The Babu is back and is going to follow the example of the small tomato. (Bad, old joke: Two tomatoes are trundling along in the Annual Tomato Race. The small tomato's lagging behind. "Come on," says the big tomato. "Ketchup, ketchup.") The news in India has centred around the Barbara Taylor Bradford (see post for May 9) brouhaha. The case could have serious implications for the Indian film and television industry, one of the most prone to carrying "inspired" plots (lovely phrase, that) in the world. Sahara, the producers of the offending TV serial, appears to have been caught on the back foot. As the Supreme Court of India upheld a freeze on the telecast, their counsel was pleading that India's most expensive soap opera should be allowed to go ahead if the channel isn't to suffer serious losses.

Much as the Babu approves of Bradford's attempt to safeguard her intellectual property rights, he was considerably amused by the soundbytes the author and her husband gave to the Times of India: "And now it's a Yorkshirewoman who's fighting." Kya dialogue hai! (A more detailed, if less delightfully melodramatic, interview was conducted by the Independent.)