She's young, alluring and one of the most sought after woman DJs in India and abroad. Snehar aka Rinku alias DJ Rink has an aura that can melt you, her mesmerising beauty and the nature of tracks she plays and composes can make even an 80-year-old man dance to the beat. In the Chandigarh to spin at Score, Snehar has many foot-tapping numbers to her credit including the chartbuster remix Dum Maro Dum-Elektro Vibe' from the album LadyArchitect.

Having been DJing for the past six years and after playing at all renowned clubs in the country and abroad (Dubai, Malaysia, Bangkok et al), Snehar comes along as a fun-loving and easy-going gal. What made her venture into the industry? "I was passionate about music since my childhood. I used to envy DJs at parties but I never got a chance to enter the industry. Later, I realised that the best way to be with music 24x7 was to be a DJ and thus began my journey."

And she surely has come a long way. Today she is also a remixer-producer who in her free time keeps herself busy with producing and mixing original tracks.

Snehar with her sound knowledge of electronic music has the perfect combination of taste and sense of music. "I like playing Bollywood music and retro remixes the most," says Snehar who has her hands in all genres of music from house to hip-hop and progressive to retro. How does she feel being among the few well-known women DJs in the country? "It feels great when people appreciate my music and my style. Even more so when you know that it is primarily a male dominated industry. There's no hard and fast rule that only male DJs can spin good music. I get all the support and encouragement from my male counterparts too." Doesn't all the globetrotting, long nights and hectic schedules get the best of the charming young lady? "It does get a wee bit hectic but one has to cope up. My love for music gets me into the mode and by the end of the day, err night, you don't know what time it is. But one does need to have the strength and stamina to avoid breakdowns."

Ask who has been her idol in the industry and pat comes the reply, "DJ Aqueel! He has been one of my biggest inspirations. He is really good at what he does and I wish that someday I could reach up to his level."

"I would love to see more women coming out and spinning their own music," says Snehar who has another album, Desi Diva DJ Rink, on the anvil. Don't miss it...

It's homecoming for Nitin Dutt. An alumnus of Government College of Art-10, Chandigarh, Nitin has travelled around the world for studies and work. Last year he came back to Chandigarh. To get back to city circle, Nitin has put an exhibition of his works at Alliance Francaise-36. Some 16 old drawings and two new wooden constructions, chart Nitin's journey as an artist.

The 16 frames done in watercolours, that Nitin calls 'drawings' have been done one of the most productive phase of his artistic life. "I call them 'drawings' because they have reference point to a lot more of my work," shares Nitin.

Done in orange and blue, one warm and another cold colour, the drawings bring out the turbulent phase that Nitin went through as he moved for the first time from his home town to Benaras for MFA. "From a modern Chandigarh I was in, I suddenly found myself in a city with culture as old as some 5,000 years back from present," says Nitin.

Sensitive to space, Nitin forced himself to another displacement from India to America. "As I could see my parents outside the airport gates, I realised how significant the gates are," says Nitin standing under one of the 'Gates' at the gallery. One side is plain, staid tiles and another bright orange. "Standing in this third space one can have a good look at these two different worlds," says Nitin.

The Gates, Nitin's wooden constructions occupy the centre stage at the gallery. Placed diagonally to each other, one square with a round door has bright orange on one side and the square one with round gate has blue. The colour combination, a continuation of his drawings probably.

Massive that the gates are, they invite one to come under and cross over the other side and reflect in colours. The orange comes from 'sindoor' and blue is from 'neel'. "But for me these are just colours," clears Nitin.

In the beginning of the gallery is a picture of BS Katt, Nitin's guru. "Though he is not around for a few years now but his teachings are always there. He would work on huge stones, so huge that one would fear getting crushed when standing in front of them. Any sculpture needs to be life size. That lets the observer interact with it," says Nitin.

The artist would be present most of the times in the gallery if you want to interact, The Gates and the drawings are there till April 4.

mona@tribunemail.com

IVORY STRUCK: SALIM ASGARALLY — Photo: S Chandan

It has been two years since the very regular Salim Asgarally showcased his collection at the Lakme Fashion Week. The status quo would remain until, as Salim says till there is a change in the policy of LFW and several other fashion shows. "The basic premise of any fashion show is to attract buyers, which these shows fail to do.

The number of clients is as it is very less and the retailers who buy from the designers do it on a consignment basis." The investment-profit ratio further dips with the participation fee being as high as Rs 2.5 lakh. "The retailers pay us back only when they are able to sell our creations. So, how does a fashion show with a big banner help us? I prefer smaller fashion shows than the major ones," says Salim, in Chandigarh on Sunday.

The solution he suggests is doing away with the concept of consignment sales to retailers. "All fashion designers should together pass the resolution of selling the creations to retailers. Whether the retailers are further able to market and sell the product should not then be a designer's concern." He adds that fashion shows should also charge less participation fee and rather charge commission from the designers, if the sales are made at the show.

Salim is here to showcase his latest collection, Shalimar at the Trendz exhibition, which had to be cancelled due to security concerns at Taj. A bit miffed Salim says, "It was for the organisers to ensure that the dates of cricket match and exhibition didn't clash. Or we should have been intimated at the right time."

The collection was inspired from the motifs on the Mughal architecture. "The best example is the flower motifs inside the Taj Mahal. My designs have embroidery in different colours on the white background." He has used a lot of mal-mal, a fabric ideal for summers. Next is the use of georgettes and chiffons. "The concept is also tonal based that is creations are monochromatic and so is the thread used for embroidery. I have mostly used pastel colours except for the work on whites, for which I used a lot of colours." For those who were looking forward to add his creations to their wardrobe can do it on April 2, when he will be again here to showcase his Shalimar collection.

LINK ME NOT: Rana Daggubati

Southern actor Rana Daggubati, who is set to make his Bollywood debut in Dum Maaro Dum, has squashed rumours of a relationship with co-star Bipasha Basu. "I have immense respect for Bipasha as a co-star and it's embarrassing that people should think otherwise. Don't know where the rumours keep creeping up from again and again!" Daggubati posted on his Twitter page.

The 25-year-old actor, who has been reportedly dating Shriya Saran for the past five years, is said to have had a rift with her -- thanks to his closeness to Bipasha. However, Daggubati has denied anything more than a friendship with Shriya.

THE COP RETURNS: Ajay Devgan in his role as a cop in Singham.

After working on various genres of cinema and having a super successful box office year, leading actor Ajay Devgan is back to what he loves doing best -action! The actor is currently in Goa, shooting for Reliance Entertainment's Singham directed by Rohit Shetty.

It’s been a long eight years since his last action movie, and Ajay is back to it with a completely drool-worthy body and the 'sophisticated khaki' look. He says, "It's a film about men. Singham will mark the return of hardcore raw action to the cinemas with a lot of dialogue-baazi and machismo.

It should sock a punch; it will connect to the man on the street because of its simple narrative and terrific action."

Director Rohit Shetty is also gung-ho about this movie. His Jodi with Ajay Devgn has done wonders at the box office earlier with 4 back to back blockbusters, the Golmaal series and All The Best.

Director’s cut: Rohit Shetty

Now the audiences have something new to watch out from this hard-hitting Jodi. "My hero Bajirao Singham (Ajay) is a simple police officer who is happy to toe the line till he is provoked by baddie Prakash Raj to show his ferocious side. And when Ajay does that, hell breaks loose", quips the stylish director.

This movie also marks the return of the raw desi action which Indian movies are known for. Rohit Shetty adds, "I have not used a single foreign fighter or imported any foreign equipment for my film. I personally feel indigenous action has a better impact than all the foreign stunts that people are obsessing about these days. As Indians, we identify with our style of raw action, which we have sidelined because some of us have suddenly developed an affinity to the West. To each his own, but for me what works is our own desi action.''

Singham also stars southern beauty Kajal Aggarwal as the romantic lead opposite Ajay Devgn and is slated for release on 22nd July.

IN TUNE: Hugh Jackman

If Shah Rukh Khan made Hollywood star Hugh Jackman dance on Dhak Dhak, singer Manasi Scott made Aishwarya Rai and Jackman sing with her at the FICCI Frames 2011 awards function in Mumbai.

Scott sang a number All That Jazz and while singing, she came down to the audience and asked Jackman, Aishwarya, superstar Shah Rukh Khan and filmmaker Karan Johar to sing a line along with her.

Aishwarya and Jackman were sporty enough to join in the song and sang one line each, a source says. The two actors bagged the top honours at the FICCI Frames awards Friday night.

While Jackman, best known for his role as Wolverine in the X-Men series was presented the FICCI Frames Excellence International Honour, Aishwarya took home the Decade of Global Achievement award for her contribution to the Hindi cinema. — IANS

State’s man: Aamir Khan

Aamir is Maharashtrian of the Year

Bollywood actor Aamir Khan and Maharashtra Home Minister RR Patil received the Maharashtrian of the Year award, instituted by leading Marathi daily Lokmat, at a function held recently.

While Aamir received the award in the entertainment category, Patil received it in the politics category.

Others who received the award on the occasion include Kalpana JoshiSanjay Gaikwad (industry), Bhagwan Rampure (arts), Kavita Raut (sports), Dr Ravindra Kolhe and Smita Kolhe (social service). — Agencies

Oscar winning actress Jennifer Hudson, who lost her mother, brother and nephew in 2008, reveals that she uses music as therapy. Hudson lost her mother Darnell Hudson Donerson (57), brother Jason Hudson (29) and seven-year-old nephew Julian King in a grisly shoot-out in Chicago in October 2008.

"My music is my therapy. Someone asked me to do a film about a year back, and I was like, 'No, I can't do a film right now because I can't be someone else if I don't know who I am," she said. "I'm just trying to figure out where I am and who I am and I could only resort back to music because that's like my home and first love. — IANS

Hollywood actress Katie Holmes has collaborated with Italian design house Valextra to create luxury bags. The 32-year-old actress has designed a calfskin tote bag with Valextra, which will be retailed for USD 3,950, reported a website. "Their quality is exceptional. There's such integrity in their work - they're artists," said Holmes.

The actress and her Holmes & Yang fashion label co-founder Jeanne Yang is expected to launch two versions of the calfskin tote, one in white and navy and the other in white and black, which will be retailed for USD 3,950, this July. The design process was completed in just two weeks after Holmes met with the Valextra team when she visited Milan for a fashion week in February. — PTI

Troubled actress Lindsay Lohan is planning to drop her surname. She wants to be known by her first name like - Oprah and Beyonce. Lindsay's mother Dina revealed the actress, who is facing trial for allegedly stealing a $2,500 necklace from a Californian boutique, will drop her last name. "Lindsay is dropping the Lohan and is just going by Lindsay. Plus, me and Ali (daughter) will be officially changing our last names back to my maiden name, Sullivan," a website quoted Dina as saying.

Lindsay was initially inspired to lose her surname as a result of a $100 million lawsuit she launched against trading company E*Trade last year and due to the continuing legal problems of her father Michael. "So many of the greatest people in showbiz are known by just their first name. Look at Oprah and Beyonce. Now you can add Lindsay to that list. And it's a way for them all to start over. No one in the family wants anything to do with Lindsay's father anymore and that includes sharing a last name," said a source. — IANS

Actress Reese Witherspoon, who has long been the face of Avon, is releasing a set of three new fragrances with the cosmetic company this year. The actress will unveil "Love to the Fullest" in April, followed by "Laugh Often" in May, and "Live Without Regrets" in August. "One day, she feels joyful and playful. The next, optimistic and modern.

The new entries in Ram Milayi Jodi on Zee TV Dimpy (Rinku Karmarkar) and Pam (Sunayana Fozdar) have some big secrets that will be revealed in the upcoming episodes. The mother-daughter duo who claim to be rich NRIs and don't spare any opportunity to flaunt their wealth are actually bankrupt reveals a source. The source says, "Dimpy wants Pam to marry a rich Indian guy and settle down in the country because they have lost all their wealth and cannot return to Canada. There will be some emotional scenes between the duo in the upcoming episodes in which the truth about them will be revealed." The source adds, "There are also some cute scenes between Karan and Pam who are complete opposites in store, in the future episodes. This could just be the start of their love story." — HRM

Every word has a meaning; every line comes straight from the heart. The music is excellent, in fact there isn't one place I can pin point or be critical about the song. Satinder is already touted as one of the best singers of Punjab that puts him under a lot of pressure. The singer has scored well with Cheerey Waleya. A must have on your music list, I suggest. (As told to Jasmine Singh)

LIBRA: Patience and time are necessary to progress. The advice of elders, professionals can make all the difference. Your love life will be active. Interesting day for mixing with people from overseas. Little extra care with desk work is essential. Tarot message: Plan your life to avoid the inbuilt delays that come your way. Lucky colour: Pale yellow. Magic number: 59

SCORPIO: Excitement & happiness is on the cards. An increasing income means more luxuries of life to enjoy. Socialising and attending gala events can be costly. You need a breath of fresh air and time out today. Postpone journeys. Tarot message: Strive for perfection at work. Lucky colour: Blood red. Magic number: 63

SAGITTARIUS: If possible, make this a day of retreat and solo activity. Someone you meet today may give you a useful business tip. Go over accounts. It's best to stay at home during leisure time. A Taurean will be supportive. Tarot message: Be sure of involving yourself as much as possible in the new project. Lucky colour: Golden yellow. Magic number: 57

CAPRICORN: Early part of the day is most exciting. Today should see many of the policies that you have been following bear fruits. You will be able to take lead in partnership affairs. Do not allow friends or family to distract you during study hours. Tarot message: Do not leave things to chance. Lucky colour: Cream. Magic number: 50

AQUARIUS: Finance and income are in the spotlight. Matters involving spending, saving and borrowing are all worth examining. If looking for a higher pay, speak to your boss in the afternoon. Sudden changes in romance are on the cards. Health is fine. Tarot message: Don't be too certain about obtaining a clearance. Lucky colour: Sea green. Magic number: 41

PISCES: Make sure you are doing your best. You could be in line for a promotion or recognition. Employment affairs are satisfactory. It would be wise to avoid alcohol if you have a get together at night. Make a plan and stick to it. Tarot message: Rivalry and competition would push you to do your best. Lucky colour: Baize. Magic number: 52