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Dancing in the sun Chinese umbrellas may be snazzier but their Indian counterparts promise protection against UV rays THE fashion-forward umbrellas of protection are opening out to be all the more effective. Instead of just coming between you and the overhead sun, they are actually warding off Apollo's harmful ultraviolet rays. That's right folks. After sunscreens, hair creams and goggs, it's the turn of sun umbrellas to guard you from the "oh-so-darkening" and "damaging" UV rays. No wonder, they are enjoying their moment in the sun right here in the city. "Apparently, the growing awareness of irreversible damage caused by the sun among the residents has made the old-fashioned habit hip again," says UT district immunisation officer Dr G. Dewan. If you still haven't opened up to the idea of unfurling a sunshade that promises to bring you under its almost fully protective shade, it's not too late. Just drive down to the Sector 22 market or any other market in the city and pick up the parasol of your dream protection. Guys, it may come as a surprise to you, but the "modern sun umbrella" with UV protection quality is, in fact, India's answer to her Chinese counterpart. It has a second layer of fabric; that too dyed with special silver paint with unique quality of blocking the UV rays. Okay, the Chinese umbrella may be cool to hold in the hot summer sun -- round, square or even rectangular in bright summery colours right from baby pink to alluring red and lemony yellow. The soft shiny fabrics and embroidery has become an integral part of the trendy umbrella design. Then you have Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, Tom and Jerry, Chip `n' Dale, and so many other cartoon characters ready to accompany you in your pursuits. And to top it all, in the summers of 2008, you have twin-tube umbrellas. But come under its shade and you realise the protection is not all that effectual. The rays manage to filter through the fabric. Standing under a red umbrella, you actually turn red; blue under the parasol of the same hue. The difference becomes evident as you spread out the native umbrella with UV protection quality. "You just do not feel the heat," says parasol dealer Vikram Singh. Opening up an umbrella for you, he says: "It may come as a surprise to you, but the umbrella blocks 98 per cent of the ultraviolet rays". This is not all. Sun or rain — waterproofing treatment helps you to use the umbrella throughout summer months. Limited number of shades is the only deterrent. You get the stuff in blacks, blues and greys without much embroidery and print. Well, just in case you are worrying about the cost, be sure it wouldn't leave you in cold sweat. In fact, the UV protection umbrella is cheaper than the Chinese one. You can take one home for just Rs 100 — 10 bucks less than the imported one. So folks, what are you waiting for? Pick one up and enjoy seasons in the sun, instead of just waiting for a rainy day. Darker the better The darker the parasol, the better it is. If you think black or grey will prove less effective because of its heat absorbing quality, you are under a wrong impression. Dr Dewan says dark umbrellas do a better job than the light coloured ones in blocking the sunlight, if neither has the UV treatment. Traditional is out The traditional black umbrellas with crook handles and ferrule are practically out of vogue. "You find them only in the hills," says city-based dealer Salil Chauhan. "In Chandigarh, you can only pick them up in Bijwara and some other markets. All in the name Just in case you do not know the difference, an umbrella is more suited to protect from rain, while parasol usually refers to an item designed to protect you from the sun. Often the difference is the material; a parasol is sometimes not waterproof. "Para" means stop or shield and "sol" means sun. Umbrella comes from the Latin word umbra, meaning shade or shadow. Brolly is a slang word for umbrella, used often in Britain, New Zealand and Australia. In the Indian subcontinent, umbrellas became popular in the past thousand years. Initially, these used to be made out of cotton to shade people from the sun. Later, a fine piece of material called silk and wood came to be used. saurabh@tribunemail.com |
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Musically Yours
THE unheard, the unthinkable and the unique make his kind of music. Folk might run in his genes, but it’s fusion he swears by. Be it an advertising jingle, a mobile ringtone, a background score or a filmy number, he has lent his beats to all. He may be studying the principles of management, but it’s rhythm that’s the pulse of his life. Meet Sujay Kar, second-year marketing student at UBS, Panjab University. All of 25, this manager-in-the-making shares notes with us. So, where did it all begin? “It’s a rather long journey, from singing at school to programming the synthesizer for Taufiq Qureshi to composing under A.R. Rahman,” he says modestly. Rahman, we want to know more! Sujay started learning classical music at the age of nine, western classical at 16 and at 19, he had formed his own band. Trained in vocal classical, Rabindra Sangeet, Rajasthani, Bengali and Gujrati folk and Sufi music, he hadn’t found his calling till his band Aashirwad happened in 2003. “A band of three, we used to play classical music fused with western,” Sujay recalls his college days at BITS-Ranchi. So, when he is on the synthesizer, you’ll be treated to a qawaali with strings, Sufi with jazz, heavy metal with Indian classical, and folk with rock. He also plays the tabla, African congo and base guitar. Post-graduation in advertising took him to MICA, Ahmedabad, where he got a closer look at blending music and technology. Composing jingles for radio stations, Bengali TV channel, and even ring tones for Siemens, his kitty was full, yet he was yearning for more. In 2005, he got a chance to work with Ustad Rashid Khan and Pt Rono Majumdar. “My role was to lend a western element to their devotional and meditation music,” he says. Next, he was working with Rahman as a junior programmer in a Tamil flick Mew and later as a rhythm programmer in the Rajnikanth starrer, Sivaji. So how was it? “Amazing, but the interaction was quite limited,” he reminisces. And before we think star tantrums, he is quick to add, “They are all very modest and perhaps it’s their frankness that touches one.” “It was from these biggies that I learnt the importance of thought, expression and knowledge while composing and it helped me develop a signature style,” he says. Keeping him busy, besides his last semester exams, are offers from a couple of Bengali films, music compositions for albums and more. Plans? “I’ve got a job in Mumbai that’ll help me make money to fulfill my dream. In two years, you’ll see me as a music composer,” he signs off, enthusiastically. purva@tribunemail.com
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New releases Starring: Suniel
Shetty, Arshad Warsi, Sandhya Mridul, Upasna Singh, Vrajesh Hirjee Director:
Deepak Shivdasani SIMPLETON Gopi (Suniel) arrives in Goa from
Hoshiarpur. His mission – to hand over an incredibly tiny piece of land
to his childhood friend Kishen, which was his father’s last wish.
Kishen (Arshad), now a conman, swindles people with a little help from
his accomplice, Babu (Atul Kale), to earn enough money to educate his
sibling Divya (Mahima Mehta) who’s studying in London. Kishen, however,
has managed to hide his profession from Anuradha (Rashmi Nigam) merely
saying that it’s Hari, his twin, who is the bad guy. Kishen avoids
Gopi like he’s bad news. He’s not going to give up his flourishing
business and travel to Hoshiarpur just to take possession of a measly
piece of land! Gopi, in his mission of chasing Kishen, is given a helping
hand by Tanya (Anishka Khosla), daughter of the owner of KG Resorts.
Three gorgeous girls who are now holed up at KG Resorts have stolen
diamonds worth crores in a breathtaking heist. Kishen, Babu and everyone
else learns about this and they all make a mad rush for the Resorts. Gopi
finds himself a part of the gang. Who gets the diamonds? Does Gopi manage
to take Kishen to Hoshiarpur? And was the land just a meager piece of land
or something more? The answers are out in black and white by the time you
go through this hectic cinematic maze! Showing at: Fun Republic,
Nirman, KC Pkl Iron Man Starring:
Robert Downey Jr, Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges, Gwenyth Paltrow Director:
Jon Favreau After
taking nearly three years off from her juggernaut Hollywood career to
raise her two gorgeous children, this is also Gwenyth Paltrow’s comeback
vehicle. Showing at: Fun Republic The Forbidden Kingdom Starring:
Jet Li, Michael Angarano, Jackie Chan, Collin Chou Director: Rob
Minkoff There,
he meets the drunken Kungfu master, Lu Yan (Jackie Chan); an enigmatic and
skillful Silent Monk (Jet Li) and a vengeance-bent Kungfu beauty, Golden
Sparrow, who lead him on his quest to return the staff to its rightful
owner, the Monkey King, imprisoned in stone by the evil Jade Warlord
(Collin Chou) for five hundred years. Along the way, while attempting to
outmaneuver scores of Jade Warriors, Cult Killers and the deadly White
Hair Demoness, Ni Chang, Jason learns about honor, loyalty and friendship,
the true meaning of Kungfu and thus, frees himself.
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No laughing matter this! Comedy king Fauzdar’s passion is history, not jokes EVEN his website can make one laugh — there you can see him jogging on a stage with a real funny expression. Call him up on his cell, and the first thing he’ll do is make a dig at you, despite the fact that he is busy driving in a crowded area in Lucknow. How did you get my number? When you reply ‘through a common friend’. He says with a throaty laugh, “Every pretty girl in India now has my number, thanks to my friends.” And when you join him by laughing, he stops and tells you “See I made you laugh early in the morning.” He sure did, here’s our interview with the funny man of Great Indian Laughter Challenge. Pratap Fauzdar’s brand of humour is satirical, complete with rustic Punjabi charm. “I derive my humour from socio-political set up, but the butt of my jokes is mostly me. Because if I cannot laugh at myself, I have no right to make fun of others,” he explains. Well, the sensitivity comes from the fact that before he became a celebrated comedian of television, he was a hasya kavi. He recalls, “In fact it was during one such Hasya Kavi Sammelan, I was asked to audition for Laughter Challenge. I went for the audition, got selected and was asked to come back for the finals. But since I had some work the next day, I asked them to take my final audition that day itself.” Well, the kind authorities agreed. He got selected and the viewers got this funny man. Post Laughter Challenge, offers are pouring in for similar shows but Fauzdar is being choosy. “I have taken part in the best, so nothing less than this will satisfy me now.” And till the right offer comes along he is busy doing stage shows. “On an average I do at least 20 shows a month.” But shows is not the only thing, keeping him busy. Author of two historical books — Shaheed Virovar Gokul Singh and Sikh Yodha Hari Singh — he is busy writing his third, a Khand Kavya titled Pratisodh with the history of Punjab as its backdrop. “This one is on the awakening of nationalism in our people during the Raj. You see its history which is my passion actually,” he says. Now, who could have guessed that?
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Rising
Star WAY back in 1997, as the annual Rafi Memorial Nite reached its inevitable climax at the jam-packed Tagore Theatre, celebrated music director and chief guest Usha Khanna invited anyone from the audience to render a duet with her. While many singers present on stage and in the audience couldn’t muster enough courage to respond to the challenge, a shy gentleman went on to pair with Khanna for an immaculate rendition of the popular song Shayad Meri Shadi Ka Khyal Dil Mein Aya Hai. Amidst lofty applause, Usha Khanna blessed Dr Arun Kant, an Ayurveda practitioner and a music arranger and composer by passion. The foundation of his musical excellence was laid much earlier when he brought many laurels for his alma mater Sain Das School and later, DAV College, Jalandhar, in vocal and instrumental music. “My mother Kiran Kant supported me since I had always been a merit student and scholarship holder,” he tells. But recognition came as he won the prestigious Harvallabh Sangeet Sammelan contest consecutively in 1981 and 1982. “Receiving the coveted trophy from Pandit Jas Raj was more delightful than winning,” he adds. “Learning music since childhood under the blessed tutelage of Guru Baldev Narang and Guru Kuldip Rai had made all the difference,” says Arun. “Music is a vast ocean and none can claim to posses all the gems of the art. I am still learning from Sudama Ram ji and Prof. Harbinder Singh,” he claims. The mantra Arun administered to the reality show participants Ishmeet Singh, Arshpreet, Vipul Mehta and Harpreet (who had performed under his direction in the region) is that only the well-cultivated voices by training can sustain the eventual challenges for a career in music. “Along with my brother Rama Kant, now settled in Canada, I had been conducting and arranging music for shows besides scoring music for albums. Our popular Punjabi albums include Kach Diyan Vangan, Kar Ley Pyar, Dost Mera Dil, Ajj Mitran Ne, Apna Himachal and many more,” he signs off. (This column appears fortnightly)
lifestyletribune@gmail.com
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Youth
speak IT is said that cricket is a gentleman’s game but players like Harbhajan Singh and S Sreesanth proved the contradictory in the recent IPL match. Harbhajan, captain Mumbai Indians, slapped Kings XI pace man Sreesanth, for the latter said something offensive to him. Unable to control his emotions, Sreesanth was found weeping as the entire country watched him. All eyes had been as it fixed on Harbhajan, courtesy the Symonds incident during the Australian tour. But now, with this slapping incident, he has indeed crossed all limits of civilised behavior. Agreed that Sreesanth could have provoked Harbhajan, but that does not give him a warrant to slap a fellow player in full public view. If IPL was lacking any drama, surely this was it. This would certainly give the saas-bahu serials a run for their money. This incident has certainly brought shame to the country as this tournament is closely watched by the world. A harsh reaction by the authorities is justified, for it shall ensure that this kind of intolerable stuff is not repeated in the future. Events like T20 or IPL should serve as entertainment or help in raising funds for infrastructure, but not split the Indian cricket team dressing room. The players need to learn that emotions and aggressions are required in a game, but only to a certain extent. They should learn from their senior players who have had long and excellent careers without being involved in any unacceptable acts. 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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Kiss from a Rose This season roses are blooming in designers’ dens
Conventional no More
"It’s roses, roses everywhere," laughs Amit of Tekchand’s, that recently brought its collection of rose-embellished nets and chiffons to town. "Earlier, the rose-print that was hot on salwaar-suits and saris, but now the rose has turned into a fabric embellishment," confirms Amit, who stocks sheer chiffons, nets, georgettes, tissues and organdies with spiralled roses on them, "Most of these are the same fabric as the dress material, while the fancier ones are done up in ribbons, satin, lace or tissue." Talking about colour, roses are not just red. Chirps Shameer Kaur, principal, IIFT-Mohali, "The trend now is to go in for roses in unconventional colours like yellow, green and purple. However, popular picks remain wine, burgundy, baby-pink, peach and white." Big is Beautiful Size-wise, big rules. Chunky roses in full-bloom are the season’s flavour. Buds are around too, but not as fashionable. As for the shape, it’s the basic rose enjoying fashion’s arch lights. "No digital or square shapes. It’s the natural rose that’s in fashion, not just for clothes but accessories too," confirms designer Shelly and Payal Saboo, showing us their rose-shaped bracelets, neckpieces footwear, handbags and broaches. Newer textures Informs Shweta Arora, assistant professor in textile design, NIIFT, Mohali, "At the recently held ITPO exhibition Texstyles, we exhibited our trend forecast collection (for which they won the Best Display Award) called ‘Truly, Deeply, Madly’. Inspired by the classic rose, the collection had flowing, ruffled fabrics with hand painted, foil-printed and embellished roses." So what’s her trend prediction? "Roses rule, and not just as prints but embellishments too. Roses in beads, leather, sequins and swarovsky, besides fabrics like nets, organdy, velvet and tissue will be hot this year. anandita@tribunemail.com
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Sidelanes THE little twelve-year-old sat under a tree by the edge of the icy stream-fed pond that mirrored the cold despair in her heart. She howled loud and long but nobody heard her. As the sun sank, she composed herself and walked home to be met by three younger brothers, the last of whom hardly understood what had befallen the family. The siblings and their swollen-eyed father keened softly as they thought of the beautiful woman who died giving birth to a fifth child. For Sangeeta, a family’s shared laughter lay scattered like ashes from an old winter fire. The parents toiled long hours but often even hard work cannot tame hilly, leached out soil. Crops and milch cows were well cared for but the harvest of milk, butter, ghee, garlic, lentils, rice and potatoes did not bring any profit after filling six stomachs. The parents nurtured a vision. They wanted their children to run that extra mile that would take them from the village to a world where hard work would be compensated by comfortable living, not just a bellyful of food. Daily, the spirited, young girl ran eagerly to school and won many prizes for work that was backed by an unusual, earthy intelligence. She did not do any housework and her parents supported her decision, hoping this child would go far, far beyond the village periphery. With the passing away of her mother, Sangeeta realised her academic dreams had to end. Her father said he would hire help for the fields and kitchen as long as his daughter continued her schooling, but she decided she would stay at home and allow her brothers to pursue their interrupted education. Today, the eldest is working in Panchkula. He saved a year’s salary and on his first visit home, handed a cloth bundle to his father as gratitude for unconditional love, faith and trust. The second brother is also doing well. The youngest has just cleared his exams and brought great pride to the family by coming top of his class. All this was made possible because a girl sacrificed her own dreams. This lovely woman has a six-year-old daughter, Ankita. Puran is a kind, hardworking husband whose wife guides him through many difficult decisions. She is giving their child the same values her parents passed on to her and hopes that education will make the child forge ahead to bring progress and prosperity to that far off village in Uttaranchal. When she returns home, she will walk into a home with four large rooms, a modern kitchen and bathroom, and a shop that sells groceries. She has even short-listed good schools at Almora. I have a special affinity towards this girl who has just become a woman. Maybe we were soul mates many reincarnations ago. I was as confident of my parents offering me and my children shelter when my marriage collapsed, as Sangeeta is of her beloved father’s protection if ever the need should arise. Does my postgraduation make me superior to her? Certainly not. Her wisdom is something I crave for and often mimic. The values of the village community are far removed from the cutthroat competition, jealousy and false pride of a burgeoning city. Any day I would exchange places with her. I often think we are junglees as compared to this uncomplicated village belle. In the meantime, a girl is progressing. She has proved that our true inheritance lies in familial and community values, not in wealth and degrees. Those are just a natural progression of our collective mental and spiritual lineage. (This column appears weekly) |
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It’s Original
City becomes the second destination for Adidas’ lifestyle brand
Fashionistas can raise a toast to this! For, as you read these lines, a heady cocktail of fashion and lifestyle’s getting concocted for you. We aren’t referring Paris, London, or say Delhi or Mumbai. It’s our city, flaunting the ‘latest-latest’ in the international fashion horizon. And don’t mistake it for fashion shows, previews, product launches and newer models – all of which keep popping up off and on. This time, it’s bigger and better, even iconic. Sample this: This Thursday clapped and cheered to sculpted models pirouetting on the ramp amidst rock music. The venue was Adidas-17 and the occasion about newer beginnings. Leading sports brand Adidas India, launched its global lifestyle brand Adidas Originals. For style addicts, we sniffed the new fash fodder in town and stepped into the bleach-white and blue interiors of the boutique (don’t mistake calling it a store now!) to get you a glimpse of the collection: Apparel, footwear and accessories form the core of this street-fashion-inspired label. Represented by the Trefoil logo, the collection blends sport authenticity and global style. Key ranges here include Ali, with luxe products featuring quotes and images of the legendry Mohammad Ali. For the bling brigade, there’s Respect M.E., a sexy, cute and feminine line, developed in collaboration with hip-hop artiste Missy Eliot. Porsche design has silhouettes and footwear inspired by the famous German sports car brand. Sleek Series aim to woo ultra-feminine suckers for French designs, while Freizeit celebrates designs inspired from sailing, tennis and golf. Besides, there’s Core – track-tops, jackets and graphic tees along with the brand’s iconic footwear models — Superstar, Gazelle, Rekord and Samba. Beginning Rs 1,600 onwards, these lines target the elite class. Shared Andreas Gellner, Managing Director, Adidas India, who inaugurated the collection amidst a fashion showcase of the products, “The brand has a wide presence internationally with its exclusive stores everywhere from New York to Tokyo and Copenhagen to Sydney to Delhi. We’ve chosen Chandigarh as the city is truly becoming a hub of global fashion.” Another perfect style lolly, isn’t it? |
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Little Tibet captured Rugged terrain, playful clouds, unusual architecture…
city photographers on their fascination for Ladakh
TALK nature photography and the images that flash in the mind are that of the sparkling greenish blue water of Tsomoriri Lake in Ladakh. Not surprising. For, if one is a regular visitor at the city art galleries, chances are that one has seen it umpteen times. The various solo or group exhibitions have made us memorise little geographical details like latitude and altitudes of the place. Every time any adventure group or photographer goes up to the Little Tibet, they come back with an armful of pictures, befitting enough for a public view. Our first memory goes back to Sanjay Kumbkarni’s first exhibition on Leh-Ladakh at Punjab Kala Bhawan way back in 2002. If the awe-inspiring mountains, playful clouds and bare terrains left an imprint in our minds then, it was his sequel in 2007 that completed our image of the place as a whole. The second series was about the people of Leh Ladakh and Kumbkarni did a good job by presenting their culture. So naturally we turn to the ace photographer for an answer to the question that has been niggling in our minds. What is it about the place that holds fascination for shutterbugs? “The unique terrain and ever-changing moods of the nature,” he answers. A geologist by profession and self-taught photographer, he says, “As a photographer you have to deal with difficult terrains, walk for miles without encountering a living being, deal with formidable altitude and fickle weather changes, and wait for hours to catch what you want. But once you capture the right mood, you feel the wait and the pain was worth it,” he shares. Diwan Manna, our celebrated photographer, fell in love with the barren mountains, the freezing weather conditions, the weather-beaten faces and their special architecture way back in 1997. And the result was an extensive series on Leh-Ladakh with a repeat performance in 2004. “It’s a different planet altogether and the inhabitants are so resilient to the hardships of life, it is amazing. The temperature may be –25 degree, but they will sing and dance with all vitality.” He got so much attached with the place that he even considered the option of settling down there permanently. And for those who are yet to be part of the wonder terrain, Diwan has one advice — travel by road, the true beauty lies there. Sanjay Kaushal is an adventurer first and photographer later. He made his first trip to Ladakh in ’94 on a scooter, followed by many more. Hence Sanjay’s collection of nature shots has all seasons. “Its rugged terrain which changes colour frequently and the more you see, the more it fascinates,” he says And for all those Ladakh enthusiasts, Sanjay has a piece of advice, “Do not get carried away with your initial enthusiasm. Decide on what you want to capture and wait for the moment to come. For Ladakh never disappoints anyone.” parbina@tribunemail.com
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Stale Sculpting
Why are city sculptors not experimenting with fresh media & new colours? We find out IT’S hard to miss this one. Eighteen-feet-tall, black and shiny, it comes with a clear-cut stamp of Shiv Singh. Made with hollow steel pipes, twisted in between, it is Singh’s representation of Bhangra Dance, executed on the premises of Punjab Kala Bhawan. Spectacular indeed, but it does not come across as a fresh concept. And the first thought that strikes one is that why don’t we have something similar in the Museum campus or for that matter at Leisure Valley? And talking of the monotony that has crept in our sculptures, we can’t ignore the famous sculpture park at Kalagram, boosting of about 250 sculptures. All done either in red, black or white marble, these bear a strong sense of familiarity and hence deprive the visitors of variety.
At personal level, our artists love to experiment with different mediums and concept, but that’s limited to just a class exercise or a show. Only a couple of months ago the annual exhibition of Government College of Art showcased one such innovative attempt by a final year MFA student Joginder Pal, who used bamboo and paper as base for his creation. “I love working with wood and bamboo. Though at college we are given only clay to work with,” he says.
Jagdeep Jolly loves terra-cotta for the expression it brings out and fibre-glass for the colour it takes. “As sculptors we are taught not to temper with the purity of the medium and the use of colour is also limited to just black and white,” says the artist who teaches Fine Arts at a city school. His ten-headed multi-coloured fibre-glass Ravana caused quite a furore two years back during the Punjab Lalit Kala Akademi annual exhibition. Next, meet Parminder Singh, whose latest obsession is the complexities of the human mind, which he is trying to capture in stone and metal. “I love working in stone and wood for the grace and beauty of these media. But to capture the human mind, metal and stone complement each other,” he says. Ask him why too many artists are not coming out of their traditional mould and trying out newer things, and he questions you back, “Is Chandigarh ready for it?” He gives his own justification too, “It’s the artist community and not the general public, who visit the art exhibitions in the city.” Shiv Singh adds, “Sadly enough the Chandigarh Administration, which is the deciding authority, behind the making of sculptures in public places lacks expertise in such arty matter.” But Singh comes with a solution, “It’s important to retain your signature style while experimenting with new forms. Also, the work must gel with the surroundings.”
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The Rotary Club Chandigarh completes 50 years on May 10 and the celebrations have already begun in a true Rotarian style. It started with a photo exhibition titled Golden Moments from the History of Good, showcasing a few historical moments of the club. The exhibits that include a few posters that come from the club’s archives. So we see a younger looking R. K. Saboo opening a school at Kajheri in 1970, a medical camp being conducted in the city slum area in 1962 and a cr`E8che being inaugurated for slum dwellers, besides it’s various past and present presidents taking part in other community service. S. P. Handa, who owned the city’s first studio called Chandi Studio, had clicked most of these black and white pictures. According to Arvind Mehan, president of the club, the series of activities will include launching of three major projects — Hamari Beti, which is a joint initiative with the Fortis Hospital against female foeticide, Gift of Sight, in collaboration with PGI to provide free retinal surgery to poor patients and Gift of Knowledge, under which free coaching to deserving students from economically poor backgrounds will be provided. The club is also organising a poster making and slogan writing competition in the city’s schools on the topic Save the Girl Child. On till May 3
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Behind the scenes Even the most familiar flower looks exotic. When Dinesh Verma, an amateur photographer, clicks the beauties, he looks for a particular mood. So, it’s not the shape or colour he clicks, but what lies hidden beneath the petals. The beauties he has captured in the past two and half years are laid out at Government Museum and Art Gallery. He started clicking flowers simply for their beauty . He didn’t have to travel to far off places to capture the exotic, for he found them in his own garden and local nurseries. All he had to do was wait for the right moment with his macro-lens digital camera ready in hand. And his framed flowers are truly representative of the nature as he decided not to manipulate the colours or fiddle with the composition. “I have tried to show how the creator takes care of the intricacies and balances everything. If there are thorns, so are there extremely beautiful flowers,” he says. And this balancing act fascinates him , for a majority of his 45 frames have blooming cacti. “Cacti flowers are much more beautiful than flowers of non-thorny plants,” he admits. The subject for his next exhibition will be children. “They are as fascinating as flowers and it would be challenging to capture their raw emotions ,”he concludes. On till April 30
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FITNESS entails speed, stamina, flexibility and strength. Aerobic activities like walking jogging, cycling etc. improve speed and stamina. Yoga exercises improve flexibility but the component most neglected is strength training. Contrary to the old belief that strength training leads to stiffness of body muscles, it’s established that strength training is safe and effective for all age groups. Strength training means adding power to one’s workout by using resistance e.g. for a runner, running up-hills adds power. Exercises: For children, push-ups and sit-ups are effective. Strength exercises with stretch band are safe as one derives smooth resistance without exerting undue strain on muscles and joints. Strength training with maximum weight i.e. power lifting is not recommended for young people as it causes injuries to long bones, low back and growth plates. Schedule these sessions on alternate days as an increase in muscle size and strength occurs during the rest period. — Dr Ravinder Chadha
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TAROT TALK ARIES: The Ace of Wands gives opportunity and financial benefits. Don’t give up your personal power and vision. A positive development in health matters brings with it clarity of thought. Lucky colour: Lush green. Tip of the week: Results are guaranteed if you stick to arrangements. TAURUS: The Queen of Pentacles says that you are on a winning streak band unstoppable. Support from family and friends adds to your feeling of self-confidence. An older Taurean could prove to be a useful ally in a family conflict. Lucky colour: Burgundy. Tip: Trust your instincts and intuition. GEMINI: The Sun brings with it change and travel for some. There may be a raise in salary for most of you. But be careful, a shopping spree could upset your budget. Health requires attention, strict fitness routines and monitored healthy diets are prescribed for your well-being. Lucky colour: Pink. Tip: Be careful of situations that may turn nasty. CANCER: The Chariot ushers light into darkness. Over-indulgence in drinking could have serious repercussions on your health. Similarly, excessive travelling could prove harmful. Lucky colour: Ebony. Tip: You shall prevent a lot of trouble by taking timely action. LEO: The Ten of Swords brings with it fairy dreams. The events that take place now are guaranteed to bring in good results. For all those in love, a few pleasant surprises await you. Lucky colour: Red. Tip: Outline your goals ahead of time and then make a plan for achieving them. VIRGO: The Prince of Wands reveals dynamic changes will take place at the workplace. Singles should be cautious about new relationships. Try to develop a new attitude of ease and inner peace. Lucky colour: Old rose. Tip: Don’t be too certain about obtaining a clearance. LIBRA: The Queen of Cups promises love and romance. Business definitely needs your attention on Monday. Don’t make financial decisions in haste. Lucky colour: Royal blue. Tip: New offers must be put on hold for the time-being. SCORPIO: The Five of Pentacles says friends could get on your nerves this week. You might find that you have the ability to accomplish tasks with greater ease than usual. Don’t be afraid to lend a helping hand to others. Lucky colour: Green. Tip: You need to take frequent breaks at work and watch your diet and fitness routine. SAGITTARIUS: The Ace of Wands reveals that you could be in a tense and restless mood this week. Don’t give in to uncertainties; this is a just a temporary phase and shall pass. You attract prestigious opportunities after Monday. Lucky colour: Lush green. Tip: Don’t let anyone dictate what you should do. CAPRICORN: The Nine of Cups brings with it emotional fulfillment in personal relationships. Monetary gains due to astute financial planning are indicated. Lucky colour: Burgundy. Tip: Be careful not to burn the candle at both ends. AQUARIUS: The Hanged Man reveals health and physical energy is good but you need to take frequent breaks. Travel plans for business or pleasure are possible on Monday and Tuesday. Lucky colour: Saffron. Tip: Try to forget your failures and mistakes. PISCES:
The Seven of Swords says be attentive toward the ones you love. Travel plans bring about conclusions to affairs. Do not take anything at face value on Wednesday. Lucky colour: Chocolate brown. Tip: Be cautious in your actions and speech.
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WEAPONS designer Tony Stark is in Afghanistan to introduce
his newly created missile design, ‘The Jericho’, to the United States
Air Force, when the unit he is travelling with is attacked by a terrorist
group called the Ten Rings. Stark is then taken hostage after he is
injured by a piece of shrapnel embedded near his heart. He is ordered by
his captors to assemble a weapon for them and is given access to a
workshop. With the aid of a fellow captive Yinsen, he puts his creativity
to use instead by assembling a bulletproof suit of power armour, complete
with pacemaker and flamethrowers and uses it to free himself. Back in the
United States, he becomes Iron Man, developing a flying suit with advanced
weapon capabilities. Stark faces the villainous Obadiah Stane. 
AN American teenager, obsessed with Hong Kong cinema and Kungfu
classics, makes an extraordinary discovery in a Chinatown pawnshop: The
legendary stick weapon of the Chinese sage and warrior, the Monkey King.
With the lost relic in hand, the teenager unexpectedly finds himself
travelling back to ancient China to join a crew of warriors from martial
arts lore on a dangerous quest to free the imprisoned Monkey King.
"The more, the
better," said Elizabeth Taylor when asked to comment on this
ravishing red, long-stemmed seduction. Poets have written paeans to its
petal-soft beauty. Quote book indexes have more references to it than any
other flower. And Filmistan’s never missed a chance to pay ode to this
flower (Ek Ladki ko dekha to aisa laga`85 jaise khilta gulab, Neela
aasmaan kho gaya, Gulshan mein gul khiltey hain, jab sehra main
milte hain or a love-mad bee hovering around it). Forever, a symbol
of all things beautiful — romance, sweetness, purity, mystery – it’s
none but the blushing rose! Naturally, the flower isn’t a new bud on the
fashion block. The blossom has recently bloomed in designer dens yet
again. Creeping up all over the ‘flower-power’ lovers’ wardrobes and
designers’ needles, the beautiful motif seems everywhere. We take a
sneak peak into the world of fabrics and fashion, and watch the queen rose
in full bloom.
Roses, rather ‘rosettes’
(here’s getting our fashion jargon right!), are the fashion-flavour
oops, fragrance of the year. Informs fashion stylist Varsha Khanna,
"Simultaneously delicate and regal, the flower dons varied looks in
different outfits. While rose prints look girly, flirty and boho-chic on
halters, tube tops, shirts and skirts, rosettes add class and style to
flowing evening gowns and sheer saris." Wondering where these flowers
are homing in?
