Art of living
Life may not have been kind to these children, but they have found their true calling in performing and visual art and come out successful
Life never ceases to surprise. From unfulfilled to shattered dreams, people battle against many odds in life. And in this battle called life, sometimes they win; sometimes they lose. But we came across a few children who have taken up the biggest challenge life can ever throw and have emerged winners.
Photos: Vicky Gharu, Parvesh Chauhan

Mission Bhendi bazaar
“Much has been talked in seminars about the propagation and promotion of Indian classical musical art but without evolving a national consensus for a concrete plan and its implementation involving stalwart music maestros, corporate houses, including broadcasting or telecast channels, government public and above all the media. There should be accredited committees on regional and national levels for monitoring the process,” this suggestion comes from Pune-based classical vocalist Suhasini Kortakar, former regional director of AIR-Panjim, in the city for a lecture and performance at the Department of Music, Panjab University.

art-i-fact
Rationale ACT
Theatre must engage and engross. So, the audience believe and enter auditoriums only too eager to be enraptured. Pray, then what is this theory of alienation that not only often crops up in defining many elements of contemporary theatre and in explaining the works of great mettle but also creating an emotional distance between them and the characters on the stage. Credited to the famous German playwright, poet and theatre director Bertolt Brecht, it ‘prevents the audience from losing itself passively and completely in the character created by the actor and which consequently leads the audience to be a consciously critical observer.’

Woman's man
I like being directed by women, says Ben Kingsley
Oscar-winning veteran actor Ben Kingsley, who will be seen in Bollywood director Leena Yadav's crime thriller Teen Patti as a narrator, says he loves working with women directors and responds well to them as they see things men miss. "I just did two other films with female directors. I like being directed by females. They bring a different eye through the camera and an unusual perspective," Kingsley said in an interview.

e-Baywatch
eBay India launches its census guide for 2009
We all know technology has made the world a smaller place. From buying to flying to selling, there's a world waiting to be explored on the Net. And, since the inception of the web apart from communication (read mails), online commerce has enjoyed a good fan following. Increasing its base and products with every passing day, Thursday saw Sharat Digumarti, head- categories, eBay India, unveiling the eBay India Census Guide 2009. And, more to it he also disclosed some fascinating facts and trends on 'What's Hot' in the city and online shopping trends.

Side Lanes
A sense of DÉJÀ VU
Incidents, reactions and their protagonists, all bring together a smorgasbord of memories, which reveal themselves when the time is opportune. Suddenly the world gets smaller and we realise that time has raced ahead, bringing us into the present. You visit a home or smell the perfume of a million flowers and there is a sense of deja vu. The heart screams, "I have been here before!" but the logical mind counters any such notion.

Designer deal

Actor Genelia D'Souza displayed a creation of designer Ishita Singh during Chennai International Fashion Week, on Wednesday.

Hand made
It's time to be touched. A warm, healing touch to recover humanism, leave aside the stress and to be pampered by a medium called art. The Hyundai Face India, Art for Heart exhibition's first season by Serah G and Viren K, captures the uniqueness and brightness of life on canvas. Celebrating the gentle touch are over 60 works displayed at the Fine Arts Department of Panjab University by korean artist Serah G.

Fest & festivities
Cementing the Indo-French ties, l'Alliance Française de Chandigarh in association with The British School are celebrating Bonjour India fest on December 19.

A day under the winter sun
A packed Stu C, even more packed AC Joshi library, busy sidelanes around Gandhi Bhavan, relaxing on the green spaces and soaking in the winter sun. Exam or no exams, Panjab University campus is where all the buzz lies. Just to add to the winter delight were the Chrysanthemums.