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Thursday, October 13, 2005, Chandigarh, India |
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SIMPLY CHIC: The accent is on ankles
and as city girls flaunt their folded pants. Speed
thrills
BOLLYWOOD BUZZ
FASHION BODY ART The
Westside story
LIFE POSITIVE
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The jean generation makes a statement with denims folded up, Saurabh Malik discovers how
Jeans
rolled up to the knees are giving a leg up to style, gorgeously. If you haven’t seen them, just leave the cool comfort of your home and drive down the geri route now. You will see young girls zipping down the road on single-cylinder machines with denims folded up, nicely and properly. Or else, go to an upper cut cafe steaming with fashion. Savour a blend of piping hot cappuccino and dames merrily displaying wee bit of niftiness in trousers with bottoms turned over to advantage. Sit down on a comfy sofa for some time. Hear gasps escape the lips of city guys over the din of thumping music as pretty lasses smoothen the folds with manicured fingers, swankily. “Rolled-up jeans are the latest scream among teenyboppers, even the elderly. In fact, folding them up is the easiest way to wrap up the hearts of forlorn guys. They are comfortable and simply look chic. No doubt about it,” asserts Zahira Kapoor, a young fashion designer running a garment house in city’s Sector 22. Zahira , the city-based designer is selling up to 20 long-length trousers daily. Her patrons include “bouncing babes” putting up in the posh northern, even old battle-axes staying in the mundane southern sectors. Some pick them up for bashes, others wear the stuff to college campuses. Tavleen Singh has just purchased three in oceanic blue, baby pink and alluring green. Riding high on vogue, the under-grad student plans to wear them to her late evening music classes, not just for style. For her, it is all very convenient. Brought up in a family where conventions are more important than fashion, skirts are strictly prohibited. Tavleen was in class X when she wore an asymmetrical skirt for the last time, she recalls in a voice punctuated with emotion and regret. “Granny gets angry,” she whispers. No wonder, she leaves the protection of her house wearing “slim” jeans. Goes round the corner. “Glams up” the denims by wrapping up the bottom. In seconds, she changes into an up-to-date young lass from a conventional girlie. She is not alone. Her best chum Koel dons them for similar reasons. Her brother is strictly against `displaying business’. Until a few years ago, she would change her clothes, and image, in the college washroom on occasions like the Valentines and the Halloween. “Now, I simply double over the bottom,” Koel reveals, with a smile playing on her crimson painted lips. “It looks so captivating. I love the way guys cast admiring glances”. Explaining the trend, socio-psychologist Nainika Sharma says, “So many girls here-a-days believe it is absolutely essential to display toned up body for revealing a mod’ attitude. If they can’t wear skirts, some of them roll up the jeans.... They are so divorced from reality. Well, that’s another story”. |
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Navaz Sandhu was born to motor sports and the driving force keeps her going, says Mahima Pushkarna Speed
thrills. But being behind the wheels of a motor vehicle as a sport can be more than just thrilling. Who should know this better than Navaz Sandhu, who was virtually born into motor sports ! Her mother Katie and father Darayuz Bhakhena were rallyists when Navaz was no more than a toddler. Her older brother Farad has been three times a national champion and younger brother Zoro won that laurel once. Navaz cannot count her trophies, but she does talk happily—almost partially— about the Sportscraft Summer Rally of 1989, when she won the 500-km rally behind the wheel of a borrowed gypsy. And she married the sport too, with husband Karandeep Sidhu himself a national champion. After fourteen years of active participation in the rallies, Navaz has moved on. She is organising the Third HPCL Power M1 Challenge rally that comes to the city once again. Round 4 of the prestigious Motorsports Association of India’s Indian National Rally Championship will be flagged off from Fun Republic on |
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BOLLYWOOD BUZZ
Saint appears in Meera’s dreams Pakistani actress Meera has said that she turned religious after having some ‘meaningful dreams’ while staying in India, wherein a saint asked her to offer prayers. “I started praying regularly because a saint, who would appear in my dreams after my visit to Hazrat Nizam-ud-Din Aulia's shrine, asked me to pray,” the Daily Times quoted her as saying.
— ANI
Amitabh cancels b’day bash Earlier, Amitabh had planned a get-together of family and friends on the occasion. However, respecting the sentiments of those waiting fans standing in the heat outside his residence to greet him, the Bollywood superstar accepted their greetings. Amidst the fans was Rajan Soni who had cycled all the way from Delhi to Mumbai for 12 days to wish the actor on his birthday.
— UNI
Meera to play Parveen Babi After appearing in two Bollywood potboilers, Pakistani actress Meera is all set for her third Indian venture, a film based on the life and times of the late actress Parveen Babi.The film will provide cinegoers with a glimpse into the life of Babi, who passed away in January this year in her Mumbai home.
— PTI
Karma Confession & Holy The much-talked about Sushmita Sen-Randeep Hooda-Drena de Niro project ‘Karma Confession & Holy’ is “very, very Hollywood,” says Harish Dayani, chief executive of the movie division of Sa Re Ga Ma. The film is being directed by New York based Indian filmmaker Manish Gupta whose credits include the diaspora comedy ‘India Fish in American Waters’. The film will have some of the topmost names from Hollywood including Lysa Cooper, one of the world's biggest stylists. Lysa will be doing Sushmita and Drena's looks. The director of photography is Lisa Lene. While Sushmita and Randeep play the younger Indian couple, Suresh Oberoi and Rati Agnihotri star as the older couple. Suchitra Krishnamurthy will appear as a traditional sari-clad Indian woman married to an American. “It will be a very Woody Allen kind of film covering three layers of characters - the Indians from India and in the US, the Indians born and bred in the US and the true-blue Americans,” says Harish Dayani.
— IANS |
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SNAPSHOT What
started as a precaution against the harsh sun and growing pollution, is now almost a fashion in Chandigarh and around. Young girls can be seen zooming on their scooters, covering their heads and faces with a long scarf or a dupatta and their bare arms with long gloves. It is not feminism taking a few steps backwards but a practical solution to a beauty and health problem. Why can't they wear long sleeves, a helmet? 'That would restrict our choice in dresses', says Simran, a student from Panjab University. 'We love to wear 'strappy' or sleeveless tops before it gets too cold. A helmet might be a safe thing, but it spoils our hair, besides it's unwieldy and a hassle to carry about.' Shweta, another fast rider is rather more matter-of-fact about it: 'Well, skin and hair protection is fine, but let me tell you something. Some girls, though not all, go about it in this fashion to conceal their faces, especially when they are on a date'. Whatever the reason might be for girls to go about 'incognito', who can stop admirers from taking a guess at what kind of a face it might be, hiding behind the veil . —Text and photo: Kuldip Dhiman |
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FASHION
And the multi-hued rays needn’t be the sole prerogative of the rainbow. For, here we have the exquisitely feminine fashion statement having the best of all these. The shimmer of the sparkling stars, the dazzle of the sun and the vibrant hues of the rainbow, with lots of motifs, mirror work and
of course the oomph-so-torso hugging, cleavage flaunting fit. Well, it’s none other than the traditional, yet very sensual choli! One needn’t be a Bipasha Basu or Madhuri Dixit to sport a choli. Whether it’s a bubbly teenager tapping her feet to Dandia beats, or a newly wed damsel celebrating her first Diwali, the erstwhile choli is bound to make her sizzle!
Young girls can team it with jeans, wrap-arounds and flairy skirts, with lots of traditional work on them. Women could enhance their sensuality by going for a choli ghagra. The current rage is the backless blouse style cholis, halter blouses, embroidered bustiers and the strappy low-neck cholis.
Fitted cholis with side zippers, halter necks and lots of strings are hot faves too.
So, all you young divas out there ,experiment with this sensual piece of garment in colours like Reds, Fuchsias, Maroons, oranges, pinks and make those admirers whisper-ooh-la-la… |
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TRENDS Tattoos and body art are a fashion trend these days but their history goes long back into time. Tattooing has been one of most ancient art forms in tribal and ethnic societies.
It was the earliest form of branding and has survived over the ages in one form or the other. The rich and the poor have born pain to give themselves motifs on the arms, legs, backs and where else they may fancy. However, not all young people would like to go for tattooing. Panjab University student Khushboo says, “It just does not appeal to me and I would not dream of going in for it. In fact the whole idea is quite repulsive to me. Those, who do not wish to bear the pain, have found quite another way of ornamenting the body. Hardeep Kaur of NIFD says: “At our institute we have quite mastered the art of body painting. So we just paint the tattoos on the body for the occasion and then wash them off afterwards.” She adds that body art makes for more better and brighter colours as well more creative designs. There are small tattoos which come free with packets of chewing gum so that even the tiny tots have a gala time wearing snakes and dragons of their hands and cheeks. Well, sometimes it is the art that offers itself to the body and sometimes the body thats turned into art, as evident from these hand paintings in which the hands and arms have been painted. The painting and gestures of the fingers turns them into birds, bees and other creatures, tall and small. —ND  |
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The Westside story
Latin
pop singer Gloria Estefan children’s book ‘The magically mysterious adventures of Noelle the bulldog,’ has hit the bookshelves. Estefan, known for hits like ‘Conga’ and ‘Rhythm is gonna get you,’ told Reuters in a recent interview, “I’ve been offered a lot of things that celebrities do that I wouldn't do, like perfumes, lines of clothing...,” she said. “...but this is right up my alley.” Estefan's book stars a wide-eyed bulldog, wide-mouthed Dalmatians, bulbous goldfish and a few birds. “I'm totally animal-oriented,” she said. A long line of stars from Jamie Lee Curtis and Jerry Seinfeld to Madonna have written children's books.
— Reuters Who will be the next 007? The decision on who replaces Pierce Brosnan as the next James Bond remains a mystery just weeks ahead of the official announcement. Shooting of the 21st Bond film, ‘Casino Royale’ will begin in January. British media and countless Bond sites have been reporting leaks, rumours and gossip about who will be next to don the “007” tuxedo. Only five actors have played Bond since Sean Connery took on Dr No over 40 years ago. Dozens of actors have been linked with the role in recent months, including Englishmen Clive Owen and Jude Law, Australia's Hugh Jackman and Croatia's Goran Visnjic. Daniel Craig is tipped to be the favourite as the finishing post nears. Bond is one of history's most profitable film franchises. It has netted nearly $4 billion in ticket sales of which Brosnan's four films grossed $1.5 billion. —
Reuters Arnold’s no to violent video games California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has passed the law that will prohibit the sale or rental of violent video games to minors. With retailers facing a $1,000 fine for each violation, the gaming industry already has vowed to challenge the new law and for being vague as to what constitutes a ‘violent’ game. The legislation requires the violent games to be prominently labeled with an ‘18’. Yee, a child psychologist, said these games present a danger to children. “Unlike movies, where you passively watch violence, in a video game, you are the active participant and making decisions on who to stab, maim, burn or kill,” Yee said. “As a result, these games serve as learning tools that have a dramatic impact on children.”
— Reuters Film saved o'Connor from drugs Irish singer Sinead O'Connor says the hit movie ‘Trainspotting’ literally saved her from taking drugs. O'Connor found some scenes in the film so terrifying that it convinced her to never let drugs destroy her life, reported contactmusic.com. She said she is also grateful that she had her child before she became famous. She adds, “I was lucky that I was a mom before I got success because I probably would have gone a lot wilder on the drugs.”
— IANS Madonna incurs rabbis’ ire The track is on Madonna's forthcoming album ‘Confessions on a Dance Floor’, which will be released in November. The song is believed to be about Isaac or Yitzhak Luria, the 16th century scholar who founded the modern version of the Jewish cult. Some rabbis have reacted strongly to the song and have accused her of trying to cash in on the association with him. One has gone so far as to suggest Madonna will suffer divine retribution for her actions. Neither Madonna nor her spokeswoman have commented on the dispute. Models in bikini upset Karzai’s aide Mohaiuddin Baloch, a religious adviser to Afghan President Hamid Karzai, denounced two women who appeared ‘half naked’ recently at a beauty contest and fashion show, saying their actions were illegal under Islamic law.Sutara Bahramia wore a bikini at the Miss Earth beauty pageant in Manila while Vida Samadzai appeared in a bra and loose skirt at a fashion show in India. Both Bahramia and Samadzai have lived abroad for many years.
— Reuters |
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U SHARE No
cine-lover can ever forget this neatly handsome face, watching Madhubala with narrowed eyes, through the veils of his cigarette’s smoke in ‘Howrah Bridge’. Or the suave, westernised hero, his style as dashing as his suits, playing the cheeky thief in ‘Kismet’. A shadowy figure with a private eye in Jewel thief and Victoria no 203.Or, the polished crafty old colonel, teaching Amol Palekar the tricks to win one’s love in ‘Choti si Baat’. And of course, the endearing love specialist in ‘Shaukeen’. And if this was not enough, he also became a pioneer of the middle class Indians by asking them (in the Hindi soap Hum Log) the same question every week, “Ab kya karenge hum log? ” Well, this celluloid warhorse never acted. Rather, for more than a span of six decades, displaying a unique penchant for blending himself in his roles, he himself became the characters he played. Lovingly called ‘Dadamuni’ (which in Bengali means a very dear and beloved brother), this Grand old man of the Indian cinema acted in more than 275 films and won two Filmfares, one National Award, was honoured with a ‘Padmashri’ and was conferred upon with the prestigious ‘Dadasaheb Phalke Award’ in 1988.Seldom does a man end up cramming so much into a lifetime as he did. Besides acting in and also producing a string of Hindi super hit films that became milestones in cinematic history, he painted, learnt German and French, practised Homeopathy, played chess, dabbled in palmistry and read voraciously. No wonder, while fondly remembering this lab-assistant turned matinee legend, one recalls lines from one of his films ‘Mamta’, “Jab hum na honge , tab hamari khaak pe tum rukoge chalte chalte.” |
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LIFE POSITIVE Yoga trainer Jyoti Subramanian elaborates on the various branches of Yoga. Good health is not just related to the physical body. Complete health has to permeate the physical, emotional and mental. This is where the practice of yoga plays such an important role. The practitioner not only cures the physical ailments but also moves in to cure the emotional or mental reasons for the disease and progresses to understanding his innate divine nature. Often novitiates are perplexed by the variety or branches of yoga available and propagated—Patanjali yoga, Kundalini yoga, Hatha yoga, Ashtanga yoga, Raja yoga, Kriya yoga, Hamsa yoga, Iyengar yoga and now Bikram yoga— the list is endless. Patanjali codified yoga in the treatise ‘Yoga Sutras’ in the year 200 BCE. Even then, he is not the originator, the knowledge of Yoga having come from the Mahayogi Shiva himself. All yoga that is taught today, which includes the ones mentioned above has its origin in Patanjali who has systematically recorded all the practices of yoga. So we can visualise Patanjali as this big umbrella from where all forms of yoga come. Ashtanga means 'eight limbs'. Now according to Patanjali the Tree of Yoga has eight limbs, yama (restraints) and niyama (observances) are the first two and comprise the following qualities taught to children by their parents and teachers through example: non-violence, truthfulness, freedom from greed, control of sensual pleasures, non-stealing, compassion, moderate eating, austerity, contentment, belief in divinity, charity, company of men of wisdom. Third comes asanas, for steadiness of posture, good physical health and lightness of body. Fourth is pranayam, a technique to make the respiratory organs move intentionally as against automatic habitual breathing. One learns to harness the mind via the medium of breath. Pratyahar being the fifth limb is a process of reversal of energy. Our sense organs, always attracted to the external, are drawn inwards seeking their own divinity. Dharana, Dhyan and Samadhi are final three stages; a single point attention with the mind unwavering and unruffled, a merging of the one meditating and meditated upon- the true state of meditation and finally the state where the yogi realises the individual self to be a part of the universal self. Therefore all yoga has to be part of ashtanga. Hatha Yoga ignores the first two: yama and niyama and concerns itself with the practice of asanas, pranayam and pratyahar. Raja yoga concerns itself with dharana, dhyan and Samadhi. Most yogis normally practice a combination of Hatha-Raja yoga. The former to maintain the physical body as a fit vehicle and the latter for spiritual evolution leading to union of the individual self with the divine self. By tradition, Kriya yoga was never taught publicly, normally communicated verbally by master to disciple. Even today though many masters are authorising their disciples to teach this practice. It is essential to be initiated by the master to enliven the process. Kriya yoga is the practice of Kundalini yoga and both are part of Raja yoga. Hamsa yoga, a special form of yoga practiced by the Himalayan yogis is also part of Raja yoga. — Hamsacharya Jyotii Subramanian was introduced to yoga in 1972. She teaches the New Life Awakening techniques of Hamsa Yog and Babaji Kriya Yog in
Chandigarh |
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From Chicken Tikkas to Satay Paneer or from Truffle cakes to Octopus Candy, Gayatri Rajwade brings all the delicious news from the Food Court
Food
aficionados delight for it is your manna to the stomach! Indulge your desires for there is something here for every palate, mood and moment. Be it a hearty South Indian breakfast, a nibble on a cob of corn or a tucking into a hearty Chicken Tandoori, the Food Court at Fun Republic, Manimajra has it all! Little eateries dot the landscape and sizzling aromas fill the air. The Punjabi penchant for fish and chicken pervades the air as 'Tikka Express', all of two years old, notches up a regular 'clientele.' Head Chef Umesh Kumar points to his Chicken Tikka Makhani, (Rs. 65 and Rs. 120), which is lapped up by the crowds. The wraps (Rs. 55 to Rs. 60) rolled in a Naan and served with mint chutney are huge pre-movie 'quick-bite' hits and for the vegetarians Biryani it is! Geri Route For the tidbits, head straight for 'Geri Route', where the Cold Coffee at Rs. 25 and the Chocolate Excess and Truffle cakes at Rs. 35 are the hot favourites of the young crowds that flock the Mall. Rolls, pastries and puffs along with a neat selection of hot and cold drinks are waiting to be picked. For that 'foreign' touch-go to Fen Fang where their Ginger Garlic Fish is the winner at Rs. 65 a plate. This tiny self-service restaurant that opened two years ago is much appreciated for its 'Indian Chinese' with plenty of Paneer specialities thrown in for good measure. The Satay Paneer and the Hakka Corn Paneer at Rs. 62 each is perhaps as exotic as Paneer can get! Squid with Five Spices at Rs. 89, Thai Specials, Soups, Sizzlers are just the tip of the iceberg for this tiny place has a vast menu catering to every kind of taste bud! Down South And if a food court lives on in the city, can South Indian be far behind? This staple also makes its mark here with Sagar Ratna, which, with its two outlets has made its presence felt in the Land of the Chicken Tikka! According to Manager, Ravinder Kumar, the Dosas are perpetually in demand as is their Dahi Vada and of course the coconut water which at Rs. 35 is a rarity in the city, far as it is from the coast! For the continental touch-go Pasta Express-finding flavour primarily with the younger lot! The vegetarian and non-vegetarian sizzlers (Rs. 90), the 'propah' fish and chips (Rs. 120), the Tomato Chilli Penne Pasta (Rs. 60) are the perennials. Piquant Pasta Of course, if pasta is on offer can pizzas be far? And here is where the youngsters favourite, Pizza Hut add to the good times! Before the food sojourn ends, there is the all time goodie corner in the form of chaat at Mirchi.Com. Gol Guppe (Rs. 22), Raj Kachori (Rs. 35), Pao Bhaji (Rs. 40), hot Gulab Jamun (Rs. 20), the list is delectable. To top it all, Cream Bell's Hot Chocolate Fudge at Rs. 70 is a sure-shot winner. Delicious Smoothies, Shakes (Chocolick at Rs. 45), 15 flavours of ice creams to choose from, there is a veritable fiesta waiting here. Coffee Break While the Food Court sits pretty on the top floor, the other crannies and spaces are filled with other 'food enchantments'. Café Coffee Day with its awesome array of hot and cold coffees, a box of eggless cookies (a new entrant) at Rs. 99 which comes with a complementary cup of cappuccino and their Vanilla ice cream based Frappes are the sure winners. The kiddie favourite McDonald's, the upper-crust Ruby Tuesday, the Kornz outlets serving fresh steaming corn and of course the Candy Treats with watch shaped, octopus, denture shaped, clear lips candies--a 120 varieties of sheer fun (Rs. 65 for a 100 gms)--makes Fun Republic a zany eating spot! |
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He
played Amisha Patel’s good friend in Rakesh Roshan’s ‘Kaho Naa…Pyaar Hai’ and also had a significant role in Ram Gopal Varma’s ‘Company. Actor Rajesh Tandon who discovered he could act while he worked with a theatre group in Delhi (he’s also worked with the likes of Ebrahim Alkazi) also excelled in Varma’s ‘My Wife’s Murder’ starring Anil Kapoor and Nandana Sen. He also did a guest appearance in ‘Naach’. Though he would rather have done the lead role in ‘My Wife’s Murder’, he played Raj, Nandana’s boyfriend. Patel says: “It’ was an interesting role and working with Ram Gopal Varma’s company is always a pleasure. I mean, who wouldn’t want to work with someone like Ramu who I think is great in terms of spotting talent and backing it.” Though Rajesh feels that some times life is unfair and “the film industry too like every other industry is parochial and feudalistic. Those with a film background probably get more chances to prove themselves but then even if one is not too happy about it, one is realistic about it.” The soft-spoken graduate in Political Science says though he has no regrets about the roles he has done so far he is “not very satisfied. I want to do more roles, do good films. Right now, all I am waiting for is a good lead role. Once I do that and if I do it successfully then I can try out other things as well, comedy and negative roles.” Rajesh says he has some interesting roles and films in the offing and has a wish list of directors too. “Every actor has a wish list of people he wants to work with. From Ramu to Rajkumar Santoshi to Yash Chopra and Sanjay Leela Bhansali to Rajkumar Hirani, each one of them is incomparable and so naturally one does look forward to working with them. Though I have done both theatre and TV, I feel film is the ultimate medium for an actor. Every little nuance of acting is captured on the big screen and that I think can help an actor for making his mark.” — Dharam Pal |
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SNAPSHOT.jpg)
U SHARE.jpg)
Yoga trainer Jyoti Subramanian elaborates
on the various branches of Yoga. Good
health is not just related to the physical body. Complete health has to
permeate the physical, emotional and mental. This is where the practice of
yoga plays such an important role. The practitioner not only cures the
physical ailments but also moves in to cure the emotional or mental
reasons for the disease and progresses to understanding his innate divine
nature. Often novitiates are perplexed by the variety or branches of yoga
available and propagated—Patanjali yoga, Kundalini yoga, Hatha yoga,
Ashtanga yoga, Raja yoga, Kriya yoga, Hamsa yoga, Iyengar yoga and now
Bikram yoga— the list is endless..jpg)
.jpg)
Bipasha
Amitabh Bachchan on Tuesday cancelled his birthday celebrations in view of the devastating earthquake in Jammu and Kashmir..jpg)
The
“I don’t mind the pain that tattooing brings because they look so cool. And tattoos are today a fashion statement,” says city student Dolly Singh. She adds that it is a fine way of ornamenting the body.
Madonna, the middle-aged queen of pop and kabbala enthusiast, has incurred the rabbis’ ire with her song ‘Isaac’.
Madonna was born a Catholic but in recent years has been attracted to kabbala. She has reportedly adopted a Hebrew name Esther, wears a red string around her wrist to ward off the ‘evil eye’ and has introduced other celebrities to the cult.
— The Independent.jpg)