Every city has its confirmed bachelors, its definitive spinsters and its just-divorced-and single sods. It’s just that the collection in Delhi is a tad more eclectic. Chasing The Good Life: On Being Single is a book devoted to these types. I must concede that when I was first invited to the launch, I scoffed at the idea. I mean why should one go through the painful process of reading what a wonderful time these blokes and bitches have. The grass is plain dry on our side. But since I do have a brother who is the pillar of this tribe, I picked it up. It is a fantastic, racy read with some remarkable pieces. Karan Thapar devotes his piece to the rather senseless question that is often posed to single men: “Are you married?” Kanika Gahlaut (as only she can) writes about how a single woman has two types of people’s names in their phone book :(a) phone friends and (b) f**k friends. Phone friends don’t f**k. F**k friends don’t phone. How deliciously sorted out these singles are! Suhel Seth, simple old man that he is, gives away his trade secrets. Suhel is known to be generous with his friends, but why sprinkle one’s wild oats over the entire country? Khushwant Singh of course professes that the biggest bounty of being single is the ability to fart without remorse. Put together by the sultan of singles, Bhaichand Patel, this is one funny read.

It is nothing but tragic that Helen Mirren has never won an Oscar. In my mind, she ranks amongst the finest actresses in the world. Some time ago, she played Elizabeth I. She was also nominated for the Emmy for her performance in The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone. This time, Helen achieves yet another distinction: that of playing Queen Elizabeth II in a film called The Queen. The film brings to light the unknown tension that simmered between Tony Blair and the Queen, post the death of Diana. While the royal family was hesitant to make a public statement, Tony Blair insisted on it. But not after a bitter war between the two. Mirren’s performance as the Queen is fantastic. Equally commendable is Cromwell’s portrayal of Prince Philip. The film is directed by the terribly talented Stephen Frears who last year delighted us all with Mrs. Henderson Presents.

Rarely is God overtly benign towards rock bands. Seldom does he bestow them with gifts such as the ability to write great lyrics, create great sound and then share their fortunes with the less fortunate people on this planet. Well, there’s Bono. But that kind of proves the rule, so to speak. It is on this page that I will lay a bet that Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol will win the track of the year. Part of a miraculous album called Eyes Open by Snow Patrol, it is a song that instinctively echoes eternity. Now guys this is rich rock at its best. Pure pleasure with mystical melodies. The lyrics are not pontificatory. They are, like all legendary lyrics, observations from life, simple feelings. Shut Your Eyes is also a telling track. You Could Be Happy has amazing lyrics. Put together by Garret Lee, this is a priceless album. Of course what struck me most was the last line in the credits in the CD. It says “Mums and dads of the world be patient with your children.” My word of advice would be don’t wait patiently to get your hands on this album. It’s a scorcher!

Photographs by Rupinder Sharma