Marriage of the Year is here

By Lakshmi Balakrishnan

NEW DELHI, NOV. 24. This is one marriage that Delhi has been waiting to attend. And finally, after days of simply staring at those giant invitation cards, the city now is all set with a chance to be part of Mira Nair's much acclaimed ``Monsoon Wedding''.

Call it a publicity plot of the highest order or a genuine effort to take films to a more audience-friendly plane, but from the look of it, the premiere of ``Monsoon Wedding'' this Sunday should be full of the hungama that Punjabi weddings have always been known for.

And if the minutes of the wedding schedule are anything to go by, the drama will unfold around 6-45 p.m. at the Priya complex in Vasant Vihar here. The action begins in the lobby of Vasant Continental Hotel, where the ``baraat'' will assemble. And a high-profile baraat it will be with a dozen guards providing a security ring around the stars while they head for the main entrance of the cinema hall.

As for the guests, irrespective of whether you are punctual or not, 7-30 p.m. is the time given by the hosts. And mind you, it's only the beginning. If the organisers of the show are to be believed, then the theatre will be decorated with flowers and illuminations to give it a ``real'' look. The Priya entrance is where the ``milni'' and ``tika'' will be. And adding to the Punjabi look will be a rangoli and assorted decorations.

Not surprisingly, much like the reel bride Adity that she plays in this film, Vasundhara Das was just as unsure about the ``marriage'' until at least this past Friday morning. ``I can't really say anything because I haven't got the details. So whether I am going to be dressed as a bride or waiting to welcome is something that even I am not sure of'' is all she would say.

Considering that the crew have been meeting each other in the past few days much like long lost family friends, it might well be a get-together for the cast. But there is a catch there. According to the film's cast, it has rained during every single premiere of the film across the globe.

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