The majestic monsoons have a way of inspiring almost everyone with even a slightly romantic bend of mind. Why should a fashion house, then, be any exception? Chrishiv, the manufacturers of premium salwar kameez, launched their monsoon collection, The Rainsong. Their inspiration: colours and the moods of the Indian monsoon, the collection complements simple lines with convenient fabrics like jersey, georgette, terry voile, net flocking and jacquard.

Chandrakant Chaudhari, the man behind the show, draws a unique parallel: The monsoons, like the salwar kameez are both unique to India. With Rainsong, the uniqueness of the Indian seasons and garment will come to the fore. The salwar kameezes comprise innovative cuts, minimal embroidery and are largely in sharp greens of freshly washed leaves, dusty grey of a cloud, bark-textured and the pale pink and burnt orange of the sky: aal with one essential ingredient: comfort.

The collection also has straight kurtas with trousers,tunics with pyjamas and narrow salwars. There are also ethereal designs with intricate chikankari work and fine muted embroidery, all accents to the styles.

Available at: Crishiv in-house showrooms at Linking Road, Shoppers Stop and Akbarally's branches.

Pot of gold

Buy a flat at Evershine, Malad and be a winner is what Evershine Builders told people all along. Now, they're making sure those who listened to them are having a ball because of it. Celebrating their fortieth anniversary, Evershine Builders held the Griha Pravesh Mela '99, which ended on March 22, 1999. Apart from a discount for over Rs 90 and Rs 115 per sq ft, the company offered bonds worth Rs 4,00,000 for every customer, which would mature in 25 years time, apart from offering one kilo of gold to one lucky winner. The mela also offered customers easy-to-buy installment-oriented bank finance schemes. Over 300 customers bought their `dream homes' from Evershine.

And now, the grand finale to see who wins the pot ofgold is here. At the show organised on July 4, where the lucky winner will be drawn, there will be a day of entertainment for all who Evershine residents. A live show by Poornima and her troupe will be followed by a variety programme. Fun for buying a home.

At St Andrews Auditorium, Bandra. July 4, 11.00 am

Formula music

Rajshri Music, the guys who came up with Valentine's Day and the immensely popular Yeh Hai Prem series, are targetting the younger, hipper set again. College Ke Din is their latest album, and the music company claims that it `will seduce even those who are through with college'. In keeping with the mood of the alnum, the release was at the Jai Hind college auditorium. And music-video director Ravi Udyawar brings together Moon Moon Sen's gorgeous daughter Raima and up-coming telly model Sameer in the music video for the first song Pehla Din Hai College Ka. A more interesting project by the Rajshris, however, is their corporate website. Check themout at www.rajshri.com

Kudos!

Channel [V] made a mark at the Promax Awards held in San Francisco last week. The Channel [V] Car Horn Orchestra achieved World Class status in the Best Jingle/Music Package category, while their `Support Kids: Once Upon A Time' Public Service Announcement (PSA) won a Gold Award in the PSA category. Their campaign, `Plastic - Use or Refuse' won a silver award, also in the PSA category, while the `Shanghai VJ Search' also scooped a silver Award in the Special Project category. Channel [V] also won a total of 10 awards for print creative at the 21st Annual Broadcasting Design Association Awards (BDA), including one World Class Award and two Gold Awards.

The Indian award-winning creative team includes Arnab Chaudhuri, Sheetal Sudhir, Savio Rodrigues, Indrajit Nattoji, John Owen and Pete Bishop. Congratulations, all.

Greater good?

Arundhati Roy speaks her views on the Narmada Valley project, something about which she has always been vociferous in the past. Thethrust of her public speeches is, simply: "Whether you love the dam or hate it, whether you want it or you don't, it is in the fitness of things that you understand the price that's being paid for it." So much for a non-biased, objective forum! Promises to be an interesting couple of events.

On July 5, 6.30 pm, St Andrews School Hall, Bandra, and July 6, 6.00 pm, Jai Hind College Hall, A Road, Churchgate

Music with a cause

In a gesture to express their solidarity in India's moment of crisis, musical maestros and film stars are coming together this weekend to perform at two different concerts. Their purpose: to raise funds and support for the Indian soldiers staking their lives at Kargil.

The first event is Cause Celebre's `Milap - Oneness For Music', which brings together the likes of Hariharan, Fazal Qureshi, Toufiq Qureshi, Viku Vinayak Ram, Louis Banks, Karl Peters, Ustad Sultan Khan, folk dancer Birwa Qureshi, Bali Bramhmabhatt and Shridhar Parthasarthy at 7.30 pm on Saturday eveningat St. Andrews Auditorum.

The following evening, Smita Thackeray's Mukti Foundation has `Ek Shaam Shaheedon Ke Naam at 7.00 pm at the NSE Complex in Goregaon. The live concert will feature some of Bollywood's biggest crowd-pullers -- Govinda, Sunil Shetty, Raveena Tandon, Javed Akhtar, Hariharan, Shankar Mahadevan, Pankaj Udhas, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Anu Malik and Shiamak Davar, while Jaaved Jafferi will emcee this extravaganza.

Tickets for `Milap', priced at Rs 500, 350, 250 and 100 are available at Rhythm House, Kalaghoda and Hiro Music Bandra. Donor cards for `Ek Shaam...' priced at Rs 5,000, 2,500 and 300 are available at Rhythm House, Crossword, Breach Candy, Hiro Music and all Croissant outlets around the city. For block bookings contact: 98211-70942.