TGS Life 31/10/2015

RAHUL RAUT

PUNE, OCTOBER 31, 2015 | www.thegoldensparrow.com

For them, more definitely makes it merrier The key to the survival in a household that is also home to a number of pets is to share lots of love with a pinch of adventure

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OCTOBER 31, 2015 PUNE

STAGE

India’s longest running play comes to town One of the most acclaimed musicals of the 80s, Bottoms Up, is all set to be staged in the city this weekend. Be prepared to witness an evening like never before

on where it is being performed. The jokes and messages can be changed in no time and it ensures undivided attention at the same time keeps the play relevant and up to date,” says the actor.

The fact that the content in the skits is so relevant helps gain audience’s empathy as these topics are close to their hearts and extremely fresh in their minds, making the play more likeable, Bharat adds. Bharat believes that sometimes the topical play even poses a big challenge since it has a short life and the script needs to be reworked before almost every performance.

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

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eviving one of the most iconic plays of the 1980s, Bharat Dabholkar has once again waived the magic wand.

After garnering ample praise after their performances in Mumbai, the team now travels to Pune. Putting forth circumstances that Punekars witness in their daily life, the play is a satire on everything from politicians, to pollution and traffic issues that the city faces.

THE USP OF THE PLAY A musical review, full of 10-minute skits, song and dance, the play is meant to evoke hysterical laughter and keep the audience on the edge of their seats. Apart from this being the play’s unique selling point, Bharat believes that there is one other thing about the performance that sets it apart from the others. This is the ability of the play to adapt. “Because there is no long story, I can modify the 10-minute scripts and add or delete scripts depending

CREATING HISTORY In the 80s, the play was a revolution in its own way, primarily because it featured geniuses from different cultures on a single stage. Even though it was performed in English, the fact that all the veterans got to the stage their own flavour in terms of the way they spoke the language and how they played the role they were assigned. “Back then, I always wrote the script keeping the cast members in mind and so casting was never a problem. With the new edition, the new cast members took a while to get used to their roles but are now perfectly comfortable on stage,” says Bharat.

Two decades ago, when Bharat sat down to pen a theatre script for the first time ever, the fact that Bottoms Up would become India’s longest running performance had never crossed his mind. Interested in theatre himself, the need to see big names perform together was what provoked him to write the play. Not only was it a way for him to bring together theatre geniuses like

Kishore Pradhan and Atmaram Bhende, to name a few, but also a platform to give English theatre in India a new voice. The play was also a stepping stone for artists like Shahid Kapoor, Shiamak Davar, Arshad Warsi, Maria Goretti and Javed Jaffery.

ATTRACTING THE PUNE CROWD The team behind Bottoms Up believes that in the last few years, Pune has become just as cosmopolitan as Mumbai. Issues related to traffic, pollution, over-population, un-cooperative authorities are the same for both cities. Keeping this in mind, the play has not been changed much, yet it has its own Puneri flavour.

Previous performances, of earlier editions of Bottoms Up, were much appreciated by theatre lovers in the city and Bharat hopes that this edition is equally liked.

When: October 31, 7.30pm onward Where: Susie Sorabji Auditorium, Dr Annie Besant Road, Camp salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

YOUR WEEKLY DOSE OF EVENTS After 8 Halloween Party

Party with ‘Studmuffin’

This Halloween, come prepared for crazy and scary at Four Points by Sheraton Pune. Treat yourself to the a la carte menu with finger food including chicken lollypop, Fish Amritsari. Dance to the tunes of DJs like Chemical A9, Zeeshan, Jeh, DJ Faith, Dustin, BasCraft, Feat Smash Chord. Apart from some lip-smacking food on the menu, you can also enjoy a dedicated bar counter with domestic and international beverages. This is a 3-venue, 1 wristband event. You can also attend the party at Arc Asia and Anonymous Cafe & Bar apart from the one at the hotel.

When: October 31 Where: Four Points By Sheraton Hotel, Nagar Road

This Saturday, The Beer Cafe brings you ‘Studmuffin’ an ambient blues Rock and Roll band formed by singer-songwriter Vihang Bhosale with the ongoing “Oktobrewfest” celebrations. Band consists of bassist Omkar Potdar(omi), Sandip Jadhav (Sandy Baba) on drums, Guitarist Kaustubh and Arjun on keyboard.

The band draws on the various influences brought in by members and its sound varies from ambient, blues, funk to new age rock. Be assured of a crazy gig when these guys belt out their originals like Johnny boy, Free, Flushed Around. Known for their colourful performances blended with energy they know exactly how to get the crowd rolling When: October 31 Where: The Beer Café, Koregaon Park

The Haunted Rooftop Halloween Party The night is upon us. Squeaky doors and sticky cobwebs. Halloween is indeed upon us. Lost The Plot has a crazy party planned for you. Some of the things to look forward to are Pumpkin Carving Contest, a surprise Midnight Horror Film, Face Painting and themed drinks. Expect the creepiest night at the haunted rooftop. If you are in a costume, expect a surprise waiting for you.

When: October 31 Where: Lost The Plot, Seasons An Apartment Hotel, Aundh

Balalaika and Silk Live Get ready to enjoy a spectacular double weekend bonanza evening and groove to popular music numbers of all genres with ‘Balalaika’-the metal core band’ and ‘Silk’ performing Live at Phoenix Marketcity Pune. Music connoisseur can enjoy a band performance from classical to Hindi rock and many more. ‘Balalaika’ found in October 2010 is an experimental Hindi rock band, of diversified influences from Indian classical, alternative funk, hard rock. The band has performed in some of the famed shows, music fests and at public events across the city. Whereas Silk band known for its infectious yet positive energy and soothing renditions, promises the most refreshing musical notes.

Consisting of Dean Vaz on Bass, Randhir Dange on Drums, Vernon Besterwitch on Guitar and Vocals and Anic Prabhu on the Violin. The band’s musical diversity ranges from Blues to Classical, from Progressive to Pop. So this weekend enjoy heady musical cocktail infused flavors of all genres When: October 31 and November 1 Where: East Court, Phoenix Marketcity, Nagar Road

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NEW SINGING STAR ON THE BLOCK

Arjun Kanungo talks about his musical journey so far and his upcoming projects

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

A

rjun Kanungo, the voice behind the famous Khoon Chus Le song from the movie Go Goa Gone performed in the city last week. The versatile artist recently launched his first party song Baaki Baatein Peene Baad featuring popular rapper Badshah and in a week’s time it has received a million hits. Not only that, the music for his first single is composed by none other than the Swedish production and song writing team Caesar and Loui and Ylva

TGS LIFE OCTOBER 31, 2015 PUNE

ENTERTAINMENT

Dimberg, the same facility that delivered hits for One Direction, Snoop Dogg, and many other reputed artists.

“I was pursuing a course in acting in New York and I started hanging out with kids, who were studying music there. I asked them if it was too late to pursue music and they said no. I came back to Bombay and picked up a guitar and went on the internet to pick up instructions. I spent hours strumming the guitar and singing,” says Arjun. He didn’t realise he could reach the professional level until he was invited to sing for a local band. “I was sitting with my guitar at a café and was humming a song. Some guys walked to me and asked me to join their band. This was when I actually knew that I sing well. My mum is a sportsperson, so I always thought I would do something in sports, but never had I thought that I would take up music,” he adds.

After training in Classical and Jazz music he accompanied one of the most versatile singers of our country, Asha Bhosle on her world tour. Arjun was the male lead vocalist and performed for over 30 shows alongside her. Sharing his experience, he says, “That was one of the best things that happened to me. We had a show at Auckland, we were on stage and Ashaji whispered in my ear that she couldn’t breathe, I informed the manager to call for a break. I “My mum is a was scared, Ashaji was 77 then. sportsperson, But she took her medicines and in 10 minutes she was back on so I always stage. I have learned dedication thought I would and devotion towards art from do something her.”

Along with his knack for in sports, but music, he has also composed never had I over 100 ad films. In 2015, he thought that I was a showcase artist at the would take up Youtube Fan Festival as well.

His song Saibo, featuring Jonita music” Gandhi, gained a lot of views on Youtube and was one of the most favourite cover songs loved by viewers. “I never wanted to be a playback singer so I started my Youtube channel. That worked out very well for me and I have got over a million followers,” he says.

Arjun is also coming up with a new romantic ballad called Fursat in November. “It’s a love song and it talks about moving on. Besides, I am concentrating on singing now but would soon take up acting as well,” he adds. With a combination of great looks and a perfect voice, Arjun makes for a complete package that is yet to be explored. zainab.kantawala@oldensparrow.com

TGS LIFE

OCTOBER 31, 2015 PUNE

ENTERTAINMENT Lucky Ali brings is a little caught up right now as he takes his brand of music to audiences across the country. Next stop: Pune

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

H

is soulful renditions and balladstyle singing take you on a serene journey. Singer, songwriter, music composer and actor Lucky Ali adorns several hats. Son of Bollywood comedian Mehmood and nephew to yesteryear actress, Meena Kumari, Lucky grew up in an environment filled with music, dance

'I never plan what I’d sing during a show'

and drama. In a candid conversation with TGS, he shares his childhood dream, talks about his musical journey and shares a piece of advice with budding musicians.

When he was much younger, Lucky hoped to join the merchant navy and become an officer. But life’s plans pan out in their own way. Talking about his musical journey, Lucky says, “I am stilllearning. Evolving at whatever it is that you do is an on-going process and I don’t

think I or anyone, for that matter, will ever know it all. For how many ever years that I have been in the industry I have absolutely no regrets. If something did not work out, I always thought that it was probably because it was not meant to be.

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Every project I was involved in remains dear to me.”

With six studio albums and compilations, 19 soundtracks and seven singles as well as 13-odd films, Lucky has had a good run in the entertainment industry. For him, the best part about being a singer is the fact that he has the freedom to express. It is not always about the words even a simple instrumental piece can do wonders, he believes. It is the positive energy that music gives off that keeps him satisfied with his work even if it has been a tough day, week or year.

Giving friendly advice to budding musicians Lucky urges them to follow their hearts. “One should not be afraid to express. It is always good if you are being taught or corrected as that means that there is scope for improvement and space for you to grow. Whatever it is that you do, you should try and make it better than what has inspired you and find a way to make it your own. This is the most important aspect of creating something new,” he adds.

When: November 6, 6 pm onwards Where: blueFROG, Ishanya Mall, Yerawada

5 Come and celebrate the spirit of the canvas called life through Neeraj Khorana’s lens this weekend

By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM

Watch the world through his lens

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FEATURES

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ity-based head-huntert u r ned-photog rapher, Neeraj Khorana is back with his World Photography Series, which will include his latest work. In a candid chat, he tells us how his tryst with camera began, what does his lens love capturing the most, and an interesting tale from his travels around the world.

A GIFT THAT CHANGED HIS LIFE Neeraj began tinkering with the camera as a seven-year-old when his parents gifted him one. He would click just about anything that he lay his eyes on and would then ask his father for feedback.

It was his father who showed him the ways around the camera and the basics of photography that he must watch out for. “Through the years, it has been a process of finding my way around my initial lessons as a child — understanding light, angles, perspective, focus, and so on. The beauty of this evolution has been the lack of strict instructions and regimented learning, which many a times can

Neeraj Khorana

affect one’s natural instincts as a photographer,� he says. It was Neeraj’s wife, Anahita who pushed him into getting his work shared with the public and the rest has pretty much been a fun ride, he claims.

CAPTURING LIFE ON THE STREETS For him, everyday street life is

the most attractive subject where nothing is captured by design, instead every moment is a natural play of what people feel at that instant and how they emote those feelings. “This setting has such a diverse canvas in itself from people themselves to how they are juxtaposed against elements that influence them, light, weather, objects and emotions. The look and feel of a place in its raw and purest form brings about the most sublime moments,� says Neeraj.

A TALE FROM HIS TR AVEL It was while walking through the quaint by-lanes of Istanbul with his wife that Neeraj noticed a lady wearing a short grey dress

PrE WEDDInG BonAnZA

sipping her coffee at a cafĂŠ. The memory is still vivid in his mind and he chuckles while sharing the story. “Her legs were truly worth admiring. While Anahita walked on, oblivious of my sudden gaze, I lay down on the lane and started clicking away in the rush to capture what I could without arousing her wrath. I got a beautiful shot but I was greedy for yet another. Suddenly, I realised that she had noticed me and had trained her sight in my direction.

I truly needed Anahita to save me then, several fearful thoughts started running through my head and I couldn’t imagine what would come next — me getting beaten up by locals or her flinging hot coffee on my face. I still kept staring at her through the lens and all of a sudden, I have this attractive

lady break out into a beautiful smile. We spoke, I showed her the pictures, we had a good laugh before heading our own ways. I experienced many emotions in those few minutes but felt truly elated at the end of it all.� One of the shots from this experience is also included in the display at the upcoming exhibition.

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION The World Photography Series is a natural outcome of what Neeraj has captured through his journeys across the globe. From the village life in the south of France, the hustle and bustle of a fast-paced Manhattan to the gentle pace of shoes being buffed in a quaint corner of Istanbul and more, there is a whole gamut of interesting captures at the exhibition. “Events like these allow me a single platform to showcase multiple cultures across subject lines that have evolved by chance. Yet through the diversity, the pictures manage to tie in the essence of pure life photography.� heena.grover @goldensparrow.com

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VISHAL KALE

TGS LIFE

OCTOBER 31, 2015 PUNE

INDULGE

BAKLAVAA Ingredients 250gm Sugar 250ml Water 50 ml Honey 2 Cinnamon sticks 7 Phyllo pastry sheets 350gm Assorted nuts (almonds, pistachio and cashew nuts) 200ml Melted ghee 2 tsp Rose water Method Start by finely chopping the assorted nuts. Next, in a flat baking tray spread a phyllo sheet and smear it with ghee. Place the chopped nuts on the sheet and place another sheet on top. Repeat the same procedure of layering the sheet, smearing it with ghee and placing the assorted nuts. Put it to bake in a convection oven for about 12 minutes. Make sure that the temperature of the oven is 180 degree Celsius. When the sheets are golden brown, remove them from the oven.

Create a syrup by mixing together the sugar, water, honey and rose water. After this add the cinnamon sticks as well. Once the syrup is thick, pour it on the sheets.

Again, bake for five minutes so that the syrup soaks into the sheets. You can cut the sheet into any shape you wish and serve it once it cools down. Since the dish tastes equally good when it is cold you can prepare it well in advance and freeze it to maintain freshness.

Baking her way to a

brighter future The quiet and composed pastry chef Aruna Iyer lets her work talk for her

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

S

he’s just as sweet as the desserts she makes and has poured her heart and soul into preparing the pastries and cakes.

Chef Aruna Iyer began her partnership with the kitchen when she was about 15-year-old.

Starting with salads, her love for chocolates made her change paths as she worked towards achieving her dream of becoming a good chef.

Despite it being her day off, Aruna decided to spend some time speaking about what inspired her culinary journey, the best part about being

a chef, and her future plans. We’re, of course, oh-so-glad she did.

Just like so many of us, Aruna too grew up watching her mother create magic in the kitchen. “My mother was one of my biggest inspirations while growing up. Even if she’d spend just a few hours in the kitchen, she would whip up some of the most delicious dishes. Back then, I could not think of doing anything else,” says the 24-year-old. The best part about being a chef Aruna is the fact that her creative side is always awake. There are so many things to think about. Right from the different ingredients that can be used in a dish that one makes every day, to

Talking about her days as a trainee, Aruna remembers the satisfaction she would feel at the end of every day. She joked about the innumerable weird cakes she has seen her seniors make and hopes that her orders aren’t as crazy. After training at Renaissance Hotel in Mumbai, Aruna moved back with her family in Pune and has been working at the Courtyard Marriott hotel for the past 18 months. Like every other newcomer she too is hoping to make it big by following her passion and doing what she loves.

plating the dish and finding easier ways to make it. Creativity should flow freely in a kitchen, she believes. Apart from several ideas constantly occupying Aruna’s mind, being a pastry chef comes with the added responsibility of finding ways to make the cake look pretty which is much more difficult than plating up a desert. The fact that Aruna has a sweet tooth makes her love her job even more. “I am a pure vegetarian and I do not even cook any kind of meat. Even though, making cakes might seem like the easier option, I was actually more interested in cakes and other sweets compared to continental, Italian or Thai cuisines,” she says.

YOUR CHOW AROUND TOWN Tempting Tempura

Cake Mixing

Miyuki brings to you the Tempting Tempura - an authentic Japanese food festival. The vegetarian menu is priced at Rs 300 and the non-vegetarian one at Rs 500. Some of the vegetarian delights include Eggplant, Green Beans, Pumpkin, Black Mushroom, Lady Finger, Lotus Stem, Bell Peppers and the nonvegetarians tempura will feature Fresh Prawns, Squid, Crab Stick, Snapper, Sea Bass and Flounder. If you want a taste of everything, try the sampler platters.

When: Till November 7 Where: Miyuki, Double Tree By Hilton Hotel, Chinchwad

Evviva Sky Lounge will be hosting the age-old ceremony of cake mixing to usher in good tidings and happiness. Guests can also indulge in an elaborate Sunday Brunch along with the cake-mixing.

Preparing for Christmas, the dried fruit mixture will be placed securely at the inhouse bakery, to soak in all the liquid and mature beautifully in time for December and will then be used to make delectable Christmas cakes, cookies and puddings.

Filled with cheer, this cake mixing ceremony will not only infuse fruits and wines, but also reap in early Christmas cheer.

When: November 1

Where: Evviva Sky Lounge, Courtyard By Marriott, Bund Garden Road

The Classic Carnivale Enjoy food, drinks, art, live music, dancing, shopping, workshops and much more at the 2-day Classic Carnivale at Classic Rock Coffee Co. The carnival will see stalls by various microbreweries, wineries, craft cheese companies and a huge variety of art, clothing, jewellery, gifts, Diwalirelated products and lots more. Enjoy live performances by more than 10 artists.

When: November 7 and 8 Where: Classic Rock Coffee Co., Kalyani Nagar

Get vegan this weekend

By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM

T

he city is prepping to celebrate World Vegan Day with the second edition of Vegan Fest this weekend In order to save animals from cruelty of any kind, animal lovers from the city are once again coming together for a unique festival of food, fashion and shopping at Phoenix Marketcity this Saturday and Sunday. The Vegan Fest will be hosted by Living Free Campaign, a flagship campaign of the Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisation (FIAPO), and will see over 10,000 volunteers and several brands showcasing their products along with fashion and fun activities.

After experiencing success in the first year, Neha Vaz, one of the event managers, decided to come up with a bigger event this year to spread the awareness about choosing the vegan lifestyle.

“When we held the fest last year, we received a stupendous response from everyone. There was a footfall of around 3,500 people and this time we are expecting close to 10,000 people.” The two-day fare will have everything vegan — from refreshments, dairy replacers, desserts, clothing, footwear, jewellery, accessories, health products, raw zones, sugar-free, gluten-free, fat-free food options, handicrafts, nut milk machines, cosmetics, bath products, eco-friendly products, restaurants, bakers, nutrition experts, vegan cooking demos, fashion shows, dance performances and documentary screenings on vegan living.

One of the organisers of the fest, Darshana Muzumdar, says, “I turned a vegan four years ago after watching a documentary called Earthlings and encouraged my entire family to turn vegan as well for various reasons, including health benefits. We have tried to make this event fun by holding many exciting events to educate people to support the cause. Volunteers from other cities, Chennai and Bengaluru for instance, are also going to take part in the event.”

The city’s first all vegan cafe The Real Green Café is going

GREEN POWER SMOOTHIE Ingredients 5-6 leaves Spinach 1 Banana 2-3 Dates (deseeded) 1 pinch Cinnamon powder Method Blend all the ingredients and serve fresh in a tall glass to have its stall at the fest which will offer delicious entrees such as cheese, butter, vegan teas, cookies, yummy eclairs and much more. The owner of the café, Aishwarya Vishwanath, says that The Vegan Fest is a great platform to introduce people to the vegan way of eating where one doesn’t have to miss out on anything but

TGS LIFE OCTOBER 31, 2015 PUNE

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TROPICAL BLUEBERRY SMOOTHIE Ingredients 1 Chopped banana 1 cup Almond or cashew milk 1 cup Fresh Blueberries Method Blend all the ingredients and serve fresh in a tall glass

Recipes by Aishwarya Vishwanath just find a healthier replacement for the products. “I will hold a small food workshop and prepare quick vegan recipes for people to try at home along with some great vegan products for sale.”

Where: Phoenix Marketcity, Nagar Road When: October 31 & Nov 1 heena.grover@goldensparrow.com

Unveil the real authentic Traditional Ayurveda

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US

OCTOBER 31, 2015 PUNE

FEATURES

other too,” she says. days and was in a miserable condition. When I got close, she Pallavi faces a lot of trouble from the members of the recognised me and jumped up,” Pallavi recalls, the fear the housing society where she lives but the unconditional love of incident wrought is still obvious in her voice. her pets does not let her stay apart from them. “Sometimes Along with ensuring regular exercise, pets also help in the night they bark loudly and this causes inconvenience their masters meet new people. Through social networking to my neighbours. So most of the time I keep my doors and websites and mobile applications, pet owners befriend each windows closed. I do whatever I can to keep them with me,” other and hang out together too. “There are several platforms she adds. on Facebook for pet owners. Here, we decide on where to While Pallavi has a hard time managing her cats meet, discuss pet-friendly cafes and parks, even organise and dogs, Harsha Shah, the president of Railway Pravasi meets. We also go for outings together because socialising Manch, should most definitely deserve an award for teaches pets to interact with other cats, dogs and people with handling ten dogs. It’s easy to assume that a pack of dogs ease and reduces their anxiety of meeting strangers,” says would automatically get along but that’s not the case with Tanushree.

Harsha’s pets since all of them want to showcase their loyalty She has never ever had the need to lock her house. “My and love for their owner. At the same entire neighbourhood is safe because time, each one is an attention hog. of my dogs,” she adds. For Harsha While some of the canines like having Shah, her pets have shielded her from their buddies around, there are others any trouble that might be coming her who do not like sharing their space. way. Besides protecting the house, they Tackling competitiveness, aggression, have saved her life on many occasions and fights between her pets is not an too. “My dogs have made my safety everyday affair for Harsha. “The female their responsibility,” she says, proudly, dogs get along well with each other but adding, “Sometimes when I am not the male dogs are aggressive and fight well, they feel the pain too. Once I a lot. They are like young siblings who hired an auto and I was just about love each other unconditionally but can to get in when three of my dogs ran never get along and always find reasons towards me. They pulled my saree so to fight. They trouble each other and fiercely that I was forced to get out. play pranks too. But whenever when The rickshaw driver found some other I am around their only job is to show passenger and went away. The vehicle - HARSHA SHAH me how much they love me. When went just a little distance ahead and they see me coming home, they come met with an accident. I was saved from running and attempt to hug me but they usually fail and the mishap because of my dogs,” she adds. make me trip instead. The happiness you see on their face Anuradha too finds her cats therapeutic. She believes when they see you is a priceless experience and worth all the her pets are a great stress buster. The antic of pets playing other added trouble that having so many pets might bring,” together is not just a source of amusement, it helps reduce she says. anxiety too. “This one time, when I brought a stray cat home, It’s not necessary, however, that a number of pets would the doctor had come over to sterilise her. Lallu, one of the result in a chaotic household. Choreographer Tanushree other cats who had already been sterilised, suddenly recalled Rakshit holds the flag high for pets — both dogs and cats — his sterilisation and went crazy. He ran away, purring loudly living compatibly with each other. In fact, she couldn’t get and was missing for the next few hours,” she says. enough of the wonderful sight of her dogs and cats curled up But a word of warning to all those who are about to share together. “All of them get along with each other very well their homes with more than one pet. The decision to take on and they are just like one big happy family. The cats are so such a huge responsibility calls for a good deal of thought friendly that sometimes they might cuddle up with dogs for and planning. “Only if one is ready to give each one of them an afternoon nap. They are affectionate towards each other equal time and care then opening your doors to multiple pets too. It depends on how you bring them up,” she says. She is a good idea. The most important thing to keep in mind is believes that to achieve this kind of harmony in a house that not all cats and dogs get along with each other. So do one must train the pets and bring them up in a particular your research and take always individual personalities into manner. account,” says Pallavi.

Not that a similar species of pets hanging out together zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com would make one’s life easier. Ask Anuradha Sawhney and she will tell you that managing a house with multiple cats is also a difficult task. More often than not, they tend to become defensive, engage in fighting and scratching, and land up hurting each other. Anuradha, who runs a vegan food service, has seven cats, including four strays and three Persian cats. While most of her felines might at least pretend to be well-behaved when she is around, Chutka, one of her cats is the clearly notorious one, she says. “Chutka is different from the others and he picks fights with everyone.

Even when the food is served, Chutka will first eat everyone else’s food and then he’ll sit down to eat his own meal, which he absolutely will not share. He is the mischievous one so keeping him in a separate room is the only option I have,” she adds.

Apart from the unconditional love, taking care of pets has a health benefit too. The biggest advantage being that they motivate you to exercise every day. “There is a hill near my housing society where I take my dogs for a walk every day. They are the reason that I get my daily dose of exercise too. The more pets one has, the healthier you might turn out to be,” smiles Pallavi. Her cats, on the other hand, do not need any exercise and are her constant medium of entertainment. “They play with anything and everything in the house. Once, I found one of the cats in my cupboard. At other times, they climb onto the fridge. But you have to keep an eye out and take care of them. Some time ago, I had lost my cat and, after a month of enquiring, the watchman of Harsha Shah playing my building informed me that the cat was found in another with her pets at home housing society. I found her outside someone’s bungalow sitting quietly in a corner. She had not eaten anything for

RAHUL RAUT

TGS LIFE

TGS LIFE

OCTOBER 31, 2015 PUNE

FEATURES

“When they see me coming home, they come running and attempt to hug me but they usually fail and make me trip instead”

The key to the survival in a household that is also home to a number of pets is to share lots of love with a pinch of adventure Zainab Kantawala @TGSWeekly

R

Pallavi Kharade with her bundle of stray pets

For them, more definitely makes it merrier

emember Robin and her five dogs from the popular television show ‘How I Met Your Mother’ or the famous ‘101 Dalmations’ before Cruella de Vil strikes? While numerous people in the city are scared of animals and can do all in their power to stay away from them, there are others who live with multiple pets.

Whenever you meet such an animal lover, be prepared for a grand barking welcome with all dogs fighting eachot her to get a whiff of you and pushing you in the bargain. Get ready

to see cats curled up, cozy in any, and every, corner of the house. You might even find some on top of the refrigerator, on the seat that you would have otherwise sat on, or curled up at your foot once you have settled in. The joy of living with one pet is only multiplied when you live with a dozen of them, say Punekars who have taken their love for animals quite literally and have opened their doors to more pets than one could possibly handle.

If you think just one four-legged friend brings joy and happiness to your life, then more than one surely multiplies that bliss. Cats and dogs can be your most loyal friends.

They comfort you and bring on a smile even when you are

not in your best mood. They provide company when you are all alone, snuggle and make you laugh when you are in stress. Multiple pets mean more companionship, double the love and more soft fur on your hands.

There sure are benefits to have more than one pet in your house, but it also brings along the added responsibility.

If you are ready, then you are just about to get the most rewarding experience ever.

Living with many pets can be a one-of-its-kind experience for the pets and for pet parents alike. Pallavi Kharade, a mediaperson-turned-blogger, spends her days watching her dogs playfully wrestle while her cats laze around. She is a proud parent to five dogs and seven cats. “It was very difficult initially, as all the dogs are strays. Their mother had died and it was a different kind of joy when I got the seven puppies home, fed them and took care of them,” she recalls. Pallavi busied herself p r e p a r i n g powdered milk for the puppies and figuring out what medicines they required. The two species of animals have their own idiosy ncrasies.

“The cats and dogs prefer to stay away from each other and don’t get along well.

- PALLAVI KHARADE Sometimes they fight amongst themselves, they attack each other and turn my house into a playground as they run around chasing each other. But in the end I know for a fact that they cannot do with each

“Only if one is ready to give each one of them equal time and care then opening your doors to multiple pets is a good idea” Anuradha Sawhney with her furry friends

Tanushree Rakshit with her best buddies

TGS LIFE OCTOBER 31, 2015 PUNE

THRILL OF DRIVING

Trigger happy Too many Italian machines around for your discerning tastes? MV Agusta is the proper exotic for you

By Tushar Burman

tempered a bit. The scalloped tank and trellis frame are no longer rare sights. You have KTM and the Bajaj boys to thank for that.

There’s still the three stacked exhaust pipes exiting on the right, e live in a world where thoroughbred Brit and which you’re unlikely to find anywhere else. The Brutale 800 is a Italian motorcycles are made in Thailand, and compact motorcycle, only half an inch longer in wheelbase than there are increasing hordes with dark custom a KTM 390 Duke. Swing a leg over and the weight feels just a bit styling coming out of India. Storied Italian over the Austrian pocket rocket too. Being a lightweight myself, motorcycle purveyor Benelli is now owned and manufactured by I found this to be a good confidence-booster. Thumb the starter the Chinese. Is nothing sacred anymore? Actually there’s plenty, and the almighty clatter from the engine is an ominous indicator if you have the pocketbook for it. of what’s to come. This is a regular wet-clutch motorcycle, so The Kinetic Group has had an interesting run in India, we’re not sure what the racket was about. It sounds about three being an early mover in the imported motorcycle segment with times as loud as the silky-smooth Kawasaki Z800 at idle!

Before you slot the gearbox into first and twist the throttle, Hyosung. Back then, there was no Harley-Davidson, Kawasaki there are some things you should know. First off, it’s or Ducati, so you took what you got or you went to the ride-by-wire, so the amount of go you get for your grey market and took your chances. Under the good Verdict twist is entirely dependent on the comprehensive offices of Ajinkya Firodia as MD, Kinetic World is + exotic cachet, electronics package. How comprehensive? How back with another import, this time decidedly more about three riding modes, entirely customisable, upscale. MV Agusta is the brand that they intend performance to launch shortly, a maker of high-end, high-spec - Only for the Italian motorcycles, actually manufactured in skilled Italy. In this age of commoditized manufacturing, TGS rating does the exotic Italian credo hold good? We found ;;;;Z out on a short ride.

The MV Agusta Brutale 800 you see here is a motorcycle with a well-understood format. Mid-displacement engine, upright but sporty seating and little to no ornamental/ aerodynamic plastic. MV adds a dollop of character with its clattery, potent triple-cylinder inline engine. The Brutale 800 is the low in the range, slotting below the more powerful R model and the Dragster, but you wouldn’t know it at first glance. We had a chance to try the bike against all its mid-displacement peers available in the Indian market, and there’s no doubt that this is a posh bit of kit. There’s alloy bits everywhere, the exposed engine is finished beautifully and the suspension is fully adjustable. It will be more expensive than other 800cc bikes in India, and it looks the part.

Step back a bit and take it in as a whole, and the exotic vision is @tburman

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eight levels of traction control and ABS, engine torque and braking levels, throttle and engine response settings. For those unfamiliar with the Brutale, we’d recommend the Normal or even Rain riding mode. For a 798cc motor, the Brutale 800 comes across as a vicious animal foaming at the mouth. Should you leave it in the more aggressive sport mode, the throttle feels like it’s telepathic and power delivery feels quite mental.

With the stiff, sport-oriented suspension (we didn’t fiddle with adjustments for our short ride), navigating bumpy roads is an exercise in throttle control. The slightest movement of your right hand is enough to create scary forward motion. Even though dialing the rider mode down helps, there is no escaping the fact that this is a mad, scalpel-sharp motorcycle.

Thankfully, stopping the superlight Brutale are twin 320mm discs up front grabbed by Brembo radially-mounted calipers. Retardation is progressive and controlled, quite the opposite from the acceleration, which felt like we’d escape the Earth’s gravity by the time we were at the top of Kasara ghat.

This motorcycle makes its 125 horsepower feel like 250. I had to check the engine over a few times to make sure they hadn’t shoehorned a two-stroke ATV motor in there somewhere, such is its propensity for violence.

Kinetic plans to roll out some models in November, likely the big-brother Brutale 1090, since the 798cc motor will need to go through Indian homologation processes, which will likely also make this one of the more expensive 800cc bikes you can buy. But you don’t buy an Italian exotic if you’re shopping around for the lowest interest rate. You buy it because you want it, regardless of the cost, which will be somewhere between 11 and 15 lac rupees, by our estimate. I was somewhat relieved to get off the Brutale 800 and hand it off to my colleagues who were tasked with returning the motorcycle to the company. This is too much bike for anyone but the very skilled, and it didn’t surprise me when I heard the very same bike was laid down while on test with another, more skilled journalist. You have been warned. tushar@goldensparrow.com

TGS LIFE

OCTOBER 31, 2015 PUNE

FEATURES

They flip and jump, before they fly

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

H

e climbed the tree, jumped onto the branch of another one, leaped into the air, did a few somersaults and rolled onto the grass so he could land back on the ground gracefully. This was, however, not the end. He got up, ran to a wall

and with its support executed a black flip. He ran the open area a few times, while gaining speed as he prepared to attempt a final jump. High enough to make any spectator gasp, he jumped from almost six feet and clutched at his feet as he did so, striking the notso-easy spider man pose.

So many of us would have given anything to be able to do a back flip

ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR

like Tiger Shroff or jump from one building to another like Jackie Chan.

While we sit comfortably on the couch and enjoy these sequences on our television sets, there is a group of youngsters in the city who have been working hard to bring the art form into limelight.

A group from the city, whose members believe in making their own way (MYOW), has been professionally working on the art form, called parkour or free running.

Both forms are demarcated by a very thin line. While parkour focuses on speed and merely getting from point A to point B, free-running does the same but more artistically and with the help of a few tricks .

A chat as well as parkour and an early morning free-running session with the performers most definitely showcased some of the city’s best hidden talent.

Deepak Mali has been practicing parkour for about six years now. A follower of martial arts for the last 15 years, he is currently working as a stuntman in a television show that is being shot in Mumbai. Alongside, he is choreographing Kunal Kapoor and Krishna Chaturvedi in their upcoming films. He has also trained with Tiger Shroff for about six months earlier.

“A few videos on the internet inspired my team and me to take this up. Most of us are trained dancer or have done martial arts, so picking this art form through videos was easier. The lack of a coach or an

Eight youngsters from Pune have been sweating it out on the weekends, hoping to bring the art of parkour and free running into the spotlight institute in the city where we can learn parkour professionally was the biggest obstacle we faced while starting off,” says Atul Panse, 28, an IT professional. He spends most of his free time mastering parkour and free running.

It is mainly through video conferencing with professional parkour experts and free-runners that the team has come this far.

Another member of the troupe is just 20 years old and is studying BCom at Choice College, Kothrud.

Usman Khan, who has been doing martial arts for a long time, was attracted to parkour because of the freedom of movement that it offered. The instructor coaches about 15 beginners every weekend and dreams of not only being a

part of one of first parkour institutes of the city, but of also being able to take his skills international. Getting into the sport, the biggest challenge was convincing his parents to be comfortable with what he did. “In the group, all of us faced the same problem. It is, in fact, a given that when one is doing something which is so prone to injuries, their parents are bound to be worried. It took them some while but they have come around,” says Usman as he warms up to do something he absolutely loves.

MYOW is currently tutoring 15 students every weekend at Lohiya Gardens, Hadapsar. Moreover, they also provide personal training to about 13 others in the city.

All set to represent his group in the first ever parkour competition in India, scheduled to be held in Uttar Pradesh next month, Deepak could not be more excited. “What makes me happy is that the sport is catching up. It is not just a few people anymore like it was when I started out. The numbers are increasing every day. Soon, they might be big enough to open an institute and help encourage more people like us,” says the 26-year-old. Deepak is the only member of the World Parkour and Free-running Federation from Pune.

For him, the biggest obstacle is the period after an injury when he can’t practice what he loves.

Other team members include Ravi Ranjan (26), Raj Pal (23), Narayan Nirmal (25), Rupesh Gaikwad (21) and Sanket Doshi (20). The boys have been getting together over weekends to learn from each other. Since all of them are self-taught, trial and error is the best way for them to move forward and get better. They also hope that in the near future they can open an institute to train those interested in parkour and eliminate the process of trial and error. salonee.mistry @goldensparrow.com

TGS LIFE

OCTOBER 31, 2015 PUNE

FEATURES Chikaraks is doing what no one else in the country has thought of yet just to wean toddlers away from shopping malls and television

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

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single YouTube video and the need to provide his children with a better future led to Chin2 Bhosle starting the first-ever rock band for preschoolers. What does a pre-school band perform is a perfectly legitimate question and the artist confesses that he has an agenda is to create age-appropriate content. In fact, Chin2 and his team are hoping to revolutionise the scene of entertainment for preschoolers. Here is what the Chikaraks have to say about the challenges they face, the joy of working for children and their future plans.

SPREADING THE CORRECT MESSAGE With children being exposed to Bollywood numbers and other television content at an early age, which could have the wrong influence on them, the Chikaraks team felt that there was a need to do something different. Based on research, which has shown that music has the biggest impact on children and is an easy way to engage with them, the band decided to impart values through music.

Manav Dhanda, CEO of Shri Adhikari Brothers, musician Pratichee Mohapatra, theatre professional Fiona D’Souza and music teacher Chin2 Bhosale, are the co-founders of Kiddy Entertainment Pvt. Ltd and the band’s members. For all four, this venture is all about teaching children values and imparting good manners.

The songs that the group performs centre

This rock band performs for pre-schoolers

around simple things, such as teaching children how to cross the road, saying hello to the traffic cops who stand in the heat all day long, and covering your mouth when you sneeze. These songs are meant to impart to values and manners that should ideally stay with them throughout their lives.

KEEPING IT SIMPLE When one does anything artistic, be it creating music, writing a book or programming a game, keeping the target audience in mind is the key to doing well. Creating work for preschoolers is quite the task for the Chikaraks. “With children this young, the biggest task is keeping it simple.

Otherwise, when I write music, I can think of multiple combinations of notes and pitches to keep the audience entertained. If a song has more variations, the audience’s response to the song is better. With children it has to be simple and this is a big challenge,” says Chin2, who is largely involved in writing the lyrics and composing music for the songs that the band plays. The lyrics, he adds, are comparatively easier to manage. For inspiration, he just has to observe his children and imagine how he wants them to be when they grow up.

BIG PLANS FOR THE FUTURE Bringing a novel idea to the entertainment

DIVA IN THE MAKING

City’s own Niyamat Nadir Nilgiriwala will represent India at the Miss Globalcity International Pageant 2015 to be held in China

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

N

iyamat Nadir Nilgiriwala is in the race for the crown of Miss Globalcity International Pageant 2015, which will be held in China. She is the perfect combination of beauty with brains. The pretty 19-year-old is pursuing a degree in Commerce. She believes she has the intelligence, poise and willingness to learn and therefore deserves to win the crown.

“I am excited, confident and nervous all the same time. I have worked really hard for this pageant, and my parents have been my support

system throughout. I want to win this crown for them,” she says. A positive attitude and patience is what helps her get through stressful situations.

Niyamat’s journey in the world of modelling has been an adventurous one. She has worked hard to lose weight and grooming herself into a diva. “I was a hardcore foodie, a tomboy, and I weighed 80kgs. I had to follow a strict diet regime and today I have lost over 25kgs. I feel proud to see the transformation not just how much I weigh, but also personality wise,” she adds.

On being asked to describe her journey, the confident young girl says that she has always been fascinated by the pageant world and wanted to be a part of it since a young age. “I always aspired to be Miss Universe, and I am working hard to

get there one day. Modelling is something that I always wanted to pursue. My journey has been a very encouraging one under the guidance of my mentor Ritika Ramtri and the strong support and motivation from my parents,” says Niyamat.

The Miss Globalcity International Pageant aims to promote world peace, mutual understanding from city to city and their You CanEarth Caring Movement. The contest will see 70 contestants competing for the grand title, and Niyamat, with her confidence and poise, is sure to make India proud. “I had always thought of representing India at an international level, and this is like a dream come true. I am prepared for the win,” she says.

“I was a hardcore foodie, a tomboy, and I weighed 80kgs”

business, the Chikaraks have garnered immense appreciation and support from parents across the country. “So many children, who have attended our shows, remember our songs.

When we meet parents who have been bringing their children to our shows or showing them our videos they talk about how they find their children being happy at the tunes of our songs or singing along. The feedback has been great and we are happy we did materialise the idea,” says a proud Chin2.

The Chikaraks have tied up with Sony Music as their official music partners. The band will soon launch their official YouTube channel too. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

TGS LIFE

OCTOBER 31, 2015 PUNE

FEATURES The art of miniature gardening involves a lot of imagination. The plants add natural life and serve as a visual beauty. Even if you don’t have a lot of space, a miniature garden can be grown in empty jars, milk jugs, and other things destined for the trash.

Sheshman Pandey, a digital commerce executive has a new found love for miniature garden. “It looks beautiful and adds greenery to your home. I have other live plants but this stands out and it hardly requires any maintenance. I keep changing the garden’s direction once in a while,” he says.

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

I

f you fancy a garden with mystical landscapes, fairy houses, populated with tiny plants and greenery around, then miniature gardens are for you. Filled with beautiful adventures and detail, a miniature garden will bring alive a snapshot of your dream. You do not need to spend long hours to maintain it neither do you need a huge space.

This is where you can create a living world in a small container, a fish bowl or simply a dish.

It allows you to explore your creativity, add a theme, style, or even add structures without spending a lot of money or requiring any kind of maintenance.

You can buy these miniature gardens and accessories in craft stores or get them designed by a landscape designer. You can also create your own garden from scratch by putting together materials you have imagined.

CREATING A GARDEN OF YOUR IMAGINATION Miniature gardens offer you an opportunity to use small-leaved, low-growing plants and plan the décor with stone boulders, tiny fences, houses, and other things. “You can use cactus, succulents, African violets, or small palms with baby tears. You can even use unusual plants like tiny bromeliads or orchids. I like

Small garden wonders for your home The best things come in small packages. The proverb has stood the test of time, especially when it comes to miniature gardening using shells, pebbles, rocks, and sometimes it depends on the theme. These ornamental minimalist plants sit in beautiful handpicked accents. You can let these sit on glass tables or simply in your living room,” says Ketaki Ravindra Chavan, a landscape designer who specialises in container and dish garden that goes by the name Bot-Arto.

Ketaki recently made a fishbowl garden that was a based on a sea theme. “The sands and stones were artistically mixed to match the colours and texture of the plants. I added fish and tiny elements like boats and ships to give it a natural look,” she adds.

You can have these mini gardens indoors, in a balcony, or even in a garden with minimal flowerbed space. Ameeta Sharma Menon is

FUSS-FREE MAINTENANCE The gardens are innovative and unique; they add a charm to your interior. Apart from freshness, the plants are fuss-free too. “Having these around in offices and homes not only brings in purity and well being but also increased productivity. Slow release fertilisers can sustain them for up to two years. All you have to do is water them once a week,” adds Ketaki.

These plants are low maintenance and can survive in artificial lighting. The glass planters are designed to let in natural light while maintaining the temperature at an optimum level in most weathers.

You don’t need to water them at all. “Light and water are two elements required for your terrarium.

These little gardens are often seen in offices or given as gifts, because they can grow and survive well in indirect sunlight and with little watering. Within your home, place the terrarium in a bright area with lots of indirect lighting. If you see your plants start to brown, they could be getting too much light and

stuffed with inventive ideas for weeny things that she turns into quirky planters. She started ‘Life on your table’, where she helps people set up their mini garden. “Miniature gardening was a part of my research project while I was studying architecture. I instantly got hooked to it and enjoyed making something beautiful and sustainable. I came across the art and science of making terrariums (a mini indoor garden in a glass container).

Unfortunately, there are very few people in India who know about this. From there on, I started experimenting with various methods, ingredients, and types of plants.” she says.

Ameeta creates house plants in glass enclosures, which are self-sustainable. The really cool thing about developing miniature gardens is that you can pretty much grow them anywhere. “None of the material used is unnatural. Only organic manure and herbicides are used to prevent infestation.

Green plants better the indoor air quality and purify your surroundings,” she adds.

ADDING A CHARM TO YOUR DÉCOR These gardens help you live your imagination.

You can choose themes like Japanese gardens, collage, village theme or a fairy garden. “I have four tray gardens. One is the hillside theme garden, where I have a small water body with small houses, and a hill. I have a miniature garden in my study room, terrace, living room and bedroom. They add life to the décor and enhance its look. I also have a zen garden that is not only beautiful but adds a peace quotient to the house,” says Sheetal Kadam, an interior decorator.

should be moved,” says Ameeta.

One should remember to trim the plants to keep them at the desired size, and remove algae or fungus that might gather in the terrarium.

“Besides proper lighting, terrariums need a proper amount of moisture as well. Sometimes you can go without watering for months at a time. However, when it is time to add extra moisture, use a spoon, eyedropper or a water sprayer to help against over watering,” adds Ameeta.

SP

TGS LIFE

OCTOBER 31, 2015 PUNE

SHOPPING

14

ZIP IT UP IN STYLE

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

W

ith the chilly Pune winter just round the corner owning multiple jackets is a must. Be it for a classy party or a casual evening with friends, adding a jacket to whatever you wear can increase the style quotient two folds. But beware only when the right jacket is paired with the correct clothes will it look good. A jacket, unless it is one that goes along with a kurta or sherwani, like a Nehru jacket, must always be paired with shoes. These light-weight jackets ensure that they keep you warm, make you look stylish and aren’t a burden to carry around. While new trends and styles are waiting to be explored here are a few jackets that never go out of style.

Camouflage bomber jacket

The chic looking camouflage jacket with contrasting cuffs is the perfect addition to a pair of blue or black jeans and a white t-shirt for your evening plans. The side pockets with zips provides an extra storage space, while adding to the style quotient of the jacket.

Where: Zara, Phoenix Market City Price: Rs 4,990

Sleeveless Hoodie

For a fresh new look, try this grey and green zippered jacket. This Louis Philippe jacket will look amazing with all your casual outfits. Pair it with jeans and any light coloured shirt for the perfect look.

Where: Louis Philippe, Kothrud Price: Rs 3,799

This sleeveless French terry hoodie features a zippered front and kangaroo patch pocket. The fact that it is sleeveless and zipped in the front ensures that it doesn’t take away from whatever you wear it with.

Where: Forever 21, Phoenix Marketcity Price: Rs.1,009

Hooded training jacket

Melange French Terry Hoodie

Comfort and style combined the grey and black jacket is a must have. The breathable fabric made from natural fibres provides a pleasant sensation. The speckled design, adjustable hood, zipped pockets, contrasting panels, elastic finish, and logo print all add to its charm.

Where: Mango stores Price: Rs 5,590

The red jacket with a contrasting colour on the inside of the hoodie and cuffs is both comfortable and stylish for everything right from a morning jog to a casual evening stroll. The same jacket is also available in black.

Where: Being Human, Magarpatta Price: Rs 2,999

Fleece Sweat Jacket

Original Stan Smith jacket

The Adidas originals Stan SST jacket for men has an all-over perforated design with a full frontal zip closure which provides the option of adjustable ventilation. It comes with two side pockets, one inside pocket on the left and a crew collar. You can wear it with almost anything.

Where: Adidas, JM Road Price: Rs.4,999

Grey and Green Panel Front Jacket

This blue and yellow slim fit sweat jacket works like magic when paired with blue jeans and a white t-shirt. The fact that it is well-fitted makes it look elegant. The thin contrasting colour cuffs make the jacket look charming and youthful.

Always remember to wear shoes with a jacket like this for it to look stylish.

Where: Puma, FC Road Price: Rs 3,799

His life with bikes and cars

A

small motorcycle repair shop in the heart of Kothrud is all Mohammad Kadir Shaikh has. And for him, he says it’s enough. Soft spoken and humble, this 32-year-old mechanic has seen troubled times beyond one’s imagination.

Having absolutely no regrets, he believes in seeing the positive in everything and finding a reason to smile even on the toughest day.

Bling is in

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ink and bling are two elements which define the designer Sonam Parmar, “it is who I am and what I love”, she says. She always had those two elements as a part of her daily ensemble in some or the other way.

Hence she loves giving that personal touch to all her creations as well as she believes it adds that extra oomph.

In her A/W ’15 collection called Oh! So Quaint by Sonam Parmar you will find collars, exaggerated bows and drapes and it goes without

Sonam Parmar

saying a whole lot of gold sequins to add that extra drama to this modern vintage collection. Sonam’s use of colour, couture details, sequins and graceful embroideries flutter and flow will make you feel like a complete goddess. She gives us some expert tips to wear the bling and make an impression.

• If you want to stand out and make a statement – add sequins to something casual, you can pair a sequined jacket or a sequined cape with jeans and casual button down STYLE shirts for a day look! Add a GURU pastel sling bad with a pair of nude heels and a few accessories like a watch, a pair of earrings and you are ready to go.

• Style a sequined skirt or shorts with a classic black/white pair of denims or patterned shirts/t-shirts. Team it up with a pair of colored heels and a matching bag to go with.

• For a stylish yet edgy look style a sequined cape with a white jumpsuit and complete the look by adding a pop color clutch and heels, also add accessories with a pair of sun glasses and a watch.

• When in doubt, just put on a sequined dress and a smile, you need nothing else to go with then, but remember to add a bright lipstick to complete your look. Sexy as hell and the oomph factor is unmatched; you’d be grabbing plenty of attention – the right way!

• Sequined skirts are another great option to add bling to your look, best would be to opt one in dark colours and bright embellishments. Bring on the festive cheer and flaunt your curves but remember to keep the top neutral.

(As told to Zainab Kantawala)

OCTOBER 31, 2015 PUNE

FEATURES RAHUL RAUT

kitchen while she rolled chapatis and make cars and bikes from the dough. It was something that not only fascinated me but made me think and kept my mind active,” says Mohammad with a broad smile.

Not giving in to his father’s desire to join the tailoring business, Mohammad joined a garage near Dhanukar colony as a helping hand at the age of 10. His main objective when he joined that garage was to learn. He never asked anyone for help, but observed and memorised procedures and techniques to fix different problems the two-wheelers faced. “This was one of the most difficult parts of my learning curve,” unekar admits Mohammad. It was hard to remember what to do when, he adds. Since he didn’t know how to read or write, memory was all he had to rely on.

Not agreeing to follow in his father’s profession did not go down well with his father and relations with him were stressed for a long time. “I was literally living on the streets after my father The son of a tailor from Hyderabad who re- and I stopped talking to each other. I started my located to Pune in search of better prospects, shop on the footpath with just a few tools at my Mohammad had always been an ardent lover of disposal. Those were tough times. I did a part-time bikes and cars. Having studied in an Urdu medium job at another garage to pay for food and a room. school till the fourth grade, Mohammad did not The room would always fill up during the monsoons have big dreams for himself. “Growing up I was and it was like living in the sea,” jokes Mohammad.

Now everything is good. Mohammad has his always interested in cars and in understanding how they worked. I would sit with my mom in the own house. He opened a small shop of his own six

TGS LIFE

years ago and has bunch of loyal customers. It is the quality and service I offer that brings them back he assures. He is happily married and has a three-year-old son who he hopes will grow up and become an engineer. “My son can do whatever he wants to when he grows up. I don’t want him to struggle like I did because my father couldn’t accept that I wanted to do something different. As long as he is happy, can feed himself and his family two meals a day, I will be content,” says Mohammad, as he continues to fix the bike he was working on.

(As told to Salonee Mistry)

City

celeb chat Name: Aditya Agashe Profession: Recording artist, songwriter, model, business consultant and socialite Three words to describe me: I don’t like to be boiled down to just three words when I am aware that I have capacity for so much more I love my job because: It’s a crucial part of my personality Best advice I’ve received: I don’t think I have received life saving advice as yet and I would honestly prefer it to be that way When buying something, the first thing that catches my eye is: A particular thing’s style statement. It must also be durable for the long run and anything and everything that will never go out of style What’s your inner animal? I would say the dragon. Although, I think I am any animal I choose to be for the day The first thing you notice about an attractive person: The way they walk The perfect start to a day is: A cup of tea and

a groovy dance routine Your current four-wheeler: I’ll get back to you on this once I have I have been legally allowed to break down on the middle of the road Your fitness regimen: Dancing for about 20 hours a week Your food indulgence: Offer me anything chocolate and I’ll be your best friend for life Books by your bedside: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows, Othello by William Shakespeare and Allegiant by Veronica Roth The first site you visit when you fire up your comp: Google Your favourite city: New York. There is an air of self identity ambiguity about the people of that city.

Ideal holiday: I prefer a proper balance of planning and pure impulse. I prefer to go to the most culturally foreign places privately, and unplanned (As told to Salonee Mistry)

TGS LIFE

OCTOBER 31, 2015 PUNE

BUZZ From being a f inalist on a reality TV show and a GIMA award-winner, Armaan Malik walks us through his musical journey so far

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

H

aving already made waves in the industry with the song Main Hu Hero Tera, from the film Hero, Armaan Malik is set to hit the silver screen again with his new single featuring Emraan Hashmi and Esha Gupta. Unlike most upcoming Indian singers, he believes in testing his limits and raising the bar every single time. He has taken the Bollywood playback singing industry by a storm with songs in films like Jai Ho, Bhootnath, Taare Zameen Par and Chillar Party.

Born into a musical family, he is the grandson of yesteryear music composer Sardar Malik and the son and nephew of renowned composers

Meet Anu Malik’s talented nephew

Daboo and Anu Malik. Armaan quite literally has music coursing through his veins. “Music came naturally to me. When I was six, my parents discovered that I had a flair for singing and I then went on to participate in the reality show ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa’. My playback singing career started when I was just ten years old and I sang for films like Bhootnath and Chillar Party,” says Armaan.

Not only has he sung in Hindi and English, but he has also lent his voice to songs in Tamil and Telugu films such as Ram Gopal Varma’s Rakta Charitra. But success didn’t come easy and Armaan has had his share of struggles. “There are advantages and disadvantages of being born in a family that is part of the film music industry. Yes, it gives you an easier access to people but in the end it’s the talent that matters.

I have struggled hard to get where I am today,” he adds.

Over time, Armaan has mastered both Indian and Western vocal skills while also improving as a songwriter, underscoring his multiple talents at such a young age.

He won the Global Indian Music Academy Awards this year for his collaboration with Salim-Sulaiman on the song Auliya and his selftitled debut album ‘Armaan’. “The turning point of my career was when Salman Khan approached me for the film Jai Ho. Somehow the songs weren’t promoted well and that pulled back my growth to a certain extent. Then the song Naina from the film Khoobsurat worked its magic. After that, I have won three GIMA Awards this year. I couldn’t have hoped for better,” says Armaan.

Whether it is Indian Classical, Western Contemporary, Reggae or Jazz, Armaan is at home handling all genres. His versatility and maturity is what mark him out as a special talent.

“I have so far sung in Kannada, Tamil, Telegu and Marathi, and in future I want to sing in as many languages as possible.

I want to explore other genres of music besides Bollywood too,” he says. Right now, this rising star is busy singing for his upcoming films Hate Story 3, Mastizaade and Sanam Re. zainab.kantawala @goldensparrow.com

Fitoor ignited passion in me as an actor: Katrina A ctress Katrina Kaif says her forthcoming film Fitoor re-inspired her and ignited the passion in her as an actor. “Fitoor is a script I fell in love with the moment I heard it. I was very excited and passionate about it. When I started working on the film, we initially went slow, then I

started understanding things,” Katrina told PTI. “I have learnt so much from the film. It has re-inspired me... ignited the passion in me as an actor. It is like a new journey for me as an actor. If I could go back and live everyday on the set, I would,” she said.

Earlier, the Abhishek Kapoor-directed film had veteran actress Rekha, but instead of her Tabu is now doing the movie.

Katrina said she had a memorable experience working with Rekha.

“I got few days to work with her. I always had a great connection with her. She had been amazingly friendly, warm person. We are saddened that it did not work out. Every film has its destiny and we respect that.

“I have seen Rekha quite a few times.

So when she came on sets we had a warm connection. As a performer... as work everyone is a fan of her. I was very respectful towards her. Since we knew each other so it was a close connection,” she said.

The Namastey London actress will be seen with Siddharth Malhotra in Nitya Mehra’s Baar Baar Dekho. “Nitya’s film is an amazing love story.

It is an idea that shocked me when I first heard it. I have not seen or heard a film like this in long time. Most of the love stories are of similar types, but this seemed new and exciting.

There is lot of performance in it,” she says. PTI