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NDTV
a day ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
How A 'Palace' In Karnal Is Courting Delhi With Art And A Train To Pakistan
Sometime in the early-90s, before the Partition of India, the Frontier Mail chugged in to the Peshawar railway station and an uproar followed. How was the Frontier Mail late? 15 minutes late? People at the platform were aghast. They couldn't believe that the train, whose timetable you could set your watch by, could be delayed. The driver was asked to explain the delay. No one quite knows what the driver's answer was, but today, as you step into a carriage of the 'Frontier Mail' somewhere in a palace two hours from Delhi, you can sit at ease. This train won't be late. Neither will the services here, in this train-themed restaurant at Noormahal Palace in Karnal, Haryana, a stone's throw from Delhi. A Train To Pakistan For A Dinner Date The restaurant borrows its name and is a tribute to that exotic legendary train that once ran between Bombay and Peshawar and ferried celebrities from this part of the undivided country to that. The menu at Frontier Mail is curated from all the stops that the train stopped at on its way from Bombay to Peshawar. As a local band played out Saadgi, dinner at Frontier Mail took us back to the era of ice-cube air-conditioning, steam engines, and food that made us smile a smile of satisfaction. The restaurant is the star of Noormahal Palace, a 'palace' hotel two hours from Delhi. The hotel is the brainchild of ex-Armyman Colonel Manbeer Choudhary and his wife Binny Choudhary. "Whichever corner you look at here, you will see a lady's touch. My wife brought a delicate and detailed touch to the interiors," Col Choudhary tells NDTV. 'Only A Sardar Or An Armyman Can Fight This Battle' It has been more than a decade that the couple has been running the hotel, fending off big conglomerates from awarding a 'badge' to them, and keeping their head steady in a landscape dotted with five-star hotels. "Only a Sardar or an armyman can fight this battle, I tell you!" laughs Col Choudhary. How does an armyman become a hotelier, we ask. The answer is as fascinating as his hotel. "I come from an army background. I have served with the indian army for 25 years in active service. I took premature retirement. I resigned from my job. I felt that there was a calling or something, and that I wanted to do much more. The army, for me at that point, had become a routine job of chase and run," says Col Choudhary. "I was in Jammu and Kashmir, in a separated family accommodation, for a very long time. I was lucky enough to see a lot of action at the Line of Actual Control for about 4.5 years, when I wrote a letter to the army headquarters, saying that enough was enough. No officer is posted in the Northeast or Jammu and Kashmir for more than 18 months, because that ends up turning the officers themselves into targets. Somehow, I was there for 4.5 years," he says, "So, I thought I needed to do something better than just the normal policing job; my area of operation was more into countering insurgency." "I came out of the army in 1997. I needed a cooling off period before beginning the second innings of my life," says Col Choudhary. Art, Architecture, Opulence The second innings came quick and came easy for Col Choudhary. His father had left him a plot of land in Karnal where he created his first hotel: Jewels. The second hotel had to be bigger, and had to be the realisation of a joint vision: so, while the Colonel brought discipline and a quarter-century of learnings from the Army, his wife brought the art, the eye, and the put-togetherness that turned Noormahal Palace into an address worth checking out. The 125-room (200 rooms soon) hotel in Karnal reflects the Choudharys' eclectic taste in art and architecture. A palace hotel might have made purveyors of modernism raise an eyebrow at the time when the couple built Noormahal, but they went against the tide to go big. Today, when you enter Noormahal, you are stunned by the art, the architecture, and the sensibly maximalist aura of the hotel. It is opulence but not eye-watering. It is a thousand artefacts but none out of place. "You can pick up extremely expensive items at an auction, but placing it right isn't everyone's cup of tea," as Col Choudhary's son and hotelier Roop Partap Choudhary sums it up. The hotel is designed by renowned architect Himmat Singh. It is built in the Mughal and Rajputana schools of architecture and you find the jharokha s, the chhatri s, the massive gates, and artwork everywhere. Inside the 'Khwabgah', the highest category of suites at Noormahal, you find a window from the time of the Mughals. The in-room bar area has a jangla from Amritsar during the time of Operation Blue Star. The Khwabgah boasts a royal sleeping chamber - which lends its name to the suite - with two sleeping rooms, a dining room where the chairs weigh more than any you might have come across, a separate bar, a private office and a private terrace that opens to views of all of Karnal. Speak of opulence! A Suite Loved By Jagjit Singh The suite that NDTV spent a weekend in came with its own story. It once hosted the legendary late ghazal singer Jagjit Singh. Inside, as you wonder if Jagjit Singh hummed " Tum Itna Jo Muskura Rahe Ho" somewhere by the massive windows, you catch yourself smiling too. An autograph by the singer sits framed on the wall. Singh, known for his love for his drink, would have been at home at Noormahal. Trust the in-house Polo Bar on that. The colonial-style bar has a cocktail menu inspired by the sport and has shelves lined with everything from rare whiskies to wines. A selection of Cuban cigars too. Films, Weddings, Recreation Noormahal has quite a few food and beverage options to choose from: Khaas Mahal, its al fresco under-the-sky restaurant; Jal Mahal, the poolside restaurant; Brown Sugar, its international all-day diner; the award-winning Frontier Mail; and the Polo Bar. The hotel also has an in-house spa with a bouquet of wellness therapies to choose from (and a couple's jacuzzi to soak in if you're travelling with a date). A hit with weddings, the hotel has an array of packages to choose from. It has also found itself in a few movies and music videos, including on the day we found ourselves at the property. 'New-Age Travellers Want A White-Lotus Feel To Trips' And why not. For the film and wedding circuit that does not want to navigate the chaos of Delhi-Gurugram-Noida, nor venture as far as Shimla, Karnal offers a middle-of-the-road destination. "Noormahal's location means there's no real competition in a 150-kilometre radius," says Roop. "There is no palace hotel in this area. And after Covid, the market trends have completely changed. Your decision-makers are now in the age bracket of 25 to 40. They are more focused on wellness, they need more value for money, and they also want a certain aesthetic - a White Lotus feel to their trips," Roop tells NDTV. 'How Will You Fake Warmth?' "Above all," the Senior Choudhary adds, "you need a story. You need heritage. If you have to sell a hotel, you cannot just do boxes. I was the President of the FHRAI (the Federation of Hotels and Restaurant Associations of India). My time there taught me what five-star hotels need. The big players in the hospitality industry have only now begun focusing on the Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities in India. That's where the expansion is happening. When I invested in this piece of land all those years ago, it was investment in the dark. Look at us now." It's the guest reviews, the people at Noormahal, and word of mouth that keep the hotel the way it is, say the Choudhary father-son duo. From Khwabgah to the Frontier Mail, it's the warmth that sets the palace apart. After a meticulously curated warm dinner at Frontier Mail, Roop leaves us chewing on some food for thought: "You can fake a chandelier. How will you fake warmth?" FACT SHEET Where: Noormahal Palace in Karnal, Haryana, is situated 120 kilometres from Delhi. A two-hour drive from the national capital takes you to the hotel. Rooms And Tariff: The hotel offers various categories of rooms - Club, Club Royal, Heritage Suite and Presidential Suite. Doubles from Rs 13,290 per night, subject to change. Noormahal Palace also curates several seasonal and occasion-based packages.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2025 to honour cinema icon Ritwik Ghatak with retrospective on birth centenary
The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2025 will pay tribute to iconic filmmaker Ritwik Ghatak on his 100th birth anniversary with a special retrospective celebrating his cinematic legacy. The late filmmaker, considered one of the greatest visionaries of Indian cinema, will be commemorated through screenings of his landmark works, academic panels, and curated discussions that aim to bring global attention to his pioneering contributions. Ghatak is celebrated for his impactful films, particularly those exploring the social and psychological aftermath of the Partition of India. His most popular works include the Partition Trilogy, consisting of Meghe Dhaka Tara (1960), Komal Gandhar (1961), and Subarnarekha (1965). Other notable films include Jukti Takko Aar Gappo (1974) and Titash Ekti Nadir Naam (1973). IFFM festival director Mitu Bhowmik Lange hailed Ghatak as a visionary who was "far ahead of his time". ALSO READ: A digital archive locates the Kolkata homes of icons of Indian cinema "His cinema dealt with trauma, displacement, and identity with such poetic depth and urgency that it resonates even more today. At IFFM, we believe it is our responsibility to bring global attention to icons like Ritwik Ghatak, whose work shaped the conscience of Indian filmmaking," Lange said in a statement. The 2025 edition of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) will be held from August 14 to 24.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
In fraught times, city dir's ‘Immigrants' gets int'l fim fest Rotterdam grant
1 2 3 Kolkata: In fraught times, Suman Mukhopadhyay 's 'Immigrants' — set against the backdrop of the 1947 Partition of India and topical in the context of today's identity politics — is the only recipient from India of the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR)'s Hubert Bals Fund (HBF). The 15 projects, which will receive a grant of €10,000 to support their development, were selected from more than 900 applications. Author Debesh Roy penned a story named 'Udbastu'. Mukhopadhyay's project is inspired by that work and is about a displaced family from the 1947 Partition of India struggling to rebuild their lives in a fledgling immigrant colony on the outskirts of Kolkata. When a state inquiry questions their identities, conflicting narratives unravel their past, threatening their existence and tearing at the fabric of their family bonds. "This is a historically rooted drama set against the backdrop of the 1947 Partition of India. Its focus is on the fragility of identity in the face of institutional demands for 'proof' and the deep scars that forced migration leaves on personal histories," Mukhopadhyay said. According to the director, 'Immigrants' was born from a profound sense of disquiet about the lives of those whose stories were never officially recorded, whose names were lost due to bureaucratic lapses, and whose lives were rewritten in the margins of history. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Libas Purple Days Sale Libas Undo "The Partition of 1947, despite its monumental impact, often remains a sanitised topic in cinema — reduced to historical spectacle or political drama. 'Immigrants' resists this reduction," he added. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata Although primarily regarded as a theatre personality, Mukhopadhyay's recent career achievements have been in cinema. His film 'Putulnacher Itikatha' competed at this year's IFFR. "I have directed nine full-length feature films including 'Putulnacher Itikatha' (2023), 'Nazarband' (2020), 'Asamapta' (2017), and 'Herbert' (2005), which won the National Award for Best Regional Film that year. It is a misconception that cinema is not my forte. Anyone who looks at my body of work will understand that my films have been to many prestigious festivals around the world," he said. The filmmaker has also not ignored some attempts to deliberately downplay his achievements in cinema and pigeonhole him only as a theatre personality. "I hope the IFFR selection will make people notice how consistently I have been working in films as much as devoting time to theatre," Mukhopadhyay said.
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
‘Scars of 1947': BCCI VP Rajeev Shukla presents his book on partition to King Charles III at St. James's Palace
Rajeev Shukla gifted his book to King Charles III at St. James's Palace. Indian men's and women's cricket teams visited the Palace. King Charles interacted with players like Shubman Gill and Harmanpreet Kaur. He inquired about their experiences and even discussed a cricket match. The players expressed their happiness at meeting the King. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads During a historic meeting at St. James's Palace, BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla presented his book " Scars of 1947 " to King Charles III , amidst a ceremonial visit by India's men's and women's cricket shared that the King showed a genuine interest in the subject matter of the book, which focuses on the traumatic events and lasting impact of the Partition of India 'Presented my book Scars of 1947 to King Charles at St. James Palace, his house. He took lot of interest in content of the book,' Shukla said in a post on interaction took place as part of the Indian teams' official visit to the Palace on Tuesday, where players and coaches had the opportunity to meet and speak with the British monarch. Captains Shubman Gill and Harmanpreet Kaur , along with key players such as Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, were among those to ANI, Shukla reflected on the overall experience and said, 'It was a very historic occasion that both our men's and women's teams were invited today by King Charles and met them very well in the Palace. Players are very happy because he asked all personal details of each player.'He added that the King had done his homework ahead of the meeting and recalled intricate details about players, even inquiring about Indian pacer Akash Deep's sister's illness.'He had found out so many details. He sounded like a gentleman, and it did not seem we were talking to the King of England. There is a lot of humility in him and team is very happy to meet him.'Shukla also revealed that King Charles discussed the final moments of the third Test at Lord's, calling Mohammed Siraj's dismissal 'unfortunate.' The King referenced how the ball rolled back onto the stumps after Siraj had middled recounting the moment, said, 'It was amazing. I think he was very kind and generous to be able to call us here, and it was a pleasure meeting the king, and we had some really good conversations.'Yes, he did tell us that the way our last batsman got out was quite unfortunate. The ball was rolling on the stumps, and he was just asking us how we felt after that, and we told him it was an unfortunate match for us. It could have gone either way, but hopefully we will have better luck in the next games.'King Charles also interacted warmly with other players, including a shared laugh with Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah, and brief exchanges with the women's women's captain Harmanpreet Kaur shared her thoughts and called it a 'very nice experience.' 'It was a very nice experience. We came to England so many times, but this was our first time when we met him, and he was very friendly. He asked us, like, how the travel was and all, and it was really nice to meet him.'Women's team coach Amol Muzumdar added, 'It has been a very humbling experience coming here to the royal house and meeting the king. It's been the first time, so we came all the way from Southampton, but it was really worth it, and the girls were really excited about this visit, and we are pleased that we are here.'
News18
15-07-2025
- Sport
- News18
Who Was Fauja Singh? 114-Year-Old, Who Ran Marathons World Over, Died In Road Accident
Last Updated: Fauja Singh received the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honour from the National Ethnic Coalition on November 13, 2003, recognising him as a powerful symbol of racial tolerance. Veteran marathoner Fauja Singh passed away at the age of 114 after being struck by an unidentified vehicle in his native village in Punjab's Jalandhar district. The tragic incident occurred in Bias village, where Singh was out for his routine walk when he was hit, suffering severe head injuries. He succumbed to his injuries later that evening, according to a local police official who confirmed the details. His death was also confirmed by author Khushwant Singh, former Punjab State Information Commissioner, who spoke to members of Fauja Singh's family. Khushwant Singh had chronicled the athlete's extraordinary life in his biography, The Turbaned The 'Sikh Superman' Who Redefined Age And Endurance Fauja Singh, often hailed as the 'Sikh Superman," was born on April 1, 1911, according to his biography. He faced early physical challenges and was unable to walk until the age of five. Initially a casual runner, Singh's life, like many others, was deeply disrupted by the Partition of India, which left lasting personal and emotional scars. Years later, after suffering a series of devastating personal losses, including the deaths of several family members, Singh returned to running as a way to cope with grief and depression. His passion for the sport reignited, he moved to England in the 1990s to live with his son and, remarkably, at the age of 89, he ran his first marathon—the London Marathon—in 2000. What began as a personal comeback soon evolved into a record-setting journey. Singh entered several international marathons, including in Toronto and New York, becoming a global sensation in his age group. Over the years, he completed six full marathons, inspiring people around the world with his determination and spirit. In 2012, he was a special guest at the 2nd Annual Chardikala Run in Malaysia. The event was themed '101 and Running" in honour of his exceptional longevity and achievements. During the closing ceremony, Singh received the prestigious BrandLaureate Award on stage. On February 24, 2013, just weeks shy of his 102nd birthday, Singh ran his final competitive race—a 10-kilometre event at the Hong Kong Marathon, which he completed in 1 hour, 32 minutes, and 28 seconds. While he officially retired from competitive running after that, he expressed his commitment to continue running for personal well-being and to support charitable causes. Fauja Singh's journey is a testament to resilience, passion, and the boundless potential of the human spirit, regardless of age. World Records Broken By Fauja Singh 100m – 23.40 seconds (previous 29.83) 200m – 52.23 seconds (previous 77.59 seconds) 400m – 2:13.48 (previous 3:41.00) 800m – 5:32.18 (no previous record) 1,500m – 11:27.00 (previous 16:46.00) Mile – 11:53.45 (no previous record) 3,000m – 24:52.47 (no previous record) 5,000m – 49:57.39 (no previous record) Awards Won By Singh Fauja Singh received the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honour from the National Ethnic Coalition on November 13, 2003, recognising him as a powerful symbol of racial tolerance. Remarkably, he was the first non-American ever to be bestowed with the award. In 2011, he was further celebrated with the Pride of India title for his extraordinary achievements and inspiration to millions. A lifelong vegetarian and advocate for healthy living, Singh also holds the distinction of being the oldest man to feature in a PETA campaign. His global appeal even saw him appear in a high-profile advertisement for a major sportswear brand, sharing the screen with legends David Beckham and Muhammad Ali. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
