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Bano fool
As technology replaces childhood ingenuity, Gen X switches to gadgets and gizmos to ring in All Fool’s Day, says Saurabh Malik Nothing reflects the thoughtless end of innocence more intelligently than All Fool’s Day. Initiated into the world of astuteness through the Internet and round-the-clock television channels — beaming essentially urbane and sophisticated programmes — the hip-hop brigade of teenyboppers nowadays ring in the big day with short message service jokes and caller tones. Along with other gadget and gizmos. Instead of good old classroom gags flavoured with innocence! Techno-jokes
Having doubts? Read this: As a substitute for boring tring-tring, under-grad Jatin Sharma’s chums now hear the chirpy voice of an enthusiastic siren asking them to speak louder every time they call him up on his mobile phone. Ignoring their screams, the voice beeches them to step out in the open for clarity’s sake. Just as holding the phone a bit too tight turns their knuckles white, she blows the entire thing up. Releasing a short sigh, she guffaws: “The message is per-recorded just to make an intelligent fool out of you”. Now guys, you can’t even admit your disappointment over losing the opportunity of talking to lass with class. After all, it’s just not easy to acknowledge head-over-heel flip for a gal you haven’t even seen, just heard. Innocently yours
In any case, all fools’ affairs were definitely refined a few years back. There were no cell-phones and technologically advanced jokes. Not even for the upwardly mobile fledglings. The day was all about connecting to humour and playing pranks in childishly-ingenuous ways. Business executive with a multinational Radhu Jain still recalls the days when her buddies would come up with fundamentally unintelligent assertions like “the mathematics teacher is in the principal’s office and is calling you”. “One knew it was all rubbish. But then the risks were too high. I still remember entering the principal’s office just to be met with a glaring stare,” she mutters with a glint of ingenuousness in her eyes. “My next half an hour was spent in the playground revengefully thinking of non-serious ways to redeem my honour. It may seemingly be unimportant now, but it was all so wonderful and innocent then.” Cleverly stupid
In the absence of fool-making machinery, ingenuity was the key that opened the door to a world of foolishness. Now Punjab and Haryana High Court advocate Anil Pal Singh Shergill harks back to his salad days. Positioning himself in the physical training ground, he would shout: Just for Rs 1, I will reveal the secret of becoming a multi-millionaire. As allies pulled out hard-saved pocket money to pay, I would say: Do the same thing....” Wizening up
More than a few jokes have flashed on the mobile screens since then. Only one thing remains seriously the same about the “funny” day — it’s history. Info available on the Internet says: In the 16th century, France celebrated the New Year on April 1. People joined in the celebrations by throwing parties and dancing into the wee hours. In 1562, Pope Gregory changed the calendar to celebrate New Year on January 1. Those sticking to the tradition of celebrating the big day on April 1 became first ones to be called April fools. Good bargain
If your idea of All Fools’ Day is to scare the wits out of your friends, pull out a trick from a rose bud, the one that bloom into surprise. Concealed amidst cheerful red petals is a ring. Believe it or not, the craze for the innermost secret is popping up like never before. Costing just about Rs 120, the buds are finding their place in the markets, and the hearts of so many guys, after being ferried from China and other alien lands via Mumbai. Go in for the harmless-looking ghost. As you touch it, the phantom’s glaring red eyes stare back at you. Dangling with a thread, it floats up and down in the air before letting out sinister laughter. You can have it for less than Rs 200. In the end, scribble a message of all fool’s day on their hearts with invisible ink pen. Your written word appears only under the special light attached to the pen. Happy fooling around!
The 1st of April is the day we remember what we are the other 363 days of the year. — Mark Twain Nothing funny about it
In ancient and medieval times, April 1 was celebrated as the beginning of the New Year. The Gregorian Calendar introduced in 1582 called for New Year’s day to be celebrated on January 1. France adopted the reformed calendar, but many countries resisted. Those who accepted the new calendar began to make fun of the traditionalists, calling them ‘fools’ and trying to trick them into believing something false. So, began the Fool’s Day tradition. Read on for the whackiest top 5 tricks of recent times: Spaghetti harvest
The BBC announced In 1957 that Swiss farmers were enjoying a bumper spaghetti crop due to a very mild winter and elimination of the spaghetti weevil. It showed Swiss peasants pulling strands of spaghetti down from trees. Hundreds of viewers were taken in. Many phoned to know how they could grow spaghetti trees. BBC replied: “Place a sprig of spaghetti in a tin of tomato sauce and hope for the best.”
In 1989, a flying saucer landed in a field just outside of London. The police arrived to ward off the alien invasion. A brave officer walked up the craft and its door popped open. A small, silver-suited figure emerged. The saucer turned out to be a hot-air balloon built to look like a UFO by Richard Branson, chairman of Virgin Records. B&W to colour
There was only one TV channel in Sweden in 1962 and it broadcast in black and white. The station’s technical expert Kjell Stensson announced on the news that all viewers could now quickly and easily convert their existing sets to colour, courtesy a newly-developed technology. All what they had to do was to pull a nylon stocking over the screen. Stensson even demonstrate the process. Hundreds experimented! Printer’s devil
In 1977, The Guardian published a special seven-page supplement on the tenth anniversary of San Serriffe. It said San Serriffe was a small republic in the Indian Ocean comprising several semi-colon-shaped islands. The paper said the two main islands were named Upper Caisse and Lower Caisse. Its capital was Bodoni and its leader was General Pica. Few noticed that everything about the island was named after printer’s terminology! Floating on air
In 1976, British astronomer Patrick Moore announced on BBC Radio 2 that at 9:47 a.m. the planet Pluto would pass behind Jupiter, temporarily reducing the Earth’s gravity. Moore told listeners that if they jumped in the air at the exact moment, they would experience a strange floating sensation. BBC2 received hundreds of calls from listeners claiming to have felt the sensation. One woman said she and her 11 friends had risen from their chairs and floated around the room!
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Mr Bean bumbles out
He makes everyone laugh. No, not with his jokes or funny one-liners, but with his peculiar expressions, clumsiness and constant mumbling. That what Rowan Atkinson is for you. Doesn’t ring a bell? Then let us be more straightforward. He is our lovable Mr Bean! Best known for playing Edmund Black Adder in The Black Adder series, his role as hapless Mr Bean, who always lands himself in some or the other trouble, is undeniably much talked about. He first appeared in 1988 in a half-hour special as Mr Bean. No doubt the character has been linked to a modern-day Charlie Chaplin, several sequels had followed at irregular intervals, before it was made into a film in 1997 titled Bean. Even the animated series of Mr Bean is watched all over by young and old. And now, however, after Mr Bean’s outing in his latest film Mr Bean’s Holiday, Atkinson is bidding adieu to the character for good. A piece of news that has shocked millions of his fans across the globe. Here’s a quick peek at what some of the die-hard Bean fans has to say about his final goodbye to Mr Bean. For 23-year-old Sameer Bharadwaj, the news is more than just a shock. “It’s really disheartening to know,” says a visibly upset Sameer. “Simply for the fact that no one can match up to his style. The way he creates laughter effortlessly is unmatchable. Whatever happens to the character, his movies will be classics in the future as nobody can ever get tired of watching him goof up over and over again,” Sameer adds. For twelve-year-old Shakti Singh Ghuman and 19- year-old Jasmine Ghuman, avid lovers of Mr Bean, are sad. “He is really funny; he brought the character of Mr Bean into life. No can do justice to the character the way he did,” says Jasmine, a trainee commercial pilot. “Now probably I will have to do with only the animated series on Pogo,” says Shakti. However, Nachiketa Bajaj, a software professional, has taken this news to his stride. “We practically grew up watching Bean,” says Nachiketa who was hooked to Bean ever since his cousins from UK got him a video tape during his childhood. “Though it is not easy to see him going but as they say all good things have to come to an end.” On any alternates to Rowan, he says though one may come closer but the way he portrayed the character on screen, he is irreplaceable. Seven-year-old Jagrvi and her father Manmant Singh are grieving Mr Bean’s departure. “In spite of my mum’s scolding, we used to watch the show. We will surely miss him,” says Jagrvi. As Manmant Sigh puts it, “After Benny Hill, one of the most talented comedians, it was only Rowan Atkinson who could match up to his style. But now that he leaves, it’s is an end of an era for British comedy.” Well, this is just a bunch of Bean lovers and around the globe there will be millions more who would want him to do a re-thinking on his decision to quit. Are you listening Mr Bean? smritisharma@tribunemail.com
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Rolling on speedy wheels promises both fun and thrill. And, perhaps this is the reason for the popularity of skating as a big sport in the tri city. According to skating ‘gurus’, there are more than 3,000 skaters in Panchkula, Chandigarh and Mohali. In view of its popularity, many skating rinks have come up at various schools and institutions. And, of late even the number of skating events and competitions has increased But, whether the hard work and skill put in by the youngsters will make it possible for them to make a mark at the international level is the big question. In our country most of the skaters skate on quads, while at the international level only inline skates are allowed. Most parents as well as skaters, are ignorant of it and it is evident from the fact that out of 3000 skaters, less than 50 are inline skaters in the tri city. Quads skates, which have two wheels in the front row and two in the back row are the most popular skates among Indians; low price and easy availability being the prime reason. On the other hand, inline skates that have four to five wheels in a single row are quite expensive. While, quads starts start from Rs.250 and go up to Rs. 3000, the inline skates cost between Rs 8000 and Rs.40,000. Says Harpreet Singh, an international umpire of Roller Skating Federation of India,” Till date, there are no manufacturers of inline skates in our country; though the manufacturing of chassis of these skates has started at Karnal, one has to import the wheels”. “These advanced skates are much faster than the traditional quads,” he adds. Besides high prices, the other factor that is keeping the common man away from inline skates is the non-availability of suitable tracks and rinks here. “For inline skating, long and big tracks are needed which we lack here. Only one or two schools claim to have such tracks here”. “Building such tracks is also high on the agenda of Chandigarh administration”, says Harpreet, who has taken the Indian skating team to international events for seven times.
Five-time national champion (Junior) Chander Singhal, feels that it is the need of the hour to popularise inline skating in India. “If we eye on high goals at international level, we should start the game with inline skates. In our country, the chances are bright for inline skaters as separate events are conducted for them. The talented skaters can make it to the nationals in a short span because we have a few skaters to participate in the events. On the other hand, quads competition sees huge participation and is thus tougher”, says Chander, who imparts training to budding skaters in Panchkula. “It is also the moral duty of coaches to tell parents and budding skaters about the benefits of the new concepts of skating”, feels the coach. Chander says, “Though vice skating on both types of skates is almost same, a skater who has practiced on quads definitely feels uncomfortable on inline skates”. ”To make the expensive skates within one’s means, the government should subsidise the rates and aid should be given to the manufacturers of this new concept skates”, say the experts. ghaiakash@tribunemail.com
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write to Renee
Say no to negative emotions I am an 18 year-old-girl. My problem is that I am over sensitive. In case my parents say something to me, I get touchy and start crying. If I see a person getting hurt on the road, I cannot sleep for days. Even if I see a dog or a cow hurt on the road, I start crying and want to do something about the situation. How can I overcome this? Jasmine, ChandigarhIt is wonderful to know that you have a kind heart and a sympathetic nature. These are your positive qualities. But allowing your gentle and sensitive nature to get you into a negative binge is not really good for you. You have to learn and to take a hold of your self and your emotions. Harness these feelings into a positive attitude. Try to volunteer for some social work or go to one of the institutes for helping the underprivileged children once a week and teach them. It will give you tremendous satisfaction and also make your parents proud. I am in my early thirties and have been married for the past five years. Ours was a love marriage and we felt we had to fight all odds to get married. But ever-since I got married there has not been one single day of peace in my life. We lived in a joint family since I am the only son but my wife and mother had big disagreements all the time. Now we are living as a nuclear family, but I still feel that there is no harmony between us. We have a 3 year-old-child, who is used by my wife as a constant source of emotional blackmail. I feel frustrated with my life and I have recently developed a close friendship with one of the girls in my office. Can you suggest a solutions? Sumeet Walia , PanchkulaThere is no problem in life that does not have a solution. First you must understand that marriage is not only about the emotional high that you call love. It is a commitment. You have to learn to make adjustments in the new situation you have created. Sadly enough most people like to believe that love romance and marriage are all fairy-tale concepts. This is really not the truth and when the harshness of reality needs to be dealt with, they buckle under the pressure and run to find comfort in another relationship. This is not the answer. Spend time with your wife and communicate with her not as a husband but as a friend. Ask her what is bothering her. May be all the situations she creates are basically a way of getting your attention. Treat her with love and respect. I’m sure she will understand and come around. I am a 35-year-old-woman with a serious problem. I have a habit of telling lies. I cannot remember when it started, but now it seem has become a natural habit. My life has become unnatural because I have built up this whole fantasy world with my friends. Now I feel I have lost track of who I really am and has become stressful to deal with. Can you find me a way out? Parul Sharma, Chandigarh It is impressive that you have the courage to accept your own short-comings and face up to it. This is a deep-rooted problem that goes back to your childhood. May be as a kid you told lies to get acceptance. It always must have seemed the easy way out. It will do you good if you went to a therapist for a few sessions. Life is uncomplicated if you allow it to be so. Just allow it to flow free with the truth. Now that you want to make amends, the universe will help you naturally.
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All that glitters
Old is gold, literally. And, if you do not believe in the dictum, go to the jewellery shops that are bedazzling onlookers across the city. You will find ‘heritage’ jewellery glittering on the glass shelves ready to be picked. Right, contemporary is going traditional with designers drawing inspirations from the country’s great architectural heritage for refining the jewellery to meet today’s taste. You can now choose from more than just an outstanding collection of gold and diamond jewellery. Up for grabs is impressive Kundan and Polki stuff with conventions motivating the designs. Joining the legacy is Tanishq, that opened it’s second exclusive showroom in the city Saturday afternoon at Manimajra on the Kalka National Highway. It is offering dazzling collection inspired by the country’s rich heritage. The company’s Regional Business Manager (North) Vipul Sachdeva says, “Tanishq is making the art and craft of the past relevant for today’s woman”. The brand with the unveiling of the new store is revitalising traditional Indian jewellery to suit the preferences of the contemporary Indian women. “The unique range is modern as well as traditional, besides being affordable”, he says. Just in case, you wish to pick up some jewels, the time is just appropriate. Under Tanishq’s special inaugural offer, you will get a .5-gram gold coin on purchase of 15 gram 22 karat jewellery. The offer is valid on studded jewellery worth Rs.12,500. In addition, Tanishq will also pay the last installment on enrollment under the “Golden Harvest Monthly Savings Scheme”. This special inaugural offer is valid for two days from April 1. Gold rush, indeed!
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Sizzling Singapore
Weekend break seems to be getting redefined, from Shimla, it now has new name and it’s called Singapore! At least, that is what Singapore Tourism, Area Director, Kenneth Lim, would like to see happen and that too soon. On a visit to the city, he started by telling us about Singapore’s one defining moments (amongst others) and that is- Did we all know that Singapore Sling is actually native to Singapore?
Before everyone jumps to the ‘natural habitat’ segment on this tiny country, it would be best to identify this local lovely. The heady cocktail created for the Raffles Hotel in Singapore, almost 100 years ago is quite like its place of origin—well defined! And, like this candy pink tipple has found flavour the world over, Singapore too is busy these days courting touristy favour that is! The challenge says Lim, is how to connect with people to convince them to come and visit this 640 km square of land. “So what we do is leverage on our strength of being small.” Is small beautiful? Yes, going by the figures given by Sailesh Dixit, Branch Manager at Ekido Holiday Tours in Sector 8 who says almost 40 to 45 per cent of travellers going to South East Asia choose Singapore. “They may be transit travellers, since a lot of Indians take cruises from there”. “But the five and a half hour flight with tickets starting at Rs 8000 (without taxes), promises an organised destination with no problems vis-à-vis hotels, pick-ups, stops and of course plenty of good shopping”. Well, it is no surprise that they get at least 300 to 400 people opting for Singapore every month. Mona, a teacher at St John’s School swears by destination Singapore too. “The shopping is fantastic, the place is clean and disciplined and everyone is so helpful. The only thing is that the place is too clinical,” she says. Singapore is hoping to change that. In fact, the latest ad campaign titled ‘Uniquely Singapore’ is not just aimed at presenting ‘beautiful’ picture postcard clicks of its landscape, it is meant to strike a chord, pull at your heartstrings and yes to make you shop more! “We are unique because we are small and compact. The moment you land you are 20 minutes away from anywhere you wish to be. We are trying to position Singapore as ‘London of the East’,” says Lim, whose favourite spot happens to be London. And true to his word, Lim dons the garb of ‘tourism ambassador’ and describes his day out in Singapore. Here is a quick peek, straight from the horse’s mouth! A day out
If your tastes run a little more adventurous, try the ultimate experience — the Singapore Fish Spa. Just dip your feet in a pond of water filled with hordes of Turkish spa fish, which will actually nibble away at the dead cells from the feet at the Fish
Reflexology spot at the Underwater World. Leisure is the keyword, with slow meander through the picturesque Botanical Gardens and an unhurried breakfast at the Halia Restaurant. Bite into the local delicacy, Kaya Toast here. Consisting of kaya (creamy coconut jam) and butter sandwiched between slices of crisp charcoal-grilled bread, it is best enjoyed with black Chinese coffee and boiled eggs. After this repast, pick up some papers and grab a Starbucks Coffee, and take a shopping spree down Orchard Road, the real biggie of shopping streets. Take a lunch break at one of the food courts like the ‘Food Republic’ at the Wisma Atria, where you can choose the ambience within which to eat—park bench style, coffee shop chairs or perhaps even a sitting area themed to your liking. Choose from a wide array of cuisines and we will not elaborate here, because some things need surprises. Spend the afternoon (and here is our favourite) at a spa. Choose from chocolate therapy, using raw fresh cocoa at the Estheva Spa or the AHC Rejuvenation (Autologous Hemato-Cellular)—a non-surgical procedure utilising stem-cell techniques to reverse the aging process. Having undergone revival, hit the historical Clarke Quay, gazetted as a 24 hour entertainment zone with concept cuisines, lounge bars, discotheques, eight different concept nightspots and of course for beer guzzlers, the Tiger Life, a wander through how Singapore’s famed Tiger beer is made along with swigs to go! Finally, as you struggle into bed after partying the night through, remember Singapore is all geared to move from ‘transit destination to a ‘tourist
hot spot’. But one last word from us, remember chewing gum is still an iffy word for as Lim says, “Of course, you are allowed to chew gum, you just cannot buy it.” Starting 2005, Singapore launched its Tourism 2015, ten-year ‘rejuvenation’ plan that includes many more funky options to hop in and out of. To ensure, that tourism is the key economic pillar for Singapore they have identified three key areas of focus. Strengthening Singapore’s position as a leading convention and exhibition city in Asia Developing Singapore as a leading Asian
leisure destination Establishing Singapore as a place where visitors come to enjoy high-end quality services such as healthcare and education services. Some of the plans include integrated resorts at Sentosa and Marina Bay, revamping Orchard Street and Clarke Quay, opening new hotspots, bringing in new bands like Cirque Du Soleil, MTV, WOMAD and London’s famous Ministry of Sound, to attract more visitor traffic. On the cards is also Universal Studios, the first one outside of Los Angeles in the US, attracting theatrical productions like ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ and integrated resorts with casino elements.
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Aiming high
Nurtured on the spirit of competition, city students are aiming not just at “better” schools in Chandigarh, but celebrated institutes across the country.
In fact, the days of burning the mid-morning calories preparing for convent school interviews in the city are passé. Now if it’s not Welhams Girls School at Dehradun, the students are seeking out St George’s School at Mussoorie or Mayo College at Ajmer. And helping them out are professional coaching academies. Anyone who has studied the market knows these academies train the students not just for the interviews. They offer sessions aimed at complete grooming — right from brushing up the basic knowledge to the art of participating in group discussions for admissions to schools of national repute. And going by the results, the instructors at these academies are doing a swell job. Just over a year ago, six teachers from city-based Vivek High School and other institutes got together to form one such academy — The Study. Soon after its inception, the institute was approached by so many students eager to seek admission to ‘distinguished’ public schools in the country, including the Lawrence School at Sanawar and the Doon School. “In Chandigarh, more than a few coaching academies-cum-grooming centres had mushroomed over the years to prepare students for competitive examinations after their Class X and XII Board papers. But there was hardly any institute to help students get admission to prestigious schools across the country,” says senior faculty member Anuradha Datta. “That’s how the idea of setting up an institute, that would train the students to compete at the national level, came to mind.” “At first glance, the task appeared difficult. For, the courses and the syllabi of these were all very different. But then our faculty members went from institute to institute for gathering information to prepare hopeful candidates across the entire spectrum, right from improving their basics to interview grooming,” she adds. “The efforts proved worthwhile. The success rate is 90 per cent”. For the parents, it’s all very convenient. It saves them the effort of calling up pals and relatives in other cities for information brochures, and even guidance. “Otherwise also, the faculty does its homework well, and helps the students in preparing all subjects under one roof,” says Neerja Sharma. “As such, it saves precious time and effort that would have been wasted in traveling from tuition to tuition. And then, the courses are taught in a manner that makes even dull and boring subjects enjoyable”. The young housewife knows what she is saying. Her son, Ateet, made it to a prestigious school at Mussoorie last year. “It’s all about providing timely guidance. Any child, who is focused on his task, and receives timely guidance from an experienced teacher, can achieve the goal,” she says. So, students, keep your feet on the ground and reach for the stars.
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Far from Far
Sreedhara Bhasin
In Chandigarh, crossing four chowks or sectors is often considered far. When I first arrived here I would often get lost while driving. Once I ended up in a village called Dhalaspur. I did not think it was far at all, for I was still conditioned to think that to get milk from the grocery store, you have to drive five miles or to go to office, you have to drive 30 miles – something my fellow Americans did every day. My intermittent visits to the metro cities, over the years, did nothing to dilute my perception of distance. But, the city was a refreshing change. I marvelled at the fact that I could actually walk to a lake and to the post-office. Going to the airport to catch a morning flight did not mean waking up with the crows. Receiving people from the station in the evening also did not mean allocating the entire evening for the drive. I could be talking on the cell phone trying to answer questions about a misbehaving server and reach my office, to provide the final piece of the solution. I know some older gentlemen who walk to the British Library to get their “mind and body” books. I know a lot of ladies who think going to the lake is a detour for vegetable shopping. And they all tell me going to Fun Republic is impossible since it is so far. They have also told me I am quite insane to go all the way to Mohali to get a hair cut. Little do they know that I used to drive 10 miles to take my daughter to soccer games! To make matters worse, my perception of what is far is also getting dramatically altered. The other day I quibbled over dropping a kid home, whose house is a 30-minute drive. My daughter, in a laconic manner, reminded me – “How far is far?” a question I need to introspect on. Rightly served, I have now set on finding new ways to stop complaining about distance. When I see a mini traffic jam in the city, I am not going to start shouting like Henny-Penny who thought the sky was falling on her head. I am also going to be mindful of the fact that “far” is a highly relative term and we, the citizens of Chandigarh, still have the upper hand when it comes to far!
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Jackson gets the flu
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Acting legend Sidney Poitier was amazed when talk show queen Oprah Winfrey invited him for a sumptuous meal at his favourite restaurant in Los Angeles recently. The ‘Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner’ special was filmed for the Oprah show at Spago’s restaurant, and was shown recently. Oprah wanted to celebrate her mentor turning 80. She spent weeks investigating Poitier’s dining likes and dislikes, and then finally invited six fans to join them for dinner. Winfrey asked Wolfang Puck, Spago’s chef who also happens to be Poitier’s friend, to serve up the actor’s favourite dish, chicken with black truffles, and a sumptuous red velvet cake as a treat. The six fans invited to dine with Oprah and Poitier said that the experiences that the Oscar-winning actor shared in his two memoirs helped them cope with the hardships in their own lives. ANI
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First Day
First Show Delhi Heights
Showing at: Piccadily, Fun Republic Khanna & Iyer
With Khanna & Iyer, showman Subhash Ghai ventures into small and medium budget cinema. His first attempt in association with Zee Telefilms Ltd is a 120 minutes jolly ride packed with romance, thrills and comedy. The film is set up in the conventional backdrop of cultural conflict between two families that is woven in the framework of a typical love story. The debut of director, Hemant Hegde and the new cast of Sarvar Ahuja and Aditi Sharma are both impressive. Tabun Sutradhar, the music director has pitched in good compositions; the track Meri Jindari is a fine blend of western beats with the dhol. However, on a whole, the movie lacks the qualities that would make it a winner at box-office. Showing at: Fun Republic The Namesake
Mira Nair’s widely acclaimed film, The Namesake keeps the viewers glued with its influential storytelling. Its powerful narration overpowers the one-dimensional plot. Probably, one of the most amazing films made by Nair; the culture conflict drama proves once again that she is a director class apart. The film boosts of superlative performances from Tabu, Irfan Khan and Kal Penn. It is packed with a lot of humour and passion; overall a fine cinematic experience. Showing at: Fun
Republic — Dharam Pal
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Health tip of the day
Meditation is said to increase the thickness of theprefrontal cortex, the area for decision making.
— Dr Ravinder Chadha |
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Living in the city is really spoiling my perception of “far”. Now, when I have to go to a sector, which is a 20-minute drive from my home, I say it is quite far. For someone who has spent a good part of her childhood waiting in vehicles to get some translatory motion in virtually immovable traffic jams – no destination should be far.
Pop star Michael Jackson is recovering from a bad cold or the flu after a trip to Europe but contrary to news reports has not been hospitalised, his spokeswoman said. ‘’He was a little under the weather when he returned from Europe. He probably had a bad cold or the flu. But he was never hospitalised,’’ Jackson’s spokeswoman, Raymone Bain, said of the entertainer. She said Jackson, 48, was in Las Vegas recording music for a new project after attending to ‘’personal business’’ in Europe.
— Agencies
Filmmaker Anand Kumar makes an impressive entry into Hindi films with his family entertainer Delhi Heights. Set in the posh apartments named Delhi Heights, the film narrates the story of the lives of the character who reside there. It is a reality cinema that talks about real life problems faced by Delhites. A simple story, in which Delhi’s culture has been beautifully explored, the film is shot on a medium budget. It features good performances by Jimmy Shergill and Neha Dhupia. Om Puri, Kamini Khanna, Rohit Roy and Simone Singh too leave am impression with their roles. The film has its share of sentimental and comical moments. Rabbi Shergill’s music lends the flick a Sufi pop feel.