They are unique actors. They are also social workers and members of the “Interactive Team” and Hal Greaves and Dawn Henry, better known as Roy and Gloria commonly seen in the three-minute television skits put on by the Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CADV), have had to clear the air on some issues. Despite what some may think when they run up to the local celebs and hug them on the streets, the two are not married. Their characters are. Hal is a single-parent father of two and Dawn’s a spinster. However, she enjoys taking care of her niece and nephew with whom she lives. “The public has imposed that character on me. There’s no way we could convince the public that we’re not married. They would meet my parents and say, ‘I just meet your daughter-in-law’,” Hal told People. Hal will act clueless when you accuse him on the streets of his hometown in San Fernando, in broad daylight, about not paying his son’s bail — though he just smiled when the “very angry” woman who accosted him some weeks ago accused him of such. “To tell you how Hal and Roy are so different,” Hal said, “Roy is left-handed and I am right-handed.” The two though, many have observed, share a sense of humour. Hal continued: “My character and I are not similar in any way at all… I think he (Roy) is an idiot. “I wouldn’t want to wear that character. I understand what facial expressions and gestures I need to make him effective. I work at making him humorous so that people can remember the jokes and remember the messages. His facial expressions are not mine. Those things are purposefully done. “When I get upset I get quiet, Hal stops communicating. Hal will keep his distance from people, whereas Roy is loud and aggressive,” he said.

In the skit, husband and wife and parents of four children, Roy and Gloria tackle parenting issues in a dysfunctional family setting. “Roy generates the issues but Gloria controls the audience,” Hal informed. “The characters are flawed. Roy does the right thing sometimes even if it is by accident. He’s never willing to admit his problem.” Gloria, however, is “somebody who knows her husband, how he behaves, how he responds to certain things,” offered Dawn. “She has tried to make adjustments to deal with him but Roy just rants and raves.” Hal and Dawn, founding members of the “Interactive Team” have been putting on skits, staging workshops, giving lectures, holding group sessions on numerous social issues such as domestic violence, rape, HIV/AIDS, anger management and coping with old age for the eight years of the group’s existence. Their objective has been promoting developmental issues through effective mediums, mainly drama. “Interactive Team” succeeded “My People Incorporated” which they also conceptualised in 1986. “We look at these issues from several different sides, look at the risk factors involved, cultural factors causing that particular issue to remain unresolved. We also look at the socio-economic, human and behavioural factors so that in a lot of ways our methods are lifestyle management tools and not simply drama for entertainment,” Hal informed. The group of volunteers comprises 16. They vary in age. The directors include Nigel Forgenie/General Manager of San Fernando Credit Union, economist and business consultant, Sherman Baksh/economist and Hal. “Interactive Team” has worked in the past with various NGOs, government and international agencies including CAREC, UNDP, UNDCP, NADAP and Caribbean Family Planning in Puerto Rico and Aruba. In October, the team will return to Aruba to work with the police department there. “Currently, we’re working with the police service in Trinidad tackling the issue of anger management and domestic violence. We do assimilations, coming at them with carefully designed situations for the recruits. The police service has over 4,000 officers and gradually, at some point in time, all will go through our training.”

They have also gone into villages, visited schools and worked with half-way houses and rehab centres. The “Interactive Team” has found that interactive theatre or “national ventilation,” as Hal calls it, has been extremely effective. “We use our characters to help people understand their situation clearly. The audience gets so heavily involved…and people become so open that they are extremely honest. For example, after one skit children have told us that their parents had drugs at home and at one company the issue of stealing came up. It (skit) is realistic and gets the audience to work out what they can do to prevent the problem from happening,” said Hal. “When we go on a stage we are quite aware that the only people acting are us, but the issues we’re addressing are real life for everybody else.” Hal, formerly the Head of Computer Graphics Department and Head Copywriter at Advance Dynamics’ advertising agency, was greatly influenced by his father, Jim Greaves, who was a dramatist. He left his “good job” in 1992 to pursue his “dream.” Hal said: “I always wanted to make a difference. I felt that drama was more than just acting on a stage so that instead of heading north to Broadway and Hollywood, I felt here I could make a difference.” Hal was offered the opportunity to go to Hollywood to work with Disney, Buena Vista Studios, “but I gave it up because I was working with the orphanages at the time.” His knowledge in drama was acquired after reading “everything I could find, on the Internet, looking at tapes from Marcel Marceau and his pantomime to the Japanese Noh theatre to Yoruba opera. My dream was never to win an award for best actor but to mean something as opposed to doing something that would make someone clap,” Hal revealed. On the contrary, Dawn, also of San Fernando, was never really interested in drama but when commuting with a co-worker who spoke of his involvement in drama, she expressed interest. That was 17 years ago. That’s when she met up with Hal and the two have been friends ever since. The social welfare officer attached to the Office of the Prime Minister, Princes Town who’s accustomed to being called “Gloria” by her clients said she always preferred the background. But after being handed her first script, she said, “It was what God wanted me to do.” Dawn has been a source of encouragement for many. “People would stop me and tell me their problems and ask for advice and I give them my number… I enjoy helping people,” she said. “One woman stopped me and asked if I was married to Hal and I said, ‘Only on TV,’ and she turned and told me that’s not true and walked away.”  Although she’s been accused of being too “nagging” by strangers, men particularly, she said that like Gloria, she could be just as disciplinary. She said she didn’t see herself as a celebrity but feels happy when she can reach people. Roy and Gloria will again appear on television for a second season in 13 episodes for the CADV.

Twenty-one-year-old Trinidadian model Nisha John has been creating waves in the Caribbean.  Now a resident in Anguilla, John continues to drive home the point that:  ‘Trinidad is home to the most beautiful women in the world!’ Having just copped the Caribbean leg of the Ms Venus Model Swimwear competition, she is now on her way to the international scene.  Venus Swimwear is an international magazine in the United States and John hopes to be flying more than just our flag high at the competition. Based in her “home away from home” for the past seven years, she claims that she will be representing both Trinidad and Anguilla. A past student of Caribbean Union College, John migrated to Anguilla while in her second form at high school. She disclosed she was encouraged by family and close friends to enter the competition and that this was her first major entry. In an interview with People, John explained that preparation for the competition was no easy task and the work is far from over.  “There’s the ever gruelling gyming, diets, body massages (these are nice though), and the mental preparation”.  “Physical fitness is a must” she insists, “You have to be committed.” John, who possesses quite a petite frame, is blessed with hair that extends beyond her waistline. 

Asked if she thinks such long hair could be a distraction when modeling swimwear, she was quick to point out that it is more of an advantage if worn effectively. Come August 9, John will be competing against 75 other candidates at the final leg of the competition in Florida, Jacksonville.  The winner will model top lines of swimwear for the Venus catalogues. With three other siblings, John admits that her family has been a major sense of support and made it a point that her mom is her mentor.  She also informed that she has a special love for her dad who still resides in Trinidad. John revealed that she intends to pursue a career in modelling.  “I like the exposure and interacting with other people.”  As for her hobbies, she enjoys modelling (obviously), singing, sports and ‘ah good dance’.” Questioned about her dream, she responded smiling, “The usual!  Successful career,  a homeowner and to live happily ever after.” Her greatest fear is the unknown and she has major difficulty with people who are “ignorant and arrogant …God forbid one man possessing both traits”. John embraces “The Golden Rule”, citing “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” which is also her favourite quote. What are some of her other favourites? Well purple is definitely her colour and as for food, “Once is some good Trini hand, I ain’t fussy”.  Any bad habits you wish to reveal? “Bad habits? Um-mm…someone else may have to answer that (laughing).” The inevitable question must arise and her answer was quite predictable… do you miss home? (Trinidad) “Yes!  Yes I miss home!  I miss the food… ohhh the food!  The friendliness and openness of my people and ah good Trini lime!  Anguilla is more like a quiet ‘lil’ get-away haven. The crime rate is extremely low and the beaches are picture perfect (I nodded in absolute agreement), but home will always be home” she informed. Residing in South Hill Anguilla, John is an administrative assistant.  She visits Trinidad whenever she gets the opportunity with her last visit being April of this year. As for plans of moving back home, “There are none presently, but as I said before ‘home will always be home!’.”

One can only wonder about the amount of knowledge Trini-born Roxanna Thomas carries around in her head. To say that she is “currently studying in the USA” doesn’t give enough of a glimpse of her true capabilities. At present, Thomas is enjoying the benefits of an education at the prestigious York College, where she is pursuing a PhD in Political Science, made possible through the York College Mc Nair Scholars Programme (this February). She’s collected many accolades before that achievement, including making the Who’s Who Among the Student’s in American Universities and Colleges Awards list, and even having her poem “An Eternity of Bliss” published in the 2001 edition of the International Library of Poetry collection. And that’s only a small portion of what she’s done, or is capable of. Her academic abilities were seen from as early as four years of age as a pupil of Daniel Chappic Kindergarten, where her father Randy Thomas (an Estate Corporal at Lake Asphalt Trinidad and Tobago) noticed her reading [and understanding] the newspaper. “I knew she was smart, but when I saw how she was devouring books one after the other, I had to take even more notice,” he said, smiling. “I would visit them (Roxanna and her mother Gertrude Stafford) in Brooklyn from time to time, and I was blown away by how much she was learning things so quickly.”

While at Granville Moods Elementary School, Thomas insisted that she was going to become a doctor and delved into all the sciences, including biology. She became an “over achiever”, collecting awards and certificates by the dozen for Excellence in Academics, Good Citizenship and even copping the Golden Record of Achievement Award. This earned her a trip to Washington and a meeting with former Mayor of NY David Dinkins. By the late 90s, she had earned her full diploma and was ready to enter John Adams High School. Not surprisingly, she would only spend a day there. “The principal called her mom to say that Roxanna would be just wasting time there,” said her father. “She told us that she should send in her resume to any university of her choice, which she did.” The school of choice would be York College — City University New York, where she hoped to realise her dream of becoming a doctor of pathology, but it was not meant to be. Said Randy: “You see, as part of their training, the students have to work with cadavers from time to time, and on this particular day there was an incident where a small child was thrown from a building. “Unfortunately, that was her day to do a post mortem, which she just could not perform. The trauma of it was too much for her. It was at that moment she decided that pathology was not for her.” Were it not for the intervention of Cheryl Adams, one of her teachers in the Science Department (who advised Thomas not to quit), the school would have never known of her other capabilities.

She changed her major to Political Science, continuing her credits and showing the same determination as before. Her hard work and efforts were soon recognised by the school board, who noted her accelerated courses and recommended her for the Robert Mc Nair Scholarship, which is given to talented minorities after their completion of a Baccalaureate degree. It also entails their doing research with a faculty mentor, who in her case was Dr Francis Tenywa, an Associate Professor from Africa. She’s certainly come a long way from her days in La Brea and is busier than the average student. At present Roxanna Thomas is preparing for the Annual Mc Nair Students National Conference, which takes place in Pennsylvania this year, where she plans to present her work at Penn State (her research is on International Politics). She also works part-time at City Hall’s Department of Information, Technology and Telecommunications. She’s also made the Dean’s list this year and hopes to complete her degree within the next two years. And just last year she was a Biology teacher at the Manhattan Community College. “I was hoping for a break this year,” she said via telephone on her way to campus. “I did come home to Trinidad last year, and did a lot of work with the Ministry of Community Development, giving lectures to students. It’s really busy for me, because I’m involved in so many things. I was just elected as Communications Council President, which is a sort of Public Relations position. It’s going to be my first experience with television production, because the campus has its own newspaper, TV and radio station. It’s gonna be a lot to learn, but I’m really looking forward to it all.” As for her family, her mother Gertrude works hard as a part-time member of the NYPD as a Police Officer and is also an acting Lieutenant with the NY City Hospital. Father Randy has been travelling back and forth, helping financially in any way he can, supporting his daughter all the way. “I just want to say that I thank God for his blessings with her and her scholastic achievements,” he said humbly. “Plus I want to give special thanks to the people at Lake Asphalt, such as Gerald Richard, Hayden Newton and Wayne Woods. They’ve assisted us in so many ways and I am really grateful for it all. She is truly an exceptional young woman.”

Allan Ali is just ten years old and has scored the seventh highest mark in the Secondary Education Assessment (SEA) examination. He passed for his first choice — Presentation College, Chaguanas. His reward for accomplishing such a feat…a trip to Disneyland! “Although Lucia’s (Private School) seemed like the worst place on earth, it gradually became better and better as I saw that all the rules and regulations were there for a good cause,” was Allan’s description of his primary life at the school. “The entire class endured much hard work and practice,” continued Allan, “but we all knew it was for the better. The day of SEA made the class very nervous but when it passed we all rejoiced.” Allan said he wanted to become a lawyer “because I’m very good at debating” although he enjoys chemistry, “I like to mix stuff…I used to make a bunch of stuff and taste it.” His mother, Vashti Ali, said he had a nature table in which he mixed various colourings and blended drinks like Smalta, Shandy, Ginseng and sometimes juice. He also debates quite often with his mom whose stance is “grown-ups have more authority and know best.” But his stance is “not because she’s grown-up, she’s right.” When Allan received the news of his success, he said that his father, Ansarie Ali, “did something that he almost never does…he hugged me!” and when he said this, he was smiling from ear to ear. His mother said that before the results, she had not just her fingers crossed, but everything, and on the day of the results, she could not plan anything because she didn’t know how she would feel.

One wonders at this juncture, how much of this SEA exercise is a parents’ quest and how much of it is a child’s quest. Last week, while travelling in a maxi taxi I overheard a woman telling a man, “Mark pass for Mt Hope Junior Sec and he vex.” The man replied, “Is so?” and the woman continued, “But they ain’t do nothing for him to do better!” Now what is the “thing” that “they” must do to ensure excellent marks? Like the Ali’s, most parents would consider extra lessons. Allan owes much of his skill in composition writing to Nancy Baksh-Mohammed of Freeport who taught him on Saturday afternoons. But while he did well in Language Arts, Allan enjoyed Mathematics and even won the Mathematics prize at Lucia’s graduation last month. Excellent marks also come from the drilling education at primary schools. At Allan’s school, he worked from 7 am to 4 pm in his Prep V (Std 5) year. Allan’s mother wants for “Allan to be materially comfortable and happy in the long run.” And when the crunch-time came, his father pitched in as well, giving him extra Mathematics lessons. One can understand the relief felt from all parties concerned when this karate kid got his first choice. Yes, he is a brown belt (2nd kyu in the art of Karate-doh) in karate, two more notches up the ladder and he will be a black belt. Added to this, Allan is also a Mariner VI in swimming, most consistent student in almost every class at Lucia’s and has a record of perfect attendance at Sunday school and in the prayer and bible study group in the church. There is no denying that Allan has had a perfectly all-round education so far. But, what does Allan really want to do at age ten? “Watch TV and play Game Boy” was Allan’s answer while he was playing a game on his mom’s cell-phone. All this happening, while his mother was expounding that “he (Allan) was made to realise that without God, nothing was possible…the key to success is discipline” and that “It is very important that both parents have a solid input into their children’s education and life as well.”

Allan also receives a lot of support from his extended family, being described as “a blessed and lucky child.” But it was the persistence of the parents “from day one — kindergarten — working hard to make sure he is always abreast with the work,” that kept him an A student. Not only was it the parents’ goal for him to keep up the good grades but also to strike a happy balance with the extra-curricular activities. His mom may be the activator and his dad, the “expector” he expects success. Allan will be eleven on July 25 and a couple weeks after this, he will be in Disneyland and shopping in Miami. What does he anticipate? “Getting a lot of stuff..toys, Game Boy games…” while his mom talks about bag, geometry set, school stuff. Maybe she should throw in some Chemistry kits to continue his fun experimentations? Is SEA any different from CE? Did we say that all children passed? Yes, but there is still the pressure as to “What school did you pass for?” For some students, getting the extra help is within reach and for others it can only be a dream even for a simple thing as having a parent taking an active interest in the child’s life. And to what extent is helping a child a credible thing? Can too much help be devastating? When do the extra lessons stop? What, then, is the standard of learning in the classroom to warrant a dire need for more learning outside? Why do parents after a day’s stressful work pressured into “picking up the slack” in their children’s education? Not meaning to rain on Allan’s parade, but only to shed some blessings, these questions have come to my mind. The legend Bob Marley once said that a whole nation could go astray by the direction given by our leaders. Kill the messenger, but take the message — “Is there something in our vision that deals with holistic parenting or proper educational standards at primary level?” Congratulations to Allan and I believe that being the great debater that he is, he will be able to find his way through the maze of life. My only wish is that he gets his black belt in Karate simply because it was my dream to be a “black belt karatica” and also in this time may prove useful. For his parents, might I suggest getting into the Game Boy games…especially the one with the Home Alone kid; I do enjoy that one.

“If something great happens, I’ll accept it. If it doesn’t happen I’ll still accept it, because I would feel that was meant to be. But I am just going to do my work and put it out there and the rest is up to God. I have no control over that! My goal is to puncture the international market, to bore through it and I am going to do what I have to do.” Those were the words of Oliver “Stompy” Chapman during his recent visit to his birthplace to launch his latest piece of work, titled Give Thanks. Known for rich bass voice, Chapman shot into the local limelight in 1962 when he started with the group Sparks, which was later renamed Wildfire. It was one of the more popular local groups of the 60s, 70s and early 80s that thrilled audiences wherever they performed. The voice of Stompy stood out during several of those performances. During the Sparks and Wildfire years too, Stompy was responsible for giving us a string of hits as several of the band’s compositions were done by him. Those songs included “Try Making Love”, “Island Girl,” “Love To Daddy,” “My Life,” “Come On Down” and “Check It Out.” The singer/songwriter also wrote for the likes of Junior Byron, Mavis John and Peter Brad, and was the recipient of a gold record, awarded to him for excellence in songwriting by the president of Sure Shot Productions. That song was “Say A Little Prayer” which he wrote for Wildfire.

But one of the high points in Chapman’s career came in 1985 when he released “Tanty Say,” “Sunday Morning” and  “Cryin’s Easy”, sung by three different artistes and held down #1, #2 and #3 positions on the musical charts. The last of them stayed on the charts for 20 weeks. Chapman’s first trip to the USA was in 1976 and from then to 1985, when Wildfire was disbanded,  he decided on a more permanent stay in the US as he sought greener pastures. “That is when I really migrated and settled down, although my “Tanty Say” was a hit here. But I felt that I wanted to expand and do something that would reach out to more people,” he said. And as the settling process began 23 years after his first visit, he recalled: “Things wasn’t that easy. I knocked around for a while just visiting friends and family while trying to get at what was happening in the entertainment business.” It took me four years before I met James Mironchik, my current manager, in 1989.” During those years Stompy was back and forth to New Jersey and St Thomas. Mironchik and Stompy started talking about the music business and the former soon invited him to his studio  where it all began. They started working on the Give Thanks album in 1998, not consistantly as both were pursuing different agendas, always keping in mind that they had to complete the CD. That only happened earlier this year.The album  was subsequently released it in TT last month.

The CD consists of ten songs, some of which he performed before migrating to the US. “I am looking to reach out much bigger than that. We are now getting appreciative responses. It’s not no big thing that I haven’t had a major hit there yet, but I am going to”. A demo copy of the song Give Thanks was sent to a Billboard song contest which received a rating of 8 out of 10. An Honourable Mention Certificate was also presented to him given that the song was placed in the first 500, out of some 80,000 entries. Though Stompy hasn’t done any major gigs or big concerts, he certainly intends pushing his new album with such a force so as to create an impression on the American market. “Give Thanks is Christian contemporary gospel, with a bit of distant country which is like the crossover rock, even a pop thing. So we’re going to put out a few singles and see what’s going to happen,” he said. With that intent, Mironchik and Chapman recently put a band together to promote the album. Chapman said they have already spoken to some reputable labels who wanted a Trinidadian feedback, hence the reason for the recent launch in Trinidad. Depending on those reviews, they can go a long way in getting one of those reputable labels. For Mironchik, the project meant that it was a great chance to work on the CD from the ground up and build a wide diversity of music, and to get the gratification of seeing something from the beginning to the end. When not lost in his music world, Chapman finds the time to spend with his second wife Isabella, whom he married in 1993 after divorcing the mother of his four children (one died) in 1988. His two boys and one girl are all grown now and living in Trinidad.

Sixteen-year-old Mario Ramlochan is very much like other boys his age. This Fourth Form Fatima College student spends his time juggling studies, friends and the pressures of being an adolescent. However, one thing sets him apart from his peers — Mario is the drummer for local Death Metal band, New Dawn. Nothing seems to faze this young man; not even the reality that he is one of the youngest rock musicians in TT. Self-effacing and shy, he is living the dream of rock fans everywhere, for whom playing in a band “is the life.” Ironically enough, Mario had only been playing the drums for two years before he was approached by Shiva Davey, leader of New Dawn to become part of the re-vamped band. Prior to that, he was a member of Prophecy, a  band formed by his older sister Kristin, who is also now a member of New Dawn, playing rhythm guitar. New Dawn’s lead vocalist, Dexter Colley, is also a former member of Prophecy. “I have always liked the tone of the drums,” Mario said. “My grandfather used to play the tassa and I admired this. I eventually fell in love with the drums.” His mother bought him a drum kit one Christmas, which he “fooled around” with. Before that he had never seriously considered making music a major part of his life. Shiva Davey recognised Mario’s potential when he approached his sister to play rhythm guitar for New Dawn. “When I heard Mario play,” Davey recalls, “I realised that there was no one in the country who could work the double kick like he can. He needed to improve on the toms, but with a little work he has shown considerable improvement.” “For a 16-year-old with that ability, you can imagine where he will be in a few years.”

Mario credits Colley for his initiation into the world of Death Metal, where bands like Dying Foetus, Sepultura, Six Feet Under and Unaminated rule the roost. Ten years Mario’s senior, Colley became exposed to metal bands like AC/DC and Iron Maiden at the age of 13 by a close relative. Determined to sing, in spite of his parents’ objections, Colley’s interest was piqued by the strange, guttural vocal styling of Scandinavian and Black Metal bands. If anything, New Dawn will always be remembered as the band of the two generations. Mario, Kristin and Colley, have only been part of the local rock scene for approximately two years. However, Davey, who also plays bass guitar and lead guitarist, Michael Lara are veterans of the field. Although the band is now making a name for itself on the death metal circuit, New Dawn originally started off playing contemporary 80s rock music. It was formed more than two years ago by Davey and Lara, along with fellow musicians, Ringo Maharaj, a guitarist now with the band Xcess, vocalist Troy Harryban and drummer Harry Dookan. “We eventually decided to revamp the style of music we played,” Davey noted. “We wanted to go into European, Scandinavian Death Metal and we needed a younger singer who could handle this kind of music.” The search for younger talent came to a fruitful end when Davey saw Colley performing with the band Prophecy. Prophecy ultimately broke up and Davey was able to convince Colley to join New Dawn. Maharaj eventually left the band and was replaced by Kristin. She was later joined by Mario, who took Dookan’s place as drummer.

“We choose to start playing Death Metal because we noticed that the crowd seems to go for this type of music,” Davey explained. “They want more power and speed in the music.” “Everything has its time. Times are changing now and the music is changing. We are not only targetting a specific market. We are observing the response we get and trying to keep up-to-date with the music,” he explained. Davey hopes to take his band out of the country in the near future, to a number of gigs in Guyana. He also wants to start writing and performing their own songs. “We are trying to be different from the other bands of this time,” he maintained. “We have a lot to offer the local scene in terms of the style of music, as well as stage theatrics.” For Mario, he is taking this new-found place in the spotlight one day at a time. He noted that he was quite content to remain a member of New Dawn and chart a course for the band on the local rock scene. His future is bright, but he remains undaunted by the challenges that face him ahead. “Everything is cool for now,” he stated nonchalantly. “Right now I really can’t tell where my future will be. But I will stay with the band, and wherever it takes us… it takes us.”

The crackling laughter of the vivacious young Mallika was heard loud and clear on the set of her film, Jeena Sirf Merre Liya. The actress couldn’t help notice the fake padded bra and padded hips of one of the  dancers. “Can’t she understand that her fakes are going in one direction while her real ones are going in the opposite?” she couldn’t stop laughing for a while. On the set of this film, writer Archana Aithal noted that all the stars were at their finest behaviour and fake best. Mallika was as cool as an icebox. A pucci jat is what Mallika calls herself, as she spoke to Aithal about her background. “I’m from Haryana, and I’m the first Jatni (term used to describe the traditional women of Haryana, India) ever to set foot in Bollywood. So in a way it is making a museum piece of extreme historic value,” she muses. So, what were her aspirations when she left the Jat land? “I graduated from Delhi, and came down to Bombay to try my hand at films. I always wanted to be an actress,” she spoke with an air of bravery about her. She added that her folks were very disappointed when she revealed her career option to them. “All hell broke loose. My parents are very old fashioned. They were not at all in this with me. But I wasn’t one to give up easily. Maybe some cosmic intervention helped. I managed everything on my own and moved my bags and baggage to Bombay. Eventually, they came around,” she tells her tale.

Unlike the newcomers who attend scores of auditions to get a break, Mallika had it relatively easy. She started doing ads for Santro opposite the top star Shah Rukh Khan. Then she got the Elle18 eyeliner ad, which gave her the publicity she needed. Then she hit the spotlight in the Govind Menon’s film Khwahish alongside model Himanshu Malik. It was during the filming of Khwahish that she also landed a role in the film, Jeena Sirf Merre Liya (JSML). Mallika was lost in the cast of JSML, because of the presence of Kareena Kapoor and Tusshar. Commenting on this release, she said that producer Vashu Bhagnani did not publicise her much. “This is because I told him about my debut film, Khwahish. I didn’t want to be overexposed before that. Also, I didn’t think that JSML would be released before Khwahish, she informs.” A look at the promos of Khwahish, reveals it breathes fire. Full-blown mouth to mouth kissing scenes blew steam into the film. Newcomers are extremely cautious about their image. Every debutante would like to chew on their end of their orni vainly, and throw demure glances at their heroes pretending to be Virgin Marys. Isn’t she pit-stopping her career with her own hands by doing such bold scenes? “I don’t care about the norms, really. Khwahish is a very frank love story. Everything about the film is blatantly honest. So, for change we don’t have background dancers dancing aerobics style in a synchronised fashion,” she says sarcastically, “Also, when the hero is grabbing the heroine and kissing her, the director hasn’t shown birds flying or flowers touching.

That is so lame. Himanshu is my husband in the film and every scene is realistic,” she said. She continues to point out  that the audiences throughout the world are maturing and its time to shed the ridiculous masks. “We are in the MTV age. So, let’s not have this sham,” she preaches. “Besides, I’m very open about my sexuality. This is work, at the end of the day everything is professional. I only hope I don’t get typecast after this. I’m here to do varied roles, and this is not all there is to me,” she states. Two newcomers in one film seem a dicey situation. At least one established star assures the film some success. “Himanshu Malik is going to surprise you totally. He is really good in the film. Talking about stars helping the film to succeed, tell me who is the star in Bend It Like Beckham or Jism with Bipasha Basu?” she asked. To end the interview with Aithal she said, “ I’ve worked my best in Khwahish. The rest is up to the producers,” she points skywards. “I’m keeping fingers crossed,” she says. For the pure greed of having an actress who makes swell copy, and wakes us up from our routine slumber, Aithal wished Mallika really sets the celluloid ablaze.

“I’m a family man trying to look like a young, stud hero. That’s why I try to leave my family out of public appearances sometimes.” We all remember Al Pacino’s spirited retired army officer in The Scent Of a Woman. His passion for life; his street flashy flamboyance, mixed with his regal persona and tastes, working up the intrigue; his resilience and recklessness, where the blind Pacino charms the daylights out of a miss beautiful. While giving her tips on dancing the tango, he says, “Tango is not life. You make a mistake, get tangled up and you tango again.” India’s popular writer, Shashank Samant writes about the Bollywood star, Saif… He might be a distant country cousin of the character, but the line’s a near reflection of Saif’s stay in Bollywood. The man who has been tangoing in the industry for over a decade, has flirted with success, has gotten tangled up inexplicably, time and again and tangoed again. A look at Saif today and you’re more likely to say that he’s doing breezy rock and roll numbers. He rocking alright, and he has his hands full. As he enters the studio for a photo-shoot, only few hours late, he is busy on the phone with a friend explaining, “I’m feeling so outpaced by life. I have no time to spend with my family, and Amrita glares at me with a look that says, ‘Have I made a mistake?’ ” he humours.

When he did find the time for an interview he said, “Actually I’ve changed my style of working, and things have changed too. I”m doing three films today not counting LOC, which I’ve just finished. But, the best way of doing a movie is like we made Dil Chahta Hai, one film at a time. There was a time when actors from my batch, or some seniors like Akshay Kumar have done three shifts a day. The way films are being made today it is practically impossible to imagine doing that.” Today, there’s a definite talk of resurgence for Saif. What would he attribute to that? “I am getting better at my work and enjoying myself as an actor. I take my career less for granted than I did earlier,” he briefly replied. How much of the credit can one attribute to wife Amrita’s managerial skills to help the decision-making process? Also the stability she provided might have helped him to calm down. “By example, Amrita is a disciplined and serious person, very organised and methodical. I’m just the opposite in many ways. But, I do have method to my madness. Naturally having a home one feels a need for security. Amrita is an anchoring force in my life,” he is sure about his woman. The film, Kal Ho Na Ho is made by Shah Rukh Khan loyalist, Karan Johar. Wasn’t Saif worried about his role being sacrificed for Shah Rukh’s, “I’m the best cravings?” “No, ‘coz I was very clear about the role I have in the film. My character has a comfortable space from Shah Rukh’s character. The discomfort would have come if I were playing something that’s not worthy of being there,” he said.

On the topic of producers bending backward to be a part of the Western, Indo-western, mid-western and whatever films Saif said, “I don’t think we are bending backwards for the West. Ours is a new country in terms of our cinema going international. There’s a strong culture emerging. There are people who are not contented with being called second-class citizens of the world. So, things are to change, and crossover films will happen. But, I don’t think the west is going to accept African or Asian heroes as being equals. At least not in my life time. Blonde and blue eyes are probably better for Hollywood, it’s about time we get that, he said.” Saif managed to steer clear of scandals that once marked his persona. “I’ve been in the gym. I am a little more conscious of how I should behave, so that people don’t misconstrue. Sometimes absolutely rubbish has been written about me, but generally there has been truth to it. My logic is if you don’t do anything stupid, there’s no danger of being caught for it.” Is that family man talking? “You guys gave me the title of wild brat, and now you tag me family man. I never asked for it. Actually I was never wild. I didn’t take life seriously, ‘coz I didn’t really care. Now, yea, I am a family man trying to look like a young stud hero. That’s why I am trying to leave my family out of the public appearances sometimes. ‘Cos these are two very different personalities. And, the hero should be on his own sometimes.

At age 20, many youngsters are still undecided as to in what, and where, they should further their studies.  Not so Kavan Clifford, son of Dr Keith and Toni Clifford of Goodwood Heights, Diego Martin, who graduated on May 18 from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia.  The 20-year-old graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. The former St Mary’s College student graduated with distinction at A levels in 1999 and received a full four-year scholarship to Morehouse where his list of achievements include being named to the National Dean’s List of America and Morehouse College Dean’s List and Honour Roll from 1999-2003.  Other honours include the Hugh and Yvonne Gloster Premedical Student of the Year 2002/2003; Hamilton E Holmes Premedical Student of the Year 2001/2002; Phi Beta Kappa Honour Society; David and Lucille Packard Graduate Scholars’ Awardee; Medical Scientist Training Programme Funding recipient; Achievement Rewards for Collegiate Scientists recipient; MARC/U*STAR Programme recipient; Alpha Epsilon Delta Premedical Honour Society; Beta Kappa Chi Scientific Honour Society; Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Honour Society; and National Society of Collegiate Scholars.

From 2000-2003, Kavan was a Teaching Assistant in General Biology. He also served as secretary and president of the Morehouse College Health Careers Society.  At Emory University Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, Kavan was an Undergraduate Researcher from 2001-2003.  At Yale University School of Medicine he participated in the BioSTEP Programe as an Undergraduate Researcher in the 2001/2002 summer programmes, from which his research papers have been presented at scientific meetings across the United States. Kavan has been accepted at Harvard, Duke, Baylor and Emory University Medical Schools.  Instead he has accepted a place at the John Hopkins University, College of Medicine where he will pursue the combined MD/PhD programme in neurosciences, and will work with Dr Ben Carsons, one of the  leading neurosurgeons in the world. Kavan has elected to spend his last summer in Atlanta teaching Bio Sciences to High School students at a Morehouse summer programme.