Write notes
The Heritage Festival saw two leading women writers giving us novel ideas
Thanks to writers like Salman Rushdie, Arundhati Roy, Jhumpa Lahiri, V.S Naipaul and many more, the Indian novel in English has finally been accepted as an important literary endeavour. And taking it a step ahead is the success of Indian women writer’s who have epitomised social history, gender bias and the diversity of woman into a fable. — Photo by Vinay Malik

Githa Hariharan/Manjula Padmanabhan

Faith, fully yours
If Navratras come can the badshahs of bhajan be far behind. And so, this season of jagrans brings to the tricity bhajan samrat Anup Jalota, who’ll be performing at the Mata Mansa Devi Mandir festivities. What’s in store for the city’s devout this time? We hear it straight from the voice that has come to spell devotion, “I’ll be rendering some Krishna bhajans along with the usual Mata ki bhenth.”

Anup Jalota

Ek…ladki, Ek..ladka
With cameos in recent release Ek - The Power of One and a couple of others, these young stars from the city are aiming high 
Smart, effervescent and bright eyed, Ananya Bandlish, a Class VI student of Ryan International, is somewhat close to being what we can call a ‘child star’ (at least in the tricity) with two Bollywood and one Punjabi movie already in her kitty, the latest being a role in new release, Ek-The Power of One, which has been shot extensively in nearby Ramgarh Fort.
A scene from Ek… starring Bobby Deol and Ananya Bandlish shot in Ramgarh Fort

Kabeer calling

We wished the surroundings to remain unstirred for sometime so that we could enjoy the scarce peace we found in our subject's room. But we knew the wish wouldn't be granted for all scribes were ready with the volley of questions. And, we weren't wrong as that exactly happened until our subject, Shekhar Sen, an acclaimed singer started answering them all. Peace prevailed and became apparent in a while, even when his voice echoed in there. It then didn't take us much time to realise what makes audience thoroughly enjoy his performance in his mono act plays. "I promise peace to people. After watching my play, they go back with thoughts that jostle them but bring them at peace with their conscience." No wonder, watching biographies of great personalities like Kabeer, Tulsidas and Vivekananda being performed are bound to do that. The selection of biographies was done after extensive research, "I played Tulsidas character as he worshiped an idol with exemplary faith.

Sen-sitising The Heritage Festival also saw the director of Kabeer Shekhar Sen  coming into the tricity.Photo by Ninay Malik

Pet issue
Dogs don't care if they get whatever you are eating, they just want to eat. But, they wouldn't certainly like, if you change the 'profile' of their food, no matter how great it is. Which means, it is not easy to persuade them to shift from eating carrots, tomato, bread, ice cream, corn to dry Pedigree. It's pretty challenging!

— Photo by Vinay Malik

Matka chowk
Crowning crows
I see an unknown danger lurking in Chandigarh. It is not Sukhna drying up, or vehicular emissions or errant bees. It is not over population or illegal construction. It is the possible invasion of the crows. I know - it sounds laughable. But, those of us who have gone through a feel-alike "Birds" (as of Alfred Hitchcock) situation, know what a formidable force a brood of city crows can be - especially the ones who eat leftover biryani and bust open plastic packets to forage on half-eaten tandoori chicken.

TIMEPASS
Picks & piques
Eerie element
What happens when Deepa Mehta gets Provoked? Simple, she discards her elemental (read Fire, Earth & Water) theory and turns to oft-repeated and telecast theme of battered bahus in heartless homes of working class Indian immigrants abroad. But being a celebrated filmmaker, she must do it differently. So, she gives it a ‘tadka’ of mysticism, adding to it a pinch of folklore and an ounce of literary inspiration. But unfortunately, Videsh works only in bits and spurts.
Deepa Mehta’s Videsh-Heaven On Earth has Preity Zinta, Vansh Bhardwaj and Balinder Johal 

Barbie bow
Mattel Inc's Barbie on Friday kickstarted Mumbai's premier fashion event - the Lakme India Fashion Week 2009 - with designers and models bringing the world's most iconic doll to life in Barbie-like looks and outfits. The young girls' best friend flaunted a slew of designs and colours ranging from Rajasthan's Shibori fabric to brocades to the obvious pinks. The show called "Barbie All Dolld Up!" is the style icon's first in India and showcased designs by designers like Wendell Rodricks, Neeta Lulla, Sonam Mehta, Shantanu and Nikhil, Jyoti Sharma, Vikram Phadnis and others. —PTI
All Dolled Up: Models display new creations to celebrate the 50 years of 'Barbie', on the first day of Lakme Fashion Week inMumbai Photo: Reuters/Rosey Picture: Actor Minissha Lamba walks the ramp in Archana Kochhar's creation Photo: PTI

Cut to size
Recession or not, opulence in fashion may be hard to do away with, but Indian designers are being practical in terms of their pricing strategy and target markets.



Three Cheers: Bollywood actors Genelia D'Souza (centre) and Tushar Kapoor (right) along with designer Manish Malhotra during LFW Photo: PTI

Mascot masti Jassi sings a number from his album during a show organised in Sector 17 while a mascot looks on.  Lifestyle photo:  Kamal Kishore

• TAROT TALK
  What the cards say today...