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The Chosen one
Life of a classical musician is not easy…at no stage of life they can say that say that they are over with studies. But, they have an advantage too, that they can transfer the joys of their learning to others!
Bombay Jayashri, Indian Carnatic music vocalist in Chandigarh, on Sunday opened up on her eventful journey and how she is enjoying every bit of it… While concentrating on her classical learning, Jayashri has worked on a wide canvas. From composing for a dance drama based on Tamil Epic Silappadhikaaram, to singing for the audio biography Wings of Fire to composing for rather commercial Hollywood film Life of Pi, Jayashri is all for beautiful music. She credits to her bringing up. “My parents encouraged us to listen to all kind of music. I would spend days learning a Lata ji’s or Rafi ji’s song for it was beautiful,” Jayashri confesses. Being brought up in Mumbai opened her up to varied communities and cultures too. That shaped her outlook as an artiste who is ready to embrace music from different genres. So she has collaborated, not only with Indian artistes but also others like Hisham Abbas, an Egyptian singer and Thione Seck, a Senegalese. She explains, “When I got to do Tamil verses for Wings On Fire that celebrate the noble life that our former President Kalam has lived, I seized the opportunity. So was the case with the Life of Pi, I got to do wonderful music.” The latter got her an Oscar nomination, and she is elated, “Ang Lee heard one of my Surdas bhajan on internet and that’s how he approached me for the lullaby. I won the nomination because it is an Ang Lee film.” What change has the nomination brought for her? “This made me reach out to more people and make them interested in classical music that I do. I am happy about it.”Moving to Chennai to learn under her guru Lalgudi Jayaraman has influenced her a lot and that’s where she got her unusual name too. “In Carnatic music, there is this practice of putting your village’s name before yours. Since I came to Chennai from Bombay, that’s the name now,” she smiles. Ask her if we will see more of her in Bollywood, she humbly puts that she is keen on classical music and content with the stimulating work in the industry where the offers for her are few and far between. Jayashri starts the month of April with a concert in Chandigarh and would wrap up this month with a concert in Opera House, Sidney. How does she manage constant travelling, learning, teaching and composing? “By God’s grace, music does it for me. It is my passion. Though I am 24 X 7 into it, it doesn’t seem like work at all, more so I love to pass the joys of it on to my audience.” Period! mona@tribunemail.com
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In a happy space
The beige colour of her sari with a silver lining blends with her gossamer skin. In the newly set summer sun, she sparkles; an earnest smile perched on a bright shade of lip colour. Adjusting the pleats of her sari, which she thinks is creased and ironed well, Anchal Singh, the leading lady of the recently released Sri Lankan movie Sri Siddhartha Gautama, settles down for a chat. The not aligned pleats of the sari are still on her mind and much more…
On the movie, “I am so overwhelmed and excited to be a part of this movie. It’s like a life time experience for me. Sri Siddhartha Gautama is an epic film based on the life story of Prince Siddartha. Through this movie, we tried to embark on a spiritual journey. Without preaching, the movie emphasizes on the higher values of life that are pretty much relevant and applicable in today’s world,” says Anchal who plays Yashodhara, Siddharth’s wife in the film. She isn’t thinking about anything now, be it the lunch already served on the table or the sun hitting hard. Anchal is in her film zone now. And she wouldn’t mind letting you in. “We are not trying to force anyone to follow Buddhism through the movie, we only sharing the higher values of life, love, honesty.” The movie is produced by Navin Guneratne. The film is directed by Saman Weeraman, while the renowned film maker Chandran Rutnam is acting as the main advisor to the entire production. This is also Anchal’s debut movie. Without attributing any link to the destiny, this beautiful actress, owes this project to her parent’s blessings and others involved in the project. Born in Chandigarh, Anchal has done over 60 commercials and print advertisements and signed a Bollywood project. “My parents’ are into meditation and this is how, at a later stage, I got inclined towards tarot card reading,” she talks softly, measuring the length and breadth of every word she utters. “I moved to Mumbai because I wanted to act, once I was there, I promised myself that I had to work hard. My parents supported me in this. Things fell in place one after the other and I got the project,” adds Anchal. Sri Siddhartha Gautama wouldn’t have changed her totally, but it definitely brought her closer to the values of life. “I play a strong character in the film for which, I had to prepare a lot. You don’t expect to read the script and enact. I had to learn the language in which the movie was shot that is Sinhali. I had to get under the skin of the character, feel it from my heart to play it. I would get goose bumps when I would read about her; she was a lady who inspired selfless love and sacrifice. This was my share of preparation for the role.” Anchal is happy with the success of the movie. “It is doing pretty well in Sri Lanka. We are trying to release it in the neighbouring countries including India,” she looks up into the clear sky, placing her hand on her heart. “The struggle paid, thank god.” So, did she see her future in her cards? She laughs, “I read card for friends in Mumbai, not very regularly.” Did she see her in the cards, we wonder. Before, we can pester her for an answer, she is back to adjusting the pleats of her sari! jasmine@tribunemail.com
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A worthy cause
Sometimes, life decides its own course. Just as in the case of Komal Aggarwal, who post an MBA degree joined the CA firm of her family. This was already after two teaching stints at Wigan & Leigh MBA College and Sportking Institute of Fashion and Design, where she was moved by the plight of young girls who could not get a job despite the education provided by their parents.
“If these educated girls were facing problems, what about the illiterate women slogging in their homes? They too needed to be self-reliant,” she says. Komal is now actively involved with associations for community welfare and women empowerment. She is currently the president of the Ludhiana chapter of FICCI, whose members last year taught a group of rural women the art of making envelopes, bags as well as small artifacts and how to market them. As for girls from the urban areas, they were taught the basics of computers and Internet safety. “This year too, our endeavour is to educate as many young girls as possible on the safe usage of the Internet,” she says. For the coming times, Komal has a two-point agenda - to brief as many women as possible on the basics of banking and their legal rights. “In our recent meeting, we have started the ‘seeti’ campaign wherein girls will carry a whistle in their bags and blow it if they are in trouble,” shares Komal, who is also the president of the Punjab Thalassemia Welfare Society. “The job of this society is to arrange donors for patients who cannot afford treatment and are badly in need of aid,” she says. NGOs like ‘Salam Zindagi’, which hold regular blood donation camps, have come to their rescue. “Recently when my father-in-law celebrated his 75th birthday, we accepted all gifts in the form of donations to the Society,” she adds. That is not all; Komal is also the treasurer of Arpita Cancer Society. “I am trying my bit; rest is up to the Almighty,” she smiles.
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In the top league
R&B star Rihanna has seen off competition from Beyonce and Katy Perry to be named the most influential pop star. The 25-year-old topped the list compiled by 4Music after an analysis of social media activity, airplay and press coverage, reported a publication online. Beyonce came in second, while boy band One Direction bagged the third position followed by Perry and Justin Bieber. The Umbrella hit maker posted pictures of herself on instagram celebrating the win. "I only know how to be number 1!! I could use a challenge... How dat feel down there on ya knees, Huh?!," she wrote. Rihanna is famous for her tracks like Love The Way You Lie, We Found Love, Where Have You Been, Unapologetic and Diamonds. — PTI
Taylor Swift keen to meet Prince Harry
You Belong with Me hit maker Taylor Swift is reportedly keen to meet Prince Harry during his upcoming visit to the US in May. The 23-year-old singer has earlier dated former US president John F Kennedy's great nephew Conor Kennedy, reported a publication online.
"Taylor's desperate to get her name added on to the VIP lists of stars being lined up to meet Harry. She loves everything about him especially his ginger hair and English accent. She's dated John F Kennedy's great nephew Conor Kennedy, who is considered American royalty and Harry would be a massive step up from him. Taylor is also Harry's type as he loves blondes," a source said. Swift has previously dated boy band One Direction's member Harry Styles and was most recently linked to singer Ed Sheeran. — PTI
Luxury at its best
Pop star Lady Gaga, who was recently seen in a 24-carat gold plated wheelchair as she recovers from a hip surgery, was spotted in a new custom-made Louis Vuitton chair.
The Born This Way hit maker was celebrating her 27th birthday in Chicago, with boyfriend Taylor Kinney, when she was pictured in the designer creation, which features a seat covered with the French fashion brand's iconic brown and tan initials print, reported a publication online. Gaga has been on wheelchair since she got an operation done to repair a labral tear on her right hip last month. She was previously photographed in a lavish gold wheelchair, which she commissioned from luxury brand Mordekai. —
PTI
Under the table
Troubled actress Lindsay Lohan, who was out partying in a nightclub recently, sat on the floor and hid under a table to avoid taking pictures with fans. During an appearance at the club in Sao Palo, Brazil, Lohan was photographed hiding under a table and seemed to be crying while an unidentified man smoking a cigarette attempted to get her out from under the table, reported a publication.
A Brazilian, who was present at the party, clicked a photograph of Lohan and added the caption, "Bafao! In party in Sao Paulo, Lindsay Lohan refuses to take pictures and hides under the DJ table (sic)." The 26-year-old flew to Brazil to promote a clothing line, for which she was reportedly paid USD 100,000. The Mean Girls star is due to start her 90-day rehab stint in May due to charges stemming from a car crash. —
PTI
Too much, too soon
The success of Kai Po Che has brought Abhishek Kapoor a fair bit of trouble.
He was inundated with congratulatory calls, messages and was chased by producers and actors and he could not keep up. So he changed his number. Now people are trying to reach him through his cousin Ekta Kapoor.
The leisure hour
All kicked up
Sleeping beauty!
Not without my phone Kareena Kapoor Khan: Apart from being married to Saif Ali Khan, she is also married to her smart phone and loves instant messaging, which she does whenever she gets time off between shots. She loves to gossip too. On a more serious note, she spends time with her niece and nephew. Hi-tech: Kareena Kapoor
Jack of all trades Shahid Kapoor: He has had a lot of spare time lately before he began filming. He likes working out, cooking and dancing in his spare time. He also bonds with his little brother Ishaan. That’s what we call, a complete man. Dance drama: Shahid Kapoor
Sun, sand and sea
Priyanka Chopra: She is the epitome of busy in Bollywood, running from one place to another. She likes going for long drives with loud music or watch the rain fall from her window. Once a year, she takes a beach-side holiday. |
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Dance and drama
Debina Bonnerjee aka Mayuri of Sab TV's Chidiyaghar, is a trained dancer. She is a major in Kathak and has also learnt Bharatnatyam and Kuchipudee. "As a child, I used to crib about the long hours that I spent during the dance practice, but now I love it. Dance adds flexibility to your movements. As an actress, whenever I get a chance to dance, I never let it slip. I have performed at several functions across India, sometimes with Gurmeet and sometimes alone," she says. According to her, classical dance is her forte, but initially she had some problem with Bollywood and Latin dance. Debina is performing with Gurmeet for ‘Save the Girl Child initiative’ by All India Doctor's Association and is also participating in Shreeman Shreemati Dance Reality show against Gurmeet. "It will be entertaining. Imagine challenging your own husband," smiles Debina.
Scandals, showbiz and shame
Television actress Mona Singh, who rose to fame after being put on the front burner of Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin and is currently essaying the role of a staid housewife in Sony TV's Kyaa Hua Tera Vaada, has been facing substantial embarrassment because of an MMS clipping. The clipping showcases a female, who looks suspiciously like her, indulging in unbecoming sexual behaviour.
Mona who has never had a whiff of a scandal in her entire career says, "I am aware of a scandalous video featuring my look-alike. At this point of time all I can say is that this is a morphed video." Mona has lodged a complaint at the cyber-crime branch. "I've taken a relevant action and the investigation regarding the same is underway," says the actress. While Mona clams up beyond this, a colleague from the television industry says, "Mona comes from a conservative Punjabi family. Such a scandal is not something her family would like to accept as a part and parcel of show-biz. She is deeply mortified and shaken by the episode." Mona can take solace in the fact that several actresses before her have been victims of the murky morphing syndrome.
Positively negative
Kishwer Merchantt of Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani will now be seen once again in a negative avatar in Sahara One's Tujh Sang Preet Lagai Sajna. The show is undergoing a change and she will enter the show as Mohini, wife of Imran Khan. She
zeels her fans love her in negative roles.
Burning the midnight oil
Double the fun
Too early to say goodbye
Tota Weds Maina starring Kavita Kaushik and Gaurav Gera will go off-air on April 5. Gaurav Gera felt sad that the show will be pulled off-air in just three months and he feels that a show must get at least 4 to 5 months to prove itself.
Money matters
Though the popular TV show, Khamoshiyaan, has ended, the actors of the show have still not been paid. The show that made news for its delay and lack of TRPs went off-air in February. As per the rule, everyone is paid after 90 days, but the actors of this show are still waiting for their payments, they have also filed a complaint with
CINTAA.
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Astro turf
ARIES: Love and travel are on cards. You can expect a promotion or salary hike. Strong feelings can overwhelm you and distort your sense of perspective. Rather than letting them stew under the surface, discuss it with your family. TAURUS: Communication on the job front needs greater importance. Don't let petty aspects take precedence over what is truly rewarding. An opportunity to work in an advertising firm might come your way. Tarot message: Don't do anything at the cost of your health. GEMINI: Health problem could slow you down. Take it easy this morning and bask in the luxury of a late start. Some of you will fancy lying in the arms of your lover all day long, instead of working. CANCER: Explore your hobbies or a favourite sport for mental and physical stimulation. A friend might talk you into doing something you would rather not do. Say no and be done with it. Avoid any impulse to gamble. Tarot message: Do not expect too much from others. LEO: Bizfolk: Do not invest your money in hasty concluded deals. This is a good day for romance and starting a new relationship. Domestic affairs run smoothly. VIRGO: Be conscious of what you speak. Anxiety can interfere with your sense of well-being. Go outside for a walk or visit a scenic spot for a relaxing nature therapy. LIBRA: Club and group activities will occupy you. Explore your hobbies. Make sure you join a reputable organisation. You will reap spiritual rewards. SCORPIO: Employ logic to your thoughts. Don't expect people to make compromises. Stop worrying about what other people think of you. SAGITTARIUS: You may fall madly in love while travelling. Drive carefully. Partnership issues are likely to surface. Face the facts and talk to your partner with love and honesty. Tarot message: Be determined and increase your self confidence
which will be on trial. CAPRICORN: Keep your wits about you. This will allow your mind to catch up to your emotions. Colleagues and associates might step on your toes. AQUARIUS: You will get good opportunities to showcase your artistic flair. Loved ones will do what they can to solve family problems. PISCES: The card "Six of Wands" emphasis on fun and accelerates social activities. Your effort will not go unnoticed by superiors. Talk with you lover about your future plans and goals. |
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The year ahead
If your birthday is April 1...
Though the year will begin on a low profile, you will eventually achieve your business goals. You'll have your head in the clouds and you'll deal with your daily routine in a superficial manner. You'll be very attentive to things which seem significant and you will try to take the right measures to improve your relationship. Even if you know you are right, stubbornness will cause you harm and conflict. You will have to look for equilibrium and meditation to avoid disagreements. It will be vital for you to recognise the moment where you have to stop, even if this is half way through the journey. It will be a mixed year at work. Financial gains may not come to you easily. It would be better to avoid decisions on major issues. You will receive the blessings of elders and this will be good for you. Health will remain normal. You will be able to rely on a freelancer who will protect you from the negativity of someone in your firm. You'll listen to partner's criticisms of how you run your life but this will irritate you somewhat as you will not appreciate such interference in your affairs. You must learn how to evaluate every situation with the correct amount of modesty. If you are living a moment of success, re-dimension your enthusiasm. Grandchildren would be a source of immense pleasure. Be careful not to make harsh comments in case you are pushed into an argument. Students are advised to relax and take some time out for themselves from their busy study schedule. This will revitalise their energy and make them feel fresh as ever before. Several issues requiring great political tact and old fashioned 'charm' may unfold with in-laws, elders and power figures. Spending appears to escalate big time but does appear to be necessities like food, entertainment, educating children, travel, clothing and appliances. You may desire a little seriousness in relationships and it may happen. Mood: Vulnerable Compatible Signs: Aquarius, Cancer Lucky colours: Dark Green & Brown Lucky days: Monday and Wednesday. Lucky numbers: 2, 11, 17, 80, 87
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Ayaz Khan (April 1,1987) began working as a model in the late 1990s. He has appeared in over 300 print and television advertisements during his modelling career. He has acted in several Hindi films, including Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na. He also played the role of Shubhankar Rai on Dill Mill Gayye that is telecast on STAR One. The combination of one and three is very significant in his life. His career will be at its peak in 2016.