TGS Life 05/03/2016

PUNE, MARCH 5, 2016

Go Womaniya!

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Making of a super model

2 TGS LIFE

MARCH 5, 2016 PUNE

ENTERTAINMENT

Selectively social, assertive about her personal space, and an avid traveller, this 21-year-old student happens to also be among the very few rappers from the city

Rapping is liberating, says Ipsha

This nine-piece all girls band is up and about to change the music scene of Pune

By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM

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hen Renu Wadkar joined citybased Waltz Music Academy around two years ago as a part-time administrator, she didn’t have any inclination towards becoming a musician instead. She was studying in college and just wanted to earn some quick bucks for her pocket money.

Days passed by and she would watch children and young adults coming and learning music.

Sometimes she would finish her work and stay back and attend classes especially the sessions when the director of the academy would give the students interesting tips and insights. This gradually got Renu interested in pursuing music herself and eventually she enrolled herself as a student and began learning to play the guitar.

Like Renu, there were many girls who would join the academy, but quit due to several restrictions at home, mainly the fear of lagging behind in studies. She always used to wonder

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Hear Hertz out

and Punch Arogunz are artists she idolises. The learning process never ends for her. Currently, she is working on her verbal skills, on being more lucid, eloquent, forceful and bringing about clarity in her thoughts too. She is also working for her debut music video for which finalising a topic is becoming quite the problem.

For her the best aspect of being a rapper involves numerous ideas.

“Apart from changing the way you speak and your body language, you start writing your t hou ght s G H N E in the TI form

of a rap all the time. You begin looking at things from a different perspective and you are always devising ways to express your thoughts and convictions,” she says. On the other hand, getting over the mental block is something that she sorely dislikes. In addition, there is the continuous anxiety of whether or not your ideas will click with the audience and if the intended message is being delivered.

While pursuing rapping fulltime is something that Ipsha would absolutely love to do, she knows that in India it is not quite a career option yet. She plans on working in the advertising industry and, if luck

is on her side, finding a way to mix her chosen profession and passion.

She has extremely supportive parents who not only encourage her in what she is already doing but also push her to take up rapping in different languages too. Assamese, which is her mother tongue, is one of the options. Promising us that there is no definite formula to being a successful rapper, Ipsha tells us that as long as you manage to create a mutual vibe with your audience, they will love you. All you have to do is rap and interact with the audience at the same time. salonee.mistry @goldensparrow.com

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enning down poetry since she was 15 years old, Ipsha Barooah was introduced to the Hip-Hop scene in which rapping is a huge part, by a cousin and it almost immediately caught her fancy. From performing in front of her friends, she gradually gathered the confidence to compose her own lyrics and perform before an unfamiliar audience.

For her first rap performance the subject was war and Ipsha remembers coming up with it when she was in the examination hall.

She was only 19 years old then.

When she set foot on the stage her nervousness knew no limits.

She knew that the audience was expecting something different and she wanted to make it a memorable performance, which she did manage

to do in fact. “Rapping is liberating.

It gives me the opportunity to talk about anything under the sun, be it social issues, natural disasters, health tips, a life-altering event or even a tribute song,” Ipsha points out. “There are a hundred and one themes playing in my head all the time. Even the hue of the sky, uneven roads and someone’s friendship too, could become sources of inspiration as long as it comes from within,” adds the young rapper.

There was absolutely no one Ipsha could turn to when it came to learning the art form. The internet and international artists were her only saviours. Mike Shinoda was one of her earliest inspirations and she remembers a time when she would effortlessly memorise his lyrics. Her work is largely influenced

by Snow tha Product. Lady Leshurr and Angel Haze, along with other German rappers like Esta

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By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

why boys have more liberty as compared to girls when it comes to taking up hobbies like music or in fact any other form of performing art. “It was our director, Manish Rubdi who after seeing the deep interest in some of us girl music students that he one day suggested us on why not start our own independent all girls band,” says Renu. And that’s how with his help, Renu formed the band ‘Hertz’, which they say is the only all girls band in the city.

The band has nine members of different age groups the youngest of them being the key board player, Shaniya Oliver Dsilva, who is studying Science in standard XI and is also the newest member of the band. Hertz is an experimental band truly believes in the spirit of women who are capable attaining success in whichever field they choose. “Even though our country is full of talented women, there are not many bands which are completely backed by women. And that’s why we all have come together so we could prove our metal through our music,” adds 19-year-old drummer Yojana Dabke who joined the band about a year ago.

She was the only girl student in the academy who joined to learn drums.

The band members say that they don’t follow any particular genre of music and love to experiment with everything that they have learnt and still learning such as classic

rock, Sufi, metal, Bollywood and so on. They perform in different languages including English, Hindi, Marathi and even Punjabi.

“Apart from various compositions, we have prepared our own compositions, a few of which we will be staging this evening as part of the Women’s Day celebration at Amanora Town Centre,” says the 19-year-old bassist, Aanchal Bansal. These band members are currently learning at the academy and have also formed a core women group inside of their campus. The band also plans to record

an album soon and aims to become a famous girl band in the country. Although there have been many exits of the band members since its formation, Renu still believes that it has been able to inspire many to pursue what they desire in life, be it any kind of art form. Till now, they have staged over 300 performances in and around the city and wish to do thousands more.

When: March 5, 6 pm onwards Where: Amanora Town Centre, Hadapsar heena.grover@goldensparrow.com

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TGS LIFE

MARCH 5, 2016 PUNE

ENTERTAINMENT

The Circus and Street Stories come to town This Sunday, Puneites are in for a musical treat as two Indie bands, The Circus and Street Stories, take centre stage

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

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he 2 Stroke Tour is all set to get you grooving this weekend. The third edition of the event will feature two well-known bands The Circus and Street Stories with their brand new album.

The event aims to bring a regular touring culture to the Indie music scene and breaking down geographic barriers. The bands will travel to different parts of the country to interact with a different audience, enabling them to reach out to people who haven’t

heard them before. TGS gives you a sneak peek into their performance.

THE CIRCUS The band is known to leave its audiences in thrall every time they take over the stage.

Having opened for festivals like Karnivool, One Movement Festival in Perth, Australia, The New Wave Asia Festival, they are back in action with their new album, titled With Love. “The album took us over three years to make. The songs are deep and meaningful, mostly about who we are as people,” says Arsh Sharma, guitarist. Their music comprises of furious tones with a mix of quirky, funky and groovy music.

At the 2 Strokes tour, they will play their popular numbers as well as some songs from their new album. They consider themselves as the essence of what Rock and Roll is all about and try to bring the fun part of music that has all but died. Formed in 2007, the band fuses

various genres together as they do not like restricting themselves to one genre.

This four-piece band comprises of Abhishek Bhatia on vocals, Arsh Sharma on guitars, Abhinav Chaudhary on bass and Anshul Lall on drums. “Initially, we were struggling to pick a name for the band. So we randomly just named it The Circus and everyone seemed to agree with the name,” says Arsh.

STREET STORIES The Indie-Electro Pop band from Shillong was formed by two musically-inclined brothers Riko and Pezo Kronu in 2010. The two believe that they have been breathing and talking music ever since they were toddlers.

“In our growing up years, we had a desire to get on further with our musical adventure and that was when we finally decided to form a band. We met our drummer at our local church and realised that he had potential and

we shared a common set of ideas when it comes to playing live music,” says Pezo.

The three piece band comprises of Pezo Kronu on guitars and vocals, Riko Kronu on bass and vocals, and Matsram Sangma on drums. They present a widespread recipe of music ranging from genres such as Punk, Indie, Pop, Rock to Blues forming a fusion of Rock and Roll and everything in between.

This exciting Indie trio draws its inspiration from everyday subjects but that’s not why they call themselves Street Stories. “The name was instigated by a Blink 182 poster that was hung in in my brother’s room. But unlike the name, our music does not brood over gloomy stories about the streets,” Pezo adds.

The band is gathering a lot of positive attention with its fun-filled, energetic live performances. On the tour, they will release their EP ‘Deaf Punk’. “This is our first performance in Pune and we will play our regular set and songs from our new EP,” he says.

When: March 6 Where: The High Spirits, Koregaon Park zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com

Meet the new-look Juliet and her Romeo Students from the National School of Drama take you on a beautiful journey with their production based on the ephemeral idea of Shakespeare’s eternal love story, Romeo and Juliet

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

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veryone has heard the eternal love story of the couple that became an inspiration for generations. Their fate sealed by the words that Shakespeare penned, they fought their families to be together.

When things did not quite go their way, they decided to take matters

into their own hands and ended their lives. Several centuries later, although their story has been retold numerous times, their love remains doomed. There are, however, a few things that can be changed and this is exactly what Amitabh Srivastava and Aniruddha Khutwad, have done with their adaptation of Romeo and Juliet. Students of the National School of Drama will perform the

play in the city for the very first time this weekend.

Keeping in sync with changing times, the play is performed entirely from Juliet’s perspective. This is also why it is called Juliet Aur Usko Romeo. Moreover, the family rivalry has been compared to contemporary religious feuds and some of the characters have been changed to sync in with the 21st century. “The biggest

challenge was to edit the play to fit the time frame and yet include every important scene. Ensuring that the contemporary nature of the play flowed naturally was another factor that required a lot of attention,” says Aniruddha, the director of the play.

The play then also acts as a vehicle to bring up ideas of intolerance.

One extremely important thing that the director has tried portraying in the play is that even though the times have changed the idea of eternal love still exists. The Juliet of

today is a lot more practical, sensible and looks at her love story and fate in a completely different light. The approach to the situation varies and this breathes fresh air into the play.

The 105-minutes play is the same story set in a different era, with dialogues in Hindi and English.

Aniruddha has been directing plays for about 20 years now and is usually surrounded by a bunch of youngsters. He truly believes that the future of theatre is in good hands. “Theatre is not a stepping stone to anything. People have to consider it as a separate medium and understand its potential,” he says a little content. Born and brought up in Pune, he has a very close connect to the stage and has directed more than 30 big productions. He was also the assistant director on films like Valu and telefilms like Najarana, Fursat Mein and Musafir.

When: March 6, 7 pm onwards Where: Jyosna Bhole Sabhagruha

Danseuse with a cause

TGS LIFE

MARCH 5, 2016 PUNE

STAGE

Bharatanatyam performer Aarthy Natarajan presents a dance drama to talk of communal disharmony and violence with the aim of changing a few mind sets TGS NEWS SERVICE @TGSWeekly

‘I want to produce films S that are strong on content’ Director Vishal Furia is hopeful about changing the scene of Classic Horror films in India. While his first film is in the post-production phase, he has already started working on a few other scripts too

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

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hey are capable of sending shivers down your spine, make you hide under the blanket and even yelp in fear every few minutes. Classic horror movies are called classic for a reason and Vishal Furia only wants to recreate that magic in Marathi. His fi lm Lappachapi is currently in postproduction and it’s sure to be something to look forward to. It has been decades that the Marathi fi lm industry has seen a fi lm like this and it is time to pave a way for the genre in Indian cinema, says Vishal.

In conversation with TGS, he tells us a little about the fi lm, why he has always wanted to be a director and how it is better to not have a god-father when one enters the industry. He also picks his favourite classical horror fi lms for us.

A one-of-its-kind fi lm, Lappachapi is about a couple and the time that they spend in a house nestled in a sugarcane field. What happens there during their stay is what the fi lm is all about. It was shot in just 16 days and was an incredible experience, tells us the director. His biggest challenge was finding a financier to begin with. “Th is genre is tried and tested and yet no one is willing to shell out money for it. I honestly believe that once the fi lm is made, people will realise the power that the genre holds,” says Vishal. When

the producer of the fi lm Jitendra Patil did come on board, Vishal was extremely excited as this is exactly what he had wanted. He had hoped for someone who was not from the industry to be a part of the fi lm so that he could stay true to his script rather than think of the fi lm as a commercial project. Someone from outside the industry also brought along with them an entirely new perspective.

While no one in his family had anything to do with the arts even remotely, Vishal was a part of the world of theatre since his school days. Movies are everything for him and direction is his way of telling stories. “I want to produce fi lms that are strong on content. The Marathi audience is generally more accepting of good fi lms and can digest works that are high on content unlike ardent Bollywood fans,” he tells us and this is why he decided to make his fi lm in Marathi first. India has everything, right from the required technology to the talent and he is merely someone putting it all together. His favourite fi lms include Devil’s Backbone, Orphanage and every single Spanish and Japanese Classic Horror fi lm that there is.

Entering the industry only with a dream and nothing else, Vishal truly believes that having a godfather is both a boon and a bane. While the boon is well-known, this young director tells us that the biggest drawback of having a god-father is that there is a larger scope to be influenced. Being under the shadow of your god-father often starts reflecting on your work and then pulling out of it becomes difficult. His future plans include setting up a movie studio to encourage and provide space for amateur and budding fi lm makers. Imtiaz Ali and Hansal Mehta feature in the list of current fi lm directors Vishal admires. Given the opportunity, he would love to work with Aamir Khan. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

he was only 12 years old when she took her fi rst steps on the stage and mesmerized the audience with her expressions and grace. Now, only a few months after childbirth, she is seen moving to the tunes of Carnatic music in her fi rst solo performance in the city. Telling the story of a woman and her journey from being a happy individual to one fi lled with revenge and resentment, Bharatanat yam dancer Aarthy Nataranjan has a beautiful tale to tell.

The protagonist of the dance drama portrays an entire gamut of emotions. Set against the background of Carnatic music and Hindi verse p o e t r y,

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the performance is sure to transform you to the world of the protagonist and feel her pain through every single step. “Pariniti is the journey of transformation. It subtly targets acts of terrorism that we see in our day to day life and attempts to explain the effect it has on innocent people,” says Aarthy.

The sudden shift from a fulfi lled life to losing her parents in a communal riot and then being brainwashed into believing that the protagonist must indeed seek revenge is elegantly expressed through striking poses and brilliant expressions.

Starting her dance journey from Century Rayon Mahila Mandal, Kalyan and graduating from Kalakshetra Academy, which is founded by Rukhmini Devi Arundale in Chennai, her association with the dance form has been a long and satisfying one.

Living in the city for the past year and a half, this will be her fi rst solo performance.

She moved to Pune with her husband who is in the navy and often travels for work. While no one from her family is in a similar field, they are all art lovers which is why Aarthy’s interested in the dance form. Had she not been a dancer and dance teacher, she would probably have been

“Pariniti subtly targets acts of terrorism that we see in our daily life and attempts to explain the effect it has on innocent people”

teaching at a school as she loves to spend time with children.

She has also performed in Thailand and Germany and has fond memories of the experience. Currently while Aarthy’s schedule largely revolves around her one-year-old son, she makes it a point to wake up early in the morning to rehearse as it is an important aspect for any and every dance. “It’s not that one will forget how to dance if you do not do it every day. Rehearsing helps you maintain good stamina, keeps your mind occupied and allows fresh ideas to brew while relieving one of all stress,” she adds.

Having performed for the last 18 years, she admits that it is and will remain a huge part of who she is.

Getting back to her hectic schedule, she ended the interview by saying that her only hope through the performance is to highlight the effects of communal disharmony and violence on the society and do her bit to create awareness.

When: March 5, 7 pm Where: Gyaan Adab, Kalyani Nagar

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Take a peek at art that’ll make you think

TGS LIFE

MARCH 5, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

A unique travel art show brings works of 17 renowned women artists

By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM

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n an endeavour to celebrate women artists of the country, Malavika Gaur and Jehan Tiwary of VeVa Art, have brought the first edition of Five Elements, a first-of-its-kind travel art show that kick starts from the city.

Although there are many renowned female artists in the city, most high profile art exhibitions predominantly showcase works of male artists. To give an equal and absolutely well-deserved platform to all the women artists across the country, Malavika curated a travelling art show through which she could introduce the brilliant works of fresh as well as famous artists of one city to art aficionados of another.

“When I was conceptualising this event, I came across several artists who were really eager to showcase their works in Pune. Having worked in the city for about eight years, I have always had a soft corner for this place. Its rich culture and its people’s taste towards creative events would nurture women artists. So Jehan and I decided that our first art show should start its tour from nowhere else but here,” shares Malavika.

Explaining the theme, she adds, “Women always emphasise on some element that reflects their power, strength or integrity put together in the form of art. These are also related to the five elements – fire, air, earth, sky and water – that make the universe. To project the elements of these women artists in the same light, I decided to curate Five Elements.”

Durga Kainthola, one of the prominent artists from Delhi whose work has been displayed at the exhibition, started her career in 1987.

Over the years, her work has evolved in several spheres to mainly revolve around women’s issues and the many taboos that are connected to women. She is one of the rare artists in the country to have experimented with her art along with her thoughts to create bikini sculptures. “For the past few years, there was a sudden upsurge of cases where women were being assaulted. I was deeply disturbed and thought that being an artist it was my responsibility to do my bit for the society and create awareness. That’s when I created bikini sculptures. The idea was to show the garment in such a light that people – mostly men – don’t see it just as a symbol of sensuality. I created these sculptures as home décor pieces so they could be pictured as a way of life and not something that a woman wears to lure a man. One such piece, that I have named Aishwarya, is on display at this exhibition,” says Durga.

Malavika and Jehan wanted this to be very different from the regular art exhibitions where there’s just a play of canvas. “So if on one side,

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

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n its endeavour to promote the spirit of the creative woman, Gyaan Adab presents Sojourn: The Stories That Feet Tell, an exhibition of drawings by Sucheta Siddha. The artist uses the essential form of feet to explore life and relationships. Sucheta is an artist with an innate ability to express emotions through her works. In the drawings included in the art show, she explores life and relationship using images of feet.

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sketch. The result of that endeavour amazed me,” she says. Later, she made an abstract drawing of a foot which depicts a foetus in a womb. She also portrayed the Panchmahabhuta, or the five elements, through the foot. Then there was no looking back for her and she went on to make 150 drawing on the theme, some conceptual and some that tell a story of their own.

“From infancy to adulthood and beyond, our feet feature in numerous social, cultural and religious customs, beliefs and practices. However, these don’t leave any impression on the stories of our lives. People do. Those who walk in and out of our lives leave footprints that change the paths of our own lives for the better or worse.

My drawings are about these aspects of our life,” she explains.

Masterful strokes in watercolours and the use of handmade paper

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My foot… has a story!

She derived the concept after observing her husband who fell asleep while reading a book. “In his sleep,

he was playing with his foot and this fascinated me. So, I simply picked up the pen and paper and started to

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Sucheta Siddha’s drawings have been selected to be displayed at Gyan Adab. They are a part of her series of 150 thematic works that explore life and relationships using the image of feet

you see paintings in mythological, secular, figurative, abstract, conceptual to multi-media mediums, there are art objects and pieces such as sculptures, ceramics, jali work also on display,” says Jehan.

The exhibition also has displays Malavika Gaur and Jehan Kothary by artists Anindita Bhattacharya, Megha Joshi, Sangeeta Gupta, Vineeta Dasgupta, Shampa Sircar Das and Kavita Jaiswal, who were also a part of the India Art Fair held in January in Delhi. The other artists are Kanchan Chander, Sangeeta Singh, Sangeeta Kumar Murty, Gayatri Singh, Bani Pershad, Nupur Kundu, Sarala Chandra, Radhika Kapil, Ritu Chopra, Suchi Khanna and Durga Kanthola.

The exhibition will travel to Gurgaon, Ahmedabad and Goa in the coming months where artists from different states and cities will get an opportunity to showcase their works and in return take back influences from different cultural diversities.

When: Till March 13 Where: Let Art Work, 18 High Street, Baner-Pashan Link Road heena.grover@goldensparrow.com

are hallmarks of Sucheta’s creative inter pretations.

She believes in the foot being freespirited. In order to let people get a glimpse of her thought process, her drawing won’t be showcased in frames. “There are no restrictions to a foot, so why confine them to a frame. I have displayed the works in special jute triangles,” she says. The works have been influenced

by Madhubani and Gond style of art that Sucheta has tried to blend with her drawings.

The artist has had one solo show and has participated in two group shows earlier. She has wide experience in art education at schools, art direction as well as creating illustrations.

When: March 5 to 11 Where: Gyaan Adab, Kalyani Nagar zainab.kantawala @goldensparrow.com

MARCH 5, 2016 PUNE

INDULGE

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

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Binge on Wattaka Curry, Seer Sothi and Pol Sambol

fter spending a good amount of years in his family construction business Sharad Badge decided to pursue his passion for cooking. Starting his own gourmet venture along with his friend Ashlesha Phatak, they took in orders under the name Marinare about a year and a half ago. Experimenting with all kinds of food, be it Kashmiri or South Indian cuisine, every dish prepared by the home-chef is unquestionably class apart. He has a loyal set of customers that keep increasing every day and so does the list of cuisines that he cooks.

With his latest Sri Lankan cuisine pop-up, he is not only pushing his own boundaries but even Punekars’ pallete power. Over a steamy breakfast at his favourite food joint, Rupali on Fergusson College Road, he let us in on what one can expect at the pop-up, what to serve him to make him happy and his future plans with the venture.

It was after he met a friend who was just back from Sri Lanka that he was drawn to the cuisine. His friend kept raving about it and this only increased his curiosity. He took a few cooking lessons from people who knew about the cuisine, researched on the net a little and began the process of trial and error. “The cuisine deals with a lot of spices and toning them down for Punekars was most important.

The traditional people from the city are not so open to trying new things compared to those that have moved here from other cities,” he tells us. This was his biggest challenge.

He cooks Gujarati, Parsi, Awadhi, Keralite, Mangalorean, Maharashtrian, Burmese, Malaysian and Nevari cuisine and promises to soon start serving Anglo Indian food.

Sharad remembers the first time he was in the kitchen. He was helping his grandmother cook and did everything from grinding the

These home chef and baker have sworn to serve you fine cuisine at your doorstep. Foodies at heart, they are bringing to you some of the best cuisines from across the world

masalas to secretly memorising her recipes. Cooking makes him happy and this is what he plans on doing for the rest of his life. Although he loves to create some out-of-the-box recipes, his favourite are always prawns and anything cooked in Kashmiri style.

Just like him, Ashlesha too bakes to order. Specializing in international desserts she too loves to experiment.

When we met her, she gave us a dessert that she had made which was possibly the best thing that anyone had done with cookies and brownies put together. Surprisingly, she claims not to have a sweet tooth and almost never eats what she bakes, other than when she has to taste it.

Ashlesha and Sharad have been the best of friends for about 18 years now are also each other’s critics and tasting machines when it comes to

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TGS LIFE

t he food that they prepare.

Ask him where he sees himself in the next five years and he promises us that we will always find him cooking. As of now, they don’t plan to go commercial as the essence of being a home cook is lost. They do not wish to

compromise on the quality one bit. Their dream is to provide people with a fine-dine experience at home and so even plan on launching a food truck. It will carry along with it semi-cooked food, reach your house and prepare a hot meal for you. Yum! When you visit the pop-up do not forget to try the Sri Lankan fish cutlets, mutton chops in Sri Lankan spices called Elu Maas, Seer Sothi the fish in yellow curry, and Pol Sambol which is a side serving along with the non-vegetarian dishes. Kaju Mulava, which includes cashews seared in spicy curry leaves, and Wattakka curry, which is pumpkin cooked in curry powder, are the must-pick options for vegetarians. Organised by The Secret Chulha, pre-bookings for the pop-up are compulsory.

When: March 6, 7:30 pm and 9:30 pm Get in touch: 8698827983 salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

YOUR CHOW AROUND TOWN Discover The Spirit of Womanhood

brings fun filled evenings with eclectic assortments of lip-smacking food and a variety of beverages to choose from.

The snacks menu boasts of Multigrain sandwiches, Pizzas, Indian style mixed batter fried fritters, Andhra fried chicken, Roomali wraps and much more.

When: March 8 to April 3 Where: Fishbowl, Hyatt Pune Kalyani Nagar

Enjoy the time with your girl gang at 3 Spices as they are offering 25 per cent discount on Buffet. To make it more interesting every lady will get a complimentary gift and a rose. This does not end here, you can also pamper yourself at the Aristro Spa with a complimentary face mask.

When: March 8 Where: DoubleTree By Hilton, Chinchwad

Voracious Weekdays

The Most Exotic Cake of The Season Welcome spring with the most exotic cake of the season The Berry, Champagne and Baileys Cake available on order at DoubleTree By Hilton. It’s made of chocolate sponge cake layered with one layer of Champagne chocolate mousse and one layer of Baileys chocolate mousse. On top, it has all sorts of berries.

Where: DoubleTree By Hilton, Chichwad

Catch The Action at Fishbowl Stop by with friends or colleagues at Hyatt Pune to watch the live screening of T-20 World Cup and avail exciting offers at Fishbowl. This cricket season, Hyatt Pune

Get set to taste the finest cuisines from around the world at The Eatery. Meant for the gourmet aficionado, there are special days dedicated to each country like Mexican Mondays, Turkish Tuesdays, Welsh Wednesdays, Thai Thursdays and French Fridays. Dig into some enchiladas de legumes, Welsh mushrooms, Sate Gai and ratatouille along with desserts like churros, baklava, Tab Tim Krob and macarons among others.

When: Till March 31 Where: The Eatery, Four Points By Sheraton Hotel, Nagar Road

THE KINGS OF KEBAB Craving for authentic succulent kebabs? These city joints promise you more than a finger-licking good experience

By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM

TGS LIFE

MARCH 5, 2016 PUNE

INDULGE

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rom melt-in-the-mouth galouti and mutton seekh kebabs prepared in true Awadhi style to flavourful Lebanese Shish Tawooks, Tangy Iranian Jujeh kebabs to luscious tikkas and kathi kebabs, get ready to satiate your gluttonous mood.

NAWAB ASIA, BUND GARDEN ROAD Started about a decade ago by Mumbaikar Preet Singh Ahluwalia, this spacious diner with an open-air seating is known among patrons as the Nawab of Kebabs. On the almost unending menu are the best of Mughlai delights, which include vegetarian, non-vegetarian and seafood starters as well as main course. While all their preparations are worth a try, some of the bestsellers are Galouti, Kakori, Murg Lapeta, Makhmali Naram

Seekh and Murgh Zafrani kebabs. An out-n-out meat lover’s destination, Nawab Asia is also known for being one of the most hygienic and well-maintained restaurants where customers are served with utmost care. If you are wondering about your eat-out and looking for a place that is neither extremely high-end nor a street-side joint, your choice should very simply be Nawab Asia.

Meal for two: Rs 1,200 approx

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ZOUQ , FC ROAD Remember the Kareem’s joint towards the end of FC Road? That’s where Zouq is now located. The cozy little food haven which came into being about 10 months ago, specialises in Mughlai, North Indian and Middle-Eastern cuisines. The restaurant has an impressive menu but it’s the selection of kebabs that will make you drool even before you have placed your order. While each have their own distinct flavour, colour and texture, some of highly recommended dishes are Murg Kandhari and Murg Lebenese, which are quite different from regular dishes served at almost all city joints.

Meal for Two: Rs 750 approx MASH PALACE, NIBM ROAD

KAPILA KATHI KEBAB, DHOLE PATIL ROAD

A lazy hideout amidst the bustling NIBM Road area, this joint is a collegegoers’ paradise. Offering a range of Shishas along with pocket-friendly food options, Mash Palace fits a youngster’s expectations of a place to spend a good time with friends perfectly. It offers a long list of Chinese dishes but those who want to eat something hatke, must go for their Irani Jujeh and Chelow

kebabs which come as platters served with aromatic rice. Among the most popular dishes on the menu here is the Jujeh Kebabs, which are unbelievably succulent

and tasty. The open-air ambience amidst lush trees with simple sitouts gives this place a very Iranian café feel.

Meal for two: Rs 350 approx

Mohammad Kalim Shaikh of Kolkata came to Pune in 1992 after a short work stint in Delhi. He started his journey from a humble stall that stood across the road on a corner from where it has now moved to a slightly bigger take-away joint. This place offers some of the best Chicken Tikkas and Kathi Kebab rolls in town. The menu has a list of vegetarian and chicken tikkas and rolls that are prepared in flavouful masalas, which remain a secret even now. Several joints lose their authenticity once they gain popularity, but the flavours and softness of Kapila’s tikkas and rolls have never changed. The joint stays packed during lunch and evening hours and you literally have to push your way up to the counter during rush hour. The heavenly Chicken Kathi Kebab roll comes with single and double filling. So if you want to make the most of it, go here when you are famished.

Meal for two: Rs 300 approx

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Go WOMANIYA!

MARCH 5, 2016 PUNE

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By Salonee Mistry &ZainabKantawala @TGSWeekly

They’ve fought their or the last 15 years, Sharmila Chitale has been juggling battles by themselves to between three worlds – her find happiness in the little joys daughter Sonya’s, her son Shamik’s and her own. of life while carving out delightful It has not been an easy ride but she has woken up every single day with moments for their children as well. a smile. When Sheetal Are stepped into her new life as a single mother Right from doing the household chores four years ago, she had made up to stepping out of the house in search her mind to make her son, who was four years old then, her only priority. of financial independence and Today, as an eight-year-old, he is one of the most mature young boys that you playing the mother figure to a will ever know. Like Sharmila, there tee, these single moms are are innumerable other women who take on the mantle of being a successful single an inspiration for mother every single day.

Being alone teaches you to be strong. It shows everyone you how to be independent, confident and, above all,

evening, they come home together and then its mother-daughter time. They go shopping, get done with the house chores, watch their favourite television shows and even clean the house together, if needed. These few hours in the evening comprise their special time and absolutely nothing is allowed to come in the way.

Archana and Manav too have a similar bond. From house chores, to playing, shopping, buying groceries and watching cartoon, they do it all together.

“He selects his clothes and mine too.

Most of what I have in my wardrobe is

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a person whom everyone admires. It’s easy to be on your own when you are the only one you have to take care of but what happens when you also have a child to look after. Not only does your responsibility double but so do your expenses. Staying level-headed, composed and knowing how to deal with your young ones is often the key to balancing your career and your children, tell us the single mothers that we spoke to. With Women’s Day just three days away TGS shares with you the story of five young mothers who took care of everything when it came to their children and their own lives, becoming a source of inspiration for many.

Archana and Manav Kataria

she received the earth shattering news of her husband’s demise. This unexpected loss of her life partner was the hardest she had ever been through. There was a point when she thought she would not be able to fight through the grief. But what kept her going was the child that was soon to be born. She fought back the situation for her son and of course her parents supported her. Currently working in an IT company, her son Aarush stays with her parents in Ahmednagar.

“Aarush is seven years old now and he’s been staying with my parents since he was 18 months old. It was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do but it needed to be done,” she tells us.

all his choice,” she smiles.

For Sharmila, Sonya and Shamik, no matter what their routine, they religiously spend a few hours in the evening together. They call it their ‘cuddly time’. This is when they share how their day was and discuss any problems that they might be facing. Sharmila has made it a point to discuss and share everything among all three of them. One should not feel left out because of the other she tells us.

On the other hand, whenever Rakhi is in Ahmednagar, she spends all the time she can with her son. They cook together, go swimming, watch movies, and even draw together. Though sometimes she misses having her ‘me’ time, her son always comes first for her. “I am closer to my son, than I When you are a single mother you not only play that am to myself. I make sure that I am a part of all caring and nurturing role but you also become the strict, parent-teacher meetings. I go to cheer him on when always ready to play and affectionate father figure. This he participates in any sports event or competitions. double role comes with a whole lot of responsibility and He is always my first priority,” Rakhi shares. often juggling the two can be quite the task. All of the All these women and several others are women we spoke with play the double role in one way inspirations and examples of courage, determination or the other, sometimes even without realising it. and survival. It is never about accepting the situation — ARCHANA KATARIA Take Rakhi and Aarush for example. Every time because you can’t change it but about finding a she visits him on the weekends she has to be both strict way to make everything fall in place and enjoy the and let him know that she misses him. She says, “I can’t process at the same time. While every part of the express my anger in front of him, since I meet him just twice a week. He process be it emotional or physical is exhausting, when your children should not feel that I visited him just to pull him up, nor can I ignore his look up to you with admiration and respect in their eyes, it all seems bigger mistakes. It’s quite troubling deciding what role to play,” she says. worthwhile, the proud mommies tell us.

Through Manav’s growing up years, Archana has been on a constant emotional roller coaster. From teaching him to bathe by himself, to panicking at midnight as she nursed him through high fever, to even playing with him she has done it all by herself. After she is done sending her kid to school she heads to office. “I am not only responsible as a mother, but, for him, I am his father too. Sometimes I get exhausted with having to do it all, but I love every single bit of it,” she says. Office parties, hanging out with friends, and spending time alone, all these take a backseat for her and she has absolutely no regret about it.

Playing the double role

Testing times made them strong When things go wrong it is difficult to find inner peace and get on with your life. Getting out of their troubled marriages and fighting it within themselves to smile for their children and families was one of the most difficult things that these women had to do. For some, their children gave them the strength that they needed, while for others spiritualism was the key.

All of us grow up believing in the fairy tale of meeting your Mr Right, building a family, and it all ending in a happily-everafter. But what if this dream gets shattered? What if things don’t go as planned and time starts running out? This is the story of Archana Kataria, who filed for divorce soon after she conceived her son Manav, who is nine years old now. “Sometimes there is a sinking feeling of guilt about raising my son without his father because of the questions he has to face from his friends but he understands and sorts it by himself now,” she tells us proudly.

Preeti Thombare too separated from her husband when her daughter was quite young. Ask her if she regrets her decision and she nods in denial. “Your children are a reflection of who you are whether you a single mother or not. Believing in yourself and having the right amount of self-confidence is necessary when you take tough decisions and regretting them is not an option,” she tells us. Ananya her daughter is a mature eight-year-old who is more like her best friend.

Whatever the past maybe, it has played a huge role in shaping and building Sheetal Are’s confidence. She too does not regret a single moment of her past and, in fact, believes that she would probably never have known how strong she was had things not happened the way they did. She is proud of the fact that, when asked, her son says that his name is Soham Sheetal Are and that he behaves just how she would want him to be. She tells us how one should never let the pain reflect in conversations and find a way to turn every single challenge that life throws at you into your strength. Her parents, brother

Sheetal and Soham Are

Rakhi and Aarush Jatakia

and sister-in-law, who she lives with now and her current employer, Leena Saldanha, were instrumental in getting her through the rough patch and helping her find herself again.

Being relatively grown up when their parents separated, Shramila’s children have been a great support system for her. They have seen everything that she has been through and appreciate everything that she has done for them too. Managing both Sonya and Shamik was quite the task for her. Both of them portray extremely different personalities so what worked with one did not work with the other. Practicing Buddhism kept her grounded and made the difficult times a little easier. The one thing that the entire experience taught her was to believe her own instincts. “My children loved their father but also understood when we decided to separate. They knew that it was a happier place for me. The fact that they understood this made a world of difference to me,” explains the 49-yearold.

R a k h i Jatakia’s is a story of a beginning and an end. She was nine months pregnant and a week before the delivery of Preeti and Ananya Thombare their first child,

“I am not only responsible as a mother, but, for him, I am his father too.

Sometimes I get exhausted with having to do it all, but I love every single bit of it”

A bond that will last forever Dinner dates, shopping sprees and picnics are a common thing in the Are household. Playing football in the mud, cricket games, reading books under the tree and even going to watch films together, Soham and Sheetal always impatiently await the weekend. “I never lie to my son. It’s important for him to know the truth about everything.

It is what makes us what we are,” Sheetal adds. Her son often compliments her when she dresses well, tells her what will look good on her, almost always understands how she is feeling and is always there to cheer her up.

Even Preeti and her daughter follow a schedule. They spend their mornings studying and having breakfast together and then leave the house together. While one goes to school the other goes off to work. In the

Sharmila and Shamik Chaitale

TGS LIFE

MARCH 5, 2016 PUNE

FORM AND FUNCTION

THRILL OF DRIVING

By Tushar Burman @tburman

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ou have to hand it to the boys at Bajaj: they know how to add value where one didn’t think was possible. With the new V15 motorcycle, they’ve done that in spades, while touching that soft, patriotic bit of your heart that defies all critique. You see, the V15, now famously, incorporates metal from the storied INS Vikrant aircraft carrier in its tank assembly and says as much in an etching on the filler cap.

Marketing ploy? Perhaps, but one can only expect a positive rub-off from the association with a war hero. The Vikrant association is evidently quite strong, as we had a couple of bikers chase us down to ask if this was the “Vikrant bike”.

Mission accomplished, Bajaj marketing team. A pat on the back for the agency guy who thought this one up.

The V15 is all about visual mass. As Bajaj officials tell it, the product took form in a sketch from the design team and moved ahead from there. It’s a conventional format, but uses the “modern classic” aesthetic that seems so much in fashion these days. Bajaj claims to be using an all-new 150cc motor for the V15 sitting in an all-new chassis. Bodywork, obviously, shares nothing with any other stablemate and that’s a key USP: nothing else in the market looks like the V15. The execution is coherent and while it is inspired from things that exist already (note the

PICS BY RAHUL RAUT

Bajaj has a knack for finding undiscovered niches, or creating their own. Here’s another patriotic ploy in their arsenal

Moto Guzzi-alike tank and emblem), the sum of the parts is something new.

As you’d expect from a Bajaj product, there are things that are first/bigger/better than the competition. The forks are 33mm, the front disc is wavy, you get a rear seat cowl (cleverly detached with an allen key built into the ignition key), a bright and uniquely-shaped headlamp, and the rear tyre is a 120-section 16” hoop developed specially for the bike with TVS. It all comes together rather well, at the expense of features that you could live without, at least for a bike of this intent. You don’t get a tachometer or a kill switch for instance, and the peak horsepower figure is among the lower ones in the segment.

What you do get though, is a very smooth, quiet and refined motor that’s almost Hondasilent at idle. We experienced this with their recent Avenger 150 motorcycle as well, and we’re impressed by how well the manufacturer is handling NVH these days. The V15 also uses

one of the largest exhaust diameters we’ve seen on this segment and while the note is not particularly evocative, it does get noticed by passers-by.

Torque is 13Nm@5500rpm, which compares well with the competition. At these levels, this is not the sort of motive thrust you feel in your gut, but rather allows for practical performance at middling speeds that commuters spend most of their time at. You can lug the engine in high gears at low speeds and it doesn’t shudder or complain.

This lends a very relaxed character to the bike, something I had to spend some time getting used to, having ridden to the press event on a much larger, more powerful motorcycle.

While the V15 does appear generouslyproportioned and has a relatively long wheelbase, in practice it is a compact motorcycle that’s easy to hustle through traffic. The handlebar is wide, though reach is short and the footpegs are a bit high. This creates slightly odd ergonomics for the rider, with one needing to lean forward, while one’s knees are a bit above parallel to the road surface. To be fair, we tested while wearing riding boots, so the average joe wearing sneakers or chappals should be comfortable. But please don’t ride with chappals.

The gearbox is a mixed bag on the V15. It’s a smooth unit that’s quick and easy to row through the five speeds, but it’s an all-up pattern, which is unfamiliar to most. The heel-toe shifter is acceptable, but those with larger shoe sizes will find the toe end hard to manipulate. Use the

Accessory seat cowl slides on and attaches by two allen bolts. An allen key is cleverly integrated into the ignition key

Verdict + Design, price - Gear pattern, some vibrations

TGS rating ;;;`Z

Large-diameter exhaust generates a quiet note, but is noticeable to passers-by

heel, however, and going up the gears in traffic is a faultless affair, and the bike prefers to be shortshifted into top gear as quickly as possible. Sixty is the sweet spot, while going above 80kmph is laborious. We didn’t bother testing top speed because we have full, productive lives. There is some buzz coming through the grips and footpads at most speeds, but we suspect Bajaj will iron that out quickly. Ride quality is slightly firm, relative to some other similar motorcycles, and it likes to fall quickly into corners. We didn’t bother to get our knee down, however, because we have full, productive lives. Coming to a stop is surprisingly rapid thanks to the 240mm wavy disc in front.

Bajaj set out to create a unique product in a well-understood, competitive segment. We’d say they’ve succeeded. At Rs 62,000, of which Rs 999 is the accessory pack including the rear seat cowl, its well-priced and looks very different from anything else you could buy at that price. Our web intern is already regretting his recent Avenger 150 purchase, which costs a good Rs 10,000 more. tushar@goldensparrow.com

Scan the QR code and watch the video review

TGS LIFE

EXTREME ATHLETE I

“There was a time when a thorn got past my shoe and pierced my skin.

I was in pain but I had to keep moving on”

City-based author Sujata Sabnis goes back in time with her love story and promises you a fictional paradise well-rooted in Mughal history

RAHUL RAUT

A love story from a bygone era

N G HE TI

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

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t took her an entire year to get the dates, time period and the mood of the era right, before she began telling her Mughal love story. Everything about the saga is eternal, passionate and, above all, mesmerising. The highs and lows, the feelings galore and even the tiniest of the detail in the story all make it worth the wait as ‘Songs of the Stones’ is prepared to be released in June this year.

Never sticking to a single genre, she admits that it limits the writer and the story.

After working as a journalist, she found satisfaction in writing books and stumbled upon the idea for her first novel while looking for something interesting to write about.

We asked her what was the best part about writing a book and she says, “It is that eureka moment when the idea for your story strikes

you. Nothing compares to the happiness you feel at the time.”

We also asked her about having a writer’s block and she tells us that it is a natural process and that one should let it go away on its own. Distracting yourself and thinking about something else during this time, is the best way to get over it, she promises. You have to simply wait for inspiration to strike again.

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magine yourself at the Rann of Kutch with nothing but the sand dunes around. When you step on the ground, dust picks up and your feet gets heavy. The harsh heat of the sun does not even let you feel the sweat anymore and all you have with you is water for your parched throat, energy bars to keep you going and a GPS navigator device so that you find your way. This is the story of Trupti Bhosale, who stood third on the podium at the recent Run for Rann Marathon, one of the most difficult trail runs in India.

After successfully completing five half marathons, she wasn’t sure if she should accept the challenge of completing the 42-km run. However, as days passed she recognised her strength, practiced harder and registered for a full marathon. “One of my runner friends, who had earlier won in the 21km category in the 2015

edition, insisted that I should go for 42km run. According to him, I had the potential. So I simply went for it,” says Trupti.

Running at this difficult terrain is a gruelling adventure in itself. It took consistent preparation, which comprised of working out in the gym, running after office, swimming, long runs over the weekend and climbing the hills up and down soon became a part of her routine.

“I have been trekking for 10 years now.

It helps me a lot.

My entire lifestyle has changed, with no night outs, no outside food, no Facebook and no Whatsapp. But I took up the challenge to brave the desert,” she says.

The rules required her to be selfsufficient, to carry everything on her back. There were hills, bushes, thorns, babool trees, sandy patches, big rocks, and lot of heat. There were times when a part of her brain convinced her to stop, but she managed to fight back and push herself to complete the final stage.

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By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

“I was surrounded by the jungle. There was a time when a thorn got past my shoe and pierced my skin. I was in pain but I had to keep moving on,” she adds.

Trupti had comfortably completed 21 kms in three hours and had another 21 km to cover. She did not take her eyes away from the GPS device as she could not afford to lose her way. “The only challenge was being alone. I knew that if I get lost finding my way back could cost a lot of time. My mental barrier soon broke and I realized that neither was I exhausted. I was enjoying every single minute in the run,” she says.

After five constant hours of running, climbing and crawling, Trupti realised that she had crossed 33 km. It was noon and the sun was harshest and hottest. “I said to myself only 10 km to go and you will be done. Even at that point I had not realized that I was leading in the 42km women category,” she adds. She was declared the second runner up with the South African women grabbing the first and second place.

Trupti waved out to the crowd as tears rolled down her cheeks. “I discovered that I am better on trails than on roads and that I can run for hours alone and enjoy my own company,” she says. Now, there is no looking back for her. Her next mission is running in the 101 km category at an international marathon. “I was prepared to run for 27 kms, I didn’t know how my body would react after that but I did it, and now I am even more confident about running,” she says. zainab.kantawalagoldensparrow.com

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Pune girl Trupti Bhosale shines at the Run for Rann Marathon, considered to be among the challenging events in the country

MARCH 5, 2016

In addition, letting us in on her secret to keeping her style of writing unique, she says that one should not read fictional novels if you are writing one yourself. “It has the potential to influence your writing and make you sound like someone you aren’t. I makes it a point to write at least a little bit every day, even if it means erasing it all the next day. One must be disciplined when it comes to writing,” she

advises. From her first novel to her third, there has been a great deal of improvement in everything from the depth of characterization to the language and flow of the story. It has been an upward graph for her and she could not be more grateful for it. Apart from her third novel, her screenplay titled Kutch is in the pre-production phase currently. This is the first Indian entry to the prestigious Berlin Co-production market, which is a platform for producers in search of a good story and it is a huge honour for Sujata. It is a noncommercial film, also a thriller and was an absolute joy for her to write. “It is extremely difficult to find financiers when the film isn’t mainstream Bollywood. I hope someone sees in the story what I see in it and gets on board to produce it,” she says.

An avid reader from a very young age, a traveler and an exceptional cook, she assures us that she has the most supportive family ever. Her earlier novels are ‘Silent Whispers’, a psychological thriller and murder mystery and the second was ‘A twist in Destiny’, which is also a thriller that dwells on the idea that the 1947 partition never happened. Her favourite authors include PG Wodehouse, Agatha Christie, Robert Ludlum and Hilary Mantel among many others. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

TGS LIFE

MARCH 5, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

Making of a super model

From stylists to choreographers, hair and make-up artists as well as fashion photographers, it takes a bunch of grooming experts who mould them into a perfect object of desire

By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM

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ave you ever wondered how runway models and fashionistas who adorn magazine covers manage to look so flawless and absolutely ravishing? While we often read interviews of successful models and designers, seldom do we hear about the people who work hard behind the scenes to make their dreams come true.

A pretty face with the perfect body is not usually enough to make it big. Various elements, such as the right attitude, confidence, body language, intelligence, and the strength to face the world, make you a super model. City-based grooming experts Lovell Prabhu, Chandrakala Sanap, Suraj Mahtani and Vijay Powar who have been instrumental in turning many gawky youngsters into super models tell us how they do it. “No matter how many times you go to the gym to chisel six-pack abs or that perfectly toned body, it’s ultimately the soul that shines on to make you stand out in the crowd. That’s what I do when these young girls and boys come to me. I first work on building and shaping their personalities and eventually move on to the next step, which is hair and make-up,” says Lovell, who owns ELFA, one of the leading finishing schools for models in the city.

As part of the initial grooming process, every model is taught how to put on basic makeup. Chandrakala, who has been providing hair and make-up grooming services to some top notch models and has had an impressive career working with some prominent magazines, designers and pageant brands, feels that just wearing heavy make-up doesn’t do the trick.

An ideal hair and make-up expert should first do a complete personality analysis of the model and then design the perfect look for him/her.

“While we teach these models the knowhow of make-up, many of them are surprised and ask me if they learned it to do it themselves, wouldn’t we be out of jobs? I tell them that when you are a model, you also become a public image so it becomes your responsibility to be presentable at all times. Well, at least when you are stepping out of your home. For this, a basic sense of clothing and make-up is extremely important,” explains Chandrakala.

When it comes to styling and choreography, it’s extremely important that the professionals work in sync and are on the same page. The right attitude and an ability to grasp a stylist’s thoughts can take models places.

Unfortunately, a lot of models lack that quality.

Suraj, who has been styling models for fashion shows, magazine shoots and designer labels, says, “I have come across some great models, who are well-placed in the industry, extremely hardworking, and humble. Milind Soman is a great example. It’s his charm and people skills that have taken him a long way. At the same time, many models get a wrong notion that throwing a tantrum would make them join the big league. Models are dispensable.

For instance, if I am not able to communicate well with the model and there’s no effort from his/her end, I would rather not work with the person again. It’s a competitive industry and if one chooses to boycott a particular model,

(Top) Suraj Mahtani at a shoot; Chandrakala and team at work (above); Vijay Powar shows the final shots to a model (left top) and Lovell Prabu with his gang of models

there are chances that work will stop coming from other avenues too.”

Moving on to grooming, there are many intricacies that have to be considered carefully.

For example if a model is getting ready to walk the ramp, something small can become a great downer. This is where expert grooming comes handy. To teach a model how to carry an outfit perfectly is a task in itself. “Being a successful model, you are always on your toes. So staying prepared at all times is very important. You have to be careful about your hygiene as well. Some models dread wearing thongs and get nervous at the thought of wearing them. From educating models about using tampons, carrying a pair of fresh thongs, strapless brassieres, personal body care products such as a base sponge, body

sprays, their own make up kits are all a part of the grooming sessions,” explains Chandrakala.

When it comes to photography, well-known fashion photographer Vijay Powar says that a model is like clay that the photographer gives shape to by adding new dimensions and colours to his/her personality. It’s not just a gorgeous outfit or make-up that does the trick alone. A photographer’s job is to make the model look larger than life, be it in print or on the runway.

For a model to become a super model, along with all the above grooming exercises, it’s essential to have the right portfolio since it does half your work for you.

“Many models feel it’s a huge expense and skip getting the right portfolio. At times, they

go to the wrong person simply because he may not be charging as much. But this is not the right way. A good photographer can read your inner personality and direct you in a manner that people would love to see. Sometimes, what you can’t see about yourself, he may capture through his lens.

So it is very important that you spend time with him as a vital part of your grooming,” explains Vijay. While personal grooming plays a major role, there are various external factors such as the right design, set up, location, background and lights, interest-worthy briefings and choreography that work as the final icing on the cake. When all these elements come together in the right way, you turn into a super model. heena.grover@goldensparrow.com

MUSCIANS TAKE ON INNOVATION

TGS LIFE

These musicians have lent a unique touch to their instruments, creating fresh sounds

MARCH 5, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES TEJAS GAIKWAD

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

JAY WANT UTPAT: TABLA PLAYER

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hat happens when a musician creates an instrument that simplifies the way you make music today? They sure are fascinating objects that relate to culture as much as they do to acoustics. Music and technology have been rubbing shoulders for a while too. These new versions of Indian classical instruments are either conceived out of need or to attract the younger generations towards the sound. They all have their distinct tonal quality. It has, of course, taken these musicians years to give form to the concept.

AZHARUDDIN SHAIKH: FLAUTIST

Azharuddin’s innovation took wing when he met his guru Pt Keshav Ginde, who created Keshav Venu, which is a unique bamboo flute with a range of three octaves as against only two octaves of the traditional flute. This was what inspired the young artist to create something that would take flute-playing to a next level of sophistication as compared to the traditional flute.

He created Anahat Venu and Venu Samradni with the length of 14 feet using PVC. This is the world’s longest flute and it is just one among his many inventions.

He has also made the one-inch-long Chaitanya Venu, which is the world’s shortest flute. “I have been working on this for the last two years. My Guruji, Pt Keshav Ginde, had done some research on increasing octaves of the Indian flute from two to three, which could match the vocal octaves. I took the research and innovation from that point and came up with the idea of combining these elements,” said 25-year-old Shaikh. “I have always

wondered why Indian instruments don’t require the use of every finger. I wanted to make the flute as efficient as possible.

The Venu Samradhini does just that,” he adds. He is now researching it to improvise it further. This flute is an improvisation of the Keshav Venu and can be played in four octaves and has silver keys. “It’s made in Indian style and I have added keys to it.

An ordinary flute can reach up to only 17 notes whereas the Venu Samradhini can reach 26 notes,” he explains. Besides these, Shaikh has also come up with Kokil Venu, a flute capable of producing the whistle of a cuckoo, the sound of a peacock and the chirping of many other birds. His Panchajanya flute can produce a sound stronger on base than the natural conch shell. This self-taught artist was introduced to the flute when he was just three years old. “I was in kindergarten when my mother dressed me like Lord Krishna for a fancy dress competition. I was fascinated by the instrument the moment I held it in my hand,” he says.

Disciple of the legendary Tabla maestro Ustad Alla Rakha, Jaywant Utpat has introduced a new paradigm of electronic percussion to the Indian rhythm world called Jaysonik. This device can simplify the use of several musical instruments.

From tabla, dholak, to mridangam and naal, this device can produce hundreds of sounds through a single click. “I was in US for 18 years, pursuing Computer Science. While there, I played tabla for various events and concerts. I realised that different tablas are required for tuning with a male voice and a female voice. It wasn’t feasible to carry so many instruments everywhere,” he says. Also, the exposure to cold weather ruined the skin of the instrument. This was when the idea of Jaysonic took birth.

In 2000, the Japanese company Roland introduced Handsonic in the market, and Jaywant was one of its first customers. “I was looking out for an electronic medium that can address the complexity of Indian music and its diverse sounds.

But this too had a lot of deficiencies. It was not up to the level where I could perform live with it,” he adds. This was when he thought about using this as a triggering device to the software he created.

The software was a combination of features such as midi notes, automation, real-time command control, effects, etc. This can authentically emulate their counterparts, real acoustic instruments.

One can easily change the instrument as well as perform multiple instruments simultaneously, modify pitch or tempo, add melodies and change sound effects according to one’s need. All these features can be implemented with just the click of one key. “It is the result of seven years of research.

It can potentially play up to 600 instruments and it takes care of all the peculiarities that the Indian instruments carry,” adds Jaywant.

He has performed at several concerts in India and abroad with the device. “The audiences are wowed every time they see me perform. They have never seen something like it before,” he says. He has also presented a two-hour long solo performance centred on electronic percussion.

“It is the first of its kind medium, and the notes are tuned perfectly, like with the Tabwaj you can play tabla and pakhwaj at the same time, with the Tabrum you play tabla and drum,” he adds.

PRATYUSH BANERJEE: SAROD PLAYER He wears many professional hats – a performer, music composer, researcher and instrument designer. Whatever he indulges in, his activities always have fresh directions with a stamp of originality. He has taken sarod playing to the next level by creating its first electronic version ever, called Jyotidhwani. “Since I have been involved with the recording industry, I wanted to develop an instrument that could be used for certain songs and would tonally sound different but not require me to adopt a new playing technique,” he says. He realised that going electronic was a good option. He soon started improvising on the instrument.

He has reduced the width of the finger plate on his sarod. This not only makes his sarod more streamlined and lighter but also gave a better grip of the left hand on all strings for high notes. “It’s not uncommon

to make an instrument electric. There already are electric guitars and violins. I started with making changes in the acoustic sarod and then started the electrification,” he says. He first created three different versions and continued improvising them.

“I don’t remember how many years this project took but it was a long procedure,” he says.

Prattyush has played the Jyotidhwani with well-known composers like Pete Lockett, Shantanu Moitra, Bickram Ghosh, Tanmoy Bose, and others. “When I am playing a classical set, I use the acoustic sarod, but when I am giving music for a film or an experimental project then I play on the Jyotidhwani, as it can be used in different set ups,” he adds. zainab.kantawala @goldensparrow.com

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TGS LIFE

MARCH 5, 2016 PUNE

SHOPPING

14 It is impossible to imagine a lady without her handbag, it’s like an indispensable part of herself. Every woman loves to carry a trendy and stylish handbag which is fashionable and comfortable. Here are some picks to help you select the best one for yourself

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

Go Tangy

Floral Blue Sling

This classy bag is detailed to perfection for daily use and for travel, as it is functional and practical.

Price: Rs 1,000 Where: Esbeda, Camp

This uber-cool and chic bag can make any outfit come alive.

This wonder bag is sure to fetch you many compliments by the onlookers.

Where: Claire’s, Phoenix Marketcity, Nagar Road Price: Rs 1750

Cool in blue This fashionable and trendy sling is perfect a girl’s day out.

Price: Rs 300 Where: Queen Street, Hong Kong Lane

Chic wallet This is a slender casual wallet with interesting detailing will give you a sophisticated look.

Price: Rs 250 Where: Stall No 6, Hong Kong Lane

Parachute Long Wallet The beautiful print and the dash of beautiful colours makes this wallet your travel sized soulmate.

Price: Rs 1,495 Where: Chumbak, Amanora Town Centre, Hadapsar

Go bling This red sequined bag is sure to make a statement in your college. It offers ample space needed for all your day to day essentials.

Price: Rs 1000 Where: Claire’s, Phoenix Marketcity, Nagar Road

City Bag This bag is sure to suits the vibrant personality of women thus making it a fashion statement.

Price: Rs 2,800 Where: Zara

Hobo Handbag A perfect fusion of utility and style is this classy orche coloured handbag.

You can carry it the way you want to look classy and trendy.

Price: Rs 1,100 Where: Caprese

Pretty in pink This inexpensive nature print wallet will certainly appeal to you at a single glance.

Price: Rs 200 Where: Varsha, Hong Kong Lane

TEJAS GAIKWAD

‘My job is not ideal, but I love it anyways’ H

TGS LIFE

MARCH 5, 2016 PUNE

e was only eight when he left school to help his elder brother earn some money. While his father worked as a driver, making ends meet was becoming difficult and so the brothers decided to help out. While leaving school is something that he never wanted to do, but he had absolutely no choice. Suffering twice from typhoid, his long-term memory had taken a hard hit and going to school was proving to be of absolutely no use. “I would attend school the whole day but remember nothing of what happened by the time I got home. I did not forget things otherwise but comprehending what was taught in school and then recollecting it was becoming a task,” says Shafik Abdul Karim Bagban.

After assisting his brother for a while it has now been 25 years that he has been managing it on his own. Even though selling kulfi might not sound like a big job, the preparations for it and standing long hours to make enough to feed the mouths at home is extremely hard. Before starting to do this fulltime, Shafik did a lot of odd jobs. Right from working as a tailor to assisting a mechanic in a garage, he tried his hand at everything but did not find the sat-

FEATURES isfaction that he wished for at the end of the day.

Telling us that his business is a seasonal one, he sells kulfis for three to four months and then masala milk for the rest of the months. His most cute and loyal customers are children from the school nearby and seeing the smile on their face makes him love his job. “My job is not ideal but I love it anyways. The fact that I can feed my family and can impart that few minutes of job to those children that buy kulfis from me makes this an ideal job,” says the 51-yearold.

Shafik is the father of two children one son and one daughter. While his daughter is married, his son and daughter-in-law and his two grand-daughters all live together at Dattawadi. Before ending the conversation he promised us that as long as his legs and hands are in working condition he will continue doing this as sitting ideal is not in his DNA. (As told to Salonee Mistry)

unekar

City celeb chat

Name:Tejaswini Pandit Profession: Actor Three words to describe me: I am a good listener, a happy soul, and a good friend I love my job because: I can’t do better than that Best advice I’ve received:Chase your dreams and never stop When buying something, the first thing that catches my eye is: Footwear What’s your inner animal: Horse. I am full of joy and love to keep jumping around The first thing you notice about an attractive person: Their smile The perfect start to a day is: A loving message from a loved one Your current four-wheeler: Ford Figo Sport Your fitness regimen: Eat the food you ate when you were a child and keep the physical activity going Your food indulgence: Everything. I am a foodie at heart Books by your bedside: Currently Smita Patil The first site you visit when you fire up your comp: Google Your favourite city: Pune as it’s in my DNA and Mumbai as that’s where my heart is Ideal holiday: Anything where I am with my family (As told to Zainab Kantawala)

Out of the Closet A

dd some varieties to your summer wardrobe with a high–low hem attires.

Sonyah Sharma, style expert gives us some unconventional ideas to wear the high low hem tops and dresses that will make the imperfect you, look perfect.

Sonyah Sharma

l A high low hem (HLH) top and it works with absolutely any kind of body type. For the ones who are conscious about their hips. You can simply put on a tunic top and look stylish. l A teen with HLH dress with messy hair is perfect for the dancing night. l For someone who has an apple-shaped body must wear a straight fit, long open-buttoned HLH jacket with a waist belt. l For the ones who can’t expose much or want to save themselves from the sun can STYLE always get cotton HLH stitched which will look like GURU a kurta and team it up with jeggings. l Girls with pear-shaped bodies can wear a HLH skirt to move the focus on the flow of your skirt rather than your silhouette. l The ones who like to keep it classy and chic can still maintain their sheen by wearing HLH dresses and earthy shades. After all, the style was originally worn by the princes and royals. l For most of us with a tiny bulge on our stomach, must wear slightly lose top with a little long hem at the back with narrow jeans.

This will make you look leaner. l Short girls can wear HLH tops with ankle length jeans. This will make you stand tall. l The ones who also like to keep it stylish can try on a HLH top with back slit/buttons that

shows off the back. l And for the ones who are extremely heavy, can team up a HLH kurtacum-top with straight pants to sober down the heaviness.

(As told to Zainab Kantawala)

TGS LIFE

MARCH 5, 2016 PUNE

BUZZ

‘This award completes FOR HER, a full circle’ MUSIC IS A WAY OF LIFE

S

he hails from a grand musical family — her father is the renowned violinist L Subramaniam, mother Viji Subramaniam and grandmother Lakshmi Shankar were classical singers. Gingger Shankar's upbringing truly has been one that is rooted in the notes of melodies.

Besides wanting to be a musician, Gingger aspired to be an astronaut and has been obsessed with science and space ever since she was little.

Touring with her Electro-Pop band featuring Linda Perry, showcasing her family project Nari at various film festivals, as well as working on the film Heartbeats directed by Duane Adler with Jay-Z and Roc Nation, are some of the things that are currently keeping her occupied. Finding time through the busy schedule, she speaks to TGS about why she loves what she does and what sets her music apart.

On her darkest days, music has been the saving grace for Gingger and melodies continue to provide her with hope and inspiration every time she strikes a chord. Travelling around the world because of her profession is something that she absolutely loves and finds filling in a blank slate when it comes to new tracks the hardest. "The first ideas on a new track are the most difficult as you can do anything with it. It's overwhelming but once I'm able to find the sound, then I love working on a track day and night until it's finally in place," she tells us.

The various musical influences that she has

been blessed with give whatever she creates a unique voice. Plus, being one of the only two people in the world who plays the double violin most definitely gives her compositions a hybrid sound. Always experimenting with her music, she is often influenced by Classical, Electronic, Pop and Indian sounds. "I am definitely a hybrid and it comes through in any project I do," she adds.

Truly believing that being kind is the key to being successful, the singer has captivated many a hearts with her musical scores for films like Passion of the Christ, Charlie Wilson's War and even the famous Jackie Chan movie The Forbidden Kingdom. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

T

he man behind songs like Abhi Mujh Mein Kahin, Kal Ho Na Ho and Mere Haath Mein, has once again bagged awards and appreciated for his hard work, passion and dedication. Receiving the Asha Bhosale Award, previous recipients of which include Lata Mangeshkar, Hridaynath Mangeshkar and Shankar Mahadevan among others, Sonu Nigam’s happiness knows no bounds. In conversation with the super-talented singer, we asked him about his opinion on awards and his future projects.

“Asha Bhosale has been one of the people responsible for igniting passion not just for singing, but singing well. This award completes a full circle for me,” says the versatile singer. He adds, “Awards are meant to be taken as a token of appreciation from God rather than a validation of talent. There is

always more than what we see.” There is never a need to set standards as the opportunities and boundaries are constantly pushed.”

The artiste believes in going with the flow and never setting any goals or making strategies. If there is no desperation, then there is no disappointment, he points out.

While he could not particularly let us in on any of the future projects that he is working on he promises us that he is bringing something special to the space of independent music.

“Destiny is a big player in what makes or breaks a singer’s career and there is no fighting it,” he tell us. Given the chance, he would love to work with Ustad Rashid Khan Sahab and Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan Sahab as well.

With idols like Mohammed Rafi, Kishore Kumar, Manna Dey, Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosale, we can only assume that his journey on the road to success will remain a long one. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

SHARDDHA EMBRACES ADITYA IN OK JAANU FIRST LOOK First look of Shraddha Kapoor and Aditya Roy Kapur starrer Ok Jaanu was revealed on Twitter by filmmaker Karan Johar.

To be directed by Shaad Ali, the film is a remake of Mani Ratnam's Tamil movie Ok Kanmani, and reunites the hit Aashiqui 2 pair.

"Aditya Roy Kapur, Shraddha Kapoor, Mani Ratnam, Gulzar, A R Rahman, directed by Shaad Ali... And it's #OKJaanu," Johar wrote.

Shraddha is seen embracing Aditya in the still. The 26-year-old actress, who recently wrapped up the shooting of Rock On 2 and the Fitoor actor will start filming the project this month.

The story revolves around the lives of two young lovers and deals with the issues like live-in relationships. The 2015 Tamil romantic drama originally starred Dulquer Salmaan and Nithya Menen, who portrayed a young couple in a live-in relationship in Mumbai.

Rahman also composed the music for the Tamil version.