TGS Life 10/10/2015

ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR

PUNE, OCTOBER 10, 2015 | www.thegoldensparrow.com

Why let age hold you back from

being fit?

As you get older, physical exertion takes over terms like vigour and ability but not everybody bows down to the tyranny of time. These city veterans have worked hard to bring the clock’s hands into submission

A diva in the making

Be strong, not skinny

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Cooking puts a broad smile on his face

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TGS LIFE

OCTOBER 10, 2015 PUNE

STAGE

A diva in the making

She’s super talented, hard-working, and a singer-psychologist in the making. Meet the Pune girl, who is all set to take The Stage by storm

By Salonee Mistry @Sal0412

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hile, at the age of six, most girls are busy colouring books, playing house and finding reasons to not study, Anushka Shahaney had started learning to play the piano. Following in the footsteps of her mother and grandmother,

who loved to sing, Anushka would imitate her grandmother, who sang bhajans and this turned into her introduction to the world of music. Dreaming of performing a duet with Ed Sheeran someday, Anushka talks to us about her stint in the upcoming reality show and why she loves to sing.

She started with imitating what she heard and is now among the top 20 singing RAHUL RAUT

sensations from across the country. Anushka, who will soon be seen on the first-of-its-kind reality television series The Stage, is extremely humble about her skills. While mastering the piano, she started learning the guitar, joined the Bel Canto choir in Pune, and studied western classical singing as well as the classical guitar. “I used to love looking at people singing on the television and imitate them. I had no idea whether I was any good and I was learning the piano merely because it was interesting. Until very recently, I had absolutely no intention of making a career in music,” says the 22-year-old.

For Anushka, the most important thing about music is making it on her own. She hopes to never have to sing songs written or composed by others. Her dream is to be able to touch the world with her music and so making it herself is important. “I want to produce R&B, Hip-Hop and Commercial music with a Bluesy undertones. To be better at what I do, I shall soon start learning Indian classical music as I believe that going back to the roots is essential to grow,” she says.

Music is relaxing and more importantly a reflection of my thoughts. It is who I am, she goes on to explain. Anushka already has her own Youtube channel and will soon release her own singles.

On a semester spent in Canada, when Anushka stood out while auditioning for an A capella group, she realised that music was her true calling. Earlier, she’d considerd music as just a hobby. Now, she still wants to pursue a career in psychology and is looking at music therapy as an option. After graduating from Symbiosis School for Liberal Arts, she was all set to fly to Los Angeles to pursue an associate degree in vocal artist development from the Los Angeles College of Music. Convincing her mother to send her to music school was quite the task, she adds.

At 19, Anushka opened her own little baking venture, which did phenomenally well.

She was also learning belly dancing on the side. Being involved in the innumerable extracurricular activities never affected Anushka academically. In her third year in college, she was awarded the Ontario-Maharashtra- Goa scholarship and she studied for a semester at York University in Toronto.

Even as she was all packed to leave for her masters, an e-mail changed her plans. Set to air from this weekend, The Stage is a platform to encourage Indian-English singers. “The show is exactly what so many of us needed.

Local reality shows have only Hindi songs and lack an international perspective. This show is a fresh take on the scene and I am so glad to be a part of it. We are almost making history,” says an excited Anushka. “It was during the initial preparation stages for the show that I realised that I had a natural flair for rapping, which is something that I would love to work on,” she adds.

The show is proving to be a space to learn and grow for the young singer. Not being a part of as many gigs and shows as the other participants, Anushka believes this opportunity is most definitely going to help her evolve as a singer and musician. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

YOUR WEEKLY DOSE OF EVENTS

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Vh1 Club Night Vh1 Edm Club nights is Pune’s one of the known events for EDM music. Where you experience amazing music and excellent talent of various artists. This time they have got DJ Rohan Kapoor as a main artist and Dj Ankit Ramchandani for the opening act. DJ Rohan has always described himself as someone who has ‘Music in his soul and soul in his music’.

And with his debut production ‘Stay with me’ he delivers just that! Having shared the stage with some of the biggest names like Afrojack, Hardwell and Blasterjaxx, Rohan feels destined to make music and leave people dancing to his music! DJ Ankit Ramchandani started his musical journey in the year of 2005 in Pune. He know how to make people go crazy on his tunes on the dance floor with a good flow of music.

When: October 10 Where: Flying Saucer, Viman Nagar

The Fantastic Four

What do you get when you put four DJ’s that have the power to makes you dance from the 80’s till today? The fantastic four are going to take you on musical journey that will encompass your favourite music from the past to the future. The fantastic four consist of DJ Piyush, Sonu, Smita and the legend himself Yusuf Kapasi. Watch these awesome four artists belt out tune after tune that will leave you swaying and dancing your night away. From spinning gold retro hits to the latest commercial, be sure that the fantastic four are taking you a non stop flight to fantastic music.

When: October 10 Where: Bluefrog, Yerwada

Badshah Live For the very first time in Pune, the famous ‘DJ Waale Baabu a.k.a DJ Badshah is going to perform live. This is going to be organised at the roof top lounge, YOLO Gaestro Bar in Pimple Saudagar on Oct 10th 2015. Along with his 2015 hits like Selfie Le Le Re from Bajrani Bhaaijaan and Hafte Mein Chaar Shanivar from All is Well and many more rocking tunes, he is all set to take Pune by storm. Some of Badshah’s famous numbers include Saturday Saturday, Abhi toh Party Shuru Hui Hai and Proper Patola.

When: October 10 Where: YOLO Gastro Bar, Spot 18 Mall

3 TGS LIFE

OCTOBER 10, 2015 PUNE

ENTERTAINMENT

The Collective recipe for musical harmony A vibrant affinity is what brings together this quartet of musicians with the prime motive of making music they love the most

By Sudheer Gaikwad

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ndia is home to musicians who are finding great scope for their music-making with the proliferation of venues that feature live music. Veering off the beaten path, of the top 40 Rock, Pop and Bollywood music, is also

feasible, thanks to the melange of audience, who are open and willing to listen to music beyond conventional bounds.

The environment then is fertile and very conducive for like-minded musicians to come together for no other purpose than to make the kind of music that they love the most. ‘The Collective’ is just such a band of musicians, who are friends first and also share a musical rapport which endows their music-making with a rich, home-brewed flavour.

The Collective features founder Gautam Deb (drums), Keshav Iyengar (bass guitar), Priyabrata Satpati, aka Rana, (acoustic guitar/lead vocal)

PrE WEDDInG BonAnZA

and Manish Farande (lead guitar/backing vocal). “We were playing in different bands but we definitely shared a musical affinity and we thought, why not play together to see what happens,� said Gautam. This decision was made in March this year, and the immediate consequence was a concert at High Spirits, featuring the music of John Mayer, since everyone in the band is an ardent fan of the artist.

Gautam has worked with noted vocalist Jasraj Joshi and he is also part of the distinctive metal bands Noiseware and Reversse Polarity.

Gautam won best drummer honours at the Rolling Stone Metal Awards in 2014.

“Rana and I go back a long way and we’ve done scores of gigs together in various set-ups.

The Collective is a really a refreshing and very enjoyable experience for me, as we play music that is really special to all of us, like that of John Mayer,� said Manish, a Puneite who has switched base to Mumbai a few years ago, for reasons related to music mostly. Manish has been busy on the music circuit, and is a member of local band Dwija as well as Roxygen, featuring singer Rana and Agnee drummer Rishikesh Datar.

Freelance bassist Keshav says that he gigs more outside of Pune than in the city, but is happy enough about the local music scene. “It seems to be saturated but there is a promising new wave of musicians that bodes well for the future. The Collective is Gautam’s brainchild and the idea is to get back to stuff that we played earlier,� said Keshav, who has worked with senior artists such as Ram Sampath and Sona Mahapatra. He also plays in the fusion outfit Brahma Naad, featuring sarod player Abhishek Borkar.

Expect to be regaled by Progressive Rock, a la John Mayer, as well as the high-energy, vintage music from Deep Purple’s repertoire, besides some original tunes by The Collective.

Where: The Beer CafĂŠ, Koregaon Park When: Saturday, October 10, 9 pm onwards

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TGS LIFE

OCTOBER 10, 2015 PUNE

ENTERTAINMENT

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

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alking on a high wire is as easy as riding a bike, or so says Joseph Gordon Levitt, who plays Philippe Petit in ‘The Walk’. The film celebrates the spirit of the high-wire artist, who walked on a single rope of the highest buildings ever made, the Twin towers of World Trade Centre in 1974.

Before the daredevilry, the stuntmen was considered a nobody and people barely believed on his capabilities. “It was a very challenging role. I love a challenge and I love to work hard. There were two parts to the preparation. The first was the physical part of learning how to walk a wire. I actually studied with Philippe. He said that by the end of eight days I would be able to walk on my own. This goal sounded a bit ambitious but he’s such a positive thinker. He’s so optimistic that it’s inspiring and it happened,” says Joseph.

The Walk follows Philippe’s journey to achieve the most difficult task of walking on a single rope, as he dreamt, planned, and executed the feat. For the character, Joseph learned to perform magic tricks, unicycle, as well as adopt a French accent. The most thrilling part, he says, was to learn wire walking, for which he trained for a week at a warehouse in New York.

“I was scared because it’s quite unnatural to walk on a wire. Even at a low height it feels so high. Your body just gets tensed up with fear. On the wire, you just look straight ahead and you focus on the end. You fix your eyes on that, moving your feet carefully, and balancing your body. Certainly, I wasn’t as high as Felipe ever was. Even though I had a safety harness on, it does not help you balance. Over time, you get acclimatised and I became less scared,” he adds. He started by walking across two-feet-high wire and graduated to six

Joseph Gordon Levitt is busy walking a tight rope The actor talks about his latest movie and what it’s like to step into the shoes of a wire-walker feet off the ground.

Joseph is a man of many talents. The 34-year old actor has proven himself time and again with films like 500 Days of Summer, Inception, Premium Rush, The Dark Knight Rises, Lincoln, Mysterious Skin, G I Joe: The Rise of Cobra among others. He immediately accepted the film when filmmaker Robert Zemekis offered him the part. “It was incredibly exciting because I have always loved his movies since I was a kid. He was first inspired by a children’s book that I recommended, called The Man Who Walked between the Two Towers. It’s filled with beautiful hand-painted illustrations. I don’t think this film would have worked in the hands of a lesser filmmaker than Mr Zemekis, who is such a master of visuals and character. I knew this was going to be a special film, and I was just delighted to be a part of it,” the actor says.

The film is an encouragement to wire walkers around the world and holds a message to dream big.

“I soaked up Philippe’s attitude to the wire, his excitement and joy. He was positive and determined. You have to be like that in order to cross a wire, and we should learn from it. I admire that so much,” he adds. zainab.kantawala@oldensparrow.com

“I was scared because it’s quite unnatural to walk on a wire.”

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Get ready for some Mumbai Blues

The Mihir Joshi Band brings the best of Blues and Rock n Roll to town this Thursday

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

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inally, someone at Hard Rock Café is working hard to make sure you get over your mid-week worries with a little help from singer and songwriter Mihir Joshi, who brings along Sanju Aguiar on guitar, Ruell Barretto on bass and Virendra Kaith on drums as part of his super band. Each one of the musicians has been a part of the Mumbai Rock music scene for a very long time and plays for successful bands like Demonic Resurrection, Scribe, Devoid, Bombay Bassment, among others.

Besides his spectacular musical brilliance, the band’s front man Mihir is popular for his versatile skills as an emcee, a television anchor, blogger, radio jockey and actor. “I formed the band a few years ago, with the desire to create and record songs that I had written. I was part of a few other bands earlier but I wanted to form my own band so I picked the best guys playing in some of the best bands in the country,” says Mihir.

The popular musical ensemble has created a wave with their fusion of Blues, Alternate Rock and Jazz . Apart from producing their own music, they also cover artists such as John Mayer, Eric Clapton and Buddy Guy. “Our inspiration comes from bands like Cream, Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, The Rolling Stones, Lynyrd Skynyrd as well as artists like Jimi

Hendrix, Eric Clapton and John Mayer. We’re not a traditional Blues band. We’re a Rock n Roll band that really loves the Blues. It is the foundation on which our music rests but we love doing lots more with it,” adds Mihir.

The band’s debut album ‘Mumbai Blues’ was released in May last year. The album was launched by Indian music legends Ehsaan

TGS LIFE

OCTOBER 10, 2015 PUNE

ENTERTAINMENT Noorani and Loy Mendonsa and its songs describe every aspect of Mumbai, ranging from love, heartbreak, traffic jams, potholes and, Sachin Tendulkar. It even won them the GIMA Award for Best Rock Album this year.

“Getting to work with a fantastic producer like Ashish Manchanda at Flying Carpet Productions and recording our album there was an incredible start to our journey but the low point was when the censor board removed the word Bombay from our song ‘Sorry’ when we sent the song for certification before it went out on TV channels. The media ruckus that ensued was quite crazy and unnecessary. The song is a conversation between a father and a daughter about the world today and is actually an apology from the father to the daughter for the world he has given her,” Mihir says.

This Thursday, the band is set to present some of their popular covers along with the entire album. “We’re really excited to be back in Pune after a long time. In fact, this is the first time we’re coming back after releasing our album. Pune has always been one of the best cities for us. People really come out in big numbers and always have a great time with us,” he adds.

When: October 15, 8 pm onwards Where: Hard Rock Café, Koregaon Park zainab.kantawala@oldensparrow.com

Unveil the real authentic Traditional Ayurveda RAHUL RAUT

,

US

RAHUL RAUT

TGS LIFE

OCTOBER 10, 2015 PUNE

INDULGE

Cooking puts a broad smile on his face

He wanted to become a musician, but ended up becoming a mighty successful chef instead. Meet Reagan Fernandes from Goa, the happy-golucky chef in town and listen in as he shares his interesting journey so far

By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM

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is boyish charm and effervescent smile will instantly make you strike a conversation with him, and that’s what exactly happened when we first met Reagan Fernandes at one of the restaurants at The Westin. When he told us that he’s from Goa, we knew we had to meet again.

After a fun shoot, when we finally settled down for a conversation, Reagan told us that he never intended to become a chef. In fact, he wanted to become a DJ at one of the popular joints in his home state but destiny had other plans for the 26-year-old chef. “I sought admission at St Xavier’s College, Goa, to study commerce but left it midway to join my friends in a two-year hotel management course. When my father got to know about this, he was so upset that he didn’t talk to me for three days because he didn’t quite like the hotel industry. Somehow, I managed to convince my mother and completed the course,” laughs Reagan.

His first stint began in 2006 when Reagan trained at The Goa Marriott where he joined the service department as a trainee. “After

training for about six months, I finally got my first job but it was not as exciting as I imagined. The job was getting monotonous and I was not enjoying my work at all. I went to my manager and asked him if I could do a cross training in the kitchen. He agreed and that’s when my stint of becoming a chef began. I would spend three hours extra every day to learn the tricks of the art of cooking, and soon found the entire process very intriguing.”

There has been no looking back for Reagan ever since. Everywhere he worked, he would bag quick promotions thanks to his performance, which soon landed him a job as a sous-chef at The Westin, where he currently handles the coffee shop operations. Reagan’s niche is western cuisine and he loves playing around with Italian dishes but when he goes back home, it’s always the home cooked food made by his mother that he likes to feast on, especially Fish Recheado, which is his favourite.

Though it’s a fascinating job, it also comes with its own share of highs and lows. When asked how he handles the pressure and hardships, Reagan says, “Our industry is very demanding and the customer is always right. On occasions when things don’t turn out the way I would want them to, I take a deep breath and try to stay calm. It’s very important to learn to stay patient in our line and if you are good at your job and give it your heart and soul, the sky is the limit.”

Reagan has made the late APJ Abdul Kalam’s words his life’s mantra and he would earnestly like to share the thought with budding chefs, “If you salute your duty, you don’t need to salute anybody, but if you pollute your duty, you have to salute everybody.” heena.grover@golensparrow.com

Breaded Chicken Canelloni Ingredients 200 gm Chicken mince 50 gm Chopped onion 20 gm Chopped garlic 20 gm Chopped leek 20 gm Chopped celery 0.05 gm Fresh rosemary 15 ml Olive oil 3 nos Lasagna sheet 100 gm Baked beans 100 gm Fresh bread crumbs 50 gm Parmesan cheese 100 gm Tomato paste For Mushroom Duxelle 50 gm Button mushroom 50 gm Shitake mushroom 20 gm Porcini mushroom 20 gm Chopped garlic 10 gm Chopped parsley 0.05 gm Red wine 20 ml Olive oil

Method For Mushroom Duxelle • Heat a frying pan on a medium heat and add olive oil.

• Sautee chopped garlic till golden brown.

• Add mushrooms and saute till its dry add red wine, chopped parsley and salt and cook for eight minutes.

Chimichurri prawns with tomato & Pineapple salad Ingredients 150 gm Fresh parsley 50 gm Fresh cilantro 50 ml Olive Oil 20 ml Red wine vinegar 50 gm Peeled garlic 10 gm Ground cumin 15 gm Salt 0.5 gm Pepper 4 Nos King prawns Tomato and pineapple salad Ingredients 100 gm Tomato small diced 100 gm Pineapple small deiced 20 ml Olive oil 10 gm Salt 0.5 gm Black pepper

Method For salad - Mix all the above ingredients together and keep aside • Clean the prawns with head and tail on and keep aside.

• To make the Chimichurri marination, chop fresh parsley, cilantro and garlic, put it in one mixing bowl and add olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt and pepper to taste and leave aside.

• Marinate the prawns with the marination and allow it to rest for 15 to 20 minutes.

• Put a frying pan on a medium heat, add oil and sear till its golden brown on both the sides and allow it to cook.

• Once cooked remove from pan and serve hot on the bed of pineapple and tomato salad Goes best with: White wine or chilled beer

• Remove from heat put it in one tray and leave it under a slow heat for about 15 minutes till it become crisp For Cannelloni • Heat a pan on a medium heat and add olive oil.

• Sauté chopped garlic, onion, carrot, leek, celery, and chopped rosemary till soft.

• Add chicken mince and allow it to cook till all the water is been absorbed then.

• Add the red wine and tomato paste and allow it to cook on low heat for about 15 to 20 minutes.

• Remove the mixture from the heat and pour it in one tray and allow it to cool.

• Once the mixture is cold, roll the mixture in pasta sheets and keep aside.

• Meanwhile mix fresh bread crumb and parmesan cheese and coat the cannelloni in the bread crumb mixture put it in a baking tray and bake for 12 minutes at 160 degrees.

• Arrange the baked cannelloni on the bed of baked beans and garnish it with mushroom crisp and micro greens.

TGS LIFE | OCTOBER 10, 2015 | PUNE

Brand power

TGS LIFE

OCTOBER 10, 2015 PUNE

Honda’s entry-level ‘big’ bike is pricey, but is it worth it?

By Tushar Burman

SURESH NARAYANAN

THRILL OF DRIVING

@tburman

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uxury brands tend to get the good press, globally. Mercedes is a symbol of luxury around the world, and particularly so in India. Other, more accessible brands too have made unique, resilient names for themselves in the Indian psyche, like Toyota and Honda. For many, the badge on the boot/tank is a large part of the buying decision. It is, then, a great burden of expectation on the shoulders of Honda Two Wheelers India as they begin deliveries of the Honda CBR650F sport/sports-tourer motorcycle in India.

More than a few times I’ve had a conversation about the entry-level ‘big’ Honda which quickly veers toward its Rs 7,60,970 (ex-Mumbai) price. For me and many other enthusiasts, this is a matter of concern, but such conversations usually seem to end with “but it’s a Honda”, which is some indication of how this bike is perceived. So here’s what you get for your money: a steel chassis, full fairing in a well-designed, sporty package, decent Dunlop tyres, double discs up front, a slick under-body trapezoidal exhaust and the all-important 650cc inline-four engine with its characteristic wail. That’s really what it’s about here: that sound. Benelli may have beaten Honda to the punch with its musical TNT 600i naked sportsbike, but hey, this is a Honda!

We had the opportunity to test the CBR against all of its peers recently, and came away very impressed with most of its characteristics. To begin with, it rides extremely well if you’re riding it normally as will most riders. The ride is plush, the seat comfortable, the position of the handle not too extreme. Wind protection is also adequate, as it should be for a bike that can easily top 200kmph. The CBR feels narrow between your legs, which masks a bit of its 215kg kerb weight. In contrast, the Ninja 650R, which is slightly lighter, feels like a bit more of a handful at low speed. Heat management seems good and we didn’t experience toasted thighs during our all-day (hot) outing. You can, conceivably, buy this motorcycle and use it every day, on weekends as well as for longer tours. We even took it off-road, standing on the pegs and it fared better than the Ducati Scrambler in terms of comfort. Having just spent almost Rs 8 lac on that bike, this author was not pleased.

There’s a caveat for potential tourers, however. By nature of the CBR650F not being an all-out sports bike, it sort of automatically falls into the sport-tourer category. The seat is certainly comfortable, but it’s still not all-day comfortable. And if you’re not hammering along at triple-digit speeds continuously, your back and arms will be a bit weary at sundown. But that could be said of any motorcycle. A more significant bugbear is the engine’s tendency to vibrate. One expects an inline-four to be silky-smooth, but Honda’s 650 isn’t, at least on our test bike. There’s a constant buzz felt through the handle bars which plays spoiler to its otherwise good performance. Speaking of which, the CBR650F makes 84.11bhp at 11,000rpm and 62.9Nm of torque at 8,000rpm, which is at the upper-end of its class. The power advantage was evident as I saw the CBR pull away from me on the Ducati with ease, despite both rider and pillion being on the upper-end of their weight class.

On twisty roads, the CBR is a no-brainer. Tip it into

a corner, don’t do anything stupid and than a sum of parts. Top speed is north the bike just glides through the line of 210kmph, so make no mistake: until it’s time to right the bike for this is a friendly, accessible, the next corner. Dynamically, but very fast motorcycle.

Verdict it won’t surprise and delight Fueling is perfect, with no + Ride, brakes track junkies, but for a snatchiness that we felt - Vibration, majority of regular riders, with some other bikes on price it will come as something this test outing. of a revelation. It’s very Like the Ninja 650R, TGS rating forgiving, handles mid-corner the Honda CBR650F is a ;;; Z bumps well and holds a line like bike that we wholeheartedly a train. The dual discs up front recommend to others, just not work beautifully and combined with a to each other or enthusiasts. It does conventional, right-side up fork, bring everything right, in some cases even the bike to a halt with authority. Despite better than the competition, but it the lack of fancy names attached to the doesn’t exactly set your loins aflame. calipers or suspension, the Honda brings We’d recommend the CBR650F for a its modest components together as more rider new to big bikes, but she’s likely to

quickly want to upgrade once she really gets into it. It also works well for the latelife motorcyclist who has nothing left to prove and wants an honest, no-nonsense four-cylinder that won’t immediately result in insurance claims. It even makes sense as an additional bike, for when your tricked-out European track tool is awaiting a much-delayed parts shipment. The Honda CBR650F is an everyman superbike with an enthusiastclass price. That, ultimately, will be its only failure. If Honda had launched it when they first showed it at the 2014 Auto Expo, perhaps things would be different but today, there are more fun ways to spend over eight lac rupees. tushar@goldensparrow.com

Bhakti movement

gets a new twist

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

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Shruthi Vishwanath

Yogesh Soman

he spread of Bhakti movement inculcated the spirit of oneness amongst the people of Maharashtra in the 13th century. Saints like Tukaram, Namdev, Raamdas, Eknath and many others devoted themselves to God and preached in a simple language that could be understood by the common people. The saints used innovative forms to reach out to the masses. Kirtans and abbhangs drew their audience towards godliness and showed them a way of life.

Away from Maharashtra, Kabir’s dohas preached equality of all believers before God without any distinction of class or birth. His writings united the people and taught them to have faith in one God. The teachings of these saints acted as a unifying force even though the movement phased out by the 17th century.

But youngsters today are reviving the teachings of these saints to spread the message of oneness. They have adopted creative mediums like music and drama to get the attention of the masses. What sets them apart is their reinterpretation of the philosophical verses in an engaging manner.

THE INSPIRATION Yogesh Soman has experimented with theatre for nearly the past 25 years. He has written 58 one-act and 16 full-length plays. He has acted in the play ‘Ananddoh’, based on the life of Tukaram Maharaj. He has portrayed the roles of Tukaram Maharaj and his better half Avali. “Tukaram’s genius partly lies in his ability to transform the external world into its spiritual analogue. For the past four centuries, he has been a source of inspiration to many. There is no other saint who has so deeply and widely influenced Maharashtrians,� he says.

Till date, Yogesh has performed 225 shows in India and abroad.

This 70-minute play can be performed in a closed theatre or at a temple. “I want the play to reach the masses and that is why, right from the set design to the performance, everything is neat and handy,� he says.

Kabir’s souful poetry has inspired the rock band Neeraj Arya’s Kabir CafÊ, which is on a pursuit to ensure Kabir’s verses are accessible t h r o u g h music t o the rest o f t h e world.

T h e band’s music is a fusion of the

TGS LIFE

OCTOBER 10, 2015 PUNE

FEATURES

YASHASVI SHARMA

ASHEEN ANOOP

Words spoken by Tukaram, Eknath and Kabir are being reinterpreted, in some cases simply being reintroduced, to spread the message of oneness through music and theatre

Neeraj Arya’s Kabir Cafe

verses of the mystic poet with elements of Pop, Reggae and Folk music. They have been researching and performing Kabir’s poetry for the past six years now. “Neeraj Arya, our lead vocalist, had been singing Kabir three years before the band was formed. It came to him instinctively after watching a fi lm called ‘Hadh Anhadh’ by Shabnam Virmani. The fi lm documents Kabir’s folk music across India and Pakistan. When he came to Mumbai and met the rest of the band, all of us connected to the idea – of the poetry and the musical exploration it allows. The fusion is just an extension of our individualities, which reach a beautiful confluence with Kabir’s poetry,� says Raman.

Another young singer, Shruthi Vishwanath, has been doing her bit to spread the message of unity through abhangs. She has trained for over 20 years in Carnatic classical music, choral music, and abhangs. She brings these diverse genres through classically interpreted renditions of Kabir and abhangs. She has also collaborated with several musicians to spread the culture of bhakti poetry. “I was always inclined towards abhangs and Kabir’s poetry. I grew up listening to Pandit Kumar Gandharv and Bhimsen Joshi’s rendition of abhangs. I feel connected to Tukaram’s words because they were written in the spirit of humanity and it has nothing to do with religion. It has been very exciting to work on these songs from a young age and to discover new gems by the saints,� Shruthi shares.

CREATIVE APPROACH Neeraj Arya’s Kabir CafÊ comprises of Mukund Ramaswamy on violin, Raman Iyer on mandolin, Viren Solanki on drums, Poubuanpou Bryeeto KC on bass guitar and backing vocals, apart from Neeraj on vocals and rhythm guitar. They have simplified Kabir’s verses by giving them an effective explanation.

The band’s music is so catchy that the young crowd can’t stop swaying to their rhythm. “We are blessed to find an instant connect with people that transcends demographics.

From the NH7 Weekender, High Spirits, Blue Frog, Hard Rock and the likes to an ashram in Dharampur to a temple in Dewas, we have had such a great response from people as young as five to as old as 80. The youth, in particular, love us and it gives us immense happiness to see them groove and connect to six-century-

old poetry,� says Raman.

The play Ananddoh encompasses 13 important days of Sant Tukaram’s life the day he drowned his Gatha (spiritual writings) in the River Indrayani till the day the Gatha came out, still dry. “In the play, there are conversations between Tukaram and his wife Avali and dialogues with himself. The play is about two incidents that changed Tukaram’s life. One is about the drought in Maharashtra, where many people were dying. He couldn’t see the pain and he recited some verses, which then turned into abhangs. His words encouraged people to think and unite. Another was when he was fed up with the events unfolding around him and threw his Gatha in the river,� he adds.

Shruthi recently collaborated with musician Vedanth Bharadwaj to present a musical on Abbhangvani, the songs of Waari, and Tukaram’s journey to Vitthal temple in Pandharpur. She sings in a contemporary classical style. “The journey of the warkaris from Dehu or Alandi to Pandharpur is a sight to behold. Almost a million people walk the route every year, singing abhangs and dancing in manic frenzy as they journey to their Vitthal. The show ‘Waari’ was just about that. We had used a guitar and a banjo. Generally, we use a tabla for abbhangs and for doha’s we use a dholki or a manjira. We explore the poetry in a way that even youngsters could connect,� she adds.

YOUTH CONNECT The youth today are searching for meaning in music and theatre, and these artists give them a platform to connect with the sants and get entertained at the same time. “Musicians are trying to explore ways to pass on certain teaching to youngsters in the most innovative ways. The youth too are finding a connection in these teachings. You look for solace and Tukaram and Kabir are always there for guidance,� says Shruti.

The sants inculcated the spirit of oneness among people and are inspiring people with their written work even today. These artists have taken on the responsibility to spreading their message among the young crowd. “I thought about performing the play because somehow the principles of Tukaram are being misinterpreted in today’s world. Through this performance, I wished to get his thought and principles into the limelight,� adds Yogesh. zainab.kantawala@oldensparrow.com

TGS LIFE

Buddha Urli

SHOPPING

BRASS TRAIL

By Heena Grover Menon

G

ive a break to the usual mall outings and take a walk around the Mandai this weekend. As the festivities continue, the by lanes are buzzing with so many interesting and very artistic brass knick knacks at every nook and corner that you will find yourself spoilt for choices. If you love collecting antiques, this is the place you must visit to shop for your home décor or to gift a little something to friends and family this Diwali.

Give your home an earthy touch by creating a corner with sand where you get a lot of fresh air and light. Place this jaalidar brass kalsi on the sand to store your drinking water. Keep sprinkling water every now and then to keep the kalsi cool.

Where: New Gyanesh Akshay Metal Mart, Shukrawar Peth Price: Rs 850

Antique peacock diya

Tribal pen stand

Dress up your study or work table with this interesting African tribal art piece. Don’t crowd your spaces with multiple art objects, and let this stand alone.

Where: Kapurchand Jawanmal Lalwani Handicrafts, Budhwar Peth Price: Rs 800

Bullock cart

Place this interesting artifact at one of the dull corners of your home space atop an antique wooden table.

Where: Prabhu Handicrafts, Budhwar Peth Price: 600

Kalsi

RAHUL RAUT

This beautifully handcrafted urli is an ideal piece of décor. Keep it at the entrance of your house or right in the middle of your living room during festivals or special occasions filled with water and assorted flower petals during evenings and light floating diyas for your picture perfect home Whether you are a follower of Buddha or not, this beautiful hand carved Buddha sculpture will instantly bring a touch of Zen to your living spaces. Place it at the entrance or in your garden and let the positivity flow Where: Prabhu Handicrafts, Budhwar Peth Price: Rs 1,10,000

OCTOBER 10, 2015 PUNE

Antique tea kettles

Add a dash of quirk to your morning tea sessions with these rustic brass tea kettles and surprise your friends when you throw a Sunday brunch for them by serving authentic masala tea.

Pair it with street style little glasses for more fun.

Where: Kapurchand Jawanmal Lalwani Handicrafts, Budhwar Peth Price: Rs 750 each

They are pretty and can light up any dull corner of your home. Always an ideal gifting option and perfect for festive occasions.

Hang them in your lobby area, gardens or prayer space, and switch off the lights to add more drama.

Where: Chandulal Mohanlal Handicrafts, Budhwar Peth Price: Rs 6,000

Antique mapta

This antique mapta comes from the olden times when our grand and great grandparents used to measure the grains and rice. Add similar knick knacks to your basic kitchen ware for a feel of the past.

Where: New Gyanesh Akshay Metal Mart, Shukrawar Peth Price: Rs 1,000

Brass cow and calf

This pretty artifact is a perfect piece of gift if you have been invited for a housewarming party. And if you don’t feel like parting with it, simply place it on your centre table or a high wall panel to add to the décor.

Where: Prabhu Handicrafts, Budhwar Peth Price: Rs 2,000

TGS LIFE ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR

This artist has a

feline fancy

For Prashant Bangal a cat is not just an animal, but an inspiration for his creations. His masterpieces manifests his imagination and love for the animal

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

D

o you know what kind of a mood a cat is in? Well, ask artist Prashant Bangal, and he’d tell you. He has created

more than 200 cat sculptures in various moods and postures. He elegantly twists the shape of cats into the smooth and speckled surface of a stone and adds a touch of suppleness to his artwork.

Prashant strives to wipe out superstitions surrounding the cat from our society and aims to spread the message through his art.

“My father was a social worker.

He worked towards eradicating superstitions relating to cats. I also want to change

the perception of people about the animal,” he says.

He studied fine arts from Aurangabad and then completed a diploma course in sculpture from Bharati Kala Mahavidylaya in Pune.

The artist’s sculptures display different personality traits of cats, such as obedience, jealousy, timidity stubbornness, and tranquility. He works wonders with basalt stones and can create

anything that catches his fancy.

Enter his studio in Katraj, and you are welcomed by his captivating creations all from hard, seemingly unyielding rock. “The cat has been my favourite subject and it has proved to be lucky for me too. It is believed to be a sacred animal in the Egyptian culture. My artwork called ‘Catmoods’ takes inspirations from that culture. The goddess Bastet, daughter of the sun god, was represented as a woman

“I begin when a mood or position of a cat inspires me.”

OCTOBER 10, 2015 PUNE

FEATURES with the head of a cat,” he explains.

Prashant’s expertise lies in basalt stones which, is a dark, fine-grained, igneous rock, and is the local stone of Maharashtra. The caves of Ajanta and Ellora are carved in these stones.

Regardless of its shape, he looks out for the highest quality material that carves well.

The designing, fabricating and installation takes over a month of highly-skilled craftsmanship. “I begin when a mood or position of a cat inspires me. Once the frame is ready in my mind, I sketch it.

I use traditional stone tools and techniques, which have been used for centuries, to produce shapes that look hand-formed and the surfaces are textured. Rock pieces are set up and fit together until the shapes, joints and surfaces are carved to exactly where I want them to be,” he says.

After he finishes with the carvings, the stone is shaped, polished and put on final display.

“I first prepare small models, and then I get the dimensions and measurements, so that there is nothing wrong with the final piece,” he adds.

Prashant’s skill and imagination reflects in his art. His recent artwork includes a sculpture of a cat, which he created out of 1500 brass pyramids. What makes his artwork fascinating is the attention to detail and finishing. “Besides this, I am working on creating a world map out of discarded keyboards. It is a new concept for me too,” he adds. zainab.kantawala@oldensparrow.com

YOUR WEEKLY DOSE OF EVENTS Atul Khatri Live

Enjoy a performance of Damascus Night Salim the Coachman, a famous storyteller who has spent most his life driving a coach between Damascus and Beirut, is visited in a dream by his good fairy. The fairy tells him that she’s the one who has helped make him a great storyteller, but now she’s retiring and he will lose his voice. She’s asked the king fairy for a favour on Salim’s behalf and it has been granted - if he receives seven unique gifts within three months he will regain his voice and once again be a great storyteller. She unfortunately has no idea what these gifts are. The Storytellers are a group of friends with a lot of common interests, one of them being story telling. They keen on setting up spaces for communitybased activities. The crew comprises of Mukul Ahmed, Joel Dsouza, Neilum Malgonkar, Ahmed Karim, Deepak Morris, John Samson, Chetan Shetty, Deepesh Chandran, Peter Viegas, Azhar Tambuwala and Naina Rao Athalye.

When: October 10 Where: Gyaan Adab Centre, Kalyani Nagar

Visit the Holy Shrines of India on Canvas Satguru’s, an exquisite Art Gallery dedicated towards creating extra-ordinary ambiences of art and culture since 1948, is organizing an exhibition of paintings inspired by the most famous temples and holy shrines of India. Famous artists such as Nagendra Kumar, Sanjay Chakraborty, Ratneswar Roy, Sanjeev Mandal, etc. have beautifully captured their perceptions and feeling of being around a temple on colorful canvases. The artwork displays people from different backgrounds visiting these holy places to find peace and tranquility in the hands of God. When: October 11 to 20 Where: Satguru’s Art Gallery, Bund Garden Road

It’s your weekly dose of fun and laughter. Get ready for an evening of insane humour. Watch Atul Khatri as he narrates his funny tales and tickles your funny bones. Atul Khatri is a Mumbai based businessman who got up late in life and decided to do stand-up comedy so that he could tick it off his own personal bucket list. In his spare time he loves to dig his nose for gold hoping that one day a solitaire will emerge which he can eventually gift it to his wife. Live comedy and beers, it doesn’t get any better.

When: October 14 Where: Euriska, Koregaon Park

TGS LIFE

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FEATURES

14

‘Pageants are not just about good looks’ Model-turned-interior-designer and social worker Maadhuri R Sharma will represent India at the upcoming International Mrs Earth this October 18

“It’s all about how smartly you can prioritise the various tasks at hand and plan ahead”

By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM

A

fter being a successful model and a television actor, Maadhuri R Sharma took a long sabbatical to study interior designing and nutrition. Sixteen years later, she will be seen sashaying on the ramp once again. A mother to two daughters, Madhuri is also part of an NGO that works towards the betterment of underprivileged women and children. Before leaving for the final competition, Maadhuri shares her excitement, how she the opportunity came her way, and what makes her the right choice to become the face of India at the pageant.

Stating that this pageant is not just about looking glamorous, but about the women of substance, who multi-task, juggle between work and home, and are also doing something essential for the society, Maadhuri says, “It was a moment of euphoria when the national director of the pageant approached me to be a part of the prestigious competition. They were on the lookout for someone, who is a package of certain qualities and, fortunately, I fit the bill.”

So how does she play all the roles with such flair? “It’s all about how smartly you

Wear your baby

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

B

abywearing is a common practice of carrying a baby in wrap or sling.

It has been a part of child rearing in many cultures. In fact, until not so long ago, the culture was widespread in rural India, tribal clans and primitive cultures and has now gained popularity in the West as many parents have stopped using strollers, where babies are isolated from the mother.

Entrepreneur Anamika Sengupta has revived the concept of babywearing and has helped it regain the popularity that was long lost in the country. She designs woven wraps, that can carry a lot of weight, ring sling that are soft and Nei Cai or a cross carrier, all under the label Almitra Tattva. “When I gave birth to my baby I wanted something comfortable. I had ordered a babywear from abroad. I don’t take to strollers, swings, bouncers, or other contraptions designed to keep the baby away from a mother’s warm arms.

Babywear keeps the baby close and is

is like having a best friend, so there it is. I am able to handle work pressure both inside and outside home because of the girls around me, which also includes my sisters,” she says.

A lthough she is quite nervous of facing the limelight after such a long time, Maadhuri says that she is confident that her ac h ie vements and experience of being a wife, a mother, professional and social worker will count as her major strength at the competition. “When you are young, you are still at the stage of grasping things from your surroundings but now that I have lived through so many experiences and learned the ways of how life works, I want to take the entire bag of achievements with me. I also hope to learn from the other contestants. It is such a beautiful platform where I would get a chance to meet women from different countries. More than bringing back the crown home, I’m looking forward to learning things that I could apply towards becoming a better human being when I come back.” heena.grover@golensparrow.com

can prioritise the various tasks at hand and plan ahead. Besides, it’s very important to have a supportive family, which I am blessed with. My elder daughter is a little adult already and she helps me manage different chores throughout the day. She is also a very media savvy girl so everything that I know about mails, editing, photoshopping, my daughter has taught me. Having a daughter

Remember seeing village women carrying their babies in a cloth wrapped around their shoulder? The trend is now catching on in western countries and trickling down to India too

securely attached to the mother always,” she says.

Steadily, the practice is gaining popularity in India too. Parents have realised the advantages of using the right carrier, which is designed keeping a mother’s comfort in mind. It not only allows a parent to keep the baby close at the same time letting them keep their hands free. “Babywearing is the best way to calm babies, who are required to be held upright. It also helps to soothe a grumpy baby,” explains Anamika.

Besides, there are many other benefits. A mother can enjoy going for walks, cooking, shopping, travelling solo, etc., while keeping the child safe. “Without a baby wrap, the parent might feel physical discomfort if they held the baby for a longer duration. Parent should find a right carrier, which suits both the baby and the wearer. Those that I design are longer and bigger, which takes care of the baby’s position. Narrower wraps, that are available in the market, are small and leave the baby’s legs dangling, which is not healthy,” adds Anamika.

She points out that the slings are more

comfortable to hold the baby for longer durations in crowded places.

They also help them sleep better.

“It decreases the risk of developing a flat head and increases productivity for mothers, while keeping baby close,” she says.

Meanwhile, AlmitraTattva has been getting all the attention from the babywearing community, particularly from mothers living overseas. It is the first Indian brand to launch woven wraps in the babywearing world and the global audiences has appreciated the product. “I cannot imagine my life without babywearing. Be it shopping, cooking or travel, the gear is our best companion. The baby is held closer to the heart leaving the mother relatively carefree.

It even makes breastfeeding easier too,” says Anamika.

The demand for babywearing has increased over the many months. “I use only handloom material that is sourced from Himachal Pradesh so that the baby’s skin is not harmed,” she says.

Get in touch: http://almitratattva. com/

Be strong, not skinny C

hahat’s tryst with modeling began three years ago when she took a break from her career as a pilot in US and returned to Pune.

Her mother saw an ad of a pageant being organised in the city and pushed Chahat to take part in it. She eventually ended up winning the pageant. Ever since, there has been no looking back for the 22-year-old trained dancer, who believes in living life to the fullest.

MORNING Being a model, my morning schedule can never be predictable. So following the exact routine isn’t something that’s possible for me. I usually wake up at 8am every day and the very fi rst thing I do is drink a bottle of water. Post that, I go to meet my grandma who returns home from her daily walk.

The love for fitness runs in the family. We share a bowl of fruits usually a melon or an apple.

Around 8.30am, I start my morning walk with my best friend and my biggest motivation, my three-year-old German shepherd Tiffany.

At 9am, I have the most important meal of the day. I follow a simple advice my father gave me; always eat your breakfast like a king, lunch like a queen and dinner as a popper. My breakfast includes a glass of orange juice, egg whites and a slice of multi-grain bread. Being a Punjabi, on my cheat day, which is a Sunday, I give into the temptation of yummy parathas, but I am always careful about the butter being moderate in my meal even if it’s a cheat day.

Coming from a defense background, the love for adventure, thrill and being fit is part of our lifestyle.

On days when I have an off, my father and I set out hiking or ride the bicycle. It makes being fit a lot of fun too.

After finishing my mandatory morning routine, I head out to work by 10am. I am especially careful about keeping myself hydrated always. At about 11am, I have a glass of milk and some dry fruits.

NOON • At 1pm sharp I have my lunch. My meal consists of two kinds of vegetables, dal, two small rotis accompanied by curd or raita.

• I am a strong believer of eating small meals at a gap

T

FEATURES

of every two hours. So at about 3pm, I have some oats or a bowl of salad.

EVENING • At 5pm, I drink a cup of green tea and have some fruit before hitting the gym by 5.30pm.

• Until 6.30pm, I work out at the gym alternating between weight training, spinning and cardio.

• At 7pm, I have a bowl of soup made at home. The ready-to-consume soups that we get have preservatives, which aren’t exactly very healthy.

• 8pm I head to the guest room of my house, which is my very own dancing space. I have been trained in Bollywood, contemporary as well as Latin American dance forms salsa and bachata. I give an hour to this fitness passion. For me, dancing is an amazing way to stay fit, it never feels boring or gets monotonous and is an excellent way to build core strength and stamina.

NIGHT • After I finish my personal dance session, I spend some time with my family. Being fit in the true sense is when you are healthy emotionally too. That’s why my family time is the most important part of my day.

• At 10pm, I eat my dinner which is grilled chicken or fish along with steamed vegetables. It’s a myth that healthy food isn’t tasty. You can take my word for it that it is extremely enjoyable.

• At around 11.30pm, I head to my room and spend 1520 minutes praying and thanking God for the wonderful day I have had. I also ask his blessings for the day to come. I am asleep before midnight, ready to welcome the next day.

CHAHAT DALAL Weight: 59kg Height: 5 feet, 7 inches

EXPERT SPEAK Atul Kurpe, Director, Focus Five Fitness Club

According to your height, your weight is ideal, still try to maintain the ratio of fat and lean body mass. Secondly, though you are taking eight hours sound sleep, don’t make it your habit to sleep so late in the night. Instead of taking oats at 3 pm, have it before your workout as you need more calories at this time. Keep salad or any fruit for 3 pm. It is advisable to add protein and a small amount of carbs immediately after workout for muscle recovery.Lastly, try to take your dinner little bit early.

Expert rating: 8/10

Celebrate Navratra in style he festival of Navratra sure has its religious significance, but these nine days are fi lled with appealing dance moves, festive fashion and fun. Designer Ritu Seksaria is here to help you look your best while you groove to some dandiya moves.

1. Who says it’s necessary to wear a traditional chaniya choli on a dandiya night. It’s always good to put your own personal style and make your outfit look edgy.

2. Go for an Indo-western look. Add western elements to your traditional lehenga choli.

For eg, team up your lehenga with a crop top for an edgy look.

3. Instead of opting for the traditional mirror work lehenga choli, go for pearls, swarovskis and coloured stones. Create a style statement by pairing it up with tie dye, bandhani or a leheriya dupatta in a contrast colour.

4. The best way to make your outfit look

OCTOBER 10, 2015 PUNE

complete is by accessorising it the right way. If your outfit is plain and simple, wear a chunky necklace to glam up your look.

A stack of colourful bangles and a fun potli bag is a perfect way to bring you Ritu Seksaria under the limelight.

5. As for men’s fashion, a traditional kurta pyjama is not enough. Invest in a good waist coat that goes over the kurta to make it look more classy. A jodhpuri pant or dhoti with kurta in subtle colours like deep blue, shades of red is very trendy and is sure to make you look super stylish.

DURGA PUJA STYLE 1. For morning pujas, go for anarkalis in vibrant colours like bright reds and pinks that reflect the festive mood.

2. The most opted sarees by women during Durga Puja are in kanjeevaram and chanderi sarees in the combination of red and white.

But half and half, georgette and net sarees are in trend now.

3. Parties and informal meetings are very common during Durga Puja. Printed sarees are the perfect get up for this occasion.

4. Put away the labelled colours of the season and experiment with black and silver touches for evening parties and get-togethers.

5. As for men’s fashion, they can try different necklines and collar cuts in kurtas along with some indo-western waist coats, instead of opting for the regular white kurta kurta pyjamas.

RAHUL RAUT

By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM

TGS LIFE

CHAHAT’S FITNESS WISDOM • I am a big supporter of being strong and not skinny. Being thin isn’t equivalent to being fit.

Weight training is as important as cardio, so one need to push ourselves a little more each week. You would be amazed with your results.

• I am a total chocoholic, so I understand the urge for something sweet. Choose healthy options and try replacing honey with sugar as far as possible. Have a bite or two of dark chocolate to satisfy sudden cravings.

• Find a fitness buddy, it’s always fun to work out with a friend. It’s also helpful to stay motivated, so find someone who inspires in any way.

• Find something you love. There are many ways of keeping yourself fit, whether gymming, dancing, yoga, hiking, jogging or swimming.

Follow what suits your body, your lifestyle and what’s fun for you.

• Never forget to eat healthy, everything eaten in moderation is acceptable but never exceed the passable limit. Stay happy and grateful always works like a charm. heena.grover@golensparrow.com

TGS LIFE

‘Composing is not for everyone’

OCTOBER 10, 2015 PUNE

BUZZ

By Heena Grover Menon

H

ow many times does it happen that a super star comes to the city and interacts his crazy fans on the streets? Well, that just happened a few days ago when the traffic at MG Road, one of the busiest markets in the city, came to a standstill to catch a glimpse of actor Hrithik Roshan.

A day after his Pune FC team won the match, the actor decided to stay back in Pune to meet and thank his fans. Although he arrived an hour late at the venue, Hrithik won the hearts of all his fans as he came ahead and greeted them all with his infectious smile and warm persona.

Looking dapper in a grey suit, Hrithik initially looked a bit nervous when we spotted him getting out of his car amidst the non-stop hooting and screaming crowd, then being escorted by a dozen cops and bouncers. He was at MG Road to launch a new luxury watch store, and as he finished cutting the ribbon and

RAHUL RAUT

Hrithik’s Kaho Na Pyar Hai moment in Pune

Known for his classical, fusion and experimental renditions featuring the santoor, Rahul Sharma will perform in the city this Sunday

turned around to interact with the people, the fans, especially the girls wouldn’t stop applauding and cheering. The highlight of the evening came when he said “Main jab bhi aap sabko dekhta hoon, mujhe ek ajeeb si khushi multi hai” (every time I see you all, I feel elated). He also told all his fans that he loves them all and if he had a chance, he would have jumped out of the barricades and hugged each and everyone of them in return at which there were loud screams from the public. He also thanked Pune for supporting his football team and shared his excitement of winning the first match against the Mumbai team.

Though he interacted for a very brief while with the press, he mentioned how excited he is about his Pune team and loves coming to the city again and again. Every time he posed for the shutterbugs, he wooed the crowd with his charm and exceptional good looks.

There was a sea of people peeping out from their windows, balconies, shops, rooftops - from everywhere they could possibly see him.

By Salonee Mistry @Sal0412

G

rowing up under the guidance of his father, the santoor maestro Shivkumar Sharma, Rahul Sharma had a natural inclination towards music. Clearly, the influence of Indian classical music, along with a sprinkling of Pink Floyd and Beatles, is essentially the reason why he loves producing fusion music. Believing that there is a very niche audience for Indian classical music, he hopes that through concerts and other performances, the audience interest continues to grow.

Having released nearly 60 albums till date, Rahul loves it when he can fuse the santoor with another instrument. “Whenever I listen to someone playing an instrument, my mind almost immediately thinks about how that instrument would sound with the santoor. Growing up listening to two very different worlds of music, fusion and experimentation came naturally to me,” says Rahul.

He adds that composing music is not an art that can be taught, one should have a knack for it.

Performing at the Ishanya art and culture club, Rahul promises a scintillating performance titled, Autumn Winds. “I shall begin with pure classical music and perform an evening raga, as it best suits the time, followed by light classical and folk music. Since the santoor is an instrument from Kashmir, some Kashmiri folk music is a must,” shares the artist. He has adapted

the Kashmiri folk music to add a little twist of his own.

A lot of the performance will be improvised on the stage itself, Rahul adds. He will be accompanied by Pandit Mukundraj Deo on the tabla.

When: October 11, 6 pm Onwards Where: Ishanya Amphi Theatre, Yerawada salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR

TGS LIFE

OCTOBER 10, 2015 PUNE

FEATURES

As you get older, physical exertion takes over terms like vigour and ability but not everybody bows down to the tyranny of time.

These city veterans have worked hard to bring the clock’s hands into submission

Why let age hold you back from

TGS LIFE

OCTOBER 10, 2015 PUNE

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being fit?

Rajoo Rajoo Desai Desai exercising exercising on on some some of of the the toughest toughest terrains terrains to to increase increase speed speed and and agility agility

By Salonee Mistry @Sal0412

W

inning marathons, cyclothons and representing India on the national and international level, is not only for the young bunch, or those who have taken up these sports professionally. Innumerable veterans from the city have time and again shown that they are equally fit, energetic, and willing to take on absolutely any challenge. Managing their families, careers and yet finding time to stay fit, these veterans take it up a notch by competing in tournaments as well. The draw towards sports for each one of them is different but what keeps them holding on is the satisfaction that they feel at the end of the day. It is the spirit and passion with which they compete that makes them an inspiration for others around them. With the marathon season round the corner, TGS spoke to five veterans from the city, who have made a mark in the world of sports in their own little way.

THEIR FITNESS MANTRA A trek to Sinhagad fort every Thursday morning, running, cycling, along with strength and core training on other days of the week is pretty much what takes up the entire morning for Prashant Tidke. The 52-year-old chartered accountant wakes up at 5 am every morning and has something planned to stay fit for s i x

Taru Mateti runniing at Wanovrie during her morning exercise routines Prashant Tidke cycles the hill near Oxford at Bavdhan for an early morning warm up

days a week. “For me, being fit is being able to stay fresh throughout the day irrespective of the workload. If you can get up fresh, go through a hard-working day and still be fresh when you go back to bed, you are fit in every sense,” says Prashant. The only day he chooses not to do anything is Sunday and that too because he believes that the body needs rest too. Prashant has always been inclined towards athletics and sports since his school days and has been following a strict schedule for the past 15 years to stay fit.

Like Prashant, Deepali Joshi too has the same idea of fitness.

She believes that staying fit means being fresh even after a hectic day. “Being fit does not only mean going to the gym and being able to lift weights. It also means to be fit mentally. If you are draining out energy at the end of the day, you have to work harder on fitness,” says the 47-year-old badminton player. Deepali has most recently represented India at the World Masters Badminton Tournament held in Norway in September this year. A dentist by profession, Deepali is also a loving mother and wife, a devoted house-maker and a passionate sportsperson. She has no fi xed routine to stay fit but her day begins at 5 am and she believes in keeping her body busy with a range of exercises, be it swimming, cycling, spinning, pilates, aerobics, trail running, cycling or yoga. Of seven days a week, she plays badminton for four and rotates the remaining exercises for the rest of the days.

IT’S NOT ALWAYS ROSY As age catches up, it is more often than not a sign of weaker bones, lesser strength, lower immunity and the tendency to get tired sooner that become a part of a sportsperson’s life. Doing the best they can, veteran athletes work overtime to ensure that their age is not a hindrance in whatever it is that they achieve. Yet, it doesn’t always work in their favour. Jugal Rathi, a chartered accountant, is an ardent lover of running. Starting at the age of 55, with a cycling group from Pune, the 68-year-old has, by now, cycled almost 7,500 km across India. “The enthusiasm around me when I run or cycle is palpitating and I very often forget my age. Then I often end up with injuries, which I probably would not have suffered had I been younger,” smiles Jugal. Being a positive person, he stays on his feet even as he welcomes his injuries with open arms, slows down a bit and learns from his mistakes. Jugal is, in fact, a true testimony of how one could beat age. Starting when he was 60, every year on his birthday, Jugal runs the Deccan Gymkhana ground as many rounds as his age.

Another equally enthusiast sport person is Balkrishna Desai, more popularly known as Rajoo Desai. Running a manufacturing unit in Bhosari, Rajoo does trail running, half marathons, swimming, cycle touring, gym and yoga to stay fit. For the 57 year old the biggest challenge is that of speed. He has had to compromise on what he thinks he could have achieved because of his age. However, through regular exercise and a well-chalked out diet, he manages to stay fit and in shape. For Rajoo, being fit is having a perfect combination of strength, stamina and flexibility. It is also to do with the willingness to do any activity.

While some believe that age is slowing them down, there are others, like Taru Mateti, who feel that even at 51, age is pretty much on her side. The head of delivery at Cybage Software, Taru began running only two years ago. She believes that sports bring

confidence and a lot of discipline in her life. “Even though there are the given challenges with running at my age because it is a high impact sport, it brightens up my day. As a result of my enthusiasm, I run faster and longer than I should and so I have obviously sustained injuries too. It generally takes me longer to recover though,” says Taru. Being the foodie that she is, following a strict diet is difficult for Taru and so she just chooses healthier options instead of the junk food that has always been her favourite.

inspiration to keep going. The competition is with my self — I have to better my previous run or cycle race,” says Prashant. The bliss factor at the end of a workout motivates Taru to stay active and push herself even more each time.

For each of them, the joy of being a part of the race is much more important and rewarding as opposed to any materialistic joy that they might derive.

“I often end up with injuries, which I probably would not have suffered had I been younger”

WEARING BADGES OF HONOUR DREAM BIG The fact that age is just a number has been proven by Turning their favourite sport into a career option the innumerable awards and medals that the veteran is perhaps not possible anymore but these seniors athletes have bagged. Recording her personal best have dreams that need much more grit, hard work, for a full marathon, Taru finished it in 2:28:58. and passion. While some pursued sports even when Her half marathon timing is 1:56:04 and it is 53:26 they were young, for others it’s a new-found interest. for a 10K-run. She has won 20 podiums, three Rajoo Desai has been playing cricket and basketball in full marathons in Hyderabad, Bangalore and from a very young age. He played in matches where Mumbai, two in 25K in Bengaluru and Mumbai he represented his school and college. Jugal Rathi, and the remaining in full marathons, 10K’s and on the other hand, began when he was 55 and relays in Pune, Hyderabad, Goa and Delhi. She - JUGAL RATHI has never looked back since then. He started with has also recently won an award for completing a cycling and slowly moved onto merely participating seven-minute plank. Inter-corporate badminton in marathons. Next came trekking through which he has covered competitions singles, doubles and mixed doubles, is also something most of the peaks in Maharashtra including the highest, Kalsubai, she has won before she began running. and that too five times. He has also participated in the toughest Rajoo has completed six Enduro races. He has cycled 800 kms in adventure race, Enduro3, which involves mountain 110-125 kmSri Lanka as well as 2,200 kms in a 33-day cycling tour of Vietnam, long cycling, trekking for 25-35 kilometres, river crossing, kayaking Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia. He also did another 2,200 and rifle shooting to name a few. Jugal dreams of cycling to Goa kilometre cycling tour from Khambat in Gujarat (0- sea level) to in a single day and participating in better marathons, like the Iron Man Trialthon whcih is one among the many long distance races organised by the World Trialthon Competition. Every participant must swim 3.86 kilometres, cycle 180.25 kilometres and run a marathon race of 42.2 kilometres.

For Deepali, the dream is wearing the gold medal at the World Masters tournament. Even though it is a difficult task to accomplish, she knows that it is not impossible and she will keep putting in the effort. Taru, on the other hand, dreams of staying fit as long as possible. “I have no end goal. I just want to stay healthy and continue to enjoy everything I do,” she says. She does want to accomplish an Ultra, which is a 50-km run, within the next few years after which she will settle down for half marathons.

For Prashant, improving his time and speed is the only thing he hopes and dreams of. He practices every day and is working towards his dream step by step. Most recently, he picked up gold at the veteran marathon, which was a fund raiser held by the Pune chapter of the ladies wing of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) last Sunday. Rajoo wants to compete in the half Iron Man in 2018 when he will turn 60. He is also planning on cycling through Europe as well as along the West coast of the United States of America from Seattle to San-Diego.

WHAT KEEPS THEM GOING? There is always something that pushes an individual towards the end goal. While for some it might be the passion for whatever it is that they do, for many it is their family members or some other stimulation. “Being fit when age catches up with me is my

Deepali Joshi plays badminton four times a week apart from swimming, cycling, spinning, pilates, aerobics trail running and yoga

Jugal Rathi at 68 years is winning marathons and competing in some of the toughest trialthons across the country

18,300 feet above sea level at Khardung La. On this tour, he cycled through Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal, Jammu and Kashmir to finally end in the Ladakh region. He has cycled from Pune to Goa in 24 hours and walked from Pune to Panchgani in 24 hours.

Being the eldest of the lot, Jugal is not to be left behind. He won the second place in the Airtel Hyderabad Marathon in 2014 and third place in the 2014 veterrun, eldest participant to complete the Enduro3 adventure race in the second toughest category. He also managed to keep bagging the award for seven years.

Deepali has won several local enduro, cyclothon and triathlon’s before she flew to Norway to represent India at the World Masters Badminton Championship.

She won the second podium finish in Ahmedabad consecutively for three years. She has cycled from Manali to Leh, which is about 555 kms and completed it in nine days. She has also cycled the world’s highest motorable road, Khardungla in about six hours. In addition, she has won the third prize in the tour for Nilgiri where she cycled around 800 kms in eight days.

Prashant won the Sabarmati Cyclothon, which is a 100-kilometre race, twice in 2013 and 2015. The race has participants from all over India in the 45-plus category.

He has also participated in a race across America, the 649-km Deccan Cliff hanger race. He stood first in the race from Pune to Goa, via Mahableshwar Dharwad in 2013, in spite of having two fractured ribs. He was the first runner up in TFN 2012 Tour of Nilgris. The eight-day race covered Mysore and the mountain ranges of Ooty as well. He has also won innumerable awards at local races held at Lavasa and Sinhagad in the last four years. Most recently, in the FLO Marathon, held in Pune last Sunday, Prashant stood first in the 10K veterrun category. salonee,mistry@goldensparrow,com