RITZ November Issue

SOUTH INDIA’S PREMIER UBER LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

NOVEMBER 2015 VOL 12 | ISSUE 04

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CHECK OUT ACTRESS TAMANNAAH IN THE SEASON’S CHOICEST FASHION AS WELL AS THE BREATHTAKING FESTIVE COLLECTION FROM SHIMMER, BENGALURU

MUSIC, MELODY &

ACTION

FROM MUSIC COMPOSER, TO PLAYBACK SINGER AND NOW ACTOR AND PRODUCER, WE TELL YOU HOW GV PRAKASH KUMAR DONS MANY HATS WITH ROARING SUCCESS

MY VIEW As we near the date of the much-awaited annual Audi RITZ Icon Awards 2015, we are thrilled to announce that the venue has shifted to Bengaluru from Chennai. As South India’s premier lifestyle magazine, we felt it is our responsibility to showcase this high profile and highly coveted awards ceremony in a different city this time. And who can resist the allure of the uber cosmopolitan Bengaluru? I am told the city hasn’t had an Awards ceremony of this scale and grandeur in a while, and hence we are looking to charm Bangaloreans the way only RITZ can!

Watch this space for more. Until next month, ciao!

ARUNA R KRISHNAN 6

RITZ NOVEMBER 2015

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Inside 52 Spotlight Chumbak’s founder Vivek Prabhakar has set out to give the market a range of quirky products that cater to the kitsch buyer From a trainee chef in a star hotel to setting up a chain of restaurants, bakeries and bistros, Shankar Krishnamurthy’s rise as a restaurateur has been meteoric N Shivakumar has added much lustre to Coimbatore with his foray into the hospitality business

12 Buzzin Keep abreast of what’s hot and happening across our major cities in South India.

20 New Products 007’s Miss Moneypenny, Naomie Harris dazzles in a vintage Omega at the SPECTRE premiere in London From quirky Louboutin lipstick, to slick writing implements and Diwali dazzlers, here are some cool new products you can covet

24 RSVP A year after Ritz made a grand entry into Bengaluru, we celebrated in style at the city’s newest hotspot The Open Box. Check out exclusive snaps and our roundup of some fun events in other cities too

36 Advertorial Mital Surendira, the founder of Sanskrriti has transformed her gifting ideas into a brand to reckon with in the span of a decade.

Built in 1887, as the city’s first hotel and set in the heart of a dynamic business city The Taj West End is an experience of luxury in refined style and warm relaxed comfort Located in Kanakapura, one of the greenest and cleanest belts of Bengaluru city is Wilasa Grand Villaments, a Pride and Grandhige Estate property that offers the perfect blend of luxury amidst nature

42 Cover Story We bring to you the irrepressible actor-producer-music director GV Prakash Kumar

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58 Over A Cuppa Meet twenty one-year-old Arjun Narendran from Coimbatore, one of the country’s promising talents on the racing circuit Supraja Rao’s client list is the envy of many of her contemporaries. For somebody who is self taught, this celebrated interior designer has traversed an enriching and inspiring path Sana Rezwan is the woman behind three exigent fashion ventures and her most recent social enterprise, Indelust. Her love for fashion and her passionate entrepreneurial streak have helped her make her mark in the industry

64 Look Book Presenting Tamannaah in contemporary, yet festive looks - the perfect fashion offering this festive season Jamila and Seema Malhotra’s Shimmer is the perfect place for the best in bridal wear and festive ensembles, not just for the holiday season but for cocktails, weddings and any other occasion

74 Corridors Of Power A lack of two centimetres in height led Mervin Alexander from his dream of Indian Police Service to the Indian Postal Service, a cadre in which he now serves as Post Master General, Chennai with the same fervour Sanjay Pinto tells us why he believes that the ‘Make In India’ campaign inevitably invites cynicism and scepticism

84 Design Elements Elvy Lifestyle, the leading luxury home and lifestyle brand recently opened the doors of its first ever store in Hyderabad

at Banjara Hills Ganjam offers an exquisite blend of the modern and the traditional, both in their jewellery as well in the architectural aesthetic of their new store

90 Wanderlust Today’s Fort Kochi is a charming blend of Portugal, Holland, China, England and a dose of Malayalee magic thrown in for good measure

92 Foodies Inc Spice Haat at The Hyatt Regency offers a smorgasbord of delicacies and then some at the lavish Sunday brunch spread that they put out each week A super duper hit with the youngsters in Hyderabad, Oh So Stoned’s café lounge threw its doors open in Madhapur recently They’re not quirky or crazy - they’re simply different with a twist. RITZ is excited to be one of the first special invitees to check out The Open Box, the new rage in Bengaluru

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EDITOR & PUBLISHER ARUNA R KRISHNAN EDITOR’S SECRETARY & COORDINATOR JAFFAR ABDUL HAMEED REGIONAL EDITOR - KARNATAKA ARCHANA SHENOY REGIONAL EDITOR - TELANGANA & ANDHRA PRADESH VANAJA BANAGIRI LEGAL COUNSEL SANJAY PINTO SENIOR CORRESPONDENT & CELEBRITY RELATIONS COORDINATOR SHANKARAN MALINI CHENNAI CORRESPONDENT DIYA SUBRAMANIAN GENERAL MANAGER - MARKETING PRAVEEN KUMAR M MANAGER - CLIENT SERVICE SWATHI RAMAKRISHNAN DESIGNER NARAYANAN SATHISH MARKETING CONSULTANT - BENGALURU SANJAY JARIWAL EVENTS AND FEATURES PHOTOGRAPHER - CHENNAI M.GURUNATH PRABHU EVENTS AND FEATURES PHOTOGRAPHER - BENGALURU FAHEEM HUSSAIN EVENTS AND FEATURES PHOTOGRAPHER - HYDERABAD SANTOSH KUMAR Edited and Published by Aruna R Krishnan from 7th Floor, Sigma Wing, Raheja Towers, 177 Anna Salai, Chennai 600002. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited. RITZ is not responsible for unsolicited material.

RITZ assumes no responsibility for the veracity and authenticity of the advertisements published herein. Readers are requested to make appropriate enquiries before incurring any expenses or acting on medical recommendations or otherwise in relation to any advertisement or article published herein. Also views in articles published herein are those of the respective authors only. RITZ does not necessarily subscribe to these views.

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To advertise in RITZ, call Praveen Kumar on +91 98419 73090 /+91 44 4211 3871or Swathi Ramakrishnan on +91 98419 73088 All correspondence should be addressed to: RITZ, 7th Floor, Sigma Wing, Raheja Towers, 177, Anna Salai, Chennai 600002. Contact: 42113871 / 2 Email: ritzmag@rediffmail.com or ritzmag@gmail.com

BUZZ IN’

CHENNAI

Giving Back In Style Dr. Mariazeena Johnson

In an initiative quite unlike anything the city has witnessed before, Ritz Magazine and Studio Tara’s Bharathi Raviprakash have got together to bring to life the concept of Links - a series of views expressed by some of the most admired and respected women on their social conscsiousness and how they give back to society while staying connected to their ‘Links’ and roots. In an effort to inspire readers to not get caught up in the quagmire of day to day living, a series of photo shoots and videos are being made featuring prominent women who practice the concept of giving back to society as a way of life.

All the women fetured in this series have been styled in exquisitely designed precious jewellery from Studio Tara, the renowned Chennai-based design house, helmed by the beautiful Bharathi Raviprakash.

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Krithika Subramanian

Jayadevi Cholayil

BUZZ IN’

IIFA’S SOUTH DEBUT The International Indian Film Academy (IIFA), aimed at celebrating the cinema of South India, kick started their first edition with a curtain raiser in Hyderabad at Park Hyatt. The event saw the stalwarts of south Indian cinema in full attendance. The three-day ‘IIFA Utsavam’ will be held from December 4 at Gachibowli Outdoor Stadium.

SHILPA REDDY MAKES WAVES

HYDERABAD

DESTINATION HYDERABAD Every year thousands of music lovers head to various destinations in the world for the heady musical Sensation. After conquering the world with 33 countries it is finally time for the premiere of Sensation India in Hyderabad. On 6th February, 2016, the city of Nawabs will witness an unforgettable and immersive music experience underneath the star-studded sky in Gachibowli Stadium, one of the largest arenas in the country.

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Hyderabad’s hotshot fashion designer Shilpa Reddy displayed her collection “Sleepless Blue Water” at India Beach Fashion Week held in Goa with much fanfare. The fashion show was as refreshing as the azure beaches of Goa and had people asking for more.

Proud of you, Shilpa.

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BUZZ IN’

TURNING ONE IN STYLE Sana Rezwan’s Indelust, the luxury e-commerce destination that promotes designs originating from the Indian subcontinent, celebrated its one-year anniversary with a huge bash. To commemorate the occasion, designer Payal Singhal hosted a cocktail-hour celebration at Indelust’s flagship store in Bengaluru.

The anniversary followed some exciting developments for the luxury website, including the debut of its in-depth “Indelust Diaries” series, first-ever Holiday Shop and exclusive partnership with Safomasi and Neon.

A DIFFERENT DIRECTION

BENGALURU

TAAQ ROCKS GERMANY Thermal And A Quarter’s new album No Wall Too High was formally launched by the Lord Mayor of Bonn at UN Day – the 70th Anniversary Celebrations of the United Nations. TAAQ was invited to a special event at the UN Headquarters where Prof.

Dr. Klaus Toepfer and the Lord Mayor were the keynote speakers. Playing at the concert venue set up in Market Square, Bonn, TAAQ brought the sound of Bengaluru Rock to Germany for the first time. Joining them on stage on backing vocals was Kristin Meyer from Dresden, Germany.

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Maverick Bollywood director,Anurag Kashyap took to the stage at the Blender’s Pride Fashion Week held in Bengaluru last month, as a style speaker for noted designer duo Abraham & Thakore. Not the most stylish of our lot of directors, Kashyap still sought to drive home a point when he reiterated the fact that whatever maybe one’s weaknesses or insecurities, it is ultimately style that makes you. And going by the uber chic collection shown by the veteran designers, we’re sure they’re on the right path to reinventing the definition of style!

TM

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BUZZ IN’

A DROOL-WORTHY MEETING Vir Sanghvi was in the city to promote and familiarise the food-loving Bangaloreans with his newest venture easydiner.com. Select guests were invited to dine over a round table setting to get to know more about Sanghvi’s new brainchild. Suffice to say that while the concept was novel and the conversation scintillating, most of the women at the table spent the lunch hour drooling over the dishy journalist-turned-food critic.

That’s the effect he’s had in the past and continues to have on women till date!

LIGHT UP YOUR LIVES Nikitha and Neha Ahuja have been making the city light up with their pretty designer candle and tea light holders. The enterprising duo recently showed their wares at Araish in Mumbai, where the range was a complete sell out. They are now making their mark in their home town during the festive season and came up with little surprises to jazz up the homes of their friends and family this season. Their embroidery embellished candle and tea light holders have suddenly become the perfect gift pieces for this season.

Here’s hoping you think up more such pretty goodies soon.

REBOOTING INDIA, TECHIE STYLE Speaking from experience, co-founder and former CEO of Infosys and founding chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India, Nandan Nilekani launched his book Rebooting India, along with co-author Viral Shah recently.

The book identifies a dozen initiatives where a series of citizen-friendly, high-tech public institutions can deliver low-cost solutions to India’s grand challenges. Based on their learnings from building Aadhaar, the world’s largest social identity programme, the initiatives that Nilekani and Shah propose could save the government a minimum of 1 lakh crore rupees annually, about 1 per cent of India’s GDP—enough to fund 200 Mangalyaan missions a year.

It doesn’t take 10,000 people or even a thousand, say Nilekani and Shah. All it would take is a small, focused team of highly skilled, enterprising individuals, and a supportive prime minister.

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BENGALURU

PRODUCTS

NEW

TIMELESS ELEGANCE AT SPECTRE PREMIER

007’s Miss Moneypenny, Naomie Harris dazzled in a vintage Omega at the Spectre premiere in London.

Around her wrist, she wore an Omega lady’s jewellery secret watch from 1955, a very rare riviére in 950 platinum and set with 110 diamonds. On closer inspection, the incredible details of this timepiece are clear to see. On the shuttle-shaped bezel, there are 44 baguette-cut and trapezoid diamonds. 11 brilliant-cut diamonds sparkle on the cover, while 55 brilliant-cut diamonds line the bracelet. This watch was the leader of Omega’s jewellery collection in 1955, making it a highly suitable piece for Bond’s leading lady.

The premiere was also attended by British royalty, as well as Daniel Craig himself, who wore the Omega Seamaster Spectre Limited Edition on-screen.

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PRODUCTS

NEW

RED SOLES TO RED LIPS Last year the shoe designer created a stir in the beauty industry by launching a range of nail polishes. Now, he’s back with a collection of lipsticks, 36 shades. And as with all Louboutin products, the lipsticks too look like works of art – beautifully packaged in little bullets inspired by middleeastern and Babylonian architecture. Of course no Louboutin collection is complete without its iconic rouge that colours the signature red soles. The same shade is also now a lipstick, packaged in a special black case. But it gets better. The lipstick cases have a small ring on the top through which you can run a ribbon or chain – and voila!

It’s a necklace. Make-up that’s wearable, literally!

THE NEW ADDRESS FOR PLUSH D’Decor unveils a luxurious range titled ‘Unison’ that will undoubtedly lend an elegant feel to your décor this season.

The impact of black, grey and silver tones in home interiors is classic and brings a dramatic statement to almost any décor space. Super chic and ultra luxe, these hues are the perfect colours for the autumn/ winter season. ‘Unison’ by D’Decor, is a stunning collection of chenilles, coordinated textures, jacquard and plain muted fabrics. Geometric patterns are combined with rich and bold shades of silver and greys. The range is opulent making it suitable for a contemporary home, literally!

WRITING WITH NEW PURPOSE The impressive new Lamy imporium features an exciting combination of strong design and powerful structure. This characteristic model adds yet another family of high-quality writing instruments to Lamy’s premium assortment, uniting modern, functional design with a luxurious writing experience. The trademark of the Lamy imporium series is its prominent straight-lined body structure and grip. The cylindrically designed smooth cap with solid, high-gloss clip provides a striking contrast. The combination of playful details and consistent reduction gives this model its unmistakable appearance.

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RSVP

CHENNAI

As keen fashion enthusiasts, Pavithra Sagar and Nikita Kapoor of Funky Fish have started the concept of Pop Up Stores in Chennai to bring together the latest trends and styles in clothing for women under one roof. The founders are thrilled that some of the designers they have featured are nationally reputed names, who until recently, have not been easily available in Chennai.

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RSVP

HYDERABAD Ahmed Khan presented a solo art show

by Kishore Singh at Muse Art Gallery, Secunderabad. The show was inaugurated by music director R.P. Patnaik, film director Teja, art director Yumuna Kishore and Gabriel Hons of the US Consulate, along with several other dignitaries and prominent guests.

Kishore Singh is a renowned artist who graduated from Calcutta College of Art and Craft with 18 years of work experience in Traditional Art. He works with various media but his signature style is watercolours of Indian cities. The theme of the exhibition was to highlight the lost glory of Royal Hyderabad Heritage by showcasing paintings of Osmania Hospital, Bathukamma Art, Charminar, Golconda Fort, Qutubshahi tombs and various other heritage monuments, as well as the street life of the glorious city.

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RSVP

BENGALURU Ganjam, the luxury heritage jewellery brand celebrated the completion of 125 years of existence recently by launching its flagship store in Bengaluru. With a legacy of being jewellers to Indian royalty over the last 125 years, Ganjam has grown to become one of India’s leading luxury brands offering an exquisite blend of the modern and the traditional.

The store comprises of individual retail spaces designed to offer personalised service to the customers. As a tribute to their 125-year journey, Ganjam has also unveiled 2 stunning collections Mooresque & Tasrika.

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KINDERGARTEN KIDS FORM ‘CLEANINGTON EXPRESS’ AT CITY PARK

Morning walkers at the Jeeva Park in T.Nagar got lessons in cleanliness from an unexpected quarter – kindergarten kids! “One, two, three. Let’s go trash free.” hooted the Cleanington Express, a 11 member team of tiny tots from PSBB School,T Nagar, as it meandered along the Jeeva Park on Saturday morning. The little brigade picked the trash, some of them with mobile cardboard dustbins strung around their necks, sang and interacted with the curious walkers and even managed to get the elders to take a pledge to keep the park and the city clean. This “Keeping Clean is Fun” event organised by PSBB School in collaboration with British Council was for the International School Award that works towards exchanging best practices from around the world. Cheering the kids at the neighbourhood park Mrs Durga Chandrasekar, Vice Principal said “This activity will be shared with schools abroad and help in mutual learning and appreciation.” Latha Chandramouli, a parent, feels such activities will “ foster civic sense in our children at a formative age, much more than text books.” Sanvi, one of the participants, says she is now looking forward to her visits to the park “not just to play but to also pick up paper cups”.

ADVERTORIAL

Soma: Where culture and aesthetics weave magic

A quaint colonial bungalow, nestled amidst one of the busiest avenues of Chennai’s Nungambakkam, houses Soma Blockprints from Jaipur, Rajasthan.

This is their flagship store in Chennai.

Like the uniqueness and ethnicity of the brand itself, this space reflects everything that the block-printing and textile pioneer brand stands for.

The new store on Kodambakkam High Road in Chennai is a space where history is preserved, creativity is encouraged and labour is loved, appreciated and showcased for the world to see. Surrounded by a pretty garden, adding a lushness to the serenity and warmth of its surroundings, and ample car parking, the store feels like a page out of a book where time stands still.

In this age of mass production, Soma is an outstanding example of what can be achieved when work ethics and skill are applied to an ancient craft like block printing. At Soma things are still done the original way - as ethically and organically as possible.

Designs are drawn by hand and then painstakingly hand carved onto square wooden blocks. Each block is then dipped into a different colour before being hand pressed onto fabric. Sometimes there can be as many as 16 blocks used to create a five colour design.

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pink, orange and golden yellow with traditional motifs.

With a team of highly creative designers from around the world contributing to Soma’s repertoire of designs and prints, the brand has emerged as one of the forerunners in the handloom and luxury industry in India.

A set of blocks can be used to print on an average of 1500 to 2000 metres of fabric. The colours used for printing are environment-friendly and of course the all time favourite is Soma’s natural indigo. And their cottons …. oh my god …. baby soft!

Talking about their prints, most of them are nature-inspired. Flowers, foliage, animals, geometrics and abstract motifs all find unique representation in Soma’s range of chambering designs. The result is a spectacular amalgamation of artistry and supreme skill.

The stores currently carry chirpy Celisia, enigmatic Persia and Cherry blossom collections in regular and organic cotton in the garment section. And a very soothing green in their latest bedspreads and curtains , the Fukoka range.

To usher in the festive season Soma is showcasing a bright range of fabrics and garments in pop colours like rani

The store also has a lovely selection of gift items that are ideal for this festive season like wine bottle holders, tea cosies, cutlery, enamel bowls, jewellery, brocade bags and pouches.

The store is open all 7 days of the week, from 10 am to 8 pm. Call +91 44 28250185 for further details.

What’s more, you can even order your soma product online at www.somashop.com.

So why wait any longer, go on a shopping fantasy and indulge your senses at Soma Shop.

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BENGALURU

RITZ ROCKS IN BENGALURU A year after Ritz, South India’s premier lifestyle magazine made its grand entry into Bengaluru, we celebrated in style at the city’s newest hotspot The Open Box, showcasing September’s cover girl Dr Shuba Dharmana and actor, producer and director Prabhu Deva who was featured on the October cover of the magazine. Amit Ahuja, owner of TOB threw open the doors of his swank restaurant exclusively for RITZ, even before the formal launch! From serving cocktails in hospital-like ‘drip’ bottles to quirky mixes in goli-soda bottles, food served in tiny planters and the like, The Open Box gives a new meaning to the word ‘twisted’ and has become quite the rage in the city after the formal inauguration on October 15th.

Looking dapper in his stylish suit, Amit and his beautiful wife Prateeksha played the perfect hosts to a slew of well-known Bangaloreans.

Shuba Dharmana looked stunning in a silver dress accentuated with pretty Louboutins, while her husband Anshul Choda, the architect and brains behind the cool and unique interiors of The Open Box, looked suave in a waistcoat and hat paired with casual trousers.

Guests included Ravina and Sunder Belani, Vandana Virwani and Sanchith Malhotra, Arjun Pandalai and Seema Jaisingh, Sounak Sen Barat and his wife Anu Malathy Shyamsunder, Pallavi and Neil Foley, Sarayu Hegde and Praveen Chandra, Ambika Ghorpade and her pretty daughter Anushka, Manjul and Sushil Gupta, Manjusha and Vikram Maheshwari and many more, while the place was pulsing with energy till the wee hours.

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RITZ NOVEMBER 2015

Dear reader, Thank you for your query. The nose is an essential part of the facial aesthetics in partnership with the chin and the cheeks. Aesthetic rhinoplasty or nose job as it is known corrects the shape of the nose and is different from routinely performed functional rhinoplasty for the blocked nose and sinus surgery.The balance with the chin shape and size also creates an illusion regarding the nasal shape and size. Concerns of the nose may involve a bump, a crooked nose, a saddle depression, a broad and flattend nose, a pointy nose or a droopy nose. An evaluation of your nose will take place at your first consultation. You would have to be clear in your thought process regarding the exact concerns you have regarding the nose. Your surgeon should have adequate experience in cosmetic rhinplasty and be able to discuss the surgery and associated risks as well as recovery for the procedure. You can bring photos of the individuals that you wish your nose looked like. Be aware that there is a recovery time from surgery that is around six weeks. This is the time taken for the swelling to reduce by 80-85% though you will be able to resume your routine activities in approximately 10-14 days.

I am 56 years old. My face has a tired look and my eyes appear droopy and saggy. Is there any treatment available to make me look refreshed?

I am 27 years old and have hair around my mouth and chin. I also do not like the shape of my side burns. Also there is hair growing in the midline around my belly button. Could this be removed permanently through laser?

Absence of facial and body hair is considered a sign of femininity.

Unfortunately, hereditary causes and hormonal imbalance can lead to increased hair growth especially if they start in your 20s. Waxing of arms, legs and underarms carry a recurrent procedure, and cost your valuable time once every 6 weeks of your adult life. Hence, it makes practical and economic sense to seek a permanent laser hair reduction. You may need 4 to 6 sittings around 6 weeks apart to achieve 80-90% reduction of hair.

Costs vary depending on the surface area.

RITZ READER SERVICE

I am an actress and wish to enter the cine field in Chennai. I would like to improve the appearance of my nose that looks short and stubby. Please advise.

DR RAMKUMAR SUSARLA Cosmetic Surgeon FRCS (Edinburgh) FRCS (Plastic Surgery) McIndoe Cosmetic Fellowship (UK) Dr Ramkumar Susarla is a British trained and qualified Plastic Reconstructive & Cosmetic Surgeon.

Consultations at Cosmetic Surgery One are strictly confidential & discrete.

Clinic: Cosmetic Surgery One No.2. Sriramnagar South Street Alwarpet Chennai 600 018 Mob: +91 98 4063 6991 Mail your queries to cosmeticsurgeryone@gmail.com

or ritzmag@gmail.com Website: cosmeticsurgeryinchennai.com

Ageing brings about changes in the body and face, but in some this is more pronounced than others. There are degenerative changes in the skin and fat as well as the bones of the facial skeleton with the passage of time. The skin becomes thin, wrinkly and dry.

The cumulative sun damage over the years gives pigmentary patches and appearance of uneven pigmentation.

Sweat pores enlarge and the skin sags with the facial fat pockets emptying.

The treatment for this can be non surgical including chemical peels and Laser/IPL treatment of the face to rejuvenate the skin by reducing the pigmentation, improve skin tone and texture and reduce the pore size.

Additional fat grafting of the face (transferring small volume of fat sucked out from your tummy or thighs and injecting it in the deeper layers of your face) helps improve the volume of your face and also helps improve skin texture. Botox may be useful in certain situations where the frown lines are created only during facial movments.

In your case addditional surgery of the eyelids (Blepharoplasty) may be required to remove the baggy eyelids and the droop of the upper eyelid.

Please contact a cosmetic surgeon familiar with upper and lower eyelid rejuvenation surgery as not all plastic surgeons are trained in this.

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ADVERTORIAL CELEBRATE WITH A HOME BARBECUE PARTY The temperature has dropped a couple of notches, making it the perfect setting for a barbecue party. So get your veggies and meats, gather your friends and fire up your Weber barbecue grill. It doesn’t get easier to win compliments.

There’s no better way to chill out this festive season than having a barbecue party in your own home whether it is in your balcony, terrace or garden. You can play host to your friends and family and give them a fun time with your own Weber barbecue grill with delicious starters, mains and desserts.

Cooking food over an open fire is one of the best ways to enjoy the outdoors with the lingering aroma of smoked food, the crackle of fire and the warm glow of charcoal. Grilling has evolved from being a mere kitchen activity to

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a total entertainment form, which is both interactive and participative. With the availability of quality charcoal and gas grills in India from Weber® (www.weberindia. com), the barbecue trend is gaining a lot of importance in the Indian cooking space.

Weber grills are compact, comfortably movable and easy to clean. They even come with useful accessories to make your party the best in town.

Barbecue is not just about delicious meat on a flame. It’s amazing to see the wonders one can create with vegetables and fruits including veggie pizzas and grilled desserts for a fitting finale to the barbecue experience.

Some things to remember before grilling are to ensure that your grill grate is brushed clean and that you pre-heat the grill with the grill lid closed to attain the ideal temperature. To help with lighting charcoal easily, use Weber’s Rapidfire Chimney Starter, charcoal briquettes and lighter blocks. These help you to get the coal burning easily without the mess and the necessity of adding liquid fuel or blowing on the charcoal.

Barbecue evenings are fun ways to unwind with family and friends, and perhaps, one of those occasions when everyone gets together to bond over delicious grilled food.

Time to fire up that grill!

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ADVERTORIAL

Weber® Q® 1000™ Titanium Gas Grill: This portable grill’s excellent performance and handy size provides ease and convenience for gas grilling on a balcony or terrace. The stylish looking table-top grill includes a cooking space set over a stainless steel burner and a push button ignition which starts the grill quickly and easily.

The Weber® Q® 1000™ Titanium grill sports a removable catch pan making cleanup easy.

SIMPLE TIPS TO PERFECT GRILLING:

WEBER® SUMMIT® S-670™ GAS GRILL: This premium grill offers the most comprehensive high quality features one can get in a single grill with an expansive cooking area, rotisserie system, smoker box, side burner and the groundbreaking Sear Station® technology which gives food restaurantquality sear marks and caramelized flavor. Lighted control knobs to fine tune heat settings in the dark and handle lights makes the Weber Summit® S-670™ perfect to entertain friends anytime of the week.

WEBER® GENESIS® S-310™ Gas Grill: This stainless steel grill shines with quality and craftsmanship with a generous cooking space, stainless steel rod cooking grates and Flavorizer® bars to add smoke and sizzle to your vegetables and meats. With individual control electronic ignition system get set to grill in style for years to come with the Weber® Genesis® S-310™ barbecue grill

WEBER® ORIGINAL KETTLE™ (22”) Premium Charcoal Grill: Experience the charcoal revolution with this grilling powerhouse in your balcony, terrace or garden. The iconic Weber® Original Kettle™ Premium grill is engineered for excellence with it’s porcelain-coated steel bowl and lid, One-Touch™ cleaning system and cooking grates big enough to accommodate six large steaks, twice as many burgers, or up to a dozen paneer kebabs! The perfect complement to an evening of food, fun and friends.

• Preheat the grill with the lid closed for a few minutes before you start grilling.

• Keep the lid closed while grilling to trap the smokiness, avoid flare-ups and maintaining required cooking temperature.

• Clean the cooking grates every time you grill, not only to be tidy, but also because any residue left on the grates may cause your food to stick.

• Never try to blow on the charcoals to hasten up the cooking process, it’s just a way to get the ashes all over the food. A Weber® grill comes with brilliantly designed vents, use them.

• Like with fashion, accessorize!

It’s incredible the versatility a lot of the Weber® accessories bring to your repertoire, and take a simple barbecue to a whole new level.

• Weber® grills are easy to maintain, just follow a few simple maintenance tips, you’ll see a lot of elbow grease disappear as opposed to cleaning poorly manufactured grills.

ABOUT WEBER®: Weber® is the world’s premier manufacturer of charcoal and gas grills and grilling accessories. In 1952, founder George Stephen sparked a backyard revolution with his invention of the Weber® kettle. Sixty years later, the company remains the industry leader with its Weber® brand and the Weber® range of products are sold globally including India. Weber® is about delicious barbecue food, fun and entertaining times. At Weber® we promote the barbecue culture and encourage more and more Indian consumers to enjoy the outdoor barbecue experience with their friends and family.

Weber® can be reached on toll free number 1800 102 3102 or +91 80 4240 6666 or +91 99000 27067.

For information on Weber® products, grilling tips and original Weber® recipes, visit www.weberindia.com.

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ADVERTORIAL 40

Gifts for all seasons!

RITZ NOVEMBER 2015

Mital Surendira, the founder of Sanskrriti has transformed her gifting ideas into a brand to reckon with in the span of a decade. We give you a roundup of her store’s festive special range.

It’s the perfect place for the perfect gift, whatever the occasion may be. A store that has been around for the last 14 years, one that has evolved with the ethos of the city and one that has changed the stereotypical mindset that one had when it came to gifting.

Sanskrriti, with its two outlets in Chennai (one in Nungambakkam and the other in Egmore), is the one destination that you must visit when in need of that perfect gift. And considering that we are smack in the middle of the festive season, there is no better time to indulge in some serious retail therapy there.

Catering to different needs like weddings, landmark occasions and birthdays, Sanskrriti’s stock is presently redolent with the perfect gifts for the festive season.

Ranging from prices as low as ` 350 and going all the way up to `15,000, there is a range of hampers for you to choose from. Filled with new and unique giveaways, the hampers this year have a very different range of products, thereby making each gift from Sanskrriti novel and much coveted.

Sample their almond cookies, dried fruit tarts, paanflavoured chocolates, along with bags of organic sugar, terracotta diyas and other artefacts of similar nature. Many of their products are handcrafted and customised to suit different occasions.

In keeping with the brand’s ethics and beliefs, many of Sanskrriti’s products are of eco-friendly in nature, made of materials such as palm leaves, recycled paper and wood, thereby attracting many environmentally conscious corporate clients like TAFE and the Apollo Group. Many of the sweets that form part of their gifting range also have extended shelf lives, thereby keeping them from spoiling quickly.

Sanskrriti also works with restaurants developing for them stylish menu cards and other decorous items. Some of their wine bottle hampers, spice boxes, party favour range (including birthday return gifts), insta rangolis, and collection of bags and clutch purses are some of the fastest moving items on the shelves.

Another of their specialties is wedding packaging, with costs beginning as low as `150. They also have another USP in their kitty - gift hampers for babies.

Focussing on usable goods for new borns, rather than toys and other gift articles, their special baby hampers are made of interesting diaper arrangements, an assortment of onesies and other such items of utility.

So of you’re looking for some interesting, out-of-thebox gifting ideas this season, head to Sanskrriti and made sure you take a peek at what’s in their specialty boxes before you look anywhere else. This is the perfect one-stop-shop for gifts for all seasons!

Available at Old No.14, New No.15, Sulaiman Zackaria Avenue,, Casa Major Road, 3rd Lane, Egmore, Chennai. Phone: +91 44 2819 4489 / 2819 4490 No.14, Khader Nawaz Khan Road, Shop no.6, Gems Court, Nungambakkam, Chennai Phone: +91 44 2833 3230 NOVEMBER 2015 RITZ

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COVER STORY

M

usic, elody and

Action Flying high as a music director, a successful actor and a producer, GV Prakash Kumar has long since stepped out of the shadows of his world-famous uncle, AR Rahman to become a huge celebrity purely on his own merit. Shankaran Malini discovers more in a conversation with the prodigy himself.

Photography by: Karthik Srinivasan Styling by: Studio 9696 Hair & Make up: Mari

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Clothes: Lifestyle

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Bandhi : Vivek Karunakaran Shirt, Trouser & Accesories: Studio 9696

RITZ NOVEMBER 2015

Notwithstanding the years that he hopes to add on with his recent signature look defined by his beard, moustache and dense hair, GV Prakash Kumar is still startlingly young for someone so successful.

The look has stayed with him since his Darling days - his debut movie in the horror-comedy genre which turned out to be a huge success. “I tried out a few styles before retaining this one. This is how I will look in my forthcoming film Trisha Illana Nayanthara too. I think it has been lucky for me,” smiles GV, as the young actor is fondly called.

GV Prakash today reigns supreme as not just an acclaimed music composer but also a busy actor. ‘I have been signed on for ‘Bruce Lee’, followed by ‘Darling 2’

by Sam Anton and a Vetrimaaran screenplay in Atlee’s dialogues titled ‘Ketta Paiyyanda Indha Karthi.” GV is becoming a favourite for his punch lines too – think ‘Virgin pasanga saabam ungala summa vidathu dee’ (meaning the curse of virgin boys won’t spare you girls) from ‘Trisha Illana Nayanthara’ – has become a huge hit.

So what prompted him to act? “I have always liked to pose, ever since my childhood. I have also been interested in photography. Before ‘Veyyil’ happened, I did a photo shoot with a well-known photographer.

He gave me a lot of confidence during the shoot about my looks. I really enjoyed it. Still the fact is that despite my love for acting, I have till date never approached anyone for roles. My journey started when Shankar sir wanted a music composer for his production venture – ‘Veyyil.’ Director Vasanthabalan sent my show reel to him. He was impressed and I was signed on. As regards my acting opportunity, AR Murugadoss wanted to cast me in one of his films. However the film didn’t take off.

Luckily, ‘Prema Katha Chithram’ was remade in Tamil and I was signed on for it. ‘Darling’ went on to become one of the most successful films of the year,” he says.

GV’s forthcoming film ‘Trisha Illana Nayanthara’ is set for a release in Telugu as ‘Trisha Ledha Nayanthara.’

As the film nears its impending release date, rumours are spreading thick and fast about GV shooting a sizzling lip-lock scene with as many as 36 retakes with his co-star! That’s marathon kissing, huh? GV deftly downplays the news saying, “Oh, the retakes were just blown out of proportion. There are a lot of angles because this scene is a sequence. The director was very clear about the lip-lock scene from the beginning saying it has to be in the film. I didn’t have a problem doing it. It was never an issue.”

As regards the controversial song, “Bittu Padam Di,’ referring to porn films, he says, “I think ever since the ‘Choli Ke Peeche’ number, controversial songs have always been a part and parcel of Indian films. Why are people talking only about this song? I have done ‘Aariro’ in ‘Deiva Thirumagal’, ‘Karuppu Karuppu’ in ‘Kakka

“The controversy of the 36 retakes of the liplock scene in my film has just been blown out of proportion” NOVEMBER 2015 RITZ

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COVER STORY Shirt : Lifestyle Dhoti pants, Vest & Accesories: Studio 9696

“We have known each other for so long that marriage has hardly brought about any drastic changes”

Muttai’ and the like which are emotional and tug at the heart strings. I have always done a lot of variations.

After all, variety is the spice of life.”

GV is set to complete a decade as music composer in the coming year and he is composing for his 50th film which incidentally is also Tamil superstar Vijay’s 59th film. Naturally, GV has a lot of things to look forward to.

While he doesn’t wish to comment on the alleged rift between Dhanush and him, there is quite a similarity in the compositions of their films. Dhanush’s film earlier this year, set to Anirudh Ravichander’s music (Maari) had a song called ‘Thara Local Boys’ and GV’s composition for Vijay’s 59th film also has a song called ‘Ulaga Local Thara Ticket’. He says, “I have always wanted to do a ‘Thara Ticket’ song with Vijay sir. For a long time his fans have also been wanting to hear him sing such a song. Apart from that, there is no other coincidence.”

GV’s uncle AR Rahman is incidentally the one who initiated his foray into singing as well. “I started young, really young. I have been singing from the time I was 3 years old. Actually, I was 3 when I sang the ‘Chikku Bukku Rayile’ song in ‘Gentleman.’ At that age, I didn’t even know what I was doing. To date, I have no clue how I did it. And here I need to clarify that I was not the kid who enacted that song on screen. Of course, it was too young for me to recollect specific incidents or experiences. I used to play the piano at school and I have learnt to play the A-Grade. Then I started composing for ads. I have played for musicians like AR Rahman, Harris Jayaraj and many more. For AR Rahman sir alone I have played around 30 songs.

Just ahead of the release of my debut film ‘Darling,’ Rahman sir put up the teaser on his twitter handle and promoted it,” he says. GV has also sung for his mother, AR Reihanna. “I sang twice for her. I went and performed as any other artist would and came back.

That’s how much we value music in our family,” he says.

Life with childhood sweetheart, singer Saindhavi has been blissful for GV. “The going is good. We have known each other for so long that marriage has hardly brought about any drastic changes. Saindhavi has always been very supportive of me. We don’t interfere in each other’s work and believe in giving each other the necessary space,” he says.

GV’s production venture, ‘Madha Yaanai Koottam’ also garnered good reviews. Ask him about his future plans with regard to producing films and he says, “Madha Yaanai Koottam released a year ago. I am revamping my production house a bit. I will be producing a film next year, not this year. I am open to ideas - it could be a collaborative or independent effort and may be my own film or even feature a newcomer. GV will also be composing for a film by director Atlee next year.

Great going, GV! We’re proud of you.

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ADVERTORIAL 48

RITZ NOVEMBER 2015

The Taj West End: Your home away from home Built in 1887, as the city’s first hotel and set in the heart of a dynamic business city The Taj West End is an experience of luxury in refined style and warm relaxed comfort.

What sets it apart is the stamp of old world charm and colonial architecture that’s been carefully preserved for over a century, blended with the most modern amenities; distinctive bar and restaurants, personal attention, rooms and cottages interspersed over 20 acres of landscaped greenery, all of which form the essence of the Taj West End experience. Located conveniently from the Bangalore International Airport and the key IT hubs of the city, The Taj West End is the ideal destination for today’s discerning business traveller.

In 1887, Bangalore was a leafy British cantonment and all families owned a part of the city’s gardens. A British couple, Mr and Mrs. Bronson opened a boarding house with ten beds. As the inn’s popularity grew, the need to expand the facilities was felt.

Some of the inherently charming features of the architecture were the tiled roofs, distinctive gables, dormers, monkey-tops, trelliswork and intricately carved fascias.

The Taj West End is more legend than hotel, and is one of the most memorable experiences travel can offer in today’s world. It offers every comfort and luxury but most importantly a piece of Bengaluru’s exciting history. Whether guests are on a super-charged business trip or a relaxed getaway, the ambience charms everyone.

The Taj West End, Bengaluru has been voted the number one business hotel in India and second amongst the Top Overseas Business Hotels in the World

by Conde Nast Traveller UK - Readers’ Awards 2010. This year the hotel ranked amongst the top 20 hotels in India and the Himalayas, in the Conde Nast Traveller’s Reader’s Choice Awards, 2015.

The property has a total of 117 suites and rooms, designed with an intimate attention to detail where guests can enjoy the landscaped beauty of the surrounding environment. Each of the rooms have liberating private balconies or verandahs, luxurious bathrooms, contemporary furniture and a vibrant colour scheme that enhance the modern yet warm appeal of the interiors. Rooms are equipped with WiFi, LCD TVs, 24-hour butler service, business and secretarial services.

The high-end Tata Suite, a.k.a., the Presidential Suite, designed in flawless luxury has its own private plunge pool and massage layout cocooned in a private courtyard. The suite is housed in a 7500 sq ft bungalow with a gracious apartment on the ground floor, an elegant suite on the first floor and a Taj Clubroom.

The Taj West End has also restored the Heritage Wing that was built in 1907.

These rooms are beautifully designed with lofty ceilings and equipped with modern conveniences to give guests a grand residential experience. The Wing is

also equipped with a complete business centre, a world-class boardroom and a sophisticated Club Lounge.

The Taj West End is also home to one of the city’s most acclaimed restaurants Blue Ginger, one of the only Vietnamese restaurants in the country. Blue Ginger reflects an exquisite fine dining experience of Vietnamese cuisine and hospitality and is designed as a romantic pavilion-like restaurant, set amidst a miniature lake surrounded by south east-asian gardens.

Over the years the hotel has welcomed celebrities, writers and royalty that have been patrons of its trademark hospitality and service. Guests include Nobel prize winner for Medicine in 1902, Sir Ronald Ross, Heads of state such as His Excellency Yashiro Mori, Prime Minister Japan, Prime Minister of Belgium, Guy Verhofstadt, President of the Portuguese Republic Mr Anibal Antonio Cavaco Silva, James Gordon Brown, Chancellor of the Exchequer of the United Kingdom, Jens Stoltenberym, President of Norway, Her Excellency Dr. Angela Merkel, Chancellor of the Republic of Germany, corporate czarinas such as Indira Nooyi, CEO of Pepsi International, Richard Gere, Global financier and philanthropist George Soros, Booker prize winner Kiran Desai and rockers such as Mark Knoffler, Sting, Bryan Adams and Deep Purple who have all stayed at the Taj West End. Blue Ginger Arguably Vietnam’s first and finest culinary brand, Blue Ginger is today, synonymous with authentic Vietnamese cuisine, the NOVEMBER 2015 RITZ

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ADVERTORIAL

world over. In bringing Blue Ginger to Bengaluru, The Taj has once again, reinforced its reputation for introducing new food concepts to India. From the raw papaya salad and rice paper rolls to the Vietnamese red curry served with French baguette, it is a dining experience you will never forget!

Mynt The 24-hour coffee shop at The Taj West End is stylish, bright and interactive. The dining concept is eclectic to reflect Bengaluru’s evolving lifestyle and the world traveller who has grown used to the great variety of cuisines on the world map. The accent is always freshness, together with healthy styles of cooking a full-flavoured meal.

Blue Bar The Blue Bar is a stylish open-air bar set amidst beautiful and lush landscaped gardens surrounded by water bodies. It overlooks and is adjacent to the Blue Ginger restaurant. The architecture and the look is predominantly South Asian with solid teak flooring and tiled roofing with contemporary interiors.

Masala Klub Masala Klub at the Taj West End holds the key to a repertoire of influences that are a mélange of the best recipes from North and South India, adapted to a contemporary, light menu. Visually stunning in every way, this 108- seater elegant Indian restaurant is located by a 120-yearold tamarind tree and serves up stylishly crafted native culinary fare in a sophisticated setting. The Tamarind Sorbet, a palate cleanser unique to Masala Klub is a must-try culinary experience!

The Jiva Grande Spa and Salon Offering an Indian Luxury Spa experience is the signature Jiva Grande, a safe sanctum that thrives on a timeless wellness concept and is one of the best places for urban rejuvenation.

Located at the oldest block of

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the hotel dating back to 1887, The Jiva Grande at the Taj West End is surrounded by lush foliage spread across 20 acres of green bliss among its major attractions. The décor lends eco-friendly touches and consists of three treatment suites Sangam (Couple), Akash (Single) and Prithvi (Single), beauty stations, wet area facilities, a steam and sauna, a relaxation area and a fitness area. The spa is spread over 7,000 square feet.

Jiva Grande’s signature treatments, therapies and beauty services are drawn on the rich and ancient wellness heritage of India, the fabled culture and lifestyle of Indian royalty and the healing therapies that embrace Indian spirituality. Jiva Grande offers a rich

basket of Jiva signature treatments that include the unique Vishrama (a deep muscular massage), Sushupti (for deep relaxation and glowing skin), and Vishuddi (a detox massage).

Unique Dining Experiences The perfect union of rich history and heritage with the lush landscapes of the Taj West End lend themselves beautifully to the creation of several experiences unique to the hotel.

Breakfast Under the Rain Tree The Rain Tree which cherishes a history over 150 years, overlooks Reginae which is one of the oldest Blocks in the premises, giving a colonial soothing touch to your sleepy eyes in the

morning. Enjoy a delightful breakfast under the expansive canopy of this glorious tree and let the tiny droplets of water of the early morning dew wake you up!

Heritage Walk around The Taj West End As part of the 125-year celebration of The Taj West End, the hotel has curated a special 45-minute heritage walk around the 20-acres with their concierge; you can discover the little secrets and history of this magnificent property whilst taking in the tropical atmosphere!

Dinner Under The Stars Set amidst the luscious lawns of the Taj West End, beneath a deep blue star lit night sky, with a bespoke menu crafted to satisfy the trickiest taste buds, one can experience the most memorable and romantic dinner!

Whether you’re here for one night on a business trip or for a week with your family‌ The Taj West End will become your home away from home!

The Taj West End is at 25 Race Course Road, Bengaluru, India. Phone: +91 80 66605660 NOVEMBER 2015 RITZ

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SPOTLIGHT BENGALURU

He’s the king of kitsch, the man who redefined quirky curios and cool souvenirs. All from an idea that stemmed from his various travels that were part and parcel of his life, considering his defence background.

Vivek Prabhakar started working at an early age and held various roles across marketing and branding in companies such as Tanishq, FabMart, Motorola and Sun Microsystems.

This experience, he says, gave him a clear idea of the kind of business he wanted to build, the sort of products he wanted to showcase and the amazing retail experience he wanted customers to have. “Chumbak began with a need to give India its own range of fun souvenirs that travellers coming into the country could take back.

We were a little bored of the usual marble Taj Mahal replicas and handicrafts that were becoming the only option. We thought travellers deserved some more options that were hip and still represented India.

From there we very quickly realised that the biggest fans of Chumbak were young Indians themselves who wore India on their sleeves.

We loved that and also realised that they

The King Of Quirk

His is a story of grit, determination, hard work and luck.

Vivek Prabhakar sold his house in 2010 and re-invested some of the money into a business idea so far removed from his conventional career that many friends and well-wishers feared the outcome and risk that he was taking. Inspired by India, he set out to give the market a range of fun souvenirs and quirky products that catered to the kitsch buyer. Today, Chumbak is a globally recognised Indian brand and has diversified from souvenirs to home decor and even furniture.

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wanted more and we went from being a souvenir brand to being representative of this new India. And in our design evolution from the early India themed stuff to cleaner India inspired stuff, we have come a long way,” tells the 36-year-old CEO of the company.

Having started Chumbak with the idea of creating designs that were thematically Indian and particular to what India is known for, the couple realised as they grew, that they loved design irrespective of the theme and that was when they decided to re-strategise. Five years hence the brand has undergone an evolution and included a lot more to its repertoire than just kitschy design.

“My vision for the brand is to be able to create a design house we all can be proud of. That we will be known to make not just products that are gorgeous but that also bring a smile to everyone’s face. And this experience will be built not only with our products but also our stores and e-store.

It’s the entire experience that we are very excited about creating,” tells Vivek.

Between 2010 and 2013, Chumbak sold products online and through distribution only. In July 2013, it set up its first store in Bengaluru. Seeing the idea of having its own stores working, the company set up about 20 more through the next seven months.

Spotting trends and developing products along those lines is a continuous process.

As new products are introduced, old ones, for which demand dips, are removed. The entire planning, designing and production is done in-house.

And what does he think his brand is known for today? And how would he like to change the market’s perception of this brand? He answers: “Chumbak is known for bringing happiness to its customers. People love coming to us for colourful designs. It is no longer a brand that just sells magnets and keychains. If you walk into one of our stores or get onto our website (www. chumbak.com), the range of products that we have created has largely grown. We are a lifestyle brand, selling everything from crockery to furniture, jewellery and much more.” It’s been unbelievable to see where the brand has gone to today. To see us retailing out of MBOs to our own kiosks to stores has been a truly fulfilling journey.

Also, the happiest part about our jobs is

the amazing feedback we get from our customers and to see how people truly love the brand,” he tells.

Casual and creative are the keywords used by Vivek and his team in their work atmosphere. He tells, “We are a company full of people constantly challenging each other and breaking the status quo. We draw inspiration from everything around us and love design. Working at Chumbak is all about moving fast and smart. It is a lot of fun and at the same time it’s about constantly learning and applying yourself every day. Teams work very closely with each other and there are no doors that need to be knocked to have a discussion. It is this environment that makes working at Chumbak a pleasure.”

And what does he consider the brightest idea he’s had so far? What fuels his ideas?

“The brightest idea was definitely starting Chumbak, but also opening stores.

It’s the customers that come to our stores and the ones we interact with that fuel ideas,” he explains. An avid foodie, he loves experimenting in the kitchen and says that had he not started the brand he would most definitely opened a restaurant. And speaking on personal likes we ask him about his pet passion.

Staying true to his penchant for quirk, he quickly replies - “Our dog Hugo!” Ask him how his epitaph should read and he says, “The person who brought colour and epic designs to India!”

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SPOTLIGHT

HYDERABAD

Cooking up a storm He had never stepped into a 5-star hotel before he joined the Catering College. From a trainee chef in a star hotel to setting up a hugely successful chain of restaurants, bakeries and bistros, his rise has been meteoric. He can study diners’ faces and tell whether his food is appreciated or not. His ultimate high is to see his outlets packed with happy people enjoying the treats from his kitchens. RITZ says hello to chefturned-restaurateur Shankar Krishnamurthy who has the city’s elite literally eating out of his palms Text: Vanaja Banagiri

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When life gives you lemons, make lemonade, goes the overused cliché. But then there are a few daredevils who have rewritten the adage and created their own philosophy which reads something like this - When life gives you lemons, ask for tequila. Shankar Krishnamurthy, Hyderabad’s most celebrated chef-turnedrestaurateur, belongs to the latter school of thought. Making the best of circumstances and constantly pushing the envelope seem to be his specialty. How else can you describe the journey of a simple South Indian boy whose culinary creations had the renowned hotelier Biki Oberoi paying a special visit to his restaurant Fusion 9 in Banjara Hills?

After spending a relaxed evening dining with Shankar and his partner Maya, the legendary hotelier went back and put his appreciation for their expertise on record via email. “It was definitely the proudest experience of my life,” says the chef whose charm is as famous as his food in the city, “Who would expect The Biki Oberoi, who never visits a stand-alone restaurant, to spend three precious hours dining at Fusion 9 with us. In addition to making his appreciation of the food quite apparent, he also made an effort to understand my journey, the various areas in detail of the stand-alone restaurant business. His appreciation letter was a huge fillip.”

This moment of high came after the hugely popular Fusion 9 celebrated a decade of success in 2013 but the story was something else on the day they opened doors for the first time. “We launched our first restaurant on March 14, 2003. It was a Friday and we were booked to the brim. The restaurant was choc-a-bloc with the city’s who’s who walking in to get a taste of what we had to offer. We were all experiencing a huge adrenaline rush and nervous as hell about the response and guess what happened? The electricity decides to go on a holiday. There was a power cut and the generator just wouldn’t start. I had sweat dripping down my sides and was on the verge of breaking down. Maya and I had no choice but to make the best of the situation. Quickly, we lit up candles and I went to every single table and told them

that their dinner was on the house. It took a good four hours for my team to come back with another generator. By then, the city had given us a standing ovation. Food was an instant hit, people loved every bit of it, and the ambience turned out to be perfect. Every single person who came that night turned into an F9er,” says the much-admired restaurateur who opened up several outlets – Deli 9, Deli 9 Bistro, Siaa, Spoil, Uberdeq, Fusion 9 Inorbit, Grill Room, and Cinnabar Redd – along with business partners and a highly loyal accomplished team in the last 12 years.

Every bakery, bistro, lounge and restaurant

has created a niche for itself and a benchmark for others.

So when did he realise that he wanted to be a chef? “Haha,” guffaws Shankar who has had the distinction of introducing various cuisines and concept restaurants to Hyderabad, ‘I never thought I would be a chef, being a Tam Bram. Even in catering college, I was a vegetarian. But when I started getting drawn to F&B, I realised that in order to understand the operation better, one has to be good at the backend, the kitchen. So I joined the Kitchen Program at the Oberoi School. The journey was super exciting and today, when I look back, I feel immensely fulfilled.”

What motivated him to turn into a

restaurateur? What keeps him going?

“Once you are cued in with the kitchen, running a restaurant is the easier part.

When one has worked in the Executive chef position for a decade, the administrative faculties also kick in along with the culinary knowledge. Hence going on my own was the next natural and exciting step. Though I was nervous as hell, determination to stick it out was the key. I had taken this step to prove to myself and nobody else.

If I had failed, I would have gone back to a job. I guess I was fortunate with the first step and the rest followed. My motivation is to grow the team, keep pushing and help make the team to do more and more, thereby creating and improving careers.

The biggest satisfaction has been that many a team member is always on the wanted list for star hotels and very proud that many a commis who has rubbed shoulders in my kitchen are senior chefs in big hotels, handling huge responsibilities, yet we are connected and nothing is forgotten.”

Talking about the turning points and challenges, Shankar says, “The first turning point was choosing hotel management over engineering and medicine, at a time when the hotel industry was very nascent.

Second turning point was choosing the kitchen program to become a chef. Third and the biggest one was becoming an F&B entrepreneur along with my friend Arvind Kaila. We were college buddies first and our business has strengthened our bond a lot more. Challenges have been many, but my biggest one has always been to prove a point to myself.” What has been his learning? “One needs to lead by example, take the team with you and constantly seek to do more and more in the area of your strength, which in my case, has been Food & Beverage,” is his response.

What makes the stress of being on the top of the game worth it? “Many instances come to mind,” reminisces Shankar, “One of the biggest was handling seven heads of state under one roof, over three days.

As the chef-in-charge, the experience was surreal, with tasting squads, lab samples, and food protocols of presidents, prime ministers and the royalty. In my entrepreneurial life, there have been some heartwarming moments. There was this two-year-old who would force her parents

to Fusion 9 as she loved the pasta with white sauce. She is 14 today and still comes here regularly to eat the same dish. For me she is the biggest celebrity.”

Considering he has expanded heavily in a short span of time, which outlet is the dearest to him and why? What is the USP of his other ventures? “In my 30 years of experience, I was fortunate to have been an integral part of launching at least 40 different styles of food & beverage outlets, in India & abroad. However, Fusion9 is the dearest and most connected to me.

Biased? Maybe. But it will always be most special as it was my first time and I believe that we set a new trend in Hyderabad by being here at the right time. Apart from Fusion 9, we have come up with many different concepts, always wanting to offer something different to the city. All our outlets - Deli9, Cinnabar Redd (earliest pan Asian experience in Hyderabad), Grill Room, Siaa, Spoil, Uberdeq, and Deli9 Bistro - have been hugely appreciated and accepted with great warmth. We are ready to roll out 3 new concepts in the next couple of months. We try to keep global trends in all our spaces. The USP is 100% Team Ethos – friendly, personal, efficient staff culture, and ubercool ambience with food being the star,” elaborates the star chef.

So what’s his favourite cuisine, daily staple, comfort food and choice of exotic food?

“My favourite cuisine is French followed

by Lebanese and Indian fusion. My daily staple is easy going veg food, mostly simple Indian, especially for lunch. Truffle and Dark Chocolate are my favourite exotic ingredients.”

Anywhere you go, celebrity weddings or anniversaries, high profile Diwali card parties or birthdays, you see F9 team catering the best of food in the city. Did he imagine he would come this far when he started? “Have I come that far? I don’t think so. There is still a lot to do, to learn and finally my dream project of a culinary school to give back to the industry that has given me all the opportunities I have been lucky with,” says the super successful restaurateur whose middle name is humility.

Way to go Chef! Hyderabad is proud of you.

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SPOTLIGHT

COIMBATORE

The Ingenious Hotelier Coimbatore is home to a number of home grown businesses and entrepreneurship is a part of the local culture here. Outside of economic growth in the textile, jewellery, retail, engineering and education sectors, the hospitality industry in Coimbatore has also been growing by leaps and bounds in the recent years. One such entrepreneur in the field of hospitality N. Shivakumar - has added much lustre to the already burgeoning economic growth spate the city has seen recently.

RITZ catches up with the enterprising hotelier.

Text: Rajesh Govindarajulu

The hospitality industry is the latest facet that has begun to add brilliance to the enterprising structure of Coimbatore’s economy. N Shivakumar, the 36-year-old Managing Director of the Vijay Group of Hotels is one such entrepreneur who has done his part in contributing to this growth spurt in his home town.

“We are from a family of retailers and my father J.Nagendran was smart enough to identify the demand for rooms in the Gandhipuram business district and therefore launched the business with Hotel Vijay - a budget business hotel during the year 1990, which was a big success.

Buoyed by this he built our next successful model - a business hotel called Vijay Paradise located on N.S.R. Road in 2003.

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The performance of both these ventures motivated us to go in for the third project a luxury business hotel - Vijay Elanza,” tells Shivakumar, explaining how the business took off for them.

The young hotelier completed his engineering from the prestigious Kumaraguru College of Technology at Coimbatore and also secured a place for himself at the North Carolina State University in the US. He explains, “Since we have have grown with the economy of the city over the past 25 years we were able to understand the potential and have now come up with the Vijay Elanza - a hotel with a number of facilities that will attract all the segments of the business community. “ The young businessman is a hands on

boss and he makes it a point to meet each and every service provider, vendor and works with his team at all times. He shares his success formula, “In any hotel 20% of the infrastructure is blocked for F&B and rooms take up 80% of the area. However Coimbatore is a business city with a large floating crowd and therefore we have allotted 50% for F&B and 50 % for rooms.

Our approach is unique and requires a lot of attention. We may hold several banquets on an everyday basis but it is our duty to make each one of them memorable for our guests as each banquet is a part of their lives. I share the excitement of my clients and take care of their needs with the maturity of our collective experience.”

His eyes brighten further while he talks about his latest project - Vijay Elanza, “Our banquet hall is the only one in Coimbatore where one can celebrate an occasion with rituals for our suction engineered system will ensure that the guests are comfortable throughout even when there is a holy fire burning in the hall. Ours is the only banquet space where you could drive in conveniently in your luxury vehicle and drive out effortlessly. The hotel is ecofriendly as we have let in more of natural light and have taken care to fix the best water purifying plant, sewage treatment system and rain water harvesting structures. In the long run we wish to create an in-house facility to reuse bio

degradable garbage generated by us. After all, Coimbatore is the ecological capital of Tamil Nadu and we intend to keep it that way,” he explains with pride.

One cannot but appreciate the entrepreneurial acumen of Shivakumar as he serves one more ace, “We are living in a competitive world and have to realise that commerce is global and therefore capital is mobile. Our policy is to make all our assets lean and mean in order to ensure that they yield good returns. Therefore our group understands the importance of people and we want our team to grow with us. We belong to the’ Make in India’ times and I fully understand that vitality is the vitamin of life,” he signs off with flourish.

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COIMBATORE

The Speed Demon He didn’t play with toys or building blocks as a child. A replica of French racing driver Jean Alesi’s car was his favourite toy. From playing with battery operated cars, he graduated to Go-Karts and naturally progressed into racing. Twenty one-year-old Arjun Narendran from Coimbatore is one of the country’s most promising talents on the racing circuit. RITZ talks to the speedster about his love for cars and what makes him satisfy his adrenaline rush.

Text: Rajesh Govindarajulu Arjun Narendran earned his first ever title on the national racing circuit when he sealed the Indian Touring Car Championship with two wins at the 2014 MMSC-FMSCI National Racing Championship (NRC) at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida.

Trained by six-time INRC motor rally champion N. Leelakrishnan, the youngster from Coimbatore has his roots firmly set in the racing capital of the country, with countless connections and mentors in the sport.

Humility is his hallmark while he talks about his achievements and recognitions, “I won the Indian National Touring Car Championship twice in a row and I happen to be the only one to win it twice. Another time I was the placed third in the overall championship in the 1600cc category. I have 19 wins so far. I have lap records in all the circuits. I owe all my victories to my mentors and was super happy to receive the FMSCI 2014 Indian National Touring Car Champion Award and the Auto Track 2014 Award in the same category. A popular racing magazine also awarded me with the title of Car Racer of the Year,” he tells us with pride.

Arjun is eager to share details pertaining to his role in motor sports. “The world of motor sports has several categories and classifications. I race in the Indian National Touring Car category. It’s a petrol car with a ceiling of 1799 cc. Basically you choose any normal car, strip it down - upgrade the brakes, engine, suspension, the gear box while adding a roll bar for safety. You have to bring down the weight as much as possible. There are three tracks in India where we race and they are in Coimbatore

Every single race is crazy, exciting and dramatic.

There was one race where only two out of ten participants finished, everyone else crashed, including me. But there was another race where I had to start last because I didn’t qualify; yet I finished first. That was a great feeling (2.1 km), Chennai (3.74 km) and Delhi (5.4 km). I have raced on all the three of them. The Formula Ford Championship is one more area of interest and it is a single seater car race with the cars from Jayam Automotive by Mr. J Anand. We reach a speed of about 220 km per hour and

turn the corners at 165 km per hour,” he explains, the thrill in his voice evident to us as we listen on.

With regard to his future plans he says, “I am going to race in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and in Chennai over the next year. In the long run I want to try my hand at winning the British Touring Car Championship. I went to check out the various tracks in England recently. Unlike India they have a track in every major city and I really want to race on those circuits for a while.”

Hailing from one of Coimbatore’s most illustrious families, he is the grandson of SNR Chinnaswamy Naidu of the famous SNR Sons Charities, and his family manages the well-known Sri Ramakrishna Hospital and several large educational institutions in and around the Coimbatore region. His maternal grandfather V. Ramesh was a famous Telugu movie producer.

Currently pursuing his engineering degree at the Sri Ramakrishna Engineering College Arjun says he plans to take his GRE and TOEFL this year and complete post graduation in Hospital Management in the US. When we ask him what the most exciting thing about racing is, he says, “Every single race is crazy, exciting and dramatic. There was one race where only two out of ten participants finished, everyone else crashed, including me. But there was another race where I had to start last because I didn’t qualify; yet I finished first. That was a great feeling.”

In three years, he sees himself taking part in The British Touring Car Championship.

We hope he realises his dreams and keeps our adrenaline racing with all the victories to come.

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HYDERABAD

Signature Supraja Supraja Rao’s client list is the envy of many of her contemporaries. For somebody who is self taught, this celebrated interior designer has traversed an enriching and inspiring path. RITZ catches up with the super haute decorator whose personal style is as eclectic as her professional one.

Text: Vanaja Banagiri

When Supraja Rao founded Design House in the early 90s soon after graduating from college, interior designing was more of an elitist passion. And then came a time when homes became more sophisticated and decorative to harmoniously integrate into a modern environment. That was the period Supraja’s popularity began to soar. She taught herself interior design through keen observation and self study and is today among the best in her business. Her firm does a variety of interior projects, her forte being residential design. She has several projects in India, Dubai & USA to her credit.

Her fame spread through word-of-mouth and she was flooded with offers to design the homes of high profile clients. Gradually, she entered commercial spaces and began designing office spaces and restaurants.

“A house is no fashion statement,” says the winner of the prestigious award, Bharat Vikas Ratna, “It is an expression of a personality. It should stand out with rich

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subject matter reflecting endless fodder for mental imagery.” The strength of her designs lies not only in their versatility but also the mixed cultural experiences they reflect, a direct influence of her travels across the globe.

Design in contemporary and classic fashion being her forte, she believes that using elements of design aesthetically can make any home or office, small or large, look chic.

Supraja’s strength is also in blending the motifs from the past with materials of the present. She believes that `Indianness’ is timeless and not enough has been explored in this area. She confesses that she is guilty too. Besides using Indian art and craft here and there, she needs to do more too, she says.

She has been an active member of IIID, Hyderabad chapter and has been its joint secretary for four years. Her accomplishments include the homes of Hyderabad’s elite and offices of Tata

Projects Ltd, GVK One Mall, major IT companies and Hyderabad Convention Centre amongst several others. What makes her one of the most sought after designers in the city? Responds Supraja, “The ability to do a good design alone will not make one a good or successful designer. One has to be a good manager and most importantly, be a sensitive person. Design is an integral part of our lives, it enables how we live, work, entertain, and socialise with others around us.”

Among the many accolades that adorn

her shelf, Design House has won the IIID-MK award at the national level for a commercial project, and won four IIID-HRC awards, in 2008. Her company, Design house, works in various styles including contemporary, minimalist period and Mediterranean styles. Inventive design and extreme professionalism are the hallmarks of the firm. Assurance of quality and professionalism in business are the firm’s commitments to clients.

Supraja’s accomplishments include the homes of Hyderabad’s elite and offices of Tata Projects Ltd, GVK One Mall, major IT companies and Hyderabad Convention Centre amongst several others

The firm’s focal point while treating spaces has been to maintain the principles and the essence of design, without compromising aesthetics or function. Supraja Rao’s foot prints include large projects in Delhi, Chennai, Nagpur, Goa, Guntur and Vizag and some work in the U.S and U.A.E. Design House has several projects of Corporate Offices, Restaurants, an International School and Shopping Malls.

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BENGALURU

The Socially Conscious Fashionista Her mind is filled with new ideas, some so far removed from the everyday thought process that one actually needs to sit back and take a moment to understand and imbibe the underlying essence behind her ideology. She’s the woman behind three exigent fashion ventures and launched her most recent social enterprise, Indelust just over a year ago. Her love for fashion and her passionate entrepreneurial streak have helped her make her mark in the industry.

Meet Sana Rezwan Sait, Bengaluru’s most fashionable, yet socially oriented entrepreneur.

Text: Archana Shenoy

She’s a complete Bengaluru girl at heart and the younger daughter of real estate magnate Rezwan Razack of the Prestige Group. Having now made her home in New York, Sana Rezwan Sait returns to the city at least four to five times a year, not just to look in on her business, but to live and breath Bengaluru’s unique experiences that she says rejuvenate her senses. She was here recently to celebrate the first anniversary of her pet project, Indelust.

Chatting about what provoked her to venture into unchartered territories like socially and ethically curated fashion, the ever elegant, ingenious entrepreneur says, “ For the better part of my professional career, the most cutting edge aspects in fashion were taking place abroad London, Milan, New York, etc. Now for the first time, there are so many creative and

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innovative designers coming out of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and some designers who have studied and/ or worked abroad, but have come back ‘home’ to re-interpret what they learned, utilizing traditional styles and techniques. As an Indian, I am proud that we are finally doing something the rest of the world is paying attention to. Indelust is an expression of this new fashion sense and confidence emerging from our part of the world.”

Created to champion a model whereby the production of beautifully produced, differentiated products could also positively impact those involved in its creation, Sana’s venture is a for-profit social enterprise that ethically sources fashion, art and home accessories from the Indian Subcontinent.

“I left home for university when I was 18, and ended up working and studying in London for eight years. I was very fortunate to have had my training at some of the best fashion houses in the world, like Stella McCartney, Jasmine DiMilo, Giorgio Armani, and Liberty of London,” she explains. In 2011, she decided the time was right to move back to India and create something different, which is when Maison, the city’s most upmarket high fashion destination, was born. As

circumstance would have it, she ended up meeting her husband-to-be at her store, and then moved to be with him in New York. This made tending a stand-alone store in Bengaluru impossible. “I resolved that whatever I did next would at its core still be about India, but would not constrain me to one store or location – hence my reason for starting Indelust and indelust.com,” she explains.

Her love for fashion and her understanding of the vast subject is

legendary in Bengaluru city. She lives by the motto ‘less is more’ and firmly believes in adopting a balance for everything in life. She lives and breathes Indelust, whether in New York or India. “Apart from managing the workflow of my India team from here and sourcing for the site, I spend a lot of time marketing and overseeing the web development aspect of our site, Indelust.com. At present I am in the midst of planning a couple of events in New York and Chicago that are coming up

over the next few months,” she explains.

Favouring designers like MSMD, Bodice, Sanchita or Huemn, her style is part boho and part rock-chic. She collects clothes because they are beautiful, some still having tags attached. That’s not to say she isn’t equally fond of her mother’s turquoise jewellery, old silver and her grandmother’s saris. Her passions in life food, art and her cat!

In that order, if you please.

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LOOKBOOK

Jewellery Courtesy

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She makes the perfect bride in this heavy, yet spectacular Kanjeevaram bridal lehenga

by Neeta Lulla. With a classic Victorian hair-do and perfect make-up she stuns the cameraman as he vies to capture her beauty on lens.

Enhanced by a superbly crafted heavy diamond choker and earrings, Tamannaah is the epitome of beauty and poise

The Essence Of Beauty Despite a manic day in sweltering Mumbai, our exclusive photoshoot with the smouldering Tamannaah Bhatia yielded spectacular results. Photographer Haider Khan captures the essence of Tamannaah’s beauty and poise through his camera.

RITZ presents Tamannaah in contemporary, yet festive looks the perfect fashion offering for the festive season.

Jewellery Courtesy

Jewellery Courtesy: Chennai Diamonds Styling: Nishka Lulla Make up: Billy Manik Hair: Madhuri Nakhale Coordination: Vanaja Banagiri & Archana Shenoy

White on white with an over-bright backlight is the photographer’s experiment in this shot. Dressed in an embellished peplum top

by Neeta Lulla, the look is completed by dhoti pants and beautiful diamond jhumkas from Chennai Diamonds

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LOOKBOOK

Jewellery Courtesy

The mirror is her best friend! Tamannaah strikes a pose for the shutterbug dressed in a Moko Mini Dress by Nachiket Barve, silver stilettos and just a dash of make-up on her flawless skin. Au Natural is the way she likes to look.

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Jewellery Courtesy

Tamannaah sizzles in an embellished black gown by Sonakshi Raj. On her ears are stunning diamond drop jhumkas from Chennai Diamonds

Chennai Diamonds A-13, 2nd Avenue, Roundtana Junction, Anna Nagar, Chennai Call: +91 44 - 2626 2099

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LOOKBOOK Tina showcases a neon green crushed sharara, paired with encrusted long jacket in net that is embellished with baadla and crystal work.

Tessa looks stunning in a neon pink and gold thread and baadla lehenga teamed with a gold net cape and bustier.

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Shimmer And Shine One of the few designers for bespoke Indian Couture in Bengaluru, Jamila and Seema Malhotra’s Shimmer is the perfect place for the best in bridal wear and festive ensembles. The only Indian garment store in the Bengaluru’s plush UB City mall, their garments are known for elegant embellishments and contemporary cuts, thereby bringing the perfect blend of Indian couture and traditional designs to the younger audience through their customised silhouettes and contemporary styles.

We showcase their stunning festive collection - perfect not just for the holiday season but for cocktails, parties, weddings and any other occasion.

Photographs: Faheem Hussain Location Courtesy: Taj West End Jewellery Courtesy: Srishti Gold & Diamond Jewellery, Indiranagar Make up: Bodycraft Spa & Salon, Indiranagar Hair style: Neha Jain

Tina wears a sea green foil georgette saree embellished with crystals, zardozi and pearl scalloped work with a sheeted sequinned bustier blouse

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LOOKBOOK Tessa strikes a beautiful pose in a red and gold floral embroidered lehenga worn with a cutwork bolero jacket over a bustier

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The twins make a striking pair with Tessa in a gold crushed lamĂŠ draped saree with powder pink net pallu that is embroidered with floral Lucknowi work. Her look is paired with a single shoulder sequin and net blouse.

Tina shows off a leaf green lehenga in Lucknowi jaali work with a shirt pleated jacket in net and embellished with sequins

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LOOKBOOK SHIMMER Shop No 213, 2nd floor, The Collection, UB City, 24, Vittal Mallya Road, Bengaluru Call: +91 80 4121 0558

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CORRIDORS OF POWER

A STAMPOf CLASS

(Pic: Mervin Alexander, Post Master General, Chennai)

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An extra two centimetres in height - 165 instead of 163, would have catapulted Mervin Alexander into the Indian Police Service. A topper in the IPS category in the Civil Services Examination in 1987 and an avid football champion to boot, Mervin Y PINTO

BY SANJA seemed cut out for the khakhi uniform and would have been an Additional Director General of Police today. But that difference of two centimetres led him to a different IPS – the Indian Postal Service, a cadre in which he now serves as Post Master General, Chennai with the same fervour and “absolutely no regret”.

In the late eighties and early nineties, quite a few agricultural science graduates and post graduates reaped a rich harvest in the Civil Services Exam. Mervin was part of that trend.

The next stage was also in line with a pattern – a stint as a Probationary Officer with a nationalised bank, which was a precursor to the footballer’s dream goal. His positive bent of mind and a passion to innovate probably made the one above change the goal posts to suit his interests. Two centimetres cannot come in the way of an officer’s thirst for field action and adventure. A few years into his career, Mervin was picked for the year long 51st course at the Defence College in Wellington in 1994. “My course mates are now Air Marshalls and Generals.” Three years ago, Mervin was among the fifteen civilians selected for a training programme at the National Defence College that culminated with an Mphil degree. “I will always cherish this period in my life. I flew in all aircraft, travelled in submarines, experienced the thrill of adventure and the spirit of sacrifice.”

For almost half his career, Mervin held posts in God’s Own Country where “everyone was always so down to earth”. Right from his initial posting as Divisional Superintendent of Postal Services, Mervin has served in Thrissur, Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi. Most bureaucrats view deputation as a refreshing change. Mervin has been no exception. “One of my most exciting desks was as Assistant Director General – Department of Posts in the Philately Wing.” As the Director of Postal Services in Thiruvananthapuram, Mervin introduced the E-Post Service, which helped people connect electronically with those who didn’t have an email account. The Kerala Chief Minister’s Cell used this facility to send out instantaneous

acknowledgements to petitioners. A five year stint as the Chief Vigilance Officer of the Cochin Port Trust and the Cochin Shipyard Limited gave him rich exposure in the shipping industry and also the nuances of combating corruption crusade. “During this period, I wrote many articles on anticorruption in newspapers.”

The highlight in his career, however, came soon after his promotion as Post Master General in 2009, with a coveted assignment as the Chief Executive Officer of Techno Parks in Kerala. “I used to report directly to the Chief Minister.”

Mervin relished working through different time zones. “We used to have long video conferencing sessions with big business entities in the United States. One such interaction with the Chief of Oracle, bolstered by the then Techno Parks Brand Ambassador Sashi Tharoor, resulted in the IT major setting up an office in the Techno Park in just 4 months.” Mervin also recalls with justifiable pride, Tata Consultancy Service setting up a massive Global Training Centre in the Techno Park with a hundred crore for fifteen thousand software professionals.

Chennai beckoned in 2012. Ever since Mervin took charge as the Post Master General of the Chennai City Region, there has never been a dull moment. Quite like the Know Your Customer (KYC) norms for banks, he brought about a ‘Know Your Postman’ initiative. “I wanted to revive the old bond between the postman and the people.” You can now get details like the name, beatwise limit and mobile number of your local postman from the postal department’s website. Remember that golden oldie “Please Mister Postman”?

Mervin has also tried to make conditions more ‘postman friendly’ by appealing to people, particularly Residents Welfare Associations “to ensure that door numbers, name boards and letter boxes are in order.

I also advise people that it’s better not to write a Pin Code if they are not sure about it, rather than write a wrong one.” As an old Vigilance hand, Mervin also knows when to crack the whip. “I have suspended about 35 postmen for pocketing money out of old age pensions through the Money Orders they deliver. I often instruct my postmen that there is no difference between a tip and a bribe.” Through helplines, decoy

parties and on the basis of even anonymous complaints, the PMG has made an honest attempt to curb corruption.

It’s hardly surprising that an officer like Mervin who never takes off his practical thinking cap was awarded for ‘Innovation’.

When the Sukanya Samriddhi Savings Scheme was launched, Mervin realised that the Hindi name may not easily pass muster with local folks. Although the scheme came with an attractive 9.2 per cent interest and income tax exemption under Sec 80 C, there was a disconnect. So in order to make it “locally geared”, it was called ‘Selvamagal Semippu Thittam’. With 11 lakh accounts in Tamil Nadu and 4 lakh in Chennai alone, adding that local flavour clearly helped.

Taking on courier and e-commerce companies was never going to be a cake walk. But when you have a PMG bursting with ideas, think again. And it’s not the run of the mill release of commemorative stamps of national figures or to mark national events. The ‘My Stamp’ facility was designed to make the common man feel like a celebrity. On payment of a few hundred rupees, any citizen can get their photograph printed on stamps. In keeping with the Aam Admi focus, Mervin plans to conduct a Letter Exhibition. “We can display personal letters of common people.

Imagine how priceless a soldier’s letter to his mother written along battlelines will be.” When I gently suggested including Letters To The Editor of newspapers in

the pre-social media age, Mervin jumped at the proposal. I offered to introduce him to a senior lawyer friend and a compulsive letter writer with a terrific sense of humour – M.A. Sadanand, I could sense his eyes lighting up. “I will go and visit him, Sanjay”.

Officers are after all “public servants”.

“Ten per cent of success is getting into the Civil Services. Ninety per cent is what you do in it.”

As a strict no-nonsense officer, Mervin dances to no ones tunes. The only honourable and understandable exception could be his wife Madonna who runs a dance school, with an offbeat name – ‘Madonna’s Mentals’. Erudition runs in the family. Their elder son Atul Alexander is pursuing his Post Graduation in Law at the School of Excellence in Chennai and the younger lad Rajath Alexander is studying M Tech in Material Science at IIT Madras as a DAE sponsored fellow. Football aside, this die hard Arsenal Fan loves to travel. “ I spend all my money on travelling. I have gone to all the continents in the world.” I remember seeing pictures of his recent holiday in Italy on facebook. Now here’s a bureaucrat who would welcome new postings and a change of address. If the people of Chennai ever let their favourite Post Master General go, it will be with a tearful Acknowledgement Due. (Sanjay Pinto is a Lawyer, Columnist, Author, Public Speaker & Former Resident Editor – NDTV 24x7)

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POINT BLANK

Make In India? Please Wait, You’re In A Queue...

When I first heard the ‘Make In India’ slogan, I was reminded of those brilliant lectures on ‘Swadeshi’ in my History classes at Loyola College. However, pride in your country’s potential must never be allowed to eclipse fact and reason.

That’s what distinguishes patriotism from jingoism. Now before a section flies off the handle, let me clarify that I’m neither a cheer leader not a baiter but a rational citizen with an equal amount of Indian DNA than anyone else. A journalist asks questions. A lawyer questions the answers.

With a journalist and a lawyer, brace yourself up for ‘Nothing But The Truth’.

Kingsley to play Gandhiji, foreign coaches for our sports teams and even a German Formula in our detergents.

Although well intentioned, I do believe that the ‘Make In India’ campaign inevitably invites cynicism and skepticism. And it has nothing to do with any particular leader or party. Our obsession with most things foreign, dates back many decades. Don’t forget that it took a Vincent Smith to write a chronological history of India, a Lord Curzon to draft the Ancient Monuments Act, a Richard Attenborough to make a film on the Father of our Nation, a Ben

Why are we so obsessed with manufacturing that accounts for a little over 15% of our GDP? Why are we not nurturing the services sector that contributes about 57%? Why do we penalise instead of incentivising job creators in this sector with a Shylockian 14% levy called Service Tax? The last time the basic exemption limit was raised to 10 lakh was 7 years ago. Back to manufacturing. Can you do a real estate

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BY SANJAY PINTO

transaction in India without a ‘black’ component? Can you get a licence or permit or some approval or sanction without greasing palms? Corruption is shooting up like the proverbial Jack’s beanstalk that would make Steven Spielberg contemplate making a film ‘Swindlers List’ in India! We need speedy clearances. We have speed money. We need a red carpet for investors.

We have redtapism. We need to catch investment. We are catching headlines.

If you don’t take my word, how about the World Bank’s ‘Ease Of Doing Business’ ranking? India was at the unenviable 130th position out of 189 countries. The ranking is based on parameters like permits, licences, clearances, land registration, service connections and so on. Predictably, we are behind China which is at the 90th position. The Central Govt alone is not to be blamed. Many clearances fall in the domain of the state governments. Given our Centre-State relations characterised by blame games and one-upmanship, the stated goal of improving our ranking by 85 rungs seems remote.

Now, some of you may even question World Bank documents. So how about a classic real life case study? Not of some babe in the woods but of a former Professor from the Entrepreneurial Development Institute of India. Prof.

Umesh Menon wanted to start a business in India. The oppressive tax regime and corruption forced him to shelve his plan.

Instead he went to Uganda and invested fifty thousand dollars in a cold storage facility. In 24 hours, he received a business welcome kit with all clearances, licences, tax number & even a driving licence! In 2010, he set up Mozambique’s first private hospital. There is no count of the number of Umesh Menons India has lost.

The JJ Irani Committee Report, way back in 2005, had underlined the need to deregulate private companies. However, the new Companies Act has done the opposite by subjecting private companies to restrictions on lending, restrictions on dealing with related parties. It takes a minimum of 18 months to get a trademark registered in India. Our warranties on manufactured goods are a joke as they are based on the Sale of Goods Act which operates on the principle of ‘Caveat Emptor’ or ‘Buyer Beware’ unlike the West which believes in ‘Caveat Venditor’ or ‘Seller Beware’. Here, ‘Goods once sold cannot be exchanged or taken back’.

There, they promise you 100% Satisfaction or your money back’. In other countries, power failure is an exception. In India, no newspaper is complete without a Power Shutdown section every single day. The Industrial Disputes Act doesn’t allow a company to directly close down a loss making unit. Despite assurances, tax terrorism has still not ended. A flip flop on the alternate tax demand from foreign companies has not helped.

Is it any surprise that after the IT Dept sent notices to about 90 foreign portfolio investors, they sold Indian shares and bonds of around $630 million on May 6, 2015 marking it as biggest single-day sale since January 2014? Is it any surprise that Exports have reduced to$23.88 billion in 2015 from $26.89 billion a year earlier. Is it any surprise that Growth in eight core industrial sectors like coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery, fertiliser, electricity, steel is down to 3.5 percent in 2014-15. Is it any surprise that manufacturing growth slowed down from 10% in 2005-10 to 4.2 % in the last 4 years? Is it any surprise that, according to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, between April-December, 2014, new companies incorporated have dropped by over 40%.? Is it any surprise that there is many a slip between A Letter of Intent & Actual Conversion and that actual realisation is only about 5%?

The tax demand on NOKIA’s Chennai plant was cited as a reason for its closure, depriving eight thousand direct employees and many others of their livelihood. Vodafone’s legal battle over retrospective tax is still fresh in the minds of investors. Walmart had to do a rethink on its partnership with an Indian company.

Apple started selling iPhones from 2007 but 8 years on, analysts suggest that they still they seem unsure of how to capture the 900 million cell phone market. P&G’s Gillette is reported to have spent three thousand hours and employed MIT graduates to design a razor called Vector for India and still it didn’t take off in 2002.

They probably didn’t realise that many Indian men used a mug instead of running water to clean the razor, which would get clogged after a single use!

The Indian brain has been exploited by foreign countries and companies. Our human resources constitute our biggest strength. But the monster of corruption is forcing us to do a fox trot – one step forward, two steps backward. So untill we address the ‘Bribe in India’ syndrome, let’s go easy on the ‘Make in India’ fanfare.

(Sanjay Pinto is a Lawyer, Columnist, Author, Public Speaker & Former Resident Editor – NDTV 24x7) NOVEMBER 2015 RITZ

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ADVERTORIAL 78

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BENGALURU

Understated Luxury In The Lap Of Nature Located in Kanakapura, one of the greenest and cleanest belts of Bengaluru city is Wilasa Grand Villaments, a Pride and Grandhige Estate property that offers the perfect blend of luxury amidst nature. Huge villas, state-of-the art facilities and high quality lifestyle are the hallmarks of this project. We check out the city’s newest address for relaxed luxury.

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ADVERTORIAL

Situated a few kilometres outside the city is Wilasa Grand Villaments, a Pride and Grandhige Estate property, that offers the luxury buyer everything they would want while shopping around for the perfect home. Away from the hustle and bustle of the city, it is a wonderful haven in the midst of a quiet silver oak plantation. Located around a landscaped lush green area creating a sense of nature all around, vehicular movement around the property is limited to the basement to provide an unpolluted space at the ground level for people to meet and socialise. Wilasa strikes a balance of all the benefits of living in a community and the advantages of private homes.

Built by the Pride Group, who as a conglomerate

Spread across five lush green acres with just 130 units, every home at Wilasa has interesting living spaces and the duplex units have their very own private gardens have developed projects in cities like Pune, Mumbai and Bengaluru, Arvind Jain, Chairman of the group says, “Joining hands and giving shape to the vision and dream of the Grandhige family has been an exciting journey; Wilasa has become our crown jewel.” The idea of Wilasa was born when a fruitful association came about between Tanvi Holdings and the Pride Group. “ We took three years to look for the right partner, design the living spaces and actually start construction,” tells Chetan GR, Managing Partner, Tanvi Holdings who is executing the project.

Spread across five lush green acres with just 130 units, every home at Wilasa has interesting living spaces and the duplex units have their very own private gardens keeping you connected with nature at its best every day.

There are essentially three types of homes called ‘Earth’, ‘Air’ and ‘Sky’. ‘Earth’ is a duplex unit spread across the ground and the first floor; ‘Air’ is a simplex (single floor) unit on the second floor; and ‘Air’ is another duplex unit spread across the third and fourth floors. ‘Earth’ and ‘Sky’ units are both equipped with private gardens. Each home has a double-height ceiling creating an exquisite sense

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ADVERTORIAL Wilasa-A Pride and Grandhige Estate, Dodda Kallasandra- Narayana Nagar Road, Anjanadri Layout, Konanakunte, Bengaluru, Karnataka.

Call: +91 78488 21505

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The land is located on a rich water table surrounded by the evergreen Kanakapura belt. There is a pleasant expanse of green in the central garden as well of space in the living and dining areas. Each wing is also designed to hold only five residences and offer the villa experience with all the conveniences of an apartment.

Each villa is spread across a sprawling 2,800 to 4,500 square feet area overlooking greenery all around.

A whole host of utilities which are highly functional, high on design and quality makes Wilasa the definitive home for your loved ones. It is a comprehensively green project and is equipped to optimise the use of natural resources. The land is located on a rich water table surrounded by the evergreen Kanakapura belt.

There is a pleasant expanse of green in the central garden as well.

Every home is handed over to a select set of people who appreciate the values that the brand represents.

It is built upon a vision that promotes a sense of community as its core idea. Wilasa presents a space which is professionally managed with state-of-the-art security systems in place. The campus is completely Wi-Fi enabled and every unit is home automation ready.

In addition to the spectacular amenities Wilasa offers, the community is further accentuated by the fact that it is close to everything you may need in terms of healthcare, entertainment, education and the like.

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DESIGN ELEMENTS

HYDERABAD

Luxury’s new address Everything here spells luxury, from the interiors of the store to the kind of merchandise stocked on its elegant shelves. The new address for high-end home decor solutions, Elvy Lifestyle is a store worth visiting, if nothing else then just to experience the exquisiteness all around.

Text: Vanaja Banagiri

Entrepreneurs Vandana and Lovy Khosla conceived and set up Elvy Lifestyle in March 2006 which today boasts of the finest luxury products in the arena of Home Decor. The leading luxury home and lifestyle brand recently opened the doors of its first ever store in Hyderabad at Banjara Hills. Since its inception, the brand has housed premium quality pieces and a truly distinct feel. The store at Banjara hills is yet another milestone with its beautiful plush interiors and offers a wide range of exquisite collections, sourced from different corners of the world and displayed to perfection.

Elvy has everything that spells luxury at its best and the displayed collections are breathtaking.

Right from beautiful decor pieces to categories which include Serving, Kitchen, Bar, Office, Games, Bath, Outdoor, Travel, Teens and juniors, the store is replete with quirky as well as sophisticated pieces which cater to varied tastes. The store is replete with pretty lamps, handsome accessories and art pieces.

Exclusive in their appearance and high on

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versatility, Elvy has always had something for everyone, and the new store is just another step ahead in making the idea even more successful. Apart from its collections, the store introduces a new range of furniture too.

With the launch of the new store, the brand

aims to maintain the niche statement that it has achieved over time with its handpicked collections. Both Vandana and Lovy Khosla are justifiably proud of the way they have built the brand. With their Hyderabad launch, Elvy’s intent to carve out its place as a synonym of luxury home decor has been quite successful.

Elvy Store is at: Ground floor 8-2-684/3/162, Banjara Hills, Road No 12, Hyderabad NOVEMBER 2015 RITZ

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BENGALURU

Shades Of Understated Royalty Ganjam, the luxury heritage jewellery brand celebrated the completion of 125 years by launching its flagship store in Bengaluru.

With a legacy of being jewellers to Indian royalty, their name has grown synonymous with India’s leading luxury brands offering an exquisite blend of the modern and the traditional, both in their jewellery as well in the architectural aesthetic of their new store.

Text: Archana Shenoy

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Banyan tree, a high gloss rosewood for the furniture, an Indian silk paneling on the walls, wool and silk for the carpets inspired by the deep colours of a peacock, a bronze finished metal for the metal work in order to be differentiate and not compete with the precious jewellery colours.

The wish was to create a real massive and timeless architecture made of stone only.

This aesthetic of mass and roughness gives a strong contrast with the refinement of the pieces of jewels. The building and the interior design is definitively contemporary.

The reference to the Indian symbols are not obvious, they are all reinterpreted,” explains Montel.

The store comprises of individual retail spaces designed to offer personalised service to the customers.

Located on Vittal Mallya Road, Ganjam’s flagship store is spread over 14,250 sqft and is a contemporary interpretation of a temple that reflects the deep heritage of the brand. The massive dimensions, the walls composed of cut stones, the harmonious integration into the landscape, the feeling of space and air that is felt everywhere, the carved columns, all combine to create a space that is evocative of Hampi and Dravidian architecture.

Says renowned design personality Denis Montel, Managing & Artistic Director, RDAI, who has designed stores for Hermes and other well acclaimed international luxury brands: “The spatial organisation and the layout are driven by the Vastu mandala where nature, man and his creations are all one. We definitely were convinced by the use of natural and authentic materials, and thus the idea to use solid stone for the façade design emerged.”

The texture, the colours, the relation to nature, the symbolic elements all inspires the creative team, on top of which they discovered the group of monuments at Hampi thanks to the wonderful photographic testimony of the Ganjam book. The austere and grandiose site of Hampi, with Dravidian temples and palaces won their admiration and stimulated their imagination and creativity.

“We tried to create for Ganjam a unique

and sensorial experience, through a contemporary expression of this new space, though still linked with nature and with the 5 elements. All the important symbols for the brand - the Hampi temple, the peacock, the banyan tree, the number 5 - gave us the inspiration, their significant details, the sophistication and refinement of their handcrafting and their profound humanity and values told us to use natural materials: lime stone with a golden warm colour for the façade, the floor and the interior walls, a golden teak to express the contemporary

Ganjam is at 22/12, Vittal Mallya Road, Bengaluru Call: +91 80 2226 1233

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DESIGN ELEMENTS

CHENNAI

The House Of Champions One would image the home of a Formula 1 driver to be as flambouyant as his lifestyle. Yet Chennai boy Karun Chandhok’s home is the epitome of class and sophistication with not a hint of glitz or bling in sight. We tour the speedster’s beautifully decorated home in Kotturpuram.

Text: Diya Subramanian

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The upper level of the house is their more personal space and is decorated with a large number of family portraits and scores and scores of Karun’s medals and trophies.

“As Karun’s interest in cars started at a young age, there are cupboards of showpiece cars that he has been collecting for years now. But over the years as he started racing the trophies started coming in we needed more space. So we have them displayed all over the house now - it’s what happens when you are a proud parent,” she smiles.

The temple in the home is of huge relevance to the family. There is an idol of Lord Ganesha that is more than 100 years old and occupies a place of pride there.

This idol has been with Chitra Chandhok’s grandfather for years and has been passed

His home is his haven and rightly so, for Karun Chandhok usually spends a better part of the year in hotel rooms - albeit plush ones - when he’s racing. Located in one of the quiet tree-lined avenues of Kotturpuram, his house is hard to miss.

The very first impression that we get as we walk through the pretty trellis covered with verdant climbers is the warmth and feeling of welcome that the house radiates.

It is classy, understated and elegance personified, with the living room being done in deep purples, lending a royal yet graceful feel to the space. The dull yellow lighting used through the room accentuates the unusual colour and heightens the sense of mystery that goes perfectly with the theme and decor of the space. Karun’s mother, Chitra says, “This is the room we have the best memories in. Whether it’s with family or friends, everyone always has a good time so the idea behind it was to make it inviting and homely because we do want all our guests to feel at home when they come over.”

It’s a large open plan living room that spills over into an opulent dining and bar space.

The idea was to integrate the spaces, tells his mother, so that guests could mill around through each room and not feel confined or claustrophobic at any time. Being an artist of much repute Chitra Chandhok’s work is seen on most available surfaces of the home. There are several works by noted

Chennai artist Usha Devi as well, whom Chitra happens to know very well. Her love for art and beautiful things is reflected in the well manicured garden as well, where she has several sculptures by Dimpi Menon, another noted Bengaluru-based artist and a close friend of the family.

The entire lower level of the house that encompasses the living and dining spaces and the garden and bar are used for entertaining purposes as the Chandhoks love having people over and often entertain big groups of guests.

down to each generation at the opportune time.

The entire home is a reflection of the family’s closeness and bonding. It’s also a museum of Karun and his brother Suhail’s achievements - one with his interest in racing and the other in cricket. With walls dedicated to trophies, the huge number of sporting paraphernalia lying around and pictures that chronicle their various victories there is no doubt that this is the house of champion sportsmen.

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WANDERLUST

The Land Of Coconuts and Culture The shores of Fort Kochi have been like a Venus Fly Trap for traders, luring them to its rich lands from shores afar and imbibing into its character a bit of essence from each one of them. From giant fishing nets that are remnants of ancient Chinese architecture, to a 400-year-old Jewish Synagogue, quaint mosques courtesy Arab traders who landed here, Portuguese houses and bungalows that are remnants of the British Raj, today’s Fort Kochi is a charming blend of Portugal, Holland, China, England and a dash of Malayalee magic thrown in for good measure.

Archana Shenoy explores this quaint part of Kerela’s coastline.

Since the beginning of Common Era, Arabian and Chinese traders sourced spices, especially pepper, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, sandal wood etc. from the Kochi region. Cultivation and trade of these valuable goods shaped the history of the region. Fort Kochi, or Old Kochi as it was known earlier derives its name from the Malayalee term kochazhi, which literally translates to ‘little estuary’.

The area of modern day Kochi known as Fort Kochi was granted to the Portuguese in 1503 by the Rajah of Kochi, after the forces of Afonso de Albuquerque helped him fight the forces of Saamoothiri of Kozhikode. The Rajah also gave them permission to build Fort Emmanuel near the waterfront to protect their commercial interests. The first part of the name Fort Kochi comes from this fort, which the Dutch later destroyed. The Portuguese built their settlement behind the fort, including a wooden church, which was rebuilt in 1516 as a permanent structure, today known as the St Francis Church. Fort Kochi remained in Portuguese possession for 160 years. In 1683 the Dutch captured the territory from the Portuguese, destroyed many Portuguese institutions, particularly Catholic convents. The Dutch held Fort Kochi in their possession for 112

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years until 1795, when the British took control by defeating the Dutch.

Today when you look left you feel you’re in a tiny Portuguese village, look right and it transforms into a Dutch hamlet. Head to the shore and find giant Chinese fishing nets languishing on a hyacinth infested beach alongside a statue of Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama; a beautiful Dutch cemetery and loads and loads of Malayalee flavour enhanced by chattering fish mongers, elaborate Kathakali masks and scores of white saree clad ladies.

Jew Town It is the centre for the spice traders of the area with the historic pepper auction house located a few streets away from the iconic Jewish Synagogue. The air is thick with the cloying aroma of spices - cardamom, cloves, cumin, ginger and of course the black gold of Kerala - pepper. The by-lanes around the small, but beautiful Dutch Palace and synagogue are filled with traders hawking so-called antiques, local handicrafts, blue pottery and tons and tons of curios.

Originally built in 1568, the synagogue was partially destroyed by the Portuguese in 1662, and rebuilt two years later when the Dutch took Kochi. It features an ornate gold pulpit and elaborate hand-painted, willow-patterned floor tiles from China. The clock tower was built in 1760. There is an upstairs balcony for women, who worshipped separately according to Orthodox rites.

Mattancherry Palace Built by the Portuguese in 1557 and presented to Raja Veera Kerala Varma of Kochi, the Palace was renovated in 1663 by the Dutch. The palace with a Bhagavathi Temple in the central courtyard is built like the typical Kerala style mansion - the Nalukettu - the home of the aristocracy, nobility and upper classes, with four separate wings opening out to a central courtyard.

The double storeyed palace building which stands by the panoramic Kochi backwaters has an exquisite collection of murals collectively covering over 300 sq ft of its walls. The themes of these murals have been borrowed from the great Indian epics - the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, and mythology and legends about the Hindu gods especially Guruvayurappan. Some murals depict scenes from Kumarasambhavam and other works of the great Sanskrit poet Kalidasa. Also on display are royal paraphernalia like weapons, swings and furniture which offer a glimpse of the lifestyle of the royal family.

Kerala Kathakali Center In an intimate, wood-lined theatre, this place provides a useful introduction to Kathakali, complete with handy translations of the night’s story. The centre also hosts daily performances of the martial art of kalarippayattu.

Chinese Fishing Nets The huge cantilevered fishing nets that droop towards the waters like over-sized hammocks have become a hallmark that represents Fort Kochi on the tourist map. Once just a fishing accessory, it is a now a big bait for tourists. Chinese fishing nets - Cheenavala in Malayalam - are believed to have been introduced in Kochi by Chinese explorer Zheng He, from the court of the Kubla Khan. The fishing net established itself on the Kochi shores between 1350 and 1450 AD. The sight of the Chinese nets, suspended in mid air and standing in line on the beaches, when silhouetted against the sunset is breathtakingly beautiful. It is, undoubtedly, one of the most photographed sights in Kochi.

For the best view of the nets, head to the Vasco da Gama Square, the narrow walkway that runs along the Fort Kochi beach.

While mainland Ernakulam is a vibrant city boasting of much local history and the famous Middle East chain Lulu Mall and Hypermarket, it is the old historical towns of Fort Kochi and Mattancherry that remain wonderfully atmospheric, redolent with flavours of foreign invasions and scores of traders, each one of whom left their unique stamp on its shores.

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Photographs: Susan Abraham

FOODIES INC.

Sunday just gets more super at The Hyatt Regency There’s something special about a Sunday Brunch - the fact that you can get a lazy start to that one day of the week, the freedom of not stepping into the kitchen in your home, but instead heading out to experience a smorgasbord of food, spread enticingly to appease even the most fussy palate, and the sheer freedom to lounge around with a plate in front of you for a better part of the day.

And believe us when we say that Spice Haat at The Hyatt Regency offers all of the above and then some at the lavish Sunday brunch spread that they put together each week.

Spice Haat boasts of the perfect ambience to encompass this lavish spread. Says Chef Subrata Debnath, “We look to keep changing the menu every few weeks as we have regular customers who keep coming back and we want to give them something different, so our menu is always evolving.

The focus is to make every cuisine as

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authentic as possible but exciting at the same time.”

Spread across 8000 sqft with its eclectic market-like ambience, the brunch spread begins with drinks, including a variety of customised cocktails, refreshing mocktails, fresh juices and a selection of soft beverages and fine spirits, both imported and indigenously procured. Moving on from the beverage selection, one’s attention is captured by the massive spread set out artistically - ranging from street food like chaats, varieties of dishes prepared in North Indian and South Indian styles, a selection of Thai, Chinese and Continental dishes, an assortment of cold cuts, cheeses and relishes to accompany them, fresh meat and seafood and a massive range of Indian and Western desserts to choose from.

The chefs curating the lavish spread have taken fusion and food ideology to a new

level with their culinary creativity. Simple Galouti Kebabs take on a new meaning when they’re made with mushroom. These delectable morsels are further stuffed into naan bread, elevating the most common and humble dishes on the Indian menu to a new palatable stratosphere. Then there was the experiment undertaken by the chef to stuff an ordinary Mexican Chilli Con Carne into coloured bell peppers. When mixed with lamb and cooked to perfection, this new-age twist to an age-old staple gives new meaning to the dish itself.

Sushi rolled to perfection, an array of fresh meat and seafood and kebabs that come straight out of the tandoor and find their way onto your plate, freshly prepared South Indian favourites like paniyaram, appam and dosai, made hot as you wait for them to hit your plate; rich Indian curries and warm succulent breads…. the variety on display is mind-boggling.

And once you’ve managed to plough your way through this feast, take yourself through another journey of temptation as you hit the dessert counter. From colourful, airy Macaroons to a unique Tofu Cheesecake and Vanilla Panacotta, there’s also a load of Indian sweets and pastries to choose from.

Do remember to take your appetite along with you though, specially when you want to hit the brunch and then hang around for a bit ending your Sunday on a high note!

Hyatt Regency is located at 365, Anna Salai, Teynampet, Chennai.

Call +91 44 6100 1234 for reservations.

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FOODIES INC.

Frozen

Time

When Meghna Rao and Rohan Lepps started their first ice cream joint `Oh So Stoned’ in Karkhana, Secunderabad, three years ago they knew it would do well but the success surpassed all their expectations, which egged them on to start a branch on Road Number 2, Banjara Hills. A super duper hit with the youngsters in the city, their first café lounge threw its doors open in Madhapur recently and there is a beeline for their exotic offerings already.

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she asked the owners and her friends, Meghna and Rohan, to come up with an ice cream in his name. That’s how `Cherry Cherry’ – creamy Vanilla ice cream fused with Amaretto flavoured Cherry Pie - was born. You also have ice cream burgers which unless you dig in, you can’t tell they are frozen. `Amercian Pie’ – happens to be a rich Vanilla ice cream fused with apple pie filling, cinnamon sugar and hot caramel sauce. We also tried `Barbecued Macaroni’ and `Amaretto Capuccino’ to warm up our tongues that were slurring by now. We’re mentioning just a few scoops of ice creams, savouries and coffee we managed to taste, mind you! How much can you expect a normal human being to devour in one sitting?

One thing that looms large like a halo around your head when you visit ‘Oh So Stoned’ is confusion. You heard it right! The moment you’re handed the multicoloured menu, you get so drawn into the unique permutations and combinations with quirky names to match, that you just can’t make up your mind. Here’s a mini dekko.

While you have the best of both worlds in `Red Velvet Cake Sundae’, ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Brownie Ice cream’ is an instant hit with most youngsters for whom this place is a cool joint quite literally.

‘Chikki Chikki Bang Bang’ is a crunchy blend of Vanilla and Butterscotch ice cream with chikki and hot caramel sauce.

Pandu, pandu, pandu named after a superhit Chiranjeevi song got his son Ram Charan’s wife Upasna so kicked that

Also on offer are Ice Cream Cakes – Black Forest & Golden Treat – which have become hugely popular for birthdays and Ice Cream Fingers – Nutella, Coffee and Fruit besides thick shakes, baked cheese cake ice creams and a huge variety of coffees. Oh shoot, we forgot the whacky Rum Baba – coffee ice cream mixed with chocolate rum balls doused in chocolate rum fudge sauce! All the sauces are made in house, the ingredients are organic and you can tell the difference.

Finally comes the `Paan Shaan’ – a creamy kulfi ice cream with real paan infused with roasted almonds. Did you just say OMG? You can say that again!

“Basically, the idea was to spoil the city with the choicest of ice creams and a place with a certain cool quotient that people can identify with,” says Rohan speaking about their newly opened Café Lounge in Madhapur, “Our Karkhana and Banjara Hills outlets are more popular for take aways and we wanted to offer a place where people could just hang out indulging in some frozen delights.” “We also serve munchies and coffee to complete the experience,” says Meghna, his life and business partner, who has designed the lounge in keeping with their vision. The former ISB students perfectly complement each other in their roles. While she is the creative head, coming up with perfect recipes and names, he ensures everything is executed perfectly including the operations. “Oh So Stoned, The Ice Cream Joint, is the name we both came up with. Pun intended,” they say in unison. Their offers also have quirky names. Monday Blues, Wheel of Fortune Wednesdays, Flower Power Fridays, so on and so forth.

Location: Oh So Stoned, 1-65/82/83, Accor Blu kavuri Hills, Madhapur, Hyderabad Call: +91 40 6519 9411 / +91 76800 75541 NOVEMBER 2015 RITZ

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Straight Out Of The Box

FOODIES INC.

BENGALURU

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They’re not quirky or crazy - they’re simply different with a twist. From grassy green walls to macrame chandeliers, goli soda cocktails to drinks served in hospital drip bottles, Bangalore’s newest hotspot The Open Box is all about keeping the mind open to new experiences, new tastes and new sensations.

RITZ is excited to be one of the first special invitees to check out this new rage in town

RITZ NOVEMBER 2015

The Open Box philosophy is to stay open to new ideas, new thoughts, and new feelings. Working against being tied down by traditions and conventions, their whole belief is based around the idea of not being restricted by thoughts or actions. The entire concept of The Open Box is to encompass the broader aspects of life under a single roof; from one’s morning fitness sessions to meetings, to unwinding at the end of the day.

One step inside The Open Box will make it abundantly clear that this is a space quite unlike any other, from the designs on the walls to the items on the menu, even the way the drinks are served. The aim is to surround guests with visually awesome décor while they enjoy a meal or a drink. The Open Box has something for everyone, right from the postbox you see upon entering the place, to the wacky number plates on the washroom walls. Each aspect of its design vies for attention while one is left awestruck by the rawness and magnetism all around.

The Open Box kitchen is an exciting laboratory of fusion and flavours. Their Food Ninjas have created the entire menu with the idea of providing guests with unique and unusual food, some of which one would probably not even have heard of; let alone tasted. The Sorrow Absorbers plan to do just what their name suggests by whipping up cocktails that taste like… well, happiness, from the funky Science Experiment to the stunning Cuban Goli. The eclectic bill of fare from the Maa-ki Sushi, and Spanish Lungi Biryani to Genie in a bottle and Drips Martini, is designed to delight and surprise.

Says Amit Ahuja, owner, “The Open Box believes in giving the new, the different and the bizarre a chance. While we have kept our entire space open to interpretation, our core idea is simple - “never be restricted”. We believe that we have created the perfect space where people feel free to express themselves and where their actions will create a butterfly effect that spreads across the city of Bengaluru.”

Address: The Open Box, 9, 4th Floor, Halcyon Complex, St. Marks Road, Bengaluru Contact: +91 80 4129 0055 / 4128 0055 Visit: www.theopenboxindia.com FB Page: www.facebook.com/theopenboxblr Twitter handle: www.twitter.com/theopenboxblr

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