Kasauli R&B fest this weekend

Kasauli R&B fest this weekend

MUNISH DHIMAN  12th Apr 2014

hat the language of music is universal is an indisputable reality. Genesis Foundation's Kasauli Rhythm & Blues Festival, one of the most sought after musical events in the region organised byRolling Stone magazine, is all set to entertain audiences with its third edition, scheduled to be held over the Easter weekend (18-20 April). Live performances by India's 10 most popular bands in the hills of Himachal assure to be a perfect weekend. Add to this a bunch of outdoor events, including barbecues, a splendid bar and you are set for a rollicking time. Besides entertaining the audience the festival supports a noble cause— saving the lives of 10 children. Prema Sagar, Founding Trustee of Genesis Foundation told Guardian20, "We have gradually grown with the support from our sponsors, bands and patrons. It is all because of their help that it becomes easy for us to help save the lives of 10 children. It is the collective effort of each and every individual associated with us that this annual music festival has become an event to look forward to and we are able to save precious lives from the funds raised at this event." Every year the audience has been increasing exponentially. "The amazing response that we have received from the people gives us self-assurance that the community is willing to go the extra mile for the benefit of the society at large," adds Sagar. The bands that will be performing at the Kasauli Rhythm & Blues 2014 are: Valentine Shipley, Kaya, Ministry of Blues, SusmitSen Chronicles, Indus Creed, Whirling Kalapas, Adi and Suhail, CaralisaMonteiro, Lagori, Soulmate. These bands will perform on Friday and Saturday while the Gurkha Regiment Band and Atul Ahuja will entertain them over brunch at Kasauli Club on the concluding day. To reserve spots, visit www.genesis-foundation.net http://www.sunday-guardian.com/young-restless/kasauli-rab-fest-this-weekend

The tri-city fashion barometer records an all time high

The tri-city fashion barometer records an all time high

MUNISH DHIMAN  12th Apr 2014

Models walking the ramp at the fashion event handigarh finds itself on the list of one of the most desirable cities to live in India not only because of the lavish lifestyle but also because of its denizens' taste for fashion. This is one of the reasons that big names in the fashion world have started focusing on this market as well and have started organizing fashion parties, fashion weeks and other lifestyle events on a large scale. One of the latest additions in the list is Kingfisher Ultra Style Week Chandigarh — 2014 which is not only another addition to the fashion quotient of the city but also an attempt to create a place for itself in the market. Kingfisher Ultra, in association with Storm Fashion Company, untied the curtains to the biggest and the most splendid fashion fiesta Kingfisher ULTRA Chandigarh Style Week in Punjab that brought together celebrated designers such as Rocky S, Mona Pali, Aslam Khan, among other notables. Besides designers and glitterati, models and stars from Bollywood mingled and discussed fashion in detail as this carnival of style saw the energetic crowd partying till late. Though the Style Week came to a glittering end but it definitely left the city's fashion connoisseurs hungry for the next edition with some more colourful treats. http://www.sunday-guardian.com/young-restless/the-tri-city-fashion-barometer-records-an-all-time-high

Self-help groups finally take off in a hamlet of Himachal Pradesh

Self-help groups finally take off in a hamlet of Himachal Pradesh

MUNISH DHIMAN  5th Apr 2014

SDM Lalit jain with members of one of the Self Help Groups in Pragpur. elf-help groups (SHG) are becoming a new tool for development and poverty alleviation in various parts of the country. The first heritage village of India — Pragpur, the largest development block of Himachal Pradesh, leads the way in this context. The self-help movement was launched by the Government of India in 1999 as Swaran Jyanti Gram Swarozgar scheme, under which some 156 self-help groups were launched and made functional in this hamlet of Himachal Pradesh. The main aim of these groups was to provide capital for starting micro-enterprises in the villages that could sustain rural livelihood, especially for womenfolk. Different employment programmes included dairy farming, goat rearing, tailoring, basket making and other small enterprises that held relevance to the rural poor. These were initiated for groups consisting 10-20 members each; unfortunately, these groups became dysfunctional gradually, due to the lack of leadership, inertia and motivation amongst the rural folks. As a ray of hope, the SHG movement has been once again introduced and has gained momentum despite various challenges. It has proved to be one of the most successful efforts to empower the poor in less than six months of its working. The second avatar was initiated in September 2013 by the then-Assistant Commissioner Development-cum-BDO Pragpur, Lalit Jain. Jain tells Guardian20, "My aim during the stint was on the overall development of the block, though the focus had been on identifying innovative trades that can be used to form small groups and making them self-sustainable through interest-free loans for a period of time." Jain had been visiting the panchayats to motivate the people, especially women, to be a part of the SHG movement. It is worth mentioning here that in this short period of time, 122 groups have been formed under IWMP (Integrated Watershed Management Programme) and have become operational in the Pragpur Block. Jain further said, "The inter-loaning feature of the group is one of the greatest features with which members of the group deal with matters like emergency medical expenses, fees, stationary of school going children of the members rather being a burden on the family or anyone else. This effort, besides making these women independent, is a morale booster for them that fortifies their self esteem." Some of the groups in the area are doing remarkable work by making solar light with tiny material, making LED lights, whereas women in the area are being trained in cutting and tailoring, pickle-making and so on, besides other ITI trades that are not only adding to the individual growth and the growth of these groups, but is also aiding to the overall development of the state. Jain, who has a progressive approach towards development, quips, "Any small thing, if moved in a right direction with a positive approach and a desired aim, will definitely reach its goal. In the same way, these small self-help groups with small loans can generate big profits and can be a financial support for the state and the country." http://www.sunday-guardian.com/young-restless/self-help-groups-finally-take-off-in-a-hamlet-of-himachal-pradesh

Gurdas Maan’s new film score

Gurdas Maan’s new film score

MUNISH DHIMAN  5th Apr 2014

Gurdas Maan His inimitable aura soothes the audience, regardless of the stage. This time the singer-actor Gurdas Maan's stage was at the Lalit Chandigarh, where he launched the track Mitran Da Dil Nachda from his upcoming film Dil Vil Pyaar Vyaar, starring Gurdas Maan, Neeru Bajwa, Jassi Gill, Rajiv Thakur, Manav Vij and others. Maan's flick will be a breath of fresh air for his fans; this is his first film after a sabbatical, though he released his solo album Roti only last year. When asked about the long break, Maan told Guardian20, "Everything happens when it has to happen and this will probably bring in a refreshing change to our film industry." Most of the songs of the movie have been penned and composed by Maan himself, while the music has been scored by Jatinder Shah. While elaborating about the storyline Maan quipped, "Disclosing the story right now will take away from the fun and enjoyment of watching the film. All I can say that it is a beautifully knit family drama." Produced by Sai Creations, all the rights for Dil Vil Pyaar Vyaar, including music and film distribution, are with Unisys Infosolutions. The film is slated to hit theatres on 2 May. http://www.sunday-guardian.com/young-restless/gurdas-maans-new-film-score

Main Tera Hero cast & crew in town

Main Tera Hero cast & crew in town

MUNISH DHIMAN  5th Apr 2014

Varun Dhawan and Nargis Fakhri handigarh has become one of the target destinations for Bollywood, as far as promotional activities are concerned. In one such promotional visit, Varun Dhawan and Nargis Fakhri talked about their upcoming film Main Tera Hero, directed by David Dhawan, and also shared some light moments with the media at PVR, Elante Mall, Chandigarh. The duo launched the song Shanivaar Raat, the third song of the movie, in a Punjab college, during their tour to this region. Besides Dhawan and Fakhri, Main Tera Hero stars Ileana D'Cruz and is all set to hit the silver screen on 4 April. On being asked how he feels, working with his father after working with Karan Johar, Varun says, "Its great working with someone who is known for his comedy films and has entertained the industry for several decades. Though after working with Karan, working with dad is altogether a different experience. Where Karan pampers his actors, my father expects them to be thoroughly professional and say their dialogues right, without taking too many takes." After the success of Student Of The Year, Varun said, he was anxious and excited about this film and concluded that the choice of doing the comedy film was an emotional call that came from within. Fakhri, who cracked several jokes while Varun was speaking, confessed that she was in no mood of moving away from Bollywood. She avers, "My fan base has increased with time and this gives me immense pleasure. Now, I am concentrating more on my acting and want it to get better with time." "Yes, you'll see a lot of me as I am wearing a lot of sexy dresses," she crackles on being asked if we would see more of her. http://www.sunday-guardian.com/young-restless/main-tera-hero-cast-a-crew-in-town