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Dance is her Destiny Dancing his way to
Music
Things have
changed
YOUTH SPEAK French Connection MATKA CHOWK Film &
Fashion
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Rapid progress has changed the face of rural Punjab. The village as of old was re-created at the carnival and how people loved the experience, says Parbina Rashid
FOR every “Go West” wave, there is a “back to the roots” undercurrent. Or how do you explain the psyche of the Administration, which has done a wonderful job of taking you through the replica of the Eiffel Tower at the entrance of the Chandigarh Carnival and then nicely land you at a makeshift Punjabi village? “Vehrah CITCO Da” is the village the CITCO has constructed with so much care, just to remind us urbanites what the village life of Punjab had to offer. And if the number of visitors gathering at the venue, especially at the food stalls, is anything to go by, then one can safely say that there is a little peasant in all of us, hiding under that urbane façade. A tractor, just as one approaches the Veharha, two huge mud bells handing strategically at the entrance and mud walls with folk motifs, gives one the nice earthy feeling. If one can ignore the aroma of food for a little while, one can see a Doli decorated in famous phulkari chaddar and a girl decked up as a bride sitting there, to be taken to her new home, just the way they used to do in the bygone era. A machaan has been erected at one of the corner. Albeit a bit modern with bunches of hydrogen filled balloons in the four corners, maybe just to lure the kids to climb all the way up, the tall structure gives a full view of the fair. Part of a bullock cart, an array of old utensils which are no longer in circulation like a hamam which was used for hot water, open chullha, gagars and huge metal glasses for enjoying lassi the good old way. What is more, there are girls dressed as village belles around to give a live demonstration of spinning on a charka. If that’s not enough to take you on a nostalgic trip down the memory lane, then there are food items to make your visit worthwhile. Starting with makki di roti and sarso da saag one can savour dal or kadi with rice and the grand finale being a delicious piece of handi-ghosht with a thick gravy to go with a tandoori roti; and of course a glass of chatti di lassi to wash it down. Little wonder the crowd preferred the rustic charpais to the neatly arranged comfortable chairs in a nearby stall, in which girls with wonderful manners requested one to sample their Chinese fare. But then a little nostalgia is a better appetiser than a pretty face!
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Malavika Sarukkai tinkled her way from Chennai to Chandigarh to charm the audience with the elegance of Bharatanatyam on Sunday evening. She shares her thoughts about her art and life in a chitchat with Nirupama Dutt
Well, the goddess is in town and talking to her is as great a pleasure as watching her lively steps on stage. Talking of journey, she says: “I feel certain things are predestined. My mother started me on Bharatanatyam when I was just seven. A child of seven does not know that she will be a dancer but I enjoyed dancing.” She was first trained by Guru Kalyanasundaram of Thanjavur school and then Guru Rajarathnam of Vazhuvoor school. She also learnt Odissi from Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra and his disciple Ramani Jena. How did destiny intervene? The nayika smiles, “Well I do believe in destiny and I have seen it driving me to dance and little else in my life. Even when I was not making an active choice, circumstances would be such that other things would fall away. So dance has been my destiny.” Malavika gives one example that when she joined college after school she felt that she was wasting her time. Her mother Saroja Kamakshi, who had longed to be a dancer but was strained in music, was supportive and withdrew her daughter form her academic course in college. “I was lucky to have here for she could understand just what I felt.” After that it was dance all the way. A single woman, Malavika has been able to give all of herself to her art, perfecting the art to a point that the dancer becomes the dance. She says of her art: “I have complete conviction in the classical. I do not see the classical as antiquity that has to be preserved. It is living and organic. Within that there is tradition. I would say my dance is traditional but the energy that I enthuse it with is contemporary.” How would she define dance? Malavika says: “Classical dance gives a complete experience and it deepens as you go deeper into the art. Dance has the elements of rhythm, beat, philosophy, poetry, religion and mythology. It is a complete languagein itself. It requires long years of training and practice for here one sings with the body.” And so she sang with her body on the Sabbath like never before including the special piece on Hanuman seeing Rama for the first time because it is the favourite one of her hosts: the Goswamys. Having danced here two years ago on their invitation she considers Chandigarh like home.
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Few of the path breaking videos that he has shot are — Oh Oh Jaane Jaana from Pyar Kiya to Darna Kya, Babuji from Dum, Khallas from Company, Kambhakht Ishq from Pyar Tu Ne Kya Kiya, Kabhi Nahin featuring Amitabh Bachchan and Adnan Sami and the award-winning O Mitwa from Lagaan, It’s Magic from Koi Mil Gaya and Tere Bina from Khushi. He has now set his eyes on singing. T-Series music company is set to release his debut album “G”. The album has been appreciated and endorsed by the entire film fraternity, including the likes of Shahrukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Abhishek Bachchan, Rani Mukherjee, Esha Deol, Zayed Khan and John Abraham, all of whom swear by the album. Ganesh has directed and choreographed the album himself. His versatility does not end here. He has also provided the music for this album. So, get ready for a new singing sensation is just round the corner. — Dharam Pal
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The catchy slogans painted on trucks reflect the truck drivers’ zest for life, says Ramesh K. Dhiman
Unfazed by the volatile weather conditions and other oddities, they move on to keep their tryst with destiny. With a view to giving a go-by to homesickness, they enjoy pulsating pop music set at a deep baritone as they drive past the imposing hills and dales. They even have catchy slogans painted on their vehicles. Ni tun jaldi chal gaddiye, ni gaddiye, mainu yaar nal milna hai,Gaddi jandi hai chhalangan maardi, meinu yaad aaye mere yaar di, Nadi kinare bulbul baithi, muhan which dana chhalli da, Babbu yaar pardes gaya, Dil ni lagda kalih da, Nitt Dilliyon-Pathankot jawe, yaaran da truck balliye, are the candid outpourings of a melancholic heart longing for its beloved. These slogans offer the Midas touch and relieve them of their drudgery. Their pent-up passions are beautifully reflected through these amusing slogans. To top it all, these offer food for thought for the onlookers, who simply break into guffaws and giggles at the wry humour. Vaheguru bol te pher buha khol,Ishwar se daro,Guru rakha, sabhni thain,Nasib apna, apna,Waqt ki har shai gulam. These slogans are suggestive of their abiding faith in the providence, its multifarious manifestations and the unbridled powers it enjoys. Pahran di rani, Husan paharon ka, Shan-e-Punjab, Cha rani tera rubb rakha symbolise the impeccable beauty of their beloved. Another set of slogans invoke God’s blessings for their safe journey. To name a few, Ma ka ashirvad, Milega mukaddar. Parnam Shaheedan Nu, Jai jawan jai kissan, show the soaring spirit of patriotism that is embedded deep down in their psyche. Sonu-Monu di gaddi, Bunty-Bubbly di gaddi, Mittran di motor, Gaddi jatt di. Vekhi ja chherin na, Langhdi ei taan langha lai nahin taan chache magar la lai, Hutt pichhe, reflect their great sense of humour, seasoned with dollops of haughty traits. They seem to have self-imposed the duty of educating the society at large.
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Joyshri Lobo misses the small town flavours as the city of her youth is all set to become a mini-metro
But things have changed. The cemetery is crowded. My father’s grave looks small and insignificant surrounded by some magnificent, funereal architecture. A goat was standing on the green, engraved slab, nibbling at the tall grass around, an image which would have certainly appealed to the old man’s acute sense of humour. It belonged to the one legged caretaker woman. My son was rammed in the butt when he tried to shoo the animal away. The university looks slick and active. Young men and women in fancy cars, hang out in various cafes and book stores. I travelled from home to classes on an ancient Avon bicycle. The PGI was being built then and I once collided with a herd of mud toting donkeys, much to the amusement of several lads hanging out of the balconies at the Mens College Hostel. Between classes, we would go out of the gate to eat chana bhaturas with generous helpings of grated mooli. A change of menu was offered by the alu tikki man or the woman who roasted bhuttas. I cannot imagine students today enjoying such humble fare. At Sai’s, I miss the beautiful, statuesque owner, who embroidered table linen as she supervised those around her. The place is impersonal and dull without her gracious, smiling presence. Every winter, my mother took “Vohra’s ‘flu mixture recipe” to the pharmacist at Sahib Singhs, in Sector 17. He would take a day to prepare it and a safe, cough and cold less winter was ensured. We knew the Sahib Singhs from our Simla days. They were unhurried in their service, communicative and courteous. They knew our relatives and friends and were not averse to a little discussion about their well being. On one of my yearly sojourns, I discovered a huge supermart in place of Sahib Singhs and I realised an era was over. I went to buy fruit and vegetables at the Sector 9 market. I looked forward to light banter, a little haggling and then the process of choosing the best. To my horror I found a sanitised, beautified, double storied complex. Tiny, municipality approved shops housed the vendors. Disappointed, I drove on to Sector 38 and found an old man with bananas and garden fresh, pink centered guavas. Bijwara was the place for gur, shakkar, moongphalli and freshly turned gajjak. Bijwara and winter shopping were synonymous. Today, we get the same stuff in packets, all over town. Somehow it does not taste the same. Chandigarh is beautiful and clean but it has become “foreign like other countries” as I’m informed by some intrepid travellers. I miss the small town flavour of my university days!
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YOUTH SPEAK The need of the hour is to be a professional. Graduation is necessary as it is the basic requirement but if you are multi-skilled and well equipped with the nitty-gritty of a number of fields, you can fit in easily and anywhere in the industry.” ‘Generation Y’ seems to be confident of crossing the impediments and treading the path of success through determination. Over the past few years, the companies have changed and become more result oriented. Due to computerisation, the man power required is less in number but high in quality. So the companies seek professionals who can handle their field of specialisation skillfully. To shine like a bright star amongst the others, to emerge a winner out of millions and to stand out in the crowd —this ambition fills the youth with the zing and fervor to achieve something, just by being their very own selves! — Preeti Verma Young and bubbling with creative vibes? Have something to say? Well, send your views on something you feel strongly about to
lifestyle@tribunemail.com
or Lifestyle, The Tribune, Sector 29-C Chandigarh. The best will find place in Lifestyle.
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Viva la France! Underlying the mood of the carnival is a whiff of France—from the stately Eiffel Tower to the baguettes (French bread!), the spirit creates fizz and sparkle. In a carnival festooned with Goa-Portuguese style tableaux with papier mache figures in the shape of Hanuman, green frogs, red and white spotted mushrooms even The Hulk, folk and regional dances and charming rural games; the French Pavilion is a world of its own fashioned by the Alliance Française in Chandigarh. (Bruno Plasse, Director Alliance Française is a busy man for the Governor, General Rodrigues’s visit, began with the French sector no less!) Books (a small stall by Browser), exhibitions, screenings (watch ‘Asterix: Mission Cleopatra’ with French subtitles at 12:15pm on Sunday), introductory language lessons and even an animated game of ‘Petanque’ (a game played with metal balls which originated in Provence in 1910) sprinkle this French quarter! A fancy dress competition, (Les Personnages Francais) at 12:30 pm on Sunday and a dance to the notes of the accordion, ‘Bal Musette’ at 1:00 pm are some of the events organised by the French marquee. A small ‘district’—the ‘Champs Elysees Elevenses’—for nibbles fashioned by the Food Craft Institute, Sector 42 while not French in taste have certainly given their tomato soup a French flavour by naming it Crème de Tomate! Yakhni soup, pastries, pizzas and quiches, the food will certainly find taste—albeit with an Indian twist! A slice of France can be seen at the exhibition comprising 20 portraits of French greats like Le Corbusier, Marie Curie, Victor Hugo, Charles De Gaulle amongst others and posters and pictures of beautiful provinces and regions in the country. Bienvenue en France (welcome to France)! A lively girl from Angers in France is here on an internship and Emilie Nussmann does not want to go back! Teaching French at the Alliance Française in Chandigarh as a precursor to teaching “young students and strangers” in her hometown, she talks of her six month stint with a lot of affection. “I will try for an internship at Delhi so that I can stay on,” she smiles. Vibrant in an orange-yellow angarkha style kurta, she epitomises the optimism of her country at the pavilion.
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MATKA CHOWK HOW many eating places do you know in the city, where you can order alu parathas, make international calls to your cousin in Canada and get your passport photos taken standing against a whitewashed wall? I happen to know such a place – close to my office building in Sector 34 - a street-side restaurant - manned and served by boys who look no older than fifteen. They started small, only selling samosas and coffee when we moved into this office building last year. Over the year, they have made remarkable progress. More and more dishes have appeared. New and energetic hires have taken charge and now, they dominate the footpath food business. The place starts buzzing, just like the newly built Taj Hotel, at an early hour. I look with amazement when I pass by every morning – at the gigantic buckets of boiled potatoes, frightening cauldrons full of hot gulab- jamuns and enormous mounds of atta dough. By afternoon, the place is swarming with customers. Service is fantastic. You will be told of the day’s special even before you are seated in the plastic chairs. Your order will be catered to instantly and judging by the way I see the people attack their hot alu-parathas and chole – I would suspect that the food does not taste too shabby. The supreme manager (or apparent owner) is no less than an MBA. He multitasks – noting and accounting for “Ek Mirinda, do samoses, char parathasa and more,” interjected with “iska do copy banana – lekin iska sirf teen, aur iska dono side kar dena aur saaf hona chahiye, nahi to paise nahi milenge.” He also deals with people bursting out of the passport office and travel agencies with –“jaldi char copy photo banade.” Meanwhile, more bhaturas have been devoured and accounted for. The management is terrific and now they are making foray into marketing. I was bowled over to see the latest change – They have a brand new menu (freshly pasted on the pillar) – with different categories of dishes - ‘Singel’ or ‘doubel’ - depending on how many rotis you add on and how many items you want to order. You can have ‘Zira Rice’ or ‘Ispecal’Chawal(with Ghee) and Rajma or chota plate with roti and daal. You can add mithai if you pay five rupees extra (plain gulab jamun) or ten rupees extra (jumbo gulab-jamun). The ultimate is of course the “Executive Thali” with a serving of almost all that they cook. And they even have special discounts for Meetings and Parties – I am assuming the meeting would take place on the footpath as well! “Executive Thali!” – that is quite impressive, I thought! I wonder, what would be next! Buy one meal and get the next at half-price? I am waiting to see the next upgrade!
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Film &
Fashion
Keira Knightley didn’t get her love in Gurinder Chadha’s ‘Bend It Like Beckham’, but in real life she won’t let her love go that easily. The actress, who broke up with model Jamie Dornan earlier this year, is reportedly so desperate to win him back that she is delivering flowers and food to his home. While Knightley wants give their relationship another chance, Dornan is busy launching his music career, and is said to be ignoring her advances. Keep trying Keira, because everything is fair in love and war.
— ANI Brad Pitt and Joile not
to speak about their relationship
Foreign media won’t be able to shoot personal questions at Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie during their visit to Japan, as in a bid to avoid questions about their relationship, the two have barred international media from attending their press conferences in Tokyo. To promote their new film ‘Mr and Ms Smith’, the couple will reach Tokyo straight from Pakistan, where they spent Thanksgiving, observing how the UNHCR is taking care of the survivors of the October 8 earthquake. They will only answer questions from the Japanese media about their professional lives. — ANI Russell Crowe accuses media of exaggeration
That Oscar winning actor, Russell Crowe, has a fiery temper is no secret. His most recent explosive act came when he threw a telephone at a hotel concierge during his stay in New York for which he was fined $ 160. But the actor has now hit out at the media for blowing the sorry episode out of proportion, and says that it was trivial in comparison to other more heinous crimes being committed in society Crowe said it was common for travelling businessmen to get upset with hotel workers all over the world, and though it was no excuse for his behaviour, he felt that the media coverage it got would have been better utilised if it had been given to a more horrific crime. — ANI
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FOOT CARE-It is important to care for your feet in the same manner as we do for our faces . People who suffer from Diabetes or have borderline blood sugars have a higher risk of little abrasions and cuts on the skin which take longer time to heal. — Dr Rashmi Garg is senior consultant,
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SHE is acclaimed as the most accomplished Bharatanatyam exponent today who has polished her art to such an extent that it is a spontaneous overflow from her being. Reviewing her performance at the Edinburgh
Festival, Alice Blain wrote in The Guardian: “The Bharatanatyam of Malavika Sarukkai was, her divine performance as intricate as lace.” The headline of the story is: ‘A goddess dances at Edinburgh’.
G
TRUCK drivers’ lives are fraught with trials and tribulations that they take in their stride. A fair share of their lifespan is spent going places, miles away from their sweet home and its cosy comforts. These men have no time to stand and stare, be it the bone-rattling chill, the simmering summer heat or the wrath of the hostile rain gods. They are always on a mission — to reach their chartered destination.
IT
was nostalgia time for me. I paid an annual visit to the city of my
academic achievements. This always includes a drive through the
university, a visit to the cemetery, where most of the family rests under
tall, swaying eucalyptus trees and Sai’s for paapdi chaat, dahi vadas
and kaaju burfi.
Y
ARIES : Your artistic sensitivity, intuition, and imagination are
stimulated. Excellent time to pick up your pen, get on the phone and be touch with your friends. Remember to reply the emails today. Lucky number : 2. Lucky colour : Orange.
LIBRA : Inception of new business projects on the cards. Imagination and the desire to escape immediate environment are stimulated. Others are impressed by your actions. Lucky number : 10. Lucky colour : Peacock blue.
TAURUS : Your love life will be smooth sailing and spending time together is high on your list of priorities. You may be in the mood to make some extravagant purchases. Lucky number: 3. Lucky colour: Rose.
SCORPIO:
A mysterious, dreamy, or hypersensitive mood comes over you. You may want to retreat from mundane life into some beautiful music. Exercise your powers with wisdom. Lucky number :10. Lucky colour
: Jade.
GEMINI : You are swift and strong like “ The knight of wands” . Emotional impulses, moods, and childlike behavior or desires dominate you. Lucky number : 4. Lucky Colour : Crimson.
SAGITTARIUS : You can make some clear decisions about where you are headed Do not judge others by appearances. A wrong assessment can put you in trouble. Relax, lighten up and celebrate life. Lucky number: 5. Lucky colour : Silver grey. 
CANCER : You make an impact and shine like “The Star” . You are apt to feel at odds with yourself. Do try to be as charming as possible Lucky number : 1. Lucky Colour : Golden yellow. 
CAPRICORN :
Your judgment is sound at this time. You may have an important professional conference. This is an excellent time to seek out your superiors. Lucky number : 3. Lucky colour: Pink.
LEO : Your imagination is activated and you’re inclined to feel rather passive and dreamy. Music or art moves you very much now. Lucky number : 4 Lucky colour : lush green.
AQUARIUS : You could get off to a slow start this morning, but momentum will build throughout the day. You need to avoid “ penny wise and pound foolish” attitudes. Lucky number : 7. Lucky Colour : Lime green.
VIRGO : Dreaminess; nostalgia or moodiness may be hard to resist. If you have something important to say, then let your opinions be known. Lucky number : 11. Lucky colour : Rusty red.
PISCES: Your career, reputation, and personal goals receive a boost. You feel a surge of positive energy. A Scorpio person can be relied upon. Lucky number : 9. Lucky Colour : Midnight blue.