Einstein would have taken ages had he been working on an equation for a perfect relationship. And he would have had to quit the study midway! Talk about complexities, combinations and permutations of relationships…there is so much more to it. Find out more through UTV Bindaas' new show Love Lock Up. In the city, the host of the show Pravesh Rana, the agony uncle, talks about the new show and the survival funda for relationships.

"Agony uncle," he laughs. "Maybe, I can be a relationship expert, advising on relationships without being in one." Who says one has to be an expert to talk or pass a judgment on something. Indians are born to talk about anything, especially on subjects they have no clue about! Pravesh Rana, host of Emotional Atyaachar, has seen relationships onscreen from close quarters. "I think I have learnt quite a bit about relationships.

Seeing couples (on the show) break-up or cheat for no reason, I have understood some basic things," says Pravesh sharing the secret formula. "It is pretty simple, we cannot be judgemental in relationships. There is no perfect state, but each one of us can enjoy the bliss of being with someone. Always give it another chance, don't give up just because you aren't happy with it. Today, relationships are not based on love; in fact, it is considered fashionable being in one. Remember, commit only if you are ready and in love," adds the ex-Bigg Boss participant. While you chew on these words of wisdom, Pravesh moves on to what brings him to the city, the new show, Love Lock Up.

"This show is about a second chance for couples who are on the verge of breaking off or have decided to do so. We would lock up the participants for six days wherein they can share, talk about things they couldn't do so before," he says. Another one, another melodramatic portrayal of real feelings! The host, however, has a different take on this. "I can't talk about other shows. If someone cannot sort out relationships off the camera, there is no harm in dealing with them on camera."

With most shows, Emotional Atayaachar or Big Split and now Love Lock Up showing youngsters dealing with the complexities of life, what probable lessons can be learnt? Adds Pravesh, who wants to host an adventure reality show, "Not all youngsters are naïve; some do understand the depth of relationships. Besides, in Love Lock Up we have the involvement of the entire family and friends. So, nothing fake about it." You want us to buy this? It is like asking us to believe Rakhi Sawant has decided to go for vipaasna!

jasmine@tribunemail.com

Credited with four literary publications in Punjabi, Dr Mohan Tyagi is passionately in love with literature. He is a poet of the soil with real vision and originality.Tyagi holds three post-graduate degrees in English, Punjabi and religious studies; Masters in Education besides doctorate in Punjabi from Punjabi University, Patiala, where he is presently serving as a lecturer in English. From extreme penury, Tyagi has risen to the status of a popular poet and educationist, which is no mean task.

On the invitation of National Sahitya Akademy, Tyagi (along with Ajmer Sidhu) represented Punjab at the All-India Writers Meet at Kochi recently.

He has been running a society, Universal Education Mission, that guides the needy and poor students upto 12th standard and also prepares them for admissions to professional courses. "I am too naïve to comment, but a poet should be honest to himself, people, the language and cultural traditions of the soil," says Tyagi. He adds, "I have tried to reflect all the joys and sorrows of people in my poetry as also the issues of socio-cultural relevance. My books Dhuen da dastavez, Rooh da registan, Samvaad derr samvaad and the latest Lahoo di virsat (second edition) have been appreciated." 

My 'dadi' Norma Mitter had a dozen siblings. She was the youngest and privy to the lives of all the rest, over a long time. Until her passing away in the 101st year, she had many enchanting tales to tell. Hers was a music-loving family, which formed a distinguished orchestra accompanied by sopranos, contraltos and tenors. A bass was missing. It seems that a deep voice goes with over average height, girth and skeletal frame. All these features create an echoing resonance that the slight-of-build Mitter men did not possess. All believed in living life to its fullest. A few drank themselves into the grave, singing and composing ditties in both English and Punjabi or a combination of both.

A favourite fusion masterpiece was 'Nellie Bly', based on a ditty from World War I. It was probably belted out by soldiers as they drank rum in freezing trenches, while they waited for the enemy to start firing. It went something like this: "Nellie Blye, Nellie Blye/ jharoo lekar ayo/ Bawarchikhana saaf karo/ ek do thumri gao/ Hey Nellie! Ho Nellie! Listen love to me/ I'll sing to you and play to you/ A dulcet melody." Obviously, the very musical Mitters enjoyed adding their own Hindustani words.

Another was a short, crisp song in Punjabi, which hardly made any sense but was sung with great gusto and laughter, as its subject was the humble mouse.

"Chooleh piche choohi bathee/ kur, kur chabey loon/ Maro enoo, kuto enoo/ Bhano eidee dhon/ Oh! A roaming in the gloaming/ with my lassie by my side/ Roaming in the gloaming with my lassie by my side/ When the sun has gone to rest/ That's the time that I love best/ Oh… A roaming in the gloaming!"

The Golaknath Memorial Church, Jalandhar, was like a second home to the Mitters. Norma played the piano, Julian fiddled on the violin and the Golaknath sisters sang hymns, accompanying each other on the harmonium and tabla. We cousins were often made to rehearse solos from classical cantatas at "Ashiyana," the ancestral home. As we belted these out in A minor and hit glass shattering E' s and F's, the bewildered, Hindustani speaking congregation listened and held their peace, with a smile on their wooden faces. As my ex once introduced me to a group of ghazal singing Army officers, "Hamare barsaati dadoo ko bhi sun lo." Looking back, I am sure the Mission Hatha at Jalandhar felt the same way, but were too polite to say so.

My grandmother believed that 'Ashiyana', the Nest, was a befitting altar to Western music. The American missionaries, lonely and far from home, thought so too. Every weekend, they would walk across, music sheets, violins and basses under their arms. Granny produced a heavy tea. My Dada, Priyonath Dutt, objected strongly. 'Dadi' had become selectively deaf to his shouting and protests. As we sang our solos and Granny and her daughters played duets, nothing mattered but the music, the strains of which wafted throughout the neighbourhood.

Needless to say, guitars and mouth organs were a strict no-no. When Uncle Irwin started playing beautiful jazz, there were snide remarks and withering looks. When Anup sang Elvis' "Hot Dog Blues," at Greens Restaurant, we all sniggered and rotated our hips like him.

We were not ready for fusion music! 

Aabaran', a handloom show on at Kisan Bhavan-35, offers the best of traditional and trendy. No more plain stone pendants, adorned with kundan and meenakari work, the jewellery from Rajasthan offers a stylish yet affordable range.

A mix of Chanderi and Maheshwari suits, Pashmina in block prints, Jamawar shawls in a mix of wool and silk, chanderi and kalamkari suits in different patterns - the exhibition offers a variety to choose from.

Keeping in mind the modern generation, national award winner Shamim Ahmad from Benaras has brought fabric in paisley that can be worn as a sari, stitched into lenahga or made into a dress.

Kanya enterprises have brought Anandi's colourful lehanga choli from Jaipur. "We provided ensembles for 'Balika Vadhu'. We have brought dresses for little girls on the same pattern," says KL Soni from Kanya. Available from Rs 150 onwards, there are plenty of colours to choose from.

Suits, duppattas, stoles…weavers from across India have set up their stalls.

And the USP of the show? "Amazing variety with reasonable prices," says Indrani Gupta, who has been associated with weavers for as long as 10 years. "One values heritage, but in order to sustain, our craftsmen have created new designs that are bound to appeal to the younger generation," she adds. — TNS

After essaying different roles in Parineeta, Eklavya, Lage Raho Munna Bhai, Guru, Salaam-e-Ishq, Bhool Bhullaiya and Paa, Vidya Balan is set for the release of No One Killed Jessica, a political thriller set in Delhi, this Friday. The movie is based on the controversial Jessica Lall murder case. Lifestyle catches up with her.

You look really different in No One Killed Jessica. Who created the magic?

Yes I have this different look, thanks to Sabyasachi Mukherjee. He has always been known for creating magic with his heroines, I hope he does that to me as well.

What made you sign for the role?

When director Raj Kumar Gupta narrated the story to me, I was convicted about my character, which is based on Sabrina Lall. I heard the entire script and realised that there is so much to be told. The film has a very intriguing story.

Did you meet the people who inspired your character?

No, I did not meet Sabrina Lall as she is different now from what she was back then.

What's the story line of No One Killed Jessica?

Jessica Lall, a young model, gets shot while trying her hand at bartending because she refuses to serve a drink after closing hours. Her sister Sabrina and a TV journalist run from pillar to post to get the accused behind bars. The film revolves around their struggle for justice.

How was it working with director Raj Kumar Gupta?

Raj Kumar Gupta, who debuted with 'Aamir', is brave and bold. He has beautifully cinematised the infamous Jessica Lall murder case in this film, without any sensationalism. He is a very talented director.

What is your next project?

Dirty picture, which has been directed by Milan Luthria. I do not know how will I prepare myself, but I know a person who has directed Once Upon A Time in Mumbai will get the best out of me.

— Dharma Pal

Bollywood actor Imran Khan's wedding is the first high profile wedding of the year and he is making sure that it is nothing less than perfect, so much so that even the cooks are being flown from Lucknow to prepare traditional non-vegetarian dishes."For the wedding, cooks are being specially flying down from Lucknow.

These are specialists and have been cooking for the family (Nassir Hussain's) for more than five decades.

This is a traditional family of cooks having a more than 200 year-old lineage," said a source close to the family."They are even bringing the ingredients from Lucknow. All spices, vessels and other ingredients are being flown as they are very particular," added the source.Khyber, a North West frontier specialty restaurant, will be doing the vegetarian cuisine.The ceremonies for the marriage will kickstart Saturday with Mehndi at Avantika's farmhouse in Karjat, followed by a night-long party.Invitees are essentially family, close friends and people that Imran has worked with.On Jan 10, the registered wedding will take place at Imran's home with only close family members in attendance.

This will be celebrated with a dinner at Taj Lands End hotel.End of the month, when the newly-wed couple returns from their honeymoon, Imran's uncle and superstar Aamir Khan, along with his wife Kiran Rao will be hosting a high profile reception for the couple and the 'who is who' of the industry are expected to be there. — IANS

International glamour outstripped Hollywood and hometown favourites at the top of the 2011 best-dressed list for men's magazine GQ. Film star Javier Bardem was chosen by GQ's British edition as its top best-dressed man internationally, followed by

Indian-born Sikh jewellery designer and actor Waris Ahluwalia and Alexander Skarsgard, Swedish star of the hit U.S. television vampire show True Blood. "The Spanish actor is the epitome of underplayed style - no wonder he caught Penélope Cruz's attention," British GQ said of the 41-year-old Biutiful star in its February edition due out on Thursday.

The top 10 list also included Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan at number four, "High School Musical" heart-throb Zac Efron at six, new England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady at eight and George Clooney at number nine. "From the silver screen to Nespresso machine, the actor is an immaculate throwback to the golden age of Hollywood heroes,"

GQ said in an advanced copy emailed to Reuters. At the other end of the scale, actor Mel Gibson was the number one worst-dressed man internationally, followed by British fashion designer Henry Holland. GQ also panned Hollywood actor Will Smith's son Jaden for his sartorial sins as well as American Apparel founder Dov Charney and Guns n' Roses frontman Axl Rose.

"It's high time Rose left his clothes out in the November rain," said GQ in a pun on one of the group's songs. The magazine's list of the 50 most stylish men in Britain

was topped by English actor Aaron Johnson -- who played the nerdy superhero-cum-vigilante without any superpowers in director Sam Taylor-Wood's Kick-Ass. "Sam Taylor-Wood's actor baby daddy certainly kicks ass fashion-wise," the magazine wrote in February's edition. Johnson was followed by A Single Man star Nicholas Hoult at number two and English actor Douglas Booth, best known for his turn as Culture Club frontman Boy George in TV flick Worried About the Boy.

Royally speaking, GQ noted that Prince Harry is now the most eligible of the men in line to the British throne, now that Prince William has announced his plans to marry long-time girlfriend Kate Middleton. Harry took fifth place as a new entry in the overall standings of the 50 most stylish British men, while his brother William anchored 17th place.

"I've always had a soft spot for Sloane scruffs who can't keep the back of their shirts tucked in," GQ quoted Tatler magazine Editor Catherine Ostler as saying about Harry. "He's well dressed in the sense that he looks good because he really doesn't care."

Soccer player David Beckham may not have graced the England team with his skills at last summer's World Cup, but he hung onto a place in the sartorial stakes at 16, while Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron has fared better than his predecessor Gordon Brown.

Cameron ranked 20th in the overall 2011 best-dressed Britons list. Brown did not make an appearance this year but was voted worst dressed last year. Music impresario Simon Cowell may top the record charts with his proteges, but could only manage a modest 43 in the best-dressed list. — Rueters

Poster boy of Indian music A R Rahman, who turned 45 on Thursday, is looking forward to repeat his 2009 feat — winning a Golden Globe and an Oscar back to back. Rahman has already bagged his second Golden Globe nomination and is also in the shortlist of Oscar hopefuls this year.

The only Indian to pocket two Oscars, two Grammys and a Golden Globe, Rahman took the international music scene by storm with his award-winning tracks in Danny Boyle's rags-to-riches story Slumdog Millionaire.

Boyle repeated Rahman a second time for his film 127 Hours, which is already creating Oscar buzz. And as he celebrates his birthday, Rahman and his millions of fans are looking forward for a repeat of his golden run.

Though 2010 saw many achievements coming Rahman's way, it also saw his biggest debacle in the much-panned Commonwealth Games anthem Swagatham. The musician, who reportedly charged a whopping Rs 5 crore to compose the track, later apologised to his fans for disappointing them.

He also faced criticism for his film music with many saying that he has become repetitive. Rahman, who redefined contemporary Indian music by blending Western and classical influences into film music, has sold more than 150 million copies of his work comprising more than 100 film soundtracks and albums across over half a dozen languages.

These include landmark scores in Roja, Bombay, Dil Se, Taal, Lagaan, and more recently, Jodhaa Akbar, \Delhi 6 and Raavan. Hailed by Time magazine as the 'Mozart of Madras', Rahman has already worked with major international stars of his time. His latest collaborations are with British singer-songwriter Dido. Earlier, he worked with chart-topping international artists like Pussycat Dolls, Akon.

He also joined voices with some of the biggest names in the music industry like Celine Dion, Lionel Richie, Barbara Streisand and Kanye West to record a cover of Michael Jackson's peace anthem We Are The World. Rahman has not looked back since he got his first big break in Mani Ratnam's 1992 film Roja, which won him his first national award, the first time ever by a debutante.

Since then, Rahman has gone on to win the National Award three more times, the most ever by any music composer.

However, his first full-fledged Bollywood project was Ram Gopal Varma's Rangeela and he went on to give music in Dil Se, 1947 Earth, Taal, Lagaan, Guru, Rang De Basanti, Jodhaa Akbar, Ghajini, Raavan, Jhootha Hi Sahi and Robot. — PTI

Bollywood hunk Salman Khan turned nurse for Asin who fell ill while shooting for their upcoming film Ready.The actor who is reuniting with the Southern beauty after their 2009 film London Dreams made sure that she got plenty of rest and ate her medicines on the sets of the film. "Salman was extremely caring right through the shoot of 'Ready' and especially when I was ill. I caught an infection and even as I continued to shoot, I was on constant medication. Salman made sure that I ate properly," said the actress.

The Dabangg star kept a constant tab on his leading lady, who was down with an infection during the last days of the film's shoot. Asin's mother, who is a doctor, prescribed her medicine and it was Salman who made sure that she ate them on time. —PTI

It maybe one's effort to find abstraction in everyday objects or simply the challenge to capture the old-world charm, the result seems to land in one's kitchen. What we are trying to get at is not a human's obsession with culinary delights, but portrayal of kitchen utensils on canvas. It is not a new trend, but a one that continues to be in fashion.

Recently, we came across two more artists in the city, Som and Bheem Malhotra, whose paintings received appreciation during the last annual art exhibition of the Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi.

Som, an alumnus of Benaras Hindu University, is focusing on doing a series on his personal belongings, and kitchen utensils top the list. His series has some 30-odd paintings on real objects. "What I am looking for is abstraction in real objects and through that I am studying myself," says Som, who is a freelance artist. Like the pressure cooker with a dragonfly hovering around it is the reminiscence from his childhood days and to complement the feel, he adds a gas cylinder, all in bright orange and yellow. This particular painting of Som got an award in the professional category.

For Bheem Malhotra, who is famous for his Dhaba series, shifting his focus towards kitchen was only natural. And he takes it seriously, comparing modern kitchen to the old traditional ones, going to different states as well to learn more about them.

"Kitchens fascinate me and during this process I have seen so many different ones that now, it has become a challenge to capture their true essence," says Bheem. He recently went to Orchha temple in Madhya Pradesh to paint its community kitchen and is now off to Benaras to see the community kitchens there. Bheem's endeavour reminds us of another city-based Vijay Ozo's mud kitchen with a little girl and a burning 'chulha' that made news by winning the Unesco award in 1985.

And for those who would love to look at kitchen for more reasons than just gastronomical gratification, Bheem has a treat in store-a solo exhibition on his kitchen series soon.

parbina@tribunemail.com

The third edition of the India Art Summit is set to begin here from January 21 with artists and experts from over 20 countries trooping into the Capital for one of the biggest showcase of modern and contemporary art in India.

Works of over 500 artists will be displayed at the summit and the highlights of this year are special interactive sessions with well known artists such as S H Raza and Krishen Khanna. Raza, who has returned to the country after living in France for almost 60 years, is expected to be a crowd puller.

"The IAS has received tremendous response in past from the art world right from artists, galleries and curators and from the art buyers and enthusiasts," says Neha Kirpal, Director, India Art Summit.

"The last two editions have been runaway successes with more than half the work on display being sold. The third edition will showcase the works of the biggest Indian names in the modern and contemporary art and we envisage it to be the most successful art fair held in India till date," she adds.

The IAS 2011 will include art fair, sculpture park, video lounge, speakers' forum and art projects. While the art fair will represent a breadth of established and emerging modern and contemporary artists, the new solo projects section of the fair allows collectors, curators, and the general public to gain a deeper understanding of the works of a diverse group of Indian artists from Francis Newton Souza to Thukral and Tagra. — PTI

Digging for truth

Producer: Ronnie Screwvala

Director: Raj Kumar Gupta

Director Raj Kumar Gupta's No One Killed Jessica is set for release on Friday. Apart from the racy promos and unconventional characters, this is reportedly based on a real incident that happened in Delhi. The entire film was shot at real locations in Delhi.

Vidya Balan, who plays Jessica's sister, will be seen in a different look as a college student. Rani's character represents the media in this political thriller based on the controversial Jessica Lall murder case.

Sabyasachi Mukherjee has designed the look both for Rani Mukherjee and Vidya Balan. The film also stars Neil Bhoopalam, Rajesh Sharma, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayub, Bubbles Sabharwal, Geeta Sudan and Samera Chopra.

Raj Kumar Gupta has penned the screenplay and dialogues. Amit Trivedi has composed the music for this film. — Dharam Pal