News

The Hindu :

Mahima Agarwal aims at bagging all the titles in the nationals at Jaipur

Sporting prodigy Mahima Agarwal at one of her practice sessions

There are not many ten-year-olds who nurse ambitions of being a chartered accountant and the next Saina Nehwal simultaneously. Displaying a certain amount of confidence and poise, Mahima Agarwal, a top under-13 badminton player for Karnataka aims toachieve that goal soon. She says, “I do not think it would be difficult.”

In the information age where the TV and the Internet rule the lives of most children, Mahima spends nearly five hours practicing at the nets six days a week. When she is not practicing, her school and studies keep her occupied. For this fifth standard student of the Frank Anthony Public School in Cambridge Layout, the routine is something she enjoys thoroughly. Her badminton career began three and a half years ago when she attended a summer camp at the Indiranagar Club. Within the first two months of training, she managed to reach the semi finals of a State level tournament. Over the next three and a half years, she went on to bag 20 titles, including the singles and doubles events at the under-10 and under-13 level.

Mahima has also been the recipient many awards such as the Karnataka Badminton Association’s Player of the year award in ‘07 and ‘08 and the Best Promising player in ’07. She aims to bag all the titles in her age group in the Nationals, scheduled to be held at Jaipur later this year.

Talking about her coach, Murali, she says, “He has been my mentor. He was the person who recognised and nurtured my talent. His support has been important to my success.” Family support plays a very essential role in shaping the career of young sportspersons. In Mahima’s case, the family has provided support and encouragement. Shiv Agarwal, her father, who manages…More

The Hindu :

Your mane lends you identity, and makes or mars your day

Photos: AFPMaking headlines Get dramatic

You could write a book on Aamir Khan’s movie hairstyles.Remember Mangal Pandey’s flowing mane, Nikumbh’s (“Taare Zameen Par” TZP) punk Mohawk and “Ghajini”’s mowed-grass-with-injury-channels cut?

Much before the film’s release, the Khan appeared everywhere in his signature hair-do, following which, the fans stormedsaloons to be ready for the ‘first-day-first-show’. The kids in “TZP” — 43 in all from New Era School, Panchgani, clamoured for and allegedly got Aamir to give each of them the “master” cut.

Others, too, have discovered the hair-way to stardom — Amitabh Bachchan’s centre-parting, Salman Khan’s “Tere Naam” ‘Radhey’ look, John Abraham’s ‘Kabir’ locks (“Jism”, “Dhoom”) and Vijay’s bird’s nest,all got fans into a frenzy of copying. Priyanka Chopra just went for a short, manageable cut. Ex-super model Tyra Banks appeared in a talk show without weave or wig to reassure her fans that she’s not bald-headed. Michelle Obama’s hair – pinned up or let loose – is masala for a million blog pages. How was it straightened? From Lata Mangeshkar’s double plait to Drew Barrymore’s dip-dyed do, hairstyles and colours are perennial topics for conversation.

Hair — a waste product, really — has left trails in history, literature and tradition too. Remember Draupadi’s famous vow? And, then the stereotyping — red hair is out-of-control temper and letting hair loose is “out and free”.

Some Indian TV channels insist on straight hair for female anchors — is straight a sign of professionalism? Interestingly, in TV serials and movies, girls’ hair length and style are pointers to their marital status. It bobs from three-inchbelow shoulder to a 30-inch miracle.

We have a tradition of pampering our hair. Men wore tufts, women had lovely jewellery to deck the head and the heavy, long plait. We knot our hair, wear flowers. Along with job, marriage and health, hair should be…More

The Hindu : y>

photo: SHAJU JOHNShop on Get these offers at Lifetsyle stores

Lifestyle, a premium retail chain is celebrating its 10th anniversary in India. The company unveiled a new logo and launched a host of incentives in Lifestyle and Home Centre stores across the country. The offers allows customers to avail of irresistible offers and discounts during till December 31.

Customers who shop at Lifestyle for merchandise worth Rs. 7,000 will receive gift vouchers worth Rs. 750 and discounts up to 25 per cent at Home Centre. In addition, special offers will be available across select national and international brands such as a 40 per cent discount on Hugo Boss merchandise. Customers shopping for Rs. 30,000 worth of Nirvana jewellery will get a diamond pendent free.

Lifestyle has also launched the Merry Miles fest that will allow members to accumulate points over a period of 99 days and get an opportunity to win exciting prizes such as holidays in Singapore and Malaysia and Cygnus Jewellery gift vouchers. These offers are available at Lifestyle stores across the country.

<FONT …More

The Hindu : y>S.V. Srinivas takes a close look at the powerful, all-pervasive fan in his tome Megastar: Chiranjeevi and Telugu Cinema After N.T. Rama Rao, finds BHUMIKA K.

PHOTO: BHAGYA PRAKASH K.Fan-tastic S.V. Srinivas: ‘The fan club is not just obsessive behaviour. It leaks into the social and political phenomena of our times’

You see them showering coins on the screen when their God makes an appearance. An aarti and a quick gig to the tune of some whistling is compulsory. The obsessive fan of the Indian film star who’ll donate blood in his hero’s name, is a curious phenomenon. Curious enough for S.V. Srinivas to study their unbelievable control over the life of a star.

S.V. Srinivas’ book “Megastar: Chiranjeevi and Telugu Cinema After N.T. Rama Rao” is the first full-length study of Telugu cinema, (the biggest after the Hindi film industry), that examines the three-decade career of ‘Megastar’ Chiranjeevi, the legendary screen rowdy who spawned thousands of fans’ associations across Andhra Pradesh, and went on to establish his own political party Praja Rajyam last year. Srinivas is a senior fellow at the Study of Culture and Society and is a coordinator of the Culture: Industries and Diversity in Asia research programme.

The book analyses the uniquely south Indian phenomenon of fans’ associations and ‘mass films’ to show how cinema becomes a populist form, with political consequences. He believes that the fan phenomenon is essentially a “South” phenomenon. What about fans of Amitabh Bachchan, who’ve built temples? “No. These are publicity stunts. You don’t have a sociological phenomenon here. You have a statue of Pele in Bangalore but that doesn’t mean there’s a strong sociological basis for it,” says Srinivas.

What makes the phenomenon interesting is the organisational structure that brings together fans who do similar things in and outside cinema halls, observes Srinivas. “There are stories of obsessive responses to cinema…people say they’ve seen ‘The Sound…More

The Hindu :

D. Shiva Kumar aims at producing world beaters in his academy

For a better future Coach D. Shiva Kumar at the Gurukul Academy

The sheer passion for the sport has prevented me from following any other vocation,” quips D. Shiva Kumar, a certified mechanical engineer from Rashtriya Vidyalaya College of Engineering (RVCE). He has been a badminton coach for over 18 years.

After coaching various clubs across the city, Kumar launched his own academy in 2006. The academy, located off Old Madras Road was an instant hit. However, space constraints that prevented further expansion of the project forced him to sell the property in 2007.

In February ‘08, Kumar established the Gurukuls Academy opposite the Tubharahalli bus stop in Whitefield. The academy, constructed on 20,000 square feet cost nearly Rs. 80 lakh and comprises a sport complex with five badminton courts , a 23 metre swimming pool, two T.T tables, a snooker table and a chess room.

Kumar has also employed a set of experienced coaches in these sports. In October 2009, the academy will also take possession of three clay tennis courts and a yoga centre.

The academy aims at trainingchildren from a young age, nurture their talent and transform them into good professional players.

The sporting facilities at Gurukuls can be used on an hourly, monthly or annual basis. Since its inception, the academy has hosted many corporate tournaments. Kumar says, “The location is perfect since there are many professional academies and training centres in the main town, however the outskirts have no such centres. I felt the need to cater to people staying in this part of town.”

Talking about the popularity of his academy, Kumar says, “More than 250 people visit the academy and play on an hourly basis. That provides a major chunk of the revenue. The academy makes close to Rs.4,00,000 in a month”

He adds, “The academy is located near…More

The Hindu :

Watch the fascinating Dark Blue Tiger butterflies flutter away in large numbers as they migrate to the Western Ghats

Striking It flies in a leisurely manner because of the toxicity it acquires in its larval stage by feeding on poisonous plants

There is a lot of excitement among butterfly lovers in Bangalore — the Dark Blue Tiger butterfly (Tirumala septentrionis) has been spotted this week in open spaces and in scrub forestsaround Bangalore. It is a common species found in the hills of southern India and in the Himalayas up to an altitude of 2,700 m above sea level.

In southern India, the species migrates every year to and from the Western Ghats, and it is passing through Bangalore this week in large numbers. In Hoskote, where there are large bushes of flowering Lantana along roadsides and in the villages, the butterflies have been seen feeding from the flowers.

The insect is said to befond of flowers of the flowering peawhich grow in open spaces on the outskirts of the city.In bright colours

The Dark Blue Tiger has a wingspan of eight to 10 cm, is brightly- coloured and has striking blue spots and stripes on its wings. It flies in a leisurely manner, which makes it a fascinating object to watch. This striking appearance and slow flight are due to its toxicity, which is acquired in its larval stage by feeding on poisonous milkweed and dogbane plants. This is a species which all butterfly lovers should try to ‘shoot’ for their photo collections.

The upper side of its wings is black, with pale blue markings of varying sizes and shapes, giving it a lovely spotty look. Narrow blue streaks radiate from the central part of its wings and the markings broaden and lighten towards the outer margins. The underside of the wings is in dark brown . Both the male and female…More

The Hindu :

Normalising facial at Jean-Claude Biguine is packed with plant extracts and essential oils that leave your skin refreshed

Relaxing French standards are followed, be it a pedicure or a facial

It was an easy choice to make between 100 per cent organic Biguine bio and Phytomer range (which is 95 per cent organic and 5 per cent chemicals) at the Jean-claude Biguine salon at The Collective. Especially, when I am there to check out their facials.

The lobby at the newly-opened salon is teeming with therapists and hair stylists. As I study the list of facial treatments that are on offer, Lawrence Dawson, the salon business manager takes me around the salon, explaining the range of hair care and skin care treatments that are available.

“All the hair care and skin care products are health-oriented. A healthy skin and hair will definitely make you look good,” he adds.

And the objective is to promote the salon as a destination to access the latest in the world of fashion.

“We have in-house French hair stylists. While a normal hair cut comes at Rs. 800, the one done by a French stylist will cost Rs.1, 500. We follow French standards, be it a pedicure or a facial to ensure quality,” Lawrence says. The in-house therapist studies my skin and suggests a normalising facial, of course in Biguine bio products. She begins the facial with a welcome massage, a French style relaxing massage to the neck and shoulders.

“This basically evens out the blood circulation and prepares the face for the treatment,” says the pleasing therapist.Facial kit

And what is new here is the concept of a facial kit. It comes with a cleanser, toner, massage oil, serum and a face mask, all packed in glass capsules and meant for one-time use.

First, it is the nourishing cleansing milk to moisturise my skin.

Next, she applies an exfoliating sunflower mask (a…More