07052026-LSTC-01.qxd 5/6/2026 8:18 PM Page 1 c m y b SYSTEM TO PREMIERE SOON Prime Video has set May 22 as the global premiere date for its courtroom thriller System, a highstakes drama that delves into the complex intersection of power and justice. The show stars Sonakshi Sinha and Jyotika. TRIBUNE Coming soon Life For Ambala boy Shiv Tandan, art is meant to make people look inwards The makers of Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata have locked June 12 as the film’s theatrical release date, unveiling a striking poster. It stars Kangana Ranaut in the lead role. CHANDIGARH | THURSDAY | 7 MAY 2026 BEYOND DOORON DOORON } D Nonika Singh ooron dooron…. many may not know Shiv Tandan. But look closer and here stands a multidisciplinary artiste whose creativity flows in many directions. Not only does he write viral songs like Dooron Dooron and Bottlan, and award winning plays, he also tries to fix what is missing in our education system through a Youbtube channel, called Central Board for Fixing Education. Lately, he has directed a short film, Roy Is Missing, which gives voice to young students who are fast falling prey to all-encompassing tentacles of our education system. As he muses, “System has become everything,” and quotes Rabindranath Tagore’s story, The Parrot’s Training, he drives home the futility of external validation and achievement oriented education goals. “Art,’ he observes, is “meant to make us look inwards.” Interestingly, this lesson he learnt while doing systems engineering in Singapore and became part of a theatre group. Huzir Sulaiman became his guardian angel under whose mentorship he wrote his first play, The Good, the Bad and the Sholay. Why he chose the iconic film as a reference point was unclear to him in the beginning but soon it became a metaphor of longing for home. Cities define artistic sensibilities and in another play, Fistful of Rupees, he wrote extended monologues on the Maximum City. Chandigarh, which he visits Stay away from social media; it has the power to manipulate you. The amount of money being spent to hook you is insane and you don’t stand a chance. Instead, create art which is what the world needs. quite often these days, too could emerge as a character in his next. While codirecting a performance piece, Unicorn Moment, he discovered what it means to be an artiste. “Art is not just food for the soul but a hospital, in short panacea for mankind,” he says. In a world increasingly being overtaken by algorithm, he strongly believes, “Only art can reinforce shared reality, connect us to the spiritual and make us enjoy the process.” Thus he frowns upon AI makers who want to circumvent the entire process of creation of art, which is where the real magic lies. When Shiv writes songs there is no escaping the Sufi influence, organic outcome of being a Punjabi for whom Tujh mein rab dikhda hai is a natural sentiment and lines like Ishq soch ke kita te ki kita automatically flow. His association with singer-actor Paresh Pahuja, whose voice has lent immense popularity to his lyrics, goes back in time. Dismayed with country’s polity, when Shiv wrote the song, Kya Chunega, Paresh got in touch with him. Rest, as they say, is history; creative partnership during which he even directed Paresh’s concert, Voice Notes, is going strong. So is Shiv’s passion. Is there a separate mood or mode which dictates varying artistic pursuits? He laughs, “I am a working artiste and there are deadlines to meet.” But, he tries not to lose sight of real purpose of art. The young writer-educationist fully understands, “As we inhabit sharp-edged society where tensions run high, only art can lend the much-needed softness and invoke empathy.” Vedang Raina plays a Sikh in Imtiaz Ali’s film Subhash K Jha Vedang Raina, a Kashmiri Pandit by birth, plays a turbaned Sardarji in Applause Entertainment’s Main Waapas Aaunga, which opens in cinemas on 12 June. Vedang is thrilled by the opportunity to go where other actors like Dharmendra (Jeevan Mrityu), Akshay Kumar (Singh Is Kinng) and Sunny Deol (Border) have gone before. Says Vedang, “It is highly flattering to be named along with these legends. I am honoured to be playing a member of community known for its valour and national pride.” Was it tough getting into the turban? “It took a lot from me. A lot of reading, research, staying in Punjab. I read about the Sikhs and their history. Their culture. The dialect. I had to learn to tie the turban. I must confess I didn’t do a great job with it and luckily I had help during shoot. But I did try to learn it and did a moderately decent job.” In Imtiaz Ali’s Love Aaj Kal (2009), Saif Ali Khan and Rishi Kapoor, both nonSikhs, played turbaned Sikh characters. Familyaffair The Kapoors turn up for Neetu Kapoor’s Daadi Ki Shaadi screening RIDDHIMA & NEETU KAPOOR WHAT’S HOT eat chandigarh shimla PET’S DAY OUT P ET lovers have another reason to love Café Khoblu, a café that offers mouth-watering cuisines, is also the only pet friendly café in the town. A first of its kind café in Shimla, not only the café encourages pet lovers to bring their pets, it also offers a 10 per cent discount to those who visit the café with their pets. play ANSHU LIVE T HE stand-up comedy special Spoiler Alert by Anshu Mor will take place on May 9 at 8pm. The show runs for 1 hour and 30 minutes and is open to audiences aged 16 and above. CHAT UP FRIENDS KEEPSAKES ON SALE IRRFAN IS BACK ON SCREEN A long-lost cinematic piece of history has resurfaced as the unreleased film The Last Tenant, starring late actor Irrfan Khan and actress Vidya Balan, has been released on YouTube nearly 25 years after it was shot. It was written and directed by Sarthak Dasgupta. SHARVARI STEAL HEARTS Friends memorabilia, artwork and other valuables from the estate of Matthew Perry are being put up for sale at an auction to benefit the charitable foundation established in the actor’s name soon after his 2023 death. The June 5 event put on by Heritage Auctions will benefit the Matthew Perry Foundation. JOLIE WINS COURT RULING The makers of Main Vaapas Aaunga have released a track, titled Maskara. The song beautifully captures the budding love between Sharvari and Vedang Raina. One of the highlights of the song is the adorable dance of Sharvari in a turban as she expresses her love for Vedang. In a development in the legal battle over Chateau Miraval, Angelina Jolie has secured a favourable court ruling against Brad Pitt, with a Los Angeles Superior Court judge denying Pitt’s request for access to a set of private emails. The romance with Batalvi continues... Neha Saini chandigarh REKHA Ranbir Kapoor, who shares a close and special bond with his mother and veteran actor Neetu Kapoor, once again showed his unwavering love and support as he attended the screening of her film, Daadi Ki Shaadi. He arrived with his wife, actor Alia Bhatt, adding warmth to the evening. The couple’s presence added to the excitement surrounding the screening, drawing attention from fans and media alike. The screening of the film, headlined by Neetu Kapoor and Kapil Sharma, turned into a glittering affair as members of the Kapoor family and several prominent faces from the film industry gathered to celebrate the film ahead of its release. The evening also saw the presence of Riddhima Kapoor, who joined her family in supporting Neetu Kapoor’s latest project. Ranbir’s aunt Rima Jain also attended the special event. Veteran actor Rekha added a touch of timeless elegance to the event. Known for her graceful appearances, Rekha’s arrival was met with admiration as she greeted attendees and posed for photographs. Daadi Ki Shaadi also stars Sadia Khateeb and Neetu Kapoor’s daughter Riddhima Kapoor Sahni. It arrives in cinemas on May 8. — ANI love LIT FEST T HE annual Children’s Literature Festival of St Kabir Public School, Sector 26, is seeing participation by children’s authors, storytellers and illustrators. A major highlight of the festival is Becoming, a landmark exhibition that traces over 130 years of illustrations in children’s books in India. On till May 8. Shiv Kumar Batalvi’s poetry and literary works have not just remained in books and verses, but re-interpreted, re-imagined and served to the younger generation through Intsagram reels, songs and podcasts. Diljit Dosanjh’s rendition of Ikk Kudi (Udta Punjab) became a major cultural re-interpretation of Batalvi’s popular poem. Again, in Chamkila, Diljit sang Menu Vida Karo, which in a classical Batalvi’s style, became an emotional vocabulary of love, longing and loss. This generation of artistes include Wazir Patar, Jasleen royal, Arjan Dhillon, who used Shiv Kumar Batalvi’s poetry and mythical storytelling to talk about mental health, social Remembering the poet on his 53rd death anniversary and gender issues. But before them were Jagjit Singh, Gurdas Maan and several others, who re-imagined Batalvi and introduced his work to their audience. But beyond the status of a classical poet, Batalvi remains an ever-changing and evolving ‘source material’, who relevance remains the same. “We need to understand Batalvi’s work beyond nostalgia. Some of his most popular songs and poetry are being adapted and reimagined by the new crop of artistes, but this is c m y b not his best work. Loona was path breaking in the history of Punjabi literature. Batalvi, through Loona, delved into gender disparity, injustice and feminist themes, how a woman is seen as a commodity. He wrote about yearning, female desire and taboo subjects. In the same breath, he used Gurbani and Sufi poetry to elevate the Punjabi language. It is natural for younger generation to rediscover him through a few popular songs, but we need to introduce him in schools, colleges and institutions,” said Diwan Manna, eminent artiste, who has worked on Batalvi as a subject. Many village Sahit Sabhas like the one still functional in Batalvi’s native village in Gurdaspur Keeri Mangyal, have preserved his legacy as is part of everyday conversation.