 Sahnewal lad is 72
The heartthrob for many decades, Dharmendra, turns 72 today. Nirupama
Dutt pays a fond tribute to the most durable hero to have
emerged from the Punjabi heartland.
He was never a superstar, yet Dharmendra or Dharam Singh Deol, proved to
be one of the most constant actors, a true son of the soil, who stood his
ground well and proper while other heroes came and went. He had the
resilience of Tennyson’s little brook and the quality to go on forever.
He exuded such youth and flamboyance that it comes as a surprise that Garam
Dharam is all of 72 today. Although it should not be a surprise
because even his star sons Sunny and Bobby are middle-aged and even
daughter Esha Deol is getting on. Visualise Dharmendra and it is youth and
sensuality that greets the eye. The presence of Dharmendra Bhaji in
a film meant sure-shot success among the Punjabis, inviting claps,
catcalls, whistles and general exuberance. Born on December 8, 1935, in
Sahnewal off Ludhiana, arrived in Bombay town as a winner of the Filmfare
talent contest with nothing to speak for him but macho good looks and
confidence galore.
BIRTHDAY BOY: Dharmendra 
Cool Mum
Vivacious, lively and young
at heart Kirron Kher swept everyone off their feet with her theth Punjabi
accent and demeanour. Clad in a red and white polka dots salwar-kameez,
Kiron looked every inch a punjaban. Perhaps the most sought after ‘urban
mum’ in Bollywood, Kirron relates to the script of ‘Mummy ji’, for
which she is currently shooting in the city in more ways than one.
 French
connections
French interiors are certainly not limited to stiff formal living replete
with rich grandeur and exceedingly luxurious furniture and accessories.
French rustic sensibilities are equally charming and refreshing. Let’s
entice a little bit of French designs into our homes. A stunning arched
window will invite any visitor to sit and enjoy the view from the bay
window or a low height window. Don’t forget to include a coffee table
and deep sofa along with a few porcelains and a beaten old needlepoint rug
opposite a live fireplace. Put a lace tablecloth or tapestry runner over a
coffee table to add a quintessential charm to your living room.
FILM &
FASHION
Britney needs sorting out
Britney Spears mum, Lynne, has apparently decided to sort her girl out,
before it’s too late. Sources say that while Lynee “was relieved when
Spears dumped husband Kevin Federline,” she is devastated over her
daughter’s recent behaviour that has included flashing her crotch and
generally behaving like a party animal.
 Aesthetically
Asia
These “emerging” Asian
artists have come together under the unusual moniker, ‘Flux Asia’ and
as the name suggests, this exhibition is about the constant ebb and flow
of impressions, cultures and aesthetic values that these fourteen young
people gathered from all over the world, to bring their art. Seeped in the
traditional influences that art school in Shantiniketan exerts on them,
each still brings his own influences into the fray making for an
exhibition that is delightfully idiosyncratic. Hardeep Singh’s work is
marked by what he refers to as “photo-realistic work”. Working with
objects like flowers, vegetables, fruits, he makes them so large that they
lose their identity and take on an abstract appearance.
 Spark of
wisdom
Even before we put forward
our question on what exactly kindled a spark in him to compile the book,
Kindle the Spark, which was released amid much fanfare at the Rotary Zone
Institute recently, Shaju Peter makes his stand clear, “I am not a
writer. All I have written for this book is the acknowledgement bit that
appears on the back cover.”
INSPIRATIONAL ENDEAVOUR: Shaju Peter is all for spreading the words of wisdom.
— Photo by Manoj Mahajan
ART AS
THERAPY
The use of art has been extensively researched and applied world wide for
its power to positively affect cortical arousal, cognition, psychosocial
states, emotions, social skills, communication, physical and language
rehabilitation, besides stress and anxiety relief and strengthening of
immune system. The therapeutic powers of work are all too well known.
Music is prescribed for the depressed.
 Bonded in Art
The title is ‘Pixel
Perfection’ and as the couple takes its seats, ready to talk about their
first-ever exhibition together, they paint the picture of a ‘perfect
couple’. Guneeta Chadha is not an unfamiliar name in the art circle. As
a member of “We”, city-based women’s art body, we have seen her
paintings before. Hubby Rajesh Chadha, too, has made his name with a
couple of shows on graphic paintings.
COUPLING ART: Rajesh and Guneeta Chadha.
— Photo by Pradeep Tewari
Kaifi Aur
Main mesmerises
Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar play mum and dad in the play with aplomb in
New York, reports Rabia Tewari
Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar
enthralled the audience at Alice Tully Hall on December 3 with their
phenomenal performance as they brought to life some of the most memorable
moments from the lives of renowned Urdu poet and film lyricist Kaifi Azmi
and his wife, noted theatre and film actress, Shaukat Kaifi. Kaifi Aur
Main, a celebration of the life and works of Kaifi Azmi, left the
audience mesmerised, spellbound and some even in tears.
Cool
Chrysanthemums
Gunita Gill, who revels in
cultivating the blooms in her beautiful home in Mansa Devi Complex, got
together her female friends for an annual round of a cuppa midst the
flowers. This is the time when Gunita, a doctor by profession who has shed
the anesthetist’s mask to pursue her hobbies, gets together her
batchmates along with many other friends gathered down the years.
BEAUTY BLOOMS: Gunita Gill cultivates varieties of chrysanthemum in
her little garden |
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NEW RELEASES
Trendy family drama
After Baghban B.R. Films return with another eagerly awaited film Baabul.
The film has a tagline A test of love…. It is a perfect family drama in
which director Ravi Chopra brings into play the culture deep-rooted ethics
of an Indian family with loads of superstars like Amitabh Bachchan, Hema
Malini and Rani Mukherjee. Baabul also stars Salman Khan and John Abraham.
It will be released today at Piccadily, Chandigarh, Fun Republic,
Manimajra, and KC, Panchkula.
A scene from Baabul |
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YOUTH SPEAK
Prepare for World Cup
Cricket in India is more of a passion now than a sport. Millions of
Indians watch the game with great enthusiasm. As usual, they sat glued to
their TV sets when during the recent Mini World Cup. If the players
don’t deliver, it hurts the sentiments of millions of their countrymen.
Shining
brides and grooms
The onset of the wedding
season brings along excitement, anxiety and loads of concerns especially
for the bride and the groom. A lot of energy would go into bringing
together the trousseau, jewellery and the decorations but the skin of the
two most important faces of the day would come last.
A
clarification
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