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The importance of being Aamir
With Satyamev Jayate, Aamir Khan has taken celebrity activism to an all-new level
Saibal Chatterjee
It
isn’t unusual for Bollywood celebs to espouse social causes. But
nobody has used movie stardom as a tool for change quite as
effectively as Aamir Khan. The Bollywood superstar, who backs
unconventional stories on the big screen, has taken high-profile
activism to a new level.
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'Art
& sOUL
Minimalist narratives
With the briefest of means, gentle twists and turns of his skilled pens and a limited range of
colours, calligraphy artist Parameswara Raju conjures up sights that are neat, glamorous and meaningful
B.N. Goswamy
This
is not a piece about calligraphy per se — even though the
instruments of writing are involved —, but I am tempted all the same
to begin by citing a delightful passage on Japanese calligraphy. In
that art, it says, "The line flows down from the top of the page
to the bottom like water. It can be a violent mountain creek with many
rapid curves and strokes, or a gently meandering stream through a wide
valley. It can be a roaring waterfall crushing anything in its path,
or a still lake embracing the warm rays of lazy sun, settling
down."
Broad
Brush
Fitness
good health
Tackling PMS
A bane for many women, PMS can cause irritation, anxiety, tension, mood swings, etc. However, some dietary guidelines and lifestyle corrections
can help deal with these symptoms
Mickey Mehta
With
discoveries in the medical world happening quite regularly, we have
terminologies and definitions for almost everything. One such term
most commonly used among woman is the "PMS". If you happen
to ask a woman who is irritable, depressed and sulking about her
issues, you might say she is "PMSing".
HEALTH CAPSULES
Early maturity ups
depression risk
Early puberty increases
depression risk over time in both sexes — not just in girls, new
research shows. The researchers, however, noted that the disorder
develops differently in girls. "It was earlier believed that
going through puberty earlier than peers only contributes to
depression in girls," said study author Karen Rudolph, University
of Illinois. Youth who entered puberty ahead of their peers were
vulnerable to a number of risks that were associated with depression.
They had poorer self-image; greater anxiety; social problems,
including conflict with family members and peers; and tended to
befriend peers who were prone to getting into trouble. The study
appeared in the journal Development and Psychopathology.
SOCIETY
Grand central
With both parents working, the dynamics of the Indian family system are changing yet again. Consequently, the grandparents are adopting a more active role in a child’s life
Mehak Uppal
When
we think of grandparents nowadays, the picture that comes to our minds
is that of a smart, English-speaking man who drives his grandkids out
for a burger treat or a stylish grandma who hardly looks like one.
Well! It’s not just the picture that has evolved, but also their
roles being played in the modern Indian family.
TRAVEL
On the Aspen trail
The playground of the rich and famous, Aspen in Colorado blends luxury and simplicity beautifully
Niku Sidhu
Snowmass,
Aspen Highlands, Aspen Mountain and Buttermilk — are the four
mountains in Aspen, Colorado, which lure with the promise of hiking,
camping, disc golf, biking, skiing and more. Greenhorns keen to learn
the winter sport will find Buttermilk an ideal spot to hire gear and
the expertise of a ski instructor, quite a steal between $30 and $60.
Alternatively, schedule a session of mountain top yoga at 11,212 feet.
One ski pass is valid on all four mountain summits from where the 360
degree view of Maroon Bells Mountain, the one spot claiming to be the
most photographed in all of North America, is popular even with the
locals.
On the right track
Safe, economical and environment-friendly, the recently opened Mumbai monorail is emerging as a convenient commuting option
Anand and Madhura Katti
This
year, India got its first monorail when Mumbai joined the elite
club of modern cities in the world that have adopted the safe
and swanky public transport. A ride on the new mode of transport
offers scenic views of the busy commercial capital. It makes a
good tourist attraction, too, letting one ride on the latest
mode of transport at a fraction of the cost one has to pay in
any other big city across the world.
ENTERTAINMENT
Mainstream goes out-of-the-box
Cleverly and strategically, many recent mainstream films have significant social messages woven into the
script. The audience can reflect on much after the film is over
Shoma A. Chatterji
Can
‘out-of-the-box’ films pull the mainstream audience? Or, can
mainstream films deal with out-of-the-box subjects and stories? The
two phrases — ‘out-of-the-box’ and ‘mainstream’ sound very
contradictory and as if, in opposition to each other. But if one takes
a closer look at some recent films, it appears that the dividing line
between mainstream and out-of-the-box is now so blurred that it is
difficult to recognise the difference between the two.
When ladies have all the fun
The success of Reese Witherspoon’s Gone Girl indicates that the hullabaloo over unfair representation of women in Hollywood is uncalled for. Women continue to call the shots on and off the silver screen
Ervell E. Menezes
AnNE
Elliot Dunne, the Gone Girl, has certainly made waves and
raised a chorus for "female protagonist" movies. The
Celluloid Calling survey of the Centre for Study of Women in
Television and Film at San Diego claimed that only 16 per cent
of all filmmakers were women. This is even less than the
previous year.
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