For those who want to know more about Western classical music, the Jindal Arts Creative Interaction Centre (JACIC) has a special course called Monsoon Music Magic from July 17 to July , 1998 at the Little Theatre, NCPA. The objective of this concise package is to de-mystify the subject and make it accessible to everyone.

The faculty consists of well-known pianist Dr Farid Curmally and Dr Anjan Ray, a scientist with nearly two decades of broadcasting experience and an interest in musicology. One of the highlights of the course will be a live concert featuring Dr Curmally, Vera Choksey and Eric Mirza on the piano, Zubin Behram-Kamdin and Joseph Pinto on the violin, Aleric Diniz on the clarinet, Natasha Colaco (Soprano) and Ananda Mukherjee (Baritone).

The timings for the three-day programme are: Friday: 5.00 pm to 8.00 pm, Saturday and Sunday: 9.00 am to 8.00 pm. The registration fee is Rs 350.For further details contact 283 3737/3838, Ext 204, between 10.30 am to 5.30pm.

Indian rugs

Looking for classic durries and floor coverings, specially designed to last Indian climatic conditions? Then check out the exhibition-cum-sale at the Trimourti Emporium Art Gallery, at the World Trade Centre. There are limited editions and signature series on offer in various textures and colours -- from pastels to earth shades. Presented by Nova Pack, Shatranji's durries are simple to maintain as they can be machine-washed. They are also stain and flame resistant. These durries also come in different sizes -- for room decoration, wall coverings, Yoga rugs, travellers' rugs as well as Muslim prayer rugs. And if you get there before July 31, 1998, you can pick up what you want at a 20 per cent discount. The smaller 3x6 rugs are priced at Rs 650, the 4x6 are in the range of Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,600 and the 6x8 pieces cost Rs 3,200.

Your choice

Here's some good news for music lovers. The MTV Video Music Awards -- `Indian Viewer's Choice' contest is on till August 21, 1998. Andfor the lucky winners, there's a chance to `Hang Out With The Stars In LA'. The biggest prize is attending the award function on September 11, 1998, and the post event party.

All you have to do is cast your vote for the music video of your choice via post or fax, or by picking up entry forms from any of these distribution points all Fountain Pepsi outlets, Pepe Jeans outlets or The Indian Express newspaper. And then you have to cast your vote. The five artistes you have to choose from are: Asha Bhonsle (`Jaanam Samjha Karo'), A R Rahman (`Maa Tujhe Salaam'), Kamaal Khan (`O Jaane Jaana'), Abhijeet (`Main Koi Aisa') and Lata Mangeshkar and Udit Narayan (`Dil To Pagal Hai').

Act two

Noted Marathi playwright V V Shirwadkar's famous play Natasamrat is now available in English. Translated by V G Limaye and published by Suyog Prakashan, Pune, The Last Scene will be released this evening by film and theatre stalwart, Naseeruddin Shah. Veteran theatre actor Dr Shreeram Lagoo, who played the title roleof Natasamrat for several years, is the chief guest for the function at the Dadar Matunga Cultural Centre, Mahim. The programme begins at 6.30 pm and for those interested in buying a copy today, it will be available at a concessional rate of Rs 90.

Super screenings

To felicitate film-maker Shyam Benegal's 25-year-long career, the Prabhat Chitra Mandal is having a special festival where they will screen his movies. This is the first event in the film society's agenda for its 30th year celebrations. Today, there will be a screening of Nishant, starring Naseeruddin Shah, Smita Patil and Shabana Azmi. Manthan, a film about the milk co-operatives revolution in Gujarat, will be shown on July 20. And Bhumika, based on the life of Marathi actress Hansa Wadkar, which fetched Smita Patil her first National Award, will be screened on July 21. All screenings will be held at the Y B Chavan Pratisthan, Mumbai. The festival is open only to members of Prabhat Chitra Mandal.

Filmi net

So far Hindi filmsand the World Wide Web have had a notorious relationship known only for online pictures of Bollywood actresses whose faces are morphed to nude bodies. But now there is a site which aims for a "serious representation of Hindi films on the net", says Prabhat Kumar, the mind behind www.agyaat.com. For instance, the first net issue deals with sexuality in Hindi cinema. Mira Nair's Kamasutra obviously features, and besides extensive background and interesting trivia, there are also frank interviews with Bollywood's goddess of love, Rekha, and Shashi Kapoor who made Utsav. The site will look at new issues every fortnight with the previous episodes going to the archives section. Some of the topics that the Agyaat team, Kumar and Shilpa Handa, have zeroed on are: How and why beautiful clothes horses, the models, get left behind in the Bollywood race? The dilemma of ageing actors, etc. Definitely worth a look.

Media marriage

Nalesh Patil and C Gangadharan -- the longest surviving creative team in Indianadvertising -- complete 15 years of being together. They started their careers around the same time in Trikaya Grey and did such award winning campaigns as Sweetex, Amul, Max Touch and Onida. Two years ago, they went off to join PSL Universal McCann, a joint venture between Mahindra & Mahindra and McCann Erickson, as executive creative directors. The agency is having a party this evening to celebrate what they call their long-running marriage.