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All ears to
the radio CAMPUS CAFE HOPSCOTCH Bring the
beach home FILM & FLASHION A gig with
Nikhil Guardian
angels Playing on Designs on
sound NEW RELEASES YOUTH SPEAK
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Not quite
Corporate
Has Madhur Bhandarkar been able to capture a real slice of life on celluloid of the corporate world today? City CEOs say a big NO.
Anandita Gupta meets men and women at the helm of affairs who are unhappy with such a depiction Canny CEO’s, dodgy dealmakers, ruthless rivalries, slimy swamis and share-market sharks: well that is supposed to be a slice of the corporate world. To top it all, a sultry leading lady styled in severe power suits with an equally severe ponytail. Sprinkled along is a dash of sex and scandal—item girls luring politicians, paid girls duping project heads and a corporate honcho being arrested for something her conscience never allowed her to do. Well, Bhandarkar has tried walking the tightrope (in his latest venture titled Corporate), mixing masala with hard-core realities.
Smart formula
After watching Madhur Bhandarkar’s Corporate, one is convinced that he is among the smartest of Bollywood filmmakers. For, while others scratch their heads off, searching for ideas, his formula remains simple, yet unbeatable. No, he does not ‘get inspired’ by those limelight-hogging Hollywood blockbusters and churn out a Hindi movie out of them. Rather, he picks up a clutch of headlines, twists them a little and lo, a Madhur Bhandarkar film is hitting the multiplexes. In his latest offering Corporate, Madhur peeps into the glitzy world of corporate identities. Like Chandni Bar and Page 3, Corporate promises to provide the nitty-gritty of a world that most commoners never knew of. But has he succeeded in delving deep in the murky corporate waters? We tried to sneak peak in some of the city’s swanky corporate offices and find out how much reality does the movie offer.
A disappointment
The masses don’t know battles fought in ostentatious offices and it is this aspect that can be rightly termed as one of the USP of the enterprise. But a majority of the corporate buff’s found the movie quite a disappointment.
According to Manmeet Mann, Senior Manager for Media and Communications, Fortis,“ The film depicts owner-dominated outfits rather than the professional value-based organisations, which are really the true corporates of today. Also the decision making process, as shown in the movie, lacks credibility and seems more to suit the script than the situation.”
“In trying to make the film ‘juicy’ for the audiences, the script-writer seems to have let his imagination run riot. The net result is a film that just makes you yawn and leaves you wondering how a person who made Page 3 could make such a film,” opines V S Chimni, CEO, Council for Citrus and Agro-Juicing, Punjab. Dirty games
Chips in Mohit Chitkara, Vice President, Chitkara Educational Trust, ”After Page 3, which was quite a factual depiction of the Bollywood and media, Corporate strikes as a total washout and let down.
Today’s corporates are not what the movie is all about. Just depicting the corporate sector, as a world filled with deceit and a corrupted mind is not done. How about the core professionalism, hard work, strategic planning and business ethics? The movie ignores all these aspects of corporate and hence seems far from reality.” So despite loud claims that the movie cleverly peels off the layer after layer of the dirty games played out in the business world, has the movie indeed failed in doing so? “Partially,” according to Prakash
Nanani, CEO, Spice Communications (Punjab and Karnataka). “Corporate game does revolve around those massive take-overs and stock exchange fluctuations. But, the movie mixes up personal with professional to get a wee bit melodramatic towards the end,” he muses.
Agrees INIFD Director, Ritu Kochhar, “The movie has beautifully presented the businessmen-politician nexus. It does touch the underbelly of some of the corporate malpractices. However, the reality shown tends to be more like the generic depiction of social reality than a specific peep into the corporate world.” Corporate buffs in the city, it seems, are not just happy with the depiction of surface reality. They wanted something more. Perhaps, a deeper insight into the subtle nitty-gritties of the world they are a part of.
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Parbina Rashid meets Megha Vaid, the ‘Most Indian Indian’ to be found in the exotic Caribbean islands Megha Vaid’s claim to fame is not just her famous father Umesh Kant but the Indianness she has retained in her in the distant islands of Caribbean. A dental surgeon by qualification, when Megha took up a prestigious teaching assignment at St. Georges University and School of Medicine in Grenada, Caribbean Island, she also took it upon her to spread a little Indian values among her colleagues and students. During one year of her stay, Megha has managed to achieve what she aimed for. Spreading awareness about Indian culture, values and of course a lot of Bhangra steps. So much so that her effort was acknowledged by the Indian Cultural Student Association there and she was awarded with the ‘Most Indian Indian’ award. “There are about 500 Indian students and faculty members at St. Georges University who have formed the association,” says Megha who is poised and excited at the same time to share her wonderful experiences. “Every year the association organises cultural shows to celebrate Divali and Holi and during one such occasion the award was given to me,” she adds. A trained Kathak dancer, Megha got everyone involved in her choreographic item that she presented there. Well, this pretty lady is adventurous to the core! Besides proving herself and her students that she is capable of teaching students twice her age, she has also conquered the highest mountain peak in Grenada and tried her hand successfully at scuba diving. “Mt. St. Katherine is about 300 mts high and the best part is that no woman has scaled it so far,” says Megha, narrating her harrowing experience of hiking up to the highest point after combating with deadly insects and leeches in the dense tropical forest at its foothills. Next came scuba diving. “I wanted to do something different and seeing the underwater world is what caught my fancy. So I took lessons and went into the ocean, as deep as 80 feet below,” she tells her story, giving goose-bumps to her parents who are absolutely against her underwater adventure. And the next in her agenda is skydiving. “I have conquered the mountain top and gone under the sea and now I want to have a feel of the space,” she says, her eyes full of promises. Now that’s what we call the spirit!
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A yogi’s mission Yoga and sculptures? Not hard to imagine the connection as we are used to see various forms of yogis captured by many sculptors, be it at the ancient temples or museums around the country. But when a third angle, a bunch of cards are thrown into it, we get a little confused and grasping for the connecting thread, we approach Paul, aka P. S. Sawhney for a proper explanation. Spreading joy
As the explanation comes from the man, who had just come out of the hospital after suffering a minor heart problem, things fall into place and we become the part of a larger picture. The picture of man who is interested in giving something back for no other reason that the world has given him a happy and contented life. “I have lived a complete life, I have achieved whatever there was to achieve and now I want to spread this message of joy through yoga, which gave me my life and health,” says
Sawhney, who is on the wrong side of sixties, but full of vitality and zest for life, despite the minor set back he recently had. A way out
Yoga is his lifeline and sculpting is his passion. He wanted to combine both to spread health. And after he retired from Central Polytechnic, Chandigarh in 1996, he has been actively pursuing his dream. He made a series of sculptures on various asanas (as many as 20 asanas) to bring awareness. But it proved to be a costly affair for both, the artist and the viewers— too heavy and expensive for Paul to carry around to different exhibition venues and equally expensive for his target group to buy one of his metal statues. So he brought in the card angle. Printed cards with a statue showing a particular asana with a little description at the back what the asana is meant for. “This way I can reach out to a wider audience. In fact I am distributing them free to all, targeting the school kids. I want them to use my cards as bookmarks so that the image gets imprinted in their minds and they come around to practice it,” says
Sawhney. His last exhibition in Shanghai proved to be a big success. Yogic journey
His yogic journey started in the late 60s when he joined a yoga center near Pune to get rid of his chronic ailments. Cured he was and in that process he developed a bond with this art. “Media is doing a good job at promoting yoga and beyond doubt it has caught the fancy of our younger generation. But do not forget yoga has always been there with us and it is not a fad or passing fancy,” says
Sawhney. What about the religious sentiment attached with it? “I am not religious person, not even a spiritual one. I am just a health enthusiast,” says the yogi. So if you see the statue of a huge Buddha meditating at his backyard, do not jump into any conclusion. “My religion does not permit to make statues of our Gurus, so I take inspiration from elsewhere. But religious sentiment does not taint my work in anyway,” he confirms. So what’s next? “I would like to see the yoga park, which was proposed by the Chnadigarh Administration in the early 90s, come up during my lifetime,” he says. He is ready with the preliminary works for the park; as many as 20 metallic statues in different yoga postures. A yogi to the core!
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All ears to the radio
Tracking radio news is his passion and now Sukant Gupta has set a record, reports
Gayatri Rajwade One Morphy Richards radio, 16 years and 22,552 pages later Additional Public Prosecutor (Punjab) Sukant Gupta, finds pride of place in the Limca Book of Records 2006 for, to put it quite simply, tracking events! Call him the “amateur collector” as he likes to refer to himself for what started out as a few scribbles of information turned into “taking copious notes that never got destroyed” and today these sheaves of paper constitute a record! No casual aficionado this for we are talking about a regular radio news buff. Since March 20, 1990 Sukant has been listening to the international current affairs news capsule on BBC World Service and has painstaking hand-written every single news item which is not only cross-referenced but is also filled into a detailed index register for quick and easy perusal! The drill is set for 4:30 pm with the first bulletin and then an update and a re-check on information at 10:30 pm during the second news reportage. So is this qualified as a fetish, we ask? “I never started this with the idea of making a record,” smiles
Sukant, “I was doing my research in International Law and started this to keep abreast of international news around the world.” A few notes, a couple of scrawls and the passion had struck! “This is like any other routine activity for me, like having a cup of tea in the morning. I would not qualify it as an obsession but I do feel incomplete if I do not do this,” and yes his wife does makes allowances for his zeal too! What is more Sukant’s doctoral thesis in 1997 at the prestigious School of Oriental and African Studies
(SOAS) in England also emanated from his habit of cross-referencing news items. “There was a need to redefine sovereignty and I outlined more than 20 different types of intervention including cultural, legal even espionage. I realised no country stands alone and that intervention is not necessarily military.” However at the receiving end of racial discrimination at the school and Sukant left his thesis midway and came back. His then pioneering work on ‘Reconceptualising Foreign Intervention and Sovereignty of States in an Age of Globalisation,’ sadly remained incomplete but his passion for news and yes life continues unabated. A thriving private practice, two published books, one on current affairs and another for the Civil Service Preliminary Exams
(CSPE) in 1990, this former Deputy Advocate-General (Punjab and Haryana High Court) and currently Additional Public Prosecutor, has also taught law at Panjab University for five years. Yes, he has his fingers in many pies, he is a maverick, a non-conformist he admits but “if living life wholeheartedly constitutes being free spirited, then I am one,” he smiles. So armed with his ‘news kit’—a 9-band portable short wave radio, an ancient clutch pencil and reams of paper we leave him to catch his evening news bulletin, in long hand with no abbreviations, and pots of enthusiasm. The Guinness Book of World Records comes next perhaps!
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Back to future
Life is back on the fast track of excitement for the youngsters of colleges across the city, finally reopening for the new academic session. After staying indoors, or out of the city, for most part of their two-month long break, so many of them are out in the open again for savouring the salad days. If you still haven’t witnessed all the commotion and excitement in the scholastic world, worry not. You still have time to see it all. Just hop into your car and drive down the comfort lane winding its way to the academic environs of the city. No need for you to go to the college campuses. For, the happy hunting grounds are located not inside the institutes, but around these. All you have to do is to cruise down the geri route and find enough clues hinting at the return of normalcy in the academic circles. As the Monsoon winds blow soft across their fair visages, the young couples zip away from the loathsome and voluminous books all the way to exhilaration on their single cylinder flying machines called motorbikes. Silky brown tresses highlighted with golden streaks, clasped together with the help of rubber bands, struggle to break free as the damsels sitting on the pillion hold the riders tight across the waists while cutting loose from the traditional norms set by the society. Showers are no dampeners as they enjoy the whisper of the pitter-patter after rushing inside the coffee bars situated bang on the geri route. A cool cocktail of hot hip-hop numbers bellowing out of the computerized juke box and sparkling cut glass filled to the brim with “tropical ice-berg.” There is nothing else they want. Some of the shops on the geri route too have geared up to welcome the newcomers to the bon-ton world of glamour. In fact, The Jewels in Sector 11 is offering discount to the freshers. “The freshers simply have to show their identity cards and walk out of the showroom with chunk jewellery and other stuff at discounted prices,” says Yogender Kumar, proprietor of The Jewels. Located next-door, another card and gift shop Dewsun has put up an impressive banner across the glass door for receiving the freshers. “We want the youngsters coming from different parts of the city, and even the region, to feel at home,” says Krishna Sahoonja of Dewsun. Flashing a broad smile, she adds: “In case they are feeling homesick, or missing the company of their friends, they can simply walk into the shop and pick up a nice card with warm message printed across. Basically, we have been spreading happiness among the students since 1976”. So guys, be a part of the happening crowd, now. To college, with love
On the campuses across the city, it’s a blend of apprehension and excitement with the anxious freshers pouring in to celebrate an occasion called college life after leaving behind their rugged school bags and uniforms in the closets. For first-year Arts student Aarti Mehta, things are not very difficult with the girl next door as a senior. But for others like Nisha Chopra in Chandigarh all the way from a small town near Shimla, it’s the fear of ragging and the unknown that’s making the stay initially so uncomfortable. “On the first day, things were not so bad,” says Chopra. “We even had the seniors shaking hands and welcoming all the freshers to the college. But I am not sure whether things will remain the same in the coming days.” Well, Chopra, ragging is banned in the colleges and other educational institutes. In fact, almost all the institutes across the city have put up notices announcing the ban. So, just do not hesitate in informing the college authorities in case you feel harassed. — Saurabh Malik
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HOPSCOTCH
Drama, it is said, is nothing but life with the boring parts cut out. So this week one wishes to hop and scotch across the gamut of theatre, talking a little about drama in life and drama on stage; of plays enacted, to be enacted and plays that will never be enacted; of well-timed entries and ill-timed exits. The show must go on nevertheless. The dramatic instinct is very strong with the Indians, which is the land of the Natya Shastra with natak having been formally staged for over a thousand years and its origins considered divine. That, of course, is the formally staged drama. There is no beginning or end to the drama that goes on endlessly in life. In fact, the decline of drama in present times, but for the raunchy bedroom comedies slickly packaged in Mumbai town, is attributed to the very natural dramatic instinct of the average Indian. A critic with his eyes to the West once came out with a quip: “There is so much drama in everyday Indian life that there is no need to do it on stage.” Ha! That’s a wise one but no messing around with folks for whom drama is divinity. The debut
My own dramatic instincts had to be restricted to life because I never quite got the stage break that I deserved. As a ten-year-old my landlady’s daughter made me a guard in a play in which she was playing the queen. However, I went into nervous peals of laughter to the great annoyance of the group. Next time GCG-11, vintage 1975, as a third-year student, I was given the part of a catatonic schizophrenic in the enacting of mental disorders in the annual presentation of the Psychology Society. I was to sit still with my legs crossed and the maniac was to come in and raise my arm up and put it down after she did her long part front stage. Well, she made her exit forgetting to put my arm down. Bravely, I held my arm up a long time till it became something like the Leaning Tower of Pizza. Never mind, as a reward I was given a consolation prize. But one is till not quite consoled. True tale
In recent times one of the most emotive plays
that moved from real life to stage was a sisterly act wrought by Madeeha
Gauhar, well-known theatre director of the Ajoka group in Lahore.
Madeeha who was in the city recently with her group of actors doing a
workshop with Neelam Mansingh Chowdhry in a collaborative production to
follow. Aik thhi Naani, brought together on stage veteran actors who
were also sisters, Zohra Butt and Zohra Sehgal. The story of these two
sisters was in a way the story of the sub-continent torn into two. These
two bright actors of the IPTA days were separated by the Partition.
Zohra continued to pursue theatre in India and Uzra had to give it all
up in Lahore. But in 1999 the two ageing ladies got together on stage.
“It was such a thrilling experience and people who watched the play in
Delhi and Mumbai were moved to tears, “ recalls Madeeha. Rasa
eggs
One knows of scrambled eggs, boiled eggs, well-oiled eggs but what
on earth are Navarasa eggs? Well it so happened that in the course of
this Indo-Pak workshop, one actor on this side from this side of the
border swallowed two uncooked eggs while emoting adhbuta rasa
(wonderment). The very non-vegetarian cast from Lahore was rather taken
aback by it. “What was that?” remarked one. “Well, he did leave us
wondering,” quipped another. “No, he left us bhibasta or
disgusted.” What followed was a long discussion on what the Navrasa
eggs should be and the common consensus was that these should be the
desi murgi eggs with deep yellow yokes and not these mass-produced eggs
that never hatch! — Nirupama Dutt
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Bring the beach home
Teenagers are no longer children but morphing individuals who need their own space for discovery and creativity. It's time to say goodbye to stuffed animals for an inviting space filled with productivity and fun. Teenagers are recreating who they are and need the privacy and space to flourish. Here are a few ideas to help create a space that affords comfort and plenty of privacy. And parents, please knock! Serious teenagers may prefer a more formal bedroom. Choose reduced scale grownup accent pieces that ensure interiors formal, yet impishly elegant. The trick to achieving a formal look in a child's room is to steer clear of all the character inspired furniture and furnishings. The florescent colors that are now the rage will also throw off a more formal look. Stick to colors in soft neutral tones and rich fabric choices. Fine satin takes bedding ensemble to the next level. Create drama with bed set in full billowing bed skirt or a fine tweed box pleat bed skirt for your son's room. Have furniture that has flair of grown up formal flair but in smaller dimensions. A reduced sized chair and ottoman in rich saddle brown leather will make the teenager suddenly feel important and hopefully responsible too! Opt for furniture, which encourages de-cluttering. Keep wall colours muted but get interesting patterns painted on one wall of the room. You may have chosen soft lilac for your teenaged daughter. Ask the painter to prepare three lilac shades darker than each other. Get the softest lilac for the remaining walls and use the rest to create circles or balloons rising high in varying shades of lilac behind the headboard. You could get stripes or cubes painted in the boy's room. Choose artwork that is sophisticated, yet will pique the interest of your teenager. Inexpensive prints by Van Gogh will serve well in their room. Dali will encourage them to think beyond possibilities whilst Monet is perfect for girls. Waterhouse and Rossetti leave impressions on the most unimpressionable teenagers, whilst Escher simply defies logic. Choose a piece that gels with color scheme. You will have an educational piece that may spark your teenager's interest in their chosen field in general and in arts at large. However, if your teenager's idea of a good time is a day at the beach, then bring the beach home. Ask your painter to brush waves on too half of the walls. Turn an ordinary lampshade into a seashore beauty by gluing small shells on the shade. Just string some shells together with fishing line, and attach your creation to a clothes hanger to create an instant eye-catcher. Convert a corner of your teenager's room into the ultimate beachfront play area. Just set up a beach umbrella, and lay a blanket or beach chair underneath. They are sure to love playing or reading in this fun-filled corner, and the best part-there's no sunscreen required! Use inflated chairs to park their friends and upturned plastic buckets for tables. You may choose to have sandcastle shaped bed or just hang multi-hued beach sarongs from a small half-round canopy stuck on the wall behind the headboard. Liven up your child's bed with a few pillows sewn from beach towels. Update a plain dresser quickly and easily by removing the old knobs, and replacing them with seashell shaped knobs. To further personalize the dresser, cut stick some of your family's beach pictures around the dresser. Pick up a few more beach towels, and you have the makings for the perfect window treatments. You have just turned your teenager's room into a beach escape, and every day promises to be a vacation! Courtsey: A.P. Singh
Besten & Co.
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Beyonce turns sexier
‘Bootylicious’ Beyonce is looking stunning with her svelte and willowy figure in her latest photo shoot for a US magazine Gaint after losing a whopping 9 kg. The singer said that she is thrilled with her sexy and sultry photo shoot. The photo spread will show Beyonce’s saucy side. It will feature her in a cheeky shower shot, as well as one parading around in lingerie with curlers in her hair dressed in red attire. Nick craves for love
Pop singer Nick Lachey who is now officially divorced from Dukes of Hazzard babe Jessica Simpson, said though his marriage with Simpson failed, he still believes in love, and is craving to be in a monogamous relationship once again. “Of course I still believe in love. I’ve always enjoyed being in a situation that is comfortable, a monogamous situation”, Contactmusic quoted him, as saying. He also insisted that both he and Jessica have moved on since the couple split in November, 05. However, not long ago, despite reports of a high profile romance with Minnillo, Lachey had admitted that he is not sure if he will ever completely get over his ex-wife. Red bonding
Sir Paul McCartney and Mick Jagger have something more in common than just being two of the most famous rock stars of the 70’s, and it is their fondness for auburn hair. Following in his friendly rival’s footsteps, Sir Jagger has also dyed his hair red. It came as surprise to everyone, as from the music they played, to the clothes they wore, the Beatles and The Rolling Stones always made every effort to stand apart from each other. According to the Daily Mail, 63-year-old Jagger showed off his new locks as the band launched the European leg of their A Bigger Bang tour in Milan on July 11.
Meanwhile, Jagger is dating his young girlfriend, L’Wren Scott who is a model and a stylist. Lennon gets fiery
The son of Beatles legend John Lennon will be releasing his second album titled Friendly Fire, eight years after his debut solo album hit the music stores. Friendly Fire will reportedly be released in September this year on Capitol Records, and will follow his earlier album Into the Sun, which was released in 1998. Lennon described Friendly Fire as an experiment to see what it might be like to do music more publicly again, after limiting his recent recorded output to collaborations with artists such as Ben Lee, Thurston Moore, Ryan Adams and his mother, Yoko Ono.
He further said that though he didn’t pursue music commercially during his long break from the business, he was in touch with his musical roots.
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A gig with Nikhil Lean physique, boyish looks, sporty wristbands and a handful of finger rings, he certainly knows how to play a funky cool dude. Nikhil’s hip music keeps the guys swooning and the chicks drooling over his goatee and
cute looks. An architecture graduate, Nikhil just loves the serenading ambience of Chandigarh. “The simplicity, green spaces, well-planned roads and architectural structure, everything is just magnificent in Chandigarh.” says, chirpy
Chinnapa. Talking about the popularity of Punjabi-pop, Nikhil says, “It has taken over the whole world. The natural rhythm and tempo of ‘dhol’ has a universal appeal to it.” His select list of tracks changes every 2-3 weeks to get the crowds rocking and guessing! The “new stuff”, he is rocking the clubs in international electronic dance music. Teaming up with international VJs in an underground group Submerge, Nikhil says, “The group plays best House music on every Thursday in clubs.” He describes it as a “completely different experience” for party boppers enjoying the cutting edge music on the international circuit. So all you party animals, get ready for high-energy underground submerge gigs this season! Besides clubbing, Nikhil tries his hand at white water rafting, trekking, sky diving, scuba diving and has struck gold in rifle shooting! A voracious reader, he has just finished reading Lord of the Rings. He listens to electronic lounge, American blues, house, club tunes and all kinds of music but his all time favourite album is Faithfully by Journey. The whacky VJ idolises Roger Sanchez. So what makes the Banglorean such a live wire chatterbox, pat comes the reply, “coffee.” He has the knack of gauging the mood of crowd in no time and then making them dance to his tunes at his will. He reveals, “With 15 years of playing music in clubs, the experience comes in handy and you got to be observant to the crowd’s reaction but all said and done, there is no guarantee.” But for party freaks, Nikhil Chinnapa is a guarantee of delirious fun and enjoyment, they just say; let music be the food of love, play on and on.
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Guardian angels
To be the progeny of a celebrity in any realm of art is indeed a blessing but at the same time challenging too, as one expects one to excel or at least emulate his mentor and Guru,” observed Ritesh and Rajneesh, the Junior Mishra Bandhus and sons of the illustrious Pandit Rajan Mishra. The handsome vocalists have now been fully transformed into an accomplished duo but claim to be only beginners. The duo was in the city to perform and demonstrate for the students of Saket School, courtesy Spic Macay. Talking to the Lifestyle, young Ritesh, who is often mistaken for a film star, feels the Indian classical music is as a charismatic phenomenon and an eternal bliss for us and for every one who ventures deep into its finer nuances. “Both Rajneesh and I carry a musical legacy and we brought up in a ambience surrounded in the sounds of Tanpura, Sarangi and ragas. Much before we learnt the alphabets our musical started under the guidance of our grandfather Pandit Hanuman Parshad and Pandit Gopal Mishra, the great Sarangi maestros,” said Ritesh. However, their mentors and gurus, Pandit Rajan Mishra and Pandit Sajan Mishra, great exponents of the Benaras Gharana, had sharpened their skills. Reminiscing the musical journey from their maiden public performance at the age of seven and nine to their performance at Theatre La Villa in Paris last month, Ritesh recounts the amount of tough training under the Mishra Bandhus and strenuous riyaz besides academics at the Delhi University. Both are A-grade artistes of the All-India Radio and Doordarshan and decorated with the prestigious ‘Yuva Ratna’ award for the year 1999 besides a galaxy of honours. Fully adept at singing khayal, tappa, tarana thumri and bhajans they are destined to carry forward and embellish the tradition of the Benaras Gharana.
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Playing on
A big question mark awaits theatre graduates on graduation for what lies ahead is a long struggle. Such few opportunities await them. Survival means making a dash to Dilli or Mumbai for bit roles on the small screen to begin with, playing anchor to corporate road shows or doing workshops with brats. The intense urge to act and direct a play is often stifled and this is theatre’s loss. But it is heartening to meet a couple of theatre freaks, who have passed out from the Department of Indian Theatre and are all set to stage a play in the city in the next couple of months. They are P. Chandra Shekhar and Vijay Kumar and what they are planning is not a ‘monsoon wedding’ as may be misconstrued from the hugging pose. What they have in mind is a very serious play called Dayan, based on a story by Mahashweta Devi. Shekhar, who before joining the department had been a theatre activist in Bihar, first staged the play as a department project two years ago. “I liked the story so much for it had a strong social message. I adapted it myself and the students enacted it in the realistic form with music intervening.” Students who acted in the play found it an exhilarating experience. However, not many got a chance to see that play. Now, Shekhar along with Vijay Kumar, Sanjay Bhatt and a few others are all set to take the play to a larger audience in the city. Vijay had worked with theatre groups in Mandi before he came to the city to learn it formally. With an intense interest and masters in music, he hopes to give some fine live music to the play. “The play has a strong women’s theme and it addresses the prejudices that prevail in a tribal society,” says Vijay. “The story transcends the tribal society that it represents and has a universal message. So one looks forward to what these brave new kids on the theatre block have to say.
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Vishal Dadlani is the
partner of Shekhar, the music composer of Bluffmaster. The music
composer of Bluffmaster super hit song Right here Right
now Vishal Dadlani spoke to The Tribune about his music. Bluffmaster
has made waves and I sincerely praying and hoping that this leads to
meatier assignments. I want to exhibit our range. I want a soulful
quality in our songs that can only come from acoustics", says
Vishal Dadlani music composer cum lyrics writer. Dadlani claims that
their music is different and innovative because of a lot of stress on
sound design. Vishal Dadlani also uses new signers. As musicians Vishal
is satisfied with his work. He has a good stock as well as understanding
of what goes into good film music. Our music styling and rhyming are
different and not clicked. Coming up, adds Vishal are interesting
projects like Golmaal, Yash Chopra’s Tara Rum Pum,
Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd., Anubhav Sinha’s two projects Cash
and Airport. In short, Vishal conclude, music has become more of
showmanship and marketing. Making good music today is nothing less than
a challenge. — D.P.
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Another comic caper for unlimited fun
Following the
success of Garam Masala, Maalamal Weekly and Phir Hera Pheri,
comic capers are the season’s flavour now. From a hilarious 2005, the
season of comic capers still continues. The week ahead will witness a
release of another comedy ‘Golmaal". It has a baseline
"Fun Unlimited." This Rohit Shetty film has been produced by
Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision Ltd in association with K. Sera Sera
Productions Ltd. ‘Golmaal’ is riding squarely on the shoulder of
promising director Rohit Shetty. The movie will see a release today at
Batra, Chandigarh and Fun Republic, Manimajra. Starring the quartet of
Ajay Devgan, Arshad Warsi, Sharman Joshi and Tusshar Kapoor along with
the viewers’ favourite Paresh Rawal. ‘Golmaal’ has only one
heroine Rimi Sen of ‘Phir Hera Pheri’ fame. The film revolves
around four guys, bound together by their child-like notoriety,
aimlessness and petty business of conning people for fun and money. ‘Golmaal’
has already created some curiosity around it due to a comedy look. One
expects a rollicking sound track from music composer duo Vishal-Shekhar.
They promise to return with a bang with this film. Vishal Dadlani and
Kumar has penned the lyrics for this comic caper. — D.P.
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Failures are pillars to success
There is very little difference between failure and success as there is between being sublime and being stupid. My father’s posting in different places, as he was a civil servant, led to my failure. It was only he who could guide me in my studies when I was in the Sacred Heart Convent School, Sarabha Nagar, Ludhiana. Studies became very hard for me without guidance. Every new day brought a new failure. Nothing helped me in coping-up with my studies. One day I questioned myself about my failures and made a point to concentrate as I heard that concentration is the best weapon to erode any failure. This thing entered in my brain and it paved the way for my success. I successfully brought smiles to my graceful parents. No one can teach anyone but failure can do wonders. Failure is such a tunnel through which, when one passes, he either lives among the legends or dies in the zone of the unknown.
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Health tip of the day
In spite of diet control and a regular physical regimen some people do not lose weight. The culprit could be alcohol consumption because alcohol is directly absorbed from the stomach into the blood stream and easily stored as fat. —
Dr Ravinder Chadha |
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TAROT TALK
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Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | |
Faithful companions come in all shapes and sizes, but how about the good old radio taking you right into the pages of history no less! 
Guys who drooled over her and girls who died of envy when she appeared and swept viewers away by her Crazy In Love video, should hold on to their breath, as former ‘Destiny’s Child’ star Beyonce’s figure has become even more sexy.
He revels his job at turntables, scratching, mixing and selecting club tracks. MTV VJ Nikhil Chinnapa loves doing anything that’s got to do with music. Hip-hop, house, trance, reggae or hugely popular
Indi-pop, DJ Chinnapa has soaked the ‘feel’ for every kind.
Musical duos have
become a tradition in Bollywood and who has not heard about
Kalyanji-Anandji, Anand-Milind, Mandhir-Jatin, Jatin-Lalit, (now
separated) Sajid-Wajid, Bapi-Tutul and Salim Suleiman. Vishal-Shekhar
represents the young music genre of this convention. Vishal Dadlani
along with Shekhar have composed the music for Pyar Mein Kabhi Kabhi,
Jhankar Beats, Dus, Musafir and Salaam Namaste.
This duo takes the easy way out-one catchy hit song per film gets a
producer to shop yet again at this one hit shop.
Who likes to fail? No one. The word ‘failure’ is the most hated-one. But still it’s said, “Failures are the pillars to success.” What a paradox! Whosoever hears it for the first time, please think it over. Failure either stoops a person to defeat or makes a person touch the highest peak of success. It is only this, which teaches facing the crude realities of life. We realise by our mistakes and mend them for our betterment.
ARIES: A bright and cheerful start to the week. Outing with friends would be entertaining but highly expensive, especially if you don't learn to say no. This is definitely not the best period to speculate or invest in risky business. The journey you are embarking on now is one you will never regret making. TIP OF THE WEEK: Don't do anything at the cost of health. Time will heal all pains and wounds. Lucky colour: Cream.
LIBRA: A wonderful week it seems that your need for love, affection and enjoyment of life will be strong than it has been for some time. The people that come into your life during this time are likely to be of benefit to you in some way - in a broad sense it looks as though Lady Luck will be hovering around you. Lucky colour: Red. TIP OF THE WEEK: Be grateful for the gains coming your way instead of longing for out of reach things or people.
TAURUS: Investing in property, farming, or domestic goods could pay off in a big way. If you receive a handsome dividend, set it aside for your family. Think it thorough before making a choice that'll have major long-term effects. Unexpected gifts and presents from guests arrive as your fortune fairly smiles. TIP OF THE WEEK: You need to take things slowly and listen to your inner voice. Lucky colour: White.
SCORPIO: Your errands, appointments etc. start easing off and you can finally relax. Money, however, will still be a little short for the next few weeks as you play "catch up" with the bills. Don't be too pushy, smothering or argumentative. Lucky Colour: Crimson. TIP OF THE WEEK: Versatile and quick-silver mind will bail you out of situation.
GEMINI: You need to be diplomatic and avoid the impulse to be domineering. Independent entrepreneurs will be working hard at new project that they are due to launch soon. The joys of sharing are prominent in your love relationship and you are not going to let anything in the world interfere with it. TIP OF THE WEEK: You will be happier if you retain the fruit of your hard work. Lucky colour: Sky blue
SAGITTARIUS: The emphasis this week is upon creativity, children and love affairs. Pursue your creative and profitable hobby. Selective speculation in real estate and stocks will be highly rewarding. An important message would bring in happiness for the entire family. Pleasure trips and social get-togethers would add to your joy. Lucky colour: Bottle Green. TIP OF THE WEEK: Be honest to your desires.
CANCER: Your energy would be high and you would feel strong enough to face any challenges. Sensitive people need careful handling. Romance is dull. Schedule no important business discussions on Tuesday. A close associate brings a disturbing news on Wednesday. The health of a child may create problem. Lucky colour: Saffron. TIP OF THE WEEK: Think positive and be optimistic.
CAPRICORN: A good time is ahead to undertake new projects. Your physical and mental vitality is at a high point. Those who praise you on your face and talk ill behind your back should be shown the door. Finance will rise though expenditure too will increase. Lucky Colour: Black. TIP OF THE WEEK: New offers must be put on hold as their outcome is uncertain. 
LEO: "The Magus" brings moments, change and travel. Your professional competencies really come to the fore. Multifarious activities can be tiring on Friday. Meditate to balance yin and yang energies. Be in touch with your sense of humors. A strange personal encounter can throw you off balance on Thursday. Lucky colour: Silver. TIP OF THE WEEK: If you are tempted to travel overseas don't waste money by financing the trip yourself.
AQUARIUS: "The Prince of Wands" comes riding with a promise of power and energy. Your sense of humour takes you smoothly out of difficult situations. New beginnings and new opportunities play an important role. Decide if you want to be a member of the pack or a leader and then give your full energy into manifesting that reality. Health issues should be dealt with effectively. Lucky Colour: Rust. TIP OF THE WEEK: Balance in all aspects is recommended.
VIRGO: Your heart chakra is energised and there is a feeling of goodwill, luxury, love and friendship around you. Act accordingly to what you know to be right rather than on the basis of what other people want. You may feel oppressed by situations when people around you wield authority and power ruthlessly. Lucky Colour: Lotus Pink. TIP OF THE WEEK: Do not cover up your own mistakes and keep the emotions aside.
PISCES: "The Hermit" inspires you to climb new heights and creative ideas. Your opinions are sought after by those around you. Think before you open your mouth to avoid misunderstandings. Health and physical energy is good but you need to take frequent breaks and watch out your diet and fitness routine. Lucky Colour: Pink. TIP OF THE WEEK: Don't be enthusiastic in finalising a particular deal.