Gudiya
Real to Reel life
Divya Dutta is playing the lead in a film based on the poignant real-life story of Gudiya who met a tragic end on the first day of the year leaving behind a little baby, reports Dharam Pal

The world of Hindi cinema is one of fantasy and imagination catering to the myriad cultures of the different states of India. There is very little scope for basing stories on characters taken from real life. However, from time to time filmmakers have made an attempt and various leading ladies have excelled in biographical roles.

Old-time cinema buffs still recall the beautiful Leela Naidu playing Mrs. Nanawati torn between a husband and a lover in the famous Nanawati murder case of the Sixties that involved a heroic naval officer killing a friend who had got involved with his wife in his absence. The film was called Yeh Raaste Hain Pyar Ke, comes back to the mind now when a film on the tragic story of Gudiya, the wife of an Army Jawan, was torn between two marriages. Prabhakar Shukla has announced a film on the life of this Gudiya of the present times called Kahani Gudiya Ki. The very talented Divya Dutta had been chosen to play Gudiya on screen. Divya says, “I am very excited about this role. It is indeed the role of a lifetime. I hope I can do justice to the very poignant tale of Gudiya.”

The beginning

Let’s go over the story of Gudiya. Arif, an Army Jawan, marries Gudiya. It is a happy coming together of two young people who look forward to a lifetime of togetherness. But within 10 days of their marriage, the Kargil War erupts, and Arif has to leave his newly wed wife behind and move to the warfront to save the country. His mother is very much proud of him and so is his wife. However, destiny is playing a strange game.

Days go by and there is no news of Arif. Everyone awaits his return, and then comes the news that Arif is missing on the battlefront. The Army declares him a deserter. It becomes difficult for Arif’s family to take this stigma.

Four years pass by and Gudiya and Arif’s mother lose hope of ever seeing Arif again. As Arif and Gudiya have been married for just ten days, Gudiya, comes to terms with the circumstances, and consents to marrying her cousin Taufiq.

Twist in the tale

It is bliss for Gudiya at last and Taufiq is a loving husband. Two years pass by and Gudiya is now expecting Taufiq’s child – she is eight months pregnant. But fate has other plans in store.

Arif, who was taken prisoner of war by Pakistan during the Kargil comes back as a Hero. Now as he has returned as a hero, Arif wants his wife Gudiya back as he hasn’t divorced her. Gudiya and Taufiq are in a very difficult situation. Gudiya has moved on with life.

As per the Shariat Law, Gudiya has to go Arif, though she is also legally married to Taufiq and expecting his child. Gudiya cannot help herself and goes back to Arif, abiding the law. And on Sunday January 1, Gudiya dies in a Delhi hospital following a multiple-organ failure.

The story of Gudiya, is no fiction. IT is the truth and the story of Gudiya in India. The story had such a deep impact on Prabhakar Shukla, an ad man for the last one and half decades, that he decided to reconstruct Gudiya’s lie on celluloid.

Says Shukla, “Gudiya’s life brought to my mind a lot of questions. Why was Gudiya’s choice not asked for? Why was the pressure only on her? What about the child she is conceiving? What about her emotions? There are many unanswered whys and I wanted us Indians to look at the world from Gudiya’s point of view. Hence the venture.”

All about choice

Now that the film is almost ready, the climax comes in the news of Gudiya’s sad death. Shukla wants the audience to participate in thinking what Gudiya’s choice could have been. “Gudiya never had a choice,” he says.

Adds Shukla, “The real Gudiya’s future was decided by the Panchayat. In the film, let the audience decide what is Gudiya’s choice. The idea is not to question any decision, but to set forth a thought process that would benefit many other Gudiyas of our country.”

The film is shot except for the climax and The theme song is rendered by Jagjit Singh. Other actors in the film are Rajpal Yadav, Seema Biswas, Arif Zakaria, Hema Singh and Akhilendra Mishra. Let’s see how the film fares with the audience and how Divya does in this role of a lifetime. 

Ati Sundaram
It is a rare story of successful enterprise by Uma Maheshwari and Sundaram who have given the city a taste of authentic homemade food of Tamil Nadu, reports Nirupama Dutt

S. Sundaram was a senior manager in a daily newspaper and his better half was top of the run in a secretarial job, having made their home far away from Chennai in Chandigarh. With only two-thirds of their careers behind them, they decided to venture out on their own. It was time to set up some enterprise of their own which could later be bequeathed as a business to their only son.

What would the business be? The answer was quick and easy because Uma was a cook par excellence who could make the best of delicacies from the Chennai and Tanjore areas of her home state. Sundaram says, “My wife is such a good cook and her preparations were so popular among friends and colleagues that I had often toyed with the idea of starting a restaurant.”

Outdoor catering

However, it was not an easy step to take for the salaried couple. So for a start, Uma gave up her job and kept two cooks and started cooking from her own kitchen. They made tie-ups with caterers like Ambujia and Jagota and would set up their stall of the South Indian special at weddings and other large parties. “When my wife was working with Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), I would see her carrying tiffins full of vadas, uppama and lemon rice to the office for her colleagues. The Punjabis seemed to delight in these snacks and this inspired me to go ahead.

The complexion of party food was changing and multi-cuisine was the order of the day. So along with the tikki, noodles, pasta and others, the caterers now had South Indian specialties made just as they were made by the Ammas down south. Sundaram says, “I would make it sure to put display the ‘Sundaram’ board boldly.” His experience of communication media style worked and within a year, ‘Sundaram’ was a local brand name.

Setting shop

Time had now come to set up shop and the outlet chosen was a small space in the Himani restaurant in Sector 35 that has now become a much-sought-after eating joint with literally queues of people waiting outside for their turn. Besides, the Sundaram food is also available at the High Court cafeteria and Aroma Hotel. In the past four years, since Sundaram quit his job to become a whole-time foodie, there were a couple of experiments with CITCO and Kwality’s that did not work out. But much else has.

Interestingly, Sundaram had to learn many business lessons the hard way. One evening there was a large crown outside Sundaram’s and all had been given tokens to wait for their turn. This because the restaurant has just eight tables in all and can seat only thirty-two people at a time. That day, a very old lady was among those waiting. Very chivalrously, Sundaram tried to accommodate her by bringing her from another door. The result was told by Sundaram in a frantic telephone call to a journalist colleague, “I was beaten up by young Punjabis for breaking the queue.” It was then that he learnt that a ‘Reserved’ plaque should be kept on at least one table.”

Tickling taste-buds

The popularity is not without reason. There is some real good cooking in the ‘Sundaram’ kitchens. The aroma of coffee beans comes with the coffee served in stainless-steel tumblers placed in bowls. Then pour it back and forth from the bowl to the tumbler and drink it with the froth. Before starting the meal have the traditional ‘Rasam papadam’ and then settle for the South Indian thali, with puris thrown in for the North Indian taste, or a thali full of ‘Mini Snacks’.

The mini snacks include a dainty dosa, a small uthapam, vadas of different kinds, uppama with smbar and chutneys. The chutneys and the homemade lemon pickle are great for tickling the taste-buds. Their gunpowder is spicy and yum. It is a concoction made of various dals and red pepper roasted and powdered into a paste that is mixed with a spoon of oil into a fine paste. Several varieties of rice include coconut rice, tomato rice and lemon rice and the rates are reasonable enough for students and middle-class families to have their fill.

Personal touch

Unlike other restaurateurs, the Sundaram’s couple eats all their meals at their restaurant. This proves that they believe in their own food. “We do no cooking at home and if someone is laid up at home, the food goes from the restaurant, says Uma. Uma’s personal touch is visible from the way the customers deal with her and send her gifts on functions. In return festive time sees Uma cooking a special sweet-dish herself for the clients. This New Year’s it was ‘Mysore Pak’ which took hours to cook. But didn’t the people love it!

Pruning the plants
Joyshri Lobo

Winter is a time of extreme, debilitating cold. The garden hibernates and enters a dormant phase. Indoor pots are the only elite, pampered few. Their chilled, out-door cousins look brown, colorless and sick. Grass is burnt out with frost; leaves change color, shrivel and fall. The garden waits with bated breath for spring — February to April in North India.

Leisure Valley looks drab but the malis are busy exposing roots, tamping in well-rotted cow dung, leaf mold, and fresh soil. Some climb ladders to spray trees prone to fungus and pests. Others take out their shears, secateurs and saws to prune unwanted branches.

Do keep watering down to a minimum. However, newly laid manure requires frequent dampening to allow breakup and absorption.

If you have a good, carpet like lawn, give a basal dressing of urea crystals and then water it, preferably at night. Urea can also be melted in water and sprayed evenly through a can. Watering will save grass from the crippling effects of low temperatures.

The most important winter activity is pruning. Dormant plants feel the least shock at this time. Remove thin, unwanted, branches, shake out dead flowers and leaves. Give an undulating edge to the hedge. Use your sculptural talents to turn the bush at your gate into an elephant.

If the Hibiscus or Pride of India is too tall, cut it down to size. Shape Ashoka trees into royal umbrellas.

Remember, that to thicken lower portions in an old hedge, you have to drastically cut away extra lengths. Only then will new shoots emerge in spring, to create a perfect screen from prying eyes. Prune the roses and all perennials.

Cuts have to be clean and angled. This requires sharp instruments. Apply copper fungicide (neela thotha) or Blitox to avoid disease from entering the plant through exposed edges.

Winter is also the right time to prune and shape fruit trees. Fewer branches are healthier and yield larger fruits. Do not forget to spray cut edges with pesticides as insects attack plants in this season. Winter’s weevil is found in summer’s fruit!

On the tea gardens, tubers of Dahlias and bulbs of lilies, were thrown into shallow pits and covered loosely with a mixture of dry leaves and soil. By February, young shoots would emerge and the mali would choose the healthiest plants and arrange them in prepared beds. Try this out for a fantastic, prize winning, colorful display.

Whoever thought winter was a dull season for plants? They demand the maximum care now!

For the love of nature
Kiran Deep

Surrounded by small range Shivalik hills, this is the place for those who are young at heart. The presence of migratory birds in Sutlej has become the centre of attraction. It provides solitude to those who want to be away from the prying eyes and for others it is the place to share a few wonderful moments with a cup of coffee or tea at the lawn.

The youngster come here because it is the most hot and happening place. Situated just 40 km from Chandigarh and at the heart of the Ropar city, the lawn of the government resort ‘Pinkcassia’ on the bank of Sutlej turns out to be major centre of attraction not only for youths from nearby towns but people of all ages.

Those who want to be a part of nature can come here. Boats of different kinds available here for ride to see the birds more closely in the river and also to have sometime in complete isolation.

Do not worry about safety. Besides life jackets, divers are keeping a close eye on you. “I always have a great time here. The place is suitable for those who want to enjoy golden moment with nature. “I have no other place then this to have nice time with my wife,” said Sanjay from Chandigarh.

“Whenever my friends come to visit me, we always have great time here. We feel close to the nature while sitting along Sutlej and witnessing activities of birds”, said Shiv Kosal, another visitor. “I occasionally come here along with my girl friend because we get enough space for ourselves. We love to go boating, said Rahul, a student. “It’s not that everyone who came here have to order for something. The people of all the ages came here for the scenery and have a nice time without any interference. In winter, the lawn on the bank of Sutlej attracts a large number of people said the manager of the government tourist Complex, Pinkcassia, Surjit Singh.

Anupama waiting for the right man

She admits that she has made a few mistakes in her career, but acting in “Padamshri Laloo Prasad Yadav” according to model-turned-VJ-turned-actress Anupama Varma was the biggest of them all. “I signed that movie just because of Mahesh Manjrekar. It was a stupid decision. Even my mother said after the watching the premiere that it would be big flop and that I had made a mistake by acting in it, but I really can’t help it. People make mistakes and I guess I have learnt my lessons,” says Anupama.

No wonder the movie gave a good run for others to finish at the top of the list of the worst movies of the year 2005!

Discovered by ace photographer Shantanu Sheorey when she was still in the ninth standard, Anupama went on to do many modelling assigments before moving to Mumbai after she got a chance to become a VJ on Channel V.

Her ticket to big time fame was a role in Biddu’s remixed version of “Boom Boom” video number based on 80’s sensation Nazia Hassan’s album. “The song was so good and we shot that video at the Bangalore palace and everything fell into place very nicely,” says Anupama.

Anupama’s first movie was Jackie Shroff’s “Grahan” and true to the movie’s name, it took nearly four years to release. “I was bound by a contract and I could not sign any movie before the release of that movie, and I lost probably the best time when I could have made an impact,” she says and quickly adds,” but I have no regrets, it was destined to be that way.”

Some of the other movies she has worked in include Vadh with Nana Patekar and Pitaah in 2002. Although the movies did not sparkle at the box office, Anupama believes that these two helped her grow as an actress.

“Acting alongside Nana was a great experience and I learned many things from him. And I played a de-glamourised role which was a challenge,” she says.

Anupama is an MBA from Delhi University with a honours degree from the Lady Shriram College. And this has helped her in keeping herself busy while she is not modelling or acting.

“I compered in product launches, acted as emcee in business functions and these helped me to stay connected with the world that I was associated with when I was studying” says this services girl whose father was a fighter pilot in the Air Force.

Talking about the secret behind the success of so many girls with a services background in the tinseltown like Sushmita Sen, Lara Dutta and Priyanka Chopra whose fathers were either in the army or the airforce she says, “I think it is a lot to do with the support system. Right values have been inculcated and parents instill a lot of confidence which helps in facing the world.”

Ask her about her future plans and she says that she is keeping her fingers crossed about her future projects which include a commercial movie and an art movie with a new comer.

Ask more about them and she says “wait and see”. She is also busy with television serials with cameos in “Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahi” and others.

“I am a fitness freak and I like doing gymnastics and I eat almost everything” she reveals with pride.

She had a long but unsuccessful courtship with tennis star Mahesh Bhupathi and a very short one with model Bikram Saluja, but she has not given hope on men. “I believe in the institution of marriage and I am waiting for the right man. But I am in no hurry. I take life as it comes” she says.—PTI

Now wed in style
Parbina Rashid

ORNAMENTAL: Curios and jewels for the bride (below)—  Photos by Parvesh Chauhan

Chandigarh has certainly caught the fancy of hotshot businessmen dealing with weddings. After much hyped wedding expos like ‘Vivah’ and ‘Mangalsutra’, The Taj now hosts yet another exhibition, ‘Wedding in Style – 2006’.

We are curious to know what makes Chandigarh such a favourite destination for these wedding sellers. Anil Kumar of Sunstar Exposition Pvt Ltd is only too excited to tell us why, “Chandigarh is the city of style. People love to dress up according to the latest fashion here. And when it comes to weddings, only sky is the limit.”

The official figure of participants is 35, stalls from different places like Mumbai, Delhi, Rajashthan, Kolkata, Ludhiana and Jammu and Kashmir. But you cannot help the feeling that you have seen it all before. Local designers like Ranchan Design and Poshak also find a place here.

Arham Jewellers from Kolakata has brought jewellery for daily wear. Precious and semi-precious stones set in 22 carat gold starts from Rs 4,000 onwards. “But our speciality is double and triple jhumkas which is favourite all over the country,” says Archana Dudhoria of Arham.

In the jewellery section, there is kundan, meenakari, antique Victorian semi precious jewellery from Asha Art Jewellery from New Delhi as well as Megha Selection. Megha, a young designer, has come up with a wide range of bridal wear as well as big chunky jewellery in precious stones.

JUSRA International Jewels from Jaipur brings gold sets in Thewa, the traditional art of fusing 23 carat gold with multicoloured glass.

Among others, ‘Queen 10: The Home Affair’, a stall for interiors, ‘Down to Dusk’ for bed linens and ‘Kashmir Traditions’ are offerings interesting items for a bride’s trousseau.

So get out and brave the chill. Let the colours of gems and fabrics brighten up your day. 

Acclaimed ‘Devaki’ set for release
Jawani Diwani

The year starts off with the release of N.R. Pachisia’s ‘Jawani Diwani’ which stars Emraan Hashmi better known as ‘serial kisser’. After the success of ‘Kalyug’ in which Emraan played a negative role, he once again is all set to create a flutter as is evident from the promos of ‘Jawani Diwani’.

The film has music by Sajid-Wajid while Shabbir Ahmed is the lyricist. Emraan Hashmi has an enviable music record for each of his flicks he has done in the past. Sajid-Wajid come up trumps in this film.

Rahul Saxena’s vocals in his debut song ‘Tere ishq mein” are simply stunning and the other two debutant singers Shadaab Faridi and Arif Sheikh are equally promising.

‘Jawani Diwani — A Youthful Joyride’ has Celina Jaitley and Hrishita Bhatt in the lead roles. Directed by Manish Sharma, this one has been shot in Mauritius.

As the movie’s title indicates ‘Jawani Diwani’ has a very young look to it and one expects good results from this film at the box-office.

‘Jawani Diwani’ is a film that has the backing of star power coupled with good music and lyrics.

It opens today at Neelam Chandigarh and Fun-Republic.

Devaki

Critically acclaimed ‘Devaki’ is a film based on a real life incident that took place in Madhya Pradesh in 2003. ‘Devaki’ starring Perizaad Zorabian, Suman Ranganathan, Ram Kapoor and Arvind Tukker, has won the Best Feature Film award at Asheville Film Festival in North Carolina in the USA.

‘Devaki’ has also been screened in 10 international film festivals in the USA, South America, Canada, Malta and also at Osians Cinefan in New Delhi.

‘Devaki’ is yet another film after ‘Matribhoomi’ that shows the plight of rural women of India. The director of this film is Bappaditya Bandopadhyay. Bikram Ghosh and Amar Haldipur have rendered the score which is based on rural folk music.

The film produced by KD Singh will be released today Fun Republic Manimajra.

— D. P.

Film & FASHION 
Hilton in trouble

Paris Hilton is in a bit of trouble in her legal feud with heiress-actress Zeta Graf. According to pagesix.com, Hilton gave a deposition in the $10 million slander suit Graf filed against her last year. Graf claimed that Hilton deliberately maligned her. Now a source close to the case says Hilton admitted to lying when she planted a story in the press that Graf, who had dated her former fiancé Paris Latsis, attacked her in a jealous rage at a London club. The source claims that Hilton admitted that Graf never attacked her. Hilton’s former publicist says that the attack story came straight from Hilton herself. Graf in a statement said, “Hilton will learn a valuable lesson about what happens when you try to ruin another person’s reputation. She made a number of false statements about me, and she repeatedly lied under oath during her recent deposition. I look forward to her explaining all of this to a jury.” — IANS

Paltrow gets serious about her roots

Oscar wining actress Gwyneth Paltrow has started taking her Jewish roots seriously after she missed out on two years of fasting during the religion’s holy days. Contactmusic.com reports Paltrow was pregnant with her baby Apple in 2003 and was breastfeeding the baby in 2004, so she made sure she honoured the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur in style in 2005. Paltrow is also planning to pay tribute to her ancestors every year from now on. She says, “I am the result of generations and generations of rabbis back in Minsk. They call it a rabbinical dynasty.” — IANS

Lopez’s ‘Carmen’ to be dumped

A planned Jennifer Lopez version of the classic tale “Carmen” is reportedly being canned because Hollywood investors didn’t want to see her die at the end of the film. According to Internet Movie Database, director Taylor Hackford is certain that the industry is refusing to risk $50 million because it wants to see Lopez in her usual light-hearted ‘girl-next-door’ roles. The movie inspired by Georges Bizet’s opera instead turns Lopez into a sultry Spanish temptress who ends up being killed by her jealous lover. Hackford says: “Studios are so frightened at the moment that they are looking for outside money. There is a great deal of fear in Hollywood. Many of the films are not working at box office. “Carmen is not a sweet, nice girl. This is a piece about a criminal. We want to do a tough, hard version, but Hollywood thinks the audience for Jennifer Lopez is 13-year-old girls. It has an ending that Hollywood does not like to make.” — IANS

Charlie and Denise agree to divorce

Actor Charlie Sheen and actress Denise Richards have decided to get a divorce, a spokesman for Sheen said on Wednesday, thus ending a highly publicised effort at reconciliation that became fodder for television talk shows and supermarket tabloids. Sheen’s spokesman Stan Rosenfield confirmed a report in People magazine Wednesday that the couple were divorcing but declined to give any details. People magazine said lawyers for both Sheen and Richards asked in a filing that the case be removed from Los Angeles County Superior Court and handed over to a private divorce arbiter to arrange the details. The magazine said that until the filing, the pair, who split last spring when Richards was seven months pregnant, seemed to be patching things up. It added that after the couple’s daughter, Lola, was born last June 1, Sheen and Richards spent more time together, including a
65th-birthday party for Sheen’s actor father, Martin, in August, where the couple shared a loving kiss.
— Reuters

Queen Latifah gets Walk of Fame star

Rapper-turned-actress, singer, spokeswoman and producer Queen Latifah has become the first hip-hop artist crowned with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. “I think the reason I am here is to inspire African-American women who are rappers, full-figured women to know that they can do it too,” Latifah said at the unveiling of the sidewalk’s 2,298th star. Family and friends, including actor Terrence Howard, cheered Latifah on. “Who would have known that in the ‘70s, when a pink 8-pound baby girl was born, this is where she would be today. She came out screaming, “Look out world, here I come,” her mother Rita Owens quoted her as saying. Born Dana Owens, Queen Latifah debuted in 1989 with hip-hop album ‘All Hail the Queen.’ Her third album ‘Black Reign’ earned her a Grammy award in 1994. Latifah’s leap to television in 1993 with the sitcom ‘Living Single’ widened her appeal. She went on to star in such films as ‘Set It Off,’ ‘Bringing Down the House’ and 2005’s ‘Beauty Shop,’ which she also produced. — AP

TAROT TALK
What the cards say today...
P. KHURRANA

ARIES : Today, the best approach is not to confront people but to go about your own tasks with dedication. You need to take frequent breaks at work and watch your diet. Lucky number: 21. Lucky colour: Orange.	LIBRA : Today you are capable of handling more than two situations at the same time. A partner can be a stabilising influence; listen to practical and good-intentioned advisors. Lucky number: 4. Lucky colour: Red.
TAURUS : The third eye of Lord Shiva opens for an infinitesimal moment to instigate a major transformation. You have a renewed sense of enthusiasm in new projects. Lucky number: 3. Lucky colour: Black.	SCORPIO:  You are in a confused situation where what you want to do doesn't exactly agree with what you've been taught. You're challenged to think things through. Lucky number: 9. Lucky colour: Sky blue.
GEMINI : You must address current issues even though there is a dark underside to them. You're challenged to turn around questionable circumstances for the better. Lucky number:4. Lucky colour: Cherry.	SAGITTARIUS : You're in a position to stir things up but be very careful about arousing a negative reaction. Be very careful about what you really have the authority to do. Lucky number: 19. Lucky Colour: Black.
CANCER : You draw "The Ace of Cups" which brings beauty, pleasure and happiness. Subtle pressure within organisations or even on friends seem necessary to get things done. Lucky number: 2. Lucky colour: Blue.	CAPRICORN : You can blend logic and intuition to come up with new, creative directions. You're spontaneous and adaptable to changing circumstances. Lucky Number: 9. Lucky colour: Red
LEO : There are shakeups in relationships today; the challenge is to control them so that they occur in positive ways. Introduce variety that's agreeable to both of you. Lucky number: 4. Lucky Colour: Light brown.	AQUARIUS :  You work best with people who share a common vision. You focus on what you want and let those with different ideas go their way. Yoga and meditation bring balance. Lucky Number: 10. Lucky colour: White.
VIRGO : You may take the lead today; set the pace and control the emotional agenda. You are likely to work closely with children or have much to do with pets.Lucky number: 3 Lucky colour: Cherry red.	PISCES: "Nine Cups" full of light and happiness greet you today as loving relationship flower into commitments. Your attraction to unusual topics can cause friction. Lucky Number: 11. Lucky colour: Green.