SINGAPORE: Tan Bee Lian will not be home for the next week or so. Home for her will be Swissotel the Stamford, from today till July 9.

But it will not be a holiday and she will not be enjoying the many five-star amenities available at her doorstep.

Instead, the 31-year-old will be busy running around the Raffles City Convention Centre ensuring equipment and facilities are in top shape.

Tan is the deputy chairperson (Logistics and Operations) of the Singapore Organising Committee for the upcoming 117th International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session here.

It will be held at the Raffles City Convention Centre from July 6-9 and the highlight will be the vote and announcement on July 6 of the winning city to host the 2012 Olympic Games.

Speaking to Today last night at the hotel, Tan said: “I received a call at midnight from a member of my team yesterday and it was not the first time.

“I decided enough was enough and moved into one of the rooms here.

“I feel much closer to the action living just above the convention centre. If we have a problem, I want to be there to solve it quickly.”

Tan’s task includes getting the convention centre ready for the 116 IOC delegates, including president Jacques Rogge, as well as the likes of boxing legend Muhammad Ali, David Beckham and Luc Besson.

Her team has been tasked with setting up the main session hall, the international broadcast centre and the various offices for the IOC and the five bid cities.

Tan will not be the only one living out of her suitcase for the next week. Low Wun Gong will be joining her, as well.

Low, director of Pico, the main contractor in charge of setting up the convention centre, will be with his team of 30 workers at the hotel for the next week.

“We have to ensure that the session goes on smoothly. We are dealing with the huge expectations the IOC have on Singapore.

“We cannot fail,” said Low.

For the Session, Pico deal with technical stuff like room settings, backdrops and wires, right up to the glamour and glitz of putting together a ballroom.

“The session will itself be tense and if we make a mistake, it will make the situation worse. We cannot afford to make a mistake,” Low added. –

Channel News Asia

SINGAPORE : London delegates are the first to arrive in Singapore for the 117th IOC Session.

London is among five other cities bidding for the 2012 Olympics.

It was a confident Sebastian Coe who greeted the media upon his arrival at Changi Airport on Tuesday.

He is leading the London 2012 delegation, which will include footballer David Beckham.

Delegations from the other candidate cities will be arriving over the next few days ahead of next week’s 2012 Olympic announcement. – CNA/de

Channel News Asia

The French journalist wanted Tom Cruise to kiss her on national television.

Obviously a minor celebrity in her own country, the Parisian TV presenter used the most tedious of gimmicks to make sure her story made the evening news.

It was as trashy as it was excruciating and clearly, the American superstar didn’t want to play ball.

His nervous laughter reached manic levels, but the annoying hack in front of me was not easily dismissed.

“Please Mr Cruise, if you kiss me today, I can die a happy la-dee,” she purred, in the most affected French accent since that of the The Pink Panther’s Inspector Clouseau.

Eager to regain control of the War Of The Worlds press conference as quickly as possible, Cruise turned to his right and said: “Well? What do you think?”

It was Katie Holmes who, within five minutes, would be known as fiancee Katie Holmes. But at this stage she was still the less bankable Katie Holmes.

The Batman Begins actress held out her hand, making it clear that that was the only part of the Frenchwoman’s anatomy her Top Gun could touch.

“Okay, then,” said Cruise, motioning the simpering journalist towards him.

He grabbed her hand, kissed it coldly, laughed unconvincingly and Ms Nobody floated back to her seat.

The rest of us checked our watches. But the brief kissing farce sums up Cruise’s recent shenanigans.

Despite being ranked 10th on Forbes magazine’s power rankings, the ringmaster appears increasingly powerless in controlling the public relations circus.

No matter what he does to promote War Of The Worlds, which is released worldwide tomorrow, his off-screen antics, whether engineered by himself or others, end up undermining his efforts.

At best, he ends up looking foolish (on Oprah Winfrey’s couch). At worst, he appears to be manipulative and intolerant of anyone who doesn’t endorse his religion, Scientology.

More worryingly, the one-man movie production house, the Hollywood behemoth who has been an ATM machine for the major studios ever since Top Gun (1986), Cocktail (1988) and Rain Man (1988), no longer seems to be able to control the one thing that has always been regarded as untouchable: His image.

Real love or real publicity?

Part of the problem is that the 42-year-old is very difficult to accept at face value.

During the press conference in Paris at the historic Restaurant Le Train Bleu, housed within the famous Gare De Lyon train station, Cruise suddenly stopped, looked around the expansive room and said: “Can I just say this is the most beautiful train station I have ever seen?

“I’ve seen it on film so many times and it’s just amazing to finally be here. Don’t you think it’s beautiful?”

He looked at Holmes, who nodded her agreement. She did this a lot.

But Cruise’s apparent sincerity and inherent politeness was greeted with heavy sighing from the European journalists around me.

Indeed there was a discernible scepticism throughout the press conference, which is intriguing because it is not necessarily warranted. He answers questions at length, before thanking the journalist for asking the question (unlike, say, the monosyllabic Robert De Niro).

Cruise has never been convicted of drug abuse (like Robert Downey Jr), never been accused of attacking a hotel employee (Russell Crowe), never pinned a TV producer to the wall (again, Crowe) and never been called a marriage-breaker (just about everyone else in Hollywood).

And yet the three-time Oscar nominee Born on the Fourth of July (1989), Jerry Maguire (1996) and Magnolia (1999)is being savaged by the media for declaring his love for Holmes, attracting the kind of negative press usually reserved for the telephone-throwing Crowe and the child-loving Michael Jackson.

It is certainly difficult to reconcile the once-notoriously private star with the fist-pumping, couch-jumping lovesick actor who left Oprah speechless on her show last month. Noted for his PR savvy, Cruise’s love declaration and subsequent marriage proposal to a woman he only met in April has raised eyebrows.

Indeed, American comedians have asked the question: Now that Batman Begins and War Of The Worlds are out in the cinemas, will Tom and Katie leave the world alone?

But Cruise does nothing to dissipate the cynicism by answering questions with the skill, and often conviction, of a politician.

When asked if the events of 9/11 had impinged upon War Of The Worlds’ storyline (America struggles to secure its borders to an invisible, foreign enemy), the man who portrayed a top driver in Days Of Thunder (1990) moves the gear into Cruise control.

“People are going to bring to this story whatever they want,” he said. “Personally, I believe it to be about family and the importance the family unit has in today’s society.

“My character, Ray, protects his family when the aliens land. I hope that people take a moment out to think about children and our responsibility to them. That’s what War Of The Worlds is really about.”

But hasn’t director Steven Spielberg already said that the storyline represents peoples’ collective fears about the unseen things that surround them since 9/11?

A slight pause.

“Well, I know Steve has talked about that,” admitted Cruise, never losing eye contact. “It might have impinged on his work, but that’s not my take on this movie.”

That’s the Cruise Hollywood is more familiar with. Avoiding controversy by deftly side-stepping any verbal landmines, the actor survived two divorces (Mimi Rogers, Nicole Kidman), and a secretive relationship with actress Penelope Cruz without ever allowing his protective guard to drop.

Scientology, however, is another matter. In March 2004, Cruise fired Pat Kingsley, the head of the most powerful PR firm in Hollywood, who had handled his press for 14 years.

The reason? Kingsley had long made the subject of Scientology off limits at media conferences. It wasn’t right for the image of Mr Mission Impossible.

But she allegedly asked Cruise not to discuss the religion during his promotional work for The Last Samurai (2003) and she quickly found herself replaced by his sister Lee Anne De Vette, a fellow Scientologist.

Now, Cruise can’t stop talking about his religion.

The shadow of Scientology

“People ask me about Scientology all the time,” he said. “If they ask, I’ll tell them. It’s interesting to me, to communicate my ideas … Scientology has helped my life.

“It can help people get off drugs, (Scientologists) can help rehabilitate criminals. We’re the only successful drug rehabilitation programme on Earth.”

All of those points are of course highly contestable, but Cruise was not about to let facts get in the way of good rhetoric.

“I’m proud to be a Scientologist. In Hollywood, when people are in trouble they call me, because they know I’m the sort of person they can depend upon.

“Scientology is something that’s good, it’s quite magnificent,” he said.

And we were supposed to be talking about Spielberg’s “ET gone bad” film.

But the screen idol won’t let up.

The father of two adopted children has recently criticised actress Brooke Shields for taking anti-depressants (Scientologists shun psychiatry and mood-altering drugs) and found himself embroiled in a very public row last Friday with television presenter Matt Lauer, who discussed Shields. Cruise slammed psychiatry, claiming to know its history and accused Lauer of irresponsibly advocating drugs.

No wonder Spielberg, who, like Cruise, reportedly rejected a salary in return for a percentage of the War of the Worlds’ profits, just wants to discuss aliens.

But Cruise can’t seem to stay focussed on the task at hand.

When asked why he discusses Scientology with others, the New York-born actor said: “If I don’t know something, I’ll go and find out myself because bigotry and racism are things that people are not born with, they’re educated that way.

“It’s important that we communicate about these things so we can move beyond them.

“Look where we are today. I’m honoured to be here in Paris, it’s a dream to be here with the person that I love and I want to be here in this beautiful place with all you people. I just wish everyone in the room well.”

And somehow, Cruise had retaken control of the press conference with his final answer. His response was detailed, considerate and courteous.

Still, he never really answered the question. –

Channel News Asia

Drape it, pleat it, forget it

Shaina N.C. reveals her passion for constantly reinventing the sari to Mini Anthikad-Chhibber

BLACK FOREVER Shaina makes a classic style statement Photos: K. RAMESH BABU

If Shaina N.C. were to design Liz Hurley’s wedding sari she would design “a split sari in warm colours maybe orange and pink. Actually a lot of people thought I had designed the orange sari Liz was wearing in those photographs that were splashed in the media,” the 31-year-old design diva exclaims. While Shaina has not designed for Liz Hurley as yet, she has her share of celebrity clients ranging from Aishwarya Rai to Juhi Chawla and Mahima Chowdhury.

“I do not like to design for films,” she says. “It is just too much of a bother. I cannot see myself chasing after producers for my money. Designing for individuals is better. We keep the clients’ preferences in mind. Like Ash prefers fitted saris and she has the body to carry it off while Juhi prefers subtle embroidery and Mahima is kind enough to wear whatever we give her!”

In town to inaugurate her signature line at Mebaz, Shaina is the epitome of multi-tasking. “Fire away,” she says encouragingly. “I just have this habit of doing many things at the same time.” And she goes on to give a live demo as she charms customers, reveals the sari in all its splendour as she rapidly drapes it, answers questions without a pause and also hungrily digs into a plate of idlis – “I haven’t eaten a thing since morning,” she explains.

This political science graduate from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai has got multitasking down to a fine art what with the upmarket Golden Thimbles boutique in Mumbai, and also a rather hectic political career – Shaina is the secretary of the BJP in Mumbai.

And then there is her five-year-old daughter as well. “There is tremendous guilt. My daughter does not see me enough to cling to me. I say this with remorse. It is just a matter of time management I guess. My day starts early and ends late.”

Shaina says her “decision to enter politics was prompted because of my education and my background.” Shaina’s father, Nana Chudasama, was the former mayor of Mumbai.

“I love people, I am a people’s person. My family and in-laws were very supportive. My husband, Manish Munot, was 90 per cent for the decision. The other ten per cent – I don’t think he realised how much of my time politics would take!”

Question of stimuli

Shaina agrees fashion and politics make strange marriage, “but then everything about me is a kichidi. Fashion gives me creative stimulation while politics gives me mental stimulation.” Shaina hopes she would never have to make a choice between fashion and politics. “Maybe a little less of both but never an either/or situation.

If her political science degree caused to gravitate towards politics, her Associates Degree in Fashion Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology, New York, prompted her to help out with her mother’s boutique, Golden Thimbles.

Ask her why the sari and pat comes the reply, “why not? It is ours, it belongs to us. It is the most flattering garment where a thin person can look voluptuous and a bulky person can camouflage all the unseemly bulges. The younger generation need to be introduced to the garment. We do not need a Jemima Goldsmith or a Cherie Blair to tell us how cool the garment is.”

Shaina likes to work in fabrics that fall well like georgettes, chiffons and nets and feels the new age bride is not going to have any superstitions against black. “It is my favourite colour and nowadays people are willing to try out new things.”

Shaina has created 54 different ways of draping a sari and we are still counting for newer designs from the buzzing whizzing human dynamo.

Style secrets

Who better than the queen of drapes to tell you exactly what to keep in mind while draping yourself in the six yard wonder? Shaina N. C. who has made popularising the sari her life’s work, shares some tips

Embroidered saris do not need a fall.

Petticoats should be A-line with slits on the side.

Do not go for satin petticoats as they tend to bunch up and there is a problem with static as well.

The emphasis should be on the blouse.

Pleats should be inwards.

Tie the sari on the navel or an inch below, more than that looks vulgar.

Hindu On Net

Bollywood’s mark on the tulip fields

SUSAN MUTHALALY

The International Indian Film Awards is not about money. It is about worldwide hype, momentum … for Indian cinema. A look at the ceremony, held this year in Amsterdam.

PHOTO: AP

L.A. STYLE: The stars in the Dutch city were (from left) Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai and Abishek Bachchan.

THE young man, who was serenely smoking a joint a minute ago, jumps up for a glimpse of the action. Arms outstretched, he yells, “Mummyji, Pappaji, I love you!” Rather bizarre — even for someone who’s on a marijuana high — when you consider our ardent declarer of parental love is blond, Dutch and standing outside the grand, old Pathe Tuschinski theatre in Amsterdam. The “action” is a red carpet walk for the cast of Parineeta, the World Premiere Film at the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) weekend this year.

Put it down to a masalafied diet of Karan Johar, who was the one who told us that “It’s all about loving your parents” with his “Kabhie Khushi Kabhie Gham” in 2001. After all, this city of canals, tulips, drugs and paid love is the venue of the sixth IIFA Awards, a weekend of Bollywood in the truest sense of the term; this is when the Hindi film industry celebrates its existence L.A. style, with red carpet walks, parties and a much-hyped awards ceremony.

The aim of this extravaganza, according to co-founder and co-director of IIFA Sabbas Joseph, is to create a “momentum” for Indian cinema globally. Along with Andre Timmins and Viraf Sarkari, he started the awards six years ago at the Millennium Dome, U.K., a do attended by Jackie Chan, Angelina Jolie and that saucy minx Kylie Minogue.

Business created

Says Joseph, “We hold the IIFA Weekend in places where Indian cinema does not have a presence,” he says. South Africa, the United Kingdom, Malaysia,

Singapore? Surprising, considering these previous venues for the IIFA weekends all have a strong Indian presence. “I’ll admit there are a lot of Indians in these places but the business of Indian cinema did not exist there before IIFA. In Singapore, Indian films were screened only in Little India, and that too mostly Tamil films,” says Sabbas.

He says the sale of tickets of Hindi cinema grew by 35 per cent in the U.K. in the six months after IIFA. In South Africa, Hindi films were only screened during matinee shows but they have now moved to mainline theatres. Sabbas says there are distribution chains vying for the rights to exhibit Hindi films across Africa.

The IIFA website also says in Malaysia, “there was an increase in the value of rights for Indian Cinema and the collection from exhibition and sale of non-pirated DVDs increased by more than 50 per cent. The number of Indian visitors to Malaysia has risen by 35 per cent and Indian occupancy at Genting Highlands rose by 190 per cent in the year after IIFA.” And it’s not just business that benefits. Last year in Singapore, director Shekhar Kapoor announced his bilingual film venture — “Paani” in Hindi and “Water” in English — with Barrie Osborne, producer of The “Lord of the Rings”.

And now, weeks after “Parineeta’s” IIFA premiere, the film’s director Pradeep Sarkar says it had a great opening in the U.K. and the U.S. markets, thanks to the hype at IIFA. It will soon have a full-fledged release across the Netherlands with 25 to 30 prints. Sarkar says, “The BBC and several other international media organisations were present at IIFA. This gave the film immediate hype in their countries. And of course, “Parineeta” shows a true India that even foreigners like to see.” Sarkar’s debut film follows “Lagaan” as an IIFA world premiere. Lagaan went on to be nominated for the Oscars. Does Sarkar think that “Parineeta” will follow “Lagaan’s” lead? “We never expected to be chosen for IIFA. Thanks to it, it got publicity,” is all he’ll say. Publicity is one of the integral parts of IIFA. The stars and the media make IIFA. There were 350 film personalities (directors, producers, filmstars, nominees) and 120 media people (excluding the ones from The Netherlands) who were flown to Amsterdam and hosted for the three days of partying.

Partying or films?

“We chose Amsterdam because it is a great place to party,” says Sabbas. Although the partying and glamour generates a lot of interest in the event, there are those from the film fraternity who feel it takes away from the real focus of IIFA — the films. Ashvin Kumar, director of Oscar-nominated short film “Little Terrorist” that was part of the IIFA film festival this year, says, “There should be something to be gained after bringing all these people here. The celebrity cricket match got more attention than the film festival. We should take a leaf out of Cannes where the glamour draws attention to the real thing — good cinema. But then anyway, Hindi cinema is atrophy. It’s mere titillation where they flash violence and breasts. The concept and story are lifted from other films.”

It takes about $3 million to pull off IIFA each year and Sabbas says, “Like any venture, we do make a small profit but the idea is to break even. IIFA is not about the money. It’s about worldwide hype, momentum … for Indian cinema. We started the publicity six months ago. We brought the international media to Mumbai to meet prominent Indian film journalists. We educated them about Hindi films.”

Obviously, it’s all working. Indians in Amsterdam are constantly stopped by the locals who want to know where Amitabh Bachchan is. And Bollywood has left an indelible mark on Holland’s tulip fields with one variety of the flower named after Aishwarya Rai. The downside is that IIFA perpetuates the idea of “Bollywood”, a self-deprecating crack at Hindi cinema being a Bombay version of the real thing — Hollywood. It also reinforces that Hindi cinema is Indian cinema, that the two terms are interchangeable, thereby undermining the presence of Indian films from other regions. But that’s another story.

Hindu On Net