Tuesday, December 17, 2013

I am not ashamed of being a porn star: Sunny Leone

I am not ashamed of being a porn star: Sunny Leone
MUNISH DHIMAN  14th Dec 2013
Sunny Leone and Sachiin Joshi at the Chandigarh promotion Photo: Munish Dhiman
ooking resplendent in a bright yellow anarkali, Sunny Leone definitely made jaws drop on her recent visit to Chandigarh. In town to promote her latest film Jackpot, directed by Kaizad Gustad, Leone spoke with Guardian20 about her life, Bollywood and working with veteran Naseeruddin Shah.
Q. Tell us something about your role in Jackpot?
A. I essay the role of Maya in the movie, a dark character.
Q. Does Sunny relate to Maya in any way?
A. Not at all. Maya is negative and manipulative. She is a temptress who uses all tactics for her benefits. She is completely the opposite of me.
Q. Jackpot is your second movie. Has it been difficult dealing with all the hype created about your stint as an adult star?
A. Frankly speaking, it really doesn't bother me. I cannot delete things that I have already done and I am not ashamed of having been a porn star in the past. I am happy for what I am today and thankful for everything that has happened in my life so far.
Q. Being called a porn star doesn't annoy you?
A. No, it doesn't! I've met all sorts of people in the decade I've spent in the adult porn industry. I don't bother about the reactions for what I do from those who dislike me. I am born free and believe in living life my own way. I have never compromised.
Q. From your frequent visits to Chandigarh, it seems that the city charms you. Is it true?
A. Yes, I love this city as my dad lived here before migrating to Canada. He is no longer with us today, but I find peace whenever I am here. It increases my love for him, which eventually rejuvenates my bond with Chandigarh.
Q. Was Bollywood ever on your mind before Bigg Boss?
A. Not Bollywood, but yes, the big screen was always on my mind. I grew up watching the gorgeous Madhuri Dixit-Nene on screen and wanted to be like her. I loved her smile and dancing. I think she was excellent in comedy roles and could portray a wide range of emotions on screen. It's largely the surfeit of emotions, drama and songs that attracted me to the industry. Besides, I know what the Indian audience
wants!
Q. What about being typecast? Are you the next bold actress? Does it bother you?
A. That's fine with me. Every actor needs to look their best today — they need to be hot, beautiful, and all films should be sexy. If something is attractive you just can't take our eyes off it and that's what people want to see today.
Q. Naseeruddin Shah is almost an institution. What was working with him like?
A. It's an honour for me to share screen space with such a great actor. He is a thorough professional, who made acting easier for me. It was a great learning experience. I observed him very closely.
Q. There is news of a documentary on your life. Can you tell us something about it?
A. Yes, this documentary is being shot by a Canadian production house and is based on me and my life, and includes my husband Daniel Weber. This documentary will capture us behind the scenes over 18 months. In essence, it will be the chronicles of Sunny, how she met Weber, her Bollywood career, films and fame. It might release in 2015.
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Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Western India takes the centre stage at the fifth Crafts Mela

Western India takes the centre stage at the fifth Crafts Mela
MUNISH DHIMAN  7th Dec 2013
Lavani performers from Maharashtra
he fifth edition of the Chandigarh Craft Mela, has maintained its standard over the past few years. The 10-day event was organised at Kalagram by the Chandigarh Administration and the North Zone Cultural Centre (Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India), with a special focus on Western India.
A rich fare of typical Indian folk lore came alive through fascinating folk dances from the northern, eastern and southern parts of the country. Acclaimed crafts persons from the constituent states of North Zone Cultural Centre as well as from other six Zonal Cultural Centres displayed their crafts during the fair.
A wide range of Indian food was served at the various food stalls. The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Ltd (TRIFED) had brought a large number of artisans and artists on one platform. All the products showcased by these artisans were rare artefacts rustled up from natural resources of the respective regions. Nearly 50 artists from various tribes from across India participated at this annual event. Their handiwork included textiles, cane and bamboo products, paintings, metal craft, jewellery, woollens, and pottery
Music and dance events called Sufiana Saaz, Naach aur Awaaz, along with qawwali were also organised. Around 100 dancers from the Western states performed at the fair too. Lavani, koli, dekhni, garba, dandiya and dhal talwar gripped the visitors. Folk dances of North India comprising sirmouri nati and ghoomar were also part of the programme.
The major attraction of the fair was the textile and fabrics from the states of Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Nagaland. But the world's smallest Jutti, 90-year-old traditional shawls from Gujarat, 200-years old puppest and the lone family in India carrying forward the heritage of the exquisite rangoli art were some of the highlights of this fair..
This Crafts Mela turned out to be a queer mix of cuisine, craft and culture that left an indelible imprint on the minds of those who visited and enjoyed the fascination fete. The event registered a huge footfall with the enthusiasts from various age groups, including school children, collegians, NRI's and housewives especially from the far flung areas who came to enjoy the flavours of ethnic extravaganza.
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The differently-abled need to increase employability

The differently-abled need to increase employability
MUNISH DHIMAN  7th Dec 2013
Cheshire Home, Chandigarh presenting differently-abled individuals with tri-cycles
s the world observed the International Day for People with Disabilities, across the globe, there were many organisations, institutions and NGOs in Chandigarh organised various programmes for differently-abled individuals.
Cheshire Homes in Chandigarh is one such establishment that works for the empowerment of people with disabilities. It supports and provides them the opportunity to lead economically independent lives. This year the organisation presented ten tri-cycles to physically challenged people.
Gurdip Singh Deep, president Cheshire Homes Chandigarh said, "About 10 per cent of the Indian population, which is approximately 100 million people, are either physically or mentally disabled and a huge number of these individuals are employable. Our motto is to help these people live a happier life and we are just doing our bit to help them. We provide shelter and help them develop special skills."
Safe Hands Rehabilitation Society is another committed governing body that works to prevent exploitation and discrimination of vulnerable women and children. It also empowers them to lead a dignified life. The society hosts several cultural programmes and activities for differently-abled people.
In India, inclusion and accessibility for the disabled has remained a problem ever since and needs urgent government action. Though various projects have been initiated in the private sector that ensures that the differently-abled can access any building without any troublethrough ramps, elevators, and hydraulic lifts but government buildings, railway stations, bus stands, hospitals and even Toilets, especially in the basements, are yet to tread that path.
Mr Gurdip Singh, a Trustee of the Prakash Foundation Charitable Trust, which works for the welfare of the farming community and the cause of rural girl child, says, "We organise camps in the rural areas to motivate people to extend a helping hand to the physically challenged in different ways. We also encourage the differently -bled to take up certain courses and programmes that might make them self-reliant. More than financial aid, they need moral support, which adds to their self esteem."
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World cuisines in one platter

World cuisines in one platter
MUNISH DHIMAN  7th Dec 2013
Chef Li Yang from China
There is no dearth of eating joints in Chandigarh for the food aficionados with multi-cuisine restaurants mushrooming in every nook and corner of the city. Another such festival was organised by JW Marriott this month, for lovers of sea food.
Pallav Singhal, Executive Chef JW Marriott said, "We try to organize almost two food festivals every month. Recently we organized Sea food festival, Kashmiri, Hyderabadi, Navratra, Ligurian and other food festivals to give something different to our clients. Indian clients get bored with the same cuisine very soon." Generating revenue remains one of the biggest challenges for the hotel industry and such food festivals have always proved great source of revenue generation.
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Chandigarh organises it’s first tourism festival

Chandigarh organises it’s first tourism festival
MUNISH DHIMAN  7th Dec 2013
Shivraj Patil inaugurating the CII Tourism Fest
uring the inauguration of the first international tourism festival in Chandigarh, the Chandigarh Administration introduced 'Happening Weekends of Chandigarh' an online facility for film shooting in the city. The major focus of this move will cater to shopping, entertainment, theatre, eateries and accommodation facilities in the city. Under the aegis of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Tourism department, UT Administration and Citco, the first international tourism fest was inaugurated by governor and administrator of Punjab, Shivraj Patil.
"Tourists from eastern hemisphere to southern hemisphere do not come here to see the facilities of our five star hotels, they have five star hotels in their own countries which are way advanced and give facilities which hotels here can't offer" he said at the launch.
80 exhibitors from eight different countries including China, Dubai, Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Turkey and Ethiopia and 13 Indian states are showcasing tour and travel packages, unseen locations, tourist destinations in the festival. Besides the tourist attractions a food fest with 35 international chefs from Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Iceland have been invited, while an international dance festival with dancers from across the world, has been organized at the Parade Ground, Sector 17.
"Our aim behind organizing this dance festival in the Tourism Fest is to offer a visual treat to the art lovers which will opportune them to see variety of dances forms of numerous states and different other countries under one roof. This forum will provide an international platform to the talented dancers from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and other states," said Manmohan Singh, Chairman, CII, Chandigarh Council.
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Tales from the margins: Slum dwellers left without a home

Tales from the margins: Slum dwellers left without a home
MUNISH DHIMAN  30th Nov 2013
Stills from the slum demolition site | Photo: T.S. Bedi
handigarh, the first planned city of Independent India, is one of the most desirable cities to live in the country not just for the elite but also for the migrating classes. Though the affordability quotient does not bother the elite class, it is a major reason behind illegal colonies coming up along the periphery of the city which collectively cover more than 70 acres of land in different parts of Chandigarh.
In a demolition drive, the UT administration recently wiped out colony number 5, one of the biggest slums in Chandigarh and is set to eradicate encroachments in the remaining 11 colonies in the city.
The Chandigarh Administration it seems is on a mission to completely erase all illegal colonies off the city's map. As the drive to make city slum-free advances, several questions arise, many of which have remained unanswered so far. First, these colonies were not raised overnight, and no one can really be held responsible for it. At the end of the day, only those who have lost their shelters can feel the chill during the shivering nights of the ongoing winter. Guardian20 scrutinizes the drive and registers all the different responses.
Rajpal Yadav, a migrant labourer from UP told Guardian20, "In the hope of getting a house from the government we shifted to our uncle's house three years back. All our dreams were shattered when the administration started this drive and ordered us to evacuate the house. I am trying to get some place in colony number 4 but if that doesn't work, we will be moving back to UP soon as there is no place left to stay."
"We wanted our children to study in good schools and lead a full life but now we'll have to return to UP and start all over again," says Rajpal's wife Somawati who used to work as a maid in sector 44.
Romalal, another slum resident, who is the sole bread earner in the family, had been staying in the colony for the past four years and worked as a watchman at a warehouse. He says, "Back home my wife and two daughters are more affected than me. I had promised my daughters who are four and five years old, that I'll take them with me and make them study here so that they can get a good job in the future but now it all seems like a distant dream."
It is worth mentioning here that one-room tenements were constructed by the Chandigarh Housing Board in Dhanas to rehabilitate the slum dwellers of Colony No. 5 and most of them received notifications to shift after PM Manmohan Singh handed over keys to the beneficiaries in September. Despite the allotment of more than 8,000 houses, the colony remained intact; rather the beneficiaries invited their relatives to stay in the houses in the hope of getting accommodations by the administration soon. In an interview with Guardian20 Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Shyne, said, "The encroachment has been successfully relinquished. This was government's land and is back to the government. The occupants have been rehabilitated and the same will be done with the remaining unauthorized colonies."
Arvind Thakur, a city-based lawyer has taken up the slum-dwellers' case and has filed a complaint against the Chandigarh home secretary, deputy commissioner and housing board officials over the alleged untimely demolition of colony number 5, with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). Thakur said, "I have mentioned in my complaint that this demolition drive has been conducted without any prior planning and has been done in a very haphazard manner. This should have been done in phases so that uprooted people could get time to find alternate option to reside. The winters have started engulfing the city and these homeless residents are forced to spend cold nights in the open. Moreover, no medical team was present at the spot during the demolition and any epidemic could have broken out there. Moreover, we are sure that hundreds of children will have to leave schools mid-way because of this unplanned demolition."
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A game show that tests your endurance, makes you a star

A game show that tests your endurance, makes you a star
MUNISH DHIMAN  30th Nov 2013
Raghu Ram at the MTV Roadies Chandigarh auditions
hat is connects Ayushmann Khurrana, Rannvijay Singh and VJ Bani? Well they all went to MTV roadies, are from Punjab and made it big in their respective careers, post their Roadie stint. Roadies has become more of a brand now, and more and more youngsters aspire to be a Roadie now. Punjab has witnessed a considerable number of contestants, and they keep on increasing each year.
More than 5000 participants were auditioned at the Chandigarh auditions for the 11th season of the show and this number was significantly higher than last year's figures. Speaking about the Chandigarh auditions, Raghu Ram said, "Chandigarh auditions are one of the most exciting auditions I look forward to them every year. The turnout is great and the response remains overwhelming."
Chandigarh based Prabhjot Kaur Virk, who was a part of Roadies 5.0 and was one of the 5 finalists said, "Roadies was more than a game for me and even after six years it still feels great being a part of that season. Though life remained unchanged but the recognition, fame and appreciation was overwhelming. It doesn't really matter if you are a winner or you not but yes, you may get good offers from the entertainment industry."
Rannvijay Singh, "Roadies just happened but being a part of the most celebrated youth adventure show on Indian television feels great. I must say, from a contestant to be a part of the selection team is an achievement and is like a dream come true. This year 'Roadies X1 Ride For Respect' will be fresh, exhilarating and daring like never before. This show is for people who are both mentally and physically brave to take up the challenges."
Ranjit Bajaj, who was in the first season of Roadies and reached the final leg with Rannvijay, says, "For me it was a show full of adventures. From day one I never wanted to go in TV, films or venture in to the entertainment industry at all. I did this show as driving on different terrains from Chennai to Chail, 40 days, 4400 kilometers, was not possible otherwise. Roadies is indeed a great game show but what makes it different and special for me is the proud feeling of being the first one from Chandigarh to be a part of the first season of this show."
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