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Mom and me, virtually
Virtual appeal
The survey conducted by Microsoft along with Starcom MediaVest across eight countries in Asia with over 3000 moms, had the following results: w In India, 44 percent expectant mothers can't live without Internet; 50% percent mothers with children younger than three read customer reviews online and mothers with children aged three to five are regaining personal time with 76 percent listening to music online. n
75 per cent of mums say that internet is her past time activity and they are open to the idea of online shopping. n
Though the percentage of Indian mothers using Internet is less than their Asian counterparts (70-80 per cent), they are the most sensible users with 58 per cent of them using it for either work or study.
A lot has been said about social networking mania amongst teens, Internet addiction and the budding generation of mouse potatoes? Looks like the kids today don't find anything interesting until it's online. Be it movies, video games, music or fashion trends, the effects of virtual world have gone beyond the limits of parental advice. Wait a sec, here's a piece of information. It's not only the kids who are hooked, but their mummies too are addicted to it as well. There is no denying the fact that mothers are the driving force behind anything we do. Interestingly, that implies to Internet as well.
A recent survey introduces us to a new kind of online audience- Digi Moms. The online behaviour and attitudes of mothers between the age group of 20-50 years across China, India, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan and South Korea were accessed and results reached. Mothers these days are much more than just a friend, philosopher and guide to their children. The world is their stage and that includes the virtual world. Finding their own Internet identity, mommies today are enjoying their 'Me Time' online. Here's how. "I am heavily into social networking websites. I am a book freak, so, I check and download e-books on various topics. I search on student counselling websites for my son Nishant, who is searching for his line of interest. Though I am not much into fashion and music, I do check out some global trends online too," says Neeru Talwar, working as a manager with IIT Study Circle-34. These are just a few specific activities she does online, apart from using it for eight hours on an average everyday. She shares a space on Facebook and Orkut too along with her son and daughter, who is pursuing graduation. "Internet is a requirement for kids as well as professionals. For a homemaker it opens a window to the outside world, as for a working mother it's a medium to keep abreast with the latest happenings in the world," says
Neeru. For Anju Bagga, a housewife from sector 41, Internet means her personal time of the day. Creating family photo albums, checking the happenings in the world and chatting up with friends, she doesn't mind devoting at least five hours to it. "Sometimes, I join my daughter Isha (14) when she is surfing or playing video games with her," she adds. She doesn't mind shopping online as well, "Online portals help me add items to my shopping list without sweating it out in the sun," she adds. Preeti Khanna (28) too believes in using technology to her benefit in every possible way. "With a six month old kid consuming most of my time, I am hardly left with any leisure time. So, I use Internet on my laptop or my phone to listen and download music, movies and sometimes, just surf randomly. And since there is a lack of time always, whenever there is a get together or party at home, internet is the best option to search for gifts ideas, recipes and ordering stuff," she says. It's not all fun and no work for moms. 58 per cent of Indian mothers have a profile on social networking websites, but 56 per cent of their total time on the Internet is either for work or study. Most of them prefer using Internet for reading newspapers, magazines, shopping, banking and well, checking out recipes too. "The online activities mothers participate in depend on the age of her children, and these interests evolve as the children grow older. Young mothers use it for social or professional networking; others use it for utility oriented activities. An important point here is that many use it to connect to family and friends. So, it is a practical usage pattern,' suggests Puneet Bedi, principal, MCMDAV-36. With all these revelations, the new age moms have made quite a headway from being moms to super moms to Digi moms. There's nothing we can't expect our mothers to show their expertise & surprise us with.
nehawalia@tribunemail.com
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Miss Midas touch
If figures add weight to facts then here they are: 1700 songs, 170 albums, 300 music videos, an average of 30 shows abroad annually, helped almost 50 male singers to make a debut in the industry, everything in the span of mere three years.
But even if these figures weren't there, facts particularly in case of Miss Pooja, would have been enough to script her success. She managed to create a niche for herself in the male dominated Punjabi music industry and now she is all set to repeat it in the Punjabi film industry as. Making a debut through the film, Panjaban, Pooja will be the first female actor to play a double role in a Punjabi flick. In the city on Wednesday to announce the release of the film directed by Gaurav Trehan on June 11, she shared more about her film, life, success and aspirations. First things first. The film is the story of twin sisters and their contrasting perceptions about life, set in the urban backdrop. "One character is simple and soft spoken, other is extrovert and bubbly," says Pooja. Playing a double role in the very first film has to be tough, "I related to the qualities of the characters that are common with me. And then all that was required was a little improvisation." Now about her life. Miss Pooja's real name is Gurinder Kainth. The 29-year-old is a postgraduate in music and has won several singing competitions at the inter university level. Her name was a mystery before this, "Pooja was my nick name and Miss was suffixed by a production firm. The other choices were of Paul and Singh but Miss was the final choice," she shares. The suffix, Miss is now being used by a few more female singers. Without the frequent media interactions and coverage that's usual with her contemporaries, she has managed to be popular with masses, "Which proves that my work speaks for me. Also, my unglamorous and the girl-next-door image made people relate to me and my success." She takes pride in sharing instances like the one that happened in UK when older women gave her bear hugs for indirectly making their kids fall in love with Punjabi language again. "I was overwhelmed to hear that their kids come up to them to translate Punjabi words of my songs in English." She doesn't gauge success with the number of songs or the number of singers she gave a break too, "How can I flaunt about launching somebody as someone helped launch me too the similar way." She does believe that talent eventually survives all odds and one who doesn't has it cannot fake it for long, "My launching a singer will only help, if he can sustain it through his hard work." She didn't follow the beaten track to earn success. Unlike other singers, she has a principal to not to perform at private functions like weddings and parties. "Male singers manage to earn more than me through such shows but the respect I earn from my fans compensate for it." She is planning her first series of shows in Punjab very shortly. Success for her also is admiration of work from iconic punjabi singers like Gurdas Maan and Hans Raj Hans, "I once heard Gurdas Maan ji say on radio that I am a talented artist and he would like me to share space with him." As for aspirations, all she wants to do in coming times is, "Sing as many tracks. Movies or live shows will always come second. Music will be forever." The immediate one is, "Film should be a hit and loved by people. I want to contribute to the revival of Punjabi film industry." Which of course she can, considering her Midas touch in case of the music industry. ashima@tribunemail.com |
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Bonds through time
Man is a product of his time and circumstances. Values and ideologies change and each generation bears the stamp of its times is some way or the other. When it comes to relationships, a lot has been said about generation gap and the challenges it poses. We move away from the regular to find those who have successfully bridged it.
Dr Birinder Kumr Pannu Parwaz, a grandmother to four grown up boys from Sector 9, has learnt it over the years. "See, being from three different generations, there are going to be three different lifestyles. The recipe for smooth sailing is - non-interference," she says. When her kids Gurvinit and Bir were growing up, Birinder gave them all the freedom to take their own decisions. "My kids, to date, share everything with me because I have never imposed my views in them. They know that I would give suggestions with the tag line - this is how I view it, do what you think is right," she shares. They say 'genes skip generations', may be that's why grandparents find their grandchildren so likeable. This holds true in Birinder's case as well. "I am very close to my grandkids. The approach is the same - non-interference," she adds. As for her grandson, Sahaj Bir, 15, the approach is to be humble and calm. "Living with parents and grandparents is fun. One just needs to be little different, which comes easy for all my demands are met with. Dadi is the storehouse of all that I can ever need," chuckles Sahaj. "In this age, fulfilling grandkids' demands gives the most happiness," says his doting grandmother. Manveen Grewal from Sector 33 is another mom in sync with kids. "Well, the secret is to change with times," she says, while on a shopping spree with daughter Akshpreet in Sector 17. "Past is gone. One must live in the present, for the sake of kids' happiness," she smiles. Manveen learnt the trick of bridging the generation gap from her husband's grandmother. "She was one woman who inspired me a lot. When my kids were young, she would play cricket with them, which is just one example of how she adapted to changing times," avers Manveen. "Mom's always been a friend. She has literally grown with us. She would always play the games we loved, watch the stuff we liked and even today she is my best friend," chips in Akshpreet, in city from Dubai where she lives after marriage. "It's all in the mind,' says Sangeet Sharma, architect from Mansa Devi Complex, who not only shares interests but also the profession with his dad SD Sharma. "In our home, three generations live harmoniously," he avers. "We follow the dictum 'We don't have to do everything together. But we like doing most things together', which gives us enough time together and yet the 'right of choice'. Now that we have always lived together, we are aware of each other's idiosyncrasies and respect them," he laughs. Bhanuja Sharma, senior software engineer with Infosys, believes appreciating each other's point of view acts as the greatest bridge between generations. "Each generation is different from the other in terms of thinking and living. But with time people learn to adapt. My parents and I, try to see from each other's perspective that helps smooth sailing," she smiles. mona@tribunemail.com |
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Relatively
speaking
Arpan, Chandigarh
Youngsters' duty
Varun
Katyal, Ambala Cantt
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Renee Writes I am 39 and have been married for over eighteen years. My husband and I are great friends as we grew-up together in the same neighborhood. Recently, I have started feeling that I am a stranger in my own home. I have a full time job and apart from that I do voluntary social work on the weekends. This weakened I decided to stay at home and realised that my two kids and my husband and I had nothing to say to each other. Whatever we spoke about seemed trivial and unimportant. I feel, I have lost touch with my family. Even my social life is negligible. I hardly have any friends. I always felt building a career was very important. Now suddenly it has no meaning as all my relationship are a mess. Please advise on how to deal with this. Aruna, Chandigarh I am glad that at some point in your life you have realised that you are missing out on the 'real thing' in life that is good relationship. Having fun and the love and support of our loved ones is the vital thing in life. Without having the inner chords entwined life is pretty meaningless. No matter how successful you are in your career front, until you haven't bonded with your loved ones-life is not fun really. Start spending more time with people who matter in your life you will feel more in charge. It will in turn give you more energy and you will be able to indulge in more hobbies and activities you enjoy. Make a commitment to yourself. Don't say to yourself that you will try to do things your way. Just go ahead and do them. Don't allow a career to take a hold on your life. After all it is one of the roles, you are playing. Go watch theatre with your family or may be even a movie followed by a meal in a restaurant and then watch the family share some happy moments together. Enjoy it. Never too late
After 15 years of living together we are thinking of going through an amicable divorce. When I look back at life with my husband. I feel we didn't really give our marriage much of a chance. We were so busy doing the right and dutiful, social thing. We were great parents to our kids, good friends with our friends and great employees. In the process we realized that we were two people just co-existing in the same house. We both worked hard to give our selves and our children a certain standard of living but I think we scarified a loving partnership along the way. It happened slowly over the years and we never realised it until it was too late. Now I don't know what to do as I miss the idea of being married already. Help! Rasjeet Grewal, Mohali It's never too late in life to pick up on any situation and turn it around. You are obviously two intelligent people and so why you have amicably decided to part ways. But is it really necessary to do so? If you are already missing the idea of being married why not give this one another chance? There are so many relationships that get sour due to negligence and taken for granted attitude. Of course we cannot take the clock back, but we can of course try and make a go of things once we realise that the situation is never irreparable. Relationships are fragile bonds, which require constant nurturing. We need to work on them like a gardener works on his plants. Try to give each other a short space and a breather from your tired relationship. Then may be date each other as friends. Enthuse some life into the relationship by doing some new things together. Who knows divorce may be the last thing on your minds soon. Live your moment
I am a smart, intelligent and good-looking young man, who has always longed for name and fame. Now that I seem to have it all, it seems to have lost its sparkle. I am in the media and whenever I travel, I am surrounded by either people who know me or want to get photographed with me. It might be in a small way, but my level of popularity in my own small circle is perhaps the envy of many. Yet I am not completely satisfied with my life. Being sought after no longer seems to have the charm it once held for me. I am feeling mentally tired and listless. How can I feel more perked up and excited about life? Sukhbir
Sidhu, Patiala Dear boy, are you feeling sorry for yourself now that you have arrived? Is it one of those "is this, what its all about", situations. When you don't have it you wanted it but once you get it, it has no meaning any more. That's human nature. Human dilemmas on the whole are pretty predictable. You must realise you are never alone in any situation. There are plenty of people who feel the same way as you. The knowledge that our problems are shared is definitely a source of comfort for us. Fame is a reward for a job well done. It elevates you to a place where a select few people breathe rarified air. It's definitely exciting and stimulating to be a part of a select minority. So just stop sulking and enjoy your part. You asked for it. Happiness and joy have to come from within - Just allow yourself the space to be there! Just live it! |
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Soft target
In the study of more than 1,000 unmarried young adults aged between 18 and 23 years, Robin Simon, Wake Forest University professor of sociology, challenges the assumption that women are more vulnerable to the emotional variables in a relationship. Even though men sometimes try to present a tough face, unhappy romances take a greater emotional toll on men than women, Simon says. They just express their distress differently than women. "We found young men are more reactive to the quality of ongoing relationships," Simon says. That means the harmful stress of a rocky relationship is more closely associated with men's than women's mental health. The researchers also found that men get greater emotional benefits from the positive aspects of an ongoing romantic relationship. This contradicts the stereotypic image of stoic men who are unaffected by what happens in their romantic relationships. Simon suggests a possible explanation for the findings: For young men, their romantic partners are often their primary source of intimacy - in contrast to young women who are more likely to have close relationships with family and friends. Strain in a current romantic relationship may also be associated with poor emotional well-being because it threatens young men's identity and feelings of self-worth, she says. She also explains how men and women express emotional distress in different ways. "Women express emotional distress with depression while men express emotional distress with substance problems," Simon says according to a Wake Forest release. Simon's research is published in the June issue of the Journal of Health and Social Behaviour. Anne Barrett, associate professor of sociology at Florida State University, co-authored the article. — IANS
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Power Dressing
The study was undertaken across metros and key cities in India to understand the perspective of the Generation Y on grooming and appearances at workplace. Our 89% respondents feel that 'style of dressing has long term impact on overall image of an Individual'. This reinstates that in India the saying is still relevant- 'First impression is the last impression' and thus, your appearance, mannerism, dressing sense does impact your work life. And apparently this was one subject where the citizens of Mars and Venus agreed to 'importance of grooming at the workplace.' The unsettling revelation is that over 66% respondents still feel that 'women face more criticism for their dressing style'. More than 3/4th respondents in Chennai feel the same way, but in Mumbai and Bangalore only 59% and 58% respondents agree with it . And 69% respondents, both male and female, feel that 'the attire style has direct impact on sexual harassment faced by women at workplace'. On the other hand, this study embarks a debate on making formal dressing compulsory. As portion of respondents feel that formal dressing restricts free interaction amongst people within the organisation whereas less than 50% view this as disciplinary dress code. The survey respondents included employees across the cities of Ahmedabad, Bangalore , Chennai, Delhi , Hyderabad , Kolkata, Mumbai and Pune. The respondents' profile ranged between the age group of 21-45 years across industries; and functions of sales, marketing, business development, operations, finance, admin/HR, customer service and systems (IT). — TNS
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Together we can
An initiative backed with an honest yearning and right kind of like-minded people is likely to get a positive response. And if there is an emotive reason attached to it, there is no reason why the endeavor will go unnoticed. Nanhi Chhaan Foundation is backed by all the requisites. As Harpal Singh, founder chairman of Nanhi Chhaan, an initiative in support of the girl child and the environment says, “The two year old foundation is a household name because we haven’t budged from the path of creating awareness of the two most important issues of the society and existence at large.”
At CII Chandigarh to interact in seminar on ‘Climate Change’, Harpal shares on notes on taking the endeavor to the length and breadth of the country, in addition to connecting with a huge networking base. All set with our questionnaire, we are intrigued by name Nanhi Chhaan. He smiles, “My wife named it Nanhi Chaaya, and Harsimrat Badal, Member Parliament told that in Punjab that would be better understood as Nanhi Chhaan. The aims and objectives haven’t changed a bit. We have raised the issue of female foeticide, women empowerment, and making way for a clean and green environment,” says Harpal Singh, who wants the youngsters to take notice of the two most important agendas of the country, and do whatever they can to make a change. The initiative cuts across all segments of society and faiths, invoking citizens to urgently act to raise awareness and actively participate in corrective actions. In a symbolic gesture, families who visit their respective places of religious worship receive plant saplings as religious offerings whenever a girl enters their family either as a newborn or as a bahu (bride). A great idea, but how does the foundation insure the sapling meets the right fate. “This is where emotions come in. You can never think of throwing a prasaad, for we attach a lot sentiments and faith to it,” provides Harpal Singh, presently the mentor and chairman Emeritus of Fortis Healthcare Ltd. “People who take sapling as prasaad make sure they plant it as well. Not only this, the distribution and ritualistic planting of these saplings in homes, schools, factories, institutions, parks and the like will be used as occasions to spread awareness, raise debate and propel citizens to recognise the horrors of female infanticide, female feticide and the destruction of forest cover.” Also, the foundation will soon start the measurement process where it will see how well these saplings have done. “The idea is to involve school, colleges, other institutions, and corporates to take the initiative forward. jasmine@tribunemail.com |
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Art of translation
From retaining the essence of the story, to restructuring the sentence to rewriting to keeping the intensity of meaning intact. It’s complex and challenging but there’s actually lot in translation. “Translations make the work permanent, reach out to a wider audience and serve a larger purpose of taking a culture to places,” author Narinder Jit Kaur speaks of her latest book Voices in the Back Courtyard.
The work, put together by Rupa and Co brings along fifteen Punjabi short stories by the celebrated names in Punjabi literature, Amrita Pritam, Dalip Kaur Tiwana, Ajeet Caur, Prabhkot Kaur, Chandan Negi, Veena Verma, among others. “Selecting the short stories was a huge process in itself. I wanted to avoid stories based on regional and local issues, for instance the ‘84 riots or the partition.” She adds, “I wanted readers to be able to identify themselves with the stories, so I tried picking up larger issues and human interest stories something that everybody could relate to.” A decision taken, keeping in mind the broader objective and basic idea of translation. “When I read literature, I came across translated works of authors from Kolkata, Bengal and other states. I felt Punjabi literature need to be made known to other cultures and places.” As much as the selection, translation was a laborious process too. “Translation is difficult, no doubt the gap is there. Anyone who understands both languages will know that something will always be left out of the original. But you keep in mind, the structure of sentences, rewrite, paraphrase, try to keep the intensity of meaning alive.” The work is among a trilogy of translations by her, other being Twilight & Mark of the Nose Pin on Aer Vair Miladeyan, a short novel by Dalip Kaur Tiwana. “The translation of Baldev Singh’s short novel Anndatta—-The Hand that feeds, was brought out January this year by another publisher.” The piece of Punjabi fictional art is woven around the theme of breaking down of peasantry in Punjab. As for the short stories released this April she says, “I started working in the March of 2008, finished the work next year. I took permission from all the writers before starting with the work.” Post this, far challenging work’s in the process. “Next I want to translate some Sufi works, especially the works of Sultan Bahu. But poetry and sufi combined is really difficult to reproduce in a different language.” manpriya@tribunemail.com |
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Expanding Zoom for hardcore Bollywood fans in Punjab & Chandigarh, Bala Iyengar, Business Head – Zoom, said, “With the addition of an exciting channel like Zoom to their platform of high value entertainment channels, our viewers are sure of getting 100 per cent Bollywood news and information in its best form and quality. With Zoom’s expansion in Punjab & Chandigarh we have taken a landmark step in reaching out to our faithful audience and delivering our best to them.” What’s more is that Punjab & Chandigarh won’t miss out on Zoom’s two new shows. Dynasty and Crime & Bollywood, the new shows, are sure to entice its audiences in keeping with its promise of bringing Bollywood closer to you. Adding to the excitement is a Saturday Movie Festival which will air some of the biggest blockbusters. Zoom spices things up by bringing the new face of Bollywood with movies that are Zara Hatke on Zoom Silver Screen. — TNS
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Director’s cut
Avantika Sharma from the city is on cloud nine. She has finished shooting for two Punjabi films Ek Kudi Punjab Di by Manmohan Singh and another untitled film by Trilok Singh, as an assistant director after completing a two-year course in film-making from Subhash Ghai’s Whistling Wood International Institute for Film, Television, Animation and Media Arts in Mumbai. “These films will give me an opportunity to carve a niche for myself,” says Avantika.
She can’t stop talking about her life at the academy, which she describes as the window to a whole new world of creative art. “I have been exposed to a different world of creative art - something which I haven’t done before,” she smiles. “We were taught every aspect of filmmaking - direction, cinematography, editing, sound-recording and acting, a must for any directorial venture,” she adds. She further informs, “At Whistling Woods, students get an opportunity to hone their skills and explore their capabilities,” “Earlier a person could learn direction by assisting a director. But, it is not possible today. Time has changed, and so has the technique. With so much improvement and latest development in the technology today, film-making has become a highly specialised job. One simply can’t learn it just like that without having a thorough knowledge of each and every aspect of filming,” she says emphatically. Her happiness is understandable. She is proud of her endeavour. So are her parents. Her father Gulshan Sharma, a retired Major of the Indian army, now the director of ITFT, Chandigarh and her mother, Indu Sharma, a documentary maker can’t stop raving about her. Watching her mother calling the shots, Avantika had watched the thrill of filmmaking from close quarters. “ I wanted to do something big on my own,” she chips in. The opportunity came knocking on her doors when she saw an advertisement in a newspaper for the admission in Subhash Ghai’s Institute two years ago. “ I applied for the heck of it and it changed my life.” As a student, Avantika has scripted, directed and also participated in a number of plays and events of repute and won several awards. Seeing her talent, her parents enrolled her in the Beginner’s screen-writing course at Central St. Martina College of Arts and Design at London. To learn the nuances of film-making, she joined the Asian Academy of Film and Television, Film City at Noida followed by a short-course in film-making at New York Film Academy in London in 2005 and made some documentaries which were highly appreciated by the faculty and the audience. “ I am determined to carve a niche for myself,” she smiles. “No doubt, it is a challenging field and a responsible one, too. I want to be innovative and different. Instead of showing the usual romantic cooing, I would like to show various facets of society in which we live,” she avers. |
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Playing an icon
"For quite a long time talks have been on about that film but nothing is decided as yet. Kishore Kumar is the legend of our industry and when a film is made on him it has to be done in the right way. It's too early to talk about it because nothing has been finalised as yet," Ranbir said at the lunch of Nissan's first locally made car -Nissan Micra. After superstars like Shah Rukh Khan, Abhishek Bachchan and Saif Ali Khan, Bollywood heartthrob Ranbir Kapoor has become the latest celebrity to join the car endorsement bandwagon. He has been roped in as the brand ambassador of Nissan Motor India Private Ltd (NMIPL). "I feel really good that such a big brand has given me this responsibility. It's truly a good, comforting car and it's not that expensive also," he said. Considering his youth appeal and mass fan following, the 27-year-old has been roped in as the face of three other consumer brand giants like ITC John Players, Pepsi and Panasonic in the last six months. Talking about his love for driving, Ranbir said: "At night going for a drive is the most therapeutic thing. It's the time when I can think about my day, about what am I going to do." The actor who has garnered rave reviews for his performance in his recent release Rajneeti believes that there is no politics in the film industry. "In my generation of actors and directors, there is lots of positivity. Of course there is certain competition as well but I haven't seen any Rajneeti (politics) as yet and I would like to believe that there is nothing like Rajneeti in the film industry." — IANS
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Bollywood funnyman Arshad Warsi says he is being asked to make film on a love story that he had written almost a decade ago. "Had written a love story almost 10 years back and forgotten about it. Now I am being asked to make it. It's true love stories never get outdated," Arshad posted on his Twitter page.So is he planning to revisit the story? "I am gonna have to," he said. In his career, Arshad has never done an out an out romantic role. Who knows he might even go in front of the camera for this one? — IANS
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Anyway, back to stunts and action! Dishum dishum haaaaiiyyya," Siddharth posted on Twitter.The actor, who featured in Rang De Basanti and Striker, says he is having a tough time dealing with humidity on the sets."Humidity on set is insane. My armour suit has no breathing space. I'm getting drenched every 15 minutes. Very tough action piece," he posted. — IANS
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Soccer daddy
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has some great vacation plans for his children - he is taking Aryan and Suhana to South Africa for the FIFA World Cup starting Friday. "Taking kids for the matches (World Cup) in South Africa," Shah Rukh posted on micro-blogging site Twitter. "Soccer is beautiful...will play today if it rains. Rains and soccer more of a turn on than a singing in the rain." Shah Rukh says he is nostalgic about the FIFA World Cup as he used to watch it with his mother. "I am emotional about FIFA. My mom and me used to stay up and watch all night...because we had got ourselves a TV and only soccer post Doordarshan. (We) Used to keep up all night watching Rudi Voller (Germany), Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (West Germany), Socrates (Brazil) and Diego Maradona (Argentina). Mom and me soccer and TV fans. Never miss matches and always miss mom," he wrote. The actor, who is quite fond of playing soccer with his children, says his favourite football teams are from Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Spain and England. But he rues the sport failed to find prominence in cricket-crazy India. "I am surprised that we were the only developing nation which did not take to football. Hope new generation takes it up now that we are leaders." — IANS
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With the FIFA World Cup in South Africa only three days away, football enthusiasts are gearing up to fly there to see the exciting matches and one of them is Bollywood star Abhishek Bachchan. Abhishek is planning to attend the finale July 11 revealed his father Amitabh Bachchan. "There is keenness for a group that wishes to be there (World Cup) in the midst of it all to feel the punch of entertainment and game. My home enthusiasts … well just one … Mr. Abhishek Bachchan has expressed his absolute desire to be there for the final," Amitabh posted on his blog. "I know where this is coming from. A World Cup final in Los Angeles many years ago between Italy and Brazil - what a dream match - had instigated such interest. And we all just got up and left for the United States of America to attend this great pairing off. Then it was I (who) had suggested that we go, now it is Abhishek that is doing so," he added. The 2010 tournament is the 19th FIFA World Cup. The premier international football tournament is scheduled to start June 11. — IANS
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Class Apart
The first film to be catalogued was Chopra's recent blockbuster '3 Idiots', which was launched last night in the presence of its team including Chopra, Rajkumar Hirani, Kareena Kapoor, Sharman Joshi, R Madhavan, Shantanu Moitra, Swanand Kirkire and Omi Vaidya. "I am not looking at this division as a profit-making venture but as an archive. Only the filmmakers and those who are closely associated with the film are privy to all the details of their films," Chopra said. "My intention is to document all the facts and make it available to students and also to cinema lovers. This division will be headed by Anupama Chopra," he said. "The endeavour of this division is to catalogue the minutest details of a script. The book will include the screenplay, deleted scenes, character sketches, reworked scenes, casting process and everything that went into making the particular film," the filmmaker added. After 3 Idiots, the division will start work on theMunnabhai series, Chopra said adding that he wanted to create books for classics such as Mother India and also the Guru Dutt films. — PTI
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High flier
Ronit plays an authoritarian father in the Vikramaditya Motwane directed coming-of-age drama, which was the only Indian film to be screened at Cannes's 'Un Certain Regard' category in the last seven years. The actor, who became a household name with his iconic roles as 'Mihir Virani' and 'Mr Bajaj' in tele serials Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Kasauti Zindagi Ki, has signed an international project and is also planning to star in a mainstream Bollywood project. "I have said yes to an international project. We have already had meetings and all. This is extremely challenging and a great role. It is another opportunity to challenge the actor inside me. I have also said yes to a Bollywood project," Ronit said in an interview. But for now, the 44-year-old star is eagerly looking forward to the reaction to Udaan in India. "The reception at Cannes was superb. It was startling for me to see an Indian film and Indian cast get such good response. After the screening we had a standing ovation. It was wonderful to be there and walk the red carpet," Ronit, who attended the screening with Motwane, Kashyap, Ram Kapoor and Rajat Barmecha said. The film, about a boy's struggle to pursue his dream of being a writer much against the wishes of an authoritarian father, is slated to release in India on July 16. "I play a strict father in the film, which is a coming-of-age drama about a young boy. Initially, I was to play Ram's role but while shooting Anurag (Kashyap) changed his mind and told me to play the father," Ronit said. — PTI
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Today, generation gap is the biggest hurdle being faced by many families. Albeit the gap cannot be completely eliminated, it can definitely be narrowed down. The catch is to understand each other's views. A friendly attitude is sure to strengthen the bonds between parents and children. The former should develop such a disposition that their wards do not hesitate to share their secrets or discuss their problem. Rather than forcing decisions on adolescent children, parents should boost their confidence by allowing them to take independent decisions to some extent. Teens also need to act wisely and arrive at decisions after proper discussions with their parents. Parents should neither be too strict nor lenient. They should strike a proper balance between the two approaches. It is said 'Children are what their parents make them'. So a good relationship between the two generations is a must.
A practical solution to bridging the generation gap lies in understanding the reason why it occurs in the first place. Earlier, in any middle class Indian family, almost the same culture and approach was followed from generation to generation. There were lesser discussions and arguments, but with globalisation opportunities have increased and so has the knowledge. Therefore, disagreements are bound to happen. But the onus rests with the younger generation. They must handle problems and deal with elders patiently as well as convince them with logic and love. We should set standards that future generation emulates. This way generation gap can be bridged. 
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