Sunday 17 April 2011

The charming Miss Monica Dogra

Monica Dogra is a magnet. She exudes a charm that has put her in a niche quite her own in India. I have no personal contact with her but a collection of pictures I wish to share. I shot these during the one and only show of hers that I happened to attend.Well for starters, I had no idea who this lady was until I landed at the Sulafest. There she was on the stage, crooning into the mike in a child like, sensuous voice akin to the performances of the hugely influential icelander Bjork. She was drawing attention from all the corners of the open air amphitheatre located in the Sula Vineyards in Nasik. There was a palpable buzz building up as a distracted crowd began to gravitate towards the stage within minutes of her first hum. There were many among them who wanted to know who this 'babe' was. "She's hot, man, who's she?" is one of strains of conversation I picked up between two youngsters who had their gaze fixed on her. I kept my ears open to find the answer. I soon discovered that she was the same sultry Monica Dogra who plays the investment banker turned photographer in Kiran Rao's Dhobi Ghat! A movie I enjoyed more in retrospect. Monica Dogra is the leading voice behind the reasonably popular band Shair n func. She's spirited and embodies a sensuality that makes her quite intriguing.