28072026-LSTC-01.qxd 7/27/2026 8:06 PM Page 1 c m y b TRIBUNE Show time Life A model showcased the new Roseroom collection by designer Isha Jajodia during the India Couture Week in Delhi on Sunday. The collection is built on lace and corsetry. LUDHIANA | TUESDAY | 28 JULY 2026 Dil diyangallan… Jyotirmayee Nayak wins Indian Idol After months of unforgettable performances, inspiring journeys, and musical excellence, Sony Entertainment Television’s Indian Idol Season 16 has crowned Jyotirmayee Nayak as the winner of this season. Hailing from Odisha, Jyotirmayee delivered a breathtaking performance on the song Saiyaan O Saiyaan. Her journey culminated in a spectacular victory over fellow finalists Anshika Chonkar, Manraj Veer Singh, Myscmme Bosu, Suhail Sufi and Tanishk Shukla, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter as India’s newest singing sensation. Throughout her Indian Idol journey, Jyotirmayee has won the hearts of judges, guests and the audience through her performances, including her melodious performance on O Jab Tak Hai Jaan Jaane Jahan Main Nachungi, which earned a standing ovation from veteran actress Hema Malini. Jaane Kyun Log Mohabbat Kiya Karte Hain moved Leena Chandavarkar. Jyotirmayee is a celebrated singer in the Odia music Industry. She had dedicated herself to healing cancer patients through music therapy before stepping onto the Indian Idol stage. The star-studded grand finale was made even more memorable with the presence of judges Shreya Ghoshal and Badshah, along with celebrated musical icons and special guests Usha Uthup, Udit Narayan, Papon, Kumar Sanu, Shehnaaz Gill and Urmila Matondkar. Jyotirmayee said, “Winning Indian Idol Season 16 feels absolutely surreal. From walking into the auditions with nothing but a dream to standing here as the winner, this journey has truly been lifechanging. Every performance challenged me to become a better singer, performer, and person.” — TNS WHAT’S HOT eat amritsar COFFEE &CROISSANTS I F you are a coffee and croissants person, Buland, originating from Jalandhar, recently opened its new outlet in Amritsar. Known for its bold brews and Europeanstandard bakery items, the café is a cozy spot for artisanal coffee and comfort food. F ROM the hopeful stirrings of first love to the ache of heartbreak and the quiet comfort of happily ever after, Irshad Kamil has penned songs for every shade of emotion. Tum Se Hi, Heer Toh Badi Sad Hai and Dil Diyan Gallan have become companions through different chapters of love, finding a place in countless playlists—and hearts. When the celebrated lyricist visits The Tribune on Monday, the conversation moves beyond the songs to the man behind the words. He retraces his journey from an unassuming childhood in Malerkotla, Punjab, younger days at Panjab University and Tagore Theatre that he holds close to heart, through the struggles in Mumbai to writing lyrics for AR Rahman in just under 20 minutes. The stories are as evocative as his verses, revealing a thoughtful, grounded and deeply poetic writer whose success rests on years of perseverance, an abiding love for Hindi literature, and an unwavering faith in the power of words. THE FAMOUS MUMBAI HUSTLE Writing for films like Dhurandhar, Rockstar, Jab We Met and many others that have become part of our collective memory does not come easy. Behind the accolades are years of relentless hustle in the City of Dreams and countless moments that shaped the person behind the poet. One such memory has stayed with him. After remaining awake for hours writing television scripts, the production assistant, who regularly collected those scripts, said, “Sir, you’ve been awake for 72 hours. You need to sleep, or you’ll die.” That simple act of concern became unforgettable. Those quiet moments of kindness as much as the milestones and awards make Irshad look back at his journey with deep gratitude. THE NEW YEAR’S TRADITION Growing up, New Year’s Eve for Irshad looked much like it did for many Indian families. The entire family would gather At The Tribune on Monday, celebrated lyricist Irshad Kamil reflects on his remarkable journey—from an unassuming childhood in Malerkotla and his formative years at Panjab University to the struggles of finding his footing in Mumbai around the television to watch Doordarshan’s New Year special. His mother’s homemade gajar ka halwa completed the celebration at 12. Years later, he was all set to recreate the same tradition with his wife and son. The family had settled in, the festive mood was just right, when his phone rang. It was from AR Rahman’s studio. Rahman had just composed a tune and needed lyrics immediately—the recording was already underway. As his wife and son’s faces fell, Irshad stepped away, wrote the lyrics in just 20 minutes, emailed them across and returned to the living room in time to ring in the New Year with his family— and, of course, a bowl of gajar ka halwa. The song? Maahi Ve Dhoop Pani Par Baras Jaye! MY HEART BREAKS EVERYDAY He says he falls in love every day, suffers heartbreak every day and lives every emotion deeply, so that when Irshad writes, the feelings arrive in his lyrics — untouched and true. Who Irshad Kamil really is? “Main vichar hoon, ek vichardhara banna chahta hoon (I am an idea. I want to become a way of thinking.)” It’s perhaps the most poetic way to describe the lyricist. THE MAN BEHIND ‘KAMIL’ He is witty, self-aware and disarmingly humble. He admits he added “Kamil” (meaning complete or perfect) to his name because, in his own words, “I like to show off.” Then, almost in the same breath, he laughs and says he is still far from being ‘kamil’ . chandigarh IS AI A THREAT TO WRITING? The conversation inevitably turns to artificial intelligence. Asked whether AI can change of poetry or literature, he acknowledges that it could imitate his style. “It can recreate the rhythm, the pattern and the structure of my songs,” he says. “But it cannot become me.” What AI lacks, he says, is lived experience—the ocean of thoughts, emotions and memories from which a song truly emerges. That is also why he never approaches songwriting as filling in a familiar template. “I write for the character,” he says. “Every lyric belongs to a particular person, in a particular moment, in a particular story.” And perhaps that is why his songs continue to endure. They may begin as someone else’s story on screen, but somewhere between the melody and the words, they become our own memories, our own heartbreaks and our own love stories… milestone Pankaj Tripathi to receive Artist of Distinction honour at Melbourne The most versatile and celebrated actor Pankaj Tripathi is set to receive the prestigious Artist of Distinction honour at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2026. Marking a special milestone, this will also be the first time the National Awardwinning actor will attend the festival and personally receive the honour. The honour marks yet another milestone in Tripathi’s career, which spans critically acclaimed performances across films and streaming platforms. From portraying deeply rooted, everyday characters to delivering some of contemporary Indian cinema’s most memorable performances, the actor has earned widespread admiration for his authenticity, understated brilliance and unwavering commitment to storytelling. From the unforgettable Sultan Qureshi in Gangs of Wasseypur and the beloved Kaleen Bhaiya in Mirzapur, to his National Award-winning performance in Mimi and acclaimed roles in Newton, Stree, Bareilly Ki Barfi, Fukrey, Masaan, Criminal Justice, OMG 2 and Main Atal Hoon, Tripathi has consistently redefined excellence with characters that have become cultural touchstones. His ability to portray ordinary people with extraordinary sincerity has earned him immense critical acclaim and a devoted global fan following. Expressing his gratitude on receiving the honour, Tripathi said, “To be soon receiving the Artist of Distinction’ honour at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne is deeply humbling.” THE MATTER OF ART H OLLA Mohalla is a solo art exhibition by Sanjay Das, curated by Seema Bhalla, and presented in collaboration with the Government Museum and Art Gallery and the Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi. At the Government Museum and Art Gallery, the exhibition will be on till September 15. love BEAUTIFUL BLOOMS chandigarh Despite his gentle demeanour and remarkable command over the language, he is quick to underplay himself. “I’m a good actor,” he says, suggesting that what people often perceive as effortless eloquence is, perhaps, just another performance. Another play W HILE fresh flowers eventually fade, scented wax blooms are designed to last forever. Deepakriti Institute presents Wax Flower Bouquet Workshop where participants learn lifelike floral molding, work with premium natural waxes, and master professional bouquet styling. From July 28 till July 31. c m y b ❝ AI can recreate the rhythm, the pattern and the structure from my previous songs. But it cannot catch what I am yet to write. PHOTO: RAVI KUMAR Mona CHAT UP RANBIR RETURNS TO MUMBAI ‘PEOPLE ARE STILL HOMELESS’ After promoting his highly anticipated film Ramayana at San Diego Comic-Con, actor Ranbir Kapoor on Monday morning returned to his hometown, Mumbai. He made a cool appearance at the airport, with shutterbugs capturing him as soon as he exited the premises. Papon has urged people across the country to come forward and support those affected by the devastating floods in Assam. In a video on X, Papon said, “I just wanted to bring to notice what’s happening in Assam right now. Villages are flooded, people are still homeless, It’s a bad situation, so please spread the word.” RAM CHARAN RECOVERS TRAITORS-2 TO BE OUT SOON Ram Charan has successfully undergone a surgery for a right wrist injury sustained during the shooting of Peddi. The procedure was carried out at Ganga Hospital in Coimbatore. Ram Charan is recovering well, and the medical team is satisfied with the outcome of the surgery. He will now undergo a rehabilitation programme. Filmmaker Karan Johar is back as a host for the second season of The Traitors. On Monday, the makers unveiled the show’s promo and announced that it will hit Prime Video on August 13. The Traitors is an Indian adaptation of the internationally acclaimed thrilling reality format.