05052025-LSTC-01.qxd 5/4/2025 8:45 PM Page 1 c m y b CLOSE ENCOUNTER FOR CAGE Hollywood actor Nicolas Cage had a harrowing experience while training for his new film, The Surfer, which is now in theatres. The actor nearly encountered a shark and got stuck in a rip tide while surfing, an experience he described as potentially life-threatening. WHAT’S HOT TRIBUNE Musical note Life Music composer AR Rahman set the stage on fire as he kicked off The Wonderment Tour in Mumbai with a live concert featuring performances by his son AR Ameen, Jonita Gandhi and Dhanush. CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 5 MAY 2025 ‘Stones speak to me’ Nonika Singh Jalandhar H eat COACHING, CAFE A new joint with the concept of ‘cafe with coaching’ has been opened near the PPR Market in Jalandhar. The joint, being run by three partners, has been named as The Revision Cafe. One of the partners in the cafe, Jaspreet Kaur, said, “Other than a cafe, we have coaching for students of classes 9-12 from 2-7 pm. The visitors at our cafe have to follow a rule. We expect them to maintain silence, so that the students do not get disturbed. For them, we have set up a full library, board games like chess etc. People doing work from home also visit us and enjoy working on laptops, as they like to munch our snacks along with coffee.” The cafe owners have also started offering painting classes. play THEATRE ZONE T Patiala HE North Zone Cultural Centre (NZCC) recently organised Rang Shashthi, a fascinating Summer Theatre Festival, at the historic Kalidas Auditorium in Patiala. The event was presented by the National School of Drama (NSD) Repertory Company, Delhi, in collaboration with NZCC, Patiala. The special event was held to mark the 60th anniversary (1964–2024) of the eventful journey of the NSD Repertory Company, the force behind promoting and nurturing the art of theatre in India. During the three-day festival, remarkable theatrical performances were witnessed. Among the plays staged were Mai Ri Main Kaise Kahun, Babu Ji and Laila Majnu. love IT’S LUXURY T … and Chandigarh-based sculptor Vishal Bhatnagar makes them talk in an inimitable language, rooted as much in Indian iconography as modern aesthetics Until you become one with your medium, your artistic journey never takes off. his immediate environment too informs his artistic sensibilities, he breathes a new language into the traditional, melding ancient and modern aesthetics. Seeking inspiration from renowned artists, including Alberto Giacometti, Swiss sculptor and painter known for human figures, Vishal’s Big Foot series took birth. Back in college, “Michelan- gelo was the ultimate.” But real lessons were learnt from his teachers like Sumangal Roy and Jagdish Lal Ahuja at the Government College of Art, Chandigarh, from where he did his BFA in sculpture. During his MFA at I.K.S. University Khairagarh, his interest in Vedic studies was triggered. At GCA, he still recalls the moment when he was asked to hold clay in his hands for an entire day. It was there and then he learnt how to embrace one’s medium. He muses, “Until you become one with your medium and it becomes part of your soul as well as life, your artistic journey never takes off.” Life study at GCA too informed his art and came in handy when he created statues of Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar and Subash Chandra Bose. More recently, he was taken on board to supervise and complete Shaheed Bhagat Singh’s statue at the Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport, Mohali. As a rule, he says no to commissioned projects. Yet, as and when he commits himself to creating realistic sculptures, “Much research is involved, especially in He’ll be there! Mohali HE beauty world is witnessing a conscious shift towards healthier, more natural choices and Looks Privé, a luxury salon at HLP Gallerria, Mohali, is all set to lead this transformation with elegance and innovation. The swanky salon spread over a sprawling 3400 sq ft over two levels was formally unveiled during a ‘salon-preview-and-interaction’ recently. “It is a matter of pride for tricity as this outlet is the region’s first ‘Looks Privé’– the Luxe Salon offering by the Looks Salon Group, which has 236 salons spread across India and other countries,” said Jas Sandhu, director, business development, Looks Privé, Mohali. IS works find a pride of place in City Beautiful at strategic locations like Haryana Vidhan Sabha Bhawan, Rose Garden, et al. Not too long ago, his bronze sculptures rubbed shoulders with the likes of Andy Warhol, Salvador Dali and Auguste Rodin at an auction in London. Four of his creations sold for a whopping 40,000 Euros! Achievements of noted sculptor Vishal Bhatnagar, recipient of National Award and many other laurels like Kalashree, may not have got due consideration in Chandigarh where he studied, lives and works. But nothing diminishes the power of his passion, bordering on junoon, which manifests in his larger-than-life sculptures. As he has just returned after creating a mammoth work in stone at the 4th ITM Baroda International Sculptors Symposium at Vadodhra, he shares how he can speak to stones, right now his favourite medium. From the moment he lays eyes on blocks of the cold marble in quarries, he can actually communicate with his muse and shape it the way his heart dictates. “Art is created when eyes, heart, mind and hand are in sync,” he observes. His latest series is called Bull and Moon, both symbols connected with Lord Shiva. A PhD in Symbolism of Shaiv Darshan not only made him explore it fully, but also made him realise how ancient Indian philosophy is at once simple, yet intricately complex. Till 2015, he interpreted it literally. Today, he is delving into its complexities. Thus Shivlingam for him is a journey from infinite to infinite, Tantra too represents mystical quest of the self to reach the ultimate power. And if you think Moon’s only symbolism for him lies in how Shiva wears the celestial entity on his head, he reminds, “Moon, after all, is a cosmic symbol, as much an Eid Ka Chand as our Karva Chauth Ka, as much a subject of study for scientists. In short, who can say to whom it belongs?” Since ‘Indian iconography works in many layers’, when he creates a man and woman on a bull, it’s not a simplistic rendition of Shiva and Parvati. “Were I to do that, what would be the difference between me and a folk artist?” Indeed, like our folk art, he touches base with his roots. But since c m y b getting the anatomical details right.” Of course, being a sculptor is not an easy task. If the cost of the material, both bronze and stone, itself is prohibitive, the process is simply labour of love. However, it’s not love’s labour lost but gained manifold. City Beautiful, where he has been living since decades, too has gained much. Apart from his sculptures dotting its cityscape, he proclaims how in the past few decades every single stone (of the sculptures in the city) has been selected by him. Indeed, city residents who may have encountered his works every now and then might be oblivious to the creator’s identity, as few have ever reverted to him. He rues, “Not many understand the language of sculptures.” Yet since his work is in the Government Museum and Art Gallery’s collection as well as bought by city’s cognoscenti, those who matter, have not missed his unusual creative spark. However, for Vishal real creativity is not the end goal but the process. As Robert Henri said, “The object isn’t to make art, it’s to be in that wonderful state which makes art inevitable.” Diljit Dosanjh confirms Met Gala 2025 red carpet debut It looks like the 2025 Met Gala is shaping up to be a significant moment for Indian representation on the global stage! After Shah Rukh Khan and Kiara Advani, singer Diljit Dosanjh has also confirmed his muchanticipated attendance at the fashion industry’s biggest night, which will be held on May 5 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Diljit took to his official Instagram account to share the exciting news. In a teaser post, he simply wrote “First Time” alongside an hourglass emoji. To add a bit of mystery, the background track of the post was none other than Met Gala by rapper Gunna, further hinting at his upcoming moment on fashion’s biggest stage. In a follow-up post, the Udta Punjab actor shared an image of his Met Gala attire, wrapped in a white cloth bag adorned with the words ‘Met Gala’ boldly printed on it. The Met Gala 2025 will take place on May 5 at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. This year’s event will follow the theme ‘Superfine: Tailoring Black Style’, which aims to celebrate the intersection of fashion and Black culture. The exhibit at the Met Museum, by the same name, will explore this relationship and its influence on contemporary fashion. The 2025 Gala has already sparked significant attention, and Bollywood A-listers like Shah Rukh Khan, Kiara Advani and Priyanka Chopra have confirmed their attendance. Shah Rukh Khan and Kiara Advani have already arrived in New York ahead of the event, creating a buzz among fashion lovers in India and globally. The Met Gala 2025 will be cochaired by singer and fashion designer Pharrell Williams, actor Colman Domingo, rapper A$AP Rocky, and British racecar driver Lewis Hamilton. — ANI