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Art college
on the web Ode to City
Beautiful Our Prayer
Corner/Room
Just basics
CAMPUS
CAFE Manasi
bags title role NOTE-able
‘786’ record
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This summer think chronicles and legends, yarns and fables, fairy-tales and soaring dragons for bookshelves are creaking under the weight of fantasy tales, finds out
Gayatri
Rajwade
Escape the scorching summer’s sulk and take a delightful leap right into the breezy world of books. Get ready to be whisked away into a world far from the maddening heat and bang in the middle of, nowhere. Really, try finding Narnia on a map and you will realise it does not even exist. As genies spirit you away on a wing, pixies roam the earth in joyful sprees and hobbits, elves and goblins search for an end to a ring all powerful, enchanted magical tales rule the bookshelves and how. HARRY POTTER, YOU DID IT! And who is responsible for this fantasy blitzkrieg? “Harry Potter, of course,” smiles Ajay Arora of Capital Book Depot-17. This boy-wizard has started a virtual ‘one-man’ industry generating enough proceeds for the publishers Bloomsbury, who are still counting. According to Pankaj Singh, Chief Executive of the Browser Library and Bookshop-8, “More than the readers, it’s the publishers who have kicked up a storm and have come out with a whole series of novels, fantastic and magical, inventive and ingenious.” Both rattle off a stack of titles to riffle through and almost every conceivable sprite, troll, gnome, imp and yes dragon, written about, finds representation. Here are some of the choices laid out:
This is not all. “The older lot which I refer to as the Terry books—Terry Pratchett (Discworld), Terry Goodkind (The Sword of Truth) and Terry Brooks (The Demon Series)—who also write fantasy are coming back into fashion thanks to the new-found surge,” avers Ajay What’s more Penguin India rises to the occasion with ‘Nyagrodha, The Ficus Chronicles’ by Kalpish Ratna about three (yes indeed!) runaway children and a great big ancient banyan tree, soon to hit the stands! MOVIE MAGIC? “Earlier a good book prompted filmmakers to buy the rights and now it’s the other way round. A hit film can push the sales of the book sky high. Also kids now have a tendency to see something on
television and pick up the book (think Mary-Kate and Ashley Series),” states Pankaj. Case in point, J R R Tolkien’s ‘The Lord of the Rings’ written way back in 1954 and ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’ by C S Lewis (incidentally Tolkien and Lewis were good friends!) first published almost 50 years ago are finding flavour once again. Take the instance of 13-year-old Raghav Vij, visiting his grandmother in Sector 8, from Pune. A voracious reader, he scoffed at C S Lewis, “I don’t read classics” he muttered, is now devouring them, a book a day. THE OTHERS Vipon Kinger of Asia Book House-17, says reading has gone up especially in the holidays as parents are encouraging their children to try different genres of books. So apart from Artemis Fowl and Roald Dahl which are moving fast at his store, he suggests ‘The Alchemist’ by Paolo Coelho and ‘Anne Frank—A Diary of a Young Girl’ for youngsters to go through. Seema Klair, Manager, Book Café at Café Coffee Day-35, points towards an avid interest in ghost stories. Apart from Ruskin Bond’s “Ghost Stories of Shimla’ there are the Goosebumps series by R L Stine which all bookstores have a neat stock of. Penguin India is also coming out with 31 tales of the supernatural, ‘Spooked’ by various authors and ‘Screams in the Night’ by SMI So, get ready to meander in spiralling worlds galore, for there is something to suit all young people’s palates—delicious choices to be made and heady stories to be munched on!
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Strokes of nature Nature on canvas: Exhibits of Ashwani Verma (inset) on display at Indusind gallery.
— Photos by Pradeep Tewari Nature beckons and seeps into his heart compelling him to draw. “It is a conversation without words, deeply moving and eloquent, a dialogue between the painting and me. Nothing else exists,” muses artist Ashwani Verma, in the city with his exhibition of 17 paintings in water-colours and oils. For this painter, into his 27th solo showing and ironically 27 awards to his credit since he began in 1981, nature has been a constant inspirational companion. “I live in Urmur-Tanda in the district of Hoshiarpur from where the hills begin. The early morning mist, the splendour of nature and even the peacocks that wander through are all an integral part of my thinking, my paintings,” smiles Ashwani. A posture evident even in his ‘Village Side’, drawn from all he had heard about the tsunami that washed away homes and destroyed villages. Despite the subject, the abject desolation evident in the cracks on the walls, hues are soft, soothing contrasting deeply with the emotions that sweep through the painting. However, if one did not know better, one would look at the painting as a village view, decrepit but intact. That is perhaps what is so lovely about his water colours—they sparkle in the streaming light of day, the cold evening of snow clad hills and the pre-dawn grandeur of lush green hills with the sky glowing with tinges of powder blue, ribbon pink, burnt yellow as the sun gets ready to rise in ‘Mood of Nature’. Textures abound as do the strokes—the quietness of water-colours and the tempestuousness of oils—but it is the water-colours that highlight the innate talent. ‘Poetic Morning’ depicting the snow-clad hills of Manali is a gracious composition with exquisite stroke-work on the trees. The mauve and white skies of ‘Cool and Cool’ with hutments lining a snowy road, ‘Water-Fall -1’ an inspired depiction of Kempty Falls in Mussourie with cascading waters giving the painting fine depth, ‘Snowy Exaltation-1’ with a lovely effect of falling snow in one corner and finally the award winning ‘Smile of Nature-1’, where the human forms look subdued by the snow falling at a distance. Ashwani’s ‘Internal Ecstasy’ of a woman sitting by a window overlooking mountains, flowers drawn on the glass-pane, with two peacocks in her arms is the artist’s parallel to a yearning of companionship since peacocks are largely visible in pairs. Similarly, ‘The Magic of Nature’ has these birds calling out to the skies and the heavens responding. However the flushes with nature are touched by a realistic outlook and Ashwani combines his passion for art with his position as Head of the Fine Arts Department at Kendriya Vidyalaya,
Jalandhar but never does a day go by when he does not paint. “When I start I can see the painting come alive in front of me and all I need to do is fill in the colours.” Such is the moving quality of art. The exhibition is on view at the IndusInd Bank Art Gallery, SCO 53-54, Sector 8-C, Madhya Marg from 10 am to 7pm till June 10.
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The Government College of art, Chandigarh, added the suffix www to its name. The college launched its website www.artcollegechandigarh.org on June 5.. The college is one of the oldest institutions of the country. It is the only nucleus institution of its kind in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir. The website gives a detailed information about the past and present of the college. The college traces its roots to Mayo School of Art, Lahore (Now in Pakistan) in 1875. John Lockwood Kipling was the founder Principal then. After partition Mayo School of Art was left in Pakistan (now known as National College of Art, Lahore), The Government of Punjab then set a School of Art at Shimla (then a part of Punjab). When Chandigarh came up as the new Capital of Punjab, the school of Art shifted here in 1962. The college logo “we love nature and play with colours” is complimented by bright, colorful and moving flash images. The web pages show the view the institution’s big studios with a full-fledged lighting and infrastructure facilities. Colourful pictures of students can be seen doing their creative exercises. The site also gives information about the various courses and admission procedures, reservation and various facilities being provided to the students. The website is designed by Bhavna Mannan Sood, a former college student and D.S. Kapoor, a college lecturer. Bhavna has a number of websites to her credit. She also plans to make a website for the college’s alumni association. According to DS Kapoor the college plans to use the website for to release important information and also put online display of student exhibitions and art campaigns. “The website shall provide and important medium between the college and all those linked with the same, specially our pass out students who are settled far away,” said Kapoor. The occasion also saw a large gathering of the founder members of the alumni. They all congratulated the principal and HOD for entering the e-era.
— TNS
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Ode to City Beautiful Narinder (Naren)’s mural, occupying pride of place at Capital Book Depot, Sector 17, is striking for the spirit of Chandigarh that it captures so appealingly. Shapes and structures abound with trees, fish, birds, buildings and even the Open Hand finding representation. Strident, communicative and conspicuous, the mural is noticeable for its spirit, which is essentially what Naren wanted to capture.
A graduate from the College of Art in 1999 with a specialisation in Applied Art, Naren a freelance graphic designer by profession, had initially submitted a proposal for a similar mural in metal to the UT Guesthouse which never materialised. A friend in the printing business then suggested Capital Book Depot, which was being redone and was looking for something unusual to enhance an empty wall along the main counter. A change of material (from metal to new wood to fit the budget), visualisations on paper, rough sketches and a new proposal saw the project go through. “There is no definition to what a mural is. I wanted to do something different for my city and this came up,” avers Naren. The theme is the city, in all its hues for what he wanted to capture was the vibrancy he feels, emanating from the city. In new wood, the whole mural has been crafted in three layers with the images worked on digitally, printed out and pasted before being cut out according to their forms and shapes and then being applied in tiers. “The forms are not traditional but graphical. The detailed work and colour scheme is bright in reds, orange and green—tikha shades—to draw upon the lively culture of the city.” The mural has been an experiment for Naren who worked on the elements, the affect and theme extensively, researching the Net, looking through photographs and even studying Le Corbusier’s sketches, imagining what went through his mind, what his nature was like and what his works meant to him before starting to visualise. Once the initial sketches were ready, it took all of 15 days to put together, “because this medium makes execution very fast, unlike painting on wood,” he explains. For this artist who originally comes from Una in Himachal Pradesh, this work is his best to date, for “my whole life’s impressions find expression in it. The freedom in designing and planning and the chance to experiment with a new medium also make this very special to me,” he smiles. With his passion for art finding articulation through his uncle, local artist Romesh Malhotra, from whom he learnt his basics, Naren keeps himself busy doing work for the private sector, overseas projects and even funky juice-vending kiosks to keep the imagination alive. But, for that creative inspiration, it’s his City Beautiful which provides him with the artistic succour.
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Our Prayer Corner/Room
If restricted for space, then make room for your guiding light at a place which does justice to your faith. How about some space in your kitchen itself, or your study area, cupboard space within your bedroom, in a quiet corner of your family lounge? Think about whether the Prayer Corner needs to be ‘displayed’ or kept ‘screened off’ when not in use. Have you considered installing ‘Cross’ as motivating feature in your garden corner? Stone figurines weather well outside and wooden ones age with the weather! How about a stone ‘lingam’ under a blossoming tree making it a quiet solitude in your garden? Can we have Mary holding baby Jesus in your foyer? Nothing looks more peaceful than Buddha’s bust. Could you get Lord Ganesha to greet your visitors in your hallway? ‘Hanukkah’ looks elegant on top of your console or chest with a cut-glass bowl full of rosemary beads. Religious restrictions permitting, you may want to use one wall of your family lounge as your Prayer Area, if you don’t have enough room within the house. Carve out a large recessed niche and paint it in a colour different to the rest of the room. Alternatively use texture, grooves or stone cladding. Insert glass or shelves to hold idols, photos, religious scriptures, prayer mats, headscarves, diyas and other symbolic items within this wall space. If you are lucky to be able to dedicate a room in the house specifically for praying, then design soft diffused lighting and colours most serene, to create an ambience most calming, to generate thoughts most pure. A wall unit with minimal distraction elsewhere and a neutral colour rug on the floor with perhaps a chair for the elderly should suffice. Nothing should come between you and your figurehead in this hour of meditation and prayer. Remember, as with the rest of the rooms in the house, even the Prayer Room can be designed to match the interiors style evident elsewhere in your home. Use steel and textured glass in contemporary home, woods in classis styling, mud/husk for rustic grace but do avoid using brooding dark colours inside. Most religions have several commonalities; the concept of light and sound being the prominent ones. Kindly take utmost care wherever any lighting ritual has to be performed. Do not rely on metal bases, trays, plates or diya holders. Flame would heat up the metal base/holder which would further burn into the surface below. As per confirmed records, wooden table bases have caught fire from a single innocuous candle, glass tops have been cracked by dripping wick of diya, veneers have been ruined by burning ash falling off incense sticks. Stone slab or treated concrete base is good option instead. Keep billowing curtains/drapes away from diyas, candles and incenses. You may also wish to consider incorporating ‘sound proofing’ features to ensure that whilst invoking our faith, we don’t disturb our family members and neighbours; especially the ones who sleep late after long working or study hours. You may make your Prayer Room or Corner a prominent serene design element; but kindly do remember, religious beliefs are not decoration pieces to adorn your home. Courtsey: A.P. Singh
Besten & Co.
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HOPSCOTCH Some time last summer I got a telephone call from Meeto, daughter of my friend Baljit Malik and my comrade Kamla Bhasin. She was in the city attending Gurrinder Singh’s course in Punjab Studies. “Hi Neeru,” she said, “we are having a bash at Red Combe in Kasauli for some of my friends and
there will be Sufi music. Why don’t you and your daughter join us.” Her voice was cheery and breezy with none of the blues that she had been going through the winter before when we met in Kamla’s living room in 4 Bhagwandas Road. She was looking for direction to begin fieldwork on her Ph.D in Oxford on the synchronic secular traditions of pre-Independence Punjab. Sufi strains
So we went to that the bash at Red Combe. Baljit was there, welcoming one and all with the bluff and buster that comes so naturally to Baljit. There was Idu Shah of Manimajra with his sarangi and soulful singing of a kaafi or two from his repertoire. And there was Meeto looking so like a gypsy, in a colourful skirt, her long hair let down and dancing away with her friends. However, the mood of the evening swung with Meeto’s moods. One moment she was happy and living life to the hilt as one would say and the next she was brooding and nearly in tears. Was she rehearsing a memorial mela that would be held next summer at her own mazaar in the hills? It is summer again and less than a year since one saw Meeto dance and light the night with the stars she shook off from her cigarette and one is going again to Red Combe the coming Sunday for a memorial musical concert her father, who has put together a poignant collection of poems dedicated to Meeto, is holding in her honour. Ah! on January 7 this year Meeto decided to take leave of life following a bad bout of blues. And she left all those who loved or knew her totally stunned and almost guilty of living on after Meeto, for whom life held so much, had gone. But has she really gone? We knew her long as Kamla’s lovely daughter who accompanied her to women’s rallies and shouted for azaadi. Meeto, this was not the freedom that who had shouted slogans for! Your passing away left us all afraid and unhappy for you were not just Kamla’s daughter but also a daughter to many of us. We are anxious also for the age that you belonged to, anxious for other children. So we remember you and try to bear the loss and go on with life. It was a most cruel blow for Kamla who had been at the very epicentre of the women’s and other progressive movements in the country. For Baljit the sorrow sat heavily on his heart as he penned poem after poem acknowledging guilt and seeking forgiveness from his daughter. Friends and comrades reached out to Kamla in a big way. Love lives
Kamla writes to her friends thus: “I feel I am only now discovering my love for her and also my loss. I feel I love her more and more every day. I love her like a mother, daughter, friend, comrade. I love and miss her like a junooni (mad) lover. I might sound mad but so be it. Every love poetry seems now to be about Meeto and me. Khusro’s words for Nizamuddin Aulia seem like my words for Meeto. Rumi and Hafiz seem to be expressing my love, pining, separation for Meeto. Nusrat and Abida sing the songs emerging from my love and pain. Flowers in our garden seem to be all for her, the gentle breeze of February reminds me of her. It caresses me like She often did. The birds twitter to remind me of her twittering.” Glancing at your pictures, one sees shades of Frieda Kahlo, Amrita Sher-Gil and Sylvia Plath. You went away too soon or are you still there twittering about in the trees at Red Combe? — Nirupama Dutt
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Just basics
Exclusive superstores offering rich array of stylish inner wear are popping up in the city,
Elite supermarkets offering a rich selection of native and imported intimates are popping up in the city. And the reason behind their ever-increasing popularity is not very hard to see. So many pretty women prowling the glamour lane in low-rise jeans and gauzy suits nowadays believe in pulling down the veil of privacy to reveal fashion hidden deep inside. If you haven’t seen them stressing upon the basics, just drive down the road meandering its way through the bon ton world to reach the arcades, even college grounds, across the city. You will find them paying attention not just to the outward appearance, but also the inner beauty. Blame the open Indian skies for letting the secret out of the wraps by airing bold channels like FTV, or call it a redundant change that has taken place over the years in the conformist native society. The fact is that scores of girls shrouded in duppatas until recently are now throwing away the cloak of inhibition to reveal innate attitude, blatantly. Right folks, catering to the needs of these dames, bringing up the unmentionables so obviously, are exclusive showrooms. Initially there was one in Sector 16, but now you have nearly half a dozen inner-wear outlets in Chandigarh. The latest in the range of stores taking fashion to the core so manifestly is Inner Secrets. The under-linen “superstore” was inaugurated in Sector 8 just this week. “Gone are the days when the only the brides-to-be would pay attention to the u-wear and pick up the stuff from the wedding collection,” says Anil Dewan, the proprietor of Inner Secrets. “Now you have so many youngsters saying goodbye to plain Jane look and orthodox body clothes available on the stands in the rehri markets and general merchandise stores throughout the city.” His clientele includes not just bubbly babes mugging up the book of grandeur in college and university campuses, but even young housewives living life in polite society. “It’s not just good quality and design they ask for. The best part wants stuff in bright and cheerful colours for good feeling that comes from deep inside,” he asserts with a smile.
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FILM & FASHION Despite having gained both name and fame, ‘Speed’ star Keanu Reeves claims God has been quite unfair to him, for he has forcibly made him live a loner’s life by taking away all his loved ones. The actor has suffered more than his share of tragedy, with his baby being stillborn at 8 months and the baby’s mother dying in a car crash.
”Damn it! It’s not fair!” the New York Post quoted him, as telling Dotson Rader in Sunday’s Parade magazine. ”When the people you love are gone, you’re alone. I miss being a part of their lives and them being a part of mine,” he added. Reeves also discusses his sad childhood, when his father abandoned the family, and his mother moved around a lot and married a number of times. “I’m trying not to be alone so much. And, man, it’s a struggle. I want to get married. I want to have kids . . . I’ll do it. Just give me some time,” he added. Oprah crashes wedding
While at one wedding party, Winfrey dropped off dishes for the newlyweds Ben Klein and Heather Anderson, at another, she surprised Morgan and Bethany Francis at their reception, congratulating the couple, and leaving a wedding gift of more dishes. ”I tried to compose myself, but there’s no way you can do it when there’s someone that famous in the room,” E!online quoted the newly married Mrs. Francis, as telling
KOTV.
“My mom, I think, about had a heart attack, she watches Oprah all the time. We were just completely shocked. No one really knew what to do. I mean, Oprah doesn’t normally show up at someone’s wedding, especially in Tulsa, Oklahoma,” the Francis bride added. The segments from her Tulsa wedding surprise visits are to be aired in a program in September. Heather Mills’ secrets
Beatles legend Paul McCartney’s estranged wife Heather Mills’ woes are not yet over, as the male model with whom her porn pictures surfaced only a few days back is set to tell all about his passionate romps with her. The model is hoping to bag thousands of pounds by selling his story of how he made out with Mills even after the camera’s had stopped rolling. Lawyers for 63-year-old Paul are bound to cite her pornographic past as grounds for his payout — until now estimated at $200million — to be reduced. Heather is already reeling after The Sun’s world exclusive on Monday, in which the tabloid revealed how she “starred” in a German hardcore porn book in 1988. Heather has insisted the book was merely a Lovers’ Guide-style self-help manual for partners. But the pictures have no accompanying words - and her claims have been widely ridiculed.
(ANI)
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NEW RELEASES Following the success of ‘Maalamal Weekly’, ‘Tom Dick and Harry’, comic capers are the season’s flavour. Great
expectations are being built around Firoz A. Nadiadwala’s ‘Phir Hera Pheri’ and Priyadarshan’s ‘Chup Chup Ke’. These two are considered sound business properties. A.A. Nadiadwala presents in association with Base Industries Group’s ‘Phir Hera Pheri’, a sequel to the Priyadarshan-directed ‘Hera Pheri’. After ‘Deewane Huye Paagal’, it is yet another comedy from director Neeraj Vohra. The film stars Akshay Kumar, Suneil Shetty and Paresh Rawal along with Bipasha Basu and Rimmi Sen. ‘Phir Hera Pheri’ is an ambitious multi-starrer from Nadiadwalas camp. It has a different subject, latest techniques and best of stars. It will be released today at Batra, Chandigarh and Fun Republic, Manimajra. Sameer has penned the lyrics for current numero uno Himesh Reshammiya. DJ Akbar Sami has churned out with six remix tracks. A situational item song picturised on Dia Mirza is also highlight of this film. The viewers can expect full entertainment in true Nadiadwala style. After ‘Garam Masala’ and ‘Maalamal Weekly’ director Priyadarshan is back with another comedy ‘Chup Chup Ke’. Produced by Ronnie Screwwala, with dialogue by Neeraj Vohra, the film is an ensemble romantic comedy of errors and mistaken identities. ‘Chup Chup Ke’ is a fun film based in a Gujarati household. The Shahid Kapoor-Kareena Kapoor pair has pinned high hopes from this film after getting a hit, in the shape of ‘36 China Town’. This comic caper stars Paresh Rawal, Om Puri, Rajpal Yadav and Shakti Kapoor along with Suneil Shetty, Sushma Reddy and Neha Dhupia. Music is by Himesh Reshammiya and lyrics by Sameer. Zarina Mehta and Deven Khote are co-producers of this film which opens today at Nirman, Chandigarh and Fun Republic, Panchkula.
— D.P.
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CAMPUS CAFE Nauseating stench emanating from rotten foodstuff in polythene bags heaped along the cramped parking, cops in police control room Gypsies adding unpleasantness to the insufferable surroundings, clay ovens in front of kiosks blazing inconvenience, flies hovering over puddles of murky water, and passages blocked with dirty utensils — that is Panjab University’s “prestigious” Students’ Centre for you. Right guys, once considered happy hunting ground for so many couples chucking under the chin behind the camouflaging Cyprus bushes, the centre has now turned into nothing less than a massive garbage dump with authorities paying little or no attention to its cleanliness. If so far you haven’t read the book on garbage mismanagement and encouraging encroachments, just drive down the road meandering its way through the university’s academic environs. Even before you find place for leaving behind your vehicle in the clogged parking lot, repulsive stench of half-eaten food and rubbish hints at the upsetting things to come. As you walk down the path, you realise that the dustbins installed all along are nothing but decoration pieces. For, the young academicians and scholars so eager to rise up the social ladder on the rungs of practicality just do not believe in throwing stuff in the waste bins. And then there are bills-and-cooers so engrossed with each other that garbage disposal is the last thing on their ever-shifting minds. Well, you can’t really blame them for it. Petting each other leaves them with little time and inclination to pay attention to other things. In any case murkier stuff surfaces as you move ahead. Outside the far-too-many shops, you find the staff washing utensils in the open, or pulling out chapattis from the clay ovens placed alongside. Standing there you wonder why the staff has not been asked to prepare food and clear up the mess inside in booths, instead of littering the surroundings. After all, they have been provided adequate space. But then these are questions the university authorities will never answer. The old timers recall the time when the environment was still pristine. “Those were the days when there were just three shops offering food, drinks and stationary items, nothing else” says former student-cum-advocate Raman Sharma. “Everything was so clean and perfect then…. One would sit on the stairs for hours together with glass full of lemon juice and discuss the philosophy of life. But now things have changed! For worse! In fact with so many shops cramped together it is suffocating. You just don’t feel like going to the centre. No, not anymore.” That’s the way it is, folks! Book for UGC NET
Preparing for the UGC NET? Well, here is a new book on the stalls just for you. Penned down by Anshu Kataria and Dr Parveen Kataria, the book “contains” several new topics “essential” for clearing the examination. The duo claim that continuously rising academic standards make it is almost impossible for the candidates to clear the examinations without depending upon expert guidance. As all students cannot go in for coaching, they can effectively depend on the book to take care of their academic needs. They add that writing the book was not easy as previous years question papers are just not provided by the UGC. And then, so many changes take place after every six months. “You actually have to take the examination to know new things, even if you are NET qualified, for authoring such a book,” says Anshu Kataria.
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Manasi bags title role
In Chandigarh recently, she talked about her new serial on Sahara One, Sati in which she plays the character of Sati, a strong-willed lawyer. She is very excited, as it’s a very powerful role. This conscientious actress is also an aerobics expert and you will see her dynamism as she does justice to this character, which she feels she closely resembles. This is a good platform to prove her mettle. Manasi Salvi emphasises that despite 10 years of experience in acting, she bagged the title role of Sati because of her good command over Hindi. “I feel that if you have a hold over the language then you can concentrate 100 per cent on emoting without worrying about the accent and diction,” she says. Educated in Holy Cross Girls Convent in Thane and Vaze college in Commerce, Manasi had her first brush with television while she was first seen in the ad for Vim bar and at the age of 17, she was already doing Aashirwad. Dancing bharatnatyam for 12 years and kuchipudi for two years, Manasi has well balanced her acting schedules and studying. She owes the credit of completing her masters degree in commerce to the show directors and producers who encouraged her to study while managing her acting schedules. Manasi has also done ads for Stic ball pen, Shohan tissues and Baidyanath. Sari Var Sari, the Marathi film that won the Best Film award at the Star Screen Awards 2006 was Manasi’s first brush with movies, and another Marathi film, Aai Shapath, is due release in August. The issue of female foeticide is something against which Manasi strongly feels and this is due to the education on the topic she received while doing the serial Aatmaja on DD1 that was funded by Plan India. From bindaas brat to being soft and sophisticated, is a graph she is happy to climb.
TNS
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NOTE-able ‘786’ record
For Chandigarh resident Narinder Pal Singh, it will be the fifth consecutive year to feature in the Limca Book of Records. His feat? He has the biggest collection of currency notes whose digits end with 786 and has been breaking his own record every year since 2002. Yes, “sat sau chhiasi”, that auspicious number of Muslims. Mr Singh plays with the digits to extend his hobby. Like, embellishing his compilation with notes of serial numbers in both ascending and descending orders, or making sure that if he comes across the 7-digit note, the last of a series, he doesn’t let it escape his treasure. Cash with the printer’s devil imprinted or two 5-rupee notes with the same number from a bundle also among his proud anthology. He has had to even pay a premium for some of the legal tenders that range in the denomination of Re 1 to Rs 1,000. He began this hobby in 1990. A manager in Punjab State Cooperative Bank in Sector 34, it was easy was for the 52-year-old Singh to start hoarding the notes. What began as a leisure pursuit after reading of a similar exploit by a
Ludhiana man in a newspaper, turned into serious business when he realised that he could make a name by entering the Limca Book. And now, he is eying the Guinness Book.
The cash, now worth nearly Rs 7 lakh lies safely in his bank locker. And, as of now, he has no intention of spending the “hard-earned” bucks. Even if it means losing out on interest or investment. In this endeavour, he has the support of his wife and three kids, who also keep their eyes open for any ‘786’ notes. Mr Singh has asked a couple of his banker colleagues and shopkeepers to help him further his pastime. This way, he manages to collect from as little as10 notes per month to even around 500, if he is lucky.
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Prolonged static posture can cause discomfort/pain. A healthy body can tolerate sitting in one position for about 20 minutes, hence sitting in movie theatres, travelling in planes and desk jobs cause discomfort. Hence, change posture frequently, take short walks and stretch the body. —
Dr Ravinder Chadha
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TAROT TALK
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FILM &
FASHION
It is an artist’s ode to this city, an ardent expression of all his years spent here pursuing his learning, his art and his muse. 
Whilst we are busy designing the rest of our house, surely we shouldn’t ignore that little corner or small room of our home, where we go to say a little prayer or find solitude which eludes us elsewhere. Commonly referred to as ‘Pooja Ghar’, shall we call it our prayer/corner since prayer is affectively universal. 
Oprah Winfrey has been crashing some weddings in Oklahoma, collecting footage that will be seen on an episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show.
The first thing that strikes you about the beautiful Maharashtrian actress Manasi Salvi is her eyes, huge and expressive, and the young lady sure knows how to accentuate them. The next thing is her smile, which she doles out, in good measure. Her face is not new to the small screen. She has shows like Aashirwad, Koi Apna Sa and Saarthi to her credit.
ARIES : A calm and happy week is indicated with the Eight of Swords card and there would be understanding and tolerance towards differences of opinion with other family members. Sunday is good day to tackle difficult task. Change on all levels tend to be beneficial during full moon on 15th. A new understanding dawns as such you can spread your wings and fly free. House & office spaces lend new ambience and energy. Lucky colour : Crimson TIP OF THE WEEK : Avoid gossip sessions.
LIBRA : “ The Hanged Man” firing up tour key planet Mars. tempting you to set big changes in motion. Think twice before moving into action. A Taurus person support you financially as he also stands to gain from a project. Work will be hectic and you could be stressed on Monday. Be careful don’t lose your temper even if you are provoked. Your love life will be smooth sailing and spending time with your partner will help you relax. Lucky colour : Baby pink. TIP OF THE WEEK : Be articulate to prevent people for making their own
conclusion.
TAURUS : Your card “The Sword” represents light and clarity. You can be original courageous and creative in different aspects. Love relationship flower with time & patience. You have the courage to express your true feelings and emotions in a romantic involvement Avoid mental stress to avert a health problem. A celebration or travel over land is just on the cards. You are likely to go on shopping spree on Monday. Lucky colour :Pink. TIP OF THE WEEK: Take limited risks while speculating.
SCORPIO:
“ The Fool” card suggests you to take some calculated risk. You will encounter an Aries person who will change your life. Finance will improve on Wednesday. Concentrate on your goals and achievements and plan your professional strategy. Don’t hesitate to speak about your love. Look for depth of feeling and character when choosing a partner. Work project and business ventures move ahead smoothly. Lucky colour: Sky blue. TIP OF THE WEEK: Try not to get carried away by your initial success.
GEMINI : “The Queen of Cups” infuses trust and friendship. A romantic and dreamy time gives you the break. You are right not to rush into things, but others will not wait forever. Things have been all work and no play and you have let things get out of balance recently. Luxury shopping may burn a hole in your pocket on Wednesday. Party and fun times are here and its good to catch up with old friends. Lucky colour: Pink. TIP OF THE WEEK: You shall prevent a lot of trouble by taking timely action.
SAGITTARIUS : “The Moon” takes you through a difficult karmic situation. Work will progress satisfactorily. You may be in an irritable mood on Saturday Watch your temper and do not let it overwhelm you. If the stress is too much, close your door and go it alone. On Wednesday give a little extra quality time to your loved ones. With everything out of the way, you can relax a bit on Thursday. Get plenty of rest, and eat right also. Lucky colour: creamy white. TIP OF THE WEEK: Don’t try to end all the deadlock at one go.
CANCER : “The Nine of Pentacles” showers blessing on lovers. Your destiny may well be handed to you and it may help you to make your dreams come true. Your ambitious nature may sometimes attract criticism, so try to be careful on Friday. People are attracted to you for your intelligent mind and gift of communication. Be in touch with your sense of humour. A Scorpio
person influences your decision and moves into a progressive direction. Lucky colour : Rainbow pastels. TIP OF THE WEEK : Don’t waste an opportunity by being rash or impulsive.
CAPRICORN : “The Emperor” gets you in touch with you leadership qualities. You are best to stick to yourself on Saturday. You will find yourself more than capable of bringing your dreams into reality. Running and playing with your beloved or one who is extremely attractive will make you a star on Wednesday. Avoid serious discussions with loved ones on Thursday. Every day jobs look daunting from the outside, but just say “YES” and you’ll be incredibly fortunate. Friday, flirty romance puts you on top of the world. Lucky Colour:Golden. TIP OF THE WEEK: Be articulate to prevent people from making their own conclusions. 
LEO : Lady Luck walks with you, so make the most of her. A land deal may come your way on Tuesday. On the relationship front, things are totally breezy, though you may find yourself worrying about your mate’s health. Revel in all the peace and happiness as the planets form a girdle to support you. Deep feelings and emotions can be expressed finally to a Taurean friend. Offer
praise and thanks wherever deserved. Lucky colour: Golden Yellow. TIP OF THE WEEK: Plan your life to avoid the inbuilt delays that comes your way.
AQUARIUS : You draw “ Six of Wands” which helps you in professional work. Don’t get into any argument on Saturday. A visit to religious place on Sunday will bring peace and solace to you. Take the yogic help to relax and overcome your anxiety disorder and to live happily too. Give a little now and you will get more back later. You will have a lazy morning and busy afternoon on Thursday. Lucky colour:
Purple. TIP OF THE WEEK: Watch your action at work and polish your public relation skills.
VIRGO : “The Empress” card says you would be meeting a powerful person who might help you in your work. Share your views & feelings with friends on Sunday. Do a little charity on Tuesday. Family and loved ones will offer you moral support and give you strength. Though you must learn to trust people, it is not wise to trust anyone blindly. A favourable shift or elevation is seen for employed. Defer new ventures. Money flow may cause anxiety. Lucky Colour: Black. TIP OF THE WEEK: Emphasis on spiritual needs.
PISCES:
“ The Ace of Pentacles” shows a time for wishes to come true. Be careful of jealous people on Tuesday. Investments in shares and property will fetch good returns. A Scorpio and Leo person can be relied upon. It is best to live in the moment totally and spontaneously to enjoy whatever life brings. A frequent change of mood is likely on Monday. Further studies will help fine-tune your capabilities to perfection. Lucky colour: Peacock blue. TIP OF THE WEEK: Allow a sick situation blow over before starting new.