Blessed are those who have daughters. The pearl of papa's eye and mama's darling, little girls are the ties that bind the family together. The pride of a lucky few, they're not many families who know the worth of a daughter. On Daughter's Day, we offer no mushy stuff, but simply talk to some people working for the upgradation of the so-called 'weaker sex' on their celebration plans for the day.

"This day is in celebration of women, as every woman is a daughter," says Suveechi Chaudhary, director, Aadeep, a city-based NGO.

Planning to send some paraphernalia back home with the slum kids she teaches at the Ashiana Public School-46, she adds, "I have almost 160 slum kids with me and I teach them in the evening. For daughters day, we would be making cards and writing poems on this theme. I would be sending these cards with a diya back to their homes so that parents can be taught about the pleasures of having a daughter."

Ask her about the theme of the cards they are making and she says, "My 15-year-old daughter sketches for me and for this day she has made a cloud and a flower coming out of it and we also have a short poem written on all the cards that reads--'A daughter is a happy memory of the past, the joyful moment of the present and the hope and promise of future'." A thought worth pondering over, Suveechi adds, "It wouldn't have been possible for me to teach all the girls if I wasn't given space by the Ashiana school authorities."

She further says, "As we all are aware that a daughter is the light of our lives and is responsible for giving birth to a new life, on this day we would also educate people for her wellness kind of atmosphere and invite people to talk about girl child."

While this happens to be the second Daughter's Day, it was Archies' initiative last year to start a day for daughters. Also pitching in for the celebrations, Zulfikar Khan from Theatre Age says, "This day calls for attention from all spheres of society, especially in our state as we have high incidence of female foeticide. We are launching an awareness programme to educate people about the girl child and hold a talk on daughters at Government High School-24."

When some won't even take notice of this day, we have NGOs like the Beti Foundation of India, run by Narvijay Yadav, who have already chalked out a plan for the day. Ask him what made him form an NGO just for girls and he says, "When something happens on a nationwide scale, you get the motivation to do something that can bring awareness. Started last year, we have 25 families as members now and to celebrate this day, we have tied up with Ivy Hospital, Mohali, to launch the 'Ivy sukanya scheme.' This scheme would be open for the single girl child between the ages of 6-10. People can walk in and register their daughter's name till October 10 and they would be given one-year of free OPD at Ivy Hospital. Ten per cent discount would also be offered to registered girls for further check-ups. The aim is to promote the care and acceptance of the girl child in the community."

Other than this, the Department of Paediatrics at this hospital will organise a Healthy Baby Contest in association with the Beti Foundation of India (BFOI). The contest would be for children up to five years.

While it's thumbs up for people doing this great work, isn't it a comment in itself that many people still have to be given incentives to care for their daughters?

jigyasachimra@tribunemail.com

What Happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas', they say. But not for Jack Fuller (Ashton Kutcher), fired by his boss-cum-father and Joy McNally (Cameron Diaz), dumped by her fiancé in full public view, who have hit the Sin City to shake off the pain.

The drama in this Tim Vaughan's romantic comedy begins to unfold when the New York duo, with their friends in tow - Hader (Rob Corddry) and Tipper (Lake Bell) - land in the same suite, courtesy a computer snag.

Sharing the evening together, Jack and Joy get married in a boozy fit, only to realise their 'horrible' mistake the very next morning. The matters 'worsen' after the couple hits a three million jackpot in a casino. In a jiffy, they reach court for a divorce and settlement of the booty. However, the conservative judge Whopper (Dennis Miller) orders a mandatory 6-month staytogether and marriage counselling sessions for the couple to ensure that their bond lasts.

With a heart set on millions, the two move into a New York apartment, desperately planning and scheming to outwit each other in the race for millions. So, we see them punking, pranking and even abusing each other, not realising that they are in fact perfect for each other. The reality gradually dawns upon in a predictable ending.

The storyline by Dana Fox, a Stanford graduate, conveniently falls into the mediocre 'boy meet girl' or 'hate first, love later' bracket. It's the performances that lift the routine-timepass screenplay. Kutcher and Diaz show verve together, but in patches.

Kutcher is slowly mastering the 'goofy act' and looks impressive while playing an idiot. (Remember Just Married with Britanny Murphy). Diaz does not exactly dazzle and looks rough.

The supporting cast is the show stealer. Corddry and Bell are outstanding and belt out a hilarious performance as the best friends of the lead pair. In fact, their colourful contribution adds zing to the lazy screenplay. Dennis Miller, as a conservative judge, out to teach a lesson to the younger generation, is remarkable. Dennis Farina is likeable as Joy's grumpy boss. Zach Galifianakis shines as Jack's creepy friend who has a crush on Joy. Queen Latifah as the marriage councilor deserved more presence.

Director of photography, Matthew Leonetti puts the beautiful New York skyline to optimum use with a little bit of Vegas thrown in - Bellaggio fountains, casinos and chapels.

A good watch for anyone interested in love or laughter.

It's okay to get inspired, especially in tinsel town. But cloning a classic and that too in a shoddy manner is akin to sin. Sadly, the producer and directors of Hari Puttar... are guilty on this account. For, they have doled out a kiddie fare that is stale, recycled and below average.

Heavily inspired from the blockbuster Home Alone, Hari Puttar details the (mis) adventures of a 10-year-old Hari Prasad, fondly called Hari Puttar (Zain Khan), in a London house where he is mistakenly left behind along with his cousin sister Tuk Tuk (Swini Khara) by his extended family who are on a vacation. It's left on two kids to

outsmart the goonda-duo (Saurabh Shukla and Vijay Raaz) who are after a computer chip made by Hari's scientist father, who is working on a secret defence forces' project.

The problems are aplenty with this film. There's no story or screenplay. Even if one is trying to adapt a big foreign grosser, it has to be suitably modified to Indian context. Unfortunately, the twin-director combo of Lucky Kohli and Rajesh Bajaj not only miserably fail in this test, but are happy lifting direct scenes from the 'parent' project. So here too, like his predecessor Macauly Culkin, apna Puttar is seen using a superglue on door-handles, firing chilly sauce from a water gun and putting the TV volume to great use to keep the baddies at bay.

In fact, the entire project looks like a work of amateurs who have no clue about audiences' tastes or intelligence. That's why you see the two buffoons, dressed up in the weirdest of costumes, voicing the choicest abuses, their 'one-blue eyed' chief with his Ajit affinity and sexy Shamita Shetty, gyrating to an item number. (And this is supposed to be a children's film)

About the performances, the less said the better. Zain is talented but he is no Culkin aka Kevin. So, though he tries hard, he cannot match the latter's briiliance. But despite faltering in few scenes, he is reasonably okay. Swini of Cheeni Kum fame doesn't have much to do. Saurabh Shukla and Vijay Raaz are underutilised. Saarika as mother of Zain is pale. Also, her discomfort in Punjabi is visible. What made Lillete Dubey and Jackie Shroff do the film only God knows. They are sheer waste. Rest of the cast is forgettable. The music is no help either. The score is average. Animations offer little hope initially, but soon they too fall in the trap.

The short duration of 95 minutes is the only redeeming factor, as it greatly helps in tiding over the torment of sitting right through the uninspiring work. Don't waste your money on this remake gaffe, rent a Home Alone DVD instead.

mona@tribunemail.com

ACTOR Daniel Radcliffe has amazed all New York critics with his phenomenal performance in Equus. The Harry Potter actor, who plays a disturbed stable boy Alan Strang in Peter Shaffer's Broadway play, has proved that the play has much more of him than just his full monty act.

"The young wizard has chosen wisely," said Ben Brantley in the New York Times.

The New York Post critic Clive Barnes has commended the actor for his terrific performance and has stated that Daniel is not just doing the full Monty.

"His acting, beautifully understated and withdrawn, has just the right manner for this horribly mixed-up adolescent," Joe Dziemianowicz stated in the New York Daily News.

"Terrific and gives a passionate performance" in a play "which intrigues but shows its age," he added.

Eric Grode of New York Sun stated that Daniel gave a "far more controlled" performance than his co-star, Richard Griffiths, as the psychiatrist Martin Dysart.

"He has some promising stage-acting chops. And he's a brave young man," Chris Jones of Chicago Tribune stated. - ANI

Hollywood actress Jennifer Aniston is desperate to rekindle her romance with ex-beau John Mayer. The 'Bruce Almighty' actress is reportedly phoning John every day in a bid to show him what he is missing, reports the China Daily.

"Jennifer reached out to John first. She had a few glasses of wine and then decided to throw caution to the wind and make the first move. — ANI

What is the one thing that connects the whole world alike? That appeals to all your senses? Some people claim to live for it. Ok, enough. No prizes for guessing. It’s good food. So, when there’s an International Food Festival going on in the city, it is likely to find many takers. Hotel Mountview organised the International Food Festival on Saturday to coincide with World Tourism Day.

Lebanese, Italian, Mexican and Continental. A perfect paradise for the foodies in the tricity. As A.K. Malhotra, GM, tourism, CITCO, says, “We’ve tried giving to the people in the region a taste of the best in the world.” He adds, “There are also a lot of people going abroad, so when they return they want the same food experience here. Plus, there are also a lot of foreigners staying with us who demand the same.”

That much on the festival, now coming back to the best part, the food. Well, if a live band playing and tastefully done décor (balloons and all) is not enough to whet your appetite, the menu certainly does. For Italian food lovers there’s, among other things, Lasagna Contadina, different layers of lasagne with veggies, and Lamb Ala Pomodero(think lamb cooked over slow fire and tossed with flavoured tomatoes concase).

Wanna try Mexican, from chicken cooked with Mexican herbs to boneless mutton cubes cooked using traditional methods, there are options galore. All the dishes can be savoured on a per person basis for just Rs 399. Too good to be true? Pinch yourself and move on.

If Lebanese is what you swear by, there’s Lebanese Cheese Shawarma Station, which has grilled cheese served with tomatoes, onions and parsley and chicken lovers can have Lebanese Chicken Shwarma instead. And to please the fussy foodies, they prepare it live! As Malhotra adds, “This is to further whet your appetite.”

On the speciality of Lebanese cuisine, chef Amit Tyagi says, “In Lebanese there’s generous use yoghurt, chickpeas, Tiana paste (sweet n sour kind of paste).” Sounds yummy enough. Rest assured there are three to four chefs working hard to ensure just that.

Diehard vegetarians have a lot of options too. As Amit says, “We tried striking a healthy combination between veg and non-veg. Roughly the ratio is 40: 60. While in cities like Delhi, it is half.” Why the discrepancy? He smiles, “The famous Punjabi penchant for non-vegetarian.” That’s not all.

For the untamable, unshakeable who can’t give up on their original taste habits, there’s an additional menu, in case you are ready to shell out extra. With high expectations from this experiment, they is talk of another food festival already. As R.P. Singla, GM, says, “We are planning to come up with another in October or November. Still in talks with a few countries and we’ll import chefs exclusively from those three to four countries.” Enough to have the taste buds tingling in anticipation…

manpriya@tribunemail.com

They say, colours reflect your personality. And a trend that’s catching up people’s fancy more than clothes is the colour on the wall. While people are going in for quick alterations, there is a variety that needs to explored when it comes to wall paints.

“These day’s people are going in for pastel hues for their rooms. Other than this embellishments are a big time hit and when it comes to the décor people prefer to mix and match,” says Praveen Chopra, city-based architect.  

Informing us about the latest trends he says, “Synthetic wall papers are a rage these days. Durable and washable they go well with modern interiors. That’s not all people in city are also going for sound absorbing paints – acoustic paints. In offices or commercial areas, these paints can simply help to absorb sound.”

And if you are looking for a winsome wall, opt for textured wall finish and rustic patterns. “In case you are going for a textured wall finish, a base of pearl gold looks stunning. Combination of white, silver and a golden hue can also make your wall stand apart,” says Chopra.

Talk of a plain single colour wall and Rajeev Goyal, a Chandigarh-based distributor of paints says, “Plain walls are boring and people are opting for textura, as it adds colour to the room and also enhances the life of the walls.”

He adds, “For texture paints one can choose a designer roller finish, where a roller with embossed designs of stars, dots, flowers, sand prints and geometrical patterns can be selected for walls.”

“If one wants to lend a room a royal touch that texture paint can be used in a strip form, circular pattern or rectangular format,” says Chopra.

For some innovation, try a touch of red in the room.

Taking of the kid’s room, wallpapers embossed with cartoon characters is one good idea. Other than this you can go for paints that glitter at night. These paints come with glitter and they shine as you turn off the lights.

Celebrate this festive season with the body shop's selection of gifts for your loved ones

Glorious Gifts

Choose from a beautiful collection of naturally inspired gifts, including white musk ®, neroli jasmine , aqua lily or create your own gifts with a collection of gift bags and boxes created by our Community Trade supplier.

Beautiful Bath and Body Gifts

 Choose from wonderful gift sets like strawberry sundae, satsuma smoothie, fruit cocktail, exotic mango takeaway, shower time cascade, mouthwatering pink grapefruit trio and more.

Fragrance Gift- You can pick from gift sets like white musk temptation, neroli jasmin me time, white musk moments, aqua lily pampering treats and more.

Men's Gifts

Delight the man in your life and choose from, for men maca root essentials, maca root regime, maca root allure and activist dynamic duo.

Price Range : 595 - 2495 

ALTHOUGH you may not think about them too much, pillows are a big part of our lives. Imagine, after all the rush hour and a hectic day at work when you reach back home tired and ready to do hit the bed, but find your pillow missing!- a frightening thought?? A bed without the pillows is so incomplete, but a bed with 'uncomfortable' pillows is as much a pain.

Hush India is ready with their 'Super-Soft' Pillows range designed for comforting sleep. This range is an alternative to the 'feather pillow' and are a complete vegetarian option.

The pillow range of Hush 'Super soft' is filled with slow-release-fibre. They are made with home blend of imported fibre, which has been developed to offer good support & comfort level. Super Soft Pillow ensures the gentlest regain when your head rests on the pillow, unlike the ordinary foam pillows which bounce back hard when you turn your head from side to side. It comes in an international size offering a three way neck - shoulder - head support.

TAROT TALK
What the cards say today...
P. KHURRANA

ARIES: The Moon brings light into darkness. If you have been considering a job overseas, then this seems to be a favourable period to send your resumes. A pleasure jaunt or outing with friends will be good on Tuesday. Lucky colour: Ebony. Tip of the week: You shall prevent a lot of trouble by taking timely action.

TAURUS: The Ace of Wands strengthens you and you may feel elated to see roses all the way. Key areas of concern may involve sibling relations, romantic promises or a difference of emotional style between loved ones. Lucky colour: Pink. Tip: Avoid situations that may turn nasty.

GEMINI: The Magus brings monument change and travel in your life. Love and romance are on the cards on Saturday. Spend time with children or act like a kid yourself. A new vision and understanding dawns. Take breaks during a busy day and unwind. Lucky Colour: saffron. Tip: Be positive; you can make things happen out of the most unlikely circumstances.

CANCER: The Nine of Pentacles showers blessing on lovers. People are attracted to you for your intelligent mind and gift of communication. Be in touch with your sense of humour. Focus on yoga & exercise. Lucky colour: Rainbow pastels. Tip: Don't reveal your plans to your competitors.

LEO: You draw The Ace of Cups, which brings beauty, pleasure and happiness. Students will do well and some may have romantic inclination on the higher side. Beware of waste, over indulgence in food, drink or emotion. Lucky colour: Fiery red. Tip: Be articulate to prevent people from making their own conclusions.

VIRGO: The Prince of Pentacles infuses financial stability. Be honest with yourself before getting involved with someone who is likely to lead you on. Be cautious of strangers on Wednesday, settle differences on Thursday. Lucky colour: Red. Tip: Dare to accomplish those tasks, which normally take up a lot of time.

LIBRA: The Chariot drawn by four sphinxes brings light into darkness. Try and explain your issues to loved ones to avoid any misunderstandings on Tuesday. Rather feeling guilty, learn a lesson from past and get on with your life. Lucky Colour: Metallic grey. Tip: Take things one at a time instead of a pronged.

SCORPIO: The karmic Wheel of fortune turns in your favour. You've got a strong sense of self and aren't afraid to speak your mind. Now that you have overcome a cash hurdle, you will settle easily. Advice will put you on the right track. Three way business partnerships prove to be lucrative. Lucky colour: Ebony. Tip: Do as many courses as you can to get ahead of others.

SAGITTARIUS: The Queen of Roads says there could be new career opportunities due to your past efforts. Spending quality time with your partner will be a priority for you on Tuesday. There could be good news regarding a family member on Wednesday. Lucky colour: Pink Tip: Take one step at a time and avoid being overanxious.

CAPRICORN: Ten Golden Cups reveals peace and compromise after crossing swords with a loved one. Visitors and news can be expected on Tuesday. Friends may take off sense so be prudent in your speech. Domestic liabilities could add fuel to the fire. Lucky colour: Forest green. Tip: Take limited risks and don't jeopardize your long-term capitals.

AQUARIUS: Your card The Sword represents light and clarity. You have the courage to express your true feelings and emotions in a romantic involvement. Avoid mental stress to avert a health problem. A celebration or travel over land is just on the cards. Focus on meditation, yoga & exercise. Lucky colour: Pink. Tip: You have well-wishers around at the time who will give you sound advice.

PISCES: The Hermit shows caution and solitude. Job satisfaction can be increased if you decide to be more independent and entrepreneurial in everything you do. A journey is also on the cards for professionals. Lucky colour: green. Tip: Remember never to fall for rash promises.