Crowded House

The concept of using spaces for multiple purposes seems to have caught up even with restaurateurs. For foodies-cum-shopaholics,the Whispering Willows has a regular exhibition twice a year. “Beautiful clothes and good food make the world go round,” says Abha Saxena,a regular,who also like those of interiors and fashion at Chandigarh Club. Art exhibitions at restaurants are also on the rise,thanks to the growing popularity of these joints. “Art galleries have the exclusivity tag. There are laymen who appreciate art,but don’t quite head to galleries. Whereas many people do buy art pieces from here,” says Riyaaz Amlani,owner of Mocha. Precisely why Mirchi Kum at Maya Palace hosted an art show recently,one that had foodies and art lovers absorbed,while Kotak Mohindra Bank hosted an exhibition ‘Can Spring Be Far Behind’ of artists from Delhi and Mumbai. As for Yellow Chilli,it displayed an exclusive spread of wedding packaging.

Those who require intellectual stimulation,head often to Coveda,Sector 18 for film screenings or poetry slams which are conducted weekly. “Things that people see are pre-programmed…you can change channels but you can never choose,because television programming appeals to the lowest common denominator,whereas at META we are appealing to the brain cells,to a meaningful discussion,” says Harman from META Film Club. We Volunteer too holds interactive sessions at Coveda for,“the quiet ambience of the school provides the perfect backdrop for discussion and exchange of ideas. Indeed the concept of Yuva Parliament was conceptualized sitting here,” tells Preet Arjun Singh of this students’ group.

While budding but tight on budget singers and artists are utilizing public spaces like the Sukhna Lake to display their art,Firozi Fish girls are packing it all up in their ‘backyard sale’. Ghazal singer Ranbir Kumar left the mobile audience at the Lake spellbound with his impromptu rendition. Malls like DT Cinemas gave a new meaning to movie viewing when they held a screening of Dev D along with an interaction with Anurag Kashyap,all on the house!

Community service may not be that crowd-pulling an idea but,“we could always have a space where people can come and offer workshops,share their ideas and skills,watch films together or have poetry reading sessions,” Sukhmani Kohli talks about Cafe Kaffee Kuchh. The idea is to open space for people to make food together and serve it,voluntarily. “We also want to open the space for people to come and just spend time reading books or starting interesting conversations with new friends. We want to open ourselves to people participating and contributing,be it monetarily,physical work or just their presence.” The group meets every Sunday at Children’s Cultural Centre,Lajpat Rai Bhawan,Sector 15,Chandigarh,between 4 and 8 pm.

The need for informal gatherings,where like-minded people can discuss art,culture,music is what the city needs and it’s a get-together that has to be encouraged,Diwan Manna,Chairman of the Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi,is all set to have a monthly get-together either at the State Library or Museum and hopes to start a conversation with either an art or film show and then take it further.

Now free from professional responsibility,Rajnish Wattas is itching to give shape to a plan that’s really close to his heart – forming a discussion circle that will encompass people from all walks of life,who are curious and inclined to meet more people and have free-floating conversations,where politics and business are taboo topics. “We hope to have a topic of discussion,be it about a book,a painting,music,piece of architecture. There is no agenda here,just a purely mutual sense of enriching our lives,widening our horizons and sharing some happy moments over high tea.

While book releases and reading sessions are regular activities at Browser,last month saw The Hamsa Yoga Sangh screen a documentary Wings to Freedom here. It was a cosy group,which watched Himalayan Master Yograj Siddhanath’s journey into the Himalayas in his quest to meet Mahavatar Shiva Goraksha Babaji. The movie,which was directed by Rita and Som Bakshi had the audience absorbed in a question-answer session,“we chose to screen it here,for we wanted an audience which was intellectual and also understood the philosophy of the film,’’ explains Jyoti Subramaniam of the Sangh.

This summer,physical fitness is not the only buzzword at Planet Fitness. On at the health club is Roller Coaster,a theatre workshop by Chakresh Kumar,which is going to get kids creatively and mentally simulated too. Mime,dance,martial arts,six to sixteen-year-olds can join the ride and get inspired to sweat it out too.

It was an exclusive concept for the city,a trunk show,which had fashion curator Shaan Thadani,get high-end apparel brands to Chandigarh. The brain-child of Nalini Sibal,the show was ‘shown’ at Kids Own,a creative play area for children and had Nalini transform the second floor into a fashion destination.

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