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Quintessential charmer He’s the man who has never been untrue to his fifty-year-old love affair with the greasepaint. He has made it to the list of top 10 handsomest men in the world. A legendary career with over 200 films and millions of fans to his credit, his is a truly awe-inspiring story of dream it, achieve it. But one thing that has remained unchanged in all these years is his venerability. That’s what makes Dharmendra Singh Deol, aka, Dharam Paaji, so special. Lifestyle talks to B-town’s original macho, who behind his rugged visage hides a heart of gold. "It still looks like a beautiful dream. At times, I wonder if I have really made it. Time flies and it is difficult to imagine that once I was too a 20-something eager to leap into the big league. I am lucky and the God has been kind. The love and adulation my fans have showered on me is phenomenal. It feels great and I am really indebted to them," says the Bollywood icon over the phone from Mumbai. The man who has completed 50 glorious years in the industry is planning to commemorate it with his home production Cheers, in which he will pair up with his younger son Bobby.
"After the success of Apne, I got many offers to work with my sons. But I was waiting for something interesting and Cheers fitted the bill," reveals the star who has immortalised characters like Parimal Tripathi, Satyapriya and the most revered Veeru. "It is a travel film that starts from Chandigarh. The shooting will take off soon. Any father would relate to my character in the film," he adds. Very proud of his brood, Dharmendra is all praises for his nephew Abhay Deol. "When I saw his first performance, I told my brother that a real natural actor has been born in our family. And he is living up to my expectations," Though the actor is immensely happy and content with his innings in the tinseltown, he does not appreciate much his stint as a politician. "I joined politics because I wanted to serve my country. But trust me, an honest person cannot survive in this dirty game," he claims, making it clear that he is no mood to contest this time. A mention of Punjab and the actor gets very emotional. "Punjab ke kan kan ne mujhe pyar diya aur main bhi ise itna hi pyar karta hoon. Yet, what I really regret is that the state is losing its natural beauty." But he is proud to be a Punjabi and admires their spirit of hard work. " Wherever Punjabis go they make a name for themselves by sheer will," he exclaims. Contrary to his ‘garam dharam’ image, the man in real life advises youngsters to control rage. "It’s best to suppress anger. No one ever benefited from it." A sentimental man, Dharmendra believes that he is born to give and take love from all those around. "Meri to icha hai sab miljul kar rahen, puri duniya hi ek kunba ho. Jo muskura deta hai, main hath barha deta hoon. Jo haath barhata hai, main seene se laga leta hoon, Jo seene se laga leta hai, main use dil main basa leta hoon," he signs off with a beautiful couplet. mona@tribunemail.com
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Dancing diva Not enough dance shows on TV cater to the classical, feels Rama Vaidyanathan
It is believed that despite its verve, vigour, virtuosity in technique and the aesthetic delight, the Bharatnatyam genre of Indian classical dance has rigidity of old codes, conventions and religion, which stalls its propagation in India and abroad while Yoga and Ayurveda are gaining popularity. Your views? Of all the art forms, dancing is more attuned to nature and life. As our cultural traditions are influenced by the religion, folklore and the wisdom of celestial deities or saints, the themes of Bharatnatyam compositions are weaved with their wisdom, philosophy and life stories. We must relate the content to spirituality and not religion alone. Besides with the passage of time more softening influences have crept in and there is a substantial change in the present form compared to the centuries old concept. So Yoga and Ayurveda are practiced by few individuals while Bhartnatyam, Kathak and Odissi dances are a like a wave for which there are intrusive takers. Do not you feel that the Indian artists with mediocre knowledge`A0in classical streams are flourishing but not the art, especially in foreign lands? During my over twenty years of performing Bhartnatyam, I have observed that the foreign audience, especially in the European countries are`A0more inquisitive to understand the intricate nuances of the art. There, the survival of the fittest and competitive artist is only possible as such. I personally feel that any art form say Bharatnatyam is bigger than the individual artist. It is a challenge for any classical dancer to perform before foreign audience who has the zeal to evaluate and appreciate the art, which of course is lacking in India. Any patronage from the government or corporate house to promote the classical dances? Not encouraging. We are not grooming the generation next because the system is lacking somewhere. While there is a galore of Khichdi dance competitions in TV reality shows only one DD channel caters to classical art aficionados beaming programmes at odd hours.
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Battered bonds Mona
Firaaq takes place in the immediate aftermath of the 2002 Gujarat genocide, with clouds of anger and fear still thick in the air. Having more of a documentary feel, the film has six intersecting storylines running concurrently to each other. Aarti (Deepti Naval) is a docile middle-class housewife who is hounded by a sight of a Muslim woman on whom she had shut the door. Her abusive husband Sanjay (Paresh Rawal) is a schematic trader who played an active role in the riots. There's an upwardly mobile inter-religion couple Sameer (Sanjay Suri) and Anuradha (Tisca Chopra) reeling under distress in the newfound circumstances, two bosom chums Muneera (Shahana Goswami) and Jyoti (Amruta Subhash) whose friendship gets severely tested in the turbulent times and an ageing musician Khan Saheb (Nasseruddin Shah) who's pained at the way humanity is bent upon devouring itself. Amongst this motley crowd is also an orphaned boy Mohsin, who is out on streets in vain search of his Abu and a bunch of Muslims for whom only revenge can douse the raging hatred within. Firaaq is hard-hitting, at times, even disturbing. It gets under your skin and shakes your soul. Das doesn't believe in escapist entertainment, so there's no fake hope and answers. The opening reel, where a truckload of bodies are dumped into a mass grave, sets the grim tone. The strength of Firaaq lies in its immaculate screenplay (Das and Suchi Kothari). Nowhere, the director tries to be didactic, as she sensitively portrays how the tragedy of this magnitude breeds mistrust, suspicion and leaves permanent scars on the human psyche. It's not the actual violence that the movie depicts but effectively brings to the fore the lurking fear and smoldering tension in a disintegrated society. The open-ended closing heightens this effect. The ensemble cast sparkles and makes the characters look real and relatable. Deepti, Naseer and Shahana are fabulous, with Sanjay Suri, Tisca Chopra and Mohammad Samad lending able support. Ravi K Chandran's frames are gripping, while editor Sreekar Prasad uses scissors to neat effect. mona@tribunemail.com
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Amrita Rao walks the ramp for designer Manish Malhotra at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week
Also, one needs to be comfortable in what one is wearing,’’ Amrita said after scorching the ramp for a show by ace Bollywood designer Manish Malhotra at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week.On her decision to walk the ramp for the designer, Amrita, looking stunning in a black Satin dress, said, ‘’I feel that Manish is one of the best designers we have in the film industry today. Nobody dresses you the way he does. Infact, I feel that Manish is among the sexiest men in the film industry.’’ On his part, Manish described Amrita as one of the most beautiful actor in the film industry, the very quintissence of the traditional Indian woman which in her own way is glamorous. On the film front, Amrita has a lot to look forward to this year. For one, winning the Best Actress award at the Stardust awards for her role in Shyam Benegal’s Welcome to Sajjanpur has caused a feeling of exhilaration for the actor. Presently, Amrita is also looking forward to her next flick Shortcut-The Con Is On which releases next month.‘’I play a girl from the glamour world. It is my first out-and-out glamorous role and am eagerly looking forward to its release,’’ she says. — UNI
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Mystical, bewitching and bold Black emerged as a hot pick of the designers for Autumn/Winter season at the ongoing WIFW
Drawing inspiration from the world of sports, Bollywood stylist Manish Malhotra showcased a collection in black and gold merging sports and evening wear to come up with an assortment of dresses for both men and women. Saris with kegs and racer backs, kurtas with zipper hood tops and guys wearing bandhgala (jackets) with track pants formed a part of this unique collection. “The theme is black and gold. Sporty wear is going into evening wear and evening wear is going into sporty wear,” said Manish. Going minimalist, designer Rajesh Pratap Singh showcased his basic wearable collection all in black.Using fabrics such as wool, silk and cashmere, Singh put together a collection of dresses, which stood out for their simplicity and fitted silhouettes. This gala event will conclude on March 23. — ANI
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Mask theatre presents two celebrated Chekhov plays for city folks Comedy is thought-provoking,” says director, Krish, on his choice of the plays, Seduction and Birthday Present to be staged at Tagore Theatre today. It’s not for nothing students of theatre and languages remain incessantly obsessed with the Russian playwright Anton Chekhov’s works. This time, they come adapted in Hindi to be played back to back and as Krish adds, “in spoken language,” by the Department of Information and Public Relations (Haryana) in collaboration with Mask Theatre Presentation. Talking of the first, “Seduction is the story of a man obsessed with married women, wherein he gets entangled with his own friend’s wife,” says Krish and smiles, “Rest you should come and see yourself.” The play presents emotional tension in fragile relations against the backdrop of comedy. He says, “That makes for light entertainment, yet is intellectually challenging.” Alumnus of Department of Indian Theatre, Krish plays Peter, the obsessed man, while the other crew members, Gunjan plays the husband with Gunit enacting the wife Ayesha. If the theme, wherein a father wants to introduce his son to brothel as nineteenth birthday present appears too delicate to be handled, well, then that too is steeped in humour. “We practiced for around fifteen–twenty days for both productions,” chips in Amit Chauhan, again a pass out of the Department of Indian Theatre and playing the reluctant son. Birthday Present is set in only one locale while the one to be staged before, Seduction, requires changes. “Art college students too have helped us with designing and sets,” says Krish. Back to the theme of the second, Birthday Present, he adds, “The son is not keen on taking this present so he tells his dad before giving up, ‘I am going to be different person after I come out, I wouldn’t be your little son.’ Talking of the literary prowess of Anton Chekhov, he says “That single, convincing and turning line reflects the writer’s power.” As for now, the cast and crew appears set to display the actors power. — Manpriya Khurana To be staged at Tagore Theatre today at 7 pm
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Chandigarh beggars Sreedhara Bhasin My friend who visited our city after a gap of three years was appalled to see the rise of a new phenomenon - beggars at every red light. This seems to be the new trend and they are everywhere. A lot of people, like me, start rolling up the window pane before the car has come to a full halt at approaching lights, so predictable is the appearance of these ‘light beggars’ Some of them have deformities, which they brandish with a vengeance, some cling to the window with frightening might and some keep incanting prophecies that would be hard to swallow unless you have your radio blaring or have already read your Bejan Daruwalla for 2009. Now that we have seen Slumdog Millionaire, the age-old reality has somehow acquired a social normative. It would be politically incorrect to just dub them as beggars. They are a manifestation of imploding poverty, the collateral effect of which has found a way to our streets. Slumdog has won us many Oscars and I am not downplaying that at all. But, that makes no difference to these women in rags with an infant strapped to their bosom, who ask for alms and denounce your entire lineage if you refuse. The Chandigarh beggars are more choosy than some other cities. One woman asked me for do rupaiya the other day. I gave her a fiver. At that she looked at me with disdain and said –“issse kya hoga, Biwiji, mujhe bees rupaye chahiye. “Then she peeped into my open purse and said –“dena, tere paas to sau ka note hai – woh de de mujhe.” I haven’t seen such a discerning beggar before. I made the mistake of giving a few rupees to a small boy the other day in front of Music World in sector 17. As I walked away a troop converged upon my body, pulling my hands and my chunni. As I tried to extricate myself from dozens of what seemed like tentacles, clutching my purse feebly, they chanted out begging calls with such ferocity that I almost considered calling for some help. But, then, these are only children – I thought. They chased me for a good while before they let up. A social worker once told me that giving to the beggars is misguided charity – since, the money indeed, in the end, goes to a ruthless gang leader. Are we helping these people by giving them a measly sum or are we hurting them by letting them fall through the cracks? matkachowk@gmail.com
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Memory booster
No apparatuses, chemicals or stench that is so peculiar to the usual school labs. This lab does not abide by any set norms. Here we are the object as well as the subject. It isn’t meant to conduct pure science experiments rather has a different aim all together. As, Biswaroop Roy Chowdhury, inventor of this lab says, “It is a memory lab where our objective is to teach people how to realise maximum potential of their brain.” First centre at the DC Montessory school in the tricity and 31st in the country, each lab has a total of 15 instruments that helps in improving various cognitive processes. “Ours is a holistic approach. We not just aim at enhancing the memory and grasping power of an individual, also at how they can extend their creativity and logical skills.” In town on Saturday, he let us know more about the memory labs. An alumni of PEC, he too faced problems in grasping his lessons. Now, a Guinness book of world record holder, Biswaroop came up with the concept after an extensive research of seven years. “ I read umpteen self help books during my college days. I then realised that not everybody can go through these many books. “I thought a practical application of books could help a greater number of students. I began making these instruments to help students learn the same thing in different ways.” He says that by using his memory enhancing methods, one can even learn the entire dictionary. “No amount of data is impossible to grasp after adhering to these methods. All one need to do is attend once in a week class for a year.” — Ashima Sehajpal |
The ongoing fabrics and home décor exhibition, Spring Arcade, by Rashmi Bindra, as if, thinks of women’s day out. Understandably, there’re designer suits, shawls, kurtis, sarees, jewellery, bags, linen, furniture. Beginning with, there were shawls that had dorukha embroidery, French paisleys and kam work. Then there was Tanishq Décor dealing almost exclusively in imported wallpapers. “There are around forty-five to fifty stalls in this exhibition,” says Rashmi Bindra. Her own stall boasts of nothing less than a saree with a 200 year old border and a suit made from 17 metres of fabric!Moving on, there were special children invited for a painting competition and an NGO Arman, based in Tihar Jail, showcasing works of prisoners. If the inside tags didn’t read ‘Created by Tihar Women prisoners’ the stuff displaying incredulous levels of creativity, could easily pass for one by professionals. — TNS On at Chandigarh Club till today
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Digital reincarnation, true to life representation of timeless classics, and incredible digital effects- the art of Animation has come a long way from its arduous beginnings ninety years ago. From being used in advertisements, movies, cartoons to making layouts, animation is now being used in just about every sphere. According to FICCI estimates, the animation industry is expected to grow to Rs 4,300 crore by the end of 2009 as, animation is finding application in almost every sector now – namely fashion, art, video games, mobile phones and many more. Conducting a workshop on “Latest Trends in Animation – The Hollywood Perspective”, at Picasso Animation College, Mohali, animation expert and professor at Centennial College, Canada, Lori-Ann Emerton emphasized the students to nurture talent in line with international animation industry standards. She also applauded the creativity and zeal of the Indian students who are increasingly proving their worth in international animation industry. —TNS
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Steep drops, deep bends, dusty roads, the rallyist lined up to taste adventure at the SJOBA sub Himalayan open rally –2009 on Saturday. With a flag off from St Johns, the ‘dare-to-try’ participants will cover a stretch of 450 kms, before they hit Chandigarh on Sunday, late afternoon. Almost 85 vehicles and four teams will compete for the overall and group trophy. As per Shivneet Singh, competitors’ relationship officer, “We have ensured that the rally is a mix of adventure, fun and safety. We can boast of an exceptionally good participation this time, and hope this continues for long.” — TNS
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Tarot
Talk ARIES: A calm and happy week is indicated with the Eight of Swords card and there would be understanding and tolerance towards differences of opinion with other family members. Sunday is a good day to tackle difficult tasks. Change on all levels tends to be beneficial during full moon on 15th. TAURUS: Your card, The Sword represents light and clarity. You have the courage to express your true feelings and emotions in a romantic involvement. A celebration or travel over land is just on the cards. You are likely to go on shopping spree on Monday. Lucky colour: Yellow GEMINI: The Queen of Cups infuses trust and friendship. A romantic and dreamy time gives you the break. Things have been all work and no play and you have let things get out of balance recently. Party and fun times are here and it’s good to catch up with old friends. Lucky colour: Red CANCER: The Nine of Pentacles showers blessing on lovers. Your destiny may well be handed to you and it may help you to make your dreams come true. Your ambitious nature may attract criticism; so be careful on Friday. People are attracted to you for your intelligent mind and gift of communication. Be in touch with your sense of humour. Lucky colour: Golden brown LEO: Lady Luck walks with you, so make the most of her. A land deal may come your way on Tuesday. On the relationship front, things are totally breezy, though you may find yourself worrying about your mate’s health. Revel in all the peace and happiness as the planets form a girdle to support you. Seek help from a Taurean for money matters. Lucky colour: Grey VIRGO: The Empress card says you would be meeting a powerful person who might help you in your work. Share your views and feelings with friends on Sunday. Do a little charity on Tuesday. Family and loved ones will offer you moral support and give you strength. Though you must learn to trust people, it is not wise to trust anyone blindly. A favorable shift or elevation is seen for employed. Defer new ventures. Money flow may cause anxiety. Lucky colour: Sea green LIBRA: The Hanged Man firing up tour key planet mars. Tempting you to set big changes in motion. A Taurus person supports you financially as he also stands to gain from a project. Work will be hectic and you could be stressed on Monday. Be careful don’t lose your temper even if you are provoked. Your love life will be smooth sailing and spending time with your partner will help you relax. Lucky colour: Silver SCORPIO: The Fool card suggests you to take some calculated risk. You will encounter an Aries person who will change your life. Finance will improve on Wednesday. Concentrate on your goals and achievements and plan your professional strategy. Don’t hesitate to speak about your love. Look for depth of feeling and character when choosing a partner. Work project and business ventures move ahead smoothly. Lucky colour: Crimson SAGITTARIUS: The Moon takes you through a difficult karmic situation. Work will progress satisfactorily. You may be in an irritable mood on Saturday. Watch your temper and do not let it overwhelm you. On Wednesday give extra quality time to your loved ones and on Thursday you’ll only have to tie up a few small loose ends. Get plenty of rest and eat right. Lucky colour: Creamy white. CAPRICORN: The Emperor gets you in touch with your leadership qualities. You are best to stick to yourself on Saturday. You will find yourself more than capable of bringing your dreams into reality. Running and playing with your beloved will make you a star on Wednesday. Every day jobs look daunting from the outside, but you do your best and you’ll be incredibly fortunate. Friday romance puts you on top of the world. Lucky colour: Golden. AQUARIUS: You draw Six of Wands, which helps you in professional work. Don’t get into any argument on Saturday. A visit to religious place on Sunday will bring peace and solace to you. Take the yogic help to relax and to live happily too. You will have a lazy morning and busy afternoon on Thursday. Lucky colour: Purple PISCES: The Ace of Pentacles shows a time for wishes to come true. Be careful of jealous people on Tuesday. Investments in shares and property will fetch good returns. A Scorpio and Leo person can be relied upon. It is best to live in the moment totally and spontaneously to enjoy whatever life brings. Further studies will help fine-tune your capabilities to perfection. Lucky colour: Peacock blue.
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Blending the classical
conservatism and dynamic spirit of innovation in her repertoire, the
leading Bharatnatyam maestro, Rama Vaidyanathan has closely followed the
tradition of excellence maintained by her guru and mother in law Padmashri
Saroja Vaidyanathan. Hailed as the best interpreter of the ancient Indian
dance form Bhartanatyam and with her unique thought process and fresh
approach to dance, Rama had mastered the traits of the dancing realm under
legendary danseuse Yamini Krishnamurthy also. Rightfully decorated with
prestigious national and International awards, she had performed
extensively at all world music festivals and venues. Her incredible
performances include the one at Bozar Brussels, Smithsonian Washington DC,
Tropen Theatre Amsterdam, Espace Julian Marseilles, Russia and European
countries. In city for a dance recital on the invitation of Pracheen Kala
Kendra at the ongoing Bhaskar Rao Sangeet Sammelan, the maestro shared her
views on the art and cultural scene.
Message movies aren't new in tinseltown, as filmmakers have shown little hesitation in inserting 'serious' stuff into genre flicks. But most of the times, they are accused of going overboard and preachy. However, the first-time director, Nandita Das, dexterously leaps over these conventional pitfalls to craft a heart-rending tale of human relationships and how the unbridled rage of man against man destroys them. 
It would not be an exaggeration to say that the beautiful Amrita Rao has lent an element of glamour to the ‘Girl-next-door’. For the petite actor, who has made the girl-next-door fashionable, the definition of fashion is something that looks good on an individual.‘’I feel that anything that looks good on you is fashionable. 
