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Monday, May 13, 2013
Nauheed Cyrusi : I was sad to finish Norwegian Wood
Head to the mountains to get your adrenaline kick
| Head to the mountains to get your adrenaline kick |
11th May 2013
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Bungee jumping in Rishikesh
dventure sports are not restricted to only rallies, extreme motorsports, paragliding or river rafting anymore in India. Bungee jumping, flying fox and the giant swing have been attracting adrenaline junkies of late. For the past few years, adventure sports have been promoted in such a way that more and more enthusiasts are being drawn towards these high octane feats.
Surrounded by emerald green mountains, the post stands on the edge of a cantilever bridge, 260 feet above sea level, with the shallow waters of the Ganges flowing below. For a split second, the clock seizes to tick, making your mind go blank and your heart misses a beat, as you are tied up with a 'rope of life'. You leap from the post and plummet straight down into a free fall, only to be harnessed at the right moment.
Bungee jumping has come up at Rishikesh, a popular tourist destination. It is emerging as a potential adventure sport hub for camping, river rafting, besides bungee, flying fox and the giant swing. "People in India, especially the youth, are really passionate about adventures and are ready to take on any challenge. It was during one of my trips to New Zealand that I had the opportunity to witness this specific adventure sport there. I wanted to do something like that here. I launched 'Jumpin Heights' with the help of my team," says Rahul Nigam, Mr of the organisation which organises the sporting adventure.
Jumpin Heights is the first fixed platform bungee in India with a drop of 260 feet with design, operations and techniques sourced from New Zealand.
"Earlier, people had no options in India for a bungee jump. Barely one or two introductory ventures that failed to take off in a big way. We have successfully done more than 10, 000 jumps," adds Nigam.
The executive director of Jumpin Heights, Col. Manoj Kumar, says, "It always feels nice to gauge peoples' reactions before and after the jump. Most of the queries that we keep receiving, concern safety parameters. The best part of this thrilling adventure is viewing one's jump videos."
Just imagine flying above the river while you are tied up to a rope and roll down with it upto 7 meters above sea level, with speeds that can cross 160 kmph, on the longest flying fox line in India. Once you have done so, one doesn't think it will take you much time to pack your bags and head out.
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Cyrusi felicitates inventive homemakers
| Cyrusi felicitates inventive homemakers |
11th May 2013
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Nauheed Cyrusi | Photo: Munish Dhiman
"I am here for this award function because of my association with Godrej. I can't say much about my projects right now, but yes, we can surely talk", said model, VJ and actress Nauheed Cyrusi, who was here in Chandigarh to felicitate the winners of the 'Godrej Smart Homemaker'.
The contest was Chandigarh specific, designed to encourage women to share their innovative mantras to tackle day-to-day household chores. Cyrusi gave away the awards to the winners at the ceremony. The Godrej Group, launched a nationwide integrated campaign — 'Har Idea Se Zindagi Muskuraye' with Aamir Khan as its brand ambassador. The campaign encourages new ideas that have sprung a pleasant surprise for consumers in terms of their performance, usage experience and design ethics.
Talking to Guardian20 about this consumer initiative, Shireesh Joshi, Head, Strategic Marketing Group, Godrej said, "The underlying idea behind the contest was to unfold our brand philosophy. We wanted to highlight the innovative endeavour that Godrej has come up with. And, there was no better way to do it than to offer the consumer a platform to showcase their ideas."
Felicitating the winners of the contest, Cyrusi said, "I am delighted to be a part of the Godrej Masterbrand campaign and I am simply amazed to see the inventive ideas exhibited by the Chandigarh participants and the winners truly deserved the honour."
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Street food from old Delhi at Park’s pool side
| Street food from old Delhi at Park’s pool side |
11th May 2013
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Participants at Delhi-6 Food Festival
When we think of Delhi, the first thing that comes to mind is its historic monuments. However, for foodies, the streets of old Delhi are no less than a Mecca. It's time for a tryst with some lip-smacking delights, from the galis and nukkads of Old Delhi. The second edition of Delhi-6 Food Festival, organised by Indi Spice, the specialty Indian restaurant at Park Plaza Chandigarh is all set to kick-off. After the successful first edition, the festival is being organised on the city residents' persistent demands. The live-street ambiance, which has been set up by the pool side, provides a feel of the streets of Delhi. The festival offers a plethora of flavours from the streets of Delhi, including Sitaram Bazaar, Parathewali Gali, Jama Masjid, Asaf Ali Road, Chawri Bazaar etc.
While speaking to Guardian20, Chef Manpreet Chadha said, "After the successful first edition, we were deluged with requests from people requesting us to organise a second edition. The festival is well taken as it offers the authentic flavours and varieties under one roof. The setting has been done on an open area by the pool side, which gives the visiting customers a feel of any open street."
Diners can savour papdi chaat, shorba, chilla, gosht kebabs, biriyani, parathe and a fare of delicious desserts during the festival, which are available in 2 packages, including liquor.
Chadha further adds, "We have tried to capture the street food culture of the old city as ebst as we could. Hence serving sugarcane juice straight from the machine, jalebsi from the simmering pan, hot tikkis, gol gappe from rehris contributes towards the recreation of the streets. But, we guarantee hygiene along with authentic flavours and spices."
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Saturday, May 4, 2013
Yuki Bhambri starts as top seed for ITF Futures tournament
| Yuki Bhambri starts as top seed for ITF Futures tournament |
CHANDIGARH | 27th Apr 2013
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uki Bhambri will be making a return to this city when he starts as the top seed in the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Futures US$-15,000 tennis tournament which commences here from Monday.
 The tournament is being organized by Chandigarh Lawn Tennis Association (CLTA) at Tennis Stadium, Sector-10, Chandigarh from. However, the qualifying rounds started April 27 and will conclude on April 28 scheduled to be held at CLTA complex from 10:00 a.m. onwards.
Players from five countries — India, Australia, Netherlands, Philippines and United State of America (USA), are participating in this international tournament and are representing their countries in different categories. Six present and former Indian Davis Cuppers and 2 reserved Davis Cuppers are taking part in this tournament.
The main attraction of the tournament will be Yuki Bhambri who is the top seed. Based on the ITA rankings total 20 players will play the finals directly, whereas eight players will qualify for the main draw from the qualifying rounds along with 4 wild card entries.
The wild card entries for men's singles are Lakshit Sood, Ranjeet Singh, Pranav Suri and Ojas Rathi.
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Lamba all set to debut in a Punjabi film
| Lamba all set to debut in a Punjabi film |
27th Apr 2013
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Arya Babbar and Manissa Lamba | Photo: T.S Bedi
Popular Punjabi cinema will now have a new member on its Bollywood celebrity list, Minissha Lamba, who is all set with her debut Punjabi movie Heer & Hero.
The cast of the movie includes veteran comedians like Manoj Pahwa, Mukul Dev, Arya Babbar, Hazel Keech, Gurpreet Ghuggi, cricketer-turned-actor Yograj Singh and theatre artist Preet Bhullar.
Heer & Hero is being directed by Sagar S Sharma, who debuted with Burraahhh last year. The film is being produced by the Theatre Army Films and Television Productions, a Chandigarh-based production house that has handled line production of Hollywood — West Is West, Brownian Movement, and Bollywood — Mausam, Teen Thay Bhai movies earleir. Gurmeet Singh has scored music for the film and Kumaar has penned the highly emotive lyrics.
While interacting with media, the young producers said, "In the recent past there has been a virtual boom in the Punjabi industry and having gained experience in the field of production for Bollywood, and Hollywood movies, we thought of producing movies on our own turf.."
Minissha said, "Being a true Punjabi at heart, I had nurtured a dream to do a Punjabi movie. As a matter of fact, I was keen on doing a movie in the rom-com genre for Bollywood as well but, an offer never came my way. I can say that this movie happened at the right time. I am sure the movie will prove to be a huge success, for the producers, as well as the actors."
Minissha added that she has a few projects for Bollywood as well, including Black Currency with Nawazuddin Siddiqui.
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MTV Unplugged brings ghazals to town
| MTV Unplugged brings ghazals to town |
27th Apr 2013
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Shafqat Amanat Ali | Photo: Munish Dhiman
The clock struck midnight but the intrepid crowd wanted more, with sounds of encore reverberating. Acclaimed ghazal singer Shafqat Amanat Ali, belonging to the Patiala gharana, recently performed at the Pewter Room's Blue Blazer, Chandigarh, for the MTV Unplugged Season 2.
The audience grooved the dextrous renditions of popular tracks like Aaj Jaane ki Zid na Karo, Mitwa, Bin Tere, Aankho ke Sagar, Mora Saiyaan.
Ali said, "The success of any live show depends on how well the audience's vibes go with the renditions. Another defining factor of a performance is the volume of the audience. I instantly connect with the audience as I ascend the stage and the vibe they generate affects my expression."
Alongside the powerful performances, his hilarious anecdotes added to the show. Contrary to his persona on stage, Ali is calm and quite composed off-stage.
In an informal tête-à-tête with Guardian20, Ali said, "Pakistan lacks in public performances and security is also a vital issue there. Professionally speaking, Bollywood is becoming a Mecca for singers. It's been really great that I entered it at the right time. I think after RD Burman there was a phase when music became predictable, but the new-age musicians, including AR Rahman, Shankar Ehsaan Loy, Salim-Sulaiman etc have virtually changed the entire scenario."
On the present scenario of music, precisely the Sufi genre, he said, "We cannot term today's genre of singing as pure Sufi singing. Sufi is something that Bulleh Shah, Baba Sheikh Farid and others wrote and sang with a view of propagating the very essence of Sufism. Today, it is just a sugar-coated version of sufiana qalam and is not purely Sufi."
About Bollywood favourites, he said, "It goes without saying that all those whom I have worked with, are doing a wonderful job but the immortal RD Burman and the evergreen Kishore Da, remain my all-time favourite." Ali also has a remarkable sense of humour as encountered when he asked audiences, "Do you know my full name?", "It is Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan and I'm not a terrorist."
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Hyderabadi delights with a masterchef in Chandigarh
| Hyderabadi delights with a masterchef in Chandigarh |
27th Apr 2013
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Chef Rehman Mujeebur | Photo: Ajit Kaushal
Hyderabadi cuisine, which is a blend of Persian, Mughal and Telugu cuisine, is famous all across the world. And when we speak about Hyderabadi food, the first thing that comes to mind is the biriyani.
Pride KC Hotel, Panchkula, in association with Master Chef Rehman Mujeebur, have initiated to bring these authentic cuisines from the streets of Hyderabad to the city residents during the 'Hyderabadi Food Festival' at Water Court café. The festival is on till April 28, and will serve succulent kebabs, steaming hot biriyanis and an array of exotic desserts.
Chef Rehman told Guardian20, "Earlier people had the notion that Hyderabadi food means non-vegetarian. But we have tried to break this myth by offering unmatched and outstanding range of vegetarian options like Hyderabadi doodh paya shorba, ghuti dal ka shorba, subz sheekhampuri, arvi anjeer kebab, dahi ke kebab, zimmikand ki seekh, tale aloo aur badam ka salan, etc."
"The flavor of Hyderabadi cuisine is different because of the secret recipes featuring well-chosen exotic spices and ingredients which are easily available in the existing climate throughout the year," concluded Rehman.
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Festival brings street theatre to residents’ doorsteps
| Festival brings street theatre to residents’ doorsteps |
27th Apr 2013
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A scene from Death of Humanity.
esides promoting theatre in the region, the Chandigarh Sangeet Natak Akademi has been actively organising theatre festivals in an around Chandigarh for the last eight years. It is also the first in the region to have organised festivals of socially relevant plays in different villages around Chandigarh. The earlier editions of the festival were well received and it generated awareness regarding different issues facing our society.
The Akademi is organising the 6th Annual street play festival, Theatre at Your Doorsteps, being held in various private societies, housing complexes and other residential areas of Chandigarh.
Kamal Tewari, Chairman, Chandigarh Sangeet Natak Akademi, told Guardian20, "Most people living in different societies don't get time to come to an auditorium or a specific place to enjoy theatre. There may be keenness among people but transportation, time or distances pose as hindrances. Our motto behind this festival is to promote theatre in the region as well spread awareness on various social issues."
Tewari further said, "Theatre is a blend of different art forms but it has not been given its due. The market of television is vast but I must say that there is no dearth of talent in theatre. We want to generate this awareness among masses that theatre is a traditional art form and they must actively participate in it and take it up as a profession. Theatre is a subject at few institutes but it should be introduced as a subject at primary levels as well."
The plays that have been enacted during the festival are Paryawaran Ka Vinash, Paani Paani Re, Ye Kaisi Vidai, Hey Bhagwan, Death of Humanity, Toaa, Samaj and four of these have been enacted at two different locations — Amrita Sher-Gil, Oriental Bank & Tribune Society, Sector-48A, and Kendriya Vihar Owners Welfare Association Society, Sector-48B.
A scene from Hey Bhagwan
Theatre is such a powerful medium that it has been used for ages to express various concerns at national and international levels. Tewari said, "It's never on the agenda of political parties to promote art and culture though they use it as a tool to promote their politics. Governments are taking and implementing ad hoc decisions but there is no policy for the promotion of art and culture like other policies for sports or education. It is very important that qualified people who are from the field must run the departments."
This year, the idea behind organising a festival of 12 socially relevant street plays in different localities/societies where residents can view the performances at a convenient time was to break the barrier of status.
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Depicting life within the confines of a prison
| Depicting life within the confines of a prison |
27th Apr 2013
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Prisoners showing products created by them
r. Upneet Lalli, Deputy Director, Institute of Correctional Administration, Chandigarh, is a well known name in the field of Correctional Administration in our country. Training field level functionaries of jails and policy-making issues in the correctional administration are some of the classified fields that Dr Lalli is primarily associated with. She has carved out a niche for herself in her chosen field by virtue of her invaluable contribution, consistently marked by the innovations and, of course, out-of-box thinking. Her photo exhibition 'Cage to Correction', to be exhibited at the Punjab Kala Bhavan, is dedicated to the prisons and their inmates.
Dr. Lalli has widely travelled across the globe to monitor the functions of correctional institutions (jails/prisons) and to apprise herself of the ground realities in respect to prison administration. While talking to Guardian20 about the exhibition Dr. Lalli said, "My objective behind this exhibition is to promote social awareness about our prisons and prisoners. There are 70 pictures in this exhibition depicting the inexplicable lives of prisoners in our country and a collage shedding light on prisons and the prisoners from across the world."
Prisons have evolved over a period of time from being places of captivity to places of reformation and rehabilitation. This has been a long and tedious journey with a dark historical backdrop which witnessed several brutalities meted out to convicts.
"The only thing that differentiates prison inmates is their confinement. Otherwise they are like all of us. Not all prisoners are essentially bad and they are ultimately sent back to live a normal life. The aim behind this exhibition is to see people's responses when they are made to encounter the interface between prisoners and society. It is important to change the mind-set so that these prisoners can get work along with proper wages so that they can lead a normal life, which is only possible if we accept them as human beings," adds Dr. Lalli.
Apart from the photographs, the exhibition will also showcase products and art work created by prisoners from different jails in Haryana, J&K and Himachal Pradesh.
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Häagen-Dazs’s new address in town
| Häagen-Dazs’s new address in town |
20th Apr 2013
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Guests at the launch | Photo: TS Bedi
Well known for its trademark flavours, Häagen-Dazs opened its dessert dining outlet in Chandigarh. Sprawled over 2200 sq.ft, it's the first and the largest lounge of its kind in the city. The lounge aims at sharpening the taste buds of ice-cream lovers by offering treats from across the globe. This flagship lounge has been opened at the Elante Mall, after New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru and Chennai.
While speaking with Guardian20, Vijay Sood, Vice President, Executive Director, General Mills India, says, "Chandigarh is rapidly becoming a fast paced modern hub. During the last few years, keeping in view its capacity of spending on luxury and lifestyle, it has certainly become 'big'."
Assiduously designed with modern features, the lounge flaunts posh interiors, glass panelled walls, adequate space and smart seating arrangements..
In addition to authentic ingredients, Häagen-Dazs offers a variety of tantalizing flavours. The menu offers a magnificent amalgamation including fondues, the lone ranger, banana spilt, paradise and indulgent flavours like the signature Belgian chocolate, macadamia nut, cookies and cream, dulce de leche, choc choc chip, strawberry cheesecake and mango and raspberry sorbet.
Its unique range comprises semifreddos, cup cakes, crisp waffles etc. Its patisserie menu comprises pancakes, waffles, muffins, crepes, chocolate cakes and brownies along with exciting toppings, including fresh fruits, and appetising sauces.
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A rom-com that blends romance and action
| A rom-com that blends romance and action |
20th Apr 2013
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Star cast of Patiala Dreamz at Chandigarh Press Club | Photo: TS Bedi
With an ensemble of established and debuting actors, Kapoor Films & Showbiz is all set to present a new Punjabi film Patiala Dreamz. The cast of the film, along with its producers and director, recently shot some scenes in Chandigarh.
Sarwar Ahuja and Madalsa Sharma are in the lead roles while BN Sharma, Sardar Sohi, Preeto Sawhney, Usha Bachani and Amita Nangia are some of the familiar names featuring in the movie.
Though the movie is yet another rom-com, it promises to blend drama, comedy, suspense and romance with action.
Parminder Kapoor, the producer of the film, said, "We have scheduled to complete the movie soon. Though the movie is based on a great script but music too will also spread waves. Beside other singers, artists like Mika Singh and Sukhwinder Singh have done great work and I am sure the rack will be a hit."
Abhishek Saxena, director, said, "It is a family drama where the male protagonist, Garry, based out of Canada, reaches Patiala in quest to find the reason behind his dreams. This movie is shot in Canada and Patiala."
Lead actor Sarvar Ahuja said, "I selected this movie because I believe that Punjabi cinema is now at at par with any other and its commercial prospects are really high."
Lead actress Madalsa Sharma added, "After doing various regional movies, doing a Punjabi film became my priority. I would like to do more Punjabi movies. But I am in no hurry, as right now I am concentrating only on this where the character of Reet, a bubbly girl, made me sign this movie."
Sawhney, who plays Lajjo in the movie, further added, "This is definitely a different movie and I believe the action and suspense in it makes it different. My character adds to the comic punches and is one of the main characters in the movie."
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Baisakhi at the Marriott
| Baisakhi at the Marriott |
20th Apr 2013
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Chef Naveen Handa | Photo: TS Bedi
Indulge in delectable Punjabi cuisine with the Saffron restaurant at JW Marriott, as it celebrates one of the most celebrated festivals of Punjab — Baisakhi.
JW Marriott has launched the 'Baisakhi Food Festival' at their north Indian restaurant, Saffron. The festival promises a gastronomically amusing journey to food lovers. Servers donning Punjabi attire, a rustic Punjabi set up and music adds to the charm of this festival.
Authentic specialties from various parts of Punjab will be served for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians. The menu includes a wide variety of mouth-watering collection of kebabs, curries, chutneys, beverages, and desserts.
This festival is not new to the city as the tourism department has been organising many such festivals in the Chandigarh Industrial and Tourism Development Corporation (CITCO) run restaurants, but there's definitely a dearth of culinary festivals in the city based on national festivals.
Chef Deepak Gurung & Chef Naveen Handa have come up with some fine traditional delicacies like the Jalandari gosht ki chaap aur boti, Amritsari tawa macchli, kadi pakora, methi murgh etc, alongside a range of innovative seasonal specialities.
Chef Naveen Handa tells Guardian20, "Being in Punjab we wanted to initiate something that is really close to Punjabi culture and tradition. Our guests are not only city residents but we serve tourists and people from other parts of the county as well."
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