FWD Life November 2012

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Bhoomika Chawla Malayalee survey 2012

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Cinema Paradiso New waves in Mollywood

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Kerala's most influential PEOPLE 2012 NOVEMBER

EMMANUVAL MAKEOVER VINEETH KUMAR

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his Novembr first we celebrate our 56th anniversary of "keralappiravi". I hope that the future will be bright and not , a metropolis built on wealth mistaken for riches and possession for happiness, where polished lives shut out the rough edges of reality, where souls traipse separately that they forgets to touch lives. Where good fences created ‘good’ neighbors, where refinement’s final quests ended in corpulence, trifles, multi-crore reality show avarice and fly-on the wall prying, why is nobody in this scrambling enterprise and perceptible plenitude engaged in the queries of mind and heart? The New Kerala might become more provincial than its provinces once it forgets what being a Keralite means.

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Malayalee survey 2012

Cinema Paradiso

THE NEW Kerala?

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Contents POWER LIST

Kerala's most

influential PEOPLE

36 26 12

CINEMA PARADISO

people

Main Story

34 Homing in

on dreams

30 8

Life

Lights, Camera, Poetry

Lt Cdr. C.A. Praveen 65 Conjuring up all minds

DJ Ram 76 Checking out the party scene

FWD Life survey

18

What we think of ourselves

Lifestyle creators NOVEMBER 2012

Mart of good hope

24

kerala travel mart

Strips & Conventions 46 Comic Con 2012

2012 NOVEMBER

Life

9

30

leisure

40

Dollars & Pounds

58

Men's clothing & accesories

Style Quotient

60

Instore

Invite in Style

50

Trends

Tribal Cuisine

52

Ooru, the tribal restaurant

Travel

54

Long drive to lost town

Health

62

Know about diabetes

Parenting

63

Taking a tiny dip

52

Pets

64

A vacation with pets

Party

NATURE's URBAN HOME

66

FWD Life cover launch function

Book Review

70

Tale of la cafe

Josco FC

74

The club aims high this season

WTF

16 Elephantine Reflections 10

Life

NOVEMBER 2012

78

Readers respond to the topic "Should homemakers be paid?"

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

Haan's Collections 82

2012 NOVEMBER

Life

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main story

POWER LIST

Kerala's most influential PEOPLE On the eve of first anniversary, FWD Life showcases the most influential personalities in Kerala who could make an impact in the society

It’s a humble, at the same time, a difficult attempt to select the best 10 influential personalities from the lot. The selection is based on the impact they can bring about among the people of Kerala. Indeed, many a time they have proved it. And still, they are able to create ripples in the society without going to the extent of harping on their achievements. Their inspirational lives reflect on the principles they believe and practise over the years. We have included prominent figures from the fields of politics, business, spirituality, industry and cinema. Interestingly, not many women are included in the list. It occurred inadvertently during the selection and not because we just ignored them.

Every generation is the torchbearer of culture and tradition and it must pass onto the next generation. We are sure that the personalities featured in the list have already set an example for posterity.

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Life

NOVEMBER 2012

F

WD Life launched the magazine with an exclusive interview with the Chief Minister, Mr. OommenChandy. One year down the lane, the hundred-day programme he discussed has garnered mixed successes.In October 2012, Kerala saw an unprecedented increase in initiatives on development, innovation and entrepreneurship. In his live-on-internet office, the Kerala Chief Minister might be cracking a smile right about now. The conducting of Emerging Kerala, Kerala Travel Mart and TiEcon Kerala shows his leadership skills and backing for new projects in the State.

Leadership comes naturally to this man who manages to keep a government with a small majority in power, in the midst of threats from allied parties and the innumerable groups in his own party.

His initiative in bringing transparency to government, heavy turnout in his mass contact programme, the 24x7 call centre and student entrepreneurship policies has made him a man of the people. As T.J.S George rightly pointed out, “This jells with Shri. Chandy’s trademark image. In power or out of it, he is known to make himself available for petitioners and public on a 24-hour basis.”

We hope that Mr Chandy would launch the “Thooval Sparsham”, the promised social security programme to ensure safety of women and children. Our hope is that he would put all issues related to the Kochi Metro rail to rest. Whether Emerging Kerala ends up as another GIM is yet another story to wait for. It has certainly given the CM the image of a man with a mission to transform the image of Kerala into an investment-friendly State.

OommenChandy,

Chief Minister

V.S Achuthanandan, Leader of Opposition

V

.S Achuthanandan holds a tongue that is sharper than a surgeon’s knife, admirers say, referring to his sincere efforts (even when he has to defy official lines) and devotion to the duty to transform his state to a complete developed State with accelerating growth in all the fields. An octogenarian, he openly takes stands on issues as the people’s person even when he stands at odds with his party. The latest was when he publicly admitted ‘organizational mistakes’ regarding Kudankulam nuclear power plant.

Such is V.S’s public support that when party denied him the seat, it was the massive public protest that forced the leaders to change their minds. Although his blind fatherly love put him in compromising positions, V.S managed to keep his persona as a politician who would speak up if he ever felt something was wrong.

V. S. Achuthanandan had been chastised due to his involvement in some controversial matters of the State. His struggles as the leader of the Opposition and his willingness to go to any extent for his ideological dispositions make V.S one of the most influential personalities in Kerala.

2012 NOVEMBER

Life

13

main story

Mohanlal, Actor

S

ometimes epithets wouldn’t serve the purpose to encapsulate the versatility of actor Mohanlal. Staying in the limelight as an actor over 30 years, and mostly as one of the super stars in Malayalam Cinema is no joke, mind you.

With his acting prowess and inimitable style, Mohanlal could accomplish his own space in Mollywood that has witnessed whirlwind of changes periodically. Starting his film career in the film “Thiranottam” (1978), which is yet to see the light of day, the actor in him hardly fails to enthrall cineastes of all generations. Even Mohanlal’s impromptu remarks make ripples among his legion of fans and in the society as well.

He was catapulted to fame in the national arena with the films like “Iruvar” (Tamil) and “Company” (Hindi).

Apart from bagging coveted honours including Padma Shri and Bharath Award, this complete actor has proved his mettle as a producer and entrepreneur. After acting in the movie “Kurukshetra” in 2008, he was formally inducted to the Territorial Army in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Moreover, he had been selected as the Goodwill Ambassador of Kerala State Athletics by the Kerala State Athletics Association and also the Goodwill Ambassador of AIDS awareness campaign by Kerala AIDS Control Society for which he acted in short films.

Recently, the buzz was that Mohanlal is all set to enter Hollywood with US-based Gujarati director Nayan Padrai’s upcoming film, “Billion Dollar Raja.”

Mammootty, Actor

I

n the 1971 film “Anubhavangal Paalichakal,” Mammootty was seen among a running crowd along with the lead actor Sathyan.

Later, the suave actor eclipsed the ‘crowd of stars’ in Malayalam Cinema and became the Mega Star in Mollywood. His enviable mien and manly voice make him a unique figure in the filmdom.

Malayalees’ transcendental sensitivity has created certain tailormade characters for Mammootty, and that ingrained notion has more or less helped him get a place in the hearts of millions of fans. With his perseverance and rigorous diet control, Mammootty is a role model for upcoming actors who aim big in tinsel world. He is familiar to Tamil, Telugu and Hindi audiences too through a host of films. His first venture as a producer, “Jawan of Vellimala” under his own banner Playhouse, was released recently.

An actor, who is known for experiments in his film career spanning over 30 years, Padma Shri Mammootty has won National Film Award for Best Actor thrice. The super star is the goodwill ambassador of a charity project called Street India Movement, which aims to eradicate child begging and child labour and also the ambassador of Akshaya, an IT dissemination project by the Government of Kerala.

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NOVEMBER 2012

W

ith more than 25,000 Indians on the rolls of Nasser S. Al-Hajri Corporation, Ravi Pillai, the MD and one of the founders of the company, has earned the distinction of being the largest employer of Indians in the Gulf. While the company is a leading player in the Gulf region for construction jobs in the oil and gas industry, it has diversified into other sectors such as steel and cement plants. Over the years, Ravi Pillai has built up a relationship of trust with the various governments in the Gulf region. When the business tycoon expanded his business operations to Australia, it became one of the remarkable achievements in his career. His business group has strong presence in the hospitality industry in Kerala.

The company’s resounding success and relentless growth are built on the vision and dynamism of Ravi Pillai. In 2007, he was bestowed with the coveted Pravasi Bharatiya Samman by the President of India for his commendable services to Non-Resident Indians and exemplary track record in entrepreneurship. Padma Shri Ravi Pillai is engaged in philanthropic activities in India and has set up the Upasana Hospital and Research Centre in Kollam, which gives free treatment to the poor.

M.A. Yusuf Ali,

MD, EMKE Group of Companies

T B. Ravi Pillai,

MD, Nasser S. Al-Hajri Corporation

hrissur-born M.A. Yusuf Ali is instrumental in bringing investments from UAE to India. Known as the Managing Director of Abu Dhabi-headquartered EMKE Group of Companies, which owns the Lulu Hypermarket chain in Middle East, Yusuf Ali hogged media attention during the SmartCity deliberations between State Government and Dubaibased TECOM. Apart from concentrating on his Group’s investments in Kerala, now Yusuf Ali leaves no stone unturned in the formation of Air Kerala.

His proximity to the leaders of six Gulf countries and the distinction of becoming the first Asian director of Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce make Yusuf Ali a prominent figure in the entrepreneurial world. Through his companies, Yusuf Ali provides employment to as many as 29,000 people from 29 countries. This entrepreneur’s social, charitable and humanitarian activities both in India as well as in Gulf countries have brought him many accolades.

Yusuf Ali has been conferred with several awards, including the prestigious Padma Shri in 2008 and the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award in 2005.

2012 NOVEMBER

Life

15

main story

Vellapally Natesan,

General Secretary, S.N.D.P

M

ata Amritanandamayi’s life is dedicated to selfless service, compassion and love towards all. Widely known as “Amma” (Mother), she offers words of wisdom and guidance to millions of people across the globe. Wherever she goes, she holds free public programmes including speech, devotional singing and meditation. She concludes every programme by embracing each person attending the event. Her entire life has been dedicated to alleviating the pain of the poor and those suffering physically and emotionally. When asked where she gets the energy to help so many people while simultaneously running a massive humanitarian organization, Amma says, “Where there is true love, everything is effortless.” She has never asked anyone to change their religion, but only to go deeper into their faith, and to live by its essential principles.

Her extraordinary acts of love and self sacrifice have given rise to a vast network of spiritual and charitable activities such as care homes for children and elderly, public health, disaster relief, building homes for the needy, community outreach, research and healthcare etc. The Amala Bharatam Campaign is an initiative by her aimed at improving public health and proper disposal of waste. Last month, during her 59th birthday at Amritapuri, several new charitable initiatives, including financial assistance for victims of LPG tanker explosion at Kannur were announced.

Mata Amritanandamayi,

V

ellapallyNatesan, the powerful leader of the SreeNarayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam is well known for his bold and fearless crusade against the marginalization and exploitation of his community.

Outspoken by nature, Vellapally as he is commonly called by his followers, is the undisputed leader to the 75 lakh or so people belonging to the Ezhava community all over the world.

While the politics in the god’s own country is still vastly influenced by the power play of various religious groups, the NairEzhava animosity has considerably contributed in the side-lining of both the groups to mere spectators. It is at this point that Natesan’s efforts to unify the two major castes gains relevance. During Natesan’s seventeen years as the general secretary, S.N.D.P transmogrified into an organization with considerable clout in the political climate of Kerala.

The SNDP Yogam is the only major social organisation in the state that has openly decided to mark its allegiance to one of the two political fronts, in this case the LDF. Once an economically deprived, socially marginalized and educationally disadvantaged community, Ezhavas now contribute greatly to the financial, social and cultural health of the state.

The feisty leader has been critical in moving up yellow in the colour ladder making it a significant one in the plethora of other colours that adorn the Kerala landscape.

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Life

NOVEMBER 2012

Spiritual guru

2012 NOVEMBER

Life

17

survey

WHAT WE THINK 2012

OF OURSELVES

1

What does make you proud as a Malayali?

Literacy

53%

People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%.

20%

Hygiene

40%

Landscape Healthcare

22% 16%

Religious existence Living Standard

44%

Why do we introduce ourselves as ‘Keralite’ or ‘Malayali’ instead of ‘Indian’?

3

38%

Out of nostalgia

44%

Kerala is well-known to others 26%

Highest literacy rate

Why do Malayalis consume so much alcohol?

19%

Out of depression

47%

For merry making

49%

Part of lifestyle Affordable price for all Good for health to an extend

Life

NOVEMBER 2012

People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%.

0%

What does make Kerala attire different from other dresses?

46%

Highest literacy rate To get advantage 02%

People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%.

2

06%

65%

18

To get advantage

4%

People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%.

13% 10%

Out of nostalgia Kerala is well-known to others Highest literacy rate

4

5 7

What is the secret of Malayali’s ubiquitousness in the universe?

25%

Acclimatize with anything easily

51%

People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%.

6 8

Hard work

11%

Looking for innovations

41%

In search of fortune Intelligent People

36%

What are the changes you think should happen in Kerala?

61%

Improve development 50%

Stop political violence

59%

effective waste disposal

People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%.

30%

ban dowery system

39%

need self-sufficiency

Does Malayalis have a ‘know-it-all’ attitude?

83%

Yes 17%

No

Are Keralites more conservatives compared to other parts of India?

78%

Yes No

22%

Do you think the ‘God’s own country’ tag is apt for Kerala?

70%

Yes 30%

No

9

What are the other popular idioms, like ‘adipoli’ and ‘pani kitti’, you have heard in Kerala recently?

kidu, Thuppi, pani paali,ettinte pani, pani pali, kalipayi, kapoorayi, onnu po appa, uvva, kikkidu, sasi aayi, Post kitti, scene contra, mental stigma, ithokke enthu, plug kitti, thenju otti, kuru potti, thuppi, vann 2012 NOVEMBER

Life

19

jumbos

Elephantine reflections India has a glowing past of four millennia of Man-Elephant relationship with anecdotal references about the domestication of elephants. Here goes the flashback Text Devidas Warrier

T In Kerala, elephants are worshipped as the carriers of gods and goddesses. Kerala has over 600 captive elephants predominantly used in temple festivals like the Thrissur Pooram, Guruvayur Ekadasi and Aanayottam, Aarattupuzha Pooram and Koodalmanikyam Temple Festival etc 20

Life

NOVEMBER 2012

he very image of an elephant crowds our minds with a host of feelings. For Keralites, it evokes feelings of awe, love, fear and devotion. The awareness that this biggest land mammal on our planet has been declared as our National Heritage Animal fills us with a justifiable pride. Called “Aana” in Malayalam, the elephant has etched an indelible impress on the familial, colloquial, social, literary, cultural, religious and even spiritual psyche of every Malayali. The Malayalam language and literature are replete with jocular and serious references to the elephant, almost always conveying a significant message of guidance and advice. For example, if you just look around any sector of Kerala life, or even scan the newspapers and magazines, you will come across any number of ‘aanakkallans’ (meaning big and incorrigible thieves) stalking around. We will also be seeing ‘aanamatayans’ (blundering fools or idiots). We will find well-dressed and beautiful men and women who have an ‘aanachantham’ (overall grace or elegance). “Aanayamukkans” (those who can hide even an elephant and also keep big and small secrets close to their hearts) are not far to seek. Just think of the many mafias in the country and you will locate the “Aanaraanchis” (literally, huge vultures).

There are “aanakkallans,” “aanayamukkans” and “aanaraanchis” camouflaging their true nature with a visage full of “aanachantham” and doing their nefarious works. Sad indeed that the fair name of the great mammal associated with Lord Ganapathy (Gajamukha and Vighneswara), is being linked with such evil characters. It is another sad fact that there are practically no “aanamatayans” among these evil people.

The Elephant Indian elephants are direct descendants of African elephants. Asia has more than 60,000 wild elephants, the majority being in India. The number of captive elephants was the highest during the period of the Mauryan Emperors who used them in war and for logging wood and in construction activities. The elephant population plummeted during the British era and during the immediate postindependence period. Although ecological destruction and poaching are still a grievous threat, thanks to stringent protective measures there is a rebound noticed in elephant population in recent times.

Among the land mammals, this social animal has the 10th rank in intelligence, with good memory and high learning capacity. In Kerala, they are worshipped as the carriers of gods and goddesses.

Kerala has over 600 captive elephants predominantly used in temple festivals like the Thrissur Pooram, Guruvayur Ekadasi and Aanayottam, Aarattupuzha Pooram and Koodalmanikyam Temple Festival etc.

Caparisoned elephants, colourful umbrellas and other related paraphernalia are now a common sight even in Christian Church Celebrations.

Body The ultra-heavy body of the elephant (the African elephant has an average weight of 7,000 kg, the highest score for all land mammals) is designed for self-protection and survival in a hostile environment.

With over 40,000 muscles in its trunk, an elephant can easily lift upto 300 kg. In the absence of sweat glands, they use their trunks to shed their sweat.

While the end of an Indian elephant’s trunk has only one finger, the African elephant has two. The two tusks are used as tools for protection against other

animals. Unlike in the African elephant, only the males have tusks in the Asian elephant.

The Indian elephant has smaller ears than its African counterpart, and also has a higher forehead.

The elephant communicates with other elephants through very low sound frequencies inaudible to the human auditory system. Through the fanning of its two ears containing innumerable tiny blood vessels it’s capable of receiving a wide range of frequencies. It consumes upto 140 kg of food and drinks over 150 to 200 litres of water daily.

Tryst with history A standing monument to the contribution of the Indian elephant to the construction of structures in India is the Brihadeeswara Temple in Thanjavur in 1010 AD. The temple is made up of 1,30,000 tons of granite. The 66-metre tall “vimana” is the tallest in South India. Emperor Rajaraja Chola could get this great architectural marvel only by deploying hundreds of elephants to carry heavy loads of granite. The Chola Kings of Thanjavur and the Ahoms of Assam have left a treasure house of elephant literature. The Sanskrit classic of Gajashastra, dated over 5,000 years ago, contains a rich source of topics as Capture and Care of Elephants. The Konarak Temple walls depict scenes of captured elephants.

Sonepur Mela, the popular Fair where elephants are bought and sold every year, traces its origin to the Gupta period. It is believed that the Fair originated as a market to buy war elephants for the stables of the Mauryan Emperor Chandra Gupta who commanded over 9,000 elephants at the height of his empire. Coins issued during his regime also carried the emblem of elephants.

It is said that during the Battle of Hydaspas River, Alexander the Great and his army were no match to the Indian Kings who had the backing of 1,000 war elephants all armoured and fitted with swords on their trunks. Bows and long spears were launched by marksmen from the howdahs (platforms) on the backs of the elephants.

While the British Army used the steady supply of elephants from the forests of Dhaka and Garo Hills and multiple catchment areas of Burma for their forays into the forests, the British tea planters captured them from Assam forests and sold them to timber firms in Burma using the Forest Department controlled by the British themselves.

J.W. Milroy, a young officer of the Assam Forest Department and his friends introduced the Khedda system of elephant-capturing which is more humane than the lassoing method. The measures introduced under his initiative helped establish a system where the health of the elephant came first

The Sanskrit classic of Gajashastra, dated over 5,000 years ago, contains a rich source of topics as Capture and Care of Elephants

2012 NOVEMBER

Life

21

jumbos

and foremost.

Poaching of tuskers

The total Elephant Habitat in India has been marked as 1,15,000 sq.km with the majority share being in the North-East and in South India

During the post-independence period, poaching for ivory remained the main threat to the Indian elephant. The strong demand for ivory from Japan led to indiscriminate poaching of tuskers thereby creating a male-female population imbalance in the wild. As late as 1972, however, elephants were included in Schedule I of the Wild Life Protection Act. This ensured a complete ban on capture, killing and trade of wild elephants. Further progress in elephant conservation and habitat protection was made with the launch of the Project Elephant in 1992. The aim of the Project was to address the threats to the survival of elephants in India.

The total Elephant Habitat in India has been marked as 1,15,000 sq.km with the majority share being in the North-East and in South India. Project Elephant estimates that there are around 27,694 wild elephants in India. This is a welcome sign of recovery for wild elephants from 25 years ago when there were only 15,627 elephants in the wild.

Statistics Statistics show that the maximum number of wild elephants in South India is 14,005 with Kerala having the highest number of 6,068. As of 2007, Kerala has recorded a captive elephant population of 620, the second highest in the country. Assam leads with 1,250 captive elephants. The majority of the captive pachyderms in Kerala find themselves devoted to the temple festival circuit. Their role in the timber yards and for forestry works has gradually died out over the years with the introduction of modern-day heavy duty machinery. The Man-Elephant relationship in Kerala has deteriorated in recent years.

This is largely due to callous indifference in the care of captive elephants. A massive statewide Elephant Literacy (Gaja Saksharata) Campaign can

22

Life

NOVEMBER 2012

be organized in Kerala to improve the Man-Elephant relationship. The State Literacy Council, the Library Movement, Devaswom Boards, various temple managements, Nehru Yuva Kendras and Kudumbasree can jointly conduct such a campaign.

(Devidas Warrier is a senior retired Indian Information Service Officer who has involved himself in diverse areas of social work ranging from Literacy and HIV/AIDS Prevention to broad spectrum Public Health Communication, Adolescent and Family Counselling, Tourism Promotion and Management Education. He is based in Thrissur)

Idioms and proverbs related to jumbos Adi thettiyaal aanayum veezhum – Even an elephant will fall if its foot slips.

Aanayku kombu ghanamo? – Is the tusk a burden for the elephant?

Aanayku mani kettuka – What is the need for adornment of an already accomplished person?

Aanavaayil ambazhanga – Too little food for a big person.

C Aanavaayil petta karimpu polae – An irretrievM able thing, like the money given to a lawyer.

Y Aanayillattha aaraattu – Performing a task or function without the quintessential item.

CM Aanayae Aattinkuttiyayi karuthuka – (Mistakenly) MY consider a big shot as a small fry.

CY Aanayudae mumpil muyal mukkuka – (Like a) rabbit showing off before an elephant.

CMY Aanayae kaanaan vellezhuthu – Behaving as if K you are unaware of what is quite visible.

Aanatthalakkulla vila koduthu aattinthala kontuvarika – Buy a cheap thing at an exorbitant price.

Aana kalippikkuka – A weakling trying tricks on a strong person.

Aana kodutthalum aasha kodukkaruthu – Even if you give a big gift, don’t give false hopes.

Aanakkarantae pakkal chunnambu chodika – Making petty requests to great people.

Aanachuvappilum adhika chuvappu – pitch black.

2012 NOVEMBER

Life

23

kerala travel mart

Mart of good hope As many as 1,486 buyers — 398 international and 1,088 domestic buyers — participated in the three-day Kerala Travel Mart 2012 held in Kochi

Text FWD MEDIA PhotosVarious sources

There was a lot of enthusiasm among buyers who arrived at the mart. Hotels, resorts, travel agencies, airline groups, houseboats and tourism departments of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu were also participated as sellers

K

erala Travel Mart 2012 (KTM), held at Le Meridien Convention Centre, Kochi was a totally different affair compared to its previous editions. This year, the mart showcased new aspects of tourism, including environmental issues and responsible tourism. Helicopter service and farm stays were some of the new products introduced at the Travel Mart. New concepts of adventure tourism and MICE (convention) tourism were also emerged during the mart. There was a lot of enthusiasm among buyers who arrived at the mart. Hotels, resorts, travel agencies, airline groups, houseboats and tourism departments of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu were also participated as sellers. Tourism sector generates Rs 19,300 crore (of which 4,700 core foreign exchange) every year and provides livelihood for about 1.2 million people. Tourism industry is the second largest source of foreign exchange after NRK remittance.

Sellers C.K. Manjunath, a receptionist in Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation, said that the tourism department was mainly concentrating on responsible tourism, eco tourism and historical tourism. “We have tourists from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Rajasthan. The department gives taxi car driving training and guide training for SC/ST people who have passed SSLC in an effort to create job opportunities. The government also gives 50 per 24

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cent subsidy to them for taxis.”

Homestays and farm stays were the major attractions in the mart. O.N. Damodaran, an engineerturned-entrepreneur, who along with his wife runs Olappamanna Mana homestay in Palakkad, said, “Homestays offer a warm stay for guests; different from what hotels and resorts can provide. As hosts, we mingle with the guests informally and give a lot of information on nearest major tourist attractions.

There will be “kalamezhuthupaattu” and other traditional arts at Olappamanna Mana.” There are three rooms which can accommodate 11 guests.

He had his own business of making plastic pharmaceutical containers. After 25 years, he sold it and turned to homestay business; realizing the growth potential of tourism. “We have guests from Europe and US. I don’t expect much business here. But the mart helps us get in touch with people,” he added.

Emerald Isle in Alappuzha has the concept of farm and homestay together. It has paddy field and garden in nine acre land. They organize “nadan pattu” for guests in the evenings.

Seminars As part of the travel mart, seminars and discussions also held at the venue. Speaking at the seminar on the topic “The evolving tourist destinations: A buyer’s reflection,” Hans Jorg Hussong, Managing Director, Comtour and Chairman, Discover India Society, emphasized the importance of streamlining houseboats and operators to connect more with

tourists, investing in more environment-friendly products like chemical toilets, imparting good training to the crew on the boats and retaining the houseboat in its authentic state.

B. Chandran, Director, Hammock Leisure Holidays Pvt. Ltd, said that KTM was an incredible example of public and private participation.

By working together they have been able to bring down costs more effectively.

He was of the opinion that that the full potential of domestic tourism had not been recognized. “Focus on domestic tourism in the off seasons and during the monsoon when Kerala is at her greenest. Prices may be reduced in the off season to encourage domestic travelers to travel,” he added.

Sarvin Warden, Partner, Designer Holidays & Designer Incentives & Conferences, pointed out that Kerala should attract the big spenders by starting more restaurants, spas and developing the marinas. “Kerala should look at what the market wants. Tourist should be able to fly in directly on nonstop flights to Kerala.”

Dipak Dev, C EO, Kuoni, India and South East Asia, who fell in love with Fort Kochi, said, “Don’t tamper with nature. The backwaters are God’s greatest gift to Kerala. No malls should be allowed in natural tourist spots. Take a cue from Sri Lanka. Learn from their rights and from our wrongs. Kerala should look at new markets; create awareness among the emerging ones.”

Resolution To brand Kerala as a clean tourist destination, the Tourism Department has decided to clean up nine major tourist spots in the State. A resolution in this regard was passed at the KTM. The selected destinations are Kovalam, Varkala, Alappuzha, Munnar, Thekkady, Marine Drive, Fort Kochi, Wayanad and Kumarakom.

Under the programme, it has been decided to clean these places by September 2013. The official inauguration of the campaign was held on October 2 at Kovalam. “The KTM 2012 has identified solid waste management as the major problem prevailing in the tourism sector of the State. As part of the responsible tourism programme we have decided to solve this issue,” said Rani George, Director of Tourism during the concluding session of the travel mart.

On the occasion, Suman Billa, Secretary, Kerala Tourism, said that the tourism industry has grown because of the unique features in the state. We have to protect our identity to attain growth in the industry,” he said. “This is for the first time that the tourism industry and the department have come together to clean up the major tourist destinations in the State. For the past several years the sector has been growing at a rate of around 50 per cent. In order to retain this growth rate we have to implement innovative ideas in the field,” he added.

The next travel mart will be held in September 2014.

The selected destinations which come under the cleaning up project by the Tourism Department are Kovalam, Varkala, Alappuzha, Munnar, Thekkady, Marine Drive, Fort Kochi, Wayanad and Kumarakom

2012 NOVEMBER

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in focus

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Lights, Camera, Poetry Text & Photos Anusha Paul

After a host of notable performances in other languages, actress Bhumika Chawla is keen on doing meaningful roles in Mollywood

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t first sight, you can’t ignore her infectious smile and innocence. Actress Bhumika Chawla, who is known for her scintillating performance in director Blessy’s “Bhramaram,” was on a sabbatical as far as Mollywood is concerned. After a brief hiatus, the actor landed in Kochi recently to attend the Kochi International Fashion Week.

Amidst her projects in other languages, Bhumika accompanies her husband Bharat Thakur, an exponent of artistic yoga, in his yoga sessions across the globe. “There is nothing like yoga that can lift your soul,” beams Bhumika, “By adapting ancient yoga techniques and postures to suit contemporary lifestyle requirements, Thakur has come up with an experimental form that works on all aspects of fitness — strength, flexibility, stamina, balance and agility,” she says. Little wonder that his clientele includes corporate houses as wells as Bollywood actors like Salman Khan and Kareena Kapoor.

Slowly segueing into her film career, Bhumika recalled her character in “Bhramaram,” as the wife of actor Mohanlal. “Though I haven’t watched many Malayalam movies, it was fantastic experience acting with Mohanlal. Everything comes naturally to him, and it was a learning experience too,” she adds. “In fact, I was bowled over by excellent scripts and execution in Mollywood.” The “Sillunu Oru Kaadhal” girl also has high regard for filmmaker

Blessy who introduced her to Malayalam.

Born in a Punjabi family based in New Delhi, Bhumika started her career with Prithvi theatre in Mumbai. She was called up for an audition by actor Nagarjuna’s production company which, subsequently, offered her a role in Telugu film “Yuvakudu”.

Since then, there’s no looking back as she went on to act in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam films.

“A few Tamil and Telugu projects are in the offing. But I am in no hurry to engage in a busy working schedule now. I would love to do Malayalam movies also,” reveals the demure actress, who has acted with Amitabh Bachchan in “Dil Jho Bhi Kahe” and Salman Khan in “Tere Naam.” Bhumika yearns for acting with Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor. According to Bhumika, there is a great combination of an actor and a star in Ranbir.

Poetry Meanwhile, Bhumika is waiting with bated breath for the release of her first book, a collection of her poems, in December. “I’ve always been interested in poetry, and the poems in the book had been written over the years,” says Bhumika. “My poems are not based on any particular theme. I write about anything that inspires me.”

Bhumika Chawla will next be seen in the Telugu flick “April Fool” with Jagapati Babu in the lead.

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in focus

Sneak Peek Bhumika is waiting with bated breath for the release of her first book, a collection of her poems, in December

Favourite food?

Can’t say anything as specific. Basically I am a foodie…

What’s in your iPod? Trance-Buddha bar, old Hindi songs, instrumental music

Favourite travel destination?

Paris, Switzerland

Do you support Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay and Transgender (LBGT) community?

It’s ok. Everyone has their own choice. We should not force them. If it’s their choice, let it be like that….

Favourite brands?

It will be a mixture of every brand Actors you admire most?

Salman Khan, Amithabh Bachchan and Mohanlal Are you a tech savvy person?

No. But I have iPad, iPod, Galaxy Note, MacBook Air, Blackberry.

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What is your opinion about nudity in movies?

There is a lean difference between vulgarity and sensuality. It depends on the script. If script demands, then it’s fine with technical perfection.

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real estate

Lifestyle creators With a host of interesting projects in the offing, Asten Realtors is all set to redefine the concept of living in apartments and villas

T “We are also coming out with eco-friendly projects designed by famous architect Sanjay Mohe.”

Raffi Mather, Joint Managing Director, Asten Realtors

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he realtor duo is on a mission. Their vision to reinvent quality living in Kochi complements the mission. Siraj Mather and Raffi Mather — the cornerstones of Asten Mather Company, are highly successful entrepreneurs who have already proved their mettle in the industry during their stint with Mather Group. Headquartered in Kochi, Asten Realtors creates unique Workspaces, Fun spaces and Home spaces. Their projects include quality apartments, villas, malls, commercial spaces and more.

The company aims to set the industry standards in realty and be the first choice amongst discerning residential and commercial space buyers. “Our focus is very clear that we are going to do stylish apartments and villas from 20,000 sq ft to 20 lakh sq ft.

A few waterfront apartments and villas are also in the pipeline. Irrespective of the numbers, project

wise, we want to be the best. Keeping that in mind, we have a team of the best architects, especially from Bengaluru and outside India,” explains Raffi, and adds, “We are also coming out with eco-friendly projects designed by the famous award-winning architect, Sanjay Mohe, one of the best architects in India. He has designed many of the prestigious buildings in India.”

Business in Kerala Quite often we have heard of entrepreneurs grousing about lack of certain facilities in Kerala. But Raffi Mather, who is the Joint Managing Director of the company, has a different opinion. According to him, there are limitations in every State in the country.

“As far as Kerala is concerned, the latest trend is that people have started to come back from US and UK. They have finally started to settle down in

Kerala. The infrastructure is far better here now. So far, I’ve no problem with the bureaucracy here,” he points out. However, Raffi Mather welcomes FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) in real estate. He feels that it would pave the way for a healthy competition in the field.

Siraj Mather, Managing Director, Asten Realtors, holds the view that FDI will change the Indian scenario. “Nations have to support each other for the country’s growth. FDI will enhance growth.

Consumers will get quality products and umpteen options like different constructions, locales and living standards. So it’s a benefit for them also,” says Siraj as a matter-of-fact.

Meanwhile, he disagrees with the notion that FDI will hike the prices in retail. “Price hike is there almost in all fields. But it won’t undermine customers’ benefit,” he adds. The veteran realtor, who has an experience of over two decades in the industry, foresees that townships will be the trend in future.

Projects Touted to be one-of-a-kind township project in Kerala, Campus Court, 25-storied apartment complex and Asten Mall, a commercial shopping mall, are the prestigious projects of Asten Realtors. Both the projects are being set up on the 100-acre Rajagiri

Vidyapeetom premises at Kakkanad in Kochi. Asten Mall will have multiplex, food court, hypermarkets and other lifestyle stores. A 100-room five-star Asten Hotel is also coming up in the Asten Shopping Mall. The whole project is developed by M/s.

Thomas Associates, who are famous architects from Bengaluru.

Campus Court will have about 360 apartments and an approximate built-up area of 1760 sq ft for 3BHK, 1572 sq ft for 2BHK+study with car parking facilities. The common facilities include club house, indoor games room, pool table, gym, yoga area, steam and sauna, swimming pool, home theatre, rooftop party area, helipad rain water harvesting, piped cooking gas supply, children’s play area, multi-storied car parking and 24-hour security with CCTV etc. Infopark and the upcoming SmartCity are about 1.5 km from this site. The project construction is going on and will be completed in 36 months.

Dew Dale, Kanjirapally in Kottayam is another project of Asten Realtors. There are 2 and 3 bedroom boutique apartments ranging from 1,285 to 1,726 sq ft.

Siraj Mather and Raffi Mather, the lifestyle creators and real estate experts, move ahead with the experience they earned in the field over the years to fulfill your dream called ‘home’.

“Nations have to support each other for the country’s growth. FDI will enhance growth. Consumers will get quality products and umpteen options like different constructions, locales and living standards. So it’s a benefit for them also,” Siraj Mather, Managing Director, Asten Realtors

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fashion

Fashion designer Ritukumar’s bridal collections exude a new classicism, an improvisation inspired from the vintage clothing The collection was an emotive representation of women’s character, most of them being inspired from the epic Mahabharat.

It showcased delicate and feminine bridal wear with a vibrant colour palate comprising of strong hues and bright, bold shades

R

itu Kumar, the ace fashion designer who loves experimenting on Indian bridal wear layered with different genres of textiles and designing techniques, once again exhibited her fabric artistry at the Malayala Manorama Wedding Fair held at Hotel Taj

Gateway on September 28. Through the collections, titled “Panchavastra,” she and the brides-to-be celebrated the skill of craft by communities who exclusively mastered the distinctive evolution of India’s fashion and bridal repertoire.

With bridal trials of this kind Mrs. Kumar often finds the creations exuding a new classicism, an improvisation inspired from the vintage clothing.

The collection was an emotive representation of women’s character, most of them being inspired from the epic Mahabharat. It showcased delicate and feminine bridal wear with a vibrant colour palate comprising of strong hues and bright, bold shades.

Heavily worked on with mirror work, gota and zardosi embroidery, this signature collection portrayed a regal look to the brides. Purity, seduction, swayamvar, exile and darkness were the predominant themes running through these eclectic designer bridal wear. Having said so much about the collection, we want our readers to know what they missed out by not being there at the wedding fair which displayed the latest editions of Ritu’s bridal wear.

Collections The choreographer of the show, Sunil Menon, who has been in the fashion industry since the 90’s, 32

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shared with FWD Life about the bridal collections.

He said: “Like any bride, the models walking the ramp for this bridal show are to have a coy smile which adds beauty to the bridal wear. The show will be having 10 models of which most of them are Miss Beauty Queens of South India and many of them are walking the ramp for Ritu Kumar for the second or third time.”

The show began with an ivory anarkali dress in cotton silk fabric finished with black and gota border on yoke along with a black chanderi thread embroidered jacket giving a royal look to the wear. This is paired with an ivory jamdani chunni with light black embroidered border.

This ‘show starter’ was followed by a deep burgundy woven matka silk fabric lehenga with rich traditional zardozi embroidery finished with brocade embroidered farshi border. The rich embroidered lehenga was worn along with a delicate navy coloured woven buti trendy kurti with zardozi embroidery and a black silk woven chunni.

The kurthi has been designed in a manner making it gel with a less embroidered silk skirt and the lehenga too can be matched with a traditional blue matka silk kurthi complemented with zardozi work having furnishings, trappings, parasols and equestrian ornaments. And this bridal wear costs Rs

1,05,000.

The next on ramp was a gold georgette lehenga with burgundy velvet patching on body. The look inspired from Jaipur, a heritage of gota and hand embroidery combined with a burgundy net chunni, costing Rs 1,99,000. Gota work is a kind of appliqué fabric ornamentation with small pieces of zari or ribbons stitched onto the fabric with the edges sewn down to create elaborate patterns.

Ritu’s creativity crossed the sea to showcase the old and venerable hand woven textile craft form ‘Mashroo’ from Persia. And for the show, it came in the form of a black satin sari with rich zardozi embroidery finished with gota border, paired with a black mashroo full sleeve elegant blouse. Others were a trendy anarkali in chanderi fabric and ivory colour with light ari and kashida embroidery finished with a lurex border, paired with an ivory coloured silk churidar with a woven jamdani chunni with light embroidery.

The best part about the bridal costumes of the show is the fact that most of them are wearable and can be mixed and matched. So watching the models walk the ramp with these beautiful outfits would have never let the audience think —“It’s pretty, but will it be sensible to bag one of these just for an occasion?”

The best part about the bridal costumes of the show is the fact that most of them are wearable and can be mixed and matched

2012 NOVEMBER

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success story

Homing in

on dreams Text Thabitha Marion Photo SREERAG VINOD

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T

he mien of a successful businessman hardly conveys his tale of struggles in the past. As an entrepreneur, Pradeep Kumar, Managing Director of AGP Home Centre, Kochi, had experienced both meteoric rise and steep fall during his initial days. Learning from his failures helped him succeed against the odds. As a youngster, Pradeep’s inclination was towards cinematography. So he left for Chennai to become a cinematographer. At that time his father was in the business of selling musical instruments in Kozhikode. But his father wanted him to start a business venture instead of pursuing cinematography. He knuckled under to his father’s pressure and returned to Kozhikode. His baptism in business was the launch of a garment store in the city. He also got involved in many other businesses which fetched him good profit.

Rise and fall His lifestyle had a drastic change. From a moderate house, his family shifted to a swanky mansion. He drove around in the most expensive cars of those days. “Gradually I realized that dark days began to creep into my business paradise. One by one it began to collapse. The financial crisis went to the extent of forcing me to sell my dream home and other property I had earned,” says Pradeep.

The plight was so bad that he chose to relocate to Kochi. With no money in hand, he initially thought of shifting to a rented house. “But then I told to myself that mingling with the elite would help me feel the pinch of coming up in life. Enthusiasm was there, but no source for a startup. I borrowed nearly one lakh from a friend and took a posh apartment for rent and invested a share of it for business.

Getting up after a big fall wasn’t easy. But with my determination and by the God’s grace, I was able to retrieve whatever I lost within a couple of months,” he adds.

New beginning He started all over again with the sale of imported melamine crockery from Thailand and Vietnam which was sold all over India. This unbreakable microwave-friendly crockery helped him rebuild his shattered business empire. As a new concept, the goods were sold on the basis of its weight, and this novel idea worked out in his favour. “For promoting the goods in the market we used to be part of many exhibitions. Then I thought of setting up an event management firm. Cochin Global Village, an exhibition held in April 2009 and Malabar Gold Vasanthol-

savam, held at the Marine Drive in December 2011 in association with district administration and DTPC, are the major events we have organised so far,” says Pradeep.

AGP Home Centre, a three-storied home furniture and furnishing mall, was set up at the KaloorKadavanthra Road, Kochi a year ago. A crockery store which has imported goods was also established adjacent to it.

AGP Home Centre has furnishings and home accessories on the ground floor and exclusive Sofitalia sofas on the first floor. On the second floor, there are Caneco cane furniture, wooden furniture in teak imported from Thailand and Indonesia, dining and office furniture - Officity. “Natural and fashionable environment-friendly Indonesian rattan-made cane bar chairs are available in our store in the city,” he says. He also reveals how he named the store ‘AGP’. “The name has it all. ‘A’ stands for Abhishek, my son, ‘G’ for Govind, my father and ‘P’ stands for me,” he smiles. Excerpts from the interview:

How is the furniture market trend now?

About 10 years ago, if the customer had to purchase for `10,000 in a furniture store, they would spend only ` 5,000. The remaining amount is savings. But now a customer who visits the store with ` 20,000 in hand would choose furniture which is costlier and would leave the amount as an advance payment.

Qualities of a good businessman…

Sincere interaction in business, with family, friends and staff is the key to success.

A move which successfully brought you back into business…

I asked myself what was the cause of my initial failure. I figured it out and rectified it.

Tell us about your future plans…

New stores will be coming up in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode. Moreover, we have plans of venturing into film production.

How do you cope with stress?

When I feel stress, I go for massage. It helps me rejuvenate.

Wealth, fame or family; which one would you choose?

Of course, it’s my family. They have been with me through my thick and thin.

As a youngster, Pradeep’s inclination was towards cinematography. So he left for Chennai to become a cinematographer 2012 NOVEMBER

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entertainment

Cinema Text Bhawani Cheerath

With the entry of a string of newcomers in Malayalam Cinema, the industry has started to experience a sea change after a hiatus. Here’s an analysis of the current scenario in Mollywood

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t’s time to say, ‘Good times are back.’ Thanks to the new crop of talent in every tier of filmmaking: stories have changed, the manner of telling them is fresh, locations have moved out of palmfringed scenic Kerala. The ‘watchability quotient’ and the genre they embrace make us, the audience, ask for more.

The year 2011 marked a clear shift in the kind of films that scaled the popularity charts. We have often heard it said when speaking of Malayalam films of the 70s, ‘Malayalam films before and after Adoor Gopalakrishnan’s “Swayamwaram.” In this decade the watershed year could be described as, ‘Malayalam Cinema before and after Rajesh Pillai’s “Traffic” (2011).’ No arthouse film this. But, the bar has been raised through the distinctive storyline, novel narrative style and the gripping mood it maintained from the word, ‘Go’.

Newbies The change is perceptible. We are moving out of the ‘Super star’ syndrome. Better still the Superstar-studded films and the newbie ones may provide the checks and balances to keep each one of them strive to retain the ‘eyeballs and footfalls’. There is every possibility that the present crop of new faces may not be here for the long haul. Many of them have come from other professions to fulfil their ‘dreams.’ Obviously, their true skills would help them course through the crest and trough of an unpredictable field such as the film industry. There are multi starrers and ‘rising sons’ like Vineeth Srinivasan , Fahad Fazil ( Chappa Kurishu, 22 Female Kottayam, Diamond Necklace) Dulquer (Ustad Hotel), who do not come with the baggage nor carry the chip on the shoulder, even while we accept the fact that the take off may have been smoother for the trio than that fate of an absolute greenhorn!

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Self consciousness is passé for the bright young things, be it the way they carry themselves and the uninhibitedness on display; Rima Kalingal in “22 Female Kottayam” or Remya Nambessan in “Chappa Kurishu”, to name a couple. There is indeed a bigger basket to choose from when casting for a film. Sathyan Anthikad’s latest offering, “Puthiya Theerangal” is a reminder of how a rural setting can also be inviting provided the homework is well done. Anthikad succeeds in etching a convincing a portrayal of a girl as a free bird sans coyness sharing a joie de vivre with her good friends, the three young men, in a well conceived plot. A lot of back-patting, friendly banter is exchanged, before Cupid strikes, quite similar to what happens among the college going crowd or, among those who are moulding themselves for embracing lifestyles of the globalised world.

A host of films that would have appealed to a large cross section reached theatres this year –“Arike,” “Aakashatinte Niram,” “Ee Adutha Kalathu,” “Spirit,” “Ordinary,” “Salt ’n Pepper,” “Molly Aunty Rocks,” “22 Female Kottayam,” “Ustad Hotel” and “Thattathin Marayathu” - to name a few. While “Spirit” in this lot is the only one with a ‘Superstar’ in the lead, all the others have achieved a certain acceptance and scaled popularity charts by virtue of word-of-mouth publicity. The last mentioned was a rare feature for the past many years because the despondent refrain, ‘Malayalam cinema is in the dumps, no hope for a return’ has been around for quite sometime.

Filmmaking ‘Have money make film’ now has an essential add on, not to be ignored one bit – prepare a proper script. “Ustad Hotel” is one major example of the amount of homework done, before the camera was

Paradiso set rolling. Anjali Menon as scriptwriter for “Happy Journey” in “Kerala Café,” “Manjadikuru” and now “Ustad Hotel,” leads by example.

On a totally different platform one gets films like “Spirit” and “Molly Aunty Rocks.” Despite the preachy air that “Spirit” acquired in patches, there was another kind of novelty on display – alcohol dependence and Mohanlal in the film offered a potent mix – selling a lifestyle and kinks in the personality – making us think, ‘after all he’s not a bad guy.’(!!)

“Molly Aunty Rocks” is a brave attempt. Few would venture to make a film on a theme that has a forty something woman in the main lead, done with a certain élan by Revati. Here is one example that holds out hope – to think out of the box and draw on seasoned talent to add value to the film.

An idyllic charm, stunning frames from M.J. Radhakrishnan, a well turned out screenplay “Akaashathinte Niram” by Dr Biju, is still doing the round of festivals and detractors tag the film as one ‘made with festival circuits in mind’. But, the filmmaker deserves his due for imbuing the film with a pace and an elegance, rarely witnessed nowadays.

While on the success graph of films made this year a major ingredient in packaging the films has been the music and the songs rendered. Across the board films have given us some exquisite music and a lyrics rendered to music with a sparkling freshness – ‘Thaattahin marayathe penne…..’, ‘Muthuchippi poloru…..’, in “Thattathin Marayathu,” ‘Nilamalare nilamalare….’, ‘Thottu Thottu……..’ in “Diamond Necklace” or ‘Mazhakondu maathram mullakkunna……’, ‘Ee chillayil ninnu……’ from “Spirit,” to mention a few.

Filmmakers Moving from mere popular entertainment are directors T.V. Chandran – “Bhoomiyude Avakasshikal,”

K. Gopinath – “Ithramaathram” and Madhu Pal – “Ozhimuri.” Saturated with humanism, a return to the world of warmth which reposed immense trust and faith in Mother Nature, Chandran’s new film is soothing on the surface but leaves us with some thoughts to ponder on. “Ithramaathram” unspools in an episodic manner giving us insights into the heroine’s (Shweta Menon) persona, the transformation and an undercurrent of tension between her and the husband (Biju Menon) palpable throughout. Madhu Pal’s “Ozhimuri” dwells on the social mores and the practice of securing a court separation in the areas of the erstwhile Travancore State, now lying in the Kanyakumari region.

Popular fare in Malayalam runs on parallel tracks as it were – a continuum of films the success of which is pegged on a Mohan Lal (Grandmaster) or Mammootty (Thapaana, Venicile Vyapaari, Jawan of Vellimala) starrer on the one side, and the little young things on the other who are most often doing a lot of things and thinking out aloud what their contemporaries do off screen.

Stories have changed, the manner of telling them on screen has moved on. No more the boymeets-girl syndrome spiced up with song-dance sequences and car chases with major toughee acts.

It is more a changed lifestyle altering the way one handles relationships.

The lowest-common-denominator has risen. We have reason to hope for the good times to continue provided the lure of the lucre, and aspirants with star-studded dreams try to achieve success at a dizzying pace do not get into the trap of formulaic filmmaking, turning out clones of the present day successes.

Stories have changed, the manner of telling them on screen has moved on. No more the boy-meets-girl syndrome spiced up with song-dance sequences and car chases with major toughee acts.

(Bhawani Cheerath is a Thiruvananthapuram-based independent journalist with areas of interest in art, culture, heritage, films and gender studies)

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spotlight

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Style icon of simplicity Unassuming actor Vineeth Kumar gets candid about his makeover and film career

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Text Thabitha Marion

t times telephone interviews are far more interesting than one-on-one conversations.

When I telephoned actor Vineeth Kumar for an interview, he responded with a ‘Hello’. But there was a barking disturbance around at his end. Over the phone, I could hear Vineeth trying to pacify his dear one who was grabbing attention. He said, “Toto is my pet dog. Now that he is silent we can talk peacefully.” The conversation was engaging and jovial. He shared a lot about his experience working with superstars as a child artist and later on as an actor. As an actor, he has immense self confidence about what he is doing and what he should be doing in future. A simple man, Vineeth gives importance to principles, people and time. He talked with much verve during the chat. Excerpts:

Do girls like you for your simplicity or for your captivating cat’s eye?

Girls who are friends like me for my simplicity.

For other girls, their first attraction might be my eyes.

How do you maintain your physique?

I don’t yearn to eat rich food. I work out an hour and a half, doing a bit of yoga, jogging and some movements of kalari which I learnt as a child.

Are you still learning dance?

Not exactly learning, but thinking of starting up a dance production very soon.

Upsetting memory as a child…

I was in fourth grade when Mammootty sir came to Kannur for a shoot. I was so excited and asked permission from my father to go to the location after school.

But he refused and said, “Mammootty is a talented person, but he is just like any other

Photos SHANI

man.” Saying this, the same day my father went to the location and clicked pictures with him. After knowing it, I was cross with my father for a few days.

Do you think that wrong selection of movies has caused a setback in your career?

There hasn’t been any wrong choice made. I decide to act in a movie and if it doesn’t become a box office hit, I don’t regret acting in it, but instead I will take it as an experience.

How did you train yourself to look like a 70-year-old in “Ulahannan”?

I was asked to do the roles of a youngster and an old man too. Initially, I said ‘no’ to the old man’s character, but after two days I called up the director saying that I am game for it. For that character, I had lost around 10 kg, which was worth loosing.

About your exposure in Tollywood...

A lot of interaction and discussions about Malayalam movies happened on the sets. I felt so proud of Malayalam directors who made films which are talked about even today. Above all, I was overwhelmed by their respect and concern for me.

Tell us about your current projects...

Director V.M. Vinu’s investigative thriller “Face to Face,” and “Chapters” directed by Sunil Ibrahim and starring Sreenivasan, Nivin Pauly, among others are my new projects.

Before winding up the conversation, I asked him about his naughty Toto. “The time when I am back after a shoot, he is the first one to receive me. One of my friends gifted him to me when he was a pup. We are so attached that when I go for long shoots, he sleeps on my soiled T-shirts to feel my presence,” signs off Vineeth.

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Photography & Styling by Shani Hair & Make-up by Jijeesh

Makeover Vineeth Kumar The handsome actor turns a smart hunk with Emmanuval Makeover World's largest fashion Empire Emmanuval Silks helped him transform

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Leavened with leather

Zipped black leather jacket worn over white cotton shirt paired with a grey and white striped tie.

Hair style

gel-spiked hair

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Style statement

Custom paint splattered Blue denim shirt well matched with a pair of sunlight yellow cotton trousers.

Hair style

Hair casualy laid back with an oversized handwoven woolen beanie.

Emmanuval Special Collection

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Chivalrous

Black buttoned Vest worn over a round-neck, fullsleeve, black T-shirt well matched with a pair of blue denims.

Hair style

gel-spiked hair

Makeover 2012 NOVEMBER

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comic con

Strips and

Conventions Text kishoremohan k j Photos PRaveen & Vikas

With the first Indian Comic Con, the scene started changing. People have started taking comics seriously

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ith all this talk about dark matter and the dark energy keeping stars from plummeting off to oblivion, one is left with the rather unsettling thought that perhaps Mr. Darth Vader is in charge of the universe. At least when he is not having asthma attack or playing dice with God. Contrary to what Einstein remarked, I do believe that there is a rather dicey game of dice involved in the running of matters. Why would there be so many drastic paradigm shifts (clichéd as the term might sound by now) regarding the way we perceive our world among every sect except may be those of His chosen ones?

It has been eleven months since the Mumbai Comic Con 2011 which incidentally was also our(Libera Artisti's) first, and I can't allow myself to procrastinate writing this any more. Not because I feel that eleven months is too long a time period —maestro of procrastination at your service here — but because we all feel that the recent Bengaluru Comic Con has been the first true milestone in the hitherto non existent comic history of India.

Now don't give me that condescending look. Yes, I am very aware that comics have existed in our

nation for over half a century now, but let's not fool ourselves into believing that our grown ups took them seriously and wouldn't have minded being caught dead with one all these years. Let's all first admit the fact that it was not until recently that our readers started considering comic books as a something beyond just picture books for children.

Good! Now that we're all on the same page, let me get down to business.

That would take me back to the oh-so-clichéd paradigm shift. But this time, the world in consideration is that of panels, artwork and speech bubbles.

It was in 2008 that I got the nerve to look at my two-year long corporate career and say: “F**k this s**t! I’m gonna quit and do something serious!”

“Like what?”, they asked.

“Like comic books!”, I said.

This was followed by a long silence and then a sinister remark that went: “He’s quitting his job to make one of those magazines with dull-witted stories about grown men in tights” That was the scene just four years ago. And yes, for the first two years it did feel like we were stuck in the wrong end of the world when the Grant Morrisons, and Neil Gaimans(Gaimen??) of the world pranced around in green pastures.

But we continued through the dark tunnel looking for the light at the other end. The first ray of dawn fell upon my sunken panda-eyes when "The New Indian Express" decided to publish my comic strip – Marcus and More. Soon afterwards, I was mentioned, rather prematurely, in the "Sunday Guardian" article titled “Pioneers of the Indian Graphic Novel Scene”. Though I am fully aware that I deserved no such mention this early in my career, it did get us some much longed for exposure, and very soon, someone extremely nice and generous started funding our first ever full length graphic novel. And thus “Autopilot” took off, with me writing the story, Sinu doing the art, and Rosh the colours. Later on, we got Aditya Bidikar and Merryn John to do the lettering and graphic design respectively, for the first volume.

With the first Indian Comic Con, the scene started changing. People have started taking comics seriously once some light was thrown onto the tip of the iceberg, that is the full potential of this medium of storytelling. With more players entering the scene, there is now the much needed healthy competition that would fuel the desideratum for quality. Though we did not take part in the first Comic Con, it reassured us that we haven’t chosen the wrong means to earning our daily bread and compelled us to work harder and give it our best.

In the meantime, I started doing three other comic strips on my own – “The Urban Yogi” for FWD Life magazine, “The Blue Hamster Chronicles” for MTV’s Noise Factory, and the ongoing

“Inappropriate” for "The Indian Express". All fun projects that really helped me unwind and keep things light. It also helped me avoid the frustration that could’ve resulted from having to sit and write while Rosh and Sinu got to do all the fun stuff.

The Mumbai Comic Con was the first that we attended and we did not have much to offer at our stall except a preview of what was to come.

But the crowd was kind to us and encouraged us by buying our commissioned sketches and other promotional material featuring characters from the then upcoming comic.

It was also the first time that we got to see so many people dressed up as our favourite comic characters walking around as though they truly belonged to our otherwise mundane world. Thanks to our friends who had dropped in to root for us, we had an amazing time, and we all came back loaded with the goodies that we bought from the other stalls.

In February 2012, at the Delhi Comic Con, we finally brought out the first issue. I can’t thank our publisher, Dragonmill, and the men behind the mill, enough for the phenomenal launch ceremony that was organized for Autopilot. The response was overwhelming. We sold 572 copies in three days, and none of us had known till then that signing so many books back to back could be so much fun.

We thought that we had seen the best of our days so far. But what happened in September at Bengaluru blew us away. The Bengaluru Comic Con was by far the best of the lot!

With more players entering the scene, there is now the much needed healthy competition that would fuel the desideratum for quality

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architecture

Nature’s urban home The exterior form was only a skin to envelope the ideas and to contain the spacious volumes

Text Dhanya Menon Photos Shijo Thomas

The location is a typical city dwelling scenario - tight roads and site, poor turning radius for the vehicles, blocked ventilation etc. These were the challenges for the designers as they had to overcome it with careful detailing

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s it possible to bring in that bit of magic which is usually absent in most of the builder projects?

“This was the big question that loomed before us when we took up this project.” says Ar. Lijo about his unknown client’s requirement as told by the builder. To answer this, they had to go beyond the usual limits to convince the builder to try something that might ultimately change his perception about the built space. Fortunately, the builder was looking for a change and readily accepted the proposal. That’s how the project took shape - a design where spaces could be experienced.

As the client was unknown, Lijo and his wife Reni just got a brief from the builder about their requirements. “It sounded like a dream project as you are not answerable to anyone, but really wanted to see the ‘unknown’ end user satisfied,” says Lijo.

Concept and Site The site is on the busy Sea port - Airport Road at Kakkanad, Kochi. The location is a typical city dwelling scenario - tight roads and site, poor turning radius for the vehicles, blocked ventilation etc.

These were the challenges for the designers as they had to overcome it with careful detailing. The climate, mainly the patterns of the wind and the sun had to be carefully studied and a judicious planning was required.

“Most of the furnished builder projects are interior oriented, but our prime concern was to have the interiors sculpted with the help of wind and sun patterns. This in turn makes it a project where the interiors are architecturally designed,” reveals Lijo.

As a contextual response to the fact that this residence is located on a busy road where apart-

ments are popping up like mushrooms enveloping smaller buildings and plots, the design approach looked inward. This is exactly what the architects have done, but without losing a touch with the Nature. The result was an earthy feel and connection with nature, which they feel is lost from many interiors today. The exterior form was only a skin to encapsulate these ideas and to contain the spacious volumes.

Plan The plan goes very simple with the living, dining and a bedroom in the ground floor and two bedrooms on the first floor. The living and dining areas are designed to be interactive spaces to give a holistic spatial feel; to bring in a larger than real effect to otherwise small rooms. These connected spaces also help keep the air in the interior volumes moving and refreshing. A bamboo court has been thoughtfully placed to pull in light and breeze without having to handle problems of dust and glare.

Interesting views have been framed of the internal spaces and the court, to create curiosity and vibrancy in the occupants. A grill-less window has been placed to overlook the internal court with a wood topped seating, which if ever used would be gently caressed by the slow moving leaves of the bamboo. Even the utility driven area like the staircase is added with a space for sitting back,

overlooking the bamboo court.

Interiors The designers have captured the true essence of their concept by the rich vocabulary of materials used. For flooring, a combination of kota and jaisalmer is used. These materials have been quite misunderstood by any as ‘less expensive,’ compared with the shinny vitrified tiles.

The lighting is designed in a way that it blurs the line between the interior and exterior spaces, thereby breaking the monotony. The absence of drapes in living spaces too is deliberate. “Urban houses are becoming introvert, so we want the living spaces of this house to be vibrant, full of light and connected with the outside world as much as possible” says Lijo. The touch of wood in the furniture adds a bit of earthiness than artificial settings of purely contemporary interiors.

The architects strike a right balance of the three disciplines - architecture, interiors and landscaping, thereby making it magical. The colour scheme of this home is very simple. White dominates the living spaces and yellow adds a dash to it. The use of white colour exudes a dimension of space while clutter-free décor makes a style statement. Bedrooms have an entirely different look. Since they believe that wallpapers and wall arts do not have a timeless appeal, the walls are kept bare.

Location Advantage - One of the most

What FWD Life Liked - A touch of the natu-

thriving locations in Kochi.

ral and simplicity in a purely urban context.

Project:

Independent Villa at Kakkanad, Kochi

Owned by: Unknown client Plot area: 5.87 cents, Built area: 193.16 sq.m Architects:

Reny Lijo & Lijo Jos, LIJO. RENI. Architects, Punkunnam, Thrissur

Tel: 98470 16689 Interior Design: LIJO. RENY. Architects & Tanya Stephan

Project Managed by: Paradigm Living Spaces, Aluva

Rating Location

Amenities

Price 2012 NOVEMBER

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trends

Invite in Style As weddings are becoming the grandest affairs in one’s life, why should cards stay behind? “Little elements make your life wonderful and life is about little items” Text Dhanya Menon Photos V CREATE MEDIA

When the whole world calls for ‘go-green’, you can also use hand-made eco invitations, made from eco papers or carrying some seeds

W

edding cards are the first impression and set the tone for the event that is going to take place. So planning and selection of wedding cards too have come to the fore as an important part of any wedding. No wonder, so many innovative concepts are there providing a lot of options for the couples.

A memorable invitation will even be treasured by family members as a memento for the occasion.

FWD Life traces the wedding card trends:

Tradition not Leaving It is a fact that still many Keralites don’t wish to leave the traditional elements in designs. The traditional trend of imprinting Lord Ganesha or the ‘white n gold’ is still on, unaffected by the passage of time.

For the lovers of tradition, change strikes with textures, colours, folds and fragrance cards.

Colours Many vibrant and bold colours are being used for wedding cards. Though white has made a considerable come back, many bright hued cards are on demand. White, golden or silver fonts in bright 50

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coloured cards are on the top. Purple and white is a great combination with Christian weddings as green and gold for Muslims and red and gold for Hindus.

Embellished Cards Embellished cards are a sign of luxury and add a classy royal feel to it. Cards are available with stone, miniature Swarovski crystals and pearl toned bead embellishments. Things like silver or gold cords, ribbons, bows and sequins too add to the classy feel.

Another upcoming trend is that of using wood in the invitation card. It is a bit costly but will be definitely unique and elegant.

Handmade Cards Handmade cards are preferred by many people. It can be complete handmade card or cards with some handmade elements in it like dried leaves or flowers. This not only creates a unique appeal but adds originality.

When the whole world calls for ‘go-green’, you can also use handmade eco invitations, made from eco papers or carrying some seeds. Seeds have a symbolic meaning for good wishes and a new beginning of life.

Fabric Elements The appeal of the card can be enhanced with a combination of fabric elements. Fabrics like satin reflect a feeling of celebration and joy. One can even opt for card which is entirely made up with fabrics.

Wrapped Up Many designers make cards with pouches and pockets to keep papers in order. Something like a bi-fold invitation will keep the papers neatly tucked in.

Cards for Theme Weddings The card will look great if it reflects the wedding theme as there is a necessity of a harmony between all the wedding’s elements. In the simplest form, a colour theme based wedding card too can be of the same colour. The conclusion is that the wedding must have a common, harmonious tone or shade.

Vintage weddings being a favourite wedding theme of many, the invitation can be designed in a way that it could create a pattern based on the bride’s gown. For example, it can be a ring of rosettes, a square of lace appliqué, or a beaded vine.

If you choose a floral wedding, then you can add some dried or pressed flower in your handmade wedding invitation. It can be a representative color, from the season or from the décor. A few petals can also be plasticized in the invitation.

If you prefer a classic wedding, the card too can

be classic white or off-white and also in the shapes of hearts or a little book, depending on your likes.

Out of the Box Cards There are several out of the box cards too, but not very popular. More and more youngsters today prefer out of the box cards for their friends and colleagues while the cards for family and relatives go along with the traditions. It can be anything as tall as your imagination works.

No matter whatever the design of your card, it is important to make sure that you are happy with it. Start planning early.

In the simplest form, a colour theme based wedding card too can be of the same colour.

The conclusion is that the wedding must have a common, harmonious tone or shade

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food

Photos SIJO JOSEPH

Ooru, a tribal restaurant opened at the Cochin Food Mall, presents interesting tribal delicacies and an intriguing menu as well. Ooru brings to the table the flavour and tastes of Wayanad.

Gandhakasala Ghee Rice Ingredients Bowl of gandhakasala rice Chopped onions Jeera powder Cardamom Cinnamon Cloves Ghee fried raisins Ghee fried cashews Ghee

Method Take a kadai and fry chopped onions in ghee till it turns golden brown. Then pour water into it, add salt and allow it to boil. Add the washed, strained rice into the boiling water. Close it with a lid and allow it to be half-cooked for about 15 minutes on medium flame. Add the spices to the rice and cooked it for another 10 minutes. After placing the kadai off the fire garnish it with the ghee fried cashews and raisins and serve hot.

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Ingredients Sliced fish (any kind) Shallots Green chillies Ginger Red chilly Coriander Curry leaves Forest mango essence

Method

Place the fish curry pot on fire and pour oil into it. As the oil gets heated add the chopped shallots, green chillies and curry leaves.

Saute them till it turns brown. Add chilly and coriander powder to it and mix it well. Pour water into the mixture and allow it to boil.

Dip in pieces of sliced fish into it. Add salt to taste and finally the mango essence for giving the fish curry a sour taste. Cook it for 20 minutes in low heat and this tribal delicacy is to be served in earthen fish pot itself.

Ooru Fish Curry

Mula Ari Payasam

Ingredients Bamboo rice Jeera Cardamom Raisins Cashew Thick coconut milk Thin coconut milk Jaggery Ghee

Method Cook the required amount of bamboo rice in diluted coconut milk for an hour and keep it aside. Take a pan and melt the molten jaggery in water and simmer till it turns plain syrup. Put the cooked rice into the syrup and after long pour the second round of coconut milk and stir it on low flame. After adding cardamom and jeera powder put off the flame. Fry cashews and raisins in ghee in another pan and add it to the dessert.

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travel

Long drive to lost town Text & Photos Sangeetha. G

A road trip from the din of Chennai to the serene ‘lost land’ of Dhanushkodi is certainly exciting; especially when you bump into remnants of old structures that share untold tales of yore

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ilgrim town Rameswaram is an important destination in the ‘char-dham’ tour of Hindus. When I got an opportunity with my husband and seven-year-old son to squeeze out a few days from our busy schedule, we suddenly decided to make a road trip from Chennai to Rameswaram, but pilgrimage was not in our minds. While quickly gathering some info about the place and route, we got interested in the ‘lost land’ near the pilgrim town. The travelogues we flipped through briefly said about how a town got deserted after a devastating cyclone in 1964.

You travel to hill stations, beaches, forests and not so crowded picnic spots, but a ‘ghost town’ is not a commonplace thing.

So we started on a week-day in our premium hatchback with a quick travel itinerary and the baggage loaded into the modest boot. We started a little late at 8 am, hoping that once we leave the city limits the traffic will ease on the highway as the suburbs come to the city to work. But we were wrong; it was actually the city that was going to suburbs to work in the manufacturing units up till Chengalpattu.

We took the Grand Southern Trunk (GST) road that takes you to the airport. Past airport till Tambaram the traffic snarled as expected, but beyond that too traffic conditions remained the same on NH 45. On

the well-laid four lane highway, the car crawled in the first gear. Close to Chengalpattu, we got some relief, but had already lost two hours to cover 60 km. By the way let me tell you, wide and well maintained highways in Tamil Nadu is something that you have to thank some of the former Union ministers from the state for, though corruption charges would have pushed them to obscurity now.

Most of the roads are under Build, Operate and Transfer mode. You will have to dig into your pockets every time a toll booth nears and sometimes dig deeper. But the roads are worth the money, otherwise we would not have dared to take up a day-long road trip in a small car to Rameswaram, 571 km away in the southern tip of the state. On the highway, you have to enjoy the smooth drive with the vastness of the large tracts of land on either side and see the blue sky on all the sides meeting the earth. It seems you are left in the open to receive the blessings of the sky and vagaries too. From Chengalpattu, Villupuram is at a distance of 100 km and then the sign-board tells us we are on the way to Ulundurpettu. The landscape does not change in the highway as we bypass the towns. The ChennaiTrichy highway is not very fertile as say, TheniMadurai or Theni-Kumbum stretch. We reached Trichy post-noon and from there, we took NH 210 to

Pudukottai.

In this stretch you will hardly see a decent restaurant. Hungry, we took a chance and drove into Bharatidasan University campus presuming that any university or college should have canteens.

They allowed us too, despite the fact that we do not look college-going teens anymore. The meal was minimal but it was better than taking a risk at the makeshift eateries on the roadside.

On the way to Pudukottai, we can see partially mined granite rocks, large pieces of freshly cut and unpolished granite slabs on both sides of the road.

Even the granite polishing units lay calm without noise and dust. This reminded us of the ongoing government action against illegal granite quarrying and land grabbing in the Trichy-Madurai-Pudukottai belt. Then we moved through the rich Chettinadu heartland as we travelled from Pudukottai to Karaikudi. The Nattukottai Chettiars of the region were rich businessmen, who centuries ago went to southeast Asian countries, amassed wealth and showcased it in the form of architecture. Large mansions with big courtyards, huge, carved columns of teak, crystals and Belgium glasses made the Chettinadu region wealthy enough to stand apart from the rest of Tamil Nadu.

On the way we got to see some of those charming mansions of the yore, now wearing a deserted look. At some point, we wondered if we had lost the NH as the highway gets transformed into a lane to accommodate the huge mansions on both sides. The next thing that comes to your mind when you hear

about Chettinadu is the cuisine that the city dwellers, especially the non-vegetarians relish on.

By the time we reached Ramanathapuram, the sun had set and we had to travel 65 more km to Rameswaram via India’s first sea-bridge Pamban.

We crossed the majestic bridge and reached our hotel by night and made arrangements for a jeep trip to Dhanushkodi next morning.

We left for Dhanushkodi at 7 am. Dhanushkodi is 21 km from Rameswaram town. Our bumpy journey was in an old modified front-wheel drive jeep. On the usual road, the front-wheel axle was not connected to the engine to save fuel. The driver told us that only four-wheel drive vehicles can go to Dhanushkodi. We were thrilled; a four-wheel drive terrain in any case should be exciting.

Apart from the altered jeeps and vans, newgeneration SUVs too can also take you to the ‘lost land’. The road to Dhanushkodi becomes deserted after some time. You can see sand on the either side, but we are still on the black-topped road. At one point, the driver stopped the vehicle and connected the engine to the front-wheel. We took a turn and started the journey through sand. It was just sand dunes till the eyes behold. Hard to believe that once it was a vibrant town with rail, road, port, offices, hospital, shops and houses. The driver trod carefully through the oft taken path. At one point, he showed a long trail of small stones on the sand —it used to be the railway track to Dhanushkodi.

On December 23, 1964 (around the same time of the year when tsunami hit the Indian coast in

The Nattukottai Chettiars of the region were rich businessmen, who centuries ago went to south-east Asian countries, amassed wealth and showcased it in the form of architecture

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travel

The rougher Indian Ocean waves run over the beach sands and submerged it during the evening hours.

Water moves far into the sand dunes during high tides, making it difficult and fearsome to rebuild the lost town

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2004), a huge cyclone struck northern Sri Lanka and southern tip of Tamil Nadu. The cyclone submerged the town and washed away a passenger train killing all 115 passengers on board. It is said that over 1,800 people died in the storm. On our way, we drove past wrecked remains of fishing boats and at one place we could see remnants of an old road. With just 19 km to Sri Lanka, Dhanushkodi used to be a major port ferrying people and goods through the gulf between the two countries. “It was after Dhanushkodi got devastated that Tuticorin got prominence as port,” said our driver-cum-guide.

After about 8 km drive through the sand, we started seeing sea from a distance. The driver pointed towards yet-to-fall-apart remains of a devastated building. We will be going to the sea first before having a close look of the ‘ghost town’.

The jeep took us close to the sea to a point where, he said, the Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean meets.

We alighted and as we stood on the beach, it was surprising to see that one side of the sea was calm and the other rougher.

The rougher Indian Ocean waves run over the beach sands and submerged it during the evening hours. Water moves far into the sand dunes during high tides, making it difficult and fearsome to rebuild the lost town. The sea is shallow and, he pointed to a colour change in the sea and said that it is part of the Ram Sethu, built by Lord Rama and his ‘Vanara Sena’.

It is a long but broken strip of brownish water and seems like there is a path in the sea. Let me tell you, in Rameswaram even a non-believer will end up believing that Rama existed, travelled, built bridge, fought and came back and Ramayana is not just an epic on a mythological character.

We saw the northern tip of Sri Lanka with a flag-like thing mast above the land strip. Our mobile phones got Sri Lankan signals. Though the entry of fishermen from either side is restricted, smuggling happens through the water, we were told. After taking a dip in the sea where both the seas meet, or seem to meet, we went to take a look at the ‘lost town’.

We saw stone walls of a structure which our driver told was the railway station. Nearby is a church – with a rocky altar. The remaining portions of the walls have disintegrated in the saline water and air.

An old man into his nineties, approached us.

He used to be the helper in the church before the cyclone. In a Tamil that is not so easy to decipher, he told us that he was away when the cyclone struck and it killed all the members of his family. We handed over some rupee notes to him and it seems he narrates the same tale to everyone. He and the petty shop owner left the place by afternoon as tourists are not allowed in the evening.

There were remains of a few more buildings — all built in the British style. They have stone walls and that’s precisely why they are still there when all the other residential buildings made by local population were washed away. Our driver pointed towards one and said it was a post office and another one a hospital building.

Even at 9 am, the sun was pretty hot in Dhanushkodi. The driver had to rush to bring another set of tourists. Looking eerie at this hour of the day, for sure the place would be spooky after dawn.

As we drove back, one could not help wonder how potent some events can be so as to make irreversible changes.

business

The golden truth G FWD Life takes a glance at different ways of investing gold

old generally witnesses buying and selling activity when the prices shoot up and tank sharply. However, investments of physical gold have been squeezing liquidity of buyers as selling jewellery for cash is a difficult task.

Gold Savings Plan Jewellers, post offices as well as micro finance institutions are offering gold savings plan.

Generally, the jewelers adopt the plan in which a specific amount is deposited with the jeweler at regular intervals. At the end of the tenure, jewellery or gold coin is given for the deposited amount based on the prevailing rate. Some jewelers also forego the making charges in such cases.

The savings plan launched by some of the micro finance institutions in collaboration with World Gold Council has a different scheme for the lower income groups. According to Keyur Shah, head of investments, WGC, under the scheme the gold rate is fixed at the beginning of the plan. “The MFI buys the specific quantity of gold and keeps it with itself. The buyer has to pay 15 per cent of the price upfront and the rest is paid as fixed installments on a daily, weekly or monthly basis for a fixed tenure. This is considered as a loan and paid with 18 to 24 per cent annually calculated decreasing interest rate. The buyer can take the delivery of the coin at the end of the tenure or get cash as per the prevailing gold rate.”

Gold Futures Gold Futures is mostly used by traders and speculators who want to hedge the risk on the commodity.

There are brokerage charges and other exchange levies accounting to about one per cent that have to be paid at the entry and exit of every contract.

A margin amount of four to five per cent of the

contract value is paid initially. The contract value is based on the prevailing futures rate. According to the daily price variations, the difference in the prior agreed price is credited and debited from the account. If the margin amount goes beyond the desired level, it has to be replenished. “The least time needed to take delivery for futures contract is one month by paying the remaining amount of the contract value. The position can also be squared off at the end of the contract period,” said Anand James, chief analyst, Geojit Comtrade. Futures trading involve gaining on the investment or carry the risk of losing as per the gold price movement. If the seller or buyer fails to make the delivery before the stipulated time, they have to pay a penalty which can also go up to four per cent.

The savings plan launched by some of the micro finance institutions in collaboration with World Gold Council has a different scheme for the lower income groups

E-gold National Spot Exchange’s e-gold is a suitable product for the retail investor. The e-gold rate at the NSEL is determined by the daily average spot market prices in different cities of the country and by the buyer-seller interests at the exchange. The rate will reflect the ups and downs in the spot market.

When one wants to buy an e-gold contract at the spot exchange rate, he has to pay five per cent of the total value upfront and the rest when the trade is done. The exchange charges Rs 10 for every Rs one lakh turnover and there is an additional 0.2 or 0.3 per cent charge payable to the broker, which is generally negotiable. The delivery is made on a T+2 basis. One can also sell the e-gold after paying the same charges at the prevailing rate.

Usually, if one buys and sells on the exchange rate, the trade can be completed on the same day.

But, if one quotes his own rate during the buy and sale, he will have to wait till there are buyers ready at the quoted price. (to be continued...)

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instore

Men's Clothing & Accessories Rajaji Road, Near Sunny Diamonds, Kochi, Ph: 0484 401 5786

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1

6

3

7 5

4

8

1. Crush Tees `590/- approx, 2. Printed Tees `550/- approx, 3. Monster Tees `690/- approx, 4. Workshop Tees `690/approx, 5. Torture Jeans `1490/- approx, 6. Fluorescent Tees `490/- approx, 7. Arsenal Cap `390/- approx, 8. $ - Belt `690/- approx Disclaimer: Price and features are subject to change. Buyers are advised to act on data after cross-checking.

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9 10 11

13 15 14 16

17 9. Gun Umbrella `1190/- approx, 10. Knife Umbrella `990/- approx, 11. Sword Umbrella `990/- approx, 12. Clock - Bike `1390/- approx 13. Georgia Shoes `2490/- approx,14. Supra Shoes `2490/- approx, 15. Clock - Angry Birds `490/- approx, 16. Telephone - Rolling Stone `1090/- approx, 17. Football – Players (each) `990/- approx 2012 NOVEMBER

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instore

STYLE QUOTIENT MEN'S COLLECTION Half Sleeve- Linen Price ` 800/- approx

Blue Stripes- Linen Price ` 850/- approx

Simpsons Boxers- Silk Price ` 300/- approx

Cargo shorts- Cotton Price ` 590/- approx Chinese Collar- Cotton Price ` 760/- approx

King Size- Umbrella Price ` 599/- approx

Designer- Cotton Price ` 750/- approx

Style Quotient K C Joseph Road, Panampally Nagar. Ph: 0484 3935099 facebook.com/sqkochi Disclaimer: Price and features are subject to change. Buyers are advised to act on data after cross-checking.

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The Complete Reader's Guide TO FWD Life magazine

27,155and counting 30.2 1 672

Facebook likes

Forty Leading writers & photographers median age of our readers

12

Major April fool prank

6205 Cigarette buttsBeers consumed kicked

27

Average BP increase among competition

till now

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 12 VOL 01 OCTOBER 2012 ` 50 www.fwdlife.in

FWD EXCLUSIVE

JOSE THOMAS Making the right

cHOIcE RANBIR KAPOOR

BARFI!

THOMAS VARgHESE

glory of Linen

EMMANUVAL MAKEOVER

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health

Know about diabetes Reducing complications, diabetes can be cured through cost effective surgeries

Keyhole surgeries like Sleeve Gastrectomy and Ileal Interposition are found to increase insulin performance and give long standing (permanent) resolution of diabetes

C

hanging lifestyles and food habits contribute to Diabetes mellitus (DM) or simply diabetes. Asians have higher incidence of diabetes due to genetic reasons.

Diabetes affects all organs in the body like eyes, brain, heart, kidneys and limb vessels.

Chronic renal problems and myocardial infarctions are increased with diabetes. Moreover, 45 per cent of dialysis patients are contribution of diabetes.

HbAlc is the test which gives accurate value of diabetic control over past few months. Unlike the usual blood sugar values it is not altered by the previous day food type, sweets, insulin, exercise etc. HbAlc level more than six is not ideal. Only 33 per cent of people who are taking regular medication, including insulin get good control of DM. High HbAlc levels in the rest 67 per cent means increased risk for complication of DM. Studies have shown that bringing down the HbAlc level even by one unit reduces death rate by 2l per cent, eye and kidney diseases by 37 per cent and heart attack by 14 per cent. So it is vital to keep blood sugar levels to normalcy.

Type 2 diabetes

Dr. R. Padmakumar MBBS, DNB, MNAMS, DipALS, FAIS Senior Consultant & Medical Director, Laparoscopic Hernia, Cancer,Obesity and Diabetic Surgeon, Sunrise Hospital, Cochin.

Email: dr_padmakumar@sify.com.

(He has been figured in the list of "100 Most Powerful Indians in the Gulf," published by a magazine)

Website:

www.diabetescuresurgery.com www.obesitysurgeonkerala.com 62

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It is now clear that Intestinal Hormone (GLP-1) levels can regulate the insulin production in pancreas.

Hence by increasing GLP-1 levels in the gut diabetes gets controlled. GLP-1 is produced in large quantities by terminal portion of small intestine. Partially digested food reaching this region increases the production of this hormone.

By keyhole surgery the stomach size is reduced hence food intake will be reduced. Last portion of small intestines is brought towards the stomach.

That helps in bringing partially digested food into the small intestine rapidly, thus increasing GLP-1 levels and thereby increasing insulin levels. The weight reduction and associated fat loss will also increase insulin activity.

Keyhole surgeries like Sleeve Gastrectomy and Ileal Interposition are thus found to increase insulin performance and give long standing (permanent) resolution of diabetes. These procedures are helpful in patients with Type 2 diabetes. Around 90 per cent of the diabetic patients treated by this surgery are fully cured of diabetes. These are having much bet-

ter results in those with more than ideal weight and in those with diabetes of shorter duration. So it’s better to undergo this procedure before pancreas fails and before end organ damage starts. It’s highly appreciable for a diabetic patient to know that cure is possible.

In addition to diabetic control the other benefits are: loss of excess weight and control of cholesterol, sleep apnoea, acidity, joint pains, cardiac disease, hypertension, kidney disorders etc. It definitely improves quality of life and reduces mortality (early death). There is significant reduction in risk of cancers. Very good improvement in fertility is also a welcome thing for those who are infertile.

All these procedures are done by laparoscopic methods and hence, patients will be highly comfortable and can resume normal activity in a few days.

The required equipment like staplers and harmonic scalpel are highly advanced and expensive. Also the surgical team needs highly trained and efficient personals and well-equipped setup. Considering the cost of medical treatment of diabetes and its complications, diabesity surgeries (Metabolic surgeries) are really cost effective.

Type 1 diabetes In Type 1 diabetes, where pancreas is not functioning, the above mentioned surgeries are not helpful.

One needs to undergo some blood tests before deciding on the feasibility of surgery. These include C-peptide (fasting & after food), S-insulin, liver and kidney tests etc. Antibody tests like GAD 65 & IA2 are indicated in lean diabetic patients and in those on insulin for many years.

Type 2 diabetes is the result of : Increased demand for insulin due to higher quantity of food eaten Reduced production of insulin due to fat deposition in pancreas or pancreatic cell hypo function Glucose supply from liver (Neoglucogenesis) due to fatty liver Insulin resistance (the insulin available in the body is not able to take care of the glucose due to excess fat in the body)

parenting

Taking a tiny dip Giving your baby a warm bath can turn out to be a fun and relaxing daily ritual

B

ath time becomes a favoured time for some babies and a dreaded time for others. The change in bath routines will begin somewhere between four and six months. Apart from getting the baby clean, bath time is a great opportunity for bonding with the baby. Babies are ready for some bath time play once they can hold their heads up easily. When you do bath your baby you may find it a little scary the first few times. It’s a good idea to have someone with you to give you a bit of support. It’s also helpful if you’ve forgotten something you need for your baby. Never leave your baby unattended during the bath, not even for a few seconds. That could be all the time it takes for your baby to get into difficulty in the water, even when he’s in a bath seat.

First baths Before you bath your baby, wash his face. It’s easier than trying to do it while your baby is in the water. There’s no need to use soap or cleanser on your baby’s face. Wash your baby’s face with clean pieces of cotton wool dipped in warm water (previously boiled if your baby is under two months) and squeezed out. If your baby has dried mucus in his eyes or nostrils, dab it first to soften the mucus.

Wipe each eye from the nose outwards with a fresh piece of dampened cotton wool.

Your baby’s first bath should wait until after the umbilical cord stump falls off and heals. First, choose the right tub that’s safe and easy to use.

Tubs with a recliner sort of shape and a safety belt are convenient to use. But you must keep one arm around your baby to make him feel secure. The area for bath space should be draft-free, so close any windows before you begin. After keeping everything ready, it’s time to dip your baby. Make the experience warm and fun, not scary. Dip his toes into the tub, and then gently splash water on his lower body. Ensure that the tub is not filled too much and the water is comfortably warm; not too cold or too hot. Sing a song, talk to your baby in soothing tones,

make eye-to-eye contact and gently massage him as you gently splash water on his body. This will relax your baby.

With one arm supporting his back and head, start gently soaping him. Then gently wash with water. Between baths, wash your baby's face regularly, clean his genitals and bottom after each nappy change, and wipe any muck off his skin. Cover him with a towel and put on a T-shirt as soon as you have patted him dry, and then breastfeed the baby.

Bath phobia Some babies may just not take to water and cry at bath time. If so, do not panic. Just be patient and try different approaches.

Here are some tips: Stay calm The most important thing is to stay positive and be calm yourself. Even as he cries, smile back at him, use a soothing voice and keep talking to him to help the baby address his fear.

Face wash Don’t pour water over hair or face of a baby who is resisting his bath. Instead, use a soft wet towel or wet cotton to clean the face and a sponge for the head.

Empty bath tub Try putting the baby in the tub while it’s still empty and slowly pour in mugs of water. Baby will most likely enjoy the sloshing sound and may begin to settle down in the bath. Older babies can be given their own little mug to join in to the exercise.

Safety tips Put cold water in the tub/bucket first and then add warm water If someone comes to the door or the phone rings and you feel you must answer it, scoop your baby up and take him with you.

Have a towel draped over yourself; it will keep you dry and be handy in case baby needs to be taken out in a hurry

Bath song Fix a song for bath time or a current favourite movie song and sing it every bath time. Having a predictable thing happen that is distracting as well as entertaining can help baby calm down too.

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pets

A vacation with pets Know more about things you should remember while taking pets along with you during a holiday trip Exercise your dog before you set out for the vacation. Feeding your pooh before a journey depends on how his tummy copes with the curves and humps

Y

ou cling on to your cuddlesome doggie all the time but when it comes to going for a holiday, you pet him more so as not to make him feel bad about your absence for a while. Why you be a hypocrite when he opens up his emotional side licking your feet, sympathetically looking at your face with an expression saying, “Are you leaving me all by myself back home?” If your dog is your best mate and much-loved companion, you should be taking him wherever you go. The question how to manage taking him/her often hinders them from being our co-passenger. Now just stop worrying about that, train your doggie to be accommodating and pack his bag for his first road trip.

Here are a few tips to ensure the happiness of you and your furry friend all throughout the journey.

Before you set out, contact the hotel where you are supposed to stay, check if they permit pets, understand the facilities available for dogs and information about nearby parks to take him for a stroll. Seeing you pack his belongings he might get too excited as he would be on cloud nine thinking about the special attention he is given. Encourage it but at the same time prepare him for the outing.

Training Crate and potty training

should be done at home for several weeks before he is ready for the car. Offer your dog a soft bedding as a cue to keep him relaxed in the car. During a vacation, there are all chances of your pet getting into frenzy; so it’s important to get him in your control.

Much ahead of the trip, teach the dog how to enter and exit a car and make him more obedient to your calls and commands.

Exercise your dog before you set out for the vacation. Feeding your pooh before a journey depends on how his tummy copes with the curves and humps. Some dogs travel better on an empty stomach and others maybe fed only the needful.

Car sickness is a common problem among dogs. To avoid such messy situations, give your pet some crystallized ginger or ginger biscuits thirty minutes before the trip.

A long drive always have halts at restaurants.

Never leave your doggie all by himself in the car, take him along if the rules of the restaurant permits.

By now, he should be taught some simple manners.

Let him sit by your side until you finish your meal.

As you reach the destination, take your pet for a long walk.

He would be badly in need for one as his legs and hands would be lethargic and weak after a long drive. He is at a strange place so keep an eye on your pet; his difficulties and comforts. This extra effort is enough to make your holiday complete with your pet around you.

BEEFY DELIGHT ( Recipe) Ingredients : 1 cup of minced meat 1 cup rice Chopped carrots Chopped beans

Method Add water and mix minced meat and vegetables. Place it on fire.

Bring it to boil and then let it simmer. Once it gets cooked add rice and cook until the mixture is soft and serve it.

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people

Conjuring up all minds T Text K.R. REJEESH Photo JINSON ABRAHAM

he paper airplane swayed in the air and landed slowly among the audience. A schoolboy who snapped it up was called up to the stage by the magician. The ecstatic boy ran on to the stage and handed it over to the magician. Then the magician told him to think of a three-digit number and a destination he would like to visit. The boy shook his head as if he had already made up his mind. Well, suddenly the pin drop silence in the hall gave way to thundering applause when famous magician and mind reader Lt Cdr. C.A. Praveen revealed the number and destination the boy had in his mind.

For a magician, who shot to fame in 2001 by predicting the landslide that wiped out the lives of 38 members of a family at Amboori, a remote village in Thiruvananthapuram district, this act is a snap. If you call Praveen as a magician, he would add in a jiffy that he is doing only conjuring acts.

“Mind reading stands forefront in magic art and it’s a mature form of magic. Normally, magicians are doing mind reading as part of their shows. But I am doing shows in Dubai as a full-fledged mentalist.

That means there is no magic in my shows,” says Praveen, who decided to specialize in mind reading after watching the magic show of Derren Brown, a mentalist who popularized mentalism.

Born in Alappuzha, this Lieutenant Commander voluntarily retired from the Navy after 13 years of service to concentrate on magic. “While I was studying engineering I got a book on magic and started performing the tricks before my friends. In the Navy, I had done several shows for all the cultural events. I got recognition as a magician there.

It was like an honour for me. In 2000, I left Navy for magic,” says Praveen.

After leaving Navy, he set up Indo-British Institute of Magic (IBIM), an academy for magic, in Kochi. He wound it up in two years and left for

the UK. “We have good skillful magicians in India. But compared to western magicians, especially those from Japan and Korea, we have still a long way to go. We have to bring our magicians to that level,” he says, and adds that he has plans to establish a magic academy in future to promote magic among newcomers.

Accomplished magician and Merlin Award winner Lt Cdr. C.A. Praveen says his principle is “pack flat and play big”

Merlin Award Praveen bagged Merlin Award for the Best Corporate Mentalist and Magician in 2012. Merlin Award is a recognition instituted by the US-based International Magicians Society (IMS) for magicians who have excelled in the art. It was a turning point when IMS president Tony Hassini happened to watch his performance in Dubai. “He was impressed by the sleight of my hands in the show. Two months later, he wrote to me that I had been chosen for the Merlin Award. I received the award in May at a function held in Dubai,” says Praveen proudly. P.C. Sorcar Jr. and Gopinath Muthukad are the other recipients of this award from India.

In magic, he considers David Copperfield and Paul Daniels as his role models. “In fact, I have developed my presentation skills by watching Paul Daniels, who always does interactive shows. Also Richard Aspel and Max Maven have influenced me a lot in mind reading,” divulges Praveen. He always performs alone entertainment shows for the Corporates.

An Aeronautical Engineer by profession, he now teaches aviation subjects at the Academy of Technical Training in Dubai. He conducts refresher courses for the pilots and engineers of UAE Air Force.

Praveen is also the business partner and managing director of Taste Masters LLC, a company that deals in Japanese and Korean food products.

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F

WD Life magazine, the sole lifestyle magazine in Kerala, launched its 12th issue in grand style.The October issue cover launch function, held at Hotel Dream poolside on October 5, was a star-studded affair. What adds it to the feather of FWD Life is that it was the first-ofits-kind cover launch of a magazine in Kerala.

Christened as ‘Take Zero’, the party offered

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the much-needed enthusiasm to the guests to let their hair down throughout the night.

The psychedelic trance by DJ Vinayaka and opening act by Shekar Menon took the guests to the havens of fun-filled ecstasy.

Those who graced the function include celebrities from Malayalam Cinema, and what’s more, FWD Life had an unexpected guest from Kollywood too! Actor-director Parthiban, who

turned up in the middle of the function, was gung-ho after seeing the October issue cover featuring the new heartthrob of Mollywood, Nivin Pauly and model-turned-actress Isha Talwar. Actors Nivin Pauly, Babu Antony, Vinu Mohan, Rajeev Pillai, Mamtha Mohandas, Archana Kavi, Gauthami Nair, Apoorva Bose, Munna, Sreejith, Asif Ali, singers Nikhil Menon, Ranjini Jose, anchor Ranjini Haridas, directors Madhupal and Major Ravi, among

others attended the function.

Shani was the photographer and stylist for the cover. Makeup was done by Jijeesh.

FWD Life magazine, which hogged the limelight within a short span of time in Kerala, has covered talented celebrities, personalities and riveting articles in its previous issues.

Overall, FWD team recreated the magic in the poolside of Hotel Dream as they always do in the magazine.

2012 NOVEMBER

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books

Tale of le café “Pour Your Heart Into It,” the autobiography of Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks, gives an insight into leadership skills and how does an entrepreneur buck the trend As Starbucks began to grow, Schultz realized that it was not just the coffee that was drawing customers through the doors

E

ven if you don’t know what venti means and can’t tell a macchiato from a cappuccino, “Pour Your Heart Into It,” the autobiography of Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks, is a great read by any yardstick. The book highlights the company’s journey as it copes with the volatile market in an effort to remain impactful. I’ve always admired the ‘vibe’ in the Starbucks stores that have compelled me to pay triple what I would normally pay for a cup of coffee.

After reading this well-paced and fascinating book, I have a better understanding of the background and inspirations of that vibe. Even I feel greater admiration for what Schultz and his teammates have created – a worldwide brand and a real “societal change agent.”

Rewind There were a lot of false starts and rejections of his dream in the early years – all character building, of course, but he overcame everything. He was pushing a commodity, not a new-fangled technology or one-of-a-kind product that had a lot of sizzle. Howard Schultz was a salesman with no background in coffee.

The company he worked for sold coffee grinding equipment to Starbucks. Once Schultz visited Starbucks. He enjoyed the hands-on environment so much that he went to work for them. In fact, at first, Starbucks did not make beverages.They strictly roasted and sold coffee. During a trip to Italy, Schultz fell in love with the romance and theatrics of the baristas in the cafes, and dreamt of bringing that experience to America. Schultz’s vision was to reinvent a commodity and weave a sense of romance and community around it. There was sole hitch Starbucks resisted; it just wasn’t “what they did.”

Coffee time With nothing but a vision and a hunch, Schultz left Starbucks and opened an espresso bar called Il Giornale. Later, Starbucks’ owners sold their roasting company to Schultz. As Starbucks began to 70

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grow, Schultz realized that it was not just the coffee that was drawing customers through the doors.

People were coming for a complete experience: baristas offered smiles and friendly greetings and learned customers’ favourite beverages and wrote their names on the cups. Realizing this, Schultz ensured that the quality of the customer experience was just as important as the quality of the coffee.

Stores were kept small and cozy, designed with comfort in mind, and the baristas offered a sense of belonging.

Team As Schultz put it, “I wanted to win the race. But I also wanted to ensure that when we got to the finish line, no one was left behind. If a small group of white-collar managers and shareholders won at the expense of employees, that wouldn’t be a victory at all. We had to be in a position where we all reached the tape together.” He also speaks about the “open door” philosophy that encouraged questions, suggestions and comments from everyone, and cites the development of the Frappuccino as a prime example of how this worked. Respect and dignity are the employee watchwords that Schultz has preached and practised since he started the modern Starbucks in 1987.

After Schultz stepped down as CEO, the company was in disarray. However, Schultz returned as CEO in 2008 and revived Starbucks to success track. This engaging book dishes out life lessons learnt by a savvy entrepreneur. Finally, the book serves as an excellent case study in “leadership with heart”.

Here’s Schultz’s definition of success: “Success should not be measured in dollars: It’s about how you conduct the journey, and how big your heart is at the end of it…One person can do only so much.

But if he gathers a company of people around him who are committed to the same goals, if he galvanizes them and inspires them and taps into their inner drive, they can perform miracles together. It takes courage.”

2012 NOVEMBER

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giftware

classic prezzies of fabindia

C

elebrate the season with Fabindia’s new collection of lighting and giftware. Usher in the festival of lights in to your homes with an exciting range of table, wall, floor and hanging lamps from Fabindia. Available in a variety of materials such as brass, iron, wood, paper and glass, the promotion offers a plethora of choices to brighten up your living spaces in style.

Glam it up with chandeliers made using a unique combination of wood

and brass or create a drama of light and shade with colourful mosaic glass lanterns.

Offering choices for all décor genre, pick from classic cutwork and lotus motifs on metal for a traditional look or hammered finish on iron lamps for a versatile option. The promotion also has an interesting range of string lights available in distinctive shapes and material such as metal, paper and natural fibres such as bamboo.

launch

Tissot’s exclusive boutique launched

T

issot, a part of the world’s largest watch conglomerate – The Swatch Group, opened its first exclusive boutique in Thiruvananthapuram. The boutique offers an exclusive selection of the brand's most celebrated products, including the T-Touch, T Race, Couturier, Evocation and the latest addition being Le Locle for the aesthetically inspired. All top-of-the-line products made available in at Tissot’s exclusive new boutique.

On the occasion, Tissot’s new model Le Locle was launched by Tissot Brand Ambassador actress Deepika Padukone.

Demonstrating the maker’s expertise in the art of creating exceptional mechanical movements, Le Locle provides utmost precision, to which the COSC (Control Officiel Suisse Chronomètres) testifies. The sophisticated heart of this magnificent timepiece can be perceived through a finely engraved see-through case back. Priced at Rs 54,900, this piece offers pure elegance, prestige and class to its wearer.

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sports

JOSCO FC

gear up for an encore in new season Josco FC concentrates on physical and mental training on par with international standards to nurture talented players under the guidance of experienced coaching staff. The Club aims high in the new season

J

osco FC, the Champion Club of Kerala, is all set for the new season! The Club targets a big win in the B Division in the upcoming season. Farooq is the Captain and Stephen Lijo is the Vice Captain of the revamped 30-member team, which consists of two international players from Nigeria, two national players who had played in the national league for Chirag United and Air India and two members of Mohammedan Sporting Kolkata and Akbar Travels Mumbai.

Josco FC is undergoing international level physical and mental training under the leadership of chief coach M.M. Jacob, the former Indian player and the former coach of Kerala Football Team. The squad has been strengthened and built under profound guidance of former Indian player C.V. Pappachan and former Indian coach T.K. Chathunni, who are the Technical Directors of the team.

“Josco FC frames young players in a competitive environment and in a culture of constant improvement. Everything about the team signifies international quality. They are professionals at the top of their game, and have the ability to win in any circumstances. Detailed atten-

tion is given to each player and the management provides special emphasis to the development of each player”, says Tony Jose, President and CEO of Josco FC. The club has been already recognized as one of the most competitive and skillful teams in Kerala. The last two seasons have been simply fantastic for Josco FC, with the team having won all tournaments it played with great attacking style and form. With world-class performance, team spirit and dedication, the team had become ‘the Champion Football Club of Kerala’ within the very first year and had won various national tournaments.

“We are spending our time and efforts on implementing professional approach and international level of training from the grass root level; from identifying talents, team setting and game tactics to the implementation of game plans. We are applying all modern ideas on how to nurture young talented and promising players. We have a balanced method of physical and mental training and we have a great mix of national and international players who can take the glory forward this season,” adds Tony Jose.

The all-new Josco FC team with president and CEO Tony Jose and chief coach M.M. Jacob 74

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lounge

Time to let

your hair down A childlike curiosity prompted Ram Nair to learn the ropes of DJing. Now DJ Ram is one of the most sought-after DJs in the country Text JAMIA ZAHEER Photo JINSON ABRAHAM

L

ooking back, it was actually quite funny those aimless days. But one may feel that destiny has a major role in deciding the career of Ram. At 19, while Ram Nair was packing his bags to Cochin to pursue higher studies in engineering at FISAT, little did he realize that destiny had something else in store for him. He was hanging out with a few friends in a local pub and something about the music that was being played struck him. “I remember those tracks were not new to me. But what made me curious was its nonstop beats and high energy. Both attracted me very much,” says 28-year-old Ram. When he decided to walk up to the DJ console and find out how it was all happening, DJ Ram had no idea that he had actually taken his first steps to a detour from his engineering to DJing.

“I met the DJ in the console, who was more than happy to show me how it’s all done. Hanging out at the club and observing what the resident DJ was doing soon became a routine. So, one fine day when the DJ was late to turn up, he called me up and said if I could just start off by playing a few warm up tracks.

I started off playing a few rock tracks and that’s when I realized that I could do it and that was what I want to do for the rest of my life,” he recalls.

“My DJing journey kicked off at Cochin’s Formula 1 and continued to Thandav, Longevity and to Chennai, where I had gone to do a course in Sound Engineering and there I got to play in the clubs like Flames, Speed, Sparks and Bacardi Blast parties,” adds Ram. Today Ram is one of the most sought-after DJs in the country.

He was the winner of Kingfisher Ultra Soul Flyp DJ of the year 2010–2011. Ram is the only one in the payroll of Redbull in Kerala as their Musketeer. DJ Ram along with Joseph Chakola has set up an exclusive entertainment company dedicated to organising some of the most talked about parties in town called Forum Entertainments.

This music wanderer says that he wants to travel around the world with his music and just play more MUSIC…No doubt this DJ is on a roll.

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You know what’s best for your baby We’re with you at youngmoms.getit.in

For any information from anywhere.. call Getit

24/7 at 04444444444 (10 times 4) 2012 NOVEMBER

Life

77

wtf

What the

f@#k

Giving her money for purchasing something she likes is different from paying her monthly wages for her household chores. If this rule comes to life, there would soon be a time when money would be demanded for delivering a baby.

Nishad Hussain Shipping company employee

FWD Life readers respond to the topic "Do you think homemakers should be paid wages?"

Here’s what our poll revealed

Yes. The way organizations allocate funds for every department, a homemaker must be given monthly salary to run the day-to-day activities systematically.

Sapthami P.V Brand Manager

“Housewives are worth more than money. They can be better paid by love and affection.

Johnny Panikkulam Engineer, MobME

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"I strongly support the proposal to legalize domestic work.

If these women were paid for their daily work as per the wages under the Minimum Wages Act, a woman would end up adding a monthly income of minimum Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,500 in a family. It's their sheer drudgery which ensures the smooth running of a household.

Indu AK Media Professional Though the work that women do at home is considered as a daily chore and often goes unrecognized; I firmly believe that if your partner supports and recognizes you, then that is the best wage that one can ask for. After all, marriage is an institution of love and understanding.

Devi Prashant Underwriting & Claims Officer

It’s practical to an extent in the case of a housewife; but quite the other way when it comes to a working woman. When we adamantly advocate equality, who’s gonna pay us for taking care of them, hospital visits, trips to grocery stores and taking care of kids while they are busy and so on?”

Sreekanth. G.S Engineering Lead, VAS

2012 NOVEMBER

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gadgets Zeo Sleep Manager Manage your sleep better.

iPad Mini (Pick of the month)

What FWD Life Liked: Near medical grade EEG Tracks sleep realtime via a mobile phone Great sleep analysis charts

What we disliked Bluetooth link to the phone is choppy Power hungry Price: ` 6474/- approx

FWD Life Rating :

Sony Experia T

What FWD Life Liked: Apple’s long awaited pocket sized version of their iPad is finally here. The company claims it has all the bells and whistles of the original iPad packed in this small sized variant. The screen size is 7.9� and it is small enough to be held in one hand. The best part is that all the 275,000 apps available for the iPad works on the mini too! If you are looking for a small handheld tablet, the iPad Mini is definitely a worthy buy.

Price: ` 17,758/- approx (16 GB/ WiFi only)

FWD Life Rating :

The latest mobile phone from the Experia family.

What FWD Life Liked: Dual core 1.5GHz processor 13 Megapixel camera Great performance Direct streaming to TV

What we disliked A tad heavier than the iPhone and S3 Still on Android ICS. Price: ` 21,200/- approx

Swissvoice ePure A stylish way to turn your mobile into a house phone.

What FWD Life Liked: Elegant design Connects via Bluetooth Can double as a speaker dock

FWD Life Rating :

What we disliked No colour options No option to change ringtones Price: ` 10,794/- approx

FWD Life Rating :

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

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