Rich from 2point9 Records

By Ashanti OMkar

After creating history in British Asian music, Rishi Rich and 2point9 have amicably parted ways. In the case of Rishi Rich has made history in the last decade and brought in a new wave of sound for British Asians. He has remixed for Britney Spears, Craig David, Mary J Blige and Ricky Martin. He also propelled Jay Sean and Juggy D to the forefront of the charts and has traversed the world in terms of tours and building fan bases. He also hit Bollywood in a big way, with Boom, Hum Tum and Kya Kool Hain Hum.

The Asian Post caught up with a somewhat relaxed sounding Rishi Rich, who states: “I’m in the studio working, as usual and my phone is ringing off the hook.” He continues speaking about his relationship which was obviously a very fruitful one: “I feel really happy, in the sense the Billy from 2point9 and I, are still friends, and still talk – we will be working together again. I just needed to get to the next level, I needed that progression. 2point9 did an amazing job in the last 4-5 years and I am happy I was a part of it.

The future is bright and a confident sounding Rishi says: “I am nurturing some new artistes; I will reveal details when the time is right. I am most certainly going back to why I do music – this being production, which was always my first love. I got saturated working on the same artistes and I never wanted to be a live performer. I love working in my studio in Perivale. I have a lot of work on, it feels good.”

He humbly says about his part in British music history: “Hope that it stuff continues for Asian artistes. Every artiste grows, for example, Jay Sean does is doing completely non Indian stuff that he is very adept at and Juggy is concentrating on pure Desi stuff, which is his calling. We’re all friends.” Rumours have been flying round about Rishi moving to the US, he clarifies: “There have been many talks about a US move. Indeed I am working with some artistes and songwriters over in the States. I can still work from UK, as technology allows me to do so, but I will be going out to US from time to time. I am keen to do my UK, India thing, US thing – there is a lot of ground that is left to cover.”

Rishi’s future ventures can be followed online: “Check out my official myspace site www.myspace.com/rishirichbeats and there are a lot of new pieces I am toying with. I am keeping with the urban thing and East West fusion, but I am innovating and doing what I initially set out to do which was to be a creative, behind the scenes person - I got too caught up in live shows and touring and I am now going back to my roots.”

Rishi’s cousin and cohort in music, Mentor is by his side: “It’s better for him if he moves on – 2poin9 have taken him to where they could. He deserves to be in a better place and my loyalties are with him all way.” Popular music group, The Sona Family also have a very positive view on the parting – Kazz, the female vocalist speaks for them: “Rishi is a talented and hard-working producer, a role model for young Asians of today to follow their dreams in music to make a mark in the scene, Desi and mainstream. We wish him the very best of luck with progression and international success.”

You shiver, you shudder
Threading on eggshells becomes
Your very existence
Depression grips you
He’s beaten out the talent
Your joie de vivre

The man you once loved
With all your might
Has assaulted you
Insulted you, controlled you
Broken your spirit
Do you run? Do you hide?

What will society say?
That’s the only thing that runs
Through your very fragile mind
Will I manage on my own?
Will he hunt me down?
His frequents threats to kill you

No-one else can have you except me
He barks menacingly
I’ll kill any female child you have
With my bear hands, he shouts brutally
The beatings are indiscriminate
Why could they be?

Over fact that there’s no fresh chicken
Or that you’re too ill to cook
That you laughed with a friend
On the phone
You earn more than him
Or couldn’t buy that new mobile phone

He’s been brought up to think
It’s OK to beat his wife
His Parents, his family
They don’t see this as wrong
It’s been expected as very manly
Of him to show who’s boss

This is an educated woman’s dilemma
As it is for one who’s illiterate
It’s a dilemma of the world
That is brushed behind closed doors
The reality is hidden
To protect the perpetrators

Your side is not seen
By your people, your family
Who should support you
He may cry innocence
But only you know
The price of being a good wife

But they choose to do nothing
They choose to ignore
The pleas that emanate
From your tear stained eyes
They silently watch
As you put on an act and smile

But how many chances can you give
When does the time come?
When does that innate switch
Flick in your brain
He’s damaged your soul
Or so you feel

He thinks he’s destroyed you
But aren’t you stronger than that?
Does he deserve death?
Do you deserve death?
Should he be taught a lesson?
Or never be allowed to roam free

How many lives is he willing to destroy?
From a moral standpoint
What will you choose?
To escape forever with dignity
Or teach him forever a fatal lesson
And face the consequences?

This poem is based on the movie PROVOKED. Distributed by Eros and out worldwide in April, it made waves at Cannes and is Jag Mundhra’s version of the law changing story of Kiranjit Ahluwalia. The film stars Aishwarya Rai, Naveen Andrews, Nandita Das, Robbie Coltrane, Miranda Richardson, Karen David, Raji James e.t.c. Here is a movie that made me cry, as I saw a lot of my life in this movie and I’m sure many women will see mirrors of themselves in the main protagonist. Domestic violence is a curse that is universal - it does not only affect one try of society, neither is it an ‘Asian’ problem. Let’s all get together and try and combat this “social disease” as Aishwarya Rai described it to me during our heart to heart interview.

The Mystery of Mistry (Jimi of Blood Diamond fame)

Here’s a gorgeous specimen who we thought went into hiding for a while, but he’s to appear on the big-screen quite a bit in 2007. With a career he started off back in 1996, in a non speaking part in Hamlet, he wasn’t too sure how his aspirations would pan out, while growing up in Manchester. Born into dual heritage Medical parents, a Catholic Irish Mother and Hindu Indian Father and now the proud father himself, of daughter Erin and husband to Meg, Jimi Mistry is certainly representing for British Asians. Watch out for him around the neighbourhood of Crouch End, North London, where his home has a view of Alexandra Palace and perhaps catch him taking a walk in Hampstead Heath, for Jimi loves London town, writes Ashanti OMkar.

Soon to be seen onscreen in the epic movie ‘Partition’, as Gian Singh, an ex army officer who romances the ‘Smallville’ TV series/Neutrogena endorsing beauty, Kristin Kreuk. The film also stars Neve Campbell and shows Jimi’s acting prowess going from strength to strength. While he is probably best remembered for his part in ‘East is East’ alongside such stalwarts as Om Puri and Linda Bassett, Jimi has achieved around twenty roles within a ten year career. While he played bit-parts in TV, with roles in ‘The Bill’ and ‘Eastenders’, his parts in ‘Mystic masseur’ and ‘The Guru’ got him move visibility in the eyes of movie makers.

Blessed with good looks, his versatile acting and ability to pick roles that pushed the boundaries has made him a face that most eager cinemagoers have become familiar with. He has played alongside many of Hollywood’s most beautiful ladies, including Jennifer Love Hewitt in ‘The truth about love’, Heather Graham and Marisa Tomei in ‘The Guru’, Anne Hathaway in ‘Ella enchanted’ and more recently, the stunning Jennifer Connelly in ‘Blood diamond’. Speaking of which, here is a movie which throws him into the limelight even more, the moving story of the horrible plight of those stuck in the illegal trade of diamonds – he plays a small but pivotal role. Alongside Leonardo De Caprio and Djimon Hounsou, here is a film which already has a main cast of award winners, not to mention many a nomination for 2007 Oscars. He sports a new look – the bearded pilot and side-kick to the mighty De Caprio.

In the film ‘Touch of Pink’ – no, not the Lacoste for women perfume, but the one about the gay Muslim Canadian, he plays the offbeat role to perfection and similarly, in ‘Things to do before you’re 30′, amongst other movies, where he shows off his impeccable comic timing.

Jimi has an understated yet powerful presence in his acting and as one of Britain’s foremost acting talents, he is no doubt going to go far, especially if he keeps up the momentum in his movie releases. He has a work ethic that has no doubt been instilled in him by his parents – hard work and integrity. This is what gets an actor accolades, they say, so let’s watch Mr Mistry soar.