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Nightmare Captured!
Why do we all look our worst during that 1/10th of a second? Getting the perfect passport size picture sure is rocket science. Some horror stories revealed... YOUR hair is done to perfection, the shirt crisply ironed. A few tension marks on the forehead. A stranger forcing a plastic smile out of you. A click. And bingo you’ve added another disastrous shot to your record. The smile is fake, eyes shut, complexion weird, shoulders sagging, middle hair parting or flat hair, and the close-up is oh-too-close. Ugghh… Yes, that’s the story with most of us when it comes to passport size pictures. How many times have you placed yourself on a tiny stool in a room with colourful walls and curtains, all in the hope for that perfect shot? Many a times, right and perhaps the mission still stands incomplete. So what is it about a passport picture that nobody ever gets it right? And then, the damn rules are such that the ugly looking ‘you’ stares out of your passport, identification card, ration card, driving license, and just about everything. Get it right! n Face in photo should have a natural expression (closed mouth) “I look like a depressed druggie in my pic,” says Neena. She has got almost 30 pictures done in the last few years and the result? “Not one is up to the satisfaction level,” she laments. Chips in another victim Simranjeet, “These are the times when the word ugly is an understatement. All it has is entertainment value for friends.” And then there are many who keep using a pic for years for varying reasons though. Says 28-year-old Vikram who is still using the pic that he got clicked during his university days, “ I feel young that way and then I know the new one won’t make me look any better.” Now looking dishevelled is just the beginning of the problem, what does one do with the facial expression? Well, incase you didn’t know one is not supposed to smile in a passport pic. Yes, people the expression has to be natural, a closed one. Laughs Ankur, “At times one feels embarrassed even showing the license to the traffic cops, all for that horrible pic on it.” A bright self-implemented suggestion comes from Naunihal, “ I keep clicking my pics through my digital camera and then get the decent ones made into passport pics.” He also experiments with different environment and lights. This does sound like a good idea. For when one is in that tiny room all attentive and more than conscious the result has to be disastrous. Now whoever told you that it is a good idea to wear make up for a passport pic is to be whacked. You can’t be popping out of your entrance examination form wearing mascara or blush or even a gloss! A local student Smriti made that mistake and the result was ‘someone’ that neither she nor the examiner could recoginse! Well, our sympathy with all those who have been through the torture. We don’t really know how can this problem be dealt with. Do you think a help line will help? May be. But till that happens, all we can say is don’t flash that identity card! |
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Hot property
The blazing sun is doing what the cops couldn’t all these years. City femmes take to helmets in a big way The law makes it mandatory for womenfolk on the fast track of life to wear helmets while riding their way to autonomy, and independence. But enthusiastic attempts by the cops to drive home the message have always been met by an equally hostile reaction.
Some of you may not remember it, but the last time the men-in-white tried to enforce the law, so many women knight riders took to the streets raising slogans against the Chandigarh Police and the powers that be. Needless to say, the police had to give in. The entire exercise was shelved. And now, lift up the visor and you see so many pretty little things riding towards the rules after "suo motu" pulling down the helmets on their fragile little tops. Looking at them you realise sun has made sense enter their heads. Okay fellows, it's for protection of the complexion, if not the brains. Ask Namita Sharma and the BA economics honours student will tell you all about it. "I tried wrapping scarves around my visage to protect it from Apollo's tanning rays, but felt so very uncomfortable," she asserts. "It was then a friend suggested I should go in for a helmet that keeps the head cool, and face protected even from dry hot winds. So, I rode down to the arcade looking for an aerodynamically superior full-face helmet." Namita, like so many of her chums, regrets not many women-special helmets are there on the shelves for them to pick up. "Abroad, you have plenty. But in India not many manufacturers are coming out with dedicated products," says Namita's co-biker Anita Kapoor. The two have picked up the ones with a perfect fit that comes through removable and adjustable cheek pads. "The three-dimensional comfort liner system, whatever that means, doesn't shift even during high speed riding," she asserts. Catering to their needs are even the roadside helmet vendors. "The sale of helmets is zooming like never before with girls asking for the ones with dark visors," says Jagdish Chander, supplier of helmets to auto-shops and other dealers across the city. "Light and snazzy fiberglass head-coverings are the ones in vogue". Well, the dull hard bitterness of the white heat has also brought along with it a host of riding accessories. By pulling out just over two hundred bucks from your wallet, you can buy UV protection riding glasses. They cut down on glare too. And, then you have well-fitting gloves for twisting the accelerator. No, not the old, dull, skin-colour, lose-fitting ones available in the rehri market, but nice immaculate white ones. What else can you ask for?
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Collector’s Delight
Bright & thought-provoking best describes the works of these contemporary artists
ART dealers and artists still look at Chandigarh as an untapped zone and are doing their best to educate us on art as an investment. And, their efforts are bringing fruit. Thanks to a few enterprising art dealers, we are now getting to see more and more quality works by national-level artists, mostly from Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata. The latest exhibition Collectors Corner at Episode-9 turns out be one such experience, which will be savoured for a long time. Organised by Delhi-based Yawedo International, the show presents works of 15 national artists that include big names like Shubhra Das, Nildhari Paul, Nandita Chaudhuri, Shiv Singh, Rajesh Baderia and Sidharth. And for those whom the life and style of Bollywood’s who’s who and their families matter, Niten Mehta, art curator and owner of Yawedo, brings two works by Meghna Oberoi, daughter of Suresh Oberoi and sister of Vivek Oberoi. Starting with Meghna’s work, a young and upcoming artist, she paints an angry Shiva in oil. Her form is abstract and her colour is vivid. So is her reclining Buddha. She paints Buddha with a bright red backdrop and has the most serene eyes that radiate peace. Next to her work lies Shiv Singh, not our homegrown sculptor, but a Delhi-based artist whose paintings makes sense of the urban scene. Executed with grids and horizontal lines, Shiv titles his works Peace and Balance. And the titles are justified because for a detached onlooker it may look like chaos, but if one looks closely everything makes sense, because amidst organised chaos there is a sense of peace and balance. Then we have Deepak C Aria’s Can I Catch depicting human ambition with human forms trying to catch an aeroplane flying high above them and Saurabh Das’s Celebrations showing the journey of a girl into womanhood. Amit Jaiswal’s optimism about life moves one as through rainbow colours and even a tired human form looks interesting here. However, the eye catchers come in form of Rajesh Baderia’s two frames inspired by Krishna and Mother Earth. Done in mixed media, the artist paints subject as cosmic energy in bright reds and blues, with black dots breaking the monotony. Even Shubhra’s self portrait in the nude with shadows lurking behind curtains make interesting interpretation and Sidharth’s Tankha Buddha with golden leaves is indeed a collector’s item. On till Sunday
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Classical treat
Sri Satguru Partap Singh Memorial Shastriya Sangeet Sammelan begins today As justifiably enshrined in our holy epics, Indian classical music is a spiritual bliss. The music aficionados of the city and vicinity will certainly have a reason to believe it during the two-day Sri Satguru Partap Singh Memorial Classical Sangeet Sammelan-2008. The event is being organised by Namdhari Sangat on May 17 and 18 at PGI’s Bhargava Auditorium featuring legendary maestros.
According to Gurbachan Singh Namdhari, the festival is held annually to maintain the rich legacy of Guru Partap Singh who propagated Indian classical music. A disciple of Satguru Jagjit Singh Mahahraj and Rajan-Sajan Mishra, noted vocalist Sukhdev Singh Namdhari along with Santa Singh Namdhari will open up sammelan. Meet the doyens:
Debu Choudhury: The charismatic sitar wizard Padmabhushan Debu Choudhry and foremost exponent of Senia Gharana will light up the concluding session. An academician, guru, author and performer, versatile Choudhury has created eight new ragas and many mellifluous symphonies. On May 17 Baljit Singh Namdhari: He is acclaimed as the accomplished Taar Shehani player who had learnt music from top maestros. On May 17 Sukhwinder Singh Namdhari: A World-renowned tabla exponent and a disciple of Padmavibhushan Pandit Kishan Maharaj, he opens the second day with a solo performance. Credited with over 40 CDs Sukhwinder Singh has won the Grammy Award for his album Meeting by the River. Ustad Akram Khan and Pandit Klae Ram will provide tabla accompaniment. On May 18 Sanjeev Abhyankar: The maestro from Mewati Gharana, Sanjeev Abhyankar stole the limelight at the international scene at a younger age. Groomed by his mother Shobha Abhyankar and a protégé of Padmavibhushan Pandit Jasraj, his versatility encompasses lighter realms of music too. The coveted President’s medal for playback in film Godmother and Sur Ratna award are a few worth mentioning. On May 18 Ustad Shahid Parvez: Hailed as the reigning Sitar legend of Imdadkhani Gharana, Ustad Shahid represents the seventh generation of their rich legacy. A globetrotting Shahid Parvez is an ideal choice for the grand finale. On May 18
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After a prolonged session of grooming he is ready to play Saif. “Hakim Alam worked on me on the styling front, Micky Mehta taught me yoga and Ahmed Khan choreographed the song,” he informs. So what is next? “Three film projects are in the pipeline, but it’s a little premature to talk about them,” he answers. On the path yo being a real superstar, one would say!
— TNS
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STEP OUT
IT’S holiday-time and, as always, I recommend that you pack in an adventure activity during your holiday. Last time, I talked about the extreme sport of skydiving. Simulated skydiving is a recreational adventure activity that most people can try at least once. Are you game? Cost: 50
ringgits. (1 ringgit=Rs 11.5.) You can buy a CD of yourself skydiving for 45
ringgits. Safety: Heart problems, shoulder dislocation, neck and back injury bar you from this activity. To do simulated skydiving, you have to go to Malaysia – which is affordable in terms of both time and money. The flight from Delhi to Kuala Lumpur takes around five hours and Malaysia is extremely tourist-friendly so there’s enough variety in accommodation and food to suit all budgets. Simulated skydiving is done in a vertical wind tunnel through which a wind machine blasts artificial wind at speeds up to 200 kmph. Asia’s only skydiving simulator, Skyventure, is located at Genting Highlands, an amusement park and resort an hour’s drive from Kuala Lumpur. You are given a Beginner’s Course in a room before entering the tunnel during which the instructor teaches you the belly fly position - which is what you’ve seen in a million skydiving movies! At Skyventure you can belly fly, soaring up on a stream of air, without the fright of freefall in real skydiving. After the briefing, both you and the instructor put on protective gear. A jumpsuit with velcro at the neck, wrists and ankles goes on over your clothes, followed by kneecaps, elbow guards, earplugs, goggles and helmet. Now you are ready to enter the tunnel. The Beginner’s Course includes six minutes of tunnel time. The tunnel is hexagonal and about 12 feet in diameter. It has glass panes on all sides and two doors. When you enter through a door, you stand on a wire mesh before taking up the belly fly position and soaring on the stream of air like a ball on a jet of water! The instructor enters first and gives a demo. He also gives an exhibition afterward, showing front and back flips. When you enter, if you are not able to turn over onto your stomach and achieve the belly fly posture, the instructor will flip you into a horizontal position over his knee and then, for a few minutes, you know what skydiving feels like! At the end, the instructor also belly flies with you, holding your hands and rotating with you. If you decide to do all the courses, the Intermediate course teaches left and right sliding, turning and controlled forward and backward movement followed by 10 minutes of tunnel time. The Advanced course teaches the stuff we see in the movies – 180/360-degree turns and with hand-touching movements and right/left tee free fly movement. Have a great time! (This column appears fortnightly) The writer has authored India’s first handbook of adventure sports and is available at y.bey@excite. com
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Bollywood calling
MANY a traits of aesthetic excellence meet in the persona of Sahib Singh — the playwright, actor, director and yes, pride of Punjabi theatre. Despite financial constraints, he continued to stage Punjabi plays in a monthly series for over two years, which itself is a testimony of his love for theatre. So his absence from the scene for months together baffled us theatre lovers. But it proved to be the lull before the storm. For our Mohali- based man has been busy playing a prominent role in a Bollywood film, acting and directing.
A veteran actor with 115 plays and two Punjabi films to his credit, playwright of over 20 stage productions and director of 45 plays, Singh is excited over his role in the flick Yahan Sab Kuch Theek Hai. The maiden directorial endeavour of Ranjit Kapoor of Bandit Queen, Kya Kehna, Halla Bol fame, the film features Rishi Kapoor, Priyanshu Chaterjee and Kulraj Randhawa . Partly shot in Mumbai and Himachal, it is is based on pastoral culture. “Call it the Satyug revisited but my role of a Sikh havaldar Lehna Singh assumes special significance as the title song has been filmed on me. The song by Sukhwinder Singh Tunak tun Lehna Singh khe sun sun, yahan sab theek hai is quite peppy,” says Singh. Another ten-episode Punjabi comedy serial Hadd Ho Gayi, written and directed by him is already on air. Besides Salaam, based on a story by Om Parkash Balmiki, scripted and directed by him is also ready for release, he says. The film has city actors Vijay Kapur, Harman Pal and Sudesh Sharma in lead roles. |
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Telly Tales
The punctual star family IT’S hard to believe and expect stars to be on time or before time. However, with Rock & Roll Family the case is a little different. This production team is finding it hard to cope up with the over punctuality of its star judges — Ajay, Kajol and Tanuja. This star family is always dot on time for the shoots, well before the rest of the cast and crew have got their act together. Khullam khulla pyaar
karenge... THE Chhote Nawab might allege that the media has a deliberate agenda against him and his arm candy Kareena, but you cannot blame them because Saif and Bebo are the season’s flavour. And if the onlookers of Zee Cine Awards are to be believed, the two were all over each other in London. They even went as far as requesting the organisers to book them a hotel, far away from where the rest of the guests were putting up. The show must go on THE statement Show must go on… may sound inspiring, but its taking toll on our poor stars. Recently when Mukta of Jhoome Jiya re urgently rushed back home to her father who was in the ICU, she was asked to come back as soon as possible. Reason, the entire shooting was getting delayed. Not only this, Karan who plays the character of Apoorva in the show kept calling Mukta, asking her to return as it was affecting his chances of going for a leave to meet his parents in Canada. Engaged! ACTOR Vikram Acharya celebrated his engagement with girlfriend Kharishma at Masala Mantar, Andheri recently. Said Vikram, “Ever since Kharishma came into my life, I have been feeling happier, luckier, stronger and more powerful than ever.” Kharishma was visibly moved and said, “I love Vikram from the bottom of my heart. He has gone through so much just to put a smile on my face. He is my best friend.” Saath Saath no more AMIT Tandon, the lead of Zee’s Saath Saath does not get along with his co-star and wife in the show, Tulika. Recently engaged in holy matrimony on the show, ironically the script requires them to be exchanging sweet nothings. And as though this was not enough trouble, Tulika’s fiancé has started visiting her on the sets! The atmosphere on the sets is very cold with Tulika’s fiancé giving cold stares to Amit. The discomfort between this telly couple is quite evident on the screen. Mood swings DURING the red carpet of the Zee Cine Awards in London the gorgeous Dimple Kapadia turned down repeated requests for interviews made by journos, simply for she was not in the mood. However, when she turned back and saw the entire Kapoor khandan giving bytes to the journos, the lady changed her mind and declared her willingness to give interviews, only to be snubbed by the media this time! (This column appears fortnightly) |
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Beauty Studio
YOUR neck tells the story you so wish to hide. When it comes to skin care most people never look neck down. They focus mainly on the face and forget the neck that happens to be one of the most noticeable parts of the body.
Most tell tale signs of ageing are evident from neck down. If you happen to remain a lot in the sun and have not been protecting your neck from exposure then be ready to pay for it, for sun damage to the neck results in loss of elasticity. The first step towards saving your neck is to invest in a good SPF cream, making it a point to reapply it after a couple of hours. One pertinent fact to remember here is that every inch of skin has the same need and has to be fed. For healthier and younger looking skin the creams should be loaded with antioxidants, anti irritants and cell-communicating ingredients. For even textured skin use well formulated AHA /BHA products. Keep in Mind n
Stay away from soaps/bar cleansers that happen to be drying. The ingredients used in bar cleansers are not good for your skin. Go in for a gentle body wash or a shower gel. n
I am 34 and suffering from hypothyroidism that has resulted in dry, dark and dull skin. How can I attain a soft and glowing skin and work on the fine lines on my forehead and around my eyes? Do anti-ageing products really work? Can application of olive oil help in reducing fine lines? — Tarvinder Chawla, Via email Hypothyroidism is very common and millions of people suffer from it without knowing about it. Unfortunately dry and dull skin goes along with hypothyroidism. Though you can’t do much about it, you can feed your skin with nourishing creams. Select creams with zinc oxide formula, Vitamin E and extracts of Gingko Biloba. A broad-spectrum sunscreen should have an SPF of at least 15 and contain avobenzone, titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. Ginseng revitalises and conditions sluggish skin. The annoying little wrinkles around the eyes start creeping as you step into 30’s. Use a good under eye cream that is rich in Pro-Vitamin A, Vitamin E, has anti-free radicals and anti-oxidant properties. Olive oil has fine texture and has natural affinity to all skin types and can be used in your skin cocktails. A mixture of ½ cup olive oil, ¼ cup water, ¼ cup vinegar lightens discolorations, kills bacteria and loosens dead skin cells. Do splash water on our face before applying it. If anti ageing products worked than wrinkles would have disappeared from the face of earth. So, instead of depending on those products, start keeping your skin well nourished. Pammy Kaul is a UK-based beauty therapist. (This column appears fortnightly)
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Bon apetit GREEKS and Romans placed great importance on the healing powers of cabbage, Captain Cook swore by its medicinal value, recommending its leaves for dressing his injured sailors. Till date, cabbage with a squirt if vinegar is considered a sound hangover remedy. Imagine feeding your leaden-headed beloveds bowls full of cabbage, spiked with vinegar! I suspect their headache will increase tenfold at the very sight! Pomegranate, cabbage orange salad
1 pomegranate, shelled & cleaned Method Basic fat-burning cabbage soup My readers may boil over at the idea of hot soup in this sweltering heat but believe me, this works like magic for knocking back the blubber!
1 head cabbage Method Add the rest of vegetables and mashed tomatoes and fill up with water. Add cubes of bouillon, coriander, laurel, ginger and lemon grass and cook over for 10 minutes. Reduce heat and simmer until vegetables are soft. Season with soy sauce and fresh herbs. Vegetable manchurian 2 cups grated cabbage Method In a separate deep pan, heat 2 tbsp of oil and sauté the garlic, some chillies and the spring onion. Add 2 cups water and season with salt, pepper and ajinomoto. Mix the remaining cornflour with ½ a cup of water to make a paste. Pour into the pan and now bring the sauce to a boil. Gently lower the ready dumplings into the thickened sauce and simmer for another 3-4 minutes. Serve with cooked rice or noodles. Nutritious bite Cabbage should be brought to our table two to three times a week! Here’s why: Stay young: An excellent source of vitamin C and beta-carotene. These anti-oxidants help fight free radicals that circulate in our body and increase the ageing process. Weight watch: It is low in calories. One cup of shredded raw cabbage (green) has 24 calories. Strong heart: Cabbage also reduces risk of heart disease and stroke, alleviate rheumatisms and skin problems. Health punch: In its raw state it contains iron, calcium, and potassium. High marks are given for its vitamin C content and it’s also rich in vitamins B1, B2, and B3. Cancer cure: It lowers the
incidence of cancer, especially in the lung, stomach and colon prostate. Tip of the Week Overcooking cabbage tends to bring out an unpleasant odour. Quick cooking or flash-frying methods will keep it crisp and green. Also, cabbage has a reputation of causing wind! This snag can be tidied up by using heeng or ajwaain while cooking cabbage in an Indian
recipe. (Series concluded)
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Graceful and vibrant, Panchkula-based designer Kanchan Sharma who has been dabbling into the art of block printing from different states has brought for you an awesome range of salwar suits, sarees long dresses and dress materials. A perfect summer collection, the exhibition was inaugurated in House no 34, Sector 9 on Friday.
Kanchan’s personal favourite is earthy tones. She uses these tones as the base for her creations and adds zing to it by matching it up with bright hues. Her experiment with patchwork comes alive in anarkali suits and long dresses. These perfectly bring together different patterns in similar tones. “Mostly I have kept the cuts straight, typical kurta styles. Even for anarkalis which has 12 kalis, I have tried to create a semi formal look rather than formal,” she says. And though her suits come in medium to large sizes, there is scope for alteration without compromising on the cut or design. “Alteration is my responsibility which I do within seven days of purchase,” says Kanchan.
— TNS Concludes today |
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Single again?
AMERICAN pop singer Jessica Simpson has split with her quarterback boyfriend Tony
Romo. The couple had been dating since last year. A spy overheard Romo telling his friends that he was single again, and it was that same night that Simpson was spotted on a drinking binge with her pals. While they were still seeing each other, Simpson had publicly spoken about her Dallas Cowboys beau and said Romo is her future husband. However, Simpson’s publicist has insisted that she and Romo are still on.
— ANI
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Health Tip
YOGA improves flexibility of muscles and joints, increases blood circulation, improves concentration and provides a sense of overall well being. Warming up is essential prior to performing yoga
asanas, else it can lead to muscle or ligament injuries, neck stiffness, back pain etc.
Start with simple asanas like baddha
kona, bala, naga, padma, pavan-mukta, vajra etc. Chakra asana (wheel posture) improves strength and suppleness of spine. Hala asana stretches the calf and thigh muscles and gives relief from leg cramps. People who are not supple are at a risk of injuring the ligaments of the lower back. Vrikschika asana helps in stretching the neck, spine and chest but should not be attempted by beginners as it can case back injury. Fitness means speed, stamina, suppleness and strength. If yoga exercises are combined with aerobic activity and strength training, a person can become totally fit. — Dr Ravinder Chadha
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When you look like your passport photo, it’s time to go home
He is going to act and feel like Saif for a day. Even replace him in the song It’s the Time to Disco. And we can rejoice in his happiness because Ibibo MTV I Superstar for Saturday night Sunny Singh is a thorough-bred Chandigarh guy who spent 13 years of his life working with theatre personalities like G.S. Channi, Harish Bhatia, Gursharan Singh, Kamal Tewari and Umesh Kant. “Working with the stalwarts has given me confidence to face the camera,” says Sunny whose debut in the small screen happened in the form of a cameo in Maayka. “After passing out from the Indian Theatre Department, I shifted to Mumbai and have been trying my luck there,” he says. And it happened when he gave an audition for the show. “After the second round when they informed me that I am going to be a superstar, I couldn’t believe my ears,” he says in a voice chocked with emotion.
The Beginner’s Course teaches you basic body flight elements such as belly flying and achieving a stable, controlled position. You practise by lying on your stomach on the table with arms stretched out and curving slightly forward and knees bent so that the calves are at about a 45-degree angle to the thighs. This basic belly fly position is altered to soar up or down or to move forward or backward. If you bend your knees more, you move forward. If you straighten them, you move backward. The other bit of theory that you have to get right in the tunnel is: if you arch your back more, you descend. If you straighten your back, you soar. 
A NEW singer was born at Zee Cine Awards this year. Yes, none other than Rekha sang Dil cheez kya hai in her seductive voice and made the evening special. The audience went crazy and with her perfect rendition of the song, she proved it yet again that she is a diva in the true sense of the word. So do we see her cut an album soon? We have to wait and watch.
