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ABS-olute fad, this First Shekhar Suman & now the King Khan portray images that are rather incongruous with their age. Chetna Keer Banerjee on the aspirational value of perfect pecs, toned torsos & the rising emphasis on body image Stomach this. Nearer home, a recent report uncovered rather uncomplimentary facts about the bellies of Punjabi belles: the state has the highest number of obese women. Another survey of Chandigarh cops had unflattering things to say about khaki paunches. But in sharp contrast to these, out there in tinsel town, has been a flat belly that takes the cake, or rather the beefcake. Yes, we’re talking of the six-pack abs of Shah Rukh Khan that flexes up his drool quotient each time it’s flaunted in the multiplexes. On the face of it, there couldn’t be better inspiration for our population beleaguered by the bulge. What a fitness feat he’s achieved at 40 plus! But wait. All this belly baring appears to have an under side too. The fab-abs overexposure has exposed some fitness concerns as well. For one, isn’t King Khan’s over-40-wanting-to-look-30 sinewy, new avatar perpetuating an image that’s rather incongruous for that age? Or, take for that matter the 40-something Shekhar Suman’s chiseled chest. True, professional compulsions may have driven SRK to do a Bruce Lee for a role, or Shekhar Suman to reinvent himself for an album or TV reality show. Hollywood hunks do it all the time. But our middle-aged Bollywood lads haven’t pulled it off too well seeing that both their faces are looking more like squeezed, pulp-less mango kernels after pumping all that iron. Their overnight flab-flossing makeovers don’t seem to be sending out signals that are as robust as the bronzed-buff images would have us believe. Perfect pecs. Toned torsos. Agreed, they look great. But does this image hard sell tell the entire story: of the booster shots or the punishing schedules that go into carving out those physiques? When celebrities reinforce such fads, it acquires aspirational overtones for their fans, and the society at large. That makes it tricky terrain. It can push the public to mindlessly seek, if not attain, shortcuts to fitness. If SRK can do it in three months and Shekhar Suman in 10, why can’t they? Imagine if our 40-plus, potbellied populace was to take similar crash courses to get that lean look! As it is, the size-zero fetish that’s interestingly consuming the Indian hunks now is symptomatic of an affliction increasingly assailing our society. It smacks of a growing obsession for squeezed-perfect bodies in utter defiance of age or anatomical limitations. An overstretching of the stretch-ups craze, that’s what it looks like. The rising emphasis on body image, says the Eating Disorders Association (EDA), UK, is leading people to make a dash for running machines and weight rooms more often than they should, resulting in compulsive exercising. And this obsession has its
flip side. The EDA warns that a growing number of adults are threatening their health with a dangerous combination of weight watching and compulsive exercising. This, it says, can push gym fanatics to the edge of serious eating disorders such as anorexia. So, look beyond those fab abs. Fast and furious isn’t the healthiest message emanating from those brush-stroked images of our style icons. That too in a nation where much of the population needs nutritional, not anatomical push-ups. It can create a population of what is termed as “stressorexics”, those lycra-clad professionals who hit the gym with too much vengeance. “Stressorexia is a product of a perfectionist society,” explains the editor of leading women’s magazine Cosmopolitan. People don’t want to look “normal” but “special” nowadays, she opines. Maybe, the frenzy for the treadmill is turning into
overkill. chetnabanerjee@tribunemail.com
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Messy, but cute
A big Madhuri fan and now part of her comeback flick... As a child I grew up with a big image of Madhuri and so when I started working with her, I would look for Madhuri, the star. Do we see Konkana and you together again? Right now, it’s a honeymoon period for us. But, one more flick together and we’ll be pulling each other’s hair. Excited or depressed, you wield the pen? I write poetry for myself and not many understand it. Martial arts too help me unwind. A Punjabi, do we get to see you in the city? I have my cousins in Chandigarh and I love Punjab food, the more ghee and makhan, the better it tastes. And for all you gals who can’t help drooling over Kunal, here’s what he has to say. Girls, you have great taste.
The nation can’t help but drool (mind you, both men and women) over Madhuri Dixit Nene. The lady back after a six-year long gap is making it up for us, fans, by giving interviews on TV channels, jhatkas on reality shows or by simply letting shutterbugs capture her gorgeous smile. We’ve got for you excerpts from an interview with the glam lady, who surely is looking more stunning than before in her comeback vehicle Aaja Nachle. And as for her all those wondering if they’ll get to see more of her post Aaja..., she hasn’t decided yet. “I am just living in the moment,” she says. And, well so are we. How tough was it taking a call to comeback? Tough, scary and exciting. For, it came with a family and children to take care of. And, then there is the fear of how the audience accepts you. I was a little scared during the first two hours of the shoot, but later it all flowed like the old days. Why did you choose Aaja... as a comeback vehicle? The script has a feel-good positive touch to it. It’s a story of believing in something and standing by it. A story of the revival of the dying art of theatre. Also, it is relevant in the times of today when all that is western is taking over our values and culture. Tell us about your character in the flick. I play an independent girl, Diya, who leaves behind her village and elopes with her lover to New York. As a choreographer she struggles to make a life for herself there by sticking to her guru’s teachings. A fighter, she comes back to her village and stands by what she truly believes in. What is you favourite track in the film? That’s hard to say, all the songs have their own charm. Bulbul, I think, it is very peppy and Indian and then there is Oh Re Piya, which is a slow number. How was it working with Yash Raj after 10 years? As always it was a beautiful experience. If they were organised 10 years back, then they are super organised today. And, Yashji even created a little play area for my kids when they visited me on the sets. How much has the industry changed since you took a break? Quite a lot. I see movies being made on different subjects. The industry is a lot more organised, scripts are made before hand that let the actors prepare and perform better. Also, now right from the looks to the details of each scene, everything is pre-decided.
— TNS |
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Colours of the past An elephant riding a special bicycle, a man spitting out fire, girls in skinny, glittery outfits and a clown spreading happiness with a smile that travels from his rosy cheeks to his eyes. Didn’t we all grow up watching them? Be it summer vacations or Dusshera break or just about any time of the year — a bunch of happy, not-so-happy, slightly small, very tall, extremely content and not-so-rich artistes would set camp in town for a month with a promise to delight us. So, when a few days back the bunch landed in the city, we decided to pay them a visit, and they were more than happy to have us, and well so were we. And, to our surprise mixed with a little disappointment, nothing had changed ever since we last witnessed the extravaganza. As always, the colourful amateurish pictures painted on the boundary wall of the enclosure welcome the audience and give a glimpse of the Asiad Circus. For people who haven’t been to a circus in a long time, here’s how to buy your tickets. Unlike the multiplexes where you seat yourself away from the screen, here the closer you are to the podium, the luckier you are. The two-and-a-half hour feat can be seen by spending a mere
Rs 25, 50, 100 or 150. Step inside and colourful streamers, vibrant lights and a stench you can’t ignore greets you. Jeena yahan marna yahan played by the two-member circus band kickstarts the show just as in the olden days, followed by the announcer (who, by the way, still sounds like the announcer at the railway station) welcoming and introducing the artists. His loud cracking voice prepares you to watch the hawai jhoola i.e. the brave trapeze artists. Somersault and cross style performance, first with the light on and then in the dark, send shivers down the spine. Next, the animal brigade including elephants, dogs and parrots parade to the music of the Khan’s Tipu Sultan, followed by acts (thankfully less cruel) like walking on a ball. A word of caution here is that all this comes along with a cloud of dust. The satin flags too bear the same colours — reds, blues, greens, yellows and pinks. The clowns (short in height) too sport a red nose and colourful outfits. Doing nothing more than sneezing, hitting, tickling, falling and shaking hands with the audience kids, they are as pleasing as ever. Acrobats on a spring net, water show, juggling of hats, balancing of eggs on a glass and knife are some other must watch. A hooplah performance from an Australian artist is remarkable and is also perhaps an attempt to bring in freshness. What’s new is the wide variety of refreshments that just keep flowing in from all corners. Circus staff-cum-vendors bring for you butter popcorn, chips, chocolates, patties, ice creams and more. Also you can slurp on juices or relish hot coffee. Of course, the safest would be packed food. And, besides the tricks and acts, what catches one’s attention is the unity that binds these artists who come from all across the country. Be it Ambala, Muzafarnagar, Kolkata, Punjab, Mumbai or Assam, they live together as one happy family. Manager Paul Subhash says, “ We have a team of 115 artists and a total staff of 300.” He adds, “Sadly enough, though we have a seating capacity of 3,500, only 100-120 visitors come in each day.” Hmm...Now as for the lack of innovation and slightly poor arrangements, what’s probably missing is funds and appreciation. Their city stop is till December 10, so if you want to revive your childhood days or give your children a chance to watch an unusual feat, not on their X-box but live in action, then you know where to head. |
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Back to Nature Yes, a thrilling trekking expedition is in store for you right on the outskirts the city — at Nepli and Kansal forests. Part of the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary, the trekking trails at these picturesque sites can add zing to your life, and rejuvenate your spirits. And what’s more, you don’t even need to take leave to do so. All you need is about five to six hours to experience the thrill. No camping gear is needed. Just buy yourself a good pair of sport shoes and pack some food and march towards a fun packed adventure with family and friends. Entry point
There are two entry gates to the sanctuary – Kansal and Nepli gate. The route to Kansal gate is via Khuda Alisher village or Kaimbwala village while the route to Nepli gate is via Saketri village. Get permission
You are required to give a request letter to the deputy conservator of forests and chief wildlife warden, UT Chandigarh, for seeking entry permit. Your application should contain following information. One has to give basic information like the places one wishes to visit, number of persons in the group, mode of journey and the applicant’s address and telephone number. Permits are issued on a first come first basis. Only 100 permits are issued for Nepli and the same number for Kansal forests each day. Office Address: Chief Wildlife Warden, Sector 19. Phone: 0172-2700217 The nature trails
There are eight tracks of various lengths that throw different kinds of challenges to suit different category of age, physical strength and stamina. To get the actual feel of trekking, try the 8km route – the longest and most thrilling one. As one ventures past the hill slopes with thick woods and water bodies, one is likely to spot a wide variety of wild animals. You stand a fair chance of spotting jackals, sambhars, wild boars and peacocks. There are also a wide variety of red jungle fowl, kingfishers, cuckoos, nightjars, woodpeckers, doves and hawks. Venture a little further, and if you are lucky, you may even sight a spotted deer, hare, mongoose or even a pangolin. But you have to be careful because they run for cover as soon as they hear your footsteps. Home to 190 dams, the water bodies around the treks provide a mesmerising experience. By studying the pugmarks of animals on the way, huge billing holes of pangolins etc, you actually learn a lot about wildlife. And here comes the icing on the cake. From the peak of the nature trails, one can view the scenic beauty of Sukhna Lake. “With the onset of winters, the sanctuary is witnessing an influx of tourists especially on weekends. While the families come for a picnic, those with adventurous zeal take the trekking trail,” said Ishwar Singh, chief wildlife warden, adding that to feel the real beauty of the forests and spot wildlife, it is always advisable to take the trek route. The treks
# Nepli inspection hut-Kansal log hut You trek: 8 km Highlights: The longest of all tracks, it is best suited for seasoned walkers. It takes three hours of walking a steep gradient to complete the entire trek. # Nepli Gate - Nepli Inspection Hut via Ghareri You trek: 5 km Highlights:Mostly plain with minimum hurdles. Best suited for kids. # Nepli Gate-Nathewala-Nepli gate You trek: 6 km Highlights: Similar to the above track. # Kansal Hut-Sukhomajri You trek: 5 km Highlights: A narrow track similar to a village pagdandi. Includes steep slopes. Not suited for children. # Kansal log hut - Kansal log hut You trek: 5 km Highlights: A circular hill track through slopes and gradients. # Kherewala-Bhagowalia You trek: 1.5 km Highlights: Ideal for those who have little time, yet wish to experience the joy of trekking. Includes all thrills of trekking in a short distance. The sanctuary is open from sunrise to sunset and only on the weekends |
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Musically yours “It started years back with a thought to share the joy of music that DJ Pearl and I experienced at a party in Ibiza,” says Nikhil. From holding parties at a friends’ shack in Goa to being the partner and creative consultant for Sunburn, the thought has surely taken wonderful shape. For, the event presented by Percept D’Mark’s will see more than 31 DJs, both international and Indian, play electrifying music. To name a few, there would Carl Cox, Above & Beyond, John 00 Fleming, Midival Punditz, Simon Dunmore and DJ Pearl, of course. Why the name Sunburn? “It’s a day event that starts at 11 in the morning and goes on till ten at night,” says Nikhil. Chandigarh, the third destination for the festival preview after Mumbai and New Delhi, is one place where Nikhil was keen to play. He says, “The city is full of energy and interestingly, it was a lot of my persuading that went in our coming here.” Ask him to describe the event in one word and he says, “Unreal.” So, hurry and fix yourself a date with fresh music, overload of fun, unbeatable talent and warm beaches. (1,100 tickets are gone and there are just 5,000!) |
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Love thy layers The trend of collars peeping out of pullovers, fancy sleeveless sweaters complimenting a plain full sleeveless shirts and vaskets adorning flimsy dresses, that’s winter style for you. Loved sporting the layered
tops last winter? Well, here’s the good news, the trend’s got bigger and better. The one-piece tops with collar and sleeves in different material and colour stitched together to give a look of a pullover worn over a shirt, has given way to twin-piece sets. If it’s the lose fit that you like then there’s a lot you can choose from, for it has replaced the fitted look. A double collared full sleeves shirt in gray and black stripes with a knot in the front and a sleeveless black sweater (Rs 975) to go along is just one of the amazing pieces for picks. For a causal yet stylish look, there is a lycra knitted full sleeve t-shirt in coffee colour with a net detailed sleeveless lycra jacket (Rs 1,165). A cotton knit full sleeves black inner complete with a
crochet jacket is also an interesting piece and is available in dark green and brown too
(Rs 1275). Party lovers can pick up shimmering sweaters in hues like orange, coffee, gray and black that come with a woolen jacket (Rs 849). Or a striped black and mauve inner with the falling neck for the outer sweater (Rs 999). If it’s the typical shirt and sweater set that appeals you then go in for a white pin striped shirt with a purple sweater that has thin narrow straps crossing at the back (Rs 595) or a plain white shirt with a sleeveless pink sweater. Also ruling the women wardrobe are waist holders or vaskets. Available in halter necks they look nothing but saucy and appealing. A crochet waist holder in black with crochet frills at the base and on the back (Rs 825) is delicately pretty. Fabrics like leather, denim, suede, satin, and adornments like big buckles and straps frills are for accentuating the toned body. And a brown leather piece with elastic frills at the back (Rs 995) or a satin black one with satin frills (Rs 925) will let you do just that. So, what are you waiting for go ahead and add spunk to your wardrobe.
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Beauty Heaven
Hair and skin reflect your health. And going by this, and even taking it a step further, is Headmasters – 8 which has launched its beauty mall to give a life-time experience to those who are not just looking forward to look good but feel good too. The four-floor beauty zone that combines hospitality and hairdressing has roped in five international brands, namely Wella India, Pevonia Botanica, Richfeel, Nail Spa and Breathe - skin clinic. The beauty mall, as it is being called, looks totally international in its designing and approach. “ It is the largest of its kind in India where each floor will be dedicated to a different service,” says Pramod Dewan, managing director, Headmasters. The ground floor is dedicated to hair solutions and services that range from trimming to colouring to stylising to diagnosis and solution for all hair related problems by Richfeel Tricology experts. All the products used will be of Wella. The current price list says Rs 500 for a trim but it will go up for as Dewan says,” Everything comes for a price.” The first floor with 12 rooms is dedicated to beauty treatments like facials, waxing, manicures and pedicures. The second floor is the spa floor and it has some 15 different types of spas to offer. Run by Pevonia botanica, which till now was only associated with five star spas, has many skin treatments and therapies for the young and the not-so-young. The white circular passage with small glass pieces on the walls, dim lights, white sheets and towels and the purple orchids, together have a calming effect on you. So do the treatments. The Nuvola bed, a dry floatation bed, designed on the free-floating technique is inspired by the way a baby floats in its mother’s womb. After a relaxing massage you are wrapped in a plastic membrane and the hard bed underneath is made to go down leaving you floating. Ideally suited for jetlags and insomnia, the bed is accompanied by chromotherapy or light therapy, wherein lights are used to balance the chakras. Sabai Stone therapy, a dry spa in which non-porous stones are used to exfoliate the skin, and Thai Massage, a dry spa which works on pressure points with the therapist doing passive stretching for you, promise some blissful moments. An Indonesian from Bali with five years of experience has been roped in for the same. To enjoy the exotic spa, one has to be a member of the beauty mall. The annual subscription is Rs 25,000. And if that sounds too much, don’t worry. It is also available from a starting price of Rs 1,500. That’s just about three floors, where’s the fourth? Well, the basement here is counted as the fourth and is for the training of the 122 employees.
— Aman Minhas |
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Matka Chowk Oh Calcutta is one of my favourite restaurants in a city, which I still consider my own, even after living away from it for ages. The Tribune editorial this morning – of the same name – made me incredibly sad for my city seems to be burning. When I saw the Matka Chowk first time I had commented on the ingenuity of its art form. I did not know at that time that the green fountainhead would permeate my life so deeply offering me freedom of expression and creativity and filling my life with a kind of equanimity and grace that is still the hallmark of the city beautiful. Chandigarh is one of the few cities where demonstrations, morchas and street andolans are still viewed as aberrations. I was told a joke recently – a school kid who moved to Chandigarh from Bengal, when being asked what a hartal was in the social studies class, promptly said, “I know I know, it is a school holiday.” One school principal in Chandigarh, when asked by a parent whether the school was going to be closed for rains, was completely incredulous and aghast. Many Chandigarh schools offer early morning sports and parents drop off their kids when the sky is still misty without any fear in their hearts. Some of the school darwans who having worked for forty odd years watch over the gates with aging hawk eyes. I see lots of women proudly wearing their gold ornaments even for their morning walks and why not? Gold is an Indian woman’s birthright and our city allows us to exercise it - without fear. Women also walk the many walking trails of the city without trepidation even when dusk is falling and darkness is descending. The first time I went to Delhi and suggested taking a taxi in the evening to go to a friend’s house everyone looked at me as if I had suicidal tendencies! We often complain about too much gaiety and shor at the weddings that disturb our sleep. We are lucky we never hear the wail of police cars speeding through the heart of the city at ungodly hours. We complain about the shrieking kudawalla, the absconding gardener, the price of gobi and overzealous street dogs. We don’t usually feel scared to scold or glare at the traffic violators. Older folks often feel justified in reprimanding young offenders without having to be mindful of who they are and where they come from. There is a sense of equality among many unequal people that makes the city a civilised place to live. The mothers of Calcutta went through a harrowing experience when their children were trapped inside the schools while buses burned outside the gates. We really have feeble rights to complain, don’t we?
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First Day First Show Goal It is a goal that all of them want to achieve. To send the box office into a tizzy with sports-themed movies. The maker of Chak De has already sent it into ruptures. Now, it is Vivek Agnihotri who hopes to hit the bulls-eye with Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal. If Chak De was about hockey, Goal deals with football, certainly not a game as popular as cricket. A bunch of rookie footballers led by Shaan (Arshad Warsi) move heaven and earth to save their fledgling club, Southall United Football Club, from certain ruin. They rope in a disgraced former soccer player, Tony Singh (Boman Irani) as a coach. It is now left to Tony Singh to make Sunny Bhasin (John Abraham), an accomplished player of a rival club, agree to join the rag-tag team and resurrect the Southall facility. There is nothing in the caper that even remotely suggests that it is capable of giving a new definition to the art of story telling. The plot is hackneyed and in many ways is a curious mix of Apne and Chak De. Editing is sloppy. There are no gripping scenes, which you would remember for a long time. But it does have the action that though not turning you into an adrenalin junkie nevertheless excites you. Some of the scenes shot at the Manchester Stadium are a visual delight. John deftly essays the role of an ace footballer. However, it is Arshad Warsi who emerges the winner. The dexterity with which he switches over from comic to serious roles is amazing. Though the demands of the script envisage no place for Bipasha Basu, the director has created a role for her as a physiotherapist of the team. After all, where there is John, there is Bipasha. But it is a pity that even loud-mouthed Boman Irani appears in more scenes than her. Talented actor Raj Zutshi is hugely wasted, demonstrating the fact that Agnihotri may be a promising helmsman, but he is not the kind of director like Shimit Amin of Chak De from whose cinematic embrace nothing escaped while reinventing the sport genre. Showing at: Fun Republic, Batra
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Write to Renee
I am in my mid 40’s and have started looking at life with a new perspective. My kids have grown up and I have a lot of time on my hands. All these years I was busy taking care of my two boys but now I have started feeling that I have done nothing in life. I get depressed, as my life seems to have no meaning. My friends have started avoiding me as according to them I have strange views on life. Even my husband is worried. Please advise. Rachita Menon Do not allow negative feelings get to you. You have not changed. It is just that after years of a hectic life you have finally found time for yourself. This is a period of introspection. Don’t worry about yourself. This is not about depression, but just an opening to a new level of thinking for you. Allow the process to continue and count yourself blessed that you can think beyond the ordinary and mundane. Slowly as you settle down within yourself, things and people around you will settle down too. I am writing on behalf of a friend who is in trouble. She has two kids. The daughter is fairly well adjusted child but the teenaged son and causing many problems. He is disinterested in studies and very demanding. Since both parents are working, it has become a very difficult situation. He spends all his time in cyber cafes or watching movies. His grades are falling. Please help. Ashok Singla A boy’s growing years are considered the most difficult time for parents. So please tell your friends not to panic. Many others who are going through the same situation. Girls by and large in our country are comparatively sober, but boys with their higher energy level and more freedom need to be disciplined. But discipline must be balanced with love and care. Also ask your friends to see a counsellor. Interactive sessions normally help. This is definitely a cause for concern but proper guidance and channeled enforcement should definitely show positive results. |
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WE could be called a nation of paradoxes, not just in matters of demographics and birth, but also girth. Particularly this season, for it’s seen not just the baring of bellies but tummy truths as well. 
“I may be messy and drop food on the table when I eat, but not on myself,” laughs Kunal Kapoor when we ask him how close is he in real life to Vivan of Laaga... But, crazy yes he is, he confesses. A stint in the stock market, export firm, a construction group and an advertising company, before we saw him on 70 MM. We catch the local goonda of Aaja Nach Le. and get the poet, foodie and a student of martial arts talking. Excerpts.
Bored with humdrum city life and desperately seeking a change? Here is something you can do even without having to go out of the city! 
WHAT could be better than bidding goodbye to the year and welcoming 2008 by partying with bumchums and swinging to music that one loves? The Sunburn Festival, Goa 2007, is bound by these two links — friends and music. And, as we figure out after a tête-à-tête with DJ Nikhil Chinappa, an extension of his dreams too, for Sunburn — India’s first International Electronic Musical festival — will see some of his personal fave and much-admired DJs playing. And, as for his buddies, he has been extending personal invites to them. In town for the festival’s pre-release party at Lava, Taj-17 on Saturday, he gave a sneak peek into the music festival to be held on December 28-29 in Goa.
