Tell-tale videos
Gone are the days when Punjabi songs were shot without any concept. Today, almost each song has a story to narrate...
Jasmine Singh

A group of dancers in the backdrop, attired in traditional clothes or some completely out of sync dresses; an actor and actress running around in the khet or maybe sitting in a café at a place that looks like Canada. Or better still, a group of friends moving around in an open Gypsy…this was what Punjabi music videos were all about sometimes back — no concept, no topical location and no thought.

Cut to the present. The song Soch by singer-actor Hardy Sandhu caught the fancy of everyone because of its music video, which was nothing short of a film. Singer Ranjit Bawa's song Jatt Di Akal won appreciation for the concept of the video, which had a vivid storyline. The song no one knew who had sung, Munda i-Phone varga, till the video brought forth the face, is another example.

The concept of Punjabi music videos has also taken a spin, for the better. Every second music video is coming like a small cut from a film. The music video directors are sure going the extra mile.

Content wise

A group of four friends - Varinderpal Bains, Enn Syan, Navjit Bhuttar and Arvinder Khaira, from Nabha and Fatehgarh Sahib - started a company Virsa Arts almost two years back. These four have shot as many as 50 videos in this time, ensuring every video they have made has a new storyline and concept, which is also a USP of Virsa Arts. The company has re-defined the way music videos are made by bringing the concept of 'storyline' into them. Arvinder and others are looking for locations for their next video. He points out a marked difference in the way videos are being made now. "A video is an important product, as important as a film is to an actor. We approach every song as something that will justify the track and the singer as well." The four first listen to the track for days together and then create a storyboard as well as screenplay around it. "A song comes to life through a story, which is why we emphasise on creating a story according to the song. "People like something dramatic and by singing a story, this element is taken care of."

Lead choice

Young video director Rahul Dutta from Jalandhar has made six videos in his eight-month career and all have hit the bull's eye, Munda I Phone varga being the most talked about. "Earlier, we would see models acting in videos, but now the singers insist on being the lead in videos. This is a good thing that they are taking interest because this gives them more visibility and marketability as well."

It is not only singers playing the central role in their video they ensure they are being portrayed well. "We get special dress designing orders for music videos, which I am sure did not happen earlier. Now, right from the lead actor and actress to everyone who features in video, costumes are a given a lot of consideration. Costumes are coordinated to the theme actually," shares Jasleen Kaur, who has done dress designing for as many as 20 music videos.

Shoot out

From regular-looking, in fact shady-looking, discotheques or a regular ground or omnipresent khet, the locations for music videos these days are done keeping the song in mind and also the story. Adds Navjit, "We do an extensive recee for the music video; we have a story and concept in mind according which we hunt for the location. It should be compatible to the song, for instance Soch was love song, so everything was worked around accordingly."

Music video directors are experimenting with locations as well. The people at Cinewire have a different way of hunting for the location based on the image of the singer, "If the singer has a desi touch, we go for rural location. For the urban market, we go in for an urban location. Of course, it matches the song," they echo. Goa, London, Andaman, Malaysia, Sydney, Mumbai and of course Punjab are the hot-spots.

Technical lift

A major credit for the change in the look of the music videos also goes to better technical strength. Video directors use all kinds of hi-end cameras from Red to Sony Mark III to shoot music videos. "The song will look good if it is shot well. We experiment a lot with camera angles that were earlier stagnant or shot in a single frame," adds Jaswinder Singh. Singers love to play with the camera for they understand the importance of music videos.

Good singing in itself doesn't take a singer where an equally good video can!

jasmine@tribunemail.com

Wings of free thought
Gyandev Singh is deeply inspired by Rabindranath Tagore. Little wonder then, his TV film Atithi is based on a story titled The Visitor by the great poet
Manpriya Singh

Freedom is being able to break away from the shackles of society and even propriety! Freedom is in being able to detach and then disappear…or freedom in love? Can there ever be ownership in relationships? Love is as universal as elusive; just some of the thought-provoking concepts that the TV film Atithi, set in contemporary rural Punjab, explores.

"The 55-minute Hindi film is an adaptation of story titled The Visitor by Rabindranath Tagore," the director Gyandev Singh, fills in the initial blanks on why he chose the story for adaptation. "This particular work of Tagore really attracted me. It explores some of the most thought-provoking concepts." He adds, "I have always been inspired by Tagore's works…I must have been in 8th standard when I first lay my hands on a collection of his short stories. One can draw a lot from his works. The way I relate to his stories now is completely different from the way I related back then. This particular story makes us define and redefine the notions of freedom, attachment and love."

A young boy named Tara, shares a truck ride with a zamindar and his family. Why? The boy has run away from home to wander about doing whatever his heart desires. The fact that his family loved him dearly and he was a favourite at the village did not stop the yearning to step out, experience life in all its manifestations. Tara is a free spirit. He is talented, capable and has won the hearts of everyone on the truck. The family introduces the boy to books, who finds a fascination in them. Just when the zamindar decides to marry his daughter to Tara…on the night of Diwali, he disappears. Once again! "The most difficult part about the film was adaptation itself. The story is set in Bengal countryside and I had to reset it in Punjab countryside. A few creative liberties have been taken, as is always the case in adaptations but the film remains more than 90 per cent true cinematic representation of Rabindranath Tagore's story." The Nobel laureate whose works he would like to continue to explore. "Currently, I am also penning a short story that explores the idea of how genders perceive themselves in each other. My background is in theatre and I have a basic interest in story telling…I would love to experiment though." As of now, another of Tagore's works could be en route the audio visual treatment!

manpriya@tribunemail.com 

Talent unlimited
After a successful stint in the UK, actor-comedian Kavi Shastri is set to begin his Indian innings by hosting a show titled Love By Chance
Amarjot Kaur

While Kavi Shastri soothed the concerns of our lurking thoughts, which troubled us much about defining him as an actor, a comedian, or a host, he also very unconsciously offers us the wisdom of contentment.

"I think Kavi Shastri is neither a comedian, nor an actor or a host. Kavi is just happy," says Kavi, who is a well-known name in the television and theatre scene in UK. He is now making waves in the Indian entertainment industry with an upcoming show, Love By Chance, on UTV Bindass, where he will be seen as the host.

Anchoring act

Born and brought up in the UK, Kavi trained at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in London and later moved to Mumbai after acting in several shows in the UK, including Holby City, You Got Me and Fairy Tales. Although Kavi has done brief roles in films like Love Aaj Kal and Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge, this is the first time that he will be slipping into the skin of a host. And even though one is led to believe that it all comes so effortlessly to this man of many talents, he shares with us his own little list of concerns. "In this show I will be acting and hosting at the same time since I will be seen in the situations that unfold on the show. So, if the scene is set in the hospital, I will be seen playing the host as a doctor. Therefore, I will be hosting and acting in the show."

Telly tale

While Love By Chance marks Kavi's second innings in the Indian television after Rishta.com, his choice for taking up this show was purely due to his romantic disposition. "I am a romantic at heart and with all the shows coming up and giving love a bad name, Love By Chance explores a rather sensitive-mushy side of love; that's the reason why I was all game for it," he says.

Kavi loves Indian television due to the element of 'drama'. "In the UK, everything is so certain and organised but in India, when we are shooting it is maddening. I miss it each time I go away," he says. While juxtaposing Indian television with the European television, Kavi states the difference between the content. "The content is different because of the varied cultures, but the striking difference between Indian and European television is that while we like to keep it melodramatic, the Europeans like to keep it natural. That's what even I had to adapt to when I started acting here. Also, the language was a problem because I did not speak Hindi then," he smiles.

Funny business

Kavi, known to possess a great sense of humour, is also part of The Weirdass Comedy Company, along with stand-up comedian Vir Das. History of India is their premiere and most popular production. "Vir and I share a bond beyond work and business; we do a lot of comedy gigs together, we are like brothers," says Kavi. About comedy on Indian television, Kavi says that the only genre that is a hit with the masses is slapstick humour, but as a stand-up comedian there is not much that the Indian television has to offer to him.

He is currently shooting for a film titled, Amit Saini Ki list, which also features Vir Das and is slated to release on July 18. "It's a film about a serial dater's journey towards finding the right woman. I play the role of his friend and a 'wannabe' chef, who prepares a recipe for disaster each time he uses his head," he laughs.

amarjot@tribunemail.com

Wear about
Classic choice
Ashima Batish

Lisa Hayden
black magic: Lisa Hayden

It is post the success of Queen that her acting career has taken an upward swing, but Lisa Hayden has always been one of the favourites in the fashion world. She has never gone wrong with fashion, or probably she is a clothes horse, who can carry off whatever she puts on, be it a black-golden number from Namrata Joshipura's latest collection or Shivann &Narresh's black maxi dress. At her recent outing at the CN Wadia Gold Cup in Mumbai, she wore a Wendell Rodricks' little black dress and she got it all right once again.

Hair to stay

No loose curls, no experimentation with hair, the hair-do Lisa Haydon opted for is a simple bun with a side fringe, something so apt for the scorching summer of Mumbai. There are just no hair accessories. The no fuss look is elegant and easy.

Dress material

When you have Wendell Rodricks right there at the top of your friend's list and even have him walk alongside at the event, picking his creation makes for an obvious choice. The little black dress has straight silhouettes, which flatter her figure. Flouncy sleeves are the only dramatic element of her dress.

Make up

Like her hair-do, Lisa didn't try too hard with make-up as well. It's nude, well-placed, perfectly suited for the summer. The only visible part in her make-up is her eye liner and it's suiting her.

Accessory point

You can spot the solitaire earrings and when it comes to sporting jewellery, that's about it. There isn't even a watch on the wrist, not that it's being missed but that would have added some spice to the plain look. The Dolce & Gabbana handbag in pale blue is neither too good, nor too bad.

Weight watch
Eat right to fight age
Renupreet Kaur

A healthy body starts with a healthy mind and of course with a healthy diet. It is not about squeezing into a size zero or trying to lose kilos; rather one should have 'fit' looks and feel better than looking 'thin'.

Slow metabolism

A person in 20s is different from that in the 30s and in 30s different from that in 40s and so on, as far as his metabolism is concerned. You often find people saying he or she weighed just 42 or 45 kilos in their early 20s, but gained later on. Admittedly, there was a lot more activity and energy then, but as they get older they don't need as many calories as their metabolism also slows down. As a result they start burning lesser calories and a lot more calories are spared, which adds on to their weight.

Weight gain with age

Comparing yourself with your body structure in your 20s is a mistake. Your goal should be to look as good as you can and as healthy as you can. You cannot recreate the body and the face you had decades ago. 

The main reasons for gaining weight with age are:

Less activity.

Busy lifestyle.

Declining metabolism.

Self negligence.

Ageing muscles.

How to fight back

Avoid binging.

Be physically active.

Tackle stress eating.

Be strict with yourself.

Chew your food properly and take time over eating.

Control portion size, but eat meals at regular intervals.

Avoid preserved foods.

Avoid sugar and salt.

Eating tips

With age, a person should make sure that he or she eats healthy food because by eating healthy food, one keeps feeling full and gives more energy to exercise. Regular exercise helps in boosting your metabolism and weight loss efforts. However, the healthy foods during this phase of life can be;

Fruits and vegetables: These are full of antioxidants, fibre, vitamins and minerals. Include berries, apples, cherries and green vegetables in your diet.

Whole grains: Whole grains are full of fibre, vitamins B and E are again packed full of antioxidants. Recommended whole grains include wild rice, brown rice, barley, oatmeal, whole grain breads, whole-wheat pasta, Quinoa, whole grain cereals etc.

Healthy fats: Lessen the fat that you consume because eating too much fat will lead to heart disease. You can do simple acts like substituting margarine for butter or trimming the fat from meat before cooking it.

Nuts and seeds: Nuts are a cholesterol-free protein source and high in vitamin E. As we age, we lose lean muscle and need to increase our protein intake. Nuts are a great way to get the extra protein safely into your diet.

Fish: The American Heart Association states that fish supplies the body with much needed omega-3 fats, which help to reduce the plaque build-up in your arteries, lower blood pressure and decrease triglyceride levels. Fish is high in protein and low in saturated fats. Recommended fish include salmon, sardines and tuna.

Low fat dairy products: Dairy foods supply protein and calcium that strengthen bones as well as muscle. Dairy also helps to boost the immune system. Low-fat dairy includes fat-free milk fortified with vitamin D, low fat Greek yogurt, low fat cheese etc.

Some suggestions

Set realistic weight-loss goals. Losing one pound a week is just the right amount of weight.

Keep track of what you consume. Dieters who keep track of everything they eat lose twice as much weight as those who don't.

Motivate yourself and make small efforts to add more movement to your daily life, which will yield big results. Joining an expensive gym isn't your only option for burning calories. In fact, you can burn an extra 300 calories a day with non-exercise activities. Besides the energy expended for activities other than sleeping, eating or rigorous exercise, also think of cleaning your house, playing with the kids or grandkids, watering your plants and so on!

Get plenty of sleep. Sleep deprivation can also lead to overeating and weight gain.

(Renupreet Kaur is diet therapist and obesity expert.)

Shake a leg

The Shiamak Davar Institute for the Performing Arts (SDIPA) brings Summer Funk to Chandigarh where dance enthusiasts from across the city can learn Shiamak Style (Contemporary), the cool moves of Shabop (Hip Hop and Street Funk) and the trademark Bollywood Jazz, culminating into a grand stage extravaganza — the Summer Funk Show.

The Summer Funk dance workshop gives students an opportunity to learn and train in their favourite dance style as well as learn the nuances.

The annual Summer Funk Show gives a platform to all participating students to perform on stage in a professional set-up. Making them feel like stars, the show is a true performing arts' experience. The classes are open to all age groups; four to eighty-four years without any discrimination. The stage that has created many stars before, including Shahid Kapoor, Varun Dhawan, Sushant Singh Rajput, Darsheel Safary and many more, is ready to create more at the shows this year.

Enrolments start from: May 13, 2014

Classes start from: May 20, 2014

For details call:

2775964/9814004015

Venue: Strawberry Fields World School.

—TNS

It's Rocking
No Problem!

For those of you longing for a brand new tune, Problem is the first single from Ariana Grande's sophomore album. The song features recording artist Iggy Azalea while Big Sean whispers part of the chorus, but is not a featured artist. The song is about knowing you'd be better off without someone but you can't resist them and need them no matter what! The song is listed on the third number on Billboard top 100.

Emotional connect

I like the song because I can connect with it emotionally. It has a deeper meaning; the music and lyrics are pretty good too.

Namrita Kaur, homemaker

High speed

Grande's enviable vocal chords are the centre-piece of the song, but she also invites a sax-drunk loop, sexy whisper tracks and Azalea's Jay Z, referencing high-speed verse, to the party as well.

Jagroop Singh, businessperson

Good vocals

I like the sound of saxophone that leads the song before the more modern drum-filled beat drops. Also, I like the vocals and the lyrics of the song.

Ravneet Kaur, private bank employee

(As told to Amarjot Kaur)

Par Excellence
Fix that slice
Jesse Grewal

(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)

The slice is one of the most common mistakes in golf and approximately two of every three golfers face this problem especially with the longer clubs. The reason for a slice is that the club face is open to the path of the club. The problem could be a faulty out to in or over the top path or the club face being too open.

Here is a simple drill which fixes both the path and the position of the club face. The club face can be open for three reasons - a weak grip, a cupped wrist at the top of the backswing and no release or shutting of the face through the swing. Hold a club in front while standing erect so that the shaft is parallel to the ground (picture1). Swing the club back keeping the shaft parallel to the ground (picture2). While doing this the right elbow (for right handed golfers) would fold to allow the shaft to remain parallel. When the right arm is too tight and the right elbow does not fold the shaft would rise up and not remain parallel to the ground (picture 4). This also cups the left wrist thereby opening the face of the club at the end of the back swing. The folding of the right arm keeps the shaft on the plane of the arms as both remain parallel during this drill. When the shaft rises up, the shaft plane gets vertical and above the plane of the arms. This is what leads to a slice.

While swinging through during the drill the shaft must remain parallel to the ground as in the back swing. This allows the left arm to fold and the club face to close as required which is termed as the release (picture3). If the shaft rises up in the follow through (picture 5) the club face would not close and would lead to a slice too. This drill also helps in stopping the 'chicken wing' follow through which is one of the faults of people who slice. 

STAR TRACK
Mama’s darling

Jacqueline Fernandez is a complete mama's girl. She travels to Bahrain on several occasions to spend time with her mother and looks like her mother too which is great because she looks gorgeous. She talks about her mom, shooting for Kick, and more.

Beauty talk

I think the profession I am in, I have to look good so I ensure that my hair and skin look great all the time because I endorse beauty brands. I work out and swim to stay in shape. I also eat right, especially a lot of salads and juices which are great for the summer.

Mommy dearest

I am extremely close to my mom. I know that she will be there for me and support me, no matter what. She has helped me a lot during my struggle days and my parents have been very supportive of my work and let me make my own decisions. I miss my parents a lot because I live on my own in India. I am sending my mother a beauty package from The Body Shop. They have a range of creams for older women. My mom looks gorgeous, though, and I look like her so that's great.

Gift for Salman

I have had a great time shooting for Kick in so many different places. Salman Khan is so active and fit and he inspires all of us. The entire unit of Kick ate and exercised well due to him. If I were to gift him something from The Body Shop range, it would be body butters, body oils, and something from the men's range.

Mature thought

Actress Mishti, whose debut in Kaanchi received a lukewarm response, says she feels she has grown and matured, thanks to the one weekend when the Subhash Ghai film hit the screens. Kaanchi released April 25. Now that Mishti is said to be doing another film with Ghai and this time starring Salman Khan, she says all the flak has made her stronger and wiser.

Says the spirited Bengali girl: "It is said what can't break you, makes you stronger. These last few days have matured me. It's amazing how one weekend can change one's entire life. Today I feel stronger than I did earlier. I think I've grown up." Not that Mishti is overjoyed by the response to the film. "That's one year of my life. During the last one year, I did nothing except Kaanchi. It was my life. Now there is a feeling of disappointment at the way some critics have responded to the film and my presence." "There is also a vacuum within me, as I've nothing else lined up at the moment."

Responding to the criticism that she is awkward and shrill in the film, Mishti retorts sardonically: "I play a village girl. I don't play a city-bred chick who knows how to modulate her voice and walk as though she's on the ramp." "I walk and speak clumsily because that's the way my director Subhashji conceived my character. She is not sophisticated like Aishwarya Rai in Taal."

Mishti finds the comparisons with Aishwarya unfair. "Kaanchi' is my first film. I am learning. I am trying to understand the grammar of film acting. Luckily for me, I got a fantastic teacher in Subhash Ghai-ji. Whatever I know about acting comes from him." Meanwhile, she is getting ready to do another film with Ghai.

"I've a three-film deal with Subhash-ji. Even if I didn't have that to fall back on, I wasn't going to leave just because people criticized my first film. I've several offers in Bangla." "But I am not shuttling back and forth between Kolkata and Mumbai to keep my career going. I'll stay put in Mumbai to fight my way through the criticism that has come to me for Kaanchi."

Mishti doesn't mind the flak. "Why should I take it to heart? Whatever is being said must be the result of careful thought. I've taken some of the criticism seriously. I will work to improve myself." — IANS

Sonakshi impresses Rajinikanth

Cinematic icon Rajinikanth, who is working with Sonakshi Sinha for a Tamil film, is said to be impressed with Bollywood actress' acting and quick adaptability. Sonakshi is making her Tamil debut with Rajinikanth-starrer Lingaa and they were both seen shooting in Mysore lately.

"It is Sonakshi's debut in the south and we all are quite fascinated, including Rajinikanth sir, with how she has adapted to the southern movie so quickly," said a source close to the production team.

"Even though it is a completely foreign language for Sonakshi, she has been pretty quick with the shooting and all the scenes are coming out perfect in the first shot itself," the source added.

The film is directed by K.S. Ravikumar. Sonakshi and Anushka Shetty will be playing the female leads in the film, for which double Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman will compose the tunes. — IANS

Jaya Bachchan lashes out

It is known to all that Jaya Bachchan's equation with media is not so good. Couple of times, media has had to face the heat of the veteran actress and yet again Jaya lost her cool recently when inquired over megastar Amitabh Bachchan's health.

At a store launch in Mumbai, when the media asked Jaya Bachchan about Big B's health, she lost her cool. Media asked the question in reference to a report published in a section of online media that Amitabh Bachchan is suffering from cancer. Jaya was not keen to answer any questions of the media right from the beginning when they started with election related questions. She finally lost her cool over a television reporter when he quizzed about Amitabh's health.

This is not the first time, the media faced the heat of her bad temperament. Couple of times, she reacted harshly when asked about her bahu and actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. 

Victoria sings again

Singer-turned-fashion designer Victoria Beckham gave an impromptu show while in a bar in Singapore. The former Spice Girl band member went back to her days as a pop star by spinning some records before grabbing hold of a microphone and sitting on top of a piano to treat fans to a rare performance.

The 40-year-old, who has flown to South East Asia to launch her latest fashion collection, shared photographs of her performance on Twitter. — IANS

I am a very spiritual person: Tiger

Newcomer Tiger Shroff says he visited the holy city of Varanasi, ahead of the release of his Bollywood debut Heropanti, as he needed the Almighty's blessing for his film's success. Tiger, 23, the son of Bollywood actor Jackie Shroff will be seen in the film opposite Kriti Sanon.

"I personally wanted to come here as I worship Lord Shiva. I am a very spiritual person and so I just wanted to feel the holy city. This is my first visit to Varanasi and I loved it," he added. Heropanti, produced by Sajid Nadiadwala, will release on May 23.

The actor said that the Sabbir Khan-directed film will give the viewers an inspiring food for thought and at the same time they will get to enjoy a fresh chemistry between him and Kriti. — PTI

Carey happy to be home

Actress Carey Mulligan says there is something special about working in her hometown and that it is refreshing to see her family after a long day on set here. 

The 28-year-old star, who is married to musician Marcus Mumford, has returned here to film her new movie Suffragette with Meryl Streep, and to star alongside Bill Nighy in Skylight "I'm really happy to do something in London," she said. "And to go home to my house every night, and see my friends and family, and have people who never usually get to see me on stage see it," she added. — IANS

CHATTER BOX
Wedding bells

Deepika Singh and Rohit Raj Goyal got married on May 2. Post that there are a handful of celebrities who will solemnise their relationship this year. We take a look...

Perfect couple

Kratika Sengar and Nikitin Dheer announced their engagement rather suddenly. They apparently met earlier this year and soon their families decided that they were perfect for each other. The couple met and soon fell in love. They will marry on September 3 this year.

Real touch

Payal Rohatgi and Sangram Singh had a low profile engagement ceremony with their families. They met on the sets of a reality show. They have been living-in for about two-and-a-half years, and soon will get married by end of this year.

Being together

Aishwarya Sakhuja will soon marry her boyfriend of five years Rohit Nag. The couple met and fell in love while working on the show Hello Kaun Pehchaan Kaun. Rohit was a line producer then and soon they became serious. He proposed to her four months ago and they plan to get married this year in Delhi.

Class act

Smilie Suri and Vineet Bangera apparently met in a dance class and soon became friends. They fell in love and got engaged earlier this year. They will soon lock a wedding date.

Time tested

Krushna Abhishek and Kashmera Shah have been in love for over seven years. They are in a live-in relationship, but recently Krushna surprised everyone when he proposed marriage to his lady love. They will marry in a few months as their wedding date isn't set yet.

As grand as it gets

India's favourite lifestyle channel, TLC, brings an all-new season of Epic that will feature the most expensive, excessive and outrageous extravagances people indulge in. The series will follow passionate individuals that create the best and biggest way of life from massive log homes to fascinating American castles to high-tech over-the-top bathrooms, rotating houses or even backyards with private racetracks or sport courts suspended over cliffs, and much more.

Epic will showcase the daydreamers who have taken their passion to another level with impressive prized possessions that involve expert craftsmanship, technology and innovation. With eye-popping price tags over the million dollar mark, the recreational vehicles (RVs) featured this season have been transformed into mobile man-caves and mansions, and tricked out with high-tech gadgets that make every mile an adventure. Joining RVs for a second round in the series are more episodes featuring the crème de la crème of log homes.

Viewers will also be amazed by Epic's 'Home Builds' episode that showcases a 'flying saucer' house that spins, an underground dome and a 10-storey tree house all of which are engineered and built by creative geniuses who never let reality dampen their wild imaginations.

If those homes don't impress you, maybe a private island and personal paradise will! From a very private Florida Key with a pier that cost half-a-million bucks to Frank Llyod Wright house with a rooftop helipad to a 3,000-acre nature preserve in Wisconsin - that's the size of almost 2,270 American football fields - these islanders are enjoying every aspect of their home living.

Meet the passionate, determined and downright obsessed Americans who will stop at nothing to build the best, most elaborate places ever. Premiering on May 16, Epic will air every Friday at 9 pm only on TLC. — HRM

The year ahead
Madan Gupta Spatu

If your birthday is May 13...

In 2014-15, you will enjoy sound health but take minor precautions. Some of you will need to slow down a bit, take stock of minor symptoms and get them sorted. Do not work for long and skip your meals. Take proper rest. Chance of a romantic tour with your loved one is likely in October. The year is very good for students as well. People born on this date have a quick, keen mind with educational and literary interests. You are not always logical, but are very alert and argumentative. It would be better to defer important decisions to September 2014 and the period beyond that.

Positive colours: Dark-blue, Dark-grey.

Select days: Saturday.

Favourable numbers: 2, 4, 8.

Gems recommended: Gomed, Cat's Eye, Tiger Stone, Fluorite.

Sunny LeoneCharity on birthday: Donate saffron-coloured edible items to the needy or at any religious place today.

You share your birthday with Sunny Leone (originally Karenjit Kaur Vohra, May 13, 1981), who has successfully entered and made a name in Bollywood. Sunny will definitely have a bright future in B-town owing to a fantastic Venus, and combination of 1 and 4.

Astro Turf
P Khurrana

ARIES: Sacrifices made today can put you in a far better position in the future. For promotion talk to your boss. Real estate transactions should not be started. Sudden travel plans could be distracting. BP patients: Get more rest. 

Tarot message: Now is the need to question your judgments.

Lucky colour: Black.

Magic number: 60

TAURUS: "The Moon" reveals that you could stretch your relationship a bit too far. Clear misunderstandings. Property deals get concluded. Domestic issues come up for urgent consideration.

Tarot message: Don't be too certain about obtaining a clearance.

Lucky colour: Ebony.

Magic number: 42.

GEMINI: It is a day to forget worries. Talk to superiors and see what they can offer. Romance is on your mind. Uncooperative family members will create problems. Sportsmen may feel restless. 

Tarot message: You need to take things slowly and listen to your inner voice.

Lucky colour: Peach.

Magic number: 62.

CANCER: Today you will be in an enthusiastic frame of mind. Matters connected with the state or government agency will go through smoothly. Loss through speculation is on the cards. Tarot message: Change the status quo both at work and relationships by voicing your feelings. Lucky colour: Silver grey.

Magic number: 29.

LEO: Relax and be a little more tolerant. You will be in a mood to find faults with people who are dear to you; curb this habit. Extravagance could get the better of you. 

Tarot message: Follow your instincts and don't hesitate to act accordingly.

Lucky colour: Purple.

Magic number: 30.

VIRGO: Teamwork is the key note for the day. Home life will be pleasant. Older people may cause certain problems. Check your car before you set out for a long journey. Control your drinking habit.

Tarot message: Begin moving from thought to action.

Lucky colour: Rust

Magic number: 64.

LIBRA: Life is not always a bed of roses. Relatives will be sensitive and difficult to get along with. Do not get involved in land deals. Emotions have to be controlled. No pain, no gain. 

Tarot message: Confrontations need to be handled with care.

Lucky colour: Royal blue.

Magic number: 59.

SCORPIO: You will be happy in the company of friends. This is the right time to strengthen ties with partners. Find moderate pleasures. Some of you could be suffering from financial insecurities.

Tarot message: You must realise that it's important to live your dreams. 

Lucky colour: Crimson.

Magic number: 41.

SAGITTARIUS: Relax; there is no work pressure at all. Friends will be easy going and willing to fall in love with your plans. Property matters are highlighted. A good proposal is coming your way.

Tarot message: Do not let anyone take advantage of you.

Lucky colour: Burgundy.

Magic number: 46.

CAPRICORN: Best day to get things done by people in power. You will get an opportunity to become a member of an important club. Family affairs will be smooth. Love relations are bubbling with excitement. Tarot message: Be determined and increase your self-confidence.

Lucky colour: Forest green.

Magic number: 25.

AQUARIUS: A sudden trip will be fun. Students will get down to their tasks and creative hobbies. Businessmen: Expect help from clients. Be careful not to violate traffic. Except a few visitors at night. 

Tarot message: Win the war with honesty, not by distorting facts.

Lucky colour: Cream

Magic number: 27.

PISCES: Tendency to manipulate or taking revenge should be controlled. Believe in your own worthiness. This is a time to formulate your goals and actively pursue them. 

Tarot message: Trust your heart and intuition rather than confuse yourself.

Lucky colour: Yellow.

Magic number: 43





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