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Shop till you drop
The first day of the Vanity Fair at Whispering Willows was a shopaholic’s delight Welcome to the shopaholics paradise! There they were, in full strength, buying almost everything in the offing, things that can fit into a vanity box and even those in which a vanity box can be placed. Just half an hour after the biannual event, Vanity Fair opened its gates on Saturday at Whispering Willows, Zirakpur, shopaholics proved their dedication for the task. But this time, we don’t blame them for going overboard, for over 100 stalls at the exhibition could just entice anyone. We weren’t spared either, only if we had a fully loaded Louis Vuitton too! For those, who are planning to check out the exhibition on the day two after cross checking with those who took the initiative on day one and reading reviews, here is another insight. P.S. this is the maximum we could check in over an hour’s time under the scorching sun. There is much more to the Vanity Fair. Dress code
Like every season and every year, Anju Dewan brought her Kimano brand to the fair. Ranging from an affordable Rs 1,200 to 3,500, Kurtis have been rendered the semi formal look by using velvet, leather and satin patchworks. But, before you assume everything is reasonably priced, check out Abdul Rouf, Kashmiri Tradition. The range begins from Rs 75,000 and goes up to four lakh, “But there is a reason behind high prices. The pure pashina shawls with jamawar work takes around sixth months time to get ready.” Check out Navjot and Vrinda’s Ballerina Collection. Homing in
Unlike last time, options galore in the home décor sections. From furniture for your drawing to garden, soft furnishings, upholstery, show pieces, artwork and everything else you can associate with home décor is on display here. You certainly won’t miss Brij Kalra’s The Art Treasure. Vases made from bamboo and ceramic, and lamps in crystal justify the price tag pretty well. He has also got oil on canvas paintings in different sizes. “To each his own. The art is affordable and has quality. A total of 22 artists work for us, who even make customised art.” By affordable he means, the price range begins from Rs 4,000 and goes up to Rs 23,000, “People don’t mind investing in art anymore for they know the value will appreciate with time.” Others might attribute the ideas for designs to a lot of exposure. However, Rubina Chadha, based in Ambala owes it to her creativity. She has done the traditional dabka and sequin work on Venetian blinds. Silver leafing is done on the borders of mirrors and glass tables. “People prefer straight line furniture for they are easy to maintain but we can’t ignore the fact that plain is boring. We thus experimented with silver leafing on furniture and bed and cushion covers.” In tandem with the theme of the exhibition is Vanity Box by the organizer, Priya Jagat. On display, here are floral linen, jewellery from the house of Funky Jewellery, clothes from Happily Unmarried. Those who wish to inspire people to ‘go green’ there are paper bags from Etcetra. On the same thought, there is a line of garden furniture by Supreet Dhiman made in solid natural stone. “The furniture is hand carved,” which precisely means, get ready to pay more! The other lesser significant options available here are imported candies by Sweet World, kidswear by Aure, Pune, costume jewellery by Manju from Delhi, and Niddii from Delhu again. Try accessories by Bags and Pins. That’s about it! For rest, efforts have to be made! On till October 17 ashima@tribunemail.com |
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Fit for festivals
Bright tones, velvet and gotta finish, this season we witness a splurge of fabric, colours and silhouettes Talk designs and you can pick from simple cuts to modern
silhouettes. The Indian sensibility is beautifully maintained in the
festive ensemble. Though the colour palette is brighter this season
shades of red, green, blue, purple and even hints of coral are in.
Says Rajnish Jain from Meena Bazaar, "Tradition takes an
upper-hand during the festive season. And its velvet, zardosi, gotta
patti, dori work that is in this festive season." Talk about
style and patterns and he says, "From anarkalis to A-line and U
shaped suits, this festive season would see a lot of achkan type kurtis
teamed with pajamas." That’s not all, for people who
love to wear saris there is a wide range to checkout from. "It’s
the velvet lined sequin embroidered saris that are a hit this season.
Other than that net saris, badla, antique work, mokaish,
zardozi and crystal embellished saris are doing really
well." Simple Kaur from Simple’s in Sector 35 says,
"Festive season is all about deep shades, heavy work and
traditional designs. And this season we have raw silk and velvet doing
very well in fabric. Ruffles, pleating and chunky embellishment makes
for wonderful designs and in colours we have deep rich shades like ruby
red, sapphire blue and emerald green. "
Talk about the much-loved
anarkali suits and Simple is quick to add, "They refuse to
go out of fashion, but it’s the structured anarkalis that are in
fashion. Otherwise also it’s the fitted silhouettes and deep neck
lines for this season." Agreeing to the trend of anarkali’s
Babi Grewal, from Babi’s in Sector 8 says, "Anarkalis don’t
seem to fade away from the fashion circuit, it’s just that they have
become a little longer. Flair is back so is gotta and swarovski."
Mix and match of fabrics is another trend that we are again witnessing
this season. Adds Babi, "There’s no big shift in the designs or
silhouettes this season, but I must say the work is more elaborate and
there is no room for lighter stuff. From velvet to silk it’s the
heavier fabrics that are in demand this season." For designer
stuff check Samsaara at Hotel Taj. They have launched their festive
collection that includes clothes by JJ Valaya, Pallavi and Bharavi
Jaikishan, Deepaki Gehani, Tanvi Kedai and Timsy Anand. Says Divya
Kapoor from Samsaara, Taj, "The USP of this designer wear is—
they are traditional yet contemporary in designs. From stone work to
digital we have swarovski velvet and dabka worked costumes. And the
collection available with us is more functional not overkill." jigyasachimra@tribunemail.com
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Hit 'n' miss Johnson Thomas Last week we saw Lava-Kusa, a 2 D animation venture from Ketan and Deepa Saahi Mehta's Maya multimedia. That film was basically a preview of what was to come later, i.e. this week, Ramayana, their most ambitious venture yet. Alongside hitting the theatres this week are Mani Shankar's Knock-out which bears close resemblance to Hollywood's Phonebooth and yet another attempt at serious issue based cinema in between the crude and callous comedies he's better known for, Priyadarshan's Aakrosh. Plot(less) If
you are expecting a Knock-out experience you could very well
venture here. This is Mani Shankar's umpteenth attempt to showcase his
talent despite the series of flops that are linked to his name- and it's
as much a no-show as the others he's been associated with. Despite the
many small screen protestations by both it's stars and makers, this film
is directly inspired by the Colin Farrell starrer Phonebooth and
there's nary a doubt about it. In fact they go further to mess it up
with A Wednesday in a marriage of plots from Hollywood and
Bollywood to create this mishmash about a one-man crusade against
corruption. An Investment banker Bachchu a.k.a Tony Khosla(Irfan),
expert at creating swiss bank havens for the corrupt steps into a phone
booth to make his shady dealings and just when he hangs up the phone
rings. He picks up the call and finds himself threatened by a sniper
(Sanjay Dutt) perched on a nearby building terrace. It takes quite a
while to figure out the reason why the sniper is targeting the
banker. Meanwhile you have to put up with embarrassing dances, a media
melee and some really outlandish dialogue baazi. The narrative
encapsulates a bizarre series of events that look more and more
ludicrous after every passing minute. Irfan Khan really seems to have no
idea what he has got himself into. His performance, always
irreproachable, has now begun to show the signs of strain that most
successful mainstream actors experience once they get into top-groove.
It goes with the territory of course but we who admire him expected
better for sure. His performance is annoying and his counter-part's is
even worse. Sanjay Dutt is well past his prime and should stop thinking
of himself as invincible. So, should the casting agents/directors. A
bulky, ungainly Dutt looks nothing like a sniper, a role that requires
fitness and agility. Both actors are hopelessly miscast. Their
conversations via phone are pithy and it becomes harder to care about
what's happening because it appears on screen as if it's some schizoid
imaginings. And the film, which tries to engender tautness and thrill
fails to do so either. It doesn't have the perverse song and dance
routine alright but it doesn't have a grip on story either. Mani Shankar
appears to have lost the plot along the way. So why waste your
hard-earned money and precious time on this one? Reel
reality Pratap (Ajay Devgn) and
Siddhant (Akshaye Khanna) are two CBI officers entrusted with the
investigation of the dissappearnce of three medical students in Jhanjhar.
They were supposedly murdered for indulging in an inter-caste liason.
It's an enormous task for the two CBI colleagues, one a hands-on action
oriented guy (Devgn) and the other a by the rules one (Akshaye), as they
have to deal with uncooperative locals, corrupt cops and a radical
rabble-rousing outfit monikered 'Shool Sena.' Caste politics and
hierarchy play spoilsports causing uncharacteristic delay in a case
which should, under ordinary circumstances, have been an open and shut
one. The film tries to be brutally honest up to a point. The action is
nihilistic and there's great momentum and pace in narration. The
atmosphere is dark and ominous. There is intrigue, a few surprises, a
raunchy dance number by Sameera Reddy and the narrative also tries to
force a romance between Devgan and Bipasha Basu. Notwithstanding, this
effusive pandering to the tried and tested formulaic elements, there's a
sincere earnestness to the project and the actors do a good job holding
it all together. It's worth seeing! Big &
better Last week's release Lava-Kusa was just a prelude.
Ramayana is the real thing. It's big, the animation looks good
and the voicing is a trifle better than the prosaic ones we are used to
hearing. The story is epical and familiar. We've seen many versions of
the same so there is nothing new in that sense to lend itself to
generating interest. Rampa (Manoj Bajpai) is in exile, Sita (Juhi Chawla)
has been abducted by Ravana (Ashutosh) and Hanuman does his familiar
bit. There's drama, emotions and a great deal of grandstanding. The
voicing though better than most Indian animation productions could have
been a notch more skilful. The narrative tends to drag even though there
appears to be a concerted effort not to sound preachy. The tale is
depicted in picturesque tone, the VFX looks competent, the character
modeling a trifle better than what we are used to from Indian filmmakers
but the drama is never gravitating. There appears to be rather more
effort to embellish the look rather than developing an engrossing hook
in the narrative and this leaves you dissatisfied- no matter how great
the animation technique.
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Go green
Your choice of paints, lights and solar panels can help reduce carbon emissions and help save our precious earth
Aastha (12) and Saachi (10) are little earth warriors. They switch off the lights when not in use, carry jute bags when they go shopping, and, live in a house that's eco-friendly. "My girls picked up 'green consciousness' in school. They try and contribute in every little way they can. So, when we decided to make a house, I made sure I follow their philosophy," says Monita, a city-based interior designer. Their one kanal house on Kaimbwala road has two open courtyards that boost natural lighting and ventilation. "The house is airy and hardly needs lighting during the day, which makes us save energy," says Monita. And no toxic paints here, which damage health and environment. "I have 'mitti' on walls and earthen bricks on floor, which make the house cooler in summer," she adds. "Power cuts are the order of the day and natural disasters are frequent, which are just an indication that somewhere we have gone wrong. It's time we nurtured nature for our future," she says.
From proper orientation of the building according to sun path to rainwater harvesting, use of solar energy, reuse of sewage water in landscaping; using the right equipment to conserve energy, choosing the right kind of glass and interiors - there are as many as 70 points to be strictly abided by to get silver, gold or platinum rating. "Achieving these standards is tough but then once through, one is able to save considerable amount of energy resources. It's time we started looking for green alternatives," emphasises Sharma who is currently working on two such projects - auditorium at Panjab University and Mobera IT Park at Panchkula.
With plenty of eco-friendly options available, Khanna has made extensive use of false ceilings from Lafarge, Century Green ply, LED lights from Philips and Wipro, Calzip Green Roofs, light and water sensors apart from solar passive architecture and rainwater harvesting. "Though eco-friendly products cost one more than the ordinary, I am hopeful that the difference would soon be brought down as more and more people are getting more conscious about the environment," adds Khanna. Apart from products, she recommends inner courtyards for better ventilation, rainwater harvesting and LED lights. "These are few steps that anybody and everybody can incorporate while constructing a new building. Something is better than nothing," she smiles. The tricity has its own share of green warriors and creating awareness for the cause figures on the top of interior designer Sukhmani Bhore's 'to-do list'. "People should get conscious of the fact that a simple thing like paint is highly toxic and can cause health problems. Why use them when we have safer and healthier options available," says Bhore who is designing three eco-friendly resorts based on green building concept. "Sustainable material (reused, recycled-content or made from renewable resources) is used for constructing a green building. It creates healthy indoor environs with minimal pollutants (reduced product emissions) and feature landscaping that reduces water usage (by using native plants that survive without extra watering)," offers Bhore from The Finishing Touch. Taking simple steps like installing rain sensors, water saving faucets, and plumbing and landscaping the area with plants that use less water can help us save precious water. And using alternative sources of energy like solar or geo-thermal can help in reducing carbon emissions. Bhore adds, "In our construction we try using natural materials and walls that are insulated to prevent loss of energy. We have natural plasters like earth or lime. Windows with insulated glass are used for maximum energy efficiency. Flooring is of bamboo, cork slate or linoleum, which are natural materials and furnishings are done with eco-friendly fabrics like organic cotton, linen, spun or silk." And the latest in eco world is green walls. "This is a new concept in which plants are grown on the outside of slope of a plain wall in baskets. It looks totally green and has obvious environmental gains," says Khanna. So if you're thinking of building a house, go green and kick-start the eco-friendly revolution! mona@tribunemail.com
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Having started his career in the year 1995, lyricist Panchhi Jalonvi (real name Syed Athar Hasan) has songs like Dus bahane and Deedar de from film Dus to his credit. He first tasted success with his album Mitwa and many more followed, but he got real recognition for his nazm for the film Stop, sung by none other than ghazal maestro Jagjit Singh. And there has been no looking back for him since then. From Dus to his latest film Knockout he has come a long way. In conversation with Lifestyle, he talks about his work. "If your words are harsh, keep them within; keep the arrows within your bows and if time has chopped off your wings keep faith in flight and your toes," says Panchhi. Tell us about your background? I come from a family that has believed in Urdu literature for more then 100 years. And I am proud to carry on the legacy. Who inspired you to become a lyricist? Ever since I started listening to and learning music, Gulzar is the person I have admired the most. His writing and zeal for work is unparalleled. Do you feel lyricists are an underpaid lot in the industry? I don't know about others but I am paid well for what I write. I would not say it's a huge amount but I am satisfied with it. It is often seen that lyricists are never informed that another lyricist is writing a special song for the same film he's working on. What do you have to say about this trend? No, it is not true. Invariably, we do know. But if it does happen then I guess it's not right. Producer must inform the lyricist. Do you feel lyricists should also get royalties? We do get the royalties and have been getting it since a long time. This is what we call intellectual royalty. I am not happy with the ratio that we share in the team though. Who is your closest competitor and why? I am my competitor. I compete only with myself. I always want to better my previous attempt. But I want to add, 'The stone is broken by the last stroke, but it does not mean that the first one made no impact.' What other projects are you working on? I am working on Anubhav Sinha's RA ONE, Indra Kumar's Love Hua, Percept Kabutar and Amit Chauhan Boys Toh Boys Hain. — Dharam Pal
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Craft affair
Organised by Akhil Bhartiya Dastkar Samiti Kaarigari brings handicrafts and handlooms from different states of India. Craftsmen are busy painting terracotta statues and bowls in bright, bold colours sitting in the sun. A stall from Rajasthan stocks natural stones - amythyst, rose quartz, tiger-eye and crystals. This stall has jewellery as well as stones that are used in Reiki. Deepali's has diyas and lamps in a range of designs and sizes. "We have jadui lamp that burns through the night, floating tortoise in terracotta and practically everything related to Diwali," informs Rahul. Fragrant, floating candles and incense sticks in attractive packing from Pondicheri can make for great gift items. Bed linen from Gujrat and Kolkata has a whole range of bedspreads, pillow, cushion covers, sofa sets and dining table sets. Stuff from Kolkata is all hand embroidery in cotton. Lucknavi, bandhej and cotton suits from Kolkata are in a wide range of colours. On customer's demand, there is a mix and match of bandhej and block print. Looking for more on exhibition is a range of bead accessories - long malas, bracelets, mobile covers and belts. There are very bright vandanvar in beads, mirrors and shells. Perfect for festive gifting there are beautiful idols made in marble dust from Tamilnadu. Chappals from Rajasthan, colourful jhumars, lakh bangles with mirror work and huge wooden chests, furniture for kids, this exhibition has a lot on offer! On till October 24. |
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Inspired strokes
India's rich cultural heritage finds
expression in Recontre, an exhibition of paintings at Art Gallery,
Alliance Francaise-36. A masters in fine arts from Bhopal University,
Sandhya Shrivastava is trained in classical music too. And the influence
is visible in her work.
"I try to imbue rhythm to all my
paintings," shares Sandhya who has numerous state awards to her
credit - State award Rhythm art society 88, VS Vakankar Award 89-and has
done group shows all over the country. Some of her illustrations form
textbook covers for the NCERT. Recontre has a total of 33 frames
— oil on canvass as well as mixed media. Fisherwomen is in bright
colours that depicts the life of fisherwomen from coastal Maharashtra.
Women are engaged in their daily chores while their small hut has Warli
motifs. Ni Mharo Desh is another work that brings Mandana, the
Rajasthani traditional art of painting floor and walls with white figures.
Herein women are dressed in traditional attire and their hut has Mandana
motifs, peacock being the most prominent on the walls. "Though
Mandana is made from chuna, I have used oil paints to provide a
glimpse into this beautiful art form," says Sandhya. Spring 2
has a woman juxtaposed against a peacock amidst bright spring flowers.
In her effort to give a modern appeal to traditional art form, Sandhya
uses bright colours and traditional motifs. Sandhya, an art teacher in
Navodaya Vidyalaya, Sangrur, is now researching on traditional art forms.
"My endeavour is to keep the rich traditional art alive." On
till October 29.
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Classic beauty
This magical cold cream rejuvenates and enriches the skin with ten essentials skin nutrients and moisturizers. So all you beautiful girls, now gear up to join the women's league who've rushed out and bought their share of Pond's Cold Cream in the wake of Kylie's golden beauty secret. Don't be fooled by botox shots or those magic potions
costing a fortune… just entrust your skin to this age old beauty cream and let your skin glow the natural way!
— TNS |
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Wella Kolestint packs will be available in 12 vibrant shades at an introductory price of Rs 489 in beauty stores across Punjab. Each pack comes with a complete hair colour kit to give deep, long lasting colour. — TNS
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Embellish, an exhibition of hand and machine work suits at Hotel Shivalik View has something for everyone. Put up by Preet Gill from Malerkotla, the three-day exhibition showcases zardosi, stone, dabka, aari and patch worked fabrics. From formal to casual wear here you can pick cotton, crepe, georgette and even benarsi silk fabrics. — TNS
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Tarot Talk
ARIES: The Three of Pentacles reveals family pressure and responsibility. Be careful, as you will be distracted and run into trouble if you don't pay attention to what you are doing. It is important to look after your hair, nails, skin, etc. Tip of the week: Remember it is the thought that counts and not the price tag. Lucky colour: Purple. TAURUS: Don't let a misunderstanding rot a close relationship. Job satisfaction will increase if you decide to be more independent and entrepreneurial in everything you do. Tip: It is best to get a clear perspective and balance your energy before taking important decisions. Lucky colour: Cream. GEMINI: A romantic and dreamy time gives you a break. You are right to not to rush into things, but others will not wait forever. Things have been all work and no play and you have let things get out of balance recently. Tip: Work could pose certain minor difficulties but don't worry. Lucky colour: Peacock blue. CANCER: The Hanged Man shows some decisive moments as well as surprises are in store for you, particularly in relation to your personal plans. You can arrange travel on Sunday & Monday, as you seek out adventure and discovery. Tip: Be sure to involve yourself as much as possible in new projects. Lucky colour: Wine red. VIRGO: Don't waste time counting pennies this week. Look at the overall cost of things and try to balance your budget. A Scorpio person influences your decision and moves in a progressive direction. Your soul mate will be appreciative of your efforts. Tip: You will be happier if you retain the fruit of your hard work. Lucky colour: Black. LIBRA: The card The Devil reveals that you will be running late in everything you do. Domestic unrest can be avoided if you watch your steps. Some career choices have to be made before an important opportunity passes you by. Tip: Dare to accomplish those tasks, which normally take up a lot of time. Lucky colour: Golden yellow. SCORPIO: Your destiny may well be handed to you and it may help you make your dreams come true. Your ambitious nature may sometimes attract criticism; so try to be careful on Friday. Tip: Take care of interests and portfolios of your work. Lucky colour: Silver grey. SAGITTARIUS: The Temperance inspires you to climb new heights and actualise creative ideas. A small sum spent now will allow you to make big profits later. You have a tendency to be overly generous and forget that you have a budget to respect. Tip: Do not play into the hands of a shrewd set of colleagues. Lucky colour: White. CAPRICORN: The Empress takes you towards the fast and protective lane. Love and romance lead to promise and commitment. Be careful not to burn the candle at both ends, or there'll be heavy consequences to be paid. A Taurean person needs your support. Tip: Use your judgment and be firm in extracting a commitment. Lucky colour: Blue. AQUARIUS: Five of Cups takes you through a difficult speculative situation. Emotional relationships are temporary as you come out of them. You gain from choices made at the spur of the moment. Long pending disputes will end amicably. Tip: Do not leave things up to chance. Lucky colour: Orange. PISCES: The King of Pentacles blesses you with an inner flowering that allows many possibilities. You have worked hard, grown spiritually in the past and built a sound foundation, which leads to success and good fortune. Tip: Try to be active in catching financial opportunities. Lucky colour: Old rose.
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By no means, the fair is meant for people looking to make an addition to their trousseau. It rather has more casual Indian, Indo-western and western clothes on display. Check out Y-Not, a stall by Shailja Ahuja from Delhi for Indo-Westerns. Stitched in silk, satin, cotton, the dresses have bright prints. “North Indians have an inclination towards oranges, reds, and greens. They would like to have a black or white dress in their wardrobe but will also ensure there are other colours as well,” Shailja adds. 
Festivity is in the air.
So what to wear in this festive season is uppermost in your mind. And we
bring you many choices. Right from brocade lined, velvet embedded, dori
work, replete with zardozi, crystals and swarovski to gotta patti embroidered
fabrics. 
After Gardish, Virasat, Kaala Paani and Kanjeevuram,
Priyadarshan comes up with yet another hard hitting semi-realistic
film Aakrosh, based on honor killing. It's been in the news
lately and politicians are grappling with the formulation of a law
against the heinous crime but there are far too many flies in the
ointment unwilling to support punitive action for fear their vote banks
may get eroded. Priyadarshan's film tries to create a voice for those
who have borne the brunt and he does it by borrowing inspiration from
the Hollywood film Mississippi Burning.
Many city architects are partners in this green brigade. "Construction consumes loads of energy and architects can make a difference by guiding people to opt for sustainable buildings," says Sangeet Sharma, an architect from the tricity. "Green today is a very specific word, and to get certification from United States Green Building Council or its counterpart in our own country, Indian Standards, is very tough," says Sharma.
And it's not only individuals, but also the government that is waking up to the green cause. "Rain harvesting and solar heater (in more than one kanal plots) have been made compulsory by Haryana government," says architect Renu Khanna who has quite a few green projects to her credit - Central Government Employee Welfare Housing Corporation flats at Panchkula, Chchapparchiri War Museum and Forest Department, Punjab building.
Floating diyas, fragrant candles, colourful jhumars and vandanvars, Kaarigari at Lajpat Rai Bhavan-15 is only well timed with festivals around the corner.
The world's leading salon hair colour brand, Wella has launched a new at-home colorant Wella Kolestint that gives deep, longer lasting colour. Wella Kolestint's unique formula, which is designed especially for dark hair goes deep to the core and soaks each hair with more colour while offering 100 per cent grey coverage. Kolestint's After Color Intense Treatment has a patented technology that locks in the deep colour while making the hair soft to truly captivate attention.