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Patakha Stars
Years ago when we were shown a documentary on Sivakasi at Mass Communication Research Centre, Jamia Millia Islamia-New Delhi, it left us wondering that what was it about this small town in Tamil Nadu that made Jawaharlal Nehru nicknamed it as ‘Kutty Japan’. Looking at malnourished figures of young children and women working in firework factories, the scene presented to us didn’t exactly tally with our image of Japan. Though our curiosity about Sivakasi, which started with this documentary, ended with it too, this small town known for fireworks and printing machines, keeps making its presence felt every year at this time. And looking at the packaging the Sivakasi-made crackers have, one can assume that this town is not just doing a great job in its economic front but in the cultural milieu too. So, gone are the days when familiar faces of a ravishing Hema Malini or seductive Sridevi would greet you out of the boxes of bombs or phuljharis at makeshift Diwali stalls. This Sivakasi urges us to ‘go global’ while celebrating this Diwali. So, buy 50 Night that has 50 sky shots and share the excitement with Pierce Brosnan and Cindy Crawford. There are others to chose from — Britney Spears or J-Los. Just have your pick. If Hollywood is not your thing, then blow it up Bollywood style. Scenes from hit flicks like Munna Bhai MBBS, Paheli or Vivah have found their place on the boxes of powerful crackers. And there may not be any actor worthy of their names who have been left behind — Sridevi, Kareena, Kajol, Urmila, Priyanka, and Amisha Patel — you just name her, they have her on their cover. But to call Sivakasi manufacturers complete movie buffs will be a wrong assumption. A Bollywood or Hollywood personality maybe the main focus but there are other iconic things that add to the festive look. For instance Sree Murugeswari’s 10000 Lar has all the famous landmarks — the Taj Mahal, the Buckingham Palace, the Statue of Liberty, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Eiffel Tower along with Kareena Kapoor. In others like Rathnaa’s Colour Carnival or 2000 Lar, there are Disney characters or Pogoo (or is it Pogo?) to chose from. Well, no point getting into the nitty-gritty of things like correct spellings or the logic of using reigning Bollywood of Hollywood divas on the covers or even for that matter whether it is legal to do so or not. In fact, we were told that many of these factories are small-scale and fall in the unorganised sector, which exist only during the festival season. So the wisest thing to do is leave your brain behind and pick up the stuff going by the cover girl or cover man printed on it, for the sparkle of the product may be directly proportionate to his or her star value. And just hope that the makers would soon come out with something that will match up to the sizzling quotient of Rakhi Sawant, who till now, is conspicuous by her absence as patakha cover girl.
parbina@tribunemail.com |
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My fave festival Diwali celebrates victory of good over evil. We eat a lot of sweets on this day. I burn firecrackers with my father. Our friends and family visit us on this day. It is a time for exchanging gifts. And, so I began to narrate these good ol’ lines to her. Till, I realised that my childhood essay is now obsolete and celebrations have a new meaning altogether. I decided to re-visit my essay line by line and came up with this. Let’s begin with good and evil. Aren’t the lone fighters against evil unheard, crumpled or laughed at? Called social workers, they carry jholas. And a handful others, posing as fighters, are in committees that keep them busy in ‘inquiries’ running over decades. Next, what made you think you can bite into gulab jamuns and laddoos? Phew... they are high in calories, plus, you can’t waste the gym membership. And as part of the health freak generation, it’s your duty to replace sugar-free with sugar, diet coke with cola and if forced, bite into sweets stamped ‘low-cal’. Okie, your mithai plate is looking sad. But don’t worry, let’s head out and create some dhamaal. Oops, but there’s a problem — haven’t we signed a pledge forbidding us from even touching a phuljhari? And, then mind-boggling information on rising pollution and child labour too lands in our inbox each day. Now, the inbox has more to offer. Wake up on a festive morning to greetings from friends and family, more from the ones near, than far. Wouldn’t we be demeaning technology if we meet and greet? So, forward SMS or e-card. Last, why are store mangers and shopkeepers mechanically wrapping hampers of cookies, chips, juices and dry fruits? And, why are we calling them Diwali gifts? Now, that’s a tough one. As for now, here goes the Diwali essay’s 2007 edition: I don’t trouble myself over good and evil. I only bite into low cal sweets. I’m part of a ‘say no to fireworks’ group. Friends & family SMS or e-mail me. The gifts we receive look quite the ones we gave. They come by courier or through servants or are hurriedly dumped on us by guests who have other places to visit too. Happy
Diwali!
purva@tribunemail.com |
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Star Shopping Shining like glittery Diwali lights over the city’s horizon, the city’s rich and famous of are adding sparkle to their dazzling festive celebrations by storming arcades for shopping with a bang.
Yup, for the much-awaited festival, starry-eyed celebs embarked upon the agreeable task of bringing about a boom in sales by buying and getting the gifts packed, nicely and properly. On the lookout for that ultimate gift if you had trotted down shopping lanes, chances were that you would have bumped into the many luminaries and big shots. Beaming like never before, you would have seen their eager eyes searching for stuff that spells class. A close watch and you could have seen them exploding into pleasure by picking up everything you could ever think of for your friends, and even acquaintances. Silver trinkets, gold ornaments, glass and steelware, dinner sets, consumer durables, dry fruit... Well, just in case you are by now feeling absolutely burnt out because of scratching your pretty little head with tired fingers thinking of nice gift ideas for the great Indian festival, you can surely take a clue from them and indulge in some rich, yet not necessary expensive, shopping. Ace golfer Irina Brar is all for a green Diwali. “Though I am not into big-time gifting, and this time I am away on holiday, I believe gifting a potted plant to people who really matter is always a good idea,” she smiles. With all this pollution, she makes sense guys! Back in India from England, Art d’inox COO Veer Kaul is celebrating Diwali with family and friends in town after eight long years. And, he is taking home ‘loads of crackers and other fireworks’. “What’s better than a nice rocket for taking Diwali celebrations to new heights?” he quips. Jokes apart, he plans to wrap them up himself. He also plans to wish his close relatives with fashionable steel cutlery as the metal is traditionally associated with the festivities. For the rest of the shopping, Veer is completely depending on his ‘all rounder’ wife. That’s right! She is buying ingredients for baking perfect pleasure. Good chocolates and wines too are also on her look-out list. You really have to read this. Deputy director with Arayan Business School, Parveen Kataria, is gifting eco-friendly products to all her friends. In fact, all her gifts have been wrapped up in recycled paper. Ask Ritu Kocchar and the young director of INIFD says it’s going to be a floral Diwali for her with lots of sweets. “I love giving and receiving flowers! So bouquets of well wishes it has to be! Also, I still believe in the tradition of giving sweets. So a box of sweets accompanies my other gifts,” she says. For nominated councillor M.P.S. Chawla, personal touch is more important than anything else. “No matter what I buy from the market, I am delivering it personally to all my pals and associates,” he asserts with a smile. Do listen to them fellows and have a Happy Diwali. saurabh@tribunemail.com
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youth speak
IT is sad that our society has a common perception that a student who opts for Humanities after tenth class is generally dull and cannot compete in the competitive world. There is also a rat race among students and even in parents to get their students admitted in Medical or Non- Medical stream, but they do not care about the interest and knowledge acumen of their child. They spend hefty amounts on coaching classes and many a time end up wasting their hard earned money and valuable years of the child. Moreover many students themselves think that it will harm their dignity if they opt for Arts and what will their friends and neighbours say about them. But on glancing carefully one find that Arts stream is full of opportunities and subjects like Psychology, Law, Journalism, Civil Services, Fine Arts, History, Hospitality and the like. In my opinion no stream is good or bad, the only difference lies in the hard work and sincerity that one puts into his study. One should always follow his or her beliefs and curiosity in choosing his career option. They should have a clear aim in their minds and should not allow any force to deviate from it. 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
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New releases Director:
Sanjay Leela Bhansali Two years after enthralling the movie world with his highly acclaimed Black, Bhansali is back. At two hours and eight minutes of playing time, Saawariya is one of his shortest ever. The film is said to be inspired from Fyodor Dostoevsky’s short story White Nights. The flick is a timeless story of two young star-crossed lovers whose passions almost consume their will to the brink of self-destruction. In this eternal tale of an ode to romance, stand two lonely souls whose childlike innocence and candour only obscures their inner turmoil, anger, anxiety and desperate wait for love. An artist, a free spirit, an idealist and dreamer, Raj (Ranbir) is certain that he has found his ultimate dream when he arrives at a quaint picturesque town. A place surrounded by mountains, shrouded in mist and enveloped in beauty, mythical enough to be a painter’s vision or a poet’s memory. A chance encounter introduces him to Sakina (Sonam), a shy and quiet, melancholic and enigmatic girl who continues to intrigue him. Thus follows the beginning of a new friendship, where Raj, with his most charming ways and an undying spirit, tries to win Sakina’s heart. However, destiny paints a different picture for Raj. Showing at: Fun Republic, Om Shanti Om Director: Farah Khan OSO is an unusual love story that spans 30 years in time. A part of the story is set in 1977. Expectedly, Farah Khan’s fixation for the 70s and its fashion statements continue in her upcoming flick as well. Om Prakash Makhija (Shah Rukh) is a junior artist of the 70s in the film industry. He harbours a dream of becoming a big superstar someday and love for someone special. Shantipriya (Deepika), a superstar of the 70s, although has fame and adulation of her fans, longs for love in her life. She longs for someone who would love her from the bottom of his heart. Om is not just a fan of Shanti but loves her deep within. She inspires him and instills him with love and hope. He watches her from afar. But then one day a small incident brings them together. Call it luck, divine intervention or just plain coincidence. When it happened, Om was witnessing the beginning of his love story. But for some love stories, one lifetime is not enough. Om and Shanti’s story is one such. Life and love would betray them both. But they would meet again in another life. The second part of the story is set in 2007. Showing at:
Piccadily, Kiran, Fun Republic, KC
(Panchkula) |
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Re(a)d Letter Day A fluttering white innocent pigeon, a khadi-clad postman ringing the bell on his bicycle, a semi-casually dressed young graduate with his bulky bag, a pop-up message in the inbox to a beep on the handset. Over the years, perpetual lack of time, ever-changing and developing technology, desire to keep up with the times and the attitude that everything old (good or bad) needs to be replaced with the new, made the chitthi passé. And took from us a lot more than just that. Take a peek into what all you’ve been missing since you dropped the pen and picked the stylus. Sealed with love
A simple hand written ‘Hello’ is worth a lot more than a heap of A-4 sheets crammed with words. There is nothing like flipping through a book and discovering a handwritten note penned by a friend years ago. And, then the excitement of tearing through the envelope till today can give tough competition to the boring ‘loading’ messages on your PC’s scrollbar. Dialogue Dhamaal
Remember Amrish Puri (in DDLJ) going ecstatic on receiving a letter from his bachpan ka doost? And, while his family looked clueless, he actually felt apne dharti ki khushboo in the letter. And then there were was our Border brigade who rejoiced over apne watan ki khushboo that came packed in a chitthi. Now, if all of us stop penning letters, how will the dialogue writers create dhamaal? Even the personalised message tone on your handset sure does not sound very inspiring. Chitthi na koi sandesh…
We are a music generation and we sing, listen and swing to music, be it old, new, remixed, folk, rap or anything with beats. With no kabootar, no dakiya, no chitthe and khat, where will we get our letter-inspired songs from? So, people pick up the pen again if you want more of dakiya daak laya magic. Geenie in red
As children we would cross our fingers each time a mail van passed by. The process was simple — spot a red mail van, close your eyes for a microsecond, make a wish and cross your finger. Next, look for a black car to open your fingers and see your wish granted. With the mail van becoming a rare sight, how will we get our wishes fulfilled? Stamping it right
A favourite or perhaps the only hobby with most of us was stamp collection. It was simple, wait for the daily post, meticulously tear off the stamp and paste it on the scrapbook. And, if you had relatives living abroad then it worked as a bonus. Talk of today and all that the Gen -Y can get hold of is perhaps a handful of the one-rupee Gandhian stamps. Art of writing
How many of you get baffled each time your li’l cousin asks you to help with her homework? Questions like, write a letter to a friend inviting her for a birthday party or a leave application to the principal are now too tough to answer. What goes first — the date or the subject? Is the text to be all left aligned? Hmm…don’t worry, all you need is a crash course in letter writing. So, gear up and let the postman at your friend’s door take him by surprise |
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Trucklore In fact, the phrase ‘art on wheels’ signifies a complete ‘Trucklore’ and it includes right from an ornate exterior, secular interior (most of the trucks of this region would inevitably have either Guru Nanak or Guru Gobind Singh portraits along with Shivji, the Lord of Destruction, and sometimes Jesus Christ or Baba Farid, the sufi saint’s pictures on the walls) and most of all a language which is evolved by drivers (if you have ever heard a truck driver ordering a cup of 300 km-tea or 500km-tea at a roadside dhaba, you will know what we are talking about). And the most important elements of this culture are — colour and decoration. If you think those flowers or pretty scenery that you see on the back of a truck or those colourful parandes or evil ward-offs are added without much thought or foresight, you are wrong. One visit to the truck market of Manimajra and you come to know how much planning and hard work goes to unleash these beauties on the road. “It takes three to four days to complete the painting work on the truck body,” says Madan Lal, a painter. Once the background painting, mostly in earthy browns or skyblues, is done artists like Madan and Suresh take up their brush and starts painting their imagination — sometimes a scenery, sometimes flowers or animals (eagle happens to be the most favoured bird by Punjabi truckers) punctuated by religious symbols or slogans. Then comes the second phase, when another batch of artists take over. They cut figures out of colourful designer tapes and paste in on front windows and every conceivable part of the body. And this are not ordinary material; it works as a decorative item during the day and reflects light at night, indicating the location of a truck on road. Last comes the women team who gives the final touch by putting parandes to the body. They are mainly freelancers and work through agents. You are likely to bump into one or two such artists with colourful ready-made parandis if you care to spend a couple of hours in the truck market. This extraordinary tradition has its roots in the days of the Raj when craftsmen made glorious horst drawn carriages for the gentry. In the 1920’s, the Kohistan bus company asked Pakistani craftsman Elahi Buksh, to decorate their buses to attract passengers. It was not long before truck owners followed suit with their own designs. That was art. But truck art is never complete without a little dose of literature that comes in form of funny oneliners, which are written mostly at the back. The degree of pun depends on the man behind the wheels. But our writers of the truck market has a few ready-made ones in case you are interested — Budi Nazar Wale Tera Muh Kala, Shan-e-Punjab, Husan Paharon Ka, Chal Rani Tera Rab Rakha, Shaheeda Nu Parnam, Milega Mukaddar, Ni Tun Jaldi Chal Gaddiye, Mainu Yaar Nal Milna Hai... the list is endless. The messages can be a confession of a passionate lover or a simple greeting or a prayer. Truck art in Pakistan has been given the recognition of folk art. In fact, an exhibition was recently organised at Mayfair, London, showcasing the diversity of Pakistan through colour and pattern of the ‘Kings of Road’. Though nothing has been done in this front except for Krishan Khanna, a Delhi based artist, who had painted a complete series on truck arts some 20 years ago. And guess what his paintings sold for a whopping Rs 60,000 and the joke was that for that amount one could actually buy a truck! Now a few art magazines have tried to popularise truck paintings through write ups and the artistic community is being drawn towards this long-forgotten medium. After all, without these colourful ‘kings of roads’, the highways are just another dull and cold space! |
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TAROT TALK
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THE other day my six-year-old cousin asked me to help with her homework, to write a few lines on Diwali — My Favourite Festival. Some things never change, I thought to myself — is it still a favourite topic with teachers? I remembered how I used to mug those lines year after year which are still afresh in my mind. They read as: 
Starring: Ranbir Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor, Salman Khan, Rani Mukherji
Starring: Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Arjun Rampal, Kirron Kher, Shreyas Talpade
THEY ask you to blow horn or use dipper at night, but when you do, they simply ignore you. You hate them for their audacity, even call them the ‘licensed killer’ of the highways. But while driving behind one, particularly when you are in a leisurely mood, you cannot help but admire the artwork that embodies the mean machine called trucks — their funny one-liners, the paintings, the embellishment. They may not be as colourful or as intricately designed as their Pakistani counterparts, but when it comes to ‘art on wheels’, Indian roads certainly are quite a show stealer.
ARIES: ARIES: The Lovers inspire you with love and creativity. Your ideas may not meet with the needed support. The difficulties that arise now, offer you best opportunities to grow wiser and learn. Wednesday is a good day for budget making. Lucky colour: Bottle green. Tip of the week: If tempted to travel overseas don’t waste money by financing the trip yourself.
LIBRA: The third eye of Lord Shiva blesses you with inner power. You may be planning to visit relatives that live far on Saturday. You tend to dream the impossible dream. Listening to sage advice on Wednesday will positively change the whole path to prosperity. Lucky
colour: Jade. Tip: Don’t get embroiled in ventures where returns are spread over a large period of time.
TAURUS: Let other people fight to be in the rat race, advises the Two of Rods. For some of you a change of residence is highlighted. An extremely favourable week for culmination of a legal case. Your health improves as you focus on fitness routines and healthy diets. Lucky
colour: Creamy white. Tip: Focus on your dream project.
SCORPIO: The princes of wands spins gracious influence in personal relationships. You are relaxed at work and home. You may indulge in shopping which dislodges your budget. Remain receptive and flexible on Tuesday. Lucky
colour: brown Tip: Draw on those inner energies and begin moving from thought to action.
GEMINI: You may feel sacrificed to routine and patterns like The Hanged Man. A Libran friend is moody but supportive. 
SAGITTARIUS: The Nine of Swords brings you face to face with reality. Business and financial gains are expected, be patient. Using your hands while cooking, cleaning, gardening, playing instrument and dancing can heal you. A new beginning at work is on the cards. Lucky
colour: cheery red. Tip: Your efforts would gain momentum of your listen to experienced people.
CANCER: The Devil reveals that you will be running late on everything you do, which gives you little spare time. Domestic unrest can be avoided if you watch your step. Catch the opportunity while making career choices before it passes by. Lucky
colour: Silver gray. Tip: Don’t settle all business in one
summery.
CAPRICORN: The Empress says you would be meeting a powerful person. Share your feelings with friends on Sunday. Family and loved ones will offer you moral support. It is not wise to trust anyone blindly. 
LEO: Like the The Knight of Cups you are emotional in personal relationships. Your lazy streak will be more obvious than usual on Sunday. Dealing in stocks and shares will be profitable. Overseas travel and fine arts augur well. Lucky
colour: Red. Tip: Allow a sick situation blow over before you start a new project. 
AQUARIUS: The card, Two of pentacles, brings a quickening, many changes and insights. Difficulties still exist in partnerships or relationships and need to be dealt with. Joint ventures passing through a difficult phase will be dissolved. You would make substantial money through your creative efforts. Lucky
colour: Green. Tip: Balance in all aspects are recommended. 
VIRGO: The Emperor gets you in touch with your leadership qualities. Your mind will be agile and you will accelerate and become more talkative and curious. Keep other people’s secret well guarded. An Aries person is supportive. Lucky
Colour: Lime green Tip: Watch your action at work and polish your public relation skills.
PISCES: The Princes Of Cups offers you an opportunity to make a new beginning. You’ll succeed in convincing even those people who are most stubbornly opposed to your ideas. Take a break and relax. Lucky
colour: Silver gray. Tip: Do not cover your mistakes and keep emotions aside.