17092026-LSTC-01.qxd 9/16/2026 8:53 PM Page 1 c m y b Jasmine Sandlas has often made music out of her most honest emotions — from heartbreak, longing to healing and self love as celebrated in hits such as Dil Tutteya, Vachari, Jaiye Sajna and Sip Sip.Now, with her latest single Pyaar, the singer is exploring a distinctly happier chapter, with her fiancé Shekhar Chaudhary featuring in the video. Anant Nag to receive Dadasaheb Phalke Award Veteran actor to receive the country’s highest cinema honour at the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony Veteran actor Anant Nag, known for his impressive work in Hindi and Kannada cinema in classics such as Minchina Ota, Hamsageethe, Ankur and Manthan, will be honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024, the government announced on Wednesday. With a filmography of more than 250 films in five decades across multiple languages, the 78-yearold is also a renowned name in the theatre world. He will be given the award, the highest recognition in Indian cinema, at the National Film Awards ceremony in Kevadia, Gujarat, on September 22. Last year, the recipient of the award was Malayalam cinema star Mohanlal. Nag made his cinema debut with 1973 Kannada movie Sankalpa and gradually became an integral part of the parallel cinema there in the 1970s and 1980s. He was a part of popular Doordashan serial Malgudi Days, the TV adaptation of R K Narayan’s popular work. Nag’s collaboration with Shyam Benegal led to classic — Ankur, Nishant, Manthan, Bhumika, Kondura and Kalyug. His major hits in Kannada include Bayalu Daari, Na Ninna Bidalare, Chandanada Gombe, Aruna Raaga, Mududida Taavare Aralithu, and KGF Last year, Nag was honoured with the Pad. ma Bhushan. — PTI TRIBUNE 2 Eyes Life Guru Randhawa releases 2 Eyes with Nikita Dutta, swapping dance anthems for a breezy love ballad about a cricketfuelled meet-cute and romantic fantasy. CHANDIGARH | THURSDAY | 17 SEPTEMBER 2026 Ambiecka on making Babita Singh Reporting, a story of courage & change NonikaSingh I T’s a man’s world… we all are acutely aware of this stinging social reality. But it’s a rare film which shows us subtle, nuanced, yet emphatic shades of patriarchy without shouting from the pulpit. Babita Singh Reporting is one such film which is creating a virtual storm what with every other Insta post delving into its many recesses and layers. National Award winning Ambiecka Pandit, director of the film, might not have anticipated the overwhelming positive response to her debut feature directorial, but the lawyer turned filmmaker understands the dynamics of why and how the film has resonated so well. She reasons, “There is a Baby in me, in Nimisha Sajayan who plays her as well, as all those women who can relate to her.” But what is more gratifying for her is the response of male audiences who have called out Sharad for being uncaring, unkind and doing the bare minimum. She rues, “Society expects women’s career to be secondary to her domestic identity while for men their professional commitment always takes precedence.” Interestingly, when reading Amita Vyas’ script what fascinated Ambiecka the most was her character’s vulnerability and how beautifully Amita had changed the definition of courage. As the film captures Challenging everyday patriarchy everyday patriarchy, what Ambiecka finds most dangerous is women internalising it and self-censuring for “it means patriarchy is really working and tentacles have taken root among the subjects themselves.” Among the film’s many revealing scenes the one in which Sharad starts to cry and plays the victim card is what truly hit Ambiecka home and she quips, “Often the predator pretends to be a victim and starts to cry foul. This is something I had experienced and I had a great time directing this scene.” Perhaps this is what Sudip Sharma, producer of the film, had in mind when he felt that a woman would be more suitable to direct such a subject. Ambiecka adds, “Though cinema can’t be seen through gendered lens, as a woman this is a lived in experience for me and there is no level of separation between art and me.” Of course, the purpose of cinema according to her is not to educate, only ask relevant questions, may be examine and reflect. In this reflection those who felt the investigation arm of the film was not as gripping as Babita’s journey, Ambiecka is a bit piqued. She insists, “The film was not meant to be a thriller and I can understand if fans of the genre are disappointed. Investigation was only a vehicle. It isn’t even a conventional cop drama and was always written as coming of age film of Babita, both as a cop and as a woman.” Nimisha, however, was always the first choice for playing this diffident yet brave cop. “Nimisha is a brilliant actor whose work I had seen in Chola and The Great Indian Kitchen.” While almost everything about patriarchy annoys her; mansplaining, this constant urge to talk down to women condescendingly she finds most off-putting. Yes, maledominated film industry has similar undercurrents but as she puts it, “not in a disruptive manner.” Besides, she has been fortunate enough to find support and guidance in makers like Suresh Triveni, Vikramaditya Motwane and Sudip Sharma, all of whom she rates as not just great makers but wonderful human beings. On the surface like Baby, Ambiecka too might come across a soft-spoken person but has a mind that refuses to bend to any set rules. And in case you have yet not watched Babita Singh Reporting on Prime Video, check out Baby’s transformation, which runs oh so deep and real. More than one scene packs a punch and will stay with you for times to come… ’S MEGA INDiA PiNG HOP S iVAL ARN C 2026 SANDLAS FINDS PYAAR c m y b Chandigarh to Mumbai Suchi Birgi on chasing dreams, cracking auditions & finding her place in showbiz Ravleen Kaur There was a little girl who watched Govinda’s Raja Babu and was convinced that one day, she would become everything. A lawyer. A doctor. A pilot. Perhaps even all three. For Suchi Birgi, watching Govinda wasn’t merely entertainment. It was a possibility. Today, sitting in Mumbai, she is still chasing that same childlike possibility, only the costumes have been replaced by characters, auditions and cameras. At present, Birgi is part of Bareilly Ke Bacchan on Colors TV and JioHotstar, while also working on a SonyLIV series. Born in Kanpur and raised in Chandigarh, Birgi started with theatre after school. Suchetak Rangmanch in Mohali became her training ground. A Hindi short film with R Swami followed, and then came an advertising campaign with Ayushmann Khurrana — something she had manifested all along. “On November 18, 2023, I moved to the city of dreams. The city that has something for everyone,” she says as her eyes sparkle. Punjab, meanwhile, gave her a memorable breakthrough. Darya Walle by Rangle Sardar, featuring Birgi in a striking no-makeup look, crossed 10 million YouTube views and became a staple soundtrack at Punjabi weddings. The song opened doors to more regional projects, but Mumbai remained her larger canvas. However, she says, "I'm open to opportunities wherever they come from. For me, the destination matters less than the work. Whatever is written for me, I'm ready for it."