lifestyle living by Ankur Jain

PAINTING URMI DUTT

this

(&) that news 8 glamour and grace 14 She acted in a movie depicting a rags-to-riches saga. Her own rise to fame has been equally awe-inspiring

March 2009 | www.lifestyleliving.in

NEWS EVENTS

TAYLORMADE-ADIDAS GOLF OPENS FLAGSHIP STORE The new Adidas retail golf store encompasses over 1600 square feet and will provide a complete golfing experience for customers and tourists, alike. The shop boasts amenities such as a full-swing golf simulator, SelectFit technology on which customers can choose to play and get themselves custom-fitted. TaylorMade Adidas Golf is one of the world’s leading providers of golfing equipment, including golf clubs, balls, clothing, shoes and accessories. TaylorMade was founded by Gary Adams in 1979. Adams was the first to promote the use of metal drivers, and in doing so, completely revolutionised the golfing world. Since then, Taylormade-Adidas Golf has remained a pioneering force and tireless innovator, and has become the most popular brand of golfing equipment in the world today.

STARS REVEAL THEIR COLOURS L’Oreal Paris Excellence Crème has launched a brand new colour collection, called Colours of the Stars, with four glamorous fashion shades being endorsed by four gorgeous movie stars. “Triple protection, perfect grey coverage and rich, long-lasting colour. Does your hair colour do all that?” asks the ad campaign. L’Oreal Paris introduces the Excellence Crème Color of the Stars, with the promise of triple protection. The new Excellence cream is a home-use crème colourant that offers three-way protection–protects the hair before, during and after colouring. Apart from being the number one in home colouration, the colour of the stars also gives a sophisticated glamorous look. Now flaunt those dazzling tresses which will surly make heads turn. Excellence Crème New Colors of the Stars will be available in four new shades along with the existing 11 shades at all L’Oreal Paris counters, select retail outlets and chemist stores across India from April ’09 onwards. In this collection, L’Oreal Paris Excellence Crème also launches a brand new shade endorsed by the stunning Aishwarya Rai, one of the global brand ambassadors of L’Oreal Paris. Shade # 4.25, called Aishwarya’s Brown, is a gorgeous brown colour with rich mahogany tones–perfect for Indian hair and skin tones.

LUXURY BED-MAKER HASTENS LAUNCHES OPERATIONS IN INDIA Hastens, one of the world's leading luxury bed-makers, recently announced the launch of its operations in India. The company, in association with M/s Syamanthaka Lifestyle Products (P) Ltd., would be inaugurating the first Indian showroom in Hyderabad on July 27, 2009. Hästens later plans to open 10 stores in various cities across the country over the next two years. The 156-year-old company has its manufacturing unit in Köping, Sweden. A Hästens bed costs anywhere between Rs 250,000 and Rs 3500,000. Craftsmanship and quality are two keywords at Hästens, with beds still being crafted by hand, using only natural filling material. Since 1952, Hästens has been the supplier of beds to His Majesty, the King of Sweden.

March 2009 | www.lifestyleliving.in

NEWS EVENTS

PUMA UNVEILS SPRING SUMMER '09 COLLECTION PUMA, the lifestyle sports brand, has unveiled its Spring Summer 2009 Collection of apparel, footwear and accessories. It includes PUMA’s vintage sport fashion, inspired by sporting greats, and the edgy gym wear for women. Celebrating its ten-year association with Motorsport and Ferrari, PUMA has introduced the Furio in true Ferrari red–a must-have for diehard F1 fans. This collection draws inspiration from the Olympics, with the eight-lane graphic being prominent throughout the range. Popularised by Usain Bolt himself, this range is a mix of both performance and lifestyle products. The colour scheme of this range consists largely of blacks and greys, but with bright yellow highlights. PUMA Sailing is the Sailing Collection, consisting of comfortable and casual summer wear, whether one wants to go yachting or just have a casual evening out. Soothing blues and greens dominate the range, along with bright reds and pinks. With its Motor Sport collection, PUMA marks ten years in motorsport. Taking its association with Ferrari to a new level, it has introduced Furio, a sexy and bold shoe. For Ducati fans, PUMA goes back to the street with its Street Cruiser with Ducati Monster details. For women, there’s PUMA Women-Knock Out, combining fitness gear with femininity. The collection combines fitness and performance wear with feminine colours and styles, to make one the hottest person at the gym.

MONTBLANC ‘SIGNATURE FOR GOOD' Montblanc hosted a high-profile charity gala at Paramount Studios in Hollywood recently, with the cooperation of Signature International, to present the cultural and charitable initiative Montblanc Signature for Good, in support of UNICEF. The Montblanc Signature for Good initiative features the portraiture photography of American photographer Roger Moenks to benefit UNICEF's education and literacy programmes, including internationally-known actors Emily Blunt, Marcia Cross, Andie MacDowell, Helen Hunt, Lauren Hutton, Milla Jovovich, Jessica Lange, Eva Longoria, Sienna Miller, Christina Ricci, Susan Sarandon and Mira Sorvino, who support this initiative. The event honoured the involvement of 12 great actors who feature in the initiative and their willingness to support UNICEF in its work to give proper access to education. During the champagne reception, the 12 portraits signed by the muses were unveiled to the public in a spectacular way: each actor being reunited with her own portrait. The portraits will now go on an international tour in cooperation with Sotheby's, before being auctioned in support of UNICEF. Special guests taking to the stage to show their support for the charity initiative included Bollywood star Anil Kapoor, in town for the Oscars.

FLAUNT THAT TOTE Gucci handbags from the Spring 2009 Collection are out now. They come in blues, greens and purples. The Gucci 211929 Voyager Tote Bag, for instance, is a classic bag with double handles, luggage tag and soft pleats. It comes in black, violet, blue or nero leather. There’s light goldtone hardware as well as black leather with silver hardware. It also has a top handle with rings and zippocket details, a hanging luggage tag, an inside zip and zip pocket as well as a cellphone pocket. And, of course, the trademark Gucci crest.

March 2009 | www.lifestyleliving.in

NEWS EVENTS

PARIS HILTON ON A SHOPPING SPREE The American heiress, who has vowed to wear only clothes designed by US fashion designers in a bid to help her country’s economy, has further said, in a selfmocking tone, that she would help the struggling economy and give the retail industry a boost by continuing her excessive spending. “The (economy) is really scary right now. So, I’m playing my part by doing a lot of shopping,” she said.

‘WATCH’ OUT, SRK! Sharing space with Olympic medallist-boxer Vijender Singh and Formula F3 winner Karan Chandhok at a recent event for the launch of TAG Heuer’s Carrera Calibre watch was Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan. In typical fashion, Shah Rukh entertained the crowds present by throwing a friendly punch at the boxing champion. TAG Heuer, part of the French luxury goods group Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy (LVMH), is aiming to capture 10 per cent of the premium watch marketshare out of the USD250 million Indian market.

ONE-OF-A-KIND SPA The spa experience will be taken to the next level with the forthcoming launch of the One&Only Spa in Cape Town, South Africa on April 3. This exclusive and unparalleled spa retreat is located on One&Only Resorts’ private island at the heart of Cape Town. An oasis of serenity surrounded by water and lush vegetation, One&Only Spa offers tailored holistic experiences, including signature wellness‘journeys’. Local African influences and contemporary design will be visible at the spa. Managed by the award-winning ESPA brand, One&Only Spa encompasses 12 treatment rooms, private wet areas for both singles and couples, two vitality pools with air massage recliners, naturally-lit sauna and aroma-steam rooms, and showers with three different kinds of water settings. Other facilities include a hair salon, two beauty suites and the celebrated Bastien Gonzalez pedicure and manicure studios.

March 2009 | www.lifestyleliving.in

CELEBRITY FREIDA PINTO

glamour and grace She acted in a movie depicting a rags-to-riches saga. Her own rise to fame has been equally awe-inspiring RADHIKA RAVI RAJAN THE PRETTY anchor of Zee International Asia Pacific’s travel show Full Circle, which aired from 2006-2007, had her share of loyal fans, but no one could have predicted such an awesome future for the diminutive Freida Pinto just two years down the line. Her big-screen debut as Latika, the female lead in British Director Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire, has already fetched her incredible fame. After the Golden Globes and BAFTA, and being voted Best Actress at the 2009 Elle Style Awards in London, her latest red carpet appearance was at the recently held Oscars. Although she did not win a nomination, she was the cynosure of all eyes. Post-Oscars, she’s the Cover Girl of both Vogue and Cosmopolitan in their India editions, and features with her Slumdog co-star on the cover of People (India) magazine. Famous photographer Regan Cameron shot her in the Big Apple for the Vogue cover, which portays her as the quintessential diva. Pinto is not new to the cameras, of course. She has in her kitty numerous ad campaigns, besides earlier being on the cover of Femina and Femina Girl magazines. She has also worn Wendell Rodricks’ clothesline for Lakme Fashion Week 2006; done a fashion show for Deepika Gehani; promos for MTV, History Channel; Sahara, NDTV Imagine and Pakistan TV; a live press demo for Chanel; a calendar shoot for Manmeet Bhatti as well as a shoot for the music video Dil Vog. After Slumdog Millionaire won the People's Choice Award at the Toronto Film Festival, Freida Pinto, along with Dev Patel, who plays the male lead Jamal in the film, were slated as the next Julia Roberts and Richard Gere (co-stars of the iconic Hollywood movie Pretty Woman). Everyone , of course, is by now familiar with Slumdog Millionaire, the UK production based on the popular reality show How To Be A Millionaire. Her journey began with the casting director and co-director of the film calling her for an audition, followed by rigorous months of screen tests by Danny Boyle for the role of Latika.

As the awards came her way, Freida rose to the occasion by shimmering on the many red carpets, each time choosing an outfit that revealed her excellent taste as well as her imaginative choice. Seeing her posing on the red carpet, oozing glamour and grace, one found it hard to imagine that till yesterday, she was just the girl-next-door from a Mumbai suburb. For the Oscars, she wore a royal blue, one-shoulder John Galliano beaded dress with lace sleeve, and a 100-year-old ring slipped on to her finger. At the 66th Golden Globes awards, the 24-year-old chose an off-shouldered Christian Lacroix couture gown. She took everyone’s breath away by her unerring choice, as the dress looked tailormade for her. Then came BAFTA, the British film awards, for which she chose a strapless and frilly baby-pink gown by Oscar de la Renta. Later, at the BAFTA/LA Awards Season Tea Party, she wore a custard-yellow Derek Lam creation. Viewers hadn’t seen anyone looking half as good in yellow before, in a sea of black gowns. At the Screen Actors Guild Awards, her dress was a pale blue flowing gown with halter neck by Marchesa. At the Director's Guild of America Awards, it was a Zac Posen sizzler. At the Producers

March 2009 | www.lifestyleliving.in

Guild Awards, she chose to wear a coral-shade gown by Donna Karan.How does she do it? Obviously, good taste is not the prerogative of a few. Just a film old, and Freida is already a fashionista. And definitely, it’s got as much to do with an inner confidence as her Jimmy Choo shoes. When it comes to clothes, she says, “You have to love what you’re wearing to really pull it off.”Fans would love to know that Freida Pinto is a Libran, born on 18 October. She describes her success thus: “This industry is for fighters and those who do not give up. It is very important to believe in yourself. Even when a hundred people rejected me, I did not lose hope, and finally, one of the biggest directors of all times believed in me. “

PAINTING URMI DUTT

wowing the world 18 Valencia's flamboyant opera house intends to put Spain's third-largest city on the global architectural map my bmw , my canvas 22 Painting a car, especially an iconic BMW, represents individuality like no other, and many artists have indulged in this expensive hobby travel kingsize 28 Travel back in time on Karnatakaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s luxury train, Golden Chariot, which takes you to a land of palaces and treasures

(n)carve 16

March 2009 | www.lifestyleliving.in

ARCHITECTURE CITY OF THE ARTS AND SCIENCES

wowing the world Valencia's flamboyant opera house intends to put Spain's third-largest city on the global architectural map KAMAL GILL THE ARCHITECTURALLY stunning Valencia Opera House, officially opened by Queen Sofia of Spain, has undoubtedly become a symbol of the city of Valencia just as the Sydney opera house is an icon for Australia. Appropriately, it is named for the Queen as “el Palau de les Arts Reina Sofa”. For the acclaimed Valencia-born architect Santiago Calatrava, the Valencia Opera House was the final triumph after 14 years of dedication to the building of the $400 million City of the Arts and Sciences in the city of Valencia, Spain's third-largest city. El Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia, to give it its Spanish title, is of such a unique design that it looks like a blend of seagoing vessel and spacecraft, coated with gleaming tiles that give its outer surface a daytime and night time luminosity similar to that of Sydney's Opera House. The other three buildings of La Ciutat de les Arts i les Cienies complex are L'Hemisferic, Museo de las Ciencies Principe Felipe (both designed by Calatrava) and L'Oceanografic (designed by the late Felix Candela). Describing the project, Calatrava said, "Because of the time spent, its size and because it involves music, this project is the most intense and one I've devoted most time on, so far. It represents a correlation between spectator, musician and artist." The actual building is a masterpiece of modern architecture and descriptions of it have varied from “a futuristic, gleaming, seagoing vessel and spacecraft” to a “giant warrior's helmet”. The roof or 'feather plume' consists of two 'shells', which embrace the building on the outside. The opera house is actually part of a larger complex

designed by Calatrava in collaboration with Felix Candela, and is an impressive example of contemporary architecture. Called the City of Arts and Sciences, a 400m complex, constructed on the old dried-up Turia riverbed, it features a planetarium and a science museum. The Palau de les Arts Reina Sofa creates an avant-garde facility as a venue for the performing arts and makes use of the most modern technologies, taking on the image expected of a ground-breaking, state-of-the-art facility, and standing out as a cultural catalyst. The setting of the building is all important, as it stands in over 87,000 metres of gardens with 10,000 metres of reflecting pools and interlinked surrounding paths. The building itself is over 70 metres in height and has a total floor area of around

Above: Museo de las Ciencies Principe Felipe; Right: Palau de les Arts

40,000 metres. The roof or 'feather plume' is the most structurally spectacular detail, 230 metres in length and consisting of two 'shells' which embrace the building on the outside. These are constructed of laminated steel with an approximate weight of 3,000 tonne and feature delicate mosaic ceramic work (trencads) on the outside which, along with the white concrete, gives the outer surface of the building a day-time and night-time luminosity. The roof is held up by two supportsâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;one at its western end and the other in the midsection, with the eastern end of the roof totally projecting.

Explaining the concept, Calatrava said, "It was designed with the dual intention of acting as a multi-hall auditorium and creating a striking urban landmark for the city." The opera house resembles a ship with round portals, or the cracked shell of an egg in which the main auditorium itself is the yolk. The most eye-catching features are two narrow sheaths that seem to billow atop the oval base like an abstract feather or ribbon blown upward by the wind. Calatrava's innovative design will also allow spectators to watch rehearsals through glass panels and enjoy the view from the boat-like opera house's â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;decksâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. The nautical theme ties in very

ARCHITECTURE CITY OF THE ARTS AND SCIENCES

well with the setting of the building in the Turia riverbed and its closeness to the ocean. Surrounded by attractive streams and pools of water, the surrounding areas of the "city" are typically used as a relaxing place to walk, day or night, with an open-air bar outside El Museu de les Cincies Principe Felipe during the evening (especially during events). The four halls of the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofa allow productions of all genres to be realised; classic and contemporary art with a wide range of activities to attract audiences who are keen to enjoy top artistic renditions. Through the artistic, organisational and economic synchronisation of the four areas forming the complex–the Main Hall, the Amphitheatre, Master Room and the Chamber Theatre–a consistent, unitary and innovative programme in the highest artistic category is provided. The building is capable of seating up to 4,000 people in three different halls (three events can occur simultaneously). In the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofa, music acts as a point of reference for the performing and plastic arts, literature and cinema. This overall treatment of music and its broadest

milieu requires the strictest demands, which in turn, demands the presence and collaboration of the best contemporary creative minds and artists in the world today. Like the other buildings in the city of Arts and Sciences, the Palau will have a didactic approach, thanks to an educational programme designed to foster musical culture in order to attract the new generations. The intention is to involve schools with visits to the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofa and involving one of the Palau's halls in the education project of music as a schooling subject, apart from organising guided sessions of opera, ballet and other lyrical expressions to allow performances to

be more fully understood. L'Umbracle is the portico of entry to the City of Arts and Sciences, a green zone of free access of 7,000 square metres, 320 metres of length and 60 metres of width. A succession of 55 fixed arches and 54 floating arches of 18 metres of height shape L'Umbracle. Climbing plants provide shade along the whole landscaped walk and give L’Umbracle the aspect of a XIX century "Winter Garden". L'Umbracle receives under its cover a great variety of plants of different species chosen by their form and colour as they change colours along with the seasons of the year. Nowadays, L'Umbracle has 50 floral autochthonous species of the Comunidad Valenciana, selected by its

Clockwise Top: L'Hemisferic, L'Umbracle; Right: L'Oceanografic

climatological adjustment. The careful distribution of flowers provide harmony of forms and colour, among which stands out red, yellow, orange and violet. The garden is surrounded with 99 palms, 78 small palms, 62 bitter orange trees, 42 varieties of shrubs of the Valencian community, such as rockroses, lentiscos, budleias, dusters or plumbagos; 16 Don Juan de Noche's plants; 450 climbing plants, among honeysuckles and hanging bougainvilleas; 5.500 carpeting plants such

as Lotus, Agateas, Lantanas and Aptemias, and a hundred fragrant plants like Rosemary and Lavender. The bougainvillea, of course, is the piece de resistance. An open-air oceanographic park offers a number of restaurants, the most interesting designwise being the Submarino Restaurant, positioned right in the middle of the park. The restaurant is surrounded by eight Perspex tanks housing 10,000 pelagic fish. It seats 120 people and provides high-quality dining. There are also shops offering souvenirs and stores catering to

tourist requirements like photographic items, caps, rain capes, etc, besides a locker that you can hire to store belongings. Underneath the terraces of the Dolphinarium is the newest theme-store of the complex: La Trastienda del Delfn, where the friendly dolphin lends his image to every product. The El bazar del RTICO recreates the Arctic marine environment, based on the species that live in the different habitats shows: beluga whales, walruses and penguins are featured on hundreds of articles.

AUTOMOBILE CAR ART

my bmw , my canvas Painting a car, especially an iconic BMW, represents individuality like no other, and many artists have indulged in this expensive hobby

March 2009 | www.lifestyleliving.in

RADHIKA RAVI RAJAN ANDY WARHOL, the late American painter and conceptual artist, led the movement that came to be known as pop art. His avant-garde art also featured on one of his favourite possessions–his BMW. The artist is believed to have painted the entire car himself rather than leave the work to assistants. "I love that car," Warhol said. "It has turned out better than the artwork... I have tried to give a vivid depiction of speed. If a car is really fast, all contours and colours will become blurred," he said. Warhol was a trailblazer. In 1976, Frank Stella, an American artist and a passionate motor-racing fan, was commissioned to create

the second BMW art car: a BMW 3.0 CSL coupé. Visualising his BMW art car concept, the American artist switched gears from his usual random style of painting and sought inspiration for the vehicle’s technical aura. The result: a black and white square quid reminiscent of oversized graph paper. Within this grid, pattern-like, dotted lines ran across the bodywork, suggesting that Stella may have wished to cut out the car and reassemble it in a new shape. "My design is like a blueprint transferred onto the body work," Stella remarked. Jenny Holzer, of Ohio, in 1999, painted an open-cockpit V12 LMR, decorating it with

AUTOMOBILE CAR ART

phrases like "Protect me from what I want" and "You are so complex you don't respond to danger". As Holzer put it, the messages "will probably never lose their relevance." The expression of her concept of ‘word art’ is based on traditional features, colours and graphics of the racing car design. Chrome letters made of reflecting metal foil, outlined with phosphorescent colour, give the text an almost magical light effect. Her brand of art has also been interpreted to mean much more, especially when viewed from the context in which it is used–on one of the most spectacular cars in the world, participating in motor racing. In fact, Holzer's V12 LMR took one back to the root of car art: Le Mans. Remember the Gulf Porsche 917K in which Steve McQueen raced in the movie Le Mans 9? At the request of his friend, race-car driver Hevré Poulain, American sculptor Alexander Calder designed the first of the BMW Art Car series on the 1975 3.0 CSL. The Philadelphia-born legendary artist began his career as an

March 2009 | www.lifestyleliving.in

engineer. But art soon won over engineering, the former being in his blood–Calder's father and grandfather were both sculptors. When Calder moved to Paris, he came into contact with the avant-garde scene. Drawn to both art and technology, he developed a uniquely individual style with a buoyant, whimsical effect. The painted BMWs–termed as “mobile sculptures”–combined Calder's love of art with his knowledge of engineering. His most famous works of abstract art, titled Mobiles, were viewed as the most innovative sculptures of the 20th century. Japanese artist Matazo Kayama, in designing the 1990 BMW 535i, wanted, on the one hand, to express his fascination for BMW technology, and on the other, evoke vivid associations with modern-day Japan. To express himself, Kayama affixed tiny pieces of silver, gold and aluminum foil to the car body. Olafur Eliasson, the contemporary artist, was commissioned by BMW in 2007 to create the 16th art car

AUTOMOBILE CAR ART

for the BMW Art Car Project. Based on the BMW H2R concept vehicle, Eliasson and his team removed the automobile's alloy body and instead, replaced it with a new interlocking framework of reflective steel bars and mesh. Layers of ice were created by spraying approximately 530 gallons of water over several days upon the structure. On display, the frozen sculpture seems to be glowing from within. Called Mobile Expectations, it was put up on special display in a temperature-controlled room at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art in 2008. The 1977 320i Group 5 that Roy Lichtenstein worked on, debuted at the Centre Pompidou and was driven by HevrĂŠ Poulain and Marcel Mignot at Le Mans 24-hour race, finishing 9th overall and first in class. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I wanted the lines to be a depiction of the road, showing the car where to go," Lichtenstein said. "The design also shows the countryside through which the car has travelled. One could call it an enumeration of everything a car experiences... only, this car

AllMarch Photos: 2009 Courtesy | www.lifestyleliving.in the BMW Group

reflects all of these things before actually having been on the road." David Hockney painted a 1995 850 CSi with what he imagined inside it: the silhouette of a driver on the door and engine manifolds on the hood. The artist's creation displays a stylised, abstract landscape. "Travelling around in a car means experiencing landscapes," said Hockney, "which is one of the reasons why I chose green as a colour." Then, there was Cesar Manrique, who used glowing colours and sweeping strokes on a 1990 730i; Robert Rauschenberg who, in 1986, used photographic techniques to adorn a 635 CSi with Bronzino's Portrait of a Young Man and a painting by Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres. The Rauschenberg car was the first not to be driven or raced but intended solely as a work of art. From art cars to Bond films, the BMW has continued to maintain a relationship with the arts. This form of art continues to be applauded at events and exhibitions; such as the Tate Modern, the Royal College of Art, and Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Frieze Art Fair. Students of Vehicle Design at the Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Royal College of Art have also tried their hand at designing genuine BMW parts.

INDULGE STYLE TRAVEL

travel kingsize Travel back in time on Karnatakaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s luxury train, Golden Chariot, which takes you to a land of palaces and treasures LL BUREAU THE GOLDEN CHARIOT is a luxuriously appointed train with the finest facilities, offered by the Indian state of Karnataka, that takes a visitor to historically significant places across the state. The voyage, lasting seven days and seven nights, unveils empires, unlocks priceless treasures, unravels secrets, and takes one back to a time when luxury was the byword. The train departs from Bangalore, travels through Mysore, Kabini /Bandipur, Shravanabelagola, Belur/Halebid, Hampi, Badami, Pattadakal and Goa, finally concluding at Bangalore.

With its 18 thematically designed coaches, The Golden Chariot spells luxury in its every feature. Its 44 cabins are equipped with modern amenities like wi-fi, plasma TV and attached baths. Yet, there is a blend of the modern with the classical. The cabins are inspired by the Mysore, Hoysala and BelurHalebidu schools of art and architecture, with the furnishing, including the bedspreads, hand-woven by state artisans. The luxurious bed spells royalty, reminiscent of the ones used by the Mysore maharajas. As you lie on the bed, you can admire the intricate carvings on the ceiling. For an unforgettable culinary tour, the train has two restaurants as well as a bar on board. Madira , the mythical drink of the gods, is the name of the lounge bar, which boasts of the finest collection of wines and spirits. As you savour your favourite drink, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s music and performances by local artisans. While on the journey, you may take the time to relax and rejuvenate at the onboard spa, Arogya. The gym is state-of-the-art, housing the latest equipment. It comes with a changing room, a steam bath and two shower rooms. After a spa, visitors are sure to be ravenously hungry. Choose from Nalapaka, named after the legendary chef from the times of the Mahabharata, the great Indian epic, and Ruchi, meaning fine taste in Sanskrit. The two restaurants serve a spread of vegetarian and non-vegetarian culinary delights. The Golden Chariot traverses Karnataka through Bangalore, Mysore, Kabini/Bandipur, Srirangapatna, Hassan, Belur, Halebid,

Shravanabelagola, Hampi, Vittala Temple, Stone Chariot, Badami, Pattadakal, including the neighbouring state of Goa, finally culminating at Bangalore. The journey begins in Bangalore, traditionally a city of gardens and lakes, and better known today as a city of silicon millionaires. The city was founded by King Veera Ballal, who named it Benda Kalooru (after the common dish of boiled beans). Kempegowda, a feudal lord of the Vijayanagara rulers, built the four towers that defined the city limits during the Middle Ages. Next stop is Mysore. This imperial city of palaces was the capital of the Wodeyars. Mahishur, as it was called then, traces its roots in ancient mythology. Today, Mysore is a vibrant city with a mix of the quaint and the modern. Then come Belur and Halebid. Halebid, a little temple town 27 kilometres from Hassan, boasts of one of the finest Hoysala temples. The twin Shiva temples are built on a platform. Belur, the epicentre of Hoysala architecture, is famous for its temple complex. The Chennakeshava temple is the main attraction, which was completed in 1116 AD and took 103 years to finish. Shravanabelagola is famous for its colossal monolithic statue of Gommateshwara, important to Jain pilgrims. The statue, chiselled out of a single piece of rock, stands 58 feet tall, and is visible from far. Hampi, today a World Heritage Site, was once the capital of the glorious Vijayanagara empire. The ruins of Hampi still speak one language: the language of glory and beauty.

March 2009 | www.lifestyleliving.in

Badami, the capital of the Chalukyas, is famous for its caves. Situated picturesquely at the mouth of a ravine between two rocky hills, it has four cave temples hewn out of sandstone. The most popular of its caves has Lord Shiva in 81 different dance poses. Known as the place where the early rulers of Karnataka came for their coronation from all over the country, Pattadakal is also known as Kisuvolal (red town) due to the red sandstone found in abundance here. It is located 22 kilometres from Badami. The journey includes a stopover in Goa, the land of sandy beaches, carnivals and fests. Here, old Portuguese villas stand, flanked by palm trees. One of the most famous sights in Goa is the Basilica of Bom Jesus, located in Panjim, the state capital. It is the location of the tomb of St Francis Xavier and was built in 1605.

PAINTING URMI DUTT

(s)cape la dolce vita 32 What do Angelina Jolie, President Sarkozy, Britney Spears, Tiger Woods and George Clooney have in common? They all love luxury yachts past perfect 38 Virginia City, Nevada, US, is a destination that links not just people but past epochs, like a bridge suspended in time

March 2009 | www.lifestyleliving.in

LUXURY YACHT YACHTS

March 2009 | www.lifestyleliving.in

la dolce vita

What do Angelina Jolie, President Sarkozy, Britney Spears, Tiger Woods and George Clooney have in common? They all love luxury yachts

LUXURY

YACHT INDIRA LAUL YOU WAKE UP in the morning to the soft swish of waves beneath; and as you stretch out amidst the soft folds of the Sferra Coletti sheets, your gaze is rivetted towards the window and the mesmerising rise and fall of aqua-coloured waves in a seemingly endless expanse of blue. Is this for real, you wonder? You take the steps to the upper deck and the view blows you over. The balmy sea air takes a grip on you, and out of nowhere, a liveried gent appears with your favourite Dom Perignon. You’re spoilt for choice here–should you join the bikini party a little further on deck, or relax in the jacuzzi, or perhaps, try your hand at jet skiing? Welcome to the sweet life… Be treated like a god aboard your chartered private luxury yacht. Indulge in the lifestyle of lavish luxury, dine under the stars with sumptuous meals, be pampered by your

own personal chef and served by your own steward in complete privacy and serenity. It’s true, owning a luxury yacht is the prerogative of a privileged few, but that doesn’t stop you from chartering one from wherever you happen to be, or from any part of the world where there’s a large expanse of water. For instance, you’ll find them in plenty in the Mediterranean and Caribbean Seas, though increasingly, luxury yachts are cruising in remote parts of the world as well. And over the last decade or two, there has been an increase in the number and popularity of large, private luxury yachts. With the increase in the demand for luxury yachts there is conversely an increase in custom boat building companies and yacht charter brokers. Luxury boat building and yacht charter companies are majorly

INDIA AND THE YACHT CONNECTION Industrialist Gautam Singhania’s tri-deck yacht Ashena is on sale in Mumbai. It is India’s one-and-only indigenous luxury yacht, crafted wholly in Burma teak. Steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal’s yacht Amevi, which was launched at the end of 2006, is 262 ft long and was built by Oceanco. Also in 2006, Indian Empress, one of the largest private yachts in the world, measuring over 311ft, and commissioned as Al Mirqab, was completed at the Oceanco yard in Holland, after having its hull assembled in Durban, South Africa. The yacht was owned by a Qatari Royal Family member who then sold the yacht to Indian billionaire Vijay Mallya in 2006. Indian Empress is powered by three 10,000-hp MTU 20-cylinder engines, and has three propellers enabling it to reach speeds of up to 24 knots. Its cruising grounds include the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean. Mallya also owns Indian Princess, a 181-ft motor yacht, built by Sterling Yacht & Shipbuilders in Japan in 1986. And not to be outdone is Anil Ambani, who gifted his wife Tina Ambani a luxury yacht, Tian, made in Italy, which cost him Rs 400 crore.

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Some mind-boggling statistics of the giga yacht include the enormous fuel tanks that hold 750,000 litres of fuel, letting its owner stay out at sea for an amazing 15,000 nautical miles. The yacht is equipped with everything you would need to live a charmed life on your very own private floating island for five years

LUXURY YACHT

based in the US and Western Europe but are also found in Australia, Asia and Eastern Europe. European manufacturers such as Ferretti, Azimut, Azimut-Benetti, Feadship and Lürssen dominate the very top end of the yacht-building market. The moniker “luxury yacht” first found its way into 20th century lexicon when uber-rich individuals constructed large private yachts for their own personal pleasure. Early luxury motor yachts include Christina O and Savarona; and early luxury sailing yachts include the famous Endeavour (US) and the legendary British yachtsman, Sir Thomas Lipton’s Shamrock. Also renowned is The New York Yacht Club, which has hosted many luxury sailing yacht events at Newport, Rhode Island. Some privately-owned yachts are exclusive to their owners, but others operate through the year as charter businesses; still

others are privately owned but available parttime for charter purposes. The weekly charter rate of luxury yachts around the world ranges from a high US $848 373 to around US$25 624. Vincenzo Cannatelli, ex-CEO, Italian yacht manufacturer Ferretti, spoke to Reuters about how fuel prices may be soaring and consumer spending languishing, but that hasn't stopped the super-rich from acquiring the ultimate status symbol: the luxury yacht. Luxury yachts usually start at 32-35 feet in length and increase from there. The term "mega yacht" usually refers to a yacht that is more than 100 feet in length. For a yacht to achieve "luxury" or "super" status, it must be at least 200 ft in length. A new breed of luxury yacht–the giga yacht–is making its appearance in the world of nautical craft. Wally Island, the first of the giga yachts, is well over 300 feet and has a 59 feet-wide deck

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to accommodate a huge garden area. Giga yachts may not be the largest yachts ever made, but they’re certainly the greenest. The main deck generally consists of a swimming pool, a beautifully landscaped garden and the foliage of your choice. The gardens are kept healthy and green by an onboard irrigation system. The interiors are as impressive as the outside; the five accommodation decks include a saloon, dining room, library, cinema, a spa and fitness centre. The large and spacious bedrooms could house up to 40 crew members and 24 guests. Some mind-boggling statistics of this yacht include the enormous fuel tanks that

luxe resort with every facility possible. It has all the toys–a top-of-the-line jacuzzi, water skis, scuba and snorkel gear, ski biscuit, skurfer, kneeboard, volleyball set-up, beach tent and games. Lady Z has one king and two queen staterooms with single berths. The yacht charters in Leeward Islands and Virgin Islands in the winter and in Mediterranean locations such as the French Riviera, Gulf of Naples and Sardinia in the summer. Lady Z is just one of many luxury yachts that provides excellent service; the gourmet fare is extravagant and unparalleled to that of any commercial cruise line. And what of the people who own these luxury vessels? A yacht is really like a large

yacht, Eclipse, said to be nearing completion, comes equipped with a yellow submarine which can dive to 160 feet below the water in case of pirate attack, has missiles, two swimming pools, two helipads, several on board tenders and a side door which opens in dock to release a fleet of limousines. Rising Sun, ranked fourth in the world for size, is often called the largest yacht in the world, and is owned by American software tycoon Larry Ellison. The largest Saudi royal yacht, the Prince Abdulaziz, was owned by King Fahd and has, most likely, been taken over by his successor King Abdullah. The longest yacht available for charter is the ninth-ranked Savarona, but the eleventh-

Says Milton Pedraza of the Luxury Institute: People are more interested in collecting experiences than products, which is why yachting is popular in the first place. Indeed, this new crew is keen on living and doing rather than just having, on being enriched, not merely rich. They want to be participants, not just spectators. They're looking for that completely different experience, that one-of-a-kind thing hold 750,000 litres of fuel, letting its owner stay out at sea for an amazing 15,000 nautical miles. The yacht is equipped with everything you would need to live a charmed life on your very own private floating island for five years. Clearly, luxury yachts are a lifestyle thing. They provide the ultimate in gourmet fare and service and have attracted the most talented chefs from across the globe, contributing to some vacationers’ most memorable travel experiences. Take the Lazy Z–it’s a 165-foot luxury motor yacht charter that’s typical of luxury yachts. Staying aboard the Lady Z is like staying on a floating 5-star

custom-built home and therefore, a yacht typically tells you something about its owner. No one yacht resembles the other. They are individually designed by the best designers in the world and then hand-built by skilled craftsmen. The interiors are fashionably classic, retro or stylishly modern. When it comes to stylish extravaganza, Roman Abramovich rules the roost. Abramovich, a private citizen of the UK and one of the world’s top billionaires, is also the world’s greatest spenders on luxury yachts. He has a fleet of five boats which come under the banner of “Abramovich’s Navy.” His newest

ranked Alexander can accommodate more passengers. Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft, owns Octopus, currently the world’s eighth largest super yacht. Measuring 414 feet, Octopus sports two helicopters, a swimming pool on the upper deck, two submarines, one operated by remote control for staying at the bottom of the ocean, plus side hatches at the water line from a dock for jet skis. Al Said, a luxury yacht owned by Sultan Qaboos of Oman, was constructed in 2006 and was named Project Sunflower. It is currently the world's second largest super-yacht.

TRAVEL VIRGINIA CITY

past perfect Virginia City, Nevada, US, is a destination that links not just people but past epochs, like a bridge suspended in time KAMAL GILL TRAVELLING TO distant places always creates a sense of connect. Long after the visit, there is always a memory to revive the experience, a sense of belonging anytime a mention is made of the destination. In that sense, travel bonds people and places forever. Virginia City, tucked away in the hills and mountains of Nevada, is the locale of the iconic Comstock gold mines, made memorable by Hollywood’s Wild West movies. There are cowboys and cowgirls, sheriffs and horse carriages, original streets and saloons, even the familiar strumming of the guitar of the Cowboy West era, loved and relived endlessly in Hollywood films. This town could well be the one-horse town of western classics, complete with shop hoardings, ranches, boots and stetson hats. Here is living history and residents revel in it. They costume, enact to perfection, and enjoy a lifestyle that is not make-believe, but real. This is no studio set but a living township.

Check out this nugget in a local daily: "Seamstress available for Alterations, Mending, Costumes". It’s real and time seems to have stood still here. Store-fronts carrying names like Comstock Cowboys, the Bucket of Blood Saloon, and The Nugget are commonplace. Visitors are enchanted to see the local residents dress up in Victorian or cowboy garb, complete with a flowing veil and feathered hat for women and silver spurs and boots for men, as they step out onto the boardwalks of the historic town. This small town is America's protected Historic Heritage district and if you are not a native Nevadian, you have to apply for permission to live here. There's even a Mark Twain Saloon, and locals fondly recall how he began his writing career here and his stint as a reporter at the Territorial Enterprise. This is also the place

where John Mackay made a fortune. Virginia City used to be the richest goldproducing area in the United States. James Finney (known as "Old Virginny") and Henry Comstock found gold and silver deposits here in January 1859. The original mining area is still called Comstock and the town of Virginia City is named after 'Virginny'. In its heyday, Virginia City was a boisterous town with high energy. There was gold to be found in every hill and millions of dollars were made. Prospectors came from everywhere, with a ‘each man for himself’ philosophy. The pioneering and hardy spirit remains embodied in the town even today. The 19th century mining boom created fortunes for hard-nosed prospectors and these mining kings built mansions, imported furniture, and fashions from Europe and the Orient, and went on to build big business empires elsewhere. Several wealthy prospectors took their

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money to San Francisco to help build that city. Ralston owned the Bank of California, with offices in Virginia City. Leland Stanford (Founder of Stanford University) and George Hearst (the newspaper baron) also made millions here. John Mackay went on to form the company that laid the first trans-Atlantic telephone cable. The man who devised the formula for the speed of light, lived in Virginia City in the 1870s. Virginia City continues its reign as the place in the heart and history of the American West. It re-runs its 25 golden years, when Virginia City was the city of gold mines in Nevada and saw wealthy settlements come up from Denver to San Francisco, which were, by far, more extravagant and expensive than any other. The township shrank in size and importance following the drying up of mining activities in the 75 ensuing years. From a population of 30,000 in its golden days to 1200 today, the ghost town continues to nurture its past gloryâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;which, in turn, attracts tourists in droves. They came then and they come today to experience the mystique of one of the most exciting cities in the west. There's much to be said for the tenacity of its residents, who continue to keep alive an inheritance that spelt adventure, doggedness in the face of all odds, the sweet smell of victory as gold was struck, a town turned wealthy, and the exotic lifestyle that followed. It is a heritage of aristocracy, juxtaposed with a legacy of sheer guts. Many of the Victorian homes date back to the 1870s and 1880s, and have been restored. It is astounding to visit The

Castle, a magnificent mansion house, with its original aristocratic furnishings intactâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;from French lace curtains to silver doorknobsâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;just as they were in the 1800s. A recent lodging addition tells you how active the residents have been to preserve the city's heritage. The 1861 Federalist-style Chollar Mansion, which was originally a business office of the Chollar Gold and Silver Mining Company, has been converted into a guest house, offering three guest rooms, furnished with period antiques and reproductions. Kept intact are the amazing, 16-inch-thick

walls, 14-foot high ceilings, an original threestorey cantilever staircase, and an eyepopping, arched, stone bullion vault. You don't need much imagination to figure out the immense wealth of those times if one goes by the size of the preserved 164 square foot vault, still boasting its original steel door. Such are the restored icons of heritage that the town boasts of. Victorian splendour awaits visitors in the 68 rooms and suites of

TRAVEL

VIRGINIA CITY Virginia City's newest hotel–the Ramada– located in Comstock Historic District. Of course, the efforts continue to be Herculean and it is everyone's wish to ensure that historic preservation out-performs the challenges of saving Virginia City's oldest homes, some dating back to 1863. Gardens feature native and Victorian plants. The long and narrow style is the notable architectural feature of most buildings on the main street, along with the steel half-dome over window bays. Homes and lodges take pains to restore original artefacts like parlour wallpaper, being reproduced in silver and gold colours, that speak of the wealth of the Comstock silver mines under Virginia City's streets. Bringing the city alive is the gracious restoration of Virginia City's Piper's Opera House, which has stood as a monument to Comstock’s entertainment for over 150 years. Even after withstanding two fires and financial ruin, when the Virginia City mines ceased operation more than a century ago, Piper's continues to showcase performances, concerts, theatre and dance within a

reinforced front facade, a new roof and heating system. In fact, several visitors took the opportunity in 2009, which celebrated Virginia City's 150 years, to raise a toast to the drink they ordered at the original bar that served Piper's in 1883. That's how much the residents love their city. With Old West names like Garters & Bloomers, Gifted Cowboy, Grandma's Fudge, Gold Strike, Rotten Rowdy's, Sawdust Trails and Silver Stope, Virginia City's shops sport jewellery, Indian goods, rock and minerals. Visitors enjoy browsing and windowshopping as they walk along the wooden sidewalks on C Street, which dates from the 1870s and before. Which brings one to the whimsical retention of old street names–A, B, C, D, E, F, etc. Visitors who come here even without a passion for history, begin to let their imagination run riot as they stroll along authentic board sidewalks, ride on a stagecoach, a horse-drawn carriage, trolley, or the historic steam-engine Virginia and Truckee Railroad. It's no surprise that museums abound,

each a mine of information. Take your pick from the Gambling Museum, the Fourth Ward School (a Victorian school-turnedmuseum which nostalgically retains signatures of the Class of ‘36, the Way It Was Museum, and the Chollar Mine. No visit to Virginia City can be complete without a ride on the Virginia & Truckee Railroad, which has been restored and operates a passenger schedule between Virginia City and Gold Hill. It makes for a picturesque train ride across the scenic desert landscape. The romance lives on and it is the residents who need to be lauded for preserving their heritage so lovingly and standing together to fight any encroachment. Lending teeth to the argument is the fact that only recently, Virginia City, Nevada, was named one of North America's 12 most distinctive destinations by The National Trust for Historic Preservation. It was the city of gold. Some gold still lies unmined. But true wealth lies in Virginia City's heroic restoration and its continuance as a living heritage.

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PAINTING URMI DUTT

bling fling 44 Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a peek into accessories to die for from the Spring 2009 Ready-to-Wear collection of international designers avant-garde dressing 46 He brings together life and artâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;absurd, and provoking at times, but invariably brilliant. Meet maverick designer Hussein Chalayan patterns of life 50 Claudia Rogge has caught public imagination not only within the walls of museums but out in the open, by taking her bold form of art to the streets never in the pocket 56 Some things from the past make a comeback as a sign of their enduring appeal. Pocket watches are one such classic alter ego 58 When luxury, fashion and technology scheme a luxuriant and powerful love affair twixt art and science, you get Ego hot metallics 62 Metallic make-up is all the rage. The A-listers on celebrity street are creating waves with the new look

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ACCESSORIES JEWELLERY

bling fling LANVIN Multi-coloured stone necklace

Here’s a peek into accessories to die for, from the Spring 2009 Ready-to-Wear collection of international designers BURBERRY Metallic floral garland

LOUIS VUITTON Multi-beads necklace

ETERNAMÉ Yellow gold and brown diamond Recto-Verso cuff with pale green enamel insert

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NINA RICCI Metal feather cuff with amethyst glass beads

JOHN GALLIANO Resin, brass and rhinestone necklace

ETERNAMĂ&#x2030; White gold and diamond prism pendant with blue topaz

MARC JACOBS Small charm hoops-star heart

JOHN GALLIANO Resin, brass and rhinestone bracelet

PROFILE HUSSEIN HUSSEIN CHALAYAN CHALAYAN

avant-garde dressing He brings together life and art–absurd, and provoking at times, but invariably brilliant. Meet maverick designer Hussein Chalayan LL BUREAU HE HAS been called the Pied Piper of British tailoring, for obvious reasons. His creative designs and the themes influencing his work, such as cultural identity, displacement and migration, have always been a source of inspiration to other designers. However, as Chalayan told London’s Financial Times in an interview, “People say they come to my shows to get inspiration. That's like the kiss of death for me. I want the clothes to be worn.” So, what is the latest obsession of this brilliant fashion designer? Hussein Chalayan says it is ‘speed’. The garments of his INERTIA COLLECTION create an experience of speed, speed being an event around the body. “It was an amazing thought that I could encapsulate the whole experience of crashing, all at once, kind of crystallised in motion.” The collection shows how speed ends in a crash, as in the economy, which speeds up, followed by the consequential crash. Thus, speed is contradicted by a phase of slow growth. On his views on the recession that has the entire world in its grip, Chalayan told an interview: “It helps us edit our thoughts, edit how we live. Situations like this help you become more creative, more selective. It helps people understand what they like and what they don't. People will also become more selective in how they spend their money.” Termed, somewhat inappropriately, as fashion's mad

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READINGS In this collection, lasers refract light through pieces covered in Swarovski crystals

PROFILE HUSSEIN CHALAYAN

AFTERWORDS Chalayanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Autumn-Winter 2000 collection explores the notion of wearable and portable architecture. A room with modernist-style table and chairs are put on by models

March 2009 | www.lifestyleliving.in

“I always, always liked the girl who dresses like a boy during the day, but who can be a bitch at night.”

scientist, the London-based Turkish Cypriot (Turkish father and Cypriot mother) caught the industry’s imagination with his graduation collection itself. For his 1993 work, titled TANGENT FLOWS, he buried silk garments in the garden, later, digging them up for their ‘decomposed’ catwalk debut. Unbelievable, but the collection was promptly bought by Browns, the designer store. For AIRBORNE, the Autumn/Winter ’07 collection, in which Chalayan introduced LED technology to clothing, he created a video dress, whose surface dazzled with 15000 LED lights. As part of the BEFORE MINUS NOW, a remotecontrolled dress was made using materials of aircraft construction. Hussein Chalayan's fashion fantasies are made of light, fibreglass and wood. Portable wardrobes, wooden corsets, inflatable collar shirts—does he belong to fashion, or the world of design, art or architecture? For AFTERWORDS, part of his Autumn-Winter 2000 collection, which explores the notion of wearable and portable architecture, there was a room with moderniststyle table and chairs, which are then put on by models. He said he was inspired by refugees, who carry their home with them as they flee. He is quick to deny that there's nothing doom-laden about what he does. “There's absurdity and strangeness in so much of what is around us. I just try to frame it,” he told Vogue in an interview. Being named the well-known brand Puma's Creative Director in 2008 is a major achievement. His brand of clothes will be in stores by 2009-end. “I would like to bring a stronger identity to the clothes,” he says. The Hussein Chalayan exhibition at the Design Museum in London will be the first comprehensive presentation of the artist’s work in the UK. The exhibition showcases past and present collections of Chalayan, twiced named British designer of the year, spanning 15 years of experimental projects, as well as previous art projects and films. They reveal the diversity of Chalayan’s approach to design over the years. His famous AFTERWORDS collection will be exhibited alongside more recent works like AIRBORNE. Short films like Temporal Meditations, Absent Presence and Anaesthetics will all be featured for the first time in the UK. The London exhibition is on from 21 January up to 17 May, 2009.

PHOTOGRAPHY CLAUDIA ROGGE

Die Pathologie der Parteig채nger IV

patterns of life Claudia Rogge has caught public imagination not only within the walls of museums but out in the open, by taking her bold form of art to the streets 50

LL BUREAU SHE CREATES large-scale canvases for her photographs, usually with multiple imagery of one image with modifications. She weaves intriguing patterns. She creates magic. So, who is the magician, the sorceress casting a wondrous spell? Her name is Claudia Rogge. Born in 1968, she is a well-known German artist who lives and works in D端sseldorf. Her images are sheer art. She synthesises emotions, linking people, thoughts and feelings in a unified whole. One of her most intriguing photographs is titled Garden of Eden showcasing men and women in pristine white in loving postures behind green bushes; another is called Isolation but depicts a couple close together in a bathtub, covered in soap-suds; yet another is called Blood Bonds, showing a mother and daughter, the image replicated, with copious amounts of blood visible. Although computer technology has been used to create some aspects of the images, she has also paid great attention to photographic skills like lighting and scaling. The photographs seem to invert the meanings of what we usually understand. Her photographs imply myriad meanings.

Taktile II

Camouflage I

PHOTOGRAPHY CLAUDIA ROGGE

Multitude II

Camouflage XI N.N.

Each picture seduces, so no viewer can resist second look; you have to stare, as the photos invoke a response from the onlooker. Rogge has participated in numerous international exhibitions, including one at the Moscow Contemporary Art Museum, Moscow; at the Third Beijing International Art Biennale, Peking; Galerie Storms at Düsseldorf; Galerie Michael Schultz, Berlin and The Orlando Museum, Orlando. She has caught everyone’s imagination not only within the walls of museums but out in the open, by taking her bold form of art to the streets. Across European cities like Brussels, Paris and Munich, she amazed passers-by exhibiting a truckload of naked men, their knees bent forward and neatly stacked side by side, motionless. People stopped and stared. Her first exhibition was at the Arte Fiera, Bologna–an instant hit. The saying goes that a picture speaks a thousand words. Claudia Rogge’s photos speak infinite languages.

Garten Eden I create my own artificial crowds, and the notion of the artificial is central to my own personal aesthetic. After all, photography itself is a serial, reproductive process. With the aid of new technologies, I can push this even farther, generating my own masses. But the strength of the work as a whole lies in the performances of individuals. It is, I suppose, a classic case of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts

PHOTOGRAPHY CLAUDIA ROGGE

Deliquente I Orbitale I

WATCHES POCKET WATCHES WATCH

never in the pocket Some things from the past make a comeback as a sign of their enduring appeal. Pocket watches are one such classic RICHARD MILLE RM 020 The Richard Mille RM 020 is most likely the coolest pocket watch available today. The unique timepiece uses carbon nanofibre base plate usually used in aerospace. The pocket watch RM 020 features manual winding tourbillion movement with hours, minutes, power reserve and function selector. The RM 020 is attached to a titanium chain and can also be placed in a stand on your desk.

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CRAIG COMPTON SKULL WATCH Based on 16th century design, this unique watch is based on the Momento Mori watches of the 16th and 17th centuries, worn by royals and other political, religious and scientific leaders of the day. The watch's 17-jewel movement has been adapted from a Font 6921 mechanism, purchased directly from the Swiss manufacturer, to permit a single-hand display and direct setting of the hand.

CHARLES HUBERT 3677 The moon phase function on this pocket watch is a favourite with customers who "feel the pull". The model features a chrome-plated case with gold-plated trim and scratch-resistant crystal. All Charles-Hubert Paris Pocket Watches come complete and ready to wear, with a matching pocket watch chain packaged in a deluxe gift box.

MOVADO ERMETTO 1950'S Movado Ermetto travel watch in dark brown crocodile case. Original double tone silver-satin dial with warm patina'd luminous indexes and hands. The watch gets winding as doors are opened and closed everytime. Easy for use as stand-up travel clock.

NO. 2 No. 2 was a journey of discovery, refinement, dedication and, finally, mastery of one's craft, for Roger W Smith, which began in 1992 and was not finished until 1997. A twin-barrel, four-year perpetual calendar, fitted with a one-minute tourbillon, this marvel has a steel carriage with two arms and carries a free-sprung Earnshaw detent escapement. The watch is key-wound and key-set, with a silver engine turned dial, gold hands in a 66.5 mm diameter x 21.5 mm thick 18 carat gold case.

LAPTOP GIZMO EGOEGO NOTEBOOK

alter ego When luxury, fashion and technology scheme a luxuriant and powerful love affair twixt art and science, you get Ego ROUBLE RAGHUVANSHI IS IT just a luxury wallet or is it computing science’s ingenious, mobile baby? Is it just an accessory or is it the world contained in a beautiful holder? A look at Ego laptops, even if just a passing one, and you are left wondering about the character of a design so striking, plush and cool that you just want to know its whole and own it, too. The truth is yonder. Ego laptops from the house of Ego Lifestyle are immaculately designed to make a bold fashion statement, while they offer the best of technology at hand. Available in four different editions, each sensational, the laptops spell opulence, portability and efficiency. The product is simply fit for the gods. It is not just a machine. It is what everyone says doesn’t exist–a royal road to learning. Winner of the Microsoft Fashion PC Award, the Ego laptops are state-of-the-art interpretation of designing genius that complements the success of your contemporary lifestyle. Change is the only thing permanent and the only thing stylish– Ego laptops address this case in all earnestness. High-quality leather, and all

March 2009 | www.lifestyleliving.in

handmade, makes for their beautiful skin. To top it, there is the wondrous chameleonpower extended to it; you can change the skin of your notebook to match your way of life, anytime. Supplementing the ease and functionality of the notebook are the built-in chrome handles, sometimes bare beautiful, sometimes covered in exotic skins–think shark, eel, ray. Brilliance and luxury become alter egos in Ego laptops. There’s yet more to the high-end oomph that the Ego laptops sashay with unaffected flow. You can get a customised piece-de-art and flaunt exclusivity, truly personal. The personal edition notebook skins are designed by Ego Lifestyle’s in-house designer. Imagine swish Italian leather in a range of colours and patterns embossed with hundreds of Swarovski crystals. This glittering charm is what the Personal edition has to offer. And if you think it can’t get better than this, you are mistaken. The designers at Ego seem to have made it a point to prove that beauty knows no boundaries. The Diamond edition has 18 carat white gold ornaments, 6.9 carat diamonds

set with surgical precision into the crust of the limited range. The panel, the tulip logo and the name–all are immaculately etched in sparkling diamonds. Furthermore, Ego Lifestyle offers to design tailor-made diamond Ego notebooks entirely according to your desires and specifications. Think of a laptop engraved with your signature. “Oh! What fetish, what a statement!” are bound to croon all onlookers, while you smile with pride. That’s what magnificence of Ego notebooks is all about. Its Limited editions in association with well-known brands is Ego Lifestyle’s another

achievement in concept, design, functionality and service. Jackie Magazine collection–Ego notebook specially designed by Dani Bles, Fashion Director, Jackie Magazine–is bold and outright flirtatious. “She’s pretty, but not perfect;” “she’s sexy, but in control;” “she’s international and on the run”–Ego Jackie is all this, ostensibly and intrinsically. Ego by Jan des Bouvrie and Ego for Bentley are two other premium luxury notebook editions perfected in detailing. They are the cases of fusion power generated by the coming together of two iconic brands. Carrying an Ego is like flaunting an exclusive dress that makes heads turn. Make it smoking wherever you go, wear your Ego.

Ego laptops are simply fit for the gods. They are not just machines. They are what everyone says doesn’t exist–a royal road to learning

ACCESSORIES TECHNOLOGY JEWELLERY GADGETS

splurge in style Life can sure turn sexy and attractive once you bring these hi-tech luxuries home

PHILIPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GREEN CUISINE Philips' concept Green Cuisine kitchen is an ecologically friendly future kitchen based around a single table that can cook things anywhere on its surface by using sensors to apply heat directly underneath a pot or pan. It is equipped with touchsensitive LED panels to control the settings. It offers the choice of reducing the water wastage by letting you select the water temperature. There is also an under-the-table composter that will compact all peelings and left-overs and enable you to grow herbs on the table

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NOKIA 8800 CARBON ARTE The fluid strength of carbon fibre and the lustrous muscularity of titanium are combined with polished glass and stainless steel to create this beauty. The 8800 Carbon Arte brings a unique tap-for-time feature. This allows you to simply tap twice under the phone's display, on the steel surface, when you want a clock to be seen on screen. With 3G connectivity, 4GB of internal memory and 3.2 megapixels auto focus camera, the Arte also boasts of “Nokia’s anti-fingerprint coating” to keep those smudges away.

KEF XQ-20 Let the boxes do the talking. Available in Bird's Eye Maple, Khaya Mahogany and Piano Black.

AMAZON KINDLE 2 If a device lets you store 1,500 books and read them without straining your eyes–what do you call it? Kindle, of course. The Kindle 2 is definitely going to save a lot of trees. You can also read newspapers, magazines and your blogs. What else? Its 3G wireless lets you download books right from your Kindle, anytime, anywhere; no monthly fees, service plans or hunting for Wi-Fi hotspots. Now lessen your book load while travelling.

JURA ENA 5 Redefine your coffee experience with the World's slimmest bean-to-cup automatic coffee centre. It solves your space problem and provides you the pleasure of freshly ground and brewed coffee. The ENA is compact, young and easy to operate.

COSMETICS METALLIC MAKE-UP MAKEUP

hot metallics Metallic make-up is all the rage. The A-listers on celebrity street are creating waves with the new look LL BUREAU FROM THE famous metallic body finish in James Bond’s Goldfinger to the frosty ice colours and golden shimmers of today, metallic has finally come of age. Not that metallic ever went away. Metallic has always been the last word in the glitzy, glamour and edgy look that fashion and stage divas have worn to such perfection. Of course, the advance of technology has lent itself to greater sophistication in the range of make-up products available, the look today being sheerer, more fluid shades that blend a lot better compared with the ‘60s and ‘80s. Metallic shadows are futuristic in content, as contrasts of gold and silver create bolder and more textured sheens, as seen lately at Chanel and Prada shows. A playground of experimentation, metallic provides a palette of definite colours that can contour eyes, lips or the face. Worn on the eyelids, cheeks, lips and body, it’s a subtle way of drawing attention to the places you want your eyes to rest upon. Fair complexions reflect ice silver best while Indian skins, with their warmer tone, go beautifully with bronze gold and other earth colours. From pencils and powders to cream-based products, the fine armoury of metallic make-up has been taken up by an array of

cosmetic brands. All of the major cosmetic lines seem to be sporting their own metallic hues in make-up, and new metal colours are scheduled to be released this spring. Copper dazzles up peach shadows; a layer of silver adds highlights while gold is great for greens, reds and natural tones; bold sheens play up purples, greens or blues; metallic tints glam

up a matte blue, green or grey shadow palette, while a host of gold or silver sheens flaunt their bravado in your face. The colours glow like never before and new metallic dusting powders have been introduced for highlights. Creating luscious lips are a number of metallic shines which when added to the centre of your lips and then sealed with clear lip gloss is a tour de force. The addition of metallics for nail polish creates a trendy hot appeal. The art of applying make-up is as much an art as the scent of a sexy woman. Softly blended shades, creating a more natural put-together look, with a hint of smudged glint along an upper lash line, create a sense of mystery. Shimmering metallic eyes in grey, lilac and taupe are soft and sensuous and can be layered upon for a stunning effect in the evening. Get that wet sheen look with a cream, gold shadow or liquid gold liner. Brush a bit of metallic powder across the top of the shoulder or collarbone and the resulting shimmer when the light catches it is quite devastating when donning a strapless or sleeveless evening dress. Metallic make-up is very hot right now, and everyone should try at least a shade of glitter and glow.

March 2009 | www.lifestyleliving.in

PAINTING URMI DUTT

a drive to win 68 Michelle Wie, the Korean-American golf superstar, won her first title in mid-February â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;09, thus kicking-off what could be a monster-winning year return of the body 72 She is the poster girl of the most famous brands of 2009. Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen is sexy, hot, and at the moment, the highest-paid model in the world. She earned an estimated 24 million pounds in 2008

galleri(e) 64

March 2009 | www.lifestyleliving.in

SPORTS MICHELLE WIE

a drive to win Michelle Wie, the KoreanAmerican golf superstar, won her first title in mid-February â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;09, thus kicking-off what could be a monsterwinning year 68

LL BUREAU "THE FIRST TIME I grabbed a golf club, I knew that I'd do it for the rest of my life," said 15 year-old Michelle Wie at the time of turning professional. She picked up her first club at the age of four and is said to have hit all of 91 metres (100 yards). In the summer of 2000, at the age of 10, she became the youngest player ever to qualify for the Women's US Amateur Public Links Championship. This record stood for eight years. At 12, she became the youngest player to qualify for an LPGA event. At 13, she could outhit most professional golfers, male or female. The world's youngest golf superstar had arrived. No wonder, American professional golfer, Michelle Sung Wie, has been celebrated as "one of 100 people who shape our world" by Time magazine. Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, Wie's parents are South

Korean by birth and came in the 1980s to the United States. She inherited her golfing genes from her mother, a former South Korean women's amateur golf champion. Wie has long attracted attention not just for her prowess at golf, but also for her exuberance and physique. Her combination of a powerful swing and camera-loving beauty confirmed she was destined for stardom. At 6 feet 1 inch, she is known for the rare length of her drives as well as the form of her golf swing. At sixteen, Wie had an average drive of about 280 yards (Tigerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s average tee shot is 288 metres (315 yards). It's been said, "When you see her hit a golf ball, there's nothing that prepares you for it. It's just the scariest thing you've ever seen." Wie has brought the magic back to golf. Arnold Palmer stated in 2003: "She's

March 2009 | www.lifestyleliving.in

Wie has long attracted attention not just for her prowess at golf, but also for her exuberance and physique

probably going to influence the golfing scene as much as Tiger, or more. She's going to attract people that even Tiger didn't attractâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;young people, both boys and girls, and families." This was borne out by the fact that Wie managed to draw large crowds, with tournament organisers reporting a high of 9,500 spectators who came to see her on just one day. It follows that in 2005, on her 16th birthday, the teenage golf sensation announced in Hawaii that she was turning professional, reportedly signing sponsorship contracts with Nike and Sony, worth more than ten million dollars per year. At the same time, she announced a pledge of half a million dollars for Hurricane Katrina relief. In December 2007, Wie was ranked fourth in the Forbes Top 20 Earners Under 25 with an annual earnings of 19 million dollars. Prior to the 2009 season, Wie was not a member of any professional tour. But now, as a member of LPGA, she is eligible to compete in as many LPGA events as she

SPORTS MICHELLE WIE

wishes. As on February 13, 2009, she has played in a total of 64 professional events either as an amateur or a professional. The highs and lows of all sports stars have played out the ebb and tide with Wie. She has excelled over the years and just when nothing could go wrong she has let her fans down with her poor showings and early exits in 2007, largely on account of two injured wrists in 2007. Year 2008 was full of missed cuts, DQs and blow-up rounds. Perhaps, she was struggling under too-high expectations. As a 16-year-old, she played in the Men's Tour's Sony Open, missing the cut by only four strokes, but generating incredible press coverage. Now that she has set her sights right, she is a tigress on the prowl. Her latent star power came to light with her '09 debut in February at the SBS Open at Turtle Bay, on the north shore of Oahu, Hawaii, not far from where she grew up. Wie, who finished second in the season–opening SBS Open on the LPGA Tour midFeburary ‘09–is enjoying her newfound status as golf's biggest newsmaker, even as she kicks off what could be a monster-winning year. Already, the Korean-American phenomenon’s world ranking has soared by a whopping 149 places, from 239th to 87th in the new, just announced ranking.

After the SBS Open on the LPGA tour, Wie returns to college at Stanford, where she's taking Korean drama, humanities, engineering and writing. She has homework to turn in and that's when everyone remembers she's still a kid. For any other rookie, it would've been a celebration. For Wie, there is disappointment, as she is forced to continue her pursuit of her elusive first title. "It's just going to motivate me to work harder to go to the next level," commented Wie. This is, after all, the phenomena who captivated the golf world by qualifying for an LPGA event at the age of 12. Her on-course charisma continues to be legendary. Expectations from Wie don't stop at outplaying Tiger Woods but in being the best golf player in the world, ever.

March 2009 | www.lifestyleliving.in

PERSONALITY GISELE BUNDCHEN

return of the body She is the poster girl of the most famous brands of 2009. Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen is sexy, hot, and at the moment, the highest-paid model in the world. She earned an estimated 24 million pounds in 2008

March 2009 | www.lifestyleliving.in

KAMAL GILL A CELEBRITY diva, brands are willing to pay a premium to get her. A stunning brunette, with tanned limbs, perfect curves and piercing ocean-blue eyes, she has brought glamour and sex appeal back to the fashion industry. She has been the face of more than 20 brands from different countries like the United States, Russia, Brazil, Italy, France, Mexico, Spain and Turkey. She has featured in advertising campaigns of Dior, walked the ramp for Versace, Rampage, premium denim label True Religion, modelled for Victoria's Secrets and Louis Vuitton; signed up for a multi-year contract as the sole representative for Max Factor in North America, played the brand ambassador for Ebel watches, Vogue Eyewear and Dolce & Gabbana, besides gracing the covers of leading glamour magazines. Not much guessing is required. Gisele Caroline Nonnenmacher Bundchen is the Brazilian supermodel, acclaimed as the highestpaid model in the world. Little wonder that she is also among the richest woman in the entertainment world, according to Forbes. She has admitted to a magazine, "It's flattering. People might think I am number one but I never set out to be famous. A model's life is not as glamorous as everybody thinks it is. It is a great business and we make a lot of money, but it's not glamorous." Dubbed "return of the body", the 5 feet 11 inches tall Gisele Bundchen soon proved she had the brains as well. She consistently helped agencies craft their campaign, involved herself totally with her shoots going so far as to select the photographer, the hair stylist, and the makeup artist who would best

PERSONALITY GISELE BUNDCHEN

compliment the brand. No wonder, she commanded the attention of the modelling world. This star shone as she brought new levels of thought and style to her work and elevated modelling to a new high. She is reported to have commented, "I can be whatever you want me to be. If you want me to be the sexy girl, I can do that. If you want me to be the weird girl, I can do that. And if you want me to be the classically beautiful girl, I can do that, too." Be it sportswear, footwear and accessories; halter dress, bikini top, cut-off denim shorts, pants or denim, Bundchen dominated the visuals. If it was lifestyle, it had to be Bundchen. Born July 20, 1980,

On her role in a campaign to save the water of the Xingu river, Gisele says, “Water is a very important part of our lives. You open the tap and it runs. But what if you turned the tap one day and got nothing?”

Bundchen took the fashion world by storm after she was discovered at the age of 14 by a modelling agency. One of five sisters and five minutes older than twin sister Patricia, Bunchen was painfully thin as a schoolgirl. "I was taller and skinnier than everyone else and they called me Oli, short for Olive Oyl, of Popeye fame," she is said to have confessed. Given how fickle the fashion world is, Bundchen continues to be a hot favourite. She has been in an on-off relationship with actor Leonardo DiCaprio and now lives in the Big Apple. Bundchen and New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady are currently in a relationship that has seen the world press insisting they are engaged and will marry soon. Bundchen has confirmed she plans to marry Brady one day, but a date hasn't been set. As for Costa Rica being a possible venue, Bundchen is quoted as having said, "This talk of Costa Rica must be for the fact that I have a house there. I don't know yet if its going to be here or in another country, but what I know is that it’s going to be something small, a simple ceremony. I don't like parties, I prefer something more intimate, just for the closest people." Brady and Bundchen have both made headlines with previous high-profile breakups. Bundchen's ex, Leonardo DiCaprio, is finishing shooting scenes for Martin Scorsese's Shutter Island and Brady's ex, Bridget Moynahan, is filming Bunker Hill, a TV pilot for TNT, starring music band New Kids on the Block’s Donnie Wahlberg. Notwithstanding the rumour mills, Bundchen–who is also the owner of a log cabin in upstate New York–disappears at weekends not to meet her boyfriend, Brady but to go horse riding. She has confessed in an interview, "I was never a fashion person. I never carry the bag of the season. I consider modelling like acting: it's a job, pretend and then go home to your real life." Bundchen is destined for greater things. She scorches the ramp with her statuesque figure. She brings alive the true meaning of designer wear. She continues her run of being the first choice for virtually the world's most famous brands of 2009. She remains a natural before the camera, and with her attitude to her work and her inimitable style, she has the world at her feet. After all, it's not every day that a gorgeous and glowing diva is born.

March 2009 | www.lifestyleliving.in

(n)tertainment belle of the ball 78 I love the aspect of pushing my body to move in new ways and the experimental side of creation, says Heather Ogden and the oscar goes to 82 India found its rightful place at the Academy Awards 2009. Slumdog Millionaire, shot in Mumbai, reaped a rich bouquet of awards celeb buzz 84 tarot 86

March 2009 | www.lifestyleliving.in

DANCE BALLET BALLET OGDEN HEATHER

belle of the ball I love the aspect of pushing my body to move in new ways and the experimental side of creation, says Heather Ogden

LL BUREAU HEATHER OGDEN was just six years old when the germ of ballet entered her pretty little head, courtesy a babysitter, who took dance lessons. Talk of making a good impression! Heather soon enrolled in ballet classes, and by the time she entered high school, she was taking two classes a day, six days a week, after school. High school over, Heather decided to seriously pursue her ballet aspirations. Ogden realised she had always wanted to be a ballerina when she saw the ballet Giselle on stage. As she later said in an interview, “The arts are so important; the arts help us to express originality; the arts touch us and are fundamental to inspiration and beauty.” After training at the Richmond Academy of Dance in British Columbia, she moved to Toronto to join The National Ballet of Canada as an apprentice in 1998. The National Ballet of Canada ranks as one of the world’s top international dance companies, with more than 70 dancers and its own orchestra. Established in 1951, it is the only Canadian ballet company to present a full range of traditional, full-length classics. In addition to its classical repertoire, the company embraces contemporary works and also encourages the creation of new ballets. The National ballet performed at the Eaton Auditorium (1951-1952), the Royal Alexandra Theatre (1953-1964), followed by the O’Keefe Centre—now called the Hummingbird Centre (1964-2006). The company moved to its new performance venue—the Four

March 2009 | www.lifestyleliving.in

"Ogden is crisply elegant" â&#x20AC;&#x201C;The Globe and Mail, 2008

DANCE

BALLET Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts— Canada’s first, purpose-built ballet opera house, in 2006. The National Ballet performs annual fall, winter and summer seasons, plus The Nutcracker, and also performs in other Canadian cities every season. The company has toured the United States, Germany, The Netherlands, Israel, Hong Kong, Japan, Italy and Mexico. Her first major break was in a production of Romeo and Juliet. Ogden also performed in famous ballets like Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty, The Merry Widow, La Bayadère and Cinderella. In addition, Ogden has danced in varied works such as James Kudelka's Pastorale, Dominique Dumais' One Hundred Words for Snow, George Balanchine's Apollo, The Four Temperaments and Theme and Variations, Eliot Feld's Intermezzo, and Bournonville's La Sylphide. From representing the National Ballet at the Sixth International Competition for the Erik Bruhn Prize with Guillaume Côté in 2002, to dancing the role of Dulcinea in Suzanne Farrell's re-staging of Balanchine's Don Quixote at the Kennedy Center in Washington, or travelling with The Suzanne Farrell Ballet to perform in Edinburgh—she’s done it all. At the National Ballet's inaugural performance at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts in 2006, Ogden performed Tchaikovsky’s Pas de Deux, a difficult role though tailormade for her. On the entire process of creating a role for herself in a ballet, she describes it as a very rewarding one. “To be able to

see so much accomplished every day and to be in the studio with someone who is inspired and doing what they love, always creates a great atmosphere. It's also a treat to have a role made specifically for you and feel involved in the creative process, as it usually seems to sit just right on your body.” She also loves ballets woven around stories. “They are so romantic and dramatic. Like, Giselle is a story about forgiveness. I think those are the aspects that audiences enjoy about classics,” she says. Ogden is drawn to both classical and contemporary ballet. So, how does she manage both? Her answer: “I am really happy to be in a company that lets me explore both classics and new roles. I am a die-hard lover of the classics. I like the tradition and the challenge of accomplishing a ballet that has been done so many times before, but adding my own take on the character. As for new roles, I love the aspect of pushing my body to move in new ways and the experimental side of creation.” “I try to interpret and act in both forms. Even though contemporary pieces don't usually have a character, I still find one within myself to express the performance. I think that relays to the audience. I also find that the key to both contemporary and classical

ballet is the music. So, follow the music.” Guillaume Côté is both her on- and offstage partner. So, does the romantic couple find time for each other? “We recently moved into our first home in Leslieville and we love testing out all the great restaurants in the neighbourhood.” Explaining her special attachment to Romeo and Juliet, Ogden says, “Romeo and Juliet was my first principal role and Guillaume my first partner. I have always felt so comfortable being partnered by Guillaume and I love the connection we have on stage. I definitely have a special attachment to this ballet and to my Romeo.” She concludes, by saying, “This is such a hard career, both physically and emotionally, that you have to try to remember to love it and enjoy it. It is also short, so it's important to savour those moments on stage and those milestones along the way.” AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS 2008: The National Ballet of Canada’s website is a finalist in the Canadian New Media Awards. 2008: The National Ballet of Canada is nominated for two Dora Mavor Moore Awards for Outstanding Production and Outstanding Performance in the Dance Division for 24 Preludes by Chopin. 2008: The National Ballet of Canada’s 2008/09 season brochure won Best of Category in Web-Booklets at the Excellence in Print Awards 2008. The award was presented by the Ontario Printing & Imaging Association to St Joseph Print Thorn for their superb production of the publication. 2005: Michael Levine wins a New York Dance and Performance Award (Bessie) for Best Scenic Design for The National Ballet of Canada’s production of The Contract (The Pied Piper) at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. 2001: A commemorative National Ballet of Canada dollar was created by the Royal Canadian Mint. 1996: The National Ballet of Canada wins a Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding New Choreography for The Nutcracker. 1973: The National Ballet of Canada wins an Emmy Award for Outstanding Single Programme (Classical Music) for the television production of The Sleeping Beauty. 1970: The National Ballet of Canada wins an Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety or Musical Programme for the television production of Cinderella. 1956: The National Ballet of Canada presented a ‘key’ to the City of Alexandria, Virginia, on a tour of the USA.

March 2009 | www.lifestyleliving.in

SWAN LAKE Choreographed in the late 19th century, Swan Lake was staged at Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre in 1877, but it wasn't until 1895, after the death of its composer Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky that it was finally seen in St Petersburg. The love story of swan princess Odette and Prince Siegfried soon became a universal classic.

WATCHES CEREMONY POCKETAWARDS OSCAR WATCHES 2009

and the oscar goes to India found its rightful place at the Academy Awards 2009. Slumdog Millionaire, shot in Mumbai, reaped a rich bouquet of awards

March 2009 | www.lifestyleliving.in

“THERE’S NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS” WHAT IS it about the Oscars that takes your breath away? Is it the stars? Or is it the world of movie-making that reveals each time the truth in the most poignant and heartwarming way, reminding us as we go about our mundane, routine lives about the beauty of our existence? When the news came that Australian heart-throb Hugh Jackman would host the show this year, it ensured that female fans across the world would find the time to sit glued to the TV, irrespective of the difference in time zones. Then, seeing Meryl Streep sitting in the front row of the Kodak Theatre in LA, brought a whiff of the elegance that the veteran actress has always brought to the varied roles played by her. No wonder, Kate Winslet, who won her first Oscar as Best Actress, said she couldn’t believe that her name was being taken in the same breath as Streep. Slumdog Millionaire, which won as many as eight Oscars, although a British production, put India right in the centre of the world perspective because of its Indian storyline, setting, actors and unique music. The live performance of Jai Ho, a song from the film, now believed to have been adapted by Pussycat Dolls, provided stunning entertainment to the glamorous audience watching the ceremony live, as well as to the billion-strong television viewers across the world.

CHATTERATI CLEB BUZZ CELEB BUZZ

ABHISHEK ENTERS GUINNESS BOOK Abhishek Bachchan broke the Guinness' world record for maximum public appearances in 12 hours while promoting his latest film Delhi 6. Abhishek broke the existing Guinness record of German actors Jorgen Vogel and Daniel Brohl in the category of the greatest number of public appearances by a film star in different cities within 12 hours. On achieving the feat Abhishek said, "I equalled the existing record at approximately 5 pm (Sunday, 22 February). It's an idea that has been with me for a while ever since I heard about some German actors who set a world record by attending five public events in 12 hours.â&#x20AC;? Abhishek covered six cities in 12 hours.

March 2009 | www.lifestyleliving.in

LEONARDO DICAPRIO HONOURED Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio has been honoured with the International Green Award for his humanitarian efforts for the environment. Russian politician Mikhail Gorbachev conferred the award on the eco-friendly actor in Germany. Earlier, Gorbachev met the star when he appeared in DiCaprio's environmental documentary, The 11th Hour. While delivering his award acceptance speech, Leonardo mentioned the historic fall of the Berlin Wall. “My mother and grandparents are all from Germany, and I will never forget that moment of joy as we sat around the television, watching as the Wall fell,” the Daily Express quoted Leonardo as stating in his speech.

NO MORE NUDITY, VOWS KATE WINSLET Kate Winslet, 33, has bared her body in more than 10 films in her film career, including Titanic, Hamlet, Iris and the recently released The Reader, which got her the Oscar for the first time. Kate has now vowed never to bare-all for the cameras again as she fears that she is getting a bad reputation for shedding her clothes. "I think I won't. I can't keep getting away with it, and I don't want to become 'that actress who always gets her kit off'," Kate told Time magazine.

Britain’s Royal Opera has confirmed a show on former Playboy model Anna Nicole Smith, who died of an accidental drug overdose in 2007. British musician Mark-Anthony Turnage is writing the story, while the libretto will be provided by Richard Thomas. The show is to be staged at Covent Garden in 2011. Elaine Padmore, Covent Garden's Director of Opera, told the Guardian. "It is not going to be tawdry; it is going to be witty, clever, thoughtful and sad. Padmore said the work was not just a documentary about Smith, but a parable about celebrities.

BON JOVI FEARS GOING BALD DUE TO HAIR LOSS Rocker Jon Bon Jovi has started to devise treatments to save his prized locks. He is seen sporting a shorter style these days. He says he went in for the style change because of a receding hairline. “Oh, let me tell you, I am so worried (about my hair). I look at guys like Sting and think,“Well, he’s cool about it,”but I am already losing it a bit and I am so aware of it,” Contactmusic quoted him as saying. “Someone told me that you have to regularly massage your scalp, so I do that all the time,” he added.

NICOLE RICHIE PREGNANT Nicole Richie and boyfriend Joel Madden are expecting another child.The second child comes barely a year after the arrival of daughter HarlowWinter Kate Madden last January. In a message on the website of Good Charlotte, the band he fronts, Madden, 29, wrote:“What's better than winning an Oscar? I am so happy to tell everyone that Harlow is going to be a big sister! God has truly blessed my family. Hope you are all feeling as good as I am right now.”Richie, 27, credited the birth of daughter Harlow as a reason for her leading a more tranquil life at home with Madden.

VAL KILMER FOR GOVERNOR? Hollywood actor Val Kilmer is considering running for election as State Governor in New Mexico in 2010. “I’m just looking for ways to be contributive. And if that ends up being where I can make a substantial contribution, then I’ll run,” the Telegraph quoted the Top Gun star as saying. Kilmer said that if he ran, it wouldn’t have to be a conventional campaign, and added that he is pretty good at listening to people. “What I do for a living is listen,” he said. “If I run, I’m going to be the next Governor,” said Kilmer.

ANNA NICOLE SMITH’S LIFE TO GET OPER A TREA TMENT OPERA TREAT

FORECAST TAROT

forecast PISCES Pisces is a mutable water sign; Piscean energy is the most fluid of all signs.The Lovers as your personal card indicates harmonisation of opposites at all levels of being and the archetypal union of male and female.The Lovers, for Pisces, augurs well in all matters of the heart. Marriage is also very much on the cards, says the Lovers, predicting marital bliss in 2009.Your search for that perfect dream partner may finally materialise this year.With the sun entering your sun sign, your new yearly cycle begins, bringing in success and good news in professional and financial matters. Professionally, most of you are at an all-time high this year.The card suggests a new job, an opportunity to run your own business, and other positive openings. Be ready to open the door the moment opportunity knocks

KIREN RAI

March 2009 | www.lifestyleliving.in

ARIES 21 March ~ 20 April

The Fool indicates a spirit in search of experience, the beginning of a trip into selfknowledge. The Foolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s journey stands for new experiences, beginnings, spontaneity, optimism, purity of purpose and an unconventional thought process.

TAURUS 21 April ~ 21 May

Page of Cups shows a time of great selfdiscovery and transformation. You thrive on making new discoveries and developing opportunities. At your best possible self, you will see things from a deeper perspective than ever before. A surprise surrounding a friend or family member is likely on the 12-13.

GEMINI 22 May ~ 21 June

The Ace of Wands brings new opportunities to explore. Seize these with an attitude of fun and excitement. The sun transiting through your sign will inspire you to achieve more and more at the workplace.

CANCER 22 June ~ 22 July

Strength reveals that you use your mind and strong organisational powers to help make some necessary changes in your career. As you align yourself to your inner knowledge and sharp business sense, your efforts will pay great rewards.

LEO 23 July ~ 23 August

Temperance is a card of health, and its appearance shows that your inner power is ready to find the middle ground, showing moderation and maintaining balance and harmony. For the single and looking, the second half of the month is favourable for love-related matters.

VIRGO 24 August ~ 23 September

The Hierophant represents a situation or human being, where all aspects of duality have come to a point of high development and growth. The card allows for free communication, dreaming, artistic expression, good judgement, self-belief and wisdom.

LIBRA 24 September ~ 21 October

The Ten of Pentacles indicates financial stability and, possibly, a good amount of wealth and prosperity. It is an excellent card for business endeavours and land transactions. In regard to family and relationships, this card indicates strong family ties, a family reunion or even an enjoyable family outing.

SCORPIO 22 October ~ 22 November

The Moon has a habit of casting things and experiences in a different light. Things are not quite how they seem. Not only does the card indicate duality, it also shows an indulgence in fantasies, losing direction and having unrealistic ideas.

SAGITTARIUS 23 November ~ 23 December

The Judgement card comes up in a reading when we are at a crossroads and it is a time to resurrect a new phase of life. Pluto passing through the second house of finance indicates a strong need to find stability on the fiscal front. Your concern for savings may also increase, and finances will surely remain in focus for some months.

CAPRICORN 24 December ~ 21 January

The World represents achievement or completion as you reach the end of a cycle and see your dreams come true. The World card can also mark the end of one cycle and the beginning of another. Venus transiting through the 4th Solar Mansion from Capricorn sun sign indicates a progressive time on the business front.

AQUARIUS 21 January ~ 19 February

The Seven of Pentacles Card brings unexpected challenges as you experience monetary difficulties. This is a time when overheads would be high and expenses will continue to outstrip income. People born under this sign will see increased activities on the business front. Despite this, financial inflow may remain average.

PISCES 20 February ~ 20 March

The Emperor is the male dynamic force, a symbol of authority and success. You are trying to solve a new problem using old approaches that simply wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t work. Take some time out to think carefully about what you are trying to achieve. People born under Pisces sun sign will be putting lots of efforts to develop their business, and take it to the next level in order to progress.