WEEKLY MAGAZINE, NOVEMBER 25, 2012 Free with your copy of Hindustan Times
indulge
VIR SANGHVI
The real Shah Rukh
SANJOY NARAYAN Treme redux
RAJIV MAKHNI
Flip side of cheap tech
SEEMA GOSWAMI It’s a sexist world
B R E A K FA S T O F C H A M P I O N S
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NOW ON STANDS,
She started modelling at 15 – a little too late, she says. She was always among the top three in her class at school. Now, at 24, Anushka Sharma has some of the biggest endorsements and movie roles in her kitty. Grab a copy of BrunchQ for everything you’d want to know about one of Bollywood’s top actresses
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Brunch Opinion
by Rachel Lopez
It beats watching Friends reruns. Who cares who Ross did?
It’s not like you were going to save the world in your free time this evening anyway. You never, ever have anything new to say to old friends.
You never do anything fun. You bought some blueberrytopped frozen yoghurt once, but that was it.
You think the world hasn’t produced anything of value since The Godfather.
LETTER OF THE WEEK!
That’s how you wear a sari
THANK YOU for not showing coy women in saris designing a rangoli or stirring a pot in the kitchen (Drawn To The Fold, November 18). You had ’em jumping with a guitar and standing on a ladder! I used to panic whenever I was supposed to wear saris but one day I decided to take the Bombay trains wearing one. It worked! Oh, and wearing leggings beneath a sari as you suggested, it’s not a good idea. You’d have to drape the whole sari again when you have to answer nature’s call! — ROSHNI DEVI, via email Roshni wins a Flipkart voucher worth `2,500. Congrats!
The best letter gets a Flipkart voucher worth R2,500!! The shopping voucher will reach the winner within seven to 10 working days. In case of any delays, please contact chirag.sharma@hindustantimes.com
Cover Design: PRASHANT CHAUDHARY Cover Photos: THINKSTOCK
By Saudamini Jain
LOVE IT Thing that SRK says ■ Sex talk with best friends ■ Hot water bottles ■ Moustaches, Movember ■ Forcing a colleague to watch Son of Sardaar for this SHOVE IT ■ Padma Lakshmi in Playboy ■ The new Twilight film ■ Energy drinks ■ Holes in stockings ■ Bieber and Gomez. And that he bleeped out her name in a song ■
By Shreya Sethuraman
Jab Tak Hai Jaan: Boy meets girl. An almost love triangle. Retrograde amnesia. Happy ending. Beautiful locales, haunting background score You catch your breath. Leh can leave you speechless
Son of Sardaar: Remake of a south Indian hit. A house full of sardaars. Family feud sorted after years. Exaggerated action, frontbencher music
Five minutes into the film
Takes you back to Daler Mehndi’s Bolo ta-ra-ra-ra days
Surprise factor
Salman Khan. Dance to Aaoji Bauji. ’Nuff said
Even if you’re challenging death, why would you defuse a bomb without any protective gear?
Say whaa...aaat?
Tanuja attempting Punjabi. You’d fall off your seat laughing. And holding your tummy
Love story lovers, sob story lovers. Those who love happy endings
Kind of people in the hall
Those who stand on their seats and dance; Poor cousins of Rohit Shetty
Closing credits. When you see the King of Romance capturing the Badshah
What you take back with you
Sonakshi’s thumkas. She ought to get to talk more, you know. Really.
Neetu and Rishi Kapoor. In a vineyard. Sigh
EDITORIAL: Poonam Saxena (Editor), Aasheesh Sharma, Tavishi Paitandy Rastogi, Rachel Lopez, Mignonne Dsouza, Veenu Singh, Parul Khanna Tewari, Yashica Dutt, Amrah Ashraf, Saudamini Jain, Shreya Sethuraman, Manit Moorjani
NOVEMBER 25, 2012
On The Brunch Radar
Apples and Oranges
REASONS YOU SHOULD FOLLOW OUR LIST OF 50 THINGS TO DO
DESIGN: Ashutosh Sapru (National Editor, Design), Monica Gupta, Swati Chakrabarti, Rakesh Kumar, Ashish Singh
Brunch On The Web
On the right hand corner of our website, you’ll find Brunch Post-Its. Every week, one of us writes about the things that matter most to us. This week, read Booked For Life by Saudamini Jain. It’s a love affair with everything in print. Just log on to: hindustantimes.com/brunch
Drop us a line at: brunchletters@hindustantimes.com or to 18-20 Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi 110001
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HUMOUR
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The Thing About Husbands –
A three-part series
PART 1
Man Of The House Hoping for the husband’s input on every domestic decision? Be careful what you wish for
by Nirupama Subramanian
A
FTER SEVERAL years of marriage, I have realised that calling my husband, ‘the man of the house’ is a complete misnomer. To begin with, he is hardly at home, the work consuming a good 10-12 hours of a weekday. Secondly, he seems to believe that the house is an automated entity that cleans and repairs itself. It is messy when he leaves it in the morning, and neat and orderly when he returns. It is almost as if some fairy godmother has waved a magic wand over the place. Wet towels left on the bed have vanished, the dust on the dresser has disappeared and dirty breakfast dishes have been transformed into clean dinner plates. Yet, he has no curiosity about this magic and is completely oblivious to the finer
details of running a household. As a writer and consultant, I work out of home. The work part is conveniently forgotten and since I am at home, I usually end up taking care of the household chores along with typing out a client proposal, trying to think of the next plot turn for my novel and helping our daughter write a Hindi poem. Meanwhile, my husband works hard by hanging around in office trying to look busy in front of his laptop or catches up on sleep during long office meetings. While we both don’t literally have to get our hands dirty thanks to the domestic help available in this part of the world, I still try to involve my husband in crucial domestic decisions so he can feel that he is a part of the household. That is the least he can do by way of contribution. “What can we do to get the hardwater stains out of the bathroom tiles? Nothing is working.” I asked once. “Googleit,” he said helpfully, as though it were a new brand of high strength cleaner. “Should we buy a front-loading or a top-loading washing machine?” “Googleit.” “We need new curtains. Let us go
shopping this weekend. There is a sale on at Fine Furnishings.” “Googleit.” It was only when I yanked the iPhone out of his hands and said, “Maybe I should marry Google and move in with it” that he looked up and said, “D..uh?” His eyes had the glazed look that comes on when I mention anything that needs to be done around the house. When I finally dragged him to the furnishing shop, he spent most of the time on his phone, looking up and giving a thumbs up sign at every piece of cloth I showed him. Then after doing a harrowing shortlisting process on my own, I asked, “Should we go with the cream silk with peach coloured sheers that will go well with our furniture but could look dirty soon or the dark brown one which will not show the dirt but it might make the room look a bit dull?” “Whichever,” he offered magnanimously. I stomped out of the shop while he adopted an aggrieved long
It was only when I said, “Maybe I should marry Google and move in with it” that he looked up
Illustration: JAYANTO
NOVEMBER 25, 2012
suffering look. I recently moaned about this to a friend during one of our complainabout-the-husband sessions. “He doesn’t care about the house at all. It is as though he is a transient visitor who is only interested in the food. He might as well live in a hotel.” “Lucky you,” said the friend. “I have one who is obsessive compulsive about everything that goes into the house.” “But you are so lucky,” I insisted. “I know that your husband fixes all the electrical appliances himself, hammers nails for putting up pictures and he has even shared his secret recipe for making a cleaning mixture to get rid of grease stains on the kitchen chimney.” “Oh, you don’t know the half of it. He scolds the maid for not cleaning the fans properly and insists on doing it himself with me holding on to the ladder. He spots stray cobwebs that would escape the scrutiny of Sherlock Holmes. When others go abroad, they bring back perfumes and handbags for their wives. He goes to the supermarket and brings me a set of kitchen towels and a super-saver six-pack of Windex.” She wore the harried look of a long-term sufferer. “But that’s good, isn’t it.” I muttered. “That’s what you think. Five months ago, we decided to get new curtains. First he drew up a list of all shops in Gurgaon. Then we visited each one and collected swatches of cloth. He then made an Excel spreadsheet and compared different prices and material and decorative impact. He even interviewed my friends on their choice of material. Nothing seemed good enough. Now he wants to visit Delhi shops. By now, I don’t care if we have curtains. I want to live in a hotel.” I think I will go to Fine Furnishings and pick up those curtains... by myself. Nirupama Subramanian is the author of Keep The Change and Intermission. She is also a professional facilitator and coach in the area of leadership, change management and communication. After 17 years of marriage, she has realised that her efforts to change and coach her husband have had little effect
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CO ER ST ORY
lyrics to learn by heart if you are or have been in love
AI AJNABI - For when your true love is too far away for a quick hug
Ai ajnabi tu bhi kabhi aawaaz de kahin se / Main yahan tukdon mein ji raha hoon / Tu kahin tukdon mein ji rahi hai / Roz roz resham si hawa aate jaate kahti hai bataa / Resham si hawa kahti hai bata / Woh jo doodh dhuli masoom kali / Woh hai kahan kahan hai woh roshni kahan hai / Woh jaan si kahan hai From Dil Se. Lyrics by Gulzar
DON’T TURN AWAY, IT’S ONLY LOVE - For when your true love is too chicken to make the first move
Don’t close your eyes / Don’t hold it in/ Reach out to me / let it all begin Don’t be afraid, it’s only love / Only a touch that frees you / Let it release you Take the chance, it’s only love / Let it come through you slowly / Open your heart and show me / Don’t be afraid, it’s only love
twitter.com/HTBrunch
Be the life of the party. Be the one with all the answers. Be the one who starts the conversation. Be the one who knows what everyone’s talking about. Be in on the trends. Be in tune with the classics. Be on top of whatever is undergound. Be on board with the new, the hip, the cool and the crazy. Be the one who’s tried what’s new. Be the one who’s tried something retro. Be the one who’s done something with their time
Be the one who’ll try anything once, and you’ll...
NE ER BE
From The Scarlet Pimpernel. Lyrics by Nan Knighton
KABHI KABHI MERE DIL MEIN - For when you need to tell her that she’s the one, the only one
Kabhi kabhi mere dil mein khayaal aata hai / Ki jaise tujhko banaya gaya hai mere liye / Tu abse pehle sitaaron mein bas rahi thi kahin / Tujhe zameen pe bulaya gaya hai mere liye From Kabhi Kabhie. Lyrics by Sahir Ludhianvi
MAYBE I’M AMAZED - For when you’re feeling all grateful that she’s still in your life
Maybe I’m amazed at the way you’re with me all the time / Maybe I’m afraid of the way I leave you / Maybe I’m amazed at the way you help me sing my song / Right me when I’m wrong / Maybe I’m amazed at the way I really need you
AGAIN
drinks to order because your favourite fictional characters did
From the McCartney album. Written by Paul McCartney.
TERI AANKHON KE SIVA DUNIYA MAIN - For when she’s so beautiful it’s left you speechless
In mein mere aanewale zamane ki tasveer hai / Chahat ke kajal se likhi huyi meri taqdeer hai / Main hoon kahin inka saya mere dil se jata nahi / Inke siva ab to kuchh bhi nazar mujhko aata nahi From Chirag. Lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri
As reported by Amrah Ashraf, Mignonne Dsouza and Rachel Lopez
Carrie Bradshaw’s
The Famous Five’s
COSMOPOLITAN GINGER BEER
Summer picnics The famous with the Five journalist drinks (okay four, since these (1 ounce Timmy the dog vodka, 1/2 ounces does not like Triple Sec, 1/2 ginger beer) ounce lime juice, 1/2 ounce cranber- weren’t complete ry juice) all through without copious quantities of this the many seasons very British drink. of Sex & The City.
Precious Ramotswe’s Harry Potter’s
PUMPKIN JUICE
Butterbeer is sold only at the Harry Potter theme park, but pumpkin juice can be made just about anywhere. Drink up, and pretend you’re on the Hogwarts Express!
James Bond’s
VESPER MARTINI
Daniel Craig orders one in Casino Royale: “Three measures of Gordon’s; one of The owner of Botswana’s No. vodka; half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it 1 Ladies’ over ice, and add a Detective Agency drinks thin slice of this refreshing, lemon peel.” almost nutty tea that is native to Africa.
REDBUSH TEA
Photos: THINKSTOCK AND MCT
NOVEMBER 25, 2012
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books to make you sound intelligent at parties WOLF HALL and BRING UP THE BODIES Hilary Mantel
Both books won Bookers. Both make British history addictive. Both remind you that you don’t need a fantasy when you have fact (and Thomas Cromwell). Say stuff like: “Hilary Mantel wrote the second book in just five months. What discipline!” THE GREAT GATSBY F Scott Fitzgerald
The language, the slow unravelling of dreams and illusions, the romance and politics of the 20th century – it’s all there. Let’s hope the movie will be half as good. Say stuff like: “Fitzgerald captured a society and a set of young people; and he wrote them into myth.” BEHIND THE BEAUTIFUL FOREVERS
Katherine Boo
Everyone has an opinion on Ms Boo. They all want to know how
she got so close to India. Say stuff like: “After spending three years in India, she can see what we refuse to believe.” THE ORIGINS OF SEX Faramerz Dabhoiwala
In 1612, if you were found guilty of adultery in Westminster, you’d be stripped to the waist, whipped and banished from the city. By 1650, you’d be killed for it. Today, nobody cares. Dr Dabhoiwala explains how. Say stuff like: “The book is not about the origin of sex, but the evolution of the Western attitude to it.” SETHJI Shobhaa De
Her first novel in a decade. Has she changed with age? Have your tastes moved on? Say stuff like: “Oh, come on. Sethji is not Nitin Gadkari. Even fiction isn’t that daring, surely!”
books to curl up with, anytime A SHORT HISTORY OF NEARLY EVERYTHING Bill Bryson
Because Bill Bryson is the only guy who can make science fun, and by fun we mean ridiculously straightfaced observations about black holes, atoms and Earth. It is also profound in many ways. Finish it in a go and you’ll love every bit of it. THE KRISHNA KEY Ashwin
Sanghi
Why should racy historical thrillers or meaty fantasy sagas come only from the minds of Western writers? Ashwin Sanghi spins his yarns well, and leaves you breathless at every cliffhanger. No wonder his books are bestsellers. THE IBIS TRILOGY
Amitav Ghosh
TV series you should buy or rent and watch back to back YEH JO HAI ZINDAGI (TWO SEASONS; 1984)
This is the mother of all Indian sitcoms and they set the bar high. Ranjit Verma, wife Renu, the unmarried, unemployed brother Raja, friends, bosses, neighbours and crazy Bombay types all create hilarious situations and somehow get by. Ah, then there’s Satish Shah, playing a different character in every episode, spoofing one community one day, a profession the next, twisting the plot in a way no one’s done since. Of course, all this was back in the ’80s, when people put their fridge in the living room... VEEP (ONE SEASON; 2012)
Sue, did the President call? In the
world where Julia Louis-Dreyfus plays Selina Meyer – the Vice President of America – the big man never, ever calls. But there’s still plenty of fires to put out every day and lots of laughs for those of us watching. Selina gets a hurricane renamed so they don’t mistake her for disaster, she nimbly backtracks on her own machinations, she ad libs, she eats yoghurt on a bad stomach. And the rest of her team is just as good on their feet. Dreyfus won an Emmy for this role. You only have to watch the pilot to know why.
To be honest, Ghosh’s books were getting a bit weepy and repetitive. Then he threw the formula out of the window with an epic three-part take set against India’s opium trade and featuring characters no one would forget. Stay up nights reading Sea of Poppies and River of Smoke. Then lose more sleep waiting for the next book to come out. PERSEPOLIS – Marjane Satrapi
An autobiographical graphic novel, Persopolis is drawn in simple black and white. It is a story of 10-year-old Satrapi
around the time of the Iranian revolution. She’s smart for her age, funny, curious, perceptive and quite vulnerable too. MARIO DE MIRANDA
Who needs words when you have illustrations by Mario? This twokilo tome distils the cartoonist’s best work – from boyhood diaries to the unforgettable characters he created for local newspaper strips. Open a page at random. Pore over his wicked details. Laugh. You’ll never know where the evening went.
Photos: THINKSTOCK
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CO ER ST ORY
hindustantimes.com/brunch Breakling Bad
GAME OF THRONES (ONE SEASON; 2011)
The TV version of George RR Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire books is racy in more ways than one. It not only fits 700 pages into crisp, delicious episodes, but also features lots of nudity (most of it during key moments in the plot so prudish types can’t fast forward). Seven families fight for the control of the Iron Throne on the continent of Westeros. They resort to everything: beheading, incest, poison, sex and dark magic, and battle dragons, the undead, the winter and each other to survive. There’s no single hero and no way to predict what’s coming next. But you can’t tear your eyes away.
Downton Abbey
Dekh Bhai Dekh
Oh come on. You weren’t really paying attention to all the subtle details when they first aired the show in 1986. Or perhaps you were too young to pick up on the poverty, the hopelessness, the magic. All these make excellent reasons to watch the 39 half-hour episodes of RK Narayan’s stories. Swami is there – and so are his friends. But what’s also there is an India that may seem removed from our own, though not a bad place at all.
Malgudi Days
The genius Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network, West Wing, Studio 60, On The Sunset Strip) is behind this well-intentioned, slightly self-righteous show about a show. When news anchor Will McAvoy (Jeff Daniles) lashes out at a hapless student about how America isn’t the greatest country in the world, it sparks off the idea
Hey, everyone loved the Diwan family. And if you’re wondering who they are, then you probably shouldn’t be reading this. They were the perennially-in-trouble family with a penchant for humour in the popular ’90s sitcom. Starring Shekhar Suman, Navin Nishcol and Sushma Seth, the serial takes the viewer through the various ups and downs faced by the family and crazy things which can only happen to them. And man, they all spoke really fast. DOWNTON ABBEY (TWO SEASONS; 2010-2011)
Game of Thrones
THE WIRE (FIVE SEASONS; 2002-2008)
THE NEWSROOM (ONE SEASON; 2012)
foods so heavy but tasty they’ll make your doctor faint
DEKH BHAI DEKH (ONE SEASON, 1993)
MALGUDI DAYS (ONE SEASON, 1986)
First, the warnings: The Wire is violent. It’s filmed on location in run-down Baltimore using an ensemble of mostly non-actors who slur in their local accent. It demands a great deal of patience, attention and conscience. It will break your heart over and over. The show follows a police unit in a crime-riddled neighbourhood, their efforts to bring down a drug mafia using wiretaps and its impact on the rest of the city. Each episode, each season, builds on the previous – skip 15 minutes and you’re lost – which explains why the show became a cult hit only after it was released on DVD.
only one way to secure his family’s finances – by joining forces with the local drug peddler and using his chem genius to produce the world’s finest crystal meth. It is slightly ridiculous and completely illegal – the easy money is never quite so easy. Watch the show for its great writing, the shifting power dynamic and the acting.
Girls
Take one gorgeous English estate. Populate it with high-mannered aristocrats and their equally snooty servants. Throw in the news of the Titanic sinking, remind the family they’ve just lost the heir to the estate and watch everybody scramble. Then throw in WW1. Downton Abbey’s residents have secrets, odious personalities, alarming personal agendas and some very cunning tricks up their sleeves. It’s madly addictive, I dare say. Will you stay for tea?
PURAN POLI This sweet bread, traditionally made at festival time, is yummy and very high in calories. Guaranteed to make you roly-poly! KEEMA GHOTALA No one would dream of eating a keema that didn’t have an oily layer on top, despite its cholesterol content. So what happens when you stir an egg into the mix? Pure heaven, as the keema acquires the taste of fluffy scrambled egg. Add pao for a heavy, er... heavenly time! ATTE KA HALWA This is a mix of little atta, lots and LOTS of dry fruits, and copious amounts of ghee. And it is served piping hot, with an extra serving of ghee. Be still my healthy heart! MALPUA AND ICE CREAM You should really get a coupon for a health check-up when you attempt to eat a whole malpua by yourself. But add ice cream – and then maybe that dessert should come with a doctor in tow. BACON-WRAPPED PRAWNS How do you make a plate of freshly cooked prawns tastier? You individually wrap each one with a fatty sliver of bacon. So what if that also wraps each one with extra calories – you only live once, right?
GIRLS (ONE SEASON; 2012)
Veep
for a news show that, for once, reports the news instead of chasing ratings and advertising. Ex girlfriend Mackenzie McHale (Emily Mortimer) is producer and the team struggles with more than just the truth. Try to keep up. BREAKING BAD (FOUR SEASONS; 2008-2011)
When a broke, mild-mannered, high school chemistry professor learns he’s dying of cancer, there’s NOVEMBER 25, 2012
Close to the beginning (in the second episode, actually), twentysomething Hannah Horvath is at the gynaecologist’s, her feet in stirrups as she gets checked for signs of STDs. She says she’s kinda hoping she, y’know, does have HIV – so the fact that she’s educated, jobless, broke and trying to survive New York will cease to matter. We’re not sure she’s joking. Her three friends don’t fare much better – this is the flip side to Carrie Bradshaw’s NYC, where everyone’s struggling with life and love. “You couldn’t pay me enough to be 24 again,” says her doc. “Well,” she responds. “They’re not paying me at all.”
Photos: THINKSTOCK
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films you should watch because of their mind-blowing sex scenes Yes, they were having good sex on screen, even back in 1986. Kim Basinger gets it on quite kinkily on with Mickey Rourke right in the middle of the kitchen. There’s ice involved in one scene, jellies, berries and jalapeno in another, and even a rainy side street in another. The film is all about sexual control and complications. THE END OF THE AFFAIR (1999)
Where Graham Greene’s novel was staid, Neil Jordan’s adaptation sizzles. Ralph Fiennes plays a spurned lover, brooding over his affair with Julianne Moore. One particularly racy memory has them ripping the clothes off each other, racing home and hoping to make it to bed and be done before her husband gets home. They manage, just about – and she screams out her climax. Y TU MAMÁ TAMBIÉN (2001)
Life offers temptation enough when you’re a teenage boy. But
when you’re Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna on the road trip of your lives with the smoking hot Maribel Verdú, you might as well make the most of it. The woman sleeps with both of them, bonking away in her heels and bra. But she’s also nice enough to throw in an awkward three-way that the guys (and you, dear viewer) will always remember. FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH (1982)
Before high-school comedies became a genre. Before Sean Penn became a serious actor. Before proms became the high point of teen existence. Before handsome vampires, there was this hilarious movie. Don’t miss the scene in which one horny boy gives himself a treat in the bathroom, fantasising about his sister’s bikini-clad best friend. It’s more amusing than arousing. We like!
Stainless Steel Duck Shaped Fried-egg Cutter
Just be happy that you are getting a fried egg at breakfast. Who the heck wants it duck-shaped?
Banana Guard
A banana has a guard it’s called the peel.
Ducky
This ducky changes colour so you can test how hot your baby’s bath water is. We say, if you want to test the temperature of the water before giving your baby a bath, just stick your hand in.
Sheep Pyjama Case
When you’re not wearing your pyjamas, fold them neatly on the bed or hang them up. Don’t put them inside a fluffy toy, for God’s sake.
The Snuggie
A sleeved blanket to keep you warm when watching TV? If you just got off your butt, you would be warm enough.
WILD THINGS (1998)
A young Denise Richards and Neve Campbell get naked and make out with Matt Dillon. Then, the young ladies also get it on with each other. In a swimming pool. Many other things happen in this movie. But none of them matter. Photo: MCT
9 ½ WEEKS (1986)
totally useless things to buy
Indian films you should watch because India is like this only HERA PHERI (2000)
Three unemployed men get a call from kidnapper Kabira. Working on the classic jugaad formula, they actually manage to turn the game around, increase the ransom to keep the extra cash and give the rest back to the original kidnapper. ANDAZ APNA APNA (1994)
This one is a classic. Two unemployed conmen who dream of marrying Bollywood actresses, want to make a quick buck. They compete for the hand of an heiress and get
caught in a series of hilarious situations. DABANGG (2010)
Where else will you find a police officer called Chulbul ‘Robinhood’ Pandey, who is corrupt but fights for the poor, bashes 15 goons with a flick of a finger, all while stalking a woman and dancing like a fool on crack? PEEPLI LIVE (2010)
A poor farmer, Natha, wants to commit suicide
because of his debts. A news channel gets a whiff of it and bang, Natha is the newest sensation. Everyone wants to interview him and can’t stop discussing whether he will go ahead or chicken out. Will he give in or will he give up? MALEGAON KA SUPERMAN (2012)
The story of a small-town videographer who is obsessed with Bollywood. He makes spoofs of Sholay and Shaan and finds an audience. Then comes his superambitious project – Malegaon ka Superman. What makes it desi are the idiosyncrasies – the ingenuity in pulling off a superhero film in a village, orthodox villagers who won’t allow women to work, etc. brunchletters@hindustantimes.com
NOVEMBER 25, 2012
VA R I E T Y
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Photos: THINKSTOCK
A SWISS ARMY KNIFE
Because anything men can do… From tweezers to nail cutters, to saws, to scissors, to toothpicks, to bottle openers, to corkscrews, to flash drives – Swiss Army Knives have pretty much every tool you need for times when you wish you had a man to do the job. Oh, and it also files nails. Where: Pick them up from Basecamp stores and expect to pay between R500 and R5,000 and above, depending on the number of tools in it. Also available on www. flipkart.com
A GOOD CONCEALER
CULINARY SKILLS
Because it’s the biggest difference-maker Dark undereye circles and dull skin the morning after should be the last reason to stay away from a latenight movie or well, going at it all night long like an alley cat. A good concealer will cover up every shadow and breakout. Why should the world know what you did last night? Where: MAC Studio Finish costs R1,200. Maccosmetics.in
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Because instant noodles are not food Whether it’s a party you’re planning or a grand seduction, a woman who can whip up a concoction called Silky Panties, serve a mean Hyderabadi biryani for dinner and end the evening with a sinful Irish Bailey’s mousse cake will always come out tops. Spend an hour online and learn three cocktails, a one-dish meal in your favourite cuisine and dessert. Where: Check out www.foodily.com. It’s a one-stop shop for recipes
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A FIRE EXTINGUISHER
Because it’s not rocket science Modern extinguishers are user-friendly and light enough to lug to a small fire. Most models for the home and car require you to unlock, point and shoot. The one in your building lobby however, needs a bit of work. Read the instruction manual. Familiarise yourself with the canister. Who needs a superhero? Where: Naaptol.com sells home-use hydrants and extinguishers for R2,430
THE NEW RULES Bought that LBD, girls? Found your perfect red lipstick? Time to take things up a notch with new things you need …
by Sonali Kokra
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A CHANGE OF CLOTHES
Because first impressions matter Even though we’re all sympathetic of victims of sweat, a soaking wet shirt is hard to ignore on a first date, a business lunch or an office meeting. So keep a neutral change of clothes – something that works both in a corporate as well as a social setup – in your office or car for situations like these. Where: Source from your own closet. Don’t waste money.
BODY TAPE
BODY SHAPERS
Because a well-fitting bra can’t do everything. Even supermodels wear them. So why shouldn’t you? Shapewear smooths out unsightly bulges and holds it all in, so you look like a more toned, fitter version of yourself. Especially in that clinging dress you’ve shoved into the bottom drawer. Where: Triumph’s body shapers cost between R1,299 and R1,899. Buy online on Shoppersstop.com. Marks & Spencer’s shapers cost between R1,499 and R1,999.
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Because you decide how much to show the world Double sided tapes aren’t just for headline-seeking Hollywood starlets. They’re for that dress you never wear because of its plunging neckline, the blouse that keeps falling off your shoulder, that strapless gown that needs more than will power to stay put. Invest in a good hypoallergenic and waterproof one with a strong adhesive. Where: Hollywoodfashionsecrets.com, from US$8.99 (approx R470)
RATI RAHASYA OF KOKKOKA
Because you’ve already tried out the Kama Sutra Koko-what, you ask? It is the lesser-known female counterpart of the Kama Sutra – a how-to manual for pleasuring a woman’s body, depending on her age and the stage of life she’s in. Keep it on the bedside table and he’ll get the hint. Where: Amazon.com, for US$13.50 (approx) R720)
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“There are no good girls gone wrong – just bad girls found out” – American actress Mae West NOVEMBER 25, 2012
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THE REAL SHAH RUKH KHAN
Bollywood’s Badshah is no longer a prisoner of our expectations or of an image cultivated over the decades
Photo: RAJ K RAJ
NOVEMBER 25, 2012
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STILL REMEMBER the first time I met Shah Rukh Khan. It was around a decade ago and he was shooting for Karan Johar’s Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. I anchored a show called Cover Story on Star World and we were filming an interview with Amitabh Bachchan. Vir Sanghvi Because Bachchan and the rest of the cast were picturising the Shava Shava song, he suggested that Star might want to set up on a sound stage in the same studio. That way, it would be easy for him to give the interview. It was while waiting for Amit to finish doing the trademark toilet-flush action that came to characterise that song that a member of my crew had an idea. Why not ask Shah Rukh, who was already on the sets, to also give us an interview? By then, Shah Rukh was Bombay’s biggest star and the industry had begun to be corporatised. You did not simply go up to a major star and say something like, “Listen, we are waiting for Amitabh to be free. So why not come to the sets and shoot with us?” You went through legions of PR people, set up the dates in advance and never ever suggested that the set had actually been prepared for somebody else. To my astonishment, Shah Rukh agreed. “Give me a few minutes,” he said. And then, while the crew chatted among ourselves, we suddenly looked up to find that Shah Rukh had arrived unannounced on the sets and slid into the guest chair on the other side of the anchor’s table. We shot the interview in real time. I asked him about Hrithik Roshan, who everybody suggested would usurp his crown. Shah Rukh was respectful of Hrithik but insisted that he faced no threat from him. Then, considering that I did not know Shah Rukh at all and had nothing to lose, I hurled a grenade into the interview. At that stage, Bollywood insiders speculated that he was gay or, at the very least, bisexual. But of course nobody had asked him this to his face. I broke that rule and asked how he reacted to the rumours. He was momentarily surprised but then recovered and handled the question with aplomb. Later, when film journalists asked him about my question and my nerve in daring to ask it, he laughed about the incident. “I don’t know why Vir Sanghvi asked me that,” was a typical response. “Perhaps if I had said yes, he would have asked me out on a date.” Of course Shah Rukh was right about Hrithik. The film industry is big enough for both of them and for Salman and Aamir and many others. And over the years, as I have interviewed Shah Rukh again and again, I have always been struck by his confidence and his refusal to even entertain the possibility that things could go wrong for him. Last week, at the HT Summit, when I hosted a session with Shah Rukh and Katrina Kaif, I noticed that none of the confidence had evaporated. Nor had the accessibility. He is the one star I know who treats everyone in the same way and has no time for nakhras or attitude. Throughout our session, he was the Shah Rukh of old: easily approachable; willing to answer questions about anything; and well-mannered and chivalrous (he was extremely protective of Katrina Kaif who, he reckoned, did not have his experience at handling live sessions). And yet, I think Shah Rukh Khan has changed. I told him that he had matured
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DANCING STAR
The first time I met Shah Rukh Khan was around a decade ago and he was shooting for Karan Johar’s Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham beyond the days when he kept insisting that he was the best at everything he did. (“Even when I shave, I have to believe that I am the best shaver in the world,” he had once told me.) “Maybe,” he said. “But I am still the best.” And perhaps he is. But he seems older and wiser now. I asked him on stage about the public meltdowns, the assault on a film director, the fight at a cricket stadium, and the public quarrel with Salman Khan. On his own, without my having to use the phrase, he insisted that he was not going through a mid-life crisis. Nor was he under the influence of alcohol or any other substance when he had these altercations. So, why does he do it? And does he regret it? Short answer: he has no regrets. His assault was justified with a joke: “Three fights in five years is not so bad, yaar.” On Salman, he was uncompromising. Perhaps they will make up. Perhaps they won’t. But it’s something that will happen on its own when the time is right. He gave no indication that he had any interest in hastening the process. As for the incident at the cricket stadium, he left no one in any doubt that he believed he was justified in his anger. But, he said, it is not necessarily a good thing to show anger in front of kids. Even in the one area where I thought he would offer some soft words of apology – the shameful way in which his franchise treated Sourav Ganguly – he was completely uncompromising. He had not a single regret about the decision to first sideline and then drop Sourav. Many years ago, when I interviewed Shah Rukh for Brunch, I compared him to Tony Blair. It is said about Blair that he has never met anybody who he could not charm or win over. That’s true of Shah Rukh too. When he turns on the charm, he can usually get around pretty much anyone. But the Shah Rukh we saw at the HT Summit seemed to be the kind of guy who did not particularly care whether he could win over anyone at all. And he seemed to have lost interest in being seen as charming and likeable. His attitude was: this is me. This is who I am. Take it or leave it. I asked him about the transformation both on stage and later. His answer suggested that after 21 years at the top, he is wearied of trying to be all things to all people. He has got tired of seeming likeable. And the controversies have now exhausted him to the extent that after a point, he doesn’t really give a damn.
Obviously, Shah Rukh’s fans will have their own views on the metamorphosis. And there will be people who know him much better than I do (we journalists tend to make broad generalisations on the basis of interviews even though we often don’t see the private person when we talk to the public persona) who may dispute my assessment of the change in his personality. But frankly, I think it is long overdue. He is now in his mid 40s. He can no longer be every mother’s darling son and every teenager’s heartthrob. As he complained on stage, audiences still expect him to play the romantic hero even though he is past that stage. (At one point, he spread out his arms in that famous romantic gesture and said that people even expect him to brush his teeth in that position.) It’s not easy to be as omnipresent as Shah Rukh Khan is: in the movies; on TV; at live events; at cricket matches; and in every second ad campaign. Obviously, there will be a backlash. People will get fed up of seeing him everywhere. And critics may feel that the cute persona that made him famous has now begun to jar a little. So, I’m glad that Shah Rukh has decided to be his own man. If he is angry, he shows it. If he is upset, he talks about it. And if he’s insulted, he lashes out. He has always been honest in his interviews but all of us who heard him at the HT Summit were struck by his candour. As he said, “I decided on the plane to Delhi that I am not going to continue being diplomatic.” I much prefer him this way. He seems real and genuine. He is no longer a prisoner of our expectations or of the image cultivated over the decades. This is the real Shah Rukh: flesh, blood, anger, humour, and as always, that engaging intelligence. Photo: AJAY AGGARWAL
STILL FROM KABHI KHUSHI KABHIE GHAM
STAR POWER
Shah Rukh Khan gives a hug to his Jab Tak Hai Jaan co-star Katrina Kaif at the HT Leadership Summit NOVEMBER 25, 2012
Photo: REUTERS
CHARMED!
Many years ago, when I interviewed Shah Rukh for Brunch, I compared him to Tony Blair (above) who could charm or win over anybody
He was extremely protective of Katrina Kaif who, he reckoned, did not have his experience at handling live sessions
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WHY CHEAP TECH MAY KILL TECH!
While the contract between Google and these companies is super secret, there can only be one business model that works: Google asking the partner to give them at very low prices in exchange for huge numbers, with Google taking the complete hit for selling at low retail prices. The idea is to get people to buy these devices in huge numbers, get them completely invested into the OS and the ecosystem and make the money back from all the Google services used. The hardware partner gets all the benefits of economies of scale and also use up all that expensive investment they’ve made in huge infrastructure and factories.
Rajiv Makhni
G
Will OOGLE NEXUS devices and Amazon Kindle Tablets are state-of-the-art gadgets companies at impossibly low price points – there’s a big price to pay for us consumers in the long run. invest in innovation if THE $299 MARVEL The Google Nexus 4 phone is a complete sell out. they have to It’s got a nice form factor, a holographic patterned make millions toughened glass at the back, a 4.7-inch IPS display, of devices at 1.5 GHz quad-core processor (just about the fastest processor on a phone right now), 2GB RAM, a 1.3 low profits? megapixel front-facing camera and an 8.0 megapixel rear camera at the back. Add to this Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, HSPA+ and Bluetooth connectivity plus NFC that also works with Android’s ‘Beam’ feature. It can also charge wirelessly with an optional wireless charging Orb. And all of this for just $299. That’s totally state-of-the-art technology at an unbelievable price, right?
THE ON-FIRE FIRE
THE OTHER SIDE
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The Amazon Kindle Fire HD 7.0 and 8.9 have excellent hardware, great looks and fantastic screens. The 8.9 has a screen resolution of 1920x1200 plus Dolby audio. They are also cheaper than any similar tablet by at least $150. And the previous generation Kindle Fire is now retailing at just $159. Sales of all three have gone through the roof. Amazing, that we can get so much hardware for so less, right?
THE NEXUS OF AMAZEMENT
MADE ON CONTRACT
The Google Nexus 4 (top) is built by LG, the Galaxy Nexus 10 (above) is built by Samsung
The only tablet to take on the Amazon Kindle Fire HD 7 and beat it at its own game is the Google Nexus 7. While it was already a price and performance leader, Google just upped the ante with an upgraded version while keeping the price the same, $199. And the all-new Nexus 10 tablet takes high-end tablets to a whole new level with an incredible screen, eye-popping resolution (the best in the world as of now) and great performance. The Google Nexus series of tablets are bestsellers wherever they’ve been released. It’s awesome for consumers to be able to afford top-of-the-line tablets without breaking their bank, right?
NO, IT ISN’T!
Unfortunately, the long-term answer to all three questions asked above is: no, it’s not awesome and no, it’s not amazing! Welcome to a whole new world of technology where it’s not about hardware and costs and prices based on a bill of materials. This is all about selling hardware and making money off the usage of services and content consumed after. Welcome to the allnew world of Subsidised Tech. SMART PLAN
The Kindle Fire is designed to make sure that you buy e-books, music and movies from Amazon only. That’s where it’ll make its money from you
THE HOW AND WHY
NOVEMBER 25, 2012
WHY SHOULD ANYBODY CARE?
As a consumer, if you can get a top-of-the-line, stateof-the-art, no-compromise tablet or phone at half the price, why should you care about internal business models of various companies and the how and what of their devices? It’s because this subsidy model in the long run will kill innovation. Today, a smaller tablet has no chance of selling if it’s priced over $199! Will a company make huge investments in new breakthrough technology or expensive R&D if it knows it can’t recoup it? What if a company with a great product doesn’t have a content or services revenue model? How will it sell at a competitive price and keep a healthy balance sheet? What about new companies trying to get a foothold in this business? Aren’t they going to be blown out of the water as they can’t subsidise and sell below cost? Even now most of the brands Google partners with are able to give them fantastic new products as they’ve all spent money on technologies and innovations in the last few years and Google is reaping that benefit. But will these companies pour in new money to carry on innovating and investing in greater infrastructure if they know that they have to make millions of devices at very low profits? Each of these brands have their own similar products out in the market and each of them know that they are priced much higher. Aren’t they going to cannibalise their own brand sales in the long run?
Ask yourself: what do we really pay for when we buy a new device or gadget?
So, how do Google and Amazon sell hardware at such incredible prices? Well, Google contracts it to other big brands. For instance, the Google Nexus 4 phone is built by LG, the Galaxy Nexus 7 is built by Asus and the Galaxy Nexus 10 is built by Samsung. And it seems there are many more such ‘partnerships’ coming up, with Huawei, Acer and Sony also rumoured to be making future Nexus products.
Amazon, on the other hand, is doing more or less what Apple does. It sub-contracts its production of the Kindle Fire HD to companies like Foxconn that make it for them. But that’s where the similarity ends. While Apple then tacks on a nice premium and profit, Amazon may well be selling at a substantial loss. Amazon’s hardware strategy is a pure play-content-seller business model and the way the Kindle Fire is designed is to make sure that you buy e-books, music and movies from Amazon only. That’s where it’ll make its money back from you. While Apple also makes oodles of money from content sale, it’s still a sideline for them and making a healthy profit from hardware is critical.
THE FUTURE OF TECH IS IN YOUR POCKET
At the end, we all have to ask yourselves: what do we really pay for when we buy a new device or gadget? We buy it for the thrill of new innovation, that jaw-dropping sensation of experiencing tech magic take place in front of our own eyes. If subsidised tech had taken place 20 years ago, we may never have seen a flat TV, a tablet or a smartphone – and would have been using a much cheaper priced landline telephone set and a much cheaper fat CRT TV. Maybe, paying a little premium, an extra $50 for an out-of-the-box device, isn’t asking for too much. After all, the future of tech may well depend on it! Rajiv Makhni is managing editor, Technology, NDTV and the anchor of Gadget Guru, Cell Guru and Newsnet 3. Follow Rajiv on Twitter at twitter.com/RajivMakhni
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SECOND TIME AROUND
I have a soft spot for New Orleans and for the music of that city. And Treme 2 is full of that music
BRING THE HOUSE DOWN
Photo: COURTESY FACEBOOK, DAVID Y LEE
Once they get going, New Orleans band Galactic can make things very lively with their funk and jazz jams
T
’ve not really enjoyed the Dave Matthews Band’s (DMB) later studio albums as much as I have their earliest ones. I can put Under the Table and Dreaming (1994), Crash (1996) and Before These Crowded Streets (1998) on repeat and make them my soundtrack for the day, anytime. I can’t really say the same about their later albums. But when it comes to live shows, the band is great. There is one in particular, The Central Park Concert (2003) that is brilliant. It makes a difference that musicians such as Warren Haynes and Butch Taylor (the former is a guitar genius and the latter, a keyboard maven who was earlier with Matthews’ band) jammed with DMB on that gig.
Sanjoy Narayan
HE BOX set comprising the entire second season of Treme had been lying on my bedside table for months without being watched. One reason for that was, of course, time. Watching a box set can become an addiction and even if you start by watching the first couple of episodes, before you realise it, you’ve spent the entire night, eyes glued to the television screen, watching the entire truckload of episodes and, in effect, killed any prospect of functioning normally at work the following morning. The other reason for not breaking open Treme’s second season box was very different: not too many people in my household find the storyline of Treme – how different individuals in New Orleans were coping after Hurricane Katrina destroyed and upended their lives, livelihood and relationships – as compelling as I do. I loved the first season. And finally, after an endless marathon Diwali day bout of watching the second season, I have resolved to acquire the box set of the on-going third season, which I am sure will be available once that season is over. One of the main components of Treme – as also of my reason for liking it – is the soundtrack. New Orleans is all about music and, as I had mentioned in an earlier column (see Download Central, April 8, 2012) where I’d written about the soundtrack of the first season, music plays a very important role in the storyline of the series. Many of the protagonists, including the main character in the series, trombonist Antoine Batiste (played by Wendell Pierce), are local musicians. Having visited the city a couple of times and interacted with a few of the local musicians, I have a soft spot for New Orleans and, of course, for the music of that most un-American of American cities. And Treme is full of that music. In the soundtrack of the first season, there are performances by and recordings of local brass bands, R&B and soul musicians, and blues and Cajun bands. The soundtrack of the second season is even better. There’s Galactic and The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, two of the city’s bands that have national and international popularity. Those familiar with Galactic’s funk and jazz jams know how lively that New Orleans band can make things once they get going; and The Dirty Dozen Brass Band tweaks traditional New Orleans brass band music by adding bebop and funk into it. In their nearly 30-year career, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band has also collaborated with a variety of other acts, including English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello, jam-band Widespread Panic and American indie-rock band Modest Mouse. On Treme 2, the band plays with Galactic on the funky track, From the Corner to the Block (off Galactic’s
Photo: COURTESY FACEBOOK
The soundtrack in the second season of Treme is even better than it was in the first
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download central
TREME IT LIKE YOU MEAN IT
THE JUKEBOX
FUNK IT UP
The Dirty Dozen Brass Band tweaks traditional New Orleans brass band music by adding bebop and funk
2007 album with the same name). Other well-known New Orleans musicians feature on the soundtrack – Dr John, whose latest comeback album Locked Down (produced earlier this year by Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach) is a brilliant piece of work; The Radiators, a New Orleans band with a bouncy R&B and rock-infused sound that is their unique trademark; and Kermit Ruffins, the affable and fun-loving trumpeter whose shows often end with him hosting a barbecue for his audience. Even though I was familiar with these and a few others, such as The Rebirth Brass Band and Steve Earle, the Texas musician who straddles many genres, including folk and American and rock and roots (Earle even acts as a street musician who gets shot in the series), there were quite a few new intros I got to people I hadn’t heard before. The Iguanas are a band that plays on the Treme 2 soundtrack and although they’re from New Orleans, their music has big Latin influence. You could say it’s Latino music with a New Orleans’ groove and, as the track they play in the series, Oye, Isabel, demonstrates, it makes for a heady blend. The other musician on Treme 2 that I discovered (and I wished I’d done so many years earlier) was the city’s pianist, Henry Butler. Blind from glaucoma, Butler follows in the tradition of his city’s great jazz pianists (James Booker, Jelly Roll Morton and so on) and is known for his versatility. His piano on Mama Roux, a Dr John track is wonderful. Among the other discoveries there were: The Subdudes, a rock band that fuses folk with R&B and Creole music such as Zydeco and who instead of a drummer and percussionist, use a tambourine; Jon Cleary, a British born but New Orleans settled pianist and funk musician; and Tom McDermott, also a pianist but in jazz and one who’s also a music journalist. So, all said, I had a good Diwali – a long-pending run of Treme’s entire second season, which was a chance to get back in touch with a city that I like very much with the additional bonus of great music from there. To give feedback, stream or download the music mentioned in this column, go to http://blogs.hindustantimes.com/download-central, follow argus48 on Twitter
NOVEMBER 25, 2012
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SEXISM RULES, OK?
Misogyny is so deepseated in our society that it has even passed into the language
CHARM OFFENSIVE
Paula Broadwell (above), biographer-turned-mistress, brought David Petraeus (right) down from the heights of heroism with her ‘feminine wiles.’ And Jill Kelley (below) set off the controversy by complaining to the FBI
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T DIDN’T take very long for the media coverage of the General David Petraeus affair to veer off into the well-trodden realm of misogyny, did it? There was the initial dismay about how another idol turned out to have feet of clay. There was some tut-tutting about how men will be men. There was much shock and horror expressed about how a former four-star general and director of the CIA could be stupid enough to be caught with his pants down. And then, with a certain inevitability, the attention turned to the women caught up in this sorry mess. There was Holly Petraeus, the wronged wife, said to be incandescent with fury but still standing by her man. There was Paula Broadwell, biographer-turned-mistress, the temptress who had brought the Great Man down from the heights of heroism with her feminine wiles. And then there was Jill Kelley, the other Other Woman, who had unwittingly set off the controversy by complaining to the FBI about some threatening mails that Broadwell – who believed Kelley was getting too close to Petraeus – had sent her. (Phew! You really couldn’t make this stuff up.) To illustrate this little morality play, we were provided helpful colour pictures of all the protagonists in this sordid drama. Holly Petraeus, the weary, unglamorous spouse, looking every one of her near-60 years. Paula Broadwell, all toned arms and perfect figure, showcased in clothes so tight that they could well have cut off her circulation if she wasn’t such a champion athlete. And Jill Kelley, smokyeyed and sultry in designer togs that showed off her enviable legs and tiny waist. The sub-text was clear. What chance did poor old Petraeus have against the combined charms of Broadwell and Kelley? How could he possibly resist their blandishments – especially given what his poor, old, greying wife looked like? And just get a load of how these sirens are dressed, drawing all eyes to their pert derrieres and perky breasts! Which man could possibly stay chaste and faithful to his marital vows in the face of such an assault on his defences? It’s familiar territory, really. It’s the same song whenever a powerful man is caught doing someone who isn’t his wife. He gets off as someone who gave in to temptation; the Other Woman is stigmatised as NOVEMBER 25, 2012
Photos: GETTY IMAGES
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Seema Goswami
LIFE AFTER THE INFAMY
After the White House scandal, Monica Lewinsky became a byword for sexual incontinence while Clinton has re-emerged as a President-maker at Obama rallies
the one who lured him away from the straight and narrow. Clearly, the narrative hasn’t changed very much since the Original Sin. The apple never falls far from Adam and Eve, and that age-old tale of women luring men to their downfall. And in keeping with these misogynistic double standards, while the men are rehabilitated in public life after a decent interval, the Scarlet Women who ‘tempted’ them are consigned to the shadows to live out the rest of their lives in disgrace. Just compare how Bill Clinton came off after the White House scandal to how Monica Lewinsky fared. Her life was ruined with her name becoming a byword for sexual incontinence while Clinton has re-emerged as a President-maker, milking the applause at Democratic election rallies for Barack Obama. Back home in India, while our leaders manage to keep their sexual shenanigans out of the media, their deep-rooted misogyny is played out in full public view. When Congress leader Digvijay Singh wants to poke fun at Arvind Kejriwal for his daily ‘exposes’ he doesn’t compare him to, say, Salman Khan, who has a propensity to rip his shirt off at the slightest provocation. No, he says Kejriwal is like Rakhi Sawant, who also ‘exposes’ but has no ‘substance’. Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav patronisingly explains to rural women that they will not benefit from the Women’s Reservation Bill because they are not attractive enough (unlike women from affluent families). BJP chief minister of Chhatisgarh Raman Singh holds forth on how good-looking women are contributory factors in causing road accidents (“If there is a good motorcycle, a good mobile and a good girlfriend, then accidents are bound to happen.”). Congress minister Sri Prakash Jaiswal tells us that as a wife gets old with time, she loses her charm. Women in public life are routinely subject to misogynistic attacks and jibes. While Mamata Banerjee is derided for her crumpled saris and Hawaii chappals, Mayawati has to face jibes about her penchant for pink and designer handbags (damned if you don’t; and damned if you do). But then, what can you expect from a world in which even Indira Gandhi was dubbed the “the only man in her Cabinet”, as if it were a compliment of the highest order when it was anything but. The sad truth is that misogyny is so deep-seated in our society that it has even passed into the language. Sexist remarks have become such a part of our daily vocabulary that we trot them out without even registering how offensive they are. When we want our sons to toughen up, we say, “Don’t be such a girl.” When we think someone isn’t facing up to a situation with sufficient grit, we ask him or her to ‘man up’. And then there’s that old chestnut: “Oh for God’s sake, grow a pair!” Honestly, it’s enough to make you want to aim a well-directed kick at them instead.
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seema_ht@rediffmail.com. Follow Seema on Twitter at twitter.com/seemagoswami
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MIND BODY SOUL
SHIKHA SHARMA
FESTIVE FIT
T
HOUGH DIWALI is over, everyone is still busy partying (the weather’s so good!). And this is going to contine for several weeks. All this involves socialising, copious amounts of drinking and binge eating. But, there are ways to balance things out. Chalk out a plan and follow it night after night of partying. The first thing you need to do is count your calories. But don’t starve your body, give it all the essential nutrients. RIGHT PROPORTION The key aspect of right eating is early satiety. Make a diet plan that lets you feel full while lowering your calorie intake. Don’t lower your food intake. Just eat low calorie food that is rich in fibre to feel full for a long time, such as: ■ White oats upma or dalia along with vegetables like bottle gourd, onion, tomato, beans. ■ Baked vegetables like capsicum, cabbage, onion and mushrooms. ■ Whole wheat bread, oat bread or whole wheat pasta. ■ Brown rice poha. ■ Roasted murmura and chana chaat with cucumber, tomato, onion. DON’T MIX THESE These foods should not be combined while partying. ■ Sugar and alcohol Combining sugar with alcohol leads to digestive problems as both are dense in calories. While drinking, you must steer clear of sweets such as mithai, cake and biscuits, or give sufficient time between the two for best results. ■ Fried food and alcohol Alcohol is rich in calories and when consumed with fried foods, increases the calorie intake. This leads to weight gain and hyperacidity. Also, prolonged intake can lead to a sluggish liver. ■ Fruits and food Sugar in fruits is absorbed faster than the complex sugars in
food. Sugars in food needs to be broken down in the mouth and the stomach and are tougher to process. Have them at separate times. ■ Melons Don’t combine melon with any other food item – fruits, vegetables, meat or starch. Melons are basically made of water and get digested immediately. Other fruits like bananas take more than an hour to digest. Therefore, if you were to combine the two, the melon would rot in your body before it is digested. Either eat it alone or don’t eat it at all. STOP BINGEING Bingeing is characterised by a period of overeating. You may diet for a long time but if you binge after that, you will gain weight. During festivals, people don’t eat throughout the day, only to binge at night. Tips to curb binge eating ■ Eat three meals a day. Snack only if you’re hungry. ■ Eat when hungry. Stop when full. ■ Eat any food you want but in controlled portions. ■ Learn to manage stress. ■ Rate your hunger (physical hunger and psychological hunger). SOLUTION If you have already binged, then it's time to start a detox plan. This plan will get rid of bloating, support your liver, cleanse your intestine and eliminate water retention. Here’s what you should eat. ■ Oats porridge. ■ Milk with Isabgol to control your appetite. ■ Muesli and yoghurt. ■ Stir-fried vegetables with less salt. ■ Fresh fruits. ■ Vegetable dalia. ■ Drink green tea, jasmine tea or chamomile tea. ■ Drink triphala, amla, aloe vera juice. WATER BABY Consume two to three litres of fluid every day, although your body’s fluid requirement depends on your day-to-day activity. It plays a role in every body’s function.
Eat low calorie food that is rich in fibre to feel full for a long time
ask@drshikha.com
Photos: THINKSTOCK
NOVEMBER 25, 2012
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HIGH NOTES
Photo courtesy: RON WYMAN
BOMBINO’S BEST
Shifting Sands African singer and guitarist Bombino’s electrifying music will remind you of golden deserts – and of Jimi Hendrix. And you can now hear him in concert in Delhi by Rachel Lopez
L
ISTENING TO Bombino’s Mahegagh, it’s not hard to imagine yourself somewhere at the edge of the Sahara at dusk. Or at Woodstock. Or both. The 32-year-old musician from Niger sings of solitude, loss and longing in his native language and style. But halfway in, vocals give way to a guitar that tells an entirely different tale. Rhythmic reverbs and sharp long notes recall an Arabic oud (lute) as well as Jimi Hendrix in the final hours of the 1969 festival. You’re in two places at once. You’ll have plenty of opportunity to transport yourself as Bombino brings his guitar to the Amarrass
Desert Music Festival in Delhi this week. The festival has been organised by the Amarrass Society for Performing Arts, a group dedicated to celebrating and preserving folk music. You’ll remember them as the ones behind the fantastic Manganiyar Seduction concert in Delhi two years ago. They also gave India a chance to hear the Malian singer-guitarist Vieux Farka Touré last year and produced Mitha Bol, an album of Rajasthani folk sounds to much critical acclaim. This year’s edition of the festival goes deeper into the desert with artists like Bombino, whose own NOVEMBER 25, 2012
DESERT STORM
Bombino, the 32year-old musician from Niger, spreads his message of peace
musical journey is entwined with the sandy dunes of his homeland.
STRIKING A CHORD
Born Omara Moctar in a camp of nomad-warrior Berbers called Tuaregs, Bombino’s life changed forever when, at 12, a Tuareg rebellion in Niger forced him and part of his family to flee to Algeria. This was where the boy picked up a new instrument – the guitar. His skills followed him back home a few years later, earning him a spot with a band and the moniker, Bombino. Moctar’s father, however, disapproved of his son’s inclinations, and Bombino, 16, left Niger once more. This time for Libya. “I first saw a Hendrix video [there],” Bombino recalls. “We watched a lot of rock artists’ videos at that time. I was the most impressed with Jimi because he was so free. I’ve learned to let myself get lost in the music and just trust my guitar like
Tar Hani In this song about separated lovers, the lyrics ask a lover to Put my heart and yours together everywhere you go. Bombino’s guitar starts out smooth, but builds up into a frenzied, haunting solo that proves why he’s called the Jimi Hendrix of the desert. Ahoulaguine Akaline I greet my country, where I left my sisters and my beloved, and you know that my soul is already burning, sings Bombino. Iyat Idounia Ayasahen The singer cautions against seeking wealth, as it sets two friends apart. The song is about how life can separate friends. Mahegagh What shall I do against this endless solitude. It is located in the bottom of my heart. And lives on it every moment. Solitude is a frequent theme in Tuareg poetry, as the nomads spend time far from home. Use “Bombino + Niger” as your keyword to find these songs on YouTube or Amarrass.com
it is playing itself. Jimi showed me that this was possible.”
NEW NOTES
A youth spent mastering guitar licks while herding animals near the Tripoli desert meant that Bombino was already a popular musician when he returned to the city of Agadez in Niger. His first album became a local hit, bringing with it gigs and a chance to record a desert blues version of the Rolling Stones’ Hey Negrita with Keith Richards and Charlie Watts in 2006. “To me
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“There is less violence in Niger today, but there is always a danger of it returning”
Other acts you just can’t miss
BARMER BOYS
M
angey Khan (vocals, harmonium), Mangu Khan (dholak), Bhungar Khan (khartal) and Rais Khan (morchang, bhapang) are only in their 30s, but bring with them the centuries-old musical tradition of the Manganiyar people. The two-year-old group is a leading example of Rajasthani folk and sufi music, though they blend styles as diverse as Marwari wedding songs, qawwalis and beatboxing. The critically acclaimed group has performed alongside Vieux Farka Touré, Mamadou Diabaté, Rupa & the April Fishes, and UK’s Jason Singh – Dharohar Project. Their debut album comes out on Amarrass Records in December 2012
they were just strange old guys,” admits the musician. “It was only later that I learned that they were huge rock stars. I didn’t believe it.” He didn’t believe his luck later that year either, when Angelina Jolie ended up using him as her guide to the region. “A friend stole a kiss from her. He was the only one brave enough. The rest of us were too shy,” he says.
Photo courtesy: FINDLAY KEMBER
AN ARTIST IN EXILE
SAKAR KHAN
BABA ZULA
adma Shri awardee Sakar Khan doesn’t play in public very often. But when he does, the 76-year-old grandmaster of the Manganiyars is a treat to hear and see. Khan plays the kamancha, a near-extinct bowed instrument with a goat-skin soundbox and three main gut strings with 14 metal strings. It harks back to the lost bowed Raba’ab of Central Asia and its roots back almost to the eighth century. Khan himself has performed with Yehudi Menuhin and George Harrison and held audiences rapt in the USA, France, Japan and the erstwhile USSR. An album, At Home with Sakar Khan, was released by Amarrass Records earlier this year.
event Akman, Murat Ertel and Cosar Kamçi make up this 16-year-old Turkish alternative group. Their unique psychedelic sound (which they pretty much invented) combines traditional Turkish instruments, electronica, reggae and dub, with the core sound coming from the saz, a Turkish stringed instrument with a bright, high-pitched sound. They’ve performed across Europe, at festivals in Denmark, Bulgaria, Belgium, Italy, Germany, Poland and the Venice Biennale. They’ve also been featured in Fatih Akin’s documentary Crossing The Bridge about Istanbul’s music scene and have released seven albums to critical acclaim.
But in 2007, another rebellion broke out. Bombino joined the Tuaregs in the struggle only to see fellow musicians get killed. It was time for exile again – to Burkina Faso and another surprise. Filmmaker Ron Wyman who’d spent the last year looking for him took Bombino to Cambridge to record an album, Agadez, featuring songs that honoured Tuareg culture, the hardships of youth and love. By the time they returned to Niger to complete it, the Tuaregs had surrendered and been allowed to return. Bombino played a concert at the base of the Grand Mosque of Agadez for over a thousand people, all celebrating peace.
SOUNDS OF CHANGE
P
Bombino’s mission is simple – to help the Tuaregs secure peace and their cultural heritage. “I am a soldier of peace, not of war,” he says. “There is less violence in Niger today, thank God. But there is always a danger of it returning. We can never relax and say ‘OK, the war is over, we can go back to our old ways’. That is why I sing about peace and brotherhood.” And the people are definitely responding. “The shows in Niger – they are crazy,” he explains. “It’s chaos a lot of the time. The stage gets crowded with people dancing. Outside Africa, the crowds do not know the music in the same way, they do not understand the words. But by the end of the show, they understand the spirit of the music and let it transport them to Agadez.” rachel.lopez@hindustantimes.com
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AND MORE...
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he Amarrass people will also be organising classes on how to play the morchang and khartaal with Rais Khan and Bhungar Khan of Barmer Boys; morchang making by Mohan Lal Lohar; singing and guitar lessons by Alan Rego; a display of antique and rare musical instruments from Jaipur, and an “instrument petting zoo” that encourages kids and adults to touch, feel and try unusual instruments like the djembe and khartaal.
MAKE SURE YOU’RE THERE! WHAT: The Amarrass Desert Music Festival, essentially 14 hours of world music from Asia and Africa over two days WHEN: December 1 and 2, 3pm to 10pm WHERE: Zorba, Mehrauli-Gurgaon Road (next to Sultanpur Metro Station) FOR MORE INFO: Visit amarrass.com or call 4666 1200 Photos courtesy: ANKUR MALHOTRA
“Music doesn’t lie. If there is something to be changed in this world, it can only happen through music” – Jimi Hendrix NOVEMBER 25, 2012
PERSONAL AGENDA
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Driving a racing car at 200 or 400 mph Hitting six sixers in one over
Cricketer
Cheteshwar Pujara BIRTHDAY January 25
SUN SIGN Aquarius
HOMETOWN
Rajkot, Gujarat
SCHOOL AND COLLEGE
FIRST BREAK
Lal Bahadur Shastri Vidyalaya, Virani High School and RM Chhaya High School, Rajkot. Doing a BBA by correspondence
Cricketers you look up to. My idols have been Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly. I happened to share the dressing room with the legendary Ricky Ponting during the IPL. Punter (Ponting) likes to help young cricketers. We spoke about how to cut and pull, and he gave me tips on how to play on Australian wickets. How do you feel about being compared to Rahul Dravid? It is a big, big compliment. Dravid has scored more than 10,000 runs in both One Day and Test formats. If you weren’t a cricket player, what would you would have been? A businessman. Being a
Back in 2006, when I won the Man of the Series honour after scoring close to 350 runs in the under-19 World Cup
HIGH POINT OF YOUR LIFE
My first unbeaten double century, against England last week
LOW POINT OF YOUR LIFE
Losing my mother at the age of 17. It was really heartbreaking
CURRENTLY DOING
Playing at No.3 for India in the Test series against England
Gujarati, I like to think entrepreneurship runs in my blood. Also, I’m pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. What was it like to be born in a family of cricketers? My father (former Ranji player Arvind Pujara), who has coached me since I was a child, has been a huge inspiration. He used to coach young players every day including Sundays.
Your biggest extravagance... I like the idea of a staying in a well-appointed home. I also love gadgets. I have owned a BlackBerry phone and an iPad in the past and am waiting to buy the new iPhone. Your favourite travel destination. Cape Town in South Africa. It
YOUR FAVOURITE HOLLYWOOD STAR?
Johnny Depp in the Pirates of the Caribbean series NOVEMBER 25, 2012
has the unbeatable combination of balmy weather, mountains and the Atlantic Ocean. Also, Capetonians are sporty people who love the outdoors. Your favourite Bollywood actor. Amitabh Bachchan has been my favourite ever since I watched Sholay as a child. What can you live in? Jeans and T-shirts. I own close to 10 pairs of denims. The last line of your autobiography would read... Trust in God and be honest… What makes your day? A good workout and saying my prayers are an ideal beginning to my day. Also, listening to Lata Mangeshkar, particularly her bhajan O Palan Hare. It also happens to be my caller tune. What ruins it? If I get out early on the field. No batsman likes getting out. Your mantra for success? I train hard and keep a positive outlook. You have less than a minute to pack, what do you take? My wallet, phone and credit card. The car you drive? Fiat Linea. — Interviewed by Aasheesh Sharma
Photo: THINKSTOCK
biggest fantasies