‘We don’t want the Left to become too weak’: V.D. Satheesan

Time management: When Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay arrived at the Lok Bhavan with letters of support, there was a brief moment of confusion—the Congress letter was missing. It was left behind in the car, Vijay informed Governor Rajendra Arlekar with a smile. Arlekar reminded him that politics was serious business. Once everything was in order, the governor said he would take an hour to issue the consent letter. While Vijay waited, allies from smaller parties pulled him aside—not for coalition arithmetic, but to make video calls to family and have him say hello. A perk no other chief minister in India can quite offer | Illustrations by Job P.K.

Mane attraction: During the Bihar elections, Prashant Kishor was seen with short, messy hair, the visible proof of a man who had no time for mirrors. Months on, with the political adrenaline fading, he has acquired a neat comb-back and, more tellingly, a ponytail. Observers are divided: one camp says he is going for a Brahminical, scholarly look—strategic optics. The other says he simply wants to look distinctive and handsome to pull in younger voters. Both camps agree on one thing: with Kishor, even the hair has an agenda.

French connection: After the blockbuster success of her film Lokah Chapter One: Chandra, Kalyani Priyadarshan is transitioning to the big league. She is making her Cannes debut on May 14. “Cannes has always been such an iconic celebration of cinema, so being there this year feels very special,” she said. Other debutants at the French Riviera this year include Student of the Year 2 star Tara Sutaria and Punjabi actor and singer Ammy Virk. While our first-timers are awed by the glamour of Cannes, Cannes is awed by the glamour of our veterans like Alia Bhatt, who stunned at the opening ceremony in a custom peach couture gown by Tamara Ralph, accessorised with a coral-and-diamond necklace and a high-voltage smile | PTI

Playing the artist: Mira Nair has revealed the first look of her next film Amri, inspired by the life and art of Amrita Sher-Gil. Playing the legendary artist is Anjali Sivaraman, with Emily Watson and Jaideep Ahlawat as her parents. The film, with Priyanka Chopra Jonas as executive producer, is set in the early 20th century and shot across Hungary, France and India. Sivaraman—who modelled for Tarun Tahiliani and Sabyasachi Mukherjee before starring in the films Cobalt Blue and Bad Girl—was one of over 100 actors that Nair auditioned to play Sher-Gil. It will be difficult to essay the complex artist onscreen, but considering Nair’s casting skills (she discovered Irrfan Khan, Sarita Choudhury and Randeep Hooda), this Tamilian beauty might just be able to Sher-Gil her way to fame | Instagram@anjalisivaraman

Onward to Cannes: Mohammad Ali Baig, the youngest Padma awardee in theatre, is foraying into a new film project called Chand-Tara, based on the legend of a 17th century singer-dancer of the Deccan. He is directing, writing, producing and acting in the film, which co-stars Ranjana Shrivastava, Mohan Agashe, Anupam Kher and Masood Akhtar. Its trailer will premiere at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. Baig has done over 500 ad-films and numerous theatre productions, and is the only Indian actor-playwright to speak and perform at the University of Oxford.

Jet set go: In 1997, actor John Travolta wrote a book about a boy flying cross-country to Hollywood with his mother, based on his own childhood experience. It did not make a big splash, so Travolta waited. Now, 29 years later, he has adapted the children’s book into a film—Propeller: One Way Night Coach. If that’s not a lesson in patience in this age of quick commerce, fast fashion and instant gratification, then what is? The film draws from Travolta’s own love for aviation; he’s a professional pilot. So fasten your seatbelts, sit back and get ready for the flight of a lifetime | Getty Images