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Male branding A second coming in
INDIPOP Teaming up for
Baa Bahoo Aur Baby Jewelled jackets Iced with care Fresh as a rose TELEVISION
market pulse Tawa ‘n’ Tandoor Pammy’s beauty tips |
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Male branding The urban male just got a fresh tag — the heteropolitan. With new terms being coined every second day, are men being caught in an image trap? Chetna Keer Banerjee checks out GenNext’s reaction to the rash of definitions. Each season brings with it fresh flavours and new brands. But faster than a new pack of kurkure or a fresh model of plasma TV can hit the shelves, there arrives another kind of brand to woo the public psyche. The Brand New Male. Rather, a brand new definition of the male. With wordsmiths working overtime, new definitions of males — pomosexual, metrosexual, ubersexual, and what not — now get manufactured faster than you can say ‘Hello, dude.’ Hardly had the noises in the media celebrating the rise of the retrosexual died down that there is the sound of another type arriving. Welcome the heteropolitan. The new kid on the labelling block. He’s the toast of the season and blends the best of both — the metrosexual and ubersexual/retrosexual. He loves the pub a much as preening but is balanced, says a new survey cited in The Guardian. Move over our retrosexual icons. John Abraham and Abhishek Bachchan, who’d scarcely arrived with their signature stubbles post-Dhoom, to make Shah Rukh and Hrithik’s moisturised metrosexuality passé. The heteropolitan is at the door, poised to snatch their less-than-15 minutes of fame. So, what’s the heteropolitan like? Does he symbolise the Return of the Metrosexual, in a new skin? Like the Saif Ali of Salaam Namaste, who flaunts pink T-shirts but not a waxed chest. Or is he a new breed altogether? Ah, but that is not the issue. The question is: does it make sense to slot male sexuality by picking on constricting traits? Whereby the urban male’s love, or the lack of it, for the pub, the parlour, pots ‘n’ pans or palmtops become his terms of entrapment into alternative sexualities. Marian Salzman — the trend-spotter who unveiled the ‘metrosexual’ and later the ‘ubersexual’ — may well have triggered this definition diarrhoea, but how does the ordinary male feel about a new term cropping up every second day? Does it create a buzz in the boys’ locker room? “Not really,” quips Amandeep Sandhu (22), a software engineer working in a private firm. “Frankly, this metrosexual-retrosexual talk has more takers among the Cosmo-reading girlie brigade. The average working guy hardly has time to mull over such fads.” The common lad behind the laptop is more likely to baulk: “Heteropolitan, who?”
What’s in a name Says Dr. Amit Kaushik (27), who teaches management at the University Business School, “Really, I can barely distinguish one term from another.” “It’s okay for a guy who’s into modelling or the fashion industry to keep abreast of the latest look or sport the hottest image. But these terms are hardly relevant to the lifestyle of an average professional,” he feels. “Except that they put a fancy name to traits that men have possessed since ages,” concurs Amandeep. “Males may be living out a style — some heavily into facials, others hardly bothered about face lotions — without consciously knowing that it denotes a behavioural category,” he adds.
Shock value or mock value Though certain types are nearly as old as Adam, giving them new definitions could have mock value, if not shock value. Having studied sociology, Parul Khullar (24) offers a different perspective, “Yes, the he-man and the sissy have existed all along, but what’s the harm in having new classifications? They keep curiosity alive and reflect contemporary trends.” But it may not just be a case of a fad reflecting a fact. Life too may be imitating art (read fad). That is, if the man in the street, the guy in the pub or café, follows these trends. “Well, when the metrosexual look caught on, lots of guys started sporting pink. But I like to have my own style, and stick to blues and greys,” says Amandeep. Rajesh Lalwani, a communication professional, echoes this sentiment. “I certainly can’t identify with any particular look — metrosexual, ubersexual or whatever. In fact, most mature, urban males follow their heart than any trend.”
Market-driven fad That much of the male sexuality fad is driven by the fashion and cosmetic products industry is now an established fact. “The new urban male is a prime audience for marketers. Most of these new looks are a creation of the media and marketing people,” says Lalwani. If Hrithik’s exfoliated look made lycra T-shirts a rage, John Abraham’s retro appeal following the all-bikes-no-chicks flick ‘Dhoom’ may be launching a thousand bikes. Elaborates Dr. Kaushik, “The new terms are merely old wine repackaged in new bottle. It’s all boils down to marketing an image as new.” Whether of the media or marketer born, the rash of definitions may be making the New Age Guy a case of split sexuality or confused sexuality. Boys can no longer be just boys. Not with sexuality quotients shifting constantly. And society-watchers rushing in to give them a new label every second day. |
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A second coming in
INDIPOP
Babul Supriyo has come up with his new Indipop album ‘Kuchh Aisa Lagtaa Hai’ with Universal Music. This is Babul’s second solo foray into Indipop and believe it, he’s here to break some records! This album with eight tracks has five songs composed by Bombay Vikings, one by Pandit Ajit Chakravorty and two by Babul himself. The feel is very up-tempo and music fresh and melodious. Babul Supriyo shares his feelings on releasing his second album,” The name of my debut solo album “Sochta Hun” released from Universal Music in early 2003, actually emanated my frame of mind at that time! Back then, I was indeed ‘thinking’ which direction to go as a solo artist in our extremely heterogeneous “Indi Pop” arena! Luckily now in 2005, by presenting this compilation of songs to you,
“Mujhe Kuchh Aisa Lagtaa Hai” ke maybe I am “walking in the right direction.” Babul Supriyo always wanted to pursue his dream since the day he gave up a cushy banking job at Standard Chartered to pursue his first love - singing. Music runs in Babul’s blood — he is the grandson of Banikanth N.C., a leading Bengali composer and lyricist of yesteryears. A star singer with many popular Hindi film hits such as “Aati Hai To Chal”, “Hata Saawan Ki Ghata”, “Dil Ne Dil Ko Pukaara”, “Tera Jaadu Chal Gaya”, “Teri meri love story”, “Chamm se woh aajaye”, “Hum tum”, he has sung for films such as Gunaah, Dil Ka Rishta, Dil Vil Pyaar Vyaar, Jeena Sirf Mere Liye, Deewangi and Kuchh To Hai. Babul has been on the film music scene for quite a while now, having sung for Kalyanji-Anandji, Nadeem Shravan and Bappi Lahiri for films such as Prem Yog, Ekka Raja Rani, Gaddar, Jung, Naseeb, Himmatwar, Shastra, Jung, Naseeb. In recent times he has lend his voice for many hit movies such as Hum Tum, Dus, and Maine Pyaar Kyon Kiya etc. Babul loves to tour, and that endears him to his numerous fans in the U.S, U.K, Holland, South America and everywhere else. Having started on the tour circuit in May 93’ with none other than the Big B himself, he has toured with almost every prominent film star and legendary singers such as Asha Bhosle. In July 2002, he was honoured with a Honorary Citizenship by the State Council of Atlanta, US and he is one of the youngest ever performer to receive such a recognition. |
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Teaming up for
Baa Bahoo Aur Baby
You’ve seen the stars of Kasautii Zindagii Kay
make an appearance on Kavyanjali and the stars of Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii
in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. Now, you will see the stars from the big screen making appearances on the small screen as a part of the serial’s storyline. In the forthcoming episodes of
Baa Bahoo Aur Baby, the star pairs, Fardeen Khan and Ayesha Takia, Zayed Khan and Esha Deol, Sharman Joshi and Soha Ali Khan, all from Vashu Bhagnani’s multi-starrer
Shaadi No. 1 will be seen in a few episodes of the popular show. In
Baa Bahoo Aur Baby, the family is busy with Baa’s pilgrimage to Mathura. While Meenakshi is packing her bags, Subhodh gives Baa a cell phone so that the family can be in touch with her. Baa leaves for Mathura, the household is busy with the daily chores and Praveen and Subhodh are busy discussing Subhodh’s new play. Suddenly they receive a call from Sharman Joshi, one of the lead actors of
Shaadi No. 1. Sharman asks Subhodh if they could shoot some scenes of the film in their house. Praveen, who immediately thinks this is one of the ways to make some fast money, tries to convince the family that they must go ahead and do so. Finally, over dinner, the family decides that they must talk to Baa and take her permission. Pravin pretends to call Baa and tell her about the film shoot. He tells the family that she has given permission and they can go ahead with the request for the film shoot. During the pre-shoot arrangements there’s chaos around... Arvind trying to boss over the workers putting up the props, Leela busy calling the entire neighbourhood to watch the shoot and Gattu interfering in between shots. The production guys are livid and want the family members to stay away. The shoot begins. The first scene is with Sharman and Soha. Everyone is involved in the shoot when the phone rings. Gattu who is sitting near the phone picks up the phone. It’s Baa on the line. Gattu tells her about the shooting and she is shocked. She tells Gattu that she is coming back and that he should not tell the family. While the shoot continues with Fardeen and Ayesha, Zayed and Esha, the producer asks for one more (extra) day to shoot. Gattu keeps telling Pravin and Baby that he knows something important which he won’t tell anybody. Will Gattu break the promise he made to Baa? What will happen when Baa returns? A pandemonium breaks out and both the film crew and the family are in a dizzy. So, here we have best of TV and film actors coming together to bring a laugh riot to the viewers.
— TNS |
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Jewelled jackets Entwined in every thread, the passion of nomadic living, the stark backdrop drawing vibrant spurts of colourful creativity, these hand-quilted jackets by the tribes of the Thar Desert captivate with their loveliness. Designer Usha Hooda will be showcasing a beautiful mélange of jewel toned exotic jackets on the 22nd and 23rd of October in the city. The jackets both short and long are stylishly crafted and are a must see for the stylish, chic women of the city. Made of up four or more layers quilted together with tiny stitches about 1/6 inches apart and reversible, they are ideal for the harsh winter nights, a tribal woman’s ingenuity to keep her family well protected from the biting desert cold. Each piece is crafted and patterned over three to six months with the charm lying in the handiwork of the asymmetry—long stitches and short ones, frayed bits and blending random colours, these pieces are then crafted into beautiful jackets—each one a traditional piece from the heart of the craftswomen, a charming collection of an age-old tradition. The exhibition—of jackets, halter-necks and colourful accessories will be on display at House 105, Sector 8A, on October 22 and 23. |
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Iced with care
Do you feel icing on a cake is frivolous, an unnecessary frill? You are wrong. For the students of the Food Craft Institute it is a work of art. And when the creative minds blends with deft hands, the result is a wholesome beauty that appeals to your eyes as well as taste buds. The institute organised a Cake Decoration Competition, in which as many as 30 students took part. The competition was to showcase their aesthetic sense and creativity. Looking at the display one can safely say, the folk have oodles of both. For, everything happened on the spot. Ms Neena
Atray, Principal, Toddler’s World School, Mr S. K. Saluja, Principal, Ms Indu Verma, faculty member and Md. Shahid
Hasnain, head of the Bakery Department were on the panel of judges. Ramandeep Singh came out first in the competition, closely followed by Vikas Augustine and Amit Sharma in the second and third positions.
— TNS |
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Fresh as a rose
It was a night of exuberance. The girls of six Panjab University hostels lived up to the word as they celebrated the
freshers’ night. Dressed to kill, the freshers and their seniors, put up a performance that was fun yet educative. Each hostel had its own theme and the decorations followed accordingly. While it was “Exuberance” for Savitri Bai Hostel, “Shimmerzzz” was the theme for Sarojini Hostel. The girls left no stone unturned to live up to the themes they had selected. Mata Gujari Hostel was decked up as a Mermaid Island. The party began with a Saraswati Vandana. A tradition, all six hostels kept up with. Rangolis made at the entrances were exquisite. It sure was difficult to judge which was the best. At Kasturba Hostel, a comedy skit hum do hamare do based on the issue of population explosion was the highlight of the evening. The last night’s functions were week-long celebrations, which saw a hosts of contests like collage making and rangoli decorations.
— TNS |
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TELEVISION They came, they danced, they conquered and now they will win….” Star One has announced a prize of Rs. 50 lakhs for the couple who wins the ‘Nach Baliye’ title and their choreographers will walk away with a sum of Rs. 20 lakhs. Nach Baliye, the recently started dance show on Star One, is an entertaining ‘dance-off’ between 10 ‘real-life’ celebrity couples. Airing every Tuesday through Thursday, this show features 10 telly couples, including some of the biggest and brightest stars on Indian television, who have come together for a show. The show promises a whole lot of dancing, great music, loads of drama, a little bit of romance and lots of reality! ‘India will vote’ and help the panel of judges, Farhaan Akhtar, Saroj Khan, and Malaika Arora Khan to select their favourite ‘Nach Baliye’ couple. To keep the competition fair and exciting, each couple has undergone an extensive training process prior to this launch. Every week, the couples perform on themes at the specially designed ‘Nach Baliye’ set at Film City, Mumbai. Tuesday and Wednesday episodes capture the reality angles of the show and after the performances on the Thursday episode, viewers can send in their votes via SMS and telephone to select their favourite ‘Nach Baliye’ couple. At the end of each week, the judges and viewer votes are added to determine the scores for each couple. The couple with the lowest ranking will get eliminated! The one thing that these 10
couples (including Apurva and Shilpa Agnihotri, Parmeet Sethi and Archana Puran Singh and Sachin and Supriya Pilgaonkar) have in common is their amateur dancing skills, and it is the choreographers who have groomed them for their performances. The winning couple will walk away with the title of ‘Nach Baliye Champions’, the love and support of millions of viewers and a huge sum of Rs. 50 lakhs. The first episode of ‘Nach Baliye’ featured the 10 couples shaking a leg on some of the most popular film songs. The second episode will see the couples moving to the slow sensuous and romantic songs from Bollywood. It’s not just the celebrities on the show who are top notch but some of the biggest talents from the industry have worked behind the scenes to make this show special. The costumes for the couples & the hosts are designed exclusively by ace fashion designer Anna Singh and the Nach Baliye sets are specially designed by Nitin Desai. Well, the clash of the Titans on TV doesn’t get more exciting and entertaining than this! |
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FILM & FASHION
Sylvester Stallone will get back into the ring for a sixth film about boxer Rocky Balboa. The new movie will come 30 years after Stallone, now 59, shot to fame in the original Oscar-winning film “Rocky” and 15 years after the most recent instalment in the series, BBC reported. Stallone will write and direct as well as play the boxer in “Rocky Balboa”. Real-life champion Antonio Tarver is in talks to be the opponent in Rocky’s final bout. The first film won three Oscars in 1977, including best picture and best director. The new movie will show Rocky as an ageing, lonely has-been in Philadelphia who is reluctant to come out of retirement. Like Rocky, Stallone has been out of the spotlight for some time, appearing in a string of poorly received films in the years since the last “Rocky” film came out. — IANS Bollywood to help quake victims Bollywood personalities Mahesh Bhatt, Shatrughan Sinha and Ashok Pandit have pledged to hold shows across the country to raise funds for rehabilitation of quake-hit people on both sides of the LoC and asked the corporate sector to chip in.
They were speaking while visiting the worst-hit Salamabad and adjoining villages near the Line of Control devastated by the October 8 earthquake.
“Pakistan film actors helped us in raising funds for tsunami victims. It is now our turn to reciprocate that gesture,” Bhatt said. Shatrughan Sinha said lot needs to be done for the quake-hit villages.
— PTI
Mariah Carey’s dog rides car Pop star Mariah Carey dispatched her chauffeur to drive her pampered pooch Jack Russell 3,000 miles across America, after it was forbidden to fly first class with her.
The Butterfly beauty was very upset when the airline authorities told her that her beloved dog was “too big” , and “not famous enough” to join her in the executive cabin of the flight to Los Angeles.
However, the diva was soon re-united with her pet, as Jack was chauffeur-driven to Los Angeles in her car.
— ANI
Rakhi Sawant to sizzle in ‘Hot Money’ Item girl Rakhi Sawant is all set to sizzle again, this time on the big screen in her brother Rakesh Sawant’s upcoming film ‘Hot Money’.
Rakhi, who became a familiar face with her hit remix ‘Pardesiya’, is seen doing a hot item number in the movie, which is being directed by Rakesh. Rakesh has also designed Rakhi’s outfit for the song ‘Paisa Khuda Hai’ (Money is God). It is made up of 2000 one rupee coins.
Rakhi is thrilled about her item song and hopes it will be a huge hit. “My song is very nice and very catchy. It’s a lovely song with lovely picturisation. The song has been choreographed by Bobby Khan,” she said.
‘Hot Money’ has Tarun Arora in the male lead supported by other actors like Mukesh Tiwari, Rati Agnihotri and Tinu Anand.
— ANI
‘Kill Bill’ actress Uma Thurman is set to play a scorned lover in an upcoming romantic comedy ‘Super Ex’.
In the movie, which starts shooting in New York City later this month, Thurman will star opposite Luke Wilson, who dumps her, only to find that she has superpowers.
“She’s the female version of Superman for Manhattan. She’s a little tough to be with in a relationship, so I break it off, and she starts using her superpowers against me,” Contactmusic quoted Wilson as saying. Thurman is very excited to star in the film and said that comedy is something she always wanted to do. |
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market
pulse
It can cloak even the smell of an octopus gone to seed! These fragrances — herbs and plant extracts — promise to kill bad odour and how! The creative spin of Subin Punlertchamnan, President of the Earth Life Company these sprays have cloaked ‘fumes’ in their home country, Thailand for over ten years now! On display courtesy the CII Chandigarh Fair, at the Thailand Pavilion, the ‘atomisers’ come in four distinct bouquets —Jasmine, Mokara, Lerawadee and Lotus — extracts of flowers. Priced at Rs. 400 a bottle and Rs. 1200 for all four, they are to be sprayed on the target area and hey presto! The smell is gone! So bathrooms, cars, even air-conditioned rooms and hospitals can use these sprays for effective results. While the smell does not dissipate for all times, the spray can certainly cover the smell up completely! Try a bottle; you may just mistake the heady scent of jasmine as coming from a tree outside your window! New Shampoos Lotus Herbals inspires a whole new hair fashion trend by unveiling a range of futuristic shampoos under its exclusive hair care sub brand, Kersays. Based on Active Hair systems concept, the shampoo line comprises of Olive clean purifying shampoo for oily hair and pear clean daily balancing shampoo for normal hair. The shampoos are available in 200 ML and 500 ML bottles and are priced at Rs. 135 and Rs. 345, respectively, at select outlets throughout the country.
Autumn Collection Numero Uno, the denim destination, heralds the new season with Whitened Indigos, a new range of stylized jeans. Whitened Indigos a new range of stylized jeans are priced at Rs. 1149 upwards for men and these cool denims are available between Rs. 949and Rs. 1249 for girls. Snug sweats for men range from Rs. 799 to Rs. 999 and sweats for girls are priced between Rs. 649 and Rs. 949.
— TNS |
Tawa ‘n’ Tandoor
We came to visit the fair at Parade Ground, but when we saw this food festival in Shivalik View, we could not resist trying a few dishes. It was really nice.” This was the remark of Ms Savita Singh who came from Mohali along with her husband and two kids. The Tawa ‘n’ Tandoor festival began here last evening. The festivals provides an opportunity to eat outdoor as there are innumerable food stalls outside the main building. There is one more reason to rejoice. This year, apart from the food and music, a large number of multinational brands of lager beer, waiting just for you! People are making the most of it. Sandeep Kapoor, a businessman says enjoying beer with fish is really a good experience. Harsimran Singh and his wife, hoped more such ventures would give city residents a chance to enjoy their outings. The festival starts from 5 pm and winds up at around 10.30 pm. It will conclude on Sunday. — TNS |
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Pammy’s beauty tips
This Diwali evening put on a perfect face, don’t let the diya’s and candles tell tales in the evening light about your face. Look fabulous and bring out the make up artist in you by learning the after dark make up. I couldn’t agree more with make up artist Barbra Daly’s sage advice, ‘Don’t stray too far from the make up shades you wear for the day. You want to look at a sophisticated, glam you in the mirror and not just another person! The secret to good successful make up is to enhance your features and keeping the skin tone and hair colour in mind. Here is a guide to the right products keeping your skin tone and hair in mind. Knowing how to choose the right hues for you is vital to helping yourself look your very best. First and foremost thing you must keep in your mind is the light. Never put make up on in too strong light. Use a magnifying mirror to achieve those perfect blend and lines.
Steps to a perfect you n Old habits die hard especially when it comes to make up. Women generally get freeze framed with a particular way of doing make up. Use a bright colour but coat it with your usual lipstick shade, you’ll soon get used to it. Changes in the skin tone, texture and hair colour take place with the years. Our complexions change becoming paler and drier as years roll by so the kits need to be adjusted to the change as well. I certainly advocate a makeover every now and then. Same goes for our hair colour, we change our hair colour with the years. n Make up and hair colour should compliment each other. If your hair are dark and skin pale, you are in a position to carry any dark shades especially reds very well with well defined eyes using black or black brown shades. In the evening cool toned dark, smoky eyes and bright fuchsia or crimson lips will create the ultimate look. Be very careful when applying blusher, should be done with a very sensitive touch. Pale pink or rose tones are most flattering. n You set yourself no limits if you have olive skin and brown or black colour- you can experiment with any colour especially deep shades of warm colours such as rusts, raisins, warm chocolate brown or orangey reds. The best eye colours would be rust, beige and earthy reds and a brightening pink or tawny brown for blusher. n The light black skin and dark hair appear more cool complexioned. Avoid bright primary colours as they will overpower your creamy complexion. The best eye colour would be chocolate brown, lilac, blue and framing your face with a black or brown mascara. Shimmery pink will look lush with pastel shades. Leaving your lips nude with a hint of tinted gloss would be perfect or else go for light pinks or warm brown colours. n If you are in your late forty’s or early fifties and have never worn make up- It’s never too late to start. As we age and complexions give that washed out look , you must reach for the make up kits to lift the face and your spirits! Bright colours can be very ageing; keep your kit neutral. You can use a touch of gold. For your lips use soft rose, soft plum, soft apricot. Next time you go shopping don’t go and buy the same lipstick just because you’ve done it all these years! Remember good make up skills hinge on experience & you learn it by experimenting. |
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Health and Fitness Self-breast examination: This little exercise done in front of a mirror helps detect lumps in the breast. Stand erect in front of the mirror. With the palm of your hand, feel the breast in all four quadrants. Repeat on the other side. If there are any lumps or change in the overlying skin, make a note of it and consult your doctor.
— Dr. Rashmi Garg is senior consultant, Fortis, Mohali. |
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