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Aam zindagi...
It's the season of the King, and it is available in very possible size, shape and flavour. If anyone knows how to re-incarnate the king of fruits, it's got to be the Indians. It is a passion that we share, after cricket and cinema, of course. Street-flavoured mango juices to homemade pickles, chutneys and murabbas, fashionable mango martinis and mango festivals featuring expensive avant-garde mango curiosities. We are in love with the fruit.
Bringing to you the beloved fruit in its every possible avtar is the 18th annual Mango Mela at Yadvindra Gardens, Pinjore. A fruit that is missed by its 'religious' lovers for most part of the year can be fully savoured and enjoyed here, with mind-boggling varieties from around the country on display. King of good taste
Celebrating the arrival of the fruit, it has a fancy display of over 2000 mango varieties. "We are expecting over 400 entries this year and some of the varieties are usually not found in the market. We have the best of the best," said Rajesh Joon, the media in-charge of the event. The annual event that provides the opportunity to an average mango lover to experience good quality mangoes seemed to be living up to its reputation. "Most varieties come from the northern states, mainly UP, Bihar, Punjab and Haryana. But this time we are expecting 40 new varieties of Amrapali mangoes and some from the North-East, which will be first time," said Joon. The quality keeps getting better and the quantity is 10 per cent to 12 per cent more this time. What's in a name
The conventional mango varieties come with conventional names. So, we know there is a Totapuri, Dushri, Kesari, Langda, Sindoori, Amrapali, and the global Alponso. But then, who cares for conventions anymore? The newer varieties come with jazzy, funny, or innovative names, quirky enough to intimidate you to pick and squeeze one. Like what? Jaane Alam, Ashiqui, Mashooq, Jaaneman, Heer-Ranjha. Like every mango has a love story to tell. Then there were some unexplained but equally unusual ones like Maharaja Swaad, Haati Jhool, which was the biggest mango on display, Kharbooza (wonder how kharbooza can be a mango!), Tantan, Radha Mango and many more. Care for some more fun? Then hear it for Mr Ford, an exclusive Amrapali mango variety, one tree in a 900 yards mango garden. There was a particular Queen Elizabeth that reminded us of the royal status enjoyed by mangoes. Just that, how would it sound: "I tasted Queen Elizabeth" or "Bhaiya, give me half a kg of Queen Elizabeth!" |
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Now, with sweet mangoes came sweet fun as well. Desi or firangi, mangoes stole the show, bowling over the young and old. But here's the twist, we checked out if the mango lovers are high only on taste or mango quotient (MQ) as well. Ask the visitors to the mela if they know the nomenclature as clearly as the flavour and a few surprises were thrown up. Langda, Dusehri and Alpohnso were the clear winners. Hey, what's choosa?
Some took pity on poor Totaparis and some even invented a few of their own. "I know, choosa aam (hoping to say Chausa!)," said Jaskiran, who had come from Ludhiana with her family to see the mela. A first-time appearance gave her the leverage to get away with the wrong elocution, "It's different and I am enjoying all the mango-darshan. Honestly, I have not seen so many mangoes and not even tasted 1/3rd of them," said her sister, Jasmine. Jaaneman, my love
Another such batch was this group of friends from Chitkara. "Dusehri, tota, and…," and the umm continued for a while till we proceeded to ask their experience with so many mangoes. "I liked this particular variety, Jaaneman. It is so flirty," said Ashish, a B.Tech student. |
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Mystic mood
Arzo-smaa (earth and sky) kahan, ke teri wusat (Omnipresence) ko paa sakein, ikk mera hi dil hai voh, jahan tu sama suke," says sufiana qawwali maestro, Ustad Haji Aslam Sabri, while delineating the mystical significance of love between the Seeker and the Preceptor. "The spiritual sufiana qawwali, as a pure art form, is both objective and subjective as also universal and individual," adds the Ustad, who will provide the finale to the mango mela at Pinjore on Sunday evening. While deliberating on spirituality and mysticism in a calm, contemplative mood, Sabri looks to be in communion with his Preceptor. He goes on to claim that 'sufiana sangeet" is, in fact, the popular music form qawwali, the centuries' old medium of devout sufi saints, poets and sages for paying obeisance to and establishing a spiritual contact with God. " Unlike other music forms, the sufiana qawwalis have retained the sanctity and mysticism in their qalaams ever since inception centuries ago, as popularised by Amir Khusro," claims Sabri. The felicity of poetry, both mystical and romantic, fast-paced music and a performer's presentation style add to the pleasure and charm of listeners. However, after the qawwalis started featuring in films, they became a hit and commercialization took over the sublime art form, resulting in introduction of qawwali muqablas. It somehow diluted the purity of the qawwalis, which were based on classical ragas and laced with spiritual content. The qawwali is, however, seeing a resurgence after a gap of two decades while tracing its transition from sufi mehfils to royal courtyards, the stage and films. The maestro, on behalf of the qawwal community, expressed deep anguish over the government's prejudice. With 60 years of excellence in the arts and an array of awards, there is still no recognition with a Padma award or a senior artist incentive or government accommodation, unlike other counterparts in the Indian classical arts. Sabri, with a rich family legacy of qawwali since the last 550 years, owes allegiance to the Andehta (UP) gharana. Having learnt music and Urdu literature from his grandfather Ustad Rahman Sabri and father Subhan Sabri, the Ustad has performed extensively in Russia and the USA, Gulf countries and can sing in 14 languages with consummate ease. The only top-grade qawwali artist of AIR, he sees the future of his gharana gayaki in his talented son Azam Sabri and grandson Aariz Sabri. The poet in the Ustad comes to the fore, as he signs off with a couplet, "Haath khali hain tere shehar se jaate huye, jaan hoti toh meri jaan lutaa ke jaata …"
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Bioscope in the time of multiplex
No amount of advanced Google search could satisfactorily explain the terms toodi and jhalar. Clueless? Cut. First, the backgrounders. Of course, there were mangoes, mélange of mangoes and lots of mangoes at Mango Mela-2009 at Yadvindra Gardens, Pinjore. But what gave the touch and true connotation to the word mela as we know it, went way beyond King of Fruits. If you know what we mean? Here's paying an ode to everything other than mangoes, which might get missed in the deafening celebrations. Let's get exploring.
Almost mini-mobile theatres, they used to come in the streets, in small-town lanes and the children would hover around them, almost haggle to take a look and repeat it. The ones still groping in the dark, remember bioscopes? And does it even matter what they're showing? The old film posters, the retro movie scenes, with blurred sound playing in the background. "They aren't as many as they used to be, and we don't go to the streets anymore but we take them to fairs and carnivals and they are still popular and well received. Not just by kids but equally by parents themselves and those trying to educate their kids about something they did in their childhood," informs Raja Kumar, while he uncovers the brass lids. The beauty of cupping the hands and seeing the random, 'nineteen to the dozen' pictures! What else? The puppet show might still be a part of school annual day functions, but is it anything like the professional performers from the bylanes of Rajasthan? Jaipuria, Vicky and Banwari have been doing it "since many generations now." They chorus, "We're fom Jaipur's Kalakar colony at Paanipet." What about the audience? Do they find a ready one? "Wherever we go, we get appreciated, apart form all the nook and corners of Rajasthan, we've been to Australia and Africa to give performances." As for toodi and jhalar, they're traditional musical instruments that Ganpat has been playing for the past "lots of years, don't even remember now. It's an ancestral performing art and we started practising it and doing programmes since childhood." Oh, by the way, yeah the mangoes were nice! Really good, especially against the backdrop of long lost culture! While the loud shehnai playing in the background, eclectic assorted rangolis were themselves fighting for attention. manpriya@tribunemail.com |
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Brew beckons
Café Coffee Day, has now launched the ‘Sundae Dessert Festival’ that is all set to enhance the in-café experience.
Specialist in creating combinations that are augmented by coffee, the ‘Sundae Dessert Festival’ offers an appealing combination of unique ice-cream blends with desserts and cookies.
For those with a sweet tooth Sundaes like the Esspo Cuppa (a vintage layer of classy chocolate coated almond in cappuccino, chocolate and vanilla ice cream combined with strong shot of espresso), or the Sweet Heaven (a mix of nutty & chocolaty marble, mango, vanilla and chocolate ice cream coated with dark chocolate and black current sauce), or the Dark Cluster (tempting chocolate coated almond & cappuccino, nutty butterscotch and chocolaty marble served with thick chocolate sauce) or the Nutty Colors (a flourish of flavours and fruits, as mango and strawberry ice cream along with dry fruits and coated with chocolate and black currant sauce) will tantalize the taste buds and leave a craving for more.
—TNS |
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Of reel & reality
We have Balika Vadhu highlighting the evils of child marriage, Na aana is des laado raising the concern for female foeticide, Bidaai depicting the society's 'complexion' discrimination, Mitwa showcasing caste barriers and ample other shows making an attempt to diminish the difference between the real and reel. While we thought, Telle ville is all about mirroring the harsh realities these days, the team of Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata hai, a show on Star Plus presents a rather pleasant picture. Saturday saw Ather Habib aka Shaurya, and Pooja Joshi aka Varsha, bhaiya and bhabhi of Akshara, the bride in the soap, shopping in the city for her, thus bringing reel life closer to reality. Describing the shopping visit to the city as worthwhile, Ather adds "We chose Chandigarh over other cities for shopping as it is known for its Phulkaris, heavy embroidered clothes and delicious Punjabi sweets." While the day's schedule began with the shopping of jewellery from a branded jewellery store, they later went to shop sweets from a popular sweet shop. Ather lets us know more about the shopping spree, "It would help people relate to the show. We want them to be a part of the wedding in our family and what better way than to visit a city and shop with local people around." That's how the television scene has changed after the 'K' soap era got over, it's no more about vamps planning and plotting to woo the hero, or actors coming back from the graves, credit to some miracles. "Television is real by all means now. Every show is culture based, whether it is Gujrati, Rajasthani, Haryanvi or Punjabi. The sets, costumes, accessories, the entire backdrop is in accordance with that," says Pooja who was earlier seen as Sayongita in Prithvi Raj Chauhan. Ye Rishta… has a Rajasthani backdrop and the wedding will see all the traditional ceremonies being performed. But what makes the show different from the rest of the brigade is that it has no negative character, "There's no villain or vamp rather characters with grey shades, which is an inherent part of everyone's personality." As for her role in the show, she says, "It's a very positive role. I play Varsha who was also Akshara's best friend and later got married to her brother. The character is almost similar to how I am in real life, chirpy and kind hearted." Two soaps old in the industry, Ather hails from the small town of Malerkotla in Punjab. A postgraduate in Theatre from Punjabi University, he has acted in Punjabi serials as well, "The Indian television industry has ample opportunities for those who are talented. The survival is of the toughest, as we have to work for 14 hours a day." And now when Akshara's 'wedding' is approaching, he will get even busier, "Make 100 odd arrangements for guests, do what not to please relatives, follow rituals, adhere to customs, all for the success of the grand project, a wedding ceremony. But I don't mind all this 'hard work' if audience catch up with the show." Everyone's invited! ashima@tribunemail.com
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Matka chowk
The first time I landed at the Chandigarh airport some twelve years ago, my two year old daughter while hugging her teddy crinkled her nose and asked -"Mom, is this a real airport? Where are the planes?" The Grand Post office like look of the Chandigarh airport was compensated by the grim security that abounded in those days. Over the years, I have grown used to the airport and the anxious look of the folks who depart from the airport for the first time. This year I dropped an American friend who asked me more than twice - " Are you sure this is the right airport?"
The Chandigarh Airport is being upgraded. The reconstruction work that had started a long time ago is still underway with no palpable signs of progress in sight. I arrived at the airport a week ago, snapped up my bags in a jiffy, was seated in the car in a few minutes and reflected. What is in store for us with this new airport? A 'real' airport with multiple gates and terminals? Hassled and rude airline officials running around with their walkie- talkies? The new 1D terminal in Delhi is quite impressive. Delhi domestic has turned truly global with artistic décor and slanted light hangs in chrome and metallic countertops displaying overpriced chocolate chip cookies and sandwiches with overtly American names. However, I like walking down the courtyard like runway in Chandigarh. So, much better than being huddled in a bus with your nose pressed to the underarm of a sweaty fellow passenger. It is also nice not to have too many planes. I hate being huddled into the plane and then wait on the runway for the traffic to clear. I have always been prone to airport misadventures like landing in JFK, New York in the middle of a snowstorm when all onward flights were cancelled. If I possessed good serendipity then, I could have written an interesting narrative of airport horrors bolstered by many gems from all my future travels. Considering the sharp rise in flights that are now Chandigarh bound, I doubt the airport will be able to maintain its quaint state. But, after waiting in long queues at the Metro city airports, it is refreshing to breeze into the Chandigarh airport and not have to scramble about luggage and maddening crowd. Once an older gentleman in immaculate attire came and sat across me. He then proceeded to take out a flask from his leather handbag and a copy of the Readers Digest. When he met my eyes, he wished me 'Good Afternoon' in a crisp accent that foretold a lifetime of mountains, maybe army and good standing. You wouldn't find this in 1D. matkachowk@gmail.com |
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Here comes the star
Hollywood icon Slyvester Stallone makes his Bollywood debut in Sajid Nadiadwala's Kambakkht Ishq. Fans of the Rocky and Rambo star can see their hero beating up bad men to save a damsel in distress in typical Bollywood style and even say two Hindi words, title of the film Kambakkht Ishq. Even though he, along with Brandon Routh of Superman fame and James Bond girl Denise Richards are integrated well in the narrative, about an Indian stuntman working in Hollywood, the film is a major disappointment in terms of content, say film critics. But, the film sports a grandiose look and has been mounted lavishly due to the no-holds-barred budget by producer Sajid. It remains to be seen if the Akshay-Kareena starrer which had been hyped tremendously for getting Hollywood into Bollywood, lives up to the expectations in terms of box office collections. However, majority of the audience who watched the film on the first day were unhappy that the movie was not their money's worth. "I was shocked to see both the lead pair mouthing foul words and cheap, crude dialogues throughout in the name of entertainment," said Namrata, collegian from suburban Mumbai. —IANS
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Picks & piques New York, the first big Bollywood film to hit America after the industry strike, has won good reviews from US media with the New York Times praising its portrayal of problems faced by a Muslim minority. "Indian films often deal with the problems faced by a Muslim minority. Transposed to the American context, those problems continue to resonate," writes the influential daily about the film that opened across US last week. "Kabir Khan's New York looks at America after 9/11 through a Bollywood lens" and it's less distorting than you might think,' it says. "The story, which engages issues of ethnic profiling and terrorism, hinges on loyalty, love and friendship, a holy trinity of Hindi cinema." “What makes the film so engrossing is that the intricate screenplay humanises the characters,” Movie Guru says. Movie site rottentomatoes.com calls it a "fascinating film," which "in very intriguing and suspenseful sequences ...takes the audience in the plight of legal detainees' and "interprets and highlights the situations without bias." As the film reflects of the tragedy of everyday life, it uses the imagination of its audience in its feelings, says the critic. — IANS
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"I play a feminist, who hates men. The reason is also given in the film. Thank God it is not shown in a serious way!" she told reporters. Although Kareena's onscreen character of a supermodel is named Simrita Rai, she is also referred to as Bebo in the film and also has a dance number of the same title. "Incidentally, I am called Bebo in the film too," Kareena says. Accordiong to her, the only connection between the real and on-screen characters are their nicknames and their Diva-like attitude. "I am not really like her and I definitely do not hate men. I am also not as egoistic. I am a feminist in the film as Akshay plays a chauvinist, that is the tension between the two characters," says Kareena. — PTI
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Tarot TALK
Taurus: On a more abstract level, it's time to learn, evaluate and act on your own. Do not try to impose your views on others on Thursday. Meditate and look at your priorities before making any decision. Tip: Dare to accomplish those tasks, which normally take a lot of time. Lucky colour: Sea green Gemini: Expect good news this week about money, business, work, education, health issues, or some other practical matter that may have been unstable or uncertain up till now. People in power will come to your assistance and you will find yourself moving in their circle. Tip: Be positive; you can make things happen out of the most unlikely circumstances. Lucky colour: Pink Cancer: Patience, methodical action, diligence, objectivity, and hard work could pay off nicely. Students need to concentrate and pay attention to chapters they had left for the last moment. Tip: Don't do anything at the cost of health. Lucky colour: Peacock blue. Leo: You need to push for a favour before somebody else beats you. Flattery will get you everywhere, especially with those in positions of power. A young person close to you is ready to embark on an independent journey towards fulfillment. Tip: Don't waste an opportunity by not exploiting a contact even if it is from your past. Lucky colour: Ebony Virgo: Venus on your card can put you on the spot regarding a love relationship. Being honest is one thing and telling someone what they want to hear is another. Try to be diplomatic and things will work in your favour. Meditation takes you to higher dimension. Tip: Keep your eyes on the future. Lucky colour: Golden brown Libra: Play your cards right and you will find opportunities coming your way. Be ready to receive some important news or message on Tuesday. Focus on organising the home to cope with the festive season and the hectic social life. Tip: Don't waste an opportunity by being rash or impulsive. Lucky colour: Silver grey Scorpio: You will have to play a bit of a cat and the mouse game this week, especially if you are dealing with authority figures. Relax and enjoy the company of your loved ones or just do nothing. Keep others secrets well guarded with you. Tip: Lack of persistence can be disastrous in business matters. Lucky colour: Cherry Sagittarius: A bright and cheerful start to the week. Outing with friends would be entertaining but highly expensive, especially if you don't learn to say no. This is definitely not the best period to speculate or invest in risky business. Tip: Don't do anything at the cost of health. Lucky colour: Cream. Capricorn: Your energy would be high and you would feel strong enough to face any challenges. Do not delay tax matters. Working mothers: health of child may create problem. Spouse would be understanding and highly supportive. Tip: Don't reveal your plans to your competitors. Lucky colour: Yellow Aquarius: Investing in property, farming, or domestic goods could pay off in a big way. If you receive a handsome dividend, set it aside for your family. Unexpected gifts and presents from guests arrive as your fortune fairly smiles. Tip: Be positive and think carefully before taking action. Lucky colour: Crimson Pisces: You need to be diplomatic and avoid the impulse to be domineering. A subordinate may come up with a useful suggestion, which is sure to improve efficiency at work. Independent entrepreneurs will be working hard at new project that they are due to launch soon. Tip: You shall prevent a lot of trouble by taking timely action. Lucky
colour: Grey |
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Bollywood diva Kareena Kapoor says she is not someone with the "hate-men" attitude as her role in Kambakkht Ishq portrays and the only common link between the reel and real characters is the name Bebo.
Aries: This is a week to be efficient, studious, industrious, and dependable. Being diligent and "all business" now could open nice new levels of authority for you to occupy. With your charm, you can wrap people around your little finger. Tip of the week: You will receive a useful tip at the stock exchange, which can be put to profitable use. Lucky colour: Wine red.