The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - The Tribune Lifestyle

Simply stated
Jasmine Singh

Union minister for Information & Broadcasting Ambika Soni was in the city for the inauguration of a fashion house

Priyanka Gandhi made quite a fashion statement in her high-waist trouser and well-fitted shirt, which was captured by every channel and flashed on the front page of every newspaper. Rahul Gandhi's crisp white kurtas and vaskets suddenly made the drab political dress look cool.

The graceful cotton saris of Sonia Gandhi have made cotton stylish. And one cannot miss the personal style statements of the young brigade of Jyotiraditya Scindia, Sachin Pilot ands Omar Abdullah. Who says fashion and politics are two separate entities?

On Friday, at the inauguration of Voila, a fashion house owned by Neha Rahul Sidhu at Sector-10 we waited for politician Ambika Soni to walk in with some kind of a style statement. And sure she did — an elegant salwar kameez, a big round bindi and a neatly tied bun.

Traditional is always elegant and stylish. Besides, every politician is expected to carry an individual style. What has the Information & Broadcasting Minister have to say on it? She smiles, (probably not expecting to be quizzed on fashion, style, clothes), and not inclined to say much on it. "A politicians' style is identified by his or her work in their respective constituency. Rahul Gandhi is stylish because he went around Amethi working at the grassroots level. His perfection of work is his style," says Ambika Soni.

French cut

Voila, an ensemble of exquisite French designs, opens in the city on Friday. According to Neha Rahul Sidhu, owner of the Voila Fashion House, "I wanted to bring in couture to Chandigarh. For any fashionable piece like jump suits we run to Delhi or Mumbai. Now, we have a store in Chandigarh that will fulfil these fashion demands."

Adds Neha, who took almost a year to come up with the designer collection, "Voila offers a range of designer wear. USP of the collection is exclusivity. We have a selective custom base. This year the fashion scene will see a lot of bright colours and animal prints." To provide technical knowhow, Viola ties up with De Meyer Beheer BV, retailers from Europe. Says Rahulinder Singh Sidhu, chairman, Rahul Sidhu Enterprises Private Limited, "At Voila we prefer exclusivity for our customers, so we don't believe in stocking for the next season."

From fashion to television, another small wonder, which is growing in a big way. "I have never watched so much television before. Now I watch TV to keep abreast with any kind of breaking news, so that I am in a position to answer questions at any point of time. More than choice, watching TV is office homework," provides the minister.

Soni can't imagine how lucky she is - not getting to watch the sobbing saas bahus, the unreal reality shows and extremely 'sensationalised' news. "I watch other channels apart from news channels such as History and National Geographic. Some news channels have slots for documentaries on achievers and young people or on human interest, which are pretty interesting," says Soni, who doesn't like crime reports (they are crime dramas).

"Yes, I watch reality shows as sometimes they are in conflict with the sentiments of the audience." This is it! 'Sensationalisation', we can understand if Ram Gopal Varma makes use of it. But news channel indulging in it "The real essence of news is lost somewhere in this sensationalisation. This cannot go on, at the same time, the fourth estate needs to regulate itself," she says.

Rules, regulations, acts, meetings, forums, debates, discussions, travelling`85is it tiring? "Trust me it is a 24X7 drill without any day off. I can't even wish for a long holiday because it can get cancelled any time. I might take holidays by the end of June. Fingers crossed till I get them."

And till the de-stress vacation, Ambika Soni has non-fiction literature for company!

jasmine@tribunemail.com

Getting real
Neha Walia

Annie Zaidi launched her book that talks of bandits of Chambal and how the scene has changed

Her first book, a compilation of short love poems called Crush, got her a fan-following but not much attention in literary circles. With her second, Known Turf: Bantering with Bandits and Other True Tales, a collection of short essays, Annie Zaidi is talking and everybody is listening.

"Urban India seems to be insensitive towards the 'real India' and though it is not deliberate, it still keeps the divide open. Through this book I want to make the India living in metros take notice of the life of people in Chambal," says the journalist and author, who was in the city to launch her book and interact with students of Dikshant International School, Zirakpur.

"We have failed to build an alternative society and that results in the inconsiderate behaviour by the majority," she adds. Giving an account of the lives of dacoits in Chambal and her own journey exploring caste system, poverty, feudalism and hunger in the most difficult territory of the country, Known Turf puts down the tales of bandits, the shocking levels of deprivation in the area experienced by Zaidi as a reporter while working for a reputed magazine.

"I travelled extensively in Chambal. Met some of the known bandits like Mohan Singh and found that the violence these people resorted to was because of feudalism and social injustice," she says.

And she travelled through remote villages in search of the issues involved. "There understanding of development is different from ours. The concept of roti, kapda and makaan doesn't solve their purpose, as an insecurity of being cheated by the system still exists. Feudalism prevalent in the area and suppression of primitive tribes aggravate the problem," informs Annie.

But then she also maintains that with years and names like Phoolan Devi, Makhan Singh, Putli Bai and Nirbhay Singh only a memory, Chambal is just a tame shadow of its wild self. "Most of these bandits have surrendered now and live a peaceful life; some of them have even undergone a spiritual change. The sense of acceptance has seeped in."

Violence exists though, only the form has changed. "Extortion, demanding protection money, gang wars, abductions, Chambal has undergone a Mumbai-like makeover now," she says.

However, Annie had no intentions to join the literary world. "As a journalist and a blogger, I was appreciated for my writings. But I had to wait and think for years before finally writing a book."

And the topic she chose to write on? Caters to only the niche market? "We have a new generation of readers who like to try out different genres. If there was a lack of pulp-fiction in Indian writing, we have filled the gap. Today, all kinds of literary tastes are being catered to."

Once done with the promotions of Known Turf, Annie wants to go back to what she loves most, "I want to continue reporting, researching and writing. Meanwhile, I am busy working on another book, which will be fiction."

nehawalia@tribunemail.com

Fusion fun
Mona

Writer, composer and singer Taz shares his latest stint in A Wonderful Afterlife and Twist

Prince of Asian pop from UK, Taz, celebrates his 20 years in the music industry with his brand new album Twist & Shout. And with three songs in Gurinder Chadha's A Wonderful Afterlife, Taz is all set to regale his fans with his trademark fusion music.

In a telephonic interview from Delhi, he shares the latest news on Stereo Nation, his performance and the promotional tour to India.

"Gurinder is an awesome filmmaker and a great friend. I have done three songs for A Wonderful Afterlife - Crazee, Nach and a remix of her old favourite Don't break my heart," he says.

As for Twist & Shout, Taz sticks to his style and brings out eight foot-tapping numbers and their remixes. "One of the songs I Love you is my version of Beatle's classic with the same name. It's total Bollywood style fusion, which I am sure my audience will appreciate," he shares.

In his two-decade career, writer, composer and singer Taz has given some hit numbers like Nachangen Saari Raat, Galan Goriyan, Pyaar Ho Gaya and Daroo Vich Pyar Mila De. He's been giving music to Bollywood as well and plans to continue with it. Born and brought up in UK, Taz has always been in touch with his roots. "My family belongs to village Patlawa, near Jalandhar, and the traveller in me brings me to back to India often. I love the people here," he signs off.

mona@tribunemail.com

Sufi notes
SD Sharma

The centuries-old guru-shishya tradition is still revered as a pious institution and devout disciples take pride in serving their 'guru'. Noted Sufi singer Neelay Khan, who has a distinctive style that is a blend of Sufi, ghazal, Punjabi folk and devotional genres, is no exception.

He vividly recalls his days of training under Ustad Eedu Khan, Ustad Baqar Husain of Patiala gharana and later under the tutelage of Guru Om Prakash Verma. Neelay Khan, hailing from a sleepy village, Lalauda, near Patiala, used to take the buffalos of his first guru, Ustad Eedu Khan, for grazing in the fields. "In return I learnt the finer nuances of classical music for seven years. And today despite coming from a modest background I am doing well for myself," says Neelay Khan.

He opines that in-depth understanding of language, poetry and music, besides skills to embellish a composition makes one a good singer as well as composer. "My first song Mayen Ni Mayein was written by Shiv Kumar Batalvi, which featured in my maiden album. This was followed by Birhon The Radak Pavve, and yet another Shiv Kumar Batalvi classic Phulliyan Kaneran Ghar Aa. After my ninth album Sabar Luta Rahe Hein, I am working on the poetry of Sada Ambalavi for my next album," adds Neelay Khan.

Later in the evening, Neelay Khan and his troupe presented 'qawwalis' at a concert organised by Pracheen Kala Kendra at their Mohali centre.

Picks & piques
Thriller magic
Johnson Thomas

The IPL's penultimate rounds have put Bollywood's major production houses in a tizzy. Released this week are Jag Mohan Mundra's Apartment and Mahesh Manjrekar's bilingual in Hindi and Marathi, City of Gold/Lalbaug, Parel, While Mundra's Apartment is a rehash of the 1992 Hollywood hit Single White Female, City of Gold is Manjrekar's very own take on the mill workers' strife.

Film: Apartment

Cast: Neetu Chandra, Tanushree Dutta, Rohit Roy, Anupam Kher

Director: Jagmohan Mundra

Jagmohan Mundra's most noted film to date was Bhawandar, the rest were all listless non-starters. With Apartment Jag Mundra is trying out a different genre. The film is a blatant remake, albeit a desi version minus the catfight and violence, which was the highlight of the Hollywood sleeper hit.

In this film, Tanushree Dutta plays an airhostess and Rohit Roy, her paramour, is an advertising head honcho. They decide to share an apartment but at the house-warming party shows up Rohit's aka Karan's flirtatious nature and Tanushree aka Preeti Sen Gupta is maha miffed.

Jag's narrative is pretty easy and fluid but there is not enough tension for the thriller aspect to take hold. Basically, the script and characters therein are simply one-dimensional. Even Anupam Kher's role as an aspiring song writer; a loner with a pet, neighbour to Preeti, does not have any back story.

Neetu Chandra puts on a creditable act even though her role appears underdeveloped. Tanushree and Rohit fail to put on convincing performances.

Violent overdose

Film: City of Gold/Lalbaug, Parel

Cast: Sachin Khedekar, Seema Biswas, Karan Patel, Shashank Shende, Satish Kaushik, Ankush Chaudhary, Veena Jhankar, Sameer Dharmadhikari, Kashmira Shah, Siddharth Jadhav

Director: Mahesh Manjrekar

This is a never-ending tale about the mill workers' strife and their struggle for survival - a one-sided outsider's point of view sharpened by a shrill melodramatic tone encapsulating every social evil you can think of. Mahesh Majrekar tells his tales with a lot of violence and this one is no different. Violence is depicted in brutal and gruesome fashion and Manjrekar's narrative is pretty unapologetic after the fact. The film begins with a tamasha dance item by Resham Tipnis and then we are transported to a sprawling, dilapidated 'chawl' where the Dhuri family and several other mill worker families reside.

The atmosphere is familiar, the kind we've seen before in Sai Paranjpe's satire Katha but the people living there are far too bloodthirsty and violent. Manjrekar wants us to believe that it's the shadow of abject poverty and death that hangs over them like dark ominous cloud, which causes them to become so unruly and prone to blood-curdling violence.

Manjrekar does keep inserting the Khetaan scion's underhand dealings, his attempt to collect insurance by causing fire and finally sell the land to the highest bidder for redevelopment - in an attempt to keep us abreast of the mill workers' problems. Manjrekar takes quite a few liberties with the historic subject matter, depicting the union leader's murder as caused by an accidental gas cylinder burst and showcasing the mill owners as an avaricious lot who just want to make a lot of money at the expense of the beleaguered workers.

Manjrekar's narrative tone is excessively disturbed and the bloodletting thereof is so repulsive that it should have been shorn-off by the censors. Every aspect of the story ascends over-the-top proportions. Even the ensemble cast of thespian actors does not spare us the melodrama.

Chinese delight

With the food chain undergoing a makeover, fast-food experience just turned into fine-dining one at Yo China-9. Bringing fresh changes in their ambience and menu, the restaurant now offers a full course meal and the best wines to go with.

The interiors have gone subtle, the casual spacing turned into lounging area and menu extended with new attractions like Clay Pots, Curries and Khao Suey. The chef special includes Mongolian Clay Pot, Braised Pork with Pokchoy and Malha Sizzler.

And to celebrate the change, they have organised a Fish-o-Mania Food Festival till the middle of May. One can feast on the exotic oriental delicacies like prawns, lobsters, and fish dipped in spicy sauces and garnished with fresh herbs. The menu includes Long-Tailed Red Snappers dipped in hot bean sauce; Fish Chendu served with asparagus, Buddha's lobster in spicy Dan Dan sauce and Golden Feng Teng fried fish. Some of the dishes are prepared using banana leaf wraps and various herbs like basil and lemongrass.

Along with the spicy dishes, one can chill out with a glass of beer or French wine. "The main aim behind the makeover was to complete the package with a full course menu and wine. The fish food festival too is an attempt to popularise seafood and oriental delicacies among the city people. The response has been good till now and we hope for a better footfall," says Baldev Thakur, manager

And apart from the food, there are lucky prizes to be won such as digital cameras, Mp3 players and holiday trips to Kerela and Goa. — TNS

Matka chowk
Change game
Sreedhara Bhasin

Summers in Chandigarh seem to be getting longer every year. Don't know about you all, but I get terribly annoyed when people keep talking about the good old times. Ten cars in Sector 17, copious monsoons and gardenias abloom in July, no diesel spewing autos and no Activas either, and milder summers, with dreamy stories of hillside picnics in Kasauli!

It is true that Chandigarh still seems like an oasis when you travel back from Mumbai or Delhi. I love stepping onto the stillness of the evening station, faintly smelling of night blooms, mango buds and birds. But, we might as well absorb the stark truth - Chandigarh is under seige and the city, much to my dismay, will change irrevocably. The signs are much more tangible than what Joan of Arc could have witnessed and we are heading towards times when so many of those Chandigarh niceties would simply disappear.

I know of entire neighbourhoods of Calcutta, dotted with single story houses with lovely gardens, which have now turned into a platform of multi-storied flats. It is now painful to see an odd bungalow (mostly is disuse, since the older generation is infirm and the new has migrated to the US) stuck between two tall flats, its garden a thorny bed of weeds and brambles. The builders in Chandigarh have already claimed many of the older houses here, razing the quaint old verandahs to dust and erecting most efficient geometric structures, utilising every bit of space, keeping in mind, convenience and profit.

I remember going to family weddings when I was a young girl. The air smelled of 'mogra' garlands in the luxurious black hair of my aunts and resplendent gold jewellery adorned by them put the chandeliers to shame. When I came to Chandigarh, I felt transported to those days, so fearlessly women wore their gold coins strung in beady necklaces, their heavy 'kangan' etched with precious stones. After the lady in the terraced garden was attacked for her diamond ear studs, and the fate she suffered, many of my friends now have put away that cherished anniversary gift. They would rather keep their earlobes.

Chandigarh also has a reputation for being a gentle city, a city educated and refined at heart, a city full of art connoisseurs and historians, architects and generals, dog-lovers and gardening addicts. But, a regular day on Chandigarh roads would make you think otherwise. Yesterday, I witnessed a parking attendant being assaulted by an irate scooter rider, an autowallah almost running over a couple of school children attempting to cross the road and a man spitting a mouthful of paan juice out onto the road while driving his automobile. The crystal ball is throbbing with foreboding.

matkachowk@gmail.com

Tarot TALK
P Khurrana

ARIES: The card The Devil reveals that you will be running late on everything you do. Nothing spectacular will be taking place. You will have to watch your emotions on Tuesday. An easygoing week for students. Health requires careful watching. Tip of the week: Lack of confidence or lack of caution can leave you in losses. Lucky Colour: Golden yellow.

TAURUS: Nine Cups full of light lotus blossoms and greet you as loving relationship flower with commitments. The accent is on travel. Romance is particularly happy. Businessmen: professionals’ advice is useful. Gastric trouble may worry you. Take care. Tip: Listen carefully to words of wisdom even if you do not relish. Lucky Colour: White.

GEMINI: The Princes of Cups infuses you a youthful disposition so you will be flirtatious. An outing with children brings lot of pleasure. Cash is likely to roll in from unexpected source. Women entrepreneurs should take care of business. Tip: Don’t waste an opportunity by not exploiting a contact even if it is from your past. Lucky Colour: Golden.

CANCER: The Hanged Man shows some decisive moments .You will still find it something of stranger to get your plans going. You must not jump to conclusions. Be more realistic. A Taurean friend is helpful. Tip: Don’t be bullied into accepting situations you dislike. Lucky Colour: Pink

LEO: Though Knight of Swords gives you a new vision but overindulgence will lead to trouble. Keep up the good work. Creative work will be especially important. Tuesday is good for attending academic side of life. Sportsmen may face a tough week. Tip: Frankness and ability to state the truth are your strong points. Lucky Colour: Red.

VIRGO: The Three of Pentacles reveals family pressure and responsibility. Venus favours domestic bliss. Try to keep your business plans secret. Students should go over the books. Some attention to the present financial situation would not be missed. Tip: Consolidate your gains instead of throwing security to the winds. Lucky Colour: Brick red.

LIBRA: The Queen of Cups infuses trust and friendship. Home life should be given priority. This is a period when you ought to attend to domestic affairs. Real estate transaction will progress smoothly. Wednesday is favorable to buy a vehicle. Tip: Try to be active in catching financial opportunities. Lucky Colour: Jade.

SCORPIO: The King of Pentacles blesses you with an inner flowering that allows many possibilities. Your intuition will be good. Family members will be most co-operative. Changes made on Monday would certainly appear to be for the best. Matters flow more smoothly when joint. Tip: Have faith in yourself. Lucky Colour: Peacock green.

SAGITTARIUS: The Empress takes you towards the fast and protective lane. Short trips may have to be taken at very short notice. A good time for legal matters. No need to worry on health front. Neither borrows nor lend. Tip: Watch your action at work and polish your public relation skills. Lucky Colour: Earthy browns.

CAPRICORN: The Temperance inspires you. Week of wish fulfillment. Take care of the business and romance simultaneously. Students will get good news. Family life is blissful. Avoid land deals on Tuesday. Tip: Set the unpleasant set of events into motion. Lucky Colour: Emerald green.

AQUARIUS: Five of Cups takes you through a difficult speculative situation. A slow week for business folk. Deal carefully with jointly held funds. Health of your spouse or children need attention on Wednesday. Park your vehicle at an authorised space. Tip: Take limited risks while speculating. Lucky Colour: Bottle green.

PISCES: The Nine of Pentacles showers blessing on lovers. Beauty and ease are a theme for the week. A wish comes true on Tuesday. Keep a distance with new acquaintance. Avoid roadside food on Saturday. Tip: Take limited risks while speculating. Lucky Colour: Pale yellow.