Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Saturday, July 18, 2009
CHAL CHALEIN(The Story)
Mithun Chakraborty plays their lawyer. It becomes a national issue overnight.arents get annoyed with this movement. Anoop Soni represents the parents at court. Government selects Nandita Prakash (Shilpa Shukla) as their lawyer. Chief justice of India Justice Bharat Kumar (Mukesh Khanna) is appointed as...
The 1980s co-stars will be seen in 'Chal Chalein'
The 1980s co-stars will be seen in 'Chal Chalein'
Mithun with Mukesh Khanna and Kanwaljeet Singh on the sets of "Chal Chalein"
picture: Viral Bhayani
Mithun Chakraborty, the original disco king of Bollywood, will be seen sharing screen space with his 1980s co-star Rati Agnihotri in "Chal Chalein". But they won't be seen as sweethearts.
Mithun, who acted with Rati in films like "Shaukeen", "Pasand Apni Apni" and the super-hit "Boxer", among others, will prosecute her in the movie.
"Mithunda and Ratiji are not paired together," said the director of the film Ujjwal Singh who makes his directorial debut with the social drama. "While, Mithunda plays a lawyer, Ratiji plays an introvert housewife from Bihar," Singh told IANS.
Mithun will prosecute Rati and her husband in a case filed against them.
"It is the story of eight students, who find themselves in extreme anxiety because of their parent's constant pressure to excel in their academic career.
"One of them is unable to withstand the pressure and commits suicide. All the seven friends decide to file a case against their dead friend's parents and government.
"The parents of the child who commits suicide are played by Rati and Kanwaljeet Singh, while Mithun plays the children's lawyer. The whole case takes the shape of a national issue and generates a lot of public opinion," said Singh.
One of the defence lawyers is played by "Chak De! India" girl Shilpa Shukla and Mukesh Khanna will be seen as chief justice.
The music maestro from south India Illayraja has scored the music of the film.
The film, that has just concluded its shoot, is in its editing stage and expected to hit the marquee sometime in September, Singh said.
Indo-Asian News Service
Chal Chalein Himachal (Lets go to Himachal)
After having a hard time at work, a break is very important. Not only does it help unwind, it also gives exposure to other parts of the country. We also took a similar break, from the heat of Delhi to the cool weather of Himachal.
Manali-Abode of Manu (Manu, who recreated the human) in Himachal Pradesh, India. This town also has a way to Ladakh via Rohtang Pass. It’s a peaceful place famous for apple orchard and woolen shawls and nice cool excursions.
We started our journey from New Delhi National Highway -21 via Panipat, Chandigarh and Kullu. Taking a Volvo bus has advantages as you could relax in the night, and you would be somewhere in Himachal when you wake up the next morning for having a cup of hot tea. You will reach the city shortly thereafter.
We reached Manali at 11am and after check-in to our hotel (Manali heights, which we found very good) took brunch and cab to see city attractions.
The local attractions, namely Club house, Tibetan Monasteries are just ok type. It is advisable to carry an extra pair of cloth, if you plan to go to Vashisht Hot water springs. Hadimba temple is nice specially for taking a walk around. It is apparently also famous amongst film-makers and we also witnessed shooting of a film when we were there. Manu temple in old Manali is also worth a check-out, to see old homes and walk down on narrow lanes.
This place and its surroundings have loads to offer in terms of activities like para-gliding and skiing. Solang valley is a must-visit place, do indulge in paragliding other than good sightseeing. And if you are on a long trip, just keep half day time solely for this so that you can do this from greater heights (3-4 hours activity in total).
The road to Rohtang pass has lots of Nallas (or waterfalls) and you will like to stop there while driving on the broken narrow roads. Once you reach the destination, you can take a walk around, climb the snowy mountains or do skiing. Ginger tea and noodles is a good way to relax after a tiring walk. This place has small local shops for all these. Just beware of Kesar (saffron) and Kasturi seller, who will go all out to con you.
When we visited, snow was there but not enough to really excite you (particularly if you have seen snow before). But it was more of wholesome experience, the journey that made it interesting.
On the way back, some dynamites were kept to clean up the road and our cab stopped right before that, so that way it was bit real adventurous. While coming down, we stopped at Mandi (which is a small village) and saw sunset.
And yes, before I forget to mention, I must advise you on keeping one day just to explore market and have lazy lunch at Johnson café or Casa Vella café. Both these places are highly recommended to have good food.
Point to keep in mind- don’t buy Chingu (kind of quilt but it is all a fraud) though the locals have pretty interesting story about the same, don’t buy saffron (you can’t get 15gm for Rs. 100 anyway).
Carry enough cash- there are just 2-3 ATMs and they hardly work.
Wake up early- go for walk, have nice food with tea/coffee, do activities- there are many options (trekking, rafting, paragliding, skiing etc)
And yes, don’t forget to carry woolen clothes. It’s cold there in any season.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Rani Mukherjee
Rani and Rakhi together
What’s this odd connection between Rani Mukherji and Rakhi Sawant. Any guess? Rani Mukherjee set to dance an item number with Rakhi Sawant now. Both the girls are busy preparing for their dance number together in Yash Raj Film’s Dil Bole Hadippa!.
The item number, titled ‘Bhangra bistar’ is sung by Sunidhi Chauhan and Alisha Chinai. These singers are considered by YRF as their lucky mascots for giving them ‘Dhoom machale’ in Dhoom and ‘Kajrare’ in Bunty Aur Babli.
Yash Raj’s two biggest hits in recent times have been the Dhoom films and Bunty Aur Babli. So the banner insisted on them singing ‘Bhangra bistar’ as they want to make the song a sure-fire hit. The song is a rumbustious Punjabi track composed by Pritam.
Apparently, Rani Mukherjee spent weeks getting into shape before they began rehearsing for the song. Rani took it as a challenge to match steps with Bollywood’s original item girl.
Rani Mukherjee is dressed like a man for the major part of the film, the idea was to get Rani to do that one sizzling feminine number to balance the gender bender. Just like Saira Banu did a ‘Thoda sa thehro’ in Victoria No. 203 where as was dressed as man, Rani has ‘Bhangra bistar’ in Dil Bole Hadippa!.
Rakhi woos Rani in Hadippa
It is a well-known fact that Rani impersonates a boy (sardar) in her upcoming film Hadippa. The film also stars Shahid Kapur and is directed by Anurag Singh.
Rakhi Sawant, who is well-known for her sizzling item numbers, has done an item-number or the film wherein she woos Rani. The song has a comic twist for Yash Raj’s forthcoming film, Hadippa. The number with a comic undertone was shot at Yash Raj Studios recently.
Unaware of Rani’s reality, Rakhi falls in love with Rani and expresses her love unabashedly through the song.
The song evokes laughter what with Rakhi wanting to get closer to Rani, (who is dressed as a boy) and a horrified Rani running away from her. In fact, after the shot, Rakhi would often end up teasing Rani about it and both would have a good laugh.”
A source close to the production unit said, “Rakhi has performed an item number with a difference. Unlike her earlier item numbers, which invariably have a seductive undertone, this number has a comic one.”Rakhi’s spokesperson confirmed the news and said, “Yes it is true that Rakhi has shot such a song for Haddipa but I cannot divulge any other details.”
This one is to watch!!!
Bhavikk’s prediction for Rani
By mathurneha
Noted astro-numerologist Bhavikk Sangghvi predicts what’s in store for the talented actress Rani Mukherjee in days to come.
According to Bhavikk Rani was born on 21st March, 1978 which makes her a Number 3 (Jupiter) person in numerology. Rani is an Arien (ruler Mars–Number 9) and her destiny number adds up to Number 4 (Rahu). Technically, Rani is also a cusp between Aries and Pisces, hence Rani Mukherjee will get the vibrations of this sign as well which is primarily ruled by No.3 (Jupiter).
Rani will be entering her 32nd (3 + 2 = 5) year now which is one of her weakest numbers. Bhavikk predicted that 2009 is once again a tough year for Rani like last year. Sangghvi added that Rani’s next release, Yashraj Films tentatively titled Hidappa adds up to Number 28, which signifies struggle and failure. Neither the film nor her performance will help to bring success in her career.
On a positive note, Bhavikk said that the time after March 2010 is very good for Rani to settle down. If Rani spell her name as Rani Mukherjee than it would vibrate on an auspicious number and it will help her with her personal life in terms of selecting the right life Partner. As for Aditya Chopra is concerned, her ‘jodi’ with him is a good one but at the same time could be a bit of ego clashes. Sangghvi also suggested that Rani should give it a serious thought if there is anything taking place between the two.
A word of caution from Bhavikk to Rani – This year she should stay away from much public glare to avoid misunderstandings and unnecessary controversy.
Rani – A Mentor to Sherlyn Chopra!
In a profession that witnesses ugly cat fights due to cut throat competition, Rani Mukherjee has taken the first step of complimenting a co-artist for her performance. She surprised Sherlyn Chopra, who has a major role to play in the yet untitled Yash Raj Films production, by not just lending her tips on how to face the camera but also by being her friend as well as a mentor, a good combination indeed.
The incident happened recently at BPCL Sports Club where the film, which stars Shahid Kapoor as the male lead, was being shot. Rani was in a particularly happy mood and showered praises on the girl who has not signed any other project than this Yash Raj film and is riding her luck on this single film.
She went ahead and called Sherlyn as a younger version of Hollywood legend Sophia Lauren. Since few years back, Bipasha Basu was compared
with Sophia Lauren, Sherlyn was naturally ecstatic.
The 1934 born Sophia Loren is an Academy Award-winning Italian film actress. She is widely considered to be the most popular Italian actress of her time and is also famous for being a major international
sex symbol.
Sabyasachi to design Rani’s wedding dress!!!!!!!!!
If the latest rumors in Bollywood are to be believed he moment has finally arrived for Aditya Chopra and Rani Mukherjee.
The Yash Raj scion, who was staying at a suburban five-star hotel for a long time due to differences with his parents is back in his parent’s home but on one condition that they don’t interfere in his personal life (read Rani Mukherjee)
The entire problem started with Yash and Pamela Chopra’s disapproval for Rani as they didn’t want their son to break-up with his wife Payal. The DDLJ director, however, didn’t give in to their demands… and is still dating the queen bee.
He apparently wanted Payal to move out of the house before he returned home. Though Pam still does not like Rani much, she has had to bend because she could not stay away from her son.
But what about “poor” Payal? Hearsay is she gets a settlement, worth more than Rs 20 crore, besides a plush spacious in Juhu, close to Sanjana Kapoor’s Prithvi theatre.
With everything else falling in place, Adi is finally filing for a divorce. His married life of five-odd years is headed nowhere, they have told the family court in Bandra. The mandatory six-month cooling-off period required after filing a mutual consent divorce petition will get over this May for the producer.
It took three joint meetings with their lawyer for the two to set their divorce process in motion.
Their lawyer advised them and they agreed not to mention the terms of settlement in the court documents, opting instead for an out-of-court arrangement.
We further hear that Rani Mukherjee and Aditya Chopra are set to marry on February 10, 2008 at Umaid Bhawan Palace hotel in Jodhpur, following an as yet unacknowledged engagement ceremony in June.
Umaid Bhawan Palace Hotel has been famous few months ago when English actress, fashion model Elizabeth Hurley tied knots with the Indian businessman Arun Nayar there.
Some reveal it as “It’s one of the most expensive place in India, but Aditya Chopra and Rani Mukherjee think it’s the perfect place to get away from the prying eyes of the media world.
It seems like the couple have booked the hotel in advance to make sure that everything is done in a very hushed manner. Only some close friends have the information about it. Of course, Rani’s family members know about it but it’s not sure about Aditya Chopra’s family.”
Earlier talking to press Rani vehemently denied that she was engaged to Aditya.
At the launch of Raga Crystals range of women’s watches, when Rani was quizzed on rumors of marriage to Aditya Chopra, she sarcastically responded.
“You might not know but I have five children also. Go find them and I will reward you,” Rani said.
So as of now we still are on hearsay but it definitely seems that matters are heating up on the personal front for Rani Mukherjee.
After Katrina in Slice and Rani’s much seen endoresement of Munch , we will now see Rani endorsing Margo.
Henkel India chooses Rani Mukherjee as a brand ambassador for their Beauty product Soap Margo. Margo has a strong platform in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar.
It is perhaps for the first time that Margo is going in for a Celebrity Endorsement.
So here’s to seeing much more of our Bollywood stars on the small screen and bill boards endorsing daily use products!!!
After the last of her ” Prostitute Trilogy” as Rani affectionately calls her role in Sawariya her forthcoming film is a fantasy family drama directed by Kunal Kohli. It requires her to do dangerous sequences flying in the air as an angel.
The film reportedly inspired by the classic drama Mary Poppins (1964) requires Rani’s character to play a nanny with magical powers who looks after the kids of Saif Ali Khan’s character, a business executive.
In it, Mary Poppins ,played by Julie Andrews, is a super-nanny who looks after the kids of a cold banker. She flies in with her umbrella whenever the children are in distress and proceeds to set things right for them using her extraordinary magical powers, before flying off again.
It was the flying around that she had to do as an angel that forced Rani to grapple with wires, harnesses and pulleys, equipment you would expect Hrithik Roshan and Akshay Kumar to be more comfortable with.
“Rani underwent many rehearsals and trials for the stunt scenes. We shot on many outdoor locations in Mumbai, at Film City and inside the Yash Raj studios. At every place, we took utmost precaution. It could have been very dangerous if Rani had slipped. Thankfully, she pulled it off without retakes,” said Kohli .
Another challenge for Rani was that she had to wear the same delicate angel ensemble, designed by Manish Malhotra, throughout the film.
Amisha Patel, also in the film, faced her own challenges. She had to learn Scuba diving for underwater sequences between her and Saif, presumably the masala part of the film
Surname :Mukherjee
Date of Birth :21 st March 1978
Nickname :
Star Sign :Aries
Eye Colour : Light Brown
Height : 5′2″
Husband’s Name :-
Children :-
Rani Mukherjee is all set to do a moral about-turn.
After playing three different kinds of prostitutes in The Rising, Laga Chunari… and Saawariya Rani Mukherjee is set for a U-turn.
In her new under-production Yashraj film directed by Kunal Kohli Rani plays an angel who descends down to look after business-executive Saif Ali Khan’s children
Rani is all smiles about this role reversal. “You can call it my prostitute trilogy. I hope people will remember my three different portrayals of the Fallen Woman with affection.” Says Rani with her trademark smile.
Some of her critics have sniggered at Rani’s back-to-back roles as a prostitute in Laga Chunari Mein Daag and Saawariya.
Rani ,however, is unfazed. “What’s the big deal? An actor’s job is to play a variety of challenging roles. And I don’t think anyone has the right to question any actor for his choice of parts.”
How does it feel to be playing an angel?
“I can’t be happy doing just good-women or bad-women roles. Luckily for me I got to experiment”, says the actress who has always taken grave risks with her career.
“Right now I’m not allowed to talk about Kunal’s film. But yes, any opportunity to surprise yourself and the audience is welcome,” says Rani.
For now Rani is happy playing the angel in Kohli’s film. She’s currently shooting for the film with Saif Ali Khan in Bangkok.
Hit pair Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukerjee will set the screen on fire once again in a Kunal Kohli-directed film. However, despite the film having started production a month ago, chhote nawab Saif has just started to make his presence felt on the sets.
Wondering why?
“This yet-to-be-titled flick brings the Hum Tum team Saif, Rani and Kunal together. But Saif was not involved in a single shot in the initial days ‘coz of his changed appearance for another Yash Raj film he was shooting for viz Tashan.
In Tashan, he wears an unusual hairstyle with long sideburns and a double barrel moustache. He can’t alter this look for the Kunal Kohli film and get back to his Tashan look in a matter of days. So the makers had planned both the films in such a way that the schedules don’t clash and disturb continuity,” an insider revealed.
Now that Tashan is over, Chote Nawab is busy catching up on the shooting schedule for the new movie.
So now Rani’s Career and Personal Life are both on a High!!!
Way to go Rani….way to go!
It is one of the most awaited weddings of Bollywood …..But even before the marriage vows have been exchanged the duo have run into troubled waters!!! If our sources are to be believed then, Rani and Adi marriage plans are in big trouble thanks to our renowned astrologer Bejan Daruwalla! Daruwalla who has great experience on his side, has predicted that Rani and Adi match is not auspicious.
He says that as Rani and Adi are both born on the same star date 21st they share the same wave length, but accordingly to Mr. Daruwalla the relationship will only flourish if they remain friends. The astrologer also warns that if Rani and Adi ever plan to marry then, they will suffer huge losses.
Adi’s parents Yash and Pam have heard Bejan’s prediction and hence, they have not been cheering the Rani-Adi jodi.
Rani began her career with a movie titled ‘Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat’ and she sure hopes that at this stage ‘Dilwale’ Adi takes the ‘Dulhaniya’ Rani away.
Moreover, for the shooting of a particular sequence, even though Rani Mukherjee was not required, she still hung around to see the way Sherlyn approached her scene. Informs a source, “Sherlyn didn’t have
any clue that Rani was watching her on the monitor, especially for her close up shots. She was engrossed in her performance and was later told by one of the production unit members that Rani was very
interested in knowing how she was delivering.”
The ‘bindaas’ and ‘outrageous’ young woman is happy that she was oblivious of Rani’s presence on the sets.
Rani was watching Sherlyn’s close up shots with keen interest as she is apparently quite fond of her never ending desire to learn the nuances of the art of portraying emotions. In fact, Rani also gave her tips on how to face the camera and explained to her how important it is to know technical details of the varied camera lenses.
Sherlyn was glad that Rani was spending so much of quality time in discussing technical nuances with her.
Rani has been around for so long. She is a reigning star and for someone like her to spend time with her says volumes about her humbleness and professionalism.
Rani Mukherjee’s first entry into mainstream Hindi cinema was in 1997, with Salim Akhtar’s film Raja ki Aayegi Baraat. But she had her first brush with commercial success with the romantic flick Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), directed by Karan Johar. In this film she worked with Shah Rukh Khan and her cousin Kajol. Her performance in this film as the London bred Tina Malhotra was highly acclaimed and she came to the spotlight.
Her career in Bollywood also includes the following films: Mehndi (1998), Ghulam (1998), Hello Brother (1999), Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaaye (2000), Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega... (2000), Bichhoo (2000), Hadh Kar Di Aapne (2000), Hey Ram (2000), Badal (2000), Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... (2001), Nayak: The Real Hero (2001), Bas Itna Sa Khwaab Hai (2001), Chori Chori Chupke Chupke (2001), Chalo Ishq Ladaaye (2002), Saathiya (2002), Mujhse Dosti Karoge! (2002), Pyaar Diwana Hota Hai (2002), LOC: Kargil (2003), Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003), Chori Chori (2003, Rani’s first comic role), Calcutta Mail (2003), Chalte Chalte (2003), Veer-Zaara (2004), Hum Tum (2004), Yuva (2004, for which she earned rave critical reviews by essaying the role of a Bengali housewife), Black (2005), Bunty Aur Babli (2005), Paheli (2005), The Rising: Ballad of Mangal Pandey (2005), Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006), Baabul (2006), Ta Ra Rum Pum (2007), Laaga Chunari Mein Daag (2007) and Saawariya (2007). She also made special appearances in the films Mann (1999) and Om Shanti Om (2007).
She has played diverse characters in these films, many of which are superhits. With the film Mujhse Dosti Karoge! Rani Mukherjee made her first entry into India’s biggest production house: Yash Raj films. In the film Veer-Zaara she proved her immense talent as an actor and earned a lot of praise. Here she plays the role of Saamiya Siddiqui, a Pakistani lawyer who takes it upon herself to give justice to and unite two lovers, Veer Pratap Singh (an Indian officer, played by Shah Rukh Khan) and Zaara Hayat Khan (a Pakistani woman, played by Preity Zinta). But her best performance till date is undoubtedly in the movie Black, directed by Sanjay Leela Bansali. In this movie, she essays the role of the deaf and blind Michelle Mc Nelly with great perfection.
Rani won her first Filmfare award in 1998 for the Best Supporting Actress (Kuch Kuch Hota Hai). Subsequent filmfare awards include Filmfare Critics Award for Best Performance (2002, Saathiya), Filmfare Best Actress Award (2004, Hum Tum), Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award (2004, Yuva), Filmfare Best Actress Award (2005, Black) and Filmfare Critics Award for Best Performance (2005, Black). She is the sole actress to win both the Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress Filmfare awards in the same year. She also bagged the IIFA best actress awards (2004, 2006), IIFA best supporting actress award (2004), Zee Cine best actress awards (2004, 2005), Screen awards (2004, 2005) and Apsara best actress award (2005).
This Bollywood diva has also involved herself in many charitable programmes. She visited Rajasthan along with the NDTV team in 2004 to encourage the jawans. Moreover, she performed at the HELP! Telethon Concert organised in 2005 to assist the Tsunami victims. An integral part of the the Temptations 2005 show, the actress helped in collection of funds for NCPEDP, a charitable group. Again, she donated her prize money in Kaun Banega Crorepati show to the Holy Family Hospital.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Beauty
Fruity do-it-yourself tips
This summer, take good care of your skin. Stay stylish with these quick and easy-to-do beauty tips. Clue in.
Today, payday, one day
With these, you’ll have no excuse to look anything but sexy — money or no money! Read on for complete details.
'I've been crazy about makeup'
Bollywood and TV actor Prachi Desai talks about her beauty highs and lows. Click on for details.
Udita swears by...
Superbod, superhot Udita Goswami on her best beauty buys.
Celina Jaitley's beauty secrets!
The Bollywood hottie spills the beans behind her flawless skin and beautiful hair. Clue in for some tips.
Your recession-proof beauty book
Pricier, you'll be happy to know, isn't always the way to go. We've scoped out the beauty basics that you should splash out on-and more important when save is the way to go!
I barely ever comb: Anusha
Anusha Dandekar, VJ, emcee and actor, shares the secret behind her flawless skin and hair. Clue in for useful tips.
'Let your skin breathe'
Singer and Emcee Shibani Kashyap lets us in on her beauty buys and routines. Check out the details here...
Latest from Gallery
Swimwear this summer
Hollywood glamour meets sun-kissed style in this season’s coolest fashion statement—metallic beachwear. We took quite a shine to this latest trend and hunted out the top picks on the racks this summer.
The skin I am in!
Too much skin doesn't always look glam! Here, some who look hot covered up, and others who don't!
Ah, Asin!
Her name means 'without sin' but she's got a body that is made for it. She's also got confidence that's sexy, style that's elegant, and now, post-Ghajini, success that's heady. Say hello to Asin...
Read story:
Asin, girl of the moment
5 tricks to great sex
We tell you how to make your woman feel sexier in bed!
Queen of Nile
Sexy Celina Jaitley is sitting pretty...
Cosmo FFF Awards
The occasion was the Cosmopolitan Fun, Fearless, Female awards function and the attendees included the most glam men and women from the entertainment circuit. You can't afford to miss this!
Pinto is Cosmo cover girl
From the runway to the red-carpet after just one movie, Freida Pinto prepares for a career take-off.
Bring Boho Back
Arty meets earthy in this springtime trend to create a vibe that’s as laidback as it is dramatic. Just the way we like our style...
Photographs by MANI.
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Woman on top: Katrina
Single-minded, sexy, and successful, you’d think you know what Katrina’s life is like. What few know? Behind it all lurks a kind heart, and some insecurities that every one of us shares.
Cosmo Couples Awards
It’s a month for love, after all, so we decided to zero in on Bollywood’s coolest, and their other halves — for better or worse! Here’s our pick of apt titles (or Facebook-style superlatives!) for India’s hottest!
Bring on the bling!
Bling isn’t going anywhere, so you can wear it bare this minute, and layered up come fall.
Hot Ways To Ask Out A Guy
Of course he'd be psyched if you said, "You're damn hot. Let's get together." But who wants to go out on a limb when you're not sure yet if the chemistry is mutual? Here, under-the-radar ways to put it out there.
Queen of Nile
Sexy Celina Jaitley is sitting pretty...
Cosmo FFF Awards
The occasion was the Cosmopolitan Fun, Fearless, Female awards function and the attendees included the most glam men and women from the entertainment circuit. You can't afford to miss this!
Pinto is Cosmo cover girl
From the runway to the red-carpet after just one movie, Freida Pinto prepares for a career take-off.
Bring Boho Back
Arty meets earthy in this springtime trend to create a vibe that’s as laidback as it is dramatic. Just the way we like our style...
Photographs by MANI.
Latest from Gallery
Woman on top: Katrina
Single-minded, sexy, and successful, you’d think you know what Katrina’s life is like. What few know? Behind it all lurks a kind heart, and some insecurities that every one of us shares.
Cosmo Couples Awards
It’s a month for love, after all, so we decided to zero in on Bollywood’s coolest, and their other halves — for better or worse! Here’s our pick of apt titles (or Facebook-style superlatives!) for India’s hottest!
Bring on the bling!
Bling isn’t going anywhere, so you can wear it bare this minute, and layered up come fall.
Hot Ways To Ask Out A Guy
Of course he'd be psyched if you said, "You're damn hot. Let's get together." But who wants to go out on a limb when you're not sure yet if the chemistry is mutual? Here, under-the-radar ways to put it out there.
When food turns you on more than sex!
Nidhi’s mother shared her diary with me. By this time, her daughter was in the US, in a counselling facility that specialises in providing intensive treatment to severely depressed/suicidal women. Nidhi was lucky; she got understanding and access to medical help in time. Each year, though, thousands of women in India (and across the world) aren’t as lucky. Depression is as dangerous as it is hard to diagnose; add all the layers of bias and misconceptions that exist and you have a bubble waiting to burst. And for those who came in late and haven’t paid attention to stats on the subject—women are congenitally way more prone to the disease.
Most important: Rarely are victims themselves able to diagnose the disease. Which means it may be up to you, as a friend, sibling or daughter, to watch out for the signs in those you love. Here’s a quick download of what you need to know.
DECODING DEPRESSION
According to a publication by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Maryland, USA, called Depression: What Every Woman Should Know, “Life is full of emotional ups and downs. But when the ‘down’ times are long lasting or interfere with your ability to function, you may be suffering from a common, serious illness— depression.” This is perhaps the simplest way to identify an illness so complex that it can even lead to suicidal thoughts and actions.
Every day, as soon as I wake up, I feel like going back to sleep. It’s as if I have nothing to live for. I jus t feel so tired. I don’t want to go on like this. What is happening to me? |
Spotting the signs
Individually none of these are conclusive, but if you see a combination of these signs—or extended lengths of feeling any one of these, it’s a red fl ag. Watch out for: Feeling persistently sad or constantly ‘empty’; losing interest and pleasure in most activities including sex; being restless, irritable or just crying easily; getting bogged down by immense guilt, worthlessness or hopelessness; sleeping too much or too little; sudden change in appetite, whether it’s eating too much or too little; being tired 24/7; and of course frequent thoughts of ‘ending it all’, they’re danger signs to clue into, and fast!
The different faces of depression
Broadly speaking, depression can be divided into three categories: Major or clinical depression; dysthymia and manic-depression; or bi-polar disease.
Clinical depression: Someone who’s clinically depressed will exhibit all or some of the symptoms we’ve ID’ed for at least two weeks. These bouts could last as long as a few months or more, and could recur several times in a lifetime.
Dysthymia: You’ll see the same symptoms, but in a milder form, however they’ll last at least two years. Dysthymia is basically a condition in which you live a joyless existence, and feel constant exhaustion. You can also experience intense depressive phases.
Bi-polar Disease:It’s perhaps the rarest. It involves days of severe ‘lows’ interspersed with bursts of mania. During manic episodes, you become extra talkative, disproportionately happy, spend recklessly and may be reckless sexually as well.
Do we know what causes it?
Yes and no. Genetic reasons can play a role in whether or not someone is prone to depression but the patchy data available makes it clear that a whole bunch of other causes can trigger it. Research suggests that the brain biochemistry is a signifi cant factor in depressive disorders. Significant loss, a difficult relationship, upheavals in lifestyle, or an acute or chronic physical illness can make you succumb. The big deal here — women are twice as likely as guys to be clinically depressed or get dysthymia.
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Research shows that in girls, there’s a direct connection between the onset of adolescence and depression. Puberty brings more tangible pressures for girls: Bodies change, identities need to be formed, decisions need to be taken for the first time, and sexuality needs to be dealt with.
From puberty to personality problems
“Schoolgirls have many anxieties and confl icts due to their physical and emotional growth. Personality problems like shyness, inhibition, jealousy, sensitivity, and complaints show more strongly in girls. The internet and TV expose girls to liberal lifestyles but societally it’s not like we’ve gone too far from orthodox family values. This situation puts a lot of young girls in a state of fl ux that normally leads to depression,” says clinical psychologist, Pragna Mitra.
Take Naina, 12, a student: A cheerful, bright pre-teen, Naina was a born leader, a gifted athlete, with a strong academic record. You could have called her a rockstar preteen— and then came adolescence with all the angst that goes with it. In Naina, the leadership traits started to turn into rebellion; she hated going to school and, on account of her parents’ inability to deal with the sudden change in her personality, even tried to kill herself. The doctors who treated her confi rmed that she was suffering from severe depression.
Depression is more common in women than in men, at a ratio of approximately 2 to 1. While morbidity is higher in women, mortality in the form of suicide is greater in men. Suicidal attempts (parasuicide) on the other hand are more common among women. |
Rocky relationships
Some researchers also insist that women are prone to depression thanks to the particular dynamics they tackle—juggling home and work, looking after kids, aging parents, in-laws and of course marital/relationship issues. In fact, rates of clinical depression are said to be highest among the separated and divorced. For Sanaa, 21, the world revolved around her boyfriend, Rajat. He was a few years older than her and seemed to think she was god—or at least, worthy of worship. For three months, things were fabulous. Then came a reality check—Rajat started objecting to the clothes she wore, the way she talked, the friends she hung out with. As is typical with control-freaks or emotional abusers, the criticism would come with veiled or direct threats of leaving her.
“He’d keep telling me he was going to walk out and because he seemed so into me, I actually began to believe the problems were actually my fault. Then one fi ne day, he just walked out on me claiming he couldn’t continue the relationship because his family didn’t think I was good enough. I was shattered. I went into extreme depression, had to change cities, couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep. That nightmare lasted almost two years and still gives me shivers whenever I think of it. The worst part is I’m constantly afraid that I’ll slip back into that darkness,” confesses Sanaa.
Hormonal horrors
Reproductive events such as the menstruation cycle, pregnancy, and postpregnancy; or menopause in some women can also bring about fl uctuations in mood that could lead to depressive symptoms. Women with infertility problems have also exhibited signs of extreme anxiety and stress. Added to this, traumatic events such as child abuse, sexual harassment on the job, and fi nancial insecurity can all foster an acute sense of low self-esteem and a sense of helplessness, self-blame, and social isolation.
WHEN SHOULD YOUGET HELP
One of the most common signs that clinically depressed people show is a feeling that their situation is ‘incurable’. Luckily, this is totally not true: Like with most other ‘ailments’, the earlier depression is treated, the better the chances of preventing it from happening again. If you or someone you love has been through a period of severe trauma or strain, along with a constant feeling of extreme negativity for more than two weeks, you need to recognise that your anxiety and powerlessness goes beyond normal.
The next step? Slotting a visit to a qualifi ed professional for an evaluation instantly. This could be a psychiatrist, a psychologist, a clinical social worker or a mental health specialist. And don’t forget that treatment of depression is a collaborative effort between you and your doctor, so if you’re uncomfortable with the person in front of you, feel free to visit someone else. Your regular physician can guide you in fi nding a counsellor/doctor. Just remember that feeling better is a slow process and you shouldn’t expect miracles in a matter of a few days. The most common methods used to treat this condition include antidepressant medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of the two depending on the severity of the illness.
Having said all this, depression is still a tabboo even amongst the most informed. So if you realise your ‘crabby’ phase has lasted longer than a couple of weeks, or your friend, mother, sister—anyone you know, has been ‘feeling low’ for that long, speak up and ask for professional help. You could be averting serious disaster!
It burns calories
Forget power yoga; a little sweaty sexercise is an easier way to get your cardio and strength training. Sex raises your heart rate and burns 150 to 200 calories an hour— that's equivalent to a brisk walk. Kissing uses 29 muscles and torches 20 calories per minute.
It beats blues
The next time you're feeling gloomy, skip chocolate - some X-rated action could be a better way to beat the blahs. Chalk it up to endorphins (happy hormones)— neurotransmitters that are released during sexual activity. Endorphins are produced in the brain and make you feel happy, causing that classic 'afterglow' phenomenon.
It helps heal
During intercourse, two chemicals are released in the body: Endorphins and oxytocin; together, they act as a powerful opiate. Studies have shown that sex increases your pain threshold for migraines and even menstrual cramps!
It de-stresses
Finally, a way to beat stress that makes us actually want some more! Sex can help lower your blood pressure when you're reacting to stressful situations, thanks once again to the wonder-chemical oxytocin!
It slows ageing
Sure, a trip to the dermat might help eliminate a wrinkle or few. But sheet sessions with your partner could give you even greater anti-ageing benefits. Research shows that people who had sex once or twice a week had higher levels of immunoglobulin A—an antibody that plays a critical role in the immune system—than those who had sex less often.
Bonus trick
There are physiological benefits of sex: Positive changes in parameters like pulse and heart rate, reduction in BP, dilation of blood vessels and capillaries of the skin, leading to a lovely 'glow'!
22nd news
शांतिनिकेतन में माओवादियों ने दी दस्तक!
रवींद्र नाथ टैगोर की विरासत पर भी अब माओवादियों की निगाह पड़ गई है. माओवादियों की धमक विश्वभारती विश्वविद्यालय तक आ पहुंची है. पहली बार इस विश्वविद्यालय की दीवारों पर माओवादियों के पोस्टर नज़र आए. इन पोस्टरों में लालगढ़ ऑपरेशन की मुख़ालफ़त की गई है.
पंजाब: बाप ने बेटियों से ही किया बलात्कार
पंजाब के भटिंडा में एक घिनौनी करतूत का पर्दाफाश हुआ है. एक पिता पर अपनी चार बेटियों से बलात्कार का आरोप लगा है. बरसों से बेटियों को अपनी हवस का शिकार बनाने वाला ये बाप अब पुलिस की गिरफ्त में है.
भोपाल: बलात्कार के आरोपी संत लालसाईं का समर्पण
बलात्कार के भगोड़े आरोपी संत लालसाईं ने भोपाल के महिला थाने में सरेंडर कर दिया है. आरोप के मुताबिक संत लाल साईं पर एक नाबालिग लड़की से बलात्कार का आरोप है. वो पिछले 8 महीने से पुलिस को चकमा दे रहा था.
छात्रो पर हमले, कोर्ट का केंद्र से जवाब
ऑस्ट्रेलिया में भारतीय छात्रों पर हुए हमलों पर सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने केंद्र सरकार को नोटिस जारी किया है. सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने पूछा है कि भविष्य में ऐसे हमलों को रोकने के लिए सरकार ने क्या कदम उठाए हैं. कोर्ट ने सरकार ने 26 जून तक जवाब मांगा है.
ट्रेन के टॉयलेट में नवजात बच्ची मिली
कैसे होंगे वो माता-पिता, जिन्होंने अपने जिगर के टुकड़े को बेसहारा छोड़ दिया. मध्य प्रदेश के इंदौर में हुई है ये रोंगटे खड़े कर देने वाली घटना. माता-पिता ने मासूम बच्ची को ट्रेन के टॉयलेट में छोड़ दिया.
लालगढ़ में भारी सुरक्षाबल तैनात
लालगढ़ में पैरामिलीट्री के सुरक्षा जवानों ने अपना मोर्चा संभाल रखा है. सुरक्षा बलों का एकमात्र मकसद आम लोगों को बिना परेशान किए हुए लालगढ़ की चुनौती पर विजय हासिल करना हैं. लालगढ़ जाने वाले हर रास्ते पर आने जाने वालों को कड़ी जांच से गुजरना पड़ रहा है.
रत्नागिरी बंदरगाह पर सुरक्षा की लापरवाही
26/11 के मुंबई हमले में आतंकी समंदर के रास्ते आए थे. तब गृह मंत्री पी चिदंबरम ने भी समंदर की सुरक्षा में चूक मानी थी. इसके बाद भी सुरक्षा पर ध्यान नहीं दिया गया और आज हम जो खुलासा करने जा रहे हैं, उसे देखकर आप हैरान रह जाएंगे कि किस तरह एक बंदरगाह अनाथ हो गया है. ये बंदरगाह हैं रत्नागिरी के.
लालगढ़ की घटना को देखते हुए झारखंड में हाई अलर्ट
लालगढ़ की घटना से झारखंड पुलिस परेशान है. खतरा इस बात का है कि वहां से भागे माओवादी कहीं यहां ना आ जाएं. राज्य में पहले से ही नक्सलियों का उत्पात है. ऐसे में माओवादियों का साथ मिलने से ये हिंसा और भी बढ़ जाएगी इसीलिए राज्य पुलिस को हाई अलर्ट कर दिया गया है.Monday, June 8, 2009
What's changed on Cricinfo
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So what should I say? Welcome to the new Cricinfo? But that will be a misrepresentation. In most ways it is still the site we have all known, and as many of you have pointed out in response to my earlier piece, why do we need a new Cricinfo? Let me repeat a word that I used in the other piece: this is Cricinfo renewed. It's a step, a significant one, forward.
Change is often unsettling. We trust the old ways because there is evidence that they work, and there is no evidence yet that the new ones will. We are already feeling wistful about the old site, so we know how some of you feel. As Nietzsche said, love is more afraid of change than destruction. But to that, let's add this one from the Buddha: Everything changes; without change, nothing remains.
Change for the sake of change is indulgence, but mostly, it is the only thing inevitable in life. Finally, success and failure, happiness and misery, come down to how we manage change. We derive our confidence about this redesign from one central truth: our singular focus throughout this process has been to enhance your experience of the site.
Take a look the . The most important thing about it is that it is a celebration of content. There is more of it, and it is organised better. Earlier, we had all our editorial content stacked up in a single central panel. The structure gave us no other options. As we kept adding new features and sections, they kept piling up, the page grew longer, and there came a point when we could add no more.
The starting point of this redesign was the navigation. In some ways, the left-hand navigation bar was easy for us to manage: we could do pretty much anything with it. All we had to do was to add a new item to the menu whenever we needed to. But it was sub-optimal from the usability point of view; you needed to scroll to see it in its entirety. And, equally importantly, it ate up vital homepage space. By moving it to the top, we have achieved two of our prime objectives. We have given you a cleaner, more logical and intuitive navigation. And we have freed up space to showcase content.
On the face of it, the navigation is smaller. But it packs in much more. The hierarchical design contains a second, and sometimes a third, level that takes you deeper into the site with a single click. For regular users who have their preferred sections, it's a great tool. For example, if you like the , point your mouse at Features, go down to The Short Stuff, and then click on My Favourite Cricket story.
To help further, we have added a Quick Links strip, just below the navigation, to highlight the major current events in cricket.
Below it, the content is organised in a richer yet simpler fashion. The big stories of the day take centre stage, in a distinctive panel that also houses the video player. Concerns that the video player might slow the site down are unfounded, because the video starts playing only when you click on the relevant tab. The space vacated by the navigation is taken up by a wider lead photograph, which enhances the visual appeal of the page.
The other news headlines are directly below the main stories, and there are now more of those: nine as opposed to four. At the bottom of the news panel, we have links to In Focus, a section that aggregates content on a topical big issue. On the menu today is the row over the hosting of the.
All our features content - and - are now showcased together in the Specials panel, with little icons next to the headlines marking out the sections. The panel is split in the middle by three of the daily favourites: and .
Our writers give Cricinfo a distinct voice and there a small panel below Specials to give you direct access to them. The blogs bring up the base in this column.
The new homepage is also an opportunity to give prominent positions to some of our most visited sections: statistics and photographs. We now have a where you will find all the records, columns and blogs (The Numbers Game, Ask Steven, The List, It Figures) and features relating to statistics, in addition to graphs and helpful links from Statsguru, a cult in its own. You can to be featured here as well.
But the most important, and for me the most exciting feature, of the homepage is the scorecard module. Live match coverage is the soul of Cricinfo and the small scores module in the top right corner had never quite felt right. Now it has been given its rightful place in the wider format. But more than the size, it's the way the scores module works that hooks me.
To start with, you can now see the live scores, and match situations, upfront. Scorecards are neatly organised by category: you will always find live matches involving international teams on top. The domestic tournaments are grouped together by country, and a collapse-expand option allows you to access as much or as little information as you like. Results and Fixtures are now part of this panel and thus accessible directly from the homepage.
Of course, the redesign doesn't stop at the homepage.
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The scorecard page remains light, but it is significantly enhanced. It's cleaner, aesthetically more pleasant, and most of all, it incorporates everything else you might want to read about the match: reports, comments, news, quotes, all organised by the day. You can even see the match photographs on this page the moment they are uploaded. And for the coolest feature, click on the next to the batsman's name.
The fixtures and result pages are more user-friendly. You can now filter them by country, competition, and game format. And don't miss the weather forecasts that are now part of the page (and the scorecards). All sections now have a local search and the story pages now have contextual links with the text area. I could go on and on, but it is perhaps best that you explored the site yourself.
Of course, a lot more is still to be done. The blogs are still in the old template. A more powerful search is being built. And your comments will find a more prominent place on the site. And though we have tried our best to eliminate all the major bugs, it is likely that you will encounter a few glitches, and we hope you will .
Some of you who happen to be rugby fans may have noticed a similarity to scrum.com, and that's because our sister site, which was relaunched in 2008, adopted some of the early design ideas. Cricinfo is a much larger site, and we have refined and sharpened those ideas further.
It's a huge day in the life of Cricinfo. We have seen this taking shape over the months, page by page, section by section. There is joy and relief that it has now sprung to life. There is a sense of fulfillment too, and it's a privilege to share it with you.
In the end it's about you. Your passion and faith runs Cricinfo. What we have tried to do through this exercise is to be worthy of it. Cricinfo has evolved, but the soul of the site remain intact. Some things must never change.
Mostly a triumph
The redesigned Cricinfo has attracted masses feedback: much of it positive, some disapproving, and a few outright angry. We asked some of our peers what they thought
June 4, 2009
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Tim de Lisle, former editor of wisden.com and editor of The Intelligent Life
I thought the redesign was largely excellent - not just fresh but more open, more inviting, more navigable and less claustrophobic. It feels more like a major sports site and less like a nerds' convention, and yet the nerdy bits - the scores on the doors, the stats homepage - are very well done so you've pulled off the trick of keeping both camps happy.
For me there are two jarring notes, both easily fixed. The Cricinfo logo doesn't stand out as strongly as it did - the red of ESPN argues with it, and there's clutter round about - sometimes the ad swamps the logo altogether. I'd give it a nice bit of white space and let it sing out. The other thing is the black box on the homepage. The black is forceful, but the yellow out of black feels wrong - like a different site. Blue is such a signature colour for you, I would change those yellow slugs to pale blue. But mostly it's a triumph. You've clearly thought the thing through and executed it very well. Congratulations to the whole team.
Mukul Kesavan, novelist, essayist and historian
The redesign is a huge improvement. Transformation would be a better word. This is a very good-looking site, where it is easy to find your way around. I feel no nostalgia for the old Cricinfo homepage, which was cramped and which, especially on the right-hand side, looked like an anthology of bad Indian signage.
The row of links on top of the new page with its dropdown menus works very well. The older site was a bit like maze that you had to learn your way around: here the tabs signal the different sorts of content clearly. (I'm not sure why there are separate tabs for "Fixtures" and "Series"; in the interest of consistency the latter should be part of the former's dropdown menu.)
The large box for for current scorecards is a delight. The commentary is much clearer in two colours, and the revamped scorecards with their clickable descriptions of how wickets fell tell me nearly everything I need to know about a match at a glance.
I'm not sure that the static photograph in the black news box is the best use of prime space. If the homepage can't open by default on the video tab because of loading times, then the still photograph ought to be, I think, part of a slideshow, where the image keeps changing. For the past hour or so, the photograph has been one of the New Zealanders celebrating at the fall of an Indian wicket. This seems a bit newspaper-like: perhaps it could change every five minutes or so, so that the site feels refreshed, and to use a bad word, kinetic.
I speak as someone on the wrong side of 50 who finds small print a strain: the default font size on the site makes me squint a bit. I can magnify it, but that messes up the formatting, especially with the scorecards.
The blog formats were dull and unadventurous to begin with; now, with the redesign, they look like sludge. If bandwidth isn't a crippling restraint, it would be a huge improvement to have embedded youtube videos and bigger photographs in the blogs.
On the whole, though, this is a wonderfully successful revamping of the site, one that I had long hoped for but more or less given up on. Congratulations.
| "I was a bit unsettled by the new look at first. However, having had the opportunity to navigate the site properly, I have almost forgotten what the old one looked like!"Simon Borchardt, editor, SA Cricket Magazine | |||
Mike Coward, Australian cricket writer
It does arrest attention. It's easy and accessible and quite seductive when it comes up. I love the scoreboard presentation too.
Simon Borchardt, Editor, SA Cricket Monthly
As you say, change can be unsettling, and I was a bit unsettled by the new look at first. However, having had the opportunity to navigate the site properly, I have almost forgotten what the old one looked like!
I like the way the live scores of all matches are on the right-hand side (so you can see what's happening at a glance without having to open any links). I also like the way you now have a headshot of the columnists (I've always wondered what they look like) and how you use a quote from the article to draw readers in.
The scorecards do look better than they did before, and I like the "+" next to the batsman's name that lets you see how he got out. I also like that there are far more news stories visible in the news section (often in the past, still relevant stories would drop off the list because there was just so much news on that day).
At first I didn't like the black news block, but now I barely notice it and I think it's one of those things that grows on you.
Imran Khan, cricket communications manager
The black patch is, to my mind, wholly unwise and frankly disastrous. It is unattractive, ghastly, and deadens the site - as opposed to adding drama. I understand the desire for drama, but I perceive it to be a failing of many a news-oriented website. The drama ought not be in the site design and layout, but in the content as offered by the sport in question. Perhaps "it just ain't cricket" applies best here. Particularly at this juncture in world cricket, Cricinfo need not feel the need to sex up the sport through website design - cricket is doing a pretty good job of that all by itself.
Cricinfo, for me, is loved because it gives me what I need in a simple relatively easy-to-use manner. I log on and the business of cricket reportage, stats etc. is what is available and what is the focus, not the sexing up of the news through design and sensationalism. Now Cricinfo has removed itself from that by feeling the need to sex up. Cricinfo is departing from its position of the cricket website of record.
Scyld Berry, editor Wisden Cricketers' Almanack
I can accept any changes as long as the writing is dark on a light background, not light on a dark background. Maybe I'm alone, but I find that really putting-off on the main page, as it is much harder to read. That's far and away my initial reaction. The rest of the changes I'm sure will be fine.
Peter Lalor, cricket correspondent for the Australian
It's very bright. It was a bit of a shock at first, but then I got comfortable with it. I always found the old site easy to navigate.
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