|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Twice lucky Who needs an excuse to
party? Against all odds YOGA Shining Bright Umpire with a silver badge
Tasty bites Back with a
bang Film & FASHION
|
|
In love with
luxury
Boudoir like! Fluttering drapes, comfy couches and heaps of silken cushions to sink into. And as if this royal treat was not enough, there’s the perennially favourite Hookah. Have a flavoured puff and unburden yourself from the day’s cares! Well, that’s Mr. Beans for you. Originally meant to be a Coffee Lounge, this place has embraced sheer style and class by adding on to its interiors an Arabian ambience. The place is minimal, but the Arabian interiors lend it a sense of drama. Informs owner Vineet Chauhan, who launched this lounge in November 2003, “Hookah promises maximum smoking pleasure and highest conviviality. Traditionally, smoking a Hookah in many parts of the world meant a gesture of trust and bonding. This ceremonial gesture had got translated to the high society as an elevated status symbol. So, I decided to introduce this concept in my lounge. The idea’s clicked and I get visitors till 1pm!” he chuckles. After Hookah, or Sheesha, as he insists on calling it, the other hot faves are their flavoured coffees. “We have all kinds of people frequenting our lounge, right from freaky students and fashionable families to retired friends. And so, what they all like is their daily cuppa of hot brew.” informs the manager at Mr. Beans. Adds Chauhan, “This is our third outlet in India after Indore and Jaipur and its success has inspired to open more such outlets. We are coming up with ten more outlets next year,” he beams. Appetising! If you are a gourmet, who likes to savour anything from exquisite wines and Oriental snacks to delicious dim sums, this one is your piece of cake. Have it and eat it too, literally. For, the Orchid lounge promises fine food, other than anything else. Of course, the lounge like soft lights, luxuriant bar, a plush banquet and a haze of cigar smoke is all there. But, with chic crowds thronging the place at evenings, the escape from the real world is not an overriding motif here. What comes across, rather, is a bountiful variety of food. “We serve all oriental food—Thai, Chinese, Indonesian and Korean being our speciality,” informs Ghanshaym Thapa, the chief chef of the lounge. Established in the thick-of-things location, the lounge is a favourite with corporate circles. Beams owner Abhay Singh Jagat, “Thanks to our diverse menu, people come here not just for snacks and drinks but for dining too. The lounge area is the favourite haunt for business meetings and entertaining corporate guests. People like to spend a quiet evening here, in the company of their favourite wines and select friends” No wonder this lounge, which just opened on 3rd September, 2004, is being visited till 12 in the night. Hip and Happening For all those youngsters who feel they are missing out on lining the bar stools and talking the latest in town in low sultry whispers, there’s Athena in town. Seeming more like a postmodern nightclub than lounge, though, it’s a good haunt for those hip youngsters who don’t want calm cocktails and conversations alone. “With it’s deliciously intimate lighting and fabulous music, its tempts enough to jump in and groove,” says Megha Kaul, a city youngster. But what is so loungy about the whole place? Explains Owner Karan Dhillon, “Though Athena is a resto-bar cum lounge, we’ve created a sense of place to give it the lounge feel. Plus there’s minimalist lighting, comfy sofas to sink into, exclusive wines and classy windows to provide a bird’s eye view of the city outside.” Observes Shweta Ahuja, an upcoming designer, “I love to lounge around with friends. The best part about lounges is that there are no pushy waiters hovering around. One can just sit and relax for as long as one desires, without going on ordering food.” Agrees Gauri Bansal, “Restaurants are out now. What one craves for is the ambience and soft romantic music that can recreate and enhance your mood. The luxurious atmosphere in a lounge does just that. However, they are essentially expensive, maybe to justify that high class tag.” So, is it their enchanting ambience or luxurious seating, delightful delicacies or the classy tag they sport that’s making these lounges city-faves? We leave it upon you to decide!
|
|
Twice lucky “My first film Antim Nyay with Jackie Shroff did not do well. As I was not sure of my future in Bollywood, I started looking for other avenues,” says this boy from Chandigarh who moved to Delhi after making a splash in the local modelling scene. Besides modelling, Akhil tried out photography after obtaining a diploma in fashion photography from the National School of Fashion Technology. Still basking in the glory Tarana Pyar Ka, Akhil says: “The title song made it to the fifth position in the Channel V ‘s Top 20. The song was sung by Abbuy of the Khallas fame.” Akhil, a singer himself, is also planning to come out with his own remix album. Besides marriage, the other most exciting thing in his life at present is an offer by a big banner film. “Things are just looking up for me. I cannot talk much about the film or its cast but it is a big banner movie produced by Mukesh Talreja who made films like Tere Naam and Qyonki,” says this youngster. As he waits to start afresh both in life and Bollywood, we wish him success in both. —Parbina Rashid
|
|
Who needs an excuse to
party? Youngsters on the loose are treating themselves to an extravaganza called good living by partying into pleasure, and wee hours, fervently.
For them, there is no dearth of excuses for celebrating life, gorgeously and lavishly. If Smrriti does not beat the drum for commemorating her macho guy’s “happy birthday”, the twenty-something blows the trumpet to jubilate her cute little poodle’s birth anniversary, loudly and ceremoniously. “Both are precious to me,” she insists, before chuckling gleefully. As she speaks, you wonder whom to envy, her guy or pet. Anyway, her ivory-chiseled fingers slip on the dancing shoes before she cuts foot loose to the thumping beats of reverberating music in a discotheque on their natal days. Or else, she savours a chicken-onion cheese pizza with garlic bread in a fast food joint for bagging the fifth position in the unit test, effortlessly, of course. Her admirer was sitting on the adjoining seat. Wow, great, isn’t it? But folks, no need for you to feel so bad, thinking about the nice stuff you missed. Really. Yes, you have guessed it right. She plays the host occasionally. So many times the guys pay heavily. They do not grumble. But you know how it is to spend money on a transient thing like pizza, and a relationship. Well, forget about the guys. They are used to it. Lets talk about Smrriti. She loves to acts like a willing guest, ever eager to please guys hosting the parties. So, she gulps a few mugs of fruit punch. Or trips the light fantastic on the polished dance floor of life, just to make the show more lively. Her elder sister, now married to a young business executive in the USA, loved to raise hell and kick up her heels, like Smrriti, when she was in her teens. But things were different then. Parties, sadly, were held not so frequently. “Guys would wait for the Valentine’s Day or Halloween to organise a bash for twirling around the dance floor,” says socio-psychologist Tahira Singh. “Of course, discotheques were there. But the metropolitan culture, encouraging live-for-today youngsters to party around, was missing. Tch, tch.... In any case, the society was not so permissive”. That was years back. Thankfully. Now, pubbing, eating out and discoing into the wee hours is an essential ingredient for so many kiddos living in the age of noodles and FTV. Ever willing to go on a spree, they take permission to stay out late and savour more than just soft drinks. Still gasping for more, they go to multiplexes for tasting action, not just on the screen. Agreed, some of them are spending the money from their own pockets for the goodies. But it’s hardly a “big deal”. Oh, yes. Both the parents are working. Then timely change in the jobs have sent the family income shooting up. The attitudes have also changed. “As most of the time is spent in the office, the parents compensate by pampering the little ones,” smiles Tahira. “Saying no becomes difficult. Nay, impossible at times”. Phew.
|
|
Against all odds He started at a time when he was paid Rs 3 for a shave and Rs 6 for a haircut. This was back in the 80’s when the blow-dried look was in, so were the ghastly collars. And lest we forget, the bell-bottoms. Now he gets a round sum of Rs 100 for a cut. How did you lose your fingers? While working on the threshing machine in my village in Saharanpur. How did you manage to circumvent your disability? It’s all about will power and self-discipline; you have to give a voice to that inner reserve to over come anything negative. Will power is the ability to control unnecessary and harmful impulses and plus I didn’t want to be a burden on anyone. Your profession as a barber requires a skillful manipulation of the hands. What was the technique involved for you to cut hair without having fingers? Knowledge was my technique. I observed others and became wise. Since cutting hair was the tradition of my family I had to go beyond my disability. My will to life is very strong and for living even stronger. It is said that people with disability use their shortcomings as a tool of sympathy, but you have surrendered to it as the will of God! Begging is not the answer. Woh haaram ka khana hota hai, you should be proud of what God has given you. The lord has taught me how fragile life really is. You never know what may happen. So make the most of it. Your philosophy of life? No work, no food. What next where do you go from here? My profession is my first love. It is a form
of therapy for me as is any creative process. And I think I will be constantly evolving both as an artiste and as a person.
|
|
YOGA The relationship of breath with thought is very tangible. Next time when you are agitated, take a moment to observe how you breathe.
Whether angry, frustrated, unhappy or calm, the pattern of breathing corresponds to the mood. It vacillates from choppy and uneven when upset or excited to long and deep when serene. Regular practice of yogic breathing techniques facilitates quick calming of the breath when faced with difficult situations. This leads to corresponding change in behaviour allowing one to be in control with ease. Thus the adept yoga practitioner controls the mind and its thoughts via the medium of the breath by the regular practice of pranayama. Pranayama is not just the habitual breathing that keeps the body alive. It is a more subtle conscious technique of accessing the universal life force energy that surrounds us. It consists of inhalation (puraka), exhalation (rechaka) and retention of breath (kumbhaka). As the yoga practitioner uses this disciplined technique, subtle chemical changes take place releasing all negative thoughts and dissolving stubborn mindsets as the Prana starts to move freely in the body. There is a special branch of yoga called the swara yoga that maps the relationship of the nasal breath with the brain and nervous system. At any given time, a person is breathing freely through one nostril either right or left. You can check this for yourself. Close the left nostril and breathe through the right then repeat the exercise with the other nostril. You will find the breath moving more easily through one or the other. It is common scientific knowledge that the right brain controls the left side of the body and the left brain influences the right side of the body. When the right nostril is active, the left brain is functioning and vice versa. Since the opposite sides of the cerebral hemispheres have different functions, the breather is in the practical and mathematical mode when breathing through the right nostril and the left brain is active. When one is emotional and intuitive, breathing happens through the left nostril and right brain is active. When one side of the brain is used predominantly while suppressing the other, imbalance in the chemical secretions of the brain may occur leading to schizophrenic behaviour, nervous breakdowns, hallucinations and physical maladies such as migraines, cysts in the brain, strokes and embolism.
|
|
Shining Bright Mitika, a champion at the age of 15, had to compete with 25 finalists from all states in the Indian Classical music category at the All-India DAV Youth Fiesta—2005, organised by the DAV Colleges Managing Committee. Besides the topper’s award, she had won tremendous adulation from critics and music lovers for her immaculate and adroit spell of the complex raga Miyan ki Todi, especially the chhota khyaal Jaa jaa re kaagva, accomplished by a profuse of layakari and taankari besides a scintillating Tarrana. Her winning spree had started with her winning laurels at the inter-school singing competition in 2004. She maintained her position by securing the first position in the state in the UT Sports Cultural Fiesta, organised by the Chandigarh Administration. She had to vie for the laurels with participants from colleges and university teams and artistes in the age group of 15 -30 years. She is ready to take on the national finals being held in Goa shortly. “I wish to be a singer of international standing or a psychiatrist and the strenuous riyaz under appropriate guidance induces a confidence in me,” says Mitika, who is striking an adequate balance between her chosen passion and academics. She secured 96 per cent in one subject with an aggregate of 87 per cent in the matriculation. The foremost disciple and daughter of the acclaimed music director and classical vocalist, Kanwar Iqbal Singh of Indore Ghrana, Mitika though basically initiated into classical vocal stream three years back only, her versatility encompasses in other realms like tappa gayki, Sufiana, devotional and folk. Kanwar feels that Mitika has been blessed with a peculiar sense of swara, laya and taal and attempts to appreciate and imbibe the intricate nuances of gayaki styles of music wizard like Ustad Amir Khan, the passionate music of A.R. Rehman and reveres most the soulful gayaki style of Ratnika Tiwari as well, at the tender age of fifteen. Music instruments like
tanpura, tabla and harmonium are her favourite companions besides the inspirational motivation of mama Anujit and papa Kanwar.
|
|
Umpire with a silver badge
Meet the first Indian silver-badge woman tennis referee, Sheetal Iyer from Pune. She is the only woman referee in India having this status in the field of tennis umpiring.
Sheetal is in the city to act as supervisor-referee for the ongoing ITF Men’s Futures Tennis meet underway at Tennis Stadium. An international tennis player in the eighties, Sheetal always wanted to give something back to tennis for which she had spent almost two decades of her life. She earlier wanted to be a tennis coach and for that she even went to Florida, USA to hone her skills. In 1997, she did the National Certificate course in
umpiring. It was in 1999 that she qualified to be the first white badge woman umpire. This helped her in umpiring many matches at various venues in the country and abroad. She has been a referee in many Asian venues like Dubai, Doha, Bangladesh, Bangkok, Sri Lanka and Manila. In 2003, her status was elevated when she qualified to become the first woman Silver badge referee. Presently only two male Indians enjoy this status—Puneet and Nitin. Nitin, incidentally, is her brother. When asked, if she could recall the best match she umpired till date, Sheetal mentions the match in which Sania Mirza lost to Li Ni of China in the final of the Asian Tennis
Championship at Tashkent, Uzbekistan in 2004. “The match was thrilling and went into three sets,” she recalls. Sheetal has proved that a lady umpire can manage male umpires who wear white badges and can also act as bridge between players, organisers and officials for the smooth conduct of the tournament. Sheetal is on tour for almost 12 to 15 weeks in a year.
|
|
Tasty bites Keeping its promise to the people of Chandigarh, Coffee Day Xpress, the pioneer and leading retail chain of convenience food and beverage kiosks, has now introduced a new menu. The menu has been created after carrying out detailed research among customers on their likes and preferences for this festive season when everyone loves to go out and celebrate. The new menu includes an exciting range of lip smacking sandwiches, like the Green House sandwich (spinach and fenugreek leaves), Lemony Chicken sandwich (chicken and mayonnaise), Chilli Cheese sandwich (green chilli and cheese), Xpress Fusion Chicken (Submarine chicken, capsicum, Mexican sauce), Xpress Fusion Veg (Submarine capsicum, carrot, Mexican sauce) and Criss-Cross Cheese Twist (baby corn and cheese). For those with a sweet tooth, delicious chocolate-based pastries like the Coffee Delite (coffee sponge cake with rich cream) and the Choconut (chocolate pastry sprinkled with nuts) have been introduced to feed their chocolate craving. A special addition that goes well with the chill of the winter is delicious ready to eat Biryanis. Every day is a new day at the kiosk, so there are different kinds of biryanis on different days. There is the Mughalai, Hyderabadi, Chetinadu, Hariali and Zfrani biryanis that is available from Monday to Friday. Of course, the old coffee favorites like the famous cappuccino and Mocha will always remain in the Coffee Day Xpress menu. So enjoy!—TNS
|
|
Back with a bang
It captures the unique ability to address with style the emotions that the young hearts feel when in love for the first time! The flamboyant video shot in Bangkok exuberates loads of energy and panache. Babul’s recently released album Kuch Aisa Lagtaa Hai, an anthology of youthful, breezy and romantic songs has won many young hearts already. The first video single, Tere Liye was shot in Greece, which featured Femina Miss India-Earth, Niharika Singh, who shares screen with Babul. — DP
|
|
Film & FASHION
Naomi considered suicide
Andrews hated filming classic scene Actress Julie Andrews revealed that she was very angry while filming the opening scene in “Sound of Music” in which her character runs through the mountains singing. According to Internet Movie Database, Maria, played by Andrews, sings the theme song with a big smile on her face, but filming that sequence became a tiresome exercise. She says, “I will never forget it, there was a large helicopter coming towards me through the mountains with a brave cameraman hanging out from the side. “We shot the scene many times, and at the end of each take, the helicopter would circle round. “The downdraft nailed me flat onto the grass, and a couple of times I bit the dust. At first it was funny, but after several times I began to get very angry.”—IANS Aniston embroiled in topless photo row
According to contactmusic.com, Aniston’s lawyers are warning the world’s media outlets that they will face lawsuits if they buy the photographs, which were taken by a paparazzo. The lawyers say they could face ‘invasion-of-privacy’ lawsuits if they use the shots. —IANS Dicaprio to produce film on environment Actor Leonardo DiCaprio is planning to share his concerns about the earth’s future with his fans after he signed up to make a documentary about global environmental issues. According to contactmusic.com, DiCaprio has started production of the movie “11th Hour”. It explores global warming and offers solutions to restore the planet’s ecosystems. DiCaprio says, “Global warming is not only the number one environmental challenge we face today, but one of the most important issues facing all of humanity.” The film will be released in 2006.—IANS
|
|
Using devices, man goes beyond his limitations usually polluting nature along the way. In contrast, Vinay Malik captures ways that show we care
|
||
|
Blood group: Get to know your blood group by going for a simple blood test and try to remember the result. It could be useful in saving your life if you need blood transfusion urgently. — Dr Rashmi Garg is senior consultant, Fortis, Mohali.
|
|
TAROT TALK
 |
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
For so many uninhibited youngsters loaded with money and excitement, excuses are in abundance for celebrating life. They go to pubs, eat out and disco into the wee hours for no real reason at all, says
Saurabh Malik
There’s nothing like the luxury of sipping a sinuously heady cocktail and munching a melt-in-the mouth delicacy while musing over mood music, as you recline on a plush sofa or a wing armchair. And what could be more relaxing than a private place, that zealously guards you against the humdrum of the outside world, allowing you to laze around without someone admonishing you to get up and go? Well, who’d know better than the city youngsters who are literally defining luxury as ‘lounging around’ in the evenings? Lounge culture, for sure, is picking up in the city. Wonder what is so addictive about these intimate, yet hip retreats? Read on
If Antim Nyay, his debut film twelve years ago, pushed Akhil Banga to search for other career options, his recent hit music video Tarana Pyar Ka has given him the courage to try out his luck once again in Bollywood.
In city to get married to a local girl, Akhil shares the ups and downs of his career graph.
Mohammad Nizam, popular among his friends as Piru because he was born on a Monday, the day of the “pir”, is a barber.
What is special about Piru is that he has risen above his disability of not having fingers and using the stubs of his hand muscles to carry out his job at Sunny’s ‘Cuts and Curls’, Sector 11? Let’s find out.
Mitika Kanwar, a musical genius reigned supreme with her aesthetic excellence and achievements at the national level among the compatriots of her age.
The passage of time can hardly obliterate those wondrous moments of the morning of November 16 from her memory when the elated school Principal, Rakesh Sachdeva, with the staff gave Mitika, a student of class XI, a rousing welcome at the gate of the school. For she returned after winning the All-India Classical Music Competition award for her alma mater, the DAV Model School, Sector 15.
Babul Supriyo is back with his brand new foot-tapping second video single Pyar Hua Hai Pehli
Baar.
British director Martin Campbell is hoping to lure sexy South African actress Charlize Theron to co-star with actor Daniel Craig in the upcoming Bond flick ‘Casino Royale’.
According to an insider, movie bosses are keen to sign the star who has not only proven her acting ability with an Oscar winning performance in the movie, ‘Monster’, but who is also considered to be one of the sexiest leading ladies in the film industry.
“She is glamorous and she is also a brilliant actress. It would be quite a coup to have an Oscar-winner as the female lead,” the Mirror quoted the insider, as saying.
— ANI
Actress Naomi Watts says she had considered suicide before she got the role in the critically acclaimed “Mulholland Drive.” According to newsweek.com, she said, “ I went through some very lonely times, I spent a lot of time in my car crying my eyes out.”
“One night, I drove along thinking, maybe I will take a left here, over the cliff, because I can’t take it any more.”
Watts, who is now to appear in the to be released “King Kong” adds, “It’s weird that there are so many remakes at the
moment. We’ve run out of ideas, which is sinful. We’re going to burn out.”
— IANS
Jennifer Aniston’s lawyers are threatening legal action after finding out that pictures of her sunbathing topless in her home are in circulation.
ARIES : Must avoid getting entangled in a legal case which will result in losing precious man-hours and money. Success in tasks overseas are in store for you. Lucky number:12. Lucky colour: Crimson. 
LIBRA : Like the "The Knight of Cups", you are emotional in personal relationship and graceful on social
occasions. Your lazy streak will be more obvious than usual today. Lucky number: 1. Lucky Colour: Scarlet 
TAURUS : Your career will take an upward swing due to the changes you bring. Try not to react to an angry outburst of emotions in a personal relationship. Lucky number: 20. Lucky colour: Cherry. 
SCORPIO:
"The Magus" brings change and travel. You walk down memory lane with old friends and celebrate with nostalgia and gay abandon. Lucky number: 18. Lucky colour: Peacock green. 
GEMINI : You have thrown caution to the wind as your passions are running hot and strong. On the professional scene, you will make good monetary gains. Lucky number: 12. Lucky colour: Silver. 
SAGITTARIUS : Make the most of the good times and have fun. It will boost your morale and your status. Spiritual pursuits and meditation can be rewarding. Lucky number: 2. Lucky colour: Deep Red. 
CANCER : Financially, your position is secured. Certain favourable developments at work open up many new avenues. A large social get -together will prove to be enjoyable. Lucky Number: 3. Lucky colour: Pink. 
CAPRICORN : Your relationship with parents improves. A member of opposite sex is ready to embark on an independent journey towards fulfillment. Lucky number: 18. Lucky colour: Peacock blue. 
LEO : "The Prince of Pentacles" infuse financial stability. You are putting a great deal of stress on how you look and sprucing up your outer appearance. Lucky Number: 11. Lucky colour: Sky blue. 
AQUARIUS : You are feeling bright and optimistic. Warm friendship bring cheer as you share interests, hospitality and celebrate memorable events together. Lucky number: 4. Lucky Colour: Light brown. 
VIRGO : Redecorating home and office space can bring energy and fresh ambience. Your mind will wander quite a bit so try to think before you speak. Lucky Number: 5. Lucky colour: Crimson. 
PISCES:
A change of residence or office is likely. You get the rewards of efforts you have been putting in your business. Keep others’ secret well guarded with you. Lucky number:2. Lucky Colour: Golden.