Sightings

HIS name is still whispered about in hushed tones. Amar Nath Sehgal may be 70 years old, but age has dimmed neither his creative prowess nor his commitment to excellence. Sehgal has been commissioned to work on the biggest ever bronze sculpture in India. The 23-feet high "Aiming for Excellence" has been earmarked by the Delhi Development Authority for its Indira Gandhi Stadium across the Yamuna. The first and perhaps the only Indian artist to have made it to the International "Who's Who" listing, Sehgal has many awards to his credit. But for this media-shy personality, sculpting is his first passion.

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WHY would anyone want to feature the progress of medical science in a third world country? The answer is in Discovery's new series called "Living Pulse", a programme that looks at developments in medicine all over the world.

Filming it in India is Louise Norman, the British documentary film maker, who made news with her documentaries on Kosovo.

Norman discovered the success of not only Dr. Naresh Trehan's robotic arm, but also a unique and wonderful programme in Rajasthan to help opium addicts conducted by Dr. Narayn Singh as well as the work of Dr. Sundar in North Bihar's Muzzaffarpur in combating the dreaded kala azar. Of the 26 episodes that comprise the series, five focus on work in India.

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TURNING spiritual may not exactly make news. But when liquor baron, Vijay Mallya, known better for his fast cars, thoroughbred horses and the annual sporting event sponsored by his company decided to turn a new leaf, many wondered at the metamorphosis. Mallya insists that it is not just a change of garb but one of the heart too. "He has given me so much love it is amazing," said Mallya in a recent interview. But this does not mean he is going to renounce his business. It only means that he finally recognises that there are myriad hues to life.

IT was an unusual project that got them attention in the city "Bowallhas" featured at a petrol pump on the highway won them a strangely loyal Indian audience. Not content to rest on that, Austrian curators, Angelika Fritz and Michael Worgotter are again in the city to select six to seven artists to participate in an exclusive exhibition in Vienna in 2001. Entitled "Signs Of India", the exhibition will encompass major positions of contemporary art in India. Both are committed to the public perception of art and have brought a touch of unique creativity to their work.

THE bad boy of the music industry is preening. Annu Malik, known for his foot-stomping numbers is once again in the news because Nicole Kidman is to dance to his "Chamma Chamma" in her next film "Moulin Rouge". Malik has every reason to be proud because it is not often that Hollywood looks to Bollywood for inspiration.

"Imagine her dancing to my song," said the excited composer. Not content with that, Malik has already charted out his mega plans. One of them being meeting Nicole Kidman, who he sees as a ticket to open up the doors of Hollywood for him. "Who knows I may suddenly win the Grammy one day."

HE was the last man to walk the moon. He has been part of three space missions and has spent 566 hours in space and 73 on the moon. Now he is to unveil a stunningly unusual exhibition on space.

For Eugene Cernan, time has not stood still and as brand ambassador to Omega, Cernan is all set to play his new role with as much enthusiasm as he did when orbiting people. The exhibition which will display the Lunar Rover that Cernan drove to the moon, the space suit he wore and other equipment that he used, is slated to create a major interest in space enthusiasts.

And what is the Omega connection? They were the only watches to be certified "flight-qualified" for al of NASA's space mission.

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