The sword with which once Capt Joginder Singh, a trusted general of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala, fought many wars would have lain neglected in the attic of his grandson Hari Singh's house in Sector 9, had it not been for the initiatives of the Government Museum and Art Gallery. Thanks to the museum director N P S Randhawa and his team members P. C. Sharma and art conservator Namita Jaspal, the sword is now being restored to its former glory. And Hari Singh, becomes the first lucky beneficiary of this week-long workshop on heritage conservation started by the museum on Thursday. Same is the case with the priceless painting of Golden Temple by S.G Thakur Singh, which was torn in the middle.

The workshop title Heritage Conservation: Problems and Practice Codes come as part of the museum's outreach activity which means the team members going door-to-door in a specially designed bus which is full of restored antiques with the aim to generate awareness among the masses.

"All of us have some antique or other in our homes. Our aim is to point it out to them, bring it back from the storeroom or the dustbins and restore it in their rightful place. By doing that half of our job is done. If something needs professional touch, we bring it with us and restore it in our lab free of coast," says Randhawa. A look inside of the bus is enough to awakened one's love for antiques - a metal pension seal Buddhi Singh, a World War I hero, which is now as good as new, a couple of pre-historic spears again in metal which got corroded as apparently someone tried to find out which metal was it, a table clock with all freedom fighters statues for hour hands, a few handwritten farmans by Sikh rulers, a black and white poster of Bollywood film Apsara and three unique volumes of Census of India conducted in 1891 that gives out information even on caste creed and religion, visually and physically challenged people of the area as well as those who speaks English and those who do not.

"Most damages occurs because people try to use adhesive or try to clean their metal artifacts with acids," explains Namita, who has a master degree in art restoration from National Museum Institute and has been working as a freelance restorer for the past 13 years. "Restoration should be a reversible process and the materials used to do that should provide a protective layer to the object. But when people uses cellophane or fevicol type of thing they end up causing more harm to their antique," says Namita.

Well, the team is all set to breathe a new lease of life free of cost to anyone who approaches during this week. But if someone wants to learn the basics of art restoration, then there is a booklet that teaches one as how to go about it.

parbina@tribunemail.com

Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Chenab Gandhi, based on the life of freedom fighter Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, will go on floor in May, contrary to reports that it had been pushed to the year-end.

A few weeks back, when Hurman Baweja was replaced by John Abraham in this period film, tongues had started wagging that it would be quite some time before Chenab Gandhi would hit the floors. The reason being cited was that John was too busy working on Hook Ya Crook to spare time for Chenab Gandhi, which has superstar Amitabh Bachchan playing the lead role.

"There are some vested interests who are trying to pull down the project or create negative energy around it. The fact is that John completes Hook Ya Crook on April 20 and we begin shooting for Chenab Gandhi on May 8. Now how quick is that!," said Bhansali's spokesperson.

Apparently, John was willing to begin on an earlier date but Bhansali insisted that he take a break after Hook Ya Crook and go through some reading material in order to prepare for his role in Chenab Gandhi, which is being directed by the filmmaker's long-time assistant Vibhu Puri.

"John was sweet enough to offer dates immediately after Hook Ya Crook but as everyone knows, Bhansali doesn't operate that way. He wants his actors to feel comfortable about their roles, the era and the milieu in which the film is set. Since Chenab Gandhi is a period film, it was imperative that John spends some time on reading about the subject before coming for the shoot," the spokesperson said.

The period political drama based on the freedom fighter from North-West Frontier Province, widely known as Frontier Gandhi, also stars Vidya Balan apart from Amitabh and John.

Shooting for the film will begin on sets in Mumbai and would be completed in two to three schedules. The principal shoot of Chenab Gandhi is expected to wrap up before end of 2009, the spokesperson said. — IANS

Neil Nitin Mukesh, grandson of legendary singer Mukesh and son of Zindagi ki na toote ladi … fame singer Nitin Mukesh who debuted in Sriram Raghvan's Johny Gaddaar, is ready to take the centrestage with his second film Aa Dekhen Zara opening this Friday. With his dashing looks, he is sure to impress many hearts. His debut Johny Gadaar with Dharmendra was a hit and on the strength of his one performance, Neil claims his aim is to be a romantic but macho lover. We chat up Neil.

After Johny Gaddaar, there is a lot of expectations from Aa Dekhen Zara. Are you nervous?

Not at all, I am definitely excited as it is my second release and when we do a film, we all hope it does well.

With Aa Dekhen Zara you are venturing into singing. What prompted you to do so?

I sang in this film as a tribute to my grandfather Mukesh and also to Mohammad Rafi and Kishore Kumar ji. I am passionate about music. The title song Aa dekhen zara… is peppy edgy and trendy.

Tell us about your character?

Ray Acharya is a photographer who has a special camera, which has supernatural powers. This camera can see future. So, this powerful camera is a central theme of the film. My character is not negative. The audience will sure love Ray Acharya.

How would you rate director Jehangir Surti?

I always wanted to work with new breed of directors. Jehangir is a very talented director. He is wonderful to work with and very passionate about cinema.

How would you rate Bipasha Basu as a co-star?

She is extremely talented, good dancer, bold and beautiful. She's got everything going for her.

Which are the other films that you are doing?

I am working with Kabul Express fame director Kabir Khan for Yash Raj's untitled film, Sudhir Mishra's Tera Kya Hoga Johnny, Madhur Bhandarkar's Jail and a thriller New York. I am playing the character of Parag Dixit in 'Jail' and also doing a film with Abbas-Mustan.

— Dharam Pal

Hollywood actor Lindsay Lohan is frustrated with constant media scrutiny and urges the paparazzi to be nice to her. The 22-year-old starlet claims that constant speculation about her bank accounts, sobriety and her relationship with Samantha Ronson has left her perturbed.

"They need to stop saying we're fighting," she said. "People telling lies about me to her and all this garbage. I'm really a good person and I have a good heart and just want to work. The only reason I go to clubs is to hear Samantha spin or be normal," she added.

Despite being in the rehab on more than one occasion, the Mean Girls star insists she's not into drinks and drugs.

"I don't drink, I don't do drugs and I don't lie," she said.

"I love to act and write and be creative, and I want to help people by playing 
characters that can send a positive message out to whomever may need it," she added. — ANI

American singer Lady Gaga has revealed that had she lived in the hippie era in the 1960s, she would have been chasing after John Lennon and fighting for him with Yoko Ono. Lady Gaga, 23, real name Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, believes she was born in the wrong era, and insists that she would have fit in better when The Beatles were at the height of their fame. "I'm quite sure that if it were 1968 I may not be the Lady Gaga that I am today," she said.

"I might be arguing with Yoko Ono and trying to win John Lennon's heart and chasing The Beatles in a bus on LSD, hoping that one of them hands me a microphone one day," she added. — ANI

Music is basically a performing art which represents the magnificence of our creative genius. But any art form is liable to be influenced by the perpetual change and as such remains no longer static,” observes acclaimed ghazal and Bollywood playback singer Vinod Sehgal.

Credited with playback singing in 58 Hindi, Punjabi and Haryanvi films, 10 television serials and a score of albums, Vinod Sehgal shares his 30 years of experience in Bollywood and the world of ghazal singing at the Pracheen Kala Kendra on Thursday.

“The Indian classical and film music has been reining supreme in the world musical scene and it is not losing out to the pop-music,” he says replying to a question. “Instead, the pop music is patronised only by the market economy which opts for that musical stuff jo bikta hai,” he says. “The demand and supply, distribution and profit consideration come into play for the producers and music companies. As such only the socio-cultural and not the aesthetic criteria becomes more relevant in pop music,” he claims, adding that all genres of music, including pop, have their own significance, identity and exude their particular character. But since they are not trained voices to sing pop music – which is not easy at all, and the half-baked singers failed to bring the melodic effect. “Besides, when subjected to comparison in technical virtuosity, melody and rhythmic variations, it pales,” he adds.

Ambala-born Vinod Sehgal remained chief music assistant to film composer Hans Raj Behl from 1975 to 1980 and this was when he developed a close association with great singers like Mohd Rafi, Asha Bhonsle and many more. However, a chance meeting with Ghazal King Jagjit Singh made all the difference for Sehgal. Jagjit Singh not only introduced him as the brightest talent of the 80s but also gave him a break as a playback singer in film Ravana, staring Samita Patil. Thereafter, he never looked back and went on to win the Platinum Disc Award for playback singing in Gulzar’s Maachis and television serial Mirza Ghalib. His important films include Maachis, Train to Pakistan, Sun Meri Laila, Bezuban, Baba Saheb Ambedkar, Bhagmati Rahi, Laung Da Lishkara, Diva Bale Sari Raat, Yari Jatt Di, Mahaul Theek Hai. He has regaled the music lovers while accompanying his mentor Jagjit Singh in America, Canada, UK and Hong Kong.

”The film songs have a limited exposure wherein the artiste is confined to monotonous feel whereas ghazal singing is more versatile with the rich content of poetry in it. Re-mix music can never be better than the original. None could sing the song “Din Dhal Jaye” as Rafi Sahib has. Reality shows are nothing but sentimental blackmail and exploitation of the innate budding talent,” he says.

On the invitation of the Pracheen Kala Kendra, later Vinod performed in honour of late Madan Lal Koser at Punjab Kala Bhawan-16.

The very flash of certain moments rejuvenates young Gautam Dhar, a city-based prodigious tabla maestro. Such a proud moment, etched on his memory, is as he walked up to the dais to be crowned as the national winner of the Rashtriya Yuva Utsav in percussion music at Jamshedpur. But this achievement did not come to him by chance but only after years of arduous riyaz under the blessed tutelage of his guru Pandit Pawan Kumar Verma of Punjab Gharana. Having won the Haryana state and zonal competitions, Guatam had invested his best efforts to win the national crown and doing the city proud. 

In fact, Gautam had already established his credentials of a ‘legend in the making’ after striking a gold medal in 1998 at the prestigious Harvallabh Sangeet Sammelan. He won distinction and laurels for giving a solo performance for one hour before the connoisseurs of the classical music at the Harvallabh Sammelan the next year in 1999. Born and brought up at Karimganj (Assam), Gautam has a base in folk music as he initially mastered the nuances of shrikhol, an Assamese folk percussion instrument, before learning tabla from Pandit Bhuvan Mohan Bhattacharya. But his grooming under Pandit Pawan Verma shaped his aesthetic potential.

After the sad demise of his guru, he is in the care of Ustad Sushil Kumar Jain, the living stalwart of Punjab Gharana. His versatility encompasses to all genres and Gautam is competent and confident to ply solo and accompaniment with the pure classical streams, folk, film and light music and strains of his tabla have embellished over 10,000 audio albums. Gautam has toured Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia performing fusion music as well as folk and ghazals. Gautam has partnered with noted classical and ghazal maestros, including Ustad Sultan Khan, Parvez Mehndi, Ustad Ahmed Hussain and Mohd Hussain, Anuradha Podwal, Chandan Dass and Vani Jairam to name a few.

“Melody and rhythm are the essential ingredients of classical music and as such complimentary to each other,” says Gautam before creating a new rhythmic pattern on his tabla.

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Woodland’s product range never ceases to surprise! With the new summer range of sandals to breeze through the summer months, the new collection includes style, design, comfort and durability. The upper is made up of premium quality imported nubuck leather backed by long lasting and comfortable sole.

For the students who want to enter the world of radio, Academy of Broadcasting on Thursday announced the launch of one-year diploma course in Radio Station Operations and Management. The course will cover all the aspects of the radio industry ranging from creative to marketing and management to technical.

Hardeep Singh Chandpuri, CEO and founder, Academy of Broadcasting said, “After interacting with the industry, now we know their requirements for a comprehensive training module. The best part about this diploma course will be that the students will get a chance to intern in a radio station.

This one-year diploma will provide a relevant and detailed learning of the world of radio broadcasting and would lay particular emphasis on ‘On-Air’ skills, production techniques, management functions, marketing and presentation skills. 

“With professionals delivering lectures, practical exercises, radio station visits by industry experts, the course is designed to provide students with comprehensive training to enter the exciting and rewarding world of radio” said Chandpuri. —TNS