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Food for thought
The young and the old thronged the literary feast that the Chandigarh Book Fair has to offer; day one sees students, professionals and the retired reach the venue to savour the taste of different languages. More than a hundred stalls have literary treasures in many languages — Hindi, English, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Urdu and French. James Bond and Swami Vivekananda share the same book shelf, at the next corner Yogoda society has books that share Yogoda Satsang Dhyana Kendra details. The fair offers much more than just books — children merrily participating in various competitions; painting, quiz and Spell Bee stole the show on Day 1. Gangs of girls and boys could be seen checking books on various stalls. Students from city colleges proudly helped in managing traffic, guiding people to the right stalls and sharing other details like ongoing library membership offers. The help desk set by the State Institute of Education is offering free career counselling sessions. Regional Institute of English not only has manuals, but details of their workshops that will be running in December —Time and Stress Management, Facing Interviews and Group Discussions, Communication Skills and Personal Development. What one enjoys amongst the many things is the confluence of cultures — there is this stall at the fag end with a barrage of visitors looking through and talking about Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the fifth Khalifa called 'A Man of Peace', who is spreading the anti-war message across nations. There's a stall by World Health Organisation sharing their statistics, regulations and manuals and also a newspaper, Satya Swadesh, testing the waters. CITCO's stalls have teas, coffees, snacks, meals and desserts being offered at nominal prices. A souvenir shop has mugs, coasters, t-shirts and notepad with the Chandigarh Book Fair's logo. Kashish Mittal, SDM, South Chandigarh, says, "The fair is aimed at the young minds, encouraging them to inculcate the reading habit. There is a huge selection of literature for others too. The six-day festival welcomes one and all." The fair has an impressive list of authors who make an appearance — Surjit Patar, Milkha Singh, Ravi Subramaniam, Keki N Daruwalla, Tara Deshpande, Nikita Singh and Sachin Garg. (On at the Parade Ground-17, Chandigarh, from 11 am to 8pm till November 18) mona@tribunemail.com
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No road too tough
At times, hate is a stronger emotion than love. At times, a strong urge to shed can make you push the wall rather than a passionate desire to acquire. For Aditya Mehta, the reverse psychology worked. "I hate the word bechara and just didn't want it to be used in my context at least," states the 31-year-old amputee cyclist, while recalling the unfortunate road accident that he met with about eight years ago.
"It was a roadways bus that ran over me. I recall having spent one month in the hospital at the time. Instead of being daunted by my disability, I stood up. It started with walking for one kilometre on prosthesis and stretched to 10 kilometres later." In Chandigarh, as a part of Airtel Endurance Ride, he shares the journey that's been as up and down as the tracks he rides on these days. He continues, "I joined the Hyderabad Bicycling Club, which is very renowned and active." Alongside the sorry incident, he's got the turning point of his life to look at. "I took up cycling less than 19 months ago in a bid to prove a lot of things." Two silver medals for India at Para Asian Cycling Championship, 2013, sit pretty in his resume, apart from a lot of other things. "It's a journey that started on a borrowed bike from his elder brother," shares the Hyderabad-based first Indian para-cyclist. He has done a ride from London to Paris, from Hyderabad to Bangalore and also from Srinagar to Jammu, apart from others. Each stretch invites a recollection of some tough times, some smooth terrains and unexpected encounters. "Srinagar to Jammu was the most daunting because there is this one single road and nobody is considerate of cyclists," he adds. As for the current endeavour, he is scheduled for Ambala next. Among all the routes to be undertaken, the Srinagar to Patni Top is expected to be the most challenging one as it involves an altitude of over 5000 metres above sea level. Ironically, his affair with the wheels started only after it became a challenge to ride a bicycle. He laughs, "Before that, I was a typical business boy; I was only into my business." Then, life took a sudden and complete turn. Apart from the initiative with the government to start a sports institute for the Paralympics, the time is also spent in counselling and helping others. "I do counsel amputees. Anyone can leave a message on my website and I will get back." Coming up is the Asian Championship in January in Malaysia. "I will represent India and will hopefully get medals." He sums up, "This is my second life and I want to live it to the fullest." manpriya@tribunemail.com
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Digital delight
So you have a smart phone, but are you smart enough to use it? Considering that India is ranked as the second largest mobile using country, only about 15 per cent of its total population actually invests in downloading more than a couple of applications. On Wednesday, Shotformats Digital Productions Pvt Ltd, a digital entertainment and value-added services company, launched India's first offline application store and the country's first online digital currency. Niyati Shah, the CEO of the company, talks about the services and their latest product, Biscoot.com, which is a customised application store that caters to the need of the customers who prefer consuming data online.
"Considering that there are many people in India who download applications from the internet, its charges are always an issue; therefore we came up with an app - Biscoot.com - that can be used without the internet," says Niyati. She advocates the use of this app on the account of its sheer virtue to accommodate the customers with a series of services, including songs, videos, applications, movies, games and that too with a prepaid digital card. "We have three major services-Bajao, where you can download and share songs on Facebook and other sites only for Rs 2, with no hidden costs; then we have Talkies, where you can download a movie on your phone for Rs 30 maximum, and games and apps for Rs 10. Also, we have Aap Bazaar, which assists the customer with anything ranging from regional calendar to audio books and salwar-kameez designs," she shares. While talking about the genuineness of the product, she says, "This application or its content cannot be copied to or shared with any other device, thus helping to create a stream for content owners to monetise their content better. The Biscoot digital wallet, on the other hand, facilitates online transactions and allows the customers to create a digital wallet called the Biscoot Batua, with their personal login account." amarjot@tribunemail.com
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A leaf from life
Her works are so much in sync with the theme of the exhibition — All The World's A Stage — that she doesn't have to elaborate on why strings are attached to the figures she has painted. For figures are puppets, who have no control over destiny! All works by the artist in question, Akansha Khanna from Lucknow, on display at Alliance Francaise, Chandigarh, strictly measure 10X12 inches except for the one titled Symbol of Love, which is rather huge. "It is equally ironical. Inspired from The Taj Mahal, the so-called symbol of love, the painting also depicts that Shahjahan ordered that the hands of the artists who created the wonder be chopped off so that they don't make another magnificent monument like it," says Akansha. The reason behind her keeping the size of the works small is purely practical. "I don't have a bigger studio back home in Lucknow; this is the only size that leaves me with more space to have more works."
In Chandigarh with her exhibition of 25 paintings, each work mirrors how we have no control over our lives. "Also, how we are living in a very materialistic world where emotions hold no value," she explains about her work. A series of three paintings called Dustbin; rightly sends across the message that bins should be used to dispose waste and not people, once they hold no importance in our lives. Seldom are pop colours used to depict feelings, which don't correspond with them. Instead of using signature, black, blues and greys, she has used neon shades to reflect the mundane routine of a housewife; people bound by responsibilities. The last one, she says, makes for a common scene in her home town. "I feel neon colours are an extension of my personality." Her works also comprise an interesting installation, again in neon colours, made from papers cut and pasted into the form of a human body. But there is space between the torso, hip and legs, "It is to denote how hollow people are. They pretend to be intelligent, humble, compassionate, but what they actually are nobody knows." (On till December 5) ashima@tribunemail.com
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Surprise package
It's not in reaching, but the journey towards the goal that makes for a fascinating experience. For Lavi Bains, who hails from Morinda, this journey has been full of some unexpected experiences.
Lavi never expected to be a singer, until one day he thought of something he had never expected. The title of the album 'Unexpected - A story so far...' tells the story of the 39-year-old Lavy Bains, who has come out with a collection of eight Punjabi numbers that are a mix of romantic, soulful and traditional songs. While releasing his debut album in Chandigarh, Bains says the uniqueness of this work is that he has written and composed his songs. The album has been presented by Varinder Vashisht, the music is by R.Guru and the video direction is by Kamalpreet Jani. "This album happened all so suddenly; I never expected that I would have my own compilation of songs one day," he says. "Every song in the album brings details on feelings and it also conveys social messages. I have taken utmost care that my album does not have any vulgarity or double meaning songs," he adds. Lavy had always been into music and was a regular with youth festivals.
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Strings attached
Kushal Das was born in a highly enriched musical family of Kolkata. His grandfather, late Bimal Das, was a renowned Esraj player while his father Sailen Das as well as uncle Santanu Das are sitarists of high repute.
Kushal started learning the sitar at the age of seven from his father in 1959. He received intensive and rigorous training in advanced sitar techniques under the auspices of Sanjoy Bandopadhyay, renowned sitar maestro and academician. He also had the privilege of having learnt from great musicians, including Manas Chakraborty, Ramkrishna Basu and late Ajoy Sinha Roy. With profound knowledge of music and raga improvisation techniques, Kushal is now considered as one of the foremost torch-bearers of the tradition of Indian classical instrumental music. The critics and connoisseurs have acknowledged him as a worthy successor of his idol, the legendary maestro late Pandit Nikhil Bandyopadhyay. His concerts are always marked for their aesthetic appeal and insight along with a fine command of techniques. An 'A' grade musician of All-India Radio and Television, Kushal is a recipient of the Sangeet Visharad from Pracheen Kala Kendra, Chandigarh, and Sur-Mani from Sur Singar Samsad of Mumbai. Kushal has participated in most of the major music festivals in India, including Tansen Music Conference, Dover Lane Music Conference, ITC Sangeet Sammelan and Mini Sangeet Sammelans; State Music Academy Annual Conference, Salt Lake Music Conference, All-India Radio concerts, among others. His has visited several countries, including Germany, France, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Holland, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Bangladesh, and charmed the audiences. (Pt Kushal Das will be performing at PEC-University of Technology, Chandigarh, on November 14 from 5 pm onwards) — TNS
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It's happening Chandigarh gears up for a contemporary dance festival
Body in the City, the first Contemporary Dance Festival organised by Chandigarh Sangeet Natak Akademi is an initial step to introduce the contemporary dance movement to the city. Indian dance can be broadly divided into two broad streams, one that continues to be invested in projecting the idea or image of India and the other that is fighting for artistic autonomy. The contemporary dance movement is about claiming and finding a voice to express our present condition and tell stories of our life as it pertains today. The five works in this festival are all reflective of an attempt to make dance an autonomous expression. Three young men from the KHA Foundation, Bangalore, present, NH 7, choreographed by Deepak Kurki Shivaswamy. It comments on India's haphazard urbanisation. (Thursday 4:30pm) Anil Panchal, a Chhau dancer from Haryana presents an energetic ensemble work titled, Just Dots, which too deals with aspect of despair but at an existential level, the work "reflects the tenacity and resilience of the spirit against all fetters." Preethi Athreya from Chennai, combines dance, text and mime and explores the theme of loss and longing in Fragment of Sweet Sorrow. The work attempts to touch the 'absurd' that is at the heart of all loss. (Friday 6 pm) Surjit Nongmeikapam, a young dancer from strife ridden Manipur says, "I don't dance for the sake of dance, but to tell something. Because "telling" is critical! Surjit's solo, One Voice, revolves around stories of trauma and torture. Dravya Kaya by Navtej Singh Johar is homage to his two mentors, Rukmini Devi and Chandralekha. Based on the Ramayana, the work attempts to enter the narrative through the agency of material objects found in the epic." (Saturday 6pm) Considering that Chandigarh has a very strong and thriving street-theatre culture, this work will be presented in the plaza at Sector 17. On from November 14 to 16. — TNS
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star track
"I'm sure you have all seen the news and yes I did get hurt. Have a bruised rib and thankfully i will be just fine :) Thanks for all the well wishes," the 32-year-old Jism 2 actress tweeted. "There are many people asking & I'll say again I am doing ok & happy nothing serious happened. My bruises will heal & @tinanlolo will continue," she added. Leone also said that she likes to challenge herself. "I am my biggest competitor & am always challenging myself. sometimes I get hurt but thankfully it wasn't too bad.ill be more careful next time," she signed off. Leone will be next seen in Kaizad Gustad's Jackpot. Out of action: Sunny Leone
Catching up with Juhi Chawla
Bollywood actress Juhi Chawla celebrated her birthday on November 13 quietly with close friends and family. In an exclusive conversation, she talks about her birthday and much more.
How did you celebrate your birthday? I did some dubbing in the morning and then spent my entire day with my family. I also went to a temple. I had a quiet birthday this year. What's your best birthday memory? Last year was extremely special as my birthday happened to be on Diwali. Moreover, Son of Sardaar also released the same day and so we ended up watching the movie with our entire family and celebrating my birthday as well as Diwali together. How do you stay healthy? I have been doing yoga regularly for the past five to six years. I recently started a little bit of pilates and it is tougher but I find it energizing. When I am not in the mood for either of the two I take a walk. What are your tips for a glowing skin? For a lot of years I didn't have pimples and it's a simple technique -have a bottle of water when you wake up in the morning. When not working what do you like to do? I am working around the house when I am not working professionally -taking care of the house, social matters, etc. There is nothing like free time. I learn music and that is de-stressing. I do a certain regime which helps. You have been a part of many good films. How do you feel when you watch them now? I was in Delhi recently when, luckily for that evening, the shoot was cancelled and so I had a lot of free time. So I turned on the TV and Ishq was playing. I couldn't believe myself. I haven't really seen any of my films post-dubbing. Maybe some I have seen, either for the premiers or with my own family but this was like, I seriously sat and saw the movie. I couldn't believe it was me. I mean, I couldn't believe I could act like this. Yakeen nahi aa raha tha ki mein ye kar sakti hoon. It was a wonderful feeling. Do you miss those times? I am grateful and enjoying every moment and looking into the future so I am happy. Joh hua who achcha hua and guzar gaya…
Anything for friends!
Grapevine has it that actor Aamir Khan is all set to launch Jackie Shroff's daughter Krishna. She will reportedly assist Aamir in one of his upcoming directorial venture so that she can learn about filmmaking. He was also supposed to launch Shroff's son Tiger. Jackie and Aamir have been friends for a long time.
The guessing game
Various sections of media have been guessing the plot of Farah Khan's upcoming film Happy New Year. It is believed that Shah Rukh Khan is going to play a thief, for the first time, in this movie.
This too shall pass
Actor Imran Khan, who forayed into Bollywood with Abbas Tyrewala's directorial debut Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na, is going through a rough patch in his career. He says his only hits have come from first time directors. His last film Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola flopped at the box-office.
Salman gets to go
Rajasthan High Court has given permission to Bollywood star Salman Khan to travel abroad. Salman had been involved in the black buck controversy and the case is still on. Many countries had been denying visas and the actor had been facing a tough time shooting for films abroad.
Kangana’s hero grows up
Kangana Ranaut starrer Rajjo has run into trouble with the censor board as they have objected to an 18-year-old boy getting married to a 26-year-old woman in the film. Since the legal age to get married in India is 21 for men, the Board believes that it will send a wrong message to the youngsters. They have asked the makers of the film to increase the age of the hero.
All is well
It was recently reported that Sushant Singh Rajput and his girlfriend Ankita Lokhande parted ways. The two had a fight and Ankita had reportedly even slapped Sushant. But he rubbishes it all.
The next biopic
If the latest buzz is to be believed then actor Ranbir Kapoor is in talks with Rajkumar Hirani to play Sanjay Dutt in a biopic. Rumour has it that Hirani wants to make a film on the early years of Dutt and his legal troubles. The director has personally written the script after getting an approval from Sanjay
Dutt.
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chatter box Sunil Grover gained a lot of popularity as Gutthi on Colors’ show Comedy Nights with Kapil, but now the actor has quit. Apparently, he wanted a pay hike, which he didn’t get and he decided to walk out.
Dealing with the crisis
This Friday, on November 15 at 9 PM, National Geographic Channel will roll out its gripping new feature film, called The Blackout, envisaging the story of national power failure in USA caused by a cyber-attack. Gritty and visceral, the drama exposes just how vulnerable we are and the harsh realities we might have to face in case there is a black out.
“It isn’t science fiction anymore. Our team of researchers interviewed leading experts in various fields — cyber security, search and rescue, emergency medicine, sociology, engineering and more. This film is obviously fictional, but we were determined to be as informed as possible, and we spent countless hours trying to get it right. We needed to know everything that would be affected in a 10-day nationwide blackout,” said Jonathan Rudd, director at Raw Television, the multi-award winning production company behind the hit series, Banged Up Abroad and the acclaimed documentary, The Imposter. Talking about the relevance of the path-breaking concept behind this film, Debarpita Banerjee, VP marketing, National Geographic & FOX International Channels, said, “While The Blackout is based on cyber-attack that strikes USA and causes a complete power wipe-out, the truth is that any nation is just as susceptible to this crisis. In India itself, electricity and power issues are serious. Brace yourselves to witness the unfolding of this horrifying modern-day ordeal on National Geographic Channel.
A worthy gift
Devoleena Bhattacharjee aka Gopi of Star Plus’ Saath Nibhana Saathiya has bought a brand new car. On Diwali, she gifted herself a new Honda City. Her mom wanted to gift Devoleena a new car, so finally they bought it during the festival season.
New season, new issues
Aamir Khan’s show Satyamev Jayate will soon return on Star Plus. Season 2 will have 14 episodes but this time they will be aired in four breaks and not in one stretch like it was the case last time. The creative team is already working on many issues.
Loving the whole act
Newcomer Roop Durgapal, who plays the role of Saanchi in Balika Vadhu, has made her mark in the role of a confused yet manipulative girl, who falls for Jagya and is eventully dumped by him. Recently, she enacted a drunk scene very well. She talks about her role and career...
How was your experience of acting drunk in a scene of the show? I did prepare for the scene by talking to my director. It was a lot of fun doing it. I was nervous as I had never done any such thing but once we started shooting, I went with the flow. How would you describe Saanchi? Other characters in TV shows are shown as God-like, but Saanchi a normal human being. If she likes something, she will be happy and if something bad happens, she will be sad. It’s not a negative role, but a realistic one. There are no people in the world like Ganga or Anandi I feel, they exist only on TV shows. But Saanchi like people exist. When you said yes to playing Saanchi, what were you expecting from the show? When I got the offer, I didn’t think my role would become so popular. The track with Jagya wasn’t planned initially. I thank the creatives for giving me such a good graph. Who do you get along with on the sets? I get along with everyone and if I take one name, others will get angry and it would be unfair too. I am friendly with Anandi, Shiv and the rest of my family members in the show. Tell us about yourself? I am from Almorah, Uttranchal and I did my engineering from Dehradun. I wanted to do something different. I am a singer too. The idea to act came to me and I tried my hand and it worked. I did some ads in between before I got Balika. Then I did Balveer too but had to quit as my dates were clashing with Balika.
For the young and happening...
Friendship, love, relationship, sex and cricket are just some of the things most youngsters can relate to. MTV presents its first ever web exclusive series that aims to revolutionise fiction shows on the web - Saturday Night, Alright!
A lesser trodden genre on the tube itself, Saturday Night, Alright!, depicts the lifestyle of the young through the lives of four friends. Like millions of youngsters of their age, the protagonists get together at a weekend for drinks and inadvertently end up discussing friendship, love, bosses, relationships, sex, cricket, politics and everything else that matters. A 12 part series, each episode will be of 10 - 12 minutes and will cover the friendly banter over the course of one Saturday night. The episodes will be short, crisp and concise to keep the audiences interest levels intact.
Small screen calling
Vatsal Seth will be soon seen in a TV show. He made a debut on television years ago with the serial Just Mohabbat and now has been shooting for a high-budget thriller show. He said yes to this show as it has an unusual.
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Astro turf
ARIES: Problems are bound to arise at home. Cater to people who may be feeling sad. A disagreement with your partner won't be resolved for a few days so don't try to push your point. Tarot message: Try to avoid serious discussions with the loved ones. TAURUS: In the early hours of the day, you could be encountering some difficulties. Budget goes topsy-turvy. If fitness is a concern, join a yoga class and nurture your well-being in a gentle and mindful way. Tarot message: Seek advice but don't feel you have to stick to it. GEMINI: Home and family affairs will be most enjoyable. You will not be able to get teamwork going. Short trips could cause minor annoyances. Personal plans will be opposed to by friends. Tarot message: A shopping spree can set disturb your budget, be aware. CANCER: You are on the crest of a lucky wave. The married will be able to see more of each other. A hectic day for businessmen. No arguments please. Sit back and enjoy the day as it unfolds. Tarot message: Make the best of a bad situation by being polite and understanding. LEO: Use your judgment while taking up important issues. Your family members may not like your association. Enjoy evening with your friends. A restless attitude is likely to prevail. Tarot message: Spend time on your fitness and be positive to put a full stop to your problems. VIRGO: Make your choices wisely today. Family politics can intensify. Talking about the issues with friends may be a distraction, but it won't make any differences to your situation. Tarot message: Take your partner out for dinner to renew energy in the relationship.
LIBRA: You will feel irritated at work. A new deal may bring monetary gains. Good friends will be a source of entertainment and support. Don't hesitate to fall back on them if you are finding life hard at the moment. SCORPIO: Youngsters may feel bit lethargic. You can safely delegate responsibility of work to others. A chance encounter with a stranger may leave your heart beating wildly. Tarot message: Beware of making rash moves or personal decisions when angry or upset. SAGITTARIUS: You are unlikely to have any difficulty on concentrating. There could be an upset in store for you as the day progresses. Diplomacy and tact are the key words for the day. Tarot message: Keep your eyes and ears open for new and exciting opportunities. CAPRICORN: Students: Do not neglect your work. Humanity pays. Keep business activities aboveboard. Parent's health needs attention. A foolish obligation can be dropped. Stock brokers: Think before investing. Tarot message: Do try to be charming in all situations. AQUARIUS: Get into work early because as the day unfolds, everything can become disjointed. An influential person may acknowledge your work and encourage you to take your career further. Tarot message: Stop thinking about yourself and see what you can do for others. PISCES: No matter what problems might arise, you will achieve success. Job seekers could have a couple of interviews. A business deal is likely to go through and give you a secure income. Start organizing your finances. Tarot message: Take life as it comes. |
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The year ahead
If your birthday is November 14...
The year ahead brings partnership opportunities of a more serious or involving nature. This influence begins in June, 2014, and runs till June 2015.Getting derailed is pretty much inevitable at the beginning of March. Do not let anybody divert you from your chosen path. The planet Mercury makes you smart, sentimental, sharp, practical, dignified and unique. You make friends easily as you are trustworthy. Your health will remain good. You can sell or purchase property this year. You can also buy a new vehicle. Appreciation and gifts from your colleagues and employers are expected. Positive colours: Green, Sea green, Turquoise. Select days: Wednesday and Friday. Favourable numbers: 5, 6. Charity on birthday: Donate yellow edible items at a
religious place.
You share your birthday with Olha Kostyantynivna Kurylenko (Ukraine, November 14, 1979), better known as Olga Kurylenko, who is a French actress and model. She is best known as the Bond girl, Camille Montes, in the 22nd James Bond film, Quantum of Solace. She also portrayed Nika Boronina in the movie adaptation of the video game Hitman.
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"There is no friend as loyal as a book." — Ernest Hemingway
Cookery books, e-learning CDs, a range of children books as well as different genres for adults...more than 80 publishers have come together at this fair. We catch up with the early birds picking geographical globes and picture books. An elderly gentleman, enquiring at a stall offering literature on Sikh history, meets eager volunteers who are more than happy to share details.
All is not well for adult star Sunny Leone as she met with an accident on the sets of action-thriller Tina and Lolo. Fortunately, she is all right.
Gems recommended: Onyx, Diamond, Emerald.