Vivacious and versatile vocalist of Hindustani Classical and doyenne of Gwalior Gharana Kalapini Komkali is in the city on the invitation of the Chandigarh Sangeet Natak Akademi for a performance at Tagore Theatre. The concert is dedicated to Pandit Bhim Sen Joshi, who was awarded with prestigious Bharat Ratna award by the President.

The disciple and daughter of legendary Pandit Kumar Gandharva and Vasundhara Komkali has already carved a niche for herself with her individual style, both at the national and International level. On the eve of her concert, she shares her views with Lifestyle on the contemporary music scene.

Calling the Akademi’s endeavour a rich tribute to the rich Indian music traditions, Kalapini says, “Music is termed as a fine art because it awakens the aesthetic realisation in the deeper recesses of one’s mind which enables him to relish the intrinsic beauty of nature and the transcendental tranquility of the soul.” She claims that the pristine Margi Sangeet propagated by the Gandharvas was divine and sublime.

“However, change is the law of nature and with time both positive and some negative elements have crept in, but still our music reigns supreme, she adds.

On being a late starter which happened with her maiden but much-acclaimed concert at Nehru Centre, Worli, Mumbai, she says that every thing has its own time or say ‘mahurat’. “But with my upbringing in the musical environment, the blessed tutelage of my parents along with my strenuous riyaz and dedicated efforts, I have many a achievements to my credit,” she says.

Talking about her experience at different places, she says it has been a learning experience always. “Say, in Chennai, music lover lauded the technical virtuosity while in City Beautiful and the North, they liked the gayaki replete with ingredients of melody and emotional expressions. But I personally felt the power and compelling charm of divinely when I sang at the Moscow International Hall of Music where the 5,000 foreign audience shouted ‘once more’ for the bhajan I sang —Sunta hai guru gyani — a composition immortalised by my father guru Pandit Kumar Gandharva.”

Having sung five songs in films like Paheli and Devi Ahillya, she is open for more. But she wishes for more classical- based film songs, which are a rarity these days.

Recalling her experience as a chief judge in Sa Re Ga Ma Little Champs, she thinks while such reality shows promote a sense of music but the debasing aspect of glamour corrupts their genius. Kalapini has a number of albums to her credit — Arambha, Inheritance, Swar Manjri and Sagun Nirgun among others.

We were so wrong. But we couldn’t help it. Since childhood, we were conditioned to believe that reading books was a mere hobby. Something you should do in free time. We did adhere to the rules laid out for us all this while, until we came across a few people who gave a new meaning to this hobby called reading. We were zapped once they told us what reading meant to them. They pick up a book whenever they get time, interpret it and then introspect. They proclaim with poise, ‘Books are a part of us’. It makes us eager to know what ignites these book lovers’ passion.

Some 1000 books in the shelves, 500 more in a book-rack and an entire room dedicated to them, piled one upon one, stacked in every possible way so that space is created for more! The owner, Amarbir Singh, a bureaucrat, then tells us the astounding number—5,000. It takes us a few minutes to digest it. “My grandfather introduced me to reading when I was at school and since then all I have been doing is collecting books.” The genre he reads reflects his intellectual persona. No popcorn for him. “Philosophy, religion, art, literature, history and psychology help me decoding the meaning of life.” Just what we expected from this avid reader, he does not have any particular favourite, “Life is complex. No author has been able to cover all aspects and so every time an author has something fresh to offer and the process of reading continues.” The passion for reading is so much that when he is not reading, he prefers to ponder over all that he has read. He feels the charm of reading printed words is far more than reading them on the Internet, “The magic just doesn’t build up in the latter case. Keeping a book in the lap and studying it give a kind of satisfaction that only a booklover can understand.” A lover of poetry, he rues the fact that the education system kills students interest in poetry, which is the most creative work. “You cannot teach somebody how to enjoy a cup of coffee or enjoy listening to music, similarly you cannot instruct somebody how to read poetry, it’s comes naturally.”

This book lover began her affair with books in childhood by reading fairy tales and Hardy Boys. Mohanmeet Khosla, chairperson, School of Communication Studies, Panjab University, recalls how at the age of seven she bought books with her pocket money. Proud to own an eclectic collection of 3,000 books, she says reading comes naturally now, “After all these years of reading, not even a TV with volume on or family members around, can distract me now.” And her favourite author is? “All books by Ayn Rand used to be like the Bible for me during college time. She celebrates the concepts like ego, individuality and objectivism which virtually don’t exist in society.” To assure that she does not end up adding anything unworthy to her book collection, she prefers to do some research. “I choose books after reading the synopsis and flipping through their pages.”

Here is yet another avid book reader who proclaims with aplomb that all these years she has loved reading Mills and Boons. Honii Sandhu, a fashion designer, says, “Out of a collection of 2000 books I have, 600 are Mills and Boons novels.” And she justifies, “We all need some romance in our lives. The world has become pragmatic and books like MBs bring in some relief.” She has another favourite — Readers Digest. “I have been collecting them since fourth standard. Hope you can guess the total number” she quips. When on a holiday to the world’s best shopping destinations like Dubai and London, the lady unlike her friends, picks up books. From Hardy Boys to Agatha Christie to Enid Blyton to self-help books, she has them all. And her favorite one is The Secret by Rhonda Byrne, a compilation of life experience of 42 authors that she is now glad to recommend to her children.

ashima@tribunemail.com

An eerie feeling when you wake up in the morning and hear such words from a three-year-old - "Bua (Aunt) no office today. Taj Mahal (hotel) is burning. I saw it". Strange, looking at her innocent face I realised I didn't matter to myself. It's our kids we fear for. Guess, the time has come to talk them through the word terrorist."

It is a post from a blogger Shruti Kelkar from Mumbai, after it was taken hostage to terror. After Amitabh Bachchan, it was Aamir Khan who reacted through his blog, saying that he feels "Shocked, heartbroken, helpless and angry" and felt sick while watching the TV images of a terrorised Mumbai.

The horror of Mumbai terror attacks that shocked the foundations of our security and our spirits must be over. But the aftereffects are still being felt. The numerous processions and prayers being held, there is much happening online to help people come out of the tragedy. Some of the most active blogs include:

Mumbai Help— it was created within five hours after the attack happened. It has over 20 live bloggers who have been posting news and opinion regarding the attacks, even photographs. Information like the list of deceased and injured, places where commemorative meetings and prayers are being held, and latest updates on the relief programs are being posted constantly. It also has helpline numbers and the US, UK, Australian embassies hotline setups. Through blogging they are also urging people for blood donation for Mumbai victims.

Blogspot.com, BiggAdda.com, BlogAdda.com and many more blogging portals are flooded with reactions from people. Questions are being raised and solutions being demanded.

Other portals include desipundit.com, counterterrorismblog.com, where people are sharing their views on ways to curb such acts in future.

Facebook is also doing its bit in becoming a common platform to self-introspect as a nation and unite each one in the hour of need.

Globalvoiceonline has opinions and reactions coming from NRI's and global citizens and how India should check terror on its soil. — TNS

Describing the terror attacks on Mumbai as a blow to the city's spirit, singer Lata Mangeshkar said that she never felt so disturbed in life and almost wept 300 times in the last three days.

"I can't express my emotion in words. I never felt so disturbed in my life. I have been watching TV constantly for the last three days wept and 300 times," the legendary singer said.

While adding that the attack is on Mumbai's spirit, she said, "I had a premonition that after Gujarat and Delhi, Mumbai could be the next target. Even I discussed it with my family members. I never imagined something like this could happen. I don't think this is the last attack by terrorists.

We have to become more careful and cautionary," she added.

She got to know about the incident when one of her relatives called up and apprised her about the attack.

Speaking about Hemant Karkare, the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) Chief, who died fighting terrorists, she said, "I knew him personally and today when he is not alive, I am feeling his presence all around." "When I heard the song Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon television channels were playing during the last rites of the martyrs, I felt the same pain, I experienced when I sang it."

On asking about Mumbai's spirit, she said people need to be courageous to deal with such a situation and "I am sure we Indians have enough courage to face any situation. Perhaps we can win over it.

The presence of hotshot filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma with Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh during the latter's visit to two luxury hotels which bore the brunt of Mumbai terror attacks has led to speculation that Bollywood films on the attacks may be in pipeline.

"It is still too early to say. But going by past experiences, Bollywood filmmakers are known to jump at any tragedy and this one is of a monumental nature-to choose as subject of their ventures," an industry observer said.

Deshmukh today visited the Taj and Oberoi hotels to inspect the damage. At Taj, he was accompanied by actor-son Riteish and Varma.

Varma, who has made flicks on underworld like Satya and Company, was unavailable for comment.

Deshmukh has also come in for criticism from a section of media, which said he had gone on a 'picnic' along with Riteish and Varma.

Superstar Amitabh Bachchan, who had disclosed in his blog that he slept with a gun under his pillow after Mumbai terror attacks, has said it was to show his "complete loss of faith in the system and governance" and criticised gestures like lighting candles.

"The act of pulling out my revolver is a symbolic metaphor, a figure of speech, to demonstrate my complete loss of faith in the system and in the governance, in providing me, a citizen of India, with my rightful sense of security," Bachchan, 66, wrote in the blog.

Bachchan, who has millions of fans across the world, said that respondents on his blog had taunted and subjected him to mockery and derision on the issue. He said his critics in the cyberworld had written about what they would have done had they been in his place.

"It is a pity that the 'intellectual media' portrays the incident of the gun under my pillow as one of ridicule and mirth," Bachchan wrote.

Hitting out at his critics, the actor said "I keep my security according to my own assessment of my vulnerability. When you will wear my shoes, and I do hope that you do one day, you shall also be subjected to the kind of vulnerability that I and many others like me face each day. Perhaps then you would be better placed to appreciate the hollowness of your accusation," he said. “Last night, as the events of the terror attack unfolded in front of me I did something for the first time and one that I hoped never ever to be in a situation to do. Before retiring for the night, I pulled out my licensed .32 revolver, loaded it and put it under my pillow. For a very disturbed sleep," Bachchan had written.

He further wrote, "This is no time to demonstrate gestures. This is the time for me to listen to a leader that shall strongly assure me of what needs to be done and will do it! This is the time for each citizen of this country to act and behave in a dictated disciplined profile. This is the time for those that lead, to educate us all in a common curriculum bearing a common code of conduct.”

“If the invader has been psychologically brain washed into believing that what he is doing to us is ordained through divine intervention, then let him face 1.2 billion brains that have been ordained in unison to 'teach' him how horribly wrong he is,” the megastar said.

Referring to Lata Mangeshkar's immortal song Aye Mere Watan Ke Logon, a song that brought tears in the eyes of our first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Bachchan said, "I wish to fill my eyes today with flaming anger of the redness of the blood of the innocents of my countrymen."

After successfully staging 700 shows of the play Maharathi in Gujarati since 1987, veteran actor Paresh Rawal is all set to win audiences again through the big screen adaptation of the classy comic thriller that is releasing Friday.

Paresh plays an unsuccessful actor-cum-conman in the film - the same character he had essayed in the play that he had directed. But he avoided directing the movie because he could not remove theatre from his sensibility.

"I've often been asked why I didn't direct the film. The truth is the play is still fresh in my mind. But I didn't want the grammar of the stage to be applied to the film version. Then what is the point doing a film? My mind is filled with the play. I couldn't have detached myself from the stage. I needed a fresh cinematic vision to improve on the play. After doing plays for 21 years, I can't remove theatre from my sensibility," Paresh said.

Finding a producer for the film was an uphill task for the actor. "History repeated itself for the film when I had to hardsell my script for almost three years. Finally, I found a producer in Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision Ltd," he said.

Originally, Vikram Bhatt was to direct it, but he was replaced by Shivam Nair of Ahista Ahista fame. The film stars a host of theatrical veterans like Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri and Boman Irani apart from Neha Dhupia and Tara Sharma.

Maharathi revolves around a middle-aged man, Subhash (Paresh), who has spent 10 years of his life trying to get a break in films but does not succeed. He makes ends meet by committing petty crimes and conning unsuspecting victims.

One night, he saves a man's life at the risk of his own and accompanies him back home.

Eventually winning his trust, Subhash is hired by the man, Adenwalla (Naseeruddin Shah), as his driver. However, Adenwalla's wife Mallika (Neha Dhupia) resents his proximity to her husband.

Subhash, once he is firmly ensconced in Adenwalla's house, discovers that Mallika has evil designs. Seeing this as a lucrative opportunity to rid himself of a lifetime of middle-class mediocrity and poverty, Subhash collaborates with Mallika to acquire Adenwalla's money and property.

However, their best laid plans go awry and Subhash ends up getting trapped in his own lies and manoeuvres.

In the race of films being adapted from books and real life stories, one has to wait and watch if Maharathi, a screen adaptation of a successful play, is liked by critics and audiences.

"Guide was made in two versions. One was American, based on the Novel by R K Narayan. Indian version was not the book one and had to change as there was little adultery content which was not considered as ethical during those times," Dev Anand said.

Anand was felicitated at International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2008 on Saturday here in presence of Goa Chief Minister Digamber Kamat, Actor Jackie Shroff and festival director S M Khan.

"Certain part of the American version dealt with adultery so we had to shoot the film once again," Anand said.

The 1965 movie starring Dev Anand and Waheeda Rehman was directed by Vijay Anand, who had also contributed in the screenplay. A 120-minute US version was made with additional direction and writings. The US version was produced by Ted Danielswki.

"Now the country is ready for such subject matter and things are already being discussed on television and films," the veteran actor said.

These changes in outlook may be because of globalisation, he said. Talking about his forthcoming film, Chargesheet, Dev Anand refused to talk much as according to him he would like to keep "suspense" over the film.

"It's a suspense thriller," he said, refusing to divulge the star-cast in it. "There are some new faces and old ones too," he added. However, the evergreen actor could not resist himself from declaring during his felicitation that Jackie Shroff is acting in it.

"He is working in my next film Chargesheet. I am also there in the film," Dev Anand said.

When asked about his plan to produce a film on Goa, which he announced last year, he said that the plan still exists but he is busy in his new movie.

"'Chargesheet is 40 per cent complete and it will be ready by January-February next year," he said.

And if completed in time, Dev Anand intends to go to Cannes Film Festival with the movie. — IANS, PTI

Mega pixel is one of the specifications of a digital camera, which is given the most importance. Promoted by both, the seller and the manufacturer one would find the number of mega pixels printed on the front cover of the camera box, and well, this happens to be the lone feature of the camera that tempts the shopper to make a final decision. But I would say, to take great pictures a camera needs more than just a high pixel count.

High mega pixel count are required in a camera only if you have to take large prints, if you intend to take pictures only to e-mail to distant friends or to print at snapshot size, a camera of any resolution will do the job. The only benefit of having more pixels gives you greater flexibility. You can print sharper pictures at larger sizes, or crop and print small sections of pictures. These days most cameras offer a resolution of at least five mega pixels, which is more then enough to make a sharp 11-by-14 print, so if you're interested in producing mostly small snapshots you probably don't need anything better than a five-megapixel camera. I would suggest if you have a budget of more then Rs 10000 and you want to create and keep large copies of your shots, you should go for a camera that captures six mega pixels or more. Now that the mega pixel part is out of the picture the basic and important features that you should focus on are:

Zoom- Optical zoom produces sharper images than digital zoom. All new point-and-shoot and advanced cameras offer at least a 3X optical zoom, and some even offer up to 20X magnification zoom, the zoom of a SLR (single-lens reflex) camera depends on the lens. However, using powerful magnification makes the camera more vulnerable, even to slight shaking, which can result in a blurry shot. And this means you have to buy a tripod or if you don't want to carry a tripod all the time look for a feature called image stabilization, better known as anti shake (anti blurr and anti shake or two different functions).

Macro mode- For taking close-up shots or photographing small subjects, such as flowers, insects or to take down subject details etc, a macro mode is needed. Different cameras have different minimum focus distance in this mode usually it is less than five or six inches.

Viewfinder and LCD display-Most digital cameras have an optical viewfinder that works just like the ones on film cameras, which you hold it up to your eye, frame the scene you want and shoot. It should also have an LCD screen, which will serve as a second viewfinder, an image-playback screen, and a display that gives you access to camera features and functions through a menu system and also shows a sharp clear image in both indoor and outdoor.

Scene modes- Digital cameras offer special modes that optimise the camera settings for particular type of scenes like landscape, portrait, twilight, and sports etc. Look for a camera that offers scene modes that match up to your shooting style and if you will be using this feature a lot, make sure that the camera you buy gives you easy access to it through a button or dial, instead of making you search for through the LCD menu.

Media- Digi cam you are looking for should have a removable image storage medium. There are many types of media for digital cameras. The most common is Compact Flash memory like Memory Stick and Multimedia Cards (MMC). Make sure you get a camera that is compatible with the type of media, which is easily available and is not on the expensive side and can hold enough storage space to meet your needs.

Batteries- Digital cameras with extended zoom quickly drain batteries especially alkaline batteries, which can be expensive and annoying. Battery life and cost are often not related. Some inexpensive cameras have great battery life and some expensive ones use up a charge quickly. Either way good batteries are always a good buy. My suggestion is, go in for NiMh batteries over 2000 mah with a supporting quick charger. Trust me you don't want normal chargers you will grow old by the time the battery gets charged and is ready to use.

Exposure controls- Some cameras offer aperture and shutter priority modes, as well as full manual control. Aperture and shutter priority modes allow you to control the lens opening and shutter speed. Serious photographers will value these controls, as well as full manual control. There is no need to worry about this as scene modes cover it for you and don't require a trip to the LCD menu.

Flash- For majority of inside shots you'll need a flash and occasionally out side too, so its simple just look that it has a flash and when you are looking for a flash just keep it in mind- Bigger is better.

I think with this information, you can now figure out what you really need before you buy a digital camera.

amritpalsinghgrewal@gmail.com

South Korean-based electronics company LG bucked the credit crunch by announcing a five-year global partnership with Formula One.

"History shows that if you want to build a brand, you have to invest in that brand," the company's chief marketing officer Dermot Boden said in a news conference with Formula One supreme Bernie Ecclestone.

"And if you want to be successful, investing when there's a downturn is probably one of the best times to really build your brand," he added.

Ecclestone said LG would become an official sponsor of

Formula One with the company's branding to be visible on the international broadcast feed, timekeeping systems and graphics.

LG will also acquire marketing rights as the sport's official consumer electronics, mobile phone and data processor. No financial details were given, although Boden said the sum would amount to tens of millions of dollars over the period. — Reuters

Newly developed scanners would be able to raise an alarm when ancient manuscripts deteriorate and need to be restored. Normally, chemical tests are used to estimate the quality of paper and determine what treatment it needs. But, this process destroys up to half a page of the work, and the tests are time-consuming.

A near-infrared scanner would provide the same information in 1 second, and without damaging the document, restoration expert Jan Wouters of the Getty Conservation Institute, Los Angeles, told New Scientist.

These recently developed scanners are capable of shining light onto a document and recording and interpreting what wavelengths it absorbs, to reveal details such as acidity and the length of cellulose molecules, which are indicators of fragility. — ANI