The Hindu Business Line : It’s Bollywood… once again

At the ceremony held at the headquarters of the International Olive Oil Association in Madrid on Friday, the ceremony is on to give away the Mario Solinas award for the best quality of olive oil produced by one of the IOC (International Olive Council) member countries during 2007.

Franco Oliva, head of the Promotion Division of the IOC, describes the ceremony, which has participation from IOC member countries such as Greece, Spain, Italy, Tunisia, Iran, Morocco, Portugal, etc as “the Oscars of the world of olive oil”. At the reception that follows, a spate of starters are served, all cooked… in what else… olive oil… shrimp, jamon (ham), fish and all kinds of sea food, cheese, and delectable desserts made with olive oil.

Only in the morning we – a group of 10 international journalists on a table olive and olive oil tour of Spain, organised by the IOC to promote the Spanish varieties and give us a taste of Spanish gourmet fare prepared in olive oil, have been treated to a wide range of delicacies prepared by Elbulli, the world famous Spanish restaurant.

The occasion is the release of a special recipe book put together by Rafael Anson, in collaboration with a host of chefs.

He is the President of the Spanish Association of Gastronomy and he assures us that “whatever you have eaten today here were delicacies which were being served for the first time in the world.” All of them are of course prepared in olive oil.

What got the most attention was a granita made with orange juice and frozen olive oil at a temperature of -180 degrees C.

A Japanese inspired soup with soya and black sesame was another big hit, where solidified oil was actually poured on the delicacy from a syringe… as though in an injection. Appetizers using a wide variety of meats, fish, sea food, vegetables and fruits are downed with the finest of white and red wines.

Anyway, as the Indian journalists are introduced to some of the delegates who are in Madrid to participate in the Mario solinas awards, one of them walks up to me and says: Ah, India… so famous for Bollywood!”

At home one might not much care for the term ‘Bollywood’, but to hear Bollywood as the first term of reference while connecting as an Indian to a foreigner certainly fills you with delight.

Another Spanish olive oil producer one had met in Greece last year, comes up to say ‘Hello’. Very soon he too is talking fondly about Bollywood… many of these people have seen Hindi films with Spanish sub-titles but can’t remember the movie names.

Imagine foreigners remembering something like an Aa Ab Laut Chaley or Kabhie Khushi Kabhie Gham… obviously it is too much to expect!

Elsewhere, in southern towns such as Sevill and Granada too, there is mention of Bollywood stars… as one is dealing mostly with men, no prices for guessing that the prima donna, as far as these men are concerned, continues to be Aishwarya Rai.

But the one who is really bitten by the Bollywood, as well as the Ashbug, is Oliva, an Italian who lives in Spain.

Since the IOC is now engaged in a huge promotional effort on table olives and olive oil in the Indian market, he has been visiting India for more than a year now… and from each visit he returns home with a few Hindi movie DVDs.

Not too many Indian fans of Aishwarya Rai will have his collection of her films… from Taal and Devdas, Aa Ab Laut Chaley to Mohabbatein and The Mistress of Spices, he has them all. Very soon one finds out that he is a serious student of Indian cinema.

He pulls out a diary in which he has meticulously written down the names of Hindi movies… actually there are two lists… one of the DVD he already has, and another of films he’d like to acquire.

One is invited to do a critical appraisal of this list and mercilessly I score out some of the eminently forgettable hindi films from his lists.

So what should be seen next? Arth a film in which both Shabana Azmi and Smita Patil had given scintillating performances is recommended and Oliva confirms the next day that he watched it “and loved it”.

But, he adds, “Aishwarya remains the most beautiful”.

More Stories on : International Travel | Cinema

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
IHHR opens city resort in Hyderabad

Chinese films hog the limelight

It’s Bollywood… once again

7Seas Tech will soon roll out 40 new games