18112024-LSTC-01.qxd 11/17/2024 7:26 PM Page 1 c m y b NORA SIZZLES IN PAYAL TEASER Nora Fatehi and Yo Yo Honey Singh have teamed up for the music video titled Payal. On Sunday, the makers released the teaser of the song on social media, captioning it: “It’s time for the next big thing. The official music video of #Payal.” It marks Nora’s first collaboration with Honey Singh. TRIBUNE Obsession Life Fashion designer Manish Malhotra expressed his admiration for actress Rekha. In a post on social media, he revealed that he is “obsessed” with her timeless beauty and style. LUDHIANA | MONDAY | 18 NOVEMBER 2024 Naturally, a group show of 13 artists from across the country, echoes how artists from different regions and age groups approach, transform and translate nature (L-R) BHASKAR RAO, PAPPU BARDHAN, GANPATI HEGDE AND SUCHARITA Nonika Singh I F ‘Nature is the art of God’ as Dante Alighieri said, artists spend a lifetime recreating this art. Nature as a muse is not uncommon, rather few artists have remained uninfluenced by its perennial beauty. And as Mehak Bhan of 105 Arts curates a group show of 13 artists from across the country, titled Naturally, but naturally myriad moods of nature come alive. More importantly, the exhibition echoes how artists from different regions, age groups approach, transform and translate nature. National Award winner Ganapati Hegde from Bengaluru, for instance, seeks and finds meditation in the lap of nature. Flowers, trees, flying birds, leaves and more come together in his vibrant works, which are at once real and imaginative with a touch of playfulness and a fable-like element teasing our senses. Frog in a meditative pose could well be him, or us, or simply human consciousness enraptured by the beauty and calming presence of nature. Flowers like hibiscus, which distinguish his city, find an eminent place in his paintings. If nature is in his blood, his village background reinforces this bond further. Of course, what he recreates are not rural-scapes, but paintings redolent with flight of fantasy. Be it Golden Wings or Flying Pearl, you can actually feel birds soar in the expanse of nature’s bounties. By drawing attention to nature’s vast immeasurable wealth, he is also pointing out at what we may be losing if we don’t give PHOTOS: PRADEEP TEWARI But naturally! back what we are receiving. For Pappu Bardhan too nature is a constant companion. With the medium of acrylics he achieves translucent water colour effect as lotuses bloom in his riveting paintings. Hailing from politically charged Kolkata, lotus for him is certainly not a political symbol. Rather the flower is a metaphor for his roots. An alumnus of MS University of Baroda, in his works lotuses tell a story of his past and present. If I Am Coming Home is self- explanatory, a figure perched on the lotus leaves speaks volumes too. While most artists find beauty in nature’s majestic splendour, Sucharita Sengupta Suri discovers it in the unusual shades. Mother of two, fantasises that often form the basis of her story telling sessions with her children invariably leap onto her water colour compositions. Living in Mumbai, mythical sea creatures like kelpie, the Scottish water horse, are a recurring motif. A design artist otherwise, her fascination for zoology manifests time and again. An owl in blue, a cabinet of curiosity with animal forms depicted as collectibles, majority of the works are devoted to fauna, mostly in muted hues. Kalpvriksha is at the centre of Bhaskar Rao Botcha’s large sized acrylics on canvas. Contrasting white with robust reds and sparkling gold, the layering of pigments lends his compositions an unmistakable allure. Clearly none of his works have been made in a hurry, rather they stand as testimony to his labour of love as well as his inspiration that comes as much from impressionist painters like Claude Monet and Édouard Manet as his traditional roots. More recently, he has been using architectural shapes to create yet another layer of visual dynamics. Vinod Sharma’s Mindscape, akin to wondrous landscape, could well be labyrinths of human mind. Flower Market by Chaitali Chanda capturing the fragrance and flavour of flowers stands out as much for its expressive faces of flower-sellers. The majestic figures of elephants become one with natural habitats in Dolly Dhillon’s visually appealing oils on canvasses. Samir Mohanty’s Flying Habitat proves what a dexterous artist can achieve with volatile medium of water colours. Birds, flowers, branches acquire solid, tangible and incredibly irresistible charm. Sun-lit landscapes of Shu- vankar Maitra, spontaneity flowing in Rashmi Pote’s monochromes, Manish Chavda’s unique perspective, Rakhee Shenoy’s mixed media works stitching an ode to memory and picnic times, clearly it is quite a visual feast. Amidst the riot of colours, Anuja Lath’s ceramic works provide serenity and solidity of its own kind. If inspiration is all around her farm house, imagination too fires her kiln of creativity. Relationships become a reference point as one of her works is titled Three Sisters. Textures are integral to her works and she creates varying tones and gradations painstakingly. Functional ceramic works like lamps and pots too are an extension of her artistic impulses. Hailing from City Beautiful, Anuja vouches for the city’s growing art awareness and love for collecting art. Studio 105 Arts takes pride in being a bridge between artists, art lovers and collectors. For now, it also brings viewers 13 steps closer to nature. “To the eyes of the man of imagination, nature is imagination itself,” said William Blake. See it with the same eye. On till November 22, at House No. 105 Sector 11, Chandigarh. REUTERS Coke replaces daaru Punjabi singer Diljit Dosanjh is making headlines after facing a legal notice from the Telangana government, which instructed him not to perform songs promoting alcohol, drugs, and violence during his concert in Hyderabad. Diljit Dosanjh calls out double standards after Telangana govt’s notice, tweaks lyrics during Hyderabad concert The notice, issued just hours before his performance on Friday, cited a complaint from a Chandigarh resident who claimed that Diljit Dosanjh had performed songs promoting alcohol and violence at a previous concert in New Delhi. Songs like Patiala Pegg and Panchatara were specifically mentioned in the complaint. The government also warned the singer against repeating such performances and urged the organisers to refrain from involving children in the show, citing safety concerns regarding loud noises and strobe lights. In a recent social media video shared by Diljit Dosanjh’s team, the Amar Singh Chamkila actor responded by tweaking his lyrics on stage, turning the controversy into a viral moment. Taking to Instagram and the stage at the GMR Arena, Diljit Dosanjh said, “Koi bahar se kalakaar ayega woh jo marzi gaa k jaaye, jo marzi kare koi tension nahi hai. Lekin apna kalakaar ghar aa raha hai, usme twanu pareshani, taang adani hai. Par main bhi ek baat bata doon, eh Dosanjha aala bugge, eh ni chadtaa. (If an artist from abroad comes, they can sing whatever they want, but when it’s an Indian artist, you interfere. But let me tell you, I am Dosanjhawala, I won’t leave.)” Dosanjh’s comments were met with strong reactions from the audience, both during the concert and on social media. In the viral videos shared by his fans who attended the concert, Dosanjh could be seen making subtle changes to the lyrics of some of his popular songs during the Hyderabad concert. For example, in his hit track ‘Lemonade’, the line “Tainu teri ‘daaru’ ch pasand aa Lemonade” (You like your lemonade with alcohol) was changed to “Tainu teri ‘coke’ ch pasand aa lemonade” (You like your lemonade with coke). Similarly, in 5 Taara, he altered the lyrics from 5 Taara Thekke Utthe (Five stars liquor shop) to 5 Taara ‘Hotel’ Ch (Five stars hotel). — ANI Miss Denmark Victoria Kjaer Theilvig named 73rd Miss Universe Victoria Kjaer Theilvig of Denmark has been crowned Miss Universe for the year 2024, marking her country’s first win at the international beauty pageant. The 73rd edition of the pageant, which saw participation by more than 120 contestants, was held on Saturday night at the Mexico City Arena. Miss Nigeria Chidimma Adetshina placed second, whereas Miss Mexico Maria Fernanda Beltran came in third. “A new era begins! Congratulations to Denmark, our 73rd Miss Universe. May your reign inspire and empower women worldwide. #73MissUniverseCompetition,” read a post on the official Instagram c m y b Cheers for Denmark page of Miss Universe. Theilvig, an animal protection advocate, who works in the diamond selling business, was crowned by Miss Universe 2023 Sheynnis Palacios from Nicaragua. Rhea Singha, who represented India at the 73rd edition of the competition, was called into the list of top 30 contestants. The event kickstarted with a performance by mariachi musicians and singer Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas on Mexicana, a song created by Emilio Estefan for the contest. Miss Universe 2024 was hosted by Mario Lopez, Miss Universe 2012 Olivia Culpo, presenter Zuri Hall, and Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray. The gala, hosted for the third time in Mexico, also had first-time representatives in countries such as Belarus, Eritrea, Guinea, Macau, Maldives, Moldova and Uzbekistan. — PTI