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A singer prepares
"This is different from the rest of the albums I have done," he opens with a cliché. We wish he had offered to say something 'different' instead. "I know it's a cliché, but if you spare me a minute I can justify my stance." Go on…. "All my previous albums have a desi touch, they have been shot in a desi style. Desi Rockstar has been given a 'rockstar' kind of treatment. It has rap, hip hop, Aman Hayer has given the music, and the album is shot in Vancouver. It is different," Gippy is almost jumping with excitement. And well, the singer has all the reasons to celebrate. His debut movie Mel Kara Dey Rabba has done fairly well on the box office. "I had no idea my role would be appreciated so much. I was shuttling between my live shows and acting. I was clueless on how this debut acting thing would fare," says Gippy who has now signed up with Tips for another movie Jiney Mera Dil Lutiya . "Somehow, I have taken a liking to acting. Now, if you ask me whether I have trained in acting, I should tell you I have done theatre." Glad to have taken the lead, he adds, "Why should I shy away from saying I enjoy acting now. I like it, and I would make it a point to carry forward this newfound passion. Had I not taken up singing I would be acting." Professional matters to personal issues. What is it with Punjabi singers and their dedication and fascination for live performances at weddings? "Honestly, this is the only place where an average singer makes money. We don't look at it as a "performance", I personally feel it is a good way of connecting with audiences," shares Gippy. We offer another alternate way of connecting with the audiences, through downloads-posting music online. "This, in fact, is the best way. However, this trend is not popular in Punjab. I have tried to make my music online for people to pick up and enjoy. Punjabi singers should acknowledge the benefits of putting music online." There goes the real desi rockstar. jasmine@tribunemail.com
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Restoring trunk couture
To each his own… art doesn't come with a definition or description, just a dedication towards one's own creativity. This was precisely the idea behind designer Neeru Ahuja's efforts towards restoring traditional Indian embroideries. "Please don't call me a designer, I am an artist," she insists. "I am into reviving Indian embroideries, especially of the Mughal period and created by the tribal artisans. My designs are traditional in their making but contemporary in their concepts," she says. "Indian embroideries are evergreen, and suit every fashion type. For a while now, they had been underestimated but have managed to bring back the charm."
The Delhi-based designer is in the city to participate in the upcoming Vanity Fair at Whispering Willows. Her first stint in Chandigarh, Neeru has brought a collection true to the urban couture which does not forsake tradition. Anarkali suits, kurtis, shawls, skirts, reversible jackets…it emphasises on what a modern Indian woman would want. "I do a lot of infusion, whether in embroideries or fabrics. A lot of mix of tussars, crepe, silk and blends of modern cuts that make even an ethnic dress look glamorous." The highlight of the collection is the do rukha embroidery, "Its identical embroidery on two sides of the fabric, but done using different materials. I don't know if any other designer has tried it before," she claims. She also does a lot of hand painted pieces, inspired by Madhubani paintings. " As a wife of an Army officer, I have travelled the length and breadth of the country. It gave me an opportunity to explore and study the changing art and culture of India. I have worked with artisans from various regions, transforming the rich traditional embroideries into couture lines," says the designer who has been into the business of recycling old embroideries for the past 20 years. She works with her own weavers and has her hand-printing unit in Delhi. Is there any embroidery that can never go wrong? She replies, "Mughal designs. They are rich in colour, details and finish. The zardozi, nakashi and pitta work can never go wrong. Even when done in minimalist form, it speaks for itself." Though she believes that there is a very limited market for most of the traditional embroideries. As for the region, she has high hopes, "Punjabis love their phulkaris, dabkas and zari. We have a culture of preserving our grandmother's duppata or mother's sari. With time the transformation has happened but the elegance and class is still there." Neeru claims her designs will not remind you of the store next door, "I make sure I never create two of a kind." Any expectations form the city's buyers? "Nothing yet. I believe if you are different, you are bound to sell." nehawalia@tribunemail.com |
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Wrap in style
We have often heard this-value not so much the gift of the lover as the love of the giver, but have we wondered that the best gifts kept for a lifetime are those created with love and care. The crochet cap or the hand knitted scarf that you grandmother gifted you, the paintings that your best friend in school made for you as a farewell gift. In today's fast paced and readymade world no one has the time to create gifts but what we can do is invest emotions to make those gifts memorable.
A unit of the Swaran Projectech P Ltd., Wrap Fancier has come up with some innovative gift packing ideas, which are easily customizable to cater to varied consumer tastes. Ruchika Marwha, director, Wrap Fancier says, "Almost all of us at some stage have faced the problem of wrapping gifts in the first paper or bag we could find - often even resulting in comments from the recipient. Wrap Fancier after extensive consumer research understands the diverse tastes of people be it uber chic or ever traditional couples or the corporate honchos we have concepts that just suit your requirements right." One of the first companies to offer such services, Wrap Fancier believes in setting international standards of expression where the product talks about the elegance and class they are meant for. "The whole concept of a gift should be to make the recipient smile as soon as he holds the gift. At the same time creating curiosity and leaving a long lasting impression to be talked about, and this is exactly our aim to present in ever so special way," adds Ruchika. Wrap Fancier will preview its product line at the Vanity Fair on October 16 and 17 at Whispering Willows in Zirakpur in Chandigarh. Taking care of the environment has always been a priority with Wrap Fancier, and so only recycled paper is used. This is also the first company to bring the concept of corrugated coloured boxes. As per Ruchika, "Quite often, large companies or restaurants do not have the time or resources for this kind of work, so Wrap Fancier does the work for them." Wrap Fancier also aims at trousseau packing, birthday, anniversary etc. — TNS |
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It's that time of the year when you get all done up to look your newest most sparkling best. Liberty Festive Footwear brings festive wear for the girls is chic, very chic comprising classic hand crafted slip on styles as well as flats and mid-heels that go well with both Indian as well as Western outfits. The embellishments used include ceramic stone and crystal work that add sparkle and glitter. The men’s festive collection includes handcrafted sandals featuring slim-square heel base with brass-cutwork with black beadwork in combination with grey metal stone and crystal work. The colours range from classic black to antique gold color. For kids the festive collection is an eye-catching array of spritely designs, cute looks and catchy colours that add a lot of bounce, flair and fun to the little steps. —TNS
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Art-I- FACT Even in the musical world, human voice is deemed supreme and the ultimate instrument. Not surprising than making an instrument sing is considered the most arduous task as well as the greatest compliment one can give to a musician.
Yet in technical terms making an instrument sing is only a recent innovation and is classified as gayaki ang. The other ang is tantarkari derived simply from the word instrument that is tantra and traditionally whatever was played on instrument was called tanatarkari. Of course, the popular misconception reads the two as distinct styles, perhaps as one more superior than the other, often confusing one with speed and the other with slower tempo. Subhash Ghosh, the inventor of sarasvani and disciple of sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, agrees that indeed there is a basic difference. He says, "While gayaki ang is more sombre and spiritual tantarkari is about playing with chands, in layman's lingo with mathematical patterns." In other words, the bols of tabla and pakhawaj when replicated on instruments become tantarkari. But to assume that tantarkari is more mechanical and technical and gayaki more creative and innovative would be an overstatement. So would be the assumption that gayaki ang is more difficult. Principal, Government College, Barwala and city's well-known sitarist Harvinder Sharma, disciple of none other than legendary Ustad Vilayat Khan, says, "Gayaki ang has been introduced by maestros to enhance the beauty of instrument playing. In sitar the credit of bringing khayal gayaki ang goes to Ustad Vilayat Khan. Of course, his father Ustad Inayat Khan and grandfather Ustad Imdad Khan had started bringing some innovations previously. But Ustad Vilayat Khan changed the tonal quality of the sitar to bring it closer to gayaki." Actually the great Ustad's innovations and improvisations on sitar made it conducive to accommodate the continuity of sound. It is held by some that it was his scintillating performance at 1943 Vikram Samaroh music conference at Mumbai that sitar gained wider acceptance in Indian classical music. In fact, Ustaad's sitar never failed to 'sing'. Often he would break into a song or two and then play the same bandish on sitar. His son Shujaat Khan has gone a step further and brought albums like Lajo, Lajo in which he sings and plays the same. So how important is it for an instrumentalist to be a good singer? Avers Sharma, "Of course, being a singer is big advantage. Singing is the base of all music. But if a musician cannot be a good singer then at least he should understand the finer nuances of singing. For only if you remember the bandish…..can you make your instrument echo it." Of all the instruments… is sitar best suited for gayaki ang? Nods Sharma, "Yes it can be said so. Though sarangi considered closest to human voice is ideal and so is violin." Instruments like flute and shehnai too automatically lend itself to gayaki. Gifted flautist Ravinder Singh agrees that in flute the emotive and expressional facet of gayaki ang unfolds best. Interestingly, while playing stringed instruments like sitar, sarod and sarasvaani, etc, in tantarkari ang the right hand is used more, in gayaki, the left hand plays a more significant role. However, in flute playing, the gayaki manifests through blowing techniques and fingers create the magic of tantarkari. Singh recalls how famed flautist Panna Lal Ghosh's flute recital brimming with gayaki ang would bring tears into the eyes of the people. Today, of course, be it flautist Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, sarod player Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, sitarist Ustad Shahid Parvez, Mohanveena exponent Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, gayaki ang predominates in the renditions of most maestros. But to draw a clear-cut demarcation line between the two angs asserts Harvinder is wrong. "There is no way you can take tantarkari out of instrument playing. Most instrumentalists are blending the two aesthetically. Besides let us not forget that it was to add melody and a new fragrance to the art of instrument playing that gayaki ang came into being." And listeners need not get into the nitty gritty details and delineate what is what. All they have to do is submit themselves to the power of music and simply enjoy.
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Smart choice
From theatre to playing offbeat Paro (in Dev D) to the most sought-after celeb of the city, Mahie has come a long way. Soon she will launching Punjab International Fashion Week in Ludhiana and her movie Paan Singh Tomar will be released in Dubai. Besides, she is all set to act in a Punjabi flick. The actor has chosen offbeat roles for she believes that today it's the script that supersedes glamour. As part of the product release, Mahie is confident, and gracious, effortlessly posing and smiling for the lensmen. The latest gizmo Nokia N8 is a sleek looking smart phone launched with Ovi services in Punjab. Before sharing the various features of N8, Chandan Dang, regional general manager, North, Nokia India, shares the findings of a survey of Smart phone users. A good 62 per cent of the users' time is spent in talking and smsing, 12 per cent for refreshing themselves by means of videos, music, games, another nine per cent for web surfing, five for device features like camera, another five for office work, four per cent for life management and last three for access to information. "Today, a phone is a 'lifestyle changing vehicle' that helps one not only connect with people but also manage life, work, monitor health and much more," shares Dang. "And we give a lot of emphasis on consumer feedback to bring out the best of our brand," he adds. Apart from elegant looks (N8 is sleek, colourful with a 3.5 inch wide screen) it's easy to use and has loads of applications. N8 probably fits the bill for many users who look for one device to do all of their work. With N8, Nokia also launched Ovi in Punjab regions which is one platform wherein Nokia users can download lots of applications that not only let you listen to your favourite music legally but also know rates of the crops in a particular mandi or learn English. "We cater to all - low, mid and high-end users and keep in mind every customer's demands," says Dang. As for ones interested in N8, it comes at a price tag of Rs 26,259 and will be available in stores from October 14. mona@tribunemail.com
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Looks matter
We zoom in on the 'stand out' crowd and get going. "What I'm wearing, the look I want to achieve, first of all has to be comfortable. Then it depends on the state of my mind," Nimrat, BA student, MCM makes things pretty clear. For her sensibility is where sensuality lies. She adds, "Among the three looks casual, glamorous and studious, I'd any day dress casually." Casual chic is what scores more, rather the most. Agrees Karan Chhabra an engineering student, "I'd rather be casual on the campus. Apart from being comfortable, there's an inherent statement attached to the casual chic look. It flaunts that, "devil may care attitude'', shows that one can look good without taking any pains to dress up." There's an echo. Navraj Singh, a final year law student, nods, "I personally prefer the casual look, and always keep the comfort factor in mind. Most of the guys in the varsity dress a little formally but that's not me." For him, the comfort vs style debate doesn't even exist; as the former absolutely scores over latter. As for trends, he shrugs, "I dress up for what I believe in and don't follow fads blindly." While at body and beauty, on looks and dressing up, about clothes and glamour; can the all-important eyes, the coloured lenses be left behind? The study, though conducted over a tiny universe of 300 throws, confirms some popular beliefs. Coloured contact lenses are the key to score high on glam quotient. Nevertheless shrugs Karan, "I don't subscribe to coloured lenses. But I don't mind wearing them for shoots and while on ramp. Since on stage, they always say, 'more is less', lenses add up to the glam quotient. I'd definitely be wearing them while I walk the ramp for Blender's Pride next month." Then the inevitable part. The style quotient changes to a high on a glam wardrobe, to attract attention from the opposite sex. Opines Nimrat, "It depends on how you define the glam quotient. I don't term mini skirts and high heels glamorous. To attract attention from the opposite sex, I'd rather be sophisticated and sensible than anything else." Agrees Manika Ahuja, MCM DAV student, "I believe for any occasion, the entire look has to fall in place and has to be coordinated. I'd be casual and natural because the idea is to attract and not distract." Is anybody listening! Why is that an upturned wardrobe, bed full of inside out garments, mess about the room with accessories, invariably associated with a college going teenybopper. Here comes yet another commandment loud and clear; when in doubt…wear a white shirt! Payal Tandon, student, Government College 42 says, "Being fashionable is good, being stylish even better. There are certain classic looks that never fade away; moreover individuality is what makes you stand out." Fashion need not be foolish; nor stifling. Rest the surveys. manpriya@tribunemail.com
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'Dating' star
The 46-year-old famously plays a 'cougar', a woman who pursues younger men in the hit TV show Cougar Town. The website, mailed her a USD 1 million contract to become their official spokesperson as they believe the actress' "personal circumstances", makes her the perfect candidate. As far as the contract goes, Cox would be required to voice 12 radio ads, appear in 4 TV ads, and make at least 30 public appearances for the brand, all within the span of one year. The actress has a six-year-old daughter Coco with Arquette and the actor admitted to a fling with a bartender soon after announcing the split. — PTI |
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The mother-of-four who is married to soul singer Seal will also host the children's show Seriously Funny Kids, which is due for a 2011 launch and will also be it's executive producer. The show will see her interact with children, bringing out the hilarious and often insightful things they say. "I have four children under the age of six and to be honest, sometimes I enjoy them more than adults. They're uncensored, unpredictable and absolutely hilarious," the model had said about her new show. At present she is hosting Project Runway, the hit reality show that is a competition for budding fashion designers. — PTI
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"You start travelling, you start collaborating with different people and you start exeriencing life bigger," said the Senegalese singer. The singer says that his new album comprises of his established hip-hop sound mixed with beats from various corners of the world. "I am the kind of artist that creates my music on the basis of my experience. I'm always in Europe, always in Asia, always in India and this is the kind of music that I'm exposed to," said the singer. — PTI
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"The basic difference is that they (Hollywood) plan a lot, their working atmosphere is quite compartmentalised, everybody is responsible for their department," Irrfan said. "They are more like machines. The person who does a particular job knows only about that, he doesn't have wholesome knowledge. But in India we work in a very cordial manner, here anybody can give a suggestion and directors take it," he added. He became a prominent face in international cinema after acting in films like Warrior, A Mighty Heart, New York, I Love You and Danny Boyle's multiple Oscar winning film Slumdog Millionaire. He will soon be seen in Hisss, directed by American Jennifer Lynch and slated for release Oct 22. The film is about a snake woman played by Mallika Sherawat who is out to take revenge and also stars Divya Dutta. The actor, who was in Gurgaon to promote the film, was all praise for the director. "Working with Jennifer was a brilliant experience; the way she saw the story, which we have been listening to and watching on the big screen for years here, is amazing. The film has marvellous special effects that would definitely shock you," he said. "Though it's a horror film it talks about many other things. It talks about life, death, respect for animals and respect for nature. There are so many layers to the film," he added. He also made an observation about his co-star. "Mallika knows how to come into limelight. She has this talent and she must utilize it," Irrfan said. Known for his unconventional looks, the 48-year-old actor has worked in movies like Haasil, Rog, New York and Maqbool. Last seen in Slumdog Millionaire, the actor has just completed a TV series called In-Treatment which stars Gabriel Byrne and Debra Wenger. It is a series about therapists and patients. Irrfan says he is happy the way his career is shaping up and the kind of films he has been doing. "I am happy with the kind of films I am doing. I am getting subjects which I want to do; that's enough for me," he added. — IANS
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The America's Got Talent host said that the couple had picked out baby names together on their first date, reported a website. "We've been naming our kids since the day we met. I can't give you that though, you're trying to get me in trouble with my wife," said the 30-year-old star. Cannon, who married the Hero hit maker in a secret ceremony in 2008, said that his wife would be a better parent than him. "She's going to be amazing. I will be a good dad too, but she's such a nurturing spirit, she'll be good," said Cannon, who said that he has also planned how to decorate the nursery. "Lots of colours, yeah, I'm pretty sure there'd be some rainbows on the wall," he said. Carey, 40, further fuelled pregnancy rumours when she failed to show up for her husband's birthday bash in Los Angeles. She did attend his first party in New York, covering up in a bulky coat and refused the offer of champagne. — PTI
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Bipasha Basu is itching to do action roles. While her latest film Aakrosh is about honour killings where she plays her most fragile character yet, the actress says in real life she is fit enough to beat her boyfriend John Abraham's energy levels. "I want to do action. I think I am too fit at this point in time and that is a zone that I have not tapped fully and in India we don't have too many films where the woman gets to do action. Hopefully, somewhere I see that I will be able to realize something that I want very soon. So I'm just crossing my fingers," said Bipasha . The 31-year-old has one of the most well toned bodies among Bollywood actresses. "I feel girls should be (physically) strong, it's very important. I have a boyfriend who is very strong; so I should match at least 30 percent of his strength. —IANS
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The actor, who is currently shooting cookery reality show Master Chef for Star Plus, says his wife calls the shots at home and he abides by whatever she says. "I have no shame in accepting that my wife controls me. I don't do anything without her wish," Akshay said. The actor might be a black belt in martial art but Twinkle knows how to control him. — PTI
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Season's Greetings
From attractive ways to gift wrap, putting up toran at the entrance, preparing the puja thali, how to conduct the Laxmi puja, making Goddess Laxmi's footsteps in the house, painting diyas, flower arrangements, making rangoli, getting the colour combinations right, Honii's ready to make this Diwali a memorable one for you. "With families turning nuclear, couples working all the time away from home, people are forgetting how to go about festivities and rituals. They have little guidance on how to go about it, but thanks to Ekta Kapoor and her serials, festivities and traditions are back in fashion and keeping that very spirit of celebration alive, I'm conducting this workshop on how to get it right this Diwali," says Honii. For example, she adds, rangoli is rang plus aavali (which means rows). "The colours have to be filled in row-wise, and tradition goes that you can't break the row/lines for evil spirits can creep in," Honii throws light on other Diwali facts. "When it comes to gift wrapping, simple things like plastic sheets, left over ribbons and fancy gotas, old boxes and chart paper come in handy. All you need to know is how to get the colours right." Similarly, one can paint the diyas at home and get earthen pots in various shapes from the local potter. "Diwali is about light, colour and vibrancy. Flowers bring good vibes, and colours and fruits keep the environment natural and fresh. Oil and incense candles ward off evil spirits," Honii adds. The workshop will be held from October 19- 3 at SCO 915, NAC, Manimajra. The last date for registration is October 16. "Following this, I'll be conducting a workshop on how to lay a fabulous dinner table this festive season, and that too with things available at home," says Honii who will also be holding a sale of her collection of designer suits this October. "At 50 to 70 per cent off, this will be a steal this wedding season." Keep your cash ready, ladies! —TNS |
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Nature fresh
Scouting for cakes and pastry is no big deal, but looking for an 'eggless' variety sure is a tough task. Well, now you can heave a sigh of relief for Nature's Basket, the newly opened bakery and confectionary outlet in sector-35 puts together an entire range of eggless cakes ands pastries. This is not all. They have more on the platter as well. Pushpinder Kaur, the lady behind Nature's Basket that already has five outlets in the city is clear on certain points. To begin with, she says, "There is no denying the fact that there are various bakery stores in the city, which is why I wanted Nature's Basket to be different from the rest." So, what makes the place different? " One, we have an entire range of eggless bakery items. In addition to this, we do not use any preservatives. The shelf life of certain items is only three days, and we remove the item from the shelf after that time. Premixes like fresh or whipped cream used is of international quality." Pushpinder who stayed in Mumbai for a while to get a hang of how things in this industry work, swears by the word 'quality. "I would also want to add new items to the stores, but this does not mean I would compromise on quality. This is the foremost thing on my agenda." At Nature's Basket everything is fresh just like nature. Take a pick from different kinds of sandwiches, pan pizza, croissant, burgers, puffs (vegetarian and non-vegetarian), various types of breads, cakes and pastry. "We have introduced veg and non-veg combos at our sectyor-35 outlet," says Pushpinder. The USP of her stores is that these offer combination eatables. "We have a base kitchen in Mohali, where fresh stuff is made and sent to the outlets. I have also seen that no matter what kind of food people eat, they somehow come back to Punjabi food. Likewise, we offer sandwiches with a Punjabi touch. The idea is to give combination food," smiles Pushpinder who plans to open a fine dining restaurant in sector-20 Panchkula. "Hotel industry is growing, everyday there is something new to add on. I am glad to be working with a professional team and a chef who has a world of experience."
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How often do you meet a Punjabi singer cum actor who talks about the 'real' source of income? And how often do you hear a Punjabi singer admitting to have taken a strange liking to acting out of the blue? Punjabi singer Gippy Grewal, at the launch of his album Desi Rockstar on 92.7 Big FM. doesn't buy time to answer any query. This is the way he is- Love him, hate him… "But you can't ignore me," he completes the sentence with a measured attitude. "I don't like frills whether it is my personality or work," he says showing us his album.
Looks, size, camera, Internet, music and applications - these make for top six desirable attributes when a consumer looks for a new mobile, according to a research conducted by Nokia. Versatility is the key, just like the actor Mahie Gill who released the latest Nokia N8 in Chandigarh on Thursday.
It's the sanctioned version of what we've always supposed! After all what are surveys about anyway? A studious look and spectacles go hand in hand, coloured contact lenses are the key to being glamourous, go glam to attract maximum attention from the opposite sex, get casual to be the in thing at the campus, dress as per the guy/ girl you aspire for, be casual to have the biggest gang in college…The findings of the research study by Bausch and Lomb, to understand the youth preferences in popular looks on the campus, breaks a couple of conventional beliefs, belies the others, while reinforces some.
Just days after announcing her split from husband, actor David Arquette, Friends star Courtney Cox has got a USD 1 million offer to be the face of a dating website. The star who split from Arquette, 7 years her junior, after an 11-year-long marriage, was approached by a website which specializes in hooking up older women with younger men, reported a publication online.
Supermodel Heidi Klum has stepped into the shoes of Hollywood beauty Naomi Watts as the new face of fashion label Ann Taylor. The 37-year-old, who recently stepped down as the 'head angel' of the lingerie brand Victoria's Secret, is also set to start a TV show of her own. The German beauty will feature in the retailer's 2010 Christmas campaign, which will be shot by British photographer Rankin, reported a publication online.
After singing for Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan's movie Ra.One. R&B superstar Akon has now come up with a new album inspired by his India experience. After recording a Hindi song for the sci-fi film, the Lonely hit maker says that his new album will have Indian influences, reported a website.
Irrfan Khan has managed to make a name for himself in Hollywood as well as Bollywood. As his latest foreign venture Hisss is set to release, he says the industry abroad is much more planned, but in India anybody can give suggestions and directors take it.
He has refused to confirm pregnancy rumours surrounding his wife, pop star Mariah Carey, but Nick Cannon has revealed that the couple have already picked out names for their future offspring.
Akshay Kumar may be a Bollywood superstar but when it comes to home front it is wife Twinkle who rules.
THERE'S a festive feel in the air, and with Diwali round the corner, it's time to make lists, select gifts, buy candles, soak the diyas, clear the space for some bright rangoli…but Diwali can also drain you out, especially when you are clueless about what to buy, how to got about traditions and the way prayers are conducted. Besides, of course, how gifts are wrapped. "This is where we step in with our exclusive pre-Diwali workshop which will prepare you for this big day," city-based designer Honii Sandhu kickstarted a five-day workshop, which will focus on Diwali essentials. "And that too within your budget," tells Honii.