In art’s cradle
Despite the burden of academics, some youngsters find time to pursue their heart’s calling
Neha Walia

For those who think teenagers today are not just burdened, but over-burdened…here's an advice. Stop underestimating their potential because they are capable of multitasking.

In fact, teenagers today, in addition to their regular regimen, are exploring and expressing themselves through artistic means.

Consider Arpan Vadhera's case. Call him an artist, a sportsman or a musician; Arpan fits into all categories with equal ease. The 16-year-old has been creating comics and graphic novels since he was in sixth grade, has been a national level squash player, acted in musical stage plays and is learning to be a drummer. Oh, and he sings as well!

But his comics got us hooked. "I have always been fascinated by the energy and creativity that cartoons have; right from changing shapes every second to the colour. I used to watch them not as a child but as an artist," says Arpan. His collection of over 40 comic strips and characters is on display at the Children Art Gallery at the Government Museum and Art gallery-10.

"Comics have quick readers and the rich visual display gives a scope to experiment with my characters. While doing so the script too comes along," he shares.

Of course, the inspiration came from home, as his father Vinay Vadhera is a well-known artist. But Arpan maintains that he doesn't like to call himself an artist yet. "Every artist has his own perception. I don't think or conceptualise before drawing something, I just ask myself a question, What if? Anything that triggers the answer to that question is put down on canvas spontaneously."

Arpan has also made a three-minute short animation film, Orange Pumpkin, and featured in a musical adaptation of The Lion King organised by his school. But hasn't this prompted him to get his work published? "I want to learn more before turning professional. I want to become a big fish in a small pond before entering the big ocean," he says adding that an artist should have an open mind as it's a never-ending process.

But the base needs to be strong. And strengthening her base is Mallika Singh. The 14-year-old joins the gang of youngsters who are busy creating a balance between the student and the artiste in them. Mallika is already a known name in the city theatre circles, winning two national theatre awards for her performances, working in Pakistani productions and sharing the stage with Uzra Bhatt, sister of actor Zohra Sehgal. "I did my first play when I was eight. It was written by my dad and titled Khamban di Talash. For my performance I got the best child artiste award by the Punjabi Academi Delhi," says the daughter of Dr Saheb Singh, a renowned theatre playwright. Her second award came in the following year.

Having acted in as many as 12 plays, Mallika is the reigning all-rounder of her school for the past five years. Ask her what she loves to do (after school and theatre) and she says, "I love to dance and I learn it from my mother. I am also in my school debate team."

But doesn't she feel loaded? "Sometimes, it becomes difficult but it feels good to work with senior actors, rehearse my lines and watch myself performing on stage." Not quite sure if she wants to pursue acting or theatre in future, Mallika is open to options.

But Rohin Bains has made up his mind. The young actor, or call him a star after playing young Salman Khan in London Dreams, wants to join NSD. Rohin started his career (he already has a good one at 15) doing street plays and stage plays as a member of Theatre Arts Chandigarh when he was nine. "I have done 20 stage plays and 50 street plays since then and acted in movies, London Dreams and Ek," he says. The last play he did was Night of January 16, his school's annual production.

"I am busy with my exams right now, so have taken a break from acting. But after I finish, I am looking forward for some more movies." Sounds professional.

And don't mistake him for another child artiste because the guy's got brains too. "I just finished reading Shashi Tharoor's The Great Indian Novel and loved it. It is sarcastic and interesting," says Rohin.

nehawalia@tribunemail.com

That healing touch
Aruti Nayar

Nurses are backroom workers who provide succour to patients at all times even as the doctors assume centrestage. And the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale - The Lady With The Lamp - who was so much a part of our history lessons in school, on May 12, is an apt occasion to pay tributes to the numerous Indian Florence Nightingales who remain the unsung heroes.

With more and more working couples and dwindling joint families, nursing care at home is a boon for the chronically ill or senior citizens who live alone. What we are looking at is a shift from the notion that it is only the family (daughters, daughters-in-laws) who can be caregivers. And nursing care at home is a trend that is catching up in the city.

A senior citizen after a paralytic attack turned to the Red Cross for nursing help. Not that her family was reluctant, but she felt more comfortable with a stranger bathing her. "Since they are trained to handle a patient professionally, it is much more comfortable as compared to a layman," she says.

Similarly, after a hipbone fracture, a retired Army officer preferred to hire a male nurse to tend to him. Over a period of time, the bond that developed between the two helped them both. The patient felt less lonely and the nurse got more assignments because of a good referral. In fact, in many households these nurses fill in for absent or busy children or on-the-move, fast-forward youngsters.

Now more and more agencies are coming up to provide care, but the Red Cross remains the most reliable. The shift is usually an eight-hour one and the Red Cross takes responsibility for them. Charges are more for the night shift than the day.

As Sukhman, a nurse, puts it, "During our training we are specifically told not to increase a patient's misery by narrate depressing stories." And with time, nurses become a part of the family rather than mere employees. Grace, who retired from PGI and does private nursing now, recounts how families she has worked with keep falling back on her services for their children, grandchildren and relatives. "We are often privy to family secrets, but it is up to us to maintain confidentiality". No wonder when she suffered a paralytic stroke, her patients turned up in droves to wish her well and even financed her treatment.

For every slip that gets magnified, there are scores of health providers who work tirelessly behind the scenes to ease our sorrow and lessen our pain. Let us, then, salute our own Nightingales, be they in hospitals, nursing homes or at home, for the care they provide even at the cost of their own families at times!

Vedic cure

Fast track
In addition to state-of-the-art equipment, what makes a gym click is the music that is being played
Jasmine Singh

Sometimes, it is out of pure choice, but eight out of 10 times you are forced, enticed or blackmailed…gymming is undeniably a different experience for everyone. And what can accentuate or mar the exercise schedule is music. While a good number can pep you up, a sad one can puncture the entire zest for a good workout.

We tune into various gyms to check out the hits and misses on the playlist; and why good tracks are so very important for a good workout.

At various centres across Oceanic gymnasium, Jasbir Kaur, the owner, often goes through the drill of selecting particular kind of tracks. "Music is directly related to a good or bad workout. The day someone is not feeling upright about gymming, good tracks can rev up the mood. On the other hand, lousy music can spoil the entire charm of exercising," says Jasbir.

However, Jasbir finds selecting and preparing the playlist a tedious task. "The choice of music varies for everyone. Women generally like soft romantic numbers, while men go in for faster one," she adds. Jasbir also has an interesting observation to share. "Punjabi numbers are a favourite with our Mohali centre, while at Chandigarh and Panchkula people prefer popular Hindi numbers and English tracks."

Veera from soon to be released Raavan and Dhano from Houseful are currently the favourite with many gyms. Songs from Race, (Race saanson ki, Zara zara), tracks by Akon, Dance with myself by Billy Idol, Saathiya, Hotel California, Too Hot (Kinks), are others doing the rounds.

Now that you know that music is linked to a particular kind of exercise, Munish Bajaj, executive director, Oxy Gym, Hotel Mountview, explains how. "Fast tracks increase the enthusiasm for workout on a treadmill. And if you are doing cardio or push ups, you need music that is soothing and doesn't shoot up the heart beat." The gym ensures that the playlist is upgraded twice a week. "Clients can give their own choice of CDs and if they are good we let them play it," says Munish.

As for Ozone Fitness Spa, techno and trance jives up the exercise schedule. Says Vikram Kapoor, general manager, "Techno and trance are the ideal choices. Old remixes and other popular tracks are preferred over hardcore Punjabi numbers."

Nevertheless, matching songs to your heart's rate may be risky. Adjusting tempos of songs to the workout pace (in beats per minute) is the trick. Moderate or fast tempos can be motivating, but at the same time they can be detraction in a workout.

Adds Harkaran Singh of Fitness Club, "After state-of-the-art equipment, right kind of music is the essential component of a good gymnasium." Clients too have a say in the music selection process. "Sometimes clients like to match their exercise with foot-tapping Punjabi numbers. Mostly, we play to fast-paced Hindi or English numbers," offers Harkaran.

jasmine@tribunemail.com

Collector’s edition

Law of Animation

Playing Sonia

More the merrier

The Terminator

Love-hate story

Craving for six packs

Bullock is back

Decent proposal