Bal's brief-sporting men are lonesome tonight

A straight- to-the-bone male model expressed discomfort when he was asked to follow Rohit Bal's instructions on ramp. An instruction to act gay. In spite of a roaring applause at the end of the show, the concerned model continued to look harrowed. That's the Bal effect for the uninitiated.

By his own admission, Bal has moved on from "pleasing the media". That means throwing caution to the wind, and doing doing what he fancies. This time, he fancied that male models lounge in bedwear. That's how he kicked off his show u2014 the guys lay on chairs, some with just tiny briefs on, while Elvis Prestley crooned, Are you lonesome tonight?

So far so good.

But with models carrying far too many brands u2014 Hidesign bags, Ray Ban sunglasses, and bathed in Swarovski sparkle u2014 it was all a bit confused. And then came the oscillation between Russian tap dance tunes, outlandish hats, and an Italian mafia-ish, alcohol-induced swagger u2014 that too with some of them wearing Son Pari (that's a fanatsy kids show on TV, for those who don't know) inspired pants. It all wrapped up with the Dhan Tanan track. No fodder for the mind. Just plain, pure entertainment. Pics/Subhash Barolia