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FATTY issue
Well, it’s not possible to stay away from sweets when Diwali is around, but the key lies in moderate eating. “Indulge in sweets but be sensible in choosing. Prefer dry fruits over sweets whenever you can,” says Madhu Sharma, dietician, PGI. Since sweets are prepared in bulk and there is every chance of them being adulterated, why not try making some, like besan, at home? At least one is sure of the quality. If one is attending functions for some days in a row, it’s again advisable to use your discretion. “Nowadays there is plenty to choose from. Head for the fruit stall before you grab the plate for dinner. Prefer snacks that are not fried. And if you are really motivated to watch your weight, eat at home before you go for the function. That will save you from overeating,” says Sharma. Winter also ushers in piping hot paranthas and makki ki roti and one needs to be really careful. “Choose your filling carefully. Cauliflower and cabbage actually helps in reducing weight if they are not overcooked because they have lots of water content, which increase your body metabolism rate,” says Dr Swapna from JP Hospital, Zirakpur. “Have them raw in salads rather than cooked,” she adds. “Another tip that can really help you maintain weight is to increase your liquid intake. Green tea is one good option or alternatively you can go for warm water with lemon and honey. Chach in a ratio of 1:4 (yogurt and water) will give a feeling of being full and help you avoid overeating,” she adds. Festival season also keeps you busy with social commitments. “This is the time when people start missing out on the gym as well. If you are really conscious about weight go that extra mile to keep your date with the gym. Also, don’t overindulge in food,” says Jasbir Kaur, proprietor, Oceanic. And then if you are not really a gym person, just a few changes in your routine, like walking to the nearby market, taking stairs in office or dusting your home for 15 minutes in a day, can do the trick! mona@tribunemail.com Weight watch l
Reduce portion size of meals l
Go for light dinners l Have plenty of water, green tea and chach l
Exercise regularly l Prefer salad, fruit chat, vegetables over rice or fried snacks l
Use besan or soy flour than regular flour Festive glow
For a glowing skin, it’s important that you start your day right. “A warm glass of water, followed by any seasonal fruit before your cup of tea gives a lot of shine to your skin,” says Betty Nangia, naturopath consultant from the city. “The other sure method is to exfoliate your skin early in the morning. You can choose ingredients from your kitchen — oat powder, mashed papaya, honey, milk powder or sandal powder,” she adds. In addition, citrus fruits like kinoo, mausami, nimboo or amla help boost the metabolic rate, which not only helps burn calories but also adds glow to your skin. |
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Even as the banner of Mad Arts Animation School went up at the Sector 17 piazza, people from different age groups started gathering. Spirited young actors further pulled the crowd with the sound of dhol. And just like everything else, Munni became a part of promoting a worthy cause — spreading awareness about breast cancer. An effort by Chandigarh Breast Cancer Trust (CBCT), Kahin Der Na Ho Jaye, was a street play with the message — ‘Time is the key’ when it comes to cancer. The earlier one approaches a doctor, the better. The play also emphasised that various NGOs and government hospitals help poor patients meet the expenses for the treatment. It also puts across various procedures for cancer treatment, like mammography and chemotherapy, in simple words. While the members of the trust were present after the play to interact with those who wanted to know more on the subject, Kamaljeet Walia, founder and secretary, CBCT shares, “Women must not take any lumps in breasts lightly. If detected early, cancer is curable.” The play will be staged again at the Sukhna Lake and Sector 22 during the coming week. — Mona
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To be served ‘seriously chilled’. That’s a promise The Snow Grouse makes an entry in the city. Well, for a liquor brand, the claim has to be taken seriously. After taking the European markets by storm, the makers of The Famous Grouse, Scotland's top selling whisky for 30 years, comes as the first-ever pure grain scotch whiskey in India. It is lighter in flavour and refreshing as a chilled beer. “The Snow Grouse is made from grain and matured in oak casks before being gently chill filtered, creating a light, delicate and vanilla sweet whisky with a uniquely smooth taste. A sweet gloopy mouth-feel, it has a cool sensation when served 'seriously chilled',” says Paramjit Singh, director, India and Area countries. And with seriously chilled, we mean serving the whiskey at minus18ºC. It will be an intriguing dram for traditional whisky drinkers, as well as a refreshing change for consumers of other spirits and wines. "We are seeing a growing demand from consumers looking for something new and different. India is strong on hard liquor and we are just trying to put in a little innovation to raise the bar,” says Paramjit. “Served neat, The Snow Grouse, creates a chilled, really smooth and silky drink. By freezing the whisky to minus 18ºC it minimises the strong aroma of the whisky and releases the flavours in the back of the mouth as the whisky warms,” he adds. “And since its first-of-its-kind, we are talking no competition.” Well, some serious claims too. — Neha Walia
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Side
Lanes Corbusier's name is flashed through the papers daily. (Let's start a campaign against calling him 'Corbu.' Makes him sound like a vegetable, which is an insult!) Anyone and everyone who knew him, is coming forward to reveal associations, anecdotes and historical facts. Photographs show a stork-like, non-descript, harried man, working with Indian colleagues to make Chandigarh the city it is. In letters, he cribbed about payments that were delayed, and transport that was not provided. Who knew he would become so famous, otherwise a car would have been spared and more photographs taken. In true Indian fashion, we haggled and chose the man who gave us the best price. He reduced the projected area of the city and used simple, liquid cement to create a fluid, straight lined wonder. The grid pattern of roads and sectors, emulated from Paris, is easy to follow if we do not clog our vehicular conduits with more cars. Suddenly, we have even started singing paeans to his very simple, easy to carry, very pragmatic but often uncomfortable furniture. Have a heart. Was he supposed to build or create furniture and furnishings too? The wonder is that he did. He even designed the manhole covers. But we are a parsimonious nation. If we do not see a lock, we look around furtively, pick up whatever is lying around and run. I have picked up a discarded willow basket from the next-door garbage dump, soaped it, and used it for my plants. It is also called 'survival' and is a typical Indian trait. As a result, Corbusian manhole covers, bits of furniture and tapestry are being auctioned a million miles away. Now, we want them all back and are suffering from a deep sense of outrage. Eulie Choudhry worked with the great architect. However, as she has gone into happier hunting grounds, except at the Corbusier Centre, she is a forgotten name. It was one of the more elegant, intellectually endowed homes in Chandigarh. There was comfort and space. The colour black sobered the solid reds and whites she garnished it with. My father shifted to Chandigarh in 1962. My sister Rohini and I, used to a huge kothi, with sprawling gardens, were aghast at the pigeon coop structure of Chandigarh. Narrow slits for windows made our AC-less existence in government accommodation, a daily hell. We often walked near the lake and wondered at the ship like construction of the Secretariat and High Court. The film Titanic came later, otherwise the both of us would have climbed onto the roof and sung Celine Dion's iconic song while leaning against the guard rail. As per existing building rules, homes had flat roofs, perfect for electricity-less nights but a nightmare during the monsoons, when water collected and then leaked into our rooms. Perhaps sloping roofs and more ethnic materials and designs could have solved the problem. The concrete structures absorbed a lot of heat in the summer and were like slabs of ice in winter. One wonders if a Laurie Baker or Hafeez Contractor would have done a better job? Wattle and daub or lime and straw mortar, could have provided ethnic options, using mud, the classic, universal material. I am all admiration for Corbusier. He was given a job, which he did to the best of his French and Swiss ability. He delivered the goods in record time, but did not inculcate Indian mores, suited for our climatic conditions. The aesthetics are there but some practicality has been lost along the way.
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Dance all the way
It was a classical music lover's and creative writer's paradise! The third day of the ongoing Panjab University and Heritage Festival at Government College for Girls-42 makes a slight transition from art and craft to literary items. There's classical dance, group dance, quiz, debate, poem recitation, elocution et al. Poem, short story and essay writing form a part of the itinerary too. Instrumental music had students performing with percussion, non-percussion, Indian orchestra, folk instruments and group folk orchestra. "Today is the second-last day of the festival. Last day is for folk dances and we wind up everything with the famous giddha," shares Priya, student, GCG-42. Did the hitherto half-attended seating area had students falling over each other to catch a glimpse of the colourful contrasting costumes and equally loud audio? Shares Amanpreet Kaur, host college student, "Dances are a visual treat, especially group dances. The Rajasthani and various other folk dances were a treat to watch." And who will get the prize? "I think the host college, not because of any bias but they actually did well." Second half of the day, post break saw students perform tal vadya and swar vadya. — Manpriya Khurana
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Live life KITCHEN size
If you thought kitchen was all about a gas stove, Italian marble, microwave or a refrigerator, think again because Aura from A&A Modular Systems in Mohali is re-defining the whole concept of modular kitchens. Brainchild of Gurinder Pal Singh Kalsi, managing director, and Gurleen Kaur, director marketing, A&A Modular Systems; one step into the plush flagship store of Aura and you realise that kitchens are much more than just pots and pans! Their designs are sure an eye-catcher and are set to make the kitchen a place where you would want the family to assemble, spend time together, have long chats over a cup of coffee; where kids would love to do their homework or even a corner for friends to converge. Says Gurleen, “This is a dream project for us. We have spent almost five years in research and development of the concept of kitchens. We went through the length and breadth of the country and scouted international exhibitions for the best available in the market. And what we have today is the best from the world.” Back to the details: Strategically planned, there are seven kitchen designs to choose from. With special names (Sierra Mist, Symphony, Orchid Island, Radiant Crystal, Cosmic hues, Timeless Glory and Rustic Melody) they have colour-co-ordinated interiors, plush working space and alluring accessories. While the company promises to give you an easy kitchen solution, each will be ‘cut, sautéed and fried’ according to individual taste. “It is tradition served on an ergonomic plate. Our kitchens are elegant and have all user-friendly ingredients, which will find favour with any household,” says Gurinder.
Apart from the designs, the USP of these kitchens is that they are manufactured entirely at Baddi. Only the appliances are imported from Europe and Italy. Making way for kitchens ‘a la carte’, modular kitchens have definitely revolutionised the idea of kitchen decor all over the world and bringing home the same is Aura. And how did the idea of manufacturing modular kitchens strike the couple? “The term modular means that your kitchen is made up of several modules or units. And if there’s any damage, only that one unit has to be repaired or replaced. Considering the growing demand for these kitchens, we thought why not make a one-stop shop in the region and design kitchens that serve the dual purpose of being modern as well as match our Indian thought process.” Working on the concept that a modern day kitchen is a room to be showcased, Aura has a team of designers who can customise these kitchens and make the best use of every inch of space. Albeit the cost of these kitchens is from Rs eight lakh onwards, they can be customised according to individual needs. jigyasachimra@tribunemail.com
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STRINGS attached
Says ICCR regional director Gyan Chand, "Musica no Museu is a five-member group from Brazil that has blossomed to world fame after taking off with free concerts in museums, cultural centres, churches etc. They have also won the 'Cultural Order of Merit', which is the highest Brazilian presidential honour." The group has extensively performed in France, England, Spain, United States, Czech Republic, Portugal, Morocco and Egypt, and are scheduled to perform at the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York. Leading the band on a Spanish guitar is Paulo Pedrassoli, an acclaimed soloist, chamber musician and music director. Lauded as the 'ideal performer of Villa-Lobos', Paulo has a Masters degree in music from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. The other guitarist, Paulo Pedrassoli, has been widely applauded after his performance at the 'Villa-Lobos International Guitar Competition' in 1992. He has won several international competitions. Renowned percussionist Karla Bach, who is also part of the National Symphonic Orchestra of UFF, is also set to regale the audience. A noted soloist, she has also been the music director and coordinator of the percussion group of Brazilian Music Conservatory. And on the piano it will be Joo Carlos Assis Brasil, a classical piano player who has been performing since he was 15-years-old. He has won a prize at the International Beethoven Contest. At Bal Bhawan-23 from 6.30 pm onwards on Friday
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Better known for her skin shows and sizzling screen presence, Mallika Sherawat is all set to scorch the silver screen by respiring one of the most mystical and fascinating characters of Bollywood—the Naagin in the riveting thriller Hisss, co-starring Irrfan Khan. Directed by Hollywood filmmaker Jennifer Lynch, the film was promoted with live snakes at the Cannes Film Festival 2010. Touted as India's first ever creature-feature film with never-before seen effects, Mallika, opens up on her Hisss story.
What is Hisss all about? As the story goes, the film is about the revenge of naagin, the snake woman whose mate is captured from the jungles of India by a ruthless American. She transforms into an attractive woman with absolutely no clue about contemporary civilization and ventures into the city in search of her lover with vengeance in her mind and venom in her fangs. What is so special about Hisss? Hisss is a complicated special effects loaded film, which has created quite a stir across the globe for its interesting amalgamation of the superstars of Bollywood and top technicians of the Hollywood. The film's soundtrack is as exciting as the film itself. Robert Kurtzman, makeup and special effects expert from Hollywood has worked his magic on Hisss. How was the experience of working with Irrfan Khan? Irrfan is a very talented and an interesting actor. I am a great fan of his work and was excited to work with him. Which was the most difficult scene to shoot? The toughest part was dealing with the leeches crawling all over my body in freezing cold rains in jungles of Kerala. The makeup ordeal was also tough. What about viewer's expectations? When we have viewers whose taste changes rapidly, we expect good response from the viewers. Any other projects? I have finished shooting for Hollywood film, Love, Barack Aka Politics of Love! It is a romantic comedy directed by William Dear. — Dharam Pal
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Snake charmrer Film: Hisss Director: Jennifer Lynch Producer: Vikram Singh, Govind Menon and William Sees Keenan Directed by Hollywood filmmaker Jennifer Lynch, the Mallika Sherawat starrer Hisss releases on Friday. The film also stars Irrfan Khan, Divya Dutta along with American actor Jeff Doncette. It has music by David Kusher, Punjabi MC, Alexander Von Bubenheim, LA Hip-Hop Mogul Craig Nobles and Anu Malik. Mallika has also lent her voice to a song composed by famous musician Julian Lennon. Packed with gripping performances and thrilling twists and turns Hisss not only revisits the popular naagin story but also reveals the untold truth about this centuries old legend in the most fascinating manner. Comic call Film: Jhootha Hi Sahi Producer: Madhu Mantena, Abbas Tyrewala Director: Abbas Tyrewala After the success of his debut film Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na, director Abbas Tyrewala has come up with another romantic comedy Jhootha Hi Sahi. It is reportedly inspired by the Hollywood film Notting Hill. John Abraham, Pakhi (Abbas Tyrewala's wife), Raghu Ram, Manasi Scott, Alishka Vardha Singh, Prashant Chawla, Omar Khan, Anaitha Nair and George play important characters in the film. John supports a simple look for the movie. Thick glasses and plain clothes mark his character. The buzz is that it is a beautiful romantic comedy. Real politik
Film: Rakt Charitra Producers: Madhu Mantena, Sheetal V. Talwar Director: Ram Gopal Varma The much-hyped Rakht Charitra is inspired from the life of Paritala Ravi, the slain political leader from Andhra Pradesh. It is one of RGV's ambitious project, which portrays the never ending war between Paritala Ravi and Maddela Cheruvu Suri, two well-known factionist-turned-politicians. Vivek Oberoi plays the role of Paritala Ravi, Tamil super star Sariya plays the latter's role. Shatrughan Sinha, Priyamani and Sudeep are in important roles. The movie also opens today all over. — Dharam Pal
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Come winter and the festive as well as wedding season is on in this part of the country. Sweets, culinary delights and absolutely no time, even as one runs between visiting people and entertaining guests, it’s more than challenging to keep your weight under check. We bring to you some tips on how not to add a few more inches to your waistline!
From easy-to-open drawers, electronic backup to readymade shelves for pots, pans and cutlery, to hi-end gadgets, the kitchen is well-equipped according to Indian sensibilities (read already installed baskets for your ‘aloo, pyaz’ etc etc, easy to clean work area). And well the best part is there is a ten-year guarantee for the kitchen! 
The Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) brings to the city 'Musica no Museu', a leading band from Brazil, which is set to regale the audience at the Bal Bhawan auditorium on Friday.
