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Those were the best days of my life... When it comes to chronicling the most cherished moments of our life, many of us like to replay our college or varsity days. Apart from books, lectures and libraries, campus is the super seat of mushy crushes, perennial pranks and fulfilling friendships, memories of which come with a lifetime warranty of happiness. Lifestyle takes a trip down the memory lane with some city folks to know what made their college life so special. “It seems like yesterday,” quips A. K. Malhotra, GM, CITCO, as he recalls his engineering years at Thapars, Patiala, in the early eighties. “What I really value is the unadulterated bonds we formed at that time. Friends were friends, no expectations, no returns,” he adds. Malhotra has a vivid memory of a tea vendor near campus that served Oberoi bakers’ buns, a chicken corner dishing out exceptionally huge leg pieces and a parantha point at the railway station. His alma mater celebrated its Silver Jubilee in 2007. “We had a blast that time. My batchmates had come from the different part of the world. We relived the moments by pedalling our way into the past,” fondly reminiscences the UT officer. For Dr Neerja Chawala, who did her MBBS and MD from Lady Harding Medical College, Delhi, the campus life was especially blissful because the responsibilities were just restricted to ‘eating, sleeping and studying’. Those were the best days of my life, says the gold medalist who feels that the medical college life is somewhat
different from regular colleges. “Our schedules were rigorous, bunking was out of question, an average day meant waking up early in the
morning and then burning the midnight oil. Yet, we had our fair share of fun,” beams the ace gynaecologist. She particularly remembers how they started a cultural fest in a girls’ college that saw a jam session something that was
completely unheard of at that time. Another memory that stands out in her
memory is that of Christmas vacations which saw her making excuses for no partying as she was engrossed in preparing for her pharmacology exam. “The early eighties, when I was a student, were also times of strikes. As the president of the students’ council, I vetoed against an impending strike,” she proudly exclaims. The woman is in touch with her college and goes there for guest lectures from time to time. “That is my way of paying back,” she asserts. Parag Jain, IGP, headquarters, Punjab an alumnus of St Stephens, Delhi, terms his alma mater a place that opened up new vistas of vision. “The lectures were just a small fraction of immense learning which was going on. The tutorials were held in small groups with the mentor discussing the topic threadbare,” says the top cop. He especially recalls informal discussion groups that brought eminent personalities to the college: “I remember talking to Sunil Gavaskar, who had come along with his wife, Pranab Mukherjee and Ved Marwah, the then police commissioner of Delhi. The discussions fuelled our dreams and we were encouraged to aim for the stars,” says Jain. “The café was the hub of all activity. It was there where fashion and anti-fashion statements were made. I distinctly remember how once one of our friends came to the eatery wearing a tie over a kurta, ” he smiles. “On Thursdays we got continental dinner that consisted of bread, cutlets and coffee. Not finding favour with students, they would throng an eatery at Mallika Gang. We also really used to love watching late-night movies sitting right in the front,” says the officer, who is now an active member of Chandigarh chapter of St Stephens.
mona@tribunemail.com |
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Tracing terror Finally, a book by someone who’s been in the midst of it all! When an Army man pens on action, thriller, suspense, battle, adventure…you bet he’s smelled the gunpowder himself. That’s author Mukul Deva. So when his note reads ‘This book is a work of fiction although some of the events mentioned here have actually taken place’, it only saturates the credibility factor. That’s his book Salim Must Die. At Browser’s bookstore, on Saturday to promote his latest offering, he gets candid about books, writers and of course the Army. “This is my sixteenth city,” he declares, but no there’s not a speck of fatigue. An author and an Army man? “You can take the guy out of the Army but not the writer out of him,” he declares while beginning from the beginning Lashkar, prequel to Salim Must Die, “I came up with Lashkar for two reasons, one, during Sarojini Nagar blasts, I felt New Delhi was not doing enough and secondly, layman does not have a clear picture, just like an average Indian doesn’t know much about their Army,” reasons the alumnus of National Defence Academy and Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. Terrorism is too comprehensive a subject to be dealt with in span of a few hundred pages and out comes a sequel. “Salim Must Die deals with the anatomy of a terrorist,” he continues. Two hours of research everyday and not surprisingly there’s a mention of the infamous sea route in his works already. “It’s all logical, otherwise I’m no predictor,” he sets the record straight. With an average Indian happily tucking chic-lit under his arms, he sure is a class’s author, no? “I am author,” he throws, all the titles, “I have penned self help books, I have written on women and cinema, but I would say I’m a profiler of the times,” of course apart from the Striptease and Model. He adds, “Profiler of times—that’s what authors need to be increasingly and I am lucky enough to have got the right editors and publishers with Harper Collins and its chief publisher.” He did grow the normal route via Hardy Boys, Enid Blyton and PG Woodhouse, James Hadley et al. Talk of sequel and he has some plans, not one but two, “The third sequel The Dust Will Never Settle will be out by January next year and the fourth one called Tanzim later on.” Watch out! manpriya@tribunemail.com |
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Home shanti home “People want variety these days and when it comes to nameplates, they have definitely come of age. These days we have steel, metal, old wood and even clay used for making a nameplate,” says Abninder Singh Grewal, owner Gavy Arts, Phase VII, Industrial area, Mohali. He adds, “Machines have come to a man’s aid and now whatever you want is available. Right from laser-cutting to moulding of steel in varied designs anything can be done and any design can be made.” Creative MKTG in Sector 9 too has a wide variety to offer. Here you can pick wooden, glass with stone, ceramic, marble slide nameplates. Telling us more Mini, office assistant says, “The best seller in the market is the glass nameplate with letters inscribed in stone.” While she makes it clear that these glass nameplates are for the bungalows, she adds, “We have a variety, specific to the need. Like for apartments we have the smaller nameplates in wood, ceramic etc.” While here you can pick nameplates with patterns of Ganesha, Swastika, Om etc, people even customise them as per their choice. For customers especially Punjabi love to flaunt and are ready to spend good amount for a thing that is class apart. Says Nipun Bhatia, owner Graffitti Wall Art Studio in sector 16, “Choices are abundant when it comes to nameplates but here there can be no standard variation, as it depends on the karigar who does the job. But people in the city are ready to spend money if they get something exclusive and class apart.” Well, if you are also the one who’s been wondering whether to fix or not a nameplate, then we can say you must, as the trend spells so! jigyasachimra@tribunemail.com
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The handicrafts and handloom exhibition at Lajpat Rai Bhavan-15 has all the summer colours. A collection of fabrics and handicrafts across Rajasthan, Gujarat, Meerut, Banares, Panipat, and Delhi, displaying over 40 exhibitors, it brings yet again a chance to give your wardrobe a
traditional touch.
Summer cool fabric—cotton dominates the exhibition with Lucknowi chickan work, Kolkatta’s kantha work and patchwork suits, saris and kurtas available at a price between Rs 600 to Rs 3000. If you are in for the six-yard drape then Banarsi silk sari becomes a must-pick. Bhagalpur silk fabrics also make an impressive collection alongwith kalamkari prints, block prints and chanderi silk suits. White metal handicrafts, colouful Jaipuri lakh bangles, hyderabadi pearl jewellery, silver jewellery, jute bags and chappals are a handy pick for everyday use. —TNS
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Knowing the right way to open a bottle of champagne will make your celebrations enjoyable and safe. Here are some tips on opening a bottle of champagne properly:
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Matka chowk
The Gods of the theatre were scoring last week, since the untimely rain brought scheduled outdoor concerts inside the theatre and after many years of languishing, the halls reverberated with the surreal strains of the flute played by no other than the Greatest of all – Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia. The entire heritage festival was a wonderful endeavour – to bring in to the city, luminaries in the fields of music and arts. Moreover, the festival was free and open to general public. Anyone could walk in to see a recital that in most metros one would have to wait for hours just to buy a ticket for. This was a grand collaboration by many stalwarts of Chandigarh administration and more than that, personage and people who love the city and love living arts. I saw young and old both thronging the lines and enjoying the shows. This speaks volumes for all the people whether officially vested with authority or volunteering, who invested time and effort in doing something so typical of our city – offering the people objects of beauty, just like the Sukhna or Leisure Valley – to cherish and behold. As many of you know, Tagore Theatre was designed by the Late and celebrated architect Aditya Prakash. He was closely affiliated with Le Corbusier’s Chandigarh project. Most of us think of him as a great architect who built some of the Chandigarh landmarks ushering in a new India. He was also an avid enthusiast in many art forms. We could not have found a better way to celebrate his gift to us. I looked at the wooden murals of Rabindranath Tagore on both sides of the auditorium and thought of a poignant song he wrote – “ I receive you anew – for I lose you ever so often – Oh my loved one ! Desirous of surrender - you seek to hide – Oh my loved one!” matkachowk@gmail.com
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LAUNCH PAD
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Picks & piques Jai (Akshay) has an eerie gift. The Canadian forest officer can time travel, take a peek into the past, simply by staring at a photograph. But it comes with a rider: if he stays more than a minute inside the photograph, it becomes a serious health hazard for him. Our hero, of course, is a good Samaritan and uses his power to help people in distress. In between his philanthropic acts, he even finds time to romance the chubby-faced Sheila (Ayesha Takia). When his rich dad is mysteriously killed on a boat, Jai is convinced by a madcap, self-appointed detective Javed Jafferey that it's a case of murder. Desperate to unravel the truth, Jai takes refuge in his photographic foresight. He manages to get hold of a picture of his father and three business associates, clicked right before the old man's death. Finally, after some vigorous time-hopping, which leaves him near-dead, Jai comes face to face with the stark reality. Though the basic idea of visualising through pictures is not that bad (we have already seen it in Aa Dekhen Zara), Kukunoor, despite his repertoire goes horribly wrong when it comes to its execution. He fails to weave a gripping tale, something elementary to an edge-of-the-seat suspense drama. The result: Tasveer gets reduced to a B-grade who-dun-it murder plot. A bizarre overstretched climax only piles up the viewer's woes. Akshay looks disinterested and sleepwalks through his role. Takia is strictly average. The film is loaded with veterans like Sharmilla Tagore, Girish Karnard, Anant Mahadevan and Benjamin Gilani, but the characters look mechanical. Jafferey provides some relief with his maverick act, but it doesn't last for long. The film, though, scores in the technical department with Vikas Sivaraman's doing a decent job with the camera. Overall, the flick doesn't click. mona@tribunemail.com |
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Name game "It is certainly a disadvantage for her, but she'll have to work with it that she is my daughter. She can't change it and she'll have to live with it and carry that luggage. And I'll always be there to support her," Kamal said in an interview. But the 54-year-old is all praises for his daughter who is making her Bollywood debut with Luck. "She's an extraordinary girl and I am not talking as her father. I observed her myself at an audition and I was really impressed. I hope there are many more who think like that. She's found her own niche and is going in the right direction," he added. Shruti, 23, is the eldest of two daughters born to Kamal and actress Sarika and has a professional degree in music from the Musicians Institute, California. She has also learnt "North Indian classical music", informs Kamal. Not many know that she debuted as a playback singer at the age of six, in Thevar Magan (1992) and her first Bollywood playback came in Chachi 420 (1998). Her second Hindi song came in Hey Ram (2000), in which she sung the bilingual versions of the title track Rama Rama with her father, in both Hindi and Tamil. She also made a brief appearance in Hey Ram. Her last released film song was in Gautham Menon's Vaaranam Aayiram. Apart from singing, Shruti has also been a model and featured in magazines like Frappe! and Verve. Shruti, who also heads the rock band Extramentals, has teamed up with childhood friend and actor Imran Khan in Soham Shah's Luck. Apart from Bollywood, she is also making her debut as a music composer in Thalaivan Irukkiraan, her father's home production Rajkamal Films International's remake of A Wednesday in Tamil and Telugu respectively. Besides films, Shruti is also going to cut her debut album this year.
— IANS |
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Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gam
Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan cheered up Preity Zinta's Indian Premier League (IPL) team Kings XI Punjab by giving a short TV bite on her behest. "Preity had called last evening for a request - her IPL team was hugely depressed and she was wondering if I could do a small TV bite to cheer them up. I did that and I hope it makes them happy," Amitabh posted on his blog www.bigb.bigadda.com. The two actors featured together in films like Veer-Zaara, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna and The Last Lear. The second season of the IPL is starting April 18 in South Africa. Commenting on the upcoming Twenty20 series, Amitabh wrote: "Cricket has become so big and important. And the T20 series, now shifted to South Africa due to security concerns and concerns of its reflection on the elections, is a sheer
delight." — IANS |
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Limited edition The singer has lent her powerful voice to only a few Hindi film songs including Piya tora kaisa abhimaan (Raincoat) and the title track of Laaga Chunari Mein Daag. "There have been some composers and directors who have invited me to sing in their films. But I don't think that I can sing every song. My voice and my temperament have their limitations; so, merely to accept a song because it's for a film and because one feels that it will get more attention would be idiotic," Mudgal said. "I also believe that to sing a Bollywood song, one needs to have a specialisation and that specialisation is not that I have been studying. If a song excites me and suits me, I only go for it then. I don't want to be apologetic for doing something," she said. Mudgal has produced various impeccable renditions of the Indian classical repertoire, but she feels that classical training is not the only way to become a singer. "I don't think it's important to be studying classical music alone. I feel it is important that whatever kind of music you do there should be a disciplined study of that. I am not of the opinion that you have to learn classical music to be able to sing any other kind of music. It is advisable that you study some type of music but in a disciplined fashion," Mudgal said.
— IANS |
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TAROT TALK ARIES: The Wheel of Fortune spins in some good luck, travel and opportunity in your life. A good time to make breakthroughs at work and changes at home. You get past health problems quickly and get ready for a happy journey. Those who plan to take up a part time job will get a suitable offer. Defer property deals, stock marketing on Wednesday. Expectant mothers are assured of safe delivery. Tip of the week: Do not leave things up to chance. Lucky colour: Orange. TAURUS: The card Hermit brings a change and mutation. You will come up with certain bright business ideas, which if you put to practice could verily result in huge profits. Your enthusiasm is impetuous and unpredictable on March 12. Make sudden decisions and express your views strongly. Romantic secrets can be fun, how about getting in touch with an old lover. Lucky colour: Blue. Tip: Do not be in the rush to spend extravagantly GEMINI: You draw Knight of Pentacles, so you will have a confusing week. You have an abundance of physical energy and self-confidence right now and can take on new projects and challenges with ease. Some delay in financial settlements is possible, so conserve resources for now. Relax and adopt a light and playful attitude on Thursday. Listen carefully to your beloved's advise. Tip: Bury an old quarrel and be prepared to make a compromise. Lucky Colour: Green CANCER: Sorting out practical and money matter is not quite your forte. But to be secure, you need to get your finances in order. You can accomplish a great deal of work, especially if it involves physical effort. Beware of making rash moves or personal decisions when upset on Wednesday. An exciting love affair is on the cards. Tip: Don't try to end all the deadlock at one go. Lucky colour: White LEO: You draw Seven of Swords so don't get stuck in your feelings. You cope better when detached and light-hearted. Business people can get involved in a legal dispute over a financial matter. Professionals and self-employed will do better. In love you can now have your cake and eat it. Tip: Beware of strangers. Lucky colour: Red VIRGO: This week you climb new heights and actualise creative ideas. You will be back in sunny spirits. You will motivate and encourage loved ones into better humour. New projects will start slowly on Tuesday. Do not get tangled with an idle and superficially attractive person. A trip is likely to bring joy if you combine adventure and spiritualism. Lucky colour: Burgundy. Tip: Be cautious in your action and speech. Wait and watch others. LIBRA: Three of Pentacles reveal family pressure and responsibilities, so be careful as you are distracted to run into trouble if you don't pay attention to what you are doing. Timely support from an Aquarian friend surprises you. Fitness routine and a healthy diet are prescribed for your well-being. Lucky colour: Crimson. Tip: Be careful and don't get into too many directions at the same time. SCORPIO: The Star promises name, fame and recognition. Wednesday's scenario is highlighted by a strong relationship and love life. You must learn to practice patience and avoid flying off the handle until you know exactly what is happening. A Leo will give you optimistic advice. Meditate and get in touch with inner silence. Lucky colour: Red. Tip: Play your cards close to your chest. SAGITTARIUS: Two 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. Be in touch with your sense of humour. Focus on yoga and exercise. Lucky colour: black. Tip: Avoid loose talks at work. CAPRICORN: The Fool infuses you with courage. You find ways to express your creativity and emotion. Luck in speculation is indicated and you could also make some investments in shares and stocks. Those seeking a career in television media will come across a great opportunity. Wednesday will be an expensive day. Lucky Colour: Golden. Tip: You must share responsibility with others. AQUARIUS: The Queen of Cups blesses you with the finest of quiet and subtle qualities, as you are on a winning streak. Past efforts will lead to new opportunities on the career front. You will be inundated with social invitations and will be the toast of the party circuit. Romantic relationships will get better by spending quality time together. Lucky color: Brown. Tip: Listen to your voice of wisdom. PISCES: The Three of Coins describes proficiency in craft and profession but you have a tendency to slide into the doldrums. Family situations may require strategic handling. Singles should be cautious about new relationships as they can be disappointing Lucky Colour: Rust. Tip: Balance and perspective will lead you out of a problem.
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They say, what’s in a name? We say, everything. And when we say Moniker, we are not talking about an individual’s identity, but that of a house. And what better than a nameplate to announce it! While we were under the impression that they are out and outdated, some interesting pieces at an exhibition reinforced our lost conviction of hanging a nameplate on the front door. And yes, if you follow Bollywood trends than you must know—Dutts, we mean Sanjay and Manayata Dutt, too have positioned a golden nameplate that reads Dutts in their Pali Hill residence. Ahm…(remember the surname controversy) and it is said that it was Manayata’s idea to have it before they celebrated their first anniversary. Good going, Mrs Dutt.
Well, back to the name game, available in aluminum, wood, plastic, fibre and even glass, nameplates no longer come in only black backgrounds with letters inscribed in gold or silver. In fact they have become more stylish and chic. 
Ask him about the trend, and he says, “Traditional clay and old wood look is ruling the roost these days and apart from that people want some motif on the nameplate, including the name.” And, when it comes to motifs people want it in shape of hut, moon or even a dry log.
A Champagne cork can fly up to 80 kmph as it leaves the bottle. Anything that travels with such momentum can have a devastating effect if it strikes your eye. 
In my early days of Chandigarh, I visited the Tagore Theatre for a Md. Rafi night. The young aspirants sang beautifully, but the auditorium and the sound system did little justice to them. I had a chance to see some of the performance for the Chandigarh Heritage Festival held last week and fell in love with the new Tagore Theatre. This was a whole new hall – redesigned and refurbished with new seats, new interiors, new lighting and sound systems. The exterior of the hall as well as the new lounges and passages with the copper and glass finish made me think of some of the quaint and beautiful smaller art galleries in Paris. Yet, it exudes a very Chandigarh aura with geometric pathways and ceramic sculptures, entry parlour adorned with reproductions of Le Corbusier’s paintings.
Welhome, India is offering complete makeover solutions this summer to bring in a whiff of freshness to your home décor. This summer sees the launch of some immaculately styled home décor products in bed and bath linen, that are also available in co-ordinated sets to give you a theme/story to take home. The specialised style team at Welhome will help you tone up your house with the latest trends for summer and spruce it with your inputs to give it that personal touch. Offering a unique colour palette with its wonderful mixture of varied prints and styles, for summer, Dipali Goenka – director, Welspun Retail Ltd suggests green, lemon yellow and serene lavender for your bedroom. Icy Blue in the bath section is what will add zing and bring in a serene atmosphere. Colours for your living room include a wide spectrum of brighter hues which include distinctly tropical and vibrant shades of forest green and brown.
Curtains should be dressed up with persistently popular natural shades of beige and cream apart from orange and
peach. — TNS
It's another brick to the thriller overload on the box office. But sadly, the engaging storyteller Naagesh Kukunoor's (Hyderabad Blues, Iqbal, Dor) paranormal plunge fails to pack a punch, courtesy an ill-conceived concept and sloppy writing. 8 x10 Tasveer is ridiculous right from the word go. 
Tamil thespian Kamal Haasan says his name is a "disadvantage" for his daughter Shruti Haasan but "she will have to live with it".
Renowned singer Shubha Mudgal has created magic with her songs like Ab ke saawan and Mann ke manjeere, but her presence in Bollywood has been rather sporadic. She says it's not possible for her to sing every kind of film song as her voice often becomes a limitation.