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Cousin Hariharan
This Colonial Cousin singer, who is in the city to perform at Pinjore Heritage Fest, tells us about the shortcuts to
fame
The only music that sells is film music. For the rest, survive on your own for years and become a legend. But then neither of the two is easy." The aspiring musicians can take a lead and the ones already in the business can just nod, but Hariharan comes straight. "In movies, musical corruption is inevitable. Call it clichéd or mere limitations of the genre, but the film songs are not for the effect, just for the entertainment," says the singer, who has been part of this corruption for the past 30 years now.
But then, the journey had been quite successful and handful for him. Playback for over 500 Tamilian songs, which is a record in itself, coming up with Colonial Cousins with Leslie Lewis, pop, fusion, ghazal, classical, carnatic…with Hariharan, it's too much of the talent that had worked for him. Coming back to the city, to perform at Pinjore Heritage Fest, he turns to his poetic best with an evening of ghazals. Developing a passion for ghazals after hearing to Mehdi Hasan, Jagjit Singh and cutting several albums, his passion comes with a concern. "Ghazal singing needs shifting from different modes conveniently. You have thumri, shayari and khayals. You have to divulge yourself, bringing all the shades in two lines or a para. But moving over from our generation, who has the time and patience to learn this skillful assimilation?" he says. His ghazal albums, "Lahore ke Rang, Hari ke Sang" with renowned ghazal composers from Pakistan and has also performed alongside artistes like Sivamani, Ustad Liyakat Ali Khan and Ustad Zakir Hussain. The Tamilian artiste also came up with Urdu Blues with his ghazal compositions. But he finds the concept of fusion in this industry a bit out of place. He calls it experimentation. Apart from ghazal shows, working over his next album for Colonial Cousins is what keeping him busy now. What took so long to come back from hibernation? "Five years is not too long a time for a non-filmy album to get released," he says. and what about the music genre? "Pop has been dissolved into Bollywood music now. The reason we don't see any non-filmy artiste making music anymore," he answers. Though his 'cousin' Leslie Lewis did try to give India a Band of Boys, "He produced and composed for them, but then the lack of an alternate industry took its toll," he is straight again. In that respect, our neioghbour scores well with him. "Pakistani bands don't have a distraction of a film industry there. I have worked with Strings on their track Bolo Bolo and I found them really good. The reason they are successful in their own genre." But then all is not bad for him, "The shelf life of today' singer might have been reduced to five or six years but thatis good because then there is room for more," he ends on an optimistic note. nehawalia@tribunemail.com |
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Cross culture
OYA Autocross and Motocross winners Khushwant Randhawa and Sunny Sidhu share their moments on the hotwheels
This doesn't have to be a fantasy. Because, people who dive into this experience feel nothing can be more real than this- The thrill of revving of an engine, kicking off the dust that hovers over the arena, maneuvering the brakes and controls, skidding around the corners at a breakneck speed! This sure is for real, and heady too,for the winner of OYA (Old Yadavindrian's Association) Autocross and Motocross 2009, 4x4 gypsy category Khushwant Randhawa from Patiala. As he mentions the 65km/hr speed that he strikes at the autocross, compared to 165km/hr at other extreme rallies, you can see he has something to share after driving in unpaved track in Mohali. "It is not as dangerous and fast like the other rallies that I take part in. Nonetheless, autocross has its own thrill," shares Khushwant, winner of Desert Storm-2009, SJOBA 2007. "Autocross is one way of popularising a rally. It also gives rally fans who can't follow the rallies happening in India to see it at close quarters." Well, if it sounds like 'I can do it too', Khushwant comes out with the challenges with the Autocross. "Risk and rallies are interlinked. This means driving on sand and gravel has its own share of problems. Time management is one, followed by the risk of skidding when zooming around the corner that can spoil the balance of the driver." In addition to these two, Khushwant finds changing track on the artificially made bridges a deciding factor in the game. All is thrilling, but why are there few takers for this kind of thrill? Has rallying a limited spectatorship and participation from the region? "It is a pretty popular sport down South. In this part of the region, there are not many rally clubs," lists Khushwant. Did we not hear rallyists talk about lakhs of rupees spent on modifying their vehicles? "I agree, smiles the rallyist, who finds this is an expensive sport. How do you expect someone to spend Rs 50,000 on a registration, and another lakh or more in preparing the car." Still, the fanfare continues. "The safety management measures are reliable in rallies, which is what gets rallyist back every year. Above all, it is the passion, the thought of kicking off the dust, beating your opponent is thrilling," shares Khushwant, who plans to organise an Autocross in Patiala in January. Winner stands alone
The action continues with Sunny Sidhu, winner in the overall fastest category, OYA category and 1600cc category at the JK Tyre OYA Autocross. The exhilaration is the same, and so is the talk of adrenaline rush that gets Sunny Sidhu back on the track. "It is an addiction for me, and I don't see it dampening in the near future. Once you get the feel of adventure in the real sense, there is no way you get it out of your life," shares Sunny, eight times SJOBA rally champion, three times Desert Storm winner, and Raid-De-Himalaya winner 2003. An exceedingly popular sport in the European countries, Sunny feels it is about time that the region too saw some growth in participation. "I know it is an expensive sport, and newcomers face problems of getting sponsorships. Nonetheless, companies don't mind sponsoring people who perform at events," he says narrating that he couldn't thank his stars when he got the Gypsy car tyres sponsored for the first time, adding that the buck stops at performance, which comes only with passion. jasmine@tribunemail.com
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Bollywood calling Call it the Slumdog Millionaire effect or the lure of a huge market, India became the new hot destination for Hollywood filmmakers and actors in 2009.
And in spite of the controversies including allegations of selling Indian poverty to Western audiences and the constant demands by the parents of the film's child stars Rubina Ali and Azharuddin, Mumbai still seems to be a lucrative option to Boyle, who hopes to direct a thriller based on the city. He is planning to team up with Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan for his mega project. Dev D fame director Anurag Kashyap is likely to helm the film. However, the British director is not the only one looking for a story in Mumbai. The 'maximum city' has also attracted Academy-award-winning scriptwriter-director Paul Schrader. Schrader, who has scripted Hollywood cult hits like Taxi Driver and Raging Bull, now wants to make a crossover potboiler Xtreme City, which will depict city's underworld. Schrader has finished the script of the film in collaboration with Mushtaq Shiekh, who had scripted Shah Rukh Khan starrer blockbuster Om Shanti Om. Filmmaker Anubhav Sinha will be one of the producers of the movie that is a story about an Indian and an American soldier posted in Somalia on a peace keeping mission. Actor-producer Ben Kingsley is another Hollywood A-lister, who hopes to repeat his Gandhi success, by bringing the story of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan alive in his period film Taj. The Academy-award-winner has already roped in Bollywood beauty Aishwarya Rai to play Mumtaz Mahal in the film, which is looking for a 2011 release. Bollywood also attracted some of the leading names in Hollywood this year. Rocky star Sylvester Stallone was seen flexing his muscles to save Kareena Kapoor, the damsel-in- distress in Kambakht Ishq, which saw actor Akshay Kumar playing the role of a Hollywood stuntman. The film also starred Bond girl Denise Richards, who has already expressed a desire to work in another Bollywood production. Australian singer Kylie Minogue was another big name, which made her Bollywood debut with song Chiggy-wiggy in Akshay Kumar starrer underwater thriller Blue. The two movies, however, failed to thrill the Indian audience, who gave a miss to them despite the host of foreign names. Warner Bros' debut in Indian market with Chandni Chowk to China, a Bollywood-style martial arts movie again starring Akshay Kumar, too failed to impress the audience. The year also saw Hollywood A-listers like Nicole Kidman, Julia Roberts, Richard Jenkins, Gerard Butler, Matt Damon, Jessica Simpson, Goldie Hawn and Lindsay Lohan making a trip to the country. In May, Oscar-winning actress Kidman was in Udaipur to shoot for an ad film directed by Shekhar Kapur which also starred Slumdog... star Rubina Ali and Bollywood heartthrob Arjun Rampal. Actor Butler too made a brief stop in Mumbai and met his friend Priyanka Chopra, fuelling rumours of a romance. He also spent time with the Slumdog... children. Pretty Woman Julia Roberts, who had visited the country with husband Danny Moder, camped for nearly a fortnight at an Ashram in Gurgaon, near Delhi to shoot for her film Eat, Pray, Love. Directed by Ryan Murphy, the film is based on author Elizabeth Gilbert's memoirs of the same name. Roberts plays the author in the movie, being produced by Brad Pitt's production company. — PTI
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Flirting & skirting
The Umbrella girl was joined by US megastar for a champagne-fuelled evening. As Rihanna danced her female pals on a medley of cheesy Chrimbo classics - Kanye managed to slip in through a side door. With his six-strong entourage, he joined the singer's VIP table and ordered several 400 pounds bottles of Dom Perignon Rose. "When Kanye came in, he immediately gave her a huge hug and kiss, and sat down with her. The pair were chatting at length, ignoring everyone else," a publication quoted a source as saying. "Then Mariah's All I Want For Christmas Is You came on. Rihanna stood up with a couple of pals and started waving her hands in the air. She stood in front of Kanye giving him the benefit of a very private dance - and he loved every second. When people started filtering out of the club at 3am, Rihanna was still in a party mood - so the group had their very own lock-in, with free-flowing drinks and their choice in music. They left around 4.30am," the source added. — ANI |
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"Tiger liked what he saw and let her know it," a source alleged. Simpson turned to Twitter to blast the supposed fabrication. She posted: "Can't believe that I'm on the cover of star magazine with Tiger Woods, what a JOKE! 'The Shocking Inside Story' is (insert drum roll) A LIE!" The publication had reported that Simpson and Woods exchanged e-mail addresses and phone numbers after meeting at the AT&T National Pro-Am golf tournament in Bethesda, Md. — ANI
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Fest Forward
Restoring the Mughal royalty, the Rang Mahal has been turned into a classy, glorious self. "The walls, the glass, the wooden panels, furniture, everything has been restored according to the Mughal style. The old structures have been utilised and some required incorporation done to complete the look," says Rajesh Joon, the media in-charge of the Heritage Fest.
"This is the first part of the renovations of the entire area. The other rooms have also partly been renovated and the attempt is to bring back the ancient appeal of the fort," says Joon. The entire process took five months to complete. —TNS
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Ishq Hai, the student production of the Department of Indian Theatre brings in all the 'Till death do us part' icons on one platform. Six of them to be precise. Couldn't get innovative, could it? Says Madhumita, a first-year student, who plays Shiri, "It's a Punjabi play and our seniors only thought of the idea and decided to go ahead." Adds Chakresh Kumar, final-year student, the set designer, "We decided to bring in all the popular couples and depict them. In the play, there's a character called Kale Cholewala, who symbolises destiny." Destiny; wasn't it too strong a force in each of the stories? He adds, "With each of the couples, something or the other happens, either they die, or are separated or some such thing. In the play this character symoblising destiny asks each of them to bring their lover in front of them in today's time and how they would have behaved, what they could have done and the conversations they would have had; that sort of thing has been depicted." If love's never been easy, depicting the emotion hasn't been effortless either. "Especially, while designing the sets we faced a lot of problem because we had to show a place where the lovers would meet. So, we tried making a garden, with lots of flowers, a tree etc." Chips in Madhumita, "The rehearsals have been on since a month and playing the character of Shiri hasn't been a cakewalk either." But enjoying 'the final fruit of love' sure's going to be piece of cake. Keep your date with the ultimate couples, see you there! —Manpriya Khurana
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Spice up
Travelling light is an advantage, so you need items that are compact and portable. Get yourself a spacious shoulder bag and two small, plastic lined cases, for your toilet and make-up. Your beauty aids should be within easy reach, so that you can freshen up your make-up and alight from your journey looking attractive and self-confident. Searching for a lipstick or comb in a cluttered handbag can really test your patience. Before setting out on your journey, take care of a few grooming needs. Have your manicure, pedicure and hairstyling done, so that all you need is "touching up" while you are away. A short hairdo that you can just brush and arrange is best, while for long hair, take along a headband and hair clips, to keep your hair tidy. Elaborate hairstyles will demand too much time. Remember to take a scarf along to protect your hair from over-exposure to the sun, as well as from wind and dust. You will need it if you are out motoring, boating or even walking by the seaside or hills. The make-up items and clothes you carry depends on what your trip entails. If you are holidaying in a big city and expect to meet people, you will need a few good clothes and accessories, for dining out. Take a few in-between outfits that are neither too casual, nor too dressy. You will also need make-up cosmetics for the night. The lighting at night demands more colour, so include darker shades of lipstick, blush-on, eye-shadow and mascara. A hair-piece can provide instant glamour, without going out for a professional hairdo. Don't forget to take your perfume, one or two good accessories and a neutral evening purse that goes with your dressy outfits. These will help to add the finishing touches. If you are on a sightseeing trip, or on a vacation by the sea or mountains, your cosmetic and wardrobe needs will differ. The emphasis will be on comfort. Casual wrinkle-free clothes, (T-shirts, jeans, skirts, salwar/churidar kurtas), light weight shoes, a scarf and sunglasses will be needed. You may have to walk a lot, so take flat or low-heeled shoes, comfortable for walking. Your clothes should fit comfortably and your handbag should be easy to carry. Remember that you may be posing for souvenir photographs, so be sure to make a relaxed and pretty picture! It's a good idea to take two in-between outfits, which are neither too casual, nor too dressy, so that you are prepared for an evening or more formal outing. Include a darker shade of lipstick. A hair-piece can provide instant glamour. One or two good accessories and a neutral evening purse will be useful. As a tourist or on vacation, you will need more skin-care cosmetics and fewer make-up aids. Since you may spend more time in the sun, take along a sunscreen and moisturiser. Sun exposure is more profound by the waterside or near snow. If you are out in the sun for more than 30 minutes, re-apply the sunscreen. This means that you should carry it with you. Exposure to the sun, wind, heat or cold can really dry out the skin and can even cause irritation and sensitivity. Also, take your cleanser, because you will need to remove all the dust and grime that has collected during the day, while you have been out of doors. Moisturise your skin daily too, so that you replenish the moisture loss. This itself is a protection. For your make-up, carry an eye-pencil, kaajal stick and lipsticks that are suitable for day wear. Perhaps, a lip gloss will do. Eye make-up that smudges easily is not for the tourist. You will also need pressed powder (compact) and powder blush-on. Remember to take a few tissues. If you have oily skin, or the weather is hot and humid, pre-moistened tissues are what you need. Carry them in your handbag when you go out, to clean and refresh your skin. Apart from these, take a deodorant and talcum powder. When you travel. Either by air or on land, you may have to sit for long hours. Avoid tight clothes. Your feet will also suffer, so try to keep them raised with some support, to help circulation and prevent fatigue. You can try a few foot exercises while sitting. Wiggle your toes and make circular motions with your feet. Occasionally take a walk down the aisle, to stretch yourself. Also, try to relax and ease your tensions. We hear so much about the "jet lag" phenomenon. This happens mainly after long flights. Travelling across time zones at high speed can play havoc with the body's normal cycle and schedule. Sleeplessness, loss of appetite, indigestion, headache, disorientation, mood changes, even depression have been reported, as symptoms of jet-lag. However, there are ways in which you can minimise the effects of jet-lag. Those who exercise regularly seem to cope better with it. If you don't take regular exercise, you can start some exercises a few days before your flight, like going for a brisk walk. Eat light meals during the flight. Salads and fruits help to ward off symptoms of jet-lag. Drink plenty of fluids, but no alcohol. Water and fruit juices will help to prevent loss of body fluids. Most of all, relax and enjoy your flight.
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Flashback Swine flu scared us, nude yoga scandalised us; but most of all 2009 took its toll on Bollywood stars
But not everybody is lucky. Take Sreesanth for that matter. Poor boy just can’t help getting into problems. From all the cricketers of both teams and crew, he got it! After a long long while, selectors turned generous towards Sree (even media wasn’t convinced) and he made a reasonable comeback too but trouble can’t leave him for long. Down with swine flu (our city got the honours to provide him with medication), he couldn’t play the rest of the series and rested in the city till he recovered. City’s very own Yuvraj Singh is too down with flu, but which one, is still the mystery. In any case, we are really missing the lofty sixes after he fractured his finger. Health stars of Bollywood stars seem to be damp. Things aren’t much different for other celebs as well. Now, should we presume that Salman Khan doesn’t leave anything for Katrina Kaif to eat? We mean, how her beau, who is double her age is so fit and she is recuperating from low haemoglobin? Earlier this year, during the shooting of De Dana Dan, she was diagnosed with jaundice and then was down with high fever after leg infection. Priyanka Chopra, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Deepika Padukone too had their share of health problems. Because we prefer to look at the glass half full, we are even mentioning about the leading ladies who shed the baggage of weight this year. Other than the Amitabh Bachchan’s look in Paa, Vidya Balan weight loss caught everybody’s attention. Finally the mission impossible became mission possible as Vidya looked slimmer and toned after getting rid of the extra flab. Sushmita Sen’s account balance would see the addition of green stacks if she gets her well-guarded secret of losing and gaining weight at the fastest rate patented. She probably went into hibernation for the two Ws that bothered her—weight gain and worklessness. She will now be making her come back with toned body and work as well in Dulha Mil Gaya. How can we forget Rani Mukherjee? What Nigar Khan did on small screen, Rani mustered had the courage to repeat it on the silver screen. The undershower bikini act couldn’t bail her film, Dil Bole Hadippa but it surely rendered her image the much needed boost. Rani’s weight loss was apparent and the reason behind was Kareena’s tried and tested formula, yoga. Where Kareena, till last year, was claiming in every interview, ‘I am not size zero but very fit’, she this year expressed her comfort and pride in being, ‘India’s first size zero’. Yoga deserves all the applaud. However, yoga also made the headlines for the extreme fiddling and meddling done with it. Nude yoga certainly will deliver as much results as yoga with clothes on the body, if only advocates of nude yoga knew it. Someone whom we strongly recommend yoga is Sanjay Dutt. In Blue, his belly bulge was talked about more than the movie’s unbearable storyline. If yoga doesn’t help the actor, he can take some weight loss classes from Aamir Khan. Those eight-pack abs are gone and the actor even managed to fit in a drum for his upcoming flick, 3 idiots. While Aamir has used and got over with the abs thing, Shahid’s now flaunting them in his upcoming film, Dance pe Chance. Someone’s loss is someone’s gain for sure, we are happy if swine flu remains an exception. Aachiin…sorry! ashima@tribunemail.com
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A sugarcoated tablet has been created, which can bring a dramatic slowdown in ageing of the skin, say researchers. Bringing together nutritional and dermatological science, the pill has been developed by the confectionery giant Nestlé and L'Oréal. They have used a compound found in tomatoes to promote the regeneration of new skin cells and protect old ones from damage, reports a publication. The sweet red pill, called Innéov Fermeté, belongs to a rapidly developing class of products called cosmeceuticals, beauty treatments that are swallowed and work from within. Patricia Manissier, head of research and development at Innéov, the L'Oréal/Nestlé joint venture producing the new drug, said: "We have done a lot of research which shows how this product works and now we're looking for ways of improving it. We know that good nutrition can prevent the skin from ageing and that there are clear links between certain nutrients and skin health." —ANI
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BODY
wise Weight loss is a booming multi-crore industry and yet most people fail to find long-lasting results. Sure, people may shed weight initially, but the odds are they will fall into the trap of yo-yo dieting and for every 20 dieters who lose weight; only one keeps the weight off. Even so, everywhere you turn there are books, tapes and programmes offering the latest miracle cure. The key to deciphering the good diets from the bad is to become an informed consumer. Before you open your wallet or put your effort into the latest weight loss programme, keep in mind the following facts. You know you are entering fad diet territory if: l The diet cuts out one major group of food: Any diet that completely dismisses an entire food group is not one based on good health. For example, some popular programmes completely eliminate carbohydrates, such as fruits and grains, from the diet to accelerate weight loss. Although weight loss seekers will shed weight initially, results will not be long lasting. The idea that carbohydrates are the enemy and need to be eliminated is a major misconception. The rights type of carbohydrates, such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains and oats is rich in fiber, minerals and vitamins and are a wonderful addition to any diet. The carbohydrates that trigger weight gain are refined and processed products such as white bread, cookies and cakes. l
The diet instructs you to skip meals: Research clearly demonstrates that skipping meals is a one-way ticket to weight gain. Weight loss seekers often skip breakfast to save calories, but by doing so you will cause blood sugar levels to fluctuate, making you more tempted to either binge or eat the wrong foods at lunch. The key to lose weight and to maintain it, is to eat three meals and two snacks daily. Timing too plays an important part. l l l
A diet offers you a quick-fix pill, potion or lotion: There is no such thing as a pill, potion or lotion that helps in weight loss. In fact, certain weight loss pills have been removed from the shelves because they contain the stimulant, ephedrine. Ephedrine has been linked with ill-health effects such as rapid heartbeat, anxiety and jitteriness. At higher doses it can potentially cause high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, vomiting and stroke. For information on safe weight loss supplements that can be used in conjunction with a healthy diet and exercise program consult with a certified health person. l In addition to the above tips, it is best to use your common sense when selecting a diet programme. As a general rule, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. kalrasachin@hotmail.com |
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Convenience stores at a convenient location might make your child obese;; The main purpose of the study is to better understand the risk factors for cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes in children. ''In 2005, some Montreal children and their families were recruited for the investigation. They came from various neighbourhoods. Of the underage participants, 42 per cent were overweight and 22 per cent were outright obese,'' said a Montreal University release. Families who took part in the Quebec Adipose and Lifestyle Investigation in Youth (QUALITY) study will continue to be monitored to verify if proximity to the park has an impact on the long-term weight of children. The QUALITY team includes researchers from six Quebec institutions, including the University of Montréal, Concordia University, Université Laval, McGill University and l'INRS-Institut Armand Frappier. —IANS
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Shop sans stop
Chris Husbands, fitness adviser at high street chain John Lewis, which commissioned the research, said: "Over Christmas you'll eat three times as much as usual, so it's important to make use of any exercise opportunity in the run-up to the big day. "On average, you burn 200 to 300 calories an hour when walking, which increases to 300 to 350 calories when combined with walking up and down steps."If you're exercising for more than 45 minutes calorie burn increases, so planning a minimum of an hour shopping trip is a good idea." As per this rate, an hour and a half of walking around department stores and shopping centres will burn off your turkey or a glass of wine, while two hours of Christmas Eve panic buying will burn off the number of calories found in a portion of Christmas pudding.
—ANI
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Slumdog Millionaire, shot entirely in Mumbai with an Indian star cast, swept the Academy awards this year by winning eight trophies including the best director award for Danny Boyle. The film not only made Hollywood directors sit up and take notice of the technical might of India but also made them realise the potential of the Indian film industry. Despite Boyle's claim of a realistic depiction, the rags-to-riches story that enthralled Hollywood looks like a chapter out of a Bollywood drama complete with the song and dance routine.
Rihanna and Kanye West were spotted enjoying a cosy night out together at a club. The pair was seen flirting outrageously and enjoying dirty dancing along with a 90-minute lock-in at London's Whisky Mist.
Jessica Simpson is threatening to sue Star Magazine over Tiger Woods link. According to media reports, the singer is very angry with the magazine for running a cover story claiming she was the latest addition to the golfer's growing harem, reports a publication.
If it is heritage that is being celebrated at the ongoing Pinjore Heritage Fest, then the newly renovated Rang Mahal is a live example.
The ceiling has been done in looking glass and woodwork, shamiyanas and floor has marble engravings.
Each detail is typical of the Mughal period.
They're all going to be there- Heer-Ranjha, Sohni-Mahiwal, Laila-Majnu, Sasi-Punnu, Shiri-Farhad, Inder Baniya & Beggo-they're all going to be there. And, not just as they were, but as they would have been! Spaced out? Imagine the conversations Shiri Farhad would have had right here, right now. Sohni probably would have been a li'l practical while professing her undying love.
When you are away from home, the time and means to make yourself attractive may not be easily available. So, what you need are a few tips, to enable you to limit your grooming needs, so that you look pleasing, feel comfortable and relaxed. And enjoy your trip, of course!
Sneeze…another sneeze…another one… that’s it! The job is done. You needn’t push others for a seat in the bus or stand in the queue while exiting a movie hall. Even better for college students, they don’t have to bribe clerks for proxy attendance. This year has changed a lot, even the basic courtesies; courtesy swine flu (though we are quite scared of talking about swine flu in a lighter tone, we still are taking the risk), which at times is a blessing in disguise too.
Here's some good news for shopaholics - festive shopping can give you bags of exercise. According to a leading retailer, the seasonal 'running' stuff offers a workout as intensive as a visit to the gym, reports The Daily Express.