Swinging it right

Jeev Milkha Singh

Pure lush green environs and metro lifestyle of the City Beautiful are nurturing a new movement. With sports like squash, golf and pool games increasingly becoming the favourite pastime of the city youngsters, Chandigarh is ready to take over as the new sports capital of the region. Putting, swinging and cueing it right, the purest of all human pursuits, sports, is sweeping them into the passion and those falling prey to the exhilarating experience that sports promise are getting younger day by day.

Irina Brar

If it is golf passion making hundreds tee off on the day of the Gurpurab at the Chandigarh Golf Club, one finds dozens of squash enthusiasts sweating it out at the Lake Club and Chandigarh Club and those seeking silence refuge to play mind games like billiards, snooker, nine ball and other pool games the billiards and snooker parlours in the city offer a safe haven. Behind the flourishing sports scene are the doting parents who are pushing their kids not just into studies but in taking up various sports as well. With short distances taking them everywhere from schools, colleges to tuitions and to their games and their role models showing the path to success, the city is grooming them right and the kids are sure having a blast!

Zing in swing

Golfing sensations Jeev Milkha and Irina Brar emerge top of the list of role models young putters in city like to emulate. Manvi Khosla all of seven years had to take up golf following her father and training at the Chandigarh Golf Club, she says she is hooked to the pace of the game and the lush green environs of the golf course where she can concentrate on her favourite swing, she says. Seven year Mansukh Menon is entering the sub junior circuit soon and has already competed in three sub-junior tournaments held in Chandigarh and Panchkula. Mansukh who loves everything about golf, the golf set, the green course and bullies his mother Manpreet in to reaching and teeing off at 6 am. Manpreet voices the changed mindset of the new age parents as she says that mere studies cannot ensure a good life and parents can only encourage a child up to a certain level but beyond that if the child is interested only then it takes off like in case of Mansukh who is ready to manage his studies and everything for his golf. Karan Singha, Sumer Khurana, Jaiveer, Varnika Gulati, Arjun Babuta, Dhruv Kumar, are among umpteen youngsters hooked to the game in the city.

Coach Ajay Gujral says “The myth that Golf is a game of the old time and the retired has changed with the recent successes like Gurbaaz Mann, Amandeep Johl besides Jeev and young can now think of making money from the game too. Now we have majority of children aged between 7 to 8 years who are regulars at the game and began as young as age 3.” “The turnaround came in 2005,” says Ajay “when Indian players began doing really well on the international circuit.”

Overwhelmed at the fact that young golfers look up to her, Irina Brar has two words of advise for them, “Work hard”. “As many hours you spend on the game is all that counts as there is no magic potion but the hours of practice one puts in the game, says Irina who has Jeev Milkha as her idol. For the city breeding the sports movement she says, “There is not much to do in Chandigarh if you do not have sports in your life. With short distances, green environs, facilities, and many parents and grand parents already into sports, is a big motivating factor for the young,” she adds. The strong Golf Community here and the fact that the domestic golf circuit offering budding golfers ample chances to play hearten Jeev Milkha Singh.

Squash the pace

Game of squash played inside a glass cubicle is perhaps the game with most exciting pace to it and is also called boxing with the racket. The city boasting of three squash courts all international standard in Chandigarh Club and the lake Club has many regulars.

Ask Mukul Khanna, Assistant Vice President, Spice, finds the game best way to chill out and distress after a week of hard work and swears by fast paced, energetic game, which helps him keep totally fit and mentally alert. “The mad man’s game, hitting the small ball with all his might, makes me feel totally alive,” says Mukul.

Agreeing with him is Sunal Noorpuri, a businessman, who has been playing squash for the past 18 years says the region’s advantage is the facilities for the game as at the Saint Johns School, Gymkhana Club, Panchkula and the Lake Club and the Chandigarh Club. Heading the sports committee at the Chandigarh Club, Noorpuri says the enthusiasm led us to upgrade the facilities for the game to bring it up to international standards with glass back walls,” says Noorpuri.

Brains not brawn

Sumit Talwar ‘Chingari’

Seen as the game of luck where the more you play the luckier you get, the Billiard passion began in the city three decades back when likes of Rakesh Duggal and Rakesh Sood bought pool tables made in early 1900s in England belonging to the Patiala royal family to the city to cater to the sport. “That was the time when there used to be a waiting line of those wanting to take aim, says Duggal. Rakesh Sood, who bought billiards tables from Shimla says the people were more into appreciating skill. The game saw resurgence and caught the fancy of the city young when likes of Geet Sethi came up.

The product is a Sumit Talwar who earned the name of Chingari for his game who represented India at the recent Doha Asiad and is ranked India number 4 at in Nine Ball. The cueist wants more tournaments in city to have more competition-oriented talent on the lines of metros. “I turned pro the first year I began playing and the competition from the city is becoming tougher.”

For the games requiring brains not brawn, Paramjit a trainer says, “City youth like to play it because they can spend their time whenever free in the parlour and being a mind game to be played in silence gets them hooked.”

Ace of pace

Stylish and sauve, Tennis is yet another individual game the young here aspire to excel in. Most of the goal setting forms filled up by some 200 entrants at the Chandigarh lawn Tennis Association (CLTA) Sector 10, have the aspirations etched out loud and clear as the enthusiasts want to be the world number one or be the highest ranked in WTA or ATP, says coaching director Gajendra Singh. Coming from a small village in Panipat 16-year-old Vijayant Malik, who reached the finals of the recent grade three tournament shows that the sports savvy young like 11-year-old Parminder Kaur and a Shilpi Niruka are serious about their aim. “It is the Asian players doing well like Sania or Leander that takes confidence level high and ever increasing awareness about the games is taking them places,” adds Gajendra.

Passion Play
Nirupama Dutt

(Every moment spent in passion was rewarding/ Although the heart had to endure much pain) — Faiz Ahmad Faiz

Coming face-to-face with the paintings of Satwant Singh is an intense experience. For his work is the purest play of passion, worked with intensity found only in masterstrokes. Having shared a long and close association with the artist and his work, what one feels seeing a fresh work by this artist is that each work is painted with energy that ordinary souls would find hard to muster.

But here we are not dealing with the ordinary. Satwant is an extraordinary artist born with gift of art nurtured lovingly for nearly half a century. No, the painter is no old man. The fact is that he started painting when but a boy. For him it was the only way to relate with this delightful and at the same time disturbing world this boy stepped into out of the dark comfort of his mother’s womb. “I was a lonely child and I started speaking late. So even before I spoke, I had started drawing. I didn’t make friends easily. I kept myself engrossed with the goats, roosters and sparrows. Or I escaped into fantasy,” says Satwant. This world of childhood still presents itself in his work which is a wonderful mix of reality and fantasy.

A man of many talents, one could wax eloquent on his many contributions to different forms like caricature illustration, narrative and poetry. The present collection of works that come so like winsome wine that was maturing in the cellar for long and suddenly it has poured out in good measure, with passion put to the finest use.

The viewer is transported into the complex symbology of the inner world of the artist and the erotic that meets the eye is a metaphor for his own creative urge. It is worked out so magically in a harmonious coming together of line, form, colour and texture. All this has been achieved with the long labour of love. The joy and the passion this artist feels in communion with his medium is communicated ever so spontaneously to the viewer.

For passion is indeed a universal humanity, that imparts meaning to art and life. Move from the large paintings to the smaller works painted on discarded brown office files and Satwant’s art comes a full circle. If his forms shimmer in the outburst of colour, the tonal effect takes the viewer to the deep and ponderous layers of the artist’s mind. “Whenever I see a slip of paper lying around, I cannot help but draw on it. Drawing and painting are compulsive acts for me and what you see now has half a century of discipline and dedication behind it,” says Satwant.

His painting on files is in a way symbolic of a freedom that he has recently found from long years of work to earn his daily bread and fend for his family. Now he is back to doing that what comes most naturally to him. Art is a meditation for our ‘Saint’ Satwant who combines the serene and the ardent; the painful and the pleasure giving so with radiance that sparks light the gaze the way of seeing.

The exhibition will be on view at the Panjab University Museum from January 16 to 20.

Sacred to Secular
Parbina Rashid

The curiosity to know more about miniature paintings, which was aroused by Mandi-based artist Naresh Pandit with his paintings during an exhibition at the Punjab Kala Bhavan, got a further boost when the First Friday Forum organising an audio-visual presentation on Indian miniatures called A Passage from the Sacred to the Secular by Jagtej Kaur Grewal. Together, both sessions proved to be a complete package, for Pandit’s paintings gave an insight to what is about to come in Indian miniatures while Jagtej’s presentation took us back to its origin.

Jagtej, who teaches at the Department of History of Fine Arts, Panjab University, told us what were the changes that came in Indian miniatures in terms of content. It ranged from 11th century to 17th century and touched up all four big categories —miniatures of the Eastern India with its Buddhist influence, Western India with Jain influence, The Sultanate and the Mughal.

“Indian miniature has gone from Iconic art to secular,” says Jagtej, a product of the Government College of Art who had later done her masters from the Department of History of Art and completed her Ph D in the oil paintings from Punjab with highlights on the erstwhile royal states.

“In the Eastern Indian School of Miniature Painting, the subject matter was primarily Buddhist and the paintings done during this time were of a hierarchical nature with emphasis on the iconographic representation of the numerous deities of the Buddhist pantheon,” she says when we catch up with her after the presentation. We also come to know that with the establishment of the Sultanates the subject matter shifted from the sacred to the secular with emphasis on historical and narrative romances, a trend that later continued till the Mughal period.

Her talk had the support of 25 colourful slides and proved to be an instant hit with the members of the forum. S.S. Bhatti, former Principal of the College of Architecture, says: “This particular session was quite a hit and people are wanting more programmes of this kind.”

Bhatti was The Tribune’s art critic for 20 long years, does have a soft corner for Indian miniatures. “Indian miniature is unique, a kind of microfilming of events, people and nature and the most attractive part is totally Indian in technique. And yet it is so modern as the time and space it captures in those small canvasses are dynamic in nature. One can compare it with a modern-day CD” he explains.

Looking at those beautiful paintings so alive with colours and detailed forms, who can deny that? But then as the saying goes, good things do come in small packages or in this case small canvases.

HOPSCOTCH
Tribal Art

We have a very rich tradition not just of tribal craft but tribal art too. In recent times the government and NGOs have been making an effort to bring forth spontaneous, simple and yet elegant tribal art into the market with the aim of getting the tribals to support them economically. Maneka Gandhi in her group called Tribes is show casing tribal arts and crafts in a big way. Dilli Haat and Folk Craft Museum, New Delhi, too have brought forth the tribal artists from their villages to the urban buyer in the metropolis. The dedication of the artists and the beauty of their works show that much of the contemporary art with all its snobbery falls short of the abstraction and composition of the tribal frames.

Pithora painting

A unique art form exists in Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. It is called Pithora and various tribal groups like the Rathwas, Bhilals and Nayaks practice it as an elaborate spiritual ritual in which auspicious images are painted on the mud walls of a home. The paintings are offered to God on the occasion weddings, childbirth and other accomplishments. Thus these paintings have a spirit of joy and celebration and are painted on the three inner walls of a hut. The very concept is so beautiful for the simple tribals usher in peace, prosperity and joy by offering God their art. The painted motifs include the huts and the local landscape with the trees and flowers painted in a stylistic way. Besides this is the smiling sun, the lush green fields and a wedding procession with Warli like figures dancing and beating the drums. Horses and bulls find place in these paintings since villagers consider them visions of God.

Rathwa Najroo

The proponents of Pithora paintings are the Rathwa tribes, who were a highly devout and humble lot. In modern times, Pithora finds itself in the midst of the commercial world, although the ritualistic nature of the art form still holds significant ground in its oeuvre. At the Gurjari exhibition that is on at the city’s Panchayat Bhavan in Sector 18, sits Rathwa Najroo, as humble and devout as can be, painting the Pithora on home-made canvas. An award-winning artist Maan Singh taught painting to this young man who has completed Plus II. He comes from Gunnata village in the Chotta Udaipur region of Gujarat. While working the traditional motifs, he also shows a contemporary sensibility that cries out against felling of trees or changing the paths of rivers.

Sad sign

The sad sign, however, is that while people who come to the exhibition buy clothes and jewellery aplenty, there are few takers for this art, which he is selling for a very small amount. Najroo says: “ I have sold only five paintings at very reduced rates whereas they sell a lot in Calcutta, Bangalore and Delhi at very high prices.” These paintings ranging from Rs 150 to 600 are a steal and would just light up a room in a home, an office or a hotel. The city folk should grab them while Najroo is still here and that is only till January 18. Let us open our doors to genuine art when we see it. — Nirupama Dutt

Preeti 007
Parbina Rashid

She ravels in criminal psychology and unearthing ‘what lies beneath the surface’ is her cup of tea. Little wonder her resume makes her look like someone straight from a James Bond movie. Well, she is our own Zee TV special correspondent Preeti Sompura who has been recently awarded with the ‘Best Electronic Media Journalist’ honour by the Maharashtra Aashirwaad Organisation.

As we go through her profile as the groundwork for a telephonic interview with Preeti, we find her professional experience can make even a veteran journalist envious of her achievements. Starting with Kargil war to Gujarat earthquake, stamp paper scam to ULFA nexus in Assam to interviewing Dawood Ibrahim’s uncle on Dawood’s daughter’s wedding, she has done it all. But that’s not all, this mother of a three-year-old girl, who had become a journalist at the age of 17, has authored a novel Pratibimb and translated Julio Rebeiro’s book Bullet for Bullet into Hindi. She has dabbled her hand at print media too (with the Punjab Kesari), still writes regularly for various newspapers in Gujarat.

The interview opens with her two stories, one about policemen taking bribe from truck drivers and stamp paper scam, which made her win the award in December last year. The conversation flows with her vivid description on how she tracked down those policemen and how she waited in front of the High Court complex to prove that even after the Telgi scam, one can still buy stamp papers from Paan shops after the office hours.

Well, her discoveries are public knowledge now. And as we are more interested to know what lies beneath the soft-spoken exterior of this reporter, we ask her what makes Preeti tick? “I am through and through a hard core journalist,” says Preeti. It is a case of ‘once a crime reporter, always a crime reporter’ for her. “When I joined the Zee TV in 1995, there were very few women who were reporting crime. I enjoyed the challenge and though I have covered politics, general and culture and film besides crime, politics and crime have always remained the closest to my heart,” he reasons.

A graduate from Mumbai University, Preeti had no Mass Communication degree to back her up in her chosen profession, but she learnt everything that needed to be learnt on the job. “It is a very hectic profession and one has to be very alert and dedicated to survive here. And of course knowing the area which you are covering and cultivating good contacts are the lifelines for journalists,” she explains.

But how does she manage with a three-year-old to take care of? “My mother-in-law takes care of my daughter,” says our Mumbai girl. Now we know why Preeti had dedicated her award to her family while receiving it from Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh.

Well, we applaud for her, not just for the dedicated journalist of the year, but for restoring our faith in the joint family system.

Colour of the season
Smriti Sharma

What is the first thing you notice when a smartly dressed girl or a boy brushes past you on the street? The chances are that most of us will go in for the clothes or the branded shoes (remember the old saying, you can tell about somebody looking at his/her shoes).

But folks, gone are the days when these would be the only definition for an individual’s style statement. If fashion forecasters are to be believed, then well kept tresses and a healthy glowing skin will definitely make you stand out in a crowd.

Perhaps this explains the reason for many international brands of beauty products launching their own exclusive salons in the city. Barely after the launch of an exclusive Schwarzkopf

Salon in Chandigarh a month ago, even Mohali can now boast of an exclusive Schwarzkopf unisex salon. Violet Thrill that opened today in Phase 11, saw Nitin Manchanda, a leading hair designer and Technical Executive (North), Schwarzkopf, showcasing some of the ‘in’ colour trends and hairstyles.

A product of Delamar Academy of Makeup, London, Nitin began his career in make-up and hair styling with the diva of fashion makeup, Blossom Kochhar of Aroma Magics, as a hair instructor.

Giving a low down on the trends this season, he affirms a roaring comeback of violet colour that had gone obsolete (incidentally, the name of the salon happens to be borrowed by shade of violet from Schwarzkopf with the same name!).

So, the colours of this season will remain, Spice Brown, auburn and the all time favourite blonde for girls and for boys the ‘street look’ with an Ash blonde colour giving their overall profile a macho look is in.

All said and done is the post care that one needs to religiously take note of (if you want to save your hair from any damages later!). A colour saving shampoo and conditioner are a must to keep those tints intact.

Lastly, to look a perfect crowd stopper, wear a minimum, translucent makeup on your face that defines your hair colour complete with a dash of gloss for that feminine touch. Go ahead, show off your true colour!

Film & Fashion
Hilton’s pad a tourist spot

Hotel heiress Paris Hilton's new pad has reportedly become a new hotspot for tourists in Los Angeles, for a herd of fans can often be seen waiting for a sight of the sexy socialite.

Hilton's home was recently flocked by many of her fans, who were left enthralled after they saw her emerge from her car.

"We're from New Hampshire, we just want to say hi while we're here. You're so pretty!" TMZ quoted a middle aged Parisian, as exclaiming.

Hilton also took photos with each of the girls present at the moment, before rushing off to the set of her new film The Hottie and the Nottie.

James Cameron

Cameron’s new Avatar

James Cameron is set to direct Avatar, his first dramatic feature since the Oscar-winning blockbuster Titanic in 1997.

He will join 20th Century Fox in tackling a similarly ambitious and costly film, which will test new technologies on a scale unseen before in Hollywood.

The film, with a budget of close to $ 200 million, is an original science fiction story that will be shown in 3D in conventional theaters. The story pits a human army against an alien army on a distant planet, using live actors and digital technology to make a large cast of virtual creatures who convey emotion as authentically as humans. Paralyzed war vet played by Australian actor Sam Worthington, leads the human army against the alien battalion.

Griffith to write her story

American actress Melanie Griffith has reportedly gone back on her promise to write an autobiography with writer Bonnie Robinson.

The 49-year-old actress, who has just finished fighting her painkiller addiction, had promised Robinson two years ago that she would pen her autobiography with her when she turned 50 in August 2007.

"Two years ago, she promised to do her autobiography with me when she turned 50, which she will be this coming August. In fact, she shook hands on the deal and gave her solemn word," the New York Post quoted Robinson, a saying.

Halle Berry pregnant?

Academy-award winner Halle Berry might be pregnant, as the actress was recently spotted wearing baggy tops and sporting a bumpy stomach, which some firmly believe is a baby bump.

The 40-year-old actress, who is dating Canadian star model, Gabriel Aubry, recently said in a TV interview that she would love to have children and in case she cannot have her own she would adopt.

"I will definitely adopt. And I probably will adopt even if it does happen naturally," Hollyscoop quoted her, as saying.

On the topic of own children, she said she would not mind having kids with Aubry, but added that it was too early to involve a child between them.

Work hard, drink hard

Lindsay Lohan's wild partying antics have often upstaged her acting abilities, fetching the actress more critics than fans.

But the 20-year-old who's often dismissed as one of the ‘party girls’ of Hollywood-has recently found one admirer in Tinsel town who has nothing but praise for her.

Actor Emilio Estevez - who did quite a bit of partying himself as one of the famous 1980's Tinsel town Brat Pack - has jumped to the star's defence, saying she works just as hard as she drinks.

The duo worked together on Emilio's new film Bobby-about the assassination of J.F.K's brother Robert Kennedy - and the director describes her as a talented and committed actress. — ANI

Crusade is the thing

Karen’s Haydock’s latest exhibition “Women and Imperialism” at the art gallery of the History of Fine Arts Department, Panjab University, is an attempt to understand exploitation of women in relation to the imperialistic framework of social functioning. She has chosen woman form but her medium is dark black ink. The reason? Simple, for the artist does not see her subject with rose- tinted glasses. In her own words: “I do not find anywhere that there is a colourful carnival for women. In this imperialistic era, women are getting pushed deeper and deeper into the dark. For me, colourfulness symbolises happiness and when this happiness comes on the faces of women, it will automatically reflect on my canvas.”

Her frames glare with steel eyes, flat faces, sternest vision which shakes up one’s thinking as you see frame after frame, asking you the same question if you are aware of your own exploitation.

Karen, born and educated in the USA (she has a Ph D and post-doctoral research in biophysics), has seen social and imperialistic exploitation throughout the world. For the past two decades she has been working in India, primarily as an illustrator but also as an educationist who has been working on new ways of educating children.

Karen promises to keep up her crusade against exploitation till it continues in society. But she is hopeful someday she will paint colourful women. We are waiting for that too. — P.R.

Monochromatic Elegance

There’s a zing to a room done in black and white. Architectural details and interesting shapes keep a black-and-white palette from being boring. Black wainscoting adds elegance, black and white tiles lend graphic appeal, and the curvy black claw-foot tub is the jaw-dropper. Do you love the look? Then try these ideas by putting black and white against any color for a look that’s fresh and sophisticated.

Citrus green paired with black and white creates an energetic, modern environment, even when used with eclectic furnishings. Try hanging black-and-white laminated or waxed newspaper cuttings in exciting patterns on a narrow magnetic board or bulletin board for an inexpensive and unstudied work of art.

Be ready for gasps of delight when people see your beautiful black-and-white-painted fireplace that practically jumps off the milky blue wall. Subdue it by artfully arranging simple gray-tone knickknacks on the mantel, then enjoy the reactions. Alternatively, if your master bedroom or family lounge has a built-in chimney, then get a white stone fireplace built for yourself with black limestone mantle piece to create an equally dramatic effect. Provision for burning firewood or coal in this practical fireplace will keep you snug in these chilly months.

Black trim to a white door leading to the children’s room adds sophistication to the playful blue walls. Opt for a neutral rug which ties the look together without overwhelming the space or spread a black-white chess board rug for a bold statement.

Create a vivid division between your guest bedroom and its attached dresser area by using loose lengths of a peacock-and-leaf print fabric rather than structured curtains. Ensure that if bedroom is painted in muted tones then dresser area must be in brighter colours.

Pictures and artwork framed and matted in different combinations of black and white save the color scheme from monotony. You may consider unusual pairing in pink and blue with the black and white, but the fresh hues work by softening the look of the stunning monochromatic color scheme.

Modern art and an upholstered chair are both potential room-monopolizers, dominating the style of the space despite their small size. Make them both more livable by pairing the two. Hang modern art pieces from the wall and upholster the chair in a lighthearted floral pattern. Add a dash of colour by placing a vase of fresh red roses on the side table. When pairing black and white with a beige wall, gravitate toward creamy whites.

You can add more black and white to your decor by displaying black-and-white dishes and accessories in a painted wall dresser with open shelves. Think of books with white covers, silver wine flutes, white paper roses, mother of pearl figurines, your precious crystal with recessed light filtering from the top to decorate a wall dresser painted black. Not only will the arrangement add punch to your kitchen or dining room, the pieces will be right at hand when you need a serving dish during a party.

Black and white makes an utterly graphic statement, so feel free to experiment with different pattern combinations. If you have spread white lace table cloth on the dining table, then choose geometric shaped dinner set in black with pastel pink or yellow linen napkins. Further punctuate the look with a table centre piece structured with soft pink and yellow roses paired with white candles.

Have you become monochromic enough to balance large, medium, and small scale patterns with a few touches of plain black and white in fabric or form yet?

Courtsey: A.P. Singh Besten & Co

Youth Speak
Save the globe

My woolens came out of the closet in the month of December only, hesitating and wondering what happened to winter! However, it will not be very long when the hot October and not-so-cold November will become a way of life. Just as unexpected heavy rains in odd months do not really surprise anymore now!

What can be more surprising than the snowfall in Dubai or the heat flushes in North America and Europe? The emerging economic power, China isn’t anymore surprised when thousands of tones of dust kissed its Shanghai style living. And who is after all bringing all these uncomfortable surprises? It is the façade of modernity and progress, which has ruined our water bodies, deeply disturbed the ecosystem and devastated the climate cycle.

While the Kyoto Protocol may die a slow death, glaciers too are dying. Bush refuses to sign the Protocol, hallucinating that the planet where 99.9 % of the glaciers are receding and forests are disappearing is not the one where Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita tool place.

The green house gas emissions by the developed and fast developing countries has endangered the ozone layer leading to high temperatures, hurricanes, droughts, floods, tornadoes and unexpected snowfalls in unexpected places. Increased pollution has accelerated the phenomenon of ‘Global dimming’. The loss of glaciers in South-America and Asia will threaten water supplies of millions of people within a few decades.

In his latest book, Heat, Allen Lane argues that oil giants like Exxon Mobil are financing the dumping of global warming findings. The doctored and manipulated studies claim that global warming is not a reality as yet; this tribe of research is called ‘junk science’. These are the very people who are swallowing nature.

The ruined Tehri, disappearing Amazon forests, ravaged Three Gorges, exploited Orissa- all can become reasons for nature’s fury, which is almost knocking at our door. Global warming is a reality, which is very much alive in the devastated homes of Tsunami affected Andamans as well as in the ruined homes of Hurricane affected New Orleans.

So wake up to nature’s call guys, lets plant a tree every week, lets ride a bicycle or walk on foot rather than drive on polluting wheels, lets not be cruel to our animals, lets not put rubbish into our water bodies, lets save rain water, lets not cut the mangroves which save us, let us wake up and wave to our mother earth! So that next time any encounter with nature should be a responsibility to shoulder.

— Medha Gupta

New Releases
Guru in town

The stage is all set for another surprising entertainer Guru from ace filmmaker Mani Ratnam. The second week of January 2007 brings special bonanza for audience, as the much-awaited film will see a release today at Piccadily, Chandigarh, Fun Republic, Manimajra and K.C. Panchkula.

Guru has been making news for quite sometime. It is a unique film from Mani Ratnam after the success of Roja, Bombay, Dil Se and Yuva. The film stars Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai, who are in the news since rumours of their impending marriage have been doing the rounds.

The film also stars Mithun Chakraborty, Vidya Balan, R. Madhvan and Manoj Joshi. Sexy Mallika Sherawat is all set to sizzle the audiences with an item number.

Guru is also in the news because this one is reportedly based on the life of an Indian tycoon who is worshipped by the people. The film once again brings back the combination of A.R. Rahman and Mani Ratnam. Gulzar has penned the lyrics. G. Srinivasan and Mani Ratnam have produced Guru.

The media attention on Guru is tremendous and the buzz is that it may set cash registers ringing from the very first day of release. So check out Guru today at your nearest theatre. — D.P.