BUSY BEEAfter starting her career asthe feisty wife of agangster in AnuragKashyap’s Gangs ofWasseypur, actressHuma Qureshi is lookingforward to a busy year

ahead with therelease of two films

- Ek Thi Dayanand D-Day.

PAGE 4 Þ

MORE TO ENTERTAINMENT National Geographic Channel brings brand

new shows this January. Scam City, a new

series that exposes the darker side of tourism

is all set to premiere on the channel during the

weekends. PAGE 3 Þ

PLAYING FOR LAUGHSActress Emma Stone has denied reports

that she was drunk when she presented

an Oscar at last year’s Academy Awards,

insisting that she was simply playing for

laughs. PAGE 4 Þ

monday | january 21 | 2013 | Chandigarh

A TURBANATOR ON AMERICAN IDOL!The biggest reality show ever, American Idol is

back with a brand new season. The show has a

pleasant surprise in store for Indian fans on the

very first day itself. The awesome-foursome met

Gurpreet Singh Sarin, an Indian Sikh. PAGE 3 Þ

TRIBUNELIFE+STYLE

Mona

It’s the last leg of the sea-son…for some it may meansome more endurance test-ing but for others, the winterlovers, it’s a treat extendedfor a few more days!

We check out what cityfolks love doing on colddays and chilly nights:

It is the best time of theyear for Neha Sharma, anEnglish trainer: “I lovewaking up to misty morn-ings, dress warm and headout for a walk. There arehardly any people on theroad (what a blessing) andone can soak in the natureand get back refreshed.”

For Astha, a young advertis-

ing professional, it’s themorning cuppa that makesher wait for winters, seasonafter season. Holding thewarm cup of tea while stillsnuggling in the bed is whatmakes for a perfect start to aday for Astha. “I am a recentwinter convert. Summer isgetting increasingly harderto bear. So I have takenrefuge in my favourite newseason,” shares Astha, who ofcourse depends on manymore cups of her favouritebeverage tea through the day.

While the women wespoke to had rather solitaryjoys, Amanpreet Singhspends the winter eveningsin the company of hisfriends. They hit 17 piazza

and spend the day checkingout the ‘crowd’. “I believe,winter gives you the libertyto move around, way morethan the long, scorchingsummer days. One can pullup a warm jacket, walk a bitand you are sorted,” heoffers, while adding, “Coldweather, misty hills, spatter-ing of the rain on the windshield is my idea of a drive.”

Well, Chandigarh beingclose to hills, gives easyaccess to watch, feel andplay with snow, there areothers who are happy stay-ing put. The foodies lovethe season, for they canindulge in the winter deli-cacies comprising hot gulabjamuns, gajar ka halwa,

pakodas and choice ofsoups. “I like all that’s hotand fried,” says Sunny,class twelve student whohas conveniently put off hisweight loss resolution toanother year (or season).For Sanya Jindal, it’s thebest time to indulge inbooks. “Cosy bed, hot coffeeand world classics to keepcompany, what more canyou ask from life,” asks thispretty girl as we catch herbuying Gone Girl by GillianFlynn at a bookshop.

Books, movies, food,music…when there isso much to choose from,what are you picking tobeat the chill?

mona@tribunemail.com

Take a chill pill

Winter gives us a host of reasons to be happy. Here’s a list of some…

Jasmine Singh

WITH countable days ofexperience by ourside, we qualify our-selves in the ‘been

there done that’ category. Wecan’t help but boasting aboutthe good and bad of both theworlds, some of us actuallytake it a little far and write abook on our limited experi-ences. Turning to these peo-ple in the Punjabi film indus-try, who have seen a world ofchange in the past 30 years,seen the lows and highs, thebetter and the worst, stand totalk about what they mod-estly call ‘the beginning oftheir lives and careers’.They cannot be written off asthey are the landmarks ofthe Punjabi film industry, astory in themselves.

DEEP DHILLONTHE BURLY JATT He left his village, Patti, forMumbai at the peak of ter-rorism. With only Rs 2,000 inhis pocket, Deep is one ofthe few jatts, who did notsell his land to make a forayin the entertainment indus-try. The actor cannot clearlyremember the year he shotfor his first Punjabi filmBaisakhi, but he clearlyremembers what it was like.

It was then…I have worked with four gen-erations of actors in Punjabicinema. I started at a timewhen non-Punjabi speakingpeople, especially Gujratisplayed actors. I worked withthe soft-spoken actor SatishKaul, Gujrati speakingArpana Chaudhary and lateron with Virender, GugguGill, Yograj moving on withHarbhajan Mann and nowDiljit Dosanjh. There wassome warmth in the moviesthat were made at that time.

And today…I understand the nitty grittyof professionalism now. Ittook me years to understandcinema. Today, when I seePunjabi cinema I can’tbelieve it myself. It took me25 years to see Dharamen-dra, and now because everyBollywood star has possibly

shot in Punjab, the kidsknow all the actors. Punjabicinema is an internationalphenomenon.

Miles to go before I sleepIt is my dedication, sincerityand belief in myself that haskept me going. I haveworked with the best in theindustry, not to mentionManmohan Singh, the manwho changed the face ofPunjabi cinema.

VIJAY TANDONTHE STALWARTAlmost 43 years, this is howlong actor, script writer andproducer Vijay Tandon’sPunjabi film career spreadsacross. His first Punjabi filmMa Da Ladla hit the the-atres in 1971 where heplayed the lead role.

Jack of all trade I have worked in approxi-

mately in 45 movies as ahero and as a villain. I alsoproduced a movie Kacheristarring Gurdas Maan that won a national award. In addition to this, I also wrote stories for Punjabi films, almostnine of them. I wrote thescript for Sarhad Paar, aBollywood flick.

Keep rollingIt has been so many yearsin front of the camera, butit still feel fresh and newwhen I am acting. I amworking in upcomingmovies Jatt & Juliet 2,Vyah 70km and Lucky DiUnlucky story.

On the listI have worked with the bestpeople in theatre as well asfilms. Ravinder Peepat isone director that I haveenjoyed working with.

RANA JUNG BAHADURBAD & LOVEABLEHis first Punjabi movieChan Pardesi was a huge hit.Rana Jung Bahadur hasspent more than 30 years inthe Punjabi film industryacting in over 60 films as vil-lain and comedian.

Something’s missingThe director was consideredsupreme in the good olddays and juniors had respectfor seniors. Today, I missthat respect in the industry.Only successful people arerespected now.

MEHAR MITTALLAUGHTER RIOTThis is a name that we all arefamiliar with. Having workedin over 100 Punjabi films,Mehar Mittal has spent overthree decades in the cinema.It is his comedy that madehim a popular person on the

sets as any other actor.

BN SHARMA SERIOUSLY FUNNYHe wanted people to fear himwhen he walked the street.This did happen for a whilewhen he started his careerwith the Punjabi filmBaisakhi. Today, he makesthe audiences roll with laugh-ter. From negative roles tocomedy, BN Sharma has seencomedy grow as a new genre.

Comic cutComedy doesn’t meancracking a joke, it alsomeans acting. Making peo-ple laugh is a serious busi-ness. I get into the skin ofmy character, and be naturalabout the way I say my dia-logues or act.

Much awaitedTu Mera 22, Main Tera 22 isa movie to watch out for.

)))))))

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They have seen it all— the change, theups and downs of the movement calledPunjabi cinema. Vijay Tandon, DeepDhillon, Rana Jung Bahadur and otherstalk about the industry— then and now

Ashima Batish

Sikh history is rich with thetangible heritage of the SikhGurus and their followers,and there are well-preservedrelics of the same. They glo-rify the Sikh heritage, butyet have not been given theirplace in the sun. Sikh Her-itage: Ethos and Relics is asincere effort made by co-authors, Bhayee SikanderSingh and Roopinder Singhto present the Sikh relicsagainst the backdrop of theessence of Sikhism.The book also unearths thehistory and lore of the peopleof Punjab. “Sikh Heritage:Ethos and Relics featuresphotographs and descrip-tions of unseen relics of Sikhheritage that further throwslight on the rich Sikh histo-ry,” says Roopinder, whoalong with the co-author,Sikander Singh showcasedthe book at the GovernmentMuseum and Art Gallery inChandigrah on Sunday. The book also gives the privi-lege to its readers to knowabout the artefacts that werelooked after by the descen-dants of Bhai Rup Chand.Bhayee Sikander Singhinforms: “Contribution alsocame in from the Mahara-jas of Patiala and Nabha,who proudly possess signif-icant relics of the Sikhs.”He is a scion of the Bagrianfamily, whose ancestorBhai Rup Chand was

blessed by Guru Hargob-ind, the sixth Guru. He isthe co-founder of Nishaan,a journal about Sikhs.The book will prove to be anencyclopaedia of Sikh Gurusand traditions of Punjab topeople who have little insightinto the subject. “The in-depth research and detailsmentioned in the book makesfor its unique content, which Iam sure will be appreciatedby people who are interestedin Sikh History,” addsRoopinder, who has to hiscredit Marshal of the IndianAir Force Arjan Singh DFC(2002) and Guru Nanak: HisLife and Teachings (2004). Paul Michael Taylor, Direc-tor, Asian Cultural HistoryProgram, in his introduc-tion, calls the book as a veryimportant document thathas beautifully illustratedthe details and yet isn't like ausual piece of history.

Sikh Heritage: Ethos andRelics, a literary work byBhayee Sikander Singh andRoopinder Singh highlightsthe essence of Sikh history

Once upon a time in Punjab

STAR OF THE YORE:BN Sharma

Explore the outdoors When most people loveto stay indoors duringwinters, try exploring theoutdoors. Dress warmand check out the parksor even Sukhna Lake.Yes, it’s almost freezingin the evenings but ifyou happen to be out ona moonlit night, youwould sure be stunnedby the beauty.

Host a cozy mealHow about throwing alavish meal for closefriends? Take a day off,bring out the recipe bookfrom the drawer, and letthe chef in you takecharge. Sure your guestswould appreciate awarm meal just like that.

STRONGPRESENCE:Deep Dhillon

A mirror tothe past

RIGHT NOTES: (From above)

Sikander Singh & Roopinder Singh

THINKSTOCK

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