Soul purpose Ashima Sehajpal
With time priorities change, preferences differ and perspectives alter. For most of us, time is the deciding factor. We follow signs of time to transform our lives for good. But as always there are some exceptions here too. "I have not changed my lifestyle or choices ever, instead I am waiting for the times to change," avers Manhar Udhas, the legendry ghazal singer who still abides by his genre of music. In town to perform on the 13th annual day of Shirdi Sai Samaj on Saturday, the vocalist sites the reason for sticking to his resolve of ghazal singing, "Ghazals might not be very popular now, but for me it is a spiritual source of satisfaction." He claims to have never planned his life and does not regret it too.

Ghazal singer Manhar Udhas chooses a different path. Photo: Vinay Malik

Gender wander
Theatreperson Usha Ganguly likes to raise social and women’s issues
Expect the talks to border on any issue (as long as it's theatre!) when it's Sangeet Akademi awardee Usha Ganguly you're in conversation with. Only the discussions also encompassed classical dance, commercialisation and much more. The lady is in the city in connection with Theatre for Theatre's Festival. Having been leading the group Rangakarmee, Kolkata, for close to three decades now, you know she's no less than one-stop-encyclopaedia for all queries related to the medium. The lady will be performing Antaryatra (2002), in which she explores the Indian woman's psyche through a mélange of characters.

Spirited living
Cork
The tasting sequence of wines, although simple, has a certain mystique. Basically, three main sensory processes are involved in sampling wines i.e. sight, small and taste. An experienced taster while pouring wine in a glass can assess its colour, texture, age and possible flavour. The smell of a wine can confirm its flavour. Finally, the palate plays a decisive part. Wine is tasted by rolling around in the mouth, allowing the tongue to get a feel of the liquid. Before tasting a wine, it should be cooled to a temperature between 5`B0 and 18`B0C in an ice bucket. Red wine may be slightly warmer than white wine.

Coupledom redefined
Adult comedy is an arena less explored in Bollywood. While most of the earlier attempts have been amateurish, even bawdy at times, the irresistible pull of the genre keeps drawing the filmmakers towards it.

Anil Senior’s adult comedy Dil Kabbadi has Irrfan Khan, Soha Ali Khan, Konkana Sen Sharma and Rahul Bose

Only brawny points
It’s a Bond movie done on the cheap. There’s a suit-clad hero, a Russian-looking girl, a swanky car and a global threat. Yet, all the 007 paraphernalia fail to transport our hard-hitting hunk (Jason Statham) to the big league. The third installment of the transporter series is a terrible letdown, thanks to a ludicrous plot, a vapid script and lackluster performances.

Koffee break
Slow but steady
Wide-eyed, daughter of yesteryear’s actor Sharmila Tagore, Soha Ali Khan, is back to mesmerise the audience with her latest comedy Dil Kabaddi. Having made her mark in movies like Mumbai meri jaan and Khoya khoya chand Soha says, she just wants her acting to be consistent. Open to all genres of movie she believes that good roles will always come an actor’s way. We spoke to her on the release of her movie Dil Kabaddi.

Twice blessed
For Indian superstar Shah Rukh Khan, December 6 would be a double treat - he will not only receive Malaysian knighthood but will also wear the official state samping during a special investiture ceremony. The Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan will be honoured with Darjah Mulia Seri Melaka (DMSM) award.

Art of reflection

A foreign tourist peeps into her pocket mirror for a touch-up at an exhibition at the city's Government Museum and Art Gallery-10 Lifestyle photo: Vinay Malik

The caviar caravan
This young French duo had set out on a road trip of 10 countries in their home on wheels
What’s is your idea of a perfect holiday? A luxurious villa near the seaside, calming quietness away from the city crowd, long drives along the never-ending roads and soaking in nature’s beauty. Hmm…well, for some of us a perfect holiday also means exploring foreign shores and loads of sight seeing. But here is a couple that have amalgamated the idea of a perfect vacation with their passion for adventure. Meet Emilie Neyrial and Julien Bernard, two students from France, who are on a road trip vacation travelling a distance of almost 11000kms across ten countries, in their car, Pepere.

Launch pad
Shine & sparkle
Rediscover an eye shadow’s potential and flaunt the ultimate, classic, chic look with the Avon Glazewear Diamond Eye Color. This latest offering by Avon’s colour portfolio adds a dash of glamour to your eyes like never before lending them the perfect dazzling effect.

Spice of food
India is known as ‘Home of Spices’. No Indian meal is considered complete without the tangy and delectable flavor of Indian Spices. Most important ingredients of any recipe, be it Mughlai, Continental or Chinese, it intensifies their flavour of the food. Kohinoor, a brand known for basmati rice, now enters the masala market and launches its wide range of authentic Indian spices. Kohinoor spices promise to bring out the true taste, flavour and aroma in every dish one cooks with them.

Matka chowk
A Chandigarh Morning
Chandigarh has beautiful mornings – specially now that autumn is giving in to winter. The mornings are crisp cool with a light curtain of mist lacing treetops and domes in the distance. I have been trying a new morning experiment. Instead of making it my goal to reach my daughter as fast as I can, to the school gates – I am trying to open my mind and my eyes to all that comprise a typical Chandigarh morning.

High NOTE
Gimme red
United Spirits Limited has launched Romanov Red, India's first multi-grain, multi-distilled vodka. A premium variant of Romanov, Romanov Red has been launched to cater to the growing consumer need for vodka that not only matches international standards in smoothness and taste but also delivers superior imagery.

TAROT TALK