UNLTD. PEOPLE | FOOD | CULTURE | EVENTS
September 16, 2014
GURUWAR PETH
A fusion of the old and the new
FOOD
11 International Dishes in Puneri Menus
Oh, Womaniya! A Glimpse into the Lives of Pune’s Wonder Women
PLUS
InstaPune | Scor’d | Pune Express | Photo Feature | #ActPune
COVER STORY
EDITOR’S NOTE
#FTW “This issue celebrates women who have indeed made a mark for themselves in various walks of life. Entertainment, business, social work and more. Read carefully and be sure to share their achievements.” @adityakuber
Contact: hello@puneunltd.com
“For the Win” is what the above hashtag is generally used for… but we believe it needs to be rephrased to “For the Women”. It is, after all, the age of the woman… In most walks of life, they are now ahead of men. Add to this their existing prevalence at home and all other major aspects of life and one starts to see why a woman has always been better than men. This issue celebrates women who have indeed made a mark for themselves in various walks of life. Entertainment, business, social work and more. Read carefully and be sure to share their achievements. Pune takes a breather from the Ganeshotsav and prepares for the upcoming 9 days of dance and fun with Navratri and we continue to be in festive mode. There’s some great photos for you to enjoy and some truly interesting reads throughout the magazine. As always, we value your inputs and feedback and look forward to receiving more. We hope you enjoy reading the magazine every fortnight.
Editor-in-Chief Aditya Kuber
Editors Veethi Telang Apeksha Bhagchandani
Aditya Kuber
Contributors Protima Tiwary Sharan Garcha
Design
Prasanta Kundu Maddy Kulkarni Sanjali Manekar
Marketing Anish Sohoni Rekha Achtani
Publisher
Media Sphere Communications Pvt. Ltd. www.mediasphere.co.in facebook.com/Puneunltd
Cover Photo: mrhayata Used under Creative Commons License
twitter.com/PuneUnltd
PUNE UNLTD.
3
IN THIS ISSUE
September 16, 2014
LIVE
06 Strength of a PUNE EXPRESS
Woman
12
#ACTPUNE
#FTW
Nari Samata Manch (NSM) seeks to take feminist perspective of violence against women to people. NSM brings to attention and also highlights the fact that violence against the women is a tool used to subjugate women, both in public and private spheres of life historically and culturally.
12 SEE
07
SPECIAL FEATURE Guruwar Peth
26
INSTAPUNE
23
Capturing the soul of Pune on Instagram
PHOTO FEATURE Showcasing awesome work of Puneri shutterbugs
4 PUNE UNLTD.
26 12
Explore the temples, beautiful architecture, typical shop-cum-dwelling frontages, busy streets and the oldest businesses of the city. Walk through narrow streets and a maze of by-lanes where the modern co-exist with the traditional. That’s Guruwar Peth for you. Read up on and explore.
14
14 Oh,
COVER STORY
Womaniya!
The fairer sex, oh yes! Go on, name a field and, we have a woman ruling the radar. Pune’s ladies have contributed to the society, made a name for themselves, and balanced their professional as well as their personal life with aplomb. With this story, we shed light on the lives of five Puneri women who’ve done brilliantly in their respective fields. Dear men, watch out!
EAT
08 Puneri Palate FOOD
Global Grub
With some of the best chefs in the country shifting base to Pune, the city is now at the cutting edge of culinary tastes and trends. Boasting of a wide range of restaurants, Pune offers a variety of delectable international dishes that originate from various parts of the world. Here’s listing some of the best of them!
PLAY
30
SCOR’D
31
Reviewing all you can watch, read and eat in Pune.
EVENTS These are set to rock Pune for the next 2 weeks.
facebook.com/Puneunltd
08 twitter.com/PuneUnltd
PUNE UNLTD.
5
PUNE EXPRESS
Strength of a Woman We are in a century that claims its women are equal to men. Unfortunately that’s still not the case in a lot of places, including Pune. But, the qualities a woman possesses simply cannot be compared to those of men. We asked eight Puneri men about their favourite qualities in a woman.
Satish Bhandari
Taran Shekhawat
IT Professional
Photographer
I will not go far as I’ve seen tremendous examples at home. My sister is married for the past 7 years and is a doctor. She runs a clinic and takes care of her family too. The best thing that I love about her is how easily she has maintained that balance between her personal and professional life. She’s a genius!
Isn’t it amazing how women love unconditionally? Whether it’s their kids, husband, parents or friends. They’re superb with the way they love and show it. My mother taught me a great deal on how to keep my family together. If it were not for my wife, I wouldn’t have been as strong as I am today.
Rajat Patil B.Com Student I love the fact that many women can be both modern yet traditional. For example, my girlfriend is a modern girl with state-of-the-art thoughts. But, at the same time, she is also attached to her roots. She takes active part in her family pujas, respects her elders and spends time with her grandparents. I love it about her!
Aditya Dalal
Atul Deshpande
IT Professional Women have a lot of patience. That’s what I love about them. I think it’s one of their most admirable qualities. If they want something, they have no qualms to wait for a good time to get it. As it’s very rightly said, ‘All good things come in good time’. Women follow that more than we men do.
MBA Student It has got to be their honesty! Men are less expressive and don’t always speak their minds. Whereas most women that I know are extremely honest but not necessarily blunt. They speak it the way they see it and I love that.
Rishabh Doshi Artist Loyalty. That’s the best quality of a decent, good woman. I always admire women who are loyal to their family and friends. Loyalty is an important trait in any human being but I think women are less likely to be disloyal than men.
Samarth Parulkar PR Executive If a woman has a great sense of humour, I’m immediately attracted to her! Not many women have that and whether or not you believe it, humour does come from intelligence. I’m a true admirer of wits and if a woman can display that, I’m swooned.
Surya Nair Auto Engineer I really admire women who are ambitious. And fortunately, we’ve reached a stage wherein a woman can afford to be very ambitious, sometimes more so than a man. I think when a woman sets out to do something for herself and reach great heights, she really will get there!
We would love to know your views on the topic.
6 PUNE UNLTD.
Write to us at hello@puneunltd.com
Independence Day long weekend is round the corner. Are you scrambling to put together your travel plans? We present you four quick alternatives to replace your travel agents and expensive hotels! To make the most of your vacation, explore these different options according to your budget, time frame and other parameters. INSTAPUNE
@thepunekar We love everything about Pune and scout for Instagram images that showcase its spirit. If you have an interesting image of the city, tag @thepunekar on Instagram and it could get featured here!
@saurabhmarathe
@rohya8
@5uryawanshi
@shubham_shet
@akshaysj15
@svivek92
@phhani facebook.com/Puneunltd
@prameyzode twitter.com/PuneUnltd
@rinkyachtani PUNE UNLTD.
7
FOOD
PUNERI PALATE GLOBAL GRUB
With some of the best chefs in the country shifting base to Pune, the city is now at the cutting edge of culinary tastes and trends. Boasting of a wide range of restaurants, Pune offers a variety of delectable international dishes that originate from various parts of the world. Here’s listing some of the best of them! Protima Tiwary Photo: Steve Snodgrass Used under Creative Commons License
SUSHI – JAPAN
THUKPA – TIBET
Malaka Spice, one of the most celebrated dining destinations in the city, serves a mix of ‘pan-Asian street food’ as well as fine-dining exotic preparations from Vietnam, Thailand, Burma and Indonesia. Added to this is the Japanese delicacy, Sushi. Sushi is a Japanese food item cooked with rice, raw seafood and vegetables, served along with ginger, soy sauce and wasabi.
Thukpa is primarily a noodle soup, one of the specialties of Tibet. This soup is also very famous in the north-eastern regions of India. Thukpa contains chili powder, masala, and noodles with gram and pea soup. You will find Thukpa available at By The Tree, a small cafe in Wanowarie.
PEKING DUCK – CHINA
JOOJEH KEBAB – IRAN
Discover the hidden pleasures of authentic Chinese cuisine at Whispering Bamboo. A traditional preparation of roast duck from Beijing, Peking Duck is one of the most popular dishes sered at Whispering Bamboo at Vivanta by Taj. It is served with thin pancakes, spring onion and Hoisin sauce.
Joojeh Kebab is literally grilled chicken. It is an Iranian dish that consists of grilled pieces of chicken, marinated in minced onion, lemon juice and saffron. It is often served along with cooked rice, or between two layers of bread. Blue Nile is one of the many popular joints in the city where one can devour some mouth-watering Joojeh Kebabs.
8 PUNE UNLTD.
Photo: Vikas Nambiar Used under Creative Commons License
NASI GORENG – INDONESIA/MALAYSIA This is a stir-fried preparation of rice, all the way from Indonesia. It is fragrant fried rice cooked with ginger, chillies, macadamias, lemongrass, nutmeg and lime. You can add in chicken, fish, prawns or even turkey, depending on your choice. Trikaya is one of the many joints that offer Nasi Goreng.
PENANG CURRY – THAILAND This is a mild Thai curry which is cooked with dried chili peppers, galangal/ginger, lemongrass, coriander root, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, garlic, peanuts and salt in coconut milk. This curry has veg and non-veg variants. Once again, Malaka Spice serves delicious Penang curries.
Photo: Jeff Gunn Used under Creative Commons License
SPAGHETTI BOLOGNESE – ITALY Bolognese is a meat-based sauce that originated from Italy. It is primarily used to dress lasagna, pizzas and pastas. Spaghetti Bolognese is a classic, simple dish, yet one of the most delicious food preparations from Italy. Get yourself some lip-smacking Spaghetti Bolognese at Darios, Koregaon Park.
facebook.com/Puneunltd
FETA CHEESE AND MELON SALAD – MEDITERRANEAN The sweet-salty pairing of melon and cheese is one of the most refreshing tastes that one can come across. This is a basic salad recipe that makes for a great, refreshing starter. Stone Water Grill is one of the restaurants in Pune where you can try this appetizer.
twitter.com/PuneUnltd
PUNE UNLTD.
9
FOOD CHEESE FONDUE – SWITZERLAND This is a dish made of melted cheese, served in a pot over a portable stove. It’s eaten with bread, which is dipped into the cheese with the help of long forks. One of the many places that serve Cheese Fondue is Chocolate Room.
Photo: Javcon117* Used under Creative Commons License
PERI PERI CHICKEN – MOZAMBIQUE Peri Peri is the Swahili word for pepper. Peri-peri Chicken is an African preparation of chicken in a hot sauce made with red chilli peppers. This sauce also has other ingredients like onion, garlic, pepper, salt, lemon juice, bay leaves, paprika, basil and oregano. You can get a fill of this exotic dish at Mezza 9. Photo: Kimberly Vardeman Used under Creative Commons License
CHEESECAKE – USA A cheesecake is a type of cake that is made of soft, fresh cheese with a bottom layer made of crushed cookies, crackers or sponge cake. This is an American dessert famous all over the world. There are a whole lot of options available for Cheesecakes in the city, out of which Brooklyn Shuffle is a popular one.
Today, international cuisine in Pune is no longer limited to Chinese and Italian dishes. Pune has seen quite a large number of exotic eateries popping up all over town. So if you’re looking out for some international flavours, you now know where to go. Apart from the ones mentioned in the article, there are other restaurants that you could look out for too; Baan Tao, Mini-Wok, April Rain, Prego, Asian Box, Terttulia, Capetown Bistro being some of the few.
10 PUNE UNLTD.
COVER STORY
We are Getting Bigger, Better & Comfier! with more seating! CALL NOW
9881 679992 | 9921 679992 facebook.com/Puneunltd
twitter.com/PuneUnltd
PUNE UNLTD.
11
#ACTPUNE
#FTW FOR THE WOMEN
Established in 1982, Nari Samata Manch is an autonomous group of women. They are one of the groups that are independent of political parties but believe that empowering women is a political process. Therefore, they work on the issues arising of subordination of women, also ally with the various class and castes struggles in Maharashtra. They believe in the equality of both women and men. In 1982, in city of Pune, two incidents of unnatural deaths of Manjushree Sarada and Shaila Latkar gave that necessary push and Nari Samata Manch was born. Both these women belonged to high caste, upper class and were well educated. Thus, general perception that violence took place only in poor, uneducated or lower cast groups was demolished. “Nari Samata Manch decided to take the feminist perspective of violence against women to people,” says Sadhana Dadhich, a representative of NSM.
12 PUNE UNLTD.
Nari Samata Manch (NSM) seeks to take feminist perspective of violence against women to people. NSM brings to attention and also highlights the fact that violence against the women is a tool used to subjugate women, both in public and private spheres of life historically and culturally. “The poster exhibition titled ‘Mee Ek Manjushree’ was displayed at various places (more than 300 displays) all over Maharashtra. It analysed the issue of violence against women in historical context and brought out how violence against women is a tool used to subjugate women both in private and public spheres of life. This was one of the first campaigns in Maharashtra that highlighted the issue of violence against as a tool of patriarchy irrespective of class and caste. “We have run major campaigns to deal with the issues
#ACTPUNE that were taken up by us. ‘Safe travel at night’ is one such campaign which we had run after the incidence of rape on single women note travelers returning home from railway station. We demanded to know the names and numbers of the rickshaw drivers at railway stations and state transport depots. We developed an alliance with all the unions of rickshaw drivers and jointly campaigned for added security, a measure that was successful. This also indicated that unions of drivers also could sensitively respond to the issue of violence against women. Similar alliance was sought with students group, state police and union of rickshaw drivers for the Ganesha festival in Pune. Another campaign includes the ‘Right to Water’ in Maval block of Pune district in collaboration with Krantikari Mahila Sanghatana,” she further added. NSM has addressed various issues that are manifesta-
facebook.com/Puneunltd
tions of the subordination of women. The group analyses violence against women as social mechanism of male domination and subjugation of women that results in physical, sexual and psychological harm. Over the period, we see forms of violence undergoing changes such as sexual abuse, child sex abuse, violence out of non-acceptance of ‘friendship’ or ‘love’ or sexual abuse at workplace. NSM has been working at micro as well as macro levels on this issue since 1983.
twitter.com/PuneUnltd
PUNE UNLTD.
13
COVER STORY
Oh, Womaniya! A Glimpse into the Lives of Pune’s Wonder Women
The fairer sex, oh yes! Go on, name a field and, we have a woman ruling the radar. Pune’s ladies have contributed to the society, made a name for themselves, and balanced their professional as well as their personal life with aplomb. With this story, we shed light on the lives of five Puneri women who’ve done brilliantly in their respective fields. Dear men, watch out!
Urvashi Patole | Biker Bikes, open roads, endless possibilities and an undying spirit of adventure. Vrooming her way ahead, Urvashi Patole, better known as the Bikerni, opens up about her passion for motorbikes, social media and road trips.
College. Currently, I am working as a Senior Social Media Strategist. In my free time, I like customising my clothes, helmets, even my bike with stickers, etc. It’s because of this creative streak that I decided to venture into the field of social media - I wanted to put my creativity to a positive use.
Tell us a little about yourself.
How did you realise your love for biking?
I was born in Pathankot and it’s been 14 years since I’ve shifted to Pune. I completed my education at Fergusson
I was 14, and owned a Kinetic Honda. I would sneak out with the bike and ride out, exploring nearby places. My cousin got a pulsar soon afterward, and I learnt how to ride a gear bike. I then got my own Activa, and started making trips to places like Alibaug, etc. It made me feel alive and I knew this was what I wanted.
When did it all start professionally? I started trying stunts on my Activa. The movie Dhoom had just released, and everyone around was talking about biking
14 PUNE UNLTD.
loss. The doctors had given me a year to recover. I was back on a road trip in 4 months. My family didn’t approve of it, but they saw that this is what mattered to me. They’ve been very scared, but they have also understood my passion. And they have always been proud of me.
What has been your most memorable trip till date?
and racing. A group of guys saw me riding and performing stunts, and asked me to join them. I got my first bike (125cc) in 2007. Mahindra signed me on as a test rider. I also ventured into dirt bike racing and won the first race that I participated in. There has been no looking back since then.
What about biking excites you the most? The sense of adventure that it brings along. Traveling, exploring....I don’t like being dependent on another mode of transportation. With a bike I feel in control. I am controlling the bike, the speed, the direction, it brings along a sense of freedom. You never know what lies ahead, and the uncertainty is exciting. And, the adrenaline rush is addictive. If I were to describe biking in one word, I’d say biking is life.
Biking is also very risky. Aren’t you scared? Of course I am...but not for myself. When I travel with my girls, I don’t want anything to happen to them. I make sure everyone is safe....they often call me the ‘Mother Hen’ of the group.
How has your family reacted to your choice?
I think it’s the first all-women’s-ride I went for. There were 11 of us, a mix of young and old. We had women ranging from 19-53 years of age. We’d gone to Leh-Ladakh. It was motivating to see everyone so determined, unfazed by any difficulties.
How did Bikerni come into being? It was 2011, and I realised there was no established platform for women motorcyclists. I wanted to encourage women riders, and get them all together. I have always been interested in social media, so I decided to get everyone together on a Facebook group. I got a lot of positive response, and that’s how we were formed.
How has biking changed your life? It’s given me a lot of confidence. I now find it easier to talk to people, easier to open up. I am a shy, a-social person by nature. Biking has made me strong.
How frequent are the road trips? We ride out every weekend.
When you’re not biking (or working), what is it that you’re doing? Planning my next road trip....
Initially they were a little scared. But, they realised this meant a lot to me, and have always been supportive. I met with a terrible accident where I suffered memory
facebook.com/Puneunltd
twitter.com/PuneUnltd
- In conversation with Protima Tiwary
PUNE UNLTD.
15
Arushi Rana | Model She has modeled for the famous Uniliever brand, Dove. She’s sassy, extremely gorgeous, and most importantly, grounded. Today, Arushi Rana is one of the leading models in the city. The 20-year-old model talks about being discovered, how she’s unfazed by competition and her future plans.
idea I’d be doing this.
What has been your favorite shoot so far? That’s a tough one! All my shoots have been equally special and memorable...every shoot has a different lesson to teach. It’s a new experience with every shoot. I can’t choose one! The Dove shoot comes to mind right now, but as I said, each shoot is memorable.
How did it all start?
What is your favorite part about your job?
I never intended to get into this field. My sister, Yashi Rana was taking part in Mirchi Queen Bee, and thought it’d be a good idea if I took part too. She even filled the forms for me!! I didn’t win anything, I didn’t even reach the final round, but I was recognised by many people at the event. And that’s how it all started. I honestly had no
We’re made to feel like celebrities, and honestly it’s a LOVELY feeling! It’s fun, and the BEST part is that you get to wear the designer outfits that everyone has their eyes on. You get the first-hand knowledge of the clothes and make-up and trends...it’s exciting. You never get bored.
16 PUNE UNLTD.
And what is it that you hate about the industry? There is nothing that I hate. I enjoy my job, and I love the exposure that it gives me.
Everyone sees this as a glamourous field. Your thoughts on that? I’d really want people to see that it’s not only about glamour - there is a lot of hard work involved. There are days when we don’t have shoots and we wake up wondering what next. There is struggle involved.
So competition must be really tough... how do you deal with it? Yes, it’s tough. It’s a job where you are easily replaceable. You have to work hard. For me, I’ve realised my confidence has paid off. Touchwood :) Never give up...this is a tough world, but you need to learn to survive.
It must be tough, keeping your diet and lifestyle habits in check...How do you stay in shape? Oh no no...I am blessed with god genes (laughs)! I am a
18 PUNE UNLTD.
total foodie, and love trying out different types of food. I work out of course, but not because I want to be skinny, no. I work out because I want to stay fit and healthy. Eat clean, drink lots of water, work out every day- It’s not that bad.
What is your dream job? Currently, I am studying business, but I see myself anchoring my own TV show on TLC. One small step at a time I guess.
What’s your mantra as a model in the fashion industry? Be strong-willed. Work hard and be humble. Don’t settle, strive towards getting the best.
Best advice you’ve received? Don’t force yourself to do anything...do it because you want to. Don’t listen to what people have to say - no matter what you do, people will talk. Just stay focused. - In conversation with Protima Tiwary
COVER STORY
Manisha Belvalkar | Tarot Reader Manisha Belvalkar has been known as a Tarot Reader for more than 18 years. She uses Ancient Wisdom, Tarot Magic processes and Crystals in her work, and aims at supporting her clients in their evolutionary processes. Without further delay, here is what Manisha Belvalkar has to say-
When and how did you decide to pursue this field of divination? I come from a logical, scientific background. I was studying to be an IAS officer. I’ve a double MBA degree, and had a corporate job with an MNC. Tarot Card Reading was always a hobby in college, and I’d pursue this on weekends when I was working. It was a satisfying experience. It was a gradual move from my corporate job to personal readings and healing.
What about Tarot Card reading interested you the most when you started? On a personal note, whenever I had issues, I knew I had friends and family who’d tell me things to make me feel
better, but it was vague. I wanted a direction. With tarot readings, I felt the insight and advice also gave a direction.
What exactly is Tarot Card Reading? It is a Divination tool that gives an insight into the mind of the client. It’s a deck of 78 cards- 22 cards tell your destiny, 56 give an insight into your mind. This isn’t a vague field as many might think. A reading leaves you feeling empowered. This is one field where your MIND is given importance, and everything is based on YOUR will.
What makes you tick in this business? What’s worked for me is the fact that I believe in helping people heal. This isn’t only about passing on information to the clients, I also want to be a part of their evolutionary process. In the 18 years that I have been doing this, I have advertised only once, and that was a good 10 years ago. I’ve always wanted it to be an authentic experience. All these years, I’ve got clients through referrals. I desire to serve.
What are the challenges in this field? The biggest challenge I feel is establishing credibility.
What is a typical day in your life like? I keep myself free for my children in the mornings. I have 4 appointments scheduled in one day, during the evenings. I also teach students the art of Tarot Card reading.
Any interesting reading experiences you’d like to share with us? Each person’s life is beautiful and is a miracle in its own way. I’ve seen transformations happening in front of my every day. Everyone deals with life in a particular way, each person has an interesting reading. I’ve had people coming to me absolutely devastated and clueless, and seen them transform to happy, positive people by the fourth session. Along with my business partner, I’ve also helped cure illnesses like thyroid problems, asthma, etc. I’ve seen miracles happen every day.
Any interesting facts you’d want to share with the readers? Each card depicts a journey in life. Also, t’s the reading that call you, you don’t go to the reading. You’ll be interested in getting a reading done, but you’ll only get it doesn’t when the cards call you. And the cards choose the reader, the reader doesn’t choose them. - In conversation with Protima Tiwary
facebook.com/Puneunltd
twitter.com/PuneUnltd
PUNE UNLTD.
19
Dr. Swati Mujumdar | Director, Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning Dr. Swati Mujumdar’s area of research relies in higher as well as distance education. She has a keen interest in various policies related to higher education, privatisation of education and, has presented several papers in national and international conferences. Her passion and knowledge for skilled-based education makes her one of the top names in the field; in the city and the country. Here are excerpts from our conversation:
What are your thoughts on higher education, especially for women? When it comes to higher education for women, the general trend in India is for women to drop out of school after the 7th or 8th grade. This is not the case in urban areas but the point is that bulk of our population lies in rural localities and that’s where we need to focus. And, even when rural children have the option of education, they go for the usual courses like BA and B.Com, not realising that these are not particularly good options for employment. We need to give them course options that will generate livelihoods. Also, when it comes to working women in such areas, they tend to choose acceptable professions like being a Teacher. What they don’t realise is that their chosen professions may not be their passion. They choose it because they think it’s acceptable and easy. But, surely it will reflect in their teaching skills! We need to provide information like aptitude tests and counseling options. My aim is to provide courses that will generate decent income for them; like beauty parlour courses.
What has been your greatest achievement till date? My greatest achievement has been to be able to reach
20 PUNE UNLTD.
out to hundreds of thousands of students with affordable education and skilled-based courses. I’m not saying we’ve achieved success, but yes, we have been largely effective in changing people lives. That’s a success factor for all of us working in this institute and not just me alone. I was instrumental in introducing a lot of new programs and I feel a lot of achievement when I see women who come and tell us that they were able to start new businesses thanks to our courses.
Where do you see yourself in the next 10 years? I really feel that our education system will change for the better over the next 10 years due to the way our job market and how it’s becoming more and more demanding. I plan to contribute more to the skill development sector. I see such people all the time; ones who may not have a very high degree of education but have done extremely well for themselves simply due to the skills they obtain. So, if I am able to contribute and create that consciousness in society; give more importance to skills, I will feel like I’ve achieved a lot. That’s where I would like to divert more of my attention.
Give us three names of people among the ones you look up to. My parents, Dr. Abdul Kalam and the Dalai Lama.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time? Reading, listening to soft music, gardening and travelling. I’ve travelled across the world, but one destination I can go back to again and again is Kashmir. - In conversation with Apeksha Bhagchandani
COVER STORY
Mrinal Kulkarni | Actor, Director Making a movie is like running a business and more. Many departments, people, temperaments and finally, the public decides if your efforts were worth it. Mrinal Kulkarni’s first directorial venture was a rousing success, but with Rama Madhav, she took on a greater challenge. Along the way, she set a few firsts, created history (while recreating it!) and came out a winner. She shares the inside track of what it truly takes to create a winner.
Why did you decide to do a period film? My last film “Prem Mhanje Prem Mhanje Prem Asta” was based on a very current issue and I was scouting for a new subject. It was a social issue that tackled the question of whether marriage is important or love. It actually tackled important issues like whether love becomes just an SMS joke after marriage… So my options were a comedy or a social issue film, but I didn’t want to do either. So looking for something different rekindled a long-held dream of doing a period film in Marathi. It’s actually been 30 years since a period film was made in Marathi… and what’s more interesting is that no woman has ever made a period film, in India. My acting career started through a period TV show, Swami. I played Ramabai and it was a character that I knew well and was always close to my heart… I drew from my experiences of having worked in period films and shows and started working on the script. Of course, I got help along the way from such stalwarts like Babasaheb Purandare and everyone was very encouraging. It’s worth considering that a love story, which took place in our own Shaniwarwada has not been documented on film yet. And if you think about it, there are no real eternal love stories like “Laila Majnu” or “Heer Ranjha” that one easily remembers from our history… The story of Rama-Madhav is one that’s close to the hearts of many Marathi people and this made the decision firm for me.
a project is the best. As I started on the journey, I was happy to get the right guidance and support from professionals like Nitin Desai for set design, Rajeev Jain as the cinematographer, Saroj Khan for the choreography, Sudhir Moghe and Anand Modak who created the music.
Would you say this is one of the most high-profile or high-budget Marathi films ever? Not ever, but this is one of the most classy-looking films ever made.
Not many movies of this scale in Marathi, either…
What were some of the challenges you faced?
Yes, it’s important that the team one assembles for such
Being a key character and directing wasn’t as much a
facebook.com/Puneunltd
twitter.com/PuneUnltd
PUNE UNLTD.
21
COVER STORY The film isn’t a historical drama, it’s a love story. We wanted youngsters to watch the film and be interested in history.
Did you take any creative liberties with the story? Of course not! We can’t do that. But we can interpret. What we know happened can’t be altered. But we can interpret how… emotions are unknown from history. Using all the information from various institutes and people including their kundalis and writings, we were able to infer.
Was all this homework only for the director or for the entire cast? The entire cast and crew were very interested and enthusiastic to know more about our history. As a director, I had to think of a lot more, but the team also worked on their own to work more on their characters. Our aim was to make it very simple for the audience. Even the language we used in the movie is very simple to make it easy to relate for the audience. Apart from this, once on location, we faced other challenges too. Our fight director, Ravi Dewan, who is 6’6” (I call him Afzal Khan!) was a great help. This was my toughest challenge since I haven’t done action films and we had a war that needed a lot of attention to detail. To get horses and people who can ride and fight is a huge challenge. challenge for me since I did the same in my last movie as well. This time, though, it was a bigger production, more locations, a war as well and so I was a bit reluctant to act. Our entire crew, though, was keen that I reprise my role with Ravindra Mankani from “Swami” and I relented. Thankfully, it wasn’t a big role, so yes, there was some respite! It was a challenge, though, to get everybody into the mode of the past. As I started shooting, I realized that the cast, although interested in history, were not as aware about it. They were curious and wanted to do something different. The want is important… My son Virajas and Arjun Mogre were working with me on this and were interested in working on this. We were also lucky in getting a lot of people sharing information about history with us. Our Facebook page was regularly receiving inputs with tidbits of information that all helped us in the scripting and getting the details right.
22 PUNE UNLTD.
Authenticity was another challenge. The costumes, the look… it was essential for us to get it all right.
What about managing schedules and budgets for such a production? If you plan right, it’s not impossible. Your pre-shoot planning is important. We targeted to complete this film in 36 days and we did it in 38; so I think that’s a big win from a planning point-of-view. We have also had positive reactions coming in from all corners for our production value and we have successfully fought a perception that Marathi movies can’t be magnificent.
- In conversation with Aditya Kuber
PHOTO FEATURE I’ve mentioned this in one of our previous Cover Stories; Veethi Telang is always in form when she’s holding a camera. She managed to get her hands on a Canon EOS 350D and went bonkers. The lady spends a lot of her free time browsing through photography material and we can all see the brilliant results here now, don’t we?
Ü
Helping hand.
VEETHI TELANG
- Apeksha Bhagchandani
Ü
VEETHI TELANG
The lifeline of Pune.
Ü
VEETHI TELANG
Evenings are better with friends by your side.
Ü
PHOTO FEATURE
VEETHI TELANG
VEETHI TELANG
Contemplating.
Û
The bits & pieces that strengthen our city.
Photo: DraconianRain Used under Creative Commons License
SPECIAL FEATURE
Guruwar Peth
A conglomeration of the modern and the traditional Sharan Garcha
Explore the temples, beautiful architecture, typical shop-cum-dwelling frontages, busy streets and the oldest businesses of the city. Walk through narrow streets and a maze of by-lanes where the modern co-exist with the traditional. That’s Guruwar Peth for you. Read up on and explore.
26 PUNE UNLTD.
SPECIAL FEATURE The old city of Pune is divided into various peths where to this day we can experience the ambience of traditional Pune. Today the peths form the heart of Pune city, and are referred to as the old city or simply City and are considered to be the cultural heart of Pune. Moving our thread forward, in this issue, we cover Guruwar Peth that was developed by Jivajipant Khasgiwale in the 1730s during the rule of Shrimant Balajirao Peshwa. There is no easy way to know that you have reached the Peth. But the best way to know that you are around is to look for the Parasvanath Jain Temple, as it marks the beginning of the Peth. Guruwar Peth is also known as ‘Vetal Peth’ as it houses the famous temple of ‘Vetal’. It is said that the Peshwas used to visit this temple. They had put a big bell in this Temple, as their work of molding of ammunition was successfully done. This place was also popular for the elephant fighting shows. What’s more, the Jain Temple of ‘Parasnath’ is another famous landmark in Guruwar Peth. The Parasnath Jain Temple dedicated to Parasvanath - a Jain Tirthankara, is located right in the beginning of the Peth. The temple has some sculptures as well as ornamental paintings which form the interiors of the temple structure. The temple interiors also display some specimens of rich
Photo: Neha Pipraiya
glass inlay work. Located in a small lane in Guruwar Peth, the m agnificent structure is an important part of Pune’s history. The Anglo-Catholic church, popularly known as the Panch Haud church, thanks to the five water tanks in the vicinity, was founded in 1883 by the then Bishop of Bombay. The foundation stone, I was told, was written in Sanskrit! The church celebrated its 130th anniversary this year on August 7. The red brick and tile roof structure reminds you of the Basilica Gothic style of architecture. A stone’s throw away stands the bell tower. The white and grey marble Photo: Neha Pipraiya
facebook.com/Puneunltd
twitter.com/PuneUnltd
PUNE UNLTD.
27
SPECIAL FEATURE
Photo: Neha Pipraiya
floor is covered in red carpet while black-coloured pews provide a good contrast to it. There are 15 pillars on each side of the aisle and at the end of it, stands the altar made purely of alabaster. The walls on either side are adorned with paintings depicting the life and times of Christ. The paintings are as old as the church and came straight from England during the colonial times. There are eight huge bells hanging inside the chamber. Made by the Taylor and Sons of Loughborough, which is a 200-year-old company still functional in UK, each bell bears the name of Jesus and rings in a particular note. They ring a bell everyday at noon and at 6 pm, whereas all the eight bells ring only on special occasions like Chirstmas, Easter, National Holidays and other holy occasions.
houses numerous wholesalers of aluminum, steel and hardware. The area also has textile and garment wholesalers and smaller shops selling only select items like saris and dress materials. Guruwar Peth is also known for its bidi-rolling community. The instruments of production are only the unskilled female labour that roll out the bidis and supplement their family income. You can see the old-world charm of the city and its many quaint characteristics,
While walking down Guruwar Peth, you will discover the divine aura and experience the peaceful, tranquil and spiritual retreat of the temples and the church and, on the other end, is the busy business sector of the city. Apart from the narrow side streets, the peth
28 PUNE UNLTD.
Photo: Neha Pipraiya
SPECIAL FEATURE including the omnipresent cyclists, rickshaws and handcarts and pullers. The market is a narrow lane, created by hawkers setting up their stalls on the side of the road itself. Unlike other peths of Pune, there aren’t too many eateries around. There are just small handcarts selling a few snacks and juices. There are also small stalls and shops of tea sellers that cater to the businessmen and devotees of the area. One can enjoy eating the local Puneri snacks, papads, farsaan and some local sweets at these small shops around the peth. As you walk through the narrow lanes along this peth, you get to savour the delights of majestic wadas - the brick tiles lining the rooftops, intricate brick work on the exteriors as well as finely crafted wooden plants and animals lining the facades of these buildings. The Maratha Empire stays alive in these structures that were built during its reign. Walking along the byroads of the peth is enough to make you aware of the architectural magnificence that this city is blessed with. The small meticulous architectural features that are peculiar of these wadas leave you dumbstruck. There are some ancestral homes that are still occupied by the original lineage.
Photo: Neha Pipraiya
Photo: Neha Pipraiya
Photo: Neha Pipraiya
facebook.com/Puneunltd
twitter.com/PuneUnltd
PUNE UNLTD.
29
SCOR’D
Film
Creature 3D
Torture 3D!
Film
Finding Fanny
A not-to-be-missed tale of five wicked Goans
Bar The
Mugshot Lounge, Koregaon Park
Contemporary design and amazing dĂŠcor
Book Learning
to Swim by Sara J. Henry
The French Window Patisserie, Viman Nagar
A must-read for all entrepreneurs!
One-time wonder!
30 PUNE UNLTD.
Bakery
EVENTS Bakery Class
17
September
Learn the art of baking authentic chocolate based desserts such as cookies, truffles and many more from pastry Chef at Hyatt, followed by lunch at The Café. When: Wednesday, September 17
Where: Hyatt Regency Pune, Weikfield IT Park, PuneNagar Road, Pune
19
September
The Raghu Dixit Project Often hailed as India’s biggest cultural & musical export, Raghu Dixit’s unique brand of infectious, happy music transcends age, genre, and even language. His music is strongly rooted in Indian traditions and culture and is presented with a very contemporary, global sound. Come and celebrate this event which will take you through a journey of Contemporary Folk music! When: Friday, September 19
Time: 11 am
Where: Hard Rock Cafe, Raga Lawns, near Koregaon Park Annexe, Mundhwa, Pune
Contact: +91 20 6645 1618
Time: 8 pm
Fees: Rs.850/-
Contact: Anis Shaikh – +91 9158800807
17
20
September
September
A Hysterical Wednesday Are you feeling down? Under the weather? Upset about something? Lethargic or plain bored? Are you feeling great and want to feel even more amazing? Whichever case may be true, you want to be at Oak lounge. Nothing is better for you than a fun night of laughter and good times. Oak lounge is bringing you a fun night with Anirbhan Dasgupta and Vaibhav Sethia, two extremely talented comedians from Calcutta. When: Wednesday, September 17 Where: IOak Lounge, Oakwood Premier, 81, Mundhwa Road, Koregaon Park Annexe, Pune Time:
8 pm
Contact: 9049004765
facebook.com/Puneunltd
Car Design Workshop Learn how to design cars and sketch your innovative ideas. This is an 8.5 Hour Workshop split over two days When: Saturday, September 20, 10.30AM to 4.30PM Sunday, September 21, 10.30AM to 1.00PM Where: Pagdandi - Book Chai Café, Shop no 6, Regent Plaza Mall, Baner Pashan Link Road, Baner, Pune Contact: Mahesh Shinde @ +91-9769956112 or email mahesh.shinde99@gmail.com for Course Fees and Registration
twitter.com/PuneUnltd
PUNE UNLTD.
31
EVENTS
23
September
Jewellery Workshop Mugdha Kulkarni teaches the participants how to make beautiful personalised, handmade beaded jewellery. The workshop includes the preparation of two kind of earrings, two kind of neckpieces and anklets which all can be taken home. . When: September 23 Time: 3 pm - 5 pm Fee: 1000/- (material included) Where: Prelocate, Plot No. 20, Survey no 90/2/B and 90/3/B, Behind Bharat Gas, Koregaon Park Annexe, Mundhwa, Pune Sign up with your name and mobile number at: tcc@ prelocate.com. Contact- Anna: 9764441478 or Mugdha: 9665050464
24
September
Krunk presents Peter Cat Recording Co. Peter Cat Recording Co. comes from New Delhi, currently consisting of four members. The sound is heavily inspired by classic Bollywood motifs, American big band, and ballroom waltz. Their live show straddles the line between performance art and musical salvation, encompassing backdrops of iconic Bollywood film sequences and musical samples, bullhorns, deftly controlled vocal histrionics, and long instrumental passages; building and collapsing around what are often two hour sets. When: Wednesday, September 24 Where: Blue Frog, Ishanya Mall, Arcade 6,Opp. Golf Course, Off Airport Road, Yerwada, Pune Time: 9 pm
20
September
Live Life Love Life Fundraiser Gala Night A non-profit organisation aimed at spreading awareness about the early detection of Cancer and raising funds for the financially disadvantaged. An evening full of exquisite of food, spirits and live music performances, a black-tie affair at one of the best hotels in town, with an auction of select desirable collections including premium art, Live Life Love Life is an annual calendar fixture event in Pune to support the fight against Cancer. The proceeds from 2014 edition will go towards funding many initiatives of Prashanti Cancer Care Mission and Care India Medical Society When: Saturday, September 20 Where: The Westin, 36/3-B, Koregaon Park Annexe, Mundhwa Road, Ghorpadi, Pune Time: 8 pm
32 PUNE UNLTD.