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INDIA SHINING
Says Maj. Gen. (retd) HS Hundal, who earned AVSM and bar, a mention in dispatches in 1971 war and Chief of Army Staff Commendation, "As a soldier, patriotism is, first and foremost, preservation of our hard-earned independence and sovereignty." He wishes for an India where education and medical facilities are provided to one and all. "True patriotism lies in contributing positively for society," says HS Cheema, a city-based businessman. "We all are serving the nation in our own little ways. It's only by virtue of the opportunities in our country that I could from a start of a modest Rs 10,000 take my industry to Rs 200 crore within a span of just eight years," he adds. Cheema feels that opportunity and facilities for growth like this abound in India. Proud of the rich legacy that India has in form of classical arts, Dr Shakuntala Lavasa, north zone chairperson of SPIC MACAY (Society for Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Amongst Youth), finds patriotism in doing one's duty. "I believe that a true patriot is the person who does one's duty sincerely," says the doctor who feels it is the responsibility of each and every person to promote, preserve and integrate our classical arts in everyday life. Albeit she is anguished at the fact that many people in India still do not have basic necessities, she is proud of today's youth who in her view will bring about the much-needed change. "One who puts the nation before one's own interest is a true patriot," says Akhtar Mahmood, guest professor at department of biochemistry, Panjab University. "For me, India shining moment lies in the freedom of expression. The very point that we can raise our voice on any issue is something that I, being an Indian, am proud of. Whether something happens after that or not, being able to freely express is great indeed," says the professor. For city golfer and a qualified psychologist, Irina Brar, true patriotism lies in making compatriots achieve their dreams. Talking over the phone from Phoenix, USA, she shares, "Albeit my contribution would never be at par with what our soldiers achieve at the borders, yet, in my humble effort, I am moving back to my home country because I feel it's my duty to assist athletes achieve
their dreams." For actor Mahi Gill, patriotism is in being proud of the country and it's accomplishments. "The telecom revolution has made Indian villages global, we have manufactured the world's smallest car; the rich and famous are investing in Indian Cricket team, our economy is in good health, disposable income of India is rising…indeed, India is shining," claims the actor from Mumbai. Narinder Singh International from the city has found a unique way of expressing patriotism. "My effort is to leave a good impression of our city and country on foreign tourists. For me, this is true patriotism," says the man who volunteers to assist tourists. Well, a very happy Independence Day
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Walk down the memory lane
Pre independence era, post independence India and it's sixty three years divide between the times. What binds them together is perhaps the people that witnessed the action, live and as it happened. Who had seen it all, themselves and not through the history textbooks. Today as the nation celebrates the 64th Independence Day, we catch up with a couple of octogenarians while they catch up with 'colonial nostalgia.'
"I must be around fifteen at the time, I was thirteen when I was married…I can clearly recall there were these gori mem's, that would cross us in their fancy cars and they had such blue eyes and fair skin…We were only innocent kids then, we were intimidated, thinking they would take us away," Kalwant Kaur, 82 year old, randomly recalls the old impressions. "We used to reside in village Sodhiwala in Pakistan during pre-independence India and it wasn't that bad during those days, we felt so safe in our villages, you could wear one kg of gold and walk about unhurt." What remains of the times are the differences and the comparisons, then-now scenario, the observations that run strong and stark. Those were the days of unrest. "Oh we were never scared of these Englishmen, we never liked them, whenever we'd look at them we'd be like how to drive them away, infact they were scared of us Punjabi boys," Dharam Pal Vashisht, who used to run a general store in district Mintgoomri in Pakistan recalls. "We were a bunch of young boys then in our teens and we were very naughty, police either we would be before police or they after us." What overlaps are the accounts of violence, and among it unity and the spirit of the people. Shares Kalwant, "The true statesmen were always for unity. At least the youngsters now should be true to the nation, since the nation now doesn't even demend anything." There's an echo of emotions, regrets nevertheless shine through. Adds Dharam Pal, "It's a free country for this generation, we saw a lot of violence. If you guys were at our place you would've done the same. But yes, there's one thing, in our village, we were all very very secular. No question of racism or communalism." Meanwhile the nostalgia and recapitulations continue…"There were huge crowds and caravans that would come to bring Gandhiji's messages…rather orders that said wear khadi, make it yourself at home…then we won, we drove them away." The rest as they is history. Happy Independence Day! manpriya@tribunemail.com |
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Decoding the dress
If only the Constitution-makers had an idea that a woman in India will have her freedom to work impeded in the 21st century for not wearing a veil, inclusion of another fundamental right was certain - 'Right to wear whatever one wants to as long as it doesn't hurt the sentiments of people'. Or in easier words, the freedom to use as many centimetres of cloth as falls in the very subjective, 'decent' category! What makes the need for the right more urgent is the recent Sirin Middya case. A lecturer at the Aliah University in West Bengal, she was instructed not to teach without the compulsory veil. In this part of the country, albeit the disciplinarians don't wail for the veil, they prefer a dress code in educational institutes, which usually is the ethnic Indian attire - the sari. The sole reason Neena Dhawan, a lecturer at MCM DAV College, lists in support of why the sari should be the formal wear in colleges is that it helps distinguish between girls and teachers. But she has something else to say as well: "Instead of ensuring that sari as a dress code is followed, priority should be given to teaching standards. Teaching well is more important than what a teacher is wearing. The rule is unjustified. The teachers are sensible enough to dress the way they should to cast the right impression on students." Teachers have much more to do than just going to college sporting a sari. "Sari is a very elegant costume, but authorities shouldn't make it binding for teachers to wear only a sari. If at all dress code has to be formal, it should also include salwar suits," she adds. And it should be left to the discretion of teachers as to what they should wear to colleges and schools. "Definition of dressing up shouldn't be limited to donning a sari or suit. Any outfit that would make students look up to a teacher is fine," says Guneeta Chadha, associate professor, GCG-11. She feels 'uniform' of teachers is being given undue importance, whereas the focus should be on how effectively they teach. Between the 'what to wear' and 'what not to wear' debate, the comfort factor is often ignored. The modern advice that one should wear what one feels comfortable in takes a backseat when it comes to dress code. Lucy Sebastian, a teacher at Sacred Heart Convent School, wishes there was enough freedom to wear comfortable clothes to school. "But that doesn't mean dignity of the profession should be compromised with. Those in teaching profession realise that they are role models for students and know how to dress up." She feels any guidelines for teachers on the dress code are uncalled for, and undue restrictions in any form cause discomfort. If fashion pundits are to be believed, sari is the most sensuous Indian outfit. In that case, having a sari as part of the dress code can defeat its very purpose. Says Bharti Tyagi, head of department of Dr. Ambedkar Institute of Management, "Sari, if compulsory for teachers, should be draped in the right manner. Also, make-up and jewellery should complement the look." She, however, is not in favour of suits as they render a causal look. "Trousers as a part of the code can be another option," she suggests. The, code, in any case, will not be done away with! ashima@tribunemail.com
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Real reel!
A sober-looking Indian girl, who travels alone with her friends in minis, short dresses, falls in love with a super-rich brat…mush, mush…enter villain, fight… mush. In another frame, a joint family and the overflowing love and care for each other, eating together, playing together, singing together, enters a vamp in the form of an aunty, things at home go bonkers, in the end everything is back in place with a mushy song playing in the background. How mushy can our Hindi cinema get?
Cut to the present day cinema. Raving reviews of realistic movie Peepli Live, real actors, the lead actor was doing street theatre before this, absolute realistic and rustic dialogues. Little before that, Rajneeti left the audience wondering about the scenario in politics. This is cinema, the real cinema. Magical realism is out, saccharine sweet actors, super luxurious sets, actors singing songs in dream sequences…please give us a break. Call it a change in the cinematic sensibilities of the audience, living and roughing it out the real way, to watch movies, characters that are picked from their lives. It is okay that the hero can kill 20 villains with a single blow, their nose and mouth bleed profusely, it is okay that the actor hands her lady love to his friend, spilling and spitting bombastic dialogues even on the last stage of cancer! Cinema for sure is a stress buster that gives us a three-hour break from our everyday worries, but how about a dash of reality. What say? "Hindi cinema is getting better and better. The new genre of directors have a different way of looking at the subject. They introduce elements from real life, or bring in their own experiences," Rajeev Kakar, group general manager with Western Court finds himself hooked to the new kind of cinema. "I was not too fond of movies. But off late, some movies like Chak De, Rajneeti or for that matter Taare Zameen Pe offer some nice viewing. They aren't far away from reality, at the same time they leave us thinking about the current scenario whether in sports, politics or education." Young directors, experimental actors who don't mind breaking stereotypes, who understand that there is more to cinema than singing and dancing at exotic locales, wearing designer dresses etc. There is more to cinema and 'realism' is the new buzzword. Actor Pradhuman Singh who plays Osama in Tere Bin Laden, would rather do something 'different' than typical masala stuff. "It is time the directors, producers and actors look at cinema in a new light. We've been watching the same commercial stuff years and years now. Even if it is a commercial movie, I believe the audiences want to see a different treatment given to it. Now, we only need producers who can fund such movies." jasmine@tribunemail.com |
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Matka chowk This monsoon seems to be a bonafide one — reaffirming the old adage that raining may lead to pouring! This pouring seems to have unfolded a new breed of Monsoon in Chandigarh - a Metro Monsoon, which is marked by some sort of a free-spirited chaos, fleeting yet strong. I can see some of those telltale signs in our city this year. The classic symbol of a metro Monsoon is water logging in the streets. Chandigarh is witnessing the mere surfacing of this beast that would eventually become a part of heavy rains if not reined in now. I was on my way to the railway station one Saturday morning after a brief, but heavy downpour. Driving through the water-logged roads almost made me nostalgic for I have spent many rainy afternoons wading through knee-deep water, dodging flotilla of garbage, slippers in my hand, to get home from college. Often we would hold hands and walk in chain formation, lest one of us may get sucked into an open manhole, a quick rain-drain mechanism, metros are known for. One of my rather corpulent cousins, whom we teased relentlessly, was saved by his sheer girth, when he fell into an open hole. Some told stories about falling in and meeting alien creatures. Some claimed they fainted and floated to the other end of the city and were pulled out by Mother Teresa look-alikes! One year, the rains didn't stop for a whole week, leading to some sort of a city flood. One of my school friends, whose house was flooded, narrated gleefully to us her experience of watching the mathematics book float away in the rainwater. Sometimes, an overburdened sewage system can do wonders for a child's morale! Rain in the city is also synonymous with stalled cars on the roads. You heaved and pushed, slipped and fell in rainwater. The engine at last, sputtering and coming to life was a melody to our rain-soaked ears. I saw many stalled cars the other day, some driven by people who think they are driving jet-skis. Some walked away from their stalled cars, some sat inside, cell phone in hand, contemplating escape routes. Some rules that all rain veterans know. Don't wear your new Nikes on a rainy day, or prepare to carry those underarm. Keep bottles of Dettol ready for washing your feet when you wade back home. Don't wear your prized watch even if you are carrying an umbrella. And never underestimate the swimming strength of cockroaches! We will learn soon enough. matkachowk@gmail.com
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Foreign Impressions
Stan Nieuwenhuis, 24, a student and musician from Belgium came on a two-day holiday to the city along with partner Tine Cartuyvels, 23, a student and actor. We caught up with them at the Rock Garden. First impressions
The city's architecture is so different, unique and appealing. It's a different world all together. What brings you here?
Tine and me are on a holiday to India and chose Chandigarh as one of the few places to visit. I am glad we did, the city offers a lot. Highs and lows
Chandigarh is beautiful, clean and artistic, which goes in its favour. On the flip side, however, at nights, it gets a little unsafe for foreign tourists as rowdy, young people try to touch or talk. Food fundas
I love Indian food. We tried a lot of dishes here. Out of the lot, 'daal chawal' is our favourite. Though Belgian food is usually not spicy, I am personally fond of strong flavours, which is why I really enjoy Indian food. Contrasts and comparisons
I belong to Leuven, which is a very old city and very different from Chandigarh. The only similarity is the plethora of educational institutions at both the places. Leuven has many and I guess, so does Chandigarh. For a city even more 'beautiful'
Chandigarh offers a lot to tourists. If only there were some more options of budget hotels for student travellers like us, it would be great. mona@tribunemail.com |
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Celebrate the sacred festival of Rakshabandhan this year with Sparkles. A gold and diamond jewellery brand, Sparkles has launched its gold and diamond Rakhi collection exclusively for brothers and sisters. This unique collection is real 18 karat gold and diamond rakhis accompanied with authenticity certificate, which comes along with each and every product. Says Moneka A Poddar, CEO of Sparkles, "We have carefully designed and selected these rakhis keeping in mind price cautious buyer who looks at getting good value for money. I am sure these rakhis would be an instant hit." Priced at Rs1,499 onwards, these beautiful rakhis not only form a sacred knot but also can be treasured forever. — TNS
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Picks & piques
Film: Peepli Live
Natha (Omkar Das Manikpuri) is a poor farmer from Peepli village who is about to lose his plot of land due to an unpaid government loan. His brother Budhia (Raghubir Yadav) hears about a government benefit accruing to families of farmers committing suicide and the idea that either of them could commit suicide to earn quick money in order to get out of the debt trap strikes them. Between them they arrive at a decision that Natha would be the one to take the final step to save his family. They announce the decision to the local news reporter whose news report on the issue causes grave distress to the incumbent CM seeking re-election. The channels sense the discomfort and decide to highlight an otherwise ignorable story. Natha is having second thoughts while he becomes the cynosure of all the prying invasive eyes. You experience hurtful irony when the general public takes a rabid interest in the hitherto ignored social stratum and the individual profiled in mega lit curiousness becomes a national symbol while his plight remains unchanged. The experience is both bittersweet and amusing. The humour is never over blown tempered as it is by rustic realism. The language is also precise; it's flavour appropriate to the small-town region it seeks to highlight. The media frenzy is well brought-out. There is nothing new to the irrational and weird logic fuelling their furore but the absurdness of news mongering gets highlighted effectively enough. Natha is presented with a water-pump monikered 'Lal Bahadur' and also a TV, but there aren't the necessary connections that can make it work for him. His family continues to run on empty. The CM rescinding the offer of money after being reprimanded by the Central Agricultural Minister (Naseeruddin Shah) puts Natha's family in further distress. The narrative has a metaphoric bent but loses it soon enough. What began as a satire on the dispossessed turns absurdist, losing effectiveness along the way. At no point do you get to feel the pain and anguish of loss. The penultimate sequence, which has Natha's wife ruing the non-receipt of compensation due to bureaucratic hurdles, brings emotion back to the forefront but by then it's already too late. The performances are great. Omkar Das Manikpuri, Raghubir Yadav, Malaika Shenoy, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Shalini Vatsa, Farrukh Jaffer, Vishal O Sharma deserve high praise for rooting the characters they essay in realistic earnestness. They are the true highlight of the film. The story and screenplay are not as effective. Rizvi's narrative though engaging, lacks dramatic intensity. Witty candour and honesty alone cannot lift a sagging inconsistently toned narrative. At best this is an engaging social and definitely a good first outing for its director Anusha Rizvi! johnsont307@gmail.com Needs help!
Film: Help The film is crudely put together. Rajeev Virani's ineffectiveness shows up time and again in the continuity, narrative focus, sequencing and performances. The narrative lacks in scares despite the heavy-duty shrieking and screaming. The visual effects are also extremely poor. There is zero intrigue factor here. Everything appears predictable and unsurprising. The luscious Mauritius setting can do little to enhance the limpid experience. Most of the set-piece horror sequences appear borrowed and the rest appear contrived. Bobby Deol and Mugda Godse are a fresh pairing but even that doesn't help! johnsont307@gmail.com |
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Gang up
"This is a prefect time to return to the era when gangster movies were very entertaining. They had humour, romance, music, dance, flamboyance and attitude. Those films were filled with every element of masala," said Luthria. "At the end of the day we (in Bollywood) keep doing the same thing over and over again. Filmmaking is essentially good storytelling embellished with good music and, when entertainingly presented, it is what the audiences like. And we are doing the same," he said. Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai, an Ajay Devgn-Emraan Hashmi-starrer, will be followed by The Business Man, Gangs of Wassipur and a remake of Amitabh Bachchan-starrer Agneepath - all gangster movies. The law-defying citizen will also be in the spotlight in Tigmanshu Dhulia's next Sahib, Biwi Aur Gangster. "A story on crime and underworld can never go away in Bollywood. It is like The Godfather - you can go on remaking and remaking it. Gangster movies are like classics ever told and a constant fodder for the audiences," film critic Omar Qureshi told. Bollywood has had a fair share of gangster movies with Deewar, Don, Dayavan, Angaar, Parinda and Hathyar. However, the definition of such movies changed when Ram Gopal Varma came out with what is called the Gangster Trilogy of Bollywood - Satya, Company and D. "It was a new noir altogether. Ramu (as Varma is fondly called) brought out the internal thinking of a gangster's mind with his films. It was slick, edgy and true to the audience's beliefs in gangsters," comedian-filmmaker Satish Kaushik told. Added Luthria, "These films came under the category of very dark gangster movies." Varma now plans to redefine crime thrillers with his trilingual The Business Man. "Unlike the done to death rustic style of conventional gangster flicks, the shooting style of The Business Man will fall somewhere in between the slickness of Company and the entertainment quotient of Wanted," he posted on his blog. To be helmed by Telugu director Puri Jagannath, it will have Tamil superstar Surya in the lead. Varma's archrival Karan Johar will also produce a remake of Agneepath with Hrithik Roshan in the lead. To be written and directed by debutant Karan Malhotra, it will pay homage to the real inspiration behind Agneepath - Al Pacino-starrer Scarface. Anurag Kashyap, on the other hand, has hired Manoj Bajpai to play a coal mafia gangster in his next Gangs of Wassipur, about the coal mafia of Dhanbad (Jharkhand). Not new to the genre, Manoj is still remembered for playing Bhiku Mhatre in Satya, which was written by Kashyap. "Gangster, dons, mafia and the underbelly of crime are the best vehicles in Bollywood because audiences can relate to the highs and lows and associate their weak and strong points with the criminal on the big screen. It is a pseudo-reality they want to live in and a roller-coaster ride they want to experience," said a trade source. Bollywood did comic takes on gangsters with hits like Munnabhai M.B.B.S and Lage Raho Munna Bhai. "Gangsters as funny guys have bigger audiences and are accepted in a much bigger way. Take, for example, Munnabhai or my cameo as Pappu Pager in Deewana Mastana. It is still remembered and imitated. A gangster movie in a lighter vein always goes to a bigger hit level. You then adore them for being gangsters," said Kaushik. A third instalment in the Munnabhai franchise is reportedly also in the offing. — IANS
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Hollywood actress Jennifer Aniston, who is single, wants people to be strong and fight their fear of being alone. "I think it's about finding the right person which means something and not settling. There are a lot of single people who are as happy as a lark. There are a lot of married people not as thrilled as they would like to be," she says. The 41-year-old actress plays a woman who gets pregnant using a sperm donor in her upcoming movie The Switch and she chose the role because she said she could 'relate' to it. "I relate to all those women who I know have gone through this choice, this decision in life. Especially in this case, the women in my life who have gone through the struggles and heartbreak and frustration of fertility and adoption and all of that. I think that's why it jumped out at me so immediately, the connection I had to it," she added. The actress married actor Brad Pitt in 2000. However, the couple separated in 2005 and Pitt went on to join a relationship with Angelina Jolie. — IANS
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Hillary Duff singer-and-actress, who announced her engagement to Comrie after a trip to Hawaii in February is said to be planning to tie the knot in the next two days at the San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbara, California. According to a source, the couple chose the ranch, where the late US President John F Kennedy and his wife Jackie spent their honeymoon, for "its sense of old Hollywood glamour and romantic style". "No detail is going to be spared for their big day," the source added. Comrie had proposed the 22-year-old beauty with a USD 1 million engagement ring and fuelled speculation of a wedding after sported enjoying his bachelor party at an LA club Trousdale. — PTI
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Hollywood superstar Julia Roberts is too busy raising her three children, which leaves her with no time to worry about her looks. The Pretty Woman star says that readying her children - twins Hazel and Phinneaus, 5, and three-year-old Henry - keeps her occupied. "When you've got four people to get dressed to get out the door you don't really tend to spend a lot of time on yourself," said Roberts. However, she isn't concerned about not looking glamorous. For the 42-year-old actress, staying natural is a preference. "But that's the way I roll anyway. I was never one to do my hair and make-up just to go down to the market, so it's really not that much different. If I get a little eye cream on I feel like I'm ahead of myself," she said. — PTI
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Warner Brothers, is believed to be developing a film starring the inimitable rabbit, Bugs Bunny, which will be a mixture of live action and CGI, designed to revive the character for a contemporary audience.It will be written by David Berenbaum, who scripted the 2003 comedy, Elf, starring Will Ferrell. While Bugs Bunny has made a couple of cinematic appearances since his post-war heyday - he was last seen in Looney Tunes: Back In Action, a 2003 film featuring a host of classic animated characters - he has not been the central star in a film for many decades. Some might question the success of his 3D re-incarnation, and whether young audiences still have an appetite for the 70-year-old bunny rabbit. Bugs was among the most memorable characters to emerge in the golden age of American animation in the late 1930s and early 1940s, which continued until the 1980s when the Saturday morning cartoon slot began to lose its audience appeal. His first 'official' appearance was in the 1940 film A Wild Hare, when he emerged from his hole to ask his gun-toting arch enemy, Elmer Fudd, 'What's up, Doc?' The line later became his catchphrase. Chuck Jones, who directed the Looney Tunes cartoons for Warner Brothers, is believed to have said that Bugs Bunny's carrot-chomping, relaxed standing position was inspired by a scene from the film It Happened One Night, in which the actor Clark Gable leans against a fence eating carrots at a rapid rate and talking to his female co-star with his mouth full. This scene was well known at the time of Bugs Bunny's conception, and viewers may have recognised the cartoon character's behaviour as a spoof of the Gone With The Wind star. The character's original voice was a blend of New York's Bronx and Brooklyn accents. Audiences instantly fell for his insouciant character, calm even in the face of Elmer's aggression, and he became the most prominent of the Looney Tunes characters. By 1942, Bugs had become the No 1 star of the Merrie Melodies cartoon series, and Warner featured him in opposition to the period's biggest enemies including Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini, during the war. He starred in 163 shorts during the golden age, and even made some appearances in non-animated films. In 1997, Bugs appeared on an American postage stamp, the first cartoon to be honoured in this way. There is also a Bugs Bunny star on Hollywood's walk of fame. Some in the industry have expressed concern that the re-branding of Bugs, like the more recent versions of The Smurfs and Alvin and the Chipmunks, might have become too family-friendly, and so risk losing touch with what made Bugs Bunny so iconic to begin with - his sassy, and often subversive short films. — Agency
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Success story
With more than 920 million dollars worldwide revenue, the third installment of the series also became Disney's fourth highest-grossing film of all time. Two months after it was premiered in the US, Toy Story 3, directed by Lee Unkrich, has become the new highest-grossing animated movie of all time, surpassing Shrek 2 which pulled in USD 919 million globally in 2004. "The success of Toy Story is due to the tremendously creative and innovative team at Pixar, led by John Lasseter and Ed Catmull, and our incredible marketing and distribution teams around the world," Rich Ross, Chairman of The Walt Disney Studios, said in a statement. The first Toy Story film was made in 1995, introducing the beloved characters of Woody, Buzz Lightyear and Rex. A sequel was made in 1999. Toy Story 3, was rumoured to be the last from the franchise. Disney's current top three grossers are Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest' at USD 1.07 billion, Alice in Wonderland at USD 1.02 billion, and Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End at USD 961 million. — PTI
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Energy efficient and green solutions have been talked about for a long time but have largely been just a talking point or a fashion statement. Home users today are demanding more and more energy efficient solutions and the lighting companies are providing newer, more energy efficient technologies such as CFLs, LEDs and the highly evolved and sleek florescent tube lights - the T5s. CFLs and T5s work on similar technology and provide great energy savings compared to the traditional incandescent bulbs. CFLs last up to eight times longer and provide huge amount of energy savings compared to the traditional bulbs. In fact, CFL bulbs are fast replacing the traditional bulbs in most households across the country. LED, on the other hand, is a relatively new technology. It is the most energy efficient and sustainable lighting solution available and has been readily adopted by many corporate in India owing to the great energy savings and versatility that the technology offers. LED lamps last up to 100 times longer compared to the traditional bulbs. They are the most energy efficient source of lighting and they reduce maintenance costs. In contrast to CFLs and T5s that are only available in white color, LED lamps come in various colors and offer greater lighting creativity. Decorative lighting for the home enables users to also express themselves by creating striking light effects to personalize their own ambience with the color of their choice, with just the press of a button. Different color combinations help to create a new atmosphere and bathe homes in truly personal colors with the latest, most exciting trends at will. These versatile lamps are based on the advanced LED technology that ensures much lower energy consumption and increased life span compared to the traditional incandescent lamps. The constant evolution of technology has also meant that lighting solutions available today are increasingly becoming gadgets that fulfill their traditional task in a new-age, modern way. For instance, consumers today have the option of installing sensor lights that work on motion sensor technology. These lights get switched on when a person walks in a room and get switched off automatically in the absence of anyone in the room. This helps in saving energy as electricity is consumed only when required. — TNS
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Tarot Talk
TAURUS: Queen of Cups is in a combustible mood, so expect social plans to flare up. You may be attracted to a good cause rather than a dream lover. A sudden change of attitude may get you out of a rut and put you in a powerful position. Tip: Don't do anything at the cost of health. Lucky colour: White. GEMINI: The
Emperor gets you in touch with you leadership qualities. You are best to
stick to yourself on Saturday. You will find yourself more than capable of
bringing your dreams into reality. Running and playing with your beloved
or one who is extremely attractive will make you a star on Wednesday. Tip:
Make compromises outside and come to terms within yourself. Lucky
colour: CANCER: The Priestess infuses pure and exalted influences in your life. Be careful don't lose your temper even if you are provoked. Your love life sail smoothly. Spend time with your partner will help you relax. Tip of the week: Take one step at a time and avoid being hurried and over anxious. Lucky colour: Black. LEO: The Ace of Pentacles leads to actualization of personal and professional plans. At home you consider making the improvements necessary before any weather changes create havoc. Some delay in financial settlements is possible to conserve resources for now. Tip: Do not swing away from the course you have charted so far. Lucky colour: Magenta. VIRGO: The Moon takes you through a difficult karmic situation. Watch your temper and do not let it overwhelm you. If the stress is too much, close your door and be alone. Tip: Do not expect too much from others. Lucky colour: White. LIBRA: You make an impact and shine like your card, The Star. A certain situation may be coming to a head. Be careful not to over-commit yourself. New opportunities are in the offing; keep your options open. Tip: Lack of confidence or lack of caution can leave you in losses; so be confident. Lucky colour: Silver grey. SCORPIO: Your card, The Hierophant takes you through a variety of experience to learn from. Loved ones now need to improve the present and forget the past; be supportive. Tip: Don't make hasty decisions as it could lead to a waste of time and money. Lucky colour: Golden. SAGITTARIUS: You
draw, Nine of Cups, which puts you through a touching and transforming
personal experience. Don't make any sudden moves until you have all the
information you need. Allow your heart to lead the way in personal
relationships. Tip: Don't waste an opportunity by being rash or
impulsive. Lucky CAPRICORN: You are active, dynamic, swift and strong like The Knight of Wands. Housewives need to give a creative touch to drawing room. If connected with international trade you may face some trouble on Wednesday. Tip: Learn from past experience and desist from making a similar mistake again. Lucky colour: Green.
PISCES: The karmic Wheel of Fortune turns in your favor. Visitors and news from overseas is heartening. Stay grounded and practical to escape the clutches of people who make empty promises. Tip: Dare to accomplish those tasks, which normally take up a lot of time. Lucky colour: Brown.
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At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance…wrote our first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru 63 years back. Today, as the nation wakes up to our 64th Independence Day, we talk to people from different walks of life on what patriotism means to them.
A docu-drama with dashes of satire, Anusha Rizvi's debut directorial attempt is distinct mainly because it is not run-of-the-mill Bollywood. Set in a village named Peepli somewhere in Mukhya Pradesh, the film aims to take a humorous look at the irony involved in small-town existence — in a country ruled by corrupt politicians and beholden to their illogical schemes and contrary policies. Rizvi's script written at the height of farmer suicide crisis, has the same issue as a take-off point for a reasonably telling indictment of the ruling class. Her intelligently laid out narrative showcases an India in all her contrary infamy.
An attempted supernatural horror thriller, Help is the story of a malevolent spirit Dia that inhabits the body of her pregnant twin Pia (Mugda Godse) who is already experiencing problems in her marriage to a successful director of horror films, Vic (Bobby Deol). How Vic and Pia overcome the darkness that has besieged their lives and save their love and marriage with the help of parapsychologist Aditya Motwani forms the crux of the story.
Bollywood is set to quench the thirst of movie aficionados with a slew of gangster movies - and it's about time too, if the success of Milan Luthria's underworld saga Once Upon a Time In Mumbaai is any indication.
ARIES: The
Chariot brings you face to face with truths & priorities. Emotional
matters may not be easy for you to handle. New friendships will develop
through group events. Stick to your diet and work to improve your health. Tip
of the week: Don't reveal your plan of action to anyone. Lucky
AQUARIUS:
Knight of Wands brings gracious and aesthetic influences in your life. A
relative or long-term companion may now wish to re-establish an unhealthy
emotional pattern from the past. Go slow and reaffirm your boundaries. Tip:
Be articulate to prevent people from making their own conclusions. Lucky
colour: Pink.