Greetings Curry Lovers!

The lyrics of "Love is the air, everywhere I look around" and "Tujhe dekha to yeh jana sanam, Pyar hota hai deewana sanam (Since I saw you I realised, what madness love is)" are buzzing around in my head and this can only mean one thing. Yes, Valentine's day is upon us. With statistics showing that 14% of women send flowers to themselves on this day (glad to know I'm not the only one!) we bring you two special features this time.

Our Valentine's feature takes a look at the twenty most Romantic Bollywood Movies ever as chosen by a panel of female movie experts. Don't forget that you too can cast your vote in our poll and we have one copy of the Encyclopaedia of Hindi Cinema to give away in the first of our two competitions. You can "play it again Sam" with our top Hollywood tear-jerkers like Casablanca. I've compiled my wish list (sorry that should say guide) to 'What all good Asian Girls want for Valentine's Day" and we look at 40 other ways to woo your lover. There is still just enough time to arrange a romantic getaway - make that a plain ole getaway if you've forgotten about Valentine's day!

Cafe Lazeez has created a new art to seduction and you can while a few moments taking our Valentine's compatibility quiz or just reading up on useless trivia about Cupid's big day (note that this is not a typo....it really isn't called Stupid's big day...unless you've forgotten the gift).

ROMANTIC BOLLYWOOD MOVIE GUIDE	ROMANTIC HOLLYWOOD MOVIE GUIDE
Classics like Awara, Andaz, Pakeezah and Mugal-e-Azam appeared to be among our experts' favourites. Featuring stars of yester year it is hardly surprising that the early days of Bollywood are seen as the Golden Era of the great romantic movie. read more	If you're looking for something to put you in a romantic frame of mind this Valentine's Day, you can't go far wrong with these Top 10 tear-jerkers. Hollywood Stars Meg Ryan and Leonardo Di Caprio even make the top ten twice! read more
VALENTINE'S GIFTS FOR ASIAN GIRLS	40 WAYS TO WOO YOUR LOVER
When it comes to being romantic on Valentine's Day - let's face it - Asian men are fairly clueless. So I've compiled a list of hot gifts for this year's day of love and romance. read more	Want to spice up your life by wooing your lover until your heart's content but can't think of anything original? Then try some of these ideas to get things going. read more
ROMANTIC GETAWAYS	THE ART OF SEDUCTION AT CAFE LAZEEZ
Travel may broaden the mind, but it is also rather effective at setting Cupid's bow twanging - so why not escape this Valentine's Day? read more	This year, why not add some spice into your relationship? Café Lazeez's Valentine's menu to arouse your senses! read more
VALENTINES COMPATIBILITY QUIZ	VITAL VALENTINE STATISTICS
It's easy to make romance redundant. Our Valentines quiz aims to get you tuned back into what really counts - your lover. read more	It's good to know that romance is alive and well, but why do we celebrate Valentine's Day and who was cupid? read more
***** ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF HINDI CINEMA COMPETITION *****
We have 1 copy of the recently published 'Encyclopaedia of Hindi Cinema' (worth £50) to give away. To win it, simply answer the question below: Q1) Which famous Bollywood film has a song with the lyrics "Tujhe dekha to yeh jana sanam, Pyar hota hai deewana sanam (Since I saw you I realised, what madness love is)" HOW TO ENTER 1. Reply to this email with your answer. Ensure you provide your full name, a DAYTIME DELIVERY address and TELEPHONE NUMBER. 2. If you are unable to reply to this email, send a separate email to webmaster@redhotcurry.com with your answer. Ensure you provide your full name, a DAYTIME DELIVERY address and TELEPHONE NUMBER. TERMS AND CONDITIONS 1. Competition is open to UK Residents over the age of 18 only. 2. You must be a registered member of Redhotcurry.com. Please take a moment to sign up. 3. Closing date for entries is midday on Monday 16 February 2004. The winner will be chosen from the first correct answer selected at random from all entries received. 4. The Editor's decision is final.

Our second feature is on Health & Beauty. We have a pair of tickets to the 'Asian Dreams: Next Generation' catwalk fashion show on Wed 18 Feb to give away in our second competition. Last year's Art Deco exhibition at The V&A has set a trend for all things glam in this year's fashion trade. You can read about the latest in spa treatments, how to look after your skin this winter, the newest fitness trends and how to put the sparkle back into your life.

ASIAN DREAMS - NEW GENERATION	FASHION GOES ART-DECO IN 2004
Asian Dreams - New Generation is a new addition to London Fashion Week's 'Off Schedule' programme that offers a platform to up and coming British Asian designers. The show takes place at 7.30pm on Wed 18 February 2004. read more	Prepare to ditch those micro-minis, year 2004 is a time to get stylish. Fun and elegant, 1920s flapper dresses with delicate fringing and drop-waists were paraded on the runways at Milan catwalks, and the chic 30s were represented with frills and opulent beading. read more
NEW FITNESS TRENDS	GET YOUR SPARKLE BACK!
Keen to get back in shape but can't face the prospect of hours spent mindlessly pumping iron or pedalling an exercise cycle? It seems you're not alone, because there's been a sea-change in the types of health and fitness class on offer at gyms. read more	The long, dark winter can make even the most upbeat of people feel down. And as the months drag on, the inclination to curl up into a tiny, hibernating ball until the clocks go forward again, becomes increasingly hard to resist. Why not try some of these ideas. read more
THE LATEST SPA TREATMENTS	WINTER BEAUTY SECRETS
Treating yourself to a spot of DIY TLC has never been so easy with the array of products on the market. But for a session of sheer pampering, why not indulge in sheer bliss? read more	Bombarded by frosty temperatures, harsh winds, changes in humidity and the parching effect of central heating, winter skin is in a continual state of flux that results in dryness and dullness. read more
** ASIAN DREAMS: NEXT GENERATION CATWALK SHOW COMPETITION **
We have a pair tickets to the 'Asian Dreams: Next Generation' catwalk show on Wed 18 Feb in London. To win this pair of tickets, simply answer the question below: Q1) Which avant garde British fashion designer is to get her own retrospective exhibition at The Victoria & Albert Museum later this year? HOW TO ENTER 1. Reply to this email with your answer. Ensure you provide your full name, a DAYTIME DELIVERY address and TELEPHONE NUMBER. 2. If you are unable to reply to this email, send a separate email to webmaster@redhotcurry.com with your answer. Ensure you provide your full name, a DAYTIME DELIVERY address and TELEPHONE NUMBER. TERMS AND CONDITIONS 1. Competition is open to UK Residents over the age of 18 only. 2. You must be a registered member of Redhotcurry.com. Please take a moment to sign up. 3. Closing date for entries is midday on Monday 16 February 2004. The winner will be chosen from the first correct answer selected at random from all entries received. 4. The Editor's decision is final.

If like me you are more inclined to buy the book but not take any action then Indian Interiors, a huge glossy book about plush mughal interiors, will suit you perfectly. We've also prepared a short guide to the best jewellery books on the rare off chance that your partner forgot to buy you a Valentine's gift. We suggest you extract suitable compensation by doing all the necessary gem research!

INDIAN INTERIORS	GUIDE TO THE BEST JEWELLERY BOOKS
What can I possible say about this book, except that it is my favourite coffee table book of all time. With page after page of sumptuous mughal palaces, plush hotel lounges and rustic village houses, 'Indian Interiors' is a visual feast. read more	Overview of the some of the hottest books on jewellery including 'Jewelry of South East Asia' by Ann Richter, Jewelled Arts of India in the Age of the Mughals' by Manuel Keene, 'Christie's Guide to Jewellery' by Sarah Hue Williams and 'Great Diamonds of India' by Monisha Bhardwaj. read more

There's a lot happening on the Asian music scene as always. Watch out for Shamaila Khan's debut album Oi! which we think will be a major hit (despite the title!).

WARM CHILL BY T J REHMI	MILES_GURTU
The Warm Chill is an innovative blend of electronic breakbeats and Eastern melodies with chill guitar from Tj Rehmi, an accomplished British Artiste based in the USA. read more	Robert Miles and Trilok Gurtu are two of modern music's true pioneers, confounding convention and defying easy categorisation. The heart and soul of the 'Miles_Gurtu sound is the classic jazz-trio. read more
'DESI VIBES' DUM DUM PROJECT	'Oi!' BY SHAMAILA KHAN
Available in Europe for the first time, fully remastered with an extra bonus track, Desi Vibes incorporates musical influences ranging from The Beatles to Ravi Shankar. read more	I am not a great fan of Hindi-pop music, but every once in a while a new album comes along to change my mind and Shamaila Khan's debut album 'Oi!' is just such an album. read more

You have a host of art exhibitions to choose from: Cecil Beaton's 'Our Man in India' photos, Kabhi Ritz Kabhie Palladium, New Young Europeans, Parampara Portraits, Ketna Patel, Chila Kumari Burman, Amrik Chhokran. Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed how Asian women artists are getting a lot more showings at the major galleries? Hurray! for once (you can tell I've been following the "Put the Sparkle Back into your Life" regime).

PARAMPARA PORTRAITS, 9 JAN - 28 FEB	TEARS OF MILK BY KETNA PATEL, 6-29 FEB
Leading South Asian artist J Chuhan was commissioned to paint portraits of leading British South Asians. The exhibition runs from 9 Jan - 28 Feb 2004. read more	'Tears of Milk' is a collection of some of the paintings and photo collage artworks that have emerged out of experiences of watching and working with various peoples around the world. read more
CHILA KUMARI BURMAN	OUR MAN IN INDIA, CECIL BEATON
Prints and paintings by Chila Kumari Burman will be exhibited at the Royal Overseas League from 16 January to 5 March 2004. read more	'Our Man in India: Cecil Beaton's Propaganda Photographs 1944' will be on display until 13 March at The National Archives. Beaton was one of Britain's most celebrated photographers. read more
KABHI RITZ KABHIE PALLADIUM,	NEW YOUNG EUROPEANS, 3-27 FEB 2004
'Bollywood', as Indian cinema has become known, has boomed. Despite this, little is known of the Indian cinema scene in Britain that started in the 1940s and became established in the 1970s when failing cinemas were bought and restored by Asian people. read more	New Young Europeans is an exhibition about young people: some have never questioned their right to call London their home, others are young asylum seekers and refugees from all over the world. Here they are encouraged to talk about their hopes and ambitions. read more
'BOLLYWOOD DREAMS', 11 MAR - 14 APR	CLIVE OF INDIA TREASURE, 22-26 APR
Enthusiasts have another opportunity to see Amrik Chhokran's acclaimed 'Bollywood Dreams' exhibition. Her work digitally manipulates images by utilising the latest in computer technology. read more	An Example of Earthly Paradise, The Greatest of Clive of India's Treasure to be Exhibited and Auctioned at Christie's. The unique auction takes place at Christie's on 27 April. read more

I end this time thinking about Clive of India - not that I knew him personally you understand. It is merely that his collection of Mughal Objects is to be exhibited and auctioned at Christie's. The sale is expected to fetch more than a £1million.....now where can I find a Valentine with that much feeling and money???

Until next time,
Lopa Patel (Editor - redhotcurry.com)

PS. Our special free gift offer for new users who sign-up is simmering nicely, so why not tell a friend to sign-up? They might be grateful for the suggestion.