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All that jazz
There is something interesting about music; coming from any branch, representing any genre, flowing from any country…you just need to enjoy it without much thought.
Some tweaking; mixing here and there sure adds a bit more interest. So, if you are a jazz music fan who is given a generous helping of classical along with it, how would it go? Wait till you hear the Austrian Jazz duo Christoph Pepe Auer and Christian Bakanic perform. Clarinet player Christoph and Christian on Bakanic can whip up an ensemble of original folk compositions alongside contemporary and jazz, the way you like it. Universal influence Some things like music look best when they are served in their original form, but when it comes to playing for the audiences who minds fusion here and there! Christoph, who has performed in a number of international jazz festivals and has won many awards, says, "Jazz is a popular genre in music, however, it is a faithful loyalist who enjoys and understands it. We bring in universal influences because it is a creative process and also makes a particular form acceptable," he adds. Christian, the rising star on the European scene for his accordion work, finds amalgamation of music a creatively exciting process. "We like it this way. We got an amazing response when we played jazz and contemporary together at a concert in Nepal." Coming to the universal influences in their work, the duo has the best of the music incorporated. Christian, who is visiting India for the first time pulls out a list, looking at Christoph for approval. "We play covers of popular music, including instrumental version of Nirvana; we also have a fusion of James Bond and Mission Impossible theme songs," he adds. They are known to create wonders through improvisation. They echo, "We do a lot of improvisation on stage. It is like we only know about the middle of the performance; we have little clue about the beginning and the end." Christian has recently watched a Bollywood movie for five minutes, but he does not remember the name. "Bollywood music is a lot of dancing also," he smiles. They laugh when asked do they dance along on stage. "No we don't. We interact on stage through music, which holds our audiences and makes the performance interesting." jasmine@tribunemail.com
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Discover a kid’s world
With summer here, keeping kids occupied during the long afternoons is going to be a task. To help, Discovery Kids has launched series of new programmes including Transformers Prime.
A hugely popular series the world over, it takes children into adrenaline pumping face-off between Autobots and Decepticons in their struggle for the control of the earth. "The animation is high quality," says Rajiv Bakshi, vice president, Marketing, Discovery Networks. When they talk about kids beings exposed to content not positive for their growth, is Transformers Prime a good idea? Rajiv defends, "Animation is not a bad word; what matters is how and in what language is the content being offered to the children." Entertainment remains the main motive, but Discovery, which has launched new genres on TV from Wildlife, science, lifestyle to exclusively kids, has done thorough homework. "We have taken kids and their parents' feedback right from designing the logo to the content being aired," offers Rajiv. It's just not animation on Discovery Kids, but most of the shows are live action. Targeted at children aged between four to fourteen years, they bring global infotainment with shows like Tintin, Sally Bollywood, Bini the Jungle Girl, Gadget Boy and Mystery Hunters. Tintin and Snowy have been a huge hit, Sally is a cool class topper who turns detective in free time; Bindi Irwin takes you to the wild tour while in Mystery Hunters, two young kids are on treasure hunt. Among the global attractions, an inside view of the Indian President's house to all-women expedition to Mt Everest are some of the other recent shows. When most parents would rather lock kid's channels, Discovery Kids has found favour with children and guardians alike. Based on the feedback from viewers Discovery launched its kids' channel some six months back. "The channel is rather well-received," Rajiv shares the feedback, "We go to schools, principals, teachers and parents; trust us it takes courage to approach them. So far we have been hearing positive feedback about our shows." While the prime viewing hours remain one to four; then five to seven for kids, there is viewership almost round-the-clock. Rajiv explains, "India being such a huge country, with different timings and vacation schedules of schools, our programmes are watched at 10 in the morning too." Launched in English, Hindi and Tamil, there are no plans for any other regional languages yet. Rajiv spills the beans, "While Hindi has a nationwide reach, English works for most metros. Only Tamil Nadu is one state where regional viewership is more." With summer vacation, movies will make way on this channel as will new shows like Finding Stuff Out and Adiboo. While the first gets you better understanding of the world around, the latter exposes their natural talents. "We try to ensure that in our programmes it is kids talking to kids," says Rajiv. mona@tribunemail.com
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Designs on future
Hoping to celebrate the myriad colours of life in their annual exhibition, students of the International Institute of Fashion Design (INIFD) present a blend of their interior, textile and fashion design sensibilities based on the theme - festivals of the world. Illustrating as many as ten fiestas across the globe in this exhibition, the students have artistically created a vivid assortment in the exhibition that begins on April 19.
The Japanese corner When you walk in, the remarkable paintings along with the mesmerising lanterns instantly catch your attention. "We have tried to display the traditional colours of Japan while using a modern technique," says Niti Chand, student. "The dresses add to the extravagant affair." Interior designs Ranging from the Mexican Balloon Fiesta to the Pushkar Mela of Rajasthan to the Brazilian Street Festival and the Harbin Snow Fest of China, there is much to admire. The Halloween Fest has its own spooky charm! Says Shruti Jain, Head of Department, Interior and Textile Designing, "We present new concepts from the scratch every year. It usually takes a month for the students to complete all the detailing, but there is also much to enjoy while you are at it." Textile touch The textile designs are equally catchy and intense. Starting from a modern design studio inspired from the London designs, A4 paper art derived from Paper Fest in Sydney to International Kite festival, which also includes saree, jewellery and pottery designs, there are a host of things to admire. For sale The designs are charming and one can buy as well. "Once the exhibition is over, the students can take orders," says Amit Gigoo, Head of Textile Department. He adds, "However, our main aim is to provide a platform to the students to display their talent." More to it Apart from this, former students who have launched their own brands will be displaying their works for sale. You can find suits ranging from Rs 500 up to Rs 18,000; while the kurtas are priced between Rs 400 to Rs 2,200, dupattas and the scarves are priced between Rs 500 to Rs 1,500. Paintings are also available for sale starting from Rs 7,000 onwards. The range of jewellery also starts from a nominal price of Rs 100.
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From across the border
A four-day show, 'Made in Pakistan', was opened at the Himachal Bhawan, Sector 28, Chandigarh, on Wednesday. The show is being held by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in association with Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Pak World Trade & Expo Centre.
Anil Kumar, Home Secretary, UT, while inaugurating the show, said, "In the present scenario of global slowdown, regional ties are the best answer. India and Pakistan need to look beyond politics, towards shared economic gains. Both countries should take advantage of similar cultures and lifestyles." Major attractions at the Fair are the Swiss lawn suits especially for summer, bridal, chiffon and cotton suits; Ijal (dhoti) style suits, casual kurtis, daily dresses and classy sarees along with special 'ittar'. The ethnic wear from Multan, Islamabad; beautiful Rosewood furniture from Karachi is also an attraction.
—TNS
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Name plate!
Vishvesh Khanna from Geoffrey's in Ludhiana has made a repertoire of his regular as well as special visitors and got their names embossed on plates for them individually.
"It is a personalised service to make those who patronise this joint feel special," he says. A first-of-its-kind initiative in the restaurant business in the northern region, the preferential treatment is quite an ego-booster for the guests. "Who doesn't feel elated by a royal treatment - being served in a plate meant only for you," quips Sanjiv Sethi, who frequents this restaurant with his wife Bhavna and kids. The special list has crossed the hundred mark and Vishvesh hopes to add a few more in the near future. "It is a unique marketing tool indeed and a likeable one," chorus Dr Sandhu and Navdeep Kamboj, who are frequent visitors to the place.
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star track Ayan Mukerji is almost ready with Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani which releases at the end of next month and is a highly awaited film. There is some work left and he is racing against time. He talks about the movie and everything connected with it. Music masti We have really awesome music in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani. I made a mistake in Wake Up Sid as the celebratory Bollywood song and dance was missing. Here I have gone all out and Pritam has very willingly stuck by my side through all the ups and downs of the movie. Of course, we have got great response to songs. Ranbir has taken Pritam's fab score to another level. Old association Ranbir Kapoor means a lot to me. We have become great friends. It meant a lot to me that he did my first film and he has more faith in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani than me and stuck by the project through thick and thin. I subconsciously write for Ranbir now. Why would I look for any other actor? He is the perfect package. Earlier, we were still getting to know each other and used to be careful but now we have a solid comfort level, like a couple in an old marriage. Racing ahead Besides dubbing, an item song with Madhuri Dixit and Ranbir are still to be completed. Then I have to wrap up a few sessions with Pritam and lots of other loose ends along with promotional activity. So life is hectic these days. After the release of the movie, I will take off to the Himalayas once again. Casting couple Of course, a lot of buzz around our movie is because Deepika and Ranbir who were in a relationship have come together for this movie after their break-up. The promo ends with an intense scene to make people curious. I have known Deepika and Ranbir when they were dating and I see them now. They are just really great friends
Different take The challenge in making this movie was the visual scale and movement. We have shot in so many places that I went a little crazy with the budget management and organisation. My first film was shot mainly in one flat in Bombay. The film is about having fun, living life on the edge and dealing with getting older and yet preserving youth.
High expectations
Vir Das has already made a mark in movies like Delhi Belly and Badmaash Company. He will be seen next in Go Goa Gone. He talks about comedy and films.
Play take I improvise all the time, in stand-up comedy and in films. I do two takes: one for me and one for the director. I call it the "Vir play take" where once the director has what he wants, I ask for one more take where I can do something stupid or whatever comes in at that moment. Thirty per cent of the times, the second take is also approved. Films are a break from stand-up comedy for me. Being observant Indians have a great sense of humour and we are even willing to look at the lighter side of sensitive issues. Sensitivity is not but dishonesty is an issue. The rule of stand-up comedy is that 80 per cent of the people in the room should agree with you or laugh along with you. You have to be able to read the pulse of the people. We can then happily talk about politicians, religion, sex, traffic. It is important to stay intelligent and observant and this comes over a period of time with trial and error. I am quite the juggler. Most actors have only one set of audiences through their movies. I have an audience in stand-up comedy, in music, and in films so I am very lucky and get a chance to keep it fresh. At the same time, it is a huge responsibility to live up to as people have high expectations. You can see me in a movie on Friday, then a rock show on Saturday and at a stand-up comedy act on Sunday with 2,000 people and each audience consumes all the content. Many-a-time, my stand-up comedy audience tells me they expected better from me in a movie. So I am responsible towards my audience.
Kunal Khemu does not read much unlike Soha who loves reading. He helped pen the script of Go Goa Gone with the directors of the film. The film was the brainchild of the trio. He even translated the dialogues from English to Hindi so he has been pretty involved in the project from start to finish.
Helping hand: Kunal Khemu
Special call
Aamir Khan has stayed in the same flat for the past forty years. It is a beautiful apartment, we assure you because he invites the media up into his house on his birthday every year. He even got his mother to stay in the same building on a higher floor and loves the peaceful society. He has temporarily moved out of his beloved home as it is undergoing renovation and cannot wait to move back in.
Makeshift move: Aamir Khan
No one is perfect
Amitabh Bachchan is considered an acting institution. Bollywood looks up to him proudly and with sheer respect. He is an acting legend and inspiration for all who wants to make big in Bollywood. One would run short of words to describe his acting caliber and achievement but Amitabh feels that he is a rotten actor. For few days, he has been asking his fans to point out the mistake that he made in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Black eight years ago. Though the film was hugely acclaimed and Rani Mukherjee and Big B's role was highly appreciated, the megastar feels that there is some fault in one of the scenes and finally, he found the mistakes. In the movie, he played an Alzheimer and Rani a blind, deaf and dumb girl.
"...I was asking about the fault in my performance, in that scene, and not the other factors. And here is what the fault was," Amitabh posted on his blog. Sharing the mistake, he posted: "When I inform all at the table that Rani had dictated a letter to me to be read at the table, especially for her sister, I took out the letter to read, and then my hand went straight to my upper pocket of the jacket to pull out the glasses to read... Mistake." "I needed to feel around in my other pockets to ascertain where my glasses were, instead of my hand directly going to the pocket. For someone who is soon getting into the symptoms of Alzheimer's, where patients forget where and what they do, it was incorrect of me to go straight to my pocket," he posted.
Three is comapny
Priyanka Chopra's cousin Meera has replaced Prachi Desai in the sequel to 1920. Vikram Bhatt was absolutely in awe of the ravishing Meera Chopra and was more than happy to cast her. She is the third Chopra sister in the industry. The film rolls next month.
New entry: Meera Chopra
Neha Sharma is a gadget freak and she was absolutely delighted to find out that her co-star Sunny Deol is also completely into gadgets while they were shooting together in London. Sunny was impressed by her knowledge and expertise about gadgets.
Tech edge: Neha Sharma
Dance time: Imran Khan and Esha Gupta
K JO on a hectic pace
The year 2013 seems to be a busy year for Karan Johar who has as many as three films lined up for release within a matter of a month.
Johar, who is just back after vacationing in New York, has got into the promotion and marketing of Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Bombay Talkies and Gippi and is going to be occupied like never before. Moreover with 2 States and Ungli making brisk progress, courtesy, the limited duration for Sanjay Dutt to finish his shoot, things have gone extreme for the filmmaker. "What a year. Within six months of Student of the Year, Johar has wrapped up, one of the four segments in Bombay Talkies. As a director, this is the minimum space between two of his films. Just a week after the release of Bombay Talkies (May 3), will his home production Gippi arrive (May 10). Since the film is a non-star cast affair and unconventional, he is going to cover an extra distance to ensure its wide release," observed a source in the
production.
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chatter box
When we asked Manish he shares, "For a restless soul like me it's a task to look drained and so to get that right I am doing all I can. The sleep technique is a fluke, which I hit upon once before a close up. It swells up the face and makes the face look dull."
Ritesh's TV debut
Ritesh Deshmukh, who will be making his television debut with the show on Star Plus, was seen shaking-a-leg on the stage recently during the audition round of India's Dancing Superstar. Ritesh was shocked when a mother daughter duo performed together during the women's special episode. In fact the actor refused to believe that the contestants were related. Later, when the contestants requested Ritesh to dance with them he danced with them on his popular song Dil mein baji guitar. Catch Ritesh on India's Dancing Superstar from April 27.
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New Releases
Producer: Ekta Kapoor Vishal Bhardwaj This Friday, cinegoers can look forward to a spooky treat with Ek Thi Daayan, which is directed by debutant Kannan Iyer and stars Emraan Hashmi, Konkana Sen Sharma, Huma Qureshi and Kalki Koechlin. This movie is produced by Vishal Bhardwaj and Ekta Kapoor's Balaji Motion Pictures. Emran Hashmi plays a nimble-figured magician on silver screen. Shot in the Kingdom Of Dreams, India's largest and most extravagant and well-equipped theatre in Gurgaon, it promises something different. Ek Thi Daayan is a supernatural thriller with electrifying jolts, special effects,
VFX, and also marks the first ever association of the Bollywood's two biggies Vishal Bhardwaj and Ekta
Kapoor. With a solid soundtrack by Vishal Bhardwaj and lyrics by Gulzar, Ek Thi Daayan talks about witches, who have been part of our culture for centuries. Based on a novel by Mukul Sharma, the film is a blend of romance, mystery that promises to leave the audience spell bound and intrigued. The Croods
Producer: Jane Hartwell, Kristine Belson The audience will watch Caveman's story in the animated film The Croods which also releases today. Set in the stone age, this movie is an animated prehistoric adventure film about a family of cave dwellers fighting for survival. The 3-D children comedy from 'Shreek' and 'Madagascar' creator Dreamworks Animation is distributed by 20th Century Fox. — Dharam Pal
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Astro turf
ARIES: Recognize your behavior and try to keep a check on your temper. Drama, music and public speaking groups will appeal.
A compulsion for romance will lead you astray. Tarot message: Do not rely on empty promises.
Lucky colour: Green. Lucky number: 25
TAURUS: Use this day to rest and recharge your batteries. Health will be stable. You will be travelling for business. Other negotiations and discussions should be preferably scheduled. Tarot message: You
find within yourself a fountainhead of will power. Lucky colour: Red. Lucky number: 47 GEMINI: Be compassionate towards your partner and let them be absolutely open and frank with you. A family member will require your support. Venus will shower love and romance in relationships.
Tarot message: Do what is right and watch your best interests. Lucky
colour: Orange. Lucky number: 36 CANCER: Health will be a matter of concern, keep a healthy routine. At home, a past conflict will resurface and create issues.
Social interactions will be lively and entertaining. Tarot message: You are advised to focus on professional changes.
Lucky colour: Turquoise. Lucky number: 53 LEO: The day will focus on your own ability to change in various ways. Due to your new found confidence and assertiveness, you will face some resistance. But don't be afraid to stand for your beliefs, values and morals.
Tarot message: Be responsible. Lucky colour: Peach. Lucky number: 64 VIRGO: Your social life will be hectic and exciting. Things will not go very smoothly in your search for a mate. Married couples will be worried about their partners. However, honest communication will bring them closer.
Tarot message: Think positive. Lucky colour: Green. Lucky number: 38
LIBRA: Business people will consider entering partnerships or joint ventures with likeminded individuals. This will be a good day to travel and get in touch with loved ones. Start a healthy schedule.
Tarot message: You gain by
being practical. Lucky colour: Mauve. Lucky number: 27 SCORPIO: Some relationships will grow closer and more intimate. The focus of the day will be getting in touch with your true self.
Be more receptive and open to new ideas. Tarot message: Focus new light on your emotional and spiritual place.
Lucky colour: White. Lucky number: 42 SAGITTARIUS: The presence of the full moon in your own sign increases your sense of perception and intuition. Although your health will be good, some of you will suffer from minor injuries, colds, fevers and the like. Tarot message: At work, don't hold back anything from your employer. Lucky colour: Golden-brown. Lucky number: 61 CAPRICORN: At work,
avoid putting too much on your plate. Some of you will have to take a personal decision. You will be inclined towards religion and
spiritualism today. Tarot message: Stay focused. Lucky colour: Purple. Lucky number: 40 AQUARIUS: Memories, romance, feelings and emotions will
be the focus of the day. It is important that you learn from the past, enjoy the present and then move forward.
Tarot message: Focus on the better to mitigate the bitter. Lucky colour: Yellow.
Lucky number: 55 PISCES: Your competitive nature will help you stay ahead of others. Social activities will be highly encouraging. Transfer and promotion are likely. Stick to your budget to avoid financial constraints. Tarot message: You have to push to succeed.
Lucky colour: Aqua. Lucky number: 59
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Austrian Cultural Forum in association with the Chandigarh Tourism, CITCO and Chandigarh Film Society has organised the show. Shares Robert
Wank, first secretary of the Austrian embassy, New Delhi, "Austria has different music forms, which we would want to bring forth through various artists. Original traditional forms, classical and contemporary influences, are included in this as well."
now and very comfortable with each other. They both have grown and moved on. I always had Deepika in mind when I was writing the movie.
Different acts
Lata Mangeshkar saw Talaash during its television premiere. She especially loved Kareena Kapoor's performance and role in the film so she personally called her to tell her that. Bebo was so excited and happy about this that she went around telling everyone about the call. The legendary singer thinks Bebo is one of the finest actresses of the current generation.
Imran Khan and Esha Gupta have shot a very racy song for Gori Tere Pyar Mein and danced very closely. Imran thinks Esha is hot. She has worn only short dresses in the song and she is quite a bombshell! But neither of them are good dancers. So we will have to see the dancing for ourselves.
Gone are the days when only Bollywood actors like Aamir Khan would get into every detail of their character, now our telly actors like Manish Raisinghani are also following suit. We hear that Manish, who is currently seen on Sasural Simar Ka as Siddhant Bharadwaj, has really changed his look in order to fit the track of a drained and defeated character. Manish has grown facial hair and is rumoured to be sleeping and taking a nap before every shot if possible in order to look tired and foggy.
