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Da Vinci Code
It threatened to turn into a monologue on maths. More science and less art. But soon enough, things began to fall in place, as renowned author, physicist and scholar, professor Bulent Atalay from USA, delivered a lecture ‘Leonardo's Universe’, organised by Chandigarh Lalit Kala Academy at the Government Museum-10, the line between science and arts fused, the connection between Fibonacci numbers and works of great masters revealed. And above all, Leonardo da Vinci the artist and the scientist became one, neither more important than the other. But then harmony between arts and science is what Atalay believes in and propagates through his books and lectures. His initial lectures were about maths in art. Only the research took him to Leonardo, whom Atalay calls a transformative genius, one of those rare people who use both sides of the brain. Since Atalay himself is both an artist and a scientist he could not only instantly relate, but also found the experience of discovering more and more about Leonardo edifying and enjoyable. To date, he has written two books on him. While Math and the Mona Lisa, translated in dozen odd languages, has found effusive readership, he least expected that the more recent Leonardo's Universe: The Renaissance World of Leonardo da Vinci, which he co-authored with Keith Wamsley, would be rated one of the 10 'must have' books for the year by Britannica. Atalay's admiration for Leonardo and his extraordinary ability to comprehend the universe hasn't waned a bit. Nor the desire to know more about the artist-scientist about whom he makes many interesting revelations like — how Leonardo was left handed and wrote backwards in mirror text, frequently used his fingers to mix colours on the surface of his paintings, that his fingerprints are now on file with the FBI; how he recognised the parabolic trajectories of projectiles, invented robotics and that his anatomical drawings are the best in the world! And all this nearly 500 years ago! But ask Atalay to pick between Leonardo the artist or the scientist and, expectedly, he refuses to do so, calling his ability in both realms organic. Even though he shares that Leonardo made only a dozen-odd paintings, was in a sense only a part-time artist, yet he hails him as one of the greatest. Albeit Atalay has used Mona Lisa on the cover of his book, he doesn't think that Mona Lisa is Leonardo's best work. Instead, he lists The Last Supper as the one, the first work of great Renaissance from whom later artists like Raphael learnt much. So why is the world so obsessed with Mona Lisa? He explains, "Each person who views it reacts differently. Like great works of art, it is open-ended. It is almost as if Leonardo is telling the world — you don't know enough about me." Does he too feel the same way? You bet. In fact Atalay is often intrigued by the fact, "He had written about 20,000 pages. Only four to five thousand are available. I often wonder what is there in those pages." Yet another lament is that had Leonardo been published he would have figured in the ‘100 Most Influential People in the World’ where he finds only an honourable mention. Yet another thought that Atalay often ponders over is — had the man who had virtually no education, but possessed such astounding vision lived in today's times, how would we have educated him? And adds as an afterthought that such geniuses are meant to be discovered. So, is his discovery of Leonardo over? Yes and no. For on the anvil is a book Newton, Beethoven and Leonardo: Patterns in Creativity. Seriously, is there such a pattern? "Most certainly," he observes and adds, "Geniuses pick up such patterns from nature." But he dismisses that there is a Vinci code as suggested in Dan Brown's bestseller The Da Vinci Code. "The secret code," he smiles, "are the Fibonacci numbers." Ah, the art and maths link again. But then Atalay deems "Leonardo is the perfect example of how creativity can be enriched by cross-semination of intellectual cultures." And Atalay's lecture became just the right way to understand hitherto unknown fact and facets of Leonardo's universe. As noted art historian Dr B N Goswamy put it "An exciting and complicated journey has been unveiled."
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That funny bone!
If you thought trends are synonymous to fashion industry and Bollywood, which are the trendsetters in making and breaking relationships, Rajiv Thakur, winner of Best Actor in a comic role for Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo zeroes-in on comedy as a genre that has seen more trends than any other.
The stand-up comedian and actor from Amritsar shares how the format of comedy has changed with time. PJs are passé and so are making faces. So, what's in? "Gags and situational comedy rule the roost in this genre," says Rajiv Thakur, winner of Chhotey Miyan Badey Miyan. "No longer can you make people laugh with same old repetitive stuff. Today, every line should be packed with punches. Besides, the angle at which the punch is thrown is more important than the joke. How long can someone sustain on PJs," says Rajiv. Comedy is not a child's play. Pulling funny faces, mimicking, throwing one-liners, is definitely not easy. Ask Abhiskeh Bachchan, the actor tries his level best to twist and turn his facial muscles like a scary clown in 'Raavan', and the audiences cry with empathy! "Three years back I walked in to give the auditions for Laughter Challenge not knowing how long I would last," says Rajiv. "Even then I was very sure that I had a better sense of humour than many others and I would be able to carry forward the neat humour in a proper manner," he adds. Well, for Punjabis, humour comes easy. "Sure it does," he laughs. "You know why Punjabis don't need an intercom? Because when one Punjabi speaks at one end of the room the voice can be heard in the other." Jokes apart, "Punjabis definitely have a gift of gab, when it comes to one-liners and punches. Have you not seen comedians trying to bring Punjabi accent in their one-liners? But to us, it all comes naturally." It also comes naturally to other television channels and movies that are cashing-in on this genre, big time. "For instance, almost every second comedian would create similar jokes on the movie Kites. Comedy again is something like hit-and-trial… comedians fall flat too," shares Rajiv. "It is undoubtedly a popular genre, which is why Comedy Circus on Sony TV is such a hit," shares Rajiv, who draws his inspiration from Pakistani comedian Umar Shariff. jasmine@tribunemail.com |
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Flying high
The movie has to have some substance to it when it's nominated to the Cannes Film Festival, is produced by Anurag Kashyap and has a few A-list television actors. Udaan proved it all as it won a lot of critical acclaim post release but to Ronit Roy, who plays the role of father, what matters more is audience appreciation and acceptance. "During all these years in the industry, I have always known the fact that audience's reaction to the movie is the final verdict. The movie if well-received by critics is an add on," says Ronit in a telephonic interview. He says it was the conviction of the director Vikramaditya Motwane in the script that the actors also believed in the movie. Ronit wanted to come back to the silver screen by playing a character that wasn't run-off-the- mill, "But that doesn't mean I planned what kind of character I would play. I don't plan my life. I put in my best efforts and then wait for the results." On the contribution he has made in Bollywood or small screen, he doesn't regret any role, "I stand by whatever decision I take." As for more Bollywood projects on the cards, he adds, "None for now. I am enjoying the adulation." Ronit doesn't classify cinema as art or commercial. He feels that the only reason classification is done is because it makes it easier for viewers to judge films. "The success of the film depends on the script and cinematic narration of the story." Udaan certainly scores well on both counts." He is all praise for the producer Anurag Kashyap, "We need producers and directors who make experimental cinema. Bollywood is going international with so many movies being premiered at the major film festivals, making it imperative to create cinema that's different in real terms."
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Voices that matter
How do you define literature? Isn't mother tongue beyond a conglomeration of spoken words? What is the role of art in globalisation? It was a confluence of language, literature and the literati at the colloquium on Contemporary Voices organised by the Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi on Saturday. "This is just one of the events of Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi; we keep having them from time to time. We visualised the event as a colloquium where we tried to bring in experts on all the major languages of the region — Hindi, English and Punjabi. Tomorrow we have a discussion on Urdu literature and the current scenario," Manju Jaidka, chairperson, explains the concept. She adds, "It's an attempt to bring together all those interested in literature and also the young, since we don't want the organisation to be a senior citizens' association. We have some kind of visibility now, as we are active on the Internet through blogs, social networking sites etc." Day one and present were the poet, the critic, the writer, the scholar, the scriptwriter; that is, in conversation with Surjit Patar, Keki Daruwala and Dr Prem Singh. manpriya@tribunemail.com
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On the sleeve
In an area of 12X5 feet, where there isn't space enough to even stretch your arms, constant preparations are made to bring about a small-scale revolution. Young minds gather, plan and execute activities that would instil a feeling of patriotism in people. And the result is a tee-shirt hung on the hanger that has the word Hindustani printed on it. Near the hemline are prints of significant monuments of India. "This is an attempt to encourage people to get over regionalism. We want them to identify themselves as Indians, rather than Punjabis or Bengalis," says Preet Arjun Singh, the brain behind the concept of Karma Republic, a brand and store in Sector 35 that promotes the cause of "Being Indian".
Preet's next step to popularise the brand was tie-ups with student organisations. "We want various heads of organisation to inform them about the ideology. We will also provide them space on a wall of the store where they can put up any information about their activities." Anyone who buys a tee from here also gets a 'passport', which is a booklet to keep a record of karmas! The social work doesn't end here. Youngsters who work with any NGO in the city can get it mentioned in the booklet. “This makes youngsters entitled to gifts as per their karma points." A qualified civil engineer, Preet was the founder of 'We Volunteer', a student organisation of PEC. He also made news during the last Lok Sabha elections, when they organised an 'Open Parliament', an activity where the Lok Sabha seat contenders together debated and discussed their agendas and issues. "The response of youngsters to 'Open Parliament' was tremendous." The funds for the store came in the form of his savings from two years of job with Infosys, Bulls Eye and an ad agency Makani Creatives. "Creative satisfaction and contribution towards society were my priority. The venture, Karma Republic offered both, even if that happened in a space of 12x5 feet." Space was never a constraint! ashima@tribunemail.com
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Of herbs & flavour
Done in white and black, with simple, staid chairs, a book shelf near the entrance, an open kitchen with pots and pans hanging and an informal bar at the kitchen end, the place gives a countryside look, right in the middle of the city! Fresh vegetables and fruits laid casually at the long kitchen table with serving staff dressed in bright yellow afford a refreshing look to the place. “The Mediterranean climate is pretty favourable for the growth of vegetables and fruits unlike most of the cold European countries. And we have tried to bring those bright colours from the Mediterranean on to our menu,” says Shibu TP, vice president, Under One Roof, the consultants behind the commissioning of Sofrito. An initiative of Punit Walia, a known restaurateur from the tricity, Sofrito brings the basics of Mediterranean cuisine — freshness and purity of ingredients - through very simple cooking. Most recipes are herb-based and not flour-based. With lots of vegetables and fruits finding their way on to your plate, the portion size is not only large but healthy as well. The menu covers the Mediterranean region from Spanish Tapas, to Italian Risottos, French Bouillabaise, Ratatouille to pizzas and pastas from Italy. But don’t be overawed, the menu helps one through with a little history on the origin of the recipe and what to expect. So, before ordering you know ‘Shish Taouk’ is ‘Turkish in origin. ‘Shish’ means skewers and ‘taouk’ refers to chicken. And the recipe…chicken skewers marinated in yogurt and spices served with ‘Pita’ and ‘Calik’. Kissed in is a combination of orange juice, lemon juice, grenadine and ginger ale. “Mediterranean waters border the shores of as many as 20 countries, including Italy, Greece, Spain, Morocco, Egypt, France, Turkey and Lebanon. Each region offers distinct flavours. We have taken recipes that could happen here and suit the city crowds’ palate. So out goes oyster and crab, in comes the chicken,” says Shibu, who opines that the greatest challenge in the city is to make customers repeat their visit. As for those who want a meal on the move, the place offers a fine collection of sandwich, salad and soups. “Even regular sandwich and soups are not the usual ones that one finds everywhere. We believe in authenticity of cuisine and make sure that Mediterranean essence is not lost,” shares Shibu. The place offers a lounge as well. From an open café in the mornings where one can smell freshly baked bread, Sofrito turns to a night eating place with lights and music in the evenings.
One can have a filling meal starting of Rs 400 onwards. The place for sure provides a glimpse of what the Spanish word ‘sofrito’ means — Mediterranean way of
life! mona@tribunemail.com |
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The trio, Psycobaba aka Akhil Arora from Dehradun and DJ Sameer and DJ Rohit from Chakra:Vu band rock at Zinc Lounge, Sector-26, on Saturday night. The jam-in session is to promote ‘progressive house music’. As for Psycobaba, he has been an avid listener of electronic music, which eventually led to his encounter with psychedelic music in 2004, when he first visited the hills of Manali. Since then he has passionately played at every possible underground and commercial venue in and around the hills of Himachal Pradesh. Today, he is among the most successful Morning Psy Trance DJ’s of India. “I try to create a force field of hardcore energy, which allows the audiences to transcend into a surprisingly sublime and refreshing morning trip every single time I play,” says Psycobaba. He has been known to make his audience dance till they drop. On his kinda music, he adds, “Full On and Progressive Psytrance is my music wherein each track is carefully selected to make sure the listeners just keep moving to the great Psy-vibes.” Akhil Arora is currently signed by Moonsun Records (Greece), Samana Records (Dubai) and Psy Tribe Production (London). Akhil looks forward to bringing about a new breed of techno/EDM sounds to clubs across the country. His new genre of music could best be defined as Power–house, which captivates the audience, leaving them with no choice but to keep dancing at the mercy of the groove! — TNS
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At least this is what Alisha feels and advocates. Chandigarh finalist for Zoom India International Face, Alisha places professional qualification at the top of her preferences in life. "I had an inclination for beauty pageants and ramp shows, but at the same time I give education a lot of preference," she says. "The glamour industry is definitely smitten by looks. Camera sees the beauty, it doesn't know how intelligent the face is," says Alisha, a chemical engineer, who also designed one of the modules of sewage treatment plant for Yamuna River. This sounds like a refreshing change. "Modelling is a short-lived career and it is very important to have a good back-up option. Nothing better than a professional qualification, which can come to use whenever one wants," says Alisha, who also runs a coaching institute for engineering aspirants. "Have you ever noticed what is the defining moment of a beauty pageant? The question answer round. This says a lot about the glamour industry, which puts a lot of emphasis on grey matter as well," she smiles. "Don't we all like the deadly combination of beauty with brains," says Alisha with a confident smile. "Education always gives one an edge whether it is at the workplace or glamour industry." — Jasmine Singh
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On wings of fantasy
Three films released this week and expectations were quite high given the great press that has followed all the three films right through their making , post production and test screenings. Lamhaa, Rahul Dholakia's effort to encapsulate the Kashmir problem in mainstream theatrics fails to evoke the intense interest and pathos he generated with his distinctive first feature Parzania. Of the other films released this week, Vikramaditya Motwane's Udaan, fresh from it's stellar showing in Cannes, is strongly poignant while the third one Tere Bin Laden, Abhishek Sharma's interestingly driven satire has a fair share of freaked out fun moments!
Watchable This is a film that upholds the best traditions of Indian cinema. It is a simple story, touchingly told. A slice of life story of 17 year old motherless boy, Rohan(Rajat Barmecha) who is expelled from Bishop Cotton boarding school following indiscipline and is forced to return home to his businessman father (Ronit Roy) residing in Jamshedpur. The father is strict, uncompromising and controlling and he expects his son not only to address him as 'Sir' but also follow his every dictat blindly. Rohan, having experienced freedom at boarding school for eight long years finds it difficult to reconcile himself to his new reality. His father's lack of love and affection for him or his step-brother Arjun(Aayan Boradia) makes it even more difficult for him to accept. As a result, he expresses his angst in the only ways he knows how- writing poetry in his spare time and visiting bars, stealing out for late night drives in his father's car, and indulging in the regular vices. His soulful cry for acceptance and love comes across from the poetry he recites but his father ridicules him beyond endurance and Rohan has no alternative but to make a choice between conformity and freedom. Motwane's narrative takes us through the many high points in the story with ease. Throughout, we exprerience the pain and torment of the young lad on the cusp of manhood and empathise wholeheartedly with his situation and choices. The bitter expectation tinged relationship between father and son is well established. Ronit Roy pulls off a difficult performance as cruel dad to terrific effect. The growing bond between Rohan and Arjun is also convincingly played out. Trendy youthful numbers playing in the background add strength to the overall mood and atmosphere. Rajat Barmecha is perfectly cast. His expressive performance is just one more reason to see this film. This film is a gem. Do watch it. Issue-based drama
While Rahul Dholakia's first film Parzania brought forth with gravitas the futility of the Gujarat riots of 2002, he fails to achieve the same effect with his latest film, Lamhaa, based on the Kashmir problem. With Sanjay Dutt, Bipasha and Kunal Kapoor, essaying the main characters in this film, Dholakia appears to have sold out to the commerce. Lamhaa doesn't have the regressive 'item' number in it's folds but it does have an incredible 'hero' dictating the progress of the narrative when it should have ideally been story driven. Sanjay Dutt plays the typical hero figure who appears out of nowhere getting his typical solo soft focused entry with musical accompaniement et al, few moments into the start of the film. From there he goes on to establish his superhuman credentials by jumping across buildings, rescues a damsel in distress, uses friendly diplomacy to resolve a crisis and works undercover to eke out intel info that the best could not manage to unearth. But Sanjay Dutt in this case, despite all the expended screentime, is an unlikely hero. He appears too old, too unfit, extremely sluggish and sports a body language that is just not convincing. He is supposedly an intelligence officer sent undercover to unveil a plot meant to sabotage the coming elections. And he is expected to prevent terrorists, separatists, activists, opportunists and political leaders (all a suspects) from escalating conflict to Jammu. Dholakia's narrative hyperventilates for most of it's run-time. Right from the prologue — a basic history of the Kashmir conflict, to the scenes of indoctrination, foreign interference, resident dissatisfaction, abuse by armed forces and political indecisiveness, we are treated to continuous visuals of unrest and mayhem. Dholakia and team try to incorporate Taleban elements into the narrative but they appear borrowed and unconvincing of the true Kashmir reality. James Fowlds camera movements appear unnecessarily frenetic and distracting. A few of the visuals look stunning but the unsteady nature of the camerawork is off-putting. The editing doesn't allow for much coherence either. Kunal Kapoor doesn't have the talent to play seperatist leader Aatif with conviction. His performance is acutely passionless . Bipasha on the other hand manages to imbue Aziza with enough coviction.
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Tarot talk
TAURUS: The Knight of wands reveals this would be a period of change and newness. Expectant mothers are assured safe delivery. Those in love will have an exciting week. Hobbies and extra curricular activities will gain extra momentum. Look for the answers to your dilemmas . Tip: It is no longer necessary to take risks. Lucky colour: Crimson. GEMINI: Five of Cups takes you through difficult speculative situation. Push extra cash into safe scheme. Check your account. Circumstances take a turn in your favour. Tip: Don't reveal your plan of action to anyone. Lucky colour: Midnight blue. CANCER: The Hermit reveals focus on relationships. You may meet an interesting person on Thursday. Love stars twinkle. Do not disturb jointly held funds without the consent of your partner. Efforts bear fruit on Monday and Wednesday. Tip: Don't be too stubborn. Lucky colour: Peach. GEMINI: The Wheel of Fortune says you would be energised and ready to deal with anything. Shopkeepers may find the Tuesday quite hectic. Professionals are feeling very positive and optimistic. Saturday is to improve your home appearance. Defer trip on Monday. Tip: Yoga and meditation are rejuvenating. Lucky colour: Orange. VIRGO: You draw Six of Wands, which helps you in professional work. Do not worry; discuss your plans with loved ones. All things connected with money making ventures prove exciting and profitable. Tip: Do not let anyone get the advantage over you. Lucky colour: Lime green. LIBRA: The Emperor gets you in touch with your leadership qualities. Love life sparkles. If you have been thinking of buying a pet this is a favourable week for getting one. Expect excellent news concerning finance on Monday. Tip: Play your cards close to your chest. Lucky colour: Green. SCORPIO: The High Priestess reveals family pressure and responsibilities. Be a little more tolerant. You will be in a mood to find fault with people who are dear to you; curb this habit. Don't follow others; let them follow you if they so desire. Tip: Do not expect too much from others. Lucky colour: White. SAGITTARIUS: The Priestess says you might have to deal with problems. Teamwork is the key note of the week. Home life will be pleasant. Older people may drum up certain problems for you. Check your car before you set out on long journey. Tip : Plan your life to avoid the inbuilt delays that comes your way. Lucky colour: Golden yellow. CAPRICORN: You draw Two of wands. Hard work and determination would pay off. Relatives will be sensitive and difficult to get along with. Do not get involved in any land deal. On Wednesday there is an exchange of ideas with someone who means much to you. Tip: Watch your action at work and polish your public relation skills. Lucky colour: Purple
PICESE: Politicians draw flak. Do not avoid responsibility. Keep travel plans off. Romantic life takes an upswing. Children will be a source of happiness and joy in the weekend party. Tip: You concentrate on projects with reliable outcomes. Lucky colour: Brown.
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The renowned Punjabi poet hadn't yet finished reading out 'Mar Rahi Hai Meri Bhasha Shabd
Shabd' and the audience is able to relate to the issue. Surjit Patar also reads out one of his well-known poems,
'Aaya Nand Kishore'. Perhaps, it was the humorous anecdote of a rigid Punjabi literature person, who is against so many English words entering the Punjabi dictionary, which received a big applause from the listeners. 
The idea was conceived seven months back after the first such venture by Preet was highly appreciated by people. "Last year, I came out with the T-shirt, 1947, I Salute. Over 200 pieces were sold through the only medium — Facebook." Preet then realised that youngsters would feel no inhibitions in supporting a social message if the designing is as per their taste. The promotions again were done through Facebook. "We pasted on Facebook the concept and ideology behind introducing the brand. And to involve youth, photographs of how the store was designed and made from the scratch were pasted." And the result: There are already 350 members of the store fanclub and 100 tees have been booked. "We didn't intend to commercialise the concept, so no photographs of the tees were pasted." 
Sofrito, a new Mediterranean Lounge and Bistro, opened its doors for the city folks on Friday. Causal and spacious, Sofrito, that opened in Sector-9, is a place where one can walk in, pick up a book (they have a lovely collection on lifestyle, sports and travel) and chat with the chef while he is busy preparing your favourite dish behind the show kitchen.
Pre-requisites for the glamour industry? Good looks, good looks and good looks! But when we met Alisha Diddi, 23, north India brand ambassador for Zaira Diamonds and brand ambassador for Deiva, a bridal wear brand owned by Bollywood designer Amit Kashyap, we changed our opinion and added another one to the list - grey matter!
Watchable
A madhouse comic caper, Abhishek Sharma's Tere Bin Laden is sure to make you laugh. Ali Hasan(Ali Zafar), a reporter for 'Danka' TV wants to go to America at any cost. He has had umpteen rejections following 9/11 so he tries to come up with cornball schemes to achieve his sole ambition. One of them involves creating the latest Osama Bin Laden video in order to earn the big bucks he requires to pay the agent who is going to give him a new identity and passport. Luckily for him a chance photo shoot at a cock-a roo competition gets him the perfect candidate, Noora, a Punjabi poultry farmer( a perfect doppelganger for Osama) who also trains cocks for the homegrown cuckudoo-coo championships!
ARIES:
The Chariot means that you would tackle tasks that have been pending for
sometime. Now is the time to try your luck in speculative deals. The
employed will be burdened with additional responsibility without
incentive. Domestic compulsions will make your life uneasy. TIP OF THE
WEEK: Now is the need to question the value judgments. Lucky colour:
Royal blue.
AQUARIUS:
You card The Hierophant says there may be some good news. Take what is
useful and discard the rest. Those in love will have slightest sign of
trouble. Guard against extreme agitation. A short trip will rejuvenate
your mind and body. Tip: Be articulate to prevent people from
making their own conclusions. Lucky colour: Sky blue.