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Reel Bytes from Real Cops Cold Comfort
MATKA CHOWK PAMMY’S BEAUTY TIPS FILM REVIEW Film
& FASHION
A versatile singer,
no doubt
MARKET PULSE
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Reel Bytes from Real Cops Remember the angry young police inspector in Zanjeer, a role that catapulted Amitabh Bachchan to the zenith of popularity? Hindi cinema has never been short of such heroic policewalas. Be it a harassed Om Puri in Ardh Satya or a cunning Milind Gunaji in Fareb or the morally upright Abhishek Bachchan in Dhoom, they keep coming back in different avatars—to inspire, to torment or even to evoke your hatred for the corruption in the system. But are these ‘reel heroes’ inspiring enough for our real ones? They work day and night to maintain the reputation of Chandigarh as a crime-free city? Well almost! We met up with these young heroes and asked them about the screen policemen they would like to emulate. It evoked a mixed reaction. “I loved this character called Salim in Sarforash played by Mukesh Rishi. His way of tackling crime, his method of keeping abreast of criminals and crime were mind-boggling,” says Neeraj Sarna, Sub-Inspector (SI), Chandigarh Police. Among the old generation reel police, he likes Jagdeep Raaj, Anita Raaj’s father. But does he emulate his idol? “Of course, I try to be like Salim,” he confirms. Sher Singh, Assistant Sub-Inspector, Chandigarh Police, is a die-hard Amitabh fan who feels he is the only one who does justice to a policeman’s role. “His body language, the way he carries his uniform is fantastic,” says Sher Singh who by his own word is a uniform freak. “I do not care much about clothes but when it comes to uniform, I must have the best,” he says. One look at him and you know he is speaking the truth. We move on to our next guy, Malkit Singh, Sub-Inspector, Chandigarh Police. Bollywood inspectors do not draw much favour here. “We are the real heroes, they just imitate us and does a bad job at that too,” says Malkit, describing how he had expressed his sentiments in front of some stars who came here for shooting. His comments had raised more than a few eyebrows from the starry fraternity. Amanjot Singh, ASI, Chandigarh Police, agrees with Malkit, only more vehemently. “They make fools of themselves when they play the police on screen,” says Amanjot. “They overdo it while projecting us, be it positively or negatively. So many times I have seen Amitabh Bachchan running after a jeep and overpowering it. Tell me which ‘normal’ human being would be able to do it. If the image is negative, it goes down to the pits, not realistic at all,” he vents his anger. We could not agree more with him. Paramjeet Kaur Sekhon, ASI, Chandigarh Police, a die-hard Kiran Bedi fan, drew her inspiration from the role of Kalyani from yesteryear’s tele-serial Udaan. “Movies are a complete no-no for me. They portray us in such a bad light. It is as if we are nothing but mere puppets dancing around some mafia don’s little finger, but the character of Kalyani really motivated me to join the force and I aspire to be like her,” she says. Her husband Harinder Sekhon, SI, Chandigarh Police, agrees whole-heartedly. “Everything is wrong with the screen police, right from their way they wear their uniform to the way they conduct themselves,” he adds. As the debate on ‘reel vs real cops’ goes on, we bid adieu to our real heroes but carry home this feeling that maybe its time for our filmmakers to police themselves and get a bit more realistic.
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Cold Comfort Snuggling in the quilt with your favourite comic hero, you do not even feel like taking your hands out of the cover in the evenings. No, not even for picking up that inviting cup of frothy coffee steaming next to the platter full of nice hot pokadas. Shifting uneasily, you look at the calendar, trying to calculate the duration of cold hard bitterness of winters. For, the evenings and nights are still chilly, even if the mornings are bright and sunny. Well folks, weathermen say the wave is going to last for another few days — at least till the Lohri. So, to make things easier for you, we have compiled a complete guide to warm you up for dealing with the wintry chill, merrily and gorgeously. Just eat it The markets are flooded with alluring packs of rewaris and
gachaks. Some shopkeepers are even selling made in Burail gachaks as the ones from Rohtak. So folks, buy the stuff with caution. You can munch crunchy and sumptuous gachaks embellished with raisins and nuts.
If you haven’t picked up the winter delicacy, just drive down to the market and pick up gachaks in different flavours, including chocolate and coconut. “They are Chandigarh’s most wanted,” says provision storeowner Joginder Singh. Buy the stuff by taking out Rs 80 from your wallet. These are little expensive compared to the traditional gur and sugar gachak with dry fruits, but then these are different. You have a choice of shape and size also. “Purchase round or square gachaks. Else go in for oval-shaped gachaks. These are also available in the shape of barfis,” says Narinder Singh of a sweet shop in Sector 35.
For rewri lovers, tidbits made out of gur and sugar in cardamom flavour are also available. You can also buy til bhuga also. Desi-ghee pinnis are hot favourites. These are available for Rs 140 a kg. Channa gachak can be had in case you are diabetic by pulling out just Rs 70. When visibility turns bad In another few days, it’s going to be foggy. For driving through a thick curtain of fog, here are a few tips: First of all slow down the vehicle gradually and drive at a speed that suits the conditions. Just make sure that the full lighting system of your vehicle is turned on. Motor-expert Kalyan Singh says always drive the vehicle with low beam headlights. High beam reflect the moisture droplets in the fog, making it harder to see. Also be patient and avoid changing lanes and crossing traffic. You can use pavement markings to guide you. Use the edge of the road as a guide, rather than the centre line. Reduce distractions. Turn off the cell phone. Keep your windows and mirrors clean. Use defroster and wipers to maximise your vision.
Keeping house warm Sitting on a chair next to the dining table, you make yourself comfortable for savouring the sweet corn soup, but end up tasting draft finding its way through the old windows and creaky doors. Rubbing your hands vigorously, you realise that the house is not all that modern or well built.
Well guys, do not curse the architect. Just go that extra mile for winterising your house. “To begin with give the windows a round of removable calking on the inside seams,” says city-based interior decorator Sunita Malhotra. “Also, reapply the exterior calking on all windows and doors. You can buy the stuff from any paint shop or hardware store.” Another thing. Remember to check the bottom and inside of the doors. “They too can be a source of draft in your house,” adds another inside-outside expert Manju Singh. “Solve the problem by getting new sweeps, again from the neighbourhood hardware store. Another low-tech inexpensive solution is to purchase thick heavy curtains. You should open them up in the morning to let the light and heat in, and close them at night to prevent heat loss”. Winter wear It doesn’t make sense to buy snugly jerseys and big coats at this time of the year. Yep, winter’s on its way out. In another few days you will have shops and stores all over the city offering garments on discount. So wear what you have differently. For that Oriental look oh-so-hot these days, pull out your wrap around tops and satin fabrics and team up the stuff with necklines in bright red, black, and yellow, says young fashion designer Nidhi Garcha. “The style is a classic and simple to pair with jeans or skirt”. If you wish to go in for something Gothic, wear dark stuff you already have. Garcha suggests wearing tight fitting tops in black with long flowing skirts of the same hue before swishing your way through the crowd. Team up the stuff with silver jewellery. You can go in for plenty of silver rings. In case you plan to spend long hours in mini-skirts in the coldest part of the year, put on good warm boots and a jersey. Also make sure that the skirt is stitched out of reasonably heavy fabric, including wool or denim, says Garcha. For guys, she recommends bomber jackets. They are the ones that are short, usually of waist-length. “The stuff goes well with your favourite pair of jeans,” she asserts. That’s it folks, happy winters.
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MATKA CHOWK Chandigarh has introduced me to a new household hazard - lizards. Plain, simple house lizards — well fed and adamant. They refuse to quit your house and come out when you least expect them and grow bigger in size very day. I would admit that I don’t like these reptiles (some of them have mottled skin like a crocodile) with their slithery body and beady eyes. I don’t want to kill them — I just want them to leave my house alone. But, they pay no heed to my sentiments and keep coming back as very unwelcome guests. I see them while lying in bed, walking on the ceiling, with their back disdainfully turned towards me. I shudder with fear since I don’t have much faith in the effectiveness of vacuum seals and would be dead if it gave into the pull of gravity and fell on my face. They are in the bathroom when I try to take a shower, they inhabit the kitchen when I am in the process of baking my shepherd’s pie, they walk around the sofa when I am watching a Tom Cruise movie and in a nutshell, terrorize me in every conceivable way. I tried many long-distance measures — like spraying them with water and cockroach spray — in the process almost poisoning the entire house. I killed all other bugs — even light bugs — hoping that they will not have anything to forage on. I bought repellants from the store and stuck them all over the wall. Still, they kept coming. Unable to withstand this anymore, I took to what I know best — Google-to-the-rescue. I researched on the internet, reading in detail how these creatures can be repelled even in far-away land like Costa Rica. I adorned the house with mothballs and eggshells, got my electrician to cover every nook and cranny with thick plastic tape (making my house resemble a nuclear hazard zone) and removed all pictures (to reduce hiding places). I heaved a sigh of relief, for I was sure I have succeeded. A few days passed without any sightings, I was overjoyed! I started to relax. Then one evening, my heart sank. Right next to the TV was a big fat one — a new one. How it got in I would never know. Worst, last night I saw a lizard — after getting sprayed duly, it hid under the fridge — a close inspection revealed that it can crane it’s neck up — an anatomical feature that marked it as no ordinary lizard but a gecko or what is commonly called a Girgit here. I have lost this battle badly. Even internet has taken a beating! Maybe, I will have to move out of this place - well, maybe after they finish hibernating. Or maybe, I should hang the pictures back again, so that they can hide out of my sight!
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PAMMY’S BEAUTY TIPS
Giant leaps in hair colour and advanced products mean a whole range of sophisticated effects can be achieved to create lightness, shine, shape within the haircut. Colours are selected according to seasons. Scattered rainbow shades shout and make a statement. With so much happening around, it is important for you to expand your knowledge of good hair maintenance and post-colouring treatments. Your hair doesn’t have to suffer in the name of colour; it can actually help improve the condition. All hair look better with colour in it. They help the hair to retain its natural moisture and healthy texture. Especially fine hair can look thicker with the help of colour, thick hair appears more shiny and in all cases accentuates your hair cut. Colour is what makes a good cut great, and salon statistics seem to qualify this. Your hair’s condition can make a great difference to long-lasting vibrant tones or fading colour. The condition of the hair before you apply colour is very crucial. If your hair is not in a healthy condition than the colour molecules don’t attach to the hair shaft. The molecules get washed out more quickly and the colour fades faster. That does not amount to saying that poor condition hair cannot be coloured. It is important here to add how ammonia developers work on your hair. Ammonia is mainly used in permanent hair colour—it is used for oxidation. When permanent hair colour and the developers come together, the action of ammonia begins. Ammonia being alkaline has the tendency to lift the cuticles and allow the permanent hair colour to enter into the cortex of the hair. Ammonia has an effect on the sulphur bonds of the hair. If the ammonia is too strong for the hair then it will dissolve more sulphur bonds than necessary- resulting in damaged hair that have lost its weight and diameter. The higher the volume of developers, the greater is the amount of sulphur removed from the cortex. This is the main reason why the developers should not go beyond 30 volume for the majority of hair colouring. When the natural hair are lightened, the oxidation of melanin (colour) gives reduction of the natural pigments. It is true that permanent and semi-permanent dyes cause at least a little hair damage while others cause a lot. Hair that has not been coloured correctly will turn out to be more weak, porous and have split ends. For colour to enter into the hair shaft, the cuticles have to be opened, to enable colour pigments to enter. It disturbs the ph balance of the hair, leaving the cuticles open and more often an irritated scalp as well. Don’t shampoo before the colouring service as the natural oil protects the scalp.
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FILM REVIEW
‘Jawani Diwani’ is a love triangle. It stars Emraan Hashmi who has become a craze among young generations after ‘Murder’, ‘Zeher’ and ‘Aashiq Banaya Aapne’.
The film has music by Sajid-Wajid and there are also two guest composers Sidharth-Suhas and Clinton Cerejo. Manish Sharma is the director. Fresh after the success of ‘Aashiq Banaya Aapne’ Emraan Hashmi is back, this time with Celina Jaitley and Hrishitaa Bhatt. With tagline of ‘A Youthful Joyride’ one is sure that it is a bumpy ride with below-average storyline and double-meaning dialogues. The film has lots of senseless scenes. Emraan Hashmi, Celina Jaitley, Hrishitaa Bhatt and Mahesh Manjrekar all overact and only disappoint with their performances. The saving grace is that the movie has a good music. Devaki
‘Devaki’ produced by K.D. Singh and directed by Bappaditya Bandopadhyaya is a well-made film which depicts the plight of rural women in India. The film brings out with acting prowess of Perizaad Zorabian, Suman Ranganathan and Ram Kapoor and deserves appreciation from the viewers. ‘Devaki’s music has been orchestrated with flavours of folk music and western music by composers Amar Haldipur and Bikram Ghosh. The film shows suffering, feeling, distress, pain, anguish, joy and a feeling of celebration. — D.P.
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Film
& FASHION With
parents of both Kate Moss and her new toyboy Jamie Burke approving their
romance, it seems a long-lasting relationship is on the cards for the new
allegedly in-love-couple.
The supermodel’s mom, who was accompanying
her daughter while she was reportedly spotted cozying up with the
ex-public school boy while holidaying in Aspen, Colorado, is said to be
relieved about her daughter s choice of a new man.
And if the sources are to be believed, now even Jamie’s dad has given his blessings to his son’s romance, chortling “Good Boy!” when told about his alleged link-up with Kate.
Wealthy property developer Patrick Burke had no idea that 20- year-old Jamie was dating the model.
“I know the name Kate Moss, I have heard about her but I don’t know that much about her,” he said.
“I can’t really comment before I know more about it. I am divorced but Jamie and I get on very well. We are very friendly,” said the chartered surveyor,who split from Jamie’s mum 10 years ago.—ANI
Nicholson’s love child speaks out Movie legend Oscar winner Jack Nicholson supposedly has a secret Danish love child who is speaking out about her Hollywood lineage after keeping her secret for 24 years. According to contactmusic.com, Honey Hollman claims that she is the product of a romance between Nicholson and one time super model Winnie Hollman. Hollman told the US tabloids she regularly visits her father in Los Angeles even though he has never revealed their father-daughter relationship. She says, “My dad’s never been a stranger. When I was a kid, my mom took me to see him and when I got older I went on my own. I think we have a regular father-daughter relationship. We have similar facial features and my mom says I have the same temper as him... I scream and shout a lot. “I think it would be too hard, being judged on my background all the time.” —IANS Kevin laughs off talk of split with Britney Kevin Federline has finally spoken out about his reported split from wife Britney Spears, clarifying rumours that she kicked him out of their house are completely not true. According to contactmusic.com, he spoke out in a radio interview and claimed everything was wonderful between the couple. When the host asked him if he was kicked out of the house, Federline said, “No way” and laughed when the host asked him, “What about the divorce reports?” He also revealed the Ferrari was not a gift from Spears and dismissed reports that he and his wife were planning to have a second child. He said, “Nah, not right now, we’re gonna wait.” He also said that he didn’t think Spears was listening to the interview and added, “We’ve had a rough night with the baby, last night, she’s probably catching some sleep.”—IANS Versace hails Halle Berry’s work ethic Fashion designer Donatella Versace has heaped praises on stunning Oscar winner Halle Berry for the professionalism she showed during the latest Versace ad campaign. Donatella said that she was impressed by the way Berry had gone straight from film set of the movie ‘X-Men 3’ to pose for acclaimed photographer Mario Testino for Versace’s latest ad campaign for the Spring -Summer 2006 ads. “I have known Halle for many years and have always admired her determination and her professionalism. Our campaign was photographed during the shooting of X-Men 3 and as she only had one day off in which to complete it, she worked tirelessly for 20 hours straight without batting an eyelid,” Contactmusic quoted her, as saying. The fashion guru while praising the actress said that Berry represented both the strong and soft sides of every woman. “Halle represents everything that is great about this collection — someone who loves colour, has a real sensuality, who is strong yet feminine and who is a real woman who has lived,” she added.—ANI Bee Gee’s singer buys Cash’s house Singer Barry Gibb of the world famous band ‘Bee Gees’ has bought the house where country star Johnny Cash resided for 35 years. The singer said that he and his wife had bought the house so that it can be preserved to honour the memory of Cash and his wife June Carter. “My wife, Linda, and I are determined to preserve it, to honour their memory. We fell in love with it. It’s an incredible honour for us,” the BBC quoted him, as saying. The singer is now planning to tap into the musical inspiration in the house when it comes to writing his own music. “We plan to use the home to write songs because of the musical inspiration,” he said. The retreat first went on the market in June with an asking price of $ 2.9 million which was later lowered to $ 2.5 million before the Gibbs purchased it for an undisclosed amount.—ANI
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A versatile singer, no doubt
He has enthralled audiences the world over including Australia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia. Someone who started off as a clerk, music happened by chance. He once sang a Hindi song at a gathering for the physically-challenged. A child sitting amongst the audience walked up to him on his crutches and suggested that he should sing the same song in Malay. Dave did just that and the song went on to become a rage and since then there has been no looking back. Dave has been eternally thankful to that child and to express his gratitude, celebrates his joyous moments with these kids apart from donating money from his concerts to the institutions for the physically-challenged people. And, he has just added another feather to his cap. T-Series, has just released his latest Punjabi album titled ‘Mar Gaye Oye’. This is D.J. Dave’s first Punjabi album. The video for the song ‘Mar Gaye Oye’ has been aesthetically shot and will appeal to people from all cultures and age groups. The album has 8 original songs and the gifted Kavita Krishnamurthy is his co-singer for the album. — TNS
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MARKET PULSE The company, which pioneered the concept of thermal innerwear in India, has now introduced Neva Quilt —a complete range of thermal wear for men, women and children. With a brand new look and feel, Neva Quilt Thermals are available in new international knit and designs. Its unique CPS advantage with polyfill, sandwiched between two layers of cotton, retains the body warmth. It is ribbed with lycra for comfort. Priced in the range of Rs 118 to Rs 380, Neva Quilt along with other existing products are available all over India through a wide marketing network of the company, consisting of more than 4000 dealers. Pashmina magic Ahujasons Shawls has unveiled an exclusive collection of shawls and stoles in Pashmina and
semi-Pashmina. Designed with traditional motifs, it is made of wool, obtained from a rare species of goat that inhabits the altitude between 12,000 to 14,000
feet. Semi-Pashmina shawls are priced at Rs 1,000 onwards whle the range of pure Pashmina shawls starts from Rs 8,400.
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TAROT TALK
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Gone are the days when hair colour was used to cover grey hair. Today hair colours in India are dominating the fashion world and happen to attract people of all ages and classes.
With most Indian women having lost their shyness about colour, more and more women are going for more bolder, stronger looks that make a statement.
People are accepting daring colours out of the palette from warm tones of red to cool ash tones or violets.
He has given versatility a new meaning. D.J. Dave of Malaysian origin can sing not only in Malay but English, Hindi and Punjabi too.
In a career spanning 30 years, he has 36 albums to his credit. A well-known personality in Malaysia, whose album is eargerly sought after, he has performed in concerts all over the world.
ARIES : A surprise phone call could put you back in touch with a friend you have not seen for a long time. Youngsters would be capable of entertaining themselves. Lucky number: 18. Lucky colour: Peacock green 
LIBRA : Delays can be expected today. Relax; things will clear up and you will find that things are progressing right by the evening. A happy surprise awaits you. Lucky number: 4. Lucky Colour: Crimson. 
TAURUS : Today,
a long cherished dream may come true. A date with your lover will be
at last come up. Be understanding and keep in mind the likes and
dislikes of your mate. Lucky number: 6. Lucky colour:
Burgundy. 
SCORPIO:
You are likely to find an ideal partner. Be bold to speak out what is in your mind. Professional success blends with anxiety as changes are imminent. Lucky number: 2 Lucky colour: Blue. 
GEMINI : This should be a pleasantly sociable day. Activities with your mate or partner and your friends are likely to be good humoured and cheerful. Lucky number: 16 Lucky colour: Earthy brown. 
SAGITTARIUS : Today you will be quite amazed to find yourself taking on a more ambitious role. A brief business cum pleasure trip is just on the cards. Lucky Number: 2. Lucky colour: Emerald. 
CANCER : "The Fool' infuses you with courage. You find ways to express your creativity and emotion. Your personal interests are likely to be stagnant. Lucky number: 9. Lucky colour: Golden yellow. 
CAPRICORN : Do not overlook a chance meeting that may lead to future romance. Kick old habits and adopt a healthier life style with more time for meditation and relaxing. Lucky number: 1. Lucky Colour: Yellow. 
LEO : Today you will be able to enjoy interacting with people who share your views and thoughts. Your ability to communicate effectively will help you to enhance your reputation. Lucky Number: 2 Lucky colour: Green. 
AQUARIUS : Avoid
new debt or excess spending. Loved ones may not fully understand
your daily needs. Tonight rest and pamper the body. Muscle aches may
be bothersome. Lucky number: 12. Lucky colour: Silver. 
VIRGO : Today loved ones will be more demanding. You could be divided about options in two conflicting situations. Trust your
intuition. Lucky Number: 17. Lucky colour: White 
PISCES:
Your lightness and sense of humour takes you through sticky situations. An Aries person can be catalyst for a change. Remain dedicated to long-term goals. Lucky number: 1. Lucky Colour: Scarlet.