Shankar Mahadevan in Concert: Indian singer, composer, TV Star and Reality TV Judge in Hong Kong

Normally when Indian singer and composer Shankar Mahadevan visits Hong Kong, it’s for a private performance. But the star has announced a one-off concert in the city for his loyal legion of fans, who he loves to connect with through social media.

“Well, I have a fan page which has about 730,000-plus followers,” said the star, who is also a judge of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa (an Indian talent show similar to The X-Factor). “I joined quite recently and originally wasn’t that active. But now it’s a great way to inform people about events, about my music academy, and get their feedback. When you see how many young people are taking part in reality shows via social media, it’s great to know that interest in Indian music is alive and well with the youth.”

Mahadevan had his own star encounter earlier this year when he performed with soul legends Stevie Wonder and Chaka Khan.

“Walking up the stage to sing with my musical heroes, the ones I’ve looked up to my entire life – what can I say? I was representing India for a jazz festival at the United Nations and all these luminaries were on the same dais. To have Stevie Wonder on the piano, sing with him and Chaka Khan. Amazing!”

Mahadevan will be performing on Sunday at the Convention and Exhibition Centre. Tickets are available through hkticketing.com.

Shankar Mahadevan Live In Hong Kong
Sunday, 7 Oct 2012 at 7pm
Tickets: HK$300-HK$1500
HKCEC - Hall 5G (Harbour Road Entrance)
Tickets: www.hkticketing.com 

Musicians join yoga instructor's chorus of concern against sex trafficking

A host of live acts took centre stage at Grappa's Cellar for the Women Stop Traffic event. Claudia Whitney, a popular yoga instructor in Hong Kong, championed the event to raise awareness and money for a worthy cause.

"I've been working with Off the Mat, Into the World (OTM) for years - it mobilises the global yoga community to come together to activate real change in the world," she said of last weekend's event.

"This year, we gathered to help victims of sex trafficking in India. Most of us don't know much about this criminal industry, which enslaves women and children for sex. Part of the success of this business is that it's hidden. I've been practicing yoga for many years and felt it was time to tacky my practice off that big black mat and help create awareness and change in victims' lives."

Joining Whitney's chorus of concern, many musicians in Hong Kong performed live, for free, including Gretchell 'Djemayah' Yaneza with De Kai, Dan Lavelle, Mitu, Rebecca Walker with Andrew Stanley, Cassie Lee with Ohad Levitt, Miya Dunets and Ankie Beilke.

"I love live music and I have so many talented friends, so it was a no-brainer to organize an event like this," says Whitney. "The community has come together for this cause and I am so grateful.

"My intention is not only to raise funds but also create awareness. The more we spread the word, the more we can support groups working hard to free and rehabilitate victims."




CITYSEEN
P. Ramakrishnan
Jul 04, 2012

Friend's tireless aid to Thais hit by floods inspires photographic fund-raiser to rebuild homes

Model turned photographer David Elliott

Locally based model-photographer David Elliott’s first exhibition, A City Under Water, at JaaBar in Central, is a fund-raiser to help victims of last year’s flooding in Thailand.

“Last November, I made a four-day trip to the heart of the flood zone,” Elliott said. “A friend of mine was heavily involved in the flood aid. Every morning, we were arranging and picking up supplies and driving to Pathum Thani [province], where we would rendezvous with the boats – a necessity in navigating the floodwaters. The waters rose to the shoulders of the few people whom braved them. There was such a starkness in contrast to the imagery I captured and to the murky, milk tea-coloured water which we were floating in.”

Lending their support at Saturday’s exhibition opening were models David Oshry and Anna Rivera, photographers Jesper McIlroy, William Furniss and Lucy McNally, actor Darren E. Scott and socialite Yumiko Honda.

“The project was inspired by my friend Mednune and her devoutness to help the Thai people,” Elliott said. “She was there working tirelessly, as long as there was one person suffering, she was getting up and about working. In the wake of any calamity, we all want to do something, and it was then I decided the imagery I captured, could be used as a device to help her bring something back to the beautiful souls of Thailand. All proceeds from sales will go towards re-building homes for those who lost theirs to the flooding.”


CITYSEEN
P. Ramakrishnan
Jun 14, 2012

David Oshry, David Elliott and Darren

KK in HK: Interview with one of the Greatest Indian Singers and Vocal Prodigy KK aka Krishnakumar Kunnath

For his first live show in Hong Kong, tonight, Indian singer KK (real name Krishnakumar Kunnath) plans to rock. One of India’s most versatile singers, he has the distinction of being equally at ease with a soft love song as he is with a rocking Bollywood number.

“I am a really bad example for aspiring singers as I rarely practise, don’t do my riyaaz [rehearsing scales],” he said. “I get the song, just sing it and go home.”

With no aspirations to be a playback singer in Bollywood, he surprised himself with his steady climb to stardom in India. He has been nominated for a best-singer award every year since 1999.

An opponent of the instant fame promised by reality television shows, KK has rejected lucrative offers to be a judge. “The kids want to be famous within the span of a series, make instant money and then, when the hype and dust settles, they don’t know where to go,” he said, adding that he had met many contestants. “I tell them to relax, do the work, build their own repertoire of songs, and then slowly hit the live-show circuits. I understand the lure of the money, but they’ve got to think long term.”

Having shied away from the camera, we wonder how he’s going to face the Hong Kong crowd. (Tues, May 1) “It’s a conundrum. I don’t like it when cameras are on me, but I love performing live on stage. The connect with the audience, that instant reaction, that’s something else.”

KK will perform tonight in the Jockey Club Auditorium at Polytechnic University, tickets HK$450-HK$1,200. For enquiries call Red Peppers Entertainment on 9037 8869 or 9461 3676.

P. Ramakrishnan
(e-mail: ramakrishnanp at hotmail dot com!)

Where to launch a fancy dragon-themed vodka (in the Year of the Dragon)? Dragon-i, of course

No stranger to ostentatious parties, Dragon-i was the place to be last week for the launch of Royal Dragon's new vodka collection. As the Jamie Foxx party anthem Blame it (On the Alcohol) aptly echoed into the wee hours, partygoers included model Ana Rivera, restaurateur Bonnie Gokson, fashion blogger Denise Lai, Cove and Zue Overly, Nisa Huber and Olivia Buckingham.

One power couple, Andrew and Lumen Kinoshita, were seen limping from foot injuries. "Can you not mention that?" We wouldn't dare.

Dragon-i's Gordon Lam had hurt his leg too and was clunking along with a cane. At this rate, a bejewelled walking cane might be the season's most fashionable must-have accessory.

Michel Morren, creator of the vodka, said: "It is the Year of the Dragon, Dragon-i's the club to be seen [in]. Where else, and when else, could I launch the finest vodka in the world called Royal Dragon Vodka?"

Gokson said: "It's very smooth, I like it. The bottle itself is beautiful."

The hand-blown bottles, with a glass dragon inside, were stunning, especially the limited-edition bottle "The Emperor", crowned with a Royal Dragon pendant of 18 carat gold and festooned with 35 certified diamonds. The bottles were flanked by bodyguards as many guests tried to snap photos on their iPhones.

Outside, there was a dragon's roar of another kind. Lamborghini presented special-edition models, the Gallardo LP560-4 Bicolore, Gallardo LP560-4 Noctis and Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder (each bearing a gold dragon imprint), which loudly zoomed through Wyndham Street during the launch party, letting all and sundry know of the vodka's grand arrival.

Byline: P. Ramakrishnan
March 27, 2012

Boree and FashionTV put their feet together to launch hot summer flip flops on a chilly night

At shoe brand Boree's launch in dragon-i, some notable names from the fashion industry tried to heat things up on a freezing night.

The FashionTV cameras covered the event. Having joined hands with Boree, a brand under mainland firm Baofeng modern International, well, in this case, feet, it was a celebration of the launch of their first joint branded shoe collection. Loads of colourful flip-flops embossed with ftv logos.

Shoe lovers celebrated the new venture, including Ana Rivera, Shirley Hiranand, Reyna Harilela, Audrey Chiu, Gisele Koo and Scott Crolla. FashionTV's chief executive Yaron Jakubowicz, who flew in for the night, and Chen Qingwei, executive director of Baofeng Modern, also attended. Though she wasn't among the gals in bikinis, Rivera was definitely the cynosure of most eyes.

"I like them, they're comfy, I like the bead work on the ones I got to wear," she said, before she sashayed off into the night under a shower of flashbulbs that followed her.

German model Laura Weyel, who led the show, in her new pixie haircut, was also excited for a new summer shoe closet update.

"The flip flops are so beautiful and colorfully designed. I like the ones with the high wedges - they make you taller of course," she said. "But also, they are very comfortable to wear, more so than most of my high-heels and peep toes."

Caption: Baofeng's Chen Qingwei, Ana Rivera and Fashion TV's Yaron Jakubowicz

Byline: P. Ramakrishnan
March 12, 2012

Pakistani singing star Khan excited to be making his HK debut

It’s shaping up to be a great year for music lovers with yet another international artist coming to town. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, 37, one of Pakistan’s best-known singers, will perform with his troupe at the Convention and Exhibition Centre next Friday. [Mar 9].

“I’m very excited to sing in Hong Kong for the first time ever,” Khan said. “It’s always a pleasure to sing to a new audience. Music is the only thing that unites us, brings us together. It’s in our blood; it’s in our soul. When I see an international audience hear our music, when they don’t understand a word, then you know there’s more to it than meets the ear.”

Nephew of the legendary singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, who lent his voice to the Oscar-winning film Dead Man Walking, the young Khan comes from a house filled with music. Sine Khan had no son of his own, Rahat was deemed heir-apparent to the legendary household, continuing a legacy of singers than spans back 600 years. On YouTube, there is a 12-year-old Nusrat singing a love song at a concert with his famed uncle.

“If you teach a child to sing Twinkle, twinkle little star, do they really understand what they’re saying?” he said with a laugh. “It was just the same with me. I sang a love song, comparing a beautiful woman to a rose. The words were given, the tune was given, and I sang it. I didn’t know what I was singing about until years later.”

Tickets are priced from HK$300 to HK$2,000 and available through HK Ticketing

P. Ramakrishnan
(ramakrishnanp @ hotmail. com)

Asha Bhosle right in tune with HK crowd

Trust legendary Indian singer Asha Bhosle, 78, to remain as sharp as a tack soon after landing in Hong Kong. When asked how she was looking forward to her second concert on our smoggy shores, she retorted, with her impish grin: "It's my third! I've been to Hong Kong a few times for personal reasons - I first came to Hong Kong back in 1960 - my goodness how it has changed. But in concert, [it was] back in 1986 and 1989."

Still, 23 years after her last show, at Queen Elizabeth Stadium, she is still pitch perfect. Her vast repertoire has earned her an entry in the Guinness World Records as the most recorded female artist, and the grandmother-of-five has been showered with other accolades.

"Awards are fine. It's a nice way of being recognised, but as long as they keep playing my songs, I'm happy," she said.

Bhosle has sung for every leading actress in India since 1947. When asked to name the Bollywood beauty she most enjoyed singing for, she was initially reticent to comment.

"Well, I've sung for many beautiful Indian actresses, like Rekha, Hema Malini and Sridevi, so how can I name just one?" she said. "Even the younger girls of today are wonderful. I like Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Priyanka Chopra. The rest, well, I can't tell one from another."

Eternal Asha, presented by Jade Group, starts at 8pm tonight at the Concert Hall of the Cultural Centre. Tickets are HK$300 to HK$1,200. For inquiries, call Urbtix on 60190621.

CITYSEEN
By P. Ramakrishnan
ramakrishnanp @ hotmail. com
Feb 23, 2012
Portrait by Sabrina Sikora

Bollywood golden girl makes a nostalgic homecoming and sizzles at cinema awards

Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif sauntered up the stage at the Venetian Macao at the weekend to pick up the International Icon female accolade at the annual Zee Cine Awards. Her brief sojourn in Macau and Hong Kong came with a whiff of nostalgia for her. “Coming to Hong Kong means a lot to me. Not many people know I was born in Hong Kong and my mum still has friends here,” she said.

With a British mum and an Indian father, Kaif is one of the biggest names in the Indian film industry. She performed a medley of her Hindi songs in Macau to an enraptured audience.

Those who missed Kaif’s sizzling live act now have the chance to watch her on screen in Hong Kong in the Mumbai mafia-based movie Agneepath (Path of Fire), in which she makes a much talked about guest appearance. Dressed in traditional Marathi fisherwoman’s garb, Kaif performs a dance in the den of a gangster, together with a cast of 250.

“You’ve never seen Katrina like this before,” choreographer Ganesh Acharya said. “She looks so delicate and fragile. We added some masala [spice] into her dance. Only she could have done it – she’s super dedicated.”

Kaif rehearsed non-stop for hours before her Macau gig, but that was nothing compared to the preparation for her movie song, which was shot over 10 days. “I work really hard,” she said. “And I know my job.”

By P. Ramakrishnan


Agneepath, in Hindi with English subtitles, screens at 9.30pm today (FRIDAY) and next Wednesday at the Chinachem Golden Plaza Cinema in Tsim Sha Tsui. Tickets cost HK$120 to HK$180.

Bollywood's brightest stars heading for Macau awards extravaganza

A constellation of Indian stars will be shooting over to the Venetian Macao for the annual Zee Cine Awards on Saturday. A ceremony honouring the best and brightest of the Hindi film industry and its all-singing, all-dancing escapades of the past year, the show will feature a roster of top acts, led by the unofficial king of Bollywood, Shahrukh Khan, and former Miss World Priyanka Chopra. They will be hosting a 31/2-hour show with music and dance acts.

Also appearing will be young heartthrobs Ranbir Kapoor (tipped to be rewarded for his performance in Rockstar), Shahid Kapoor (no relation), Vidya Balan (also expected to win for her scintillating act in The Dirty Picture) and gorgeous leading lady Katrina Kaif, who is set to perform her chart-topping dance numbers. Old-school Bollywoodites will perhaps be more thrilled to see the still-stunning Zeenat Aman, a former Miss India and Miss Asia Pacific, who is expected to grace the stage to dish out a few gongs.

The Zee Cine Awards celebrates a billion-dollar film industry, with 14 million Asians estimated to visit the cinema daily and 1,000 films produced annually. If the overwhelming success of the subtitled Hindi film 3 Idiots in Hong Kong and the mainland is any indication, the local cinema circuit will be spiced up with regular Indian features in 2012. Sunil Datwani, a Hong Kong-based Indian film promoter and distributor, said: "I plan to showcase some of the best and most anticipated Hindi films in regular cinemas this year. There's clearly an audience for it."

Ticket prices for this Saturday's show range from HK$988 to HK$6,888. For details go to www.venetianmacao.com/zee_cine_awards.

Byline: P. Ramakrishnan

January 18, 2012

Fashionistas click their heels and march smartly to new Shoe Library to greet their guru Louboutin: Christian Louboutin in Hong Kong

Footwear fans now have another place where they can splurge on killer heels. Lane Crawford's newly renovated Canton Road store has more than 25,000 square feet dedicated to shoes on a floor styled by local designer Andre Fu. 

The upmarket retail chain invited French shoe designer Christian Louboutin to Monday's grand opening of The Shoe Library. Famous for his signature red-soled, flirty and super-sexy heels, Louboutin is no stranger to Hong Kong, having first visited in 1994. He has also just produced a coffee table book to celebrate 20 years in the trade. 

Some of the city's most stylish women took time out of their busy festive schedules to meet the mastermind. Qiqi Yam, model and wife of veteran actor Simon Yam Tat-wah, has a hectic timetable for the holidays, but wasn't going to miss the chance to greet the man responsible for her shoe racks. 

"Our family and about 20 friends are off to Taiwan for Christmas and to visit Simon on his film set," Yam said. 

Meanwhile, later that same night, at a book signing at The Space, the audible gasp as the dapper Louboutin strutted in could be measured in high decibels as the ever-so-fashionable designer sat for two uninterrupted hours, signing his HK$1,400 book, Christian Louboutin - 20 Years. 

“I don’t design shoes according to country, origin, borders,” he said, between posing for a flurry of i-cams. “I just make shoes to make women feel beautiful. Every time I’ve come to Hong Kong, its been a wonderful experience. The beautiful women of all ages, I feel loved – and I love them back.” 

Among those loved women, we found Marisa Zeman in the melee, “I have several of his shoes and of course I’m a huge fan”, she said, pointing to her own black, pointy-toed, red soled pairs. “I sat next to him at a dinner last year and he’s the most charming man.” 

We saw a phalanx of models, led by the perpetually lovely Jocelyn Luko armed with hubby Anthony Sandstrom and model turned ace travel photographer David Elliot at the event. The gorgeous stylist Tina Leung was seen racing in at the n’th hour, after a long shoot that kept her away, while fashion blogger, the bespectacled Denise Lai was seen trying to grab a quick shot of the man himself. 

The delightful Marina Bullivant was seen chatting with Shirley Hiranand and Reyna Harilela who were there in their bejeweled Indian finery – as they were hosting the event just as the festivities of Aaron Harilela’s wedding had begun on the other side of the island. 

It wasn’t just the women, the ever-fashionable Peter Cheung, from Van Cleef & Arpels, was seen in a black men’s shoe studded with silver dots, “They’re really comfortable too.” 

Words every designer wants to hear. 

P. Ramakrishnan

* Photos from my cam - the pro shots were in print! Rama

Hold the romance - Shahrukh Khan's back to being a baddie in big-budget Bollywood export

After a string of Bollywood rom-coms over the past decade, Shahrukh Khan returns to form as a ruthless underworld kingpin in Don 2. Khan's rise to the pinnacle of fame in films where be took the role of villainous anti-heros, film producer Ritesh Sidhwani said.

"We remember him as the bad guy in Darr [Fear]," Sidhwani said by phone from Dubai, where he will attend the emirate's premiere. "He was so thrilling to watch. When we started making the movie, we needed someone who had endless charisma on screen - because we wanted the audience to not repel against a lead protagonist who is essentially bad, he kills people, blows up buildings.

"Who else but Shahrukh Khan to play a role that winks at the audience with a 'you know I'm bad, but you still love me' vibe?"

Who indeed. With inspiration from a series of action flicks, and an international crew, location and massive budget, Don 2 is mercifully short. The leads don't break into a jig at the drop of a hat.

"If we made the lead gangster turn good in this movie - like a Robin Hood character that does bad, but for the good of mankind - then, the film doesn't work," Sidhwani said. "We don't explain why this character is bad. He just is."

The film opens simultaneously this week in Hong Kong, India, the United States, Britain and other countries. "We've found distributors from around the world approaching us, as there's a fascination with Indian cinema that's been on a slow but constant rise," Sidhwani said.

Don 2, in Hindi with English subtitles, opens tomorrow at Kowloon's Golden Gateway and GH Whampoa cinemas.

December 21, 2011
Byline: P. Ramakrishnan
E-mail: ramakrishnanp@hotmail.com

'Harry Potter' starlet braves snap-arazzi and charms the VIPs: Emma Watson in Hong Kong: Cityseen column

If there was a miniature tidal wave lapping at the shores of Central this week, blame it on the screaming fans who lined up around Italian restaurant Spasso as Harry Potter star Emma Watson walked in to the Harbour City Mall to be greeted by the squeals of young fans trying to capture her on camera. 

Escorted by eight bodyguards and minders, the snap-arrazi descended upon the young starlet on Wednesday as she launched Lancome’s new line of cosmetics, as the face of the French brand’s new ad-campaign. 

She braved the local press with bewildered amusement as the paps shouted out: “Emma, here! To the Left. Emma! Emma!” 

“I don’t usually wear any lipstick or much make-up,” the young model and recent Vogue cover girl said. “But Lancome’s introduced me to this great line and I’m wearing them all the time now.” 

At the dinner, Tina Leung, the stylish stylist, ran into the event fashionably late, but just in time for the first course. Leung grabbed a quiet moment with the 21-year-old star. “She said to me, she was wearing an Elie Saab dress and Jimmy Choo shoes. Emma’s so lovely but she looked like a frightened little dove – so many people were just hounding her for a picture inside at the dinner!” 

Local supermodel Jocelyn Luko had pleasant things to say about the young spokesmodel. “She’s so cute, And she had no attitude and posed with so many people.” 

Dancer Faye Leung took a break from her sojourn in Macau with House of Dancing Water to perform at the event with her dance partner, while singer Kit Chan also performed two classics, La Vie en Rose and Wind Beneath My Wings. 

CITYSEEN 

P. Ramakrishnan 

Dec 09, 2011

No need for these noted and quoted names to queue for the iPhone 4S – it came to them

On Thursday, the line outside the Apple store in IFC Mall snaked all the way outside the shopping centre, as hundreds waited impatiently to grab the iPhone 4S. Had the queuers had the siri function, they could have asked: how do I escape this long queue?

The answer for some of Hong Kong’s most noted and quoted was to gather around the corner at Sevva, where service provider 3HK offered them the new phone hours in advance, in the cushioned comforts of the restaurant. There, at midnight, the hype and hoopla for the Apple product merged at a celebrity-studded soiree.

Andrew and Yvette Yuen, Fanny Sieh, models Janet Ma, Ankie Beilke and the very stylish Kam Kwok-Leung and Wyman Wong Wai-man were among the sea of socialites. It was great to see actress Carol Cheng (aka Do Do Cheng) after a rather brief absence from the spotlight.

But even for this crème de la crème, it wasn’t easy to pick up the new gadget; they all had to do the paperwork for 3HK.

Miu Miu-clad Mira Yeh, filling in forms and signing off papers, said: “I’ve always had an iPhone and am really looking forward to getting my engraved new one. I heard about the siri function, but honestly, I think I’ll use the photo function the most.”

We saw the lovely Cara Grogan, who recently lost her phone, mull over whether to engrave the name of her beloved pet Roxy on her iPhone case or her own surname, while model couple Anthony and Jocelyn Sandstrom were posing for a phalanx of fans determined to be “i-shot” with the leggy twosome.

“What do you think of getting the word syphilis on the back?” asked model/DJ Anthony to his gorgeous wife Jocelyn: “No, Tony, no!” was the firm answer. Behind every successful man …!

By P. Ramakrishnan
(e-mail: ramakrishnanp@Hotmail.com)
Images Courtesy: Occasions

Shanghai Tang knows how to turn on the charm

Was it the palpable charms of executive chairman Raphael le Masne de Chermont that led people in droves to Central’s Pier 4, despite the miserable weather at the open-air event? Possibly.

At the Shanghai Tang Mongolian Village pop-up boutique launch at the pier on Tuesday evening, style maven Diana d’Arenberg said: “Gosh, I haven’t seen this many people convene in queues in the rain since the bread line-ups in communist regimes!” A dry wit for a wet occasion, d’Arenberg is always great for a pose, and for quotable prose. “It’s great to see the pier used in such a fashionable way, a great venue – the effort that’s gone in to recreating the Mongolian yurts [tents] and to have the great harbour view in the background is quite lovely,” she said. “The polo shirts are great – I love that Shanghai Tang has brought a bit of Mongolia to Hong Kong just as they’ve put such efforts into bringing back polo to Mongolia.”

While Mongolian men dressed in their traditional garb mingled around with the champagne crowd, the night was interspersed with thunder, lightening and their full-throated singing. Meanwhile, our favourite model about town, Cara Grogan, wore a one-off piece designed by Shanghai Tang creative director Chee Au. “The dress is ridiculously amazing. I asked the team if I could buy it, but the jet-setting dress is on a plane tomorrow for a major event,” bemoaned the gorgeous Grogan. “I’ve had people come up to me to ask about the dress and they’re quite surprised to hear it’s a Shanghai Tang number. I foresee that it’s going to be an extreme success; it’s modern, it’s got a sexier edge to it than a traditional cheongsam but without deviating too much away from the aesthetic of the brand.”

P. Ramakrishnan
(ramakrishnanp@hotmail.com)

Fashion Visionaries: Hong Kong designers and fashionistas gather

For the rarified few who made the trek up to the Heritage Museum for the launch of the Fashion Visionaries exhibition and awards ceremony, which honoured industry style makers and the style icons, a slew of celebrities were out in style and stilettos.

Despite the glam and celebrity quota, there was a notable absence of the paparazzi mob that usually circumnavigates these events.

While not all the 39 designers honoured attended Friday’s ceremony, the top 10 best dressed did so in full fashion-forward mode; Peter Ho, Takara Mak, Edmond Leung Hon-man (suave in a caramel coat), Du Juan (who towered over everyone in all her supermodel glory), Florinda Ho Chiu-wan, Denise Ho Wan-see, Fanny Sieh (resplendent in red), Vivian Chow Wai-man, Wyman Wong Wai-man (in a blinged-out shirt that was understated by Wong’s own steep sartorial standards) and Bosco Wong Chung-chak.

A tip of the hat to the establishment; Walter Ma, Barney Cheng, William Tang Tat-chi, Lu Lu Cheung, Judy Mann and Benny Yeung’s design works were expectedly elegant. The grandeur of the venue matched some of the grand designs by the young, up-and-coming designers. In showcasing their talents and sartorial selections, many were wise, others were otherwise.

The Fashion Visionaries exhibition runs at the museum until March 12.

Published in South China Morning Post, Cityseen.
P. Ramakrishnan
Photos courtesy of Occasions and esp Francis Cheng.

Rocking Angels: American photographer Ike brings Eden to Hong Kong: Asia's Top Models bare-all

Photographer Ike Eichensehr brings a little bit of Eden to HK with orphanage fund-raiser

Byline: P. Ramakrishnan

Temperatures soared as models wearing devilish angel-wings welcomed guests to the Angels for Orphans auction on Friday night.

At the event, Hong Kong-based American photographer Ike Eichensehr launched his second book, Eden, a veritable who's who of Asian fashion and cinema in various states of undress. All proceeds from book sales went to the charity Angels for Orphans.

"A lot of the models I've worked with over the past decades have been involved in some way with Angels for Orphans," said Eichensehr. "It's been a fantastic night. Over US$30,000 was raised."

"I've known Helen Whitman for years, and knowing that all of the money goes to a great cause made the night more meaningful," he said, referring to the head of Angels for Orphans in Hong Kong.

Five large prints of Eichensehr's work were also sold.

The book, HK$800 each, includes passages by shoe designer Jimmy Choo, stylist Kim Robinson, businessman Allan Zeman, actress Michele Reis Lee Ka-yan and Steve Leung, architect and interior designer. They wrote about what 'Eden' means to them.

Despite the presence of the crème de la crème of the city (including artist Simon Birch and model Rosemary Vandenbroucke), all eyes were on supermodel Cara Grogan, resplendent in a billowing green gown.

Proving that with great beauty comes great purpose, Grogan was the emcee for the evening. She has also worked for the charity.

"I spent two months working in an orphanage," she said before the evening started. "Every bit of money raised goes straight to the children and, believe me, from my personal experience volunteering at an orphanage, these children need our help. They changed my life forever, help us change theirs."

Eden is available in all noted bookstores starting today.

Learn more about Angels for Orphans here.

Cara G, Rosemary Vandenbrouke, Ankie Beilke, Michael Wong... 

Ra One Premiers in Hong Kong Tonight!

As the five-day festival of Diwali reaches its zenith, a chunk of the more than 45,000-strong Indian community will be queuing outside iSquare this weekend for Ra.One – Bollywood’s first 3D, superhero flick that has been touted as the most expensive Indian film ever made.

“Not just Indians, the Japanese, Malaysian, French and local crowd will be there,” says show organiser Sunil Datwani, who has been bringing Indian films to local screens for the past 10 years. “Tickets have gone off to a flying start. It’s a movie that’s going to break barriers, a really international crowd has bought the tickets already. In sheer numbers, Bollywood is bigger than any film industry in the world.”

Bollywood heartthrob Shahrukh Khan who has been hop-scotching the planet attending premieres in Dubai, Germany and London, said: “I hope people come into the movie with no preconceived notions on a Hindi film or a superhero film. This isn’t like Spider-Man, Batman, which had a budget of US$50 million or more just for special effects alone. We’ve made [Ra.One] on a fraction of [their entire] budget – and I promise you, the audience will not be disappointed by the special effects.

“As a producer and actor, I’ve invested a lot of my own money and time. When I approached established production houses, they rejected the film. They weren’t brave enough to venture and invest into this.”

Hopefully that bravura will pay off. With 10 screenings at the weekend, Datwani hopes that, along with 3 Idiots, Bollywood will open up even more to the local community.

“I’ve paid the maximum for the film and I know the collection of this film will break records. I hope, as I go into the second decade of bringing films to Hong Kong – which I do for the love of Indian cinema – a Hindi film poster will be regularly seen in all cinemas.”


By P.Ramakrishnan
(email: ramakrishnanp@hotmail.com)

Pakho Chau and Kary Ng put their best (but contrasting) feet forward for Dr Martens

At the launch of First and Forever, Dr Martens men and women's collection, singers Pakho Chau and Kary Ng led a small coterie of models on a catwalk that overwhelmed The Pawn in Wan Chai.

Chau chose to pose in a rather conservative Dr Martens black leather shoe from the F/W 2011 line, while Ng rocked in a crystal-studded number.

After striking all the right poses, Ng said, if given the choice between comfort and fashion, she would pick the latter, no matter how painful. "Sadly, I am one of those girls! Even if the shoes hurt but were gorgeous, I'd wear them," she said.

"But I have to say, these shoes [a Swarovski-studded black leather boot/high-heel hybrid] are really, really comfortable. That's what the brand is most famous for - the chunky boot, but more than that, they are so comfy."

As a rock chick in a band, Ng said she had always had a pair of Dr Martens in her shoe collection over the years.

"They just go with the rocker look all the time and you can pair it with any style. I'm emotionally bonded to some of my favourite pairs of shoes.

"Even before the brand asked me to work with them, I've had a collection. I even have a favourite pair, a classic, chunky boot, that I bought back in 2005."

In an ultimate vote of confidence, Ng confessed that if there was a bridal boot (there isn't!), she would slip into them. "On a wedding day, the bride has to walk a lot and stand around so you might as well be comfortable in a Dr Marten shoe!"

By P.Ramakrishnan
(E-mail ramakrishnanp@hotmail.com)

Vroom with a View

The Happy Valley Racecourse was a highly appropriate venue for Lamborghini to unveil the new Aventador LP 700-4 – a car with a top speed of 350km/h. But stationed amid a bevy of models and car fanatics on Friday night, the large V12 boy toy seemed tethered, its potential on pause.

As Albert Wong, director of Lamborghini Hong Kong, Andrea Baldi and James Page (also from Lamborghini) greeted guests, actor Sam Chan Yu-sum and actress Vivien Yeo Siew Hui were spotted on stage, while model Deborah Valdez, socialite Mira Yeh and others sauntered in to gape at the HK$6.31 million sports car. Club owner Xuan Mu was seen posing with a coterie of gal-pals and there was the usual stream of models.

Our vote for the best dressed of the night, however, goes to Yeh, decked head to toe in Lanvin. “I’d love to own my own Lamborghini, its such a beautiful, powerful car,” she said. “But I’d have mine in orange, not in white, with flames going by the side! A little too cliched? Well, maybe just in orange then.”

The Lamborghini owners’ brotherhood (there are more than 100 on Hong Kong Island alone) was out in force. If Happy Valley residents were rudely awakened by roars well into the night, it was the proud car-owning comrades leaving the event in top gear.

P. Ramakrishnan
(E-mail: ramakrishnanp@hotmail.com)