TGS Life 05/12/2015

VISHAL KALE

PUNE, DECEMBER 5, 2015 | www.thegoldensparrow.com

Meet the power women of Pune They could’ve lived a luxurious life, in the shadow of their super successful husbands, but these fabulous businesswomen took on the challenge to prove their worth and establish their own identity

TGS LIFE

DECEMBER 5, 2015 PUNE

STAGE His graduation certificate chalks him out as an engineer but Mahesh Kale has always been a musician at heart and has been singing since he was three years old

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

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he sensational voice behind the much-loved character of Sadashiv from Katyar Kaljat Ghusli, is none other than Pune boy Mahesh Kale. Be it when he actually played the role or was just performing playback songs for it, he has managed to wow the audience every single time. Even for people, who do not quite understand Hindustani classical music, the soothing effect of his voice is always a pleasant change from mainstream music.

Music was a part of his life since he was a toddler and now pretty much defines who he is. His mother Meenal Kale, guru Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki and now Shri Shounak Abhisheki inspire him to stay dedicated towards music. Making some time for us at the end of a tough day, Mahesh speaks to TGS about what music means to him and who he would want to work with. He also has a piece of advice for young musicians.

To anyone who intently listens, this 39-year-old musician’s voice has the ability to melt hearts and bring tears to one’s eyes. Becoming the centre of attention and taking stage for the first time when he was just three, the memory is now a blur. Waking up

The best and most vibrant of young world piano players, Joel Lyssarides and Karim Ellaboudi, to perform in city

Karim Ellaboudi

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A musical maestro in the making really early, a cold shower, a mike and lots of people pulling his cheeks is all he remembers of the day, over three decades ago. Since then, he has been a part of over 1,000 live shows and several more sangeet nataks. Not many know that, Mahesh actually studied to become an engineer. After graduating from Pune University he went onto Santa Clara University in the United States for a post graduation course. Ask him why he did not pursue a degree in music and he says, “I was a student of Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki and I don’t think there’s a bigger degree than that. No university would have been able to give me what I learned from him and it was enough to make me pursue music as a career for life,” he says.

For the dedicated and passionate vocalist, the fact that he gets to live his dream, fulfil his passion and sustain himself, is more than enough. He believes that more than awards of any kind excelling in his musical quest of learning as much as he can and getting better by the day is a bigger achievement.

He was awarded the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Natya Parishad Award for his role as Sadashiv. Apart from this, as a musician he hopes to grow and spread the magic of music across the world. He has done innumerable shows in the United States, Europe, United Arab Emirates, and South East Asia. He currently runs a music academy in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has about 200 students learning at the academy currently.

Mahesh was over the moon working with Shankar Mahadevan for Katyar Kaljat Ghusli because he got to learn a lot. He hopes to work with A

R Rahman soon. His dream is to follow in the footsteps of Ravi Shankar and Zakhir Hussain. They were not just performers but reformers of music and that is what he too hopes to become someday.

Lending a piece of advice to the younger musicians, he says, “Every musician has a

social responsibility. Appreciating music and spreading the magic of it should be their priority. They should always follow the music that touches their hearts and that which speaks to them. Close the noise out and listen to the internal compass.” salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

Are you ready to Jazz it up?

By Sudheer Gaikwad

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t’s December and the time is right to swing to high-calibre music at the Phoenix Marketcity Jazz Utsav.

Setting the stage alight will be the outstanding piano players Joel Lyssarides and Karim Ellaboudi. London based, Sudanese origin Karim has been playing piano since the age of four. An in-demand sessions player in London and around England, he has played at the Glastonbury Festival among concerts and Jazz festivals around UK and Europe. He now lives in Mumbai and has collaborated musically with the cream of Indian musicians such as Ranjit Barot, Loy Mendonsa, Gino Banks, Sanjay Divecha and Adrian D’Souza. He has also performed with superstar percussionist Trilok Gurtu.

Born in 1992, Joel began playing the piano at the age of four and as he turned 21, he became the youngest, as well as the first Jazz musician ever to receive the prestigious Jan Wallander Award, which included a brand new Steinway grand piano. Joel studied at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm where The Joel Lyssarides Trio was formed earlier this year. Their music is a fusion of Classical, World, Jazz, Rock and Pop genres.

Listen in to their views about what is happening at the forefronts of Jazz around the world and in India.

Where does India and its cities figure on the world Jazz map?

Joel: I have to admit that I’m not too familiar with the Jazz scene in India but it’s something that I’m really keen to learn more about. Although I know that the influence of Indian traditional music certainly has inspired a lot of Jazz musicians all over the world, including me.

Karim: To be honest, India has a very small community of Jazz musicians, but I have seen it grow manifold in the last few years. There is a much larger audience than one might expect. But there are not enough good live music venues in most cities in India. Yet things are changing.

Who do you regard as your musical influences?

Joel: Chick Corea, Keith Jarrett, Herbie Hancock, Astor Piazzolla, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Bud Powell, Charlie Haden and the late Swedish Jazz pianist Jan Johansson.

Karim: Too many people!

What line-up of musicians will you have in Pune and what kind of audience and show do you expect it to be?

Joel: I’ll be performing with two musicians who I greatly admire - Hannes Sigfridsson on drums and Josef Karnebäck on upright bass. I’d be happy to see a lot of young people in the audience. I never take Joel Lyssarides an audience for granted and ‘live’ music really needs all the support it can get today.

Karim: I will be playing with Gianluca and Matteo on bass and drums. I met them only recently, and they are lovely guys, sensitive and accomplished players. Vasundhara V will be joining us. She always blows us all away with her amazing vocals. Also Pranai Gurung, a great guitarist, will sit in for the last few songs of the set.

Where: Liberty Square, Phoenix Marketcity, Nagar Road When: Saturday, December 5, 6.30 pm onwards

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This singer wants you to sit up and listen Music-maker Nicolette Gore strives to give it all, be it playing the drums or crooning into the microphone with a guitar slung around her neck

By Sudheer Gaikwad @TGSWeekly

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hmedabad has spawned the hard rock band Hammersmith, Ranjit Barot protégé, drummer Kalyan Pathak and perhaps several other music stars. It is also home to singer/songwriter/drummer Nicolette Gore, who, in her nascent 20s, exudes confidence and a rather intense connection with music that quite belies her years.

Nicolette took to playing drums, inspired by Power Rock and Metal stars. She played her first rock gig when she was still in socks and pigtails,

a class five schoolgirl. She has come a long way since and has performed on stages across the country, from Guwahati to Bangalore. She performs by herself as well as with her band The Sunshine Grooves.

“Music has a healing effect that most people seem to underestimate,” says Nicolette, who had to cope with and recover from a serious ailment when she was 14. She puts it down to her strong will and a zest for life. Her music-making was also her refuge and shelter in the darkest times of despair.

Not the kind to lay back and let things happen, Nicolette and her band mates scoured the live music cafes, bars and venues in Pune for three days, at the end of which they played their first gig in the city at ABC Farms.

“It’s much easier for musicians to get exposure in cities like Mumbai and Pune, as compared to Ahmedabad,” said Nicolette. “It’s still a struggle in India for musicians but things are changing for the better,” she thinks.

Bringing biblical characters to life Learn about the life of Joseph through a Marathi musical drama performed for the very first time by a group of prayer partners from across Maharashtra

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

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direction, character selection — everything is done by the group members. “As long as the people involved are dedicated and passionate about it, we are certain of putting up a good show. Since all the actors are not from the city, commitment is the only thing that gets us through,” Sanjeev adds. The entry to the play is free and open to all.

TAKING STAGE This is the third play presented by the group.

“The play is being performed in Marathi, not English, for the sake of ease of understanding.

Our first two plays have been well received and we are hoping for a positive response with this one as well. Dance and music have been incorporated in the play to keep the audience engaged in the story,” says Sanjeev Shashikant Arole a member of the group. The group tries to perform in alternative spaces to attract a diverse kind of audience. Although all of them are not trained in theatre, it is their dedication to spread the message that makes their plays likeable, the group believes.

All expenses of the performances are incurred by the group members. Right from the costume to the translation of the script,

SPREAD A MESSAGE “The main idea behind starting the group and performing the plays is to spread the message of the gospel. The people involved in the play are called prayer partners and are spread across India. We get together every weekend to rehearse for the play,” says Sanjeev. The members of the group are from Sholapur, Mumbai, Aurangabad, Jalna, Ujjain, Kolhapur, Sholapur, etc. All members are prayer partners and belong to the group Faith which was formed 25 years ago. The group was the brainchild of Brother Noel Vanhanltren who hoped that the group would bring the community closer. The members of the group wish to spread the message of the gospel through their work. The group also formed a foundation that enabled them to do a lot of social work. Faith foundation, as the organisation is called, is involved in helping orphans and widows. They have also been holding free medical check-up plans for the past few years.

When: December 10, 11 and 12; 5 pm Where: YMCA Quarter Gate, New Rasta Peth salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

troupe of theatre enthusiasts are all set to spread the message of the biblical character Joseph through their play next week. The one act play is based on Joseph’s life. Joseph was the son of Jacob and one among the 12 brothers.

The play, which will be enacted in Marathi, is a musical drama which showcases everything, including songs and dances. Performing for the last three years, the Faith theatre group has previously performed plays on Passion of Christ and the character Noah. The group includes about 40 members varying across all ages.

TGS LIFE

DECEMBER 5, 2015 PUNE

STAGE Nicolette is looking forward to connecting with the Pune audience all over again and this time around she will be upfront on stage, with an acoustic guitar around her neck in addition to a microphone, as she presents a mix of covers and originals. “I believe in doing my own rendition of any cover,” she said. She will be accompanied by just a drummer for the ‘Spirited Saturdays’ event.

Nicolette lists among her influences the late prodigious Amy Winehouse, rock icon Janis Joplin, and bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers and Rage Against The Machine. You are sure to be treated to Nicolette’s take on music by these artists. More importantly, you get to see and hear her perform her own original music.

Where: The Beer Café, G 102, ground floor, Kapila Matrix, Koregaon Park When: December 5, 9 pm onwards

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TGS LIFE

DECEMBER 5, 2015 PUNE

FEATURES

‘Time, tide and two-wheelers wait for no one’ That’s what Abish Mathew has to say for Pune and its vehicle of choice. Catch him at the NH7 weekender after-party

By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM

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f you’re heading to watch stand-up comedian, actor and musician Abish Mathew take on the stage with his tonguein-cheek humour and visual gags, don’t be confused. Ahead of his performance at the NH7 Weekender after-party, Abish isn’t quite ready to clear the confusion but he does talk about his father being the funniest man, idea of marriage and more.

Beginning with his brief escapades in the city, we asked him what’s the funniest thing that he has heard about Pune and pat comes the reply, “Time, tide and two-wheelers wait for no one”.

For the man who makes the entire world laugh, Abish’s father is his biggest muse. He says that the moment his father holds a drink in his hand, he becomes the funniest man in the world and cracks him up like none other. “I’ve been granted the gift of being vertically challenged. You can only imagine how my childhood must have been.”

While many of Abish’s jokes touch the subject of marriage and sex, now that he is going to tie the knot soon, we asked him how he sees his own jokes turning out in real life. “I would not like to call it marriage, rather ‘intensive research contract for life’. But so far, it’s been amazing and there is no comedy without tragedy. But I know it’s ‘coming soon’.”

He has had an impressive history of pun-liners, but Abish really looks forward to performing the anecdotal style of comedy. Something that’s going to be a natural evolution for him, he says. Thanks to his wise cracks, Abish has been surrounded by controversies several times but he has his own way of dealing with them. “Whenever I feel a little discomfort among the audience, I immediately move ahead with the next joke. There have been times when I was shocked to see some people react slightly differently from what I expected but the trick is to just carry on and change their mood with something lighter and absolutely different.”

With stand-up comedy and comedians gaining a huge momentum in the country, Abish says that being a comedian has its own set of responsibilities.

“The first and foremost responsibility is to make the audience laugh, talking about socially relevant issues and making people more aware about things is like the icing on the cake.”

Audiences have said that All India Bakchod’s (AIB) television show is a lot on the lines of John Oliver’s ‘Last Week Tonight’. But rubbishing it all, Abish says, “The AIB guys are probably the only comedians I know who can pull off a show like that. There are all sorts of reviews when a new show goes on air. So, there’s nothing to be bogged down about.”

Where: Classic Rock Coffee Co, Kalyani Nagar When: December 6, 10.30 pm onward

I would not like to call it marriage, rather ‘intensive research contract for life’

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TGS LIFE

DECEMBER 5, 2015 PUNE

FEATURES

LOOK OUT FOR Lagori: Putting together Rock, Funk, Pop and Indian Classical music, the five piece band is known for adding their own style and creating rich and catchy music Ustad: Composer Vishal Dadlani curates Sufi music by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan as a tribute to the music maestro Soulmate: Guitarist Rudy Wallang and vocalist Tipriti Kharbangar from Shillong bring to stage Soulful Blues music, in collaboration with other musicians The 3 Stylers: Bringing in something different to the festival, this group from Mumbai includes DJ Uri on drum machines and turntables, Ryan Sadri on the saxophone and Karan Joseph on the keyboards

Let the music mania continue

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

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he much-awaited NH7 Weekender has already begun. While the fi rst day saw a very talented and diverse lineup, today and tomorrow look even more promising. Some artists will be performing on this stage for the fi rst time but there are others who are well aware of the opportunities that the stage offers. Meet three fi rst-timers who promise to bring a different kind of energy to stage. Be it thrilling electric music, soulful renditions or infectious fusions, you’re definitely in for a joy ride.

A soulful twist With the perfect boy-next-door look, Hriday Gattani is all set to steal hearts. The singer-songwriter from Mumbai has already found his space in the world of playback singing and performing live shows with his band is next on the agenda. “We were lucky to get a chance to perform at NH7 Delhi and are thrilled for the Pune gig. It is a great platform to get noticed. The exposure and opportunity for future collaborations is great. In fact, the weekender even provides a learning opportunity from geniuses like A R Rahman,” the 24-year-old says. Check out his act for some soulful ballad-like music. The rhythmic guitars and various stylisations of different songs is sure to surprise you. Indie fans cannot miss this.

When: December 6, 7.10 pm Where: Jack & Jones All Star Jamm, Mahalaxmi Lawns, Magarpatta

Blending music genres together

It was only after six months of gruelling practice sessions that Arka took to the stage. The yearold band brings together the best of Jazz, Pop, Rock, Fusion and Indian Classical music, to give you a one of a kind experience. Band members Selvaganesh, Karthik, Ravichandra Kulur, Mishko M’Ba, Santhosh Chandran a n d Gino Banks are all masters o f their own genres. Working on songs and compositions together, the team has put together well structured fusion music.

“Our style is very different and is almost like a new genre itself. The music has a powerful energy and is extremely vibrant.

The weekender is a platform to show what we can do to a different kind of audience.

The festival takes artists like us and our music to a whole new level,” says Selvaganesh. The band will be playing songs from their new album, And A Half. All the songs define their new approach towards music.

When: December 5, 4.20 pm Where: The Dewarists, Mahalaxmi Lawns, Magarpatta

The five-year-old Indie music fest has created quite a stir around the country.

As it returns to its birthplace, here’s a look at the new artists joining the bandwagon this year

At the after party Not only is she one among the few female DJs to have performed throughout the city, she is undoubtedly one of the best. With style, charisma and elegance jam packed in this young diva, we are almost certain of her bright future.

Playing professionally for about six years now, Ishani Majumdar will get you grooving on the dance floor this weekend at the NH7 Weekender After Party.

Otherwise a shy person, Ishani is at her best when she’s behind the console. “I could not be more excited about having got this opportunity.

Considering that the rest of the acts are mostly from the Electronic genre, this is a huge boost to Hip-Hop,” she says. Ishani will make you tap your feet and sway to a mix of old school, funk, 90s and new school hip-hop music.

When: December 5, 10.30pm Where: Euriska, Koregaon Park salonee.mistry@ goldensparrow.com

TEJAS GAIKWAD

TGS LIFE

DECEMBER 5, 2015 PUNE

INDULGE

BRUSCHETTA CLASSICA Ingredients 120 gm Chopped tomatoes 2 Chopped onions A handful Celery 5-6 pods Garlic A handful Basil 2 tbsp Extra virgin oil To taste Salt & pepper To taste Oregano

One portion French loaf Method: In a bowl, mix together chopped tomatoes, onions, celery and basil. Season with olive oil, salt, oregano and pepper and keep aside. Cut equal slices of the French loaf and lightly toast them.

Put the mixture as the topping and sprinkle a little parsley and serve fresh.

SPINACH AND CHEESE PIZZA Ingredients 1 Thin crust pizza base 3 tbsp Pizza dressing (Buy readymade) 3-4 cubes Cheddar cheese 1 packet Rocket leaves 2 tsp Fresh cream 4 leaves shredded Spinach 1 tsp to drizzle Parmesan cheese 2 tsp Extra virgin olive oil

Method: Preheat the oven at 180 degree. Place the pizza base and smear with pizza dressing evenly.

In a bowl, mix cream and spinach leaves to make creamy spinach.

Spread cheddar and creamy spinach evenly over the base. Bake the pizza for 20 minutes. Serve hot with a topping of fresh rocket leaves and parmesan. Drizzle extra virgin olive oil to get the perfect flavour.

BAKLAVA Ingredients 250gm sugar 250ml water 50 ml honey 2 nos cinnamon sticks 7 nos phyllo pastry sheets (available at gourmet shops) 350gm assorted nuts (almonds, pistachio and cashew nuts) 200ml melted ghee 2 tsp rose water

a phyllo sheet and smear it with ghee. Place chopped nuts on the sheet and place another sheet on top. Repeat the same procedure.

Put it to bake in a convection oven for 12 minutes at a temperature of 180 degree. When the sheets are golden brown, remove from the oven. Make a syrup using sugar, water, honey and rose water and dip in the cinnamon sticks. Once the syrup is thick, pour it on the sheets and bake for 5 minutes so that the syrup soaks into the sheets.

Method: Finely chop the assorted nuts. In a flat baking tray, spread

HOST THE PERFECT

Year-end festivities are around the corner and a balmy Sunday afternoon is just the right time to lay tables, dish out a hearty meal and sit back with your friends and family over a glass of wine

BRUNCH

By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM

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brunch party at home seems like a good idea but the daunting task of putting together the menu, spending hours in the kitchen preparing dishes and finally cleaning up the house often brings the mood down. To make things easier, we bring you some quick, easy yet totally delectable recipes from the kitchens of three popular chefs in the city. Also, watch out for some tips to help you play the perfect host.

Chef Dario Dezio, Dezio, Kalyani Nagar To start with, think of a menu which is not too elaborate or time-consuming. It is always better to choose dishes that don’t need lastminute preparation so that you can enjoy your brunch with your guests rather than remain in a hot kitchen, toiling over the stove.

Everyone loves pastas, and lasagna is always a good choice, as it can be made in advance and kept in the refrigerator for a while.

Chef Sanjib Das, Tertullia, Koregaon Park One of the most important things to keep in mind as you start planning your brunch is to know the guests’ food and drinks preferences.

Setting up a buffet with each dish having a name card is a great way to work the spread.

Chef Mihir Kane, Evviva Sky Lounge, Courtyard By Marriott, City Centre Though it’s not necessary to have a huge menu, you can select dishes from different cuisines to create a nice blend. heena.grover@goldensparrow.com

JUSHILA MURGH TIKKA Ingredients 1 kg chicken leg boneless, cut into pieces 1/4 cup hung curd 3 tsp ginger garlic paste 50 ml mustard oil 2 1/2 tsp salt 1tsp black salt 3tsp roasted kasoori methi 1/2 tsp red chilli powder 1 tsp degghi mirch powder 1 tbsp cumin powder 30ml butter Method: Dry the cut chicken using a cloth, marinate with ginger garlic paste and keep aside. Then heat mustard oil and add all dry spices, mix well. Add hung curd and mix again. Now add the chicken. Make sure to coat all sides of the chicken and marinate for 45 minutes. Put on skewers and grill in the oven for about 20 to 25 minutes at 180 degree. Baste with butter and serve hot with mint chutney.

GOAT CHEESE SALAD Ingredients 2 Oven roasted beetroots, diced 2 oranges peeled and sliced One packet Rocket leaves 3 tsp Goat cheese 1 tsp Roasted pine nuts 1 tsp Fresh lime juice 2 tsp Extra virgin olive oil To taste Salt & Pepper Method In a bowl mix rocket leaves with olive oil. And in another small bowl make a dressing of olive oil, lime juice, salt and pepper. Now neatly place the rocket leaves on an oval salad plate. Add beetroot, orange segments, goat cheese on the bed of leaves and drizzle the dressing. Top with roasted pine nuts and serve fresh to avoid wilting of the rocket leaves.

Decorate your house with an artistic charm by adding a touch of mosaic work to it. Here is where you will get the quirky bottle lamp, decorative mirrors, fancy wall hanging and so much more

DECEMBER 5, 2015 PUNE

FEATURES

RAHUL RAUT

VISHAL KALE

CREATE A MOSAIC OF MEMORIES

TGS LIFE

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

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here are a handful of people who create art by piecing together unevenly cut shapes of glass and tiles. Reviving this old tradition of mosaic art, there are only a few people have taken the efforts to research and actually find a place where they can learn it. There are however a fewer number of people who pursue this art form commercially, making it available to the rest of the city. In an attempt to source such mosaic artists who are good at what they do, we found two studios and three artists. Apart from pursuing it commercially they are also willing to share the art form with anyone who wishes to learn. Be it the name plate on your door, your coasters, wall hangings, lamps and anything that you might use to decorate your house or office can now be beautified with the help of mosaic art.

BAARISH Having a Bachelors of Arts and textile designing degree Varsha Porwal’s creative mind was always keen on learning something new. Coming across a workshop that was being conducted by Studio 7 in Pune, she immediately enrolled and jumped at the opportunity. Once she enrolled in the class she was immediately hooked on and then could not stop. “Initially I did just a few mosaic art work for my friends and family. Some of it was even for my own house. It was only after a while when I realized that I was completely hooked onto it that I decided to pursue it as a career option,” tells us Varsha. She has been running Baarish for a year and half now and the response and orders have been steadily increasing. Due to the lack of awareness of the availability of such art the orders were extremely restricted. Using flea markets and social media platforms to promote her work, she has managed to get quite an overwhelming response for the art form.

For this 42 year old the more difficult the object to be covered in mosaic work, the more fun she has. She has done mosaic work on

that they would get exactly what they want,” says Durga. Both of them through their art studio have till date taught about 200 students. The workshop space that they currently use in Karve Nagar is full of interesting artefacts that they have created with mosaic work. They hope to in the near future shift to a bigger

everything from mirrors to key holders, coasters, boots and will also be working on a guitar soon.

“Most of the orders are customized and this makes my work much easier. If I know exactly what the customer wants the design and colour scheme becomes an easier task. Otherwise I generally use colour schemes and designs that I think I would like to see in my house,” she says. Most of the tools that she uses are imported from the US as they are not available in India. She does everything herself from cutting the glass to piecing it and packaging it. Her husband Abhishek Porwal, helps her in the business. He does the management work of the business, while Varsha concentrates on the art. She also believes that being an interior designer helps her get a better idea of the colour schemes and objects that she can work on. Her inspiration when she is working on something new is generally the environment and scenery she sees around her workshop. She works from a small but peaceful and cozy space on the balcony in her house at Wadgaon Sheri.

Get in touch: 9833377031 salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

RAHUL RAUT

STUDIO 7 Two art lovers Durga Tilak and Mitalee Joshi got together five years ago to set up a business venture that would constantly keep their creative minds occupied. Both the artists are self-taught and it has only been research and trial and error that has made them successful today. “Comapred to when we began, the demand for products has grown considerably. It is via social media and exhibitions that our work gets promoted. However most of the marketing is through word of mouth. Th is mot only speaks of the quality of our product but also ensures our next customer

space where people can come to work. Spreading the word of art and awareness of mosaic is the bigger goal of the duo.

“Durga and I met at a water-colours painting class and we got talking about how to take our love for art ahead. We also create mosaic using tiles, which is a little different from glass but almost gives the same effects. Lighting elements to add to the charm of your house is something that sells easy. Not only does it look classy, it is also extremely artistic. We generally do the mosaic work on only surface,” adds Mitalee. Corporator Madhuri Sahastrabudhe had a while ago had seeked help from the pair to create a mosaic wall on BMCC road known, popularly known as Mosaic Katta. While Durga quit her advertising job to pursue her passion, Mitalee, a homeopathy doctor is now a full-time artist too.

Get in touch: 9373007373

TGS LIFE

They could’ve lived a luxurious life, in the shadow of their super successful husbands, but these fabulous businesswomen took on the challenge to prove their worth and establish their own identity

DECEMBER 5, 2015 PUNE

FEATURES

Meet the power women of Pune

By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM

T

hey may belong to the rich and influential families of the city but with their individual interests, in fashion, dance, architecture, and bakery, they’ve created their own successful space. Their undying passion, hard work and dedication have only helped them make it big.

RASIKA WAKALKAR, OWNER, STUDIO RUDRAKSH It was while she was pursuing a degree in French Literature at Fergusson College that Rasika met her future husband Chetan Wakalkar, now the director of Indira Group of Institutes. A few meetings later he proposed to Rasika and they got married. She completed her education after marriage and joined her husband as his deputy. But along the way, she felt an urge to start something of her own.

After a lot of contemplation, Rasika came up with the idea to start a designer concept store which would bring together creations of major fashion designers under one roof, something that Pune had not seen before. Seven years ago, she opened Studio Rudraksh in Aundh. “I loved wearing stylish clothes and accessories and there wasn’t a single outlet in Pune where I could find my kind of clothes because of which I had to often travel to Mumbai or Delhi.

Initially when I started Rudraksh, it was difficult to convince customers as they didn’t know what designer clothes were

and why certain clothes were priced high. Now, we are one of the most sought after brands in the city.”

Rasika’s husband has played a significant role in her success. “He is the kind of partner every woman must have.

Most of the men in our society have this notion that home

MEGHANA SABADE, FOUNDER, NRITYAYATRI ART MOVEMENT FOUNDATION Born and brought up in Pune, Meghana Sabade started learning Bharatnatyam at the age of five. She trained under eminent guru Manik Ambike for 15 years besides teaching and performing the classical dance form on stage. She did her post-diploma in Bharatnatyam when her sons started going to school and has been teaching the dance form for over a decade now. In 2011, Meghana started her non-profit art foundation with the aim to provide knowledge beyond classrooms. The foundation is a one-of-its kind concept in Pune, inspired by the Kalakshetra Foundation in Chennai.

It was her husband, Manish Sabade, CMD of Guardian Developers, who pushed Meghana to think ahead and do something beyond just teaching dance and establish her own foundation.“My husband has been instrumental in driving me towards my goals. Since we knew each other from before marriage, he was aware about my passion for dance. But after getting married, even though I taught many students, my family and children were my biggest priority. Even in his business, my husband likes to do things with a bigger perspective, so he suggested that I think of an idea that would reach a bigger audience and through which students could gain more. After researching for around three years, I started Nrityayatri.”

The foundation invites prominent artistes from various art fields to hold workshops for these students in order to help them build careers in their respective fields.

suffers when a woman sets out to work. Most of them may not be vocal about it but they ideally want their wives to stay home, cook for them and look after the children. I have three children but he supported me whole-heartedly to follow my passion and realise my dreams.”

TANVI KULKARNI, MANAGING DIRECTOR, DSK GREEN ICE GAMES As a young girl, it was her dream to build a farm house where she could live along with her animals. Every time she would see a stray dog or cat, she would stop by to feed them or bring them back home with her. Her love for animals drove Tanvi Kulkarni to pursue a course in veterinary science in New Zealand and almost as soon as she came back to India after finishing her studies, she got married to her college sweet heart, Shirish Kulkarni, chairman of DSK Motowheels in 2009.

“My in-laws are the most amazing and down-to-earth people in the world. It was nothing more than shifting from one house to another for me. Business was already in my blood, as my father and even grandmother ran a business. Shirish and my father-in-law suggested that I look after our own business.”

Since Tanvi had a keen interest in education, she got involved in the operation of DSK International Campus along with the game development division of DSK Studios.

Tanvi strongly believes that if there’s anything that could bring about a change in society, it can only be through education. “By education, I don’t mean blindly following text books but thinking out of the box and adding value to what you learn and making the right use of it in life is what needs to be encouraged in our education system.”

Besides, she is also the chairperson of People for Animals Pune and is actively involved in a lot of animal rescue and it’s

her dream to start one of the largest animal homes in India. She loves to travel and often takes her three-year-old son on work tours across the world, something, she says, gives her the time to bond better with her son.

ALPANA AND INT

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Born with a creative streak, Namrata Kriplani was always inclined towards art. She studied advertising and worked with many corporate companies only to realise that it was not her real calling. She started her own studio and conducted exhibitions before finally tying the knot.

Meanwhile, baking was also something that she loved doing in her free time. So she decided to start making cakes for her friends and family. For many years, she would prepare cakes on special occasions. Through word of mouth, her creations became popular among her circle of people which eventually led to her opening an exclusive bakery, Forennte, in Koregaon Park six years ago.

Without any prior training in baking, Namrata became one of the first bakers in the city to make 3D cakes, something she says came to her naturally. “I would just spend hours in the kitchen trying to make a recipe over 20 times until it turned out perfectly. Being an artist, it was a natural transition for me as I always loved playing with colours. So now, along with colours and interesting techniques, I added the taste element into my creations and everyone started calling my creations Namrata cakes. But eventually you need to have a proper brand in place and that’s how Forennte came into being.”

Namrata shuffles between Pune and Mumbai since her husband is a senior vice president with an investment firm in Mumbai. She says that although she has received moral support from her husband in doing what she wanted in life, she has never been dependent on him for financial support. “Ever since I was in college, I would earn my own pocket money. I have always been an independent woman and believed in doing things on my own.

Even when I was planning to build Forennte, I took a loan instead of asking my husband or family to chip in.”

Namrata is currently working on expanding the brand by starting an exclusive studio called Muse on the upper floor of the café where art lovers could get involved in interesting activities. A hub of all sort of people, who have a keen interest in all things creative.

PICS BY RAHUL RAUT AND VISHAL KALE

NAMRATA KRIPLANI, OWNER, FORENNTE

TGS LIFE DECEMBER 5, 2015 PUNE

FEATURES

“I would just spend hours in the kitchen trying to make a recipe over 20 times until it turned out perfectly”

A KIRLOSKAR, ARCHITECT TERIOR DESIGNER

brought up in Delhi, Alpana hails from a business family that is into on. She always looked up to her father Sushil Ansal, who suggested ke up architecture. As the final year at the College of Planning and re, Delhi was winding down, Alpana met Rahul Kirloskar at a party eir third meeting, he proposed to her. The two were married after ished her graduation and she Pune, into one of the largest business families in the city. a continued working on some ith her father but after her were born, it was not easy to tween cities. After a gap of she decided to get back to 005. “At the same time came opportunity to re-design y bungalow, Lakaki, which an ambitious task as the old needed to be pulled down amily was growing. It was a ct and I felt that it wouldn’t e without support, so I met alik, who is one of the most er architects in the country. with him was a great learning that helped me get back in

“One of the most beautiful things I’ve learned is how Maharashtrians respect their women and put them at par with men in every aspect”

has been no looking back for Alpana ever since, as she went on to start esign company and worked with some of the biggest brands in the or such as Vascon, Paranjape, Kakade, and so on. During a holiday e on the Amazon, Alpana met Markus Benz, owner of a premium urniture brand called Walter Knoll. The chance meeting turned into ndship, and Markus offered Alpana to represent his brand in India. e is an active member of the FICCI Ladies Organisation.

Pune, she loves the city. “One of the most beautiful things I’ve how Maharashtrians respect their women and put them at par with ery aspect, which unfortunately doesn’t happen in the part of the here I come from,” she points out.

VARSHA TALERA, FASHION DESIGNER AND CHAIRPERSON, FICCI LADIES ORGANISATION, PUNE She holds a post-graduate degree in business administration and has worked in a finance and stock brokerage company before tying the knot. Also, since her teenaged days, Varsha Talera was fascinated with fabrics and textures.

She would often design clothes for her family and friends. After getting married to Praful Talera, managing director of Dynamic Logistics, one of the biggest logistic solution providers in the city, Varsha joined the family business. But she was not entirely satisfied with what she was doing and decided to give fashion designing a shot.

With a desire to revive traditional weaves of the country and out of a dire need to create perfectly tailored clothes, Varsha decided to put together a small team of tailors and used her skills to create designer clothes for her sisters and friends. The plan eventually led to her fashion brand about eight years ago. “I remember going out to buy clothes for myself and never being satisfied with the fabric, texture, or fit. That’s when I thought why not try and source the best fabrics from across the country and get them stitched by expert crafts men. I got a wonderful response from my friends and slowly it went on to become my identity.”

With this, Varsha also wanted to do her bit for various artisans in the country.

“India has so much to offer when it comes to the rich heritage of fabric and, with my niche style, I wanted everyone from the

young, middle-aged and elderly to wear Indian fabrics and traditionally-designed clothes.”

Since her husband’s company has been a member of FICCI for the past 20 years, Varsha always thought that Pune also needs its own chapter of FICCI for women so that she could initiate work towards women empowerment.

“It was during one of my visits to Hyderabad that I met a friend who is now the chairperson of FICCI Ladies Organisation, Hyderabad, and told her about my inclination towards having a strong group of women in Pune to initiate skill-based programs for women working in the industrial sector and how we can give back to the community together. She asked me to write a mail to her with the agenda. The committee came to Pune where we I was supposed to bring nearly 70 women together to make a presentation on what we would like to do for the city. The meeting was arranged successfully and in January, this year, the Pune chapter of the organization came into being.”

With her designing studio and chairpersonship, Varsha has her hands full. So much so that she says that she hasn’t taken a break to watch a movie in over six months now. Throughout her journey of creating her name in the city, Varsha has never taken any monetary support from her husband and it is something she is immensely proud of.

TGS LIFE

DECEMBER 5, 2015 PUNE

THRILL OF DRIVING PICS BY VISHAL KALE

EXPECTATION IS THE MOTHER...

The DC Avanti is about as #makeinindia as we can get

By Tushar Burman @tburman

J

ust a couple of weeks ago, we rode the Mahindra Mojo and remarked about that motorcycle’s extended development cycle, and how it’s been seen in some or other form for years. The DC Avanti is a bit like that. If you have business between Pune and Mumbai, chances are that you’ve chanced upon the impossibly low and sleek Avanti and like many others, wondered what a camouflaged Lamborghini is doing on the Expressway.

The DC Avanti is no Lamborghini, though it’s ergonomic oddities might occasionally remind you of one.

It is, however, unique in every way. Indian-made, it’s a midengined sports car with a fibreglass body and a metal space frame.

You get two seats, a manual(!) transmission, air-conditioning, navigation and no rear view mirror.

There is very little in the way of electronic trickery. You don’t get traction control, power goes only to the rear wheels and there’s no computer to interpret your inputs and adjust engine parameters. It’s an elemental sports car, the sort you’d end up building once you have more time and money than you know what to do with. It feels stripped down and purposeful, and demonstrates performance when you punch the go pedal.

But that’s the thing: for almost Rs 35 lac ex-showroom, you expect more for your money. The DC Avanti feels a bit like a low-volume kit car. It’s certainly low volume, but there’s much about the finish that needn’t be the way it is. Interior materials look and feel cheap.

Rubber beadings are roughly stuck on, the fibreglass looks unfinished where it meets metal and darker parts of the paintwork don’t look quite as smooth as they should.

Choice of switchgear is also odd, 250bhp and 340Nm of torque. with DC opting to use flat buttons The 6-speed manual transmission to toggle the AC and the power gives you the sort of tactility that’s windows. But take a step back and missing from today’s digitally it’s impossible to miss. Or pass perfect automatic gearboxes. It’s without a second, third look. In not the best we’ve driven, but it’s this lurid sunset yellow colour, we okay. Once the turbo spools up, all had a hard time making room for you’ll hear in the cabin is the turbo our cameras to take clean shots; we whistle and a lot of whooshing. The were inundated with selfie-hunters. exhaust note is moderate in volume, So much so that we ultimately had but not particularly evocative. More to move to a more private location than one person remarked about it to finish the shoot. sounding like a Diesel engine. But That’s the other thing: you that doesn’t really matter while can’t buy a car that looks like the your in the driver’s seat, picking Avanti no matter how much money up speed with some alacrity. The you spend. It cuts a serpentine claimed gross weight of the Avanti figure with its contours, character is just 1580kg, but it feels heavier in lines and stance, while recalling motion, which may have something Italian sports cars in profi le. If to do with the huge 20” alloys shod you want a car that’s guaranteed with Pirelli P-Zero rubber that stay to attract attention, buy the DC stuck to the tarmac like an abusive Avanti and mission accomplished. relationship. The ABS-equipped However, if your golf buddies are disc brakes are also good, but with already driving imported exotics, a very light pedal action. save yourself the mockery.

Steering feel is heavy, but To be fair, DC has made an turning radius isn’t as bad as one effort to bring the Avanti up to would expect from a low, wide scratch. We just wish it was sports car. Ground clearance consistently applied. is a pleasant surprise, with Verdict In the driver seat, more than enough space + looks ,ground to negotiate the most your console is a clearance, price. single, large TFT Himalayan speed - interior, finish screen that displays bumps. And we’re instr umentation pleased to see that TGS rating digitally. It’s bright, this clearance doesn’t ;;`ZZ colourful and easy to impact the visual drama read. Not so much the of the car. air-conditioning controls, We want to like the DC which take a bit of guesswork and Avanti. It’s locally-made, offers a shading with your palm to read and package that’s impossible to buy set properly. The seats are sporty and at twice the price and looks like comfortable, looking and feeling a freaking space ship. But times the part. The footwell is abnormally are different, and customers have deep, and I’m not sure if the clutch exposure to international brands pedal even hits the fi rewall when that set the standard in product depressed fully. The drilled metal design and experience. If your expedals are in a comfortable position racer friend modified your family unlike some Italian sports cars we sedan to be a hard-edged sports could mention, but ergonomics are car or drag racer, you’d forgive all a bit weird. The steering column manner of inconsistencies because obstructs the right knee when of the bespoke, sporty nature of you’re moving your foot to the the vehicle. If you look at the DC brake, while the left knee hits the Avanti through the lens of a DIY hard centre console. Much of this enthusiast, it’s incredible: midannoyance melts away when you engine, turbo, manual, Lambo punch the throttle. looks. As a finished product that There’s adequate thrust from the costs about as much as a European 2.0-litre turbo V6 engine sourced luxury sedan, it has some way to go. from Renault, which generates tushar@goldensparrow.com

The Avanti driver’s console is one large TFT screen, showing virtual instrumentation. It would have been ideal for the navigational instructions to show here as well, but those are relegated to the Pioneer-sourced infotainment system

Headlights are projector-type Xenon units, and should be plenty bright. The Avanti website shows slightly different lamps, with a clear covers instead of these exposed units

Racing-style fuel filler cap is on the right. We wish they had opted for a brushed-metal look, however. Like most of the interior of the Avanti, this too is fibreglass

The interior is where the Avanti falls far short of its sticker price.

Fit, finish and quality is poor. Our test car had this faux piano black finish apart from the typical grey, which is a fingerprint and dust magnet and did the car no favours

Two-litre turbo V6 engine is sourced from Renault and dropped into the engine bay behind the cockpit. The result is lots of dramatic engine sounds, turbo whistles and exhaust notes, though those are a bit diesel-ish

The front of the car doesn’t really have any useful luggage space, so you’ll have to pack a couple of haversacks and put them in the passenger footwell, if you plan to go anywhere

TGS LIFE

DECEMBER 5, 2015 PUNE

FEATURES

Haat

in town

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

Craft lovers in Pune get a chance to witness a vibrant collection of art, crafts and textiles from all over India at the Dastkari Haat Crafts Festival

I

f you’ve been starving to witness the traditional culture expressed in Indian crafts, prepare for an opportunity to witness a collection of arts, crafts and textiles from all over the country and meet their makers.

Jaya Jaitly, the founder of Dilli Haat, is bringing ‘Dastkari Haat Festival’ an exhibition of regional crafts to Pune. Over a 100 craftsmen from different villages, towns and cities are here to present their handmade creations.

The exhibition will display the beauty of India’s best work around mediums like hand-crafted applications on metal, wood, clay, embroidered, woven textiles and traditional art.

Highlights of the festival include Madhubani Art products, Gond Art, bead jewellery, Kantha embroidery from West Bengal, ceramics and pottery from Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, mehendi art on papier mache from Uttar Pradesh and many more. The stalls put up by artist displaying their work, folk performers and eclectic set cuisines from Rajasthan, Gujarat and Punjab bring the festival alive. One of the folk artist Radha Chitrakar busy sketching mythological characters on a chart says, “This is the first time we are showcasing our traditional art from West Bengal ‘Patachitra’ in Pune. We make religious paintings that cover events from Indian mythology and Puranas. The

the family of snake handlers and women in our community are expert singers and dancers. This is our first time in Pune and we’re happy to see so many people enjoying our performance,” says Sharda Sapere, a dancer from the group.

What makes their performance appealing is their attire, which is made up of colourful beads and mirror work.

Another feature is the ‘Painting the Tiger’ where five carved wooden tigers from Kinnal in Karnataka, and five fibre glass tigers are being given a touch of art by contemporary artists from Pune and traditional artists Apindra Swain from Odisha, Dwarka Prasad Jangid from paintings are made on silk or cotton Rajasthan, Remant Mishra from Bihar and Rajesh Roy material. So far, we have received a very and Khadu Chitrakar from West Bengal. You can watcha g o o d response.” fabulous artistic tigers being created before your eyes and This festival has given many artists a chance take home the one you like. to showcase their talent. Artist Arun Kumar Bajaj f r o m Patiala has brought with him a number of portraits The Dastkari Haat Samiti is a not-for-profit association and paintings made using thread work. His artwork had so much of crafts people. The association works to increase detailing and intricate features that it looked no different from awareness and respect for traditional artisan skills. an oil painting. “I am a trained embroiderer and sketch artist, so The 29-year-old committee was founded by Jaya Jaitly, I combined my talents and I’ve been using thread work to make a social activist who has dedicated four decades of her paintings and portraits. My biggest achievement is my Lord life to crafts and innovating newer ways to sustain Krishna painting for which I used 27,53,000 metre of thread and craftsmen. The organisation contributes towards it took me three years to complete this creation. The painting got preservation of India’s invaluable cultural heritage. me into the Limca Book of Records an India Book of Records,” he When: Till December 6, 11 am to 8pm states.

Where: The Monalisa Kalagram, Koregaon Park Also don’t miss the Kalabeliya dance performance by Butte Khan and group from Jaipur. Coming from a community known as Sapere, they dance passionately to attract snakes. “We come from

A Bohemian Musician A short film by Rochak Sahu is winning big at international film festivals. Read on to find out all about the buzz

I

nspired by the heartwarming story and music of Keshavlal and his wife Sonibai Wagini, Rochak Sahu, with his three friends, made the short film A Bohemian Musician last year. The 12-minute short film is now winning awards and has been screened at several national and international film festivals.

Keshavlal has worked with legendary composers Laxmikant Pyarelal and filmmaker V Shantaram. Fate bought him to the streets of Pune where he lived with

his wife and together they played music to earn a livelihood. “The story is about the power of hope and optimism; one of the biggest assets of human life. The film portrays the strong bond between husband and wife which remains unchanged even in the most adverse situation,” says Rochak, who recently graduated from Film and Television Institute of India (FTII).

The film has been screened at 25 national and international festivals like Jaipur International Film Festival, International Indian Film

Rochak Sahu filming the musician Keshavlal and his wife Sonibai

Festival of Queensland, Austraila, International Young Film Fest of Palestine, Novella International Film Festival, USA, and so on. It has won 14 awards at the festivals in the best short film category, including

the recent one at The FirstCut 2015 Festival, Woodpecker Film Festival, Delhi, and at Shaan-eAwadh International Film Festival, Lucknow. “The film was a college project and we were given the liberty

to choose a topic. I was looking for a subject and I heard of this artist and his wife who were abandoned by their children, living on the street and playing harmonium for survival.

After meeting them, I realised that there was so much more about them like their humble nature, strong bond of love between them and they were content. He was the best person for my film,” he says.

Rochak then spent a few days persuading him to shoot a documentary. The assignment, funded by FTII, turned out be a success for the young filmmaker.

“We spent a few days with them to get a closer look. His story and his personality appealed to us. It was not just about an artist playing harmonium on the streets. The first half of the film is about his conditions now and he has no complaints, the second half talks about the bond the couple share,” he adds.

TGS LIFE

DECEMBER 5, 2015 PUNE

FEATURES

Journeys

of literature and art Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

G

yaan Adab brings together all forms of creative expressions through Journeys, a festival to celebrate all forms of art, including dance, drama, music, readings, tales of unusual travellers, and photography.

The festival will feature talks, readings, workshops and interactive sessions that will be brought alive by award-winning and well-known authors. They will host exhibitions by an eclectic range of artists, photographers and travellers who have crisscrossed the country on bikes and on foot, music performances by rock and sufi bands and theatre, mime and dance pieces. “I have always been passionate about the

Journeys, a festival of arts, is bringing together an exciting variety of creative talent and artistic forms from across the country

idea that all forms of art come alive and become meaningful when they are shared.

Since we, as a centre, have been promoting various art forms and creative people, we thought it would be a great idea if we could showcase these forms in our space, intensely over three days, in order to entertain and inspire the people of Pune,” says Randhir Khare, director of Gyaan Adab.

The theme of the festival is inspired by the fact that in only two years the cultural centre has journeyed through nearly 200 events. “We enjoy our journey by celebrating the journeys of emerging and established artists, writers and creative people from around our country. This is our gift to the people of Pune — a festival of the arts — that is complimentary and celebrates journeys,” he adds.

Painting

Meet the railway conductor turned artist Bijay Biswal is Travelling Ticket Examiner with the Nagpur Railways but what sets him apart is his unbridled passion for painting. He turns the routine backdrop of his life, trains, platforms and people rushing to board trains into beautiful acrylic paintings. He is the only Indian cartoonist to hold a diploma from Bulgaria, for his cartoon on climate change. He has participated in paintings exhibitions all over India and in Russia, Indonesia, Kuwait and Washington DC. “I discovered my passion for arts when I was just three years old. In those days, we didn’t have crayons or sketch pens.

So I used to steal charcoal from my mother’s home made tooth powder and sketch all over the walls of my house. I gathered colourful chalks and drew on the floor. In 1995, I came across acrylic and stuck to it. I am very comfortable with this medium as it dries faster,” he says.

Rain and wet surfaces fascinate him and inspire Bijay’s artwork. His focus lies in outdoor landscapes and objects. His work depict scenes of Indian cites, people, buildings, and his favourite, people running around at the railway station on a rainy day. “Water bodies have fascinated me since childhood. I like to paint a wet and soggy platform, and people finding their way out. I’m amused to see how things are reflected by wet surfaces and I find beauty in that,” he adds. He prefers to work as a TTE because it encourages his creative process. His job takes him to the most wonderful

places and allows him the luxury of exploring the creative medium.

“I don’t have any complaints. Being a ticket inspector takes me to various places around the country. I see wonderful creations of nature that inspires my artwork,” he says.

At the festival, he will exhibit his paintings that portray railway stations around India.

Poetry

Play with words

she says.

She was shortlisted for the Random Join Pervin Saket as she explores the journey House India Writers Bloc Award 2013. of a poet. She will bring together the internal Her poems have also been featured in The and external landscapes with a play of words, Binnacle, University of Maine. Her novel providing you with the images of rough Urmila will be launched soon. “It is inspired terrains and the sea. Pervin Saket is the by the loneliness of a forgotten wife from the author of a collection of poems Ramayana but it is set in titled A Tinge of Turmeric, Mumbai in the 21st century. and of a novel Urmila. Her It explores a woman’s fascination with words began quest for love, rekindling with the stories and poems questions of desire and she heard at school. She soon devotion in modern day fell in love with the movement India,” she says. and rhythm of words and She will give an insight their playfulness. “I would to the workings of a poet, she read a line from a poem will delve into memories, and play it back in my mind share photographs and - PERVIN SAKET again and again, enjoying anecdotes, read from the the possibilities that the line masters, introduce her opened up. William Blake’s muse, and interact with the The Tyger for instance, has the same verse at audience. “It will be a behind-the-scenes look the start and at the end of the poem, and this at the workings of a poet. Those who engage changes the tone of the poem entirely. I was with poetry, whether as readers or writers, fortunate enough to have fabulous teachers might enjoy a perspective from the other side who encouraged my relationship with words,” of the page,” she adds.

“It will be a behind-thescenes look at the workings of a poet”

TGS LIFE

Never say never

This is a fusion rock band with a difference. The band is not just a blend of two instruments, but also two cultures from opposite corners of the world. This two-piece band comprises of guitarist Vinay Kaushal and flutist Gandhaar Amin.

The band was formed in 2007, when Vinay found out about the flute player in his class. Soon, they started discussing music and found out that they shared a similar taste in music. “We jammed together, and in less than a month we made a song ‘Wounded’, which till date I find that the best we have composed so far,” says Vinay.

Their influences range from Jethro Tull, Ian Anderson and Pink Floyd, covering the genres of Jazz, Blues and Funk. Vinay learned the guitar in school and went to US for further studies. Whereas Gandhaar has grown up in a family of musicians, he started learning classical music on the bamboo flute at the age of five. The two realised that their musical bond was going somewhere and thus Empty Café was born. “Ours is an instrumental band and every song opens with a symphony of guitar and flute. We heard the song ‘The Empty Café’ by Jethro Tull and instantly felt a connection. Hence, we decided to make it our band’s name,” Vinay says.

The band is striving to create a vibe with music enthusiasts and wants to create a new image for fusion music. They believe in composing a sound that is different, yet relatable. “We want to compose our own music and write original songs. Initially, people didn’t take us seriously, because we are a fusion band and do not belong to any particular genre but now things are changing,” Vinay says.

At Journeys, they will be accompanied by percussionist Shreyas Iyengar and bassist Among Jamir, and they promise to take you through an unforgettable musical adventure.

FEATURES “This is not just about weight loss, it’s about facing the rejection from society and the humiliation you face” - Diya Sethi

Motivation

Music

The Empty Café takes you to a musical adventure

In 2002, Diya Sethi went from being an anorexic bulimic to becoming a chef. This is her story.

Diya was born in New York City in 1974 into what may be described as a cocoon, adored and nurtured by doting parents. She was on the run from a child who had stumbled out of her cocoon and into a world where she had been cruelly rejected and ridiculed. She found solace in addiction, primarily an addiction known as anorexiabulimia. “I challenged the conventions of the rehabs that made me follow a strict diet. I wanted to break away and come face to face with food. I decided to fight my fear, and enrolled for a cooking course,” she says.

It was during this time that she discovered her passion for food. She fought back to come out from being an anorexic bulimic to being a normal person. “This is not just about weight loss, it’s about facing the rejection from society and the humiliation you face. To overcome this I started taking to alcohol and drugs. I realised I was sick and asked for help. Cooking helped me develop a new relationship with food, through sensations, and helped me overcome my addiction,” she says.

So witness a moderated conversation with Diya about her courageous book with readings by the author.

She will share her journey from Bulimia to Le Cordon Bleu chef.

DECEMBER 5, 2015 PUNE

Travel and music shake hands Travelling is an integral part of Majid Aziz’s life.

He has wandered in the busiest cities of the world and at the same time walked in the remotest villages of India; tasted food in all shapes and sizes from cafes and five-star hotels as well as from shady joints and thelas. Travelling has taught him the simplest and the toughest lessons of life. He looks for music in all his journeys and uses it as a bridge to travel back in his thoughts and mind long after the journey is over. “I will be playing a musical piece inspired by my travel experiences. The idea is to bring the European culture of busking to India but not for money, of course,” he says.

He is a solo musician who plays Indian, Jazz and Spanish genres. He simply goes about playing solo using live looping that sounds like -MAJID AZIZ a bunch of musicians playing together. “I play instrumental, just like a busker plays on the street. I will ask the audience to participate too,” he adds.

When: Till December 6, From 10 am to 9 pm Where: Gyaan Adab, Kalyani Nagar zainab.kantawala@goldensparow.com

Travel

“I play instrumental, just like a busker plays on the street.

I will ask the audience to participate too”

SP

TGS LIFE

DECEMBER 5, 2015 PUNE

SHOPPING

Vibrant wardrobe This clutch in colour blocking technique gives you the freedom of pairing it with different attires. The silk material is giving the clutch its raw look, which will look good with the paired outfit.

Price: Rs 890 Where: Fabindia

By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM

T

his time, have no agenda or a wish list in mind as you step out to shop. Pick what you think your wardrobe needs the most whether it’s a new pair of jhumkas or a silk saree for your friend’s wedding.

It’s good to splurge for no reason sometimes…

Collared nature print dress

Sleek and stylish, this dress is another wardrobe must-have.

Whether a party or a dinner date, look your stylish best in this delicately tailored dress with pretty deep green palette.

Price: 2,295 Where: Vero Moda

Hot pink gilet

This gorgeous raw silk gilet designed by Nachiket Barve will instantly pep up your look. Take a cue from the look and wear it over a black one-piece outfit.

Price: Rs 3,410 Where: Studio Rudraksh, Aundh

Broad bangles

This asymmetrical neckline, dhoti style jumpsuit with slits on the sides is your ultimate show-stopper outfit for special do’s. Team it up with chandelier earrings and colourful mojaris for a fusion look.

Price: 2,799 Where: Global Desi

Anarkali suit set

Clutch bag

Your new closet essentials made easy

Cornflower jumpsuit

14

This attractive designer bangle can be worn at weddings and parties. The easy to wear locking option makes it perfect for broader hands.

Price: Rs 450 Where: Beeline, Kalpataru Sudha Kalash, Pimple Nilakh

Get this unique solid silk suit set and flaunt yourself in family get-togethers.

Pait it with ethnic danglings for the perfect desi look.

Price: Rs 4,599 Where: Biba

Orange kurti

Stand out from the rest of the crowd wearing this orange kurta made of silk blend. Featuring regular fit, this kurta will look perfect when paired with a black churidar.

Price: 1,799 Where: Trishaa, Pantaloons

Tussar sari This sari comes with a beautiful pallu and beautifully hand block printed motif that accentuates the look. A musthave for your wardrobe.

Price: Rs 6,990 Where: Fabindia

Fringe necklace

The layers of tiny aqua and silver crystals on gold strings with a playful fringe make this a showstopper necklace. The perfect finishing touch to absolutely any look.

Price: Rs 1,265 Where: Studio Rudraksh, Aundh

Fashion earring

This pretty pair of traditional earring goes best with suits and sarees. Pair them with kurta of a solid hue to give your look that extra ethnic punch.

Price: Rs 575 Where: Chandukaka Saraf & Sons, Raviwar Peth

Printed flounce dress

This black and yellow dress is perfect for an evening do. Pair it up with boots and you are ready to rock the party.

Price: Rs 3,990 Where: Zara

Printed silk sari

This stunning half-and-half saree in combination of yellow and magenta is an ideal pick for day events.

Look your vibrant best by teaming it up with lightweight chunky jewellery.

Price: Rs 660 Where: Rangmanch, Pantaloons

A balanced diet is essential

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

HER FITNESS MANTRA Being a foodie, the most difficult part of losing weight or even staying fit, for that matter, are the restrictions on food. Managing between her work schedule, which isn’t quite fi xed, and taking care of her home, Shikha focuses on getting in as much exercise she can in between.

“I walked everywhere I could and even bought a cycle for myself. I love the occasional cake and cheesy stuff but I always remember to find a way to compensate it with the other meals of my day.

Balancing your diet is essential,” she stresses.

Whenever she feels like cheating on her diet with some high calorie food she ensures that the next day’s work-out is more intense and fatburning than the rest of the days. Even though one might not have ample time to work out, things like climbing the staircase, walking to as many places as possible and being involved in chores that keep you on your feet are great ways to burn the unnecessary calories, she believes. A beautician, for the past two years, her profession too does a lot to keep her constantly on her feet.

DECEMBER 5, 2015 PUNE

FEATURES RAHUL RAUT

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hile in school and college Pune girl Shikha Sharma was always inclined towards sports. One would always spot her on the ground or in the court playing one game or the other. Be it basketball, hockey, shot-put, relay races or throw ball, she tried her hand and excelled in almost all games. Having said this, it was a given that she would be extremely fit. Once she graduated and started working as an HR manager with a private firm, all the weight she managed to keep away caught up with her. It was not until about five months ago that she finally decided to hit the tracks and get back to her old self.

Her dedication and commitment to getting fit once again allowed her to lose 12 kilos in just four months. “I knew I was treading on a difficult path, but I honestly feel that once you’ve made up your mind, the end goal is not too far. A strict diet, regular exercise and running, not only kept me healthy but also allowed me to shed the extra kilos. There was absolutely no crash diet or crazy gym hours involved and this made the process fun too,” the 29-year-old tells us.

CHALKING OUT A DAILY ROUTINE With no strenuous hours in the gym or crash diets, Shikha still manages to stay fit and healthy. More than willing to help those looking to get fitter, she shares her diet and exercise routine:

TGS LIFE

MORNING Starting my day at about 7 am, I have a date or banana for energy, and head out for my exercise class. The class consists of 40 minutes of cardio and 40 minutes of matt exercises. The cardio routine has absolutely no machines and includes only aerobics and kick-boxing. The matt exercises have stretching, dumbles, yoga and abs exercises. For me running is about building my stamina and being able to cover longer distances every few days. Once I am back, having breakfast at 9 am is mandatory.

Th is usually includes things like pancakes or upma made from oats or poha, along with green tea. Once again, at 11:30 am I have a glass of milk or a few fruits, to ensure that I am not hungry. If, for any reason, I miss my class, I generally try to squeeze in a run in another part of the day or exercise at home.

CHAHAT DALAL Weight: 68kg Height: 5 feet, 6 inches

EXPERT SPEAK Atul Kurpe, Director, Focus Five Fitness Club

If you managed to reduced 12 kgs in 4 months it shows that you did everything right. Here are some things that will help you maintain your fat and lean ratio.For maintaining muscle mass, strength & stronger bones,you must do some challenging strength training atleast thrice a week A good quality & quantity of proteinpre and post workout and fat (flexid oil) should be an essential component in your diet.

Expert rating: 8/10

Staying in a 10-storey building, I climb up and down twice, adding lunges and squats along the way. Sometimes I even have ankle weights on. Apart from this, I have a bench press at home and use the thera-band as well for some strength exercises.

AFTERNOON-EVENING Lunch is generally a light affair with a tomato and cucumber salad, one chapati and any vegetable. There are no vegetables that I avoid or any special way in which that I cook them. Only the quantity consumed is monitored. While most people would avoid things like ghee, I feel that it is equally important for your body.

I munch on biscuits and fruits whenever I feel hungry. Roasted puffed rice is a good snack when you are craving for something to eat in the evening. It is light, fi lling and not to taxing on your body.

NIGHT I try to have dinner well before I hit the bed.

Usually, if I am at home, 8 pm is the ideal

time for the last meal of the day. A bowl of soup paired with salads and something interesting like paneer is generally on the menu. My dinner is completely carb free.

If I know that might be going to bed a little late then the dinner time is decided accordingly to ensure that I do not feel hungry again.

She assures us that a healthy and balanced diet with some exercise is the best way to lose weight and not feel the pressure. If what you are doing does not exhaust you and still continues to give you results, it automatically motivates you to push yourself harder and same is the case with staying fit, she points out. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

Must haves for a warm and trendy winter

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inter is already upon us. Lighter sweaters and cardigans have replaced tank tops and soon, the heavy duty coats will be the popular picks this season. To prepare yourself for a stylish, and fashion forward winter wardrobe, Lubeina Shahpurwala, co-Founder of Mustang Socks, and a fashion enthusiast gives us top picks to stock up this season.

COMBAT BOOTS The kind of shoes you wear for the cold season can make or break your outfit.

Combat style boots are not only comfortable and warm, but they also pair well with trousers and dresses as well.

Lubeina Shahpurwala ALL PURPOSE OVERCOAT If winter hits hard in your city, this is your essential when dressing up STYLE for the cold mornings. Pick up LEG WARMERS You lose a majority of your body a warm, overcoat in a neutral GURU heat from your limbs, which is why the colour like black or beige and half right socks are essential to your winter your problems are solved. Th is coat style. Instead of regular socks, pull up thick works well with jeans, leggings, and legwarmers for added warmth and comfort even skirts with tights. If the temperature gets warmer during the day, this overcoat can and pair them with thigh high boots and skinny jeans. A statement pair that have bold be taken off and put away.

stripes on them will surely make heads turn.

STATEMENT SCARF Th is may seem like just a piece of cloth but its simplicity is the key behind its versatility.

A scarf in a statement print or even bold color is a perfect pick me up accessory for the dull blues and browns or winter. You can drape it like a shawl or wrap it tight to keep your neck warm CABLE-KNIT SWEATER Not your usual, ugly Christmas sweater, what you really need this winter is a fawn or burgundy coloured cable knit sweater that can be layered underneath a thick coat or even thrown over a shirt and joggers for a comfy quick fi x. Th is staple can even keep you warm when pulled over your pajamas for a cuddly night’s sleep. It is light enough for those cool afternoons that don’t require much fuss.

TGS LIFE

DECEMBER 5, 2015 PUNE

BUZZ

The pitch perfect singer

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

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ith some of the most popular Bollywood songs this year under her belt, think Tod Tadaiyya from the fi lm Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, Tumhe Apna Banane Ka from Hate Story 3 and Sapna Jahan from the fi lm Brothers, Neeti Mohan is currently basking in her success.

The performer stepped into the limelight with the all-girls pop band Aasma and gave us some super-hit numbers like Ishq Wala Love and Jiya Re later. “My career in music began at a young age. Even though I don’t hail from a family of musicians, singing came easy to me. I frequently visited the Iskon Temple with my parents and I would get mesmerised by the devotional songs. After getting back home, I would sing bhajans just like I’d seen earlier. My parents realised my potential and enrolled me to a music class,” she says.

Chasing her dreams from a young age, Neeti has found inspiration in all forms of music. From singing bhajans, folk songs, to rock music, she has done it all. “I love good music and I love to sing ballads, folk songs, club songs, jazz, and songs in different languages. As a vocalist, I want to sing in every genre. We usually try to convey a particular emotion through a song, once I understand that, I work on

the pronunciation. I am a quick learner, so picking up a language is easy for me,” she says.

Being an extraordinary go-getter, Neeti is also a dancer and actress. She was seen in the television show Music Ka Maha Muqabla, where she was part of the winning team led by Shankar Mahadevan. She considers participating in the reality show Popstars as the turning point of her career. “It was one of the first singing reality show in the country and showing the entire journey on TV was a new concept. We got to meet and record with accomplished singers and composers like Salim Sulaiman, Jatin Lalit and many more. It gave a direction to my career,” she says. Neeti recently bagged the Global Indian Music Academy Award for the song Bang Bang and the Newsmakers Achievers Award 2015. But when she still considers the time she shared the stage with AR Rahman as the best moment of her life. “He was looking for a fresh voice for his US-Canada tour, and luckily I got selected. I regard him as my mentor and singing with him was a life changing experience for me. Since then, I have accompanied him on almost all his tours.

In all, I must have done about 40 to 50 concerts with him so far,” she says.

Over the weekend, she is coming to Pune to perform for the NH7 Weekender where she will pay a tribute to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan along with Vishal Dadlani.

Farhan supports actresses' demand of wage system

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ctor-fi lmmaker Farhan Akhtar says he supports actresses, who want to work on a wage system that will bring them on par with their male co-stars. The Bhaag Milkha Bhaag actor said he will oblige to the wage system demand, if any actress asks for it while he is casting her.

"I read recently somewhere that there are many female actors, who said they would want to work on a wage system that works even for men and I completely support them.

If I want to cast them and they say that to me, then that's what I'll give them. But I can only speak about myself in relation to casting for a fi lm," Farhan said, adding that the actresses have a right to say 'no' if they think they are being underpaid.