Oh that approach!
From peons to senior officers to teachers to politicians, we are surrounded by the ‘sacred’ practice of recommendation!
It's a 'sacred' practice, something integral to the Indian system. 'Sacred' because it's extremely beneficial for people, especially at places where hardwork and sincerity fails to produce desired results. Beginning from the peons in 'power' who are requested to change the order of files, teachers who are pleaded to take special care of a child; police personnel to excuse a case, politicians to gift a certain job…we are surrounded by the 'sacred' practice of recommendation!

Return of Shankar
An album with Asha Bhonsle and a couple of Bollywood projects don't suggest that the fascination with the Punjabi music is over. For Shankar Sawhney, Punjabi music will always be important as it binds him with the people of Punjab.

Haute wheels
At the first dealership store for Harley Davidson motorcycle in the city, it is virtually impossible to take your eyes of the machine
Such is the fan-following of Harley Davidson that people who drive this machine are offended when someone calls it a bike! So unique are the sounds of Harley motorcycle that there are several US patents protecting them. It is simply impossible to find words to describe this American Iron, but one thing is for sure - it is impossible to take your eyes off the machine!

Mischievous moments
Bollywood actors Celina Jaitley and Rahul Bose attended a fashion show in Mumbai on Sunday, where Bose was the showstopper. The show exhibited the collection of Rina Dhaka, as well as upcoming designer Dev R Neil, and showcased bold cuts, chic styles, and flamboyant colours, which included a lot of basic pastel shades. "The collection had one intention behind it and that was mischief and fun, and I walked for Rina Dhaka, and I think with flowy outfits you can have lot of fun with that, and the way you walk. It's all about mischief, the weather, the monsoon and the flow with which it goes, and Signature has started this Seven Sensations (show)."
Bollywood stars Rahul Bose and Celina Jaitely during a fashion show in Mumbai on Sunday night. PTI photo

Back with Babbar
Yesteryears siren Zeenat Aman is all set to reunite with actor Raj Babbar in director Raja Bundela's upcoming movie Dil To Deewana Hai, after a gap of 30 years.

Action packed
Fans of Bollywood superstar Aishwarya Rai Bachchan thronged the airport in Manali on Tuesday to get a glimpse of the beauty who is here to shoot for her upcoming film Action Replay.Accompanied by her mother, Aishwarya drove straight to the hotel Holiday Inn, where she would stay for a week while shooting the film.While Akshay Kumar, who is paired opposite the former Miss World will arrive her later, her other co-stars Rajpal Yadav and Neha Dhupia flew in yesterday. Action Replay is a big budget period drama where both Aishwarya and Akshay sport retro looks from the 70's and 80's.

A fruitful udaan
There's a huge market abroad that is open to Indian films and it's not just non-resident Indians (NRIs), says Anurag Kashyap whose production Udaan was screened at the Cannes film festival. He also dismisses speculation that he has always wanted only Aamir Khan in his next directorial venture.


Anurag Kashyap

Clean act
Hollywood couple Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore have gone on the super-strict Master Cleanse diet together to tone their bodies. The eating plan, which has been put to use by popstar Beyonce in the past for her role in Dreamgirls, features meals that consist of maple syrup, lemon water and cayenne pepper. "This is about health!!!" she wrote on micro-blogging website Twitter. "2nd day of master cleanse and off to hike with hubby and the dogs. 2nd day better than the 1st! Let you know if I make it to day 4(sic!)," she said in another post.


Ashton Kutcher & Demi Moore

Shaving grace
Hollywood hunk Brad Pitt has got rid of his bearded look and is now back to being completely clean shaved. A month after trimming his much-buzzed about beard for the upcoming movie Moneyball, the 46-year-old actor was spotted here with a fresh new look and no facial hair. Pitt, who raises six children with partner Angelina Jolie, shaved it all off to play Oakland Athletics' general manager Billy Beane in the movie, which also stars Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Robin Wright.
Brad Pitt

Hank-ering after toys
Hollywood star Tom Hanks has said he is still a big kid when it comes to toys and he likes to play with his children's "all the time". The Da Vinci Code star, who is father to Colin, 32, Elizabeth, 28, Chester, 19, and 12-year-old Truman, enjoys playing with his children's toys.


Tom Hanks

RULE the roost
It’s that time of the year again. New faces, fresh approaches, myriad colours… campuses are ready for their new batches. And here are a few 'unwritten' rules that could come in handy
They don't teach you in the syllabus, they won't give it in the prospectus; neither in the handbook of information nor on the notice board…not even in the orientation course. Talk of "campus wisdom" and there's no written rule in the book, rather there's no book. Running a checklist on the nuances of college life do's and don'ts.

Numero uno
Close to 300 medals, 30 trophies, countless competitions, and somebody please don't get her started on the number of certificates…who says bare quantity doesn't count? Sheer statistics qualify Aanchal Bajwa, UIET student, to introduce our super-achievers column. Starting today, bringing you people who have a stake in talent, who have some claim to fame, who are achievers in their own right. "I must be having close to 800 or may be 900 certificates…I don't know my mother has this huge trunk and I've kept them all there because files wouldn't hold them," says the second-year Information Technology student. Achievements form a part of her introductions and she gets started on one after the other.
Photo: Vicky Gharu

Don't panic!
Facebook launches ‘panic button’ for British teens
Social networking website Facebook has introduced a new Internet safety application which will allow British teenagers to report suspicious or inappropriate online behaviour.

Street treat

A scene from Gaurav Sharma directed street play Beware at Sector 17 Plaza on Tuesday. Photo: S Chandan

Grammatically speaking
Do you think you understand basic grammar of English just because it's your native language? If you do, then you are most probably wrong. A new study said that even native speakers have difficulty identifying the meaning of passive sentences, such as '"the soldier was hit by the sailor".

No child’s play
Clinical studies on children have become a regular feature in medical journals, but a new review of such trials has found that about half of them, especially the industry-funded ones, appear to be biased.

Colour framed
Thirty-eight photographs by Poras Chaudhary capture the myriad colours of India
From the entrance of the exhibition hall of Alliance Francaise if you take a glance at the photographs on the wall, it doesn’t take much to make out why the exhibition is titled ‘Colorful India’. Beginning from the first painting of a horse that has a colourful strap of a bell around its neck to the last one of people playing holi (hung at the far end of the hall), there are ample colours in every frame. Colours of clothes, Holi, those used in prayers and even those that showcase the beauty of Ladakh, Rajasthan, Kutch, Uttarakhand have all been captured by Poras Chaudhary, a professional photographer. In all 38 frames at the exhibition, India looks as colourful as it can!