In sync with time
Purva Grover

Reel Choice: Is your favourite actor climbing up the Bollywood career ladder?

IF the fact that all your aunts, uncles, parents’ friends and neighbours are engineers or doctors (a generation born to solve algebra or perform surgeries) has troubled you enough, then here’s a point to ponder. How come all actors of their times played unemployed art lovers, dedicated policemen, incorrigible lawyers or tyrant businessmen cum fathers? 

Confused? Well, if the career graph of the real people was restricted in those times, so was that of the reel. However, the good news is both have evolved. And, if you are slogging to bell the cat, so is our hero (remember, Saif and Preity in KHNH) and if you are dying to make it to a reality show, then so is our heroine (Shabana Azmi in Loins of Punjab) And, what’s more, the fact that your school teachers are more pals and less dictators or men are on a mission to invade the kitchen, too is coming true on silver screen. Don’t believe us? Well, read on. 

Our on-screen gurus definitely look different today. Professor Sukumar Sinha of Chupke Chupke in his kurta-pyjama became history the day Miss Briganza (Kuch Kuch Hota Hai) sporting a mini-skirt entered our classroom. And, our infatuation for teachers grew stronger with the knotted blouses and flowing satin saris of Miss Chandini. (Main Hoon Na)

With time the men fighting for insaaf too has gone through a makeover. No longer do they sport the khaki uniform 24x7, rather they wear denims and coloured shades, remember Jai Dixit in Dhoom? Superbikes, and not siren police vans, are their new ride. And, when the police force undergoes a change, the robbers can’t be far behind. The chic designer draped thieves sure are a tough competition to the burglars of the yesteryears that smoked a beedi and bore a scary mole.

Now stepping into the kitchen along with metrosexual real men are the reel men. The white shirt, khaki shorts and red gamcha of the bawarchi (Rajesh Khanna and later Govinda in Hero No. 1) fused into ganjis in feminine shades (especially pink) with Nik, aka Nikhil Arora (Saif Ali Khan), in Salaam Namaste. The Buddhadev Gupta of Cheenikum too was spotted lecturing on love, life and cooking in his trendy apron and cap. 

What else has become passé is smoking pipe by tinsel town’s businessman. Well-preened suits, corporate lingo, sex scandals and deceitful deals depict the screen’s corporate men and women. Courtesy — Corporate and Metro. 

Now, if your parents’ favourite pastime is to scold your for your poor grades, here are two examples to quote. Mohan Bhargava, Shah Rukh Khan in Swadesh, emerged as a space engineer from NASA after repeatedly failing in his reel exams (DDLJ and KHKN). And, then there was this tongue-tied clumsy Chimpu, aka Agastya Rao, who too was on a NASA mission in Janneman. What’s more, the geek even had a blonde girlfriend. 

Advertising is another reigning career options in tinsel town. A dude creative director gleefully biting his cheese dripping burger (Kunal Kapoor /Vivaan in Laaga Chunri Mein Daag) is as loved here, as a dedicated HIV positive staff member of an advertising agency. (Shilpa Shetty/ Tamanna Sahni in Phir Milenge). 

And last but not the least, our fave transformation. Our reel journo friends are no longer carrying a jhola or wearing rugged slippers, rather they sporting trendy straight skirts, look through a smart pair of specs. Remember Madhvi Sharma of Page 3 (Konkana Sen Sharma) or recently the Vidya of It’s Breaking News (Koel Puri). 

Now, whether Bollywood has recruited a career counsellor or roped in a stylist, we don’t know. But, as career-conscious audience we are all in praise for the fresh look and career choices of our reel men and women. 

purva@tribunemail.com

Two’s company
Meet our Parsi community, who has blended into the city’s culture & yet managed to keep their own traditions alive 
Parbina Rashid

DID you know that Persian history in India is rooted in assimilation? When Iran’s Parsi community was asked to either embrace Islam or leave, this particular group reached Gujarat’s shores and their priest sent a message to the king of Gujarat seeking refuge. The king, to judge their intellect, sent a jug of milk with no explanation. The Parsi priest tasted the milk, added some sugar to it and sent it back. 

The king of Gujarat realised they were intelligent people and his second message expressed his inability to give them a home — like the jug, his kingdom, too, was full. But the group was persistent — they returned with the explanation that like sugar in the milk, they too were willing to blend in. The king gave in and Parsis made Gujarat their home, but only after pledging to adopt all things Gujarati and promising not to convert the populace. 

Looking at the community in the city (yes, two sisters represent it here), one understands the strength of that promise. Gulshan and Armaity, who came here in 1998, are the perfect example of adapting to a new culture yet holding on to their own. 

Gulshan first came to the city with her husband to start their film equipment business under the banner, Deva Enterprises. “My husband is no more but I am carrying forward his project and this gives me a reason to live,” she says. Years later, sister Armaity and her family joined Gulshan. “Now we are a complete team. Armaity and I handle management functions, her husband Raghu Jadav looks after equipment and their son Vikram takes care of the editing part,” Gulshan says.

So how do they keep Parsi traditions alive? “We do not have a fire temple here but we manage to perform our rituals. We Parsis are happy-go-lucky people and believe in living life to the fullest. We can even strike a conversation with a stranger and befriend him,” says Gulshan, more talkative of the duo.

As for food, dhansak — a meat and vegetable-based spicy dish — is a must in every celebration. And so is chhole and rice, though that does not happen very often. 

How about their social life? “Rocking. We have befriended most in the Punjabi film industry. We even started a kitty, but could not continue it for want of time,” she says.

And has she tried to find any Parsi connection in this region? “We have heard of only one Parsi lady who used to live in Amritsar long ago,” they say. 

There may not be a third family to even justify the definition of a community, but then these two sisters are doing a fine job of upholding their traditions and at the same time assimilating into the city’s culture.

parbina@tribunemail.com

Wall of fame
Inexpensive, easily available and without the signature of the artist, posters continue to rule 
Purva Grover

A wall coated with textured paints in pastel colours. An artistic ornamental play with POP to lend it a classy touch. And inimitable works of art by renowned artists as adornments. That’s how a perfect room with a perfect wall is defined today. Now, what if we were to spray glue all over or leave cellotape marks on your designer walls, and call it art? It would surely leave you fuming. Well, meet a bunch of youngsters who are doing exactly that and calling it an investment in art. 

Ashish Bisht, a 23-year-old employee with a BPO says, “Peep into my room and within seconds you’ll know of my likes and dislikes.” And, well he is quite right. For the 50 posters in his room reflect his myriad interests — music, movies and sports. A die-hard rock fan, his fave and oldest in the collection is a poster of Pink Floyd. Sharing the space is Eminem, Rob Zombia and Linking Park. Call it cluttered, but Bisht never misses a chance to add more to this arty mess. 

The bug bit him five years back when he got a room to himself and there was no stopping after that. Frequent trips to Connaught Place, Delhi gets him the prized posters and the rest he picks from Sector 17. Michael Schumacher, Roger Federer and Sachin Tendulkar are his favourite postermen-cum-sportsmen. 

For bro-sis duo, Ankush, a class XI student and Neha, a final year medical student, rules were clear from day one. They might be sharing their room but not the wall space. Neha’s wall is dedicated to posters of John Abrahim and Ankush’s to superbikes. Interestingly, they contribute towards each other’s collection and interests. Ankush looks to John as his model icon and Neha rides her bro’s Bajaj Discover. 

And, if you want an overdose of racing, stunts and biking mechanism then step into Rahul Malhotra’s room. A speed devil as he calls himself, Rahul formed SNOS, a city stunt group a year back. And, along with the group came his passion for posters that could send his adrenalin rushing. “Suzuki VX, CBR Honda 1000, Honda Thunderkiss, GSX 1000 and Aprila125 are the permanent fixtures in my room,” he says. His favourite is a large size poster of Harley Davidson. “It is the best cruise bike in the world,” he says. 

Sharing a passion of a similar kind is 19-year-old Siddharth Sharma. His room could be mistaken for an adventure zone. A trekker and stuntman, the walls in his room are pasted with pictures of professionals performing stunts, rock climbing, trekking and more. Next, on his wish list is his own posters in action.

Neeraj Sharma’s room boosts of over 250 posters that he has torn from various magazines. Each evening he heads to the local book vendor and picks up travel and sports magazines. From the waters of Kerala to the snow of Himalayas his room is nothing short of a travelogue. “ I have posters of all the places I have visited or I want to visit,” says Neeraj, who is pursuing his M.Phil from the university. Also evident from his room’s walls is his love for sports. “Once I have read the news about the players, I cut their pictures and paste them,” he adds. 

So what’s the toughest part in adopting posters as a form of art, we ask them. “Perpetual complaints and shoutings from parents,” they say in unison.

Gem of a place
Aneesha Sareen

FOR those who love to gorge on South Indian delicacies, here is an added bonanza. Newly opened Ratnam at Hotel Classic-35, offers 120 South Indian delicacies in a fine dining setting. 

youth speak
Way to go 
Saurabh Gupta

Indian tourism has got a great impetus lately. It is a fast-growing industry, second only to the IT industry in terms of job opportunities. The tourism sector is projected to generate worldwide employment for over two crore people in the coming years. It is a lucrative career with a host of job avenues.

Guides are required for foreign and domestic tourists. With locals heading to hill stations in vacations and the number of foreign tourists increasing, the need of language translators has also increased. IT professionals, tour organisers, vacation planners and managers are needed in abundance. 

A degree in tourism is not important. All you require is a little knowledge of history and a fair idea of geography. If you are enthusiastic, look forward to meeting different people, seeing new places, this is the right profession for you. The pay for a job in tourism sector start at a humble two lakh per annum, but once you are in, sky is the limit.

With events of world importance such as the Commonwealth Games and ICC Cricket World Cup scheduled to be held in India, we must try to be good hosts. The key to becoming a major tourist hub is to have the right approach towards promoting tourism and utilising the natural scenic beauty. Indian Tourism, definitely, has taken a surge ahead but we must exalt it further. This is in case we want to look upon an impressive model — ‘Destination India’.

Feel strongly about something? If you are under 25, this is the forum for you. Mail us your views in not more than 300 words along with a passport photograph at lifestyletribune@gmail.com

Paris in a charity mood

Socialite Paris Hilton is so hell-bent on visiting Rwanda, that she has arranged her trip to the country for next year. She was to make a charity visit to the African nation with members of the Playing for Good Foundation in November but ultimately had to postpone her trip until next year because of the charity leader’s decision.

“I want to travel the world. I feel like there’s a lot I can do to help. Hilton said. “I know (Rwanda) went through a lot of traumatic experiences, and I feel like if I go there, I can help save some people’s lives,” she added. — ANI

A thing of the past
Archana K. Sudheer

Scene 1: A wedding taking place some 10 years ago. The mandap is decked with flowers, dominated by the colour yellow. It is our familiar marigold that rules the picture. The bride and groom garland each other. Again, the same colour pervades the happy portrait. 

Scene 2: A newly married couple are mingling with guests in a well-lit hall. There are flowers everywhere. But, the marigold is nowhere to be seen. Auspicious or not, this time-honoured ‘must-have’ has been pushed aside by its fashionable counterparts; a fact even the older generation is not raising arms against. 

Fashion in the city is on a vigorous climb. The youngsters want their weddings to be stylish and trendy. After all, it’s a status issue and no one wants their buddies smirking the wedding decorations.

Indian weddings, known for their colour, are going the Western way. Interestingly, this has made our traditional weddings chic without losing its essence. Rather, it has only made the picture even prettier. As marigolds and trends do not go hand-in-hand, these flowers have been slowly pushed out of the scene. Now, these are seen mostly at temples, home gardens (where again they are losing charm) and other places of worship. 

A trip to Ferns N Petals-10 confirms the point. “We hardly make any marigold creations for weddings. It is no more in demand. That’s a ritual of the past,” says the lady behind the desk. She hastily adds, “But if someone demands it, we will definitely make for them.”

The gentleman at Blossoms ‘N’ Foliage-7 was a total marigold antagonist! “Why would someone use such a flower anymore? It doesn’t even look good. Go to a temple. You’ll find them in plenty there,” he avers. 

Interestingly, the response everywhere is the same. The ‘in vogue’ hype has blanketed religious opinion. In fact, it is not a sentimental issue anymore. Mothers are not going by the ‘because I did it, you must also’ syndrome. They are also bitten by the ‘feel-good’ factor and want classy weddings for their children. 

In fashion these days are liliums, orchids (the hot favourite), birds of paradise, lilies and carnations. Money is no bar when it comes to weddings. After all, its one time you get to splurge without feeling guilty. While a marigold garland would cost around Rs 50, you would have to shell out at least Rs 1,000 for one made of orchids. Stage and car decorations, which leave you wonderstruck, go into several thousands. With satin curtains and glossy bows, these flowers look all the more glamorous. 

Painstaking designing goes into the making of these garlands. The most preferred one is that which is woven out of single rose petals. Imagine the work involved! The colour combinations depend on the tastes of the customers, says a florist; adding combinations of red and white is in rage. Although the whole picture depends on the budget, one common fact stands out: marigolds are a no-no. 

With the winter approaching and the wedding spell commencing, florists in the city are gearing up for the best business time of the year. And the flavour of the season is definitely chic, not mundane; style, not convention.

lifestyletribune@gmail.com

Have voice, will sing
Aneesha Sareen

YET another talent hunt show, but this one promises to be different. The winner gets a chance to perform with singer Jazzy B in London and also cut an album. Most of the aspirants are from rural areas of the state and this is unique point of the show.

The team for Coca Cola Voice of Punjab was here on Thursday for an audition. With music director Tejwant Kittu and Punjabi singer Feroz Khan as judges, it evoked good response.

“The show offers a platform to the budding Punjabi singers,” said Tejwant Kittu, adding that as many as 50 youth were auditioned here.

“The USP of the talent hunt is that it has participants from interiors of Punjab. We have conducted road shows in many villages to reach out to the masses,” added Kittu.!

About the qualities that they are looking for in winners, the music director said besides a great voice, they were looking for a versatile personality, and good looks. Although a melodious voice is a must, he added.

The winners will share stage with popular Punjabi artistes in Ludhiana, Amritsar and Jalandhar. Six finalists will be short listed by audience poll.

While the auditions are scheduled at 16 cities and towns, the final will be held at Chandigarh. 

SIDELANES 
The Pygmalion Complex
Joyshri Lobo

GLORY be! India is finally shining. The number of increasing poor is immaterial because they live in rural areas – bonded or otherwise – and can be hidden behind the swaying crops and furrows. Their more fortunate brethren shift en masse to the cities and live behind rising walls — sans toilets, running water, bijli, kapra and upna makaan. When the building is complete, they move to the next site to build doosre ka makaan, still sans everything. And India keeps shining. Don’t our bull runs say so? The lowly yokel and his plough animal don’t know that yet.

But the great news is that the haves have more and the havenots get what the haves have discarded. Goodies like black and white television sets, third hand cars at the price of a colour TVs or mobiles, cheap new clothes and utensils in place of old news papers, large rod heaters and even larger fridges that work through hundi and kundi electricity, are all the stock in trade of the surging millions. Each time they press a switch or hold a mobile to the ear, they forget about the pangs of hunger, education and some vague constitutional rights. We call this progress.

Somewhere in this fog of development, values and consumer goods, there is buried a miniscule conscience. Some of the haves with more cash than they can expend, are thinking of less equal beings. I call this the Pygmalion Complex a la Bertrand Russell. 

Uncle Julian was our family’s conscience. He never married. During Partition he converted his Muslim bearer and family to Christianity, to keep them safe from the killing hordes. When the bearer’s wife passed away, Uncle Julian legally adopted the children. They studied with us through school and college but never became one of us. They came over at Christmas, birthday parties and funerals. We felt as uncomfortable as they did. They ate with a fork and knife, sang the latest Presley songs, dressed like us and spoke perfect English. Yet they were not us. When Uncle passed away, so did the waifs he had forced into our midst. We seldom hear of them. Neither the children nor the families around them were ready for each other.

The equality of the West is not a part of us. The caste system is. It is being eradicated but at a very slow rate. It will take a few more generations to do that. We still do not allow our sons and daughters to marry outside the group. Look at Pa Todi’s antics. Rizwanur may have worn Lux but did it change his colour? The Pygmalion Complex helps assuage our collective guilt about inequality. Our lame ducks and waifs make us feel like gods on earth. But can we change their collective, caste level thinking or are we just bathing our egos via their grateful adoration? Are we exploiting them or are they using us? When a happy balance is achieved with these levels, we will shine. I am still guilty of sanctimonious thoughts, pious prose and very little to show for it. The Pygmalion Complex has evaded me.