Bollywood bombshell Mallika Sherawat's turn as a snake woman in Hisss has impressed her co-star, Laxmi Bai Nalapat, a member of the Travancore royal family.

Nalapat plays a prominent role in the multi-lingual film and said she was happy to be making her debut with the ‘highly talented’ artiste.

"Mallika is a very hardworking and dedicated actor.

She spent hours to perfect a four-minute snake dance scene in the film," Nalapat said.

The wife of eminent journalist MD Nalapat and daughter-in-law of celebrated writer late Kamala Surayya said it was purely by chance that she came to be associated with the movie. "The director of Hisss, Govind Menon is a friend of mine and it was he who invited me to act in the movie", she said.

"Hisss has a interesting theme exploring various dimensions of faith, superstition and religion," she said.

The film revolves around the arduous journey of an American man into the heart of the Malabar coast, believed to be the dwelling place of the snake goddess.

Asked if the film justified superstition and ancient practices like snake worship, she replied, "It is for the audience to judge." Mallika and Nalapat had offered prayers at the famous Sree Nagaraja temple at Mannarasala, one of the most important serpant temples in Kerala.

After Hiss which was directed by American director Jennifer Lynch, Nalapat said that she has been offered a role in an India-China joint venture movie. — PTI

Bollywood veteran Om Puri is back as George Khan in the cross-cultural comedy West is West, which premiered at the London Film Festival.

Puri, along with co-star Illa Arun walked the red carpet at the premiere of the sequel to the 1999 film East is East, which vividly charted the conflicts of a mixed-race Pakistani-English family and went on to win a BAFTA for Outstanding British film.

The film was shot mostly in Chandigarh and it would be released in India in February.

"I am quite confident the film will be a success in India," Puri said.

Om Puri played the charismatic George Khan, determined to instil some discipline and cultural identity into his son Sajid, played by newcomer Aqib Khan.

The film sees Sajid, the youngest son played by Aqib Khan, introduced to the father's first family in Pakistan.

They head to the old country, where George's older son Maneer is looking for a bride.

Once there, relations do not go smoothly between George and his first wife Basheera (Ila Arun), even before his English second spouse Ella (Linda Bassett) turns up.

Leslee Udwin, the producer and Ayub Khan-Din, the writer are already looking ahead to the concluding part. — PTI

Pakistani popstar Ali Zafar got a fitting reward for a daring rescue act on the sets of the film Mere Brother Ki Dulhan when he stepped into save leading lady Katrina Kaif from a mishap.

The Prince of Pop jumped in to rescue the Bollywood head-turner when her hair got stuck in a pedestal fan on the sets of the Yash Raj movie which is being shot at Nabha near here.

According to eyewitnesses, Zafar suffered minor bruises on his arm while Kaif who was terrified after the incident expressed her gratitude by giving the Tere Bin Laden actor a big hug. However, a spot boy who was also injured in the incident was not so lucky. In the past, similar rescues on film sets have proved to be typically 'filmi', with the saviour and victim falling for each other. A case in point being Sunil Dutt's courageous act to save Nargis from raging fire on the sets of Mother India. The couple had soon tied the knot.

But the Sajaniya hitmaker is already married and is the father of a young child, while Kaif has been linked to Ranbir Kapoor after she reportedly split from Salman Khan.

The actor first meeting with her co-star had turned uncomfortable after Zafar failed to recognise her when she went up to him at a party. — PTI

It continues…the excitement, celebration and the cultural exercise spills onto second day at the ongoing Panjab University Youth and Heritage Festival at GCG-42. From the traditional crafts it moves onto performing arts. So even literally speaking, there's drama, histrionics, mimicry…there are eleven items apart from a host of events under ladies traditional song.

The drama had it all; the plays and the social issues; particularly revolving around girls. Female foeticide, infanticide, child marriage, substance abuse…"Our play is titled Dhanda, it's based on child marriage, drugs. It's a very bold play by writer Ajmer Singh Aulakh, never been performed before and we are trying to present this aspect of the social evil through this platform," shares Amanpreet, director of the play. While others touch the issue of eunuchs in Zindagi, another borders on female foeticide, yet another takes up the khap panchayats and the autocracy associated with it. Continuing with the female centric touch, yet another titled Kudi Jisnu Rona Ni Aunda, talks of the range of issues and crisis a girl goes through her life at various stages.

Was there a song for every occasion! There's Kavishri, Kali singing, Vaar singing, suhaags, ghoris, chant songs, dholak and ghara songs, sithnies!

"Our song was on ladies, it's a very serious and touchy rendition, and we think it struck a chord with the audience," shares Neelam Kaur, as soon as she gets off the stage.

Fine arts items pack in a total of six events with seven to eight colleges competing through their participants for each. For those still clueless, there's on the spot painting, still life, collage making, clay modelling, poster making, cartooning. Divyajyoti Thakur, MCM student, models, two people wrestling through clay. "Our theme was Common wealth games and they asked us to make two people fighting."

At the entrance, amidst the greens there are fourteen participants trying to reproduce the beauty of four trees in a row under on the spot painting. "Everybody's making the same thing, almost every participant's final canvas is going to be equally arresting and just as tough to judge," chips in a participant.

Elsewhere Puneet Kaur, BA 2nd year, tried convincing the Prime Minister to look into Punjab's problems through her collage. "We were given the theme Punjab politics, so I'm trying to ask the PM to now pay attention to politics going on in the state and pay attention to it."

— Manpriya Khurana

A cardiologist with a flair for writing, Dr Jaideep Singh Chadha’s latest book Why Are We Still Like This Only has been inspired by ‘pseudo-sophisticated’ Indians.

Ask him about the book and he says, “The hero of the book is a donkey called SaMule and it is through him that I have expressed the sad affairs of our country and the thought process of our people.”

Laced with humour, the book tackles the difficult subject of our disappearing sensibilities and brings forth the nonchalant attitude. Dr Chadha says, “People of my age cannot make a difference because we have a fixed mindset. It’s the younger lot who can bring the change. So, I dedicate the book to the young who can actually change the way the world looks at India.”

He cites an example, “It’s only Indians who would change their names in the US or any other country. A Chinese or a Japanese would never do that. We would team up with foreigners and make fun of our own people. Has somebody thought why? And this is what my book talks about.”

So far Mumbai-born Dr Chadha has written The Other Side of Golf, Mom It’s My Life, Marriage Rocks and a novel Vinculum.

Awarded the Vijay Rattan award, ask him how did he begin to write and he says, “I had a friend in those medical college days who kept me awake till late night. One night I wrote a story about my friend who died in a road accident, but left it mid-way. But when I showed it to a cousin of mine, he asked me to complete it. The soul of my friend haunted me for seven years till I finished the book and the moment I did I never saw him again. I guess turning me into a writer was his parting gift.”

What next? “A book on how we treat older people and how life changes after retirement,” he concludes.

jigyasachimra@tribunemail.com

It begins with making two identical works in different colours. Then, these are cut into horizontal or vertical stripes. In the final phase, the different coloured strips are arranged in an alternate sequence. The whole process, as Subhash Shorey, the artist claims, is an attempt to create an art form based on experiment.

Even as the new media promoters and practitioners prefer to expand areas for their installations, here is a group of 19 artists, including Subhash, using new techniques on the same old canvas and in the same old space. One can find many such examples at the exhibition organised by Saksham Sparsh Art Foundation at the Punjab Kala Bhawan. Subhash has titled his graphic work, Mindscape, inspiration for which comes from nature’s way of functioning. “Even nature works on the principle of creation, destruction and preservation. Every living being goes through the same process.”

Sanjeev Kumar’s work – that shows destruction caused by the tsunami and how people made a new beginning - is again done using a new technique. He has used several 35 mm photo negatives as his canvas. “I painted the negatives in different colours and then joined them. Photograph prints of the work have been put on display.” About the subject he chose for the paintings, he says, “We often talk about the fury of mother nature. But what we forget is the fact that it also inspires us to get back to normal life. I am sure that fishermen who lost their family members are still continuing with the same profession.” Or maybe there’s no other choice!

On till October 23

Chunky beads, semi-precious stones, dazzling designs; encompassed with traditional jadau pieces, rudraksha and coral…different is the word for the jewellery collection by Sagiri Dayal, which is being showcased at Samsaara, Hotel Taj.

Based in Hong Kong, Sagiri’s collection is not for the faint-hearted, as the design and size of the ornaments need some poise. Drawing inspiration from combining varied elements and colours, the collection has an oriental touch to it and displays a strong provincial theme. Says Sagiri, “I wouldn’t say my designs are particular to any place. I collect my material from across the globe and then include it in the pieces that I design.”

From collecting gems to threading them into one piece, Sagiri does it all by herself. “I am glad I do all the work myself. I am a traveller and collect the gems as well as stones from wherever I go. I then knot it in a Chinese knot (Chinese knot is an ancient Chinese tradition of tying things). Though Chinese knotting is done in silk, but as I found silk perishable I use leather shoe string.”

And how did she take to jewellery designing? “It’s a hobby that turned to full-time work. I used to make trinkets for myself, then for my friends and their friends. One fine day I finally decided to put up an exhibition and thus began my journey as a designer.”

Using only semi-precious stones, she does not like to give a name to her collection. “My designs are varied. I go by instinct, there are no fixed designs or drawings that I go by.”

Designing only neckpieces and bracelets, one wonders what her collection is all about? “My latest collection includes jadau. I have never used this so far. It was on my visit to Jaipur that I got hooked onto this design. And now I have incorporated jadau in almost all my pieces.”

Although born in Kolkata, our lady has a close connection with the region as her maternal grandmother was from Amritsar. Well, that makes her half-Punjabi! So does she think her jewellery would be accepted here (considering the chunky gold and diamond sets that ladies like here)? “My jewellery is not for the lily-livered as it is chunky, so I guess Punjabis will surely like it. Till now, the response has been very positive.”

In bits and pieces, her designs are not only novel, but also have a contemporary touch to them, which is the reason why they can very well be worn with Indian costumes. “I wear it all the time with Indian dresses, especially saris. I always design my pieces keeping in mind the bare back, so most of my neckpieces have designs for the back as well.”

A fine balance and delicate union of varied elements, her designs are definitely unique!

jigyasachimra@tribunemail.com