10072025-LSTC-01.qxd 7/10/2025 12:25 AM Page 1 c m y b TRIBUNE Life Armani unveils Black Velvet elegance Indian artistry Giorgio Armani showed his latest Privé haute couture collection at the label’s gilded Paris headquarters on Tuesday, displaying black velvet evening wear with shimmery touches — once again, without the Italian designer, who continues to rest at home. “In twenty years of Armani Privé, this is the first time I haven’t been to Paris,” said Armani, who turns 91 on Friday. — REUTERS YatheshtPratiraj Phool What happens when five powerful female voices — each shaped by a different musical journey, yet drawn to the soul of Indian classical music — come together with zero egos and a whole lot of creative hunger? You get Raagraanis — an album that doesn’t just blend ragas with contemporary sound, but throws open the doors of tradition, letting in a breeze of experimentation, emotion and sisterhood. It started small. But as singer-composer Prajakta Shukre puts it, “Everyone we reached out to just said yes and suddenly, we had a full album in the works.” Varijashree Venugopal, the Grammy-nominated Carnatic vocalist, breaks it down: “We’re all singing ‘bandish’ compositions, but the presentation is designed Cat’s back The much-loved orange cat is making a comeback. Actor Chris Pratt is all set to voice Garfield once again in a sequel to 2024’s The Garfield Movie, which made more than $230 million at the global box office. CHANDIGARH | THURSDAY | 10 JULY 2025 5 raanis FLIPPING RULES for a wider, global audience. It respects tradition, but it’s not afraid of growth.” nis. It's not waving a feminist flag in your face — it's just doing the work. No boys allowed (this time) Tradition & just a little jazz Let’s talk lineup. You’ve got Prajakta Shukre, Himani Kapoor, Varijashree Venugopal, Pratibha Singh Baghel and Kalpana Gandharv. Prajakta has not only sung a track but she was a composer in the project too, while Himani wrote a song in the playlist. “I took a risk,” Himani admits.." That's the quiet revolution in Raagraa- Let's not pretend everyone loves genre-bending classical work. Varijashree is the first to acknowledge the tension: "Traditionalists have every right to protect what they love. But if we don't experiment, how will we grow?" The team's now planning a four-city unplugged tour. They're bringing the songs to life, raw and real. in Paris Rahul Mishra took Paris Couture Week by storm with his mesmerizing collection, ‘Becoming Love’. It took inspiration from the seven stages of love. Each stage was represented through ethereal fabrics paired along with exquisite Tanishq natural diamonds. “At the heart Rahul Mishra and Tanishq’s design philosophy lies an unwavering commitment to craftsmanship that speaks to a global audience,” said Mishra. Post Schiaparelli Haute Couture, Cardi B made another striking appearance in ‘ Wild Rose’ from Rahul Mishra Fall 2025 Couture collection. Varijashree Venugopal, Pratibha Singh Baghel, Prajakta Shukre, Himani Kapoor & Kalpana Gandharv c m y b RAGAS REWIRED Raagraanis is technically a five-track EP, but that’s like calling a royal banquet “just a few snacks.” Each track is rooted in the ‘bandish’ style — a structured form of classical composition — but reimagined with instruments such as the esraj, flute and even saxophone. Traditional? Sure. But wrapped in arrangements that feel... global. Not fusion for fusion’s sake, but music that’s willing to stretch its limbs a little.