It actually becomes tough to maintain quality when there’s no competition and when something is in league of its own. Khadi, the Gandhian fabric is facing a similar complex situation. As Ram Gopal, manager of revamped Khadi Ashram in Sector 17 says, “The other brands aren’t a competition. For us, our annual profit is the barometer of success.” The sales figure for the present year is 3 crores, one crore more than the last year.

When competing with itself, the focus primarily remains on sustaining the quality of Khadi. Available here are the quite expected khadi kurtis and kurtas, shirts, jackets, suitings for men and women and the quite unexpected mini skirts and capris too. Ram Gopal cites the reason for the latest addition to the khadi collection, “We don’t want to restrict khadi to only those who go for ethnic wear. Our target clientele is youngsters also; who prefer to wear western outfits and the present collection is an ensemble to lure them.”

The kurtis have block prints and hand embroidery on them. Another attraction here is khadi silk phulkaris, “The cloth for it comes from West Bengal, which is then sent to the interiors of Punjab for phulkari work.” Woolen khadi for winters are already on display for the coming season. Do check out the leather bags here that are brought in from Shantiniketan, Kolkata.

Celebrate festivity in style. That’s exactly what Ajooni, an attempt by Nameet Kochar, brings to you. An exhibition of ethnic wear collection showcasing works of designers from Delhi and Mumbai, Ajooni has an assorted flavour for every taste. With a complete ensemble of formal and festive wear, it has apparels, imitation jewellery, bed furnishings and a little style thrown here and there.

There is an impressive line by Nalanda Bhandari, from her recent collection at the Lakme Fashion Week. The vibrant and festive range includes suits, and jackets in rich fabrics like raw silk and velvet with a lot of embroidery. The price starts from Rs 10,000 onwards.

An exclusive range of stylish kurtis for formal and evening wear in silk, chiffon, georgette and accessorised with stones and embellishments is what city based designer Ritu Sharma’s collection is all about. Also on the same lines, designer Alka Mehra has her collection of wedding and festive wear. Sari-cum-lehengas are a highlight in her line. Playing with brocade, silk and flowing silhouettes and working up with contrasts makes this collection stand apart. A mix of classic, modern and traditional, the range starts from Rs 19,000 onwards.

There is also a range of semi stitched and unstitched formal suits, with unconventional contrasts and patterns, an exclusive pick. The limited collection of clutches and potli style bags from Ashit Shah under the brand name Hello and Sinsar are elegant and sophisticated. And so is the jewellery with oxidized metals and gemstones. Light but trendy these designs make a perfect fashion mocktail.

And going by the festive tradition, your home furnishings get a trendy look too, with an entire collection of silk bed covers and linens.

“We have kept in mind the concepts of wearability while planning the exhibition. Other than that we only pick up theme-based stuff for various market needs. It has a tangible approach, with each design different from the other yet there is something for everybody,” says Nameet Kochar. The idea behind Ajooni, “ Was to give a platform to various designers and give the clients what they actually want. We wanted to fill the big gap between the designers and the different market needs,” she adds. Speaking of the trends this season, she swears by brocade. “It is ‘the’ fabric for festivities and a lot of experimentation and mocktails being prepared with brocade and other fabrics will make a statement this season.”

—Neha Walia

On till October 3

I am a citizen of two countries: India Shining and Mera Bharat Mahan. Most of my waking hours are spent in the former, but when I work in the slum behind the PGI, or travel into a village, I enter the latter. The rules, rights and mere existence of both are very different. I act according to the area I am traversing and often get confused about my dichotomic roles.

“Austerity” is the newly discovered word in corridors of State. Rahul Gandhi travelled on the Shatabdi by “economy coach” and was stoned on the way. No big deal! I’ve travelled across the country in the Rajdhani and was saved a split head by the inner glass of the window. The outer was shattered by a rock. If the poor cannot afford luxuries like rail and air travel, the least we can do is to allow them pot shots at passing trains. As amchi Mamta Didi would say, “These things happen.” Mama mia Sonia joined Tharoor’s cows to travel through the skies. Many of us snigger at the austerity measures taken, but it is a small step in the right direction. Chidambaram’s time monitors at South Block are causing a lot of heartburn, but they ensure an honest day’s wage for an honest day’s work and will save the nation crores of rupees. Sarkari naukris will now be far more strenuous than just watching cricket, nibbling samosas with hot tea and taking Pappu and his mother to the doctor.

Watching the box, the international community gets the impression that they are seeing the one and only India. They do not see the other country that exists alongside, where food is scarce, drinking water non-existent, endless electric outages, schools sans teachers and hospitals sans doctors and nurses. This is the brushed-under-the-carpet India of villages, millions of below-the-poverty-line populace, suicidal farmers, modern day nomads aka labourers, women and children who have not heard of their constitutional rights nor are ever likely to. This is the other country, which is assaulted every five years.We manipulate its innocence and ignorance to garner votes. Therefore, from decade to decade, the true and asli India lives as it has from the time recognised and recorded memory exists. Take the people of this India to Mohenjo Daro and Harrappa and they will feel at home.

Rahul Gandhi’s sneaky visit into Mayawati’s akhara warmed the cockles of my heart. Like a true son of the soil, he slept in a hut, ate khichdi and bathed in the open. He has taken the first step towards bridging the gap between asli and nakli Bharat. Maybe, in the year dot, Khaps will transfer their swift and brutal justice into the cities where it is sorely required. A hundred years hence, we might get back to bicycles and bullock carts and help remove green house gases. Kapil Sibal’s great grandson could revert to gurus and gurukuls and bring back a better culture with its accompanying values. Patanjali Prasad’s herbal remedies could improve our health system at a much cheaper rate. Farmers might start producing natural foods, which would lead to healthier generations. Mera Bharat Mahan and India Shining could become one country not a schizophrenic mess where individuals cannot decide who they are or where they have come from.

The All-India Radio (AIR), the largest radio network in the world and now part of the Broadcasting Corporation of India (Prasar Bharti), has been promoting the cause of Indian classical music through regular broadcasts or radio concerts since its inception," says M. R. Chandla, station director of AIR-Chandigarh, the host station for the zonal capital AIR-Jallandhar.

Divulging about the details of the annual Akashvani Sangeet Sammelan-2009 to be held at Tagore Theatre on October 3, he said similar programmes will be held and recorded on selected AIR stations in the country on October 3 and 4. "The audience can enjoy live recordings of performances by eminent artistes, scheduled for broadcast between October 24 and November 3 from all AIR stations," he added. One of the prominent artistes for the Sammelan is Hari Mohan Srivastva of AIR Lucknow. The renowned flute maestro learnt the rudiments of music from his father and later traZined under Pandit Bhola Nath Mishra besides flute wizard Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia. Acclaimed classical vocalist Manjusha Kulkarni Patil from Sangli, Pandit Kale Ram, Vinod Lele (tabla) and Zameer Ahmed (sarangi) are the other artists performing. Chandla is hopeful of large audience to grace the Sammelan

On October 3 at 6.30 pm

Master of varied Indian classical genres, gem of versatility and more laudations alike greet Jayaprabha Menon for her sleek innovative presentations blending tradition and modernity. “But such encouraging comments from the President of India, Pratibha Patil after my classic choreographic spells at Raj Bhavan Lucknow, always remain fresh in my memory and rejuvenate me,” says the dancing maestro. In city for an ICCR concert at the Pracheen Kala Kendra, she claimed that years of dedicated riyaz and the blessed tutelage of my revered gurus has enabled me to excel in the top 30 national festival performances. I attempted to maintain my tradition of excellence during my first International participation in Festival of USSR-1987, Paris, Marseilles France Tanzanian and ICCR sponsored tours in Indonesia, Cambodia, Tanzania , Mauritius and other countries.

Initiated into Bharatnatyma at the age of four she went on to learn Kuchipudi, besides Kalari pyattu and Koodiyatam, Manipuri before finally settling down for Mohiniattam. Rightfully decorated with many state and national awards she is founder director of International Academy of Mohiniyatam in New Delhi.

To be proficient in one dance genre is said to take a lifetime, but your claiming a mastery over varied genres of Indian classical dances sounds like jack-of-all-trades and master of none?

If we attain perfection we are certainly God and in the art realm, claiming perfection is the end of the artist. My learning many dance forms, whatever little, is fairly perceptible in my choreographic works. As every dance form has its own characteristics, qualitative perspectives, mudra designs and rhythmic formats to establish its individual identity. But knowing a bit about all, I apply their respective nuances into my creative works making it a blend of perfection.

With a specialized training under legends like Jaya and CV Chandershekhra why did you prefer Mohiniayatam to the old Bharatnatyam dance tradition?

Bharatnatyam is steeped into the religious traditions, known as temple dance and its themes of presentational themes are limited and enmeshed with the lives and teachings of our gods. It was Rukmini Andale who established its present name and status in India and abroad. Mohiniyatam however is the most lyrical dance, which traces its origin in Kerala. Noted for its graceful and sensuous movements with no terse footwork, it has a swaying romantic fervour. Mohini stands for an enchantress while Yattam means dance.

It is open to endless improvisations. My learning under Guru Bharathi Shivaji has been embellishing my performance.

You’re take on musical reality shows?

Encouraging for younger generation, but minus the commercial and sentimental exploitations. They must include classical music and dance forms. Competing with copied and crammed recorded music will land aspirants to nowhere, even if they are crowned by any TV channel. There is no short cut to success and learning systematic classical music is the only mantra.

lifestyle@tribunemail.com

Most people know him as the French Jat. With his piercing blue eyes that matches his blue turban strikes a note of familiarity as he keeps hitting the newspaper headlines, sometimes as a ‘once-upon-a-Frenchman-and-now-turned-a-
devout-Sikh’ or as a pioneer organic farmer in the region whose Angrez ka farm is a must visit site near Anandpur Sahib. But there is much more to him apart from his fluent, accent-free Punjabi and knowledge about the Guru Granth Sahib and Punjabi culture. And one of them, as we recently discovered, is his command over ink drawing.

Darshan Singh takes inspiration from nature. His shading technique and interplay between light and shade imparts depth and a sense of colour even when the medium is only monochrome, often blue or black.

Darshan Singh’s drawing forced us to make a comparison with the most prominent artist in this genre — Prabal Pramanik. But then, we find differences more than similarities in their style of execution. Unlike Pramanik, the famous paper cutting artist, whose drawing were his pictorial diary of the place called Bhamlada, Darshan’s collection is mainly culled from his own imagination. So, a few remind one of terrace cultivation of Assam or the dense tropical forests of the state, others take you to the picturesque Himachal, some time just landscapes and sometimes with a beautiful face dominating the scene.

Dharshan’s signature style comes from detailing, his lines are sure and strong, shading perfect, giving the end product the feel of a miniature painting.

In fact his fascination for detailing is what drew him towards the medium. “With ink one gets down to the minutest of form, which is not possible in other medium. And he paints directly with his pen, no outlining before the actual execution.

His transformation from an aspiring farmer to an artist to both is an interesting one. “I never attended an art school, though my father wanted me to be an artist. I wanted to be a farmer,” says Darshan who spent his early life in France, before he moved around and finally adopted India as his homeland. Well, the dormant artist in him blossomed when he landed himself in Taiwan in 1995 and took training in Chinese calligraphy. This skill of his comes forth in almost all drawings, sometimes in form of poems and sometimes in the form of sayings from Gurbani. Both form of art has now become stress-buster for Darshan and also a means to fill up the lonely hours when he is at his farm. And his frames, with the soothing effect, beat the stress for an onlooker too.

parbina@tribunemail.com

Mahatma Gandhi, as a form, is every artist’s delight. But how does art help propagate the Gandhian philosophy? We find out.

The Gandhian philosophy per se has never been a muse for the artists except that one keeps depicting peace and communal harmony or social issues through symbols. The common thread between art and the Gandhian philosophy is peace. After all, spreading peace and universal joy is the basic fabric of art.

Amitabh Bachchan is all set to entertain the masses with his portrayal of 'Genie' in the forthcoming fantasy flick Aladin. The classic tale of Aladin and the Magic Lamp has undergone a modern-day transformation at the Bollywood studios.

One of the best loved children stories, which first appeared in The Book of One Thousand and One Nights, has been adapted by film maker Sujoy Gosh to cater to the audience.

"You will find three things from the old story in this. One is Aladin, the other is the magic lamp and third one is the genie. Rest everything is of today's' time. The city is Khwaish Nagar, which is a fantasy place, but is not too fantasized, neither is it pre-historic nor futuristic. You will find lots of today's gadgets," said Bachchan.

'Aladin' is the story of an orphan.

Aladin, played by actor Riteish Deshmukh, who lives in the city of Khwaish and is bullied since childhood by Kasim and his gang.

How his life takes a turn when he meets Jasmine played by Jacqueline, who gives him a magic lamp and what happens after that, forms the basic plot of the film.

The film seems to be a good mix of magic and action and promises to floor the audiences with its new storyline.

The film will be released on October 30. — ANI

Abhishek Bachchan may be famous for his stubble look but the Bollywood star says that actors cannot dictate the way they want to be presented in the films. Abhishek, who was here for the launch of a new version of Omega's Ploprof watch as the brand ambassador said, "We actors cannot dictate the way we want to look. I am sporting this stubble for my new film."

When asked whether his wife, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan preferred him with a stubble or clean-shaven, the actor shot back mischievously and asked, "which do you prefer?" The actor may have come to launch a watch but he was over an hour behind schedule. But, Abhishek who was quick to give an explanation said, "I was very much around... you should ask them (the organisers)." Talking about his much-awaited film Ravan with Aishwarya, Abhishek said that the shooting of the movie, helmed by Mani Ratnam, should be over by next month. — PTI