THIRUVANATHAPURAM: The famed Saatchi Gallery in London was lit up by some of the brightest stars in the galaxy when Kerala Tourism’s latest campaign film, ‘Your Moment is Waiting’, was unveiled. Chelsea striker Didier Drogba came with his wife Alla. Former Golden Boot winner Gary Linekar, too, was there with his model wife Danielle. 400m Olympic gold medalist Christine Ohuruogo, who had never heard of Kerala, came and was transformed. Bill Nighy, who plays the role of Minister for Magic Rufus Scrimgeour in ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows’, was seen chatting up a rather reticent Mohanlal.
There were more film stars: Dev Patel, Priya Kalidas, Sadie Frist and Dougray Scot. Jimi Mistry of ‘East is East’ and ‘Blood Diamond’ fame compered the event.
Two of the biggest names in British politics were also present: Lord Swraj Paul and Keith Vaz. Top TV presenters, too, graced the event. There was Lisa Snowdon, pin-up TV presenter and former host of the reality show ‘Britain’s Next Top Model’, and also Mariella Frostrup, a journalist and TV presenter whose voice was once voted the most sexiest voice on TV. If Sam Branson made up for the absence of his father, British industrialist Richard Branson, Jade Jagger rocked in the absence of her father, the iconic Mick Jagger.
“Kerala is a dream place,” said Drogba. ‘’I hope you have enough beds in Kerala. I can see this campaign getting a lot of people visiting God’s Own Country after seeing the film,’’ he added. The Ivory Coast Captain whose team Chelsea’s homeground Stamford Bridge is only 20 minutes of walk from the Saatchi Gallery.
Linekar, who won the Golden Boot at the 1986 Mexico World Cup, said his wife Danielle had been persuading him to visit Kerala. “It’s a place you want to go,” said Linekar, now a soccer commentator. Ohuruogu was made an instant convert. ‘’Kerala seems to be very colourful and lively. It is one place I am going to add to the list of destinations to visit before I die,” Ohuruogu said.
Smitha Tharoor, the sister of former Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor, described the film as ‘’brilliant’’. ‘’Kerala is the opposite of what you expect in India,’’ said famous British photographer Seamus Murphy. ‘’Kerala is slow, less crowded and unspoiled,’’ he added.
Rolling Stones lead singer Mick Jagger’s daughter Jade Jagger, a former model and jewellery designer, sounded impressed. ‘’Kerala is a very interesting place, very spiritual. It is a very special place in India,’’ said Jade Jagger, who unlike Ohuruogo had visited Kerala several times. Former Duran Duran band member Simon Le Bon said he had heard a lot about Kerala’s great cuisine.
Dev Patel of ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ and ‘The Last Airbender’ captured the emotion the film evoked in two words: ‘’It’s magic’’. During the course of the evening, the guests were treated to Kerala’s classical dance forms ‘Mohiniattam’ and ‘Ottamthullal’ performed by Corinne Mathow from France and Hartmut Schmidt from Germany.
The 150-odd guests were also served scrumptious Kerala cuisine by Michelin chef Sriram Aylur of the award-winning Quilon Restaurant in London.
