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Beat upbeat!
If you were to know that there are two kinds of deejays — one who plays for the crowd, the one that we all see and know, and the others who play for themselves. DJ Bijan, called the big daddy of the night life in Chandigarh, is a fine blend of both. He understands the pulse of the party-goers and whips some tunes that he loves. All set to present a mix of Persian and Sufi notes at Kava-26, Chandigarh, on Saturday, DJ Bijan doesn’t mind walking down the memory lane where deejaying had just started. Today, it is an all together new world of sounds, gadgets and influences.
The commercial Sufi Sufi is a genre that is much-celebrated, enjoyed and experimented with; as for DJ Bijan it is the commercial Sufi! He laughs, “Sufi music is the highest level of meditation. The kind of Sufi we have is more commercial, even the one used in Bollywood.” Bijan will bring up Sufi music that will make you groove and dance. “This is how it is meant to be — flow along and drown into it,’ says Bijan, who is now planning to orchestrate a series of Persian Sufi concerts here in association with the administration and ICCR, and other cities in India, including as Mumbai, Kolkata and New Delhi in order to promote Sufi music in the country. Then & now Bijan with his event management and production company ‘Big Bang’ was also responsible for setting up a few discotheques and night clubs in Mumbai, Manali, Delhi and other cities as well as also for organising a number of mega concerts of India’s well-known artists in Chandigarh. However, he has seen hotel owners not being very keen on spending money on instruments. “Things have changed now with state-of-the-art instruments that have made it much easier to create music. Of course, creativity has not taken a backseat,” shares Bijan. Given the softwares that deejays use, they can simply be looked at as one big orchestra! Mix & match As he brings to the city a mix of Persion, Sufi and Iranian music along with the regular commercial tracks, Bijan feels people want Punjabi, “I understand that they want to have fun and dance and I am here to give that.” jasmine@tribunemail.com
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String of success
Life is on a roll for Sushant Sharma; busy giving music in two upcoming films, Oh God Saaren Hain Fraud and Camera Action Roll, he is working on a Sufi album with Asha Bhosle and also accompanying Roop Kumar Rathod or Hariharan on stage.
This Chandigarh guy took to the guitar merely to impress girls, but as he had the musical gene in him, he carried on the tradition of his father Meghraj Sharma and brother Harvinder. “I chose guitar instead of the sitar, which my brother picked, as it was too tough,” he confesses. Sushant moved to Mumbai in 1993 to learn guitar and got a chance to work with top artistes from the country. Sushant is now gearing up composing. “I am thankful to God for the opportunities I got. Working and travelling with top grade artistes makes one learn every day.” Sushant is grounded and he is elated on collaborating with Asha Bhonsle. “It is a rare honour to have Asha Ji sing for you. We are doing a Sufi album together for which we will start recording in mid-April.” Apart from making music for the industry, Sushant is happy to have done series of education DVDs with Golden Bell. From nursery rhymes in Hindi, English to tables, some 40 plus DVDs have educational content in them. “It’s an interesting project that I have given music for. To begin with, we have had singers from Chandigarh as part of this, now the likes of Alka Yagnik and Shaan have joined the bandwagon too.” Sushant gives much credit to his teacher, “Sudarshan Ji always encouraged me.” There is a lot to be desired when it comes to music training in his hometown, “It’s important to stay true to your instrument and still we do not have dedicated teachers for different instruments here in Chandigarh.” mona@tribunemail.com
Remembering Jagjit
Sushant Sharma had the good fortune to accompany ghazal maestro Jagjit Singh on stage. In fact, he played with him during his last concert in Dehradun too. He fondly remembers Jagjit as the musician with whom learning was zabardast. “Jagjit Singh inspired me in more ways than one. I was especially influenced by how selective he was in choosing lyrics. He was a god-gifted man, we have shed tears on every concert as he sang Chitthi aayi hai,” says Sushant. “Also, he was so easy before any concert and inspired others to remain cool. Gana hi to hai, he would say!”
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Suit yourself
As the sun gets warmer by the day, wearing something ‘light’ has not become a matter of choice but also a necessity. The Lucknawi style chikankari suits in pastel shades would not only ease off the ‘weight’ of your clothes, but also make you look cool, traditional, yet sophisticated. The suits brought to you by Shalini Kohli under her brand Shalu’s are sure a delight for the connoisseur’s eye.
“The pure cotton suits come in subtle, pastel shades. Although bright colours are also in, white and lighter ones are being preferred more. Most of the embroidery is done by hand in the traditional manner,” says Shalini, the designer. Traditional embroidery and chikankari forms, including murri, shadow, tepchi, chander, georgettes, daraaz, mukaish, are done on the kurtis. The designer also showcased chikankari-covered salwaars and dupattas. “I have a collection that is very light and beautiful for the summer season,” says Shalini. Lucknawi style is very intricate and it takes several days to create one suit piece, as it is done by hands. The jaali work in some of the forms of embroidery takes even longer,” she adds. Shalini also takes her collections to different places, including Delhi, Dubai and Allahabad. “Chikankari works always look fantastic. Despite being a traditional form of embroidery, chikankari suits done is different designs have a very contemporary feel to them and look excellent,” says Amarjit Kaur, a visitor at the exhibition.
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Golden moments
If a picture speaks a thousand words, a piece of jewellery exhibits a million emotions. And when a woman buys a piece of jewellery, the memory lasts for a lifetime. With this notion Orra has launched its new collection of contemporary ethnic jewellery that comes with a marked influence from Tokyo, Hong Kong, Antwerp, Mumbai and New York. While Orra is famous for its exclusive diamond jewellery, it has introduced gold jewellery for the first time.
And it's affordable with the range of light weight chains starting from Rs 5,000. The new range include temple jewellery from South, jhumki from Rajwada collection, kundan-pokli collection, Rajkot and Kalkatti filigree works besides modern designs of Belgium, Tokyo and New York. Displaying a neckpiece from the Rajawada collection made of pearls and gold with an antique oxidised finish, actress Shilpi Sharma says, "I prefer elegant and light weight jewellery in the daytime. My neckpiece today reflects my true identity; my origins of Rajasthan." She also talks about her dream role in Bollywood "If given a chance I would love to do a role similar to that of Deepika Padukone in Cocktail." Apart from being an actor Shilpi is also a DJ and fashion designer.
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Crowning glory
Dr Sukhdeep Kaur Beautiful hair enhances a woman's beauty. Most women suffer from hair loss. There are two different types of hair loss— pattern and diffuse hair loss. Pattern hair loss Female-pattern hair loss, which usually has a strong genetic factor, is also referred to as androgenetic alopecia. This type of hair loss can start as early as the late teens and the earlier it starts, the more severe the hair loss tends to be. There is visible thinning over the crown. The first sign of hair loss that most women notice is often widening of their parting or that their ponytail is smaller. Diffuse hair loss: The three main reasons for diffuse hair loss in woman are—low iron, low thyroid and not enough minerals in the diet. Iron loss: We see this in women after childbirth and in women during the pre- menopausal years when heavy periods may occur. Up to 60 per cent of women have low iron and it is often undiagnosed. Due to higher iron requirements as a result of menstruation, women need 20 mg of elemental iron daily yet most of us are only getting 8 mg per day from our diet. Hair follicles contain ferritin. Low ferritin causes the hair to change structure become dry, not hold the curl or colour well and break easily. Iron supplements represent another challenge because it causes digestive distress. When choosing iron choose with care, liposomal iron is one where the iron is trapped in a protective bubble that guides it through the acidic digestive tract to the intestine, where it is absorbed effectively and swiftly. Twenty-three per cent of women are currently taking thyroid medication and up to 30 per cent of women may also have sub clinical or mild hypothyroidism. Thinning hair, hair loss and loss of eyebrow hair are common symptoms of low thyroid. A deficiency in these hormones may also result in some of the following symptoms:
Once the underlying low thyroid is resolved by medication and the TSH drops, hair starts to grow back in six to eight weeks. Mind your minerals--the modern lifestyle is rampant with stress, medications, birth control pill, smoking, alcohol that further deplete our nutritional stores. As a result, deficiencies in the key nutrients required for healthy hair are rampant i.e. zinc, silicon and selenium. A good quality multivitamin with minerals is a nutritional insurance policy and should contain 15 mg each of zinc and silicon. Start today with liquid iron, a thyroid-support formula and a great multi- vitamin with minerals and your hair will start to regain its youthful bounce. (Dr Sukhdeep is a Chandigarh-based dermatologist)
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Future Shock
Shopping for gadgets in China can be a fun prospect. Starting from devices to check your pulse at home, test your most fertile days and make the most of the very handy and compliant kitchen widgets; there's just so much to gape upon. And remember, once you get to a Chinese gadget bazaar, bargaining is a must.
While its tricky to decide what to buy and what to ignore? Here's a list of some distinguished inventory to get you started. Rose seeds with multi-coloured petals If you've already got the pink, red, yellow, white and black roses in your garden, it's time to get the psychedelic ones! You can buy rose seeds from China that germinates into plants with colored roses. You can simply put seeds into lukewarm water, shift it to the sand and let it bloom! Zoom lens cup Here's something for the diehard photography fanatics. The zoom lens cup is a replica of the Canon 100mm f/2.8 L USM. It keeps your tea or coffee warm with its thermal insulation properties. Beware; the resemblance is so strong you might try fixing it on the camera only to realize later that it's a cup! 7-Color LED light bathroom shower head Add the magic of romance while you shower with a multi-color LED shower head. Further, it looks ecstatic with an electroplated finish. What's more! The shower head works without any power supply and has water-saving capabilities! Power all your gadgets with this multi-point battery charger. It's a simple pad that provides hours of power to your electronics-Apple's iPad/iPod, as well as Samsung, HTC and Sony Ericsson. Security for your car Get the real-time car GPS tracker and car alarm system for the safety of your car. It comes with exciting features such as a camera and shock sensor. The built-in microphone and remote control offer control over the car. (Nishtha is a Chandigarh- based technology
expert)
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Craft corner
The Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation Limited, with the brand name of Poompuhar has displayed a wide range of craft items at Lajpat Rai Bhawan.
The craftsmanship is richly reflected in bronze, brassware, stoneware, sandalwood and rosewood carvings in day to day utility art pieces like that of lamps, wooden sculptures, wall brackets, door handles, tableware, lamp shades etc. These artifacts are of the finest quality and well within the reach of a common man with price range starting anywhere from Rs 65 to Rs 5,00,000. —TNS
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Band baja baraat in B-town
Kunal Kemmu and Soha Ali Khan
John is planning to have a secret and low-profile wedding to his banker girlfriend Priya. They began dating only last year and John is certain about marrying her this year. She tamed the player, it seems.
Shahid is back
Shahid Kapoor is extremely busy these days after doing almost nothing in the second half of last year. He will be seen in Phata Poster Nikla Hero, Rambo Rajkumar and a few other movies in the coming year. This charming actor talks about all that matters to him.
Family first My family is really important to me and they are my strength. I am extremely close to both my parents and my brothers. I have made a few friends in the industry who stand by me and I try and stand by them too. I am still in touch with my old friends and we still hang out. My hobbies I love dancing, working out, going for dives, riding my bike, cooking Indian and Italian food, spending time with my dog and doing nothing at times. I have become more media friendly than I was earlier. I love watching movies and reading books on movies. Role call I try to make the best choices from the roles I get. I feel my most challenging work has been Kaminey and I am happy people liked me in it. I want to push myself as an actor and continue doing different roles and take on more work.
Cold vibes
Katrina Kaif and Deepika Padukone are both linked to a certain Ranbir Kapoor. They performed and shared the stage at the IPL ceremony but did not interact much and it was up to Shah Rukh Khan to dodge the cold vibes and maintain a good atmosphere.@!
Hitch hiker
Ayushmann Khurrana was stuck in traffic and had to hitch a bike ride from his make-up man Rashid on his two-wheeler. He was getting late for media interviews, Rashid saved the day for him.
Cannes calling
So far Amitabh Bachchan has desisted from going international. But now with his first Hollywood film, a spanking remake of the F Scott Fitzgerald classic The Great Gatsby where our biggest icon has a small but pivotal role, Big B has big plans for a proper international debut.
Come May (2013), he will walk the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival with daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who is a regular at Cannes. For the first time confirming his Cannes plans, Amitabh says, “I have been informed by Warner’s that The Great Gatsby has been invited as the ‘opener’ at Cannes. I propose to attend the Festival. I do not know how the schedule shall work out for the red carpet, but Aishwarya and the family have walked the red carpet on an earlier occasion too.” At the moment, he is completely immersed in his role of the crusader-politician in Jha’s Satyagraha. Speaking excitedly on the experience of shooting the film in Bhopal, Bachchan says, “We have been shooting for Satyagraha for almost two months now and by mid-April or its end of the month, shall have finished the entire film, perhaps ahead of schedule. The experience has been exhilarating for many reasons. One of course the location, the city of Bhopal, its pleasant environment, hospitable people. And two, the joy of working with a large and very committed star cast.
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Huma's TV debut
Over & out
Celebrity call
Mini Mathur, who was last seen hosting Indian Idol 6, is all set to host a new celebrity chat show. Confirming the news, Mathur tweeted: 'Hosting a new celebrity chat show... Cerebral yet fun but more food for thought. Details soon.'
On big screen
Hussain, like his contemporaries will be doing a movie. He quietly shot for a film called Shree which will release on April 26. The film is about a guy who gets scammed into a scientific experiment. Lured by the promise of quick money and a bright and successful future, he agrees to trade 12 hours of his life for Rs 20 lakh.
Return of Nicki Minaj?
With the climax of the Season 12 of American Idol, currently airing on BIG CBS LOVE, fast approaching, everyone is wondering whether spunky judge Nicki Minaj will be back for the next season. While there is no official confirmation, show producer Nigel Lythgoe has been giving away some hints sparking rumours of Nicki's return as judge on the next season of the worlds biggest and most loved singing reality show. Tagged as a much controversial judge on American Idol after Simon Cowell, Nicki Minaj made her debut on the 12th season of the show with fellow newbie's Keith Urban and Mariah Carey.
While Nicki admits to being tight-fisted as a judge, she confesses that truly cares about the contestants and relates to them in a way that goes beyond music. "I feel like my entire career and life I've been judged by people who really did not know me," she says while getting sentimental. "I'm just happy that the 'Idol' producers gave me a shot on the show for me to be able to show who I really was. To find out don't miss American Idol Season 12, every Friday and Saturday at 9pm exclusively in India on Big CBS Love.
New emotion
On Colors' Balika Vadhu, Saanchi (Roop Durgapal) will develop feelings for Jagya (Shashank Vyas). She will realise he's a good and a caring man. She will not like the fact that Jagya has stayed back in Jaitsar with Ganga (Sriti Jha), when he could live in a city.
The Buddy Project goes silent
In what is a first for the show and the channel, Channel V is coming up with a 'silent' episode for The Buddy Project, Season 2. The particular episode will have no audible dialogues and will play out entirely through songs and background score!
The silent episode comes in at a crucial juncture in the lives of the protagonists where they are forced to face their anger and hatred towards each other. There is an inherent melancholy and hopelessness in the premise that has turned best friends into sworn enemies. All this is orchestrated by the character of Jaitely (played by Manav Gohil), who pushes the kids to confront their anger. In the second season of the popular Channel V show, the setting has changed from the school campus of the Royal Academy to the college grounds of the Imperial College of Communication and The Buddy Project has moved on from school rivalry to college hostility, from school crush to college romance, from class-room wars to real world competitions. Palak Jain and Kunal Jai Singh were in Chandigarh on April 2 to promote their show and are apart of the silent episode. Says Prem Kamath, general manager and channel head of Channel V: "The episode is emotional and takes the story forward without breaking the momentum. So even though there are no audible dialogues, the progress of the plot and the action of the characters are easy to understand.” The silent episode will be telecast on April 8 at 6pm. The Buddy Project Season II is currently on air, Monday-Saturday at 6pm, only on Channel V.
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Astro turf
ARIES: The Priestess manifests material and emotional abundance with inner strength, maturity and communication skills. This is a good time to compete for a position of power. TAURUS: The card Magician reveals your imagination can run wild now and you want to act out a strange desire. Promotions will be yours if you have acted professionally in times of crisis. GEMINI: Your card "The Princess of Cups" helps maintain clarity in complicated work situations. Love ties grow stronger. Children will be annoyed if they feel restricted. Give a thought to travel plans. CANCER: The "Ace of Wands" strengthens and you will feel elated to see roses all the way. You can have quite a romantic adventure if you take out time for your partner. Take care of dealings with strangers. Tarot message: Dare to accomplish long-term tasks. LEO: The Knight of Pentacles brings healing. You will need some help today. Try to get away with your mate. Do not enter into any speculation. Tarot message: Take things one at a time instead of multi-pronged strategy. vIRGO: The Knight of Swords instigates you to be active and clever. The biggest plans require attention to the tiniest of details to turn them into reality. In fact, the higher you aim, the more precision is needed. Tarot message: Listen carefully to words of wisdom. LIBRA: Your card Five of Pentacles suggests your friends could get on your nerves today. Be careful about getting into disagreements with seniors. Plan a special romantic evening with your partner. Tarot message: You will receive a useful tip at the stock. SCORPIO: Your card The Moon reveals clarity in relationships.A frequent change of mood is likely. Further studies will help fine-tune your capabilities to perfection. SAGITTARIUS: Do not put undue pressure on yourself; be willing to lie back and take a break. Indulge yourself in personal pleasures like eating, sleeping or counting your net worth. CAPRICORN: Three Wands representing the Brahma, Vishnu Mahesh "Trinity" bring success in whatever you do today. You will be in an irritable mood and loved ones bear the brunt of your temper. AQUARIUS: A real buzz in the air evokes fresh possibilities. Yet, even the longest journeys start with the first steps. Make initial moves to get the ball rolling in the right direction.
Tarot message: A fresh approach will help.
Lucky colour: Rust.
Magic number: 54 PISCES: Your health and well-being are a priority. Set aside part of the weekly budget for whatever you need to ensure that you stay in top shape. A new
approach to an old problem will help. |
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Past connection
Chashme Baddoor
Directed by David Dhawan, Chashme Baddoor is an adult comedy film with Ali Zafar, Siddharth, Taapsee Pannu and Divyendu Sharma in lead roles. The film is a remake of the 1981 film which was also titled Chashme Baddoor. The storyline of the film revolves around Sid (Ali Zafar), Jai (Siddharth Narayan), and Omi (Divyendu Sharma), three friends living in Goa. Their friendship goes through a troublesome phase when Sid woos Seema (Taapsee Pannu), a woman whom Jai and Omi had been pursuing for a long time. Jealous of Sid's romantic success, Jai and Omi pledge to break the two of them apart. A laughter ride The movie is a complete stress-buster. If you are looking for an escape route out of a worried life, this is the movie you run to. I liked Ali Zafar's role in the movie and the song Har ik friend kamina hota hai. The first half of the movie was better than the second half, but all in all it was a very entertaining film. Varsha, student, Government Home Science College Simple and sweet It's an entertaining and fun film and it can really make a man laugh. I really enjoyed the movie and though it has a very simple storyline, the drama and humour in the film give it an edge above the other masala comedy films. Kumar Ajay, assistant professor, Government College-11 As told to Amarjot Kaur
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Charger for multiple electronics
Dia Mirza and Sahil Sangha
Abhay Deol and Preeti Desai
John Abraham and Priya Runchal
Aftab Shivdasaniand Nin Dusanj
