Greetings Curry Lovers!
We are like kids when it comes to special offers, and this week we have a truly stunning 2-for-1 offer for the IMAX film 'India - Kingdom of the Tiger'. You may have heard about this visually mesmerising cinematic treat that launched in September this year. But if you haven't seen it yet, then take advantage this SPECIAL OFFER NOW.

INDIA KINGDOM OF THE TIGER	'SHOLAY' TOPS POLL ON INDIAN CINEMA
Ever wanted to see a Bengal Tiger? For the first time IMAX® audiences will have a unique opportunity to view the mighty Bengal tiger in the visually stunning film 'India - Kingdom of the Tiger'.	Ramesh Sippy’s film 'Sholay' has topped the BFI's poll on Indian cinema. The film tells the story of two runaway thieves defending a village against bandits. read more

OK, so if you don't live in London this could be a very expensive trip to the cinema! For those of you in and around Birmingham, Mira Nair will be on stage TONIGHT (22 November 2002) discussing some of her past successes like Monsoon Wedding and Salaam Bombay! This event is the finale of the eight month long ImagineAsia Festival. I hardly know what to do now that this extravaganza of South Asian Cinema has ended. It's first ever poll of Indian Cinema put Ramesh Sippy's 'Sholay' (1975) at number 1, followed closely by 'Pather Panchali' (1955) by Satyajit Ray and 'Mother India' (1957) by Mehboob Khan. Indeed the top 5 didn't make it past 1975! My excuse is that I only ever see these films when they are re-released, being far too young to remember the originals! In the case of the new release of Mughal-E-Azam (1960), I hope that you'll indulge me in this a little.

Those of you lamenting the "bollyfication" of South Asian Cinema should rush down to the Festival of South Asian Documentaries (29th Nov - 1st Dec) that takes place in Harrow, Middlesex. It seems to me that all the directorial "bright lights" of the future are learning their craft by making documentaries. The festival is FREE (we really love that word!) and includes a screening of Amar Kanwar's King of Dreams - an exploration of male sexual fantasies. Hmmmmm...

Of course some are not just content with going to the cinema, many are picking up the cameras themselves. Sandhya Suri won ImagineAsia's short film contest with her entry 'Safar' (the journey) which is a compelling tale about Suri’s father’s dream to resettle in his native India after almost 40 years of living in England. Sandhya was personally congratulated on her win by legendary director, Shyam Benegal.

FESTIVAL OF ASIAN DOCUMENTARIES	SANDHYA SURI WINS FILM CONTEST
The Festival of South Asian Documentaries 2002 is a three day celebration of some of the most exciting work in South Asian non-fiction film-making. This FREE event runs from 29th Nov to 1st Dec in Harrow, Middlesex. read more	27 year old Sandhya Suri has won the ImagineAsia Contest with a short film entitled 'Safar' (The Journey). The competition was open to young British Asians aged 15 – 30 years. Sandhya was awarded her prize by director Shyam Benegal. read more

If you are a less than shy-am filmmaker then you will be delighted to hear about the Tongues on Fire 2002 short film competition. Entrants are set the objective of portraying the serious theme of 'Organ Donation' with humour and sensitivity! Given the current spotlight on "Cash for Kidneys" scandals, this represents a real challenge. Of course the winner will be catapulted to the attention of film makers like Gurinder Chadha and Meera Syal - some of last year's Tongues of Fire participants.

And from the large screen to the small screen, the BBC Mega Mela Awards 2002 take place next Saturday 30th November. Apart from luring Bollywood stars Akshay Kumar and Mahima Chaudhary to the stage, the Mega Mela will host performances by Pankaj Udhas, Junoon, Hans Raj Hans, Malkit Singh and Hadiqa Kiani.

ARE YOU A BUDDING FILMMAKER?	BBC CELEBRATES MEGA MELA AWARDS 2002
Wannabe Meera Syal's will be thrilled to hear about the 'Tongues on Fire' 2003 short film competition open to all students and budding filmmakers. Notification of intent by 17 Jan 2003. Completed entries by 28 Feb 2003. read more	The BBC Mega Mela Awards ceremony takes place on Saturday 30th November in Birmingham. Star performers this year include Akshay Kumar, Mahima Chaudhary, Pankaj Udhas, Junoon, Hans Raj Hans, Malkit Singh and Hadiqa Kiani. read more

And if, like us, you are no nearer to a Mega Mela Award and your personal experience of fame is bitter sweet, then spare a thought for Saroj, the key figure in Anita Rau Badami's book 'The Tamarind Woman'. Saroj is likened to a tamarind in Badami's evocative tale which explores a modern day relationship between mother and daughter. Saroj must be wishing she could perhaps take advantage The Calcutta Chromosome and leap out of Badami's imagination into the fantastical landscape of Amitav Ghosh's brain. We've billed Ghosh's book as "Invasion of the Body Snatchers meets the X-Files"!

TAMARIND WOMAN	THE CALCUTTA CHROMOSOME
Why do we say "daddy's girl" and "mummy's boy"? I wondered about these everyday sayings whilst reading Anita Rau Badami's evocative book 'Tamarind Woman' which is a new perspective on the complex relationship between mother and daughter. read more	In 'The Calcutta Chromosome' respected writer and anthropologist Amitav Ghosh has unleashed his fantastical imagination to produce a strangely hypnotic work of science fiction. "Invasion of the Body Snatchers meets the X-Files"! read more

And from this brief foray into to the world of cinema and fiction back to the vividly colourful world of redhotcurry.com, please remember to enter our 'India - Kingdom of the Tiger' 2-for-1 contest NOW! Our special free gift offer for new users who sign-up is also going swimmingly well, so why not tell a friend? They might just thank you for the suggestion!