|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Export hub err . . . hut MATKA CHOWK PAMMY’S BEAUTY TIPS TECH TALK Just move on BOOK CORNER FILM REVIEW
|
|
Degrees and home skills are just not enough for would-be brides. For fitting in today’s `polite society’, so many of them are tying the knot with manners in finishing schools before marriage,
SHE has a taste for beau monde, but cannot tell you the difference between Chinese and continental food, sadly. Every time she is asked to place an order, Zahira Kapoor looks at the maitre d hotel, blankly. She once tried ordering “Raan” — the most expensive dish on the menu card, but even that didn’t work. Member of the go-green brigade, Zahira ended up with tandoori lamb on her platter and load on her soul. So she has packed her bags, and nags, and is waiting for a cab to take her all the way to the high society via a finishing school. Oh yes, guys, you have guessed it right. The young beginner, just out of a local college after doing her graduation in music and home science, hopes to learn social graces before making a career out of her marriage with a rich business analyst now settled in Mumbai. Wow, she seems to be all set to have fun amidst the upper crust. But if you talk to her, poor little Zahira doesn’t sound all that optimistic. The fear of making a fool out of herself in the polite society after marriage has been giving her restless nights. Guys, she is not exactly ignorant. For, she has a satellite radio installed at her house. In fact, Zahira listens to “The Hop” for telling the world something about the numbers that had topped the charts in the 60s and the 70s. This is not all. She has round-the-clock Internet connection and surfs sites that are expected to boost confidence. And guys, you make not believe it, she actually knows how to prepare soup out of tomatoes, even noodles, but broccoli confuses her immensely. Living in a kanal-house in a posh northern sector hasn’t helped as she still struggles to pronounce “rendezvous”, though she has mugged up wild-n-wacky words like “fandu”, “oh-me-gosh,” and “shucks”. For her, gulab jamuns are “GJs” and rum bottle the “bi’ brown thing”. Sounds cool, dude, but to her something is still lacking. Well, Zahira, you are not the only one joining a finishing school with the feeling of being a misfit in a smart-set that talk only of toothbrushes in psychedelic hues, cappuccinos and hot chocolate sauce. Running her own finishing school in Delhi with 28 centres across the nation, including Jalandhar, former Miss India-America Priya Warrick says, “So many girls from Chandigarh and other towns are daily rushing to avail the benefits of the bridal package”. Flashing a smile, she says. “The reason is not hard to see. Guys nowadays want their wives to do everything their mothers did for them, besides making them proud. So keeping up the appearance is imperative. Even if you are scared, you have to get in the swim and finishing schools provide the final touch that every woman needs”. That’s the way it is.
|
|
|
Snipping away to glory
Under a resplendent red ceiling, surrounded by teeming
crowds, this “celebrity artiste” spoke of reaching the moon no less! For
this man believes his profession is one where, “even those who do not have
it, want to know about it!” Acclaimed hairstylist Jawed Habib inaugurated
his 63rd salon, in the city today, with a determination to snip Chandigarh’s
tresses to glory! “No ordinary hairdressers for the city, we have brought our
most creative and talented stylists here.” And he intends to visit the city
every month, “maybe more, for it is important to bring the Habib
touch.” With umpteen hair salons dotting the city, Jawed waves the
competition away “because the name of the game is branding and what we are
offering is a branded haircut.” The more the merrier he says, for the
confidence comes easy. Coming from an illustrious line of stylists, (his
grandfather was appointed hair-dresser to Lord Linlithgo at the Viceroy House,
now the Rashtrapati Bhavan and his father had the privilege of looking after
the hair of Lord Mountbatten and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru), Jawed believes the
family has worked really hard to be where they are. “Hairstyling is a
culture, not a step or blunt cut. Clients must feel cared for.” The aim is
simple, “I want every single person in the country to come to Habibs
once.” Even his advice is strewn with laconic comments, “styling is
balancing the length of hair”, “hairdresser only cuts hair but the health
of your hair is in your hands” and the best of them all, “trends depend on
a hairdresser’s mood, the worse the mood the better the artistry!” With
salons all over the country and outside, (London, New York, Khatmandu, and
Bangladesh and plans for Sydney, Toronto, New Zealand) Jawed wants to grow with
his scissors. “I have never forgotten how I came here, if I do not style
hair, I will not be the person I am.” So what does he look for when
fashioning hair? “There is nothing to see, it is all about feeling the hair.
If you are passionate about what you do, you need to feel.” While his rates
soar above a thousand odd rupees, he promises that the salon offers competitive
rates along with providing a membership card for those interested that offers
worthy discounts and can be used at any Habibs outlet anywhere in the world.
For this man who believes he is his own star brand ambassador, (“I am my
own endorsement what is the need for celebrities”) and who is planning a
public issue next year, nothing seems to be the limit. “I want to reach the
earth and the moon in the next 10 years.”
|
|
|
Setting fire on ice THEY may be seven-year-old in this profession, but time has not robbed them of their zeal. In fact, as they talk about their music, some of their enthusiasm rubs off on you. And they have a reason for it. After playing gigs for private parties and food joints, this band called Fire ‘n’ Ice is ready to create their own music. Ondry Paul, Paulas Paul, Bobby and Richard are optimistic that the audience is ready for Indi-pop once again. “People are getting tired of bhangra pop and we are going to grab this opportunity to bring in our kind of music,” says Ondry. Three songs for their forthcoming album ‘Woh Pal’ have been composed and ready. The album is going to have all kinds of music, they explain—love ballads, hip-hop and trans-music. Having done a jingle for TataIndicom, the band is up and about with a renewed vigour. “We are working on the rest of the songs. Things are looking up, for we roped in Govind Menon who made the film ‘Khwaish’ to make our album, we are optimistic about making an impact,” says Paulas. It was their love for music and a dream to make it big that united them as a group. Ondry is the lead guitarist as well the singer. Paulas plays the keyboard, Bobby is the drummer boy and Richard plays the base guitarist and sings too. Ondry and Paulas share the musical legacy from their father Paul Jacob, who was one of the pioneer guitarists of the city. “We were trained by our father from our childhood, so getting into professional singing seemed to the logical conclusion to both of us,” say Paulas and Ondry. “We all studied at Mount Carmel and were regular at those school competitions. It slowly evolved into a professional band, starting with playing at private parties then at hotels,” says Paulas. The band now plays at the Taj Chandigarh on Sundays. What about the receptivity of the audience for live bands in the city, a place where DJs and bhangra pop rules the roost? “More and more people are preferring live bands to DJs now. A few years ago there were only a handful people who would come up with a request for an English song, now we at the Taj play only western music and we are being appreciated,” says the group. Three cheers for the future of live music!
|
|
|
Dangling down the desire lane! Sparkling, shining, shimmering…they can brighten almost anything. They twinkle and twirl, as the divas donning them walk across ramps and parties. Flaunted by collegiates on their casual gehris, these super hot accessories almost make the streets singe. A stunning declaration against boring gold ear lobes and exhorbitant diamond studs, they are none but the chandeliers we all love. City girls no longer need to envy tele queens Kaumaulika, Ramola, Kashish and the likes for sporting those classy chandeliers. For, Chandigarh based jewellery designer Apeksha Gulati has come up with her new range of flashy, yet very classy chandeliers. Available in an array of shapes and sizes, they represent style and flair for fashion Reveals the designer, “When I came to this city an year back, post marriage, I discovered a void in fashion jewellery. While most youngsters went for the cheap, trendy but low quality stuff like the loops and necklaces available at rehri markets, older women looked at jewellery as an investment. I’ve tried to strike a balance.” Balance of what sort, one wonders. Apeksha explains, “My fashion jewellery is trendy and chic, yet its not priced either at Rs 20 or Rs 2 lakh. It’s very contemporary and ranges from Rs 6,000 to Rs 15,000.” But why such prices for jewellery that’s neither in gold or diamonds? Smiles the lady, “My chandeliers are in crystal, American diamonds, precious and semi-precious stones. Plus, I get them made from my karigars in Mumbai.” And her collections’ feverish fans? Though young girls pick the chandeliers that are already displayed by me, most ladies prefer them custom made. So I have both the age groups falling for my chandeliers.” Desires indeed have found a delightful expression in dangling down the delicate ears. And when places like sector 17, 22, 19 and local gift shops are stocking chandeliers, could jewellery designers be far behind?
|
|
|
Export hub err .
. . hut
Looking at its humble ambience, one may feel it doesn’t promise much. No imaginative décor, no designer displays and no bevy of salesmen to smart talk you into burning megabucks. Still, this little shop in Sector 8-C, Chandigarh has the trappings to tempt even the most astute shopper. Wonder what’s so special about Export Hut? As the name suggests, exclusive export garments are available at this hub. Gap, Okaidi, Wilson, H &M, CK, Tommy and Tommy Tailor are available at the store. But the catch lies in the exorbitantly low prices. Explains owner Navin Singhal, “A branded jacket costing Rs. 2000 is sold by us for Rs. 200.And the product quality is the same. Before we raise eyebrows, he elaborates, “The branded stuff we stock is sourced directly from the exporters. These are actually the sampling pieces they have and sell us at the rate of peanuts.” No wonder, the stuff is sold here at prices to suit every pocket. And what stuff does the hut stock? Explains Aruna Singhal, the brain behind the store, “We’ve got branded jackets, sweat shirts, pants, capris and all kinds of daily-wear Western stuff.” Though the most variety is available in the kiddie stuff, this hut is frequented by many a collegiates. Big brands, loads of casual wear and value for money. After all, what more does a collegiate ask for?
|
|
|
MATKA CHOWK ONE chilly winter morning, just below my office building, on the dusty and congested footpath, appeared eight little puppies — all of them adorable and cuddly and very fresh entrants into this world. I stopped myself from picking them up and went home, very sad for I was sure that these beautiful creatures would be, as I have seen many times before, abused and tormented and left to starve. Out of the entire litter, maybe a few would survive. The more I mused over the matter, the more I became convinced of the impending doom that was to befall upon these helpless things. The next day, I looked for them on my way to work. I was half-expecting to see a few corpses. But, I saw not one — not even a half-dead one! I wondered about their disappearance and then heard some yelps emitting out of a packing box, well stacked with hay and other packing materials and canopied by a tirpal, for a light rain was falling. I walked up to the box and eight pairs of eager and healthy eyes greeted me. I walked up the flight of stairs to my office in a joyful mood. After a few days, I found them all over the footpath. There is a furniture store down there. They were popping out of packing boxes, sitting inside drawers of unfinished almirahs, sleeping on gunny covered sofas. There were all eight of them — apparently unharmed and well-fed. On consequent days, I found them cuddling up to workers in the store, enjoying a meal of Marie biscuit dipped in tea and licking off the last drops of Verka milk poured in badly chipped saucers. I was overjoyed and incredulous. This was definitely not something I was expecting! One evening, on my way back, I found a man engaged in polishing a beautiful piece of mahogany table. The puppies were climbing up his sleeve like it was their goalpost. I had to stop and ask him the inevitable, “Who takes care of these puppies?” Apparently, the furniture store folks and even all the other shopkeepers have pitched in to help these babies. They provided food and water, gave them shelter in the bitter cold and even put them indoors on nights when temperatures fell unkindly. I offered him some money for the puppies. He refused — he said, it would be much better for the puppies, if I donated milk from time to time. The puppies are growing up fast. They have claimed the footpath for themselves. They explore without trepidation and run about without the fear of an impending kick. Their first introduction to this world has been beatific. Will the world disappoint them when they grow up, I wonder? P.S. They are all gone now. Apparently, people took them all home as pets, they were so adorable looking. Happy endings may not be in vogue these days, but they are still the best.
|
|
|
PAMMY’S BEAUTY TIPS THE right shampoo and conditioner for the hair and the scalp is of extreme importance. Shampoo must be chosen carefully for varying hair types and conditions. Whether hair is natural or chemically treated, dry, oily, fine or coarse, there is a shampoo that will best address the needs of the hair type. The market offers thousands of shampoos promising to make hair manageable and full of bounce. Others profess to condition the scalp and hair. Put your thinking cap on, when shampoos promise too many benefits! With the growing industry of natural, preservative free, less harsh or animal testing free shampoos, options for more wholesome and nurturing products exist. It is a safe choice to use shampoos made from herbal and essential oils. The label indicating the ingredients on the label are listed in their decreasing order of prevalence. The basic detergent bases in shampoos that clean the hair are high in ph or alkaline which kills bacteria. High alkaline products strip the hairs of natural oils. In a shampoo, the ph only suggests the strength of the cleansing agent. The ideal ph level of hair and skin is usually about 4.5 to 5.5 on the ph scale. Baby shampoos are mild and contain germicidal or antiseptic characteristics and cause no irritation to the eye or skin. They are the mildest of the detergents and do not strip the natural oils from the scalp and hair. ph Shampoos: Low ph shampoos are designed for dry, brittle, damaged hair. They contain milder cleansing agents that do not strip all natural sebum. No matter what the product promises to do the normal ph of skin and hair is quickly restored after regular washing. Shampoos having a low ph does not mean that a product is nurturing to the hair. It is important to educate yourself on the different products that offer ph balance that can leave the hair and scalp dry and itchy because of the additives, preservatives and fragrances. Products that offer natural ingredients and essential fatty acids (oil) are beneficial for hair. Body must be fed with organic oils found in seeds, extract of vegetables and animal fat. The oils that have moisture retaining properties and are high in Vitamin F and minerals are rosemary, sage, evening primrose, cod liver, flaxseed and linseed oil. Protein, conditioning and moisturising: These shampoos do not remove the natural oils, they do not penetrate the hair shaft therefore are not thorough cleansers but remain the most gentle of all shampoos. Hydrolyzed proteins are added to address split ends, damaged cuticles and to increase elasticity. Most protein shampoos coat the cuticle and giving the hair more bulk of body. They do not rinse out thoroughly, leaving coating of film to put some moisture back into the hair. They are wonderful for people with damaged hair due to heavy chemical use, excessive blow drying and use of straightners. The additives in these shampoos fill in the gaps of the cuticle. So, next when you pick up a bottle of shampoo, pick the right one !
|
|
|
TECH TALK Remember those days when you would receive a long distance call from your cousin or aunt in the USA and your mother would warn all the while in the background by saying, “Be quick, it’s long distance!” That was a long time ago. Then came the Internet which changed the way people communicate across the globe. If you want to talk your heart out without worrying about the expenses, the Internet has something in store just for you! All you need to do is open your browser, grab a microphone, and get ready to make phone calls over the Internet! Phone Call over the Internet With a system called ‘VoIP’ (Voice Over Internet Protocol), you can now make calls over the Internet and talk for hours without worrying about the increasing phone bill! Although, free calling from one PC to another on the Internet has been around for quite some time, but now you can make calls to standard telephones for free or at extremely low prices. But it is only recently that this technology has become worthy of replacing the traditional telephones. There are some great softwares available now, such as Skype and Dialpad that offer great sound quality that even beats the good old landline telephone. How to get started To make a phone call over the Internet, you’ll need a microphone, speakers, a sound card and an Internet connection, (preferably a fast one), plus the right software. Broadly, there are two ways to make a phone call over the Internet — PC to PC and PC to phone. Most PC to PC calling softwares are totally free of cost. You can also make calls from your PC to a regular telephone. Like with PC to PC calling, you’ll need to download a software. You’ll need to sign up for the service and while the software is usually free you will be charged for the calls themselves. This means you’ll need to give your credit card details. To find out more, here are some good links: www.skype.com Skype is a Voice over IP (VoIP) telephone company that has made an enormous splash by offering free high quality PC to PC calling. The Skype software is available for free download and there are versions for Windows, Mac OS X, Linux and the Pocket PC. Skype also offers a service called ‘SkypeOut’, that allows you to make calls from your PC to an old-fashioned phone number, be it a landlines or a mobile phone, anywhere in the world. www.dialpad.com Dialpad Communications is another key player in the fast growing IP Telephony market. Dialpad offers two PC-to-Phone services, which includes pre-paid and subscription based services, plus a calling card. Download one of the above listed free softwares, register yourself, plug in your headset and start calling your friends now! —
Courtesy: Atul Gupta, CEO, Red Alkemi
|
|
|
—Malini Narayan,
Panchkula Well you are right, it is time you did get serious about your life as you are not getting younger everyday. So much for equality between men and women but we do have to realize that our body clocks are ticking and procreation for women does have a time limit. So it is about time you gave your situation a serious thought. You really don’t have twenty odd years of fertility ahead and remember men need to be pushed sometimes to take decisions. Sometimes social and religious pressures are required to make up our minds. Do try one of these with him. Ultimately we have to accept that we do have to take responsibility for the decisions are take and the way our lives evolve as a result. So, do not waste precious time. Just confront him with the issue and deal with it. I have been in love with my sister’s best friend for the last five years. We have never been out alone together but one day I did spell out my feelings for her in not so many words. She seemed rather taken aback and told me to brush off the issue completely. I have noticed that she has dated quite a few guys over the past five years who are totally different from me. I am now being offered a job in Dubai. Should I take it ? I feel I want to give her one more chance and perhaps ask her to marry me but I am too scared of a rebuff. Should I risk it
? —Nihal Singh, For God’s sake, grow up ! This is so very typical to have this hundred-yard love affair all in your own mind. It’s an emotional hallucination you are suffering from. Just because you see this girl hanging around your house very often you have built your own love story around, her. The rejection and reunion is perhaps happening only in your own imagination. I do admire your creative capacity but do put it to better use than just imaginary emotional activity of the heart. Each one of us has someone we can relate to and who relates to us. Love is far more than just finding each other attractive to look at. It is about mutual feelings, emotions and understanding. You must develop a rapport with the person and not just look at them and say- I love you. Risk dumping this issue, go wherever – just move on. I have just started going out with this really nice guy who seems to have everything that I’ve always wanted in a man. After a few hard knocks in life, as far as relationships are concerned, it seems to be a bit hard to handle. He wants to spend more time with me but since my divorce, trusting men has become a problem. I also have a little girl of three years but he is very warm and friendly with her also. I do want to spend more time with him but feel very skeptical about how this relationship will turn out. I am afraid of my own feelings, in case I get too attached to him and he doesn’t respond in the same manner. Although he is already so caring— almost like a dream come true, should I allow the relationship to grow ? —Minty Reheja, Nice guys are hard to come by, so just hang on. That’s the phase we all grow up on but why must it be so – after all for an equal amount of nice women . God has definitely cultured an equal amount of great guys too – so do give him a chance. It’s just that having a nice man in your life after a bad experience is just a bit hard to handle for a while. We are so programmed to deal with pain and negativity that when someone nice does come into our lives who doesn’t treat us badly or is actually kind and loving, it just becomes hard to accept. We always keep our defenses up and seem to wonder now what is the catch behind this one. Just be brave enough to believe that someone in the world likes you because you are just the way you are. If you are sure of yourself deep within, he will definitely get the vibes and be true.
|
|
|
BOOK CORNER
BLINK is all about the special moments when we ‘know’ something without really knowing why and how. This is one of the most powerful abilities we possess. A snap judgement made very quickly, Malcolm Gladwell reveals, can actually be far more effective than one made deliberately and cautiously. By blocking out what’s irrelevant and focusing on narrow slices of experience, we can read a seemingly complex situation in the blink of an eye and discover a radically new way of understanding the world. Published by Penguin Books Iran Today The book is based on the proceedings of a conference held at the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi in 2004. Twenty-five years after the Iranian Revolution of 1979, demography, education and urbanisation have become the agents of change. One generation has power while the other has demands. The purpose of the Observer Research Foundation’s conference was to explore the evolving perceptions and to ascertain the direction and pace of change. Same Soul, Many Bodies In his brilliant long-awaited new book, Dr Brian Weiss reveals how our future lives can transform us in the present. We have all lived past lives. All of us will live future ones. What we do in this life will influence our lives to come as we evolve towards immortality. In this book, the best selling author of Many Lives, Many Masters has not only regressed his patients into the past but also progressed them into the future. Published by Piatkus Books Ltd India 2006 India 2006, the 50th in the India series, encapsulates the nation’s rapid strides in various fields in the year gone by. The reference annual compiles updated information about India’s economy, polity, scientific achievements, basic infrastructure and culture obtained from various central ministries, states, union territories and important organisations. Published by Publications Division, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India Guiding Soul Structured as dialogues between Dr A.P. J. Abdul Kalam and Prof Arun K. Tiwari, his friend and co-author of ‘Wings of Fire’, this book outlines a spiritual approach to life. Appealing to the innocent creativity of youth, the book rejects both extremes—hype and hoop-la of globalisation, and the pessimism of seeing the world as a theatre of conflict and describes the ultimate goal and mission of humanity as constituting the task of helping evolution on planet Earth. The Patiala Quartet In this fascinating first novel, Neel Kamal Puri crafts a heartbreaking tale of people for whom life is often a dead end. Brimming with an array of memorable cameos, The Patiala Quartet is a loving and often hilarious look at growing up: the pain, the heartaches, the choices we make, and how they make for the difference between survival and death, between holding on and letting go. Published by Penguin Books — Courtesy: English Book Shop, Sector 17
|
|
|
FILM REVIEW Mere Jeevan Saathi
SURAJ Parkash’s “Mere Jeevan Saathi” (Nirman and Fun Republic) is a love triangle. The film borrows heavily from earlier romantic love triangles. Director Suneel Darshan comes up with yet another film with his favourite star Akshay Kumar. The film also has Amisha Patel and Karishma Kapoor. The film has some beautiful songs composed by Nadeem-Sharavan. But still it fails to impress the audience. The storyline is same—two lovers and ‘woh’. Hindi films have been in the copying game for long. This one is also inspired by earlier Hindi films. Akshay Kumar no doubt adds a feather to his mass appeal. Amisha has got nothing much to do and hence fails to make an impact. Karishma Kapoor does justice to her first negative role. Aksar Yet another sex thriller hit the theatres Piccadily, Fun Republic and Suraj Panchkula this week. After ‘Jawani Diwani, serial kisser Emraan Hashmi’s next release is ‘Aksar’, directed by Anant Mahadevan whose earlier film include ‘Dil Vil Pyar Vyar’ and ‘Dil Maange More’. The film has Udita Goswami as the female lead, the sexy model turned actress. If the viewers are expecting something worthwhile from ‘Aksar’ they are highly mistaken. Don’t get fooled by the hot promos. The film is a disappointment. Emraan Hashmi is slowly becoming synonymous with sex. In this film too, he gets to do intense lip locking scenes. Dino Morea desperately tries to act but his facial expressions go for a ride. If the film scores at any level, it is the music. Himesh Rashammiya’s music comes as a breather of sorts in this otherwise lifeless film. — D. P.
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
I
am a thirty-six-year-old woman and have been going out with this guy for the last five years. My problem is that he has a traveling job and is out very often. He spends long periods abroad. He has not bought a house of his own and just shares an apartment with a colleague. I feel very insecure that even after we are married, perhaps we will continue to have this bohemian life. As I have always lived in my own house, I find this situation very hard to cope with. I like him very much and we have a lot of fun together. Whenever I talk to him about the situation, he asks me to be patient. I don’t want to leave him but I do want to get married and have kids with a more secure future. I am confused. What should I do?
Blink
Published by Rupa & Co
