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Printer & publisher: Jose Thomas Pattara, Muhamma, Alappuzha on behalf of Forward Media Private Limited from Bhagheeratha Square, Banerji Road, Cochin. Printed at S.T. Reddiar & Sons, Cochin-18. 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 is 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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2013 AUGUST

editor’s note MY PICK

share our experiences cover story manju warrier

Manju Warrier

returns

ifteen of July seems to be the many of firsts for me. It began with an air hostess literally falling into my lap, courtesy turbulent sky somewhere between Bombay and Kerala. My luck took a turn when I boarded one of the famed yellow and black fiat taxis of Mumbai, only to find out that my charioteer must have been the only taxi guy in Mumbai who doesn’t know the FILM City in Goregaon. Getting past security checkpoints through celebrity name dropping and being held at gunpoint ( ok I exaggerated) until Ajith Pattath who was handling the media relations with Sreekumar Menon of Push Creative( Director and Writer of the Kalyan ads) rescued me at the Floor entry, were all the first I would like to

mention. But the crowning glory?- Getting to watch Manju Warrier and Amitabh Bachchan act , first hand.

Manju:Take 2 One of first things you would notice about Manju Warrier now is how she seems to turn on and off energy. Mickey Contractor, Bollywood makeup genius and Komal Shahani celebrity costume designer and stylist has created a polished and sophisticated look for Manju . The transformation she undergoes during the shot is astonishing. It reminded me of one of the ‘Manju-Legends’ during the shoot of her last feature film. The late Maestro Thilkan is supposed have commented that she has a habit of upstaging everyone in the scene. The excitement in acting with Amitabh Bachchan was very visible. She

ExclusivE bEhind thE scrEEn gossips from thE manju WarriEr, amitab bachan shoot of thE Kalyan jEWEllEry ad. Photos Push Creatives 28

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The natty gentleman Black and white check suit worn with black shirt and trousers, paired with a self embroidered silk tie.

maKEOVER When Class Meets Style

Eid Mubarak

Photographer GK Carrot Photography Model Jayasurya Make up Ramesh Kannan Styling Arjun Vasudev Hairstyle Faizee Cochin Production Jinish George Footwear Courtesy Leather Plus

Automotive Partner

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fashion

ugust is a certainly a wonderful month. Last Year the August Issue was phenomenal in terms of the Avial Cover Story and the Subash Maheshwar created Shamna Kasim shoot. This year we have the Manju Warrier and a totally made over Vinay Forrt. This month we also have a substantial coverage on Luxury watches. While researching on the same one of the most interesting aspect was that a Rolex watch’s value appreciates around 20% every year. Guess the ad copy about investment you can wear on your wrist has some substance in it. We have launched our privilege card program’s next level in the form of privilege club which will open up our events and special offers all around. Early bird members will have a special bounty offer so don’t miss out.

Editor Abraham Tharakan

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trends

The

Raring to go

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Fashion

Muse Photographer Reji Bhaskar Model Kavya Make up Ramesh Kannan Styling Reshu Rangaswamy

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I would love to know what you think of the magazine.

E-mail me at abraham@fwdmedia.in

2013 AUGUST

CONTENTS

AUGUST /2013

exclusive PREMIUM LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

GiFtht Free cher wor

www.fwdlife.in ISSUE 09 VOL 02 AUGUST 2013

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Vou

` 100

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Shutter Bug

Interview with actor vinay forrt

ExclusivE

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returns Scan to watch the exclusive behind2013 theAUGUST scene video of The Cover shoot

Behind the Scene

Photographer Gopakumar Model Vinay Forrt Make up Ramesh Kannan Styling Arjun Vasudev Hairstyle Faizee Cochin

manju warrier

Watch the princess of mollywood in kalyan ad

up this 20 Spice fall

and 26 Elegance fine living

Beauty 90 Meandering

Look seductive and alluring this fall. Include deeper, darker tones.

The most classy and sophisticated furniture that will add a modern charm to your room

A contemporary architecture with a global appeal and language- the project named â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Running Wall Residenceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is a unique design

FWD LifeTakes no responsibility for unsolicited photographs or material. All photographs, unless otherwise indicated areused 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 there utmost to verify information published, they do not accept responcibility for its absolute accuracy. In matters which may be sub judice, femina takes no legal stand. FWD Life can not 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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lifestyle 50 Opulence demystified The Necker Island the hot spot dream destination of the most affluent.

the 54 On qui vive

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a blend of passion and innovation that led to the establishment of Easysoft Technologies in Kochi.

is beautiful 60 small

FWD Life Talks to Sam.T.Mathew G.M, EVM NISSAN, about their latest Micra variants and how it is fast turning into Keralites favourite.

64 The Fashion Muse

When Class Meets Style

82 Splendid yet Simple Extravaganza does not rule royal weddings in Kerala but it is the down-to-earth nature that makes royal weddings special.

parenting

chat

lounge

on 101 Tots toes

is a 48 Two company

life 56 fwd cover launch

Did you know your kids can help you with everyday chores. Learn how to make your kid the best companion when doing the household work.

The talented duo, Falguni& Shane has redefined Indian fashion. Read about their path breaking journey to the international fashion world.

The July issue cover launch of FWD Life magazine was held at Hotel Dream, Kochi.

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The most awaited accolade of the Indian film industry. bond of 102 Adifferent kind

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Movie Bytes Powered by

Mammootty’s Balyakalasakhi gets rolling Translating great literary works on silver screen is not an easy task. After the critical success of the movie ‘Mathilukal’ in 1989, that won Megastar Mammootty ‘Best Actor Award’, the actor is all set to recreate the same magic onscreen once again with ‘Balyakalasakhi’ a great masterpiece written by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer. Mammootty will don a double role for the movie. He will be seen as ‘Majeed’ the protagonist as well as his father. The film is directed by Pramod Payyanur, who was fascinated by the works of Basheer, a theatre enthusiast, Pramod had earlier worked with some of the leading directors like Lenin Rajendran, Shyamaprasad and Ranjith. Through ‘Balyakalasakhi’ the director will be introducing 105 new faces for which selection and auditions were held across India and abroad. Eight days of gruelling workshops were held for the artists who were selected. Sources say Bengali actor Parambrata Chatterjee, who came to the limelight after starring in Sujoy Ghosh’s ‘Kahaani’, will do a major role. Actress Seema Biswas has also been roped in for the film, which will also have actors Biju Menon, KPAC Lalitha and Mamukoya in various roles. The film is scripted by the director himself and will be shot at Perumbalam Island near Vaikom and Kolkatta and is expected to be completed this year itself.

Kunjananthante Kada to hit theatres by August end Megastar Mammootty’s Kunjananthante Kada in which he is playing the title role will hit theatres this month end. Mammootty will play the role of a grocery vendor and Nyla Usha will be playing Mammootty’s better half. The film is directed by Salim Ahammed who shot to fame with the first film ‘Adaminte Makan Abu. This will be the first film in Malayalam in which Resul Pookutty is doing synchronized sound recording or sync sound which means recording sound at the time of filming of the movie itself. He had done post-production sound designing of another Mammootty starrer ‘Pazhassi Raja’ and re-designed and remixed the sound of ‘Adaminte Makan Abu,’ when it was chosen as the Indian entry for Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

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tit bits Dileep’s Nadodi Mannan set for release in August Director Viji Thampi’s ‘Nadodi Mannan’ has wrapped up its shoot and is set for release this festive season. ‘Nadodi Mannan’ is actor Dileep’s major release after ‘Sound Thoma’. In this movie he is paired with Ananya, Mythili and Archana Kavi. Dileep plays the role of Padmanabhan, a village lad, who is not inclined with any political party but finds his means of living by taking part in political demonstrations. However, his fate takes him to the city where accidently he gets elected as city Mayor, now he has some real issues to tackle and some tough lines to follow. The other cast includes Nedumudi Venu, Janardhanan, Salim Kumar and Suraj Venjarammoodu. Krishnan Poojappura has done the scripting for Nadodi Mannan. Ananya is seen playing the role of Meera, a bold character. Archana Kavi plays the role of Athira, a member of a former royal family. Mythili is seen as Rima, a broadcast journalist. Padmanabhan befriends Rima during his days as the Mayor. She helps him bring to light certain crucial issues before the public. Bollywood actor Sayaji Shinde plays the role of the villain in the film, who is in odd terms with Padmanabhan. after that forms the story.

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tit bits

Nivin Pauly in thriller ‘Arikil Oral’ After basking in the success of his runaway hit ‘Neram’ Nivin Pauly is currently shooting for a mystery thriller film scripted and directed by Sunil Ibrahim. It is Sunil Ibrahim’s second venture after ‘Chapters’. The story revolves around the lives of five people in Kochi. Apart from Nivin Pauly who plays the role of a waiter at a cafe, the movie has the versatile actor Indrajith who plays a creative director, Remya Nambeesan who acts as a trained dancer, Prathap Pothen as a Psychologist and Lena who heads a company. The movie’s cinematography will be by Krish Kymal, and it is produced by Ashiq Usman in the banner of milestone pictures. The music will be by Gopi Sundar. Indrajith sings with Shreya Ghoshal in this film.

Nivin Pauly’s ‘1983’ has Cricket as its theme Though cricket is considered to be a nation’s passion, very few movies are made based on the game. Nivin Pauly starrer ‘1983’ is a movie that has Cricket as its central theme and focuses on a common man’s love for the game. The title of the flick also reminds us the triumph of Indian team against West Indies. Directed by still photographer Abrid Shine the movie also has Anoop Menon, Jacob Gregory, Saiju Kurup etc. Nikki Gil Rani is the heroine. Santhosh Varma has penned the lyrics and Gopi Sunder has composed the music. ‘1983’ is produced by TR Shamsudeen under the banner of Shams Films.

AUGUST 2013

Bhavana and Anoop Menon plays a couple in Angry Babies After ‘Trivandrum Lodge’ actress Bhavana is once again paired with Anoop Menon in a comedy entertainer titled ‘Angry Babies’. The movie is directed by Saji Surendran and the story is written by Anoop Menon, Krishnan Poojapura has scripted the movie. The story is based on the lives of a newly married couple played by Bhavana and Anoop Menon, who elops from their respective households and reach Mumbai and get married. But once they start their lives they realise that they are hardly a compatible couple. The shooting of the movie is progressing in Mumbai. It is produced by Darshan Ravi under the banner of Dimac Creations.

Bhavana in ‘Ezhamathe Varavu’ Actress Bhavana will play a pivotal role in an upcoming flick ‘Ezhamathe Varavu’ directed by Hariharan and penned by M.T Vasudevan Nair. Indrajith dons the lead role in the movie. ‘Ezhamathe Varavu’ is an emotional drama set in the backdrop of a forest. Bhavana dons a de-glamorous look in the flick. She appears as Bhanumathi, Indrajith’s character-Gopinath’s wife in the movie. . Bhavana feels that the movie and the character of Bhanumathi will be a milestone in her carrier. The movie is produced by the director himself under the banner of Gayatri Cinema Enterprises. Other actors in supporting roles are, Suresh Krishna, Mamukkoya, Kavitha Nair, Mohana,Kanchana and K T C Abdullah.

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Dulquer on a smooth ride Dulquer is riding on the success of his latest movie ‘Neelaakasham Pachakadal Chuvana Bhoomi (NPCB)’ and why not he has every reason to do so; this road movie says everything about the path less travelled and with two delightful performances by Dulquer Salman and Sunny Wayne, NPCB has managed to strike an emotional chord with its viewers. NPCB takes viewers on a road trip from Waynaad in Kerala to Nagaland, as two friends, Kasi and Suni, the protagonists set out on their motorbikes. They embark on a journey with no particular goal. Directed by ace cinematographer Samir Tahir, the script is done by Hashir Mohammad. Playing supporting roles are veteran Bengali actor Dhritamaan Chatterjee, Manipur actress Surja Bala Hijam and Bengali actress Ena Saha, who are making their Malayalam debut. The movie is shot along breathtakingly beautiful sceneries of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, West Bengal, Assam, Nagaland and Sikkim. With NPCB Dulquer has once again proved that he is a bankable actor and could give a tough competition to none other than his father Megastar Mammootty

RED to have Fahad in the lead After ‘Oliporu’ Fahad will be next seen in RED (Rare Emotional Drama). The movie narrates a chain of events that took place in a single day in a city. It is reported that the first schedule of ‘RED’ is completed and the next schedule is in Dubai. Other cast members are Sreenivasan, Lal, Isha Talwar and Mythili. It is Isha Talwar’s third movie in Malayalam after Thattathin Marayathu and I Love Me.

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Notes From Allover news A glance through the major happenings in April.

gossips Know the latest from the showbiz industry in case you missed it!

launch New ventures and products are being featured for your info.

Joyalukkas plans major expansion

Joyalukkas Group, the multi-billion global conglomerate is planning to increase its outlets to 100 in the near future in ten countries and also expand its money exchange business to 100 outlets, said Joy Alukkas, Chairman, Joyalukkas group . The jewellery retail chain would add 15 new outlets to its existing network of 85 in nine countries, mainly in the Gulf and India. The group will open its first jewellery outlet in Malaysia soon, expanding its geographical reach currently in the Gulf, India, Britain and Singapore. Joyalukkas Money Exchange is also planning to have 100 outlets within the next three to four years in GCC countries and India.

HOT NEWS Pakistanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Burka Avenger strikes a chord

Pakistanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new cartoon superhero who fights bad guys disguised in a flowing black burka is set to go global, with plans afoot to broadcast the show in 60 countries, says sources. The Urdu-language animation Burka Avenger, showing the adventures of a mild-mannered teacher who uses her superpowers.

Pulp Factory at Lulu Mall Optik Mannath opens exclusive Rayban showroom in Kerala

For the first time ever, Optik Mannath the premium optical showroom that houses the largest branded sunglasses and frames in Kerala has opened an exclusive Ray Ban show room at Mobility Hub Road, Vytilla, Ernakulam. The shop has an array of affordably priced stylish branded sunglasses to choose from. Parveen Hafeez Managing Director, Sunrise Hospitals inaugrated the store.

AUGUST 2013

The new kid on the block in the Food Court at the Lulu Mall is the Pulp Factory. The idea behind Pulp Factory is to provide healthy and hygienic fresh juices along with snacks, which are uniquely Mumbai-flavoured. There are three different categories of eatables that you get here.

2013 AUGUST

tit bits Asset Homes bag prestigious award from BSICC Asset Homes, Kerala’s leading builder was awarded “Excellence in Real Estate 2013” by the British South India Chamber of Commerce (BSICC), the award was presented to V. Sunil Kumar, Managing Director, Asset Homes and K Anil Varma, Executive Director, Asset Homes by Mr. Virendra Sharma, Member of Parliament UK and Chairman of BSICC at a function held at the Houses of Parliament, Westminster.

Enjoy a live gig with Goa Gil Groove to the music of Goa Gil at the South Mumbai’s most fashionable nightlife destination, F Lounge.Diner.Bar on 25th August 2013. Be there at the venue as the legend of psychedelic trance will take you to the ultimate nirvanic experience. Goa Gil, who is considered to be the most, requested Psy trance DJ in the world uses party situation as a medium to uplift the consciousness of the participants through the Trance Dance Experience.

David Beckham offered to play a villain in ‘The Secret Service’ Retired soccer champion David Beckham has reportedly been offered a cameo in new movie ‘The Secret Service’. He has been asked to essay a villain. The 38-year-old, who announced he was quitting the sport earlier this year, has been asked by Colin Firth to star in ‘The Secret Service’. Director Matthew Vaughn is so confident that Beckham will agree for the role that he has already planned a villainous part for him, reports thesun.co.uk. “Becks was asked by Colin Firth if he’d like to be in the movie but he is yet to fully commit. He loves movies and fancies appearing on the big screen but just as a one-off, not a full-time career,” said a source.

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tit bits Falguni & Shane Peacock redefines Indian bride at IBFW Falguni and Shane Peacock, the internationally acclaimed Indian fashion designers presented their collection, called ‘Garden of Eden’ at the India Bridal Fashion Week. The collection was replete with ghaghras, anarkalis, kalidaar saris teamed with bustiers, halters and shrugs. The colour scheme was subdued with a dominance of pistachio, pink and gold. As the title of the collection suggests, the designer duo derived their inspiration from the most natural locations of Monaco, Nice and the gardens of Lake Como in Europe.

Meet INK innovators ‘Innovation and Knowledge’ or simply ‘INK’, the digital platform that identifies young luminaries from diverse areas will announce names of 20 young people chosen for their fellowship program on August 21st, 2013. INK will give them a common platform to share their thoughts and create a positive impact on the community. The recruits will attend and showcase their work at the INK Conference, in association with New York-based Technology Entertainment and Design. These young achievers could be from fields such as art, science, technology, entrepreneurship and social work.

Kirobo the talking robot blasts into space Kirobo, a knee-high talking robot with red boots and a black and white body, has blasted off from Japan for the International Space Station. The Japanese-speaking robot, equipped with voiceand facial-recognition technology, was packed into an unmanned cargo vessel along with tonnes of supplies and equipment for the crew of the orbital research base. Kirobo is designed to navigate in zero gravity and gets its name from “kibo”, the Japanese word for “hope”, and “robot”. 24

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Spice up this fall ook seductive and alluring this fall. Include deeper, darker tones of red in your wardrobe as red is the color of this season, accessorize it with glamorous, glittery jewels and gem stones in your footwears and accessories. Go for garments with intricate crochet and delicate adornments that explores your feminine side. Along with the lace and the glitter pick out garments with plush fabrics, metallic detailing and surface embellishments.

Hilda Studded Inward Curve Wedge In Red

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fine living Bar table This black stained oak veneer table comes in both round and square shape with filing drawers. Price: ` 1,04, 250 app.

Parnian Furniture Desk This luxurious desk is made of six different kinds of exotic wood. Each desk is custom built according to the space of the room. Price: ` 11916000

The sofa cum bookshelf This hybrid piece is a great way to club comfort and style. Designed by Tembolat Gugkaev, a Russian industrial designer, this all-in-one furniture can be furnished in a small living room in just a few minutes. Price: ` 25,000

AUGUST 2013

Wine rack with touch screen technology Wine Enthusiast Silentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Slimline Collection offers a compact and hi-tech wine storage option for the modern home. The Slimline wine cellar has space for storing up to 18 bottles of wine. Price: ` 17,000.

Breath taking chandelier Disclaimer: Price and features are subject to change. Buyers are advised to act on data after cross-checking

Murano Due Ether S 150 Pendant is a beautiful chandelier made of glass and metal. Price: ` 4,89032 app.

Swarovski studded crystal vase This captivating crystal vase brings infinite charm to your floral arrangement. The glittering chatons adds sheer brilliance to your home. Price: ` 35,000

2013 AUGUST

cover story manju warrier

Manju Warrier

returns

Exclusive behind the screen gossips from the Manju Warrier, Amitab Bachan shoot of the Kalyan Jewellery ad. Photos Push Creatives 34

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mention. But the crowning glory?- Getting to watch Manju Warrier and Amitabh Bachchan act , first hand.

Manju in conversation with sreekumar

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cover story manju warrier

confesses that it was a dream come true to act with him and it took some time for realization to sink in after the very first shot together. She admits that she never thought getting back to dancing will get her back in front of the camera and that not in her wildest dreams that she thought it would lead to her acting with Amitabh Bachchan. Her fear

was allayed by the changes in the public area especially in the entertainment industry and the way entertainment is accessed by the spectators. One of the biggest confidence boosters has been the response online on both her personal website and facebook page. Manju was overwhelmed by the call for comeback on the web. No matter what was tried to coax

out an answer out of her, she did not commit to her return to full length feature films in Malayalam. Given the extent of this campaign there would be surely a demand for her in other languages too. Malayalam industry certainly hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t yet filled the void left behind by Manju Warrier , hopeful she would return to fill the same

The Bachchan Factor The sheer aura and goodwill this legendary actor has, needs to be experienced to believe in. At the entrance of the Goregaon Film City my car was stopped to enquire about my destination. The security guard and the accompanying rifle wielding soldier seems to have gotten off the wrong side of the bed that Monday morning. My

Amitabh Bachan checking the shot on monitor

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cover story manju warrier press card and mention about the jewellery shoot eased but did not resolve the situation until realization dawned on the soldier’s face. “ Amitabh- Amitabhji ka shoot, Its happening on Floor 1, why didn’t you say that” Then patiently explained the route to me inspite of my less than basic Hindi language skills. The Bachchan card worked remarkably well and eased my passage through rest of the checkpoints until of course at the Floor entrance where Mr. Pattah rescued me. . There is a noticeable spike in energy when Amitabhji walks into the set. Guess nobody wants to make a fool of themselves around him. But then he also makes it a point to make everyone at ease. The roller coaster scene in the ad was shot with a green

screen, the ‘ok’ for it was getting delayed because of the expression of a co star in the scene and Bachchan was no right either. Finally the director asked them to scream as if they were in a real roller coaster ride and the loudest scream was who else’s but Bachchan’s! In a different setting all the actors had to wait a bit for the art department to get things ready and delay was leading to frayed tempers, because the schedule was getting messed up. The scene dynamics was such that Bachchan had to walk out of the restaurant on seeing his daughter (Manju ) sitting at a different table with her husband. Finally the props were in place and on the first take Bachchan walks out in a huff then rushes right back into the frame with a plastic chair

snap shot and mimics throwing the chair at the couple. Implying jokingly to the Director Sreekumar Menon that throwing the chair would have been more real life like Bachchan laughs out loud. The whole unit which froze for a moment joins the laugh a second later and all the late schedule tensions forgotten. In the same scene when Bachchan walks out of the camera field he walks straight towards the console where Co-director Jaishankar Pandit and associates sit watching the ‘take’ on the monitors. So every time he walks out of the camera field he ends up near the monitor and everyone sitting around it jump up to their feet. He took it in his stride and coolly moved out of the field in a different angle.

Cast and crew busy working.

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The Push Behind Kalyan V.A.Sreekumar Menon of Push Integrated Communications is one of the most dynamic ad man I have met. It no mean feat to retain an advertising account for more than a decade as Sreekumar has done for Kalyan Jewelry. The brand has attained international stature with who’s who of Indian cinema becoming their brand ambassadors. The team Sreekumar had assembled for this shoot included award winning Art Director Sabu Cryil and the camera was handled by K.U Mohanan of Don, Talash fame. The efficiency of the production house Earth and Air Films was clear from the colour coded uniforms for technicians and support staff, from art to hospitality which in turn helped to identify between them. The complexity of the shoot was certainly overwhelming. 60 shots in 2 different floors consisting of various sets created for the scenes. Getting four regional superstars – Prabhu from Tamil, Nagarjuna from Telugu and Shivrajkumar from Kannada to sit around waiting for their shoot was indeed a superhuman feat but then the well packed goodies table certainly helped.

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Performance

is my forte Love him or Hate him but you can’t ignore him, well that’s the kind of impact actor Vinay Forrt has managed to make for himself in the minds of movie buffs. Actor Vinay Forrt, who is blessed with oodles of talent and confidence, boldly confesses to be selective and believes in doing meaningful roles. With a yen for theatre in his heart Vinay gleefully talks about his experiences with doyens of Indian Cinema at FTII and why unconventional roles challenge him Text Thabitha Marion Photography Various Sources

Excerpts e is a rare prodigy in the ‘M’ town. A trained theatre artiste and contemporary dancer, his USP for success has been the quintessential guy-next- door image.

As an alumnus of FTII, tell us about the exposure you attained from the reputed film institute? FTII was a platform that polished me as an actor. I wouldn’t have learnt so much, if not for that opportunity. Getting in there after outshin-

Looking forward to.... Unconventional roles

ing the three rounds of tough screening was a hurdle. But when I got to see my name listed among the shortlisted 20 candidates, my emotions broke through the fears of failure assuring a second chance as an artiste on screen. I got to rub shoulders with talented artistes’ like Irrfan Khan, Mithun Chakraborthy, Naseeruddin Shah and gifted directors like Sanjay Leela Bahansali and more who were gladly willing to spent time with us. You ensorcelled the moviegoers with originality out of

What acted as a catalyst for choosing movies? I received the National Scholarship from the Government for the Best Senior Theater Actor (2004-2006)

bounds as an autowaala in ‘Shutter’. What braced you to personate the role unvarnished? I am a fine gaper who travels quite often. And travelling need not always be long distance. Short drives too can convey to us a lot of exiguous realities. I rely on autos for most of my journey within the city. So I get to watch the behavioural patterns of auto drivers; their body language, attitude and say, even the way they carry themselves in their khaki shirt. Those back-breaking journeys blessed me to experience completeness

when I got to enact the character. Mostly it would’ve been impossible without an understanding director like Joy Mathew. Strategies you adhere to being in this industry… Analyzing it by myself I have reached the conclusion that this field is unpredictable. Strategies have no roots here. Rather than following some hit-or-miss tactics, I believe in abiding by the lessons I have learned so far. Vinay’s all-time support… Parents have been with me

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cover model

QUICK READ

vinay forrt

I love to travel. It is an education involved with the real world.The experience of coming across culture and places gives me a confidence that grants authority to my performance and my stream of thinking

Excerpts all through my ups and downs. During my theatre days, it was just their encouragement and of a few others backstage that kept me going and I know I can always rely on them. Over the years theatres or plays have lost its glory in Kerala, and you being an ardent follower of the Indian theatre, what do you have to say about it? I’m an actor who was into theatre for a long time. My love for theatre started at a very young age. I was part of ‘Balasangham’ and ‘Lokadharmi’, a Kochi-based theatre group. It taught me the basics of various art forms, Kalari and basics of acting, for which I am always grateful. We used to perform on national and international stages, maybe two performances or so in a year. An entire year’s efforts for just one performance hardly fetched me anything solid. The plight was so bad that circumstances made me a supplier in an elite coffee shop and also to work

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Future plans in acting? Wish to be known as a regional actor

in a pharmacy for a while. That was when I gave FTII a try and got into cinema. If one proves their mettle; popularity and money follows in cinema. So I think in common this could be the cause of theatres’downfall. Any intentions of directing films… I’m happy with what I’m doing right now. I wish to be a versatile actor, exploring regional industries as well. Golden tips of acting by Bollywood actor Naseeruddin Shah… For the movie “Apoorvaraagam” I found it exhausting to learn the dialogues. It was so tough that it triggered me to doubt if acting was my piece of cake. That was when I disclosed the same to Naseeruddhin sir. He said, “It’s just the beginning and so it is natural to happen that way. Read it over and over till it gets into your system.” He also advised me, “Lessons from a film institute are never to be forgotten. They are of help

Latest release... “Blueberry Hunt” with Naseeruddin Shah

to me even after being in the industry for 40 years.” I’m sure you must have noticed the graph of new faces entering the industry shooting up lately. Do you think fascination has ruled over earnestness? No, I don’t think so. In India 98% of the population either likes to be an actor or a cricketer. To promote such interests, opportunities have multiplied. But it’s sad that even today we come across artistes’ who have entered the industry either because of parental pressure or due to other incidental reasons. Upcoming projects….. “Rasputin” will soon be releasing. I hope it will be a commercial success. An untitled movie by Aneesh Upasana starring Jayasurya and myself and “The Great Jail Escape” by debut director Abin are my next projects. I will be playing the lead role with Tini Tom and Joy Mathew.

You’re a contemporary dancer too. So when can we watch you boogie down? I can’t tell you when, but I wish to do a character which Lalettan got to do in the movie “Kamaladalam”. Is an actor’s personality a criterion to determine his future in the industry? To be a star like Salman or Hrithik, physique is important. But to be an actor I think acting skill is the biggest blessing. A challenging task you go to do at FTII… A square on the floor was divided into four and I was asked to express different emotions as I hop from one square to the other. Switching from happiness to sorrow to excitement was pretty demanding. Do you believe originality is the essence of an appreciable film? No...audience looks for novelty, not only originality. Cinema is not just an art, it’s a business too where we have a give and take policy with the viewers.

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maKEOVER When Class Meets Style Photographer GK Carrot Photography Model Vinay Forrt Make up Ramesh Kannan Styling Arjun Vasudev Hairstyle Faizee Cochin Production Jinish George Footwear Courtesy Leather Plus

Automotive Partner

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The natty gentleman Black and white check suit worn with black shirt and trousers, paired with a self embroidered silk tie.

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maKEOVER

With a theatrical flair Cream coloured raw silk sherwani paired with red silk pyjama in contrast. 46

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Blended with the right notes Casual cotton full sleeve white shirt and off white trousers styled with a multi coloured crushed printed menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s scarf.s

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maKEOVER

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Quirky cool Brown leather jacket with fur collar worn along with a blue denim shirt

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maKEOVER

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The man and his machine Yellow cotton T shirt Paired with faded pair of denims

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behind the scenes

photoshoot

Creating the Festive Moments a sneak peek into the making of the FWD Cover & centerspreads

fashion crew

Makeup : Ramesh Kannan Styling : Arjun Vasudev Hairstyle : Faizee Cochin Production: Jinish George

Vinay getting ready for the scene

photo - crew Photographer: gk carrot photography

video - crew Direction: Chachu, Amarnath DOP: Antony Mangaly Asst. Camaraman: Manu Joseph Photo and video crew busy capturing the moments

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Stills: Syril Thomas

SPECS

Equipment used

Cameras used Canon 5d mark 3 Lens EF24-70mm f/2.8L USM, 16mm f/1.8 II, EF70-200mm f/4L USM Lighting equipments

Bowens Duo 2400 & soft light beauty reflectors

Various stages of the photoshoot

Our Associates

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chat

Quick Read

falguni & shane peacock

Two is a

company Chic, edgy and sophisticated that defines the label ‘Peacock’, the designer duo has taken fashion innovation to a new level in the international arena Text Thabitha Marion Photos Various sources alguni & Shane has their prêt labelled ‘Peacock’, and this tag is not a household name in the fashion industry anymore. With an imagery that is so vast that each collection comes as a complete surprise, their hottest collections have travelled abroad unravelling the wardrobe dreams of divas that we consider to be the eye candies on the red carpet. Since 2004, the designer duo has created ripples in the international fashion arena, showcasing their cuts, weaves and outstanding embellishments at various International fashion weeks to styling international celebs like Madonna, Britney Spears, Katy Perry, Fergie, Nicole Scherzinger, Cheryl Cole, Naomi Harris, Niki Minaj, Ayla Kell, Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez, Kim Kardashian, Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, Shakira and Beyonce. For this issue we’re delighted to bring you an exclusive interview with the Mumbai-based fashion designers Falguni and Shane Peacock.

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B-Town’s worst dresser... No comments Indian fashion industry still lacks... Professionalism when it comes to fashion. Next star icon you wish to design for... Blake Lively, Michelle Obama Pretty face or perfect figure for designer wears… Perfect figure Bollywood trend setters…… Katrina Kaif, Sonam Kapoor & Priyanka Chopra Most memorable ramps you walked so far…. The first time we were invited to showcase at New York Fashion Week

How did you both get together? We met at work. Shane and I met on a common project for an export company in Mumbai. It was really our common passion for design and art that first brought us together and now we are a married couple. And now it’s been over a decade since we’re both in the fashion industry. What were you both before entering the industry? We both were inclined towards fashion and designing right from the start. We started off as designers. About the launch of the designer brand ‘Peacock’… We opened our first design boutique in 2004 at Mumbai. From then on we have been participating in fashion weeks in India and abroad, where our designs were well appreciated and received a raving review. Ever since then there was no looking back. The Peacock label has expanded beyond its horizons to a growing global brand of ever busy international glam

icons seeking stylish and multi-functional outfits. How has the competitive experience been over the years? Competition is always healthy and it has provided a great learning experience. Share with us your experience working on the first designer wear for an international star and whom was it for? Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas was the first International icon we dressed. She wore one of our designs for the World Cup performance in 2010, which was a milestone of success for us. Fergie looked ultra glam and gorgeous in the outfit and it got a lot of eye balls on our designs. What is behind naming your brand ‘Peacock’? It’s Shane’s surname. We always wanted our label to be associated back to us. What better way than to have your name attached to one’s work.

Your signature style. Our signature style is FSP (Feathers, Sequins and Prints). Initially, we tried to play safe with the generic design elements in our collection. However, we soon realized that feather, sequins and prints is our USP and forte. We have received an overwhelming response for our unique and edgy designs.

to International stars? It’s more or less the same. The only significant difference is that in Hollywood we designers don’t have any gridlocks where as in Bollywood a designer has to be cautious before making a cut to expose an inch more of their bod. Apart from creativity and a flare for drawing, does this profession demand something more….

Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Rihanna .… what were the occasions and how was the experience designing for them?

I feel one need to be hard working and dedicated in this profession. It is also very important to be at the right place at the right time.

It is a fantastic feeling and amazing experience when an international pop icon opts to wear one of our creations. We have dressed various celebrities for award shows such as Katy Perry for MTV Music Awards, Lady Gaga for her opening performance at the FIFA World Cup and Rihanna for one of her performances to name a few. When it comes to customized designer wear, how does the taste of fashion and style differ from Bollywood celebs

Being in the industry how important is it for designers to refresh themselves? Designers need to constantly reinvent themselves. They need to think out of the box and come up with new designs; else soon there creations will become boring. How far designer wears can help in hiding figure flaws? Designer wear fits very well and it is customised to ones figure type. Hence it of course helps hide flaws.

2013 AUGUST

F75 180m Superyacht ‘Azzam’ Lurssen’s yacht yatch Hull

Heavenly cruise Luxury yachts are much preferred vehicles for a cruise on waters and the latest to join the line is Hull 75 by Codecasa Shipyards equipped with the most advanced facilities

FWD RATING 19 Crore approx

nspired by the super success of Magari, also known as Hull F73, the first yacht in the Vintage series, Italy-based Codecasa Shipyards launched Hull F75, the second hull in the yard’s 42 Vintage series on June 27, 2013. As everybody knows Codecasa has

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a huge experience in producing luxury yachts since as early as 1825, the latest eye candy is nothing less than sheer magnificence. The spectacular hull was totally developed by the shipyards in-house staff in collaboration with Architects Anna and Franco Della Role. Both from the technical and architectonic aspects the second unit is equal-

ly captivating as its sister-ship that had been awarded with the Nautical Design Awards for the Best Interior Design. Distributed on 3 decks, the yacht has abundant volume, still remaining under the 500 tons GRT. The main deck is a wide dining room and a full optional main galley, equipped with professional appliances.

The Owner’s Suite features two washrooms with connecting shower and two walking closets. There is also a bright salon connected to the main deck. The lower deck is instead fully reserved for guests and it offers two double-bedded cabins and two twin-bedded cabins, with additional Pullman bed. The bridge deck, besides the wheel-

SPECS Max speed 16,5 knots Range 4000 nautical miles at 11 knots Fuel capacity

75.000 litres

Water capacity 14.000 litres Guest Accommodation 1 master cabin, 2 double cabins, 2 twin cabins with Pullman berth Crew Accommodation 1 captainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cabin, 3 double crew cabins

house, accommodates a pantry directly connected with the main galley by a dumb-waiter and a sky-lounge with big windows. The interiors are classy and bright because of the ivory colored wood selected for the realization of ceilings, furniture and walls, while the floorings are made of dark mahogany wood planks, enriched by marble inlays in the main deck and Bridge Deck hallways. The fabric and upholstering materials chosen for the loose furniture and wall panels are all in light colours, like ivory, beige and cream. The exteriors, featured by solid and reassuring lines, combine the pearl grey colour of

the hull with the ivory colour of the superstructures and they have living areas on all decks up to the spacious Sun Deck, equipped with sunbathing sofas, sun-loungers and a bar area with all required appliances to make it totally independent from the other areas onboard. Equipped with two Caterpillar 3512 C marine engines, 1650 HP each, and featuring a fuel capacity of 75.000 liters with a range of 4.000 nautical miles at 11 knots cruising speed, luxury yacht Hull F75 is a Yacht able to make oceanic crossings, in any weather and sea conditions.

2013 AUGUST

travel necker island

Opulence demystified The Necker Island is one of the jewels of the British Virgin Islands that has always held a special place in Richard Branson’s heart

othing can beat the feeling of sand beneath your feet, a salty gentle breeze on your face and an exotic cold drink on your hand. And if you have always dreamt of visiting a faraway shore to soak up in the sun, why not hit the ‘Necker Island’ set in the Caribbean coast that

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is owned by business mogul Richard Branson. Sprawled across 74 acres the place has an unassuming character and a laid-back charm. Mr. Branson first purchased the island in 1978 and it opened as a luxury retreat available for private hire in 1984, since then the place has been a favourite hideaway for A-listers till 2011 when a

deadly fire brought down Necker Island’s Great House. Now after two years the authorities have announced the reopening of the resort for exclusive hire once again - for a staggering £40,000 per night.

Getting there By plane, the closest international airport is on Virgin

Quick Read One can enjoy a blissful spa treatment on Necker Island Spa. The place offers fabulous range of treatments. The Isle was once a bird’s paradise but most of the species were either hunted or pushed to extinction. Now the Island owner Richard Branson is reintroducing native birds like scarlet ibis, the flamingo, and the roseate spoonbill.

Tortola (Beef Island) which is a 35-minute flight from San Juan and up to a 1 hour 20 minute flight from Antigua. It is possible to fly to the British Virgin Islands via many parts of the Caribbean, with the most popular routes being via San Juan, Antigua and St. Thomas.By boat, Necker is approximately 30 minutes from Tortola and

10 minutes from Virgin Gorda where there is another smaller airport. It is also possible toanchor a yacht off Necker if guests are going to be sailing in the area.

Celebration Week Usually the Island is hiredprivately by an individual or group but during the “Celebration Week” that is held duringselected weeks throughout the year; couples or singles canbook individual rooms. During Celebration Weeks the resort staff would arrange an array of activities for visitors that include sailing, water sports or outdoor games like tennis. But if you wish you can also have a private spot on the beach and spend the day doing absolutely

the ‘Necker Nymph’ a 3-person aero submarine takes exploration under the sea to a whole new level. nothing!

Stay Accommodation is split between nature-inspired six Bali Houses and the Great House. The Great House has eight guest rooms which are fully air-conditioned and all come with king-size beds and ensuite bathrooms. On the upper level you’ll find the Master Suite, complete with private outdoor Jacuzzi and outdoor bath. All rooms have king size beds which can be split into twin beds in most cases. All rooms in the Great House are fully air-conditioned. The house boasts amazing panoramic

views of the Caribbean islands. Rates start from $27,000 a week if you book a villa or $42,000 a night if you rent the whole island.

Things to do At Necker one can do just anything at one’s own desired pace and forget about stress and strains of daily life. If you are a water babe there are plenty of water sports to choose from. If you wish to catch a tan you can simply relax on the desertedbeach. Apart from this the Island has casino nights, fancy dress parties, BBQs on the beach, gala dinners and much more.

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startup easysoft technologies

On the qui vive A strong passion for innovation led to the establishment of Easysoft Technologies in Kochi. today it has become a perfect platform of creativity and credibility Text K.R. Rejeesh Photos FWD Media he 16-year-old lad had a penchant for Microsoft Company. He too dreamt of setting up his

own company and even named it while at school! Later he came to Kochi to pursue computer course. At the hostel he

got a perfect crony from Kannur who too had the same vibes. Starting from web designing for a few companies, they were able to make small profit. Thus, they began their eventful journey together and today Abdul Manaf and Shamal Chandran are known as the founders of Easysoft Technologies, Kochi. Founded in 2006, Easysoft Technologies has become one of the leading web and software development companies within a short span of time. It offers creative and technologically advanced solutions for medium to large business concerns across the globe. The company has developed a slew of software solutions that are useful in various fields, including the CRM software for builders, the software is used

by leading builders like Olive, HiLite, Trinity, Nest, Alhind, Kalpaka etc. “We collaborate with our customers to help them meet their requirements without compromising on absolute result. Incorporating the client’s ideas, we give them a satisfactory output,” says 28-year-old Abdul Manaf. Apart from Kerala, they have clients from UAE, Australia and other countries. Manaf, who hails from Malappuram, had no apprehensions initially, thanks to the immaculate efforts of the duo in making out the clients’ demand and designing their websites with perfection.

Turning point Harnessing the power of social media, the company enhances the brand visibility

Abdul Manaf (right) and Shamal Chandran (left)

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Quick Read Filmmaker Joshy launched the website,” recalls Manaf. He was tense when he sat for the 20-minute-long press meet along with Mammootty. In fact, it was Mammootty who suggested them if they could do movie promotions online. That was a crucial suggestion. The two youngsters lapped it up and obeyed his words. Thus MovieGear was born. Like they say, rest is history.

The social network

online, engage and interact with current clients, and attract and retain new clients. While designing the website for the film “Pattanathil Bhootham”, Manaf came across the website of actor Mammootty. He prepared a set of Power Point presentations and set out to meet the Megastar on the film’s location. Hesitatingly, he showed the presentations to

Mammootty and told him how to improve the star’s website which hadn’t been updated for a while. The tech savvy star was impressed with his suggestions on the website and employed him to redesign it. That was the real turning point in Easysoft Technologies’ journey. “During the launch of the website, almost the whole film industry was present. I was nervous.

In the second half of the success story, the Megastar-effect again props up. “During his flight travel, Mammootty chanced upon the User Relation Director of Facebook in India. They discussed the myriad fake profiles of celebrities cropping up on FB. So here too the Megastar came up with the idea of social media optimization for celebrities and the process started by merging all fakes and creating official accounts for Dulquer Salmaan, Dileep, Fahadh Faasil, Nivin Pauly, Unni Mukundan, Rima Kallingal, Roma, Gauthami, Mythili, Reenu Mathews etc. The firm also helped directors like Ashiq Abu and Anjaly Menon to verify their personal profiles adds Manaf. The team identifies the fake profiles of stars and eliminates them. Those who liked the page or added the celebrity as their friend after seeing them on a ‘fake’ Facebook account, those followers will be automatically added to the original FB account of the celebrity. The team also remains on the qui vive to identify mischievous profile creators.

The company specializes in Web Application Development, Creative Web Designing, Email Marketing, Social Media Marketing and Web Hosting Solutions. Zimp CRM is a highly user friendly customer relation management software exclusively developed for Builders. It automates and simplifies all the functions in Marketing, Sales, Customer Care and Customer Accounts. Crux Mailer is developed to send high volume of personalized bulk mails to large number of subscribers. It is integrated with their own SMTP server specially configured for bulk emailing. MovieGear involves in strategic online and offline marketing and promotions for movies. It offers Social Media Marketing, Content Development and Content Distribution for regional movies. They make the right use of a wide range of current technologies available, including PHP, AJAX, MySQL, ASP. net, Flash, XML, etc. to develop powerful and efficient portal websites. Get in touch with us: www.easysoftindia. com | info@easysoft.in | www.facebook.com/ Easysoft.Technologies | www.facebook.com/ MovieGear

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MOST HAPPENING PARTIES AND EVENTS

Glitzy and Glamorous Celebs galored for the cover launch party of the July issue of FWD Life magazine, the premium lifestyle magazine in Kerala. Glitteratisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; from various walks of life graced the event that took place at Hotel Dream. Mollywood actors Jayasurya, Anoop Menon, Tovino, Gregory and bubbly actress Meera Nandan graced the event and added the extra zing to the night. As a token of appreciation Mr. Ivan Mannath of Optik Mannath handed over exclusive Rayban shades to Jayasurya 62

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fwd life cover launch The July issue cover launch of FWD Life magazine was held at Hotel Dream, Kochi.

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win

25 watches

every month exclusively for fwd digital magazine readers Please scan this QR code to read digital magazine

Your closest confidante just got closer to you. FWD Life is now on Facebook with gossip,gyan, exciting contests, fun prizes and invites to exclusive parties up for grabs! Check it all out on facebook.com/fwdmagazine To subscribe Call :9809010111 or log on to: http://www.fwdlife.in

2013 AUGUST

chat

Sam.T.Mathew

Small is beautiful FWD Life Talks to Sam.T.Mathew G.M. EVM NISSAN, About their latest Micra variants and how it is fast turning into Keralites favourite 2nd car option

provides for customers is smooth acceleration and no shift shock unlike conventional automatic transmissions and tops it up with its best in class fuel efficiency. It is the only transmission in the segment that is affordable, with fuel efficiency of 19.34 kmpl as per ARAI rated higher than manual and conventional automatic gearbox equipped cars.

snapshot

Photos Tanzen Ponsek

Sam. T. Mathew GM, EVM Nissan with the Micra varients

he new Micra is the fourth generation of popular city car Micra, with major redesigned exterior refreshed premium interiors and advanced features. New Micra is a robust, dynamic, advanced hatchback with cut-

SPECS

ting edge technology offering spacious interiors and premium features. It comes loaded with user-friendly and safety features for a superior and safe driving experience. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the first in the segment technology for better fuel efficiency and smooth city driving experience.

Xtronic CVT Transmission The major highlight of New Micra is the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) gearbox and this is the first hatchback in India offering Xtronic CVT technology with Sports Mode button. The key benefits CVT

Priced @ ` 6.5 L (Ex-showroom price, Cochin)

Engine

Petrol

Engine size (Ltrs)

1.2

Length (mm)

3825

Max. Power

76 Ps @ 6000 rpm

Width (mm)

1665

Max. Power

76 Ps @ 6000 rpm

Height (mm)

1530

Transmition

CVT (automatic)

Wheel base (mm)

2430

Fual Efficency (kmpl)

19.34

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Owner Speaks I bought the MICRA CVT as the 2nd small car for the family, specially for my wife for her commuting needs within the city. The automatic transmission and spacious interior was the main attraction to select this car. The autotransmision takes a bit to get used to but is heaven send during bumper to bumper traffic conditions. The Keyless entry was a surprisingly useful feature and has made city usage more comfortable. Mr. Sibi Mathai Mangaging Director Vista Deiveline Motor Pvt Ltd. The Proud Owner of The NEW Micra CVT

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fashion

trends

The

Fashion

Muse Photographer Reji Bhaskar Model Kavya Make up Ramesh Kannan Styling Reshu Rangaswamy

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Raring to go

Animal printed chiffon mini dress.

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fashion

trends

Edgy in yellow

Delicate, sheer chiffon mini dress with exposed side zipper.

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Flattering in White

Round neck stretch crepe top clubbed with horizontal striped skirt. 2013 AUGUST

show biz Stars and makers of Lootera celebrated the success of the movie at Escobar on 15th July 2013, and why not the crew had all the reasons to celebrate the success as the movie has received rave reviews from every quarter. Lootera’s lead actress Sonakshi looked fab in a casual white shirt and black trousers and actor Ranveer was spotted in his usual sporty style. Other celebrities who thronged the place include Shatrugan and Poonam Sinha et al.

Team ‘Lootera’ success bash

JULY 2013

venue : , Escobar Mumbai

watch

out powered by

Latest timewear collection for watch connoisseurs Page No 70 - 78

2013 AUGUST

Oris Calobra

Time Keeper

Oris Artix GT

Oris TT3 Chronograph Second Time

Available At: Swiss Time Boutique Ground Floor, Lulu International Shopping Mall, Edapally Ph: 91420 91420

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Oris Chronoris Grand Prix

Oris RAID 2013

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Rado sintra

rado true jubile

From Time to Time Rado Ceramica chronograph

Available At: Swiss Time House Ground Floor, Lulu International Shopping Mall, Edapally Ph: 91424 91424 78

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rado hyperchrome cronograph automatic

Rado D-Star 200

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Casio GA110GW-7A

Available At: Swiss Time House 1st Floor, Lulu International Shopping Mall, Edapally Ph: 91426 91426

Casio GA-100MC-2A

Casio GLX150B-3

Time Machine Casio SGW-500H-2BV

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Casio GA110AC-4A

Casio Store

1st Floor, Lulu International Shopping Mall Edappally, Kochi - 682 024 Ph: 91426 91426

2013 AUGUST

Swatch Scuba Chlorofish

Swatch Scuba Playero

Watch out for Swatch Scuba Sundowner

Available At: Swiss Time House Ground Floor, Lulu International Shopping Mall, Edapally Ph: 91425 91425 82

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Swatch Scuba Deep Turtle

Swatch Scuba Whalebone

Swatch Store: Ground Floor, Lulu International Shopping Mall Edappally, Kochi - 682 024 Ph: 91425 91425

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Yacht Master II

Day Date

Timeless pieces Sky-dweller Gold

Prince

Available At: Swiss Time Boutique Ground Floor, Lulu International Shopping Mall, Edapally Ph: 91420 91420

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Submariner

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wedding

cards

Awesome

Wedding Cards Wedding Cards do more than just invite and inform; they express a coupleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s style and taste for the big day

hey are innovative and are done with out-of the-box ideas. Invitations are the first thing guests will receive regarding a wedding, so naturally it should indicate what type of event to expect. With so many new and exciting options available, a little bit of personal creativity and style can make a card unique. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an innovative wedding invite that depicts the togetherness between the couple in tough times. It is made in the form of a movie poster with the names of the bride and the groom on the top left and right and with the names of the family members mentioned below. This novel wedding invitation would turn out to be an exceptional piece.

A very formal and sophisticated way of presenting a wedding invite to your near and dear ones. If you take a close look at this, the card not only tells you the name of the couple, venue and date, but also gets into the details of the menu to be served at the ceremony. A real treat for foodies around.

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Interesting flip flop wedding invitation cards, one colour blue and the other brown as its base colour which shows their different individualities, both having blue straps on them expressing something in common. The geekiest wedding invitation has few letters and more digits. For couples-to-be who don’t want their marriage dates to be portrayed in a romantic manner can go in for this. It’s simple yet coveys the information required to attend the wedding.

This wedding invite says it all….how they met, got to know each other and the sacrifices they’ve done for each other for making this marriage happen. For those who like to go for a more personalised wedding invitation, this could be a good one.

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wedding travancore royals

Splendid

yet Simple For the royal family of Travancore humility and simplicity is a way of life, any joyous occasion is celebrated in the most subdued manner. this is an exclusive coverage of the rare wedding moments of the royal family of Travancore Text K.R. Rejeesh Photos Various Sources

here is no paucity of grand and haute weddings these days. Weddings have become a gala affair and people are vying for making it appear unique. The more we fail to draw a comparison, the

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more we tend to call a wedding as ‘royal’. Assenting with quaint definitions of a royal wedding, we traced the scenario of the ‘real’ royal wedding. Yes, we are here at the Kowdiar Palace in Thiruvananthapuram, the official residence of Travancore’s

erstwhile royal family which has witnessed weddings of generations.

Customs The wedding of a royal family member is solemnized according to Kshatriya traditions. Sharing some valuable and sacred royal nuptial customs, Prince Adithya Varma of Kowdiar Palace, a young member of the royal family tells us that in ancient days, a 7-storyed pandal (venue for marriage) was erected for the wedding ceremony; and the celebrations lasted for three to four days. “But now the duration of the ceremony has been scaled down to four hours. The whole ritual will take place in front of the holy fire and a couple of priests will lead the ceremony’. The bride and bridegroom will be from same caste. There won’t be any discussion regarding dowry or assets. The customary meeting of boy and girl will be arranged in a common house since it was inferred that entering one’s house before fixing the marriage is not appropriate. Be

bride or bridegroom, all parties used to come to the Kowdiar Palace for making alliance. After the first meeting the wedding date will be fixed. And there is no engagement or other rituals prior to the marriage.

Get hitched Prince Adithya Varma, son of Raja Raja Varma and Gauri Lekshmi Bhayi, recollects wispy memories of a wedding at the Palace when he was 5-years-old. It was the Prince’s uncle Ramavarma’s marriage. As per the customs, on the wedding day, the bride’s brother washes the feet of bridegroom and receives him. Royal weddings here are austere by all means. You won’t find the latest trendy ornaments or glitzy attires. Percussions like nadaswaram and thakil will be there. No onion and garlic are included in the wedding feast. They are considered improper for holy things. Honeymoons were not common in the royal family. But Prince Adithya Varma, who had married from Thiruvalla, had gone to Singapore for honeymoon.

snapshot

royal trivia All most all the royal families of Kerala are invited for the wedding The marriages of the princesses are known as Pallikettus while those of the Maharajahs are known as the ceremony of bestowing the Pattum Parivattavum. An auspicious date would be chosen by the astrologer to visit bride’s place after the marriage Invitation cards are printed with royal family emblem on the top

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lifestyle

wedding

Unfolding

a Royal Union Recreate the grandeur, lavishness and extravaganza of Royal Weddings anywhere of your choice Text Dhanya Menon Photos Maritus Events & Wedding Planners, Koc- Tvm

and of rich cultural and historical heritage, India is really enigmatic. An excellent way to taste the ancient regality is a palatial wedding- a treat for both the hosts as well as the guests. Palace Theme weddings or Royal Weddings is one of the most expensive and grandest affairs as far as thematic weddings are concerned.

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A Grand Royal Wedding held in Kerala In this issue, we have Mr.Sahad, Creative Head of Maritus Events and Wedding Planners, Kochi- Thiruvananthapuram, who shares his experience of planning a grand royal wedding for one of his hi net worth client who wishes to have the name confidential. The wedding held early this

year was one of the grandest Kerala has seen. The groom was from Nagarcoil and the bride from Kottayam. Being a Muslim wedding, a Mughal palace theme based grand venue was set up at a private beach at Kanyakumari to accommodate 15,000 guests, including their business partners in Middle East. The huge stage was 300 x 60 ft wide and long and the

venue was 90,000 sq ft area fully decorated. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It took almost 14 days to set up the venue,â&#x20AC;? recalls Sahad. The grand entrance which was like a long tunnel was fashioned following Arabic desert tents. A whole Middle East-Arabic ambience was created by the settings and entertainment extravaganza like Tanaura, an Egyptian dance by dancers from

Quick Read Middle East, orchestra with shehnai, tabla, guitar etc and an array of sumptuous Arabic dishes.

Royal Weddings The pomp, glory and opulence of bygone periods are brought to life as you exchange vows bejeweled like a Prince and Princess in a royal backdrop amongst the display of many royal luxuries, traditions and processions. Indian royal weddings are exclusively associated with the Rajput or the Mughal tradition; may be due to its

rich heritage India had passed through. Still a shadow of colonialism is also seen; they who love to be a William and Kate! In the North, it is not very uncommon to book an old palace, a heritage resort or a colonial bunglaw as venues to deliver the best possible authenticity. Destinations like Rajasthan, Hyderabad and Goa are synonymous with Royal Weddings, due to the abundance of venues of regal ambience. Many old palaces, forts and bunglows here have been transformed into best heritage hotels in the

world for people who nurture enthralling ideas. “As such buildings are not available in Kerala, Wedding planners erect a replica of a palace of your choice and all the elements associated to it depending on your budget” says Sahad.

Décor Royale The venue of a Royal Wedding is of course elegance exemplified. A palace ambience is recreated, right from the well wrought entrance, chandeliers, columns and draperies. The stage décor

Mr.Sahad, Creative Head of Maritus Events and Wedding Planners, Kochi- Thiruvananthapuram, shares his experience of planning a grand royal wedding held at a private beach at Kanyakumari to accommodate 15,000 guests

can be chosen from anything from gold and white background to recreating a magnificent Jaipur Palace or Taj Mahal in front of you. An elegantly bejeweled stage with carved golden pillars in fibre can be made. Further the venue can be decorated with rich fabric drapes and exotic flowers. As choices are wide from unique selection of whimsical castles and horse drawn carriages to arches and standees, royal wedding decorations will make your fancies come true! Colours are usually chosen according to custom palace backdrops or in contrast to the bridal wear. Grand lightnings, floral decorations, red carpet, firewoks, floral rangoli all adds to the grandeur.

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lifestyle

wedding

orated according to the clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s choice, perceptions and theme chosen. The epicurean elegance will also be in accordance with the royal retreat.

Royal Rituals

Royal Extravaganzas The entire experience of a royal wedding will take you to a princely pride, as caprisoned elephant, camel and horse, butlers, soldiers, fireworks and roy-

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alty everywhere. Entertainment extravaganzas can remind court performances like traditional folk music, folk dancers, fire eaters, palmists, royal messengers, percussions, dholaks, nagadas, snake charmers, Arabic dance, anything can be added or elab-

Rituals play an important part of any weddings in India. There are many royal picks of rituals from the North like baraat, mehendi, mehfil, mahira dastoor etc which can be tried for variety as well as uniqueness. The choice of additional fanciful traditions is a choice of the client.

How to Plan? Before planning a royal wedding, the first and foremost thing to do is to fix your budget, as it is a costly affair. Once the cost

is determined, then choose a venue. Big halls or open venues are ideal. It is your choice to decide whether you want to celebrate only the main ceremony with settings alone or to go for some extravaganzas to be made like mehendi, processions, music, dancers etc based on the budget. And, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to make it clear through the invitations that the wedding will be themed, so the guests are prepared for it. It is true that special moments are worth remembering for the lifetime. So when it comes to weddings, people are ready to turn every conceivable stone.

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2013 AUGUST

The most awaited accolade of the Indian film industry, the IIFA awards was held at Macau on 6th July 2013, the glamorous event was attended by the whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s who of Bollywood. Stars dressed themselves in elite designers like Naeem Khan, Roberto Cavalli, Anamika Khanna, Maish Malhotra etc. IIFA was attended by stars like Shahrukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Sridevi, Madhuri Dixit, Anushka Sharma, Parineeti Chopra, Ranbir Kapoor, Ayushmann Khurrana, Shahid Kapoor, Sonu Sood, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Richa Chadda, Jacqueline Fernandez and Abhishek Bachchan among others.

IIFA AWARDS 14 IIFA Awa th

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show biz

2013, MACAU wards 2013 2013 AUGUST

lifestyle

architecture

Meandering

Beauty A contemporary architecture with a global appeal and language- the project named ‘The Running Wall Residence’ is a unique design Text Dhanya Menon Photos Paveen Mohandas and Lijo Jos his house located in Kannur draws inspiration from B.V. Doshi who said, “I believe the supreme among architectural experiences are those, which occur along the route of movement in spaces

that could be characterized as pauses or ambiguous plural spaces”. Serpentine walls running through this entire property subdivides and establishes a connection in between the spaces. Catering to the client’s aspiration “a fort like house that

one can’t scale”, the very feel that one gets as standing outside is intimidating,” says Lijo. The house is more an architectural one than an interior project. “This was one of our first attempts, in its built form, in this direction” says the architect duo-

Quick Read Project The Running Wall Residence Owned by Mr. Nandakumar and Family Location Kolassery, Kannur, Kerala Plot area 93 cents Total floor area 507.93 sq m Architecture & Design Lijo Jos and Reni Lijo, Thrissur. Tel: 9847016689 This project has been awarded IIA KC GOLD LEAF for Excellence in Architecture and All India Stone Architectural Awards in Landscape Category from CDOS

01 View from Drive way.

02 Bedroom with

view to the external court

03 View of the wall from the main gate

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Lijo and Reni.

The Concept The all-pervading laterite wall which starts as a compound wall, wind through the landscaped

yard and dip into the house at various spots, turning them as part of it. The wall lends privacy where it is needed and also allows open space where desired. Laterite stone which is

familiar to Keralites is used in a new language, without losing its inane nature, for a direct visual appeal. More than a wall or an enclosure, it is like a flowing sculpture throughout.

The monotony of the huge walls is broken by the voids. The visibility is also accentuated by white cement paste and powdered laterite stones for creating a continuous horizontal line offering more fluidity.

Entrance A long drive way leads to the sit-out from where a sneak preview of the hidden courts and landscaped spill out areas are offered. From here one steps to a glass bridge, over a water body that spills out as a cascade below the main door into an internal pool. So as the main door is opened one continues to walk through the glass with cascade below.

Interiors The glass walk from the entrance splits to two spaces to choose from- the living and the dining. Both these spaces have openings to vast landscaped spill out areas

03 02

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lifestyle

architecture

04 04 View of the house and central court

05 Living Room- Clas-

sic simplicity and lots of fresh air and light

simple and functional design, yet offering the design aesthetics and amenities of an indulgent luxurious lifestyle. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Each and every bit of the site was considered during design itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heartwarming to know that each of the members finding various areas in the house a new function and a new meaning,â&#x20AC;? concludes Lijo. The duo has been chosen by Architect and Interiors India Magazine as one among the iGEN Top 50-The New Generation of Innovators in Architecture (2013). enclosed by the wall. The dining has a long lap pool with a corridor leading to the bedrooms. The kitchen located beyond the dining too opens up into another landscaped yard at the back with a badminton court. There is a 3 storey high internal court with banana plants, ferns and few tropical plants with stairs on the side taking to the home theater below and the study above. Most of the rooms have a play of levels on the ceiling, in the form of a combination of barrel vault and flat slab at the higher level with vents to expel the hot air. This combination has brought a marked difference in the room temperature compared to other regular forms.

Visual Appeal Interiors are functional, simple

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and classic. A classic- contemporary feel, and the way these two are infused is really stunning. While the exposed brick wall accentuates a rugged look, the serene white interiors with ornamented wooden flooring, soothing sky light and bay windows opening to greenery, radiates a calm and relaxing ambience. White interiors exude a casual ambience, while the spaciousness offers a free spirited lifestyle while maintaining an un-disturbed environment All rooms replete with clean and modern lines, fresh air and openness. They have tried to minimize the interior elements like paneling, false ceiling etc. The minimal landscape also complements the visually complicated form. The end result is a unique,

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bridal

cakes

A Cake to celebrate The tradition of wedding cake date backs to thousands of years when it was a symbol of fertility and prosperity and was taken as a sign of good fortune and a blessing for long life

White chevron wedding cake decorated with pie flowers

Three-tier round raspberry and chocolate flavoured wedding cake with light blue fondant and brown branches with white and blue blossoms.

Garden roses tucked between tiers of vanilla bean cake adorned with butter cream piped on in a basket-weave pattern.

A graphically embellished rich, chocolate-brown fondant, piped with white and light-brown dots.

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party

quick read

sparkys

KIDS BASH AT

SPARKY’S Birthday parties for kids are not what they used to be! Today’s birthday party trends are all about fun

SILVER BIRTHDAY PACKAGE Price: `450 Party Hostess Face Painting, Fun With Clown Decoration Invitation Cards Photos In A Cd Kid’s Meal 1 Hour On Rides Rs.50 Worth Game Card For Each Kid Party Games And Prizes Gift For The Celebrant gold BIRTHDAY PACKAGE Price: `600 Party Hostess Face Painting, Fun With Clown Decoration Invitation Cards Photos In A Cd Kid’s Meal 1.5 Hour On Rides + 5D Cinema Rs.100 Worth Game Card For Each Kid Party Games With Prizes Gift For The Celebrant

rom its inception, Sparky’s at Lulu Mall, the family fun park has been synonymous with entertainment and thrill for children of any age. Their thrilling rides, amazing games, vibrant ambience and virtual games have been the highlight. But now there is something novel Sparky’s have tried to bring in and that is their special birthday packages for kids. As a parent are you stuck with the conventional celebrations on your kid’s special day? If so, there can be no better

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place than Sparky’s suited for your kid’s birthday celebration this year. Sparky’s birthday celebrations come in three packages; a silver birthday package for two hours, a gold birthday package for two and a half hours and a platinum birthday package for three hours, for a minimum of twenty kids each. Each of these packages offers a fun filled birthday with games, food, enjoyment and lots of fun that would brighten your dear one’s day in a spectacular way. The birthday party packages include a beautifully decorated venue, special invitation cards

and return gifts for invitees, a trained party hostess in control of the party along with attendants, special memorable gifts like photos in CD and an amazing gift for the birthday boy/girl. The celebration gets to be more happening as the kids get to have a face painting, dressing up like cartoon characters, playing party games, gifts for winners and winding up the celebration with delicious kids meal of their choice. One hour of free rides and games, 5D cinema and ice skating will also be a part of it, depending on your choice of birthday package.

platinum BIRTHDAY PACKAGE Price: `800 Party Hostess Face Painting, Fun With Clown Decoration Invitation Cards Photos In A Cd Kid’s Meal 2 Hours On Rides + Ice Skating + 5D Cinema Rs.100 Worth Game Card For Each Kid Balloon Distribution Party Games With Prizes & Gift For The Celebrant

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automotive Renault Duster 110 PS RxZ Diesel

haute performer First glance at the Renault Duster is enough to make you realize that it is the ideal urban SUV for India

FWD RATING 12.18 Lakh approx

he French car maker Renault has clearly dimensioned the Duster with much larger dimensions than its competitors that are priced similar or a segment or two higher. The design language on the Renault Dusterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s outside is simple. The front face of the

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Duster appears aggressive with the three vertical chrome strips that form its face. The headlights have a neat combination reflector design that is shaped in the flow of the front grille. The dual tone bumpers also enhance the sporty and off-road looks and ability of the Renault Duster. Its unique design allows it to adapt naturally to any kind

of terrain. While its unmatched fuel efficiency lets you drive deeper into the wilderness, its state-of-the-art safety features keep all worries at bay. Packed with a host of smart features, it helps you get through everyday life in a breeze.

Drive The vehicle comes powered

with a choice of three engine options. The gear ratios are short and spread out with the max torque and power felt in the third shift. The power and pick up is gradual and not instant as on other CRDI engine units. The Duster is a hard handler with the steering tuned on the stiffer side so that the driver remains

SPECS Engine

Petrol

Seating capacity

Length (mm)

4315

Max. Power

108 bhp @ 3900 RPM

Width (mm)

1822

Max. Torque

248 Nm @ 2250 RPM

Height (mm)

1695

Kerb weight (kg)

1740

Wheel base (mm)

2673

Fual Tank Capacity (I)

Displacement (cc)

1461

Wheel size

16 inch steel

Ground clearance (mm)

205

Tyre size

215/65 R16

snapshot FWD LIFEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S VERSION The steering is good to grip but the horn area is a tad bit large. The biggest USP of the Duster is the sedan like driving ease. Even though you are seated at a slightly higher position, you can control the Duster rather easily. The Renault Duster looks macho, handles and drives well, has a good cabin and equipment level so not much that goes against it.

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** Ex- showroom price, Cochin

connected and in command at all times. The Renault Dusters 6-speed gearbox has precise shifts. The shifting is not as soft as the Japanese cars but is just perfect to suit the Mini-SUV. The ride quality is also superb with the Dusters independent McPherson Strut with coil springs & anti-roll bar in the front and Torsion beam axle with coil springs & anti-roll bar at the rear doing a commendable job to give a very refined and comfortable ride quality.

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business

car insurance

My car, their policy Owning a four-wheeler is a matter of pride but how well do we know about different parts of an auto insurance policy? FWD Life gives you some relevant insights

oing a little homework before renewing a car insurance can make big savings on premium and avoid future hassles on claims. One should know his/her coverage needs and compare quotes of different insurance providers before renewing the comprehensive policy. It is not necessary to stick on to the same insurance provider every time. With insurance providers offering their quotes online and websites available with comparative quotes of different companies, it is always beneficial to do a quick check as the renewal date nears. One should also keep a

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few other things in mind while selecting the insurance provider. If your car service provider has a cashless payment agreement with the insurance company, you will not have to cough up the entire repair amount and then wait for the reimbursement. If the company has online renewal facility, it will save a lot of legwork. Under a traditional comprehensive cover, the Insured Declared Value (IDV) of a new car will be 80 to 90% of the on-road price. But when it comes to renewal, the insurance provider will calculate depreciation of the car before fixing the IDV. The depreciation is calculat-

ed on the basis of the age of the car, its condition, market value of the model etc. The IDV calculation differs from one provider to another. For a lesser IDV, the premium too will be less and if no claims have been made in the previous term, the no-claim bonus will bring down the premium quite significantly. In other words, for minor cosmetic repairs, it is always better not to make a claim.If you are a person with a low risk perception, a traditional comprehensive cover will keep your premium at a lower level. However, if you want the IDV to remain the same even during renewal, you can opt for a cover

Quick Read Always carry your insurer’s helpline number with you to seek instant assistance during an emergency. Keep a copy of important documents like your policy document, registration driving licence in your car. If you have opted for a workshop that is part of your insurer’s preferred network, you will be entitled to the cashless facility. Always provide accurate details like your policy number, personal information, location and the magnitude of the loss while making a claim for quick settlement.

that does not take depreciation into account. However, the premium will be higher in such a scenario. While taking such a policy cover one should consider the model of the car and the prices of the spare parts. However, spare-part prices of some cars remain the same over the years and once the model is phased out, the spares also become less available and more expensive. In such cases one can retain the initial IDV and pay a higher premium. If the car is stolen, the loss of the owner will be minimal if you have a higher IDV. But, these policies do not cover every part of the car, the plastic parts do not get full insurance cover. Considering the fact that increasing number of parts in new-age cars are made of plastics, one can consider going for a ‘bumper-to-bumper coverage’ that covers a larger portion of the car.

parenting

Quick Read

chores

Tots on toes Household chores, work and supervising little kids can turn any woman to a tizzy. Sharing little chores with your kids can lessen your burden and give children a sense of accomplishment

Have him organize books and magazines on the coffee table, according to size -- he’ll learn the difference between big and small. Give him round, rectangular, and square plastic containers to organize; show him how they nest inside each other. Teach your child how to pair socks, and to sort and match washcloth and towel sets. Let him hold a can so he’s able to water plants; it will actually strengthen his ability to balance.

hildren are not only able to perform simple tasks around the house; they are actually willing to do them with excitement and vigour. Kindergartners enjoy showing off their emerging independence, so ease your burden a bit and take advantage of your little worker bee while you can. Toddlers are more likely to make a mess than to neaten up. So make cleaning more fun. Daily and weekly chores also

BONUS

help teach our kids discipline and the importance of routines which will help them when they’re running their own households. It doesn’t mean they need to spend hours a day doing chores, but a few small chores lays the foundation for a myriad of life lessons–from practical skills to responsibility and contributing to the family unit. Pillow talk: Straightening sheets and blankets can be hard for little arms -- they can barely reach across a twin size.

But if you can live with a few wrinkles, making the bed is kind of fun for kids: they can pull up the covers, toss on the pillows, and pile up the stuffed critters. Supper club: Setting the dinner table is a marquee job because the whole family will notice his/her achievement when they sit down to eat. Let him/her add a lego creation or something he/she made at school to the table as a centerpiece. Toy story: Make cleanup time

Make a game of tidying up by asking him to count how many toys he can carry to his room at once.

after play-dates quick and fun with baskets and bins for holding blocks, dolls, books, and more. All he/she has to do is toss the items in the right containers and place them on the shelf. Clotheshorse: Laundry never ends -- sorting, folding, turning things right side out. Have his/ her pair up socks, sort items, and then deliver them to their dresser drawers.

How kids can help ?

A 2-year-old can: Put all the family’s socks into a pile. Find pieces of his own clothing and give them to you to fold. 3-year-old can: Fold washcloths or bibs in half once, then hand them to you. Put all his own clothes in a pile. Sort a sib-

ling’s clothes into another pile. 4-year-old can: Sort socks by colour, and match patterns. Fold washcloths in half, then in half again. Carry folded towels to a closet.

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pets

QUICK READ

skills

A bond of

different kind It is scientifically proven that pets can significantly enhance a child’s physical, emotional and cognitive development. With a little preparation and perseverance, patience must be put in to create a unique bond

Petting after Birth Before bringing your baby home from the hospital, allow your pet to sniff a blanket or a towel in which the baby has been wrapped. This helps it to get the baby’s scent. On returning from the hospital with your baby, greet your dog with some treats. It could make the meeting more special. After making sure that the dog is in control, calm and relaxed after seeing you in days, take the baby next to it and make it sit by its side. If it behaves appropriately, give it a chewy bone as a compliment for him to maintain his cool all time.

t is indeed wonderful to have a pet at home; a companion for evening walks and also a silent watcher to all your tantrums. But this bond of happiness may not last for long, once you decide to have a baby. This eventual change could drastically alter the daily routine of both of you together; gradually

BONUS A professor turned entrepreneur in China to market the most expensive tea in the world that has been developed after prolonged

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widening the distance and the time you spend with your pet. As your pet had all the attention all these years, this transition might be too hard for it to take. So to make things smooth and pleasant for you, your pet and later on for the new addition, here are some tips that could help you survive through this emotional situation.

Months before the D-day; train your dog’s behaviour to enhance the bond between you and your pet. If you haven’t trained it with basic commands, do it before it’s too late. Train your pet to remain calm on the floor beside you until you invite him on your lap that would soon be cradled with a newborn. Make it get used to baby

fragrance by sprinkling some baby powder onto your skin. And also to familiarise it with another favourite of yours, carry a doll when you go out for an evening walk with it, show it and allow the dog to be by the side of it. Accustom your pet to baby-related noises and encourage it to be friends with kids so that it becomes easier when the baby arrives.

Precious Droppings research. And surprisingly the source happens to be panda droppings. He uses bamboo-eaters’ manure to help fertilize the organic

green tea. For a 50 gram pack of organic tea blended with panda dung, it costs 22,000 Yuan which is equivalent to £2,200.

So as at least 3 grams are required to prepare a cup of tea, one cup of this drink would cost Rs.11, 000 approximately.

Getting Familiar with Zoos around the World

Animal Kingdom, Orlando

Basel Zoo, Switzerland

This largest animal theme park in the world, a part of the Disney Theme Park has been accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

Opened in 1874, it’s ranked as one of the oldest zoos. It has more than 6,000 animals including Somolian wild donkeys and dwarf hippopotamus. This zoo had the first Indian rhinoceros birth in a zoo.

Berlin Zoological Garden, Germany

Smithsonian National Zoological Park, Washington DC

Originally opened in 1844, the zoo is considered as a historical landmark with its survival during WW II. It is also a place for successful breeding of animals on a regular basis.

Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Chennai

It is one of the biggest zoos in South East Asia and also known as the zoological park that has attained excellence in the ‘captive breeding programme for endangered species.

BONUS James, a homeless heroin addict finds a friend in an injured tom cat named Bob. For a life so gloomy and miserable like James’s, the

This zoo found in Rock Creek Park, houses over 400 species of animals, with 2,000 animals in all. Two coolest things about the zoo is that it doesn’t charge for entry and the snore and roar tour.

Nandankanan Zoological Park, Orissa

Established in 1960 as a zoo and botanical garden, it was opened to the public in 1979 as a zoological park spread across 990 acres of land. It is believed to be the first zoo in India to join World Association of Zoos.

All for BOB furry tail was an inspiration. Their companionship grew day by day and so did the pages of the book James began to pen after coming

across Bob. He completed the book and titled it ‘A Street Cat Named Bob’. The book got sold like hot cakes and watching out its

demand it got translated into 27 languages.

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food pulp factory

Juices Mad About

The latest snack-bar at lulu food court, pulp factory, is a must visit for juice and cream lovers

mixed fruit cream

fruit bowl

Photo Athul George fter having a meal at Pulp Factory, we are sure that you would agree to the suggestion to change their tag like from ‘mad about juices’ to ‘mad about juices and cream’. The idea behind Pulp Factory is to provide healthy and hygiene fresh juices along with snacks, which are uniquely Mumbai-flavoured. There are three different categories of eatables that you get here. Fresh juice extracted from fruit pulp using state-of-the-art machines. Assorted cream mixed fruits, dry fruits and falooda combinations. Then the distinctly Mumbai-flavoured sandwiches and rolls.

veg cheese grill

rose falooda

newzealand kiwi cream

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MOST HAPPENING PARTIES AND EVENTS

Kalimannu Audio Launch

Audio Launch The audio launch of the upcoming Malayalam film ‘Kalimannu’ was held at a prestigous hotel in Kochi. Here we have a few melodious moments from the event.

Main Cast Swetha Menon, Biju Menon Special Appearance Sunil Shetty, Suhasini, Priyadarshan Behind the Scene Director - Blessy Producer - Thomas Thiruvalla Story - Blessy Music - M. Jayachandran Cinematography - Satheesh Kurup

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wedding

twins

Double delight The marriage of twins held at Changanassery recently had the presence of twin priests and twin altar boys to solemnize the wedding Text K.R. Rejeesh Photos Various Sources verybody wants their wedding to be a special affair. For the twin brothers hailing from Kurisummoodu at Changanassery, it was truly a ‘different’ wedding ceremony on July 10, 2013. Apart from the twin bridegrooms and twin brides,

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the priests and the altar boys were also twins. “We were looking for twin girls. When this alliance came, we decided to make it a special wedding. In fact, we have known the twin priests before. And the altar boys’ presence was accidental,” says Jacob T. Joseph. His twin brother Kurien T.

Joseph and he tied the knot with twin sisters Tiny and Soumya respectively. The brides hail from Vazhoor in Kottayam district. At the church the twins were the cynosure of all eyes. They even wondered after seeing the group of twins. Moreover, the marriage even caught the attention of local

media. Twin brothers Jacob and Kurien run a farm in Mysore where they have been residing for many years. “We have poultry farm and dairy farm here. So we stay permanently here,” says Kurien T. Joseph. Currently, the twin couples live on the farm and it seems the honeymoon is on the cards.

Fastest Growing Consumer Electronics Retail Chain In Kerala Now Inviting Franchisees in Kerala

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entertainment preview

melodies On Air

93.5 Red FM

RJ Thara (Suryodayam 5am-7am, Penpattanam

11am-3 pm)

Ask RJ Thara what her success mantra is and she will tell you it’s simply her ability to connect with the masses that makes her the most sought after RJ in town. And looking at her chart topping shows ‘Sooryodayam’ and ‘ Penpattanam’, one can find that she indeed knows the pulse of the masses and how to keep the audience hooked on to the show. RJ Thara, who started off with RED FM two years back, has not looked back since then, today with two prime time programmes to her credit she finds that this is where she really belongs. Talking at a length about her shows, RJ Thara says both her programmes have different characters, the morning show ‘Sooryodayam’ is dedicated to devotion and one can hear enchanting devotional

RJ Sooraj (Red on Demand All days 5pm- 9pm) For RJ Sooraj radio has been his adrenalin and for the people of Calicut he is a sensation who has reigned the scenario for almost five years now. Fondly remembering the serendipity of fate that came through one of his friends and landed him behind the microphone, RJ Sooraj says, the appreciation and accolades that he receives for himself and his programme ‘Red on Demand’ from public has been the most fulfilling. RJ Sooraj who is hosting the programme ‘Red on Demand’ for the fifth year in a row says that the best part of his job is the fun, entertainment and happiness it brings to the lives of audience. Speaking about his much admired programme, he says it has given him a lot of recognition. However, for an RJ it takes a great deal of effort to keep both the celeb-

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rities and audience engaged in the programme. Sharing his experiences while interviewing celebrities, he reveals that he was bowled over by the humility of actors like Suresh Gopi and Prithvi Raj who came on the show. Candidly sharing his USP for success, the RJ-turnedprogramme producer says, he likes to keep things simple, rather than talking about topics that does not concern common man. He tries to choose topics that matter the public the most and tries to involve their participation throughout the programme. However, the RJ vows that delivering one’s emotions through voice is not always a cakewalk, confidence and individualistic style is the key to success, also bringing in fresh segments to the programme can end the monotony.

songs that can give a beautiful start to their day. ‘Penpattanam’ is a 4-hours live talk show that focuses on not so serious issues around us, though it is titled ‘Penpatanam’, it’s a family show hence anybody can join the discussion on air and on special occasions a celebrity guest is invited to join the show. With a distinctive voice, RJ Thara is also a successful voice artist. After doing some well-known commercials, she got an opportunity to lend her voice to Swati Reddy for the hit movie Amen. Now after dubbing for the character ‘Ammy’ in Anchu Sundarikal and Aneesh Anwar’s Zachriacyude Garbinikal, RJ Thara credits her success to the continuous exposure and encouragement that she receives at RED FM.

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geeky GADGETs Disclaimer: Price and features are subject to change. Buyers are advised to act on data after cross-checking

Asus Transformer AiO P1801 What we liked Fast quadcore processor. Screen can be detached and used as a tablet Runs Windows and Android. Good performance in desktop mode.

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book reading

A Book you must not miss! “TOP BUSINESS FAMILIES OF KERALA” is an engrossing compilation of the most illustrious business families of kerala. With its encyclopedic sweep, the book comprehensively captures the history, growth and the success DNA of each business family

erala has a long tradition of family businesses – some of them with remarkable achievements. In family businesses, the pertinent issue is one of creating an IBM rather than working for IBM – the question is not what the family business can give you, but what you can give to the family business. It is not taking but giving.

In comparison, Indian family managed businesses (FMBs) are far more robust than their counterparts. Universally, only less than one-third of family businesses survive the third generation. A study made in India shows that only seven out of the top 50 companies in 1947 were in business in 1997. Most of the economic wealth in most countries is created by business families. But often, they are reviled and ridiculed. The book

unravels the myths and paradoxes of family businesses. The articles on family businesses, the tips given by business leaders, and the gems of wisdom found in 50 golden rules are something no entrepreneur should miss. Though an elaborate tome, the lucid narration makes it an easy to navigate book. With refreshing candour, each

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family dwells at length on themselves, throwing light on their core beliefs, success mantras and the business hierarchy. The Foreword by Parimal Merchant of S.P. Jain Institute of Management & Research, and the article Managing Family Business by Kavil Ramachandran of Indian School of Business, are indeed value-addition to the book. The book is also replete with incisive insights, interesting anecdotes and a collection of rare photographs. Definitely, TOP BUSINESS FAMILIES OF KERALA is an illuminating book that radiates knowledge and power. A must read for businessmen, entrepreneurs, students and general public. The cover price is Rs 1,000.

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RNI Reg. No. KERENG /2012 /42759

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Postal Reg No. EKM/728/2012-14