www.thebrewmagazine.com
ISAIGNANI FRAMED MUSIC MAESTRO ILAIYARAAJA IN CONVERSATION WITH ACE PHOTOGRAPHER
G. VENKET RAM
EDITOR’S NOTE
Dear Readers,
FOLLOW US>// http://www.facebook.com/ thebrewmagazine
The team has, this month, put up some really good interviews for you to enjoy. The Brew takes a moment here to thank all its encouraging readers for always coming up with the best of compliments. The inputs are priceless and always welcome. We have Ilaiyaraaja on cover this month, and as you will discover, this personality has contributed immensely to Indian cinema through his extra ordinary patience and modesty. I thank Venket Ram who made this possible. Interviews have always been our forte, and we decided to make this issue a rare collection of interviews this time with all our generously endowed interviewees opening up especially for you. Inside as you leaf through, expect Dr. Alphonso Arul Doss, Gunasekhar, Shravanthi and a lot more I would leave for you to pleasantly discover. As our journey to the musical states of North East India started last month, this month too, we give you a little taste of that passion! We are just getting started! Keep Brewing Until Next Time Sameer Bharat Ram Editor
TO ADVERTISE: Call: +91 98409 39339 e-mail: info@thebrewmagazine.com
The Brew takes no responsibility for unsolicited photographs or material. All PHOTOGRAPHS, UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED ARE USED FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSE ONLY.
CINEMA, MUSIC & ART WITH THE
Creative Director 01 Mihir Ranganathan Art Director 02 Sibiraj Bastin Graphic Designer 03 Abhilasha Kushwaha 01
02
03 Sub-Editor 04 Sanchayan Deka
04
06
05
Operations 05 Nishant Chopra Marketing 06 Praveen Khanna M. V. 07 Niteesh Menon 08 Nimalan
07
08
09
BRAND PARTNERS
Circulation & Sales 09 Seeman Ezhumalai Contributors Cover Picture G. Venket Ram Photographers S.Sriirama Santhosh Sudarshan Thamizhthambi
www.thebrewmagazine.com Edited and Published by Sameer Bharat Ram, and owned by SM BrandMuni Consulting Pvt. Ltd, Published from No.609, Lakshmi Bhavan, Anna salai, Mount Road, Chennai - 600 002. Tel.: +91 44 4208 9392. Printed by K. Srinivasan at Srikals Graphics pvt. Ltd, No.5, Balaji Nagar, 1st street, Ekkattuthangal, Chennai - 600 032. Editor: Sameer Bharat Ram
CONTRIBUTORS AND ADVISORY BOARD Sethumadhavan N. Sethumadhavan.N holds an MBA from XLRI-Jamshedpur and has a background in the FMCG & Retail sectors. It was while leading the editorial team at PassionForCinema.com ( a popular movie portal that’s now defunct ) that Sethu realized that his true passion was Cinema and everything connected to it, including the business side of it. Currently based in Mumbai,Sethu works in the education sector and also runs www.madaboutmoviez.com, a portal dedicated to Indie/Small films,Regional Cinema and World Cinema. Sethu has also been associated with filmmaking workshops and film festivals.
Venket Ram Venket Ram is a leading Indian celebrity & fashion photographer, who has shot principal photography stills for several notable films as well as portfolios. He quit his engineering studies to work with cinematographers for a while, then joined a course in Visual Communication at Loyola College. After that, he worked with photographer Sharad Haksar and in 1993, started his own studio. He recently released the first two editions of his annual calendars in 2011 and 2012 with an overwhelming response.
Kavita Baliga The young American Soprano, Kavita Baliga has sung in concerts around the U.S., Switzerland, Italy and India with repertoire ranging from Opera and Oratorio, Musical Theatre to Indian film. In 2008, Ms. Baliga joined A.R Rahman’s KM Music Conservatory as a faculty member and founded the KMMC Chamber Choir. She is presently developing performance programmes in India.
Mallika Sarabhai Educated as an economist and a business manager, Mallika Sarabhai is one of India’s best known Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi dancers. She has taken her work and her company Darpana to not only over 90 countries around the world, but also to the farthest parts of India.
Ashok Verghese Is one of the youngest education entrepreneurs who is making a great difference in this field in the country. He is the Director of the Hindustan group of Institutions, again one of the pioneering educational groups in the country. He supports the cause of promoting young talent in art and music.
Neeru Nanda A graduate from Delhi University. Passionate about writing, she freelanced as a feature writer for ten years before switching to publishing. Author of a collection of short stories titled “IF” (Rupa & Co), Neeru is now working on two novels and a series of books for children.
Veejay Sai An award-winning writer, editor and a culture critic. He has written and published extensively on Indian classical music, fashion, theatre, food and art, and loves traveling, researching literary and cultural history. He is an editorial consultant with over 40 brands and designers in and outside India and is on the jury for several prestigious awards in the arts across the country.
Dr. M. Lalitha and M. Nandini Internationally acclaimed, award winning Violin Maestros Dr. M. Lalitha and M. Nandini have been widely applauded as the ‘Queens Of Violin’ and have enthralled audiences across the globe. They have been selected as Cultural Ambassadors and dignitaries to the US and UK respectively. They have published books and written numerous articles relating to Music and religion..
CONTENTS
10
18
14
28
34
VOL 03 ISSUE 04
COVER STORY
22
iSAIGNANI iLAIYARAAJA
INTERVIEWS
10
IN CONVERSATION WITH THE LEGEND
dr. ALPHONSO ARUL DOSS
FEATURE
32 sING YOU A LIFE
14
bREWING WITH
GUNASEKHAR
18
LIFE after PI
SHRAVAnTHI sainath
22
28
PUSHING THE LIMITS
PUSHPANJALI BANEERJI
34
HIGH TIDES
ARJUN MALLIK
ART
In conversation with the Legend, Dr. Alphonso Arul Doss — sAMEER BHARAT RAM & Nishant Chopra
B
orn 1939, Alphonso Arul Doss is a worldacclaimed artist. He has held 14 one-man shows in India, 15 prestigious shows abroad, awarded on countless occasions and his works are in private and public collections in countries ranging from India to Croatia. He is the only artist in India who uses the gemstone effect on the figures in his work and this technique he learnt after minutely studying the graded passage of light through a diamond. He leaves calculated white space on the pristine canvas which gives an original touch to his work. Former Principal of the Government College of Arts and Crafts Dr Alphonso Arul Doss was endowed as a Cultural Scholar by the Government of India Ministry of Education and Culture and was honoured with a doctorate by the World University, USA. Let’s hear it from the legend in his words,
Photo Courtesy: Thamizhthambi
Q. Sir, tell us a little about your childhood.
A. My childhood was mostly spent in playground and church. My family were devoted Catholics, so we spent a lot of time at church. I started sketching there. My art was well appreciated and encouraged there. Even my school was very supportive and gave me a lot of opportunities to showcase my talent. It is then, when my teacher advised my dad to send me to some art school in Chennai. In 1957, I joined the Govt. College of Arts and Crafts, Chennai. Q. How did things change at the Art College?
A. Roy Chowdhury was heading the college in 1929. He introduced work on sculptures at college and trained students brilliantly. The college gained popularity and attracted students from all over India. He spent almost 30 years at the art college and retired in 1957. Paniker took over the college after Roy Chowdhury. Paniker led the college in a very different manner and took it a step higher.
10 | jANUARY 2013 | Cinema, Music & Art with the Brew
He encouraged students a lot. He was highly influenced by European modernism. Later, I got lucky to meet a number of noted artists like, Krishna Rao, Dhanapal, Santhanaraj, Anthony Doss, Munuswamy and Ram Gopal at the institute. Ram Gopal was a very interesting person and a great teacher. I learnt watercolour techniques from him. Santhanaraj thought me oil and portrait painting. Another such artist who I idolized was Anthony Doss. Munuswamy was an excellent craftsman and an expressionist. Dhanapal guided me throughout and influenced me in many ways.
Christian Conference of Asia, Singapore in 1983 and at Air India Mumbai and ICMC England Gangotri Art and Culture Centre, Ahmedabad in 1985.
Q. When did you transform from a student to a professional?
Q. Do you follow a distinct style?
A. I was fortunate to get an employment in the same college as an Instructor. I then studied more on Art Development. I got scholarships at Department of State Guest International Visitors program, Washington DC, USA and Asian Christian Art Association, Japan and
Q. When was your first show?
A. I showcased my work very late. The first show was a group exhibition organized by Paniker. One man show happened in 1979, when I got a call from the Brigham University, USA. The American professors and students found it very different and they applauded my work. That gave me confidence and things took off from there. A. Trained as a realist painter, I enjoyed mastering the techniques of Academic Painting. As a young artist I continued in the traditional school of thought studying nature, human forms and colours. My distinct style is an outcome of elaborately studying both the Indian and European paintings. Travel helped me to observe the
Cinema, Music & Art with the Brew | JANUARY 2013 | 11
nuances of temple architecture and blend them into my paintings and I have finally arrived at a stage where I can be happy of my unique style. I am fascinated by light which creates and supports life. Inspired by the prism, I got the idea of breaking forms in light. Like the dispersion of light, the forms are broken up resembling a scintillating mass from a distance which fuses to make a coherent image. Three major themes that I frequently explore are time, space and human relationships. My most interesting phase is the ‘Time and Space’ series, wherein I combine the cosmic form (Nataraja) and the swastika.
Alphonso Arul Dos Timeline
Born 1957 1963 1992-1997
AWARDS
1968 1969 1969 1988
1939, Bangalore, India Graduated from the Govt. College of Arts and Crafts Recipient of Cultural Doctorate in Art Education from World University USA Principal, Govt. College of Arts and Crafts, Chennai International Cultural Centre Award, New Delhi Kalidasa Exhibition Gold Medal in Bhopal, MP State Lalit Kala Academi, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka National Academy Award, New Delhi
SCHOLARSHIP
1983 1983 1985
Department of State Guest International Visitors program, Washington DC, USA Asian Christian Art Association, Japan and Christian Conference of Asia, Singapore Air India Mumbai and ICMC England Gangotri Art and Culture Centre, Ahmedabad
PARTICIPATION
1965 1984 1984 1986 1989 1989 1989 1991 1992 1994 1998
Commonwealth Art Festival, London Contemporary Indian Painting Exhibition in Cuba and Mexico South Zone Cultural Centre Exhibition, Chennai Asian Art Biennial in Dhaka, Bangladesh Paul Lingren Memorial Exhibition, USIS Chennai Nehru Centenary Exhibition, New Delhi The Bombay Art Society Centenary Exhibition All India Drawing Exhibition, Chandigarh Third Biennial of Visual Arts, Seychells Nine Malaysian and Indian Artist Exhibition, Singapore Group Show, Joshua Fine Art Gallery, Kualalumpur
12 | jANUARY 2013 | Cinema, Music & Art with the Brew
2000 2001 2002 2003
Cherry creek Art Festival, Denver, USA Spiritual Art Exhibition, Indonesia Veteran Art Exhibition IFACS, New Delhi Korean Christian Art Association Exhibition, Seoul
One Man Shows held in India
1997 1978 1981 1981 1983 1985 1989 1990 1991 1992 2000 2001
Taj Coromendal Gallery sponsored by Aliance Francaise, Chennai Taj Art Gallery, Mumbai Sarala Art Centre, Chennai Venkatappa Art Gallery, Govt. Museum, Bangalore Contemporary Art Gallery, Ahmedabad Krithika Art Gallery, Bangalore Adayar Park Hotel Gallery, Chennai Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai KCP Art Gallery, Bangalore Kasturi Sreenivasan Trust Gallery, Coimbatore Vinyasa Art Gallery, Chennai DBS Gallery, Chennai
One Man Shows held Abroad
1979 1979 1980 1982 1982 1983 1983 1985 1986 1998 2003 2005 2005 2005 2009
BF Larsen Gallery, Brigham Young University De-Schakel Leisen Hauge, Holland Brugerzaal Zwijndrech, Holland Rose Speer Larsen, Holland De Bonkelaars Slindrecht and De Rietgore, Museum of Modern Art, Holland Doshisha University Kyoto, Japan International YMCA Gallery, Osaka, Japan Treasure Room Gallery New York, USA BF Larsen Gallery, USA and Ricks College, Idaho USA Brim Hall, Brigham Young University, USA Sangam Institute, Yonsai University, Seoul, Korea Kwun Chung Centre, Hong Kong Center Point Hotel, Bangkok Siddharth Art Gallery, Katmandu, Nepal Gnani Art Gallery, Singapore
W in D
Welcome to "CHAMIERS", a life-style store Showcasing "Anokhi's line of clothing and furnishing...A gift section with an interesting range of Jewellery & Crafts, Footwear & Photoframes, Accessories & Bags, Cards & Stationery, Table & Desk Accessories.
New # 106, Old # 79, Chamiers Road, Chennai - 600028. Shop: 24311495 CafĂŠ: 42030734 Mail: chamiersshop@yahoo.co.in Web: www.chamiershop.com
Cinema, Music & Art with the Brew | JANUARY 2013 | 13
CINEMA
Photo Courtesy: Sudarshan
Brewing with Gunasekhar 14 | jANUARY 2013 | Cinema, Music & Art with the Brew
T
elugu filmmaker, Gunasekhar seems like a man on a mission! He has directed blockbuster Telugu films like Ramayanam (1997), Sogasu Chooda Tharamaa, Choodalani Vundi and Okkadu. Ramayanam has won a National Film Award for Best Children’s Film. Brew catches up with Gunasekhar and talks to him about his journey, next mega project and close bonding with Thota Tharrani. Here is an extract from the interview
— Nishant Chopra
Cinema, Music & Art with the Brew | JANUARY 2013 | 15
Q. Tell us about your early days in Telugu Film Industry.
A. I started off working as an Assistant Director to Kranthi Kumar and Ram Gopal Varma for 10 years. My first directorial venture in Telugu was Laati, starring Prashanth. That movie won 3 Nandi Awards. My next movie was Sogasu Chooda Tharamaa. Things then fell into place and I kept making good films. Q. Has Thota Tharrani played a big role in your success?
A. Tharrani sir has been my guide ever since I was an assistant director. He always encouraged and brought out the best in me. He sketched the costume for the leading lady in Sogasu Chooda Tharamaa as a friendly gesture. That movie ended up winning an Award for Best Costumes! My first full-fledged movie with Tharrani sir was Choodalani Vundi in 1998, starring Chirangeevi. That movie was the first Blockbuster down South in 1998! The backdrop for the movie had the Kolkata feel in it. We spent around 80 Lakhs on putting up the set. It was the costliest set in South Cinema back then. The set felt so realistic, people thought we had shot the movie in Kolkata. Even after spending 3 Crores on a set of Meenakshi Amman Temple in the movie Arjun, we literally had to prove it was a set. This speaks volumes of Tharrani sir’s work. He is the first one to have a realistic approach to his work. Q. What is the current project you are working on?
Photo Courtesy: Sudarshan
A. I have started working on my ambitious historical drama Rudramadevi. I had to consult historians to understand the aesthetics of the 13th century era. The story is set in 13th century for which we have to recreate buildings and forts from that era. To understand the aesthetics of these structures from a long forgotten era, we consulted historians with our art director before the start of the shoot. Tharrani sir has already started working on the sketches for the sets and very soon we intend to start working on it. Rudramadevi has Anushka Shetty in the lead role of the princess while composer Illayaraja is set to create musical symphonies for the film. The film will be made on stereoscopic 3D with Ajay Vincent as its cinematographer. Sreekar Prasad takes on the editor’s job. Q. What made you take up such a big movie?
A. Rudramadevi has been on my mind for over 10 years now. I wanted to make this movie right after Okkadu. But since this movie is heroine oriented, not many producers were ready to invest in it back then. In 2009, Shyam Prasad had the courage to come up with Arundhati. Arundhati is also a heroine oriented movie and it proved the critics wrong! The movie did well and sent out a new message to the stereotypes. This gave me the boost to make Rudramadevi. Q. Tell our readers a little more about Rudramadevi
Photo Courtesy: Sudarshan
16 | jANUARY 2013 | Cinema, Music & Art with the Brew
A. Rudramadevi was a warrior queen of the Kakatiya Dynasty in the 13th century. She is the first woman in the world to rule over her kingdom for 40 years. Her kingdom extended from Orissa border to Maharashtra border and parts of Tamil Nadu as well. Marco Polo, the Venetian traveler who paid a visit to the kingdom probably a little later, speaks highly of her administrative qualities, benign rule and greatness.
Cinema, Music & Art with the Brew | JANUARY 2013 | 17
CINEMA
Photo Courtesy: Sudarshan 18 | jANUARY 2013 | Cinema, Music & Art with the Brew
S
hravanthi Sainath talks to The Brew on her dream coming true.
A Hollywood debut at a mere age of 15 is indeed an impossible dream. Shravanthi Sainath tells us how one phone call from her classical dance teacher changed her life. She plays Pi’s love interest in Oscar-winning filmmaker Ang Lee’s ‘Life of Pi’. The movie has Indian actors like Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan, Tabu and Adil Hussain. Having set a mark already, she talks to us on her journey
LIFE AFTER Pi: Shravanthi Sainath — Nishant Chopra
Q. How did this whole experience happen?
A. Ah, I was preparing for my Board exams just like any other Xth Standard school girl. My classical dance teacher calls me one day and informs me that 20th Century Fox Film Corporation was in search of a classical dancer of my age to enact a role in an Ang Lee’s master class. They contacted my dance school, Sridevi Nrityalaya run by Sheela Unnikrishnan. With zero expectations for a Hollywood movie, I gave them my photos. Before you know it, I got selected for an audition. The audition tape was sent to New York. After two months, the news broke out in my dance school and after a Screen Test in Taiwan, I was in for my big break! Q. Wow, was Ang Lee a part of the audition process?
A. Yes, he did check out the tape in New York and later I met him in Taiwan. Q. How was it to meet a Hollywood Director?
Cinema, Music & Art with the Brew | JANUARY 2013 | 19
Photo Courtesy: Sudarshan
A. To say the truth, I didn’t know much about him. I knew he directed “Hulk”. Only after searching him on Google, I got to know why he is rated so high in Hollywood. He is so simple and humble. Q. Being from a conservative family from Chennai, was it easy for you to take this step?
A. My family has been very supportive. My dad is very open minded about movies. My mom wanted me to stick to dance alone. But, given such a big project and a good role, I got all the support and encouragement from them. Q. How was your first day of shoot?
A. The day before my first shoot is my most memorable moment. Ang Lee has a habit of rehearsals, in order to make the shoot go smooth. He made everyone go out. Staring at me, he asked if I had any acting experience before. I replied with a nervous “No”. In high spirits, he wanted my mind to be empty and just follow him. After
20 | jANUARY 2013 | Cinema, Music & Art with the Brew
a shot, “Not bad, you are a natural Actor!”, he said. I was left awestruck. My first day of shoot was at 5.00 AM and I had 50 cameras staring at me. The first shot was the market scene. Q. Assuming this movie is real, will you fall for someone like Suraj?
A. Most definitely, yes! He is a bit of a stalker and I like that. It would flatter me. Q. How long did you shoot?
A. My role is very small. I shot for three-four weeks. I had a dance practice every day. Q. What has been the biggest compliment you have received so far?
A. By God’s grace, I have heard only good stuffs and decent feedbacks. Like how Ang Lee mentioned earlier, people have found me very simple and a natural actor. Kamal sir’s compliment meant a lot, he went up on stage and said: “I envy these two actors who have entered Hollywood
before me at this very young age.” Q. What’s next in your bag? Any plans for your future?
A. Firstly, I want to finish off my schooling as soon as possible. Movies have always been my childhood dream! I will be selective and choose the best. Q. What did you learn from this movie making experience?
A. “One needs to put in effort to make things happen.” This hard work was taught to me by Ang Lee. His dedication level is so high and he pays attention to every minute detail.
Cinema, Music & Art with the Brew | JANUARY 2013 | 21
MUSIC
22 | jANUARY 2013 | Cinema, Music & Art with the Brew
W
hen I walked into the ¬¬sets to shoot the musical genius Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, I had expected it to last a couple of hours. But to my surprise, the shoot went on the whole day and was truly an experience of a lifetime for me. He blew me over with his totally down-to-earth personality & regaled us with his views on life, work, philosophy & the world around us. I did a couple of more shoots with him later & here’s what I have compiled. When I presented this to him, he was surprised and overwhelmed. He gracefully agreed to let me share the same with all of you on The Brew! Here’s an attempt to freeze those moments in time...
Isaignani Ilaiyaraaja
In conversation with G. VenkEt Ram Photo Courtesy: G. Venket Ram
Cinema, Music & Art with the Brew | JANUARY 2013 | 23
How I started Things started off when I decided to move to Chennai. My mom questioned “What will you do in Chennai? You don’t know anyone there.” I gave her a simple reply, “Why do you worry, if nothing happens, I’ll play the instrument sitting on the pavements and make my living.” Shocked on hearing this, she did not allow me at first. But, my mom always believed in me. She even sold an old radio for rupees 400 and gave me that money for my expenses. Imagine, a mom sacrificing so much and not saving even rupees 50 for household purpose. Mom saw me off. I started off blindly and courageously.
The Journey I began my journey to Chennai in 1968 with Bhaskar, leaving my elder brother behind. With only 400 rupees in our pocket, we decided to take a detour at Madurai before going to Chennai. We thought, we should make some money in Madurai via music and then set our course to Chennai. We knew a very close friend of my elder brother, in Madurai. My brother bought him gifts, every time he visited Madurai. We went in search of a place to him. He had an empty room above his house. But, he refused to rent that to us. He wasn’t happy with the fact that I left my elder brother behind. That broke my heart. But, I realized this world is not an easy place to live, one needs to slog it out!
Professional Experience
Photo Courtesy: G. Venket Ram
24 | jANUARY 2013 | Cinema, Music & Art with the Brew
L. Vaidyanathan, L. Subramaniam and I started off as assistants to G. K. Venkatesh. The recordings would start at 7.00 am in the morning and prolong to 11.00 pm at night. I wrote and worked on my music overnight. I had only 2 hours of sleep every night. This became a habit. I went ahead and persuaded Venkatesh sir’s session musicians to play excerpts from my scores. I worked with Viswanathan sir on the movie, Salangai Oli. He had the best musician group. His
Photo Courtesy: G. Venket Ram
Cinema, Music & Art with the Brew | JANUARY 2013 | 25
music recording would be scheduled for 7.00 am, but it would start by 8.30 am only. He wouldn’t dictate them. When I worked with the same set of 75 top musicians, I had one strict rule “You need to be punctual, you cannot be late!” which gave a lasting impression.
Inspiration C.R. Subburaman is my all time favourite music director. He died at a very young of 32. No one can replace his songs. He is the best music composer I have ever known. My other favourites are Naushad, Madan Mohan, M.S. Viswanathan, S.D. Burman, Roshan, G.K. Venkatesh, etc. You are satisfied after listening to their music.
Favourite Instrument I am very attached to my Harmonium. Harmonium is not a normal thing. It is not a wooden box. It is life, it is an art. Once, I lost my harmonium in a train journey. A foreigner getting down at Kodaikanal, took my harmonium box by mistake. I realized it only after reaching my station. Shocked at that moment, I didn’t know what to do. I had a program in the evening. I was also scared wondering how my elder brother would react to it. I was forced to find one harmonium instrument locally. Sadly the instrument was not comfortable like my old one. It was very difficult. But, I somehow managed. The harmonium box was later found at Madurai.
Singing I started my signing career in ‘16 Vayathinile’. I had no intentions of becoming a singer. I’m not trained either. It took me 27 years to learn the right symphony system. Though, I could play it on my instrument after hearing it just twice. Learning the system was very difficult. When I write lyrics for a song, it is almost impossible to change it. What my father taught me from his experiences may not happen to me. Every instance of my life has been different. I have never told my son how he should live his life. Call me king or call me a minister, but I don’t have a kingdom! Photo Courtesy: G. Venket Ram 26 | jANUARY 2013 | Cinema, Music & Art with the Brew
m Cinema, Music & Art with the Brew | JANUARY 2013 | 27
Push’ing The Limits Pushpanjali Banerji, the Brand Manager at Kyndal India Pvt Ltd talks to The Brew about changing the game and association with Cinema, Art and Music.
Kyndal today is the fastest growing company in the premium segment overall across all flavours. It offers the most comprehensive services, manufacturing capability and distribution. It is the catalyst that sparks growth and investment.
28 | jANUARY 2013 | Cinema, Music & Art with the Brew
— SAMEER BHARAT RAM & Nishant Chopra
Photo Courtesy: S. Sriirama Santhosh Cinema, Music & Art with the Brew | JANUARY 2013 | 29
Q. How did you land up in the Liquor Industry?
A. Kyndal India was bought out by a management buyout led by my dad, Siddharth Banerji. My dad has spent 25 years in the liquor industry. Kyndal India launched brands like Absolut Vodka, Remy Martin Cognac, Bols, Jim Beam, Whyte & Mackay to name a few. It is something that my dad built and it is a dream come true for him. I have seen him work really hard all my life. I was very complacent in Advertising. I started interning at Publicis during my college. It is a very nice lifestyle and you get addicted to it. Later on, at an age of 17 or 18, I decided to join Kyndal India and take off this label of a creative person that I had created upon myself. Q. How was the whole experience of joining such a big brand?
A. I started off by doing big multi-city events with Rajesh Pratap Singh. My dad had put me in the deep end of it. It was very over whelming and the entire experience was very thrilling. I decided this is where I want to be and take it forward. Kyndal is a very thinking company. It’s a company that plans its move. We don’t spend money on silly things. Nothing is short term and we work towards building long term relationships with the brands and companies. I am very lucky to have people around who are proud of me. I had to really work hard and prove my mettle. Q. How did you change the image of Brandy?
A. Bols is the first international brand being bottled in Tamil Nadu. We created the premium brandy category. We saw an opportunity in the middle and Kyndal India had become the largest manufacturer of premium Brandy in South India through its JV-Bols Kyndal India Private Limited. Brandy has a very grandfatherly
Photo Courtesy: S. Sriirama Santhosh 30 | jANUARY 2013 | Cinema, Music & Art with the Brew
image, we did not want the hotwater-and-brandy image. We are the new, progressive brandy. Bols comes with 400 years of experience in distilling and blending. Q. Tell us about your association with Art
A. Art is gives life to the product. We are always eager to get International Artists. We also associate ourselves with alternative art. It could be Mime act, Body painting,or anything you name it. We have now launched Bols Premier, which is the most premium brandy. We want to take things up a notch and do things a lot more differently. We would like to see all artists coming together and collaborating. Q. What are the other brands you are currently producing?
A. There are lot of things in the pipeline. This is going to be a hectic and crazy, but outstanding year for us. We need to look for value in everything we do, we need to own it and build it. Q. Any work on Music?
A. At the moment, we do have a tie up with T-Series and have created some music CDs as well. Music will definitely happen. Music is a beautiful expression of art. I want to bring all types of artists from all kinds of mediums to come together. It could be a DJ and painter, it could be anything! It is no more about labels, we are done with that phase. Q. Where do you see yourself in 5 years from now?
A. I see myself working very hard. Bols is very close to my heart, I have made a lot of sacrifices for it. I see this company changing the game! Like it always has.
Cinema, Music & Art with the Brew | JANUARY 2013 | 31
MUSIC
Sing you a Life - SANCHAYAN DEKA
“M
usic is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy.” Ludwig van Beethoven sparkled at this thought his entire life. Though old, it surprisingly still persists even with science and internet spooning us to our chairs. Where the clouds are often smoked by gun-fires and explosions, the scrumptious smell of smoked pork also lingers throughout the valleys of north-eastern India. People love to eat, drink, dance and most importantly make music, here. A young man or woman laden with an old guitar, walking away to oblivion is a common site. The population might have experienced the worst brand of extremist behaviour in the past, but the love has still always over poured. Regional folk music has been not only the cocoon for the birth of extraordinary modern-day musicians but also the base of numerous inspirations it has flavoured into their hearts and souls. The population is highly aware of western music and culture. Since decades. The way they dress, smoke, drink and make music comes from a western influence. Be it Bob Dylan-inspired Lou Majaw rocking the cold temperatures of Shillong or small acoustic bands seated on stools belting out their own compositions in small eateries, music becomes an inevitable part of the daily life. An evening stroll in the vivacious city of Guwahati may surprise you with the abundance of energy and liveliness the young crowd carries around. As night drives in, the chilled air is filled with the ecstatic smell of good food. “Celebration does not need an occasion. Music does not need an occasion!” a school going kid tried to make me appreciate that night while struggling to grab the last piece of roasted chicken on the plate. His acoustic band had just been applauded and praised by the ‘seniors’. He handed me the guitar and reached for a pen in his pocket, still struggling with the piece of chicken with the other, “here, let me sign you a napkin.” I smiled and let him. “Not because I feel I am famous tonight, but because you would want to be my friend when I am famous all over. And when I am and you need an interview, it wouldn’t be hard to reach me (chuckles).” Rhan Pen, a Naga kid, has been brought up by his maternal uncle because his parents couldn’t afford a fifth child. 32 | jANUARY 2013 | Cinema, Music & Art with the Brew
He grew up listening to his uncle play Christmas carols and sometimes songs about the wife’s temper. Rhan Pen enjoyed the attention and took to the chords instantly. The band was just a baby-step; his uncle had made him a believer, in music. Earlier Nagaland had entered the Guinness World Records for the ‘largest electric guitar ensemble’ to the tunes of Bob Dylan’s ‘Knocking on Heaven’s Door’. And on 6th January this year, Assam made its mark by holding the largest ensemble of drummers with 14,833 drummers playing ‘Khol’ (a traditional Assamese drum) in unison. June 4th 2012, saw Assam accepting its longawaited hug from Limca Book of Records, with a 5406 strong company of guitarists playing a tribute to the legendary Bhupen Hazarika. The modernisation of folk music has always inspired the young. Angarag ‘Papon’ Mahanta, an eminent Bollywood as well as Assamese singer has within a few years revolutionised the music trapped in the lost villages of the state to modern day electronic music. The response has been terrific despite the inability of comprehend the primitive lyrics, which speaks of the rich culture and love. His tryst with the ‘Medieval Pundits’ helped the new crowd understand his take on music. He featured on Star World’s ‘Deewarists’ with Rabbi Shergill giving the woods of Kaziranga (known for its one-horned Rhinoceros) a splendid aroma of folk and modern gimmick. Christianity has always inspired music, and Shillong is the best example there can be. Its folk music is inspired by western music. Beetle nut-chewing women lead household here while the men oil their strings and dust their guitars. The beautiful hills of Meghalaya are a home to some of the most dedicated western music fans. Leading bands like Scorpions, Firehouse, Petra, Sepultura, Michael Learns To Rock, Eric Martin, White Lion and Mr. Big have had their best shows in India, here. They have left home speechless with the crowd singing along to every word.
In the words of T.S. Eliot
“You are the music while the music lasts” and so should it. Forever.
ART
High Tide: Interview with
Arjun Mallik
— Nishant Chopra
W
aves are one of the most beautiful ‘events’ of nature. Each wave hitting the shore is unique and like living beings, they are also impermanent. Capturing these temporary forms with lively watercolours is Arjun, a fine arts graduate from Savannah College, Georgia, USA. Living in the coastal city of Chennai, Arjun has tried to subtly capture these beautiful entities. Using both opaque and transparent techniques, he has used them as dynamic backgrounds to subjects such as boats and rocks sculpted by the very waves themselves. Arjun has brought in his signature style of execution in these paintings.
34 | jANUARY 2013 | Cinema, Music & Art with the Brew
Q. When and how did your journey towards Art begin?
A. I started when i was 6. Coimbatore being my native place, I visited my grandmother often at Coimbatore. The calendars back then had depictions of God/Goddess in various art forms. That motivated me to start drawing. My grandmother introduced me to an Artist who stayed close by. He sketched my first portrait. Things started off from there. Q. How was your schooling and what did you take up later?
A. My schooling was a torture. I studied in Chennai. I used to wait for my holidays, every season. I got back to Coimbatore at every given chance and learnt new art forms from my art teacher. After going through the nightmares at school, I did a 3-years Diploma in Textile Designing at Govt College of Arts and Craft. Later on, I moved to LA Salle College of Art and Design at Singapore and studied Animation Background in 1997. I was very particular in doing something related to art. Q. When was your first show?
A. My first solo show was in 1999 at Lalit Kala Academy, Chennai. It was received very well. Q. So, how did you manage to enter the Savannah College in USA?
A. After my first show in 1999, I happened to bump into
Photo Courtesy: Thamizhthambi Cinema, Music & Art with the Brew | JANUARY 2013 | 35
people from Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) while having a cup of coffee with a friend of mine at the hotel Park Sheraton. They had come down from USA to recruit some talented students. Unfortunately, I wasn’t carrying my portfolio. So, I immediately drew a portrait of one of the members from Savannah College and gave it to him. Having gained a good impression, he called me back the next day. I took 30 paintings of mine. On liking my work, he offered me half scholarship at SCAD.
my second solo show inside SCAD campus again in 2002. In 2003, I got an opportunity to be a part of a group show. It was a senior seminar show.
Q. How would you compare the art market in India and art market in USA?
A. Obviously, the art market in the USA is well established and encouraged. But, off late the market has gone down a little due to the economic crisis. Art in India is growing. New galleries like Art Houz by A.P. Shreethar, give the artists the opportunity to showcase their collection.
Q. Tell us more about your life in USA and your art work.
A. My very first show at Savannah was in 2001. The theme was Gospel and it was again received well. I choose my show only on January 24th every year in honour of my grandmother! She is the only person in my family who accepted me as an artist. I had
36 | jANUARY 2013 | Cinema, Music & Art with the Brew
A. Alphonso Arul Doss is more like my father. He is my source of inspiration. Every time I am down, he picks me up. I am very lucky to have such an artist as my guru.
Thanks to Savannah, I also showed my paintings at Atlanta in 2005. I completed my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at SCAD in 2007. Q. Who has been your mentor or inspiration?
Q. Do you have a unique style?
A. I would be lying, if I say I have one. I am still growing and learning as an artist. I get inspired to do something new every day.
Cinema, Music & Art with the Brew | JANUARY 2013 | 37
38 | jANUARY 2013 | Cinema, Music & Art with the Brew
Cinema, Music & Art with the Brew | JANUARY 2013 | 39
40 | jANUARY 2013 | Cinema, Music & Art with the Brew