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Choli chutzpah
Says Neelu Grewal from Innoxa-8, “Back polishing, skin lightening and steaming are some of the treatments that are in these days. And, for ladies who want to have a back makeup, the latest these days is air-brush make-up. Done in a specific technique, a spray is used to do this makeup and any exposed area of the body can be concealed.” Ask her about the perfume shine make-up and she says, “We use a foundation as a base on the back and then put a shiny powder so that the back glows.” She adds, “Back does not need very heavy make-up during the garba fest as the dress worn is heavily embroidered.” That’s true, but for people who want their back to look its best, there are options galore. jigyasachimra@tribunemail.com |
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Play on!
No matter, how TV and cinema affect theatre, its basic aim to voice social concerns will remain unaffected. No matter, when the audience will get inspired to watch paid theatre, it will continue to entertain. No matter, what few contemporaries of theatre do to segregate social messages and entertainment in it, it will offer both, at the same time and on the same platform with equal importance. That's how it is, "And nobody can redefine theatre, meant to entertain and educate people. If devoid of the former, it will end up as a sermon and if aimed just to amuse audience, it'll be mere popcorn entertainment," asserts Rakesh Bedi, whose plays, Biwi O Biwi and Massage promise pure theatre entertainment. People of the city will appreciate the effort too, as he is here with the cast of his plays, comprising of several theatre and television artists. Avtaar Gill, Sulbha Arya, Ramesh Talwar and Aanjan Srivastav are a few to name who will perform at the four day theatre festival, a Chandigarh Administration's initiative. Made under the banner of IPTA, a famous theatre organisation, the five-year-old play, Biwi O Biwi is a comedy that deals with male chauvinism, "The subject of the play is very contemporary and deals with everyday situations. People will be able to relate to it," adds Rakesh. But similar is the reach of other play to be staged at the festival, Shatranj Ke Mohre, also an IPTA production that was first staged around 40 years back. Directed by Ramesh Talwar, the play has given chance to actors from two generations. "The play is still popular as the subject, red-tapism is still prevalent and it is presented with humour to make people enjoy it." But the definition of comedy has changed over the years. Aanjan Srivastav (of Wagle Ki Duniya fame) and Rakesh, the two veteran comedians feel the same, "It is easier to do stand up comedy, as here an individual just has to work on his acting and expressions. The real test comes when you have to create comedy in a group and make actors act and react to comments in a certain way." Slapstick comedy or a comedy with double meaning, they feel doesn't leave an impact on people. Back to theatre, the medium, which doesn't help an actor earn money is still what these actors swear by. As Sulbha Arya puts in, "Cinema is a director's vision, TV is the periphery of a writer and a producer. It's only theatre that belongs to an actor and when you have the stage by yourself, money hardly matters." No matter what, theatre would always be if it has such actors. ashima@tribunemail.com
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Bon Appetit
Cinnamon Caramel Iced coffee Ingredients 3 tsp instant coffee ½ tsp freshly ground cinnamon 2 glasses milk 5-6 tsp grain sugar Method To prepare the caramel syrup, gently heat the sugar in a heavy bottomed pan till it begins to melt into a golden fluid. Do not allow it to get scorched. Add half a cup of water taking care that you don’t get splashed when it hits the melted sugar. Swirl around till you have a brownish gold sauce. Cool and keep aside. Simmer the cinnamon powder with half a cup of water till the liquid is reduced to half and is fragrant. Blend the milk, coffee, cinnamon liquid and some ice with caramel syrup to taste. Pour into glasses and serve. Death from the kettle Ingredients 3 tsp instant coffee 4 tsp cocoa powder 1 scoop chocolate ice cream 2 glasses milk Sugar to taste Method Blend the milk, cocoa sugar and coffee in a pan, shaker or liquidizer, reserving a little cocoa for the topping. Add ice cubes if desired, then pour into tall glasses. Serve, topped with a scoop of ice cream dusted with some cocoa powder.
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Puja platter
Food in the time of festivals is one temptation that few can resist. And when it comes to Bengalis and their assortment of victuals during Durga Puja, there’s hardly anyone who can withstand the lure of delicious delicacies. And since its Puja time and acknowledging the love Bengalis have for food, we ask them to acquaint us with the cultural cuisine for the fest. “Bengalis’ love for food is not a secret, as for them having food with friends and family members is in itself a big occasion. And when special occasions really come, the Bengalis’ appetite knows no bound,” says Neel Kantha Das, president, Kali Bari. Letting us into the details of cuisine cooked during Durga Puja, he says, “This is the biggest festival for Bengalis not only in Kolkata but across the globe. And during Durga Puja, there is a variety of foodstuff that is cooked at homes. Though various communities celebrate the days as per their traditions, in our family, we don’t eat non-veg, onions and garlic. We fast for four days and during this period, various vegetarian things are cooked.”
Elaborating on the menu, he says, “We have dal puri (this is a puri that is stuffed with dal), aloo ka dum, dahi bhalla, gobhi rosht etc and among sweetmeats, we have kheer that is made out of chawal, maida and chini.” This is some news for us, as we thought Durga Puja was a festival where fish and
mutton was cooked in abundance. With the Durga Puja celebrations reaching a peak on Vijaydashmi, many Bengali families dish out delicacies on this day. Says Som Banerjee, a city-based dentist, “We cook narkel naru (cocunut laddoos), misti singharas (sweet samosas), chamcham and other savouries on this day in particular, though festive cooking is done throughout the Puja.”
Eating out during Durga puja has become the norm, says Jayashree Roy, who is teaching in the University Institute of Legal Studies, Panjab University. “Though a lot of delicacies like baingan bhaja (fried brinjals), maide ki puri, payesh (rice kheer), goja, ghugni etc are made at home, people do like to eat out at the food stalls at Banga Bhavan and other places that serve machhar jhol, mangsho jhol and mughlai paranthas along with a lot of fast food,” she says. “You see, we all are less the fasting and more the feasting type,” she says with a chuckle. “In fact, we have just partaken of the bhog at Parsuram Bhavan-37, which offers very
traditional fare during the puja festivities.” Adding to the fare knowledge Palak Sahni, an employee of a telecom company in Mohali who has her family in Kolkata says, “Back home, these days are all play and less work. Various things are cooked at home, and restaurants are brimming with various delicacies. And since Bengalis are more fond of fish than meats, a wide variety of fish items are cooked in all houses, among which the most popular are vapa ilish (steamed hilsa with spices), rui machher kalia (rohu fish cooked with spices, onion, garlic and ginger), chingri maachher malaikari (lobster cooked with coconut milk and spices) and pabda jhol (butter fish curry).” That sounds yummy! Though the festival season has the culture of eating out in Bengal, we wonder has the city got some joints that serve these delicacies? Says Mallika Debnath, an employee of an ad agency, “The culture of eating out is quite common during Durga Puja and in the city we have a fest at Banga Bhavan where we get to eat a variety of Bengali food.” Ask her what all is served and she says, “I wouldn’t say it’s typically Bengali food that we get here, but a mix of cuisines where a major variety is Bengali food. From egg rolls to fish cutlets to luchi poori to fish curry and biryani, an array of eats are served here.” A mela of sorts, for all you people who want to try some Bengali delicacies head straight to Banga Bhavan-35, where the mornings are usually dedicated to puja and the evenings to food and cultural programmes. jigyasachimra@tribunemail.com |
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Festive fervour
The spiritual sanctity and religious fervor pervades all through the ongoing navratra and Durga puja celebrations in the tricity. While most of the devout pay obeisance at Mata Mansa Devi shrine, other socio-cultural organisations celebrate Durga Puja with great zeal and enthusiasm. At Kali Bari sector 31, the prime hub of cultural activities and festivities, a colourful Kathak dance by Debanshi Mishra, a dance drama by Archita Palit and another dance drama by student artists of Blind Institute-26 are in the offing. Earlier the festival took off with a devotional musical welcome to the goddess in Maa Durga Agomani comprising of four songs presented under the direction of Arup and Sucheta Mukerji. Noted composer Debhanjan Halder presented traditional and self composed studies. A dance sequence by Vaishali depicted nine incarnations of Durga. “After Durga agomani, at Bangiya Parishad Samilini, choreographer Supriya Sanyal and Sona Das teamed up to depict the anguished psyche of Draupadi in an emotion filled acting spell in a light and sound show,” says Gautam Sanyal, society president. At Panchkula Bnagiya Parishad over 35 artists to present Mahishur Mardidni traditional dance drama partly scripted, composed by Debhanjan Halder. Comprising of 14 songs based on classical ragas sung by lead singer Gargi Harder with others will be a treat to watch at sector 5 grounds. The ICON Panchkula a religious, cultural and charitable organization, organised the Shree Durgapuja festival at community centre-20. After Swami Brahmeshanandaji Maharaj of Ramakrishna Mission inaugurated the Puja celebration under chanting of vedic mantras before agomoni- composition to welcome Maa Durga. A dance recital by young artistes from local area, a composition of dance and music by Mukta Nagesh, recitation by Prodip Ganguly and Khabar Toirir Gappo a Bengali drama will be presented by ICON artists. “Besides Puja bhog and cultural
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Xpress music
Take a break from the regular cliché ‘Punjabi music is a global phenomenon’, and explore something, which is global in every sense, ‘on line music’. With Nokia launching its music store in Chandigarh on Friday, offering an access to over 3 million international, Bollywood and regional soundtracks across 20 genres, you can now feel, breathe and live music. “This music store has rich assortment of Punjabi music artists, Jasbir Jassi, Gurdas Maan and Malkit Singh are a few to name,” puts in Chandan Dang, regional general manager (North), Nokia India. Jasbir Jassi, a singer whose repertoire ranges from sufi, folk, bhangra to devotional is happy with the kind of world wide listeners he would now have with Nokia’s music store. “Almost every second person downloads music, and Nokia music store will give singers quiet a good exposure,” says Jassi, who shot to fame with Dil lae gayi kudi Gujarat di. Now, after a good lot time in the Punjabi Music Industry, Jassi will be doing something considered ‘a mandatory’ for all singers and models—acting. Yes, we would see Jassi romancing Tisca Chopra in a Punjabi flick. Laughs, “I have done a lot of theatre with Harpal Tiwana, so, acting is a natural thing to happen. This is nothing out of the blue. All the same, I didn’t want to act for the heck of it. The subject of this movie, relationship between children and their parents is pretty interesting,” adds Jassi, who is all set to roll two albums (one on wedding songs and the other an amalgamation of Sufi, Punjabi, folk) in the market pretty soon. Coming back to Sufi music ruling the roost, Jassi feels this had to happen. “Listeners are bored of the regular music. They want to return to something more peaceful like Sufi.” jasmine@tribunemail.com
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Dus ka dum
If a professional journey culminates with money, power and name, it is undoubtedly referred to as a successful one. And if it proceeds and ends with a single word, ‘gratification’, we have reservations. Here at the exhibition, Inward Vision put up by ten, third year students of BFA, Kurukshetra University at the government museum art gallery sector-10, everything boils down to passion and contentment.
Inward Vision is the first of its kind exhibition put up by these students outside Kurukshetra, and they already see a world of difference. Offer Neha Sikka and Nancy Sodhi, “Our sphere of inspiration is limited, but here in Chandigarh people are aware about art and there are admirers for it as well. The good part is that youngsters too seem to have an eye for everything that comes under art.” Bringing the canvas alive through various themes, ‘Struggle’, ‘Bonding’, ‘Feeling’, ‘The spirit of wings’, ‘Phases of life’, this group of 10 wants to explore creativity to its hilt. Echoes the group, “We have often heard people tell us about how non-lucrative this field is. But, you can’t imagine the numerous possibilities in arts. Applied Arts is a fast growing field, which has unlimited scope of experimentation.” On till Saturday, September 26.
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Apparel & more
Designer’s Vista a life Style exhibition at Hotel Taj would open the realms of fashion for fashionistas of city. And for those smitten by the bug of branded jewellery, latest gadgets and stylish accessories this exhibition will have it all. The event will present exclusive range of designer, classic, modern, ethnic collection of clothes, jewellery, furniture, pottery, kids garments and lots more. Also, surprise gifts will be awaiting on the last day for all the participants.
Tanu Singh, Director, Rituals, says, “Great opportunity awaits those who want to make their product known to the bigwigs of the trade and elite class of the region . Designer’s Vista Designer’s Vista paves a paramount way to a Women’s heart and promises to win the heart of the every women who walks in the show.” |
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Koffee
Break
The small screen is offering opportunities to the young talent and many are making a name for themselves. The beauty queen from Lucknow, Samreen Zaidi, of Sheen fame, is all set to debut on small screen with Dus and Anubhav Sinha’s Mr & Mrs Mishra, which explores a different aspect of crime and investigation. Samreen plays DCP Geeta Mishra, a forensic expert. She talks to Lifestyle about the show, her love for acting and more.
So, this is your first show with Anubhav Sinha’s ASP films? Yes, this is my first show with Anubhav Sinha’s production house. I have a long running role in Mr & Mrs Mishra. How did this show happen? Mushtaq Sheikh, the creative head of Sahara One, is the sole reason I am on the show. He called me up a few months ago saying there was this thriller show and he would like me to play the lead. I liked the script and called up Mushtaq ji and said yes. What do you like about your character? What I like about this character is, it is the most powerful role I ever done. I hope the viewers’ response would be good. How is your rapport with your co-stars? I share a nice rapport with my co-stars. Rahil Azam, Aksar Kuchroo, Jeet Soni, Priyamvadaswant and Pratichee Mohapatre, all are very supportive. How has your life changed after taking on a crime thriller serial? I have been too busy after joining this show. Now, my day starts and ends with the unit and shoots for Mr & Mrs Mishra. Are you doing anything else? I am just concentrating on this show, which has a mix of new-age technology and classic investigative wisdom. — Dharam Pal |
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Bollywood stars Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif have been appointed as brand ambassadors of the 34th National Games 2009, starting November 21 in Jharkhand.
“They will also endorse the promotion of the National Games,” he added. Asked why Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has not been appointed as brand ambassador, Aanand said: “Dhoni is from Jharkhand and we will invite him for the inaugural and closing ceremony.” According to sources in National Games Organising Committee (NGOC), Akshay and Katrina have been paid Rs.4 crore. Posters and cut-outs of both the stars will be used for promotion. Jharkhand was awarded the 34th National Games in 2002. First, they were expected to be held in 2007 but couldn’t take place due to lack of proper infrastructure. They were then rescheduled for December 2008, then shifted to February 2009 and again to June 2009 — but each time they were postponed due to incomplete infrastructure. — IANS
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The dusty dark humid nights are now wearing an enticing look, courtesy garba and dandiya nights. Though festivity is the mainstay of the nights as enthusiastic garba lovers are putting their best foot forward, but for our dames who are hoping to make a splash, it’s not only about dancing that takes priority, but looks too. Especially the back, as flaunting a back-less chaniya choli or a halter-neck top or a deep neck blouse, is the order of the ‘night’.
That’s for make-up, but for the ones who want to accessorise their backs, there are a number of stick-on tattoos, swarovski crystals and handmade designs available. Though it’s the young girls who are game for such back magic, Neeru Sindhu, from Attitude-35, says, “This is the time of the year when we see lot of girls walking in for back treatment and make-up. Though most get their backs bleached, waxed and peeled before any makeup or artwork done, the most popular accessory these days is tattoos.” Ask her about the designs and she says, “Depends on the individual, but when someone is wearing an ethnic dress they like to get a peacock, butterfly or a bunch of flowers embossed on their back.” And the cost? “It starts at Rs 50 and goes up depending on the designs and pattern. Some stickers stay for a week (even after the bath). These cost a little more than the usual ones.” 
Spelling various make-up trends, Kajal, beauty in charge, Wavelength-26, says, “Occasions are just an excuse to get some specific treatments done and back make-up is one of them. The most preferred treatment these days is back polishing, that not only removes tan, but leaves the back glowing. For makeup, we have tattoos and perfume shine.” 
After I’ve waxed eloquent about refreshing iced teas, can a coffee column be far behind? When we step into a coffee lounge, we are inundated by a mile long menu, expressing exotic names of espressos and lattes and Irish this and Belgian that! Admittedly, we are there not only to sip coffee, but also to soak in the atmosphere. One drink that won’t be on their menu is “Cowboy Coffee”, and if it is, pray don’t order it! In the 1800's, cowboys put their ground coffee into a sock and immersed it in hot water heated over the campfire. The prepared brew is then poured and drunk from tin mugs! This must have some unique, unmatched flavour!
In our Southern states, you come across ‘Meter-Kaapi’ in Udupi restaurants, named so, because of the metre height from which it is swished into a steel tumbler to create a head of foam! South Indian coffee is robust, full of flavour, full of milk and full of sugar, but the metre kaapi is a tad cold after all the distance it travels to reach the tumbler! Turkish bridegrooms were once required to make a promise during their wedding ceremonies to always provide their new wives with coffee. If they failed to do so, it was grounds for divorce! Ouch! I’m a coffee lover who needs my daily caffeine fix and strong coffee. I admit it is most definitely my weak point! Napoleon wasn’t wrong in saying that coffee woke him up. There is evidence that coffee is a stimulant that puts you into alert-mode. Many of us are wary of coffee drinking, believing that coffee has tons of caffeine. Here comes another eye opener! A pound of tea, on average, has nearly twice the caffeine of a pound of roasted coffee. A wise guy stated that coffee is the abbreviated form for- Come Over For Free Energy Everyday! At coffeehouses, steer clear of fancy mochas or drinks that end in “chinos” They sure will cause calories to skyrocket! Now, is there some encouragement brewing within you to attempt some exotic infusions?
A truly bewitching drink, usually served in clear glass mugs. The finished coffee will have three distinct layers: the coffee on the bottom, the cream on the top, and a middle layer where the coffee and cream have slightly muddled. Serve the coffee as soon as it's been made, and sip it through the cream layer on the top. Don't stir! You are meant to “…savour the black drink through the white”. Make sure you also serve your guests some napkins to remove the cream "mustaches" that will appear on their upper lips! Traditionally, floating three coffee beans on top is a symbol of good luck!
Well, that was for the foodstuff, but since some communities in Bengal fast, we ask is there anything special that is done during this period? Says Neel Kantha Das,, “Since for us the staple food is rice, we don’t eat it during the fasts, instead we have rotis.” 
Whether it is about bringing down the internal and external conflicts of an individual, soul, mind, society on a canvas in various forms and shapes, or commercialization of art, these students from Kurukshetra feel secured with an easel in their hand. “We understand about the competitiveness of this society,” says Vishwajit Singh, one of the students, but as long as we have ‘art’ in our lives, survival is not a problem.” 
“They will be present at the inaugural as well as closing ceremony of the National Games,” said R.K. Aanand, president of Jharkhand Olympic Association (JOA).