FWD Life August 2012

ISSUE 10 VOL 01 AUGUST 2012 ` 50 www.fwdlife.in

LAUGH - A - RIOT Stand-up comedy @ jtpac

PUNJABI LIBAS

Ethnic - Contemperory weaves

VIVEK KARUNAKARAN

ETHNIC REVIVAL

FASHION

Versatile Virtuoso

WHEN TURNS SALAD An open letter to the band from a die hard fan DJ SEKHAR | GOD - PARTICLE | POOJITHA MENON

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NEW WAVES

O

nam provides Malayalee the unique recourse to reminiscence the past glory of this timeless coast. Well, that’s what we were taught in social studies class.

Not for a second do we think about the benevolent Mahabali or Vishnu’s Vamana Avatar. All that matters for an average Malayalee is that one big Athapookalam on the last working day before holidays start and the ready made Sadya booked well in advance from the local restaurant. A simple trick to figure out whether its a good onam or not for the average malayalee- does the queue at one Bevco reach the next one. Mavelinadu, after all is Malayalees socialist dream; long before Plato defined republic and Sir Thomas Moore dreamed about Utopia. Sorry Mahabali, you long lost the importance. We only like that big bellied version of you not the righteous warrior king version. We found it far more convenient to change your look than finding a fit and healthy Malayalee to dress up as you. Maybe the spiritual discipline of Ramadan should be carried in spirit all across the year for a less cholesterol clogged Kerala.

EDITOR Abraham Tharakan

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Contents What’s your Wedding Theme?

62

Image courtesy Dr Lakshmi Unnithan

12

Main Story

30 Versatile Virtuoso

36 A shot for encore 8

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people

AUGUST 2012

24

Jothish Kumar

Food Onam SADYA

52

Senior V.P Marketing, Havells

Ramdan Kareem

26

Musings on Ramadan

DJ Shekar

28

Checking out the party scene

Laugh- A- Riot

34

Performers @jtpac

Trends M.O.D Jewelllry Designs

37

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66

Blog Roll

38

Anjali Menon Blog

Punjabi Libas

40

Special Feature

Higgs Bonson

50

On the God particle

leisure Carouser’s paradise

Home entertainment 58 Multiplex at home

Innovations

60

Hackathon

Launch 70 Linen Club

Events

Modern

64 &Minimal Ethnic Revival

72

Monsoon Bride

Party

74

Casino, Ramada

Pimp your ride

75

Modified cars

WTF

77

FWD Life readers respond to the poll on Food Raids

Party

78

Dream

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Highlighting

a passion

Gadgets 80 Get to know what are the picks of this month

Urban Yogi

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main story

Illustration : Papaya Media 12

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AUGUST 2012

WHEN TURNS SALAD An open letter to the band A plea to the best thing that came out of Kerala in the last decade Photos JAYESH MOHAN

D

ear Avial, If 13AD was the sound of Indian rock in Kerala, in English, (not Mallu rock; shall get back to that later) with regional followers and highly talented performers, before MTV, Channel V television revolution and long before Youtube,Facebook and the internet revolution, and most importantly, before Bilal saw Kochi and vice versa. Avial defined the alternative rock in Malayalam, once Bilal and Kochi met each other. In 2003-04 what was an underground sound until then became mainstream. Especially for the Malayalees seeking fortune elsewhere, you guys joined the list of things to be discussed, when under the influence of alcohol or Malayalee camaraderie (The latter mostly happens when the former occurs).

The list that includes Dasettan songs and movies from the 80’s. When countless college students got drunk and tripped on their college, hostel terraces, including those 3 idiots from IIT, all they still had to listen to was Floyd. But not for the Malayalee; we had Avial. You guys were arguably the best-Kerala

export after Kerala Beef Fry (KBF), disgruntled youth, unionisation, Gulf money and its returnees, Shakeela and heroes with mustache and rice sacks for stomachs withstanding.

The Quentin Tarantino meets Kumaranashan psyche that Avial created was a defining moment in their coming of age for many a Malayalee. Outside Kunjan Nambiar and Chemmanam Chacko, few non lyrical, non romantic performers or writers have found a place in the global Malayalee imagination as you guys have. Finally they had a band that they could discuss with pride, something that they could call their own. Later Raghu Dixit in Kannada and Papon in Hindi,Bengali and Assamese followed with genres in which there isn’t a trace of Inglish, ‘ahem’ English. Ironic it has been both then and now, that most of your listeners, either couldn’t understand a word of what you were singing or couldn’t speak Malayalam for more than 2 min without breaking into English. You guys single handedly dropped the ‘u’ from Mallu and created ‘Mal’ alternative rock.

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main story

The Avial album still remains the best conversation starter with fellow music lovers in bars and pubs all over the Indian metros

at the keyboard for Rs 100 a day at Rave Magazine, when they called you guys “Politically-aware and ideologically driven”.

When Anand followed his love to the U.S and Naresh left for a pan Indian musical journey, many felt that the grated coconut and cumin seeds of the Avial mix went missing. The Avial album still remains the best conversation starter with fellow music lovers in bars and pubs all over the Indian metros. Passing on the song or a link in the mail for the Youtube video always generated the ‘rebellious, unconventional, yet so musical’ awe in first time listeners.

Here is how the album reads for me every time I hear it.

Track 1: "Nada Nada": And then they started

walking and walking. And then God went nuts.

The hypnotic vocals and the pulsating rhythm of the guitar... blown away literally!.

Almost as if Led Zeppelin wore Lungis and came on stage.

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Track 2: "Chekele": Hooked on to this one right

from the zeroth second. The acoustic guitar backs the song perfectly.

Listen to the entry of the bass just when the vocals start and feel the heart go thaka thaara thakadimi thom…

Track 3:"Njan Ara": Existentialism is not a

phenomenon of philosophy. Because the guitar has all the answers. The flavours of Jazz mixed in an enticing slow rock is as good as getting two Pappadams for the same Sadya. Delicious distortions, amazing dynamics. The instrumental jam gives it a yummy ending.

Track 4: "Arikuruka": They sure know how to

make an entry. The song starts sparsely building up into an intense vocal section. The rhythm patterns in between are breathtaking, just like watching the Xmas lights in Fort Kochi.

Track 5: "Aranda": Who said post colonialism is boring? aranda? aranda?

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main story

Chillane and Ayyo Track 6: " Karu Kara": They told the rain to away and come again another day. Come helped the damage go back it did. And how! The clever play of guitar, control but noth- bass transitions add an extra dimension to the ing short of a good experience. Love to tune into the song every day. new album is going 7:"Aadu Pambe": Myth 1: Snakes tempted to change the burnt Track humans out of paradise. Myth 2: Snakes don't taste from the mouth dance. A head bangers delight.

Track 8: “Ettam Pattu”: Statutory warning:

Broken hearted lovers are advised to avoid this song, unless they are keen on developing a beautiful addiction to broken heartedness.

Then came the series of movies with your music.

Commercially this direction is understandable but not in sense of music. Liked the tweak in Anna kallan, the trailer with Malayalam movie dialogue t-shirts and Lungi and the ‘mutan pani’ cockiness, definitely had the flavor of a land and its youth that is constantly searching for an identity and political statement. This might be the reason why T.O.I chose you for their Suprabhathakali promo, to capture the suburban imagination. Total flop show, Politikali, romantikali we didn’t like this Gods’ own Kathakali. Chillane and Ayyo helped the damage control but nothing short of a good new album is going to change the burnt taste from the mouth.

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Don’t get me started about the live shows. Debut at Blue Frog @#$* got 3 unfollows, 27 dislikes and many blocks after referring friends for the 2011 gig.

Later Rolling Stone India echoed what hundreds of fans cried out across India-“What the hell happened to Avial”. A reality check guys, it’s high time it happened. May be someone will make a mockumentary called Avial Paruvam or This was Avial. The MAD fest in Ooty was so limp that the snores around was the only thing that stopped me from sleeping. There was still a fleeting hope when the Casino show was announced. I thought this would be the right stuff to get back to feet. Hope crowded ardent supporters.

Half of Kochi turned up maybe a quarter managed to squeeze in, 3 generations of Avial fans waited patiently for 2 hours for you to just show your face.

Without proper sound checks about ¾ of the hour that you guys graced us (that heavy sarcasm in case you didn’t get it) all we could hear was just the mikes spiking. The quarter we heard you guys were simply not enough, not even an encore.

Wake up guys!! drop everything that you are doing, want our beloved Avial back, know that you guys took close to 4years for your first album, come 2013, hope we get to hear the next.

Your most loyal, more patient than the waiting in the queue Bevco user, fan.

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music and culture

Tracking music roots In our sundry music culture, there are a few artistes who are yet to come to the limelight despite having amazing talent in classical music and traditional arts. FWD Life is on a musical journey in the capital city to trace some of them Text K.R. REJEESH Photos VARIOUS SOURCES

Albeit umpteen posts are vacant in music colleges, nobody has been appointed in the vocal department by the changing governments since 1989

A

t the outset, our true feeling was a kind of veneration to the famous house that had witnessed the upbringing of musicians M.G. Radhakrishnan, Dr K. Omanakutty teacher and M.G. Sreekumar. Moreover, the house brags the distinction of having hosted a number of music legends and singers. While waiting outside the house, our intentions were very clear that we want to meet another music genius in the family this time. He was just back from college after the usual hectic teaching

hours, but he greeted us with zest and sat down for a chat without taking a break.

A professor in Swathi Thirunal College of Music, Thiruvananthapuram, Carnatic vocalist Alappuzha Sreekumar is the son-in-law of Carnatic music legend Dr K. Omanakutty. He began the conversation by talking about his childhood days. Born to Sankarankutty Nair and Saraswathy Amma at Thiruvambadi in Alappuzha, Sreekumar was the seventh child of their eight children. In his own words, since his childhood, he had given more importance to music than studies. He started learning music at the age of five. “My second brother Nandakumar encouraged me to learn music. He would register my name in all competitions without my knowledge. And I came first everywhere,” Sreekumar recalls.

Realizing his talent, Haridas, a Sai Baba devotee and harmonist in Alappuzha, taught him the basics of Carnatic music. “He was my first guru. Then he took me to Kaithavana Ravi, a flutist. He was a dedicated teacher. He came home and taught me. Later, I learned music under violinist Kalavur Mahadevan.

It was a coincidence that initially I was taught mostly by percussionists,” says Sreekumar.

Arangetram At the age of 12, Sreekumar had his arangetram in a temple at Alappuzha. After completing SSLC, he joined in Swathi Thirunal College of Music.

“Famous violinist Chalakkudi Narayanaswamy was the principal then. After listening to my singing, I 18

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was offered admission to the second-year class, but the government rule didn’t allow them to do it. So I joined first-year class,” he says. “When I joined, there was a group of music stalwarts as teachers including Kumara Kerala Varma and Neyyattinkara Vasudevan,” Sreekumar reminisces.

Moreover, Sreekumar wistfully remembers the four-year gurukula education under Neyyattinkara Vasudevan who actually taught him music only once during that period. “One day, suddenly he told me to sit for the class that lasted from 6 pm to 12 am.

I was fortunate that he used to take me to all his concerts,” says Sreekumar.

An ardent lover of Hindustani music, his favourite singers are K.V. Narayanaswamy, Semmankudi, D.K. Pattammal, T.N. Seshagopalan, Dr K. Omanakutty teacher among others.

Commenting on reality shows, he says, “Reality shows help new singers come to the limelight.

“But more importantly, singers should not become complacent after these shows. They must strive for perfection with their hard work.”

Music colleges Sreekumar feels that music institutions may be shut in future as changing governments always give a short shrift to the long-pending demands by music colleges. “Earlier music was part of the curriculum in schools like drill and crafts. Now there will be a music teacher in an area who will travel to other schools in the nearby areas to teach music. After my appointment in 1989, no governments have appointed anyone in the vocal department yet umpteen posts are vacant in music colleges,” says

Sreekumar. “Guest lecturers, who are normally novice in the field, teach whatever they learn from their gurus. So it’s the experience of teachers that the students are deprived of.”

Sreekumar never feels that there is a decline in the number of discerning audience for music concerts.

“Of course, everyone is busy and has no time. But if the concert is good, people will like it. There is no dearth of audience for good music,” says Sreekumar. As a musician, mostly, he likes melodious ragas. Kalyanai, Hindolam, Kapi, Panthuvarali and desh are some of his favourite ragas. This softspoken musician’s wife Kamala Lakshmi is a veena artist and two children, Hari Shankar and Ravi Shankar, are the next music prodigies from the family. As a kid, Hari Shankar had sung along with M.G. Sreekumar on stage shows.

Film music Sreekumar likes to listen to the songs of Devarajan, Baburaj and Raghavan. He also likes to compose music for films. However, he has a different view on the present system of judging an award. “When a singer is selected for award for a particular song, the music composer of the song also must be honoured because it’s the music director who creates the structure of the song and makes it apt for the singer,” he opines.

Sreekumar cites the songs of M.G. Radhakrishnan and Devarajan as examples to emphasise his point.

A strong base in classical music is indispensable for budding singers, he feels and adds that knowledge in classical music will help them get an exposure to the music world.

Raconteur takes a bow

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part from being an orator, he can write stories and compose songs.

But how he can perform diligently all these together on stage? This thought guided Adv. Thalayil S. Kesavan Nair to take up Villadichan Paattu as the confluence of his creative endeavours. He mastered this art form from his friend Chitharal Balan Pillai during the 1960’s. Balan Pillai was a DySP in the Kerala police and it was Balan Pillai who modernized Villadichan Paattu for the troupe in the police department. “I try to popularize Villadichan Paattu, which is more or less a temple art in Travancore. I have com-

pleted over 3,000 stages, including in Mumbai and Bengaluru. Recently, I performed in Mumbai at a programme organized under the aegis of the Mumbai University,” says Kesavan Nair.

“Kathaprasangam and Harikatha might have been originated from Villadichan Paattu,” says this lawyer who is a native of Neyyattinkara in Thiruvananthapuram district. He has presented over 22 stories on stage so far.

Art of storytelling Villadichan Paattu (Vilpaattu) literally means a song sung to the strumming of the villu (a big bow with a

A lawyer by profession, 83-year-old Thayil S. Kesavan Nair is one of the few exponents of Villadichan Paattu, the ancient art of storytelling using the ‘villu’ (bow), in Kerala.

He completes 50 years in this field 2012 AUGUST

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the bow using veesukols and the performance will be in accordance with the rhythm,” he says. The lead player will be sitting in the middle part where the bow is placed. Tabla will be placed on the left side of the bow and on the right side, there will be ghatam. “Tunes are so important. Songs are semiclassical and it will have a connection with folklore songs (Naadan Paattu),” he says, adding: “During the gotra civilization, the king of the gotra was elected from among those who were having more number of leopard skins. So, to commemorate their custom, we’ve also adopted the model of leopard skin and the attire of gotras in our performances.”

Journey

The repertoires of Villadichan Paattu are mainly taken from mythology and history

Mridangam vidwan Palakkad C.S. Krishnamoorthy talks about his music journey 20

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chord tied tightly across). There are numerous versions of the origins of Villadichan Paattu. According to Kesavan Nair, one of the versions is related to the tribal people. “At the end of a day’s hunt, tribal people strung their bows and played on it, accompanied by singing till the women in the hut get the food ready,” he says.

The bow is around seven to eight feet in length with a chord tied tightly across. A few bells are suspended on the chord. The stretched chord is struck with two strikers (Veesukol) that also have jingles fixed on them. These veesukols are used symbolically for arrows. A jingling sound is produced when the bow is struck by the lead player that adds to the rhythmic rhapsody of the performance. A troupe usually consists of five members and sometimes, there will be seven people for the performance.

Normally, the lead performer is assisted by another singer.

The main musical instruments are harmonium, tabla, organ and a pot that closely resembles the ghatam. The player drums on the pot using fanshaped strikers made of palm fronds.

The repertoires of Villadichan Paattu are mainly taken from mythology and history. “Earlier, the bow was placed on a ghatam (pot). Now we place it on the platform itself. A player will strike on

Veluthambi Dalava was his first story for a Villadichan Paattu performance. The story of Swadeshabhimani K. Ramakrishna Pillai had the most number of performances by him.

Dwindling in the number of audience for this art is one of the major concerns. Villadichan Paattu has undergone various changes in terms of presentation and more significantly, the settings to survive the test of the time. “Reference to the current social issues help audience easily relates the story and makes it interesting,” adds this octogenarian. To get a visual appeal, now the performers have started using different lighting patterns on stage.

As he celebrates his golden jubilee in this field, Kesavan Nair cherishes an appreciation from freedom fighter Mannathu Padmanabhan, who came to the stage and garlanded him in the middle of the programme during the 50th anniversary of NSS at Parvathy Nagar, Pandalam in 1964.

Honours Kerala Sahitya Akademi conferred Gurupuja honour on Kesavan Nair in 2008. Other felicitations include Kerala Folklore Akademi Fellowship, Thikkurisi Foundation Award and Soorya’s Gurupuja honour.

Even in his autumn days, this lawyer-cum- artiste is busy writing stories, penning and composing songs with his active seven-member team.

Archetype notes and beats

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chool students who visit mridangam vidwan Prof. Palakkad C.S. Krishnamoorthy have a sole aim. They want to learn from him some ‘capsule’ lessons in a jiffy for the ensuing youth festival competition.

For dough-eyed artists, it’s the favourable season to make hay since parents are ready to splurge on the festival for the success of their wards. But this mridangam maestro would gently send them back by saying: “Learn it for the sake of art.” The

septuagenarian believes in perfect learning without compromising the traditional values of the art. He is still active in his efforts to impart the real essence of classical tradition to the next generation.

Palakkad C.S. Krishnamoorthy was born in 1937. He began learning mridangam at the age of five. When he was eight years old, he started accompanying concerts under the supervision of his father Chathapuram Subbayyar, who was the guru of Palakkad Mani Swamy. In 1959, he learned under well-known mridangam virtuoso Palakkad R. Raghu.

His first major programme was at the age of 13 when Krishnamoorthy got an opportunity to play mridangam at the concert of Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar at Kollamkode in Palakkad. He had also accompanied the concerts of vocalists such as Nellai Krishnamoorthy, Palakkad Rama Bhagavathar, Parassala B. Ponnammal and violin percussionists Mysore C. Chowdaiah, Erode Viswanatha Iyer, Thiruvalluvar Parthasarathy; veena percussionists K.S. Narayanaswamy, Mysore B. Duraiswamy Ayyangar; flutists Palladam Sanjeevarayar, T.R. Mahalingam; ghatam percussionists Palakkad Mahadevan, Ernakulam Ramakrishnan and Alakkudy Ramachandran et al.

His mentors include his father, Palakkad Mani Swamy, Kalpathy Viswanatha Iyer, Thrissur Appu Iyer and Palakkad R. Raghu.

It was mridangam maestro Mavelikkara Velukutty Nair who brought him to Thiruvananthapuram.

In 1961, he was appointed Assistant Professor in Swathi Thirunal College of Music. Later, he became the principal there. He was the first to become the principal from the mridangam department.

He retired from the college in 1992. Between 2000-02, he was a guest lecturer (music) in Sree Sankara College, Kalady. Later, he was appointed the principal of Chithira Thirunal College of Music, functioning under the aegis of Karthika Thirunal Theatre in Thiruvananthapuram. In 2004, he resigned the job.

Madras) and Bengaluru. According to him, the purpose of music accompaniments (pakkavadhyam) is to encourage the vocalist. “A good support can raise the performance level of the vocalist. It’s not about displaying your versatility as a solo percussionist.”

Sruti The measurement of mridangam varies from 18 inch to 22 inch (‘H’ kattai) and from 23 inch to 24 inch (Thagu kattai). From half kattai to two kattai, it’s thagu sruti and from two-and-a-half to threeand-a-half, thag sruti can be used for accompanying instruments such as violin, veena, flute etc. From four kattai to six kattai, it is called ‘H’ kattai.

Krishnamoorthy gives importance to mathematics in mridangam. His teachings are not based on performance. His famous disciples include Parassala Ravi, Kadanad P.K. Gopi, Trivandrum Balasubramaniam, B. Harikumar and Thrikkakara Y.N. Santharam.

Awards Krishnamoorthy has been a B-High Grade artist in AIR since 1950. He had been conferred with a host of honours which include Sree Chembai Memorial Trust Award in 1991, G.N. Swamy Trust Award and Raghavan Puraskaram in 2012.

His first major programme was at the age of 13 when Krishnamoorthy got an opportunity to play mridangam at the concert of Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar

Concerts “When I came to Thiruvananthapuram, musical concerts had a good number of audiences. In those days, Parassala B. Ponnammal, Kamala Kailasanathan and K.S. Narayanaswamy (flute) were some of the much sought-after musicians,” says Krishnamoorthy. “Earlier, a music concert had a duration of four hours. But now it has become two to two-anda-half hours. Today, it’s also difficult to get genuine connoisseurs of Carnatic music here,” he rues.

He has performed concerts in Chennai (then 2012 AUGUST

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music musicand andculture culture

Rhythm of Jew’s harp

Known as a prominent mukhar shankh percussionist in the Carnatic music, Saji Kumar is an alumnus of Swathi Thirunal College of Music, Thiruvananthapuram

W

hile entering the house of mukhar shankh percussionist Trivandrum S.V. Saji Kumar, one can feel the waft of music that hovers in the air. The facade of ‘Ragamalika’ will give you the impression that the ground floor hosts learners of classical music and the first floor is for percussionists. Known as a prominent mukhar shankh percussionist in the Carnatic music, Saji Kumar has passed Gana Bhushanam, Gaana Praveena (mridangam) from Swathi Thirunal College of Music in Thiruvananthapuram.

“I had an accident in 1992 and I found it difficult for me to perform on mridangam. So I switched over to mukhar shankh,” says Saji Kumar. He learned mukhar shankh from his mentor Madurai T.P. Venkitachalam Iyer. “I approached him after listening to his concert in radio,” says Saji Kumar, adding that there are not many takers for this music instrument as it’s mainly based on breath control and the instrument is a little difficult to hold to the teeth.

jaw harp. It’s also known as mouth conch of Kerala.

The morsing consists of a vibrating ‘tongue’ attached to a metal frame — commonly gun metal.

The musician holds it to the mouth, vibrating the metal tongue and using the mouth as a resonator.

Usually, the player holds the instrument firmly in the left hand, pressing the narrow part of the instrument against the teeth, and uses the right index finger to pluck the metal tongue.

The pitch of the morsing cannot be materially altered. But minor adjustments are made by applying wax to the metal tongue.

“In a concert, the solo performance of mukhar shankh is possible during ‘Thaniyavarthanam’ (the time when the vocalist completes the main ‘keerthanam’ in a concert, each music instruments, except violin, will follow the rhythm separately),” says Saji Kumar. “Earlier it was difficult to get the instrument of the right ‘sruti’ (the relative musical pitch). It’s been available since the last five or six years,” he adds.

The instrument

Legends

Morsing (mukhar shankh) is a tiny instrument which is also known as the Jew’s harp and sometimes the

Saji Kumar has performed at major music festivals including Chembai Sangeetholsavam and Swathy Festival. He has played mukhar shankh in concerts for famous musicians including Parassala B. Ponnammal, Hyderabad Sisters, M.G. Radhakrishnan, Neyyattinkara Vasudevan, Rajkumar Bharathi, P. Unnikrishnan, T.M. Krishna, M. Jayachandran, K.S. Gopalakrishnan (flute), Anandapadmanabhan (Veena) and Govinda Rao, Chennai.

Fusion The formation of a music fusion troupe, ‘Musical Waves of Kerala’, is an innovative concept in which sitar, Carnatic music instruments and music instruments of temples will be played. “In the fusion, sitar is the main instrument. Around 13 music instruments including violin, nadaswaram, thimila, edakka and keyboard will be used,” says Saji Kumar. The troupe performed during the Onam celebrations organized by the KTDC last year.

This veteran percussionist is a B-High Grade artist in AIR and also teaches mridangam to the younger generation. However, as an artist, the immaculate support he gets from his music family — wife Deepa, a vocalist, and children Abhinandana and Abhirami — keeps him going.

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festival

Onam Old tale, new format

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long with happiness, Onam always evokes the sound of nostalgia for Keralites. It’s a get together of families to take a trip down memory lane about the golden days when King Mahabali ruled Kerala. According to mythology, Onam is celebrated to welcome Mahabali who visits his people and country every year. The 10-day festivities during Onam include Pookkalam (floral carpet), Onasadya (grand feast meal), Onakkody (new dress), swing, Puli Kali , Kaikottikkali etc.

Thumpithullal, rustic song and dance performance by women is a unique part of Onam festival.

The zest of Onam reaches its zenith during the Thiruvonam day. During Onam, there will be new

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liveliness even in Nature. Pookkalam is the usual scene in the courtyard of all houses. Children wake up early in the morning to fetch flowers for laying Athapookkalam and elders will engage in preparing delicious Onasadya. Sometimes they also join with the children to lay Pookkalam.

The Onam flowers that are mostly used are called Thumba poovu (Lucas Aspera), Mookuti (little tree plant), and the different varieties of the Chemparathy (Chinese shoe flower). The crimson coloured, frail thread line chethi poo or Ixora is also popularly used during Onam.

Onasadya The highlight of Onam celebration has been that

the entire family comprising of grandparents, parents, extended family members and children sit down together to eat the delicious feast known as Onasadya.

The grand feast is a 9 course meal. The traditional Onasadya comprises of 26 items that are served on a plantain leaf. Main dishes for Onasadya include four types of pickles (ginger, lemon, mango and gooseberry or nellikka), ghee, parippu (dhal), upperi, banana chips, white rice, pachadi, kichadi, koottukari, olan, kalan, thoran, erissery, ginger curd, sambar, avail, moru, pradaman, palppayasam, banana, rasam and pappadam etc.

Onam today Like many other festivals, Onam has become a sponsored affair. There are considerable changes in the manner this festival is celebrated. Television channels and floundering arts & sports clubs steal the lion’s share of our celebrations. These days the discussion is not about Naadan Panthukali but about the movies that will be telecast on TV channels during Onam. No wonder this happens in a consumer state where even the fate of Onasadya depends on neighbour states. So at least during Onam days, we can keep quiet on other inter-state issues.

Pookkalam, the staple of Thiruvonam, is a roadside affair now with only a few cares to lay Pookkalams in the courtyard of their houses. Nonavailability of flowers and lack of time are the most heard reasons for this. In the name of different organizations there will be roadside Pookkalams, and most of them will have a kolam (a design) with coloured salt. It’s also the time we make a beeline to flower shops. Like anything, flowers also come from other states. We have to cross the border for flowers during Onam! Thovala, a place near Nagercoil in Tamil Nadu, is synonymous with flowers and Onam is the best time for the farmers there to make hay. It’s a ‘hot’ destination for many people including various clubs from South Kerala during this season. Unregistered clubs suddenly pop up from nowhere this festival time and badger people for money in the name of Onam celebrations. It’s also a burden for travelers whose vehicles will be pulled over for ‘contributions’. After all, it’s new age Onam and what remains in our hearts is the nostalgic feelings of Thiruvonam.

Rangoli Restaurant, Woodlands Hotel, Woodland Junction, M G Road, Ernakulam

On record: As we know, this year too, we eagerly wait to see how much liquor will be sold through the government beverage shops. Pray for another record!

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festival

Ramadan

kareem Text JAMIA ZAHEER Photos FAAZ PHOTOGRAPHY

Ramzaan is a month of not just being spiritually disciplined but a month that also gives us an opportunity to be closer to family and home

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R

amadan – The holy month where Muslims all around the world observe fast from dawn to dusk for an entire month.

One of the most beautiful things I have noticed during the time of Ramadan is the spirit in which the world joins in for ‘Ifthar’ (the evening meal when Muslims break their fast). Ifthar is always a meal that is prepared with a lot of love

and happiness and with the true spirit of sharing. To most of us, this is a month of not just being spiritually disciplined but a month that also gives us an opportunity to be closer to family and home. Although I’ve been around in various cities during the time of Ramadan, the one place that’s very close to me, where I feel that Ramadan is always celebrated in its full glory is Malabar.

Well, now we all know how famous Malabar is for its cuisine. One of the first things people always ask me when they find out I’m from Malabar is – “Hey, so do you know to make Kozhikode biryani?” and for some weird reasons this question always brings a smile on to my face. Well, my answer obviously has always been a‘Yes’ and with that I get an instant recognition for being a great cook. Ya – like that easily! Whatever it may be — I have always been someone who takes great pride in calling Kozhikode and the Malabari cuisine my own. Well you see, for us it’s not the great food that matters.

What actually we enjoy is the whole build up or this whole unexplainable excitement that goes in to cooking that awesome dish. I know this simply because I grew up seeing the whole ‘behind the scene action’ in the kitchen before that awesome dish gets on to the table.

Ramdan, especially ‘Ifthar’ meals are always a feast. It’s usually a four course meal which is eaten at different times after Ifthar. There is an ‘Ifthar’

meal which usually consists of a tray of dry fruits and nuts, three to four snack items, fresh juices, your regular tea or coffee and the traditional RavaKanji. Then for dinner after the ‘Tharavi’ prayers the traditional ‘pathiri’, a rice item, and other non-vegetarian gravy are served. After this, around midnight or sometimes after midnight and before the morning prayers is the next meal -‘sehari’ which usually consists of rice, fruits, dry fruits, tea or coffee. Well, don’t look surprised. I did give you a heads up on Ramadan being a time of proper feasting along with fasting. Well, if you ever come across someone from the Malabar side and ask them “Doesn’t all this cooking and eating get a bit tiring, especially because of fasting.” I promise you, most of them have no idea what you are talking about. Like I said before, preparing a meal and making sure that their family and friends have a sound and happy meal that will give them the strength to pull through a holy day of fasting is more important than all the work that goes into it.

It’s not the great food that matters but also the whole build up or this whole unexplainable excitement that goes in to cooking that awesome dish

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lounge

Let’s start party

S

Text JAMIA ZAHEER Photo JINSON ABRAHAM

o when was the last time you heard about a DJ who recites Hanuman Chalisa before every gig or visits temples every Saturday before his big party night? Well, meet DJ Sekhar.

I would call him Cochin’s most adored DJ. Anyone who knows him only has one thing to say – ‘Sekhar is awesome’ — well, I'd say that this cheerful, happy go lucky and talkative DJ is that and much more.

The first thing that strikes you aboutSekhar is that he is very sorted about almost every single thing in his life, and why wouldn’t he be – Our man started DJ’in while he was just 16. “My first party was a bachelor’s party and it was a disaster. People even came and told me not to play music anymore. But I never gave up, instead I made up my mind that this is what I want to do for a living.” From then there was no stopping. At a time when not many people knew about DJ’ing and popular club tracks, Sekhar turned to Internet and a few DJ’s from Bengaluru to get him trained.

“I used to play the regular Hip-Hop, Techno, Boy Bands and other commercial music that used to be regular on TV. "It was after I started listening to what a lot of renowned DJ’s from outside Kochi were playing, I learned about a whole new genre of music. Slowly, I figured how it was all done and developed my own style.” This self-taught DJ first started playing at Formula 1 bar where he fondly recalls his beginning stages by just playing from music tapes which gradually moved to CD’s. Out of curiosity, I asked him how he figured out the whole mixing and queuing of tracks. Sekhar just gave me a straight face and replied: “Pause and start. Pause the track I was playing and play the next one.

Simple.” ROLF. “ What I loved was the playing music and that mattered to me than all the other perks of being a DJ. So I made it a point that I disciplined

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myself, because end of the day what I wanted to be known as was a DJ, who knows how to get a party started rather than a DJ who knows how to party.”

In 2000, what started off at Formula 1 soon moved to Thandav, Longevity, Dreams to a whole lot of most happening private parties and then to Chennai’s Lounge to Bengaluru. To sum it all up — There are hardly any clubs in the country where Kochi’s own DJ Sekhar hasn’t played.

Currently, Sekhar has a lot of things going on. He is the resident DJ of Dreams Cochin. Apart from that, Sekhar is also working on an album with DJ Nash and Shree Shanker together called ‘Merchants of Groove’ which is scheduled to release by the end of this year.

Next one is definitely the icing on the cake. I wish I was the first one to break this news. But unfortunately 'No'. It’s not a secret anymore. Sekhar has bagged the lead role in Mollywood's new hitmaker Ashiq Abu’s next flick, ‘Da Thadiya.’ “I have no idea how that happened. One day Ashiq chettan called me up and said he wanted to cast me in the lead character in his new movie. I joked that it’s not yet 1st of April. Later when I met him, I listened to the story. I loved it and that’s how it happened," says Sekhar. "And mind you, this is just going to be a one-off thing.” Well, I would say don’t take the last bit of Sekhar’s take on acting seriously because I am definitely not believing that one.

There is much more about this charmingly talkative DJ. To sum it all up, mmmm, what should I say? We have all heard the saying, “Listen to your head, follow your heart and rest everything else will fall in to place.”

Well, that’s DJ Sekhar for you. A true inspiration to everyone who talks about living their dreams.

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people

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At a time when success was measured by whether you were a doctor or an engineer, it was completely unheard of for a guy to have aspirations of becoming a fashion designer.But, Vivek Karunakaran adamantly pursued his dream and got into NIFT

Versatile Virtuoso Text TINA GEORGE Photos SREERAG VINOD

A fashion school gives you a foundation that serves as a platform to achieve greater heights.

What you build on that foundation, be it a singlestorey or a ten-storied building, is completely up to you

V

ivek Karunakaran has created ripples in the fashion industry with his simple yet exotic Kalamkari Collection showcased at the Lakme Fashion Week in Cochin. He talks to Fwd Life about his growth from infancy to maturity in an industry where big breaks are hard to come by…

Did your schooling in Loyola, Trivandrum, nurture your creativity?

Loyola is a fabulous school that supports and nurtures creative talent. Inter-house competitions in school and youth festivals are great launching pads for creative talent. It was during my PreDegree that I decided to do something creative, although, I wasn’t very sure if it was going to be architecture or fashion.

What was it like growing up in Kerala, with a creative mind that craved exposure?

Trivandrum hasn’t changed much over the last 20 years. If at all there’s been a little change in trends and outlook, it has happened over the last three years, with people becoming more aware of aspects of metro life.

Each person’s growth depends on personal aspirations, but opportunity has to present itself.

Why do Keralites do extremely well

outside Kerala?

The state has immense potential, but it’s not been converted into opportunities that are right for the people.

My dad was an engineer at ISRO and mom was a teacher. At a time when success was measured by whether you were a doctor or an engineer, it was completely unheard of for a guy to have aspirations of becoming a fashion designer.

My dad had hopes of me being an engineer, so convincing my parents was a tough task. But, I adamantly pursued my dream and got into NIFT.

How has NIFT helped in fine-tuning your creativity and giving you exposure?

A fashion school gives you a foundation that serves as a platform to achieve greater heights.

What you build on that foundation, be it a singlestorey or a ten-storied building, is completely up to you.After my graduation at NIFT, I was picked up by a design house based in Chennai, where I designed and labeled for numerous European brands.

I joined them as a junior designer and in a span of two years I was promoted to senior designer, and then to creative designer.

This was the largest building block in my career, as it was a fabulous learning experience that gave me opportunity and exposure.

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people

I created my entire What’s the story behind your own collection with a meagre label?

I decided to go ahead with a Masters degree in Rs 20,000 borrowed fashion from the Domus Fashion Academy in Milan. from a friend. My house A month before I left, the organisers of the Lakme Fashion Week asked me to send in an application was filled with thread, for the Fashion Week, as they liked my work at an fabric, paper and patterns earlier showing. I complied and I soon received a saying I was chosen as a ‘Gen Next’ designer – it was crazy, but one of mail for the Fashion Week. the most thrilling This was Catch 22 for me. On one side I had Milan experiences in my life! calling, on the other, a huge opportunity to create

a name for myself in the fashion industry. I believe fortune favours the brave, so I chose to face the challenge of the Fashion Week.

I created my entire collection with a meagre Rs 20,000 borrowed from a friend. My house was filled with thread, fabric, paper and patterns – it was crazy, but one of the most thrilling experiences in my life!

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How did come up with designing the Kalamkari line?

It started off with an inspiration, which led to an ode to Kalamkari. I lived with craftsmen, developed fabrics, and it’s heartbreaking to realise that the hand-woven textile industry is dying a slow death.

My collection is a small step to help these artisans get more business. It’s a collection of Kalamkari as you have never seen before – overdying, inclusion of metal strips, two different prints together and a lot more.

Have you developed a signature style to call your own?

My style is still evolving, but there’s something about my designs that people have started associating with a Vivek Karunakaran label.

I experiment a lot with texture details on fabric and 80 per cent of what we do is contemporary western. I hope to launch a contemporary Indian line too!

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performers @ jtpac

Laugh a riot Text UTSAV AGARWAL Photos JINSON ABRAHAM

This event has all the potential to turn into an epic monthly stress buster

Praveen Kumar

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C

harlie Chaplin once said, ‘A day without laughter is a day wasted.’ By that logic, I had the most productive day on July 7th, 2012 at JT Pac. The special venue hosted arguably Kerala’s first Stand-up comedy event, and got some of the nation’s finest talents to perform in the heart of Cochin. The line-up had Aditi Mittal, Kunal Rao, Praveen Kumar and Brij Bhakta. Yeah, these are not household names like Mohanlal, Amitabh Bachchan or Sherlyn Chopra, but they definitely know how to tickle your funny bones.

Praveen Kumar, not the cricketer, opened the show just like his counterpart does for Team India.

Being a Tamilian himself, he started off with a few jokes on Rajinikanth & South Indian’s healthy obsession with idlis & dosas. His humour was subtle, and his trademark joke — “Before marriage, I asked my wife if she derived pleasure from little things in life?

She said yes and now she’s not complaining!” — had the crowd in splits.

Next came Kunal Rao. I’ve personally seen this guy perform at Comedy Store in Mumbai, where he did a great job on opening the show for two international comics. This time though, there was something lacking. He opened his set a little different from usual, customizing it especially for Kerala audience. Quickly realizing that he is getting the ‘si-

Kunal Rao

Brij Bhakta

lent treatment’ (and there’s nothing more dreadful for a comic than an unresponsive silent audience), he switched over to his standard set of mocking CA’s, lawyers & Bollywood. Average set overall, but I definitely wouldn’t count this guy out from coming back and winning Kerala’s heart.

Brij Bhakta, an ABCD (American Born Confused Desi) hogged the stage next. He made fun of his American accent, his upbringing that was torn between Indian conservative values and American liberal ways and concept of arranged marriage.

Right from the beginning, he struck a chord with the audience and belted out story after story on his life grown up in America among super conservative parents. His analogy of arranged marriage with real estate business had people laughing their guts out.

Last, but not the least, was Aditi Mittal. Carrying on with the energy of the pervious comedian, she launched into a full fledge diatribe on the ghosts in Indian movies and serials. After some rolling laughter for the ghosts, she moved on to the perils of the non feminine female, especially during that particular time of the month.

Overall, the show was a massive success!

Everyone loves a good laugh, especially after a stressful week; and this event has all the potential to turn into an epic monthly stress buster.

Aditi Mittal

Business rendezvous

Family affair

fun with

Friends Impeccable hospitality | Excellent ambience | Best-in-class services Holiday Inn Cochin, a perfect meeting place for everyday people.

For more details please contact Tel: 8129804467 | 8129804468 E-mail: sales@holidayinncochin.com 33 / 1739 A, Chakkaraparambu Junction, Vennala, Cochin-682028 T: +91 484 4199000, +91 484 3319000 | F: +91 484 4199111 | www.holidayinn.com

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In focus

A shot for

encore Vivacious television anchor Poojitha Menon, who forays into Mollywood, opens up about her dreams and experience in her maiden film Text K.R. REJEESH Photo ARSHAL PHOTOGRAPHY

I

t’s sort of getting a promotion to the big league for many television artistes when they make their debut on silver screen. Obviously, their popularity as a TV personality among audiences puts them in a comfortable zone in the tinsel world. Yes, we are talking about yet another TV personality who makes her debut in films. It’s somewhat small screen’s loss and silver screen’s gain as popular anchor Poojitha Menon makes her debut in debutant director Gireesh’s “Neeko Njaacha,” a story about three friends.

She portrays the character of an anchor in the film. Poojitha became a household name with her chat shows like Valentine’s Corner on television.

Later we saw her at the cricket stadium during the Celebrity Cricket League (CCL) too.

Talking about her debut on big screen, Poojitha said, “I had done a couple of ads earlier.

Director Gireesh sir watched it and approached me. We had an acting workshop before the shoot and the director made us comfortable to portray the characters in the film. My character is Ann Mathew, an anchor. It was a good experience,” adds Poojitha, who wishes to take up more challenging roles in films.

So, has anchoring taken a backseat? “No, it’s always my passion. I hope I can get along with both professions,” she says.

Poojitha feels that youngsters can relate to the story in the film and it will be a trendsetter in Mollywood. “It’s a new generation movie in terms of its making, treatment and casting. The actors in the movie were selected through audition,” she adds.

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Poojitha became a television anchor during her college days. According to her, one of the qualities needed for an anchor is confidence. “You have to be friendly and need to have good communication skills. More importantly, you need to be yourself,” she opines. Ask Poojitha who’s her favourite anchor? Pat comes the reply, “I like anchor Shreya of SS Music channel.”

Meanwhile, don’t think showbiz is her sole vocation. Poojitha dons the role of an entrepreneur in real life.

Listen to her words: “I’ve my own fashion outlet, Zoriya, in Kochi. I started it one-and-a-half year ago.

We are primarily concentrating on Western casuals.”

An ardent cinephile, this beautiful damsel’s all-time favourite actors are Mohanlal and Manju Warrier.

Also she likes actors Fahad Fazil and Nithya Menon.

The shooting of the movie was held in Goa and Kochi. Produced by M.T. Aneesh and Sandeep Senan under the banner of Urvasi Theatres, “Neeko Njaacha,” has music by Prasanth Pillai.

Debutant Neil cranks the camera.

The ensemble cast included Rohini Idicula, Sija Rose, Sunny Wayne, Shani and Parvathy Nair. The film is slated for a September release.

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Lime green green enamelled and amethyst ring

M.O.D Signature Jewellery ,Pala

For more details contact info@modsignature.com or visit www.modsignature.com 2012 AUGUST

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Blog Roll

Story Time How many people can actually tell a story well to another person?

L Anjali Menon "I have yet to figure why anyone would be interested in what I have to blog, so this is an experiment dedicated to friends of mine who seem to think otherwise!"

et's say my narrative skills are limited – I never quite manage to present fully the wonderful story in my head through narration – reading my script is ALWAYS better.

But in this world of “one-lines” and people who refuse to read —“narration” is an inevitable task. One is expected to turn into a performer and conjure images and emotions before the listener/ audience through simply telling a story.

Some folks I know have raised this to the level of an art form and can leave the listener spellbound!

What talent… but beware that their films may not always turn out to have a similar effect - oops!

I finally classified the listeners into three types: 1. The Creatives – a producer/director/ actor / technician (the easiest to connect to!)

2. The Financier (no need to connect here – their questions are much more about RoI – Return On Investment) 3. The Financier Who Believes He is Creative ( heaven help them – this category is an entirely distinct specimen. In his/her universe, the planets revolve around them.)

I will never forget one hateful narration experience when a person (of the third category) wanted to listen to a scene by scene version of my script.

I agreed and the narration begins in a coffee shop one morning and goes on for a few hours.

For a script that was being shot 12 days later, juvenile questions/suggestions are thrown at me.

I hold onto grace as I point out to the answers in

the bound script (which he of course hasn’t read).

Though I am the narrator, I listen patiently while this gentleman interrupts to order egg sandwiches with elaborate instructions (what kind of bread, brown or white, how hardboiled, how many eggs, toasted, buttered on one side only etc.), shares facts about his new-age diet, admires his own dandy black & white shoes to the point of distraction and of course answers the intermittent mobile phone calls from home and office. To further prove some sort of attention deficit disorder- after every few scenes, on his insistence, we would move seats from the coffee shop to the lounge… to the lobby (!) … to the outdoor seating (!!) and back to lobby (!!!) of the same hotel.

After the narration I went back to my room and threw up.

In retrospect, there is an important realisation there.

A narration provides the listener with the opportunity to learn about the film and its maker, but it also provides us with an opportunity to learn about the listener. Anyone who can’t find the focus or the respect for a few hours of narration is never going to find the commitment or respect the hundreds of hours I will spend making this film. So it’s a clear look into the future of such a partnership. Now if it doesn’t feel right, I save myself the trouble and leave it right there. Thanks, but NO thanks.

And for everyone who is trying to describe their dream to someone — here’s a bit of luck from me!

"You don't write because you want to say something, you write because you've got something to say" -F. Scott Fitzgerald

Are You The One Who Has Something To Say..???

Hold on till SEP 1….Its Worth a Wait!!!

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special feature

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Cute & Chic

Satin dress which is enhanced by a pleated shrug. The shrug is made of blended cotton with zari border

Ethnic Revival A melange of ethnic culture of the Indian heritage and contemporary sensibilities for a futuristic global trend starter.

Photographed by Subhash Maheswar Fashion by Rasna, Ola Boutique Hair & Make-up by Jijeesh

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Royal Touch

A textured offwhite dress with golden colour running stitches to accentuate the princess line.

Panelling technique is used to create the brocade jacket with fullness at low waist level.

Fastening of the jacket is done by the chinese frog, border is enhanced by zari.

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Stylish Semi Formal Diva

Blended cotton striped Jacket with pockets.

Off shoulder self printed cotton top. Double sided pleated textured skirt having waist band ornamented with thread work.

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Fun & Casual

A halterneck dress, made of tissue with paisley woven skirt portion.

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Teddy Girl

Knee length suede dress with waist band and additional fringed layer. Waist band is ornamented with thread work.

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Retrospective

Quilted jute dress with striped translucent overcoat with zari border.

The dress has a second layer which is made of hakoba.

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Extravaganza

Knee Length tiered dress made out of cotton silk which is clutched with a textured blended cotton jacket.

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Enter the Era of Elegance

Textured cotton dress with yoke till empire line and extra wide stand collar.

Model Shamna Photographer

SUBHASH MAHESWAR Stylist RASNA SUBHASH

OLA BOUTIQUE, KAKKANAD Hair & Make-up JIJEESH Assistant Stylist MABLE Assistant Photographers

BETTIN, AJMAL, SIJESH

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science

GOD'S 'HIGGS BOSON' Higgs Boson may not make any sense to a layman, but for science it may be a leap of a lifetime. Higgs Boson opens a world of possibilities for the scientific community. CERN though doesn’t make high claims on the implications of the discovery Text Resmi Jaimon

Higgs Boson theory was a matter of debate before this daring discovery; many great physicists disapproved the theory and the presence of this elementary particle

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G

OD PARTICLE”, the name arose curiosity and interest across the world. The name was given by physicist Leon Ledermanto to ‘HIGGS BOSON’ particle.

Unlike its sisters and brothers, the other particles of Standard Particle theory of Physics, Higg Boson evaded discovery for long.

It took a mammoth-sized proton collider and a herculean effort by human faces of European Centre for Nuclear Research (CERN) to find out the invisible particle. Twenty-seven km long underground tunnels, protons running at approximately the speed of light, Large Hadron Collider at CERN, Geneva, Switzerland, sounds more like a still from a Sci-fi Movie.

Higgs Boson may not make any sense to a layman, but for science it may be a leap of a lifetime.

Higgs Boson opens a world of possibilities for the scientific community. CERN though doesn’t make high claims on the implications of the discovery, it is sure to plug holes in the physics theories and get us a better understanding of the world around.

Apart from the long list of Indian scientists working on the project, Higgs Boson has a big Indian connection. Higgs Boson theory takes its roots from the works of legendary Indian Scientist Satyendranath Bose and Albert Einstein, the duo who first theorised the presence of the particle in the 1920’s.

Higgs Boson are elementary particles which impart the property of mass to matter. Thank Higgs Boson, otherwise without mass and weight we would have never existed. Discovery of Higgs Boson is believed would find the explanation to gravity, dark energy and dark matter. It is also considered

that it would help us understand The Big Bang theory better, and find an explanation to how fragments of Big Bang acquired mass.

Protons were accelerated to around the speed of light and collided with each other at high energies.

The particles generated from the collision exist for a fraction of second and then disintegrates, hence it was a difficult task to find Higgs Boson and validate its presence.

Curiosity to the ordinary people, a scientific discovery to physicists and ultimately the god particle will inspire science fiction. Let us hope the discovery doesn’t end here and, we get to see human teleportation, anti-gravity generator and space travel spring to life in our life span.

Higgs Boson theory was a matter of debate before this daring discovery; many great physicists disapproved the theory and the presence of this elementary particle. Many bets were placed between scientists on Higgs Boson and the rest is history now.

As per varied reports, the project may not give direct benefits to the layman, but they have an indirect contribution for the betterment of the society. For instance, World Wide Web was created for physicist in CERN to exchange data. Since then Internet has come a long way, transforming the communication channel and businesses across the globe, apart from numerous other benefits including financial gain. In other words, let’s believe the Higgs Boson will eventually lead the scientists to gain better understanding of the universe and the laymen too will experience joy, probably from the now-hidden technology!

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profile

Switching over

to growth As a marketing professional, Jothish Kumar is an inspiration to young entrepreneurs. Through the training institute, JK Human Development System, he shares his experience and knowledge for a better posterity

Born in Trivandrum, Jothish Kumar has bagged the Best Marketing Engineer Award on the trot in three years and four times Best Branch Manager Award in the country from 1995-99

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W

ho is a good marketer? Ask this question to Jothish Kumar, Senior Vice President – Marketing, Havells India Limited. Here comes the reply, “Every individual in their own way. If we utilize it in a positive way, he will be a good marketer.” This is not a mere statement but he has proved it over the years. So no wonder when we realize that he was the key man in the growth of Havells group from 200 crore to 6,500 crore in just 10 years and also made it as the most sought-after brand in the country. He is probably the youngest in the industry wherein he has assumed posts like Branch Manager, DGM, General Manager and Vice President-Marketing. According to him, there are so many definitions on sales but the simplest one is this: “Sales is the process which helps in achieving the customers’ goal.”

Trivandrum-born Jothishkumar graduated in Mechanical Engineering and completed PGDBA from Xavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship, Bangalore. He started his career in MDS Switchgear Limited as Sales Engineer in 1988 and today he is one among the leading and highly paid marketing professionals in the country. During his professional career, he bagged the Best Marketing Engineer Award on the trot in three years and four times Best Branch Manager Award in the country from 1995-99.

He is also in-charge of Middle East, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Srilankan operations.

Training is one of his passions and he started the organization JK Human Development Systems, under which he has done several programmes for industries, banks, and management institutes

etc. He is also the author of the famous book “Ask Why…Think Why not?”

Jothish Kumar joined Havells in 2001. “This year we are planning around 10,000 crore. It’s a consistent effort as far as business is concerned. A business will progress only when an external pressure is applied. We are always into the uncomfortable zone to perform well,” he cites it as one of the secrets of Havell’s success.

Company Havells India Limited is a $1.3 Billion leading fast moving electrical goods company and a major power distribution equipment manufacturer with a strong global footprint. Its products range from building circuit protection, industrial and domestic switchgear, cables and wires, Fans, CFLs and luminaries etc.

In 2007, Havells acquired world renowned lighting company Sylvania for Rs 1,400 crore. Today, Havells owns some of the most prestigious global brands like Havells, Crabtree, Sylvania, Concord, Luminance and Standard. Its global network constitutes of 7,000 professionals across 91 branches and representative offices in over 50 countries. Some of the ‘Firsts’ from Havells include launching of India’s 1st HPF CFL in 2009 and the setting up of India’s first new generation CMH lamp plant at Neemrana in Rajasthan in 2010.

Strategy

Commenting on the company’s strategy, Jothish Kumar says: “We treat each and every product in a different line and different strategy. When a new product is decided to be manufactured, lots of

things like infrastructure, working capital, product strategy and promotional policy are interrelated.

Each of these are identified and then worked out on the product.”

“We do conduct research as it is a very important ingredient before the manufacture of a product. We do marketing research as well among our retailers and customers. The basic slogan which we follow when we come up with a new product is that we believe confidence generate competence,” he adds.

Challenges Havells was embracing a challenge when they ventured into the highly competitive fan industry where no company has entered in the last 25 years. “We had the confidence to take up challenges. So we are always on the challenging mode,” says Jothish Kumar.

Jothish attributes the success of the company to the fact that the company understands the psychology of customers. He says that the company

is concentrating on giving additional benefit to the customers. Launching of wires that don’t catch fires was one of such initiatives by the company in 2001. “Every product manufactured by us today is energy efficient. If we look at a customer buying an air conditioner costs him Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000, that can be afforded by the customers but later on when the electricity bill comes it becomes burden.

Thus taking all these into consideration we came up with the energy efficient products on which we charge Rs 5,000 extra but it will be automatically repaid in your electricity bill,” he pointed out.

Talking on quality control measures by the company he says, “Quality control measure is a culture. It runs through a system. If something goes wrong in that system the whole system stops working. Quality is in-built element in our company.”

The company’s future products are based on the ‘go green’ concept and Jothish Kumar succinctly sums up the company’s success like this: “Be genuine.”

Havells was embracing a challenge when they entered the highly competitive fan industry where no company has entered in the last 25 years

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real estate

Highlighting

a passion The concept of HiLITE City, an urban integrated township in Kozhikode, meets all the requirements of modern day life

HiLITE Mall would be the first to introduce some of the premium lifestyle brands like Lifestyle, Spar, Marks & Spencer, Cinepolis and Amoeba in Kerala

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t a time when developmental projects in major cities are in stagnation mode, tier II cities have become higher growth sector for the real estate industry. In Kerala, there is a huge investment in the real estate sector, especially in Kozhikode thanks to the high purchasing capacity of NRIs. A major hub of several real estate players, Kozhikode brags the honour of becoming the second best in the country to reside considering parameters like health, education, environment, safety, public facilities and entertainment.

HiLITE, a reputed builder based in the city, has already introduced the concept of community living with its projects HiLITE Metromax and Focus Mall, Kerala’s first shopping mall. HiLITE City, the firm’s latest project is an epitome of how “mixed used development of land”, a concept not so popular in India, has been efficiently implemented. With a massive built-up space of 32,00,000 sq.ft , HiLITE City is an urban integrated township spanning across 16 acres of land at NH Thondayad bypass, Kozhikode.

It is a mix of residential, commercial and retail space

awaiting completion by 2013. The City houses a shopping mall (HiLITE Mall), 400 luxury apartments (HiLITE Residency) and office spaces for commercial enterprises aggregating over 10 lakh sq. ft. of builtup space (HiLITE Business Park) besides a massive car parking facility that can accommodate more than 3,000 cars. According to Vinod Paul, Senior Marketing Manager, HiLITE, the group is also planning to open a mall in Thrissur soon.

“The overwhelming response from the public to be a part of project HiLITE City is viewed as their reaction to the company’s ability in introducing novel concepts and successfully implementing them to suit their demands,” says P. Sulaiman, Chairman and Managing Director of HiLITE Group.

HiLITE Mall As a centre of leisure and everyday living, the mall would be the right blend of retail and entertainment spaces that include 1,20,000 sq ft hypermarket, 50,000 sq ft department store, 35,000 sq ft gaming zone. HiLITE Mall would be the first to introduce some of the premium lifestyle brands like Lifestyle,

Spar, Marks & Spencer, Cinepolis and Amoeba in Kerala.

Major brands like Lee, Nike, Woodland, Louis Philippe, Indigo Nation, Baskin Robbins, Regal Shoes, Van Heusen, Kair, Rawther, Scullers, Manchester United, John Miller, Baby Care, Peter England, Enryca Geneva, Allen Solly, People, Espirit, Wrangler, Levis, Benetton, John Players and the Body Shop have already found place within the mall.

Lifestyle: A youthful, stylish brand spread across 15 countries and part of Landmark Group, Lifestyle has a loyal customer following ever since it set shop in India in 1999. The store provides apparel, footwear, children’s wear and toys, furniture, furnishings and personal grooming products etc.

Spar: A global brand with presence in 34 countries, Spar is the world's largest independent retail chain.

Shoppers have the option to choose from a wide variety of quality products in every category.

Marks & Spencer: The British retailer with over 700 stores in the UK and 380 stores spread across the world specializes in the selling of clothing and luxury food products.

Cinepolis: The Mexican brand is one of the biggest multiplex chains in the world. The brand is foraying into Indian market providing superior ambience backed by over four decades of cinema experience. The 8-screen multiplex at HiLITE Mall would offer a never-before experience to film buffs.

Amoeba Leisure Zone: India’s largest importer and distributor of amusement machines, H.M

Group’s Amoeba leisure zone brings forth a new age in leisure and entertainment. HiLITE Mall will have a Bowling Alley and gaming zone. The people behind Amoeba have over 20 years of experience in the leisure industry.

HiLITE Residency Part of the HiLITE City, HiLITE Residency houses 400 state-of-the-art luxury apartments with all modern amenities. At HiLITE Residency, each and every apartment is designed with astonishing architectural splendour and elegance.

It is aesthetically set on acres of beautifully landscaped area on a hilltop close to the NH bypass at Kozhikode. The three towers of 20 floors each will fetch you an overwhelming view of the city. Strategically located inside the umbrella of HiLITE City, HiLITE Residency has all it needs for a life in sync with nature and all the city comforts.

HiLITE Business Park Hilite Business Park is an exclusive office complex with twin 'S’ shaped towers, centralized AC and intelligent design. It is coming up in a serene atmosphere near Thondayad bypass, which is considered to be the most lucrative zone for real estate development in Malabar.

This massive project aggregating over one million sq ft of built-up space has central air-conditioning and a parking space that can accommodate 1,200 cars.

HiLITE Business Park is equipped with all amenities and a perfect corporate ambience for all kinds of commercial enterprises, including helipad, multicuisine food courts, Amphi Theatre, Conference Hall and Board Rooms, water bodies and professional facility management.

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Infrastructure

Kochi turns global With more investment plans in the offing, there will certainly be a crunch for suitable land as far s Kochi is concerned

Each grain of sand will be worth more than gold

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e are changing so is our city. A change is always inevitable to accommodate new thoughts, lifestyle and trends. It’s a sort of beginning of another phase in life. Naturally, we all tend to welcome the changes with the same old perspectives. But our views also have to be changed considering developments in the future. For a city like Kochi, which is on the verge of a rapid growth in terms of investments and infrastructure facilities, scrupulous planning is vital by envisaging ideal locations and investment options.

With new projects and huge investments in the pipeline, Kochi, the queen of Arabian Sea, is waiting in the wings to be anointed to the category of global city. The expected fillip to the historical city is such that there will be an investment of Rs 50,000 crore in next five years. Public and private sector companies are investing huge funds into various infrastructure requirements like international quality roads, elevated highways, flyover at inter sections,

Metro rail, hi-tech city buses and sophisticated water resources systems etc.

Private sector is focusing on world class star hotels and resorts like Marriot, Crown Plaza, Holiday Inn and Hilton, various residential projects and shopping malls and World Trade Centre.

Some of the other major proposed projects are a world class marina, LNG terminal, LPG terminal, Asia’s largest oceanorium, Government Infopark at Pallippuram, Muziris heritage project, international Golf Club and Butterfly Park near airport, wagon factory, DP world & International Convention Centre at Bolgatty and an international cruise terminal.

The much-hyped projects like Smart City require more than 100,000 new professionals and Cyber City requires another 60,000. Overall, Kochi will attract more than 5,000,00 new professionals and huge inflow of tourists. While the expansion takes place in full swing, there will be high demand for land. Since the demand for land will be high, each grain of sand will be worth more than gold. This is going to be one of the major challenges. When

apartment and villa prices have doubled or tripled over the last five years, land prices around major projects have multiplied 20 to 40 times! It shows that buying land around major projects is the best bet and returns can be phenomenal. Apart from land issue, investors will be in a quandary over issues regarding suitable location, investments, legal aspects and changing trends of the future city.

Experts’ view To get a vivid picture of the current scenario, FWD Life approached Shwas Group of Companies, a well established organization having a total project value of around Rs 1,000 crore and more than thousand satisfied customers. The company directors are Shaji Ayyapan and Sreeni Parameswaran. According to Shaji Ayyapan who heads Shwas properties section, when they launched their first project near Vytilla Mobility Hub, there was pessimism among others about its success. “But we achieved success.

During that time, the land value was just Rs 50,000 per cent now the land rate is around Rs 24,000,00

per cent. We proved that the land where you sow the right seed decides the fruit of your investment,” says Shaji Ayyapan.

“Our specialized land investment division gives expert advice to short term and long term property investors. And even after sale, we offer further assistance,” says Sreeni Parameswaran, who heads Shwas Homes. “We have various products of investment like plots, residential plots, farmhouse units and resort units. Also the land will have clear title, suitable permits, after sale assistance, transfer facilities and more importantly, credibility,” he adds.

Matters regarding a land involve various hurdles and sometimes, the lacuna in the system may pose hindrance to your investment dreams. So achieving success is an uphill task, especially if you are not guided by right views.

Overall, the emerging situation proves that investment plans in the city can be fruitful if we scout for suitable opinion from the experts in the industry.

So it’s time to gird up yourself to turn the tide in your favour.

The land where you sow the right seed decides the fruit of your investment

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home entertainment

With eleven years of expertise in audio, video and film post production, Metro Digitals offers a well-designed and meticulously calibrated home theatre backed by the required technical support that will provide an enjoyable experience for years

W

hen you decide to go for a movie, there are many factors you consider — timing, travelling, parking, bad seating position and exorbitantly priced snacks etc. What if you can enjoy your favourite films at home with the same or more than the effect of watching it at a multiplex theatre? It sounds nice, doesn’t it? This no longer remains a dream as Metro Digital Media now offers high-end home cinema rooms for the discerning clientele. With eleven years of expertise in audio, video and film post production, Metro Digitals offers a well-designed and meticulously calibrated home theatre backed by the required technical support that will provide an enjoyable experience for years.

The home theatre can be set up regardless of the size of your house or apartment, your income or your taste in movies. Metro Digital Media assures that everything is put in its proper place to maximize your home theatre experience. Customers can choose from a wide range of equipment for different kinds of rooms ranging from stereo to 7.2 channel audio systems priced from Rs 30,000 and up to Rs 30 lakh.

A wide range of world’s top rated speakers from US and European brands like JBL-Synthesis,

Revel, Klipsch, Jamo, Dynavoice, Proson, Energy., electronics from Mark Levinson, Marantz, Onkyo and Yamaha etc are available for auditions. 3D & 2D - full HD( ISF certified ), DLP and 58

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LCD projectors from Benq, Epson, Panasonic, Mitsubishi, hard disk based media players from Xtreamer, acoustically woven high gain Harkness screens, gold plated connectors and cables from Profigold, and Bandridge, are also in stock. They are the Kerala distributor for recliners from Rock N Chairs made out of Hickory Spring mechanisms imported from USA.

The experience Metro Digital Media provides full turnkey solutions including design, automation, civil, electrical, air-conditioning, lighting, acoustic treatments, special bass traps for low frequency management, Baffle wall, acoustically transparent screen, furnishings, seating, all audio and video equipment, computers and networking etc.

The higher quality of electronics, speakers and better acoustic environment provides higher level of acoustic bliss far outweighing than a multiplex experience. This made actor Mammotty write “Sound of the Future” in their visitors’ book during the inauguration of Metro Digital Media’s Demo Home theatre at Vazhakkala in Kochi recently. This is the first Home Theatre demo in Kerala featuring the latest 7.2 THX Ultra 2 speaker system and 3D video.

With plans to ‘release’ the movies in home theatres, the home theatre will be a ‘multiplex’ in your own home. It is easier to create a good acoustic environment at home on a smaller space than to do it in a big scale at the multiplex. Starting from

multiplex

at home As high-end cinema rooms become popular among city folks, know more about setting up a home theatre by Metro Digital Media

Text BUSINESS DESK Photo SREERAG VINOD

around Rs 4 lakh, they have executed projects of up to Rs 40 lakh. But, even on a modest budget, good speakers will be a vast improvement over the tinny sound from the television.

Sound quality The room’s construction, furnishings, window and wall treatments have a massive effect on the quality of sound from your home theatre. You’ll need roughly 6 to 8 inch thick acoustic treatment on each of the four walls and ceiling. This treatment—a combination of devices designed to absorb, scatter or reflect sound—is typically concealed behind panels of acoustically transparent fabric, giving the room a nice tailored/upholstered look. Thick carpeting is recommended for the floor.

Sound treatment panels reduce your reflected sound. Sound treatments also reduce the overall sound volume in the room, enhancing low-level dialogue clarity and surround effects delivered over today’s high-quality audio systems.

The midwall absorptive panels take care of sound reverberation, and the triangular corner bass traps are specifically engineered to absorb low-frequency sounds. These treatments also act as soundproofing elements isolating the rest of the house from the home theatre as well as preventing the outside disturbances from coming in.

Metro Digital Media aims to recreate the acoustic environment where the movies are mastered, so that each viewer gets the same experience that

of a movie maker. Metro Digital Media uses Room EQ Wizard to analyze and fine tune the acoustic properties of the room. During the analysis of the entire sound spectrum from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz, the acoustic properties of the room like reverberation time, flutter echo, harshness of the higher frequencies, boominess of the lower frequencies can be seen. The analysis will highlight the peaks and dips in any frequency range. The deep bass notes of explosions, thunder, dinosaurs, drum beats, bass guitars etc. can be ‘felt’ in a home theater, while even in the best of the theaters, it will only be a faint resemblance.

Today, it’s a big challenge to get the same viewer experience in home theater mainly due to the technically sophisticated Audio-Visual-Lighting systems and its bunch of remote controllers. Automation enables you to create the exact replica of theatre experience at your home by tap of a button on your tablet or mobile devices.

What if you could press a button to access your music, movies and photo albums rather than searching for titles everywhere? It takes just seconds to switch between your favorites and media sources like Blue-Ray, Media Player, TV Channels and Internet Video etc. Partnering with GadgEon systems, you can experience a subset of user experiences and automation, which can take you beyond your imagination at Metro Digital Media home theatres.

That’s why MDM always insist on a personal experience at their demo theater before deciding.

ios and android based control devices

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innovations

Kerala colts bag honours A 23-member student development team from Startup Village bagged the top honours at the recently concluded two-day Hackathon organized by Innoz in Bengaluru

Quaint apps #140verses Give us a word and let us surprise you with a two-line poem #sportkit send #sportkit to the short code & follow sports in a new way through your mobile #eprice This app uses PriceCheckIndia API. The user may search for a particular brand or a specific model of a mobile phone, LED TV, LCD TV, Plasma TV, washing machine or refrigerator #healthcare This app will use a device to monitor the heart rate and body temperature of a person and on recording any abnormalities will send an appropriate message to the nearest doctor available #flip coin Just send #flips coin to 55444 and we’ll flip a coin for you

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reativity has no boundaries if you are willing to explore maverick concepts.

This was evident when a group of Kerala students hogged the limelight at the ‘55444 Hackathon’ conducted by mobile tech firm Innoz Technologies as part of the promotional activities for its offline SMS-based search engine and information services platform 55444. A 23-member student development team from Startup Village bagged the top honours at the event held on July 14 and 15. It was attended by about 120 hackers out of which 23 were from Startup Village.

Anirudhan Adukkathayar from the College of Engineering Trivandrum notched up the first prize of Rs 35,000 for his innovative app which allowed college students to exactly know how many classes they had bunked and how many classes they needed to attend to maintain their attendance.

John Sebastian Perayil of Govt. Model Engineering College, Cochin bagged the second prize of Rs 15,000 for his innovative app which dealt with text message encryption.

The most popular app prize was given to Jayadeep. S of MG University College of Engineering, Thodupuzha and Nithin of RIT, Kottayam for their application that helped people get a database of blood donors from their respective areas along with their contact numbers.

“I have always believed in the potential of the young students in Kerala. I felt that exposure was the only key ingredient missing in our students to realize their true potential. The amazing feat by the Startup Village team stands testimony to this fact and also left almost everyone dazzled,” said Sijo Kuruvilla George, CEO of Startup Village.

In the 36-hour Hacking Marathon, developers created over 200 apps of which the best 10 apps were shortlisted and presented. Innoz Technologies is a mobile innovation venture started by a group of youngsters and headquartered at Koramangala, Bengaluru. The Hackathon was held to foster hacking culture and bring together hackers from all walks of life to collectively build meaningful apps.

Over 100 developers participated in the event from various cities. Hackathon was a first-of-akind experiment to show how innovators can use an SMS platform to develop amazing applications for the masses. The purpose of the event was to develop futuristic SMS-based applications that will help a person without direct access to Internet.

The services will be delivered over SMS to his phone. The judging panel, comprising experts such as Bharati Jacob from Seedfund, Lakshmi Pratury from INK with the Co-founders of Innoz — Deepak Ravindran and Mohammed Hisamuddin, selected the winners. Lakshmi Pratury’s son, 9-year-old Arnav, was the youngest participant. He came up with an app for easy access to game cheat codes.

Impressed by the work of the developers at the Hackathon, Canada’s Research in Motion (RIM) Company has opened the doors for the developers to work with it and provide their technologies.

Some of the shortlisted apps included “#Expense,” an app that allows you to text your expenditures as and when they occur to the 55444 platform and it automatically stores the data on an online database. The app “#mmony” allows users to access the matrimonial database via SMS. The #mmony app which can be ported to the Blackberry app was one of two recipients of a smart phone sponsored by Blackberry. The second Blackberry

winner was #getblood and #donor which act as two apps to get blood and donate blood developed by Nithin and Jayadeep.

Li2 Innovations, a robotics company, which also participated in the Hackathon as a group entry, presented their project. A device that monitors the patient’s heartbeat was programmed to send an SMS alert using the 55444 platform to the nearest hospital or doctor in case of any irregularities in the patient’s heartbeats.

However, the final four apps which won the prizes included #Happ (to search apps within the app store) and #Bunklog (to help college students keep track of their attendance while bunking classes), both selected as the winners and #Cipher

(app to encrypt messages for complete privacy) and #Awsm (for social networking via SMS) were selected for the second place.

The key-note speakers who addressed the audience included Pradeep Rao (Blackberry), Kalyan Varma (Ink Fellow), Zubin Dubash (Onward Mobility) Sean Blagsvedt, CEO (Babajobs.com), Anupam Mukherji (The Fake IPL Player) and Bharti Jacob, Founding Partner (Seedfund).

“Through this event, we want to send out the message of fostering hacking culture in the country.

We also hope to have discovered new creations of value for the larger community, as there is so much to do using the 55444 platform,” said Deepak Ravindran, Co-founder and CEO, Innoz.

In the 36-hour Hacking Marathon, developers created over 200 apps of which the best 10 apps were shortlisted and presented

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wedding

What’s your Wedding Theme?

Theme-based weddings add a new dimension to weddings Text Nisary Mahesh Photos Parinaya Wedding Planners

Wedding being an event of a lifetime, people simply want to do it in style

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alls decorated with wreaths, a wedding placard peeking at the entrance with bold inscription of couple's name and archaic food counters have undergone a makeover. Wedding being an event of a lifetime, people simply want to do it in style.

As the big fat Indian weddings are making sky as their limits, however, an air of change is slowly breezing into Kerala culture. If a couple of years back, Keralites thought only about costumes, jewel-

lery and new designs in floral decorations, today people are looking for something extra. Theme based weddings are the latest. They started realising that a theme wedding involves a lot more than merely decorating the stage and car.

What’s in?

The concept of theme wedding was there among the NRIs and the upper middle class 5-6 years ago, but a serious attempt began in the last 2-3 years.

Even middle class Keralites are now coming forward with a willingness to experiment.

Wedding Themes- FWD hunt Internet and wedding magazines will give you information overloaded with fascinating ideas of theme weddings. Here are a few tried and handy themes for Malayalee ethos.

If you love the quaint charm of the old world glamour, a Vintage Theme Wedding is the thing for you. What’s special about a vintage themed wedding is that it can be a unique one, since ideas on ‘vintage’ feel differs from person to person.

Incorporate the feel and mood of Hollywood / Bollywood glamour, the Victorian elegance, the royal Indian; create the ambience with genuine vintage backdrop, décor and costumes.

Arabian Nights is an excellent theme for Muslim weddings. They who love bright colours and excitement can create a magic with tented canopies, palm trees, Sheiks, Sultans, belly dancers and Arabian music.

Give a totally new geographical dimension by bringing the North to Kerala with a North Indian Theme; be it a Rajasthani or Punjabi. The traditional Royal Wedding in India will never be forgotten. Get wedded in front of a replica of Taj Mahal, the symbol of love and give your guests a royal retreat and fill the event with cultural extravaganzas.

Beach-side weddings are a popular option in the West and in places like Goa. Keralites who can’t afford a beach side resort, a little creativity can take you to a beach even if you are hosting your wedding far away from the beach. Stage replicating oysters, waiters dressed as sea-men and food stations manoeuvred as life-boats, for instance, define your aqua theme. If stretched a bit it can be an Under Water Theme with silver painted balls, mermaids and picturesque artificial rock formations

all around.

A Cultural Wedding can be filled with unique and special customs or art forms ( or example, traditional Kerala art forms), a great start for your new life ahead.

The bride and the groom arriving in a pumpkin carriage, the flower girls dressed as little fairy godmothers with wands and wings, elegant give-aways like crystal glass slippers, a Cinderella Theme or a Fairy tale Wedding is a flight of fancy.

For those who wish to move with the times still without flouting conventions, there is always the safe option of going in for Colour Themes such as all White (fairy tale ambience), White and gold/ silver (elegant), Puple (Western), Pink (romantic), Aqua (vibrant) being the widely chosen ones. Whichever season you decide to get married in, you can include a colour scheme to turn your wedding into a cherished memory.

It need not be an overthe-top-event but still can be distinctive as ideas are endless.

Out-of-the box thinking, conceptualising, setting the right mood and spirit can pull of a wedding within a restricted budget

Will it hole my pocket?

Well, you may wonder whether the idea of theme weddings fits others beyond the affluent class. But it is a fact that, more than being an extravagant affair, a creative pursuit can make your day special and memorable. It need not be an over-the-top-event but still can be distinctive as ideas are endless.

Out-of-the box thinking, conceptualising, setting the right mood and spirit can pull of a wedding within a restricted budget.

All you need is a working mind and a few hands. Your wedding planner can customise themes according to your tastes, requirements and budget.

But make it a point to ensure that the additions are not detracting from the solemnity of the occasion.

So spice-up the love in the air with some fun and spirit! Go for a theme and make your wedding memorable and enjoyable for your guests, as for yourselves.

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architecture

Modern

&Minimal

Designs are for betterment of our lives aesthetically, experientially and emotionally

Muted colours and right amount of décor elements creates space inside. The entire house is dominated with shades of white and ash

A

contemporary-cum-modern apartment designed to satisfy the heart’s strongest desire- enjoying a blissful life while soaking in urban pleasures to the maximum. FWD Life steps in to the 3066 sq.ft house owned by Dr.Pradeepkumar, at Shobha City, Thrissur.

The home is a cocoon of peace and luxury, a world away from the drama of the outside world. It’s seductive feature gains more appeal with its location in an integrated satellite township in the heart of the city. The soothing, clutter free interiors are modern, yet not completely departed from traditional.

Design Modern-Contemporary is the theme of this house and how the two fused together with looks, colour schemes, objects, spaces and spirits is very appealing. With a clear vision and full discretion, all elements were utilized to their best potential. Optimum use of existing space is made, and a serious effort to break the monotony is made.

The entire design of the house stands for a less clutter and minimalist décor. A consistency has been maintained in the entire house in terms of light color schemes, flooring, lighting etc.

Space The spaces flow into one another without any clutter.

The 3066 sq.ft spans a guest room, family living cum 64

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Text Nisary Mahesh Photos JAMESH KOTTAKAL

dining area, puja room, 3 bedrooms, theatre room, traditional kitchen, servant’s room, besides spacious niches- three balconies.

Entrance leading to a foyer ensures the privacy.

The guest room is spacious, simple, yet sophisticated. The drawing room with French windows and balcony not just lets in ample natural light but also offers a breath taking view of surroundings. The family living, dining and kitchen area are designed to be interactive spaces seamlessly flowing.

The home theatre room is the favourite space of the family. “Efficient amalgamation of comfort with luxury and aesthetical use of space has made this room perfect for relaxation,” says Dr. Pradeepkumar.

Colours Muted colours and right amount of décor elements creates space inside. The entire house is dominated with shades of white and ash. “Bright colours were a big ‘no’ for me” says Dr. Pradeep.

At the same time, monotony of a single shade is avoided with ash in bedroom with a contrasting dark shade in one wall. The kid’s room is splashy with wall papers of cartoon characters. The dark brown wooden paneling in the guest room against the white wall and the grey wallpaper behind the LCD enhances the entire room.

It is a fact that without black no colour has any depth. If you mix black with anything, suddenly there’s a shadow— a fullness. Blackish brown

wallpapers at the living room gives a feel of more spacious.

we wished”, says Dr. Pradeep Kumar. The apartment is designed for the couple and one child.

Furnishing and Curios

Project

Adding warmth to the space are the furnishing and its curios that lends a classic touch. The white leather sofas with contrasting cushions complement a vibrant effect. The living room, LCD room and guest room exudes a luxurious feel with the plush white and copper sofa and the dried floral arrangement. Swarovsky crystal curios and a curious gold plated clock which Dr. Pradeepkumar painstakingly selected from various curio shops lend a classic tone against the dark wooden wall. Curtains of contrasting shades enhance the overall muted shade of the room and provide the required privacy.

The theatre room, sound proof, with thick curtains is made lively with antique curios. Soft furnishings with natural colours and white enhances the spaces on a whole.

Luxury Apartment at Shobha City, Thrissur

Owner’s Verdict Stylish, practical and modern, that is exactly what

Owned by Dr.Pradeep Kumar, Thrissur Built up area- 3066 sq ft.

Location Advantage Close to the city, yet far from the bustles.

Located in a green and eco-friendly township.

Budget ( interiors + furnishing )- Approx.

30 lakh

Design by

What FWD Life Liked Owing to its simple yet modern design and hi-end location, its a “hot property” in every sense.

Zsmiro

Project managed by Sobha Developers

FWD Life Rating Location

Amenities

Price 2012 AUGUST

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oye baap re!

Carouser’s paradise Scenes from a pub in Bengaluru depict how people transform themselves into bizarrely acting individuals once they enter it. A short stint as a staff in the pub provides the opportunity to realise the different shades of visitors Text RONNIE KURIAKOSE

I

always thought bartending was all about filling a glass with alternating layers of alcohols and fruit. Well, it wasn’t. The stench of sweat, gin and vomit hung in the dense air, ruptured often by streaks of weird bright lights bouncing off chaotic figures on the floor. My colleague, an over esteemed bartender for his age, helped me label each one of them - Geeks, Jocks, Jerks, Junkies, Sweethearts and Suits. Despite their distinctions, they all shared a collective yearning to get me to hate my job.

Ms Bitch-who’s-not-RICH!

Mr and Mrs Dilemma

She leaned all the way across the bar and was just two inches away from my face in order to let me know that she’d want a drink. I didn’t know which was worse, her cigarette breath or her boob tattoo. But she did seem like someone who’d leave a pretty decent tip, so I decided to be her slave for the night.Two shots and a beer later, she slammed a thousand rupee note on the deck. There wasn’t much left in there as tip, but I saw her ruffling through her bag. I pretended to not notice and went on to scour out the balance for her.

She pulled out a lipstick, redid her lips, took the balance and said, with all gratitude and genuineness, ‘keep the change!!’ and I looked down.

A rupee coin. WOW! Maybe I can save up three more and buy a newspaper. Thanx BITCH.

They came in together hand in hand, but when the party was at its full swing, they cut all threads and went on their own ways seeking ‘fun’, leaving a kid on the bar stool and asking me to watch over him. I marched to the lady and told herstraight to the face that I don’t want him on my bar stool; for that’s where depressed fools sat, got drunk and let me rob them. But she shoved a few hundred bucks into my hands and pleaded.Next!

You Know Me, Know?

I’m pretty sure that I’d been working here for just under an hour and I seriously don’t know anyone here. But the wide grin on that chaps face is getting me freaking confused. It seemed as if he’d known me for a lifetime.I turned my head away to the next guy in line. The guy next to him rolled his eyes, huffed and puffed his way to what seemed like a temper tantrum. I glared back at him.

While I was getting the orders, that creepy guy with that awkward grin rushed to the bar with a gorgeous girl. This guy was obviously buying her a few rounds for reasons so plain as sex.

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“Hey pal”. He called out as if we were kindergarten buddies. “I want you to make Annie one of my specials.” WOW! I don’t know him, nor do I know what you mean by your freaking special. “Wait,” he blurted out. “Annie, why don’t we have what you like today. What do you say?”She nodded and shouted out a weird drink that wasn’t listed in the commons tab of the recipe menu. She pulled out her phone and showed me the recipe in the god-forbidden recipe app. It was my turn to roll my eyes and go huff-and-puff.

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The Finger and the Fist It’s not surprising at all for a guy to undergo complete transformation when he knows that he’s got friends around. He was scared, timid and shy roughly around twenty minutes earlier, i.e. when he was all alone. But now, he and his friends are turning out to be the biggest jerks in the bar tonight.

After their havoc on the dance floor, they turned to the deck. One of them hurried over and slid next to a girl and began what seemed to me an empty conversation of pointless small talk. She was way out of his league, and mine. Next! I called out and it was the transformed guy.

He started quizzing me on the prices.

He took his time to decide. I didn’t mind that, the party was winding up and it was time for last calls. He asked me to get him a shot that was cheap, strong and good. I sneered. All of those adjectives conflicted with each other. I bet he knew that when he swallowed the grossest drink ever.

young initiative

MAID knows its onions From left to right Sabarish Prakash (CEO) Midhun Skaria (CRO) Nibu Alias (CTO-Hardware) Biniyas V.L (CBO) Jijin Joseph (CMO) Ashwin Saju (CFO) Ani Abraham Joy (COO) Arjun S(CTO-Software)

A

s we move on in life, the eons-old adage “Necessity is the mother of invention” has been constantly reminding us how this axiom influences the lifestyle of humanity. In fact, modern age inventions are more or less based on technologies and so often the novel concept will be as a result of collective effort. It’s the success of team work when SectorQube Technolabs Pvt. Ltd was formed by seven youngsters from the same college who wanted to create a smarter planet with more intelligent electronics and make life better.

The youths — Sabarish Prakash, Ani Abraham Joy, Nibu Alias, Arjun.

S, Biniyas V.L, Midhun Skaria and Ashwin Saju — shared entrepreneur spirit right from their college days and the result was SectorQube Technolabs Pvt. Ltd. At the outset, the biggest challenge they had in front of them was lack of knowledge about how to start a company. Naturally, academic training moulds you how to go through toughest examinations and get a job in the most prestigious companies.

But unfortunately, there would not be little guidance if one has ideas for entrepreneurship.

During their final year in college, they heard about Innovation Lab — the place where they could be incubated before they take up the real challenges in

the market. So, in October 2011, SectorQube Technolabs started its first office in the C5 cabin of Innovation Lab. The team moved into a flat at Ernakulam for staying together and working longer hours.

Like many youngsters do, whenever they wanted to cook on their own, they would call up to their homes to get the recipes. With the recipe, they managed to cook something that can be called food. It was a hell of a time in a land where hartal is a routine affair. Those days they had to rely on just a packet of bread. Such experiences forced them to master the ‘art’ of cooking.

When they thought of the difficulties involved in it, they dropped the plan. Meanwhile, Arjun had some other ideas. He said, “Wouldn’t it be awesome if we had an oven that knew the recipes of all the dishes in this world?” We could just prepare the ingredients and leave the rest to it.” That was a spark.

After six months of team work, they could make the Microwave Android Integrated Device (MAID).

After its birth, the first dish they tried out on MAID was cookies. “We couldn’t believe that we could make such tasty cookies. We were happy,” recalls the team. It’s just a beginning. They are gearing up to find more devices that can give a different dimension of living.

These youngsters shared entrepreneurial spirit right from their college days and the result was SectorQube Technolabs Pvt. Ltd. After six months of team work, they could make the Microwave Android Integrated Device (MAID)

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advertorial

A hairy

tale If you are follically challenged, here’s good news. A new technology of hair implantation developed by DHI helps you get a new look

I

t is often said that nothing happens, unless there is a dream first.

At the genesis of the hair plants story there was a dream.

A dream that was so powerful to shape up the Cosmetic Medical Services Industry in Kerala. Founded by K.P. Giotis in 1970, DHI Global Medical Group has been dedicated solely to the research, diagnosis and treatment of hair and scalp disorders.

After 41 years, the DHI technique offers hair loss sufferers across the globe a painless procedure with natural results.

As a result, DHI has expanded its business and at the same time devoted 68

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itself to developing innovative techniques and proprietary medical tools for Hair Restoration. DHI have as part of its clientele many renowned doctors, newscasters and celebrities as proud DHI clients, but DHI has a commitment to treat each and every client as if they were a VIP in its clinics. Direct Hair Implantation (DHI) has opened their clinic, Hair Plants Clinic, in Kochi recently.

Method With the DHI technique, each hair follicle will be extracted one by one from the donor area and then implanted directly. Once the procedure is completed, new hair continues to grow naturally for life. The main aim of this new, advanced technique is to increase the survival and growth of the hair follicles by diminishing their handling and the time they stay out of the skin. The latest revolutionary DHI technique eliminates the use of scalpels, there is no scarring and best of all the procedure is pain free. You will experience wonderfully natural results in just one visit to one of the DHI clinics. Once the procedure is completed, new hair continues to grow naturally for life. The main aim of this new, advanced technique is to increase the survival and

growth of the hair follicles by diminishing their handling and the time they stay out of the skin.

This amazing new technique is available now at DHI clinics worldwide.

Now with DHI the individual hair follicular units can be removed with a specially designed tool that leaves nothing more than a pin prick. The important point is not only does the hair come out but all the associated portions of the unit including the sebaceous glands and adventitial sheath.

These are absolutely necessary for a successful transplant otherwise the new hair transplant unit will die just like the old one did.

DHI revolutionary form of hair transplantation has completely changed the hair restoration game and made re-growing hair in your bald spot a breeze. There is now absolutely no reason at all to not give very strong consideration to a hair transplantation procedure in order to get back that youthful looking full head of hair.

DHI’s exclusive patented technique is far more advanced than any other hair restoration technique available today. DHI uses no scalpels and no stitches! No pain and no discomfort! DHI is the choice for famous international sportspersons such as Virendar Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir; Bollywood stars and media personalities et al. Over 100,000 patients have been successfully treated at 30 clinics worldwide.

DHI has established and accredited multi-clinic set of clinical protocols. The company is registered with the UK Care Quality Commission and TUV

Austria - Hellas ISO 9001:2008 Certification.

Their global growth is based on three corporate principles — innovation, transparency and education.

Advantages Direct implantation of grafts without receptions results in less trauma of the skin, less damage to the local blood supply and no scarring. It’s also less invasive and significantly reduced bleeding. Minimal risk of infection as the hair follicles are transferred soon from the donor area to the recipient area.

There will be less scarring after the procedure.

No handling of the grafts is required, thus increasing the survival of the hair follicles. Also it’s less tiring for the patient (lying position). Moreover, less anesthesia and less medication needed for the procedure. Another advantage is early hair growth as most transferred hair follicles enter the anagen phase immediately.

The Direct Hair Implantation Technique saves so much time that patients and medical team seldom suffer from fatigue. This is a sophisticated, fast, new technique that the customers find life changing, painless and most satisfying. You can compare the superiority of the DHI Direct Hair Implantation Technique over other hair restoration treatments available today and make your decision.

According to the company, the Direct Hair Implantation Technique is the most advanced hair implantation technique ever developed.

For more details you can log on to www.dhiglobal.com

or

www.hairplantsindia.com

and see for yourself the live videos of DHI session and be convinced. Catch DHI at mail@hairplantsindia.com

or

call on +919995776644

2012 AUGUST

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launch

Mercedes Benz Launch @ Focus Mall, Calicut press release

Linen Club launched in Thrissur “Linen Club” Fabrics, the Premium Brand from Jaya Shree Textiles, a unit of Aditya Birla Nuvo Ltd, opened their 4th exclusive showroom in Kerala, the other showrooms are in Kochi, Kannur & Calicut . This is the 64th Exclusive Showroom of Linen Club Fabrics in India. S. Krishnamoorthy, President – Textiles Division, Aditya Birla Group, inaugurated the showroom in the presence of Mr. Rabindra Mohan, Asst. Vice President ( Linen Club). The showroom offers a wide range of linen fabrics and ready-to-wear garments. Located at C.J. Tower, Ikkanda Warrier Road, Thrissur, Linen Club offers pure linen to exotic linen blends, printed and embroidered linen fabrics suitable for wardrobes of men, women and kids ( for shirts trousers, suits, ethnic wear, skirts, tops, jacket etc). In ready-to-wear garments, Linen Club offers shirts, custom tailored trousers, jackets and suits.

To add to its newest offering, accessories are available such as Stoles, Laptop bags, Ladies bags and Scarves. The showroom also introduces 100 % pure linen dhotis and angavastra especially for Kerala Market.

“The idea is to strategically coincide this launch with the marriage and festive season ahead. We promise to bring the best of our collection to Thrissur to make this exclusive showroom a preferred destination for the Linen Lovers,” said Rabindra Mohan on the occasion.

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The Complete Reader's Guide TO FWD Life magazine

25,053and counting 30.2 1 672

Facebook likes

Forty Leading writers & photographers

8

median age of our readers

Major April fool prank

6205 Cigarette butts Beers consumed kicked Average BP increase till now

27

among competition

irrelevant,independent and honest editorials

50,000 Circulation

60,000

Median disposible income household

397per month

sleep hours lost

1.3 Lakh card swipes Thousands of e-mails to & fro per month ISSUE 09 VOL 01 JULY 2012 ` 50 www.fwdlife.in

Bhavana

Mollywood's busy bee

Anu Hasan Debut in Malayalam

Ritu Kumar FASHION

Fashion's first lady

Hollywood in desi avatar Actors of Indian origin making their presence felt in world cinema

VIJAY PRAKASH | TECH-A-BREAK | SOBHA CITY

2012 JULY

Life

1

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THINK FWD Lifestyle Travel Leisure Entertainment Lounge

2012 AUGUST

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launch

Renault India launches DUSTER and Kick starts new SUV segment The Renault Duster combines the comfort and sophistication of a sedan and the robust ruggedness of an SUV. It is easy to maneuver and manageable while at the same time it is robust enough for the out of town drive .

Marc Nassif, MD, Renault India

events

The FWD-Fariyadh Monsoon Brides winner was announced at Le Meridien on the 8th of July. The winner Sreejisha was handed over her gifts from Fariyadh, Mercedes Benz, Glitz and Le Meridien during the event.

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All in black

g?

Cookin What's Chilling out

Bro code

Clicked

Lot's of Fun

Let the party begin!

Ladies Night @ Casino Rocking!

Jamming

ors wn visti God's o Three Cheers

Just Chill

Trippy 74

Why so serious?

Experimenting progressive @ Qube ,Ramada Life

AUGUST 2012

modified cars

Pimp your ride Showcase your Modified vehicles in FWD Life Mail to info@fwdmedia.in for getting featured

Amplifier 1. 500 watts Sony Xplod - 4 channel 2. 1000 watts JBL 2 channel Component speakers with 2 tweeters

Ashwin Ramachandran and Visakh Nair with their modified cars

Music Player with DVD player (touch screen) - JVC Double din

For more details,2012 George 0902072044175 AUGUST Life

Shake a leg

Clicked Trendy

MercEDES Benz " Panache " Fashion Show @ Hotel Dream

Awesome

Smile please

Match point

Let's start

Event organised by Maxxo creatives 76

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2012 AUGUST

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wtf

What the

f@#k

This is my first visit to Kerala. I decided to try each and every dish during my stay in God’s Own Country. But news about the student’s death and raids on hotels gave me a grave shock as it was flashed while I was having my lunch at a restaurant. .

I didn’t want my first visit to be a life threatening one and decided not to eat from any of the restaurants.

Nazif Basheer Mechanical Engineer

FWD readers responds to the topic of eating out in the light of recent raids.

Here’s what our public poll revealed

Raids are not going to change our habit of eating out considering the fact that we can’t check the hotel kitchens every time to know if it is maintained hygienically. It’s the right of the consumers to get good and healthy food for the money they give.

Nisa IT Professional

It is bad to have food from outside .Outside food causes lot of health issues and it is always risky.More over its not at all Hygienic , and now a day we force our self to eat from outside because of our busy life style.

Suganya Amjath Creative Designer

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Yes it does, at least for some time I think I would prefer homemade food. Even otherwise I have a sensitive body and react badly to outside food. All the raids and stale food have sent panic waves at home and we are all sticking to homemade food for a while. We still have bakery items though, after checking the expiry date.

Vishnu Ravi IT Professional I don’t think raids will deter people from eating out. However, office goers and those from distant places depend mainly on hotels for food. But for this reason henceforth people are not going to bring food from their homes. The only solution is to find out good eateries and enjoy your food.

Shiju Audit Manager

Once in a while I do make it a point to hang out with friends and at that time it’s the restaurants that come in the priority list. After hearing the news about the death of the student and the raids that followed the incident, we have decided not to rely on any of these restaurants anymore. We think Thattukadas are far better.

Wazeem Basheer IT Professional

No of Issues

Cover Price

Discount Price

12

600

550

24

1200

1100

36

1800

( 1 Year )

( 2 Years )

( 3 Years )

Tick

1700

( Free Reebok Shades )

2012 AUGUST

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gadgets Parrot Asteroid

An in-car entertainment system that runs on Android.

What FWD Life Liked: Can tether to a lot of devices Voice control for everything Internet connectivity via 3G dongle Can run Android apps

What we disliked Pre-bundled apps aren’t very useful Menu is a bit cumbersome to use Speakers need additional amplification

Google Nexus 7 (Pick of the month)

Price: ` 23,000 FWD Rating:

Nexus 7 was the star of Google I/O recently and rightly so. This is definitely the first Android tablet that doesn’t feel like a ‘work in progress’.

The new Android Jelly Bean is a solid O/S and it works perfectly in sync with the hardware. This is definitely a stylish tablet manufactured by Asus and perfected by Google.

The price tag of $199 (Indian price is not yet announced) definitely makes this a must buy.

Totally worth the money you dole out for this.

What FWD Life liked Great design, comes in cool colours Superb build quality Good audio performance Great noise isolation

What we disliked

FWD Rating :

A bit too pricey Volume is a bit dicey with low-end devices

JCB Toughphone TP909

Price: ` 8,000 FWD Rating :

Hardened smartphone which can withstand all sorts of abuse.

Loc8tor Plus

What FWD Life liked

Keep losing your keys and wallet on your sofa?

Loc8tor is your search engine for that.

Android - rare for a rugged phone Conforms to the IP67 ingress standard Completely usable even if soaking wet

What we disliked Poor screen brightness Processor is just 800 MHz Bad camera Price: ` 27,000 FWD Rating : 80

Urbanears Zinken DJ style headphones that can hook into both your hi-fi equipment as well as your regular MP3 player..

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AUGUST 2012

What FWD Life liked Has a graphical interface which shows how close you are to the object Multiple tags supported by 1 device

What we disliked The handset is quite bulky to carry around all the time Comes with just 2 tags; extra tags are expensive Price: ` 5,000 FWD Rating :

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RNI Reg. No. KERENG /2012 /42759

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RNI Reg. No. KERENG /2012 /42759

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