Ritz April 2016

SOUTH INDIA’S PREMIER UBER LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

APRIL 2016 VOL 12 | ISSUE 09

`100

DETAILED & EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE OF

PRESENTS

Creative, Confident & Connected

THEY STAND FOR COURAGE, WILLPOWER, HIGH SPIRITS & NO COMPROMISE

+ FASHION UPDATES, FEATURES AND LOTS MORE

MY VIEW

The success of the first edition of the Jaguar RITZ Entrepreneurship Summit in Chennai and Coimbatore is one we will cherish for a long time to come. The reason lies not only in the fact that the Summit was a precursor to our national business media venture. It is also because not many media houses have boldly undertaken multi-city events featuring inspirational entrepreneurs and world-renowned brands. For us at Team RITZ, the thrill of doing what has never been done before, is far greater than any excitement money can generate.

We have a whole lot of goals for this financial year and look forward to soaring even higher. To loosely employ Vladimir Putin, ‘We have a feeling we are going to get everything we want.�

I wish the same for you too!

ARUNA R KRISHNAN

FOLLOW US

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Over A Cuppa

Sid and Simran Mangharam get singles together to strike the perfect match

Buzzin'

Our lowdown on what's hot and happening in your city

26 RSVP

The Teach For Change annual fundraiser took place at Taj Falaknuma Palace

YFLO celebrated International Women’s Day in a unique way

Sephora launched their first store in Bengaluru’s Forum Mall

40 Cover Story

15-time World Champion Pankaj Advani is the only player to have won world titles in all forms of billiards and snooker

Meet Anusha Ravi, Rinku Mecheri and Sriya Chari, three high-octane ladies who have contributed hugely in redefining the essence of what is expected of a woman

52 Jaguar Ritz Entrepreneurship Summit 2016 - Chennai and Coimbatore editions

Chennai was speechless as audiences sat back and listened to enterprising entrepreneurs speak on the Hits and Misses of Entrepreneurship

Coimbatore was treated to an evening of intellectual stimulation as entrepreneurs took centerstage to speak at the summit

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Look Book

Bengaluru’s newest fashion genius, designer Runa Ray, recently showcased looks from her label Mojo at the New York Fashion Week

84 Point Blank

Samia Alam Khan not only hails from one of Hyderabad’s most illustrious families, she’s also a smart businesswoman

Does today’s PIL spell Publicity Interest Litigation, questions RITZ’s legal advisor

Shaaz Mahmood is a self confessed workaholic who juggles between two of the most happening haunts in the city

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Kritish Vummidi has ventured out of his comfort zone to find his true calling

80 Design Elements

Walk into Ranjit House and your senses are overwhelmed by its sylvan beauty and the owner ranjit Pratap's affable charm

Pavithra Sagar and Nikita Kapoor Bajaj are not only two of the most stylish ladies in Chennai, they’re also a fashion force to be reckoned with

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Check out some different summer street style looks, perfect for the scorching months ahead

Sanjay Pinto speaks to P. Selvaganesh, I.R.S, Competent Authority & Administrator – SAFEMA & NDPS Act

Corridors of Power

Trending Now

It is time to pack your bags and head out to unexplored lands. Find out where our favourite travellers want to drop new pins on the world map

The Old Curiosity Shop is a treasure trove of stories and unique finds

93 Wanderlust

Kowdiar Palace in Trivandrum reflects clearly the influence that Chinese traders had on the Malayalee community

96 Foodies Inc

ITC Gardenia brings to your table an array of guilt free indulgences

EDITOR & PUBLISHER ARUNA R KRISHNAN EDITOR’S SECRETARY & COORDINATOR JAFFAR ABDUL HAMEED REGIONAL EDITOR - KARNATAKA ARCHANA SHENOY REGIONAL EDITOR - TELANGANA & ANDHRA PRADESH VANAJA BANAGIRI FEATURES EDITOR - CHENNAI REBECCA VARGESE FEATURES EDITOR - HYDERABAD AJULI TULSYAN LEGAL COUNSEL SANJAY PINTO CHENNAI CORRESPONDENT DIYA SUBRAMANIAN GENERAL MANAGER - MARKETING PRAVEEN KUMAR M 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. Printed by B Ashok Kumar of Rathna Offset Printers at 40, Peters Road, Royapettah, Chennai - 600 014 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 3871 All correspondence should be addressed to: RITZ, 7th Floor, Sigma Wing, Raheja Towers, 177, Anna Salai, Chennai 600 002. Contact: 4211 3871 / 2 Email:admin@ritzmagazine.in

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SOPHISTIC

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PRODUCTS

NEW

LV goes wild!

Louis Vuitton’s ‘Tropical Journey’ capsule collection takes a trip to paradise and comes back with lush nature-inspired prints. This season, the summer collection is articulated around two printed stories.

Monogram Jungle: The iconic Monogram canvas is once again animated with a new print inspired by the Californian landscape and its emblematic palm trees and oasis.

Monogram Vernis Jungle: The Monogram patent leather is covered in dots evoking the fur of exotic animals.

Oil-Infused Shine The new Nourishing Lip Colour OilInfused Shine, is Bobbi Brown’s new and modern take on the lipstick. With a hand-selected blend of five deeply emollient natural oils and Vitamins C and E, this potent formula leaves lips with a super silky feel and luminous finish. The hybrid lip colour delivers 24-hour sustained moisturization, hydration and conditioning, with a nutrient-rich formula that works continuously to make lips softer, smoother and plumper - even after it’s taken off.

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BUZZ IN’

BENGALURU

Black ’n Red Wave So the Black and Red wave has engulfed Bengaluru, with fashionistas and fashion conscious men making a beeline for VR Bengaluru to hit Swedish brand H&M’s first outlet in the city. With amazing price points and a humongous line for women, men and kids, the store has seen an astounding number of footfalls judging by the long queues outside their 15 trial rooms. On an average, in the first week, shoppers had to wait at least 45 minutes before getting a vacant room to try out garments! And shelves emptied so fast the store ran out of stock on several styles within hours of opening their doors.

Address: VR Bengaluru, Level 1, Whitefield Road, Mahadevpura

A Royal Shave All men take note! The world’s oldest men’s salon, Truefitt & Hill has made its way into Bengaluru. And they’re in one of the swankiest parts of town! Word has it that the brand established itself in the early 1800s, making them the oldest barber shop around. And they have no qualms in calling themselves a barber shop! No fancy terms like stylists and hair whisperers for them.

So if you’re one of those men who’s been aspiring for those clean-cut Brit looks, do head to T&H for a once over. Who knows, you might just step out looking dapper and debonair like Sir Winston Churchill, Alfred Hitchcock, Sir Charles Dickens or even Frank Sinatra… all of who went to T&H for their royal shave and shampoo!

Address: 598/1, 12th Main, HAL 2nd Stage, Indiranagar

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BUZZ IN’

BENGALURU

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And the party continues…

The Virwani clan have been living up Jitu’s 50th birthday celebrations even days after the actual event concluded. All aboard a private jet they flew off to the Caribbean to celebrate with friends and family at an exclusively planned and executed do. The youngsters from the family, Jitu’s sons Karan, Kunal and Neel hung out with his niece Sanchita and a few of Jitu’s closest friends (we spotted Vinita Chaitanya and Sunita Mankani), and took to social media posting pics of them strolling the pristine beaches of St. Kitts clad in pretty swim wear and posing with the mandatory fruity drink with pretty coloured umbrellas placed jauntily on the glass.

Definitely the new King of Good Times, this man!

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Teeing off the first quarter Bengaluru’s hot and happening golfer turned 25 last month. Sharmila Nicollet was flooded with calls, greetings, gifts and wishes on her special day in mid March. However, instead of partying and ushering in her first quarter in style, the dedicated sportswoman was sweating it out at a golf course in Gurgaon. And while there definitely was a small, quiet party for the lissom lass, it seems she’s outgrown her loud and happening party days, choosing to concentrate more on her sport and fitness instead.

Happy Birthday Cherie! How you’ve grown!

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A sparkly affair First Louboutin, then LV and now Dior. When Ila Naidu has her eyes set on something, it finds its way to her. Take for example her new, coveted Dior earrings. When Ila saw them during a recent fashion show and tried to get herself a pair, she was told that the earrings were sold out. A friend who was on a trip to London happened to spot the original patented pair by chance and called her up. And come Easter, the coveted baubles were gracing Ila’s ear as she once again showed off her new look through her social media page!

The fashion gods most definitely favour her, we think!

RITZ APRIL 2016

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Avacado butter Moisturizes and exhibits low comedogenicity on the skin. Papaya extract - Anti ageing, black spot eraser and breaks down the impacted layers of dead skin. Aloe Ve r a e x t r a c t Moisturizes and sof tens the skin, reduces wrinkles, pimples, For free home delivery skin rashes and hydrates the skin. contact 9003095770

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Jullaaha personal care products & cosmetics are also available at - Chennai: Taj Coromandel; Kerala: Vivanta by Taj (Bekal); Goa: Taj Exotica (Salcette Goa), Taj Holiday Village, Taj FABR, Taj THB; Taj (Madikeri Coorg); Taj (Mumbai); Taj (Delhi); Organic Paradise Stores (Anna Nagar, Ashok Nagar, Mylapore, Adayar), Dhanyam Organic Stores; Organic Green Store (Anna Nagar); Organic Farm Shop (Mogappair); Silk Route (Harrington Road); Lotus Gift & Crafts (Kotturpuram) and Sadayush Ayurvedic Cure & Care (Mylapore).

You can buy Jullaaha online at - www.flipkart.com; www.ebay.in To buy our Apparels & Personal care products online, logon to www.jullaaha.com

BUZZ IN’

CHENNAI

Camera shy?

Actresses Andrea and Lekha Washington certainly don’t seem to think that the camera is their best friend. The two who were spotted in the city during different public parties did not oblige to be muses for city photographers. Miffed at the two, city paparazzi decided to throw their own tantrum and boycotted the events. Looks like the actresses may have a bitter pill to swallow.

A Noble Initiative Mervin Alexander, Postmaster General, Chennai City Region organised a very different and noble initiative last month to boost the morale of postmen and women of India Post, Chennai. The department organised a unique fashion show which had smartly dressed postmen and women walking the ramp. Winners were awarded generous cash prizes. Judging the show were Dr K Jayanth Murali IPS, Inspector General of Police, Mr. JT Venkateswarlu, Post Master General (Mails & BD) and Aruna R Krishnan. Dr Charles Lobo, Chief Post Master General T.N. Circle was also present on the occassion. RITZ commends Mr Mervin Alexander and the entire postal department on this noble initiative, which has set a great precedent in the country.

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CHENNAI

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Each year, recycled saris are donated to be used in a design contest unlike any other.

Designers from California use their talents to create original outfits and compete in a fashion show to raise support for the widows of White Rainbow Project. This year, fashion designer and contest winner, Madison Acri showcased her winning design alongside some of our top design picks from the runner-ups. She also shared some of her new designs to be included in White Rainbow Project’s newest Collection. The love comes full circle as saris are transformed into ready-to-wear pieces and full throttle outfits. Some of the newest jewellery, scarves, and kimonos from White Rainbow Project’s growing line were also on display and available for purchase at the event.

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Fashion comes full circle

RITZ APRIL 2016

Fashion Faux Pas The city witnessed its first horse races in several years at the Madras Race Club. For those who have taken fashion inspiration from Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, the style quotient at the event, to say the least, was way below average.

Salwar suits and kurtis were the staples of the day. Maybe it’s time Chennaiites took cues from their counterparts abroad or even in Mumbai, or Pune on how to dress to the races.

BUZZ IN’

CHENNAI

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Viva Italiana Chef Alessandro Persico took over the kitchen at Focaccia, the award winning Italian restaurant at the Park Hyatt in Chennai. The chef spent about two weeks at the hotel cooking up a storm with fresh ingredients and meats making the dishes as authentic as possible, giving Chennaiites a taste of what Italian cooking actually is!

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A musically inclined duo Anirudh uploaded a picture with the world-renowned DJ Laidback Luke with the caption “Let the musicality flow”. Seems like the two bonded over working in the same industry and had a great time together!

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New crib for sport stars!

The city's very own sports super couple and lovebirds Dipika Pallikal and Dinesh Karthik are all set to move into their new home. The squash player posted a picture of her hubby and herself during a pooja on Instagram. The post read, "New pad = pooja at 4 am = Grumpy Dipika = Irritated husband!

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BUZZ IN’

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HYDERABAD

S(h)aving Grace!

To educate women on shaving and debunk myths, talented actress Kajal Aggarwal, Venus beauty expert and celebrity make-up artist Namrata Soni and renowned aesthetic physician Dr. Rashmi Shetty came together at a specially curated event. The panelists shared their experience and enlightened women with useful tips, techniques and benefits of shaving. At this unique panel discussion by Gillette Venus, all three panelists vouched for shaving as the most hassle free and painless method of female hair removal. As part of this discussion, Kajal also revealed her beauty secrets and inspired women to enjoy the freedom of choice with the convenience of grooming products.

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Second home - Hyderabad!

Smash hit Tollywood film, ‘Guntur Talkies’ has made actress Shraddha Das even more attached to the City of Nawabs. Earlier she was spotted once in a while for store launches or movie shoots but now the pretty damsel is on the city’s radar every other day. Of late she’s been spotted at multiple assignments such as the Samsung S7 edge phone launch, a Holi party where she was the brand ambassador, photo shoots, etc.

“I think it’s high time I buy a house in Hyderabad!” tweeted the actress.

Not a bad idea indeed, would love having you as a neighbour!

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Club Culture Taking their cue from FICCI, Ladies Club has suddenly become the buzz word in Hyderabad. Of late too many of them are making their way in the city.

Some appear like the rainbow in the sky and suddenly vanish even before they have made a mark; while some seem to be winning hearts with their innovative strides. A blend of entrepreneurial talks, discussions, celebrations, theme parties, fitness sessions and oodles of fun is what these clubs mostly focus on.

RITZ APRIL 2016

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Making India proud!

Hyderabad girl Nadia Hakani seems to be getting very comfortable in Dubai, personally and professionally. The emcee has completed 25 shows in Dubai and showcased various colours of India. Way to go girl!

Sparkling Sip! MoĂŤt Hennessy India launched its sparkling wines Chandon Brut and Chandon Brut RosĂŠ in the princely city of Hyderabad at Olive Bistro. The event was a relaxed affair and seen at the do was the elite circle of the city. Some of the guests spotted were, Kaushik and Ashrita Reddy, Jayesh Ranjan, Zara Shah, Komal Singh, Gusti Noria, Vardhan Reddy, Shivangi Sharma, Karishma Chandiramani, Abhijeet Duddala, Aradhana Reddy, Shweta and Niharika Keerthi, Sophia Sinha of Chandon, Shaaz and Shiraz Mirza of Olive Bistro.

BUZZ IN’

KOCHI

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A scintillating performance Madhu Natraj Kiran believes dance is a potent medium for change in the public domain. Ranging from education, social issues, documentation to healing, her projects aim to materialise this philosophy. The accomplished danseuse from Bengaluru is all set to light up the stage in Kochi with a special workshop in Kathak that she will be conducting in April. Although she trained in contemporary dance in New York, Madhu returned to India with a vision to create a unique dance company with its own distinctive contemporary Indian dance identity – the Natya STEM Dance Kampni.

Kochi, get ready for a ‘Luru style scintillating performance by Madhu!

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What a launch!

The Kalyans converged on Qatar in style, bringing down their entire star power to the launch of their 7 stores in Doha, all on the same day!

Global brand ambassador of Kalyan Jewellers and international film icon Amitabh Bachchan made his maiden visit to Qatar as part of the launch.

He was accompanied by brand ambassadors and popular film stars, Nagarjuna, Prabhu Ganesan and Manju Warrier. Kalyan is the first brand ever in Qatar to have seven showrooms on a single day, as part of its launch.

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Not to be missed

Thrissur Poorama is a special festival held in the heart of the cultural city of Thrissur, which is a mixture of pomp and pageantry, which remains in the heart of each and every person who gathers in Thekkinkadu Maidanam to witness this extravagant spectacle.

The festival held on the premises of the Vadakkumnatha temple is made spectacular by the pageant of 30 caparisoned elephants and kudamattom, a competition invloving swift rhythmic changing of brightly coloured bejewelled parasols.

Don’t miss the pomp and show of this extravagant festival, even if it means making the 2-hour long drive from Kochi to Thrissur.

RITZ APRIL 2016

RSVP

HYDERABAD The ‘Teach For Change’ Annual Fundraiser was held at The Taj Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad. Actor and former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen, philanthropist Pinky Reddy, Social activist Swami Agnivesh, legislator and former minister Dr. J Geeta Reddy were a few of the prominent faces at the event.

Actors Rana Daggubati, Lakshmi Manchu, Lavanya Tripathi, Sonal Chauhan, Adivi Sesh, Sharmiela Mandre, Poonam Kaur, Pragya Jaiswal, Nicole Faria, Sandhya Raju, Madhushalini, Ragini Dwivedi, Phany Padaraju and Mr. India Rohit Khandelwal walked the ramp as part of the fashion show in support of Teach For Change.

Teach For Change, 2016 Campaign was launched as part of the event by Sushmita Sen, in order to invite citizens to volunteer for the 2016 academic year.

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RSVP

HYDERABAD

Young FICCI Ladies Organisation (YFLO) celebrated International Women’s Day in a unique way. An interactive session was organised with Shilpa Shetty and Pinky Reddy on ‘Holistic Approach to Life & a Scientific Way of Being Fit’.

The session which was held at Park Hyatt was well attended by an over 200-strong gathering of YFLO, FLO (FICCI Ladies Organisation) members and their spouses.

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RSVP

COIMBATORE

Kooduthurai, near the foothills of the Western Ghats, was a hub of activity recently when thousands of Coimbatoreans gathered for the launch of Noyyalai Nokki, an effort by NGO Siruthuli to restore the massive Noyyal river that is the city’s lifeline.

To do the honours and kick-off the project were none other than activist and social reformer Anna Hazare and Coimbatore boy and Tamil superstar Suriya. Vanitha Mohan, Managing Trustee of Siruthuli, was also present.

APRIL 2016 RITZ

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RITZ APRIL 2016

BENGALURU After months of anticipation amongst beauty enthusiasts, the first Sephora store in Bengaluru opened recently! Excited and happy fans lined up prior to the launch of the city’s brand new beauty destination at Forum Mall Koramangala. The electric energy and excitement reached its peak with the entry of Bollywood Actress, Kriti Sanon, who launched the store amidst great cheer and festivity. The gracious fashion icon was seen sharing her must-do beauty tips with her five favourite Sephora Collection cult products.

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CV Sankar IAS

RSVP

N Chandran

Sasha Grewal

Mithun Sacheti

Chandu Nair

Jayendra Panchapekasan Hrishikesh Datar

Girish Mathrubootham

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CHENNAI

PRESENTS

The first edition of the prestigious Jaguar RITZ Entrepreneurship Summit held in Chennai featured panelists Hrishikesh Datar, Founder of vakilsearch.com, Kaabia and Sasha Grewal, Founders of Outhouse Jewellery, who were featured in the ‘Forbes 30 under 30 to watch out for’ list, Jayendra Panchapakesan, co-founder of Real Image and Girish Mathrubootham, the dynamic CEO of Freshdesk.

Mr. CV Sankar IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Industries, Government of Tamilnadu, graced the event as the Chief Guest.

The lively and spirited discussion moderated to perfection by Chandu Nair centred on the ‘Hits and misses of Entrepreneurship.’ Keynote Speakers N Chandran of Eastman Exports and Mithun Sacheti of Caratlane spoke of their inspiring journeys in business.

The event also saw the launch of the new Jaguar XE in the presence of Kotresh Jali of VST Grandeur Jaguar Land Rover and Dr Senthil Prasad of 32 Dental Care. Audiences were also privy to a sneak peek of the April 2016 cover of RITZ featuring Anusha Ravi, Sriya Chari and Rinku Mecheri.

The Summit was held on March 21, 2016 at ITC Grand Chola and TIE Chennai along with Round Table and Ladies Circle were the Industry Partners of the event.

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APRIL 2016 RITZ

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RSVP

COIMBATORE

PRESENTS

RITZ hosted the Jaguar RITZ Entrepreneurship Summit in bustling Coimbatore over the weekend on March 27, at Hotel Residency Towers. Associating with the Summit was Industry Partner EO Coimbatore led by the Chapter President Rajesh Doraiswamy and learning Co-chair Sanjana Vijayakumar.

Brand guru Harish Bijoor, founder of Harish Bijoor Consults spoke to an audience that listened to him with rapt attention about the necessity of the rich and the privileged taking care of the poor in today’s scenario.

On a lighter vein, he spoke about the ‘PMS’ that many companies were going through with banks today – the Post Mallya Syndrome. Hrishikesh Datar’s fiery speech was characteristic of his drive and vision, while Kaabia Grewal of Outhouse spoke of the brand's philosophy and ethos. The event also saw the unveiling of the ravishing new Jaguar XE, in the presence of Anil Mukundan and Kotresh Jali of VST Grandeur Jaguar Land Rover and Aruna R Krishnan, who was dressed in a Victoria Beckham outfit, a long chain by Outhouse and shoes by Jimmy Choo.

An Initiative of

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Presenting Partner

Industry Partner

Experiential Partner

Hospitality Partner

Anil Mukundan

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Harish Bijoor

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Saasha Grewal

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COVER STORY

BENGALURU

HisToCue

Championship The lean and charming world billiards and snooker champion Pankaj Advani is a stickler for perfection. He’s like a casuist, using theoretical rules to solve problems, never giving up till he’s fully satisfied with the outcome. It is this trait that has catapulted the intense 30-year-old to the rostrum of fame that he stands on today.

RITZ spends an afternoon with the 15-time World Billiards and Snooker Champion the only player to win world titles in all formats of both, billiards and snooker.

Text: Archana Shenoy

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Photographs: Faheem Hussain Make up & hair: Roshni Safir Location Courtesy: ITC Windsor, Bengaluru APRIL 2016 RITZ

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COVER STORY "Pankaj was born with nerves of steel,” says his brother Shree.

“He’s probably one of the few sportspeople in the country who is able to take a pressure situation and turn it to his advantage”

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RITZ APRIL 2016

How could a ten-year-old, so hooked onto billiards and snooker that he was willing to improvise and use a carom board, marbles and chopsticks instead, end up being anything but a world champion! Pankaj Advani beat his older brother at a smalltime snooker tournament when he was just a little over eleven. During a subsequent interview he told media reporters that he wanted to be a businessman and then added “world champion” as an afterthought.

His sports psychologist brother prefers to believe that it was this afterthought that triggered off subliminal messaging and belief within the youngster, driving him to achieve his goal at such an early age.

Pankaj Advani is definitely not made of conventional ‘star’ material. He doesn’t covet the attention that other stars do; throngs of fans, standing under the arc lights, constant adulation - these are not factors that motivate him. He’s happier wooing the cue and monopolising the tables as he pulverizes each of his opponents with deadly precision and unerring skill. In a sport that is often compared with fine wine, it is a well accepted fact that the champion from Bengaluru has only gotten better with age and will most likely continue to rule the roost for the next several years.

Being the only Indian to have won the world title both in snooker and in billiards, Pankaj strangely began his love affair with the sport at a hole-in-the-wall pool parlour in Bengaluru. When the family moved down from Kuwait he was a ten-year-old and often tagged along with his older brother and his friends who used to try their prowess at the game. “I beat my older brother Shree in the first tournament that I played,” says Pankaj, recalling how it was his brother who was more keen on turning pro than he was. “For me the game was never about winning or losing. Initially I played because I used to tag along with Shree; little did I realise that it would ultimately be my destiny,” says the world champion, recalling his induction and subsequent addiction to the game.

Down-to-earth and polite, Pankaj does not sport the airs and graces that most other sportsmen of his stature would. He’s mostly unassuming and openly admits that punctuality is not his best virtue. “I’m away so often that when I’m in Bengaluru I am flooded with requests for interviews, invited to functions and award ceremonies

"There’s a lot of bending and stretching involved in my sport - I have to walk around the table assessing the shot and looking at angles. My body needs to stay fit in order to play the game and I think my lean build works much to my advantage"

and so on. Invariably my appointments get pushed by a few minutes each and I end up falling back on my schedule,” he explains regretfully. Though the flip-sides to his fame and popularity are numerous, it is obvious he wouldn’t have his life any other way and tries to make the most of his hectic schedule and lack of quality time.

The list of accolades and awards to his name is endless. In 2009 he was awarded the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian honour and before that the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna in 2006 and the Arjuna Award in 2004. Alongside these, his sporting laurels form an impressive display on his mantle, more often than not leaving spectators agog with wonder at the staggering number of plaques and medals on show. “I have worked hard to get where I am today and I like to sit back and bask in the limelight,” he says unabashedly.

In a game that is more skill than strength based, Pankaj ticks all the boxes that are mandatory that one expects of a champion of his stature. “There’s a lot of bending and stretching involved in my sport - I have to walk around the table assessing the shot and looking at angles. My body needs to stay fit in order to play the game and I think my lean build works much to my advantage,” he tells us.

“Pankaj was born with nerves of steel,” says his brother Shree. “He’s probably one of the few sportspeople in the country who is able to take a pressure situation and turn it to his advantage,” he tells, his voice ringing with pride as he speaks of his champion sibling. “From the day he followed me into the pool parlour he’s been hooked onto the game.”

To use a term like ‘sibling rivalry’ for the Advani brothers would be an error of gargantuan proportions. Rarely would one see siblings so close and so in tune with each other’s needs. Shree chooses to give Pankaj as much space as he requires, having understood over the years that he does not appreciate being cossetted or pandered to. Even their mother tends to allow her champion son the space he so desires. “I once went to a match he was playing; it wasn’t a very important one but when he missed a shot I could not control the gasp that slipped past my lips.

It shot his concentration so much that I’ve banned myself from his matches ever since,” she tells us with a laugh. Apparently APRIL 2016 RITZ

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Kajal, his mother, even refrains from watching Pankaj play on television as she feels that her tense frame of mind is transmitted to him, distance and geographical barriers notwithstanding.

“It's true,” says Pankaj, admitting that he tunes off from family and friends from the time he starts a tournament to the end. “I am completely engrossed in my game and prefer to concentrate on the place and ambience that I am playing in. I don’t need to call my mom and take her blessings or call Shree for a pep talk. I know they’re there with me in spirit and that is enough to keep me going,” says the dedicated young sportsman.

His long time coach Arvind Savur is quick to endorse his prowess. “He’s the best player India has or will probably produce in a long time to come. There is no doubt about that. He is one of the most dedicated sportsmen in this country and it is hard to find one to compare him with.”

But despite his overpowering drive and single-mindedness, Pankaj is a pretty fun guy to be around. The brothers love hanging out at popular night spots and watching American sitcoms with their mom. “Pankaj’s time at home is so limited that every moment he is with us is precious,” says his mother.

Apparently there is an unwritten law in the household stating that palak paneer and roti will be the dish of the day each time he returns home after a tournament. “Being a vegetarian and teetotaller, Pankaj who is called a 'killer' at the (billiards) table wouldn’t harm a cockroach, though he detests them,” tells his older brother with cheeky grin.

On a lighter note his mother recalls a few of his childhood escapades narrating how although Pankaj was made Head Boy of his alma marter Frank Anthony Public School in Bengaluru, he was never around for the Annual Day, Sports Day and several other such momentous occasions.

The poor Head Girl, she says, had to manage all the school duties on her own. "When he was around, he was a real softie; when kids forgot their badges at home, rather than take them to the principal’s office, he would give

RITZ APRIL 2016

"I once went to a match he was playing; it wasn’t a very important one but when he missed a shot I could not control the gasp that slipped past my lips. It shot his concentration so much that I’ve banned myself from his matches ever since"

them money to buy them from the book store in school!"

She goes on to explain how her fiercely loyal son will do anything for his friends.

“He’s driven in the middle of the night to pick up his buddies from the airport.

He’s also a good listener and is a regular sounding board. He’s come back from hectic tournaments abroad and performed at his friends’ sangeet parties. He loves shaking a leg and was offered a deal to dance on a TV reality show but had to decline because of his hectic schedule that year,” quips Kajal Advani.

Completely immersed in his life as a cueist, Pankaj says that it is difficult for him to imagine life outside of billiards and snooker. “The game is my identity and I don’t know what I can do without it. It has given me everything and I feel that if there is no billiards and snooker then there is no Pankaj Advani.”

COVER STORY

Creative,

Confident & Connected

They're dynamic, bold and have worked hard to get to where they are today.

Meet Anusha Ravi, Rinku Mecheri and Sriya Chari, three high-octane ladies who have contributed hugely in redefining the essence of what is expected of a woman Photography: Karthik Srinivasan Interviews: Rebecca Vargese Styling: Sruthi Kannath

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COVER STORY

COIMBATORE

The Humanity Of

Education

Education has often been credited as one of the most powerful weapons of change. Though this may be true to a very large extent, Anusha Ravi, CEO of Park Institutions tweaks this axiom a little bit for two additional words, “socially responsible.’ “Education today lacks humanity. And we as an institution have taken it upon ourselves to spread social awareness among our students,” she says.

RITZ commends this dedicated educationist for the work she is doing in her field.

What makes Anusha Ravi stand out among many other educationalists is the conviction with which she believes in its transformational power. Asked whether she would pick another line of work given a chance, her answer is a definitive no. “There is nothing more rewarding than seeing lives being transformed. And to know that you have in some way helped them do so, gives you this rush of positivity. I am addicted to that feeling.”

Following her return to India in 2007 after working with Onair communications (an Airbus subsidiary) and Anheuser Busch, USA, Park Institutions has raised the benchmark for students in Coimbatore and Chennai; not only in terms of their education standards but has inculcated in students social and moral values. “When people come in contact with a student from Park, there is an immediate recall of the activities that we as institution engage in and they expect the same level of excellence from the student,”Anusha says.

Passionate about shaping young lives to be more than just ‘skilled labour’, Anusha Ravi and Park Institutions believe in providing holistic education. “There is a huge increase in white collar crime with the increase of literacy; this is because we as educationalists have failed in our duty,” Anusha rues. “Institutions only provide skill training, so where are our youngsters going to learn about empathy and sympathy?”

As part of the curriculum and understanding the need to sensitise this generation, students are taken to local

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"I prioritise everybody first and end up with little time for myself.

That is something I would like to see change"

schools, old age homes, orphanages etc.

The logic behind these visits? “If we visit an old age home, even if it is just once, students will think a second time before they put their elderly in such homes,” she smiles.

While Anusha Ravi is certainly the champion of social causes, the woman entrepreneur is also gearing up towards innovation and entrepreneurship on a larger scale. Anusha shares, “We have a lot of innovation going on in our campus facilities. About 500 of our students have already created and published apps in the Microsoft App Store. The students are very creative; all they need is a little guidance. Last year we managed to patent two innovations in our campus.” Certainly no mean feat!

On the same lines, Anusha Ravi dreams of providing students with the facilities to pursue innovation. “I am looking to start an Innovation hub that is open to all, not just the students of Park. This would also mean creating a platform and support system to

foster entrepreneurship,” she reveals.

A busy woman entrepreneur and educationalist whose calendar is full nearly through the year, Anusha gives a sneak peek of what a day in her shoes would be like. “My day is entirely based on what needs me the most. Priorities vary on a day to day basis. Sometimes it is my children who need my attention, sometimes it is my students or sometimes it maybe my businesses. All I can tell you for a fact is that my day is never routine or boring,” she laughs. As the brand ambassador of Swacch Bharat, Anusha Ravi is also on a mission to build 25,000 toilets in the city.

So is being a woman entrepreneur, educationalist and philanthropist only hard work and work harder? Smiling through her words, Anusha nods, “I prioritise everybody first and end up with little time for myself. That is something I would like to see change.” But then she gives us a little hope saying, “If I am stressed I listen to a lot of music. Facebook is a good stress buster too. I also love playing golf. But if I am really stressed I love to binge watch movies and forget about the world. I watched almost all releases in March. I loved Zootopia. I watched Dawn of Justice and even Karti’s latest movie Thozha. Sometimes it’s alright to take a break from work.” We completely agree!

Someone who doesn’t blindly follow fashion trends, Anusha Ravi loves to play with whatever she is comfortable in and suits her. The woman behind the name also loves to travel and is a self-confessed adventure enthusiast. Her bucket list includes globetrotting, bungee jumping and sky diving.

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RITZ APRIL 2016

CHENNAI

Undaunted And

Unstoppable

Grease under her fingernails may not be her style and the lack of an engineering degree isn’t a shortcoming for the Executive Director of Rajsriya Automotive Industries. Sriya Chari, the woman, is an art lover, a sports enthusiast and is currently dabbling with organic gardening, while she is not running the company. One of the few women in a largely male dominated field Sriya Chari shrugs off the stereotype and says, “I do what I am good at. I may not be an engineer, but I bring a perspective to the table that an engineer will not possess – the human connect.” RITZ chats with the woman who has made a name for herself in a man’s world.

While most assembly lines in automobile production are automated, the industry still continues to be largely run manually, a fact that Sriya has recognised. “People come here from all walks of life, but if there is a lack of human connect the vision that we have for our company cannot be fulfilled,” she says.

What started out as a 300 square feet dream for Meera Chari, Sriya’s mother, today is Rajsriya Automotive Industries Pvt. Ltd that has production lines spread across Chennai and Hosur. “I have seen this business grow since I was a little girl of 10 or 11,” Sriya says. It would be futile to argue that this non-engineer needs lessons on managing the engineering company.

About 80% of the products manufactured by the company goes to TVS Motor Company, while other customers include Daimler and Ashok Leyland. Talking about the 2016 vision for the company and her pet projects, Sriya Chari reveals, “For now CSR is on the top of my list. I’d like to be involved in women empowerment. I am very particular that when I do something, I do it well. Funding a school is also on the cards. We are working out the nitty-gritty; it is important that the money reaches the right hands.”

Describing herself as an extremely organised person, Sriya tells us that she already has a long-term work plan for the company which will majorly focus on new product development. “Eventually, I will

"I learnt a lot as a kid.

I’ve travelled by second and third class in trains when I would go for TT championships.

Hardships build character" need to take over the ropes of the company.

I still continue to learn from my father who is my mentor.”

Family is something that Sriya Chari holds close to her heart and has no qualms in reiterating the same. “We are a very close knit family. We all run our own businesses and learn from each other. Much can be learnt through sharing of experiences and understanding a different perspective or take to managing a business.” Words of wisdom for entrepreneurs.

“Incorporating knowledge that you learn from others can be rewarding,” she adds. Sriya Chari credits TVS motors for introducing them to the TPM Excellence Awards. Today Rajsriya automotive is a recipient of this prestigious award.

A national Table Tennis champion while in school, fitness and sports are a daily requisite of Sriya’s routine. “My day has to begin with some sort of fitness regimen. I

play tennis almost every day or I go to the gym. After the kids leave for school, I head out to office. I’m usually back by 3.30 pm,” she says. However, Sriya looks forward to spending more time at work.

Besides art, reading and watching movies are her hobbies. Sriya’s favourites include Hollywood legends Meryl Streep and Al Pacino. She, however, confesses that she has not had the time to watch a movie in a while now.

Despite the success that Sriya Chari has had an individual, humility comes naturally to her. “I learnt a lot as a kid. I’ve travelled by second and third class in trains when I would go for TT championships. Hardships build character.” Sriya also reveals that she was a tomboy growing up. “It no longer holds true, but I was. Even as a kid I was very bold; I would play football, volleyball, basketball,” she laughs.

Essentially an active person, we ask Sriya if one should expect the same even after she retires. “There is no such thing as retirement. Life goes on. But I do hope that I continue to have this Bridge group that we have formed. I’m pretty good at the game and I see myself continuing to play even when I am old,” she hopes.

The stellar mother also tells us that her daughters are taking after her. “Ananthi loves playing squash, while Anika is really good at tennis.” Looks like one can expect more strong women role models from this family.

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COVER STORY

CHENNAI

The

Call Of Duty Life is a rat race, we have been told - a race for the corner office; a race to make it to the top and a race to win over the world. It is easy to get so immersed in running and winning that one loses out on the intricate aspect of balance in life, which keeps one grounded and in touch with reality. Volunteerism is known to play an important role in restoring the delicate balance of priorities in life. However, many would argue that volunteerism is just pacifism, but not Rinku Mecheri, founder of Chennai Volunteers, who says, “People are inherently good! Giving isn’t easy. And when people are willing to set aside time for someone who is less fortunate than they are, it can only come from the goodness within them.”

RITZ applauds this beautiful do-gooder who believes in looking for the good in everything around her.

Advertising marked the launch of Rinku Mecheri’s professional career, one that spanned over 10 years before she decided to take the plunge into the social sector in 2011. Interacting with the woman herself gives you an understanding of Rinku’s drive to achieve; while her desire to strike a balance in life makes her a perfect fit to head Chennai Volunteers. “After working 10 years in an industry that was just about numbers, I wanted to be part of something more meaningful, something that would impact lives around me. I was always welcomed by NGOs when I offered to volunteer. But when I would go to these institutions there was no structure, I was asked to do whatever I wanted and eventually the talk about providing monetary support would come up,” Rinku says, describing her journey that led to the creation of Chennai Volunteers.

Having partnered with over 70 NGOs, today, Chennai Volunteers provides only service needs. “The service needs module of CV is based on the amount of time that you that you are willing to set aside,” Rinku says. Besides the one-time volunteers, there are short term and long term volunteers. Short term volunteering entails volunteering for a period of three months and includes various activities based on individual interests that range from being a scribe for the visually challenged, playing with cancer affected children to spending time with the elderly. “Long term volunteers need to commit one hour per week. This one hour has to be taken out

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"I was always welcomed

by NGOs when I offered to volunteer. But when I would go to these institutions there was no structure, I was asked to do whatever I wanted and eventually the talk about providing monetary support would come up"

from their normal work days,” she adds.

Rinku tells us that her journey with Chennai Volunteers has been a humbling experience and something that has grounded her as an individual. “You cannot remain untouched when you interact with all these people.

Transformation is a surety. Yes, you have to earn their trust but once you have, the bond that you share is beautiful.”

However Rinku confesses that starting an NGO was not her own idea, but that of her husband Rajeev Mecheri. “He kept nudging me to be part of Mecheri foundation. And it has turned out for the best.”

Given the fact that the Mecheri foundation

and Chennai Volunteers cater to a large number of social causes, which are the ones that demand Rinku Mecheri’s attention the most? “I am a largely optimistic person. But whenever I interact with destitute women and women who suffer mental illness caused by various circumstances, I cannot help but want to do so much more.”

Talking about her initiation into her field of work, Rinku reveals a little known secret.

“My son used to be my guinea pig. I took him to an old age home to distribute sweets and at the end of it I could see the joy on his face,” Rinku smiles. Now who wouldn’t want that feeling?

Volunteers at CV are from all walks of life: engineers, students, financial consultants and many more. “We have enthusiastic Wipro employees who turn up for the Run for Fun marathon , students from Stella Maris or Loyola who take up short term volunteerism, Barclays employees who help other not-for-profit organisations to file their returns and make their financial reports and so on.” Chennai Volunteers also boasts of managing to help at least one girl clear the TOEIC test every year. “We have Fullbright scholars who help us with these girls,” Rinku explains.

A deeply spiritual person and someone who needs her daily fitness fix, Rinku assures us that there is more on her plate than just work. “My evenings are with my family and friends,” she says.

As we end our conversation she adds, “It is high time we looked at volunteerism as a duty,” and heads back to her office hoping to make the world a better place.

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LOOKBOOK

BENGALURU

How She

Mojo

Found Her

A collection that was structured using unprocessed Indian handlooms, largely created without a sewing machine and inspired by Origami, the Japanese art of paper folding. Bengaluru’s newest fashion genius, designer Runa Ray, recently showcased 27 looks from her label Mojo at the New York Fashion Week. RITZ caught up with the creative lady who either spends time thinking up new forms of design or is astride a horse, riding for inspiration to catch up with her.

Text: Archana Shenoy

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“There’s always a turning point in everyone’s life and mine came when I was forced out of my cushy corporate job with a large Indian fashion brand when they were downsizing,” says Runa Ray, the 30-something designer from Bengaluru who recently showcased 27 looks from her prêt line at the New York Fashion Week. “There was no freedom for someone like me in a corporate job and I had to constantly compromise on my creativity to live within those stringent boxes that are drawn for you in such environs. So me losing my job actually drove me into a position where I was forced to sit up and evaluate my life and what I wanted to do with it. That’s when I started my label Mojo,” she says.

Runa, as a designer, has most notably an appreciation for the arts - the unbounded creativity they require and their ability to change the world. In 2012 Runa founded Mojo Design Studios with its manufacturing based in Bengaluru. Soon to follow was the retail expansion of Mojo, a ready-to-wear line in Southeast Asia with its head office based in Singapore and Mojo Designs International with its office in London for Europe.

“I’ve been doing pretty well out of Singapore and London these last two years,” says the designer-cum-businesswoman, adding that it was during this period that she was spotted by someone from IMG. “I received a call from IMG in January 2016 at 2 PM one night telling me that I had been selected to participate in the New York Fashion Week. I thought I was hallucinating, but turns out it was no prank call.” And here she is, fresh from her success off the ramps at New York where she showcased her line alongside veterans like Bibhu Mohapatra, Naeem Khan and Prabal Gurung.

A local Bengaluru lass, Runa completed her education at Baldwin Girls High School and Jyothi Nivas College before heading off to the National Institute of Fashion Technology where the collection created by her during the final year of college was awarded for Best Design. From there, she moved to Paris to pursue her masters in garment engineering under the Paris Chamber of Commerce at the Ecole

Superieure des Industries du Vetements. It was during this stint that she got to work with some notable designers in Amsterdam and France, the most eminent being John Galliano and the House of Dior. It was here that she learned the fine art of haute couture and decided to meld it with her knowledge of ready to wear.

“My collection at NYFW spoke straight from my heart - I wanted to bring about ecological awareness by reducing the carbon footprint in my designs. Many of the garments are not sewn, but folded and held together simply by the intricacy of the folds that I have created. One of the jackets that I made, inspired by Origami, stops at fold number 19. Were I to continue folding that garment it would have eventually ended up being a goldfish. If you notice the embroidery highlighting some of the garments you will realise that it is actually patterns written in Braille. I have chosen lines by John Lennon, sayings from Alice in Wonderland and other inspirational phrases to decorate the garments.

Everything about the garments makes an impact and speaks volumes of the creative thought that has gone into each design,” she explains in detail.

She presently retails out of a few stores in Singapore and London.

However, a store at Singapore’s swish Orchard Road is on the cards and is something that Runa hopes to achieve this year. She also retails off her website.

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LOOKBOOK

CHENNAI

Skirt: Frou Frou Necklace: Valliyan Shoes : Valentino

Fashion’s new funky

duo

Pavithra Sagar and Nikita Kapoor Bajaj created waves in Chennai recently with their maiden pop up venture Funky Fish becoming the talk of the town. Their own fearless sense of fashion probably has a lot to do with the success of their endeavour, as RITZ finds out while getting the skinny on the trendy two.

Text: Rebecca Vargese

Photographs: Gurunath Prabhu Location: The Vintage Cabana, Hilton Chennai

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Being style lovers and fashion entrepreneurs, distinctive is a word that accurately describes the taste and sensibilities of Pavithra and Nikita when it comes to style and design. Pavithra is all for the bold, edgy yet classic chic look, while Nikita is partial to clean cuts and structure. “I experiment with different styles ranging from edgy to classic understated silhouettes.

Statement jewellery and shoes add spunk to any solid toned outfit and hence my never ending desire to buy quirky and fun accessories,” acknowledges the ebullient Pavithra. Style is the way to say who you are without having to say a word and Nikitha’s sense of style also defines the person that she is – classy and sharp; never screaming for attention. “I thrive on structure. And so I am always on the hunt for clean cut silhouettes.

However, I do have an eclectic side that surfaces now and then,” she tells. in a city that is notorious for its socialites relentlessly sticking to the tried and tested boring big-ticket names for their ethnic wear needs, it is heartening to see the two women make heads turn for being distinctive and in the process urge others to do the same. Asked about the kind of fashion sense the two are trying to spread through their entrepreneurial venture Funky Fish, Pavithra says, “We want women to shed their inhibitions and embrace newer styles and to experiment with fashion. We strive to bring all kinds of styles ranging from experimental fashion to understated classic pieces.” According to the business partners the USP of Funky Fish is to provide a platform for upcoming designer clothes to exhibit. “It also aims

Rapid Fire

Top:The Circus Shoes: Chiara Ferragni

Most comfortable in?

Pavithra: Jeans, t-shirt & flats.

Nikita: PJs to be honest (laughs) Colours that flatter you?

Pavithra: Deep shades of blue and green. I also like Black, oxblood and grey Nikita: I stick to earthy tones Workday outfit?

Pavithra: Straight fit pants or jeans with a smart blouse or crisp shirt Nikita: A pair of well fitted jeans and a top Favourite fragrance Pavithra: Narciso Rodriguez for Her Nikita: Alien by Thierry Mugler

to give an innovative spin to the shopping experience.

To me essentially, Funky Fish is the canvas to my creativity,” Nikita adds.

Their impeccable taste in clothes may seem like a given, but that certainly cannot be the only reason that the fashionable duo looks almost flawless in real life, now can it? “I am a minimalist when it comes to make up. On a day to day basis the most I go with is a BB cream and tinted lip balm,” says Nikita. To which Pavithra adds, “I don't wear make up on a daily basis. At the most, I might dab some sheer pressed powder and chapstick. For a night out with friends, I like to go with a neutral eye/ bold lip colour look.”

Despite pulling off a high fashion and elaborate wardrobe, the duo likes to stick to the basic essentials when it comes to their skincare regime – face wash, a cleanser, a good sunscreen and keeping hydrated.

“I also make sure I remove every bit of makeup with Johnson’s baby oil before I go to sleep,” shares Pavithra.

Talking about her fashion evolution, she candidly confesses, “I remember matching my accessories with my clothes from as early as my school days! Although that may now seem as a terrible fashion faux pas, in my head I always thought I had it right. Of course, age and a bit of travel have improved my sensibilities and taste in fashion. That being said, there is nothing sexier than being confident in one's own skin."

With temperatures touching new highs, the latest go-to-girls for style solutions in the city suggest the tried and tested white or pastel fabrics for the summer.

“Loose clothes, lots of linen, a cool pair of sunglasses, comfortable sandals and lots of sunscreen!” says Nikita, while cotton shift dresses, shorts and culotte jumpsuits with espadrilles or gladiator sandals are Pavithra’s summer staples.

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LOOKBOOK BENGALURU

SANDHYA JAIN Her look for the summer is a short printed skirt from one of Italy’s homegrown boutiques, a black est top from Top Shop and super comfy wedges in dusky rose from Aldo. A few trinkets which Sandhya makes it a point to pick up on her travels (especially from street markets in Europe) and she’s ready for a day out with friends.

Photographs: Faheem Hussain Location: Tao Terraces, 1 MG Mall

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BENGALURU

NIKHIL HARIWANSH When he’s not dressed in a designer’s best, he likes to keep things simple and easy, yet stylish. He’s sporting a casual ensemble from Milanese brand Frankie Morello’s RTW collection. The casual white shirt, perfect for Bengaluru’s scorching afternoons is teamed with a pair of red shorts, not just to beat the heat, but also to add that splash of colour to an otherwise simple look.

Photography: Faheem Hussain Wardrobe courtesy: Fervour, 118 Lavelle Road, Bengaluru Model: Prasad Bidapa Associates

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LOOKBOOK

BENGALURU

BALA KUMAR For a hot summer day he’s chosen to dress up in a uniquely designed light blue dotted shirt from D-Squared (one that actor Siddharth Malhotra was spotted in for a promo appearance of Kapoor & Sons), teamed with cool white pants from Iceberg and finished off with a summery hat, also from D-Squared.

Photography: Faheem Hussain Wardrobe courtesy: Fervour, 118 Lavelle Road, Bengaluru Model: Prasad Bidapa Associates

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RITZ APRIL 2016

BENGALURU

PRATIKSHA KATARIA AHUJA Having designed most of her outfits herself, here Pratiksha sports a long summer maxi in the prettiest shade of pink (can you believe her design company is called PINC i.e. Pratiksha Inc?). Though the high side slits seem a bit camouflaged they’re differently styled - round slits and the maxi has a short body hugging dress inside, adding a hint of mystery and glamour to the flowing garment.

Photographs: Faheem Hussain Location: The Open Box

APRIL 2016 RITZ

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LOOKBOOK HYDERABAD

HONEY Sporting a cool spring special - a mint green cutout crop top that she’s teamed with a high-slit linen pleated skirt, both designed by Shruti Chopa and retailed under her label Selvaggio Moda, this cool outfit has been enhanced by a leather belt and stone and sequin bracelet, along with chic floral ear tops.

Hair, Makeup & Styling: Emraan Outfit: Selvaggio Moda by Shruti Chopra

Photography: Santosh Kumar Location: Taj Banjara, Hyderabad

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HYDERABAD

SADHNA SINGH The jute cotton designer sari is perfect for the Indian summers; accentuating poise and femininity yet comfortable on the skin. The cotton material is bliss, designed to beat the summer heat and the royal blue colour adds the right amount of oomph. The ribbon work on the saree teamed with the patterned blouse further accentuate the look.

Hair and Makeup: Suman Agarwal Outfits by: Designer Suprabha (saree), Naari boutique (blouse) Footwear: Tresmode

Photography: Santosh Kumar Location: Westin Hyderabad Mindspace APRIL 2016 RITZ

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BABLU PERUGU Red and white are the colours of the hour. Sporting a pair of fitted trousers in dull red, he’s teamed it with a simple, yet cool white shirt and rust coloured moccasins to complete this ultra-casual look.

Photography: Santosh Kumar Clothes courtesy: Designer Sahil Gulati

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BENGALURU

SHAIK RAFI Outwardly it looks like a simple blue shirt - the perfect summer hue. But closer inspection reveals that the shirt is patterned with letters of the alphabet! Such a quirky touch elevates the plain blue shirt to a new level. When paired with textured and summery cotton shorts, it transforms into the ideal gear for a Sunday of roughing it out with the boys.

Photography: Santosh Kumar Clothes courtesy: Designer Sahil Gulati

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LOOKBOOK CHENNAI

BHARAT RAJ No dark hues, just a simple blue long men’s bandi from Vivek Karunakaran’s summer collection. When paired with shoes from Language, and thrown over a white ensemble, it is perfect for a smart casual evening or for a night out dining with friends.

Hair, Makeup and Styling : Page3 Luxury Salon, KnK

Photographs: Gurunath Prabhu Location Courtesy: Aqua, The Park

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CHENNAI

ROYA KHALILEE A flared macroon green skirt paired with a crop top, both from Vivek Karunakaran’s summer collection make for the perfect ensemble to look like a million bucks despite Chennai’s notorious weather. The fluid lines and clean cut of the garment make the wearer that much more comfortable in the blaze.

Hair and makeup: Page3 Luxury Salon, KnK Photographs: Gurunath Prabhu Location Courtesy: Aqua, The Park

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LOOKBOOK

Photographs: Gurunath Prabhu

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CHENNAI

MANAV SUBRAMANIAN Dressed for the Chennai summer, Manav sports a cool blue pair of shorts from Giordano and a sheer white shirt from Louis Phillipe. To accentuate his look is a smart belt from Louis Vuitton and a pair of tan loafers to match.

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OVER A CUPPA

BENGALURU

Matches Made‌ In Virtual

Heaven A chance meeting at a party where a couple bonded over a plate of blue cheese led to the germination of an idea so unique that it finally saw fruition in Floh.in, one of the country’s most reliable singles sites, offering urban and urbane single men and women a common platform to meet and allow the proverbial rainbow to lead you to that elusive pot of gold. RITZ meets founders Siddharth and Simran Mangharam over a cup of coffee and quirky tales that have led to matches being made - not in heaven, but at meetings set up though their singles site.

Text: Archana Shenoy Photography: Faheem Hussain Location: Bricklane Grill, Escape Hotel Bengaluru

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There is no algorithm that computes your compatibility with Mr or Miss X. Nor is there any shady questionnaire with a hundred queries on your habits, likes and dislikes, underwear size and preference of sleeping position. Floh.in, a singles site that has presence in Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi works on the strict principles of screening, most of which are done by Founder and CEO Siddharth Mangharam himself, else through referrals from existing members who have been priorly screened.

“That’s why we maintain a 50 percent ratio of men and women on our site. We want women to feel safe in this environment that we have created with the sole intention of giving single people a chance at nurturing relationships and meeting likeminded people,” explains Simran Mangharam, head of Memberships and Operations, and also Siddharth’s wife. “The idea to start Floh stemmed when Sid and I met by chance at a friend's party and got talking over a plate of blue cheese,” she tells. Apparently the couple got so engrossed in their conversation that it took them over an hour to reach the formal introduction stage.

“I’m older to Sid by two years,” tells Simran, “and after that initial meeting I was the one to pick up the phone and call him the next day. I openly expressed my interest in him, he invited himself over to dinner, one thing led to the next and before we knew it we were dating,” she adds, deliberately mentioning the difference in their ages to drive home the point that its not always mandatory to wait for a man to make the first move to take a relationship forward.

“There’s no harm in a woman expressing her interest in a man. There’s never a particular ‘type’ of man you should wait for. It's better to keep an open mind and take that first step when you feel a connection with someone,” she stresses.

The couple have now been married seven years and have a five-year old daughter.

Apparently a friend of theirs, who was single and looking for a partner, used to scrounge matrimonial sites and have their representatives on her doorstep demanding astronomical payments to make connections and build matches.

She relocated to Paris and was forced to undergo the same torture searching for a partner through matrimonial sites there

“We maintain a 50 percent ratio of men and women on our site.

We want women to feel safe in this environment that we have created with the intention of giving single people a chance at meeting likeminded people”

as well. “I asked her if she would register and go through a site where singles were rigorously screened before being made members, thereby reducing one’s chances of meeting sleazy guys looking for an easy pick-up or bogus matches. Her instant reply in the affirmative made me realise the lack of one such reliable service in the market and I ran the idea by Siddharth and another friend and now partner Sid Mishra. That’s how we planned and began Floh,” tells Simran.

Her background in Human Resources was perfect for it helped her come up with the necessary questions to pose for the screening process. “We need people to

be able to prove to us that they are legally single; if they’re divorced then we need a copy of the divorce decree before we can approve his or her membership. We verify people’s social profiles, check the information they have shared with us for authenticity and only then approve their applications,” explains Siddharth. Presently Floh.in has 3500 members across 3 major cities and memberships cost Rs 7500 for 3 months, Rs 12,000 for six months and Rs 15,000 for a year.

The membership allows people to meet on a common online platform and explore their compatibility from there on. Floh.in also hosts weekly events, which members can participate in at an additional cost.

“Sometimes it takes a certain situation for people to find that right spark between each other,” tells Simran. “We’ve had couples bonding over sailing days, winery tours, cookout afternoons, learning how to make Sangria and even beer and whiskey tasting nights. We host at least four events each weekend in each city, and in the last two years Floh.in has been seeing at least one couple tying the knot every single week!”

That’s a lot of marriages happening, all thanks to Siddharth and Simran and their brainchild.

“It’s mandatory for a member to exit from Floh once he or she finds their match. And many of our members had gotten so used to meeting new people each weekend at our curated events that they began to feel at a loss for new things to do and new people to meet. Hence we’ve come up with Beyond Work, a new site that caters to people looking to make new friends and build relationships that are not of romantic nature,” explains Siddharth. Beyond Work is just a few weeks old, but already the Mangharams are seeing a flurry of activity on the site and have hosted three weekend events that have been great meeting platforms to network and mingle.

“Though our businesses are highly technology driven we feel it is imperative that we work towards keeping personal relationships alive and going strong. We hope to speed happiness and love, the same way we found ours - by chance - so that more people can take time away from their work and gadgets and connect with others on a real level,” says Simran, signing off.

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HYDERABAD

In a league of her own

Just the surname of Alam Khan spells success and sophistication.

One of the oldest regal families of Hyderabad, the Alam Khans have continued to conquer the higher echelons of Hyderabad’s elite society with their class and cuisine. However, Samia Alam Khan, one of the most well known daughters-in-law of the Nawabi family, did not rest on the laurels of her illustrious clan. Instead, she went ahead and carved a niche for herself as a competent business woman in Hyderabad. RITZ chats up the reigning Chairperson of Yound Ficci Ladies Organisation who breezes through challenging roles and does justice to every one of them.

Text: Ajuli Tulsyan

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For Samia, entrepreneurship comes naturally. With a flair for numbers, she would help her father with his office work and account keeping when she was just a girl in her pigtails. “I was rewarded with extra pocket money in return which made me independent and strong quite early in life,” she reminisces. And for somebody who tasted financial freedom that early, it’s quite obvious that she would follow her own path as an adult. While many girls in her circle made marriage their sole vocation, Samia’s marriage to Manzoor Alam Khan spurred her on to pursue her career with renewed vigour.

It must have been tough for a zesty girl to fit into the huge family that is reputed for their customs, traditions and living together. Some 40 odd members are known to get together every day for most meals in their family home. The sheer magnitude and opulence of their family get togethers, weddings and other important occasions are legendary in the city of Nizams. Every unit of the family is known for their distinct lifestyle. While the men zip around in their mean machines, the women carry themselves with a rare grace in their chiffons and Basra pearls. But the family, as a principle, neither speaks about their legacy nor of their philanthropic endeavours. While it may be in to flaunt Rolls Royces and Bentleys and announce your charity initiatives to the world, the Alam Khans downplay their material possessions because they believe strongly that it goes against their faith. However, when it comes to feasting and feeding, they pull out all stops to ensure that the world gets to savour Hyderabadi cuisine in their signature Haveli.

Patriarch of the family Nawab Mehboob Alam Khan, a consultant for Taj group of hotels, an Indian food connoisseur and culinary expert of Hyderabadi cuisine, is also well known for restoring many lost recipes of the Hyderabadi tradition. However, the spirited Samia held her own and went a step ahead to develop a strong identity that maybe enhanced by her family name but a lot of it has to do with her business acumen.

So how does it feel to belong to one of the famous families of Hyderabad? How has the experience been?

“Obviously, it feels wonderful. Even though I was married in a joint family, because of my husband’s work, we lived in the US and the Middle East during the initial period

of our marriage. The family I am married into is extremely private and comprises a cultured ecosystem. Other than the various industries they manage, they have a very keen sense of giving back to the society and do so privately. The family invests into and enjoys nurturing varied interests and hobbies. Over the years, I’ve been exposed to various things like sustainable farming, horticulture and animal husbandry which has been quite an eye opener of sorts,” confides the lady and continues, “I have had the good fortune of tasting the food of some celebrated chefs in India and globally.

But then there is a culinary genius within our family - Nawab Mehboob Alam Khan, Manzoor’s eldest uncle, is beyond compare.

He wears many hats as a successful entrepreneur, educationist and a highly respected person in the social and political

"The fashion and lifestyle space has tremendous potential.

Luckily for me, some lucrative collaborations fell in place and things worked out beautifully.

It has been a lot of hard work" space in Hyderabad. But that’s not what his family, friends and guests remember him most for. He is arguably the best Deccani culinary genius in the world as his Biryani is rated as among the most brilliant dishes to be had. He is a connoisseur of Mughlai cuisine and can whip up a magical feast overnight.”

A specialist at conceptualising and bringing to life fashion & lifestyle based events, Samia has been curating and organising several one day fashion exhibitions in Hyderabad since 2010. She curates Mana Shetty’s signature exhibition, Araaish, which is a leading transnational fashion exhibition brand with considerable presence in India and overseas. Managing director of Samia Alam Khan Enterprises, a company she set up in the Lifestyle & Fashion space, she has made a name for herself with her pursuit for excellence. So how did the idea of turning an entrepreneur come about? “I completed my

MBA in marketing and finance way back in 1997. I always wanted to set up something of my own. The fashion and lifestyle space has tremendous potential. Luckily for me, some lucrative collaborations fell in place and things worked out beautifully. It has been a lot of hard work,” she says with a smile.

Getting elected as the Chairperson of Young FICCI Ladies Organisation, 20152016, was just the shot in the arm she needed to make her presence stronger in society. “YFLO gave me the platform to pursue interests which are close to my heart, like working on the health initiative, organising free health camps for the needy, etc. I have had the opportunity to witness how, what comes so easily to certain parts of the society, can be like gold dust for some!”

Personally, she counts the arrival of her daughter Sanya and son Aftab as the most precious events of her life. “They are grown up now. My daughter is 17 and my son, 15.

But you know how it is with mothers. We can never compromise on their upbringing,” she says and we can’t agree more.

Another turning point was her marriage to her childhood sweetheart. “It was definitely a huge moment. But then the birth of my children takes the cake as far as defining moments in life are concerned. It is an experience unlike no other. It’s something intensely personal and absolutely spiritual.

And I will not trade anything for these,” shares Samia.

A voracious reader, her all time favourite pastime is watching a movie while munching caramel popcorn “Movies are my favourite pastime, we don’t miss any big release, be it in Hindi or English; my all-time favourite stars are Tom Cruise and Saif Ali Khan, even though right now Ranbir Kapoor simply rocks,” she muses.

She also digs travelling big time and loves cats. “I just adore my Persian cats, Zoro and Sheza,” says Samia who is a shopaholic and a spa addict. “New York and London are my favourite shopping destinations,” she confides. Her family’s expertise has rubbed off on her as well though Italian cuisine is her specialty.

In addition to consolidating and expanding her business further, she also wants to start an NGO. “I would like to focus on creating sustainable opportunities for the people who are economically marginalized,” she shares. Nice.

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HYDERABAD

Eat,

drink, love

He has brought two of the most popular names in hospitality – Olive Bistro and Soda Bottle Opener Wala – to the food crazy Nawabi city. He is a True Blue Hyderabadi alright but Shaaz Mehmood is anything but laidback.

Juggling two of the most happening haunts of the city requires not just bagfuls of capital but also buckets of sweat and this bright alumnus of Hyderabad Public School is not one to shy away from either. A self confessed workaholic, he has been lucky to turn his passion into profession. In an exclusive chat with RITZ, the 28-year old restaurateur spills the beans on what it has taken to make his brands successful.

Text: Ajuli Tulsyan

"My friends say that they love the cheesecake I make; and I don’t use cream cheese"

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Life is interesting! Especially, if you’re somebody like Shaaz Mehmood who had the guts to stray from his professional qualification to follow his bliss! Bliss, in his case, was the hospitality business.

Becoming a chef was his childhood dream.

“Hospitality is naturally embedded in me because it’s always been a part of ‘Hyderabadi tehzeeb’. While I have studied law and have had other business interests, hospitality has always been my passion,” says the young entrepreneur.

Partnership with the noted restaurateur AD Singh, Mediterranean cuisine and the most scenic location of the city have all worked in Olive Bistro’s favour. Shaaz deserves to be applauded for making a mark in a city where people prefer to stick to the tried and tested cuisines. “When we entered Hyderabad, it was a task to educate people. Helping their tastes evolve was I believe the most difficult part. Like initially when we made pasta and served al dente, people thought we were serving it raw and we had to overcook it,” he shares.

But now the scene is quite different. With

the influx of young professionals from outside and exposure of the residents to overseas travel, a lot has changed.

There has been a surfeit of restaurants mushrooming in every nook and cranny.

But Shaaz sees this as a positive sign of growth rather than competition.

So how did Olive happen in the first place?

“A couple of years back we were at a family dinner hosted by AD Singh, the promoter of Olive, who happens to know my parents for aeons. I suggested that he explore opportunities in Hyderabad. A little later, we zeroed in on this property overlooking

Photography: Santosh Kumar the lake, an ideal setting for Mediterranean cuisine. Thankfully, everything fell in place and here we are!” says Shaaz describing the journey.

His childhood dream of becoming a chef may not have come true but Shaaz’s passion for cooking has many admirers.

“My friends say that they love the cheesecake I make; and I don’t use cream cheese,” he confides.

A die hard foodie, Shaaz loves trying out food at various outlets. “Within Hyderabad some of my favourite places are Cocos and

Prego, but my all-time favourite is Café Zoe in Mumbai. I love the Lucknowi food at Point Pleasant as well. Though I love experimenting, nothing can beat home cooked Hyderabadi food,” says Shaaz.

Any success mantra? “My team is my strength. I owe our success to them. For me, work is worship. I believe that if you master time management, you’ve nailed it,” he says. That doesn’t mean he ignores other aspects of life. He believes in worklife balance like many youngsters of today.

“16 hours in a working day is a lot of time, so one finds a balance,” says Shaaz who

identifies himself with Harvey Specter, “The impossibly slick, impeccably tailored, and aggressively successful New York corporate lawyer at the centre of the legal dramedy `Suits’ is my role model,” he says with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Spurred on by the success of Olive Bistro which is almost 3 years old, Shaaz launched another franchise of the famous chain, Soda Bottle Opener Wala, which turns one this May. For a 28-year old entrepreneur, that’s quite an achievement, huh? Good show, Shaaz!

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CHENNAI

Green energy’s golden boy

Vummidi is a name that most Chennai folks would ascribe to the century-old Vummidi Bangaru Jewellers family.

RITZ recently got chatting with the next generation Vummidi, a 23-year-old who has ventured out of his comfort zone to find his calling in life.

Text: Rebecca Vargese & Diya Subramanian

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There is more to young Kritish Vummidi than just his famous surname. Armed with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Coventry University, Kritish decided to turn his passion for a green lifestyle into a lucrative business venture. “Hence V Renewable Energy was born!” Today V-Energy focuses on ushering in rooftop solar solutions for homes and offices. “You can rest assured that you will not have to shell out more money once we have set up the solar panels. V Renewable Energy provides customers with a 25year warranty, something that no other company can offer,” says Kritish.

Following the Make In India trend, V Renewable Energy has all its equipment manufactured in the country by an approved local vendor. “They are one of the two companies that offer green energy solutions in the country,” Kritish reveals. The young entrepreneur seems to have a keen eye for business, a trait that he confesses he has acquired from the being part of the VBJ family. Teeming with enterprise, Kritish is looking to diversify into providing biogas solutions, water and waste management and setting up miniature windmills in rural areas.

We ask Kritish about challenges he faces as a young entrepreneur to which he answers, “When I take part in meetings, people are a little apprehensive to see someone my age address them. I think they prefer dealing with someone older. But once we get down to business and are able to prove our mettle, they are a bit more welcoming. We have learnt that the trick to getting people’s attention is to first sell them the concept and then offer the product.” A pretty efficient strategy, he assures us.

Inspiration comes to Kritish on a daily basis.

“I am surrounded by people who inspire me,” he says. The entrepreneur believes that one can learn something new from all the people one meets every day. “It is up to you to use that knowledge to better yourself,” Kritish adds. Although joining the family business is always an option, Kritish believes that his passion lies elsewhere.

Kritish tell us, “Right now I don’t have any free time because of all the work that is required to build this company. I want to make my company synonymous with renewable energy, not just in Chennai but all over India.”

"I want to make my company synonymous with renewable energy, not just in Chennai but all over India"

Before his busy schedule and jam-packed calendar, Kritish enjoyed travelling and Helsinki in Finland is his favourite pick.

He says that the silence is something that appeals to him and “it is its beauty in the summer months that makes me love the city.”

If this isn’t enough Kritish has his hands full with another project, a food curating start up called ‘FoodMash’ which gives the customer an option to have food delivered from two or more restaurants. The app is set to go live soon.

On the whole Kritish Vummidi seems to have his life goals in place and age surely is the least of his concerns as he scripts his success story.

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More than food for thought

‘‘Nanma Maram’ or Tree of Goodness is Minu Pauline’s effort to give back to society, not because she is obliged to, but because she wants to. The banker turned restaurateur recently kicked off this philanthropic project where she puts 50 to 100 packets of food into a massive refrigerator placed outside her restaurant, each day. These packets can be picked up by anyone in need of food, who cannot pay for a meal of their own. RITZ speaks to the lady with a heart of gold who strives to prevent the unnecessary wastage of food.

Text: Archana Shenoy

"I saw two small children, aged around eight, put something in the fridge. On closer inspection their offering turned out to be three pomegranates, two lollipops and two packets of Gems chocolates. And soon after they put their treats into the fridge, a poor woman walked across and picked up one of the pomegranates that the children had placed there"

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She’s a banker turned restaurateur, but with a philanthropic heart. For 28-yearold Minu Pauline quitting her corporate job in Citibank and setting up her own restaurant wasn’t enough. She knew there was something more she was meant to do in life. When she opened the second brand of her restaurant Pappadavada, she knew exactly what that ‘something more’ was.

Her initiative ‘Nanma Maram’ or Tree of Goodness is her effort to feed a few more people than her paying customers. It is her effort to reach out to the less privileged who often go hungry as they’re unable to afford even one proper meal for themselves and their families.

“I had heard of the ‘food on the wall’ and ‘suspended coffee’ concepts happening around the world where compassionate customers could pay in advance for food and drink for the needy. I didn’t know whether or not our society was progressive enough to adopt such a concept, but I personally felt I was ready to do my bit.

Seeing loads of food being wasted from the restaurant, us over-ordering when we went out for a meal, home cooked food lying tucked away in the fridge for days together… I knew I wanted to do something with all this food so that I could feed those

who went to bed hungry,” explains Minu.

Through her ‘Nanma Maram’ initiative the lady has invested in a 420 litre commercial refrigerator in which she stores between 50 to 100 packets of food each day that those in need can come and pick up. “I’m not serving anyone a king's meal,” she explains.

“I’m giving them something substantial that will fill their bellies and keep them going for the day.” On some days packets of upma are put into the fridge. Other days it is 2 chapatis and curry, else a prepared rice dish.

Minu also has begun encouraging the local community to come forward and put in any fresh and well-preserved food that they would want to donate.

And much to her surprise and joy, the local community has indeed begun chipping in.

“What really touched me was when I saw two small children, aged around eight, put something in the fridge. On closer inspection their offering turned out to be three pomegranates, two lollipops and two packets of Gems chocolates. And soon after they put their treats into the fridge, a poor woman walked across and picked up one of the pomegranates that the children had placed there. That’s when I realised the impact of what I was doing and was overjoyed that I was able to reach out to the younger generation and inspire them into contributing to such a noble cause,” she tells.

Located near the Kaloor bus station, Minu’s ‘Nanma Maram’ initiative has gained much traction as the area is rife with people who fall well below the poverty line. “Many of them sleep in the bus station and use the public toilet nearby. They have no where to go… many are young children and elders.

Each day the food that I put out lasts for less than an hour in the refrigerator,” she explains, adding that many of her friends and family did not see the need for her to invest her money into purchasing such an expensive refrigerator as the food does not stay in it for more than a few minutes.

However, Minu is confident that more and more people will be inspired to share

whatever they can and support her ‘Nanma Maram' initiative. “Soon I’m sure we will have so much food that we will definitely need the refrigerator to keep it fresh till it can be consumed,” she tells us with a hopeful smile. She’s also determined to spread the initiate across Kochi so that more needy people can be fed. Presently Minu spends approximately 1,000 rupees per day for the number of food packets she puts out. Add to that the costs of electricity, cooks, staff and miscellaneous items, she’s shelling out at least 50,000 rupees per month, simply out of goodness and because she wants to drive home the fact that food is precious and should not be wasted.

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CHENNAI

A

collector’s dream

Lush greenery and extensive open spaces in the heart of the city are a rarity. As you walk through the gates of the Ranjit House, past the long drive way and the tennis court, your senses are overwhelmed by its sylvan beauty and the affable charm of the owner Ranjit Pratap.

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"The classic cars that I now own are the ones I dreamt of owning as a child!"

Photography: Rajesh

Ranjit House, as the name suggests belongs to the widely known Chennai business tycoon Ranjit Pratap. As your senses soak in the greenery, the straight lines and square cut design of the house are what stand out.

Talking about the architectural design of the house Ranjit tells us, “My father saw the design of this house in a magazine called ‘House Beautiful’. The straight lines were what stood out for him as well. The house was finally built in 1970. The interiors have been renovated a few times since.”

While by instinct most people would like to keep excessive sunlight out, Ranjit House is rather playful with its use of sun reflective glass panels. “The light brightens up the house,” Ranjit says. Not too bright; just the right amount of cheery! “It is the perfect blend of a vintage house and modern architecture,” he adds. And we couldn’t agree more.

Towards the posterior end of the living room, large rear windows offer a view of a wooden-floor patio. Decked up with Italian furniture, the white pebble bordered balcony is the perfect spot to enjoy a relaxed meal on a lazy day.

Glasses out on display and high wooden

bar stools set beside a marble counter lend a cosy yet rustic feel to the bar area, while the large plush sofas and soft elegant lighting provide the modern features of the interior design.

Ranjit Pratap is widely known for two things: his business ethics and love for cars. A visit to the Ranjit house demands at least a quick scan of his car collection. Ranjit’s face instantly lights up when you ask him about the two classic cars parked out front. “I have been fond of cars from my childhood; I started collecting classic cars about ten to twelve years ago. The classic cars that I now own are the ones I dreamt of owning as a child!”

Talking about his passion, Ranjit says that despite his enthusiasm it was time and resources that delayed the onset of his car collection hobby. Reminiscing the spark that prompted his car collection, he tells us, “I owe it all to my dear friend Guhan.

In 2003 he invited me to check out his garage and you could say I was bitten by the

collector’s bug then!” Soon after the garage visit Ranjit set out on a buying spree and today has forty cars in his collection.

While a collection of forty cars can be quite difficult to manage, every car in the garage is in mint condition. When asked how he manages it, Ranjit chuckles, “I enjoy every bit of it. I love to spend the day in the garage working on the cars; it works as a wonderful stress buster.”

So are we to expect any new additions to the collections in the near future? Ranjit laughs and says, “Now that I don’t have any space, I think I’ll stop at forty. Seems like a decent collection, no?”

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CORRIDORS OF POWER

Photographs: Gurunath Prabhu

BY SANJAY PINTO

(Pic: P. Selvaganesh, I.R.S, Competent Authority & Administrator – SAFEMA & NDPS Act)

A TAX SLEUTH

WITH MANY HATS

Leading a 'Guard of Honour' for Chief Guests, usually bureaucrats, in his school, made a young scout dream of a role reversal. Kshatriya Vidya Sala was a CBSE school in Virudhanagar, which in the early eighties was part of West Ramanathapuram district. The Collector used to be stationed in Madurai and would travel all the way to Virudhanagar to preside over functions, making his presence rare; and therefore, special. It was not just VIP visits that inspired students. In his stentorian voice, the school founder Mc Mhoan, instilled in his boys, a sense of discipline and a desire to aim high. That was the starting point of a journey to the top echelons of the bureaucracy for a young Selvaganesh, who had already bagged the President's Scout Award in school, having displayed a flair for signalling, morse code and observation - skills he claims, in hindsight, were carried into his profession.

In the mid eighties, when Selvaganesh completed a Bachelor's Degree in Economics from Loyola College, he became the first graduate in his family of businesspersons. Post graduation was an opportunity for holistic development under the Jesuit priests. This is where his leadership skills came to the fore as he juggled multiple roles – as Secretary of Sports, Debating Society and also the Economics Association. Little did he realise to what extent these multi tasking abilities would help him in his career. “During our annual Association festival, going by the large turnout of students from women's colleges in what was a male bastion, my HOD used to always ask me if we had invited any boys colleges at all!” However, that boyish mischievious streak took a back seat when family business duties beckoned. Selva was called to manage his grandfather's dairy farm in Virudhanagar, soon after his post graduation. Back to his roots, as it were, he put systems in place at the farm and soon took up employment in the Commission for Agricultural Costs & Prices, an organisation instrumental in fixing minimum support prices for crops.

A year later, that mandatory trip to Delhi for

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appointment'? In a particular case, we got the wife of a deceased officer a job barely 3 months after his death.”

the Civil Services Examination happened.

In his second attempt, this Gold Medallist from Loyola College breezed through the exam and got into the Indian Revenue Service (IRS). “I could have given it another shot and aimed for the IAS but everyone, especially my family, were happy with the IRS.”

Tamilnadu, sources claim, has for long been known for manpower shortage with senior Income Tax officers having to hold multiple charges. When he was posted to his home State, as Deputy Director – Investigation, stationed at Tirunelveli, this 1991 batch IRS officer ensured a declaration of 137 crore in a single case. For 5 years he served as the Additional Director of Income Tax in Madurai with additional charge of Coimbatore and Chennai. This is probably where Selvaganesh's college multi tasking skills came in handy! Then came a long stint in Chennai as Additional Commissioner of Income Tax – at the Headquarters, looking after Administration, Vigilance, the Tax Deducted At Source (TDS) wing and finally International Taxation. By the end of 2012, Selva was promoted as the Commissioner of Income Tax and posted at Thiruvananthapuram, where he functioned for three financial years.

Come June, 2015, an all new role was offered – as the Competent Authority & Administrator of the Smugglers & Foreign Exchange Manipulators Act (SAFEMA) and the Narcotics & Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. It's a designation that is not too common and involves deciding on the forfeiture of ill-gotten property through smuggling and violation of foreign exchange laws. “I am in charge of 5 Southern States, including Telangana, and deal with the auction of forfeited properties. We have dealt with 75 to 80 such properties so far.”

Most income tax officers would spend about 3 years in investigative roles. Selvaganesh has 14 years tucked under his belt in hard

core investigation of tax evasion and financial fraud. Over this decade and a half that saw him conducting politically sensitive raids, not to speak of successful prosecution of six defaulters in Chennai and the launching of prosecution against eight in Trivandrum, he proudly recalls three big breakthroughs as highlights in his career. The zeroing in on a tycoon who had been evading arrest for a long time and had returned to India on a bogus passport, wrapped up an 800 crore scam. “I found the leads provided by an investigative business journalist quite useful in my hunt for this industrialist.” In Madurai, “we unearthed a nexus between doctors and diagnostic centres with kickbacks of 7.5 crore on a single day.” Having created systems that ensured routine transfers and promotions happen promptly, Selvaganesh gets emotional while recounting a compassionate appointment case. “If an appointment of an heir or dependent of an officer who dies in harness is delayed, how can it be called a 'compassionate

Photography: Rajesh

Nagpur was where his IRS innings began, first as the Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax, a stint in administration at the Headquarters, where he had the opportunity to be a part of the cadre review resulting in 800 to 900 income tax officers getting promotions and later as the Assistant Director of Investigations.

It's not all boring number crunching for this dashing tax officer. An avid sportsman, Selvaganesh seldom misses his game of tennis, the secret behind his flat tummy and a possible six pack concealed beneath his formal attire! A state level athlete in Discus and Shot Put, not many are aware that he has been the Vice President of the Tamil Nadu Amateur Athletic Association. “In 2009, I was the Manager of the Indian National Athletics Team and led a contingent of 50 athletes to the Asian Circuit in China. I was also a Technical Delegate from India for the Guangzhou Asian Games in China.”

Widely travelled, Selvaganesh toured Finland as a Rotary GSE Scholar in 2006, underwent training at Slovenia and Austria and Duke University, USA and completed an Advanced Mid Career Training Programme at Syracuse University, New York.

Married to Vanaja, an Economics graduate from Nagercoil, Selvaganesh swears it was not through his college Economics Association Festival! Their elder son Sarath Ganesh didn't quite fancy taxation, choosing to become a doctor instead and is into his final year at Sri Ramachandra Medical College. Monish, the younger lad will soon complete his schooling at DAV, Gopalapuram.

Quite a voracious reader of both fiction and non fiction, Selvaganesh will also turn author soon with a Mathematical Model on Taxation of Agriculture. The release may well happen at the National Academy of Direct Taxes where he regularly delivers lectures. If the default impression of a tax officer is adversarial, here's a firm believer in the words of Lord Tennyson from the 'Charge of the Light Brigade': “theirs not to reason why, theirs but to do or die.” A 'friendly taxman' may be as much of an oxymoron as an 'honest auto driver' but that's what makes this officer stand head and shoulders over many of his peers. Even quite literally.

(Sanjay Pinto is a Lawyer, Columnist, Author, Former Resident Editor – NDTV 24x7 and Public Speaking Mentor) APRIL 2016 RITZ

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POINT BLANK

PUBLICITY INTEREST

LITIGATION

Despite the delays and other ills that plague our legal system, what has always made me proud of the Rule Of Law in India is that it can be a great leveller. A man on the street can send a postcard to the Chief Justice of a High Court or the Supreme Court saying that he is starving and the judiciary can treat that as a public interest litigation and come to his rescue.

In the past, our courts have taken up a plethora of issues confronting the ordinary citizen in one breath; and in the other, frowned upon the VIP 'red beacon' culture of entitlement. Our Fundamental Right to Life under Article 21 of the Constitution, after all, includes the right to livelihood and ought to be a safeguard against poverty and starvation. While we conquer outer space and launch missions to the Moon, we still send human beings down manholes. Manual scavenging is an unacceptable practice, that mercifully, our courts continue to monitor and take suo motu action whenever such instances are reported. Whether it's a top political leader throwing his weight around or a big builder violating norms or a top notch industrialist polluting the environment, the judiciary has cracked the whip.

Against this backdrop of judicial activism, it is so disconcerting to see folks going bonkers with the law. Just recently, I ended up watching a cricket match after quite sometime. I have covered cricket on national television and travelled overseas with the men in blue in the past. But I stopped following the game, probably due to all the match fixing and spot fixing and betting allegations. The India – Pakistan encounter was, however, too exciting to miss. The sight of Bollywood Star Amitabh Bachchan singing the National Anthem in his deep baritone voice was soul

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Many years ago, actor Khushbu was hounded in several courts for a sensible comment in an interview on pre marital sex.

Ultimately, an unfazed Khushbu got relief from the Supreme Court, which upheld her right to freedom of expression.

BY SANJAY PINTO

stirring. I got goose bumps listening to it.

I can imagine how it would have fired up our players before they took on their arch rivals. My respect for the Big B went up several notches when I read that he paid from his own pocket for his air fare and hotel. And that someone would nit pick and pull out a stop watch and then file a criminal complaint against him for singing the anthem in a minute and ten seconds instead of 52 seconds, disturbs me. Actually, it doesn't shock me. Remember, how not long ago, Shashi Tharoor faced a similar case for asking an audience to cross their hearts while the anthem was played, as they do in the United States? How on earth did Tharoor then or Bachchan now disrespect our anthem? The former UN official turned Union Minister and MP had the case dismissed eventually. From a purely legal standpoint, Bachchan's a fit case for a High Court to invoke its inherent power under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and quash this vexatious complaint. In such cases, a trial is itself a punishment; something that a patriotic Indian who infused national pride, does not deserve to be subjected to.

Targetting a celebrity is a proven and an instant strategy to push themselves in the limelight. Would the same 'publicity' interest litigants care about real issues that hurt national pride? Everytime a family goes to bed hungry, it hurts national pride. Evertime a girl baby is killed, it hurts national pride. Everytime a woman is raped, it hurts national pride. Everytime a child is abused, it hurts national pride. Everytime a corruption scam comes to light, it hurts national pride. Why don't we see these self styled 'saviours' of national pride in action then? Because it's not glamorous? Because they don't guarantee column centimetres and air time?

While our higher judiciary does come down hard on this breed of court birds, I wish our police stations and lower courts are more circumspect about entertaining frivolous complaints. I wish our media stop short of mentioning the names of these publicity hungry individuals and outfits. Cut off their oxygen supply, which is publicity, and let's see how many still abuse the law. Till that happens, can we please wake up and smell the real stench in our backyard?

(Sanjay Pinto is a Lawyer, Columnist, Author, Former Resident Editor of NDTV 24x7 and Public Speaking Mentor)

One for

TRENDING NOW

BENGALURU

adventure Holidays, especially when you’re married to a pilot, are never spontaneous, says Sarayu Hegde. Bengaluru’s favourite fashionista and her pilot husband Praveen Chandra are a popular couple on the city’s social circuit.

And this year the city’s going to miss seeing them in the summer since they, along with their young son, are headed to the United States for a three week break. Though the US is Sarayu’s favourite shopping destination, it isn’t Praveen’s first choice for a break. RITZ talks to the couple and gets the lowdown on their ideal summer getaway.

Text: Archana Shenoy

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The Bombay Attic is a popular shopping destination for the city’s fashion lovers.

Owner Sarayu Hegde is always well turned out and stylishly put together, and she’s currently putting in a few fashion essentials into massive bags as she readies herself for her trip to the US. “I’m super excited as I love to shop in America,” says the pretty lady. “But Praveen is a complete beach boy when it comes to holidays and loves chilling out in places like Maldives and the Andamans.”

Praveen, being a pilot with IndiGo, says he wants to feel the sun on his skin when he’s on a holiday. “Being cooped up in the cockpit all day makes you crave for open spaces and fresh air. And though I’m constantly treated to spectacular views of the skies, sometimes it is the more basic things that one yearns for.”

With both husband and wife maintaining hectic schedules, they like to take off on little breaks whenever possible. One of their favourite go-to places is Chikmagalur.

Surrounded by acres of coffee plantations, Sarayu says the tranquility and peace of the place is the best balm for their weary minds. “It isn’t like we don't want to travel abroad or explore new places. It's just that the lure of these coffee estates is so strong, we often find ourselves making the five

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hour drive, hiding away in our favourite cottage property for a few days and returning to the city completely refreshed and rejuvenated.”

Kenya has been one of their favourite holiday destinations by far. “Living the African wildlife dream, exploring its varied landscapes, enjoying wildlife sightings…. it was a surreal experience. We especially loved mingling with the locals and understanding their lifestyle and culture, something so different from what we know,” tells Sarayu. Like most African adventures they enjoyed the safari and made repeated trips into the plains to spot wildebeest, big cats, giraffes and elephants.

The couple have also holidayed in Maldives, another place where they relished the island culture and spent some quality time diving as well.

“Diving was something that Praveen really enjoyed,” says Sarayu, and we agree, considering the man enjoys beaches and sandy holidays. She narrates how diving

On their wishlist is Japan during spring - to see the city turn pink with cherry blossoms and to explore Norway and Sweden to see the fjords and the northern lights

was literally a life changing experience for them as it made them connect with nature and its forces on a surreal level. “We always want to keep each of our vacations different,” she says, adding that they’re keen to explore and understand a place’s history and local culture, rather than just hitting malls and night spots.

Though they’ve travelled extensively and covered a fair chunk of the world, they still have a sizeable bucket list that Sarayu hopes to complete in the next few years.

On their wishlist is Japan during spring - to see the city turn pink with cherry blossoms and to explore Norway and Sweden to see the fjords and the northern lights.

“Hopefully we should be able to complete these places soon so that I can put a few more destinations on my bucket list,” says Sarayu with a laugh, continuing to gather knick-knacks and dropping them in her suitcase as she prepares to take off for the summer and explore the highly fashionable by-lanes of Manhattan and New Jersey.

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CHENNAI

Europe’s always

a good idea!

The loved-up couple of ace squash player Dipika Pallikal and cricketer Dinesh Karthik, have often shared pictures of their many getaways with friends and fans. Besides giving us relationship goals, the lovebirds have also given many of us a longer travel agenda. RITZ caught up with the duo to get an update for our travel bucket list.

Text: Rebecca Vargese

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They often say that Paris is always a good idea, and there is little doubt that the couple would disagree. However, the duo may have elaborated on the saying just a tad bit. “Last summer we visited Europe, we toured around quite a few cities in Europe and it was absolutely beautiful,” says an equally beautiful Dipika.

Denying that they are the touristy kind of travellers, the couple say that they love to explore on their own rather than just relying on tour guides and maps. “For all you know, we may get lost in the right direction and discover something new,” Dinesh enthuses.

Surely seems like Dipika is right on target when she calls Dinesh the ‘adventure junkie.’ “He loves trying new and unusual things. I, on the other hand, am slightly apprehensive and cautious. Honestly, if it wasn't for Dinesh I wouldn’t have tried half the things we did on our holidays,” she smiles. Certainly an intriguing thought! To which she almost immediately adds, “Fortunately, we didn’t do anything crazy last summer.”

So if Dinesh is the adventure junkie, where does that leave the lovely squash player? “I just follow whatever he does, since he is the experimental kind. We both love to travel and both of us love food! So there can never be compromise on that.”

The first leg of the couples’ summer European vacation began from Milan and after which they headed east towards ‘the city of bridges’ – Venice.

“From Venice we took a five day round-about cruise that ended again at Venice. We then flew to Paris, which was our final stop before we got back home,” Dipika explains.

Delving into their favourite memories from the trip, Dinesh reveals that the couple were initially unsure about a five-day cruise. “As it turned out, we enjoyed the cruise the most. We did not know what to expect because both of us had never been on one. We were thoroughly surprised by how well everything was organised. There is so much to do on a cruise as well. We loved it.”

RITZ APRIL 2016

The next destinations on the Dipika - Dinesh travel bucket list are Bora Bora, Hawaii and Brazil

Offering words of advice to first time travellers, Dipika tells, “Always travel with your licence! You'll never know when you need it.”

The couple try and take a break in the summer for a month after their respective sport seasons. The next destinations on the DpDk bucket list are Bora Bora, Hawaii and Brazil.

“These three places are definitely on our travel bucket list. We hope to check it off the list soon,” she says.

We hope so too, we may need a longer list though!

The Keeper of the

past

A lot has been written about the Old Curiosity Shop nestled away on Mount Road, but the almost 80-year store still has many a tale to tell: tales of heartache, of love, of joy; while its caretaker, the trove of its secrets has stories and treasures of his own.

TRENDING NOW

CHENNAI

Text: Rebecca Vargese

APRIL 2016 RITZ

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Photography: Shutter 24

TRENDING NOW

Picture yourself if you can in a room full of artefacts: verses in Arabic burnish the red brick wall; nautical compasses, figurines, Russian dolls and cuckoo clocks peer at you from off the shelves; the smell of antiques hang heavy in the air. Behind the counter sits a man; thick rimmed glasses, wide-eyed and gushing with enthusiasm. To M. Lateef, the keeper of The Old Curiosity Shop, the store and he share a common history. “I’ve always been fascinated by the different.

Even as a child I looked for new experiences every day and only meeting new people can satisfy the thirst for the new,” Lateef says.

Narrating his journey into antiquary, Lateef reveals specifics into his adolescent hobby of philately. “We used to get quite a few bank managers who were regulars at the store. I would ask them if I could visit them at their offices at the end of their working day and go through their dustbin.” A rather odd request. “Bank managers get a whole lot of mail and I was interested in the stamps. I have quite a large collection of art stamps, some even of nude art. I was always fascinated by the likes of Da Vinci and the human form.”

Take a stroll around the shop and you are allowed a peek into the life of the caretaker and the collector. An original letter from India’s then President Sarvepalli

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Radhakrishnan lies hidden behind some curios. Walk further in and you pass by a polythene-covered camera which probably belongs to era of the twin-lens Rolleiflex or Leica M6. But a closer look reveals Hasselblad 500 C/M, a slightly different variant from the one used by the crew of Apollo 11 on their moon landing. Ask him the story behind the now lens-less camera and Lateef answers the query only on the condition of anonymity of its former owner.

“Years ago, a young lad walked into my shop,” he says smiling, “Today, he is one of the biggest fashion photographers in the country. He wanted to sell his Hasselblad

"Years ago, a young lad walked into my shop. Today, he is one of the biggest fashion photographers in the country. He wanted to sell his Hasselblad for a digital camera!"

for a digital camera. When I saw the camera I knew we were a perfect fit for each other – for me as a collector and for him as a photographer entering the publishing business.”

The Old Curiosity Shop, earlier known as the Kashmir Art Palace, is a museum in its own right. Lateef tells us that he has never catalogued all the articles in the shop and there are centuries-old objects that have remained in the shop ever since its beginning.

It is certainly hard to convince the man who holds all these antiquities and their stories dear to choose his most prized possession.

After a little coaxing, out emerges a suitcase which is packed to the brim with fountain pens. The first out of this mystery box is a Mont Blanc, seemingly normal but missing the nib barrel. Twist it and out comes its gold nib. “This is particularly prized by collectors; it is a Mont Blanc No.4 safety pen. It dates back to the early 1920s,” Lateef says with a glint of pride. His next pick is the Waterman’s Bicentennial 1789-1989 fountain pen. Waterman, considered the father of fountain of pens, released the Bicentennial in 1989 to commemorate the 200 years of the French revolution. “The Bicentennial is one of the oldest ‘limited edition’ pens and is quite rare,” he adds.

The caretaker also guides us to his collection of comic books ranging from Blondie to Johnny Thunder to Flash Gordon to Detective Comic’s lesser known Swamp Thing. With Dare Devil becoming the latest TV pop culture rage, the first thing to catch our eye is the May 1944 issue of the Dare Devil comic. “This is a very rare comic. Dare Devil wore a dual colour costume unlike in today’s comics,” he explains, sensing the excitement and awe in the room.

While most of the clientele are repeat customers, Lateef is more than glad to share his knowledge with first-timers who step into the store. “It’s a constant learning process,” he laughs.

The Kashmir Art Palace, aptly renamed by the shop’s early English clientele, is an enigma and delight, leaving you intrigued and spell-bound by the beauty of the past.

But, then again if it didn’t, it wouldn’t be The Old Curiosity Shop now, would it?

WANDERLUST TRIVANDRUM

An epitome of understated glory

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WANDERLUST

Lacking the ostentatious bejewelled façade common to most Indian palaces, particularly those built by the Mughals and Rajputs, Kowdiar Palace, one of the lesser known palaces in Southern India, reflects clearly the influence that Chinese traders had on the community. RITZ takes a closer look.

Kerala, the most fertile state in India, with its abundance of spices, coconuts and backwaters has been a melting pot of cultures from times immemorial. History has chronicled few fierce battles on these fecund soils. Its rulers haven’t stained the consecrated land with rivulets of blood. In fact, most royals from Kerala played passive roles in a majority of the country’s historical battles and wars, thereby throwing little light on a state that is the quintessential artistic hub of India.

Chinese explorers like Ma Huan used the port of Travancore (modern day Thiruvanathapuram) as an entry into India in order to practice trade. Foreign influences in this calm backwater community greatly altered the culture, architecture and cuisine of this southern state and its impact is evident even today, given the numerous synagogues, churches, and Chinese gabled roofs that are visible across the town.

Kowdiar Palace, one of the lesser known palaces in Southern India, reflects clearly thePhotographs: influence that Chinese traders had on Mahesh Harilal the community. Unlike palaces that were built by the Mughals and Rajputs, this

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Text: Archana Shenoy

“Raja Ravi Varma was my grandmother’s maternal grandfather.

She was just a little girl when he passed away and I remember her talking to us about ‘Chitra edutha Appupan’,” recalls Princess Gowri Parvathi Bai."

palace lacks the ostentatious bejewelled façade that is predominantly seen in most other Indian palaces. The gabled tiled roofs of this imposing edifice tower above many structures in town, having weathered more than a century of gales, torrential rain and scorching heat.

Built in the early 1900s by a Brahmin gentleman, Maharaja Shri Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma purchased the house from him

and converted it into a summer abode for his nephew Maharaja Shri Chitra Thirunal, who was a delicate child and had been advised to live amidst country environs.

Being direct descendants of Kerala’s most popular king Raja Ravi Varma, the Thirunals have since resided at this summer palace and continue to live in it to date.

The present day Princess, Her Royal Highness Pooyam Thirunal Gouri Parvathi Bai resides at Kowdiar Palace with her sister and their respective families. The endless corridors that once bustled with servants, soldiers and royals now stand vacant, echoing the hollow thud of the Princess’ high-heeled slippers as she makes her way down a massive rosewood stairway.

More than seventy hand-crafted wooden shutters, which screen windows lining the three levels of the palace structure, now remain permanently shut as the royal family in residence does not employ the number of staff required to maintain a home of such considerable proportions. Built along the traditional Keralite concept of the ‘naluketta’ or central space into which four rooms open, this palace, the Princess says, is a very unplanned and inconvenient home for a family with modern needs.

“In the early days the main house consisted of only sleeping areas, a kitchen and a common seating area. Toilets were outside the house and people had to bathe at wells and streams. My grandmother, who was the first member of the royal family to move into this house, employed a man named Joe to build additional rooms to the existing central structure,” she explains. Recalling stories narrated by her grandmother of how Joe took a sheet of paper and drew the plan for renovation within a matter of minutes, the Princess explains that the palace, which encompasses more than 30,000 square feet of enclosed living space, is nothing more than two parallel rows of rooms that open into long corridors.

The palace, she says, was completed to its present form in 1934 at the time of her

mother’s marriage. “I recall my mother telling me how she had to walk very carefully as the paint was not yet dry on the day of her wedding,” tells the Princess. The extensive garden that was painstakingly planned by the Princess’ grandmother has been designed along the lines of the famed Brindavan Garden of Mysore. An ornate fountain is constructed at the centre of the garden and beds of flowers and shrubs have been planted in concentric circles around it.

After years of neglect, the dried remnants of the garden are now being restored, bit by bit, to some semblance of order.

With floors of Italian mosaic, timber work in rose wood, authentic brass latches and hinges, this rambling structure is much too large a house for a family of eight members.

“There are too many doors to the house, in fact I have lost count of the exact number as we have kept them locked for years,” says the Princess. Though the floors have sunk in a few places, some of the window screens are sagging on their hinges and the general external façade of the palace (despite having been painted a just a year ago) is grey and coated with mould in certain places, the structure itself is sound and has had to undergo few major repairs over the years.

The interiors of the palace – the large, airy halls, eight foot wide stairways and the pale blue walls are lined with priceless

artefacts – all collected by the royal family over centuries. There are more than twelve original works of Raja Ravi Varma that occupy a place of pride on the walls of several chambers in the palace. “Raja Ravi Varma was my grandmother’s maternal grandfather. She was just a little girl when he passed away and I remember her talking to us about ‘Chitra edutha Appupan’ (grandfather who used to paint),” recalls Princess Gowri Parvathi Bai. Now in the process of restoring these priceless works of art to their former glorious condition, the Princess explains that each painting costs more than 5 to 8 lakhs to be restored in a proper manner. So far three of the twelve paintings have been refurbished and now hang proudly on the walls of the main living room in the palace.

Closets are filled with rare ivory artefacts that were gifted to the royal family by Chinese and Tibetan traders who visited them. French porcelain vases that are more than 150 years old stand in mint condition, on tall corner stools, in the palace living room. Hand embroidered wall pieces that were gifted to the Queen by missionary nuns are more than 100 years old. Yet, the threads hold their colour and the white fabric, though slightly yellowed with age, hasn’t torn or lost its tautness.

“The embroidery is so elaborate, each knot

looks like a velvet petal and every stitch adds detail to the pattern reproduced in the piece,” says the Princess, marvelling at the precision of the exhibited hand work.

So steeped in history is this palace, that even the first shields and swords used in battle by the soldiers of the royal family, have been preserved by mounting them on the high walls of the inner stairway.

Kowdiar Palace also holds the distinction of having the first elevator in Kerala installed on its premises. The 90-odd year old elevator, with ancient iron pulleys and heavy collapsible shutters, is still in full working condition.

Though Kowdiar Palace lacks the arches, pillars and gilded mirrors that are common features in most of the palaces found in northern India, this century old structure is brimming with remnants of Kerala’s illustrious heritage. The palace stands strong, a monument that is a testament to the simplicity and bucolic beauty of this region. From Namboodiri brides who chose to adorn themselves with flowers instead of jewellery, to the traditional white munduveshti that is preferred over garments of heavy silk, the beauty of Kerala lies in its simple, abounding history and diverse culture; not in the number of pillars, arches and turrets that epitomise a king’s penchant for grandeur.

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FOODIES INC.

CHENNAI

Guilt -free Indulgences If you’re in Bengaluru staying at ITC Gardenia, make sure you sample their well-researched unique healthy dining options, a service that the hotel chain has come to be known for as part of their Responsible Luxury program.

There’s not much variation in a luxury hotel’s breakfast or meal buffet at any time of the year, save those special occasions when there’s a festival round the corner. Standard spreads include assortments of fruits and eggs, regular juices and egg preparations, a few local breakfast options, some sweet dishes and accompaniments of cereals etc.

However, that is not the case at Bengaluru’s ITC Gardeina. In its endeavours to promote Indian cuisine on the global culinary scape, this hotel accords special emphasis towards showcasing regional Indian cuisines which have been treasured over generations. Some of the special initiatives adopted by the hotel for their breakfast spread include SunyAqua, Signature Mornings and Pavilion Pure.

SunyAqua (pronounced Shunya (zero) Aqua) is water, infused with the indigenous ‘good for you’ herbs.

Not only does this enhance the wellness quotient of drinking water but the bottling takes place within the premises of the hotel ensuring a planet positive experience. This water is available in two variants - Tulsi (Holy Basil) and Fennel and Cinnamon blend.

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If you’ve got a long day ahead of you and are one of those who can’t begin your day without a king’s breakfast ask for the ‘Signature Mornings’ option that you won’t find on the daily buffet spread. This special selection of hand-crafted breakfast dishes are created from superfoods that are rich in minerals, vitamins and other nutrients - healthy but tasty options.

With highlights such as Seven-Grain Porridge, Goat Cheese Scramble, Finger Millet and Charoli Nut Pancakes, Smoked Salmon Benedict, along with healthy alternatives to local delicacies like the multi-grain Dosa which is made from ‘forgotten grains’ like flaxseed, sunflower seed, cracked soya, broken wheat and oats.

There’s also the Pavilion Pure section, a special juice bar that whips up some signature concoctions using fresh fruit, vegetables, local herbs and spices.

Their ABC morning booster - a mixture of apple, beetroot and carrot juice flavoured with ginger - is not only a healthy drink, its also extremely tasty and revitalising. Some other secret ingredients that are part of their Pavilion Pure menu are home grown wheat grass, sprouts of horsegram,

fenugreek, pumpkin seed, flax seed and mustard seed.

The chefs at ITC Gardenia have scoured the bylanes of Bengaluru to bring to their guests traditional and local favourites.

These dishes have been caringly prepared and perfected to capture the true essence of the local cuisine.

Ask for Signature Mornings, an option that you won’t find on the daily buffet spread.

This special selection of hand-crafted breakfast dishes are created from superfoods that are rich in minerals, vitamins and other nutrients

Address 1 Residency Road, Bengaluru Phone: +91 80 22119898 APRIL 2016 RITZ

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