MIND Magazine OCTOBER 2019 Issue #22

COVER

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Team Sukiran Singh, Editor-in-Chief Simarjot Wadhwa, Junior Editor, Writer Disha Shah, Features Editor, Co-ordinator Amit Gupta, Photography Assistant

Contributers Ashish Gurbani , Photographer Sukiran Singh, Photographer Bhakti Katadia, Stylist, HMUA Nirali Gala, Stylist Surjit Singh Sindhu, Stylist Dhara Gandhi , Stylist Nishi Singh, MUA Ankita Manwani , MUA Taskeen Chuna Wala , MUA Juveria Khan , MUA Priyanka Chourasia , Hair Sanjana Ghedia, Hair Shivani Yadav, Writer

Thank you Purple Thoughts Inega Models Toabh Models

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CONTENTS

8 Season of the witch

20 Zombieland

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Cover Story

30 S. NATH

36 Siren of Odysseus

58 Shweta Taneja

ALANKRITA S.

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64 Alphonso’s Seasons

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Victoria KRUNDYSHEVA

Aftab Shivdasani

78 Femme Fatale

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Editor’s note

In the world of untamable competition that originated from the explosion of the population, intelligent life gave meaning to unfathomable amounts of secrecy, psychobabble, illusion, mysticism, religious oppression and Occultism.

We all have secrets, some more than others. A lot observe power because to these secrets, when other are persecuted. Some secrets and knowledge can damage reputations, while others can alter the fabric and reality of people’s concept of faith, the knowing and the possible. It’s easy to indulge in the ideas that are widely known in the today’s world, like popular religions, but to believe in something a few understand, is difficult, and this notion becomes the Occult.

Occult can be intimidating, as it is the ultimate unknown or hidden knowledge.

A lot happens in the world of occult, that fascinates the human mind. Right from the simple end of astrology, to far reaching shores of Satanism, necromancy and Cannibalism, both in western civilizations and Indian alike.

We Thought this to be the befitting concept for the Halloween month, October 2019, and we hope you like what we’ve explored.

Sukiran Singh Editor, M.IND Mag

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Shoes - Steve Madden Neck Chain - Valliyan by Nitya Arora Bralet - New look shorts - H&M Black rope - Top shop

Season of the Witch F T.

M É LI S S A N D R E ( I N E G A ) Photographed by ASHISH GURBANI GANDHI MUAH TASKEEN HUSSAIN CHUNAWALA Production by DISHA SHAH Photography Assistance by AMIT GUPTA Retouching by BHAOF STUDIO

Styling by DHARA

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Full suit - Lecoanehemnatofficial Earrings - Valliyan by Nitya Arora

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Lace top - Zara Jacket - Top shop

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Stylist's Own

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Lace top - Zara Jacket - Top shop

Bring me quiet Bring me peace Ease my dreams Nightmares cease

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MAGIC, OCCULT AND COMMON MAN

by Simarjot Wadhwa

A magic wand, a beautiful alchemy of Nature…. and the dreams afloat. It’s so magical where fairies alight and exuberance is alluring. Illusions, fantasies or supernatural feats manipulate the heart to play a symphony in search of solace and harmony within. Is the common man awaiting that magic in his life where he’ll heave a sigh of relief? Perhaps, something magical and the woeful ballad ends .

The belief in occult rises when agony, dejection and depression takes over the reins of simplicity and innocence. One hope, one phenomenon and a pathway ahead! That’s what is illuminating.

Gruesome acts and man is in the realm of affliction and misery. The pain is endless. May it ebbs but, for a short span and again it becomes an ocean. Mankind is bleeding and the common man is the victim. The aspirations build up but with no destination. For some, the Goddess of Fortune smiles but what about a large sect of society! The current times are taking a toll on common man. His prayers are not answered; he is feeble and exhausted; his existence is on the verge of perishing; the dark clouds have shrouded him. He is finding his way and asking the Quality of Mercy to be benevolent. But how… ? The voice within resonates, ‘Let a Magic happen.’ And his profound belief, somewhere, jolts him in either way.

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But Magic acts as a catalyst for survival. A common man struggling to make his both ends meet, looks for a Natural phenomenon to occur. A farmer tries to please Rain God; a professional makes offerings; a tradesman believes in astrology. In fact, everyone is gripped by one or the other adversity; everyone is hoping for some brightness to shine.

Children and young are in constant fight within themselves; middle-aged yearn for emotional and financial stability; old men and women with their wrinkled faces long for their lost ones. Yes, they do wait for something magical to happen.

But do magic and occult really exist? or they are the creation of man’s mind in pursuit of attaining the unknown. Sometimes, ignorance and blind-faith prove fatal for the man’s psychology. To believe or not to believe is the man’s individual choice but he should not be oblivion and lands himself into the dreary desert.

The power of reasoning should not be clouded by illogical concepts.

The need ceases the cognitive skills; the gloom looms large and the pessimism seeps in. It seems as if curse has befallen like a thunderbolt; every time he tries to rise, destiny is brutal; no fire from the parched wood and he finds every endeavor in vain. For him, two roads never diverged and his eyes look at a meandering path that is lost in dense woods.

But, is this the way of life for him? What does he beckon for, sympathy or empathy? Does he need to trust himself or solely rely on powers unseen and therefore, foresees himself being invictus? Should he wait for the magic to cast a spell or propel himself to wade through turbulent waters? In fact, the magic lies within but every man needs to realize. Instead finding resources in the outer realm, he should chisel his own strengths. He himself is the phenomenon and this belief only shapes him. The powers in the Universe only respond to the deeds performed. So, Magic inside reflects the Magic outside. Let a common man be a magician to his own fate! ***

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Zombieland I love Brains edition

M A RT I N A E C H E GAR AY (T O AB H) Photographed by SUKIRAN SINGH HMUA by JUVERIA KHAN Retouching by BHAOF STUDIO Assistance by AMIT GUPTA F T.

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SHATRUJEET NATH SHATRUJEET NATH IS THE AUTHOR OF THE RUNAWAY NATIONAL BESTSELLING BOOK SERIES VIKRAMADITYA VEERGATHA, A FOUR-NOVEL EPIC FANTASY WHICH INCLUDES THE GUARDIANS OF THE HALAHALA, THE CONSPIRACY AT MERU, THE VENGEANCE OF INDRA AND THE WRATH OF THE HELLFIRES. DESCRIBED AS “A NEW FACE TO INDIAN MYTHOLOGY” BY DNA, SHATRUJEET HAS ALSO AUTHORED THE KARACHI DECEPTION, AN INDO-PAK SPY THRILLER. HE WAS AN ASSISTANT EDITOR WITH THE ECONOMIC TIMES BEFORE HE QUIT TO WRITE FICTION. SHATRUJEET LIVES IN MUMBAI, AND ALSO WRITES FOR MOVIES AND WEB SHOWS.

INTERVIEW BY SIMARJOT WADHWA You were a journalist and assistant editor at The Economic Times before you became an author. What made you move from journalism to writing?

How difficult was the transition to fiction, and especially, into the world of mythology?

The move from journalism was prompted by fatigue. I had been a journalist for over a decade, and though I was doing very well for myself as an editor, somehow I felt I had hit a plateau. I wasn’t learning anything new, there was no challenge left in doing what I was doing. So I took a good, hard look at myself and realized that I needed to reinvent. And because I am good at only one thing – writing – I figured that I should try my hand at writing fiction for a change. The transition wasn’t particularly hard as ultimately it is all about telling engaging stories. But I did have to reorient myself to telling longer stories. In journalism, on an average, you spend maybe a month or two researching a story and then you write it in 2,500 or 3,500 words. For a book, you spend six to eight months writing some 1 lakh or more words. Writing a book is way more demanding.

About the ‘Vikramaditya Veergatha’ series - how did the plot of this story originate? The three volumes have already connected the readers to the author’s portrayal of characters and the fourth is much awaited. How have you been able to keep the interest of the people alive all through the three series?

Like a lot of Indians, I have been brought up on a sustained diet of Hindu mythology. And as a child, I was also exposed to mythology from other regions – Greece, Persia, a bit of Norse mythology. Mythology and fantasy have always excited me. One Hindu legend that has always intrigued me is that of the Halahala – the terrible poison that emerged from the ocean of milk during the samudramanthan episode, which Lord Shiva is supposed to have drunk to save the universe from destruction. My premise was that Lord Shiva did not drink all the Halahala, and that a small portion of it remained – enough to present a threat in the wrong hands. And in my story, the wrong hands are those of the devas and the asuras, who are fighting for supremacy, and will stop at nothing to defeat the other. The Halahala is something that both sides covet, and to prevent the poison from coming into their possession, Lord Shiva gives it to a human king for protection. That king is Vikramaditya, and the series is about

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how the devas and the asuras use every dirty trick in the book to steal the Halahala from the king, and how Vikramaditya protects the poison and honours his promise to Lord Shiva.

I am endlessly fascinated by Vikramaditya, and see him as an Indian version of the legendary King Arthur. There are so many tales and legends associated with Vikramaditya, but most Indians know practically nothing about him. So the book series is partly an attempt to place Vikramaditya back in popular consciousness through an epic adventure of action and heroism.

The fact that the story has been able to sustain reader interest over six years – and across four books – bears testimony to the fact that the plot is immensely engaging, and that readers are drawn to the characters, who are both magnetic and relatable. Keeping reader interest alive is one of the toughest tasks in today’s world where distractions abound, so if people are eagerly awaiting the fourth book, it means I have managed telling a riveting story that readers are deeply invested in. The only way of keeping readers hooked and wanting more is by understanding what moves readers – deep human stories about what we love, admire, respect and fear. Stories that touch us because they are our stories, reflecting our hopes, despairs, ambitions and failures.

How does it feel like to be one among the authors whose book earns the fame of being of one the bestsellers in the country?

Being a bestselling author is important for only one reason: it means your story has been able to reach and appeal to a significant section of the reading population. It says your objective behind sitting down and writing the story down has been rewarded, and for an author, nothing can be more encouraging. Of course, it is also an endorsement of an author’s storytelling skills, but that is secondary. It is always gratifying – and humbling – to hear readers speak of your story with so much love and passion. It shows that you were right in backing your instincts to tell that story in the first place.

What is the first book that created a zeal in you and made you think, “I have got to write something like this someday!”?

I don’t think it was any one book that inspired me – it was many books, read over the course of many years. Whenever I read a good book, I wish I would be able to write something like that.

In addition to writing books, you also write for movies and web shows, how did you get involved in writing for movies and web shows?

I think it is my good fortune that I have been given a chance to write for movies and web shows. And it all goes back to the success of the Vikramaditya Veergatha series. People who have read the series sensed that I have the talent to tell engaging stories, and they reached out to me, seeking my talents. It helps that thanks to the explosion of streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon, there is a demand for the kind of stories that I like to tell. If you are a writer of fiction, this is indeed an exciting time to be around.

You write a lot of diverse characters without falling victim to stereotypes.

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Do you think attitudes about diversity in publishing have shifted, or does the industry still have a long way to go?

I think the publishing industry – unlike the film industry, for instance – has been open to ideas of diversity for quite a while now. The film industry is changing slowly, but stories that have accommodated people from the margins have been part of book publishing for years now, and books that feature marginalized sections of society have been quite popular with readers. What is most heartening is that books targeting young adults have begun embracing ideas of diversity; I think this is a great sign. The more the younger generation of readers are exposed to diversity, the better the chances of our world having a brighter and less bigoted future.

Why do you think we enjoy stories that include magic, monsters, and other elements that would be impossible in real life?

There is child in all of us that refuses to grow up, a child that is in awe of what can be, the polar opposite of the cynic in all of us who despairs over what is.

Stories of magic, fantastic monsters, impossible courage and spectacular heroism appeal to this child, instilling it with hope and faith in humanity and in the cosmic order. It would be easy to label this as escapism. It would also be wrong to do that. I think it is a reinforcement of a belief that anything and everything is possible, an opening up of the senses to boundless creativity and imagination.

What authors, books or ideas have influenced you?

As a child, I loved Treasure Island, Around the World in Eighty Days, The Three Musketeers, Captain Blood. Then I grew to like the works of Alistair MacLean, Frederick Forsyth, John le Carré, Stephen King, Michael Crichton and Jeffrey Archer’s older works. Newer authors I love include China Mieville, Keigo Higashino, Gillian Flynn, Joe Abercrombie and Paolo Bacigalupi.

For writers trying to balance life and art, how would you encourage them to stay motivated in pursuing their passion?

I think the key word here is ‘passion’. If it is indeed a passion, it will sustain itself, drawing its sustenance from hidden sources so the flame keeps burning. Passion does not need motivation. Yes, there will be setbacks and pitfalls, but you will find ways around it. There are days when I feel all this effort that goes into writing a book is not worth it. But then it passes – not because I motivate myself to go back to my writing, but because it is a compulsion. It is what I have to do. It is what gives me joy. So yes, if writing is your passion, you will find that balance.

But whatever you do, do not quit that day job just yet – unless you are one of the really big bestselling authors in your country, you will not make enough money by writing books to sustain a lifestyle. I make most of my money writing for movies and the streaming platforms.

How important do you think is marketing in today’s world for any book?

Thirty-five years ago, when I was growing up, we had one television channel in India. Today we have some 200-300 TV channels. Thirty-five years ago, there was no internet. Today we have Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Netflix, WhatsApp. When I was growing up, there was nothing to interrupt my read-

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reading. Today, everything interrupts reading. How can a book survive in such an environment without marketing? Fifteen years ago, when one walked into a bookstore, there were books on sale. Today, walk into a bookstore and books occupy less than 50% of space – the rest is stationery, t-shirts, school bags, merchandise. How can a book get into this reduced shelf space unless it has been marketed aggressively enough for the bookstore owner to believe it is worth stocking copies of that book? Nowadays there are just so many books that are being written that marketing is what gets a book noticed in the clutter. So marketing is absolutely essential – but before we forget, marketing cannot save a bad product. My tip to aspiring authors is focus on writing a great story, then market it like hell.

Your fourth book, the finale of the series of ‘Vikramaditya Veergatha’ as we know is coming out by the end of the year. Can you sate the fans with what to expect from the finale book in the series?

Without giving anything away to readers who are yet to read the series, let it suffice to say that our hero Vikramaditya has been pushed into a corner from where he can emerge only one way – fighting hard, and giving hell to those who have brought him and his people misery. The fourth book is loaded with pulse-pounding action, and has epic, set-piece battle sequences that readers have come to expect from the series. It is also packed with drama as many lead characters prepare to face each other off while chasing their own agendas and ambitions. Let me just say this is an explosive conclusion to the saga of the Halahala that began with Lord Shiva coming to Vikramaditya and giving him the dagger for safekeeping.

How would you like to define the concept of being Modern Indian?

I think the modern Indian is someone who is proud of his or her culture and heritage, but is also conscious of how culture and heritage are in a constant state of flux, ever changing and ever evolving, growing from one stage to the next, running like fresh water and not gathering slime in a stagnant pool. The modern Indian respects where she has come from, but is also in admiration of what is ahead of her. She or he embraces change, inclusivity and diversity, making her culture richer and stronger from within. The modern Indian is a very much like my hero Vikramaditya. His values are age-old, but his ideals are New Age. ***

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Siren of Odysseus Ft. KAVITA

(PURPLE THOUGHTS) Photographed by SUKIRAN SINGH Makeup and hair by ANKITA MANWANI Photography Assistant by AMIT GUPTA 37

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THE ORIGIN

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NAL SIREN

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Jacket & Dress - Siddartha Tytler Jewellery- Aquamarine

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COVER STORY

Alankrita Sahai as

The Stone Maker Photographed by SUKIRAN

SINGH Retouching by BHAOF STUDIO Makeup by NISHI SINGH hair by PRIYANKA CHOURASIA Styling by SURJIT S. SIDHU Photography Assistant by AMIT GUPTA 47

COVER STORY

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Dress - Geetahanda Jacket - Raegun by Kamran Patel Earrings - tsara Belt - H&M

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Dress -Siddartha Ttyler Jewellery - Zara

COVER STORY

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COVER STORY

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Jacket - Raegun by Kamran Patel Earrings - H&M Dress - Jagx

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Alankrita Sahai Actress

Interview by Sukiran Singh Tell about your origins.

I was born in Delhi to absolutely amazing parents who gave me wings and it was amazing. They both have strong personalities and are from different backgrounds and cultures but they made us strong and independent and free.

What made you contest for Ms. India?

Miss India happened by fate not a planned entry at all. It was a platform I realized the importance of much later in life and was encouraged by my friends and was signed up by a best friend too. It was her and the call just came that I was directly selected for the final round of auditions in Mumbai.

You end winning 7 titles at Ms. Earth, how was that experience?

It was exhilarating and I was ecstatic. India never won so many titles .when I became the first lady to accomplish that I was shocked, very happy and proud. I was new to all this and to achieve this in such a short of time boosted my confidence.

Now, you’ve done some considerable roles in Indian film industry, but I’m sure there must have a tight rope to cross before the debut. Did you have to struggle a lot for that first role?

Well in life I believe nothing comes without patience, consistent hard work, passion for your craft failure or rejection. I had a good team and real good friends to back me up and push me. I didn’t have to struggle a lot. Yes, but I had to wait for the right film to come my way. A lot of good banners came through but they were not for me as an actor to represent. I don’t believe in lead and second lead. We all lead are roles and should master it. I enjoyed the journey so much and it was amazing .just hoped I started earlier n realized this field is my true calling.

Is movies your full time passion now?

Movies is my full time passion now but I also want to do interior designing and weddings. I love organizing and I love architecture. Inspires me.

In love per square foot you had a strong woman role, which we loved as a choice for the first film. Do you consider that when choosing a role?

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Yes I do and that’s why I said I was available when I was asked for my final round and dates for the film. And, Anand Tiwari is amazing to work with and was a delight. There were many films that came my way and some I wanted to do too which dint work or I politely declined. This film was real and challenging for me.

To be a lady who can make people laugh at her work and be realistic coy and naughty isn’t easy. We all want to be cute and girl next door. I tried a different route.

We see you take interesting initiatives like the girls soccer team. Tell us about that, any other interesting initiatives you are undertaking.

I am working with a few NGO’s and I do help different leagues as and when I can. I worked with habitat for humanity. I work with the blind School in Worli and a few more. (I’d like to keep all this private, as it’s for my personal satisfaction) Your new film has a lot of women actors which looks interesting, what’s it all about?

It’s a comedy thriller and it is exciting. I am the bride called pony, a.k.a. Poonam. We are excited about the film. We are all women in it , what do u expect.

Lol.

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What kinda work do you wish to be associated with and why?

I wish to work with people who have a mindset which isn’t just to entertain but to tell stories that help people change their way of thinking and I’d love to work wth all the people who are a part of this Industry who believe in talent over a surname ..people who believe in story telling than in just masala film making ..people who believe in the magic a d use the power they have of creation and make me a part of it Finally, we ask this everyone (modern Indian Magazine). Do you think you are a modern Indian, and why?

I am a modern indian because for me growth isn’t just economic it’s mental and emotional.I believe evolution has its own charm we have definitely called ourselves modern while we still have ancient believes sme which are overwhelming some which are not .I am a modern indian Woman I am...strong ..level headed.

Decisive.. independent ..self loving and empowering other other women .I believe that we all are equal and kindness and love is something we should offer without it taxing us .draw boundaries and as an Indian do something for ur nation than blame the people in power ..u put them there so now act as individuals who are responsible too. ***

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SHWETA TANEJA BESTSELLING INDIAN FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION AUTHOR

INTERVIEW BY SIMARJOT WADHWA From Fashion communication to English literature, it’s like travelling from one zone to another. When did you realize your switchover of interest from being a fashion communicator to being a writer of books?

When it comes to my career, I’ve always pursed the next challenging thing to do. Give me something that boggles the brain and I’ll pounce at it. What binds everything that I’ve done is storytelling. I’m a storyteller at heart and words are one of the mediums through which I bring stories to life. As a journalist, I’ve written stories of travel, technology, hope, skills, career, health, books, fashion and love. As a fiction writer, I’ve written stories of rakshasas, spaceships, robots, and pride and vulnerability in humans. As a communication advisor, I build brands stories that connect products with people.

Where you see a switch over, I see a new challenge for me as a storyteller, a weaver of words. And I’ll keep taking formidable tasks going ahead—trying my hand at projects that surprise, challenge, change and motivate. For what’s life without that?

You began your career with Femina and Men’s Health? How did it all begin?

I began my career as an assistant editor, editing and writing general knowledge schoolbooks for Pearson Education. After a diploma in fashion communication, I continued as a journalist and editor in fashion, joining first Femina and later Men’s Health, where I also covered health and technology. From there, I moved into writing technology, career and health features for Mint and alongside began writing fiction. When I began with fiction, which was the biggest challenge I could find at that time, I thought there’s one book in me.

Since then I’ve published two graphic novels, five novels, numerous short stories and I continue to write fiction, steadily, madly, and passionately. It’s addictive.

You wrote your first graphic novel Krishna: Defender of Dharma in 2012 and it was recommended for classes 7th and 8th for CBSE board. How did all this happen?

It was quite a delightful surprise. I didn’t even know it had happened. A classmate of mine called me to tell me he had seen my name in the list. That was followed by an email from my publisher. I’m quite thrilled that it happened. Krishna: Defender of Dharma remains a bestseller internationally. I still get messages and emails from people who have read it and loved it. The credit also goes to

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Rajesh N, the talented graphic artist who took the artwork to a completely new level.

You said you took guidance from senior writers. How did you come in contact with them? How did they influence your writing?

I’ve come to realize that most authors are fundamentally nice, helpful people. It must be something to do with our profession. Writing a novel is just so hard and getting published and selling it, harder still. Most authors are sympathetic and

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ready to help you through your creative and publishing journey. Only if you ask nicely.

I’ve always emailed the authors I want to connect with and asked specific questions I have in mind. Mostly they pertain to the craft of writing, contracts, publishing industry and marketing. Sometimes, I’ve even chatted with authors in literature festivals and continued the conversation online. Everyone has been welcoming, patient and kind.

Learning is an essential part of writing. You might have a good story in your head, but bringing it out on screen or notebook, is a skill, a craft and it takes dedication to build it up. The best way to learn from other writers is by reading books yourself. Understand how language flows, how famous writers use their craft to build the world, pace the novel, make you feel for characters and being you into the world of the book. Read, read a lot before you start writing.

How do the plots of the stories come across? Do you think even fiction has got the base in real life incidents?

Ideas are like monsoon rain, when they pour, they come from everywhere. From a newspaper cutting, from a street vendor’s comment, from the fluttering of a butterfly or the way a snail crawls across the road. There is a constant flux of information and creative ideas that keep churning your mind. The first step is to be receptive, listen to these ideas and thoughts and emotions. Quickly jot them down, so they are with you in some form.

To build these ideas into a concrete plot, or a short story takes dedication, patience, hard work and skill. The skill is that of writing. You might have the most brilliant idea in your mind but the moment you start writing it, putting it in form, in a plot, you realize that language has its own shape and form and that many a times, you don’t have enough words to build the mansion where your idea can fit in. Embrace these frustrations and surprises. They’re part of the creative process that’ll get you to your story.

Your articles, books and stories cover vivid topics expanding to different genres. How far you feel yourself connected to varied topics? Are they the outcome of some research or you feel emerging them from your heart?

The connection is curiosity and challenge. The storyteller in me wants to constantly learn about the wonderful universe around us, write about new things, explore topics, genres of fiction and take up challenging new projects that haven’t been tried before.

How far are the awards and recognitions satisfactory for your creative work?

Awards and recognition are great as you feel your industry has acknowledged and appreciated your work. However, I feel the best awards come when readers enjoy your books. My personal best has been a gift. A painting of an owl that I was gifted by a 12-year-old because she liked my first novel, Ghost Hunters of Kurseong. Nothing—the industry recognition, appreciation of my work by best-

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selling authors or editors—has bested this experience. I still have the painting in my living room and it makes me smile every time I see it and reminds me of why I write.

Do you think that critique and reviews play a very significant role in refining one’s creativity? Have the reviews been helpful or challenging for you?

Whenever you put something out there, you know some people will like it and some won’t. I’m looking I’ve found Neil Gaiman’s advice on this most useful.

He’s one of my favorite authors and I’ll just quote him here: “Remember: when people tell you something’s wrong or doesn’t work for them, they are almost always right. When they tell you exactly what they think is wrong and how to fix it, they are almost always wrong.”

English literature is not confined to the English writers only. Many Asian writers have earned name and fame through this medium. Name a few of your favorite Asian writers and what has really fascinated you about their work?

In ancients, RK Narayan, Raja Rao and Satyajit Ray’s works. In contemporary writing it’s Amitabh Ghosh, Appupen, Samit Basu, Devdutt Pattnaik, Indra Das, Anand Neelkanth, and Manjula Padmanabhan, to name a few. Each of them is a marvelously different writer and writes immersive, fantastical fiction.

Many young Indian writers like Bilal Siddiqui, are making their mark through their skills. What is the future of English writing in India?

India is the second largest English-speaking country in the world. Ten percent of our population knows English. It’s a big potential market for readers. Indian English writing is going strong and keep going that way.

Do you feel the present Indian society give enough space to Indian writer to express her independent thought and respect her individuality?

Our society is really diverse so chances are, anything you write, be it serious or humourous, might hurt someone’s sentiments. We have to learn to give more space and respect to individual thought, idea and expression. We are not there yet, but I hope we can find a place where we appreciate thinkers who come with fresh ideas.

Do you think writing as a complete profession, has a bright scope for young writers? Can they make their living out of it? What should they do to enhance their skills and connect to masses to develop a writer-reader rapport?

Making a career out of writing is hard. Though it depends on what kind of writing you’re talking about. Less than one percent of successful authors make a living out of writing fiction. Most authors, and this includes published, midlist authors, internationally and not only in India—have part-time jobs, alternative careers or do commercial writing (content writing, editing, or journalism) to earn a living.

It’s quite easy to enhance your skills as a writer—write more. Don’t think about

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writing, or do a course of writing, just keep writing. Form sentences, paragraphs, write a million words and then a million more. The more you write, the more skilled you become in using words to express what is going on in your head. You’ve got to keep writing to improve your skillset. To improve further, read the best out there in the kind of writing you want to do. Understand how writing flows, its rhythm, its voice and practice your own style. ***

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Alphonse Mucha’s seasons

Spring

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Summer

Fishnet bikini top and bottoms : Flirtatious Jewelry: valliyan & B bling

MIND SPECIALS

Autumn

Winter

O u t f i ts - S p ri n g , S u m m e r, W i n te r- D o l ly J, Aut umn-Rudr aksh dwived i

E MI LY MIT C H EL L ( IN EG A ) Creative Direction and Retouching by BHAOF STUDIO Styling by BHAKTI KATADIA, NIRALI GALA MUAH by LUCKY Photos by SHRADHA CHOPRA F T.

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VICTORIA KRUNDYSHEVA CONCEPTUAL FASHION PHOTOGRAPHER AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR, EXPERT IN FANTASY

INTERVIEW BY DISHA SHAH What do you love most in photography? How did you discover your passion for it?

I connect to photography as one of the mediums to both explore my own emotions and ideas and share them with the world, beyond just verbal expression.

Not always full depth of emotions can be expressed through words alone. Photography to me is a way of expressing it to connect on deeper levels.

Can you explain what is conceptual fashion photography?

Conceptual fashion photography is the style that I have developed. It was not officially known up till now. However, I can see more and more photographers choosing it as their preferred work style.

Essentially, it combines technical execution, stylistic and aesthetics of fashion imagery with idea, concept that you convey through this imagery metaphorically.

What drew you as an artist towards the surreal style of imagery that you capture?

Surrealism and metaphoric expression in my opinion provides a much wider means of conveying what I have to say. It is less restricted and can be way more personal since no two people will imagine the exact same thing while thinking in surreal visual manner.

If you are asked to visualize the metaphor for, loneliness, for instance, you may imagine a glass box, while another artist will imagine an empty dark room. The way we come up with visual metaphors is more personal and directly tied to our experiences.

Surrealism adds to it additional layer of unrestricted creativity. Where the only thing that limits you - is the boundaries of your own imagination.

Where do you get your creative inspiration from? Is there any other photographer who inspired your art?

I can’t say that i get inspired per se by other photographers as I try as much as possible to draw inspiration from my own experiences as well as from imagination.

However, aesthetically, some of photographers that influenced my taste are Tim Walker and Annie Leibovitz.

Most of ideas come to me from self-reflection and observation.

I explore my own emotions, as well as pay attention to the world around me. It

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Where do you get your creative inspiration from? Is there any other photographer who inspired your art?

I can’t say that i get inspired per se by other photographers as I try as much as possible to draw inspiration from my own experiences as well as from imagination.

However, aesthetically, some of photographers that influenced my taste are Tim Walker and Annie Leibovitz.

Most of ideas come to me from self-reflection and observation.

I explore my own emotions, as well as pay attention to the world around me. It helps me identify what I want to talk about and prompts my concepts.

One of the first conceptual projects that I created which gained wild critical ac\ claim- The Lost Indian Goddesses- have been inspired by discussion me and my friend had, where I mentioned that there is a discrepancy between how Indian mythology and religion teach to treat goddesses and the real-life experiences women face.

When working on creative shoot do you credit its success to planning, shooting or post production?

Definitely not post-production. In last year I have mainly executed my projects with minimum of post-production. Where I have planned the sets and props in such manner that retouching and color correction will be enough and surreal effect is achieved due to creating effects in-camera or creating surreal sets. The use of post-production is dependent only on the amount of resources available during the shoot.

If you cannot make a set due to lack of financial or material resources- that is when post-production comes to the rescue. It should not be a lazy man’s tool. A lot of surreal effects can be achieved without it if you are creative enough. However, amidst lack of resources it can surely be helpful.

When it comes to planning and execution both of them can be equally important. That depends on what are you shooting.

When I have my freestyle shoot days, i prefer to not plan and just go with the flow. It helps relief the pressure and allows to pay more attention to the frames you might have missed otherwise.

If I am having a specific idea in mind, careful planning helps ensure that this idea is not just executed, but understood by the viewer. However, no matter how much you plan, if you slack off during the execution state, result quality will decrease drastically.

Planning helps to avoid confusion and gives better direction to action during the shoot.

Speaking specifically about your work “Metamorphosis”, how did the idea for this project occur?

We tend to use a lot of metaphors and visual references when we describe things to other people. If we pay close attention to them it can provide us with multitude of ideas.

In case of “Metamorphosis”, I noticed that we tend to refer to people who have drastically changed towards better during the years (in our subjective opinions that is) as caterpillars that transformed into butterflies.

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I took this visual and thought to look for similar processes in nature as well as how they correlate with changes we as humans go through.

One of the big thoughts i had about a silk-moth, for instance, is that such a small and generally considered unattractive creature is so hardworking and useful producing silk. However, when transformed into a much more attractive moth it loses its perceived value, even looking good.

What type of gear do you shoot with and which is your favourite?

When it comes to camera body, I always shot with Canon. It is mostly the matter of habit, to be honest. I am comfortable with layout and feel like i know it inside and out.

Lenses, on the other hand, I veto a lot.

My favourites have for the longest time been Sigma Art series. It provides unparalleled crispness to images, has amazing image quality and just the right distortion as and when I require it.

You have a very striking language of work. It evokes certain emotions. How have people usually responded to your creative form of art?

The initial response has been conflicted. As I started working in India, conceptual photography was very little known and considered not economically profitable. So at first, a lot of people used acknowledge my creativity, without any trust that what I do may succeed.

However, over time as I kept persisting, it got more and more appreciation.

By the time I introduced my own style of work- conceptual fashion- people were more open to idea of novelty.

From perspective of visual style, i have been acknowledge for the emotional response my work was creating.

You do workshops as well now? What do they entail and what has been your experience?

Workshops is just a small part of my focus on educating future generations of artists and helping them find their own creative language.

I also have educational internship programs as well as teach Conceptual Photography course at Symbiosis School of Photography.

So workshops are merely one of the outlets where I can provide education.

They consist of providing specifics of the industry education, working with lights, developing your own unique style of work and of course my system of building creative projects. The response has been amazing and I got the feedbacks from participants which truly made me feel that it made an impact on their work as well as on their levels of confidence. That is as much as I can be wishing for.

You have amazing following and great marketing skills. Though these skills are somewhat inherent, yet they can be nurtured. Would you shed light on acquiring the right marketing skills?

I in no way believe that any marketing skills are inherent. Evolutions gifted us creative and social skills. Marketing skills are a product of Capitalist and post-Industrialism society. We are all essentially living in a world where we are forced

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to ourselves become a product on the market. We sell our skills and talent.

But like any market the main principle here is- what you sell needs to be of use.

If we look at it from purely cold marketing perspective, I do not expect my followers to follow me simply because they can. I need to provide value.

However, I do not look at it from purely marketing perspective.

Not just my photography, but my marketing presence is driven by how I can impact the world better. In this case, I enjoy interacting with my followers, providing a platform where they can receive support and education that is lacking in cold industry that looks only at uplifting itself. A lot of photographers tend to fear competition and avoid sharing their hard-earned knowledge and experience with others. As much as it is their personal choice, I believe that giving people tools to express themselves cannot take anything from you, but will only enrich you. If you help them understand how each of this tools can be used for their own unique style, less people will copy others work and way more people will feel emotionally and creatively fulfilled. ***

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When Clothes Are A Portal To Another World

By SHIVANI

YADAV

At Paris Fashion Week, for Fall 2019 Couture Collection, 35-year-old Dutch fashion designer Iris Van Herpen presented a collection that involved complicated computer programming and physics, but that complex process resulted in 20 looks that can only be described as art pieces. Each design blurred the line between pattern and body as the fabric flowed over the model’s physique, like it was an extension of her being. One can only imagine how seeing the designs in person must have felt like, but just the video footage alone was enough to move a person into asking existential questions about life and death.

Van Herpen’s body of work reveal a designer’s curiosity about movement and how it is expressed and she doubles down on it by continuously collaborating with other artists from variety of fields, while using 3-D printing as a garment construction technique. The end results are always spellbinding. The person leaves the room absolutely feeling, as they try to wrap their mind around exactly what kind of a spiritual experience they just had.

The legendary Lee Alexander McQueen was a firm believer of fashion evoking a reaction, be it positive or negative. He detested clothes that were just ‘pretty’

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or ‘nice’; that is one of the reasons why his designs were always so unique and exciting. With every new collection, McQueen brought a specific point of view.

All of his thoughts, opinions and feelings were conveyed through clothes, that is why they were so controversial. Be it the low-waisted trousers, aptly called ‘bumpters’ or the death imagery, his designs demanded people to react, which they did, and then question the system, which they also did. His infamous collection, The Highland Rape had people protesting outside the show, but the collection in itself, which featured numerous stained and ripped dresses, was actually filled with national pride and was about the rape of Scotland by England.

Similarly, near the end of his life, all of his collections were filled with a cynical view to life and were extremely dark, giving an insight into his mindset (Lee was severely depressed at that time which led to his eventual suicide in 2010). Point here being that, he used up all of his artistic energy, took something as basic as a piece of clothing and took the person along on a journey of his choosing.

Sometimes, that place was enchanting and other times uncomfortable, but every time that person left feeling something.

Back here in India, 3 years ago couturier JJ Valaya found himself getting uninspired by the Indian fashion scene and decided to take a sabbatical. A month ago, he made a “comeback” with a collection inspired by mystical Persia from 16th to 19th century which he titled ‘Tabriz’. With the use of age-old crafts like metalwork and gota-patti on flowing garments, Valaya presented a captivating collection with designs that demand attention and appraisal. The way the garments moved felt like a modern answer to the ever-present need of going back to the fantasy-land of the ‘good old days’, and with that thought, he managed to give his audience a trip through their our conscience with the help of his

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craftsmanship into their subjective happy place which would consequently be filled with Indian artistry.

Fashion design, when used effectively – with purpose – can have an enormously effective and visceral impact on people. Fashion, after all, is a form of art and in the hands of a smart and talented artist, has the power to change minds. Such designers are very few and hard to come by, but their work lives on, not only because it dares to address topics like politics and identity in the current world, but also successfully transport people someplace else. ***

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Left- Karleo Right- Pallavi Mohan - Not so serious

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Edward Munch's

Femme Fatale BERDI NE (TOABH ) Retouching and Creative Direction by BHAOF STUDIO Styling by BHAKTI KHATADIA, NIRALI GALA Makeup by BHAKTI KHATADIA Hair by SANJANA GHEDIA Shot by VIVEK VERMA FT.

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AFTAB SHIVDASANI KNOWN ACTOR, HINDI FILM INDUSTRY

INTERVIEW BY SIMARJOT WADHWA Your career in the Advertisement Industry started at the age of 14 months as Farex Baby. Eventually it led to other advertisements followed by many child performances in Hindi films. Do you feel it is good to be in the limelight at the early stage as it helps to build up the career in later stages?

I don’t see any harm in it as I feel talent should be encouraged and nurtured from a young age itself. However, I do believe that regardless of what extracurricular activity / talent you pursue, it’s imperative that the child’s education should not suffer as that is the founding base of any child’s future. With regard to being in the lime light from an early age, I believe the onus would lie on the parents of the child to make sure that all that does not go to the child’s head and that the child would remain level headed.

How far does it affect the academics and not being one among the herd?

Do you think that fame in early stages hamper the natural growth of a child?

Yes, there is a possibility that the child would miss some studies and also be looked at as ‘different’ but then again I emphasise that it’s the parents of the child who should take the responsibility that the child focuses on academics, remains stable and has a normal childhood as much as possible.

How did the life change from being a fun loving college boy to the main lead and that too opposite, the then leading star Urmila Matondkar?

It changed drastically - people started to recognise me, stop me for autographs and even talk to me. Even the people who would ignore me, started to talk to me and make me feel special. I couldn’t go to the public places that I would go to without getting recognised. I basically started to lose my privacy as a person but then I quickly realised that this is the price you pay for becoming a public figure.

1999 proved to be the year for an emerging and promising actor. How did you feel being recognized as the Best Male Debutant of the year for the movie Mast?

It was a very encouraging feeling, something I never dreamed of. When I started my career, I never really thought of awards. Just the joy of acting and being in front of the camera was the most satisfying feeling for me. But when I won the award for the best debutant, of course I felt extremely special, something I will always cherish.

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MODERN INDIAN ACTOR

Your career kick started with a positive note but all days aren’t the same.

Some of your movies were successful but others turned to be flop. How difficult was to take the failures in your stride?

Initially I did not understand the economics of films and box office etc. it took a few films for me to understand how the business works and realised that the yardstick for measuring the success of a film is the box office collections. I never took either success or failure seriously as I knew it’s a part of the business. I only strived to learn and be a better actor with each passing day/ film Stardom has to pay its cost but a star is also a human being. To what extent popularity influences the normal way of life?

Well like I mentioned earlier, you have to sacrifice your privacy which is something very dear to everyone. You can’t really go to most places without being noticed and people sometimes coming up to you for photos etc. I used to love having street food and that’s something I miss now without being noticed!

What do you feel when media becomes a gossip-monger and tarnishes the image of a public figure for its personal motives? Do you get affected by the unwanted criticism?

I usually ignore the gossip and focus on other issues that require my attention as I feel negativity only gives rise to more negativity. I have never been against constructive criticism but unfortunately very few people in the media really understand what it means.

Acting is a performing art and does have its critiques. Do you feel that connoisseur’s eye is must for chiseling one’s inherent skills? How have you met with your challenges in the field of acting?

I have always welcomed suggestions and opinions unless it’s come from a negative space. I have always listened to people’s suggestions and opinions and have incorporated it in my life if it has resonated with me. As an artist I am a keen observer and listener and that has helped me to grow and better myself in areas where I needed to grow.

How important is it for an actor to distinguish between the personal and professional life?

It’s very important to distinguish that. I try not to being my work back home as I would like to live a normal life as much as possible once I’ve packed up.

Since you’ve more than 20 years of experience in your profession, what sort of roles would you prefer to do now?

What are the parameters of success in today’s digital world?

After having done approx. 55 films in almost 20 years, I feel I haven’t even explored one fourth of my potential. I would like to explore action films as that’s something I haven’t done as much as I would have liked to. I think it’s best to explore as many kinds of different genres especially with the digital platform coming in. There are so many more opportunities that are now available for actors to experiment with.

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Would you like to venture into other cinema related fields or acting is the only passion you would ever be associated with?

I have produced a film in 2009 and thoroughly enjoyed that process as well. I would love to produce again and of course continue acting as long as possible.

Bollywood is an ocean by itself. The content of movies has undergone a tremendous change. How would you differentiate the present from the past?

I think the internet, social media and now the web has changed the way the audience thinks and has made them more accepting for newer concepts and scripts. The same content would have not been so accepted a few years back so yes the kind of content and scripts that are being made today are far more edgy, real and radical than ever before and that’s going to keep evolving at a rapid pace.

A number of youngsters get fascinated to the world of glamour but the Goddess of Fortune doesn’t bless everyone. To dream and achieve that dream, may be true for some but not for others. Do you think this cut throat competition enables a person to test his grit and gut?

It’s a difficult place as the highs and lows both are of an extreme nature. One has to be really strong to withstand both without losing their mind. One must look at competition constructively but should not base their self-worth on the basis of that competition.

How would you define the term Modern Indian? How would you perceive the concept of being modern in today’s India?

India has such a vast history and culture that the term modern would have different meanings to it. I think the youth today is more assertive, brave and willing to speak up and not be afraid. And that is a sign of a progressing nation. As it’s the youth who take any nation forward.

What message would you like to convey to the youth of this nation?

- I would just like to say - Be more informed - Less judgemental - more assertive but less aggressive - focus on the betterment of the nation and not one individual. ***

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