If the sensex were such an easy thing to decode, each one would of us have made millions by now. And if you could understand the 'undertones' of reality shows, we could have written an encyclopedia on it by now.

It is a different issue that we have written the 'reality' of the reality shows to death. Nonetheless, whenever we are sent an invite of a reality show press conference, we somehow can't dismiss it.

So, here they were, six shy, tentative-yet-a-bit-confident final contestants of the Amul Star Voice of India contest accompanied by the singer Shaan, who is the host of the show and the man who has given us train-tapping chhaiya chhaiya, and floor tapping dard-e-disco, Sukhwinder, who kept us waiting for long.

Who cares? He is a brilliant singer, amongst the best in the industry, and a sensitive human being too. And how! "I was standing at the Nagpur airport, when a small cute-looking boy called me," narrates Sukhwinder.

"The boy called out for me: 'Oye Sukhi, do you remember me? I once sang your song in one of the reality shows and won huge applause for it.'" But what startled, in fact, hurt, and then made me feel sad was when he said that the judges from that show told him that had Sukhwinder listened to your (the kid's) song, he would have to stop singing!!!"

Sukhwinder turns to the scribes, "My god, the kid was being fed on sweet poison. That's when I decided to take up the responsibility of inculcating the right values, social grooming in the kids. Immediately, I enquired about the show Shaan was hosting and there I was, on board Voice of India."

Before we ask Sukhwinder about social values that he plans to teach the contestants, we want to know about the lessons he's learnt. "I am still in the process of learning," he answers.

"I have learnt the lesson of adab and pyaar. I know that we are born with it, but sometimes we have even learn it from others." Now, that we are talking about lessons, the humorous and versatile singer Shaan too wants to add his bit.

"Some kids are naturally talented and no none can stop their talent from being noticed. Having said that, I must add that some kids start pretty soon and can't cope with the parental pressure and the tough, grilling competition outside. They either succumb to the pressure or survive. The latter are very few in number."

If so is the case, then what is the hullabaloo about the 'reality' element on these shows? Says Shaan, "Television is entertainment and people get what they want to see. The fights between the judges are not scripted, neither are the reactions from the contestants. They are under so much stress that there is no scope of acting." Then why bring out a show, which has everyone walking in stress.

He adds, "Music shows bring out fresh faces and talent. At the same time, we don't promise to be with the kids throughout their life. We've given them a platform and the rest is up to them. They should know how to handle fame. In fact, it is for these contestants to decide whether they want popularity, fame or make a mark in the world of music."

You can do that anytime by 'acting'? "I don't want lose my sanity trying to act," Shaan gives a warm smile. Himesh are you listening!"

Jasmine@tribunemail.com

Sonia Jetley recently hosted a Preview of her WIFW S/S 2009 Collection at her photo-shoot. Her Spring/Summer 2009 Collection called Trance suggested a mystical journey from the earth to an ethereal experience of awakening life, a transition from reality to the world of tranquility.

The colour palette reflects on the cheerful mood of the season, where stabilising neutrals like almonds, bone and dove give way to brighter hues like sorbet, jelly, tomato red, coral, astro turf, canary and electric blue.

The look was earthy moving to the ethereal, emoting a freshness emerging from the soul of the ensembles distinguishable through their well-tailored classic look, expressing urban romance, with stylised tunics and dresses.

Discharge and pigment printing and ombre-dyeing, techniques have been experimented with in fabrics like silk chanderi, habutai silk, chiffon etc. Embroideries, placed with floral appliqué, sequins and aari lent an ethnic grace. Her show is on October 18. Watch out.

These are awards that honour the emerging idea of India expressed through fashion. At a time when India is emerging as a big market globally, its fashion needs are also expanding.

To salute the designers who have promoted Indian textile or craft, or used India as a muse, Marie Claire India, a top fashion magazine has instituted ‘The Made in India Awards’.

The magazine was launched two years ago with an eye on the global Indian woman who is smart, educated and urban.

''Anything made from India, or on India or by Indians will be eligible for the awards,'' magazine Editor Shefalee Vasudev told.

Even international designers or brands, such as Alexander McQueen and Christian Dior, which have best used India as an aesthetic inspiration, can be in the fray, she says. For them, the fashion magazine has consituted 'Muse India' award.

In all, there are eight awards and two special honours, and the selection will be through a detailed, impartial process, overlooked by KPMG, a global network of audit firms, she explains.

Modeled on the Prix d'Excellence de la Mode awards instituted by Marie Claire internationally, this will be first Indian edition with the unique stamp of our fashion.

''The awards will only review the latest-- the fall/winter 2008 collections shown in Indian fashion weeks,'' says Shefalee.

All designers who showed at Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week in Delhi and Lakme Fashion Week in Mumbai have been invited.

The special honours will be for best textile exploration and best craft revival, and will be given to designers, such as Abu Jani, who for years have stopped participating in fashion weeks, but still produce a vast body of works, she says. — UNI

It is a fashion collection inspired by the extreme nature of Ladakh with colour palettes ranging from cement grey to pristine blue. The Spring/Summer 2009 collection by eminent fashion designers Shantanu-Nikhil for the big daddy of fashion events---Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week---was showcased in New Delhi with Bollywood star and former Miss India Diya Mirza walking the ramp.

''We have chosen Ladakh as inspiration for our new collection titled 'Serenity'. It symbolises a woman who is awed by nature and we chose film star Diya Mirza to represent our work as she has a demure and virginal look. Her body type is fit for our clothes. Above all, she's a natural beauty,'' the designer duo, who have partnered with Fiama Di Wills for the WLIFW to be held during October 15-19 in the capital, said at the curtain raiser of their collection.

On their aspirations behind this collection, Shantanu said, ''We've always believed in classical beauty. Our clothes have edgy feel to them. We're going to be trend setters. For this collection, we threw all our books on trends out of the closet.''

Elaborating on why they chose Ladakh as backdrop for their collection, Nikhil replied, ''It's not that we chose Ladakh, Ladakh chose us. We wanted to epitomise things in nature where there is life and death. The colour palette we have given in our collection is darker---cement, ash grey and pristine blue. We have used a lot of fabrics, even plastic in our creations. The idea was to bind plastic with nature. We have worked on this collection without any tools. We have not used any machines, it's all done by hand almost like working on a canvas.''

The silhouettes in their collection are dramatic this time. There is a mix and match of 3D textures through hand-woven surfacing of silk frills. ''The use of net in the form of bandage on the body creates an ultra luxurious look and at the same time, displays the power of adversity. — UNI

All these years, we have been told time and again that music traverses boundaries and we have seen it happening too. This time too, music has traveled from the snow-clad mountains of Switzerland.

But that isn't the point we are trying to make, rather what fascinated us is how very far it has traveled and how well it has amalgamated with other genres of music. And the flag-bearers of this music have come from different countries to establish once more the universality of music.

In the city to perform at a rock concert on Friday, Eliana Burki, a musician, and her rock band talks about the hard work they have put in to popularise the traditional Swiss instrument, Alphorn, and how they have successfully juxtaposed it with contemporary instruments, without compromising essence of different music forms.

Eliana's association with the Alphorn (approximately 4 m long) is some twenty years old but rehearsal for two hours daily is a must. "Since the instrument has no valves, it is difficult to play and requires a lot of stamina", avers Eliana.

All credit to her, the Alphorn has gained popularity and the inspiration comes from admirers. "At times, it takes people by surprise that unlike any other girl who would love to be known as a pop diva, I am working for the revival of the Alphorn." Well her efforts come without any deliberation.

"I learnt the instrument myself without taking any professional coaching for it and I play it simply for the love of doing so." But the task ahead her was a difficult lot as people from the old school of thought opposed her taking alphorn on international podium. "As expected, there were initial hiccups but soon people realized that how well the old instrument sounded when contemporary music was played on it."

It was for the innovations she and her band introduced that have made the whole phenomenon a huge hit. "We play rock funk music, involving a lot of jazz , Latino and rock forms that renders it a foot tapping tunes."

We asked the other band members, Arnaud Francelet, Anthony Lo Gerfo, Adriano Regazzin and Sam Seigenthaler about the source of their inspiration. "It comes so effortlessly by listening music from across the world," avers Anthony, who plays the drums. And we understood the rest after coming to know that in the five all come from different countries.

Also each of them claimed and we took it seriously that they were born musicians. "Even if I was not earning well and had not got a chance to be a member of any band, I would have played them on the streets of US (as he hails from there) and earned whatever possible," adds he.

The musicians take pride while stating that rich music is here to stay and no matter how much the rock or punk music is being played, roots can't be forgotten. Adriano, a pianist further lets in, "Traditional music is timeless. It distinguishes one culture from another and yet connects them."

lifestyle@tribunemail.com

Want that perfect body with perfect curves? Do you slog it out in the gym or run yourself dry to lose the excesss baggage your body carries? Well the answer lies in yoga. Now, this is no big secret, nor is it not-heard-before information.

But when we say yoga, it means losing weight through your mind and not body. So believes Yogi Ashwini, a yoga practitioner and head of the Dhyan foundation.

“Yoga is all about raising the level of your conciousness to cereate a balance in one’s life. It is individualistic and an exoperience which cannot be learnt or taught. When talking about slimming down, a lot of us believe that burning calories by physical means is the right way to follow. But in yoga, burning calories would mean early ageing. By actual nirantar abhyaas of yoga, one can access the mind to get the desired body.”

Ask him about the new variations of yoga like power yoga or fusion yoga, and he says, “ Innovation is the key to human growth but all this maya brought into the art of wellness is making a khichadi out of actual yoga,” he says, adding he wants to spread the message of yoga without any personal profit and believes that its true power lies within the individual.

Orra- The diamond destination has been the pioneer of spiritual jewellery in the country. Launching its eleventh collection in the spiritual series, the Suryashakti Collection of pendants is inspired by the special bond shared by the sun and gods.

Comprises of ten pendant set in 22-karat gold and platinum the collection is
adorned with precious stones like rubies, emeralds, pearls and pure Belgian
diamonds, combined with traditional materials like rudraksha, tiger stone, coral,
and the holy navratnas.

While each design is devoted to a different deity, Orra has conceptualized and created these designs based on research on religious iconography under the guidance of Dr. A. P. Jhamkhedkar, India’s renowned archeologist and the former Director of Archaeology and Museums of the Govt. of Maharashtra.

Shakti Bhog Foods Ltd launched its handy and reliable pack of premium gold basmati rice. The pearly white, long and slender grain with an exquisite natural aroma is cultivated in the beautiful and fertile foothills of the majestic and pristine Himalayas.

Grown since eternity this rice is not just a simple food grain but is an exotic indulgence for the connoisseurs of good food. It even has incalculable health benefits; it is rich in amino acids and other essential nutrients as well.

It is pure and nourishing for the body tissues. This rice from Shakti Bhog is extra fine with a magnetic essence and elongates close to double on cooking. The soft and non-sticky rice adds a fresh dimension to every cherished healthy meal in consonance with the motto of the company, ‘We take care of your health.’

Ah…the luscious shiny red orb that was the undoing of good'ol Adam is back on our fruit-stalls! Initially, when I look at these gleaming beauties in the market, my reaction is more a scowl than a smile because their arrival heralds the departure of my favourite mango!

To my heart, that farewell is tearfully close to a Greek tragedy! Enough apple-bashing for now! It's unfair to compare any two fruits!

Besides, there's a whole lot you can do with a basket full of apples, red or golden. Let's "APPL-Y" ourselves to the endless possibilities!

Apple Pie

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, chilled

3 cups maida

3 tbsp powdered sugar

1/3 cup ice water

¾ cup fine-grain sugar

4 tbsp maida

1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon

7 medium apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced

Zest and juice of 1 lemon

2 tbsp melted butter

1 egg, beaten

Method

Combine maida (3 cups) and sugar in a bowl. Cut the butter into small pieces and scatter over the maida. Blend the butter and flour together, using your fingertips. When the mixture looks mealy, pour in the cold water and lightly knead the dough. Cover and chill for about 30 minutes. Mix together the sugar, maida (4tbsp) and 1 tsp cinnamon in a small bowl.

In another bowl, sprinkle apples with the zest and juice of 1 lemon and toss.
Stir in the sugar mixture to evenly coat the apples. Set aside. Divide the chilled
dough into two halves and roll out one into a thin round to line a 9-inch pie pan.
Transfer the apple and sugar mixture into the pie pan lined with dough and drizzle
with melted butter.

Roll out the remaining dough and using a pastry cutter, cut into even, ribbon like strips. Weave a lattice-work with them over the apples, brush the top of the pie with beaten egg and sprinkle with a little sugar and the remaining cinnamon. Bake pie for 45 minutes. Let rest another 20 minutes before slicing.

Apple Muffins

Ingredients

1cup - apple, peeled, cored and chopped

2 cups - maida

1 cup - milk

2 tsp - baking powder

¼ cup - white sugar

½ tsp - cinnamon powder

½ tsp - salt

1 - egg, beaten

¼ cup - butter, melted

Method

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease 12 muffin cups or line with paper-cases. Stir together flour, baking powder, sugar, cinnamon and salt. In a separate bowl, stir together milk, egg and butter. Stir egg mixture into flour mixture just until combined. Fold in chopped apples. Spoon batter into prepared muffin tray. Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into center of a muffin comes out clean.