CHANDIGARH INDEX


Knight riders
Nano may be geared up to remodel the vehicular market, but many knight riders in the city still prefer to grab handles than steering wheels, says Saurabh Malik
Riding high on the adventure spirit, he reaches out for the helmet than seat belt. The guy can find the money for cars, no probs, but it’s the bike that kickstarts Rajneesh Sharma’s day and sets adrenaline rushing through his blood for that fight and flee feeling. Well, you may think the varsity student is driving at better mileage. But that’s not true, fellows.

Pyaar ke, oops, Nano ke side effects
One of my friends is all kicked up to sell off her old Maruti 800, a colleague is busy discussing loan offers with the accounts department, two kids in the neighbourhood have promised their nani to buy her a Nano and are already fondly calling her Nano Nani. Well, forget my neighbourhood. The world is abuzz with the praises for this wonder machine — Tata’s Nano. Now, I too, like million others, was upbeat about the idea of driving one, till this mail popped up in my inbox.

New releases
Laugh away winter blues
Bombay to Bangkok
Starring: Shreyas Talpade, Lena Christianson, Rajeshwari Sachdev
Director: Nagesh Kukunoor
KUKUNOOR is shifting from meaningful cinema to some light movies with this true blue romantic comedy. Cook Shankar (Shreyas), a petty thief, is in desperate need of money to get medical help for his sick mother. He, therefore, steals it from the local don and scampers away to Bangkok as part of a team of doctors heading for relief work.

The Heartbreak Kid

Rising Star
Unchained Melody
S.D. Sharma

The convocation ceremony at Punjab University On Wednesday held a special meaning for young Sufi maestro Satinder Sartaj. Bestowed with a gold medal in Persian (diploma) and doctorate in Sufiana music, Sartaj is already a name to reckon with in his field and that too at an age when many of his contemporaries are yet to start their careers.

Youth speak
Save Cricket
Hemant BoriwalHemant Boriwal
Last week’s Sydney Test match was played in an unpleasant atmosphere of racism, umpiring controversy, players’ unfathomable behaviour on field and severe criticism from one and all. It was not surprising when once again the Australians’ on-field behaviour was called into question in the aftermath of their 122-run second test victory over India at the SCG.

Crystals, Candles & Cures
India’s first Shaman Witch Renu Mathur teaches you how to cast a good spell
A long bindi, huge crystal rings, a stone necklace, a crystal wand and a purple cape. No, this is no supernatural being or a figment from the world of Harry Potter. The lady in picture is Renu Mathur. Call her a white magic queen, a herb healer or a Shaman Witch, she can make anything happen.

SIDELANES
Love stories never told

Joyshri Lobo
The greatest love stories ever, are often left unsaid, unwritten, untold. Their magic and beauty lies in their incompleteness and the thought of what could have been but never came to pass. We prefer these unfinished stories to the romances which end in dreariness, forgetfulness and old age flab.

In defence of art
Leave it to the experts, advises Parbina Rashid, as she delves into art restoration
Anyone with basic knowledge of art also knows what goes into creating a painting, but restoring one? Well, not too many people know that one needs the deftness of a surgeon and the expertise of a chemist to handle the job.

Hanks is a family man
Hollywood star Tom Hanks has decided not to take the director’s seat any further, for he believes that it will mean spending too much time away from his family. The actor is known for helming 1996 movie That Thing You Do! and 2001 TV mini-series Band of Brothers.