DRESS MATTERS
REMEMBER the days when one would pick up a copy of Competition Success Review and religiously devour every bit of information about the IAS topper, right from how to prepare for the mains to what to wear for the interview? Inevitably, the dress the candidate would wear turn out to be a light blue shirt with a dark pair of trousers if the topper was a man or a pastel shaded cotton sari in the case of a woman. Well, since we stopped subscribing to the CSR after a few futile attempts to get into the coveted service, we have no idea about what the aspiring IAS officers are wearing these days, but we can positively say that the dress code for the working class has been evolved and re-evolved over the years.

Plan your pilgrimage
The first thought with any Sikh, be it from here or an NRI visiting the country, is to seek the blessings of the Gurus. Amrit Pal Singh, a Singapore-based entrepreneur too felt the same. “Whenever, I come here, I would rush to the Gurdwara,” he says.

A journey on the Grand Trunk Road                   
Journeys knit many strands and threads of being on the road, together. However, this journey, On the Grand Trunk Road is different. For, it brings three stalwart litterateurs like Lal Singh Dil, Mahasweta Devi and Joy Goswami together. Sounds interesting? But this is not all.

For Sukhdip Singh Boparai music complements medicines
It’s all about emotions
Music heals, so does medicine. When they both combine, it gets a form —Sukhdip Singh Boparai. Endowed with the perfect swar gyan and melody, this renowned microscopic eye surgeon of Patiala is the man of many talents.

Little Interview
Bhuppi believes in quality
Punjabi singer Bhupinder Singh Chawla ‘Bhuppi’ has come a long way from Khalli Balli. He represents that new brand of young Indian musicians who combine both the western and the eastern in their songs, who can regale audiences with the raunchiest but are not rootless.

Matka chowk
Police for People
There is a proverb in Bengali which, loosely translated in Hindi would mean – “ Sher chhu jaye to bara zakhm, police chhu jaye to atthara zakhm.” I was brought up to think that it is always a good idea to steer clear of the police, till I went to the US. On my way to a remote valley in California, when I was desperately trying to make sense of a map, a tall and fair police officer, stopped his bike behind the grassy patch where I had pulled over. I looked at my rear-view mirror and gulped. He walked over to my car, poked his head in, removed his aviator-styled sunglasses, revealing striking blue eyes and said in a deep and calm voice –“Mam, can I help you?”

Haywire
Life un-sensored, no more
A remake of the fable The Beauty and the Beast is slated for release this summer. A departure from the original, the script for the new-age version- The Booty and the Beast, is being written by none other than our men in khaki. To give their people-friendly image a facelift, they’ve penned an ambitious plan to thwart household lifting. By who else, but that beast of a summer thief who makes a go for the booty of those headed out on a holiday.

Reviving theatre
Their eyes are full of dreams and heads buzzing with ideas and their focus is the stage. For these amateur theatre activists, it’s the passion for acting, writing scripts, and directing that keeps them going. With theatre institutes serving as training grounds, theatre lovers are expecting a whiff of fresh air in Punjabi theatre. “Punjabi theatre needs to be revamped. The plays staged here have the same old plot,” dots Hardeep Singh Sethi, vice-president of Manchtantra theatre group.


                                                                      Hardeep and Gautam

Film & Fashion
Looking for a big bed
It seems that the ever-expanding family of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt is now falling short of space. The couple recently revealed that they are hunting for a bigger bed to accommodate their Sunday afternoon routine.

War-time watches
Watch out folks! You can now fly high, and even hover over the college and varsity grounds, wearing wrist watches that are inspired from World War II fighter planes.

Roadside treats
Despite the mushrooming of fancy snack bars, it is the rehri culture that continues to rule. Swati Sharma chats up some rehriwalas
Sitting in their luxurious car, they wait for their turn to lay their hands on their favourite chat pappri. Despite numerous chic sweet shops in the city, most of the foodies head to the popular rehriwalas for a quick evening delight. Popular among them is Garg Chat in Sector 23. Lalit Garg, the owner has been into this business since the past 50 years. Garg says, “My grand-parents started this rehri in 1950’s and we are still among the most popular ones here.” Talking of the popularity Garg grins, “We used to work on a rehri earlier and it has been a long journey. It is good to see people lined up at the booth even after so many years.”

On the dance floor
It was an evening with a difference and the premises of Dell in Mohali was buzzing with more than the usual activities. The employees had been rehearsing for the annual extravaganza - Dell O Dance since many days now; and when we reached there the stands of the open-air amphitheatre were already jam-packed.

• write to Renee

Mary Queen of Scots
Scarlett Johansson is all set to play the title role in the new movie Mary Queen Of Scots. Producer and financier Ryan Kavanaugh of Relativity Media announced the news at the ongoing Cannes Film Festival. The Mary Queen of Scots project will be produced by Kavanaugh as well as New Regency’s Alexandra Milchan and Scarlett’s mother Melanie Johanasson.

First Day First Show
A knotty affair
Sophie (Tanushree Dutta) is a theatre actor. Remo ( Rahul Khanna) is a computer whiz. She is a seductress. He is an introvert. She is determined to ensnare him into marrying her. Though enamoured of her beauty, he is reluctant to do so. What happens when Remo ultimately gives in to the persuasive skills of friend Siddharth ( Sharman Joshi) and marries Sophie ?

• Health tip of the day