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Mission fitness
Growing up on an overdose of Terminator and Rambo. Idolising Guruji, as they fondly refer to Premchand Dogra. Counting 10 for each set of 100 push-ups. The young muscle powers from the city have done it all, be it impressing the women or making the men envious. Now, these young guns in their twenty somethings are warming up to train the fitness enthusiasts in the city. Wrist curling, lifting weights, back hammer, squats —- flexing muscles is a way of life for boys in town. We walk down the fitness trail with the champs who are proud owners of their own gyms.
Thrilled over the fact that body building has made it to the Asian games, Anurag Pandey (29) is hoping that the sport will soon be a part of Olympics too. It was in 1999 that he grabbed his first title- Mr Shimla. And since then, there has been no looking back. A four-time Mr Chandigarh, five-time participation in Mr India and in over eighty other contests, Pandey’s journey is both interesting and sad. In 1999, he was forced to leave his home to pursue his dreams. While, his parents wanted him to study, it was music and body building that attracted him. A B.A in Music, Pandey is a fine sitar player. If not exercising and playing the sitar, Pandey spends his day reading up endlessly, as he says, ‘about each and every muscle in the body.’ “There is so much more to learn, I keep referring to books and regularly interact with doctors and seniors in the field,” he smiles. Last month, Pandey set up his gym called Rana Fitness Centre in Phase XI , Mohali. His student and partner, Vijay Rana has financed him in the venture and the duo will soon make their presence felt in Chandigarh too.
A proud owner of his two-year-old gym, Flexgym in Sector 40, is Ajay Kumar (21). In his kitty are 35 gold medals in state level competitions, a hold over Mr Chandigarh ( sub-junior, all rounder) for the past six years from 2000 to 2006 and many more awards and titles. It was encouragement from his coach during school days that made him pick on the sport. All of 14, he grabbed a gold in the sub-junior category in Mr Ropar in 2000. While his family did think that Ajay was needlesly wasting his time, today they are filled with pride for their son. Ajay is now coaching his fave student Pradeep. “He should be ready to participate by this year’s end.” Incidentally, Pradeep also happens to be his partner for the gym. Flaunting his muscles is Rajiv Kumar (21). As an 11-year-old, he would tag along his elder brother Vishal, each time he went to the gym. And, while his brother, who worked as a coach in a city based gym, trained others, little did he know that his sibling was nurturing a similar dream. So in 1999, his brother formally introduced him to the world of weights and dumbles and as they say — rest is history. Last year, Rajiv participated in a competition and grabbed the second position in Mr Chandigarh. Today, he runs Fitness Zone in Sector 46, set up three years back. All of 18 then, he says, “The day the first member walked into the gym, I knew I had found my calling.” The bug bit Upkar Singh (29) a decade back when he first saw Arnold Schwarzenegger on the screen. “From that day onwards I was determined to work and get a body like him.” In class XII, he joined a gym and started making little sacrifices. An evening burger or partying with friends at the time of exercising became a total no-no. While Upkar, a masters in commerce, set up a factory after completing his studies, it was not where his heart lay. In 2004, he set up his own gym called Fitness Zone in Mohali. And, already in the pipeline are expansion plans. At present, he’s busy training his students for competitions. Last December, he organised Mr Mohali for the first time and soon plans to make it an annual feature. He even selects a team for the state level competitions. Well, way to go champs!
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Punj@bi on the
Net
Logging on to information in Punjabi is all set to become easier. Even if you have never transferred the files of Gurmukhi to the folder of your academic life, you will soon be able to access information through the Internet. For, guruji.com is coming up with a Punjabi search engine by the end of this year that uses English as an access medium.
Now you do not have to search the files and folders of your brain in an attempt to understand the concept. It’s actually simple. Just like you have Google, guruji.com is coming up with a search engine that will help you track down information in Punjabi even if you do not know how to write in Gurmukhi. “All you have to do is to type in English whatever you wish to pen down in Gurmukhi and it will automatically appear on the screen in that language,” says guruji.com’s young CEO-cum-co-founder Anurag Dod. Citing an example, he says: “If you wish to search for sites pertaining to Chandigarh in Punjabi but do not know how to write the city’s name in Gurmukhi, there’s nothing to worry. You will type Chandigarh in English and it will automatically appear on the screen in Punjabi. You can subsequently click on the go button and get the requisite information. It will prove especially useful for people, who can read Punjabi, but find it difficult to write in the language.” We have already launched a vernacular regional search in Hindi, Kannada, Tamil and Telugu. Punjabi is next, he adds. In Chandigarh on a business trip, Dod says: “Internet surfing and searching is fast emerging as an important tool for looking at information affecting our day-to-day activities, and moods. In fact, using the search engine is the second most-popular activity on the Internet after e-mail.” As such, in another few years search engines with links and information will become the most-popular and economical platforms for advertising. Already, a study by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) says there are about 65 million Indians using search engines and the current size of market for search engine advertising is $50 million. The market is expected to grow significantly over the next five years. Well guys, just in case you wish to know something about guruji.com also, it is a new local search engine aimed at the Indian web users. It focuses on providing better search results to the local users by leveraging proprietary algorithms and data in the Indian context. Sounds informative! saurabh@tribunemail.com |
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Fanning fashion
The
sun is keeping the teenyboppers cool. In fact, the very idea of stepping out in the sun is not making them sweat as fan-fitted caps are keeping the out-to-chill crowd absolutely fresh.
If you still haven’t seen the youngsters giving vent to their fashion instincts by putting on these caps, just drive down the road meandering its way to higher education through the academic environs of college and varsity campuses. The gorgeously fitting caps, with tiny fans rotating furiously to keep your temperature down, will simply sweep you off your feet. The caps are “uncomplicated” to look at. One look at them and you will not even notice the difference. For, the minuscule fan is fitted just below the sunshade. In fact, it is hardly visible from a distance. But just step in the sun, and in a jiffy the fan begins to rotate at an impressive speed for that world’s smallest air-cooler effect. The best thing about the cap is that you neither have to change the batteries nor switch on the fan. Attached to solar cells, just like the ones in your calculator, the fan is switched on automatically as soon as you step into the sun. Well, you can’t enjoy the benefits of the revolving technology in the classroom, but then it’s okay with most students. The cap’s not every expensive either, considering the fact that it is still unique, and available at select gift shops in the city. “You have to shell out about Rs 250 for capping your looks with some cool style,” says Raman of a Sector 11 card and gift shop, The Jewels. “Imported all the way from China via Mumbai the caps are available in cool colours — oceanic blue and baby pink included.” Raman says they are selling anywhere between four and five caps a day. And the purchasers are not just college and varsity students, but even young information-technology professional working in call centers spread across the tri-city. Plus-two student Tahira Kapoor is one of them. The Sector 42 resident has picked up two caps in different shades to match her dresses. “I pull the cap low down on my forehead as soon as I step out of the comfort of my air-conditioner car,” she says. “You see, the cap is absolutely necessary in this weather as high humidity prevents sweat evaporation. I find it difficult to walk even for five minutes without my cap.” Well fellows, the cap is wafting away your summer worries. Now, what are you waiting for? saurabh@tribunemail.com
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Who’s the cutest vegetarian of all?
THE Internet is coming alive in many different ways. And here’s the latest one – further stirring up its campaigning for a vegetarian world, PETA India’s youth division petaDishoom has just announced the first-ever Cutest Vegetarian Alive contest which is now open at www.petaDishoom.com
More than a chance to show how “vegetarian-friendly” you are, the contest offers a solid peek into special preferences of celebrities around the world. In fact, this one comes close on the heels of an effort made by peta2, PETA India’s US affiliate which crowned rocker Benji Madden and Hollywood actor Natalie Portman as the king and queen of hot vegetarians in a contest that attracted lakhs of votes. The list, says the PETA brigade, is endless, considering the numbers of celebrities who have in the past made the healthy and compassionate decision to go vegetarian. In the tinsel town, the gorgeous Kareena Kapoor fits the bill. A pure vegetarian, she is a hot favourite among Indian frontrunners. Across to the west — Ocean’s Eleven star Casey Affleck and celebrated actor Joaquin Phoenix are ideal choices for those who are looking for “supremely successful vegetarians”. Those with an ear for music can settle for confessed lifelong vegetarian Joss Stone or our very own rock star Shibani Kashyap, who, spurred by her conscience, chose the “green” route recently and reportedly, her singing has improved. Vegetarianism might well be the cause of cricket star Anil Kumble’s lasting innings. And he is no novice to the field, as he dumped the meat habit long ago. Also in green company is model Shamita Singha, crowned Miss India Earth in 2001. An equally promising contestant is Pentagram vocalist Vishal Dadlani, a vegetarian since 1993. An animal lover, he hates the very thought of killing animals for consumption. Actor R Madhavan is in the same league, he says: “It’s simple: I love animals, so I don’t eat them.” Now who says being vegetarian is non-glam? For more confirmations on this count, visit www.petaDishoom.com adititandon@tribunemail.com |
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Matka chowk MY good friend and neighbour in Austin, Texas, took me out for dinner last night. She claimed that the embroidered cotton kurta that she was wearing had cost her a fortune. It didn’t help when I laughed and said that she could have bought one in Chandigarh for a fraction of that price! After going through an year’s worth of conversation, she talked about her youngest son, who had been suffering from strange stomach ailments and how they were exploring alternative methods of treatment, including homeopathy. I was surprised by her recently-acquired knowledge of homeopathic cures and promised to look up some shops in my hometown! And this, from a woman who has lived in the heartland of Texas all her life! I am not sure how many of my friends have read Tom Friedman’s World is Flat, but the bridge to India seems to have widened in areas, not simply restricted to supply chaining and outsourcing. Economic shifts have brought with them great social currents that are sweeping over the US. When I went to get a haircut here, the stylist asked me the benefits of pranayam and she has never been to college! Then, she dazzled me with her knowledge of yoga and Nora Jones’ family history! I also went to Austin’s flagship organic food store and found varieties of Basmati rice I would not even find in stores back home! Even neighbourhood stores are flaunting coconut chutney, lychee juice and neem pills! A friend’s father asked me if I could get him a translation of the Gita on my next trip. He talked to me at length about Bangalore, monorail manufacturing plants and global warming.
This would be a good time to revisit Bob Dylan’s “The Times, they are a changing!”
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THE 80th Annual Academy Awards is a good eight-months way, but the race has already begun and the early favourite for the best actress nomination is Angelina Jolie for her portrayal of Mariane Pearl, wife of slain journalist Daniel Pearl in ‘A Mighty Heart’. The best part about the flick is that it doesn’t reduce the Daniel Pearl story to a plot, but elevates it to a tragedy. The film about the Wall Street reporter’s abduction by Pakistani militants and Mariane’s search for her husband has earned rave reviews and has secured 82 pct ratings from critics.
Though director Michael Winterbottom is being praised for his agile style, it is Jolie’s measured approach to portraying Mariane that is being considered worthy of best actress nomination. “Even in the film’s most dramatic moment, when news of Danny’s murder hit home, Jolie’s explosion of grief never registers as false or forced,” Peter Howell writes in the Toronto Star. Reports say that Jolie might get an Oscar nomination, for best actress is the strongest category in the awards. —ANI |
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Bookworms’ Bliss
CALL it a hobby or a way to escape into your dream world, a necessity for some while relaxation pill for others. Book reading, however you perceive it, is a man’s best friend. And though there are umpteen books released every week, not every one gets popular. We list a few famous picks for you.
Among the other books on the shelves are Witch of Portdelo by Paulo Coehelo, The Secret by Phonda Byrne and Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Husseini. Within a week or two of being released, these books are selling like hot cakes. “Most of the people have bought the book authored by Khaled for reading and we have sold about five to seven editions,” discloses Pankaj Singh, owner of Browser Library. While some readers’ restrict themselves to fiction, others love to experiment. Vaishali Agarwal, 37, is an avid reader likes to read every interesting book she comes across. “I like to read books written by Indian authors because of geographical proximity. Among the new releases I’ve loved is Department of Denial by Anurag Mathur, which is a satire on the Indian political system and really tickles your nerves.” For some readers, it’s all about the previous books of authors that convince them to buy their recent ones. For Nandhita Bedi of Sector 18, Thousand Splendid Suns was an immediate purchase, because she liked Khaled Husseini’s - The Kite Runner. “The Kite Runner is an awesome book and I learnt a lot about Afghanistan and was swayed to make this purchase.” And well friends, in case you thought it’s just the fiction and non-fiction that sells; then city stores differs in opinion. “Self-help books are in high demand too, as they are very motivational and inspiring,” chips in Dinesh Joshi, incharge of Book Café. Agreeing with him is Jasjeet Kaur, an adherent of self-help books who says that she has learnt a lot through them. “I rely on these books, as teach you to deal with tough situations in life,” she smiles. Running her catering business wasn’t easy and these books have taught her positive thinking and practice visualisation. She recently finished reading The Secret by Rhonda Byrne and feels that it is written in a simple and practical manner. In fact, it’s a summary of all self-help books! Khaled Husseni has penned down the perfect picture of Afganisthan. “The Kite Runner of Khaled is really entertaining and so is his new book,” articulates 21-year-old Reet Sidhu. The author’s writing style has changed in this book,” she In case these bookworms have inspired you, head to the nearest bookstore in town and choose your pick. swati@tribunemail.com |
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Escapist fantasy
Rajiv Kaplish Sivaji watchable It seems like the renaissance of the Red Curtain cinema. Even if the quintessential red curtain of yore is missing, mass adulation reaches a crescendo the moment the famous Rajnikanth swagger appears on the screen. Whistles, claps herald the arrival of the swashbuckling hero —audience— participation cinema at its best. Yes, you guessed it right. It’s ‘‘Sivaji — the Boss’’ we are talking about, a movie about an NRI caught between politics and corruption in his homeland and his crusade to cleanse the system. Do a film’s story or the language in which it is told matter in a Rajnikanth starrer? No, they don’t. The iconic hero’s larger-than-life persona towers over the theme. His style and mannerisms demolish all reservations you have about the plot. If his action scenes have adrenaline flooding one’s body, his comic antics leave the audience in splits. Whether in denims or cargos, dhoti-kurta or suits, his fans become hysterical the moment Rajnikanth tosses a coin here and shakes a leg there. While a few fight scenes are imaginatively picturised, some others are lifted from Hollywood blockbuster ‘The Matrix’. Some of the song-and-dance sequences are a cinematographer’s delight. Along with petite Shreya, who plays his beloved, and Vivek, his understudy, Rajnikanth dishes out an escapist fantasy - three hours of break from reality, nothing more, nothing less. Showing at: Fun Republic
Miss Anara
Showing at: Nirman.
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Write to Renee
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I am around 30, smart, attractive, intelligent but my girlfriend feels that something is missing in my personality. I am in the Merchant Navy and sail around eight months a year. Of the four months that I spend at home I just unwind and live a life of leisure. My girlfriend finds this very irksome and thinks that I really waste my time. I want to connect to my friends and do not see the need to lead a highly busy lifestyle when I am home. She is threatening to leave me if I do not change my behaviour. Can you help me understand where I am wrong?
Sumeet Virani The fault does not lie in you. P lease do not chide yourself in saying that you have something lacking in your personality. Maybe your girlfriend comes from a cultural background that does not approve of a lifestyle such as yours so she feels you are not upto the mark. You should sit with her to explain your point of view. Being at sea for months can get pretty lonesome and it is definitely a necessity to be with your friends, when you are home. Tell her to take life easy. *
I am a 32-year-old with two kids who are TV freaks. One is nine and the younger seven. My husband seems to find this situation perfect for our entertainment as he feels the kids are busy on their own and are not bothering us. Initially, I found this convenient but now have started feeling guilty about it. My kids have become TV addicts. Now they do not like eating their meals without watching TV and their other activities have to coincide with timings of their programmes. How do I get them out of this habit without disrupting my lifestyle? Rima Kapila Your attitude is worrying me. You seem to be more worried about your lifestyle than your kids’ addictive patterns. Please learn to set your priorities right. When a woman decides to become a mother she takes on a huge responsibility, of raising a conscientious citizen. So, it is your duty as a mom to give your children enough time and attention and keep a check that they are not watching TV 24/7. Allow them to watch programmes only for a time slot you allot them. Get them some good games and puzzles and ask your husband to play dad. How can he just shirk his responsibilities? *
I am a 32-year-old single woman and have a cushy job. I have a boss who shouts at me for every little thing. He makes me feel small in front of the staff and thinks it is perfectly normal even if I have to work overtime for two-three hours. I feel like telling him off but there is a flip side. The company I work for is very prestigious and the pay packet attractive. Also, after shouting at me, he becomes very calm and apologetic and tries to make up. Do you think I am playing into his hands? Sumara Edwards Your boss probably comes from a family where throwing tantrums and looking for forgiveness is considered a normal thing. Perhaps he feels that this is the correct way of behaving. Build up your self-esteem and stand up for yourself. Learn to depend on yourself as a person and try to look around for a new job unless you think your boss may change himself. |
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Performing Art
Classical Dance: Enjoy kathak dance performance by Samira Koser of Jaipur gharana and her students. The programme is the concluding function of a month long workshop organised by Pracheen Kala Kendra. Date:
June 24 Theatrical Bonanza : The evening will showcase performances by 47 students. They were a part of Pracheen Kala Kendra’s workshop held under the guidance of Sumit Sood and Surjit. Date: June 26 and 27 Singer’s Paradise: The Yaadgar-e-Rafi Society is holding the first round of singing competition.The society has dedicated the contest to music maestro O.P.Nayyar. Date: June 24
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Lata Mangeshkar, the queen of melody has come out of her cocoon after 17 years with her album titled Saadgi. She released the album on World Music Day. A T-Series presentation, the album has mostly ghazal-like compositions penned by Javed Akhtar. Directed by Anupam Sinha, it stars Mona Singh. The first song of the album, Mujhe khabar thi is a soft melody that touches the soul with its simplicity. The music by Mayuresh provides the perfect backdrop for the album. It derives its origin from Mangeshkar’s conviction that it’s the simple things in life that touch our heart. The songs talk about situations that have touched everyone’s life at some point or the other. She says, “The album was not pre-planned. It is just that the lyrics appealed to me and I identified with it.” — Dharam Pal
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Dietic habits of a family rather than hereditary factor is responsible for obesity. — Dr Ravinder Chadha
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As usual, a lot of people asked me about Chandigarh — and they did not inquire whether it had a McDonald’s or not — or if we had air conditioning — they asked about lifestyle and education. They were interested in the schools and how they manage to produce so many exemplary students! They asked me the secret to large-scale motivation that seems so evident. They asked about special days we celebrate and our law and order. When I told some of my friends about how wonderful my daughter’s pediatrician back home is and that I can actually call him at his residence and get advice over the phone, they were green with envy! When I talked of the wonderful PGI docs and how they are masters in diagnosis and surgery, they were incredulous! One woman interjected and said – “But, you all must have extraordinary insurance policies to be able to afford these doctors and the accessibility!” — I almost didn’t answer it as I was afraid that they were going to start hating me.
Topping the popularity charts are books like Harry Potter, which are a rage in town even before being released. In fact, a leading city bookstore is already brimming with orders for the seventh issue of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, about to be released on July 21. While The Book Café at Panchkula is dishing out discounts to lure maximum people, the Browser at Sector 8, has received about 50 calls asking for the J.K. Rowling’s book. Making waves through out the world, the new Harry Potter is priced at Rs 975.
Bollywood’s predilection for making films on controversial matters remains unabated. This time, it is director Yogesh Bhardwaj who has crafted a movie on the life of Miss Jammu 2001, Anara Gupta, allegedly involved in a sex CD row. Anara makes her debut in the film, which, as the title says, is partly a true story. From the time the heroine -oriented plot unfolds till the end, actor Amit Rao is the odd man out. For a debutant, Anara does a good job . What is unsettling about the film is the graphic depiction of Anara’s supposed police torture. Though the filmmaker claims to have taken cinematic liberties, it’s surprising how the censors cleared such scenes. A deft handling could have turned it into a gripping commentary on a topical issue. Director Bhardwaj reduces it to a farce.