10082026-LSTC-01.qxd 8/9/2026 8:10 PM Page 1 c m y b RUDHRA UNVEILED Varanasi unveiled Mahesh Babu’s first look as Rudhra on his birthday, shot during the film’s Africa schedule near Kilimanjaro and the Masai Mara. WHAT’S HOT eat chandigarh LATE BITES L ODHI BHAWAN, Sector 35 is turning into Chandigarh’s latenight food stop — think aloo pyaz paranthas, mutton bhaturas and tawa mushroom, plus good vibes to match. It stays open till 1:30 am for anyone craving a hearty, unusual midnight meal. play chandigarh FAIR FUN C HANDIGARH’s favourite monsoon tradition is back — the Wonder Carnival has taken over Sector 34, turning the ground into a glowing maze of giant wheels, swinging rides and neon-lit game stalls, drawing families and friends every evening as dusk sets in. It’s on till August 30, 2026. learn chandigarh PUPPETS & GEARS J APANESE Karakuri is a fascinating engineering-meets-art workshop where participants learn the historical craft of traditional Japanese mechanised puppetry. Participants assemble wooden gears, levers and mechanisms that bring hidden actions to life—without electronics. . Cafe Coffee Day, Sector 16, Chandigarh. It’s on till August 19, 2026. TRIBUNE Govinda’s grief Life Govinda revealed that after his mother Nirmala Devi’s death in 1996, he once walked into the Narmada river in a suicidal attempt to be with her. A sadhu saved him, and he eventually chose to live for his children. CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 10 AUGUST 2026 Carrying forward a legacy... Nonika Singh G RANDSON of legendary Kumar Gandharva, you would expect gifted classical vocalist Bhuvanesh Komkali to share musical wisdom at the drop of the hat. In Chandigarh, at the invitation of Indian National Theatre for a delightful and soulful concert on Sunday evening, he makes us privy to a journey which only a fortunate few like him have access to. For the life lessons he has imbibed from his grandfather or his father, musical genius Mukul Shivputra or his equally talented guru Madhup Pandit Mudgal are not easy to decode. Music was a given not only as a practice but of chintan mannan, deep research. He can’t say when he woke up to his grandfather’s greatness either, which he insists is so vast that 34 years after his passing researchers continue to discover newer and newer facets of his timeless music. Today as the secretary of Pandit Kumar Gandharva Pratishthan, he himself has digitised nearly 800 hours of Kumarji’s recordings and each time he listens to his bandishes, he is awestruck in more ways than one. And Kumarji’s words on ‘how Indian classical music is about creative freedom within the confines of tradition’ ring ever so true. In fact, according to Bhuvanesh, the beauty of Indian clas- An inherited legacy becomes a lifelong journey of discovery for Bhuvanesh Komkali sical music is embedded in this very limitless possibility. He adds, “The same raga rendered by different stalwarts can sound absolutely fresh for each has freedom to express it the way he/she wants.” Carrying forth the mantle of an illustrious legacy becomes a responsibility and the pressure, perhaps unfair, is indeed enormous, and as he puts it, “won’t become any less with time.” Initial years were spent learning from his grandmother Vasundhara Komkali. But it was Pandit Madhup Mudgal who taught him what it means to be a disciple. He recalls one particular concert, where the audience might have gone ga ga, but it was his guru’s reprimand, ‘agar aise hi gaana hai toh gaana chod do’ which set him on the real musical path. Since without discipline there is no music, Bhuvanesh observes. Rather, he feels very strongly that the new generation is very much in sync with Indian classical music, as exponents, as listeners and above all, as instruments of dissemination. What makes the outreach of our music phenomenal, according to him is, “Indian classical music is not for manoranjan but atamranjan. It energises and elevates the listeners.” Yet he who has composed music for Hindi movie Devi Ahilya is of the opinion that not all music or its great exponents need to be accessible all the time. So he believes his adbhut father Pandit Mukul Shivputra might have often shunned the limelight, nothing can take away from his musical greatness. Similarly, Kumar ji’s music, which Bhuvanesh has persevered so assiduously, is available to others only at Dewas in Madhya Pradesh, for it ensures only those keenly interested gain access. Navigating one’s way between tradition and innovation is not onerous, provided, he says, “One immerses oneself completely in tradition. You can’t suddenly wake up one morning and decide to create a new masterpiece. You have to first master what already exists, what musicologists like Pandit Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande have bequeathed to us.” And it’s this humble realisation that makes him not only a worthy inheritor of an unrivalled musical heritage but also its rightful champion and guardian. Actors who have brought the courage and sacrifice of India’s real-life war heroes to the screen From the frontline to the frame War stories have always held a special place in Indian cinema, but films inspired by real-life military operations and battlefield heroism carry a unique emotional weight. Over the years, several actors have taken on the challenge of portraying soldiers in films rooted in real-life conflicts, from the Kargil War and the 1971 IndoPak War to the Uri surgical strikes. Their performances have not only entertained audiences but have also introduced a new generation to defining moments in India’s military history. Ishaan Khatter - Pippa In Pippa, Ishaan Khatter portrayed Captain Balram Singh Mehta, a decorated tank commander whose memoir The Burning Chaffees inspired the film. Set against the backdrop of the 1971 Indo-Pak War, the film explored the sacrifices of warfare through the eyes of a young officer, with Khatter bringing sincerity and vulnerability to the role. Mihir Ahuja - Operation Safed Sagar: The Untold Story of the Kargil War Inspired by the life of the 21year-old war hero who displayed extraordinary bravery during the 1971 Indo-Pak War. Sidharth Malhotra’s portrayal of Captain Vikram Batra, Param Vir Chakra awardee, in Shershaah resonated deeply with audiences. Based on the life of one of the Kargil War’s most celebrated heroes, the film chronicled Batra’s bravery and sacrifice. Agastya Nanda - Ikkis Agastya Nanda portrayed Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, the youngest recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, in Ikkis. ADNAN SAMI’S WEIGHT LOSS JOURNEY Adnan Sami revealed that his dramatic weight loss began after a doctor warned he had only six months to live, with his father’s emotional response pushing him to change. He lost roughly 120 kg from a peak of 230 kg through strict diet and exercise, denying claims of bariatric surgery. Swara Bhasker has been diagnosed with dengue and hospitalised, sharing the news on her Instagram story without detailing her symptoms or admission length. Her hospitalization follows Avika Gor’s own dengue diagnosis, after the actress reportedly pushed through a high fever for five days to complete work commitments before testing positive. Bhasker was last seen on the reality show Pati Patni Aur Panga alongside husband Fahad Ahmad. Vicky Kaushal, Ishaan Khatter, Sidharth Malhotra, Adivi Sesh, Varun Dhawan, Mihir Ahuja and Siddharth. Sidharth Malhotra Shershaah In Operation Safed Sagar: The Untold Story of the Kargil War, Mihir Ahuja plays Flying Officer C.H. Bal Reddy, who is affectionately nicknamed “Baldy”. The series seeks to honour the bravery of the officers who operated under extreme conditions during one of India’s most significant military campaigns. CHAT UP SWARA BHASKER HOSPITALISED Vicky Kaushal - Uri: The Surgical Strike Vicky Kaushal delivered one of the most memorable performances of his career as Major Vihaan Shergill in Uri: The Surgical Strike. Inspired by the Indian Army’s 2016 surgical strikes following the Uri terror attack, Kaushal’s commanding screen presence earned widespread acclaim. His iconic dialogue, “How’s the josh?”, went on to become a nationwide catchphrase. The same raga rendered by different stalwarts can sound absolutely fresh for each has freedom to express it the way he/she wants Janhvi Kapoor - Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl Janhvi Kapoor stepped into the role of Flight Lieutenant Gunjan Saxena, one of the Indian Air Force’s first female officers to serve in a combat zone during the Kargil War. Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl traces her inspiring journey from aspiring pilot to decorated officer, shining a spotlight on courage, determination and the barriers she broke in a male-dominated profession. Farhan Akhtar - 120 Bahadur Farhan Akhtar plays real-life war hero Major Shaitan Singh Bhati in the historical war drama 120 Bahadur. He portrays the commanding officer of Charlie Company, 13 Kumaon Regiment, who led one of the Indian Army’s most legendary last stands against the Chinese forces during the 1962 Battle of Rezang La. Siddharth - Operation Safed Sagar: The Untold Story of the Kargil War Actor Siddharth plays martyred Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja in Operation Safed Sagar: JANHVI KAPOOR c m y b The Untold Story of the Kargil War, inspired by the Indian Air Force’s pivotal role during the 1999 Kargil conflict. Adivi Sesh - Major Adivi Sesh portrays real-life hero Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, the brave NSG commando who laid down his life during the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Adivi Sesh delivers a powerful and deeply moving performance that captures Major Unnikrishnan’s courage, humanity and indomitable spirit with remarkable authenticity. Varun Dhawan - Border 2 Varun Dhawan essays the role of Param Vir Chakra awardee Major Hoshiar Singh Dahiya in the highly anticipated war drama Border 2. He portrays the courageous commander of the 3 Grenadiers during the historic Battle of Basantar in the 1971 Indo-Pak War. MRUNAL DENIES DATING RUMOURS Mrunal Thakur has shut down speculation linking her romantically to cricketer Yashasvi Jaiswal after the two were spotted leaving the same Mumbai cafe. Responding to a social media post about the rumours, she questioned how people could believe such gossip and joked that commentators should focus on real issues instead. Fans backed her, calling the claims baseless. Thakur was previously linked to actor Dhanush, which both also denied.