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The Hindu :

Drugs like HGH and anabolic steroids have side effects

Rambo is here Actor Sylvester Stallone was popular for his beefy look

People look at our desi actors who went from being average-build Joes to shirtless hunks with rippling muscles within a few months and wonder if they too can and should go for that look.

Back in the 1980s, the heyday of Stallone and Schwarzenegger, the “steroid look” was associated with overly bulky muscles and it did not really catch on with the public. These days, models and actors use drugs to achieve a higher muscle/fat body composition and a lean ripped look – something most people want but rarely achieve even after sweating for years in the gym. Frustration, rather than narcissism, lies behind the sheepish questions to gyms trainers and physicians.

The average member of the public is rightly wary of steroids – reasons include well-publicised side effects, androgynous East German female athletes, steroid rage, Schwarzenegger’s heart problems and so on- but famous movie stars are no longer using them anyway : they have moved on to human growth hormone (HGH) , a substance naturally produced by the body. In 2007, Stallone was caught bringing vials of HGH into Australia, and he was unapologetic about it. He even admitted to using HGH to muscle up for Rambo. Stallone is in his late 60s now, and he seems quite healthy for a doped-up grandpa, which makes the public wonder…are these drugs really so bad?

Here is why the public should avoid aping our beloved Mr Beat-a-Girlfriend-a-Day and his shirtless ilk: HGH is not safe- one of its many potential side effects is cancer. It is also very expensive. HGH may be worth the risk for a movie star who depends on his looks for his livelihood, but it makes no sense for an average person who wants to be healthy and…More

The Hindu :

Popular blogger Amit Varma makes his fiction debut with My Friend Sancho

FACT AND FICTION Amit Varma

“I always wanted to write fiction. Journalism and the blog (Indiauncut.com) happened by chance. I never expected that Indiauncut would become so popular,” says Amit Varma, journalist and renowned blogger. He has written for The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian and The Observer. His blog, Indiauncut.com provides a light take on polices, economics, media and other issues that govern life in India.

Talking about his debut novel, “My Friend Sancho”, Amit says, “The story revolves around a tabloid journalist, who witnesses an encounter killing and is asked to do a profile on the victim. In the process, he meets and starts to develop a special bond with the victim’s daughter.

Amit contends, “All the characters were developed gradually. I just started with a young person in a newsroom situation and moulded the story accordingly.”

He adds, “The protagonist Abir Ganguly is a witty guy, unsure of himself and his goals. He meets this person, who he would have otherwise ignored, in rather strange circumstances and feels a bond with her. It is a light read.”

Amit does not associate himself much with the protagonist. “Abir is a fictional character. I am more optimistic about life in general, though I do share some common traits like the sense of humour, one liners etc.”

The book manages to grapple with a range of social issues including complex religious divides that continues to exist in the country.

Amit feels, “I am not writing this book with a particular audience in mind. I hope that everyone who likes a good read will enjoy it. It is important to ensure that the author does not harp too much on a particular message. You need to be subtle in putting forth a message; else you may not impress a first time reader much.”

There have been many suggestions…More

The Hindu :

Acclaimed Bharatanatya dancer Priyadarsini Govind on her art and the inner conviction that transcends trends

(Photo: V. Ganesan)THE STAGE HER WORLD Priyadarsini Govind

“We’re a family of film goers. I never miss anything with a happy ending. I like Suriya. And Hrithik Roshan is amazing. I flip for Sivaji Ganesan — dramatic, but with what conviction!” says Priyadarsini Govind, her face lighting up.

Married at 22 to a man working in a film production company, Priyadarsinibecame enamoured of the screen world while growing into one of the foremost Bharatanatya exponents of the country. She admits, “Unconsciously, I borrow a lot from cinema.”

What makes Priyadarsini exceptional is an imagination which connects the past with the present, shaping characters from legend into the here and now. “My attitude changes periodically. I’m saddened by something failing, or affected by a passing remark. Then I sit back, take stock. Something clicks, and I begin to see the world from a wholly different perspective.”

She knows that an artiste has to take risks. But change, though essential for survival, calls for inner conviction that transcends trends.

A recent onstage collaboration with Carnatic vocalists T.M. Krishna and Bombay Jayashri became a landmark. Priyadarsini realised just how different it felt to work with concert musicians whose mindsets are different from dance musicians, and whose music and stage presence were magnetic. “All said and done music has a greater reach than dance,” she sighs.

Her chagrin at discovering greater scope for spontaneity in music made Priyadarsini realise the importance of dwelling in the moment. “What we dancers perform is so programmed from start to finish. Even our breathing is accounted for. We must learn to pause, let the audience take in what we’re performing.”

Priyadarsini believes that preconceptions stunt inspiration. Guru S.K. Rajaratnam Pillai’s training did not box her in, but freed her to find what suited her temperament and aesthetics. From Guru Kalanidhi Narayanan…More

The Hindu : y>

Photo: Bijoy GhoshSightings Catch a glimpse of the elusive lion-tailed macaque

The Annamalai Hills are host to a lot of interesting wildlife, both endemic and highly endangered species. Kaushik, founder- director of Wishbone will lead a group of 12 on trip to Valparai in the Annamalai Hills.

The trip includes a two-night stay at the Stanmore Tea Estate in Valparai. The highlight would be sighting the critically endangered lion-tailed macaque, a monkey that has been hunted for its coat to the brink of extinction. Today, it is safe in small pockets but habitat destruction is still a major threat. Valparai is one of its last strongholds. Other species in the area include giant squirrels, civet cats, muntjacs, gaur (Indian bison), porcupines and a large number of bird species including the great Indian hornbill. There would also be short night walks to see porcupines, flying squirrels, mouse deer and more.

This a great opportunity for people to understand animal behaviour, just photograph these animals in the wild, and experience incredible and perfect nature setting. The trip is from May 22 to May 24. For details contact Kaushik Bajibab on 98861-69698 or mailkaushik@wishbone.co.in or log on towww.wishbone.co.in

<FONT …More

The Hindu :

India’s greatest off-spinner E.A.S. Prasanna believes that spin does have a future in the rough and tumble of abridged cricket like Twenty20

Photo: Mahesh HarilalIn line Prasanna believes in the importance of line and length

He was a spinner who drew gasps of admiration from rival batsmen like Greg Chappell and adulatory hugs from team-mates like Bishen Singh Bedi. E.A.S. Prasanna’s hey days as India’s legendary off-spinner might be a distant tale of the 60s and 70s but there is no mistaking the halo that still lingers around him.

It is a luminescence that shimmers around him and the other three members of the famous spin-quartet: Bedi, B.S. Chandrasekhar and S. Venkatraghavan. Their days in the sun may have long gone past yet their relevance to the modern era is no less significant. Prasanna, believes that spin still has a role to play in the game’s three formats: Tests, One Day Internationals and Twenty20.

“It is easy to write off spin as there is more focus on fast bowling and batting. Everyone wants to be a Brett Lee. But not everyone can do that. You need spinners in all formats of the game. Just watch the current Indian Premier League in South Africa where even part-time spinners like Yuvraj Singh have got wickets. Of course it is another matter that part-timers may not strike often at the Test level but there is no discounting the fact that in a fast-paced game like Twenty20, it is easier to hit a fast delivery than a spinner’s over,” Prasanna says.

It is a warm afternoon at the Cathedral High School Ground where Prasanna keeps a close watch on his 20 wards who are busy imbibing lessons in a spin camp. And as a lad with a thick mop of hair, bowls on a good length, there is no mistaking the pride in Prasanna’s eyes.

“You see that kid who…More

The Hindu :

In Focus Have you laid your hands on the new ten rupee coin?

Photo: Serish NanisettiSuave and stylish The new ten-rupee coin

‘10 Ka Dum’ – No, we are not talking about Salman Khan’s show on the tube. It is the new ten rupee coin which is has become the talk of the town. It is one month since this coin has been doing the rounds and Divya Rao of Alliance Francaise is one among its lucky owners. “My colleague Krishnaveni gifted me one and since then it has been my prized possession,” she says as her office mate watches on. This 20-plus youngster hit upon the idea of surprising her colleagues by gifting the ten rupee coins. Says Krishnaveni, “With the coin, one need not worry about notes getting crumpled or torn. It is very easy to carry in your wallet and some may even mistake it for a pound.” However, she discovered it was not so easy doing business with it. “Some auto guys refused to take it claiming it to be a fake coin. Even when I showed them the Reserve Bank of India identification, some were sceptical to accept it,” she says.

Have a look at the coin and its centre portion shines bright. It is suave and stylish and if you can’t stop staring, we understand perfectly. The circular 27-millimetre coin weighs just 7.71 gm and has aluminium bronze in its outer ring whereas the centre piece is a blend of copper and nickel.

Prabha, who works in a media organisation had to pay Rs. 15 to lay her hands on the ten-rupee coin. “Some people were selling these coins outside the Reserve Bank of India building and they looked really cool. I wanted to show off in front of my friends so I paid more,” she says.

If some look at this coin adoringly, a few are not enthused…More

The Hindu : y>Haute couturier Ritu Beri tells K.JESHI she enjoys exploring impossibilities

Photo: Bhagya Prakash k.Pretty in Peach Ritu Beri defines fashion as a luxury that enhances your look

“Elegant but chic” is how this fashion icon defines her personal style. Dressed in a peach georgette sari with delicate zardosi embroidery, her look is simple, yet stunning.

The ace fashion designer was in Bangalore recently to inaugurate a new outlet of Deepam Silks. She took some time off to talk and we start off with “Baby Beri”, her new line of occasion wear for children. “It was lots of fun and it is the first time I am designing for children. And, I enjoyed it the most. The idea is to bring the youthfulness and cheerfulness of children into the clothes,” she adds.

The designer, who likes to be unconventional, explores newer frontiers to reinvent herself. Over the years, Ritu has also designed uniforms for events like the Olympics, Common Wealth games and for corporates like Air India, Sahara Parivar, the Taj group of hotels, the Indian Hockey Team and the Delhi Police. For People for Animals, she has created and launched a product line for an animal protection fund raiser. And, there is more in the pipeline.Out of the box

“I don’t want to be put in a box,” she insists. “A designer can’t be trapped and asked to create. I still want to explore the impossibilities,” she adds.

On being the Indian face in the international fashion scene, she says, “The journey over the past 18 years has been exciting and great. I have chased my dreams and worked on ambitious projects. Now the fashion scene abroad is more receptive. We have a lot of young talent who have got the fire to push it in the international scene. But the biggest challenge is to be different and to be oneself.”

Her international exposure, she says…More