One of Britain's biggest music festivals, Glastonbury, has finally come to a close. But it started on a bleak note. Despite massive stars, ticket sales have been poor; performances have been plagues with controversies. There have also been some surprises. Instep Today gives you the lowdown…

Slow ticket sales

For the first time in years, the organizers of Glastonbury have had a hard time in selling tickets.

Even with prolific acts like Amy Winehouse, Jay-Z, James Blunt and Leonard Cohen among 1000 performances on about 20 stages, the festival has suffered.

The birthday concert for 90-year-old Nelson Mandela and Live Nation's Hard Rock Calling show both took place in Hyde Park, London while Gastonbury was starting up.

Jay-Z versus Oasis

Since it was announced that Jay-Z would be performing, it lodged a serious debate. The biggest row, however, came when Oasis front man Noel Gallagher said, "I'm not having hip-hop at Glastonbury, it's wrong."

Jay-Z hit back, when he walked onto the stage with a guitar and opened the show with a cover of Oasis tune, 'Wonderwall'. His stint at Glastonbury proved to be success after all.

Speaking with MTV after the show, Jay-Z stated, "It was a historic night for Glastonbury and for myself (as) it's the first time a hip hop act had headlined.

Speaking on the Oasis row, he simply said, "That's my sense of humour. I have a sense of humour like a Brit' so I thought people would appreciate that. Noel Gallagher was one of the biggest detractors so I figured that was a cool way to start the show."

The New York rapper, considered by many as a controversial choice for the rock-based festival proved critics wrong. His performance has led to a huge stir in his album sales.

Five of his singles have re-entered music charts after Glastonbury.

Amy Winehouse debacle

Britain's favourite female musician, the hugely talented and troubled Amy Winehouse was one of the main attractions at Glastonbury.

But more than her performance, it was her punch to a fan and insult of Kanye West that made headlines.

Apparently a fan, James Gostelow, tried to touch her hair while she was on stage. In return Amy punched him.

"Not everyone can say they have been hit by Amy Winehouse," the fan, James Gostelow, told the BBC. "I'm just pleased I got to see her. She did a great act."

The organizers, however, have defended Amy, stating that some barriers should be respected. Why a fan wanted to touch her hair, we'll never know!

An even bigger story was her dislike for hip-hop sensation Kanye which she announced in front of 75,000 fans.

Amy opened for Jay-Z and said, "She continued: "Let's hear it for Jay-Z. The man has got bollocks to come here, and play the tunes you don't even know you remember. Imagine if it was a c**t like Kanye West. "C**ts Like Kanye" - that should be his next album title."

But Kanye has not taken the insult personally. Writing on his website, he said, "This just in… Amy Winehouse hates me! Now I've really made it! LOL (laugh out loud)!!!!"

Kate Moss and Jamie Hince

Last year Pete Doherty performed with his band Babyshambles and then girlfriend and supermodel Kate Moss came to show support and hang out. She is a Glastonbury veteran.

This year Kate was back but with a different rocker. It was Jamie Hince, the rocker from The Kills, who also performed. Meanwhile Peter Doherty neither performed with his act nor was he seen around. Or maybe Kate was just avoiding him.

A double bill of oldies

Canadian rock legend Leonard Cohen made his first-ever appearance at Glastonbury and put up hits like 'Suzanne', 'So Long Marianne' and the classic hit, 'Hallelujah', which won him a standing ovation.

"It's a great honour to play for these angels born of the mud," he said to a huge cheer.

Another legendary performer was the 67-year-old showman Neil Diamond who performed some of his most well-known tracks like 'Sweet Carolin'e, 'Cherry Cherry' and 'Forever in Blue Jeans'.

The Verve front man Richard Croft snubs organiser

Richard Ashcroft and his band The Verve, most famous for 'Bitter Sweet Symphony' closed this year's festival, performed an exclusive, unreleased tune and won and reportedly had a ball doing so.

Their performance, however, like Amy Winehouse, was overshadowed by the swipe at the organiser Michael Eavis, who they suggested opposed their slot.

Richard commented that Eavis's daughter Emily booked them and her father was "worried we weren't going to be as good as Keane or something".

And this was the first time since 2004 when Glastonbury was not followed by a mudbath.

The surprises

Duffy, who's escalated to fame as a star this year, played her famous tune, 'Mercy' and won rave reviews from critics.

All the while James Blunt, famous for tunes like '1973' and 'You're Beautiful' was marked as the most boring performer of the festival.

'Viva Italia," said Giorgio Armani, punching the air in front of a window overlooking the Place Vendôme in support of Alessandra Facchinetti as the young designer showed her first Valentino couture collection since the founder retired.

In the front row sat the starlet Camilla Belle in a fluffy white tulle dress, her movie credits in "When a Stranger Calls" an appropriate title for this dramatic generational changing of the guard.

Yet as the models stepped out delicately in the fairy-like dresses, with light layers creating sculptural ovoid shapes, the collection did not seem that of an outsider, but of a designer loyal to everything Valentino has stood for - though from an ultra-feminine point of view. That meant there was a meringue-sweet lightness about the dresses, with their boulle skirts, crystal embroidery and fluffy ruffs, which the designer said before the show had been inspired by the jabots of Van Dyck's paintings.

The overall effect was fresh and pretty but with nothing to challenge Valentino's classic concept that fashion should be a gift to women, wrapping them in a pretty parcel of finery.

For a first effort at couture, the show was an exercise less in cut than in original embellishment, from the origami effects to woolen bobbles on a long chartreuse gown to the metallic wheels that appeared on shoes or as jewelry. The house is famous for ruffles and frills, but Facchinetti could have reduced the sugar quotient - not least when it came as undulating waves of fabric rising up the back of a skirt.

It seems strange that someone so young should not take a more feminist point of view about fashion for the fast-paced modern woman, who does not go out only for cocktails or balls where standing up is essential in order not to crush a chicken-feather rear.

Facchinetti did build her silhouette on architecture, not least the opening outfit of jacket and skirt sculpted with stiffened silk. Other square-cut pieces, like a turquoise coat, was as rich as a cream cake with embroidery.

But the designer is allowed to express her sugar-plum fairy fantasy of femininity. And it was good to see the synergy between her and the long-serving couture hands at Valentino.

A premiere in London sounds more grand than one in Mumbai? Sadly for the Bawejas, an audience of Bollywood stars will always be more impressive than ordinary British and screaming Asians. And Aamir Khan must have known this, which is why he planned a massive premiere for Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na.

The result was classic: a star studded premiere with names like Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor, Sri Devi and Boney Kapoor, Dia Mirza, Raveena Tandon, and even Rakhi Sawant.

Bollywood never tires of love stories. Throw in a few known stars and the movie will at least recover its cost, even if it is a bad film! But what about those who are not known faces - the new kids on the block? The answer is: allow the closest family member who is anything close to a superstar to do the promotion. Well, at least that's what Uncle Aamir thinks!

With two new faces and the old 'love story' factor, Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na and Love Story 2050 are two of the most awaited movies of the year, being released on the same date. While one chose to publicize the ''love story' element of the movie in the title, the other chose to do so through the caption: 'So when do you know its love?'

While the Hrithik Roshan look-alike and Priyanka Chopra's scarlet hair did enough to ensure that their movie doesn't go unnoticed, Aamir Khan's backing was enough to arouse enthusiasm in the audience for nephew Imran Khan's launch.

The Khan's first strike was when Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na became the best selling music album this year, and one of the best selling music albums in three years.

Great work by A.R. Rahman, resulted in super hit tunes like 'Aditi', 'Pappu Can't Dance' and the title song, this album is on its way to becoming the youth anthem!

Next, it was almost like the Baweja's accepted the Khans as the powerful party when Love Story 2050 was taken to London for a premiere, while all the stars had already been reserved by Aamir Khan for Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na's premiere in Mumbai.

Among the people Aamir invited were the Bachchans, Shahrukh Khan and the South superstar, Rajnikant, for whom Aamir chose to fly to Chennai to personally invite the megastar out of great respect. SRK couldn't make and neither could Rajni but everyone else showed up, even Big B.

It's a known fact that Aamir Khan does not exactly make public experiences; neither do we get to read/watch his interviews too often. Barring JTYJN, Aamir doesn't even hold premieres for his films.

It is worth pointing out that he has been seen being interviewed on Channel V for the 'Movie No. 1'. Rumour also has it that he will be paying SRK a visit on his show, Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hain. He already made an appearance with Imraan Khan on Salman's show Dus Ka Dum and is set to appear on The Rakhi Sawant Show.

Family truly comes first for this Khan, who is willing to put behind his differences and do everything he has to for his nephew's debut movie. Rumour has it that Aamir might be open to attending award shows even!

Meanwhile Harman Baweja may claim that the similarities between him and Hrithik are coincidental and well, funny, but it seems a little more than that.

Love Story 2050's similar look, special effects and cinematography, reminiscent of the Hrithik blockbuster Krrish, the same venue for the movie's premiere, as well as the same leading actress, seem to point out his attempts to duplicate the superstar! If only that were the key to a super hit…

While on one hand there is a face off between Imran Khan and Harman Baweja on the screens, behind the scenes that rivalry really is between Aamir Khan and Harry Baweja.

Back in the nineties Aamir Khan's film Mela and Harman Baweja's Diljale opened on the same day. Diljale was a super hit while Mela tanked. Now tables have turned.

Between Harry Baweja as a director and Abbas Tyrewala, our money is still on Abbas.

While Harry Baweja can deliver commercial flicks, his films like Qayamat and Main Aisa Hi Hoon are total rip-offs. Qayamat was a bad copy of the Sean Connery-Nicholas Cage flick The Rock while Main Aisa Hi Hoon was inspired (read lifted) from I am Sam.

Meanwhile Abbas Tyrewala who is making his debut as a director with Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na has series of credible films behind him as a writer. Maqbool, Main Hoon Na and Munnabhai MBBS are some of the films Abbas has penned.

As far as credibility goes, Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na has more than Love Story 2050. Aamir Khan's track record as a producer and an actor is one reason. Another is Abbas Tyrewala. And then there is the college-romance. In India, simple and entertaining films on college-goers are few. Dil Chahta Hai, Pyar Mein Kabhi Kabhi, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai are some names that come to mind. But most attempts are awful. Remember Deewanapan?

Glitz and glamour aren't real, they are created. And crucial part of the process are stars. The red carpet culture that was introduced by the Lux Style Awards has caught on like a house on fire and no television event is shot without one. From music awards shows, to movie launches to product launches and shop openings, red carpet fever on the world is on fire.

So, the launch of Khulay Aasman Kay Neechay saw the cast that includes the very glamourous Meera and the newly glamourous Sana dress to the nines and parade to promote the first prolific Pakistani film after Khuda Kay Liye. Sana was perfectly straight blow dried in a bright blue sari and Meera of course played the part of a hottie in a slinky black dress; hey the gal is gorgeous and bootylicious to boot. But then, to get your picture taken in a white dupatta draped over the dress is just criminal. Hey, if you want to cover up, don't wear a dress in the first place.

The best dressed actress for daytime was Laila but then she isn't a star like Meera or even Sana. The men were all in black. That is Javed Sheikh, brother Saleem (yes, he also stars in the film. As if JS wouldn't use his own brother, come on!) and of course Humayoun Saeed.

As nice it is to see beautiful stars dress up for premieres, they need to differentiate between day time glamour and night time events. Meera needs to realize that dupattas and dressed don't mix, and neither should heavy duty jewellery sets be paired with dresses. Just the earings or the choker would work better. But hey, even Aishwarya had made that cardinal error at the Cannes red carpet and hasn't repeated it after the fashion police ripped her look apart.

Here's to red carpets then, and the red hot people on them!

Forget the Stardust brand of journalism that was made so big in India by the likes of Shobha De, the new thing in India seems to be the international format. After Hello and Vogue being launched in India, yesterday, the first issue of the world famous gossip bible People magazine was launched across the border.

The cover is an interview of Trishala's about bonding with Manyata for six days. Manyata being the woman that the Indian press has learned to loathe. Trishala had previously gone public about her disapproval of her father's marriage. According to the People profile, Trishala and Manyata went shopping together in the Bahamas and because Trishala is on a diet food regimen, Manyata only ordered Caesar Salad on the family trip that lasted six days.

People are naturally curious about star children in India and with its brand of journalism, People should do well in starstruck India. What got our goat was when we read that People is priced at 30 Indian rupees a pop! Now compare that to our society magazines that are selling for 100 rupees and they don't have much written content either. It's not just a bijli, atta crisis we tell you!

We've known that Madonna and Guy Ritchie have been having problems. Well, at least that's what the press keeps on hinting at and the two of them keep denying it. Anyhow, after adopting Malawai born David, life hasn't been smooth sailing for the material girl and now, there is news that ads more fuel to the fire.

American baseball star Alex Rodriguez's wife, Cynthia is alleging that she and he husband are divorcing because of his fondness for the world's biggest pop icon. And that Madonna used Kabbalah to reel him in. And according to the friend of Cynthia who spoke to Daily News on conditions of anonymity, Cynthis still loves him. Meanwhile, the press has been reporting that after Cynthia left Alex, he's been seeing making late night visits to Madonna's home.