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It’s raining plessure
APRIL is not turning out to be the cruelest month after all. Guys, instead of the harsh April sun evaporating the enthusiasm out of you, it’s actually raining pleasure. Though what begins well may not eventually end well, you have no reasons to complain — at least not for now. For all you late risers snuggling in bed during morning hours, the pitter-patter of raindrops blowing soft across the window continued for a good two hours Thursday morning. The cool drizzle, though not really imprisoning, forced pet doggies to remain indoors; or complaining. But, brought along with it some cheer; and washed away early apprehensions of a dull, hard and bitter summer. And, it saw early morning walkers pull down caps, even umbrellas, to cover well their foreheads. If you happened to visit the Lake, you would have actually found so many walkers strolling on the rain-washed path, cutting through the sluiced tree cover, with windcheaters shielding them from the slight nip in the air. Well, the best thing about the whole rainy business is that the pleasant phase, which started Tuesday morning, is going to continue — at any rate till the end of this week. You can attribute it to the western disturbances over Jammu and Kashmir or call it sheer good fortune, but the weather is going to remain more or less the same till Sunday. Wow isn’t that great? Just in case you have any doubts about the transient permanence of the untimely rains, ask the director of the local metrological department and Chatar Singh Malik will tell you all about the wet break that promises to sponge down the summer blues. “It’s just the beginning,” Malik says. “You can look forward to the weather remaining agreeable for at least two days, though it may extend by another day.” Malik agrees the not-always-so-pleasant month of April almost constantly mixes the memories of discomforting heat with the acute desire for relief, but says this time the weather will take some time to heat up again. So, you can sit back, relax for the next few days and enjoy hilly weather conditions right here in the plains. And, if you wish to see the romantic effect of the weather on the youngling, check out Leisure Valley-10. As the raindrops on the leaves magnify the splendor of the charming weather, giggling, hand-in-hand, couples enjoy romance in the air. The sheer number of pairs, whispering more than sweet nothings over the slight murmur of moisture-laden winds drifting through the bamboo shafts, leave you amazed. Well folks, in the end there’s just one thing to say — nothing lasts forever, not even the cool April rain. So, make hay before the sun shines!
saurabh@tribunemail.com |
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Mouthful for men too! FIRST they started sporting long tresses, then got their ears pierced, next placed themselves luxuriously in a spa, and last when we saw them, they were sporting pink! Now, that’s the metro sexual man who loves to prim himself up, thinks crying brings forth his sensitive side and that splitting up the cheque spells out respect for the feminine spirit. Phew, but is all that? Yes, you might think. Well, so did we, till we decided to pay a visit to our local golgappa rehris and met the tangy tasteful side of our sexy suave men! Mind you, old, very old, young, professional, student, married, single, happy, sad, and more, they have been biting into pani-puri ever since we can recall! So, then why is there so much noise about it suddenly, the men question us, of course in between uttering “Bhaiyya, thoda pani aur dena! “Join us on a tasteful, interrogative and pleasant trip. “It’s everybody’s, in fact the country’s favourite snack, so men have an equal right to enjoy it,” 24-year-old Sumit gets almost offensive. Oops, right they sure have, but then why enjoy it in secrecy? “Cos’ over the time chocolates and chaat have become synonymous with girls,” he says as a matter of fact, indulging in suji ke golgappas at a Sector 16 rehri. His golgappa buddy Rajiv however, prefers the ones in aata. And you thought men were bad when it came to differentiating stuff on kitchen shelves! Eighteen-year-old Shruti’s grandpa is a regular at Krishna Chat Bhandar-18. “He usually takes us there to treat us, or at times goes there alone too. He loves the special bharva (stuffed) golgappas there,” she smiles. Another golgappa buff who doesn’t really mind opening his mouth extra wide for the desi snack is Rohan, who works in a MNC. ”I’m very particular about what all goes in right from potatoes to chanas to the masala water,” he says. An evening lazy roll is incomplete without a golgappa session for Sachin and his buddies. Heaps of steel plates in a plastic tub, not-so-clean hands dipping into a container of masala water, and a long queue of foodies — the Sector 8 chaat rehri is their fave hangout zone. And what about girls staring and smiling as they go slurp? “Come on, when your mouth is watering then you don’t really care,” they say. Now, there are some who think gorging on golgappas at the rehri is unhygienic and so-not-classy. Well, they are quite wrong for the real taste does lie with the street side vendors. Anyways, they can head to sweet shops like Gopal Sweets and Sindhi to bite into water balls. Mineral water, plastic cups and the task of filling the balls is on you. At these eateries you can sophisticatedly bite into golgappas with water in three flavours — khaata, meetha and mix. Or how about dahi or bharva golgappa? Okie, as we put an end to this slurping session, all we can say is that the next time somebody tries selling you the story that girls are bigger golgappa buffs, all you need to do is take them round the
city!
purva@tribunemail.com |
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New releases
Starring: Iman Ali, Shaan, Hameed Sheikh, Naseerudin Shah The interesting thing about the film, registering its outright success in Pakistan, Dubai and London and produced and directed by Shoaib Mansoor, is how it connects the happenings in the three continents. Unlike the usual Indian and Pakistani films based on romantic sagas and songs, this film is based on serious issues, raising controversial questions engaging the Muslim minds these days. It helps the Muslim youth find the right direction. The film’s themes include the role of Muslims in Islam and the balance of Muslim values with moderate Western enlightenment. The story of the film revolves around two young Muslim musician brothers. One is settled in the US and the other is being led by fundamentalists. Khuda Ke Liye (In The Name of God) has Pakistani actors Shaan and Iman Ali in the male and female leads, while India’s Naseeruddin Shah appears in a prominent role of a Muslim cleric. This low-budget film, covering a vast canvas, stresses on the fact that it is more important to be a true Muslim at heart, than to just proclaim your faith by growing a beard, or by keeping your women in a veil (purdah) or wearing a kurta pyjama. Audiences and art critics across Pakistan have loved this film, but the conservative religious clergy have criticised it severely. However, the movie has been well received by overseas Pakistanis. Last year, the film was also screened at the Goa Film Festival and was hugely appreciated. Percept Pictures is distributing the film in the Indian circles and the music is being released on Sony BMG. Showing at:
Fun Republic |
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Starring: Rahul Bose, Jaaved Jaaferi, Minissha Lamba, Kay Kay Menon
Javed is a man wronged by his country by the very men who he fought with and were his friends. It’s the story of Siddhant whose only aim in life was to escape reality and wasn’t ready for what life brought him. It’s the story of Kaavya who never understood why it was difficult to speak the truth. It’s the story of Aakash for whom living the rules was the only way to live life. And it’s the story of Brigadier Pratap, a man who lived by his own rules even if they were against humanity. Captain Javed Khan charged with mutiny, treason and killing a fellow officer. Even when he is held for court martial, he refuses to speak in his defence, as the secret he holds is too powerful for the establishment to handle. This task has been assigned to Sid and Aakash, two best friends, lawyers and very ambitious individuals who have contrasting views on life. Nevertheless, this case will change their lives forever. The case takes them to Srinagar. While Aakash, for whom winning the case matters the most, follows the blueprint, Sid discovers a new meaning in life, Kaavya, Javed and of course the man in question, Brigadier Pratap. Watch out for this fascinating look at the human psyche. Showing at: Fun Republic
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Bhram
Starring: Milind Soman, Dino Morea, Simone Singh, Chetan
Hansraj, Sheetal Menon The movie is an emotional thriller about two brothers
(Milind and Dino) who deeply care for each other until a model (Sheetal), who’s been through a traumatic experience in the past, comes into their lives. The girl is in search of the truth, not knowing whether what she’s looking for is real or just an illusion ——
Bhram. Showing at: Fun Republic
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Voice of a
Muslim What
do you do when you feel alienated from the world because you bear a Muslim
surname or face the wrath of your own community just because you want to
lead a life in sync with time? If you have the ingenuity and resources of
Shoaib Mansoor, you come up with an intriguing film like Khuda Ke Liye.
Based on times post 9/11, the film has already set records in Pakistan,
got rave reviews in India and more. But the most important record for us,
is, that this is the first Pakistani film to hit Indian theatres after the
four-decade-old ban imposed in 1968. “My pent up feelings find an expression in the film,” says Mansoor, writer, producer and director of the film, over a telephonic interview from Mumbai. “I wanted to share the story of an average Muslim post 9/11. How he gets singled out wherever he goes just because his passport carries a Muslim name. It’s the story of men who ‘get it’ from their own community for not growing beard or wearing kurta pyjama. A story of moderate Muslims like you and me,” he elaborates. Whether Khuda ... makes a desirable impact or not, is yet to be seen, but Mansoor is a happy man today, courtesy rave reviews from the Indian Press. However, Mansoor did not reach this stage without initial hiccups. In his own words, “When I expressed my desire to release the film in India, no distributor was ready to take the risk. Only after it was screened at the Goa Festival, they approached me.” With 30 years experience behind him as writer, director of tele serials, Mansoor ventured into films with the aim to give Lollywood the much-needed direction. He says, “The ban on exchange of films between the two countries proved fatal to Urdu films, mainly due to lack of competition. Mediocre films made in Pashto and Punjabi ruled.” Does that mean he wants to make parallel cinema? “Good cinema with a relevant theme, entertainment, a plot to make the people glued to their seats for three hours,” he corrects us. Knowing that his film has managed to woe back Pakistanis to theatres, we realise Mansoor has already taken the first significant step. |
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youth speak EXCESS of everything is bad and this holds true in case of mobiles phones as well. According to various studies carried on the ill effects of an excessive usage of mobiles, it could have a devastating effect on fertility. It still has to be proved. However, the news is quite disturbing, considering mobiles are so much part of our lives. Children who use mobile could be risking their fertility, warn researchers. Doctors believe the damage could be caused by the electromagnetic radiation emitted by handsets or the heat they generate. “In another five years, the number of people adversely affected by the gadget is going to double,” says a recent study on these phones. Altogether, 361 children in the study were divided into four groups, with 40 never using a mobile, 107 children using them for less than two hours a day, 100 using them for two-four hours daily and 114 making calls for four or more hours a day. The research points out that mobiles may also increase temperature in the groin, if a child was wearing it on a belt or carrying it around in a pocket. Sending text messages uses less power than talking but it can be a more intense emission of radiation, especially on trains. Men on trains spending two or three hours continually texting with their mobile phones held in their laps, people who use a phone for four hours a day sitting in cars and people who sit about eating junk food while typing text messages are prone to slip into a more sedentary lifestyle due to sms sending addiction. So, we all should use our mobile but in limits! |
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High on Woman Power OF late, it’s been raining reality shows. So, why another story on the finalists of a singing contest? Well, simply because Chhote Ustaad is the only show where two girls have made it to the finals. Bubbling with fizzy endorphins on their feat, we catch hold of the two lil’ girls and quiz them about their love for singing, dreams and women power! Their initial inaccessibility for a telephonic interview is, no doubt, irksome. However, our ‘stars-in-the-making’ have quite a ‘spring in their voices’ when they finally greet us over the phone. It’s perhaps their chirpy eagerness to make it big, which lets all irritation melt away. And so we throw a clichéd volley of queries at Aishwarya Majmudar and Anwesha Dattagupta, busy rehersing for Chhote Ustaad’s grand finale on Saturday. Aishwarya seems particularly delighted because of her favourite Amitabh Bachchan’s presence at the recently shot promo shoot for the finals. “Amit uncle’s too cute! He noticed that I was wearing a shirt too large for my size and immediately adjusted my collar, saying Ye mera shirt aapko kisne de diya.” She’s joined in by a giggling Anwesha, “AB was in a great mood and kept on chatting with us. He congratulated us on being the first two women finalists on an Indian talent hunt show and wished us all luck. But the cutest part was how excited our mummies got just looking at his towering personality,” and we can’t help joining in as the 14-year-old bursts out laughing. Jokes apart, their mommies-in-tow have been quite a support system post the grilling rounds. “My mom being a singer herself really encouraged me to take up singing. In fact, she’s been training me in classical music since I was four!” quips Kolkata girl Anvesha, who wants to be tomorrow’s Shreya Goshal. But didn’t her studies suffer in the process? “Yes, taking up singing seriously means a lot of riyaaz. In fact, I had to miss my exams this year for the show. But I guess, to achieve something in life, it’s worth it.” Chips in Aishwarya Majmudar, “I’m not tensed about studies. My school in Ahmedabad has already promoted me to class X. But yes, a lot of hardwork is involved for this contest too. We are doing five hours of riyaaz daily, besides a 2-3 hour choreography class and shoots. I guess it’s the price for success! With sparkling confidence, moms-in-tow and well-rehearsed statements, these girls seem lil’ stars indeed. Maybe, Big B wasn’t exactly joking when he whispered to the show’s camera person “These are stars of today, hum to junior artist
hain.”
anandita@tribunemail.com |
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Are you
game ? THIS is no mean feat. It’s going to be a test for warriors and their clans. Well, that’s what the gamers and their teams like to call themselves! So what we’ll see in a fortnight will be a fine meet of passion, dedication, intellect and unlimited fun. The country’s first ever campus-based gaming tournament — Gameeks 1.0 to be held on April 12 and 13 — is likely to see more than 350 colleges and considering that over 100 teams have already registered, the game fest seems quite big already. And if you think this is not big enough, read further. A venture between Zapak Gameplex and Chitkara, the venue for the game fest is set, a special indoor stadium with over 200 computers at the Chitkara campus. And at stake is prize money worth two lakhs! Says key member of the organising committee and final year student Chitkara, Siddarth, “Down South, people have been into gaming competitions, but the concept is new to the North, except IITs.” The games zeroed in on to improve the ability of the student to create, apply strategies and develop critical analysing techniques include FIFA 07, Flatout 2.0 and of course, the all-time-fave Counterstrike 1.6. And what made Zapak rope in to this passion? Says area manager Pankaj Gandhi, “There’s no better stressbuster than gaming. We’ve held competitions for corporates. And now, a gaming festival for students to channelise their energies and creative minds did sound like a good idea.” So what’s the eligibility except passion of course? “All you need to register is your college/institute’s identity card, informs Siddarth. For those whom the game bug has bit, there’ll be events like Juke Box, War of DJs, Sci-Fi movies and more. The organisers plan to make this an annual event. So all you game geeks, register yourself now at
www.gameeks.com! |
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Aaja
Nach Le They’ve swished and twirled, spinned and matched steps for long. But this time around, it’s about stepping on a bigger platform ala dance floor, about making dreams come true. Absolutely feverish about setting the floors afire, city’s dance duo’s delighted us foot-tappers with their latest offering — Varun Dance Studio, a sprawling dance zone, in Panchkula’s Sector 6. “Barsha and me have always had this plan in mind. But it is only after establishing ourselves in the city, we executed it,” smiles Varun D. S. Rana. And what’s this big plan all about? “We always wanted to create a private space, where we could teach various dances. But before that, there were lots of dancing to do to build a name for ourselves.” And a reputation they’ve already earned by winning various dance contests, including Dance Dance on Soni and Salsa competitions at Singapore, Hong Kong and London. Chips in Barsha, who mastered classical and Indian folk from the North Zone Cultural Centre, Patiala, “Life for us is all about dancing. Even love happened when we were paired together at a dance competition. This was followed by winning the Dandia competition at Kalagram, which was organised by CIPA, for three consecutive years. We went on to teach Salsa, Bollywood, modern jazz at Ozone, besides organising city’s 1st international Salsa Boot Camp in town. But now, we’ve realised our most cherished dream.
While Barsha rewinds their journey, Varun looks into the crystal ball, “Next in the pipeline is organising a Summer Dance Fiesta in June. Around 250 of our students will participate here and each will perform more than 10 dance forms!” As the number makes us raise our eyebrows, Varun smiles, “Don’t look so amazed. We’ll teach 30 dance forms, including Indian classical, folk, contemporary, Bollywood, jazz, hip-hop, pop n’ lock, break dance, ballroom dances and Latin street dances like salsa, merenge’, bachata and zouk! And all this for Rs 1500 person (12 sessions a month) and Rs 1,000 (8 sessions). |
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City’s super specialty Kundan jewellery hub Anaha, has added another feather in its multi-plumed cap. The store’s introduced its big-sized Polki diamond jewellery range, under the brand name Sairah. Flaunting finely handcrafted and enameled jewellery with natural, uncut Polki diamonds, the range is an absolute eye-candy for our brides-to-be. A part of the heritage jewellery of India, the range has traditional designs giving an aura of royalty. Each set of the range boasts of intricate, heavy bead-work (Pirohi) with elaborate use of gold and precious Kundan stones. Brides can ask for customised pieces to match the bridal trousseau. Also, as a part of the centuries old tradition, exquisite enamel work (Meena) in rich traditional colors is done at the back of the jewellery. Starting from Rs 2lakh onwards, the range has heirloom pieces. This jewellery contains the best features of both the old and the new. It has the same ageless beauty of Jewellery with the right mix of artistry and colourful gems, possesses the rich ethnic looks, has the same intricate painstaking hand-craft that defines it, possesses the characteristic vibrancy that make it stand apart, and is rich in tradition. Besides coming from India’s first and only 100% hallmarked Kundan jewellery store, this jewellery is traditional, exquisite and richly beautifying.
— TNS |
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Sidelanes
MR and Mrs Sant’s bungalow and ours, too, faced the Infantry School. While their garden was the recipient of years of TLC, ours boasted a waterless fountain and a huge banyan tree. Frequent postings did not allow any officer to plant his roots. The fauj still follows Sher Shah Suri’s maxim to avoid even the glimmer of a coup! Officers are always packing or unpacking and scrounging around for crates and cardboard boxes at the nearest bazaar. There is no time or energy for rebellion. Mr Sant was a dapper “young man” of around 70, neatly turned out, deodorised and scented with many intriguing tales to tell. Mrs Sant was taller than her husband, beautiful, with steel for a spine. She brooked no nonsense and kept the perfect home. Both had impeccable manners, were hospitable to a fault and followed all moral commandments. My husband and I sought out old people to “look after.” It kept our consciences clear and busy. The Sants were the nearest and most compatible choice. Every hundred yards, the old, liver-coloured Standard Herald gasped, sputtered and sank into the road. Ron decided to take it to the garage behind the Sant’s bungalow. Bittu, the young mechanic, asked whether the old couple were out of station. Ron was surprised. The Sants had not informed us, as they normally did. Ron went to the house and found the front door open. He called out a few times but got no response. He went to the police station and returned with a constable. Mr and Mrs Sant were found under mountains of mattresses and quilts. They were decomposing and had about 20 stab wounds each. Both had been tortured before death finally put an end to the macabre theatricals. Nothing was stolen except Mr Sant’s leather slippers. He was allergic to rubber and plastic. The family was informed. I tried to comfort the daughters but they were as steely as their mother and joked with my frightened boys instead. I decided to make a cup of strong tea for everyone. Some one had placed phenyl next to the milk and I used that. The eldest daughter burst out laughing and asked if I was planning to wipe out the family. General Sundarji sheltered the three women at the officers’ mess as they would be safer there. Ron, the boys and I had a police escort till we left Mhow a month later. We could not enter any room without it being checked out. There were whispers of a property dispute. Some said the magnificent Sant bungalow belonged to someone else. Mr Sant had told us he was about to win a case the following Tuesday. There were gory details in the local rags. Riots held up business. The old couple had been very involved with social welfare and were sorely missed. Years later I met one of the daughters. She recalled her deposition in court. The prosecutor treated her like a criminal and made out that her parents were nasty and hated by the people around. The case was never resolved even though the hired killers were caught and incarcerated. A nexus between property dealers, politicians and the vote bank? Probably! Things have not changed much since that day.
(This column appears weekly) |
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The Magic of Monochrome Last year saw city galleries bringing in art works by quite a few Bengali artists, among whom Sudeepta Tewari’s works remained most sought after. Sudeepta’s black and white charcoal drawings have always been a crowd puller, even when he came here the first time for a group show, a few years back. This time, he captured the ethereal beauty of an Indian woman who belonged to the bygone era. His work stood out because the contours and mood of the women he painted were not lost to the chaos of colours. It was soothing to the eyes with all its grace and beauty. In fact, a few of his paintings from this particular series still adorn the walls of Art Folio-9. When one talks about black and white paintings, it is usually the folk paintings like Warli paintings or Patachitra paintings from Orissa or even Chinese scroll paintings that come to mind. Or, Pablo Picasso’s most famous black and white oil painting Guernica, which was inspired by the Nazi bombing of Guernica in Spain during the Spanish Civil War. We as a city, may not have the category of artists taking up black and white paintings to such a height, but we do have our artists who have tried it and loved it too. Only recently a young artist Harkanwal Kaur exhibited her ink and charcoal drawings. This Government College of Art passout wanted to experiment with the two colours because in her words, “nature is colourful, but when captured in black and white, it becomes graceful.” Prem Singh, who had recently exhibited his black and white series, feels the emptiness of the canvas itself is a painting. And it is a challenge for an artist to read that and translate it with a single colour, which is black. “The whiteness of the canvas sets the mood and the black lines define it, expressing the inner voice of the artist in a visual voice,” says Prem Singh. And in the process of capturing the hidden mood, Singh came up with three spectacular paintings — Delight in the Ordinary, Pioneering in the Unknown and Setting Square. He used acrylic and charcoal to capture the moods of his canvas. Another artist, who got inspired by Michelangelo’s drawings to come out with his original series, is Malkit Singh. “I did it a long time ago but I still remember the satisfaction I got while making those ink and poster colour drawings. Working in black and white sharpens one’s ability to play with light and shade and expressions come easy,” he says. True, working in monochrome enhances one’s ability to differentiate the nuances of tones and this is why the beginners are asked to paint in black and white – portrait or still life, adds Prem Singh. Another artist, for whom blacks and whites have been integral part, is Balwinder, who had done quite a few series like Buddha and drawings on visiting cards. “To be honest I was told that drawing was my strongest point and that is what I tried to exploit by doing ink drawings on various subjects,” says Balwinder. But for him ink drawings is quite an elementary thing to do and every artist who goes through a formal training has to go through the phase of monochrome paintings. Studies on black and white art are also considered significant before embarking upon colour at any art school. For, the range of tones that one perceives in monochrome studies, go a long a way in enriching one’s artistic expressions in colour later. And if one is a master artist, he can even make the black and white painting look as most colourful. Such is the power of black. And well, here is a piece of advice from the masters who have tried it — while working in black, give importance to the negative space because our eyes are sensitive to light. We see black by looking at the white space around.
parbina@tribunemail.com |
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Creative Insanity IT was Anantmurti Guruma’s rendition of Baba Farid’s couplets that got Rana Nayar’s interest hooked to this 12th century Sufi poet. When this much-loved professor of English Literature at Panjab University describes his obsession, it is almost hilarious — “I bought a few cassettes of Guruma when I attended her discourse sometime back. This one in particular, in which she sang Baba Farid’s poetry, sent me into a trance. Day and night, I kept playing it though I did not understand its wordings. In fact, my family members had decided that I was on the verge of insanity.” But, when it’s Nayar concerned, one can guarantee this kind of insanity is bound to carry some positive result. And it did. His likings for the music led to his interest in discovering the treasure trove of Baba Farid for which he had to learn Shahmukhi script to start with. And after spending a year on it and completing the translation of about 124 couplets, Nayar is already the winner of Sahitya Akademi Award for translation work in the poetry category. Nayar fills us in on the background, “The Akademi called for entries in July last year for this national–level competition on translation work, which had three categories — poetry, short stories and oral literature. The occasion was the 50th anniversary of the Akademi. I sent entries in both poetry and short story category and was recently declared the winner in the poetry section.” Well, Nayar has proved that he can start from scratch and come out a winner. And when a language is concerned, this achievement comes as only a byproduct of a larger interest he holds. After completing all 124 of Baba Farid’s couplets that are known to have survived till date, he is busy compiling the history of Sufism and its relevance in today’s time for his forthcoming book. “Baba Farid is known as one of the early exponents of Punjabi literature. But his volume of work has retained the freshness over the centuries because he derived images from real life and presented them with his profound wisdom.” And as example he cites Dilip Kaur Tiwana’s novel Ai Ho Hamara Jeevana. “It’s a women-centric novel set in the 21st century, but the phrase Ai Ho… comes from Baba Farid’s couplet.” To know more about this great poet and his works, one has to wait till the end of the year for his book, which will not just have Nayar’s historical perspective on Sufism and translated works of Baba Farid, but a section on original works too, for a comparative study. |
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Rising Star Only a few moments of bliss remain etched in one’s memory. Those, which never fail to rejuvenate us or bring happiness. One such blessed moment for music exponent Sumangal Arora (19) was the Inter-university felicitation function at Chennai where participants from 250 universities gave this Patiala-based vocalist an standing ovation after he won the national light classical musical event. “My immaculate rendition of thumri in Raga Bhairavi had enthralled one and all at the national meet where I represented Baba Farid University, claims Sumangal, the final year BDS student at Laxmi Bai Dental College, Patiala. Both classical music and medicine have the healing touch, he justifies his passion for music and his choice for his profession. In fact, Sumangal’s love for classical music comes from his family legacy enriched by acclaimed musicologist Ganganadan Arora. Sumangal’s responsibility is to carry it forward. As a student at the Yadavindra Public School, his win at the All-India Public Schools’ Cultural Fest at Mayo Girls School in 2001 was a testimony of his expertise over the Nayaki aspects of music. He competed and won a national scholarship. He went on to bag a gold medal in Hindustani classical music in 2005 at the Harvallballabh Sangeet Sammelan. The same year he won the Hero-Honda Sutarang Contest and bagged a gold at the All-India Dental Association (IDA) last year in Instrumental music. He plays the synthesizer, sitar and the guitar with consummate ease. A fan of Jagjit Singh, Ghulam Ali and Mehdi Hasan, Sumngal now aspires to make ghazal and playback singing his profession. He loves to sing Daag Dehlavi, Mirza Ghalib and contemporary
poets. lifestyletribune@gmail.com |
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IT was Jackson Pollock’s ‘throwing colour on canvas’ style that inspired young and upcoming artist Simi Grover to take up ‘acting painting’. Her paintings sure have a lot of action in it — colours creating a riot in which form appears from nowhere and merges into nothingness. This is a series Simi is doing for her forthcoming exhibition at the prestigious Jehangir Art Gallery in Mumbai. “I approached the gallery about seven years ago and now I have been confirmed that I am eligible to put up my works,” says an ecstatic Simi. After all, this gallery hosts works in the league of Husain and Raza. “And now the waiting period has gone up to 12 years,” she tells. Simi works in mixed media, acrylic being her favourite. “When an artist is playing with colour rather than form it is important that the paints dry fast to capture the moods of the artist. Acrylic has that advantage,” she explains. Her style is abstract, at times bordering on semi-figurative. A pass-out of the Government College of Art, Simi has been struggling her way up in the world of commercial art in Mumbai for the past couple of years. “After completing my BFA, I moved to Mumbai where I worked with Satguru Art Gallery and Ghanshyam Builders. Such establishments there engage artists on contractual basis and commission them bulk orders,” she says. However, working purely on a commercial basis is one thing, and painting for the love of painting is altogether different. “Working there did help me get recognition but painting for me is a medium to let out my inner feelings and this is the essence of my art — my moods,” she explains. If that is true, one can derive from her paintings that the artist is a happy individual — most of her works are painted with happy colours. Simi has a solo show at Mumbai’s Kala Ghoda Art Gallery and a group show at Government Museum and Art Gallery to her credit. — P. R. |
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Exercise: Abdominal exercises in the form of sit-ups help to tone up muscles but not in getting rid of the fat that lies above the abdominal muscles. The only way to lose fat is through jogging, cycling, etc. Sit-ups strengthen the abdominal muscles. It helps in improving the posture, stability of the lumbar spine, assists in breathing, and holding organs of digestion. Procedure: Sit-ups should be done properly. Bend your knees to flatten the lower back. Place your hands lightly on ears or cross arms over chest. Inhale before starting. Hold breath during the upward movement and forceful exhale at the top. As you return to the initial position start inhaling. Lift the upper back for not more than 45 degree to avoid lower back strain.
— Dr Ravinder Chadha
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Depicting the difficult situation in which Pakistanis – and the Muslims in general – found themselves in after 9/11, Pakistani film Khuda Ke Liye is the first film from that country to invade into the Indian theatres from March 28.
Set against the backdrop of the Indian Army, the story focuses on four men (and a lady) and how one incident changes their lives forever. Strength, courage and bravery will be tested to the limits as the lives of four men hang in the balance — a story of finding courage within where friendships are tested in the battle that matters the most. The battle for truth and justice.
EVERYBODY wants to have a trim waistline. That explains why all want to know what are the exercises to be done to flatten the abdominal area. 
ARIES: ARIES: The Knight of Wands reveals this is a week that would herald change into your life. There would be an increase in the love you receive and also an increase in your energy. You would be willing to take on new responsibilities. Lucky Colour: Purple. Tip of the Week: Learn from past experience.
LIBRA: You draw Seven of Swords. Despite income falling short of expenditure, you’ll cope up easily. In relationships, there would be variety and warmth, giving you a sense of security. At work, rivalry and office politics would have to be dealt with and also, you may have to make some crucial decisions. Matters relating to law would be decided in your favor. Lucky Colour: Bottle green. Tip: Avoid criticising others.
TAURUS: The Chariot indicates that most of your money concerns would be resolved
favourably. Focus on career growth without wasting time in useless gossip. Investments made in the past would bring good returns. Lucky
Colour: Earthy brown. Tip: Get rid of negative feelings through love.
SCORPIO: The Hanged Man says you’ll do well professionally and personally depending on your ability to convince others. You’ll be appreciated for everything and this would motivate you to do even better. At home and work, you’ll have a good idea of what others need from you and win yourself another admirer. Lucky Colour: Peacock green. Tip: Be patient and rewards would follow.
GEMINI: The Moon card says a good week to deal with professional and personal goals. Your inherent charisma, energy level and temperament would make you popular. Those who are single will find someone special. Lucky
Colour: Brown. Tip: Act for yourself and no one else.
SAGITTARIUS: The Lovers inspire you with love and creativity. Professional problems may take up your time and energy. The situation at home would be peaceful. Money matters may create tension, however, it would be resolved if you start spending less. Lucky
Colour: Silver grey. Tip: You may have to treat people with lot of charity.
CANCER: The
Hermit card reveals professional affairs may take a backseat. Hard
work would not let you down. Investments in real estate need to be
reviewed. Wednesday would prove beneficial for most. Lucky Colour:
Creamy white. Tip: Focus on goals and don’t let temporary
setbacks affect you.
CAPRICORN: The Knight of Swords instigates you to be active and clever. The atmosphere at work would be pleasant. Students should work hard. Those looking for jobs would receive good offers. Singles may receive good marriage proposals and married Capricorns would spend time with family. Lucky Colour: Red. Tip: Don’t do anything at the cost of health.
LEO: The card Strength says most of you would have to depend on other people’s decisions. Work would be relatively routine. Finances would stabilise and you’ll have to invest more aggressively. Pay attention to your kidneys and take up regular exercising. Lucky Colour: Rainbow pastels. Tip: Overindulgence in food and alcohol may lead to health problems.
AQUARIUS: Two of Pentacles says there will be chances to grow in business and trade. Some of you may have to stand up for your values and defend them with strength and wisdom. Lucky
Colour: Ruby red. Tip: Avoid undue splurging and put aside money for the upcoming months.
VIRGO: The Prince of Cups says this week you’ll be able to express your needs from yourself and life. You can easily plan a holiday or decide on doing something new or adventurous. Your ability to articulate your needs, wants and wishes would be heightened. Lucky Colour: White. Tip: Take things one at a time.
PISCES: The Princess of Wands predicts changes and travel at work. Businessmen to deal with labour issues with tact and politicians may have to deal with vague feedback. Some of you may feel inclined towards religion or spiritualism. Lucky
Colour: Bottle green. Tip: Allow a sick situation blow over before a new project.