AGL October 2012

Page 1

Volume : II Issue : VIII October : 2012

+

COVER STORY

Multi






GET IN TOUCH

Let us know what you’d like to see in next issue...

facebook/aglmagazine

Aug issue -2012

LETTERS agl

>>twitter

>>facebook

twitter/aglmagazine

My friends told me about AGL and I came across the September issue recently. The vibe of the magazine is amazing. Love the quality of the pages too. Please increase the content in the cinema section. –Ch. Pavani I love the features in your magazine. Since I am a fashion freak, I thoroughly enjoy the fashion pages. The current trends on the fashion scene are very well showcased. Keep up the good work. –Dolly Thanks for the tips in the health issues. It was really helpful and will be life-savers for many I believe. I really like the health section of the magazine. -Raghu

TO

I have read the august issue and have liked the section of shopping, Interview of Allu Arjun & 10 bar n grill the most. I would like you to add more pages related to famous eateries in Hyderabad and their specialties and also information related to city with numbers and addresses.{Eg: police station, hospitals, cabs and railway enquiry}. Hats off to the team AGL for a very good magazine. “Success will never lower its standard 2 accommodate us, we’ve to raise our standards 2 achieve it.” Wishing you best of luck for all the success in future. – Vishesh AGL always has this unique way of presenting their cover stories. The articles are of immense information for any age group. I haven’t seen many magazines having a paper quality which AGL has - I feel it’s a cut above the rest! Congratulations on your stronger comeback. I am sure it was tough, but you always believed and that’s what matters. It’s the BEST lifestyle magazine in town! Wishing you more success. – Aditya Tej

AGL seems to be getting better with every issue. It is very addictive, thanks to your trademark sections. I have a new guide to know what is happening in and around the city. –Aanchal Your cover was once again stunning. You end up doing out-of-the-box stuff all the time. This is what I like the most about AGL. Keep rocking. – Kumar I always wonder why it is always hot young men on your covers. I would love to see beautiful women on your cover sometimes too. Overall, I like your magazine a lot and I am eagerly waiting for the next issue. –Sachin AGL is too good. It isn’t crammed with ads like other local magazines but it isn’t boring either. It is one of the very few local magazines that I can read every page before tossing it away. Keep rocking. -Abhimanyu Kids love your contests and stickers. My niece gave me the latest edition after plucking away the stickers page. It feels nice to see a lifestyle magazine catering to kids too. -Anuradha

Send us your views, opinions and suggestions to: Email: admin@aglmagazine.com Tel: 040 - 23420077 Mail: 8-2-696/1/K/B, Banjara Hills, Road #12, Hyderabad, 500 034, India (Please mention your full name and address)

4 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012


1 MONTHS FREE SUBSCRIPTION FORM

D

D

M M

Y

Y

To Subscribe Contact us Today: Email: subscribe@aglmagazine.com Call us: 040 2342 0077 Mail us at: AGL Magazine 8-2-120/841/A, 2nd floor, Times Square Building, Road No. 12, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad. Pin: 500 034 www.aglmagazine.com

This is a limited offer • Offer is valid in Hyderabad only • Please allow 3-4 weeks processing of your subscription • ALR Media Pvt. Ltd. Would not be responsible for postal delays, transit losses or mutilation of subscription form • All disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of competent courts and forums in Hyderabad. • We may disclose your personal identifiable information to companies not owned by ALR Media Pvt. Ltd. • Subscription forms are available at all ALR Media Pvt. Ltd. Offices. • For further details please contact: ALR Media Pvt. Ltd. Road No. 12 Banjara Hills, Hyderabad Pin: 500034, Ph: 040-23420077

Oct 2012 AVANT GARDE LIFE 5


chairmAn’ s Letter Greetings to all our readers! This month we have ensured the best of our efforts to match up to all the expectations from our readers. Kiccha Sudeep sizzles on the Cover, watch out for his first full-fledged interview as he makes a debut in a Hyderabadi Magazine. We take you to the magazine like always is a perfect blend of the reigning fashion, latest cuts, amazing accessories and out of the box looks. We unlock Subba Raju’s closet and see what this handsomeTollywood hunk likes in his wardrobe. All you Sushmita Sen fans are in for a treat, we bring you her diet diary and you will know exactly why she looks forever young and gorgeous! This time the Hot Wheel section zooms into Lyonheart K, Erikbuell Rolls and Royce Phantom; while the Luxury section delves into Zafirro Iridium Razor, Hublot Watches and more. Hope you enjoy reading this issue as much as we enjoyed putting it together for you. We are open to ideas and feedback…your opinion matters a lot to us and will help us better ourselves in this exciting journey of success. Let me conclude by wishing all our readers a happy and prosperous Dusssehra!

Anith Reddy

Chairman chairman@aglmagazine.com

6 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012


Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Maadhavi Guest Editor & Advisor Ajuli tulsyan Senior Features Writer S.R.K. Soundarya Varma Head Marketing & PR Pauleen Chakravorty Head HR & Communications Sadaf Ambareen

Art Director Vikas. K Courtesy Mrs. P Padma Niroop Reddy Rupana Reddy

Circulation Executive Md Ameer Uddin Photographer Venkat Reddy Designs K Sridhar

For Advertisements advertise@aglmagazine.com Ph-040-2342 0077

RNI - APENG/2009/30578. Edited, Printed, Published and owned by Anith Raj Laxman Reddy Printed at Kala Jyothi Process Pvt.Ltd. Registered office and city press: 1-1-60/5, RTC Cross Roads, Musheerabad, Hyderabad 500 020 AP, Published on behalf of ALR Media Pvt.Ltd,8-2-686/B/12, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad - 500 034. Copyright © 2008 ALR Media Pvt. Ltd. Avant Garde Life is a registered trademark owned by ALR Media Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved. Avant Garde Life is published monthly by ALR Media Pvt. Ltd, 8-2-696/1/K, Road No. 12, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad – 500 034, Andhra Pradesh, India, Ph: 040 23376296, 040 2342 0075, Fax: 040 66759191. For subscription assistance contact: ALR Media Pvt. Ltd, 8-2-696/1/K, Road No. 12, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad – 500 034, Andhra Pradesh, India, Ph: 040 23376296, 040 2342 0075, Fax: 040 66759191. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any manner is prohibited. Printed at Kala Jyothi Process Pvt.Ltd. Registered office and city press: 1-1-60/5, RTC Cross Roads, Musheerabad, Hyderabad 500 020 AP, Phone : 040- 2764 5536 , Fax : +91-040-2761 2323. Url: www.kalajyothi.com, Email: marketing@kalajyothi.com. Avant Garde Life does not take any responsibility for returning unsolicited publication material. All disputes are subjected to the exclusive jurisdiction of the competent courts and forums in Hyderabad only. Opinions expressed in the articles are the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors or publishers. While the editors do their utmost to verify information published they do not accept responsibility for its absolute accuracy.

www.aglmagazine.com

Chairman Anith Reddy


Contents VOLUME II ISSUE VIII · OCTOBER - 2012

MUST READS 44

deja vu The Great Indian Arranged Marriage Syndrome

54

54

gadgets

KITCHENETTE Falaknuma palace

60

health & fitness susHmita sen’s Diet diary

97

OUT OF THE CLOSET subba raju

54

HOT WHEELS

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS 40

spotlight saket talwar

87

Director’s take Krishna Vamsi

91

interview arunoday singh

103

Fashion Interview neelam Ashley

8 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012


83

COVER STORY

65

91

EXCLUSIVE features 26

AGL LUXURY The Zafirro razor Nights Diamond Purse expensive watch Hublot

83

HOT WHEELS Rolls Royce Phantom Lyonheart K

48

AGL DESTINATIONS

czech in prague

Oct 2012 AVANT GARDE LIFE 9


EVENTS

Sonal Dhoshi

Neha

Seema , Shikha (1)

Fun over tambola

Seema Chopra, Gazal Sarpal and Shikha organized a Tambola Event at Basil, Banjara Hills. Well known faces from the city’s social circuit were seen in the event.

Sonam 10 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012

Harshit

Alka

Komal

Diya

Nicky

Diya


EVENTS

Fulfilling desires In lieu of the upcoming wedding and festive season, D’sire exhibition & Sale was held at Taj Krishna. The event saw the city’s who’s who gracing the occasion. 80 master designers of jewellery and lifestyle accessories displayed more than 1, 50 000 designs, leaving the visitors completely mesmerized.

Archana

Anusha

Sneha

Arpita

Bhavana

Mehak

Nidhi

Niharika Reddy

Nikhi

Nisha

Payal

Shilpa , Priyanka

Sravani Oct 2012 AVANT GARDE LIFE 11


EVENTS

Tale Unfolded Padmashree Awardee, Ms Priya Paul was invited to address the members of FLO and YFLO at The Park to throw light on – ‘Unfolding the Park Story.’

Dharshana

12 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012

Shakuntala Devi

Manisha , Sunaina

Shilpa

Pallavi

Mansi

Sumila , Radhika


EVENTS

Sheetal

Amisha

Radhika

Ruchitha

Saloni

Eid milan What could be more perfect than a Qawwali theme to celebrate Eid at Sheesha Shylounge...The highlight of the evening were the paans and kesar phirni!

Soniya Kavitha

Nisha

Preethi

Sweta

Poonam

Sushmita

Neha , Neethi Oct 2012 AVANT GARDE LIFE 13


EVENTS

Rana

Manoj

Lakshimi

Krish

Priyanka

Smita

Haritha

Kavitha Reddy

For art’s sake Dr J Pravin Choudhary’s Art Show held at the Marriott Muse Art Gallery had the likes of Rana Dagubatti, Laxmi Manchu, Manchu Manoj, Director Krish and other celebrities joining in to admire the work and then heading for the after party Shilu Reddy

Pallavi , Vasanta 14 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012

Lavanya ,Dr Praveen

Sridevi

Nagini


EVENTS

Mommy ‘n’ me Around 20-25 kids gathered at Casa Luxurio to try their hands on Pottery -making under the expert guidance of Neha Gandhi and Neha Gupta. The eco friendly Ganeshas won the heart of all present.

Neha Gandhi

Sharada

Neha Gupta

Rina Hinducha

Manisha Hora

Anita Rathi

Anuja , Radhika

Sonia Sobti

Sushmita Totla

Manisha

Seema Chopra

Oct 2012 AVANT GARDE LIFE 15


EVENTS

Isaac , Anasurya,Rajeshwar Rao, Esthar Rani

Birthday Bash Family and friends celebrated Estha Rani’s birthday at Fortune Vallabha in Banjara Hills.

Keerthana

Kuldeep Singh,Sruthi Joy

16 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012

Saritha

Rajendra Prasad,Swarna Latha

Sujatha


EVENTS

Sharda, palguni, Indumath

Bina Kosha

Pause for passion Place: Rainbow Art Gallery, Paryatak Bhavan Date: 25th September 2012 Sharmila Agarwal’s exhibition, ‘A Pause for Passion’ was a fusion of metal, petal and paint. She made use of discarded material for her paintings and scrap from a factory in assembling metallic abstract forms.

Rekha Reddy

Sharmila Agarwal

Anisha

Vandhana

Rina

Chandana Khan

Reena Agarwal

Meeta

Krishnaveni Rekha Oct 2012 AVANT GARDE LIFE 17


EVENTS

Arlette Grao, Urvashi Rautela & Shilpa Singh

Mary Kom with the other judges

Star Studded Night

The Grand Finale of I AM SHE 2012 pageant held at Leonia Holistic Detination concluded with the announcement of the winners amidst a glittering star studded ceremony with excitement levels at an all time high. The prolific panel of judges comprising Harman Baweja, Mary Kom, Neeta Lulla, Mugdha Godse, Santosh Sivan ASC, Richard Hyde and Dario Cattaneo had to face the impossible task to choose the final winners amongst the lovely 20 finalists. Finally Urvashi Rautela, Shilpa Singh and Arlette Grao bagged away the crowns of I AM She Miss Universe India 2012, I AM She Miss Globe International India 2012 and I AM She Miss Asia Pacific World India 2012 respectively.

Tanvi 18 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012

Navdeep

Harman Baweja

Reha Sukheja

Himangini Singh Yadoo

Sushmita Sen

Neeta Lulla


EVENTS

Neeta Lulla & Sameer Kochchar

Harman Baweja

Imran Khan

Tina

Venu Rajasekhar

Jwala Gutta

Sweta Tejaswini

Tenzen

Suchi Shailya

Ajitha Reddy Oct 2012 AVANT GARDE LIFE 19


EVENTS SOUTHSPIN FASHION AWARDS The young and stylish of the South Indian film fraternity were present to celebrate the Southspin Fashion Awards held at N Convention Centre. Our cover boy Rana walked away with the South Youth Style Icon of the year. The audience were kept entertained with dazzling dance performances by various actors and models.

Performers sizzling the stage 20 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012


EVENTS

Allu Arvind

V.V.Vinayak

Rana

Madhu shalini

Sheena Shahabadi

Sanjana

Pretty Lady

Ramya

Manisha Kapoor Oct 2012 AVANT GARDE LIFE 21


EVENTS

Afsan

Ferrie

Mithali

Sumeya

Shikha & Akila

xPRESSIONS 2012

Sneha

Tejaswi 22 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012

Smriti

Ruheen

Sowmya

Richa

Tripti

Namrata

The youngsters from different colleges in the city gathered at St.Francis College to participate in the inter- college festival ‘Xpressions2012’. Students were seen enjoying the dancing,singing, walking the Ramp and other events

Zareen


EVENTS

Anand Kabra

Deepa Gupta

Samruti Karishma

Store Launch The opening of the designer store KIMAYA saw the city dwellers in their fashionable best.The guests was seen checking out the amazing outfits on display.

Pinki Reddy

Shailu

Liona

Shery Zaveri

Suhani Pitti

Amrut

Shilpa Reddy

Oct 2012 AVANT GARDE LIFE

23


Politics Jagan utilizing his time in jail

YSR Congress Party Chief, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, who has been in judicial custody in the Chanchalguda prison for nearly four months, is making the most of his time. He is seriously preparing an action plan for the next Assembly and Parliament elections for2014. According to a party MLA, his party is in a win-win situation whether the state is divided or not. If the state is divided, there will a huge influx of leaders and workers into the party in Andhra and Rayalaseema regions, and, if not, the party will be in a

position to win a majority of seats in the two regions, and make substantial gains in the Telangana region because there are quite a number of YSR admirers in the Telangana hinterland. Already, several party leaders from the Congress and the TDP have got in touch with YSRCP leadership with an eye on the 2014 elections and their political future. TRS chief K Chandrasekhara Rao is camping in Delhi to force the Centre or take a decision on the Telangana issue. According to a senior Congress leader

from Karimnagar district, some more leaders from Adilabad, Medak, Warangal, Nalgonda and Mahbubnagar districts are in touch with the YSRCP leadership. The party has great hopes on Hyderabad which has 23 Assembly constituencies.

Chiranjeevi submits his choices CM promises Chiranjeevi submitted a list of his choices for the nominated posts in the government to the CM, N Kiran Kumar Reddy.The mega star, who is expecting a berth in the Union cabinet in the upcoming reshuffle of the cabinet, urged Reddy to fill the posts at the earliest and give due share to leaders of the erstwhile Praja Rajyam. Chiranjeevi expressed his displeasure over the delay in filling the nominated posts and urged Kiran Kumar Reddy to speed up the process of filling up of nominated posts as the second-rung leaders in the party were getting frustrated over the delay. Talking with reporters later, he said he had requested the chief minister to give due share in the nominated posts to the erstwhile PRP leaders who are now in the Congress after the merger. He also said that he had requested the chief minister to remove the VAT on diesel.

24 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012

3.6 Lakh Jobs this year

Andhra Pradesh government would provide 3.6 lakh jobs this year and six lakh jobs next year with the help of industry under its flagship ‘Rajiv Yuvakiranalu’ employment scheme said Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy. Interacting with the youths enrolled under the ‘Rajiv Yuvakiranalu’ on the first day of his ‘Indiramma Bata’ (on the path shown by Indiramma) mass-contact programme in Krishna district, he said, so far two lakh jobs were provided under the employment programme. He also said the government, in an unprecedented manner, filled 1.2 lakh vacancies for government jobs in a transparent process. Reddy said he has requested Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to synchronise NREGS for cultivation for farm labourers.


& News Demand for a separate Telangana state opposed

Chandrababu Naidu to undertake march to regain power Telugu Desam Party president and former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh N Chandrababu Naidu will soon take to the streets on foot in his quest to regain power.

The Joint Auction Committee for a United Andhra Pradesh has taken a stand opposing the demand for carving out a separate Telangana state. The committee which met at the Acharya Nagarjuna University campus with S Samuel as chairperson, mounted a scathing attack on Telangana Rashtra Samithi supremo N Chandrasekhara Rao and Kodanda Ram of Telangana Joint Action Committee, describing them as villains of the piece. Speaking on the occasion, Mohammed Hidyat expressed fears that Andhra which falls under the lower riparian area of the Godavari and Krishna rivers may become a desert if the state is divided. “Irrigation projects will be hit,” he claimed. However, Samuel evaded a question about how unity could be forced on unwilling Telangana people, who seem have contempt for Andhrites and view then as exploiters.

“I will begin my ‘paadayatra’ (foot march) on October 2 from Hindupur in Anantapur district. What can be a more auspicious day than Gandhiji’s birth anniversary to launch the yatra,” Naidu formally told the Telugu Desam rank and file at the party’s extended general body meeting at the NTR Bhavan here this afternoon. He suggested two names- Jana Chaitanyam (people’s awakening) and Vastunna Mee Kosam (I am coming for you) for the yatra and asked the party cadre to finalise an appropriate one. Naidu hit upon the ‘paadayatra’ idea last month but many tried to dissuade him from taking it up saying it would be like walking in the footsteps of his staunch political rival (late) Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, whose 1700km foot march in 2003 rode the Congress to power in 2004, party sources said. But he remained steadfast and told senior leaders in his party that he would go ahead with his plan.

Though initially party leaders wanted Chandrababu to begin the yatra from Telangana region, the latter finally settled for Hindupur in Rayalaseema region, a stronghold of the TDP that was earlier represented by the party’s founder-president N T Rama Rao, they said. The Leader of Opposition is expected to cover over 2,000 km in 117 days covering about 13 out of 23 districts of the state in the first round. In 2007-08, the TDP chief undertook a state-wide tour ahead of the 2009 elections but could not return to power despite forging a grand alliance with the Left parties and the TRS. He also undertook a foot march for the farmers’ cause last year but that did not ostensibly pay any political dividends. Now, the 30-year-old party is facing a much bigger threat to its political existence with the Telangana factor on one hand and the Jagan factor on the other eroding its base in the three regions of the state.

The party then started working on the details and chalked out a route map covering all three regions of the state.

Oct 2012 AVANT GARDE LIFE 25


LUXURY LIST

The Zafirro Iridium razor attributes the high price tag to the rarity and durability of iridium. Due to the limited global supply of iridium and the complexities of manufacturing, the company will only produce 99 of the Iridium line, which will go on sale for $100,000 (Rs 56 lakhs approximately). The blades include a 10 year guarantee, and Zafirro will provide complementary servicing and professional cleaning for Iridium customers, as well as re-sharpening if necessary. The result of years of R&D, utilizing experts from around the world, the solid white sapphire blades launch a new era of shaving.

How do you inaugurate a new era of technology – not an incremental step forward, but a quantum leap: from vacuum tubes to transistors, CB radios to the iPhone? The introduction of the first razor with sapphire blades poses that challenge. The Zafirro Iridium is our answer Zafirro Iridium combines some of the rarest, strongest, and most technically advanced materials in existence. The resulting combination of exotic materials pushes the boundaries of technology while creating an aesthetic that could be the centerpiece of a gallery collection. The Zafirro Iridium razor is custom made from the strongest, purest, and most durable materials available anywhere. The handle centerpiece is crafted of Iridium, a rare metal - ten times more rare than platinum - and the most corrosion-resistant metal known. Iridium is frequently used in the aerospace industry for rocket components because it can withstand temperatures as high as 2000 degrees Celsius and is one of the most durable substances found on earth. The company

26 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012

Zafirro sapphire blades are sharpened using high-energy, ionized particles creating a blade edge less than 100 atoms across, or 5000 times thinner than a human hair. The pure platinum screws, engraved serial numbers and the option for a personal monogram add to the exclusivity of the razor. “Our goal in founding Zafirro was to take a quantum leap forward in razor technology, to build the sharpest blade ever made and make it last forever,� commented Hayden Hamilton, Zafirro CEO. Now this is what we call a close shave!

A CLOSE SHAVE


LUXURY LIST

1001nights diamond purse Bags are undoubtedly a women’s second best friend after diamonds, but this one of its kind bag has an amazing combination of a diamond-studded bag- what more can a girl ask for? This purse is an outcome of the House of Mouawad in Dubai- christened as the “1001 Nights Diamond Purse” The diamond purse is bound to be costly not only because it has diamonds but also because it is made from 18-karat gold and then studded with 4517 diamonds. These are colored stones with 105 yellow colored ones, 56 pink colored ones, and 4356 colorless ones, and these dazzling diamonds make this purse a breathtaking beauty. With so much stone and gold this clutch weighs 381.92 karats, and has been worked on for hours together (around 8800 hours) by ten artisans under the supervision of designer Robert Mouawad. Mouawad’s purse is, unsurprisingly, inspired by the epic tale of romance and intrigue, Pascal Mouawad, said: ‘Just as the tales of Scheherazade have captivated readers with their intricately woven plots of uninhibited passion and daring, The Mouawad 1001 Nights Diamond Purse is designed to mesmerize with its lavish attention to detail and elaborate workmanship incorporating thousands of diamonds.’ The House of Mouawad’s knows a bit about extravagance since they had also come up with the $11 million Very Sexy Fantasy Bra in the year 2003, and the 1001 Nights Diamond Purse has made its debut. Celebrities, including Angelina Jolie, Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Lopez, Gisele Bundchen, Janet Jackson and Mariah Carey have all worn Mouawad jewels – House of Mouawad’s new “1001 Nights Diamond Purse,” which clocks in at a whopping $3.8(Rs 21 crores approximately)

Oct 2012 AVANT GARDE LIFE 27


LUXURY LIST

A dazzling expression of time Seventeen craftsmen and fourteen months of commitment is what it took for Swiss watchmaker Hublot to come up with the world’s most expensive watch. This is a masterpiece watch created by Hublot and its long-standing partner, Atelier Bunter in Geneva. The diamonds encrusted in the watch are all of the highest quality, graded A VVS in clarity and Top Wesselton in colour. This time piece will be showcased first in the Hublot boutique in Marina Bay Sands, and then in the Hublot corners at The Hour Glass boutiques.

28 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012

hublot geneve

The making of this watch was a lengthy process, and all the different disciplines combined were completed in fourteen months. Twelve cutters work took approximately seven months and the rest half for the five setters. All the craftsmen working on the watch were major specialists working on the time –piece. The watch is inlaid with more than 1,282 diamonds (including six stones that weighed more than 3 carats each) and carried a price tag of $5 million (Rs 27 crores approximately) - setting the new world record for the Most expensive wrist watch. Jean-Claude Biver, president of the watch company which is owned by French luxury giant LVMH, said it would be hard to make a more expensive watch “because the surface of the watch is limited.” Despite the price tag, it seems Hublot will have no trouble selling the high-end creation. Mr Biver revealed that several people had already expressed interest in acquiring it, although he could not disclose any further details. The company has hopes of selling the piece to a woman, as the watchmaker is making an effort to reach the new target market of women’s watches. “Women are buying more than men; women are buying more often than men, and women are very influential over men, so you have three good reasons to work on this population,” said Biver, the CEO of the Swiss-based LVMH-owned luxury watchmaker



Gizmo-Mania focus Griffin Helo iPhone TC controlled helicopter

Price – Rs. 3,500 Approximately

A stylish upgrade on the brand’s entry-level Cinema Screen TV is the 47LM670S- the LG 55LM960V combines passive 3D with a lively internet TV portal, engorged image processor and dual tuners: one Freeview HD, the other DVB-S2 satellite. If 55 inches is just too much for your castle, the set is also available as the 47LM960V. If that’s too small, a super-sized 84-inch version is on the cards. Clearly the brand has a lot of confidence in this design. Whatever way you cut it, the LM960V has plenty to offer. As an internet-enabled Smart TV, it’s peerless. An easy to navigate content portal is packed with catch-up and VoD services, including BBC iPlayer, YouTube and there’s excellent file support from both USB and NAS. The screen can also browse a smartphone, via DLNA, and play content directly. Included in the box is the latest version of LG’s Magic Remote wand, with built-in mic, to have a better view on websites and play causal games. From sculptured stand to micro bezel, the 55LM960V is more art than artifice; the seamless metal edging around the edge of the TV reveals immaculate attention to detail, reflected by a user interface that’s both pretty and intuitive.

Griffin has officially launched its first foray into the techy toy market with the inaugural member of its AppPowered Accessories range the Griffin Helo TC. Officially unveiled earlier this year the Griffin Helo TC is a remotely controlled flying helicopter with user’s iPhones or iPod Touch devices being used alongside a free to download app to control the winged accessory. Suitable for indoor environments the Griffin Helo TC features a lightweight metal frame with black polycarbonate panels completing the device’s construct with a twin rotor design allowing for smooth, stable and easy to control flights. Boasting 5 super-bright LEDS on its front the Helo TC is capable of recording and strong three flight plans with users able to set the app to a selection of control configurations so as best to suit their needs and person taste. It is priced at a rather reasonable.

LG 55 LM 960V Television you to dedicated one to recording to external HDD), component and legacy phonos plus PC VGA, you’ll be able to hook-up most everything. Wi-Fi is also integrated, with direct connection supported.

There are no obvious surprises when it comes to connectivity. With four HDMIs, three USBs (allowing

Price – Rs. 2,36,543 Approximately 30 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012


gadgets

plus

Sony SRX - R515 4K projector

Price – Yet to be disclosed

With HD and 3D well established to the point of being old hat, it’s time to sell up and move out to 4K ultra-HD: let Sony be your guide. Its latest super-projector is aimed at small cinemas and the homes of the one per cent, and boasts a staggering 4096x2160p resolution, 5,000:1 contrast ratio and 15,000-lumen brightness. There’s also 4TB of internal storage for downloaded movies and a brace of HDMI ports. This gives these smaller exhibitors the chance to use this brand new technology bringing audiences around the country the chance to see movies, sports, music, theatre, opera, multi-user big screen gaming and cultural events in a higher resolution and clarity than they have done before. Price NA.

Xbox 360 Wireless S peed Wheel

Price – Rs. 3,999 Approximately

There’s a time for motion controls -- maybe you want to play with a younger sibling or child, maybe you’re tired of thumbsticks, or maybe you’re just working on your mime certification. Kinect handles this idea well, but the Xbox 360 Wireless Speed Wheel tries to carve a place for itself there.The Xbox 360 Wireless Speed Wheel sits squarely in between other control methods. How does the Xbox 360 Wireless Speed Wheel work? It syncs up like any other wireless Xbox 360 device, and once inside of a racing title, it recognizes turning motions. It doesn’t recognize pitching motions forwards or backwards, however, so leaning one way or the other won’t impact motion detection. For this reason, you can’t use it for FPS games or flight-sims, the latter of which seems like a missed opportunity. While an odd addition to the Xbox 360’s hardware lineup, the turning ability of the wheel is actually quite responsive and the sensitivity is spot on.


USB Typewriter

Whether you want to get all nostalgic about those manual typing days, or want to recreate the opening credits of Murder She Wrote, this digitally upscaled typewriter should do the trick. It connects via USB which means you can connect it to your Mac, PC or your Apple iPad. If you love your iPad but want something a little more steampunk, never fear: you can surround your iPad in vintage charm--and touch-typing, too. Meet the USB typewriter, suitable for giving all your modern technology a bit of a retro feel.

Mobiado CPT002 Aston Martin Concept Phone

This impressive gadget by Jack Zylkin is an actual old-timey typerwriter, modified to work like a typical USB keyboard for your computer or, even better, a few tablet models. In addition to the typical letters and number keys, it has control, escape, and F1 through F12 keys, plus old-school carriage return. Yes, it still works with paper, too (sorry, printer!). By the looks of things, you simply plug the typewriter into your computer and start typing to set it up, or slide your tablet into a DIY slot at the back before connecting. Price – Rs. 38,930 Approximately

Car designers are used to being able to come up with outlandish ideas that will never quite work, so why shouldn’t they do the same with smartphones? The Mobiado CPT002 Aston Martin concept phone takes a sheet of solid sapphire crystal, layers on a transparent capacitive touchscreen, and then brackets it with platinum side bars containing the battery, electronics and SIM card. As well as working as the key, the CPT002 would automatically hook up to your car’s display, showing FourSquare-powered points-of-interest, parking and your friends, while cameras embedded in the car will share photos to Twitter and Facebook. Should you accidentally crash, the phone will record stats from the airbag and other sensors. Mobiado say the whole exercise is designed to “push the boundaries of invention”; as long as they’re paying for the car, we won’t argue with them.

HTC Evo 3d According to HTC France’s Twitter account, the HTC Evo 3D will be released in France. Unfortunately, an exact launch date and info on pricing have not been given. The Evo 3D is known as the company’s first 3D smartphone. It is also the first to have a qHD (960 x 540 pixels) display and a 1.2GHz dual-core processor. Additional specs include the Google Android 2.3 OS, Sense UI, Wi-Fi, GPS, dual 5MP photo cameras, a 1.3MP front-facing camera, a 1GB RAM and a 4GB of on-board storage space. Price – Rs. 24,999 Approximately

GET IN TOUCH

Let us know what you’d like to see in next issue... 32 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012

>>facebook facebook/aglmagazine

>>twitter twitter/aglmagazine



The Rolls-Royce Phantom is another world. It’s not simply a normal car with more performance or more knobs on. In fact, it’s got fewer knobs on. However, its charm puts you in an entirely better frame of mind about life. It’s blissfully comfortable. The huge doors (and the rear-hinged back ones) make it easy to get in, and once there you find masses of lounging space, a magical ride and near-silence. All the expected amenities are present too, but they aren’t in your face: this isn’t a gadgety car. The 6 . 75-lire V12 is

more than adequate. Not brutal like a twin-turbo Maybach or Bentley Arnage, but graceful and buttery-smooth. And well able to overtake when it’s fitting to do so. Auto kick downs can be a bit jerky though, and there’s no tiptronic over-ride. Anyone who resents a Rolls-Royce resents success full stop, because the owner will have spent their wealth wisely. This is a cool car as well as a great one. When you really poke about the cabin, there is the odd plasticky switch. But the craftsmanship of wood and leather and metal and paint is beautiful, and the underlying solidity

34 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012

unimpeachable. The Phantom is a banker. You don’t drive a Phantom like a racing car, because it takes up so much road space. But the steering is accurate and the reactions faithful. Its fun to be brisk in; just don’t bother being fast. Well, it’s huge and spacious and has an enormous boot. Maybe it isn’t that easy to park in a city, but that’s picking nits. There are no estates or off-roaders that provide this sort of luxury, so among hyper-luxury cars the Phantom is very practical: look at touches like the flat floor, or the umbrellas in the door. Well, depreciation expressed as a percentage isn’t bad: it’ll lose half its value in three years. Unfortunately, that means a grand a week. But look on the bright side: alongside that, insurance and servicing and fuel will feel like bargains. This starting range of this car is about 3,50,00,000 Rupees (Approximately).

Rolls Royce Phantom


hotwheels

plus

The

Tour The 6.75-lire V12 is more than adequate. Not brutal like a twin-turbo Maybach or Bentley Arnage, but graceful and buttery-smooth.


DIVINE MADNESS

Lyonheart K Power is slated to come from a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 with 550 metric horsepower

Lyonheart 36 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012


hotwheels

plus

Here’s another new car. A consortium that includes British interests is trying to launch a luxury sports car inspired by the Jaguar. It’s called the Lyonheart K, and its developers wanted to give it a slightly retro look to recall Jaguar E-types, while making sure that it can reach speeds upwards of 186 miles per hour. All for a price tag of about 35.9 Million Rupees (Approximately). Now celebrating its 50th anniversary, few automobile shapes are as imitated as the legendary Jaguar E-Type. Of course, Jag-

has resurfaced under a new moniker: Lyonheart. Based on a tweaked version of Zolland’s renderings, designer Robert Palm has given the retro E a slightly more aggressive look, with more catlike headlamps and retro touches that are somehow even more pronounced.

uar itself has drawn inspiration from its most iconic sportscar with the contemporary XKand the more recent C-X16 concept. Eagle has reinterpreted the classic with modern accoutrements. And about a year ago a Swedish designer by the name of Bo Zolland rendered a sumptuously retro re-imagination of the form with the Growler E. That design was slated to go into limited production by a firm called Visualtech, but now the design

and wood veneer and put it into limited production in England for 495,000 euros. Power is slated to come from a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 with 550 metric horsepower (542 by our standards) and 500 pound-feet of torque, which – coupled with a curb weight targeted under 3,500 lbs – aims to propel the Lyonheart K from 0-62 mph in under four seconds and on to an electronically limited top speed of 300 kph (186 mph).

GET IN TOUCH

Let us know what you’d like to see in next issue...

The new Anglo-Swiss outfit intends to render the shape in carbon fiber, stainless steel, brushed aluminum, chrome, leather

>>facebook facebook/aglmagazine

>>twitter twitter/aglmagazine

Oct 2012 AVANT GARDE LIFE 37


Erik Buell Racing 1190RS

Our flagship. Our pride and joy. Made with all the engineering and performance traits we admire in a sport motorcycle.

Erik Buell refuses to be counted out. The awkwardly styled Buell 1125R has been thoroughly overhauled and transformed into the elegant and exciting Erik Buell Racing 1190RS. A Rotax-sourced V-Twin is the only carryover part, and even that has been comprehensively upgraded to deliver a claimed 175 hp. Nearly every other component is distinct from the 1125R, including its new aluminum frame, spidery magnesium subframe and built-in-theUSA magnesium wheels constructed with a new ablation casting method. Ohlins takes care of suspension duties, while the front brake’s 8-piston caliper

38 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012

uses trick cooling ducts. EBR says it will produce a limited run of 100 1190RS models. The base RS retails for Rupees 2.21 Million (Approximately). A Carbon Package costs an extra 2,21,116 Rupees (Approximately) . The price is high, certainly, but this machine is on the level of an American-built Bimota. Early reports from those who had ridden it are nothing short of glowing. We’re hoping to get a ride on it soon. And further proof Buell isn’t dead yet. The company says it will be building three new models, thus far known only as the RX, SX and AX. We definitely haven’t seen the last of Mr. Buell!


hotwheels

plus

ride in flow motion.

Oct 2012 AVANT GARDE LIFE 39


safety luxury isa

By S. R. K. Soundarya Varma

VOLVO has always been one of the most premium names in the automobile industry. Meet the man who got it to Hyderabad- Saket Talwar. A self-confessed music lover, this business tycoon is truly a Rockstar! Read on as he indulges in a free-wheeling chat about cars, music and Hyderabad. Tell us about yourself. How and when did you start your business? I am from Hyderabad. I lived in this city almost all my life, and I love this city. I genuinely think that it is one of the best cities in India today. I have a passion for music - I worked as a DJ in my college days. I did my masters from Leeds, UK. I started my business in 2008. It has been a tough journey but the acceptance we got from Hyderabad has been amazing. The understanding and grasping power of people here is commendable. When I started out, I focused towards creating an awareness of the fact that people shouldn’t just look for a car but they should primarily

40 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012

explore the safety aspect in the car. This is very well understood by VOLVO, and that is the key strength of a Volvo car-its safety levels. I am passionate about my business, and I believe in giving people a “life” than just a car. What are the new launches expected form Volvo this year? Volvo plans to launch V40 early next year. It is a crossover between a sedan and a hatchback. It is going to be the most technologically advanced car in the world. Some of the highlights include the light settings which can change the color of the car,


spot light instrumental panel which guides you and talks to you. It is the new “Siri” of cars. It is going to be very trendy and fashionable. According to you, what are the ideal characteristics every businessman should possess? Honesty and fairness in the way we deal with people is important in every business, especially in a city where all the people are connected. I believe everybody in the world is a customer. In India, we have relatively poor customer treatment when compared to the west. When you respect the needs of a customer, regardless the fact that it is an expensive product or not, the results automatically are good. Every businessman should try to bridge this gap and be at par with the west, to be successful. There is no dearth of business men in Hyderabad. However, it seems, there aren’t enough opportunities for all of them. What do you think is the solution to this problem? I disagree with the statement. India has the potential for a lot of business in varied categories. There are so many unexplored options, category wise. When you invent more ideas to market different products, an opportunity creates itself. How do you plan to expand your business? As a group, we are expanding our market into Pune and Bengaluru with Volvo trucks. We are looking at an automobile based business in Bengaluru. In Hyderabad, we are opening up Bajaj dealership in Kukatpally, and we are also heavily expanding in the Hyundai dealership. Nowadays, people believe that smart work gets more success than hard work. What is your opinion on it? Even smart work comes out of hard work. I believe both go hand in hand. Without one, the other doesn’t happen. That is a realization you need to have. What is your take on luxury cars becoming a status symbol? Well, luxury cars are not just status symbols….they actually make your life easier. And customers should always make an intelligent buy when it comes to luxury products. Luxury should be hassle-free, maintenance-free and should give you peace of mind. In fact, I believe even a person who cannot afford a luxury car should be able to have one, as he needs it more than anyone. People are on the verge of becoming slaves to comforts & luxury now. This in turn is resulting in health and other issues. Your views on this… Health is the most important part of our day-to-day life. If people are becoming slaves to luxury, they need to re-think. We at Volvo, are giving a premium gym membership along with the car to our customers. This is to encourage a healthy lifestyle, and it has been quite a hit. What is the main difference you find between the business strategies and trends in the western countries vis-a-vis India? One of the best practices in the west is that they run business with a small number of people, and they are more effective. In India, we tend to over stuff our companies with employees and get lesser results. If the potential of every human being in the work force is tapped effectively, I think the business will flourish. What would be your advice for the upcoming businessmen? To be a businessman, you need to be a good leader. A leader should always put others first- be it the company, environment or co-workers.

plus Rapid Fire

Favorite Car:

Volvo XC60, Ford GT Mustang

Favorite Watch:

Chopard, Breitling

Favorite Gadget: Blackberry and Macbook

Favorite Clothing brand: Gucci, Diesel

Favorite book: Blank slate by Steven Pinker

Favorite Holiday destination: Bali, Indonesia

Favorite food:

Butter chicken, lamb chops

Favorite movie: Scarface, Message in a bottle

Favorite hangout in Hyderabad: N Grill, 10D, Rain

Oct 2012 AVANT GARDE LIFE 41




The Great Indian

arranged marriage syndrome By S. R. K. Soundarya Varma

An arranged marriage is believed to have its deep roots in royal and aristocratic families around the world. Today, arranged marriage is largely practiced in South Asia (Mostly in India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka), Africa and Middle East. However, being a nation that loves drama, India stands a class apart in the arranged marriage scenario. Thanks to the ever-changing scene in the metros, we have a fresh crop of generation that is confused between being socially acceptable and being with the one they love… The story is always the same. The family looks for a guy, or they come across a “catch” through relatives who seem to take match making more seriously than Hitler ever took World War II. They then match horoscopes, if that matches you get to talk on the phone, the parents come home, if the eligible bridegroom is in the same city, you meet, you see how it goes. If he doesn’t, you talk until you meet. If all’s well, you get engaged, if not, you exchange shaloms to each other, wish each other all the best and move on with your respective lives. Some of the advantages are the support from the families, lower chances of divorce, similar fam-

44 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012


deja vu

ily values and less confused children. The disadvantages of having an arranged marriage include compatibility issues and the element of risk (which seems ironic, because elders usually don’t intent to put you in risk) but they end up putting you in this particular one. Societies with arranged marriages like to prove that arranged marriages are better because they usually have lower divorce rates. However, how one gets married shouldn’t be an indication of the success of the marriage. There are numerous factors • Is a Love-cum-arranged marriage a fairytale of sorts to most of you? • Have you ever heard your parents say, “We were strangers when we got married, but we are fine now…?” • Are you one of those people who are confused because they don’t want to dishearten their parents by going against their choice, yet can’t compromise on whom to spend the rest of your life with? • Are you dumbstruck that even in this era, when parts of the world are so advanced, one of the prerequisites from a potential groom’s side is that the bride may not be given “permission” to work. Even better- “she wouldn’t have to work, thanks to our financial position”! • Have you noticed that there are certain countries in the world that haven’t even heard of the term “arranged marriage” and here in our

plus

that could contribute to divorce. Also how does our culture define “successful” marriages? That could mean a number of different things, for example the couple may or may not like each other, but they decide to wing it anyways. That could be the definition of a successful marriage to some. Then there’s the issue of how divorce is viewed. Part of the reason why divorce is so high in the West is due to the acceptance of it.

country it is a topic of regular discussion and practice… • Have you wondered how awkward it would be if you were seen by your parents looking at single pictures of a guy/girl but how it is absolutely not awkward when you are thrust with some pictures of NRI’s and other “eligible” bachelors/ bachelorettes in your face? (Pun intended). • Did you notice that most people who have had a love marriage seem to not encourage that sort of a marriage with their kids? Mostly because they don’t want their children to face the trauma that they have faced while getting married. • Has your friend, who just got married to the one he/she loves given you a “look” when you explain her about the possibility of getting married to someone whom you just spoke for an hour? • Are you still in college, but already have your bridal trousseau ready?

Oct 2012 AVANT GARDE LIFE 45


Here’s what some of the city’s youngsters think of an arranged marriage... The marriage scenario has certainly evolved. It is more like a dating set-up nowadays rather than the traditional “parents choose, kids comply” deal. Some people even put up their own profiles on matchmaking sites. It is definitely prevalent but the rules have changed. - Radhika It is really not important if you meet a guy at college, work, a night club or in your living room under the hawk-like surveillance of your parents and his. What is important is that you get sufficient time with a person to know if you are a good match with him and his family. A good background check and luck have role to play too. But not being allowed time alone to get to know the person is too much of a risk. - Shona Chakravarti How does an arranged marriage have a bearing on our generation? It is very simply about one’s own opinion. If they are comfortable then they should go ahead with it and if they already have someone special in their life, a love marriage is okay. -Anirudh I personally think that arranged marriages cater more towards keeping the society happy and the families rather than the compatibility of the future bride and groom. Yet, there are successful traditions in many cultures. Ultimately, the longevity of any marriage is decided by the compromising factor and the harmony in the relationship. - Prashanthi Love marriages are like hot soup that cool overtime, arranged marriages are like cold soup that warm up. Either ways, what is important is that you are not forced into either of them. - Megha There is someone for everyone. You either meet them by knowing them as friends or as acquaintances, or you meet them through family or relatives. In both cases, you get to know them, like them and fall in love with them before you decide to take the plunge. No one should be forced into marrying out of their choice. In smaller towns and villages, this is prevalent as they are not as career minded as those in the city. -Evelyn

46 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012



Prague is positioned on the River Vltava’s banks. This site was selected for both its’ tactical benefits and because of its’ serenity. The famous old city is nestled in a ‘bowl’ of rolling hills. These days Prague is among the most visited tourist hotspots throughout Europe. Its’ unparalleled sights and distinctive personality have evolved as it has developed into one of the main capitals of Europe. Prague has always been, and still is, a city of contradictions. It is renowned for its’ outstanding works of art, both historically and in the present day — in paintings, sculptures, literature, music, design and architecture — however, it is just as well known for its’ wholesome food, beer and commercial tourist industry.

Getting from the Airport

Prague Hotels & Accommodation Guide

Prague Airport Tourist Guide


Czech-in

Prague n o s a e S s hi

T


FLY FROM HYDERABAD TO PRAGUE: Jet Airways (1 stop via Mumbai) – INR 32,000/- approx per person (16 to 23 hours) Turkish Airlines (1 stop via New Delhi) – INR 35,000/- approx per person (24 hours) Etihad Airways (1 stop via Abu Dhabi) – INR 34,000/- approx per person (13 hours)

PRAGUE AIRPORT: Ruzyne Prague Airport is a modern and spacious international airport located on the northwest edge of Prague and around 20 km north of the city. All international flights arrive here.

GETTING FROM THE AIRPORT: Prague’s Ruzyne airport is 20 km from the city centre. AAA yellow airport taxis will take you to the town centre for about 600 CZK (INR 1689). You have to pay at the airport taxi information desk in the arrivals hall, and they will issue you a receipt to give to the driver. Alternatively, use the CEDAZ minibus service that runs every half hour between the airport and Námestí Republiky (only from 7:30 am to 7:00 pm). Tickets cost 130 CZK (INR 366) and are sold by the driver or from the booth in the arrivals terminal. But best way is to 50 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012

pre-book reputable Prague Airport Shuttle, which will take you directly to your hotel for a bargain price. The cheapest but less comfortable way to get into town is by public transport. Take bus number 119, which goes from the airport to Dejvická metro station in about 25 minutes. From Dejvická it is about four to five stops to the centre of town. Buy a 32 CZK (INR 90) transport ticket at the transport information desk in the arrivals hall or from the coin-operated machine at the airport bus stop.


travel

plus

ACCOMODATION:

ATTRACTIONS:

Prague offers an extensive range of accommodation options, from styled boutique and cosy romantic hotels nestled in historic town quarter to luxurious international chain hotels, budget hostels and pensions. There are over 300 hotels in Prague city centre and most are of a very high standard, and more than 900 hotels in the whole city. Nearly all hotels set prices depending on season. Obviously prices will be highest during peak times (up to 20% higher in summer than during the low season, and up to 50% higher during Easter and Christmas Holidays). We have listed what we think are the best based on value for money, location and ease of getting around Prague city.

Listed below are the recommended attractions in Prague, which is a must to be seen.

• • • • • • •

Sax (Vintage Design Hotel) Hotel Antik Andel’s Hotel Palace Road Hotel Alchymist Grand Hotel & Spa Four Seasons Hotel Prague The Iron Gate

• • • • • • • • • • • •

Astronomical Clock located in the Old Town Hall. Charles Bridge with the best night view of Prague Castle. Wenceslas Square, largest and the busiest shopping street in Prague. Prague Castle with several museums. St. Vitus Cathedral located at Prague Castle Complex. Old Town Square, centre for cafes, street entertainment & leisurely fun. St. Nicholas Church, the theatre of the High Baroque. Municipal House & Smetana Hall, most prominent Art Nouveau building, cultural centre with exhibition halls and auditorium. Trade Fair Palace, gallery of modern art. Petrin Hill, known as the miniature of Eiffel Tower. Dancing House, known for its architecture. Rodolfinum, venue for the best classical music in Prague.

Oct 2012 AVANT GARDE LIFE 51


P

rague or Praha as the czechs call it, is one of the most beautiful cities in central Europe. For most part of the century it was not open to the world due to the iron curtain reign. Prague is an eclectic mix of the old and new worlds be it in the architecture ,cuisine or way of life. Most of the city was bombed and mutilated during the second world war however far less than other cities. Just as the old part of town blends in with the new. The conglomeration of German, Austro Hungarian and Chezh influences add to the charm of Prague . Rajeev and I visited Prague in the fall of 2010, as we had often heard and read about the magnificent czech city and it had long been on out travel list .The most prominent landmark in the city is the Prague castle with cathedral of st.vitus. The crown jewels of the bohemian kings, Christian artifacts and historical documents are kept here. The view from the castle is breath taking and adding to the splendor were the musicians playing in the courtyard bringing in the warmth to the chilly atmosphere as the temperatures were minus 0 degrees ! Another important heritage site is the old town square which is located between the wenceslas square and charles bridge,where the astronomical clock is located. This is the most popular tourist hub and second comes the Charles bridge, built over the Vltava river. The bridge has sculptures of thirty saints and

52 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012

patron saints on either sides of the avenue. The view from the river with the trees in fall colors is amazing with hundreds of people visiting everyday . According to me the best way to enjoy Prague is to take a tour of the city with a guide and that’s what we did !The guide was a history student working part time and anyway a mix of his bookish knowledge and native influence made the experience interesting. Prominent landmarks were the dancing building, the historical universities, the Jewish quarter, national museum, national theatre, churches and cathedrals .Our favorite place undoubted was the old town square with the astronomical clock. There are several restaurants in the square ,offering different cuisines from Spanish to German. Prague also has a china town like every other city. We had some amazing Chinese food in Prague, strange but true. All the favourite luxury brands from Chanel to Dior, Baume to Mercier, Cartier to Breitling are available there for the shopping aficionados, located at the Pariska street. Prague is a wonderful place and I think it should be on every avid traveler’s wish list. We would definitely like to go back there once more.

As shared by Lopa & Rajeev Raju


travel experience

plus

Oct 2012 AVANT GARDE LIFE 53


S E R V I N G S:

Hyderabadi Kacchi Gosht ki Biryani

6

Kid lamb marinated overnight, fragrant basmati rice, cooked in a sealed pot Marinate lamb chunks and shanks with ginger, garlic paste, raw papaya paste, salt and kashmirired chilli powde Keep it aside for a minimum of 6 hours Meanwhile, mix garam masala powder, choppedmint, chopped coriander, green chilly, spices andfried onion and curd (reserve some chopped herbsand fried onions for garnish) Add this mixture to the meat, mix well, keep for another 30 minutes Place the meat in a thick bottomed copper container Heat 4-5 litres water in a large container, add whole spices, and salt; add 100 grams ghee Boil rice until it is half cooked Using a colander, drain the water from half cookedrice and layer over the meat Top with herbs, fried onion saffron dissolved in water, kewra, rose water and ghee, seal the pot using a tight lid; you could use dough to stick thelid to the container

RECIPE BY: Adaa Taj Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad

Place over a wood fired burner (alternatively, youcan use place round griddle over a high pressure burner use it to place copper container) and cookunder ‘dum’ for over 1 hour Keep th biryani for a further 30 minutes off the firebefore opening and serving it

I n gredie n ts 500 grams lamb foreshank, cut in chunks 500 grams lamb leg, boneless, cut in chunks 30 grams kashmiri red chilli,powdered 20 grams raw papaya, paste 10 grams salt 40 grams ginger, paste 40 grams garlic, paste 50 grams mint leaf, chopped 100 grams coriander leaf,chopped 10 grams garam masala,powder 5 grams green chilli, slitted 5 grams cardamom, green 5 grams royal cumin (shahijeera 5 grams cloves 2 grams cinnamon stick 150 grams ghee 5 milliliters rose water 5 milliliters kewra 200 grams fried onion 500 grams yogurt

Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 1093 Calories; 49g Fat (40.0% calories from fat); 41g Protein; 125g Carbohydrate; 149mg Cholesterol; 898mg Sodium. Exchanges: 7 Grain(Starch); 3 Lean Meat; 2 1/2 Vegetable; 0 Fruit; 1/2 Non-Fat Milk; 7 1/2 Fat; 0 Other Carbohydrates.

54 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012

Excellent quality meat and superior quality 2 grams saffron basmati rice are the key to getting this specialty gram salt, to taste right. We recommend that the kid lamb is 800 grams basmati rice, a male animal of age below 1 year; each leg should not weigh more than 950 grams. There are several brands of basmati rice which are of good quality; it is imperitive to use rice which is aged at least 1 year (newer rice tends to stick when cooked and has less flavour). Excellent quality rice can be identified by the peculiar aroma and it should double it’s size after cooking. Brands such as Tilda, Lal Quila and India Gate are recommended. At Falaknuma, we use India Gate Superior basmati rice which originates from North of India.


kitchenette

plus

Pathar ke gosht 1

Escalopes of kid lamb, marinated overnight, cooked on a hot stone - a recipe from the Nizami era perfected in Falaknuma kitchens

I n gredie n ts 600 grams lamb leg, cut as picattas or thin escalopes 12 grams ginger, paste 8 grams garlic, paste 10 grams raw papaya, paste 2 grams allspice (kebabchini) 10 milliliters lemon juice salt, to taste 3 grams Potli ka masala 2 grams black peppercorns 25 grams fried onion

RECIPE BY: Adaa Taj Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad

S E R V I N G S:

10 grams fried cashewnut

4

Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 372 Calories; 28g Fat (68.0% calories from fat); 23g Protein; 7g Carbohydrate; 101mg Cholesterol; 98mg Sodium. Exchanges: 0 Grain(Starch); 3 Lean Meat; 1/2 Vegetable; 0 Fruit; 3 1/2 Fat

Marinate lamb escalopes first with ginger, garlic and papaya pastes, lemon juice, salt and all spice

30 grams ghee, for cooking 3 grams chat masala, to sprinkle over

Leave it in a refrigerator for at least 1 hour

ACCOMPANIMENTS ANDGARNISH

Prepare a second marination by blending together peppercorn powder, cashewnuts, fried onion, peppercorns and potli masala

30 milliliters Mint chutney

Marinate the lamb kebabs overnight Heat a granite slab (it can be done also on a thick iron griddle), smear it with ghee Cook the kebabs just over a couple of minutes on each side

5 grams mint, sprigs 4 portions salad 4 portions dahi ki chutney 4 portions garlic chutney

Sprinkle with chat masala and serve hot with chutneys and salad

Oct 2012 AVANT GARDE LIFE 55


Potli ka masala A traditional Hyderabadi spice mix often used in soups, stews and stocks

Dry roast all whole spices separately Using a dry mill, powder the spices together Keep in an air tight container for further use

I n gredie n ts 35 grams bay leaf 200 grams coriander seed 35 grams khus ki jhad 25 grams sandalwood powder 20 grams dried rose petals 5 grams black cardamom

400

15 grams cinnamon stick 30 grams pathar ka phool

gms

YIELD

Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 1276 Calories; 44g Fat (25.2% calories from fat); 35g Protein; 261g Carbohydrate; 0mg Cholesterol; 145mg Sodium. Exchanges: 12 Grain(Starch); 0 Lean Meat; 9 Fat.

15 grams kebab chini

Mint chutney

15 grams paan ki jhad 20 grams shahi jeera 5 grams kapur kachri

Place all ingredients in blender Blend to a smooth paste I n gredie n ts 500 grams coriander leaves,fresh 100 grams mint leaves,fresh 10 grams green chilli, fresh 25 grams garlic, sliced

56 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012

100 grams raw mango

mililiters

850

YIELD

Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 1276 Calories; 44g Fat (25.2% calories from fat); 35g Protein; 261g Carbohydrate; 0mg Cholesterol; 145mg Sodium. Exchanges: 12 Grain(Starch); 0 Lean Meat; 9 Fat.

40 grams ginger, sliced 5 grams salt 5 grams roasted cuminpowder 40 milliliters lemon juice 100 grams crushed ice



FITNESS MANTRA

Any type of celebration like family get-togethers, festivals, work celebrations etc. focuses on food. Typically party fare isn’t necessarily healthy fare. Many people believe that by skipping breakfast and lunch, they can save up the calories for the party. Quite often it acts the opposite way. Skipping breakfast results in excess hunger pangs and you end up with more calories than you actually skipped. It is always wise to have a whole grain cereal and low fat milk for breakfast, a fruit mid morning followed by a light lunch with salad. Parties generally mean a lot more calories than we normally eat.

Make sure you exercise on the day of your partying to avoid piling up the calories. Mrs. P. Padma, Chief Dietician,Star Hospital

58 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012


HEALTH & FITNESS Start with starters by selecting clear soups, nuts or salads rather than fried items. Make sure you put everything you eat on a plate. Anytime you nibble on things directly from the bowl, you can end up eating more. During buffet type parties, go through the spread without a plate so as to avoid picking everything and anything that is available. You can then choose your favorite items and enjoy the fare. Slow down your intake by taking a sip or two of water in between bites. It is advisable to drink water before having alcoholic beverages as well as in-between, so as to decrease your alcoholic consumption. When it comes to desserts, portioning is the key. Don’t deprive yourself, When you are faced with yummy sweets, fried foods, halve it and you can have it.

plus

Avoid drinking all your calories. Think before you drink. Fruit punches and alcoholic beverages are loaded with calories. Opt for club soda, mineral water or diet coke. Keep your focus away from food. Don’t linger near the food spread for long. There are many other aspects of enjoying a party like socializing, music, ambience etc. Quit eating early, polite way to refuse food offered is by popping mouth fresheners. This prevents the continuous munching and in turn it does away with unnecessary calorie intake. Don’t go on a guilt trip if you overdo at a party once in a while, keep things in perspective. You can start the next day with your healthy fitness regime. Follow these simple party tips and even the regular “Party Animals” can survive without any disaster.

Oct 2012 AVANT GARDE LIFE 59


Sushmita Sen’s

By Ajuli Tulsyan

Like me am sure all you readers must be very curious to know what exactly do the celebs eat to maintain their stunning figures and drive away those stubborn and unwanted carbs… A study revealed that in most cases celebs are okay with regular food but the general observation is that they are very careful on the amount of carbs they take vis-à-vis any other ingredient. Greens are a hot favourite boiled or stir fried. There is a thin line in between starving and dieting and you have to be very careful about the same. Simple tip You don’t need to go to a gym to work out just put on your sneakers and run 60 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012


HEALTH & FITNESS

plus

Diet: A snapshot Trivia for diet conscious people The biggest myth is that olive oil is healthy, it is but you have to be careful on the quantity that you take because it also contains fat. A tête-à-tête with Executive Chef Balaji from Leonia Holistic Destination threw light on the Special Diet that he had customised for the gorgeous and ravishing Sushmita Sen…

• • • • • •

Chef - Balaji

Strict NO Salt and Sugar in all the food Only fish if its non vegetarian No dairy products Okay with all vegetables except carrots Very careful on the portion size-should not exceed 180 gms No rice

Sushmita Sen is very careful on the timing of her food. She would never starve and she works out before every meal”, revealed Balaji.

Sushmita’s Sample menu

Breakfast 7.30 hrs: 4 egg white scrambled eggs (no cream, no butter or milk) 11.30 hrs: Tomato, beetroot and cucumber juice (fresh) - 250ml glass

Lunch

Dinner

13.30 hrs: Potato and celery puree

20.00 hrs:

Lettuce salad with vegetables and sweet lime salsa Citrus marinated steamed fish with sprouts

14.00 hrs: Whole apple 17.30 hrs: 1 vegetable souvalaki

Green beans and roasted tomato salad Cumin and coriander dusted seared fish, steamed vegetables with truffle oil and fennel consommé

Oct 2012 AVANT GARDE LIFE 61


Q & A Q:

A:

I am married since three and half years and I am now 28 years old. We were living away from each other due to separate places of post graduation. Now after successful completion we have started living together since the past 2 weeks. He is working and I am currently free. Earlier we used to meet once a month and had great sex, very fulfilling. Now he told me that he used to take Viagra when we were together for one day so that his workplace stress could not affect our sex life. He does not want to take Viagra anymore but is unable to have a sustained and proper erection, ejaculates very early and so tries to avoid sex. In the process he does not even hug me or show any physical attraction. I am distressed; don’t want to fight with him as we love each other a lot. He was perfectly normal earlier before he took Viagra. He has taken it around 10 – 15 times. My first question is does withdrawal from Viagra lead to such problems and second question is does reducing the distance reduces the sex too? I am not mentally prepared for such a life without sex. I will break down. Please help. Calm down girl! Reducing distance does not diminish the urge to have sex. Quite to the contrary! As to whether or not withdrawal from using Viagra leads of sexual problems, that is a question for a doctor. My sense is that your husband has some sexual issues (mental and/or physical) and seeking medical help will do a lot of good. Consult with a good sexologist and most of your concerns will be addressed. A medical expert can advice you on the right dosage and frequency of using Viagra if that is what is required. In the meantime, there is the mental aspect to deal with – be very patient and supportive. He might be wary of failure and is thus refraining from physical contact altogether. Tell him how this makes you feel, without accusing him of anything. Get intimate without actually having sex. Engage in oral sex, kiss, take baths together etc. This is to make you more comfortable with each other’s’ bodies and will remove any fears in his mind. If he doesn’t hug you, you hug him. Initiate physical contact. A sexologist can further help him in

62 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012

overcoming his fears and concerns, so it is essential for both of you to meet with one as soon as possible. Don’t worry, you are not in for a life without sex – together you will find a solution.

Q: A:

My husband is only able to orgasm during oral sex. He tries and wants to climax while inside of me, but he hasn’t yet. Is something we can try for him to achieve an orgasm without oral stimulation? Does he have any concern about you getting pregnant? Some men who are worried about pregnancy end up subconsciously stopping themselves from ejaculating during penetration. This reassures them that pregnancy won’t take place — but actually you can get pregnant through any penetration, as a man produces seminal fluid even when excited. If you two haven’t discussed this, then it’s time that you do so in a loving and caring way, rather than finger-pointing. Another issue some men have is a worry over deeper emotional intimacy and for them ejaculating during penetration symbolizes this. When you’re both feeling relaxed, try gently raising these various ideas with him. Then again, he may just love the sensation of oral sex over penetrative sex. Try to bring him to the brink with oral sex, and then have him “finish off” inside of you so he can slowly make the transition. Still not working? You may want to see a sex therapist together.

Q: A:

Does fingering makes you lose you virginity? I tried it and got my periods the next day even though my due date was a week later?

Fingering can make you lose your virginity if you happen to break the hymen (the fold of mucous membrane that surrounds or partially covers the external vaginal opening) But a lot of women have already broken their hymen in the past because of exercise or even daily activities. Not everyone bleeds when their hymen is broken or when they first have intercourse. The fact that you got your period the next day is completely unrelated to fingering. There are other factors that might have influenced that. If you’re concerned, consult with your gynaecologist.


health & fitness

Q: A:

I am married for the past 3 years and my husband demands sex almost every night, but I am not that interested in sex. On that issue we have many arguments. Please advise what should I do?

plus

Q:

I am 29 years old married to my friend from college. It’s been almost 5 years in marriage and we still haven’t had sex. We tried 5-6 times but couldn’t do it. I found him least interested in the beginning and he never accepted it.

No one can force you to have sex. If you don’t feel like, you don’t feel like it. It’s not even worth having an argument about…what’s the point? People have different sexual appetites and partners need to come to term with that. Since your husband is clearly not getting this, I strong recommend you seek marital counseling. Professional intervention from a qualified person can certainly help.

First 3 years, he refused to even talk about this issue. Last year he accepted that there is slight physical problem and ate some pills that were prescribed by a doctor. However, we tried only once after that and still weren’t successful. Now I am too frustrated by these rare trials and failures and don’t know what to do. I now hate his touch and feel like looking out for other men. We have been good friends but I guess things didn’t move beyond that. I can’t think of leaving him or divorcing him but I hate this relationship. Please help… what should I do?

A: Q:

I am 23, and I’ve been married for a year. I’m facing a very embarrassing problem. I’m finding sexual intercourse with my husband painful. My gynaecologist rules out any problem such as injury or infections. We always use enough lubricants in a proper manner. We’ve also tried different positions which lead to shallow penetration, but all this has proved no good. There’s a large height difference between us – I’m 5’ 1”, he’s 6’2” tall. My husband’s penis is 7.2” long, and about 2.1” thick when erect. When I got married, I was still a virgin, and I knew very little about the male body. On our first night, I freaked out a bit as I’d expected a penis to be no bigger than the palm of my hand. Ever since then, I’ve had a sort of mental block, and I sort of convinced myself that intercourse between us would never be pleasurable. Is my husband’s penis really abnormally large? Is there a surgical procedure that I can undergo, which can make sexual intercourse less painful?

A:

Your husband’s penis might be on the larger side but that is not abnormal. A woman’s vaginal muscles are very flexible. If you are properly lubricated and mentally relaxed and comfortable with your partner, sex will be pleasurable. It is good that you have ruled out any medical condition. There is absolutely no need for you to undergo any surgical procedure to make sex less painful. As you rightly said, it is most probably a mental block you have formed due to the fear of pain and discomfort. It is absolutely understandable that you feel this way but you also need to tell yourself that your husband loves you and wants to pleasure you. Engage in more foreplay than you normally do and don’t think about the sexual act at that time. Just relax and enjoy each others’ bodies and let intercourse be a natural progression. If that doesn’t help, both of you should consult with a marital counsellor. That will help you overcome your fear and your husband will also better understand what you’re going through.

It seems clear that your husband and you care about each other. The fact that he did see a doctor is a positive sign. He might be afraid of failure and arguments, so might be refraining from giving sex another shot. What seems to be lacking is a space where both of you can talk about your sex life without judgment from the other person. Tell your husband how much you love him and also be open in a nonjudgmental manner about how this is affecting you and your relationship. It might help to engage in sensual activities that don’t involve actual sex, so you both can rediscover each other. And try and lovingly encourage him to see a counsellor again.

Q: A:

I’m 25 and have been married for the last three years. We have sex about three to four times a month. But whenever we do, I am never excited and I don’t get an orgasm. I don’t want to tell him this. What should I do? What you need is more foreplay. The only way to get it is to ask for it. Another thing you could try are Kegelsexercises that strengthen the pelvic muscles. This will strengthen and sensitise your pelvic region. To locate these muscles stop the flow of urine midway-the muscles you use to do this are your pelvic muscles. Stopping urine mid-flow is not a very good idea, so do it just once-till you locate the muscles. Once you’ve found them, contract and relax them at least 10 to 12 times at a time, as many times as you can in a day. You can do this while working, eating…even before you sleep.


emergency tips

plus

First Aid For Choking (Heimlich Maneuver)

The Heimlich maneuver can be used to clear an object blocking the airway in conscious adults and children ages 1 to 8. It lifts the diaphragm and forces air from the lungs to push the object that blocks the airway up and out. For Persons Over 8 Years Old 1. The person may use the choking sign. Do not interfere if he or she can speak, cough, or breathe. 2. If not able to speak, cough, or breathe, reach around the person’s waist from behind. Make a fist. Place it above the navel, but below the rib cage. Grasp your fist with your other hand. Press your fist into person’s abdomen and give 5 quick, upward thrusts. 3. Repeat upward thrusts until the object is forced out or the person becomes unconscious. If the object is removed with success, the person should see a doctor as soon as possible. 4. If the person becomes unconscious, Tilt the head back and lift the chin to

open and check the airway. {Note: If you suspect the person has a head, neck, or spine injury, do not move him or her. Pull the lower jaw forward to open the airway.} Give 2 slow rescue breaths. If this doesn’t help, tilt the head further back (if no head, neck, or spine injury). Give 2 rescue breaths again. If the person does not respond or move, give 15 chest compressions. Repeat rescue breaths and chest compressions. Each time you open the airway to give rescue breaths, check the person’s mouth for the object and remove it if you can. Do CPR as needed, until the object blocking the airway is forced out or until medical help takes over. Even when the object is removed with success, the person should see a doctor as soon as possible.

For Children Ages 1 to 8 1. For a conscious child, give abdominal thrusts as for adults. Don’t be too forceful. 2. For an unconscious child, give first aid for choking as for an adult. For Babies Up to 1 Year Old 1. Do not interfere if the baby coughs strongly, cries, or breathes heavily 2. If the baby is conscious, hold the baby’s head (face down) in one hand. Straddle the baby over your forearm. Rest your forearm on your leg for support. Keep the baby’s head lower than the rest of his or her body. 3. With the heel of your free hand, hit the baby on the back between the shoulder blades 5 times. Use quick, forceful motions. Repeat this procedure 3 to 4 times. If the object still blocks the airway, go to step 4. 4. Turn the baby over (face up). Cradle the baby on your 64 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012

forearm. Support the head with one hand. Keep the baby’s head lower than the rest of his or her body. Rest your arm on your leg for support. Place 2 fingers 1/2 inch below and in between the nipples on the baby’s chest. Give 5 quick downward thrusts. Depress the sternum 1/2 to 1 inch with each thrust. 5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until the object is removed or the baby is unconscious. 6. Put the baby on his or her back. Tilt the head back and lift the jaw. Give 2 slow rescue breaths. If this doesn’t help, give 2 rescue breaths again. Give up to 5 back blows; then up to 5 chest thrusts. If the object is expelled, stop. 7. Check for and remove the object in the airway, if visible. Repeat steps 7 and 8 as needed. 8. Don’t give up! Give first aid until medical help takes over or until the object is removed. Even if it is, get medical care right away.




COVER STORY

Multi

faceted & tasking

A perfect compendium of acting, directing and producing…A man of many positive traits and a world of hits to his credit – that is Sudeep aka Kicha Sudeep for you! Hailing from Shimoga, Karnataka, the actor stars primarily in Kannada films and has won accolades for his ace roles in My Autograph, Huchha, Maatu, Sparsha, etc. He has also starred in Tollywood and Bollywood, in movies such as Run, Phoonk and Rakta Charitra which has his name being quoted in every household in India. Having bagged the Filmfare Award for the best actor in Kannada for three consecutive years and the Karnataka State Award, Kicha Sudeep has a fan following in the entire gamut of Indian Film industry. By S. R. K. Soundarya Varma

AGL had a tête-à-tête with him to get an insight into his professional arena and a sneak peek into his exciting personal corner… An actor, director, producer, singer, guitarist, cricketer, cook and a painter... What is the secret of being a Jack of all trades? It’s just a matter of interest of an individual and I love experimenting. Since my school days, I have always been into cricket. College days got me taking a keen interest in guitar and I even joined the band; started singing and tried out different instruments like drums and keyboards. Painting has always attracted me and I do a lot of landscape and portraits. I got the hang of cooking over time and I developed the expertise when my restaurant business kicked off. Movies took an upper hand once I plunged into the world of silver screen. What more is in store for your fans in the year 2012? I have yet another release for Karnataka. This isn’t a full-fledged film, but I have a major role in Chiranjeevi Sarja’s next movie. Apart from this, I have slated Eega for this year. How does it feel playing a character with negative shades?

Good or bad - It’s just a character at the end of the day. It is about how you take it. If you have the sensibility to understand the role and also understand who is handling the character, it works to your credit. If you ask me, playing the “Good Man” is easy and common…it’s the “Bad Man” who actually makes or breaks the movie. Playing the Bad Man is challenging and it also brings to light one’s acting expertise. You are actively working in three different film industries, how does it feel? Today movies are opening up across boundaries. It feels nice to be acknowledged, accepted and appreciated by people from other states. Moreover I love travelling. The love from all the people across these states is what excites me the most. Which industry are you the most comfortable working in? I am most comfortable working in the Kannada film industry because that’s my arena... I am well versed

Oct 2012 AVANT GARDE LIFE 67



COVER STORY with the local dialect. But on the other hand an experience in other states has enriched me with a world of beautiful memories.

stitution in himself and I have always loved working with him. Ram Gopal Varma introduced me to India and Rajamouli introduced me to the world…

What is the best thing you like about Hyderabad? I find Hyderabad very similar to Bangalore. The food here is amazing! And most importantly the people here are extremely warm towards me and hence, I just love this Nawabi Sheher.

How was the feeling of basking in the glory of success of Eega and being the show stopper of the super hit film? There isn’t a single person who wouldn’t want to be successful. If I would say that my excitement had limits, then I would be lying. I am extremely happy about it. Success from another fraternity is always a wonderful feeling. More than the success of Eega, I was overwhelmed by the fact that Rajamouli even had a thought of casting me in it. The role had a lot of substance and it called for a humungous effort from my side. It was a combination of all the films I have done so far. The abundance of space I was given, working with wonderful technicians and the experience I got from it means a lot to me and can never be overshadowed by any kind of success. I

The roles you play are always different and offbeat, what is the checklist you follow before you sign a movie? More than the script, I choose the people I want to work with. The script definitely plays a vital role, but I believe that the people you work with is of utmost importance. Also, it is vital that you share a certain comfort zone with the people you work with. How was your recent biking trip to Madekeri? It was an amazing trip. We have a bunch of friends, most of them actors, who go on a bike trip once in a while. We have our cooks travelling with us. We set up a place to stay somewhere and just go! In this particular trip, all of us were drenched about 40% of the time. But it was great fun! Tell us something about yourself that is unknown to many. I am still trying to figure it out (smiles). I keep exploring that every day. Sometimes there are many things you don’t know that you have the ability to do, but when you try it, you realize you can. If not movies… what would have been your choice of profession? I have no idea (Laughs). It is a very difficult question to answer! Maybe I would have been a chef... I always believe in doing something that I enjoy. Acting is a profession I really wanted to get into and I have stuck to it. I am not a person who works with options. When I decide to be something, I don’t rest till I have accomplished it. You are often associated with Ram Gopal Varma’s ventures. What is it about your chemistry that works so well? I think I am blessed (smiles). It’s very sweet that he has given me so many opportunities that have helped me get immense recognition. He has always been very special to me and somehow has shown abundance of confidence in me whenever he has given me a character to play. He is definitely an in-

credit all the success to the well prepared, superorganized crew of Eega. Working with an imaginary character is a herculean task, how was it working with an imaginary housefly in Eega? Everyone is talking about this. But one aspect you need to remember is that I have to imagine my character too. Cinema is all about assumptions and imaginations. For me it didn’t really matter if it was a fly or another character in front of me. With a director like Rajamouli on the set, even the toughest of jobs turn easy. Timing and precision are two things that took a lot of effort from each one of us while making the movie. You have struggled a lot in the earlier stages of your life, how does it feel to be recognized in the major film industries of India now? Struggle is not because you are a new comer. Struggle is a part and parcel of life, nothing comes easy. The journey has been wonderful. Like everyone else, I had my ups and downs. Some least expected things like being directed by Ram Gopal Oct 2012 AVANT GARDE LIFE 69


GET IN TOUCH

Let us know what you’d like to see in next issue...

>>facebook

>>twitter

facebook/aglmagazine

Varma and Rajamouli and being in the same frame as Amitabh Bachchan have happened in my life. I have never planned anything in my life; I just go with the flow. But it does feel amazing to reach this place today. Struggle is what made me what I am today. All the emotions I went through in real life only made me a better actor on screen. So, I don’t take any of the struggling years to be a bad experience.

twitter/aglmagazine

feel we are wrong and the world is right. The last stage is where we feel both the parties are right, in that case you just accept it and move on. I’d love to sit and talk about what I love in life rather than spend time thinking about what people have spoken about me. There will always be difference of opinion; you have to learn to respect that. Cinema is the bridge between the public and me. If the public is ready to watch my films, then nothing else matters. I have never believed there are facts in this world, there are only interpretations. All these controversies are because of these interpretations and there is always a new controversy awaiting you after an old one. There is no end to it and I believe there is no point in trying to handle them. You broke the shackles of the typical villainous look with your uber cool avatar, how did you decide the look in the movie? The entire credit goes to Rama ma’am. She knew exactly what she was doing. In Eega, they wanted a villain who is not exactly a villain. He had to be sophisticated, subtle and be able to carry himself with a charisma. The look was all crafted by the team and I just had to carry it out well. How is it working for a horror genre? The best part about working in a horror film is that everybody gets scared except you. The whole formula of making a horror film is that you are laughing on the sets and scaring the rest of the people who are watching the movie. If you see the making of a horror movie, you will laugh your lungs out. It is really fun working for a horror movie. But frankly, horror is not my genre. I am not at all superstitious in life and I don’t believe in all these things. That is probably why the character in Phoonk suited me well.

How did your daughter Saanvi react to you acting with an animated character in Eega? She hated me after coming out of the theatre (laughs). So I am considering it a job well done…! How do you handle controversies? Why do we need to handle controversies? They have always handled us well. Once you are a public figure, it is a part and parcel of your life. The best thing that can happen to you is silence. There are usually three stages - one where we feel we are right and the world is wrong, the second where we 70 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012

You lead the Karnataka Bulldozer’s team in CCL. How is the experience? Cricket is a sport that I have always loved to play. I am lucky to be in this generation where I am fit enough to participate in these tournaments. I have a wonderful team and it is an absolute pleasure to lead it. I have thoroughly enjoyed every game we played. It is almost like an international cricket match happening there on the field, because all the actors take their game seriously. When do we see you on the director’s seat next? Well, that’s a difficult question…But yes, I have always loved directing more than acting. But I think it will take a while before I can call the shots again. Your philosophy in life…? You are there today, just do it. Your message to all our readers? Read it well, read it again (smiles).


Movie -Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar Actor Aamir Khan Inspiration Parents Tollwood, Bollywood or sandalwood? Wood Your car - Jaguar Perfume - Gucci Watch - Breitling Hobby - Riding Holiday destination Home Director - Steven Spielberg, John Woo, Wong Kar-wai Dream role - Prefer creating one Things you always have with you - Clothes Black or white - Both Designer - Casuals Asset - Voice Obsessed with Nothing Turn on - Movies Turn off - Movies Beauty or character Behavior Ideal date would be With family Wardrobe essentials The first that thing that comes to my hand First crush - Has remained a first crush Villain - He is there in everyone Cuisine - Chinese Gadget - I am a freak Restaurant - Plenty

Oct 2012 AVANT GARDE LIFE 71


Fun with Words Put a letter before each word to make a new word

1. ___ox

11. ___lap

2. ___race

12. ___ail

3. ___ice

13. ___on

4. ___all

14. ___in

5. ____an

15. ____or

6. ___is

16. ___our

7. ___as

17. ___its

8. ___pill

18. ___able

9. ___aats

19. ___how

10. ___his

20. ___luck Alphabelize the new words into two groups.

1. _____________________________

1. _____________________________

2. _____________________________

2. _____________________________

3. _____________________________

3. _____________________________

4. _____________________________

4. _____________________________

5. _____________________________

5. _____________________________

6. _____________________________

6. _____________________________

7. _____________________________

7. _____________________________

8. _____________________________

8. _____________________________

9. _____________________________

9. _____________________________

10. ____________________________

10. ____________________________

72 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012


kids Fun with Words

plus

Put a letter before each word to make a new word

1. ___top

11. ___hop

2. ___now

12. ___up

3. ___eat

13. ___led

4. ___rap

14. ___end

5. ____light

15. ____right

6. ___hat

16. ___live

7. ___room

17. ___here

8. ___lose

18. ___table

9. ___wig

19. ___talk

10. ___ear

20. ___rock

SEPTEMBER WINNERS

1st PRIZE WINNER D.Pranav

2nd PRIZE WINNER

Sri Ram

3rd PRIZE WINNER

P.Amulya

Alphabelize the new words into two groups. 1. _____________________________

1. _____________________________

2. _____________________________

2. _____________________________

3. _____________________________

3. _____________________________

4. _____________________________

4. _____________________________

5. _____________________________

5. _____________________________

6. _____________________________

6. _____________________________

7. _____________________________

7. _____________________________

8. _____________________________

8. _____________________________

9. _____________________________

9. _____________________________

10. ____________________________

10. ____________________________

Send us your answers to ALR Media Pvt. Ltd,. #8-2-696/1/k, Banjara Hills, Road no. 12, Hyderabad- 500034. with exciting prices Oct 2012 AVANT GARDE LIFE 73


Niroop & Rupna Reddy E-mail: projects@naarchitects.in Telephone: 040-65576454, 04023116454


Thematic Beauty By S. R. K. Soundarya Varma

Oct 2012 AVANT GARDE LIFE 75


W

hen Ruchi and Sachin Bomanwar decided to move back to India after a decade of living in Los Angeles, It was a tough call to take. Infact nostalgia is clearly seen in the nuances of their interiors. With two tiny tots on the prowl, having an all-white theme is a bit of a gamble, and Ruchi seems to have taken it. This software engineer couple’s

76 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012

house lies in the IT suburb of Hyderabad, Gachibowli. With artifacts from Germany, Italy, USA and Bangkok, this sure is a true global mix of tastes. Ruchi is all praise for the architect Niroop Reddy and says, “The guidance we got from Niroop and Roopna was amazing. Each and every detail was taken care by them.”


agl interiors

plus

The living room is done to suit a minimalist’s needs and has a rhythmic modularity. The formal sit out combines soft white walls with a red leather couch and other colorful furnishings for a pleasantly mixed aesthetic experience. The European lights add drama to the otherwise simple setting. A whole side of a wall dedicated to the pictures of their children adds to the warmth of the living room. A Korean finished partition separates the formal sit out from the rest. The other side of the living room is where the family relaxes after a hard day’s toil. A cozy turquoise velvet sofa steals the show in this area, along with the beautiful mirror on the wall. A stoneer cabinet captures your attention and theme based clocks grace every wall of the house. A total of five fun walls have been used along with a play of wallpapers. A little further, the open area sit out is a hit with the children, Aryan and Trisha, as they get to play in the fresh air and have a breathtaking view as well. Malaysian furniture peps up the vibe of this area. The kitchen has all the functional requirements and is ultramodern. It is comfortable, stark and simple. The ceiling of the kitchen with word engravings is the most unique part of the kitchen. Ruchi and Sachin’s apartment is the perfect example to show how you can transform a small space into an amazing work of art with the apt planning and designing...not to forget the essential elements of nostalgia! Oct 2012 AVANT GARDE LIFE 77


The master bedroom takes you into a B&W era as the whole theme showcases furnishings, furniture, artifacts, walls and doors all in black and white. The family picture too plays the part and combines with the black and white theme. The walk-in-closet is a sliding glass wardrobe with a satin finish glass. The children’s bedroom is pure eye-candy. The girl’s part of the room is an all-pink and princess theme and the boy’s part is a McQueen car theme. The ceiling is another attraction; it has the sky painted on it, complete with the sun, moon, stars and clouds! A display unit for the kids’ toys stands in the middle of the room. A great deal of the impact of the design of the guest bedroom comes from the use of minimal colors in a fairly consistent and limited color range. As a result the few decorative elements or other creative accents that diverge from the basic scheme stand out all the more. The immense natural light coming from the French windows adds to the “life” of the room.

78 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012


India’s Only Cable Channel Which Produces 30+ Shows

Your niche channel to reach out to Hyderabadis! First-ever Urdu Consumer Business News Channel of India

• 30 sec ad spots in place of conventional 10 sec spots • Cost-effective in compare to other media • No competing channel

Urdutvlive

Urdutvhyderabad


Photo Feature BANNER Manchu Entertainment

PRODUCER Lakshmi Manchu

Gundello Godari DIRECTOR Kumar Nagendra

MUSIC Ilaiyaraaja

What to watch out for ? The flood sequences

STAR CAST Lakshmi Manchu, Aadhi, Sundeep Kishan and Taapsee Pannu

Gundello Godari starring Lakshmi

Manchu, Aadhi, Sundeep Kishan and Taapsee Pannu in the lead roles is being directed by Kumar Nagendra. The film is based on four lives during the 1986 floods in Godavari districts.

80 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012


Photo Feature BANNER Sri Vijayabheri Productions

PRODUCER Vijay

Aravind-2 DIRECTOR Sekhar Suri

MUSIC Vijay Kurakula

What to watch out for? If the sequel matches to the original

STAR CAST Kamal Kamaraju, Srinivas Avasarala, Srinivas, Pauleen, Adonica, Madhu, Sree lekha

Sekhar Suri, is following up the super hit ‘A Film By Aravind’ with a sequel. He is now coming up with another suspense thriller ‘Aravind-2’. Featuring Sri of ‘Ee Rojullo’ fame as hero of this new film, ‘Aravind-2’ is being made on Sri Vijayabheri Productions banner. Rishi, who essayed the key role in ‘A Film By Aravind’ will also play one of the main roles in the film. Avasarala Srinivas will be seen in another important role

Oct 2012 AVANT GARDE LIFE 81



Rahul Haridas Favourite Car: Audio Q7

Favourite Cuisine: Indian

Favorite holiday destinations: New York

Favourite Hangout place: Any place with good company

Favourite Gadget: My BlackBerry

Favourite Director: My debut film director Mr. Sekhar Kammula

Favourite Cologne: Calvin Klein Dream Date: A quiet place Favourite Watch: Tag Heuer Favourite Film: Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge Favourite Actor: Shahrukh Khan & Salman Khan Favourite Actress: Katrina Kaif Your inspiration: Shahrukh Khan’s success story Dream role: Once you are a part of a good film everything falls into place and becomes your dream role When not shooting Rahul prefers: Hanging out with friends, watching movies and working out Favoutire Brand: Armani Upcoming projects: I’m doing three Tollywood movies to be released soon Three things you cannot do without: My phone, my laptop and my credit card You are obsessed with: Cleanliness Turn On: Simplicity Turn Off: Arrogance Favorite restaurant: Kebab-e-Bahar at Taj Banjara

Oct 2012 AVANT GARDE LIFE 83


Rekindling old flames

Movies or Monies – a tough choice!

Basking in the glory of Ek Tha Tiger, it looks like Salman and Katrina are taking a step further to strengthen their Jodi in tinsel town! After a series of movies together, Salman and Katrina are planning their small screen debut. But until they finalize on their small screen plans, Salman seems to have found something else to keep them together. The couple has never been spotted endorsing the same brand together but it was found that Salman is now ready to change that. He has recommended that his ex-flame endorse the same footwear brand with him! Wow now that sure is an apt case of “co-branding”!

Queen of controversy!

If one person loves making headlines owing to controversial statements…it is Rakhi Sawant. Always in the news for the wrong reasons, Rakhi recently expressed her ardent desire to marry yoga guru, Ramdev.

Now if that was not enough the Drama Queen confessed truly admiring the Congress General Secretary, Rahul Gandhi and said marrying him wouldn’t be a bad option either. Not to forget that the complete credit of abruptly shutting down the show Gazab Desh Ki Ajab Kahani on Imagine TV rested on Rakhi Sawant. The BCCC received complaints on almost all aspects…host Rakhi’s indecent dressing to her confident usage of abusive language! When questioned, Rakhi had an impromptu reply, “I was doing genuine social service”. Such noble thoughts…so what if they are senseless and controversial!

84 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012

Ranbir Kapoor is currently the most sought after actor in B-town and one need not question why! The Kapoor lad has been delivering stellar performances and has a barrage of directors queuing up for upcoming projects. zoOm recently got in touch with the Dabangg director Abhinav Kashyap, who was planning a second box office entertainer Besharam with Ranbir Kapoor in the lead. However, it seems that the director has hit a road block with Ranbir Kapoor’s exorbitant fees! This overzealous budgeted movie has attracted no takers and Ranbir isn’t budging on the remuneration. This has led to fallout between the actor-director and word on the street is that the film may be shelved! Well, the Bollywood enthusiasts are certainly going to miss out on a dhamaakedar movie for sure. But the question is whether an actor should take up a project for the love of movies or monies?


cinema gossip

plus

Love, cheating, break-up & zindagi Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart have both been spotted out in public looking like they’re overcoming heartbreak just fine — but it actually might be because they’re already back together! The two lovebirds have reportedly rekindled their love. It was communicated to people during TIFF that they are but they’re worried about how it might affect his career, like whether or not there will be some kind of crazy backlash or something. Kristen also said during an interview at the Toronto International Film Festival that her relationship with Rob was “fine.” “We’re going to be fine. We’re totally fine,” she told the Associated Press. Maybe they realized that their love is the real deal and they can’t live without each other?

Riteish Deshmukh wants to remake Sudigadu in Hindi Allari Naresh’s recent release Sudigadu has become super-hit at the Box Office both in India and the USA. Its huge success has now caught the eyes of several filmmakers in Bollywood. If we are to go by the latest reports, actor Riteish Deshmukh, best known for his comic roles, has evinced interest to remake the film in Hindi. He is interested to play the role of Allari Naresh in its Hindi version. Sources close to the actor say that he is currently in talks with a few filmmakers to remake the movie in Hindi. However, Sudigadu itself is a remake of Tamil filmThamizh Padam (2010), which was directed by CS Amudhan and produced by Dhayanidhi Alagiri. Now director Bhimaneni Srinivas Rao has made some changes in the script to suit the native audience. Sources further claim that several producers have also approached the makers of Sudigadu and the negotiations are on.

Eega flying the Oscar race Ramoji Rao’s son Suman no more

SS Rajamouli’s trilingual film Eega is all set to be in the 18 films shortlisted by the Film Federation of India for selecting India’s official nomination for the Oscars for the Best Foreign Language Film. The other entries include Bollywood hits like Kahaani and Barfi! Director SS Rajamouli’s innovative and technical brilliance have already rocked the box office, now let’s see if it makes it to the Oscar race.

Actor, writer and producer Suman, the second son Eenadu group Chairman Ramoji Rao, died at a private hospital in Hyderabad this morning. He is survived by his wife, one daughter and a son. His last rites were performed in the premises of Ramoji Film City today. Media Baron Suman was suffering from cancer for past six years and was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Hyderabad. The actor has lost his battle with cancer while he was being treated early on the morning of September 7. Suman was the Managing Director for ETV group. He is also a director, actor & a producer and known for his family drama serials. We express our heart-felt condolences to Ramoji Rao and his family. May the departed soul of Suman rest in peace. Oct 2012 AVANT GARDE LIFE 85


Director’s Take:

Krishna Vamsi By S.R.K Soundarya Varma

When he started out his career in the year 1995, little did Krishna Vamsi know that he would soon be the reason for the success of many films which would remain embedded in the hearts of the Telugu audience forever. If movies like Gulabi and Sindhooram got him critical acclaim, other movies like Murari, Ninne Pelladatha and Chandhamama got him the love of the family audience. What is phenomenal about all these films is that all of them won him awards. He is one of the few directors in Tollywood who doesn’t follow a ‘formula’ but creates his own with every unique film he makes. Ask him about his marriage to the ravishing beauty Ramya Krishna, and he lovingly admits that she is the best thing that ever happened to him. Read on, as this self-confessed movie addict opens up about movies, family, marriage, life and more… Tell us about your upcoming movie It is tentatively titled Paisa. It is a thriller. Like any movie there will be songs, romance and action; and as the title suggests, it revolves around money. It is my observation on the contemporary political scene in Andhra Pradesh. It is a reflection of how much money is at stake in India. This film is an attempt to show what I absorbed from the happenings around me. Role of money in people’s life in a non-cynical way is the basic line of the film. Nani plays the lead in the film along with two newcomers Catherine and Sidhika. Your strong genres seem to be family, country, society and God. Why? Not really! I don’t think I have confined to those few genres. Society is your surroundings. Your family comes under the society too. All these are strong objects of anybody’s life, 86 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012

and I am no exception. Without these elements no one’s life is complete. So automatically when I am dealing with such lively genres, the flick gets more assertive on the screen. You do not follow a formula in creating a movie. You go with the flow of the subject. Has this been your strength or weakness? I don’t know, trust me! I never felt this to be a weakness. This is not a profession for me; it is a way of life. I am very passionate while making movies. I have tried to push myself hard but beyond a point of time, it doesn’t work. This is how I function... When something shakes me up or disturbs me or excites me, only then do I write about it. And that has to come from the society or the world - I cannot make fiction, untruthful, senseless, reasonless or purposeless films. Audio Visual media is a powerful tool and I feel responsible


to deliver content that is useful and give back the audience something to take back home. A good movie succeeds in affecting the thinking pattern of the audience. Nativity is prominent in such intricate details in some of your movies. How do you bring that into your scripts? What factors influence you? Firstly, I like it. I have grown up in that kind of atmosphere. This kind of festivity and colorfulness overwhelms me, so I always play around that in my movies. I don’t want the joint family culture to get extinct. Some of your films show your strong liking towards the Indian marriage system. What do you like and dislike about the Indian marriage system? I strongly believe in the institution of marriage and have great respect for our Indian marriage rituals and customs. I personally believe that a perfect marriage is a matter of pride and hence this reflects in my movies. Ninne pelladtha and Murari will always be remembered as the “classics” of the 90’s and 2k, years from now. How does it feel to have created them? Does it build up pressure to make more movies that might go into the “classic” list? I don’t think so. I never knew I was making a classic when I was making them. Even though I was the reason for those movies, I never take pride in mak-

ing them. Once the film is finished, my system gets disconnected from it. It is then a public property and I am also one from the audience. As far as the pressure to make more goes, the results will show if I am forced to do something I don’t believe in. Mogudu is such an example. I was forced to make Mogudu; my heart wasn’t in that film. Why do you have the need to give something back to the society? By doing so you might lose the chance of making more films. I come from a lower middle-class family. All the luxuries I have in life, I got because of the world of cinema. It is people’s money. When they come to see Oct 2012 AVANT GARDE LIFE 87


my film by spending their hard earned money, I want them to have something worthwhile to take back. I don’t want to be indebted to them (smiles). Every filmmaker has this responsibility. Unfortunately, some of them don’t realize this. The women in your movies are all showcased to be extremely beautiful. What does beauty mean to you? Beauty changes in every situation. Sometimes only looks matter, other times intelligence matters. It varies from person to person. Sometimes my wife looks extremely beautiful to me, sometimes not (laughs). For me beauty is my comfort level with that particular person. And I believe that a woman is most beautiful when she is in a certain comfort-level. When a woman is comfortable she is relaxed and her skin glows. I try and capture this. In my films, the beauty what you are talking about is not just looks; it is the truthfulness and naturalness of that character. This naïve nature comes across as beauty. For me beauty refers to the inner quality! Which one character out of all your films is your most favorite one? I can’t choose one. Every film, all the characters are written by me and are very dear to me. I cannot pick one! Which one actor floored you with his/her acting? Floored is a really big word. None of them so far have actually “floored” me. What was your most memorable experience during the shoots of your movies? Every minute of every day that I worked for all my films is a memorable experience for me. There is a lot of bloodshed and violence in most of your 88 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012

movies. Why? Violence depends on the subject. I don’t necessarily try and bring it about. If a subject demands it, then I go for it. For example, Chandamama didn’t have violence, because the subject doesn’t require it. Tell us about your son. Are you a strict dad? Who sets the rules at home? Is it you or your wife Ramya Krishna? Ritwik is eight years old and is in his second class. He has just finished his first shoot in a serial with his mom. I am not a strict dad. Ramya is the boss of the house and she sets the rules for both Ritwik and me. I should get permission to be strict too (laughs). Why do you portray joint families in your movies so often? Did you grow up in one or wish you did? Staying in a joint family is a big teacher. It teaches you how to adjust, what to do and what not to do. It shows you gender differences, financial differences and like. Unfortunately I didn’t grow up in one. I would love my son to grow up in a joint family. Are your movies inspired by real-life incidents? Mostly all of them are inspired by real-life incidents. One person who inspired you? Ram Gopal Varma. He is the person who made me. He taught me how to think and is one great ‘happy’ influence in my life. I will always be happy about the fact that I met someone like him and spent almost five years of my life with him. How does it feel to be married to one of the most beautiful woman of contemporary Indian cinema?


Frankly speaking, you become a watchman (laughs). I am her bodyguard and security guard. On a serious note, I am extremely happy with my married life. She is the best thing that happened to me. If not a director, what would you have been? What are your other passions? Nothing else interests me. I would definitely have been in a movie related field… On days when you aren’t working, how do you like to spend your days? I enjoy watching films, going on long drives and listening to music. There is no such thing as “not working” for me. My mind keeps revolving around films all the time even when I am not shooting. Your ideal vacation spot… Las Vegas. There is so much more to Las Vegas than just casinos. I love the live shows there, I like the way the city is built. It is an extremely exciting place. As they say, the city never sleeps. One recent movie, actor and actress that caught your attention? I loved Rockstar and Gangs of Wasseypur. Ranbir Kapoor, Parineeti Chopra and Anushka Sharma are all fine young actors. Best thing about Hyderabad? Everything- including the dirt and traffic. I love this city! Message to the AGL readers… Do good, feel good and enjoy life. You live only once! Oct 2012 AVANT GARDE LIFE 89


arunoday Have a good time &be happy! By Esha Jobanputra


interview Fitness, films or food, what do you prefer? Food always because that keeps me alive! Envied by men and eyed by women, what is the secret of this attention from both the sexes? I have no evidence to that question but because you are saying, I think you should ask the people who are eyeing me. What is your fitness secret? My fitness secret is a desperate desire to be fit and I never find myself really fit so keep working on it How was your experience in the acting school in New York? It was an experience that any school had. I learnt a lot and liked it also. On the flip side there were classes, where I did not learn anything or like many things.

plus

Given a chance, would you be acting in a Tollywood movie as well? Well, it depends on the film. If the filmmaker thinks that I can pull it off then I would love to do it. I do not want to limit myself with just few roles. Cute or hot what do you prefer being called? I say that both work well. Being called hot sounds better at the same time being cute lasts longer. What is your mantra in life? Have a good time and be happy! A quotation that defines you? I am too complexed to be defined.

Which character of the films you have played do you relate to the most? I think that I relate to the character Kuldeep from Yeh Saali Zindagi the most. What is the understanding of luxury for you? Luxury to me is anything that makes me feel comfortable. As a human being it does not have to be very grand or pompous. The fact that God is giving me anything that is more than required is a luxury for me. What is that one thing that you have splurged in recently? My recent buy, Wharfedale speakers for my home. Are you a gadget freak? I am not really a gadget freak. There is a lot of controversy about you regarding the role in Heroine, how do you handle this? That is something out of my control so I just do my job and move on. Tell us something about your love life and the ideal girl that you would want? My love life is highly lovable and I am wonderfully single. My idea of a perfect girl is someone with kindness, grace and beauty. You have a striking style statement, who designs your wardrobe? I just throw stuff in the suit case and I am on the move. I am not really fashion conscious. My mother and sister are fashion freaks, so just picked up a little bit of fashion styling from them. I do not describe myself as a person with great style. What is your favorite brand? Tiber land What are your upcoming movies? I am doing a role in the upcoming film on Dharma Production banner and few other movies but those are still under the wraps.

Oct 2012 AVANT GARDE LIFE 91


It’s been said that romantic sex isn’t all about physical appearances, but we all know that good looks can increase the sex appeal by a long way. Work out and try to look better for each other. The fitter you look, the sexier you would look and feel, and that will definitely increase your sex appeal and make you a better lover too.

The more you are admired by other members of the opposite sex, the more your partner will sexually desire you and stay interested in you. Attention from the opposite sex always has this effect on our partners. In a long term relationship, both partners would start to take each other’s sex appeal for granted. After all, when something’s easily accessible, it’s easy to overlook its value. But when your partner is standing in a crowd and getting everyone’s attention, that’s when you would realize just how awesome and sexy your partner truly is.

Sex always gets monotonous and boring if you don’t try something new every now and then. Sex isn’t just about penetration. It’s what you do with each other before, during and after sex that makes lovemaking feel more special.

When two lovers talk about sex, it helps each other understand the other partner’s desires and expectations better. Talking about sex even when you are not having sex is always great for the relationship. So don’t be a prude, speak up and your sex will only get better.

92 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012


romances

plus

Don’t be naked all the time in front of your partner. The more you walk around naked in the bedroom when you are not getting intimate, the more both of you will end up sexually desensitized. If you’re out at a party, and unexpectedly see a flash of your partner’s skin, doesn’t it turn you on? Create the same sexual excitement in bed. Dress up and don’t reveal it all at once.

Look your best around your partner instead of dressing down in frayed overalls all the time. If you can do that right, there’s a good chance that your partner won’t cheat on you. Here’s the reason why. If you find someone sexually attractive, you would find it very hard to lie to them or do something that may offend them. So instead of hiring a private eye or suffocating your partner into staying loyal to you, just ensure that your partner still finds you sexually attractive.

The longer the foreplay, the more intense the orgasms and the pleasure both of you experience. So the next time both of you are under the sheets, don’t go straight for the big act. Take your time to warm up, and the sex will last a lot longer. And good foreplay can even help a man who’s having a hard time staying up stay up for longer.

Intoxicants like alcohol can at times be the biggest aphrodisiacs. Alcohol in small amounts reduces inhibition, which makes you open up more and feel relaxed while getting undressed in the company of another person. Alcohol consumption in males reduces the testosterone levels which reduces their libido proportionally to the alcohol they consume. On the other hand, alcohol consumption increases the testosterone levels in women. For most women, increase in alcohol consumption creates an increase in sexual satisfaction during orgasms.

True love is not the same as intense sexual attraction. This is the biggest sex secret that can quash a lot of misconceptions about romantic relationships. Experiencing true love will not give you the perfect relationship. True love is love. But a perfect relationship needs more. It needs love and lust to be successful. When you are in a relationship, don’t just hold hands and walk down a street and assume you are in the perfect romance. Push your partner against a wall now and then and make out too. Well, then you’d definitely have the perfect blend of love and lust, the perfect ingredients for romantic love. Oct 2012 AVANT GARDE LIFE 93


Youngsters now days go in for live in relationships, as they want to be sure that they are compatible with each other and would be able to spend the rest of their lives together. Some just want to live together and cut expenses so that they can save for the future. A few just want to test the waters before taking the plunge. Few say, “Live-in relationship is like a test drive”. While others actually do not want the commitment and responsibility that a marriage demands between them. Livein relationship for them is an easy way out. Living in for such youngsters’ means, enjoying all the togetherness that a marriage provides but with no strings attached. Moreover there are no legal hassles for separation if the couples decide to part ways, unlike marriage. This can ultimately have both its advantages and disadvantages, as there is no legal way out if one of the partners cheats the other as such relationships in India are still not legally accepted. Half-of the couples do end up getting married and half of them don’t. There are advantages and disadvantages in every relationship and the same is true for live-in relationships too.

LIVE-IN RELATIONSHIPS 94 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012


Cons of Live-in Relationships

In simple words a live-in relationship leaves nothing to be discovered by the couple post marriage. Routine already sets in between live-in relations and there is anxiety or expectancy left for to be realized after marriage. Because there are no specific laws to deal with the intricacies of live-in relationships in most countries, the incidence of major problems in these cases are on the rise. Many people are duped of their assets in live-in relationships. Cases of verbal and physical abuse are also quite rampant in live-in relationship despite the fact that live-in relations are considered more ‘modern’. A potent disadvantage of live-in relationship is social censure. Because these relationships have not yet been awarded the stamp of social acceptance, they are looked at with scorn. Many couple in live-in relationships prefers to call themselves married fearing rejection. This primarily causes problems in relationships. It is very difficult to move into another relationship after a live-in relationship. Live-in relationships require a lot of time, energy and devotion. The most important fact is that in a live-in relationship two people decide to share their lives. And if such a relationship comes to an end it takes a toll on the mental health of people.

Pros of Live-in Relationships •

• •

A live-in relationship lets a person see what living with her/ his partner can actually be like. It is a step one can take before getting into an institutionalized arraignment such as marriage. A live-in relationship allows couples to spend more time with each other as now they are not bound by the constraints of time. Live-in relationships expose the level of love and intimacy as they stand between couples. A couple living together will get to know how much they care for and love each other and what are the various impediments in this liaison of theirs. It also brings relationship problems to the forefront before the final step of marriage is taken. Many couples believe that they should enter into a live-in relationship before taking the final plunge. Because in case some issues arise that absolutely cannot be sorted, the relationship can be ended without getting into a legal battle in most cases. Another considered advantage of live-in relationships is that because they currently fall outside the ambit of societal structure, the adverse influence of society can be avoided in them. This means that live-in relationships do not follow the otherwise necessary diktats of society. The burdens of social relationship are less in a live-in relationship and it actually helps a relationship blossom further.

Oct 2012 AVANT GARDE LIFE 95


Subba Raju s favorite brands:

Perfume: Paco Rabanne’s 1 Million Wallet: My Mont Blanc wallet Denims: Jack and Jones and True religion Clothes: No Name from Japan Footwear: MBT (Masai Barefoot Technology) Belts: Louis Vuitton Who according to you is the bestdressed celebrity in Tollywood? It undoubtedly has to be Bunny (Allu Arjun), he has a great sense of style. Your most preferred hangout place? Beyond coffee Your message to the fashion- conscious AGL readers? Fashion is what you do to follow yourself, not what you ‘follow’.

96 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012


Out of the closet

B

plus

ack ang

What is your interpretation of fashion? Fashion to me is an expression of my state of mind on one particular day, at that particular moment. I strongly feel that your style statement is made by your attitude.

What are the major differences you see in Tollywood and Bollywood on the fashion scene? Well, both the industries are entirely different. Bollywood is an industry where the look of an actor/ actress is given the utmost importance. How was it acting with Amitabh Bachchan? He is a person that makes you act! If not an actor what would you have been? Definitely not an employee, but I would have been in any creative field. Who is your favorite co-star? (Laughs) That is a really difficult question to answer, however, Mahesh, Prabhas and Rana are some

By Esha Jobanputra

of my favorite co-stars. You have always played a negative shade in movies; does it affect your image in the normal routine? Yes of course, it does. College girls are hesitant to come to me for an autograph! Arya was a turning point of my career, which gave me the “BAD BOY� tag and it seems to stick with a few audiences that way. How does your family react to your films in which you have a negative shade? My mom has stopped seeing my movies after Arya and Shock because I am the villain, and I am beaten up or die in the end! What are your upcoming movies? I am doing an untitled movie in Bollywood, a Tamil movie with Vishal and Telugu movie with Prabhas. What is your one-stop shopping destination? The best place to shop is U.S.A. Apart from that, I like shopping in Milan and Venice. Rana and I had a great time shopping there.

Location Courtesy: Sky park

Oct 2012 AVANT GARDE LIFE 97


Heaven for her Scent Marc Jacobs Dot

Dot is a lush juicy floral - happy and vivacious.

The top captivates with a delectable blend of red berries, succulent dragonfruit, and sweet honeysuckle. The lush floral heart of the fragrance blooms with addictive jasmine mingled with energising notes of coconut water and orange blossom. The scent rounds out with a feminine drydown of creamy vanilla, driftwood, and sensual musks. The new fragrance continues the cheerful game of petals decorated by modern and characteristic flacons of the Jacobs collection. Polka dots embellish red petals and a ball on the cap, which looks like ladybug in the heart of a flower.

Dior homme sport

This powdery, woody and greenish sports scent begins with citrus accords of ginger and Sicilian citron. The refined perfume’s heart is constructed around Tuscany iris note, which gives the fragrance a bit of a vintage character. The base is woody and aromatic, including intensive notes of Virginian cedar wood. The face of the campaign, captured at the French Riviera, is once again Jude Law. The fragrance is available as 50 and 100 ml Eau de Toilette.

98 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012

elie saab The fragrance opens with a soaring harmony of delicately acidulated Mandarin blossoms. The heart unfolds into a veil of radiant crystalline white flowers, supported by Gardenia and Orange blossom. The delicious Rose Honey softness of the base envelops the skin like precious chiffon.


fashion

Taylor Swift Wonderstruck

plus

Wonderstruck is the first fragrance from the young American pop country singerTaylor Swift, launched in cooperation with the cosmetic company Elizabeth Arden. The perfume is created by Olivier Gillotin of Givaudan. Wonderstruck is named after the lyrics from the song “Enchanted”: “I’mwonderstruck, blushing all the way home,” which tell about the feeling and the impression you get when you first meet someone you like. Taylor hopes that her fragrance will be an essential part of many impressions and first meetings. The fragrance composition is described as a charming gourmand – floral with sparkling fruity tones on a wooden background. The top notes are raspberry, dewberry, green tea, freesia and apple blossom. The heart features sweet vanilla along with sundrenched honeysuckle and white hibiscus. Notes of golden amber, musk, sandalwood and peach are in the base.

fame by lady gaga

Lady Gaga Fame is the first ever black Eau de Parfum that sprays clear and becomes invisible once airborne. The fragrance has a unique structure called the “push-pull technology,” where the ingredients interact together to highlight different olfactive aspects of each note at the same time, without any hierarchy. The scent is built around three main accords: dark, sensual and light. The dark accord was inspired by Belladonna, the deadly nightshade possessed by haunted beauties since the 18th century .From this darkness, the fragrance evolves to a sensual accord of opulence, a fusion of dripping honey, saffron and apricot nectar.And lastly, the light accord whispers magnificence. The rich floral layer of crushed Tiger Orchid and Jasmine Sambac embodies timeless beauty. The accords work together to create a fragrance of floral and fruity elements, with the star ingredient inspired by Belladonna leveling out the whole fragrance and giving Lady Gaga Fame its signature as a scent

Oct 2012 AVANT GARDE LIFE 99


Dress - massimo dutti Watch - Guess Collection Jacket - Bardot Bag - Gucci Shades - Burberry Check wrapped footwear - christian louboutin

Black & Pink the teal tinge FASHION

Watch - Burberry Dress - TopShop clutch - Burberry footwear - christian louboutin

100 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012


fashion

plus

chunk-a-liSCIOUS

O S C A R D E L A R E N T A

Oct 2012 AVANT GARDE LIFE 101


Draping with creativity & élan By Esha Jobanputra

Nothing comes between a fashionista and his bling...We bring you the brightest of designers; a product of NIFT who studied fashion styling from Fashion institute of technology FIT, New York. We take you on a fashion tour and bring to light his future business plans, his inspirations and how he keeps up his much talked about label Alabaster. His iridescent garments have a sense of surprise yet very wearable, he loves the drama of mix ‘n’ match. We are sure he dreams in Technicolor, and designs separates that do not match… he pairs a canary yellow top with a fuchsia bottom and a bottle green sash and completes this look with his signature headgear. His creations with a striking look reflect the all-new concept of luxury related to richness of its craft, material and exclusiveness of creation. It has been on catwalks, it has adorned the most stylish personalities. We are talking about none other than our very own ace designer NEELAM ASHLEY Your label is named Alabaster. Tell us its significance? How do you relate your work to this name? The name Alabaster is derived from the Holy Bible. It is a celebration of sacrifice where a woman with the Alabaster jar of perfume sacrifices the most expensive perfume at the feet of Jesus as a sign of love. My label is a celebration of feminity and its ornate opulence spells out festive moods. It is a tribute to the Indian heritage clothing classics. Its design philosophy is to generate global understanding for Indian classical ethnic design heritage and endorse Indian garmenture and make them classically futuristic. You have done extensive fashion research of the premium International Fashion Houses like DKNY, Versace, MICHAEL KORS & SAKS FIFTH AVENUE, how was the entire experience? The experience was wow! Everything is very practical and each design comes out with a lot 102 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012

of research, case study and forecast. More than glamour or style it is an actual enterprise building; each new season, the way every design is scrutinized and made without any flaws and impeccable perfection. Appearance is given the primary importance, the class and style each design holds is treated like a priceless jewel. What was the major inference you could draw from the research you did at the fashion houses? The fashion chain moves as per the designers while on the other hand it is the responsibility of the designer to also sustain the brand name. Moreover high end marketing strategies, intricate quality and staying deep-rooted to your own signature style are some observations which helped me strengthen my brand. How was your journey, until now, to make Alabaster a country-wide label?


fashion interview

plus

Proud about the fact that you design for the human body which is life. Oct 2012 AVANT GARDE LIFE 103


I am still growing. As of now everything is going phenomenally well. My label sells from my flagship studio, The Alabaster design studio and also in some of the premium design stores of the country. Which has been your best design till date? Well, I have had many big hit designs, however, one ensemble which I submitted to the fit New York campus as my study has been my masterpiece. This was an ensemble which is an exclusive hand woven silk tunic with mythological swans meticulously hand painted. A creation that took a lot of time and dedication but all my efforts paid off in the end.

fervor, passion and commitment that surrounds the creative mind. What is your take on Hyderabadis and their premium brands fever? It is great and nice to notice this trend as it reflects the purchasing power and categorizes Hyderabad as a stylish and brand conscious city. What according to you is a fashion disaster? Do not opt to wear something which does not suite you just because others are wearing it. Take a little effort to know your body type and only wear what looks good on you.

What do you keep in mind while designing? What is the major source of inspiration? Color and craft are the elements that I keep in mind. A strong observation and visual study have always been a part of my inspiration. City flea markets, historical museums, monuments, architecture and also mundane things around me have been a constant source of inspiration in my work

With wedding season around the corner, what is your ‘avant garde’ signature style this season? My style would be a racer back blouse in bright gold, jackets and short sherwanis teamed with heavy bordered saree. I say no to the regular ghagra choli rather wear the ornate chudidhar with a half saree teamed with a high collar blouse. Intricately embroidered waist belts over the saree would make a style statement too!

Do you think fashion designing is something that can be learned or is it something that is inborn? Fashion designing is definitely an inborn energy a huge passion for fashion can only make designers. It takes a lot of

Your latest fashion show? My latest showcasing was at Sushmita Sen’s - I Am She, the Miss India Universe Pageant held at Leonia Holistic Destination.

104 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012


Oct 2012 AVANT GARDE LIFE 105


106 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012


What is your mantra in life? My mantra in life is to work hard and aim for perfection. Most important is to know yourself completely. Depend on yourself, never complain, be patient and leave the rest to the Lord. Where do you see yourself ten years down the line? I see my brand expanding into different markets. I would venture into jewelry, and perfumes, there is no stopping, am hoping to build my signature nationwide. If not a designer…alternate profession? Honestly I can’t imagine anything other from what I am today. It really took me a lot of hard work to convince my family to study design. I am from a doctors’ family. Initially my parents wanted me to be a doctor. But I did not want to be in a formal corporate setup and hence ventured into a creative field. Five essential dresses a girl must have according to you are? A draped dress, a simple U neck white dress, a princess cut fitted dress in black, corset in bright color and a pair of well fitted jeans. What is your forte in designing? A great amount of detailing and depth, boundless creativity and an unconventional approach to design all in combination

is my USP...the melting pot of culture and sensibility is my forte. You prefer your model wearing a salwar-kameez or a saree on the ramp? It is this mysterious and magnificent fabric draped around a life with the saree styled in the most unconventional way is my take on the ramp. What is your suggestion to all the upcoming designers? To be very passionate about what you have selected as a career, be well researched and up to date on the current fashion scene. Be original and make the impossible possible. Above all…be proud about the fact that you design for the human body which is life. Do you think Hyderabad is up to date on the fashion scale? Yes, definitely with a lot of young and fashion conscious men and women wanting to look stylish and glamorous. Whether it might be a pub party, high profile wedding or a club meet; everyone gears up in the best outfits, and make heads turn. One last word for the AGL readers? AGL is an ever fantabulous magazine and has the entire interface blending to become the most glam data disseminator. So read and expect more of style, fashion and glamour from one of the most glamorous magazines of Hyderabad!


AGL SNAPSHOTS

Sourav Ganguly 108 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012

Arjun Rampal

Kapil Dev


AGL SNAPSHOTS

Mugdha Godse

Deepika Padukone

Sushmita Sen Oct Oct 2012 109110 AVANT GARDE LIFELIFE 2012 AVANT GARDE


PARTY

Dona

Sharmila

Abhishek

Natasha

Tanu

Musical Extravaganza The Sports Bar launch at Trimulgerry was a perfect DJ riot with DJ Henry Saiz taking lead and DJ Harsha and DJ Manish adding on…the guests swayed to the music and toasted the launch… Charies

D J Swomya 110 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012

Raju

Harsha Reddy


PARTY

Mohini .

Kapil , Naina

Vicky , Prisha

Girish , Kunjan

Birthday party ! Girish and Kunjan played the perfect hosts as they celebrated Girish’s birthday at Sky Lounge. Good food, peppy music and a fun loving crowd was all it took to make the party a success! Sonali

Mohini

Prajektha

Isha

Geetha

Neelam

Shishan

Isha

Sunny , Kashish Oct 2012 AVANT GARDE LIFE 111


PARTY

Laugh Riot Varun, Panasha

Vibha

Neha 112 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012

Santosh,Ritu

Ananda Shankara

Bhavana

Zuliyana

DLO

Dolly Singh

Saheb

The Comedy Show by DLO at Kismet had all the socialites in full attendance. It was fun to see the guests laughing to their hearts content and sharing light moments with each other. Truly a perfect way to relax the over stressed nerves‌


PARTY

Madhu sudhan,Kavitha

Shradha

Launch Party

Sai Kiran

Rupa

Pooja

Archana

Prajoth

The Linen Club showroom opening in Banjara Hills had family and friends celebrating in full gusto. As guests congratulated the owners, the latter swelled in pride and were overwhelmed with the warmth bestowed upon them by friends and family.

Meet ‘n’ Greet with Kapil Dev

Uniglobe Sameera Travel celebrated its Silver Jubilee in the city in a big way. Cricket legend and former Indian skipper Kapil Dev graced the occasion. While 100 privileged customers and guests bagged the chance to interact with Kapil Dev, employees of the company were also felicitated for their ace performance.

Kamaljeet Singh, Vinod Kumar

Shivalal Yadav

Faridha Raj , Vijay Mohan Raj

Saher , Samira

Ashwini , Vandana

Sravanthi

Kapil Dev Oct 2012 AVANT GARDE LIFE 113


PARTY

Vishal

Phanendra

Basking in Glory! Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel threw a party to celebrate the success of the SSC HPRC for bagging the Chief Minister’s Polo cup. Apart from the top players from the team, well known socialites too joined in the fete… Brett

Manu Pal Godara

Sharad Saxena

Ratan

Rohit Reddy

Col--Mundi

114 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012

Brij , Bhupinder Sahney


PARTY

Anuj

Bijal

Dimplu

Suman

Kalpana

Shilpa

Gleam Theme Sushila Bokadia hosted a Rajasthani theme party at Alankrita for her near and dear ones. The ambience and food had the guests relax and unwind. The unique theme too worked wonders and won accolades from all.

Varsha

Sushila Bokadia

Kavitha

Rekha Oct 2012 AVANT GARDE LIFE 115


PARTY

Retro Magic Hyderabadi crowd love Retro themes‌Jessi and Prince’s party was testimony to this. The theme was strictly followed by all guests as they walked in at Awasa in their retro best!

Abhishek,Manjari

116 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012

Jeethu,Neha


PARTY Fashion Passion Fashion Shows are always a hit in the city and when it comes to Sagar Tenali’s show, the crowd just loves it. Kismet rocked on Friday as models sashayed the stage with Sagar’s creations and completely mesmerized the audience.

Sagar Tenali with the models

Anisha

Chandini

Debbie

Fara

Malini

Nihita

Payal

Ritu Varma

Saraswati

Sravya

Zohra

Anvitha

Bhavana Oct 2012 AVANT GARDE LIFE 117


PARTY

Swathi,Samia Alam Khan

Aarti Bhadruka

Trushna

Chic exhibit Samia Alam Khan & Swathi Kilaru had a designer exhibition showcasing chic designs at Beyond Coffee in Jubilee Hills. It sure was a feast for the eyes!

Fatima 118 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012

Payal

Meenu

Haritha

Bobby

Akanksha

Sherin Khan

Chaitanya

Pooja Reddy

Swetha


PARTY

Anju Sarin,Sanjee Kumar Sarin

Apurva,Nandini,Milind,Indraneil

Double celebration Family & friends got together to celebrate Indranil Gokhale’s home coming and Apurva Gokhale’s academic success at Syn in Taj Deccan

Deepti

Raru,Pradhan

Rajee

Shruti ,Aditi Oct 2012 AVANT GARDE LIFE 119


PARTY

Nandhu

Bhumika,Pooja

Roja

Lavanya

Phanendra

celeb BIRTHDAY

Bupal

Moon,moon 120 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012

Tamil actress Nandini Rai celebrated her birthday at Kismet amidst all her friends and fans .

Nandini Rai

Manjula

Sania

Surya Teju , Raj

Hema


PARTY

Anith Reddy

Nisha Sandeep Petti

Akanksha

Ravindra Nath

Harshita

Meher

Shilpa & Nidha Reddy

Kashish

Karishma

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PARAM! Param celebrated her birthday at Ohris, Necklace Road amidst all her near and dear ones. Spotted at the celebration were Anith Reddy & his family, Maadhavi & family, Ravindra Agarwal, Sandeep Petti and others

Anju Jain & Nidhi

Maadhavi & Akshita

Devansh Himansh Anmol

Param Surender Singh

Ravindra Agarwal Nirmala Oct 2012 AVANT GARDE LIFE 121


PARTY

Dolly

Gayatry

Mishel

Preeti

Rajini

Vaishnavi Keerthana

Malathi

Prakruti

Birthday girl Rashmi

Merry Bash Rashmi’s birthday party at Rain was a success with friends and family pouring in to wish the birthday girl. PYT’s were seen having a gala time and posing for the shutterbugs

Tina 122 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012

Lavanya

Karishma


PARTY

Birthday Cellebrations Dr. Srinivas threw a party to celebrate his birthday . Friends & Family came down to wish the birthday boy. Others spotted having a good time at the party were, Priya,R.K,Raksha, G V Ramana, Ravi Kalyan, Anusha

Dr.srinivas

Priya

RK

G V Ramana & Ravi Kalyan

Raksha

Anusha Oct 2012 AVANT GARDE LIFE 123


Horoscope

Horoscope ARIES

(March 21 - April 20) Let someone close to you know exactly how you feel about him or her. This is particularly important if there is an adulation on your part. Maybe things won’t work out — but they certainly won’t as long as you keep quiet. Expect proper conduct out of your subordinates and you will get it. A financial opportunity could wither away if you hesitate too long.

TAURUS (April 21 - May 21)

A last-minute trip to far away places could be just what the doctor ordered. Excitement and, very probably, romance could well be the result — but only if you let things move at their own pace. Now might be a good time to begin a serious savings plan. If you wait until all your debts are paid before you begin, you will probably never save anything — and you’ll probably never be out of debt if you don’t.

GEMINI (May 22 - June 21)

A serious and quite disturbing love affair could begin for you now if you respond to the stimulus now being waved before you. If you are free and unattached, it might well be worth riding the whirlwind — because that is what it is likely to be. If already committed, make sure that this is what you really want, because it will probably cause a breaking of all old ties.

CANCER (June 22 - July 23)

Getting to the bottom of a mystery may not be as pleasant for you as you think. Sometimes it is best to let sleeping dogs lie. In dealing with fellow workers on an important business deal, don’t allow others to speak for you, especially when the responsibility is yours alone. Keeping commitments may be a chore, but failing to do so could damage your reputation.

LEO

(July 24 - Aug. 23) An upturn in your personal finances is definitely due and could come from a surprising source. Your best bet is to be totally honest and to hide nothing from those who may have a similar interest. If you lose, you won’t have lost your honor — and if you win, you win really big and there will be no carpers. Exercise your right to be heard in matters that are important to you personally.

VIRGO

(August 24 - September 23) You could gain an important and influential friend simply by speaking your mind and not allowing others to run roughshod over your or someone close to you. Spend a little time with a youngster or an old person who is close to you, even if it means making some personal sacrifices. Hours, not things, are important to those who love you.

124 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012


Horoscope

LIBRA

(September 24 - October 23) Maintaining the status quo may not solve your problems. You may be called upon to exhibit some independent thinking and some very positive action if you are to come out on top. In romantic affairs, keep things light and don’t go overboard with promises on the first date. Be extremely cautious when dealing with complicated machinery and don’t take unnecessary chances.

SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22)

Climb down from your high horse and write that letter you have been mentally composing for the last few months. If what you feel is real, you would be quite foolish to stand on ceremony. In office matters, make sure you keep your tongue from flapping concerning affairs that should remain private. A slip of the lip could sink more than a ship It could sink your plans for the future.

SAGITTARIUS (November 23 - December 21)

Romance blossoms in the strangest places, according to the poet, and you could find this out to your utter amazement — and delight. Business problems may seem less if you take time to walk around to the other side so you can gain perspective. The same could be true for a personal matter that has been plaguing you.

CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 20)

Make sure that an old debt is paid in full before you go to the well once again. You might also do some serious thinking about your real desires and what it is you want to do with your life. If what you are presently doing is not making you happy — or at least contented — then why are you doing it? Take the advice of a friend seriously and give it a chance to work.

AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19)

Estimate your personal worth, as well as financial, and see if you are able to make things balance. If you are found wanting, do something about becoming solvent once again. You would be well advised to seek medical advice about a serious problem. Office politics are definitely not your game and you should avoid playing such a game. Instead, select the most honest of you companions and back him to the hilt.

PISCES

(February 20 - March 20) Problems of a financial nature are not as insurmountable as they seem. Seek good advice and then weigh it carefully before striking out on your own. Do not allow others to influence your convictions on moral issues, simply because it would make things neater and easier. On any tough question, the thing that is hardest to do is generally the thing you should do.

Oct 2012 AVANT GARDE LIFE 125


Confusing – accessorizing alert!! Remember these wise words for the future- Concentrate on one part rather than showering yourself with chunks of accessories. The skirt is too loaded with detail and should have been left alone, rather than pairing it up with those ghastly sandals.

Alrighty, what do we have here? A pattern gone wrong. We appreciate your effort with the red and black beads, however it really doesn’t help the graphic pattern on the top. Wrong footwear again!

You there, please collect a copy of the bookMakeup for dummies. And make sure you stash away these pair of high heels when you decide to go there. They do nothing for you nor your shorts.

Since when is it okay to mix red and black checks with hot pink? No really! And we absolutely dislike the cap in a pub concept.

Look what we have here! Barbiemeets-Lady Gaga! Not everyone can carry off a Paris Hilton darling. And definitely not with that footwear. If you were following pink so much, why the coral shades? You leave us confused.

126 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012



Venkat Reddy with Subha Raju MD.Aqeel

Vikas

Pauleen Soundarya Varma

Ajuli

Sadaf ambareen

128 AVANT GARDE LIFE Oct 2012


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.