Exotica June 2018

Editor-in-Chief CHANDAN MITRA EDITORIAL BOARD Vice-Chairman & Joint Managing Director Amit Goel Chief Executive Officer Abhishek Saxena 09818600128 EDITORIAL Editor-in-Charge Rinku Ghosh Assistant Editor Saimi Sattar Senior Feature Writer Asmita Sarkar Chief Designers Anand Singh Rawat & Satish Jakhmola Production Manager Syed Nawab Raza Staff Photographer Pankaj Kumar SALES & MARKETING Vice President Jetender Rawat 9810404096 General Manager Kumar Gurudutta Jha Senior Managers Sofiqul Islam & Madhukar Saxena Managers Bharat Singh Sajwan, Prabhakar Pathak & Barun Choudhary Media Coordinator Neelu Sharma GOVERNMENT & PSU General Manager Tapan Ghosh Assistant General Manager Neeta Rai MUMBAI OFFICE General Managers Devendra Adhikari & Ignatius Fernandes KOLKATA OFFICE Vice President Suzanna Roy HYDERABAD OFFICE V Sunil Kumar General Manager (Circulation) Rajeev Gautam Printed and published by Chandan Mitra for and on behalf of CMYK Printech Ltd, printed at JK Offset Graphics (P) Ltd, B-278, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase-1, New Delhi-110020 and published at No. 6, Behind Gulab Bhawan, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi-110002.

Editor: Chandan Mitra. Entire Contents Copyright (C) 2006 CMYK Printech Ltd. All rights reserved. Reproduction or translation in any language in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

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FROM THE EDITOR

WE ALL LOVE A GOOD MONSOON

THE

monsoon keeps every Indian on tenterhooks each year. Before it arrives to shower rains across the sub-continent reeling under the intense heat of April and May, there is a prayer on every lip, seeking a bountiful monsoon. This is especially so for India’s billion-odd people who depend on agriculture for their livelihood. Normally, weather does not figure high on the average Indian’s list of conversation starters, unlike, say, the British who are obsessed with it. But when temperatures cross the 40° mark by May, waiting for the rains to arrive becomes an obsession with people in this country too.

For farmers, it is not only the quantum of rain during the season that is of importance. Even more than how much, the question of its timing is of the essence.

A delayed monsoon means the ground remains rock hard and cannot be readied for sowing. Then, if after an initial burst of rainfall, rains take a break, planted crops wilt, putting paid to hopes of a bumper harvest. In other words, rains are needed not only to arrive on time but also be spaced out during the crop season: Too little or too much can play havoc with a farmer’s schedule. If it rains heavily towards the end of the season, when ripe crops are standing on the field, that could be a disaster, too, as the grains may rot.

This year, fortunately, the monsoon was not only copious but more or less evenly spaced out during the season. Barring some states and regions within them, it has rained adequately and uniformly, thereby presaging a record harvest, estimated to be around 129 million tonnes.

And that is from the kharif season, during which rice is the principal staple that is grown. The rabi season, beginning from November is not so heavily dependent on the rains, because wheat does not need standing water on the fields when it is sown. In fact, rabi crops are more dependent on the sun rather than rain.

But a good monsoon ensures that the land stays relatively soft and moist, helping the sowing of wheat, pulses and coarse grains.

A good monsoon also helps fill up the myriad reservoirs, natural and artificial.

This ensures that water can be reached to fields whenever needed during the rabi season. More importantly, a good monsoon helps in recharging groundwater levels that are facing acute depletion in states like Punjab and Haryana, which contribute the largest share to the national foodgrain pool. Environmental experts say that if not reversed, this trend of desertification will destroy agriculture in India’s most productive states within the next two or three decades.

Water conservation, therefore, is the key to increasing agricultural production and productivity. China, for example, with roughly the same amount of arable land as India, produces four times more than we do, although the construction of large dams has gravely damaged its ecology. This is a potentially disastrous policy but for the present China does not face a food crisis because of the high productivity of its farm sector.

India’s big problem is its dependence on the monsoon despite a large number of irrigation schemes implemented since Independence. The resistance to adopt new, water-saving methods of irrigation means agriculture will continue to depend on the vagaries of the monsoon. As I write this column, I am reminded of Israel, the tiny middle-eastern country that is a world leader in drip irrigation. If properly planned, the twin issues of rainfall adequacy and its spacing can both be handled with this method. Here’s hoping for a season of bounty.

[CHANDAN MITRA] Editor-in-Chief

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I N S I D E JUNE 2018 VOLUME 12 NO 8

Little black book [p10] Pawan Sachdeva: A quick peek into his style file Globetrotter [p20] From Cabo Da Rama to Cabo De Roca Q&A [p28] The peeler of emotions: Meghna Gulzar

[p28]

[p66] COVER: THE FLORAL COLLECTION PHOTO COURTESY: ADARSH GILL

CONTRIBUTORS Bharat Thakur [p96] FITNESS: Flawlessly clear Sri Sri Ravi Shankar [p98] GURUSPEAK: A cheerful domain Kushan Mitra [p100] HOT WHEELS: Cat among the pigeons Sanjay Jumaani [p104] NUMBER GAME: Count your fate

Southern sojourn [p36] Wrapped in the arms of monsoon: Valparai Blithe spirit [p42] Hop up to a new high: Microbreweries The habitat [p48] Heaven on earth? A slice of it: Silent Valley Art frat [p56] Fan our sense of heritage: Jatin Das Season special Flower power [p66] Salad days [p70] Keep it cool [p74]

TOTAL NUMBER OF PAGES 108 INCLUDING COVER

OUR PARTNER HOTELS Send us your feedback at exoticapioneer2016@gmail.com; Facebook: www.facebook.com/Exotica-394686670715776

My favourite brand of shoes is Salvatore Ferragamo for formals and Gucci for sneakers.

FAVOURITE HAUNTS OF STYLISH PEOPLE

I keep time with a Hublot, which is known for its precision.

I am reading Viveka Chudamani

by Adi Shankara. It is a famous Sankrit poem which expounds the Advaita Vedanta.

I love the fashion label, Paul Smith, which is synonymous with classic British tailoring and style.

I protect my eyes from the sun with Tom Ford sunglasses.

Designer PAWAN SACHDEVA is known for his cuts and design sensibilities. His label specialises in minimalism and is known for his love for patterns and motifs

I keep smelling fresh with Tom Ford Oud. My most prized possession in my wardrobe is my rugged pair of denims.

I prefer all kinds of rock music.

My favourite cuisine is vegetarian Indian. It is light, wholesome and flavourful.

I love to vacation at Ibiza, the place where the world parties and you don’t need to carry your baggage of identity.

EXOTICA [10] JUNE 2018

TRAVEL NEWS

YOGA WITH GOATS Unusual yoga in the midst of meadows and lakes is what is being offered by Switzerland’s Engadin St. Moritz resort. Guests can now enjoy a yoga session in the lush green outdoors alongside the mountain goats. The routine in pure mountain air will leave the guests rejuvenated.

The resort is offering the 90-minute sessions for 40 CHF/Person, including tea and a yoga mat.

Also on offer are sessions of Paddle Board Yoga, which is the art of performing yoga while stand-up paddle surfing (SUP) in calm waters.

The sport combines hatha yoga and vinyasa yoga asanas or poses, with surfing. The session will be held on the Silvaplana Lake. Apart from that, there are unlimited fun activities for children and peace and relaxation aids for adults.

UNKNOWN SIDE OF PORTUGAL The natural parks and reserves, geoparks and biosphere reserves recognised by UNESCO have ensured that Portugal is also a destination appreciated for enjoying outdoor activities. The country’s history and culture, gastronomy and wines, are among the main attractions, not to mention the beaches, surfing, music festivals, golf and the varied landscapes.

The capital, Lisbon, is a city with a special radiance, which comes from the Tagus river and the proximity of the sea while Porto, an ancient

city, whose historic centre has been classified as world heritage, is the point of arrival of the River Douro, on whose valley slopes the famous port wine is cultivated.

The Portuguese Road to Santiago and the Paths of Fátima are increasingly sought out by those who like walking for a purpose, focussing on knowledge, nature and culture. Apart from that, the Mediterranean diet with olive oil, vegetables and herbs in abundance is a gastronomic experience like no other.

FRANKFURT’S COFFEE LOVE Frankfurt’s coffee houses are as diversified as the city itself whether it is the age-old family business of Luise Wacker, who has been proffering its coffee creations for more than a century, or the Kaffeerösterei Wissmüller, yet another time-honoured Frankfurt roasting house.

Also, don’t forget to visit Glückskaffee, the highlights of which are the two proprietary coffee blends and the “wild coffee”, the so-called “kaffa.”

Other popular delicacies include “bacci”, an Italian-style chocolate and hazelnut kiss, almond biscuits, tartufo, pistachio biscuits and much more.

Naschmarkt am Dom’s customers are given the chance to escape the hustle and bustle of the big city. On the café’s ground floor, guests sit on traditional, Viennese-style coffeehouse chairs. On the top floor, things are even cosier, with the clientele relaxing on comfortable French armchairs. The establishment’s garden exudes a Mediterranean atmosphere in the style of the Côte d’Azure. The coffee house offers traditional Italian

espresso to the Naschmarkt special, coffee with cream, the famous Frankfurt Crown Cake liqueur and brittle. Americano, affogato, cortado and chai latte are of course part of the menu.

At The Espresso Bar, one immediately feels transported back in time. The interior, designed with much attention to detail and the busy baristas, makes guests feel as if they’re back in the 1920s!

Aniis, IIMORI Patisserie and Café im Liebieghaus are also great coffeehouses to visit in Germany’s cultural hub.

CELEBRATIONS IN IRELAND BLOOMSDAY FESTIVAL, DUBLIN [11–16 JUNE] It is not often that a fictional character gets a festival dedicated just to themselves. At the Bloomsday Festival in Dublin fans of Leopold Bloom, the central character in James Joyce’s famous novel, Ulysses, can dress up and step back in time. Across the city, musical, artistic and food-related events bring Ulysses to life. The stream of consciousness novel was written by James Joyce in the 20th century and is as much a celebration of the city of Dublin as the literary genre.

BELSONIC [18–24 JUNE] American music producer, artist and composer Nile Rodgers & Chic, Irish rock band The Script, English singer and songwriter, Liam Gallagher, who rose to fame as the lead singer of the rock band Oasis and British DJ, and house and techno producer Carl Cox will take to the stage in June at Belfast’s biggest beat bash at the Belsonic Festival.

The week-long festival, held in Ormeau Park, also has an opportunity to explore the historic city and soak up some Belfast vibe.

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SEAFEST [JUNE 29-JULY 1] Taking place on the spectacular Wild Atlantic Way, Seafest is Ireland’s national maritime festival celebrating all things oceanic between June 29 and July 1 in Galway.

Events include a seafood fair, seafood cookery demonstrations with celebrity chefs, tours of ocean-going vessels, boat trips, flyboarding displays and exhibits on marine life and deep-sea exploration.

76TH MONACO GRAND PRIX WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP Monaco’s F1 Grand Prix, one race that every driver, dreams of winning, was held between May 24 and 27. Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull conquered the Formula 1 on the circuit. The Formula One Track, well known as Circuit de Monaco, showcases a spectacular city race in a highlycharged atmosphere. It is one of the oldest and most prestigious motor races, on an urban circuit, which was designed in 1929 by the son of the president of the Automobile Club of Monaco.

The perfect place to stay while attending the

Grand Prix is the newly renovated Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo on famous Casino Square, which has Michelin star chefs and evenings organised at the La Rascasse, on the portside at Monaco, for the party lover.

LUXURY ON A SAIL The ship, Celebrity Edge, offers a magical sensory experience in a luxurious urban condo while sailing at sea. It pushes the boundaries of cruise ship architecture from bow to stern and everywhere in between. It has urban condoinspired accommodations and industry-first Magic Carpet, an app-based interactive projection system that stimulates and engages participants of all ages and abilities.

HILTON GOES SUSTAINABLE Hilton has announced that it will eliminate plastic straws across its hotels in Asia-Pacific by the end of 2018 and transition away from plastic bottles from its conference and event spaces. This is in line with the company’s global commitment to cut its environmental footprint in half and double its social impact investment by 2030.

The company has also committed to spend twice the amount for local and minority-owned suppliers while doubling its investment in programmes to help women and youth around the world as part of Hilton’s Travel with Purpose corporate responsibility strategy to further the United Nation’s 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

EXOTICA [16] JUNE 2018

TURKISH AIRLINES OFFERS CITY DEALS Turkish Airlines is offering a free layover service to all its international transit passengers who fly through Istanbul and have to wait for long hours.

Apart from complimentary transfers, access to historical sights of interest as well as a sampling of Turkey’s famed cuisine, passengers can catch a glimpse of the varied history and cultural fusion which has made Istanbul such a vibrant and charming city. Passengers with an international transit flight through Istanbul with Turkish Airlines

and layover between six and 24 hours can be part of tours that depart daily from the hotel desk at Istanbul Atatürk Airport, with a daily schedule which takes place from 8:30 to 11:00, from 09:00 to 15:00, from 09:00 to 18:00, from 12:00 to 18:00 and from 16:00 to 21:00 hours. The tour programme includes a combination of some of Istanbul’s highlights such as Topkapi Palace, Sultan Ahmet Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Dolmabahce Palace and many more.

BONNAROO MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL IN MANCHESTER, TENNESSEE A variety of musical styles will be performed across more than 10 stages, at the annual Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival between June 7 and 11 at Great Stage Park in Tennessee. Its renowned Comedy Theatre has hosted countless superstars as well as comedians long before they became household names, including unforgettable appearances by Judd Apatow, Amy Schumer, Zach Galifianakis, Marc Maron, Louis C.K., Aziz Ansari, Chris Rock, Nick Kroll, Conan O’Brien, David Cross, Tig Notaro, Hannibal Buress, Daniel Tosh, Donald Glover, John Oliver and others.

It has also led to memorable collaborations, like when Galifianakis dropped in with friend Jon Hamm to perform in the Comedy Theatre and in

the SuperJam, or when Bob Saget was joined by TV brother-in-law and real-life best friend John Stamos or when Apatow brought along Kevin Nealon and then Eddie Vedder dropped in to sing an original song with him. Expect the unexpected at the Comedy Theatre at Bonnaroo.

The festival has grown into an important showcase for contemporary independent films and filmmakers as well. Each year it offers an eclectic schedule of world premieres, major music documentaries, cult classics and much more. Its seated, air-conditioned cinema also hosts an A-list array of one-of-a-kind happenings, spanning director spotlights, interactive screenings, live film scoring and high energy Q&A sessions.

EXOTICA [18] JUNE 2018

GLOBE TROTTER

FROM

CABODA TO CABO

The N9 Autoestrada outside Sintra

RAMA DE ROCA KUSHAN MITRA drives down the estuary of Tagus, the river on which Lisbon is built and where Portugal’s famed explorers set off for foreign shores from and made this country on the western edge of Europe a superpower in times gone by

THE

spectacular cliffs of Cabo Da Rama, “Cape Rama” in Goa, are really popular with many of us motoring journalists because they offer a spectacular view of the setting sun as it sinks into the Arabian Sea. As such, during every media drive in Goa, we find ourselves on the plateau of Cabo Da Rama for photo and video shoots. The place came to be called Cabo Da Rama because of the Ram temple still situated there near the remains of the fortified gun emplacements. But it took a trip to the Portuguese Atlantic Coast to understand how things came to be in the former Portuguese colony in India.

I had travelled to Portugal last October to drive the new BMW X3 and 6GT, both of which were lovely cars. But it was the Central Portuguese Atlantic coast which was the real star of the journey. Drive west from Lisbon towards the towns of Cascais and Sintra and the protected forests of the area. The drive down the estuary of the Tagus river on Portugal’s excellent highway network led us to the mountain roads around these coastal enclaves.

The estuary of the Tagus, the river on which Lisbon is built, is where Portugal’s famed

explorers set off for foreign shores from and made this country on the Western edge of Europe a medieval superpower.

The Penha Longa Resort, where I was staying, was a combination of history, golf and motorsport.

It was the holiday home of the erstwhile Portuguese royal family and the old palace still stood on its grounds. A wonderful golf course existed on the grounds of the resort, which was beautiful. But to any petrol head like myself, the greatest thing about Penha Longa was the fact that the classic Autodromo do Estoril, one of the great classic European race circuits, was located next door and the sound of high-pitched motorcycle and race car engines could be heard in the distance. Some rooms even

The lighthouse at Cabo de Roca

afforded a view of the famous Estoril “Parabolica”, the sweeping 180-degree flat right-hander that has inspired so many other circuits.

After a long day of driving the BMW 6GT on Portuguese highways and hill roads, the next day my driving partner and I decided that we would go off the highways and drive on the lovely twisting hill roads of the area. Another colleague suggested we go see the lighthouse at Cabo Da Roca, and I’m sure glad we went.

Cabo De Roca, quite literally, “Cape Rock” is an important geographical landmark. It is the westernmost point of the European continent and the Eurasian landmass, it is the point from where people once thought they could see the end of the world and from where young

(Clockwise from top right): The Ritz Carlton Penha Longa Resort; the stone marker signifying the western-most point of continental Europe at Cabo de Roca and the former Summer Palace of the Portuguese royal family which is now inside the Penha Longa Resort

explorers wondered what was beyond. It is also a point which is being gradually eroded away by the Atlantic Ocean, whose waves crash onto what seem like unrelenting cliffs, but over thousands of years, Europe’s westernmost point has moved eastward.

The small car parking lot and souvenir shop were empty and devoid of tourists when we arrived but much like the rest of Europe, the place rapidly filled up as three busloads of Chinese tourists arrived complete with their selfie sticks. But then again, rising Chinese tourism has given a lot of European economies a massive fillip though I wonder if all those selfie sticks are worth it. That said, the landscape around Cabo da Roca looked particularly stark that cloudy and windy day. That, however, did not stop some more adventurous trekkers going down the various paths to the base of the cliffs below as the angry Atlantic battered the scarfaces. Not wearing the right footwear, I did not dare venture down the cliffs but I took in the salty air and enjoyed the vast panoramic view from these cliffs, and realised that while the two Capes — Roca and Rama — are half a world apart they are so similar.

ONE

thing, however, is in favour of the Portuguese, they have prevented the rampant commercialisation of the area. In Goa, there are illegal shacks even at Cabo Da Rama. In Portugal, of course, a place with less population pressure, even the hillsides around the area have been protected.

Much of the forest area is preserved and kept pristine. While hotels and commercial establishments have come up, the areas are strictly zoned and the most ecologically and scenic areas have few modern constructions. Most houses near Cabo Da Roca are traditional small Portuguese houses, complete with the decorated famous tiles on their entrance.

In fact, if you head into Lisbon you will see some of the older houses still have tiles, some of them individually hand-painted. In fact, once you leave Cabo Da Roca, a visit to Portugal’s fascinating capital is a must. The first thing you will notice though is that Lisbon is not a walking friendly city unless you are on the waterfront. And that isn’t so

Driving through the mountain roads in the forests surrounding Sintra and Casca

Glimpses of the degustation menu at LAB by Chef Sergi Arola

much because of the narrow streets but because Lisbon is built on seven hills. It is, however, a beautiful city but something we will leave for a future piece, including a stay at a hotel co-owned

by Cristiano Ronaldo.

This trip ended with a stunning meal at the Michelin-starred LAB restaurant at Penha Longa. A small, discrete arrangement with space for just 22 covers, the food at LAB created by Chef Sergi Arola combines traditional Portuguese fare interspersed with his experiences from across the world. Chef Arola, whose mentor is the superstar chef Ferran Adria of El Bulli, also spent some time in Mumbai

and those flavours come through in his spectacular dishes, including a stunning duck dish done two ways, a shared plate of tapas that looks like desserts and his unique dessert that plays along with Portuguese history and the sardine.

THE

hills above Cascais and Sintra are amazing and while Cabo Da Roca might lack the coconut palms that fringe Cabo Da Rama in India, if you ever find yourself in Lisbon, and you have been to Goa, do make sure that you visit the Cape of the Rock.

EXOTICA [27] JUNE 2018

Q&A Filmmaker MEGHNA GULZAR is quickly emerging as a sensitive story-teller of complex human realities. Post her exposition of a counter-narrative in the Arushi murder case through Talvar, she has just presented the story of a Kashmiri woman spy who marries a Pakistani military officer as part of a RAW mission. The contemporary resonance is not lost given the youth unrest in the Valley and the Kashmiri girl’s pledge to hold up the honour of her country before all else. But Meghna focusses entirely on the human condition.

So Sehmat is not a femme fatale but a fragile Indian woman who finds her strength. In a conversation with RINKU GHOSH, the thinking director shares her craft, creative funding of films and her illustrious parents

When did you read the novel Calling Sehmat by Harinder Sikka and when did the idea come to tell the story?

I was working on a couple of other subjects after the release of Talvar. In the course of 2016, this book and story came to me twice through different producers.

First time, it was Preeti Sahani of Junglee Pictures.

She said she was trying to acquire the rights and asked me if I would be happy to direct the film. Of course, I agreed instantly as it was a very powerful story. I hadn’t read the book then, she had just told me the brief outline of the story. Neither did the talks materialise with the author. A couple of months later, another production house approached me and it turned out to be the same book. That is when I met the author for the first time and read the book.

Again, talks between the author and the production house didn’t work out. By that time, the author and I had developed a rapport and he said, ‘I don’t know who is going to produce it but I am certain I want you to direct it.’ I said, ‘If you trust me with the material, let me develop a story out of it and take it to a studio.’ We had an undertaking between us and I developed a story out of it with my writer.

I took it back to Junglee pictures because it was morally the right thing to do. By that time it was December 2016 when Junglee pictures formally bought the rights to the book and we had our first draft by February. Then the second production house approached me but I had already met Alia and had

EXOTICA [28] JUNE 2018

THE PEELER OF EMOTIONS

PHOTOS: PANKAJ KUMAR

given her a verbal narration. As soon as I read the book, I knew only she could do it because she matched the character in age, physicality and fragility. Besides, she could deliver the level of performance that I needed to a T. I told her that I didn’t have a script but I wanted to know if I could write it with her in my mind as the character. And her prompt reply was, “absolutely.” The minute I had the script, it was time to go back to her and she formally came on board. Karan Johar and I were already talking about working together and this seemed like the perfect opportunity.

What is Raazi’s contemporary relevance in the India-Pakistan context?

When I decided to make the film, I didn’t even think about the context or the relevance in today’s time. When I made Talvar too, there was no pressing reason to pull up a story eight years later. But there was a counter-narrative and unanswered questions that I found very interesting in terms of human complexity. So, I don’t really look at any kind of messaging or statement. Neither am I drawing from prevailing situations realistically. Let me clarify that Raazi is not a onedimensional story about India and Pakistan. There are a lot of grey areas and human conflicts that are my driving force. How it becomes relevant to society is by the process in which I choose the stories that I want to do.

But I can say this, that the ideals and principles of the protagonist are hard to stick by in contemporary times but the fragile-looking Sehmat not only holds on to them but lives them.

Yes she is a Kashmiri girl but her sense of patriotism in 1971 cannot be

I DON’T REALLY LOOK AT ANY KIND OF MESSAGING OR STATEMENT. NEITHER I AM DRAWING FROM PREVAILING SITUATIONS REALISTICALLY. LET ME CLARIFY THAT RAAZI IS NOT A ONE-DIMENSIONAL STORY ABOUT INDIA AND PAKISTAN. THERE ARE A LOT OF GREY AREAS AND HUMAN CONFLICTS THAT ARE MY DRIVING FORCE

imposed on 2018, nor can today’s references be imposed in a disjointed manner. Her selflessness was her innate strength Everything else is incidental and circumstantial.

subconsciously doing for a long time. I am fortunate that people pick it up and associate it with my story-telling or the choice of films I make.

The protagonist is a young girl who goes ahead in her mission despite her vulnerabilities. How difficult was that to translate cinematically?

There are layers because she is struggling between her expected roles — there is loyalty to the family, to the father, the country and then to her wedded family. Above all there is loyalty to her own conscience and righteousness. They are all operating at multiple levels. It is not as black and white as it seems. There are moments when she is extremely vulnerable before her loving new husband. She is a young girl and it is probably her first flush of attraction too. Emotionally, she is invested in the relationship. Also, at times even if she doesn’t want to, there might be chances that she is drawn into conflict. She is a human being.

There will be emotions that will play and kind of criss-cross with her sense of duty and patriotism.

All of your films have found their own niche.

Talvar did very well, Filhaal came ahead of its time but did make a mark. So, you are pushing your creative space in an industry which largely talks about returns. How difficult is it to achieve that and hold on to your creativity?

It is becoming easier because the producers and studios are realising that content is relevant and the audience is rooting for different stories, big or small. Now, the demarcation is simple, is it a good film or a bad film? That whole art vs commercial, mainstream vs parallel, independent vs crossover is over. I think the audience is whole heartedly accepting good stories.

Do you think as a woman director, you were easily able to touch that core of a woman’s mind, cut through the layers?

I would hope so because both me and my writer Bhavani Iyer are women. It is the first time in India that two women have written a script about a woman spy, who is not an action junkie, and a film on whom is eventually directed by a woman.

Otherwise, would it have run the risk of stereotyping?

I don’t know but I was very clear. I wouldn’t even say it is a conscious attempt but going against stereotypes is something I have been

Has the industry, the big studios and producers, who are market-driven, bent the rules for your kind of films?

Producers should be conscious because they are in a business and are entitled to their money’s worth.

So there is a way to make films which are contentdriven, which may not have that initial ability to pull the audience for a first day, first show or may not have a star. Then, you work your way backwards. You put a safe number to that film and try and make the film within that number. That is entirely possible because I have done that with both my films.

So, you are talking about smart budgeting?

Absolutely, you can do it very creatively and disburse that money very creatively. That is

EXOTICA [31] JUNE 2018

BOTH ME AND MY WRITER BHAVANI IYER ARE WOMEN. IT IS THE FIRST TIME IN INDIA THAT TWO WOMEN HAVE WRITTEN A SCRIPT ABOUT A WOMAN SPY, WHO IS NOT AN ACTION JUNKIE, AND A FILM ON WHOM IS EVENTUALLY DIRECTED BY A WOMAN

another process that is extremely challenging. It makes you more confident as a director when your film is complete and you know that the pressure is not so much that it is going to break the producer’s back. As a director, you must have that responsibility.

There is a lot of talk about women empowerment and women directors, crew and technicians. Do you think we should stop defining a filmmaker in terms of his/her own gender?

I haven’t believed in these discussions for a very long time. Growing up in the industry, I know that filmmakers from Bimal Roy, my father and Shyam Benegal to Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Farah Khan, all have demolished stereotypes. The men have made women-oriented films much before and have presented their central characters in flesh and flood and the fullness of things. And Farah Khan, a woman director, has made films which with a completely commercial male director’s sensibilities. So, these divides don’t stand but coming to a sense of equality in the commercial sense, where rights and economics are concerned, there is a disparity between what female actors are paid versus their male counterparts. There is also disparity between what a female actor’s film earns versus a male actor’s. One needs to be realistic about it and, therefore, push the envelope with smart planning and execution. My only thing is it is not a man-woman thing for me. It is human to human. Please respect your fellow humans. Be equal to all human beings regardless of black-white, male-female, rich-poor, educated-uneducated. Gender is very small if you look at the larger picture.

How do you approach your stories? What is your creative process and what kind of real life inputs do you store in your mind?

Till Talvar, either by choice or design, there was a very long break. Between Talvar and Raazi, the timeframe was much smaller. Between Raazi and my next film, hopefully, the gap is smaller as well. I like to be involved with every process of my film, right from putting the first word on paper to seeing it release because it keeps me close to my material. My best idea exchange happens when I am collaborating with my screenplay writer, Bhavani. We have long conversations about the story, how it will go, what are the unusual nuances and we make our notes. Then she comes back with sequences and we discuss that and the cycle repeats. She writes in English so once we are done with one draft, I take over for Hindi dialogues.

There is a lot that is in that conversation which may not come on paper but it helps me on set because that recall is there. There is so much in a book that is unsaid and cinematically to connect to that space is very engaging and involving.

In terms of research, do you like to travel and feel the context of your source material?

I couldn’t go to Pakistan for Raazi but you need references of what Pakistan of 1971 looked like, how those people dressed and fortunately, the internet is a nice place when it is used correctly. A lot of research went down there. Simple things in the film, like the girl is studying in Delhi and she is called back home to Kashmir, were a challenge.

There were no trains to Srinagar then and not many buses either. To make the travel realistic, we had to do a lot of research. We found out about the bus routes and train routes, the mode of travel, the

EXOTICA [32] JUNE 2018

border crossing arrangements...You need to immerse yourself in that research to be able to even write one scene. Then there is really no ready reference on RAW modules for training women spies in the 1970s amid heightened tensions. So yes, I am big on research.

I do take creative breaks, spend time and catch up with my husband, my son and my family. If possible, take a vacation because replenishing the mind and restoring the creative juices is very important. Otherwise you will start replicating.

How much of these creative discussions do you have with your parents?

My mother (acting legend Rakhi) watches my film only when it is completed and discusses nothing before that. As for my father (Gulzar), I discuss the subject of the film first and he gives me his point of view. We may agree or disagree. Then, when I am done with the first draft of the film, I share it with him. He has his own pointers and if I agree, I take them. If I disagree, I explain why. Then he gets to see the first cut and the final cut afterwards. Now he has stopped making films and gone back to his first love, which is writing. As filmmakers, our sensibilities and craft are different, but that’s why bouncing off ideas becomes a very enriching experience.

You haven’t thought of casting your mother in your films?

None of my films have had a role for her and I don’t want to force-fit her just because she is my mother. Besides, she is close to 70 and has worked for 50 years of her life. It is not that she has withdrawn, even professionals retire at

I DO TAKE CREATIVE BREAKS, SPEND TIME AND CATCH UP WITH MY HUSBAND, MY SON AND MY FAMILY. IF POSSIBLE, TAKE A VACATION BECAUSE REPLENISHING THE MIND AND RESTORING THE CREATIVE JUICES IS VERY IMPORTANT. OTHERWISE YOU WILL START REPLICATING

the age of 60. She has done a Bengali film recently and she is dubbing for it in Hindi right now in Kolkata as we speak. She looks after my son when I am travelling. If I do come across a story which is perfect for her and will do justice to her as an actor, I won’t think twice.

What is your take on Indian films going to newer markets. How is this exposure going to change the trajectory of Indian films?

It definitely opens up another revenue stream

for a film. Now, what kind of films these markets pick up, content-driven, entertaining or star-driven, will be decided by them. But at least there is a new possibility.

What’s the status of your next film?

I am working on the life of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw so I am putting it together.

That again involves a lot of research. But since it is a real, human story, I have got drawn to it.

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SOUTHERN SOJOURN

WRAPPED IN THE ARMS OF MONSOON

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Nestled in the Anaimalai Hills of the Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu, Valparai is awash with mist and rain as LAKSHMI SHARATH goes on a hike

THE

forest floor is enchanting with colourful mushrooms sprouting along while lush ferns create a green carpet under my feet. The earth is spouting poetry when it rains in the mountains: the forest comes alive with wild creepers and orchids, darkness descends and seems to surround me and all I can hear is the frenzy of the winds as they flirt with the trees.

Droplets of rain gently fall on my outstretched hands and within moments the light drizzle morphs into a thunderstorm.

I am in Valparai, a hill station and a plantation town, which is also a biodiversity hotspot filled with tropical rain forests. It is a scenic journey as I drive from Coimbatore to Valparai, passing through verdant patches of forests, encountering wildlife and gazing at vast expanses of lakes and reservoirs. Low-hanging clouds drift in the sky creating a misty landscape.

There is a nip in the air. We navigate through 40 hairpin bends, stopping by to admire the waterfalls cascading down the slopes. The Anaimalai Hills appear and disappear through the clouds.

Valparai is not just a hill station or a plantation town. It is one of India’s biodiversity hotspots and home to several endemic and endangered fauna and flora. One of them greets me at the hairpin bends as a herd of Nilgiri Tahr emerges from the woods, hot-footing up odd craggy ends and crevices. We keep driving through the mist, looking at pretty orchids as the earth turns marshy and fragrant. I feast my senses on the lush green fabric, furling and unfurling around me.

The lion-tailed macaques are one of the endangered primate species that live in this plantation town. Today, there are barely few hundreds of them in these hills.

Locals, NGOs and wildlife conservationists are striving to protect these species in this pristine environment.

I am waiting for the sighting of the day as we see a family of Great Indian Hornbills feeding their young from a distance. Most hornbills are monogamous and mate for life, the perfect example of a happy family. We stand far away and watch them in the pristine forests with a pair of binoculars and try not to disturb them.

We spot woodpeckers, eagles, babblers, coucals, thrushes, mynahs as well. But it is at night that

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Low-hanging clouds drift in the sky creating a misty landscape (inset) the monsoon makes the area lush green

The area is a biodiversity hotspot with an abundance of wildlife and the Monkey Falls are a true tropical wonder

surprises await us as we see a few flying squirrels gliding gracefully from one tree to another. One of the naturalists tells us that it is probably a mating game.

Another tells us that leopards stalk the woods as well but we do not sight them. We wouldn’t even if the big cat was nearby for it is a master deceiver, showing up and pouncing only when it is sure of a kill. We look for frogs, civets, insects and several other nocturnal creatures and lose ourselves in the call of the jungles.With predators around, you almost tend to ignore the minor details.

Among other things to explore, apart from the plantations and hills, are the Monkey Falls and the dams — Sholaiyar, Nirar and Alaiyur. My personal favourite is a park called Nalamudi Poonjolai, which is now christened as Seen God. According to the legend, a man named Velu claims to have seen god in human form here. I meet Velu who comes here everyday hoping for another divine tryst. You may or may not believe him but I sure do. Standing here, taking in the most vibrant burst of creation there is, I feel that God does probably exist somewhere here even if you cannot see him.

THIS FA C T F I L E Valparai is 450 km away from Bengaluru and 105 km from Coimbatore. It is easily accessible by road. You can fly into Coimbatore or take a train or bus to Coimbatore and drive from there through Pollachi. When you are in Valparai , cross the border and visit Athirampally Falls in Kerala.

BEST TIME TO VISIT: Throughout the year although there can be heavy rains during the monsoon. However, monsoon is one of the best times to be here as the forests come alive.

journey is not about just a monsoon vacation. It is about a journey through the dense woods that opens our eyes to conservation, the shrinking rain forests and the endangered species.Valparai sits demure, shrouded in mist, oblivious to its own charm. I have been to several plantation towns and hill stations but I am fascinated by this town. Perhaps, it has to do with the monsoon as there is something about the rains in a tropical evergreen forest that brings out the wildness within.

The rain tumbles down and leeches crawl around, but you learn to ignore them focusing instead on pretty wild flowers, lush ferns and the call of birds. The monsoon is part of the landscape as the rain forest wraps you into its magical world. Initially, I am refreshed by the rains but then I start longing for the warmth of the sun, which peeps in now and then, only to be shunted out by the dark clouds. Slowly, a sense of gay abandon overwhelms me as I throw the rain poncho away and lose myself in this pristine world.

BLITHE SPIRIT

HOPUP TO ANEWHIGH

With new infusions and spices, the microbrewery revolution is now bubbling up beyond the metros to take over even Tier II cities.

ASMITA SARKAR tracks the phenomenon

AAM

Aadmi ale is one of the most popular craft brews at Toit Brewpub in Bengaluru that’s making waves. In no way inspired by the political party, it draws its spirit from the common man and India’s love for mangoes. Infused with the flavour of the delicious fruit, it is a perfect drink this summer. However, Toit is not the only pub around the country experimenting with its brews. Many are as varied as wheat beer, blueberry ale and aam panna.

Microbreweries or craft breweries, small-scale producers of beer, are changing how India drinks its blues away. It is no longer just a thirst quencher for the summers but an all-season drink customised to complement the food on the menu.

The palate is no longer restricted to mass produced lagers available at low prices. The millennial beer-lover now has wide-ranging options, craft beer on tap or in a bottle like the White Rhino and Bira 91.

There are also almost 100 microbreweries across India, most of which are in Gurugram and Bengaluru, that are making their own beers to serve at their venues. The menus here are a far cry from the usual bottled lagers available in the retail market. “As different Indian states are opening up to micro-brewing, the future of craft beer in our country is very exciting. We should aim for our beers to be at par or better than craft beers from around the world,” said Arun George, co-founder of Bengaluru’s Toit Brewpub.

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FLAVOURS GALORE

like the apple cider, made with apple juice, and Belgian Wit Beer, which has flavours of cracker meal grain and a herbal mix of hops, coriander and chamomile. While Pitstop brewpub in Delhi NCR has a Belgian wheat beer flavoured with orange peel and coriander, a refreshing take on the wheat beer, their pale coloured beer has a Scotch whisky finish.

“We are always on the lookout to experiment and use local produce (fruits, spices, etc.) to create interesting new flavour profiles and exciting new beers. Currently, we have one of our most popular specials on tap, the Aam Admi Ale, which is infused with locally sources mangoes,” said George.

India’s first microbrewery, Doolally, which opened its doors in Pune in 2009, has made some of the most innovative brews using blackberries and coconut milk. They also opened multiple venues in Mumbai starting in 2014.

“Whether it is a Karvanda Gose made from blackberries from Khandala or a

AT

Gurugram’s Molecule Air Bar, they have produced 20 different flavours of beers in two years. Their range includes fruit beers like blueberry ale, Molecule Rosée (raspberry wit), strawberry ale, watermelon wheat, mango ale and so on. Their most innovative brews have been the aam panna spike and milkshake IPA. They also serve the usual Belgian Wit, Milk stout and Pilsner lager.

Another brewpub in Delhi NCR, Tama Brewery & World Kitchen, has been serving German style wheat beer with banana and clove flavours called Hefeweizen. Its summer beer, Belgian Saison, gives spicy notes because of the special yeast strains brewmasters use apart from their fruit beer series. Tama has a rotational beer menu with fresh fruits, including pomegranate and alphonso mango ales, according to international brewing standards.

After Stories, located in Delhi NCR, has a small range of craft brews

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rich Chocolate Coconut Milk Stout named Bounty bar, all grown up, to a Smoked Apple Cider which will blow your mind with its smoky, woody flavours, these styles of beer have probably been brewed for the first time on this side of this world.

How can I forget the robust and assertive (and very strong!) Abbey Tripel,” said Tresha Guha, brand manager, Doolally.

“This year, we’re already brewing a fresh batch of the Smoked Apple Cider, and a traditional Barrel aged Oud Bruin Ale, which originates from the Flemish region of Belgium. It has maltiness with a sherry-like character,” she added.

CHANGING DEMAND

GURU

gram, with its freshly minted and globe-trotting corporate crowd, started the microbrewery culture years ago. The large number of young people in metros has also been attributed for the growth of the industry, keen to experiment with cuisine and beverages.

“Craft beer is fresh and can be made to taste as per guest requirement. Unlike bottled beer, there is no glycerine in craft beer made in a microbrewery and the content of carbon dioxide is

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comparatively less,” said Udit Batra, Cluster Head at Smaaash Entertainment Pvt Ltd, the parent company of Pitstop Brewpub in Gurugram, highlighting the health consciousness of the younger consumer profile.

Microbrewery licences “help in increasing excise revenues for the state government and the future looks even brighter if we can make it healthier. Diet beer with low calories is something which will be trending next. The microbrewery culture, meanwhile, is reaching tier-II and tier-III cities now. The sale of bottled beer is on the decline plus more and more youngsters are opting

for freshly brewed craft beer, ditching bottled and packaged cans,” said Batra.

“People are experimenting with their taste buds and opting for newer combinations with beverages. They are also trending in places like Delhi NCR, especially in Gurugram. There is always something special about freshly brewed craft beer and, therefore, the concept of brewery is becoming increasingly popular,” said Harshit Arora and Abhimanyu, founders of After Stories.

Demand is also driving two of the most popular brewpubs in India to expand into selling their hits to other pubs. While Maharashtra is leading the way as they have started giving licences to brewpubs, Bengaluru is yet to get there.

Pune’s Doolally is one of the first to get the licence for the process called kegging. Its brews are made at “the mothership brewery in the Corinthians Resort & Club, Pune”.

Bengaluru’s Toit is planning to open a production brewery soon to beat the competition. “As per excise laws, we are only allowed to brew a certain volume of beer every year as a microbrewery. So, for expansion, we are considering opening a production brewery soon,

where there will not be any limits on the quantities brewed,” said George.

In India, microbreweries produce anything between 5,000 l to 50,000 l per day. Setting up a production brewery, which can also keg its produce to other pubs, will free their hands to make a much larger batch. For Bira91, setting up production breweries in India has increased their output to potentially more than 2.7 lakh cases a year.

WHAT CITIES WANT

THE

craft breweries, through their new innovations, have changed not just the beers but also the interiors. With most brew pubs having their plant on the premises — large tanks, pipes and other equipment — it gives off a post-modern and open look. And these changes have made them must-visit spots for tourists and locals.

The English pub theme has inspired many pubs like Pitstop Brewpub and Molecule Air Bar. The latter is also eclectic for mounting 3D art and iron installations and artifacts like guns, wheels and pipes. After Stories is a casual pub and lounge that wants corporates and hen’s nights parties at their venues.

Toit is a three-storey pub with a tree bang in the middle of it and an autorickshaw protruding from its walls. They have an earthy vibe with exposed brick walls, wooden panels on the ceilings, and Mangalore tiles on the roof.

While the growth in beer sales has been slow the tides are changing, the All India Brewers’ Association estimates craft beers sales to be growing at a rate of 20 per cent year-on-year, and a revolution is in ferment with firm Indian accents.

In 10 years, India is projected to have a bigger craft beer revolution than the USA or Europe.

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T H E H A B I TAT

Heaven EARTH? SLICE on

A

OF IT

Equal parts natural history, elegy and environmental statement, photographer N P JAYAN’S studies of the Silent Valley in Kerala are steeped in his deep love for nature. Camping over many trips spanning six years, he captures on camera its sheer biodiversity. EXOTICA presents a lens eye view

sun beams shape-shift as they stream in seraphim-like through the canopy of the rain forest. The butterflies float about in a gorgeous burst of freedom and the bird calls stream through the spider web swinging dainty between just-washed leaves.

Limited space in a dense evergreen forest can throw up marvels in the biodiversity of flora and fauna. And for one like the Silent Valley, which is believed to have an evolutionary history of more than 50 million years, it is a new story every time, each new leaf and branch probing their own way to survival. Photographer NP Jayan has taken more than 1,000 photographs of the flora and fauna to map the climatic changes occurring there, inspired by noted conservationist, the late Prof MGK Menon. The photographer embarked on the voluntary assignment, undertaken in cooperation with the forest department, in the first week of December 2006 with the intention of documenting the various plant and animal species. He conceived his project as a “silent campaign” against any human activity and over the years became a homeless minstrel, talking about a fragile eco-system with simplicity, an ascetic purity and openness. “I took these images in the hope that they will help educate the people about the biodiversity that exists under the dense canopy,” says Jayan who feels that the Silent Valley needs to be saved because it is among the last evergreen forests.

THE

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EXOTIC WILDLIFE

THE

images oscillate between the tenor of a bird to the couched clouds that hug together in the monsoon shadow. Holding his camera aloft a branch of a tree, he has captured a waterfall roaring in the distance.

Living in a leech-infested rainforest can be trying. But Jayan stayed put with stockings and gumboots peppered over with snuff (powdered tobacco). He has shot in daylight, always without a flash, and you wonder how he captured the frog with praying hands. In another image, the speckled frog is a perfect camouflage to the surroundings and you wonder how the artist personifies a Dionysian abandon. “I shot that frog with a torchlight,” he says, and you mull over his ability to turn his subject around. “When I spend time in the Valley, I forget time, the outer world... I’m lost in the cinematic canvas of the sounds and sights of the little things I see. Sometimes I don’t know the names of micro species and consult famous botanist/zoologist KV Uthaman in Thiruvananthapuram. The flora and fauna can help humans too.

Rainforests produce chemicals that can treat various diseases and replenish rivers but then deforestation and development are their biggest enemies.

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PRECIOUS RAINFOREST

DIFFUSED

sunlight floods the sky before quickly fading away, poignantly bringing to mind the hours that Jayan spent patiently waiting for the perfect moment to capture the landscapes of the Silent Valley. “Rainforests are among the earth’s most valuable and diverse habitats. I learnt to live like the tribals — eat the berries, leaves and fruits they ate and learnt to listen to silence,” says Jayan.

Rainforests play a critical role in the maintenance of our planet’s good health. Not only are they home to more than half of the world’s species of flora and fauna, rainforests are also the source of about 40 per cent of the planet’s oxygen supply. They also help to maintain the earth’s fresh water levels, as well as regulate temperatures and weather patterns. Sadly, despite being so rich, diverse and life-giving, humans continue to wreck these priceless habitats through deforestation.

The rainforest is made up of four layers: emergent, upper canopy, understory and forest floor. Emergent trees grow far apart and tall, their branches reaching above the canopy. The upper canopy houses most of the rain forest’s animal species, and forms a roof that blocks most light from reaching below it. The understory is usually shaded and home to bushes and shrubs as well as the branches of canopy trees. The forest floor is in complete shade, meaning there is little likelihood of plants growing there, making it easy to walk through the forests. The forest even tames the intruder, softening his footfall as the the ground is carpeted with humus, ferns and mushrooms.

Orchids surprise you with their abundance and shut off from the sunlight overhead, you seem to be unwittingly led into Arcadia itself with the enveloping wrap of the woods, the silken sheen of waterfalls and a wayward brook tickling your canvas shoes.

MONSOON SHOWERS AND MAGIC

THE

rainforests shimmer despite being shrouded in the morning mist of a moist sunrise. The dark thunder clouds that hang over the sky glow from within like hot coals, illuminating the stream, which looks like flowing mercury. Each image is a story in the wilderness, one that celebrates the thick monsoon showers and keeps our eyes peeled on the nuances of the nocturnes.

While the moth nestles gently in its nectarine mood, it is undoubtedly a serendipitous moment; Jayan’s meticulous frames focus on the rolling hills in the mid-ground as the torrent of darkness

beckons, providing the perfect foil for the tinted ellipse of the rock.

Obviously, Jayan is concerned with the rainforest’s transient aspects, and it his quest for capturing a portrait of light and how it affects the relationship of one object to another.

“I seek to evoke an emotional response for the viewer to experience nature just the way I do,” he says. But these works also serve as a tool for communicating Jayan’s passionately-held views on the conservation of the natural landscape — mirroring a sustainable ecosystem in India’s Silent Valley.

— As told to Uma Nair

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A R T F R AT

H

ER

E

FAN OUR SENSE OF

G I TA

Artist JATIN DAS spoke to EXOTICA about his penchant for collecting hand fans and why it is representative of the most colourful folk expression that needs to be preserved

HAND

-fans at one time were tools of convenience, within easy reach, much like any palmtop device these days, to flutter away power cuts and ease long hours of journeys at a time when airconditioned travel was not a mass phenomenon. However, they are slowly losing their charm and relevance in the fast-paced urban life, its daily grind and a technology-driven mindset.

Now they are a relic of nostalgia, valued as a rare collectible. This humble hand-made object caught artist Jatin Das’ attention and he has been on a collecting spree since three decades. “You have to be a lover of art first. And I believe there is beauty in everyday utilities too. What attracted me about the fan was that it was the canvas of folk expressions, each region depicting it in its own way. That is how I began this journey. There are many people like me in our country who are inclined towards collecting objects such as books, poems, coins, photographs of friends, furniture et al. It is like documenting a personal history.”

Das was born in Mayurbhanj district in Odisha and went to Mumbai to study at Sir JJ School of Art under professor SB Palsikar at the age of 17. Now he is 77. From the last 49 years, Delhi has been home for the

‘I DO NOTHING ELSE APART FROM BEING AN ARTIST AND COMPLETELY RELY ON THE SALE OF MY PAINTINGS TO COLLECT FANS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD’

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artist. His art further allowed him to invest in the personal assemblage of fans, something which he continues to do without giving much thought to it. He said, “I do nothing else apart from being an artist and completely rely on the sale of my paintings to collect fans from all over the world.”

Das began collecting fans 28 years ago and has added more than 8,000 fans to his collection.

Only 20 per cent were displayed at an exhibition titled To Stir the Still Air, a metaphor for creating vivaciousness in your surroundings, at Delhi’s IGNCA. It all started with one of his friends gifting him a hand fan, which the artist found alluring.

In India, the culture of hand fans is slowly diminishing and you may spot plebeian versions in rural areas.

“Nowadays children are moving to cities, they are more interested in in their phones instead of culture.

I believe that after this generation no one will really know about the pankha tradition,” Das said, adding how countries like China, Japan and Korea keep up the tradition by making it a fashion accessory or even a souvenir in the tourism economy, some of them becoming canvases for handmade painting. The display included specimens from Africa too.

Das has around 250 hand

fans with poets from around the world scribbling their compositions on them. What caught our attention was a painting of Radha-Krishna on one of them, evidence that he has even picked them up from temples in rural areas. He discovered that each fan was identifiable by the raw materials that were available in its eco-system, be it bamboo, cane, grass and date palm.

And there are great lessons for the viewers to take home too.

Consider pankhas made from palm leaves and leather or zardozi and khus, for instance.

Such fans are generally found in the Indian subcontinent and can easily be identified among those sourced from other regions.

Ceremonial fans like chaamar or fly-whisk are made of wispy feathers or thin animal hair, easily spotted at places of worship even today. Phad fans, owing to their large size, stirred the air for nobility and royalty.

Das’ son Siddhartha, himself a designer, has been a witness to his father’s journey. He shared that central Odisha’s Alekh monks use huge palm leaf fans to keep away from the sun and rain, while they use smaller ones to air themselves. ‘‘My father, as a child in a village in Odisha, remembered seeing these monks travel. They were always fascinating. Their tranquility and detachment from the world inspires respect. This is typical of what

THE HAND FAN IS A RECURRING MOTIF IN MANY INDIAN PAINTINGS AND PHOTOGRAPHS BUT ONE IS ALSO INTRODUCED TO THE INTERESTING CHARACTER OF THE PANKHAWALA THROUGH PRINTS

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he felt about the phad collection,” Siddhartha narrated.

The hand fan is a recurring motif in many Indian paintings and photographs but one is also introduced to the interesting character of the pankhawala through these prints. Often relegated to the corners, he would stir the fan devotedly for those who employed him. However, like most craftspeople, these comfort-givers seem to have been forgotten. “There are antique ceiling fans from the Mughal and colonial period that were pulled by the pankhawala from outside the room and used for large congregations in temples, royal courts and aristocratic darbars and offices,” Das said. The story of Abu Bakr, an old craftsman practising the craft of hand fan-making in a village on the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border features in a short documentary as a sideshow to the exhibition. A family completely dependent on the craft, but barely being able to make ends meet.

Das feels that these many layers of significance of the common fan were disappearing from the popular narrative and he needs to save the rare and dying artform and the unknown craftsmen of the great Indian subcontinent.

“We do not have a sense of historicity, pride, dignity and heritage,” he said and referred to the great art historian Ananda

Coomaraswamy, who, while donating his collection found no takers in India and hence gave it to a Boston museum. “We have become a materialistic society,� he added.

A striking shot from one of the documentaries places an electric

fan in contrast with a traditional ceiling fan in Kerala’s Fort Kochi, which has now lost its practical utility to the former. Electricity may rob hand fans of utility but even for a hand fan sold for as little as two rupees, the value of the craft does not lie in its price.

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SLOW TRAVEL

Thanks to films and overseas experientials, Indians have got hooked to the idea of sea cruises. But step back and take the inland route which is not any less enjoyable as you explore our river heritage and a distinct culture along the banks.

Here’s looking at some of the more popular ones

GENTLY DOWN THE RIVER

NOT

long ago river cruises were rare, personalised experiences meant for the foreign tourist with heavy pockets. However, with the heritage cruise on the Ganga now becoming more popular, with interests other than matters spiritual like architectural mansions and colonial grandeur, riverine food and dolphin sightings, the traveller is curious about the life nurtured by other civilisational rivers like the Brahmaputra, Godavari and Narmada.

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BRAHMAPUTRA massive river originating in the Himalayas is the lifeline for millions of people in northeastern India. The force of the river has been known to be wrathful as well. The journey on this river, however, is stunning and replete with flora and fauna.

The route starts from Guwahati or Jorhat and passes through Silghat, Sibsagar and finally Majuli, the world’s largest river island which has been in the running to become the UNESCO’s world heritage site, given its fragile micro-system.

The cruise also passes through the Kaziranga National Park, which is home to rhinos and elephants. Enjoy the company of the famous Indian river dolphins, black soft shell turtles and a multitude of other animals and birds. The region has a rich green cover, lush landscapes and beautiful villages.

THE

GANGA downstream or upstream on the Ganga is one of the most popular routes in India for foreign and domestic tourists. The route can be covered in anything between seven to 20 days and is usually packaged between land journeys like the Golden Triangle.

Starting in Kolkata, the cruise passes Kalna, Murshidabad, Chandannagar and now there are extensions available up to Munger in Bihar. After disembarking there, tourists are taken to see the holy cities of Bodhgaya and Varanasi, also a destination for those looking to buy fine silk sarees and visit handlooms. Spot the Indian Gangetic dolphin on this journey.

CRUISING

MANGALURU

a coastal city in Karnataka, has garnered interest as a great tourist destination. Apart from the beaches, the river cruise here is a weekend getaway on the Phalguni river, which is surrounded by jungles.

The cruise begins from New Mangaluru

MANGALURU,

port and has luxurious comforts and facilities on board. The trip can be perfect for families looking for an escape from the city’s noise pollution. Since the river is connected to the Arabian Sea, the food available is also varied.

The cruise complements a visit to the beaches of Mangaluru.

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YANAM

SUNDARBANS DELTA

on the Yanam river, a tributary of the Godavari in the Union Territory of Puducherry, is a great way to spend a day at this holiday destination. Travellers can gorge on seafood and relax onboard. On this journey, tourists will be able to see fishermen’s villages on the banks, each with its own characteristic. The banks lined by drooping coconut palms make for a sylvan sight in the backwaters. The cruise travels through the confluence of the river with the Bay of Bengal, where the blending of grey and turquoise waters is visible to the naked eye. The visitors can also spend time at the Rajiv Gandhi beach.

it comes to the Sundarbans delta, home to the Bengal tiger and one of the world’s largest reservoirs of mangrove forests, the journey is as beautiful as the destination. The cruise boats travel through the Malta river and many creeks on way to the Sundarbans Tiger Reserve.

The traveller can catch a glimpse of a diverse species of birds like herons, kingfishers, common mynah, white-necked kites, bee-eaters as well as animals such as sweet water crocodiles, snakes, water monitors, deer, monkeys, wild hogs and otters.

The variety is not much given the hostile terrain but it is the botanical rarities that are a draw apart from the elusive tiger, like the xerophytic and halophytic plants. The cruise begins at Godkhali and has facilities like gym, ayurveda treatment and on-board spa. Guests can pore through a library, catch a drink at the bar or just chill on the deck.

SAILING

WHEN

KERALA BACKWATERS lazily on Kerala backwaters is as utopian an experience as it is calming. Whether in Alleppey, Kumarakom, Kasargod, Cochin, Kollam or other places, the journey can lull the visitor into peaceful introspection while their eyes feast on the natural beauty.

Fishermen’s villages, boat building, idyllic houses and long, luscious coconut trees fill the banks, blending into a great example of countryside simplicity. The backwaters have luxurious houseboats for night stay and boats meant for a fewhours long trips as well. In locations like Alleppey, there are resorts on islands on the backwaters, which are reachable through boats alone.

FLOATING

MANDOVI few hours-long cruise on the river Mandovi is organised by the Goa Tourism department on its twin boats called the Shantadurga or Santa Monica. Apart from the lazy cruise along the river that empties itself into the vastness of the sea, visitors can enjoy Goan folk songs and dances while looking at picturesque sunsets from the deck.

THE

Visitors can taste the spicy Goan cuisine on board and have a glimpse of the islands of Chorao and Divar. The cruises start from the Santa Monica jetty located next to the Mandovi Bridge. It is a great way to spend a day in Goa with friends, family or alone. It also gives an experience which is different from beach-hopping in Goa.

DIBRU SAIKHOWA Dibru Saikhowa area in Assam, situated between the Brahmaputra and Dibru rivers, one can take a river cruise passing the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, which is a must-visit for wildlife and nature enthusiasts.

The region is famous for Gangetic river dolphins, migratory birds, wild horses and orchids. The river cruise takes the visitor through this exotic terrain with comfort and on-board entertainment.

AT

Gopalpur sea beach

Explore the

hidden

The pristine and untouched coastline of Gopalpur beckons all and how waying palm fronds and the gentle roar of sea waves crashing into the shore — the coastal town of Gopalpur-on-Sea in Odisha holds out many charms. Away from the concrete chaos of the cities, this quaint beach town will woo you with its pristine beauty and colonial past. The coastal town located near the Bay of Bengal is considered as one of the top three tourist destinations in the state. Known for both sailing and surfing, it is nestled amid the placid beauty of nature.

One of the least discovered tourist spots in India, this is a place where one can experience nature in its untouched form. Once a small fishing village, its fortune changed with the invasion of the British. The East India Company used the port as a significant trading centre. Even today the daily trading with the other southern states runs smooth for this commercial hub of Odisha.

S

MUST VISITS Gopalpur offers a number of tourist attractions. Places of religious interest include the Maa Tara Tarini Hill Shrine, Tapatapani and Jeerango, which are 70 km and 100 km respectively from Gopalpur. The Sonepur Beach, Aryapalli Beach and the Gopalpur Beach are visited by hundreds every day. A visit to Potagarh will narrate the stories of Gopalpur over the ages. Panchama and Ballipadar are neighbouring villages of Gopalpur

Gopalpur on sea

that revitalise its traditional lifestyle and festive celebrations. The Satapada Dolphin Sanctuary and Bankeswari are other important places to tick off.

GOPALPUR BEACH FESTIVAL The first Gopalpur beach festival was started in 1996 to promote tourism and culture. It is held every year in December.

AQUA SPORTS A training cum fun ride facility on the backwaters of Gopalpur sea has been established where wind surfing, rowing, scuba diving, swimming, paddle boat, water scooter are some of the major sports and fun rides are available for tourists as well as professionals.

GO SHOPPING Gopalpur gives a great opportunity to shopaholics to buy novelties from the city market. The place is famous for handicrafts made from sea shells and its silk saris.

Gorgeous hand-made items of sea shells are put up for sale by the locals. Bracelets, necklaces and other trinkets made from sea shells can be collected as souvenirs.

HOW TO REACH AIR: Biju Pattanailk International Airport in Bhubaneswar RAIL: Berhampur Railway Station

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SUMMER SPECIAL

FLOWERPOWER Summer is the season to keep it subtle yet bright.

So splash some florals on your clothes and make a statement

SUMMER

and floral prints seem to belong together just like plaids and checks do in winter. This summer the combination is romantic, floating and printed on materials that seem airy and light. Splash it all across the dress or restrict it to one item of clothing — either the top or the bottom or even a stole or a dupatta. Liven up a monochrome dress with hints of verdant embroidery.

ADARSHgill Dresses with a white background and a floral print all over or combined with polka dots, checks or simple lines can raise temperatures. But make sure to keep it simple and subtle so that the entire effect is pleasing to the eye.

Her outfits use the classic white and red combination to perfection.

PAYALjain If you do not want a splash of florals all over, concentrate on your hemlines and along borders.

You can team these up with single coloured short kurti or tank tops. Long skirts and palazzos are making a stylish comeback so you can choose from those too. Just make sure that you keep the top simple. This piece in black emblazoned with multi-colour flowers is bold and sassy.

ANITAdongre Splash some on the top. Wear a kurti and jeans or be a little creative with your tops where you can team it with a floral jacket. This one from Anita Dongre’s Grassroots collection holds out just the right vibes for summer.

ANUPAMAdayal If you want to play safe and don't want to go overboard with the floral print, then simply add a peppy scarf or dupattas to your ensemble. A floral dupatta will go extremely well with a muted tone outfit. Anupama Dayal can use splashes of colour and how!

PERO BY ANEETH ARORA Use strips of floral embroidery on an off-white background to create a dream-like effect. While the monochrome keeps it subtle, the multi-coloured embroidery makes it bright and happy. Aneeth Arora’s fashion wear is wearability all the way.

SEASON SPECIAL

SALAD DAYS

Throw in some lettuce, add a drizzle of olive oil and drop in a handful of nuts or berries. Voila! Lunch is ready

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A COLD

salad on a hot summer day — that is just what the doctor ordered. Nothing beats fresh vegetables and fruits, particularly the luscious local specimens in cucumbers, eggplants, papaya, mangoes, rubbing their juices on to each other in a vibrant toss-up that doesn’t need seasoning.

A meal in a bowl, a salad is easy to put together, filling, light and packed with nutrients. Ripe for the picking at any time of the day.

H Y A T T MINCED CHICKEN SALAD A fresh salad bursting with seasonal ingredients like lemon grass, ginger, coriander and kaffir lime. Antioxidant rich ginger adds a punchy kick while the lemon grass and kaffir lime add a lovely fragrant depth of flavour.

INGREDIENTS: Chicken mince 100 gm; Chopped lemon grass 10 gm; Chopped red chilli 10 gm; Ginger-garlic 20 gm; Diamond cut spring onion 20 gm; Chilli garlic sauce 10 gm; Shiitake mushroom 10 gm; Chopped ginger 5 gm; Coriander 1 gm; Bean sprout 10 gm; Soy 10 ml; Kaffir lime leaf 1 gm; Oil 20 ml METHOD: Heat oil in a heavy bottom wok. Add lemon grass and chopped ginger. Cook until it turns brown. Add chopped chilli and cook for about a minute.

Add ginger garlic paste and cook for two minutes or till it turns brown. Add chicken mince to it and cook it on high flame. Toss continuously. Add chilli garlic, soy and salt followed by shiitake mushroom. Remove from heat and add bean sprouts and toss well. Put in a serving bowl, garnish with coriander sprig, fried red chilli and kaffir lime julienne.

TKS TEMPURA AND TOFU SALAD [WASABI AIOLI] This colourful and refreshing summer salad features fresh asparagus, cherry tomatoes, diced tofu and tempura flakes along with a light wasabi aioli dressing.

INGREDIENTS: Assorted lettuce 50 gm; Tofu dice 30 gm; Tempura flakes 10 gm; Asparagus 20 gm; Cherry Tomato 10 gm; Wasabi aioli 20 gm; Bell pepper for garnish METHOD: Mix all the ingredients together. Arrange in a serving plate. Put some tempura flakes on top. Garnish with bell pepper and serve cold.

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I M P E R I A L

GRIDDLED HALLOUMI WITH ROASTED VEGETABLE AND QUINOA

INGREDIENTS: Beet root peeled and sliced into wedges 4; Butternut squash, peeled, deseeded and cut 1; Red onions, sliced into wedges 4; Olive oil 2 tbsp; Vegetable stock Halloumi 250 gm; each block cut into 6 slices For the dressing: Garlic bulb 1; Lemon juice or white wine vinegar 1 tbsp; Extra virgin olive oil 3 tbsp; Clear honey 1 tsp METHOD: o Heat oven to 220 C. Put the beetroot, squash and red onion

in a large roasting pan. Cut the top off the garlic bulb and drizzle with a little of the olive oil before wrapping in foil and adding to the pan. Season the vegetables and pour the remaining oil over them. Roast for 40-45 minutes, turning the vegetables halfway through. o Meanwhile, put the quinoa and stock in a medium saucepan over a high heat. Bring to a boil, then cover with a lid and simmer for 15 minutes. Drain and return to the pan, turn off the heat.

When the vegetables are roasted, set the garlic bulb aside and stir the remaining vegetables through the quinoa.

To make the dressing, carefully squeeze the roasted garlic from the bulb into a small bowl. Add the lemon juice, oil, honey and seasoning and mix. Put a griddle over a high heat. When it’s really hot, add the halloumi and griddle for 45-60 seconds either side. Spoon the quinoa and vegetables onto plates and top with the halloumi and dressing.

YOGURT TAHINI & POMEGRANATE WITH LEMON ROAST VEGETABLES INGREDIENTS: Red pepper, deseeded and chopped 1; Aubergine diced 1; Red onion, halved and thinly sliced 1; Lemon 1; ¼ finely chopped and the rest juiced; Rapeseed oil 1 tbsp Boiled chickpeas 400 gm; Tahini 2 tbsp; Natural bio yogurt 3 tbsp; Seeds from ½ a pomegranate; Chopped parsley METHOD: o Heat oven to 240°C. Put the vegetables and chopped lemon in a large flame-proof roasting pan and drizzle with 1 tbsp oil. mix into the vegetables so they are all well coated,

then put the pan on the flame and fry, stirring for 5 minutes until starting to char. Stir in two handfuls of the chickpeas, and roast in the oven for 15 minutes. o Put the rest of the chickpeas in a bowl with the garlic, tahini, yogurt, lemon juice and 3 tbsp water, and blend with a stick blender until really smooth and thick.

Spoon the yogurt tahini on to two plates and top with the roasted vegetable, pomegranate seeds and parsley. Season with black pepper and a drizzle of extra oil, if you like.

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S P A

L A L I T

M E T R O P O L I T A N

H O T E L

&

MANGO AND PRAWN SALAD A combination of tiger prawns, mangoes and cilantro to beat summer heat.

INGREDIENTS: Tiger prawns( peeled) 150 gm; Mangoes ripe( medium) 2 no; Fresh coriander leaves 20 gm; Ginger 10 gm; Lemon 1 no; Breakfast sugar 5 gm; Black pepper 5 gm; Peanut oil 15 ml; Rice krispies 7 gm; Baby salad leaves 10 gm; Mustard Sprouts 5 gm; Lemon leaf 5 no; Salt To taste

T H E

METHOD: o Clean and devein prawn. Cook in boiling salted water with lemon and ginger. Drain and chill. Peal mangoes and slice thick. Chop ginger and two lemon leaves finely. o Dust the mangoes with sugar, salt, ginger, lemon leaf and 1/3rd peanut oil. Marinate prawns with salt, cracked pepper and peanut oil. Neatly arrange sliced mangoes in a plate using a mould. Top with marinated prawns cut into two lengthwise. Again top with mangoes followed by baby salad leaves, mustard sprouts, fresh coriander leaves and rice krispies. Serve chilled.

CHICKEN CAESER SALAD INGREDIENTS: Romaine Lettuce 160 gm; Bacon 60 gm roasted then dice; White Bread Slice 20 gm cut it into 1Ă—2 Parsley 5 gm chopped; Garlic 2 gm; Thyme 2 gm; Pepper 2 gm; Salt 2 gm; Oil 2 gm; Chicken breast 100 gm; Anchovy fish 5 gm; Parmesan cheese 25 ml seasoning; Poached Egg 1; Caesar Dressing 40 gm METHOD: Marinate the chicken breast with oil, garlic,salt and pepper. Take a non-stick pan, add little oil and keep on medium high flame. When hot, place the chicken breast front side down and sear from both sides. Remove from pan, place on a SS plate and cook in the oven.

ASSEMBLY: o Take the romaine lettuce and wash properly.

Make sure there is no grit. Cut the lettuce length wise and place in the centre of the plate. o Drizzle the Caesar dressing across the lettuce. o Randomly arrange the caper berries and sundried tomatoes. Garnish with croutons, parmesan crisp and poached egg. Place the sliced chicken breast and crispy bacon on the side.

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SEASON SPECIAL Streamline your kitchen with a built-in refrigerator to jump into the era of modern design. The flush fit cooling device is perfect for the intelligent home.

Brands are able to customise to your needs by adding or removing a freezer and wine cooler to the refrigerator

KEEPITCOOL MIELE: Miele’s MasterCool refrigerator series features is touchbased, easy to operate and has four independent cooling zones. In this series, humidity levels and temperature are automatically optimised for everything from fruit and vegetables to meat. The refrigerators have energy efficiency rating A+ and is CFC and HFC free. The series is a combination of the refrigerator, freezer and the wine conditioner but can be customised as per demand.

PRICE: `9,99,990 onwards

The built-in refrigerator has become a staple of the modern, upscale kitchen design to align with cabinets that have a flush fit. The appliance is designed to be shallower but doesn’t jut out as a sore thumb or occupy extra space in the kitchen. With a symmetrical alignment like this, there is enough walking space in case of an island or galley design.

While there are multiple brands to choose from in the market, here are some that can be workable in your confines.

SIEMENS: The aCool refrigerator series is one of the most energy efficient products with A++ rating, which reduces consumption by up to 40 per cent than an A-rated appliance. It has an innovative cooling technology and intelligent design solutions. PRICE: `4,25,000-6,80,000

FABER: Faber recently launched its built-in refrigerator with embedded handle and sliding hinge type reversible doors. It has Class A+ energy consumption, no frost system, hanging bottle rack and tempered glass shelves. PRICE: On request

M Y S PA C E Revamp your outdoor space to make it perfect for hanging out with friends or just relaxing

TERRACE TALES WHY

should summer mean the end of outdoor activities and parties?

We are in the middle of sultry days but even amid their cloying and stifling neck-hold, we do need fresh air. Why not turn a terrace garden into a functional space and a balcony a spot retreat into nature? All it needs are a few decor changes and your terrace is season-proofed. Lay out a tiny garden with pots of heat-resistant plants to block off

the harsh rays of the sun. Prop up a few umbrellas, awnings and shades. Throw about benches, perches or plain cushions and set up an oasis of calmness amid the hustle-bustle of city life. And in the gentle evening breeze, team up with peers for drinks and conversations.

So, whether you have several acres out back or just a small, private balcony, it’s worthwhile looking after your plot and ensuring that it looks loved – and that it suits your needs, too.

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WATERFALL: If you have the space and the resources, create an outdoor waterfall which acts like a natural coolant. The tranquility of flowing water has the effect of creating a calming and soothing ambience. This would need some amount of water proofing to ensure that it does not damage the ceiling below.

BEGIN WITH A SPRING CLEAN: Before you can even start to think about the pretty aspects, like new flowers, you need to tend to the more mundane jobs like cleaning up the space and removing the junk that has accumulated here. Be prepared that a large terrace might need at least a day for such work. You might still need to spend a few hours scrubbing to make areas sparkle and ensure that all rubbish is cleared away.

MISTING SYSTEM: For those, who do not have large spaces, there is the option of putting up misting systems to keep your terrace cool and usable in the summers. A properly installed unit will let the cool breeze encompass your entire terrace, making it breathable and functional. With a misting system, you don’t need to worry about the scorching heat ruining the entire experience of a terrace.

SWIMMING POOL: If you have the space, go the whole hog and create a terrace swimming pool. Agreed, this is sheer luxury but for those who can afford it, this is certainly the last word in terrace accoutrement. A visually appealing terrace pool that will complement the structure and load of your building would have you spending all your leisure time here.

COVERED SITTING: A covered sitting on a terrace offers protection from the sun. You can either go in for permanently-covered sitting like a gazebo or sitting with a retractable roof. This has a fabric shade which moves on rollers. You can easily roll out the fabric and get a covered sit-out on your terrace.

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STYLISH FURNITURE AND LIGHT UPHOLSTERY: Nothing is as off-putting in an outside space as a rusty, broken old bench or a sodden, ripped beanbag chair.

Invest in some new, stylish seating that will see you through this summer and beyond. If your balcony or patio is tiny, look at ways of storing your furniture as

well, so that you don’t have to leave it cluttering up the space at all times. Even if your garden is massive, think about covering up your wooden and metal items to protect them from changing weather which would extend their life by many years.

If you do not have the budget to upgrade, upcycle. For the price of

SAVE YOUR PLANTS: Plants are the very essence of a terrace garden. Almost everyone has a tired, tatty-looking planter or two that could do with some TLC. Invest in some new plants to liven up your space, be it filling a few pots or covering a larger area. A quick way of making sure that flower beds and hanging baskets are full of colour is to buy ready-grown plants from garden centres, rather than growing from seed, which is perhaps more rewarding, but requires more time and commitment. For bigger spaces, cheap wildflower and seasonal seed mixes can be great.

Also, it becomes inevitable to protect your flowering and green plants from the scorching heat. Add pebbles in the planters or pots to cover the soil. It increases the moisture absorption. You can also add water retaining granules to the soil.

a pot of paint and an afternoon’s work, you can transform tiredlooking furniture into something bright, funky and new.

Light shades and light-coloured fabrics are soothing to the eyes in summer. Your outdoor furniture should have light-coloured upholstery fabrics to make it appear summer-friendly.

PAINTED GARDEN STONES: Make garden stones from rocks picked up from your surrounds. Label them with crayons or paint and embellish them with hot gluing pebble vase fillers.

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MASON JAR LANTERNS: Set the mood by illuminating your outdoor space and placing tea light candles in Mason jars. Suspend them from shepherd’s hooks.

TRASH CAN PLANTERS: Combine your love of container gardening and upcycling by using trash cans to create planters on the cheap. Drill a few small holes in the bottom of galvanised buckets for drainage or make portable planters from galvanised metal trash cans.

VERTICAL GARDEN: For those who do not have large spaces to lay out a terrace garden, create a vertical one using pocket mesh shoe organisers. This will also give added privacy.

TREE STUMP TABLE: A tree stump is an easy addition that will bring rustic flair to your outdoor space.

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HOME TRUTHS

BUTTONED COMFORT

It is believed that the name ‘Chesterfield’ came from the the fourth Earl of Chesterfield, who was a fashion icon in 18th century England. While deep buttoning in velvet upholstery was the norm, the story goes that the Earl’s leather armchair inspired others in his milieu. Supremely comfortable and luxurious, these exotic, quilted, curvaceous couches are currently enjoying a popular resurgence. These sofas and armchairs are characterised by ‘distinctive low-curved backs that flow into two scrolled arms of the same height, with deep-buttoned, quilted, leather or plush upholstery.’ And there are many options to choose from — the elegant leather sofa set with a foot-rest, the exquisite armchair with the intricately-carved owl armrests, the superbly carved armchair with the lion’s head and feet or even the stunning Chesterfield sofa-set with a wood-carved central motif

BENT CHAIR: (Above) The Alana Sofa is constructed of high-grade teak wood and covered with a lustrous walnut finished Polyurethane. It has ample tufted back height and armrest which ensures utmost comfort. PRICE on request.

(Below) The Alayna sofa’s polyester velvet upholstery, wood legs combine to create a piece that calls for attention. PRICE: `68,203

ANSAVV: Okyanus Sofa Series is a classic combination of modern concept styling where the formal sofa can be converted into a lounger with immense ease. The classic Chesterfield look in luxurious Turkish suede makes the concept exceptional. Price: Single seater: `55,000. Three seater: `1,65,000. Okyanus Lounger: `55,000. Okyanus Sofa: `55,000.

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CANE BOUTIQUE: (Left) Wood in silver finish upholstered with high quality artificial leather.

PRICE: `1,45,000 (Right) The teal blue sofa upholstered in velvet imparts a royal look to any setting.

PRICE of 3+1+1: `2,40,000

SPACE TALK DESIGNS: Here the Chesterfield sofa has been transformed to remove the bulkier elements like the sofa couch that occupies more volume. The straight lines and neutral fabric highlight the large living room space. The couches are handcrafted with soft premium leather that allows the quilting work to stand out. The legs are made in pure stainless steel. PRICE on request

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ESSENTIA ENVIRONMENTS: Made in leather, this buttoned, round, sofa in beige can make a room glamorous. PRICE on request

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BOUTEAK: This sofa is characterised by distinctive low-curved backs that flow into two scrolled arms of the same height, with deep-buttoned, quilted, leather or plush upholstery. It is handcrafted from precious aged teak and mahogany that adapt themselves to a variety of modern interiors. PRICE on request

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PUNAM KALRA: (Left) A simple straightlined white leather sofa with Chesterfield detailing.

PRICE on request.

(Right) A Victorian chaise lounge upholstered in leafy green velvet which lends this compact seating a royal appeal. A compact seating is for the bedroom.

PRICE on request

OPERAE HOME: The Casanova sofa in contemporary style is made in leather with a solid fir wood, plywood and wood fibre frame. It has a tufted back. PRICE: `5,56,250 upwards

BOUTEAK: This Chesterfield sofa set looks regal with a wood-carved central motif and curved armrests. PRICE on request

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F A M I LY T I E S Bond with your first super hero over a holiday on Father’s Day on June 17

Daddy’s day out

IT

is time to celebrate your first superhero — your dad. And what better way than to hit the road (or the railroad or air) with him on a vacation. For this is the least that you can do for the person who would never let you down come what may. From epic adventures and experiences to beach holidays and teeing off at the golf course, here’s a wrap of the things that you can do with dad.

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BEACH BUMS: Depends on dad’s (and your) energy level, escape to Hawaii, the Caribbean, or simply to Goa or Pondicherry. Relax at the beach or ride the waves in a banana boat or a surf board. But if it is relaxation that he would prefer, lounge around in the beach chairs with a drink in hand.

TEE OFF ON A GOLF GETAWAY: Does dad love to golf?

Indulge his interests with a golfing getaway. The Algarve, Portugal, Myrtle Beach, USA or even Costa del Sol, Spain, Monterey, California, are some destinations famous for their courses. Or head to Gulmarg for a game at the world’s highest 18-hole golf course. Trekking through the pine forests to have a dekko at Nanga Parbat are other options that you can try.

SEEK ADVENTURE: Growing up, he was your hero. So take off on a trip filled with action-packed adventure. Go ziplining in Nicaragua or in Chandigarh, which is the longest in the country, go whitewater-rafting in Idaho or Ladakh, or hike and horseback-ride in Wyoming or in the city of Lakes, Udaipur.

CAMP IN THE WILDERNESS: Reconnect with nature (and each other) on a camping trip — perhaps Tsomoriri Camp in Ladakh or in the Rishikesh Valley.

Sit by the fire, sing songs and sleep under the stars. Even better, take your own son or daughter along for three generations of fun.

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GO FISHING: Granted, fishing can be a bit dull, especially when there’s no phone signal. Take a trip to Thailand for an experience you’ll both enjoy. Bungsamran Lake near Bangkok is teeming with giant catfish that can grow to 85lb. It’s worth the wait just for the profile picture.

If you want to celebrate Father’s Day closer home, then plan a visit to Bheemeshwari for mahseer fish in the midst of lush greenery and under a salubrious climate. Known as “Angler’s Paradise”, Bheemeshwari has several camps for professional and amateur anglers.

Ramaganga River, Corbett National Park is where you can angle for goonch, mahseer and brown trout or head to Pabbar river which is known for its golden mahseer.

CHEERS TO YOUR DAD: Pick your poison and plan away! Go big at Oktoberfest or visit the Sula vineyards or Grover Zampa in Bengaluru. Thirsty yet?

EMBARK ON AN EDUCATIONAL EXCURSION: Both history buffs? Then go learn something together. Travel to his side of the country of origin, or to a historically rich city a little closer to home. In Delhi, embark on the trail of some of the unexplored monuments.

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FIND THE MISSING LINK: How can your dad simultaneously scratch, eat, watch TV and pretend to listen to his brood all at once?

Maybe the gorillas of Uganda will have the answer. Take a family trip on safari and find out more about our not-so-distant cousins.

BOND OVER VINTAGE CARS: They just don’t make them like that anymore. Your dad and the car. Whether you’re collectors or just admirers, go back in time at a vintage care museum. Head to the Pranlal Bhogilal Vintage Car Museum at Ahmedabad, the Classic and Vintage Car Collection at The Palace Udaipur or the Manjusha Museum at Dharmasthala. For those who know how to live the good life, head to Monaco’s historic Grand Prix. These roads have barely changed since the first race in the 1920s, so it’s the perfect setting for some classic car-spotting.

TAKE A SKYDIVE: Take the plunge, literally at Mysore in Karnataka or Dhana in Madhya Pradesh where you can take a tandem jump. For those who can head to New Zealand, it is the land of adrenaline where you can visit. Go paragliding in Manali or Bir Billing.

SWIM WITH JAWS: Take that fishing trip to a whole new level and dive in with some scary sharks. South Africa is a great place to do cage diving and get close to the creatures. Is he man enough? If not, don’t worry. No one will hear him scream.

GO TREKKING: Take dad trekking in Manali, Himachal Pradesh. The mountain air, the scenery and your company could work wonders for him. You could spend your days visiting the temples and Buddhist monasteries, strolling through apple orchards and green fields encircled by snow-clad peaks or meeting the locals and learning about their culture.

GO SKIING: Nothing can match the adrenaline rush of skiing down a mountain slope. And, if daddy dearest is game for more adventure, take him heli-skiing in Gulmarg. Located in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir, Gulmarg is a popular centre for skiing in India.

The experience of skiing at altitudes ranging between 8,700 and 10,500 feet needs to be experienced.

Don’t have unwarranted fears about daddy’s safety as Gulmarg offers training for beginners too.

TRAVEL TECH

Garmin Virb Ultra 30: What happens when a company specialised in GPS technology tries to make a camera? You get Virb Ultra 30. The camera allows us not just to record videos but also tell us how far, high and fast we can cover through our recording session with the built-in sensors and GPS capture G-Metrix.

With 4K recording feature, the camera also allows us to shoot hands-free using voice control, take photos and remember moments.

Priced at `40,000, the camera has 12 megapixels of photo resolution and is available on Amazon.in and Garmin’s official India website.

Pros: 4K recording, built-in microphone, image stabilisation.

Cons: Not waterproof without a case, no image stabilisation in 4K.

CAMERA FOR EVERY ACTION If you have sailed the rapids or gone paragliding but have come out with less than perfect shots, these tools are the ones to choose from, says NITESH JIDANI

THERE

is a hidden action hero inside each one of us and most of us have satisfied our adrenaline rush by taking the rapids of river Ganga head-on in Rishikesh or sailing along the beautiful beaches of Goa. Those who haven’t are definitely craving for their turn goaded by splashy visuals everywhere. But what is the action all about if you don’t get to capture it? Your normal D-SLR or phone camera cannot do the job. It is for this that an action camera is needed — it’s a perfect match for filming every kind of action as it is compact, rugged and waterproof.

Noise Play 2: Sometimes it’s tough to understand complex action cameras. Noise Play 2 is a perfect compatible device for beginners.

The new affordable action camera allows to record ultra HD or 4K resolution and capture photos at 16 megapixels. The camera justifies the price range of `9,999 and is available on Flipkart.com and Gonoise.com.

Pros: Best for beginners, inexpensive, 4K recording.

Cons: Images are average, no manual shutter, bad at 4K recording.

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GoPro Hero 5: It’s a sure thing happiness comes in little bundles and this camera proves it with voice activated camera controls, great low-light performance and a compact design. At 1080P, the images are sharper and better when shooting at 4K. The camera comes under 33 feet of water resistance at the price of `28,000 and is available on Amazon.in and Flipkart.com.

Pros: Touch screen, waterproof without a case, voice control.

Cons: No image stabilisation, bad low-light performance.

Yi 4k: Another sure bet in the action camera family is Yi 4K l, which offers a great image and recording quality at 4K (30fps), 1080p at 120fps, 720p at 240fps. For photos, it has 12 megapixels wide-angle lens. With highcapacity lithium-ion battery, it is protected from overheating and enables stable video recording. The camera is available at Amazon.in at `40,990.

Pros: 2.19inch LCD screen, great battery life, great video and photo quality.

Cons: Its competitors are better when it comes to image stabilisation.

GoPro Hero 6: Hero 6 might be one of the most expensive members of the GoPro family, but it is definitely worth the price. It can record slow 4K motion videos at 60FPS and 240 FPS at 1080P. With 10 metres of water resistance and 12 megapixel sensor, it allows us to capture smooth images and videos in all conditions. The camera, which also comes with image stabilisation feature, is priced at `45,000 and is available on Flipkart.com and Amazon.in.

Pros: Amazing video and image quality, voice control, waterproof without a case and touch screen display.

Cons: Unimpressive battery life, touch screen doesn’t work properly when wet.

Sony FDR-X3000 4K Video Camera: The action camera market is filled with companies that don't have any history in making cameras. So when a manufacturer like Sony comes to the market, it's obvious the product is going to be great at least in video recording. The camera includes 4K recording and the Exmor R CMOS sensor helps record in dark and a better stablisation. The X3000 supports time-lapse, loop recording, live streaming video as well as burst photo capture. The camera starts from over `39,990 to `44,000 and is available on Amazon.in and Sony India.

Pros: Waterproof housing included, remote monitoring also available in other variants, better low light performance.

Cons: No display, not waterproof.

SJCam SJ5000X Elite: This highly-rated action camera comes at an affordable price. It’s an inexpensive alternative with great output. This camera supports 4K recording on this and a number of video resolution options, including 1080p at 60fps and 720p at 120fps. There’s a 2-inch LCD screen on this camera, which has a Wi-Fi variant as well. Smart design and waterproof housing allow us to record 30 metres underwater. The camera is available on Flipkart and Amazon at `13,000.

Pros: 2inch LCD touch screen, Inbuilt Wi-Fi, waterproof up to 30 metres (98Feet).

Cons: The 4K recording is not as good as others, no app support.

EXOTICA [91] JUNE 2018

SKIN CARE

WHY YOUR LARGEST It’s that time of the year when oppressive heat with humidity takes a toll on your skin. Experts talk about the benefits of facials and the caution with which they must be done for glow and shine

ORGAN NEEDS CARE EXOTICA [92] JUNE 2018

FOR

many, the first step towards prepping for a party, an anniversary celebration, or a wedding begins with getting skin treatments at the salon but it is a myth that only special occasions warrant such attention to skincare. Women, and sometimes men, often indulge in a beauty regimen just to look their best.

And feel good about taking on the world. However, there are several dilemmas and apprehensions regarding the effectiveness of this process.

DECODING CARE

ONE

should not treat facials as something you do once in a while or only during special occasions. Highlighting the need for a structured regimen, Dr Rohit Batra, dermatologist at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, said, “Usually men and women divert all their attention to their skin and hair only if there are special occasions. In fact, women go out of their way to address every little concern during that time. But, have we ever thought about what happens during the rest of the year? It is always recommended to consult a qualified dermatologist who knows your skin history. Further, there are small skin treatments by qualified dermatologists which can always act as alternatives and better options for your skin health.�

Unlike homecare routines, a facial can do a deep cleanse of the oil buildup, toxins and dirt that get accumulated due to our rigorous daily routines. Moreover, serious issues like hyperpigmentation or any acute or serious skin problem cannot be treated by homecare only.

Besides, the requirements of your skin vary with age. The needs of your skin in your 20s are vastly different from those during the 40s and the 50s. But, at all ages you do need them.

Cleansing, bi-weekly exfoliation, applying sunscreen and moisturiser might be enough through the 20s but beating dark circles due to increased stress levels can be done only by dark circle removal treatments. Acne and pimples are other concerns of people in that age group that may be removed with special treatments.

In the 30s, when the facial skin begins to sag and the face structure changes, treatments like thread lifts for redefining the jawline and improving skin laxity with immediate result comes to the aid. This non-surgical procedure uses dissolvable threads that build type 1 collagen. For reshaping the chin profile, multiple shots of injections melt down the fat underneath the chin over a period of time. There can also be laser hair removal for facial hairs, dark circle removal with fillers, acne treatments and skin lightening.

During the next decade and beyond, the focus

EXOTICA [93] JUNE 2018

POST-TREATMENT CARE shifts to collagen production, which slows down leading to wrinkles and flabby skin.

Talking about how age is an important component in facials, Dr Dipti Dhillon, celebrity dermatologist, said, “With increasing age, your skin tends to look tired. Thus, to give it the due nourishment, exfoliators and dermabrasion creams are applied. These tightening masks help in offering elasticity to your skin giving it a youthful glow.� Commenting on the time frame in which one should go for a facial, she avers that while in 20s one should get a facial once in every 40 days, in 30s or 40s, a monthly facial is more apt.

There are different types of treatments ranging from natural products, cream-based natural products and even cosmetic ones that use glycolic peels. These aim at refreshing and rejuvenating your skin by removing the dead skin cells, cleaning skin pores, particularly blackheads and whiteheads, improving surface

skin treatments can be of help, one must also proceed with some caution. It is advisable to go for a patch test in case of an aggravated problem before indulging in a full treatment. It is usually done on one side of your face or hand.

Be particular about following up your special session with a daily regime of cleaning, steaming and skin massaging. Applying make-up after a facial session is also a no-no since it would block freshly cleaned pores. Instead, what one can do is go to sleep after the facial to relax facial tissues.

Having green tea or honey right after the facial session also helps in detoxification.

Use lukewarm water for a bath and avoid visiting highly-polluted areas after the facial.

WHILE

texture, tightening pores and in the end making your skin look young and bright. A good and healthy massage improves blood circulation, so scrubbing should not be done with harsh strokes.

Sometimes, even the best professionals default at this delicate process. Always remember, applying masks is also an art. It must be remembered that the mask should cover wrinkle-prone areas like forehead, neck and the eye. To remove the mask one must pull in upward strokes after wetting it.

“The skin is the largest organ of your body.

Hygiene, therefore, is an important aspect for skin health. So make sure that the person who is working on your skin is clean and hygienic. Also, if there is any reaction after your facial, immediately consult your dermatologist,” said Dr Neha Mittal, a cosmetic physician. While the products used in the session may have immense brand value, they may not be right for you.

HOW FACIALS HELP

THERE

are varying degrees of effectiveness. A glowing and refreshed look creates a psychological

“feel-good factor” in more ways than one.

However, one must remember that the usual facials at spas and salons do not have a permanent effect. So, it is always recommended to consult a dermatologist before you decide to take a treatment. With the history of the health of your skin at his/her disposal, the dermatologist is better equipped to evaluate your needs and recommend options for the future. So while it is okay to have a regular facial once or twice at the salon, it is also important to consult a dermatologist, if you need intensive care.

Caring for one’s skin is not limited to those who care about their appearance alone. Healthier skin keeps dry skin, rashes, sores, acne and wrinkles at bay while unhealthy skin can lead to disease and infection.

Many of us opt for a facial thinking it will be instant magic and give us a glowing skin and radiance but in recent times, the everincreasing level of pollution and stress levels often lead to lacklustre skin and its degeneration.

We need to plump up our skincare routine to keep going.

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FITNESS

A healthy vibrant skin depends not just on pampering the outer layer but on how well the body’s systems are working, which yoga can regulate

Bharat Thakur is a yoga guru and founder of Artistic Yoga

THE

first thing we see when we look at skin is the external layer.

We don’t always realise that it’s biologically the largest organ in the body and plays a very important role. It’s alive and is the organ of touch and sensation. It protects our bodies from bacteria and the sun’s rays, regulates heat, produces Vitamin D and melanin and eliminates toxins through sweat. This outer layer, the epidermis, gets its nutrients from an inner layer, the dermis. This is called the true skin and is connected to the blood, nerves, lymph supply, sweat glands and more.

It’s clear that healthy vibrant skin depends not just on pampering the outer layer but on how well the body’s systems are working — hormonal balance, blood circulation, digestive system and a strong respiratory system as good oxygen levels affect how your body’s organs and systems function. A healthy diet, drinking enough water, exercise, being able to relax and getting enough sleep are also important for clear skin.

Every yoga posture has many benefits but there are some that are especially good for the skin. Bhujangasana, Trikonasana and Ushtrasana open up the chest and improve levels of oxygen in the body. Forward-bending and inverted postures eg Hastapadasana, Sarvangasana (shoulder stand), improve blood circulation to the head, neck and face. Blood flows into the face and the increased oxygen and nutrients fight free radicals and renew skin cells. This gives your face and skin a healthy glow and keeps it plumped up.

Try yoga and with regular practice, you will see the difference it makes to your skin, complexion, health, posture and a positive frame of mind.

o Lie on your back, legs and feet together, arms by your side o Press down on your elbows o Slowly lift the head, arch the chest and upper body o Bend your head backwards, resting the crown on floor o Place your hands on your thighs

MATSYASANA [FISH] o Hold 30-60 seconds, breathing deeply o Slowly relax the head, use your elbows to return to start position o Relax the body BENEFITS: o Stretches and strengthens the neck and shoulder muscles and respiratory system

KAPALBHATTI

o Increased blood flow to the neck, face and head, revitalises them, leaving a healthy glow o Regulates the thyroid and thymus glands, improves the immune system CAUTION: Avoid if you have heart problems, hernia, serious back conditions

SARVANGASANA

o Sit in padmasana (lotus position) or cross-legged, back straight, eyes closed, palms on knees o Exhale forcefully through the nose, pulling stomach inward o Relax stomach and inhale (will happen automatically) o Practice 20-50 exhalations at a stretch. Over time, increase to 100. o Do three rounds BENEFITS: o The forceful exhalation removes toxins, cleanses and revitalises the face and whole system o Improves cardio-respiratory capacity and improves oxygen levels o Strengthens the nervous system CAUTION: Avoid if you have high BP

PADAHASTASANA

o Stand straight, feet together, palms together at chest level o Slowly inhale as you stretch both arms up over your head and bend slightly back o Exhale and bend forward from the hips o Place palms beside feet and bring head down to the knees o Hold, breathing normally 30-60 seconds o Inhale as you stretch up o Exhale as you resume start position o Repeat three times.

BENEFITS: o Improves blood circulation overall to the head and face o Increased oxygen and nutrients help cell renewal and give the face a glow o Reduces abdominal flab, stretches the back, tones spinal nerves CAUTION: Bend only as far as you are comfortable

[SHOULDER STAND] o Lie flat on your back, arms by your side and feet together o Inhaling, slowly raise both your legs to 90 degrees, keeping them straight o Support your back with both hands, raise your legs, hips and back to a vertical position as shown o Gently push the chest forward so it presses against the chin o Relax, breathe normally and hold for one-two minutes o Slowly lower the hips, place arms by your side and slowly lower the legs o Relax till your breath and heartbeat become normal BENEFITS: o Improves blood circulation and revitalises cells in the face and entire body o Regulates the functioning of the thyroid gland o Helps detoxify body and calm the mind CAUTION: Avoid if you have an enlarged thyroid, high BP, heart or cervical problems

GURUSPEAK

THE Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Spiritual Guru

Good intentions can change our vibes and keep us much happier. A happy state of mind, free from negativity, is crucial towards a pollution-free environment

World Environment Day is being celebrated this month.

The word environment does not just encompass plants, trees and mountains but also human beings who can be considered a part of the environment. How we think and how we feel affect the environment and the people around us. And so, caring for each other and seeing that we all are happy is an integral part of caring for the environment.

When we are stressed and unhappy, we pollute our environment.

If you walk away after having sat for 10 minutes with a person who is angry or negative, then you also carry a little bit of their negativity with you. When you spend a little time with those who are happy (for example, with little kids), then you move away from there, you carry their joy with you.

We pollute the environment not only physically but mentally and emotionally as well. Today, pollution in the environment is caused due to negative emotions such as anger, mistrust, greed, jealousy and so on. If the mind is polluted with negativity, how can the environment be clean? Happiness is intimately related to the environment.

Every child is born happy and emits happiness, but in the course of growing

A CHEERFUL DOMAIN

up, education, and dealing with people all around, somewhere we lose the purity and serenity that we were all born with. We need to get back to our true nature, which is innocence, simplicity and honesty. Then we will be truly caring towards the environment.

We can take care of the environment around us with these simple steps: o Tackle stress, anger and frustration better — it does not mean that you should not get angry but whenever you feel anger coming, it should not stay for more than a little while in the mind. Then, it’s not pollution. But when anger stays for a long time in your mind, it creates pollution. o Get rid of the emotional garbage — Deal smartly with mistrust, hatred, complaints or any other negative feelings that you are harbouring. Start a new chapter with enthusiasm and naturalness. o Make meditation a part of your life — The best

way to purify vibrations is through meditation.

Meditation transforms negative vibes into positive vibes. It transforms hatred to love, frustration to confidence, despair to hope and ignorance to intuition. Who wouldn’t want this!? o Feel more confident and have faith that only the best will happen to you. o Take part in some form of artistic or cultural activity — Another way to purify vibrations is by engaging in some form of performing art — singing, dancing, theatre and so on — not just sitting and watching but participating. o Serve — Reach out to the people who are in need and serve them. Take a break from thinking “What about me, what about me?” and switch to “What can I do, how can I help? How can I contribute to this world?.”

These intentions can change our vibes and keep us much happier. A happy state of mind free from negativity is crucial towards a pollutionfree environment.

EXOTICA [99] JUNE 2018

HOTWHEELS

QUICK Kushan Mitra Auto & tech expert

clarification at the start, I did not drive the new XC40 during its India press meet but did get a chance to drive the upcoming new Volvo during its international media tester in Barcelona last December. But first things first, what is the XC40? This is the Swedish carmaker’s first new car on its new small car platform developed jointly with their Chinese owners, Geely. Despite being smaller, Volvo has managed to keep a lot of the design language from their bigger sports-utility vehicles, the XC60 and XC90, on the XC40, and this is clearly a very good-looking SUV. The way Volvo has managed to combine the two-tone colour scheme on the top-end ‘R-Sport’ edition with a very cool half and half on the rear C-pillar, makes this car’s side-profile particularly appealing.

India will get a single engine option, the two-litre turbocharged diesel variant, the D4. This is the top-end diesel,

The Volvo XC40, if priced well, can upset the Mercedes, BMW and Audi applecart in the small, luxury SUV segment

CAT AMONG THE PIGEONS

coupled to a eight-speed automatic box and this will be coupled with all the bells and whistles available on the ‘R-Sport’ package that includes, among other things, the touchscreen infotainment controller with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, wireless charging, radar-enabled active safety features and a 13-speaker Harmon-Kardon system.

In terms of equipment, you cannot really fault this car. And nor can you when you look at the specs sheet. In terms of size it actually is wider than all the competition and more or less the same in terms of length and height.

So, the competition then. This is a highly competitive segment with the relatively new BMW X1 as well as the Mercedes-Benz GLA and the dated

but still competitive Audi Q3. The thing is that despite making some very nice cars of late, and I have really enjoyed driving all the new Volvos such as the second-generation XC90 and XC60 as well as the brilliant V90 Cross Country, the carmaker still has to make inroads into the minds of luxury car buyers. Most Volvo owners in India, and I know a few, love their cars and actively want to replace one with another and promote the brand with their friends. And although there was the earlier V40, it was a hatchback and the ‘luxury hatchback’ market was a dead-end in India even for Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Volvo India did not have a product that gave an entry into the brand.

Now, with the XC40 they have, if, of course,

The columnist takes his hands off the wheel on the XC40 and lets the car steer itself on the highway outside Barcelona

pricing stays in the sensible range. Volvo India tend to load all their cars up with a ton of features that add to the cost, their massage seats on their XC60 and XC90 while lovely during driving ignore the fact that most Indians who buy such cars rarely drive themselves. Their audio systems, while spectacularly good, might be a bit of overkill for a typical luxury car buyer in India. As such, every Volvo is designed for an owner-driver and their cars until now were too expensive and too big to appeal to that category of buyer.

THAT

is less the case with this segment of buyers. But as I argue, this segment is one that very often chooses a brand over sensibility. If you were practical you would buy something like a Hyundai Tucson and the Volkswagen Tiguan makes more sense if you want a smart-looking German SUV. Take the Audi Q3 for example. Compared against the XC40, the current generation car will be replaced next year, the vehicle is dated, lacks features that are standard on the Volvo. Yet, the Audi Q3 still pulls buyers based on the power of Chaar Choori.

That should not be the case, because the XC40 is a

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fun car to drive as well. I drove both the D4 and T5 models in Barcelona. The D4 comes with 190PS of power which is quite a bit for a car of its size, and thanks to Volvo’s “Power Pulse” technology that uses compressed air to get the turbos rotating quicker, there is little power lag. But the variant I enjoyed more was the stunning T5 petrol which had a two-litre turbocharged engine with over 250PS of power and was a hoot to drive on the highways outside the Spanish city. Just to note, Volvo also has a D3 and a T3 variant. The numbers it uses are similar to Audi and denote power output, that have 150PS and 160PS of power respectively. Fact is that the XC40 in its D4 avatar only has the BMW X1 match it in power output and features, and the X1 is its strongest rival (including the fact that it has a stronger brand).

ALSO,

Volvo have brought along their excellent radar-

assisted active safety features along to India. Last year, I tried using this in Spain and allowed the car to follow the car in front with radar-assisted cruise control, that helps maintain a safe distance to the car in front and also lane-assist which keeps the car between the dashed lines. Of course, these are great features for the West but like in the other Volvos and the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, which have these features, they might be a bit much for our chaotic and poorly marked roads, although they are useful on some of the new highways around the country — like Hyderabad’s Outer Ring Road.

I genuinely liked the XC40 and I hope Volvo, despite loading the car up with features, prices the car well when they launch it later in July. It gives the German cars a run for their money in terms of features, it is genuinely fun to drive and marks out your individuality, Volvo India should offer the petrol enginned models as well as explore offering some lower-specified models.

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NUMBERGAME Sanjay Jumaani Numerologist

COUNT YOUR FATE

NUMBER 1 (Those born on the 1st, 10th, 19th and 28th of any month) By now you would have realised that ‘reputation’ is what you are supposed to be, and ‘character’ is what you are. Religion and spirituality could claim your attention, showing you the importance of good karma. But you need to keep in mind that we are living in a materialistic world and not on the mountains.

NUMBER 4 (Those born on the 4th, 13th, 22nd and 31st of any month) You need to wind down a bit from the gruelling and demanding work schedule, whenever you can afford to do so. If you are out of touch with an old acquaintance, pick up the phone and make the call for a true friend is not blind to faults but chooses instead to overlook them.

NUMBER 7 (Those born on the 7th, 16th and 25th of any month) Those who are self-employed must try to step up the pace, if they are to reach their deadlines. For others too, once again, you could get inundated with work and commitments, so there could be hardly any scope to shift priorities (or loyalties). Work is indeed worship.

NUMBER 2 (Those born on the 2nd, 11th, 20th and 29th of any month) An associate can make you feel important. At home, the atmosphere could be calm and relaxed. Loved ones could reciprocate well if you allow them to. A grey area on the work front can be tackled efficiently with caution. Finding the eye of the needle will help to resolve the mess.

NUMBER 5 (Those born on the 5th, 14th and 23rd of any month) Being a good listener isn’t something you can take pride in, but the plus point is that you do not make it known.

Communication has been your forte but hardly when you are at the receiving end. Pay heed to the old adage: “If you want to be happy and successful in life, never stop learning.”

NUMBER 8 (Those born on the 8th, 17th and 26th of any month) If you have been feeling a little restless and impatient due to lack of progress, now is the time to strike the proverbial iron rod. Swinging back in action will help you fulfill your creative desires, even though material success is not as important to you as is recognition for your efforts.

NUMBER 3 (Those born on the 3rd, 12th, 21st and 30th of any month) You could win a few more admirers and also ignite some jealousy. When you are in a position to receive bouquets, you are as vulnerable to brickbats too.

Materialistically, it appears to be an expensive month, so try to round off the edges wherever possible.

NUMBER 6 (Those born on the 6th, 15th and 24th of any month) Sometimes there’s happiness in the smallest moments. On the personal front, there could be light, romantic occasions, though it may not be the right time for commitments. People do expect a lot from you, but you obviously can’t deliver all the time, so draw a line somewhere, and learn to say ‘NO’.

NUMBER 9 (Those born on the 9th, 18th and 27th of any month) With sheer hard work and self belief there is a lot you can achieve. On the personal front, don’t be too critical. A kind word can make another person’s day.

An unspoken kind word can leave an empty hole. You are aware that position, power, money or popularity alone doesn’t qualify for greatness.

EXOTICA [104] JUNE 2018

SIGN-OFF

By RINKU GHOSH

I

BLUE PLANET CHALLENGE

t is not that we do not know what to do with plastic waste that’s slowly choking the planet. It is about changing our practices and the habits we spin around them, it is about the willingness to invest some cost, time and effort in turning our lives around and most importantly it is about conviction in some very inconvenient truths. In the toss-up of facts and figures, one comparative that stands out is that we have generated more plastic trash in the last ten years than we have in the 100 preceding them. Such is the volume of trash in our oceans that environmentalists have warned of a floating plastic continent, which is leaching out into virgin water with the sunlight and forming a soup of chemicals that is affecting marine life and biodiversity. The same holds for river and lake water.

Worse, if we ingest seafood, river fish or aquatic plants, we are consuming 11,000 pieces of microplastic each year, according to Plastic Planet.

May be we should sit up a bit knowing that the rampant use of plastic conveniences and their nonbiodegradable nature have meant that they have remained stuck in our surrounds, breaking down incompletely into dangerous sub-parts, substances which have now been proven to impact our internal health, priming triggers of deadly diseases. Certain policy interventions are needed to make sure that sustainable practices generate a huge demand for the plastic industry to revise its procedures and invest in R&D for an environmental-friendly alternative.

For example, the no plastic-across-the-counter and a carbon credit policy at retail chains was implemented and followed aggressively till it was abandoned as consumer behaviour remained stubborn about a right to a single-use carry-bag in return for taxes paid. Once this is a strict no-no, people would willy-nilly begin to carry their own carry bags or opt for

cloth and paper variants offered by salesmen at a price.

The other challenge is to make sure that all plastic trash is recyclable and while awareness about waste segregation has now percolated to the household level, the sorting and collection of recyclable waste for an easy logistic channel to the plant site needs to be ironed out and if possible subsidised to some extent. Industries that are vastly reliant on recyclable or virgin plastic should also be made to pay for dealing with the waste by an in-built buyback system post sales, enabling a reuse of the same stock. Toy and pharma majors immediately come to mind as potentially having the capacity, given their gains, to adopt this module.

Similarly a littering fine could be worked in at the community level to make each individual household a stakeholder in a clean-up mission. A compulsory dumping penalty is much required in our country where, despite swachch campaigns, it is considered socially acceptable to dump anything anywhere, so long as it is not in our immediate environs. For Indians, making alternative lifestyle choices is not that difficult either considering we have it encoded in our origins. All we need is to revisit the basics of a generation ago. Be it paper straws, jute and cloth bags, earthen cups and terracotta ware, the good old flasks, tiffin cases, glass bottles, metal containers, plantbased tableware and cutlery at community feasts, our herbal cosmetics, everyday life was much dependent on reuse. Vegetable and fruit peels were composted in the backyard for kitchen gardens. India’s challenges for a switchover are many given the primacy of plastic in all spheres of our lives. But without radical choices, our future is at stake. At least we can begin with the three Rs of plastic management — recycle, reuse and reduce.

That’s how we would get the fourth R — retract. We are inherently not plastic dependent, just plastic addicts.

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