November`05 - CityMasala

City Masala
Premier Issue
November 2005
A Lifestyle and Entertainment Magazine for Today’s South Asian
The Runaway
Groom
Why Men run
When Asked to Stay
GPS
GP
S
:
Lost and
EXPOSED!
They bared it all
Found
Bollywood
Fashion
Top Ten Countdown
The Classy &
Trendy
Miss India USA
Cricket
Exclusive Interview with
Trina Chakravarty
City Masala
Memories of a Glorious Win
November 2005
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November 2005
WE L C OM E
MEET OUR TEAM:
IN THIS ISSUE
On the Cover
Editor and Publisher:
Chhaya Sanghavi
Shaphali Jain
Content Contributors:
Ajay Jambhekar
Anika Sharma
Javid Lateef
Kavita Trivedi
Nandini Chakraborty
Sandeep Sidhu
Vanya Shah
Vish Viswanathan
Zed Rahman
Graphic Designer
Dawn Sallas
Published By:
CityMasala LLC
Telephone
813-642-3313
Email:
info@citymasala.com
On the Web:
www.citymasala.com
The opinions and viewpoints
of our contributors and advertisers do not necessarily
reflect those of CityMasala’s.
Every effort has been made to
ensure accuracy and originality of content. Copyright
© 2005 CityMasala LLC. All
rights reserved. Reprinting
of any material without prior
permission from CityMasala is
prohibited.
5
8
9
12
15
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Miss India USA: Exclusive Interview with
Miss India USA
Cricket: Memories of a Glorious Win
GPS … Lost and Found
Fashion: City Chic
Bollywood Countdown
The Runaway Groom:
Why men run when asked to stay
In this issue:
4
8
10
11
14
16
18
20
22
Achiever’s Club: Women of Substance
Cricket: Memories of a Glorious Win
Dining Out and Dining In
Wild Thing… You Make My Heart Sing
Reel Talk: Movie Reviews
Abhijit Bhaduri: Is he Mediocre But
Arrogant?
Anika’s Zen: Temptation Calling
Exposed: They Bared It All
Star Lite Star Brite: This Month’s
Horoscope
On the Cover:
Arti Bhojak
Arti is a
social worker who
works with
veterans
FROM OUR DESK TO YOURS:
Welcome to the very first edition of
CityMasala – a contemporary and vibrant interpretation of the South Asian
culture here in the US. When we first
decided to create CityMasala, the idea
took us by storm. The dearth of quality
entertainment presented in a media
format has led to the inception of CityMasala. Our effort is to put together a
magazine that would give our readers
everything they could possibly want
to read about in one, cover to cover,
COLOR magazine. Our ongoing effort
will be to create a publication that
will address all areas of life in the US
- beauty, fashion, cricket, cars, business, technology, family, horoscopes,
and of course, Bollywood. We will also
continue to add more columns for your
reading pleasure.
We want to target you, today’s
intellectually trendy, progressive, open
minded, culturally diverse and affluent
generation of South Asians. CityMasala strives to be different from the conventional, typical and culturally based
publications. Our aim is to consistently
form a bond with all our readers. We
will do this by providing quality editorial
content. CityMasala will cover issues
that matter to the sharp and discriminating women and men of South Asian
heritage, while embracing their diverse
cultural needs. Combined with our
online presence www.citymasala.com,
CityMasala will provide our readers
with the information they want and
need. We will constantly strive to stay
in touch with the South Asian community and interact consistently with our
readers.
We look forward to being an
integral part of your lives on a monthly
basis. Thank you for picking up our
issue and we hope you enjoy reading
it as much as we have enjoyed putting
it together.
We welcome new talent and
we would love to hear from aspiring
models, writers and photographers.
Let’s build a platform we can
all identify with, take inspiration from
and reach out to, together, as one, a
community of South Asians in
America.
Chhaya Sanghavi and Shaphali Jain
City Masala
November 2005
3
Achiever’s Club Women of Substance
Dr. Swapna Mukherjea: Staff Psychiatrist
orn in Calcutta, India, and educated in the University of Medical College, Calcutta, University of Florida, Gainesville and University of South Florida, Tampa, Dr.
Swapna Mukherjea is a Staff Psychiatrist in the Counseling Center at the University
Of South Florida. Dr. Mukherjea also works for Mental Health Care Inc., a community non-profit mental health program which provides mental care to the poor. Her
husband, Arunava Mukherjea, is a Professor of Mathematics at the University of
South Florida and her daughter, Ananya, is a Professor of Sociology in New York.
Yes, a veritable family of scholars! Her parents have been her biggest inspiration,
her husband, her greatest strength and support and her daughter, her greatest joy.
B
Ketal Patel: Vedic Astrology
orn in Ahmedabad, Ketal started her career as a science teacher in 1987. Her
true interest always stayed with astrology and yoga and it was only after1994
that she started studying astrology and passed the vedic astrology exam. She believes that Rahu is connected with our past Karma and Shani is our teacher through
the course of life. Her advice is that we should not fear Rahu and Shani and instead
choose to learn a lesson through life’s experiences. She also practices and teaches
Reiki which is a cosmic power used for healing. Reiki helps us balance our mental
and spiritual selves. Feng Shui and Pyramids are also her forte. Ketal believes that
just as we visit holy places to get energized and to feel positive, we can practice
Feng Shui and Pyramids to energize our home and surroundings positively. These
Shastras help us reduce the effect of our bad karmas and form a foundation for our good karmas and encourage them.
When we increase our inner strength and awareness, we are able to love ourselves and others and are able to spread happiness around in the universe.
B
Badar Zaidi: Salon Owner
adar has a 27 year old son (you wouldn’t know it if you saw her!), and owns
Badar’s Hair ‘N’ All on 2321 E Fowler Ave. Tampa. She has been in the business of making people beautiful for several years. She moved to Chicago from
Hyderabad more than 20 years ago. On the south Asian population surge, Badar
says “I hardly saw people in Salwar Kurtas and whenever I did see someone in
ethnic Indian clothes, I would go, wow! Indians!! Now I see them everywhere! It is
like being home”. Badar has always been passionate about doing hair, which she
started when she was 17. She opened her salon, Hair ‘N’ All, in ’96 with just one
chair. The place now boasts of at least 10 chairs and her salon is gaining popularity by the day. She uses natural products for skin care and offers threading, waxing
and facials. The most important skin care tip she stresses upon is: Never go to
sleep with makeup on. Cleansing is very important; wash your face 2-3 times a day. She says she owes her success to
the fact that she loves what she does. Except for the fact that she has to be around all the time, there are no downsides
to her business. Hair ‘N’ All is a full service unisex salon that offers facials, manicure, pedicure, waxing, as well as eyebrow
and facial threading.
B
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Clip this coupon with your address and Phone number And mail to:
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City Masala
November 2005
4
Exclusive Interview with Miss India USA
TRINA CHAKRAVARTY
Miss India USA 2005
Trina Chakravarty, Miss India Florida from Jacksonville was crowned MISS INDIA USA,
2005 in the 24th Miss India USA Pageant which was held in Tampa this year. Trina’s mother,
Aparna, had been crowned Miss India New York in 1982. Like mother, like daughter? Read
on and you’ll find out that she deserves the crown in more ways than one.
Trina’s Trinkets,
Triumphs and
Tribulations:
Favorite Bollywood
Movie:
Hum Dil De Chuke
Sanam
Favorite Song:
“Albela” from the same
movie
Favorite Bollywood
Actress:
Aishwarya Rai and
Madhuri Dixit
Motivations:
Education, Family and
hanging out with friends
Weakness:
I am a big
procrastinator!!
Soft Spot:
For my little sister,
Trisha. She is an even
bigger diva than I am!!
Strength:
The way I was brought
up – . I got to imbibe
and cultivate the best of
both Indian and American values.
Scared of:
SPIDERS! And the fear
of failure.
Live for:
The Future.
City Masala
CityMasala: Trina, Congratulations on this
amazing win. How did it feel to win the
crown?
Trina: I can honestly say that I have never
been more ecstatic! We work so hard in life
to get to that one moment in time when we
can take a step back and look at our accomplishments and say, “Wow, I did it!” and
I’m happy to say that my time is now!
CityMasala: Tell us, what you won, other
than the title, of course!
Trina: Other than the title, I was awarded
with a gorgeous sari on stage, as well as a
free roundtrip ticket to India to compete in
the Miss India Worldwide competition to be
held on December 3rd in Mumbai.
CityMasala: Tell us a little about yourself..
Trina: I am 18 years old and am a Sophomore at the University of Gainesville. I was
born in Chicago. We moved to Florida when
I was about 12 years old. My dad, Amit, my
mom, Aparna, my younger brother, Tushar
and my baby sister, Trisha (who is only 3
years old) mean the world to me. My mom
sings beautifully and played an integral part
in cultivating Indian values in me. Indian
tradition and culture were introduced to me
at a very early age – I started to learn Bharat
Natiyam when I was 4 and I got my Arangetram or Graduation in Bharat Natiyam when I
was 16.
CityMasala: How did you get into the beauty
pageant scene?
Trina: I was in the 10th grade and was
performing a Bharatnatiyam piece on stage.
Ms. Chandani, who was one of the directors for an Indian beauty pageant in Orlando,
saw me and suggested that I take part in the
pageant in Orlando. That’s how it started for
me. When I turned 18, I hunted around on
the Internet and contacted Mr. Dharmatma
Saran, the Chairman of the IFC. He sent me
an application, which I filled out and sent in
along with a few pictures of mine. I was in!
The selections were done by region and I
was chosen to represent North East Florida.
CityMasala: Tell us about your Training
Schedule to prepare for this event.
Trina: We were told to be well prepared. It’s
not possible to be prepared for everything so
you have to be really flexible and adaptable.
There was no formal training that we were
given to participate in the pageant. A team
from Canada did the choreography and they
told us where to stand on stage and helped
us rehearse before the pageant. Dr. Purva
Merchant and Stacy Isaac helped and gave
us pointers with our final grooming.
CityMasala: What kind of help were you
given backstage for attire, makeup etc.?
Trina: We had all of 10 minutes to change
attires, which was really hectic with 33 girls
in the dressing room! The pageant had hired
some ladies to help with makeup and hair
and there were some volunteers who were
helping as well.
CityMasala: You’ve won a glamorous title.
How do you plan to uphold it and what are
the expectations from the pageant board?
Trina: I am constantly working on presenting myself in the best manner possible.
Throughout the upcoming year of my reign,
I look forward to tying in my duties with my
title with endeavours I had taken on before
the pageant. I teach yoga and am very into
promoting holistic medicine and women’s issues so I aim to combine these by donating
much of my time and effort in battered and
abused women’s shelters across the US.
November 2005
5
Exclusive Interview cont’d
I had also volunteered much of my time at children’s sickle
cell clinics in Jacksonville before the pageant, and now I look
to hopefully join hands with UNICEF and other organizations
that globally promote children’s health.
CityMasala: What career path do you think you are going to
follow?
Trina: I want to become a reconstructive surgeon. I want to be
able to help accident and trauma victims.
CityMasala: Tell us about where you will go from here.
Trina: I will be representing USA in the 15th Miss India World
Wide pageant, which will be held in Mumbai, India on December 3, 2005. There were about 15-17 contestants for this
pageant last year and I am not sure how many there will be
for this year.
CityMasala: In true pageant style questioning, if there were
something you could change in today’s world, what would it
be?
Trina: I would like to be able to break down the barriers that
exist in today’s world based on race, color of skin and nationality so we can make the world progress.
CityMasala: Will your family be going with you?
Trina – Yes- my mom will be there from start to finish and my
dad will follow. My whole family will be there.
CityMasala: What memories do you have of India from when
you were there last?
Trina: I was 6 years old when we last went to India. I remember some relatives and I remember traveling by train through
the countryside. The landscape there is so different and I
loved it.
Trina and Aparna
Trina’s mother was also crowned
Miss India USA in 1982
Trina and Her Family
From Left to Right: Trina’s younger brother, Tushar, her mother Aparna,
Trina, baby sister Trisha, and father Amit.
City Masala
November 2005
6
City Masala
November 2005
Cricket
Memories of a Glorious Win
By: Javid Lateef
The sun is at its brilliant best as the plane banks to
land. I look down to see this beautiful isle I grew up
on. It’s May 2002, fourteen years since I left Barbados. I am back to watch cricket… India plays the
West Indies in Barbados and this time we have a
chance to avenge 50 years of defeat at the Kensington Oval.
Barbados has a rich tradition of cricket, and most
of the teams in the 80s had at least 3-4 Bajan players in the squad. I lived on the island till 1978 and
India could never manage a win on this island, even
with the advent of One Day Cricket. India is armed
with a great team for this 2002 series with Tendulkar,
Sehwag, Dravid, Ganguly… all world class ODI batsmen. Brian Lara and Carl Hooper are in excellent nick
so the game promises to be a cracker.
It’s May 29th, 2002 and the whole island is all
about one thing… and one thing only. Cricket today
at the Oval. It’s a typical Caribbean day, and under
the blazing sun the two captains go out for the toss.
Ganguly wins and surprisingly puts the opposition
City Masala
into bat. There is a pretty sizeable contingent of
Indian supporters in the stands (mostly from the US)
and we are all stunned. From all the pitch reports we
got, it was supposed to be a great batting track, so
Ganguly’s decision threw us off.
Watching cricket in the West Indies is like no other
place in the world. It is a festival. There are people
playing steel drums… calypso music… and what
makes the game truly enjoyable is the good natured
banter between the stands and the players on the
field. Even the trees around the ground have people
perched in them!!!
India starts off on a good note. It is Tinu Yohannan’s debut and it is a matter of utmost pride for
me as he hails from the state I belong to in India,
Kerala. He starts off with a maiden and then proceeds to dismiss both the opening batsmen, Gayle
and Hinds. This brings in the most formidable man
for India, Brian Lara, and the crowd erupts. This is the
man they have come to watch. He takes guard, and
in typical Lara fashion carves a ball past point for a
boundary. Ganguly turns to spin and Harbhajan Singh
gets a turn to bowl… Lara miscalculates a drive and
is caught brilliantly at midwicket!
There is a deathly silence from the crowd,
except for us, the Indian supporters, who are
ecstatic. Sarwan and Hooper bat sensibly to
get the score to 140. Ganguly makes a surprising bowling change in bringing in Sehwag to
bowl, and Sarwan walking across his stumps
is bowled off of his pads. The West Indies are
140/4 in 31 overs, but Hooper is still at the
crease. Agarkar is brought back into the attack and he cleans up the tail in no time and
we actually bowl the Windies out for 186 with
Carl Hooper unbeaten on 76. India has a great
chance to win this game.
The Indian run chase was a lot easier than we
first thought. They lost Sehwag when the score
was 41 and Ganguly, for a well made 41, at 109.
Dinesh Mongia was in fine shape, cutting and
pulling anything short and driving well down the
ground. He was finally out at 166, after making
76 very attractive runs. Tendulkar and Dravid
got the remaining 20 odd runs safely, and India
finally, after 8 tours to the Caribbean, managed
a victory in Barbados. It is a time to celebrate
with my Indian Brethren on the island.
November 2005
8
Tech Talk
Here are my
recommendations on
some GPS units
GPS... LOST AND FOUND
PORTABLE GPS FOR YOUR CAR
By Vish Viswanathan
Magellan RoadMate 760
This is the
Cadillac of GPS
devices, including a built-in
speedometer
and a smart detour feature that automatically calculates a detour in slow traffic. It is small
enough to fit in your briefcase, yet its
20-gigabyte hard drive stores nearly 7
million points of interest, far more than
other devices. The average street
price for this unit is $1,050. Garmin
StreetPilot 2720 and Lowrance iWay
500c are comparable units in this
category.
Palm GPS Navigator
If you have a Bluetooth-enabled
Palm (including the Treo), LifeDrive,
Tungsten E2, or Tungsten T5 handheld device, this is the GPS device for
you. It comes in two parts: a wireless
receiver and a 5-megabyte software
package. Its full-color screen is easy
to work with and doesn’t require a
stylus to operate. The speaker on this
$249 device is not as powerful as the
RoadMate’s, and the voice instructions
are somewhat muffled
“Why do I need a Global Positioning System (GPS) for my car?” asked my
sister-in-law recently. Well, you might not use this device (which is commonly referred to simply as a GPS) every day, but when the time comes, you’ll be glad you
have it. A wrong turn in Washington DC at night may take you into a bad neighborhood.
Or you could be running late for your class (She just moved to Washington DC and
starts school in Maryland this fall) and need a shortcut to school. Or you’re trying
to find a nice restaurant for that first romantic date. In these situations, you will not
regret having a GPS in your car.
What’s more, the technology has improved greatly. First of all, let’s cover the basics: A GPS (also called receiver, system or device) picks up satellite signals and
indicates your location on a small screen or a map. Most units today come enabled with WAAS, a new positioning protocol that gives your location within three
meters.
Most GPS units allow you to navigate toward specific places, either by selecting
nearby points of interest, restaurants, etc., or by entering a specific street address.
A lot of luxury cars these days come equipped with a GPS Unit. If you are in the
market for a portable system, then look for the following features.
For in-car GPS systems, you definitely want automatic routing with turn-by-turn
instructions, preferably, with voice prompting. The last thing you ought to do is
to look at a map while navigating through heavy traffic. Some common features
available in top-of-the-line units today are ease of use, touch-screen, multi-destination routing, re-routing around slow traffic (or real time traffic data), and auto
re-route.
Magellan eXplorist 600 and Garmin
GPSMAP 60CS
Other units in this category are Magellan eXplorist 600 and
Garmin GPSMAP 60CS,
which are true handhelds
with memory cards.
The more you spend, the
more memory, speed and
graphics it’ll have—and
the more of a hero you’ll
be when you have to show it off to
family and friends
Please feel free to provide feedback to
techtalk@citymasala.com
City Masala
November 2005
9
Dining Out: Restaurant Review
Dining Out – Restaurant Review
Angithi 2047 E Fowler Ave Tampa FL 33612
813 979 4889
Angithi is a unique name for the regular run of the mill restaurants based in the US. Angithi, also known as a sigari or a
clay oven, was used to cook food for centuries. Food cooked
in this manner has an aroma and flavor all of its own. The
restaurant, Angithi, has tried to capture that flavor and aroma
in their food and is dedicated to serving authentic Indian food
prepared in a traditional manner.
The ambiance of the restaurant is elegant and efficient. A
quick lunch service ensures that you are in and out in time to
get back to work. Angithi also offers the alternative of a lunch
buffet which is a mixed fare of vegetarian and non-vegetarian
food. The lunch buffet price is $7.99. The atmosphere for dinner is more relaxed. Angithi serves wine and beer to enhance
the pleasure of dining out. They have a pretty decent selection
of Indian beers as well. A dinner buffet for $8.99 is offered on
Monday nights.
Angithi’s Tandoori Chicken is moist and flavorful baked in the
restaurant’s tandoor. The samosas are excellent and so are
the Panir pakoras. The mouth watering Butter Chicken was a
hit with this crowd as was the Dhaba Chicken. Angithi offers a
wide variety of breads to choose from and our favorite was the
onion Kulcha and the Peshawari naan. For dessert, we tried
the Rasmalai which was delicious and the Mango lassi was
creamy and was the perfect end to a very enjoyable meal.
The owner, Jolly Singh, and the staff are friendly, warm and
hospitable – they know their customers by name and ensure
that each customer gets the highest quality of service. This
has created a loyal clientele for Angithi and one that has taken
Jolly a number of years to build. We recommend eating out at
Angithi for lunch (take your office crowd there) and for dinner
(take your whole family and give your wife - or your husband
- the night off from cooking!)
WINE AND DINE
AN EDUCATION ON WINES AND
THE FOODS TO ENJOY WITH IT
By Ajay S Jambhekar
One of the most pressing concerns people have
when shopping for wine is purchasing the exact kind of wine
that complements the food they eat. Many people mistakenly
believe that they will ruin the whole meal if they make the
“wrong” wine choice.
However the basic rule of wine and food pairing is the oldest
one in the book. Red wine goes with meat and white wine
goes with fish or fowl. But don’t let this dissuade you. Rules
are meant to be broken! In recent years we’ve gotten bold
and have said it’s okay to have Pinot Noir, which is a light
red wine, or even Merlot, with our salmon. I personally know
some white wine drinkers who enjoy their Chardonnay with
liver pâté or a juicy grilled steak.
Having said that, there are some general guidelines
one may find helpful when selecting a wine to enhance a
meal. Select light-bodied wines to pair with lighter food, and
fuller-bodied wines to go with heartier, more flavorful dishes.
Pinot Noir works beautifully with fish because you are matching a light wine with a light dish. A lighter style wine will not
City Masala
even register on your personal flavor meter if you sip it with
a spicy meal. You may as well drink water. Consider how the
food is cooked. Is it grilled, roasted, or fried, for instance,
also, what type of sauce or spice is used? For every food
action, there is a wine reaction. When you drink wine by itself
it tastes one way, but when you take a bite of food, the wine
tastes different. This is because wine is like a spice. Elements
in the wine interact with the food to provide a different taste
sensation.
A little on White Wine
The most popular white wines are Chardonnay, Sauvignon
Blanc, Pinot Grigio and Rieseling.
Foods to Enjoy with A Chardonnay
Chardonnay is an extremely versatile food wine and is best
with seafood and poultry dishes, particularly those with
distinctive flavors like chicken, pork, veal, turkey, wild turkey,
quail, partridges of all kinds, lobster, crab, tuna, red snapper
and also with light mild cheeses.
To be continued…..
November 2005
10
Wild Thing Cars:….. You Make My Heart Sing
I am all about looks. I drool at the sight of a great looking body. The curves and the sleek lines make me go
weak in the knees. I love the power that such bodies exude. I want to possess them, I want to be enveloped
by them, I want to feel them, I want to get inside them and see how hard I can push them. The supermodels
that I lust after are the ones that I know are absolutely out of my league and yet I want them even more. Don’t
get carried away, this is not the confessions column… I am talking about supercars! I was at a dealership the
other day, waiting for a salesman, looking for a used Honda, when I happened to stumble upon the sexiest
looking car I have ever set my eyes upon - The 2005 Porsche Carrera GT in shiny silver with black leather
interior. With its imposing exterior and dominant rear wing, the car is instantly recognizable and demands a
powerful presence on the road. It has a roll bar and projector-style headlights. A gaping air intake sits low on
the front end, and long nacelles are positioned to the rear of each seat. When the sun shines and convertible
weather arrives, there’s a lightweight detachable hardtop, which can easily be removed and stowed in the
luggage compartment.
The Carrera GT boasts of a 5.7 liter V10 racecar engine which produces 605 hp at 8000 rpm and 435 lb-ft of
torque at 5,750 rpm. It has a manual six-speed gear box and it is a rear wheel drive. This baby can do 0-60
in 3.8 seconds and has a top track speed of 205 mph. Measuring 181.6 inches long overall and built on a
107.5-inch wheelbase, the Carrera GT is 75.6 inches wide and 45.9 inches tall. The under body is fully cased
in carbon fiber, which provides an additional suction effect because of the rear diffuser and flow channels.
Ceramic composite brakes and a ceramic composite clutch are used. The Carrera GT weighs 3,043 pounds.
. The Carrera GT is a race-bred sports car that redefines the possibilities of road engineering. At a list price of
$440,000, how often am I going to take this baby out, keeping in mind the ever increasing gas prices? ;-)
City Masala
November 2005
City Chic
City Chic
by Vanya Shah
This stunning sari and choli combination
is the color of an autumn sunset. Embroidery details on the sari border and pallu
with delicate teardrops strewn around
the rest of the fabric teamed with
a richly embroidered choli makes
the ensemble suitable for various
occasions. Combine with a simple
choker and diamond or solid gold
studs for the understated look or
enhance the outfit with a heavier
choker and long earrings for a more
formal occasion
City Chic
Indian Fashion
at its best!
Yellow Kurti:
Canary yellow kurti with a hint of silver, an essential addition to your wardrobe this season, to
hang on to the flavor of summer as we say hello
to fall. Just the right garment for an informal dinner party with friends or that special first date
where you don’t want to look too dressed up
but still want to look special. Wear it with your
frayed bottom seven’s for the perfect bohemian look or your tailored bootlegs for a slightly
more conservative look. Throw in a colored
tank top and matching jewelry to add some
color or classic silver hoops and a million thin
silver bangles to add that slight razzle-dazzle
to your look.
A combination of something feminine and romantic,
yet very contemporary. Perfect for Diwali which is
around the corner or New Year’s Eve dinner at the
Ritz. Wear the gold embroidered choli with Jeans and
a jacket buttoned half way for a totally different look.
You could also team up the orange sari with a matching orange choli for a more conservative affair.
Orange Suit:
Don’t blend in with the crowd with this
season full of festive occasions. This
peachy orange outfit adds that perfect
autumn glow without much effort. Subtle
silver embroidery which is not too much
and not too little. You can dress it down
for day time occasions with delicate silver
or diamond earrings and dress it up for
formal soirées with heavy silver or diamond jewelry
City Masala
November 2005
12
City Chic
City Chic
City Chic
Mala’s “Khoobsurat Boutique” is the kind of boutique that most designers only dream about owning. It is the fruit of Mala’s
dreams and passions. In spite of the challenges that most full time mothers face, Mala has successfully put together an
amazing and extraordinary collection of upscale designer outfits with a team of experts who create a trendy and elegant
look for women’s fashion. The outfits and jewelry are designed exclusively for customers who have a distinctive taste and
appreciation for fashion. Mala offers her customers a personalized look in not just the style and size of the attire but also
the color, pattern, material, amount and type of handiwork on each ensemble that is created. The result is a breathtaking individuality in every one of her creations. She places great emphasis on quality versus quantity and you will be hard
pressed to find any two outfits that look exactly alike. Khoobsurat Boutique specializes in fancy saris that may be custom
designed to your desires. Call to set up your free fashion consultation with Mala @ 813-679-5731
This delicate embroidery –trimmed sari and
choli ensemble is a perfect blend of sophistication and elegance Wear it for a romantic cocktail hour or an evening at the opera.
Soothing, yet tangy like a French chardonnay, this outfit can be teamed up
with an ivory or tan front buttoned
sweater for cooler evenings.
Nothing can compare to the beauty
of a rare and perfect black rose.
Wear this beautiful black sari in
the conventional way for an Indian
function or drape it as shown in the
picture for western look. Create a
sensation and stand out among the
rest at a black tie dinner.
Black Kurti:
You’ll never complain of having ‘nothing to wear tonight’
so long as you own this hot little black kurti. Does the
classic black cashmere sweater sound too boring but
you just don’t feel like getting into a dress for the
company Christmas party tonight? Your black
kurti is perfect with a pair of tailored black
trousers for the occasion. You can never go
wrong with the kurti and jeans for a night of
clubbing. Wear it with white pants for a
lunch with friends or for your
sister’s baby shower.
City Masala
November 2005
13
CITY MASALA’S MOVIE REVIEWS
Bollywood Movie Reviews
By Kavita Trivedi
No Entry: Dir: Aneez Bazmee; Cast: Anil Kapoor, Salman Khan, Fardeen Khan, Lara Dutta, Esha Deol, Celina Jately and
Bipasha Basu
Following the success of last year’s slapstick comedy Masti, renowned director Aneez Bazmee tries his hand at another comedy film. No Entry is about three friends Kishen (Anil), Prem
(Salman) and Sunny (Fardeen). Trouble begins when adulterous Prem convinces his friends to
have an affair and introduces them to a seductive bar dancer Bobby (Bipasha). With Kishen and
Prem’s suspicious wives (Lara and Esha) and Sunny’s erratic fiancé (Celina) hot on their trails,
it’s a rollercoaster ride of chaos and mayhem. No Entry revolves around marriage and infidelity.
In spite of an impressive star cast, the weak direction and dry dialogues fail to create an impact.
However, the film contains some great comical moments such as Sunny’s hilarious wedding scene. The cinematography is
glamorous and Anu Malik’s music is catchy, with the title track ‘No Entry’ being the most popular. Although lacking in originality No Entry is a fun-packed entertainer.
The Rising: Dir: Ketan Mehta; Cast: Aamir Khan, Toby Stevens, Rani Mukherjee and Amisha Patel
Aamir Khan rocked Bollywood with his powerful, award winning performance in Lagaan four years
ago. In 2005, expectations are high as he takes on the historical role of Mangal Pandey in The Rising. Based on the Indian army’s revolt against the British Empire in 1857, soldier Mangal Pandey
(Aamir), saves the life of Scottish officer William Gordon (Stevens). Mangal and William’s friendship
is soon put through a gruelling test. Hindu and Muslim soldiers believed that the grease used on
kartoos came from cow and pig fat – sacrilege for both religions. Pandey discovers the gruesome
truth, experiences a string of betrayals and starts a revolution that breaks the boundaries and finally
sets India free from the British rule. Tipped as one of the most expensive films ever made, The Rising is a magnificent, larger than life, historical epic that focuses on real events- some of which the British deny.
Aamir Khan is excellent. His portrayal of the lead is fierce and moving. Rani Mukherjee adds a refreshing touch to the film in the
song ‘Main Vari Vari’ and acts well in the role of an orphan sold into prostitution.
The cinematography and music by the award winning AR Rahman are stunning, giving the film a polished look. Overall, an
intense and realistic account of friendship, love, loss and betrayal- highly recommended.
Virudh: Dir: Mahesh Manjrekar; Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Sharmila Tagore, John Abraham, Sanjay Dutt, Anouskha Dandekar
Vidhyadhar Patwardhan (Bachchan) and his wife Sumi (Tagore), are a middle-aged happily married couple. When their son Amar (Abraham) returns from abroad for his birthday with his NRI
girlfriend Jenny (Anoushka), their family album looks complete. However, their world is torn apart
after Amar is brutally murdered. His distraught parents face the biggest battle of their lives as
they attempt to take on a corrupt system to seek justice for their son. After the success of hardhitting Vaastav, Astitva and Laloo Prasad Yadav, Mahesh Mangrekar returns with another powerful and intense drama. Virudh has a good plot and a well written script. Amitabh Bachchan
is phenomenal as Vidhyadhar Patwardan and gives a mind blowing performance. The film also
marks a sensational comeback for Sharmila Tagore. John Abraham is charming in his role and plays his part well. Despite
being cast in a supporting role, Sanjay Dutt still manages to create an impact in the film with his unique style and his amazing screen presence.
Virudh conveys a powerful message on the importance of family values and is clearly one of the most dominant films of the
year yet.
Photography courtesy of www.erosentertainment.com
City Masala
November 2005
14
B O L L YWO O D
C O U N T D O WN
My mother has a unique way of expressing
her fondness for the new generation of Bollywood men. If a particular male actor catches
her eye, she very blushingly, albeit enthusiastically, says, “He could be any mother’s
son…even mine!!”
While the rest of us shamelessly drool over
one particular actor or another, Ma feels the
need to be more restrained and dignified in
her obvious appreciation. Thus the nomenclature that has followed a growing list of
actors.
Ma first came up with the “any mother’s son”
comment when Shah Rukh Khan entered
the industry. She claims we scoffed at her remarks. I, for one, have no recollection of the
said incident; my sisters will concur. Nowadays, any time a new face enters the foray of
Bollywood, we immediately check with her to
see if he would make the list.
Ma has yet to come up with such terminology
for Bollywood actresses. After three daughters, the thought of adding more to the list is
probably too much. She only has one son,
but I don’t know how pleased my sisters and
I would be to call these fine (and some not
so fine - apparently they don’t all have to be
“pretty boys”...you’ll see what I mean) men
our brothers. If I were to run into any one of
them, I think I would be more inclined to ask
them to dinner than tie rakhis on them.
So without further delay, let me announce
the top ten list of Any Mother’s Son, courtesy
of my mother (with my interjections)... or the
BOLLYWOOD COUNTDOWN!
#10 Sanjay Suri (say what??)
# 9 Uday Chopra (face only a mother could
love….)
# 8 Jimmy Shergill (saw him in person...terribly cute…smelled great, too!)
# 7 John Abraham (would love to see him in
person…)
# 6 Vivek Oberoi (he is his father’s son...)
# 5 Hrithik Roshan (would have made a
great classical dancer)
# 4 Abhishek Bachchan (he, too, is his
father’s son.... what a father...what a son...)
# 3 Saif Ali Khan (definitely growing on
me…)
# 2 Aamir Khan (that boyish smile, those
mischievous eyes…sigh…)
# 1 Shah Rukh Khan (I wake up many a
morning and tell my hubby he has major
competition…)
Chakki peesing…
Aamir’s back after a long hiatus…but is he still a crowd favorite? Official word
is that Mangal Pandey seems to be breaking box office records. He’s still got
it!
Abhishek has been signed on as the main romantic lead in JP Dutta’s latest venture, Umrao Jaan. Things are really looking up for Little B. He’s got
several other films in the works: Ram Gopal Varma’s remake of Sholay, Rohan
Sippy’s Bluff Master, Yash Raj’s Dhoom 2, among others.
Big B remakes are the order of the day. Ram Gopal Varma (RGV) is busy fixing
his cast for his version of Sholay. Here’s a hint - Big B and Little B are both
involved, but no, it’s not how you think. RGV’s decided that he doesn’t want
to go with “predictable patterns of casting…” Big B will be playing none other
than Gabbar Singh. Little B will be Veeru. Newcomer Mohit Ahlawat (from
RGV’s James) will be cast as Jai, and Southern actor Mohanlal is to be cast as
Thakur.
Next, we have Farhan Akhtar gearing up for Don, with SRK and Priyanka
Chopra in the lead roles. Kareena Kapoor will be stepping into Helen’s role (I
have serious doubts whether Kareena possesses the oomph factor needed for
this), while Arjun Rampal will play Pran (okay, I can’t really picture Mr. Rampal
as an unemployed tightrope walker).
And finally, Amar Akbar Anthony will be getting a facelift as well. This time,
David Dhawan has taken on the challenge of this classic Big B comedy. While
the star lineup for this version has yet to be finalized, we now have three Big
B remakes to anxiously await. Those are some big shoes to fill. “Dil bhi hai
khaali, ghar bhi hai khaali. Isme rahegi koi kismatwali…”
Bhuna hua…
While Aamir’s box office draw is undeniable, his private life has received a
great deal of attention, too. He divorced his wife Reena, purportedly had affair with British journalist, Jessica Hines, resulting in the birth of Aamir’s son,
Jaan Harry Hines. Now he’s dating Kiran Rao, an assistant director; rumors
swirled that they were married, which Aamir has firmly denied.
This seems to be the season for marital discord. Saif separated from wife,
Amrita Singh, and is enjoying his newfound freedom with girlfriend, Rosa.
While Saif’s professional life is finally falling into place after so many years, his
personal life seems to be taking quite a hit.
Karishma Kapoor’s futile attempts to keep her private matters away from
prying eyes have become painfully public. She and husband Sanjay Kapur
have separated and a fierce battle regarding their infant daughter has ensued.
Garmaa garam…
Abhishek and Rani in love? Their onscreen chemistry is pretty obvious, but
off screen things seem to be just as good. Rumor has it that they’re planning
to announce their engagement at Big B’s birthday bash this October.
by Nandini Chakraborty
City Masala
November 2005
15
Interview with Abhijit Bhaduri
Abhijit Bhaduri
Speaks
CityMasala: Abhijit, give us a little background about yourself.
Abhijit: I’ve spent most of my life in New Delhi. I currently
work in Corporate HR for a Fortune 500 company in New
Jersey. I am married to Nandini and we have a daughter,
Eshna, 17 and son, Abhishek, 13.
CityMasala: What is “Mediocre But Arrogant” about?
Abhijit: (getting very comfortable) “Mediocre But Arrogant” is
about Abbey. He is a completely directionless individual who
gets accepted into a famous fictitious institute called MIJ in
Jamshedpur into a 2 year MBA program. The story is a humorous take on his life in MIJ with all the pressures relating to
both his love life and academic life. Abbey is a self absorbed
and somewhat smug character.
CityMasala: What made you write
this book?
Abhijit: I wanted to write a book that
had an interesting story line. I took a
lot of time to develop the plot. I first
started working on this book in 1997
and by the time 1999 rolled around,
I found myself facing the famous writer’s block! I didn’t touch
the book until about August of 2002 and finally completed
“Mediocre But Arrogant” in December of 2004.
CityMasala: Do you have plans for future books to come?
Abhijit: “Mediocre But Arrogant” is part of a trilogy. At this
time I am jotting down my ideas for book number 2 and book
number 3. Abbey will be a major presence in both books as
the narrator, and we will see him go through his career and
midlife crisis etc.
CityMasala found, Abhijit Bhaduri, the author of
“Mediocre But Arrogant” (Acronym MBA), anything
but mediocre or arrogant. He was
easy to talk to with a great sense
of humor. His book was recently
launched in India. Abhijit has illustrated several books and is an
accomplished cartoonist. He loves
the theatre and was a well-known voice on All India
Radio in the ‘80s. He presently hosts a popular radio
show about classic Hindi movies and film music in the
USA on EBC radio.
CityMasala: How do you deal with negative feedback?
Abhijit: (Starts laughing) Yes, I do receive negative feedback
from time to time. It’s a free world and you don’t have to like
every book that you read. I certainly don’t!
CityMasala: What advice would you offer to someone who
wants to be a career writer?
Abhijit: I would say follow your dreams. You never know when
your dreams can come true so don’t give up.
CityMasala: What are some of the things you miss about
India?
Abhijit: The chaos, the fun, the friends, the vibrant atmosphere back home. Life is too antiseptic here.
CityMasala: What do you miss about the US while you were
in India?
Abhijit: Strangely enough, the cleanliness!
CityMasala: A word to our readers?
Abhijit: Don’t abandon your dreams because you would then
be abandoning yourself.
The best way to get “Mediocre But Arrogant” is to write to
abhijitbhaduri@gmail.com. The book is also available through
Ebay.
CityMasala: Do you feel that your children have inherited your talents?
Abhijit: Well, my daughter writes for her school newspaper and my son is very much into animation. So,
yes, they have both inherited aspects of my talents
and I am very proud of them.
CityMasala: Shyam Benegal has given your book an
amazing review and has given it the scope of “a brilliant movie”. Are there any chances of “Mediocre But
Arrogant” being picked up by a producer?
Abhijit: I have had some conversations about it being
turned into a movie but there is nothing concrete yet.
City Masala
November 2005
16
The Runaway Groom
‘Guys have it so much easier then girls do’, says a
close friend of mine whilst debating on why marriage seems
to be more of a necessity for girls than it is for guys. ‘Perhaps
we’re not so gullible’, I mock in return. In all honesty, however,
she has a valid point. While I completely agree that girls don’t
have it easy, no self-respecting desi mother would want her
beloved, thirty-eight year old son to remain single either.
By Zed Rahman
‘So are you still determined never to marry?’ she
continues. ‘Pretty much’, I replied, knowing it wasn’t the
answer she wass expe
expecting. She was probably hoping that my
m and unyielding belief on marriage would have
3 year long, firm
somewhat softened by now. I’ve used so many excuses in
the past that I’ve forgotten my initial reasons for not wanting
to get married. They vary from, ‘I’m afraid of commitment’, to
‘I’m reluctant to trust anyone’ or my current favourite ‘I’m not
sure of my current sexual status’. I don’t wish to sound cynical, but I don’t believe that I’m made for someone and without
my ‘other half’ - I would never be ‘whole’. I find this ‘whole’
concept to be a load of bull!
Two years ago, thanks to this same friend, I ended
up on a radio show which asked me to support my intriguing view point. I was taunted and at times, ridiculed, but as
the show progressed, they began to appreciate my opinion somewhat reluctantly. I argued marriage shouldn’t be a
necessity but a factor of choice. If I was forc
forced, the outcome
rstan marriages end
would be unfavourable and while I understand
on a difference of opinion, they should not begin on that note.
A guest, representing the elders of the community, began
d to
his own argument; “like the stomach is to distribute food
tive
organs, the lungs are to circulate oxygen; the reproductive
fe”. I
organs were designed for copulating and reproducing life”.
one
was left quite traumatized after listening to a sixty-someone
talk about sex and why I should put my penis to use.
I’m currently twenty-four years old and have so
far been in only two committed relationships. When they
went pear shaped,, I was not ashamed to find comfort in my
mother’s arms, who reassured me that falls such as these
would eventually make me wis
wiser and stronger. Many months
med her of m
e, she
after, when I informed
my decision to stay single,
underst
stead,
was afraid I had misunderstood
her and that I had instead,
become senile.
My father worked tirelessly when we migrated to
England in the early 80’s. With his being away for long hours, I
had virtually no masculine role model around. I was surrounded by female figures consisting of my mother, sister, aunts and
nnot com
even female cousins. I cannot
comprehend the passion men
es are infla
have for sports but my eyes
amed every time a SALE
dows. M
sign appears on shop windows.
Men fail to understand why
women need so many shoes, and would be as clueless were
they to see my twenty plus shoe collection. Whilst guys my
age strive to raise funds to purchase their ultimate automobile,
my wallet is seduced to purchase clothes and accessories as
City Masala
seen in the latest issue of Vanity Fair. I won’t share with you
my craving for chocolate or even compare it to sex, but let’s
just say… I need it at least once a day! Is there a connection
between my living in a material world, being a material boy
and being raised by fe
females? I’m sure Freud would have a
field da
day with my pers
personality.
onest. Marriage,
Marri
I shall now be completely honest.
of course,
is a sa
sacred matter. Before I marry, I would like to kknow that I
tru
truly, madly, and yes, deeply, love this woman. For as long as
ed upon anything half-heartI can remember, I have never acted
edly and my previous relationships did not subsid
subside because I
ver beg
wasn’t committed enough. I did however
begin to neglect my
friends, family, work, education and even worse, my dreams.
Perhaps I wasn’t ready to manage my life and its components
all at once. I was thinking too far ahead and thought I could
multitask. I always knew spending my youth around women
was unhealthy.
By the time I feel I have achieve
achieved all I’ve wanted to
mit, I migh
achieve and am willing to commit,
might find myself struge I’ll still find an opportunity to
gling to walk. Although, I’m sure
be on radio, debating over reproductive organs to the younger
generation. My friends and family of course refuse to believe
a word I say – it’s an inconceivable idea for them. Apparently,
one day I’ll find someone that I’ll fall head over heels in love
with, and complete a picture I painted “once upon a time”.
ew a large family, complete with six kids, a white/brown
I drew
ottish Fold kitten, standing outside an elegant Edwardian
Scottish
sion – al
mansion
all glowing with joy. I would love to tell more, but
my friend is now chasing me with her heels in her hand.
November 2005
17
Anika’s Zen
Temptation Calling By Anika Sharma
It has taken three years and a baby for me to do it, but I am finally in India. I cannot even begin
to tell you how wonderful it feels to be in your own land, to not feel like an alien and to finally be home, even for a
fleeting moment. Life is good!
I still remember when love and marriage, in that order, had taken me across the seven seas, to the US. It was,
probably, one of the worst times to go abroad. The US was in the midst of a recession and India was just waiting
to flower as an economic superpower. But people do strange things for love. They kill, they burn their lovers, they
leave homes and parents forever - I simply crossed the seas. And now after three years I am back, with my seven
month old son, Aryan. I decided to make this a three month long vacation, using the logic that it is only fair to spend
a month every year in India, and since I hadn’t done so for the last three years, I deserve a three month vacation! So
here I am, gallivanting, having a blast, away from my husband who is still in the US, and would only be able to join
me for a maximum of two weeks, sometime, in the future.
So while he is leading the usual exciting American life – mowing the lawn, raking leaves, taking our gorgeous
Springer Spaniel for a walk, collecting and recycling loads of junk mail, being friendly yet distant with the neighbors,
I am having a blast meeting my old friends and flames. Since the time I have arrived, I have been to a different
restaurant everyday. Now let’s be honest with ourselves. The US as a country definitely does not understand food.
For food and for hospitality, one needs to come to India where people bend over backwards to please you, where
aroma of spices fills the air, where there is ‘mukhwaas’ at the end of every meal. It happens only in India.
Sure I am exhausted. After all, making your way through the twenty million strong population of Bombay can take
a toll on one’s mind and body. The pollution in the air is unmistakable and unavoidable but I am not the one to
complain! Did I mention that I am having the time of my life? That I am thoroughly enjoying the beauty of it all? My
holiday has just begun!
Meeting old flames and old friends is another story altogether. It somehow does not matter that I have become a wife
and a mother. There is, still, a very strong part of me that remembers the fact that long ago, in a previous lifetime, I
was a woman, not just a wife and mother! And somehow the fact that you are married lets you flirt shamelessly with
friends. Passions and memories lurk under the thin surface, threatening to show their true colors, while I try and
look nonchalant. What stops me I ask? Is it the solemn promise of trust that I made to my husband as one of our
marriage vows? Is it the fact that I am now a mother and need to set an ethical code of conduct for my son? Or is it
fear? Is it just plain fear that I might be found out? This brings me to the question of long distance relationships. How
does one really get them to work?
My trip to India has only just begun and I know that I will be meeting up with a lot of beautiful people. Some I might
have small crushes on, some I might be tempted to take home as an overnight trophy. Perhaps I might come pretty
close to letting temptation overcome. Hopefully, in all cases, I shall be stopped not by fear, but by the strength and
love in my marriage. As I rest my pen for today, I realize that it is a fight against all odds but then isn’t everything
else?
(To be continued...)
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City Masala
November 2005
18
19
City Masala
November 2005
E X POSE D
CONTRIBUTIONS FROM OUR WEBSITE:
WWW.CITYMASALA.COM/EXPOSED
I have a big secret that I’ve been keeping for years now. I am a
17 year old guy and I have a HUGE crush on my best friend (who is a
girl). We spend a lot of time together and I am not sure if I can ever tell
her the truth. She tells me everything about her love life and her boyfriend. She trusts me completely but I have anonymously sent an email
to her boyfriend telling him that she is cheating on him. I feel very guilty
about having done this but feel that all is fair in love and war!
Playing games in Orlando, FL
I am very attracted to my wife’s sister. We’ve even kissed a few
times but she hasn’t let me go any further. I know it is very wrong and it’s
not that I don’t love my wife. But I can’t help feeling the way I do for her
sister. I have three children with my wife and I wouldn’t want to do anything to harm my well settled and comfortable marriage. My ‘in-laws have
sent my sister-in-law to us so that we can find a suitable alliance for her. I don’t want to
lose her so I keep finding faults with all the proposals that come her way.
Two Timer: Tampa
I don’t really have a drinking problem. But for some reason, my friends and
family insist that I do. I only drink on the weekends and yes, I do drink a lot then but
it’s not like I drink everyday. Once while I was drinking, I got into an argument with my
husband and pushed him. My husband lost his balance and fell. He broke his wrist and
now everyone is on my case to stop drinking completely. I will not and cannot do this. I
work hard throughout the week and wish to enjoy myself during the weekends.
Inebriated in New York
I was dating a single woman, much older than I, while I was in my early 20s.
She had a spacious apartment of her own, which was a big thing for me at that time as
we had a lot of privacy and freedom. She didn’t mind me bringing my friends over and
we would all get together and party at her place. After the initial thrill of dating her wore
off, I would date other girls and take them to my girl friend’s apartment while she was at
work.
Playing the field in NJ
I lie all the time. It has
become second nature to me.
When I feel I might get caught
telling a lie, I lie even more to
get myself out of it. I am happily married but lie to my wife all
the time. I tell her that I am not
attracted to other women – a
lie! That I got late coming back
home because I had too much
to do at work – a lie! When I sit
back and contemplate on life in
general, I do realize that this is
a dangerous pattern that I have
fallen into. I resolve to change
and become a stickler for truth.
The very next day (sometimes,
the next minute) I find myself falling into the same trap again.
Liar Liar: from VA (could
this be a lie as well?)
My confession is that I
am very envious and jealous of
everyone. I have worked hard all
my life and gained a lot of success in the face of considerable
odds. However, I am unable to
enjoy my success because of the
jealousy and envy I feel. I grew
up being extremely competitive
with my sibling and cousins and
now, I feel jealous as most of
them are married and I am not.
I am not happy with my life because someone else I know has
a better life.
Jealous in Texas
When I got married, I
lied to my husband
about being a virgin.
I lost my virginity
way before I got
married but had
to tell this lie as
Indian men are so
hung up about marrying only virgins.
Hymen Envy:
California
City Masala
Do you have something you cannot wait to share with us? Log on to www.
citymasala.com/exposed and share your
deepest darkest secrets with us. Get them
off your chest. There will be no judgments
placed on you and no one will accuse you
of your crime because you have the option to submit your “exposed” experience
anonymously. However, we reserve the
right to edit your contribution as well as the
right not to publish it!
Editor, City Masala
I used to be anorexic
when I was in college. I had tried
every diet pill on the market and
would starve myself. I have had
to go through years of counseling and even though I am told
that I am out of that phase,
I can’t help wanting to look
the way I used to when I was
younger.
Finally Well Fed in
Vancouver
November 2005
20
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November 2005
HOROSCOPE
Star Lite Star Brite Astrology
By Astrologer Sandeep Sidhu
Zodiac of the Month
Scorpio: 23rd October-21st November Ruled by: Mars and Pluto Gemstone: Red Coral Lucky Day: Tuesday
Mysterious, sexy and full of depth you certainly know how to hold your head high with an awe aspiring charisma that
can wow others into oblivion. An emotional vault you are very sensitive and easily hurt. People should think twice before
crossing you for your scorpion sting can be deadly. Seductive and lustrous you are a dynamo in bed where you take your
partner to a new level of sexual experience. There is a powerful magnetism that attracts people to you. They should think
again as you only reveal your real sensitive self to a special someone. Your only downfall can be your inherent jealously
and possessiveness.
Aries: 20th March-19th April
Gains and material accomplishments
can be delayed and inhibited so it’s time
to plan, build and
organize foundations
for the future. Make
adjustments and do
whatever is necessary to bring things
back into balance. Decisions and legal
affairs go the right way.
Taurus: 20th April-20th May
It is a favorable time to further your
knowledge and educate yourself. Health
wise, your lungs and nervous system are
more vulnerable. This is
a time that relates to new
beginnings. There is a lot
of potential in enterprise.
Gemini: 21st May-20t June
There can be financial pressures concerning debts and it’s time to take
financial responsibility more seriously. It is
not a favorable time for gambling, get rich
quick schemes or high-risk
investments. Expect to be
shaken up, to be blinded
by a shocking revelation.
Cancer: 21st June-22nd
July
This may be a time to figure out not only
who you are but who you want to be. A
change in self-image is highly favorable
as this can help you come to terms with
your identity. Routines in your life may
need altering especially
if they get you down.
This may be a time
of great creativity for
producing art, poetry,
and music.
City Masala
Leo: 23rd July-22nd Aug
It is time to complete unfinished projects
and not to start new ventures. It is also
time to let go of useless attachments.
There is potential that relates to an eventual, hard-won victory
where control is required
to bring everything
together to give you a
single direction and purpose. You may get some
unexpected good news.
Virgo: 23rg Aug-22nd Sept
Now is the time to make
your priorities clear. Ambitions and long term plans
should be thought of in
depth. Friendships, which
are not working out, will
be broken off. The Sun indicates gain,
triumph, pleasure and success. It gives
you clarity of mind. Tap into your youthful
energy to fully benefit from this influence
and let you hair down.
Libra: 23rd Sept-22nd
Oct
There can be criticism
towards inaction, mistakes and bad choices
from the past. Any problems you may
have with bosses or in your career will
flare up now causing delays and obstacles and there can be an increase in your
professional responsibilities. Cut down on
any excesses.
Sagittarius: 22nd Nov21st Dec Issues concerning sex tend to flare up
now which gives you the
opportunity to solve many
intimate problems. This is not a favorable
time for joint finances and debts. It’s best
not to borrow any money or take financial
risks at this time.
Capricorn: 22nd Dec-19th Jan
You are more flexible with
loved ones and can feel a
deep responsibility towards your partner. There
are indications of abundance, happiness and
change bringing great joy. So go after
the money, that job, that promotion, that
special person, that break you’ve been
waiting for.
Aquarius: 20th Jan-18th
Feb
There can be difficulties
with fellow workers and
superiors, which can prove to be troublesome at times. It’s a good time to change
jobs especially if your present one is
unfulfilling. This is the time for meditation,
selflessness and sacrifice.
Pisces: 19th Feb-19th Mar
You will discover dormant talents and
abilities within yourself which will bring
out your creative resources.
People can make heavy demands on you and you may
feel burdened by responsibilities. Make sure you leave a
lot of time to pursue your hobbies and
interests.
About Sandeep Sidhu: Sandeep is a
certified astrologer and Tarot reader with
the New Age Foundation. He is a multidisciplined practitioner qualified in Natural
Health and Holistic Therapies and is a
counselor and therapist accredited in
emotional and psychological health.
www.mindbodytherapies.co.uk
November 2005
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City Masala
November 2005
City Masala
November 2005