Trust political parties of Punjab to hire standing comedians to keep their audience in splits till the leaders arrive to take the centrestage

Politics is a funny game. Funny as in peculiar, and very often funny as in 'ha-ha'. When elections roll around it ceases to be a funny game and becomes an absurd one. You might as well laugh at it; there is little else you can do. Now, you may have many words to describe politicians but they are rarely humourless. They love nothing better than demolishing their opponent with a wisecrack and every once in a while, a politician even manages a self-deprecating joke at his own expense.

The classic example was US President John F. Kennedy. Kennedy, the son of a multi-millionaire, won the election by a thin margin. When one of his supporters commented on this, Kennedy grinned back: "Yes, Dad said he would buy a single vote more than was absolutely necessary." Don't expect a line like this from a Punjab politician but you may still enjoy a few light moments during the campaign - thanks to the comedians that candidates are lining up to "work the stage" before they come on with their bhashans. So, if laughter is the best medicine, can it also improve your political digestion? We hear it from the entertainers.

"I am not associated with any particular party," says comedian Bhagwant Mann, who shot to fame with Star One's Great Indian Laughter Challenge. "I perform at political rallies as and when approached by a political party. However, no particular party or person is the butt of my joke. I can also target Obama or Nawaz Sharif through my punches," he adds.

Yet another comedian from Punjab who has carved a niche in Bollywood (Singh is Kinng) and Punjabi movies do not deny taking part in a political rally. But Gurpreet Ghuggi wants the party and its leader to stand up to his criteria. "I would not perform at any rally. I have been approached and invited to rallies, but I didn't find them convincing," puts in Ghuggi. "Even if I have to, I would first get a low-down on the politician. I would want to know the party agenda, what good has it has done to society so far. What are their intentions, irrespective of whether they are first-timer or old candidates. And last, the people who make fake promises closer to the elections will never find favour with me."

Talk about issues losing their seriousness when coated with satirical comedy, Ghuggi feels that people believe comedians more than politicians. "In fact, a serious issue finds acceptability with the public, when mixed with comedy."

On the other hand, not everyone is happy with the invites from the political parties. Jaswinder Bhalla, the man behind comedy album Chankaata (26 releases from 1988), does not want to be associated with any political party or perform at rallies. "A comedian, singer or performer is roped in as show stopper. They are brought to attract public, and once it's done, the real hero, the politician takes over," says Ludhiana-based Jaswinder. "I have been approached by almost all parties, but, it's better to perform in a cultural activity of a party instead of taking part in the rally."

Well, then you can take a lesson or two from comedy king Raju Shrivastav. Instead, of performing at political rallies, he has decided to take the reins in his hand and contest election himself (if everything goes well) from Phulpur constituency. And you thought only criminals, actors or businessmen could be part of the circus called elections? Laugh it out with comedians as they take on the joke called politics.

Jasmine@tribunemail.com

Padamshree Shovana Narayan handles arithmetic with as much expertise as she does Kathak

A demanding bureaucrat, prolific author, Kathak guru and performer of international repute - is what Shovana Narayan for you. Maintaining a judicious balance with her professional commitments of a director general (Audit), she had been reigning supreme on the Indian classical dance scene for over four decades. Shovana, the pride of Bihar, is married to Dr Herbert von Traxl, a former Austrian Ambassador to India. In the city for a performance at Pracheen Kala Kendra's Sangeet Sammelan, she shares her views on the contemporary classical dance scenario. An excerpt:

Kathak is the hybrid offspring of vastly different cultures like the Hindu and Mughal union and as such the latest entrant promoted by Nawab Wajid Ali Shah. Do you feel steeped into religious traditions these forms relate better with the heritage of India?

See, every dance form creates its own aura, exhales its particular atmosphere. The Bhartanatyam has derived its name from the original Dasi Atam performed by dasis in temples and naturally retains the solemnity and spiritual grandeur. But Kathak is newborn and its origin dates back to over 25 centuries. Research-based studies has established the fact. In fact, Kathak existed much before the Nawab Wajizd Ali Shah leant it under guru Mathura Das and patronised it. The form was much more versatile with rich repository of compositions weaved around Lord Krishna and his divine consort Radha.

The classical scene, including Kathak, was male dominated. When female dancers stormed into their bastion?

As per references in our epics and scriptures, the ace dancer Aamarpali from Vaishali Maghad has a mention in the Budhist period while solo dancers Shalwati, Roopkash and Nilanjna find their reference in Jain literature.

As a guru how do you see the future of classical dances in India with the younger generation opting for Salsa and other Western dances?

Bright, of course! From my personal experience my disciples take a deep interest in classical dances and are inquisitive to learn its finer nuances. But at the same time I find many of them extracting full pleasure while dancing in clubs. The deeper you go, the more you relish the versatile features of Kathak. While learning Kavit, my foreign students find it closer to the rap music.

The classical dance is virtually missing from films these days!

May be the thematic content does not permit it. But classical dances in films like Dev Das and Umrao Jaan had a number of dance items bordering on classical dance genres.

How do rate your best performance?

Any performance which touches the soul of the audience is the best.

Designers say they are opting for lesser known models against Bollywood stars and are using economically effective material

Sales of luxury clothes have gone down as people have started feeling the pinch of global economic downturn, but designers at the ongoing Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week, sounded optimistic. Designers are refusing to rein in their creativity; they are using less expensive materials to construct this year's must-haves.

"We all as designers have to become realistic about price levels, about what the recession is asking us to do are look inwards. It has to be user friendly and it has to come at good price and that it is a responsibility that we have a design team," said Ritu Kumar, a designer who showcased her 'Urban Folklore' collection.

Kumar's collection saw an innovative use of mosaic that was inspired by the Islamic tiles, checks, tussore wool, stripes, ethnic zardozi, brocades and mothra silk washed in deep maroons, yellow, purples and mud browns.

On the other hand, designer Puneet Nanda said that it is a challenge to do good business during times of slowdown. He said that he would want to make such clothes that people would want to buy.

"I have to make clothes which are going to be so beautiful that they would have to inspire of those not wanting to spend," said Nanda, who exhibited his collection 'Maya' (illusion) that aimed at courting glamour and fantasy in the form of colourful patterns.

Designers said they were adapting to the global downturn, with some opting for lesser known models as against Bollywood stars and others using economically effective material.

With 102 designers and over 175 buyers participating despite the recessionary trends, fashion week brings together the business of fashion and expert designers as well as connoisseurs of lifestyle on a common platform.

This gala event will culminate on March 23. — ANI

With wide smiles, immense confidence and effortless twirls, Rubina Ali Qureshi and Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail, the child stars of Oscar winning film Slumdog Millionaire, Thursday walked the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW) ramp and performed a jig on the film's hit song Jai ho.

The audience was left mesmerised as the two children from the shanties of Mumbai entered the show area with gleam in their eyes and literally refused to budge from the head of the ramp. They happily obliged the shutterbugs even as the audience kept waiting for them to finish feeling like the ultimate stars of the show.

They stood still until designer duo Ashima-Leena Singh, for whom they walked the ramp, led them away. But the audience kept clapping and cheering the duo for their confidence and innocence.

While Rubina, 9, wore a gypsy skirt and a sleeveless embroidered top with stone-work and accesorised with a trendy maang-tika, Azharuddin, 10, sported a black sherwani with red Palestinian embroidery.

"I gave Rubina a gypsy skirt because it goes well with her look. And the maang-tika brought an Indianness to the entire look," Ashima said after the show.

Before the show, both children, who are enjoying their newfound fame after the film by British director Danny Boyle won eight Oscars recently, said that they weren't nervous, but were excited to be at the event. Cameramen didn't want to miss a single opportunity of capturing the several poses that the young stars went on striking until they were taken away. While Azharuddin stood with his chin high and hands folded, as if he were megastar Amitabh Bacchan, little Rubina kept twirling to show off her skirt.

Apart from these star attractions, other designers gave a thumbs up to Ashima-Leena's collection, which comprised flared trousers, full-length gowns, kaftans, capes and jackets in vibrant colours like red, peach, blue, green et al.

The fabrics used were lustrous and ranged from silks to velvets to georgettes and had motifs of Ikat and Chintz, images of antique weaves and embroideries, stamped on them. These were reworked with fine beads, sequins and threads.

— IANS

Swarovski-studded eight and squares sunglasses continue to make style statements. But choose a pair that provides UV protection

The weather is already getting hot with the sun puffing and snorting fireballs. Well, it’s the perfect time to think about eye care and eye wear. But, when the protection comes laced with style quotient, who minds the heat?

Having taken up the topic of sunglasses, let’s make a mention — buying sunglasses is still considered more of a luxury than necessity. Most people view sunglasses as a style accessory and hence a show of opulence. Guys, open your eyes and explore the benefits of eyewear.

“High quality lenses offer UV protection. Though they come with a cost it sure make the eye less prone to the UV rays damage,” says Gurpreet Singh from Weldon-17.

Besides this, he explains that it is this one accessory that is stylish and immediately adds glitz to your overall appearance. So, wait for none and turn on the flashlights as city stores flicker with chic eyewear.

“Talking trend, this year big squares and eights are doing well,” says Gurpreet. About embellishments and colours, he says, “People are going for glitzy ones with trimmings in the corner, be it metallic, swarvoski crystals or diamond studs. And it is the metallic hues that are also doing well, but cannot surpass the good old black and brown colours.”

So, how does one decide about the kind of sunglasses that suits him or her? Suggests Atul Kapoor of Kapoor Optical Co-22, “Oval faces should try on rectangular or square frames as oval frames will make their faces look too round. People with sharp jawlines can flaunt roundish frames and chubby faces look good in glasses with geometrical or sharp cuts.”

Style of sunglasses and he says, “People are going more for branded stuff and it’s more of curvy glasses that are doing well.” He says shads of brown are making a style statement.

Succumb to the sizzling style of fashionable eyewear, but also keep quality of lenses in mind while picking up your pair. Says Dr Rajan Chugh, an eye specialist from Sector 21, “Fashion and comfort are important but the most significant part of the glasses is lenses, as it protects from the UV rays.” He adds, “Usually people go in for shape and style of the glasses but ignore the lenses. I suggest they should first check the quality of lenses and then go for frames.” In fact, he suggests, “People can choose a particular frame and ask the optician to fix a good quality lens in that.” Quite an idea!

Well, for a layman is there a way to find out the quality of lenses? He replies, “No, it’s only a specialist who can tell.”

Ask him if expensive means quality, and he says, “No, it’s not that way. But, yes anything that is below 200-300 is definitely low on quality. One can get a good pair for Rs 500-600. But beware of the faux products and insist on the bill. It is the only way to check.”

Talking about fake products, he says, “Glaring or blurring affect is more in cheaper versions.”

Lending some tips, he says, “Do not wear very dark glasses. As they don’t offer contrast and can be dangerous while driving.”

In the end we would repeat, go for good quality of lenses. Experts vouch for brands like Ray Bans, Robreto Cavalli, Killer Loop, Vogue, Versace, Gucci, Chopard, Esprit, Tommy Hilfiger, Fastrack, Polo Club. However, it’s not necessary that you only buy the expensive ones unless it is a matter of style statement.

jigyasachimra@tribunemail.com

‘Everything short’ is the punch-line for this season’s fashion scene

Its fall in springtime, folks! That’s right. The pretty young things in the city are celebrating the seasons in the sun, and the ‘springtide of their lives’, by shedding those bulky garbs.

Nay, it’s not just concise corduroy and denim jackets that are going off the fragile shoulders of the damsels, the ones out of distress of covering themselves up to the neck for protection against the dull hard bitterness of winters!

Look around and you find dresses looking yummy and tasteful in those spaghetti straps. Even the tops and the tees in the spring of 2009 are all coiled up to leap off the shoulder, revealing a daring-do attitude.

The lasses are teaming up the stuff with short skirts, even shorter shorts. After all, good things in life come in small packages. Right fellows?

Well, if you still haven’t figured out the complete picture, it’s more of less in the tricity known for ‘everything short’ — short distances, shorter relationships. Yes! The allusion out here is to Fiza and Chand’s eclipsed relationship that lost its twinkle in less than 40 days.

Alright, you have been too busy to see the high-on-fashion maidens trotting down the path of style in the stuff that reveals more than it exposes! Worry not! Just spare some moments and walk up to the happy hunting grounds all along the geri route!

You’ll hardly notice the crackle of the golden yellow leaves, swept along the path, crush under their leathery boots as they sashay down the ramp of life in all those enticing stuff.

Look out for irrelevant shapes; apparel with plunging necklines or off-shoulder options complimenting unusual wraps. Shirt dresses and sheath dresses. They are all there. Oh yes, you even have skirts hanging from the torso riding up the popularity charts.

Ask Tanisha, and the under-grad will tell you all about picking up soft flowing fabric cut into knee and ankle-length wear. She had to forgo visits to her fav’ evening haunt with her pals for about a month to grab the stuff from an export-surplus house! “But it’s worth it,” Tanisha asserts.   

“The trend’s there till the weather turns hotter,” says city-based fashion designer Shweta. “It’ll last only till the gals start scratching their pretty little heads worrying about getting their anatomy tanned. Then, you will see them zipping up the fast track of life with full-sleeve cotton shirts covering up their apprehensions of sun tan.”

Once the weather turns hot, Shweta predicts cultivation of floral kurtas, and even casual shirts, with flowers, foliage, birds and even butterflies. “The dresses will not necessarily be in minuscule shapes and cuts, but nevertheless they will facilitate the pretty buds un-blown to bloom like never before,” she says.

So, blossom and make most while the sun shines before it glistens with anger and wilts you down.

“What a friend we have in cheeses!
For no food more subtly pleases,
Nor plays so grand a gastronomic part;

— William Cole