The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - The Tribune Lifestyle

	Sister act Nooran Sisters, Jyoti and Sultana, are two voices. But on the stage, the resonance is one Jasmine Singh When everyone around is humming the hit song Pataka guddi from Bollywood movie Highway, it is the singers of the song who innocently accept not having seen the movie! Nooran Sisters, Jyoti and Sultana, have been 'really' busy—their phones haven't stopped ringing, near and dear ones have flooded them with congratulatory messages. "Don't ask how happy we are, but we haven't had the time to watch the movie," both the sisters look at each other, smiling. Life has taken a new turn; this, however, doesn't affect what they love doing— performing live. As Fatcat Entertainers bring them to Chandigrah Club for a live show, the sisters know what the audience will be looking for. Says Jyoti, "Now wherever we perform, everyone wants to hear the Highway song first…which is a good thing." The sisters keep eye contact with each other; when one is talking the other prefers to listen and nod in approval. This is the same coordination that they maintain during their performances as well. "This is something that happens naturally; we just sing, we drown ourselves in it and then what happens is natural," adds Sultana, who can't list the name of popular music directors they would want to work with. "We have already worked with AR Rahman; now we are working with Shankar Ehsaan Loy. We want to work with all," Jyoti takes over. Bollywood definitely takes a liking to different kinds of voices; Sufi is a genre it laps up. "We cannot zero-in on why Bollywood likes our music; we enjoy when we sing, giving ourselves up to the moment," they echo. With loads of work in their kitty, the two singers don't have much personal time at their disposal. They chuckle, "As and when we have time, we spend it at home. No, we don't go to the beauty parlour; we do our beauty treatments at home." And when they are performing on stage, the world stops! Jyoti shares, "Before going on stage, we both pray to god to let us perform well and to handle us. We submit ourselves to him." jasmine@tribunemail.com
	On a hopeful note Punjabi film 47 to 84 may be running into rough weather with the authorities, but director Rajiv Sharma is hopeful about the impact the story will have on its audience, including the music Manpriya Singh There can be elements of escapism even in reality, while entertainment can be hard-hitting too. The fact that a film comes with a message doesn't automatically make it preachy, arty or even parallel. But what it definitely does is make it controversial. "We are well aware of the fact that controversial subjects face lot of problems. In fact, we had sent the promos to be released but they were not cleared by the authorities," shares the director Rajeev Sharma about his upcoming Punjabi film titled 47 to 84. The music launch of the film gives way to serious issues concerning the industry, parallel films in regional cinema and the evolution of the audience. Like with every other controversial subject, it's a long journey before the film reaches the audience. He adds, "We only want to project what happened. There are some elements of violence in the film but that's because they actually happened." The film charts the two controversial and unfortunate events in the history of the country through the eyes of a female protagonist. He adds, "The story has been depicted from a woman's point of view, who is 10 year old at the time of Partition and lands up in India, only to suffer the unfortunate 84 riots." Sound wise That's where the song penned by revolutionary poet Sant Ram Udasi, titled Hun Main Kisnu Watan Kahangi, steps in. "That's the high point of the film. His poem is one of the songs in the film." He says that the music of the film only takes the story further, "While music has been given by director R. Sheen, the songs have been rendered by Nooran Sisters, Daler Mehendi, Rupinder Handa and Harshdeep Kaur." Punjabi cinema is a new-found industry, where the audience has just begun to keep track of the latest releases. It takes a thoughtful film to find out whether they have evolved. "The serious films are making an impact for sure. Nabar still remains the most talked about film. The masses though might not be ready as yet…But then last year, out of 40 rom-coms only two did well." Some add to the statistics while others make an impact.
	Traditional touch From batik to phulkari, INIFD students explore all traditional methods to come up with an outstanding collection for the Lakme Fashion Week Ashima Batish For the uninitiated, batik is an extremely cumbersome printing technique. It requires methodical application of wax and colours to draw patterns on the fabric. If done to perfection, any print comes out beautifully, just as Shiney and Noor have been able to do with their collection, Vama. Sanskrit word for a beautiful woman, Vama, by student designers of INIFD has been created using as many as six colours to print the fabric. It means that they applied and removed wax six times. "Batik is the most time consuming colouring process, even more than the tie-and-dye. And its origin dates back to the seventh century," says Nimisha Gupta, faculty at the INIFD, Chandigarh, who along with the participant students is all set to display the creations made at the centre at the Lakme Fashion Week. On the whole, the creations are an interesting mix of interesting and average works. Similar challenging endeavours have been taken up by other designer students. Abhishek Gautam and Shivang Sharma whips up phulkari and western silhouettes to come up with a collection for men, aptly titled, The Root Cause. Done pragmatically, phulkari patches have been used in a way that makes the creations wearable. Like, phulkari has been added to the collar and cuffs of a bandhgala jacket. Or, patches are stitched at the trouser ends. "The use of phulkari is limited to women's wear. Using it on men's clothes seems an interesting idea but at the same time, it is a challenge to ensure that designs don't look feminine," says Abhishek. Another collection, Tree of Life reflects the hard work put in by Harjot Kaur. And it is believable when Nimisha says that they had high hopes from the collection of making it to the final six at the Gen Next category in LFW. Though, Harjot didn't get lucky, but the creations were the best by any student designer. Done in dull colours, neons are only used as accents at the collars, hemlines, or as patchwork. Neon colour beads accentuate the style quotient of the garment as well. To justify the theme of the collection, human figures are created out of the thread of fabric itself, which means that no external thread has been used. The same technique is put to tell the story of life, from man's birth to adolescence to marriage… But then there are some creations, which aren't exactly up to the mark. Not immature though, but amateur for sure. The collection inspired from the Kedarnath tragedy isn't inspiring enough or even the one that debates if egg is a vegetarian or non-vegetarian food seems forced. With the latter, the theme is a bigger problem, which could have been more interesting.
	Many faces, many moods Photographer Peaush captures the positive face of women caught in negative situations Manpriya Singh Each frame highlights an issue, an emotion and an unfortunate situation. Every photograph transports the viewer to a different place and shuttles from graveyards to jails to deserts and forts. As a part of the International Women's Day celebrations, the photography exhibition by Kachlumos draws on the dark colours to highlight the positive face of women in negative situations. Shares Peaush, the artist, "We wanted to do something different and yet topical. The photography for this exhibition started when the Delhi rape case was unfortunately in news." With a provocation as strong as the incident, the 32 frames on display underscore the several other issues that the gender battles. There's a woman staring out of bars in The Cell, a woman peeping out of the window in The Curtain, a couple of women in the corridor Waiting For The Miracle To Happen. Moving on, there's a picture of a woman in contemplation, while she's numb, cold, in love, victimized, when stifled to death, as a silent spectator, while finding solace in solitude, in a state of transcendence, while ecstatic, when cloistered from the world. Most of the photographs are a result of posed exercises in the studio rather than impromptu clicks on the streets. "Most of them are hypothetically made because we wanted to bring out the issues and emotions. For our next exhibition we are planning to take up some other social issue but they won't be posed pictures from the studio. We will go out in the field to get the pictures we want." Moving on, there are photographs that showcase the expectant eyes, the forlorn hope, of women behind the veil, while peeping from a closed tower, behind a mask, while holding a lamp. Apart from the frames dedicated to rape victims, there's also a work on female foeticide. A gory picture of blood and woman lying on the bed against the backdrop of a holy cow. He shares, "On one hand we worship and on the other, kill women. That's we wanted to highlight in the photograph." Yet another frame depicts a sorry situation, with a woman battling a hundred burning candles atop. "We wanted to exhibit the internal burning that women go through, their obstacles and limitations. This was one of the ways to depict the fire within. " On till March 7 at Alliance Francaise, Chandigarh
	Proving a point Ashima Batish It's a graduation of sorts from the first film, Risky Munde to the next, Vehle Nikkamme. Not just in terms of the title of the film, also in terms of budget. If the first was made at a budget of Rs 60 lakh, this will be produced at Rs 80 lakh. "The idea is to grow with each film, financially as well as content wise," says Arvinder Gill, director of the film. As the name suggests, it is a comedy film about two boys who are hated by the village people for their mischievous nature. "The course of their life changes after they are asked to leave the village and earn for themselves." The film is slated for release in mid-June. The film also highlights the issues of unemployment and land acquisition. Though serious issues like these are difficult to accommodate in a comedy film, the director is confident of striking a balance.
	star track Nothing cool about Kangna Kangna Ranaut, who will be seen in Queen, talks about being cool, going to the London Fashion Week and more. London Fashion Week I had a great time because it was my first international fashion week. I sat opposite Bradley Cooper. I did not meet or talk to him but he was there for Suki Waterhouse who is a model and his girlfriend. It was a big surprise to see him. No competition I am different from my contemporaries because I am a bit detached. I know the kind of films I want to do. I am over that phase of working with the Khans. We do not want the same kind of films. Being cool My friends think I am very uncool. I don't think I am cool. I talk and behave like I am much older than my actual age. Nobody wants to listen to me because I give lectures. I can only be myself. Bomb-proof car for Aamir Following the recent death threats made to perfectionist Aamir Khan, the 48-year-old actor has reportedly purchased a bomb and bullet-proof Mercedes S 600 for his safety. Of late, Aamir is seen moving around in his new Rs 10 crore bullet-proof car. He also took his wife Kiran Rao for a long drive in his new black Mercedes luxury car. It is supposedly his TV show, Satyamev Jayate, which put his life at risk. The show exposes the dark side of society and unmasks the culprits. He keeps getting death threats and following which the actor was forced to own a Rs 10 crore bombproof car. Aamir purchased an expensive 'special protection' Mercedes Benz to tackle bullets and explosives. Now, Aamir is moving around and attending events with his new Mercedes Benz S600 that the actor has purchased for his protection. After Mukesh Ambani and PM Manmohan Singh, Aamir is the third in the country to own this special protection car. Engaged to be engaged Bipasha Basu is getting engaged to her boyfriend and Bollywood actor Harman Baweja. The couple who has been dating for quite sometime is destined to take their relationship to the next level. Bipasha and Harman recently announced their relationship in public and now they declared that they will get engaged soon after the release of Harman's movie, Dishkiyaoon. "They have decided to get engaged post the release of Harman's film, Dishkiyaoon," says a source. A close friend of the actress adds, "Bipasha and Harman's parents have already met each other at the latter's residence and they are keen on seeing the two get hitched. Now that Bipasha and Harman have come out in the open about their relationship, it's clear that they are serious about each other." Full of fear Actress Sunny Leone is so happy with the final cut of Ragini MMS 2 that she believes producer Ekta Kapoor has really raised the bar for horror films in India with this one. "Horror is a niche market but what Balaji (the production house) has done is they have created something really scary. I watched the climax the other day and I loved it," the 33-year-old said here on the sets of TV show Fear Files. "I don't think there has been something that has been shot like this ever in Bollywood. But I think Balaji and Ekta have raised the bar of scariness and horror," she added. Sunny was here to shoot a special promotional episode for Zee TV's show. The actress is all praise for the way Balaji Productions market their films. She had recently also shot for Comedy Nights with Kapil. "We have a lot of things that are planned by Balaji, everything that has got to do with this movie right down to the tagline Do mein zyada mazaa hai. Balaji is really creative at how they market, that's something they are really good at and known for," said Sunny. Ragini MMS 2 is a sequel to Ekta's film Ragini MMS that released in 2011. The film hits theatres March 21. — IANS Possible pairing Kangna Ranaut and Irrfan Khan might do a film together directed by Kabir Khan and they will be paired with each other romantically. Blessings from Vaishnodevi Kangna Ranaut took a day from the promotions of Queen and went to Vaishnodevi in Jammu. It was a calling for her as the temple is even mentioned in the movie and she went there to seek blessings. Saif in Prabhu Deva’s next Prabhu Deva is the hit-maker of Bollywood. His next film may star Saif Ali Khan and Priyanka Chopra. How is Saif going to dance like Prabhu Deva? Guest of honour Salman Khan visited the promotional shoot of 2 States at Mehboob Studios and greeted Alia Bhatt and Arjun Kapoor and everybody present. Everybody wanted a picture with him. Image makeover Anurag Kashyap may have split from Kalki Koechlin but he still loves her dearly. He has been on a weight loss and is very particular about his workout. He has lost 9 kg so far and that too while shooting Bombay Velvet. Support system Priyanka Chopra is showing some support to her cousin Meerra Chopra as she posted the latter's debut trailer for Gang of Ghosts. It seems all is well between them. Who will be Bajirao? Sanjay Leela Bhansali will start shooting Bajirao Mastani early next year. Bajirao will be played by either Ajay Devgn or Shah Rukh Khan or Hrithik Roshan or Ranveer Singh. Deepika Padukone is Mastani.
	The Lunchbox makes waves Indian filmmaker Ritesh Batra's critically acclaimed film The Lunchbox beat out Hollywood movies, Oscar contenders, and all other foreign-language films to score the number one per-theatre average gross of any film in North America last weekend. After its success in New York and Los Angeles, the Irrfan Khan-starrer will release in additional American cities March 7, including Washington DC, San Francisco, and Chicago. The Lunchbox has become the best-reviewed Indian film in the US in several years with top American film critics giving it rave reviews in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and Wall Street Journal among others. Batra's "debut feature, is a romance that takes place in Mumbai, but its style is more Hollywood than Bollywood, and Old Hollywood at that," said the New York Times. Irrfan and Nimrat Kaur's performances "are graceful and dignified in the manner of movie stars in an earlier, less aggressive age, ennobling the ordinary lives they explore," it said. And "Batra makes their story touching and credible, an urban fable of hope in the face of disappointment". Describing The Lunchbox as "a delectable take on the hunger for connection", the Los Angeles Times said: "Ritesh Batra's lovely debut feature...mixes melancholy with sweetness in a case of mistaken delivery." "One thing that makes Lunchbox so strong is that a touch of melancholy hangs over its sweetness," it said. "Finally this is a film about the wheel of life, about what helps us cope with its turns and find our way in its unforgiving labyrinth." The Wall Street Journal saw the film as a "wonderfully fresh and affecting fable from India". It calls marvellous Irrfan Khan as "one of the finest actors of our time" who "is the film's heart and soul". He is "blessed with a voice that can turn any of the languages he speaks into music". — IANS
	chatter box Spicing things up Bade Achhe Laggte Hain might be on the verge of ending, but the makers are introducing new story angles to engage the audience. Samir Kochar will re-enter the show soon to spice up the story. Samir's character was Ram Kapoor's friend who was in love with Priya, but leaves once he learns that she is married to Ram. Bade Achhe Laggte Hain Political game Imam Siddiqui, who garnered a lot of fame after his funny antics on reality show Bigg Boss 6, has now turned a new leaf. Sources claim that the TV star is eager to join politics and will soon reveal the name of the party. Twists & turns Do Dil Bandhe Ek Dori Se will soon see a twist. Yashashri Masurkar will enter as Sumitra to disrupt Raghu and Shivani's life. She is their neighbour and her track will be re-introduced. Earlier this role was played by Perneet Chauhan. On an equal footing The Women's Day special edition The Front Row Dialogues on The Front Row with Anupama Chopra, telecast on Star World, will be an inspiring chat session with five accomplished female members of the film fraternity. The episode will host National Award-winning actor Kangana Ranaut, National Award-winning film editor Namrata Rao, National Award-winning cinematographer Anjuli Shukla, powerhouse producer Guneet Monga and one of the most successful Indian actors in Hollywood — Frieda Pinto. Akbar, Birbal to delight The delightful stories of Akbar and Birbal will be aired in an animated series on Discovery Kids from next week. The tales of famous Emperor Akbar and his trusted adviser Birbal have been passed on from generation to generation, enthralling young and the old alike. The series will take its viewers to the era of Mughals, where they will witness amusing exchanges between Akbar and Birbal. Discovery Kids will offer children an experience to cherish for a lifetime. Akbar and Birbal will start on March 10 and will air everyday at 2.00 pm only on Discovery Kids.Birbal, who was a minister in the court of the Mughal emperor Akbar, was considered as one of the most-loved figures in the folklore of India. He will be seen outsmarting everyone, even the Emperor sometimes, by his exceptional wisdom, presence of mind and his excellent problem-solving skills. Birbal’s real name was Mahesh Das. It is believed that he belonged to a poor Brahmin family of Tikawanpur on the bank of the River Yamuna, but it was only by virtue of his sharp intellect that he rose to be a minister at the court of Akbar. — HRM
	NEW RELEASES Gulaab Gang Producers: Anubhav Sinha, Sahara Movie Studios, Bharat Shah Director: Soumik Sen Gulaab Gang is Madhuri Dixit Nene’s return in a full-fledged role since Aaja Nachle in 2007. Presented by Anubhav Sinha for Alumbra Entertainment, the movie has Juhi Chawla as Sumitra Devi along with Tannistha Chatterjee, Divya Jagdale, Priyanka Bose, Ranjan Koshal and Tanvi Rao. It releases a day before International Women’s Day. Queen Producers: Phantom Films, Viacom18 Motion Pictures Director: Vikas Bahl Vikas Bahl, who debuted with Chillar Party, is ready to rock Bollywood with his much-anticipated movie ‘Queen’. Kangna Ranaut, who plays the lead, will be seen in a de-glamorised role. Lisa Hayden, model and actress, plays Vijay Lakshmi, a very-spirited girl. Total Siyapa Producer/Writer: Neeraj Pandey Director: Eshwar Niwas Writer-producer Neeraj Pandey, who has films like A Wednesday and Special 26 to his credit, is ready with romantic comedy Total Siyapaa. Directed by Eshvar Nivas, the movie stars Ali Zafar, Yaami Gautam, Anupam Kher and Kirron Kher. 300-Rise Of An Empire Producers: Mark Canton, Zack Snyder, Gianni Nunnari, Deborah Synder, Berni Goldmann Director: Noam Murro 300-Rise Of An Empire, the sequel to the blockbuster Hollywood movie 300, based on the Battle Of Artemisium showcases the naval section of a battle between the Persians and the Greek. It stars Eva Green, Rodrigo Santoro, Sullivan Stapleton, Jack O Connell and Callan Mulvey. — Dharam Pal
	The year ahead Madan Gupta Spatu If your birthday is March 7... Dominated by number 7 and the planet Neptune or Ketu, you possess strong determination and will-power to fight against any adverse conditions with courage and conviction. However, you need to control your tendency to behave arrogantly at times. This isn't a good year to sign a contract or enter into a binding agreement. This alliance will be more limiting than liberating. If you lack certain skills or experience, take it upon yourself to fill the gap. Your personal life will light up. Positive colours: White, Sky-blue, Cream, Yellow. Select days: Monday, Sunday. Favourable numbers: 2, 7. Gems recommended: Pearl, White Coral, Diamond. Charity on birthday: Donate white sweets or fruits to the needy or at religious place today. You share your birthday with Anupam Kher (March 7, 1955, Shimla), who has appeared in as many as 500 films and 100 plays. Although he made a debut in Aagman, Anupam came into limelight with Saaransh. Anupam Kher is married to fellow actress Kirron Kher. The number 7 makes Anupam highly creative. The year 2014 belongs to him.
	Astro turf P Khurrana ARIES: The card ‘Ten of Pentacles’ promises self-confidence, so trust your instincts today. Opportunities to socialise and mix with all and sundry will put many choices in your path. Tarot message: Set events into motion. Lucky colour: Green. Magic number: 35. TAURUS: Your earning power can kick into high gear, so be on the lookout for money-making opportunities. For singles, it is a nice time to attract someone new. Tarot message: Use your instinct to get into the top circle of power. Lucky colour: Red. Magic number: 46 GEMINI: A restless and irritable atmosphere can pervade the morning. Avoid getting sidetracked or letting another person’s bad mood sully your day. Follow through on unfinished projects. Tarot message: Don’t dismiss the advice of youngsters. Lucky colour: Pink. Magic number: 25 CANCER: Stick to your work and avoid new territory because this is not a day for making decisions. An imminent journey can put you in emotional turmoil. Tarot message: Be articulate to prevent people from coming to their own conclusions. Lucky colour: Yellow. Magic number: 39 LEO: An enthusiastic mood is encouraged by your card “The World”. Nothing will seem too much and you are sure to help out those around you if you can.Tarot message: Do not transact in uncertain matters. Lucky colour: Sky blue. Magic number: 48 VIRGO: Thoroughness will be your key to success. Studious persons will be preparing for an exam. Try to avoid getting caught up in conversations that divert you from your course. Tarot message: Balance in all aspects is recommended. Lucky colour: Peacock-green. Magic number: 63 LIBRA:Conflict between your private and professional life can test your abilities. Strong views on politics or the environment can entice you to get up and speak at a public forum. Tarot message: Emphasise on spiritual needs. Lucky colour: Metallic grey. Magic number: 28 SCORPIO: The card ‘The Devil’ suggests that your relationship can be shaken and stirred. Start worrying about what can go wrong and problems will start to crop up. Tarot message: Don’t forsake a new learning opportunity because of pride. Lucky colour: Turquoise. Magic number: 56 SAGITTARIUS: Follow a good routine of exercise and diet to make sure you’re keeping up to the mark with health matters. Focus on the little thing that needs to be done. Tarot message: Plan your life better. Lucky colour: Peach. Magic number: 27 CAPRICORN: This is the perfect time to exercise, but do not overdo it. You can have accidents simply because you forget to look before you leap. Be careful about your finances. Tarot message: Work can pose minor difficulties. Lucky colour: Rainbow pastels. Magic number: 30 AQUARIUS: Flattery, charm and a willingness to be bold will bring success. You should have little trouble gaining from others. An evening event can test your nerves. Tarot message: Your determination to succeed will pay dividends. Lucky colour: Saffron. Magic number: 50 PISCES: This is a great day for socialising. You can get invited to a lavish event that makes you feel self-conscious. Do your best and you will be welcome. Tarot message: Learn to accept responsibility for yourself and others. Lucky colour: Grey. Magic number: 44