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RampAGE
Ramp set, lights on, audience eager, scribes ready, cameras on…Chandigarh readies for its first-ever fashion week on Friday. A rare opportunity for designers to explore the market and buyers to choose from a wide variety, the Chandigarh Fashion Week (CFW) began in all splendour. The
three-day affair will showcase creations by over 20 designers from the region.
The ones by IIFT students were in bright colours - red, saffron, yellow, green. And they weren't jarring at all! Patchwork, brocade, embroidery on fabrics, ranging from summer stuff such as cotton, chiffon, net, to those wearable in winters like velvet, was on show. But only if a fashion week was just about colours, fabrics, and designs! CFW had its share of flaws, which became more apparent as the second show,
showcasing city-based Jasleen's and Delhi-based AJ Singh's creations, began
"Can you get ready a bit faster," shouted Kaushik Ghosh from the backstage even as models walked the ramp. And it was probably hurry; a poor model couldn't zip her costume, another forgot to wear the right length bloomers while one just lost the walk! And most of them forgot to get the fitting of their costumes done. Jasleen's collection was a mix of pastels and bright colours with an overdose of velvet. "It's a trousseau and ethnic wear collection, so bright colours and heavier fabrics were the obvious choice." Expecting a huge response from buyers of the region, she says: "As marriage season is round the corner, NRI buyers will also get booking done." AJ Singh played with just the white and golden colour. Gotta work and embroidery on churidaar added bling to the otherwise plain attire. Themed Afrin, his collection, had a touch of the Arabian. Kaftans in his collection were another attraction. ashima@tribunemail.com
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Udita, Shawar light it up
Where there's a fashion week, there's a Bollywood beauty! Chandigarh Fashion Week (CFW) is no exception and had Udita Goswami playing showstopper for designer Riyaaz's brand Libas on Friday. She had model Shawar Ali walking alongside, which will also go a long way in promoting their latest movie Amar Joshi’s Shaheed Ho
Gaya. For the two professional model-turned-actors, CFW is another opportunity to enjoy what they have always done — walk the ramp. "It feels good that from one fashion week in Delhi eight years ago, there are now many such events. It means good work for models, designers and everybody else involved," says Shawar. "They are making fashion more affordable and people more conscious," he adds.
And what keeps them busy? "Movies, of course," he says. Shavar has finished shooting for Sunny Deol directed The Man. "I play a mafia don in it. Another movie that I am doing is Shock."
Having done a good amount of work down south, he feels glad to be recognised in the industry. "My favourites include Ram Gopal Varma, Anurag Kashayp and the likes. But you need to work hard even after that."
Lucky Girl
"I feel lucky to be part of such a glamourous industry," says Udita Goswami, who after a long time walked the ramp at CFW and just loved the experience. "Northern fashion market had no such initiative before. More such attempts mean fashion is reaching the common man." As for films, she is waiting for the release of her latest venture with Amar Joshi, "The shooting has finished, it's under the post-production and promotional phase."
Designer’s den The two designers that made maximum news were Raman Vij and Riyaaz from Libas. While Riyaaz cashed in on the big fat Punjabi wedding attitude of the region by deliberately showing his wedding collection, Raman Vij, who hails from the region, had winter on his mind with Soh Koh's Red Carpet show. |
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No skin show
While her contemporaries Priyanka Chopra and Lara Dutta are flaunting their curves in bikinis, Bollywood actor Vidya Balan is happy and comfortable in her favourite attire - the sari - and says she will never wear a bikini.
"I don't see myself in a bikini ever. I am very comfortable in my saris and other Indian attire. Even if the script demands, I don't think I will ever wear one," she said at a press conference.
Previously, Vidya had received a lot of flak for her dressing sense and plump body. Taking all that criticism in a positive manner, the 30-year-old actor has slimmed drastically and is looking ravishing in her sleek avatar. She is seen wearing mostly saris at functions and promotional events.
"I have started loving the seedha palla (straight fall) of the sari. I am very comfortable in Indian attires and I guess I carry them off pretty well," she said. —
IANS
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Arshad’s woes
His role as Circuit in Munnabhai M.B.B.S fetched Arshad Warsi accolades, but not good movie offers. The actor rues that he has been typecast and doesn't get offers that could do justice to his acting skills.
Mujhe aacche role milte nahi hai (I don't get good roles), "Warsi confessed at a press conference. "All the movies that I am being offered, 99 per cent of them are bad scripts. That leaves me with one per cent chance of getting a good movie," he added.
The actor will be seen as a small time thief Babban in Ishqiya. Directed by Abhishek Chaubhey and produced by Vishal Bharadwaj, the film is set in a small town in Uttar Pradesh and also stars Naseeruddin Shah and Vidya
Balan. Arshad jokingly said that no other actor in the industry would have done the role better than him. He also pointed out that the character he is playing in the movie is a far cry from the way he is in his personal life. "There is a huge difference between Babban and me. In real life, I am very quiet and boring, unlike him who is very rustic and lively."
"Despite this, I didn't have any difficulty in portraying this character. Thanks to the director who was clear about this character and I did my homework accordingly." —
IANS |
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Papa don’t push
Tutoring is perhaps one of the few sectors that have registered a growth even during recession. Courtesy: Worried moms and dads who are on a perpetual hunt to supplement their kids' school learning with extracurricular cramming! From dance to swimming to tennis classes, their wards' academic report is never complete without two-three additional activities.
Known as 'helicopter or pushy parents', this group is preoccupied with children and often seen snaffling up the latest 'Baby Einstein' toys before racing off to enrol their offsprings in Kumon maths, Mandarin, violin and drama classes! Calling it an instinct, a study says it's in all the parents in varying degrees and anyone who claims to be above it is simply denying a basic human need: After all, what's more aspirational as humans than have
a child? Parental push "We're anxious about our kids' future, how well they do and how good the opportunities are for them. As parents, we want to train them for the best in life because they're our biggest investment," says Preeti Dhillon a homemaker from Phase VII, Mohali. Talk about the increasing pressure on kids and she says, "I agree sometimes we do go overboard, but I guess its human to want the kids to do the best." Agreeing that parents are more than 'pushy' these days, Betty Nangia, naturapath and pranic healer from Betty's holistic and skin care centre in Sector 8, says, "In my view role-modelling is better. Rather than pushing from behind lead your kids from the front. Teach them the realities of life and let them experience things on their own rather than spoon-feeding them. Believe me, it's a lot more energy-efficient, a lot less frustrating (for you) and a lot less intense (for children)." She adds: "I do agree that it's a competitive world, but one has to give children space and quality time. That is what will make a difference." Ground reality
In this competitive world, there are parents who simply don't know when to call it a day. They would hover around making sure 'junior' is at his lectures and on track for a first. Says a music teacher from Sector-22, "I have kids coming to me who have tuitions and hobby classes back-to-back after their school. Although I feel sorry for them since they have no time for anything else, I guess parents want them to be 'jack of all trades' these days."
Young world Youngsters' comments have unleashed an avalanche of emotion. Ask the young guns about their eight to six routine and they say they are a little tired but since all their friends are doing it, they like it! jigyasachimra@tribunemail.com |
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Different strokes
Toe ring' is in shades of grey except for the red dot on the toe. Next to it is 'Paradise' and 'Morning Has Broken' in bright colours - red, gren, blue, orange. On another wall hangs a portrait, a figurative work that has people sitting together. And next to it is 'Solitude', a semi-figurative artwork that depicts a lady standing behind the wall.
Anu Ganju, whose paintings are on display at the Alliance Francaise Art Gallery, prefers her work diverse with no specific theme, style, format, colour scheme, or even medium.
"I don't want to restrict my art to the usual styles. The theme of every painting is instantly decided, which might also evolve with time. Improvisation never stops," she says.
Anu's 30 artworks on display here are all different from each other except for a few. "I draw inspiration from the world around us. A series of paintings is done when one painting isn't enough to capture the beauty of nature." 'Purple and Pink', a series of four works, has these two colours in abundance but in varied proportions, "Besides telling a story, the series was done because I was too fascinated with the combination of the colours - purple and pink," she shares. This series was done after her trip to the Oxford University. "Travelling around the world helps me come up with novel ideas." And 'Parasols' was made after her trip to Germany, "All the delegates who had gathered for the conference were asked to follow the black suit dress code. As it was raining that day, all were holding red umbrellas, which I have depicted in 'Parasols'." A degree-holder in architecture, Anu is a self-trained artist. She got recognition in the late 80's when she was given the contract to paint panels for the Hotel Taj President, Mumbai. "The hotel used to change its interiors after every five years. However, my panel work was so appreciated by the people that it stayed on the walls for 19 years." The 17 panels she did were hung in the restaurant of the hotel. Anu is also associated with several groups like INTACH and those from South Korea. ashima@tribunemail.com |
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Steamy sensations
Kandla Nijhowne Winter weather is 'purrfect' for steaming puddings, laced with booze and served with ladleful of runny cream or custard! These moist delights truly and efficiently warm your insides as well as the cockles of your heart! The British claim pudding as part of their culinary heritage. In centuries old literature, there are references to a "Stir-Up Sunday" when traditionally everyone in the household gave the pudding mixture a stir, and made a wish while doing so. It was common practice to include silver three pence in the batter, which could be kept by the lucky person who landed one in their helping! The coin was believed to bring wealth to the recipient in the coming year. Despite knowing that a pudding portion might contain a coin, many a tipsy Christmas reveler damaged their teeth by biting into one, or even swallowed one by mistake! However this practice fell away once real silver coins were not available, as it was believed that alloy coins would react with the ingredients and taint the pudding. Other tokens are also known to have been included, such as a tiny wishbone (to bring good luck), a silver thimble (for thrift), or an anchor (to symbolise safe harbour). I'm relieved that Indians did not adopt any such stuff from the ruling phirangees. Who knows what we'd come up with in our context? Can you imagine the rude shock of biting into a motichoor laddu and getting stabbed in the tongue by a tiny swastika or a trishool? Ouch! Steamed Chocolate Pudding
Ingredients
½ cup grated dark chocolate Method In a pan on low heat add grated chocolate and melt it, then whisk till it smoothens. Sieve together the flour, baking powder, cocoa and coffee powder. Beat the eggs, vanilla essence, melted chocolate and sugar. Add the sieved dry ingredients and blend the mixture adding half a cup of milk (or more if it is too thick). Grease a mould or aluminium container with butter and pour the mixture in it. You may choose to prepare a large pudding or small individual ones. Cover container with foil and secure to seal. Lower it into a larger vessel with boiling water and steam for around half an hour or so. Insert a fine skewer or toothpick into the centre of the pudding to check. If nothing sticks to the skewer then the pudding is ready. Let it cool for few minutes then remove from the mould. Drizzle with brandy if using. Serve warm with chocolate sauce, thin cream or custard.
Steamed Lemon Pudding
Ingredients
150g butter, softened Method Lightly butter 8 individual moulds or one large, and line the base with a round disc of baking paper. Beat together the butter and sugar until smooth. Whisk in the eggs, lemon juice, and zest. Sift the flour and baking powder into the bowl and stir well. Add the lemon juice, salt and enough milk to give the batter a soft, dropping consistency. Put a teaspoonful of jam into the bottom of each pudding mould and spoon the lemon batter on top, not quite filling the moulds. Cover with a disk of foil and fold well to seal. Place the pudding moulds in a pan and pour in about 3cm of boiling water. Cover the pan and bring to the boil. Steam the pudding for 1 hour and check with a toothpick. Smaller puddings will take less time. Turn off the heat and leave covered for another 30 minutes. Unmould and serve with a sweetened strawberry puree or warm custard.
Note: You may improvise and bake these puddings too, placing a wide, shallow 'water-bath' below the pudding moulds. The oven temperature should be 350 degrees F. |
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Man behind the lens
What's in the name? For some, everything ends and begins with it while for others it's just a tag of reference. But when it comes to Punjabi cinema, Manmohan Singh is the name. There's hardly any actor who wouldn't want to be in front of the camera when he brings in different angles.
Aman Dhaliwal of Jodhaa Akbar fame, Rana Ranbir, comedian, and Amrinder Gill, the Dildaarian guy, in city shooting for Manmohan Singh's Ik Kudi Punjab Di, share the experience of working with the director. Repetitive scripts, more or less similar shoot locales, a select audience, nothing matters!
Here I come An exotic locale in Bahamas or at sets on the premises of Government College sector-10, Aman Dhaliwal has no qualms about giving appreciable time and energy to Punjabi cinema. For him, the industry (Bollywood or Punjabi) makes no difference as long as he is satisfied with the outcome. "I have worked in Hindi cinema, music videos and now I am being launched as a villain in South Indian movies, but I don't see a world of difference in them. I don't think locations, language or genre can be any barrier for the actor," says Aman, essaying the role of Param, a senior, spoilt college student who stands by his friend till the end.
Anything new? Haven't we been seeing rehashed versions of the same plot time and again? Laughs the actor from Mansa, who was a popular face in Hindi and Punjabi music videos, Ik Kudi Punjab Di is the story of every Punjabi girl and boy.
"Besides, this is the time for regional cinema to grow and venture out to an assorted audience," adds the doe-eyed actor.
Back to the basics, the start of his career - music videos. Do we see him doing them anymore? "I did videos because it was 'the' thing to do at that time and they made some really nice stuff those days," he shares.
Television? "I'd rather pursue medicine instead of going through the rut of rona dhona," says Aman, waiting for the launch of his upcoming movie
Virsa. Laugh-a-riot If only an actor could carry the weight of a movie on his bulky, or maybe chiseled, shoulders, Rocket Singh, Wake Up Sid and Chance Pe Dance would have been the biggest blockbusters of the season. So…. what makes the movie a hit? A good script, character artistes, powerful and realistic dialogues, and a cohesive team. For comedian Rana Ranbir, who has written the dialogues for Ik Kudi Punjab Di, and also plays an important role in the flick, these are the prerequisites for a super hit. "Actors have a short life, while a character artiste has various options," says Rana Ranbir, who has also scripted Manmohan Singh's Munde UK De. "Actors can come and go, but the supporting actors hold the fort for long."
Waiting for the release of his upcoming movies, Punjaban and Chak Jawaana, starring Gurdas Maan and Jonita Doda, Rana Ranbir is ready to switch genres, provided he gets a
substantial role. |
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What's brewing?
Thirteen inspirational years of being the place where millions of people have spent some special moments, Café Coffee Day, India's largest retail chain of coffee cafés, has unveiled a strategy that promises much more.
Developed from in-depth dialogue with customers, coffee-lovers and stakeholders, the change entails an all-new 'smart' menu, fresh furniture design and placement, new uniforms, cutlery and total café rebranding. Most visible would be the famous Café Coffee Day squared logo in a new avatar - a dialogue box with the words Café Coffee Day written in a distinct, specially created font. Commenting on the new brand positioning, Alok Gupta, director, Café Coffee Day, India, said: "We have been talking to a people about what they would love to see in a café and our new strategy is aimed at giving customers an even more enjoyable experience." Young author and a special friend of Café Coffee Day, Chetan Bhagat says, "Some of my best ideas have come out of the hours I have spent in the café. Its a place where I can be all by myself or just chat with people or simply observe what they might be thinking; some look cheerful, some look busy, so many emotions one gets to see at a café."Café Coffee Day will be effecting the change in phases, all new cafes will be designed fresh and the existing cafes across the country will have the new look by the end of the year. |
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