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The Hindu : The virtual guideSRIYA NARAYANANAt virtualtourist.com, tourist reviews guide you while visiting a new cityTo say that the virtual tourist is spoilt for choice would be an understatement.It’s a breathtaking window-shopping expedition that leads the browser to visit one or more of the many spectacular options on display.The community on virtualtourist.com is eager to share. Where else can you find 469 reviews and 708 photos of the Trevi Fountain in Rome?Given that the website boasts information on over two million travel destinations, a good starting point is the Travel Guide section where you pick a city, Paris for example, after which it leads you to a page where thousands of members who live there or who’ve visited it recently offer you advice on where to stay, what to do and tell you about its nightlife, local customs and some ‘warnings and dangers’ for first-timers.The cover picture on this digital brochure is of the Jardin du Luxembourg in summer and is the first of over 42,000 photographs that cover pretty much everything from the Eiffel Tower to the Louvre. It helps that the average reviewer’s attention to detail is extraordinary.“Even a tourist on a one-day visit to Le Louvre should spend some time on the second floor of Richelieu Wing,” says a member who rattles off the names of a dozen paintings in that section.The ‘Travel Tools’ help you calculate time differences and convert currencies.You can also write to Language Helpers who volunteer to translate for free.By signing up as a member, you can add to their treasure trove of stunning pictures, handy hints and of course, your own take on the incredible places you’ve been.This way, the next time a starry-eyed traveller logs on to virtualtourist.com, there will be at least one more addition to the ever-growing list of things to do in the most beautiful cities in the world….More

The Hindu : How many of us hum the classic Hindi song from “Kohinoor”, “Madhuban mein Radhika naache re” knowing that it is raag Hamir? Or that “Aadha hai chandrama” from “Navarang” is based on raag Malkauns? Not that Hindustani music becomes less intimidating if one knows the raags.This is exactly what “Sunaad”, a group of music enthusiasts want to change through their musical efforts. With their fifth show of “Raag Sarita”, “Sunaad” once againembarked on its journey to make classical music appealing to the masses.In the past, the musical ensemble has come up with shows like “Raag Katha” – story of the raags as they evolved over 500 years, “Raag Pratha” – showcasing a different genre of dhrupad, khayal and tarana. In their latest offering “Raag Sarita”, Kumudini Katdare,had weaved all the 22 raags in a bandish (composition) as arranged in sequence according to the time of day. The composition titled “Raag Samay Chakra Malika” was directed by Tara Kini, the co-founder of Sunaad.The show demonstrated 22 raags representing the sequence of raags as they are sung in a 24-hour cycle.To show the moods, their typical musical movement, the raags were expressed through compositions from various genres, even film songs.Each line of the composition contained the name of the raag and represented the typical movement of the raag in question. The lyrics described the nature of each raag. “For instance, ‘Darbari Kaanoon Sambhaalat’ was meant to tell the viewers that raag Darbari represents ruling royalty. It was sung in kings’ courts and when someone like Tansen sang it, then he was singing it in the court of God,” explains Tara.To express raag Bhoopali’s many-layered nature, the group sang “tirvat” “Tirakita dha-dha dhi-dhi na” and to enable the lay listener to relate to it, the youngest member of the ensemble, 10-year-old Nishant sang, “Is duniya mein jeena ho to sun lo meri baat” from “Gumnaam”. Young performer Gowri…More

The Hindu : I start taking in the beauty of the Chittaurgarh fort at 10 a.m. It’s five in the evening, and I’m not yet done. Chittaurgarh, 112 km from Udaipur, is home to a massive fort spread over nearly 690 acres. The fort was built on a 180-metrehigh plateau, and is witness to the heroic spirit of the Rajputs.Two major attacks — by Allauddin Khilji in 1303, and Bahadur Shah, the Sultan of Gujarat in 1535 — damaged it, but Akbar’s assault in 1568 was the worst.Even whatever is left of the original fort looks beautiful. And, there are more than 50 view points — from Lakhotabari in the North to Chittori (Mohar) Magri in the South — to take in the sights.Of beauty and warI first head towards Padmini Mahal, named after the beautiful Rani Padmini. It is said that Allauddin Khilji saw the married Padmini’s reflection in the waters of the palace tank and demanded her hand.This resulted in an attack, and the brave Rajput men tried to defend the fort. When defeat was imminent, Padmini committed ‘Jauhar’ along with 16,000 Rajput women on August 25, 1303, and the men rode out to a fight until death.Nearby is the Kalika Mandir, dating back to 8th or 9th Century AD. A mela is held here during Navaratri.Near this is the nine-storeyed Vijay Stambh. The 157 steps lead you to a height of 122 feet.Colonnaded porticos and sculptures of mythological subjects engage your attention as you ascend the Vijay Stambh.The tower was built over eight years (1440-1448) by Rana Kumba to commemorate his victory over the forces of Malwa in 1437. Next on my agenda is the Meera Mandir.The temple is simple, and has idols of Krishna with a basuri (flute) and Meera singing a bhajan.The adjoining Kumba Shyam Mandir (built in 1449 AD by Rana Khumba) has a varaha idol, and many figurines are carved on…More

The Hindu : Seventymm, the movie rental company, presents a bundle of frolic and fun for youngsters to enjoy the summers in the comfort of their homes.The website is running a special “summer camp”, with a whole range of movies, quizzes and videos. It offers movies ranging from “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”, “Chamber of Secrets”, “Prisoner of Azkaban” to all-time favourite superhero films like “Spiderman”. There are also fun and informative movies like “Great Expectations”, “My Friend Ganesha”, “Bal Hanuman”, “Panchatantra” and animated movies like “Meet the Robinsons” and “Barbie as the Island Princess”.To rent a movie, play the quizzes or even check the videos log on towww.seventymm.com. So this summer, let your kids enjoy with loads of movies, masti and some learning. For more information on the camp call 41510071/73….More

The Hindu : BeatstreetNidra 2 - CDTimes MusicRs. 295This Nidra album is the second launched under the Music Therapy series of Times Music to induce deep sleep for both harried nerves and the tired soul that looks to retire for a serene snooze. Aiding the process is the album — conceived, createdand produced by Narayan Agrawal with the strains of the soft flute by flautist Raghunath Seth with music arrangement by Vivek Prakash.Legend has it that when Lord Krishna played on the bamboo reed, not just the locals of the countryside but even the cows and calves of the pastoral setting gathered around him to enjoy the serene melody. The sound of the flute is supposed to bring in the calmness and this is the reason movies have water-associated visuals going well with the strains of the flute. In fact, be it a portrayal of pathos, ecstasy or plain tranquillity, the flute comes in handy because of its characteristic therapeutic features.In some countries, including India, music therapy is used to enhance growth.Nidra 2 captures the calming properties of Indian Classical music with raag Shivaranjani. Raghunath Seth’s rendering helps us transcend the journey from ‘anxious wakefulness to peaceful sleep’ as the quiet atmosphere would be engulfed with the yielding reed that sounds composed and unruffled. The aural treat showcases in some poised rendering where the flute is slow-paced and meanders on the scale touching the contours with ease. Shivaranjani originates from the Kafi Thaat which is used to compose tunes to please Lord Shiva. So, the album inundates itself with Shivaranjani and at vantage points has a chorus of female voices helping create a positive process for rewinding.Tanav 2 –CDTimes MusicRs. 295Tanav 2 album is also another one launched under the Music Therapy series of Times Music for peace and “frees your mind from all the knots and stress that bind the free spirit of mankind,” says the accompanying…More

The Hindu : The name of this new store is Kilol, which means “to play” in Sanskrit. And the products in this store are a play of colours and prints. This store on the second floor of Garuda mall, Magrath Road, offers clothes designed by Mamta Mansingka, who works with artisans in Jaipur. The store is a franchisee of the unit in Jaipur and managed by retail entrepreneur Yashodhara Shroff.The pricing of the products is steep.“That’s because each one comes in a unique cut and only vegetable block prints are used,” say the people at the store.The store is meticulously stacked with bedspreads and bedcovers on one side and a wide range of salwar suits in varied hues and sizes and cuts on the other. They are all displayed colour wise. You have to buy them in complete sets. While the normal and medium sizes are ready-to-wear, the extra large kurtas are left unstitched at the sides “so that we can make them as per the customer’s need.”There are salwar suits in cottons, jute cottons and silks and they start at Rs. 1,250 while the pure chikan suits start at Rs. 2,050. There are also salwar suits in tussar silks that come at Rs. 3,200. This section is brimming with pastel shades. In case you prefer to get the dress stitched yourself then you can opt for the dress material that is priced between Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 6,400.For these there are also chiffon duppattas that come at Rs. 300 onwards. For those who like to wear short kurtis with jeans then there are also short tops and tunics thatcan be picked up for Rs. 340 onwards. Another added attraction is the kaftan styled suits that are priced at Rs. 4,100.Kilol also offers saris. One big attraction in this section is the kota cotton sari with chikan work for the border and the pallu. The combination really catches…More

The Hindu : He was the nice guy on a package tour. He organised the itinerary and games, cracked jokes and patched up egos. The handy, man-next-door, married, with kid tagging along.Till someone pointed out, “That guy? He is P Sridhar, MD Pyromatic India. He makes heat transfer equipment for engineering labs and chills out at the poles.”Pardon me? “Yeah, he was in the Arctic. Last August.” Really? Sridhar sensed the disbelief. “Come to my office,” he commanded.Melting icebergsThere, he unveiled 2,000 photographs of the Arctic landscape, of midnight sunlight and melting icebergs, brilliant in colour and composition.He showed a write-up on him by a local reporter, and rattled off information that a Greenlander might grope for.“A Greenland adventure tour operator said I was the second Indian to explore the Arctic Greenland,” he said.“I’m definitely the first Chennaivaasi to do so. My co-tourists were surprised that I had come alone from India.”WanderlustHis expedition to the Arctic Circle was the latest in his wanderlust-filled life, something he promised himself when left behind with grandparents as a young boy.While in Prashanthi Nilayam, Puttaparuthi, for a degree course, he made his father pay for a trip to Singapore. “Since then, I’ve travelled alone in the six continents. The next will be Antarctica.”This trip, however, was different. Preparation began a year ago with three-hour workouts — shuttle and ball badminton games and weightlifting at the gym.He shopped for special trekking shoes, thermal wear, a woollen coat, waterproof jacket, lengthy muffler, two pairs of gloves, sleeved shirts and pairs of cotton jeans. Dark glasses and a cap in hand, he was ready for the cold unknown.So, off to Copenhagen via Helsinki, where he switched to Air Greenland for a four-and-a-half-hour flight to Kangerlussaq. Developed by the U.S. Defence Department in 1960, it’s the only airport in north Greenland (Arctic region) which can take in large aircraft.No, you don’t have to shack it up…More

The Hindu : What will a biography of V.S. Naipaul say to alter perceptions from what one has heard and read about the writer already? The abominable episodes from his life, the petulant, pesky, grouchy, cranky persona, not to forget his bigoted positions on writers…all these are a well-established part of literary mythology. “The World is What it is”, the authorised biography of one of the most significant writers in English by Patrick French, released in the city recently, has pulled of the impossible. A touchingly honest and perceptive piece of writing, it certainly is among the best books written in the recent times. Having complete access to Naipaul’s archives, the book does indulge its source, but the biographer’s fair-mindedness is remarkable. He goes close, but never so close to strip him of his critical distance.Not for the EmpirePatrick French who took nearly seven years to complete the biography, has also written books on Indian and Tibet and won several awards. French, however, turned down the OBE (The Order of the British Empire). “The word Empire smacks of the colonial order. Moreover, the most important thing about being a writer is that you have the freedom to write the way you feel. You can no longer claim any liberty once you accept such an award. And, I’m not even a fan of the Empire,” he says.“I was sure I would work on the biography only if given access to his paper archives and allowed to take extensive interviews of him,” recalls Patrick.The archives ran into 50,000 pieces of paper and it had been sold to the University of Tulsa in Oklahama in 1993, by the time French embarked on the project. Naipaul took months before he gave French an answer. But once consent was given, there was no interference.French quotes Naipaul as saying in a speech in Tulsa in 1994: “The lives of writers are a legitimate subject…More

The Hindu : “It’s a dream debut for me,” exclaims Vivek Sharma. If you have Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan to direct in your first film, life does appear perfect. “I came up with the plot but it was producer Ravi Chopra’s idea to make Amitabh Bachchan play the ghost. He agreed after the first narration itself.” Bachchan is playing a ghost for the first time in his career and Vivek insists the actor has still a lot which has not been tapped. “Here he is principally displaying three emotions: the troublesome ghost, the friendly ghost and an emotionally hurt father when he was alive.” The film is about a child whose parents, played by Shah Rukh and Juhi Chawla, have told him there is nothing like ghosts. “They have taught him in angels live in the darkness. So when one day the child comes across this real ghost, he is not afraid of him. The ghost is taken by surprise and there starts an interesting relationship,” says Vivek.Vivek, who came from Jabalpur to be a filmmaker, started his career by assisting Mahesh Bhatt on films like “Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke” and “Chahat”. “Then I did the production designing of ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’. During the making of the film I met Shah Rukh and joined his production company Dreamz Unlimited and was with him till ‘Om Shaanti Om’.”On the chemistry between the two giants of the film industry, Vivek says, “Before ‘Bhoothnath’, Amitabh Bachchanji and Shah Rukh Khan had already worked together. They have an amazing understanding of each other’s strength and weakness. In fact, they cover up the director’s mistakes.”Vivek says both are spontaneous actors so they don’t face the problem that a method actor like Dilip Kumar used to face with Motilal. “They provide three-four variations for one scene for the director to choose from. Like in the climax they gave me two…More

The Hindu : Blow hotSoprano saxophonist Kenny G performs here todayAMAZING ARTIST Kenny G has transcended genresThe not-so-kind people call his music elevator music. However, Kenneth Gorelick, better known by his stage name of Kenny G, has his loyal supporters.The soprano saxophone player, who also on occasion plays alto and tenor saxophone and flute will perform in India for the first time.The concert is organised by Black Dog from United Spirits and DNA Networks in Bangalore on May 12 at UB City, 24, Vittal Mallya Road, to celebrate its 125th year.Kenny Gis one of the few instrumentalists who have transcended genres to become a household name.In his latest album, “Rhythm and Romance” Kenny G has applied his distinctive style to the already emotionally-charged Latin genre and the results are sure to connect with his millions of fans in India“Rhythm and Romance” is a unique combination of rich samba, salsa and bossa nova love songs anchored by Kenny’s intoxicating and signature saxophone melodies. From the classic ballad “Sabor a Mi” to the romantic “Besame Mucho”, Kenny has created a tantalizing album unlike any other in his catalogue.On this album, Kenny performs with some of the best Latin musicians including Alex Acuña of Weather Report (drums), Ramon Stagnaro (guitar), John Pena (bass), Michito Sanchez (percussion) Enrique Martinez (accordion), Nathan East (bass), Paulino Da Costa (percussion) and producer Walter Afanasieff (piano) to create a truly infectious rhythmic style.He will perform with a five-member ensemble compositions both from “Rhythm and Romance” and old numbers.Tickets priced at Rs. 3,000 and Rs. 2,000 are available online onwww.ticketpro.in, and at select Planet M outlets. Call 25201115 and the All India Toll Free No. on 1800 425….More