Those inspiring drops
The varied hues of Monsoon have enthused artists since ages and will continue to do so
The monsoon inspires. Agreed, those fresh images of rain pouring misery and flood, damaging life and property, may not paint a pretty picture for a normal human being right now, but as far as the artistic community is concerned, the fascination for those black clouds and silver threads is immense. Or, how else do you explain all those songs and paintings devoted to this particular season?

Southern touch!
She is sweet, smart and stylish. And, a confident actor. She is May 4-born Trisha Krishnan, a model-turned actor, the latest lass to stride into film industry. She has done 35 films in the South. She was launched in South by Priyadarshan in Lesa Lesa. No she is set to make her mark in Bollywood with Priyan’s Khatta Meetha, a remake of 1988 Malayalam film Vellanakalude Nadu, directed by Priyadarshan himself. Lifestyle talks to her about her latest venture.






Trisha Krishnan

Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez strikes a pose during the launch of ‘Wildcraft’ adventure gear in Mumbai recently. PTI photo

New REleases
Sweet something

Ramp-age
He may have turned the big 50, but actor Anil Kapoor shows no signs of slowing down as he will walk the ramp for designer Anamika Khanna at the ongoing Pearls Infrastructure Projects Ltd (PIPL) Delhi Couture Week to promote his upcoming home production Aisha. The Slumdog Millionaire star will be flanked by Lisa Hayden, Amrita Puri and Ira Dubey, who are debuting with the film, during his stint on the ramp on July 23. The foursome will be sporting jewelery designed by Raj Mahtani in the show. But Kapoor’s elder daughter Sonam who plays the lead in the film based on Jane Austen’s novel Emma, will give the show a miss as she is busy shooting with Shahid Kapoor for Mausam in Scotland. Anamika is one of the Indian designers whose designs have been used in the film which is a co-production between Anil Kapoor film Company and PVR pictures. This is not the first time that Kapoor has taken to the catwalk. 

They got the looks!
Hollywood heartthrob Kellan Lutz has beaten off competition from fellow ‘Twilight’ hunk Taylor Lautner to be voted the actor with the Best Summer Body. The actor who plays the vampire Emett in the superhit film franchise topped the list compiled by Mens Health magazine The 25-year-old beat Matthew McConaughey who came second and Lautner who occupied the third spot. Other stars to make the final 10 include Zac Efron, who came fourth, Jake Gyllenhaal, who was placed at number eight after bulking up for his role as Prince Dastan in ‘Prince of Persia’ and Daniel Craig and Channing Tatum, who finished ninth and tenth, respectively.

Till time do us part!
Hollywood actor Cameron Diaz hates ‘commitment’ when it comes to love and does not want to stay with the same person for the rest of her life. The Knight and Day star, who has dated stars like Justin Timberlake, Jared Leto and Matt Dillon in the past, insists she doesn’t think it is important to stay with a single person forever. “I think the big misconception in our society is that we’re supposed to meet the one when we’re 18 and we’re supposed to get married to them and love them for the rest of our lives,” Diaz said.

Cameroon Diaz

Bikini babe
Brooklyn Decker,Jennifer Aniston’s sexy co-star in the upcoming Just Go With It, has beaten the former Friends star and a host of other hot Hollywood starlets in a poll for this summer’s most slammin’ bikini body. Women’s Health has crowned the Swimsuit Illustrated swimsuit model as 2010’s Best Summer Body. Decker, 23-married to tennis hunk Andy Roddick-tops the inaugural top ten. Newlywed Carrie Underwood, 27, charted at number 6, while Jennifer Aniston, 41, placed at 9. On the other hand, Kim Kardashian, 29, rounded out the top ten.

Brooklyn Decker

Web of verses
With more and more couplets of poets like Shiv Kumar Batalvi, Ghalib and others making their way onto social networking sites, the younger generation sure is developing that 'poetic' sensibility
Some days back, an old friend forwarded a link, some pictures, and soulful notes of poetry. The lines as fresh in mind as morning dew - Maae ni maae. Main ik shikra yaar banaya, Uhde sir te kalgi, Te uhdey paree jhanjar, Te oh chog chugeenda aaya…Shiv Kumar Batalvi. It wasn't a revelation. The world knows about Batalvi! But what struck me was how on earth did this friend lay her hands on Shiv Kumar Batalvi, knowing that she is as far away from poets and their sensibilities as can be?
Amrita Pritam

The stage is set
Riding high on the success of two national theatre festivals, the Chandigarh administration in association with Pearls Institute of Hospitality, Banur, is all geared up to offer a theatrical bonanza of four plays at the Tagore theatre from July 24 to 27. Samwartak Singh, director, Social Welfare Department, says the Chandigarh Theatre Festival-2010 will see the likes of Shabana Azmi, Tom Alter, Nadira Babbar, Sarita Joshi, Shanker Sen and others perform on stage.


Shabana Azmi

Soul of a poet
Born on July 23, 1936, Shiv Kumar Batalvi, a well-known Punjabi poet, had a unique poetic outlook that extended far beyond his time.

Going global
The country's art fraternity will be treated to a visual feast of top modern and contemporary art from across the world in January 2011 with 34 leading international galleries offering their bouquets at the third edition of the India Art Summit here.

Anatomy of art
Could it be that Michelangelo hid an anatomy lesson in the Sistine Chapel frescoes painted by him? The answerer is yes, if new research is to be believed. The master painter-sculptor concealed an image of the human brainstem in a panel showing God at the beginning of Creation, according to an article in the May issue of Neurosurgery, the official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. "We propose that Michelangelo, a deeply religious man and an accomplished anatomist."

Sistine Chapel

Side Lanes
Roads that speak
Often the morning dailies list out stories of tears and sorrow, as they report on accidents that occurred while we slept and our children partied. Ever since Chandigarh's night-life has picked up and liquor intake increased, many young men and women have lost their lives on the tricity's beautiful roads. Brief obituaries and heartfelt messages show photographs of young faces who ought not to have been snuffed out so suddenly. After a week-long trip covering a thousand killometers, along the western coast of Australia, we found three spots marked by fresh flowers. But on the whole, accidents are a rarity as the roads speak and save lives, not destroy them. I have talked to global travellers. They agree that the best road system exists Down Under.

Nail it!
Grab the attention with the colours that reflect your attitude as Avon launches its new and stylish range of nail enamel Nail Wear Pro. Nail Wear Pro is fortified with advanced formula like acrylic for strength, protection and brilliant high gloss that lasts up to 10 days.

In their honour
On the occasion of Nataraj Poojan Mahotsava (Vyas Purnima) on Friday, the Sanskar Bharati, an internationally known organisation committed to the promotion and preservation of various forms of the fine arts, will hold a special programme where maestros of different art forms will be felicitated for their outstanding contribution in their respective field of specialisation. The programme will take place at Randhawa Auditorium, Punjab Kala Bhawan-16.