Manu weds Manu
Mona

In a place where unisex names are a norm, it is not unusual to find couples with the same name. But have you any idea when two persons share not just their life but also the name, what confusion it creates? Read on…

A boy and a girl, both Brahmins, single children, born and raised in Chandigarh, working in Gurgaon, big time into sports and even their parents' profile matched; looked like a good match…only everyone's jaws dropped when they realised they shared their name too - Manu!

Same names do cause couples much amusement, confusion and trouble! A trend which is found in this region where you will find unisex names like Navjot, Jaspreet, Gurpreet and the like. How does it feel to have your spouse called by the same name that you have been living with for good two decades, we find out…

The Pinkys

When growing up in the Model Town Ludhiana in the late 50s, Balwinder Pinky S Thukral knew three Pinkys around; it was such a common pet name. So much so that a pet dog in the neighbourhood shared the name Pinky too. "What I didn't know was that there is a Pinky living in the UK too who would be my life partner," says Balwinder, who is managing property and pubs business in Coventry, England now; while the wife manages him and their two boys. "I was surprised but not shocked when I first came to know that I share my name with my-would be wife." Since both were lovingly called Pinky on both sides, families mutually agreed to name them, Pinky 'he' and Pinky 'she'. Three decades on, they have carried on the monikers with an exception that friends sometimes refer to them as Pinky 'boy' and Pinky 'girl'.

Manu square

When Manu, a senior engineer at Ericsson India, got to know that his parents were interested in a girl named Manu to be his life partner, he didn't know how to react. "The first thing that came to my mind was the movie named Tanu Weds Manu and that ours would be Manu Weds Manu," says the hubby. Three years on, they have made the best of this name game. "We love sharing the name. We can get away with anything, courtesy our names. When asked to do something and feeling lazy, we shift onus on the other at our convenience saying, "I thought you asked him/her," laughs away the wife.

However, the damage that this naughty couple could have done was stopped in the tracks by the boy's mother Dinesh Sharma. She gave her daughter-in-law a new name, Manya, much to the charging of her cousins. "Though both families call them Manu square, we call her Manya, and her parents call him Paritosh (his school name that hardly anyone uses in our family). They are now automated to respond to different names with different sets of parents," says Dinesh, who still gets surprised on how two of them share way more than just names.

Meet the Manjeets

If you thought Harpreets are only having a ball, know Manjeets - both born in the same hospital in Shimla, went to same school DAV and college was same too. "Maine to hospital se hi line marni shuru kar di thi," chuckles Manjeet Singh Assi, the husband. However, the girl Manjeet did not take him seriously till the families arranged their 'love' match.

"Look, they say gun milne chahiye but what better than having the same name," he adds. The similarity did not finish at college, they came in same profession too, and he is a manager UCO Bank and she is a manager at Punjab and Sind Bank, currently posted in Solan. "We love the confusion that it leads to. Whenever someone calls, we both answer. If I am the one getting the scolding, others think it's my wife. I conveniently pass on the bills to her and keep the benefits, even when chalaaned, I make her go." Well, well, then they say, "What's in a name?"

Harpreet and Harpreet

It hasn't been such a smooth sailing for Harpreets from Amritsar though. While she is an assistant manger at a bank, he is an entrepreneur. But their connection didn't stop at first names only; they shared surname too—Ahluwalia. "When my mother told me this, I found it odd," the wife spills the beans, "But my mother told me it's no big deal, it happens all the time." For him, he was a butt of jokes among his family and friends, "Our wedding cards read 'Harpreet Singh marries Harpreet Kaur'. Since ours was a late marriage, they teased me that out of desperation I am marrying self only," laughs this businessman. And, along have come the troubles, "When I fill the forms, almost always they raise an objection that I have accidentally written same name in both husband and wife column. It takes some time and patience and convincing that Harpreet Ahluwalia has actually married Harpreet Ahluwalia," says the wife. A year on dabbling in that, they have found that they share a lot more, "We think almost alike. When I am thinking of a movie, she suggests the same; we love outings," share the duo, who loved their trip to Goa immensely.

mona@tribunemail.com

World Photography Day
Pixel perfect
Jasmine Singh

If you are shutter-happy and good at it then sky is the limit for you

Ansel Adams, the man who wrote extensively on original photographs and matted reproductions, has always maintained that a photograph is never taken, on the contrary, it is made.

Given this, it wouldn't be out of context to say that we see people making photographs left, right and centre with either digitally defined cameras or cell phones. Pictures are being made all over, not only this, pictures clicked with amateur hands now find a favourable platform for display with many on-line sites accepting them for common sharing. On World Photography Day, whether you have taken a liking to the camera as a hobby or you are a professional or an amateur, click and share pictures for everyone to give thumbs up on it!

Navpreet Sandhu is pursuing homeopathy from Ludhiana. After a tiring day when he returns home, the first thing that he does is pick up his Canon Mark 4 and take a few random snap shots. His next job is to share the best shots on either Flickr Dayviews and Fotolog. "I have been doing this consistently for two years now. I don't have the time to collect all pictures and put up a small exhibition for friends. This is the only way I can share my pictures with others," says Navpreet, who takes all the comments that he gets on his pictures very seriously. Photo sharing seems to be the most popular hobby with amateur photographers these days. No wonder everyone is creating an Instagram id. Certain photo sharing websites require registration while others like Tinypic, SmugMug also offer free registration service. These online sites provide an option of sharing pictures, creating galleries, editing and some also provide a window for commercial use.

With on line sites giving such an elaborate platform it is next to impossible to refrain from taking pictures. No reason why you wouldn't want everyone to see your work now! Mandeep Bhullar, a businessman from Mohali, was told by his friends that his pictures have a creative touch. Another friend in the US posted one of his aerial shot on SmugMug and Mandeep ended up winning a contest and a free enrollment to a photography workshop in the US. He laughs, "Of course, I did not attend the workshop. It, however, boosted my confidence. Now, I am going to buy a professional camera and take some lessons." Harpreet Saini, 22, a software developer from Ludhiana got paid Rs 8,000 for one of his pictures by a magazine that saw it online. "I didn't realise that I could make extra bucks by posting my pictures on photo sharing websites." And you though, Flickr, Photobucket, Dropbox or Google's Picasa, DeviantArt are only for amateur photographers to share their clicks? Despite, the craze about photo-sharing sites some do not fancy the virtual world. Cannon 550 D is filmmaker Navjit Buttar of Virsa Arts fame’s constant companion. He is saving his amateur pictures to be shown to friends, "I would rather want a pro to tell me the flaws and the strengths in my work."

World Photography Day
Focused clicks
Amarjot Kaur

A photography exhibition organised by Harvinder Singh and Ashok Saini features as many as 71 works of 21 artists from across the region

Celebrated on account of the invention of Daguerreotype, a photographic process developed by Louis Daguerre, which was announced as a gift to the 'free world' by the French Government, The World Photography Day goes way beyond the expression of freedom and dwells on the magnificence of the artistic as well as the aesthetic. A candid account of views framed in the memory of their significance, Chandigarh-based photographers Harvinder Singh and Ashok Saini organised a three-day photography exhibition at the Punjab Kala Bhawan.

The exhibition features as many as 71 works of 21 artists from across the region and is deeply inspired by nature as well as people. The portraits by Ashwini Attri speak volumes about human expression and Ashok Saini's works inspired by nature photography are a delight for the eye. Photos by Gurmeet Kaur dwell heavily on the aesthetic sky views, as she clicks the sun hiding behind the clouds, thereby exploring the light and shades. "I like taking pictures of people and things that have a certain kind of intensity to them," says Manish Rana, whose photos Silent Hope, Drama Shadow Show and Railway Station exude intensity of the moment.

Harvinder Singh, who creates a magic with his lens, has for the first time in the exhibition, featured some of his photographs that are a stitched versions of 21 shots of Sukhna Lake, Panjab University and Banda Bahadur Fort. The works of Santokh Singh feature some candid moments of the Independence Day, including the recent photograph of Harjinder Kaur celebrating Teej.

The exhibition, which celebrates the spirit of photography, also narrates a few stories, for instance the one associated with Aman Gupta's photograph of Prithvi Raj that was clicked in the early seventies. "A photograph is a proof of a memory that must be preserved and Aman, through this photograph, wants to convey that preserving a photograph is as important as preserving a memory," says Harvinder. The photo exhibition also features the works of Shubh Mohan Singh, Deepak Arora, Sanjay Kaushal, Mitinderpal Sekhon, Prabh Grewal, Satish Chandra Parveen Jaggi, Randeep Singh and Gaurav Madhopuri.

(On till August 19)

amarjot@tribunemail.com

The ‘in’ side
Prep-up your abode
Renu Soni

Let your home accessories reflect your personality. Here’s how to
do it right…

Injecting ones personality into a home is what decorating with accessories is all about. It's one of my favourite parts of the process. But, for others, selection and placement of accessories can become a rather perplexing and overwhelming experience. A simple rule to remember is that 'the eye has to travel', you have to create areas of interest. Within this vast umbrella term, accessories, let's see what we have and how to best use them.

Love them: ornaments

What is important is not how valuable or inexpensive your objects are, but how you arrange them. Perfectly balanced interiors can look bland and monotonous. Experiment with asymmetry by using an odd number of the same items. Coffee tables need to be decorated too, but in our culture, where hospitality and food rules, it's not always possible. Most of us prefer to leave them blank. One solution is to go for the largest table possible so that even when not in use, a part of it will always look pretty.

Memories: displaying photographs

Create a family-and-friends wall on the staircase or landing. Pack it with closely-hung frames of different sizes and up to three finishes (eg black lacquer, chrome and oak). To chic it up, black-and-white photos are neat and make everyone look better.

Comfy: cushions

Never place a cushion on an angle on a sofa; it's so '90s! Do fluff them up and give them a karate chop in the middle. For that boutique-hotel look, place a pair in front of your pillows on the bed.

A must: patterned rug

First you must determine what you want the rug for - is it a focal point? Or do you want to group furniture on it? Secondly, you must measure what size rug you need before you go shopping. They help soften wooden or hard floors and add contrasting colours and patterns into the room.

Natural: foliage

Placing plants throughout your home helps add natural colour, texture and also softens the area making it more appealing to spend time there. Don't forget to use attractive plant pots and containers for your plants. If you can't care for house plants then go with fresh flowers. Keep them elegant by sticking to one colour. Fresh flowers are easy to blend in with any rooms' accent and you can swap and change the colour, type and position at any time. They are such an easy and adaptable accessory to have. If you are allergic to flowers, try artificial flowers instead.

Tactile: other textiles

By using other types of textile home decor accessories, you can create additional comfort and softness in using scatter cushions made with different types of material; throws on your sofa or lounge chair; napkins, place mats and tablecloths in the dining room or kitchen

Heavenly: room scents

Cheap candles and oil diffusers smell cheap. Indulge in a decent fragrance for a subtle perfume and soft light. Do not overdo it.

Intellect: books

A room lined in books can be a delight. Stick to hardbacks or neat vintage paperback collections. Your selection should reflect your passions, so much so that you might pick them up to look at once in a while. No coffee table should be without your favorite glossy non-fiction hardbacks stacked horizontally in diminishing sizes.

Illusions: mirrors

Mirrors are available in a plethora of shapes and sizes these days. Not only do they add beauty, but also help create the illusion of space. By cleverly placing mirrors on an opposite wall to something that is interesting in your room, it will reflect the image and add a sense of space. For darker rooms, hang a decorative mirror near a window. The light will bounce off the mirror into the room portraying more natural much-needed light back into the area. To give the illusion of depth in a room paint one of your walls in a darker contrasting colour to your other walls. Then, hang a mirror on that darker wall. This instantly gives the additional sense of depth to the dimensions of the room.

Moods: lighting

Light fittings are one of the most important elements of home decor accessories, as they set the ambience of the room. By using different types of lighting, you can create different moods on different areas of the room, at different times of the day. Accent lighting such as a spot light is used to emphasise wall paintings, ornaments or other interesting areas; soft lighting used by small wall light fittings, table and floor lamps, help create a romantic mood; general lighting such as a ceiling centre light, strip light or bright wall lamps are used for general lighting.

Remember to take necessary dimensions before shopping and don't over indulge — don't follow trends; instead, follow your heart and let your personality flood your home.

Cultured: artwork

Not only does art add charm to a room, it absorbs noise and can actually help change the illusion of a room's shape if placed correctly. For example: horizontal landscape pictures help widen a room; portrait floral pictures help give the illusion of height; and one large picture reflected through a mirror gives the sensation of additional broader space. To help balance out a large space and give a window effect in a small space, hang smaller pictures in a cluster. For larger pictures, place them in proportion to the furniture. For example, hang a large picture approximately six to nine inches above a sofa or at eye level.

(Soni is a Chandigarh-based interior designer)

STAR TRACK
Dancing away to glory

Talented actor Saahil Prem speaks about his upcoming directorial debut M.A.D. (Mad About Dance) and more...

How did you come up with the idea for this movie?

I went to this university town of Sheffield where they have dance battles. It's fun because they fight it out there. I used to take part in them. One day somebody asked me where I am from and I said India. He was surprised to know because Indians don't do such stuff. So, when I got back here, I wrote the story as it appealed to me. We even shot the film in the same place.

What's more tough--acting, directing or writing?

It is definitely directing because you have to manage a big crew. Writing was easy but while I was directing I was controlling a crew of 50 which is small number. You have to pay attention to minor details. So, it is definitely more challenging.

Tell us about your role...

I play a guy who wants to get out and be independent. So, he lies to his parents to go abroad.

Are you mad about dance?

I am. I have been dancing since childhood, probably when I was four or five. I have no formal training. I've just learnt it by watching others. I used to perform in dance competitions as a kid, so dancing has always been a part of my life.

How do you stay fit?

I like to cycle on the beach. I also enjoy biking. Moreover, I dance, so it keeps me fit. I also visit a gym but I am into building muscles.

Shahid’s mature talk

After featuring in the commercial potboiler R...Rajkumar, Shahid Kapoor is ready to surprise audiences with his intense act in Haider. He says the past few months have helped him "mature a lot". Haider, a film by Vishal Bhardwaj, who last directed Shahid in the 2009 movie Kaminey, is a desi take on William Shakespeare's Hamlet.

Asked if there's a steady sense of confidence with Haider unlike when R...Rajkumar was to release, Shahid said: "R...Rajkumar was something very different, a totally different zone for me. I have worked with Vishal sir before also, so it's a different feeling with Haider. I feel I have matured a lot in the last few months." His double role in Kaminey was hugely appreciated, and Shahid, who has already grabbed eyeballs with his looks in Haider, says somehow whatever he does with the filmmaker, works out well. "Somehow, whatever we try to do together, it has worked. It's not easy to do that. It's so difficult to achieve it every time that you have to credit a little bit of it to luck.

"I feel content that I did this film (Haider) because there are certain films that you do depending on whether it will do well or not, and then there are those you do because as an actor, you want to feel enriched and you want to have an experience, which will help you to grow. "This (Haider) is that film."

Releasing on October 2, the movie also features Tabu and Shraddha Kapoor. — IANS

The Emmy goes to…

True Detective and Orange Is The New Black walked away with key trophies at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards. The maximum wins, however, were registered by Saturday Night Live. The show won five awards, including guest comedy actor for Tonight Show's' Jimmy Fallon for hosting last December. That episode also won the variety series directing trophy during the awards held on Saturday night, a week before the Primetime Emmy Awards.

HBO's True Detective won four trophies in craft and technical categories, including casting and cinematography for a drama series. Game of Thrones, Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey and Sherlock: His Last Vow also won four awards.

Orange Is The New Black clinched guest actress in a comedy for the much-praised Uzo Aduba besides winning two other trophies—casting in a comedy series and single-camera picture editing for a comedy. Joe Morton of Scandal got an award for guest actor in a drama series while Allison Janney won guest actress in a drama for Masters of Sex. The Colbert Report won for writing for a variety series. Jane Lynch won the reality host trophy for Hollywood Game Night while Bob's Burgers won for animation programme. Fargo scored the award for casting for a miniseries.

How I Met Your Mother, The Beatles: The Night That Changed America, Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, Sherlock: His Last Vow, So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing With the Stars were also among the winners. - PTI

Creativity is a lonely process: SRK

Shah Rukh Khan says his life may be seen like an open book, but there is part about his personality that no one knows about. "My life is like an open book, everywhere I go people see my picture, Twitter... everything...I am very happy that people think they know everything about me. But there is a side of me which people do not know about," said Shah Rukh. Explaining his point, he said: "Business of entertainment is about being aware of what people like...The creativity is a very solo thing, it's very lone and it is done behind the closed doors. My creativity is very lonely, which nobody understands...I don't discuss the process."

The superstar is right now looking forward to release his next venture —Happy New Year, which involves him as an actor and producer.

Directed by Farah Khan and produced by Red Chillies Entertainment, the ensemble heist drama also starring the likes of Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan, Boman Irani, Jackie Shroff and Vivaan Shah, will come out during Diwali.

Bipasha all for Bengali films

Actress Bipasha Basu, who will next feature in Creature 3D, says she is open to offbeat cinema as much as commercial films. In fact, she is keen to do a new Bengali film too. The actress' last appearance in a Bengali film was the 2009 Rituparno Ghosh directorial Shob Charitro Kalponik.

"I would want to venture into another Bengali film. I am quite open (to the idea) at this point of time. I am open to trying different things, be it commercial or offbeat," Bipasha said. "I love films which are going to entertain, which give me a chance to perform and which give me author-driven role," she added. The actress is currently busy promoting Creature 3D, which is directed by Vikram Bhatt. — IANS

No Marathi film for Vidyut

Actor Vidyut Jammwal has been in the news for being cast in Marathi version of Hollywood film 17 Again. But, he says the news is false. It was reported that the Zac Effron and Matthew Perry-starrer 2009 comedy 17 Again would soon be recreated in Marathi with Vidyut in the cast.

But he took to Facebook to quash the reports. "Please don't rely on rumours and unverified news stories. I'm NOT doing any Marathi film as of now. If ever something happens, you'll know it from me," Vidyut said in his post. — IANS

Priyanka loves Madonna’s ‘guts’

Actress Priyanka Chopra says she has been idolising Madonna since childhood and loves the pop star's bold personality.

The Frozen hit-maker turned 56 on Saturday and the Krrish 3 star took to Twitter to wish her. "Happy bday to my childhood idol @Madonna ! #RebelWithoutACause !love the guts u live your life with!! So many memories.. #Secret," Priyanka tweeted.

Sajid has plans for Tiger

Tiger Shroff works out even when he is sick. He recently hit the gym when he was unwell because it made him feel better. Meanwhile, Sajid Nadiadwala is planning to send him to Thailand for a month-long training in a new form of martial arts for his next film.

Chatter box
Every loss is a gain!

Kushal Punjabi, who got eliminated from Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, is a disappointed man. He feels his elimination was based on concept and not dancing. He explains his reasons and more.

Why were you disappointed with the result of Jhalak?

Anyone would be disappointed. The elimination is alright, but I was confused as I didn't realise that it takes a concept than good dancing to stay on the show. They edited out Karan Johar and Madhuri's comments that I was a superior dancer. I did my job well and judges too agreed, as they gave me good marks. If I was getting a lot of positive feedback, maybe they eliminated me because Kiku's concept was better than mine. Had they said my dance wasn't good, I would have walked off. So, I didn't understand what they wanted; is it based on voting, concept or dancing?

Did you express your opinion to the judges or the channel?

I didn't see a point in talking to anyone, as it couldn't be undone. I am sure they knew if they've been fair or not. I don't want to be looked down upon as a sore loser. No one told me I didn't dance well; feedback from social networks was also positive.

Do you think entering the show mid-way harmed you?

It was a disadvantage. If they have a wild card, it's because they want freshness, to raise the level of the show and bring in strong dancers.

Why have you stayed away from fiction shows?

I have been told that I don't have a conventional TV face; I don't understand that. I'd rather do reality, actually. It gives me time and space to do my own thing. I like writing and hopefully one day will direct too.

Have you written a script for Prakash Jha?

He is producing a film for which I partly wrote the script. It's a comedy called Pariwaar Times. I am acting in the film too with Shilpa Shukla. The film might release by the end of this year. — HRM

The common factor

What do Satyamev Jayate and India's Raw Star have in common? While Satyamev Jayate has Aamir Khan as the face of the show, India's Raw Star has Honey Singh mentoring the contestants. Aamir and Honey have absolutely opposite personalities when it comes to style, yet what the shows have in common is Ritu Raj, one of the top ten contestants shortlisted by Honey Singh.

That's not all. Ritu Raj is also connected to Satyamev Jayate, as he has composed a song called Aam Ke Aam Honge for the episode Don't Waste Your Garbage. Ritu Raj says, "I have worked with Star Plus before, as I had composed a song for Satyamev Jayate, but that I did because I am a big fan of Aamir Khan and this show has social relevance. Now I am doing the new show for myself. With India's Raw Star, the stakes are high and it is a bigger platform with a never-seen-before concept."

Fitness comes first

It is a must for television actors to keep themselves fit, as even a little bit of plumpness can make them look fat on screen. That's the reason why most of the actors have a very strict diet and work schedule. While some get their gym on set, others resort to using diet food as supplements to maintain their bodies. Vatsal Sheth, seen on Star Plus' Ek Hasina Thi, has been doing everything right to ensure that he maintains his body and look in the show. The talented actor has got himself a personal trainer, who is tracking his workout. After the shoot is complete, Vatsal ensures that he makes his way to the gym to get his daily dose of workout right. He has been training under Prashant Sawant, who has trained Ajay Devgn and Shah Rukh Khan.

When reel meets real

Actor Krishna Singh Bisht, also known as Kasim in Nikhil Sinha's Hatim, has a very different onscreen look. He shared, "After I started playing Kasim, I experienced an interesting incident. One day, I was standing in front of a tea stall in a Mumbai suburb and in front of it was a huge poster of Kasim. I casually told the tea stall owner that the poster he's was looking at was me. The stall owner gave me a very weird expression, trying to suggest that I'm lying. However, when he looked at the poster carefully, he found similarities between me and Kasim, and told me that I look completely different off camera."

Salman to host Bigg Boss 8

After a lot of speculation, finally there is clarity about Salman Khan hosting the next season of reality TV show Bigg Boss. The CEO of Colors Raj Nayak revealed a lot in his tweet: "Can't wait for Season 8 #BiggBoss? Coming soon with @BeingSalmanKhan."

Candid cameo

Shiju Kataria, who is seen in Balika Vadhu, will also be seen in a special episode of Savdhan India. The story will be about the struggle of a mother to get her daughter back after she's kidnapped. Rani Mukherjee will also promote her film Mardaani on the show.

Astro turf
P Khurrana

ARIES: Heartaches of the past are forgotten as you get a new lease of life at work. There is an annoying tendency of someone in a position of authority. You can expect visitors or communications from overseas. Tarot message: Use your instinct to get into the top circle of power. Lucky colour: White.

Magic number: 35.

TAURUS: Close associates can turn to you for help and though this will add to your workload, helping them will increase your goodwill. This is a good time to start a self- improvement project.

Tarot message: There is no

time to rest.

Lucky colour: Orange.

Magic number: 48.

GEMINI: Try and study all aspects of the situation before making any commitments. There will be hectic activity at work and you will feel overwhelmed at the thought of finishing all your tasks.

Tarot message: Take new challenges in your stride.

Lucky colour: Peach.

Magic number: 51.

CANCER: Be clear and precise in your interactions with colleagues as this will enable you save time and get things done faster. Friends or family members will be depending on you for emotional support. Tarot message: Share responsibility with others before continuing. Lucky colour: Ebony.

Magic number: 55.

LEO: Prioritise play and personal time. Planetary energies draw your attention to family and home base. A gift or a surprise awaits you in the evening. Share market and speculations should be avoided today. Tarot message: Extend your circle of friends.

Lucky colour: Crimson.

Magic number: 60.

VIRGO: Your life is busy and tiring. It's best to go beyond the ego and ask for help, support and clarity when needed. Your efforts will put you in line for satisfying gains. A short romantic holiday will add excitement. Tarot message: Concentrate on projects with reliable outcome. Lucky colour: Saffron. Magic number: 30.

LIBRA: Study matters closely before signing any new contracts today. Love and romance in a relationship lead to promise and commitment. Children will show a more caring attitude towards their younger siblings.

Tarot message: Win the war with honesty.

Lucky colour: Pink.

Magic number: 27.

SCORPIO: Today will be a great day for sportspersons. A family gathering at your house will bring bliss on the faces of elders. You manage business affairs with skill to achieve financial stability.

Tarot message: Don't dismiss the advice of youngsters.

Lucky colour: Orange.

Magic number: 61.

SAGITTARIUS: A journey for business or for pilgrimage along with your family is on the cards. Trust your intuition. Mental flexibility is surely a good idea for you. It will be tough to comply, but is all worth it.

Tarot message: Be practical.

Lucky colour: Maroon.

Magic number: 25.

CAPRICORN: You are on the edge of something grand and you can feel it right to the bottom of your feet. Even if you are a bit frightened at the magnitude of what's ahead, keep your faith.

Tarot message: Cultivate understanding and humility.

Lucky colour: Brown.

Magic number: 33.

AQUARIUS: Make a firm resolve to let go and roll with the flow.

Take a trip and connect with interesting new people.

Forget routine chores and duck out if you feel an order coming your way.

Tarot message: Be grateful for the gains coming your way.

Lucky colour: Yellow.

Magic number: 42.

PISCES: The more you give, the more everyone will appreciate. A healthy attitude will take you farther than overstated confidence. Your feelings have deepened, even if you are uncomfortable with them.

Tarot message: Balance in all aspects is recommended.

Lucky colour: Grey.

Magic number: 63.

Print worthy
A printmaking workshop in Mohali provides an excellent opportunity to art students
Amarjot Kaur

With the four-day-long workshop by Malkit Singh on Independence Day, at the newly opened art studio-cum-exhibition venue, Art Space, Industrial Area, Phase 9, Mohali, the city which has often been ridiculed for being artistically impotent, seems to have found an expression of artistic liberation.

The first-of-its-kind workshop in printmaking showcases the work of local artists Subhash Shorey, Lakhwinder Singh Insan and Pritpal Singh, along with students of Government Arts College, Sector 10. Rahul Dhiman, who recently exhibited his works in printmaking at a solo exhibition at the Government Museum and Art Gallery, Sector 10, says, "This workshop is among the greatest endeavours that have been undertaken to promote art in the city. It provides excellent opportunity to art students," he says. The two-storey studio, which opens into an unfurnished open space, can accommodate as many as 20 artists and has equipment required for sculpture-making, printmaking and even painting. "The students who are participating in the workshop have contributed for the material required, while we already have the equipment. The two basic mediums in which we are experimenting with at the workshop are collagraphy and woodcut," says Rahul.

Once the workshop gets over, the students and artists will exhibit their works at the gallery on the first floor of the art studio. "The works will remain at the exhibition hall and more that will be created at subsequent workshops will be added to the collection," shares Ajmer, one of the students at the workshop. The students participating at the workshop include, Rahul Dhiman, Savleen Kaur, Simranjot Kaur, Rajinder Kaur, Vikas, Vinod, Jyoti Chauhan, Ajmer, Rita, Ritu and Santosh.

The year ahead
Madan Gupta Spatu

If your birthday is August 19...

Your birthday on the August 19 gives greater will power and self-confidence. However, you must avoid being too critical and impatient of trifles. Love life brings hope. You can ruin a project if you are too open about your plans. Travel opportunities should be explored. The second half of the year is about awakening. Your desire to truly live life rather than simply going through the motions becomes consuming. Your family expects a lot from you, which can irritate you. Control your tendency to live for the day and to spend too much on entertainment.

Positive colours: Golden, Red, Brown.

Select days: Sunday, Monday.

Favourable numbers: 1, 4, 2, 7.

Gems recommended: Yellow Sapphire, Red Coral.

Charity on birthday: Donate oranges at a religious place.

You share your birthday with Nandana Sen (August 19, 1970, Calcutta), who is daughter of Nobel Prize winning economist Amartya Sen and Bengali writer Nabanita Dev Sen. Sen started her career with the movie The Doll. In 2008, she appeared in the British television series Sharpe, in the episode Sharpe's Peril. She will have a chequered career according to her stars.

A royal salute
Sushmit Sen through his solo rendition offers a rich tribute to the National Anthem
Amarjot Kaur

Sushmit Sen's musical tribute to India's National Anthem has a certain kind of meditative quality, which gives the song a defining edge. With an illustrious career spanning 20 years, Susmit Sen, who is the founder-member of the band Sushmit Sen Chronicles, for long has also been the lead guitarist of the band Indian Ocean. The Indian National Anthem is a song from his upcoming album Depths of the Ocean. Performed live on Balcony TV Delhi, the Six String Salute will indefinitely touch the nationalist in you.

"Sushmit Sen is a highly respected musician known for combining Western Classical Jazz and Rock with Hindustani Classical and Folk Styles. He is known for his innovative style of playing, which is quite evident in the Six String Salute," says Jaspal Sahib, a Chandigarh-based musician.

"I am a huge fan of Sushmit Sen and there is not a better way for a musician to pay a tribute to India than to play the national anthem," says Aman Suraj, a Chandigarh-based musician with the band, Aayat.

Master Chef
Perfect pudding!
Ranjan Dibya

For coffee-lovers, this dessert is the ultimate treat. With its light texture and creamy look it seems like a heavy dessert, but actually it is pretty comfortable to have and a boon for those who like eggs. Try out this dessert and just wait for the compliments to come your way.

Coffee Caramel Pudding

Ingredients

• 50 ml espresso (dark coffee)

• 750 ml milk

• 200 gm sugar

• 250 gm condensed milk

• 10 eggs