RITZ December 2015

SOUTH INDIA’S PREMIER UBER LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

DECEMBER 2015 VOL 12 | ISSUE 05

THE MOST CELEBRATED ICON GM RAO, INDIA’S INFRASTRUCTURE GIANT AND BILLIONAIRE BUSINESSMAN NARRATES HIS INSPIRING STORY

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MY VIEW The floods that ravaged Chennai recently taught us a major lesson in unpredictability and disaster management. I remember reaching the Bengaluru airport on the evening of December 1, 2015 only to find that all flights to Chennai had been cancelled. The Taj West End and ITC Gardenia in the city became my home for the next 4 days as I waited for a go-ahead from my family to safely travel back to Chennai. When I finally got back on December 5th, I was shocked to see the roads devastated, several homes washed away, livelihoods brought to a halt and lives completely lost. Many people narrated horrific experiences of wading through neck-deep water, having their belongings washed away and their homes inundated by the floods. This is by any estimation the most heart-rending natural disaster the city has ever faced in the last 100 years. But the one quality that shone through at the end, was the resilience and courage of Chennaiites and the way people from every sphere of life came together to help each other and get their lives back on track. The following Monday the entire city was back at work piecing back their lives after the serious loss and damage caused by the floods.

They say that it is only in times of distress that you know the true quality of a man. By that yardstick, we now stand tall and proud as the strongest and the most resilient and enduring. I am truly proud to be a Chennaiite.

On a different note, our cover this month features the iconic GM Rao, whose rare dynamism and entrepreneurial drive have always inspired all of us at Ritz immensely. This edition is all the more special as it will be launched at the prestigious Audi Ritz Icon Awards which is taking place in Bengaluru this time around. I hope you enjoy reading this edition of Ritz.

ARUNA R KRISHNAN

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Inside

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38 Cover Story GM Rao, the billionaire industrialist and infrastructure giant is on the cover of this month’s issue. He narrates his amazing story

46 Spotlight Telangana’s suave Minister for IT & Panchayat Raj has become a force to reckon with. He has grand plans for the development of the country’s youngest state

12 Buzzin Chennai reaches out to help those who faced the wrath of the devastating floods. See how those who could helped those in need Bengaluru was hip and happening last month. We round up some of the key happenings from the city Hydrabad was buzzing with activity through November. From lavish weddings to preparing for the holiday season, here’s what they did

22 New Products As new and high end luxury merchandise hits the shelf before Christmas, we’re happy to bring you a first look

24 RSVP Chennai celebrated the intricacies and elaborate history of Indian art at a lavish event attended by the city’s A-listers Well known personalities of Hyderabad launched the first season of the ABsalut Style fashion extravaganza French luxury brand Roche Bobois launched their new store, along with a fabulous line of furniture in Bengaluru Turquoise and Gold presented their new festive collection with an annual trunk show at a swank do Italian luxury car maker Maserati opened their first showroom in South India with a big splash in Bengaluru

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Lakshmi Pratury gave up her corporate job to do what she loves best - listen to people’s stories. The co-host TEDIndia and founder of INK Talks gets candid with us Hari Menon was one of the country’s pioneers of E-Commerce, except he tried his hand at it a decade ahead of time.

Today, with BigBasket.com he’s laughing all the way to the bank Vidya Balan’s name resonates with talent and success today and she is easily one of B-Town’s most sensational actors Riyas Komu is an artist whose oeuvre is deep-rooted in politics and realism.

He was ranked 86 on the Power 100 list of most influential people in the contemporary art world Ram Charan is one of those stars who does not want to ride piggy back on his father’s and uncle’s success stories. The actor entrepreneur is determined to hold his own in the industry Vikram has legions of awards and accolades to his name, but what matters to him most is the constant challenge to himself and the satisfaction of his audience She’s a force to reckon with in the world of education. Managing Director of the acclaimed Sathyabama University, Dr. Maria Zeena has made a name for herself in the education space Gaurang Shah’s name is synonymous with hand-crafted textile art. The master of weaves strives to revive traditional handlooms and bring them back in vogue

72 Look Book Showcasing Gaurang Shah’s saree saga - a look at some of the most exclusive weaves and designs created by him Deepa and Vineet Chikarmane showcase their new collection from Encrustd called Diamonds and Rust easy holiday fashion for the discerning fashionista Creative director of House Of Three, Sounak Sen Barat dresses up his muse in his take on Christmas fashion… no reds and greens for him we see

84 Corridors Of Power Sanjay Pinto writes about Chennai’s knight in khaki - V. Balakrishnan IPS

86 Point Blank How superficial is our media today and why do they mete out step motherly treatment to South India and its problems… Sanjay Pinto asks the pertinent question

90 Wanderlust Former golfer JJ Chakola checks out the luxury and golf tourism scene in Oman and comes back stunned by all that the beautiful country has to offer

94 Foodies Inc The Olive Bistro in Hyderabad has taken the city’s palette on a journey beyond biryani and haleem

96 Advertorial Shiro brings to the table a collection of Asian inspired grills that will tempt your tastebuds and excite your senses

EDITOR & PUBLISHER ARUNA R KRISHNAN EDITOR’S SECRETARY & COORDINATOR JAFFAR ABDUL HAMEED REGIONAL EDITOR - KARNATAKA ARCHANA SHENOY REGIONAL EDITOR - TELANGANA & ANDHRA PRADESH VANAJA BANAGIRI LEGAL COUNSEL SANJAY PINTO SENIOR CORRESPONDENT & CELEBRITY RELATIONS COORDINATOR SHANKARAN MALINI CHENNAI CORRESPONDENT DIYA SUBRAMANIAN GENERAL MANAGER - MARKETING PRAVEEN KUMAR M MANAGER - CLIENT SERVICE SWATHI RAMAKRISHNAN DESIGNER NARAYANAN SATHISH MARKETING CONSULTANT - BENGALURU SANJAY JARIWAL EVENTS AND FEATURES PHOTOGRAPHER - CHENNAI M.GURUNATH PRABHU EVENTS AND FEATURES PHOTOGRAPHER - BENGALURU FAHEEM HUSSAIN EVENTS AND FEATURES PHOTOGRAPHER - HYDERABAD SANTOSH KUMAR Edited and Published by Aruna R Krishnan from 7th Floor, Sigma Wing, Raheja Towers, 177 Anna Salai, Chennai 600002. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited. RITZ is not responsible for unsolicited material.

RITZ assumes no responsibility for the veracity and authenticity of the advertisements published herein. Readers are requested to make appropriate enquiries before incurring any expenses or acting on medical recommendations or otherwise in relation to any advertisement or article published herein. Also views in articles published herein are those of the respective authors only. RITZ does not necessarily subscribe to these views.

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To advertise in RITZ, call Praveen Kumar on +91 98419 73090 /+91 44 4211 3871or Swathi Ramakrishnan on +91 98419 73088 All correspondence should be addressed to: RITZ, 7th Floor, Sigma Wing, Raheja Towers, 177, Anna Salai, Chennai 600002. Contact: 42113871 / 2 Email: ritzmag@rediffmail.com or ritzmag@gmail.com

BUZZ IN’

HELP IN CHENNAI’S DARKEST HOUR Though Hotel GRT Grand was severely affected by the floods in Chennai and remains closed awaiting completion of repair works hence, it was a hub for relief work in Chennai with COO Vikram Cotah spearheading the entire operation. From cooking up hot meals to sending out supplies to affected areas, distributing daily necessities like milk and medicines, Cotah along with the owners of the GRT group didn’t let the damage to the property stop them from working tirelessly to serve as many flood victims as he could.

The Chennai high-flyer has earned much goodwill for himself with his selfless attitude.

CHENNAI

EMPATHISING WITH CHENNAI Sri Lankan cricketers won the hearts of devastated Chennaiites with their show of support. While veteran spinner Muralidharan announced a contribution of 1 crore rupees, other retired Sri Lankan cricketer Kumara Sangakkara offered 65 lakhs towards relief work in the flood ravaged city. MS Dhoni offered 75 lakhs while Chennai boys Ravichandran Ashwin and Murali Vijay said they have been pained by the loss of life in the disaster and will help the affected people in their home town to the best of their ability.

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You can buy Jullaaha online at - www.flipkart.com; www.ebay.in Buy jullaaha sarees, kalamkari stoles, dupattas and salwar materials online at www.parisera.com

BUZZ IN’

LADY IN RED Uzma Irfan has been a busy lady. Outside of her hectic work schedule as Director, Corporate Communications, Prestige Constructions, she was spotted recently launching a luxury chocolate line by Bliss Chocolates at the swanky UB City. Though she’s not seen out much at parties or ​other social dos, she made it a point to be present, looking chic in a pretty pair of embellished denims and a bright red top. Her gentle manner and soft spoken attitude are always much appreciated by those around her.

BENGALURU

GIVING BACK WITH STYLE Shubha Dharmana, well-known cosmetic dermatologist and hair transplant expert was chosen as the local ambassador for Teach For Change, Bengaluru chapter. The stunning doctor was delighted at the chance to be able to give back to society in some way and was happy to acknowledge Ritz magazine’s contribution (she was featured on the cover of the October 2015 Bengaluru edition) in getting her to this privileged platform. She shared the stage at a beautifully curated event with other well-known names like Sumalata Ambareesh, Lakshmi Manchu and Swami Agnivesh, along with Chaitanya MRSK, CEO of Teach For Change.

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BUZZ IN’

BENGALURU

IN HONOUR OF A STAR The Karnataka State Billiards Association had a lavish celebration in honour of cue sports champion Pankaj Advani. Keeping in mind the winning run that Advani has been on, KSBA honoured the youngster for winning his 14th and 15th title at a heart warming ceremony where they personally invited upon stage his entire family, considering they were all a huge part of the champ’s winning persona. Pankaj, who is extremely camera shy, posed for shutterbugs with his pretty young niece Zara.

MUSIC MANIA All roads in the city led to the Embassy International Riding School for the Bacardi NH7 Weekender that saw music enthusiasts and then some throng the venue to catch a glimpse of AR Rahman as he owned the stage with his scintillating music. Another hot favourite for the night was city rocker Raghu Dixit. Along with a plethora of other upcoming artists and musicians this was one great music weekend, typical Bengaluru style.

BIDDING ADIEU TO APOO Bengaluru’s favourite model Apoorva Vishwanathan tied the knot recently with beau Shan S Iyer, in a traditional Tamilian Iyer ceremony in the US. The model who scorched the ramps in her home town for more than a decade now, bid a tearful adieu to Bengaluru when she packed up and moved to the States a few weeks before the wedding. While the ceremony was beautiful and the bride looked stunning (how could she not!) it left the city’s modelling scene with a void that seems hard to fill.

Here’s wishing the young couple a lifetime of happiness ahead.

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BUZZ IN’

HYDERABAD

LENDING A HAND While Tamil actors were toiling to rescue flood-hit Chennai, it was heartening to see Tollywood chipping in too. Popular Telugu actors Kajal Aggarwal, Lakshmi Manchu, Tejaswi Madivada, Rana Daggubati, Nani, Allari Naresh and Madhushalini joined hands to raise funds for Tamil Nadu which is now reeling under the worst floods in a century to hit the state. The fundraiser titled `Mana Madras Kosam’ received a good response with people thronging at every venue to show their support and donate for the cause.

WEDDING BELLS Samarth Bajaj, son of famous jewellers Bunty and Suresh Bajaj from Hyderabad and Sasha Rawal, sister of reputed fashion designer Kunal Rawal exchanged vows at a destination wedding in Oman. The who’s who of Hyderabad flew to the Arab state to be a part of the celebrations.

The Kapoor ladies - Sunita, Rhea and Sonam who’re close to both the bride and the groom’s side - showed up in full force to be a part of the mega celebrations. From the look of it, everybody seems to have had a blast at the wedding of the season.

SEASON OF RED ’N GREEN The sounds of jingle bells are getting louder.

Season’s greetings are being exchanged everywhere. Ushering in the Christmas celebrations, almost every star hotel in Hyderabad invited their guests for a special cake mixing ceremony. And nearly all the city’s socialites made it a point to attend. Here’s a short roundup of some of the most well-known faces from Hyderabad at this event.

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BUZZ IN’

HYDERABAD

IN THE EYE OF THE STORM That’s where she has found herself once again, this time however for her alleged exorbitant demand of a private jet to fly her from Goa to Bhopal for an appearance she was supposed to make. Sania Mirza may be the country’s poster girl for tennis, but the media loves to crucify her nonetheless for her every action. Now, we don’t believe that she’s the first star to ask for a private jet to charter her around, nor is she going to be the last. Let’s get real people, the lady’s time is precious and she probably felt it was impractical to dwaddle around in airports hopping flights to the bowels of Madhya Pradesh. Moreover the lady is concentrating on bringing home a gold from Rio next year.

Let’s cut her some slack, shall we?

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PRODUCTS

NEW

A TIME-LEE TRIBUTE 2015 is a special year. It is Bruce Lee’s 75th birth anniversary celebration. To commemorate the life and times of the martial artist and his exclusive philosophy, Hublot has invited the Bruce Lee Foundation to participate in the design of the “Legend Never Dies: Bruce Lee 75th anniversary Memorial Exhibition” and the limited edition “Spirit of Big Bang for Bruce Lee”. Inspired by the dragon pattern on Bruce Lee’s desk, this tribute possesses the spirit of the martial legend and the pure DNA of Hublot in a limited edition offering comprising 75 pieces, featuring a tonneau case in all-black microblasted ceramic.

The timepiece is fitted with HUB4700 – an automatic winding skeletonized movement with a 50-hour power reserve.

ODE TO SPEED AND STYLE Ermenegildo Zegna and Maserati have created a special capsule collection of fine leatherwear and accessories designed to honour the release of the Ermenegildo Zegna trim package available on all Maserati Ghibli and Quattroporte models.

Following in the footsteps of the Maserati Quattroporte Ermenegildo Zegna Limited Edition with its Zegna-designed interior, Zegna’s master craftsmen have created a pure silk fabric with an extremely high visual impact for the cockpit and seats in what has been described as the ultimate expression of style and exclusivity. The automotivegrade fabric combines an incredibly soft feel with an elegantly technical look to deliver dynamism and a contemporary feel that is worthy of one of Maserati’s most iconic models.

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RSVP

CHENNAI The traditional style of Indian art rarely included realistic depiction of the landscape. The few remaining visual records of it are hence of great interest. A well curated collection of vignettes from the past illustrative of medieval South India as seen by the Europeans of the time, which was on display recently, gave viewers the chance to witness the southern states of India as they existed from the late 1700s to the mid 1800s. The show was a collection of aquatints, engravings and lithographs which take its viewers on a journey of unmapped territory, local wars, remote hill forts, buildings that have disappeared, pristine landscapes, religious processions, roads traversed by elephant and horse carriages and palkis, the simple livelihood of the fishermen and farmers, religious iconography, south Indian flora and fauna, early maps and rare books.

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HYDERABAD

ABsalut Style, promoted by Archie Paranji and Bobby Kandhari, well known faces from Hyderabad noted for their creativity in event decor and personal styling respectively, launched the first season of their fashion extravaganza at Taj Krishna.

The city’s discerning fashionistas were seen relishing every bit of the uber luxury shopping experience that showcased designer wear, accessories and lifestyle products.

With spacious changing rooms and a nice blend of top notch designers and promising young talent, the show was a super hit. A perfect start for the season ahead!

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PROMOTION

Quinoa - The 5000year old supergrain of the future

When the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations declared the year 2013 as “The International Year of the Quinoa,” most of the world woke up to Quinoa, a nutritional powerhouse which has been in fact been around for more than 5000 years!

India too is witnessing a surge in the shelf presence of Quinoa. And, why not! Quinoa is no less than a miracle. It is an excellent source of vegan protein, fibre and immunity-boosting vitamins, making for the perfect food for the nourishment needs of the modern world.

Quinoa - Buying tips Quinoa is now available in supermarkets and various other stores.

However, you need to be very sure of what you buy. Ensure that the Quinoa that you bring home is saponin-free.

Opt for naturally grown grain and make sure that it is non-GMO. You can find many local and international Quinoa brands active in the Indian market.

Quinoa - The Superfood Quinoa originated in Peru and neighbouring areas around 3000BC. Today, it is acclaimed by organisations like NASA, UN and others for its nutritional capabilities. It is a rich, vegan source of complete protein, with protein content as high as 17% in few variants. It is high on fibre and low on calories, gluten free and easy to digest. Quinoa is rich in vitamins and minerals and is said to fulfil up to 70% of the average human being’s daily nutritional needs.

Quinoa - A chef’s delight Including Quinoa in your diet is easier than you can imagine. Quinoa is one of those convenient versatile grains that is easy to cook. It can be easily used as a substitute for other whole grains. For instance, you can easily replace rice and other whole grains with Quinoa and even create thousands of dishes with it. The best part is that Quinoa offers taste

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and health at the same time. So, you can have cookies, porridge and other delicacies without compromising on your health. And, without any guilt. Indeed if you can imagine it, you can make it with Quinoa!

Quinoa - For everyone of every age Quinoa is suited for people of every age group. Kids can get started on it as early as 8 months. It is a boon for diabetics, since its low glycemic Index keeps sugar levels in control while fulfilling the nutritional requirements of the body. It’s high protein, high fibre and low calorie content makes it an ideal choice for fitness needs. Being rich in essential minerals and vitamins, it is highly recommended for expectant mothers. Quinoa is a great fit for the demanding lifestyles of today. Working professionals and growing children stand to benefit the most from Quinoa. Just one meal of Quinoa can provide vital nutrients and energy to get you going.

Consider Queen’s Quinoa. It is known for making available high-quality, saponin-free Quinoa in easy-to-store packaging. It is recommended by numerous dieticians, body-builders and fitness trainers. Born out of the urge to help people eat healthy, Queen’s Quinoa is highly focussed on quality and are committed to serving purity on the plate. Their primary objective is to create value for the society, nation and the world at large by growing maximum nutrition per square metre. For the first time in India, they have also introduced Quinoa Flour. Buy Queen’s Quinoa online from their website www. queensquinoa.com or at amazon.in.

As they say, let food be thy medicine.

Quinoa can help you strike the right balance of taste and health in your life. Whether you choose to start or end your day with it, do make sure to include this superfood in your diet. Eat healthy. Live healthy.

RSVP

BENGALURU

At the launch party, French Luxury Furniture Brand Roche Bobois showcased their winter collection which included exquisite furniture and accessories designed by talented international designers. The collection comprised of sofas, dining tables, coffee tables, armchairs and occasional furniture along with sophisticated lighting, mirrors and accessories.

The launch party was an evening of celebration and high spirits. Adding glamour to this sophisticated evening were Bengaluru’s swish set including high profile industrialists, socialites, diplomats, architects and designers.

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RSVP

BENGALURU Turquoise and Gold presented their annual trunk show recently. The collection was meant for the festive season and had something for both women and kids.

While the mothers indulged in shopping over hor d’oeuvres, kids got to participate in fun activities. There was sparkling wine and sumptuous canapÊs doing the rounds.

The trunk show stretched well beyond the intended time as ladies kept coming in to shop.

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Interior Design bespoke Furniture and design accent store Exclusive European brands of drapery & Upholstery

102, Greenways Road Extension, Opp. TN State Judical Academy R.A. Puram Chennai 600028 Tel. Ph. No. 044 24951502 NOVEMBER 2015 RITZ

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BENGALURU

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Italian luxury carmaker Maserati announced its entry into South India by inaugurating its dealership in Bengaluru, in partnership with Jubilant AutoWorks Pvt Ltd. The dealership offers sales and servicing for Maserati’s full range of two-door and four-door luxury and sports cars in South India. The premium showroom showcases an exclusive collection of iconic Maserati models: the Trident brand’s flagship - the Quattroporte, its latest E-segment sedan – the Ghibli, as well as the sports coupe and cabriolet – the Maserati GranTurismo and GranCabrio.

The showroom has a well-appointed lounge, which introduces clients to Maserati’s history and houses a special section for exclusive Maserati merchandise as well as a configurator area where clients can customize their new vehicle. This, along with internationally trained sales and service personnel, is set to provide clients in South India with an ownership experience befitting the Maserati name.

Marking the occasion, Mr. Bojan Jankulovski, Head of Operations for India, said “We believe that the southern market, Bengaluru especially, is embedded in a culture that understands and appreciates luxury, thus holding immense potential

for a brand like ours. The southern part of India has witnessed a strong growth in luxury car sales, which makes it clear that having a representation in the area is now a necessity for Maserati. Part of being a luxury brand is closeness to our clients and delivering personalised service.

We are delighted to have associated with an established company like Jubilant AutoWorks, whose values are very similar to ours.”

Commenting on the alliance, K. Subramanian, Director of Jubilant Autoworks Pvt. Ltd. said, “The legendary Trident brand from Italy has garnered a lot of attention among car enthusiasts prior to its launch in South India. It’s a matter of enormous pride for us to be representing the Maserati name in the country, carrying with it a rich inheritance that dates back a century. We are devoted to serving Maserati customers with a superlative experience that reflects this lineage, building a strong sales and service team for managing all aspects of the retail operations.”

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Photographs: Lucky Malhotra

COVER STORY

BENGALURU

The Most Celebrated Icon Billionaire industrialist Grandhi Mallikarjun Rao, or GMR as he is more known, lives his life like anything but how a billionaire would. He has built his eponymous infrastructure conglomerate from scratch. From dreaming of studying to be an engineer and owning a Fiat car, the 65-year-old entrepreneur who is among the country’s richest and most powerful men, has transcended his dream a million times over.

RITZ salutes the iconic businessman who made it to the list of Forbes’ 100 richest Indians for several successive years. His story is an absolute inspiration and we are honoured to be the ones to tell it.

Interview: Archana Shenoy The Beginning I was born and bought up in a very small remote town of Andhra Pradesh. Since the beginning, I never had any big dream. I always had small dreams in my life journey. My first little dream was to pursue my education and become an engineer, and subsequently to shift from my village and settle down in the nearest big town Vishakhapatnam with a nice house, a car and a small business of a scooter agency.

However, destiny had its own plans and my life journey took its own turns. I started as a trader, then moved from trader to manufacturer, to banker and eventually to infrastructure developer. At 65, I have surpassed my dreams many times over. People see me as a very successful entrepreneur, however they do not know that the last forty years of my journey have been full of adversities which threw up challenges all the time. I strived hard to do my best overcoming the situations and turning them into opportunities. Learnings from those adversities have been phenomenal and have shaped me into what I am today. In fact, this helped me build GMR Group to what it is today.

The Journey When I look back at my journey and try to figure out what made me successful, I believe there are some basic traits required for being successful and I would like to advise people on the same.

One must have strong self-belief, work fearlessly with strong passion and come out of comfort zones to achieve growth and success in whatever they do. One must nurture core values in life and inculcate positive attitude without ever complaining about the situations. Eventually one needs to keep themselves extremely agile and adapt to the changing situations quickly.

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COVER STORY

“Titles and recognitions constantly inspire and motivate me to further work hard and keep building assets for my country”

Also, please never expect success all the time, there will certainly be failures. Life is full of ups and downs. One should see challenges as opportunities and accept them as gifts, challenges only create foundations for the next journey towards success. Always remember that ‘success is a great motivator and failure is a great teacher’.

What truly matters, is how one evolves as a successful human being. No matter what business one is engaged in, be it small time trading or a multi-national company, I believe that it should be a purpose-driven and value-led journey. If your means are value-based, the end is always heartening. I strongly believe that we are the authors of our own destinies.

The Success Story Thinking out of the box or doing things differently has always been my trait since the beginning. I have successfully built and sold 28 businesses primarily because of this quality. I can share numerous examples.

Not many businessmen are able to divest their businesses because of emotional attachment. However, for higher growth it is always advisable to keep churning the portfolio of businesses. I very successfully divested 28 businesses.

I can very humbly say that when I moved to the infrastructure sector it was new to the

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country, new to the industry and new to me.

We built the first PPP road project, first PPP greenfield and brown-field airport projects and first power project for the country.

Family governance is the core of creating a sustainable organization which can successfully run generation after generation. We have been pioneers in learning and implementing ‘Family Constitution’ in our Group, which provides the platform for family governance. I believe family governance is the first step which leads to corporate governance.

Institution Building is closest to my heart and hence has been encapsulated in GMR Group vision to build an institution in perpetuity. Along with the business, we are simultaneously building the institution as well. Institution Building consists of - people, process, technology and governance. GMR Group is working on each of the parameters to implement them in the organisation and make them a part of the working culture in the Group.

Group Performance Advisory Council (GPAC) is probably very unique in the corporate world. We have constituted a unique body of external, independent experts of great eminence to form our GPAC. This body helps us to overcome our blind spots and gives us frank and sharp feedback on our areas of improvement, compelling us to correct our course periodically. An important outcome of this has been a stress test that we carried out on our business portfolio and evolved our ‘Asset Light and Asset Right’ strategy.

The Turning Point To elaborate on an example from my life journey, I would like to talk about my banking stint with Vysya bank.

In those days, Vysya bank was a good private bank headquartered in Bangalore with just 60 lac rupees of capital. As per new RBI guidelines in 1985, directors could have maximum tenure of 8 years. So they were looking for new Directors from the same community, I was very active during those days and it so happened that I was nominated for the directorship and I joined the bank.

It is my habit that whatever I take up, I do it with complete focus and passion, getting into details. Hence I started actively participating understanding the operations of the bank. By that time the bank business

grew significantly, then RBI said that bank business is big in comparison to its capital which needs to be increased. Hence, in 1987 and 88, Bank came up with 1: 1 rights issue. It was not very successful and only 50% was subscribed. The then Chairman requested all Directors to support the issue.

Chairman was worried about the reputation of the bank and requested all Directors to subscribe but nobody was interested to invest. Even though 18% dividend was being given nobody came forward. I was completely into the bank and decided to invest. But my earnings were less and hence I requested my brothers to invest. But they refused saying since ‘you are a director so you invest, we don’t want to invest’. So, I invested my share of profits I got from other businesses. I pledged my wife’s jewels also, we hypothecated and borrowed some more money and invested that too. I continuously kept on investing in the bank and eventually I became the major shareholder.

Here, I want to stress on the point that at that time all other directors in the bank were many times more economically sound, much more educated and experienced than I was; in fact I was no one among them.

Even then, nobody came forward to invest in the bank. However, I understood the importance of the bank for the economy and the country and thought what has happened in the West is definitely going to happen here as well. So, I invested everything into it. Later on my out of the box thinking and doing what none had even attempted, proved to be one of the biggest game changers of my life.

After I invested all the money, came a major setback. After the economic liberalization, in 1994 the then Chairman got the license for new bank and he left the bank with the core team. Suddenly, there was a big vacuum created in the bank.

While I was still based out of Rajam, as the biggest shareholder with the investment of all my hard-earned money, in 1994 I had to ensure the survival of the bank. That was a major inflection point in my life – my life’s savings in the bank, moving to a city from a village, and entering into a much broader playing arena .… eventually I moved with family to Bangalore in 1996.

Also, I realised that if we want growth, one should come out of his comfort zone.

Moving from my village having stayed 45 years there, with the big time social life

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and all the emotional connections, being the most sought after and recognised businessman of the entire East coast region, it was not at all easy for me to move to Bangalore.

Settling in Bangalore, I worked hard taking control of the business and also steering the turnaround of the bank; this was the time I met a lot of bankers, businessmen, industrialists and bureaucrats.

I brought for the first time banking core solution technology to the bank; recruited number of professionals; implemented processes and improved operations. When I took over the operations, NPAs were more than 15%. I created an exclusive committee to focus on NPA reduction and brought down NPA to less than 5% in just two years.

I brought foreign Bank Brussells Lambert to have an international experience. The Bank Brussels Lambert was later acquired by the ING. Then, ING bought more equity into Vysya bank.

I significantly improved the operations and governance processes at the Bank. Because of this turnaround, I was made Chairman of the Bank. Later on, I sold my shareholding at a huge premium and this money helped me in entering into Infrastrcuture sector, therefore I was able to build landmark assets for the Country.

The Crowning Glory Honestly, there are several businesses and projects which have been real turning points in my life journey. However, here I would like to talk about the Delhi Airport.

In 2005, came the opportunity for Delhi and Mumbai airports as both the airports came up for privatisation. We submitted our bid for Delhi and Mumbai airport privatisation amidst stiff competition. Leading companies of the country participated and we were the only bidder to be technically qualified for both the airports. Then the government asked our choice and we chose Delhi Airport.

It was a great challenging experience with heavy passenger and airline traffic which could not be interrupted as we went about constructing Domestic Departure Terminal 1D and thereafter the giant Terminal 3, the world’s 8th largest terminal, which we built in the record 37 months of time ahead of Common Wealth Games 2010.

We faced many challenges but we had established strong and respectful

relationship with all stakeholders. We had to interact with over 58 government departments on one side and on the other side we had to manage a peak of 40,000 workers and engineers from 19 nationalities. To add to it, we had to work with three thousand airports authority employees with a different mindset. It was a very challenging project but very satisfying too as we built the ‘Gateway To India’ which has been consistently ranked the best globally in its category. When we took over the Delhi Airport, it was among the worst airports globally and today it is ranked as the Number One airport in the world. Delhi Airport is certainly the crowning glory.

Expansion Plans Well, one thing which we in GMR Group have learnt is ‘adaptability’. In today’s so called world of VUCA (Volatile, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity), continuously adapting to change is essential for survival.

Hence, lately we have been continuously changing our future plans and strategy depending upon the business and economic environment.

For the past few years infrastructure has been going through a challenging phase, hence, we devised a very unique and innovative strategy ‘Asset Light Asset Right’ (ALAR). We realised that it is the right time to shift focus from asset building to liquidity, profitability and cash flows. We have refocused our business model as Develop – Create Value – Monetise – Reinvest. We do a portfolio analysis. We exit assets which are either close to their peak of valuation or the assets which are not doing as expected.

These proceeds are reinvested in new projects. The future will not be the same as today. The key is adaptability and flexibility, to be able to sail successfully in this complex and volatile global market. Therefore, we are in a consolidation mode today and creating liquidity for the next phase of growth.

The Accolades Titles and recognitions constantly inspire and motivate me to further work hard and keep building assets for my country. In fact, titles such as ‘country’s richest men’ and ‘most influential man’, which have been coined by the media themselves, bestow me with much greater responsibilities.

The Value System If I look back at my journey and think about what made me successful, despite no financial support being from a weak family background and no political support, I find that a few important traits from the beginning have helped me and the most prominent among them are our values and beliefs.

Our seven values and beliefs are Humility; Teamwork and Relationships; Respect for Individuals; Learning; Deliver the Promise; Entrepreneurship; and Social Responsibility.

The foundation of our seven values is humility. Our humility helps us succeed in ventures, where we had no prior experience. Humility helped us gain the trust of our stakeholders, even in situations of high stress and anxiety. And, humility kept us open for learning, learning all the time from everyone and everything.

These 7 values have been the bedrock of our growth trajectory, despite various challenges.

The Family Man What is important is that all family members should have an emotional bonding and follow family governance process. Which I am glad to say, is being done.

My philosophy has been “run the business like a family and the family like a business”.

Let me tell you something, today in our country, family disputes are the biggest social stigma which is eventually destroying our economic wealth. In the developed western countries all the big multinational

“Thinking out of the box or doing things differently has always been my trait since the beginning”

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empires like IBM, Ford, Walmart, Bechtel, Cargill, BMW are family owned businesses running successfully generations after generations. They are contributing significantly in the economic development of their respective countries.

However in India, where our economy consists of more than 75% of family run businesses, hardly few of them survive till the next generation. This is a great loss for our nation and our economy. We Indians are tremendous entrepreneurs, but we have not been very successful in creating multi-national empires, just because of the lack of family governance.

Therefore, I have proactively implemented family governance. Over a period of nearly 8 years, we developed a formal family constitution, which has been agreed to and is binding upon all members of the family. It covers areas like compensation, conflicts resolution, media policy, succession planning and so on. Very importantly, it is agreed upon not only by the family members working in the business, but their spouses as well.

I would say that it has been a building block for our institution building process. I believe that sustainable growth cannot be achieved without institution building; hence we are now focusing on four pillars of institution building – people, process, technology and governance. Family governance is also part of our institution building process. Actually, corporate governance and family governance are inter-linked blocks completing the cycle of institution building.

There are guidelines for each family members for their roles and responsibilities, behaviours and so on.

Being the Group Chairman, my children handling the respective businesses are accountable for the performance of their businesses and report to me.

The Patriarch Women from my family do not look after the business. The ‘family board’, which consists of only the men in the family, reviews the business, looks at future growth plans and direction for the group.

There is the ‘non-family business board’ that is run by the women and is meant

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to maintain the emotional bonds in the family.

The constitution lays down the selection of my successor. I don’t nominate my successor. He will be selected by the next generation. It also spells out a system of good family governance, conflict resolution and value system.

The process of inducting new family members into the business, in-cluding their level of induction and qualifications required is addressed; if some members do not want to enter the business, the required provisions are dealt with. It also articulates the family values. All the ladies in my family - my wife, daughters and daughters-in-law - are well versed with the family constitution. That is important because otherwise they will not own and commit themselves to the constitution.

The Philanthropist I have seen people living in acute poverty and vulnerability and later when I used to travel on business trips across the country, I noticed that social realities were more or less similar across the country. While travelling my thought process used to often go round the people starving and suffering due to lack of basic amenities. At that time I was just a small business man, but my deep feelings of empathy for the less fortunate made me take a decision that I will not wait to become very successful or very rich to start helping the less privileged. My journey of service started with establishing a small primary school in my village.

In fact, our reaching out to the lessprivileged is a tradition set by my parents. Every year, on Sankranthi all our family members gather at Rajam which is our hometown in Andhra Pradesh and undertake ‘annadanam’ and ‘vastradanam’ for over 25,000 destitute people. Our family inculcated this sense of social responsibility in each one of us and the same has been translated into our business too.

My father used to say – ‘manav seva is madhav seva’. He used to say that one should serve with humility, love and compassion. Also, one should feel that people have given us the opportunity to

serve them. Hence, I feel blessed that I got the opportunity to serve humankind.

On my part, I have pledged my entire shareholding to the Foundation which we run.

When it comes to the GMR Group, we have set a long term vision for ourselves which states “GMR Group will be an institution in perpetuity that will build entrepreneurial organisations making a dif-ference to society through creation of value”. Thus, making a difference to society is a part of our culture, values and belief systems. Social responsibility is one of our group’s core values and we seek opportunities to deliver that responsibility in whatever we do.

To further professionalize our giving initiatives, we registered our GMR Varalakshmi Foundation as a Section-25 Company which is governed by a board of eminent personalities in the field with me as the chairperson. It is managed by professionals drawn from top academic and social work institutions. We have deployed all the planning and monitoring systems we follow for the business for our foundation too.

Our Foundation is today working in 23 locations in the areas of Education; Health, Hygiene & Sani-tation; Empowerment & Livelihoods; and Community Development.

We also felt that we should draw

geographical boundaries, as otherwise, we would never be able to make an adequate impact. The decision was that we would primarily work with communities around our businesses. I strongly feel that, for giving to be effective, there should be a focus on areas that are critical to improve the quality of lives of communities. Hence, we have a very unique approach to deploy the foundation team much before the project is started for researching the area, in order to identify the most re-quired basic necessities of that area. Then, we make a comprehensive plan around the requirements so that the impact on the community is maximum.

The Message My message especially to youngsters is that you must have strong self-belief, work fearlessly and come out of your comfort zones to achieve growth and success in whatever you do. You must nurture core values in life and inculcate positive attitude without ever complaining about the situations. Eventually to sustain this for a long term, please have a work-life balance, which can be at-tained through inner excellence or in other words spirituality.

Also, please do give back to the society because it is our fundamental duty to give back as we owe so much to the society where we live in.

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The New Age Political Leader

HYDERABAD

He is the new man of the new millennium. For all those who had apprehensions about the newly elected Government of the youngest State of India, here’s the good news. Not only is KT Rama Rao an antithesis of the archetypal politician, he’s also somebody who has the conviction and the means to make Telangana one of the finest global hubs. And if you go by the achievements of the ruling party Telangana Rashtra Samithi in the last year, it’s obvious that his portfolio has contributed immensely to the party’s and the State’s growth.

Text: Vanaja Banagiri

The very dapper and dynamic Kalvakuntla Taraka Rama Rao aka KTR, Minister for IT and Panchayat Raj, is probably the only minister in the State to be armed with impeccable educational qualifications - two post graduate degrees – M.Sc in Biotechnology from Pune University and MBA in Marketing and e-commerce from the University of New York, and an impressive work record – Regional Sales Director, INTRA, before he decided to plunge into politics full time. In between countless phone calls and an army of people waiting to see him in the buzzing corridors of the Secreteriat, KTR accords us the privilege of chatting with him in the inner chambers of his spartan office. He speaks…

“In 2004 September, I came back to India to head the South Asia division of the company INTRA I was working for in the US as the Regional Director. In 2006, there was a by-election because of my dad’s resignation.

At that point of time, it was a make or break for my father and the party. I kept telling my wife that I want to get into politics. Without even telling my dad I quit my job and started working for the party. Without his knowledge I took the decision. I told him after we won. He was not very happy but once he realised I was very serious, he was supportive.

I wouldn’t probably have been in politics if I were not KCR’s son. I wouldn’t have been a minister. I am very realistic about these things. In India, being somebody’s son or daughter helps you get an easy entry but

people in a democracy will be quite critical if you don’t deliver. They won’t vote you the second time. The first time they may look at you as somebody’s son and vote based on their opinion of your father or your mother.

But I’ve won thrice now. So the fact that they have elected me two more times goes to show that I’ve delivered, that I have worked. Being somebody’s son does give you easy access but at the same time, there is a burden of expectations to deal with.”

“I can say that I have represented my party and our causes and issues at various national fora. In the last six years, I have put in my best to serve my constituency. More than anything, I have played my own little role in the agitation for a separate Telangana. I feel happy that in the last 9 years, I have been a part of the objective my father and several other leaders set out to achieve. Now our tasks are cut out and I hope to play a significant role.

A multi-pronged approach In the last one year, the biggest challenge was to revive the confidence in people. A lot of people thought that after the formation of Telangana, the IT industry would move away from Hyderabad, that new developments may not happen and so on. A lot of apprehensions, a lot of prejudices... We have overcome all that in the last one year. Hyderabad remains one of the most attractive destinations, we have positioned it well. We have been able to attract majors like Google and Amazon to DECEMBER 2015 RITZ

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We have made our presence felt in the US, Hong Kong and Dubai. We have positioned the brand image of Telangana and Hyderabad very well overseas. We have been able to retain the existing investors in Hyderabad and also attract new ones.”

IT and Panchayat Raj are two ends of the spectrum. The convergence we’re trying to bring about is very unique and challenging. We’re trying to leverage IT and communications to bring about a social

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methods and teachers are in short supply in rural areas. Therefore a lot of changes can be brought about and we’re working towards it.

Firstly, as far as IT goes, we have 10-point agenda. There are a lot of targets to achieve. In rural development, we have a bigger challenge cut out for us. We have to not only empower Panchayats but also be firm on the infrastructure. A lot of new and upcoming areas need improvement and have to be focussed on. Women empowerment serves in a big way as far as elimination of rural poverty is concerned.

Federated women’s groups are something we’re very excited about because we are involving women’s self help groups in a lot of activities starting from education to procurement of grains. In the next few years, you’ll not only see a quantum leap in rural infrastructure but also rural empowerment and using technology for social change.”

change because technology that does not bring about social change is useless. So we’re trying to incorporate IT into the rural sector also. We’re coming up with a concept called e-Panchayat through which services will be offered right at the doorsteps of the villagers. It will be launched soon. We are also trying to lay the last mile connectivity to each and every household in Telangana.

If you talk about e- health, e- education, ecommerce, the potential is huge. So there are several things we’re working on right now and you’ll see a lot of things falling into place in the next couple of years.”

“Not just literacy but digital literacy is a challenge. With literacy you can actually leverage e -education where you’ve a good teacher teaching from Hyderabad and that can be broadcast all over. Good teaching

India For The Future “There is no better country to be in than India for young people today. There is no better place to explore one’s future, one’s career. At the same time they can help our country grow. I don’t think many countries in the world today present that kind of opportunity. In a developed country, all you can do is develop your own career. But I think, in a country like India, there is a huge scope to make a difference not only in terms of social infrastructure but otherwise as well. Our country is full of challenges and needs solutions to them. Today’s youth has so many opportunities and so much information at their disposal. I think they should make better use of it.

One thing I strongly believe in is ‘Politics decides your future, so you decide what your future politics is’. Because in a democracy, everything you do in your daily life is determined by politics. So you better start taking a stand.

I’m not saying everybody should get into active politics but you should be aware of what’s going on because the kind of leaders you want, you should definitely have an opinion on. If you don’t like the kind of leadership you have, you should take it upon yourself to change it.”

SPOTLIGHT

BENGALURU

Scripting Change Through Stories She’s a master storyteller and uses her skill to its maximum leverage. After two decades in marketing, venture capitalism and social entrepreneurship, Lakshmi Pratury turned her focus toward linking her home country of India more tightly with the American community. Her firm, Ixoraa Media, runs meetings and events to spark dialogue and make connections. In 2009, she co-hosted TEDIndia and saw such a warm response to the conference that she founded The INK Conference, in partnership with TED, that would pick up where TEDIndia left off Text: Archana Shenoy 50

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BENGALURU

Lakshmi Pratury brought the TED conferences to India in 2009, and in December 2010, she curated and hosted the first INK Talks, in association with TED. Her career has spanned working in a variety of fields from venture capital to nonprofit organizations - and she was featured in Forbes Asia’s ‘100 Most Powerful Women’ list in 2010. Lakshmi holds a BA Degree in Mathematics from Nizam College, Hyderabad. She attended IIT, Mumbai, and has an MBA from the Bajaj Institute, India, earning a second MBA from Portland State University, with a minor in theatre arts.

Says Lakshmi, “I want to bring about an Indian renaissance through influencing the current and future leaders. I have my dream job of co-hosting TEDIndia and am committed to bringing more global voices to TED and bringing the energy of TED to India. After TEDIndia, I realized the importance of hosting such a conference in India. So, I started hosting the annual INK conference. I am lucky to have the support of the entire TED team and friends who help me in every possible way to succeed in hosting INK.” For Lakshmi, her entire career has had an element of storytelling, and it still continues. She says, “When I was at Intel, it was about telling the story of technology to end users. How do you say it in a way they can understand? What is it for?” Later as a venture capitalist, she told the story of building product companies. In fact, that led to her becoming a social entrepreneur.

Since people were not building product companies in the early 2000s in India, she decided to launch Digital Equalizer to impact children from an early age.

She tells us her TED story: “My ex-boss and now friend Avram Miller brought me to TED in ‘93 or ‘94 - I felt as though I was home. I have always been the one to be interested in math and theatre and marathons and writing and the list went on.

And here was a place where I could meet the best from every field. I felt like a kid in a

candy store. I attended every session every day and have not missed it since then. In the last 15+ years, I missed only one year because I had to stay home with my infant son. Even that year, I drove with him and my nanny from the Bay Area to Monterey to have dinner with all my TED buddies and enjoyed TED socializing for one night! And then having my 3 minutes on TED stage as a speaker and then co-hosting TEDIndia - it was exciting beyond words to mix career and fun with TED.” Before TED Lakshmi worked at Intel for 12 years as a marketer and evangelist, then moved to a VC firm, Global Capitalist Partners. She began to focus more strictly on relationship-building with her move to the America India Foundation, where she founded the AIF’s Digital Equalizer program, offering technology education to some 80,000 children and 2,000 teachers in India. She also launched the AIF Summit for social entrepreneurs from India.

Her ideology in life is clear - success is a journey and not a destination - a journey of risks, failures and overcoming them while treating the fellow passengers with respect.

“To me, the truly successful are those who are gracious when no one is looking, who share their power without being asked and who remember the support they received before they became famous. And they have a fantastic sense of humour,” she adds.

Open minded, friendly and so full of life, Lakshmi seems the ideal employer for her young team who work with her at INK Bengaluru. She says people who don’t know her well don’t realise that she is a master interviewer, and can bring out the essence of a person as she quizzes them.

She has grand hopes of hosting a talk show some day. She’s also super passionate about anything Indian, watching movies and writing, and loves all things ordinary.

And she’s ever willing to lend a patient ear to anyone who wants to speak on matters ranging from complex scientific phenomenon to the most ordinary happenings and occurrences.

Photographs: Lucky Malhotra

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BENGALURU

Revolutionising Online Shopping Way back in 1999, when most of the world was remarking at the DotCom rage engulfing media, Hari Menon had made a foray into the realms of a business so unrealistic to the time, that it went unnoticed to most.

E-Commerce was something unheard of in those days, but this far thinker, along with three others, had founded an online portal for grocery way back then. Today Hari Menon’s company BigBasket.com is not only the country’s biggest player in online grocery and home consumables, it is also one of the fastest growing E-Commerce businesses in the country, having reached the `1000-crore mark in just four years.

Text: Archana Shenoy Hari Menon is one of the oldest players in the E-Commerce business in India having started off his initial online grocery portal fabmart.com way back in 1999.

The BITS Pilani graduate, who dabbled in the IT Sector serving in companies such as ORG Systems, TVS Electronics, Wipro, Planet Asia before giving life to his entrepreneurial streak, says that his first experiment with a business in the online space came much before its time. “In 2000 we converted the online business into a physical grocery chain. What me, along with my colleagues started out as Fabmall, is what you today see as the ‘More’ chain of supermarkets - a new brand name to a business that we eventually sold to the Aditya Birla Group in 2006,” he tells.

After a brief stint in the education sector with the Manipal Group, Menon and his friends who had planned Fabmall founded BigBasket, their second try at success with an online grocery chain. This time however, everything from the timing to the concept and execution was perfect.

What started out as the country’s first large scale online platform for grocery and home consumables has today, in just a span of four years, grown into a

`1000-crore company and has even managed to get one of the most iconic faces of Indian cinema to endorse their brand.

With Shah Rukh Khan as their brand ambassador they have been seeing huge success, thereby strengthening the business in all the seven tier 1 cities where they are present today.

“We’re soon moving into our eighth tier 1 city - Kolkata and will be in 20 more tier 2 cities as well,” tells Menon, outlining the company’s extensive expansion plans.

“We’re also setting up branded stores in key cities where our demand is high,” he tells. According to statistics provided by the man himself, Big Basket takes on more than 27,000 orders a day.

“We’re now looking at moving into the technology analytics space where we can start understanding consumer behaviour and alter the site accordingly. BigBasket will also soon see organic products on its shelf since we understand that the demand for whole foods and organic produce is high. We’re also planning to introduce Happy Chef meal kits to enable youngsters and busy individuals to enjoy the convenience of having a well cooked

meal at home,” he explains.

Born into a middle class family in Mumbai, Menon is a Malayalee who has spent much of his time in Mumbai and now a major chunk of his work life in Bengaluru. For someone whose entrepreneurial streak came to light much after he was settled into a flourishing career, Menon says that he was groomed to play by the book and stick to norms, but it was his urge to experiment with things that made him and his colleagues try out something new. The self-confessed music enthusiast spends much of his time with his three grown sons aged 26, 24 and 22 playing music and jamming with them. “I play the guitar,” he tells, adding that he used to play in a band during his college days at Pilani. “Now I jam with the boys and we all hope to play on some sort of a stage someday,” he tells.

His wife Shanti is the principal of The Deen’s Academy in Whitefield, Bengaluru, and the couple shuttle between their two homes in the city, choosing to live closer to his wife’s work place during the week and settling into their family home for the weekend where they can unwind over music, good food and some much needed R&R. DECEMBER 2015 RITZ

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Destiny’s Chosen One Her name resonates with talent and success in one of the most competitive film industries in the world. She is easily one of the best leading ladies in Indian cinema, a superstar who can carry the weight of an entire film on her shoulders. But her cinematic journey is a tale of grit, conviction and determination. From handling critics with utmost aplomb to essaying some of the grittiest roles in cinema, Vidya Balan is a class act, all combined in one spectacular package.

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Rejected by a Tamil producer, Vidya Balan got her first break in a Malayalam movie with Mohanlal as the lead. But that got shelved and she had to wait for a few years to get her first Surf Excel commercial. Talent, like sunlight, shines through and she was most sought after in the ad world with several commercials directed by Pradeep Sarkar.

After appearing in 90 such ad films, she appeared in music videos and a couple of television serials.

She acted in her first Bengali film opposite Joy Sen Gupta. The film went on to become a superhit. A little later, Vidhu Vinod Chopra spotted her at a pop concert and offered

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her the lead role in Parineeta. She had to go through 17 make up shoots and 40 screen tests before she was finalised for the role.

The rest, as they say, is history.

With the movie’s success, Vidya Balan made a resounding statement that she was a powerhouse performer. Acing every role she accepts whether it was in the cinematic portrayal of Silk Smita or of a Hyderabadi detective, Vidya breathes and lives in the characters she essays. On the wish list of every actor and film maker, her career was devoid of any scandals that go with the territory.

Born in Palghat and raised in Mumbai, Vidya Balan was a rather overweight, tomboyish girl when she was in her school. As is the tradition in most Tamil Iyer families, her sister Priya and she were enrolled for classical dance classes but Vidya opted out as she wasn’t an early riser. An ardent fan of Shah Rukh Khan, she set her mind on shedding the extra kilos when she decided she wanted to enter the world of glamour.

A sociology postgraduate, Vidya also studied and performed in Prithvi Theater’s workshops.

Life had come a full circle when years later the same Tamil producer who had rejected her initially, offered her the lead in Dashavatharam and this time, it was her turn to reject his offer. The role was played

by Asin later. She happens to be a devotee of Bhagwan Sri Saibaba and visits the temple religiously every Thursday. A multi linguist, she is proficient in Tamil, Malayalam, English, Hindi, Bengali and Urdu. She is happily married to Siddharth Roy Kapur, film producer and head honcho of UTV and Disney India.

Constant criticism of her fashion sense, her figure or even some of her choices of roles has never fazed this dynamo and she either chooses to gracefully ignore spiteful comments or retaliates with a better performance in a film, thereby successfully shutting up unsavoury media reports and jobless film critics. She has never attempted toaster her fashion sensibilities to please critics and has indeed taken the splendid Indian sari much closer to the hearts and wardrobes of young Indian women.

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Photograph: Shaheen Thaha

SPOTLIGHT

KOCHI

The Real Artist He is one of those artists whose oeuvre is deeply rooted in politics and realism. His paintings, to put it in his own words, carry a protest symbol one way or the other. He has remarked, “I strongly feel it is my duty to be political. I believe that my paintings should look back at the viewer rather than just tell a story or hang on the wall.” Along with his co-founder of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, Bose Krishnamachari, Riyas Komu was ranked 86 in the 2015 Power 100 list of most influential people in the contemporary art world compiled by leading international art magazine, ArtReview.

Text: Archana Shenoy Riyas Komu is a multi-media artist and an activist working towards reviving art education and developing art infrastructure in India. His critically acclaimed political works have been exhibited extensively in India and abroad, which include several key works that focus specially on the political and cultural history of Kerala. His works takes energy from social movements and political actions and are part of the larger narrative of the making and unmaking of artistic influences in society and also reflects the current issues in a global context, mainly violence, displacement and conflict.

In 2007 he was one of two artists from India to be selected by curator Robert Storr for the 52nd Venice Biennale and represented Iranian Pavilion at Venice Biennale in 2015. He participated in Jogja Biennale, Indonesia, 2011. Born in 1971, Riyas Komu graduated with Painting as his specialisation and has since extended himself to sculpture, photography and video installations. He is also a recipient of the KK Hebbar Foundation Scholarship and Bombay Art Society Award, 1996 and Maharashtra State Art Prize 1995.

Some of his Solo exhibitions are ‘On International Works’ Day, Gandhi From Kochi, Kashi Art Gallery 2015, Kochi; Subrato to Cesar 2010, Gallery Maskara, Mumbai; Related List 2008, Bodhi, Berlin, Germany, Safe To Light 2007, Azad Gallery, Tehran, Iran; Condition / Duroohatha 2012, Kashi Art Gallery, Kochi; and several other such. He co-curated the first ever

International football film festival in India at Goa International Film Festival and Trivandrum International Film festivals in 2012. His works were recently showed at Tel Aviv Museum of Art, The Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art (Oslo, Norway, 2009) ; The Shanghai Museum of Contemporary Art (Shanghai, China, 2009) ; and the Gwangju Emerging Asian

Artists Exhibition (Gwangju, Korea, 2010).

Komu says that his work draws from the public domain. His subjects are charged with significance bringing about a disturbance depicting an element of political disquiet. For him, art is a medium for social comment on the situations the world is facing today.

He paints pictures based on photographic references from the print and television media. What is remarkable about his paintings are the multiple media he uses. The works in oil are thick and over-layered, and this gives them more dimension and life. The figures and the backdrop spring out and hit you and there is no escaping from what first appears stark and simple and seem to get more and more complex as it grows on you.

He has a passion for making documentary films. The one he worked on a couple of years back had an unusual theme –“The politics of nostalgia and food.” A video movie of eight minutes, it was shot on the streets and roadside restaurants of Mumbai. “The documentaries I make are an extension of my feelings and views, and they have similar themes, touching life’s many facets”, he says.

Riyas Komu’s work is an effort to archive the times. According to the artist, a creation that is balanced by the virtues of instinct, impulse, inner concern and sensibility achieved through a sense of objectivity would always appeal to the viewers since it invariably mirrors their issues and concerns.

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Flights of stardom

When he debuted with his illustrious father, Telugu Mega Star `Chirutha’ eight years ago, comparisons were inevitable. His first film didn’t exactly set the cash registers ringing but it was obvious that the star son could hold his own. With the spectacular `Magadheera,’ his second film, Ram Charan announced his arrival on the celluloid with a bang. The thunderous applause that began after the blockbuster’s release still resonates in T- Town and the writing was clearly on the marquee that a star was born, indeed. And then as is the trend in the south Indian film industry, he was anointed with the annex ‘Mega Power Star’. That he was born to the camera and that he was a befitting successor to his illustrious father Chiranjeevi and Uncle Pawan Kalyan has been established over and over again with his power packed performances. His love for horses, his marriage to Upasna Kamineni Konidela and his recent foray into aviation with Turbo Megha Airways that launched Trujet airlines, offer glimpses into the various facets of his life.

Text: Vanaja Banagiri

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SPOTLIGHT “The best part of being an actor is that we get to express all the nine emotions that are imperative to human life. In a way, all our dormant feelings find an outlet on screen,” says Charan, the consummate actor and dancer, as we start speaking about stardom and everything that goes with the territory.

And the worst? “I am not complaining but sometimes waking up at odd times, following a strict diet, the fitness regime, the rigor and discipline an actor has to put himself through can sometime get to him. But soon, it turns itself on its head and becomes a blessing in disguise,” he elaborates.

So how has the journey in the last 8 years been for him as an actor? Has anything changed? “Nothing has changed. I still feel the same. What has changed is that a lot more people

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love me today. I quite enjoy all the recognition. I have a long way to go, a lot more to accomplish. Sometimes I feel I’ve been put on a pedestal, way above my accomplishments. I am indebted to my fans for showering so much love on me,” describes Charan.

How does he deal with success and failure? “I learnt a lot by observing my dad. He loves what he does. He doesn’t let fame or success get to his head.

Once he finished a movie, he would have dinner with the unit and move on to the next project. I have grown up in the shadow of his qualities, which I always strive to emulate. It makes me happy if my movie does well. But I never let that success get to my head and never let arrogance creep into my attitude. It will demean my success,” says the actor.

How emotional is he off screen? “I

am quite an emotional person in life.

Because I grew up in a huge family and have seen all kind of emotions in my life journey so far.”

How would he describe himself as a person? “I am pretty optimistic. I believe no two people can be the same. One of the best qualities about my optimistic personality is that I let everybody be who they are,” he explains.

How has marriage changed him? “You know, Upasna is an extrovert, extremely warm, loves meeting people and can entertain 100 people with the same level of energy. I cannot handle more than 10 people at a time. I like my space, but with her, anybody is more than welcome to enter her space. I am an extrovert with my close friends, but an introvert, otherwise. She is a happy-golucky girl and I found that she can tap the other side in me.”

Has he influenced her as well? “I know that nobody can handle her or anchor her except me. I calm her down and make her think. I like independent women and believe that a woman can be extremely competitive outside and still be sensitive at home. I have seen my dad being shouted at by my mom at home, but once she steps out she respects him.

I find that very endearing in a woman,” he says giving us a peek into his private life.

So what prompted his foray into aviation? What can we expect in the future? “I quite liked the idea mooted by my partners, Vankayalapati Umesh, Managing Director and Prem Kumar, Director, of connecting tier 2 cities in south India. We joined hands and it became a reality in two years since the initial plan to launch the airliner. Though we are a low-cost carrier, we don’t compromise on the quality of service.

In fact, we provide free food service on board and pick-up and drop from select destinations in the cities we serve. We have special fares for professionals including those in the media,” announces Charan. Great going Charan! May you scale newer heights!

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CHENNAI

The Maverick Genius Christened as Kennedy John Victor by his parents, here’s one actor who has been acclaimed as one of the best in the country. Paeans have been written about him and awards conferred upon him. But he remains untouched. What matters most to him is to constantly challenge himself and ensure that the audiences get their share of entertainment. Vikram AKA Chiyaan and Kenny to his fans, is the winner of six Filmfare Awards, one National Film Award and Tamil Nadu State Film Award amongst other recognitions, and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the People’s University of Milan a few years ago.

Text: Vanaja Banagiri DECEMBER 2015 RITZ

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His debut in the 1990 with the film En Kadhal Kanmani was followed by a series of small-budget Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu films in the 1990s, many of which went unnoticed. However the success of Bala’s tragedy film Sethu in 1999, in which Vikram appeared as a rogue turned lover, kickstarted Vikram’s successful career as an actor. In the early 2000s, Vikram appeared in a series of commercial blockbusters, with Dhil, Gemini, Dhool and Saamy.

What got him critical acclaim was his performance as a blind villager in Kasi and a Robin Hood-esque figure in Samurai. In 2003, Vikram’s performance as a gravedigger with autism spectrum disorders in Bala’s Pithamagan won him the National Film Award for Best Actor, with his character only speaking a couple of lines in the entire film. His appearance as an idealistic lawyer with multiple personality disorder in Shankar’s blockbuster Anniyan also won him tremendous critical acclaim, as did his appearance as a superhero in Kanthaswamy. Vikram’s portrayal of Veeraiya, a tribal leader inspired by the character of Ravana from the Ramayana, in Mani Ratnam’s Raavanan saw him secure further accolades, as did his appearance as a mentally challenged adult with the maturity of a six-yearold boy in Deiva Thirumagal. He consequently appeared in multiple get-ups as a bodybuilder and a crippled hunchback, losing up to 35 kilograms for sequences, during the making of Shankar’s romantic thriller `I ‘ early this year and won rave reviews from critics for his performance. It is currently the third highest-grossing Tamil film of all time.

Vikram has his head firmly on his shoulders and heart in its right place. He has promoted various social causes and has appeared as the Youth Envoy for the United Nations Human Settlements Programme. He has been a brand

ambassador of Sanjeevani Trust and a school for special children, Vidya Sudha, which he stayed at during the making of Deiva Thirumagal as well as having longterm associations with the Kasi Eye Care and runs Vikram Foundation, his own charity.

Vikram Speaks “I never lose my temper. If I am upset about something, if I sense a misunderstanding, I just walk up to the person and talk it over. I don’t bottle things up inside me. I am a bad actor in real life. I can’t lie, and if I do, you can clearly tell I am lying.”

“I am a big fan of Rajini sir. He is a class by himself. If there are hundred people in a frame and if he is there, you don’t watch anyone but him, that takes a lot of doing, I don’t think anybody else can do it.”

“I do not claim to be superior.

There are many people who are talented and come up with unbelievable performances. I like to watch everyone’s acting and imbibe a little of it. My main aim is to perform as much variety as possible without being cast in a stereotype.”

“My passion for cinema has to be answered and I will keep the journey as long as it burns inside me. “ “For me, I guess, success has been the result of a combination of hard work, perseverance and a little talent. I won’t add luck to it in a major way because had I been lucky, success would have happened much earlier. But the hard fact is that despite the setbacks and upsets, I never was distracted.”

“I owe my success to the continued affection of my fans and I feel it is my duty to offer them rich and varied fare.”

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Woman Of Substance She’s a force to reckon with in the world of education. Managing Director of the acclaimed Sathyabama University, Dr. Maria Zeena has made a name and space for herself in the education space, especially across South India. The daughter of the iconic Col. Dr. Jeppiaar, she leads her life based on the impressive ideals of her father and, following his edicts, strives to excel at everything the she does

Live and let live is the motto of the impressive Maria Zeena.

Occupying a position of great influence and responsibility in society, she believes in carefully using her powers in the right way. Says Maria, “I want to work for the welfare of my country. We provide value based education at Sathyabama, so that students can learn to care for their country, and not just for their job.”

Founded in 1988, Sathyabama University was established with a mission of taking the technical education standards of the country to the next level.

Ideally, Maria would love to see students working in villages as well, so that they can get a first-hand feel of the real India and learn what the country needs. She adds, “The next generation can pave the way for the future but their values need to be right.

It is up to us to impart the right values and work ethics to them.” Maria is a refreshing change in the education sector wherein most are in the rat race for the best possible job and pay packet.

A Legacy of Excellence Sathyabama is famed for its strict values and discipline and she imparts the same to her children. Married for 17 years to Dr Marie Johnson, a national basket ball player, she has 2 daughters, one in 10th standard and the other in 7th standard.

Her most important message to her children? “Love everyone and put a smile on other people’s faces. We all smile a lot! It is very important to show utmost respect to people and only then can you gain their respect in return. I also teach my children to never underestimate the work of another person. And if possible, never say no to another person unless you cannot help them fulfill their dreams,” shares the charming Maria.

This is something Maria learnt from her illustrious father, Col. Dr. Jeppiaar

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Text: Richa Tilokani who taught her to never underestimate anyone. Col. Dr. Jeppiaar is a passionate educationist and a philanthropist and his words and way of life have profoundly influenced her and are her source of strength.

She is also keen to continue her dad’s legacy but in her own way. She says, “I will take his principles and implement them in my own way. Things were different 16 years back. I cannot wear his shoes.

The road is more difficult now. But I can traverse it easily as I have his blessings.”

Maria is also influenced by the iconic late MGR, former chief minister of Tamil Nadu, of whom she has fond memories. “He fondly named me Anbu Nila. He passed away when I was just 6-7 years old. But I still follow his principles and the values he inculcated in us. The leadership values my father taught me were imparted by MGR to him,” she shares.

A Pioneer with a Difference In 2001, after finishing her education, when Maria took over as the Managing Director, there were around 4000 students at Sathyabama. After years of hard work and perseverance, she took the number up to an astounding 25000 students. An impressive growth by any standard! The university has also enhanced its prestige due to its technical edge and focus on philanthropic activities.

No wonder then, Maria is known as a leader in her own right and it is her dream to create leaders out of her students.

An alumnus of Churchpark and Madras University from where she obtained a doctorate in women empowerment, she encourages her students to take up different leadership activities to develop their potential. She shares, “We want to mould students into the type of citizens the country needs. I believe that students just need a pat on the back and it is up to us

to support them in realising their dreams.

The pressure is more on institutions today.

Earlier, we were just educating them, but now we have to get them the right job too.

We also want them to focus on becoming entrepreneurs. We believe that to be successful, you need to persevere.”

A Leader Extraordinaire Of her future plans, Maria says, “I want to give my students the chance to engage in different activities, like adopting villages etc. Just in the last 2 years, we have provided 1000 students with free education and we want to continue full steam ahead. We also launched Braille application forms for the first time this year.

I am also planning to do something for war widows soon, and that should materialise by next year.”

Despite her family legacy, she is not planning to enter politics at the moment.

She says with a smile, “When I am already in the hearts of the people, why do I need a separate seat? Having said that, one should be open to opportunities and one should never say never!”

With so much on the horizon, it’s no wonder that Maria has a permanent smile on her face. She says with a laugh, “I am known to be talkative, positive, active and always smiling. My husband is just the opposite - he is a man of few words, and my elder daughter has taken after him. My younger daughter is talkative like me. But I credit him for my success as he has let me be what I want to be. He has supported and empowered me.” That is the secret of her successful relationship and of her impressive growth in her professional life.

She adds as she ends on a high, “Being a woman is a celebration. We are very professional in our attitude. People should not look upon women doing something as a wow factor. We do things in our own way and are as good, if not better than men in all spheres!”

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HYDERABAD

Master Of Weaves The name Gaurang is synonymous with hand-crafted textile art. Gaurang Shah, fondly known as the master of weaves by his peers is a household name for his high-end jamdani sarees and outfits. Dating back to 2001, when Indian handlooms were fading into oblivion, at a time when weavers were mired in debt traps, uncertainty and hunger deaths, Gaurang took up the challenge of reviving the traditional handlooms and bringing them back in vogue.

Gaurang Shah started his journey of reviving handwoven textiles with a few looms in Andhra Pradesh, and today works with over 700 weavers across India in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, West Bengal reviving the traditional weaving technique of “Jamdani”.

Jamdani, a discontinuous extra weft technique of weaving takes no help from machinery. A hand drawn artwork design is kept under the warp in the loom, and is replicated by the weaver to the finest details. It is almost like Parsi embroidery done on the loom.

Floral and geometrics drawn from the nature are the hallmark of his creations.

In Kanjeevaram, the Korvai weaving technique on the jacquard loom is revived with traditional motifs inspired by the temple art of the 16th century. The intricacy of a design which was hitherto possible only in print and embroidery has been materialised into weaves.

Immense care is taken to preserve and accentuate the aesthetic appeal of its beautiful textures. Yarns like khadi, cotton, silk, muga, tussar, organza are infused

together to create varied textures to give a contemporary feel and make them more drapeable.

Niche woven textiles like Khadi, Uppada, Paithani, Kanjeevaram, Benarasi, Patan Patola, Kota are created. Gaurang is a self-taught designer who had belief in the Indian textile art and a passion to bring the weavers on the forefront. He has been meticulously working with weavers, and encouraging them to make textiles that are at par with the global fashion scenario.

Gaurang has showcased at eight seasons of Lakme fashion week, Berlin fashion week and has done private shows in India and abroad including a show at the IIFA awards in 2015. He has styled Kirron Kher for her appearance in India’s Got Talent for 3 seasons and also for her movie Khoobsurat in 2014.

Celebrities like Vidya Balan, Kangana Ranaut, Sonam Kapoor, Sharmila Tagore, Tapsee Pannu to name a few vouch for his handcrafted creations.

Gaurang retails through his flagship stores in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata and New Delhi. In Mumbai he retails under the name ‘Vaya’.

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LOOKBOOK Dhakai Khadi Jamdani Sarees From Dhaka Jamdani is a variety of woven fabric in cotton which is undoubtedly one of the best varieties of the finest muslin. As the name suggests ‘Dhakai’ it has been one of the most artistic textiles of the Bangladeshi weaver.

The Dhakai Jamdani fabric is traditionally woven around Dhaka, Bangladesh, and on the brocade loom. Jamdani sarees are as light as feather and symbolise a blend of Mughal patronage with the ancient Hindu traditions.

The ancient Dhakai Jamdani represents one of the finest forms of weaving that actually originated in Bengal. These Dhakai Jamdani sarees are characterised by the finest fabric, intricate designs and light-weightedness.

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HYDERABAD

The Saree Saga In 2001, when traditional handlooms were beginning to fade into oblivion due to the growing popularity for embroidered saris like georgettes and chiffons, Hyderabad-based and selftaught designer Gaurang Shah took it upon himself to revive traditional handloom and bring it back into vogue. He believed in bringing back happiness to the weaver community. Fifteen years hence, he is one of India’s favourite saree designers.

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LOOKBOOK Kanjivaram Saree Collection The silk used in the creation of the Kanjivaram saree is extremely fine as well as durable and is one of the most popular forms of silk in the state of Tamil Nadu. The bold and bright colours of the sari are an eternal favourite with South Indian women, whose trousseau remains incomplete without this amazing outfit.

Kanjivaram sarees of India make use of a combination of numerous coloured threads. Adding to the attraction of the saris is the exquisite and elaborate zari work. The motifs used are heavily based on the Pallava temples, palaces and paintings. However, these days one can see scenes from great epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata, along with the Bhagwad Gita being used as motifs.

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Khadi Jamdani Sarees From Andhra Pradesh Jamdani, an extra weft technique is used to create patterns across the fabric.

Each buti or pattern has to be worked on the loom by hand to create the pattern. The Jamdani technique is done in many ways depending upon the size and repeat of the pattern across a given length. It is a laborious process and is an example of high skill in weaving.

Khadi fabric is woven mostly in KVIC (Khadi Village Industries Commission) institutions located in villages across the country. Yarn is spun by hand and fabric is woven using this yarn on a handloom in these institutions.

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Khadi Jamdani Saree From Gaurang’s special Tree Of Life Collection this Khadi Jamdani saree has intricately designed tree motifs spanning the length of the fabric, thereby enhancing its richness and texture.

A Tale Of Diamonds And Rust It is luxurious womenswear with a difference - subtle hints of enhancement on lustrous fabric with stylish design and premium fit. There’s something different about Encrustd, a brand that believes there’s more to life than a destination; it’s the simple joys of the journey that count.

It’s the finer details and finding harmony in contrasts that make the most powerful statement.

Bengaluru based designer Deepa Chikarmane is backed by experience spanning 17 years working with international brands, designers and fashion houses such as Diane Von Furstenberg, Anna Sui, Tory Burch and many other such, adding embellishments to their designs and creations. With Encrustd she brings to the table her knowledge of quality, fabric, fashion and trends. Combined with her simple, yet aesthetic sense of style, her designs are clean, sophisticated and easy to carry off.

Vineet Chikarmane complements her talent with skills of his own. Highly technology driven and management oriented, he is the backbone of the company and has given life to Deepa’s creative dreams. The duo have created a successful business model since they came together as man and wife and have built a strong foundation of confidence, trust and high calibre for their brand.

LOOKBOOK

BENGALURU

GREEN GREEN GRASS OF HOME These silk high-waist drawstring pants hang perfectly with an elasticated waist and a classic relaxed fit

DON’T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA The deluxe knit fabric with detailed floral sequins will make this long-sleeve T-shirt from a staple basic in your wardrobe DECEMBER 2015 RITZ

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DON’T MAKE PROMISES A cardigan sweater made from a delicate lace and a superb knit.

SPEAKING OF DREAMS This vintage rose printed silk dress with sprinkled sequins and crystals swirls with every step, restrained only by a loosely gathered blouson waist.

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I STILL MISS SOMEONE Crafted in a luxurious intricately embroidered silk, this universally flattering floor length wrap-dress stays classic with a V-neck and ties.

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FOR ALL WE KNOW This oversized chiffon silk top has a sophisticated bohemian feel with crsystal stripes. This featherweight piece sits loosely on your shoulders.

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LOOKBOOK Photography: Subhash Koppula

White On White Dressed in a House Of Three handloom silk gown with floral embellishment, supermodel Archana Kumar cavorts around with upcoming model Saloni, dressed in a neoprene and net gown from House of Three along with designer Sounak Sen Barat, who is dressed in a shirt from his own label with a hand embroidered bib.

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BENGALURU

The Mentor And His Muse Sounak Sen Barat, creative director House Of Three, is on a roll. Apart from his pret and couture labels, Sounak is now all set to undertake a mega-project with renowned fashion corporate Arvind Group, where he joins as Creative Director for a soon-to-be-launched brand. He is also designing and curating a retail concept for Leela Hotels in Bengaluru, which is a one-stop-shop for affordable contemporary fashion from hand picked designers.

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CORRIDORS OF POWER

CHENNAI’S KNIGHT IN KHAKHI Untill the recent monsoon fury in Chennai when the social media brought the city together and triggered a flood of amazing volunteering, this platform, for most of us and especially bureaucrats, may have been, at best a tool to take our mind off work pressure.

Or to stay in touch with friends. Or for self-aggrandisement, flaunting our achievements and reliving memories.

For V. Balakrishnan, IPS, facebook is part of his daily regimen. Not a day passes without the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mylapore, posting a crime prevention tip or enlisting support for a community outreach programme or musings gleaned from his interface with petitioners. This 2003 batch IPS officer’s social media savvy roots can probably be traced to his previous 2 year stint in the Indian Information Service when he worked for All India Radio, Doordarshan and the Press Information Bureau. The

(Pic: V.Balakrishnan, IPS, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mylapore, Chennai)

Y PINTO

BY SANJA

previous avatar helps him while giving crisp sound bytes to the electronic media or briefing print journalists with updates that are “news worthy.”

The first graduate in his agricultural family in Kanyakumari, Balakrishnan or ‘Balky’ as his friends call him, came up in life on his own steam. With a post graduation in Agricultural Science, the Gods from the temples of Madurai

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blessed him with a berth in the Civil Services Examination. The Indian Police Service wasn’t an automatic outcome. First it was in the Indian Information Service, then with the Indian Railway Accounts Service and although Balakrishnan preferred the IAS, what with his mother’s dream of seeing her son as a ‘Collector’, it was his father’s wish that he become an ‘SP’, that eventually happened. “ I was ranked 140 and the first in the IPS list among OBCs. I could have opted for the Indian Foreign Service.” In the end, the IPS was lucky to have got him. “I’ve always wanted to be directly connected to the people.” The IPS has been the most suited platform.

With a mindset that cried out for “proactive rather than reactive policing”, Balakrishnan, followed an inclusive approach wherever he was posted.

Illicit liquor was an issue when he was the Superintendent of Police – Thiruvanamalai between 2007 and 09.

“We adopted 3 villages and curbed the menace effectively”. In his next posting as the Superintendent of Police – Theni, he found that tribal villages in the hills were in “pathetic conditions”. There was a trust deficit between the tribals and the police in the wake of an encounter.

So the young SP decided to “take the police to the villages.” While the tribals

were earlier averse to the march of khakhi uniforms to the hills, “we worked hard for almost 6 months to win their confidence and gradually adopted 14 villages.” What did adoption of a village mean? “We provided them basic requirements, even facilitated the issue of ration cards.” These welfare measures helped the police to nip any possible naxal uprising.

The volatile district of Madurai was bound to be challenging. Balakrishnan has had two postings as the SP here – during the 2009 Parliamentary Poll for a short while and a two year stint from 2012 -14. The unearthing of a granite scam in which about 80 cases were registered. “The case was fought right upto the Supreme Court. The government backed us by engaging the best legal brains in the apex court.” High profile investigations aside, Balakrishnan’s progressive streak came to the fore when he initiated the recruitment of 16 transgenders to the rural wing of the police. Counselling sessions to combat stress for not just the police personnel but also their families was another highlight in his tenure. “The families were usually left out. I made it a point to rope them in.” After all, a cop’s happiness is linked to the mood in his very own home department!

As the Deputy Commissioner of Mylapore, Balakrishnan has been a pioneer of many community policing endeavours, often going well beyond the call of duty. How many officers wade through neck deep water to rescue marooned residents? How many officers host a thanksgiving event in their offices for fishermen who lent their boats for the rescue operations? How many officers spend their little free time to coach poor

Photographs: M. Gurunath Prabhu

In Tirupur, providing security during the Maha Deepam Festivals was an important task. In 2011, there were flash floods. “I still remember how at about 1 am before going to bed, I made the customary check with the control room and came to know about people being marooned in their homes, many stranded on their roof tops.

I led a massive rescue operation with my striking force and managed to recue about 700 people.” Images of grateful residents with folded hands are still fresh in his memory and didn’t need to be revived by the monsoon fury in Chennai this year.

students in job interview techniques? How many set up libraries in police stations for the benefit of petitioners who may have to unwittingly wait to meet officers held up in different assignments? How many think of enlisting voluntary organisations to provide shelters to beggars? How many officers today post adulatory stuff about their batchmates? (Balakrishnan also often shares information and pictures about the good work of his counterpart DCP Pulianthope Retna Sudhakar) How many take kids from a neighbourhood slum to watch a football match and cheer along with them for Chennaiyin FC? So when he isn’t policing, Balakrishnan spends his time helping the needy. And when he isn’t into his altruistic activities, the soft spoken but tough cop watches movies with his wife Shweta who is an Engineering, MBA and Law graduate.

“I used to watch Tamil movies. Now with Shweta by my side, Hollywood flicks are the new norm”.

A few days after the floods, I found that some of my parents’ neighbours in Little Mount who had stayed on by moving to higher floors, were without food and water.

I posted a status message on facebook.

Within minutes Balakrishnan rustled up essential supplies and sent across a hot breakfast, water and candles to them, many of whom were senior citizens. That was not part of his job description. But going beyond the call of duty is the stuff champions are made of. I salute you, Balky.

(Sanjay Pinto is a Lawyer, Columnist, Author, Public Speaking Mentor & Former Resident Editor – NDTV 24x7) DECEMBER 2015 RITZ

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POINT BLANK

Peepli Live: Part 2?

How do you think CNN would have handled two big breaking events – one abroad and the other in their backyard? Imagine for the moment that the 26\11 terror strikes in Mumbai and the Katrina hurricane had unfolded simultaneously. While the international channel would have certainly dipped in and out of live coverage of the rescue of hostages at the Taj Hotel in India, there would have been minute by minute, indepth coverage of the rescue of stranded Americans, helplines, traffic and power updates and every possible angle of the devastation caused by nature’s fury in their own country. For starters, Katrina would not have been a story of New Orleans but of America. And the terror attacks in India would have been at best, a second headline.

Cut to Indian channels.

The Chennai Floods was about, well, just that, the Chennai Floods, not India’s disaster. And the aftermath of the Paris carnage was still not just the top headline but pretty much the entire bulletins. Never mind Indian Correspondents saying in live reports that they were not getting access and there were no substantial updates. Journalists had to act like investigators and experts got prime air time in Indian TV studios.

Barring one national channel, most of the others cared to look down South a good 4 or 5 days after the first deluge in Chennai.

That was when an offbeat story of a cab operator that couldn’t run its cabs in the rain but latched on to an opportunity for publicity with a boat service went viral on the social media. That’s how superficial Delhi centric newsrooms can get. Of course, the stories of real heroes – of IT

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If this was not enough, we had hysterical discussions on the length of James Bond’s kiss with the genius Censor Board seeking to prune it. So 007 must do a namaste to his love interest and dance around trees, of course, not when it’s raining?

BY SANJAY PINTO

professionals turning weather bloggers and filling in a vaccum left by the national mainstream media, of residents opening their homes to perfect strangers forced out of theirs, of senior officers leading from the front wading through even neck deep water to rescue marooned people, of individuals even conducting courses in rescue missions, didn’t pass muster with them. These are the same channels that would bring the roof down if there is ankle deep water in the capital with sensational headlines pointing to how life has come to a standstill. One channel ran a special a fortnight later when the sun came out and most of the water receded.

It’s like a person not turning up at a wedding but making a grand entry at the naming ceremony of the baby! Another had a paper dry anchor in the studio with a chroma background of gushing flood waters.

From a much debated kiss to a political party sponsored slap offer. This one for Aamir Khan who merely spoke his mind on the ‘intolerance’ debate. The response from various sections has been emblematic of the level of ‘tolerance’ in our country.

Then came a spliced review of Rahul Gandhi’s speech at a Bengaluru college. The Gandhi scion may not be an exceptional public speaker but if first person accounts from the audience are to be believed, he certainly did strike a chord with the students, aside of his posers on ‘Swach Bharat’ and ‘Make In India’, which for reasons best known to the mainstream media, were hyped beyond proportion.

To be fair, even the Prime Minister was not spared with posts on morphed images of him sleeping in Parliament doing the rounds when in reality, he was listening with rapt attention. Who says the camera cannot lie?

The events of the month gone by have brought to the fore the ‘Quote’ Marshalling of public figures and the scant regard shown to the ‘South Block’ of India, which ironically accounts for at least half of the country’s TRP ratings. Aamir Khan, before you think of doing another episode Satya Meva Jayate, how about a sequel to Peepli Live?

(Sanjay Pinto is a Lawyer, Columnist, Author, Public Speaking Mentor & Former Resident Editor of NDTV 24x7)

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O(h)MAN! If you haven’t been already, you must!

Tucked away in a corner of the Arabian peninsula, flanked by turquoise blue waters of the Gulf of Oman on one side and the Arabian sea on the other, this massively underrated country has more to offer than most travellers are aware of

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“It has never mattered to us whether our roots are Shia or Suni” , said Sarhan, our tour guide, over the course of dinner one evening. “We are a nation of peace loving Muslims that all live together in perfect harmony” he continued.

It was later that night, thinking back on our conversation, that I realised the one thing that had been striking me about my time thus far in Oman, other than its surreal vistas, was the peace and happiness reflected in its people.

In troubled times such as these, when the world sees the middle east only as a region riddled with strife and as the birth place of fundamentalist terrorism, Oman was proving to be a real diamond in the rough.

If real luxury, serenity and natural beauty are things that tickle your fancy, Oman should be your next choice of destination. Added to this, the most delectable choice of both Omani and international cuisines will leave every foodie begging for more.

RITZ DECEMBER 2015

Tucked away in one corner of the Arabian peninsula, flanked by turquoise blue waters of the Gulf of Oman on one side and the Arabian sea on the other, this massively underrated country has more to offer than most travellers are aware of.

Unlike its decadent neighbours, Oman does not boast of monstrous man made structures or of its overwhelming grandeur so much so that within the capital city of Muscat it is illegal to have a construction higher than six stories.

While flying into the city it is interesting to note how the exteriors of almost all the buildings have a colour identical to the natural wadi terrain so as to try and camouflage with the lay of the land.

Golf in Oman was almost unheard of until the National Bank of Oman decided to host the season finale of the European Challenge tour in 2013 at The Wave at Al Mouj. Being the flagship course in Muscat and the best of the three in the city, Al Mouj is a real treat to

golfers from anywhere in the world.

Running along six kilometers of white sand beach, flanked by the crystal clear ocean on one side, each vista at Al Mouj is a treat to the eye. With the wind beating off the ocean front, and its large undulating greens, this Greg Norman design perfectly captures the best aspects of this coastal city. The weekend green fee of 60 OMR makes a round of golf on this links style course worth every penny.

Ghala Valley and Muscat Hills are the other two courses that make up the trio. Being slightly cheaper than Al Mouj, with green fees ranging between 30 and 50 OMR these two courses are more accessible to travelling golfers trying to work within a budget. Ghala Valley is the oldest of the three and was opened for play in the late 70’s. It was only less than five years ago though, that it became a fully grassed course. Being the shortest of the three courses, with fairly flat greens to hit into, it makes for

an enjoyable outing for golfers of varying abilities.

Laval at Ghala Valley is arguably one of the finest dining experiences in Muscat.

It’s no surprise that Chef Omar el Ghoul, the man behind the magic in the kitchen, was the winner of the last edition of Top Chef Arabia. A meal here is something you cannot miss!

Muscat Hills, like most new golf courses, is situated in the midst of a real estate development in the heart of the city. Most fairways are lined either with luxury villas or condominiums. In the center of the project, the Intercontinental Hotels is setting up a seven star property that will complete the integrated township.

For those looking to splurge on some luxury, the Shangri La is the place to be.

Complete with its own private beaches, adults only wing, numerous dining options and bars to meet every different kind of fancy, there is not much more you could ask for in a resort. The sea food restaurant is the most popular with various preparations of Omani lobster being the

chef’s most common recommendation.

The Chedi, another beach front resort in downtown Muscat is a Mediterranean themed property that provides the perfect respite after a hot day out in the city. Its 103 meter infinity pool, aptly named the “Long Pool” is the biggest attraction, and is something most guest cannot get enough of.

The Al Bustan palace, managed by the Ritz Carlton, is Oman’s most regal resort property. To get a real taste of the royal treatment of the Sultanate, this art deco/ Arab influenced resort is a must visit, so much so that Sultan Qaboos still keeps the penthouse for himself, for whenever he wants a quick getaway.

Oman, though primarily known to be a rocky, desert country, also has some towns up in the hills. Some, like Jabal Akhdar or the green mountains, are as high up as 2800 meters above main sea level. Every few years they even experience snow fall in these parts.

Alila has set up the most quaint resort in these hills, tucked away from any kind

of civilization and overlooking Oman’s version of the Grand Canyon. Constructed embracing as much of the natural surroundings as possible, hours can be spent lying by the pool looking over the canyon stretching into the horizon and beyond.

For a country with not much of a night life to boast of due to its strict liquor laws, the Grand Hyatt in Muscat is the place to head down to for those looking for something to do in the after hours. With its various themed bars and multiple specialty restaurants, a night out here will not fail to entertain.

So the next time you are looking for a new destination to visit, that has just the right fix of food, luxury, shopping and adventure, head out west to Oman. A few days here will leave you wishing you could stay longer or make you vow to come back for more!

JJ Chakola , a former professional golfer, now writes on his golf and travel experiences from around the world.

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WANDERLUST The magnificent setting of the Palazzo Spini Ferroni is home to the Salvatore Ferragamo Museum in Florence, Italy, dedicated to one of the finest interpreters of Italian style. Film stars like Marilyn Monroe, Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, Audrey Hepburn, Judy Garland and Sophia Loren adored the magnificent creations of Salvatore Ferragamo.

The museum offers tribute to a genius of style and inexhaustible creativity.

Vintage models, photographs and films are displayed in a setting of absolute fascination and allow you to discover the roots of Italian fashion.

Museo Ferragamo pays tribute to the timeless myth – Marilyn Monroe, one of the celebrated shoemakers’ most loyal patrons, fifty years after her death. The exhibition is a chronicle of the life, films, writings, photographs, documents and fashion of this woman and star. Marilyn adored wearing Ferragamo shoes and owned dozens of pairs, each with simple design and not one without a stiletto heel. The exhibit includes

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Inside Museo Ferragamo “Give a girl the right shoes and she can conquer the world” – Marilyn Monroe Text: Archana Shenoy

30 pairs of shoes and 50 outfits from the actress’ wardrobe, worn on the sets of her most important movies, in her personal life and in public.

There are also significant film clips and original documents on display making visitors privy to the other Marilyn – not the sexy and adorable blond bombshell we saw on the surface – but the modern woman who was bursting with energy, talent and confidence, alongside brusque moments of desperation, fragility, depression and fear.

FOODIES INC.

HYDERABAD

This season Olive Bistro’s latest offering is The Bistro Box, filled with nostalgia and sunshine. Delicious lunch boxes from North Africa, Greece, Spain and Portugal that are affordable, delicious and oh, so satisfying!

Crafted with local ingredients, inspired by international flavours, Chef Arun, Executive Sous Chef for the Olive Bistro, Hyderabad has incorporated a variety of rice preparations to choose from. “A quick satisfying meal designed around everyone’s personal preferences while satiating all the senses,” says the chef.

To name a few on offer is the ‘spiced orange and tomato sauce with chickpeas’ and ‘saffron rice’ from North Africa, or the deep flavours of Piri Piri, ‘fresh herbs and black eyed peas with green pea rice” from Portugal, rice has taken a new avatar in the lunch box.

Once you pick a country, choose a protein to go with it. Keeping the vegetarians in mind the menu has on offer baked eggplant and tomatoes, sauteed wild mushrooms and spiced buffalo mozzarella.

For the carnivores, on offer are some exciting options, such as, grilled river sole, crisp chicken tenders, beef slivers and even a slow braised pork that perfectly compliment which ever box you choose.

Finally finish this with a topping of your choice from sorrel pesto (gongura), tomato salsa, Tzatziki, orange and mustard slaw

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Inside the Box

The Olive Bistro, an offering from the Olive Bar and Kitchen group, recently completed two years marking their endeavour to introduce Hyderabad and food aficionados to a setting complete with good food, great wine and unforgettable handmade experiences

and more. So whether you’re in the mood for a creamy Greek Tzatziki box or a North Africa marinated prawn lunch box, pop

by Olive Bistro and be ready for a food adventure. The sunshine and the view of the lake are on the house.

The bistro sits perched high amidst the city’s seven hills at the scenic Durgam Cheruvu called ‘The Secret Lake’, on whose serene shores teals gather and peacocks strut. Its rough white walls and flowered alleyways of cobblestone are reminiscent

of a sun-washed Greek island. Step inside and it’s all stonework, unmatched furniture and old pictures - a classic rustic bistro with a huge, big heart.

At the bistro you have an option of an al fresco and indoor seating. Soak in the atmosphere while you settle down to a languid meal with soft world music playing in the background.

Address: Olive Bistro, Road No 46 Jubilee Hills, At Kona’s Tel: +91-40 69999127 DECEMBER 2015 RITZ

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ADVERTORIAL

BENGALURU

The Shiro Collection: Asian Grills Shiro has been bringing Bangloreans exciting and authentic Pan-Asian flavours for over nine years. This winter, Shiro turns up the heat - literally, with a collection of Asian inspired grills which will tempt your tastebuds and excite the senses. Each dish has been crafted keeping in mind specific flavour combinations and tonalities.

The Shiro team has spent the year travelling across the Orient to identify and bring back some of the boldest and tastiest ingredients and marinades.

Highlights from this menu include a hot but sweet corn on the cob glazed with Sriracha sauce; mushrooms grilled with miso and sesame to remind you of a sweet Japanese afternoon; everyone’s favourite kung pao chicken grilled to perfection and topped with peanuts; a Korean inspired tilapia which will have you wanting more; delicately grilled pork belly served with avocado and Indonesian spiced New Zealand lamb chops. If the bar is more your scene, Shiro has taken innovative cocktails to another level with grilled Asian cocktails!

A toasted almond mai tai, grilled pineapple mojito and honey infused burnt plum concoction are only a few of the delicious drinks Shiro has prepared for this limited time.

The menu incorporates flavours from around the world. Thai Herbed Grilled Chicken leaves you with the freshness of aromatic basil while the Wasabi Prawns hit you with a refreshing kick of wasabi and honey. Watching your waistline? Shiro has got you covered - each dish is prepared with the utmost precision to ensure full flavours with minimal calories. Everything is grilled and served with a raw papaya salad and wasabi mashed potatoes.

Mumbai - Bombay Dyeing Mills, Worli Phone - +91 22 6651 1208 Bengaluru - UB City Mall, Vittal Mallya Road Phone - +91 80 4173 8864

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