Back-to-back auditions by various channels in the past week. What is it that's drawing reality-show organisers to the tricity more and more?

ashima@tribunemail.com

Civil code

Auditions for the DPL were recently called off in Delhi after the crowd became unmanageable. Can the same thing happen in Chandigarh too or it can't? We check the civility meter of people of Chandigarh.

Abhimanyu, an RJ with BIG FM, feels, "People of Chandigarh don't create problems unnecessarily." Citing an example of last year Roadies auditions, he says, "People started misbehaving after they were asked to wait for hours together before the auditions. Such reactions are quite expected."

Sushant Aggarwal, who auditioned for Idea Rocks India, feels, "People of Chandigarh are fun-loving and know their limits. Auditions for several reality shows have happened here and we have never come across such an incident. I believe people know how to behave themselves well." 

Bold, innovative and exciting are the adjectives one can use for this year's Autumn/ Winter collection

Checkmade: This navy blue check coat in the winter collection of Nautica-17 is smartness teamed with warmth.

jigyasachimra@tribunemail.com

Fashion to Fall for

Just casual: These casual tee at Nautica makes a perfect gear for a casual outing.

Talking trends, Ritu Kochhar, director, corporate, INIFD-8 says, "The key point for this autumn/winter collection is - the revival of the 80s. We see padded shoulders, fitted jackets, broad belts and well-fitted high waist skirts. Other than that jump suits are back with vengeance. Though they are not available in the city but in metros one can pick denims corduroy, gabardine and even satin jump suits." Talk of the recession and its affect, and Ritu says, "I don't think the recession has affected the fashion industry anyways. The patterns we are seeing this season are completely new. Slim and high waist pants are in this season. These weren't there last year. So, one has to change the wardrobe. You'll look outdated if you wear clothes from your last years autumn/winter wardrobe."

Payal Saboo, designer and stylist from Polka-8, too agrees that Purple is the colour of the season. "The colour palette is not limited to greys and blacks this season, but we have shades of purple ruling the roost. And, with the festive season a wee bit early this time, we'll be seeing a lot of bling in apparels."

Apparels and more

If you are looking for budgeted shopping than check out the Shastri Market-22 or the export surplus stores for more pocket-friendly and the in trend apparels. 

I will never stop singing, says Asha Bhonsle 

Playback singer Asha Bhonsle sings a song at a programme for the launch of her music album and her 76th birthday celebration in Mumbai on Monday night.

Priyanka Chopra may find a place in Guinness Book

Bollywood actor Priyanka Chopra is ecstatic at the prospect of finding a mention in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the first female actor to portray 12 characters in What's Your Rashee.

"We have applied to the Guinness Book of World Records. It is a long process. Let us see if we succeed," said the actor, who was here to announce her support to 'Save the Children' campaign for their initiative 'Rewrite the Future'. Priyanka said What's Your Rashee, which releases on September 25, very subtly gives a social message. "Even a film like Taare Zameen Par had a message about children which was not talked about before, but was woven into a very well-told entertaining story." When asked whether she plans to set up an NGO or charity foundation of her own, she said currently she is trying to set up herself as an actor of substance. Speaking about her Twitter experience, she said the social networking site is her chance to connect with her fans. "I can share personal things, close to my heart without any middle person through Twitter," she said. The actor, who is currently shooting for Pyar Impossible with Uday Chopra, will begin work on Ek Anjana Ek Anjanee with Ranbir Kapoor from November.— PTI 

Arjun Rampal becomes Thomas Scott's brand ambassador

Model-actor Arjun Rampal will be the face of well-known men's clothing brand Thomas Scott's new line of formal and casual wear.

"Now I am coming as a brand ambassador and not a model to endorse a brand which I believe is good and we will have a good campaign," said Arjun, who recently launched his restaurant in Delhi, in a statement.

The new line would be launched shortly in India. Thomas Scott, a product of Bang Overseas Limited, was launched in 2002 with a distinctive look on the menswear formal, casual and party-wear and is sold in exclusive 42 stores all over India. "We preferred Arjun Rampal because of his mass appeal with the youngsters and the mid age people as our brand was catering to this segment. After Rock On and Om Shanti Om, Arjun has become very popular and he was the perfect choice for us," said Brij Gopal Bang, director of Bang Overseas Ltd. —IANS

Divya Dutta all praise for T-10 Gully cricket format

Bollywood actor Divya Dutta, who owns Lundhiana Gulies, a T-10 Gully cricket team, believes that the format is a good means to provide an opportunity to the hidden talent in the country. There is a lot of hidden talent in the country which does not come into the limelight only because of lack of opportunities, the actor said.

"Once en-route a shooting in Punjab, I saw some boys playing cricket in a village. They did not have even proper bats. While the other popular formats like IPL are more urban-oriented, T-10 Gully cricket accords an opportunity to this unexplored talent," the actor said. "And who does not like a new hero emerging in every field. Be it cricket, or cinema, people constantly want something new, something better," she said adding a new face is always welcome.” When asked why of late Bollywood is taking more interest in cricket, Divya said the association is not at all new. "I believe cinema is wedded to cricket. It is only because of some Indian Premier League teams being bought by Bollywood stars, that it is now being noticed more," she said.

— PTI

Amjad Ali Khan, Sehwag, Sameera Reddy to walk the ramp at KFW

You are not born with it, but thanks to modern lifestyle, stress is now part of our existence. Diwakar Sukul from the UK tells us how to cope with it

The race is on, and everybody wants to win. How they plan to do it is a matter of choice. But what they don't realise is the pitfalls of this race, which show up in different ways and forms. The most common and pertinent, that each one of us is dealing with is - stress.

Despite the endless advice from yoga gurus, friends, management gurus, we haven't been able to deal with it. It resurrects even if you think about it. Ironically, it seems to have found a 'peaceful' abode with us. We travel with 'it' or vice-versa. And we bet 'it' loves workplaces. We've seen people nurture stress to their heart's content. "This is because most of us fear to deal with it," says Diwakar Sukul, psychologist, founder director of The Kamkus Clinics all over the country, co-creator of multi-dimensional approach to healthcare in Harley Street, London.

Pammi Bai’s mission is to document and present Punjabi folk dance in its original form 

Punjabi folk is so rich and so versatile that it charms one and all. The exuberance and vitality of the people of Punjab are displayed in their folk dances. Set to the rhythm of drum beats and other folk instruments, the folk dances capture it all — triumph and emotions.

Colour is the essence of Punjabi foilk songs and dances. Laughter, happiness, pain, sorrow, all are important ingredients of these songs. The entire Punjabi culture, so to speak, is reflected in them. The energy and richness attached to the dances till date is believed to be unbeatable when compared to any other dance forms. But due to various factors, the original forms of these folk dances have been distorted to a great extent.

With an effort to preserve Punjabi culture, the Punjabi University, Patiala, has initiated a project for the preservation of the heritage of Punjab, namely its folk dances. This is the first project of its kind. Bhangra icon Paramjit Singh Sidhu (Pammi Bai), who is an ex-student of the university, is rendering his services. Pammi Bai is the director of the project and Dhanwant Kaur is the co-ordinator.  

After training for several days, Pammi Bai’s boys, who had been selected from every part of the state, gave their first performance at the 2nd Punjabi Conference that is underway at the university. Their performance as a fresh breath of energy. For those who have seen only the distorted version of bhangra and jhumar, it was an eye opening experience. Dressed in colourful attires and accessories, the energy of the artistes were non-beatable and it took the entire crowd in its grip. Soon, the audience was dancing to the tunes of the traditional instruments. The ambience was charged up.

Pammi Bai said the basic aim of the project was to present the originality, decency and fragrance of Punjabiat and the real aesthetics of our folk dances. Moreover, the university is also making an effort to make documentation of this project. Like all other folk traditions, Punjabi folk dances are passed down from generation to generation verbally. They have no written or documented version. The emphasis is to record everything both in audio-visual format and written text.

Pammi Bai also said, “We will try to locate different versions of these dances in different areas and then plan to demarcate them in order to record the original dance actions, forms, dresses and folk music. The project report would then be presented in the forms of VCDs, DVDs and book.” 

From being the youngest anchor at the age of 11 to having anchored a number of television shows, Gauri Thukral still is grounded to her roots

Life hasn't changed much for Gauri Thukral even after becoming a regular television face. She still does her homework regularly, prepares hard for exams and takes out time for a small chitchat session with her friends. And she proudly takes credit for her usual life, "I had to make many deliberate efforts to ensure that my friends don't give me any special treatment and my studies don't take a back seat."

Talking about her career she says, "I began my career three years back as a television anchor with Channel Punjab for which I did 152 episodes of Khattian Mithiyan Yaddan" On the show, she used to interview senior citizens and discuss their problems. It was followed by two other talk shows, Prerna and Mauj Mela, each of which has around 100 episodes. She is now anchoring Kaka Nikki Time on ETC Punjabi channel and Phulwari for Jalandhar Doordarshan.

Acting was the next gradual step for this young achiever of class IX. "I did a Punjabi film, Babal Da Vehra that was released all over India and abroad. At present I am shooting for a television soap, Tabbar-The Family, Smart Kids and Fun Tube." Besides all this, time management is something she has to really work on, "I shoot after the school gets over. And it is for continuous two hours that I shoot and it's only during the exams that I do not work at all; rather I concentrate only on my studies." But what surprised us is that after getting so much exposure and experience, acting is not what she wants do professionally, "Anchoring shows and acting is a mere hobby for me, as painting, playing basketball or reading novels is to my friends. I have never considered acting as my career choice." So what is her aim in life? "To become a journalist, for they make a bigger difference to the world than anyone else in any other profession can." Gauri has also won the state award from the Haryana Government for her being the youngest anchor at the age of 11 in the year 2006.

—

he un-deciphered language intrigues and the cultural extravaganza intrigues Ritu M Bansal. She tries to make sense of things through varied geometric shapes, which find place under 'Still Unknown' a solo exhibition put up by this executive member of the Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi at Alliance Franciase-36.

"I have tried to make Indus Valley scripts look meaningful through my own perception," says Ritu. "The mythological symbols have found varied geometrical shapes."

Mother Goddess, Animal 1, Animal II, A story Untold - all her paintings share a story of her perception captured in rectangles, squares, triangles, grids. Ritu explains in a light vein, "Doesn't these paintings say that I was good at geometry."

At the same time, Ritu does not want us to tag her work as abstract. "I am very clear about what I have painted. Every painting has a concept and meaning behind it. To me, the paintings are a clear reflection of the artist. The geometric shapes and designs throw a light on my disciplined and focused life, and also on the fact that I have grown up in a well-planned city like Chandigarh."

A true depiction of culture finds positioning in Ritu's paintings. "I am drawn towards the tribal, folk art and Egyptian civilization as well. I think they are rich in source, and have lots to offer in terms of artistic study," she adds.

On till September 19 

Freshers' parties now may come in weird themes, but the aim is still the same - to get to know one another

Students from Department of English believe in double the celebrations!

Dress to impress, dare to bare, pajama party, kindergarten, proper punk, Rock stars at war, gypsy's day out, night at Hawaii, Caribbean cruise; crazy themes and the crucial freshers' party! So, who's doing what? What are all up to? By the way, 'what are you wearing tonight?'Let's a take a quick recee of the campus grounds.

The fun isn't restricted to just dancing or dressing up. Department of English, Panjab University, has had the 'unofficial' evening party at Silvers-26. Says Neha Vasdev, final year student, "It was awesome. We had a blast jiving with our juniors, mingling with them." The girls await the 'do' on varsity itself as, "there the interaction will be even more, with various games and different rounds."

At the School of Communication Studies, the seniors made sure 'poor juniors' literally became kids, with the theme Kindergarten. Laughs Siddhartha Sharma, "We were initially going to give them the theme Qawwalli night but most of the juniors were not very happy with it, so changed it to kindergarten." They better listen to the freshers if they were going to make them say, 'May I come in with the stereotypical gesture' and thrust them with lollipop at the doors! A round of Pass the Parcel involved the juniors actually introducing themselves the typical kiddie way.

So, what's the best part about the freshers' party? "Without a doubt, it's the interaction," adds Siddhartha, who in turn were given the theme Labourer's Night Out by their seniors. He adds, "Because before this you don't really know your seniors and the casual atmosphere at such dos helps break the ice."

Did he say interaction? Or, the importance of it? At the Department of Law, the three new sections actually went ahead and had their own 'introductory parties' at Silvers and Pizza Hut, respectively. True, why wait for seniors for the ever-indispensable introductions or interactions. The University Institute of Engineering and Technology, meanwhile, hasn't had so far. Kuldeep Singh, 2nd year student, UIET, says, "We are planning to give a party to our juniors, will do so once the sessionals get over." Alongside, the boy also recalls the one he was given, "It was a rocking DJ night at Alumni House in the university itself, and at the cultural programme we had games, dinner and stuff like that."

At University Business School, the three-day Induction programme at the beginning of this session took care of everything. Says Harshit Chahal, marketing student, "This year we thought of having everything on the business line, there were strategic games, introductory sessions and there were lunches and everything was there except for the formal dance party." Adds Pallavi, "The induction programme was itself so grand, so we're not having freshers' party this year." As for the departments, yet to have its own party, there is so much to do. Arrangements at breakneck speed, venue, timings, theme, collections! Carry on. 

MCM DAV-36 would be holding today it’s Miss Fresher’s Contest divided into five rounds. The first being Sari round where girls would be showcasing antique to modern collections.

 The Traditional Punjabi Suit round would see them displaying the traditional Punjabi wear, think flamboyance and mirage of colours, Phulkari. While in western round girls would be totally westernized ranging from casual to formal. 

Last but not least, would be the Regular Suits and Lehangas & Fusion rounds. “We’ve had the welcoming event before where seniors welcomed their juniors, but this is especially the miss Fresher’s contest as we didn’t wanted to make it more stylized and not give it a passing reference or club it with other events,” says Neha Soi, the college lecturer. 

For ‘the million harried souls preparing for MBA, torn between quant, English, Data Analysis, vocabulary and what not, here’s some news! CAT (Common Admission Test) 2009 Vouchers can be obtained from the branches of Axis Bank and their associated outlets from Wednesday, 9th September 2009 to Thursday, 1st October 2009 for Rs. 1400/- (Rs. 700/- for SC/St Candidates) as per the information available in www.catiim.in.

The test would be conducted first time online between 28th November to 07th December’09. CAT is the prestigious entrance exam for gaining admission in seven IIMs & Few Non-IIMs top B-schools of India. It is to be mentioned that Chandigarh Based Aryans Business School (ABS) made its maiden entry in CAT’s Non-IIMs Member Institutions List. There are around 150 MBA colleges in Punjab, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. — TNS

This ATM has nothing to do with money, but only punk rock

Of course, they're a rock band, punk band to be precise! Shouldn't rock also mean 'being rock solid', turning the tide, changing constant, beating defeat, whatever you chose; apart from the misplaced notion of just associating rock with weird hairdos, unending tattoos, countless piercings, rebellious phrases and teenage phases.

So, this one's called ATM and you might not extract money out of them, but can carry home the 'do it yourself' motto and their infectious spirit. "You know how there are no sponsors. So, what we did was, we asked for money from our folks and emptied our piggy banks and whatever we had saved, went ahead and released the album," says Vilphin Vincent, an engineering student and the vocalist of the four-member band. So, it was using blank cases, getting the printing done yourself, coming up with 150 CDs initially.

ATM, so what's with the name? "It actually stands for Anus the Menace, on the lines of Dennis the Menace, my folks back home, initially thought it was a spelling mistake when they read in the papers," laughs Vincent.

For the fear of scandalising conservatives, it's better and just known as ATM. He adds, "We are a punk band, generally the names you must have heard are against the law. Similar with us." Looks like the name game hasn't stopped.

Back to the band's first album, Revenge of the Shit, he says, "There are six songs in it and the lyrics are do not have a rebellious streak, but they are on what we feel about people. They think they are cool but they aren't that cool and stuff like that." Adds Vincent, "There's this song, Disco Fever, and that actually got us a lot of recognition, including a stint at Channel V Launch Pad."

So, how about taking time out, balancing strumming with studying, with Ishan Pant, the guitarist and Nidhaan Puri, the drummer, themselves being from the UIET? "Other people go stroll around in Sector 17, go for parties, we don't do that sort of stuff. We practice music instead."

And right now, the practices are on for the I Rock-Independence contest on September 24 in Delhi. "Did you know we are the first band in Chandigarh to have qualified for it?" No, we didn't. All the best!

manpriya@tribunemail.com