RITZ May 2013 Issue

SOUTH INDIA'S PREMIER UBER LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

MAY 2013

`40

VOL 9 ISSUE 10

India’s Million Dollar Writer: Amish Tripathi unplugged

Uber Living: Movers and shakers of South India and their abiding love of horses

Plus upto-the-minute fashion news, new columns and a whole lot more

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

I recommend to each of you, a scoop of ice cream everyday. I do. I am not joking. I have recently become passionately aware of the joys of ice cream and well, all other kinds of vegetarian food. I have even stopped eating eggs as I felt that it involved cruelty to the hens which often suffer from cage burn, among other problems due to their continuous confinement in tiny cages. The pleasure of vegetarian food is surpassed only by the joy of dipping into scoop after scoop of fine ice cream (eggless in my case), regardless of the damage it wreaks on the waistline. Here’s to a summer of eating and ice creams!

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MAY 2013

INSIDE 12 26 32 40 42 48 66 72 78

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MAY 2013

BUZZIN’

We’re buzzin’ about all that’s new this month

GLAM BRIGADE

Sophisticates, fashionistas, socialites… find them all in our pages

SNAPPED

We came, we saw, we captured…

UBER

Gastronomic adventures, anyone? Travel with your appetite in tow, as Chindi Varadarajulu recounts her fascinating culinary voyages

UBER LIVING

Movers and shakers across South India display an abiding love of horses. We tell you more.

HAUTE STUFF

Metallic magic is sure scorching the global ramp. Check out the story of Nawazuddin Siddiqi, designers Manish Tripathi, Pankaj and Nidhi and entrepreneur-star wife Zarine Khan, while you travel around on a shopping spree with Valentino, Cobblerz and Virtues.

PERSONALITY

India’s Million Dollar Writer: Amish Tripathi unplugged.

HAWK EYE

There’s a lot we need to know about the Sri Lankan crisis.

We attempt to bring you reveal as much as we can.

OVER A CUPPA Meet furniture designer Sneha Vinu.

80 82 86 90

TAKE OFF

Gorgeous Gujarat: We tell you why Amitabh Bachchan got it right!

INDULGE

We pick an engrossing book, two German films and also catch up with the band Jhanu

MAINCOURSE

Whet your appetite at Dakshin and Limelight this month!

THE RITZ READER Rana Dagubatti on his idea of luxury.

EDITOR & PUBLISHER ARUNA R KRISHNAN EDITORIAL CO-ORDINATORS KIRTHI JAYAKUMAR & MAUREEN FERNANDO CONTRIBUTING WRITERS CHINDI VARADARAJULU, KIRTHI JAYAKUMAR, MINAL KHONA, POORNIMA MAKARAM, RADHIKA RAJAMANI, RICHA TILOKANI, URMILLA PULLAT, VIRA SHAH GUEST COLUMNISTS SHARAN APPARAO COVER & PERSONALITY PHOTOGRAPHY KARTHIK SRINIVASAN DESIGN PURPLE MANGO CREATIVE SOLUTIONS MARKETING MANAGER PRAVEEN KUMAR M MANAGER- CLIENT SERVICE ANJANA B NAIR SENIOR MEDIA EXECUTIVE – FILM PROMOTIONS SANJAY.G FEATURES PHOTOGRAPHER ARUL RAJ EVENT PHOTOGRAPHER, CHENNAI M.GURUNATH PRABHU EVENT PHOTOGRAPHER, HYDERABAD SYED ALIMUDDIN

To advertise in RITZ, call Praveen Kumar on 9841973090 / 044 42113871 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 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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MAY 2013

BUZZIN’ Mad over Donuts gets you Mad over Cookies Head to the Crème de la Cookie festival at Mad over Donuts, where you get to enjoy favourite cookies and cream combinations. With Oreos infused in donuts, and other of delicious picks that include Cookie ‘n’ Crème Delight, Cookie Crush, Twilight and Dark Knight, the limitedtime-only offer will leave you breathless for more!

Head to 142, Phoenix Market City Velachery Main Rd, Velachery, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600042

Mango Mania The Mango Festival at Khandani Rajdhani is finally here, ringing in the true taste of summer that all of India loves and is familiar with. Prepared with the finest handpicked mangoes, the delectable dishes at Rajdhani include Aam ki lunjee, Fajeto, Gor keri and Mango dal dhokli amongst others.

Head to the nearest Rajdhani restaurant and relish the finest Mango treats ever!

Head to Level - 3, Express Avenue Mall, Whites Road, Royapettah, Chennai – 600014.

Ph: +91 94440 02905

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MAY 2013

FOOD

BUZZIN’

FOOD

Unlimited happiness Revel in the excitement of sports and cheer the spirit of IPL all May at Hyatt Regency, with special packages that include an unlimited supply of beverages and short eats.

Enjoy your favourite games with Stadium style food and ambience starting from ` 1111 all inclusive.

For reservations call Hyatt Regency Chennai at +91 44 61001234

Mulwarra has a little lamb Mulwarra Lamb is premium quality fresh Australian range fed lamb and milk fed lamb sourced from the prime lamb production areas of South Eastern Australia. Mulwarra comes to India through Hyatt, and a special lamb festival has been organised at Hyatt Regency Chennai.

Make a beeline to the event and say hello to visiting Chef Mike Tafe, corporate chef from Mulwarra, at Spice Haat, Stix and Focaccia in May.

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MAY 2013

BUZZIN’

Cappa-chino-chino-chino!

To wipe all pre-conceived notions about food and to bring a smile to today’s foodie, Cappuccino, the immensely popular restaurant in the Sheraton Park Hotel and Towers has put together an invigorating lunch program, consisting of soups, salads and desserts. Complimentary meals for mothers are also up for grabs!

For reservations call: +91 44 24994101.

Mangoes, Mother’s day and Magic!

At The Oberoi, Bengaluru, this month there are delectable offerings for the passionate gastronomic adventurist. Indulge your love for mangoes at the alfresco bar, and gift your mother a day of pampering at The Oberoi, by checking into the “Luxury Room” and letting her enjoy a 60-minute therapy at the tranquil spa. Monkey Bar gives you just the reason to step out early on the weekend and reward yourself for the week’s hard work! Now serving up a fresh new approach to the gourmet breakfast, Monkey Bar Weekend Breakfirsts this month are an exciting prospect!

For reservations, call +91 80 2558 5858

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MAY 2013

FOOD

EATING COMES ALIVE! Seared Norwegian Salmon Available fresh every day of the year, Norwegian salmon is delicious and goes well with a range of ingredients – from the crisp greens and vegetables of spring and summer to winter’s hearty grains. It can be prepared almost any way; grilled, raw, cured, baked or seared.

Indeed, few ingredients weather the seasons as well as the Norwegian salmon.

Ready to try it? Head to The Leela Palace Chennai.

Ph: +91 44 3366 1234 On the pocket: `1300/-

Grilled Tenderloin Steak Cordon Bleu

BUZZIN’

A wildfire specialty dish, cordon bleu is from Switzerland, having originated probably around the 1940s. A popular way to prepare Tenderloin cordon bleu is to pierce a hole on the steak, place a thin slice of soft cheese inside, then roll the tenderloin steak onto a bacon strip, and tuck it to retain the bacon with the steak. Next, marinate the cordon bleu with brandy, dijon mustard, thyme, olive oil, garlic and salt and cook on a serrated griddle. Seasonal vegetables and baked mash potatoes are the best accompaniments.

Cordon bleu is served along with Porcini mushroom sauce.

Ready to Try it? Make a beeline to Asiana Hotel, Semmencherry, Chennai - 600 119, Ph: +91 44 674 11 000 On the pocket: `1,100 + taxes per person

MAY 2013

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BUZZIN’

What’s new, doc?

Vira Shah takes you through the eclectic entrants into the market!

Multi-purpose Sea Soul candles These beauties masquerading as candles can also be used as body scrubs, body moisturizers and scrubs. It is a first-of-its-kind product in India. When the candles are burned, the melted pool can be used directly on the skin. These products are 100% natural and free of chemicals and preservatives. The collection comes in three different fragrances, with the tagline Kill me Softly. Sea soul is a range of unique products in which Dead Sea minerals are combined with argan oil liquid gold and plant extracts. The product will be available for sale via A-list spas and salons and through the brand’s website.

G by GUESS creates ‘Fast & Furious 6’ collection The sixth film of the Fast and Furious franchise is set for a mid-May release. Inspired by the movie, Guess has created a limited edition capsule collection for both men and women.

With detailing inspired by motor racing, there are gritty prints, destroyed styles of jackets and graphic print t-shirts for men as well as printed tops, a studded motor jacket and a tan dress for the fairer sex. Accessories include aviator sunglasses embellished caps and a watch to complete the collection and reflect the young, bold and sexy spirit of both names.

Carrera by Jimmy Choo: Capsule collection of eyewear To beat the heat this summer, step out and get a pair of the exclusive capsule collection of sunglasses named Carrera by Jimmy Choo. The collection blends the eyewear expertise and bold attitude of Carrera with the style and glamour that Jimmy Choo epitomises.

The result is a range of unique models combining high performance in a fashion forward aesthetic. Don’t miss this uber chic summer fashion accessory.

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MAY 2013

BUZZIN’

SHOPPING

Brass Tacks celebrates summer with a collection designed for women who straddle the demands of work and family life. Fun, humour, colours and patterns with playful abandon are all what this collection is about. The pieces have an interesting and unusual pairing of serious silhouettes that are versatile, but tailored in fabrics that are youthful and adventurous. The workwear line includes the Neem Shirt, the Belted Wide Hem Trouser, the Relaxed 301, Skinny Definition, Definition and the Secret Garden II, among a range of other beautiful outfits.

This summer, the Venice Shopper bag from Ritu Kumar has got fashionnistas raving. Multi-coloured with nickel silver finishes and tonal polyester lining, the Venice Shopper bag does make an impression. Also check out other bags from Ritu Kumar in rainbow of colours ranging from classic blacks and summery yellows to shimmery silvers and eternal pastels, in signature elements of plush, sturdy fabrics, assorted hand embroidery and stylish finishing. Available at Ritu Kumar outlets across trhe country.

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MAY 2013

Globus has ushered in the summer in style with summery dresses and kurtis, tops, pants, accessories and lots more, in some fabulous colours like aqua, peach, antique lace, rococo peach and perky pink.

Head to Globus outlets across the country for a dose of summer shimmers!

MAY 2013

BUZZIN’

With monochrome ruling the runway at the moment, it is no surprise that it makes its mark in the United Colors of Benetton’s Spring/Summer 2013 collection. Neutral colours, nuanced fabrics and the subtlety of trompe l’oeil prints that mark the collection have certainly got our thumbs up.

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BUZZIN’

THIS MONTH WE LOVE...

Presenting the third couture collection back on the runway since 2004, Donatella Versace is back and how. This month, we’re all eyes for her fantastic collection this season. Up until recently, the fashion house showcased its atelier collections through intimate presentations or through looks created exclusively for the red carpet. Coming back with élan, this collection has all the quintessential Versace ingredients – sequins, bling and neon, lashings of gold and a smattering of the Eighties with huge shoulders decked in fur. Making a powerful statement indeed, what we love most about this range is its use of bling. Not coming across as a jazzy and jocular rendition of fashion, there is a touch of sophistry in the golden pinstripes and epaulettes that are complemented by Grecian cuffs and ankle length pants. And here’s the best part: everything in the collection has something to take home with references to the architectural inspiration that Versace is best known for. With glossed up tailored details, snaking zips, contoured silhouettes and thick piping set on feminine chiffons and spunky styles, the collection is a clear winner.

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MAY 2013

We have our eyes on the De Beers Aura Collection. Captivating and lustrous thread pavés delicately frame and enhance the solitaire diamond to exude radiant energy.

In shapes that resemble teardrops, roundels and squares, the face of the ring comprises a single stone that is surrounded by a border of littler stones. The clear winner in the collection though, is the pair of teardrop shaped earrings that are called the De Beers Aura Diamond Sleeper earrings.

Each of these white gold sleeper earrings is prong-set, replete with a stunning pear-cut diamond solitaire. A wide selection of colour and clarity grades is available with the total carat weight depending on the centre diamond, plus approximately 0.31carat pavé. The collection includes a beautiful selection of fancy-coloured and fancy-cut diamonds that are simply fabulous!

MAY 2013

BUZZIN’

Donna Karan’s collection that operates in soft focus is totally on our wish list this month. Ballet-shaped and softly shaded, her range this time has only three black dresses to just sign in with business as usual. Showcasing draped and folded dresses which are nipped in at the waist before unfurling towards the knee or downwards, the collection is an amplification of languid ease. The texture speaks for itself, with sheer dresses woven with pearls and macramé, raffia fringing on canvas coats and skirts of crumpled cotton.

The overall picture is of an icy, glazed and shimmery look for the summer.

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GLAM BRIGADE

Women at Westin Aaliyah Bilgrami and Samia Alam Khan hosted the ‘Ladies Day Out’ at the Westin Hyderabad. Attended by select invitees, the evening had some delicious food to ring in good times.

Neelima ilgrami

Aliya B a

Archan

Preeti Rekha Saniya

i

& Swath

Prisha

Samia Alam Khan

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MAY 2013

Sirisha

Shalini Badruka

Radhika

Masaba’s magic Satya Paul, one of India’s most iconic fashion brands, recently announced the appointment of designer Masaba Gupta as Fashion Director of the brand. In line with this announcement, Masaba flew down to present to Chennaiites, her debut collection for Satya Paul, which was premiered at the Wills Lifestyle India fashion week. The wine and cheese do was graced by Khushboo Sundar as the guest of honour.

Neelima ilgrami

Aliya B

Vasundhra & Ishani

Vidya Singh

Phillippe

Khushboo

All for style Evoluzione unveiled the fabulous Spring Summer 2013 collection of designer Sabyasachi, at their store in Khader Nawaz Khan Road, Chennai. The occasion spelt style and elegance, with the clientele expressing their awe of Sabyasachi and his designs.

a & Isha

Sadhan kherjee

Anitha

Tina & Sabyasachi

Asha & Neha

Pooja

Nandita

MAY 2013

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GLAM BRIGADE

achi Mu

Sabyas

GLAM BRIGADE

A launch from the boardwalk The Ramada, Egmore was officially launched last month. Ringing in the advent of Wyndham’s first operational Ramada property in Chennai, the evening brought the who’s who of the city together.

ikumar

K.S.Rav ra

Alexand

Uma

Prabhu

Amelie & Sashi

Divyadharshini

Rishita & her gang of friends

An evening at Eshanya Manjula Narsa and her daughter Rishita hosted a fun party at their residence to celebrate their birthdays together at their beautiful residence, Eshanya, in the Banjara Hills. With near and dear ones making the day fun, it was a memorable occasion for the mother and daughter.

Ajitha Reddy & Meher

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MAY 2013

Manjula & Farzana

Meenakshi & Shilpa

Sharan & Gurleen

Nothing like Neeras!

Sadhna Srinivasan’s Neeras Design Studio has ofďŹ cially come into designspace. A fully- equipped interior design studio to decorate your home, Neeras works closely with some of the worldrenowned interior brands such as Fendi Casa, Poliform, BnB Italia, Linget Roset, Cassina and Veranna Kitchens among the others to provide great interior design solutions.

Rachna allikal

Dipika P

Manju eena

nd Reg

Murali a Manoj ar

Sherene

Sadhana

Nanditha and Vikram

Ramya

MAY 2013

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GLAM BRIGADE

nif Satt

bu & Ha

Chiti Ba

GLAM BRIGADE And that will be your crowning glory!

Hotel Manohara in Hyderabad was agog with excitement as the ofďŹ cial event selecting contestants for the Miss and Mrs Gujarati event unfolded.

With Bina Mehta helming the event as the Chief Guest, it was an evening that was well attended by the socialites of Hyderabad.

Disha Dimple

Shah

Anika

Neha Krupali

atha

& Narm

Esha ehta

Bina M

Vishali

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MAY 2013

Urvashi

Kajol

Palak

Shoba & Milee

For the upper crust Akritti, a well known women’s organisation in Hyderabad, organised Akriti Elite, an Ugadi special exhibition and sale at Taj Deccan. The sale brought many Hyderabad ladies together for the fantastic display!

i

Roshin Namrata

Suchitra

Shilpa & Lavanya

Namita Singhvi

Manisha

Unfurling Furla!

Italian accessories behemoth Furla recently forayed into Chennai through Luxxe Box at Express Avenue Mall. The launch took place at the store last month.

z

Mumta eepak

Vimmi D ha

Simar

Saira

Pooja Malhotra

Namrata

MAY 2013

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GLAM BRIGADE

Anurad

SNAPPED

Unveiling a new collection with a new face

NAC Jewellers introduced their newest brand ambassador, Trisha Krishnan in an evening of glitz and glamour. The actress graced the occasion while featuring the 2013 line of premium jewellery at the ITC Grand Chola. She shone, truly, as the jewel in the NAC crown!

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MAY 2013

SNAPPED

Handle with Care The documentary film, “Handle with Care”,

by Aalim Zaveri was launched last month, with the GHMC Mayor and celebrities gracing the occasion at the LV Prasad Eye Institute, Banjara Hills.

TAGging along!

TAG Heuer inaugurated its newest boutique at the Phoenix Market City, Chennai. Brand Ambassador, racer Karun Chandhok, along with Franck Dardenne, General Manager of TAG Heuer India unveiled the latest Aquaracer 500 M Series.

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MAY 2013

SNAPPED

Fashion fiesta

The Raintree, Anna Salai held the “Art Quest”, an Art Interactive Participatory Weekend, conceptualised by Apparao Galleries. Celebrating art in the way it ideally should be: through discussion, engagement and interaction, the event was one of a kind!

A quest for art

Roaring like the kings!

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MAY 2013

The Kerastase fashion show featuring the latest in hair fashion marked the launch of Page 3 Salon on Chamiers Road. With the best in the market for hair care and style, the salon is definitely to watch out for!

As the IPL fever is on its rise, the Chennai Super Kings held the formal unveiling of their new range of merchandise and the first ever exclusive cricket gear for IPL 6 at the Park Sheraton, Chennai. The event had everyone up on their toes with energetic abandon.

ADVERTORIAL

Spreading its roots Brown Tree is all about spreading its roots far and wide. We tell you more about what’s new this time around!

Having opened its thirteenth store in the city in April, Brown Tree is certainly expanding in style. The new outlet was formally inaugurated by Inspector General, Abash Kumar, as Mr. Sakthivelu, Inspector General and Dr. Sandeep Murali lit the lamp, ushering in auspicious wishes for a new beginning. Making the ďŹ rst purchase, Dr. Harish L. Mehta, the Chairman of the Indian Red Cross Society signalled the formal birth of the new store with the tolling of the cash registers. The event brought together a selection of respected personalities. Truly a healthy, wealthy and wise beginning!

The new store now open at No 23, Venkatnarayana Road, T nagar, Ph: 91 44 4555 8344 / 8244

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The jewel

in the crown

NAC Jewellers has a new brand ambassador. Read on to know more about the jewel in its crown.

Commenting on this redefining moment, Mr Anantha Padmanabhan, Managing Director, NAC Jewellers said, “Buoyed by customer patronage and demand, the brand is now poised to expand on a large scale. In the next 2 years, we plan to grow bigger in the retailing format. We will be expanding with over 50+ stores enabling quick and easy shopping with us. As a leading brand,

we are on our way to becoming a 1000-crore company in the next couple of years. NAC is an aspirational brand and so we wanted to partner with someone who shares similar values.”

A lover of beautiful jewellery, Trisha helms brand ambassadorship of the NAC house as not only a beautiful face, but also a fan of their designs and craftsmanship.

NAC’s store in T Nagar will be at the heart of the shopper’s paradise in Chennai. Head to NAC Jewellers’ new showroom at New No. 20/Old No. 156, North Usman Road, T. Nagar, to witness a grand showcasing of exclusive sections earmarked for gold, diamond, platinum and jewellery embellished with myriad precious stones, along with plenty of gift articles.

A separate floor will be dedicated to the recently launched Young Ones jewellery range, not just for infants but kids upto 12 years of age.

MAY 2013

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ADVERTORIAL

NAC Jewellers is a renowned brand, trusted by generations of jewellery shoppers and revered for its stellar quality of pure gold, silver, and diamond jewellery.

With all-round excellence in design and fantastic jewellery to its credit, NAC has now secured the crown jewel: A-list actress Trisha Krishnan, as its official brand ambassador. The new name of NAC’s promotional and advertising campaigns, Trisha will be the brand’s face to the masses. The brand has also recently launched their next store in T Nagar’s North Usman Road. The sprawling store is set to offer many more of the amazing jewels that NAC is famous for.

UBER

The brain behind L’attitude 49, Chindi Varadarajulu doesn’t just cook great food, but is also a true lover of food as an art. She talks to us about the fantastic world of culinary voyages.

Of course food is an integral part of any tour, but with culinary tour it becomes the focal point. Cooking demos, eating, early morning trips to markets, eating, hanging out with fishermen and checking out their wares, eating, temple trips and cultural experiences, eating, hikes through rolling tea hills, eating…. you get my point?

Having grown up in Singapore to South Indian parents, I was steeped in a host of cultures and cuisine. When I chose Vancouver, Canada as my next home, I again was in a melting pot of cultures.

But alas, there were no South Indian restaurants. So I took it up upon myself and opened the first South Indian restaurant in Vancouver in 2003. Vancouverites had no clue about South India or its cuisine. I found myself not only being a restaurateur but even some sort of a protagonist of South India, her culture and food. I went in to work every day and had so many stories to tell and recipes to share.

Then I got an idea: why just regale them with stories, why not bring them on a culinary journey through South India?

I packed my apron in a suitcase and set out with a bunch of wide-eyed, hungry, foodie travellers to embark on a journey

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that was going to be the start of many beautiful journeys.

I worked with a very competent tour operator Travel Xs (formerly known as Hitours South India.) Together we designed a unique itinerary, through cities and towns, hills and plains, bustling villages and remote pockets of civilisations, ancient temples and idyllic churches. We created an itinerary around food, culture and the rich history of our stunning Dravidian heritage. We visited both touristy spots and undiscovered places where so much adventure and knowledge awaited us.

We had cooking demos conducted by well-known chefs in fancy kitchens, or out in the garden or by the poolside.

We went on trips to spice farms, tea plantations and busy fruit and vegetable markets. We hung out with fishermen and then went to their homes to see their womenfolk cook food that made us drool. We would just as easily eat at glitzy 5-star establishments and at family run homestays. We would go to famous restaurants or eat at hole-in-the-wall joints that were recommended by either our driver or tour guide.

Driving by the vast, lush green rice fields, was another wondrous experience for me, as was driving under canopies of tamarind trees. We always stopped to lasso some pods and sucked on the eye-crinkling sour pulp and often stopped on the highways to buy cashews. I was fascinated by spice farms from the moment I first walked into one. I even told myself that if I ever changed my profession I would become a spice farmer. I always thought that allspice was just that, a combination of a few spices to make allspice but was surprised to learn that it was actually a tree that got its

name because it combined the flavour of cinnamon, clove and nutmeg. I never knew that cloves are actually flower buds and are green, then red. The dried buds are the cloves that we use!

Another memorable moment was when we went on a hike in Ooty and saw this sweet old lady making ragi rotis. While her daughter hand-milled the grain, the lady prepared the dough and made the roti on a fire outside. It tasted divine. We have also seen certain tribes cook on an open fire.

They would use the hollow stems of the bamboo to stuff the food inside and then put the whole bamboo over the fire. It was the Indian way of smoking food. Brilliant!

The tea plantations were always our favourite as well, not to mention a photographer’s haven. I have tried my hand at plucking tea leaves. Did you know that you are only supposed to pluck the top 1-2 inches of the new leaves? After trying to keep up with this lady who surely put me to shame, I gave up and joined the local little league cricket team and had my first game of cricket. I was so bad at it but was a favourite with my young teammates and got whistles and cheers every time I batted and missed the balls.

We have crashed weddings, sat on the sides of cliffs and had the best parathas and tea, visited the most beautiful temples and watched baby elephants have their baths in an elephant orphanage. We have walked in villages holding the little hands of sweet brighteyed kids with huge grins who practised their English with us, visited their schools and seen the love and dedication on the teachers’ faces, seen families just living in makeshift homes and witnessed first hand how they lived and ate so simply, watched the rather naturally organic practices of little farmers. And the food!

Promising a burst of myriad flavours, it is no wonder that South Indian food is my favourite.

Not only did I learn so much myself, my guests too always took so much more home with them. We always told them that by the time they went back home they would be able to cook a South Indian meal. And they did. At the end of every journey, as sad as I was that it was ending, my heart would swell with pride to see the love and appreciation that my fellow travellers had for my Motherland. Needless to say their belts had to be loosened from all the eating!

MAY 2013

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UBER

Personally, my favourite meals would always be the banana leaf service at humble places like the Mamalla Heritage in Mamallapuram where they did complete justice to South Indian food and the everfamous South Indian hospitality. The crew on the houseboats with their tiny little kitchens always had a sumptuous meal for us as well. There was this one time when we were even serenaded by a member of the crew on the boats and he was singing a beautiful song in Malayalam that none of us understood. But under the moonlight, moored to a coconut tree and having delicious dinner, we truly felt transported to a magical land.

UBER LIVING

Of horses and hobbies 42

MAY 2013

UBER LIVING

Jacqueline Kapur

Horses have a charm, a tough yet digniďŹ ed grace to them. Time-tested companions for mankind – whether in its ability to transport humankind, or in the aesthetic indulgences it affords to man, horses have been man’s unnamed best friend.

MAY 2013

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UBER LIVING Samuel Johnson famously said ‘A fly, Sir, may sting a stately horse and make him wince; but, one is but an insect, and the other is a horse still’. This month, we speak to a range of riding enthusiasts and horse lovers, as they take us through beautiful stories of unconditional love and passion for horses.

Bengaluru’s ‘Bys and Bridles’ The movers and riders of Bengaluru at the ‘course’ and outside have plenty to share about their love for horses. Rajkumari Meenakshi Devi, of the royal family of Mysore, who used to be an enthusiastic rider herself, until a heart condition stopped her from continuing her passion, instead did the next best thing she could.

She opened a riding school at the heart of the city in the Palace grounds at Bengaluru, which is known as the Princess Academy of Equitation. The school holds courses in basic riding as well as allows people to ride the horses regularly. She takes a personal interest in the school as well as the stable.

She says, “Horse riding is not for everyone.

A person needs the right attitude and temperament to be able to ride and handle a horse. The coaches at my school teach people that horses ought to be handled very gently, and certainly don’t need to be whipped and beaten into submission.

My horses are all Indian breeds and they are not difficult to ride unlike racehorses.

We do organise some weekend riding on occasion at the outskirts near Nandi Hills but riding in the open requires a lot of skill as well as knowing how to handle them without galloping them.”

Racing enthusiast Nandini Basappa, whose father owned racehorses when she was a youngster, got together with her friends and just for a lark, formed a woman’s syndicate. This syndicate bought racehorses, trained them and raced them.

Nandini says, “It was an exciting and fun hobby we had. Along with some friends like Jean Saldanha, Vandana Virvani, Vilu Patel, Indira Basappa, Deepa Sawhney and some others, all of us decided to invest in race horses. We had a wellknown woman jockey Sylva Storai who used to race our horses on the circuit.”

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She explains, “We approached the stud farms for good breeds of horses. We had Stromboli which we bought for four lakhs and La Bella Vita which we bought from the Nanoli stud farm at Pune for two lakhs and then there was Prospero. La Bella did the best at the course – she raced at the highest levels. We did not win very many big races, but we did have fun going to the course as owners, meeting up with the jockeys, posing for pictures with the winners and such things. The running of the stable and the training is left to the trainers, who are all very highly skilled at handling racehorses. My estimate is that it takes around thirteen thousand rupees per month to maintain a horse at the basic level and could go higher from there.”

Nandini’s daughter Hrishika Basappa, a passionate lover of horses, is a regular on the Equestrian circuit. She started riding as a little girl of twelve at the famous Embassy Riding School and took to the sport like a duck to water. She has been a rider for about fifteen years and has participated in equestrian events at the national and international level. She has her own horse Oligardo who is a retired racehorse and she has retrained him for show jumping which is a very demanding art that requires skill, flair, guts and precision, as a small mistake can cost the rider a horse or even a bad fall. She says, “Riding is really calming. I love horses and I ride because I enjoy it and it gives me peace of mind while taking my mind off the daily routine. Plus, it is a wonderful workout as it strengthens the back and legs. Of course, it goes without saying that riding requires balance, rhythm and strength, and you are trying to control a sturdy living animal by sheer will and skill.

You need to build a partnership with the horse – a relationship, if you will. The best thing to do is to learn riding when you are really young since you are gutsier at that age and less prone to fear.”

Former jockey and riding coach, Phillip Woods, joined up the Apprentice school at Chennai in his teens and became a professional – he had never been on a horse before that in his life! He stayed on the racing circuit for a whopping thirty eight years, doing a part of his stint at the Middle East, which has a very competitive course, before retiring and taking up

coaching beginners to ride horses. His life has been an interesting mix of wins and losses, excitement on the track and all the sweat and blood that goes with being a professional jockey. He says, “Racing horses is a risky sport and comes with its own share of pitfalls. One small lapse of concentration could cause you to fall off your horse and even break your limbs or your head. It is not all glamour like it is made out to be. It requires you to have a very steady lifestyle and watch your weight at all times. It is also a lot of dedication, discipline and hard work. Small mistakes can snowball into major problems and of course, the stakes involved are really high.”

Woods sees newcomers who get on horses to learn, and want to instantly master the art. He says, “You cannot be a weekend rider and hope to be good at it. One needs to work at it, perhaps more than any other skill that you would learn. Forming a bond with the animal and working on your balance takes time and people do not have time to give to any one thing anymore. When you fall of a horse just get back on immediately – the longer you leave it, the more likely you are never to get back on. And once you learn it, the thrill of it keeps you coming back.”

Chennai’s ‘Chestnuts and Canters’ Nobility without conceit, friendship without envy and beauty without vanity – that is how Madras Riding School (MRS) President NV Ravi describes a horse. “A horse’s beauty and nobility are unparalleled. I have been riding for the past 40 years and I am still amazed by their grace and intelligence,” says Ravi, an architect by profession and a rider by passion. MRS is the oldest and the only riding club in Chennai to offer facilities like leisure riding, jumping and Polo. “We are lucky our Chairman MAM Ramaswamy has given us place to run the school and the horses, so we can offer various equestrian sports here,” shares Ravi.

The major equestrian sports are dressage and show jumping. “Dressage is very interesting because it involves the horse and the rider performing pre-determined exercises in the arena. Show jumping

Ravi, President, Madras Riding School

It may sound and look simple but equine shows require years of practice and perfect communication between the rider and the horse. If that is missing, a horse may stop suddenly or even throw its rider.

But falling is a rite of passage, which all

riders go through. Says longtime rider Pavithra Kishore, “Riders need to accept falls as a part and parcel of riding. Most riders do get used to them and lose count eventually. We have a riding treat at the Madras Riding School where the falling person has to treat everyone else.

This makes it a fun thing for everyone to look forward to.” Both of Pavithra’s daughters are good riders and participate in equestrian sports.

Michelle also shares her “fall” story, “It happened with Buster who I rode at Meredith Manor in USA. I rode him the first day with success. The second day, he set off and I was sent flying through the air. As a result, I sprained my ankle and became fearful. But he gave me the challenge to manage my fear and to use it for good, rather than letting it conquer me.” Her second fall was from Desert Phantom at

MRS in Chennai. But she never let it stop her from riding.

However if it is a rebellious horse you are facing, it is best to let the experts handle it. Advises Anita, instructor and stable manager at MRS, “Horses are very sensitive and smart. They can gauge our emotions very well. So don’t engage in a battle of wits with them. First, check your behaviour and see if you are triggering its bad mood. Second, check if it is a psychological problem based on the horse’s past. Either way, we treat them with great tact, patience and experience.”

MRS has about 30 horses at present and a lot of care and attention is lavished on them. “We take very good care of our horses. We ensure their paddock is cool, shady and dry. We keep them wellgroomed by regularly brushing their coats,

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UBER LIVING

is also exciting as it involves the horse performing various jumps, with the rider and the horse working as a single unit,” says Jacqueline Kapur, riding enthusiast and owner of many horses. “There are other equestrian sports like reining, cutting, 3-Day eventing, vaulting and driving,” says Michelle Wellmen, a professional equestrian from the USA who trains horses and ponies. “From the shows I did in USA, 3-day-eventing was the best because it combined dressage, show jumping, and cross country which is jumping over solid obstacles like tree logs, benches and in and out of water,” she adds.

UBER LIVING

Madras Riding School - Hichem Osman

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Chaitania’s love for the graceful animal is obvious as he questions the caretakers about each of them standing in the stables. Since the riding club has members who often have their own horses, I ask him how the patrons at the club handle their horses. He says, “From my experience patrons at our club handle their horses very well and are very caring towards them.”

keeping the mane glossy and the tail clean.

We remove the stones from the hooves regularly as they are on foot throughout the day. We also bathe them twice a day, which keeps them cool,” shares Anita.

Good nutrition is also very important for the horses’ health. On an average, they are fed three times a day: breakfast at 8:30 am, lunch at 12:30 pm and dinner at 6: 30 pm. Their food consists of oats, bran, barley, glucose, supplements and carrots.

Fresh grass is also provided separately.

In spite of the good care, horses do get injured all the time. “But horses have amazing recuperative abilities, so it is only a matter of time before they are back on their feet,” says Anita.

Regular exercising also speeds up recovery and prevents injuries. So horses are made to do a lot of exercises – both physical and mental. First they are made to relax completely. Then trainers work on developing their rhythm. Later they are made to exercise and stretch different muscles, making them supple and strong with the right movements. At the higher end, horses are trained to perform, run and jump for equestrian events.

It is a common misconception that equine sports are for the rich only. Indeed a horse is very expensive to buy and maintain.

Shares Jacqueline, “A thoroughbred can cost between ` 30,000 to 50,000.

However special racehorses from Europe can go up to a million dollars (around 5 crores of rupees). Plus there are food and maintenance costs which can go up to ` 15000 per month.”

But you don’t need to own a horse to start riding or to participate in equestrian sports.

You can just join a good riding school instead. Remember, the more you ride the better you will become. So go ahead and enjoy the fun and privilege of horse riding.

Hyderabad’s ‘Hackamores and Halters’ Chaitania Kumar is a Hyderabad-based businessman who has loved horses ever since he was a child. He has even set up a riding school on the city’s outskirts and is a leading polo player for the Hyderabad Polo team. He recalls his initial experiences while learning to ride a horse.

He says, “Horse riding is an extreme physical activity and the major difference from other sports is that you are interacting with an animal which has its own mind and mannerisms. One has to understand these hence lots of patience is needed to learn horse riding and understand horses. One of my first horses which was called Phantom, bucked me off many years ago and I realised later that he was behaving badly since a fly was troubling him.”

As with other pets, age and injury affects horses too. Sadly, a key injury can render the horse unfit. “When a horse is injured while racing or during its racing days, a vet evaluates the fitness of the horse.

If it is found unfit to race then they are sold to horse enthusiasts who buy them for various sporting and leisure activities depending on the type of the horse. Some take them for just riding around in their farms and some for equestrian sports like show jumping, dressage and polo.”

Whatever the activity, horses have to be exercises regularly, and the exercise regimen varies depending on the type, build etc.

Chaitania is very active in polo but has also participated in competitions like dressage and show jumping. He recalls, “I have participated in many show jumping competitions as a youngster and I won a gold medal in the junior show jumping competition at the national equestrian police meet. From then on I learnt polo and started playing the game all over India. I have won many trophies, the most prestigious of them being the India Open.”

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Michelle Wellmen

Owners like to spoil their horses too, and often pamper their horses with carrots, sugar cubes, and apples. “They regularly come and groom their horses and ride them,” he says. But there are times when an owner or trainer can get carried away and push the horse to its limit, which can adversely affect the horse. “Horses which are trained polo ponies are pushed to go through extreme physical training so that they can participate in the highly competitive sport… But for regular riding, it is important to know the limitations of the horse that you own and accordingly include an activity that suits him. Hence it is important to consult an expert or a vet before buying a horse.”

HAUTE STUFF

Scorching up the ramp this summer

The sweltering summer is well and truly on us, with rising temperatures threatening to leave us in a puddle of sweat!

Wearing light and breathable fabrics seems the only way to go, and Vira Shah shows you how to do it with style! If you’re looking at chiffon, pick out sheer ones which look chic while staying breezy with their airy lightness.

Lace and tulle offer you delicate ventilation, while crochet gives you a completely different style while keeping you cool.

Sheer is the deal this season: as different tones and textures keep you light while showing some skin! Shun the conservative and go risque and romantic!

Giorgio Armani Spring Summer 2013

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Wendell Rodricks Spring Summer 2013

Arjun Saluja Spring Summer 2013

Giambattista Valli Spring Summer 2013

Moschino Spring Summer 2013

Blumarine Spring Summer 2013

Erdem Spring Summer 2013

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Anna Hathaway in Giambattista Valli at the Screen Actors Guild Awards 2013

Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna Spring Summer 2013

Nicole Kidman in Vera Wang at the Grammy Awards 2013

Ileana D’Cruz in Tarun Tahiliani at the Marrakech Film Festival

Nupur Kanoi Spring Summer 2013

Kirsten Stewart in Gucci at the Oscars 2013

HAUTE STUFF

Crochet dress by Moschino Cheap and Chic

Sleeveless flared top by Shift by Nimish Shah

Lace bodysuit by Forever New

Sheer top by MunKee see munKee do

Burn out t-shirt by Mango

Eyelet lace trousers

by Chemistry

Pale yellow eyelet cut shorts

by PEPE jeans

Mesh paneled swimsuit

by Beth Richards

Crochet tank top

by ROXY

Wired peep toe pumps

by Jimmy Choo

Metal stud cuff

by Valentino

Lace espadrilles by Valentino Crystallized bracelet

by MIssonI

PVC and mirrored heel

by Micheal Kors

Jewelled Flap pouch

by Shourouk

Aqua Globe Neon Perspex clutch by Kotur

Lattice patterned cuff by AURÉLIE BIDERMANN

Half and half jeweled neckpiece by Dior

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‘Miss Escape’ shopper and shoulder bag by Dolce&Gabbana

HAUTE STUFF

SMALL

TOWN,

BIG DREAMS Nawazuddin Siddiqui is the one who took the road less travelled and managed to not be blinded by the arc lights. In this disarmingly honest chat with us, he reveals how he struggled and went from having no money to now owning a Gucci tuxedo.

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In 1999, Nawaz did a blink-and-miss role in the Aamir Khan starrer Sarfarosh, and then it was a struggle for 12 years when he got rejected for TV serials. “I decided to do one minute and even 30-second roles, to make ends meet,” he confides.

But things did change, and fate played its hand, when Nawaz met Anurag Kashyap while shooting a 30-second role for Shool where he played a waiter. Anurag promised

Nawaz a meaty role and that’s when Black Friday came along. “I was appreciated for my performance, though I do feel that luck has played no role in my life, only hard work. I am not good looking, like the typical star sons. I had no godfather or no rich dad to support me. People told me I looked like a peon and would often take me off the line of extras on film sets. Now things have changed in cinema, with alternate filmmakers looking beyond just looks,” he smiles.

Coming to Mumbai, Nawaz quickly realised it is not a place where you can have long-term friends, people come and go in your life based on their convenience and what is advantageous for them. “It is all very predictable. If you are a star and have money, they will all surround you like bees to honey. The minute you face problems, they all vanish,” he adds. Now that his struggling days are over, Nawaz, has been happily married for the last three-and-a-half years to Anjali and has a lovely two-yearold daughter Shora. The couple met during a shoot many years ago and got married when he was still struggling. Naturally, they share a strong bond. “Shora is the light of my life and I will support her in whatever she wants to do, even if her desire is to be an actress. Shora hates it when I disappear

on long shoots, sometimes three months at a time. Anjali has been my support system.

She was also an actress, but has never been ambitious or career-oriented. She is just happy being a mother and wife,” he adds.

Having just completed Lunch Box, and Ketan Mehta’s The Mountain Man, Nawaz is on a roll, but he is clear about the fact that he would like to work with directors who he has a synergy with. “I am what I am due to Anurag, he has been my pillar of support. I like the ideology of young filmmakers who are unfazed by budgetary demands, and are uncompromising on what the kind of cinema they want to create. Shlok Sharma is one of them.

I haven’t had it easy like star sons, so I want to work with people who think independently,” he adds.

Finding it hard to maintain a work-life balance, Nawaz is looking for spirituality.

He wants to run far from the maddening crowd and live alone, meditating on a mountaintop. “Or even a desert: just me and my thoughts. I want my parents to live with me, but they don’t like big city lights.

They prefer the quiet life of our village. My brother stays with me and I intend to fully support him!” he concludes.

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There was a time when Nawazuddin Siddiqui had a red carpet appearance and no designer was willing to dress him up. Today he owns a Gucci suit among several others, and though he does feel they are hugely overpriced, the next big thing in Bollywood boasts of an impressive wardrobe. Growing up in Budhana, Muzzafarnagar, UP among eight other siblings, Nawaz never thought he would be a sought after actor, as his livelihood depended on rearing cattle and working on the fields with his father, a farmer. Till he was 23, Nawaz lived in a town that did not even have proper roads – in an environment that did not encourage education. “I wanted to study and we had no money, so my mother gave her jewellery up for sale for us. It wasn’t easy when I decided to leave home and come to Mumbai to become an actor,” he adds.

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C

reative

caricatures

Manish Tripathi is more than just a designer. He displays a rare understanding of the human form, which may explain why he is also a closet artist who likes to make ‘naughty’ caricatures.

His Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week, AutumnWinter 2013 caricatures - numbering almost 60 - of designers showcasing their creativity on the ramp, were a hit. Here he talks about what makes him tick and why menswear is where you can really experiment…

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I always had a keen inclination towards designing. Joining NIFT, Delhi was a transformation of my dreams into reality.

I got involved in design projects right from the first year. The fast-paced fashion world has always enticed me. Matching steps with it has been a dream and I can safely say I managed well. Fashion is not only related to garments, but is also a lifestyle. Fashion is a creative mode of creating timeless pieces that also reflect societal spirit.

You have designed for many stars and films. Tell us about that…

I got my first movie with K Sera Sera production, Life ki Toh Lag Gayi, starring Ranvir Shorey, Pradhiuman, Jackie Shroff and many others. After that, I got the opportunity to work for the legendary filmmaker KC Bokadia’s film, Dirty Politics, starring Anupam Kher, Ashutosh Rana, Jackie, Sushant Singh, Atul Kulkarni, Om Puri and Rajpal Yadav. I have done costumes for the entire cast of the movie, and was also asked to prepare designs for Mallika Sherawat for the same movie as she was playing the lead. Apart from this,

I have been offered to design the personal wardrobes for these actors as well as the acclaimed filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar.

Since I started designing for Bollywood stars, I have been extremely lucky. The actors and directors I have been associated with were really supportive and helpful.

They were always open to new ideas and welcomed my opinion on outfits, which gave me a lot of strength.

What changes do you see in menswear? What are the autumnwinter 2013 trends? And how have you innovated and added something new for men?

The prominent menswear trends for 2013 are primarily print-oriented. Waistcoats have a significant statement value, especially with quilted, printed and colour blocked waistcoats. The look consists of certain relaxed silhouettes that add a casual tinge to the otherwise dapper man. We are working extensively on the fits for men, since in India the body type varies a lot. We are creating size variants based on Indian sizing, since we follow UK and US sizing. Special patterns have been evolved for people with a paunch.

How many years does it take to make it big and be noticed in the fashion world? What do you need to succeed?

There is no fixed number of years to making it big and being noticed in the fashion world. It is all about having a flourishing talent and a balance of contacts at the right time and place.

You are also an artist, so tell us about your journey and how you started making caricatures.

Even as a school kid I used to draw instant caricatures of my batch-mates and teachers.

My flair for instant sketching just opened up a door for making caricatures on real life issues.

The series of caricatures I made on the CWG issue, are now being exhibited.

Caricatures represent wit and humour and have a satirical proximity to real life.

Naturally, they become a reason to bring a smile to one’s face.

Research is still on for that!

HAUTE STUFF

How did you start designing?

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2’s company

It has been a slow but steady rise to fame for the husband-wife duo of Pankaj and Nidhi. Now there is a new addition to their twosome, baby daughter Lyla, (the name translates in Persian to mean dark-haired beauty). Starting as interns with the maverick Rohit Bal to being appreciated for their ingenuity at the Wills Lifestyle Fashion Week, the creative genius behind the label, Pankaj traces his journey and reveals what a responsibility it is to be a LFW ďŹ nale designer.

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What motivates you everyday?

Is it the love for design or the commercial success?

by appreciating art and craft not just from India, but from places as far away as Japan and Poland and Russia and Africa!

is our first time at the Lakme Fashion Week.

Wills and Lakme play huge roles in churning the fashion business in India.

I think it stems from that indescribable satisfaction and happiness that you get when something you’ve created gets appreciated, and when someone is willing to pay for your work. Then, you go home feeling you must be doing something right.

Commercial success is very important and if it goes hand-in-hand with critical success then you should be able to sleep well.

How much has Rohit Bal influenced your creativity? What’s the biggest lesson you learnt from him?

You are the LFW finale designer.

Is it more of an honour or a huge responsibility?

Nidhi and I started our careers with Rohit.

We met in his office. It was where we honed our skills and fell in love.

I come from an Army background, so discipline was instilled in me right from the beginning. All I can say is that every moment spent with Rohit was educative, whether it was in aesthetics, appreciation of craft, culture, history, life, love and friendship.

It is a bit of both. It is both, a very big honour, and a huge responsibility. But right now we’re just focused on making a nice collection.

India is who we are and it shapes, moulds and nurtures us every step of the way.

How fortunate we are to be born in a country so deep and rich in its heritage and culture! I don’t think striking a balance is something we do consciously, it happens

What makes you tick?

Besides designing?

A love for beautiful things, especially when they’re hand made.

Is it tough working as a couple?

So many fashion weeks: how do you choose which one you want to participate in?

We have showed at Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week for eight seasons now and it

On the contrary, it is an absolute joy and we wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.

What better way to be with the one you love than be on a creative, tumultuous journey 24X7?

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I see a lot of India in your line, in the embroideries and surface ornamentation. How do you strike the right balance?

HAUTE STUFF

As virtuous as virtues

Ahmedabad-based Ashish and Vikrant of the label Virtues have always believed in creating magic by sticking to their roots--from Kalamkari to Bandhini. The duo tell us why it is imperative to work with the languishing craft sector and why their ideal woman would be the Bollywood dreamboat, Sushmita Sen.

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Your theme that dealt with luxe Nawabs and a 17th Century courtesan dipped into history to create something new…

Nawabs and courtesans as well as their lifestyles have been a part of Indian clothing for many centuries. The reason for us showcasing it was to give it modern touch that would blend it in today’s fast-paced world.

What elements did from the past did you contemporise?

Interpreting the lifestyle of Nawabs and courtesans onto clothes was not very easy, but we did it. For instance, we used black-and-white checks to depict the game of chess played during that period. The theme was royal, so we used rich embroidery and gave full-length silhouettes.

Many designers often resort to getting an actress to walk the ramp even though she doesn’t fit into their design philosophy. Comment.

We believe that the true showstoppers are the clothes that are being showcased. They are the stars, the real centre of attention. The models who display them on the ramp do full justice to them – so celebrity showstoppers are not needed at all!

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We had to design keeping in mind their rich, extravagant, flamboyant culture and grandeur, but had to avoid going crazy with the luxury. The goal was to balance it and make it fashion forward.

HAUTE STUFF

How have sparkles changed over a period of time and what are the new additions?

Embellishments in the collection were used keeping in mind the extravagant lifestyle, while also portraying the best craftsmanship at that time, namely, the extensive use of white beads mixed with metal sequins and kangani, lots of applique in velvets, marodi and zardosi work. We gave it a modern twist by using Swarovski crystals.

How have you made your clothes practical and wearable?

We made our clothes more practical and wearable by cutting down on the volume, giving silhouettes a modern look which made the collection more comfortable to wear yet impactful and rich.

How have you catered to the changing tastes of women?

This collection is for the women who believe in themselves. They are confident and yet want to be flamboyant. They celebrate their feminine side, and at the same time understand and respect Indian culture and traditions – a bit like former Miss Universe, Sushmita Sen.

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Is it comfort over fashion for you or the other way around?

The challenge was to interpret the line successfully and give it a new-age look, while keeping it comfortable – easy-towear yet grand. We try to tell a story through our clothes, so that must come through. Our clothes have a strong individuality and make one feel happy after wearing or seeing it. It also compliments or reflects their personality rather than overtaking it.

How would you describe your growth process or evolution?

Our style has evolved slowly and gradually from Indian to fusion. Indian wear was rendered through khadi and cotton then, but now we have added fabrics like chanderi and different kinds of handloom silk, with the use of hand blocks, Kalamkari, Bandhini and of course, vintage finish embroidery, which has become the signature style of our label Virtues.

Age-old dyeing, natural colour dyes, Bandhini, handloom fabrics such as silks, chanderi and khadi, hand block printing and Kalamkari need to be brought back to the catwalk in a big way. Crafts have their own special characteristics, depth and beauty. They are a part of the rich Indian heritage and culture which we can offer to the world.

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Which Indian crafts do you feel need resuscitation?

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The diva speaks

She has been the supportive mother to her three daughters Farah, Simone and Suzanne Roshan and of course, Bollywood dreamboat Zayed. But unlike most bored Bollywood wives, Zarine Khan wanted to do something that didn’t define whose better half she was. So as she dabbled in interior design, designing clothes and jewellery, she couldn’t keep her love for fashion under wraps. That’s how Fizaa, a plush multi-designer store in Mumbai (Sanjay Plaza, Juhu) came about, a dream project that blends a personal passion for fashion with her professional expertise in design.

Not one to play favourites, she likes to try different styles that includes a mix of new and vintage. But not a great follower of bling, she prefers to accessorize her outfits with classy jewellery, designer bags and killer heels. But she does believe that interiors, art and fashion have a common thread. “One should have a keen eye for colour and a flair for designing. I named the store Fizaa, as it is the name of my beautiful granddaughter (Farah Khan

Ali’s child). Besides Fizaa also means atmosphere which seemed appropriate for my store as it is surrounded by positivity and exuberance,” she adds.

Joining hands with Kunika Singh, whom Zarine considers ‘special’, the interiors of Fizaa are done by Zarine. They have clean and straight lines where only the clothes and accessories make a statement.

“I have designed it with minimalism as the central theme. I have been doing interiors for the past three decades, so who could have done a better job than me?’ she laughs. Everything in the store has been personally selected by Zarine, keeping in mind, the look, finish and practicality of the chosen garment. However, the emphasis is on fashion forward styling.

“In Mumbai, Western outfits sell faster as it is a modern city, but during festive and wedding seasons, ethnic wear is the chosen one. I do try to keep most of Fizaa’s garments moderately priced so that our customers keep coming back, every time they need something for a special occasion,” she says. With Suzanne running The Charcoal Project, and Farah busy with her own line of fine jewellery, Zarine does not expect her daughters to contribute to the store in terms of time and energy. “But as we are a closely knit family they are always there for me when I need their support. Since Fizaa is more of a vocation that is guided by the pleasure principle, I will do my best to make it a top store. My solemn promise is to give prominence to greenhorns who need the push to shine,” she concludes.

HAUTE STUFF

Sparkling with chrome and glass with navy blue velvet adding a touch of royalty, Zarine has outdone herself. Among the many feathers in her overflowing cap, she managed to convince the reclusive Adarsh Gill (who designed for Jacqueline Onassis and Uma Thurman) to join in along with Manav Gangwani, Ramona Narang, Ritu Beri and Varun Bahl.

“Fashion has been the love of my life from since I was a teenager, modelling in Mumbai, being the show stopper for the famous Spencer Sisters and Jenny Naoroji. Life moved on, and I got married and had three lovely daughters. I made a conscious decision to take a break from my growing interior designing career.

The next best step was to move into the world of fashion. My store Fizaa, hopes to promote young and talented designers along with established names. Hence, Fizaa has a mix of fabulous clothes, which include western, ethnic and resort wear.

Those who walk into my store always say that Fizaa has good vibes, which I guess makes it different from any another store,” she adds.

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Check out what we’re eyeing this month!

For Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli, design is a comprehensive project, which is why they created an eyewear line that fully expresses the values of the maison.

Check out a few of the trendy styles from the collection of Valentino eyewear.

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The Cobblerz summer collection boasts of an all-new range of open footwear for stylish women including strappy ats, platforms, wedges, peep-toes and formal sandals with acrylic heels. The wedge-sandals in bright colours get our unanimous vote for being effortlessly chic.

HAUTE STUFF

Available across the country in stores like Shoe Tree, Reliance Footprint etc. and online at jabong.com, myntra.com, ipkart.com etc.

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PERSONALITY

The Million Dollar Writer Amish Tripathi speaks to Kirthi Jayakumar on his journey from banker to bestselling writer to India’s ďŹ rst million dollar writer.

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Photography: Karthik Srinivasan

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PERSONALITY

PERSONALITY

A renowned author of bestselling acclaim, Amish has carved a niche for himself in many Indian homes and beyond. He settles down for an interview over a hurried lunch, and takes me through his inspiring story with an air of casual simplicity.

Amish Tripathi was born in 1974 in Bombay (as it was then called) to a religious yet liberal household.

He spent his growing years between Bombay, Orissa and Tamil Nadu, where he schooled as a boarder at Lawrence School, Lovedale, in Ooty.

He enjoyed reading, voraciously devouring book after book. Dabbling a little with sports in the form of boxing and gymnastics, he had a finger in nearly every pie. He wasn’t perhaps creatively inclined in his early years as he is now, but he certainly climbed up the ladder. A time came when in Bombay, the riots and bomb blasts redefined the perception of life that he and his friends shared. Believing that religion was to blame for the anathema and the rifts, he turned an atheist. “Yes, I had turned into an atheist,” admits Tripathi. India had a difficult phase in the late 80s and early 90s, especially the city I grew up in, Bombay. There were a series of religious riots, bomb blasts and the like, and that turned many of us in my circle of friends into atheism as we saw religion as the cause of these fights. My father tried to explain to me that bad people do exist and that religion had nothing to do with it. I still turned an atheist, but came back to faith with my books.”

Tripathi pursued the regular Indian dream – a degree in Business Administration at the prestigious IIM Calcutta. Putting in considerable years in a banking career, he would work long hours, put up fierce fronts amidst hyper competition at office and crunch numbers while throwing complex financial terms about. In the midst of it all, he became a vehicle for the idea that grew in his mind. The Shiva Trilogy was born. Amish Tripathi says, “I resigned a year and a half ago, I am a fulltime writer today!”

The awakening to an idea One evening, Tripathi and his family were watching television together, when he saw that in India, Gods are known as devas and demons, asuras.

In a diametrically opposite way when it came to semantics, the ancient Persians called Gods Ahuras and demons, Daevas. The exact antithesis of what ancient Indians believed! Triggered by a debate of sorts that transpired after the program, Tripathi was

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Developing on the theory, he began working to put his brand of philosophy onto paper.

The journey began with his ideas taking shape as a book of philosophy. However, an element of adventure crept inside when his sister-in-law told him that a novel would be a better idea than a philosophical book.

“I chose to follow the story through Shiva.

The books began as a core philosophical thesis on evil and then morphed into adventure. Who better to be a vehicle to explain the triumph of good over evil, than Shiva?” Amish explains.

Writing from that point on was an exercise of verbalizing what his mind’s eye showed him. Tripathi, who until then had never ever written a story, much less a whole book, began to write eloquently. “I visualise everything I write in my mind first and then put it down. I see everything in my mind like a movie, and then begin to write. I can feel the emotions, I cry and laugh with the characters. Then I put them down, word for word.”

Amish Tripathi’s writing, though often criticised for being too casual, had its own charm. When he began, his Business school experience came in handy. Training, planning and executing the plans with fervent effort, Amish’s attempt was heroic.

At first, it felt like he was getting nowhere, and that the book was disjointed. “There was no flow in the way the plot came to me. Sometimes I saw a flash of something that would be best suited to the third book, sometimes the second book, and then eventually the first book.” As he wrote, his characters bled out of the sketches he had given them. That was when his wife gave him sound advice: of exploring the world of the characters while labouring under the notion that these characters existed, and lived in another world. “The approach to the book was not to be made with the brazenness of a creator; but

instead, to approach it with the respect of a witness.” Stopping his efforts to control the meanderings of the story, Amish opened the floodgates to a literary barrage that was just waiting to be released.

The first fans When Amish had written down his book, there were a few celebrities who came forth to show him their appreciation, the likes of which included Anil Dharker, Prahlad Kakkar and Devdutt Pattanaik. “Their endorsement impressed a publishing agent who decided to represent my book. I thought that things were going well.” Hoping that a publisher would soon knock on his doors, Amish had his hopes high. Amish’s agent sent out the manuscript to several publishers, within and outside India. Sadly, his project was rejected many, many times over.

Amish was undeterred. “When I was younger, I may have taken offence at these opinions and the manner in which they were expressed. But writing the book changed me. I had become far more religious, calmer and more willing to accept things. I was beginning to accept that I had done the best that I could for the book. And if it wasn’t meant to be, then it just wasn’t meant to be.” Amidst all the gray clouds, came one silver lining. Amish’s agent promised that he would publish it himself, if he didn’t get a publisher. He came forth to honour the promise, and how. He did not go with the usual run of 3,000 copies, but with 5,000 copies!

When his degree helped his writing With his agent investing in the printing, Amish decided to get down and dirty with the marketing. Armed with a slew of unique and innovative ideas, he was all set to take the world by storm with his efforts.

“You cannot think about the market when you write. Once you finish your book, you need to make a pragmatic and practical approach to it. I will go so far as to say that it is unethical of an author to not help the publisher. Why should the publisher suffer just because the author thinks his work will

be enough to sell the book? The author must be closely involved in marketing – you don’t hand your baby over to a governess and say I’ll check on the baby’s progress in five years. You have to be involved in every aspect. I am a control freak and irritate the daylights out of my publishers.”, he explains.

Printing the first chapter of the book, Amish set about displaying it at cash counters and distributing it for free. “Two of my friends came forth to make a live-action trailer film, with music made by Taufiq Qureshi.

The trailer put the book on a whole new level. Another friend designed a cover for the book, bridging fantasy and reality with ease.” Amish left no stone unturned when it came to targeting the tech-savvy myriads, either. “We aggressively targeted social media like Facebook and Twitter. I made presentations before key national retail chains. I made market visits in different cities to smaller retailers, and even followed up on airport store displays.”

Amish’s efforts paid off, as he hit bestseller listings within a week of the launch. “My book was number one in many lists within a fortnight! My publisher had to actually reprint within the first week itself, and we sold over 45,000 copies within the first 15 weeks of the launch!” Positive reviews followed, and reader feedback poured in from every quarter. Amish was the cynosure of all eyes, and adulation was all his. “Marketing strategies play a huge role in getting your book out. I am a voracious reader and I can give you a long list of books. How will you buy a book if you haven’t heard of it? It is a fallacy to assume that a good book will sell itself.”

The joy of success What started off as a simple idea burgeoned into a philosophical thesis, and then grew to be three huge books that impacted Indian readership positively.

But the impact did not just stop short of reaching myriads of readers. Amish’s life had changed, as well. And now that the Shiva Trilogy is over, Amish’s future as an author looms large with the promise of

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PERSONALITY

intrigued by the idea of how we mistakenly label someone radically different from us as being evil. “Being different doesn’t make someone evil. Therefore, the obvious question would be: What is evil? A theory occurred to me as an answer.”

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Amish’s works have revolutionized the world of Indian readership. But he doesn’t think that it has much to do with any element of “uniqueness” to what he is doing. “If you want to write a story, write it on Indian mythology. There is a tradition of organizing, reinterpreting and re-presenting Indian mythology. Content is interpreted, revisited, organized and localized for thousands of years. I am not doing anything new, it is not something that is unheard of. Yes, for about 200 years this hasn’t happened, but what I am doing is not out of the ordinary.”

Now all set to make a presence on cinema, Amish’s trilogy is soon going to be adapted to a motion picture. “Karan Johar will be helming it, and I am quite eager to see it.” Ask him if he thinks Hrithik Roshan is a good fit for Shiva, pat comes the reply, “I won’t say I have any dream actor in mind, or that a certain person is a perfect fit or not. That is an announcement for Karan Johar to make, and I am aware of the people he is talking to. That is not an announcement I am making. It would be unprofessional of me to break that trust!”

I egg him on and ask him if he would relent enough to tell me who he thinks should play Sati. “Nope. I’m not saying anything!” he smiles his charming smile.

Oftentimes, the essence of a book and its un-acted words can be lost in the process of being translated into a movie. But Amish is not afraid of taking that gamble. “It depends on how the book is adapted into the movie. Some books have been adapted well – for instance, To kill a Mockingbird and the Lord of the Rings and even Devdas.

As long as you keep the soul of the book intact, I’m sure it will do well.”

Amish’s story is a story of success.

Naturally, many want to emulate him, tempted by the money that it brings in tow. But Amish has a word of caution to offer to the young and rose-tintedglass-wearing youngster. “If you think that writing can give you money, then you are wrong. I always tell young writers that writing is the wrong profession to make money. A vast majority of writers don’t make money. Writing is a profession to choose if you have something within you that you want to get out, convincingly, and that’s that. Don’t try to put the economics in it – write for yourself, and let that love and respect show.”

Making it into the market at a time when the likes of Ashwin Sanghi and Ashok Banker, Amish did not feel that he needed to push for attention. “There was absolutely no need to fight to be noticed. I’d say we were all in this together. There is enough of a market for everyone. I think it is a great time to be an author. One doesn’t grow at the cost of the other.” Indian publishing is flourishing now, being one of the fastest growing publishing industries in the world!”

Amish has broken all records by making it as being the highest paid Indian writer, for his next book. Having landed a whopping million-dollar contract for his next book, is Amish under any pressure? “No pressure whatsoever! I don’t think about anyone or anything else when I write. I feel the pressure in the marketing stage when I go about promoting the book, so writing even under an advance amount isn’t an issue at all!”

About the books The Oath of the Vayuputras is the third and final part in the Shiva Trilogy of books that has been written by the Indian author Amish Tripathi. The first part of the Shiva Trilogy was The Immortals of Meluha which received quite a few rave reviews on the plot and storyline. His second book was The Secret of the Nagas.

Both books were a huge success. The final instalment in the Shiva Trilogy, The Oath of the Vayuputras sees Shiva having the biggest role to play as he culminates his journey towards becoming the lord of the lords.

After all the fame and adulation, Amish remains still the simple person he was when he started out with. Ask him if it is time to look at all those who rejected his work and say Booyah!, and he says, “It will be petty of me to do that. I’ve been a banker – and we bankers have made a lot of mistakes and the world is suffering because of it. It will be unfair of me to say that a publisher made a mistake in not publishing my book – publishers turned Jane Austen down and even J K Rowling down. There have been publishers who have made wrong and right business decisions. It is unfair to say that they got it wrong. Sometimes you get it right, sometimes you don’t – so why be harsh on them?”

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plenty. “Though the Shiva Trilogy is over, it is not the end of the genre. The story has come to an end – I can enter that world at any point. I may go to sleep and dream about it and find a new story – but I might not necessarily write about it.” That said, Amish talks about his next book.

“It is definitely going to be in the space of mythology, history and philosophy – these are my areas or forte. I would never say never, but right now, I think I will remain with these three areas. I don’t think I’ll ever write a love story though - it isn’t something I relate to. If my books do well, I’ll keep writing, otherwise banking is always there!”

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The Face of

War

The humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka has spiralled into a never ending cycle of violence and retribution. At the receiving end are millions of long suffering ethnic Tamils who have been reduced to refugee status in their own country. Speaking to experts, refugees and immigrants, Poornima Makaram, Richa Tilokani and Kirthi Jayakumar present the painful face of War. 72

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But here’s what no one sees them as: mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters,

daughters, sons, grandfathers, grandmothers, uncles, aunts, friends, neighbours, teachers, doctors, storekeepers and so much more. No one sees that these faces had names, eyes that saw, ears that heard, noses that breathed in air and tongues that tasted. No one sees that a single bullet, a single bomb, a chance encounter with a landmine brought them face to face with death in seconds.

Scores of crying children make it to the news. They become the face of humanitarian aid work in the aftermath of the war. Some are lucky enough to thrive by rebuilding the pieces of their life with the bounty of families that adopt them.

Some remain prisoners of their memories and yesteryears as they keep revisiting the sordid moments when they lost everything they ever knew to be familiar and comforting. They will grow to carry the memory like scars that will never go away, no matter how much they try. And yet,

we will remain, looking at these children and trying scatter-brained strategies to stop war, but in the process, instead of preventing it, we exacerbate it. We wring our hands in agony at the continued death tolls. We wonder if we are civilised enough, if history hasn’t taught us what it should have, already. We don’t learn these lessons, we see them, brush past them and shrug, just throwing our two pennies’ worth and say that such people are barbaric.

Someone, somewhere is always affected by war. It doesn’t need to be someone you know. It doesn’t need to be someone you care about, even if you know them.

But they suffer, and that suffering is as much yours as it is theirs: for you are bound by the same religion of humanity.

Their wounded bodies, their broken dreams and their unachieved ambitions will stay locked in their pallid eyes. And that, is the face of war.

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The bloodbath that stares you in the face in any war is mind-numbing. People are killed: and as they are killed, their narratives, their lives and their stories come to an end with a crashing thud of finality. To the documenting organisations, these people are mere statistics. To the entity that launches the attack, these people are collateral damage.

To a news outlet, they are sensational news on one day, and a mere line on the other.

To the soldier that prays before pulling the trigger on them, they are the enemy, or rather, what their idea of the enemy is. To the person that sits down to such news on television, newsprint, a handheld device or the internet, they are just painful images. To the scholarly observer, they are a ramification of ill-conceived policy. To the post-war prosecution tribunals, they are a footnote in the many, many leaves of paper that will comprise its decisions.

HAWK EYE Deconstructing the Sri Lankan crisis The 26-year conflict in Sri Lanka has already claimed more than 100,000 lives on both sides and counting. Up to 40,000 people were allegedly killed in the final five months of fighting alone. The list of human rights violations is endless – enforced disappearances, extra-judicial killings, torture, religious discrimination, intimidation of activists and journalists and many more.

The international community was slow to react. The United Human Rights Council in Geneva condemned the Sri Lankan government for human rights violations, for the second time in a row. The Human Rights council also encouraged the country to conduct an independent and credible investigation into the alleged war crimes. But many experts felt that the initial draft US-backed Resolution had been “watered down” by India and Australia. The Resolution was passed 25 votes in favour and 13 against it.

Anyway it had little effect on the Sri Lankan government. Says Dr Geetha Madhavan, Dr (PhD International Law, Advocate and Visiting Faculty, Tamil Nadu Dr Ambedkar law University), “Analysts say it is inadequate because once again the Resolution asks the Lankan government to conduct its own “independent and credible investigation into allegations of violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law” and to implement the recommendations of its Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission. In my opinion, it is important that it set up a commission that restores the faith of the people as capable of being impartial. This can be done only if persons who are experts in international law and those who have credibility are appointed. The presence of politicians and of those who have been vocal in their rhetoric against the Tamil population, will naturally be viewed with suspicion by the victims and the international community. If it wants to move towards reconciliation after the war and heal the wounds then those who committed acts that have been in gross violation of human rights have to brought to trial and if found guilty have to be punished.”

Continues Dr Geetha, “All the rules in international law that apply in all cases of conflict, apply to the SL conflict also.

Both sides to the conflict i.e. the Sri Lankan Army and the LTTE are bound by these rules of conflict. The LTTE is bound by laws that apply to belligerent

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forces. Although the LTTE have also been accused of committing war crimes and cannot be absolved, greater responsibility devolves upon the SL government because it is a sovereign power and has certain duties and responsibilities, which are present even during war. The government has a greater responsibility as a State to ensure that all actions taken by it in the process of containing the conflict and in its actions against such forces that oppose it (in this case the LTTE) are within the rule of law. Therefore it is bound not only by its own laws but also by the legal principles that apply to all nations when dealing with such situations.”

The crisis has further deepened with the release of a recent documentary “No Fire Zone” (NFZ) by British filmmaker Callum Macrae. It showed the murder of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran’s 12-year-old son Balachandran, in cold blood by the Sri Lankan army. This has understandably brought the matter to boil in India, especially in Tamil Nadu. It has served to unite political parties across the spectrum, causing widespread protests by students, activists and the masses, who have been shocked by this act of cowardice. But is the Sri Lankan government listening?

Unlikely, as prisoners of war and even non-combatants have been subjected to gross human rights violations. “Torture and war crimes are specifically dealt with in numerous international conventions that prevent a State from doing any such acts that constitute torture or are war crimes.

It is bound by the Rome Statute to which it is a Party and under this Statute, war crimes are specifically defined and if SL is indeed guilty as alleged, then charges can be brought up at the International Criminal Court,” says Dr Geetha.

or to mental or physical health, committed as part of a “widespread or systematic attack”, against members of the civilian population, on national, political, ethnic, racial or religious grounds (discriminatory grounds). They include crimes such as murder, extermination, enslavement, deportation, imprisonment, torture, rape, persecutions on political, racial and religious grounds. War crimes, on the other hand, refer to instances of violations of the laws of war, and include to some extent, the crimes mentioned above. Genocide refers to mass killings, and torture refers to the infliction of mental or physical pain.

In the Sri Lankan war, there have been plenty of instances, documented and undocumented, of allegations of war crimes against the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (Tamil Tigers) and the Sri Lankan military. This is something that gained even more momentum in the last lap of the war, in 2009. Among the myriad war-related casualties consequent to civil war, the war crimes carried out include attacks on civilians and civilian buildings by both sides, extrajudicial executions of combatants and prisoners by both sides, enforced disappearances by the Sri Lankan military and paramilitary groups, deprivation by creating acute shortages of food, medicine, and clean water for civilians trapped in the warzone, conscription of child soldiers and attacks targeting civilians including suicide bombings, besides attacks on civilian aircraft.

The documented reports that have brought these issues to light include a production

by UK’s Channel 4, called Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields. It revealed unformed men speaking Sinhalese and summarily executing eight men who were bound and blindfolded.

The content shown in the video was authenticated by the UN.

War Crimes There have been plenty of instances of war crimes in the thriving hotbed of impunity that the armed conflict in Sri Lanka provided. Before proceeding to a description of the crimes committed, for the uninitiated reader, there are a few terms that could do well with being explained. In war, there are four kinds of crimes that are given attention under the ambit of international criminal law: crimes against humanity, war crimes, genocide and torture. Crimes against humanity include acts that are inhumane in nature and character, causing great suffering, or serious injury to body

Many of these crimes have been compiled and documented into a report prepared by a panel of experts appointed by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. The panel called on the Secretary General to conduct an independent international inquiry into the alleged violations of international law, and international humanitarian law (or the law of war). On its part, the Sri Lankan government has denied that its forces committed any war crimes and has strongly opposed the conduct of any international investigation. It even went on record to condemn the UN report as being “fundamentally flawed in many respects and

It was in the final 138 days of the civil war, as the documentary by Callum Macrae, No Fire Zone – the Killing Fields of Sri Lanka revealed, that the war crimes intensified.

The film explains that a “no fire zone” that was set up by the government in January 2009, was nothing more than a trap for scores of civilians who ran into the space in the hope of safety. Something like the Jallianwallahbagh Massacre in India’s independence struggle, this region was heavily shelled. The film shows bloody and mutilated bodies of men, women and children, lying pell-mell. Aid-centres and even makeshift hospitals were shelled, chillingly after the UN or members of the Red Cross informed the government of the coordinates in a bid to ask the government to avoid harming these spaces. The video shows some of the most hurtful and painful predicaments of the civilians caught in war.

Parents cry over dead children, dead bodies lie by the dozen. The most shocking one, though, is the footage of a Tamil commander first being interrogated, and then a picture of his mutilated body in the dirt. An array of naked and bound prisoners reveal the cold and harsh brutalities they faced as they were executed. Naked corpses of women, who have clearly been sexually abused, are necklaced and mutilated further in the aftermath of their death.

As posters and hoardings across Tamil Nadu will have already revealed, young Balachandran Prabhakaran was given biscuits to eat. The anxious looking child betrays a look that only the Goebbels children might have betrayed: the look of an ominous predicament coming. The next shot is of his corpse: a twelve-year-old boy who was, and then killed at point blank range, with bullet holes in his chest. Tamil Nadu has hoardings splashed with images of the Face of War. The face of war that stares at you and leaves you disturbed for hours at an end. The face of war that makes you wonder how a nation that is just kilometres away from the site of war is sitting back, reclining and cooling its heels while a war of enormous proportions unfolded in its neighbouring land.

Testimonies that can shock your conscience A 141-page report filed by Human Rights Watch, an International NGO, titled “We Will Teach You a Lesson’: Sexual Violence

against Tamils by Sri Lankan Security Forces” provides the painful and detailed accounts of as many as 75 cases of rape and sexual abuse that occurred from 2006-2012 in both official and secret detention centres throughout Sri Lanka.

The cases documented by the report explain the testimonies of men and women who were raped on multiple days, often by several people, with the army, police, and pro-government paramilitary groups frequently participating in the crime. And yet, the presentation is nothing more than just the tip of the iceberg, since Human Rights Watch could not conduct their research in Sri Lanka, and had to rely on testimonies collected from people outside of the country, and then corroborate their accounts with medical and legal reports.

The report renders the painful reality of many of the civilians in Sri Lanka: they suffered torture, ill-treatment, rape, sexual violence and so many more forms of crime. Many a case comprised a similar pattern: individuals were abducted from their houses by unidentified men, and then taken to a detention centre. Once there, they were interrogated and abused, asked about the LTTE’s alleged activities.

The report also chronicles the story of a 23-year-old boy who was abducted, held indiscriminately without a charge, raped for three consecutive days and then released only after he signed a “confession”.

Women were raped after being detained by policemen, and then photographed naked. When one woman, aged 32, tried to refuse to “confess”, they beat her and tortured her continuously. She was then raped by different men for three long days. Some victims were beaten, hung by their arms, asphyxiated and even burned with cigarettes. These victims were not given the privilege of access to legal aid, medical aid, or even a chance to meet their families. Some of the victims would willingly offer the “confession” that was expected of them in the hope that the torture and rape would stop – but sadly, it only continued unabated. The individuals who were interviewed by Human Rights Watch, it appears, were not even released.

Instead, they were “allowed to escape” after someone from their families paid a bribe.

From the report, it appears that rape and sexual violence of the detainees by the Sri Lankan security forces during, and after the armed conflict, is a relevant representation of how sexual abuse, torture, rape and violence

have been used to extricate “confessions” of “involvement in LTTE activities.”

Even after their trauma, the report reveals, these men and women remained quiet when it came to their abuse. The reason: stigma, reprisals and further danger to themselves and their families if they so much as spoke out against the crimes they faced.

Under the ambit of International Criminal Law, such crimes make the government of Sri Lanka responsible: to prevent such violations, to investigate the allegations, and to penalise those responsible. Those in positions of authority who either already knew or should have known of the occurrence of such abuses and failed to take action are criminally liable as a matter of “command responsibility”, where they are liable because of being the ones in charge.

Leaving behind a home, in search we do roam When Radhakrishnan Alagaratnam left Sri Lanka in the late nineties, he was a disappointed man. Disappointed that his own country did not have a place for him and others like him, the place he was born and grew up in bore hardly a resemblance to what he had known and was familiar with. Instead all he could see was hatred, distrust and violence. Not a place where one could live, with any semblance of sanity and self-respect or bring up his children with safety and values.

Radhakrishnan and his family moved to America, with many others who had begun to leave the homeland and strive to start a new life in the land of a million dreams. He remembers his younger days, “Even when I was growing up, being a Tamilian in Sri Lanka meant that you could not get access to the best education or the best jobs. I had to go abroad for my higher studies and so did my brothers. We returned to Sri Lanka after that to live and work but found that there was segregation everywhere. It had even seeped into the government sector.

It was hard not to feel that the government we elected was against our success in our own country.”

He adds, “I had been attacked many times in public just for being a Tamilian despite not having any political leanings and being non-violent. We felt that we no longer had a place there. Many of us left with nothing. Our only determination was to make a better life for ourselves and our families. Since then we

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based on patently biased material which is presented without any verification.”

HAWK EYE have worked hard at creating a new identity and a better life in a new place. I don’t think I can ever go back there.”

Radhakrishnan’s daughter Sughandi, although quite young at that time, vividly remembers the kind of treatment that was meted out to them. She says, “When the war began, the struggle to reconcile the differences got elevated into a state of no hope. There was a period of time when we couldn’t play outside as kids because we were scared of the scattered bombing that was taking place in Jaffna. I still remember the army coming and taking us from our houses, lining us up on the railway track and beating the men to get information out of them on the tigers. This was the turning point for my family and many other families around us because we no longer felt safe.”

She says, “I grew up without discussing Sri Lankan politics in the house. My position is that the tigers started their force for a good cause – for the empowerment of Sri Lankan Tamils and to bring awareness to the inequality that existed. However, through the decades, the cause was motivated by acts of violence, which I do not believe in. On the other hand, I believe the elected government in Sri Lanka had a clear agenda to strip the better-educated Tamils of opportunity and power in the country from the 1970s. The agenda was slowly implemented through to the end in 2010. Their method of intimidation has been through violence and other inhumane means.”

Sughandi adds, “I feel that we have gotten our revenge through the exodus of many Sri Lankans, as human capital was the best resource they had. I recently went back there and I felt no connection at all. It was like a country I did not know and did not recognise. The families that opted to stay back there are bitter – it feels like they wasted a lifetime with no justice and with unrealised ambitions.”

Stuck in limbo, nowhere to go The war may have ended, but for the local Tamils, the struggle to survive has continued. Thousands of prisoners of war are still held without trial since 2009.

The condition of the civilians who were not associated with the LTTE is not better. Life in the refugee camps is difficult with regular shortages of food, water and medicines.

Stories of depression and abuse abound.

Many refugees escaped to camps in

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Tamil Nadu but even those who have been in India since 1990 are scared to go back home, fearing reprisals. Refugees continue to pour out of Sri Lanka, with many making their way to Australia and European countries.

There have been efforts to muzzle the local press as well. The most recent being the burning down of a Tamil paper, Uthayan, in Northern Sri Lanka. The newspaper was known to be critical of the government and had been attacked in the past as well. There have been attacks on minority journalists and media persons too. No wonder that ethnic Tamils live in constant fear of losing their liberties, culture, religion, language and land.

The Gummidipoondi Refugee Camp in Tamil Nadu, India is the closest thing that some Sri Lankan refugees call ‘home’. And yet, it is far from being a home. The camp had its beginnings in 1990, when there was a mass influx of refugees from war-stricken Sri Lanka. After a temporary shift to the East Coast Road and back, the camp has remained in Gummidipoondi since 1992, spread over land close to the railway track. One of the refugees, a middle-aged lady with two sons who wished to be anonymous told us, “When we came here in 1990, we had tin roofs on all the houses we were given, which, when it was summer and temperatures soared, would melt and drip. Come monsoons, the roofs would be blown off. So we had to do things for ourselves to live here, otherwise who knows what may have happened.”

Another inmate, a young man of 24 has painful stories to tell. “I can’t tell you about the war because I never knew it. I have only lived as a refugee all 23 years of my life here, after having come when I was one.

I got to study here in the camp at a school until class 8, and then went on to pursue my higher education outside. I managed well while I studied, but after education, to get work has been a huge challenge.” And he is not alone in this. The camp houses plenty of youngsters like him. “They see our nationalities and don’t give us jobs because we are from Sri Lanka. This is the biggest reason why many of our kind leave India in boats and go to Australia.” One of the refugee inmates is moved to tears. “My brother left on a boat with 68 other people.

We have no idea of his whereabouts and what he is doing. We don’t know if he is alive, or dead.”

OVER A CUPPA

Touchwood!

Sneha Vinu has been delighting connoisseurs of exquisite wood furniture. Love for the craft spurred her to turn designer and entrepreneur, she tells Shilpa CB.

Modern décor has come into our homes in a redefining way. Every nook can now be amply embellished with anything that strikes one’s fancy, made anywhere in the world. In all the clutter of the shiny, fashionable and affordable, that have flooded store shelves in the last decade, there is little one could miss. Yes, there surely is. It’s the touch of real wood, as a true connoisseur of fine woodcraft would remind you.

Sneha Vinu loves all things hewn out of the beautiful, solid wood. There were more like her, she knew, who would settle for nothing but exquisite handcrafted furniture for their homes. Like her, they too would steer clear of mass-produced, off-the-rack imitations and go looking for the real thing. Thanks to her,

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Straddling the worlds of both traditional and contemporary design, the young designerentrepreneur creates exquisite pieces under the brand Home Interiors. They are for the house-proud, the kind that value true craft and understand the worth of real wood. Those with discerning eyes would be instantly taken in “There are plenty of easy, affordable options available. Most people are happy with fakes, cheap imports, materials that mimic wood and machine carving. But what we make is the real deal,” she says.

an arduous process, right from sourcing the wood and seasoning it to designing the piece and painstakingly coaxing it out of the wood. The workmanship is evident in the detailing. Joints are carefully concealed or completely avoided, surfaces smoothed out to perfection, little embellishments added for more appeal. Sneha’s furniture draws you in not just with the flawless finish but also with the simple and striking design. A shapely leg here, a sinewy backrest there, a smooth seat elsewhere… it’s all so easy to admire and succumb to. Enough to convert an off-the-shelf addict and make him or her wait for months on end.

The real deal takes patience. An order could take a few weeks to complete. It’s

It’s an acquired talent, Sneha says of her skills. “My mother Bigily Sunny began

now they don’t have to look too far. Sneha creates custom pieces in all kinds of wood.

While the set up has grown in the last 15 years with all kinds of tools being added, the approach to the craft has remained the same. “We’ve stayed true to the concept.

No matter how many orders we get, each piece gets the attention it needs. We

did not want to become a factory or a manufacturing unit. My mother never has more than 20 craftsmen at a time,” Sneha says. She too has absorbed that work ethic and approaches any piece with the same curiosity and patience.

First, a rough skeleton is drawn out of a large chunk of wood. It is screened for structure, symmetry, sleekness and cleared for the next step of shaping.

Over the years, Home Interiors has developed a whole repertoire of designs.

Colour, size and details can be changed to suit customer needs, Sneha explains.

Now, there isn’t a chip of an excuse to force-fit an ill-suited crockery cupboard to a nook.

If there is an excuse, it is the price tag.

“With more people opting for goods brought in from other countries, the demand for handmade furniture has diminished. Of course, the latter is more expensive because wood and labour costs are high. It’s labour-intensive, too,” she says. That, however, has not stopped Sneha from taking on senior workmen who are not only proud of their skill and make the most of it, but also diligently train young apprentices. The coming years might prove to be more challenging what with raw material and skill becoming rarer. There is a need to showcase our workmanship and our traditional furniture, make them more appealing. We are going in that direction, Sneha says.

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OVER A CUPPA

learning about carpentry when she started decorating her house in Kerala. She was doing it on her own with a team of carpenters. When she decided to take orders, she was flooded with them. Her workshop in the rubber plantation turns out dining sets, living room furniture, cupboards, cabinets and cots all through the year.” The designer puts her effort into one sturdy, durable piece at a time. No rushing to meet targets here.

TAKEOFF

Breathe in the Magic Poornima Makaram takes you with her on a journey to Gujarat.

When Amitabh Bachchan exhorts you in his gravelly, reverberating voice to “Breathe in a bit of Gujarat,” you really do not have a choice about it. You just feel compelled to pack your bags, rush to the nearest airport and get there ASAP. I was however led by my very pragmatic Significant Other (SO) who insisted that we would have to go about it the proper way – making bookings, planning accommodation, looking up places to visit and chalking up a decent itinerary.

Having done all that we duly landed one fine, sunny, fabulous February morning, chosen for the middling weather – neither too hot nor too cold – at the sprawling Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International in Ahmedabad, with a bundle of expectations in tow. The first sight of the city is that it is completely organised, everything shipshape and generally lending a good impression.

You cannot start any trip to Gujarat without the blessings of a certain Gujarati gentleman who built a really simple place of dwelling for himself at the banks of the Sabarmati River, which grew to become an Ashram and a symbol of the essence of the Indian freedom struggle.

As we set foot in the hallowed soil, we notice that at the entrance is a huge Ashoka tree planted by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru just after independence. The Ashram is simplicity personified and timeless, in

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the praise of the man whom we came to know as the Mahatma. The best part of it is that it does not sell Gandhi – packaged and presented nor in the myriad of the names we know him by – in fact it does not sell anything at all. Unlike all the other ashrams that I’ve been to, it just lets you be: breathing in the air of the Mahatma as you walk through the historical moments of the pre-independence era.

Speaking of simplicity, if you are expecting the rest of Gujarat to live up to this description, you would be rather surprised.

Everything else we saw, borders on the grand scale. Whether it is the temple of Akshardham in Gandhinagar or the temples at Somnath and Dwaraka, it would rather be apt to describe them with the words – imposing and impressive.

Also as impressive, if not magnificient is the Sun temple at Modhera, a much less known counterpart of the more famous one at Konark. A picture of magnificence in architecture, it is located bang on the Tropic of Cancer. It was engineered so that on the days of the equinoxes the first rays of the sun fell on the idol of Surya or the Sun God, which was installed in the temple. Like its eastern counterpart, the temple is carved with erotic sculptures depicting sexual activity – definitely not for the prudish.

Nor is there anything plain and minimal about the other marvels of this region – the

step-wells. These wells were a necessity in the arid regions, built in the 15th century, the Vaav as they are known in the Gujarati language were places for drinking water, bathing and many colourful rituals.

We are drawn in by the maze of steps and chambers, carved in stone, a tribute to the Queens and noblewomen of the area. It is a place for women to congregate, sing and dance, or simply socialise, bathe or just rest in the middle of a tiring journey.

Some women who are visiting to offer prayers, suddenly treat us to an impromptu performance of Garbha, right there at the entrance to the sound of beating drums. It is a wonderful sight for one who has never seen a spontaneous spurt of anything!

The culture of Gujarat, colourful as it is, draws you in with mesmerizing sureness.

The food, that is a huge part of the experience in any culture, is a unique melting pot of flavours – some sharp, some piquant. Stopping at a roadside Dhaba enroute to the city, we are presented with a menu card. Turning it around, I am completely flummoxed – it is written in Gujarati. The waiter, understanding our problem comes over and starts reading us the menu very helpfully. Unfortunately we still don’t understand, since it is still Gujarati!

Taking pity on us he explains it to us and we gratefully settle for two unique dishes that caught our fancy – The sev-tomato curry and the Papad Sabzi.

Text and Pics by Poornima Makaram

Travelling within Gujarat is rather a study in contrasts. You can zoom by on those superb roads and meet completely traditional people. Tribal folk in traditional attire dot the countryside as do the shepherds and cowherds in their customary white frock-kurtas and dhoti. You could stop at a rural dhaba and be treated to Chinese food. You wouldn’t be surprised to see a completely conventional looking Gujarati man wearing a colourful pagdi on his head atop a 300cc bike riding with the wind on the highway. The locals are quite a loud and vociferous lot, but they are indeed friendly and rather curious.

As history goes, India is full of monuments from different centuries. The regular Indian is rather blasé about these structures as somewhat commonplace. As a result the significance of some monuments is completely lost. The Uparkot Fort at Junagadh is a classic case.

Digging deep, we find that the fort is probably the oldest existing fort in the world. References have been made to it

during the times of the Jain Thirthankara Bhagwan Neminath and even long before by the famous Chinese globe trotter Huan Tsang who writes in his memoirs that there ‘was’ a fort in the middle of the forest – making it over three thousand years old at least!

The visit to the state would not be complete without stepping into the Gir Forest. The King of Beasts resides here and nobody dare go past without paying obeisance to His Wildness. After a rather difficult process of acquiring a permit, which you would need to enter the forest, we are hustled into open Jeeps. It seems rather odd to me that we would be stepping into a forest with wild animals in such an unprotected manner – but the guide assures us that it is the done thing.

After driving a few miles inside the dry, deciduous forest, which has turned brown and shed leaves almost completely, we are lulled into a false sense of security, witnessing only deer, sambar, peacocks, rabbits and the like. There are plenty of pretty birds too, ones that we have never seen before. And suddenly after about an hour of driving, there are whispers, from the driver, that the Jeep in front of us spotted a lioness just a while ago.

We pull to the corner and wait. After a little while, which seems almost an eternity, we see the lioness, walking across from left to right. Before we can recover our

breath, there walks in majestically, a male lion – the rarest sight in the world, for they almost never come out into the open.

He is walking straight at us, looking right into our eyes – our blood just freezes, it is an awesome sight. We try not to blink, I stop shooting – the sound of the shutter is unnaturally loud, the tremors in my stomach seem to grow in volume. But he walks on, quite nonchalantly, unbothered by all the fuss – he has been stalking the lioness, and he cares a fig for us! Thank God for the lioness!

The driver turns around and compliments us – “You are lucky, people need to do three to four safaris before they see even a lioness – you bagged a lion in your maiden one.” Lucky we are – that we are living to tell the tale!

That experience could be described as the singularly most exciting one in my life. It is like my life could be divided into two – BL and AL. Before Lion and After Lion.

TAKEOFF

The popular misconception that all Gujarati dishes are sweet was completely dispelled as we tried a variety of meals in many restaurants across the state – from the grand urban ones, crafted to give you a variety of tastes and flavours to the rustic rural ones – rather spicy and nothing subtle about it.

After the peaking of the tour of Gujarat in the forest, it is like we have achieved our heart’s desire. Anything we do after this could only be an anti-climax. Having experienced the best of colour, culture, food and nature – we have to agree with Mr. Bachchan. There is indeed a lot of Gujarat to breathe in – and you need the heart of a lion to confront one and come away unscathed!

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WEAVING RICH FABRICS THROUGH WRITING

Norwegian journalist Åsne Seierstad is perhaps the only one who got to cover the Afghan war after 9/11, and the Iraq-US war in 2003. To put out information as the war happens in the form of news is one thing: but to chronicle one’s story and rendition of their time in the country is a whole different endeavour. Attempting to do the latter, Seierstad’s book is a narration of her time in Afghanistan with a local family, and of the view of the world from their side of the lens.

With the Taliban falling in November 2001, Seierstad managed to find a rather educated and sympathetic Afghan bookseller in the heart of Kabul. Their lives are a sharp contrast: whether in the most basic difference of ethnicity, or in their way of leading life and treating others in their family. Written in simple language and in a narrative style that is very casual, the book is a beautiful reflection that drives home a simple truth: whether you are Norwegian or Afghan, a relief worker or a reporter, a bookseller or a bomb-squad expert, at the end of the day, all you want is some food, shelter and clothing, and a way to stay safe.

Åsne Seierstad’s magical portrait of Afghanistan in the aftermath of a war is stunning, raw and candid, says Kirthi Jayakumar.

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Seierstad begins from the same spot that most international reporters started from.

Their trip down the Hindu Kush, right into the interiors of the Intercontinental Hotel, where there is a well-stocked bookstore that has some of the most coveted titles of all time. The owner is intelligent, to say the least, and an exception to the norm of grossly prevalent illiteracy. He leaves you with haunting words of truth: ‘First, the Communists burnt my books, then the Mujahideen looted and pillaged, finally the Taliban burnt them all over again.’

The narrative is a fictionalized account, and does not degenerate into a boring and linear narrative of her adventures as a traveller. She meets the bookseller and moves in with him, and watches his family as they go about their normal lives. But she is nowhere in the book – for it is written as one would write a piece of fiction.

Seierstad’s leading protagonist is the quintessential patriarch, for all the exposure he boasts of otherwise. His family is also an extension of his business, as each one stands sullenly in their allotted roles, unflinching in their “duties” to each other.

Seierstad makes an explosive display of the family dynamics: the bookseller’s sister is nearly his slave, his son is a breadwinner of sorts as he is made to sell sweets at the hotel rather than study at school, his first wife is in a difficult spot as he chooses a sixteen-year-old to be his second wife and his elder son speaks candidly about sexual slavery and how poverty stricken women are made to suffer sexual abuse in the face of utter poverty. There are tales of harsh reality: stories of sexual abuse, discrimination of women and honour killings where brothers are sent to kill a girl who follows her heart and gives into an affair that her family frowns on.

After meeting resounding success for the book in its Norwegian version, the book made waves when its English version hit the markets. One among myriads of books that the rich landscape of war-stricken Afghanistan has inspired, The Bookseller of Kabul holds its own ground without much difficulty. The quality that swings everything in its favour is the candour with which the story is told. That Seierstad adores the family she stayed with is obvious, as she accepts them un-judgmentally. But her heart goes out for the women in the family, as they are jostled about and treated like dust. It doesn’t matter how old or young the man is: just being male is qualification enough to dominate over a woman.

To Seierstad, the book is about just ‘one middle-class family, if one can use that expression in Afghanistan’. And, of course that is what is so compulsive, repulsive and frightening. If this is what life is like in the family of Afghanistan’s answer to Tim Waterstone, there is clearly no hope for Afghanistan.

Jhanu Chanthar unplugged appears to be a man of many interests, says Kirthi Jayakumar

MUSICAL MUSINGS

What genre of music do you like?

Funk!

Who is Jhanu on Stage?

A badass-mean-dangerous-person who forgets to comb his hair, and is mostly caught daydreaming off-stage.

What is the one song that you absolutely love? Why? Puthu Rootulathan, from Meera. This song is very close to my heart. It gives this feeling of travelling to a new place and leaving behind something. I was hung-over with this for more than a month! That was when I realised how much a song can emote a person!

If you could play for any one singer, who would it be? Why? Kamal Haasan, because he is the human form of power and command!

One song that runs on loop in your iPod is..?

Pudhu vellai malai - Roja

Suchitra Karthik Kumar has made a mark on Chennaiites: whether it is in her witty sound bites as a radio jockey, or as a charming storyteller, or even as a nightingale behind the mike.

The Commonwealth Short Story prize winner has much more than just a creative streak: a true appreciator of all things fine, it is no wonder that she enjoys reading.

How did it all begin? “Well, the first ‘big people’ book I read was ‘If Tomorrow Comes’ by Sidney Sheldon.” An interesting choice, and just as I begin to wonder, she quickly smiles and says with a wink, “Yeah!

Feel free to judge!”

Sitting on her bedside table right now is a copy of Vinobha Bhave’s Talks on the Gita, an exemplary compilation by the veteran advocate of non-violence and human rights. The talks convey the essence of the Gita in simple language, in the hope of bringing it within the reach of the common man.

Reflecting Vinoba Bhave’s ideology from the perspective of Samyayoga, I am curious at Suchitra’s choice, and I ask her what she has derived from it just yet. “I have actually just started reading it, but what I’ve read so far is absolutely intriguing!” she says with a smile.

Suchitra has also been on the other side of the fence as a writer herself. Does it alter her perceptions of a book, now that she wields the pen as well? “Pun intended, I’m an open book. But I know within a span of 20 pages if I’m going to finish a book or not. I don’t ‘put up’ with and trudge through books that don’t capture my interest in the first 20 pages!” Not having a single favourite author, or a favourite book for that matter, Suchitra has come to conclusions that many of her global counterparts will agree with. “I’ve found that some of the most popular authors are quite boring.

Some hitherto-unknown authors are quite gripping. My all-time consistent favourite would have to be Roald Dahl.”

Driven by her love for her all time favourite read, The Mahabharata, Suchitra’s choice for her current read is indeed natural. “I am still reading the Mahabharata, in the sense that I am reading interpretations by various authors. It is the most fascinating book of all time.”

That said, Suchitra is a perfect bibliophile: reading for the sake of reading. “I read across genres, and have no boundaries.” With a collection that is ever expanding, Suchitra is not confined to a single author or genres in building her own repertoire of books. “My collection is a floating one. Books just come and go!”

Reading all over the place for now, Suchitra is excited about things to come.

“These days, I read mostly in airports and hotel rooms. But in the new home that we’re building, we’ve created space for a reading nook, with a slanted wooden shelf that would go all the way up and crawl along the roof!”

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Suchitra Karthik Kumar wears many hats: singer, writer and radio jockey are the most prominent among the lot. The diva is also a reader, with a crazy love for books, as Kirthi Jayakumar finds out.

INDULGE

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Deutsch wieder einmal!

Since she continues to study German, and continues to be perplexed and fascinated by the language, Urmila Pullat reviews two riveting German movies this month.

The Lives of Others ( Des Leben der Anderen)

Year: 2006 Language: German Director: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck

Cast: Ulrich Mühe, Sebastian Koch, Martina Gedeck

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This quiet thriller set against the backdrop of the East Germany-West Germany conflict might leave you surprised and extremely curious. Most of our knowledge of the politics of Germany would be from our school history textbooks that spoke in sprinkles about the Cold War, the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the fall of the Berlin Wall. None of this, probably, ties up in people’s heads with the innate richness that detail gives you. ‘The Lives of Others’ might not offer a peephole into everything about the history of World War II and the post-WW II era but it is guaranteed to make you extremely curious about the much-feared Stasi.

outspoken artist. But he later realises what the real reason is – to keep an eye on Christa-Marie on whom the Minister of Culture has his eyes set. Disgusted by this, we see how he slowly and surreptitiously begins to feel for Dreyman and ChristaMarie and subverts his duties to help them out. He does not report that Dreyman is writing an article berating the State for the high rate of suicides in East Germany.

Or that it is being smuggled across the border to be published in a widely read magazine in West Germany. Christa-Marie’s dependence on pills and her intense association with the Minister adds a fine twist in this tale.

The Secret Police of the GDR (German Democratic Republic) or East Germany, the Stasi were feared, reviled and respected.

Gerd Wiesler (Mühe) is a Stasi Operative who is entrusted with the task of spying on playwright, Georg Dreyman (Koch) and his partner, the actress Christa-Marie Sieland (Gedeck). The famous couple’s apartment is completely bugged and Weisler and an associate are on the task round-clock – they hear every conversation, every step and can listen in on every amorous sigh. The complete and utter invasion of privacy is but a regular side-dish of Stasi operations. Artists and others who they perceive to be against the State are regularly blacklisted. Dreyman’s friend, Jerska, a writer is one such. East Germany is no place for dissent, much less rebellion.

But why was Dreyman under surveillance?

Wiesler, at first, believes it to be necessary to stem possible opposition from an

Where does this sordid relationship between the Stasi and Dreyman and Christa-Marie end up? Why did the Stasi do what they did? Some of these questions will be answered by watching the movie.

The movie ends on a hopeful note – the news that the Wall has fallen! ‘The Lives of Others’ won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2006.

Verdict: I thoroughly enjoyed this movie with its secret police, illicit relationships and mind-games. Please watch it!

Rating: 4/5 Hot: The thrill of watching the inner workings of the Stasi and its sheer ruthlessness Not: Personally, being fascinated by movies of subterfuge and rebellion, I felt like the movie could’ve gone a little beyond and shown us what other terrible things the Stasi were responsible for during their heyday.

2 Beyond Silence (Jenseits der Stille)

Year: 1996 Language: German Director: Caroline Link Cast: Sylvie Testud, Tatjana Trieb, Howie Seago, Emanuelle Laborit

The viewer feels the frustration and despair that the parents feel, especially since their daughters can hear. There are many poignant moments in the film and my most favourite is when Martin (Seago), Lara’s father asks her how the falling of snow sounds. We are drawn into the world of the deaf and we realise how the simplest of things that we usually take for granted, like riding a bicycle can be a task of mighty proportions for them. Kai(Laborit), her mother who never learnt how to ride a cycle because of the issues with her ears and balance, finally learns to ride one at Lara’s insistence.

Martin’s issues with his family are also a big part of the movie. His strained relationship with his sister, Clarissa who is a clarinet player puts a rut in the relationship she is trying to build with Lara. Clarissa buys Lara a clarinet and Lara takes to it like a charm. But, will Martin’s childhood issues with Clarissa and his subsequent dislike for music, which he cannot hear, be a stumbling block in Lara’s quest for musical excellence?

One of my favourite parts of the movie is when the 18-year old Lara, who moves to Berlin to learn music from her aunt, spots a young man on the road communicating in sign language to a child. Following the two she enters the shop the shop they enter, only to realize that the young man, Tom is just like her. He is not deaf but inhabits their world, just like she does. What follows is a sweet, whirlwind romance.

I can watch this movie over and over and that is endorsement enough!

Verdict: Beautiful.

Rating: 4.5/5 Hot: Wonderful performances, especially Lara as a child. This is only the second movie, ever, that had me all teary-eyed (the first one being Barfi).

Not: Not a completely happy movie – there are some very sad moments.

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This is a beautiful movie. There is no other way to say it. It is beautiful in its simplicity, and beautiful in its performances. Beyond Silence is a story of a deaf-mute couple and their daughter Lara. Completely adept at sign language, she becomes the ears and mouth for her parents. Communicating on their behalf with her teachers, the bank and even with her grandparents, little Lara (Trieb) warms your heart like no other. This is a story of the bond shared between Lara and her parents. They occupy completely different worlds, one of silence and one of sound. And yet, there is a world beyond silence, one inhabited by Lara and later by her sister, Marie where they learn to walk the tightrope between the two. Trying their best not to make their parents feel out of place while at the same time, not wanting to miss out on everything life has to offer them is an unenviable place to be.

MAIN COURSE

Binge on a Buffet The recently opened luxury hotel in Hyderabad’s Gachibowli area, Re:gen:Ta One boasts of an all day dining venue called Limelight. Serving world cuisine, the restaurant has something to please every palate, says Minal Khona.

Spacious, with high ceilings and a lot of natural light pouring in, the Limelight restaurant at Re:Gen:Ta One has the feel of a busy restaurant. And yet, one can relax in a quiet corner. Besides residential guests, there are visitors from the nearby companies who make full use of the number of options laid out on the tables.

The buffet is a lavish spread with two live counters at lunch time and three at dinner time. Indian, Lebanese, Tandoori, Italian and Continental vie for one’s attention. But before you think that so many cuisines imply a lack of focus on any one, think again. Each dish is prepared with thorough attention given to authenticity and taste.

What Executive Chef Shailesh Verma has done is to highlight a different cuisine on each day of the week. So while the biryani and the kababs are a staple, the remaining dishes out of the 104 served everyday keep changing. The restaurant also has the option that just in case a guest doesn’t like anything from the entire spread, the chefs will make something special for him or her as per their taste!

We tried a whole lot of things including dishes not on the buffet that day. Chef Verma made it a point to have us try the

restaurant’s signature dishes. The ones we tried were the Mutton Pepper Fry and the thin crust vegetarian pizza. The mutton was tender and spicy, cooked Delhi style which meant the garam masala gave it a different flavour from the local version.

lentils made into a batter and fried. My friend who accompanies me reveals that this is not a dish that is commonly prepared and certainly unusual for a buffet. It is a tasty dish, a cross between a Dal Wada and a Bhajji.

The pizza was laden with peppers and cheese, making it a meal in itself. A Tandoori platter of vegetarian and nonvegetarian kababs was equally well made.

We recommend this as a filling option if the buffet is too much for you. The platter consists of Bharwan Aloo, Vegetable Sheekh Kababs, Tandoori Gobi, Paneer and Corn; Achari Jhinga, Lamb Sheek Kabab, Tangdi Kabab, Achari Fish and Chicken Tikka. Depending on your liking, you can opt for the vegetarian or meat platter.

For the mains, we tried the Vilayati Sabji, which was a mix of English veggies in an Onion Tomato Gravy tempered with cumin and chilli, as well as the roast chicken with rosemary and Schezwan noodles with 5 treasure vegetables. The Vilayati Sabji is a must try and for those who like to keep it light, the chicken is a good option.

An array of salads left us spoilt for choice and we chose the Chicken Mushroom Salad, the Babycorn in Sumac (a Lebanese seasoning powder made from different spices) along with Hummus and Babaganoush. They were all extremely tasty and refreshing on a hot summer day.

The pineapple salad with pesto coating was different and tasty. What was unusual was a platter of Pungulu – an Andhra style preparation which is a mixture of

The dessert counter had a mix of Bengali and Hyderabadi sweets along with an eggless Chocolate Mousse. The mousse was light on the palate and even after a heavy meal one could finish the serving.

The dishes at Limelight are varied and the mix is interesting. Even if you mix cuisines, you are bound to have a satisfying experience. We recommend the kabab platter, the salads and the Vilayati Sabji other than the usual favourites like the biryani and panneer dishes, which are always wholesome and filling. The buffet costs ` 945 plus tax for lunch and ` 1125 plus tax for dinner.

Limelight Re:Gen:Ta One 115, ISB Road, Financial District, Nanakramguda, Gachibowli, Hyderabad For reservations call +91 40 4925 1111

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MAIN COURSE

Coming Home to

Dakshin Vidya Singh thoroughly enjoyed her experience at the Dakshin, at Sheraton Park Hotel and Towers.

Here’s why!

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It was like coming home, as I walked into the Dakshin at the Sheraton Park Hotel and Towers. The warm welcome and the very familiar surroundings immediately make you feel it’s definitely great to be back here. This is Chennai’s and was Madras’s most iconic Indian restaurant, opened in the 1980’s. Dakshin has endured so many newbies that have come along since then, with great panache and with the steadfast loyalty of

its diehard supporters. The elegant décor with the stunning walls, painted in very Indian jewel tones, a wonderful collection of Tanjore paintings and the well laid-out tables around the room make for a fine dining restaurant that is for most people the first choice when they go Indian.

The wonderful food that takes us across the four Southern states has now been enhanced with the addition of Pondicherry.

Cool and delicious Vasanthi Neer, a tender coconut drink with honey and lime greets us as we settle in. Chef Harish chats with us, and we request him to keep the portions small, for purely selfish reasons – so that we can eat a little of most things!

Little samplings of chutneys are set in a corner of our thalis, and we get the tiny banana dosa – a creation of Dakshin’s famous Chef Paramasivam Iyer, who was the personal chef of the legendary TTK. Sweet and delicious, the dish has retained its fondly remembered taste and is just delicious. The Andhra Pesarattu is also a favourite starter among Chennaiites. The Prawn Masala starter is declared a ten on ten, as is the Masala Vada that was done to perfection.

From Pondicherry, we get a super surprise: two superb salads, Beetroot Saladu made with boiled beets, served with fresh lettuce, tender coconut and peppercorns and Avarakkai Saladu, made with this innocuous vegetable, transforming it into a superb crunchy salad, served with lemon and coconut. I would go back to the restaurant any day just to eat these two dishes. In fact, I immediately began plotting on how to charm Chef Harish into parting with these recipes!

The main courses began appearing at our table in a sequence, and Chef Harish told us how most diners that come to the Dakshin like to eat a thali meal rather than order a la carte, as everyone likes to sample different varieties of food and there are several thali options on offer to suit everyone’s taste.

Champa and Sharmila being the serious meat lovers, were served an amazing Langoute Curry from Pondicherry, a mildly spiced lobster in a gravy, and a Kaadai Curry, quail cooked with pepper, coriander and cloves. These two unusual dishes were made to perfection. The Kozhi Patchai Varuval was a combination of chicken cooked with raw cashew nut and there was also a Thengakai Kori, that was chicken with a very mildly spiced coconut curry. My friends who had now doubled up as my tasters declared that both were great.

Just as we thought that there could not possibly be more, Chef sent out the Syrian Kozhi Ishtoo, cooked with potatoes, just in time to go with the light and well-made Malabar Parathas: a perfect combination indeed. A special mention must be made of the Attaraitchi Olarthiathu (a name that I could not quite pronounce!). The girls declared in unison that the mutton was tender and succulent with a great blend of spices. By now, I was eagerly awaiting my vegetarian thali and was certainly not disappointed! The range was tantalising – Menthi Vankaya, a favourite of mine; Marakari which was

mixed vegetables in tamarind; Vellari Kichadi, a Malabar cucumber dish in mustard and cooking paste; Padpe Upkari, seasonal greens with onions and coconut shavings, were all accompanied by a superb Tomato Pappu from Andhra, making my little Andhra heart content!

The accompanying selections of rice and pulaos, the idiyappams, and the excellent yogurt set in little clay pots were just perfect. We were already weak-kneed from the flavours and tastes of all the delicious food when Chef Harish sent out his Piece De Resistance – the desserts.

Elaneer Payasam was cooked to absolute perfection, just the way I like it. It was not too sweet, so the flavour of the tender coconut could prevail. The Sri Lankan Vathalappam was also superb, said Champa and Sharmila, but the one that made me swoon was the Kadal Patchee, a pistachio-flavoured blancmange made of China Grass! Every spoonful was so outstanding that it was rather difficult for us to stop at one bowl. Chef Harish has truly created a masterpiece here.

An outstanding Indian meal, in the wonderful ambience of Dakshin, a restaurant that has reserved an iconic status for itself through the years, and the great company of friends smoothed out thoughts of the evening’s exercise to balance all that we had eaten! We reluctantly said our goodbyes and were on our way to a rather lazy afternoon snooze!

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My friends Champa Sen and Sharmila Ramji were with me to help sample the food that Chef Harish showcased specially for us. The place settings have traditional silver thalis that are set in place with banana leaves, katoris and water glasses. A great way to start a meal indeed.

THE RITZ READER Impeccable lineage.

Check. Greek God looks.

Check. Talent. Check. With his pan Indian presence, actor Rana Daggubati ticks many boxes with film fans, not to mention the fairer sex. The charismatic actor is both, the boy next door and the angry young man with ease. Read on as he tells Radhika Rajamani what luxury means to him.

Photo Credits: Southscope, India’s Leading South Film Magazine

What does luxury mean to you?

It simply means spending quality time with the family, ideally a luxurious beach getaway, with beaches of pristine white sand, crystal-clear seas, and some incredible sea food.

What is the one luxury you cannot live without?

I am not too fussy about luxury, but my phone has become not only a habit but also a necessity to stay connected to my work, friends and fans.

What luxury do you insist on when travelling?

When travelling, finding a large king-size bed is sometimes a challenge because of my height and size.

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What is the one holiday destination you’d go back to in an instant?

Goa! One of my most favourite holiday destinations in India. The Sunburn Festival does add to the overall excitement during the holiday season.

Which luxury brands are you a fan of?

My favourite brands are all the Apple products, not sure they qualify as luxury, but for me they are an absolute necessity.

If you were to buy a surprise gift for your girlfriend, what would it be?

I would leave that decision to the day when it does happen.

What according to you, is a colossal waste of money?

Like in my film ‘Leader’, I firmly believe the money that gets wasted due to corruption is a colossal waste as it adversely affects the nation’s economy and people’s lives.

What inheritance would you like to leave behind for your children?

Something as priceless as the amazing wealth of movies in 15 different languages we have inherited from my grandfather, Padmabhushan Dr. D Ramanaidu.

How would you define ‘the good life’ in your own words, and what would the best way to live it, be?

“The good life” is being happy with the simple things in life, the relationships you nurture and the legacy you leave behind.

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