Me against myself - the words may sound philosophical, but that's how Shabana Azmi defines herself…in Girish Karnad's play Broken Images and in real life. In the city, after performing her solo act at the Chandigarh Theatre Festival, the actor was at her candid best talking theatre, films, social responsibility and much more. "We always talk about theatre as a tool of communication, but want to confine it just to entertainment. Rather, it has the power to build a climate of sensitivity amongst the audience and raising the bar for the artiste."

Well, quite an introduction to the open house. Raising the bar…whether in films, theatre or in real life, Shabana has been doing that for long now. "People say theatre is difficult and I would agree. In 'Broken Images', I had to compete against myself, performing on stage keeping it in sync with the 45-minute video that had been previously shot. The scope of error always remains," she says. So, her way to deal with this is: "I constantly keep on thinking that I would never get it right and I do."

Well, looks like it works every time. But even for a Shabana Azmi, how much can you depend on imagination? "It was very difficult to get the coordination right between the stage and the screen character. While I was rehearsing for the play, Tanvi Azmi, my sister-in-law, helped out by playing the other character."

Throw a challenge and chances are that you'll be pitching her towards yet another self-discovery. After numerous impressive roles in theatre and cinema, she is ready for another. Playing her mother in the theatrical adaptation of the book, Kaifi aur Mein. "It is extremely overwhelming to portray the character who is responsible for what I am today. Javed shares the stage with me by playing the role of my father-in-law. The fact that it presents the political and social situations of that time in an absolute female voice, taking incidents from my parent's life, makes it so interesting." The book is now being translated into English and has been selected by 14 universities in the US as part of their curriculum.

Known for constantly re-inventing herself with each endeavour, Shabana says she is living in bliss as an actor. "These are happy times for us. You are not expected to dance in the Alps wearing a chiffon sari as in the 90's or stick to representative acting on screen as during the 60's. Independent cinema has given actors the luxury of realistic, mainstream cinema." And is that the case with theatre too? "Definitely. Although there are two categories in it - star-based theatre, putting up gags for entertainment, which I don't have patience for, and the other one is putting together the elements of Ismat and Munto into experimental mode."

What does the actor in her prefer - theatre or films? "Primarily, I think of myself as a film actor. But the sense of satisfaction is different in both; theatre doesn't allow you retakes and films don't allow you to fake." And her dream role? "There is no such thing like that. Though I would love to play a historical character like Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth."

Given her father's legacy and mother's passion, social activism was bound to happen, on screen as well as off screen. "It happened largely because of my background. Acting is not a nine to six job. And the kind of films I did prompted me in that direction."

She recently aided the rehabilitation of slum-dwellers in Mumbai, building 40,000 houses free of cost. "The number of maternal deaths every week in India is more than the total number of women deaths in Europe annually. As many as two lakh infants die every year, and if you compare the annual figures it will amount to 400 aeroplane crashes in the world."

Want more? She's got more. "Unless, the principle of social justice is employed in every aspect, GDPs, economic growth and futuristic dreams will be haunted by nightmares of female foeticide, corruption and poverty."

Between them, they share more than just being a woman. The passion to bring about a change, living life on their own terms, running a one-woman show in their field and, of course, their love for theatre. So, when they joined hands, Indian theatre had a reason to celebrate in Sakubai. Nadira Babbar decided to write down an ode to the most important but the least acknowledged part of the society, and Sarita Joshi brought it live on stage.

"Sakubai is the story of survival instincts and the spirit of housemaids. They deal with the most trying circumstances and yet remain the happiest. The play is a direct take on the social imbalances and the unsung efforts of these bais," says Nadira Babbar, director and playwright.

And playing the character is noted theatre artiste Sarita Joshi, "The play touches a section of society that is still struggling to find its due respect. I had been doing a lot of Gujarati and Marathi theatre, but was looking to find my feet in Hindi theatre. After Satyadev Dubey's Inquilaab, Sakubai was the only thing that impressed me instantly." And she bets she will impress the city audience with her first-ever show in Chandigarh.

For Nadira, being raised under Marxist influence, the inspiration for writing the play began at home, "We choose to ignore the unfair attitude prevailing in our society. One can't deny the importance of a majority that works unacknowledged. This play is for them." As for her other cause — theatre — she has high hopes, "Theatre is growing with youngsters taking up its cause. There is a huge audience for it and it doesn't depend on obligations any more." Another humble request, "Please don't watch theatre for free."

At 69, Sarita Joshi couldn't help but experiment. As many as 60 years of traditional theatre, and she is already impressing on Television as the strict Baa in Baa Bahu Aur Baby. "TV is good, I like the change it provides for an actor," she says. And she is doing another show, Chand Chupa Badal Mein, on Star Plus.

But then theatre is in her blood and that explains her energy on stage. "I prefer the solo acts as they challenge you as an actor. Even with my theatre group, Jhalak, I run the show alone." Now that's a one-woman army…sure! 

Her bikini sequence in Aisha has gained her plenty of new fans but actress Ira Dubey says that in the past she was often rejected for being too thin.The actor plays Pinki Bose, the fearless fashionista who is best friend to Sonam Kapoor's Aisha in the film and had the last laugh as her slim frame helped her carry off the bikini.

"You have to be thick skinned in the business of films because rejection is a daily occurrence. Like people have told me that I am too thin to be in movies. But the fact that I am skinny helped me pull off my Aisha wardrobe," Ira said.

The younger daughter of theatre doyen Lilette Dubey says that she is practically half naked in the film, which is her first mainstream Bollywood venture.She describes her character as an Indian version of Sex and the City's Samantha Jones and the role brought along with it an equally fearless wardrobe.

"In a fashion show, there is always that one piece that you look at and go, 'Who will wear that'. Pinky Bose will wear that. She is a filthy rich girl with a flamboyant personality and her wardrobe is equally outrageous. So, I am wearing itsy bitsy dresses throughout the film and off course the bikini," said Ira. But the actor who started doing theatre at the age of six says she has no plans to play the glamourpuss any more and does not want the 'bikini babe' tag."

In the film each character is defined by his or her wardrobe and I said yes to wearing the bikini because it looked natural in the scene, as a group of friends playing volleyball together. I don't want to be stereotyped because of that," said Ira. The actor had played Archana Kapoor, a posh girl from an affluent family in her maiden big screen venture, The President Is Coming, a role similar to Pinky Bose. So Ira wants to make sure that her third film breaks the mould.

"I don't want to forever play the posh girl. So, I have turned down the projects which offer me a similar role and am waiting for something different to come my way. I want to play a gritty, earthy character now, not another fashionista," said the actor. While Aisha promises to open new doors for her, Ira says that she will never say goodbye to theatre, which keeps her grounded.

"Theatre is in my blood and I started doing it when I was a kid and I am never going to stop doing it. Theatre gives you the freedom and space that films never do. And it keeps me grounded," said the actor who majored in theatre at Yale 
University. — PTI

Hollywood actress Anne Hathaway is winning over locals while filming a new movie in London by embracing the hard-partying pub scene.

Hathaway is currently in the British capital working on an adaptation of David Nicholls' novel, One Day, and has spent her time off relaxing in the Prince Arthur pub in Hackney, East London.

The Devil Wears Prada star impressed the bar staff and regulars at a recent late-night party when she took the microphone and performed an impromptu cabaret set into the early hours.

But the 27-year-old star has kept up her professionalism by turning up on set ready to work despite her late nights.

"She's built up quite a reputation since the performance. But whatever she does in the pub, Anne has an enviable knack of showing up for filming the next morning as fresh as a daisy, as though she'd gone to sleep at 9 pm with a mug of cocoa," a source said. — PTI

Sharman Joshi, who said a few lines in the song "Give me some sunshine" in the hit film 3 Idiots, says he won't mind singing for a film in future.

"I just narrated a few lines. But I won't mind singing for a movie...actually depending upon the requirement of the scene. If it requires me to do it, I'll do it," Sharman said "But singing is not my forte. It is something that I'll have to work on for many years and I don't know if I'll be able to manage that," he said. Sharman's next release is Allah Ke Banday. — IANS

Actor Arjun Rampal has added a new member to his house - a puppy. "Today (Sunday) is a very special day, got our new pup Gangsta in the house, drove to Lonavala with the 3 Ms (wife Meher and daughters - Mahikaa and Myra). The whole family is super excited, yippee!" Rampal posted on social networking site Twitter.

The Rock On!! actor will soon post a picture of the puppy on Twitter.

"Promise will post his pic up soon, right now he is a bit camera shy, guess we will have to train him not to be, he is beautiful," he wrote. —IANS

Hollywood actor Will Smith's children Jaden and Willow are reportedly in talks to get their own fashion line in the future.

"With Rihanna, pretty soon after she came on the scene, you started seeing designers from Forever 21 to Gucci coming out with styles mimicking her look. We hope the same thing happens here, but I think the ultimate goal is for Willow and Jaden to have their own line," stylist Mariel Haenn said.

Mariel Haenn has been the brain behind Rihanna's styling.

Though Haenn believes Willow is inspired by Rihanna, but insists she is vocal about her ideology.

"Willow is definitely inspired by Rihanna's style. We make an effort to give Willow her own style, so as not to be a mini-version of Rihanna, but Willow really knows what she likes and what she doesn't like and she's vocal about it," Haenn added. — IANS

Hollywood actor Sean Penn has denied reports that he has reunited with ex-girlfriend and model Jessica White.

The two were recently spotted having drinks with friends at the Gramercy Park Hotel's Rose Bar.

An onlooker revealed, "They kissed, sat close and ignored everyone".

However, the Milk star's representative have shot down rumours they are dating.

"It's not true," their representative said. — IANS

Hollywood heartthrob Brad Pitt chose Indian naan and butter chicken over gourmet cuisine during his solitary trip to New Zealand.

The superstar surprised the staff at Tulsi restaurant, a small Indian eatery near Wellington's film centre, when he dropped in alone for an early dinner.

The one half of Hollywood power couple Brangelina, the 45-year-old actor sat in a corner booth and ordered chicken korma, butter chicken and garlic naan, said a source from Tourism Board New Zealand.

The mystery diner, recognised as Pitt, tried to keep things low key by wearing nondescript clothing and a cap.

Speculation suggests that Pitt was here to discuss a possible movie venture with acclaimed Kiwi filmmaker Sir Peter Jackson.

Other reports claim that he's on a solitary trip, temporarily swapping Angelina and his six kids for a laid-back break. — PTI

Hollywood actor Cameron Diaz bonded with her Knight and Day co-star Tom Cruise's four-year-old daughter Suri on the sets of the movie.The actor had his daughter and wife Katie Holmes on set most days while shooting the comedy action movie and Diaz was very impressed by Suri's imaginary bakery shop.

"She had her own little bakery and she would tell you what's going on today. It was like, 'These are what muffins we have today,' and she played out all these scenes, it was so fun... Suri was going around serving all of us," said Diaz. Tom, 48, admitted he is incredibly proud of his daughter and thinks she has an incredible imagination. — PTI 

It was indeed a rendezvous of cinema with theatre as renowned film actor Shabana Azmi gave a sterling performance while enacting a double role in the play Broken Images at the Tagore theatre on Monday.

Noted director Alyque Padamsee’s vision and technical skills were showcased for the city audience when he portrayed the two Shabanas — one live and the other projected on a TV screen — during the play.

With her majestic stage presence, Shabana left the audience spellbound during the one-hour show. She employed her skills to perfection to enliven the complex psychological character she essayed. Written by renowned playwright Girish Karnad, this psychological thriller rips the mask off a celebrity. And Shabana immortalised the character of Manjula with utmost precision. She brought alive the psyche of an author whose internal conflicts remain pitted against external pressures.

The protagonist Manjula Sharma is not a very successful Hindi short-story writer, but she suddenly becomes wealthy and attains international fame by writing a best-seller in English. However, the question that haunts Manjula is whether she has betrayed her own language as well as sister Malini by plagiarising her concept and writings. Now, without warning, it’s her own ‘image’ that decides to play confessor, psychologist and inquisitor. The lively interaction with her alter ego (sister Malini, projected on a TV screen) bares the deceptive crust of reality in the spell-binding performance.

Besides Shabana, the contribution of director Alyque Padamsee made the play a huge hit with the audience, which gave a standing ovation to Shabana after the performance. 

Whatever happened to the sensibilities of Punjabi music videos! Gabrus (feeble frames with patent chidi hairstyles) painting the city on macho looking bikes, a few burly looking guys huddled up in a gypsy flaunting the old yet very popular ‘dunali’. Or cut to a shady discotheque with girls gyrating around the singer, generally two left feet, absolutely lost. What’s with the Punjabi music videos?

Singer, composer, song-writer, musician, Mehsopuria from Birmingham has a similar take on it. In city for the recording of his album under the label of Universal Music, the singer of Ranjha Jogi Ho Gaya would rather act in videos that are musically sound and portray Punjab in the right sense. “I am often asked to give my take on collaborations. I don’t mind if anything good comes up, but I am not game for those desi videos with boys riding motorbikes. None of them show the real Punjab,” says Mehsopuria.

Well, they have to make-do with whatever is available. Why don’t Punjabi NRIs or the so-called ‘special appearance’ singers take up the onus of giving the audience the real flavour of Punjab? “My last album released in UK in 2003, since then I haven’t released any album here,” shares the singer, who listens to a lot of Gurdas Maan and late Surjit Bindrakhiya. “I don’t slot my music into a particular category, to be bound by any boundary. It is world music meant for everyone. However, I do understand the need and importance of releasing our music in Punjab, especially when it is meant for the Punjabis world over.”

Music has crossed barriers and now it is just a click away. Download and enjoy. “We don’t realise that this trend affects just about everybody from the music industry — the label, writers, producers, singers. It is like stealing music,” he says.

More on the singer who doesn’t want to be slotted in a particular category. From the age of five, Mehsopuria learnt reading and writing Punjabi as well as singing kirtan in classical ragas. Being a student of renowned classical Guru Ustaad Sri Ajit Singh Mutlashi Ji has enabled Mehsopuria to sing in many styles. “I don’t follow any particular music or style. Music to me is universal. I listen to just about whatever I like, something like Punjabi folk,” says Mehsopuria.

When it comes to inspiration, this singer doesn’t scout for it, neither under the shade of the trees nor near a silent lake. “It just comes naturally to me, irrespective of the time or place. I appreciate beauty, a glimpse of which is available in my music as well.” Mehsopurai achieves a little bit of this by working with his favourite record label, Universal Music. “Money is not important. They understand the sensibilities behind my music.”

Bollywood bells? He laughs, “If it happens good, if it doesn’t I would still be writing and singing. What say?” Give me five!

jasmine@tribunemail.com

Guru Govind Dono Khade Kaake Lagoon Paye/ Balihari Guru Aap Ke Jin Govind Diyo Milaye.” Since times immemorial, the guru (teacher) has been venerated as wisdom incarnate, ideal and supreme. It was imperative for the shishya (student) to seek the guru’s blessings before any endeavour.

“Although times have changed and many feel the age-old ‘guru-shishya’ tradition is diluting, to me it holds as much sanctity today as it did when I was a disciple of Ustad Vilayat Hussain Khan and Inayat Hussain Khan Saheb,” claims Pandit Yashpaul, foremost classical vocalist of Agra gharana and holder of A-Plus grading as an AIR singer.

Speaking over the phone from Manchester (UK), Yashpaul, on a concert tour, reiterated that the spirit behind this glorious tradition remained the lifeline of many ashrams, gharanas or madarasas that have produced legends. “The gurus owning allegiance to different gharanas also owned their disciples. My disciples like Neelam Paul, Harbinder Singh, Gurmit Singh, Baazi Rao Rajwade, Brijesh Ahuja and others in India and Iqbal Ahmed, Zenith Michael John and Jessy aboard, are torchbearers of my musical legacy.”

Senior musicologist Pandit Bhim Sen Sharma, who has a teaching experience of over 50 years, however, attributes the dilution in the tradition to both the ‘gurus’ and ‘shishyas’. “Both gurus and shishyas have a commercial agenda. However, there are exceptions as well. My disciples Meena Kumari, Vinod Sharma and Devinder Rathore have done me proud,” he says.

“Compared to South India, the guru-shishya parampara has lost its sanctity and even the definition in our region,” observes kathak guru Shobha Koser. She adds, “The tradition must be religiously practiced. The code of conduct has suffered substantial relaxation. Students have a short-term agenda to learn and not attain perfection through dedicated riyaz. I take pride in my disciples like Preeti Dixit, Aloka Mehdiratta, Sameera Koser, Purva Puri, Amrit Nanku, Rajinder Kaur, Gitanjali, and Anuradha Arora, who have earned a name in kathak.”

Everyone is looking for ways to express their bonds of friendship, where a warm gesture or touching gift can say so much about how much they mean to each other. An essential catalyst to countless friendships over the past 14 years, Café Coffee Day has rolled out another great initiative to make things happen for friends in the run up to Friendship Day.

From now till Friendship Day on August 2, coffee lovers can make a purchase of just Rs 100 worth of exciting merchandise at any of Café Coffee Day’s outlets and get a special Café Coffee Day Friendship Perks booklet. The booklet details all applicable terms and conditions.

Commenting on Friendship Perks, Alok Gupta, director, Café Coffee Day, says, “At Café Coffee Day, there are no strangers, just friends we haven’t met yet. And as the saying goes, ‘the only way to have a friend is to be one,’ and so for our youthful customers who will look for different ways to express their friendships around Friendship Day, we have brewed up Friendship Perks so heart-warming things can keep happening over coffee.”

—TNS

I think each and every stream is extremely important for society and people need to realise that Dipti Salhuria

I like gandhian philosophy and that’s also one of the reasons I chose to pursue a masters in this line. rather I want to further pursue a phd in the same field. Deepak Hasija

After I completed my b.a, almost everyone in the friend circle wanted me to study business or do some professional course. Neeraj Kumar

Be involved in community service, that’ll help give back to the society what you have. Avoid any kind of stress or tension by staying in the present moment. Don’t think about the future or the past. Give your hundred per cent to whatever you’re doing.” instructions come loud and clear from Pratibha Chhabra, Art of Living trainer.

There’s actually a lot that the youth can do keep stress at bay, but then there’s actually a lot happening out there. Relationship issues, peer pressure, academic stress; youth comes packaged in its own set of troubles. Shares Pratibha, “Our youth empowerment seminar is a kind of programme for the age group between 18 to 30.” She adds, “In this we teach techniques like Sudarshankriya, which is a breathing technique; there are so many other things to help counter the challenges that the youth face today. For instance, relationship problems, career issues, peer pressure et al.”

Thrown in between the scheme of things are a rock band and street-play group, to make it click with the target audience. “You don’t expect the youngsters to come and take interest on their own. We try to make it interactive and interesting through games. After the course, they are made to do seva.”

And what can the non-members do to reduce stress in their lives, to keep the negativity away? “I think it’s very important to be involved in community service, which is exactly what we also make them do over here. Then, of course, there are breathing techniques that we teach. Like in Punjab, a significant number of youngsters are involved in substance abuse. At times the transformation is so huge; in three days there’s a difference.”

With one just over, “Our next programme begins on July 30 and continues till August 1,” adds the banker cum Art of Living trainer.

— Manpriya Khurana

Teachers with higher confidence levels help pre-schoolers gain more language and literacy skills, a new study says.

However, in some cases, students only saw gains when their teachers also had classrooms that emphasised emotional support for the children. “Emotionally responsive relationships between teachers and children may be the way by which the self-efficacy of teachers can have a positive influence on children’s literacy,” said Ying Guo, the study co-author.

Guo is a postdoctoral researcher in education at the Ohio State University, whose study was published in the journal Teaching and Teacher Education.

She and her co-authors examined how teachers’ confidence, what researchers refer to as “self-efficacy”, affected children’s learning progression in language and literacy skills, says an Ohio state release.

The research involved a large, multi-state study that included 67 teachers and 328 of their students. Participants were followed over the course of 30 weeks.Teachers were given a short questionnaire that measured their self-efficacy on a scale from one to five. The level of emotional support in the classrooms was measured by trained coders. They rated the quality as low, mid, or high based on a numbering scale from one to seven.

Students were given tests of language and literacy skills at the beginning and end of the 30 week period to assess improvement.

Results indicated that students whose teachers had high self-efficacy showed gains in one measure of early literary skills called print awareness, in which students were asked questions like “Show me just one letter on this page.”

However, children only showed gains in vocabulary knowledge skills when they had a classroom that offered emotional support in addition to having a teacher with high self-efficacy. — IANS

Children who fall foul of the law early in life don’t necessarily take to a life of crime later on. This is one of the findings of the Marburg child delinquency study, reports l Deutsches Ärzteblatt International. Helmut Remschmidt and Reinhard Walter of the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at Philipps University in Marburg, Germany, conducted the research.

They obtained data concerning the life history, family circumstances, health, schooling, vocational training, and personality structure of 263 subjects aged 18 or older. The evaluation of the data revealed that juvenile delinquents fall into two categories: those who become chronic offenders into adulthood and those who are delinquent only in childhood and/or adolescence, but not in adulthood. Three risk factors are specific for criminality: male sex, early onset of aggressiveness, and the negative influence.—IANS