Ritz september issue by RITZ MAGAZINE

SOUTH INDIA’S PREMIER UBER LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

`100

SEPTEMBER 2015 VOL 12 | ISSUE 02

MORE THAN SKIN DEEP DR. SHUBA DHRAMANA TELLS US THERE’S MORE TO BEAUTY THAN MEETS THE EYE

VICTORY’S FAVOURITE SON NA

IS HO

CA SE S

E S ES IV T AR IV AN E JA S NI P ‘1 RE 5 CO AD LL EC TI O

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HUMILITY, DEDICATION TO HIS CRAFT AND OF COURSE, HIS DROP-DEAD GOOD LOOKS KEEP TELUGU SUPERSTAR VENKATESH SOARING HIGH!

Sometimes collective opinion and wisdom can be a very unkind thing. It often chastises you for indulging even in harmless acts of personal happiness - like for instance, taking selfies. I understand that taking selfies in places where a recent tragedy has occurred is a lesson in moral turpitude. But why overanalyse something so insignificant as taking selfies, get a bunch of doctors to study the phenomenon and call it a mental disorder? Have we ever analysed how many times people look at themselves in the mirror and how that is a mental issue? No, because why scapegoat mirrors when people can take technology to task? Remember the nutritional flip flops that we have been exposed to over the years? Eggs, saturated fats, butter, coffee and of all things avocados - these foods have been demonised and praised in equal measure partly because thanks to our penchant for sensationalism, we would rather read ‘Butter clogs your arteries’ rather than the more accurate ‘Butter clogs your arteries if you already have heart problems, smoke, and don’t exercise.’ I really wish people would relax and not burst a blood vessel dissing harmless selfie-takers unless it’s one making rounds on social media of a guy taking a selfie at a funeral or an explosion site - bad taste indeed. Get your own poison, guys! On that note, here is yet another beautiful edition of South India’s awesomest lifestyle magazine, RITZ, just for you!

W E I V MY

ARUNA R KRISHNAN

RITZ SEPTEMBER 2015 www.ritzmagazine.in

Inside 80

12 Buzzin

There’s been a lot of buzz created in the South. We’ve captured some vignettes for you

34 Haute Stuff

Vira Shah tells us what’s trendy and in vogue for the month. This month, she says, is all about excess fabric and layering

22 RSVP

Chennai Diamonds opened their doors to a new showroom in the city with Akshara Haasan and singer Sudha Raghunathan doing the honours Bengaluru witnessed the India Luxury Style Week with a horde of stars walking the ramp. We bring you glimpses Hyderabad had personalities making a beeline for the Heal A Child do. We spotted Prince Mahesh Babu and his wife Namrata there RITZ made a grand entry into Coimbatore at a star-studded event and awards ceremony held in association with Jaguar. The city’s creme de la creme attended the sparkling do. Speedster Narain Karthikeyan and industrialist Rajshree Pathy graced the cover of the launch issue

43 Festive Special

Nalli unveils its new Sivaranjani 2015 collection in a magnificent pictorial spread

76 Personality

She’s peppy, pretty and the darling of South Indian cinema. Shriya Saran gets candid for our camera

80 Cover Story

Dr. Shuba Dharmana, renowned cosmetic dermatologist from Bengaluru tells us how there is much more to beauty than meets the eye Venkatesh has defied all cliches that go with being an actor. RITZ attempts to unravel his phenomenal success

90 Look Book

32 New Products

We’re constantly regaled with new merchandise each month. Find out what’s new on shelves near you

RITZ SEPTEMBER 2015 www.ritzmagazine.in

We get 6 of South India’s smokin’ hot men and take snapshots of them behind a grill (an exclusive feature in partnership with Weber India)

It’s always fun to dress up for a costume or masquerade party. We ask a few friends to get into some fancy, mystery party looks

102 Corridors of Power

Sandeep Rai Rathore, IPS, Inspector General of Police, National Disaster Response Force is the man who recently earned the President’s Medal for Distinguished Service. Sanjay Pinto tells us more about him

104 Point Blank

Sanjay Pinto asks the question of the hour: “Who outsourced parenting to the police?”

105 Design Elements

These homes are opulent, tastefully decorated and oh! so beautiful. We peek into some luxurious living spaces across the South

114 Foodies Inc

Our Indian palate loves the kick of spice and Hyderabad’s Tim Thai knows exactly how to capitalise on this weakness

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EDITOR & PUBLISHER ARUNA R KRISHNAN EDITOR’S SECRETARY & COORDINATOR JAFFAR HAMEED REGIONAL EDITOR - KARNATAKA ARCHANA SHENOY REGIONAL EDITOR - TELANGANA & ANDHRA PRADESH VANAJA BANAGIRI SENIOR CORRESPONDENT & CELEBRITY RELATIONS COORDINATOR SHANKARAN MALINI HYDERABAD CORRESPONDENT DEEKSHA MARUR CHENNAI CORRESPONDENT DIYA SUBRAMANIAN EDITORIAL AND LEGAL CONSULTANT SANJAY PINTO 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

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.

RITZ SEPTEMBER 2015 www.ritzmagazine.in

o advertise in RITZ, call Praveen Kumar on T +91 98419 73090 /+91 44 4211 3871 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

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BUZZ IN’

Precious Pieces Jewellery designer Pallavi Foley unveiled her new collection blending her cutting edge designs with contemporary forms of jewellery. Fluid, exquisite, chic and so feminine - that’s what her designs are all about.

BENGALURU

Sporty Yet Stylish Bengaluru’s swimming and now golf champ Rehan Poncha spent a day at Brooks Brothers Reliance Brands where he was styled for two motivational talks at TEDX Youth at DAIS and at the Indian School of Business, Mohali. Looking dapper in his stylish duds, Poncha took to social media to show off his new style statement. He said: “Always feels special to relive happy moments from my career and the little but valuable lessons I learnt from my sport, then and now. Even nicer when I’m dressed like this!”

Travel Tales Kulsum Shahdab Hotur is back in town after a long, long vacation. Beginning in Dubai, where she spent a month in peace savouring the holy month of Ramadan, she then headed off to her favourite place - London for two weeks of fun, friends and some much needed retail therapy. Now that she’s back, the city seems peppy once more!

RITZ SEPTEMBER 2015 www.ritzmagazine.in

BUZZ IN’

Scorching The Ramp The Lakme Fashion Week A/W 2015 season saw quite a few newbie designers showcase their collection on stage and off-stage too. Hyderabad based designer Jayanti Reddy, too, is now part of the LFW bandwagon. She made her debut with her ethnic collection ‘Haldi Kukum’ which was very well received by critics and fashionistas alike.

Ringing It In Tennis champ Sania Mirza’s younger sister Anam is all set to take things with her boyfriend businessman Akbar Rasheed to the next level. The two are getting engaged on 16 September and are going all out getting things sorted for their big day. It is said that Anam is looking at the likes of Manish Malhotra and Abu-Sandeep for her outfits while jewellery is from city designer Moni Agarwal. Here’s wishing the couple a happy life together.

Running For Glory Talk about breaking records - one person Hyderabad has been talking about and cheering on is Arun Bharadwaj. This ultramarathoner did a 36-hour treadmill marathon challenge during the Airtel Hyderabad Marathon program. He started on 28th August at 6:30 AM and finished on 29th August 6:30 PM. Arun has many laurels to his name as a runner and a marathoner.

RITZ SEPTEMBER 2015 www.ritzmagazine.in

HYDERABAD

BUZZ IN’

The Crowd Puller Sachin Tendulkar stopped by in Coimbatore to give away prizes at Isha Gramotsav 2015, a special outreach programme organised by Sadguru Jaggi Vasudev at his centre there. The master blaster took time out to spend a few hours at Codissia Grounds where the event was held.

The Glam Quotient COIMBATORE

This one’s a first for Estee Lauder…. the launch of a brand new product range at Coimbatore! Bengaluru’s Manjusha Maheshwari, Brand Consultant for Estee, headed to the textile capital of the South for the evening. All of her highprofile friends from the city were present at the do.

Business Pep Talk Coimbatore is a city resplendent with young talent and entrepreneurs. Hence, when MV Subbaiah, former chairman Murugappa Group and Mr. Farhad Forbes and Mrs. Rati Forbes, directors Forbes Marshall Limited, landed there for an event called Learning 360, organised by CII and the Young Indians forum in the city, we weren’t in the least surprised.

RITZ SEPTEMBER 2015 www.ritzmagazine.in

CHENNAI

The Art Of Giving Madras Round Table 1 has been the talk of town of late with their Chennai Gives campaign in association with Uber as part of The International Day of Charity on September 5th 2015. Interior designer Farah Agarwal and her husband Dr Ashvin Agarwal pledged to donate 242 items to the #ChennaiGives campaign. She took to social media saying: “Heart full of kindness and compassion of these two precious kids (referring to her kids). Let’s all get together and make this a week of giving to bring happiness to the underprivileged (sic)” Well-known celebrities who pledged their support to the campaign include Suriya and his wife Jyotika, Jayam Ravi and his wife Aarthi, Aishwarya Rajinikanth Dhanush, Sriya Reddy and many others.

Parisian Woes Someone was not so happy in the world’s most romantic city, or so it seems. Going by television presenter Suhail Chandok’s tweets, he was a bit taken aback by the sights, sounds and smells of Paris. As he made his way across the French capital using the underground - which he considered more smelly than many places in India, lamenting over the view from his window as he munched on his morning breakfast of croissant and coffee, it seems the dashing Chennai boy was severely homesick and desperate to get back. Here’s sending a warm welcome your way, Suhail.

PROMOTION

New Cinematography Institute In Chennai

HAN

WIND .ARA

DR RAVI K CHANDRAN

DER DU

ALEXAN

POND

I RAVI

PREL

n exclusive international cinematography institute, which opens in Chennai this October, will help create a new breed of world-class talent for

the industry. The Achariya School of Moving Image Technology and Arts (ASMITA) established by the Achariya Group of Educational Institutions in conjunction with multi-award winning Indian Director of Photography (DOP) Mr. Ravi K Chandran, and Camerimage-nominated cinematographer Professor Alexander du Prel from the Mozarteum University at Salzburg - will open its doors to eligible Indian and international students on October 19, 2015. The institute’s globally-focussed curriculum, which will lead to a Diploma in Cinematography, has been developed by master cinematographers and Professor R Narayan Kumar, who until recently headed the cinematography department at the LV Prasad Film & TV Academy in Chennai. Prof. Alexander du Prel has been named the institute’s Inaugural Dean. The institute’s mentor Ravi K Chandran says the modern day cinematographer must learn to be an artist-designer-technologist all rolled into one. “To succeed in this highly competitive industry, an aspiring DoP has to be able to beautifully unite technology with art. He/she will have to keep up with the latest trends and emerging practices, yet never lose sight of the aesthetic sensibility,” he says. Prof. Alexander du Prel says that cinematography is much more than using

NARAYAN KUMAR

the latest camera equipment and technology – it is “visual poetry.” He adds that any story, be it pulp fiction or something more serious, can be told through pictures, but what matters is how. “Every frame has a meaning. The trick is to find a simple image to describe the situation or feeling, and to do that consistently, with conviction,” he says. Chief Mentor of the Achariya Group, Dr Arawindhan says the Group was proud to help establish ASMITA. “We wished to bring international standards of academic excellence to India, and also help make India an attractive education destination for international students. “ASMITA’s curriculum is on par with those of European film schools,” Dr Arawindhan says. “It is set up to meet the evolving needs of the global cinema industry, attract new talent and offer opportunities for collaborative learning and exchange of ideas.” R Narayan Kumar HOD, Cinematography at ASMITA who is also an alumnus of the Film and Television Institute of India at Pune, has over 25 years of experience as a cinematographer and teacher, straddling both roles with equal passion. His in-depth teaching experience includes stints as the Head of Department for Cinematography at two iconic Indian institutes – the Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute in Kolkata and the LV

Prasad Film & TV Academy in Chennai. Pondi Ravi, Director and Admin Operations at ASMITA is a successful entrepreneur, producer and actor from South India. In a career spanning two decades, he has worked on 60 feature films in various languages, including in Hindi, Tamil, Kannada and Telugu. Along with contemporary cinematography techniques, from conception to postproduction, the program will teach aspiring DoPs to think like a visual storyteller, enhance their creative instincts and develop a signature visual language utilising the latest technology available in the market. As part of their curriculum, students will attend Camerimage, the world’s leading festival for cinematography. Camerimage is the world’s most important festival for the art of cinematography. Held in Poland every November, Camerimage recognises films for their visual, aesthetic and technical values, and awards the best international talent. Ravi K Chandran and Alexander du Prel are both 2010 Camerimage nominees. Ravi was nominated for the film ‘My Name Is Khan’ and Alexander for ‘Swansong: Story of Occi Byrne.’ Here, students will hear first-hand from global legends of cinematography, learn about the latest developments in technology and art, attend workshops, join competitions and get an opportunity to integrate with the international community. Follow us in Facebook: www.facebook.com/ ASMITACHENNAI Follow us in Twitter: www.twitter.com/asmitachennai For Queries: Contact Balajhi +91 96773 44471

For information on admissions and eligibility, email info@asmitaedu.org or visit www.asmitaedu.org

RITZ SEPTEMBER 2015 www.ritzmagazine.in

To know more:Visit us at www.mulshisprings.com Or call toll free 1800 - 2222 - 01

ADVERTORIAL

Sanskrritiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s New Journey

hat began as an athome venture, by Mital Surendira, grew into a popular brand within a decade and now after its initial wave of exclusive gifting solutions, has expanded its repertoire with its new store in Chennai. Mital started out with trousseau and gift packaging for weddings and festivals to find an outlet for her creativity during her leisure hours. Soon the products that she crafted, had people asking for a variety of festive, corporate and celebratory needs. The simple answer was to diversify, expand and professionalize the enterprise. Maintaining the ethnicity of her products, Mital ensures to add a personal touch which not only means innovating but also adding oodles of style with contemporary designs and patterns. At Sanskrriti, the presentation matters as much as the gift. The brand ensures the exclusivity of the products is never lost. The new store is a one-stop-shop for unique handcrafted gifts for weddings, milestone birthdays, exclusive gift wrapping, high-end customised gifts, gift boxes and much more. Boasting of a wide spectrum of clientele - A-listers from the city - including industrialists, celebrities and the creme-de-la-creme of high society, the brand which launched its second outlet in Khader Nawaz Khan Road end of June this year has created quite a huge buzz in all the right circles. Two of the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s well-known and loved faces, Prof. R Thandavan, Vice Chancellor, University of Madras, inaugurated the showroom, while Dr. Mariazeena Johnson, Managing Director Satyabhama University, lit the auspicious lamp to mark the embarkment of another long and successful journey for Sanskrriti. Visit the new store at: No.14, Khader Nawaz Khan Road Shop No.6, Gems Court, Nungambakkam, Chennai T:+91 44 2833 3230 www.sanskrriti.com

RITZ SEPTEMBER 2015 www.ritzmagazine.in

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CHENNAI Chennai Diamonds recently opened its newest showroom in Anna Nagar with much pomp and show with celebrated singer Padmabhushan Sudha Ragunathan and Bollywood star Akshara Haasan as the guests of honour. It also has the distinction of being the largest diamond jewellery showroom in South India. A retail venture of Four Ceess, Chennai Diamonds has made its mark across South India with the unique idea of adding a sparkle to everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life by making diamonds even more affordable.

RITZ SEPTEMBER 2015 www.ritzmagazine.in

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BENGALURU There’s no one more stylish than Akshay Kumar and Bengaluru’s Ramesh Dembla got it right when he tied up with the superstar to host India’s first luxury men’s only style week in the city. The starstudded affair saw several designers fly down show stoppers to walk the ramp for them. From Akshay himself, to the hunky Vidyut Jamwal, Rajkumar Rao, Rohit Roy, director Madhur Bhandarkar, Rahul Roy of Aashiqui fame, Rohit Varma and Sandeep Soparrkar, Ismail Darbar and even Nishka Lulla, there were all there to give Bangaloreans a dose of their heady Bollywood charm.

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HYDERABAD The annual fashion show held by Heal A Child foundation was a fun evening where some of the city’s well known socialites and personalities walked the ramp for a good cause. Mahesh Babu, the NGO’s brand ambassador was present at the venue with his wife Namrata Shirodkar.

RITZ SEPTEMBER 2015 www.ritzmagazine.in

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COIMBATORE

The Jaguar RITZ Excellence Awards ceremony at Hotel Le Meridien wowed Coimbatore with style, class and panache. Marking the launch of the new Jaguar XF Aerosport and the unveiling of the Coimbatore Special Edition of RITZ featuring the fastest Indian in the world Narain Karthikeyan and eminent industrialist and art connoisseur Rajshree Pathy on the cover, the awards ceremony was interspersed with a scintillating fashion show featuring garments from Vrissa and Anavila retailed out of Amethyst, showcasing stunning jewellery by Bharathi Raviprakash of Studio Tara. The super charming Instax Cameras from Fuji Film had everyone floored, while Studio Taraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s range of gorgeous jewellery was a talking point of the evening. Anil Mukundan of VST Motors, Coimbatore spoke at the event and also gave away Awards while his ever-attenttive team ensured every guest was comfortable and relaxed enough to enjoy the evening. Our styling partners Page 3 Salon and Spa, Coimbatore ensured the models and many others looked their dazzling best while our Event Partners Aura left no stone unturned to make sure the setup and arrangements were on par with high profile events in any major metro in India. Awardees included Narain Karthikeyan, actor-producer-music director GV Prakash Kumar, Rajshree Pathy, eminent Ghatam exponent Padma Bhushan Vikku Vinayakram, N Chandran of Eastman Clothing, Soundararajan of Suguna Holdings, J Anand of Jayem Automotives, Vanitha Mohan of Siruthuli and edupreneurs Shanakar Vanavarayar and Anusha Ravi. Coimbatoreans floored us with their charm, grace and humility even in the face of their staggering achievements while audiences agreed that it was the classiest do the city had witnessed in a long time. We at RITZ have always enjoyed our ever-growing presence across South India and are thrilled to expand into this lovely city. Thank you Coimbatore! Awards Instituted By

Presenting Partner

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Associate Partners

Experiential Partner

Hospitality Partner

B. Soundararajan of Suguna Holdings receives his Award from M Sivaramakrishnan, Managing Director of UCAL Group

Racing sensation and the Fastest Indian in the world Narain Karthikeyan with his Award

Multitalented G V Prakash Kumar receives his award from Aruna R Krishnan of RITZ

Rajshree Pathy receives her Award from Sanjeev Subramanian and Anil Mukundan of VST Grandeur Vanitha Mohan is presented her Award by Padma Bhushan Vikku Vinayakram

Rajshree Pathy Presents the Award to Padma Bhushan Vikku Vinayakram

Industrialist Jayachandran Anand with his Award

Edupreneur Shankar Vanavarayar receives his Award from Geetha Nagu of VNCT Ventures and Rohit Rajendran of Premier Mills

N Chandran, Managing Director of Eastman Exports receives his Award from Bharathi Raviprakash of Studio Tara

Edupreneur Anusha Ravi receives her Award from Rohit Rajendran

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Anil Mukundan

Anil Mukundan, Jayachandran Anand, Narain Karthikeyan and Sanjeev Subramanian

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PRODUCTS

NEW

Bond’s new OMEGA Seamaster 300 “SPECTRE” Limited Edition

Daniel Craig made a special visit to the heart of the Swiss watchmaking industry for the inauguration of the OMEGA factory in Villeret, Switzerland. The actor who reprises his role as James Bond in SPECTRE, the 24th Bond adventure, was given a guided tour, as well as exclusive access to the factory’s assembly line. During the visit he was also shown production of the new OMEGA Seamaster 300 “SPECTRE” Limited Edition. For OMEGA, Daniel Craig’s visit to Villeret was a momentous occasion. Together with Nick Hayek, Swatch Group CEO, and Stephen Urquhart, President of OMEGA, Craig was shown exactly what goes into making OMEGA watches such as the one he wears in SPECTRE. As an avid collector himself, he was fascinated by the engineering and expertise on show. “I think what was so impressive was the fact that these watches are made from the ground up. You start with nothing, and then there’s suddenly a working watch. That’s the beauty of it. To see the engineering that goes into it and the legacy that goes into it, that’s what fascinated me.” The Seamaster has been James Bond’s watch since GoldenEye (1995), with its

RITZ SEPTEMBER 2015 www.ritzmagazine.in

naval history and classic style, the watch perfectly reflects Bond’s character. Now, in celebration of the new movie, fans and watch collectors will be able to buy the model worn by 007 in SPECTRE, as the OMEGA Seamaster 300 will go on sale as a limited edition. The release marks a first for the partnership; until now, only commemorative editions have been used to celebrate OMEGA’s link with the franchise. The watch features a bi-directional, rotating diving bezel, made from black, polished ceramic, combined with a LiquidMetal® 12 hour scale, so that time can be kept with any country in the world. Other unique features include the “lollipop” central seconds hands, as well as the 5-stripe black and grey NATO strap. On the bracelet’s strap holder, the 007 gun logo has been engraved. Each watch has its own unique serial number engraved on the back along with the SPECTRE film logo, celebrating the latest on-screen adventure. Inside, the watch is driven by the highly innovative OMEGA Master Co-Axial calibre 8400, a revolutionary movement in its own right. This special timepiece will be limited to just 7,007 pieces. It will be available in selected boutiques from September

HAUTE STUFF 34

LINEAR LENGTHS As the temperatures start dropping, feel luxurious in excess fabrics of unexpected layering and fallen hemlines. From the fashionable long jackets to slit midi skirts, and from asymmetric elongated tops to refined billowy trousers, create drama while channeling your inner goddess. Embrace trendy close-cut pieces that are long, this season.

RITZ SEPTEMBER 2015 www.ritzmagazine.in

Text: Vira Shah

HAUTE STUFF

Giraffe Print Asymmetric Kaftan from Turquoise & Gold ` 19500

Sleeveless Vest From Forever New `6990

Printed Trousers by Vizyon Price on Request

Asia Inspired Long Blazer From Wrap Studio, Price `17,000

Embroidered Jumpsuit From Wills Lifestyle

Sequinned Maxi from Marks and Spencer

Pleated Midi Skirt By Gucci Available On Netaporter.com `96,300

Window Pane Check Pants from Vero Moda `2295

RITZ SEPTEMBER 2015 www.ritzmagazine.in

Side Slit Long Dress From Mango `3990

STYLE NOTES: Elongated lines - Pair long over longer separates to experiment with proportions Fabric Focus - Pick a Chunky Heel to elevate the look with minimal accessories Must Have - Floor length skirt or tunic with a thigh high slit

HAUTE STUFF

Architecture inspires new line of Dior jewellery

The new line of Dior Jewellery is based on Christian Dior’s fascination for architectural elements in his couture creations. The collection carries bracelets, rings, earrings and necklaces, all borrow a name and reference a collection or iconic dress from the past. The cuts, volume, jewels and decorations of the designs have been influenced by architecture. The collection will be available for purchase in September, and prices are available upon request.

Christian Louboutin releases photo editing app

Christian Louboutin has released his very own photo filter app, #Louboutinize and the app does exactly that - it Louboutinizes everything. The app has three different filters, which all depict an important aspect of Louboutin’s signature designs. The filters include “Rouge,” which adds the Louboutin red hue to your photo, “Legs,” which allows you to insert celeb legs onto your body, and “Crystallize,” which adds a kaleidoscope filter to give you photo a crystal-shaped bottle feel.

RITZ SEPTEMBER 2015 www.ritzmagazine.in

The joy of motherhood also brings about changes in the body that may leave you unhappy and resigned to your current appearance. These changes can include weight gain, stretch marks and facial pigmentation. It is heartening to note that you have made a lifestyle choice of physical fitness but are struggling with limitations due to your shape. In your case it appears that you have gained weight and may also be having problems fitting into your old clothes. Please persist with your gym routine because the tummy fat is the last to shift. You could benefit from liposuction. In this procedure excess fat can be sucked away. This will improve the contour of your tummy and waist. However, should you have a skin overhang at the bottom of your tummy due to the after effects of skin stretch from pregnancy, you would also need a tummy tuck procedure, with liposuction of the waist fat. While the recovery time for liposuction is around a month, the tummy tuck which also requires tightening of the lax tummy muscles may need additional recovery time. Tummy tuck is best contemplated after completion of your family. Avoid gym activities for 6 weeks following this procedure. My breasts are asymmetrical. It has been so from my teenage years and worsened by the birth of my son. Are there any solutions to correct the size difference between the breasts?

I am 29 and have breastfed two children. I have noticed that my breasts have enlarged over the last 2 pregnancies and I currently am a DD cup size. This causes personal inconvenience be it in wearing dresses or in the swimming pool. Could you advise on whether breast reduction is a safe procedure? Women with large breasts suffer the consequences of this burden, either through limiting their physical activity, or causing neck pain, back pain or leaving them with bra strap marks and sweat rashes under their breasts. You have mentioned that you are a DD cup. From your query it appears that you could benefit from breast reduction surgery. This is a relatively safe procedure and recovery is usually around 2 weeks though gym activity and swimming is best avoided for up to six weeks. An initial consultation can involve assessing your requirement, a detailed history and examination and discussing the surgery, recovery and the likely risks. The results are extremely satisfying with upwards of 90% satisfaction and freedom from many bothersome symptoms.

DR RAMKUMAR SUSARLA Cosmetic Surgeon FRCS (Edinburgh) FRCS (Plastic Surgery) McIndoe Cosmetic Fellowship (UK) Dr Ramkumar Susarla is a British trained & qualified Plastic, Reconstructive & Cosmetic Surgeon. Clinic: Cosmetic Surgery One No.2. Sriramnagar South Street Alwarpet Chennai 600 018 Mob: +91 98 4063 6991 Mail your queries to - cosmeticsurgeryone@gmail.com or ritzmag@gmail.com Website: cosmeticsurgeryinchennai.com

Breast asymmetry is present in most women. It is when the cup size is one size or more in difference that this becomes apparent, especially when you look at yourself in the mirror. While there are many different parameters to evaluate the size difference, the key is to ask yourself which breast you are happier with in terms of size and shape. So the choices are to make the smaller breast larger or the larger breast smaller. However, sometimes the issue is not that simple. The approach to a narrow a constricted breast is to reshape it and to make the smaller breast to this size with a breast implant or different size breast implants for both breasts. It is best that you consult a cosmetic surgeon to evaluate you and give you the solutions. The desired outcome of symmetry may involve more than one surgery.

RITZ READER SERVICE

Since I have had my three children, my body has lost its shape and I am now very self-conscious. I have been going to the gym for workouts but it does not seem to make a difference. Please advise me on what is appropriate.

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PERFECT COMIC TIMING 42

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A Laugh Riot It was an evening of much laughter at The Raintree, Anna Salai, when they hosted Just For Laughs, an exclusive night of comedy and fun at High, the rooftop lounge bar. In keeping with the hotel’s tradition of organising such exclusive events of various genres, Just For Laughs, one such initiative undertaken by them, is an effort to keep the spirit of comedy alive and an endeavour to promote the select group of performers working in the field. Previous events at the hotel have seen acts by well-known comics like Sahil Shah. This time around it was an evening with Rajneesh Kapoor, a stand-up comedian and comic strip maker who has also published two books. He performed funny yet clean comedy which made people laugh without offending anyone. Last year Times of India rated him as one of the top ten comics in India. He has performed for various embassies, ICICI Bank, DuPont, Lipton, MediaNAMA, Fuji Film, Boston Consultancy Group, Auto Bild India, Business Aircraft Operators Association, Hindustan Unilever Ltd, Vodafone and many other companies and has done over 100 shows at the prestigious London Chain, the Comedy Store. While Sahil is one of India’s youngest professional comedians, he refers to himself as a child stuck in a man’s body. Sometimes the child disagrees with this. His puns and unruly curls make him a unique combination of a Lasith Malinga look-alike with a crazy sense of humour. He is the only person alive whose hair has been frisked at an airport, he says! The funnyman went on to regale the audience with wisecracks and one-liners, leaving everyone in splits.

PERSONALITY

High On Life Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s peppy, tantrum free and so hardworking, one wonders why sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s labelled a diva. Meet Shriya Saran, leading lady from the South, who has no airs or false graces, sits still for hours during make-up and hair without a whimper escaping her cupid-bow shaped lips and is willing to climb a rickety metal ladder to get to the rooftop of a 16-storey building, just so that she can get the right shot. RITZ spent a day with the lissome lass as she decks up beautifully in apparel from UNLIMITED and left with a new impression of her formed in our minds. Text: Archana Shenoy

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Apparel from

CHEROKEE Dress: A fitted dress enhancing the curve silhouette with optical floral print. Fashioned with round neckline and sleeves that fall just below the elbow. Shoes: Zara Jewellery: Curio Cottage

Photography: Shikha Ahluwalia Garments: Unlimited Styling: Abhilasha Srivastava Make Up: Rakesh Gupta Hair Styling: Naaz

he steps into the studio at 9:00 am on a dreary morning in Mumbai. Dressed in a flowing white kurta and black leggings, with a huge white ceramic travel mug gripped in one hand and lugging a massive red suitcase with the other. Shriya Saran defies all rules that apply to starlets. She’s punctual, she lifts her own bags, she’s mentally prepared to spend the whole day in cramped studio and she’s super enthusiastic to do a photoshoot. Often Shriya has been portrayed as the sexy siren, the modern woman and racy lass. It isn’t often that the girl from Dehradun has played the girl next door. Post her recent blockbuster Drishyam, where she starred alongside Ajay Devgn, her image not only underwent an overhauling, she also managed to stump critics with her superior acting skills. Dressed in a boho-chic skirt in black cotton, Shriya delves into her voluminous suitcase and pulls out a pair of cute spike heeled boots, white top and an animal printed bikini top that she feels with add verve to her look. A long make-up session later she’s ready to pose for the shutterbug. A few pouts, some test shots and the lady is on a roll. In 10 minutes flat she’s done in front of the camera and is ready to scrub up and move to the next shot. The ease with which she switches on and off in front of the camera is remarkable. “Been at it for a long time, babe,” comes the reply from the now 33-year-old, who did her first film when she was just 19. Suddenly she looks

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PERSONALITY

at the photographer who’s hunting up some Punjabi tunes on her laptop and says, “Play Cheerleader, na? I just love that song…. its calming yet happening at the same time.” And so Omi begins to serenade us with his foottapping chart topper and believe us when we say that the song played on loop till the next shot was done. Clad in a simple curve enhancing silhouette dress, its white colour and blue and pink optical flower print, teemed with a pretty hair band and casual block heels, made Shriya look like a life-sized doll. Cute is the only word that came to mind when the

actress stepped out of the makeshift dressing room, shuffling awkwardly as she hopped on one foot struggling to get the buckle of the platform shoe through the loop. “What’s this?” she asked picking up a bright pink feather enhanced hair accessory. As she caressed her skin with the soft feathers and pouted and pirouetted for the camera, we were done with shot two and headed for the next. “It’s exhilarating to be in front of a still camera… no takes or retakes. I can be myself and do as I please,” she quipped, going on to kick off her shoes and head inside for the next change. “I love the white kurta,” she gushed,

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finding it hanging on the clothes rack. “I want the entire Indian look for the next shot…. and lots of bangles please.” As Omi continued to sing and we shuffled around getting things ready for the next shot, Miss Bright As Sunshine popped out of the dressing room with an idea. “Lets head to the roof for the next picture. I want to wave the dupatta around and get the perfect ‘flying chunni’ shot.” A bit typical, but who were we to complain. It isn’t often that we see an actor so enthusiastic to shoot for a magazine. Upon reaching the roof top level of the typically messy Mumbai apartment, we were shocked to find the door to the roof locked

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and instead a rickety metal ladder placed under a hole (like a trap door) opening out onto the service roof where water tanks and solar panels sat. “I’m going up… you guys coming?” she asked, climbing up the crazy 17 step ladder like a seasoned monkey. And so, the photographer with her phobia for heights, the make up artist with his brushes and palettes, the hair stylist with her spray bottles and pins, the stylist with her clips and needles and yours truly with nothing more than a prayer for our collective safety, headed to the roof top for some stunning Manhattanish views of Bollywood to fulfill the actress’ wish for that perfect ‘dupatta shot’

COVER STORY

Dr. Shuba is wearing a corset top by Namrata Joshipura, silk skirt from Payal Khandwala, shoes from Marni, earrings by Roopa Vohra and cuff by Suhani Pittie

Photography: Lucky Malhotra Hair and Make-up: Kajol from Bounce, Lavelle Road Jewellery: Outhouse, The Colonnade Location courtesy: ITC Royal Gardenia

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More Than

Skin Deep

Some of the most famous men have been brutally honest in their explanation of what beauty really is. American author, poet and critic Edgar Allan Poe opines - “There is no exquisite beauty… without some strangeness in the proportion” while Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy, in the The Kreutzer Sonata says - “It is amazing how complete is the delusion that beauty is goodness.” Though purists will disagree with this school of thought, realists tend to look the other way, choosing to accept factors like age, lines, wrinkles and hair loss as part and parcel of living and finding ways instead to combat these cosmetic factors that play such a huge, pivotal role in the life of every man and woman. Dr. Shuba Dharmana, renowned cosmetic dermatologist, hair transplant surgeon and laser specialist from Bengaluru is one such realist. Our cover girl this month is not just stunning herself, she also has the skill and precision to enhance a person’s beauty through the path-breaking treatments and services available at her clinics in Hyderabad and Bengaluru. RITZ chats up with the gorgeous doctor, finding out more about her passion for work, her plans for the future and what exactly her take on cosmetic dermatology is. Text: Archana Shenoy www.ritzmagazine.in SEPTEMBER 2015 RITZ

COVER STORY 82

Sprawled on the couch in ITC Royal Gardenia’s Italian restaurant Ottimo, Dr. Shuba is wearing silver leggings by Forever 21, a bustier top by Charlotte Russe and fur boots by Roberto Cavalli. Long dangler earrings are from Outhouse, Bengaluru.

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The Entrepreneur “There’s still a myth in India that surrounds cosmetic enhancement treatments that needs to be broken. When I was offered the opportunity to head a chain of cosmetic enhancement clinics in Hyderabad, I felt I owed it to my profession and myself as a professional to come home and work towards breaking these myths that are still lodged tight in the minds of people,” says the svelte 37-year-old doctor who delivered a baby just 10 months ago, but looks like she’s stepped off the ramp. “I was always inclined towards the beauty business and began with a career in modelling. But I soon realised that being behind the camera was not all that I wanted to do. I wanted to do something more permanent, more progressive and innovative. Hence I decided to study medicine and chose cosmetic dermatology as my field of specialization. Today, with the amount of advancement we see in science and medicine, we’re able to offer clients some of the best forms of cosmetic treatments, using highly superior products and techniques at extremely competitive costs. Cosmetic enhancement is no more about crude facelifts and plastic surgery. It’s about rejuvenating and highly safe filler and botox treatment, technologically advanced hair transplants, precise laser procedures and beauty and aesthetic treatments like Hydra Facials, Snake Venom Facials, Fractional Laser Treatments, Elase Laser and much more. Dr. Shuba graduated from the Andhra Medical College after which she left for the UK to pursue further studies. There she was trained in General Medicine and Dermatology. During this period she researched much on anti-ageing and considered a great deal about skin diseases and aesthetic medicines. In London, she worked under eminent cosmeticians and got to learn a lot about Aesthetic Medicine. “There was so much for me to learn; I realised that I could offer people beauty enhancement options. I attended conferences like “Faces” and “Anti-Ageing Medicine

World Congress” that boosted my spirits. Later, I undertook training in lasers and became a specialist in that as well,” she explains Having worked with several hospitals in the UK for over ten years, while at London, she successfully established two clinics - The Ultimate Beauty in Luton and Cosmesthetic in West London. She also worked in several other private cosmetic clinics like NSCC (National Slimming and Cosmetic Clinics) and NovoLondon. Later, she obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in Dermatology from the University of Cardiff and began her specialised practice in dermatology. She has been trained in hair transplantation techniques in Poland and has also worked under one of Europe’s most reputed hair transplant surgeons, Dr. Marwan Safi. LeJeune literally means ‘The Young’. An initiative started by Dr. Shuba in March 2012, she established her presence in India with Dr.Shuba Skin & Laser Clinic in Madhapur, Hyderabad and then opened the LeJeune brand in Bengaluru. “LeJeune Medspa was started with the goal of providing the latest high standard revolutionary treatments in anti-ageing and skin rejuvenation methods. The treatments here are well balanced, holistic, including a detailed analysis of skin texture and tone and the programmes are supplemented with neutraceuticals, skinceuticals and sun care products for youthful, glowing and healthier looking skin,” she explains. Though botox and fillers are her area of specialty, Dr. Shuba says that these days it’s more of hair transplants that she’s doing. “Probably because hair treatment is the most acceptable form of cosmetic enhancement and people are willing to take that initial step and try it. It’s progress in my books,” she tells, adding that people need to understand that most cosmetic enhancement treatments are without side effects, very safe and perfectly acceptable in today’s day and age. “I’ve had a lot of film stars, especially from the South Indian industry come to me for treatment. They’ve been

“Cosmetic enhancement is no more about crude facelifts and plastic surgery. It’s about rejuvenating and highly safe filler and botox treatment, technologically advanced hair transplants, precise laser procedures and beauty and other aesthetic treatments”

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COVER STORY “Le’Jeune Medspa offers treatments thats are balanced, holistic, including a detailed analysis of skin texture and tone and the programmes are supplemented with neutraceuticals, skinceuticals and sun care products for youthful, glowing and healthier looking skin”

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extremely happy with the results and keep coming back for further enhancement. I’m more keen now to reach out of that fraternity and help the masses though my skills and knowledge,” tells the lady who was declared Best Woman Dermatologist 2015 at the All India 6th Annual Women Leaders Conclave, Mumbai and Woman Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 at the Pharmaleaders Summit, Mumbai. She is also brand ambassador for Eyova Egg Oil, a new-age product containing bioactives that heal and strengthen hair naturally. Due to her association with the film fraternity and her own penchant for beauty and style, Dr. Shuba also frequently judges beauty pageants and is constantly in the news for her innovative treatments and skills. The Fashionista In keeping with her image and nature of work, Dr. Shuba, along with being a dedicated professional, is also extremely conscious of her image and is a staunch propagator of healthy living. “I’ve shed 10 kilos in 10 months post pregnancy,” she tells us proudly, the figure she’s shown off in her pictures being testament to the fact. Fashion and an experimental sense of style come naturally to her. “I was a model in the early days and I even acted in a Singhalese film,” she tells us with pride. “I’m extremely conscious of what I wear and always tell my associates that it’s mandatory to dress appropriately for every occasion, be it work or a party. Her favourite designers, she tells, are Dolce & Gabbana and Chanel. “Sometimes I buy Roberto Cavalli as well, but I feel Dolce & Gabbana and Chanel are timeless and ever-elegant. Though I’m extremely experimental in my way of dressing I still play it safe by sticking to solid colours and straight styles. Though I do follow trends, I tend to tweak them to suit my personal taste,” she explains, propping her feet up on the couch in Ottimo, the fine dining Italian restaurant at ITC Royal Gardenia, where we’re taking

her pictures. She’s sporting a pair of 5-inch heeled Cavalli boots - furry foot accessories that not only jazz up her outfit, but also reflect her unorthodox personality. “I love to dress in Rakesh Agarvwal for the evening but choose more high-street fashion for the day. At work you’ll mostly see me in a shift dress.” And in keeping with her profession, Dr. Shuba isn’t shy to admit that she’s tried several cosmetic enhancement treatments on herself. “That’s what we’re taught at medical school in the UK,” she tells. “A doctor must always be able to experience the treatment, the pain, the entire process of the procedure he/she is performing on the patient. Only then will we be able to counsel clients correctly on the kind of treatment they need and what to expect when they undergo it.” The Woman Married to one of Bengaluru’s most prominent architects Anshul Chodha, Dr. Shuba is a dedicated mother to her 10 month old baby son and a caring wife and daughter. “I know how important it is for a mother to be there for her child during the initial years and I’ve tried to cut back on my working hours and rush home by 4 pm to spend the evenings with the baby and my family,’ she tells. When she’s not playing with her son, entertaining him with numerous toys, books and songs, she’s working out vigorously and trying hard to keep her diet and lifestyle as natural and organic as possible. “I think it’s important for a woman to keep herself fit and understand her body. Though I’m working on scaling up my business and am looking for franchise partners from all across India for my hair transplant and medspa clinics, I’m also looking to partner with someone and open a health food restaurant and health food/ supplement store. I want to spread the fitness mantra across to as many as I can and want to inform more people on how to eat healthy and live clean,” she says.

Dressed in jeans from Guess, a purple corset top from French Connection and shoes from Jimmy Choo.Â The diamond chalcedony earrings are from Salavetti

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COVER STORY

VICTORY’S FAVOURITE SON

Ever since he stepped into the world of cinema, Venkatesh has been defying clichés that go with being an actor. It’s been 29 years since his debut in Tollywood with Kaliyuga Pandavulu and he shows no signs of fatigue. Venky, as he is fondly addressed, has been a box office darling for a really long time earning him the prefix of Victory. RITZ makes an earnest attempt to unravel the phenomenon. Text: Vanaja Banagiri

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hen he holds forth on Ramana Maharishi and Swami Vivekananda, it’s hard to believe that you’re speaking to a superstar who makes women go moony every time he appears on the screen. His magic hasn’t waned a wee bit and most of his female fans and costars still look at him as the ultimate husband. Straddling the worlds of spirituality and cinema with equal elan, here is one consummate human being who believes in living consciously. Right from his first film in 1986, Venky has held audiences captive, especially the fairer gender, with his convincing performances for close to 3 decades. His first hit Bobbili Raja established his stardom which remained untouched in the years that followed. It’s hard to believe he is in his mid 50s. He has kept himself in top shape as always. “I am blessed,” says the actor who doesn’t look a day older than 40, “Besides, I live a simple lifestyle. I’m a regular working person who goes home to his family, after a day’s work. Everything in moderation is the key to a good body. We need to pay equal attention to physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects in our life. That ensures peace and well being.” He is known as the most professional and non controversial actor and person. What gives? “When I completed my MBA in USA and returned home, I intended to get into production but destiny had other plans. Like I said earlier, I am a regular working person who looks forward to going home after work. Where is the need or time for anything else? My focus has always been on doing justice to my roles and ensuring that I entertain my audiences with my performances. I guess that’s what it is.” For a man who is considered an ideal lover and dream husband on screen, Venky has never ever had even a whisper of a link up with any of his heroines. “I have always respected all my leading ladies immensely. Where is the question of anything else? All these are stupid questions,” he dismisses. Beginning from Sankranthi in which he played an elder brother of four siblings and Seethamma Vaakitlo Sirimalle Chettu in which he played Mahesh Babu’s elder brother to the recent Drishyam, looks like he is taking on characters that suit his age. “That’s true. I know I have matured in age now and I am consciously keeping that in mind when I’m approached to essay a role. Look at Hollywood. Heroes are in their prime in 40s and 50s, sometimes older too. Bottom line is, you should be convinced about your portrayal, only then your audiences will be.” Father of three daughters and a son, Venky

“Monotony sets in when you’re not happy with what you’re doing. At one point, I would get irritated when things were not in order. I even lost my temper once”

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COVER STORY 88

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is a hands-on father doing normal things like helping his kids with their homework. “Ashrita is a natural athlete and has tremendous will power. She wanted one gold medal and she got it. She is very focussed. Sports give you discipline and you can’t ignore that. My second daughter Havya is calm and Bhavna is again inclined towards games. Arjun is growing up fast,” he says. An avid reader of philosophy and spirituality, Venky’s appetite for inspirational literature is voracious. “I read this book on Marlon Brando because I like him the most. I also like Robert Redford. I don’t read many books related to films or film personalities. I am a great follower of Ramana Maharishi. He opened up a lot in me. I grabbed the maximum knowledge from his works. I enjoy reading books by Ramana Maharishi. What he says makes so much sense.” How has spirituality helped him in the world of glamour? “There was a stage in my life when I felt there was something amiss even though most of my films were hits. You see, basically I am a person without any goals and ambitions and when my films became huge hits, I didn’t know how to deal with success. I wasn’t really feeling on top of the world as I was expecting to. I wasn’t getting carried away. I remained totally unaffected. The calm and silence was confusing. That worried me. I felt that if I went off to the Himalayas, I would be happier. And that’s what I did. My wife, my best friend and life partner stood by me and supported me at every step. The turning point came when I discovered Advaitic philosophy. Everything is within us. Once I resumed my work, I began dealing with the uncertainties of life better. Prarabdha, super power and self effort are all interlinked. Realising and respecting that truth liberated me in a big way,” he explains. How does he deal with failure? “My spiritual attitude helps me. Success and failure never bothered me. My reaction is balanced. Equanimity helps. I don’t go crazy in my head when I experience success, nor do I get disappointed or disheartened when faced with failure. I don’t identify myself as a hero. Life

“I live a simple lifestyle. I’m a regular working person who goes home to his family after a day’s work. Everything in moderation is the key to a good body. We need to pay equal attention to physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects in our life”

is just a drama. I’m playing my part in it. I believe in doing well so I prepare for my role as an actor well,” he elucidates. How does he deal with being a producer and actor at the same time? “Monotony sets in when you’re not happy with what you’re doing. At one point, I would get irritated when things were not in order. I even lost my temper once. Also, some of my roles were so intense that they would drain me. That’s because I would walk into the sets as a producer. I would monitor wastage, people’s attendance etc. But as time progresses, you learn to accept things that you cannot change. Also, my own spiritual knowledge has helped me in that I don’t react anymore.” How is religion different from spirituality? “Religion is more God-fearing. It is more ritual-oriented. We all have to pass that stage to arrive at Advaita. The truth is within ourselves. Truth is you. Each of us will find our own path according to our karma. I feel reborn again after I arrived at this knowledge.” His wife Neeraja and he are looked up on as very grounded parents. Their children have been known and recognised for their lack of starry airs and abundant humility. Was such upbringing a conscious choice? “We have on our part ensured that they have as normal a life as possible. I have also instilled a certain sense of spiritual values in them. Consequently, they have no guile, no ego and they are open. Until they get married, I will do what I feel is right for them. After that everybody has to follow their own path,” he says. Drishyam was a big hit and as usual he excelled in his part. What next? “I am looking at a few scripts. Let’s see,” he says thinking aloud. What does he attribute his long standing innings to? “I’ve been lucky that people have accepted me from the beginning. I was lucky to have succeeded even after taking a few risks. I have to thank all my writers, directors and my sixth sense in helping me choose the right stories. It’s been a wonderful life.” Touch wood!

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LOOKBOOK

Presents

Men Behind The Grill

It’s probably one of the fastest growing recreational activities today. While the concept of grilling and barbecuing was alien to India up until a few years ago, today the country sees a huge interest in grilling, with BBQ parties and get-togethers being a much favoured way to hang out and entertain friends. We get six of South India’s hot and happening men, who already raise temperatures with their sizzling achievements, to pose with Weber Grills, the company sparking a backyard barbecue revolution with their innovative and state-of-the art grills.

KRISHNA NAYAK Model Being from the coastal part of Karnataka, Krishna knows a lot about food and cooking in the rustic way. Healthy eating is what he follows and chooses to propagate to his friends. Hence oil-free cooking, easy ways to cook proteins and maintaining the taste and texture of food are all important to him. All these things are made easy on a barbecue, he tells us.

WEBER® SPIRIT® E-310 Gas Grill The gas grill’s stainless steel burners and ample cooking space gives you the freedom to fire up some serious barbecue food. The unique Flavorizer® bars smoke and sizzle when cooking juices drip down, adding flavor to your vegetables and meats. Get set for a legendary grilling performance with your Weber® Spirit® E-310 grill. MRP: ` 69,995.

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Photography: Faheem Hussain

BENGALURU

LOOKBOOK

NEIL FOLEY Product Designer His creative genius cannot be measured for he can see and imagine things that the layman cannot. NID graduate and ace designer Neil Foley is an avid foodie and barbecuing is something he’s been trying his hand at for a while now. But, perfectionist that he is, he’s determined to master the art and cook his meats with the utmost precision. And so he sweats it out at the grill, every chance he gets to perfect his cooking skills. He’s also an advocate of grilling for its health benefits and advises all foodies to try their hand at this.

Photography: Faheem Hussain Location Courtesy: Taj West End WEBER® GENESIS® S-310™ Gas Grill This stainless steel grill shines with quality and craftsmanship with a generous cooking space, stainless steel rod cooking grates and Flavorizer® bars to add smoke and sizzle to your vegetables and meats. With individual control electronic ignition system get set to grill in style for years to come with the Weber® Genesis® S-310™ barbecue grill. MRP: `1,79,995 www.ritzmagazine.in SEPTEMBER 2015 RITZ

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BENGALURU

KHALIN JOSHI Pro-Golfer The 24-year-old has been making news on the golfing circuits with his performance. Presently playing on the European circuit, he’s ranked number 36 on the Indian charts and hopes to break into the top 20 soon. A Gujarati, Khalin is vegetarian but loves food and admits he’s never tried his hand at barbecuing. However, keeping in mind his adventurous spirit and will to learn, he’s happy to try his hand at this recreational activity once he’s back home from his tour.

Weber® Q® 1000™ Titanium Gas Grill This portable grill’s excellent performance and handy size provides ease and convenience for gas grilling on a balcony or terrace. The stylish looking table-top grill includes a cooking space set over a stainless steel burner and a push button ignition which starts the grill quickly and easily. The Weber® Q® 1000™ Titanium grill sports a removable catch pan making cleanup easy. MRP: ` 21,995

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Photography: Faheem Hussain Location Courtesy: Taj West End

BENGALURU

LOOKBOOK MOHAMMED JIBRAN Model

WEBER SUMMIT® S-670™ GAS GRILL This premium grill offers the most comprehensive high quality features one can get in a single grill with an expansive cooking area, rotisserie system, smoker box, side burner and the groundbreaking Sear Station® technology which gives food restaurant-quality sear marks and caramelized flavor. Lighted control knobs to fine tune heat settings in the dark and handle lights makes the Weber Summit® S-670™ perfect to entertain friends anytime of the week.

While he spends a large part of his day on the ramp or in front of the camera, that doesn’t mean that Mohammed Jibran doesn’t have an inclination towards cooking. For a model, eating healthy is what matters most and Jibran is an advocate of this phenomenon. Hence, cooking on a grill is something that not only appeals to his palette, but also is in keeping with his health regimen.

Photography: Faheem Hussain

MRP: ` 4,49,995. www.ritzmagazine.in SEPTEMBER 2015 RITZ

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CHENNAI

G V PRAKASH Actor / Singer He’s not just AR Rahman’s nephew, he’s also an outstanding singer and actor in his own right. GV Prakash may look like the boy next door, but his powerful voice and superior acting skills leave viewers astounded. He enjoys eating barbecued food, although he admits that he’s never actually tried his hand at grilling. But like all boys whose eyes light up when they land on a grill, he’s super enthusiastic to try his hand at it and even wants to sign up for a grill class real soon!

Weber® Original Kettle™ (22”) Premium Charcoal Grill Experience the charcoal revolution with this grilling powerhouse in your balcony, terrace or garden. The iconic Weber® Original Kettle™ Premium grill is engineered for excellence with it’s porcelain-coated steel bowl and lid, One-Touch™ cleaning system and cooking grates big enough to accommodate six large steaks, twice as many burgers, or up to a dozen paneer kebabs! The perfect complement to an evening of food, fun and friends. MRP: ` 24,995

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HYDERABAD

AKSHAY MITTAL Model / Actor

Photography: SK Lens Magic Location courtesy: Radisson Blu Hair and Makeup: Preeti Narasimhan

28-year-old Akshay Mittal is a fitness freak and loves playing basketball and is into martial arts. He also happens to be a big foodie and a wildlife enthusiast. Every season is BBQ season for Akshay who says that all one needs is fun people, some spirits and lots of veggies and meat! His love for spicy food makes BBQ sauce and Tabasco his favourite flavours. Akshay loves his meat hot, both temperature and taste wise.

LOOKBOOK

Presents

Address: Weber-Stephen Barbecue Products India Private Limited #11/2, Haudin Road, Ulsoor, Bengaluru. www.weberindia.com

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LOOKBOOK

Friends In Disguise

BENGALURU

It’s always fun to dress up for a costume party. The planning and anticipation only add to the final result on the day of the do. With the festive and party season approaching we put together a style feature, getting fashion forward friends to dress as they would for a masquerade Ritika Luthria Sadhwani and Ambika Kapoor They’re two of the hottest faces on Bengaluru’s party circuit, always superbly outfitted for every do. The duo have been besties for several years now, in fact they’re so close sometimes they feel like sisters, they say. With an innate sense of style and grace, these pocket rockets (as we refer to them because of their diminutive size and spunky attitude) got into the mood to dress as they would for a masquerade party, with long designer gowns and matching Venetian masks to keep their identity a mystery.

Photographs: Faheem Hussain Location Courtesy: The Lost Caravan, Bengaluru

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LOOKBOOK

HYDERABAD

Sofiya Sujad and Dushyant Reddy This young doctor is also a charming fashionista while her friend is getting ready for a career in building and breaking! The duo have known each other for two years, been best buds for most of that time and say they feel like theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been together for eons more. Like most people their age, the two are still not into high fashion and term their style as street-chic. And what better theme for them to choose than pirates for a masquerade look. So here they are, doing a spoof on a pirate and a tarot reader.

Photographs: SK Lens Magic Location courtesy: Pirate Brew Hair and Makeup: Swadeep

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India’s Sos Braveheart Is Chennai’s Pride

he difference between death and survival in a natural calamity often hinges on miracles. In these tragic times, rescue teams represent nothing short of the hand of God. Bang in the middle of such noble work has been an IPS officer from the Tamil Nadu cadre. On deputation with the Ministry of Home Affairs in New Delhi since 2012, Sandeep Rai Rathore, the Inspector General of Police of the National Disaster Response Force & Civil Defence (NDRF) has been working with missionary zeal. Whether it was at Kedarnath post the Uttarakhand flash floods or the cyclones that ravaged Odisha and later Vishakapatnam or the Mugalivakkam building collapse in Chennai or the Nepal earthquake,Sandeep could been seen on ground zero monitoring rescue operations as his teams raced against time to reach “the most inaccessible terrain, hunting for survivors on foot or using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and even winching them into helicopters”. Thousands of pilgrims

INTO

BY SANJAY P

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(Pic: Sandeep Rai Rathore, IPS, Inspector General of Police – National Disaster Response Force)

and other survivors from a spate of tragedies owe their lives to this 1992 batch IPS officer who recently earned the President’s Medal for Distinguished Service. Having spent his early years in Kuwait where his late father was posted during his stint with Engineering Projects India Ltd, Sandeep would visit India only during summer vacations where he witnessed the contrast between urban developing societies and the rural world. “The idea of Rural India was very close to my heart” A few relatives who were also in government service were an additional influence and strengthened his passion for a career in public service. “My parents were keen that I study Engineering. Although I took Science in Class 12, I deliberately under performed in my exams. I still got admission for Engineering Courses in two US Universities. But I joined Kirori Mal College in Delhi.” Sandeep got into the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) but preferred the Indian Police Service (IPS) instead. Sandeep has had a fair share of district and city postings – as Superintendent of Police in Dindigul, Tuticorin & CB CID in Chennai, Deputy Commissioner of Police in Coimbatore, Deputy Commissioner of Police – Crime & Traffic in North Chennai, Joint Commissioner of Police, Central Chennai & Headquarters, Deputy Inspector General of Police in Salem and so on. Not only has he gained experience in all three wings – Law & Order, Crime & Traffic, Sandeep has also served as Commandant in Tihar Jail, did a one year stint with the United Nations Peace Keeping Mission in Bosnia and has been the Deputy Inspector General of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) in charge of Airport security in North India & the Delhi Metro Rail before his current posting with the NDRF. Ask him about his big professional milestones and Coimbatore tops the list. “When the Coimbatore serial blasts

(Pic: Sandeep Rai Rathore with his wife Shilpam and Children Enya & Arnav)

took place in 1998, I was the Deputy Commissioner of Police. I led a team straight to the hideouts of the culprits and managed to catch three of them alive. That’s how the case was cracked.” In 2004, when he was posted as SP Tuticorin, Sandeep ensured that it became the country’s first ISO Certified district. “I worked towards transforming the police into a public service provider of security. We digitised records, went to the doorsteps of the public and made our officers set their own targets. We got our certification in one and a half months.” But the most recent achievements have been not in khakhi but in his NDRF blue uniform. “The force was formed only in 2009. I joined three years later. It was quite a shift from being a law enforcer to a rescuer. In almost all our operations, we had to be air dropped.” In this three year stint, “the focus has also been on Vulnerability Profiling of India, from earthquake prone zones to cyclones, floods, sea erosion and fire accidents.” Men of action are expected to fall in love! Sandeep has been no exception, having married his college sweetheart Shilpam, a former airhostess with Cathay Pacific and now an expert in art. “The Tanjore Paintings that adorn our walls at home are all the handiwork of my gorgeous and charming better half. She is trained in Indian Art and also knows Italian and French. Wherever I

am posted, she makes it a point to pursue her passion.” The Rathores have a sixteen year old daughter Enya who is a National level Rifle Shooting champion and a twelve year old son Arnav, a soccer fan “who wants to play for Barcelona!” Sandeep is an ace badminton player and has run three half marathons in Delhi. “My aim is to complete a full marathon before I turn fifty.” That may probably happen a little earlier and in Chennai as he is due to complete his deputation next year and return to the Tamil Nadu cadre. And he has his friend and senior Jayant Murali for inspiration. For now, post dinner conversations with Shilpam are rounded off with a game of scrabble. What’s the word that best describes this officer? My guess is ‘braveheart’.

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

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POINT BLANK

EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE...

cene one: A knock at the door of a hotel room. Scene two: a couple handcuffed and being driven away in a police jeep. When I was a kid, I remember watching such scenes in certain Tamil movies. A few decades on, have things changed? Not quite. In fact, these are now opening shots in tv news stories of actual ‘raids’ by the moral police. What happened in a Mumbai hotel recently can happen anywhere else in India. It has happened in other cities and will take place again as long as people and enforcement agencies are ignorant about the law – both its letter and spirit.

Press the rewind button in Mumbai. If news reports are to be believed, more than a dozen couples were pulled out of their hotel rooms and booked for “indecent behaviour in a public place.” Some were slapped on the way out for exercising their fundamental right of speech and expression, all of them were taken to the police station, their parents were summoned and they were booked for essentially being behind closed doors. A girl revealed that the police swoop down has left her feeling suicidal. What was the trigger ? An alleged tip off about some illegal activities, possibly even terror related going on in a particular place. Arguably, like a source of a journalist or a confession to a priest, a tip off to the cops can never really be cross checked. Who were these couples? They were young consenting adults, one was even engaged to be married soon. What was their crime? That they were not married! As a normal, prudent, progressive citizen, I am entitled to raise a few questions. Who outsourced parenting to the police? It’s a different matter that even parents these days are increasingly adopting a hands-off stance towards their grown up sons and daughters.

How can a room in a hotel be a public place? The common areas in a hotel like the lobby, restaurants, stairways, elevators and parking lots may be public places. A room, especially one with a ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign on the door is as private as private can get. Barging into such places or pulling out occupants without a warrant or probable cause, except for some regressive mindset or bee in the bonnet, could well attract Sec 441 of the Indian Penal Code for Criminal Trespass. the country. My point is if they are so short staffed, why do they waste time interfering in the private lives of citizens and behaving like peeping toms? In all fairness, not everyone is the same and I will resist the temptation of broad brushing. There are good khakhi sections in our very own Tamil Nadu who help couples who elope to get married in police stations! The National Crime Records Bureau pegs the number of rape cases at over 37,000 in India in the year gone by. So our men in khakhi cannot control sexual assault but have a problem with consensual sex? Alright, they got a tip off. What did they find after the raid?

And how do you define “indecent behaviour”? Even the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act makes only soliciting in a public place and making a living out of the earnings of prostitution a punishable offence. No less an institution than the Supreme Court had raised questions on whether prostitution itself needs to be legalised. Live-in relationships are being increasingly recognised even in matters of family law. So how in the name of God can anyone interpret the presence of two consenting adults in a hotel room as “indecent behaviour in a public place”? If not law books, can someone please donate dictionaries to these ‘protectors of the law’?

Ask politicians who control the police and you will hear precious gems of wisdom. “Boys will be boys”. “It’s not possible for 4 men to rape a woman”. “Farmers suicides are due to failed love affairs”. The crap never ceases.

Alright, what is the alternative to consenting adults in a hotel room? Holding hands, hugging or kissing in a park or beach? OMG! Sacrilege! What have I just said? The unofficial moral police would go bonkers. How can Indian culture be destroyed, they scream for the tv cameras, holding aloft brooms and slippers. Hypocrisy is second nature to these sections who get worked up over public display of affection but seem to have no problem with violence in public, urinating in public, smoking in public or sexual assault in public transport.

Aren’t we often told about the abnormal police – public ratio, which is roughly 100 cops per lakh people. This is less than half the United Nations recommended ratio of 222. Ironically, reported figures suggest that there are 3 policemen for every VIP in

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BY SANJAY PINTO

We really need to be led by the nose, by the Government as an incentive for paying our taxes, don’t we? From your hotel room that is also a bedroom, your kitchen to your drawing room. Can we eat beef? Ask big daddy. Can we watch x rated videos? Ask big daddy. Can we make love? Ask big daddy. And oh, don’t forget to get an NOC from the local cop. (Sanjay Pinto is a Lawyer, Columnist, Author, Public Speaking Mentor & Former Resident Editor of NDTV 24x7)

DESIGN ELEMENTS

CHENNAI

A Haven Of Contrasts It isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t often that a home is designed around a view and a swimming pool. But thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exactly what businesswoman Nina Reddy of Savera Hotels has done. She wanted a pool facing the beach, hence taking that specification into account her team of architects came up with a plan to design this stunning beach house with a perfect view and even more perfect pool and poolside expereince. We explore this fabulous space. Text: Diya Subramanian www.ritzmagazine.in SEPTEMBER 2015 RITZ

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“I wanted a home with a pool that faced the beach,” tells owner Nina Reddy. With its beautifully tiled cabanas, white sun loungers and spectacular view of the Bay of Bengal, the swimming pool is most definitely the highlight of the Reddy home. With a flight of stairs leading from the poolside to the upper level of the house, the elaborate deck on that level is the perfect spot for an evening party or for just hanging out with friends. Cinema time in the Reddy home spells huge couches, facing a giant television screen. One wall of the room that faces the pool has been made entirely of glass. Walk in through the main doors of the house and you’re welcomed by a beautiful square swing. Each room in the house is decorated differently, in styles ranging from modern to contemporary and slightly ethnic. While each room is decorated in one single colour, there are pops of brighter shades that act as accents, thereby breaking the monotony of the colour palette. “In the living room for example, we’ve added a touch of life to the predominantly white decor by using red accent couches.” Then there are lime green cushions on basket-like chairs doing the same thing. “You’ll also find little elements like a

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Photographs: Gurunath Prabhu sprig of brightly coloured heliconia that stand out against the stark wall behind it,” explains the proud owner. A patio wraps around one side of the house, offering the perfect ocean view for anyone who wants to relax there with a book or a cup of coffee. Nina is famous for hosting elaborate get-togethers at these fantastically planned spaces in her home. She says, “I have put in a lot of effort into making this house perfect. I’ve concentrated on detailing and every piece you see in the house has been handpicked to suit it.” The use of a combination of tiles for

flooring, as well as wood panels, lend the interiors with a muted blend of earthy tones and sleek finishing. The insides are decked with modern bits of art, even some massive prints of movie stills in black and white that adorn the walls of the media room. Then there’s the solid bamboo furniture, so different in its aesthetic appeal adding a glam touch to the room with its wooden ceiling. Hints of vintage decor are visible in the old window shutters strategically placed behind the dining table. There’s also the poolside cabana and the gazebo on the deck, both made of antique wooden

pillars with a tiled roof. Many of the statues and curios used to decorate the home are also made of varieties of wood. “All the pieces in the house are handpicked from different places to get the exact look I was striving for; some of them even have story to tell,” says Nina. Ranging from modern to antique, white to black, glass to wood, including contrasts like marble and teak… there’s something unique in every part of the Reddy home. “It’s not just a home I wanted to create, but an experience,” tells the proud owner, walking us through this haven of textures and contrasts that appeal to every possible aesthetic sense that a person could possess.

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Indian Aesthetics, Contemporary Touch

HYDERABAD

When the ideologies of a steadfast realist meet the idiosyncrasies of a homemaker, the end result can either be disastrous or beautiful. And in the case of Manjula Narsaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s house, the result is spectacular! Text: Deeksha Marur 108

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ocated in the midst of the busy streets of Banjara Hills is Manjula Narsa’s three storied house ‘Eshaniya’. Unaffected by traffic or the hustle and bustle of its surroundings, her house, like she says is “so close yet so far” from the streets below. A drive up the spiral ramp and we reach the entrance of the house. To the right is the car park where a slick silver Beamer sits and the spot beside it is belongs to her beautiful Rolls Royce. To the left is the entry way to the house where she receives us with a warm welcome. While showing us around we ask her about the design of the house and she tells us that Sudheer Associates were the architects who designed the house while the décor and Photographs: Santosh Kumar

interiors were entirely done by her. “I was hands on during the entire construction, right from the Bhumi Puja to the finishing touches.” Even though her husband Narsaiah Maddey is into construction and a firm believer in Vaastu as is her sister, Manjula likes to keep it at an elementary level. “I understand the need to harness good energies and allow their flow and live in relative harmony, but when it comes to Vaastu, I wouldn’t care to take it to a ridiculous level of engagement,” she says. On the ground floor is the living room, an open kitchen and one bedroom. It also has one small puja room that divides the front room into two parts. On one side is a small single seater lounge chair and a centre table made from pots with a glass top. It also has

a light installation in the middle of the room made from wire and resembles the branches of a tree. The other side has two plush chairs and a fire place; behind it is a wall done up with ply with hieroglyphics imprinted on it. The first floor has two bedrooms, a balcony and a family room. “We used to have a garden in the balcony but due to leakage problems we had to have it removed,” Manjula informs us. The family room has minimalistic décor but the roof is done up in colonial style. Teak wood beams hold up the roof in this room and is a pattern used throughout this floor. The second floor has the terrace on one side and a media room on the other. Again, the interiors are minimalistic allowing the 15feet wide home theatre screen to be the star of the show. “When the family is together, we end up watching television here, which only makes us not want to use the TVs in our rooms because we are spoilt by this elaborate theatre-like set up,” she tells us. The beauty of the ground floor lies in the French windows that show off Manjula’s wonderful garden that’s neatly maintained and the flowers are in full bloom. “The garden is my favourite part of the house. I enjoy sitting there a lot. Right from the moment I come down in the morning to any spare time I have, I spend it amongst my

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DESIGN ELEMENTS

plants. It is said that fragrances can transport you to another time and that’s exactly what I experience in my garden. My childhood memories are refreshed, the warm scented breeze and the chirping of birds all create an atmosphere of such gratitude and joy. It is priceless,” she says. Inspired by Raseel Gujral’s juxtaposing the classic with the trendy and mixing white light with yellow, Manjula shares with us what she’s done with the house. “I loved the idea of bringing in elements of nature into play, and luckily, my architect was in concurrence with bringing the outdoors inside from every window around the house”. For this homemaker who firmly believes in humanity as a religion and spirituality as a way of life, it is only understandable why her style of decorating the house is done in minimalistic ways and why she loves open spaces.

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DESIGN ELEMENTS

COIMBATORE

Where Tradition Meets Modernity For businessman Sreesh Rao and his architect wife Shama, their home in Coimbatoreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bharathi Park Road, built on a trapezium shaped plot of land is like a dream come true. One among many of the plush residences that dot this textile rich town, the Rao home is modern, edgy with a contemporary twist and yet traditional all at once. RITZ explores the interiors of this 7,000 square feet large mansion. Text: Rajesh Govindarajulu www.ritzmagazine.in SEPTEMBER 2015 RITZ

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A Krishna Rao established Ideal Stores in Coimbatore during the year 1948 and today his son Sreesh and his architect wife Shama manage the enterprise. The couple decided to build a new home for themselves on a trapezium shaped twenty cent site on Bharathi Park Road, which happens to be located on the northern side of the wooded Forest College. Shama took it upon herself to design and build the 7,000 square feet house within a span of one year and put the plan with a critical path by using the techniques she had picked up while pursuing architecture at Manipal. A large tree on the road adds a green canopy to the residence - the beautiful vertical garden with about 4,000 plants adds to the aesthetics of the house. “The garden is a labour of love and our entire family and household help take care of it. It is the first vertical garden in Coimbatore and it just consumes a little over 20 litres of water everyday,” says an enthusiastic Sreesh. The living room is dressed in luxurious leather sofas and embellished with high quality marble. Shama has used her ingenuity by adorning the walls with attractive three dimensional butterflies made from rubber. A small wall-mount showcases birds made of different materials, picked by the couple when they went to the US for the graduation of their daughter Shreeya, who has just completed her academic programme at the Culinary Institute of America in New York.

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The open kitchen is the largest ‘room’ in this house. It has the latest kitchen equipment including a state-of-the-art coffee machine. There is another smaller kitchen, plus utility, which can be locked away when the family is out on work for it has access from outside. Shama adds, “All of us are in the kitchen all the time and we eat here everyday. Our guests like it too and therefore we have got it air conditioned. We have put up the best equipment here for we have to ‘walk the talk’ having spent nearly 70 years in business of selling kitchen articles!” The first landing on the stairs shows off

a bit of family history through a collage of photographs covering over hundred years of history, that was dug out from the family archives. The first floor has a bar, a gym and a well stocked library which houses books, particularly read by Shreeya’s younger brother Sharan who is right now at the Rishi Valley School. The home theatre room is a nice piece of work and has comfortable leather seats facing a large screen. The little open terrace is also used for performing ‘havans’ at home. The entire house looks rectangular in spite of the site being in the shape of a trapezium for Shama has intelligently

Photographs: Muralidharan

placed the dogs’ kennels, services and quarters for the household help in the offset. The colours are pastels, brown and a little bit of red to add spice on the walls which also feature eclectic art collected by the family over the years. “We used wooden flooring and it is really easy to maintain. Our family loves nature and therefore we used fly ash bricks and metal windows in order to conserve wood. LED lights are in place to help us save energy. We have put up an efficient rain water harvesting system too,” adds a gleaming Sreesh. On going through the house in a relaxed manner coupled with the thoughtful insights offered by Sreesh and Shama one can realise that the very American looking home has a true Indian tradition within. This family has really added to the architectural diversity of Cosmopolis Coimbatore. www.ritzmagazine.in SEPTEMBER 2015 RITZ

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Thai

What can be more comforting than piping hot soup, dim sum and good company on rainy afternoons? While for some, home is a magic haven for all seasons, we decided to step out and head towards Kondapur where the newest addition to Hyderabad’s foodscape, Tim Tai, is located Text: Deeksha Marur

Photographs: Santosh Kumar

FOODIES INC.

High on

HYDERABAD

t an accessible location, especially for the corporates, this quirky deli is pretty much always brimming with people. The earthy brown signage of Tim Tai, the glass wall covered with a picture of cherry blossom, cute mini planters on shelves, green sofas, floral upholstery and bright yellow tables give the place a warm, fresh and friendly vibe. Guess that’s where the theory of Tim - the keeper of tradition and Tai - the enforcer of the new, comes into being. As we are escorted to a table around a tree, we are handed three menu cards. One for mocktails - a bright yellow, one for their special dim sum in white, and the starters

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and a turquoise main course menu. All three menus not only show off the USP of the restaurant but also spoil you for choice. Going by the manager’s suggestions, from the mocktail menu, we ordered Tim’s No. 1 and a Peach Iced Tea. The former is made with tomato juice, freshly sliced ginger and peach - a unique and interesting take on the well known Virgin Mary. We follow this up with a sweet corn chicken soup to warm our systems for the gastronomical journey we are about to take. For starters are Chicken and Water Chestnut Sui Mai dim sums, a portion of banana leaf wrapped fish with Balinese spices and Drums of Heaven, Hong Kong style. Individually, each starter has its own interesting flavours,

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but what we enjoy the most is pairing the banana leaf wrapped fish with Balinese spices with the Tim’s No 1. For anyone who loves their spices, the fish might seem a bit bland but a sip of Tim’s No. 1 followed by a bite of the fish should do the trick. The ginger, peach and tomato flavour mixed with Balinese spices is perfect and makes the fish more enjoyable. By the time it comes to the main course, we are half way to the last stop of our food journey, but give in when the manager suggests we try a house special. The Tim Tai special chilli coriander noodles - a mix of crispy and soft noodles to be eaten as is, without any curry on the side, is the second best item of the evening with the right spice and the right flavours. The best part, especially for those with a sweet tooth comes post dinner. Sticking to the house special, we order ourselves a portion of Water Chestnut Rubies with Coconut Milk. The rose-flavoured water chestnut rubies complement the sweet coconut milk making for a perfectly sweet evening to end on a sweeter note. While departing though, we are given tiny bits of white chocolate paan paan covered with white chocolate. Trust us when we say, that this can convert someone who doesn’t like paan, to loving it almost instantaneously! Tim Tai is at: Ground Floor & 1st Floor, Stone Ridge Centre, Opposite Google, Kondapur, Hyderabad. +91 9964878000 +91 40 6588 6262

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