Stage of growth World Theatre Day had artistes from the tricity debating its role and relevance S.D. Sharma "Of all the performing arts, theatre is regarded as being life size. And Indian theatre retains its role as an instrument of social activism and relates more directly to audiences than other art forms," observed Gursharan Singh, hailed as the Bhisham Pitamah of theatre in the region.

...Poles apart
Papa CJ has no qualms about pole dancing
Jasmine Singh
For the Indian audience, Malaika Arora Khan gyrationg around the pole in Kaante made for an uneasy watch. Recently, the three hunks of Bollywood - Akshay Kumar, Fardeen Khan and Ritesh Deshmukh dancing sensuallty around a vertical pole in Heyy Baby , made women gawk and blush in hushed admiration.

Smiling Gudiya This specially abled girl’s life makes for an inspiring story Parbina Rashid She is every bit of the heroine in real as she is in the reel. Welcoming visitors sometimes with a nod, sometimes with her brilliant smile and every now and then whispering this little secret in her confidantes’ ears — yes, all these media attention was making her a little nervous. Gudiya (centre) Photo: Pradeep Tewari

Bollywood actor Dia Mirza poses at the launch of Reebok's Shiamak collection in Mumbai Photo: Reuters

Hukkah from Haryana
Artistes capture the rustic charm of the neighbouring state
Neha Walia
Under the emerging face of urbanisation and globalisation, Haryana has kept its traditions and its folk culture intact. And putting forth the point are 10 artists from the region, who have put together different pieces of its cultural landscape so that you can see Haryana from your mind's eye.

Token of heritage
Friday saw the Souvenir Shop at the Le Corbusier centre open its doors to public
Ashima Sehajpal
Behind the creation of any art form, there is one basic intention-to win appreciation. And if that doesn't come from art lovers, it loses the very essence of its purpose. So, when the Souvenir Shop at the Le Corbusier centre opened its doors to public on Friday, we quite understood the objective that was further acknowledged by V.N. Singh, Nodal Officer, Le Corbusier centre, "It is an effort to encourage people to admire the art present in the city.

Light moments Ashima Sehajpal Of all the purposes art serves, a significant one is — it decreases the difference between the tangible and intangible. Be it our cognitive processes, emotions, or any definite object, it brings everything on the same pedestal without discrimination. Manpreet Singh, an artist from Delhi, has used this freedom appositely and has painted his thoughts and as intangible forms as the sounds of notes of a piano and guitar.

Manpreet Singh Photo: Pradeep Tewari

Poles of art

A riot of colours, in the shape of totem art, announces the onset of the Heritage Festival in the tricity on Friday. The preparations saw Delhi-based artist Naresh Kapuria and his team adorning bamboo poles in multiple hues Lifestyle photo: Pradeep Tewari

Bon Appetit
Popeye’s prescription
Kandla Nijhowne
Calorie for calorie, leafy green spinach with its delicate texture and jade green color provides more nutrients than most other foods. But it’s a myth that spinach has super-high iron content. This was due to a goof up in 1870 by Dr E.Wolf when he misplaced a decimal point in his publication, consequently overrating the iron content of spinach by 10 times! The figure went unchecked for 67 years! But there’s plenty worth raving about in spinach anyway.

Slumdog spin-off
Post-Oscars, Freida Pinto is Bollywood's top earner
Freida Pinto, the star in the Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire, has leaped ahead of her Indian rivals to become the highest paid actor in Bollywood, a news report said. Following the success of Slumdog, which took home eight Oscars and whose worldwide box office receipts so far are estimated at over USD 270 millions, the Indian model turned actor has landed a series of lucrative roles with top directors, including Woody Allen and Julian Schnabel.

Bollywood actors Amitabh Bachchan (L) and his son Abhishek at the Reebok's Shiamak collection Photo: Reuters

Cause for concern
Actor Raveena Tandon shoots for PETA, discouraging use of leather and leather products
Bollywood actor Raveena Tandon on Thursday shot for the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) with an aim of discouraging the use of leather and leather products. Tandon has been associated with the PETA for the last 15 years. "This campaign is basically against leather and leather products.

Gullu's glory
Bollywood's noted actor Gulshan Grover would be honoured with the Late Radha Lal Amarnath Smriti Hasya Vyangya Tepa Samman at the 39th All-India Tepa Conference to be held in this ancient temple town to mark International Fools Day.