|
|
|
|
|
Treasure haunt
Rajnish Wattas If Robert Langdon, the protagonist of Dan Brown's novel Da Vinci Code, were to visit Chandigarh, he would love it. He would be happily decoding the city's myriad symbols and signs embedded into its buildings and art works by its legendry architect-planner Le Corbusier.
So much for Chandigarhians to discover, so much serendipity and so much of 'treasure hunts' to chase! The Sukhna Lake, quite the jewel in the crown of Chandigarh, was developed in 1958 by PLVarma, the then Chief engineer, and Le Corbusier. The Sukhna Lake nestles in the north of the city in the lap of the magnificent Shivalik hills. It has been a silent and soulful companion to the city and its people through the varied moods and hues of their lives.
When you begin your walk at the Sukhna, the first thing that you see is the white and red gateway in austere brick and concrete. The form is of a simple concrete slab painted as a white band resting on two openings, one narrow and the other wider. The left opening is narrow and a meandering concrete pathway leads into a low but broad stone parapet wall. However, the exit gate is broad and high.
Similarly as you go further, you notice near the old peepal tree - which has now become a landmark of the Lake - on the right side, a cube in concrete. Corbusier always liked to communicate with the users of his architecture, the people, about the philosophy and intent of his concepts. On the rough, natural concrete surface of the cube you find the inscription, "The founders of Chandigarh have offered the lake and dam to the citizens of the new city so that they may escape from the humdrum of city life and enjoy the beauty of nature in peace and silence." Besides the dedication plaque on the cube, there are also a number of other bas-reliefs of fish, birds and other symbols on the surface. At a glance they look like child-like drawings, and so they are; because Corbusier himself a great painter, was very fascinated by the scrawls made by the labourers on the wet concrete surfaces at the construction sites. He decided to immortalize these innocent, spontaneous folk motifs, by embedding them into the frozen history of the City. Close to the cube, on the right hand side is the high platform approached by a sculptural long, single flight of steps. As you climb to the top one can have a grandstand view of the lake surrounded by the blue Shivalik hills and the green forests. Often people mistake it for a viewing tower, which of course it is now. However, it was initially a pedestal for keeping water tanks required during the construction of the lake. But after the completion of the work, it was decided to convert it into a band stand-cum- viewing tower. I still remember when on Sunday afternoons resplendent police bands would perform from there, when the sailing regattas were on. The colourful sails of the boats would glide on gossamer wings on the silvery sheet of water, to the lilting strains of music wafting in from the tower. It would be a wonderful thing if live music were reintroduced! The walk on the lake promenade is full of history. Near the 800 metres mark, there is the familiar sight of a circular brick tower standing in the lake waters connected to the promenade by a narrow bridge that wraps around the tower in a serpentine manner. Ever wondered about this intriguing structure? Is it a watch tower, a viewing point or just an ornamental structure on top of which many a young couple would earlier stand a la Leonardo Di Caprio and Kate Winset, the hero and heroine of Titanic! And finally the authorities had to barricade its access with a gate, as some got carried away enough to jump into the lake, at times with tragic consequences. This brick tower is nothing as mysterious as what one might imagine. It was originally designed as a pump house to lift water from the lake and supply it to the irrigation network for watering the city's gardens and parks. But those were the days when the lake brimmed with surplus water instead of one dry pond that it has become now. And as night sets in and stars begin to twinkle on the firmament and the distant lights of Kasauli, the quaint old colonial hill town shimmer, the lake promenade is illuminated with its own specially designed cove-lighting. Corbusier had always conceived of the lake as a haven of peace and tranquillity"to see the stars in sky and the stars in the mountains too in the water and all in absolute silence." And to ensure that he designed low-level light fixtures in concrete of concealed lighting. The promenade is bathed in an ambience of dim foot-lights that almost glimmer like the star spangled sky overhead! However, one of the most enigmatic elements of the lake is the venerable, old peepal tree, as it even existed before the making of Sukhna. It is perhaps the repository of many tales of the Lake and the making of Chandigarh. No wonder, every one stops there to listen to the timeless rustle of wind through its leaves! (The writer is a former principal of the Chandigarh College of Architecture.)
|
|
Little luck, little logic
Lara Dutta debuted in 'Andaaz' with Priyanka Chopra opposite Akshay Kumar. She bagged Filmfare Best Female Award in 2003 for this film. The actor with films like No Entry, Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, Partner, Billoo and Blue is on top of the world now. Her latest film Housefull, a comedy caper where she stars with Akshay Kumar, Deepika Padukone and Jiah Khan, hits the theatres today. She talks to Lifestyle:
Most of your films have been hits. Plain luck? I am lucky that the right kind of films, scripts, roles and directors have come my way. I have always balanced my projects that way. How different was Sajid Khan from the directors you have worked with? Sajid is a wholesome filmmaker. He is way ahead of the times. What's your role? It is a perfect comic-caper in which I play a Gujarati girl, Hetal Patel. I have a complicated character in this film. What is Housefull all about? The film is about a man who gets caught while trying to juggle three women in his life. How was it working with Akshay? I started my career with Akshay Kumar in Andaaz. I also worked with him in Blue. It was interesting to work with him again in Housefull. What makes you sign a particular film? Well, first comes the role. Then it is the story. If I do not understand it then I won't do it. Also, I must like people associated with the film. What about the future, how does that look? I have roles, which are good enough for me. I have Ravi Chopra's Banda Yeh Bindaas Hai, Sudhir Mishra's Aur Devdas and Pritish Nandy's The Actor in which Amitabh Bachchan play the main lead along with Tabu and Jiah Khan. — Dharam Pal |
|
Comedy of errors
Film: Housefull
Producer: Sajid Nadiadwala and Sunil Lulla Director: Sajid Khan Starring: Akshay Kumar, Deepika Padukone, Lara Dutta, Riteish Deshmukh, Jiah Khan, Arjun Rampal, Randhir Kapoor, Boman Irani Housefull directed by Heyy Babyy fame Sajid Khan is touted as paisa vasool in trade circles. It is a comedy of errors apparently inspired by Hrishikesh Mukherjee's Chupke Chupke, a house filled with the characters coming and going and creating commotion of mistaken identity. Interestingly Sajid is a great admirer of Hrishida while Akshay Kumar has always been a Dharmendra fan. To add oomph to the Housefull, the leading ladies of the film Lara Dutta, Deepika Padukone and Jiah Khan are going to seen sporting bikinis in one of the songs in the film. Chase is on
Director: Jagmohan Mundra Starring: Udita Goswami, Anuj Saxena, Aditya Raj Kapoor, Tareena Patel Chase is an exciting thriller which stars sexy Udita Goswami. Udita has pinned high hopes on this film which looks different and has the potential to rock on Box-office. So get ready to watch 'Chase' in the theatres near you. — Dharam Pal |
|
Side Lanes
Four years seem to have passed at break neck speed. Each semester has made us ask a million questions about the exam results. He has never given us a chance to complain. In the beginning there used to be an occasional B+ but usually there were straight As and A+s. Today he is at the top of his class. His tutors think highly of him. When he was praised by the teacher who was conducting an international project, parts of which were to be put before the UN, our pride made us quite bloated and painful in company. This is our youngest son. The other two have made their international mark professionally. This fledgling has to find his place in the world.
His school results won him the presidential scholarship at a US University. Even the residential dues made us balk. I wrote a tear jerker to the President of St. Johns. I assured him he would miss out on a genius if they did not help him with more cash! Quietly $5000 were added towards board and lodging. We still had no cash for the air ticket and books. Many sobbing letters went to half a dozen, rich businessmen. Most replied saying they could pay for his post-graduation, not graduation. Our friends called us fools. We were retirees with nothing much but the roof over our heads. I had to earn for food on our plates. Hard of hearing and getting on in years, my better half could not land a job and took over the house-work. One day there was an email from Mahindras. I read the first paragraph, which said they gave scholarships only for a Masters degree. It was the usual reply. As I scrolled down, I read: "However…!" Anand Mahindra approved of a lakh as an interest-free loan to be paid back once the student completed his graduation. I stood against the wall and sobbed. My husband and son ran to me, worried about some shocking, unbearable news. I pointed to the email. A man we had never met had shown compassion and trust. The next day we bought his ticket. He made his presence felt when I was 44 and his father 50. At first we were upset and a little ashamed. At our age we ought to have been grandparents. We talked in whispers lest anyone heard. When nausea set in, we attributed it to a late night and rich food. However, when it did not abate, we rushed off to the doctor. He confirmed our worst fears. We thought of a quick and painless end to the tiny life within me. I reached the hospital at Siliguri with strict instructions to avoid food or drink. "Wan and palely loitering," in the morning I met Dr Mittra, who thought otherwise. He told the OPD patients hovering around, "She is as strong as an ox!" They concurred. I blushed a deep beetroot at the collective, public interest in Bor Di. Then he turned to my husband and said, "You must have this child, but if you insist, I shall do the needful." We did not need too much arm-twisting and decided to go the whole nine months. It was a tough journey. There were days of intense pain, fatigue and sickness. The very active child within me seemed to claw his way around my stomach. When I finally saw him, bald, tired, (he fought hard too!) blinking against the strong theatre lights, I stretched my arms for the miracle we had created. He was perfect in every way. Next week we shall be in the USA for his graduation. He has planned celebratory dinners and our stay at a hotel. We have refused the latter though he scrimped and scraped for it. There is plenty of time for such luxuries. The fledgling has found strong wings. He intends to work as well as earn the best scholarships to complete his education. He vows not to ask for another paisa and says he and his bhaiyas will look after us till the end. |
|
Objet D’ART
In the villages of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, kavad still serves as a medium of entertainment and religious education, mostly Hinduism. Sheikh who describes kavads as his personal shrines, gives it a modern touch by painting it in contemporary themes. And now, kavad seems to have given rise to a trend and we found one such follower in Viren Tanwar, whose latest works are though not exactly
kavads, but kavad-inspired. "The hotels symbolise the lack of belongingness, the poster is there because everybody, even a street person, nourishes the hope to become a hero someday and dogs and cats symbolise the good, bad and ugly, which are an integral part of any society," he adds. Another painting in this series has doors that open to give a glimpse of the glamour world that exist behind closed doors. This painting also happens to be an answer to the charges of obscenity, which was hurled at him by the moral police sometime ago! "I often see this hoarding of a under-clad woman in front of a shop and I wonder why are we partial to artists only when it comes to nudity?" Well, that debate we would like to take up on another forum, but for now we concentrate on his paintings, mostly the new genre he has started. So, we push the conversation once again to kavad art form. Was he inspired by the folk art? "In a way yes. I have seen kavads and I own a temple made of panels. This kind of thing remain etched in one's mind and comes out in some form or the other," says Tanwar. And this series is going to travel far and wide as a non-profit organisation called Salaam Balak is organising an exhibition at the Delhi Habitat Centre. Later, the paintings will travel to Hong Kong, Singapore, Chicago and London to raise funds for the organisation. parbina@tribunemail.com
|
|
Creative ZONE
She was among the 50 finalists on the Zee TV Antakshari Show in 2007-08. But, Priyanka wants to achieve greater heights through sincere hardwork and dedication.
Hailing from Hoshiarpur and educated at Sacred Heart School, Amritsar, Auckland Convent, Shimla, and DAV-15, Priyanka, who is pursuing a Master's degree in English literature from the MCM College-36, is one of the most sought after singers for any show that is held in the city. Priyanka has won three zonal level awards in classical vocal music and many others in geet, ghazal and group singing competitions. "The felicity of English literature and spirituality of classical music fascinates me, but good filmy and Punjabi songs are tempting as well." She has also been the proud winner of junior and senior category titles of Rafi Memorial, Sur Sangam annual awards, and many more. Basically a classical vocalist, Priyanka maintains that singing complex filmy songs is not easy. "My regular participation in shows had given me confidence, which I fully utilised during the two-week Antakshri show. My teammate Abhimanu, a radio jockey, was also very supportive," she shares. And she has inherited all this talent from her mother Kusum Lata, who has an honour's degree in music. "I was fortunate to be guided by my mentor Simi R Singh who shaped my innate faculties and made me what I am today," she says. "Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammad Rafi are my idols. I attempt to emulate their singing style," she signs off. |
|
Folk tell
A piece of art is appreciated neither because it is modern nor ancient, but because it is a sincere catharsis of emotions, a true reflection of aesthetic persona and an embodiment of one's soul.
One such form that deserves a special mention is the vibrant folk art, which is a unique portrayal of the country's multidimensional cultural ethos and a true icon of nationality. Folk art paintings denote a simple pictorial expression of the artist and provide an inseparable link between life and creativity through themes ranging from religion, mythology, village life, rituals, ceremonies, flora and fauna, elements of nature, differing in style and depiction from region to region. However, this gorgeous form of art got no deserved acclaim earlier than the 20th century with the exploration at Bhimbetka (World Heritage Site) spreading across approximately 500 rock shelters and caves; an epitome of folk art beauty and adroitness. One of the most uncomplicated and thought- provoking portrayal of folk art owes its inception to the agrarian tribe hailing from Maharashtra popularly known as the Warli community. They have their distinct depiction of Warli art engraved on mud walls of houses, which provide an abstract mosaic of themes ranging from marriage to celebrating the harvest season and many others. The next most sought-after folk art form existed in a small village in Bihar called Madhubani known to have the unique distinction of transmitting artistic talent from mothers to daughters, celebrating the genesis of female talent and aesthetics. The walls of houses are first coated and smoothened with cow dung/mud, which are then used by the females of the house to exhibit their creative imagination using rice paste as an artistic medium. The themes centre around nature, mythology, Hindu Gods and Goddesses, seasonal festivals et al. Historically, Lord Janaka had employed a wide range of artists to decorate his palace at Madhubani to celebrate the occasion of his daughter Sita's wedding to Lord Rama. However, it was in the 1960s when Madhubani faced severe drought and for survival people began to sell this art form, which proved to be a blessing in disguise and popularised it far and beyond. Our journey from here moves on to the Rathwa, Bilal and Nayak tribes of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh who are known for the fabulous display of their rituals and customs revolving around daily solutions to the problems by the village priest. They use pithora on walls and adorn it with paintings made from a blend of colours mixing it with milk as a base. Rajasthan is not far behind in showcasing the Phad form of art, which begins with a devotional fervour of making offerings to Goddess Sarasvati. As per tradition, the youngest virgin girl of the artist's family is invited to initiate the first stroke and then it systematically move with vegetable colours to decorate various parts of the body; using orange for the limbs and torso, yellow for ornaments, red for their dress, gray for the structure and black outline for refining and dignifying the creation further. Phad paintings display a diversity of artistic rasas ranging from the celebration of valiant heroic deeds of kings like Prithvi Raj Chauhan, Goga Chauhan and many more, to the present depiction of the life of Narayandev ji and Papuji. Talking of Orissa, it reminds one of the famous Patachitra paintings which were and are still used as motivational icons for instilling secular sentiments and harboring religious tolerance through the display of themes hovering around the Jaganath cult and scenes of Radha-Krishna. Traditionally these paintings were done on ordinary cloth (patha) but due to modernistic influences it finds a place on many other mediums as well. Similar patas find expression in Bengal too. And as one moves down South, a panorama of an exhaustive variety can be surely visualised. Tanjore art style being one of them providing a visual treat showcasing a glamorous display of human and animal forms, religious themes and mythological events such as coronation ceremony of Lord Rama. Nirmal, a small town in Andhra Pradesh, too has grabbed the limelight for its portrayals on wood and glazed paintings creating a mesmerising impact characterised by bold epic narrative in oil. Andhra has another feather in it's cap for preserving and promoting the 3,000-year-old Kalamkari art display done with a help of a pen using non striking colors that blends Masulipatnam and the Kalahasti style. However, some of the other purely indigenous folk art include the Jain art of Gujarat, Pahari miniatures of the North, Gond art of the Godavari and the not so indianised Batik. This blissful journey is just a mere drop in the ocean as art forms and cultural legacies are known to traverse much far and beyond. Andf it's time to cherish this wonderful journey in our heart, mind and spirit and garner the seeds of nurturing and nourishing this rich cultural extravaganza for generations to come. |
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Be it the famous tapestries of the High Court or the Assembly, the bass-reliefs on the concrete facades of College of Architecture or the enamelled door of the Assembly and the monuments of the Capitol Complex, the city is rich with the mystique of its signs, symbols, messages and edicts. Much like the tablets, cryptic symbols and signs of the ancient and that too in a modern city. 
The painting-like beauty of the waters - be it a reflection of the golden orb of the morning sun, a dulcet sunset or the lush-green landscape of the hills mirrored in the muddy waters of monsoons - is a moment to behold. 
Ever wondered why? Corbusier always liked to transform a functional necessity into an aesthetic expression. While the entrance gate is for pedestrian ingress, it was equally important to have vehicular access to the dam, for maintenance, and an emergent threat to the safety of the bandh. And the result: The scale of the gate changes into a play of heights and widths! 
Not so long ago, artist Gulammohammad Sheikh introduced us to popular folk art kavad. In the traditional sense, kavad is a wooden painted temple, with lots of panels and secret compartments that fold out and in to tell a story.
Titled My Name Is…Street, the paintings (60"X71" size and in mixed media) captures the life in a street. The three panels open to show a man drinking, a dog rummaging through a dustbin for a bone, rows of hotels and a poster of the Bollywood blockbuster My Name is Khan, and a cat made of fibreglass. "This is a scene that depicts what night life can be in any of the Indian cities," explains Tanwar. 
India is a land of more than 6,000 communities and each of them are marked by dynamic blend of traditions, customs, experience and semblance. Indian folk paintings act as a canvas for the unique adornment of the same, using a wide array of mediums ranging from paper, cloth, leaves, pots, mud walls, cards, natural dyes and flashy colours.