The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - The Tribune Lifestyle

	coming soon Cultural bonanza Mona This summer, the Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music And Culture Amongst Youth (SPICMACAY) goes big, as two ambitious projects are set to roll. Firstly, classical art will get a platform in the form of a national reality show Naad Bhed (the mystery of sound) and, secondly, the society gets its first International Convention. Both of these upcoming events are on a grand scale. To begin with, Nadd Bhed, which SPICMACAY is doing with Doordarshan, is all set to get Shabana Azmi as its host. The judges' panel will have the likes of great maestros of Indian classical music such as TN Krishnan, Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, Begum Parween Sultana, Vidwan TV Shankarnaraynan, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia and Ustad Amjad Ali Khan. Those who are keen to contest can download the form from the SPICMACAY website and the entries close on June 30. The International Convention will be held at IIM Kolkata from May 20 to 26. To be inaugurated by the President of India, it will have performances by eminent artistes of Indian classical music and dance such as Girija Devi, TN Krishnan, Pandit Birju Maharaj, Vidwan TV Shankaranarayanan, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma and more. The convention aims to provide a glimpse of India's composite heritage to the youth. More than a thousand students (including students from North zone) from school and colleges will experience the age-old Ashram Jeevan during this Convention with exposure to Nadayoga, Hatayoga and meditation with famous gurus of different art forms, concerts in the evening, including overnight classical, film classics, folk arts of India, craft workshop by Master Crafts persons, heritage walk, talks by eminent persons etc. The convention will also be live webcasted on SPIC MACAY website (www.spicmacay.com).
	First day first show A thrilling ride Aurangzeb Directed by Atul Sabharwal, Aurangzeb is a crime thriller film that stars Prithviraj Sukumaran, Arjun Kapoor, Sashaa Agha, Swara Bhaskar in the lead roles. Meanwhile, Jackie Shroff, Rishi Kapoor, Amrita Singh, Sikander Kher and Kavi Shastri play supporting roles. The film is a remake of the film Trishul, which was released in 1978. The story of the film traces Yashvardhan’s (Jackie Shroff) journey, a real estate developer, who is known for illegal works. His top crew member, Ajay (Arjun Kapoor), leaves no evidence after the job is done. However, the police department captures Ajay and tortures him, while they send Ajay’s look alike, Vishal take Ajay’s place. Vishal joins the crew and becomes an informer, whilst Ajay is being tortured into snitching Yashvardhan’s business secrets. It is further revealed that Ajay and Vishal were twins who were separated and that the police officials were taking advantage of it. Well begun but half done The film is executed well. The first half of the movie brings some thrills and surprises, which are rather refreshing and they give a good push to the plot. However, during the second half, the plot becomes all the more predictable, which ends the suspense. I loved the dialogues though, they are wacky, hard-hitting and they have an impact. Nevertheless, it is definitely a must watch. Atin Khanna, businessperson Looks that matter Sashaa Agha, who essays the role of Arjun’s lover interest, has really made an impressive start. Not only is she bold and beautiful, but her acting skills and dialogue delivery are at par with any other Bollywood actress. Also, I love Arjun’s look. The unkept overgrown hair on a tanned skin provides all the basic essentials that qualify for a steaming hot bad boy. He has acted pretty well too. Jaspreet Kaur Sandhu, student Old is gold I loved the storyline of the film. The twin brother concept had faded out for quiet a while now, but this film revives the plot on those lines. Jackie Shroff’s role of a cunning mafia brings back old memories and I do not think anyone else could have pulled this role off better. I also like Arjun Kapoor’s boisterous look. Anu Sharma, housewife Epic Based on William Joyce’s children book The Leaf Men and the Brave Good Bugs, Epic is an American 3D animated fantasy-adventure drama film. Directed by Chris Wedge, the director of Ice Age (2002) and Robots (2005), the film features the voices of Amanda Seyfried, Colin Farrell, Josh Hutcherson, Christoph Waltz, Aziz Ansari, Chris O’Dowd, Pitbull, Jason Sudeikis, with Steven Tyler and Beyoncé Knowles. The film portrays a battle between the forces of good and evil and tells the story of a teenage girl, Mary Katherine, who finds herself in a secret world. Surreal but nice It’s a wonderful movie and I’m certain that people of any age group will be more than happy to watch it. I like the surreal plot, which is purely based on imagination. However, the way the film has been presented and directed, it’s a fun trip to watch it. Swati Chadda, student Fun and adventure The movie was good. I liked the role of Mary and her father, who battle it out the Boggans. I like the adventure ride. I definitely think it’s a must watch because there’s not a dull moment in the film. Suruchi Bhatia, student —As told to Amarjot Kaur
	The Foodies A welcome treat Jasmine Singh There is a rule with the waiters which says you cannot make them look at you unless they want to! In Swagath Sector-26, this rule is broken. Here, a customer just has to look in their direction, and voila, like magic everything is put in order or rather laid in order. One of the oldest fine-dining restaurants in Chandigarh, Swagath does not boast of an uber chic interiors but this is one place you wouldn’t mind spending time before and even after you are through with your meals. There is a plateful of options here, some spell ‘amazing’ and others that you can conveniently ignore. Take a round with us; you might be able to form your opinion before you hit the place. The ambience Family type, a colloquial term, describes the ambience best. Big groups of families and even corporate executives are to be found at this place. And the yo-yo young crowd, well, everybody doesn’t have a taste for fine dining do we say! At your service This is one thing that you would take a liking to at Swagath. Everybody waiter seems to be with everybody. They are not part of the set up, they are live entertainers. Once you have placed your menu (here to the waiter gladly offers the best inputs), the food is served on time. Fork tales It is a habit with every Indian, to observe the cutlery with minute details. Simple is the word here, no extra frills in shape of designer plates or forks, serving dishes or anything. It is traditional, which in a way doesn’t interfere with the eating process. Sea deep Fresh sea food is the USP of the place. Pomfret, surmai, crabs, lobsters, you name it and they serve it. The butter pepper garlic crab and Mangalore fish Malabari should be given a shot. The price may make you think twice (Rs 1000-15,00), but it’s worth it. Veggie delight Vegetarians always complaint of limited options, Swagath probably has worked extra on this front. Interesting masalas from South are used to make dishes like veg chettinad. The rest of the dishes on the menu like paneer lababdaar fall in the category of ‘been there done that’. The price in this segment is pretty tempting on the pocket. Rs 225-250 is what the dishes in this category fall into. A non-veg deal Some people invariably end up ordering butter chicken and murg makhani. But then if you don’t want to experiment then you can try out Chicken 65, a dish in this segment. Made with some special masala, this dish will leave a lingering taste in your mouth (Rs 325-300). As sweet as it gets One segment that some people are always in a hurry to reach to. Faluda and brownie are the two things you can dig into. If you looking for something fancy, you don’t have much choice.
	green thumb Hit the Jackpot! Satish Narula There was a time when having a few trees of jackfruit was a sign of prosperity in Uttar Pradesh and a bank would sanction a loan considering these an asset. I realised once again the importance of this tree when I visited Kerala last week. Called by the name Chacka in Malayalam, it dots the countryside as one of the ‘essentials’ for almost every household. The versatile Kathal as it is called in Hindi and Phanas in Sanskrit, it can be grown successfully in Punjab and Haryana and the lower belts of Himachal. In Mumbai there is a colony named Phanaswadi which means the garden of jackfruits. Kathal is a very hardy tree and grows very fast once it catches roots. It can not only grow in neglect as it does in some of the places in Chandigarh but I have seen it virtually growing with its roots in water, all along the backwaters of Kerala. In sandy soils, the tree grows tall and spreading but in hard soils the growth is restricted. The planners could think of growing this tree in villages on Shamlat lands or in open areas as a substitute for some of the shady trees that dirty the place with falling capsules of seeds or bird droppings. It is being used as a shade tree in landscaping the areas due to its ornamental appeal. The leaves are big and deep green. These are very shiny and glossy above but pale below. The tree is also used in gardens due to their disciplined growth and minimum maintenance nature. Being evergreen, it does not shed leaves. The bearing of fruit on the tree is a feature in itself. The fruits are giant sized, may reach up to 20 to 25 kg in weight. The fruits appear in bunches on the main trunk, on branches, limbs and near the base of the tree. In older trees, the fruits may appear even from below the ground near the main trunk. The male and female flowers appear separately on the same tree. The fruit of the tree is used as vegetable when unripe and for eating raw when ripe. It is also used to make pickles. The planting of the tree could be done during the monsoon. (Narula is Chandigarh-based horticulturist)
	Trendsetter Cool comfort Following fashion has its own rules, for one who follows them blindly with a disregard for suitability ends up becoming the subject of ridicule. The art is to adapt the latest to one’s own persona and then carry it off with aplomb. Our trendsetter Sukhwinder Bindra, a computer engineer, wants to look comfortably stylish. Your sense of style? Style is a point of view and I believe every body has their own sense of style. Latest addition to your treasure of clothing or accessories? Fragrances—Calvin Klein’s Euphoria Blossom and Ralph Lauren’s Romance. What gives you a high on the confidence level? A good workout and a little bit of appreciation makes me feel fully confident. Who would be your style icon? John Abraham. Which look would your prefer – sporty, chic or glamorous? Sporty and glamorous. Your take on accessories? Essentially elegant watches and sporty sunglasses are a must. One fashion trend that goes beyond your comprehension… Ear studs and bright coloured jeans do not gel with me! Brand crazy or street pick-up? Brands are trust worthy. But suitability has to be taken into account too. —As told to Poonam Bindra
	Sound of music From Pritam to Pitbull, the party-goers of Chandigarh are lapping up all hit tracks of Bollywood and Hollywood in the remix form Manpriya Singh If music remained a constant, times would sound still and if the billboard remained similar, nobody would be following it. The discs need to keep shuffling and rotating. Apart from the sense of gratification in keeping pace with things, the next time the song plays, you aren't left fumbling for the name of the artiste. What Chandigarh currently listens to might not be overlapping with the million music updates. "Remixed music of not just the old tracks but even the current tracks are quite in. For instance, if we talk of Bollywood, there are a couple of tracks from Go Goa Gone that are picking up. Then there's Tum Hi Ho from Aashiqui 2 and also the song Lat Lag Gayi from Race 2, are big hits," shares DJ Apurv from Kava on what's on and what's not. There are creative people out there, who are in a continuous endeavour to evolve. The charm of music lies in its penchant for changing colours. Every now and every then! "What people listen to when they are alone is generally different from what they listen to when they are clubbing or when they are in a group. It is mostly the peppy, commercial music that wins hands down," shares Kunwardeep, Chandigarh-based music artiste and freelance DJ. He adds, "At parties, people only want to listen to current commercial tracks. There's Lat Lag Gayi from Race 2, that's a big hit and there are also some tracks from international artistes like David Guetta and LMFAO, that are into their second season and are still doing the rounds." Till the current favourites become a classic and come back in a remixed version, there's, "Lat Lag Gayi from Race 2 is a hands on winner. Whether there are people trooping in from Mumbai or from within the city, that's the first song they want to listen to," Vishal from production house, Studio 91, further confirms. He adds, "Preetam is on the hit list. Any song by Pritam is in demand and internationally speaking, people want to listen to Pitbull and Enrique. Their name sells." It could be something they can lip-synch to, or the lyrics that connect or the beats that send everybody tapping. What works for the crowd is a bit of everything. Opines DJ Apurv, "People have the tendency to listen to artistes that they can see on television and music channels. So, underground music is not as popular, but in that genre there's dubstep that's quite known." He adds, "On a Saturday night Bollywood music rules, it's something the crowd is exposed to and they connect with." Someone spells Honey Singh loud and clear and then there's Flo Rida and the song Gentleman by Gangnam Style. Opines Vishal, "People frequent a place on the basis of what sort of music play there. It's just like food, when you feel like having a particular cuisine you go to a certain place. Just equate the cuisines with genres." There's no repeating the last year's tracks but during weddings, anything works. Opines Jagpratap Rathore, freelance musician, "Any hit track remains in circulation for close to six to nine months. Then a couple of years later, they become classic and come back on the play lists in remixed versions." That's the law of music. manpriya@tribunemail.com
	The bikini babes of B-town The bikini wave has struck Bollywood again and no one is complaining. Many beautiful women have got into shape to don the bikini. Take a look Win some, lose some Sonal Chauhan: She went on a unique diet to get toned and also curvy for the red bikini shoot in 3G, in which she emerges from the sea. She wore a few more bikinis and swimsuits and looked great in them but her confidence and sex appeal could not salvage the terrible movie! Itsy bitsy teenie weeni Alia Bhatt: The Bhatt girl was pleasantly plump and was asked to slim down by Karan Johar. He put all his newcomers in swimsuits so Alia must not feel singled out. She poured her new slim figure into a lemon yellow bikini and posed and pouted on the beaches of Thailand. She looked good. On a shooting spree Nargis Fakhri: The sizzling beauty did the Zumba workout to look curvy for her bikini and swimsuit shoot for the April issue of a magazine. She has worn a white swimsuit, a black one, and a golden bikini that flaunted her enviable figure. Her come-hither expressions are just right. All in one Sashaa Agha: The girl is going all out in her debut film. She has acted, sung, made out with Arjun Kapoor and worn a black bikini too. She looks quite stunning and sexy in the black bikini. The scene was shot in Delhi during winters and she was freezing while doing it but managed to pull it off. Easy on the eye Puja Gupta: The former beauty queen's entry scene, in Go Goa Gone, shows her shapely figure in a bright blue bikini and she pulls it off with elan. In the movie, she has worn several bikini tops and is a sight for sore eyes. She has admitted to having no qualms about wearing a bikini, provided the script demands it.
	Star track A Herculean task Zoya Akhtar had almost managed a casting coup by bringing together Katrina Kaif, Kareena Kapoor, Hrithik Roshan and Ranbir Kapoor in one film. But that has changed now. Ranbir Kapoor opted out of the film citing date issues and it seems that Kareena Kapoor will follow suit. A source says, "This is the film where Ranbir and Kareena would have played siblings based on Zoya and Farhan Akhtar and the script was written with them in mind. However, Ranbir cannot be a part of the movie because of date issues. Kareena was very keen on doing a film with Ranbir. Then, Zoya replaced Ranbir with Ranveer Singh. Now, Kareena is having second thoughts on doing the movie because Ranbir is no longer a part of it. She will most likely pull the date-issues card and opt out of the film." The source continues, "Perhaps, something is jinxed about Kareena and Ranveer Singh. They were supposed to play lovers in Raam Leela but Sanjay Leela Bhansali did not want a married heroine." Let us see where this goes and how Zoya manages to pull it together. Kareena is currently busy with Gori Tere Pyar Mein and Satyagraha, after which she has a Dharma film with Emraan Hashmi. Ranbir is busy with Besharam and is likely to take up Imtiaz Ali's next after that. Ice ice baby Supermodel Kate Moss has revealed that she fights the signs of ageing by ducking her face in icy water. The model, 39, who is married to guitarist Jamie Hince, shared that cucumber and ice water are good for skin, reported a publication. "I fill a sink with ice and cucumber. It tightens everything, making you look and feel awake. It's a bit Joan Crawford but it works," she said. Moss also hailed ex-model Jerry Hall, 56, as one of her idols. "Seventies girls were ready for anything," she added. — PTI Action replay Actress Reese Witherspoon is in talks to star in Paul Thomas Anderson's Inherent Vice, in which she will be paired opposite, her Walk the Line co-star, Joaquin Phoenix. The film is based on the 2009 Thomas Pynchon detective tome, reported a publication. It is set in the 1960s LA and follows the drug-fuelled detective Larry Doc Sportello as he investigates the case of a kidnapped girl. Anderson will write and direct the film. Phoenix and Witherspoon's last film together made more than USD 100 million at the domestic box office and Phoenix was nominated for an Oscar. Witherspoon, 37, earned the golden statuette for her performance in the film. — PTI Double meaning jokes Sonam Kapoor and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan are, at best, cordial with each other. Sonam Kapoor keeps dropping the name Aishwarya in many of her sentences and she is not referring to the beauty brand ambassador. She is referring to her co-star, Dhanush's wife Aishwarya Rajnikanth, with whom she gets along like a house on fire. United colours of culture Free flowing: A model presents a creation, from Indonesian fashion designer Sugeng Waskito, during the Jakarta Fashion and Food Festival in Jakarta, Indonesia. — AP/PTI What you see is, what you get Ranbir Kapoor has said that he is shameless in front of the camera and would have no qualms doing a nude scene too, of course, if it is needed in the script. He did not feel awkward or shameful while doing a couple of semi-nude scenes in his debut movie, Saawariya. Bold new superstar! In the top league Vidya Balan is a jury member at the prestigious 66th International Cannes Film Festival and her fellow jury members are Christoph Waltz, Nicole Kidman and Ang Lee while Steven Spielberg is presiding over the Jury. What an achievement for her!
	Chatter box Seasonal addition Known for her acting talent, Sucheta Khanna is thrilled about her show Lapataganj, on Sab TV, coming up with season 2. She talks about the show. What can the audiences expect this season? We are bringing a few changes in the show. The story worked well last time and this time it will be a step forward. Do sequels work? It depends on the content of the show. There are few other shows that are coming out with season 2 and this is a good practice and trend to try. Unless you try how will you know if it works or not. When the season one ended people would ask when we would be back. This time we are much better than before. Seasons are rare on Indian TV… Yes, and I am glad that Lapataganj is one of those few shows which are bringing in this change. I am excited and looking forward to this show. I felt bad when season one was over. I am positive about this season. Comedy is something that has worked for you! I got into comedy late in my career. I used to do drama shows but when I realised people like me doing comedy, I stuck to it. I would like to experiment and explore other possibilities. There are other elements of drama, romance and emotions in Lapataganj. It's not totally comedy. What else is new? I play a comic villain in Yamla Pagla Deewana, which is fun. Grand finale of American Idol American Idol created history this year. With three brand new judges on the panel, the latest season made headlines for its all female Top Five. And now, the biggest singing reality show in the world is set to become the first-ever reality show to be telecast live in India exclusively on BIG CBS LOVE. With America waiting to crown its next Idol, our two uber-talented contestants - Candice Glover and Kree Harrison are gearing up for the showdown of their lives. And if you thought that was it, we have some breaking news for you. The grand finale of American Idol on BIG CBS LOVE will feature performances by none other than super-diva Jennifer Lopez and overnight pop sensation, PSY. With so much going on, it looks like American Idol Season 12 is all set to bid adieu in style. Every year, the show invites the biggest stars to its grand finale and the latest to join the likes of Rihanna, Beyonce and Lady Gaga will be the outrageously talented PSY. The icing on the cake for viewers will be the special performance by former Idol judge and glam diva Jennifer Lopez who will premiere her new single Live it up. The night promises to be a glitzy affair with power-packed performances by not just the celebrity guests, but also our two mesmerising finalists. Don't miss the grand finale of the latest season of American Idol this Friday, May 17 at 5.30 pm and a repeat telecast on Friday and Saturday at 9 pm, exclusively on BIG CBS LOVE. Leading man While Badalte Rishton Ki Dastaan has two leading ladies Meera (Sanjeeda Sheikh) and Nandini (Additi Gupta) there is no guy to add to this mix. So now the makers have finalised a leading man. They have got Bhaumik Sampat who has done the film Sadda Adda earlier. He will play Nandini's first love, but then a love triangle with Meera is in store. Stop crime against women: Imran The increasing crime against women has become a matter of concern. Through a three-part series starting this Sunday, BIG CBS PRIME will highlight the issues of crime against women and its different forms on its weekend special—Super Crime Sundays. It will feature episodes clubbed together from two award-winning shows CSI and 48 Hours Mystery. Imran Khan urges men to take a stand and help put a stop to crimes against women. Role change Krystle Dsouza aka Jeevika in Star Plus' Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behna Hain will now don the role of a Sadhu in her show, but only to expose the villain. After playing the dutiful wife, this was a fun track for her and a change in costume too was interesting.
	Astro turf P Khurrana ARIES: Make sure you are doing your best. You are in line for a promotion or recognition in the form of an award. Employment affairs are satisfactory. Your interest in overseas affairs is likely to increase. Tarot message: Rivalry and competition will push you to do your best. Lucky colour: Beige. Magic number: 52 TAURUS: Friction at the workplace will slow down production. Words will not reflect your true feelings today. Remember silence is gold. You will have more time to see to the needs of others. Tarot message: Balance in all aspects is recommended. Lucky colour: Lotus pink. Magic number: 25 GEMINI: Feeling of love and strong impulses come together in an exciting but frivolous mix. Deal with a routine job. Do not neglect a family matter. Social gathering will be rather dull. Change is possible. Tarot message: Take it easy. Lucky colour: Orange. Magic number: 40 CANCER: You are unlikely to get very far if trying to put new plans into operation. Putting energy into your domestic life will give you the lift you need now. Pamper yourself. Tarot message: Take no chances. Lucky colour: Golden yellow. Magic number: 61 LEO: Sacrifices today will put you in a far better place in future. Bring a breath of fresh air into your life by rearranging your environment. Important changes in the way you handle your work should be postponed. Tarot message: You need to be creative. Lucky colour: Brown. Magic number: 24 VIRGO: Make an early start today and get to work as soon as possible. Not only will you impress the boss but you will feel an immediate sense of achievement. Make every effort to reach your goals. Tarot message: A positive and caring attitude heals old wounds. Lucky colour: Blue. Magic number: 33 LIBRA: You will find it too easy to get bogged down in the daily grind. This will be a difficult day for dealing with business partners. Avoid going out tonight. Take care of your finances. Tarot message: Stay focused. Lucky colour: Green. Magic number: 62 SCORPIO: It's a day full of heavy spending. The advice of elders, professionals and people with greater experience than yours will make all the differences. Your love life will be active. Tarot message: Plan your life to avoid any in-built delays. Lucky colour: Pale yellow. Magic number: 59 SAGITTARIUS: Cheer up! Excitement & happiness is on the cards. An increasing income means more luxuries of life to enjoy. This is an easy going day. You need a breath of fresh air and time out today. Tarot message: Strive for perfection at work. Lucky colour: Blood red. Magic number: 63 CAPRICORN: Grinding through committee crowds and grid lock traffic will be annoying and frustrating. Someone you meet today will give you a useful business tip. It's best to stay at home. Tarot message: Involve yourself as much as possible in new project. Lucky colour: Golden. Magic number: 57 AQUARIUS: Early time of the day will be most exciting. You will come across fresh possibilities. Your efforts will finally bear fruits. Do not let a social gathering distract you. Tarot message: Do not leave things up to chance. Lucky colour: Cream. Magic number: 50 PISCES: Finance and income are in the spotlight. Matters involving spending, saving and borrowing should be examined. Be sure to grasp an opportunity that comes your way today. Tarot message: Don't be too certain about obtaining a clearance. Lucky colour: Green. Magic number: 41