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Artful Couples
Ever heard of two like poles attracting each other? In the realm of magnetic field, it may be an absolute no-no, but in the field of matrimony, similarity does breed a fertile ground for a harmonial, or rather rocking married life. The city provides a number of examples where couples create, appreciate and even ciriticise each other in their professional lives and still lead a happy, peaceful life together.
Rajesh and Guneeta Chadha is one such couple. Rajesh was a hardcore marketing guy when he married artist Guneeta. A few years in her company and Rajesh grew so fond of paintings that he took it up himself, albeit in a different medium – the computer. Rajesh, a self-taught artist, kept honing his skill till he came out with his first exhibition with his wife about five years back. Till now the couple has done three shows together, including their last show at Birla Academy of Art and Culture in Kolkata and is ready with it’s fourth one. How does it feel to have a competitor and a critic within the family? “It brings us closer as we execute ideas together. We appreciate and also criticise ,” says Guneeta. But they draw the line when it comes to offering suggestions. “We leave the decision to the artist concerned and restrain from imposing our wills on each other,” says Rajesh. It was theatre that got these two together and they are still continuing their journey as a husband and wife. He is play director Umesh Kant and his wife Dr Vijaylaxmi Pandit. A pathologist at PGI those days, Vijaylaxmi joined Kant’s Theatre Lab for his production Yayati. One thing led to another and they ended up tying the knot. Vijaylaxmi, now mostly works as a critic and Kant, still as the director. “She acted in five of my productions and one of his plays Balde Tibbey got me Punjab Nat Shiramoni Award and her the Best Actress award in 1989,” recalls Kant. Is having a director at home stressful for the wife? “No, it’s a stressbuster because one gets to meet interesting people and I even criticise him, a privilege other actors don’t have,” she says. Ego clashes? “Kabhie kabhie,” says Kant. He calls them healthy discussions. But they do not let these affect their personal life. “I criticise him but not to the point that flares him up,” says Vijaylaxmi. And on his part, “I value her constructive criticism.” Music video director Jagmeet Bal and his newly married wife Simran Kaur are producing a film together. Called Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, this film is a musical inspirational comedy for kids. Bal will be directing, while Simran has written the screenplay. “It’s wonderful to work as a team because all the discussions take place at home and so is the execution,” says Bal. No ego clash here? “We got married recently, still in the guarantee period,” laughs Bal. Adds Simran, “Our goal is the same, a good home production. We sought out the differences in a professional manner.” Homegrown singer Krishna Beura, who has done the city proud by winning the Stardust Award with his Chak De song Maula meri … and his wife Sunita is another couple who met because of music (they both used to sing at school and college functions) and stayed friends throughout till they decided to unite in matrimony in 1997. Life is still a love song for them. “She encourages me but also is my worst critic,” says Krishna. “Yes when I see something wrong in his creation, I put forward my honest opinion,” says Sunita Beura. But we love discussing music, latest songs and yes, we keep our home atmosphere very musical,” says Krishna. Musical fights? “Sometimes we debate on the trend and quality, that’s all.” Well, those who do not have a spouse sharing similar tastes, need not despair. We can always prove that differences are as important as similarities for a marriage to rock. |
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Fruitful summer
Clouds of pleasure hovering overhead in April’s first half may have delayed sour weather’s onset, but the summer is still proving ‘fruity’ — if the high price of fruits is not a consideration, that is.
That’s right! The ever so pulpy and juicy mangoes, scrumptious muskmelons and luscious watermelons, oozing with vitamins and minerals, have already hit the stalls. You even have jackfruit, along with native, Swedish and German oranges. Australian fruits are also enhancing the flavour of the season. None of them come cheap, but that’s another story. Well, go to so many retail outlets across the city like Choupal-26, and you find aisles lined with summery temptations. You can actually fill up your trolley with an array of fruits you can include in your diet. Even the roadside vendors, with cartloads of fruits, are offering on a platter the summer’s delicacies. Zoom around the city and you find them taking the weight off your feet behind piles of produce under the rejuvenating shade of dense trees. Really, after months of munching same old apples, bananas and pears, you can drool at the very thought of sinking your teeth into heavenly honeydew melon and simply wonderful berries. Folks, if you plan to pick up the stuff to push wintry fruits out of the refrigerators, the moment is just ripe. Your visit to the markets will not prove fruitless, and that’s a promise. Watermelons, this time of the season, are almost double the price compared to the previous season. For every kilogram of watermelon, you pull out something like Rs 15 from your wallet. For, that medium size watermelon, you pay anywhere between Rs 60 and Rs 75. Oh yes, it was costing just Rs 8 per kilogram last year. But, the prices are expected to come down as demand increases. One thing good about the appearance of watermelons is that the prices of oranges have squeezed slightly. You can now take them home native Punjab and Andhra oranges for around Rs 30 a kg. The Swedish and German oranges are almost double the price. At the same time, the price of grapes remains more or less constant. The green ones are available between Rs 35 and Rs 40 a kg. Enough about prices! Let’s look at some of the benefits. Dietician Reenu Sharma says: “You know fruits are good for the immune system and digestion. And, they leave you with that glowing fruitful complexion and shining eyes. But did you know honeydew and watermelon are not just cool, but gentle laxative. Best eaten raw, they ferment rapidly in the stomach. The seeds too are good for urinary infections and bladder problems.” This is not all. Sharma says remember to give mangoes a fair share. They contain more than a day’s requirement of vitamin C and nearly half a day requirement of Vitamin E. Yes, they also contain potassium, iron and nicotinic acid and are great for skin problems. Also, eat cherries. They are good for the joints and are believed to be excellent for cancer protection. They contain vitamin C, and next to no sodium. So folks, keep munching. And, happy summer! |
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Archlights Love
Little did his parents know while naming him Shreyal (beloved!) that their son would actually become people’s beloved! Today Chandigarh da munda Shreyal Godara stands tall among the 21 young men shortlisted for the Gladrags Mega Model & Manhunt Contest finals on April 12. All of 21, this textile design student, INIFD is busy rehearsing catwalk, diction and more, as we catch up with him over the phone. Excited and a little confused, the youngton spills the beans on the contest, his Mumbai dreams, and more…
Conversing over the phone, we can’t peep into his eyes, but his dreamy voice for sure convinces us that he’s awe-struck. “Who wouldn’t be, he laughs, adding, “ Being a part of this magnanimous pageant is quite heady. After all, it’s ‘the place’ where stars are born and model legends made,” says Shreyal who aspires to be an actor. “The show’s churned out stars like Aishwarya Rai and Koena Mitra, but my faves include Dino Morea and John Abraham. So, how has his training been? “The contest’s not just about the best body, but also the right attitude and poise. We’ve been trained in everything from modelling, etiquette, nutrition and physical training to dancing, make-up, diction, film classes and photography.” What this exercise-freak loved best, however, was the acting and dancing classes, since he wants to make it to 70MM someday. Here’s wishing wings to his dreams! |
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Taste, health & hygiene
LAST week the city saw an unusual food contest. Not a fancy Sanjeev Kapoor sorts, but the one that came with wholesome goodness. The dishes came from the kitchens of Adarsh Nagar Janata Colony and the show’s USP lay in the fact that each dish costed not more that Rs 2.
It was a happy occasion. About 50 participants, trained by the volunteers of DIR (Developing Indigenous Resources), the brainchild of Fredrick Shaw, showcased not just their culinary skills but also their sense of hygiene. The dishes made were — puffed rice with jaggery, poha with greens, soya beans and peanuts, namkeen daliya and khichdi. However, the contest was just the tip of the iceberg. Behind the show, lay two years of active participation of DIR members to make the colony-dwellers health and hygiene conscious. “The main problem with these people, mostly migrants from UP and Bihar, is that they want to stick to only rice and arhar dal. This does not take care of all their nutritional requirements. We are trying to develop their taste towards wheat, soya bean and different types of pulses,” says nutritionist Loveleen Kaur. With money being a restricting factor, the members are introducing them to habits of healthy spending. “It’s not that the people spend a lot, but they spend mindlessly. Say they would give their child Rs 2 or 3 to buy biscuits. We ask them to buy a boiled
egg instead and spice it up to make it appealing,” says Kaur. Shaw, who conceived the idea of DIR way back in 2002 in California and bought it here, has been lending simple solutions to complicated problems like dehydration. “We’ve taught them how to make ORS. Now everyone in the colony knows how to make it and use it,” he says. He is happy the way things have shaped up over the years. “It’s touching to see that knowledge has instilled in the inhabitants a sense of dignity,” he says. And this has motivated him to expand the programme further to Saketri and Mauli Jagran as well.
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at lifestyletribune@gmail.com or Life Style, The Tribune, Sector 29-C, Chandigarh
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I am a 27-year-old guy working as a lecturer in a college in Himachal. My childhood dream has been to work for an MNC. Now, I have got admission in a MBA course. My parents have agreed to pay the exorbitant fee for the course if I marry the girl they have chosen for me. They want me to get engaged before the course. I have been friendly with a girl for the last three years and I think my parents are afraid that I’ll marry her. But, its only career and not marriage on my mind. How do I convince my parents that I’ll not be able to handle the responsibilities of a marriage while I am a student? Vinay,
Pinjore I appreciate your seriousness. Also it is a mature thought to not bear marriage responsibilities as a student. Ask an elder to intervene in the situation. Ask him to speak to your parents that you want to concentrate on your studies foremost. Once your parents are convinced they’ll definitely support you. Marriage during student life is surely not the easiest thing to cope with. Do remain steadfast in your thinking.
n I am a 22-year-old girl in love with a boy from a different caste. He is doing well professionally. My parents feel that initially such marriages work out but later cultural differences come in between. Do you think this is true? I feel when two people can relate to each other there is a chance of their being happy together. I’ve always looked up to my parents and I don’t want to go against their wishes. Also I feel insecure thinking about where will I go if the marriage doesn’t work out. Help. Reetika Chauhan,
Karnal First, be sure of your feelings for this boy. If your relationship is strong, then you should by now feel secure and such matter of faith should not bother you. Yes, your parents do have a valid point when they say cultural differences do exist. But do you think there is any language beyond the language of the heart? If you are sure of your love you’ll be able to conquer all boundaries. Have faith in yourself and the correct answer will come to you.
n I am 35 and just got engaged. My fiancé recently discovered a letter and few gifts from an ex-girlfriend on my desk. There were also a few other things that I am sentimental about like old school certificates, knick-knacks from college etc. She has become very hassled about my ex-girlfriends and insists that I throw all the stuff away. She is making my life miserable and passes nasty comments too. I think she is being unreasonable. Help. Rajinder Oswal,
Ludhiana It is a great idea for anyone to embark on a relationship with no past. But how can anyone erase your past, after all it is a part of you. Try convincing her. Treat her gently for it is only her insecurity that is arousing her jealousy. If you make her feel comfortable and convince her that the past is gone, she will happily agree. Tell her to forget about the past and work towards a brighter present and future with you.
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First Day First Show
Boy meets girl. Or, should we say man meets woman? The two fall in love on a cruise liner and after a few misunderstandings get married. Later, it turns out that the woman is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Will the man stand by her? Or, will she have to go through the ordeal alone? Though Ajay largely succeeds in crafting an enjoyable first half, he falters in his melodramatic bid to redefine man-woman relationship after the interval. What could have been turned into a poignant tale of life’s joys, sorrows, follies and foibles becomes a pedestrian fare inspired by Hollywood movies like The Notebook, The Painted Veil and a Korean film An Affair to Remember. But while these Westerns might have fired Ajay’s imagination, what is our inspiration? It’s undoubtedly Kajol. Making a comeback after about seven years, she effortlessly slips into the skin of the character. A bubbly, frothy waitress first and a traumatised mental patient later, she is a delight to watch. Though at times too many closeups do her more harm than good. Ajay is torn between his roles as a director and as an actor. The result: he can do justice to none. There is only one hummable tune. Sumeet Raghavan and Divya Dutta who play the couple’s best friends enliven the proceedings. Isha Sherwani’s salsa and Karan Khanna’s one-liners pass muster. Showing at: Fun Republic,
Piccadily Meet the Foolish 4
Noticing that the Foolish 4 won’t be able to uplift the tempo, the director throws in item girl Rakhi Sawant and item boy Shahrukh Khan. Their numbers are as pathetic as the pelvic gyrations of producer Rakesh Roshan’s son Hrithik who appears when the credits start rolling. Showing at: Fun Republic, Nirman, KC
(Pkl) Morals over mafia
Actually, with such high-performers like Joaquin, Wahlberg and Duvall, the film could have been a cracker. But the predictable script and the formulaic twists reduce it to a run-of-the-mill, albeit watchable film. Nontheless, We Own The Night is the most unpretentious and unburdened take on the glorious cult of gangster violence that we’ve seen emerge from Hollywood or Bollywood in recent times. Showing at: Fun Republic
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AFTER rigorous rounds of on-air and on-ground auditions the winner for the Big FM Sing with Sonu contest was announced on Friday. City boy Rohit John now stands a chance to share the stage with Sonu Niigaam. Twenty-five-year old Rohit is a great fan of the singer. Previously working with a BPO in the city, Rohit is now practicing day and night to win the contest. The budding singer has already left for Mumbai. Now, that’s what we call a true life banao oppurtunity! —TNS
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Baisakhi Treat
To add a dash of glamour to Baisakhi, the lead starcast of Mera Sasural will perform live at Sector 17 today. Artistes like Sudhir
Oandey, Urmila Kanetkar and Ragini Shah will also interact with people on the
occasion. — TNS
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