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No problem At All!
Handsome, agile and entertaining — is how Anil Kapoor comes across; fifty and going strong, Kapoor attributes his success to his 'drive' to keep growing. In the city to promote his forthcoming film No problem, Kapoor, who has also produced the movie, won many a heart with his light-hearted banter despite showing up an hour late at Hotel Mountview-10 on Thursday. Slumdog Millionaire, 24, and the latest, Mission Impossible 4, Kapoor seems to have the best of both worlds. An important link between Bollywood and Hollywood, Kapoor takes this job very seriously. "Being a proud Indian, it's my job to connect the outer world to the amazing culture that we have," says Kapoor. And, vice versa. "Since I am at this platform, I make sure to connect our Indian talent to Hollywood," he says. This has been his approach towards life and work in general. "I live my life like a blotting paper. Wherever I find something interesting and enriching, I absorb it. And I never keep it with me, but share with whosoever I can—family, friends, colleagues," says Kapoor. Guess that's the reason for such a successful innings! Not willing to reveal much about Mission Impossible 4, Kapoor shares a bit, "Destiny has a role to play in life, but only if coupled with hardwork and zeal. I have seen Tom Cruise working continuously, painstakingly, on the sets, packing off as late as three and show up again at six in the morning for the stunts. I haven't seen such dedication before, no wonder he is such a successful star." Kapoor has worked with this very zeal on his movie No Problem, which hits the screens on December 10. "We have worked very hard on this flick. Anyone who works —a software professional or a simple rikshawpuller—would be able to relate to this one," says a confident Kapoor, who crooned Mast Punjabi along with the crowd. In the city after a long gap of 10 years, Kapoor is all praise, "Chandigarh is a model for all other cities in the country. With the passage of time, it has only grown more impressive." He is all praise for Punjabis as well, "Sardars are the most handsome race in the world." Back to the flick, "You'll forget all your problems once you see No Problem," promises the versatile actor. mona@tribunemail.com
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Cool dude
If the crowd was charmed by Anil Kapoor's earnest talk, Akshaye Khanna, with his reticent looks impressed the whole lot of girls. Khanna plays a crook in the flick (Kapoor is the supercop). They were in the city to promote the flick and be part of Healthyway Immigration's - 200th UK visa in the last 105 days from Punjab - celebrations. The lucky visa winners received passports from them. If you are a fan of the fabulous actor that Khanna is, you will have to do with whatever little he does. "I don't produce my films. I have to choose from whatever I am offered, I go for films that I am sure of," he says. Check him out wooing Kapoor dressed as a girl in No Problem. |
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B(ey)OND the best
Actually, he believes we all have Jekyll and Hyde lurking within each one of us. So even though the female protagonist of his short story Susanna's Seven Husbands—that will soon be seen as Priyanka Chopra in Vishal Bhardwaj's movie Saat Khoon Maaf—is a killer who bumps off seven husbands, he says, "You will empathise with her for she is vulnerable too." Interestingly, he reveals that the character is based on a real life person that lived about a century ago. So how much of what he writes is fact? "Well, I take an incident and build on it. Sometimes it could be a complete flight of fancy." He recalls the story Escape from Java, which he had simply cooked up, yet today it finds mention as a true account of his life. Indeed, much of what he writes is construed as personal as it is in first person. In a way he confesses that a large part of it is autobiographical, moreso when he was younger. Like he wrote his first book The Room on the Roof when he was barely 18 and except for his own story had little else to fall back upon. "Today at 76 one can draw from an experience of a lifetime." So is writing a craft or God's gift? "Both, you can't build it if there is nothing within." And writing simply yet so profoundly, is that deliberate? "That is a lesson I learnt early on in life from my teacher. Be simple, use the exact word. Aim for clarity." Perhaps, this is the reason coupled with the fact the he writes about childhood years, which makes him the most loved author of children. He isn't perturbed that often he is mistaken for being a children's writer but is categorical that he writes for all. Interestingly, back in the seventies he got into trouble on charges of obscenity for his book The Sensualist, which was serialised in Debonair. Then his much loved character Rusty falling in love with his best friend's mother too, he thinks, is more about coming of age than children. But then he has written exclusively for children as well, The Angry River and The Blue Umbrella, in particular. Since The Blue Umbrella has also been made into a movie by Vishal Bhardwaj, he considers his "off and on" association with Bollywood (Shyam Benegal's Junoon was based on his Flight of Pigeons) interesting. Of course, Saat Khoon Maaf is the first time he has expanded the story with the film in mind. Interestingly, he plays a cameo in the movie and chuckles "I am too old to play Priyanka's husband, yet I do get to hold her hand in the film." The romantic in him is very much alive. So is the dreamer! Any unfulfilled wish? "Maybe I should write about the bad Ruskin in me." As and when the compulsive writer who anyway reveals 'a lot of myself' does decide to do so, you bet it won't be any less inspiring. Touching an emotional chord in each one of us comes naturally to the man who retains his sense of humour 'life gets funnier as one gets older', as his masterly art of storytelling! nonikasingh1@rediffmail.com Sound bytes "With confidence one can get way with anything, even stroking a man-eating tiger." "Writers are quickly forgotten. So when I edit a book the idea is to revive forgotten stories and writers." "The test of good writing and writer are without doubt readers, but also time. Can it span generations?" "Critics once accused me of writing in Babu English." "Budding writers must refrain from vanity and vanity publishing. Don't pay for getting your book published.” "I don't believe in ghosts…only I keep seeing them." "I love writing poetry, but it's hard to sell it." "A good writer is invariably a voracious reader. So am I. Only I prefer non-fiction." "We are living in times when, thanks to television, writers too have become mini-celebrities in sharp contrast to fifties when I didn't even recognise Graham Greene.”
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Koffee break
His song Channa Ve Ghar Aaja Ve made even non dancers tap their feet. And, his songs in Saawariya album with Jaspinder Narula and Bobby Singh were also popular. Lifestyle talks to Ganganagar-born young music director Santokh Singh who is excited about the release of Jagdish Sahota's film Mar Jawan Gur Khakhe in which he has composed seven songs. His songs are being sung by Master Salim, Jaaved Ali, Mika Singh, Neeraj Shridhar, Smantha and Sonu Kakkar. Jalandhar- based Kumar who has written many chartbusters for Pritam and others has penned the lyrics. The film releases today. What does music means to you? This is the best gift given to me by God. It has the power to make us laugh and cry and create emotions within us. It can change life. I decided on music as a career and my song Channa Ve… was the turning point. Did you have formal training? I learnt Indian classical and Western classical and the piano from renowned Joe Fernandes. How much time you devote to riyaaz? I do riyaaz daily. I am absolutely crazy about Punjabi and Rajasthani folk music. My all time favourites are Shankar-Jaikishan, RD Burman and Laxmikant Pyarelal. My favourites singers are Sonu Nigam, KK, Kunal Ganjawala, Sunidhi Chauhan, Shreya Ghosal, Master Salim and Mika. What are the expectations from Mar Jawan Gur Khake as a composer? Well, I have done seven tracks in the film and I really hope the audiences like them. It is a very nice film and the songs are doing well, especially Kade Chan Banke… and DJ Walia Ve…. How different are your songs? All I can say that I try to be honest and incorporate a lot of my personal experience in music. How did your musical journey begin? I have done four albums and three films till today. I got my big break with Kunal Ganjawala's song Channa Ve Ghar Aaja Ve, after that I never looked back. Nowadays most music directors sing? Yes, I too sung Kade Chan Banke and DJ Walia Ve songs for Mar Jawan Gur Khakhe. Are you happy with the career? Yes, very much. I have worked with top singers and hope to work with move in future. — Dharam Pal
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Film: Khelen Hum Jee Jaan Se Producers: Ajay Bjli, Sanjeev Bijli and Sunita Gowarikar Director: Ashutosh Gowarikar Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Sikhander Kher, Vishakha Singh, Shareyas Pandit Ashutsh Gowariker's Khelen Hum Jee Jaan Sey adapted from Manini Chatterjee's book Do And Die, is a contemporary-day thriller about the Chittagong uprising of the 1930s. Abhishek Bachchan as Surya Sen and Deepika Padukone as Kalpana Datta are star attractions of this film. Ashutosh Gowarikar is directing the film. The royal palace at Sawantwadi in Southern Maharashtra was transformed into the Chittangong of the 1930s by art director Nitin Desai. Ashutosh's film will talks about the forgotten heroes. Raoul Randolf and Ashutosh Gowarikar has written the screenplay. Javed Akhtar has penned the lyrics for music composer Sohail Sen. A dig at recession Film: Phas Gaye Re Obama Director: Subhash Kapoor Cast: Neha Dhupia, Rajat Kapoor, Amole Gupte, Sanjay Mishra, Manu Rishi Chadha Phas Gaye Re Obama a satire on recession. Neha Dhupia plays a female Gabbar Singh and Amol Gupte plays a politician. The buzz is that it is a different movie directed by Subhash Kapoor. The film introduces a new music director Tipu who has composed all the songs. — Dharam Pal
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Oscar-winner Halle Berry has revealed that playing a stripper's role in her flick Frankie and Alice was easy. "(There's) not much research to play a stripper--you just kind of take your clothes off. It's kind of easy!" she said. In the film, Berry plays a character with a multiple personality disorder, torn between her stripper persona and a racist alter ego. The 44-year-old actor said she read "thick dense medical books" and spoke to people who suffered from the disordered. This is not the first time Berry has stripped off on the big screen, as she previously went fully nude in an explicit sex scene for Monster's Ball . — ANI
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Side
Lanes
As age catches up, the circle of relatives and friends starts drooping as everyone shows webbed faces and a lack of joi de vivre in their step. Ears get longer as does the nose for --according to science--these appendages never cease to grow. Dark hair fades into white. Some of us lose loved ones while others start nursing them. As long as most of us remain busy, have a routine to adhere to and grandchildren to play with, life moves at quite an interesting clip.
The greatest fear at our age is the depressing horror of loneliness. "What if…?" is the perpetual question. What if he dies and I have no one with who to share this life? What if I break a limb and no one is there to prop me up? What if an interminable evening stretches into the night with no one to talk to? What if I have to eat alone at a table for eight, no matter how eclectic the cuisine? What if I smell a flower without anyone to share the experience with? What if I cannot share my collection of music? There are times when certain pieces are so sublime that to listen to them alone is a sin and one ends up in a bucket of tears. What if I have to cuddle a pillow? What if the silent house echoes with my footsteps? Loneliness has a myriad forms, but for many of us it also signifies freedom. As children, my sons were allowed just one film even though the Army offered four a month. Sometimes they would ask why others were allowed so much liberty while we watched their every move. As they grew older, they stood out from the crowd and yet often walked alone. I'd try to explain that there is a freedom of thought and behaviour, if we do not walk the common road or become a part of the herd. Today, all three enjoy their moments of solitude, but still stand tall and distinguished in a crowd. They think out of the box at all times. I believe this is the foundation of their success. Into a second marriage (the amalgam of both is just short of a half century), the idea of singledom is frightening and abhorrent. Yet there are friends who love the latitude of being alone. No nagging partners; complete liberty to live unfettered lives; no commitments towards a family; no runny noses, dirty diapers or sticky fingers on polished surfaces; no routine; no differences of opinion; no constraints of time or finance. Just one's own private kingdom devoid of 'nays' and chorused by 'yeahs.' Freedom also means breaking away from familial rules and the cultural commitments of our castes and faiths. Following rules faithfully takes up a lot of time. Age increases family commitments for as relatives and friends pass on, progeny is joined in matrimony and babies are born, we feel duty bound to visit again and again, offering solidarity and solace. All these moments become social occasions and can be very enjoyable. They are companionable, un-lonely moments. As I grow older, the mind is moving within itself, questioning priorities and the advent of time. Suddenly, the hours are shrinking and there is so much yet to do. Can I break away from the daily circus of ritual, duty, social approval and familial expectations to lead a life of my own? Can I pluck this freedom of loneliness to follow my own path or should I cling to the well-habituated circle created by ancestors or the community around me? Freedom is lonely but at this stage of life I would like to take a huge draught from its cup. |
Folklores lie deep down in the roots of our existence and chisel our sensitivity and ethics, morals and social values, and form the core of our cultural consciousness," said Padma Shri Ajeet Cour, president, Foundation of SAARC Writers and Literature (FOSWAL) at a press conference at Chandigarh Press Club. The 3rd SAARC Folklore and Heritage Festival will begin on December 3. The event is being organised by FOSWAL in association with the Ministry of External Affairs (Govt of India) and Chandigarh Administration. Besides Chandigarh, day programmes will also be held in Mohali and Panchkula. The first day will see a galaxy of scholars taking part in the three-day Folklore Academic Research Seminar at UT Guest House-6. The first day will see folk performances at Shivalik Public School-Mohali. The programme will include performances by Algozas Orchestra (Punjab), Dhol Cholum Dance (Manipur), Folk Guitar (Maldives), Dhangad Folk Dance (Nepal), Hozagiri folk dance (Tripura) and Kalbelia dance (Rajasthan). The evening programmes, one of the main attractions of the mega event will be held at Tagore Theatre. The first day events will include performance by Sapera Been Jogis of Haryana followed by a skilful presentation by Puran Das Baul (West Bengal) and Iqbal Bahu from Pakistan. Rajasthani Kalbelia dance will once again attract people's attention, while Quddus Boyati Group of Bangladesh and artistes from Sri Lanka will also perform on the stage. The evening programme will conclude with performance by Teejan Bai, the renowned Pandvani singer from Chhattisgarh. — TNS
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Best foot forward
The collection features fully moulded Croslite (a substantial innovation in footwear) allowing for maximum lightweight cushioning and a sporty midsole band inspired by the classic vulcanised style. It has a Croslite material heel strap for a secure fit. Croslite material also provides an advantage as it allows for easy cleaning of the shoe. The collection is available at all exclusive Crocs stores across the country. Price: Rs 1195 onwards.
— TNS |
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Soft feel
Winter is here and you need not worry about dry and flaky skin anymore! Lotus Herbals has launched an exciting range of moisture-enriched body lotions in five innovative variants. These body lotions formulated with natural ingredients, include Vanilla Velvet and Cherry Bliss Daily Body lotion, Cocoa Caress and Aloesoft Daily Hand and Body Lotion with SPF 20, and AlmondNourish Daily Nourishing Body Lotion with SPF 20. These lotions penetrate instantly and rejuvenate your skin leaving it soft, smooth and silky all day long.
Lotus Herbals body lotions are enriched with the essence of exotic herbs, oils and natural plant and fruit extracts. The five variants of body lotions are formulated with a combination of ingredients that include cocoa butter, avocado, soy, vanilla, cherry and strawberry extracts, almond oil, aloe vera and cucumber. These lotions infuse optimum moisture that ensures intensive hydration and nourishment for all skin types. Keeping the skin soft and supple, these body lotions delay the ageing process and promote the production of collagen. They also help in reducing fine lines and wrinkles, protect from sun damage and improve the overall complexion and skin tone. Priced at Rs 225.
— TNS |
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Objet D’ ART
It was an unusual photograph of a light-painting performance by French artist Marko-93 flashed by news agencies, which drew our attention towards this innovative art form. Three young faces encircled by an array of illuminated patterns created a happy picture, bright enough to make a lasting imprint on a viewer's mind.
Emblematic French graffiti artist, Marko-93, who largely contributed to making graffiti enter the world of contemporary art, discovered light-painting in 1999. It all started when Marko saw trails of light left by car headlights on a picture. What it led to was the concept of controlling the sources of light to use it as a paintbrush. Light painting, also known as light drawing or light graffiti, is a photographic technique in which exposure is usually made at night or in a darkened room by moving a hand-held light source or by moving the camera. The first known photographer to use this technique was Man Ray who did a series titled Space Writing in 1935. "Light painting is just another way of looking at things," says ace photographer Diwan Manna. By manipulating the source of light, the artist adds up elements to the forms in an interesting way," says Diwan, who was introduced to this concept by Marko when the latter was in India to do a light painting series. Marko's works seem to be the source of inspiration for young and upcoming artist Sawan, who has added his own touch to explore this light and multiple exposure concept. Using a somewhat similar technique, Sawan, a student of the Government College of Art-10, has captured his body to show his inner conflicts. "A human being is constantly going through conflicting ideas and by juxtaposing a source of light and my own body, I could bring out those complexities to my frames," says Sawan. Though Sawan's photographs leave a lasting imprint on one's mind and holds promise, Diwan on the other hand is not very sure of light-painting making it big as an art form. "This particular genre has not gained much populairty even now," says Diwan contradicting our claim that light painting has become popular among Flickr and social sites. He gives us his reasons, "It's a very oblique art form that is not so easy to do, requires a lot of time and depends on a lot of external factors. For example, there should not be any other sources of light except for the one the artist is using. Even natural sources like the moon and stars may create hindrence. And on top of it, the ultimate result is not so mind-boggling." But then there is always hope, especially with artists like Marco propagating this art form through performances and workshops, maybe soon light painting too will be as popular as grafitti. parbina@tribunemail.com |
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Creative ZONE
Saari bulandiyon ko pal bhar mein jaa ke chhoo loon, Meri soch ke parinde ko aisi udaan dey dey / Gar mere funn ko aazmana chahta hai/ Ikk bar mere haath mein meri kamaan dey dey." The couplet truly reflects the genius of Patiala-based poet Mehak Bharti, who had carved a niche for herself both here as well as abroad. From a very young age, Mehak had a knack for poetry and her talent was honed by her family, especially her brother. "We grew sculpting tuk bandis of poetry and at times the verses came alive," she shares. Coming from a family of academicians, Mehak too pursued a Masters in Mass Communication besides a diploma in Urdu and Indian classical music. She also performed for AIR and Doordarshan in programmes like Shaam Sandhoori, Mehkan Tandan, Ikk Lapp Surmein Di and more. "Poetry is my first love, as it enables me to share the pain of people with the world," she stresses. Rich in imagery, delicacy of thought and sobriety of expression, Mehak was also blessed with opportunities to share the stage with stalwarts like Kaifi Azmi and many more. Mehak has made a mark at various symposiums in Los Angeles, California and other cities in USA. "On the request of the Indo-American Federation, I participated in five symposiums in the US," she shares. Negating the general belief that poets are born after a tragedy, Mehak maintains that anybody with an observant mind and flair for writing can cultivate his or her poetic passion.
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As in his books so in real life, celebrated writer Ruskin Bond is uncomplicated, uncluttered and honest. His observations, both about life and literature, emanate straight from the heart without artifice or showmanship. In the city for the inauguration of Rupa Book Fair at Lajpat Rai Bhawan, the gifted writer, whose stories invariably capture the innate human goodness quips, "Well, there are some very bad people too."
Crocs Footwear launches its Autumn Winter Collection 2010. The new modern and trendy collection includes more than 10 new chic styles for fashion conscious men, women and kids who look for style and much needed comfort. The collection includes styles such as Yukon Woven, Crocband Sneaker, Fredericka, Yukon Sport, Santa Cruz Argyle, Genna Girl, McCall, Melbourne W, Lenora, Keeley and many more.
