Gourmet cooking, it entices, captivates, allures and inspires some to try out or even concoct a new recipe, but for others who are not blessed with the love for cooking, it can be a tedious job—starting with finding the right ingredients to knowing what goes into what. And for a generation that is growing up on television shows and the Internet boom, it’s easy to read, then bear in mind the age-old art of cooking and remember the right components, that too in right proportions.

Though it’s easier said than done, cooking is an art that few can master and for the masters, they have penned down recipe books to help the novice learn the perfect way of cooking a dish. But in these times of the Internet boom, how popular are recipe books? Do people actually buy and learn cooking from them and which are the most popular ones, we check out.

Says Ajay Arora, from Captial Book Depot-17, “It’s not the usual Indian cooking books that people pick, but there’s a variety from world cuisine that people prefer to pick up. And the bestseller these days is Nigella Lawson and Kylie Kwong.” Courtesy their cookery shows on television? “Yes, the sales have picked up lately only because people keep watching their shows,” says Ajay. Ask him what about Indian food writers, “Nita Mehta is a hit, she has penned cookbooks right from Indian to Chinese to Italian, and from the sales, we guess people love cooking her way.”

For Anita Kapoor, an architect in Shimla, who was shopping in our city for books says, “Though most of the ladies know how to cook, but cookbooks help add the spice of variety to cooking.” Ask her does she cook from recipe books and she says, “Yes, but not Indian food. I have bought Ritu Dalmia’s Italian Khana and I am waiting to cook something out of it.” Hmmm that sounds interesting, considering her age and zeal for experimentation.

Remembering an incident Ajay adds, “People not only pick books for themselves but for their maids too. We once had a customer from England who picked up a recipe book in Punjabi because her maid only knew how to read that language.” That’s some interesting inspiration.

For Rajeev Chawla, from The English Book shop-17, “From mommies to daughters even boys pick up cookbooks.” He adds, “Recipe books have always done well, there are people who love to experiment and they are the ones who keep buying the latest of versions in cookbooks.” Ask him has the easy availability of recipes on the Net and the dime-a-dozen cookery shows affected the sales and he says, “No, cookery books have their own clientele, people like to keep certain recipes forever and how much hard one tries, you cannot remember by heart the recipes that are shown on television.”

And what are the hot sellers, according to him? “Nita Mehta, Jiggs Kalra and Ritu Dalmia’s Italian Khana is doing well.” What about our celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor, “Oh, he’s omnipresent.”

Ritu Chopra, a homemaker from Sector 33, says, “My mother never used any cook books, but I have a penchant for cookery books as they help you innovate and add flavour to ghar ka khana.” Ask her which are the books that she has learnt cooking from and she says, “I got a Nita Mehta with my microwave, I learnt a lot from that, other than that I pick up recipes from the Internet.”

We ask people who run cooking classes if they take help from cookbooks.

Says Dimpy Anand, who runs her cooking classes in Sector 35, “Sure, we do sometimes, because it helps innovate and sometimes you need reference also.” And do cookbooks really help beginners learn the art of cooking, “I wouldn’t agree to that, because for a person who doss not know the basics of cooking, how would she decipher the terms like sauté, garnish, tsp etc. Cookbooks are a help only if you know your cooking well.” That’s the sole truth any day.

jigyasachimra@tribunemail.com

From a renowned singer to an astonishing actor, Harbhajan Mann has time and again proved his mettle. Harbhajan is one of the few actors who are responsible for the revival of Punjabi cinema and that too on a much larger scale. Beginning with a hit movie Jee Aayan Nu, Harbhajan has various hits like Asa Nu Maan Watna Da and Jag Joendian De Mele to his credit.

His chiseled looks and simplicity have fetched him the love and affection of thousands of Punjabis all over the world. Though his movies have faced criticism of same subject—Love for ones motherland, but Harbhajan has always managed to keep up his guards and the success of his movies have silenced the critics.

From a boy next door to a famous singer the actor has played a variety of roles. Now he is coming in an all-together new avatar in his next flick, “Heer Ranjha”. Harbhajan is playing the lead role of Ranjha and Neeru Bajwa is playing his lady love Heer. Other actors who are a part of project include veteran actor Guggu Gill, Gurchet Chitarkar, Daljit Kaur, Shawinder Mahal, Miki Dura, Gursharan Mann and singer Jasbir Jassi of Dil Laigi Kudi Gujrat Di fame.

Directed by Harjit Singh and Kshitij Choudhary Harry, the assistant director, the film is sure to connect people with their history.

Throwing light on his next project Harbhajan said the project was very close to his heart. He said Heer Ranjha was one of the four popular tragic romances of the Punjab. The other three being— Mirza Sahiba, Sassi Punnun and Sohni Mahiwal. “There are several poetic narrations of the story, the most famous being Heer by Waris Shah written in 1766. It tells the story of the love of Heer and her lover Ranjha.

Everyone in Punjab is aware of their story, but we just wanted to revive the tale using everything how it was at that time,” Harbhajan added. “A lot of research has gone in the project and the film has been shot at different locations of Bathinda, Sangrur and Faridkot. I can assure you that you will find the film very realistic. We have tried to use everything the way it existed at that time,” he added.

On being questioned about the best part of the film, Harbhajan at once prompts music. He says Heer fell in love with Ranjha because of his music and thus it is undoubtedly the USP of the movie. Babu Singh Mann has written the songs and Harbhajan, Jasbir Jassi along with Shreya Ghoshal, the melody queen, have given the voice. The music is most likely to be launched in the next few days.

Harbhajan has a lot of expectation from the movie. “Though various movies have been made on the subject before, but its treatment is totally different. Rest, you will have to wait and watch,” he signs off. 

Creative writing is possible in a language that is spontaneous as well as genuine to the writer and his audience,” said Jyotirmoy Dutta. Inspired by such a perception and spirited passion, poet-journalist Harbhajan Halwarvi sculpted six books in poetry and prose, which had in turn become a source of inspiration for others.

The former editor of the Punjabi Tribune for over nine years, Halwarvi was honoured with the national Sahitya Akademi award for his creative literary excellence Pighle Pal (Melted Moments), which established his stalwart presence in Punjabi literary firmament. To keep his cherished legacy alive, the Halwarvi International Literary Forum has instituted the Halwarvi Memorial Award to encourage new writers. Meet the winners of the third edition of this award for the year 2008.

Gurmit Singh Singal, the two-book-old author of short stories comes from a sleepy village, Rally, in Fatehgarh. His publications include Taahli Waale Khet and Agge da Safar. “This award, which carries a citation, shawl and a cash prize will inspire me to go a long way and add literary dimensions to my Agge da Safar,” says Gurmit in all his humility.

The other recipient, Gurtej Kaur Parsa with three master degrees in economics, English literature and religious studies, all from Punjabi University, has only two books to her credit. Author of Meri Kalm Guachi and Vaar Sirjak-Bhai Gurdas, Gurtej feels that poetry is a consecrated endeavour and few blessed are endowed with the vision and art of expression. “It is indeed difficult for a banker like me with loads of household works to keep a balance of poetic passion and profession. But nevertheless a link and love with literature keeps one rejuvenated always,” says Gurtej expressing her gratitude for the Forum.

According to the Forum secretary Sham Singh, the awards will be presented at a function to be held at Paragon Secondary School, Mohali, on August 29. Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra will chair while Naresh Kaushal, editor, Daink Tribune, will preside over the function. “A poetic symposium will also be held,” added Sham Singh. 

Inter National Institute of Fashion Design (INIFD), official knowledge partner for Lakme Fashion Week, conducted an exclusive awareness workshop on fashion journalism on Thursday August 27, 2009 at Grand Hyatt Mumbai. The panelists of fashion journalists included—Marylou Luther, Sathya Saran and Priya Tanna; designers such as Neeta Lulla, fashion education pioneers such as Ritu Kochhar; socialite Rita Dhody, Simone Singh and a number of fashion beat journalists, reiterated the importance of an integrated approach to fashion reporting and the need for journalist who understands the Trends in the Fashion and Accessory Industry at large.

The keen listeners within the audience engaged in strolling down the memory lane with the senior reporters on “fashion through the ages” with an “introduction to fashion” and its evolution over the period of time. They also went onto discussing the global and Indian fashion industry and its future, stressing on the upcoming trend changes that one is going to experience.

The purpose was to bring different sectors for this workshop in order to brainstorm on the future betterment of fashion trend forecasting. This discussion was aimed as a critical tool to help the fashion sector better manage its national talent, in a period of increased fashion and design creativity - all concerns highlighted by the Corporate Director NIFD Ltd, Ritu Kochhar, in her remarks. 

The reference to her window series, the most dominated theme in Anjolie Ela Menon’s paintings during the 80s, came in a lighter vein when Anjolie said that after her marriage she felt trapped in her Mumbai home, yearning to be free, to be the person she longed to be. It evoked laughter as she asked us to verify it from her husband who was sitting among the audience at the lecture hall during her recent visit to the City Beautiful. But having seen her works, one could connect to what she said. Most of her paintings in that series indicated a lonely moonscape of her making, trespassed by an occasional crow or an animal, and using a plain or sometimes an ornate window frame as a metaphor, she painted unrealised dreams and disturbing landscapes that beckoned her.

As an element in a painting, there is something about windows and doors, which is both cerebral and fascinating. Twenty years after famous British artist Gary Hume made a come back to the art scene with his Door paintings, he had commented, “The doors are perfect paintings, a relief from the picture world I have created for myself.”

It’s different strokes for different artists. Delhi-based Sanjay Bhattacharya captured many an untold stories and hidden realities through a crumbling wall, a broken window or a faded doorway of vacant urban dwellings. He inspired many artists to follow his footsteps. Among them is Chennai-based artist K.R Santhana Krishnan who painted more than 800 doors, starting from 1993, capturing intriguing views, images, nostalgia and lifestyle through an open door.

He traces back his fascination for doors to his growing-up years. He admits that it was primarily the works of Bengali artist Sanjay Bhattacharya who inspired him to enter the world of interiors as viewed through a door.

Sanjay’s works have touched a few souls in the city too, namely Bheem Malhotra, who attempted painting a dilapidated door he saw in the Punjab Engineering College campus and did it successfully. There was no hidden story to reveal, Bheem only wanted to capture the textural quality of the wooden door. But soon imagination took over and the simple door inspired him to do another one — this time in a broken form showing a little greenery, which he used as a metaphor for hope. Smoke emitted from the burning of dry leaves, became another dormant element in the second frame.

Bheem’s doors are visually appealing — part hidden and part revealing, part despair and part hope, and a little different from his usual structured art. His series surely awaken one’s desire for inner exploration and self-discovery.

parbina@tribunemail.com

For me a nude form is just like a new pearl extracted from the womb of an oyster, just like a soft twig dancing in the air. I get inspired by the softness and rhythm of a body in its pure form. My paintings and drawings are a result created through the playfulness of curves and angles on a surface. That is why one can feels the vibrations of the lines like the breathings reverberating in us, in all of my creations. My deep appreciation for the beauty while working on a form of body results in force, speed and strength in my lines and colors. It only depends on the spectator how pure their outlook is towards a nude form in art. It is despair that some people (who belong to the society which has rich heritage of nude forms used as an integral part in caves and temples from historic times) equate nudity with sexuality. A bare form created by an artist is put beautifully and not shamelessly, leaving the perception of obscenity discarded from the very expression. 

Painting or sculpting bare bodies is part of our curriculum and we have been conditioned to view and treat our subject with objectivity. Lust does not enter here. Western culture is open about nude forms when comes to art, but in India though we have a rich heritage of nude forms in temple culture, most people now behave with hypocracy when they look at our works. But a few negative comments should not dampen our spirit and deter us from capturing the most beautiful creation in its purest form.

Harmeet Singh
Student, Govt College of Art

Last year was a disappointment! We had only one gallery representing the city in the Indian Art Summit and except for a few paintings by Madan Lal, there were no works from homegrown artists at ‘the event’ of the year. This time we have something to gush about. The Wonder That is India-A Visual Map, a photography exhibition, which was part of the summit saw a proud Diwan Manna rubbing shoulders with seven very bests photo-artists from across the globe.

Hailed as one of the first exponents of conceptual photography in the country, Diwan did not disappoint the viewers with his Violent series and bare bodies’.

“It got us a good exposure with lot of foreign galleries participating this year. It was three to four times larger than the last year and what came as a heartening fact was that people from all walks of life were there, despite the fact that there was an entry fees of Rs 200,” says Diwan. Any emerging trend in photography that he noticed? “Yes, photography-based art works are doing the rounds these days,” comes his reply.

Others who participated in the exhibition were Baba Anand, Mustafa Quraishi, Claire Arni, Inigo Escriva De Romani Cano, Ayesha Kapur, Sheena Sippy and Tarun Chhabra. — P. R

They say upbringing and environment shape the personality of a man. It applies to young ghazal virtuoso Naval Mehta but with a difference. Not many of his admirers know that the ghazal maestro, winner of maximum gold medals for his renditions, was born and raised in his family of professional wrestlers. What a strange competition among brothers while Naval wins medals at music competitions and his brothers Anmol and Navdeep win bouts in Akharas!

Music and wrestling go side by side in their ancestral family house at Kharar and interestingly Naval was initiated into music by his uncles Deepak Vaid and Bhupinder Pal, who run the traditional akhara with over 65 disciples. Naval, too an amateur wrestler, maintains that both professions can not afford to compromise on strict discipline and dedicated riyaz.

The proverb that ‘The growing plant reveals itself in the seedling’ finds its verification in Naval for whom music remained the unending quest from his childhood and finally he cultivated a strong passion for ghazals. His musical potential came to the fore, when he won the top position in ghazal singing at the inter-university finals in Chennai in 2007. Hailed as the Golden Guy in musical circles, Naval as a student of GCM secured gold medals at the zonal and inter-zonal youth festivals of Punjab University in 2005. He repeated the triumphant feat in 2006 adding two more golds..

“Winning the national-level AIR contest in ghazal this year is my crowning achievement for which the AIR has given me the B Plus grading. I alos won the national scholarship from the Ministry of Culture Affairs that has inspired me to illuminate the horizons of melody and propagate the rich musical heritage in India. I owe my success to my mentors Neelam Paul and Arvind Sharma, “ he says.

“Imbibing the intricacies and finer nuances of raagdari and tal patterns is necessary before one aspires to attempt a career in any genre like khyal, ghazal, dadra, thumri, folk, filmy or even the pop,” says Naval recalling his triumphing achievements in the reality show Awaaz Punjab Di-2005 and now performing in Legends in MH-1 channel’s in nine episodes.