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Impossible is nothing
Special for various reasons, the project also helped him recall his city connections; "The project held a sentimental value and was a kind of a homecoming for me. It gave me satisfaction that I was doing it for the artistes in my region." Even amidst such scenario, the comedian's streak could not hide for long. As always, he brought smiles on the faces of people and gave them hope by citing his own example, "I was always told by my family members that I can never become an actor with such a physique and looks but I did. My achievements inspire me and show me hope that film city will get built to boost regional as well as mainstream cinema." He further adds, his past life gives him the confidence of moving ahead in untoward situations, "I have experienced various ups and downs in life and this probably is another one. It won't bog down my spirit and I am determined to achieve success." We too have our fingers crossed. Well, he didn't forget to tell us about his forthcoming directorial venture, Tere Sang, which is scheduled for release in the first week of June. But is it minus the girl from Chandigarh whom he spotted? "The girl was very talented but needed some grooming. So, I have advised her to join an acting school. Also her parents wanted her to complete her studies before coming in the profession." All right we buy that! Just like the happy ending of our Hindi flicks, he too signed off on a happy note, "I hope in another two years, this seminar will take place in our own film city's studio."
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Cause and effect
Now that's what we call Fusion in its true spirit…real element. When was the last time artists from Punjab and Sweden came together? The invite to Fusion, a group show by Swedish and Punjabi artists in collaboration with the Chandigarh Museum and Art Gallery, lived up to its name, literally, figuratively, even metaphorically speaking!
So, there's fusion for sure - of art, artists, culture and causes. Yes causes too! "Tellus Art, a Sweden based NGO, bring artists together for a cause. We first put up the show In Delhi and now on March 4 there's going to be a workshop on global warming for kids," Namrata Tandon, the organiser briefs the initial queries. The works of 11 Indian and 12 Swedish artists must have gone though some screening before being taken to places. Right? Answers Namrata, "We identified some good artists and then invited them for discussions, also kept in mind the criterion of cause. We picked up only those artists who wanted to bring about a change, give a message through their works."
When it's art, logistics can wait. One look around the gallery and the diversity and richness of displays strikes, almost engulfs. Starting from the one shining brightest in the centre, a man and an animal almost intertwined into abstract shapes. Explains Madan Lal, the artist, "The man stands for the human soul, the human and the animal represents the bull within residing in each one of us. Symbolising pure, raw energy." There's oil on canvas, acrylic, water colours in every conceivable size, shape and dimension. Now that leads straight to geometrical patterns, there's another set of eye-catcher. Two works in oil on canvas,
Resuming the spell-binding stroll, there's a shadow painting with neon-bright edges depicting a man and a woman. There's a dilapidated fort building with a strange haunting enigma, and there's also one signifying greenery, bushes, shrub, sand and beach. Another with button beans as if shipped from the garden of Alice in Wonderland. It's almost a quarter of an hour before the anti-clock-wise round of around 30 paintings is about to be over when there's another meriting a stopover. A colour and casual, careless strokes lending itself to some meaning unconsciously. Perhaps, the artist's interpretation would make things fall in place. "I just start with colour and without any idea in mind, it's exciting and I have no idea what's going to come next, till it finally gives itself to something. At times it's abstract," says Charlotte Ronnlund. Did she paint art itself? On till March 5 at Chandigarh Museum and Art Gallery-10. manpriya@tribunemail.com
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She donned trendy mini skirts and a bikini in Dostana and was an absolute stunner on the ramp in Fashion, but Priyanka Chopra is going the de-glam way for Vishal Bharadwaj's Kaminay. "In terms of look, it's definitely not glamorous. In fact, you don't really see me wearing too much make up in the film," Priyanka told. Kaminay will be her first release of 2009 as a leading lady after a hectic 2008, which saw her featuring in six back-to-back releases — Love Story 2050, God Tussi Great Ho, Chamku, Drona, Fashion and Dostana. What makes Kaminay special is that she has got to work with Bharadwaj, a master story teller known for giving his leading ladies a very 'real' lived-in look. Speaking about her character in the film, Priyanka says: "Sweety is a very real character. She is a college-going girl in her early 20s and we have tried to keep her extremely believable." "We tried to ensure that the look fits the characterisation," she adds. Since she was seen in a glam avatar in both Fashion and Dostana, did she have any apprehensions about donning an entirely distinct look in Kaminay? "Not at all. It was a conscious decision. I have always striven to do different things in each and every film of mine, be it with the character or the look. That's visible in films like Don, Love Story 2050, Fashion and Dostana. "In continuation of that, Kaminay and What's Your Rashee (by Ashutosh Gowariker) will see me essaying different characters, far removed from what I have ever played. I am very excited about both!" Priyanka stars opposite Shahid Kapur in Kaminay and the actor too is said to have a distinct look. Shahid, known for his chocolate boy image, plays a double role, and one of the characters played by him not just stammers but also keeps an unkempt look. But audiences will have to wait to see their makeovers until June 5, when Kaminay is set to release. — IANS
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Life behind bars
Spending five hours with convicts at a prison as preparation for a film role has changed his perspective of life, says Neil Nitin Mukesh. The young actor adds that he came across "faces and voices in there which I'll never forget".
"It was the most life-changing day of my life. So much of what we take for granted seemed so vital and unreachable in there," Neil said after visiting the Thane jail recently. The original motive for the visit - as a preparation to play a convict in Madhur Bhandarkar's Jail was completely forgotten as Neil came face to face with people serving long prison terms. "These are people who have built a universe within the prison. They cook, they do carpentry, make beautiful meals and artifacts. They pray, study and even watch films. We sat and ate their food. And I must say it was very good," Neil said. The interaction with prisoners has left a deep impact on him. "There are faces and voices in there which I'll never forget. Unfortunately we couldn't meet prisoners on death row. But the rest of the inmates were there for us to interact with." He added: "It's hard to believe some of these inmates are considered dangerous, more to themselves than people from the outside. We were not allowed to take belts, coins or any hard objects because any of this could be used by prisoners as harmful weapons." The actor noticed that the prison inmates had become dark-skinned over time. "That's because they spend most of the time locked away from the sun," he said. Neil, who is the grandson of legendary singer Mukesh, now intends to get himself a "jail pallor". "It's not a skin complexion that I can get on the beach. It will be through under-exposure from the sun," he explained. Neil visited the jail along with Bhandarkar and writer Manoj Tyagi. Leading lady Mugdha Godse, who was also expected to accompany them, chose to stay away at the last minute. "We were told there would be an added security problem if she (Mugdha) came along," he said. Jail is about a middle-class family boy working in the corporate sector and how, after one sudden incident, he goes to jail. — IANS |
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Singer-turned-actor Jaycee Chan, son of legendary movie star Jackie Chan has said that music will always remain his first love.
"I started as a singer. That is my first love. But since the music industry was not doing very well, I decided to join movies. In acting you have to be someone else but in singing you have to be yourself. I like both acting and singing, cannot choose one from another. I plan to put together my next album soon," Jaycee said. Jaycee was first seen on silver screen with The Invisible Tiger which released in India this week. He said he plays a young cop in the film. "In the film my brother gets killed. To get to the killer I have to catch the bad guys. The film revolves around this story," he said.The film did well at the box office in Hong Kong."Hope the film does well in India as well," he said. Jaycee said he was a huge fan of bollywood movies. "They have so many dances and songs and colour. All of them have joyful experience so it feels good to see them. He said he has liked all his father's films. "He is a great actor. My dad has been great,” he says. — PTI
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Stone cold
"Joss loves performing but she hasn't done much commercially in the past year and her popularity has dropped. I think she lost the public's affection when she returned from Los Angeles with a transatlantic drawl and she has also just split from her boyfriend, so this is a low point for her. The venue in Dover is not grand - it also hosts things such as birthday parties and conferences - but Joss still loves getting out there and showing what she can do," dailymail.co.uk. quotes a source as saying. — IANS |
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Willis sued
Foresight Unlimited claims it inked a deal with Willis to direct a movie called "Three Stories About Joan", starring Owen Wilson and Camilla Belle. The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, claims: "Willis abruptly and without notice terminated his services as director for personal reasons and walked off the set". The suit seeks more than $4 million as damages. Willis' legal Spokesperson Marty Singer said: "The suit is absurd. The movie collapsed because the producers didn't have the money to pay anyone." "The producers were required to salary money in an escrow account, but never did. Willis will sue the producers for the fee they promised." — IANS |
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Baby blues
Actress Katie Holmes did not attend the recent Academy Awards as she is on a strange diet to prepare for conceiving the second child.
The 30-year-old Holmes is going through a strange and rigorous detox diet and has supposedly become a fan of the diet which consists of having herbal drinks and a purification procedure to get rid of the toxic substances. A source said: "Katie has almost rid her body of toxins but sometimes it makes her lethargic. Tom (husband Tom Cruise) is encouraging her to stick to the diet because they are hoping to conceive baby number two." Holmes and Cruise surprised everyone as they did not attend the Oscar ceremony. —
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Pals team up
And Lohan is keeping her fingers crossed so that she gets a chance to team up with Adams. A source tells, "She's really keen on making another album. "Last time she was in town, she spoke to Bryan about working together. She loves his music and wants to write some songs with him."
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Fruitful effort
No fat, calories or carbs. Unending restrictions on our diet, strenuous gymming, yoga and what not! We see people around us trying every possible measure to keep fit. Losing weight has become an obsession and it doesn't come as a surprise when we see people taking extreme steps to attain the perfect shape. Here let's try to decipher the meaning of so very subjective term, fitness and how to attain it.
"There is no rocket science to keeping fit, and crash dieting is not a solution to it," says Sonia Gandhi, senior dietician, Fortis. Her simple way out to keep fit is, "Include a lot of fruits and vegetables in your diet, as they have no fat and are nutritious as well." The researchers at Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine and Harvard School of Public Health suggest something similar. They have found out that eating just one serving of green leafy vegetables or three servings of fruit helps to keep fit. Other than that it also reduces the risk of developing Type II diabetes. Sonia further suggests that it is important to have a wholesome diet. It becomes even important for youngsters working out in the gym to have a proper diet. "Youngsters begin to take high protein tablets to develop a muscular body, which can prove very harmful eventually." She adds, before deciding on the diet, fitness obsessed people should consult the doctor. "A gym instructor is not a doctor who can appropriately decide your body requirements. It is important to know whether the body requires proteins at all." Sudha Khurana, consultants dietetics, PGI warns against taking supplements instead of planned diet. "Human body cannot absorb artificial vitamins, which can be harmful." She adds, "Fresh fruits and vegetables provide absolute nutrition. They provide enzymes, which help in the digestion of the food. All the same, it is recommended to follow normal diet." She adds, there is no replacement for food to keep us fit, "Any form of chemical is harmful for body and these nutrients might contain some. One need not make so many efforts to stay in shape. Some exercises and a normal diet serve the cause better." ashima@tribunemail.com
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Controlling streak
Some people must do everything by a set routine. Before leaving home they will check half a dozen times whether the lights are off, whether doors are locked and so on. Psychologists call this Obsessive Compulsive Neurosis.
Prof B.S. Chavan, head of the Psychiatry department, Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, said that Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism and mental and interpersonal control, at the expense of flexibility, openness and efficiency. This pattern begins by early adulthood. These are thoughts and feelings that cannot be got rid of by voluntary effort because of their persistent recurrence. What makes one so obsessive? Hereditary influences are seen in about 5-7 per cent of the cases, there may be other physical causes like head injury and encephalitis. There may be some psychological factors like conflict between moral standards of a person and the more primitive urges, often of a sexual nature. Rigid routine made by the parents for their children may also lead to obsession neurosis. Individuals with obsessive compulsive personality disorder attempt to maintain sense of control through painstaking attention to rules, trivial details, procedures, lists or schedules to the extent that the major point of activity is lost. They are excessively careful and prone to repetition, paying extraordinary attention to detail and repeatedly checking for possible mistakes. They are oblivious to the fact that other people tend to become annoyed at the delays. Drugs is a remedy which has been found to be very useful in such cases, but proper individualisation and correct constitutional treatment is the answer. This disorder can also eradicated through meditation, through awareness; by being witness to and not being a participant in thoughts. Dr Chavan says that through behavioural therapy, a person can easily get rid of this problem. There is different type of therapies including systematic desensitization and thought stopping. anujaj@tribunemail.com |
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You can work it out
Sachin Kalra
A simple definition of interval training is: short, high-intensity exercise periods alternated with periods of rest. These higher and lower intensity periods are repeated several times to form a complete workout. Research has shown that interval training improves both your aerobic and anaerobic capacity. By mixing bursts of high intensity workouts with low intensity periods of recovery, you're overloading both the aerobic and anaerobic systems at the same time, getting the benefits of both aspects of training simultaneously. Interval training has also been shown to help prevent injuries often associated with repetitive exercise by allowing you to increase training intensity without over training or burnout. This training method has useful applications for beginners, intermediate exercisers and even conditioned athletes. Interval training can be especially helpful in situations where you are trying a new form of exercise. For example, this can be very beneficial when first learning to jog. If you attempt to jog continuously without building up to it, you will probably fatigue quickly and even give up. However, if you begin with intervals of walking interspersed with jogging periods, the workout will be much more enjoyable and effective. Also, you will be more likely to stick with the program and achieve the end result - continuous jogging. Who needs it?
While everyone needs regular, moderately vigorous exercise, high-intensity exercise is primarily for people who are already in decent shape and want to further improve their fitness levels. It is not appropriate for older men and women who have fairly low fitness levels, or beginners for whom high-intensity exercise could lead to injury. Since high-intensity exercise means very high heart rates, people at risk for cardiovascular disease should be carefully screened by their health care providers before exercising at such intensities. Many people who have their physician's endorsement for low- to moderate-intensity exercise may not receive the okay for high-intensity exercise. If you are active and healthy, and like to exercise, Interval Training may be the challenge you are looking for. The benefits:
It saves time- Finding time to exercise is a big problem for most people and If you normally spend an hour and a half in the gym following the traditional sequence, you'll work yourself just as hard in 45 minutes with Interval Training. You can also burn more total fat and calories in a shorter workout session thereby maximizing the use of your time It's a great way to get beyond a plateau- When you stop seeing improvements in your physical condition, it's time to do something new and different. Throwing a couple days of Interval Training into your exercise regimen each week tells your body that it's time to get over the plateau and make additional progress. It combats monotony- Once a routine gets boring, you might decide to let go of your exercise program altogether. However Interval Training is never boring, it's fun, and the time flies by during each session, because you're working in cycles of high and low intensity work instead of spending a long period of time at any one activity. Intervals spice up your program. Increases your VO2 maximum- VO2-max is the volume (V) of oxygen (O2) that you take with your deepest breath (max). VO2-max is the best measure of fitness and endurance. Increasing your VO2-max with interval training will give you greater endurance for everything you do, and the higher you're VO2-max, the less you will feel that heat or pressure on your lungs when you exercise. Burns more calories- Interval Training burns more calories than continuous training, not just in the workout itself, but also after the workout. The smaller bouts of intensity allow you to workout longer for a greater volume of work which equals to a greater total caloric consumption. And after all-out intensity training, the stored glycogen is depleted, leaving only fat to burn post-workout. Good recovery time- High-intensity exercise is impossible to sustain for more than a short duration because it leads to exhaustion. Interval training workouts include adequate periods of rest or low-intensity exercise after each period of high-intensity work. These breaks allow the body to recover so that the next high-intensity period can begin without undue fatigue. This also helps prevent injuries. Make the most
High-intensity exercise is physically and psychologically demanding. And because of the high demands placed on the body for this type of workout, it is recommended that you allow your body to fully recover to reap the full benefits. Continuous training is also very effective and should not be eliminated from your weekly workouts. Therefore it's recommended that you include both Interval Training and continuous training sessions as part of your fitness regimen. kalrasachin@hotmail.com |
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Street smart
Art for bringing social change has been a common practice. And, this is no news that street plays or our very own, nukkad natak, is one such art form recognised throughout the world. They have been the most interesting and effective tool for community education. The essence remains but the medium just got a generational leap. The room for creativity in street plays just got bigger with an innovative approach, young talent and latest issues. And city's cultural IQ is perfect for some nukkad entertainment, with some of the most active street play groups telling us why street plays are still a hit with people.
"Street plays always come with a message attached. Issues like AIDS, female feoticide can never lose their importance because of their intense nature and since the audience is directly involved, it makes it more appealing," says Himanshu, a member of Natyamnach, the dramatics club of PEC. "The city has good crowd receptibility for street plays. Most of the plays get good gathering and the reactions are instant," agrees Chakresh, group member of Alankaar, a theatre group. The more recent issues like media menace or taking on the youth of country find a growing importance with these groups. Natyamanch recently won third position at IIT Delhi's Rendevous for a Yuva, a play based on youth who shy away from their responsibilities and then blame it on the system and Alankaar too did a street show, Koshish hamari, on the low political attendence and awareness of youth in the country and the negative effects of media on youth. But performing in front of live audience is no child's play. And the bitter pill of hard hitting issues has to be sugar wrapped to find takers. "With a more conventional approach, all you can do is add your touch by putting humour or spice to it. The body language, speaking and expressions are kept loud and high on energy to attract attention, but is taxing for the actors. The problem with street play is that you cannot go preachy, so you have to critically review your method of approach," says Himanshu. Chakresh seconds his point, "Nobody likes straight talk. So, satire is what clicks with the crowd." His effort is on to make street plays break the cliché of being serious and critical. "We make nukkad natak entertaining by innovating with the concept, by using props and live music. Koshish Hamari was a 45 minute play, but we applied the fast forward technique to it and everything was so fast and spontaneous that the audience thought it was a five minute play," says Chakresh. Apart from your acting skills, your voice and body also are props used in a nukkad natak, "Body acting is very important for a street play. But the most important thing for a street play is to click with audience psyche," he adds. But there are no waiting bouquets all the time. "There is an instant public reaction, it happens often that people approach us after our performance appreciating as well as ridiculing it," tells Himanshu. And while you rehearse your lines and get ready for a thundering applause from the crowd, where is the crowd? "Spot selection becomes very important if you want attention from the crowd," says Balraj Thapar, the theatre in-charge of GGDSD College-32. "And the most happening spots are sector 17 plaza, lake, rose garden, student centre," spells out Chakresh. But for some, the centre stage lays every place under the sun. So, even it is the remotest villages across the region or the posh market of Sector 17, only the message and the medium matters. We have talked about the voice, the body language, the spot, the audience, so anything missing? Well, the actor, and what is the only requirement? "You can't be a good actor unless you are a good human being," Himanshu sums it up in a few words.
lifestyle@tribunemail.com
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If not much, coming to Chandigarh this time served at least one cause for Satish Kaushik. A role reversal of this Bollywood director and popular comedian it was (who can forget his Calender act in Mr.India), as he vent out emotions welling up inside him. We did expect him to share grievances but what surprised us was an absolute outburst. "I am member of several film associations in Mumbai but have never attended any. This is for the first time that I am participating in a seminar and there is reason enough for it", says Satish, who was in town to participate in a seminar organised by North Zone Film and TV Association. For him, it was an opportunity to express his dejection over scraping of the Film City project and he did it in strong words, "Wish I hadn't signed the deal with Parshwanath builders but with a human being. For them, it was just another business venture but for me and artistes from the city, it was the only hope of bringing Hindi cinema in Chandigarh." And it seems, he actually made efforts for the project, "I persuaded various directors and producers in the film industry to invest in the film city project here to make it another hub of Hindi film industry. But everything was in vain."
suggesting a complex pattern of meandering lines, almost web of atoms and nucleus. Its creator, Tomas Mayer, sensing wonder and amazement, simplifies, "It represents the chaos clouding our mind, everyday. It could be a day in your life or mine, but we have several options and we have to make choices. So, from making choices we move on and make some more." Even we make a choice, drift to his other work, just a step to the right. "That's relatively clutter-free, as there are days in our lives that are a bit sorted. The one shape in the centre representing something good that happened during the day," he says. Surely must have taken him long to finish? He says, "If I don't finish it in one day, then I put it aside and it might take even months. So, I try to be done with it all in one go without hampering my thought process."
British singer Joss Stone will now have to perform in front of just 500 people at the Dover town hall, two years since she performed at the Grammy awards function.
A lawsuit has been filed against Hollywood actor Bruce Willis for walking off the set despite his commitment to direct the movie.
Lindsay Lohan wants to collaborate with her pal Bryan Adams after spending time with the musician at his London home, according to reports. The actress and her girlfriend, Samantha Ronson, are currently staying with Adams at his luxurious Chelsea property.
Interval training has been the basis for exercise routines for years. But recently there's been a lot of buzz about it. Interval training is nothing more than a way to vary your exercise routine to boost your workout efficiency and progress. Athletes regularly engage in interval training exercises to increase their performance level. Fortunately, you don't have to be a sophisticated athlete to enjoy the benefits of interval training. And, if you want a workout that can help take you to the next fitness level, burn more calories, increase speed, improve power and more, then it's time to learn more about this effective technique.