03042026-LSTL-01.qxd 4/2/2026 7:38 PM Page 1 c m y b WHAT’S HOT eat CHAI ADDA L jalandhar OCATED on the busy Rainbow Road of Model Town, Tan Coffee has become the latest adda in town for friends to catch up for a calm conversation. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee, wooden tables and cosy chairs create a perfect atmosphere for the visitors to relax. The menu features a range of espressos and lattes. The other common orders here are Dalgona Coffee with Ice Cream, Pina Colada, Pink Lady Grapefruit, Blueberry Blush, Cortado, Thai Pad Noodles, Spanish Omelette and pizzas. play DEEKSHA LIVE S ludhiana TUDIO Mastaani is set to come alive today with a high-energy musical evening featuring Deeksha Gautam. The three-hour fusion performance, blending Hindi and Punjabi melodies, promises dazzling lights, nonstop music, and a dance floor that won’t rest. Designed as both a concert and an unconventional dining experience, the event invites Ludhiana’s youth and music lovers to gather for what is being billed as the “party of the season.” love SITAR FOR WELLNESS M chandigarh USIC meets mindfulness as acclaimed sitarist Rishab Rikhiram Sharma brings his evocative live experience Sitar for Mental Health to Chandigarh on April 10, 7:30 pm at World Street, Down Town New Chandigarh. Rooted in centuriesold classical tradition yet shaped by contemporary innovation, the performance blends the timeless resonance of the sitar with subtle modern electronic elements. Through evocative soundscapes such as Chanakya, The Burning Ghat and Roslyn, Sharma gently guides the audience on a meditative journey. TRIBUNE Cop-y that Life Jamie Lee Curtis is celebrating nearly 50 years in the film industry, revealing that acting was never part of her original plan as she once thought she would become a cop. LUDHIANA | FRIDAY | 3 APRIL 2026 From grand palaces to intense wars —the Ramayana teaser unveils a world that is both fierce & fascinating Mona W HEN the world descends into chaos, he remains the answer — the ruler of the hearts for over 5,000 years. The Maryada Purushottam Ram is set to grace the big screen this Diwali, and going by its first look, it promises to be nothing short of epic. Released on Thursday, on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti, the two-minute-38-second teaser of Ramayana, the film, unveils a world that is both fierce and fascinating. The immediate standout is its sheer scale — the grandeur of palaces, the mystique of forests, and the intensity of war. With VFX by eight-time Oscar-winning DNEG, Ramayana positions itself among global cinematic spectacles. Glimpses of key moments — the dhanush, vanvas, the golden deer and the splendour of Lanka —create a striking visual canvas. Ranbir Kapoor steps into the role of Lord Ram with a commanding presence, blending restraint with heroism and delivering moments of high-octane action. Meanwhile, a brief back shot of Yash as Ravana adds intrigue, hinting at a powerful antagonist. In efforts and scale, Ramayana remains one of the most visually spectacular clashes ever mounted in Indian cinema. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, best known for Dangal and Chhichhore, the film has long been in the making. “To reach this moment, it has taken me seven years. Filmmaking is often a speculative and lonely journey. Every moment, I’ve imagined how audiences would react when it finally comes out,” Tiwari said, adding that the response so far makes the effort worthwhile. The film features an ensemble cast, including Sai Pallavi as Sita, Sunny Deol as Hanuman and Ravi Dubey as Lakshman. Ramayana is produced by Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios and DNEG, in association with Yash’s Monster Mind Creations. Conceived as a two-part live-action epic, it draws from one of Indian mythology’s most enduring narratives. Malhotra described the project as a labour of love, expressing pride in the team’s effort and hope that audiences connect with the film. “You don’t choose Ramayana — Ramayana chooses you,” he said. Speaking about stepping into the role, Ranbir shared, “I don’t think I’m here to represent Lord Ram; I’m here to learn from him. There is a simplicity and purity to him that is incredibly rare. Understanding and imbibing Epic spectacle! MAKING OF RAMAYANA Despite widespread speculation, the reported Rs 4,000 crore budget has not been officially confirmed, though it is widely expected to be among the most expensive Indian films ever made. ■ Backed by global VFX powerhouse DNEG, the film aims to match Hollywood-scale storytelling with cutting-edge visuals. ■ A star-studded cast led by Ranbir Kapoor as Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Sunny Deol as Hanuman, Ravi Dubey as Lakshman and Yash as Ravana brings massive pan-India appeal. ■ those qualities has been a deeply humbling experience.” He further added, “Lord Ram has been the moral compass for billions across centuries. He represents the triumph of the human spirit — standing for compassion, courage, righteousness and forgiveness. He is rightly called Maryada Purushottam, the ideal man.” The film is slated for a worldwide IMAX release, with Part 1 arriving in Diwali 2026, followed by Part 2 in Diwali 2027. Raja Ravi Varma’s painting fetches ~167.2 crore, sets record I AM PRIVILEGED ❝I am privileged to have the Parbina Rashid Yashoda milks a cow as little Krishna playfully reaches out to his mother for milk. A scene from the dawn and it’s beautiful – in terms of the theme, the emotional depth of mother and child bonding and the technique, which is a blend of European academic realism and traditional Indian imagery executed through the nuanced use of colour and light. The signature style of legendary artist Raja Ravi Varma! The title of the painting is Yashoda and Krishna, one of Varma’s celebrated creations, which has now set a new record as the most expensive work of modern Indian art ever sold at an auction, fetching a staggering Rs 167.2 crore. The oil-on-canvas masterpiece, created in the 1890s, when Varma’s artistic career was at its peak, was bought by Cyrus S Poonawalla, founder of the Serum Institute of India, after a fierce bidding battle at a Saffronart auction on April 1. Expected to fetch between Rs 80 crore and Rs 120 crore, the final price far exceeded expectations. Minal Vazirani, president of Saffronart, called the sale a landmark moment. Because the extraordinary price is not just about its financial value but also the deep emotional and cultural significance of Indian art. opportunity to acquire, preserve, and care for the iconic Raja Ravi Varma painting Yashoda and Krishna. This national treasure deserves to be made available for public viewing periodically, and it will be my endeavour to facilitate this going forward.❞ — Cyrus S Poonawalla A LEGACY OF BLOCKBUSTERS (1987) by Ramanand Sagar became a cultural phenomenon — streets would empty as millions tuned in every Sunday. ■ TELE ANIME RAMAYANA: A Japan-India venture The Legend of Prince Rama (1993) gained global love for its storytelling and animation. ■ REPEATED ■ RAMAYAN ■ THE SERIES SIYA KE RAM (2015) reimagined the epic from Sita’s perspective and found strong popularity among younger audiences. RERUNS OF RAMAYAN — especially during the 2020 lockdown— once again broke viewership records, proving the story’s timeless appeal. CHAT UP GURU-SHISHYA FACE-OFF The teaser for actor Sanjay Dutt’s upcoming film Aakhri Sawal has been released, days after the makers announced the project. The teaser was unveiled on Thursday on the occasion of Hanuman Janmotsav. The short video offers a glimpse into the film’s central idea, which revolves around questions and debates about truth, history and youth perspectives. OUR PICK WAGNER JOINS KRISTEN Wagner Moura is set to star alongside Kristen Stewart in the upcoming vampire thriller Flesh of the Gods. The film will be directed by Panos Cosmatos, while A24 has come on board to handle its US release. Moura replaces Oscar Isaac, who has stepped away from the project due to scheduling issues. The film was first announced in 2024 during the Cannes Market. The five most celebrated paintings by Raja Ravi Varma SHAKUNTALA Think Raja Ravi Varma and the image that immediately comes to mind is of Shakuntala. He painted the Mahabharata heroine in a moment of romantic longing. THE GALAXY OF MUSICIANS A group of women from different regions of India, each playing a musical instrument dressed in traditional attire was the way Varma visualised the rich cultural diversity of the country. DAMAYANTI AND THE SWAN A scene from the Mahabharata where Damayanti converses with a swan, the messenger of her beloved King Nala. LEGEND OF RAJA RAVI VARMA Born in 1848 into an aristocratic family in Travancore, Raja Ravi Varma is called the Father of Modern Indian Art. He is known for pioneering a distinctive style that blended European academic techniques with Indian sensibilities. Varma founded a lithographic press in 1894, which enabled him to do mass production of his artworks as affordable prints. This innovation played a key role in bringing Hindu iconography into every homes. LADY IN THE MOONLIGHT A woman seated in soft moonlight, surrounded by a gentle, ethereal glow. THE VICTORY OF INDRAJIT A dramatic episode from the Ramayana, this painting shows Indrajit in the heat of battle after unleashing his serpent weapon to defeat his enemy. c m y b PATRIOT RELEASE DELAYED RAJKUMMAR AS DADA Mammootty and Mohanlal’s spy thriller Patriot has now received a new release date. The espionage action film was earlier set to release on April 23, but the makers have now confirmed that the film will release in theatres on May 1. Sharing the update , Mammootty took to X andwrote, “Patriot in cinemas worldwide from May 1.” Rajkummar Rao has announced the start of shooting for his upcoming biopic on former Indian cricket team captain Sourav Ganguly, revealing that the film has been titled Dada. Sharing the update on Instagram, Rao confirmed that filming is underway. “And it begins ...The one and only #DADA.. @souravganguly @motwayne #LuvRanjan @gargankur82 @luv_films”, he wrote.