At a time when most girls are scared to even call out "auto" at odd hours, she's the "auto-driving" girl, steering around on the streets. Alka Thapa, from Nepal, has been ferrying people on an auto for two years now and shrugs over the admirers, the ones shocked, incredulous eyes, turned heads, curious sorts, gossip-mongers…. with effortless ease.

"If I was scared, I wouldn't be into this profession. Now I'm quite used to all this," she nods. She adds, "I have been doing this for two years now, moving around Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula, and the response has been really good." Perhaps, she means of the people around her. What of the myriad random bunches on the roads? Of the customers? "Initially some aren't very confident of a girl driver. They ask again if I'd be able to drive, but after a while they are comfortable."

She's out there ever since, roughing it out on the roads, all weather situations. "Now, I'm quite used to it all and don't find the profession much difficult." Rather there are a bunch of regular admirers. "The response has been really good. Some of them even take my autograph. And I have regular customers around girl's colleges, hostels and the varsity."

When was the last time you came across a woman auto driver? Time for the flashback in the tale, when and how it all began. "There was an advertisement in the newspaper, for a job vacancy where nothing was mentioned. The only thing that was mentioned was it's a challenging job." She adds, "I was like let's see how challenging. And then I discovered they were looking for women auto-drivers for the newly launched tuk-tuks. That's where I started from." The rest, as they say, is history. And family resistance forms just as much a part of the past. She laughs, "My mom refused outrightly. She was totally against it but my elder brother who's in the army and is a little bold, asked me to do whatever I wanted." She adds, "He was like when she'll get bored, she'll automatically quit it."

Needless to say, a lot has changed since then - both the scenario and the statistics. "There were only two women drivers that applied at that time. Now, I'm going to be teaching 10 more on the tricks and demands of this job." As for the mother factor, she laughs, "Even now she is like you leave it and stuff but on the first of every month when I shower her with gifts, she's happy."

What of the troublemakers, hooligans, hooters; so synonymous with streets and roads. "I'm very strong and also look muscular, know boxing, have always been into sports. So far nobody has messed up with, no one's even tried." So far, so great! manpriya@tribunemail.com

Film: Aisha

Director: Rajshree Ojha

Cast: Sonam Kapoor, Abhay Deol, Amrita Puri, Ira Dubey, Arunouday Singh, Lisa Hayden, Cyrus Sahukar

The Abhay Deol, Sonam Kapoor starrer Aisha produced by Rhea Kapoor (Anil Kapoor's daughter) opens this all over. Loosely inspired by Jane Austin's Emma, Aisha is a story of a self-confessed spinster who plays match-maker and a guy who falls in love with her.

This one is produced by Anil Kapoor productions for debutant director Rajshree Ojha. Sonam plays a meddle class girl who is always trying to bring couples together. Rajshree Ojha's directorial debut Aisha promises to be a visual treat. Watch it from today at your nearest theaters. — Dharam Pal

Bollywood's glamour girls are turning into action stars, and Sameera Reddy is set to prove it as she is busy taking bike lessons for her next movie."Bike lessons going full swing but early mornings are so difficult!! Going from scooty to full on motorbike tomorrow! God help me," Sameera posted on micro-blogging site Twitter. She was spotted practicing on Mumbai roads by a fan who complimented her for looking "hot" while riding a scooty. After riding a Pulsar bike Wednesday morning, an exhilarated Sameera posted: "It's fantastic! What an amazing sense of freedom on the road! Graduated to bike with gears today! It's invigorating."Though the actor didn't mention the name of the movie for which she is practicing, it could be the action-oriented sequel to Race.

His persona and talent never fails to amaze new age actors, but guess who gives a complex to megastar Amitabh Bachchan? It's actor Priyanka Chopra."Kitna gym kariyega! Complex de rahi hain aap hum sabko! Kal hi badha deta hun apni timings ko (How much gymming will you do? You are giving a complex to all of us. 

I will increase my gym timings from tomorrow itself)," Amitabh, 67, posted on 28-year-old Priyanka's Twitter page.The actor has been vigorously going for her gym routine to be fit and fine. She will be seen in an adventurous avatar as the host of Fear Factor-Khatron Ke Khiladi on Colors TV channel. — IANS

Bollywood heartthrob Hrithik Roshan has finally decided to quit smoking and asked his fans to join in.The 36-year-old star, who was on two month break from Twitter while filming for Zoya Akhtar's Zindagi Milegi Na Dubara along with Farhan Akhtar and Abhay Deol in Spain, returned to the social networking site today to make the announcement."Hello tweeple!! Giving up smoking today! Any of u disgusting smokers wanna join me?? Love to the rest of u non smokers!! (sic)," Hrithik wrote on his Twitter account.The actor reportedly got hooked on to cigarettes while filming for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Guzaarish, in which his character is shown to be a wheel chair bound smoker. 

There were reports of actor kicking the butt in June but the actor had denied it."Read news that I'm trying 2 use nicotine patches 2 quit smoking. Not true. I smoke 2-5 cigarettes a day now- not d best thing but if well balanced wth exercise n diet, not too bad either. will let u know when I decide to quit cold turkey! which should be verry soon!! (sic)"Hrithik, whose last film Kites was a box office disappointment, will be seen alongside Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in Guzaarish this November. The actor is in Spain shooting for Zindagi Milegi Na Dobara opposite Katrina Kaif. Hrithik's next film is Shekhar Kapoor's Paani, which is presently under pre-production. — PTI

Hollywood A-lister Demi Moore got a rather furry companion at a recent photoshoot- a mouse. As the Ghost star modelled on a Malibu beach, the white rodent was brought out - and promptly ran across her chest and into her hair.Demi, 47, just laughed as others, including stylist Rachel Zoe, ran for cover.

The shoot is featured on reality series the Rachel Zoe Project."Demi is a fearless woman. she's not scared of anything!" the Sun quoted Zoe as saying. — ANI

At three years of age, she knew she wanted to be a musician. Literally, humming even before she started talking, Poorvi Kautish has come a long way. Performing at live shows, singing for various bands and writing-composing songs, Poorvi’s aiming high, turning a playback singer and a musician. “I want to establish myself in music, without any genre tags,” says the 16-year-old singer from city.

Enthralling the audience at the Monsoon Musical Magic, an event organised by Hamshira Events at the Press Club-27, Poorvi was at her best, singing hits of ABBA, Marc Anthony and western classics. “I trained in classical strains and I was singing Hindi songs. But then my mother introduced me to western music and I learnt that it was fun and addictive. I have gradually moulded it into me,” she says.

A commerce student, Poorvi finds it easy balancing music and studies, “My father is an inspiration here. He is a musician as well as a government official and has managed it so fine all these years.” Though she finds it tough to take out time for friends. “It actually depends on my mood. I don’t party much,” she adds. As for her career, she is already a professional. “I am currently singing with The Vibrations group and with a large majority hooked to Western classics in the city, the possibilities are promising.” As for her future as a musician, her choices are open. Bollywood or her own band? “Whatever comes first. My dream is to fulfil the dreams of my parents and I know that my destiny lies in music,” says Poorvi.

nehawalia@tribunemail.com 

It sometimes looks likes a problem of plenty. Countless models, everyone with unique USP’s and better pricing. The automobile industry has created a halo over the consumers, leaving them with more options than what they can choose from.

If this wasn’t enough, the smart practise of reworking on the existing models packing them with a better engine, better brakes and what not. Who is blaming? No one actually, for it boils down to a simple equation of demand and supply. Maruti Suzuki on the same lines launched another version of Brand Alto in the city on Thursday. Equipped with a K series, 998 CC engine, the version called Alto K10 comes with improved suspension, new cable type transmission, superior brake system and more knee-room for rear seat passengers.

Another improved version? Says Rakesh Srivastava, chief general manager, commercial business head, North, “We have to cater to the demand of the consumers. In fact the improved versions go on to create their own segment in the market. We expect that Alto K 10 will bring in additional customers.”

While the existing Alto will continue to hit the roads and serve customers across India, the new Alto K10 is specifically targeted at customers looking for premium features and performance in economical package. Adds Srivastava, “There are growing number of first-time buyers who want more power, performance and attitude in their car, without having to buy a higher segment.” The Alto K 10 boasts of high fuel efficiency, 20.2 km per litre, new cable type transmission for easy shifting and enhanced driving pleasure. It is also longer by 125mm to accommodate K series engine. An aggressive front, a dynamic hood, broad headlamps with crystal clear lens are some of the improved features. Now, who minds a little touch up here and there!

Home shopping never really took off in India or did it? “Home shopping channels that you see and what they sell so far was the destruction of trust. What with products that have super natural powers, make you gain weight or loose it in miraculous ways. We wouldn’t do any of that,” having said that, Paritosh Joshi, CEO, moves onto explaining the USPs of the channel itself.

So, the big news is Star CJ Network India launches Star CJ Alive, a twenty-four hour home shopping channel. “We’ll be dealing in products that have very high brand recognition. It’s not going to be any inferior unreliable product. Even the brands will be those that are already established.”

For the curious bunch already thinking on the logistics, thrown in is the delivery-within five-days attraction. The channel is the result of a partnership between Star and South Korea’s CJ O, a home shopping business. Then there are the usual promises, promotions and perks. Of cash on delivery, telegraphic transfers, quick service, feedback, after sales satisfaction. Not to forget, a range of assorted products and items. He adds, “The information that you hear about a product from us will be completely true. We provide the information and you always have the option of buying it from departmental store…”

He adds, “We’ve already reached the 25,000 to 30,000 mark. And currently we are getting 12,000 calls a day.”

As for the kind of clientele in Punjab, “This is a region that has a taste for all the good things in life, be it cars or the consumer products. This market has tremendous potential.”

But could home shopping ever be a mainstream culture in India? “I believe yes. Because we are in a country where appetite is running head of access. It might not be easy to set up real estate everywhere. We aspire to reach below the one lakh town by 2012.” If it goes, just the way it’s meant to be, there could be a housewife shopping for a wrinkle lift cream at two in the morning or a student purchasing stationary at any hour or an executive browsing fragrances at yet another odd hour.

— Manpriya Khurana

Audiences, I firmly believe, are the most significant others in the performing arts of theatre. In contrast a classical vocalist or a dancer can perform most consummately to utmost perfection sans audiences (remember classical arts is about communion with Almighty), the magic of theatre happens only when audiences are present. Better still, if in full measure. 

It’s almost as if actors on the stage draw energy from a packed hall and find it dissipating when an empty or near empty one greets them. Often consummate actors dovetail their performance as per the audience response. Gifted actor and costume designer Dolly Ahluwalia Tewari confesses that indeed in NSD they were taught to be receptive to audiences and incorporate the same in their plays.

Mohali-based theatre person Dr Sahib Singh calls audiences the fourth pillar of theatre, the other three being director, playwright and actors. He admits that often theatre has gone begging for audiences. Flashback to year 2001 and he recalls how empty halls were a norm. So he decided: Before we create a play let us create viewers first. And believe it not, he and other members of his theatre group personally contacted over a thousand people who they believed had an inclination for theatre.

Of course, a large part of the credit for cultivating audiences for theatre in City Beautiful also goes to national-level theatre festivals that have over the years inculcated a keen interest among audiences. Perhaps, not all of those who visit star-studded festivals are theatre lovers. Yes many of them clap for all the wrong reasons. But as Dolly who was witness to the audiences’ quirks during the festival that concluded on July 20 at Tagore Theatre cannot get over the fact that the same audience which seemed like a novice in the beginning matured with later plays, especially during the staging of Broken Images which had talented actor Shabana Azmi delivering a fine performance. Noted theatre director Harish Bhatia believes, “There are two kinds of theatre and two kinds of audiences. One that can be engaged in an epic play, drawn from mythological tales which are at once profound and timeless, and can reach out to most. On the other hand there are plays that are a reflection of psychological inflections like say the works of writers like Ibsen or Chekov. Now these plays require intimate interface with audiences, possible only in smaller halls.”

Others feel there are as many kinds of audiences as there are plays. But just as Natyashastra lays down rules for other aspects of drama…. is there a diktat for audiences also? Bhatia can recall one attribute, “They must be shridya that is good hearted”. But Sahib Singh feels that in today’s context when plays are no more woven around good vs evil theme, audiences must be open-hearted and ready to accept change and experimentation. Yet another demand (call it request) he makes from the audience is, “Please watch the entire play and reserve your judgment till the curtain falls.” Yet, there is an obstinate section, even if a diminishing tribe whose mobile rings out loud, who would rather gorge on popcorns and potato chips and who flit in and out, deliriously oblivious to the fact that there is a world of difference between watching a play and a movie.

So can audiences be trained, made more discerning and appreciative of theatre’s subtleties? More importantly, should they be? Bhatia says, “Why not? Theatre appreciation workshops aren’t a bad idea at all.” Singh wonders aloud whether that would be feasible. Instead, he advocates greater interaction between theatre director and viewers that can satiate both the curiosities and answer nibbling queries in their minds. This process, already in practice in many parts of the country, where director is available for the viewers after the show, can certainly go a long way in making them understand theatre, which has its finer nuances and complexities better.

But learning isn’t a one-way street. Often theatre persons learn important lessons too. Sahib Singh can count many examples. Why at times he has added a new dimension to his characters from the feedback he received from his viewers. The power of audiences….? Indeed, it’s not the same as one that works in reality shows which can edge out and bring in participants in the show. To be fair, theatre audiences or even lack of it cannot mar a good performance. But make it… they sure do. It’s their effusive presence that makes the all-important difference. Any wonder, theatre directors are aware of their presence all through the creation of a drama and factor in their possible reactions.

nonikasingh@tribunemail.com

An early piano believed to have been played by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart has surfaced in Germany and could be worth millions of euros, a radio station reported.Public broadcaster SWR said the instrument was built in 1775 and acquired in the 1980s by piano manufacturer Martin Becker in the southern German city of Baden-Baden from an antiques dealer in Strasbourg, eastern France.

When Becker decided to auction off the fortepiano, a music historian noticed the offer and "had a hunch that it could be the same long-lost instrument that Mozart played whenever he was in Strasbourg," SWR said.

A historic oil painting in Vienna shows the composer Joseph Haydn, a Mozart contemporary, playing what may be the same instrument.

SWR said auction house Christie's confirmed the instrument's provenance but the company could not immediately comment on the report when contacted by AFP.

Experts said the piano could be worth millions if its illustrious pedigree is established. — AFP

India-born prominent British artist Anish Kapoor has criticised proposed cuts by the David Cameron government to arts funding, calling them "short-sighted".Kapoor, known for his sculpture work, said he was dismayed and particularly worried that museums and galleries would have to close due to the cuts as part of the wider public sector cuts to reduce the national deficit.

Kapoor is scheduled to hold an exhibition of his work in New Delhi and Mumbai next year according to an agreement signed during Cameron's recent visit to India. Arts Council England said it would have to implement 23 million pounds in cuts after its original 2010/11 budget went down from 468 million pounds to 445 million pounds.

"I have been very fortunate, and I fear that many others will not be so lucky if the government abandons the financial support that is so essential if the arts are to thrive," Kapoor said.

"I am particularly worried about the effect the proposed cuts are likely to have on museums and galleries, especially those outside London, some of which are likely to have to close.

"It seems short-sighted to me for the government to do such damage to the British cultural sector, which has made such a valuable contribution to the perception of Britain abroad." Kapoor's works will be shown at the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi and in Mumbai next year.

The exhibition is the first product of a "memorandum of understanding on cultural co-operation" between the UK and Indian governments, announced by culture secretary Jeremy Hunt last week. —— PTI