FWD December 2014

THE PREMIUM LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

www.fwdlife.in ISSUE 02 VOL 04 DECEMBER 2014

` 100

STATE OF ART From Fashion To Architecture, We’ve Got It All Covered

THE MIDAS TOUCH Meet Prasad V Potluri, entrepreneur and philanthropist, who has a touch of gold in his work.

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS Making your Christmas merry indeed!

LUCKY RAAI…

FWD CAUGHT UP WITH THE SOUTHERN STAR AS SHE GOT COMFORTABLE POSING FOR US. DECEMBER 2014

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• Thiruvananthapuram: East Fort, 0471-2472922 | Pazhavangadi, 0471-2572117 | Pattom, 0471-2543611 • Nedumangadu: Market Junction, 0472-2803505 • Kollam: Chinnakada, 0474-2752005 • Pathanamthitta: K.P. Road, 0468-2270555 • Thiruvalla: Near KSRTC, 0469-2604060 • Kottayam: Rajiv Gandhi Complex, 0481-2303555 • Thodupuzha: 04862-226699 • Kochi: M.G. Road, 0484-2353295 | Lulu Mall, 0484-2728777 • Chavakkad: Bypass Junction, 0487-2500000 • Thrissur: Palace Road, 0487-2323971 | High Road, 0487-2420011, 2440460 • Palakkad: G.B. Road, 0491-2524500 |T.B. Road, 0491-2500101 • Coimbatore: Cross Cut Road, 0422-2482222 • Bengaluru: Jayanagar, 080-41666842 | Kasturba Road Tel: 080-45343333 Shop online: www.joscogroup.com | office@joscogroup.com | /JoscoGroup

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LIFESTYLE TRAVEL LEISURE ENTERTAINMENT LOUNGE

Corporate Office Chief Mentor Padma Shri Mammootty Forward Media Director Sony Joy 9th Floor Director & CEO Arun Balachandran* Bhageeratha Square Editor Abraham Tharakan Banerji Road, Cochin- 682 018 Vice President Sameer Hamsa Legal Advisor Adv. Aginov Mathappan Zonal Office Forward Media Assitant Editor Atheena Wilson 1006 -Ivory Court 1, Essel Towers, Features Writers Maria John M.G Road, Gurgaon,

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All rights reserved. FWD Life is fully protected by copyright and nothing may be reproduced fully or in part without permission. All inputs, text, image or illustration, are accepted on the understanding that no liability is incurred. All characters in any fictional story are purely imaginary and no references or allusion are intended to apply to any living person or persons. The views and opinions expressed or implied in this magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of Forward Media Private Limited. All photographs unless otherwise indicated, are used for illustrative purposes only. This magazine is intended for mature audience-reader. Discretion is advised.

Director & CEO: Arun Balachandran * Responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act.

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editor’s note

eels like

Christmas Across the last twelve months, I am not sure if my team and the readers found the same things here that made them laugh, made them ponder or just made them simply angry. I certainly hope FWD Life magazine has been a regular place for great conversations.

As days fly toward the red letter day in December, panic often catches you unaware at the most inconvenient of moments. The workload to clear before holidays, pending shopping list and all more importantly right gifts for the right people, adding to your everyday worries. Hope the month ending brings its share of miracles to your life, in people, gestures, and memories. Of course, don’t forget to play, your part too, in the mysteries of the universe.

We have a delightful line up for you to read and savor, and I hope you treasure too. If you celebrate the particular day, then Merry Christmas, if not I extend the season’s greetings. While writing this I think that some days always feel like Christmas.

Abraham Tharakan Editor

My Pick

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C

ONTENTS

66

keeping it reel

S

tories

26 The Midas Touch

F

ashion

B

eauty and Wellness

20 Watch Out

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38 State of Art: The Biennale Artists

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62 Lucky Raai

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In conversation with Prasad V Potlurri who has a golden touch to everything

Biennale beckons us. Meet Sumakshi Singh, Valsan Koorma Kolleri and Sahej Rahal who are gearing us ap for a journey to the treasure trove.

Catch Raai Laxmi’s interview and shoot at the Backyard Civilization.

82 Dreaming of a White Christmas

Not too far away from the North Pole, Daniella shares her Christmas stories at Greenland.

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We’ve got an attire hand -picked for your watch, watch out!

State of Art Fashion Movements Take a look at the spin of famous art movements : Surrealism, Cubism, Primitivism and Optical Art I am Because We Are Bunuel’s take on minimalism

92 Regal Tales Be charmed by the colors in the rustic setting of Goa

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Boulder and the Rose Stories of hope are warm as hot cocoa

Color Me Brunette Let your hair down with a new shade of cool A Cocoa Christmas Pamper your skin with some chocolate therapy

91 Sugar Coated Lips Chocolate and Plum is the current color of the season..

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ifestyle

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Backyard Civilization

We’re sharing some art that caught our eye at Backyard Civilization, Mattencherry.

Raise and Toast The cake is rising up to challenge and as Christmas beckons, catch up with the Christmas treats at French Toast.

Christmas Spread Maria Jose shares a few recipes that promises a belly- full Christmas lunch.

86 Merry at Thekkady Head to a farm and enjoy the tranquillity at Harvest Fresh Farm

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umour

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Snippets

Did you know Santa has an address and Matisse’s painting was hung upside down?

Criminal Mimes Are you up for a sweet escape this Christmas?

108 The Year it Was The year is winding up, Vinay Menon’s got a few jack in the box shenanigans to just have a laugh at .

112 Let’s all be Germans this

Christmas Ronnie is back and it’s certainly not the season to be jolly!

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vents

News

Get updated with what’s happening in and around town!

100 What a Bride Wants

Label M has launched a new bridal line of panache to get your eyes set forsomething extraordinary.

102 Gang of Dusters

Blazing on a Road Trip,Renaultorganizesa day out for their customers.

105 Work Hard, Play Harder

The Rotary Club of Cochin East organized Escape; the Corporate Fun Fest 5th edition. The event brought together over 35 prominent corporate companies in Kerala

FWD LifeTakes no responsibility for unsolicited photographs or material. All photographs, unless otherwise indicated are used for illustrative purposes only. Views and opinions expressed in the articles are of the authors subjects and do not necesserally reflect those of the editors or publishers. While the editors do their utmost to verify information published, they do not accept responcibility for its absolute accuracy. In matters which may be sub judice, FWD Media takes no legal stand. FWD Life cannot be held responsible for products, product information, pictures, illustrations etc Any information received by us through responses by users / subscribers to the short messaging services (SMS) key codes or such other subscription service of ours will be used in whole or part, in our publications (other than contact information), for our research, individual marketing, strategic client analysis and for other internal purposes and all copyrights in such information will vest with us. Your contact information shall not be sold, traded, rented or in any way divulged to any third party unless we are legally bound to do the same.

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FWD

News

W

No more lost Keys How many times have you rummaged in your bag and frisked your pockets to find those elusive keys? Fear no more as Motorola has come out with The Motorola Keylink phone and key finder. The device works both ways and can detect keys or phones within a 100 feet radius.

It is a Bluetooth-powered accessory, and the app can be downloaded using the Motorola Connect app. “If your phone decides to play hide and seek with you, you can press a button on Keylink to make it ring up to 100 feet away. If your keys get a similar idea, you can use the Motorola Connect App to make Keylink ring," notes the company on its official blog.

hen Virat Kohli wondered on twitter ‘if it feels right, is it wrogn?’, we were puzzled. It was the build up to the launch of his fashion line WROGN which was introduced late November.

According to Myntra, “WROGN will bring on the table a war of ideas between all that’s wrong and all that’s right, in today’s world. It promises to be the quirkiest fashion brand the country has ever seen.” The line is targeted at the urban youth and will be available at Shopper’s Stop outlets and online on Myntra.

Virat Kohli doing something WROGN?

Paragon launched in Kochi Paragon’s new restaurant was inaugurated at Lulu Mall by Lulu group Managing Director Yusuf Ali in the presence of many dignitaries. With an enviable culinary heritage dating back to more than seven decades, the Paragon Group has set new benchmarks in the restaurant industry. After initially offering a fusion of the Malabar region's Moplah and Thiyya Cuisines, the master chefs at Paragon have ceaselessly innovated to transform the cuisine over the years. They today enjoy cult status in Calicut and Dubai and are acclaimed as India's best restaurant for coastal cuisine (Times Now Foodie Award) and consistently ranked among Dubai's best restaurants.

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Asia’s Best Restaurant Award The award ceremony for Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants will be held on March 9, 2015 at The Capella Singapore. The winners will be judged by a group of regional experts across the continent to give a more comprehensive overview of the culinary scene. Regions covered for the awards include India, South-East Asia, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau, mainland China, Korea and Japan. Last year’s winner was a Thai restaurant in Bangkok, Nahm, headed by Australian chef David Thompson.

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SNIPPETS

ART

9.7m Right Side Up On December 3rd, 1961, Henri Matisse’s painting “Le Bateau” was put right-side up after hanging upside-down for 46 days without anyone noticing at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. A stockbroker named Genevieve Habert found the mistake and notified the authorities. The picture is composed pieces of paper cut out of sheets painted with gouache, and was created during the last years of Matisse’s life.

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A Home for Art The most popular art museum in the world is the Musee du Louvre in Paris. Once a fortified palace that was the home to kings of France, the Louvre is the world’s most visited museum, and received more than 9.7 million visitors in 2012. Renowned for some of the finest pieces of art in the world, including the Venus de Milo and the Mona Lisa the Louvre is over 60,000 square meters of art space.

Ravi Varma Painting Found

Da Vinci, the Perfectionist Leonardo da Vinci is known as a great artist but only 15 paintings of his are known to exist. He believed that only perfect art should exist and destroyed everything else.

He used to experiment new techniques on his artwork and was known for procrastinating due to which very few works survive. He thought art should be made flawlessly like magic and hence he destroyed most of his sketchbooks too.

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A rare painting by Raja Ravi Varma was found at the Mannanam CMI Ashram in Kottayam. The canvas depicts Mother Mary and baby Jesus with John the Baptist. The Ashram is believed to have been gifted the painting by King Sree Vishakam Tirunal of Travancore. The art work stands to prove the communal harmony prevalent during that time. Studies are being conducted to discover more about this painting.

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Tid-bits

christmas

One and Only Every year Hamleys, UK comes out with the top ten toys for the season. The London store’s must-haves range from a doll named Cayla who uses speech-to-text Google software to look up answers to questions online, to the Doh Vinci 3D Deluxe Styler, which mimics the principles of 3D printing. In America, retailers make 25% of their yearly sales and 60% of their profits between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Santa’s mail Canada post recognizes the address Santa Claus, North Pole Canada, HOHOHO. Any letters received with this address is opened and replied to. You can also send a letter to Santa Claus using this address: Santa Claus, Santa Claus Main Post Office, FI-96930 Arctic Circle. Receive a reply from Santa or ask him to send letters to your friends and family.

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meters

Tree-bute

America’s official national Christmas tree is located in King’s Canyon National Park in California.

The tree, a giant sequoia called the “General Grant Tree”, is over 90 meters (300 feet) high, and was made the official Christmas tree in 1925. Asia’s tallest Christmas tree is in Malaysia. Even more striking than its height is that it’s made from Lego. The nine-meter tree at Legoland Malaysia is made from 400,000 blocks of the child’s toy. Artificial Christmas trees have outsold real ones since 1991.

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christmas

Ode to joy

1914

During the First World War, soldiers from both armies took a break from fighting to sing carols to each other across the war zone. German soldiers approached the Allied troops wishing them Merry Christmas. Dozens of British fighters also joined to wish as well as exchange gifts like cigarettes. This moment came to be known as the Christmas Truce of 1914.

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Lounge

Swiss time boutique

Just in Time

Christmas is just round the corner and there isn’t a better time to invest in a timeless timepiece to up your personal style. Swiss Time House presents you with enough options to consider.

Photographs Jinson Abraham lassic style, exquisite design, and superior quality – these are inherent characteristics of the world’s top brands dealing in watches and other timepieces. And there’s only one place to find them all under the same roof – Swiss Time House. From Longines and Tag Heur to Rolex and Ulysse Nardin, the store exclusively caters to the big brands you can flaunt on your wrist. Prices start at INR 43500, while watches that cost up to 25 lakhs are in stock at the store in Kochi. Swiss Time House also deals in exquisite products that fetch up to 5 crores. All watches enjoy a 2 years international warranty and guaranteed style.

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FWD Products

Watches

Montblanc Bohème Date Automatic Black/Gold Michael Kors Leather Waist Crepe Dress.

Price: ` 144100 appx.

Montblanc Bohème Date Automatic Black/Steel

Oscar de la Renta Sleeveless Beaded Silk Dress.

Price: ` 287610 appx.

Watch Out…

Montblanc Bohème Perpetual Calendar

These trendy timepieces from MontBlanc’s Boheme Collection, we’ve paired them up with these designer outfits.

Valentino Short-Sleeve Lace Dress. Price: ` 263085 appx.

Montblanc Bohème Date Automatic Blue Two-tone strap

Akris Double-Faced Wool Crepe Dress.

Price: `146560 appx.

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Montblanc Bohème Date Automatic Red/Gold Twotone strap

Donna Karan Belted Elbow-Sleeve Midi Dress.

Price: ` 152980 appx.

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For trade inquiries contact: Mr. Ananth Pandit

+91 97470 00416 Available across all retail stores in India.

Shop online @ Follow us on: DECEMBER 2014

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FWD Products

DÉCOR

Kosta Boda Fidji 17” Bottle.

Price: ` 25709 appx.

Scalamandre by Lenox Zebras Black Tall Vase.

Price: ` 25709 appx.

Lladró Illusion porcelain figurine.

Price: ` 31642 appx.

Home Suit Home

Dress up your home with these classy knick-knacks…

Marchesa by Lenox Painted Camellia Tray.

Price: ` 31642 appx.

Umbra Elapse Wall Clock.

Price: ` 11391 appx.

Orrefors Chimney 4-Armed Candle Holder.

Price: ` 23336 appx.

Michael Aram Neptune Bowl.

Price: ` 31247 appx.

Nambe Anvil Petal Centerpiece Bowl.

Price: ` 21754 appx.

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Uttermost Alita Mirror.

Price: ` 31642 appx.

Relax… it’s that easy

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New Product

MONTEGRAPPA

Putting Pen to Paper This Christmas, gift something special or make a mark when you sign all those greeting cards with a Montegrappa pen.

ontegrappa, the first Italian pen manufacturer, founded in 1912, still stands in the same historic building in Bassano del Grappa in the prosperous north-eastern part of Italy, retaining its history and heritage.

It offers a wide range of sophisticated writing instruments, watches and accessories that are intricately designed to suit every individual. While some pens are luxurious collectibles, the others are humble, yet elegant writing instruments.

Montegrappa has produced a series of limited edition pens with special models adoring specific events, locales, and icons.

The ‘Icons’ series includes personalities such as Muhammad Ali, Bruce Lee, and Frank Sinatra, which are available with complimenting cufflinks.

The brand is associated with various historical events, and prominent personalities around the globe use Montegrappa pens. Eminent leaders like Benito Mussolini used Montegrappa Pens. Other proud owners include Al Pacino, Stirling Moss, and Paulo Coelho.

Hollywood superstar Sylvester Stallone and F1 Racing Driver Jean Alessi are among the board members of the brand.

While writing instruments continue to be the main focus, the company also offers a range of elegant wristwatches, cuff links and a wide range of leather accessories.

For more info, visit: www.montegrappa.com 24

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Wanna make someone Jealous ?

HAIRDRESSING For Appointments

0484 4041111 / 7559977777

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THE MIDAS TOUCH The hot and humid summer afternoon in Kochi transformed into an animated conversation about entrepreneurship, business opportunities and of course football when FWD Life met Prasad V. Potluri, the master brain behind PVP Ventures.

Text FWD Media Photos Reji Baskar

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INTERVIEW

Prasad V. Potluri

In the classy ambience of the coffee lounge at Crowne Plaza, Kochi, a smartly dressed man in blazers and brogues greeted us with a heartwarming smile. “PVP “ the name by which Mr.Potluri is known among his friends and associates, was ready for us a full quarter of an hour before the time scheduled for us. The pace at which he gets things moving is evident from his track record, he built three companies around the world and sold them for a nest egg by the time he was 35. PVP returned to India and started Realty, Infrastructure, Financial services, Media and Entertainment divisions.

Extremely candid about his experiences, Mr.Potluri talked about how is first job was at three in the morning, as a janitor. ‘ All roads lead to Rome and

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those days it was the United States of America; that was the dreamland.” confesses PVP. After completing his bachelor’s education, PVP wanted to pursue a graduate program in the US, but his visa application got rejected thrice.

So he went ‘down under’ to Australia to do his masters. From Australia, he got a single entry visa (90 days) to USA, on his seventh attempt. “I landed in the USA on 1st August 1995 with 160 USD in my pocket. I bought into the American dream and in June ’96, with a single desk and chair on lease, I started my first company called Procon Inc.” In 27 months, Procon Inc had 250 employees. The company was acquired for 32 million dollars in November 1998. PVP was 27 years old then.

His second endeavor in the US, was building an e-business solutions firm inorganically and acquired two firms in the US and formed Albion Orion LLC. PVP was one of the first Indians in the US that pursued M&A in North America and successfully sold that company for 63.65 million dollars in September 2000 to SSI Ltd. He then set his sights across the Atlantic and moved to London, UK and started a new company called Irevna that pioneered and spawned the KPO space. He began the company in August 2001 and withered the 9/11 crisis and successfully grew to a team of 500 MBA’s, serving the needs of fortune 1000 corporations. In 2005, Prasad sold Irevna to Crisil India, which during the course of the acquisition became

Standard & Poor India. During that time, he had the opportunity to witness the growth potential and the India story exploding into the global arena.

Your early experience...

I would have been in the comfort zone of the many folks from our part of the world. I had a great opportunity to be the early movers in Australia, to understand the Western environment. I also got to understand what a graduate goes through. I went through every blue collar job under the sun. From janitorial duties at three in the morning to pumping gas at the Shell station, it was a great learning experience.

It helped me develop a new sense of work ethics and discipline. Guess it’s one of the reasons why I always fill my

fuel at Shell, anywhere in the world.

Evolution as an entrepreneur I always had the inhibition that my educational credentials were not up to the mark. A friend of mine was working for McKenzie at that time and they had set up a knowledge centre in London. I knew the U.S like the back of my hand and I decided to set up our next venture in the U.K. We decided to create a similar offering to investment banks. We put together a team and slowly we developed a team of 500 MBA’s serving the needs of fortune 1000 corporations. We had to overcome the hurdles of 9/11 attacks before revenue stared coming in. That was a great humbling experience; the last decade of my career involved a

lot of learning and unlearning. I have stepped on a few landmine, but that’s the evolution that every entrepreneur has to go through.

Coming back to India As an entrepreneur, you always gravitate towards opportunity, and the writing was on the wall, as far as India was concerned. It was the place to be. I was introduced to an investment opportunity and saw an exciting platform in Karvy Group (Hyderabad) and bought a large stake in it. It was my best investment decision till date which also supported my growth plans in India. The forecasting was bang on spot, but looking back where I underestimated the challenges was the way in which business was done in India. I

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had never gone to any US government office for any major business need. It was quite a complicated environment to navigate in India, and it took me few months’ years to understand what kind of a juvenile business man I was before India. I have no hesitation saying this out loud, but having said that let me add that we have totally cracked it now and we are managing various kind of business in India. Financial services, real estate, media, entertainment and sports are the areas we are currently focusing on. I am going back to drawing board to start working with startups. Especially, on retail consumption services Indian Super League From the U.S, I understood sports as part of entertainment and a part of consumption. Because of India’s demographic dividend,10 years from now sports will be a contributor to the economy. When I came back IPL( Indian Premier League) had already started, and I had made a bid for Deccan Chargers. When the Indian

Badminton League started , bought the Hyderbad Hot Shots and won the inaugural edition.The tennis league was evolving and at that time we spoke to Sachin discussed with him the possibility of developing an organization.

Sachin’s heart was into all sports not just cricket and how we are developing football is from the grass root level.

Philanthropy We have been taking care of quite a few people in badminton, chess….

This is something I learned from America, that one has to give back to the society. God has been so kind to me, He has given me more than what I deserve and there are so many who are not so fortunate. In a small way we have built an undergraduate college in my home town.

Managing Your Team There are no short cuts, you have to lead by example, be consistent, its about your credibility, and you live and die by your word.That’s the only principle I live by and I will continue

to do so. That’s how you inspire your colleagues, first is your integrity , second your work ethics ,and three your consistency in terms of your conduct, relationship.

Quickies Favorite Locations Saint-Tropez on the French Rivera Favorite food Pasta Personal quirks I need my blazer even in the middle of the Indian summer Advice for Future entrepreneurs One should have tremendous equanimity handling success and failure.

Handling and acknowledging failure is another very important thing.

If not an serial entrepreneurs I would have been a socialist/activist enjoying giving my time to the society.

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State

of Art

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hat’s faster than light is how time flies. We try to recollect how a year has passes by in a jiffy.

Is it too late to say we have something to look forward to? Apart from Christmas, Kochi Muziris Biennalle is back again and that’s something we probably love more than a hot cup of cocoa. This month, we share how art is truly a part of our lives. Whether it be in fashion, we’ve got runway trends and couture in line with some of the famous art movements like optical art, primitivism, surrealism and cubism.

Interpret every stroke of the famous painters to the thread pulled to make a fashion statement in the name of art.

Long gone are the days of sculptures and canvases, art has transcended into reels and been explored through learned eyes. We’ve got a list of books and movies that keeps you engrossed in the world of art. Meet our artists, Sahej Rahal, Sumakshi Singh, ValsanKoorma Kolleri, who are putting up the weather and mosquitoes. They put on a great show and instil us with instalments. Catch Bunuel’s work at David Hall. Just when you think art is growing on you, we got a few alien terms to settle in your mind and make you fascinated with how art is both simple and yet beautifully complex.

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state of ART Product Listing Victor Varsely

Bridget Riley

Nicholas Kirkwood Nicole Richie in Missoni

Paul Smith Olivia Wilde in Antonio Berardi

Adidas

By Jeremy Scot Burberry

Chenaski

Op art Welcome to a wardrobe of illusions.

Textile designs inspired by the famous artists Varsely, Riley, Albers and Anuskiewicz

Kim Kardashian in Alexander McQueen

Manish Arora

Rocksanda Ilincic

Jaime King in Alexander McQueen

French Bull

Ashley Madekwe in Roksanda Ilincic Joseph Albers 34

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Richard Anuskiewicz

Pablo Picasso

Marcel Duchamp Cubist Bouquet

Noir Lorenz Bäumer

Satya Paul

Hillary Rhoda in Helmut Lang

Cubism On the contrary you’re not boxed in choices! Picasso, Duchamp, Mattisse, Leger’s paintings were an inspiration for our current couture!

Charlotte Olympia

J Crew

Rush Hour, New York

by Max Weber

Claire Danes in Oscar de la Renta Henri Mattisse

eShakti

Fernard Leger DECEMBER 2014

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state of ART

Product Listing

George Milpuururru

Ronnie Tjampitjinpa

Elena Perminova in Balmain

Deborah Coertse

SheInside

Primitivism Stay grounded to some of the

Lucy Hall in BCBGMAXAZRIA

traditional designs . Aborginal artists Milpuururru, Tjampitjinpa, Amstrong, Nampitjinpa’s designs are now tye and dye on cloth!

Pam Hall

Indigenous All Star

by Jaharal Yow Yeh

Kiton Ruth Stewart

Sonam Kapoor in Vinatage Alexander McQueen Marilyn Armstrong 36

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Jenna Elfman

Katrina Pollard Nampitjinpa

Salvador Dali

Blaike Lively in a valentino dress

David Lachapelle

Blue and Cream Printed Plissee Pleated Silk Dress Roberto Calvali

Valentino Printed butterfly Coat

Surrealism Clothes lined with the silver lining of imagination. Artist with vivid dreams like Dali, Lachapelle, Magritte and Marx art translates into livid prints and designs.

Rene Magritte

Ernst Marx DECEMBER 2014

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STATE OF ART

VALSAN KOORMA KOLLERI

ALSAN

KOORMA

KOLLERI “People just want to pressurize so that others are under their control. Nobody can stop mental freedom.”

Text Aabha Muralidharan Photos Jinson Abraham

The evening was quiet special. The humbleness and warmth filled the David hall entrance as I entered and introduced myself. I guess it is this same humbleness and values that reflect upon his work. His works shout out messages to the public in the most subliminal manner. One would wonder how would a stone like laterite talk to people? That is where the heart of sculptors and sculpting lies. From Michelangelo’s Pieta and David to Leonardo Da Vinci’s horse, every sculpture had a face cut story. ValsanKoorma Kolleri and I sat together with a asumptuous amount of art and enough desserts about knowledge aesthetics.

What kind of inspiration does Cabral

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Yard give you?

I am working like a prehistoric man.

There is no shelter. There is no electricity and basic help. This is a challenge in our country. There are a lot of spaces that is on paper, and the land has just been knocked off. I tend to work with “art of recycling” . I question where the object is discarded or not. It is more appropriate for me. The people of our country are becoming lazier. My interest is to bring skill and craft to universities. Because I think if there are skill and craft then nobody will suffer. What I am trying to do is over work. At a point, this over work will lead to spirituality and much more of enthusiasm. You will realise that there is no meaning in laziness. You

come to an ecstasy.

What is sculpting to you?

Sculpting started during pre-historic time. In India, sculpting was the first form of art. Because of our lifestyles and practices, majority of people have ignored the art called “sculpting” . Cinema, literature, poetry and even painting all these have become an important part of people’s lives.

They react to it soon. Sculpture for me is not three- dimensional but multi dimensional. I learnt cooking from sculpting; especially from bronze cast. If I go wrong anywhere, with the temperature or the pouring, the whole thing is a waste. From that discipline I understood that not only bronze but every material has its values. We have

to look at what we need to practice and whatever is your mind, you sculpt.

According to you what is the dynamics of sculpting?

Paintings have mobility. They can be moved and shifted. Sculptures are fixed. They are in a particular place and last for a longer period. The impact is similar to the feeling when people first see something early in the morning. The energy that you get from seeing a sculpture or a piece of art is just amazing. From that, you grow further. Any shape has a colour, and any colour is a shape. You cannot see the colour alone. Even the canvas texture is a sculpture. Colours are not just pigments. When you sculpt, you don’t know the size, material or anything. But when it comes to painting, one knows the size of the canvas. So there is a lot of play with the material.

Not only that but also other materials including water, air, light, etc.

Being an artist, do you hunt for your materials?

Right now, I am using laterite stones.

In fact, for the past ten years I have been using laterite stones as well. It has been close to my heart. When I was a child. I pick up anything now.

Fibre, coconut shell to anything adds to my art. There is a reason that it is there, even though they are not being

used. Time is something that makes things meaningful.

Is it true that artists look for perfection?

Things happen like that. There is a process involved. I don’t believe in perfection. I believe in understanding of perfection. If you are perfect, your work will not be perfect.

same case with freedom. Nobody can stop mental freedom. But that alone is not enough for anybody to prove someone’s talent. Art education should be made compulsory. Our country is still sustaining because of the people who have done amazing works. The new generation is not at all bothered.

All the values and morals we had are slowly dying and to bring it back we need art education.

What brought you to the arena of sculpting?

I don’t want to work under anybody, not even my father. I did not improve in my mathematics because I learnt mathematics in what I can use. Initially, I thought I would take it seriously.

In fact, everyone was into mathematics. But here in my work, I am a slave.

I can do anything. My thinking, my exercise, my patience everything helps me in my sculptures. It’s an awareness. It’s an amazing experience.

Why Biennale?

Biennale is like Theyyam for me. All kinds of people come to see Theyyam.

When these people go out of the show, they see themselves. Ultimately that is what matters. That is the most interesting thing. Where we live is in the present. It is not the past nor future.

The entire energy is in that particular moment. I don’t believe in time. In fact, my work’s name is “How Goes the Enemy” . Time is our enemy.

How is art education in India?

Education in India itself is a sad situation. They shape people into unwanted human beings. Sometimes, I am ashamed to be a human being. It has come to that level that there are so many restrictions in life. People just want to pressurize so that others are under their control. That is the

Will there be a time when art will be able to make time as a physical dimension?

Yes. When the art education in India is very strict in schools, I am sure the scenario will change. What will our future generation put forward? Only then can we understand things like time, space, etc.

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STATE OF ART

Sumakshi Singh

UMAKSHI SINGH

“I don’t define art. If you define it you kill it. If I had to say it then I wouldn’t be making it.”

Text Rekha Soman and Maria John Photos Jinson Abraham

A vantage point is not just a physical entity. Sumakshi Singh’s explorations into perspective have made her an internationally recognized contemporary artist.

Born and brought up in Delhi, Sumakshi was trained in painting at M S University, Baroda. Since then she has travelled all over the world working and exhibiting.

She creates site specific installations which prod the existence of time, understanding, first interpretations and self reflection.

Drawing from her own experiences, the artist uses mix media to draw you into the artwork and leave you with transcending thoughts.

What does the Biennale mean to you?

What you see here is a lot of goodwill coming together. Often in the art world and at art fairs what you sense

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is a kind of competiveness and galleries favoring their artists. Here art is not for sale and is not a commodity.

Artists and curators are all stepping in to offer their own private funds and energy. A community is coming together to make this happen which is a really positive thing for the art fraternity. What I’m enjoying about the Biennale is that it is all about ideas and pushing your practice, along with pushing the context of everybody’s practice.

What has been your experience so far?

It is very inspiring to be here. A large part of it is due to the fact that the curator Jitish Kallat has individually worked with the artists on their concepts and ideas. He has asked us to work on our ideas and not take short cuts. We are inspired to go all out. You don’t really see that in many places in the art world. This is not market driven and it is really about ideas and having a dialogue. This is an incredible platform for people to come and really expand their practice and tap into inspiration.

How do people interpret your work?

I make art for self discovery. I ask the artwork what it wants to become and then onwards it’s a strange little dance. I feel uncomfortable when I work. I am a person who wants to be in control. I don’t know what it is going to become, but learning to trust is very soothing. Very often people under-

stand exactly what I am hoping for and beyond. When somebody comes back and tells me what they saw, suddenly there is a bubble of joy inside due to a realization that what they saw is what I unconsciously meant it to be. Obviously, something is coming through the work that is not from your brain or your conscious intent, but it is like ‘you’ are just seeping through your work.

For some people, my art is very much like a mark of our generation where we are in multiple places at the same time. Where are you really? How do you locate yourself? Our generation deals with this all the time with Skype, Facebook and SMS. Is it where your physical body is placed, where your attention is or a meeting online? There is this multiplicity now and space is collapsing in a way. If two hundred years ago. You tell someone that you could talk to another without being in the same room ,they would not believe you. Other thing that people tell me is that it is like a space -time hiccup.

Your vision gets stuck at one point in space and somehow you are allowed to walk away from it and enter it from another angle. In a way, you are in an abstract map of your own vision. My yogi and monk friends often see my work from the angle of ‘Maya.’ It is an

illusory world that we inhabit and it is only through the mediated do we try to make sense of our world. What is real and how do you recognize it? There are many questions that I have in my mind and that comes out through the work.

Tell us about your current work I am doing an installation at Pepper House where I work now from nine in the morning to nine at night. You enter this seventy foot long room with scrolls of paper hanging floor to ceiling at twelve feet height. You see a swirling group of planets, an astronomy diagram that are actually based on the ‘Suryasiddhanta,’ an ancient text. It talked about gravity and calculus way before Newton. A lot of the drawings and mythologies are projected on large sheets of paper. Then you come across a table where there is an open manuscript where birds are flying, a tree is growing and people are moving.

It is a conglomeration of the history of Kerala. Afterwards, you enter a maze of hanging scrolls and as you walk around you see semi abstract drawings. You walk further and you see yourself as a live projection where you are now in the book. You have become a character in the manuscript and the latest addition to Kerala’s history.

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STATE OF ART

SAHEJ RAHAL

RAHAL

“It does get into the murky territory of pretending. Isn’t that what you do with clay? “ Text Atheena Wilson Photos Jinson Abraham

“Sorry, did you think I would be too arty,” he asked. Casually seated at a garden in David Hall amongst nosy crickets, Sahej’s flair to surprise anyone with his outlandish concepts and infused philosophies never ceased.

From a conversation about Star Trek to the book ,Brief Interviews with Hideous men

by David Foster Wallace, I knew this interview was bound to have a few surprises. Earlier a painter, he’s had a tricky time moulding a relationship with clay.

Biennale awaits a game of pretence. All I can say is that it’s a visit to a laboratory- contradictory to Dexter’s though.

Tell us a little about this laboratory, does it arise from your subconscious?

The laboratory, it immediately calls out for precision.

But mine pokes fun at the idea of one and you assume you are going to look at serious art. It’s all toys, and the fun is to make the sense of this. I was inspired by sci-fi and predictions written during the

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cold war. About the subconscious, (he breaks into a laugh) I don’t engage with psychoanalysis. The origins of thoughts sitting in the nebula of subconscious mind are a limited way to go about it. A lot of it just comes with everything that’s around you. You are constantly assimilating things. I do feel that I haven’t engaged with that dealing of art, but for me it’s more of a cultural sphere that enters in you.

A flight from banality as we visit your space, are we going to see a few quirks like Marcel Duchamp’s (in reference to his famous art work, Fountain) in the laboratory?

(He laughs) I haven’t put any urinals, probably lion heads! Earlier, I was talking about cinema. AspinWall has been a stage to so many films. I have been taking left-overs from the sets and designing the after-life of the virtual cinema. You’ll see fun objects that you think have lost value and suddenly has an importance from our past and future. It’s all about play and pretence.

You are creating ruins of the future with that of the past, quite a paradox isn’t it?

I am making a huge set of roads leading to Muziris, an absent city. It stands out in a map with historical data pointed towards it, but we do not know where it is or even its civilization. The idea of that paradox becomes a framework for imagining this lost future. Taking old things and focusing

on the materiality of things and getting them to pretend to be someone else.

It does get into the murky territory of pretending. Isn’t that what you do with clay?

You’ve framed a concept of attaching to things that one has detached fromwhat was the thought process behind it?

I am kind of fascinated with the concept of value, it brings a certain aura.

It will affect you in a visceral meaning.

What’s fun for me is making the game of giving a meaning on a civilizational level. There are a lot of things that you may be taking seriously, poking fun on how we make meaning of past or what’s yet to come. These questions thrown out on how authentic things are or where in history do you place them?

Despite being in the presence of ruins there’s a parallel route to an interpretation, isn’t it?

It is this absurd mess that navigates the viewer, the space of it being chaotic helps you clear your mind. In Chopin’s philosophy, we build the universe in our existence not in a magical way, but we make sense of it in a conversation. To look at the process and how we interpret our ruins is the

conversation I want with the viewer.

Magic realism seems to be prevalent in your art, the inspiration…

I really enjoy Marquez’s, Carlos Montez’s and Isabelle Allende’s writing (we draw the association of his clay artwork to her writing, And of Clay We are Created.) In Jorge Borges’s writing, he gives you piece of conversation and you have to figure out the story on your own, and frame multiple options.

How words move around and conjure to a prose is what I look for in art- be engaged and inspired. Making sense is a part of our cultural domain. That’s what magic realism does.

What’s the element of magic in Biennale?

I am thrilled to work in Atul Dodiya’s space. His decoupage was a sensorium of images from Bollywood to David Hockney and Godhar. JiteshKallat talked about the Biennale being an in between space – just like when you attend a lecture and you go out in between for a couple of drinks. The concept of Biennale is like mashwaro – fill in the atmosphere. It creates a space where you can be laidback and continue in an informal way. Biennale’s ethos tries to break the code of elitism and just enjoy a conversation.

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state of ART

BACKYARD CIVILIZATION

Ordinary Historians & Wayward Daughters An experiment and exploration into the understanding of art; where perceptions are different but the platform is the same for ordinary historians and wayward daughters alike. The art exhibition at Backyard Civilization saw Malayali artists of different backgrounds come together to captivate the audience.

Sleep Siji R Krishnan Watercolor on rice paper 2.6ft x 3.3ft

Re-plantation of a virtue of a village Sabin Mudappathi Staedtler pencil on tea-washed paper 6.8ft x 2ft

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The Body K K Muhammed 2.4ft x 3.4ft Mix media on paper

Prayer Sosa Joseph 2ft x 2.6ft Oil on canvas

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state of ART

BACKYARD CIVILIZATION

Pictorial Aami Atmaja Acrylic on canvas 5.6ft x 3.4ft

Fool’s Garden Shanto Antony Mixed media 0.75ft x 1ft

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Do Not Touch the Surface Pradeepkumar K P Soft Pastel on Paper 2.7ft x 4.11ft

Untitled Sanal C S Oil on canvas 3.8ft x 5.1ft

Other artists featured: Ambish Kumar K M, Gipin Varghese, Sreedevi T R DECEMBER 2014

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state ofART artcyclopedia

WORD OF ART

It takes finesse to undertand a work of art. Gustav Klimt may have had gold foil in his paintings but we’ve listed a few grandiloquent terms to add to your word bank.

Text Atheena Wilson Photos Various Sources

A

B Baroque

Anamorphosis Two dimensional artwork or usually figure in art work. It looks distorted from a frontal position but assumes the normal position from one side or curved mirror.

A prevailing art movement that started from the late 16th century to 17th century. It’s associated with dynamic movement and emotional intensity.

Look out for The Ambassadors- Hans Holbein the Younger

Look out for The Entombment of Christ, - Caravaggio

C

Contropposto It’s a type of pose in which one part of the figure twists or turns away from another part.

Look out for David - Bernini

F

D

The French term for Wild beasts, it’s a 20th century art style of panting in France characterized by fierce and expressive color.

art of decorating an object by gluing colored paper cutouts onto it in combination with special paint effects, gold leaf and so on.

G

Grotesque A kind of ornament derived from ancient Rome, composed loosely connected motifs, human figure and realistic animals.

Look out for The Dessert Harmony in Red- Henri Matisse

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Expressionism

Decoupage

Look out for Blue Nude II – Henri Matisse

Fauves

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E

Impasto Thick textured brushwork applied with a brush or a knife.

This technique was famously seen in Rembrant’s paintings.

Look out for Still LifeVase with Pink Roses – Vincent Van Gogh

J

H

An art movement in which the artist’s subjective reactions and emotions take precedence over observed reality.

Look out for Scream- Edward Munch

Hyperrealism An alternate name for super surrealism.

K

Kalighat Painting

An Indian School of painting, the school produced German and Austrian devotional images in mass form of Art Noveau. number for the poor pilgrims.

Look out for Jugenstil

The Kiss -Peter Behrens Look out for Ravana and Hanuman, Kalighat school of painting,

L

Limner The name for an artist used in Britain during the 15th and 16the centuries.

M

Mannerism 16th century style of painting between Renaissance and Baroque characterized by imbalance and distortion.

Michelangelo used this technique in many of his paintings.

Look out for Madonna with the Long Neck- Parmigianino

Op Art

The style of

O P R T S

1960s abstract art movement that uses hard edged flat areas of paint to stimulate the eyes and create an impression of movement.

Look out for Museum Fondation Vasarely in Aix-enProvence

Q

N

Naive art naive painting is characterized by a careful, simplifying approach, nonscientific perspective, bright colors, and often, an enchantingly literal depiction of imaginary scenes.

Look out for Henri Rousseau, The Dream

Pointilism Technique of painting with dots of pure color, when viewed from a distance it appears to merge together.

Look out for: A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatteby Georges Suerat

Rococo

Quattrocento Quattrocento is a fine art term which means the number 400 and refers to Italian art made in the 15th century, in

Rococo artists include Jean-Honore Fragonard, François Boucher, Jean-Antoine Watteau and Giovanni Battista Tiepolo.

the years 1400 to 1499.

An Italian term that means smoky used to describe transition of tones so subtle they seem imperceptible.

Tromp L’Oeil French for ‘Fool the Eye’, the term refers to paintings, usually a still life that persuade the viewers they are looking at actual objects.

Look out for Detail of the face of Mona Lisa by Learnado Da Vinci

Look out for Escaping Criticism by Pere Borrell del Caso, 1874

Sfumato

U

Ukiyo –e

V X

Vorticism

Japanese Picture for the floating world. It was popular art from the 17th to the 19th centuries.

London based literary movement which was energetic and divided into planes.

Look out for Princess Takiyasha Summons a Skeleton Spectre to Frighten Mitsukuni, Kuniyoshi, c. 1844

Look out for The cover of the 1915 BLAST

W

Woodcut A print made from a block of wood part which is cut away leaving a design from the ink absorbed.

Look out for The Great Wave off KanagawaHokusai

XENOPHOBIA

Y

A xenophobia specific to the art world is sometimes seen in a viewer’s offhand dismissal of art, art not immediately understood.

Z

yasti

In Buddhist architecture, a spire with three chatras, or circular disks which is the topmost element on the dome of a stupa.

Zen Art The yasti symbolizes A mix of Buddhism and Taoism, usually the universe. It is works with horse hair brush, black hair, surrounded by a harmika — a square ink and with paper of silk. fence-like enclosure Look out for : Nin [Patience/Persistence]symbolizing heaven.

KASUMI BUNSHO

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state of art

books and movies

Criminal Mimes That’s right, we’re biggest culprits of escapism. When they say art is an imitation of life, there’s no other way to jump into a fantasy without books and movies. We’ve short listed our art- themed ones this season!

Text Atheena Wilson Photos Various Sources

ustify escapism. Is it when you cycle your way through the reels of Mona Lisa Smile? A place where women were picture perfect in postcards, posing with vacuum cleaners ,while modern art was considered sinful. Or visit a Victorian world on the rocky coast of Scotland when they said women can’t write, women can’t paint.

Or get side tracked to ‘eccentricitiesville’ where paralyzed Frida painted everything beyond her walks of life – that includes monkeys on her head.

Art is madness, maybe not. Cutting his ear off for a lover, and painting a sky with no clouds and wild strokes it must be Vincent Van Gogh. But when you feel that artists have not gone through enough hardships, My Left Foot proves you wrong. Christy a spastic quadriplegic and paralyzed miraculously drew with his left foot with chalk. His legs may have been mangled, but your mind is tangled when the Art of Looking Sideways swallows you. Enjoy the taste of oddities, jokes and memories intertwined like the intestines you have landed in.

But before you want to leave the body

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wonderland, you must take an Exit through the Gift Shop. Quite odd for a movie name, but then that changes when you meet Mr. Brainwash. Meet a story with a different angle of guerrilla art. We warn you, this journey is more quizzical than the labyrinth of wonderland. You haven’t got Mad Hatter but a bunch of mad artists with an anarchic personae in an art world of inanity.

Away from the pointless world head to the treacherous one. If you’re afraid of the notorious criminal Jack the Ripper divert to Jack the Dripper- Jackson Pollock. When asked, “ How do you know when you’re finished with a painting?” Jackson Pollock replied,“How do you know when you’re finished making love?”

We may see a piece of artwork and never understand how much effort went in the life of artists to reflect their thougths. You may never think of how much Michael Angelo’s back hurt when he painted the Sistine Chapel, thus a little Agony to Ecstasy, but in the end, do get carried away into a world where thoughts were never on a restraining order.

Drama my left foot

Inspirational

scandalous

pollock

the picture of dorian

+ to the light house

Whimisical exit through the gift shop

+ art of looking sideways

In Exit through the Gift Shop, watch out for the acidic dialogues, “Andy Warhol made a statement by repeating famous icons until they became meaningless.”

While in the book, you would lose a lot of your inhibions with the help of a witty concoction of paradoxes, illusion, alphabets and ideas.

“He smiled the most exquisite smile, veiled by memory, tinged by memories,” VirBiography ginia Wolfe quoted.

So much of the prose lust for life was a redolent of an + abstract surrealist film, frida such were the clarity and preciseness of “I drank to drown its images. My Left my sorrows, but the damned things learned Foot is also a story of ‘depression, isolation how to swim,” Frida and physical suffering’, Kahlo said. As you revealing a darkness watch the film, you in later life that the can’t help but nofilm-makers either tice how she’s strong willed. “Normal people did not know about or chose to ignore. do not create art.”

Vincent Van Gogh’s life showed what vicissitudes are truly are.

agony

+ & ecstasy

grey

+ mona lisa smile

“Talent is cheap; dedication is expensive. It will cost you your life.”

It was out of fresh marble that Michelangelo carved the world’s famous statues. His professors challenged him in his profession and his father never consented. Meanwhile.

Jason Pollock has a different approach, “Bums are the wellto-do of this day. They did not have as far to fall to fall. “

Katherine Watson was a teacher who came to a school and broke the intention of just pursuing a degree and getting married. She had a different eye to her approach in art, “Look beyond the paint. Let us try to open our minds to a new idea.”

While in the Picture of Dorian Gray, there was just a candid approach to everything, ““The ugly and the stupid have the best of it in this world. They can sit at their ease and gape at the play.”

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Photo story

DECEMBER 2014

I am because we are The Spirit of Ubuntu Indian and European history reunite in the modern world of technology. Fashion and fine Arts photographer Mr.Bunuel and South African Model Pieter Black share the spirit of Ubuntu, collaborating with young photographers and creatives from Kerala, Fort Kochi. The creatives set out to visit one of the historic buildings within Fort Kochi known as the David Hall.

Photographer: Bunuel Model: Pieter Black Production: Maxxo creative Special thanks: Staffs of David Hall Assistant photographers: Adhinan Kabeer, Anand S Nambiar, Jafer Kottakkal DECEMBER 2014

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he inspiration behind the collaboration derives from various elements of modern technology.

It is utilized to unify with the coming together of creatives and photographers, collaborating to tell a story of Fort Kochi history doing so with the essence of Ubuntu.The meaning of Ubuntu, derives from African Renaissance. Ubuntu speaks particularly of us as human beings and how we cannot exist in this world, in isolation. It places emphasis on t the interconnectedness of human beings. South African Journalist John Scharges defines Ubuntu as the essence of being Human. In an article published in Cape Town Magazine, Scharges elaborates how Ubuntu is known for its classical philosophical African origin.

The word Ubuntu comes from several Bantu languages of South Africa,at its core an ethical/humanist ideology striving to remove one's self-serving practices.

This is to encourage the human race to evolve doing so to prosper peacefully and in unity.

In the modern world, we as individuals perceive ourselves as separated from one another. We think of ourselves far too frequently as just individuals, separated from one another, whereas you are connected and what you do affects the whole world. When you do well, it spreads out; it is for the whole of humanity, ’’ Archbishop Desmond Tutu. In a day and age where we are more connected then ever before, the young creatives set sail to David Hall to tell the story.

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state of art

Architecture

A SPACE FOR ART

The Kochi Muziris Biennale means that all the talk is about art. We want to look at the spaces that showcase these creatures of the artist’s imagination. Biennale Joint Secretary Bonny Thomas talks to us about the venues.

Text Maria John Photos Suneesh Suresh t the moment Kochi is bursting with the anticipation of the Biennale.

Artists have taken residence at the varied venues and there are pots of paint, paper, clay, laterite and such bringing to life color, form and feeling.

The venues are as important as the artwork, given birth by the colorful history of the region. Nature and time has carved Fort Kochi into the tourist hub that it is today.

It was in the year 1314 that the great flood swept the port of Muziris away into history. The floods shifted the natural harbor from Muziri to Kochi.

“The birth of a child and death of the mother” says Bonny Thomas. There were no road systems in the region and hence water was the main mode of transport. Spices from the Western Ghats were taken in boats down the Periyar River and eventually to the Vembanad Lake. Being well connected through a network of waterways that we still see today, Kochi flourished.

Its popularity resulted in a fight to own the land by the Portuguese, Dutch and the British. Stories of explorers, businessmen, soldiers, slaves, poets, lovers etc are hidden in the walls of Fort Kochi.

The spirit of colonial architecture is captured in the sweeping colonnades, wide verandahs and vast halls. While the regional flavors are abundant in the laterite walls, wooden windows and intricate detailing. Worldwide,the Biennale strives to preserve the cultural heritage of the city it’s named for. The Kochi Muziris Biennale holds onto the past through its historically important venues that have stood the test of time.

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ASPINWALL HOUSE This 19th century building was owned

by Oughterson, Campbell and Company which dealt in ship building and timber trade. Built on the banks of the ‘kayal’, the building is one of the largest heritage properties here. In 1846, Aspinwall was bought by the Scott brothers who were joined by John H Aspinwall.

The new addition to the company expanded the trade to include spices and other agro products. Aspinwall was a popular Municipal Chairman and brought a lot of change to the area. On his death, the company passed many hands to later end up in despair. It is amazing to know that one of the most important trade centers in the area is now the largest art center for the Biennale as sixty percent of the works are displayed here.

PEPPER HOUSE The Pepper House is situated in Kalvatty, where Kochi developed as a port and spice center. Spices were traded here by various ethnicities including Chinese and Arabs. This go-down is a testament to the fact that architecture is both aesthetic and functional. The Pepper House is situated between the river and the road.

The building is formed like a ‘naalukettu.’ It has two big gates (kavaadam) on the eastern and western sides.

The boats would dock on the river side on the east of the building from where the raw spices would be delivered.

Then it was processed and dried in the central yard. Sacks of fragrant spices were then stored and moved out onto the road to be taken to the market.

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DAVID HALL To the west of the Parade Ground is the David Hall. In the 1660s the Dutch were the most important traders in the area after the Portuguese. The Dutch had a good rapport with the Jews who were the middlemen in the trading.

The Hall belonged to a Jew, David Koder and is now owned by a premium hotel company. The three foot wide laterite walls uphold the massive tiled roof that sweeps down supported by wooden trusses. Huge windows bring in light and ventilation to the rectangular building. David Hall has been renovated many times and is now a vibrant contemporary art gallery with an attached cafĂŠ.

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DURBAR HALL

KASHI This little cafĂŠ is a very popular hangout in Fort Kochi. Showcasing various contemporary artists throughout the year, it shows that great architecture exists in small spaces. The cafĂŠ opens inward into a little courtyard that brings in light and air. The ambience is Indian contemporary with red-oxide seating that run along the walls.

The space is not strictly linear but turns into a comfortable corner where light filters through green plants. The scale of Kashi inspires discussions in a comfortable environment.

The 180 year old building used to be where the King of Kochi held his parliament. The area was under the royal family and was surrounded by the temple, a small palace, courts, secretariat and other royal offices. After World War II, the building was used to keep battle tankers and hence the road came to be known as Tankshed Palace road. Though the building was built by the King, it is heavily influenced by European architecture. The sweeping wooden staircase and the detailed ceilings have seen many uses over the ages. After being used as a government office, the building was converted into the Pareekshith Thampuran museum. The Lalitha Kala Academy then handed it over to the Biennale and today it is a gallery of international standards with a well stocked art library.

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interview

raai laxmi

Lucky Raai…

Tollywood calls her. Turns out Raai Laxmi is the lucky mascot for Mollywood too, especially with the Big M’s of Malayalam filmdom. FWD caught up with the southern star as she got comfortable posing for our shoot.

Text: Rakhi Jerly Photos: Toonus

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Costume Courtesy Mark and Spencers

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Cover Story

It was a tight schedule; an overnight shoot and Raai was on her way back from an event at Thodupuzha.

But if we expected her to be grumpy, we would have been wrong.

There she was, walking in confidently,

looking every bit the star she is. Her long almond coloured hair trussed to perfection, dressed in grey leggings and a casual top with a hint of gold on her eyelids, Raai knows her style and how to get it right. We decided to talk on our way to the location in Mattancherry. Just like the coiled roads of the old town, the hectic life of a celebrity is put forth. Ignoring Kochi’s rush hour traffic outside, Raai Laxmi opened up about life, cinema, controversies and fashion.

Mollywood I ask Raai about her busy schedule, and she says, “I just landed from abroad and had to attend an event here. There are a couple of films that I am working on in Tamil, but nothing concrete in Malayalam.”

When it comes to Mollywood and the Big Ms – Mammootty and Mohanlal, Raai has a million words. “There are no similarities between them. They are both from different categories, but both have made me comfortable while working with them”, Raai talks about the two big stars in Malayalam industry. Her latest in M-town,

Rajadhiraja, was a hit and so was Annan Thambi, 2 Harihar Nagar, Oru Marubhoomikadha and many more.

Raai proudly declares that Malayalam cinema changed her career. Her debut with Mohanlal in Rock’n Roll is enough proof. Ever since then, she has had back-to-back offers for roles that extract potential. Raai looks for the strength and not the length of the role. Be it a dance number or a special appearance, she makes sure that she gets the deserved attention.

Perfection The effort to attain perfection does not stop with acting. Raai Laxmi has clear opinions about how she is portrayed as a celebrity to the public. As she gets ready for the shoot, the makeup artist and stylist receives a steady stream of suggestions and instructions from her.

She’s very poised as she models. As dramatic as shadows, she can change expressions in a single turn and can pull off different stances with panache.

She wore a cropped top with a highwaist skirt dappled in so many colours.

She was carrying it off with an upbeat personality. Then the mood is suddenly transformed as she gets into a classic navy blue bandage dress. Talking about transformations, we come to the topic of her name change. “It’s not exactly a change; I just re-shuffled my name a bit.” She says that no one, even at home has ever called her Lakshmi. It has always been Rai or Lakshmi Rai for those who know her. “Raai” certainly suits her bold personality better than “Lakshmi”, we think.

Controversy It was not just the transformation from “Lakshmi Rai” to “Raai Laxmi” that had her name flashed across the news.

Raai is no stranger to controversies and gossip either. News about her is

Raai Laxmi

news to her. She mostly ignores it and thinks that if reading the gossip column makes someone happy, then let them be – as long as it does not affect her.

What is important to her is the fans, and she keeps them happy by trying to do what they like – sharing her latest photos on Facebook or retweeting their wishes on Twitter. Her goal is to entertain, and she would do it in style.

Fashion Fashion and personal style, Raai believes is integral to her career, and she does have a good fashion sense.

It is important to be conscious about what you wear when you step out, especially for a celebrity. At a public event, there are many people who capture your look in photographs or videos and these images stay forever.

She also says that glamour is important for a movie to be successful, and she has never shied away from it. Though she stepped into films from modeling, Raai hasn’t walked a lot of ramps. Now, she often appears as a showstopper.

We remember her presence at the Chennai Fashion Week. If you ask her for fashion advice, Raai just says that fashion is all about flaunting confidence and a stylish look with ease. Her personal style concentrates on wellfitting clothes that accentuate her curves.

The shoot is in full-swing until the wee hours of the morning, but not a shade of exhaustion passes over Raai Laxmi’s face. She has no reservations as she enjoys a glass of Sulaimani with the team. Despite long hours of work, the photographer is delighted to capture so many effortless expressions on the same face. And then you realize, it’s not all about the glamour and fun. The same is true for Raai Laxmi and her journey through acting. But, she is perfectly happy with where she is today.

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maKEOVER

keeping it reel Photography: Toonus Model: Raai Laxmi Makeup & Hair: Jeena Styling: Fashion Monger Achu Image Manipulation: Jemini Production: Albert Location Courtesy: Backyard Civilisation, Mattancherry

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maKEOVER

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maKEOVER

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b

ehind the scenes of ‘makeover’

Video Crew > Direction Jinson Abraham | DOP Suneesh Suresh

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CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

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12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

On the first day of Christmas, Ayaz and Shruti send a box of sweet things French Toast and their yummiest season’s greetings On the second day of Christmas, we went to Kumaly To see that happiness truly grows on trees On the third day of Christmas, we hoped to head to North Pole But landed at Greenland that had a little of Santa’s soul On the fourth day of Christmas, Mrs. Maria dished out quite a spread but don’t worry she’s got a recipe that can be easily read On the fifth day of Christmas, we sealed a few with our lips Chocolate and plums on our lips and not on the hips On the seventh day of Christmas, we had a little chip of hazelnut On our hair with highlights, also the time for a new hair cut On the eighth day of Christmas, we’ve got tale of hope Just to remind you of happy memories to rope On the ninth day of Christmas, we got Mr. Ronnie as Scrooge Who’s got Christmas deadlines reddened as cherries so rouge On the tenth day of Christmas, the spirit is all about team spirit Christmas cheers for the Kerala Blasters, hoping they win it On the eleventh day of Christmas, we say ho ho ho Just to tell you, flip through the issue for more On the twelfth day of Christmas, we wind up to say goodbye But we got the New Year’s issue coming out soon in a while

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R aise and Toast The cakes are rising to the Christmas’s beckon. In a conversation with the Shruti Nayar, the R & D Chef of French Toast.

Text Atheena Wilson Photos Suneesh Suresh Location Courtesy French Toast

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CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

hristmas is just around the corner; Shruti had to deal with a towering Nutella cake and stud it with hazelnuts.

She was putting the final touch, grating the lemon zest on the cupcakes, and was making a call for a pumpkin. She got a funnier question in return, “Mam would you like a disco pumpkin?” That’s why a merry follows a Christmas.

Enjoying some mint and Belgian chocolate macarons, we were seated amongst Christmas decorations.

There was a book that rested beside the Santa candle holder, The Food Bible. We knew it wasn’t exactly going to deliver us from the temptations of sumptuous treats. After all, desserts have the song Joy to the World tuned to its taste. The Christmas ribbons and the fairy lights set up for the shoot suddenly transformed the café setting.

The stories we shared were like the macarons, crispy but gooey inside. I enjoyed Shruti’s story, unlike the usual ones where they say I started baking since I was a young child, and my Nana taught me everything. The call for cooking was while she was studying her culinary course in Ireland. She decided for her majors she wanted to specialize in patisserie – an idea like dough left to rise. She later whisked away to Le Cordon Bleu and told me her hilarious stories in France, on how she used to whine and be horrified of making flower figurines out of melted sugar. Marie Antoinette’s ‘let them have cake’ was the best lesson ever taught and how she used to dive into the cake she baked after class. I envy her now, her assignments were so tasty.Her fascination for the Famous Five was not because of the adventure, but all the meals they enjoyed. I could not agree any less; Enid Blyton

has a lucid and lovely explanation of tea parties from those fancy scones to ginger tea. Shruti said, “She wrote so much about ham, I wanted to eat it despite not knowing what it is.”

When asked about the days, she baked something that truly warmed her heart, she said, “It was the first time I made the perfect croissant.”

As we were arranging the props, she did not mind the rustic look, a few crumbs here and there. She bakes with a homely touch, that’s how the banoffee pie came about. It tasted like ‘avulos podi’ except with the rich dollop of whipped cream. Shruti laughed because she had a friend who thought the same. We were winding up the last shot, milk, and the cardamom cookies.

Knowing that Santa is coming to town, I asked, “ What would you serve Santa?” She said, “A cup of hot chocolate, a chocolate loaf and of course a magazine.”

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CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

Overleaf from left to right The homestyle Nutella cake, cake aux fruits with figs, raisins and almonds, banoffee pie, mint, white chocolate and strawberry macarons. from left to right on this spread Salted caramel tart and pumpkin pie with cinnamon.

Above Lemon cupcakes with cheese cream and a touch of grated lemon zest.

Below Cardamom cookies with milk

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christmas SPeCIAL

Cooking

The Christmas Spread This Christmas, get a pair of elastic pants for a sumptuous and ‘full’filling lunch.

Text and Photos: Maria Jose Martin his time of the year is when everyone enjoys being at home and cooking with loved ones. Enjoy the talks over the dining table, nothing is more comforting than watching all your loved ones eating their hearts out For starters, it’s a classic chicken cutlet, while for the main course spice it up a little with prawn biriyani and settle for the classic tiramisu. It’s going to be a merry Christmas indeed.

Deep fry in oil. Serve hot with tomato ketchup.

Prawns Biryani Recipe type: Main Dish Ingredients For the rice:

• Basmati rice - 3 cups • Water - 6 cups • Cardamom & clove - 6 each • Cinnamon - 1 medium size stick • Ghee - 3 tbsp • Lemon Juice - 3-4tbsp • Salt For the masala:

Chicken Cutlet Recipe type: Starter Serves: 5-6 Ingredients • Boneless chicken - ½ kg • Onion - 1 big • Chopped ginger - 1 tablespoon • Chopped green chilli - 2-3 • Potato - 1 boiled & mashed • Pepper powder - 1 teaspoon • Garam Masala - 1 teaspoon • Bread crumbs - 1 cup • Egg white -1-2 • Curry leaves • Salt • Oil - for frying Instructions 1. Cook & mince the chicken. Saute onion till it becomes soft.

2. Add chopped ginger, green chillies and curry leaves. Add minced chicken. Mix well. Add salt, pepper powder & garam masala. Stir for 5 minutes & remove from gas.

3. Allow the mixture to cool. Once it is cooled add mashed potatoes & mix well.

4. Make small balls with the mixture & roll into desired shapes.

5. Beat the egg white. Dip each cutlet in egg white & roll with bread crumbs.

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Chicken Cutlet

starts cracking. Add the boiled water, lemon juice & salt. Cook till the rice is done, and water is completely dried. Spread the rice in a tray & keep aside.

Prawn Biryani

Masala preparation: 2. Marinate the prawns with 1 tbsp of ginger garlic paste, red chilli powder, pepper powder and salt and keep it for 2-3 hours in the fridge. Meanwhile grind together a handful of coconut & coriander leaves with a little water & keep it aside. Also grind the soaked cashews into a smooth paste.

3. Shallow fry the marinated prawns after the specified time. Once the prawns are fried, keep it aside and use the same oil to cook onions, remaining ginger garlic paste (1 tbsp) and green chilli. Once onions are fried well, add chopped tomatoes. Once the tomatoes are cooked, add curd, coconut, coriander leaves paste. Once it boils add fried prawns and cook in low flame for 5-6 minutes. Add the cashew paste & 1 tsp of garam masala. Mix well. Cook for two more minutes & remove from fire.

Garnishing: 4. Heat ghee in a pan and fry the cashews & raisins. Remove them from the pan & in the remaining ghee fry the onions till it becomes golden brown.

• Prawns - ½ kg (cleaned & deveined) • Ginger garlic paste - 2 tbsp • Chilli powder - ½ tbsp • Pepper powder - ½ tsp • Onions - 3, chopped finely • Green chilli -5-6 • Tomato - 2-3, chopped finely • Coconut - 1 handful • Coriander leaves - 1 handful • Curd - ½ cup • Cashews - 6-8 (soaked in 2 tbsp water), optional • Garam masala - 1 tsp For garnishing: • Cashews & raisins - 1 handful each

• Onion - 1 medium, sliced finely • Coriander leaves • Ghee - 1 tbsp Instructions Rice preparation: 1. Wash and soak the rice in water for 25 minutes. Drain the water completely. Boil 6 cups water with half the quantity of whole masala & keep it aside. Heat ghee in a vessel/pan, splutter the remaining whole masala and add the rice. Fry the rice for around 5-7 minutes or until the rice

Layering the Biriyani: 5. Preheat the oven to 180 degree 10 minutes before baking the biriyani.

Apply some ghee to a baking dish.

Put one layer of masala in the dish.

On top of that spread some rice and make another layer. Again spread another layer of masala on top of the rice. Repeat the process until the masala and rice are finished. The top layer should be of rice. Cover the dish with a wet cloth. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes.

6. Garnish the baked biriyani with fried cashew, raisins, onions & coriander leaves. Serve hot with pickle, raita & pappad.

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christmas SPeCIAL

Cooking

Maria Jose Martin She currently lives in Bahrain with her husband. Her recipes are mostly from her family’s and friend’s collections. Her immensely popular blog is never missed by home cooks who just ventured into the journey of cooking. Marias Menu is about sharing healthy recipes, tips, tricks and techniques that work for everyday cooking and for easy entertaining.

Stir up something new from

No Bake Tiramisu

http://mariasmenu.com/

No Bake Tiramisu Recipe Type: Dessert Serves: 6-8 Ingredients • Espresso Syrup: • Instant espresso/ strong coffee powder - 1 tbsp • Sugar - ½ tbsp • Boiling water - ½ cup (125ml) • Coffee liqueur / Bailey’s Irish Cream - 1 tbsp (optional, refer notes) • Filling: • Mascarpone cheese - 250gms (refer notes to see the recipe for homemade mascarpone cheese) • Vanilla essence - 1½ tsp • Icing sugar - 3 tbsp • Coffee liqueur / Bailey’s Irish Cream - 2 tbsp (optional, refer notes) • Heavy/whipping cream - 1 cup (250

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ml) • Pound Cake - 1.5 - 2 loaves (I used Sara Lee Pound Cake, refer notes) • Cocoa powder - to dust (optional) • Strawberries for decoration (optional)

3. With an electric mixer whisk the whipping cream until soft peak.With a spatula, fold in ¼ of the whipped cream to the mascarpone mixture. Fold in the remaining whipped cream to the mascarpone mixture.

Instructions

To assemble the cake: 4. Spread a layer of the cake in the pudding dish / individual dessert bowl.

Brush the cake with espresso syrup to moisten it.

5. Spoon over half of the filling over the moistened cake layer. Spread evenly. Repeat with another layer..

Spread and smooth the top. Cover with cling wrap (make sure the cling film is not touching the pudding) and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, best left overnight.. Dust the top with cocoa powder. Decorate with dark and white chocolate shavings and strawberries.

To make the Espresso Syrup: 1. Dissolve instant espresso coffee powder, sugar in boiling water. Leave to cool. Stir in 1 tablespoon Coffee liqueur / Baileys Irish Cream. Set aside.

To make the Filling: 2 In a mixing bowl, with a manual whisk, whisk mascarpone cheese with icing sugar, vanilla essence, Baileys Irish Cream (if using) and 3 tablespoons of the espresso syrup until blended.

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christmas SPeCIAL

Greenland

photo courtsey : Nuka Kristiansen

Dreaming of a White Christmas

Don’t freeze your holiday plans yet, because we have a far out destination for you. Daniella Dukes tells us why this northern destination is a unique winter wonderland that is so much more than icebergs and polar bears.

Text Daniella Dukes Photos Various Sources

now, ice, an empty land, darkness. When people are asked to picture the North Pole, these tend to be the immediate images that pop up. The mind imagines vast, wind-swept horizons of snow, and an igloo might also be thrown into the mix. Few are aware that Greenland, for example, one of the countries within the Arctic Circle, is populated by the awe-inspiring Inuit (56,000 of them, to be precise), who have, throughout the ages, adapted their entire lifestyle to the harsh Arctic surroundings. Admittedly, the land is indeed a cold and beautiful Narnia upon this earth. However, growing up

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in Greenland, I quickly fell in love with the inhabitants’ rich and welcoming culture, and learned of the myriad of activities this winter wonderland has to offer.

Greenland is perfect for the adventurous traveler. Skiing and snowboarding are perhaps obvious as winter activities; add heli-skiing to the list. A helicopter flies you up to the top of a mountain range, after which you hop off and etch your very own trail on the virgin territory. For a true adrenaline junkie, a snowmobiling tour might do the trick. Nothing is more joyous than riding a powerful (yet ecologically appropriate) vehicle, speeding by fantastic Arctic views, with the biggest grin spread all over your face.

Though nonetheless exciting, for those of you who prefer a more moderate pace, one of the most popular local pastimes is dog sledding. A wooden sled, covered with reindeer skins for warmth, is hitched to a pack of husky dogs that pull the sled. The sled dogs are a unique breed with a willingness to work, and have been used for over a thousand years to travel distances, discover unknown lands and hunt.

Wintertime in Greenland is longer than is usual in our regions and is characterised by very few hours of light. This allows one to see a unique phenomenon, the Northern Lights (aurora borealis). A flickering array of green, blue and sometimes pink lights quickly move in the black sky, creating

photo courtsey : Ole G. Jensen

photo courtsey : Lars F. Andersen

a ghostly and surreal sight until finally disappearing. Make sure you don’t whistle, though - the Inuit believe whistling causes the lights to come to you, after which they will remove your head and take it away! To prevent this unfortunate event, you must bark and howl like a dog.

One of the most special winter experiences is spending Christmas in Greenland. Candles, Christmas lights and a large illuminated star are common window decorations that light up the darkness outside. The setting is perfect – you are in your very own fairytale landscape, which allows you to sit by a cosy fireplace, sipping mulled wine and eating Xmas goodies.

Hey - the reindeers are even already there, as they are one of the many animals native to the land.

Perhaps their presence can be explained by St. Nick’s alleged residence in Greenland. Santa’s Post House, the largest post box in the world, is situated in the country’s capital, Nuuk. Each year, 50,000 letters are sent to Santa Claus by children from around the world. Santa also somehow manages to make an appearance at every major town in Greenland, right after the one town tree is lit. Since trees can’t grow in Greenland, a large tree is annually imported from Denmark and placed at a central spot in town for all to see.

After the tree is lit, the whole town dances around it.

Another one of the great features of holiday season is celebrating the New Year twice. Since Greenland is

in & around How to get there: Air Greenland operates regular flights from Copenhagen and Air Iceland offer flights from Reykjavik. Onward flights are available via helicopter or plane.

How to get around: There are no roads connecting the towns, so transport is by air, cruise ship, snowmobile or dog sled.

Cities to visit: Nuuk, Sisimiut, Ilulissat, Qaqortoq, Tasiilaq.

photo courtsey : Mads Pihl

under Denmark’s rule, fireworks are lit by every single person in town at 20:00, marking the New Year in Denmark, as well as at midnight - local New Year time. I’d say this qualifies the Inuit of Greenland as a true party nation: Who wouldn’t want to celebrate with them?

After describing only some of the fascinating activities on your potential winter holiday agenda, a common concern is worth addressing. People often ask me how I dealt with the cold – and my answer is always the same: The air is so crisp and your eyes drink up the sights around you, that you can’t help but feel very alive. You embrace and learn to love the cold. So buck up! Besides, that chill you feel might not be

When to go: Go between mid-January - early May. For milder weather and opportunities to hike, sail, fish and whale-watch, mid-June - August is perfect.

photo courtsey : Mads Pihl

from the cold - it’s probably a shiver of excitement because you know a once-in-a-lifetime experience is just waiting to happen. So have yourselves a Merry Christmas, or as the Inuit say, “ Juullimi Pilluaritsi!”

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christmas Story

Hope and Inspiration

The Boulder and Her Rose A heartwarming story on how about finding hope and making things right when all seems lost in a relationship.

Text: Dr.Amrita Ramesh wish someone would just listen, Sheila thought wistfully, looking out the window at the people on the streets - laughing, holding hands, conversing, bags filled with Christmas gifts, walking without a worry in the world. How do they do it, she wondered?

Maybe they just don’t know reality yet, she thought. The past few years hadn’t gone well. Her husband, Joseph, had decided to open up his own business, despite warnings that it wouldn’t work out. Sheila supported him, as she always did, thinking he knew best, and that things would work out. As fate turned out, she was wrong on both counts. As debts and losses crept into their lives, her husband grew moody, aggressive, and would come home inebriated. Any attempt at conversation, or cheering him up would be roughly pushed aside.

Their marriage of 4 years was crumbling, and Sheila did not know how to stop it.

Sheila remembered how they’d met.

She was just 17, and he was 23. A chance meeting at the bus stand. He smiled at her, she smirked at him. He came over to show her that her bag was wide open. To her utter shock and dismay, her purse and phone were missing. He not only took her to the police station to file the FIR, but made

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sure she calmed down, and suddenly disappeared. She didn’t even say thank you, she recalled.

Time passed, and Sheila was doing her BSc. Many suitors came, asking for her hand in marriage, but she would find some fault or another. Sometimes the stranger’s face and the incident would linger on her mind, and she’d wondered if they would every meet again.

Destiny has smiled on me, she thought when her father brought Joseph home one day, for dinner. As it turned out, Joseph was his friend’s son. Eyes met, shy smiles, and Sheila had a sudden epiphany. She wanted to talk to him, know him, be with him. That night, her father asked him to stay over, much to her surprise and delight. Joseph and Sheila spoke for a while, she thanked him for helping so long ago, wished him good night, and went to sleep.

Next morning, she woke up to some fantastic news. Joseph had approached her parents to ask for her hand in marriage. Wasn’t it too soon? Her friends asked. Is he a good man? Her relatives asked. After discussions between the families, the bride and groom were married happily.

She remembered how things used to be. Celebrating each day together.

He would sing her lush songs, and she would make his favorite dishes.

He would take her out to her favorite places, and she would hug him tightly. And now? Pain, resentment, anger,

frustration, that’s what life was. Tears came to her eyes. What has become of us? Now we can’t stand the sight of each other.

I just need some time off alone, she decided.

Rummaging through her belongings, she found an old card Joseph had given her, on Christmas. An old, dried rose taped inside it. The card read – Through storms and floods the grass went through From the remains, a blooming red rose grew Through ups and downs, hold on tight, be my boulder, May the rose of our love last forever.

Sheila suddenly sat up. She knew what she had to do.

When her husband came home, she held on to him tightly and whispered, I love you. In his hand, she gently placed the old rose. He looked at her, eyes brimming with the feelings he’d suppressed all these years. He hugged her tightly.

The next morning, as she was getting ready for the day, a small note by the kitchen table caught her eye.

A fresh rose, a simple line, and she knew once again that somehow, they would make it through these rough tides. In some small corner, their love for each other would forever remain.

“Let’s grow old together, my love.

Merry Christmas”.

X’mas Edition

CRAFTS’n WEAVES ENRICH ENHANCE EMPOWER Date

20, 21

YES! WE DARE FOLLOW OUR DREAMS… We are women!

An Exhibition of Exclusive Garments, Readymade Dresses, Lifestyle Accessories, Handmade Jewellery, Homemade Food, Art, Craft, Bags, Books, and lots more.

Featuring 45 talented women entrepreneurs and artists under one roof!

December 2014

Rotary Balbhavan, Panampilly Nagar, Kochi.

Time: 10:00 AM – 08:00 PM

Sankalp aims at empowering women and encouraging entrepreneurship among them. We have been conducting regular exhibitions to this regard, and our forthcoming venture at Kochi, is the 7th in the series. More details of our events are available at www.facebook.com/sankalpevents.

Sankalp Creative Ventures f www.facebook.com/sankalpevents 0 priyanallore@gmail.com 1 9495916086 DECEMBER 2014

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Travel

Harvest Fresh Farm

Merry at thekkady You don’t have to sit on Santa’s sleigh to travel to a place of peace and have a great time with your family. We’ve spotted a place, time to set a vacation agenda!

Text Atheena Wilson Photographs Harvest Fresh Farm little away from the Periyar Tiger Reserve, at the heart of Cumbum Valley is Harvest Fresh Farm. When you drive into Lower Camp, you’re assured a vacation of serenity. Your cabin has a patio that overlooks a farm, agricultural fields and vineyards. Carrying a basket of fresh fruit, you can stroll and hear the playful talks in a menagerie. At the windward side of Kumily, you feel welcomed by the embrace of the mountains. The whispers are lost in a silent valley, and you take time to let the memories visit you like the chilly wind.

Yes, it's Christmas, set an open fire and put all your hard work

aside. Enjoy playing board games with your family in your cosy cabin, catch up with a book you’ve wanted to read or simply barbecue. Be enveloped by the mist at Cumbum Valley, and let your thoughts rest upon the floating clouds and resolutions go with the flow of the streams.

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The sleepy – eyed moon retires in the morning. From the view of the orchard fields to the vineyards, it suddenly seems like a slice of heaven we want to own in our backyard. It seems like a dream to own a garden. At Harvest Fresh Farm you can learn about nurturing young saplings in the nursery, clear your doubts about composting and learn the names and medical uses of herbs.

Organic Farming Organic farming as a concept was rooted in Kurian’s mind, when he thought of the shortage of food that will occur in the future. While talking

ARE YOU THERE YET? (www.harvestfresh.in) Via Road Distance from Thekkady to Lower Camp – 12kms Via Train The nearest railway station to Thekkady is Kottayam, located 114 kilometres away. Hire a cab from Kottayam to get to Thekkady, or even board a government or private run bus.

Via Air Cochin International Airport: 190 Km. Thiruvananthapuram International Airport: 267 Km.

with Kurian Jose,the CEO of Harvest Fresh Farm, he mentioned, “It’s been five years since the Harvest Fresh Farm started and it started with the aim of promoting organic farming.

“According to him, there’s a rise of cancer patients and the infestation of pesticides. “It’s just a dream to grow vegetables and fruits with utmost care. “ He had a liking toward Kumily because of its weather and the gurgling streams. Also, the farm is sandwiched between the idyllic destinations ,Munnar and Thekkady.

Have a Bumpy Ride!

Start a vacation with a breath of fresh air, and escape from pollution. Strap yourself on a ride and enjoy a bumpy ride. For what’s its worth ,it’s adventurous compared to the fast paced wheels. Of course, you may have to stop, not because of the traffic signals, because you got some sumptuous fruits to pick on the way.

Gaga for Papaya Treat yourself to papaya, enjoy some fine shakes or give yourself a skin treat and make the healthiest face masks. It's like heading to a spa. There are other fruits too such as,grapes, mango, passion fruit, sapote, coconut and tender coconut, jackfruit. You can enjoy a healthy and natural fruit punch

too! Get your self some fresh goodies this season.

Rise and Shine Stretch those legs for a walk of your life. Visit the vineyard and pluck a few grapes, and perhaps when the day’s too quiet, visit the busy bees. As they yap and hum, you can beat the hum drum by tasting fresh honey in the apiary.

Enjoy an olfactory ode as you take a deep breath though the herbal garden – the scent of success and a refreshment for the next year.

Treasure of Rubies Kurian Jose said, “ The pomegranates are our specialty.” In your ‘All You Want for Christmas’ list, Harvest Fresh Farm is certainly the cherry on top! Have a merry Christmas.

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FWD Beauty

hair

Color Me Brunette Let this season be one of shiny tresses in deep tones of the earth.

Text Nikki Photographs Various Sources Come the holidays and we are all set to look our best. The right tones and shades in your hair can enhance your face. Browns with shaded highlights are the trend of the season. An earthy base can be darkened or lightened or it can turn into an eye catching ombre shade.

If you hair is damaged or chemically treated, stick with a professional to be sure you don’t over process and damage your hair. If you are new to coloring your hair or trying a shade

that’s different, select a temporary or semi-permanent hair color. Temporary color washes out in 6-12 shampoos and semi-permanent hair color in about 20-26 shampoos.

From light caramel brown to deep, dark espresso brown, being a brunette has never been so fun and versatile!

The general rule to remember is to choose something warmer if your skin tone is tanned or has golden undertones, or go for a cool brown if you have fair skin or pink undertones.

TOP CELEBRITY BRUNETTES WITH HIGHLIGHTS :

Lea Micheal Chestnut Perfect for women with a warm or tanned complexion and dark eyes. Try waves and an eye-skimming fringe.

Carmen Villalobos Espresso This is a great color option for women who also have dark and/or exotic features. Make it work with a geometric hair cut.

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Halle Berry Chocolate Perfect match for the mocha skin tone and dark eyes. Looks especially good on short hair .

Barberie Caramel This color is a good option for women with tanned complexions and light or dark eyes who still want a bit of a summery look.

Nikki | Stylist tIPS What’s something tricky about hair color?

Some of the shades won’t and doesn’t really work for each and everyone. So find out your basic style quotient as to which style suits you the best.

When you want something to look different even after coloring your hair?

A good hair brooch can give a magic to normal ordinary bun or may be big flower pins .

A few tips at the salon?

It’s always best to have a good stylist style your hair rather than their assistants. So try some top notch salons that provide the services of well -known professionals.

What are things you should not compromise with?

Invest in high quality stuff that can hold and maintain your hair and make sure you explore your product options.

RETRO

REVAMP Name: Maria Abish Age: 26 Skin type: Normal Height: 5’7 Weight: 57 Complexion: Fair Eye Clolor: Brown Hair texture: Straight and brownish black

Photographer: Jinson Abraham Styling: Blessy Mary Chacko Makeup & Hair: Jeena DECEMBER 2014

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FWD Beauty

Skin

A Cocoa Christmas Pamper yourself with calorie-free chocolate treats this season. It’s the season of joy, whisk away your chocolate facials, spa treatments and face masks.

Text Atheena Wilson

Dr.Cuckoo Mathai|MBBS, DD Consultant Dermatologist Nedumchalil Trust Hospital tIPS

Mask of Zero Heat up 50 grams of chocolate using warm water till it’s in liquid form.

Scoop one spoon of this, mix it with one spoon of olive oil and one egg yolk. Just in case the egg is a stink bomb, it’s okay you will get over it!.

Take the rest of the mix and leave it on your face for fifteen minutes, then rinse with warm water.

A Scrub Full of Chocolate Heat up a mix of cocoa powder and water and add 2 teaspoons of sea salt to it. Sea salt works as an exfoliator and helps remove dead cells. Then drop a teaspoon of raw milk to this mix and scrub away.

House of Wax Chocolate wax is a smashing mix of cocoa, essential oils, glycerin and vitamins. It helps get rid of wretched under growth, works well to remove a horrid tan, is relatively less painful and leaves you feeling soft as a feather.

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Lips like Sugar Have fun with this one. It can condition, moisturise, repair, protect and most importantly, make your lips taste great and doesn’t crack like tempered chocolate. .

Home Feet Home Chocolate does amazing wonders to your skin. A chocolate pedicure will give your dry and rugged feet the moisture and pampering it needs.

Pamper Days Chocolate wax is a smashing mix of cocoa, essential oils, glycerin and vitamins. It helps get rid of wretched under growth, works well to remove a horrid tan, is relatively less painful and leaves you feeling soft as a feather.

Ganache of Panache Forget the regular shower, indulge in chocolate bars. At the end of the day, the smell of chocolate gives you a good vibe and leaves your skin hydrated and moisturised.

How regularly should you get facials?

Get a facial done once a month.

Upto the age of 25, facials are not recommended as the skin has good elasticity and natural tone.

How does Zinc aid the skin?

Zinc is good for the hair, skin and nails. Zinc is a co-enzyme and is vital for our natural body reactions. This trace element can make lifeless hair lustrous.

Which is a healthy fruit for the skin?

Ripe papaya is the best. It has vitamin A which aids fairness and glow. It is good for the alimentary canal and against constipation.

Yellow and orange fruits are good for the skin.

Recipe for a homemade face mask Blend oats to a fine powder.Add honey, curd and lime juice and make into a paste. Apply and wipe off when dry.

FWD Beauty

makeup

Sugar Coated Lips Pamper yourself with calorie-free chocolate treats this season. It’s the season of joy, whisk away your chocolate facials, spa treatments and face masks.

Text: Atheena Wilson

Sinin Sathar | Make Up artist tIPS What's the best way to preserve and take care of your lipstick?

Storing lipsticks in the fridge doesn't extend their life. Lipsticks are best stored at room temperature.

Here are a few tips for the lips.

In Great Shape Invest in a good lip brush, for pulling off these looks you need to follow an exact lip shape.

applied your lipstick with a lip brush, run your liner in a matching shade along the perimeter of your lips to give them a borderline.

Try and Test It While purchasing a lipstick, take a tissue with you to the store and swipe the tester over it. You’ll be able to tell the undertone of the lipstick against the white background and choose the correct shade from there.

Go for Gloss There’s nothing wrong with adding lip gloss over your usual lip color to make it stand out more, but this shade doesn’t need any help in the attention-getting department. Swiping on gloss can make your otherwise matte lipstick look messy, and make the color bleed onto your skin, which isn’t a good look. If you’re set on adding gloss into the mix though, apply it only to the center of your lips.

Swab to Fab Anytime you buy a new lipstick, bring a cotton swab with you and run it along the side of the lipstick where people usually don’t touch it. Then, apply the Q-tip to your lips to see if it brightens your face or makes you look tired. If it lights up your complexion, that’s the shade for you.

Waiting in Line Liner should take its time. Once you’ve

Arch- texture: When you are going for such a daring color, the other features must be highlighted. Make sure your eyebrows are well threaded and arched.

What are way some ways of creating depth with lipstick?

The new trend this season would be ombré lips.. Ombré is French for a gradual colour change from light to dark or vice versa, almost like a dip-dye effect.

When you are going for really dark shades ,what other things you must take care off when you do the whole makeup ?

Keep the base as natural as possible.. Don't use bold and bright colors on your lids. Keep your lips as your focal point. Use lip liner that matches your lip color.

Usually dark shades is misunderstood as a vamp look, any way to pull it off with class?

A little shine on your lips so as not to look very boring, you can use a bright radiance lipstick with some glitter on it.

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Regal Hues Photography : Saneesh Sukumaran Model: Srinda Ashab Make up: Jeena Stylist: Rhea Gupte

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Graceful in Gold Capture the motion in a white and gold skirt with a show stopping royal red.

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Game of Shadows Hidden in the dark light , the yellow shines through

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Summer Royal A burst of color for the endless summer in drapes of yellow.

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Surreal Sunsets A simple blue printed dress cinched around the waist.

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Movie promotion

Aamayum Muyalum

‘Aamayum Muyalum’ race to the Finish Line The holidays are in, so get moving to catch up with the latest movie!

Text Metro Matinee riyadarshan’s Jayasurya starrer ‘Aamayum Muyalum’ has completed its shooting and is gearing up for a Christmas release. Latest news associated with the movie is that superstar Mohanlal will be present in the movie as well. The narration of the movie begins with Lal’s voiceover.

But apart from lending a voice, Priyadarshan, who is renowned for his wonderfully choreographed song sequences in his films, is turning a lyricist too. Priyadarshan has written the lyrics along with Rajeev Alunkal, while M.G.Sreekumar is the music director. Actor and scenarist Anoop Menon had started to do meaty roles of late, which was not the case when he began his career. His role in Lal Jose’s ‘Vikramadithyan’, was remarkable on many counts. In this movie, he is reportedly playing a Govt. Officer. Singer turned composer; Jaison Pulikkottil is the producer of this movie in the banner of Full House Entertainment. Divakar is the cinematographer, and Maxlab will release the film.

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Events

Label M

What a bride wants...

Label M knows. Check out these stylish ensembles showcased at a recent wedding fair in Kochi.

DECEMBER 2014

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eveNTS

RENAULT

Gang of Dusters Enjoying the ride with the Gang of Dusters

n initiative by Renault, the Gang of Dusters brings together people for long drives and adventure. Around 40 families in their Dusters, including the latest AWD fourwheel-drive, headed out to Athirappally from Kochi as part of the event organized by Renault.

Motor Vehicle Inspector, Vinod Kumar flagged off the event from the Vyttila Renault showroom. The team was accompanied by Mahesh Kumar(Renault TVS head), Thomas Abraham (Renault TVS sales head), Arun Balachandran (CEO and cofounder of FWD media) and Arun S Nair (Red FM Kerala head).It was a sight to see as the line of cars zoomed past on the highway towards Athirappally. The evening was spent at a resort with fun and games.

The Kochi edition followed the Jaipur and Chennai ones which were a great success.

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Photographs Suneesh Suresh

“Gang of Dusters is a platform for constant interactions, drives and events. We have service camps, a typical manufacturer will provide services and we organized face-to-face interactions with 25,000 families. We want to make sure customers experience the product, and they become the brand ambassadors. The brand should stand for technology, innovation and strength.�

Sumit Sawhney, CEO and Managing Director of Renault.

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eveNTS

RENAULT

Who doesn’t enjoy a ride? The sceneries whooshing past you, the breeze through the rolled down windows, the playlist just made for the road and the company. The Gang of Dusters from Renault redefines those moments. The initiative by Renault invites families to come together for long drives and adventure. Parallel activities are also organized to make it a thrilling experience for everyone. This platform also allows Duster owners and enthusiasts to discuss their cars and share their experiences.

Awards were presented at the event for the Highest driven customer which was won by Mr Gordy Joseph and the Highest Accessorized car by Mr Regi Bhaskar.

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eveNTS

Rotary club

Work Hard, Play Harder The Rotary Club of Cochin East organized Escape; the Corporate Fun Fest 5th edition. The event brought together over 35 prominent corporate companies in Kerala.

Photographs Amaldev Somanathan

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fwd

PROMOTION

V Star – the star within!

Star presents a bouquet of “oh-so-comfortable” panties. Indeed, a wide range of patterns to meet the needs of the cosmopolitan woman. Each V-Star pattern comes with a set of well - differentiated product features.

This fine, micro segmenting makes V-Star such a sought-after brand.

Lass:- Lass is ultra soft panties in low hip bikini patterns, made of 96% soft cotton and 4% elastane stretchable fabric in 6 vibrant colours that leaves no stretch marks while providing maximum back coverage.

Flower :- Flower is a High waist Panty with Frilled Outer soft elastic.

Its Premium Nylon elastic gives extra support and exquisite Comfort. The 100 % Combed cotton single jersey fabric used in the making of “Flower” is more Hygroscopic in nature.Its complete coverage pattern gives the wearer more confidence.

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Honey :-Honey is a floral printed inner elastic panty with more coverage.

It is made from 100% cotton single jerky fabric with excellent French cut pattern.

Sona :- Sona’s prime attraction is its Soft wide outer elastic. Its high quality Nylon elastic provides more comfort and confidence. Sona is available in a range of vibrant and trendy colors.100 % combed cotton single jersey fabric makes body very warm and comfort.

Jasmine :- Jasmine is a high-waisted panty with Frilled soft outer elastic, made from superior quality Nylon spandex. Its “more coverage” pattern instils more confidence in a woman.100% combed cotton single jersey fabric better absorbs sweat.

Teens :- Rubber free inner elastic makes Teens different from the rest.

Also, Teens comes with a rare and comfort pattern with French cut. Its 100 % combed cotton fabric is absorbs sweat faster, and makes the body warm.

Babe :- Babe sports trendy stripes and has a low waist pattern. Its contrast color outer elastic with frill gives it a youthful appearance.

Mili :- Mili is a classic style panty in attractive colours,with branded soft folding elastic for soft fit comfort. Its imported knitted single jersy fabric with superior cotton provides added comfort.

Misty Mood :- Misty Mood is a high waisted panty with frilled outer elastic and floral lace material at front part. It has Soft Nylon elastic for more comfort. Available in a range of attractive colors, to complement your bridal collections.

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QUIRK SMIRKS

YEARBOOK YAPS

The year that was Controversies, paradoxes, and NEWS that’s debated as news. This year has had a share of things that the Press could make an impact on!

Text Vinay Menon Photos Various Sources

January Jan 29: For those who still end up discriminating against people from the North East, consider that Nido attended Lovely Professional University. That at least shows he’s as gullible as we are with college choices.

May May 25: Bye Bye ambassador People throng facebook to bid farewell to the Ambassador. With high probability, I estimate that most of these people haven’t been inside one for more than five minutes. It also reminds us of the politicians who were running around the city causing noise pollution and mass traffic jams while we were forced to wait patiently to get to our workplace where we could earn money to pay taxes to them.

May 26: Modi Got Down India’s newly instated Prime Minister performed his first act of patriotism by going down on all fours in front of the Parliament. Though it’s a lovely gesture, I sure hope this isn’t some publicity stunt to take people’s attention away from the fact that it is one of the most inefficient buildings in India.

May 30: SmritiIrani’s school on education After acting in India’s worst form of entertainment, mega serials, Smriti Irani decided it was time to reeducate the masses. This made people’s head turn multiple times in slow motion.

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February Ebola outbreak The West African virus which has gained a lot of notoriety in the media.

Perhaps a death toll in three digits wasn’t appealing enough for the middle class. Everyone dies in Africa, after all.

March March 7: Queen Kangana Ranaut established herself as the Jennifer Lawrence of India with the tale about a female protagonist that doesn’t involve marrying the handsome prince and living happily ever after.

Vladimir Putin says the Olympic symbol has only four rings.

I would agree, else he’d consume my soul.

Febuary 7: 22nd winter Olympics The winter Olympics is usually a dull affair.This year, the games held in Sochi, Russia, brought out an additional spark in the form of the pro-LGBT protests. It seems Russian society would be undermined by non-traditional sexual relations. Their words, not mine.

Though that is funny, you’re not helping

March 8: MH 370 People world wide stopped complaining about lost luggage when Malaysian Airlines lost an entire plane, full of people.

Making a joke out of it might not just be insensitive, but also giving those responsible too much lee way.

April Election madness When on air with the ever so vociferous and elegant Arnab Goswami, Rahul Gandhi froze like a Windows 8 program on a 1 GB RAM laptop. Despite being the butt of all jokes (internet and otherwise) he valiantly plough through with little effect. Even the pro-Congress ads showing all the development over the past decade couldn’t sway voters.

But what’s this? A dark horse enters the competition.

From the crowd of everyday men comes Arwind Kejriwal, the champion of the people who aren’t too politically aware. A victory in Delhi ensured that he was the media darling till the next cat video came along In the end, BJP didn’t win, Congress lost.

June June 2: Telengana India now has 29 states. If we keep this up, geography will end up being the most hated subject in schools. Also, two different states share the same capital. Try explaining that polygamy to your kids when talking about Indian culture.

June 5: ISIS in Iraq The Taliban just got replaced as the most hated organization by a bunch of nut cases.They announced that it’ll open its own branch in India, that’s how terrorist organizations work, like franchisees.

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QUIRK SMIRKS

YEARBOOK YAPS

June 19: Age of extinction Michael Bay’s latest magnum opus, Transformers: Age of Extinction became the highest grossing film of the year making over a billion dollars world wide, especially in the foreign markets.

The title was apt, this truly is the age of extinction of higher brain functions in humans.

June 12: FIFA World Cup 2014 Whether it was Saurez taking a light snack on the field or the host nation being obliterated by Germany, this World Cup brought to us the real face of the evil corporation known as FIFA. With the help of people like John Oliver, we came to know how the organization exploits the love of football by robbing a country of its resources for its own profit.

August Aug 11: Robin Williams The world was shocked to know that maybe, just maybe, the people who make others laugh are probably the one’s who’re crying the most deep down inside. RIP Robin Williams. You are missed.

Aug 21: Prohibition in Kerala Back in the early 20th century, a bunch of Americans from the rural area started opposing the sale and consumption of liquor. It took them over 10 years, a huge crime wave and a the great Depression to figure out this was a bad call before ending the prohibition. How long will it take for the Kerala government?

Aug 29: Yes we tan!

Barack Obama, came into controversy for wearing a tan coloured suit in a press conference. So just to put things into perspective here, most Americans hate Obama since he’s black and they hate his suit since it is NOT black.

October Oct 1: Half Girlfriend The male protagonist tells the girl to (forgive the French) “F**k me or f**k off”. Does he pay for it dearly? Of course, he does get the girl in the end. Oh right, spoiler alert.Typical Chetan, sermonizing with one hand while rubbing the money he made, all over himself with the other.

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Oct 2: Swatch BharathAdhiyan Prime Minister NarendraModi, decided it was time to clean up India, literally. He took out a broom, and swept an area which could fit within the frame of a camera and asked 9 others to take up the challenge. If you really want to clean up your nation, check out The Ugly Indian on facebook.

July Ice bucket challenge In the tradition of internet memes, this challenge smacked the world like a bucket full of ice cold water. Though completely out of place in India, considering the ice bucket or the dollar count donation, people forgot the fact that most of the money donated goes into marketing and not the research they thought it would be. But hey, it at least inspired the rice bucket challenge and later the book bucket challenge.

July 8: Gaza crisis The entire debate was on which side should be taken, the savage Hamas or the ruthless Israelis. How about we not decide this like some sort of football match? Also, in case of any conflict, the best thing to do is to blame the US. I guess all the subversive propaganda and facebook liking didn’t let us know how much they made by selling weapons to the probably both sides. Well, at least one.

September Sept 4: Kashmir floods The Indian army’s image was at an all time low considering the atrocities that became public in Kashmir and the North East. Their work in Kashmir, though commendable, ultimately became a publicity campaign. Even India’s propaganda minister, ‘Doctor’ SubramaniamSwamy jumped onto this bandwagon to say how the ungrateful locals in Kashmir are fighting against the Indian. army. Unfortunately, the images shared were of a different incident but people still listen to him for some reason.

Spet 18: Scottish referendum A long time ago, England coaxed Scotland into a relationship in order to loot and plunder India together. Many years later, and with nothing left to loot and plunder, Scotland wanted out of the marriage.

People voted on the issue and the divorce was avoided by a narrow 55-45 margin. English probably thought it would be a pain to recall and reissue all souvenirs with their flag printed on them.

November

December

Nov 12: The Rosetta Mission Matt Taylor who came under fire for wearing a shirt containing cartoon images of sultry women, a gift from his female friend. When the reporter stated, “I don’t care that you just landed a probe on Mars, that shirt objectifies women.”

Putting him down was not only a black mark on the Rosetta mission, but for women who hate men overtly as well.

Dec 12: Bienalle Cochin will once again host the Bienalle. Last time, the Biennale registered a record footfall with attendance from common people, rather than just art connoisseurs. Both the organizers and the international art community were pleasantly shocked by this occurrence. Let’s just hope, this year, none of the art exhibits won’t insult those among us with a conservative mentality, also known as, preserve-out-culture-itis.

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satire

oye baap re

just found out the other day that I would be gearing up for what I’m sure would be my worst December ever. I am assigned work on the 25th.

Editor’s Note: Sincere care should be taken to not mention the word Christmas in this article lest it is offensive to those that follow other religions. My Note: I do not care. I am already depressed.

While all of my friends would be unwrapping their presents and sucking on Candy*, I would be formatting the hell out of this new non-fiction manuscript that I am tasked with editing, which, needless to say, is an utterly boring work. Nothing says ‘Merry Christmas’ like grammar-checking pages of unoriginal work, right?. So I decided to plunge myself into writing this article in hopes of finding new avenues, with your help, of course, on how to not kill oneself when asked to work on a holiday. I know most people would want to see me dead, but to the few who care, I say this.

office. It has not worked yet. And their obvious response does have some truth to it. Can you imagine what would happen if every doctor, airline pilot, taxi driver, and police office insist on taking holidays off?

But isn’t that why we have different religions? So that we can all take holidays on separate days? Still then, there is little room to negotiate further. Depending on the nature of my job, I could work from home if I wanted to, but working from home does not come with unlimited cups of coffee, astonishingly fast WiFi and cleanliness.

If I tried, I could ask for an extra day off over the next holiday to make up for this excruciating ordeal.

The promise of a long weekend or a few days to visit friends might make working on a holiday little more bearable.

Reschedule the Holiday!?

There is no real reason to celebrate Christmas on the 25th of every December. I would be more than glad to have it rescheduled to another date.

How about December 28th? I did ask my friends if they would be willing to change their plans to accommodate my new schedule. This was greeted by their usual groans.

If not Christmas, then how about

with friends and family, to have lots of fun. I hope December 28th is good so that I feel a little less like I have missed out on all the fun.

Old Uncle Scrooge on Social Media Now that I know that I would be in my office all day during Christmas, chances are that I would be acting like old Uncle Scrooge on most social networks when the discussions on there turn Christmassy. Looking at pictures of everyone else celebrating with their families and relaxing after a big holiday feast will only put in a funk, falling victim to that ‘poor me’ feeling that comes from being both jealous and helpless.

But what is worse than working on a holiday? Working on a holiday and being so bummed, distracted, or unfocused that you don’t accomplish a single thing.

It can be hard for me to be productive if I’m the only one in office or if I really want to be out celebrating with the rest of the world, but, I believe that I would be O.K. about being at work, if I can make the most of my time there. I plan to make a list of things that I want to do – like exchanging the salt and sugar shaker contents of my boss, playing with the copier, besides getting some work done on that humongous manuscript.

LET’S ALL BE GERMANS THIS CHRISTMAS The misfortune of working on a holiday Text Ronnie Kuriakose I have listed down some possible ways to not have to work on a holiday. A few of them have been tried and tested in the past, but I will jot them below nonetheless.

Negotiation I have tried this with several people with varying levels of superiority in

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a friends-reunion-sort-of party.

I know for sure that most of them would be excited for a chance to share their many spare Christmas cakes and to take a break from family activities. It does not matter to me when or where I choose to celebrate Christmas. Ideally, I wish every day was like Christmas – to be

Conclusion Nobody wants to get stuck at the office on a holiday. I certainly don’t.

But by finding other ways to celebrate and making the most of my time at work, I probably will survive the experience without feeling like a total Scrooge.

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ON AIR

93.5 red fm

HIGHLIGHTS OF

NOVEMBER

KANNUR Red FM Kannur conducted an event Chill Dress day where 130 kids participated.

It was a fashion show contest for the kids. Kids with best attitude, dressing and smile were selected and gratified.

CALICUT Morning No.1 show was done live by RJ MANU @ Silverhills Public school Calicut On Nov 14​. The show was played LIVE in all class rooms.

COCHIN Children’s Day was celebrated ON AIR in a different way by Red FM Cochin. The Kids were asked to tell us about their Parent’s Kiddishness. Many Kids participated in the activity.

TRISSUR Children’s Day was celebrated by Red FM Trissur with Red Mom & Kid activity.

Game shows were conducted at 5 schools and best Mom and Kid were selected from each place.

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TRIVANDRUM The website launch of Red FM Trivandrum went well. Almost all media covered the event. Actress Bhama launched the website along with RED FM RJs.

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RNI Reg. No. KERENG /2012 /42759

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