Crowning Glory

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April 6, 2017

Along with a fit body, it is equally important to have a sharp mind says Miss Commonwealth Asia Pacific 2016 winner Shweta Raj

The crown sits snug on her head but it’s her smile that shines brighter. “It’s been life changing experience for me,” admits Shweta Raj. Winner of the Miss Commonwealth Asia Pacific 2016 title, the leggy model and beauty pageant winner was in Chandigarh to formally inaugurate the annual exhibition by INIFD Academy of Interiors on Wednesday.

Photo By: Vikram Joy

The Pune-based model was crowned the winner in London in November last year. “Contestants from 55 countries competed for the title,” informs Shweta. Incidentally, the model admits she’s always dreamt of winning a beauty pageant. “I think some of us as little girls dream to become a Miss India or be crowned as a beauty queen. I was among those girls,” says Shweta who worked hard to achieve her goal.

“If you had met a few years back, I don’t think you would have enjoyed a conversation with me. I was an introvert and very shy,” admits the Miss Commonwealth winner. Hailing from an army background, Shweta tells us she pursued BBA and enrolled for modelling and personality development with her mentor Lovell Prabhu. “I also worked on bettering my fitness levels and my personality. I feel that apart from being fit, it is equally important to have a sharp mind,” she tells us.

rnPhoto By: Vikram Joy

“It’s easy to dress well and get a few ramp shows. But your personality, presence of mind, eloquence will take you forward,” adds the 22-year-old. Interestingly, she is now keen to help others like her in overcoming their inhibitions. “As a title winner, I can share my experiences. I want to learn about training the mind alongside my modelling career,” says Shweta who is also a trained actor. “I am open to both acting and modelling,” she adds.

Photo By: Vikram Joy

Life has changed a lot since she won the title and Shweta admits she still can’t get over the feeling when she saw her face splashed across hoardings on her return in Pune. “I was the face for the Kingfisher Ultra Fashion Week in Pune and it was a dream come true,” says Shweta who is looking to shift to Mumbai soon to take her career forward.

In her spare time, she likes to do tarot card reading. And she has a word of advice for those like her trying to make a foray into modelling and beauty pageants. “It’s important to realise your strengths and weaknesses. But please don’t fake it,” she wraps up with a smile.

Shopping Special

By

Sanjeev Kochhar

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April 6, 2017

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Elante's nine-day long anniversary shopping extravaganza offers shoppers a chance to win a Hyundai Grand i10 car as bumper prize among other exciting prizes

Elante Mall is going all out for its fourth anniversary celebrations with a nine-day ‘Grand Anniversary Shopping Extravaganza’. Turning the shopping experience of visitors into a special affair, the shopping festival offers them a chance to win exciting prizes as they shop to their heart’s content.

During the nine-day extravaganza, customers who spend Rs 3,000 or more on shopping or dining at any of the outlets at Elante can register themselves for the raffle draw by producing the bills. The luckiest of them will take away the bumper prize, a Hyundai Grand i10 car, on the concluding day of the Elante anniversary celebrations on April 13.

With Elante’s fourth anniversary coinciding with Baisakhi, the mall is all set to celebrate the occasion in the true festive spirit from April 11 to 13 with an array of exciting activities, like display of Sikh martial art gatka, bhangra and giddha performances, flash mobs and a musical evening.

The mall will also hold a cake cutting ceremony and present the ‘Retailer Excellence Awards’ to acknowledge the contributions of its business partners on April 13. “These anniversary celebrations symbolise our grand success. We owe this success to our patrons and retailers, and this is a wonderful occasion to make them feel special,” remarked Anil Malhotra, Chief Operating Officer, Elante Mall.

The Bed Spread

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Sanjeev Kochhar

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April 5, 2017

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Gippy Grewal's new 'family entertainer' – 'Manje Bistre' – to hit screens on April 14

You have to give it to the Punjabi film industry for coming up with the most unusual movie titles and now themes too. Come April 14, and ‘Manje Bistre’ (which means beds and bedding) is set to for a worldwide release. Distributed by White Hill Productions, the Punjabi film has been directed by Baljit Singh Deo and stars versatile actor Gippy Grewal in the lead role. The actor has also donned the writer-producer hat again.

To talk about the forthcoming film, the cast led by Gippy Grewal and Sonam Bajwa arrived at Cinepolis, Jagat Mall in Sector 17 on Tuesday morning. To live up to the theme of the film, a manji (cot) was laid out at the venue with Gippy Grewal dressed in a kurta-pyjama. Incidentally, Grewal’s debut production ‘Ardaas’ which released last year was a hit both with the audience and the critics too. “The story of ‘Manje Bistre’ revolves around a Punjabi wedding, with elements of romance and comedy. The film is a family entertainer and promises to make you laugh and enjoy. It will certainly make you feel good,” said Grewal.

Visibly excited about the launch was his leading lady, Sonam Bajwa, who remarked, “I am really excited about the film and eagerly awaiting its release. We cannot divulge much about the story at this juncture. All I can say at this point is that the entire team has made a great entertainer and a full ‘paisa vasool’ film.”

While Gippy’s ‘Ardaas’ sent a go-back-to-your-roots message to the audience, ‘Manje Bistre’, he tells us, is a movie which has equal elements of romance and entertainment. His co-producer agrees. “I feel Gippy is experimenting in Punjabi cinema to another level. He believes in giving the audience a “different” kind of Punjabi cinema and that is seen in his latest film as well,” said Jaggi Singh, who has acted in the film and also co-produced it.

Apart from an interesting storyline, the USP of ‘Manje Bistre’ is its music, put together by Jay K (Jassi Katyal). The title track of the movie has been sung by Nachhatar Gill. The song – Ja Vi Na – has been sung by Karamjit Anmol and penned by Kuldeep Kandiara. Another foot tapping song is ‘Dubai Wale Shaikh’ set to lyrics by Happy Raikoti and sung by Gippy Grewal and Nimrat Khaira.

“The music of the movie has got a good response. The trailer of the movie, which was recently released, has also created quite a buzz on both the digital media and the social circuit,” pointed out Grewal. The family drama also features actors Karamjit Anmol, Jaggi Singh, Gurpreet Ghuggi, BN Sharma, Rana Ranbir, Sardar Sohi, Sara Gurpal, Hobby Dhaliwal and Rana Jung. The dialogues have been penned by Rana Ranbir.

Reaching Out

By

Sanjeev Kochhar

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April 4, 2017

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Neerja Bhanot Pan Am Trust launches a mobile app to enable anyone to nominate a deserving person for the Neerja Bhanot Award from anywhere in the world

Every year, the Neerja Bhanot Pan Am Trust (NBPAT) invites nominations for the Neerja Bhanot awards. The annual awards were instituted in 1990 in the memory of the brave Senior Flight Purser, Neerja, who saved hundreds of lives while sacrificing her own during a Pan Am plane hijack at Karachi Airport in September 1986.

The awards are based on the two core values of Neerja: Do your duty, come what may and never tolerate injustice or compromise on self-respect. “The two awards consist of Rs 1.50 lakh each, a citation and a trophy. The first award is conferred on an Indian woman who, when faced with social injustice, overcomes the situation with guts and grit and then helps other women in social distress, while the second award is conferred on any airline cabin crew member, worldwide, who goes beyond the call of duty in a difficult situation,” informs Aneesh Bhanot, Neerja’s brother and Honorary General Secretary, NBPAT.

Photo By: Vikram Joy

This year, NBPAT has launched a unique mobile app – Neerja Bhanot App – that will make it convenient for everyone to nominate a deserving person from anywhere across the globe. “We wanted to reach out to as many people as possible and these days the digital format is the best medium,” said Akhil Bhanot, Managing Trustee, NBPAT.

The Neerja App will be available on both Android and iOS platforms and can be downloaded and installed free from Google Play Store for Android phones and tablets and Apple App Store for Apple products. The App has details of Neerja, the Neerja Bhanot Pan Am Trust, the earlier awardees, a picture gallery and a feedback section.“Anyone can nominate anybody and the Trust also accepts self-nominations. There is no nomination fee or any other sort of fees. Nominations are accepted throughout the year by the Trust. The Neerja Bhanot Pan Am Trust does not accept any donations either,” informs Aneesh.

The app was formally launched in Chandigarh by Maninder Singh, Chairman, Chandigarh Housing Board. Also present on the occasion was Air Marshal R S Bedi, Trustee, NBPAT and special invitees.

Joint Effort

By

Sanjeev Kochhar

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April 4, 2017

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Actors Binnu Dhillon and Ammy Virk turn producers; will collaborate on three films this year

Two ace actors of the Punjabi film industry have now turned producers. What’s more, they will collaborate to bring the best of writing, direction and distribution talents of the industry. Actors Ammy Virk and Binnu Dhillon have announced a three-film collaboration under their banners The Villager Studios and Naughty Men Productions, respectively.

Photo By: Vikram Joy

The announcement was made in Chandigarh on Monday. Both the actors, currently riding high on the success of their film ‘Bambukat’, also informed that they would be teaming up with award-winning director Pankaj Batra and writer Jass Grewal. The first of the three films will see Ammy and Binnu in the lead roles. Another film to be produced by the duo will have Binnu Dhillon in the lead role and is written by Jass Grewal. The movie will be directed by Ksshitij Chaudhary who has previously made ‘Mr and Mrs 420’. The shooting of this film will start in April.

Photo By: Vikram Joy

The actors informed that the third film will see director Smeep Kang of ‘Carry on Jatta’ fame pair up with writer Naresh Kathuria. This film will also cast the two actors and will go on the floor in July this year.

Speaking about his foray as a producer, Ammy Virk, the man at the helm of The Villager Studios, remarked, “It is always exciting to venture into a new arena. We have a team of the best with us. I am looking forward to the projects.”

Photo By: Vikram Joy

Binnu Dhillon, who launched Naughty Men Productions and announced the three-film deal, said, “I had been waiting to enter into production for some time now. I am really excited about this association. With these wonderful directors and writers, the movies are going to be nothing short of super hits.”

Owner of Omjee Group, Munish Sahni, was also present at the event. “Omjee Group will distribute all the three films worldwide. We are delighted to have joined hands with Binnu Dhillon and Ammy Virk and these talented writers and directors,” said Sahni.

Ammy Virk and Binnu Dhillon’s alliance as producers will surely increase the entertainment quotient and will be a treat for the audience.

Of Passion & Poise

By

Sanjeev Kochhar

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April 3, 2017

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For over two decades, Suchitra Mitra, an accomplished dancer, teacher and choreographer, has dedicated her life to teaching and performing Bharatnatyam in the city

The first thing you notice about her is her endearing smile and expressive eyes. The poise and grace are instant giveaways that the lady we are meeting today is an accomplished dancer. It would be unfair to call her just a Bharatnatyam exponent. When it comes to this classical dance form and its promotion in Chandigarh, Suchitra Mitra is an institution in herself.

Photo By: Vikram Joy

For over two decades, the renowned dancer has dedicated herself to teaching Bharatnatyam in a city that is, of course, popular for Bhangra. Among classical dances, Kathak has found favour too. “I first came to Chandigarh on the invitation of the Pracheen Kala Kendra and realised soon enough that there was no one teaching Bharatnatyam formally. People were aware of Kathak but not of Bharatnatyam,” reminisces Mitra who was then settled in Kolkata.

Photo By: Vikram Joy

“I fell in love with Chandigarh and since I was looking to freelance as an artist and teacher, I shifted here in 1996,” informs the dancer who was a star pupil of Kalakshetra, Chennai. She was awarded the Indian Cultural Trust Scholarship under which she completed the four-year diploma course in Bharatanatyam in just three years with a First Class. At Kalakshetra, she received training from the legendary Rukmini Devi Arundale. She also received personal training from stalwarts such as Padma Bhushan Padma Subrahmanyam and Padma Bhushan Kalanidhi Narayanan. Prior to Kalakshetra, she had been the disciple of Guru Thankamuni Kutty and she has also received prolonged training in Kathakali from Guru Govindan Kutty.

Photo By: Vikram Joy

Hailing from Assam, Mitra tells us that Manipuri was a popular dance form then but she was enamoured by the Bharatnatyam workshops that a visiting teacher would conduct for senior students in her school. “The fact that I couldn’t opt for it being a younger student, made me more curious about Bharatnatyam. I think I didn’t choose this dance form, it chose me,” Mitra smiles to say.

Photo By: Vikram Joy

Recognized as a Top Grade artist by Doordarshan, Suchitra is also a renowned artist of the Sangeet Natak Academy, Indian Council for Cultural Relations and North Zonal Cultural Centre. The prestigious Uday Shankar Award and the Shiromani Award are few of the many laurels bequeathed upon this artiste. In both 2011 and 2012, Suchitra was felicitated for her contribution to dance by the Chandigarh Administration. As a dancer she has performed across India and overseas in countries such as Japan, Korea, United States, United Kingdom, Malaysia, Nepal, Canada to name a few.

Photo By: Vikram Joy

“It hasn’t been easy to establish Bharatnatyam in the city as people aren’t exposed to the dance form. I still remember I had advertised for my workshops one summer and I got a call from someone who thought I was into arranging weddings (baraat),” quips the dancer. But that didn’t deter her spirit. “As an artiste, I like freedom and that is why I chose to work independently,” admits Mitra who has held innumerable workshops across schools and colleges.

Taking forward the guru-shishya parampara, many children and adults have trained under her. “I have always taught Bharatnatyam not with the aim that my student will go on to become a professional dancer or achieve a degree. For me it is beyond that. Each individual has own capability and talent,” admits Mitra.

She has choreographed grand stage performances – be it creative renditions of Rabindranath’s nritya-natyas to original full length works of art such as Ritu Ranga, Down the Valley of Seasons and Bhagavati Gange. Her most recent work was based on the story of Banda Singh Bahadur and that saw Mitra spend months learning the art of gatka. “It took me a lot of time to put it together. I had to do a lot of research. It was very well received and I gave it my all,” says Mitra who is planning her next teaching module these days.

She also feels that children should be exposed to art and culture so that they are able to appreciate it as adults. “Classical music or dance makes a person become sensitive to the environment and helps in shaping an overall personality,” sums up Mitra.

From Across the Border

By

Sanjeev Kochhar

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April 3, 2017

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The PHD Chamber's annual Pakistan Show claims to be much bigger this edition.

It’s a not-to-be-missed shopping opportunity, especially for those who love across-the-border fare. The PHD Chamber's annual Pakistan Show claims to be much bigger this edition. Apart from the special products, one will also get to enjoy a Sufi night and Pakistani cuisine. Here’s the info:

What: South Asian Consumer Fair & Trade Show 2017
Where: Himachal Bhawan, Sector 28, Madhya Marg, Chandigarh
When: April 7 to 10
Time: 10 am to 9 pm

Reel Good

By

Sanjeev Kochhar

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April 1, 2017

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Punjab Lalit Kala Akademi invited National Film Development Corporation of India (NFDC) to talk about its role in talent development and opportunities for aspiring filmmakers

It was a refreshing walk down memory lane as the screen played out visuals of award-winning films from the National Film Development Corporation of India (NFDC) stable – from the uber popular ‘Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron’ and ‘Mirch Masala’ to more recent ones like ‘Ship of Theseus’ and ‘Titli’ that have toured world festivals. The occasion was a special presentation organised by NFDC on the invitation of the Punjab Lalit Kala Akademi at Government College of Art on Friday morning.

Photo By: Vikram Joy

Steering the presentation was NFDC’s Prashanth R who briefed students about NFDC and its role in talent development and creating opportunities for aspiring filmmakers and screenplay writers. Over the years NFDC has worked with some of the most acclaimed filmmakers of India including Satyajit Ray, Mira Nair, Aparna Sen, Shyam Benegal, Govind Nihalani, Mrinal Sen, Adoor Gopalkrishnan and Ketan Mehta, to list a few. “In recent times, NFDC has been part of films like Lunch Box, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Dum Laga Ke Haisha, to list a few,” said Prashanth who also works in NFDC’s outreach programme. As part of the special presentation, Prashanth also quizzed the audience on film facts and gave away prizes.

“Not only does NFDC help develop talent but it also facilitates the growth of Indian cinema in all languages through productions and co-productions, script development and need-based workshops,” Prashanth addressed the students. “The aim of this presentation is to give you an idea about how NFDC can help aspiring filmmakers and scriptwriters. We invite ideas from younger talent and also help mentor projects,” he added.

For the uninitiated, NDFC also organizes Film Bazaar India – a co-production and distribution market for the South Asian region alongside the International Film Festival of India, Goa. It also organises the popular NFDC Screenwriters’ Lab for Indian writers wanting to build and develop screenplays within an inspiring and challenging creative environment.

So if you are an aspiring filmmaker or a visual artist with an idea for a film, you can get in touch with NFDC. For more information, log on to www.nfdcindia.com

A Full Circle

By

Sanjeev Kochhar

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April 1, 2017

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The ongoing dim sum festival at JW Marriott Chandigarh brings in diverse varieties of the plump favourite.

It’s one of our favourite places for an afternoon lunch. Because at Baluchi, the Indian fine-dining restaurant in The Lalit Chandigarh, the verdant green view is unmatchable. While their delicious meaty curries and buttered naans are quite a delight, with the fasting season on, we decide to try their Navratra special thali.

Photo By: Vikram Joy

Available for lunch, the thali turns the fast into a feast with its multiple dishes and generous portion size. Given how the weather is getting warmer by the day, the cool chhaas served on arrival is so refreshing. And while the chef gets the thali prepared, you can munch on ‘vrat wale chips’. The thali is uniquely shaped and arrives pre-plated. Since ingredients during a Navratra fast are limited, the thali brings in expected fare like pineapple raita, arbi ki sabzi, paneer, sabudana ki tikki and panner pakoras (made using kuttu at atta). The preparation is low on oil and doesn’t sit heavy on the palate or the stomach. A special mention here about the melt-in-the-mouth paneer which was made in a creamy red gravy and the chironji ki dal. The latter was a welcome surprise and we slurped it all up till the bowl was empty. And if like us you are wondering whether the chutney (that looks similar to mint chutney) is part of the Navratra fare, the chef assures us it is as it is made from peanuts. There’s also the quintessential swang ke chawal, sabudana kheer and halwa made from kuttu ka atta.

Photo By: Vikram Joy

The thali is priced at Rs 999 (excluding taxes) and will be available till April 5.

Does your Child Struggle with Studies?

By

Sanjeev Kochhar

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March 31, 2017

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Learning disorders are on the rise admits Dr Adarsh Kohli, Department of Psychiatry at PGI, who is spearheading research and intervention on the subject. Also, these children are not lazy or dumb, says Dr Kohli who has a word of advice for parents

At first, Mamta Sharma (name changed to protect identity) thought her nine-year-old son was simply “naughty” and avoided doing homework on his own. Otherwise an active child who met growth milestones, he would buckle up at the thought of academics, especially Mathematics. “He would keep postponing his homework. At first we dismissed it as a phobia for the subject but realised something was not right when I would sit with him and make him understand,” says this Chandigarh-based homemaker. Sharma sought help from a counsellor who in turn referred her to a special educator. “I realised that learning disorders are common now and there is help at hand,” says the mother of two boys.

Photo By: visiontherapyblog.com

Learning disorders is a now a common disorder which is being recognized in schools and being referred by teachers and parents alike. On an average, PGI’s Department of Psychiatry sees 25 children coming every month with various issues like difficulty to cope up with studies and failure to gain in academic skills. “While we have been working on identification and assessment of learning disorders for over a decade now, we realise the increasing need to educate parents, counsellors, special educators on identification of a disorder/disability and the intervention required,” says Dr Adarsh Kohli, Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh.

Dr Kohli who has worked extensively in the field of learning disorders, their identification, clinical assessment and techniques to help children, put together a seminar and workshop on learning disorders earlier this month. “Firstly we must realise that these children are not lazy or dumb. They are children who process information differently,” says Dr Kohli.

Through continued work in the subject, Dr Kohli and her team come across two kinds of parents – those who just want a disability certificate when child is in a senior class and don’t want to spend any effort to those parents who are willing to do what they can to help the child overcome the disability.

“Learning disorders interferes in acquisition of academic skills like speaking, listening, reading, writing, spelling, reasoning and organizing information. This disorder is not due to difficulties in hearing, vision and motor function, neither due to cultural, economic, or environmental disadvantage nor due to intellectual disabilities. These children do not make adequate progress and fail to keep up with their peers academically, are inconsistent in their ability to understand and complete schoolwork, may show scatter in their standardized test scores etc. These disorders may manifest as difficulty, as disorder or as disability,” explains Dr Kohli.

She further explains that if a child is not able to comprehend or has difficulty in understanding academics two classes junior to the one he/she is in, it can be sees an a learning disability. But, it is important not to jump the gun in making the analysis. “There needs to be a complete evaluation of intelligence, oral expression, written expression, listening comprehension, reading ability and comprehension, numerical ability consisting of calculations and reasoning to make a conclusion. Once identified, special educators should be able to carry out remedial education,” explains Dr Kohli.

Some common terms used for learning disorders:

– Dyslexia (reading disorder) – right brain thinkers who may be more artistic and creative, becoming poets, actors, inventors and artists.

– Dysgraphia (writing disorder)

– Dyscalculia (mathematics disorder)

According to Dr Kohli, there have been many researches in the department in the field of learning disorders. “Brain functions of these children and how are they different from normal children in terms of intelligence, memory, executive functions and perceptual motor tasks,” she informs, adding the need for creating awareness and more special educators.

At the moment, PGI has a special Learning Disorder Clinic that can help with diagnosis and clinical intervention.

Life in ChandigarhPeople, places and more

Life in ChandigarhPeople, places and more

Life in Chandigarhpeople, places and more

Crowning Glory

Shopping Special

The Bed Spread

Reaching Out

Joint Effort

Of Passion & Poise

From Across the Border

Reel Good

A Full Circle

Does your Child Struggle with Studies?

LIfe in chandigarh

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