FWD Life September 2012

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LAND OF TRANQUILITY

Growth of Poovar as a tourist spot

KARGIL TRIP STREET SMART

FASHION

Visiting the war memorial

fASHION REIGN’S LIFE From institute to boutiques, fwd Life explores fashion retail Scene 2012 SEPTEMBER

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FWD Life Magazine ISSUE 11 VOL 01 SEPTEMBER 2012 ` 50 www.fwdlife.in

LAND OF TRANQUILITY

Growth of Poovar as a tourist spot

KARGIL TRIP STREET SMART

FASHION

Visiting the war memorial

fASHION REIGN’S LIFE From institute to boutiques, FwD Life explores fashion retail Scene 2012 SEPTEMBER

EMMANUVAL MAKEOVER REMYA NAMBEESAN

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n an attempt to catch the long missed development bus, the Kerala government has launched Emerging Kerala 2012. This project akin the investors meet gives an ‘opportunity to explore, invest and establish your business interests in Kerala’. A whole lot successful business houses and ventures, of which Malayalees can be proud of, are highlighted on the event website. As in the recent years, the major focus is on Tourism. The logic being that tourism development would help in the overall development of infrastructure within the state. A few ‘interesting’ tourism projects have been mooted in the media. Development issues all over the world are rooted in issues of resource use and their pattern of distribution and ownership. In Kerala this problem seems to be in the realm of land resources. The detractors, including the opposition sees this venture as a ‘land mafia game’. Whatever it be, Kerala needs a consistent, inclusive sustainable development plan.

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Contents 10 people

14

Main Story

20 Fashion

24

weavers A passenger to

mollywood

38

Art The

of Beautifying

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Life

SEPTEMBER 2012

Aju Varghese

28

Comic Capers

DJ Jubin

51

Checking out the party scene

Land of tranquility

30

The growth story of Poovar

Passion for Fashion 36 JD Institute of Fashion Technology

62

leisure

40

We’re brand ambassadors

F Wi i WARS THE

34

Ad review

Buon Apetito

48

Italian delicacies

Luxury on wheels

60

KSRTC Volvo

Frugal spending for future

66

Financial management

Straight from the heart

67

How to choose a gift

Ritu Kumar

70

Autumn winter Collection 2012

Tommy Hilfiger

71

Collection

The wonderful lightness of Green

Launch

72

Kairali Ford, Muvattupuzha

52

Party

76

22 F K 111 day celebrations th

WTF

78

FWD Life readers respond to the poll on Frequent Harthals

Party

64

the unstoppable SUV

79

Saturday Splash, Hotel Bristow

Gadgets 80 Get to know what are the picks of this month

Urban Yogi 2012 SEPTEMBER

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Life

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monsoon bride

Wardrobe courtesy : Fariyadh

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Sreejisha is on cloud nine as she wins the FWD-Fariyadh Monsoon Brides Contest.

Let’s know what made her look gorgeous on the wedding day

Text THABITHA MARION Photos SIJO JOSEPH

T

his wedding story has a flash back. Here it goes: First they got to know each other through a social networking site.

After a few months, Vijay and Sreejisha became friends. Initially their conversations were more on dentistry as both are dentists.

Gradually, they realised that they had too many factors in common.

Overtime friendship bloomed into a relationship. At one stage they realised that they were compatible which prompted them to think about marriage.

Their parents gave a green signal; and

soon engagement and wedding dates were fixed.

Soon after the engagement, the bride got to know about the Monsoon Brides Contest via Facebook.

Without giving it a second thought she decided to take part in it. As her family and Vijay’s family were cool about the idea of her taking part in the contest, Sreejisha registered her name. Finally leaving behind around 60 contestant brides, she became the FWD-Fariyadh Monsoon Bride.

Expressing her joy of winning, this demure bride says, “I couldn’t believe my eyes. I felt so happy when I came to know that winning this contestant is going to take my expectations of marriage to greater heights of luxury.”

Behind the scene A month prior to her marriage, the sponsors started with the groundwork for the bride’s D-day.

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monsoon bride

Fariyadh, the designers of her reception outfit, took her to their designer boutique, showing her all sorts of bridal designer wear, from which she could choose her favourite. The colour which she had in mind was a strikingly bright shade of pink.

She picked up a designer wear which was unfortunately a sari. Something she wasn’t too keen on wearing for the reception. Designers Reshma and Famitha at Fariyadh suggested the idea of transforming the sari into a lacha, and it clicked.

Leaving behind stitching measurements at the store, she headed to the Glitz International spa & salon. “There I was given a complimentary prebridal makeover along with a make-up trial. They tried on me the makeover which suited my facial structure,” says Sreejisha. Days went by and the wedding was around the corner. Sreejisha’s mehndi ceremony saw her whole family and friends having a whale of time singing, dancing and playing pranks. It was past midnight when the lights turned off one by one.

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Wedding day It was August 18th and the big day was right there. The monsoon season paved way for the monsoon bride to rise and shine as never before.

As the auspicious time for tying the knot fell between 10.45 and 11am, the bride had to be at the venue by 9 am. On reaching A.J Hall at Kaloor in Kochi, I saw the bride entering the gates of the hall in a Mercedes Benz sponsored by the company for her wedding day. Stepping out as a well groomed bride from head to toe, she looked like an epitome of beauty, scintillating in an elaborately silk woven maroon Kachipuram sari. As accessorise she adorned traditional temple jewellery which gelled with the wedding attire. She walked to the green room with her mother and three sisters in tow for her last minute styling.

At 10.30 am the groom arrived. He too looked smart in his metallic silk shirt and dhothi. The groom, his family and the people, who gathered for the wedding, walked up to the hall which

played the host to the eventful wedding of the charming couple. Flowers whisper “beauty!” to the world and seeing the alluring backdrops with floral decoration along with temporary temple architecture on stage, it was sure to make an enduring impression on the minds of the wedding guests.

As the muhurtham was fast approaching, the bride stepped on to the stage and seated next to the groom. Initially she seemed to be scared and understanding her state of mind it was indeed sweet of the groom to ease her with their fewsecond’s chit chat which made her light. The couple tied the knot at 11am with the sounds of ‘nadaswaram’ and ‘thavil’ played in the background throughout. After almost an hour-long photo session with friends and families, all headed towards the auditorium for sadhya, a scrumptious layout

Makeup courtesy : Glitz

of food with a special cultural touch.

Reception Without much delay the couple set off to the groom’s house, as the reception was scheduled to at 5 pm. This is where all got to see the bride in her designer Lacha, designed by Fariyad. She looked awesome with the heavy golden studded dress on her having work flowing from the yoke to the bottom of the blouse.

Le Meridien presented the couple with a one night stay honeymoon package at the hotel. But as the newly-wed couple are professionals and off to Chennai within a week, Vijay says, “We will be spending time at Le Meridien sometime next month when we return to Kochi for a holiday.”

FWD Life wishes a very blissful and eventful married life to the newly-married couple.

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Images from Seemati Fashion Show

main story

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While stepping into the world of fashion, you will realize diverse opportunities awaiting you in the industry. FWD Life tracks down the ubiquitous impact of fashion and professionals who made it big in the industry

Text K.R. REJEESH

N

o regrets for Deepthi now. It was a bold decision from her part to opt for fashion designing as her career despite opposition from the orthodox family. Now she successfully runs her own boutique and stitching unit. Deepthi is happy that she could give jobs to about 15 people in her shops. Gone are the days when fashion designing was deemed as a niche for a certain section in the society. Once frowned upon in Kerala, fashion designing is no longer an unfamiliar profession as far as the new generation is concerned. As more students evince interest in the field, fashion technology institutes in Kerala are keeping an ear to the ground to the latest updates in fashion. Apart from a career in designing, fashion industry is a stepping stone to professions such as modeling, fashion photography and what’s more, a career in films too.

The overwhelming response of students to courses like fashion designing reflects the changing concept of Malayalees about fashion. Even in the capital city, which is often projected as a conventional city, there are a section of people who hanker after new fashion trends.

Institutions According to Ajitha, coordinator, Mar Ivanios Institute of Fashion Technology in Thiruvananthapuram, fashion is defined by the place we live in. “We’ve to observe the fashion of that place and then improvise it. Fashion evolves when it’s accepted by consumers,” she explains.

After completing a course in fashion technology, one can set up boutiques, factories or stitching units. “Unlike before, more students are interested

in fashion designing. Fashion institutes teach only the basics of fashion designing. To become a good fashion designer, one needs to have observation skills,” says Ajitha, and adds that though there are many other opportunities in the field, setting up a boutique of your own requires investment.

Fashion designer Mila Mathew, who is also the Managing Director of Lakshya Institute of Fashion Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, says in her experience there were more students who have given up courses like B.Tech and joined fashion designing as they want to take up a career that brings out their creative talents. “We have been conducting courses under Bharathiyar University. The paper works are on progress to get affiliation from the MG University,” says Mila. Commenting on the curriculum of fashion institutions, Mila rues that only a few institutions provide guidance to students regarding their career. “There are five to 10 export units in Thiruvananthapuram. They need trained people.

But unfortunately, there is no awareness about job opportunities,” she adds.

Like many of us had thought fashion designing is not about stitching. It’s more of creative skill than a physical exercise. Present scenario indicates that we have become more conscious of trends and fashion. Expressing the same opinion, Managing Director of Figurelines School of Fashion Designing, Thiruvananthapuram, Sheeba says, “As everybody looks for designer apparels now, fashion designing has become a hit.” There are job opportunities in the form of textile shop’s advisor, designer and supervisor in Quality Control Department in Kinfra Apparel Park etc.

These kinds of institutions are looking for more

Fashion Institutes Smruthy College of IT Garment Construction.

Advanced Diploma in Fashion Designing.

Computerized Diploma In Fashion Designing.

Short Term Courses and Accessory Courses Each batch has maximum strength of 20 students.

2012 SEPTEMBER

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main story

Fashion Institutes Mar Ivanios Institute of Fashion Technology One-year diploma courses One-and-a-half year PG diploma courses 3. 12 students in a batch

Images from KIFW, Season 1

Lakshya institute of Fashion Technology Short term and professional courses in Fashion Designing 5 seats in a course Figurelines school of fashion designing, TVM One-year diploma courses designers because only designers can select a colour according to the skin tone.

Haute couture

Advertisements, fashion shows and print media etc. are the some of the other areas where fashion designers can find job opportunities

As fashion industry is still at its nascent stage in Thiruvananthapuram, boutiques are yet to find a foothold here. However, IT professionals, NRIs and students from other states contribute a lion’s share of fashion trends in the capital city. We traced Avies Boutique near the Technopark and while asking its owner Bindhu about the fashion trends in the city, she says: “The city is yet to come out of its shell as far as fashion industry is concerned. My customers include college students, techies and NRIs.” She started the boutique three years ago. What does attract people to the boutiques? “Boutiques usually have rare collections. Also trendy collections will be available first in boutiques. We are selling churidars ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 4,000,” she says.

There is a considerable demand from the youth for the same model attires used in films. “College students normally prefer kurthas and churidar.

Homemakers ask for alterations on clothes to match

like the one they watched in films or television soaps,” Bindhu adds.

Advertisements, fashion shows and print media etc. are the some of the other areas where fashion designers can find job opportunities. “Fashion designing and marketing sector of Kerala provides maximum career opportunities for talented designers,” opines Athira .K.S, Lecturer, Fashion Designing Department, Smruthy College of IT at Vatanappally, Thrissur. “The reason why fashion designers migrate to cities like Bengaluru is because of the tremendous career opportunities there. In a city like Bengaluru, fashion is part of people’s life. Moreover, fashion and trends changes there in a periodic manner,” says Athira, adding that it would be easy for designers to find a market there to sell out their new works.

According to Athira, any hard working, confident and talented fashion designing student can secure a bright future. “Students must realize that fashion designer is not the old tailor. A fashion designer should be able to move along with time and mark his/her identity on the costumes they design,” she adds.

Boutiques call the shots

W

ho doesn’t want to be the cynosure of all eyes? If there is an impending function, ‘What do I wear?’ will be the most perplexing question among

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Text & Photos THABITHA MARION

many women. So no wonder when you see women making a beeline to specific apparel stores during weekends. Obviously, the rush is not for discounts, but to snap up some unprecedented clothing which would give them a gorgeous appearance. Boutiques

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L I V I N G

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D I N I N G

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C A R P E TS

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ACC E S S O R I E S

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D E CO R AT I V E

Nr. Arafa Hospital, Highway, Changaramkulam, Malappuram - 679575. Mob: 8086 444 554, 9895 444 556 Tel: 0494 265 66 44. E-mail: ask4concepts@gmail.com I T E M S

main story

Deja vu, owned by Saritha Jayasurya, is another boutique at Panampilly Nagar. She brings apparels from Mumbai and the boutique has accessories matching the attires

Deja vu, owned by Saritha Jayasurya, is another boutique at Panampilly Nagar. She brings apparels from Mumbai and the boutique has accessories matching the attires. “Nowadays, customers go in for nice materials. Unless for a bride they won’t prefer clothes with heavy works on it,” she says.

On getting to know so much, I became all the more curious to track women who have lighter pockets, but at the same time wanted to be incomparable. Boutiques like Cameella has in store loads for such clienteles. Located at the Press Club Road, this fashion house specialises in Indian wear, opening its gate to the world of vibrant colours in block prints, paints and threads. The store is more into

are all the rage in Kochi where smart ladies tackle this situation of frantic ‘treasure hunt’ for one and only salwar suit or kurthi in town.

Collage, a designer boutique at Panampilly Nagar, is successful at enthralling its customers to the fullest. Tracy Thomas, who runs the show, has collections of more than 20 renowned designers from all over the country, ranging from designs of Rahul Mishra, Rajesh Pratap Singh to Bhanuni by designer Jyoti Sharma.

As for Tracy, it’s the designer’s label, comfy fit and styling which make her customers go gaga over the collections. She says, “My clients have different tastes and attitudes. While some look for Indian wear, other s prefer western. Be it of any designer, the collection in my boutique is unique and that’s what every woman wants.” The outfits portray a mixture of both sensibility and sensuality, which is rare combination. With indiscrimination on tastes of colours and textures, she pays heed to preferences of all her clients, if it be for a salwar suit, a tunic top or a silk georgette top with voluminous kimono sleeves and burned out prints.

Then I approached Malavika Mohan, a fashion consultant, who shoots frequently for advertisements and commercials. She goes in for designer wear for a reason. “I have a busy schedule and hardly get time to go out shopping for myself. So to make things easier I like to glance through a targeted collection before I choose my favourite. And designer collections have just the best ones. Out of 50 classy designs, it’s quite easy to pick four or five within no time,” says Malavika.

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suits having miniature, mural and madhubani paintings. Each designer fabric on the rack is an embodiment of art from differ states and countries, having Swarovski stones and rainbow beads from Italy or China and fabrics from Rajasthan and Mumbai.

Kamila Khasim shared reasons why customers prefer designer clothes over usual readymades. “I get appreciations from customers when their suit or saris grab the eyeballs during special occasions.

They love the intricate filigree work I add to the materials,” she says. A good number of her customers are NRI’s coming over to India for attending weddings with little time left to decide on their special wear. “They find designer wear to be more fashion friendly,” adds Kamila. Her Varoli designer sari is another set of collection trying to stretch the wild imagination of tribal art by portraying the best possible blend of shades.

Mini Augustine based in Abu Dhabi never fails

Today, her store Zoriya at Panampilly Nagar is the answer to that question. She has a good collection of peppy tees, trendy off shoulders, couple T-shirts or even a grand cocktail gown. “I started this fashion store realizing the dearth of good collection of western wear in the city. Apart from youngsters, a fair number of middle-aged women too spending more on western wear,” says Poojitha. For getting a tinge of all styles, she travels to South Asian countries, handpicks them to keep trends in the city alive.

In fact, along with the designs of professional designers, there are demands for designs by a few people who began fashion designing as a hobby.

Surprisingly, their leisure time activity now help them earn pretty well. For Sherin Agnov, who is from a different profession, fashion designing is her passion and she started designing as a hobby years

For Sherin Agnov, who is from a different profession, fashion designing is her passion and she started designing as a hobby years back

to visit this boutique whenever she lands in Kochi.

She says, “I don’t like common stuff, like the ones we get in branded showrooms. They are the same old ones with cheap stones and glitters, which discard even the goodness of the cloth. But here I get sophisticated pieces of handcrafted fabrics with elegant designer work.”

When it comes to casuals or western wear, is there any place in the city left for those who are comfortable in it, other than Wills Lifestyle, Allen Solly and per se? The same question popped in Poojitha Menon’s mind a year-and-a-half ago.

back. Initially she was designing clothes for her and friends. Very soon she realized that there was a large crowd following her designs. Egged on by family and friends, she gave it a thought to take her passion to the next level. The result is ‘Studio S’— her designer saris’ collections, which are available at Zoriya now. She diligently adopted the concept of social media marketing and most of her customers, including NRIs approach her after seeing the designs on Facebook.

Of course, the new-gen fashion manthra is not only about lapping up latest trendy apparels, but also picking up something that makes them appear ‘unique’.

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fashion

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Fashion weavers Fashion designer Rahul Mishra’s designs based on handloom craft reveal rich Indian heritage and its universal appeal

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is designs herald the beauty of handlooms. They truly reflect the designer’s style statement - minimal simplicity.

For ace fashion designer Rahul Mishra, it’s an inimitable journey in the fashion world where he assiduously coalesced handloom craft into modern fashion concepts. Started off in 2005 as part of a classroom project during his studies at NID, Rahul Mishra conducted an extensive study of Kerala’s crafts and presented a reversible collection based on it at the Lakme Fashion Week in March 2006. “The focus was on the value addition and augmenting the demand of handloom products from Kerala to improve the condition of the weavers and to look at thousand years old craft in a modern perspective. The reversible collection also aims at promoting tourism in Kerala,” says Rahul Mishra.

Like his first Kerala collection most of his collections are inspired by Indian rich craft and culture.

“I travel and work with different crafts of India to employ and empower rural weavers of our country.

Handloom dependent population in our country is massive. But the condition of weavers is very bad.

Handloom consumption has been on decline but it is poised for growth in luxury segment. We cannot keep placing handloom fabrics to compete with mass produced Chinese imports. As a designer, with proper design intervention, I am trying to create a sustainable system to create a market for handloom,” he says, adding that he firmly believes in Gandhian way of involving weaker sections of society and bringing them to the mainstream of economic development.

Hailing from a doctor family, Rahul Mishra first pursued BSc and later joined in NID, where the inter-disciplinary approach to design gave an insight into the wider picture of design. “Along with my studies there I started showcasing my work and Fashion week. In 2006, I got a scholarship for Masters Fashion Designing at Istituto Marangoni at Milan. I was the first non-European student to receive this scholarship. It was a good experience as I got an opportunity to associate with some of the big names of the fashion industry,” Mishra says.

He was selected as Gen-next designer to showcase at the Lakme Fashion Week for A/W 2006-07 and rated as the Best Newcomer in 2006

Success He realised after his success in the first season that he can take up his passion (fashion designing) as career. He was selected as Gen-next designer to showcase at the Lakme Fashion Week for A/W 2006-07 and rated as the Best Newcomer in 2006.

The success of his collection at the show brought a new dimension to his creative musings. “Western tailoring with Indian fabric is the best combination.

It offers immense possibilities of creating a new look every season. Handlooms are a local product that needs to be designed for the global market. My garments designed with handlooms are equally at home in Mumbai, Cochin or Milan,” adds Mishra.

Applied art For him, fashion is like an ongoing hypothesis of perfecting the body where comfort, style and fashion coexist in equal proportion. In his designs, Rahul Mishra considers function, form and fashion as three important factors. “My designs need to 2012 SEPTEMBER

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fashion

Continuing with his commitment to the craft sector, he collaborated with Taj Group of Hotels to uplift IKAT weavers from Pochampally

reflect simplicity and enhance functionality, it should enhance overall FORM (shape) of the wearer by great detailing and tailoring; and then it should be fashionable and create a style statement,” he says.

“Designers are not artists. We are in a creative business; our work is about applied art rather than art.”

“I know the weaver in the village can create chic fashionable fabric for international buyers, and as a designer I have to be craft-oriented and create garments from these fabrics while keeping their identity intact. I believe in slow fashion involving maximum number of people in the creative and production process,” Mishra explains.

Continuing with his commitment to the craft sector, he collaborated with Taj Group of Hotels to uplift IKAT weavers from Pochampally, Andhra Pradesh and presented his exclusive IKAT Collection at the iconic Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad and Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai.

Fashion industry This talented fashion designer feels that Indian fashion Industry is very fragmented and not professional like West. “Our industry is in a nascent stage.

But Indian fashion Industry is poised for a massive growth and I think, this is the great time to be a part of it,” he adds.

He bagged the International Designer Award in the most Commercial Design category at the IAF (International Apparel Federation) annual convention 22

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in 2009. Rahul Mishra was named Best Women’s Wear Designer by the Cotton Council International In 2012. He has been also nominated for prestigious International Woolmoark Prize.

Rahul Mishra quips that like in his salad days, he is more of a geek than a fashionista even now. He also reveals that he would have been a cricketer had he not become a designer.

So, who’s that one designer whose dress you would like to try on? “I think Armani makes cloths very well tailored and comfortable, so for me he will be the best bet. Armani represents my personal style,” reveals Mishra, who would like to increase his presence through Collage in Kochi. “My strength is designing and Collage is the best when it comes to high-end designer retail. So I would like to continue working on my strength and let Collage do what they are best at,” smiles Mishra.

“For new talents, GEN-NEXT category at fashion weeks are perfect platform to showcase their talent, the process is very democratic and driven by excellence barring a few exceptions. But having said that, I must add they should come to professional platform when they are fully prepared to take on the challenges like production, quality check, timely deliveries etc. Design talent alone is not enough to sustain in this industry,” says Mishra and reminds the aspirants of the fact that they should be prepared with all aspects of fashion business as they are not artists but creative entrepreneurs.

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spotlight

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Techie-turned-filmmaker Ranjith Sankar is against pigeonholing of films as new generation movies. As his new venture "Molly Aunty Rocks" gets ready for release, he shares his views on films

A passenger to

mollywood Text Resmi Jaimon Photos VARIOUS SOURCES

He feels that actor Sreenivasan was the common factor and took the ‘momentum to drive’ in the so-much-talkedabout trend-changing movies, "Passenger" and "Traffic"

H

ands are full for a family man juggling between family and a full-time job in an IT company. Kudos to such a talented soul, set to travel an extra mile to discover his passion and utilize his creativity to the maximum. Sound like a fairy tale? Not for Ranjith Sankar, the filmmaker and scenarist, who shot to fame with his debut film "Passenger." The first venture was void of expectations, let alone an award. Surprisingly, Ranjith did not even dream of his film hitting the big screen though his aim was to make a film before he touched 30. He was happy even with two copies of the movie; he could keep and watch in his bedroom.

But destiny had more in store for this IT professional. "Passenger" won all the hearts and set a new trend in Mollywood. Ranjith Sankar bagged multiple awards for his debut venture —Best Screenplay (Asianet Film Awards, World Malayali Council – Kairali Awards, Lohithadas Puraskaram), Best Debut Director (Dubai AMMA Awards)

and Special Jury Award for Direction (Kerala Film Critics Award).

Scriptwriting and film direction The first movie also meant there was little knowledge. Experience brings along practical knowledge on doing a movie. Ranjith says, "Experience makes you to be practical or in exact terms, ‘mentally more corrupt.’ Practical experience results in analyzing risks —emotional, mental and financial issues, from how many theatres the collection will flow in and so on."

He feels that actor Sreenivasan was the common factor and took the ‘momentum to drive’ in the so-much-talked-about trend-changing movies, "Passenger" and "Traffic". Sreenivasan, he says, stood as strength of support by putting his years of experience in the industry. Ranjith believes if it wasn’t for Sreenivasan, it would have been difficult to make "Passenger."

To which category do Ranjith Sankar films belong? Against the common hype, Ranjith believes 2012 SEPTEMBER

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spotlight

Ranjith wrote the script of "Molly Aunty Rocks" in May 2012, the shooting was over in 30 days and the film is slated for release on September 14

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there are no new generation cinemas. “Films are solely of two types —good and bad films. As long as there is chance, films will come. And as long as success is there, films can be made,” says Ranjith.

The first draft of the script of ‘Passenger’ was ready in 2003. The film was released in 2009.

Now, that doesn’t mean he took six years to write the script. It was ‘wonder years’ when Ranjith himself didn’t know if the script will appear as a final product. For "Molly Aunty Rocks", despite being a full-time professional and what people refer to as a hectic job in an IT environment, Ranjith wrote the script in May 2012, the shooting was over in 30 days and the film is slated for release on September 14.

"Passenger" was well-received and the next film "Arjunan Saakshi" was also equally good, but failed to make an impact at the box office.

So, what are the factors that make a movie a box office hit? Ranjith says, “A film’s success in terms of box office hit depends on multiple factors including current political atmosphere, release of other films, exam season, expectations of people and promotion strategy.”

Like all, he naturally feels happy when a film does well. “Success or failure, it is difficult to learn from the experience as each film is different. So, the only thing to do is enjoy the filmmaking process,” says Ranjith Sankar, as he is

currently giving the final touches to "Molly Aunty Rocks."

Ranjith likes to spend time with family (a techie wife, Smitha and two kids — Thara and Tharun) and friends. He also likes to watch good talk show, music, films and interviews. when it comes to books, the vote goes for biographies over fiction.

Forthcoming "Mayflower" is one script that he likes to transform into a film. He also has other stories to be made into a movie. He likes doing TV programmes like talk shows.

A techie (Project Manager) at NeST Information Technologies for the last ten years, he has project ideas with Internet presence. Ranjith says, “In Malayalam, there is movie database, where you can find authentic information about Malayalam movies or a forum in Internet where all film fraternity can converse at one point.”

When his hands are full and his passion is at the highest point, let’s hope to see him as a fulltime filmmaker.

As he signs off, he hopes for the best for his debut home production — ‘Molly Aunty Rocks’, the story of a middle-aged woman, who returns to India, after several years in the US, to join back her bank job.

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people

O

ne thing we can vouch for Aju Varghese is that there is never a dull moment around him. On the drive to the shoot, Aju regaled us with stories about a friend who is so addicted to water that ‘he would even jump into a puddle’. We were so taken up by his narration that we bumped or rather ‘kissed’ the car in front of us at a traffic signal. The agitated driver got out of the car and looked at Aju. Suddenly, a broad smile appeared on his face and he waved us off.

Aju confessed that he was a bit camera shy when it comes to photo shoot. “You never know when things start and stop. I never know what to do when they tell me to pose. So let’s not have a serious shoot,” he said in advance. The result was a two hours long fun filled shoot.

Naturally we wanted to know if the dialogues for him in the movie “Thattathin Marayathu” were written by Aju himself. (Laughs) he replied, “Vineeth wrote the lines keeping us in mind. A lot of them were things that we had talked in our friend circle normally. You know like the stupid looking guys with beautiful women line.”

What do you talk when you meet other actors during a public function?’ “Basically, these functions are the only venue to meet other people in

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Comic Capers Text Avebane Photo Jinson Abraham Costume courtesy Mia Signature Designs

the industry. So mostly it will be just pleasantries.”

One of the biggest jokes in “Thattathin Marayathu” audio launch was about using a caravan during the shoot. Aju explained, “The shooting location was in Thalassery during summer. The scorching sun was at its best. The heroine, Isha Talwar, was ‘glowing red’ because of the heat.

But the caravan was a big relief to take cover from the sweltering days.” “Personally, it helped me too because it was the first time I was acting with full makeup. Vineeth was very strict that all of us will have to retain the makeup for the entire day and not to spoil the costumes we are in. The other movies I had worked, I didn’t really have to worry about the costumes as they demand a shabby look.”

By now the shoot was in full swing by the pool side and the actor almost slips into the pool, during a tricky shot. Suddenly a stranger walked in and asked Aju if he was Abdu from the movie.

After confirming it, he complimented Aju for the character he played in the film. He moved a bit and started calling up people telling them that he

was with the actor.

Aju was pleased as punch and remarked, “It’s not often people come up and talk to me. But whenever someone turns up and talks, it’s a good feeling.”

The movie industry certainly had a few surprises for him. The biggest shock was to hear even senior actors like Jagathy Sreekumar addressing Vineeth as “Sir” on the sets. “There is certainly a lot of professionalism “The seniors always try to make you comfortable while shooting with them, and they must have forgotten more about acting than what I would learn,” Aju said.

Aju’s dream has always been about making a movie. His college batch mate Vineeth Srinivasan launched Aju as an actor. He is hopeful that he will have a full-fledged acting career.

“Let’s wait and see. I have just dipped my leg in the whole thing. There are still a lot of things I need to pick up to get the feel that I am a part of Mollywood,” he concluded.

However, this journey might work out for Aju. We hope to see more of his antics on the silver screen soon.

Actor Aju Varghese, the latest sidekick in Malayalam movies, opens up in a one-to-one chat about his experience in the industry

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tourism

Land of tranquility The growth story of Poovar as a major tourism destination in Thiruvananthapuram district throws light on judicious tapping of tourism potential and myriad job opportunities tourism can create Text K.R. REJEESH Photos SREERAG VINOD

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Poovar Island Resort

Isola di Cocco

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he land had been in slumber or just playing possum for a long time till the invisible hands of tourism prodded it to wake up and smell the coffee. There began the astounding growth of tourism in Poovar, a small coastal village lying near the Arabian Sea in Thiruvananthapuram district.

The place has got a special gift from Nature —the estuary where 56km-long Neyyar river finally meets the Arabian Sea. One of the favourite tourist spots for foreigners as well as regional tourists, this picturesque village has backwaters, greenery, estuary, beach resorts and the serenity of Neyyar river as its major attractions. It hasn’t been long since Poovar became a hot tourism spot. A few years ago, a tourist resort was set up at Poovar by a local entrepreneur who realized the tourism potential of the place. Taking a cue from its success, now there are around five tourist resorts and over 10 boat clubs functioning at Poovar.

Blessed with verdant landscape and coco-

nut grooves, this village has changed the lives of many youths after tourism found its foothold here. Youngsters from poor families who normally engage in sand mining once they fail in their studies have found jobs in tourism sector now.

Moreover, people from neighbouring panchayats like Kulathoor and Pozhiyoor have also have found jobs in the tourism sector.

While taking a boat ride through the Neyyar river, our boat driver Badusha, 26, showed patience to halt the boat at the hot spots of Poovar.

The reticent Badusha is a gulf returnee, who worked in Saudi Arabia as a driver for a year. He returned from the Gulf as he found it difficult to put up with his employer’s harassment. “I get a monthly salary of Rs 6,000 here and I’m satisfied with it. My family is also happy that I could find a job in my village,” says Badusha.

Blessed with verdant landscape and abundant coconut trees, this beautiful estuary has changed the lives of many youths after tourism found its foothold here

Tourism beckons About 300 people are employed in the boat service sector in Poovar. These boat clubs offer vari2012 SEPTEMBER

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tourism Poovar Island Resort

Estuary Island Resort

Estuary Island Resort

Floating Restaurant

According to Vinil, there are lots of possibilities for tourism in Poovar. Giving it a try, he started off with one boat. Now he has 15 boats, a floating restaurant and a houseboat

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ous packages for the tourists. During our trip, we chanced upon 28-year-old Vinil. V, who runs Leela Boat Club and Leela Floating Restaurant in Poovar. Like any other youths here, he was also into the sand mining field after completing higher secondary course. Later, he gave it up and started a boat service at Poovar. “As an experiment, I started off with one boat. Later, tourist inflow was on the rise as people came to know about this place. Now I have 15 boats and a houseboat,” says Vinil, adding that tourists from North India are also visiting the estuary.

According to him, there are lots of possibilities for tourism in Poovar.

Another youth, Aji, 32, is in the homestay business which he started one-and-a-half-year ago. He started a floating restaurant in 2002 by availing loan from a bank. But he sold it later.

“After completing Class 10, I left for Goa in search of a job. I worked there in a beach hotel and with that money I was able to start my own business in my village,” Aji says. “Some foreigners prefer home stays as they like to cook food by themselves. They normally come

for one-week to two-week stay.” Homestays offer facilities like swimming pool, AC rooms and naadan food.

Vinod, a resident of Kulathoor panchayat, is one among many youths who have successfully found their career in tourism field. After passing out from an ITI, Vinod got the job of an electrician in a resort when tourism was in its nascent stage at Poovar. “I have associated with the initial works in the resort and now I am an assistant engineer. There are no hiccups here as far as tourism is concerned,” smiles Vinod.

Apart from natives, there are professionals from various parts of the country working in the hospitality industry. With the tourism season round the corner, the hospitality industry girds up to welcome new guests. Albert Reynold, a German tourist, who is on his maiden trip to Poovar, says, “I like this place for its calmness and backwaters.”

Resorts What’s special about Poovar? “Compared to Kovalam, it’s a less crowded place. It’s the only

place in Thiruvananthapuram where backwaters meet the sea (estuary). There are boating and fishing facilities,” says Jagdish B. Nair, Vice President, Isola Di Cocco. Sprawling across 33 acres, this ayurvedic beach resort is virtually encircled by water. “Our plan is to have a totally separate ayurveda village. We have guests from Germany, France and Italy,” he says. “Nowadays we are getting conferences and weddings. Tourism is highly competitive in this area." Talking on areas to be improved, he says, “The approach roads must be improved.

Also the beach should be cleaned and security must be appointed. Though we are giving tax,

nothing is done from the part of the panchayat,” he grouses.

Why does Poovar become a hot spot? As R. Sritharan, CEO of Island Resort, describes, “Life stands still in this estuary.” “It’s more like an eco resort. It’s surrounded by backwaters and overlooks the great Arabian Sea. The area is not polluted. That’s an advantage to the tourists,” he says. The only approach to the 22-acre Poovar Island Resort is through boat.

Estuary Island is another major resort in Poovar with ayurvedic treatment facilities and floating cottages.

How to reach Poovar *30km drive from Thiruvananthapuram airport (on bypass road to Kaliyikkavilai) *28km from Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway station *17km from Vizhinjam harbour

‘Tax’ing problem

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nterestingly, these tourist resorts and boat clubs are contiguous with two panchayats - Poovar and Kulathoor. Though panchayats are getting tax from tourist resorts, no tax has been collected from the boat clubs.

Poovar panchayat president Anto Marceline said that there was a confusion regarding the tax collection as resorts and boat clubs are straddled in both the panchayats. “It’s our fault that we haven’t fixed a tax. We are mulling over implementing enjoyment tax on the boat clubs.

We have already given notice to boat clubs,” he said.

He alleged that some boats lack safety measures and they indulge in sand mining at night using goondas. “Due to sand mining, estuary’s mouth starts widening. Also they take exorbitant charges from the tourists,” he charged.

“We have formed a panel to stop encroachment on panchayat lands. But due to the ‘politics’ among the members, no strict action has been taken until now,” he added. Commenting on the tourism developmental projects in Poovar, Anto Marceline said, “We have planned for constructing a swimming pool at Sasthamkulam. Also there is a project connecting seven ponds in Poovar to develop ponds and fish farming.”

According to Pozhiyoor Johnson, pachayat president, Kulathoor, the panchayat is getting tax from the tourist resorts located at Kulathoor.

He said that boat services needed to be regulated. “There is an utter chaos in controlling the boat services here. We can’t wait till a mishap occurs. So both the panchayats are planning to meet to take a decision on this,” he said.

Thiruvananthapuram

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Poovar Island Resort Poovar Estuary Island Resort

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ad shoot

We’re brand

ambassadors

FWD Life takes a look into the making of the new Boutique De Beena Kannan advertisement for Seematti,in which the the textile group's customers become the brand ambassadors in the commercials Text AVEBANE Photos Central Advertising

Media/Origin Print, TV, Outdoor

Product Group Textile

Brand

Boutique de Beena Kannan

Advertiser Seematti

Agency

Central Advertising

Creatives

Sivakumar Raghav Rajagopla V.Krishnan

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n their 102nd year of inception, Seematti launched a new boutique for designer cotton saris. Given their penchant for innovative concepts, the branding of the boutique is done through the customers. “The idea was to create something for the customers. Most textile brands have celebrities as their brand ambassadors, but when it comes to cotton saris we wanted to profile the specific demography that actually wears these kinds of saris. In our 15-year-old association with Seemati, we have realized that any good idea would be given a green signal,” says Sivakumar, Account Director, Central Advertising.

Since actual customers will be taking part in the ad, a Facebook campaign was launched to invite people for audition. People from various fields including RJs, H.R Managers and other professionals comprised the group that finally took part in the advertisement. Having tasted success with the video ad, the next idea was to have the branding inside the store done completely on the customers. 65” Digital display would showcase professionally shot textile choice selected from the boutique by the customers themselves.

The energy level at the shoot was incredible.

Photographer Dinesh Madhavan was all praise for the first-time models. “It’s a great experience working with these people, the shoot was certainly more fun, less tension and result could be

quite unexpected compared to a normal celebrity shoot. Their willingness to learn during the shoot made it very interesting. As a photographer, I really had to make them comfortable in front of the camera. Once they accustomed to the fact that the limelight on them was natural, things just fell into place,” says Madhavan.

Then Abbas, Creative Group Head of Central Advertising, joined us. Talking on the post production work, he quipped, “Post work for a normal ad would involve a lot of technical adjustment, primarily having to match the mood of the older ads done in the same series. Also the poses in the case of a professional model could be complicated; this would also call for a blemish free final output. In this case, there were no complications.

The poses and props involved were quite real and straight forward. There was no need to add complicated background or graphics.”

“Our only work would be to ensure the happiness that went into the creation of the ad gets represented,” he guffaws.

The current photo session just ended, with the lights turned off, we met the two models who were on the floor. The excitement of the shoot was palpable on their face. The twin sisters — Lakshmi. G, a PR consultant with Indo Americam Hospitals and Sarawathi, an officer with A.O.L foundation — were on cloud nine about the whole experience. “The total care and attention given to

us really enhance the whole experience. The best part was that we got to choose what to wear,” says Lakshmi.

“When we reached here, they were keen that we pick up saris that we would normally wear. It makes sense, that’s why we shop at Seematti,” adds Sarawathi.

Then we asked Rajagopal V. Krishnan, Branch Manager, about such a procedure. He said that the whole point of the shoot was to show how personalities get reinforced by the brand. “A person’s attire says the world about him/her. The clothes are the indicators of their tastes and inclinations. So when someone chooses Boutique De Beena Kannan as part of their wardrobe, it’s because the product helps them say something they want to say about themselves,” he explained.

Given the fact that Seematti is known for their extensive collection, handpicked by Beena Kannan herself, the new addition to their brand is going to be the toast of the town.

The Team (from left to right): Sivakumar, Rajagopal, Julie, Abbas, Dinesh,Sunitha 2012 SEPTEMBER

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profile

Passion for

fashion According to Sanil Chandran, Director of JD Institute of Fashion Technology, fashion industry in Kerala is on the verge of growth

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is passion guided him to the realm of fashion. As an MBA graduate switching over to fashion industry was a baptism by fire at a time the industry was at its fledgling stage in Kerala. Now Sanil Chandran, Director, JD Institute of Fashion Technology in Kochi, realizes that fashion is certainly enticing and enchanting when he gets an overwhelming response from students across the state. What gives him satisfaction is that he could change the attitude of parents to fashion technology courses. “Even in Kochi, we are still conservative as far as fashion is concerned. This is due to lack of awareness about fashion and its immense job opportunities.

Ranging from stitching units to modeling, there are myriad opportunities for talented designers,” says Thrissur-born Sanil Chandran. The institute offers training in modeling too. He has plans for starting stitching units in future with a view to providing internship to students. In JD, each batch has maximum 20 students.

“Fashion technology courses were a hit only among students from elite class in the society.

But now more students from middle class are also joining the course. It’s a welcome sign that students prefer a course of their own choice,” he says.

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The institute regularly conducts exhibitions where apparels designed by students as part of the project work will be exhibited. Through the placement cell of the institute talented students have got placements in brands like Puma.

“Perfect grooming is what we lack in Kerala.

Fashion technology institutes have a bigger role in moulding students as professionals,” he points out. Sanil says that the garment and textile industry is undergoing rapid change at a national and international level. He feels that for talented and creative designers there are scopes for a big career in Kerala.

According to Sanil, the advent of fashion technology institutes has more or less changed the fashion concepts of Malayalees. “Now everybody looks for designs irrespective of the class they belong. For weddings, people are particular about novel designs,” he says.

The institute Founded in 1988, JD Institute of Fashion Technology is one of the earliest names established in the Indian fashion industry. It is counted among the best fashion designing in the country. JD Institute of Fashion Technology has 23 centres across India. JD has produced design professionals who could make the most of opportunities in the world

of fashion, interior or jewellery.

Commenting on the institute’s exposure to the world of fashion, Sanil says, “With a progressive outlook, JD has cultivated a symbiotic relationship with the national and international fashion fraternity. We have been organizing exhibitions, fashion shows and events to provide students an opportunity to showcase their designs and get an exposure to design world.”

“We are committed to provide trained efficient professionals to design industry, and helping the youth to get employed,” he adds.

The Kochi centre of JD Institute of Fashion Technology is affiliated to Kuvempu University, Shimoga.

Courses offered Started a year ago in Kochi, the institute has various degree courses including B.Sc in Fashion and Apparel design, B.Sc in Interior Design, Diploma in Jewellery Design and certificate course in Fashion Photography.

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wedding

Art The

of Beautifying Brainstorming on how to bring out your best on your wedding day?

Listen to Anez Ansare Text Dhanya Menon

H

e is a well known name in the fashion industry as a make up artist and hair stylist. For many beauties in Mollywood Ansare is the most preferred make up artist. With pats from leading Indian designers, this busiest makeup man prefers to be known as a bridal make up artist and started God’s own Country’s first bridal make up studio at Convent Junction.

FWD meets Anez Ansare who works to bring out the best in the brides of God’s Own Country.

How did you stepped in?

It was pure fate which brought me here. I nurtured a dream of becoming an assistant director during those days when I sold clothes on foot paths of Kochi to earn my livelihood. Its destiny helped me to step into the filmdom by working as an assistant to make up artist Renjith Ambadi. At that time I thought it would help me to become an assistant director one day. But fashion became 38

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my way.

I had worked with Pattanam Rasheed for Thommanum Makkalum, but it was during time of Chathikkatha Chandu, I realized that make up is my way. There was no looking back from there.

With no formal training in the art, how do you manage?

In a way, that’s my biggest advantage because I am able to develop my own way. I don’t have to follow any hard set rules; the best things about being a self-taught. I learned make up through practical experience. I think practice is the best teacher. I had worked with India Vision and Manorama News, but at that time, my intention was to study more about make up. If you have the passion and dedication it will definitely work out.

How did you choose to be a wedding make up as your niche?

I work with models, ad shoots and photo shoots of magazines. My first wedding assignment was

for Navya Nair. I had worked with her for the photo shoot of Grihalaksmi magazine. Later she asked me to do her make up on her wedding day.

At first I said ‘no’ as I did nt knew anything about bridal make up. But later I felt “Why not?” and accepted her offer.

That’s how I started thinking about bridal make ups. I felt that there is a big need of a professional approach for bridal make ups and many practices we are following at present need a change. That’s how it all started.

So what’s the Anzare tip of beautifying?

Make it more simple, natural and at the same time glowing. Try not to be dramatic. For example- red lipsticks make teeth appear whiter.

A good make-up can highlight your best facial areas and play down your flaws with a few brush strokes. It’s very important to know about the right kind of make up that would suit the bride’s skin tone. Bridal makeup includes all attention even to the minutest of details. Don't overlook them for the finished look.

How do you see bridal make ups as practiced by the brides of Kerala?

There are lot of things in the market being sold under the label ‘must haves’ for bridal make up or as pre make up packages. Many would be bride’s are going behind them without analyzing the real need of it. It’s because many are not realizing that make ups are only a temporary thing. Whatever you do on pre wedding days, only a good make up can make you look great.

But still there are signs of changes. Now more brides are becoming conscious of their skin along with makeup and ask for quality products.

Who all are your celebrity clients?

I got my first work with Navya Nair’s wedding.

After that I had worked for many heroes and heroines including Padmapriya, Mythili, Rima, Amala Paul. I am regularly doing the cover photos of ‘Vanitha’of which the make over of Rimmi Tomy and Dileep dressed up as a woman got many credits.

How many brides in a month on an average come to you?

At present, I get about 20-25 calls a month, mostly from Kochi and from NRI’s in Kottayam and Pathanamthitta area.

Tell us about Bridal make up studio?

Bridal make up studio is the first make up studio in Kerala exclusively for brides. Unlike other places, here you don’t have to reach early morning on your wedding day. Brides can get ready in the comfort of their dressing room. We also offer a trial makeup before the wedding day so that you can know how you are going to look like and avoid last minute confusions. Also our studio is the first of its kind in Kerala with a vast collection of international make up products. You can choose the right product and shade that perfectly matches with your skin tone.

Which make up brands you prefer?

So, would-be brides, reserve your date now for the look you've dreamed of. visit www.bridemakeupstudio.com

for more details.

While choosing make ups quality as well as blending is really important. There are many international bases that best suits for many Indian skin tones. The perfect skin tone blend as well as nature of the function, whether it is an indoor function in a fully air conditioned hall or an outdoor function, is really important while you choose your brand.

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Photographed by Jamesh Kottakal Hair & Make-up by Jayesh Sultan

Makeover Remya Nambeesan The sizzling siren turns street smart with Emmanuval Makeover Worlds largest fashion Empire Emmanuval Silks helped her to transform

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Beasty White

Violet stretchable cotton round-necked top with a dark purple checked cotton Capri. The dress worn with a white crushed soft cotton sleeveless long top gives the entire apparel an appealing contrast

Makeup

Philippine style makeup with a new army hairstyle

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Makeover

Makeover

Steamy Elegance

2 in1 pink baggy cotton top with floral work on its neckline with an attached blue short open shrug paired with a dark blue straight fit denim

Makeup

Party hairdo with a misty makeup

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Makeover

Striped Crazy

sleeveless colour stripped 2 in1 buttoned top matched with a pair of bold tomato-red folded denim

Makeup

Spikeroll hairstyle with a crazy makeover

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Floral Beau

multi-coloured black and violet cotton top with cap sleeves worn with a pair of dark blue dirty skinny jeans

Makeup

Multi flower hairstyle with a new style makeup

Makeover

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Waving Pink

Short sleeved stretchable white casual top worn with a white satin-belted knee lengthed polka dotted pink skirt.

Makeup

SRussian style makeup and its hairdo.

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food

Know more about Italian delicacies and how to order them at an Italian restaurant.

Here are some tips to help you enjoy your favourite Italian dishes Text THABITHA MARION Photos Jinson Abraham Courtesy ROMA, Holiday Inn

Appetizers At an Italian restaurant you start with Antipasto (Appetizer).

Bruschetta is one of them made of roasted bread with thick crust brushed with garlic and topped with extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper served along with vegetarian or non- vegetarian toppings.

Toppings could be classic tomato pesto, cheese or olive mushroom gastrique Olive oil will be served along with the appetizers as it’s an indispensable ingredient of any Italian food.

Mozarella Mesculin Mix salad and Romano Cresta di Insalata Pollo are the other tempting appetizers Game for a glass of wine? you can order it now and keep sipping it during your main course meal.

Breads Ciabatta shouldn't be left untried for 48

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their crisp and saltiness which tastes yum with an Italian ‘Zuppe’ (soup).

It has a crispy crust, soft from within.

Foccacia is spice flavoured bread with toppings of herbs, bell peppers, garlic and onions.

Soups Minestrone, a thick Italian soup is mostly prepared to suit the taste of a vegan. It has boiled veggies like onions, carrots, beans, tomatoes and celery added with pasta or rice.

As flavor of tomatoes stands out in minestrone, non-tomato-lover can order for a chicken clear soup.

It has a mixture of chicken consomme, parmesan cheese, egg white and parsley served with crusty breads for dipping.

Zuppa de pesce roma (traditional seafood stew of sardine) Stracciatella all romana (chicken broth enhanced with egg drops and parmesan )

Main Course Polloe Broccoli (pasta) made of cream sauce pasta with cubes of roasted chicken, along with broccholi and confit.

Confit is made using ingredients like peeled garlic, bay leaves and extra virgin olive oil. But taste of garlic wouldn’t hit too hard.

Like the mixture of minced meat, carrot, onion, celery, garlic and peeled tomatoes, order for the brownish red pasta —the Spaghetti Bolognese Spaghetti Carbonara made of pan-fried bacon with cream liaison is a dish which

would be liked by cheese lovers Allergic to eggs, stay away from Carbonara as its liaison has a mixture of cream, egg yolk and parmesan cheese As its taste is quite strange to Kerala’s taste buds, often customers opt for mozzarella cheese for its lighter taste Penne Amatriciana with spicy tomatoes, basil leaves and bacon is a spicy, non creamy dish mostly ordered in town for its spicy flavour.

Desserts Panna Cotta is a simply sweet dessert with eggs, cream, sugar, gelatine and vanilla extracts.

Strawberry Panna Cotta, a dessert made of panna cotta with freshly infused strawberry and cream.

Romano Cresta di Insalata Pollo An Italian appetizer with roasted chicken salad, bacon, parmesan cheese, quail eggs and Caesar dressing. The preparation is made using olive oil, salt and pepper. Dressing of the appetizer depends on guest’s tastes for mayonnaise and cheese. The ingredient which adds flavour to the salad is the Roman lettuce. As this leafy veggie is not available in the local markets, they purchase farm fresh Roman lettuce from Ooty. Quail eggs known for its high protein content are cut into half and served along with the salad making the dish appealing and rich. “Those who want to have some spice to it can add crushed chillies to a minimum, without making the salad lose its regional flavour,” says Suresh Kumar, Outlet Chef, ROMA. This cheesy rich appetizer serves perfect for two.

Mandino de Agnello A main course meal made of raised lamb shank cooked with tomatoes, red wine and served with creamy polenta (imported fine grained corn). Preparation starts with the grilling of the lamb with salt and pepper, cooking it with chopped celery, carrots, onions, confit and olive oil. It’s the confit which gives a garlicky taste to the meal. Peeled off tomatoes and red wine are added to it to make the main course meal taste complete. This hearty, slow cooked lamb will be accompanied with Italian breads.

Limone Tiramisu This is the best dessert one can try out at this Italian restaurant.

It is a classic layered dessert, made of layered coffee-soaked savoiardi biscuits, sweetened with a mixture of sugar, mascarpone cheese, eggs and lemon zest dusted with cocoa powder.

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lounge

The making of a DJ DJ Jubin, popularly known as the ‘Dub Step Guru’, is one of the exciting new generation DJs who have made a mark in the profession Text JAMIA ZAHEER Photo JINSON ABRAHAM

T

here is no better way to start off about DJ Jubin other than quoting Shakespeare – “If music be the food of love, play on.” Not just does he live this quote literally, a few seconds of conversation and you will be definitely blown away with his knowledge on anything and everything related to music – DJ’ing, artist, bands, notes, technicalities, musical instruments and history etc.

“Calling music ‘my love’ would be unfair. I do love music, but to me it’s more than that. Sometimes I feel that it’s my sole purpose of existence.

I figured that I wanted to do something in music when I was five or six years old. Most of the growing years I did not know what I was going to do in the field, but I was very sure that it was going to be something related to music. I started learning guitar and a few other instruments and played in a band and also did a little bit of singing during school days. The first party I played was for one of my school parties. That’s when I was introduced to the whole world of DJ’ing,” says Jubin Sunny.

Jubin was the 1st local DJ to become the resident DJ of Thandav, Le Meridian, Kochi. He later moved to Chennai to finish his Sound Engineering

course. Soon he became the household name in Chennai party scene. He became a resident DJ with two clubs – HFO (Hell Freezes Over) and Baffin Bay and also did a lot of shows at Sprax & Havana.

He has also played for some of the most prestigious shows with celebrities such as Surya, Khushboo, Jyothika and Parthipan. After completing his course, Jubin moved to Cochin and continued playing in almost all the clubs and also for some great private gigs. Twenty-six-year-old DJ Jubin was figured in a popular magazine as the first among the top three DJ’s of Kerala.

DJ Jubin is popularly known as the ‘Dub Step Guru’ not just because he was the first one to introduce the whole dub step culture to Cochin party scene, but he has a strong fan base in the city for his awesome ‘Dub Step Nights’.

“I have just finished a track for Shaym Mohan’s Malayalam movie '8:20pm'. I am also working on a few other projects. One is with Saju Srinivasan of 'Theeye Theeye' fame. We call ourselves ‘Pathayam.’ The highlight of ‘Pathayam’ is that although we plan to explore world music, the key element would be Malayalam folk. I would say anything that can be performed live,” he signs off.

DJ Jubin was the first one to introduce the whole dub step culture to Cochin party scene. He has a strong fan base in the city for his awesome ‘Dub Step Nights’

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architecture

The wonderful lightness of Green Text Dhanya Menon Photos Ajeeb Komachi

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What the designer says: “Every project has a different inspiration and backed by different inputs from the clientele. So the real challenge of an architect is to match up to the client’s expectation without compromising on his design philosophy”

A

rista is designed for an affluent couple and their two girls. When Dr. Nazzar asked for ‘green’ and ‘open space’ in the middle of a thickly populated residential complex, it was a challenge. He also wanted to incorporate a sense of simplicity and purity without leaving the contemporary.

Incorporating all these needs, Arista is a contemporary minimalistic home with equal importance to both interior and exterior in design.

Blending the outside scenic beauty with the interior seamlessly made the design wholesome.

Dr.Nazzar did not want a particular style which has a shelf life and aimed at creating a classic, timeless design.

So, a simple form, mostly flat roofed painted white along with the green landscape announces the purity in design of the entire house. Skylight within the house is so interesting that imparts so much of life inside.

Greenness and play of light is designed in a way that it can be experienced from every point of the house, right from the conventional courtyard, imparting a range of moods and feelings.

The design firmly supports the application of positive energy as per the age-old principles of design and the latest of technological innovations.

Located in the middle of Thalasserry town, in a

thick residential area, Dr.Nazzar's swanky home is spread 3,100 sq. ft, in two floors.

Space Inside A strip of greenery and well lit space leads the visitor to the home. There are air vents over the courtyard facilitating passive cooling and an extra dimension of sustainability. The double height skylight opens to a ventilator above the roof which also acts as a passive air cooler, sucking hot air up. This sustainable design feature makes the entire space much cooler even during day time.

The living and dining spaces were made into one making it feel big and spacious. The stone used in court wall for cladding give it a natural feel inside. The living and dining opens to a family living room, master bedroom and the kitchen.

Family living room has a natural wooden flooring and opens out to a side sitout and landscape.

The master bedroom is simple, with white and wood theme furniture, white and green theme curtains. Even the toilet is done with white and green theme.

The kitchen has a breakfast zone overlooking the green walk courtyard. White and green cabinets make the kitchen look fresh and clean.

Kitchen opens out to a full-fledged work area, a servant’s room and a store room.

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architecture

Natural light filtering Stairs lead to a wooden bridge and then the upper all specifically designed for the house as per the theme and mood making "Arista" totally unique. living which opens to two bedrooms. The stair through the central court- made of steel with a hanging design. A wooden He believes that wallpapers and wall arts do not yard lends vibrancy to the deck connects the white floored living room and have a timeless appeal and therefore has kept the walls bare and white. White colour exudes a main space. With subtle the stairs. Pebble beds and concealed lights bedimension of space while the clutter free décor low make the deck look floating. accessories, warm colmakes a style statement.

In the kid’s bedroom, white and green theme ours and contemporary is designed to be more playful. furniture the home spells Colour Scheme White glossy engineered marble along with white chic elegancy Interior With aesthetically pleasing interior, the designer has truly created a perfect retreat for the client.

Natural light filtering through the central courtyard lends vibrancy to the main space. With subtle accessories, warm colours and contemporary furniture the home spells chic elegancy.

The space is highlighted with a subtle LED lighting. Furniture, curios and the paintings were

walls and white furniture gives the house an intense pure and warmth feel. The use of green and orange colour very astutely breaks the monotony of white used throughout the house. The choice of a white palette with shades of green gives an impression of purity within an earthy ambience, reflecting the client’s ideology and simple lifestyle.

Project - Arista- an Independent House Location Advantage - Within town limits, in a posh residential complex. Proximity to the commercial hub of the town.

What FWD Life Liked - Chic elegance of design and vibrancy in the entire space. Space flows into one another without any clutter.

Architect Ar.Vivek- 9447438869

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Owned by -

Dr.Nazzar K P, Thalasserry

Built up area- 3100 sq ft.

Budget ( interiors + furnishing ) Approx. 60 lakh

Design by - Ar. Vivek PP, Kozhikode Project managed by- D’Earth, Kozhikode

FWD Life Rating Location

Amenities

Price

health

Manage your

stress Stress comes in all forms and affects people of all ages and all walks of life

W

ith people competing with one another for recognition and benefits, your workplace could be a breeding ground for stress. It may escalate into frustration and angry outbursts later. Stress may be considered as any physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental unrest and that may be a factor in causing disease. Physical and chemical factors that can cause stress include trauma, infections, toxins, illnesses, and injuries of any sort. Emotional causes of stress and tension are numerous and varied.

No external standards can be applied to predict stress levels in individuals.

Recognizing stress is the first step in lessening its impact. Good time-management skills are critical for effective stress control. In particular, learning to prioritize tasks and avoid over-commitment are critical measures to make sure that you are not overscheduled.

Chronic stress can lead to a whole host of physical and emotional problems. Stress weakens the immune system and worsens chronic conditions like asthma, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

Just 10 minutes a day of mindful relaxation — like deep breathing or meditation — can ease the muscle tension that can trigger a headache.

Rahul J. Nair, an expert in psychology, suggests some tips to reduce stress: Sit in a quiet place, and close your eyes. Take a deep breath through your nose, and let it fill your abdomen; hold it for five seconds, then exhale. “Studies have shown that simple, deep-breathing exercises like this reduce blood pressure and promote a sense of

well-being,” he says.

Chronic-stress hormones can increase oil production in skin glands. The result can be blemishes or full-blown acne. The Chinese tradition of drinking hot water with lemon helps detoxify your skin. Also try slowly rubbing a dry loofah up your body, starting from the ankles.This helps blood circulate and is invigorating and calming. Instead of snacking on junk food the next time you’re under pressure, take a good brisk walk. Studies say exercise relieves stress and burns calories.

Carbohydrate-rich foods like yams increase serotonin in the brain, which promotes good feelings. And whole grains, bananas, avocados, chicken, spinach, and broccoli all contain vitamin B, which can boost your sense of well-being.

Sore shoulders Hunching over the computer or phone could be causing your sore shoulders. This position wreaks havoc on your posture and makes your head jut forward, creating an SOS situation for shoulder and back muscles. Stand with right arm raised over your head, bend arm so elbow is pointing upward and right hand reaches behind your head. Extend left arm sideways, then lower it and reach upward behind your back; try to touch fingers together. Repeat stretch with left arm on top.

Sore feet Sore feet make it harder to stand up to the stresses attacking the rest of your body. Rub under the base of the toes to calm the head, the ball of the foot to relax the chest, and the middle of the foot to soothe the abdominal area.

Healthy ways to relax and recharge

. .. .. .. .. .. ..

Accept that there are events that you cannot control Keep a positive attitude Avoid alcohol and recreational drugs Don’t smoke Go for a walk Savour a warm cup of coffee or tea Spend time with your family Play with a pet Get a massage Have proper sleep Take a long bath Listen to music Watch a comedy

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travel

A patriotic trip to Kargil Rough terrains make Kargil journey adventurous. It’s not just a trip but a tribute to the brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the country Text & Photos Anoop Puzhamudi

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I

t was meant to be a 10-hour journey, according to Mustafa, our driver. Nine of us were packed like sardines in Mustafa’s SUV. We were making our way from Leh to Srinagar in an overnight journey — a trip which most people avoid at night due to the treacherous conditions! Little did we know we were about to embark on a backbreaking and nerve-racking sleepless ride for over 27 hours through some of the most dangerous roads in the world. ”Sleep by taking turns,” said a hushed voice from behind. I was sitting on the front seat of the SUV and had already started dozing off due to fatigue of the journey during the day. My brother nudged me to look at the driver. To my horror, I saw the driver struggling to stay awake. With deep crevasses on either side of the road, it sent a shiver down my spine. But Mustafa was sure that he was not sleeping.

We slept in turns to ensure that Mustafa was not sleeping. Terrible terrains awaited us on our way. Wooden bridges across deep gorges seemed to be badly battered due to the heavy traffic of army machinery several times a day.

One of the bridges looked so fragile. So we stepped out of the vehicle at the edge of the bridge to take a closer look. We could see the gushing river in full fury beneath the bridge.

Through the headlights of our SUV, we saw gaps on the bridge. In the shivering cold of the night, Mustafa looked around and slyly dragged a few

broken planks from the bridge and placed it on the gaping holes. He signalled all of us to get into the vehicle. Mustafa started his SUV and revved it up several times. He closed his eyes as if in deep prayer. Our hearts were pounding! Did he know what he was doing? “Allahu Akbar!,” he screamed and slammed his foot on the accelerator. We held on to each other for our dear lives.

The vehicle rammed the broken planks of the bridge and jumped up and down violently while picking up speed. We could hear loud thuds and cracking planks under the vehicle. Finally, before we knew, we reached the other side. We looked at the driver with terror and awe at what had just happened. He said, “I knew God wouldn’t let anything happen to us.”, he said. We were dumb struck.

As the night progressed, a few of us never slept and kept guard. I woke up next morning with the sound of a loud bang. We had a flat tyre. We were stuck in a narrow tattered road (if you could call that a road!) with a few trees around. “We are near Kargil,” my brother said. We had hardly covered 250 km from Leh on the way to Srinagar.

Then we realized that we were in for an arduous journey for the rest of the 500- odd km. While Mustafa changed the tyre, we had a quick breakfast at a roadside dhaba. Maggi noodles never tasted better. As we enjoyed our hot noodles, Mustafa joined us and said that our vehicle was ready. Before getting back in, he pointed to a hill

The vehicle rammed the broken planks of the bridge and jumped up and down violently while picking up speed. We could hear loud thuds and cracking planks under the vehicle

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travel

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A

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Leh Kargil War Memorial Srinagar

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top way ahead and said, “That’s Tiger Hills.” A familiar name I thought. The name I had heard from the first live news coverage of a war in India, more than a decade ago, came to my mind. The names —'Vikram Batra', '3 pimples,' and 'Tololing' became famous by Burkha Dutt’s unrelenting news reporting, rang in my ears. A deep sense of patriotism swept over me. The towering Tiger Hills was more visible as we moved on, and we all looked at in awe. It was then we came across the Kargil War Memorial on the way. Soldiers from the Punjab regiment who guarded the gates with INSAS rifles in hands graciously asked us to come in. There was a long road leading to the Memorial. We could see the Tololing Hills in the backdrop. The names of the peaks were chalked out in huge letters on the mountain side. They lay as reminders to the battles fought.

Tololing was the place where one of the pivotal battles in the Kargil war was fought. India had lost many a soldier in that battle. As we neared the Memorial, we could see the names of the fallen brave soldiers engraved in red sandstone.

Under the fierce sunlight, we stood in silence as a tribute to the brave patriots of India.

We then visited the war museum nearby which tells the story of the war through photos from missions and other memorabilia. The soldier on duty there guided us through the museum.

There were photos of brave soldiers fighting while scaling vertical cliffs in terrains ignoring the inclement weather. Stories of full frontal attack reminiscent of World War II tactics were laid bare in detail. Many stories from the real war were dotted with bravado reminiscent of Bollywood war films. Remnants of bomb shells, grenades and claymore mines from Pakistan were also exhibited there. The photo of a sergeant about to load a missile was the best among the lot. The missile casing had on it written in bold letter with white chalk —“From Raveena Tandon to Nawaz Sherif”, with a lovely heart drawn over it.

Finally it was time for us to leave for Srinagar.

Mustafa had his long deserved nap and was fresh to start off again. As we bid farewell to Kargil town and Tiger Hills, the sole enduring image that haunted my mind was the written letters on a wall at the Memorial — “When you go home, tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow we gave our today”. My salute to you, brave brothers.

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lifestyle

Luxury on wheels With passengers getting more facilities and comfort in Volvo buses, one can trace the semblance of better demeanour among passengers in these hi-end vehicles Text FWD MEDIA Photo JINSON ABRAHAM

Does luxury has the magic to mend your ways? It’s a good sign if top facilities in our public transport system can improve our social behaviour and mutual respect

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L

uxury is not expensive now. It has become common man’s buzzword at least in the case of bus journey. Say thanks to KSRTC! Gone are the days when you gaped at the AC buses on roads with wonder and respect while they overtake your ordinary bus. You might have felt a smidge of inferiority complex at that time for sure. Have you ever felt that travelers in the Volvo buses have a condescending attitude towards their counterparts in ordinary buses? Can’t blame you for such a thought; especially when you see other passengers in an ‘enviable’ position - ensconced in reclined cushion seats, watching films in the cool and fresh interior of the bus.

Now, the scene has changed as Volvos were

added to the fleet of vehicles in our public transport system and we are ready to fritter away on comfort and quality service.

Fast forward Ever since the launch of Volvo buses by KSRTC, the comfort level of journeys on our roads has remarkably increased. One of the ostensible changes among passengers and bus employees after the induction of Volvo buses is their ‘newlycultivated’ demeanour inside the bus. Does luxury has the magic to mend your ways? It’s a good sign if top facilities in our public transport system can improve our social behaviour and mutual respect.

We are conversant with the usual hustle and

bustle and conductor’s ‘budge up a bit’ order in ordinary buses.

Sometimes, squabble between passengers and bus employees over trivial issues makes our journey a bitter experience. Apart from this, there are some adept graffiti writers in ordinary buses in the form of passengers for whom such ‘creative endeavours’ occur within no time during a short journey.

On the other hand, when a passenger enters a Volvo bus, he is more conscious of his behaviour and aware of not to bungle up the seats or other accessories in the vehicle. Of late, the public have started to realize that new infrastructures in city not only raise their living standards but also catapult the city to the big league.

In fact, the magic of Volvo revolution began in 2001, when Volvo Buses launched its first bus in India. In 2006, Volvo sold its first city bus to the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation. Under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, Volvos now ply in 13 cities. In 2001, Volvo Buses India sold 20 coaches. By December 2011, 5,000 of them were running on Indian roads. Volvo now has 76 per cent of the luxury bus market. The market itself, according to industry estimates, is growing at around 10 per cent a year.

So, if you are a patron of Volvo buses, remember there is nothing wrong in keeping the same attitude in ordinary buses too. It’s double bell! Go right…

Buses in Hollywood flicks

Bus journeys on silver screen

I

nterestingly, a host of Malayalam films have portrayed buses as major factors which influence the lives of characters in the story. The impact is such that in those films buses leave the impression of a vital character.

Released in 1969, "Kannur Deluxe" was a thriller movie laced with comedy. Directed by A.B. Raj, the film had famous actors including Prem Nazir, Sankaradi, Adoor Bhasi, K.P. Ummer, Jose Prakash, Radhakrishnan, Nellikkode Bhaskaran, G.K. Pillai, Sheela and T.R. Omana among others in it. P. Sreekumar-directed "Kaiyum Thalayum Purathidaruthu" (1985) portrayed incidents happening inside a KSRTC bus.

Who can forget the story of a gulf returnee, played by Mohnalal, in the film "Varavelppu"?

The film was directed by Sathyan Anthikkad. The major part of the film was based on a private bus transport service started by the hero and its

consequences.

Dileep-starrer "Parakkum Thalika", directed

by Thaha, was a comic caper and it narrated the sentiments of the hero with an old bus. It was a sleeper hit at the box office. Filmmaker Thaha showed his penchant for bus stories again in the movie "Thekkekara Super Fast." Another bus movie "Vamanapuram Bus Route" in which Mohanlal had a different appearance.

Anjali Menon’s "Happy Journey", part of the anthology film "Kerala Café", was a based on a bus journey. The story of "Bus Conductor", directed by V.M. Vinu, was about the life of a private bus conductor Kunjakka played by Mammootty.

In the recent flicks like "No.66 Madhura Bus" and "Ordinary", buses have prominence in the story.

Kollywood film Engaeyum Eppothum was a huge success in Kerala. The film narrates how two different bus journeys change the fate of people.

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oye baap re!

F Wi i WARS THE

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Text RONNIE KURIAKOSE

E

very time a new café open in Kochi, I head there with my raunchy laptop sack and order the following things in whatever order they come fondly – the cheapest food in their menu, hot water to wash that junk down, and their Wi-Fi password. Internet connectivity is a necessity now – just as important as taking a dump early morning before an important meeting or brushing your teeth before making your girlfriend a call. Kochi is becoming choked with delicious, invisible dates, ripe for the plucking. But I’ll not be the only one doing the plucking. There are a hundreds like me, although with not the same raunchy laptop sacks, who are loitering in search of the strongest Wi-Fi locations. And when words get out that a new café is open, we head there in numbers, pop open our laptop lips and play a survival-of-the-fittest struggle of content-domination, in what I’d like to call….

The Wifi Wars 1130 hours. August 15th I’m at café *** now – one of Kochi’s premier Wi-Fi hot spots and I’m alone. I order a hot mint chocolate, settle down on my favourite chair, and throw open my torrents for completion. 280 kbps. Perfect!

I have to admit though, there are a dozen others who use Wi-Fi the unethical way, and I was one among them. During my college years, I didn’t pay a single penny on Internet access. Instead, I went online via the unprotected wireless networks of my neighbours. It didn’t seem illegal at that time – I mean, those signals were streaming through my apartment. So I thought I had all the liberty to use them. Illegal or not, it was free. And what comes free is not without its problems.

0130 hours. August 15th The mint hot chocolate had run its course. Now I’ll have to find another excuse to be here, and fast. ‘My girlfriend is running a little late. I’ll order when she gets here’ – I told the host here and it worked, just like it worked all the other times. Perfect!

The most frustrating one was this – a stolen Wi-Fi connection is never stable. Sometimes it disappears and re-appears in the middle of a big game of WarCraft or during the transmission of an important mail. It is also terribly slow. I had to ensure that I don’t use the bandwidth the same time as the owners use it, lest I should want them to get beaten up or worse, get the Wi-Fi passwordprotected.

0200 hours. August 15th It was the lunch hour and the café was nearly full. I was safe though, for none of them had the brains to bring a laptop with them. But a minute later, one of the hosts approached me with

a menu. I re-told him the tale of my ‘running-late girlfriend’ to which he pointed to the seat next to me – A girl was sitting there, and she had a laptop in her hand and a sarcastic grin on her face. Competition!

The other big problem, the one that I had to learn the hard way, is this – never ever steal Wi-Fi from a network that has names like DarthVader, SmellyCat or WebsLiNGer. Anybody who’s taken trouble to change their network names isn’t going to give you any Wi-Fi love. Always pick on the boring names. Names like ‘default’, ‘tata01’, ‘home’ etc. I was always happy to see the boring ones, because people who don’t bother to come up with clever names for their networks are the same people who don’t bother to password protect them.

0330 hours. August 15th Peering over my laptop lid, I saw a dozen now, pulling at the data source that was rightly mine. We were battling for content domination. Completion of torrents was out of the question now.

Even a Facebook page was taking a hell lot of time to load. But there is a myth that I always believed in – No matter how many people tug at the source, there is always one guy in a Wi-Fi hotspot who is lucky enough to have ‘contention speed’. All I had to do was to find him and shut him.

But those days are long gone. Not because the officials/users have set up measures to counter ‘Wi-Fi theft’. But just that Wi-Fi is so damn common these days that if you would run down the streets waving your laptop around like a crazy people, you are sure to pick up a dozen Wi-Fi signals. A year or two from now, there would be free-municipal Wi-Fi networks, where every city would have its own city-size hotspot. But as long as Kerala is ruled by politicos with quixotic ideas, nothing of that sort is going to happen.

As for me, I’ve joined the straight world.

0445 hours. August 15th All I had to do was lag the system at the source, get them frustrated enough to close their browsers, and there was only one way of doing it – Youtube. I went over to the billing counter and requested them to play a song from youtube. And soon enough, the entire system lagged, and people shook they heads in utter disbelief. Speed – 0.5 kbps. Perfect!

Well, not entirely straight, but sort of. I made a promise though; the day my financial situation is stable enough to afford a network of my own, I’ll achieve that karmic balance by leaving my networks open to all, which, believe it or not, is a violation of networks terms of service.

0500 hours. August 15th Speed – 280 kbps. And I’m loving it. XD Oh well, maybe not.

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automobile

the

unstoppable SUV

Muscular to its core, the Renault Duster is an adventurer’s true dream machine.

Packed with a host of smart features, it helps you get through everyday life in a breeze

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Onboard Integrated trip computer audio system

Dual front airbags

Rear AC with independent control

Drive Duster’s steering is not all that precise but then it works fine for the city ride. One of the best thing about this SUV is that the back seat offers good thigh, back and shoulder support.

Also the knee space and head room is a delight for the big framed.

The air-conditioning is superb, Kerala afternoon sun, didn’t even raise the temperature a bit. Braking is via ABS- and EBD-enabled ventilated front discs and rear drums. They do a decent job slowing down the vehicle. The cabin doesn’t have an expensive look and feel but the spacing and comfort pretty much makes up for it. The overall styling of the car is on the conservative side but it certainly has a great road presence, a lots of heads turned during the test drive. This mass appeal should result in good sales for the diesel variant.

Trunkroom storage space

Specs Engine Petrol

Width 1822 mm

Displacement 1598 (petrol)

Height 1695 mm

Max Power 105ps @ 5850 rpm

Gears 5 speed manual

Max Torque 145nm @ 3750 rpm

Seating capacity 7

Length 4315 mm

Tyre size 215/65 R16 tubeless Ex Show room Price

` 7.99 Lakh to ` 11.00 Lakh

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business

Frugal spending

for future

M Tips for a better financial management 1. It’s good to keep an account of expenses. Also, watch out that you do not overspend on your credit cards.

2. Undergo a financial planning section, if you have crystallized needs and you have dependents.

3. Try and maximize your tax savings. This can enhance your take home.

4. Plan for spikes in your spending.

(Eg: For festivals or a large premium, put aside money on a monthly basis) 5. Carefully evaluate your investment options for risk/ return/liquidity.

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ost people fall into three general financial profiles. They either spend above their means, spend just what they have, or they spend less than their means.

Long term financial goals require short term sacrifices; the trick is to find the right compromise that allows you to meet those long term goals while still enjoying life to the fullest in the short term. If you often spend more than your needs, look for unnecessary areas and can be trimmed, and be prepared to have the discipline to stick to your new budget. If you often spend to your means, your best starting point is look for opportunities to build up your savings, which helps reduce the risk and impact of unexpected expenses, and allows you to begin saving for the future.

According to Anil Rego, CEO of Right Horizons, financial management includes planning, organizing, directing and controlling the financial aspects. For an individual it includes managing risk/return, inflows, outflows, assets and liabilities.

“Financial indiscipline results in mismatch of cash flows —one may end up spending more than your earnings resulting in significant financial pressure, lower returns due to improper deployment (funds may remain idle in low returning avenues) and also risk of capital/returns (many a times ad hoc decisions taken could end up being bad investments and result in loss of capital / returns),” he adds.

Budgeting: It’s a critical process which forces you to look at what you’re spending, where you’re spending it, and thus be able to make informed decision on where changes can be made to meet your financial goals. Look for areas where your spending can be reduced and adjust your budget accordingly.

Savings: One overall savings goal is to put money away for a rainy day; anything from health

related problems, for repairs to a house or car, or an interruption to employment. Most experts say to put three months salary away to cushion life’s little emergencies.

Borrowing money: One major tip is to shop around on interest rates. Banks are often very competitive on rates to get customers, so you may be able to drop an interest rate by a per cent or more with the cost of spending a few extra minutes or hours talking with a few more banks.

Buying a car: The first thing you need to determine what you need the car for? Once you’ve identified the right car, think about if you really need a new car or if a used car will still serve your purposes.

Buying a house: It’s better to buy a smaller house in a better neighbourhood than to buy a larger house in a less desirable neighbourhood.

You need to first figure out your needs, both immediate and long term. Once you’ve identified the ideal house, you need to match that with your budget and the types of locations that fit what you’re looking for.

Insurance: Many companies offer disability and life insurance as optional or included packages with employment. If available, these are usually good choices, not only because they provide a guarantee of income or payout in the event of a catastrophe or health problem, but they are also often subsidized in part by the employer.

Investments: Financial investing can either be done independently or through a broker. It is often desirable to work with a broker, who will carry more skill and experience to the table, and help you balance your expectations and risk to determine the right mix for your investment portfolio. You will often pay either an annual fee or a per-transaction charge.

parenting

Bust

breastfeeding Experts consider breastfeeding as the hands down best way to feed a human infant

H

uman milk is a complex fluid produced in response to the stimulation that the newborn baby creates as he latches on to the breast following birth. Suckling causes the mother’s pituitary gland to release two hormones, oxytocin and prolactin. The more the baby sucks, the more milk will be produced. If a mother is not producing enough milk, then the simple solution is to nurse more frequently. The stimulation will naturally increase the production of milk.

In almost all cases, a healthy mother will produce enough milk for her baby as long as he is healthy and she understands the proper latch-on technique. You can judge the health of your baby by observing his development and his social interactions. Watch the baby—plenty of wet diapers every day will tell you that your baby is getting enough milk.

A few mothers actually are unable to produce enough milk. This situation can be caused by hormonal imbalances in the mother, or the baby’s failure to latch on properly after birth and stimulate the breasts to produce milk.

Myths No normal baby ever became obese from an exclusive diet of breast milk. The myth that human milk is fattening stems from propaganda from the formula and diet industries. According to experts, fat is a necessary part of the human diet and should be considered a nutrient to be consumed in the proper form and amount. Human milk does have a higher caloric count than cow’s milk, but this is because a human baby’s fat requirements are much higher than those of a baby calf.

A breastfed baby’s stools should be frequent, greenish, inoffensively fragrant, loose, and unformed. These are not indications of diarrhea but of health and normality. Adult-type stools will appear once a baby has begun eating solid foods.

Formula-feeding will create harder but highly malodorous stools.

myths

Researchers have found that women who are preoccupied with their body shape, and those who want a controlled, less child-centred approach to ‘managing’ an infant in the postnatal months, are less likely to express intentions to breastfeed.

Many fears and anxieties impair or derail a woman’s breastfeeding relationship with her baby, or discourage her from breastfeeding in the first place. Some of these anxieties have no scientific basis, while others may stem from illogical magnification and unwarranted generalization of incidents that have happened to only a small number of women.

A few mothers actually are unable to produce enough milk. This situation can be caused by hormonal imbalances in the mother, or the baby’s failure to latch on properly after birth and stimulate the breasts to produce milk

There are numerous benefits to the mother for breastfeeding. They include: • A rise in oxytocin levels, which helps reduce postpartum bleeding and postpartum depression that sometimes accompany new motherhood.

• Continuous breastfeeding is a natural birth control. If you breastfeed exclusively, your chances of getting pregnant are less than one percent during the first six months (as long as your period has not resumed).

• According to the studies by Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India (BPNI), breastfeeding exclusively for one year or more may protect against ovarian and breast cancer. Also it may reduce the number of urinary tract infections and protect against osteoporosis. Pregnancy depletes your bones of some of their mineral content.

Breastfeeding women get those mineral levels back more quickly than women who feed their babies with formula.

• Breastfeeding can help you get back to your pre-pregnancy weight more quickly.

• Breast milk is the perfect convenience food.

You don’t need to own a full stash of bottles, nipples, cans of formula, bottlebrushes, or sterilizers. You don’t need to warm it up to the right temperature or mix it with water. When you leave the house, you don’t need to pack a thing.

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pets

Are pets in fine fettle?

Pets are big responsibilities and require special attention. If you ignore them, you are barking up the wrong tree. Here is some tips to keep them neat and tidy Pooch grooming during monsoons

Behaviour of your canine

Shower only once a month during rainy sea- companion son.

Keep them away from the loud Bathe them with medicated soaps or shamnoises of fire crackers, thunders and poos, suiting their skin type or fur texture or as other loud sounds. prescribed by a vet.

Found your pet eating stones, it’s Prevent water from entering ears with a ball time for deworming. of cotton plugged in.

Rolling in crap, biting shoes or Water collected in the ear for long can cause chewing clothes are signs of seeking ear infections which will be very painful and ir- attention. ritating for your pet.

A change in the way a dog behaves Use an ear cleanser once in a while. is an early sign to his/her illness.

A good massage and a generous brush prior to their bath would help in having a healthy fur coat.

Brushing prevents fur-shedding within the house.

Dry your pet at a low temperature after bath.

Avoid having your pet in the kennel when he is wet, as leaving a wet dog will aggravate the doggie odour.

Collar belts and leashes to be changed once in a few months.

On selecting a leash, make sure you pick up one which suits your pet’s skin texture.

A material which suits one need not be good for another.

Remove their leash before giving a bath, as wet collars can lead to skin eruptions, rashes and fur loss.

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Health and fitness Avoid in-house dogs to play in clogged dirty water as it may lead to fungal or bacterial infections.

Their paws have to be washed and wiped each time after stepping into muddy or dirty water.

Infections gets through their paws, so if left dirty, there are chances for them to have Podo Dermertitis.

As 90 per cent of pet dogs are exotic breeds like Beagles, Huskies, St. Bernards and Shihtzu prone to respiratory infections during monsoon.

Bronchial attacks and wheezing more common among fluffy and punch-faced breeds.

During rains your arthritic pet should be given a cozy warm bedding, washed and cleaned regularly.

Treadmill training or an indoor swim in warm water can be an activity for your pet during monsoon.

Get him or her toys to keep them active and happy. Toys with no sharp or pointed edges.

personal

Straight from the

heart While presenting a gift you are also conveying your love and care for the other person. So irrespective of the occasion, choosing a right gift is very important Text Resmi Jaimon

G

ifts play a major role during birthday, housewarming, wedding functions or festive occasions like Onam, Christmas or Ramzan. Choosing the right gift for these occasions is vital to buttress the existing friendship or relationship.

The right gift will eventually lead the person to remember you forever.

Here is a rough guide on how to choose the right gift for an occasion.

Understanding preference This is the most risky part. It isn’t easy as it sounds. If you know the person, you will be aware of his likes and dislikes. You may also know what he owns and what he longs for. Otherwise, you need to play the detective or ask common friends or relatives. When you spend to buy a gift for your dear ones, it’s always better to buy a gift he/ she would cherish. Remember, you are not buying a gift for yourself.

Gifts needn’t be expensive. Try to find a gift that will bring smile to the receiver’s lip. He/she will remember you for the rest of their lives for getting the gift they always wished to own. In short, make them feel special.

Personalize Again, the price tag is not what counts in the end.

Personalize the gift. You can add their name or initials in the product you buy. An alternate solu-

tion is to attach a greeting card or note. If you are creative, add a hand-made greeting card or hand-written note. A hand-written card or note, in the digital age, adds more value than a greeting card or printed note. Wrap the gift well and give a personalized touch here too.

Plan in Advance Never procrastinate. If you know of an upcoming wedding or housewarming function, go shopping as early as possible. Last minute shopping is not advisable. If you do so, you may end up choosing an inappropriate gift. Advance planning helps you find out what and where to buy. If you enjoy online shopping, and if the product is not available in your city, perhaps you can order the product online.

If you know the person, you will be aware of his likes and dislikes. You may also know what he owns and what he longs for. Otherwise, you need to play the detective or ask common friends or relatives

Key factors The gift should be something useful to the person.

Age plays a prominent role. If your receiver is a child, you can get him a toy or a book with moral value. You should give preference to a durable gift. In other words, avoid eatables that perish, as soon as consumed. Instead, choose a gift that will last a lifetime, even if inexpensive or a small product. Whatever gifts you choose to buy do not create a big hole in your pocket. In this regard, keep aside a certain amount for buying gifts in a year. Your gift needn’t be always gender specific.

You can probably choose a neutral gift.

2012 SEPTEMBER

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store

A viscose cotton twill jumpsuit in a phulkari inspired print Price ` 5,200/- approx

Autumn winter Collection 2012 A Printed kaftan in silk crepe Price ` 5,735/- approx

A uniquely embroidered dupion waistcoat Price ` 5,900/- approx

A beautiful full sleeved shrug in cotton voile and viscose jersey with Phulkari embroidery Price ` 3,200/- approx

A printed V neck dress in silk crepe and modal lycra with slight gathers at the waist Price ` 7,200/- approx

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A printed V neck dress in viscose jersey with gathers in the front Price ` 2,500/- approx

Light Grey Heathered Cotton Alpaca Blend Palmer Fairisle Long Cardigan

Collection Classic White, Non Sretch Poplin, Taped Combo Shirt

Biking Red Cotton Wool Pennsylvania Collar Block Dress

Price on request

Multi Coloured, Long Sleeved, Medieval Blue Vesta Paisley Shirt

Multi Coloured Apple Red , Poly Chiffon, Wright Printed Blouse

2012 SEPTEMBER

Life

71

launch

Kairali Ford inaugurated at Muvattupuzha

T Michael Boneham, President & Managing Director Ford India, inaugurates the showroom

he 10th showroom of Kairali Ford, the dealer of Ford cars in Kerala, was inaugurated at Muvattupuzha recently. Kairali Ford, a part of the MGF Group, is one of the best dealerships in India and has sold close to 30,000 vehicles so far.

Its maiden branch was inaugurated in 1999. The company has dealership facilities also at Kochi, Kottayam, Trivandrum, Thrissur, Kollam, Palarivattom, Kalamassery , Vennala and Mannuthy. Kairali Ford is the winner of Ford President’s Award in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009 and the National Top Seller Award for 2011. It has also bagged National No.1 Award for Customer Satisfaction.

launch

ORU NAL

Tunes of emotions

P

ortraying human relationships in dulcet tunes, the music video album "Oru Naal" turns out to be a different experience for music lovers. A group of talented artists join together in this music album which has a collection of nine music videos. The title track "Marakkam" (The flight of the winged girl), penned by the late Girish Puthenchery would be endearing to his fans as this song is believed to be one of his last romantic songs.

“This music album revolves around human relationships, its complexities and the madness of living up to those situations which make a listener rethink about the truths of life,” says Prahlad Gopakumar, the director of the video album. Shot within a span of one year in Kerala and other places like Ahmedabad, New Delhi and Dhanushkodi, this music video provides a visual treat for aficionados. The album is produced by Sandeep. E, director of Zinc ‘n’ Rock Group of Diners.

Singers Swetha Mohan, Srinivas, Sankaran Namboothiri, Vidhu Pratap, Jyotsna and music director Jassie Gift have sung for the album. Another highlight of the album is popular anchor Ranjini Haridas, who croons for the first time for a music album. Note 'o' Chord, a college band from Thriruvananthapuram Medical College, has also sung a song. This music video was screened at the International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala in 2010.

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The Complete Reader's Guide TO FWD Life magazine

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Forty Leading writers & photographers

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Major April fool prank

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irrelevant,independent and honest editorials

50,000 Circulation

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sleep hours lost

1.3 Lakh card swipes Thousands of e-mails to & fro per month ISSUE 10 VOL 01 AUGUST 2012 ` 50 www.fwdlife.in

LAUGH - A - RIOT

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Versatile Virtuoso

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launch

Mercedes Benz Launches B Class

In a star-studded function at Rajashree Motors, Mercedes Benz launched BClass in Kerala.Positioned as India's First Tourer, the B Class caters to the adventurous long drive lovers.

Remya Nambeesan

Rima Kallingal

events

Pre Independence day celebratory party @ Hotel Dream Style matters

Buddies

Jai ho!

Smile please

Take this

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Party on

Mastermind

You know what’s best for your baby We’re with you at youngmoms.getit.in

For any information from anywhere.. call Getit

24/7 at 04444444444 (10 times 4) 2012 SEPTEMBER

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Delighted I'm here Starry smile

22 FK

111th DAy Celebrations cut Director's

All smiles

Lost in thought Evergreen

Ladies only

show Behind the

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Life

SEPTEMBER 2012

celebrations

Black magic

2012 SEPTEMBER

Life

77

wtf

What the

f@#k

Attacks on shops and people in the name of protest can’t be justified. Political parties fight each other and lots of innocent people fall victims to their mischievous acts. Hartals incur a heavy loss to the state.

Those who have commonsense won’t wish for a holiday through this bad practice. Instead we should go for work on a hartal day Richard Joseph journalist

FWD Life readers respond to the topic "Do you wish for a hartal every month?"

Here’s what our public poll revealed

I feel it’s good getting a holiday in the name of hartal amidst our hectic work. But I am against violence unleashes by political parties citing protest as a reason.

Attacks on shops and people in the name of protest can’t be justified.

Divya Philip Software Engineer

I hate hartals simply because they create havoc in an ‘otherwise’quite but exciting life. An impulsive hartal is the worst of all as the public will not be prepared for it.

Moreover, they can only be described as man’s worst invention of all times.

Maria Mathew Bank employee

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SEPTEMBER 2012

Thanks to hartaal that it gives rest to my muscles from all the strains caused by bumps and pot holes, and sudden engine breaks on roads.It would have been funtastic if it is held on a day adjacent to other public holidays that it would not go useless. Despite all the inconveniences caused by hartal, it is absolutely a solace and a payment of reverence to the mother Earth, at least once in a while by holding all the pollutants especially many million vehicles of the estimated 1.22 million Keralites.

Jiji Abraham Advocate

Hartals hamper our growth.

It’s only for getting political gain and mileage. They think that people also support them during hartal days. It’s not because of supporting parties but out of fear people sit at home during hartal days. We should not sit idle to this undemocratic way of protest.

Pradeep lyricist

I am against forcing people to abstain from work due to hartal. Anybody can call for it and only those who are interested in it can participate.

But people should have the freedom to decide on this.

Parties have a wrong belief that people support them during hartal day.

Abhijith. S Software Engineer

Pals

Special bond Clicked el dams g n i l z Siz

SATURDAY SPLASH PARTY 2012 @ bristow hotel Together

We are ready

Foreign tale

Here we are

Splash

2012 SEPTEMBER

Life

79

gadgets Microsoft Surface (Pick of the month)

The Magic Feet

Microsoft finally forays into the tablet market and it has arrived with a bang. The Surface runs on the Windows 8 platform. The biggest win for Surface is that it can run the much acclaimed and popular MS Office suite of products. The design of the tablet is excellent with a lot of minute details being taken care with ingenuity. It sports a USB port, a widescreen HD display and also a pressure sensitive keyboard. Surface is indeed an option to consider if you are shopping for a tab. But our only concern is the limited availability of apps as of now. The tablet launches in the US in October for $199. Indian price is not announced yet.

FWD Life Rating :

Wireless charger for Apple devices

What FWD Life Liked:

Nokia 808 Pureview Mobile phone with a brilliant camera

Can charge upto 3 devices at once Beautiful design Easy to use

What FWD Life liked

What we disliked

What we disliked

Restricted to Apple devices Charging can take a while

Unfortunately runs on the outdated Symbian platform Poor web browser

Price: $150 (Releasing in October)

Price: ` 34,999 approx FWD Life Rating :

FWD Life Rating :

Rocksafe MX Encrypted portable hard-disks

What FWD Life liked Hardware secure encryption Security via PIN entry or smart card Real-time encryption with fast data transfer

What we disliked Super expensive

Price: ` 31,000 approx FWD Life Rating :

41 (yes forty-one!) Megapixel camera that delivers Good call quality as with every Nokia

Tiki Blue Microphones USB microphone.

What FWD Life Liked: Intelligent noise cancellation Handy form factor and ease of use Excellent sound quality

What we disliked Looks ugly Too small, can be easily misplaced Price: ` approx

FWD Life Rating :

Disclaimer: Price and features are subjected to change. Buyers are advised to act on data after cross-checking.

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