Canine fright
Heard of dogs walking down the ramp? Well, it's true. On Saturday, at Nehru Memorial Hall had the unique opportunity of watching a dog take the ramp.

At Renaissance '99, an inter-college fashion and music competition, organised by Stance and Sphinx, while the bold and the beautiful took the ramp, the dog completely ignorant of the ongoing grand affair walked onstage, with his natural grace and poise. Imagine the participants plight, having to deal with `canine' fright coupled with the usual stage fright.

Order was soon restored in the hall resounding with laughter. The usual fashion sequences in ethnic, western and casual attires followed. The Symbiosis Cultural Society came out with the futuristic people from Mars look. The patriotic Kargil theme was well-depicted by the winning team Nanavati. "Eventually, what is important is meaning and Nanavati combined entertainment with a cause,'' said Ritika Ramtri, a judge.

But Shankarapal Dasarath left the audience speechless with her confidence, charm and charisma. This petite eve from Symbiosis Cultural Society has an amputated arm. Such was her brilliance that half the crowd did not realise that something was amiss. Deservingly, she walked home with the Face of the Ramp award. Nothing could bring down the tempo of a hall filled with enthusiastic youngsters. It was `party-time' for the crowd dancing to the tunes of Dholi Taro and Brazil, while the judges got busy with the results. Every one had fun on this fundoo show.

Laughter time
Why does Monica Lewinsky never visit restaurants? Because after every meal, the waiters ask, "Shall I get the Bill?" It was humour night at the Balgandharva Rangmandir on Thursday. Hasya Dhara, organised as part of the ongoing Pune Festival, witnessed an over-packed audience. More than fifteen poets from all over the State congregated to present a variety of verse, ranging from Gill to Kargil. Political satire dominated and had the audience rolling with laughter and clamouring for more.

Narayan Suman presented a remix of Ga Di Madgulkar's Ramayana which was renamed Bharatayana. Original lyrics were replaced with humourous and witty verses describing the play of Indian bureaucracy.

On a different note, Sanjay Choudhary recited a beautiful poem as a tribute to `girl-power'. Love, relationships, college life and the destruction of nature were the other themes that kept the audience mesmerised and at certain points even drew them close to tears with their sheer beauty.

The programme concluded in the wee hours of the morning. Certainly a night to remember.