Masaba's night out

"It's the first time I will be co-hosting a party," said Masaba Gupta yesterday, a few hours before she co-hosted the Vogue Fashion Night Out with the magazine last evening.

By doing so, she also launched The Social, at the Palladium, the city's latest watering hole and grazing ground for the young and restless. "It's become quite an institution," said Gupta about the shopping extravaganza. "Last year in fact I'd designed the official FNO bags, and so this year when they asked me, I said yes with pleasure.

Masaba Gupta

Especially since it's come at the end of Fashion Week where I couldn't really meet people because of my show and stuff, tonight's party kind of wraps up fashion week too," she said. "Come by 7.30 if you want to shop as later it gets really crowded. My party will start post 10."

Elijah comes to town
Elijah Wood, the 34-year-old Hollywood star better known for his rendition of Frodo Baggins in the blockbuster Lord of The Rings trilogy is in Mumbai today.

Elijah Wood

And word comes in, that the actor is all set to take over the DJ console and perform tonight, at a suburban nightclub. This should come as no surprise to his fans, who know their idol has doubled up as a DJ in his spare time for the last decade, and who along with music partner ach Cowie, passes under the name Wooden Wisdom.

And if sources are to be believed the duo is going old school, and will perform an all Vinyl set, with the promise of even a Bollywood mix or two. "He has requested us to beef up his security during his stay in India, for fear of being mobbed," said a source explaining, "During his London concert the actor was mobbed by his female fans."

And for those who can't get close here's another lead: Wood is all set to dine at a popular suburban Bengali restaurant for lunch today! And no, we're not telling. Oh Boy!"

India's wake-up call
"My father was a bureaucrat by profession and a musician by hobby," said leading lawyer and former IPS officer YP Singh about his dad Dr Samar Bahadur Singh, who had been a Station Director of All India Radio, Bhopal, and who was honoured with the release of a musical CD this Monday by PM Modi, at 7 Race Course Road in Delhi.

YP Singh with Prime Minister Narendra Modi

In 1980 the late bureaucrat had composed the musical version of the Ram Charit Manas which even after 35 years rouses India (or most of it) each morning at 6.45 am. "One officer of government with passion, who had a burning desire to do some extraordinary work, has left such a legacy!" Modi is reported to have said in the presence of YP.

"It was true to the spirit of my father, so succinctly narrated by PM Narendra Modi, that I had pursued my difficult career in the IPS for 20 years," said an emotional Singh, a former 1985 batch IPS officer of Maharashtra cadre, whose outspokenness is said to have cost him his job and who is known to have taken on many a Holy Cow.

Of officers and gentleman
This Sunday a delicious serving of Delhi's creamiest layer will gather at the Taj Palace for the hotel's 5th 'Black Tie Charity Ball,' an evening dedicated to India's unsung heroes in uniform.

"In keeping with the Tata's philosophy of commitment to human values, Taj Palace, New Delhi pledges to pay homage to the spirit of eternal patriotism of the heroes of the armed forces.

The 5th annual Taj Black Tie charity Ball goes back to its inception in the year September 2011 and since has been a conscious endeavour to align and integrate the efforts to better address contemporary societal needs and challenges," said a spokesperson.

"From 2011 until date, the Taj Black Tie Charity Ball has raised proceeds to the amount of R1,29,49,596 and have till date disbursed R59,17,446 and the balance of Rs 70,32,157 is in the process of being utilised this year."

And so, on Sunday the likes of fashionistas Priya Sachdev, Jas Arora, Ritu Beri, writer Sunil Sethi, artists Paresh Maity and Anjolie Ela Menon, and legal eagle couple Manik and Raian Karanjawala and a host of others, will quaff champagne, partake in a five course meal served on formal silverware and partake in a silent auction conducted by Vadhera, knowing it's all for a good cause.

Norwegian Good
Yesterday, on his first day in office, Norway's new ambassador to India, Nils Ragnar Kamsvåg, found himself giving an interview to journalist Prabha Chandran for her blog in the Huffington Post, to be carried later this week.

Nils Ragnar Kamsvag

"We have been 'Making in India' for years," said Kamsvåg, citing a list of Norwegian businesses that have become household names in India. The Ambassador seemed gung-ho about fostering a new chapter in India-Norway relations, which range from Polar research in climate change, to women's empowerment in gram panchayats, to the facilitation of over 100 Norwegian businesses in India.

How does he feel about setting up home in one of the world's most polluted cities? "Pollution is of course a source of concern, but most of all, it is a challenge for the permanent inhabitants of those cities rather than for foreign diplomats."

He said, "Norway wishes to be a relevant and effective partner for India in tackling these challenges." And in case you're wondering how all of this is relevant to Mumbai, gentle reader, it's because there's a very strong chance of a full-fledged consulate of Norway re-opening in Mumbai as early as next month.