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Mom, I love you!
THINK this: Rooms resembling nappy manufacturing units. Fortnightly parent-teachers’ meet, making science projects. Overlooking the “extra-talkative” remark in the report card, making piggy tails, solving sibling rivalry. Helping overcome the first heartbreak, packing up bags for the hostel, experiencing pride on convocation day. Reheating the dishes, sitting through re-runs of Friends. Standing by the first big step in the outside world. Or, just watching the child grow. Yes, this is what mommydom is all about. About your joys, your sorrows, your Maths marks, your eating habits, your career… We got a few sons and daughters from the city to share their love, care, respect and no-words-for sentiments for their mommies… My favourite designer
THE youngest of four daughters, model Anchal Kumar confesses to be the most pampered. “Mom was always partial towards me,” she beams. Each morning, while Anchal rushed to catch the school bus, mommie Sharan would be seen following with a glass of milk and a tiffin box. “It was very embarrassing then, but today when I look back I value and respect the gesture so much,” she says. Recalling her days as an aspiring model, she says, “Mom used to design my dresses and my friends would beg me or offer me money to part away from them, but I wouldn’t relent.” Today, with Anchal settled in Mumbai and Sharan in Chandigarh, the bond has only grown stronger. “Mom keeps visiting me and we make up for the distance,” says Anchal. The duo can be seen hanging around at the lounge, shopping for shoes at Juhu or biting into pani-puri at
Chowpati. My food auditor
THIS singing sensation’s mother was against the idea of her son take up singing as a career even when he made it to top 12 of Star Voice of India. Then things changed and Ishmeet Singh made it as a winner! Finally, mommie Amrit Pal Kaur was happy, but still worried. “It’s food over fame for her,” smiles 19-year-old Ishmeet. Even after 15 months of being away from home, the three to four calls exchanged between mom-son revolve around food. “That’s how moms are,” he says. Ask him what he misses mom the most for? “Paranthas and rajma-chawal,” pats come the reply. “Also, all the times she used to drag me home from billiard and snooker games,” he says. My support system
FOLLOW your dreams, is what Nandita Puri learnt from her mom. A dancer and actor, Nandita says, “Mom taught us one thing: getting to do what you like is the best way to live life.” So, while the entire family objected to Nandita’s taking up dance as a career, mom Primila Puri was her Rock of Gibraltar. At 17, when she was to leave home for Mumbai, mommy was calm. “She wanted us to experience the world and become independent,” says Nandita. But, that’s how she looks at it now. “I remember I was shocked when she sent me for a mountaineering course during vacations. I fought with her and asked her how she could send her child alone?,” she reminisces. Well, freedom, independence, love, care, Nandita got it all from her mom, but on this condition -- “No wasting time. Mom simply hated it,” she smiles. My best listener
YOU might be rubbing your eyes, rushing to office or inattentively listening to Chak De Chandigarh on Big FM but there is one listener who is all ears when the show is on air. Manju Kalra is less of a mom and more of a critic, friend, and video-game partner to RJ Anubhav. Last Mother’s Day, Anubhav promised to make mommy hi-tech and a year later, she can send an SMS, knows names of all WWE players and beat him in Tang Fight, her fave video game. “The rules are simple, even if we have had a fight, we can’t say no to a game,” tells Anubhav. While growing up, he would fight with mom each time lauki or tinda was cooked. “Now, I love to hog. Mom wakes me up and makes breakfast for me at 4:30 a.m.,” he smiles. So, while the son leaves for the studio, mom tunes in to make a note of the negatives and positives of his show. As for having a chatterbox son, mommie feels that he has found his true calling! So, all you sons and daughters there, make the most of this day. Thank your mom for the pink ribbon she put in your hair, for the Maggie she packed for tiffin, for the red medicine she put on your knee, for the times she didn’t tell dad that you were partying late night, for the neck tie she gifted you for your first day at work, for the unconditional love… Cook up dinner for her, catch a flick with her, clean the house, or simply give her a big warm hug and tell her you love her, not just today, but
everday!
TELLY’S Kesar laughs, “It’s not easy to bring up a brat.” Nandini Singh confesses to be the spoilt, yet disciplined child. “Mom was always a friend, except when it came to studies and cleanliness,” she says. The naughtiest kid at Sacred Heart–26, Nandini would bully kids, and mom Sukhwant Kaur would face the embarrassment at school meets. At home, Nandini would get hold of her mom’s parandis! “I wanted to look as beautiful as her,” she smiles. Talk today, and the pretty daughter has made mom proud. “We have a lot of fun together, I sometimes even call her by her nickname, Guddi!” she shares.
And what’s the childhood memory closest to her? “Mom would wake up with me early mornings when I studied just to give me company.” And today, mommie gives her company as she watches TV late into the night.” Though she likes watching news channels, I make her watch FTV with me!” she chuckles. |
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The chosen one
Intense, yet simple, empowered, yet down-to-earth, vivacious yet dignified — that’s Zila Khan for you — uncut! But then that’s to be expected from someone who comes from a lineage that has names like Vilayat Khan and Inayat Khan to boast of. So when she tells you with a fiery glint in her eyes and in an emotion-laced voice ‘if I had not seen greatness, I wouldn’t have known what I am,’ it reaffirms your belief that your perception about this sufi singer has been right all along.
There was no trace of fatigue on her face, after having travelled from Thiruvannantapuram to city for a performance under the aegis of Sufi Foundation of India on Saturday night, nor was there restraint in her voice as she talked about her father Vilayat Khan and her own journey into the world of music with the local journos before the concert. “Don’t perceive me just as a sufi singer, for I am a good mother and a wonderful wife too. I love playing badminton with my son and jogging with my hubby,” and the image becomes complete. Just out with her seventh album Zila the Girl Child, which features the work of Rabia Basri, the first female sufi (717-801 AD), what’s keeping Zila busy these days is not another album, but a mission to empower rural, under- privileged and talented children. “We are opening two centres called ZHK Ustad Gah, to spot talented children and groom them in the field of music and sports.” If the connection between music and sports baffles you, then here is the explanation — Zila has become a member of Commonwealth Games. And when it comes to music, she will give the child full freedom to choose the genre he or she likes. So what does she feel about the standard of Sufism today? “The labelling is wrong. Since Sufism is a passion even for the music industry today, everybody is coming out with their own version, at times it’s rock-sufi and at times it’s pop-sufi,” she explain. Using sufiana kalaam is okay as long as one does not use popular medium like rock or pop.” Zila admits to taking risks when it comes to experimenting with her sufi music but that’s within the limit of bhakti raas. Like she did recently for her recent musical God’s Graves & Grandmother where she picked and chose 14 classical and semi classical notes for its compositions or even her thematic fusion for a western concert, which she did in Arabic. And the growing up years with her father, those 12-hour riyaz session with him everyday are not the only factors that drive this lady, it is the motivation that comes from the knowledge that she is the chosen one!
parbina@tribunemail.com |
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first day first show
HAVE audio-visual assaults of Tashan and Mr White Mr Black hurt you badly? Want to be left alone to lick your wounds? Think again. Some relief may be there in the form of Bhoothnath. Stupefied ? No, it's not a scary movie. Horror is not in the scheme of things of debutant director Vivek Sharma. Comedy is. Little prankster Banku (Aman Siddiqui) who has come to live in a haunted house in Goa with his mother (Juhi Chawla) befriends the ghost of Kailash Nath (Amitabh Bachchan), who once owned the house and died a shattered man when his only son (Priyanshu Chatterji) left him alone and went abroad with his family. In Banku, Nath sees a reflection of his grandson and soon a bond develops between them. A relationship that has a ring of innocence to it. And is full of heart-warming love. The two play pranks on the kid's mother, his schoolmates and the principal. So, does Bhoothnath raise the innocence bar for child actors? While Dwij Yadav in Nanhe Jaisalmer and Darsheel Safary in Taare Zameen Par were the kind of kids not seen in Mumbai's dream factory before, the same can't be said about Siddiqui. Agreed that his banter with Amitabh is breezy. Agreed, too, that he does not fall a victim to overacting. But whereas Darsheel and Yadav came from nowhere and left you riveted to your seat with their simplicity, Aman's portrayal does not leave you stunned with its range. While a song-and-dance sequence featuring him and Amitabh is delectable, others are pedestrian and could have been avoided to cut the length. While Bobby Deol and Aamir were content to play second fiddle to Yadav and Safary, Amitabh is there in almost every frame. Rajpal Yadav in a miniscule role is an oddity. Satish Shah keeps on snatching snacks from students. Shah Rukh Khan has a guest appearance. There is no scene in which he exchanges any dialogue with Amitabh. Juhi Chawla is content to play Siddiqui's mother. Nothing more, nothing less. Though the narrative has loose ends, the director does not add ingredients like unnecessary fights and skin show to make his product saleable. To that extent, it's a clean movie. Kids will relish some of the special effects and the comic interludes between Big B and Aman. Showing at: Fun Republic, Batra, DT Cinemas
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Sheer disaster
DISCO Dancer brought out the best in Mithun Chakraborty. He became a dancing sensation overnight. Jimmy brings out the worst in his son, Mimoh. "Mi in my name stands for Michael Jackson and moh denotes Mohammad Ali,” explained the star-son when a reporter asked him about his strange name. But only by keeping your name after a singing legend or a boxing ace, you can't hit the road to stardom, Mimoh. If only you were half as talented as Jackson or Ali. The problem is you misconstrue pelvic gyrations as scintillating dances and awkward fights as high-octane action. You think a masala potboiler which has an automobile engineer by day, DJ by night falling a victim to a conspiracy will have the audiences in raptures. That we will go ga-ga over a plump Pooja Singh giving you company while you are on the run from a clutch of baddies. You are mistaken. Neither your looks nor your voice impress us. In fact, instead of you, Rahul Dev, who has a small but powerful role of a police inspector, would have been a better choice as the hero. Showing at: Fun Republic,
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Low on gas
THE Wachowski brothers of the Matrix trilogy are exhausted. So, they deviate from science fiction to animation and Speed Racer is born. Part animation, part feature, the film is all about guilty-as-hell companies playing havoc with car racing by fixing matches and exploiting talented racers by resorting to dirty tricks. It is also about the family of Pops Racer (John Goodman), wife Susan Sarandon, son Speed (Hirsch) and his girlfriend, Trixie (Ricci). Tragedy strikes the family when the older son dies in a car rally. It is now left to the younger son to defeat the baddies and emerge victorious. Those who are thrilled by speed will certainly take a liking to the film which is based on a Japanese animated series. Others may dismiss it as another video game. Showing at: Fun Republic |
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Zest for life
He was like any other hotshot executive, climbing up the success ladder in the corporate sector till he had an attack of optic vein paralysis way back in 1996. And it robbed him of his eyesight. A sad enough story. But the misfortune could not rob Gulzar Ahmed Quersh of his zest for life. The dog-eat-dog corporate sector was out, and in came a career in muscle therapy.
Next, he migrated from Mumbai to the city to join his cousin Mehboob Khan’s Wavelength-26 as a masseur, Gulzar brings along with him a unique blend of Chinese, Thai and Tibetan massage therapy. But why Chandigarh, we ask. “Because the high salt content in water there was not suiting me. The doctors advised me to come to the North, and here I am.” And the answer to our next question as how did he adjust not just to the darkness alone but also a new profession, reveals the optimism he holds within. “I am positive that some day my eye sight will come back. I have heard about this new invention in the US which can make this miracle happen.” And, as for his career choice, Gulzar is loving every moment of it. “It is a gratifying experience when people come with pain and walk back straight and happy.” What’s more Gulzar even won a state-level competition in hair cut in the blind category. “I am not interested in hair styling but I did it just for the kick of it,” he smiles. After he learnt the basics at the Big Boss Institute, he went to Bangkok, China and Tibet to learn advanced courses in all three categories. “My specialty is Thai Stretching Yoga, which cures all sorts of stress related knots in the body.” Besides Gulzar has formed his own module using Thai, Chinese and Tibetan techniques with acupressure to cure psytica pain, body stiffness, cervical pain, spondolytis, back pain and calf muscle pain etc. “The original therapy is quite elaborative that requires proper lighting and all. I have converted those hardcore therapies into massage form.” Gulzar’s procedures do not need much paraphernalia like oil and creams as in normal massages. “Come and experience it,” invites Gulzar and to be a beneficiary of his expertise you just have to lead his hands to the problem area and as he works on you, he talks about his dream — to fly to the US and get his sight back. And till that happens he is happy training blind people. |
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at lifestyletribune@gmail.com or Life Style, The Tribune, Sector 29-C, Chd
I am a 32 with two kids aged nine and seven. My husband is extremely short tempered and my life has been a living hell for the past 10 years. He is affectionate but the moment you refute anything, he looses his temper. My children are terrified of him. My daughter has a bed-wetting problem and my son often has nightmares. I work with an NGO, so my timing is not very scheduled but I do try to spend enough time with my kids. I feel emotionally and mentally exhausted. Please help. Ritika Chauhan,
Karnal A very comprehensible situation. You are allowing a level of dependency on the situation because you feel the situation will sort itself out. But wallowing in self-pity or running away from it will not help. Your responsibility is definitely towards your children. They already seem to be in a mess. So think carefully. Take up a job with more definite and fewer working hours and spend more time with your kids. They need emotional stability. Try living away from your husband for a while, may be with you parents or take up a job in a different city. It will make him realise his mistakes, also the space will give you more clarity and the kids some breathing space. I am 26, married and have a three-year-old son. My husband does not want to have anything to do with me ever since our marriage. He is under the influence of his mother. He was jobless for a long time because he cannot stick to any job. Presently I am working as a private secretary in a multinational company. Recently I started having an affair with my boss who is double of my age but takes care of me very well. I want to continue this relationship. Tell me where this relationship leads to or end? Poonam,
via email This is indeed a dilemma. It is unfortunate that your husband is under his parents’ shadow. If a man cannot stand up for himself, he can obviously not stand up for his family. Having an affair is fine as a distraction but is not a permanent solution. It is a long life and will definitely catch up with you if you don’t sort this out now. Age difference does not matter but yes, you have to think about your priorities. You can check with your boss if he is looking for a more permanent relationship or this is just another passing fancy. Plan accordingly. Maybe if you have patience with your husband and help him to gain self-esteem, it would work. Once he is happy he would make you happy too. Analyse your own feelings, don’t rush into anything. I am 29, working in an engineering firm in the Middle-East. My parents have arranged my marriage with a girl from our community. I am not ready for it but my parents do not understand. They make me feel guilty because they sacrificed a lot for me. Now, I am supposed to pay back. My whole life is at stake. Am I morally responsible to listen to their wishes? Rajvir Batish,
Dubai Don’t fret. Your parents are a different generation with a different mind set. You needn’t feel guilty. If they made sacrifices, it is because it gave them pleasure to do so. If you can convince them of your way of thinking, it will work. Tell them where you happiness lies. Also show them how much you love them. Once they are re-assured of your love and care, they will loose their sense of insecurity, which is making them set certain rules for you. And if you feel morally responsible for yourself and make yourself happy, the rest will fall into place. (This column appears weekly) |
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Punjabiyat
rocks!
WHEN Punjabiyat rules your heart and soul, then the beats and rhythms you create are bound to be in true blue Punjabi ishytle! And this is what best explains the music of the trio Raj Brar, Honey Singh, and Badshah. International touch to a desi soul, the trio was at Score-8 on Saturday to promote the album Rebirth as a part of Master Moments Nite-Life. The event is the brand’s way of celebrating the spirit of success and promoting the Punjabi disc culture.
Chandigarh De Naazaryan Ne Patya from Rebirth is already a fave with club-hoppers here. “Rebirth is 100 per cent fun sans melancholic traces,” tells Honey Singh music producer of the album. He likes to be called a producer, not a director. Why? “For, I am involved in everything, be it composing, recording, mastering or sequencing,” says the 25-year-old who has his roots in Hoshiarpur. At 13, while studying at Gurunanak Public School-Delhi, Honey started learning the tabla. Soon after his schooling, he moved to train under western classical music at Trinity College of London. With his 2006 hit Glassi with Ashok Masti, his name began to echo at clubs here. Soon after, he dedicated himself completely to what he calls hip-hop international projects, “Punjabi bhangra, desi beats and rap,” is how he explains it. His fave singer? “Gurdas Mann, of course. Is there anybody more natural than him?” he asks. Need we ask more? Now, Delhi-based, Honey will soon be coming out with his first solo album called Urban Desi. This one will include Hindi and Saudi rap, among others. Hindi rap? Yes, that’s what he hopes to encourage. This brings us to the Hindi rapper Badhsah and also Honey’s next big project. The duo’s initial meet in 2006 was an unpleasant one. Urban Desi Honey couldn’t reconcile to the fact that a desi fellow was singing English rap. Meanwhile, Badshah, the civil engineer from PEC, had found his calling in English rapping and was performing at college fests and city clubs. Anyways, post-arguments the rapper was convinced and the two set to work for Badshah’s exclusive official Hindi rapper album. Previously. Badshah has done his B.Sc from Stephens, Delhi. “It will be about the youth. Their life, the attitude towards the country, the youth settled abroad, geris, masti and more, “ tells Badshah. Why he calls himself Badshah is for the simple reason that he lives like one. And not to forget he hopes to win your hearts as the Badshah aka king of Hindi rap soon! A trained vocalist, he says, “The album will be desi with rappers from Saudi, Thai, Philippines and more lending an international touch to it.” In all, tell the duo,” It will be about our Punjabi roots, culture and their zest for life.” |
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Body Art
WANT to make a bold style statement? Like having the imprint of a tiger on your arm or a colourful dragon on your back? Well, it is possible right here in the city. All you have to do is devote a few hours at the renovated Tattoo Studio of Wavelength-26 and yes, endure a little pain. And the expert team there will give you, your dream motif, and a brand-new attitude!
The leader of the team here is Mahi Gill, a trained tattoo artiste from Mumbai, who has churned out as many as 5,000 different designs to suit your requirement. And the tattoo he etches on you is permanent in nature. And guess who all are coming forward to benefit from his expertise? Not only the cool dudes but the gutsy gals too. “We have a wide range of coloured motifs for girls. You can get butterflies, angels, mermaids on your collar bone area or back.” But, he advises to stick to red and black colours because they suit the Indian skin tone. Done in a single sitting, barred a few cases that need refilling of colours after a fortnight, one can get a monochromatic tattoo done by shelling out Rs 1,000 per square inch, while for the colourful variety it goes up to Rs 2,000 per square inch. But what about the pain, we cannot help but ask him as he shows us his tools — two scary-looking pricking machines (one for outlining and another for filling up colours)? “The procedure requires clearing of the skin with a razor first which is followed by making patterns. But we use a spray to make the area numb. The spray is widely used by dentists and has no side effects. However, once its effect is gone, one can feel a little pain or there may be a little swelling. But that’s all.” Well, no pain, no gain! |
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Acts of Imitation
A COMMENT by a Celine Dion look-alike and sing-alike in one of the episodes of The Next Best Thing on Zee Café got us thinking. Is it actually possible to make a living by looking and behaving like someone else? It defies logic as why, but then we do love watching people impersonating others. Wasn’t the college mate who could mimic the teachers the toast of the gang?
This is how Raju Srivastav, the lovable funny guy, made it to films and TV. He recalls his school days when he would mimic his favourite actor Amitabh Bachchan. His friends goaded him to take part in local shows, which ultimately led him to where he is today. Khayali Saharan, another popular funny man in the entertainment industry, has a similar story to narrate. “I would prepare a mimicry act before heading to school each day. It was basically to impress my teachers, hoping that it would help me pass. Academics was never been my strong point,” he says. Now, we don’t know much about his academic progress, but his achievements in the industry are for everyone to see. This boy from Rajasthan, who made Chandigarh his home, is now busy shooting for four flicks —The Party, Meri Padosan, One Fine Monday and Singh is King, besides he is also taking part in a serial called Comedy Ka King Kaun? But Khayali’s comedy is based one principle — no imitating big names. “I love to imitate ordinary people like the chaiwala in nukkad or the patrakars,” he says. And he has a reason behind it, “If someone copies Big B on stage, the audience would think of the star, rather than the artiste performing the act. It’s like free publicity for the star.” Sudesh Lehri is another man from the region who has made it big (2nd runner-up in Great Indian Laughter Challenge-III). “To begin with, I wanted to be a singer. I would sing in everyone’s voice, except my own. So, here I am, a comedian,” says the guy from Amritsar who is now globetrotting, entertaining the world. He is also working in a tele-serial called Comedy Circus. And no regrets. “Mimicry artistes and comedians are no longer just fillers. They are mainstay at any stage show these days.” Though, he still loves to sing Tutak Tutak Tutiya in Jagjit Singh’s voice, but his main focus now is on this new character, Kishori Lal, who derives pun from everyday life. “Mimicry is fun, but this is more innovative,” he says. “Mimicry is a fine art. But, it alone cannot run a show for long,” says Bhagwant Mann. “How long can you do an Amitabh Bachchan or a Shah Rukh Khan? Your act gets a little stale,” he says. But there is a solution. “Look at the way Shekhar Suman does it. He mimics people, but that part comes only as add-ons. It lends a fresh angle to the show,” says Mann. He does have a point. After all, when the originals are flashing on your telly screens 24x7, who wants an overdose of the ‘next best things’?
parbina@tribunemail.com |
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Namesake
IF ever there were to be a poll to identify the most loving and affectionate people in the world, we Indians would definitely top the list. We can’t imagine life without a jhappi, extended to one and all, friends or foe. Or, for that matter overstuffing our guests with ghee-dripping delicacies, just to show how much we care. And then how can we forget the oh-choo-chweet names by which we call the dear, not-so-dear, near, not-so-near, individuals, we know or don’t know! That explains why the Sharma aunty in the neighbourhood becomes Bobby aunty or the 40-year-old CEO of a company is still our Pappu! Worse, some still call these names, pet names (read, the name of your pet) and not nicknames. Such is our obsession with the nicknames that we actually don’t spare anyone! Read on to believe. Kahani ghar ghar ki
LET’S meet the clans who are just not ready to open their minds to let some creativity slip in. Life in many households still revolves around a Chintu-minto, bablu-dablu, sonu-monu, and a kiki-kaku! Says 27-year-old Gurpreet, ”It gets really embarrassed to be addressed as Gogi when standing in a crowd.” But, then that’s what the family bond is all about. A toddler daughter and a 40-year-old son are both lovingly addressed as Bonny in the Sharma household. Apna Bollywood
THIS one is about how you affectionately call the biggest star, the hottest celebrity, the highest paid actor, the coveted director, and other rich and famous ones. Simply put, it’s about your display of love, closeness and affection for the Bollywood populace. That explains what makes a Rishi Kapoor Chintu, Hrithik Roshan Dugu, Akshay Akki, Salman Salu, Sushmita Sush, Govinda Chi Chi, Saif Saifu, Karishma Lolo, Kareena Bebo, Aftab Shivdisani Faffy, Jackie Shroff Jaggu Dada, Sanjay Dutt Sanju Baba and more. But then, not all Bollywood nickies are comic. We do refer to R.D.Burman as Pancham Da. And if not nicknames, we resort to abbreviation. A Sanjay Leela Bhansali is SLB and a Karan Johar becomes a K Jo! Greener pastures
WANT to migrate to Kaneda? Well, then you got to remember the simple golden rule. One, distort your original Indian name and two, throw in a little accent, and voila, there you have become a Kanadian. City’s Harpreet Singh studying abroad is actually Happy now. And his sister Parminder, Pammy. Australian resident Supreet shares, “It’s easier for the phirangs to call me Supz.” Interestingly his girlfriend Sonia is
Sonz. Not just names
NOW it’s not just names that we love to distort. We don’t spare movies, institutes, and teams too. Says Simranjeet, ”It’s so much easier to call Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna KANK and a Kabhi Khushi…K3G.” And then we do call the Indian team, Men in Blue. The univ brigade loves to call the good ol’ student centre, Stu-cee! Chips in Raghav from law department, “And auditorium audi, samosas sams and hot chicks
patakas.” |
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Little Interview
WHEN you get a chance to pay tribute to none other than Kishore Kumar, then you overlook the fact that the platform is yet another reality show. Instead, you absorb yourself in beats, rhythms and chords, and make sure that the tribute is an earnest one. And that’s what Arnab Chakraborty did, and made it as the champion of K for Kishore. Arnab made his debut as one of the singers of the title track of Yeh Kya Ho Raha Hai. Later, he sung for flicks like Khakee, Family, besides advertisement jingles for Air Tel, Parachute, Samsung, Britannia and more. We chat up the fan, champion, singer, and now brand ambassador for the show.
Kishore Kumar is undoubtedly the best playback singer we’ve ever had. Winning and losing was secondary. It’s more of an opportunity to pay a tribute.
Musafir ho yaaro and Phir wohi aaat hai.
The mileage that one gets from TV is unthinkable. Now people recognise me and appreciate my singing.
I’ve been learning Hindustani classical music from Gautam Mukherjee from an early age. Also, I have a diploma in Hindustani Vocal. I sing not just in Hindi and Bengali, but also in many other languages. |
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Matka Chowk
REMOTELY receiving instructions is such an integral part of Chandigarh now that I wonder how did we ever mange without cell phones. Every where you go, instructions are being dispensed over the cell phone more than often to inattentive kids, reluctant peons, resigned husbands and perplexed drivers.
In the sabzi mandi, the phone rings. The husband listens for a few minutes to the cackling waves emanating from the handset and then draws a deep breath and asks –“Mooli laun ya nahin? Abhi to kaha ki mooli nahin chahiye. Baingan chhote chahiye? Kyoon bharta nahi banana? Aloo to theek hi laye last time. Nahi, sadha hua nahi tha, chun ke laya tha, pada raha bahut din, sadh gaya,” followed by a “ha, ha, samajh gaya, samajh gaya.” Then he hangs up, straightens himself and becomes a gentry, ready to get the best bargain from the sabziwalla. I hear revealing cell phone conversations in many places and no, I am not in the habit of eavesdropping. We are so guarded about our personal details when it comes to neighbours and not-immediate family. However, I can trace someone’s ancestral roots, as far back as the Mughals, simply by listening to her jabbering away on a cell phone. Travelling by Shatabdi, and I have been doing a lot of that lately – is like sitting in the bedroom of perfect strangers. For, you get to hear business deals better kept secret, details of fatal diseases and the devastation wreaked by it on a loved one, maid-servant woes including the intimate tales of her impertinence, harangue about procrastinating husbands and their failings when it comes to procuring movie tickets for some movie in which Kareena Kapoor looks particularly thin. If you are underslept and were planning to get a few winks in the train, you can forget about it. After coming to Chandigarh, I learnt the practice of missed calls: “Ma’am, main aapko ek missed call mar doonga, phir aap mujhe phone karna.” A new age frugality, the mahima of which even I have learnt. Now, I call back when I get a missed call and say: “Meri baat kara do,” and tell the tailor the colour of my blouses, tell the Peshawari man, I wanted mango jeera chutney and not hot mango, tell the sabziwalla I wanted parsley and not dhania.” Yesterday, I saw a man moving from shelf to shelf with the phone pressed close to his ears. He was being instructed to pick up a packet of prunes. This is how the monologue went: “Dried angoor to nahin hain. Angoor nahi, dried plums? Yeh kya cheez hai? Kisise poochun? California se? Kaun aaya? Fruit? Lekin desi naam kya hai? Prunes? Lekin yeh to Californian?” Now, if we could just remotely control the kids to tell the truth every time we call them when they are late, the circle will be complete. (This column appears weekly) |
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Terrific Trio
IT was a friendship formed in heaven as George Clooney and Victoria and David Beckham clicked like a house on fire while travelling together to New York for the Metropolitan Museum’s Costume Institute Gala. The jet had to make a transit at Utah, as David had to play for LA Galaxy and then the plane again took off taking the threesome, who had a riot on journey. —
ANI
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Musical soiree
THE Swar Saptak Club will present a musical soiree, thirty-fifth in the series at the Law Bhavan auditorium in Sector 37 of
Chandigarh. The programme titled Gaane Anjaane features the leading artists of the city including Brijesh
Ahuja, Veenu Kuatish, Neelam Chauhan, Richa Sharma, Priyanka Singh and Ram
Tirath, winner of the Rafi Memorial Award. All songs and ghazals have been penned and composed by noted poet, S.
Rakesh, lyricist of popular ghazals Thodi Thodi piya karo and Ye Peene
waale. Vijay Vashisht will compere the show. —
TNS
On May 11, 6.30 p.m.
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American actress Lindsay Lohan has been dropped from the upcoming biopic of murderer Charles Manson. The troubled star was axed as studio bosses fear she has returned to her wild partying ways. Lohan had signed on to play Nancy Pittman, a member of Manson’s ‘family’ in independent film Manson Girls. But with her seeming to sway back to her old habits, the contract has reportedly been cancelled after producers saw that Lohan still had not learnt her lesson. — ANI
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Health Tip
Muscle cramps are caused due to sudden uncontrolled contraction of muscle, leading from mild discomfort to agonising pain. Commonly cramps of calf muscle or hamstring (Back of thigh) muscle occurs from a few seconds to five minutes, while sleeping.
Causes:Muscle fatigue depletes the muscle’s oxygen supply. Dehydration due to depletion of salt too causes cramps. Lumbar nerve root involvement. Poor circulation to muscles. Leg muscles get fatigued during pregnancy from carrying extra weight. Treatment: Walk.Move the foot up and down. For a calf muscle cramp, pull up the toes towards the head with legs as straight as possible. Massage for relaxation. Vitamin E and muscle relaxants help. Drink water before, during and after physical activities. Calf stretching two to three times just before going to bed can prevent night cramps. — Dr Ravinder Chadha |
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