MUMBAI: Veteran actor Surekha Sikri passed away on Friday morning. She suffered a cardiac arrest. The news of Sikri’s demise has been confirmed by her manager. “She (Sikri) had been suffering from complications arising from a second brain stroke. She was surrounded by family and her caregivers. The family asks for privacy at this time,” the manager told.

Sikri was 75 when she breathed her last in Mumbai. In 2020, she had suffered a brain stroke and in 2018, she had gotten a paralytic stroke. The news of Sikri’s demise has saddened everyone. Paying homage to Sikri, actor Sushant Singh tweeted, “Farewell Surekha ji, you will be missed.” Speaking of Sikri’s acting career, she had made her debut with the 1978 political drama film ‘Kissa Kursi Ka’, and since then she had entertained viewers with her several versatile roles. Her portrayal of a strict grandmother in the hit TV show ‘Balika Vadhu’ made her extremely popular.

In 2019, she had received the National Film Award for her role in the film ‘Badhaai Ho’ (2018). She was last seen in Netflix’s ‘Ghost Stories’ (2020).

Almost 500 years after her death, Anne Boleyn remains a highly divisive figure in history. Some see her as a power-hungry woman who seduced King Henry VIII, forcing the ‘pious’ king to annul his first marriage to Katherine of Aragon. Others see her as a humanitarian and a reformer who was devoted to protecting the rights of the weak and the poor. Anne was the Queen of England from 1533 to 1536 as the second wife of King Henry VIII. In order to secure the passage of his marriage with her, Henry had to break with the Roman Catholic Church in 1533. In other words, the Pope and general councils of the church no longer enjoyed the final authority in doctrinal and legal disputes which now rested with the monarch. But, only 3 years later, the same Henry, who took on the papacy and triggered the English Reformation in order to marry Anne, puts her on a trial for treason, which leads to her beheading. A three-part British miniseries titled ‘Anne Boleyn’ which is currently streaming on SonyLIV revisits the age-old tale of Anne’s fall from grace, giving it some interesting twists and turns.

Now, the miniseries has been completely written off by the critics. But the criticism actually has little to do with the show’s merit. One of the major reasons why ‘Anne Boleyn’ has been panned by the critics has to do with the casting of Jodie Turner-Smith in the titular role. How can a Black actress portray the white Tudor queen? This underlying argument seems to have occluded their judgment. So, here’s my counter-argument: If the American actress Linda Hunt can go on to win an Academy Award essaying the part of a Chinese-Australian man in Peter Weir’s The Year of Living Dangerously (1982) then why can’t a Black actress play the part of Queen Anne Boleyn?

The fact of the matter is that the story of Anne Boleyn has been done to death. Some titles that come to mind are Anne of the Thousand Days (1969), The Other Boleyn Girl (2008), Wolf Hall (TV Miniseries 2015), and The Tudors (TV Series 2007-2010). More often than not, Anne is portrayed as a scheming temptress or a manipulative woman desperate to climb the social ladder. So when the writer-director duo of Eve Hedderwick Turner and Lynsey Miller dare to break the stereotypes by casting a gifted performer like Jodie Turner-Smith in the role of a strong queen like Anne Boleyn, I just don’t understand why it’s not getting celebrated? It’s a case of identity-conscious casting that theatre productions use all the time for historical plays. So it’s actually a positive sign to see that film and television are finally catching up with theatre in a bid to open up literary texts to fresh interpretations.

Consider the 2018 BBC series Les Misérables which stars a David Oyelowo in the role of a police chief named Javert. For the uninitiated, Victor Hugo’s novel Les Misérables on which the series is based is set in 19th century France. Now, anyone can pose the all important question to the makers: How can a Black man be a police chief in the 19th century France? Clearly, BBC wanted its series to follow a rather non-literal approach. Similarly, the makers of ‘Anne Boleyn’ want it to rise above the shadows of history. Mark Stanley, who essays the part of Henry VIII in the miniseries, sums it up perfectly: “Jodie has a lot in common with Anne Boleyn. She’s a strong, opinionated, scarily intelligent person. She was also bringing up a young child at the time that we were on set, and she’s quite awe-inspiring really… It was all about this being the right person for the job, rather than what we as a society might perceive as the ‘right look’ for the job. Anne Boleyn was beautiful, witty, vibrant, intelligent and Jodie is all of those things. She brought our Anne to life in a way another actress couldn’t.” The casting is also in sync with the feelings of otherness and disparity that Anne would have felt in the Tudor court.

Now, Jodie’s Queen Anne is no pushover; she is brave and tenacious but is not without flaws. Her passions often run wild and she can be most peremptory when she wants. But no one can question her intelligence as well as devotion for King Henry. She most certainly is smarter than any man around her and has a strong vision for her country and its people. The hitherto hated figure of Anne Boleyn became venerated as a martyr and the face of the English Reformation after her daughter with Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, was crowned as the Queen of England in 1558. It would have been ideal had ‘Anne Boleyn’ not ended with the queen’s execution and also covered events leading to Elizabeth’s coronation which paved the way for Anne’s rise as a revered historical figure as that would have provided a perfect closure to her tale. But, in its present form, the story, despite its daring, feels rather incomplete.

MUMBAI : Actor Arjun Rampal has completed his shooting for the upcoming film ‘Dhaakad’.

Directed by Razneesh Ghai, ‘Dhaakad’ is an action-packed film, wherein Kangana Ranaut essays the role of a protagonist, Agni. On Friday, Kangana took to her Instagram Story and penned a farewell post for her co-star Arjun, who recently wrapped up his work on ‘Dhaakad’.

“It’s a film wrap for our baddy. Will miss you on the sets,” Kangana wrote, adding a picture of Arjun popping champagne on the sets of the film in Budapest.

Arjun, too, took to social media to share his experience working with Razneesh.

“Brother in arms. What a pleasure Razneesh… what an experience. Thank you kiddo. Love and till we meet again,” he wrote on Instagram. Arjun will be seen playing the role of a villain, Rudraveer, in Dhaakad.

The uncertainty created by Covid-19 has had far and wide consequences. The artists are amongst those worst hit by the pandemic. Sanskar Bharati, an organisation that works to promote Indian art and culture, recently organised a virtual concert ‘Peer Parai Jaane Re’ to raise funds to support artists battling the rough tides during the pandemic.

Akshay Kumar, Anupam Kher, Kapil Sharma, Kailash Kher, Kumar Vishvaas, and several eminent artists from the field of art, literature, music, and dance such as the likes of Pandit Birju Maharaj, Amjad Ali Khan, Dr Sonal Mansingh, Hariharan, Shankar Mahadevan, Suresh Wadekar, Vasifuddin Dagar, and Anwar Khan, among others participated in the virtual event which was streamed live on Sanskar Bharati’s YouTube channel and Facebook page.

Famous lyricist Manoj Muntasir and Indian folk singer Malini Awasthi hosted the concert. The artists participating in the concert appealed to the people to donate whole-heartedly to the artists. Campaign president and MP Hans Raj Hans said, “‘Peer Parai Jaane Re’ is the biggest campaign in recent years to help the artists in this Covid crisis and we want to assist the far-flung artists. In this programme and even in future, Sanskar Bharti is committed to the advancement of the art and help the artists.” 

The Sanskar Bharati event was watched live by thousands of people. Other artists also used the platform to inspire people to come forward and contribute to the cause. The donations can be made via the Sanskar Bharti website.

The patron board of the campaign includes the legendary Kathak maestro Pandit Birju Maharaj, dancer and art scholar and Rajya Sabha MP Dr Sonal Mansingh, eminent sarod player Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, well-known sculptor Ram V. Sutar, Pandit Sajan Mishra, senior journalist Rajat Sharma, Bharatnatyam dancer Dr Saroja Vaidyanathan, and drama writer and director and retired IAS officer D.P. Sinha. Retired IAS officers Shakti Sinha, Bhupendra Kaushik, and Mahendra Gupta have been nominated as treasurers. Advocates Bansuri Swaraj, daughter of former External Affairs Minister Late Sushma Swaraj, and Pragya Agrawal have been appointed as members.

Our closest relationships often test us the most. There is no denying that the emotion of love complicates our lives by bringing along with it difficult sentiments such as jealousy, desire, possessiveness, unreasonable expectations, and worst of all, a tendency to take the other person for granted. It is no wonder then that extenuating circumstances such as being stuck indoors with our closest ones throughout the pandemic have wreaked havoc on relationships. However, if one sets the intention to make the relationship work, it is possible to turn over a new leaf. 

Tiesta Duggal — Life Coach, Energy Healer and Founder of Navyam, The Mind and Soul Abode — has healed several fraught relationships. Over the last year and a half particularly, she has been consulted by numerous clients fighting with their close ones. “I was always intrigued by the process of healing and felt there must be something that we could do in our lives that would get rid of all the stress and fear we carry with us. In 2016, I decided to pursue healing professionally. I was keen to research and find out more about the world of healing, and how it is connected to the science of quantum physics. Since then each day has been a new journey of exploring and enjoying the work that I do thoroughly,” shares Duggal candidly.

With a dedicated healing practice that includes modalities such as energy healing, Reiki, access bars, hypnotherapy, angel card reading, angel healing therapy, life coaching and body psychotherapy — she has a wide range to offer her clients, who readily return time and again.

When asked specifically about the healing of relationships, Duggal says, “our relationships are a reflection of our inner thoughts. When we work towards growing spiritually and healing the aspects of ourselves that have not worked for us till now, we can make a beautiful impact on our external world as well. This also holds true for our relationships. Additionally, spiritual healing helps us to heal any discord or pain that we carry in our relationships, and make us better equipped to manage and deal with our problems.”

Every relationship has its challenges and needs to be addressed in a specific manner. The stress we carry from our daily lives, often has a significant impact on our relationships as well, leading to issues like insecurity, lack of communication, breakdown of trust, severe anxiety around relationships, to name just a few. Hence, it is important to adopt a dynamic approach to tackle unique relationship problems. Identifying core issues is necessary to explore the foundations that have caused people to behave in a certain manner. Then, these core problems need to be healed. According to Duggal, apart from counselling, coaching and energy healing, various other healing remedies can also be practised such as the use of affirmations, switch-words, and clearing statements to create the desired shift in perspective and situation.

“Energy healing equips a person to manage the situation they are in while releasing the baggage of the past and the pain they carry. While there is no guarantee of tangible and immediate results, often one can feel tremendous changes in their lives. Also, a change in focus also gives people the ability to create and manifest more by continuing to work on themselves and growing each day,” she says.

Some relationships are past the point where they can be healed in a manner of the person’s choice, yet the process of healing is geared towards bringing out the best possible solution for one’s problem — even if at first, it does not seem the ideal solution. Duggal shares, “if one feels that their relationship is beyond the scope of healing and there is nothing one can do, the best way is to surrender and leave it to the universe for it to work towards our highest best, and let the course of the universe and time decide. During this process, they can work on healing their own selves and the pain that they carry within.”

Tiesta Duggal can be reached through her Instagram and Facebook accounts @Navyam_themindandsoulabode or her website- Navyam.co.in, to help in any situation that may make a person feel at their wits’ end.

The writer is a lawyer who pens lifestyle articles for various publications and her blog www.nooranandchawla.com. She can be reached on nooranand@gmail.com.

The year 2020 tested us on many levels, yet it also taught us to value what mattered most. For Shivani Sharma, founder of Kharikajai, this meant preserving her Assamese heritage, by promoting the handmade jewellery made exclusively in her home state. Believing that the intricate and age-old art of Assamese jewellery deserved to be put on the global fashion stage, she launched her label to further that goal, in November last year. A few months on and many happy clients later, she speaks exclusively to The Daily Guardian about her plans for Kharikajai and the role of ancient crafts in modern times.

Shivani Sharma

Excerpts:

Q. How does Assamese jewellery stand apart from other Indian jewellery traditions?

Two aspects of Assamese jewellery have stayed true since the Ahom Dynasty ruled, becoming an indelible part of Assamese culture. The first is that our jewellery is made entirely by hand, and the second is that it is always crafted on pure gold or silver. No other base metal can take the intricate and traditional Karigari of Assam. Another interesting aspect of our jewellery is that every design has a pattern of nature carved on it such as peacocks, leaves, flower patterns, pigeons, and similar designs. Assamese jewellery is known for its delicate pieces and the beautiful shapes carved on them.

Q. Tell us about the Golden Era of Assam and how it has influenced your jewellery?

When I began my research I realised that our local jewellery markets in Assam were flooded with contemporary designs. It was rare to spot designs that were originally worn by Ahom Queens or even by our grandmothers. This is what made me want to focus on those timeless designs, dating back hundreds of years, which had begun to fade away under the influence of popular trends. I initially took inspiration from the jewellery pieces worn by my Nani and Dadi at their weddings, which were gifted to them by their mothers. This is what makes most of my designs timeless and from the Golden Era of Assam.

Q. Since you are based in Delhi, how do you establish connections with local craftsmen?

Currently, I am working with two units of Karigars — one in Nagaon and one in Barpeta — both located in Assam. Traditionally, Assamese craftsmen do not follow an industry setup, choosing to work in their rural households instead. I wanted to sustain this practice of Karigari by encouraging them to stay in their natural habitat. Though I am based in Delhi, I coordinate with the Karigars through a dedicated team. I connect with them virtually, and also visit every two to three months for a tour of my units.

Q. What have been the biggest challenges you have faced in establishing your business as well as the most rewarding moments?

Besides designing, I had to figure everything out myself as I am completely new to this industry and had no one to guide me. This presented many challenges along the way. Yet, just last month, my pieces were featured in an editorial shoot for Vogue Magazine. It was my dream to reach a global platform and to be able to do that in just eight months was hugely rewarding.

Q. Do you believe that the younger generation is readily accepting their craft traditions? How do you make your branding contemporary to appeal to them?

I believe the younger generation is more inclined towards contemporary designs as they are trendy and easy to style. Except for a limited number of people, our ancient crafts are not readily accepted by most young people. My goal is to have people recognise Kharikajai for its traditional vibe rather than make it contemporary to appeal to them. I want to sustain my beautiful and irreplaceable culture which means every aspect of my branding has to be vintage and authentic.

I do not believe in following trends without trying something out of the box. The modern jewellery industry does not have much exposure to traditional Assamese jewellery designs. Even though it was a risk to launch a brand exclusively dedicated to this dying craft, it has been totally worth it. We should always follow our hearts, and if we are ready to challenge ourselves, we should just go for it without playing safe all the time.

Q. What’s next on the cards for Kharikajai?

Currently, we are retailing only through social media and our website. Last month, we opened up international shipping and other expansion plans are also in the works. I want to have a flagship store in Delhi and then attempt to branch out to different cities. One day, I hope to take Kharikajai abroad to discerning customers around the world.

The interviewer is a lawyer who pens lifestyle articles for various publications and her blog www.nooranandchawla.com. She can be reached on nooranand@gmail.com.