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Of tiara and Tibet
We want to put our point forward, get recognition for Tibet and its cause, meanwhile bringing a change in our society. The Tibetan society is conservative, suppressed and in dire need to connect with the world. And this can be their chance to do that.” When you belong to a refugee community, being politically correct is least expected. So, when Lobsang Wangyal, who as been organising Miss Tibet competition for the past nine years, calls the event as an important instrument of change in Tibetan society, we believe him. “Miss Tibet competition is about the people, human rights, the environment deterioration in Tibet, which has direct influence on India and freedom from years of suppression. It’s a project to promote the Tibetan culture and not a mere beauty contest,” he says. “When I started with the concept in 2000, there were no sponsors, as Tibet doesn’t have any corporates or economic independence. It is only since last year that we started getting recognised and so the funding followed.” The Finale will be held in Dharamsala on June 6. Briefing the media persons at Black Magic, DLF City Centre mall, Lobsang was accompanied by the four finalists of the Kingfisher Miss Tibet contest. Yeah, the figure reads below the poverty line when compared to our very own Miss India aspirants each year, but there is a reason for it. “Our society has still not broken out of the conservative mindset, there is pressure from parents and the Chinese government. Its not easy for a girl to participate even if she wants to,” shares Tensing Nanchoe, one of the finalists. Miss Tibet 2004 Tashi Yangchen was ousted from the Miss Tourism World 2005 held in Zimbabawe due to Chinese pressure. Miss Tibet 2006 Tsering Chungtuk had to opt out of the Miss Earth pageant as she was asked to wear Miss Tibet-China sash. The fact that over the nine years, the contest saw a maximum participation of six girls (can you believe that one year saw just one girl turning up for the contest) is enough to interpret ‘pressures’ for them And even these girls are not untouched by it, “The best one can do is to ignore all the pressures and follow your aspirations. One of our fellow contestants parents don’t even know she is participating. Being Miss Tibet is not about beauty, but an opportunity to further the cause of Tibetans by representing them internationally,” she adds. All four participants this year have spent their childhood in India but still know what it means to be a Tibetan. “Our generation understands the pain and sufferings Tibetans have gone through. This contest provides a contemporary forum for Tibetan women to broaden their outlook, display their skills and talents and compete with the best in the world,” says Rinchen, another finalist. The history of Miss Tibet winners too is a proof of their beauty with activism. Apart from drawing attention to the plight of Tibetans at international beauty pageants, this competition is also important as it has millions of viewers internationally and thus marks potential supporters. But then at the end, it is a beauty pageant. So, it also means looking pretty and dressing up. “We have to dress up in our traditional attire, chukpa as well as flaunt a swim suit. Language is one barrier and so we are learning English from various NGOs in Dharamsala,” says Tensing. Ask them, what will be first on their agenda as Miss Tibet, and they all have one answer, “I want a free Tibet.” And that too the Dalai Lama way! nehawalia@tribunemail.com
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Past perfect
Actor Pradeep Sharma is all set to work under the guidance of Ashutosh Gowariker for the second time
When every second actor in Bollywood follows the creative path of ‘improvisation’ to lift a given role, actor Pradeep Sharma who played the character pf Sheikh Mubarak in Ashutosh Gowariker’s Jodhaa Akbar rules out the possibility of ‘improvisation’ in mythological movies. “Whether it is Mahabharat or Jodhaa Akbar, an actor has to stick to the lines given to him or her for a particular role. The lines are picked from incidents that happened in History and there is no scope to introduce any changes,” says Pradeep Sharma visiting Jaspal Bhatti’s Mad Arts Film School on Saturday. Working in mythological movies is challenging, Pradeep tells us why, “These movies fall in a different genre. It is always a rewarding experience to act in such movies. However, for an actor it is a challenge to fit into a role of a character, that’s a part of history. The character should also look real and larger than life at the same time,” he says. Having started his acting career with serials like Mahabharat, Aurat, Vishnu Puraan, Pradeep strongly advocates shifting to Mumbai for anyone who dreams of entering Bollywood. “I moved out of Chandigarh in 81. I owe a lot to the city that taught me so much. I have grown up doing theatre. But, I had to move to the Mecca of Bollywood to make a career in acting. Chandigarh has definitely grown as a city in terms of jobs and opportunities. We have a place like Jaspal Bhatti’s Mad Arts Film School that trains the youngsters who are ready to take a plunge intro Bollywood. Nevertheless one has to move to Mumbai if Bollywood is the destination,” provides Pardeep, gearing up for a plum role in Ashutosh Gowariker’s next, Buddha. “The casting for the flick is on You can expect yet another wonder like Jodhaa Akbar from Ashutosh.” “It is a pleasure working with the director who does not lose his cool even once,” smiles Pradeep. “He is absolutely focused and makes sure he justifies all the characters of his movie.” On chances of going unnoticed in mega starrer movies, Pradeep feels it is the experience that counts. “A director tries to give a balanced look to the movie. However, some actors lose out on the screen presence. I feel it is the experience of working in such movie that matter the most.” Survival of the fittest, how on earth can an actor ignore it? “Sure you can’t. Bollywood is a competitive industry, just like any other venture you can think of. Most people have misconceptions about the industry. It is not a completely bad place, you can bump into people with a heart of gold,” adds Pradeep. “One has to work hard with patience and dedication only then can you survive.” jasmine@tribunemail.com
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Check mate
The finals of the championship are being played with Duplicate Scrabble format - a fun yet recognisable format for which the games were designed by the Scrabble Association of India, who has been brought on board for designing and judging the city finals and the national winner. According to Saurabh Swarup, head- marketing & product development, Barista Coffee Company Ltd. “Barista Lavazza has always been synonymous with Scrabble and we are delighted to provide a platform for all the scrabble enthusiasts. We are pleased to be associated with Mattel to take a collective endeavor to create more interactive and entertaining environment and get our city winner from Chandigarh today; we have already got our Delhi winner. Scrabble has a set of rules which does not allow incorrect word play and the Barista Lavazza Café Scrabble was played with the same rules, although a different and fun format.” As per Rahul Bhowmik, marketing head, Mattel Toys (India) Pvt. Ltd, “Scrabble stands for fun with words. Playing Scrabble is an inclusive and social experience. Over ten thousand participants would be playing the championship, which is the largest ever in the country for an adult Scrabble competition. This partnership with Barista Lavazza would go a long way in enriching the Scrabble playing experience with an added dash of a great coffee experience for the consumers. I congratulate the first city winner for being the Chandigarh champion of the first ever Barista Lavazza Café Scrabble Championship”
— TNS |
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Director Siddharth Anand
says his new film Anjaana Anjaani, which stars Ranbir Kapoor and
Priyanka Chopra, is inspired by the hit American sitcom Friends.
"I
remember when I watched Friends I wanted to meet and know every
character. That's how I want audiences to feel about Ranbir and Priyanka
in Anjaana Anjaani. When Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge came
out, you wanted to feel and touch Raj and Simran. That's how I want
audiences to feel about Ranbir and Priyanka...everyone in the team has
given his or her best to this film," Anand said. Anjaana
Anjaani has been scripted by author Advaita Kala. "She wrote a
chick-lit novel called Almost Single. I asked her to develop a
story by my wife Mamta. Ranbir and Priyanka had no reference points in
any film for their performance...These are characters going through
extraordinary, not easily relatable circumstances. It's about few days
that two strangers spend together." Siddharth shot in Central
Park's skating rink. "We shot in iconic New York. We had the
skating rink shut down for our shoot for three days. Then we shot with
Ranbir and Priyanka in New York's Caf`E9 Lalo where Meg Ryan and Tom
Hanks met in When Harry Met Sally." And they also needed to
shoot on a bridge and they finally headed to Kuala Lampur to do
that. "We needed to take over a bridge completely for three-four
days. Because of 26/11, we couldn't get the necessary permission. We
finally got the bridge in Kuala Lumpur. They made it as easy for us as
shooting in Goregaon. Thanks to our producer Sajid Nadiadwala, we could
shoot anywhere I wanted," said Anand, who has made films like Salaam
Namaste and Bachna Ae Haseeno. The whole film was shot in
live sound and is set to release Oct 1. Contrary to expectations,
Ranbir's singing debut won't be part of the film's CD. "Ranbir has
sung a one-and-half minute track. But it is part of a comic scene. So he
will only be singing in the film. We needed Ranbir's character, not
Ranbir, to sing. So those who want to watch him sing will have to wait
for the film," Anand said. "I did my first film Salaam
Namaste in 2005. If I'm doing another romantic film it better be
even cooler and more contemporary. Anjaana Anjaani is the
riskiest film ever. I've experimented with the style and
performances. "If audiences believe in the couple, they'll come
back repeatedly to watch them. If they don't they'll reject them
completely. It's so character-driven. If their performances don't work,
the film doesn't," he added. — IANS
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Even at the age of 67, Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan's zeal to learn new technology and handle various gadgets is unending. The latest software which has caught his fancy is video-editing. The actor edited a small snippet of him driving into his house in a car and posted it on his blog. "After an entire morning of learning how to edit a DVD on my own, have finally managed a little snippet," wrote Bachchan on his blog. Describing the video, the actor wrote, "This is me in the red SUV coming into my house Jalsa on a Sunday evening. And this is a recurring scenario every Sunday, every evening. Then waving to the crowds accepting their love and affection, in my track suit and skull cap. The security having a tough time keeping the crowds from charging in." Big B is still in the process of learning how to edit and hopes to yield better results with time. "That little snippet was, as I said, an attempt to understand the business of editing on this Mac and it is an attempt as you may well notice. Gradually with greater time being spent on the iMovie and Any DVD Convert software we shall have a better result," he wrote. — PTI
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Hollywood star Tom Cruise spent more than an hour signing autographs to his fans and clicking pictures with them. The Top Gun actor arrived at the National Movie Awards to receive the Screen Icon Award for his lifetime of work in the industry, stayed to sign autographs and take pictures with his fans for an hour after the show started. In his acceptance speech he said that he love London as he has worked a lot here. "It's a real honour for me to be here tonight. This great city of London. This great country England. I've made several films here. I have been fortunate," he said. "I guess as a film maker the most important thing to me is you. If I have entertained you at all, I thank you. Thank you for allowing me to do so," he added. — IANS
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Beyonce in trouble
Pop singer Beyonce Knowles has been sued by a Hollywood Hills resident who alleges his privacy was disrupted when she filmed her new video in his quiet neighbourhood.
Philip Markowitz has filed a suit against Beyonce and production firm Kleiner and Company in the Los Angeles Superior Court
Friday over her new promo Why Don't You Love Me. Markowitz asserted that he was rudely awakened early morning in March this year and was then prevented from leaving his property and each time he stepped out of his house, he found members of the crew blocking his driveway. He said he missed several business calls while arguing in his
driveway and wants compensation for the inconvenience and delay. Markowitz is suing on the grounds of private nuisance and
trespass and is demanding unspecified damages and punitive costs. — IANS |
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"I am not performing this year but will be hosting the show along with Boman Irani and Riteish Deshkmukh," Lara told. Lara has also given up her long locks for a shorter hairdo. Also, Lara's face lit up at the mention of Don-2 but she refused to divulge any details about her role in the film. "Right now I can only confirm that yes, I am a part of Don-2 and I am really looking forward to working with Farhan Akhtar and Shah Rukh Khan. As for my role you have to wait and watch," Lara added. — IANS
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Hollywood has been accused of 'whitewashing' after roles that required actors of Asian or Middle Eastern descent were given to white actors in the movie Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. Actor Jake Gyllenhaal, an American of Swedish and Jewish origin, has the lead role. Brit Gemma Arterton plays Gyllenhaal's princess, who is the daughter of a cleaner from Gravesend, Kent. According to critics, the casting was the latest example of Hollywood giving roles "This part really needed to go to someone who's Persian. It's not only insulting Persians, it's also insulting to white people. It's saying white people can't enjoy movies unless the protagonist is white," Independent filmmaker Jehanzeb Dar said. The movie budgeted at 150 million dollars is based on a video game and is set in ancient Persia. — ANI
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Swim season is on. This week we bring you water gear to make the most of your splash time!
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Talking further of the interiors, furnishing is classy- ergonomically designed and socially engineered to suit any gathering or occasion. It's a place that lets you relax, savour a meal, enjoy a conversation and soak in the experience. And with national and international acclaimed bands and DJs performing, who needs to sacrifice on a perfect Saturday outing. — TNS
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Lotto the sports lifestyle brand from the Italian company Lotto Sports Italia, specialising in production of sports footwear and clothing has introduced its new Summer 2010 running shoe collection for men. The USP of the new running shoes, Detroit, is that it unites cushioning and reactivity, which is a completely new aspect in the running shoes segment. The new collection combines the renowned Italian design with evolved technologies to introduce a range of performance and leisure products. The shoe is priced at Rs. 3999 Detroit is the new Running model of the Athletic Running line. It is characterised by great cushioning and exceptional reactivity thanks to the combination of two patented technologies, ReActiveArch and Syn Pulse, that work along the whole sole of the foot and the different phases of planting the foot. — TNS
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The watches come in a monochrome colour palette of silver, gold and white. Two extravagant rows of 100 delicate Swaroski crystals on the bezel set these watches apart. The finishing touch of a signature ‘T’ sweep second hand make this embellished watches an icon. The collection has been priced in a range of Rs 8,495 to Rs 6,495. Some of the key features include mineral glass crystal, sunray dial, double row of Swarovski crystals etc. — TNS
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Tarot Talk
ARIES: The Knight of Swords instigates you to be active and clever. Don’t waste time counting pennies this week. Look at the overall cost of things and try to balance your budget. Tip of the week: Beware of depleting your energy or resources on others. Lucky colour: Crimson.
TAURUS:
The card The Devil reveals that you will be running late on everything you do. Domestic unrest can be avoided if you watch your steps. Some career choices have to be made before an important opportunity passes you by. Tip: Trust your heart and intuition instead of confusing yourself. Lucky colour: Silver grey. GEMINI:
The Nine of Pentacles showers blessings on lovers. Your destiny may well be handed to you and it may help you make your dreams come true. Tip: Take one thing at a time instead of multi pronged attacks. Lucky colour: Peach. CANCER:
The Temperance inspires you to climb new heights and actualise creative ideas. A small sum spent now will allow you to make big profits later. You have a tendency to be overly generous and forget that you have a budget to respect. Tip: Be positive; you can make things happen out of the most unlikely circumstances. Lucky colour: Turquoise. LEO:
The Empress takes you towards the fast and protective lane. A Taurean person needs your support. Tip: Don’t be enthusiastic in finalising a particular deal. Lucky colour: Peacock blue. VIRGO:
Five of Cups takes you through a difficult speculative situation. Emotional relationships are temporary as you come out to them. You gain from choices made on the spur of the moment. Long pending disputes will end amicably. Tip: Avoid situations that may turn nasty. Lucky colour: Pink. LIBRA:
The King of Pentacles blesses you with an inner flowering that allows many possibilities. You have worked hard, grown spiritually in the past and built a sound foundation, which leads to success and good fortune. Tip: It is no longer necessary to take risks. Lucky colour: Golden brown. SCORPIO:
The Queen of Cups infuses trust and friendship. A romantic and dreamy time gives you a break. You are right not to rush into things, but others will not wait forever. Things have been all work and no play and you have let things go out of balance recently. Tip: Focus on your dream project. Lucky colour: Green SAGITTARIUS:
The Three of Pentacles reveals family pressure and responsibility. Be careful, as you will be distracted and will run into trouble if you don’t pay attention to what you are doing. Tip: Take one step at a time and avoid being over anxious. Lucky colour: Metallic grey. CAPRICORN:
This week’s scenario is dominated by relationships and finances. Don’t let a misunderstanding rot a close relationship. Tip: Don’t build into accepting situations you dislike. Lucky colour: Yellow. AQUARIUS:
The Hanged Man shows some decisive moments as well as surprises are in store for you, particularly in relation to your personal plans. You can arrange travel on Sunday & Monday, as you seek out adventure and discovery. Tip: Take one thing at a time instead of multi pronged attacks. Lucky colour: Saffron. PISCES:
The Emperor gets you in touch with your leadership qualities.You must learn to practice and avoid flying off the handle until you know exactly what is happening. Tip: Watch your actions at work and polish your public relations skills. Lucky colour: Rainbow pastels.
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Mattel and Barista Lavazza, have jointly organised the pan India competition happening across eight cities and 127 Barista Lavazza cafés across the country.
The eight-city contest kicked off on the May 20 in Delhi and May 21 in Chandigarh and had two rounds - the screening round leading to selection of players for the city finals. The Chandigarh leg of Barista Lavazza Café Scrabble Championship received more than 300 entries amongst which top 16 scorers played the Chandigarh finals on Saturday.
Bollywood actress Lara Dutta will co-host this year's International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards at Colombo June 3-5 along with Boman Irani and Riteish Deshkmukh.
It has been a roller coaster ride, lots of ups and not so highs at times. Black Magic at the DLF City Centre has completed a year with the promise of introducing food cuisines and new lounging experiences. It claims to possess an authentic lounge décor, setting high standards for its guests; whether it's the décor, furnishing, music or whatever you can credit as lounging experience.
The place boasts of exhaustive selections of international spirits, liqueurs, beers, wines and cocktails. These include some of the signature drinks that are concoctions created to treat patrons to different
flavours. It articulates a new world of vision of the extravagance and the splendid - be it cuisine, music or drinks. Entering a hamlet of luxury and comfort, the enthralling ambience engulfs one with a magical feeling. There are also special discounts and offers to the people coming during weeklong celebrations that kick start from Saturday. The place, a perfect blend of lounge and Saturday nightclub caters to all age groups.
Timex debuts with yet another collection of women’s watches, the Timex SL Series with crystals. The collection is just one of a series of launches from Timex this year. Targeted at women of all age groups, the Times women’s collection is pegged as an essential part of every woman’s wardrobe. Timex reveals to the new generation of women the crystal watches featuring enhanced feminine styling.