INTO THE NIGHT / KEVIN ALLMAN : Indian Film Premiere Offers Port in a Storm

The Scene: Tuesday night’s premiere of “Mississippi Masala,” a new film by the director of ‘Salaam Bombay!’ ” After the screening in Century City, guests who didn’t have to get up early the next morning drove up to the Sunset Strip for a party at the nightclub Roxbury. The screening benefited the Salaam Baalak Trust, which helps street children in India.

The Buzz: What else--the storm. The novelty of actual weather always intrigues Angelenos, although everyone seemed relieved that the evening was largely a respite from the torrential rain.

Who Was There: Masala stars Denzel Washington, Sarita Choudhury, Tico Wells and Charles Dutton; director Mira Nair, and Sandra Bernhard, Debbie Allen, Amy Irving and Ella Joyce.

Dress Code: Business suits. Women accessorized them with big, scary earrings. Men adopted the earrings and added ponytails.

Chow: Finger food--pizza, zucchini and chicken sticks, as well as an open bar.

Money Matters: The ticket price was a recession-conscious $10. The party was underwritten by Interview magazine, and copies of the February issue were liberally scattered throughout the theater and the party.

Entertainment: Two women and one man performed a dance that was half traditional Indian, half traditional go-go.

Pastimes: Making new friends at the bar and on the dance floor. Keeping an eye out for Arsenio Hall--reportedly in the club but nowhere to be seen. Gasping for oxygen by the glass wall of the VIP room, which offered a fine view of the Sunset Strip until the windows fogged over.

Quoted: Denzel Washington had finished filming Spike Lee’s autobiography of Malcolm X two weeks ago. Asked if he would be able to make smaller pictures like “Masala” after “Malcolm X,” Washington said: “Sure I’ll continue to make ‘em. Bigger is not always necessarily better.”

Hollywood Moment: One man interrupted Charles Dutton in mid-sentence to pump his hand and say, “I love your work. Look, I’m a CPA. I work with Danny Glover. Here’s my card. Call me.” Good thinking--working actors regularly turn over their financial affairs to strangers who interrupt them at parties.

Glitches: The Roxbury doormen, who are (to put it mildly) rather zealous, attempted to block director Mira Nair when she arrived at the party. “I hope you’re not going to be so aggressive with all my guests,” she informed them dryly.