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Writing on the blackboard We’ve all spent endless hours chit-chatting about them. Everything from their dressing sense, passions and personalities to their lil’ idiosyncrasies and accents has been the butt of our discussions (even jokes). Their sermonising styles have been ripped to shreds over steaming cuppas and samosa-sessions in the college canteen. Yet, teachers occupy the most-endearing slot in our memory-banks. And like all good things in life, teachers come in different packages. Some nothing short of whip-lashing Hitlers (though the breed is almost on the verge of extinction), others philosophers (who love to pontificate on everything from Socrates to street-marches), some fascinated with dictating lessons (for your’s truly to note it all down!) and yet others, who are simply lovable. The breed that helps you step out of the eclipse zone into the sunrays, lighten you up by laughing at themselves, pat you on your back and make you feel special. The doors of their hearts are always left ajar for their student brigade and being with them is like being with different people all at once — friend, counsellor, philanthropist, nag, crush, teacher…
The b’day alarm
Who’s this: Vaishali Aggarwal, Bhawan Vidyalaya. USP: The special ‘encouragement notes’ that she writes to us, telling us what qualities make us special. The 120% effort she puts into each of her lectures. And, how can we forget the yum South Indian she cooks for us? We love her for: Always remembering our birthdays, turning up at our family functions—- puja’s, weddings and business inaugurations. Even fasting for us if we are undergoing tough times. Copycats feel inspired by: Her huge collection of books, unbeatable communication skills, confidence and tongue-in-cheek comments. To ma’am with
love: “Ma’am, you are the ‘world’s best teacher.’ You transform average students to achievers!”
Watch her!
Who’s this: Mohanmeet Khosla, Department of Mass Communications, PU. Where to spot her:
In her cabin— brainstorming for making her lectures interesting, reading and surfing the net. And yes, we can also catch hold of her at Mont Blanc, thanks to her penchant for fountain pens! USP:
The effort she puts into her lectures. We love her for: Her unbiased opinion, organised teaching, no-jewellery appearance and conviction to do her own thing. Copycats feel inspired by:
Her simple and elegant dresses and designer watches! To ma’am with love: “you’ve wooed frontbenchers with your well-prepared notes. The backbenchers would love to hear some more of the personal experiences you recite.”
Mitr, my friend
Who’s this: Akshat Mehta, Centre for Emerging Areas in Social Sciences, PU. USP:
The way he shakes hands with his male students, greeting them like long lost-and-found pals! We love him for: His interactive lectures, informal debates and helping us prepare files with newspaper clippings. Also, his ears ‘not-turning-pink’ when we ask him about his GF’s! Copycats feel inspired by: Something about the way he smiles… To sir with love: “You’re a great buddy and teacher, but it would be nice if you wouldn’t stretch the lectures that long.”
Energy unlimited
Who’s this: Rana Nayar, Department of English, PU. Where to spot him:
Lecture halls (he’s a perpetual fixture here, thanks to his habit of teaching an extra 15-20 minutes post every lecture). USP: Animated, full-throated lectures. We love him for: Being an out and out guy with a ready laugh, pushing up our motivation levels, listening to us post lectures, counselling us for free (and even playing an excellent host if we happen to drop by at his place), accompanying us on outings and laughing with us and not at us! Copycats feel inspired by: His energetic gestures, especially how he curls his fingers to quote someone. His stock and trade inverted commas are the trademark of his students. To sir with love: “Sir, you get so engrossed in teaching drama that you start enacting it!”
Get Practical
Who’s this: Gunmala Suri, UBS, PU. USP: Her trademark self-assessment performas she gives her students at the session’s end. They are required to rate her as a teacher. We love her for: Her leniency, high tolerance quotient, interactive lectures, innovative teaching and making learning a practical exercise. Copycats feel inspired by: She’s down-to-earth and in tune with herself. To ma’am with love: “We’ve heard you’re strict with your kids. Please be as sweet with them as you are with us.” Come on, dance with me
Who’s this: Anjali S. Aggarwal, Government College of Art-10. USP:
Cracking jokes and sharing sms and interesting experiences with students. We love her for: Her down-to-earth manner and positive vibes. She has dumped lecturebazi for fun-filled, interactive sessions. Copycats feel inspired by: The way this classical dancer shakes a leg with her students. To ma’am with love: “You always simplify things and teach us by coming to our level. |
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I’m an Indian singer, composer, mentor, and above all an Indian, that’s Steven Kapur aka Apache Indian for you. On his first visit to the city, the singer with his roots in Jalandhar says his music is a reflection of him. Oft called the king of Bhangramuffin, the artiste touched the chords of the Punjabis with Chokthere in the 90s. He says, “My first album was a blend of all that I, as an Indian, absorbed in the UK.” He performed at Score-8 on Saturday evening. Music for him is more than swaying to happy beats — it has to carry a message. And, that’s where perhaps he gets to live his childhood ambition of being a teacher. All his tracks come packed with a message, be it harsh or soft, “My music reflects reality.” Being the first generation of Indians that moved to Birmingham in the 60s, he feels he has the responsibility to reflect the pain, confusion and truth of an individual seeking his lost cultural identity in a foreign land. He says, “Come to UK and you will that racism is still rampant.” On Shilpa Shetty, racism and Big Brother, he sighs, “Racism is not a trivial issue. Anybody who has actually not seen it cannot comment on it.” Apache loves to perform with a live band, and performed in 26 countries last year. He has also been performing with Indian artists like Asha Bhonsle, A.R. Rehman and the most recent Dil Lutiya with Jaazy B. His songs were also a part of eight Hollywood movies. With a career spanning over 18 years, the artiste says he is now on his way to seek the spiritual truth and connect with his roots. And, perhaps his latest album, Sadhu-the Movement released in January this year, sums up just that. Though, he says his locks — jattawan, as he calls them — don’t have much to do with it. The present reigning music disheartens him and he hopes to see a fresh bunch of youngsters create music that is beyond mere remixes. On his future plans, he says he would like to be more in India and re-launch the Apache Indian foundation, a charitable organisation he started in 1993. Also in the pipeline is a reggae number for Bollywood flick Race, starring Saif Ali Khan. Having toured the world four times, released 18 albums and more, the artiste who has enthralled audience all over the globe says he likes being known as an Indian first, then an Asian or international artiste.
purva@tribunemail.com |
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You've got mail Are you undergoing stress?’ the question inevitably pops up whenever you visit your doctor, be it for a minor flu or a heart condition or a renal problem. And after reading so much on mental stress and its ill effects, we have learnt to accept the question gracefully. But, how will you react if your doctor asks, ’How many e-mails do you read in a day?’ Bewildered? Well, get prepared for this question could soon be a part of your doctor’s diagnostic procedure. Yes, according to research findings, office workers now have a new kind of woe to contend with — e-mail stress. The study carried out by Karen
Renaud, a computer scientist from Glasgow University and Judith Ramsey, a psychologist from Paisley University, London, have found that struggling to cope with a deluge of e-mails is leaving staff tired, frustrated and unproductive. How relevant is the study to our city’s hotshots? Are they already reeling under e-pressure? Yes and No. For our corporates and other busy buddies know how to streamline the situation to their advantage. Take for instance Arshad Khan, a young municipal councillor who receives 65 to 75 e-mails everyday, including quite a few hate mails. “It is a tedious job to go through all those unsolicited mails. So recently a friend of mind got a firewall constructed around my id to filter mails. Even though the firewall repels all the unwanted ones, I take caution while opening them. So I screen them by contents first,” he adds. Well, Arshad does admit that he sometimes stands the risk of losing important mails due to the firewall, but then you win some you lose some. Ashish
Bhatia, chief operating officer, Fortis-Mohali, takes the e-mail stress with a pinch of salt. “When the e-mail offers so much convenience, one has to ignore the negative side, which can be kept within limit if one is a little smart,” says
Bhatia. Bhatia communicates to all his subordinates through e-mail. His office does have a person to screen the mail before it reaches him “I receive about 100 mails daily and yes, at times I do feel pressurised when I see my inbox full.” And what about those humourous forwards that circulate among friends? “I do sometimes forward a joke or two. If you limit yourself to a selected few, you do not get too many of them,” he says. Anil
Malhotra, general manager, Taj-17, receives as many as 250 to 300 mails everyday but he keep up with it by checking his mail twice a day. “I take about two hours in a day to clear them all. First, I sort them out by content and then answer the important ones in the morning slot and the rest in the afternoon.” And what about forwarding jokes? “Not really.” Well, e-mail for them is not a matter of joke, but it is not something to get hassled about, either. Looks like our doctors will have to wait for a while to add the word ‘e-stress’ in their vocabulary.
parbina@tribunemail.com |
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Raghav Sharma always thought he was being “spammed”. For, junk mails kept popping up in his e-mail inbox. And, no matter how hard he tried, this young business executive with a multinational information technology firm could not delete them from the folder of his mind even after chain spiking them. Oh yes, he tried reporting them as spam by going to that option in his e-mail account. But nothing really worked. And, just when he was so sure the stuff was getting on to his nerves and adding to his stress levels, Raghav inadvertently double clicked a new revelation. “In the process of emptying the junk mail folder, I accidentally clicked open a
spam,” says Raghav. “And it changed my entire perception. As the news contained in it simply filled by life with a new hope, I realised all spam is not useless.” Raghav says his mother had just recently suffered a stroke. Though he had been asking the doctors at the local hospital all about strokes, he never really thought of logging on to wisdom and carrying out a Google search. “Well, the spam told me that strokes occur when blood flow to the brain is interrupted, causing cell death and potential loss of functions controlled by that part of the brain,” he asserts. “This is not all. It told me so much more about the latest research in the field and the line of treatment to be followed.” Confident and wiser, Raghav suddenly found himself in a better position to understand and discuss his mother’s malady with medical experts and is “not so much in dark” about the cure. “Now, I actually know she is being provided with the best possible treatment,” he says. Ask Deepak Malhotra, and the young engineering student cannot help but agree with Raghav about the value of spam. Just when he was tired of scratching his head with exhausted fingers thinking of the course he should opt for, he received a spam on the usefulness of aeronautical engineering. “After going through it, my mind cleared and I decided to land myself in the field of aeronautical engineering, instead of simply going in for information technology,” he affirms. “And, I am pretty satisfied with the way things are moving.” So, think before you spike a spam as useless. It may contain information that can open a new document of excitement or information in your life.
— S. M. |
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Riding high on imagination Riding high on adventure spirit, non-resident Indian Balbir Singh Hunjan is vrooming all the way towards ex-Beatle John Lenon’s utopia where people live in peace; there are no countries; and nothing to kill or die for.
And, in the course of his around-the-world-on-a-bike journey with his Chez-born girlfriend Martina Pernova, Canada-based Hunjan has just arrived in the city after covering 27,000 km, and 37 countries. Stirred into motion by Lenon’s soul-moving number Imagine, they embarked upon the journey from Beatle’s hometown Liverpool on May 14. And, they now plan to travel across the northern and eastern parts of India all the way to Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan. From there, the two plan to ship their Harley Davidson back to Canada before relaxing in Hunjan’s native town Kartarpur for almost three weeks. “Sometime around October 10 we plan to return to our routine,” says Hunjan. As fresh as ever even after travelling for almost three months, he says, “We wanted to cover the whole of India after reaching the country via Russia, China and Pakistan. But, on the Indo-Pak border our bike was seized by the authorities, resulting in wastage of good 10 to 12 days. As such, we are leaving South India out of our trip this time.” It all started with Lenon’s call to ‘join us’ so that the “world will be as one”. “You may find it incredible, but we simply decided to christen our trip `Imagine’, hop on the bike and ride all the way to translating his song into reality”. For the two in shining helmets and thick waterproof jackets, emphasis is on travel, than on arrival. Oh yes, their plans are definite. But, they are doing more than just keeping up with the schedule. At some places, the road is a breeze. But then you have the rain pelting down and gales tearing at you, forcing you to ride on through high-velocity winds, slush and even road diversions. “In the end, it’s your stamina, which has to outlast the journey,” says Hunjan. “And, we are fully geared up for it.” Let’s hope they have a tediously relaxing journey.
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Lots of rhythm, lots of reason THE instrument that earned him the title of ‘Rhythm King’ still moves him, though his priorities have changed over the years. Yes, he is Santosh Kataria, composer, music director, but most of all a dholak player! Now, his recording studio in Sector 35, boasts of all hi-tech musical instrument, but the dholak that once he designed and dressed to suit the modern taste buds, still find its place. “Foreigners took our sitar and gave us guitar, they took our dholak and gave us drums and congos,” he says. So what is he doing as a music director and a composer to bring his favourite instrument back? “No song is complete without the beats of the dholak. Only dholaks can impart true melody and the ‘feel’ to a song,” he adds. So while keeping up with the popular demand of fusion music, though I am also into mixing, I prefer to put dholak on a higher platform. And this is what he has been doing composing for Punjabi films like Rustam-e-Hind, Gabru Desh Punjab De, Siyasat, Punjab and Majajan among others. Kataria does not enjoy a musical lineage, but he did everything possible to realise his dream — starting from extensive training on dholak from Shakaur Ali Khan of Bikaner Gharana and later tabla from Ustad Kale Ram and western instruments from Suresh Sahni. “Now I am training young boys, showing them how to use a dholak to increase the flow and grip of the bol in sync with rhythm,” he says. He has already trained more than a hundred students. So a person, who claims to have revolutionised dholak in the region, what does he suggest for bringing it back to its former glory? “Dholak is an integral part of our tradition, and it will be always there — be it for social customs or modern songs. But the administration has to play an important role to keep up this tradition afloat among the younger lot by first of all introducing it in the curriculum, both at school and college level and also organise more musical concerts along the lines of Taal Kacherhri where musicians are encouraged to create new rhythms using all folk instruments,” he adds. And looking at him, moving his deft fingers on his favourite instrument and creating rhythm effortlessly, one can say, here everything rhymes with a reason! |
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First Day First Show Move over Buddha Mar Gaya, Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag is here. Just when we thought the former would take the cake when it comes to selecting the worst film of the year, “Ram Gopal... pips it to the post. We have to admit it upfront....Aag” left us cold. How can fire leave anyone cold? It certainly can. When Gabbar becomes Babban, Veeru becomes Hero, Jai turns Raj, Basanti gives way to Ghungroo and her tonga is transformed into an autorickshaw. Ram Gopal Varma is spitting fire. Only a director who has gone berserk can set the Sholay of Ramesh Sippy in an urban milieu and have the audacity to call the part-nautanki, part-film, a tribute to the classic. No sir, it is a spoof on the Sippy masterpiece and the more you see it, the worse you feel. Horror of horrors, it even boasts of a truncated plotline. Inspector Narsimhan (Mohan Lal) hires two friends, Hero (Ajay Devgan), and Raj (Prashant Raj), to vanquish Babban (Amitabh Bachchan), a notorious gangster, who has killed several members of his family and slashed his fingers. Aiding the trio in “Mission Babban” is autorickshaw driver Ghungroo (Nisha Kothari). But more than the plotline, it is the choice of actors that is amazing. Mohanlal has difficulty in delivering his dialogues in Hindi. His attempts to reprise the role once played by the late Sanjeev Kumar are pathetic. Why he and Amitabh agreed to be part of the film is a mystery. Talking of Bachchan, his constant refrain is “America, CIA and Al-Qaida”. By essaying the role of Babban, Amitabh shows absolute disrespect to the memory of his great friend and co-star Ajamd Khan whose dacoit character Gabbar Singh was larger than life. Ajay Devgan is no patch on Dharmendra. However, newcomer Prashant Raj has the potential of being a consummate actor. Varma recently told an interviewer that the orginal Sholay actors wanted to kill him for making the movie. At least, Jaya Bachchan and Hema Malini would definitely want to kill him for making a mockery of their memorable roles by casting a wooden Nisha Kothari and a dumb Sushmita Sen as Ghungroo and Devi respectively. Nisha must be the most bathed heroine this side of the continent given her rain sequences. An eminently forgettable experience. Showing at:
Kiran, Neelam, |
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Yawning glory
Though a notch better than Buddha Mar Gaya, their ribaldry evokes yawns. Debutant Sonia Vinod Mehra, daughter of the late actor Vinod Mehra, is a big disappointment. She drapes herself in Bombay Dyeing towels at every available opportunity and tries to seduce the villain, Kamal Sadanaa. In fact, Preeti Jhangiani looks and acts better than Sonia. Jimmy Shergil can’t decide whether he should act like an ACP in search of diamonds and the criminals or a disco dancer. The only saving grace of the remake is Javed Jaffrey who makes the proceedings lively with his ready wit and humour. Don’t spoil your weekend with this assortment of gags. Showing at: Fun Republic |
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Of trust & betrayal
In Dhokha, writer Mahesh Bhatt brings the savagely rampant cult of terrorism into the precincts of the middleclass household. The portrait of a derelict soul looking for his lost domestic utopia in the rubble of a nasty bomb explosion, is stark real, dark and poignant. You can’t miss the urgent and brutal honesty of Bhatt’s writing skills.
Pooja Bhatt directs the stark story with a keen sense of historicity. Presume for a minute that the woman who shares your life has a secret identity. Could the man or woman you trust with your life be planting bombs in her head? More than anything else, Dhokha is a pungent and powerful product of our troubled times, told with a spirited and sustained energy.
At the centre of the excruciating jigsaw of trust and betrayal is the debutant Muzamil Ibrahim, who he exudes an aura of confident tragedy that belies his rawness as an actor. And if you’re tired of seeing Anupam Kher doing comedy, here’s the actor getting back to his roots, putting in a powerhouse performance as a bereaved father battling ostracism. It is a film that persuades you ‘not-so-gently’ to think about the quality of lives that we live and a social order that thinks terrorism happens only to others. —IANS Showing at: Fun Republic |
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Write to Renee
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My girlfriend and I want to get married but my parents feel I need to settle down in my career first. I am 24 years old and she is 26. She works as a mediaperson for a TV channel. I have just finished my studies and looking for a job. I feel insecure that she might find someone else. How do I convince my parents? Navchetan Vasudev, Mohali I don’t want to discourage you, but I do feel your parents are right. You should have a steady income if you want to support a wife. And hey, what is this about being insecure? If she loves you such thoughts should not even be entering your mind. Relationships are about understanding and trust. I am sure she can wait for a while if she cares for you enough. Look for a good job. Most people at your age rush into things and regret later. So just take it easy. *
I am a 19-year-old-girl from Delhi and have come here to study. I find the atmosphere quite different here. Even my friends do not accept the way I dress and I am being criticised for this. I have my own style of dressing but now it does make me feel out of place. What should I do? Ruchi Sharma Life is all about striking a balance — be it a relationship or even with your own self. Well, in today’s fast-paced world, the time is right to celebrate the independent spirit of a woman, who has the confidence to spurn passing fads for something that reflects her own attitude. Dressing up is more than just a trend, it is the outward expression of a way of being. And if you have the courage within you why not just show it? Life is about celebrating yourself, so just go ahead and live it your way. Your friends will accept you once they know the real you. But remember, dressing for college requires certain amount of appropriateness. But when you party you can wear what you want. *
I am married woman, in my early 30’s and have two children. My husband and I agreed on the open marriage concept. I am in a relationship with this younger guy for the past three years. My husband’s life is his own. I am not supposed to question it. Recently, I found out my friend is cheating on me. When I questioned him about it he denied. Now I find it hard to believe anything he says. I am unhappy and do not know how to deal with it. Ravita Sharma You are responsible for your mess. It’s a wonder you could have ever been happy in such a situation. You seem to be rather naive about relationships. If you think living a life of duplicity and convincing yourself that you are happy in it, is really not a healthy way of living. Ask yourself why are you dealing with two equally unhealthy relationships. You seem to have no commitment from either of the men in your life. You seem to have a power problem. Remember love is not about controlling someone, it is about allowing them freedom and space. Make yourself steady enough within you to be able to handle a good strong relationship. This alone can give you happiness. |
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Power dressing
WHAT pleases the eye pleases the mind. And the work place being the battlefield that it is, one has to gain an edge over others, by not only working smart but also dressing smart. C’mon, a complement or two will only do well to your USP. And office wear, after all, is a statement about your work, formal or informal, and an expression of personal panache. So, dress smart, eloquent and elegant. Need options and stylising? Read on Find your body-type in the list and get counselled by fashion stylist Varsha Khanna on dressing right. Suggests Khanna, “It’s important to feel comfortable in what you wear to work as a lot of time is spent here. Understand the job profile as well. Say, a receptionist has to look attractive and a manager needs to look formal.” That’s you: You are plump to heavy waist upwards. The fat is spread from shoulders to midriff. Below the waist you are slim. Stylist-speak: It is a beautiful body. Wear loose shirts or t-shirts with ‘V’ necks in darker colours, as they will make you look smaller. Team them up with a straight fit trousers or skirt in any colour. If you have a long neck, wear a scarf for a formal look. Bulging midriff That’s you: The bulge is concentrated around your waist. There are no problems with the shoulders or bottom. Stylist-speak: Avoid body-hugging clothes, that make the paunch obvious. Prefer black or any other dark colour as it conceals everything. Go for loose but definite cuts in stripes. If you want to wear kurtis, don’t pick very long ones. Tunics also give you a slimmer look. Portly rear, thunder thighs That’s you: Your problem is a heavy thighs and butt. But we do have a solution! Stylist-speak: Pick darker shades of trousers or skirts. Always go for a straight fit instead of belle bottoms. Flowing skirts, abstract prints, chiffons and georgettes can do the trick. Broad shoulders That’s you: Simply put, you are wider than the rest when speaking about this aspect. Stylist Speak: Experiment with trousers and skirts. In shirts or tops, go for a variety of colours but minimise on halters and sleeveless. Magyar sleeves are the order of the day for you. Overall heavy That’s you: You are proportionate all over, but with that extra flab all around you. No particular problem area. Stylist-speak: Avoid wearing flowing materials as they make you look big. Choose darker shades, fitted trousers, loose shirts or tops with ‘V’ necks but should have definite tapered cuts. No high necks or body-hugging clothes. Keep these points in mind and discover a more stylish and confident ‘official’ you.
lifestyletribune@gmail.com |
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Sur hai na
taal hai MAIN
to raste se ja raha tha, main tu bhel puri kha raha tha, tujhe mirchi lagi
tu main kya karun, teri nani mari to main kya karu was perhaps a bad
number at its best. A trendsetter for tasteless and pointless music, did
the composers ever hear their masterpiece? Nothing short of an
advertisement for the next-door halwai followed in Jab tak rahega samose
mein aalu, tera rahonga main meri shalu. The only thing, perhaps, missing
in this number was the tomato ketchup! Unfortunately, hollow numbers like
these top the charts, are played endlessly on radios, TV and in discs and
to add it, are even remixed. Whatever be the degree of absurdity, these numbers make sure they remain etched in our minds. It is quite an art to create such a number — horrible lyrics, no sense of sur and taal, an inimitable voice, the ideal inspiration and more. Run through a list of bad numbers and see if you can capture their senseless essence. Let everyday events inspire you. Start with your morning cuppa, say Ek garam chai ki pyali ho, koi usko pilane wali ho. And, if you are having an egg for breakfast, pen down the Ande ka funda number. Forget rhyming, similes, metaphors, and rhythm. Just sing aloud sentences, minus punctuations. For inspiration, listen to Ae Ganpat chal daru la, notice how meticulously the entire drinking session is described. Or Devang Patel’s (the copycat guy who shook, rather shocked, the nation with his bizarre creativity) Main kuch nahin karta hoon, mere saath sab ho jata hai, log mujhse kehte hain ke tu kya karta hai... Lending a musical touch to personal events is a trend. Involve your friends , like Mika sang with Meet Brothers in Ae bhai tune pappi kyon li, Saari duniya chhod ke tujhe bas yehi mili. If this doesn’t work and nobody appreciates you, then create a number in self-praise. Listen to the latest, Silky’s Sense of desire — I can be a softy or total Tarzan—- for a clue. A few words or self-created phrases in English will add the right touch. Don’t worry over whether it gels with the rest of the lyrics or this is the first time you are ever speaking the language. Reshammiya’s Love you unconditionally and I love you for what you are and Mika’s Something something meri jaan, kar le pyar ki batein chaar, fall in this category. Mumble mindlessly. The longer the listeners take to make sense of what you are muttering, the longer you are on the charts. Last word. Listen to Anu Malik, Reshammiya or Devang Patel for inspiration. And, make sure not to use your brain at all. So, get going if you think you can do a better, oops a worst job than this.
purva@tribunemail.com |
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Little Interview
Ram Gopal Varma’s current favourite protégé Nisha Kothari is in the news again. She is Ramu’s modern Basanti in the film. She plays Ghungroo — Basanti’s modern avatar. She is also a part of RGV’s Darling. She has the sizzle and the oomph quotient right. Here is what the Ram Gopal Varma discovery has to say about the Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag. *
Your look is different in RGV Ki Aag. Yes, I have a very different look, thanks to Ramuji. He has always been known to create magic with his heroines. *
Did you work with big stars before RGV Ki Aag? No, I did not work with big stars before. When I signed the film, I felt happy. It was a great opportunity to work with stars like Big B. *
Tell us about your character. My character is something similar to ‘Basanti’. Yet you can’t compare her with Basanti as Ghungroo is completely different. *
What made you take up this project? I had faith in RGV that he would make a good film because his cinematic sensibilities are absolutely in place. I was also convinced about my character. *
How were your co-stars? Ajay Devgan is very professional. Sushmita Sen and Prashant Raj made me feel comfortable on the sets. *
How would you rate yourself as an actor? This is for the audience to say. I am satisfied with my performance. *
What are things you look for before signing a film? The role of course. It had to be the central character in the film. As for RGV Ki Aag, I was sure that Ramuji would make a good film. *
Your upcoming projects? Some projects are in the pipeline.
— Dharam Pal |
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Matka
chowk SOME
of the things about our city folks drive me insane. One is their utter disregard for ‘turns.’ Taking designated turns is something we don’t care much about. Waiting in a queue and taking turns to talk or renew library books or see the doctor seems as futile to them as feeding chocolates to a cow! Before I chose ‘let live’ as my new mantra, there were times when I had felt like strangling the offender in the most vicious manner possible. Now, faced with the pervasiveness of this malady in our city, I have chosen resignation as a better option. I was at the Nokia store the other day, trying to look for a new handset. After waiting for a good fifteen minutes I got to talk to a store clerk, who started to explain to me the features of the phone I liked. While we were deep in conversation, a copular fellow with a beaming face, breezed in and started to ask the clerk questions about the handsets. Assuming that he had some quick questions – I kept calm and waited for him to leave. He now, decided to delve into a full-fledged query and the store clerk decided to now turn his attention towards this man and answer his lengthy questions. I stood there like an invisible ‘has-been.’ I could have given both of them an earful. Instead, I decided to buy a Motorola phone. The doctor’s office is not a likely place you would see this, but in Chandigarh, no place is sacrosanct. While I was being examined by my doctor, a young man dressed as a lawyer swung into the chamber. When he was told that a patient examination was in progress, he said Koi nahi, mujhe sirf ek quick question poochna hai. With that he brazenly went into the elaborate history of one of his relatives and could not be halted, till my very gentle and most dignified doctor evicted him in the most polite manner he could painfully muster. What is with these people? You might be giving your measurement at the tailor’s and standing with your arms spread out at a rather odd angle - here comes a lady charging at the tailor with questions about brocade or lacework. Try going to a busy travel agency and get your tickets done. It is quite incredible that you do receive a ticket for Mumbai and not for Mauritius or Maryland – judging by the number of interruptions the agent you are speaking to juggles! Sometimes, I am tempted to pinch myself to make sure I am not invisible! I am not enjoying being the odd woman out. |
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WEEK AHEAD Photoshop: Students of St John’s photography club is organising its fourth annual photography exhibition. As many as 35 students and two teachers will showcase their talent. Date: September 5 to 8 Venue: Govt. Museum and Art Gallery, Sector 10 Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Performing Art Playful: Mohali-based Roopak Kala and Welfare Society will present a Punjabi play Is There Any Exit: Dastaane Bhagat Singh. It is directed by Sangeeta Gupta. Date: September 2 Venue: Tagore Theatre, Sector 18 Time: 7.30 pm Talk Brush with spirituality: The First Friday Forum is organising a talk on the ‘Humbug About Spirituality’ by Dr S. R. Sharda, convener, Forum for the Integration of Science and Spirituality. Date: September 7 Venue: Havell’s India Ltd, Sector 26 Time: 5 p.m.
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Where to spot her: The school auditorium’s her Mecca — she’s been behind everything from debates and declamations to seminars, workshops and career councilling.
Where to spot him:
Library at the Dept of Public Administration and the UBS hut —- hogging bread rolls.
Where to spot her: Verka, FT Park, Industrial Area… she’s always on the move, taking her students on industrial visits.
Where to spot her: Having tea in the Art College canteen, chatting with students on the lush campus lawns.
IF Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag left you cold, Victoria No 203 makes you furious. If Aag bubbles over with mindless violence, logic is lost in a blizzard of clownish antics of Om Puri and Anupam Kher once Victoria... gets underway. Doing the roles of Ashok Kumar and Pran in the 1972 hit, Kher and Puri who are in search of diamonds hidden in a horse carriage are an epitome of buffoonery. 
NOT every potential terrorist belongs to one particular community. The man who violates your privacy and right to expression, or the woman who uses the educational institution to propagate prostitution, are the true terrorists of our society. Terrorism is a religion of its own.