The mahurat shot of horror and suspense thriller ‘The Black Piano’ was held in Chandigarh on Thursday. The shooting of this film will start in the year 2023 which will be completely shot in the UK. In most horror films, VFX is used to give effects, but most of this film will be shot without VFX to give a real feel.

The film ‘The Black Piano’ will feature Hollywood actors as well as Bollywood actors and NSD artistes. The film will be released in Hindi and English in theaters as well as on OTT platform.

The producer of the film is Ashwani Taneja. Besides, ‘The Black Piano’, another feature film ‘Hanky Panky’ is also being produced by Ashwani’s ‘Epitome Production House’, the shooting of which is going on in Canada.

The co-producer of The Black Piano is Sonu, production manager of the film is Bajinder Singh and the post production manager is Vishal. The film will be directed by Mayank Sharma who has directed films like Vikasi, Bhaiyya Ji Smile and Chhote Ustaad along with co-director of the film Sanjali Suri. The art director of the film is Annu, while the story of the film has been written by Nawab.

One of the most anticipated events in students’ circles in the Tricity, PEC Fest, has finally arrived. Being held from 25th to 27th November, 80 teams of students from IITs, NITs, engineering colleges and universities across the country are coming to participate in this festival at Punjab Engineering College (PEC), Deemed to be University, Sector-12, Chandigarh.

Students have been preparing for the last two months for the big day which is being held after the corona gap years. More than 80 teams from across the country will participate in more than 50 events in the 3-day fest. PEC Fest has added many new talent hunts and competitions this year. Throughout this 3-day colourful riot, future engineers will showcase their talent along with their brainy ideas on stage. In the evening too, wide arrangements have been made for the entertainment of students.

To be inaugurated on November 25, the fest will start with a hackathon on the first day. Hundreds of youth from various educational institutions of Tricity will participate in the mini marathon. On the the first day, PEC Fest students will participate in events like Olympiad, Lit Fest, Kavyanjali, Treasure Hunt, IPL Auction, Solo Singing, Rang De Punjab. Teams from across the country have registered to participate in the PEC Fest.

Star Night will be organized on November 26 and 27. Nukkad Natak, PEC Film Festival, Kisse Aur Kahaniyan, DJ War and Comedy Ka Tadka will also be seen. PEC Director Prof Baldev Setia said that PEC Fest is a great platform for budding engineers to showcase their talent. Here engineers can take part in other activities along with studies. The entire management of the fest is done by students themselves.

The Tricity is considered a foodies’ paradise with its wide range of restaurants and cafes spread across its length and breadth. The number of eateries just seems to be increasing by the day with new additions. However, one might get confused as to where one should go to spend a few hours outside the four walls of the house, especially for a delectable and nourishing breakfast.  Don’t worry, we have you covered.

In our top 5 breakfast destinations, you will know the best options for dining out.

It is reinforced time and again in our homes that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. So, today we bring you the top 5 breakfast destinations in the Tricity which boast of an enviable breakfast menu. Start your day off at any of these places and you definitely won’t be disappointed.

1. Backpackers Café, Sector 9, Chandigarh

This favourite haunt of many foodies, Backpackers Cafe was earlier housed at Nexus Elante Mall before shifting to its present location in the beautiful and posh Sector 9 of Chandigarh. Their menu has all the fan favourites when it comes to the breakfast staples. These include the American style breakfast options that will leave you wanting more. You can also try their sumptuous French toast or the classic Bangers and Mash. Also while there, check out their quirky decor with everything being paid attention to, down to the smallest detail.

2. Indian Coffee House, Sector 17, Chandigarh

One of the most famous landmarks in the Tricity is definitely Sector 17, Chandigarh, and till a decade ago, had become synonymous with the ‘Chandigarh culture’. One of the oldest shopping destinations in the Tricity, it also has the legendary Indian Coffee House which is one of the most revered food chains in India and lends an air of vintage charm to all those who walk through its doors. On weekends, during breakfast hours, the eatery mostly is fully packed and it becomes tricky to score a seat. When you make a stop there, do go for their delectable masala dosa and of course their famous coffee.

3. Kalsang Cafe, Phase 3B2, Mohali

While Kalsang restaurant is usually associated with an Asian cuisine, the cafe has a European feel and will delight your taste buds with its menu . The cafe offers English breakfast and American breakfast options. With bacon strips, sausages, baked beans and grilled tomatoes with hash browns and eggs made to order, what is there not to like? Also check out their range of pancakes which vary from banana pancakes to double chocolate ones. Added to this, is their selection of smoothies which is sure to complement any breakfast choice you make.

4. Oven Fresh, Multiple Locations Across the Tricity

Oven Fresh is known for providing great options when it comes to baked food and is one of the most popular eateries in the Tricity area. The name itself evokes images of cheesy sandwiches and pizzas that are served alongside chips and their signature fresh coleslaw salad. Enter any Oven Fresh outlet and sample their selection of shakes that make any meal go down a lot easier. They have outlets spread across the city and almost all of them are busy on the weekends, so do make sure to plan ahead.

5. Gopal’s, Multiple Locations Across the Tricity

If we are talking about breakfast, then we cannot afford to leave out another legendary food chain that relates very well with Indian street food. We are talking about the famous Gopal’s which is the food destination if you are looking to indulge in some Indian-style brekkie options.

The choices available at the many outlets at Gopal’s include their famous chole bhature, add to this their many selections of paranthas and who can forget the matar kulcha which makes this eatery a go-to spot for all your Indian breakfast needs.

Did we miss any spot that you regularly visit? Tell us in the comments!

The sixth edition of the Military Literature Festival (MLF), Chandigarh, will kick start on November 27, Sunday, at the Lake Club, Chandigarh.

To commemorate the services of our Armed Forces in safeguarding our freedom, the MLF’s theme this year is ‘The Armed Forces: Serving Free India for 75 Years’.

After two years of a pandemic-induced online format, the event will be held at the traditional venue, Lake Club, Chandigarh. The festival will open with the Bravehearts’ Ride featuring over 600 motorcycle riders on Nov 27.

This year’s event is dedicated to the memory of and in homage to the martyrs of the 1962 war whose 60th anniversary was observed recently.

The main event will be inaugurated by Banwarilal Purohit, Governor of Punjab and Administrator of Chandigarh, on December 3. This will be followed by panel discussions on topics of national and international interest, and strategic affairs through conversations between authors, panelists and the audience . A few new books will also be released. Book stalls will be put up, martial dances will be staged, weapons and military equipment too will be displayed at the fair on the banks of Chandigarh’s scenic Sukhna Lake. The events will continue till December 4. Bhagwant Singh Mann, Chief Minister of Punjab, will bring the curtain down on the festival at the closing ceremony.

Lt Gen TS Shergill, PVSM, Chairman, Military Literature Festival Association and Organising Committee, MLF 2022, thanked the Governor and the Chandigarh Administration for their unstinted help.

What is the Military Literature Festival?

The literature festival was started in 2017 as a partnership between the Punjab Government, Chandigarh Administration and the Indian Army’s Western Command by VP Singh Badnore and Capt Amarinder Singh, the then Governor and Chief Minister of Punjab respectively.

Over the years it has grown into a premier international gathering of military historians, thinkers, strategic analysts and writers to discuss and talk about warfare, history and intellectual pursuits.

The festival also spreads the festival’s message of physical fitness, sports, saying no to drugs, national security, paying homage to martyrs and giving direction to youth through a number of events like motorcycle rally, horse show, polo match, shotgun and archery competitions, golf tournament, etc.

The very term ‘organic’ seems to have become a buzzword with many major beauty product companies using it to promote their new range of products. However, are they really ‘organic’? With winters right around the corner, we bring to you a genuine Tricity-based skincare brand.

Scrub Organics is a homegrown brand which makes handmade skin care products. The founder and creator of Scrub Organics, Rubia Chauhan, specialises in fashion and lifestyle with a strong love for skin care. “I believe in a very holistic approach to the whole mind-body-soul connection”, she says, adding “Things that are safely processed or chemicals that are minimally invasive and safe should be used in skin care, which is why I created Scrub Organics.”

With a degree in mass communication and masters from Panjab University, Chandigarh, Rubia says first she inquired what skincare products her contemporaries as well as women younger and older to her were using. She says, “I have taken a lot of insights from the strong and beautiful women around me.”  Sharing her vision, she says, “I love the idea of supporting and being pushed forward by women which is why even the small staff that work for us presently, 90% of it consists of women.”

About the products

Their wide range of ‘self care’ products differentiates them from their competitors. They make sure to source all their handcrafted products from Nature — leaves, herbs and flowers to make sure that what you are buying is genuinely ‘organic’ in every sense of the term. Added to this, their processes of production are also sustainable. In addition to essential oils and tints, they also have a range of body scrubs, bath bombs and salts as well as scented candles to choose from.

Scrub Organics makes bath salts, face and body scrubs and bombs as well as lip and cheek tints. Each one of these products is adored due to the exquisite scents and lovely hues. “The exciting part is that we use food-based ingredients used in cooking or baking for colourings. The scents we use, for example, in our lavender or vanilla bath salts are used in baking and linger on almost as long as any artificial scents available in the market,” she adds.

Rubia elaborates, “One of the ways we try to keep our line organic is by ensuring that the preservatives we use are food grade as well. This is a formulation we came across almost as unintentionally as this beautiful brand did but seems to have worked and doubled the shelf life of our products.”

Our top pick from their range has to be the beetroot tint which is all natural.

CityWoofer in conversation with  Rubia Chauhan:

How did your brand come about? Can you tell us the story behind it starting?

I and my mom are big bath bomb and salts people. We’ve been using them for as long as I can remember to just relax and de-stress.

When Covid lockdown began, we couldn’t order our favourite products from this international brand ‘Lush’ that we love and the ‘regular salt soak’ stopped being enjoyable to me. I decided to strap up and started making my own bath bombs and salts at home. Having a lot of baking experience and a love for skin care helped me come up with very interesting and skin-friendly formulae. From there we decided to bring these same beauties to the people and that’s how Scrub Organics was born.

We use Epsom salts in a lot of our products i.e. the bombs, scrubs and bath salts. An interesting fact about them is that they contain magnesium which is a natural muscle relaxant and pain reliever. They can benefit sportsperson a lot as I myself use them after my exercise and gym sessions.

What was your inspiration?

Simply put the idea was to bring as clean and socially conscious a brand like ‘Lush’ to India made by Indians, while keeping a price point that hurts no one’s pockets.

What is the price range of your products?

Ours being a completely organic and handmade body-care brand, it gives us the leverage to set our prices slightly above the market value. We ensure that our products remain on a par with our competitors. Most of our products range from anywhere between Rs 200-700 depending entirely on the quantity and ingredients used.

Any customer favourites that you get a lot of orders from?

We have a lot of loyal clients that reorder regularly but our favourites are the supply that goes out to the cafés we’re displayed at –Marta from Casa Bella Vista in Sector 10 as well as Lykke in Sector 9 and Khaalis in Sector 8.

We have a bunch of wedding planner friends, especially from Bombay and Goa that have us on speed dial for their events too.

Scrub Organics is based in the tricity though they ship worldwide. Follow them on @scruborganics

George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Mahatma Gandhi, Andre Agassi, Michael Jordan, Steve Smith – they have various nicknames, Agassi had two nicknames one of them was The Punisher;  Jordan had a dozen monikers, one of them was Superman;  Washington and Gandhi were known the ‘Father of the nation’ of the US and India respectively. All these great men and sporting personalities cried, yet we generally believe men don‘t cry.

It is that very reason men’s mental health issues are never spoken about in our conventional Indian homes. Men were the bread-earners, so while they went out, women took care of homes. Now the equations are changing, work distinction is blurring and so is a man’s capacity to hold the fort.

“In today’s times, a man confronts a myriad of problems ranging from social to psychological issues which gives rise to stress, the gap between what was to be achieved and what one could achieve,” says Dr. Mayank Bibra, Insight-Brain and Mind Clinic, Chandigarh. However, he stresses mental health is not gender or age-specific, the issues may be different when seen practically.

How has this awareness of mental health issues come about in men? There is more awareness now through social media. Men are seeking help. “Lack of energy affects their work and their relationships. More and more men take to substance use/dependence (which was earlier called substance abuse),” says Dr Simi Waraich, one of the leading psychiatrists in the Tricity. “Men have the pressure of bringing money home. The work-from-home culture has exasperated men and women alike, there are more issues now with men having to share responsibilities with women, like looking after kids, old parents, etc,” she says.

Men don’t cry is the norm we’ve always heard while growing up which resulted in men not seeking medical help. “This mentality is true for tier two and tier three towns and cities; in urban culture, a man is accompanied by his wife or parents to seek help,” says Dr Bibra.

However, a still relevant aspect in this context  especially men in India is the male sufferer immediately questions, ‘you think I am mad?’ In the case of men, they don’t want to accept the mental health issue, while if the sufferer is a woman, it is the other way round, people around her impose on her that she is mad.

“Men who have mental health issues generally don’t realise or acknowledge the problem, when they do, it’s already late. They suffer badly, but they don’t share,” says Tanveer Thakur, a  keen observer of social issues, based in Chandigarh.

So , does seeking psychiatrist’s help always come to your rescue? “Mental health practitioners mostly recommend lifestyle changes which if not done aggravates the problem”, says Thakur.

“Another matter of concern is late marriages, men and women are getting married in their forties, they find it difficult to handle children, the rigidity of their partners, and other underlying issues,” says Waraich, as one of the reasons with men and women floundering in marriages and affecting mental health.

“Most of the time, a man or a woman is not reporting physical abuse in a marriage because of fear of children being affected which is adding to the problem,” she says.

Single Helpline Number For Men In Distress In India

8882-498-498

A streak of creativity always stays in us even as we grow old. Chandigarh cop Bhupinder Singh was always fond of penning down what he liked and what he saw around him, he carried this hobby forward as he grew older and has been using this talent to educate Chandigarh denizens on traffic rules.

Chandigarh traffic cop Bhupinder Singh who is known for spreading the message of traffic rules via singing songs on loudspeakers was recently invited on the sets of Indian Idol.

And now he has a bigger audience than just Chandigarh residents. In service for more than 30 years now, he recently made an appearance on the sets of Indian Idol.

https://fb.watch/gVFoDVYr-R/

Singh, on the request of anchor Aditya Narayan, sang his popular version of Daler Mehndi’s ‘Bolo tara ra ra’ song with his unusual “Gaddi nu crane lai gayi…” lyrics.

With his first video getting viral in 2019, he left the judges, contestants and the audience mesmerised with his talent of tweaking popular songs to spread the message of different traffic rules.

He gave Himesh Reshamiya’s song ‘Ashiq banaya aapne’ a new twist, he sang it as ‘Chalan karwaya…apne…Tere layi bike si lai ke aaya…tere layi helmet nahi si paya…tere layi police ka danda khaya…tere layi”.

Singer and one of the Indian Idol judges Neha Kakkar, went crazy when he sang “Chandigarh dhooma pai gayi aa…kehnde Neha Kakkar aayi ae”.

He also made guest Ayushmann Khurrana dance to his ‘Morni banke’ song by replacing the lyrics with “Aj fer kithon aayi ae chalan karake chalan karake.”

Singh had come on the show in support of Amritsar contestant Rupam Bharnarhiya. He even presented her with a traditional Punjabi suit sent by his wife.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=458430581418714

What makes his tweaked songs click? In Bhupinder Singh’s own words, Singh believes that people already know these songs and lyrics and when he makes the traffic songs, people catch the message easily.

“I have seen families getting devastated by road accidents and I believe if my songs can even bring a small change in society, I am ready to give my contribution as a traffic policeman and be a responsible citizen of India,” he says.

What better way to add to your knowledge and learn about the culture and development of a different country sitting here in your own town.

To celebrate 200 years of Brazilian independence this year, the Embassy of Brazil is holding a series of events in partnership with Indian organizations to showcase its diversity and contributions to the world.

As part of this initiative Embassy of Brazil, New Delhi, in collaboration with the Department of Cultural Affairs, Government Museum and Art Gallery, Chandigarh is holding an exhibition ‘Brasília 60+ and the Construction of Modern Brazil’.

From the epic construction to its most recent buildings, this exhibition includes photographs of three masters in Brazilian photography and architecture models of some of the key buildings. The exhibition was inaugurated by Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Banwarilal Purohit in the presence of Andre Aranha Correa do Lago, Ambassador of Brazil to India and Dharam Pal, Adviser to the Administrator.

Place: Government Art Museum, Sector 10, Chandigarh

Date: Nov 23,2022 – Jan 31, 2023

Time: 10 am to 5pm

Brasilia and Brazil

Brasilia was built in under four years and inaugurated as the new capital of Brazil in 1960. It is the most ambitious urban project in the 20th century worldwide, creating buildings that have become popular icons and asserting modernism as the symbol of Brazil.

Brasilia is the first architectural and urban complex of the 20th century recognised as UNESCO’s world heritage site.

In a pawdorable event, Petsfamilia organised a pupper party in the city. The unique meet brought together pets and their pawrents for a get-together where they all mingled, exchanged stories and had a lot of fun.

The organisers had arranged for a host of fun activities for the assorted pets, one of which also included a game of fetch where dogs competed against one another to get to their toy. The event was well attended with many shelling out the Rs 399 entry price per individual (pets had a free entry).

The event took place on Sunday, 20th November with the party beginning at 2 pm and going on till 6 pm. The pupper extravaganza was held at the Lush Life Cafe in Sukhna Enclave, Kansal, Chandigarh, where the  poochs had ample space to run around.

One of the participants Dr Aanchal Chauhan says, “ I got to know about the event through a social media advertisement and decided to bring my Lahsa Apso, Penelope, Penny for short”. This was her second such pet gathering where she participated, earlier having been to a similar event in Bangalore. However, it was the first time that she attended such a pet party in the Tricity.

Anayat Kaur, who works at an NGO for animals, had also brought her adorable shitzu LV Cooper at the event. She too had gotten information about the event through social media. She had previously been to events like this party in the past hosted in and around the Tricity.

There were a host of different breeds present at the party with many of the pet parents taking this opportunity to socialize their young ones with each other leading to quite a gathering. They also had other activities for the pets which included Temptation Alley, Toy Toss, Scooby  among many other activities. The lucky winners were awarded gift hampers full of goodies.

The event was powered by Zigly. The brand is a one-stop shop when it comes to providing pet care — from food products to grooming items of pets and also veterinary experts to answer questions. Zigly aims to give pet parents an easy pawrenting experience.

Chandigarh has donned a new badge of honour with the Airforce Heritage Centre being housed here.

The government press building at Sector 18, Chandigarh, will be the new home to vintage aircrafts at the new Airforce Heritage Centre. A MIG -21 fighter aircraft will be stationed at the entrance of the building, which will be visible from the roadside, for which a base has been made for its installation. The museum is set to have eight attractions, including aircraft models and weapon displays.

The heritage centre will be maintained by the UT administration, while the weapons and other equipment will be set up by the air force.

The Aeronautical Engineering Division of Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh, hosted the handover ceremony of Air Force ‘Kanpur-1 Aircraft’. This single-engine rare machine designed and built by late Air Vice Marshal Harjinder Singh VSM 1, MBE in 1958 will be displayed at the IAF Heritage Centre.

The Kanpur-1 Aircraft, was handed over by Prof Baldev Setia, PEC Director, to Air Marshal R Radhish AVSM VM, SASO, HQ Western Air Command at the Aeronautical Engineering Division of PEC, Chandigarh.

Kanpur-1 Aircraft is said to be gifted to PEC by AVM Harjinder Singh in the year 1967 and shares a strong bond with aviation heritage.

This vintage queen aircraft, will be displayed along with other aircraft in IAF Heritage Centre, Chandigarh. The Air Marshal highlighted that having this aircraft in IAF Heritage Centre will not only hold heritage values, it will also build a strong relationship between Punjab Engineering College and Indian Air Force.

The aircraft heritage centre will be thrown open to the public on December 16.