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The Hindu :

Namita Jain gives Jaldi Fit ideas for people with no time

Photo: S. ThanthoniFit it! Namita Jain is a keen fitness expert

Namita Jain, a renowned wellness expert and clinical exercise specialist based in Mumbai, reveals how to use everyday opportunities to get fit.

A couple of months back, Namita launched a “Jaldi Fit” DVD, a home workout DVD in English and Hindi showing result-oriented exercise routines. Before you get your copy of the DVD, follow these easy ways to keep the blood flowing and the body running.Stretch at your desk

It is a great idea to take short breaks to simply stretch and release stiffness and tension from your muscles while at work. Make use of small available opportunities, use your time on the phone, while working on your computer or waiting for an appointment to stretch.While sitting

Contract and relax all your muscle groups while sitting. This improves circulation and energises the body.Take the stairs

Take the stairs rather than the elevator. With practice, you will be able to do this without getting out of breath.Get moving

Get up and walk around the room every hour of sitting. Remember to do this when you are watching the television or at the office to avoid stiffness and improve blood circulation.Relaxing your eyes

Simple eye relaxation techniques will help improve vision and release eye strain. With regular practise, the eye nerves are nourished, receiving a richer supply of blood.

Here are some techniques to relax the eyes: Palming: Briskly rub your palms together until they are warm and then place the cupped palms over your closed eyes. Remain in the position for at least one minute. Repeat this exercise as often as you can. Blinking: Cultivate the habit of blinking regularly to prevent eye fatigue. This is a simple but effective method to release eye stress. Splashing cold water: Cold water is an…More

The Hindu :

Ashwin Sanghi’s The Rozabal Line has caught the attention of readers

PHOTO: K. PichumaniFASCINATED BY RELIGION Ashwin Sanghi

Did Jesus live in India at any point in his life? Is Rozabal, the tomb of Yuz Asaf in Srinagar, in fact, the final resting place of Jesus Christ?

Ashwin Sanghi doesn’t pretend to know the answers to these questions — in fact, he goes out of his way to remind you that he’s a) not an academic researcher and b) just a storyteller, a spinner of yarns.

But, with “The Rozabal Line”, what the Mumbai-based businessman and first-time novelist does is ask that really fun question — what if? What if it was and his blood line survives in the region to this day? And, what if that line was somehow entangled with the current-day religious politics and terrorism?

Sanghi’s mystery/thriller novel, built very much along the lines of “The Da Vinci Code” (complete with ruthless assassins and references to the Illuminati), seems to have caught the fancy of readers since, making its way onto India Today’s bestseller list.

But it didn’t exactly have the easiest road to publication. “I sent out the manuscript to 100-odd publishing houses and 99 said no or didn’t bother to reply,” Sanghi says. “So I decided to self-publish on lulu.com (under the name of Shawn Haigins) and I’m glad I did, because it created a buzz online and soon blog posts started popping up.”

That’s how Westlandfound the book, and approached Sanghi about an Indian print edition. “They said: ‘What plans do you have for India?’ And I said none, because no one wants me!” he laughs ruefully.Mixed reactions

Three months of editing later, “The Rozabal Line” hit the bookshelves for real, and not surprisingly, it’s provoked some pretty varied reactions. “I’ve been called crazy on the one hand and been told that it’s thought-provoking on the other,” he comments.

“Mostly, I…More

The Hindu : y>TRENDS Time to take care of your eyes. NEETI SARKARchecks out some of the best-looking sun glasses, just right for your face

Photo: V. Sreenivasa MurthySTYLE AND SENSIBILITY Shades have become a necessary fashion accessory

Come summer and everyone feels the need to sport a pair of trendy sunglasses. While protection against the scorching heat is one of the reasons to wear them, shades have become a necessary fashion accessory off late.

You wouldn’t find only bikers and tourists taking extra care against the sun. Youngsters out there are going all out to show how to look cool this summer without having to spend a fortune on a decent pair of sunglasses!

It is no secret that bigger is indeed better when it comes to choosing the perfect pair of shades. Retro is most definitely the watchword! And though oversize has been in for quite a bit, it doesn’t mean you can follow last year’s fashion blindly. However, like the previous years, classic black frames are still hugely popular. Thick plastic frames of the 70s are also very hip.

And for all those women out there who cannot think of substituting their favourite pair of doughnut-shaped goggles with the more stylish broad ones, the good news is that you don’t really need to! However, there is a word of caution. Designers don’t think men ought to take a risk with this kind of style!

According to Fashion Designer Divya Tater: “Aviators are the hottest buy this season, especially for men. Buying a pair of unisex aviators is a safe bet.”

Karuna Rampal, a fashion designing student observes: “Another style that’s selling big time is the tortoise rim. They are outright bold and look great on fashion-conscious women.”

“The gradient types of lenses are also in. These lenses appear darker from bottom upwards and the best part about these kinds of shades is that they make you look mysterious!” adds…More

The Hindu : y>Watch the best of cinema as part of the Experience Cannes initiative

Revisionist viewpoint Days of Glory looks at the Second World War through the eyes of four Algerian soldiers

While the deadlock between producers and multiplex owners show no signs of getting resolved, world cinema buffs have a lot to cheer about thanks to NDTV Lumière. Cineastes will have a chance to watch award winning and nominated movies handpickedfrom the Festival de Cannes.

“The Mourning Forest” will be screened today. The winner of the Grand Prix in 2007, revolves around two mourning individuals, Machiko (Machiko Ono) who is grieving the loss of her child, and her patient, Shigeki (Shigeki Uda) who continues to write letters to his wife, 33 years after her death. After a drive through the country lands them in a ditch, they set out on a two-day-journey deep into the forest in search of Shigeki’s wife’s gravesite.

Marjane Satrapi’s “Persepolis” will be screened on May 12. The animated film based on Satrapi’s childhood, won the Jury Prize at Cannes in 2007, sees Iran through the eyes of the precocious and outspoken nine-year-old Marjane.

“Days Of Glory” (May 13) is an influential war film which dates back to the year 1943, when France was at war. The story revolves around four Algerian men Saïd, Abdelkader, Messaoud and Yassir, who join the French army as soldiers, to liberate France from the Nazi enemy.

“The Class” (May 14) tells the story of François and his fellow teachers as they prepare for a new year at a high school in a tough neighbourhood. His classroom ethics are put to the test when his students begin to challenge his teaching methods. “The Class” was nominated for the 2009 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and Winner of the Palme d’Or in 2008.

All films will be screened at PVR, Forum Mall at 1.15 p.m. and 10 p.m.

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The Hindu :

BOOKMARK Amit Chaudhuri’s novel comes after a long gap

tuned TO MUSIC Amit Chaudhuri

He hates to produce novels as regularly as the cow gives milk. But when he does, we get gentle gems like “Afternoon Raag” and “Freedom Song”. Between his last novel “A New World” and his recent roll out “TheImmortals”, it’s been a nine-year wait. But trust Amit Chaudhuri to take pride in “instinctively resisting to become professionalised.”

It is not that he had sent his creative self on a sabbatical. Actually, his other personas – the critic, the poet and the singer waiting in the wings – came to the party. And we got short stories, poems, essays and “This Is Not Fusion” — a musical composition combining jazz, blues and Indian classical.Period of liberation

“These nine years, in a way, was a period of liberation for me as an artist, experimenting with different parts of myself. I became less protective of my identity as a singer,” he smiles. No wonder then that “The Immortals”, which germinated during this period, has the stringing together of the three central characters.

In fact, music has always been a part of Amit’s novels. Either it is used as a metaphor to portray emotions, or it loosely holds the structure of the novel,or the characters are musicians. But in “The Immortals”, he examines the value of art in today’s society and the definition of an artist.

The book looks at the changes taking place in the Eighties India vis-À-vis music and its relationship to the middle class, corporate class and the market. It delineates the decline of classical music, even as it marks the rejuvenation of ghazal genre by record companies as a bid to tap the market; this move helps the disillusionedartists. “It is not autobiographical. I noticed how attitude towards art was changing subtly as the world became uni-polar and free…More

The Hindu : y>

The recent statements by US president Barack Obama about a new tax plan to ensure that American corporations hiring manpower in India pay more taxes than those that hire people within the United States.

MetroPlus asked city residents whether the IT capital, already reeling under the effects of the economic slowdown takes another hit with these proposed tax breaks.

Most people felt that the tax breaks may not impact the IT industry a great deal, since the tax breaks may not be enough to mitigate the cost effectiveness of setting up operations in India. Some felt that the amount of tax rebates being offered shall determine the impact on Indian industry.

Many felt that India should stand up on its own might and not be very worried about whether American firms will reduce business interests in India.

Most felt that though new jobs may dry up, existing ones do not face any immediate nature as such.

We sample some responses.

I do not feel it will affect the job market in India. Companies with operations in India will continue to operate, though fresh job openings may be reduced. A lot will depend on the rates of the tax breaks that the American administration provides.

Jayesh

Engineer

It will not have much impact in India. The tax breaks will not be able to offset the benefits from the low cost of manpower in India. It is a populist move and may actually impact America more than India. Outsourcing has come of age in India.

Shivkumar

IT professional

We should not worry much about his statements. Obama is the American President and is justified in taking such steps. We must build similar companies to ensure that we do not have to depend on the US for the growth of our economy.

George

Media professional

It will not impact India much. These companies will not leave their cheaper India operations, just for minor tax breaks. The IT…More

The Hindu : y>

Dig in Eat your heart’s fill

Pizza Hut offers King-size meals, that provides great food and helps customers save up to 32 percent on their bill. The meals are available for two, four and six guests. It allows you to create your own meals from a range of pizzas, pastas, soups, salads, ice creams, mocktails and a range of other beverages.

Any medium pizza, a portion of any garlic bread and two glasses of Pepsi, 7UP or Mirinda costs Rs. 375. The meal for four combination comprising two medium pizzas, two portions of garlic bread and four glasses of Pepsi, 7UP or Mirinda costs Rs. 675.

The offer is available at Pizza Hut outlets across the country.

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The Hindu :

Jewellery at Minawala is large and dramatic — the kind you would want to flaunt

BE DAZZLED By the glittering rocks

This is indeed no ordinary collection, the exquisitely handcrafted pieces designed to cater to none less than royalty. The exotic display of stunning jewellery at Minawala, explicitly created to “satisfy the most demanding, fascinating and beautiful women” befits a queen.

With a range of designs and inspirations, the cunningly crafted pieces reflect not only a mastery of craftsmanship, but a creativity that can leave one breathless. The sheer glitter and quantum of diamonds and precious stones in each piece make your jaw drop.Chunky collections

With the jewellery chiefly designed by its director, Shehzad Zaveri, each piece has a history, a source of inspiration influencing its cut and pattern, reflecting its mood. The designs are all dramatic, not shying away from flaunting their own beauty, and drawing your attention through its sheer size and presentation.

You have a range of collections, each portraying a different stream of thought and mood, starting from the LA 1950’s collection to the present Bollywood scene.

The Queen’s Jewel collection sports a necklace that has diamonds set in white and yellow gold with a large rectangle-shaped emerald as a pendant. The necklace is stunning with the baguette cut and lily-cut diamonds enhancing the beauty of the golden fancy diamonds flanking them, and the lone emerald standing out.Matching it in its regal stand is the diamond and emerald bracelet in the Space Odyssey collection, reflecting an out of the world inspiration, literally from the Milky Way.

The Avalanche Collection reflects its name in an avalanche of diamonds set in its bridal necklace. The Magic Rainbow Collection features exquisite bracelets reflecting the dramatic colours of a rainbow. Satisfying the nostalgia of yesteryears is the LA 1950’s collection, flaunting the cut and design of Hollywood in the Fifties.

While the pieces are all equally stunning,…More