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Of angst and pain
Lafzon ka betaaj baadshah, a poet extraordinaire…Nida Fazli, Padma Shri, never ever fails to mesmerise listeners with the magic of his words. Nor he did on this Sunday evening at the UT guest house where he regaled audiences in a function organised by Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi. However, the acclaimed poet and lyricist, whose wizardry of words needs no reiteration, laments, "Words today have lost their value."
That's why, he adds, "While actors, cricketers and politicians have become important poets have been marginalised." He questions, "Where do you see the pictures of Suryakant Tirpathi Nirala or Amrita Pritam or Manjeet Tiwana…whereas those of actors and politicians are plastered all over?" But then in a country driven by vote bank politics what else can you expect? With this rationale he argues that a poet's voice is bound to be submerged in the business of elections. Not that a poet ever writes to be heard or for others. As he puts it, "I write for myself." Of course, once it's written and published it no longer belongs to him but to the people. Poetry he avers is not thought or content but feelings tampered with experience. No doubt, what the poet feels is universal. "The language of tears is the same the world over and whenever there will be pain a poet's heart will beat for it." However, no poetry can be fathomed without understanding the poet. And no poetry can be gauged by using a shabad kosh. The yardsticks of literal meaning can't be applied to the world of poets and the religion of the art is also not the same as that of the world. No wonder his culture is not confined to Ghalib or Mir but incorporates Surdas, Kabir, Puskhin and Whitman. He not only swears by the collective heritage of India but of the world at large. And India Pakistan (his family migrated to the neighbouring country post-Partition while he chose to stay on in India) he believes are one and the same. Hindi and Urdu, too, he believes are one language and became two thanks to British policy of divide and rule. He fumes, "Can languages be distinguished on the basis of script?" Thus ghazal, a lyrical form of poetry which he reasons came to India through Amir Khusrau is not a monopoly of Urdu either. Interestingly, Nida writes in many languages and many colours flavour his poetry. Fired by his own couplet thodi bahut to zehan mein naraazgi rahe… it's both angst and desire to share another human being's pain, "the ultimate prayer" that drives him.
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More the merrier!
Samta Sharma grew up with an elder sister and brother, and loads of cousins, who shared the same home during her formative years. "We were always so many, being patient and skillful is what one needed to survive in the melee that the home always was," says this nurse. Dealing with so many people around grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins big and small; negotiating new relationships in the new home was a cakewalk for Samta. "My childhood was full of happy memories," she smiles. To begin with, Dr Vikas Singla, managing director, JP Singla Group, doesn't see a correlation between more siblings and successful marriages. "Growing up with so many people around and different opinions, one probably learns to adjust. And one needs to adjust with the spouse," says Vikas, who grew up with two elder brothers Sandeep and Mandeep. He feels being a single child one can be demanding, which might make relationships difficult. Ishan Malhotra, an advocate, learnt to put his kid brother's needs first. "One learns to share, prioritise and even compromise when you have siblings around and that becomes part of the personality," says this advocate. Now how that might help someone's married life, he is not too sure. He says, "It's more about whether you gel or not and I don't think compromise is a good thing. But certainly, growing up with siblings is fun and valuable." Harmeetpal Singh Cheema grew sans siblings, but he sees merit in the study. "Sharing almost all your time with someone closer to your age does probably makes you learn how to deal and share, which might come in handy when you embark on a new life," says this government employee. Living with just parents or with siblings and parents is way different, he insists. "There is a world of difference on how you treat your parents or your siblings. Living, sharing life with someone your age can better equip you to match up with your spouse," he adds. Dr Roopali Virk, psychologist, attributes the increasing cases of separation to self-centeredness, which has been the result of growing in single kid homes; says Dr Roopali, "Sharing, caring, empathising and the ability of adjust is what you get when you grow up with siblings around you. You know you will get only your share of not only things but attention as well, as opposed to the single child who is used to and demands undivided attention. So those who grow with siblings fare better than others." mona@tribunemail.com
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Dazzling at 50
The Saturday night party saw many
B-town celebrities coming and wishing Sridevi, who turned 50 August 13, such as director duo Abbas-Mustan, filmmakers Bunty Walia, Ramesh Taurani, Girish Taurani, Madhur Bhandarkar and Rajkumar Santoshi and musicians Anu Malik and Bappi Lahiri. Hema Malini came with her daughter Esha and son-in-law Bharat Takhtani, while Juhi Chawla was seen with her husband Jay Mehta. Manoj Bajpayee and Vinod Khanna were also spotted along with Rishi, who worked with her in successful films like Nagina and Chandni. Anupam Kher, who shared the screen space with her in Lamhe, was also seen there. Sridevi's brother-in-law Anil Kapoor, who worked with her in hits like Mr India, too came for the do with his wife Sunita. Last year Sridevi hogged the limelight for her comeback film English Vinglish, which saw a credible performance by her. Before taking retirement in 1996 after marrying Boney Kapoor, she gave hits like Sadma, Himmatwala, Chaalbaaz and Judaai. — IANS
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Inside story
Actor Tom Cruise reportedly wears a thong during the action scenes because it is comfortable and flexible.
The 51-year-old, who has done numerous action scenes in movies like Mission Impossible, Days Of Thunder and Oblivion, started wearing the undergarment after facing discomfort during heavy-duty scenes.
“There aren't many movies where you don't see Tom rolling around on the ground or doing a back flip off the side of a skyscraper. Over the years it's taken its toll and he had his wardrobe department rustle him up a comfy thong," a source said. “He was embarrassed at first but he sees it as a way of improving his flexibility as he gets older," the source added. — IANS
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Live & kicking
It was a 70 minute performance where Farhan was seen singing one
hit song after the other. He was full of enthusiasm and energy. His audiences were enthused and were seen clapping, hooting and whistling with vigour and enthusiasm. Farhan Live is a nine member band which got formed early this year. Previously they have performed in Mumbai, Goa, Bangalore. A friend of the actor says, “Farhan loves being on the stage. He had taken a break from his music for the past few months and now he is planning to go on tours across the country.” And after finishing with some remaining work on his upcoming film opposite Vidya Balan, Farhan will immerse himself in making music for his band. Farhan will be seen performing more often. The Farhan Live team is currently in conversation with various organisers and are working out the plan, logistics etc. Farhan confirms, “The band is now gearing up for a concert in Mumbai soon, post the monsoons.”
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Physical commitment
Actress Jennifer Aniston says her toned figure in comedy movie We're The Millers was the result of commitment and hard work.
The 44-year-old had to bare all for a scene in We're The Millers and she said that she spent hours in the gym doing squats and yoga in order to be in shape.
"With a lot of hard work and commitment to a workout regime and your diet! Squats and you know what else is really good for your butt is yoga!" Aniston told Yahoo omg! when she was asked how she achieved the toned body. — IANS
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Pitt too ‘dumb’ for museum board?
Actor Brad Pitt is reportedly too "dumb" for a spot on the board of the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art, according to its bosses. The 49-year-old has been a long-time supporter of the centre, but its bosses have apparently decided that he isn't smart enough for a place alongside the intellectual elite.
"Brad has always supported the museum, so he asked if he could participate on a higher level,” a source said. "But while the committee admires Brad's ambition, the fear is that he might be a little on the dumb side to serve on an art board. He doesn't even have a college degree,” the source added. — IANS
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Beauty sleep
Hollywood star Sandra Bullock thinks good sleep is essential to look pretty and glamorous. The 49-year-old Speed star, who is popular for her classy style, is conscious to wear a good sun screen every time she steps out in sun. For a beauty tip she insists, "I would say good old-fashioned sleep and a great make-up artist.
"Everyone makes such a big deal about ageing, but I never used to think about it. But now I find myself paying a lot more attention. I do like to try all the new anti-ageing creams that come onto the market," she added. — PTI
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Is Satyagraha’s big secret revealed?
Though Prakash Jha's Satyagraha is reported to be inspired by the life of Anna Hazare, it has been said that the story also follows the journey of Satyendra Dubey, the young whistleblower who was murdered after exposing the road mafia in Bihar. Though Jha has not officially commented and the cast too has restricted themselves from talk about it.
Satyendra Dubey was a project director at the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and was shot dead in 2003 after exposing corruption in the Golden Quadrilateral Highway construction project. His murder drew protests in India and abroad.
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Through a focused eye
— Ansel Adams There is definitely more to a photograph than a callous acknowledgement of its aesthetic details and the sheer understanding of the nuances. At the Punjab Kala Bhawan, Sector 16, Chandigarh, these frozen moments stand staring at you, waiting to narrate a story, wanting to express the silent language that needs no words to ornament its creativity. Hanging steadily on the walls of Sobha Singh Art Gallery, these paintings silently whisper-Happy World Photography Day. While Harvinder Singh's photographs titled Protection, Sifti Da Ghar and 'untitled' border lay out his trenchant emotions; Sifti Da Ghar glorifies the Golden Temple, celebrating its beauty. Ashwini Attri, Director General of Audit (central), plays rather expressively upon the lights as he captures the locales of Oman. Ashok Saini, a professional photographer, exhibits his genius as he plays upon the concept of change, universe and waiting, all translating into the titles of his paintings. S Dhami, the photographer in the museum, romances the monochrome as he surrenders to the fields while making them a subject for his photographs. With their sheer capacity to mesmerise you, photographs by Dinesh Verma, Deepak Arora and Randeep Singh (who has also won the Indian academy of fine art award) border along the lines of aesthetic symmetry, blended with intellectual connotation. Gurmeet Kaur's photographs of Leh capture the character as much as the beauty of the place, especially in the photo Sangam, "This was taken at the place where river Indus and Zanskar merge to make Jhelum, which flows towards Pakistan," she says. While Mitinderpal Singh solely captures birds, PK Gautam and Sanjay Kaushal confine themselves to the hills of Manali and Simla, respectively. Mohit Gautam's photograph, Sleeping Beauty, fascinates one as he asks, "Look at the mountains, what do you see?" Just when you begin to stare at the smoke in the sky and let your imagination run wild, he interrupts, "This was taken from a temple on my way to Kanyakumari. The mountains are actually a figurative expression of a woman sleeping. It is believed that this woman was a demon and lord Vishnu cursed her. Now she sleeps still and these mountains are actually that woman, sleeping." The walls bear paintings by Razaq Vance from Pakistan and The Fisherman is quite delightful. Also, the paintings by Rakesh Dogra, Vijendra Trighatia and Shubh Mohan Singh evolve as a splendid expression of a magnificent thought, each one defined with brilliance, which adds much character to their art. (On till August 20) amarjot@tribunemail.com
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Putting - the grip
Jesse Grewal There are many grips which could be used while putting. The grip on the putter is different from the grips on the rest of the clubs. While all other grips are circular in shape, the grip on the putter has a flat surface on the top where the thumbs are to be placed and a curved surface on the underside which is shaped to fit into the lifeline area of the palm. The principle behind this is that the hands are placed opposite each other with the back of the left hand (for right handed golfers) facing the target. The position of the left hand is not the same as in the rest of the game where two to three knuckles are visible. The position of the left hand remains the same irrespective of the grip you choose. The second difference is that the putter grip is placed in the palms and not the fingers as in the rest of the game. The third difference is that the wrists are 'bowed' or 'arched' downwards and not 'cupped' as in the rest of the game. This 'bowed' position restricts the movement of the wrists while the 'cupped' position allows wrist cock which is required in the full swing to generate speed. The commonly recommended grip is the reverse overlap grip (picture 1). The index finger of the left hand is extended and placed on the fingers of the right hand. This extended finger helps in restricting the wrist movement too. A modification of this is the index finger of the left hand being on the side of the club with the right hand placed higher on the grip (picture 2). The right hand is almost level with the left hand. This brings the grip into the palm of the right hand as against it being in the fingers for the conventional reverse overlap. This grip has been recommended by The Harold Swash Putting School and is good if used with a thicker grip. For golfers who feel that the right hand does excessive work during the putting stroke, a reverse grip with the left hand below the right hand (picture 3) or the claw grip (picture 4) could be an option.
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Thread by thread
Each creation reflects the seriousness it is constructed with. Take Brick By Brick, for example, inspired by the graffiti on monuments. Done by Sonia and Prableen, it has the motifs of bricks created by burning the cloth. "In the same way, people ruin the monuments by doing graffiti on them. It's our way of showing concern for the same," says Sonia. The duo used raw silk for their collection. Another designer highlighted the cause of female foeticide through her creations. While they focused on western silhouettes, Mandeep Litt and Rahul Bhalla preferred ethnic work in their respective collections. Titled Ru-ba-Ru, it boasts of traditional works-- gotta patti, dabka and zari work on velvet and brocade, Indian couture's favourite material. "But I ensured that it appeals to the modern women. I added a coat to the lehanga and blouse is replaced by a bustier," says Mandeep. And Rahul took a cue from the royal designs. He referred to the book Royal India by Ritu Kumar. "Also I went to erstwhile royal empires, Patiala and Nabha, to learn about the silhouettes kings and queens preferred in their era." His colour palette looks every inch regal with the use of primary colours--red, blue and green on fabrics like velvet, georgette and net. An interesting feature of his creations is block printing, an old printing technique not often showcased on the ramps these days. Just like the brick work by Sonia and Prableen, Abhinav Guatam and Nisha Nair have too tried a novel way of creating patterns. Aptly titled Splash of Joy, they used nail paints and marbling effect to add colour to the otherwise black outfits. "It's not an easy technique as one might just end up creating a mish-mash of colours. We wanted each colour to stand out and at the same time complement each other. It came out beautifully with the contrasting black on silk chiffon and silk organza." Nature has more than often served as the inspiration to fashion designers. This time too, student designers, Mohanpreet Kaur and Elizabeth picked clues from nature to present their collections. While Mohanpreet replicated layers of cabbage in her collection, Colour my Cabbage, Elizabeth made flowers out of fabric for her ensemble, Secret Garden. Creations by both designers reaffirm that nature's beauty has no parallel.
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Get to the roots
According to AK Chaudhry of Roots-de-Salon café, "We will be offering world class service in beauty care and makeup such as - hair styling, hair colouring, hair rebounding and variety of make up for various occasions." — TNS
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Chills & thrills
So what is Vikram Bhat's next step now? My show has always kept the viewers glued with the horror tales. In the new format, the mysteries will be solved by the permanent characters. It will be a daily soap. What is the USP of 'Haunted Nights'? Scare and fear are the two USP's of the show. Some new faces have also been roped-in to feature in the coming episodes. In your view what is the target audiences for this show? One thing I promise you all is that everyone who likes watching horror shows is the target audience. This different horror show will test the real mettle of the viewers who deny that they get scared. Horror is a challenging genre, how do you manage it? We work hard with the support of stars and technicians. It is complete teamwork and we give 100 per cent to the show. How is Haunted Nights different from other horror show? This one is based on sci-fi horror stories and is of interest for the general audiences also. What made you select some good TV actors? This show required some good actors and viewers will find that all of them deliver with flair. They are the best stars in the industry. What are your expectations? I hope with the new stories, Haunted Nights will be totally different this time. — Dharam Pal
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Bollywood calling
Deven Bhojani of Gattu fame will soon turn director on the big screen. He has acted and directed in many shows, including Sarabhai v/s Sarabhai, and now will direct a film for his friend, director-producer, Vipul Shah. The film will be a romantic comedy.
Karan V Grover seems to have found a new love perhaps. After his break-up with
Kavita Kaushik, now he seems to be dating model Poppy Jabbal, but he says that
they are just good friends and that he is single.
Hiten Tejwani has no problems playing the role of a
grandfather in Pavitra Rishta, post the show took a leap. Also, he is also fine
with Ankita Lokhande playing his wife and granddaughter. He feels actors can't
do much about story tracks and takes it in the right spirit, as he says now he
can take up other projects.
Hats Off Production will soon launch a bi-weekly show on Zee
TV, which will feature their favourites Deven Bhojani, Suchita Trivedi and
Sarita Joshi in the lead roles. The veteran actor, Sarita Joshi, will be seen
essaying the role of a mother-in-law, who has a funny side to her character as
well. After being a part of Baa Bahu Aur Baby, she loves working with the team,
especially Deven.
Mona Ambegaonkar is enjoying essaying the dark role of Lohari in Life OK's Kaisa
Yeh Ishq Hai... Ajab Sa Risk Hai because she had a tormented past, she became a
rough and negative person. Mona is glad that her character stands out in black
attire, rough language and mannerisms too.
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Astro Turf
ARIES: You won't be able to count on anyone. Listen to what others have to say. It's time to clear the air and rid yourself of all the burdens you've been carrying on your shoulders.
Tarot message: Do not transact in uncertain matters. TAURUS: Love can take a turn if you aren't thoughtful, generous and loyal. Be attentive toward the ones you love and let bygones be bygones. You can have all
the fun you want. Tarot message: Don't reveal your plans to anyone. GEMINI: A chance to hook up with someone interesting will spark an idea for a new project. You can enjoy a lot, but make sure you have someone you can count on by your side. Tarot message: Be articulate to prevent people for coming to their own conclusion. CANCER: Be careful not to do anything that might get you into trouble. This is a good time to reflect on the days gone by. Keep a practical attitude towards your finances. Tarot message: There is price to pay for over-indulgence. LEO: You will dazzle everyone if you put yourself in the mainstream today. This is a perfect time to entertain or to let others entertain you. A chance to do things a little differently will lead to many more changes. Tarot message: Results are guaranteed if you stick to arrangements. VIRGO: You will be in a cheerful and optimistic frame of mind. Spend time with family and close friends. Romantic relationships
will bring fulfillment and moments of tenderness. Tarot message: Handle your projects carefully. LIBRA: You will be enthusiastic about some developments in your personal life. Those in new romantic relationships will want to make a deeper commitment. Social events will keep you busy. Tarot message: Prevent trouble by taking timely action. SCORPIO: You will be in a very creative frame of mind and come up with interesting, innovative ideas that will be appreciated by seniors and colleagues. Love life will bring fulfillment. Tarot message: Do not let trivial problems haunt you. SAGITTARIUS: You will want your space as you mull over recent events. Don't take financial decisions impulsively to avoid disappointment with the outcome. Make an effort to reach out to your partner. Tarot message: Be on guard against trickery. CAPRICORN: You will be very inspired to make some changes to your lifestyle. Your insights and inputs will be valuable to colleagues as well as loved ones. Travel is just on the cards. Tarot message: Take limited risks while speculating. AQUARIUS: You will be very optimistic about certain developments on the career front. Chance encounters will help you clarify some of your reservations about new business ventures. Your love life will be good. Tarot message: Get rid of unpleasant events. PISCES: You will have sudden insights into vexing issues and this will help put you in a cheerful frame of mind. Your love life will be smooth your partner will appreciate your thoughtfulness. Tarot message: Emphasis on spiritual needs. |
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Growing with siblings has its own charm; there are challenges but scales tilt towards the positives. A recent study pegs it that growing up with more siblings boosts your chances of a happy marriage. Does it hold any merit? We check out.
Boney Kapoor threw a bash to celebrate his wife Sridevi's 50th birthday and the party was attended by some of the well-known names from filmdom, including her co-star Rishi Kapoor and actresses Shilpa Shetty and Sushmtia Sen.
Farhan Akhtar wears multiple hats. He is actor, director, producer, singer and activist and aces at all his skills.
In the recent past Farhan has been juggling with shooting Shaadi Ke Side Effects and also
promoting Fukrey and BMB with little or no time to give to his band, Farhan Live. However, now post the successful launch of both his film Farhan figured a way to get back on stage.
"You don't make a photograph just with a camera. You bring to the act of photography all the pictures you have seen, the books you have read, the music you have heard and the people you have loved."
You can't afford to take budding fashion designers casually. Because that's how almost every designer started before getting their big tickets to the fashion weeks. They began by contributing to the college collections, making creations that might not flaunt a label but promise a future on the ramp. The organizing body of two major fashion weeks of India too realised the importance of scouting talent from fashion institutes and thus reserved a slot for next generation designers. So, when students of INIFD, Chandigarh put up a show of their creations to be sent to the Lakme Fashion Week, it's given its due.
Makeup and beauty care enthusiasts have a reason to rejoice. Italian salon brand Roots has opened a swanky salon café in Mohali. The salon is tastefully designed with plush interiors and offers in-house café serving a variety of beverages and various blends of coffees to its customers on complimentary basis.
Vikram Bhatt's horror fiction show Haunted Nights has a good viewership and it is getting stronger day by day. The show produced by Entertainment Hub is soon to undergo a change, post which there will be an introduction of some good television stars. This one is Vikram Bhatt's bone-chilling horror show in which the new format will be more spicy and thrilling during the coming days. We catch up with Vikram Bhatt.
Good friends, really?
Taking it in his stride
The drama unfolds
Negatively positive