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What’s cooking? Films go far beyond borders Dream Pakistan FILM REVIEW Look Back in Anger At Home with Sophistication Shining bright
MATKA CHOWK
TECH TALK
COOL STUFF
PAMMY’S BEAUTY TIPS Just open yourself to life Memoryscapes Lovely voice
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Do the super chefs have the time to put together a tasty meal for the family or do they leave it all to their wives, finds Parbina Rashid
THEY can whip up any dish in a jiffy to a client’s satisfaction. They can cook to perfection and present with innovative style. They even have fancy degrees to back them up in this age-old chore, which mainly belong to the women folk. Yes, we are talking about chefs in the city who have made the kitchen their domain, but only when it comes to making mega bucks. We are curious to know—the hotshot guys who don the apron and cap with pride at any star-studded hotels in the city, are they equally adept at cooking a meal for their own loved ones at home? Well, you are in for a surprise! “Where is the time to cook at home?” Vijay Sharma, Executive Chef of Hotel Mountview questions back as we ask him how frequently he cooks at home. “My wife is an excellent cook and I leave it her to prepare the daily meals,” he lets us know. Not even on some special occasions? “No, she takes care of everything,” he says, adding that how he adores the missi rotis and allu paranthas cooked by her. As we look a bit sceptical, he hastens to add, “There is a vast difference between the hotel food and home-cooked food and in that sense she does a better job than me.” Maybe he has a point there.+ Ram Kumar of ShivalikView has been working as a chef for the past 23 years, but when it comes to cooking at home, its absolute no-no. “We have tasted dad’s cooking only during the food festivals at his work place,” says his son Anup Kumar. How does the wife feel about it? “He used to cook when the children were small, but now that my daughter and I do the cooking, he has given up,” says Usha Kumar, Anup’s wife. Sanjay Vij, Executive Chef of the Taj Chandigarh, is the one who stands out. He loves to cook, toss up special dishes and fast food for his children and what’s more, he even loves to do the weekly shopping with his wife. “If I can cook for the whole world, why not for my family,” asks Sanjay. He does not have hang ups wearing his apron in the kitchen at home, for “I grew up seeing my father cooking for the family. And when he used to cook, be it rajma or mutton curry, it used to be delicious.” After meeting both kinds, the next question that comes to mind is it their love for cooking or is it the lure of glamour that brought them to this profession? For Sanjay, it was his passion for food. The glamour part came later. “I wanted to do something which I enjoyed doing,” says this foodie, who did his diploma in hotel management from Panipat. “The glamour is of course an added attraction in this profession. I get to meet all big shots and meet them too at equal footing,” he says. But then why such a prominent gender bias? “Commercial kind of bulk cooking is a bit difficult for girls, says Navin Kumar, Principal of Dr Ambedkar Institute of Hotel Management. But do not lose heart. According to Navin, though women have still to go a long way to beat men in this field, the recent trend shows an increasing enrolment of girl students in cooking classes. Maybe the time is not too far away when cooking won’t be yet another unpaid job for women.
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Saurabh Malik speaks to filmmaker Zafar Hai who is town to screen his film on the Tatas
HE too is in the favour of opening borders with Pakistan; if right away not for the people, then at least for the moviemakers. Emerging from one of the halls in the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development during his visit to Chandigarh in connection with the screening of his hour-long movie “Keepers of the flame”, filmmaker Zafar Hai says in impeccable English, “Look at the effect it will have on the film industry in both India and in Pakistan”. Reclining on an elegant sofa, he adds: “It will give an enormous fillip to the movie industry in both the countries. Besides providing new territories to the distributors, the move will open new avenues for talent and creativity in the movie industry.” Flashing a broad smile, this suave Hyderabadi, now settled in Mumbai, says: “Just imagine Shah Rukh Khan working in a Pakistani movie. It will create magic and will be an instant hit with the audience. There can to be no doubt about it”. There is another reason for his enthusiasm about opening the doors to films and filmmakers. Zafar Hai believes that “Bollywood films have always been promoting secularism…. Look at most of the hit Bollywood flicks. They all revolve around the theme of secularism. Am sure the movie will go a long way in removing doubts and misunderstandings the people of the two nations may have been nursing due to inadequate knowledge”. As he speaks, you realise that the Oxford student is displaying a rare sensibility and vision that, perhaps, sets him and his films a class apart. No wonder, even though some of his documentaries, besides films on art and culture, have not been commercial hits, they are “extremely interesting”. “Yes, so many of my films, including the `Keepers of the flame’ and the one on the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai are made for specific purposes. But they have something for everyone in them…. They are interesting and cater to a wide range of audience”. Quoting the example of Keepers , he says: The film is about the life and times of the three Tata stalwarts — Jamshedji Tata, JRD Tata and Naval Tata. As their lives span a period from the beginning of the Victorian era to the end of the 20th century, the film interlaces their existence with the great events that took place in India and Europe during that time, making it interesting for everyone”. Form his enthusiasm, one thing becomes clear, Zafar Hai believes in filming historical events like contemporary happenings. “Filmmakers tend to look at historical subjects as though they are happening at a distance. That’s where they go wrong” Shifting in his chair, he adds: “History provides a fertile ground for the movie makers to display their talent. You see, the stories have great relevance even today and that’s what gives them a certain charm and uniqueness. So the movie makers should give t that contemporary touch. But in the process, they should not distort history. Dramatising the facts is one thing, presenting events in wrong light is another”, he asserts.
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Dream Pakistan
HE is ready for action again. But before that, cinematographer, writer and director Manmohan Singh is looking forward to the release of films in Pakistan. “Once the doors are opened to Bollywood by the Pakistani Government, we will double the budget,” he says. In Chandigarh for announcing the launch of yet another Punjabi flick — Dil Apna Punjabi, Manmohan Singh asserts, “A large chunk of Pakistanis in Punjab and other parts of the country not only speak the language, but also enjoy Punjabi cinema. Once the doors are opened, nothing can stop Punjabi cinema from making it big, actually”. Already things are changing, he says. “Bollywood has recognized the scope of Punjabi movies. The release of about eight to 10 Punjabi movies this year is a testimony to this effect,” he asserts with a big smile playing on his lips. Back to his latest flick Dil Apna Punjabi, Manmohan Singh says the movie will be spiced with rustic flavour and blended with contemporary crisis. “The flick is yet another step towards portraying the essence of Punjabi culture… a film that would capture the dilemma of the educated youngsters,” he says. The cast, he says, is “good” like always. Harbhajan Mann, Neeru Bajwa and Gurpreet Ghuggi are playing their part in the movie, along with Dara Singh, Deep Dhillon and Kanwaljit Singh. Armed with a budget of around Rs 50 lakh, he says the movie will be shot not just in villages spread across the Malwa Region, but also in the UK. After the success of Jee Aayan Nu, Asan Nu Maan Watnan Da and Yaaran Naal Baharan, Manmohan Singh claims that Dil Apna… will be marketed at a scale no other Punjabi movie has been promoted before. Announcing the launch of the Centre of Media and Entertainment Studies at the ITFT, Manmohan Singh and others present on the occasion say it’s a dream come true. “The initiative has been taken keeping in view the fact that the media industry has enough opportunities to channelise the talent latent in youngsters. You see, there is no dearth of aptitude and good looks in Punjab,” says actor Deep Dhillon “We have a lot of hopes from this institute. It will also attract Bollywood biggies towards Punjabi cinema, resulting in its revival”. Good luck guys.
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FILM REVIEW
THE most awaited film Rang De Basanti opened with a bumper opening on January 26 at Batra Chandigarh, Fun Republic and KC, Panchkula. UTV productions’ Rang De Basanti is being promoted in a big way on TV Channels. The director Rakeysh Omparkash Mehra, who had made his debut with Amitabh Bachchan, Manoj Bajpai and Raveena Tandon starrer Aks, has put together Aamir Khan, Madhvan, Atul Kulkarni, Sharman Joshi, Kunal Kapoor, Soha Ali Khan and British actress Elis Patten in this well directed film. This one is a cool-n-hip flick with a strong rustic background. The filmmaker Rakeysh Mehra, had earlier named it Aahuti and it was written for Junior Bachchan. However, the title of Aahuti was changed to Rang De Basanti. Waheeda Rahman, Kiron Kher, Om Puri and Anupam Kher have come up with fine performances. Aamir Khan is superb. Soha Ali Khan and Elis Patten are totally likeable. Sharman Joshi, Madhvan and Kunal Kapoor have done justice to their characters. Kamlesh Pande has written the script for director Rakeysh Mehra who has dealt with many current issues in the film and that too in a very sensitive manner. The ensemble of actors put in good performances, which are the value add-ons. Rang De Basanti has lyrics by Prasoon Joshi who made waves for his good work in Hum Tum. The musical score by A.R. Rahman is a clear winner hands down. The compositions may be liked by today’s generation. Bhangra king Daler Mehandi is in top form with the song Rang De Basanti. On the whole it is a different movie by Rakeysh Omparkash Mehra. His fans can count on a few thing from this film a sensitive storyline, exquisite visuals high quality music and excellent performances from its main players. On the whole Rang De Basanti is the watch of the season. — D.P.
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City-schooled artist Kanwaljit Dhaliwal pins his master’s thesis from the University of East London on the architecture of the city and finds much amiss in its very conception, says Nirupama Dutt
THE oldest memory of Kanwaljit Dhaliwal, a painter and sculptor nurtured in the College of Art at Chandigarh, dates back to the Sixties when sitting in the open at school in his village Malout Mandi, he read an essay in Punjabi on the city. The essay said thus about the city: “the roads cross each other at right angles and the traffic is controlled by lights and there are no mosquitoes or flies…” This sounded so amazing to the village boy who later blossomed as an artist in City Beautiful. But living in the city and coming to terms with its urbane character and modern architecture was not an altogether pleasant experience. Most people look back at the city of their youth with love. But, not Kanwal. Picking up the city for his master’s thesis on Art in Architecture, he lashes out so like Jimmy Porter in John Osborne’s famous play Look Back in Anger. Much is said but what tickles one the most are his scathing comments on the people and culture of the city in the epilogue of his thesis: “Chandigarh, culturally appears to be a very sad city, for it has begun to create a new bread of Indians, who have lost their identity…Perhaps, in no part of the country could one come across so many people at one place who were such shameless self-promoters. Perhaps they were so because they had left their roots. But the middle-aged paunchy Chandigarhian of this day has his roots here.”
One reads this amazed and amused. The Malout boy now settled in London town seems to have lost it. Le Crobusier can be damned for the architecture of the city being the root cause of all the ills but what about the harsher metropolis that have heritage aplenty. But let’s first see what is annoying our NRI artist of Malout origin ever so much. The major anger of the artist is directed towards the rejection of the indigenous in favour of the imported. Kanwaljit further goes onto the controversy of the choice. The artist says: “A Punjab minister owned a big chunk of land here that was not irrigated and he turned the sand into gold by selling it for the Capitol Project.” So on and so forth, the anger rages on the conception, the selection of site, the media hot-sell of City Beautiful, corrupt politics and new breed of people without roots. The greatest shortcoming of this middle-aged angry artist is against the fact that buildings of the city lack temperature control. Well, he has a few words of appreciation here and there but by and large it is as negative as can be. So it comes as a surprise to this critic of the city that: “Whatever the problems and drawbacks may be, people in general are happy and rather proud to be residents of Chandigarh.” Do the Chandigarhians have something to say about this arty and academic outburst?
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Blaring horns of white Ambassador cars with flashing red beacon lights, mercilessly drowning the whisper of cool breeze caressing the lush green lawns, announce the arrival of VIP guests as the impressive gates of Punjab Raj Bhavan are thrown wide open to let them in for the Governor’s “At Home”, ceremoniously. As the men in white of the royal Chandigarh mounted police, on horses clad in their majestic best, salute smartly, you realise it’s a perfect afternoon for high-tea and high-talk. After all, it’s the cream of bureaucracy, and the city, that’s going to be there for savouring democracy. Oh yes, just the cream. For, the number of invites issued for the great Republic Day afternoon at the Governor’s house is far less than the previous years — at least this is what the staff at the gates insists. Unlike the preceding years, some of the “self-styled” socialites have not been invited, the staff asserts with a smile. Anyway, standing there at the entrance, struggling hard to find your way through the jostling crowd of sophisticates flashing the invites rudely under the noses of the cops, you brace yourself for answering questions about Bihar Governor Buta Singh and the Supreme Court verdict. You see, some of the bureaucrats simply love to discuss current issues. First they allow you to speak your heart out and then go on and on with what they think is the holistic view. It may not sound very convincing, but the sparkle in their eyes prevents you from contradicting, even commenting on the subject. So, you silently revise what you have gone through and enter the house. As the soft music flowing out of the instruments played by the band greets the visitors, you look around for familiar faces. Among the guests and their rap sessions, the Bihar Governor does not figure. For, some of the ladies are engrossed in discussing the purchases they made during the last two days of winter sale at a multi-storey store in Sector 9. Others are busy flashing gold and diamond rings. Trying to catch the pearls of wisdom proves to be a bootless exercise. The only gems you find are in necklaces. It is then you realise that knick-knacks are in reality imperative to so many women. As vital as medals — earned through acts of bravery and defying death — are to retired and serving army officers actually gracing the occasion. By the time you turn back, even the tea and the other food stuff is cold like some of the indifferent guests. The only warmth you find is in the firm handclasp of Punjab Governor-cum-UT Administrator Gen S. F. Rodrigues (retd). As he goes around the lush green lawns, some of the guests spring forward to make him feel their presence. That’s the way the refined and the classy act, you realise before moving out of the complex, so much wiser. —
Saurabh Malik
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CITY Beautiful is not just about beautiful or fashionable people, but it is also a place for people with talent and creativity. Deepali Bhandari and Amanpreet Mann, students of S.G.G.S. College, have proved this fact once again. As budding writers, Deepali and Amanpreet have done us proud by representing the city at the Katha Asia International Utsav that recently took place in Delhi. Organised by the Alliance Francaise, the festival gave Deepali and Amanpreet an opportunity to interact with 200 participants from 22 countries. It was a short story ‘Calling of the Soil’ which gained Deepali an entry to the festival while Amanpreet’s writing skill shone through an essay he wrote on the City and Environment. “The festival was an eye opener,” say Deepali and Amanpreet. “We met personalities like Javed Akhtar, Rajat Sharma, Dilip Menon, Preeti Verma and other celebrities. They conducted different workshops and gave us important tips on writing,” they add. So what was the best tip they bought home? “To have originality,” they answer. Way to go kids!—P. R.
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MATKA CHOWK MANY of us don’t realise that we are under a new raj — the cable raj. The cablewallas are now teaching us some very valuable lessons of life. Most of us are completely dependent on them for we are addicted to our TV sets. And therefore, like the so-called Benevolent Despots of the 18th century, they give and they take away. And we the junta, have very little choice or recourse. The old kings offered an inflexible package — just like the cablewallas, and they had all the rights to withdraw, deny and arbitrarily change their packages. No questions asked and ever answered! Chandigarh, being a comparatively smaller city, starts out with very few choices when it comes to cable providers. Therefore, one is forced to watch Scooby Doo speak in Hindi, whether one likes it or not. The channels we get can also not be taken for granted. They change suddenly — leaving you in complete bereavement at times. My daughter had gotten very attached to a particular character in a show that was being aired on Animax. One evening, much to her dismay, the channel disappeared completely. She was grief-stricken and made me call the cable company innumerable times — pleading, cajoling, chastising and nagging. Nothing bore fruit and we never learnt the cause of the early demise of that channel. Sometimes, they decide that a particularly engrossing channel will not be available for a few days. My neighbour spent some harried afternoons looking for her ‘Saas bhi kabhi bahu thi’. Then it reappeared without any warning just as it had disappeared. Think of the mental anguish of the ladies who missed maybe three episodes! The cable boys usually knock at your door at the beginning of the month. If for whatever reason, you are out of town and they are unable to procure the monthly subscription, they promptly drop you and of course, you would not know, till you came home, expectantly turned on the set and found yourself staring at blue static. Sometimes new and wonderful channels emerge. I am afraid to get too used to those —lest they might leave us. I constantly tell my daughter to uphold the “Don’t get too attached,” principle lest she might lose another favorite character to cable whims. I feel like a medieval vassal, always attributing it to my good fortune — when my favourite show is back on. I think the cablewallas are doing us a favour. I often give my Y generation child the X generation parental speech about how life has changed so much – “You cannot take anything for granted any more.” What better way to learn this lesson than by losing your TV soul mate? And the ephemeral quality of the channels —appearing, disappearing and reappearing – a little guessing game that has never hurt anybody!
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TECH TALK
Picture this. You keep a note of what groceries are you need by entering them in your Bluetooth enabled refrigerator. When it comes time to shop, you simply synchronize the list with your Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) so that you don’t forget to pick anything up. Sounds too Star Trek to be real? This is not a scene out of a sci-fi science fiction, but some of the endless array of possibilities that the Bluetooth technology offers. Welcome to the wireless world of Bluetooth! Not so long ago, the computer used to be a standalone unit and we were all happy-to-do word processing, play a few games and surf the Internet. Over a period of time, more and more electronics started coming into the picture and the once simple-to-use devices like cameras, telephones, stereos and televisions all became more intelligent and sophisticated with computer chips embedded inside them. New age devices such as mobile phones and PDA’s also appeared. Instead of making life easier, managing these devices and the increasing number of cables and wires to connect them has left most of us frustrated. In order to keep things user-friendly, we needed a better way for all the devices to communicate and work with each other. This is where Bluetooth came into the picture. Bluetooth Technology Bluetooth technology is a cutting-edge open specification that enables short-range wireless connections between desktop and notebook computers, personal digital assistants, handhelds, mobile phones, camera phones, printers, digital cameras, headsets, keyboards and even a computer mouse. This wireless technology uses a globally available frequency band (2.4GHz) for worldwide compatibility. In a nutshell, Bluetooth technology unplugs your digital peripherals and makes cable clutter a thing of the past. Bluetooth technology has achieved such global acceptance that any Bluetooth enabled device, almost anywhere in the world, can connect to other Bluetooth enabled devices within a 30-foot range. Bluetooth advantage A Bluetooth connection is not only wireless and automatic. It has the ability to simultaneously handle both data and voice transmissions. At Work When you are at a meeting you can send data to everyone with a Bluetooth enabled device at once instead of having to send it to one person at a time. If you require a hardcopy of a letter you can print it out on a Bluetooth-enabled printer. Unlike regular printers, the Bluetooth printer can easily be networked and does not require additional hardware such as a print server or router with a printer port nor does it require any confusing configuration. You can print out a backup list of all the numbers stored in your mobile phone simply by moving the phone into range of the printer. At Home If you have a wireless keyboard and mouse for your computer, you may be using Bluetooth already. Unlike conventional wireless radio wave keyboards, Bluetooth enabled versions can communicate with other Bluetooth devices as well. By using a single Bluetooth wireless hub, it reduces desktop clutter. With products utilizing Bluetooth technology, you can now eliminate the cable clutter from your life.
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COOL STUFF Pepsi, the most popular soft drink in the country, has yet again proven its innovation credentials with the launch of its new in and out variant - Pepsi Café Chino. The drink with a deliciously distinctive flavour and an authentic coffee aroma, Pepsi Café Chino is Pepsi’s first cola drink with a mocha-latte shot. A limited edition variant, Pepsi Café Chino is an exciting and stylish alternative that offers a ‘Kick of Cola’ with a ‘Kiss of Coffee’. Reiterating the ‘dare for more’ spirit of Pepsi, Pepsi Café Chino is distinct in its taste and uniquely packaged in coffee-inspired colours. Available in glass bottles of size 200ml and 300ml, PET bottles in 600ml and the hugely successful 250ml non–returnable glass (NRG) bottle, Pepsi Café Chino will also be offered in Fountain Pepsi cups at key eateries, multiplexes and youth hangouts in Chandigarh, Punjab, Haryana & HP. The new variant will be available for a limited period of 2 months and will hit shelves on Jan 21, 2006. Wipes launched In the first phase, Ginni has introduced two products i.e. Ginni Cuddles and Ginni Clea. Ginni Cuddles are the wet toilet wipes for babies, whereas Ginni Clea are the wet wipes for removing all types of make-up even the water proof ones. These wipes are made for spunlace material, which has unique qualities like softness, water absorption, drape ability and close similarity to cloth. Initially these products will be available at all the leading outlets in Chandigarh. But in the due course of time, they shall be expanding their product range and presence as well. After the launch in Chandigarh, there would launches at metros like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Kolkata. True colour true tone Spice mobile phones has announced the launch of S-555, the stylish GPRS ‘True colour true tone’ innovative, fashionable and functional handset. Priced at Rs. 3899, S-555 is a fully loaded phone offering features like K colour display, sing-tones support, GPRS, 64 chord polyphonic, loud speaker and auto power off and on.S-555 is an entry level phone with a unique distinction of a brilliant 65,536 colour display that livens up the screen while browsing MMS colour games and wall papers. I-mate K-JAM i-mate has unveiled I-mate K-JAM, with the most advanced set of features including a full VGA screen,520 MH processor,128 MB of permanent memory, built in Antivirus software and Internet telephony software. Priced at Rs. 35000, K-Jam is available across the country through a wide distribution network Of 4G Mobiles. Complete men’s collection Mochi, the shoe shoppe has introduced the J.Fontini Collection. Featuring classic colours like chocolate brown, reddish brown, ginger ,brunette, Auburn, Russet, Bordeaux, Tan and Black. This comprehensive covers a man’s all requirements from plain toe-capped oxfords to full brogue and loafers.
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PAMMY’S BEAUTY TIPS THERE is nothing more embarrassing than to have someone brush those snow flakes off your shoulders—dandruff! The nature of dandruff is still uncertain. A yeast like organism (pityrosporum ovale) has been found in the scales. This fungus lives on our body and scalp all the time. Medical authorities do not consider it contagious but cross-contamination can occur by the common use of combs, brushes and headgears. Dandruff is a natural process and it cannot be eliminated or cured. Dandruff can only be managed and controlled. The word ‘dandruff’ is given loosely to all types of scalp flaking. The first mistake when dealing with dandruff is to associate it with ‘dry scalp’ when it’s most commonly found in people with oily skin. There are two types of dandruff—the first is the dry type with flaking and itching and the second one is the greasy or wax type which is characterised by large waxy scales which when removed bleeding or oozing occurs from the scalp. It is the excessive build-up of the epithelial cells (surface layer). In teenagers, the sebaceous glands step up their oil production at puberty, giving greasier scalp and skin due to hormonal androgen increase. It is also the age when stress increases and diets are at their worst ! We are constantly shedding epidermis top layer of our skin as a form of natural cell replacement which goes on internally as well as externally. However research indicates that metabolic changes can increase scalp skin shedding. Commercial dandruff shampoos all claim to treat the problem. These are usually made with tar solutions that temporarily address the problem. The flaking disappears for two three days and generally reappears. To control the dandruff, it would require frequent shampooing. Zinc pyritheone or selenium sulfide are most effective in riding the scalp off the dandruff. Use it 3-4 times a week. It kills the yeast and inhibits cell turnover. Basically these anti-dandruff shampoos are either fungicides or acids which break down the oil on the scalp. But they must never be used if you have cuts or abrasions on the scalp. Tips to fight dandruff
Here’s hoping you have a head free of dandruff.
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— Neena Minocha Hat’s off to you. What a lovely and wonderful woman to worry so much about her husband’s insecurities. You’re paying his bills and worrying about his feelings at the same time. That is really nice of you. We all like to pretend money is of no value in a relationship but I have seen many relationships go sour because of money issues. In our society, earning more than a man is almost unfair as men are brought up to believe they are the bread winners. I think you are doing the best you can. So be happy and just allow him the space to settle within his own self. I met my girlfriend at a party in a different city and it was love at first sight. I asked her out immediately and we were dating for the next four days when I was there for a conference. I felt this was a dream come true. We shared the some interests, enjoyed the same music had the same attitudes towards life, I felt, I had found my mate in life. I came home to Patiala and told my parents. I was ready for marriage. When I asked her over the interest to be my wife she flatly refused. She said it was good fun being with me but marriage was out of question for the moment. She wants to plan a career and then think about it.I am very hurt and can’t sleep, Help me ! —
Karanveer Singh Dear boy, do get rid of your chauvinistic male attitude to believe that the moment a girl goes out with you, relates to you and has fun with you, she is ready for marriage. Girls are moving on in life and have started playing many roles now, apart from the role of a housewife and mother alone. I know it is hard for most men to accept this concept of social change but you have to just keep an open mind and move on with the times. Your ego is probably more hurt than your heart. May be you should just try and cultivate a healthy friendship with her and she where it goes, might even take you down the road you want. Don’t feel hurt over it, just open yourself to life a bit more and enjoy it.
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Memoryscapes But then if you take a closer look, it is not the houses per se are the main focus. It is the texture that accumulating rain- water makes on the walls is what the artist tried to capture on his canvas. The patterns too came from his childhood memories, the time he had spent on a mud hut. The patterns held immense fascination to his artistic mind. Though except for one painting of a few village belle, again in bold strokes and bright colours, the other 13 painting look more or less the same. The theme may not offer much variation, nor do the colour scheme, but the way he has handled his subject is interesting. Using rough edges and patterns, he has given his paintings a textured look. And keeping the signature style of Benaras Hindu University, from where he did his maters in fine arts, Rakesh has generously given a folksy touch to his paintings. “I try to follow
M.F. Husain’s style,” says the artist, who holds a Ph. D from the CCS University, Meerut. By that he means the bold black outlining the each component on his canvas has. The artist who has a number of group shows to his credit, has been awarded with Avantika Sixth All-India Art Exhibition-Annual Award 1998 and 71st All-India Award by the Indian Academy of Fine Arts, Amritsar in 2005.
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Satwinder Lovely, the young talented singer from Punjab who created waves with her debut album ‘Lehnga’ which was released by the Chandigarh based music company RDX was in the city to perform at a show organised for blood donors on Republic Day. She is a new generation singer with a strong classical background. Her voice is sure to influence the ones around her. Her first album ‘Lehnga’ is a unique blend of Punjabi foot-tapping melodious numbers. The album went down well with the audiences. Satwinder Lovely, a post graduate in Punjabi, has performed on stage in India and in countries like England, UAE and
Italy. — Dharam Pal
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BOOK CORNER The Camel Club is poised to expose a conspiracy that reaches into the heart of Washington’s highly secretive corridors of power; Alex Ford finds out that his nightmare is about to happen. Published by Macmillan India Ltd. Q&A A rollicking read as well as being a polished, varnished, finished work of impressive craftsmanship. Published by Black Swan An impressive balance between moral inquiry and decadent pleasure. Published by Penguin. Weight Loss A searing passage through bureaucratic India —a book of laughter and disguise, a four letter rejoinder to the grotesquery of governance. Published by Penguin Books Based on extensive personal interviews conducted over seven years with family members and friends. The Kapoors resembles the films that the great showman Raj Kapoor made—grand and sweeping, with moments of high drama touching emotion. Unprecedented in its scope and wealth of detail, it is a must- read for all lovers of cinema. Published by Penguin Books. Yours Guru Dutt Yours Guru Dutt contains intimate letters of the great Indian filmmaker. It presents 37 letters previously never published, of which the vast majority was addressed to Geeta Dutt and also includes postcards sent to his sons, Tarun and Arun. Published by Roli Books. |
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Ginni Filaments Ltd. — a leading textile company today announced its foray into FMCG market with the launch of Personal Hygiene and Beauty Care Products for children and women. Made from revolutionary Non-Woven Spunlace Fabric, Ginni’s Personal Care Products comprising of Baby Wipes, Cosmetic Wipes and Beauty Care wipes are highly innovative and ‘‘first of its kind’’ in India. 
HOW can I help my husband from feeling insecure? I’m 35 and earning more than him and pay for most of our expenses. I am quite happy doing this and really have no problems with it. I have never even made him feel that it bothers me at all. However, I feel sometimes that he feels awkward and about it. I just sense sometimes that he is uneasy with the situation. How can I make him feel more comfortable? Please advice.
DR Rakesh Kumar Singh’s clusters of houses are surprisingly bright, but then he has an explanation for this. They come from his memory lane, some tribal village he had seen earlier. “If you have seen tribal areas, you would know what I mean, everything about them is colourful,” says the artist, who held his solo exhibition at IndusInd Art Gallery.
The Camel Club by Davis Baldacci
Babyji
The
Kapoors: The First family of Indian Cinema