My music, my junoon
Up close and personal with the participants of reality show Junoon kuch kar Dikhaane Ka 
Jasmine Singh

Ideally, there is nothing much left to write about reality shows, the screening process, favouritism, public voting, fair unfair judges, contestant rivalry and an overdose of melodrama. Nevertheless, reality shows like NDTV Imagine’s Junoon Kuch Kar Dikhaane Ka manage to generate interest. At least, the format does.

In city, we catch up with the contestants — Lakhwinder Wadali, Akbar Ali and Antra Mitra — representing the folk, sufi and filmy music genres.

Music is ibaadat

He has finally emerged from the shadow of his father and uncle. Lakhwinder Wadali has carved out a niche for himself, but music still remains his only passion and ibaadat. “I was in Mumbai when I was approached for this show. Looking at the format, I just couldn’t say no,” says Lakhwinder.

And what made him choose folk? “There is a very thin line between folk and sufi music. It is difficult to understand the difference between the two. But then, I think I can sing folk very well,” says Lakhwinder. He elaborates more on the two genres. “Folk is people’s music that incorporates tales. Sufi, as you know, is ruhaani,” he adds.

We couldn’t help but ask, what about public voting? “It’s okay. We are voted on the basis of our talent,” tells Lakhwinder, who will be seen soon in a Punjabi movie.

Sufi ki madhoshi

We know it as a soulful form of music, and when you hear 21-year-old Akbar Ali from Pakistan sing, you know it could be euphoric too. “Sufi music means a direct taalmail with ruh and khuda,” tells Akbar Ali, who represents the Sufi category on Junoon. “I always wanted to be a sufi singer. So, I trained under my paternal uncle Mubaarak Ali Khan,” a renowned singer in Pakistan. But how easy it is it to show the same junoon on stage? “Stage or anywhere else, when you are singing, you aren’t really bothered about anything else. As I said before, sufi singing connects you to God. So, you connect at any point, regardless of the place,” adds Akbar.

And understanding sufi music and alfaaz? “The fact that I am always asked to sing sufi wherever I go says a lot about its popularity,” smiles Akbar, who plans to cut an album with his brother, Javed.

Can’t live without it

The dusky beauty from Kolkata dreams of sharing stage with Sonu Niigaam, Udit Narayan and A. R. Rehman. “It’s a heartfelt desire to be nominated with Sunidhi Chauhan and Shreya Ghoshal,” smiles Antra, who is from the filmi music category. “I have already sung with Sonu for a film Speed and I would like to sing more numbers with him,” she adds.

A trained classical singer, Antra finds the concept of the show quite exciting. “It’s more than a competition for a versatile singer. Junoon will eventually tell us which form of music people want to hear.”

So, what’s popular, sufi, folk or filmi? Chips in Antra, “People love sufi but they can’t live without filmi either.” All of 20, Antra is already a loved face on TV. She says, “Of course reality shows add value to your face but at the end of the day, you are there because of your talent. Reality shows do offer a platform but the struggle does not end there. And only those with enough talent survive till the last.”

Antra, who stays by herself in Mumbai, says that the city has no dearth of opportunities. “Mumbai has enough place for everyone. Everyone’s a singer now,” she smiles, “but only talent and hard work can sustain you, nothing else.”

jasmine@tribunemail.com

The Robert Walker Way 
B + ve
The HIV+ monster was rising. And a man decided to encourage people to defeat it & not fear it
Purva Grover

A BATTLE isn’t over until it’s over. If one was to describe the comic book O+Men and the spirit of its creator, Robert Walker, this is how one would do. It is a tale of superheroes. The only difference is that the source of their power is a dreaded virus. Yes, the nine superheroes are HIV positive — through unsafe sex, sharing syringes and through birth. And, it’s the virus that has given them superhuman power. Now, the script itself was enough to catch our attention, but when a little birdie told us that the book would be hitting the stands in India this July, we got hooked. We tracked down this New York-based artist and asked him to share his journey so far with us. “I came from Florida to New York, as if there was something waiting to be done by me in this city,” he began. Excerpts:

Comic, superheroes, HIV: Unheard, unusual combination…

The idea came after coming to terms with a death of a family member and watching many others disappear with this devastating illness. It was in the late eighties when HIV/AIDS was uncompromising. It was like a monster with no conscience, very much like those in comic books. The realisation of making superheroes succumb to HIV seemed relevant and vital in showing the audience that fiction can imitate life and in actuality is already doing so.

Why superheroes?

That’s an easy question. I chose superheroes because they are invincible. I wanted to redefine superheroes and was not afraid of presenting them as HIV +, who have something the world might not recognise. Death and HIV/AIDS go together especially when it comes to uneducated unaware individuals.

On AIDS…

HIV/AIDS is an image hard to see at first, but like any diseases or monsters, it has its weakness and can be conquered and handled.

Artist in him…

My mom tells me I started dabbling with colour when I was just six. I was always fond of cartoons and wanted to create images that were larger than life — human or alien! I am a self-taught illustrator and have worked for Marvel and DC comics too.

Comics and you…

Not only do I read comic books, I love watching movies and cartoons too. Tuning in on Saturday morning cartoons here in America is like watching a spectrum of creativity from all corners of the world.

Your target audience …

I’m asked this often, but I can’t give a specific age number. I’d rather say, whenever an individual becomes aware of his sexuality. Not that my books are based on sexual content. I would like to think that I could connect with kids and both entertain and enlighten them.

On India…

I’ll travel to India soon. I’ll like to have a close look on how the monster is affecting societies in other countries.

Well, this book is just a beginning. Robert hopes to fight the battle of human rights, global warming and many more through the pages. We wish him luck. And as for you, do buy yourself a copy and help spreading awareness.

STEP OUT
Record chase on Everest
Summitting the world’s highest peak is passé; climbers look for ways to stand out
Yana Banerjee-Bey

RECENTLY, I overheard someone talking about Everest denigrate what he referred to as the “record chase” on the mountain. Implicit in what he was saying was an opinion that such “record-chasers” were not according the world’s highest mountain due respect.

Well, this is probably the second biggest controversy about Everest. The biggest is the issue of commercial expeditions or expeditions that take “clients” to climb the mountain for a fee – an idea that was abhorrent to those used to the “national” teams from around the world. This is something I will discuss later.

Apart from Appa Sherpa’s 18th ascent, the most astonishing feat on Everest this May was by 77-year-old Min Bahadur Sherchan of Nepal, the oldest person to summit Everest. And Japanese Yuichiro Miura, at 75 years of age, became the only septuagenarian to climb Everest twice. His first ascent was at age 70. Australians Cheryl Bart and daughter Nikki became the first mother-daughter pair to climb Everest. American David Hahn became the first non-Nepalese climber to summit 10 times.

To understand the phenomenon of records on Everest, you have to look at the issue from the perspective of top-class, ambitious mountaineers.

For years, British (and other) teams tried unsuccessfully to conquer Everest. When they finally did in 1953, climbers from around the world followed in the footsteps of Hillary and Tenzing. Till date, there have been nearly 2,500 ascents of Everest (290 this May). Now, in history, only the first few people to do something are assured of immortality. Record books of feats in the world of adventure and exploration list only the names of the “First 10 people to climb Everest” or “First 10 people to walk on the moon”. The others are consigned to oblivion.

And so, in the mountaineering world, once the awe of reaching the summit of Everest had dimmed, climbers began to look around for ways to corner glory – to stand out from the rest. This was the beginning of record-setting on Everest. The world’s highest mountain, a place fearsomely hostile to the human body, became a playground for superbly fit climbers to show off.

True, there were some feats that seemed comic (for instance, jumping rope on the summit) while there were others that were truly heroic (see box). But they all had one thing in common – they were pushing back the frontiers of human ability and endurance. To dismiss these superachievers as mere fame-seekers would be uncharitable.

Besides, in an era of drug abuse in sports, these awesome achievements were achieved naturally – through years of physical and mental preparation. The superhuman Reinhold Messner, who climbed Everest solo without bottled oxygen in 1980, was once asked the secret of his success. “Lots of running uphill backwards, garlic, and sex,” was his reply. It may have been couched in humour – rare for the fiery-tempered Messner – but it hit the nail on the head.

Like genius, setting a record on Everest is 10 per cent inspiration and 90 per cent perspiration!

(This column appears fortnightly)

The writer has authored India’s first handbook of adventure sports and is available at y.bey@excite.com 

Everest records

Telly Tales
It’s about love & friendship

WHAT would you like to watch? An interesting tale of love, friendship and youth peppered with emotions of trust, ambitions and set in the backdrop of the City Beautiful. Yes, that’s true. The serial Bindass Champ beginning this Friday is one tale that promises to be different. Experience the adventure, thrill and passion of bike racing

The story revolves around childhood friends from Chandigarh who take pride in being rebels. Majority of the drama has been shot against the backdrop of Chandigarh. One of the protagonists, Raj, is a rich, spoilt and flamboyant brat. His friend Dhruv, is the reticent one who is a go-getter and from a humble background. Despite the differences in their backgrounds and personalities, the two are childhood friends and share a common passion – bikes. The two share deep bonds and are inseparable. All this and the treatment of the drama certainly make it worth checking out once.

An evening of glitterati

FRESH faces on television are a welcome change. Realising this, SaharaOne brings to you the The New Talent Awards on Saturday to recognise talent across 18 categories. New best actor (male and female), best new supporting actor (male and female) and best new onscreen couple will be among the categories. In addition, a SaharaOne TV icon of the year would also be announced. With 18 sets of presenters and seven power-packed acts by the stars, this show claims to be entertaining. New kids on the block, Vikrant Massey, Parul, Krystal D’Souza, Jay Soni and Abigail will present the welcome act. Stand up comedy acts by Naveen Prabhaker and romantic acts — Journey of Love — by Sara Khan, Angad Hasija, Vikas Manaktala and Priyanka Bassi will be among the must look-out for items.  

Queen of reality

THE queen of soaps breaks all pre-conceived notions and comes with a never forayed venture, a reality show. Kaun Jeetega Bollywood Ka Ticket, starting on 9X, promises to be a mega talent hunt where the winning golden pair will get an opportunity to act in a multi-starrer Bollywood blockbuster. This show will bring to the viewers the biggest celebrities and the best of talent from across the country. There will be four zones pitted against each other and each zone will have a seasoned Bollywood actor to mentor participants. Short listed mentors are Shabana Azmi, Amrita Singh, Mahesh Manjrekar and Zeenat Aman. Competition at all levels should we say?

Trying too hard

ABHISHEK of the Rakhi-Abhishek dance duo is trying too hard, literal ly. He is creating the image of a self-obsessed dancer. On the sets of Ek Se Badhkar Ek, Abhishek occupies the stage for the maximum number of hours practicing while the rest wait. Sometimes, he even stops other participants midway, inserts his songs CD and starts practicing. This understandably leaves others irritated but they can do nothing about it. Abhishek says he needs at least six hours of practice everyday. Actors like Amrapali and Shayantani have gone on board saying that he behaves like a superstar and want that stars running pole to pole doing daily shows should be given flexible timings. Quite reasonable, isn’t it?

(This column appears weekly)

Winner kaun ?

AS Jo Jeeta Wohi Superstar edges towards the final, judges are divided over who will win. Farah might find it difficult to predict the winner at this stage, but she has put her money on Debojit Saha, Abhijeet Sawant, Harshit Saxena and Rahul Vaidya. “These four have been very consistent in their performance and have a good chance to make it to the finals,” she says. “Vineet Singh and Toshi have not been very consistent.” Vishal-Shekhar too find it a tough call. “All six contestants are singing very well but Abhijeet or Debojit deserve to win. Going by popularity, Rahul has a great chance,” says Vishal. Thankfully for us, Shekhar is pretty clear that Abhijeet will take home the crown yet again!

The strange connection
Confiding in a total stranger is not harmful, lest you explore the possibility
Jasmine Singh

IT’S a well-worn piece of advice and you have probably heard it when you were young, especially from your parents — never talk to strangers. And we bet there was some sense in this advice. When you meet anybody for the first time — your parents, friends or your prospective partner — they are complete strangers to you. Who do you consider a stranger? And more, how can you open your heart out to a total stranger, discuss problems and confess intimate secrets?

Ask Meenakshi, an RJ with Big 92.7 FM and host of the show, 9 Bajey Ki Setting, wherein listeners who have never seen or met her call her to find solutions to their problems. But for Meenakshi, it’s not just a show. “I always put myself in their shoes and try talking to them. I connect to each listener on a personal level and give suggestions,” she says. All said and done, smiles Meenakshi: “I am surprised with the kind of problems and confessions listeners share with me. This is only possible if there is mutual trust.”

Ditto for Sunil Grover, RJ and host of Kya Aap Paanchi Paas Champu Sey Tez Hain: “I wonder how people can share their problems with a total stranger like me, but I guess they need someone to confide in or discuss their troubles with.”

But why not confide in friends or parents? Aren’t they good enough to share or discuss issues? “Sometimes, we are not comfortable sharing our problems with relatives and friends, but we are okay to talk to a complete outsider. Talking to a stranger is like making a confession in church,” adds Sunil. Not to forget the fact that you cannot be seen and don’t have to make eye contact. It helps to discuss your problem better.

Strangers are no saints, but there are good reasons to be found in talking to them. “It’s not mandatory to discuss your entire life story with them,” offers Simran Sodhi, a GCG-11 student. “Also, you know that you wouldn’t be judged critically, so I believe it is kind of easy to share your feelings with a stranger.”

For starters, it does sound impractical and difficult. Imagine first striking a conversation with someone you have just met and then spilling your hear out. Says Meenakshi: “You have to be either outspoken or daring to do a thing like this. When I started the show, people would call up to make small confessions like someone didn’t take a bath and lied about doing so to their parents or a wife calling up to say that she hid her husband’s file. With time, the depth of secrets and confessions has grown. Listeners have more confidence in me now.”

For Ankush Mehra, a bank employee: “It’s instinctive. Sometimes you just feel like sharing something with a person travelling with you in a train while at another you wouldn’t even want to look at him or her.” At the same time, he admits that it’s easy to talk to friends and people who you already know because of the comfort factor. “Going out of the comfort zone is not easy for all. But when you do, it makes you see the world from a different point of view,” he adds.

At best, a stranger can change your life. And at worst, that person continues to remain a stranger. According to Sunpreet Dhir, a city-based psychologist: “That the stranger knows nothing about you sometimes makes it comfortable to strike a conversation. Also, there are no inhibitions of being judged or feeling embarrassed.” He further adds: “Sometimes you just need to vent your emotions or secrets, so you don’t invest much thought into whom you are sharing those secrets with. At the same time, I think it is not something that you should indulge in too often.”

Love any, love many
When it comes to match-making, catching ‘the catch’ is not so easy. But our Gen Y has a solution — it’s called multiple dating! 
Neha Walia

LOVE, as they say, happens once in a lifetime. But if you belong to this generation of XBox, live-ins and no-nonsense attitude, you know these words are a thing of the past. The contemporary definition of love has undergone a sea change, if not altered absolutely. Cupid is striking not once or twice but at the drop of a hat. And looks like, no one’s complaining. The new game of love is called multiple dating. The trend is catching up with city youngsters as they are trying their luck at this adventurous love ride.

And the interesting part is that the fairer sex is turning out to be the frontrunner. They are living out their dream of having a baggage-free relationship. Not to forget the advantage of having many men around. The usual dating is a slow process of getting where you want to get — to find Mr Right. So here is a crash course, teaching you the nuances of finding your love match. As Saryu Chaudhary, a student from SD College-32 puts in: “I check out different shops and spend hours before buying a dress for myself. Then why not look into the different possible prospects before setting my heart on someone?” Point taken. But what about the stigma attached? “Well, if a guy can flaunt the number of girls he is dating at one time, so can a girl,” she adds. And then there is always a fun element attached to it. “Multiple dating is a good time pass until you get lucky in love. So it’s simple, if you are vela then it’s the thing for you,” feels Diksha, a PR professional from the city.

With all that multiple dating has to offer, it sometimes brings friendship in the guise of love. Says Manisha Nagi, a student from GCG-11: “I went out with this guy a couple of times when I already had a boyfriend. Though things didn’t take a romantic turn, we decided to be friends as we both are fond of each other.”

And what do men have to say? “It’s cool as long as my girlfriend is not doing it,” says Chandan Sharma, a PU law student. There are those who vouch for multiple dating. “We have this constant urge to settle for nothing less than the best. So why compromise in matters of the heart,” says Kapil Sharma, a UIET student. Nikhil Yadav, a management professional from city seconds this opinion: “Multiple dating works for me. It gives a me a chance to experiment and explore my options.”

But while you indulge in multiple dating, here’s a word of caution. Maintain your integrity by being upfront and honest about it or it can make things complicated.

So, it’s love taking turns till you find your true calling.

lifestyletribune@gmail.com

Little Interview
Making greatstrides
Manpriya Khurana

THE buses in which he used to travel in his hometown now display his posters. First seen in Sarkar (Zee), Kunal Bakshi has come a long way. He already has several serials like Kittu Sab Janti Hai, Aisa Desh Hai Mera, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Sssh…… Koi Hai in his kitty. Now all set to join NDTV Imagine’s Vijay Desh Ki Aankhen, he talks to us about his journey so far and also his upcoming show.

n Tell us something about your life before TV happened.

I am from Jammu. It all started with modelling at local level. Later, I shifted to Delhi and did some shows there. When I have had enough of modelling, I did a role in Sarkar. I even anchored a music show.

n What is your role in Vijay Desh Ki Ankhen?

I play Karan Agnihotri, a rough and tough character. He can do anything, though he is not a superman. I did all the stunts myself. The serial is based on a different concept. It has thrill, adventure, desh bhakti and action.

n Did you go through special training?

Yes, producer Amrit Sagar made us undergo some training. But then, I was a fitness expert and knew martial arts too. So, it was easy for me to get into the skin of the character.

n Your take on the reality TV shows?

I have done one. But it is basically a reality for the people who are part of it, and not for those who are watching it.

n Where do you see yourself in another five years?

Well, I don’t make plans. I take everyday as it comes. Once I used to accompany my dad to his shop in Jammu and now, here I am, in a totally different field. 

Beauty Studio 
Get Gorgeous
Pammy Kaul

SUMMER holidays are on and so are the long-haul flights to various destinations. Sitting for long hours in airless cabin leads to moisture loss and the skin is also subjected to sun damage. The bitter truth about flying is that your skin dehydrates rapidly. Air in the cabin is much drier as humidity inside falls 15 per cent below the normal atmosphere. Pollutants from outside circulate freely inside and your wish to possess silk-smooth skin remains only a dream.

But, believe me, it’s possible to make your dream come true if you follow some golden rules.

When you are on a holiday, avoid skimping on face-savers, as in the long run they will be the only saving grace for your skin. Your passport to good skin is using a good cream. When it comes to maintenance, alcohol-free mists, both toner and hydrating lotions, are must-haves. Since our cleansing routine on flight goes in for a toss, facial toner can help. With one spray the elasticity ensures that the toxins are expelled and natural oils reach the surface. The best bet would be to quench thirsty skin with natural plant extracts like alovera and lavender.

Skin identical lipids are formed in oils that prevent moisture loss. The latest theory is that oils are best mates for skin as the molecular structure of the skin is quite similar to that of oil. It works deep down to repair and detoxify rather than sit on the surface like most moisturisers do.

Sun is another aggressor. Never hold back on SPF protection.

The window seat in the plane adds to all this when you are high up as you are much closer to the source of UV rays. Ho do you cope? Always carry a sun protection factor and reapply after a couple of hours.

 Packs are a must-have in the travel kit as they hold the key to skin radiance. Applying a facemask can rejuvenate lackluster skin. Gel masks work wonders when you are on flight. They take care of exfoliation and also hydrate, tone and brighten the skin. Spray a facial toner after the mask or simply peel. That will revive your face and hide any tell tale signs.

Q & A

n  My job takes me around places. Whenever I travel by air for long hours my eyes puff up and also my skin goes dry. Please help.

— Simran

Via e-mail

For the puffiness for eyes, apply cucumber and green tea. They protect against free radicals.

Follow the simple rules to keep your skin in good condition:

Drink plenty of water, avoid caffeine and alcohol. Let your pores breathe, do not cover your face with make up.

(This column appears fortnightly)

Health Tip

Rhuematoid arthritis affects the joints of hands, ankles, knees, elbows etc. In chronic cases, the joint cartilage is damaged leading to deformities. Arthritis, being a non-life threatening disease, is not given much attention which adds to the problem.

Cause: One of the major causes is the absence of physical activity. It results in joint stiffness, accompanied by weakness in the muscles that can cause permanent disability and excessive weight gain.

Treatment: The following steps can help:

- Medication that alleviates pain and inflammation.

- Application of ice packs or heat pads.

Exercise: Exercising increases motion, relieves pain and preserves normal joint functions. Aerobic and strengthening exercises protect joints from further damage. Walking is the easiest exercise. Strengthening exercises performed with a stretch band are helpful, as they exert no pressure on joints. Hydrotherapy, that includes exercising in the pool, is also advised as water takes the weight off the painful area, providing resistance and avoiding pressure on joints.

— Dr Ravinder Chadha