Inter-school contests at Manav Mangal
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, October 15
The youth wing of the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation organised an inter-school declamation and on-the-spot painting competition at Manav Mangal School, Sector 11, here, today.

The competition was held under the awareness programme to inculcate moral values among the students. As many as 110 students from over 28 schools of Panchkula district participated.

Results

On-the-spot painting competition:- Primary section: 1 Krishan Mittal (Manav Mangal School), 2 Preetinder Singh (Saint Soldier), 3 Kritika Bhardwaj (Jainender Gurukul).

Middle section:- 1 Sahil Jain (Manav Mangal School), 2 Tarun Goyal (Manav Mangal School), 3 Aavni Garg (St. Xavier). Senior section:- 1 Jaya Chopra (Chaman Lal DAV), 2 Kapil (Manav Mangal School), 3 Tanuja Verma (Hans Raj School).

Declamation contest: 1 Priya Chand (D.C.Model), 2 Ishan Arora (Manav Mangal School), 3 Diksha Chhabra (Jainendra Gurukul).

CELEBRATED: Sharda Sarvhitakari Senior Secondary School, Sector 40, Chandigarh, celebrated the World Food Day, here, today. An inter-house declamation contest for classes VIII to XII was organised.

Students from pre - nursery onwards were told to bring healthy, and nutritious food in the tiffin. Mr B.S. Kanwar, Principal, spoke about the importance of healthy eating and bad effects of junk food. He thanked the mothers to participate in the activity by sending nutritious food like sprouted grains, salads and green vegetables. 

CULTURE

Humble origin reminder for Yesudas
Gayatri Rajwade
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 15
He exudes the very soul of music. As he practices and perfects notes, his mellifluous sound of ragas reverberate, sanctifying the air. Such is the timbre and resonance in Kattassery Joseph Yesudas’s voice. This is his first visit to the city, for a rare classical performance.

Fortysix years after first arriving in Chennai to make it as a singer, for which he had to borrow Rs 16 from a taxi driver to come, the humble origin are a part and parcel of what makes the greatness of Yesudas. “My borrowed commitment will never end. I can never repay that.”

After struggling in Chennai for over a year, his first break came in 1961 with Kalppadukal. “It was very difficult initially, there were many detractors to my style of singing. However, perseverance is the key. You have to keep doing what you believe in, for the purity comes from there.”

Apart from eating and sleeping, every inch of his day is spent with music. For it is akin to parents and God. “Mata, pita, guru, devam”, we have heard this from time immemorial. Ma is the best mantra in the world, it is the paramshakti”.

Yesudas firmly believes that his family and his gurus have all shaped his life tremendously. “My father’s words have always stayed with me. Every lesson, every teaching has been invaluable and is a part of me even today.” Wherever he goes, the photographs of his gurus and his parents go with him, this is his strength, his driving force.

Who can forget the wonderful “Jab deep jale aana” from “Chitchor”, in Yesudas’s inimitable style? ‘Although I recorded first for “Anand Mahal”, “Choti Si Baat” was released first. However, for this modest maestro, there is none yet to beat the Mohammed Rafi. “He is irreplaceable”, he said.

Living between the USA where his youngest son studies) and Chennai, he extols the virtues of living abroad. “You learn to do things for yourself. It teaches you humility, it gives you perspective.”

Nurture talent, says Satish Kaushik
S.D. Sharma

Chandigarh, October 15
Fair opportunity should be provided to promising talents, opined Bollywood film director and comedian Satish Kaushik. He was speaking at a press conference while presiding over the launching ceremony of Tegson Entertainment at the Press Club today.

A comedian of great magnitude, Satish Kaushik, who has 30 years’ association with theatre and film, emphasised on the necessity of promoting the talent in film and the music realms. He complemented Tegson multinational group of companies for venturing into the promotion of quality music, especially the rich heritage of Punjabi folk which is losing its vigour.

The US-based Teg Singh Sandhu, hailing from Punjab, lamented the high profile projection of mediocres by money-minting companies. As a result, vulgarity and cheap lyricism had dominated the folk culture. Reiterating his commitment to help the aspirants of art, he introduced three artistes. A village lad from Jagraon, Jinder Jinda, with “Nachdi Vekh ke” and comedian Mukesh “Chhotu with ‘Chhotu ji kamaal ne..” shared their moments with him. However, for the overseas music lovers Tegson presented a London-based composer Honey Singh with his remix hits Bollywood Rebirth. 

Bhatti’s film nears completion
Our Correspondent

Mohali, October 15
Jaspal Bhatti’s film “Jija Ji” is nearing completion. The shooting has now been shifted to the Joke Factory studio in Industrial Area, Phase VIII, here. Jaspal Bhatti, who has written and directed the film, said at a press conference here today that the shooting of the film would be completed in about 10 days. He said the film a comedy based on human relationships. “Jija Ji” was a very sensitive relationship in Indian culture and special care was taken to keep him happy on all occasions,” he added.

He said the film was based on the nuisance value of this relationship. He plays the lead role of an irritating traditional Indian Jija whose brother-in-law on the receiving end is as well-known Punjabi comedian, Gurpreet Ghuggi plays the role of a senior IAS officer who is fed up of his Jija Ji as the latter keeps interfering in official matters. Ultimately, Ghuggi takes the help of Bhatti’s Jija Ji, Jaswinder Bhalla, to bring his own Jija Ji under control.

Among the others acting in the film are Savita Bhatti, B.N. Sharma, Prem Kaaria, Vinod Sharma, Brijesh Ahuja, Dimpy, Ranbir Rana and Ghulle Shah.

Jaspal Bhatti said the film would be of 90 minutes’ duration and was also being dubbed in Hindi so that it could be distributed in states other than Pujab. 

Turbaned Sikhs vie for crown

Chandigarh, October 15
Tall, well-built, turbaned men dominated the evening at the semi-final round of the Mr Singh International 2005, Chandigarh and Punjab zone, being organised by Coca-Cola, a press note said here today.

The contest seeks to provide turbaned Sikhs a unique platform to prove their mettle in the field of entertainment and glamour.

The winner would get an exclusive opportunity to be apart of renowned film director Yash Chopra’s forthcoming film.

The evening, which was interspersed with music, dance and abundance of talent, saw 20 turbaned Sikhs from the Chandigarh and Punjab zone compete in different contests. As many as five will make it to the finals. TNS