The ghunghroos pick up
Kathakali dancer Kalamandalam Amaljith feels people are showing a renewed interest in the dance form
Mona

Kalamandalam Amaljith Born into a traditional family of kathakali dancers, Kalamandalam Amaljith got interested in art to begin with. He chose to carry on the family tradition and two decades later he's awarded the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar 2010 from the Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi and Natana Praveena award from Dr Guru Gopinath Trust, Kottayam.

In Chandigarh on a SPICMACAY invitation, Kalamandalam talks about his remarkable journey:

How did you get initiated into kathakali?

When we were small, our grandfather would take a bag that had ghunghroos in it. It would jingle when one walked. I and my brother would fight to carry that bag. It was then when I decided to be a kathakali dancer. I started learning under my grandfather while my formal education continued side by side.

How has the scenario changed ever since you joined the field?

There was a lull in between. There were hardly any audiences for not many understood kathakali. But now there is a renewed interest in this dance form. There are many takers both for learning it and also watching it. At International Centre for Kathakali, New Delhi where now I teach and perform, not only we have students from different parts of the country but many foreign nationals too from France, Iran, China and more.

What are the themes that you have worked on?

Kathakali takes stories from Ramyana, Mahabharta and Puranas. If Lanka dahan is a regular theme, so is Duryondhan vadh. We have also worked on Shakespeare's Othello and Macbeth, Sakara, a Nigerian play and Kalevala, a folklore from Finland. We keep our tradition in tact the way we dress up (it weighs about 45-50kg) and elaborate make-up that takes up to two and three hours.

What makes kathakali stand out from other art forms?

The colourful attire and make-up is such that everyone right from a state's head to a beggar would stop to see. If that catches the first attention, the form is so beautiful that it finds its own audience. When I perform abroad people often come and remark that they have not seen anything so majestic ever in life.

You have toured the world, is there a memory that stands out?

We usually think of Pakistan as our enemy. But when I visited the country to perform, as soon as I crossed the border, a porter, all sweaty with the load he was carrying, saw me and the tilak on my head, dropped his load and hugged me saying, "You are from India, you are my brother." I was so touched by the gesture. The same warm welcome continued throughout my stay there.

What are the attributes of a fine kathakali dancer?

One should be born with a sense of rhythm. Our gurus say that a kathakali performer needs to be beautiful too. And one must is knowledge of our religious scriptures.

How important a role musicians play in kathakali?

The singer, dancer and instrumentalists play an equally important role. Singer and dancer work in rhythm, if I am making a butterfly flying action, the percussionist makes it even more beautiful with his matching sound. Even the make-up artiste and his assistants are important for the act for if the costume is not tied properly, the dancer wouldn't be able to give his best.

Talk about your association with SPICMACAY.

It is doing a wonderful job in connecting youth with our culture. I am associated with it from last April, and it's been wonderful to interact with youth and bonding them with a fabulous dance form.

Good shot!
Luv Sinha, who will debut in a political thriller soon, wants to revive his family banner Shotgun Moviies
Jasmine Singh

We tell him that he has an actress and an actor in his family itself. "No, it is not just two, my father Shatrughan Sinha, my sister Sonakshi Sinha, my brother Kush, who is a director in making, my mother Poonam Sinha and myself, altogether five industrywallas in one family," shares Luv Sinha who will be seen shortly in a political thriller.

Luv understands the weight of expectations; he sees comparisons as something that are inevitable, but he takes all in his stride, for the actor doesn't accept things on platter. He works on understanding the projects, reads the script and then decides. "I will be working in a political thriller directed by Umesh Shukla who made Oh My God. I had a talk with Umesh earlier and when I heard the script I was on board. I like the way he approaches a subject. Oh My God was an amazing film, every character was justified and presented beautifully," shares Luv working towards giving a new form and shape to the family banner Shotgun Moviies.

Actor producer, the two most difficult genres to dabble with. If acting means creative juices, producing a film can be a Herculean task for the brain. He laughs, "Indeed, producing a film isn't easy, and neither is acting for that matter. "I am on the look out for some good scripts and will be giving chances to people who want to explore their creative side," he adds.

A family full of the best talents in the industry, this young actor knows he has the right people to fallback on. "Yes, once I read the script, understand the subject, I discuss it with my family, and I know I will be given the best advice on it." 

Taking the bull(y) by the horns
Kaur Foundation is urging the Sikhs living abroad to speak up against bullying in a video titled Break the Silence
Jasmine Singh

(L-R) A shoot of the video Break The Silence in progress; Mirin Phool (second from left) co-founder and president with Kaur Foundation volunteers
Cause & effect: (L-R) A shoot of the video Break The Silence in progress; Mirin Phool (second from left) co-founder and president with Kaur Foundation volunteers

The boy-band Boyzone is a 'been there done that' story now. Their song, It's Only Words however doesn't fail to remind the importance of speaking up.

So, they say, before you get down to planning how to end pain, suffering or misery, first you have to speak up. You have to coat your emotions, and feelings with words. And it is these words that will rake in affect!

The Kaur Foundation, a non-profit organisation based in North America dedicated to improving the status of communities through education, works to end bullying starting at the elementary school level. This is further continued through high school with the help of comprehensive, specially produced, survey-based educational resources-- the Sikh Studies Unit, Teachers Resource Guide, and Cultural Safari DVD.

A young woman Amarpreet Ghuman, who has been volunteering with the foundation since 2009 to strengthen governmental relationships and work on outreach programmes within and outside the Sikh community, urges people to speak up against bullying. Amarpreet, who is the Advocacy Director for the foundation, has taken this 'note' a step further in the video, Break The Silence, which got over 11,000 views on the first day.

Break The Silence is conceptualised and directed by Amarpreet and it is the first video of its kind for the Sikh youth residing anywhere in the world. Shares Amarpreet, "It is a two-minute video that empowers the Sikh youth against bullying, showing them that they too can achieve their career goals."

The video features young Sikh professionals from various different arenas urging anyone watching to speak up and to follow their dreams. The video is making waves throughout the US and other countries. "We have people viewing it from all over the world! It is a real issue for children keeping their Sikh identity and this is a one of its kind, to the point, PSA."

The video has something for everyone who watches it. "There reason for its success is because any child anywhere viewing the video can find someone in the video with whom they can connect. There is a parliamentarian, a fitness instructor, a student, first female Sikh pilot, singer, solider and security analyst in addition to many others.

Speak up…. says the video, and it sure is making a difference. Looking at the response, Amarpreet adds, "Kaur Foundation has already started with the next project 'What's Your Story'. We're asking anyone regardless of age to send us their story, via video or email about their experiences with bullying and how they overcame it. "We hope that with watching Break The Silence children do find the courage to speak up!"

Keep up the fight

In 2002, Kaur Foundation was founded to help address the issues of bullying and hate crimes against Sikh American in a post 9/11 world. A climate of inclusion, respect and cultural understanding is critical to instill in school children in order for them to be prepared to fully participate in a diverse society. Working to realise these goals and moving to the next level by giving teachers and students the specific tools in hand, is Kaur Foundation's primary mission.

Today, the Kaur Foundation's educational tools for school curriculum are being utilised in schools in Maryland, Virginia, California, Florida, Texas, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania in addition to many other states, benefiting over 1.3 million students. "Our educational materials are written to national standards and cover all aspects of reading, writing, listening, critical thinking and comprehension skills, helping students understand the commonalities between the Sikh Americans and their own life experiences," she adds.

Cinema shouldn't be blamed for society's ills: Imran 

Imran Khan Bollywood actor Imran Khan says movies are often made a 'soft target' and blamed for society's ills. Imran, 30, feels such problems can be solved only through education and change in mindset. "Blaming cinema for the ills in society is a very simplistic outlook. Movies are a soft target and the film industry is not able to fight back. We are held victims to a mob mentality," Khan said.

Khan was in New York to promote his upcoming film Gori Tere Pyaar Mein, a romantic comedy that stars Kareena Kapoor as his leading lady, directed by Punit Malhotra and produced by Karan Johar.

Amid growing incidents of violence and abuse against women in India, a section of the society has put the blame on song, lyrics and choreography in movies, saying they are disrespectful towards women.

Khan is known for his support for social causes, including organising voter drives to get people to cast their ballots.

"To vote is the smallest thing that you can do to be part of the democratic process. If you do not vote you have no right to complain. You cannot sit and mourn about the state of the country if you have not cast your vote," he said.

The Delhi Belly star said that the Indian film industry is currently going through a renaissance and is at a transitional phase where movie makers and actors are experimenting with storytelling and filmmaking.

"It is the best of all possible times and it is only getting better. There is an audience for films which we thought nobody would be interested in, it is a renaissance," the actor said.

Khan also said it is unfortunate that movies and actors often face opposition by sections of society that raise objection to a word in the film's title or lyrics, claiming they are disrespectful or derogatory in nature. "It happens time and again, we are forced to change song lyrics, forced to change titles of movies. Ultimately you are being ruled by the fear of a mob, who will come burn a theatre or stone houses in protest," he said.

Having worked in movies like Matru Ki Bijli Ka Mandola and Once Upon a Time in Mumbai Dobara, Khan said the year 2013 was a time of 'tremendous growth' for him as an actor, "I want to keep doing work that makes me happy and one that I will not be ashamed of later in life," he said. — PTI

Cause & Effect: Imran Khan

Chitrangada’s political demands 

Bollywood actress Chitrangada Singh feels politicians in our country, especially the youth leaders, should abandon their formal clothes in favour of more casual attires. "The youth leaders in our country should dress more casually. I think it is time they start wearing jeans and T-shirts instead of the regular kurta and pajama," Chitrangada said.

The 37-year-old dusky beauty listed Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and corporate affairs minister Sachin Pilot as the most stylish politicians."I think they both are always well-dressed," said Chitrangada, who was in the capital for a fashion show.

The Hazaaron Khwaishen Aisi actress wore a red and black one shoulder ball gown as she walked the ramp for designer JJ Valaya, who showcased his Spain-inspired collection. The collection was titled Maharaj Of Madrid. — PTI 

Return of Roy
Rahul Roy’s film To Be Or Not To Be is inspired by Hamlet

Aashiqi fame actor Rahul Roy is reportedly returning to the silver screen with psychological thriller To Be Or Not To Be. Harikrit Films is producing the movie, said a statement and added that Rahul, last seen in Ada... A Way of Life will play the male lead in the movie inspired by William Shakespeare's play Hamlet, while Telugu actress and theatre artist Akansha Shivhare has been roped in as the female lead.

To be directed by Virendra Lalit, To Be Or Not To Be is written by Sanjeev Tiwari and Rakesh Chaturvedi.

The movie revolves around Nikhil (Rahul) and Priya (Akansha) whose marriage is on the rocks. To give a last chance to their relationship, the couple takes a break from their normal life to go on a short trip to their farm house.

Thereafter, the story unfolds elements of fear, suspicion, regret and compassion.

To Be Or Not To Be will be shot in Delhi.

Rahul, 45, featured in Hindi movies like Junoon and Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Aayee. He also worked in Bhojpuri movies and won the first season of TV reality show Bigg Boss. — IANS

Victoria to part with her tiara

Singer-turned-designer Victoria Beckham has put her wedding tiara up for auction. The 39-year-old is selling her lavish 25,000 pounds gold and black crown, which she wore at her royal-themed wedding to former soccer star David Beckham on July 4, 1999.

The 18-carat crown-style latticed tiara with diamond drops will be auctioned off at Bonhams on December 5 with a price of between 18,000 pounds and 25,000 pounds.

Emily Barber, director of Bonhams Jewellery Department in London, said: "Interest in the tiara is expected to be two-fold because it is designed by acclaimed jeweller, Slim Barrett, whose pieces rarely come up for sale at auction."

"The fact that it was worn by international style icon Victoria Beckham on her wedding day adds even further interest to the piece, bringing it to the attention of a wider audience."

Victoria borrowed the crown from Slim and it has since been exhibited at the Victoria and Albert Museum, but could now go to a private owner.

Victoria and David got married at Luttrellstown Castle in Ireland and the couple's four-month-old son Brooklyn was the ring bearer.

To complement her crown, Victoria wore a 60,000 pounds wedding gown by Vera Wang and the couple sat in matching gold thrones.

The couple have four children together, Brooklyn, now 14, Romeo, 11, Cruz, eight, and two-year-old daughter Harper.

The family has bought a luxury 50 million pounds home near Kensington Palace, which is close to the residence of Prince William and Duchess Catherine. —IANS

Jolie gets humanitarian award

Actress Angelina Jolie was honoured for her humanitarian efforts with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the 5th Annual Governors Awards. The event was held on Saturday at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood and Highland Center.

After receiving the award, the 38-year-old thanked her partner, actor Brad Pitt for his support.

"My love, your support and your guidance make everything I do possible," Jolie said.

She was accompanied by Pitt and son Maddox, 12, to the awards night.

The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award is given "to an individual in the motion picture industry whose humanitarian efforts have brought credit to the industry". —IANS

Big B watches Goliyon Ki Rasleela... thrice 

Quite intrigued by the performances in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Goliyon Ki Rasleela: Ram-Leela, megastar Amitabh Bachchan says he ended up watching the film thrice in a day.

The 71-year-old actor also spoke to the director and lead — Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh —over phone and congratulated them on their performances in the film.

"There is a certain joy in acknowledging the accomplishments of another... I did so today for Ram-Leela, the film and its glorious cast and crew... With Sanjay Leela Bhansali, with Deepika and Ranveer and Supriya and Richa...

All that have made this film a most memorable experience for me…

"I have watched it 3 times over in the last 24 hours and still desire more... Those late hours that you have been noticing on timelines of this extraordinary medium, is so because of this most enjoyable activity of mine... So I wrote to them and sent them flowers and spoke to some and the delight that it gives me in doing so cannot be explained...," Bachchan posted on his blog.

Bachchan, who has worked with Bhansali in Black, said he is happy with the future generation of Bollywood.

"I relish the professionalism of those of this generation ... I am in awe of their accomplishments in such short period ... — PTI 

Not fit for catwalk

Model Jessica Hart wasn't impressed by singer Taylor Swift on the runway at the 2013 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show here and feels she "didn't fit in". Swift, 23, performed at the annual fashion show on Wednesday but Hart felt that the singer was out of place on the ramp.

Asked if the Love Story singer could pull it off as a Victoria's Secret model, Hart replied: "No."

"I think, you know what, god bless her heart. I think she's great. But I don't know, to me, she didn't fit. I don't know if I should say that," Hart said.

"I think what you find is that for a lot of us, we've been working for 14, 15 years, what it takes to make it here comes from experience and confidence and knowing how to be confident with yourself. I think it comes with age. It's definitely the benchmark of all jobs," she added.

Tone it down, Miley told

Miley Cyrus is set for a performance on reality show The X Factor on Sunday but the singer has been asked to tone down her act during the show.

The X Factor bosses are nervous after the 20-year-old's recent controversy and joint smoking on stage and therefore they have asked her to subdue her act on the family show.

"Miley seems to be on a mission to be as controversial as possible, so everyone's a bit nervous. She's been warned to tone it down for The X Factor, a source said. — IANS

Doc Talk
Stretched beyond limits
Dr Vikas Sharma

Skin is a remarkably flexible organ that has the capacity to stretch substantially. The inner and most important dermal layer comprises of elastic fibres, which provide our skin the necessary suppleness and collagen that gives strength to the skin. However, in situations when skin experiences greater stress over a rapid period of time, the overtaxed dermal elastic and collagen fibres tear at points, resulting in formation of cosmetically disfiguring stretch marks.

Stretch marks or striae as they are called in dermatology, are a form of scarring on the skin with an off-colour hue. Stretch marks may also be influenced by hormonal changes associated with puberty, pregnancy, bodybuilding, hormone replacement therapy etc. They first appear as reddish or purple lines, but tend to gradually fade to a lighter range.

The affected areas appear empty and are soft to the touch. Stretch marks can appear anywhere on the body, but are most likely to appear in places where larger amounts of fat are stored.

These are often the result of the rapid stretching of the skin associated with rapid growth or rapid weight changes. Skin subjected to more stretching force than it can handle will tear. Hormonal changes and genetics influence the skin's capacity to withstand stretching forces, as do diet and (possibly) exercise.

Teenagers are at highest risk of developing severe striae. These may develop on the shoulders in young male weightlifters when their muscle mass rapidly increases.

Usually, the striae are only a cosmetic problem, but occasionally, if extensive, they may ulcerate or tear easily should the patient be involved in an accident or heavy exertion during work or exercise.

Preventive measures

* Eat smartly and sensibly to avoid gaining excess body fat.

* Pregnant females should wear a supportive maternity clothing throughout the duration of pregnancy.

* Use steroids in prescribed dosage and schedule.

* Rule out presence of an endocrine disorder.

* Exercise smartly taking care of skin stretch limits.

* The medical treatments available for the purpose of improving the appearance of stretch marks, include laser treatments, dermabrasion, and prescription drugs.

A surgical procedure for removing lower abdominal stretch marks which removes the skin below the navel where stretch marks frequently occur.

A new modality, fractional laser resurfacing, offers a novel approach to treating striae. Using scattered pulses of light the stretch marks are zapped to an extent by the laser over the course of several treatments. This creates microscopic wounds.

( Dr Sharma is a Chandigarh- based dermatologist)

Master Chef
Drop and bake!
Kandla Nijhowne

Cookie baking to most people sounds a daunting task. Rolling out the dough to an even thickness, then stamping out shapes with a cookie cutter and transferring them to a waiting baking sheet...it's tedious, time consuming and requires dexterity! When I was a young novice, my cookie dough would invariably be stuck all over the marble work-top, with scraggly bits hanging off the counter and others doing a flop-show on my slippers. Finally, practice did make me acquire perfection! But there are enthusiasts who may be less patient, and for those, a 'drop and bake' recipe sure fits the oven. Here, the batter is dropped in even little mounds on to the baking sheet, and baked just so! No rolling, no fuss, no cutting and no sticking! My choco-chip-cookie recipe is for those seeking quick gratification. I know you can buy them packaged too but trust me, home-baked cookies have a unique, magical, buttery flavour that can't be replicated!

Heavenly choco-chip cookies

* ¾ cup grain sugar

* ¾ cup brown sugar

* 1 cup butter

* 1 tsp vanilla

* 1 egg

* 2¼ cups maida

* 1 tsp baking soda

* ½ tsp salt

* 1 cup walnuts, chopped

* 1½ cups chocolate chips

Method

* Pre heat the oven to 375ºF.

* Mix brown sugar, grain sugar, butter, vanilla and egg in deep bowl.

* Sieve the baking soda and salt into the maida. Add to the eggs and sugar mix.

*Scatter the nuts and chocolate chips over it and fold in.

* Using a tablespoon, drop the stiff batter on to a baking sheet, about two inches apart.

* Pop into the oven for 8-10 minutes, keeping vigil over them. Bake for 8 -10 minutes, or till golden brown.

* Cool on a wire rack, then store in an air tight jar.

Note: Brown sugar imparts the chewy quality to the cookie. Don't substitute it with white!

An ice-cream scoop is the perfect tool for dropping the cookie batter. It's easy to disengage the clump of batter on to the sheet. You get almost even sized cookies too.

(Nijhowne is a Chandigarh-based culinary expert)

83 and going young
Chandigarh-based architect SD Sharma is happy to add to the count of awards he has got and feels that awards motivate one to perform better
Mona

That an architect should be able to enrich social life is what architect SD Sharma believes in. In six decades of his career that started with coming up of Chandigarh, he has garnered many honours. The latest to fall in his kitty are Golden Architect Award, India by Architecure + Design & Cera and Great, Master's Award by JK Cement.

"Awards do not make you a good architect but they definitely propel you towards doing better in life," says Sharma who is enamoured by the trophies and the honour than the cash money that follow these awards.

Still active in his practice, Sharma is happy the way Bamboo Museum, Palampur has come up. Currently he is busy with The National Institute of Plant Genome Research at JNU, New Delhi. Sustainable architecture is what he's busy exploring. "That's the future and also my message to the next generation," says Sharma who takes pride that Chandigarh right from its initiation aimed at sustainable development. "One bulb rooms, one simple toilet and two rooms, Chandigarh was planned in a restraint manner to begin with."

He stresses on the role of green and renewable material and methods, "We have already plundered nature to its limit, if we don't stop now, we have to brace up for natural catastrophes that are becoming order of the day."

Happy with the response that his book Modernism in India has garnered - The Architecture of Shivdatt Sharma, he's penning next. "Reading and writing is what I enjoy most next to my profession. It's important for an architect to know what's happening around the world. Only then he can contribute usefully to the society."

Soon to celebrate his 83rd birthday, office and reading keep him occupied. He is fond of latest in technology. "Science and technology is increasingly seeping in our lives. One must keep abreast of what one can do with it."

He still considers himself a student and is happy to have started with the Architecture Office, Chandigarh way back in 1963, "Through Le Corbusier and Pierri Jeaneret I learnt to work without any superficialities. Over the decades I have realised that architecture is as complex as life. It becomes simple if you choose a direction."

Tell-tale title
Sachin Garg, author of I'm not 24…I've Been 19 for Five Years, It's First Love…Just Like The Last One, Never Let Me Go, feels a title is the first thing that catches the reader
Manpriya Singh

Casual reads make for a serious business. Spontaneous writing makes for a solemn career. Engineering and management degrees sit firmly in the resume but lately have been pushed to the last pages of his file. There's a blog to take care of impromptu creative insights. For the rest, there's the publishing industry to let him share stories of the young urban lives set against the backdrop of metropolitan areas. It all started with the right sets of beliefs and influences. 

"I've read Chetan Bhagat and almost all his works. Authors like him, made many of us believe that we can write too and share our stories. One need not be a certain type or stereotype to author books," shares Delhi based author Sachin Garg, in city for Chandigarh Book Fair, who already has half a dozen titles to his credit.

However, the love for writing goes way back before his first book, I'm not 24…I've Been 19 for Five Years, came out. The story of three youngsters who come from different worlds but are thrown into a fourth world called Karnataka. "Writing happened much before my MBA. I started with a blog and discovered that it was read by a lot of people and was quite famous. These were the days before FB or twitter so one wouldn't know one had how many followers."

One thing led to the other and before he knew, he was already working on his next few titled It's First Love…Just Like The Last One, Never Let Me Go, The Backbenchers…What stands through more than the plots is the title. "These ideas have been my ideas only. A title is the first thing that catches the reader."

As for the rest, "I travel a lot and try to experience the place and people and dig out stories from there." After Goa, Rishikesh, Delhi and a village in Karnataka, coming up is a story set in the islands. "It'll be out in January and is titled We Need A Revolution. It's a story of a bunch of guys who feel for a cause and try to get together and work towards it."

manpriya@tribunemail.com

Par excellence
Correcting the push
Jesse Grewal

There are many factors which could make the ball go to the right for right handed golfers. These are almost the opposite of the factors mentioned in last week's article in connection with the pull/hook. Once again we divide them into the pre-swing and in-swing factors or the static and dynamic factors.

The pre-swing factors are

*The grip could be weak. There could be less than two knuckles visible of the left hand or the V's of either hand could be pointing to the left of the chin. The V's formed by the thumb and the forefinger of both hands should point to the right shoulder.

* The alignment of the body could be to the right of the target (shut).

n The ball position could be too far back - closer to the right foot. This has two consequences. It makes the shoulders point right of the target (shut) and it does not allow the club to square up at impact. The shut shoulder position creates an in to out swing leading to pushed shots.

The in- swing factors are

* The left wrist could be cupped at the top of the back swing which leads to an open club face. This causes the ball to slice.

* The club does not release or square up at impact leading to a slice. When the club face is open at impact due to the lack of the release which is the shutting action of the hands, the ball would have less speed apart from the fact that it would slice. This can also happen due to an extremely tight left arm created by the misconception that the left arm must be straight and rigid through the swing. The left arm should fold immediately after impact so that the right hand rolls over it thereby shutting the club face and releasing the speed of the swing to the ball.

* The swing path is excessively from in to out which makes the ball start to the right (push). This in to out path also happens to be too shallow and will result in thin shots with no divot.

* If the body slides forward before impact the club approaches with a steep angle leading to shots which go low to the right.

Once again correct the pre-swing factors before working on the in-swing ones.

(Grewal has coached several national champions and professionals apart from being coach of the Indian golf team for the Eisenhower Cup (World Cup) in 2008. He is currently the Director of National Golf Academy of India and CGA Hero Honda Golf Academy. If you have any queries get in touch with him at parexcellence@tribunemail.com)

No child’s play

The day centred on kids' at Chandigarh's popular shopping and entertainment destination: DLF City Centre Mall in IT Park. A colourful and peppy fashion show was organised as part of the mall's 'Free Shopping & Movies with Unlimited Fun bonanza, which is on till November 30.

The children sashayed confidently down the ramp, showcasing latest in-store collections of Gini & Jony, Mothercare, Wonderland, Crocs brands of kids' apparels and accessories, from the swank lifestyle outlets housed in the DLF. The young models put their best foot forward to impress the judges with their trendy attire and actions. The fashion savvy kids proved that ramp walks were child's play for them. The show saw participation of 100 boys and girls in two age groups -- 3 to 6 years and 7 to 12 years. The high point came when the winners of the Most Fashionable Boy & Girl contest were declared in both categories. The kids were judged on aspects like confidence and attitude.— TNS

chatter box
All in the family

Actress Amrita Rao's younger sister Preetika Rao has been cast as female lead in writer-turned-producer Farhan Salaruddin's TV show. The concept is a Muslim social drama and will air post Bigg Boss. She has been working as a journalist earlier and now will walk in her sister's footsteps.

High on success
Jaya Bhattacharya, aka Maham Anga in Bharat Ka Veer Putra-Maharana Pratap is kicked that she could be a part of Devon Ke Dev Mahadev. She played the role of Diti, wife of Rishi Kashyap and the mother of Asuras and enjoyed having some substantial role to essay. 

A task at hand
After quitting Jeanie Aur Juju on SAB TV, Giaa Manek will now be seen in a new show on Colors. When she participated in Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa last year, she had to opt out of her hit show Saathiya and back then whispers were that the channel had promised her another show. It seems like the promise will be delivered soon.

May be next time
Imam Siddique, who was the most popular contestant last year on Bigg Boss, wanted to do films. And apparently he got an offer to be a part of Farah Khan's next Happy New Year. But he was disappointed to know that he got a cameo and turned it down. 

Emotional anchor
Eijaz Khan, who was seen as in Punar Vivah as Vikrant Suryavanshi, is surprised with the sudden buzz of his show going off air on November 29. On being asked how he feels, he replies, "Of course, I feel a little bad. We put in our blood, sweat and tears. Literally, but everything that starts has to end. I firmly believe everything happens for the best."

On the popularity charts
Karan Kundra has crossed the mark of one million likes on Facebook. The actor, who began his journey as Arjun Punj in Kitani Mohobbat Hai, today is busy with Hindi and Punjabi films. He is also seen on Channel V's show Gumraah as its host.

Making a comeback

Poonam Dhillon Seasoned actress Poonam Dhillon is all set to appear on the small screen yet again. After carving out a niche for herself in the world of films, Poonam made her entry into the television industry a few years back and created waves with her power-packed performances. Poonam was away from the small screen for a while now and is all set to do a daily fiction show on Sony soon.

How are you feeling about returning to TV after a hiatus?

My kids are grown up so I have time to do more work. I am doing an interesting project. Also I have worked with the production house before.

Tell us about your role.

I will be essaying the role of an amicable mother-in-law. It is an exciting and positive role.

The show is said to be inspired by Sridevi's film English Vinglish. Is it true?

There are many flavours in the story and many layers in the character. It is about the relationship that different characters share with each other.

Will your show be a saas bahu cliché?

It won't be a clichéd saas bahu story. It is about two women who support each other. Usual saas bahu that are shown on TV don't share a happy relationship. There will be a good message for the audience.

When will you start shooting?

We will start shooting soon and perhaps will go on air next month.

The year ahead
Madan Gupta Spatu

If your birthday is November 19...

Real estate investment will be lucrative. A better understanding with your spouse brings in happiness, peace and prosperity at home. Seminars and exhibitions will provide you with new knowledge and contacts. Sun is your ruling planet as a result; you will be dignified, assertive, humble, mature, optimistic, positive and selfless. Working with a group of artists will be gratifying. You are tired of being misunderstood by people who are solely focused on practical matters. You are fond of interacting with new people and know everyone quite well in your surroundings. You may attend a lot of social events this year and come in contact with a lot of influential people. Positive colours: Golden , red and maroon. Select days: Sunday , Monday & Tuesday. Favourable numbers: 1,4 ,2,7 & 9. Gems recommended: Sunstone, Ruby. Charity on birthday: Donate orange fruits, sweets, orange coloured clothes to needy.

You share birthday with Sushmita Sen (November19, 1975 Hyderabad) won the title of Miss India beating Aishwarya Rai. Sushmita became an actress with Dastak in 1996 but, her biggest hit has been Main Hoon Na .She played a lawyer in Main Aisa Hi Hoon opposite Ajay Devgn. Her stars reveal success in films till she lives.

 

Astro Turf
P Khurrana

ARIES: Do not overload yourself with work. Working women: Control your temper. A relaxed night is ahead. Pearls of wisdom from an older person are valuable. Take stock of your plans and ensure you are looking after yourself. 

Tarot message: Boost your confidence with positive thinking. 

Lucky colour: Aqua blue. 

Magic number: 38

TAURUS: There are too many problems to cope with at home. Partners may not understand enough. Business conferences can go off smoothly under your direction, building your self-esteem and professional reputation. 

Tarot message: Avoid situation that may turn nasty. 

Lucky colour: Mauve

Magic number: 59

GEMINI: Not a particularly busy day. You'll prefer not to share your thoughts or ideas with people from your past. If you are thinking of rekindling a past love affair, make a plan for the weekend.

Tarot message: Results are guaranteed if you stick to arrangements. 

Lucky colour: Navy blue. 

Magic number: 47

CANCER: Work wise you will be doing fine. Love life is controversial. Give more time to domestic duties. Do not suppress your feelings. Good vibes around. Love and friendship are likely to take up most of your time. 

Tarot message: Do not let anyone take your advantage. 

Lucky colour: White. 

Magic number: 53

LEO: You must try harder at work. Avoid speculation. A hectic day for business activities. Travel plans need a double check. Expecting women: Focus on your diet and exercise. 

Tarot message: Do not cover up your own mistakes and keep the emotions aside. 

Lucky colour: Saffron

Magic number: 30

VIRGO: There will be new projects to deal with. Friends will be coming with useful ideas. Mothers: Take proper care of your little child. Send your apologies in order to avoid future confrontations. 

Tarot message: Don't get involved in risky ventures.

Lucky colour: Sky blue

Magic number: 31

LIBRA: Nothing is going wrong today. Home and family life run smoothly. You will get more time to do what you want. Evening favours a social get together. Co-workers are controversial. Pamper yourself a little today.

Tarot message: Avoid gossip sessions. 

Lucky colour: Orange

Magic number: 36

SCORPIO: Women will be bored with their daily routine. Love life will be controversial. Your health can stand in the way of travel plans. Ensure that your health is fine. Think about what you are going to wear for an upcoming job interview. 

Tarot message: Try to get your work in order. 

Lucky colour: Pink. 

Magic number: 61

SAGITTARIUS: Avoid tiffs and angry words in the heat of the moment. Focus on hobbies and personal matters. Students: A day when you may be confused about your career. 

Tarot message: Be articulate to prevent people for making their own conclusions. 

Lucky colour: Silver.

Magic number: 32

CAPRICORN: Overseas inquiries for business will be encouraging. Investments made in new ventures are sure to bring good dividends. You could be daydreaming, plotting fabulous ways to get the things you want. 

Tarot message: You are advised to focus on professional changes. 

Lucky colour: Yellow

Magic number: 29

AQUARIUS: Do not sign new agreements. A strong independent streak will push you to get things done your way and in your time. This might not sit well with your partner or business colleagues, so use some diplomacy. 

Tarot message: Arrogance and pride will not be rewarded. 

Lucky colour: Green. 

Magic number: 43

PISCES: Contracts and agreements can stall, messages can get mixed up, appointments can be canceled, and whatever is meant to be happening probably won't. 

Tarot message: You need to be creative if you want to retain your grip over your business.

Lucky colour: Peach

Magic number: 65





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