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A creative mind
If what you create reflects your personality, then Salim Asgarally'a creations perfectly mirror how he is as a designer. Uncomplicated, humble and intelligent, five minutes into the conversation and you can deduce some of his traits.
He politely intervenes and corrects, "Creatively intelligent may be." The prefix, creatively, is added to underline that he is primarily a designer and not a businessman, who knows how to market his products. "Those who are blessed with a creative bent of mind are usually bad at managing finance. And that is probably the reason I haven't been able to promote myself really well," says the fashion designer, who is in Ludhiana for a two-day exhibition.
But those who have an understanding of design and a liking for silhouette, rather than bling, know him and follow him. No wonder, his calendar is dotted with travel plans. Just back from Dubai, post an exhibition at Pune, now in Ludhiana, then in Chandigarh, followed by Singapore…he virtually lives out of a suitcase. "I don't enrol myself for the fashion weeks; it's only through exhibitions that I reach out to my clients," he adds.
This year, he focused on tier-II cities, for the metros, he feels, are fashion-saturated. Comprising ethnic and Western, white, black and colours; cutwork and subtle embroidery, the collection is dominated by the fabric georgette and velvet. "It's easy to create layers with georgette and velvet is the ideal fabric for the season in the region," Salim adds. His creations are barely embellished, something that is not known to sell in this region that feeds its style on sequins, stones and heavy embroidery. "I have always believed that clothes should enhance the personality of the wearer and not take over it. On a practical note, minimal embellishment also leaves rooms for accessories, which means more scope to add on style." At the same time, he is not against bling. The reason, he adores Manish Arora and his quirky interpretation of bling! "He has an audience who confidently can carry off his unusual designs." He also likes minimalist work and techniques used by Rajesh Pratap. "We have great designers who with each season take the industry a notch higher. The need of the hour is corporatisation of fashion, like it is in the West, where fashion labels thrive under a parent industry." He hopes it happens soon as that will take care of the financial aspect. And he can happily continue to be creatively intelligent! ashima@tribunemail.com (The exhibition will be held on December 20 and 21 at Park Plaza in Ludhiana, and December 23 and 24 at Hotel Icon in Chandigarh)
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Power of a simple voice
There was an era when artistes were uncorrupted by the baggage of limelight and when electronic keyboard was not the substitute for a good voice, when music meant melody and fame stood for hours of practice to mesmerise the audience.
Bollywood veteran singer Usha Timothy proudly stands for that era of music. "I must have been seven when I went for Kalyanji Anandji night. There I was introduced to Mohammed Rafi. He had been looking for a voice for playback singing," in Chandigarh to perform at Mohd Rafi Nite, organised by the Yaadgar-E-Rafi Society, she gets nostalgic over the good old days. The career defining moment started her journey into the world of playback signing. Along the line she delivered hits like Jab Jab Bahar Aayi Phool Muskraye; the song that also remains the most requested at the concerts she performs at. She recalls, "I was very close to Mohammed Rafi saab. One thing that his fans don't know is that he was very naughty… he sponsored my entire honeymoon and jokingly instructed the driver to not look back while he was escorting us." So far it's been a life well spent, doing things she loves and currently looking after husband and children. "I am very satisfied with my life. I've always practiced, wanted appreciation for my singing and received it. I also remain pre-occupied with my children and husband," she stresses says. As for the drawbacks pervading in today's music industry, she opines, "Riyaaz is very important and so is a background in classical music. Unfortunately, today's young singers do not subscribe to these theories…that's why today's music also sounds very similar. Even the songs do not have a long shelf life." She adds, "Rhythm was counted in the third category in our times. Lyrics and voice came first. Nowadays, rhythm precedes everything." Nevertheless, there are a couple of promising names that stand apart. She shares, "Shreya Ghoshal and Sunidhi Chauhan are quite promising. So are Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Sonu Nigam." She adds, "Among the recent songs, I wish somebody had given me a chance to lend my voice to Rashid Ali Khan's Barsega Sawan." (At the Tagore Theatre, Chandigarh, on December 20, 2013, from 5pm onwards)
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Sound of sarangi
Sarangi is one traditional instrument that makes sounds close to human voice. Vinod Pawar, probably the lone sarangi player in Chandigarh got interested in it early in life.
Whetted by classical concerts in Chandigarh, he made up his mind to pursue it and was fortunate to learn it under Sultan Khan sahib. "I would accompany Khan sahib for concerts across the country and abroad and learnt a lot by my association with him," says Pawar, who played at Surtal Utsav at Punjab Kala Bhawan which is being organised by the Punjab Sangeet
Natak Akademi. Ask him on how he feels that there are so few left who can play this beautiful instrument, he laughs, "I feel like king of my domain here," and is quick to add, "But I would certainly like more and more young artistes to take up
this instrument. He has a few learning under him, including his 19-year-old son Himanshu. "Today children are in a tearing hurry to learn today and to get on stage tomorrow. It doesn't happen this way with sarangi. It needs years of hard work. I am glad few of my students, including my son, are doing well but it would take them two to three years to come on stage." Does it bother him that this art can die? "Oh no. Things were really bad when I started. Now when I go to judge youth festivals, I do see sarangi players on stage. And most fusion bands take a sarangi player in, so the future is bright," says Pawar who has worked with his Guru for album Piya Tore Karan. Recently he is composed music for a Bollywood film too!
Simply sitar
Ustad Mohsin Khan, sitar maestro, was in Chandigarh too for Surtaal Utsav. Being born in the family of classical artistes while dallying between tabla, classical vocal, he chose sitar to be his destiny. "I was small, just 10, when I picked up sitar. There was something in its look and sound that fascinated me from the very beginning," says Mohsin. His years of journey with sitar, he's thoroughly enjoyed giving performances at prestigious platforms in India and abroad. He's also cut four albums and there have been offers from film industry too, but he's not keen on. About future, he says, "Ustad Vilayat Khan and Pandit Ravi Shankar have brought so much prestige to sitar that if only we could maintain it, we are good!"
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Get ready for a lot more than just a whiff of the sea breeze! Chandigarh-based oriental restaurant, Purple Rice today announced its Sea Food Festival, offering wide variety of authentic and exotic sea food to titillate your taste buds. Speaking on the food fest, Vipul Dua, MD, Purple Rice and Peddlers says, "Chandigarh is a city of foodies who love to explore new and varied delicacies. Off late, there has been a growing demand for authentic and exotic sea food which is not commonly available. Purple Rice is catering to this demand through its expansive sea food menu which has on offer exotic delicacies." For those who love prawn, crab, fish and other such offerings of the sea accompanied by lip-smacking and tongue-twirling sauces, the festival is the place to go. "Our menu comprises offerings like Indonesian grilled/steamed pomfret, standing pomfret, red snapper, Singapore style chilly crabs, crabs black pepper, grilled sole lemon chilly fish, lobster with zing zing sauce, chilly oysters, chef special zed sea food soup etc to choose from," says Chef Bikram Lepcha, master chef, Purple Rice. Sea food enthusiasts can pair the delicacies with wines and beer on offer as both the drinks go well with the food. Those with a sweet tooth can relish the delectable cakes from the menu.— TNS On till January 31.
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The stage is set
As much as the plot and the protagonist, dance and drama matter to him; music is an indispensable part too. And so is the fact that it needs to involve maximum children on stage. A lot many things need to fall in place before Gursharan Singh gives a nod and picks up the script. After all, staging a play is a serious business.
"I like to work with students, so the endeavour is that maximum children can be on stage. Music and dance are integral part of the play too," shares the sitar maestro and theatre resource person, in Chandigarh to prepare Dikshant International School students for an adaptation of Kamleshwar's award winning novel Kitne Pakistan. "The play starts with a mythological background to this part of the world. It traced the development of human society…" The human interest story looks at history with a sharp lens. Why exactly Partition took place and how Partition is a metaphor. Before anybody's mistaken about the work, he clarifies, "It's not a play based on Partition. It just traces the reasons why people don't understand each other and part ways." As for the story, the protagonist is a reporter based out of Mumbai, while the play even comes replete with a visual of Kargil war. "The most difficult part about the play was obviously the scripting. There is a lot of live music in the background and both Hindi as well as English. Coming up are concerts in Delhi and also a book. About which, there's only so much as he can reveal. "All I can say that it is based on the great poet Bhai Nand Lal." Should be literally something. manpriya@tribunemail.com To be staged at Indradhanush Auditorium, Panchkula on December 28.
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No replacement
Karan Johar took to Twitter to deny the rumour over his new project, Shuddhi. Buzz is that actress Deepika Padukone has replaced Kareena Kapoor in Shuddhi. But Karan rubbished the rumour saying Kareena is very much part of the project. "Kareena Kapoor is very much a part of SHUDHI...which stars Hrithik Roshan.... directed by Karan Malhotra... the film will commence next year," posted KJo. Rumour has it that Deepika Padukone is riding high on a successful career and Karan wants a successful actress for his big venture. Another reason cited for Karan dropping Kareena from the film is the actress's packed schedule. Kareena is not keen to give so much time to the film. "It's true, she has been approached. However, she still needs to read the script and take a decision," told a source close to the project.
Stars show solidarity
The cast of Dhoom 3 has not gone on any show to promote their movie but the shows are promoting the movie on their own. Salman Khan is happily talking about Aamir's film on Bigg Boss and wearing the bowler's hat while Nach Baliye hosts Karan Wahi and Gautam Rode are also donning bowler's hats and talking about the movie.
Can't blame anyone for the split: Sussanne
Sussanne, who recently separated from Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan, feels that no one should be blamed for their split. As the couple decided to part ways, there were rumours of Arjun Rampal's involvement in the split following the alleged growing friendship between Sussanne and the model-actor. "You can't blame anyone for this. It is sad to blame anyone. We are close knit of friends... it's not right to blame anyone," Sussanne who made her first appearance after the announcement of their separation, said at an event. Earlier, Arjun too had rubbished reports of his involvement through a statement. On December 13, Hrithik had said in a statement that it was Sussanne who has decided to separate from him and end their 17-year-old relationship. — PTI
Ali Zafar welcomes the move
Giving relief to the Bollywood filmmakers, a petition seeking a ban on Indian films filed before the high court in Lahore was withdrawn on Monday. Pakistani actor and singer Ali Zafar, who has worked in many Bollywood films, welcomed the move. He says Indian movies are reviving theatres in Pakistan. Zafar, will be next seen in Total
Siyappa. Two’s company
After Namaste London, actors Vir Das and Rishi Kapoor are sharing screen space again in the Sanjay Chhel directed comedy film Khanna Patel. Produced by Bohra Bros, the film is a crazy Gujarati-Punjabi mix comedy in which Vir will essay the lead role and Rishi will play the role of his father. A source informs, "The film is a love story between a Punjabi boy and a Gujarati girl and about the two families. It's possibly Vir's most commercial outing and he plays a character with a very hardcore Punjabi flavour. It also brings Vir's brand of young humour into the film with two legends adding their own magic, and so there's something for all ages." The film also stars well known character artiste Paresh
Rawal. Aamir's filmy funda
Aamir Khan said that he did not take up Dhoom because the first two were hits, in fact he has not even seen the second one. He says Dhoom 3 is different from the first two films and they know that the brand itself will draw in crowds without hard-core promotions. Old & new
The YRF team is doing everything to promote Dhoom 3 in a new and refreshing way. The YRF Y logo which has always been there atop the studio building in Andheri West has now been changed for a while and has the Dhoom 3 clown logo. Take a look. Dream come true
Sussanne and her business partners Maheep Kapoor and Seema Khan are gearing up for a mega launch of their store in Bandra. The building that will accommodate the store was lying for years but Maheep decided to turn it around and dedicate one floor per designer. Holiday ahead
Sonam Kapoor is currently shooting for the Khoobsoorat remake and she will take a break at the end of December to bring in 2014 and unwind with her girl gang and new boyfriend in Goa. In demand
Shahid Kapoor is in demand at award shows yet again because he has had many hit dance numbers this year such as Agal Bagal, Dhating Naach, and Gandi Baat among others. Shahid is an excellent dancer and a treat to watch. The organisers are willing to pay him any amount to get him on board.
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Thrice lucky
Bollywood star Abhishek Bachchan will have only one release this year for the first time in his 13 year career. One release
This is my first year that I have only had one release. It is because Dhoom 3 got delayed. I am a very impatient person by nature. But I won't disappoint my fans again and hopefully in the coming year, there will be two-three
releases. Dhoom 3
Dhoom, for me, is an emotional experience, as it was my first success. It was while working in this franchise that I made some wonderful friends. It has been fun doing the three films. When we made the first film, nobody thought that it would become such a huge franchise. I remember while shooting for
Dhoom, Aditya Chopra said that he wanted to redefine the action genre and take it to a new level and make it cool. The biggest advantage that I got from doing the first two films was that I got Dhoom 3 and I am still here (laughs). Working with
Aamir
Working with Aamir Khan was like going back to school. Aamir is a senior and I have huge respect for him as an actor. He is somebody I look up to. To get an opportunity to share screen space with him is a great honour and it's something you really enrich yourself with if you are an actor. It was a lot of fun working with
Aamir. Uday and I were reticent on the first two days because Aamir is a senior actor and we had to behave. Later on we realised that he is very naughty. He puts on this thing about I am a responsible actor but he is a big prankster in real life. Acting first
I never aspired to be a star. I always aspired to be an actor. For me, the high is always in the characters that I play and the kind of work that I do. Stardom is a by-product of an actor. If one concentrates on becoming a star it will never happen. It is better to concentrate on becoming an actor and stardom will automatically follow. No comparison
He was the biggest, is the biggest and will remain the biggest star. I don't aspire to be like him. I will never be able to reach the stardom that my father has achieved. I would like to make my own path. I hope that I am blessed enough that at his age I am able to work in films.
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Hooked & booked
He has been in a relationship with girlfriend Nirali Mehta for a few years now and has also gone public about it. They plan to marry soon and will take things as they come.
Back in action
Juhi Aslam of Baba Aiso Varr Dhoondo fame was seen in The Serial and Qubool Hai in cameos. Now she plays a
dasi, Zakira, in the historical show Jodha Akbar. Post her show ended, Juhi took her B.SC exams and got good scores. Now she is glad to have bagged a nice role and is back in the limelight. Keen eye
Jaya Bachchan, who will act in a TV show titled Vasundhara, is taking interest in the casting of the show. As she plays a single mother, the cast of her three sons on the show will be crucial. She has been sitting with the production team apparently to choose the best TV
faces.
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Dhoom 3
Producer: Aditya Chopra Director: Vijay Krishna Acharya Dhoom 3 a movie made at a whopping budget of Rs 150 crore, is the third film in the Dhoom series, which stars Aamir Khan and Katrina
Kaif. A major part of the film has been shot in Chicago. Dhoom 3 required Aamir and Katrina to undergo special training. While Khan learnt ballet, Katrina took paragliding training. For the first time, special technology has been used in an Indian film to shoot action sequences. The film also brings back Abhishek Bachchan and Uday Chopra as police officers. Cocktail-fame Diana Penty has a cameo in the film. Written and directed by Vijay Krishna
Acharya, Dhoom 3 has some beautiful tracks including Malang…… which is being touted as a very ambitious track choreographed by Vaibhavi Merchant. The film promises edge-of-the-seat thrills and some jaw-dropping action sequences.
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2
Producer: Kirk Bodyfelt, Pam Marsedam Director: Kris
Pearn, Cody Cameron The animated comic science fiction film Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2 is the sequel to 2009 film Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs, which was inspired from Judi and Ron Barrett's book by the same title. The screenplay has been written by Erica
Rivinoja, Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley. — Dharam Pal
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The decision to directly interact and deal with buyers was made after he realised that fashion weeks fetch you only publicity. "Exhibitions make it easier for my clients to buy clothes and even for me it is an opportunity to understand what my clients are looking for." Named Ehsaas, his collection has something to celebrate every occasion. "I picked Ludhiana and Chandigarh to showcase my collection because I know people love to dress up here. They love to celebrate every occasion and don't like to repeat clothes." 
Jee Le Zara hero Ruslaan Mumtaz might be wooing his girl in the show, but in real life he is booked.
