TGS Life 19/03/2016

VISHAL KALE

PUNE, MARCH 19, 2016 | www.thegoldensparrow.com

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TGS LIFE

MARCH 19, 2016 PUNE

By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM

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hen Genevieve Flaven penned the words for Lives And Deaths Of 99 Ordinary Women in 2012, she was in a desperate time and wanted to silence all the voices that were whining and giggling nervously in her mind asking a single question - how to be a woman? In October 2014, she woke up with an idea for a new project that would transcend her thoughts and decided to transform the ‘monster’ poem, as she calls it, into a play.

The challenge now was to make all these creatures walk and talk. So, she next removed some characters of the poem that she found repetitive. Others became more frivolous, diverse, with some hints of grey as well. And that’s how 99 Women came into being.

So how did Genevieve find 99 fragments of women’s ordinary lives? The inspiration has been drawn from her own memories. Some are from a few episodes of her life, that of her mother and grandmother, cousins, aunts and friends. Some are legends or fictional characters, a few men and imaginary women. The play was recently staged and applauded in Shanghai and now is in the process of its India launch, which is being organised and directed by Sonali Kothari. The play will be staged in the city sometime in July this year. Genevieve met Sonali in 2004 when she had collaborated with her husband Manoj Kothari for a design project in India. Sonali had been following the play’s first season on social media. Looking at her interest, Genevieve asked

TEJAS GAIKWAD

ENTERTAINMENT

99

WOMEN, STORIES, ONE STAGE

Sonali if she would be interested in staging it in India, based on the same principles of the original act - 99 non-professional actresses, a collaborative team to stage and produce the play and a local social project related to women. This marked the new journey of 99 Women. “Being from a theatre background, I thought the play would bring about many interesting changes in the way we see theatre in the city as well as the country.

Genevieve flew down to Pune and we started the process with the Indian version,” says Sonali.

At first, Sonali had asked Genevieve to modify two lines of the play. Eventually,

however, she modified around 15 characters and changed the names of the characters to make them more relatable. “The changes were motivated by my desire to get closer to the Indian imagination and express my love to the unique beauty of Indian culture which is so vibrant. So, I created new fragments, sometimes inspired by news, traditions, fiction all featuring a backdrop of India,” Genevieve explains.

This is the fourth week of the rehearsals and the core team including Neeti Pherwani (art director), Vartika Gupta (production manager) and Shaberi Ray (choreographer) have formed

Written, produced and directed

by French entrepreneur Genevieve Flaven, 99 Women is a play that was born in Shanghai and is now coming to India with its stage debut in Pune in July

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seven groups to divide the characters. “For the Indian performance, we have women from all walks of life - professionals, homemakers and students, from all strata of society who will play their part. It’s going to be a 30-second monologue by each of these women, out of which we have about 85 already on board. While the essential construct of the play remains French, there are some unmistakable Indian tweaks in the micro stories, music, language variations and the presentation. The choreography is a crosspollination of Indian classical forms with the contemporary. We also have very obvious ‘Puneri’ elements in our visual plan,” adds Sonali.

The participants connect deeply with the context, Indian or global, and by virtue of being raised in this part of the globe, the back stories reflect their roots in Indian sensibilities and will eventually leave an impression on the presentation.

“I am positive that the shows in India will be perceived as a statement. The country is full of well-educated, active, creative women, but the situation of these women in general is not so good, not to say, a little retrogressive. Conservatism that is coming back in force, not just in India, tends to categorise people by gender, religion and so on and dictate the attitudes of individuals. The palette of possibilities offered to a person to express away from stereotypes and conventions tend to shrink. I care for the personal identities and defend the diversity of both men and women. But in the particular context of this play being performed in India, I wish the public to contemplate the singularity of every woman’s voice,” says Genevieve. heena.grover@goldensparrow.com

Pune theatre group shines at META

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

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ity-based theatre person and filmmaker Mohit Takalkar’s play Mein Huun Yusuf Aur Yeh Hai Mera Bhai stole the limelight at the recently held Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards (META) in Delhi. The play, staged by his group Aasakta Kala Manch, bagged five awards that included best direction, best Mohit Takalkar production, best light design, best sound and a jury special mention for best actor in a lead role.

Set in the Palestinian society of 1948, the play is about the time when the British mandate was ending. The UN voted for who will control what part of the land. Amidst all this, the central character of the play Ali falls in love with Nada but he is in despair. Her father won’t let them marry because his brother Yusuf is ‘odd’ with his own eccentric, child-like point of view. The war begins and the villagers are scattered. They become refugees. “The expulsion of 1948 or the ‘nakba’ was a devastating and traumatic event for millions of people from Palestine. These people go through extreme humiliation every

Mohit Takalkar, founder of Aasakta Kala Manch, talks about his play Mein Huun Yusuf Aur Yeh Hai Mera Bhai, META awards, and the challenges he faced while working on the play

day of their miserable lives,” says Mohit. The play concludes with the revelation of the secret that’s kept Ali and Nada apart. The play is a powerful, poetic exploration of different forms of love.

Directing the play was an intense experience and a challenging task for Mohit. The cast includes theatre actors not just from Pune but other parts of the country as well. “The actors were not familiar with the Palestinian issue. I had to hold sessions with them, teach them the pronunciations of Urdu words, watched many

documentaries and even read a chapter from the Koran that talks about Yusuf. The play is based on complex content hence we wanted it to be perfect,” he says.

His biggest concern while making the play was to be responsible and justify the sentiments behind each character. He wanted the audience to not only relate to the brothers but also have a heart for Palestine. During rehearsals, the cast experienced new meanings for countless words like home, failure, mourning, tears, trauma, fear,

hope, and separation that stirred up almost every day. The play brings to life the images of tiny graves covered with moss, kneeling mothers, and dark moonless nights, and directing all this was not easy for Mohit. “I entered the rehearsal hall every day with a certain zeal and enthusiasm to unearth the multiple layers of this fascinating play and left with moist eyes and parched throat,” he adds. He strongly asserts that if we remove the elements of humanity from our public lives, we move a step closer to greater dehumanisation of others.

Over a span of ten years, Aasakta Kala Manch has had 300 performances of all the plays that it has produced. They portray a constant urge to seek out the new, create something afresh, and deal with unique and contemporary content. Their efforts have not only won them awards but also the audience’s hearts. “The play was not made to impress anyone. We have performed the play on bigger stages as well as in smaller spaces, like in Begusarai, Bihar, and in the villages of Gulmarg, Kashmir. We got a wonderful response there and that gives me more joy than the award,” he says, humbly. Mohit has been awarded the Aditya Vikram Birla Kalakiran Puraskar, Amrish Puri Award for contribution to experimental theatre, Zee Gaurav Puraskar, Maharashtra State Award and many more. As of now, he is working on his next English play to be directed in Mumbai and a Kannada play in Bangalore. zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com

TGS LIFE

MARCH 19, 2016 PUNE

STAGE

Travel, Explore, Click

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A group of travellers are all set to showcase an exhibition of photographs portraying their experiences

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

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picture is said to be worth a thousand words.

A well-framed photograph is absolutely priceless. Keeping this in mind, a unique exhibition, called Tyremark Travel Diaries, has been organised to showcase the works of 12 citybased wanderers who are passionate about travelling. These bunch of travellers have managed to capture breath taking photographs of ethereal mountains and remote terrains of Leh and Ladakh, the seven sisters of the North East, Bhutan, Cambodia, Nepal and more.

They are all adventurous and driven by wanderlust.

Waking up in an unfamiliar dwelling, meeting new people and facing their fears is what drives these travellers to plan another solo trip. “I realised the need to make this experience more holistic. I wanted to come up with an offline platform to showcase the vivid experiences and moments in the outdoors through photographs. These photos also deserve to reach out to a larger audience and promote not just the spirit of travel but also its endless memories for posterity,” says Dhaval Apte, a travel enthusiast and organiser.

Solo rider Vaibhava Rele, a baker by profession, rode on her KTM 390 and managed to click the beautiful landscapes while trying to capture the local culture at Leh. “They were pristine and beautiful. It was my first long ride ever and I tried to click as many photographs as possible. It was freezing cold and balancing the bike was a challenge but it was an experience of a lifetime,” she says. But her only regret

will be not being able to capture the village that she passed by. “I had no batteries in my camera and phone too was out of juice. But I am again planning to go there again and I will make it a point to capture that beautiful village that I missed the last time,” she adds.

From unique topography and landscapes, to shots of gritty locals inhabiting the territory and its awe-inspiring fauna and flora, the photos exhibited offer a fulsome record of regions that people usually only hear of.

Another participant Amol Desai, a marketing professional, will exhibit pictures of Kye Monastery located at Spiti Valley. “I went to Lahaul Spiti valley as a solo rider and managed to capture beautiful shots of the Kye Monastery. The 11th century monument has been vandalised four times in the past and it’s amazing that it’s still standing tall,” he says. Amol had to ride through 24 water passes to reach the location but it was a memory of a lifetime for him.

When: Till March 20, 10 am to 8 pm Where: Raja Ravi Varma Art Gallery, Ghole Road zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com

‘I’m in an arranged marriage with

stand-up comedy’

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

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riter, comedian, serial track pants-wearer and a retired chartered accountant – these words describe stand-up comedian Kunal Rao on his Facebook page. After a quick conversation, however, we would like to add a few more things. He is not only a philosopher of sorts, but is someone who hates quite a lot of things, including foodies and passive aggressive people and also believes that his English isn’t good enough, even though he writes some insanely humorous jokes in the same language almost every other day. All set to perform in Pune after an entire year, this performance is going to be all about him testing the crowd and seeing how much it has changed, he says. Things that make him angry will be the focus of the evening and will most definitely tickle your funny bone.

Starting off as a stand-up comedian was not easy at all. On one end, he had his father warning him to make enough money and ensure that he wasn’t begging on the

Let Kunal Rao help you beat the Monday Blues as he talks to you about things that frustrate him and makes you laugh your pants off

streets, while on the other was his mothers’ constant concern that, when on stage, he would say something he shouldn’t. Finding the right balance between taking a stand to do what he wanted and accommodating what his parents felt was what he had set out to do and thankfully accomplished. “I did not quit my CA practice because I wanted to pursue my passion or become a stand-up comedian.

I was not satisfied with the job and that was reason enough. Stand-up comedy was something that happened to me,” he tells us.

After retiring from his previous profession he spent a lot of time exploring different kinds of creative professions, be it writing, music, even dance, before he found his comfortable space. He has always wanted to be on stage and have a rockstar aura, which, he feels, he has partially achieved through stand-up acts.

Those who believe that comedy is something that comes naturally and you have to be funny even when you aren’t on stage to be a good comedian must certainly meet Kunal in person. He may be sentimental, emotional, serious, even rather annoying but, he assures us, he is anything but funny

when with his friends. “I’m in an arranged marriage with stand-up comedy. We first met, stuck together because there was a little bit of interest and then fell in love. Now, there is a great connect,” he says, adding that he absolutely loves doing what he does. “After all, it’s a match made in heaven,” he smiles.

When we asked him where he draws the line, when it came to the kind of jokes he makes, the philosopher in him chose to reply. Kunal told us that a stand-up comedian grows over the years just like the community he is living in and what he jokes about today might seem silly to him five years down the line. Similarly, what he might joke about 10 years later is not something that he would even dream of talking about today.

There is something more interesting to talk about today and there will be something else tomorrow. Keeping this is mind there are absolutely no rules that he considers sacrosanct.

When: March 21, 9 pm Where: Independence Brewing Company, Mundhwa salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

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TGS LIFE

Finding their own way to the top

MARCH 19, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

India will be hosting the first-ever Bouldering World Cup in May this year in Navi Mumbai. TGS speaks with some of the best rock climbers from the city, who tell us why they prefer traditional rockclimbing over artificial walls and share interesting anecdotes

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

E

ven before he started walking, 20-yearold Tuhin Vikas Satarkar first learned rock-climbing. Born to a family of rockclimbers, he has been around nature since he was really young and could not love it more. He grew up watching his parents conquer one rock and cliff at a time and eventually developed a keen interest in the sport himself.

Ishani Sawant, on the other hand, got introduced to the world of adventure sports when she was 13 years old. It was because of her uncle, Prasad Mane who took her to the Himalayas for trekking that she got to live through a unique experience. She soon became involved in adventure photography where she would hang from cliffs for hours to take pictures of other climbers.

A part of the Shivdurga Mitra Lonavala and Kalyan, Rohit Vartak and Ganesh Geedh have been rock-climbing for the last 13 years. It started with trekking for both of them too and now it is a huge part of their life. Both of them have not only created a career that revolves around rock-climbing but are also doing all they can to promote the sport.

A WAY OF LIFE For all four of them, rock-climbing is a huge part of their lives. Ishani not only trains NDA cadets in rock-climbing, but is also designing adventure trips through her start up, Proedge. Blogging about her travelling experiences is also her way to get people more attracted to adventure sports and encounter the joy that she gets from it.

Ganesh is currently working at Della Adventures as a manager and has, till date, designed at least 30-40 activities for the place.

“Rock-climbing is so much more than just climbing. There are innumerable calculations that

Tuhin Satarkar

one has to do, especially during traditional rockclimbing which is why not many people attempt it,” says the 29-year-old. He previously did several odd jobs before he turned his passion into a profession.

The sport brings out the best in you and tests you both mentally and physically, believes Tuhin.

For him, it is not just a hobby anymore, but is something that he practices every day. He works out and climbs at his own rock-climbing gym, Rock Aliens. Rohit, who initially began helping his father and brother at their fabrication business, could not stick to it for long and started freelancing as a safety expert. Currently, he is using his rockclimbing skills to manage infrastructure safety at a company.

PICKING THE TRADITIONAL ROUTE There are very few climbers in the city who prefer to do traditional rock-climbing. This involves conquering unexplored rocks and cliffs.

Irrespective of whether you choose to do it using natural or temporary anchors, the risk is much higher than in an artificial set-up and this has its own kind of thrill admit all four climbers.

“Climbing in the outdoors requires a rather different set of skills. You have to face a plethora of things – loose rocks, heat, cold, wind, wildlife, especially the creepy crawly creatures. Indoor climbing is more about strength, endurance and competitions,” says Tuhin. When you try to climb higher cliffs and routes that are unexplored, bees too are a big issue, adds Rohit.

When Ganesh and Rohit started off, there wasn’t much that they could learn since there was no one to teach them. Today, they say that because the equipment is easily available everyone practices for a while on an artificial wall and gains the confidence to climb natural cliffs. Those are, however, much more difficult to climb and need

Rohit Vartak

Ishani Sawant

to be done under supervision, unless you have been doing it for a really long time. It is their love for nature and being out in the open that keeps these four hooked on to climbing and, more importantly, doing it the traditional manner. “Although the risk of falling is much higher in a natural terrain every single bruise, scratch and even fracture is worth it.

It is great fun to climb cliffs that have not been climbed before so that you get to create your own path,” says Rohit.

Talking about the advantages of the sport, Ishnai adds, “The best part about adventure sports such as rock-climbing, especially out in the open, is that it teaches you to remain calm under all circumstances. I have learned that there is no use in panicking over small issues or getting angry and the sport has taught me to be very patient.”

CLIMBING CLIFFS AND FEELING THE RUSH Ishani holds a number of achievements in the Limca Book of Records for flying fox and rappelling. She and friend Prerna Dangi summited Stok Kangri Peak (6123m) in two days (Leh-to Leh) in alpine style, with absolutely no support team, porters or kitchen staff. Prerna and she were also the first females to cover the Dukes Nose pinnacle in alpine style. She has climbed several natural pinnacles having different grades near Pune and Lonavala.

Rohit, on the other hand, has climbed the 200 feet high 9 ½ route. He has also climbed several cliffs in the Sahayadri range and Konkan Kada-Harishchandra Gadh, which is about 1800 feet high and is an extremely difficult route to climb. Ganesh has climbed the Vazir Shahpur wall in Mahuli, which is about 250 feet high, the Mumbra wall, which is 500 feet high, and Malangad, which is 1100 feet high.

Rock Climbing is definitely very much on the rise. The sport has picked up pace in the

last few years. Climbers are also participating in international competitions. “It is very important that, to become a successful climber, you cover terrains that you know aren’t easy or that you won’t possibly finish. You must always Ganesh Geedh choose tough routes so that you learn more, challenge yourself and achieve new heights,” says Ganesh.

He has also started a venture that allows people to rent equipment in order to take their first step towards building a love for the sport. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

TGS LIFE

BEAT THE HEAT WITH FRUITS

MARCH 19, 2016 PUNE

INDULGE

Stay healthy, hydrated and make sure that you get your share of guilt-free indulgences with these quirky, fruity recipes

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

STRAWBERRY AND CHOCOLATE RISOTTO Ingredients: Arborio rice 80gms Clarified butter 10ml Mascarpone cheese 30gms Butter 5gms Strawberry 80gms Chocolate 20gms Sugar 10gms Sweet vermouth or white wine 10ml Balsamic vinegar few drops Vanilla essence few drops Salt to taste Method: Keep one strawberry for garnish and finely dice the rest. Heat the clarified butter and add rice. Lightly toast it, till the aroma emerges. Deglaze with vermouth or wine.

Add hot water, ladle by ladle. Add sugar and salt to taste. Just when it is 80% cooked, add chopped strawberries to it. Cook further till al dente and then add mascarpone cheese, butter

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ith summer just around the corner, a change in one’s diet is the need of the hour. Including dishes that are cold, will keep you hydrated and energized while you sweat it out under the sun, as you run about your daily schedule. Be it your weightloss goals or dietary requirement, bananas

and balsamic vinegar. Stir vigorously to get a creamy texture. Take out the risotto in a plate.

Garnish with strawberry, a little mascarpone cheese and a chocolate stick.

Recipe by Chef Girish Kumar, executive chef, Courtyard by Marriott, Chakan SUMMER FRUIT SOUP WITH WILD BERRIES Ingredients: Watermelon 500gms Red currant 20gms Black currant 20gms Raspberry 20gms Alphonso Mango 80gms Papaya 60gms Musk melon 50gms Cantaloupe 50gms Apple 50gms Pineapple 80gms Mint leaves 10gms Ginger 10gms Lemon juice 2 to 3tsp Honey to taste Method: Blend de-seeded watermelon with mint and ginger in a blender until smooth, finish with lemon juice and honey. Refrigerate it for two hours. Before serving, mix the above cut fruits in a bowl of watermelon and top with juice mixture. Garnish with mint.

Recipe by Chef Joy, Double Tree by Hilton, Chinchwad

have always come to the rescue, nutrient-rich and packed with Vitamin C strawberries are in a league of their own and high on fibre and Vitamin C, K, B2, B3 and B6 the pear, when paired with chicken, can help you brighten up your dullest day. Here are some recipes for you to try at home. They’re sure to help you fall in love with even those fruits that you might otherwise not like.

CHICKEN BREAST STUFFED WITH AVOCADO, PEAR AND CREAM CHEESE Ingredients: Boneless chicken breast pieces 2 Avocado 2 Pears 3 Apple 1 Bean sprouts 1tbsp Cream cheese 1tbsp Mixed herbs 1tbsp Butter 2tbsp Iceberg lettuce 1 cup Lemon juice 2 to 4tbsp Honey 1 to 2tbsp Flour 1tbsp Tomato paste or puree ½ cup Mutton bone 1kg Sliced onions 2 medium-sized Sliced carrots 2 small-sized Cloves 4 to 5 Black peppercorns 7 to 8 Bay leaf 2 Sesame seeds A pinch Salt and pepper To taste Method: For Stuffed Chicken Breast Take boneless chicken breasts and slit with a knife from the side to open up like a leaf or use a meat hammer to shape the chicken breast. Make the fi lling by combining 2tbsp diced avocado, pear, 1tbsp bean sprouts, 1tbsp cream cheese, seasoning and salt and pepper to taste. Now keep one flattened chicken breast portion on the chopping board and put the fi lling on top, leaving some space on the sides. Then place the second flattened chicken breast on top. Seal the edges by hammering lightly with the blunt side of the knife. Sprinkle the chicken with mixed herbs (oregano, thyme, rosemary). Heat about 2tbsp oil and 1tbsp butter in a pan. Place the stuffed chicken breast and sear it on both sides

TGS LIFE

MARCH 19, 2016 PUNE

INDULGE

for 3 to 4 minutes each. On low heat, cover and cook on both sides for 15 to 20 minutes. Once cooked, let it rest for 7 to 8 minutes.

For the Avocado, Pear and Apple Salad Take a bowl and combine 1 sliced avocado, pear, apple, 1 cup iceberg lettuce, 2tbsp lemon juice, honey and about 1tsp pepper powder.

Adjust seasoning and let it chill before serving.

Once served, sprinkle sesame seeds on the top of the salad.

For Mutton Stock and Brown Sauce Take a heavy bottomed pan, heat 2 to 3 tsp oil, add 4 to 5 cloves, 7 to 8 peppercorns, 2 bay leaves and let it splutter for a minute. Now add the 2 sliced onions and carrots and stir until onions are translucent. Then add the mutton bones and stir for 7 to 8 minutes. Add water

and bring to a boil. Remove the layer of froth floating on top and simmer the stock for 2-3 hours or until reduced by half. Keep aside.

Take a pot – melt butter on low heat and add 1tbsp flour. Stir constantly until brown in colour (ensure it doesn’t burn). Now add the mutton stock you had kept aside and mix using a whisk so that there are no lumps. Add half cup tomato paste or puree as well along with salt and pepper as per taste. Mix well and bring it to boil. Now simmer on low heat until the sauce is reduced by half and it coats the back of the spoon. Adjust the seasoning and keep aside.

For Pear Chips Slice 1 pear lengthwise without removing seeds or core. Apply 1 to 2tsp of lemon juice and keep aside. Prepare sugar syrup using one cup water

and one cup sugar. Bring it to a boil. Lower the heat and cook the pear slices in this syrup for 4-5 minutes on low heat. Now place these sliced pear chips on a baking tray and cook in oven at a temperature of 80˚C for one and a half hour.

Turn the slices over. Remove from oven and it will become crispy in a few minutes.

Place a slice of the cooked chicken breast on a plate, top it with hot brown sauce and serve with chilled Avocado, Pear and Apple Salad. Garnish with Pear Chips.

Recipe by Japreet Narula, Chiyas Gourmet, Sopan Baugh

BANANA SPINACH SMOOTHIE Ingredients: Large spinach leaves (washed and cut) 4 Frozen ripe banana 1 Plain Greek yogurt or Vanilla yogurt 1 cup Milk 150ml Method: Cut the banana and blend it with spinach leaves, Greek yogurt and milk, till smooth. Coconut oil can be melted and added too for those who like a coconut flavour. An ounce of fruit juice can be added for extra sweetening.

Recipe by Karan Sarda, owner, Café 221B, Baner

STUFFED BAKED APPLE WITH INDIAN GOOSEBERRY JUS AND MINT Ingredients: Fresh apple 100gms Blue cheese 50gms Fresh pears 50gms Sweet corn 50gms Cheese parmesan 10gms Walnut 10gms Jalapeno chilli 10gms Indian gooseberry 100gms Fresh mint leaves 5gms Chilli oil 5gms Salt to taste Pepper to season Method: Scoop out the core from the fresh apple and

keep aside. Bake the stuffed apple in preheated oven on 180 Degrees C, for 10 minutes. Boil the Indian gooseberry and make a puree, add salt, pepper and keep aside. In a separate bowl, make a stuffing for the apple.

For stuffing: Mix fresh pears, sweet corn, parmesan cheese, walnuts and jalapeno chili. Add seasoning and salt to taste. Fill the apple with stuffing. Garnish the food with fresh mint leaves and chili oil Recipe by Chef Sandip Patil, Chef de Cuisine, Hyatt Regency Pune

VISHAL KALE

RAHUL RAUT

TGS LIFE

MARCH 19, 2016 PUNE

THRILL OF DRIVING

It’s not often that the over 100-year-old Royal Enfield motorcycle co announces a relatively new product, so we just had to have a go

By Tushar Burman

The star of the show has to be the suspension the Himalayan is fitted with. Long-travel 41mm forks up front and their first monoshock at the back, connected to the frame via a linkage. The result is a plush, comfortable ride over the most rugged terrain, as we experienced on our 160km tour through the hills around Shimla. There was no situation where the bike felt unsettled and the combination of the 21” front and 17” rear wheel inspires confidence. The Ceat GRIPP XL tyres were also revealing, providing excellent grip and no drama.

In terms of ergonomics too, Royal Enfield have got things very right with this bike. The seat is among the best we’ve experienced, and the wide handlebars are perfectly positioned.

@tburman

Comprehensive info provided by MFD and analog speedo, tacho. Note the digital compass

The pegs are more rear-set than a typical Royal Enfield bike, but not enough to cause any cramping in the knees. The company has taken care to add some thoughtful touches like cleated pegs for maximum grip, and used pressed steel for things that

PICS BY ROYAL ENFIELD

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s Royal Enfield tells it, its new bike, the Himalayan, is purpose-built for the mountains after which it is named.

The manufacturer has a long history with the region, and it’s a bit of a tradition for owners of RE bikes to make a pilgrimage to the Ladakh region at some point in their lives. A rite of passage, of sorts. Interesting, since all of the Royal Enfield lineup of products are street bikes, ill-suited to the challenges of the hills. In this context, the Himalayan makes perfect sense.

Unlike what you may have heard, the Himalayan is almost entirely new. The frame is not based on any of their other products, and the engine -- while sharing some components -- is also new, and uses an overheadcam. At 411cc of displacement, it fits right in the middle of their 350-535cc range of motors. Unfortunately, it makes only 24.5bhp, which in a world of 44bhp 375cc motors from KTM, sounds like quite a letdown. It isn’t much of one, because the magic of the motor is in its 32Nm of torque, much of which is available very low down in the rev range. This means that the bike is smooth and tractable in treacherous conditions without every feeling frantic or stressed. It “gets out of your way” like the rest of the bike, as Siddharth Lal, CEO of Royal Enfield tells it. It’s just not very fast, and highway cruising will have to be at 100kmph or below.

Himalayaputra

Unique subframe holds console in place as well as provides space for mounting accessories

normally break off in a spill. On the Himalayan, things just bend a bit and can be righted by a tug or two. We speak from experience. Standing up on the pegs for rough stuff or water crossings is also very comfortable, but let down by the slippery tank that offers no purchase for your knees.

This is easily fi xed by some grippy tape, however.

The Himalayan actually offers more equipment than the rest of the Royal Enfield range, while being cheaper. The instrument console includes an analog speedo, tacho and fuel gauge, and a digital multifunction display and compass.

The display provides outside temperature, time, two trip meters and an odometer. It’s all tucked away behind a small windscreen and mounted on a separate subframe, which leaves the steering feeling light and comfortable. On the go, the Himalayan feels disappointingly laconic, and you’re left wondering where the vaunted low-end grunt is.

It’s was not apparent to us at all until we realised we had ridden much of the 160km ride in second or third gear with no complaints from the motor or the gearbox. First gear is relatively short though, so one must be careful shifting down to first because the rear wheel will immediately step out. The sweet-spot of the motor is between 3000 and 4500rpm, where there’s little to no vibration and the bike just chugs along regardless of incline. The new balancer in the motor is playing its part here. You can just leave it in 2nd (as we did) and shoot between

corners connected by rutted tarmac or dirt, slowing and accelerating at will without bothering too much about being in the right gear. The bike gets out of your way.

There’s much to like about the Himalayan, and some that could be improved. An almost universal complaint about the lack of horsepower will eventually have to be addressed; 30-35bhp would be ideal. The front brakes and gearboxes tended to be inconsistent across riders — our brakes were poor, while others had issue with shifting gears. The design of the bike also tends to be polarising, with some appreciating its rugged looks while others resoundingly reject it. It is clever, however. Royal Enfield has designed the exposed subframe bits to take on accessories such as fuel canisters, soft and hard luggage.

The Himalayan is available for test rides and bookings in select cities across India at an ex-Mumbai price of 1.55 lac, which makes it an excellent deal, as well as a unique proposition in this price range. You’re unlikely to find a more comfortable mount to continue riding when the road ends, at least in this price range. Royal Enfield also faces a challenge in selling this bike in Delhi, where only BS4 vehicles can currently be registered (the Himalayan is BS3 and can be sold elsewhere till April 1, 2017). This will be addressed in a future fuel-injected model due out later this year or early in the next, when BS4 will be mandatory across states. tushar@goldensparrow.com

NOT JUST A PENSIONER’S PARADISE ANYMORE

By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM

T

Samir Gadhok of Royce’ Chocolates

MARCH 19, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

With several international brands setting up base here, Pune is gradually chiselling a brand new identity for itself TEJAS GAIKWAD

his Oxford of the East is slowly turning into a hub for various global, luxury, food, hospitality and automotive brands as well as a destination for international events.

Experts point out the reason behind the sudden focus is that the people from the city are welltravelled and know what’s happening around the globe, which makes them adaptive towards new and different products. No doubt then that the buying power of the people is equally high which is proving fruitful for these brands to open their Indian franchise here.

The recent edition of Playboy India launching its first Playboy Beer Garden right here in Pune puts the city on the highest global branding radar. “We are designing a fantastic fusion of fine-dining, entertainment, music along with some freshly-brewed exclusive beers – all under the same avenue – which the city will boast of for years to come,” says Parag Sanghavi, chairman of PB Lifestyle Ltd, the master and exclusive license holder in India for Playboy Enterprises Inc, USA. Located at Balewadi high street, it’s a plush 8,000 square feet extensive outdoor space, ideal for gatherings to enjoy food and beverage with live music and events. Similarly, Classic Rock Coffee Co (CRCC) was brought to India by city-based entrepreneur Avinash Agarwal when he set up the first outlet in the city in May last year. “Pune is a great testing market for IT, automobile as well as F&B since it has such a strong customer as well as manufacturing base for these segments. With a huge transient student population, one always gets new customers to test out products and concepts,” says Avinash. He brought a lot of value additions to the brand by offering a barbeque and lounge along with an amphitheatre, as he believes that the original CRCC with coffee alone would have been difficult to sustain with so many other brands and India not being such a big coffee drinking nation.

“However, the live coffee roasting in store is a unique feature and our coffee ensures we don’t lose the identity of a specialty coffee shop at the same time,” he adds.

After the success of Royce’ in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Kolkata, Avani Raheja and Samir Gadhok of Burgundy Hospitality recently opened their first outlet at Phoenix Marketcity to bring the unique Japanese chocolate brand to Pune.

The brand prides itself in offering a wide array of products that follow one consistent theme – fresh chocolate products that are rich in flavour, textures, complexity and taste. Samir says, “We did a few pop-ups in Pune and received a tremendous response. People who had seen and tasted these chocolates in Mumbai had a great demand for the brand and that’s when we thought it was time to launch the outlet for our patrons here. In addition, while doing our development research in the city, we realised that people here are well exposed to international products and love to experiment with unique flavours. This essentially made our job easy.

So far, the response has been overwhelming and we plan to open more outlets here in the future.”

The city is one of the biggest hubs for the

TGS LIFE

Parag Sanghvi of Playboy Beer Garden on the day of the grand launch

super bike culture. It is home to as many as 12 superbike clubs and each one of them has several members.

Pune has also been a pioneer when it comes to automobiles. There is a craze for international brands, especially two-wheelers. Kinetic, under its super biking initiative, Motoroyale, has tied up exclusively with MV Agusta to launch the bike in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The managing director of the company Ajinkya Firodia recently announced the sale of its first F4 RR bike to Shirish Kulkarni, chairman of DSK Benelli India Pvt Limited. “In the next month, we will be opening showrooms in six cities, including Pune, and these outlets will exclusively host products from Motoroyale. We are the only super bike brand that is simultaneously opening six outlets to ensure nationwide coverage,” he says.

MV Agusta is one of the most premium motorcycle brands which is 100 per cent Italian.

They’re looking at selling 300 units in the first year across India and 15-20 per cent of that should come from Pune, they hope. Priced at Rs 35 lakh, it is the most expensive motorcycle from the MV stable. But it is also one of the most advanced motorcycles in the world with a top speed of 297.5

kmph and boasts of an electronically adjustable suspension. “When it comes to pricing in super bikes, it is viewed by the customers not as a price point but as value,” Ajinkya adds.

Pune Fashion Week, in association with the Korea Model Association, launched a pageant called the Face of India. This is the first time where India participated in the Asia New Star Model Contest, one of the largest and most prestigious platforms in Asia’s fashion fraternity. Korea Model Association is an affiliate of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Republic of South Korea, and a non-profit organisation established in 1976 for the purpose of promotion and protection of models’ rights, interest and related business.

Founder of Pune Fashion Week Badal Saboo feels proud to have taken this initiative along with Korea Model Association to promote Indian models internationally and foster crossborder cultural and business relations with Asian countries. “It is interesting to see the way talent has evolved over the last couple of years on the fashion and design front. Pune is now taking a leap as one of the most promising luxury fashion destinations. Hence, as an industry stakeholder, it is our responsibility to develop the same potential into international designers and models in exploring Pune as a market. At the same time, we work towards finding opportunities of

Ajinkya Firodia on his latest machine

Badal Saboo and the recently crowned Face of India winners

association between Indian models and designers from various countries,” explains Badal.

Two promising models who won the Face of India Pageant held in Pune last month will now represent the country at the Asia New Star Model Festival in May in South Korea. “This year, we have also taken an initiative to introduce Face of Nepal, Face of Bangladesh, Face of SriLanka and Face of Arabia,” Badal adds. heena.grover@goldensparrow.com

Avinash Aggarwal of Classic Rock Coffee Co

TGS LIFE

MARCH 19, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

Hey foodies, listen up!

After a successful launch in Delhi and Gurgaon last year, The Grub Fest is coming to Pune for the second edition of a fun food festival

By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM

A LOVE AFFAIR WITH COOKING Masterchef-winner Shipra Khanna talks about her upcoming shows, books as well as her food journey

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

F

or Masterchef Season 2-winner Shipra Khanna, her life revolves around food.

Shipra, who became a household name soon after her stint in the reality TV show, has been on a roll with a plateful of assignments.

Her show Pure Sin is the first and only Indian production focussed on desserts. Through its episodes, she takes you on a taste bud tingling journey. Her other show, K For Kids, on Food Food channel is all about experiencing happy and joyful cooking, where kids learn to cook and appreciate their mom’s role in the kitchen in a fun way.

“Cooking has always been like a therapy to me but I didn’t know it would take me so far in life. Masterchef opened doors of opportunities for me. From a home cook, I turned into a seasoned chef. I got to explore various countries and their native cuisines,” she points out.

Her speciality is global cuisine, Indian specialities, baking, desserts and fusion food.

She has consulted for many restaurants in India and abroad. After winning the reality show, she began to host her own cooking show, Kitchen Stars Ka Safar. But the start to her culinary journey has not been a conventional one. “As a child, I was not allowed to enter the kitchen at all. I was nine years old, when one day my

parents had to go out. I stepped into kitchen, picked up all ingredients available and started to cook. What I made turned out good,” she recalls.

This was her first brush with cooking. Much later in her life, in a dramatic turn of events after her marriage, Shipra was barred from seeing her two children. She was engaged in a bitter custody battle and divorce that involved charges of dowry abuse against her husband and his family. “I started cooking to escape from the daily stress and landed as a competitor in the show. It gave me a second chance at life,” she says.

Over the years, her romance with food has only grown. She has travelled across the globe propagating Indian food and winning the Women Chef Taking Taste Beyond Borders award by SAARC and SCWEC in Nepal, while she represented India. After so much of travelling she has had her share of crazy experiences too.

“The most memorable one would be where I was asked to cook in front of the Alps in Switzerland.

It was freezing cold but I managed to make seasoned chicken with Swiss ingredients,” she smiles.

She is a restaurateur, chef, consultant, author and an anchor for TV shows. Her maiden book, The Spice Route, explores different regions and cuisines, bringing some old favourites and some new discoveries together. “I am now looking forward to the release of my new book. It’s about my travel experiences across India and the globe, discovering ingredients, cuisines, people, their culture and a variety of food that is available across the world,” she adds.

She has recently launched her own YouTube channel called ‘Shipra’s Kitchen’ and she is the culinary connoisseur for Tourism Australia. zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com

T

he brainchild of young entrepreneurs, Aman Kumar, Arjun Jain, Chaitanya Mathur and Mani Singh Cheema, this travelling food carnival is all set to touch the hearts, palates and plates of food lovers in the city. It all started in 2011 when the four foodies and travel junkies decided to do something different inspired by their travel experiences around the globe.

The Grub Fest’s focus is on bringing food enthusiasts together through a showcase of fresh and interesting food trends from different parts of the country and abroad. Here’s a platform where renowned chefs and brands can display their expertise with a live cookout and experiential sessions. Says Aman, “With the Pune edition, we plan to keep introducing an entire gamut of innovative food concepts within the festival so there’s something for everyone every time they come visiting.”

The carnival, which came into being in 2015, will also have live music performances and will introduce popular as well as upcoming musicians from across the country. “Music is an essential part of The Grub Fest, as we truly believe in creating a great vibe. We wanted to execute this event in a big way since we realised that a festival like this will do very well in India. The focus is not just on the youth but it’ll cater to people across all age groups,” adds Chaitanya.

Talking about the high points, apart from bringing together the best restaurants and chefs, Puneites will see some interesting launches of new eateries, party places and cafes. The Royal Palms in Koregaon Park will play host for the fest.

Delhi’s gig central Summer House Café will also see its launch in Pune with this event. Ricky Teja, the owner of Summer House Cafe, says, “After Delhi, I knew that the next spot had to be Pune. I love this city, the people, it’s so lively and student-friendly, making it perfect for a young and buzzing brand like ours.”

Living Foodz, international food and lifestyle channel, is curating Grub Theatre, wherein renowned chefs of the country, such as Chef Ripu Daman Handa (Masterchef India Winner), Chef Deepu Alamchandani (from Pune), Chef Gautam Mehrishi, Chef Rakhee Vaswani (LeCordonBleu chef), will host some outof-the-box culinary sessions and share their secret recipes.

There’s also a great line-up of musicians and artists to watch out for including Raghu Dixit Project, Anish Sood, Blot, DJ SA, Bombay Basement, Barmer Boys and Big City Harmonics.

“From Hip-Hop and EDM to Rajasthani folk and Sufi musicians, we are going to have a memorable experience for the city’s music enthusiast,” says Arjun.

Besides, a range of fresh farm produce and organic preparations will be displayed in an interactive bazaar set up. At The Grub Market, people can buy organically produced vegetables, salads, home-made jams, savoury, wines, ice-creams, glutenfree cakes and much more. Some of the restaurants participating in the event are Dario’s, Euriska, Raasta Café, Prem’s, Marrakesh, Mugshot Café, F Beach House, Double Roti, Punjab Grill, Brewz and Greenz, Urban Spice, Egg Anda.

When: March 25, 26 & 27 Where: Royal Palms, Koregaon Park

An automobile engineer, an adventure enthusiast and an athlete, 26-year-old Rajat Singh is all set to take part in the Iron Man triathlon to be held in Malaysia in April

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

T

hree-and-a-half hours of training daily and a strict diet is getting Rajat Singh all prepped for one of the toughest one-day triathlons that there is. Even though he loves his favourite Belgian chocolate, his coach Kaustubh Radkar has kept a strict tab on his diet and fitness regime. A half an hour conversation with him will leave you intrigued, floored and impressed by the confidence that comes through while talking to this young entrepreneur.

Hailing from Udaipur, he worked with Yash Raj Productions in Mumbai, lived a short while in Switzerland and then returned to Pune set up his adventure travel company, Trek N Climb. Speaking with TGS, he lets us in on what inspired him to embark on this journey and what he’s most worried about when it comes to competition.

While he lived in Switzerland, he got along with a few mountaineers, went on several trips with them and fell in love with the adventure that came along. This also pushed him to start his own venture which is based out of Pune and encourages others to go on treks and expeditions to Nepal, Sikkim and other North Indian peaks. Taking his love for extreme sports to a whole

new level and wanting to do something that not many from the country have attempted, six months ago he decided that he wanted to compete for the Iron Man title.

He was then an excellent runner, an average cyclist and absolutely did not know how to swim. This was the first thing he had to learn. As a trial run, his coach asked him to take part in the triathlon, which was held in Goa in February. “It was a crazy experience. We had to swim in the ocean and that one swim taught me so much. While I always felt that I was a good runner, post the swimming and cycling, my legs had almost given way and this showed me how much more preparation I needed,” he recollects. Of 160 participants, he ranked 20th, a big deal for a beginner.

Training for any two of the three sports on alternate days, Rajat’s day begins at 4:30 am. A foodie at heart, giving up on things that he loves to eat is one of the most difficult things he has had to do. The Iron Man, he knows, is going to be an extremely different experience compared to any other race that he has run before. About 1,800 people will be competing along with him. We asked him what worried him about the triathlon and he says, “My only concern is the swimming part. It will be held in an open lake that has to accommodate hundreds of participants and being hit by those swimming around you is extremely common.

I am not quite sure how I will manage that.”

Yet, he is quite hopeful of finishing at a good position. “If I can learn swimming in just two months and know it well enough to take part in the competition, I know that I can do well. I am mentally strong and I will use that as my armour whenever I feel even a little bit out of my league,” adds Rajat. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

MARCH 19, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

RAHUL RAUT

He is pushing boundaries to achieve his dreams

TGS LIFE

Say hello to this young ecopreneur VISHAL KALE

Little Sprouts is a venture set up by ten-year-old Praneel Tare, who helps people set up their home garden

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

H

e’s too young to worry about taking a risk. That’s perhaps what inspires Praneel Tare’s entrepreneurial journey. This wonder boy’s venture Little Sprouts will not only help you grow your own home garden but also provide you with organic fertilizers. Enter his home in Baner and the sweet fragrance of flowers, fruits and vegetables from his garden is hard to miss. In a corner sits Praneel busy planting a sapling, setting the mud and watering other plants.

“He has been interested in gardening since he was much younger. Initially, he just watered the plants, but slowly his curiosity towards gardening grew. After a few months, he started working on plants on his own. We recognised his interest and decided to nurture it further,” says Kanchan Tare, Praneel’s mother.

Kanchan slowly handed over the entire gardening responsibility to Praneel and taught him to make saplings from seeds. After school, Praneel spends time researching on the subject

and watching videos on YouTube. “Earlier, he would help me make saplings. He is happiest to see it grow into a plant. Praneel spends hours just observing and experimenting with plants,” she adds.

Looking at his will to learn, Kanchan enrolled him into a mind gym where he could enhance his learning skills. Within a few days, his teacher was so impressed with his knowledge of gardening that she suggested that Kanchan encourage his talent and to help him start something of his own. That’s how Praneel’s hobby officially became a business.

It was his penchant for growing food that has taken him so far. He gets regular orders and makes sure that the client is handed over the delivery on time.

“I just completed an order of 60 saplings.

It’s my idea of fun. I grow various vegetables, herbs and fruits including brinjal, tomato, chilli, papaya, rosemary, etc,” says Praneel.

Everyone in his family too believes in growing food at home. They have passionately maintained their home garden. Of course organic methods play a huge role and everything they grow is through organic methods. “The sole aim is to grow vegetables and fruits by using organic waste and other biological materials so as to keep the soil alive,” adds Kanchan. zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com

Fashion Diaries ~ By ‘Felicity’ This needle has magic...

Advertorial FASHION DIARIES Felicity-The magical needle has already begun weaving its magic. Here we are with a fresh creation of the week. In the 'shor' of our very own city Pune, we want to hear you out .as we promised, all your questions will be answered here and so we brought you a design that can eliminate a daily confusion that pops up every morning, ”what do i wear? How can I look different?” We have your answer- 'wear your attitude' that the designs of felicity will serve you with. This summer we will get you outfits that will give you a 'cool' sense of attitude you want to carry yourself with and that is what our entire team is striving on. “All of us believe that our outfits to an extent reveal our personalities so; it's always a good idea to give with the right positive vibes of our characteristics.” says the felicilty designer Upala basu.

The summer has set its pace and it's all about experimenting your style. This season provides the perfect opportunity to team up your clothes and make a difference in the regular look. The scorching heat calls for lighter materials, cooler colours and brighter you. Our team at Felicity completely thrives to render this need and offer you a casual day look this week; yet something that stands out of the regular, one sports in your day to day life. “Understanding the customer thought process, may it be about the colours; which relate to their mood of the day or it may be the theme of the print that soothes their sight. It's all about their desire and our bringing it to reality for them lined with our creativity.” Believe the Team Felicity. So let's skip the league and fuse it! How? Take a look at our 'Dress of the week.'

Dress of the week The idea of this creation is fusion; you can team up this one with your simple daily wears. This will give a break to the hideous summer coats and be a breath of fresh air for you and your wardrobe this summer. It's time for beautiful Capes, summer jackets and the overthrows. This week's over throw jacket has the 'Ikat' print giving it a funky touch. You can match it up with denim, a white comfy tee and the blue over throw or just wear your pretty skirt, a simple comfy kurta of your choice and top it with the over throw and your all ready to walk the indo-western look. The fact that the fabric used for the over throws is cotton; makes it all the more desirable for the season. Cotton is the best fabric to avoid heat absorbance and for personal comfort. The blue colour has been wisely chosen keeping the season demand in mind. Summer season calls for tranquillity and that is exactly how the colour blue makes you feel. The colour of the over throw will soothe your eyes in the bright sunlight. The picture gives the glimpse of the calmness and coolness the outfit offers; it is visible as our model walks the busy afternoon road in the city on the much sunny day, yet looks extremely comfortable in the attire. No signs of stressful summer. In the picture we have accessorised the look with a cool pair of shades and simple wedges. You can charm the look with accessories of your choice and sport the look in your own style because this design is a statement we have made that will be defined by your 'Style.'

FELICITY The Magical Needle

Photographer: Kaushik Chugh Model: Shivangi Deshmukh

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Rising above all odds, he is a winner already younger brother to look after and the money he earned from doing this job wasn’t enough. He then started washing cars. He used the money earned to enroll back in school. “Going back to school was exciting but embarrassing at the same time as I had missed two years. All my friends had gone ahead of me and I had to sit with my juniors. But that didn’t deter me as I was a very good student,” says Yajak.

The next few years he worked harder and eventually started working with real estate companies and did some marketing jobs that got him some extra money. Eventually his father came back and Yajak heaved a sigh of relief. Just when things had started to look up, his father suffered a heart attack. Everything that Yajak had saved up over the last few

RAHUL RAUT

unekar

MARCH 19, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES VISHAL KALE

F

rom being a caddie at a golf course when he was 9, to becoming a guard and car washer at the age of 12, Yajak Abraham Gadkar’s life been a constant struggle from the word go.

Yajak’s father left home when he was studying in standard VI as he was not able to handle the growing financial crisis at home. He left the family behind with no money, no house and no one to look after his family. This was also the time when Yajak’s mother fell ill, but they didn‘t have the money to pay for her treatment.

This is when Yajak decided to pull up his socks and to end the miseries of his family took up odd jobs. He dropped out of school to work as a security guard at an under-construction site.

Besides his mother, he also had a

TGS LIFE

years, vanished in paying for his father’s treatment. The ardous journey for survival began all over again.

After having worked in several odd places, just to keep his household running, Yajak decided to do something concrete.

He decided to start something of his own and did a lot of research post which he finalised on a dairy. He began with buying a cow. “With the help of my mother, I started selling milk and dairy products. In no time, the demand shot up.”

Today, Yajak, 24, owns two cows and a buffalo and a small goat farm. He proudly says that everything he sells is fresh and purely organic which he claims is very high in quality. “I have more customers and demand than I can handle now and it’s all a blessing of God. This is just the beginning.

My goal now is to have my own organic farm one day and study law.”

(As told to Heena Grover Menon)

City celeb chat For all your outings Name: Kamakshi Rai, Singer Three words to describe me: Melodious, intense and goofy I love my job because: I took what I loved most - music - and turned it into my profession.

Best advice I’ve received: “If somebody tells you you’re not good enough, get angry. Get angry and let that emotion fuel the fire inside you to create more, because the only thing that matters is that you keep creating... So use every emotion to do it.”

When buying something, the first thing that catches my eye is: Is it breakable/stainable? If yes to either, don’t buy it! (I’m a tad clumsy) What’s your inner animal? A baby emu The first thing you notice about an attractive person: The first thing I notice is kindness. If that’s absent, so-called ‘attractiveness’ is moot.

The perfect start to a day is: A good breakfast Your current four-wheeler: I don’t own one because public transport is great and we don’t need more pollution.

Your fitness regimen: Lots of cardio, and I love Zumba!

Your food indulgence: If it makes me happy, I eat it. No hunger-induced sadness for me!

Books by your bedside: I’m currently re-reading The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy by Douglas Adams The first site you visit when you fire up your comp: My digital planner/calendar Your favourite city: Mumbai!

Ideal holiday: All I need is a beautiful beach and my ukulele

(As told to Heena Grover Menon)

after the sun sets

T

here’s nothing better than an outfit that’s comfortable and yet stylish. Being stylish means keeping up with the trend. Creating a balance between trendy and casual is all about mixing up different styles, Priya Sachdeva lengths and fits. There are minute differences between evening and day casual and once you know them you are all set to turn heads no matter what the event. Designer Priya Sachdeva lets you in on these differences and the key to getting a trendy, casual and most importantly a comfortable attire for you evening plans. l One of the most important thing to keep in mind is the colour of clothing. Day casuals include a lot of bright colours where as an evening casual will have more dark colours. Evening colours may include black, red and darker shades of blue or purple.

Day colours are brighter and could include pastels. l Long dresses with minimal jewellery and jeans with a simple top and cardigan is more of an evening wear than anything else. l You could wear a skirt and pair it with a long sleeved top to get a chic look.

Pair a nice blouse or open back shirt with a fashionable pair of wide-leg pants, for an evening of fun. This might be an outing to the newly opened restaurant in town with your friends or a family gathering too.

STYLE GURU

Throw on those jeans that accentuate your curves with a flowey top. You can also belt the top to highlight your waist and fit into almost any setting. l Shoes, an important part of your attire can include dress shoes and heels or sandals and converse depending on what you wear. Flipflops are a taboo. l Accessories including pleasant jewellery, watches and in some cases, scarves which may help enhance your look.

(As told to Salonee Mistry)

TGS LIFE

MARCH 19, 2016 PUNE

BUZZ

Not offered Aashiqui 3: Alia Bhatt

A

ctress Alia Bhatt has denied reports claiming that she has been cast opposite superstar Hrithik Roshan for third instalment of Aashiqui.

There were rumours that the 23-year-old actress, who made her debut with Karan Johar's Student of the Year, will finally work with his father Mahesh Bhatt's banner in the third instalment of Aashiqui film series. "In my knowledge no Aashiqui 3 is happening right now. I am not offered anything like that," Alia said.

Directed by Shakun Batra, the film also stars Sidharth Malhotra and Fawad Khan. While the original Aashiqui (1990) starred Rahul Roy and Anu Aggarwal, Aashiqui 2 released in 2013 and made stars out of Aditya Roy Kapur and Shraddha Kapoor.

This small film holds a

big message

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

P

utting forth the hopes and failures of couples affected by HIV in the most innovative way possible, Bhushan Gaur makes steps into the fictional world. Brought up in an army background, as a child he travelled throughout the country and innumerable experiences influenced him along the way. Hailing from a family where the oral tradition of story-telling is still vibrant, he has always wanted to tell stories but in his own style. In conversation with the extremely talented director, TGS learns about the inspiration behind his latest film There Will Be Tomorrow, the challenges he faced while completing the project, and what he expects from it once it is release.

While there are many films aimed at generating awareness around the topic of HIV, There Will Be Tomorrow specifically educates people about the possibility of HIV victims and their uninfected babies. It shares the idea that there could be bigger problems than HIV and all that is needed to handle the issues is courage and support. “The film gives a holistic message and has a global audience. It was an article that I read on HIV+ people that inspired me to script the film and take the project forward,” says the director.

Releasing on March 19 at the HIV Congress in Goa, the film has been made keeping a festival audience in mind. It uses an extremely innovative style of filming, think natural light and a hand-held camera. The film follows a nonlinear pattern, with multi-cuts and multi-jumps. It took the director

about a year-and-ahalf to research and develop the concept, before he began filming the movie.

“The biggest challenge that I faced was ensuring that everyone on my set was educated in order to make the film right. We had to also make sure that every tiny detail of the Bhushan Gaur film was right and so we did a lot of back and forth not only with medical experts but also with organisations that deal with HIV+ patients,” he explains, when asked what were the challenges that he faced while trying to produce the film.

Something else that he found extensively difficult was to explain so much about HIV in just 30 minutes. He has made sure that the story is as poetic as possible so as to appeal to a wider audience and all of this while it is still educative and informative. He truly hopes that the film does its bit in changing the society’s mind set and altering the way they handle those with HIV. An alumnus of New York Film Academy, Bhushan is currently also a faculty in advertising and branding in several business schools. The cast of actors includes Sahil Salathia, Nimisha Mehta, Shishir Sharma, Mangal Kenkre and Priti Mamgai. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

TGS LIFE

MARCH 19, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

Dream offices

TGS LIFE

MARCH 19, 2016 PUNE

aren’t just a figment of your

FEATURES

imagination

By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM

H

TripHobo office is all about blending work and fun. Be it a game of carom, finishing task while chilling on the beach beds or finding your own lazy spot inside a tent. Think and they have it all

RAHUL RAUT AND VISHAL KALE

ow many times have you wished your office would have a cot to snuggle in for a few minutes, particularly on extremely hectic days? Or if there was a chai tapri right inside your office building so you wouldn’t have to walk that mile every time you craved a cutting chai? All this might sound too good to be true, but read on and you will be surprised to see the amenities some offices are willing to offer their employees.

When the co-founders of TripHobo, a travel planning company, decided to move to their new space on the MumbaiBengaluru Highway in Baner, they wanted their work theme to reflect in their office as well. The company is one of the largest providers of travel itineraries and offers all trip-planning solutions. So naturally, the theme had to revolve around travel.

Praveen Kumar, along with Saket Newaskar and Karthik Ramachandra, all co-founders of the company, started the venture together out of a 1BHK initially. Travel and adventure enthusiasts, they sat and conceptualised their new work space together. As you enter, a huge graffiti of travel pictures welcomes you and gives a very vibrant feel to the entrance. Once you enter, you will see a wooden structure where several souvenirs collected during from their travels have been displayed. Instead of typical desks and bays, they have placed tables designed in the shape of larvae to break the monotony where a bunch of people can sit and work together. “Every corner of this office has objects that depict travel. For example, we have placed two beach beds on one side where employees can relax, chat and work at the same.

There are three meeting rooms, each having a nature-based theme with wallpapers of forest, beach and waterfall to make you feel as if you are actually sitting amidst nature,” explains Praveen while giving us a tour of his office. But one of the most exciting spots here is a green cozy tent which has a mattress inside where an employee can take a power nap if s/he is tired or feels a little under the weather during work hours. There’s a beautiful terrace with a colourful sit-out and a bench that would make you feel as

All work no play makes Jack a dull boy. Well, not any more as these uber cool offices are changing the game, banishing the boring, and bringing fun into the workplace if you’re sitting at an airport.

All this may sound unusual for an office, but the next office space that TGS checked out will totally blow your mind.

Housed inside a swanky, multi-storey IT complex in Yerwada, the software company ThoughtWorks opens up its doors to a massive and super funky office that spells creativity from every corner. Step inside and you will see a huge open space that instantly fills you up with positivity and energy. A bunch of employees bonding over a session of table tennis is what you see as you enter the office. There’s a chai tapri right behind and a life-size poster of a tapri captured from the lane downstairs adorns the corner wall that gives an impression of an actual tea stall where employees can take a break whenever they feel like it. “The entire interior of the office is actually a brainchild of all the ThoughtWorkers put together. Instead of calling an interiors designer, we wanted this place to be a reflection of people who work here. We called everyone together and ask them what they would like to see and the interior is an outcome of that,” says Chirag Doshi, office principal, who has been working with the company for over a decade now.

The cafeteria at the office has a huge wall which has been painted by a few employees. For women employees, who’ve recently turned moms, there is a kids room where children can be until their parents are done for the day. There are various excellent design elements such as a bus which is not just a fun display element but is actually a fully functional meeting room.

The auto rickshaw next to the bus is a space where one can sit in peace and make important phone calls. On another level, they

Sasha Anand’s all women gang at work. Brewing some tea to speed up the tired minds during hectic hours and dancing to the tunes of their favourite numbers are just a few of the many things that they do together

have created a train station with a bright red train and its compartments make interesting meeting rooms.

The third office that is worth a mention is the cosy little space which has been taken up by Beyond Wild, an adventure and wildlife tourism company. Located on the busy Law College Road, this is a small wonder of sorts. Mihir Mahajan, an adventure and wildlife photographer, is the man behind the venture. Although it’s very small, their office is done up so beautifully that you would be tempted to sit and work here for hours. It’s done up keeping wildlife in mind so as you enter, all you see is wood everywhere. There was a pillar in the middle of the room which has been turned into a huge tree. A library with a raised platform wooden seating, colourful gaddis and throw cushions make it a comfortable spot to work. There’s a pretty camp-like structure in a corner which looks like an actual camp inside a jungle where Mihir and his colleagues work daily. “I have designed each and every element of this office in such a way that it would feel like you are inside a little jungle. Adventure and wildlife are my passion and so I wanted my work to reflect through my office,” says Mihir.

With so much thought being put into creating these offices, it’s evident that both employers and employees have come of age and the time is gone when people would come to gloomy offices and want to rush back as soon as their work was done. These work places have changed the way offices have been perceived and the credit goes to constantly evolving mind sets. “It’s an employer’s responsibility to provide the right kind of environment to the employees, and by giving them the freedom to work in their own way and an open culture, there’s no doubt that the output would grow manifold,” explains Praveen. A few sports, extra-curricular and entertainment activities are a great way to keep the mind fresh and buzzing with action and an office plays a huge role in all of this.

Another perfect example is Sasha Anand’s lively abode. The small floor of a bungalow has recently been turned into his office. Sasha is the son of city’s very own celebrated writer and food and wine enthusiast Karen Anand. He recently started a social media company called Pomelo Social which is located inside a residential bungalow colony in Wanowrie. Sasha’s team includes 10 girls so as you step into the office you hear constant chatter and laughter. “We have moved in just a few weeks ago and we wanted this space to be as lively and homely as possible. There are little knickknacks on walls which my girl gang have put up so they could feel as if they are working out of their own room. The room is exclusively for these girls, so even I don’t enter without permission,” laughs Sasha. Since it’s a home, the kitchen stays fully stocked up at all times where the team cooks and indulges whenever they want. The team also has access to a terrace where they take head for a break or for a brainstorming session. “Whenever we are stressed or bored, one of us plays some music and all of us dance for about 10-15 minutes that works as a great stress buster. We also have a meeting and video room where we watch films together.

All of this makes the office environment really positive,” he adds. heena.grover@goldensparrow.com

A tree in the middle, a library in the shape of tiger pugs on the wall and a work station under the cosy tent. These are just a few snapshots of how Beyond Wild office at Law College Road looks like

The entrance of ThoughtWorks office is a gaming zone. Enter and you will see creativity flowing everywhere. There are funky cabins where one can make an important call or work at peace. The chai tapri is for when you want to take a break amd to chat with folks