Friday re-dressing
Heading for a weekend bash straight from office? Cheer up, it does not take much to morph from a lady with a laptop into a temptress in a tube top, writes Jasmine Singh

Samiksha Sodhi, working with a city-based bank, hurriedly goes through the last lot of papers. She has to attend a party in the evening. But she doesn’t have any time to go back home and change. Now what? She certainly can’t go partying in her executive attire of formal pants, shirt and a tie, lest she look like a zombie on the move!

Ah well, like a magician with a bagful of tricks, Samiksha pulls out a shimmery scarf from her purse and throws it casually around her neck, she removes the studs, replaces them with chunky danglers, loosens her hair, darkens the eye make-up, puts on some gloss. Viola! There she is, all transformed from a starched-collar professional to a shimmer-and-smock partygoer.

We are sure, there are other office-goers who share the same situation as Samiksha’s. There is sometimes no time for working women to go back home to dress up leisurely for a party. So, most of them have coined their last-minute fix-up ideas. Either, they carry a party dress to the office or modify their official dress into party wear. We get talking to some busy women professionals on how they put together a party look, right there in office.

Reet Singh, head, human resources, SEBIZ Infotech Limited, Mohali, agrees that there is absolutely no time for working women to get ready for a party. “In that case, you have to make do with whatever you can lay your hands on. Personally, if I have pre-decided on a dress, then it’s pretty easy. Just slip into it and you are ready. Otherwise, any Indo- western outfit is the best bet.” Adds Reet, “Instead of churidaar, which has to go through a cumbersome process of ironing and matching with the right jewellery, I prefer a crisp blouse and formal pants.” Now that’s a quick fix.

From blue-collared belles into divas in designer robes, frocks, halters necks and evening gowns, the transformation can be spectacular and how!

Chips in Eitika, a PR manager, “Nothing much, I make do with whatever I am carrying or wearing. If it’s a pre-planned party, well, then of course I know what to wear. I prefer tights with a long top or a halter or maybe long or short frocks. And if it’s not planned, then I attend the party in a sari.” She adds with a smile, “And yes, sometimes, I use my lipper as a blusher and there I am.”

As for Suparna, a senior executive producer with UTV movies, the safest bet, which always works for her, is to do bright make-up. “If I have to rush immediately from office to a party, then I wash my face nicely, wear some kajal, a lipper and gloss, and I feel pretty set to attend the party. As for hair in disarray, I just pull them back and wear spectacles to keep them in place.”

So, all ye working women, slogging in the office and wondering whether you can make it to the party or not, you know it isn’t a Herculean task. Worst comes to worst, if there isn’t much else you can do, simply wear a warm smile and sprinkle a little bit of confidence, and you are ready to hit the party scene. For all you know, there may be many an eye turned on you, ‘Who’s that girl!’ jasmine@tribunemail.com

Poll pret
Neha Walia

It’s once again that time of the year when students indulge in slogan shouting, wear ideologies on their sleeves, flaunt their knowledge of political issues, indulge in serious brainstorming, and escort girls to the hostels. Welcome students, it’s election time on the campus and you bet, it’s getting bigger with each passing day.

But hang on, we forgot to mention, it’s also the time when the young, and raring-to-go political leaders go in for an image makeover. The fight for votes extends beyond the political akhaadas and enters the fashion arena. High on style statements, student leaders try everything that enhances their face value.

It’s all about image management and styling, not without some extra dose of netagiri. Come elections and you have our PU netas dressed in crisp white kurtas and gurgabis, making persistent rounds of the departments.

Wait, we see some change, rather a stylish one. And it’s pretty different from the usual, rather it’s a ‘propah’ look that incorporates creased-free pants and starched shirts. But the diabetically saccharine sweet smiles remain.

Ask these future politicians why they go in for a makeover and here’s what they say.

“A party’s credibility during the elections is decided by the image of a candidate,” says Brinder Singh Dhillon, president, SOPU. We thought politics was about issues and not looks? “An election cannot be won only on the basis of looks, but a little bit of grooming does come handy,” he smiles.

For Tejpal Singh Cheema, president, PUSU: “The way you dress and talk makes you presentable and approachable. It is not the sole criteria, but it definitely makes a lot of difference.” And this goes beyond the dress code. From polishing language to acquiring etiquette, image makeover is an extensive and planned out process. Dhillon adds: “You cannot build an image in 5-6 days. An image should bring out the best in you, be it looks or thoughts, you can’t afford to give a bad impression.”

Talking language, Cheema says: “It means speaking in the language candidates are comfortable in. A powerful speaker demands attention and can put across his or her message effectively.” Hmm… no wonder ‘open house day’ is much awaited by the students.

When it comes to the fairer sex, elections mean showing off the best in their wardrobe. For a girl candidate, participation means bringing out the bhartiya naari inside. And the must haves? A pretty face, coy image and killer smile (it means more votes). Agrees Dhillon: “With the trend that chooses style over substance, personality matters for a girl candidate. It may backfire, as we may lose out on votes.” Well, it’s difficult to suppress that green-eyed monster within all of us.

Trend or no trend, elections sure are high on spirits and fashion comes naturally.

lifetsyletribune@gmail.com

NEW RELEASES
This Friday’s flicks Rock On, Champu and C Kkompany are a cocktail of guitars, guns and gags.
Baja, bahu aur babe
The leading lady of Rock On Prachi Desai tells
Jasmine Singh that the role just happened though she knows next to nothing about rock music

HER mobile is constantly engaged. And if you are lucky, you get to hear a rocking ring tone, which goes on and on till you finally give up. Can’t blame her, it’s her day and she wants to share the excitement and jitters with all and sundry. Finally, we manage to get across. A soft, excited and hasty voice answers the call, ‘Hi, Prachi Desai here.’

‘Can we talk,’ I ask hastily, lest she snaps the call.

‘Of course, but please make it short.’ And we are on, talking to the humble, petite, dutiful bahu Bani of Kkasam Se, Prachi Desai, who is all set to shake the audiences with her debut and stunning look in Rock On that stars director-turned-actor Farhaan Akhtar and others.

“Every minute is like an experience and I live it to the hilt,” says Prachi. “I can’t explain my state of mind right now. Honestly, I don’t want to think about it. I’d rather leave it to time. If I sit and start contemplating… man, it’s not possible,” she laughs, trying to control her excitement. Rock On is ready to rock the theatres, but how did Bani (her character in Kkasam Se) land this role. “It’s a short story. I was doing Kkasam Se and Jhalak Dikhla Ja and someone noticed me. They called me for the audition and before I knew, I was on board,” recalls Prachi. You can make out from the spark in her voice that the actor is oozing with anticipation. It must have been a great working experience? “Indeed, every minute of it. It was great working with Abhishek, the director of Rock On,” says Prachi. “He is a fabulous director who knows what he wants. The best part is that he isn’t loud, and puts across his ideas very softly.”

What about cool dude Farhan? “Hey, I have to tell you this. I was pretty nervous, but Farhan he is a fabulous human being. He didn’t make me feel out of place even for a minute,” recalls the dimpled beauty, who apparently knows nothing about rock music. “In fact, he is one hell of an inspiration. I wanted to give my best when he was around. What you don’t know is that he is a damn jovial person, cracking jokes with everyone on the sets.”

There is such a buzz about Rock On and Prachi is so full of stories. “This is my first movie and every day at the shoot was a memorable moment. I can just say that I am lucky to have got a movie like Rock On at an early stage of my career.”

Does that mean Prachi is not going back to television, shedding tears, flaunting kanjivarams. She laughs, “As of now, no. I have some movies lined up, but let’s see. At the same time, I wouldn’t want to say that I don’t want to go back to TV. You never know what tomorrow holds,” quips in Prachi. Before we can go on to the last question, the landline at her place rings aloud. “I have to attend this one,” says Prachi. Go ahead girl, it’s your day.

Great expectations

THE last time we saw him on the silver screen was in a rib tickling comedy ‘Dhol’. Back to tickle your funny bone, Tusshar Kapoor hones his comic skills with his home production (Balaji Motion Pictures Ltd), ‘C KKompany’. A light-hearted comedy this film would see Tusshar in a typical comic role, and for Tusshar he hopes that acclaimed scriptwriter Sachin Yardi’s, directorial debut ‘C Kkompany’ would justify his faith in good cinema and his need to work with new-age directors. In conversation, Tusshar gets talking about his new film ‘C Kkompany’.

Tell us something about your character in ‘C Kkompany’?

I play a crime reporter for a Television company, who hosts a late-night show called ‘Khalbali Boy’. This character is very close to real life.

Were you involved in the production of ‘C Kkompany’?

Being my home production, I was involved in every aspect. I was also a part of the creative side.

How was it working with Raima Sen?

She is a very nice human being. And when it comes to acting she sinks in the character with much ease and it was inspiring to work with her.

What do your prefer- comedy, drama or action?

Both comedy and drama. It is hard to make viewers laugh but it is equally hard to make them cry.

How do you ease out work pressure and tension?

I work out in the gym. An hour-long session of exercise evaporates all the tension and other than that I watch films to feel easy.

What are your expectations from this film?

It is a well-made film and different from my earlier projects. I hope this movie does wonders on the box office.

Future projects?

Rohit Shetty’s ‘Golmaal Returns’ is my keenly awaited project.

— Dharam Pal

Tinsel Tadka
Dus Ka Dum

Akki goes Salman way

THE ‘Khiladi’ Kumar sizzled ramp for Levis clothing product launch, with Salman Khan-like bare chest. The prolific actor, who is known for his on-screen stunts and comedy, walked the ramp with bare torso, showing his physique along with the apparel he was suppose to display before an avid audience.

He also revealed the secret behind his success. "To me, the secret behind becoming successful is very simple. I have personally experienced that the care one extends to his or her parents leads to success," said Kumar.

Akshay Kumar has recently been part of many successful Bollywood films and has  also hosted a reality show on television Khatron ke Khiladi.

Bips goes for young blood

DUSKY beauty Bipasha Basu says that her favourite actors right now are both newcomers - her Bachna Ae Haseeno co-star Ranbir Kapoor and Imran Khan of Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na fame.

In fact, her new mobile phone ring tone is a song from Jaane Tu... and she can't stop praising Imran. "I love that song and I adore Imran Khan. I think he's going to be a huge star. He and Ranbir are my current favourites. In fact, I told Ranbir how much I like Imran. No, he didn't mind at all. Ranbir and I are friends after Bachna Ae Haseeno,” she said.

Talking about making friends in the industry, Bipasha admitted that during the shooting of movie Race, Katrina Kaif and she were just about cordial with each other.

"Some people you jell with. Others you just do your job with. Katrina is one of those cases. We were just professionals on the sets. But there was no rivalry or anything," said Bipasha. she denied reports of any comparison with the actress.

Brits dance to Big B’s tune

BOLLYWOOD superstar Amitabh Bachchan says he was overwhelmed by the "unprecedented" response of the crowd in London when he performed there with son Abhishek and daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai.

History was made at the 02 Arena in London when the Bachchans performed along with stars like Shilpa Shetty, Preity Zinta and Riteish Deshmukh as part of their 'Unforgettable' world tour - the 20,000-strong audience was on their feet most of the time!

“I've never gone through this experience before. Throughout my performance at the 02 Arena, the audience didn't sit at all. All 20,000 of them stood on their feet while I performed," said an overwhelmed Amitabh Bachchan. "We all got standing ovations from the crowd. The audience just freaked out," he added.

In every city that the Bachchans performed in the US, the West Indies and Britain, Big B was by far the main attraction with Abhishek and Aishwarya forming the sidlights.

— ANI, IANS

Sarson da saag in Sydney
A slice of Punjab has always found its way into Bollywood. But in recent flicks, Punjabiyat may well have got a makeover — with new rap as well as wrap, writes Ashima Sehajpal

Blooming mustard fields, multi-hue outfits a rich cultural heritage: Punjab has so often rendered the perfect background to Bollywood flicks. From romantic scenes of Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, shot amidst the all so yellow mustard flowers to the rural backdrop shown in Jab We Met, a little of Punjab and its lifestyle has been showcased in numerous movies.

In fact, a dash of Punjabiyat seems to be a sure shot formula for our Bollywood guys who want to make it big in the movies. And after witnessing the success of Singh is Kinng, it was quite natural for director, Anees Bazmee to proclaim his love for Punjabi culture at a press conference in Mumbai. And once again he confirmed the same to us: “I shot my directorial debut, Pyar To Hona Hi Tha in the interiors of Punjab and it was then that I fell in love with the lifestyle of Punjab. Since then, I had always wanted to come back to direct another movie here and Singh is Kingg gave me the chance.”

So what makes him so fond of Punjab and its people? “Punjabis enjoy the reputation of being clear hearted, bold and lively, a USP I banked upon while directing my latest venture.” He adds: “An increasing number of movies are going for a bhangra number. High in energy level bhangra beats add colour to the whole product.”

And when it comes to showcasing Punjab and portraying its culture, how can we forget the Yash Raj films, which has always flaunted the peppy lifestyle of Punjab? After doing the same quiet extensively in DDLJ and Veer Zaara, they are now all set to do it once again in their next project, Rabb Ne Bana Di Jodi.

Sanjeev Puri, co-director of Yash Raj and Puri Private Limited gives us a pragmatic reason for their inclination towards the subject: “Punjab has the maximum number of NRI population, which accounts for a huge target audience. And making a movie on Punjabis means a successful business overseas, as NRI’s staying abroad watch a movie that is based on Punjabi theme as it gives them a sense of homecoming.”

From Punjabi language to folklore to regional festivals like Lohri and Teej, everything adds spice to the movie and this makes it a popular theme for filmmakers.

Kirron Kher who has played a Punjabi mom in number of movies like- Singh is Kingg, Rang De Basanti, Apne and Hum-Tum, feels Punjabi backdrop complements the script, thereby guarantying success. “Punjabi way of living is accepted worldwide and people can easily connect to it. There is a lot of scope to add masala in a script, which is written keeping the Punjabi lifestyle in mind,” says Kirron, who has completed her high studies from Chandigarh.

And of course, the extravagant Punjabi marriage ceremonies and rituals make it a convenient subject for Bollywood directors. Poonam Dhillon, an actor who enjoys a strong association with Punjab feels, “People can easily relate to the customs and Punjabi culture reaches out to a larger audience. It is a warm, fun loving culture that proves to be a complete entertainer.” She does not forget to mention the fact that nearly half of the bigwigs in the industry have a Punjabi background. “It is quite natural to see Punjabi flavour in almost all Bollywood movies since all the big directors like Yash Chopra, David Dhawan, Guddu Dhanoa and Harman Baweja have a Punjabi background.”

ashima@tribunemail.com

About Town
Chunk of jewels

WE may have had stacked away those chunky chokers in favour of those sleek modernistic ones, but a visit to Episode-9, the venue for Annu Chadha’s two-day jewellery exhibition, one gets tempted to at least reconsider, if not buy, the fact that nothing can beat those good ol’ classical pieces. Heavy earrings, rings that covers almost the entire hand and chokers that once used to make Asha Parekh and Mumtaj the envy of millions of women.

“One does not need to wear all matching pieces when it comes to such heavy intricate design oriented jewellery, but a single piece can make all the difference to yoiur outfit and your personality,” says designer Annu Chadha, who has a formal training in jewellery designing and now runs her studio Annu Creations in Amritsar. And no, no modernistic simple liner ornaments would satiate her creative abilities. “I specialise in classical designs and my pieces are no one-time trend setters which are here today and gone tomorrow,” she adds.

So on display you get intricately woven diamond and precious stones like ruby, sapphire, turquoise and blue topaz in the setting of pure or 10 per cent gold. The pieces in 10 per cent gold has been kept keeping in mind those clients who would like to have something in diamond in a moderate budget. “With gold price skyrocketing, I am trying to strike a balance,” she says. Her creations start from Rs 20,000 and goes up to Rs 22 lakh. A must visit for would-be brides. — TNS

YoungisTAAN
Beauty and brawn
Bipasha Basu recently offered to go on a date with Vijender Singh if he won an Olympic Gold. Do you think these are mere publicity stunts or they actually serve as incentives for players? 

Bips needs no publicity

Reel vs real star

God knows what she meant!

Sidelanes
Images that talk
Joyshri Lobo

Sometimes, in the midst of grime, gobar, human excreta, mountains of plastic waste, domestic garbage, stinking nullahs, rodents, desi murghis, flies, pigs, goats and cattle, people emerge to take up challenges to make their pockets of existence better places.

They do not have governmental backing or the resources to change the environment around them but they use their minds and create images that people sit up and notice. Maybe most of us never notice the surroundings we live in because we have gotten so used to them. Maybe we accept filth, disease, sickness and death as our fate, especially as we compare it to living in a beautiful, sanitised city like Chandigarh. Maybe none of us consider all this our business and would want an outside agency to wave a magic wand and make all this horror disappear.

The blackhole of Chandigarh lies behind the PGI. It is called Nayagaon, meaning “The new village.” Night Shyamalan would probably find it a mystic experience. The unexpectedly heavy rains have exposed its maggot and disease-infected underbelly. The roads changed into rivulets, taking with them soil and exposing boulders. Small holdings have been bought by big landlords and huge houses have come up with a view to the future. A mansion stands alongside a dairy where buffaloes chew their cud and drop their dung, some of which finds its way into the thick milk carried in huge urns by ruddy faced, well-built milkmen, riding powerful, thudding motorbikes. A low-roofed, tiny two- room hutment stands next to the mansion. Three families live in it. The mother sells a pile of stale assorted vegetables in front of her door. The vegetables lie in the mud, not in baskets or on old paper. The other day, in broad daylight, a drunken father was chasing his teenaged daughter down the narrow, uneven lanes. His purpose? I leave it to the reader to interpret.

Move across another pothole and see a huge iron gate with an unfriendly spiked crown. The adjacent plot has maize reaching up to the sky and water hyacinth in the low-lying areas. Obviously, a farmer has held out till he gets a better price which will buy him the best car, richest daughter-in-law, membership at the best gym and club, and a kothi with a basement. Unfortunately, money cannot change temperaments or buy sophistication! If this is the first step towards progress, I can picture the nightmares that will unravel.

The Punjab Government has predicted a city better than the tricity in this region, by the year 2021. I wonder if this can ever happen. Will the mansions be bulldozed to widen the non-existent roads? Or will filthy lucre exchange hands to change the bylaws? Would it not be better to plan a city before it is built or is the masterplan always an afterthought?

Vimal Bansal, a young health worker with an organisation called DIR, has made a poignant 12-segment video on all the above-mentioned scenarios. The green spiked gate has a pool of infected stools in front of it. But the gate will hardly open to see this. The pigs are rooting amongst faeces as young infants sit around producing more. The fields are too waterlogged to use as a toilet ground. The barber does not even wash the razor that he uses on the next customer. Will AIDS follow? The halwai blows his nose, wipes his hands on his vest and gets back to making burfi and laddoos. After all this, the weak shall die and the strong shall survive. Darwin’s theory will be proved once again.

Bansal’s video is a must for all to see. Its wordless images reveal an India that is dark, hopeless and inconsiderate. We invite tourists with alluring photographs and costumed players. Perhaps, China does have a lot of solutions to offer us.

(This column appears weekly)

Objet d’art
Commonplace objects 
that inspire painters 
Brush with faith
It’s the bursting human energy which makes Hardwar special for artists like Marianne North, Raghu Rai or Bheem Malhotra
Parbina Rashid

WHEN Victorian artist Marianne North visited India during 1877-79, her primary aim was to satisfy her passion for recording the world’s flora with her paintbrush. But when she landed at Hardwar, temple-scape took precedence over her love for botany. Maybe it was the spiritual aura of the place at the foothills of Himalayas, which motivated her to paint Ganga and the banks in more than 200 frames.

Hardwar, as an artist’s muse, came up recently in our city when prominent mask artist Vinay Vadhera painted a series. But this time it was not the serenity of the place, but the human greed that came to the fore. Using bright colours and symbols, Vadhera portrayed the constant tussle between divinity and human greed. One of his paintings showed a Panda in bright red showing his wife the head of his latest ‘catch’, in another frame, a green human figure moves fast in the cycle of greed and yet another one plays with his victims who are tied up with a string.

There are truths in his paintings, though it makes one feel a little sad. After all, this is definitely not the aspect one would like to see in paintings in Hardwar. It is the serenity, the beauty and colour that one would expect to see. Like Bheem Malhotra’s painting on kanwarya, which was part of an exhibition organised by the Bank of Punjab a couple of years ago. He painted them because the colour they added to the backdrop were simply irresistible to his artistic sensibility. “They made the Ganges so much colourful, with their saffron dresses and the vessels in which they carry the holy water,” says Bheem. He did it in his favourite medium, water colours, with Har ki Pauri as the backdrop.

Perhaps the artist who has painted Hardwar most extensively is Tejindar Kanda, originally from Mohali, but now settled in Delhi. With oil and acrylic, Kanda captured the magnificent temple architecture, colours, which added to the landscape by human form and also the reflections of buildings in the water. “The most challenging for an artist is that there is no perspective line in any of the images that meets the eye. The images come parallel to the eye which causes a tussle between the object and the artist’s way of perceiving it,” he explains.

For Raghu Rai, the artist who took Indian photography to a new height, it was the intense human energy and unshakable faith he saw in the yes of the devotees that made Hardwar a very special place. “Hardwar has a feel of Hinduism. It’s amazing to see the intense involvement of the people with their faith. The human energy one gets to see during the Kumbh Mela is simply amazing,” says Raghu Rai. Besides capturing human congregation during the Kumbh Mela, Rai had also captured the temples, the ghats and the small bazaar that exists along the banks of the Ganga. “The well-knitted ghats and the temple architecture here is quite inspiring,” he recalls.

It indeed is. Or how do you explain artist Viren Tanwar and theatre person Kamal Tewari’s adulthood-adventures, when spending days at Har ki Pauri used to be the favourite activity. “We used to eat and sleep on the bank itself. One of us would go to those small food kiosks and get food for the rest of the gang. Taking bath in the river used to break the monotony of gazing at the river and the people around,” says Viren. Did he paint? “No, I clicked lot of photos, capturing the people and their faith, the temples and the river,” he answers. Well, that seem to be Hardwar, the place which touches one and all alike, whether you are a believer or not. parbina@tribunemail.com