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Armour
and aesthetics
What happens when the mainstays of military combat find their place amongst Ming vases or fine antiques or the strokes of fine art displayed on the walls? Well, we have weapons that are being appreciated for their visual impact rather than their functional quality. Intricately designed swords or weapons with historical value find their place in home décor. And we have people for whom they are status symbols, a collector's item or just another passion.
Kanwaljeet Singh Neetu, a businessman from Sector 36, believes in the rough and tough way of life. One look around his living room and the uncountable collection of guns, replicas and antique weapons displayed on the walls will echo the point. "I fell in love with guns when I was three. From sling shots to the shooting competitions on Sundays, it has always been an obsession," says Kanwaljeet. And this is a passion he shares with his wife, Aman. Their collection includes swords, knives and guns, to be more specific, a WWII German knife, an ivory-handle knife with Persian inscription that was a gift from a friend, two swanky muzzle loaders and a 100-year-old iron beauty, read sword, that comes from the family and an antique sword. The family sure knows how to make art out of arsenal. "After every 10 steps in our house, you come across some or the other antique weapon," shares Aman. Be it gandasis, spears or daggers, you name it and it is on display at their home, each telling a story. But one thing stands out, "I was the first civilian to travel across Kargil during the 1999 war and it so happened that heavy shelling was going on near the place I was staying. A bomb landed right close to us and I got the splinter of that bomb as a souvenir," says Kanwaljeet. So much for the love of danger! If that was the living room, then the bar space has another set of creative weapon display. Like four WWII tank tyres that are smartly converted into chairs for their bar. A muzzle- loader from the British era catches the eyes on the rack and a gleaming replica of a spear displayed on the shelf. Call it genes, but this passion runs in their kids too. "My elder son, Fateh and younger son Udai too have their own collection of guns and our perfect idea of holiday means shooting practice all-day long," Kanwaljeet says. Another such passionate collector is Panchkula-based Ravi Bhasin. His passion for vintage became the reason for his vast collection of antique weapons. His collection offers a range of swords, khukris and other edged weapons. "My whole life has gone into collecting things from the past. And I have the oldest and rarest of weapons displayed at my home," says Bhasin. So, you have a wall adorned with a Sword of honour from World War I, a dasti or iron hammer from Spain on another and in between a zillion daggers and knives of the bygone era. The most prized ones include a jade knife with gold work on the handle, a Damascus and a shikaar sword from an ancient royal Sikh artillery. Ask him why he find these 'dangerous' things beautiful and pat comes the reply, "These are masterpieces made years ago. They are like any other art form, and if I can embellish my room with a Picasso or a M.F. Husain then why not them." Well, point made.
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Bollywood heartthrobs Akshay Kumar and Deepika Padukone have been nominated for the Best Actor and Best Actress category at the prestigious third Asian Film Awards, in an announcement. While Akshay was nominated for his action cum comic-caper Singh is Kinng, Deepika was nominated for her double role in Chandani Chowk to China, the official website said. Singh is Kinng unfolds the story a simple village boy from Punjab who goes all the way to Australia to bring back fellow villagers who have now turned notorious gangsters in a foreign country. Deepika plays the role of twin sisters in her latest movie Chandani Chowk to China. Her characters in the film have both negative and positive shades. The story revolves around an Indian cook who travels all theway to China in search of his true destiny. The contenders in the Best Actor’s category include China’s Ge You for If You Are the One, South Korea’s Ha Jung-Woo for The Chaser and Japanese actors Kenichi Matsuyama for Detroit Metal City and Masahiro Motoki for Departures and South Korea’s Song Kang Ho for The Good, The Bad, The Weird. Deepika was nominated along with Chinese actor Zhao Wei for The Painted Skin, Zhou Xun for The Equation of Love and Death, Jiang Wenli for And the Spring Comes and Japan’s Eri Fukatsu for The Magic Hour and Sayuri Yoshinaga for Kabei-Our Mother. Former bond-girl and the star of Crouching Tiger Michelle Yeoh will head the 13-member jury, which includes Chairman of Taiwan’s Golden Horse Awards, Peggy Chiao among others. The awards ceremony will be held in Hong Kong on March 23. — PTI
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Actor Aamir Khan, who has been giving award ceremonies a miss for years, turned up for the NDTV awards function, to receive the Indian of the Year award for his film, Taare Zameen Par. He was present with wife Kiran. “I do not hate award ceremonies and in fact missed the many funny things that happened there. They are so many boomers... ,” he said, while receiving his award. Taking the opportunity to address the political leaders present in good numbers, he said, “We are looking up to you to lead us with a positive and progressive outlook. With the general elections round the corner, I want to appeal to our politicians to field candidates that are clean, intelligent and deserving of our votes.” On Akshay Kumar’s recent comments that the Star Screen Awards should have gone to Aamir, he said, “It was really sweet of Akshay to say that.” Aamir said he had voted for Prasoon Joshi to get the award as his song Maa had moved him to tears when he heard it for the first time. — UNI
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The mystery unconnected This Friday’s flick Slumdog Crorepati and Raaz—The mystery continues will offer shades of horror and drama Audio scan Raaz-The Mystery Continues does not have any connection with the previous Bipasha Basu and Dino Morea-starrer movie of the same name, says director Mohit Suri while promoting the film here today. “I just want to clear the doubt that the film is not in continuity with the previous Raaz. The only common thing is that both the movies are based on supernatural theme,” said Suri. “Though the name is similar with the previous one but Raaz was the only perfect title for my film,” he said. Claiming that the film was the most expensive horror movie in the Bollywood till date, Suri said, “It challenges beliefs about the paranormal phenomena.” Talking about his role in the film, Imran said that he always dreamt of such kind of role and with the making of this film his dream was fulfilled. — PTI Comic clamour
It is not entirely their fault either. It is a comedy all the way and to give it that flavour, the songs have also become a joke. That would have been passable, if there were at least one or two good songs, which could play the role of the sheet anchor. But that was not to be. In fact, the entire album has not been composed by Shankar Ehsaan Loy alone. They have to share the credit with Bappi Lahiri, Kailash Kher, Naresh Paresh and Bohemia. While Bappi has re-created his song India se aaya mera dost, dost ko salaam karo from the film Aap ki Khatir here, Kailash Kher has sung two of the songs he has written himself and also composed them along with Naresh and Paresh. These are S.I.D.H.U and Chak lein de. Similarly, CC2C sung by Akshay Kumar has lyrics and music by Bohemia. That leaves out only two with Shankar Ehsaan Loy: Chandni Chowk to China (sung by Neeraj Sridhar, Anushka Manchanda and Shankar Mahadevan) and Tera naina. The former is no-goer, while the latter – sung by Shankar Mahadevan and Shreya Ghoshal – is the only worthwhile number. Many songs have faux Chinese style. Mystic chants
But Indian spirituality is growing global and even these typical sounds are being reworked for the international audience. This album is an attempt in that direction, which gives a new feel and meaning to these immortal words of glory and grace. The nine exotic melodious pieces have been composed and conceived by Deepa Nair, a singer and songwriter born and educated in London. This is her debut album. The additional music has been composed by Craig Pruess, who has also produced and arranged the recording. The collection of prayers to Vishnu, Ganapati, Ram and Devi are based on ragas but have been blended with Western chillout, orchestral and classical styles using both Indian and Western instruments. The music has been arranged by Pruess, who has composed the original music score for both of Gurinder Chadha’s hits Bend it Like Beckham and Bride and |
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1.Raaz Sony 2.Ghajni T. Series 3.Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi Yash Raj Music 4.Dostana Sony 5.Slumdog Millionare T.Series 6.Dev D T.Series 7.Billoo Barber T. Series 8Delhi 6 T. Series 9.Fashion T. Series 10.Luck BY Chance Big Music Non-filmi 1.Sufi Rocks Various Artists (Times Music) 2.Ghalib by Abida Abida Praveen (Times) 3.Teri Justjoo Various Artists (Sony) 4.Charkha Rahat Fateh Ali Khan (SA RE GA MA) 5.Taabeer Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan (Music Today) 6.Kisi Roj Milo Rahat Fateh Ali Khan (Nupur Music) 7.Farmaish Various Artists (Sony 8.Sufi Jannat Various Artists (Tips) 9.Yaad Piya Ki Wadali Bros (Times Music) 10.Sufi Maestro Various Artists (Times Music) Courtesy – Chandigarh Music Centre- 18
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Health in a metro
Suburban living, metro lanes, urban lifestyle and believe it or not, health is the biggest casualty. Under the above-mentioned circumstances, it is also the biggest obsession. Here’s a piece of news that will interest the ones interested in their health. AV Healthcare, a health food concept, will be available to city residents soon. Get over just the dietician, nutritionist advice; here one’s diet chart goes through pathologist via blood test and then dietician. Says Aniket Verma, the man behind the concept, “A person goes to pathologist or we provide one and after the report is cleared by the pathology lab, dietician will make the food chart directly supplied to us. Thereafter, we will provide whatever food is required.” So, is it supposed to be for people suffering from a particular disease? He says, “No. Even people otherwise, fit and fine can come and avail these services.” He adds, “We are not even targeting any particular age-group or market. It’s for everyone whose health conscious.” A science graduate, who belongs to a business family who have flourmills, the idea to start this concept came naturally to Aniket. He says, “I was planning to do post graduation in business management, got 88 per centile in CAT but then this came up.” Coming back to the health foods, what does he have to say about the largely prevalent notion of they being boring or tasteless? He says, “They might not be super-tangy or delicious but saying they are boring wouldn’t be correct.” And their menu, among other things, includes some of the staples like, fortified flour, fortified breads, sprouts of various pulses along with ones not easily available, like barley porridge. The man has also tied up with the food & technology professors from the Panjab University. He says, “Whatever food is made or provided will be with their guidance or inputs.” So far, so healthy. manpriya@tribunemail.com
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Lanes
The crossroads Joyshri Lobo Some times we sit with people or meet them at gatherings, without knowing who they are. They are humble and kind, one-of-the-crowd, quite inconspicuous. That is till they start talking. In measured tones they tell us of their life work and ambitions. The babble around does not distract them. Entrances and departures do not break the steady flow of words. Ultimately the listener too is cocooned within that magic circle of words and uninterrupted concentration. No one else exists, except the talker and the listener. It is a privilege to meet such people. They come in at the crossroads of our lives. The encounter makes us take a turn and change a direction. When they have gone and we step into the future, we realise the full impact of that extraordinary, life defining moment. Jayant was a baby, when we moved to Shimla with Sarah the Nanny in tow. My parents came to visit. It was cold and Western Command gave us sacks of coal, bathtubs, cans of kerosene but no geysers. Sarah had to wash utensils after dinner and loathe to heat the water. She wanted to clean up in the morning. As a young mother, I was terrified of germs and cockroaches. There was a stand off and Sarah decided to quit. The prospect of no help and a crawling baby, made me weep. My father, a man of few words, told me that every disaster brought its own gain, which would become known later. Whenever there has been a crisis, it has been easier to bear keeping Baba’s words in mind. Sarah’s departure made me an expert at budgeting time and multi-tasking. I sat for an hour talking to Mrs Hoon, our host’s sister. She looked into my eyes and said she had never seen such sorrow. I gave her a glimpse of my tormented life and she assured me that the pain was a point from which I would soon take off. She called it a “cross road.” Her talk made me wake up and move on. Recently I met Raminder and Ujjal Dosanjh. He talks softly, is humorous and humble. When he left the Punjab, he knew no English. Through sheer hard work he became the 33rd Premier of British Columbia. He has been through terrifying personal attacks and extreme conditions, but forty years later, there stands before one a leader who can change the lives of people. I wish he was my politician or MP for then I could look up to him. Equally charismatic is Raminder. She listens to others before talking. Patiently she explains her point of view and then tries to convince rather than throw her weight around. Her projects with immigrants in Canada are too many to enumerate. That she is bringing her expertise to the British Columbia Academy at Mohali, is a boon for Chandigarh’s student community. The Dosanjh’s values are what we require for our generations of the future. If we can import our very own who left years ago to cash in on luck and hard work on foreign shores; if we can share and imbibe their experiences and learn from their words of wisdom, we can call ourselves truly blessed as we change the direction of our lives at the many cross-roads they offer.
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Chandni chowk to China: When a film is produced by Rohan Sippy, that too in collaboration with Warners Brothers, the expectations from it are sky high. But as far as music is concerned, CCTC is a major letdown despite the score being in hands of normally brilliant Shankar Ehsaan Loy. 
Jyotir Gamaya: Devi Stuti, Vishnu Invocation and Hari Om are the kind of prayers one has grown up hearing in various homes and temples. They have led millions of people from the darkness of ignorance to the light of knowledge, awakening and peace. 
Filmi