Brew August '15-The Madras Special

CONTEMPLATE. CREATE. LIVE.

SOFIA ASHRAF Content Creator & Rapper of internationally famed video ‘Kodaikanal Won’t’

THE BLACK ARTS The art of the eyes- a peek into the epiphany that is Kannmai BREAK WHAT? A trip to the city’s Sambar and Coffee havens THE ENCHANTMENT THAT IS KAPALEESHWAR The coming alive of art, history and mythology

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URMILA SATHYANARAYANAN Bharatanatyam Exponent

With Madras Day rounding the corner it is only given that the August issue of Brew is a ĐĞůĞďƌĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ DĂĚƌĂƐ͘ ŚĂƌĂƚĂŶĂƚLJĂŵ ĞdžƉŽŶĞŶƚ hƌŵŝůĂ ^ĂƚŚLJĂŶĂƌĂLJĂŶĂŶ ŐůŝƩĞƌƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ĐŽǀĞƌ͘ tŝƚŚ ŚĞƌ ǁĞ ŚĂǀĞ ^ŽĮĂ ƐŚƌĂĨ͕ ƚŚĞ ƌĂƉƉĞƌ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ viral video ‘Kodaikanal won’t’ that the world has ďĞĞŶ ƐŚŽƵƟŶŐ ĂďŽƵƚ͘ tŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ĨŽƌŵĞƌ ƉĞƌĐŚĞĚ ĂƚŽƉ ƚŚĞ ůĂĚĚĞƌ ŽĨ ƐƵĐĐĞƐƐ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ůĂƩĞƌ ƐůŽǁůLJ but surely making her way up, we give you the best of both worlds. The pages are riddled with fashion, food, culture and travel stories on Madras. Read on and fall in love with the city all over again.

Vilani Senthamil Editor

The Brew Magazine is based on the Lifestyle and Entertainment genre and has seen stupendous growth in the past four and a half years of its existence. Based on its tagline ‘Contemplate. Create.

Live’, it urges readers to contemplate, create and liveŝŶ ƚŚĂƚ ŽƌĚĞƌ͘ &ĞĂƚƵƌŝŶŐ ŚƵŵĂŶ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ƐƚŽƌŝĞƐ͕ ĂƌƟĐůĞƐ ĂďŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ĨĂŵĞĚ ĂƌƟƐƚƐ ĂŶĚ ĞůŝƚĞ ůŝĨĞƐƚLJůĞ ƐƚŽƌŝĞƐ͕ ǁĞ ĂƌĞ ŝŵŵĂĐƵůĂƚĞůLJ ƐĞůĞĐƟǀĞ ĂďŽƵƚ ŽƵƌ ĐŽŶƚĞŶƚ͘ With the support of the advisory and contributory board comprising of a team of great individuals, we host a minimum of eight events a year as well.

Sameer Bharat Ram Publisher and CEO

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CONTRIBUTORS & ADVISORY BOARD Thota Tharani ƐĞŶŝŽƌ /ŶĚŝĂŶ Įůŵ Ăƌƚ ĚŝƌĞĐƚŽƌ ĂŶĚ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƟŽŶ ĚĞƐŝŐŶĞƌ ǁŚŽ ŚĂƐ ǁŽƌŬĞĚ in Tamil cinema, Telugu cinema, Malayalam cinema and Bollywood. He has won ƚǁŽ EĂƟŽŶĂů &ŝůŵ ǁĂƌĚƐ͕ ƚǁŽ &ŝůŵĨĂƌĞ ǁĂƌĚƐ ^ŽƵƚŚ ĂŶĚ ĨŽƵƌ dĂŵŝů EĂĚƵ ^ƚĂƚĞ &ŝůŵ ǁĂƌĚƐ͘ ,ŝƐ ǁŽƌŬ ĐŽŶƐŝƐƚƐ ŽĨ ƉĂŝŶƟŶŐƐ͕ ŵƵƌĂůƐ͕ ƉĂƉĞƌ ĐŽůůĂŐĞƐ͕ ǁŽŽĚĞŶ ŵŽŶƚĂŐĞƐ͕ ŝŶƐƚĂůůĂƟŽŶƐ ĂŶĚ ƐŽ ŽŶ COVER CREDITS G Venket Ram A leading Indian fashion photographer, who has shot principal photography ƐƟůůƐ ĨŽƌ ƐĞǀĞƌĂů ŶŽƚĂďůĞ ĮůŵƐ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ƉŽƌƞŽůŝŽƐ͘ ,Ğ ƋƵŝƚ ŚŝƐ ĞŶŐŝŶĞĞƌŝŶŐ ƐƚƵĚŝĞƐ ƚŽ ǁŽƌŬ ǁŝƚŚ ĐŝŶĞŵĂƚŽŐƌĂƉŚĞƌƐ ĨŽƌ Ă ǁŚŝůĞ͕ ĂŌĞƌ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŚĞ ũŽŝŶĞĚ Ă ĐŽƵƌƐĞ ŝŶ sŝƐƵĂů ŽŵŵƵŶŝĐĂƟŽŶ Ăƚ >ŽLJŽůĂ ŽůůĞŐĞ͘ ,Ğ ƚŚĞŶ ǁŽƌŬĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ƉŚŽƚŽŐƌĂƉŚĞƌ ^ŚĂƌĂĚ ,ĂŬƐĂƌ ĂŶĚ in 1993, he started his own studio

PHOTOGRAPHER Rahul Dev VENUE ƋƵĂ͕ dŚĞ WĂƌŬ STYLING Naturals

Mallika Sarabhai Educated as an economist and business manager, she is one of India’s best-known classical dancers. She has taken her work and her company ‘Darpana’ to not only over 90 countries around the world, but also to the most remote parts of India

Neeru Nanda ŐƌĂĚƵĂƚĞ ĨƌŽŵ ĞůŚŝ hŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJ͕ ƐŚĞ͛Ɛ ƉĂƐƐŝŽŶĂƚĞ ĂďŽƵƚ ǁƌŝƟŶŐ͘ She freelanced as a feature writer for ten years before switching to publishing. ƵƚŚŽƌ ŽĨ Ă ĐŽůůĞĐƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƐŚŽƌƚ ƐƚŽƌŝĞƐ ƟƚůĞĚ ͚/&͕͛ ƐŚĞ ŚĂƐ ĂůƐŽ ǁŽƌŬĞĚ ŽŶ ŶŽǀĞůƐ ĂŶĚ ƐŚŽƌƚ stories for children

Ashok Verghese KŶĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ LJŽƵŶŐĞƐƚ ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ ĞŶƚƌĞƉƌĞŶĞƵƌƐ ǁŚŽ ŝƐ ŵĂŬŝŶŐ Ă ŐƌĞĂƚ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶĐĞ ŝŶ ƚŚŝƐ ĮĞůĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĐŽƵŶƚƌLJ͘ ,Ğ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ŝƌĞĐƚŽƌ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ,ŝŶĚƵƐƚĂŶ ŐƌŽƵƉ ŽĨ /ŶƐƟƚƵƟŽŶƐ͕ ŽŶĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƉŝŽŶĞĞƌŝŶŐ ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶĂů ŐƌŽƵƉƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĐŽƵŶƚƌLJ͘ ,Ğ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚƐ ƚŚĞ ĐĂƵƐĞ ŽĨ ƉƌŽŵŽƟŶŐ LJŽƵŶŐ ƚĂůĞŶƚ ŝŶ Ăƌƚ ĂŶĚ ŵƵƐŝĐ

Veejay Sai Ŷ ĂǁĂƌĚͲǁŝŶŶŝŶŐ ǁƌŝƚĞƌ͕ ĞĚŝƚŽƌ ĂŶĚ Ă ĐƵůƚƵƌĞ ĐƌŝƟĐ͘ ,Ğ ŚĂƐ ǁƌŝƩĞŶ and published extensively on Indian classical music, fashion, theatre, food and art, and loves traveling, researching literary and cultural history. He is an editorial consultant ǁŝƚŚ ŽǀĞƌ ϰϬ ďƌĂŶĚƐ ĂŶĚ ĚĞƐŝŐŶĞƌƐ ŝŶ ĂŶĚ ŽƵƚƐŝĚĞ /ŶĚŝĂ ĂŶĚ ŝƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ũƵƌLJ ĨŽƌ ƐĞǀĞƌĂů ƉƌĞƐƟŐŝŽƵƐ ĂǁĂƌĚƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĂƌƚƐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ƚŚĞ ĐŽƵŶƚƌLJ

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INTERNAL TEAM FEATURE WRITERS ^ĂŶũĂŶĂ 'ĂŶĞƐŚ Prerna Kalbag SENIOR DESIGNER Jesu Durai JUNIOR DESIGNER sŝũĂLJ ^ŝŶŐŚ EĂƚŚĂǁĂƚ PHOTOGRAPHER Shiva Balaswaminathan CIRCULATION HEAD Sasi Kumar

Mail to editor.thebrewmagazine@ gmail.com for advertisement queries/feedback

C O N T E N T S

Contemplate COUNT ME IN ďƌŝĞĨ ƐƵŵŵĂƌLJ ŽĨ ͚ ŚĞŶŶĂŝ sŽůƵŶƚĞĞƌƐ͕͛ Ă ŶŽŶͲƉƌŽĮƚ ŽƌŐĂŶŝƐĂƟŽŶ based in Chennai

Create IN ALL HER GLORY Bharatanatyam exponent Urmila Sathyanarayanan talks about how pursuing your passions can be by itself, a stress buster

BUILDING MEMORIES WƌĂƟƐŚ ĞǀĚŽƐƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ŚĞĂĚ ŽĨ s'E ƵŝůĚĞƌƐ ƚĂůŬƐ ĂďŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ ͚ƌĞĂů͛ ĞƐƚĂƚĞ

MADRAS THROWS A GRENADE /Ŷ ƚŚĞ ĨŽƌŵ ŽĨ Ă ĐŽŶƚĞŶƚ ĐƌĞĂƚŽƌ ĂŶĚ ƌĂƉƉĞƌ͕ ^ŽĮĂ ƐŚƌĂĨ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĨĂŵĞĚ ‘Kodaikanal Won’t’ video gets candid

AWARDS FOR MUSIC VETERANS ƌƚ ĂŶĚ ŐůŽƌŝĮĐĂƟŽŶͲ Ă ƐŽĐŝĞƚLJ͛Ɛ ƌĞĐŝƉƌŽĐĂƟŽŶ ĨŽƌ ŝƚƐ ĂƌƟƐƚĞƐ

Live THE BLACK ARTS The art of the eyes- a peek into the epiphany that is Kannmai

CHENNAI AND THE CHIC ƐƵŵŵĂƌLJ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĐŝƚLJ͛Ɛ ďĞƋƵĞĂƚŚŵĞŶƚƐ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĂƌĐŚŝǀĞƐ ŽĨ ƐƚLJůĞ

BREAK WHAT? A trip to the city’s food havens

THE ENCHANTMENT THAT IS KAPALEESHWAR The coming alive of art, history and mythology

FISH, FISH FOLK AND FOLK LORE ŐůŝŵƉƐĞ ŝŶƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĚŝƐƟŶĐƚ ǁŽƌůĚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǁĂƚĞƌƐ͕ Ă ƚƌŝƉ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ East Coast Road, Chennai

BREW PICKS Check out the latest trends that are all set to take over town this month

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By Vilani Senthamil | MAY 2015 | BREW LIFE STYLE & ENTERTAINMENT | 8

ew Br ith eW lat p tem on C #

COUNT ME IN! With light to the Madras special issue, it was all but necessary to cover a Chennai based nonprofit organisation.

Vilani Senthamil brings to you the very organisation that will be of utmost relevance to you, the Chennai Volunteers.

W

ant to lend a helping hand when you ŚĂǀĞ ĂŶŽƚŚĞƌ ĨƵůůͲƟŵĞ ĐŽŵŵŝƚŵĞŶƚ͍ ŚĞŶŶĂŝ sŽůƵŶƚĞĞƌƐ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ƉůĂƞŽƌŵ LJŽƵ should approach. Partnered with 75 E'K͛Ɛ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ƚŚĞ ĐŝƚLJ͕ ƚŚĞLJ ĂůůŽƚ Ă ǁŽƌŬŝŶŐ ƐĐŚĞĚƵůĞ ŝŶ ůŝŶĞ ǁŝƚŚ LJŽƵƌ ƐŬŝůůƐĞƚ ĂŶĚ ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ ƟŵĞ͘ ďƌĂŝŶĐŚŝůĚ ŽĨ ZŝŶŬƵ DĞĐŚĞƌŝ ĂŶĚ ^ĂŵLJƵŬƚŚĂ 'ƵƉƚĂ͕ ŚĞŶŶĂŝ sŽůƵŶƚĞĞƌƐ ŝƐ Ă ƉůĂƞŽƌŵ ĨŽƌ Ăůů ĂŶĚ ƐƵŶĚƌLJ͘ >Ğƚ͛Ɛ ůĞĂƌŶ more.

RESOLVE A family trust that was involved in individual ĨƵŶĚŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ƐƉŽŶƐŽƌŝŶŐ͕ ƚŚĞ DĞĐŚĞƌŝ &ŽƵŶĚĂƟŽŶ ŝƐ ĚŝƐƟŶŐƵŝƐŚĞĚ͘ ZŝŶŬƵ ŽĨ DĞĐŚĞƌŝ &ŽƵŶĚĂƟŽŶ ĞdžƉůĂŝŶƐ ŚŽǁ ƚŚĞLJ ďĞŐĂŶ ƚŚŝƐ ƐŽĐŝĂů ŝŶŝƟĂƟǀĞ͘ ͞/Ŷ ƚŚĞ LJĞĂƌ 2011, we decided to create an outreach of Mecheri &ŽƵŶĚĂƟŽŶ͘ DLJ ŚƵƐďĂŶĚ ZĂũĞĞǀ DĞĐŚĞƌŝ͕ ǁŚŽ ŝƐ ĂůƐŽ a part of the Trust, suggested we should create a base ĨŽƌ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ƚŽ ǀŽůƵŶƚĞĞƌ͘ &Žƌ ŝŶƐƚĂŶĐĞ͕ ŝŶ LJŽƵƌ ĨƌĞĞ ƟŵĞ if you would like to help some one or volunteer for a cause, you won’t know where to go so you end up ĚƌŽƉƉŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ŝĚĞĂ͘ ŚĞŶŶĂŝ sŽůƵŶƚĞĞƌƐ͕ ďŽƵŐŚƚ ĂďŽƵƚ ďLJ ŵLJ ĨƌŝĞŶĚ ^ĂŵLJƵŬƚŚĂ 'ƵƉƚĂ ĂŶĚ /͕ ďƌŝĚŐĞƐ ƚŚŝƐ ŐĂƉ͘ &ŝƌƐƚůLJ͕ ǁĞ ǁĂŶƚĞĚ ĂŶ ŽƵƚƌĞĂĐŚ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ĨŽƵŶĚĂƟŽŶ͘ Secondly, there was a gap between people who wanted to volunteer and the right place that they

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“Firstly, we wanted an outreach for the foundation.

Secondly, there was a gap between people who wanted to volunteer and the right place that they could go to spend their time and skills”

ĐŽƵůĚ ŐŽ ƚŽ ƐƉĞŶĚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƟŵĞ ĂŶĚ ƐŬŝůůƐ͘͟ Over a span of three and a half years, they ŚĂǀĞ ƉĂƌƚŶĞƌĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ϳϱ E'K͛Ɛ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƟŶŐ various causes from all over the city. On ƐŝŐŶŝŶŐ ƵƉ ǁŝƚŚ ŚĞŶŶĂŝ sŽůƵŶƚĞĞƌƐ͕ ŽŶĞ ŚĂƐ ĂĐĐĞƐƐ ƚŽ ǁŽƌŬŝŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ E'K͛Ɛ ŽĨ Ăůů possible spectrums. Be it food banks that distribute food for school children, ƐĐŚŽŽůƐ ƚŚĂƚ ƚĞĂĐŚ ĮƌƐƚ ŐĞŶĞƌĂƟŽŶ ŬŝĚƐ ƐƉŽŬĞŶ ŶŐůŝƐŚ͕ ƌĞĐƌĞĂƟŽŶ ŐƌŽƵƉƐ ƚŚĂƚ set up local libraries, workshops with specially-abled children or concern for ĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚ ĂŶĚ ĂŶŝŵĂů ǁĞůĨĂƌĞ͘ ͞dŚĞ E'K ƐŚŽƵůĚ ŚĂǀĞ Ă ǁŽƌƚŚLJ ŝŶƚĞŶƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ĐƌĞĚŝďŝůŝƚLJ͘ dŚĞƌĞ ĂƌĞ ƐŽ ŵĂŶLJ E'K͛Ɛ ŝŶ

Chennai that are progressing and need ĂĐƟǀĞ ǀŽůƵŶƚĞĞƌƐ͕͟ ĚĞƚĂŝůƐ ZŝŶŬƵ͘ ^ŚĞ ĂĚĚƐ͕ ͞ ŚĞŶŶĂŝ sŽůƵŶƚĞĞƌƐ ŝƐ ƐŝŵƉůLJ Ă ƉůĂƞŽƌŵ͘ tĞ ĂƌĞ ƐƚĂƵŶĐŚ ĂďŽƵƚ ďĞŝŶŐ Ă ŶŽŶͲƉƌŽĮƚ ĂƐƐŽĐŝĂƟŽŶ͕ ůŝƚĞƌĂůůLJ͘͟

VOLUNTEER ŚĞŶŶĂŝ sŽůƵŶƚĞĞƌƐ ŽŶ Ă ĚĞĞƉĞƌ ůĞǀĞů ŝƐ a channel to convert one’s thought to ĂĐƟŽŶ͘ dŚĞLJ ĂŶĂůLJƐĞ ǁŚĞƌĞ LJŽƵ ǁĂŶƚ ƚŽ ĐŽŶƚƌŝďƵƚĞ LJŽƵƌ ƟŵĞ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ĐĂƵƐĞ ŝƐ ŵŽƐƚ ƐƵŝƚĂďůĞ ĨŽƌ LJŽƵ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ƟŵĞ you have in mind, before they begin ĂůůŽĐĂƟŶŐ ĂŶ E'K ĨŽƌ LJŽƵ͘ tŝƚŚ ǁĞĞŬĞŶĚ

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ĂŶĚ ǁĞĞŬĚĂLJ ĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ͕ ůŽŶŐ͕ ƐŚŽƌƚ ĂŶĚ medium term volunteering, they also work to get the maximum out of you. Are ƚŚĞƌĞ ůŝŵŝƚĂƟŽŶƐ ƚŽ ǀŽůƵŶƚĞĞƌ͍ ͞WĞŽƉůĞ from any age groups can volunteer. We ŚĂǀĞ ĞǀĞŶ ƌĞƟƌĞĚ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ĂŶĚ ƐĐŚŽŽů ŬŝĚƐ signing up! Corporate volunteers who want to engage in their CSR’s, college students to schedule their community service and rotary club members come in large groups.

Be it professionals who want to help other ƉĞŽƉůĞ ďLJ ƚĞĂĐŚŝŶŐ ƚŚĞŵ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƉĂƌƟĐƵůĂƌ skill, people who have taken a break from ƚŚĞŝƌ ũŽď ĨŽƌ ϮͲϲ ŵŽŶƚŚƐ Žƌ ĨŽƌĞŝŐŶĞƌƐ ǁŚŽ ǁĂŶƚ ƚŽ ĐŽŶƚƌŝďƵƚĞ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƟŵĞ͕ ǁĞ ŚĂǀĞ Ăůů ŬŝŶĚƐ ŽĨ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ĐŽŵŝŶŐ ƚŽ ƵƐ͘͟

“People from any age groups can volunteer.

We have even retired people and school kids signing up!”

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THRIVE Enthusiasm and happiness is a completely unchartered territory ƚŚĂƚ ĐĂŶŶŽƚ ďĞ ďƌĞĂĐŚĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ĮŶĂŶĐĞƐ ĂůŽŶĞ͘ &ŝŶĂŶĐŝĂů ĂŶĚ ĐĂƌĞĞƌ development is inherent, yes. But there is no denying that only helping others in need, adds to your growth as an individual. Rinku ĂŐƌĞĞƐ ĨĞƌǀĞŶƚůLJ͘ ͞tŚĞŶ / ƐƚĂƌƚĞĚ ŽƵƚ ƚŽ ǀŽůƵŶƚĞĞƌ͕ / ƚŚŽƵŐŚƚ / ǁŽƵůĚ ďĞ ĐŽŶƚƌŝďƵƟŶŐ ƐŽŵĞƚŚŝŶŐ͘ /ƚ ǁĂƐ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŵƉůĞƚĞ ŽƉƉŽƐŝƚĞ͘ tŚĂƚ ǁĞ ĂƌĞ ĚŽŝŶŐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ ŝƐ ũƵƐƚ Ă ĚƌŽƉ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŽĐĞĂŶ͘ Ƶƚ ǁŚĂƚ ŚĂƉƉĞŶƐ within you when you do so is sublime. You become richer at heart ĂŶĚ ƐŽƵů͘͟ ŚĞŶŶĂŝ sŽůƵŶƚĞĞƌƐ ŚĂƐ ŐƌŽǁŶ ŽƌŐĂŶŝĐĂůůLJ ŽǀĞƌ ƚŚĞ LJĞĂƌƐ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞƐ ƚŽ ĚŽ ƐŽ͘ /ƚ ĚĞĮŶŝƚĞůLJ ŚĂƐ ƚŚĞ ƉŽƚĞŶƟĂů ƚŽ ďĞĐŽŵĞ Ă ŶĂƟŽŶĂů ƉůĂƞŽƌŵ͘ sŝƐŝƚ ƚŚĞŵ ŶŽǁ ƚŽ ŵĂŬĞ Ă ƌĞƐŽůƵƟŽŶ͕ ǀŽůƵŶƚĞĞƌ and help others and yourself thrive.

Website: www.chennaivolunteers.org Email: contactus@chennaivolunteers.org WŚŽŶĞ͗ Ϭϰϰ ϲϲϬϵϳϳϲϲ Θ ϵϴϰϬϭϴϮϮϵϵ

“When I started out to volunteer, I thought I would be contributing something.

It was the complete opposite.

What we are doing for the world is just a drop in the ocean.

But what happens in you when you do so is sublime.

You become richer at heart and soul”

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IN ALL HER

GLORY With a cheerful smile on her face, a pleasing demeanour and a swift stride, Bharatanatyam exponent Urmila Sathyanarayanan is a glorious force to reckon with. For the Madras Special issue, Vilani Senthamil has a tete-a-tete with Kalaimamani Urmila Sathyanarayanan.

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ŚĞŶ LJŽƵ ŵƵƐĞ ĂďŽƵƚ ǁŚĂƚ ĚŝƐƟŶŐƵŝƐŚĞƐ ^ŽƵƚŚ /ŶĚŝĂ ĨƌŽŵ the rest of the world, Classical dance comes racing to your mind. By the same token, it is Bharatanatyam with all of its colour and beauty that strikes you when you ƚŚŝŶŬ ŽĨ DĂĚƌĂƐ͘ DĂĚƌĂƐ ŝƐ ŶŽƚ ĐŽŵƉůĞƚĞůLJ ĐŽǀĞƌĞĚ ƵŶƟů ĂŶĚ ƵŶůĞƐƐ LJŽƵ ǁŝƚŶĞƐƐ Ă ŚĂƌĂƚĂŶĂƚLJĂŵ ƌĞĐŝƚĂů ŝŶ ŽŶĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞƐƟŐŝŽƵƐ ^ĂďŚĂƐ͘ hƌŵŝůĂ ^ĂƚŚLJĂŶĂƌĂLJĂŶĂŶ ƚĂůŬƐ ĂďŽƵƚ ŚŽǁ ƉƵƌƐƵŝŶŐ LJŽƵƌ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ĂĐƟǀĞůLJ ĐĂŶ ďƌŝŶŐ you all the happiness in the world.

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“I don’t remember my first few classes as I was so little when I started out! The first time I performed onstage, I played the role of little Krishna with all the seniors”

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PIROUETTING AROUND THE WORLD /Ŷ ŚĞƌ ůŽŶŐ ŵĂƌƌŝĂŐĞ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ Ăƌƚ ĨŽƌŵ͕ ƚŚĞ ĂƌƟƐƚ ŚĂƐ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĞĚ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ƚŚĞ ŐůŽďĞ ĐŽƵŶƚůĞƐƐ ƟŵĞƐ͘ ZĞĐĞŶƚůLJ͕ ƐŚĞ ƚŽƵƌĞĚ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ ƚŽ ƉƌĞƐĞŶƚ ͚DĞĞƌĂͲ dŚĞ >ŽƚƵƐ ŽĨ WƌĞŵ͕͛ Ă ƚŚĞŵĂƟĐ ŐƌŽƵƉ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƟŽŶ͘ ^ŚĞ ƌĂƟŽŶĂůŝnjĞƐ ǁŚLJ ƐŚĞ ĐŚŽƐĞ ƚŽ ƉŽƌƚƌĂLJ ƚŚĞ ĐŚĂƌĂĐƚĞƌ DĞĞƌĂ͘ ͞dŚĞ ŝĚĞĂ ŽĨ ƉŽƌƚƌĂLJŝŶŐ ^ĂŝŶƚ DĞĞƌĂ ĂƉƉĞĂůĞĚ to me tremendously. She was born as a princess with a golden spoon and yet she gave up everything for the sheer love she had ĨŽƌ <ƌŝƐŚŶĂ͘ / ŚĂĚ ƚŚĞ ŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƚLJ ƚŽ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵ ƚŚŝƐ ŝŶ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ parts of Chennai. Shankar Kandaswamy who was the direct ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚ ďĞŚŝŶĚ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƟŽŶ ǁƌŽƚĞ Ăůů ƚŚĞ ĚŝĂůŽŐƵĞƐ ĂŶĚ ŶĂƌƌĂƟǀĞƐ͘ tŚĞŶ ǁĞ ĚĞĐŝĚĞĚ ƚŽ ƉƌĞƐĞŶƚ ƚŚŝƐ ĂƐ Ă ŐƌŽƵƉ͕ ^ŚĂŶŬĂƌ ĐŚŽƌĞŽŐƌĂƉŚĞĚ ŝƚ ďĞĂƵƟĨƵůůLJ͘ tĞ ƚƌĂǀĞůůĞĚ ƚŽ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ ƉĂƌƚƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ h^ ĂŶĚ ƐƚĂŐĞĚ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƟŽŶ͘ tŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ĚŝĂůŽŐƵĞƐ ďĞŝŶŐ ŝŶ English, there was an easier reach and the audience was able to ƵŶĚĞƌƐƚĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ƐƚŽƌLJ ŽĨ ƚŚŝƐ ďĞĂƵƟĨƵů ƐĂŝŶƚ͘ &Žƌ ŵĞ ƉĞƌƐŽŶĂůůLJ͕ ŝƚ ǁĂƐ Ă ƚƌƵůLJ ĨƵůĮůůŝŶŐ ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ͕͟ ƐŚĞ ƐŵŝůĞƐ͘ ,ĂǀŝŶŐ ƚƌĂǀĞůůĞĚ to Europe, North America, the Middle East, Australia, Asia and ^ŽƵƚŚ ĨƌŝĐĂ ĨŽƌ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞƐ͕ ŝƚ ƐĞĞŵƐ ůŝŬĞ ŐůŽďĞƚƌŽƫŶŐ ŝƐ Ă component of her profession. Does she ever travel for leisure as ǁĞůů͍ ͞KĨ ĐŽƵƌƐĞ / ĚŽ͘ DLJ ĨĂŵŝůLJ ĂŶĚ / ŵĂŬĞ ŝƚ Ă ƉŽŝŶƚ ƚŽ ƚƌĂǀĞů Ăƚ ůĞĂƐƚ ƚǁŝĐĞ Ă LJĞĂƌ͘͟

DIVINE DECREE ĂŶĐĞ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ Ă ƉĂƌƚ ŽĨ hƌŵŝůĂ͛Ɛ ůŝĨĞ ƐŝŶĐĞ ƐŚĞ ǁĂƐ ũƵƐƚ ƚŚƌĞĞ LJĞĂƌƐ ŽůĚ͘ ͞/ ĚŽŶ͛ƚ ƌĞŵĞŵďĞƌ ŵLJ ĮƌƐƚ ĨĞǁ ĐůĂƐƐĞƐ ĂƐ / ǁĂƐ ƐŽ ůŝƩůĞ ǁŚĞŶ / ƐƚĂƌƚĞĚ ŽƵƚ͊ dŚĞ ĮƌƐƚ ƟŵĞ / ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĞĚ ŽŶƐƚĂŐĞ͕ / ƉůĂLJĞĚ ƚŚĞ ƌŽůĞ ŽĨ ůŝƩůĞ <ƌŝƐŚŶĂ ǁŝƚŚ Ăůů ƚŚĞ ƐĞŶŝŽƌƐ͘͟ tĞůů͕ ǁŚŽ ŚŽŶĞĚ ĂŶĚ ŵŽƟǀĂƚĞĚ ŚĞƌ͍ ͞DLJ ŵŽƚŚĞƌ ǁĂƐ ƚŚĞ ƐŽůĞ ƌĞĂƐŽŶ ĨŽƌ me to pursue Bharatanatyam. She was very interested to learn, but in her days she didn’t get the opportunity to. She decided if she ever had a daughter, she will make sure she provides ƚŚĂƚ ŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƚLJ͕ ĂŶĚ ŚĞƌĞ / Ăŵ͊͟ ĚŝƐĐŝƉůĞ ŽĨ WĂĚŵĂƐŚƌŝ K.N Dandayudhapani Pillai, Kalaimamani K. J Sarasa and Padma bhushan Kalanidhi Narayanan, Urmila is known for her consistent Aramandi, vivacious Abhinaya and nimble footwork. ŽŵŵŝƚŵĞŶƚ ŝƐ ŬĞLJ͕ ĂĐĐŽƌĚŝŶŐ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĚĂŶĐĞƌ͘ ͞/ ŶĞǀĞƌ ƚŽŽŬ Ă ůŽŶŐ break from dancing. Once I completed my Arangetram at the ĂŐĞ ŽĨ ƚĞŶ͕ / ǁĞŶƚ ŽŶ ƚŽ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵ ŝŶ ĐŽŵƉĞƟƟŽŶƐ ŝŶ ƐĐŚŽŽů ĂŶĚ ĐŽůůĞŐĞ͘͟ dŚĞ ĂƌƟƐƚ ĚŝĚŶ͛ƚ ƐƚŽƉ ǁŝƚŚ ƐŝŵƉůLJ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵŝŶŐ ŽŶƐƚĂŐĞ͘ She went to form her own classical academy of dance, Natya ^ĂŶŬĂůƉĂĂ ŝŶ ϭϵϵϲ͘ dŚĞ ŝŶƐƟƚƵƟŽŶ ƚĞĂĐŚĞƐ ĂƌŶĂƟĐ DƵƐŝĐ͕ zŽŐĂ͕ Theory and Thalam ĂƉĂƌƚ ĨƌŽŵ ŚĂƌĂƚĂŶĂƚLJĂŵ͘ ^ƚĂƌƟŶŐ ŽƵƚ ŝŶ Ă ƐŵĂůů ƌŽŽŵ ƌĞŶƚĞĚ ĨƌŽŵ Ă ĨƌŝĞŶĚ͕ ƐŚĞ ŵŽǀĞĚ ƚŚĞ ŝŶƐƟƚƵƟŽŶ ƚŽ Ă ϯ ďĞĚƌŽŽŵ ŇĂƚ͘ tŝƚŚ ƌĂƉŝĚ ŐƌŽǁƚŚ ĂŶĚ ƉŽƉƵůĂƌŝƚLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ŝŶƐƟƚƵƟŽŶ now teaches about 250 students in a two-storey building owned ďLJ hƌŵŝůĂ͘ ͞/ ŚĂǀĞ ƚŽ ƚŚĂŶŬ ŵLJ ĨĂĐƵůƚLJ ƚŚĂƚ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ŝŶƐƟƚƵƟŽŶ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ǀĞƌLJ ƐƚĂƌƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ũŽƵƌŶĞLJ͘͟

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WHAT LIES AHEAD

“Group productions are filled with characters and colours, which can be very appealing.

But I feel that there is always a set of people who will want to witness the traditional solo recital.

The standard of present solo recitals are either top-notch or low below”

^ŚĞ ŚĂƐ ŵĂŶLJ ĂǁĂƌĚƐ ĂŶĚ ƟƚůĞƐ ůŝŬĞ ƚŚĞ ĚŝƚLJĂ sŝŬƌĂŵ ŝƌůĂ <ŝƌĂŶ WƵƌĂƐŬĂƌ͕ <ĂůĂŝŵĂŵĂŶŝ͕ EƌŝƚLJĂ ŚŽŽĚĂŵĂŶŝ ĂŶĚ sĂƐĂŶƚŚĂůĂŬƐŚŵŝ Narasimhachari to her name. The most special of them all is the ‘Best Natyacharya’ or the ‘Best Teacher’ Award from the Indian Fine ƌƚƐ ^ŽĐŝĞƚLJ͘ tŚLJ ƐŽ͍ ͞ ǁĂƌĚƐ ĂƌĞ Ă ƐŽƵƌĐĞ ŽĨ ŵŽƟǀĂƟŽŶ ĨŽƌ Ăůů ĚĂŶĐĞƌƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ůŝŬĞ ĂŶLJŽŶĞ ŝƚ ŝƐ ŇĂƩĞƌŝŶŐ ƚŽ ƌĞĐĞŝǀĞ ƚŚĂƚ ŚŽŶŽƵƌ͘ Ƶƚ ƚŚĞ ŽŶĞ that I was the happiest to receive was the Best Natyacharya Award, as I know how rewarding ŝƚ ŝƐ ƚŽ ďĞ Ă ƚĞĂĐŚĞƌ͘ / ĂůŵŽƐƚ ǁĞƉƚ ǁŝƚŚ ũŽLJ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĂƚ ŽŶĞ͘͟ Rasikas ŚĂǀĞ ƉƌŽĮƚĞĚ ĨƌŽŵ ďŽƚŚ hƌŵŝůĂ͛Ɛ ƐŽůŽ ƌĞĐŝƚĂůƐ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ƚŚĞŵĂƟĐ ŐƌŽƵƉ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƟŽŶƐ͘ ͞'ƌŽƵƉ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƟŽŶƐ ĂƌĞ ĮůůĞĚ with characters and colours, which can be very appealing. But I feel that there is always a set of people who will want to witness ƚŚĞ ƚƌĂĚŝƟŽŶĂů ƐŽůŽ ƌĞĐŝƚĂů͘ dŚĞ ƐƚĂŶĚĂƌĚ ŽĨ present solo recitals are either top-notch or low below. We have to make sure we improve this standard and give a consistent ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ͕͟ ƐŚĞ ĞdžƉůĂŝŶƐ͘ ,ĂƐ ƐŚĞ ĂŶLJ ŽƚŚĞƌ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƟŶŐ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƟŽŶƐ ƵƉ ŚĞƌ ƐůĞĞǀĞ͍ ͞/ ǁŝůů ĚĞĮŶŝƚĞůLJ ďĞ ƌĞŚĂƐŚŝŶŐ ͚DĞĞƌĂͲ dŚĞ >ŽƚƵƐ ŽĨ Perm’ to occupy a larger cast. Since we were travelling abroad the cast had to be limited ƚŽ ϲ ĚĂŶĐĞƌƐ͘ ,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ǁŚĞŶ ǁĞ ƐƚĂŐĞ ŝƚ ŝŶ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ ƉĂƌƚƐ ŽĨ ŚĞŶŶĂŝ ĂŶĚ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ ƉĂƌƚƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĐŽƵŶƚƌLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƟŽŶ ůĞŶĚƐ ŝƚƐĞůĨ ƚŽ Ă ůĂƌŐĞƌ ĐĂƐƚ ĂŶĚ Ă ůĂƌŐĞƌ ĂƵĚŝĞŶĐĞ͘͟ hƌŵŝůĂ ŝƐ a symbol of success in all facets. She claims, ͞/Ĩ LJŽƵ ƉƵƌƐƵĞ LJŽƵ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ǁŝƚŚ ĚĞĚŝĐĂƟŽŶ͕ ƚŚĂƚ ďLJ ŝƚƐĞůĨ ŝƐ Ă ƐƚƌĞƐƐ ďƵƐƚĞƌ͘͟ ^ŚĞ ŝƐ Ă ĮĞƌĐĞ ďĞůŝĞǀĞƌ ŽĨ 'ŽĚĚĞƐƐ ŵďĂů͕ ǁŚŽ ŝƐ Ă ĨĂĐĞ ŽĨ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚ ĂŶĚ ƉĂƐƐŝŽŶ͘ ͞ ǁŽŵĂŶ ŝƐ the nucleus of the family. Her character and spirit inspires the family. I make sure I remain cheerful regardless of my busy schedule as ƚŚĂƚ ŝƐ ŵŽƐƚ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚ͕͟ ƐŚĞ ĐŽŶĐůƵĚĞƐ͘

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| 20 AUGUST JUNE 2015 2015| |BREW BREWLIFE LIFESTYLE STYLE&&ENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT| 20

BUILDING

MEMORIES The Madras based entrepreneur and the head of the real estate company VGN developers, Pratish Devdoss not only creates assets, he creates memories. His admirable focus has taken the company a long way. By Sanjana Ganesh

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ith several years of experience ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĂů ĞƐƚĂƚĞ ĮĞůĚ͕ WƌĂƟƐŚ Devdoss has carved a niche for himself and has expanded several ǁŝŶŐƐ ŽĨ ŚŝƐ ĐŽŵƉĂŶLJ͘ ,Ğ ŚĂƐ ŐŽƩĞŶ ŚŽůĚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ managing reigns much before he was slated to do so. dŚŝƐ ĂĐŚŝĞǀĞƌ͛Ɛ ŶĂƚƵƌĂů ĂďŝůŝƚLJ ƚŽ ƐƵƌǀŝǀĞ ƚŚĞ ƟĚĞƐ ŽĨ change comes from his family that seems to have the real-estate blood ingrained in them. His sky scrapers ĂƌĞ ƌĞĂĐŚŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƐŬLJ͛Ɛ ůŝŵŝƚ͕ ĂŶĚ ŚŽǁ͍ >Ğƚ͛Ɛ ƵŶĞĂƌƚŚ͘

| 21 AUGUST JUNE 2015 2015| |BREW BREWLIFE LIFESTYLE STYLE&&ENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT| 21

ROOTING FOR MADRAS When asked about his childhood ŝŶ DĂĚƌĂƐ͕ WƌĂƟƐŚ ĐůĂŝŵƐ ƚŽ have only good thoughts of the ĐŽīĞĞ ƐĐĞŶƚĞĚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂů͘ ͞/ ĚŝĚ ŵLJ schooling at Don Bosco, Egmore and later in Loyola College. I had a lot of fun. I used to play ĐƌŝĐŬĞƚ ĂŶĚ ĨŽŽƚďĂůů͘͟ dŚĞ ƉĂƐƐŝŽŶ ĨŽƌ ĐƌŝĐŬĞƚ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞĚ ĂƐ s'E Developers went on to be the largest sponsors for the IPL cricket team Chennai Super Kings.

ZĞǀŝƐŝƟŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĚĂLJƐ ǁŚĞŶ &ƌƵŝƚ ^ŚŽƉ ŽŶ 'ƌĞĂŵƐ ZŽĂĚ ǁĂƐ ƚŚĞ most ‘happening’ place in town, he smiles fondly. According to him, there were not many places to visit in Chennai apart from ƚŚĞ ďĞĂĐŚ Ăƚ ƚŚĂƚ ƟŵĞ͘ ^ŵĂůů restaurants in-and-around the area helped them survive the ‘boredom famine’. ͞ ŚĞŶŶĂŝ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ǀĞƌLJ ŬŝŶĚ ƚŽ me. I feel like I have a lot to give back to the society. The family business is based out of the city.

KƵƌ ^Z ĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ ĂŶĚ ĐĂŵƉĂŝŐŶƐ ĂƌĞ ŵŽƐƚůLJ ďĂƐĞĚ ŝŶ ŚĞŶŶĂŝ͘͟ ,Ğ says when asked about why he ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞƐ ůŝǀŝŶŐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĐŝƚLJ͘ dŚĞ ƐŽŌ ƐƉŽŬĞŶ ŶĂƚƵƌĞ ŽĨ ƚŚŝƐ ƐƚŽŝĐ man seems to be his USP while dealing with people. His healthy ĂƫƚƵĚĞ ĂďŽƵƚ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĐŝƚLJ that built him is merely a speck of dust in his grand scheme of things.

JOURNEYING TO CARDIFF ͞ ĂƌĚŝī ŝŶƚƌŽĚƵĐĞĚ ŵĞ ƚŽ ƉĞŽƉůĞ from all over the world such ĂƐ &ƌĂŶĐĞ͕ 'ĞƌŵĂŶLJ͕ ŚŝŶĂ ĂŶĚ Japan. This provided me great exposure. I was twenty one when I did my MBA while the class average was above the age of ƚŚŝƌƚLJ ĮǀĞ͘͟ ŌĞƌ ƐƚƵĚLJŝŶŐ ŝŶ Ă ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ ƉĂƌƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ͕ WƌĂƟƐŚ ĞǀĚŽƐƐ ŐŽƚ Ă ĚŝƐƟŶĐƚ ŇĂǀŽƵƌ

of people from all over the world. He also ƌĞĂůŝnjĞĚ ƚŚĞ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶĐĞ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ ǁĞƐƚĞƌŶ ĂŶĚ ĞĂƐƚĞƌŶ ĨŽƌŵ ŽĨ ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ ǁŚĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ former involved college-work-MBA while the ůĂƩĞƌ ŚĞůĚ Ă ĐĞƌƚĂŝŶ ƉƌŝĚĞ ŝĨ ƚŚĞ D ǁĂƐ ĐŽŵƉůĞƚĞĚ ĞĂƌůŝĞƌ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ŵĞƌĞ ŽďƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶƐ spoke at length about the gentleman’s ideas ĂŶĚ ŽďƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶƐ͘

THE ‘REAL’ ESTATE ĐĐŽƌĚŝŶŐ ƚŽ WƌĂƟƐŚ͕ ͞dŚĞ ƌĞĂů ĞƐƚĂƚĞ ƐĐĞŶĞ ǁĂƐ ŐŽŽĚ ƵŶƟů ϮϬϭϰ͘dŚĞƌĞ ŝƐ Ă light dip in demand now. However, more ŽĸĐĞ ĐŽŵƉůĞdžĞƐ ĂƌĞ ĐŽŵŝŶŐ ƚŽ ŚĞŶŶĂŝ͕ ĞŶŚĂŶĐŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ũŽď ŵĂƌŬĞƚ͘ dŚŝƐ ǁŽƵůĚ mean that the purchasing power in people has increased because of increase in ĞŵƉůŽLJŵĞŶƚ͘ 'ƌĞĂƚ ƌĞĂů ĞƐƚĂƚĞ ǁŽƵůĚ ƐŽŽŶ become more accessible to the public and ůƵĐƌĂƟǀĞ ĂƐ ǁĞůů͘ EŽƚŚŝŶŐ ĐŽƵůĚ ŐŽ ŽŶ ƌĂƉŝĚůLJ ĐƌĂĐŬŝŶŐ͘ dŚĞƌĞ ǁŝůů ďĞ Ă ƐƚŽƉ͘ /ƚ ŝƐ Ă ĐLJĐůĞ͘͟ As managing director of a seventy-four year ŽůĚ ďƵŝůĚŝŶŐ Įƌŵ͕ dŚĞ DĂŶĂŐŝŶŐ ŝƌĞĐƚŽƌ ŝŶ Śŝŵ ƐĞĞŵƐ ƚŽ ďĞ ŽƉƟŵŝƐƟĐ ŽĨ ĨƵƚƵƌĞ͘

LEADING THE PATH When asked if he was inspired by anyone, ͞ZĂƚĂŶ dĂƚĂ͟ ŚĞ ƐĂLJƐ͘ ͞,Ğ ŝƐ ƐŽŵĞŽŶĞ / ůŽŽŬ ƵƉ ƚŽ͘ /ƚ ǁĂƐ ŚĞ ǁŚŽ ŐůŽďĂůŝnjĞĚ ƚŚĞ /ŶĚŝĂŶ

͞'ƌĞĂƚ ƌĞĂů ĞƐƚĂƚĞ would soon become more accessible to the public and ůƵĐƌĂƟǀĞ ĂƐ ǁĞůů͘ Nothing could go on rapidly cracking.

There will be a stop. /ƚ ŝƐ Ă ĐLJĐůĞ͟

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“The decision making process before buying a home is to look out for the reputation of the builder, the other projects that been delivered by them, the location and the cost”

ŵĂƌŬĞƚ͘͟ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ ŶĞdžƚ ƚĞŶ LJĞĂƌƐ͕ WƌĂƟƐŚ hopes to be one of India’s top ten ďƵŝůĚĞƌƐ͘ ^ƚĂƌƟŶŐ ŽƵƚ LJŽƵŶŐ ŐĂǀĞ him the push he needed. In 2004, he ǁĂƐ ƚƌĂŝŶĞĚ ďLJ ŚŝƐ ĨĂƚŚĞƌ ŝŶ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ ĨƵŶĐƟŽŶƐ ƐƵĐŚ ĂƐ ĂĚŵŝŶŝƐƚƌĂƟŽŶ͕ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚƐ͕ ,Z ĂŶĚ ůĂǁ͘ ͞/ ŶŽǁ ƚĂŬĞ ĐĂƌĞ of the complete development wing.

It’s good. I am happy I started out young. I have made all the mistakes / ŚĂǀĞ ŚĂĚ ƚŽ ĂŶĚ ŶŽǁ ŚĂǀĞ ƚŚĞ ƟŵĞ ƚŽ ĐŽƌƌĞĐƚ ƚŚĞŵ͟ ŚĞ ĂŶƐǁĞƌƐ ŚƵŵďůLJ about his accomplishments.

PICTURE PERFECT HOMES ĐĐŽƌĚŝŶŐ ƚŽ Dƌ͘ ĞǀĚŽƐƐ͕ ͞dŚĞ decision making process before buying a home is to look out for ƚŚĞ ƌĞƉƵƚĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ďƵŝůĚĞƌ͕ ƚŚĞ ŽƚŚĞƌ ƉƌŽũĞĐƚƐ ƚŚĂƚ ďĞĞŶ ĚĞůŝǀĞƌĞĚ ďLJ ƚŚĞŵ͕ ƚŚĞ ůŽĐĂƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ĐŽƐƚ͘ KŶĞ ĐĂŶ ůŝǀĞ ŝŶ Ă ďĞĂƵƟĨƵů ŚŽŵĞ but it cannot be in a place like Chengalpetu. An ideal home should be able to host all members of the family in a comfortable manner.

Space is important as those living in small as well as large homes can live happily as long as they choose to. dŚĞ ĂīŽƌĚĂďŝůŝƚLJ ŝƐ ĂůƐŽ ĂŶ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚ ĨĂĐƚŽƌ͘͟

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ew Br ith teW rea C #

MADRAS THROWS A

GRENADE in the form of Sofia Ashraf, the rapper from the ‘Kodaikanal won’t’ video that became a worldwide whirlwind. In conversation with Vilani Senthamil

W

ŝƚŚ ŶĞǁƐ ŽŶ ,ŽůůLJǁŽŽĚ ůŽǀĞ ĂīĂŝƌƐ ĂŶĚ ĮŶŝĐŬLJ ĨĂƐŚŝŽŶ ƚƌĞŶĚƐ ŐŽŝŶŐ ǀŝƌĂů ŽŶůŝŶĞ͕ ŽŶĞ ƐƵƌĞ ĐĂŶ ůŽƐĞ ĨĂŝƚŚ ŝŶ ƐŽĐŝĂů ŵĞĚŝĂ͘ Ƶƚ ƟŵĞ ĂŶĚ ĂŐĂŝŶ͕ ƐŽŵĞ ĐĂƵƐĞƐ͕ ŝĨ ŶŽƚ Ăůů͕ ŐĞƚ ƚŚĞ ĂƩĞŶƟŽŶ ƚŚĞLJ ĚĞƐĞƌǀĞ͘ dŚĞ ͚<ŽĚĂŝŬĂŶĂů tŽŶ͛ƚ͛ ǀŝĚĞŽ͕ Ă ƐƉŽŽĨ ŽŶ ͚ ŶĂĐŽŶĚĂ͛ ďLJ EŝĐŬŝ DŝŶĂũ ƚŽ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚ ƚŚĞ ĐĂƵƐĞ ŽĨ ƌĞŵŽǀĂů ŽĨ ƚŽdžŝĐ ǁĂƐƚĞ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ƚŚĞƌŵŽŵĞƚĞƌ ĨĂĐƚŽƌLJ ŽĨ hŶŝůĞǀĞƌ ŝŶ <ŽĚĂŝŬĂŶĂů͕ ǁĂƐ ƚƌĞŶĚŝŶŐ ŐůŽďĂůůLJ ĨŽƌ Ă ǁĞĞŬ͘ ^ŽĮĂ ƐŚƌĂĨ͕ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶƚĞŶƚ ĐƌĞĂƚŽƌ ĂŶĚ ƌĂƉƉĞƌ ŽĨ the video spills the story.

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WHERE IS THE JUSTICE? tŚĞŶ hŶŝůĞǀĞƌ ůĞŌ ďĞŚŝŶĚ ůŝĨĞ ƚŚƌĞĂƚĞŶŝŶŐ ƚŽdžŝĐ ǁĂƐƚĞ ŝŶ <ŽĚŝĂŬĂŶĂů͕ ƚŚĞ ĚĂŵĂŐĞ ĚŽŶĞ ǁĂƐ ŶŽƚ ƐŚŽƌƚͲůŝǀĞĚ͘ ĞƚĞƌŝŽƌĂƟŶŐ ŚĞĂůƚŚ ĂŶĚ ŚĂďŝƚĂƚ ŽĨ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ůŝǀŝŶŐ ŝŶ <ŽĚĂŝŬĂŶĂů ĨŽƌ ϭϱ ůŽŶŐ LJĞĂƌƐ ǁĂƐ Ă ũŽŬĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĞLJĞƐ ŽĨ hŶŝůĞǀĞƌ͘ tŝƚŚ polluted land and air, the families of workers and the workers themselves ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞ ƚŽ ƐƵīĞƌ ďĞLJŽŶĚ ďĞůŝĞĨ͘ dŚĞƌĞ ĂƌĞ ƐĞǀĞƌĂů E'K͛Ɛ ďĂĐŬŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ǀŝĚĞŽ ĂŶĚ Ăůů ŽƚŚĞƌ ƉƌŽƚĞƐƚƐ ƐŽ ĨĂƌͲ ƚŚĞ ŚĞŶŶĂŝ ^ŽůŝĚĂƌŝƚLJ 'ƌŽƵƉ͕ ƚŚĞ sĞƫǀĞƌ ŽůůĞĐƟǀĞ͕ KƚŚĞƌ ŵĞĚŝĂ ĂŶĚ :ŚĂƚŬĂĂ͘ŽƌŐ͘ dŚĞLJ ŚĂǀĞ ďĞĞŶ ĂƐƐŽĐŝĂƚĞĚ ĚŝƌĞĐƚůLJ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ <ŽĚŝĂŬĂŶĂů tŽƌŬĞƌƐ ƐƐŽĐŝĂƟŽŶ͘ DƵůƟƉůĞ ĂƩĞŵƉƚƐ Ăƚ ƌĞƐŽůǀŝŶŐ ƚŚŝƐ ŝƐƐƵĞ ǁŝƚŚ ƉƌŽƚĞƐƚƐ͕ ůŝƟŐĂƟŽŶƐ ĂŶĚ ƉƵďůŝĐĂƟŽŶƐ͕ ŚĂǀĞ Ăůů ďĞĞŶ ŝŶ ǀĂŝŶ͘ The response from Unilever very shrewdly has been slow and vague. tŝƚŚ ^ŽĮĂ ƐŚƌĂĨ͛Ɛ ƌĂƉ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ ƚŚĞŵ ŐŽŝŶŐ ǀŝƌĂů ĂŶĚ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚ ĂƩĞŶƟŽŶ ĨƌŽŵ Ăůů ŽǀĞƌ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ͕ ƚŚĞLJ ŚĂǀĞ ďĞĞŶ ĨŽƌĐĞĚ ƚŽ ƌĞĂĐƚ͘ ͞/ ŚĂǀĞ been wrongly painted as the face of the video, as the maker of this video, and that is completely wrong. The real people behind the video and cause ŚĂǀĞ ďĞĞŶ ĮŐŚƟŶŐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ <ŽĚĂŝŬĂŶĂů ŝƐƐƵĞ ĨŽƌ LJĞĂƌƐ͘ Ɛ / ǁĂƐ ŝŶ ĂĚǀĞƌƟƐŝŶŐ͕ EŝƚLJĂŶĂŶĚ :ĂLJĂƌĂŵĂŶ͕ ǁŚŽ ŝƐ Ă ũŽƵƌŶĂůŝƐƚ͕ ĂĐƟǀŝƐƚ ĂŶĚ ĂŶ Ăůů ƌŽƵŶĚ ǁŽŶĚĞƌĨƵů ŚƵŵĂŶ ďĞŝŶŐ͕ ĂƉƉƌŽĂĐŚĞĚ ŵĞ͘ ,Ğ ǁĂŶƚĞĚ ƚŽ ĐŽŵĞ ƵƉ ǁŝƚŚ ĂŶ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƟŶŐ ĐĂŵƉĂŝŐŶ͘͟ EŝƚLJĂŶĂŶĚ ŚĂƐ ĂƉƉƌŽĂĐŚĞĚ ^ŽĮĂ ƐĞǀĞƌĂů ƟŵĞƐ ďĞĨŽƌĞ ƚŽ ĐƌĞĂƚĞ ƉƌŽƚĞƐƚ ŵƵƐŝĐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚŝƐ ƉƌŽŐƌĂŵ ĐĂůůĞĚ ͚:ƵƐƟĐĞ ZŽĐŬƐ͕͛ ǁŚĞƌĞ ĂƌƟƐƚƐ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵ ĨŽƌ ĨƌĞĞ͘ dŚĞ :ŽƵƌŶĂůŝƐƚ ƉŽŝŶƚĞĚ ŽƵƚ ƚŚĂƚ hŶŝůĞǀĞƌ ŚĂĚ Ă ƐƋƵĞĂŬLJ ĐůĞĂŶ ƐŽĐŝĂů media presence because of their CSR and sustainability campaign. He wanted to hit them where it hurt, show people the hypocrisy they have been ďůŝŶĚ ƚŽ͘ ͞tĞ ǁĞƌĞ ĚĞďĂƟŶŐ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ Ă ĐĂƐĞ ƐƚƵĚLJ͕ Ă ƐƉŽŽĨ ĂŶĚ Ă ƌĂƉ͕ ǁŚĞŶ ŚĞ ĂƐŬĞĚ ŵĞ ƚŽ ŵĂŬĞ ƚŚĞ ĐĂůů͘ / ĚĞĐŝĚĞĚ ŽŶ Ă ƌĂƉ͘ /ŶŝƟĂůůLJ ŚĞ ƐĂŝĚ ůĞƚ͛Ɛ ǁƌŝƚĞ ŽƵƌ ŽǁŶ ƐŽŶŐ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĂƚ͛ůů ďĞ ďĞƩĞƌ͘ / ǁĂŶƚĞĚ ƚŽ ƐƉŽŽĨ ƐŽŵĞƚŚŝŶŐ͕ ďĞĐĂƵƐĞ ŝĨ ŶŽƚ ĂŶLJƚŚŝŶŐ ĞůƐĞ͕ ŵLJ ĮǀĞ LJĞĂƌƐ ŝŶ ĂĚǀĞƌƟƐŝŶŐ ŚĂƐ ƚĂƵŐŚƚ ŵĞ ƚŽ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĞ ŽŶ pop culture for something to go viral. I picked the song ‘Anaconda’ because ƚŚĞƌĞ ŝŶ͕ ǁĞ ĂůƌĞĂĚLJ ŚĂǀĞ Ă ďŝŐ ĂƵĚŝĞŶĐĞ ŽĨ EŝĐŬŝ DŝŶĂũ ĨĂŶƐ ĂŶĚ LJŽƵ ĂůƐŽ ŚĂǀĞ ĂŶ ĂƵĚŝĞŶĐĞ ŽĨ EŝĐŬŝ DŝŶĂũ ŚĂƚĞƌƐ͘ ůƐŽ͕ ŝĨ ŝƚ͛Ɛ Ă ƚƵŶĞ ƚŚĂƚ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ĂůƌĞĂĚLJ ŬŶŽǁ͕ LJŽƵ ĂƌĞ ƉĂLJŝŶŐ ŵŽƌĞ ĂƩĞŶƟŽŶ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ůLJƌŝĐƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƐŽŶŐ͘ dŚĂƚ͛Ɛ ŚŽǁ ŝƚ ĐĂŵĞ ĂďŽƵƚ͘͟ ^ŚĞ ǁĂƐ ĂůŵŽƐƚ ůŝŬĞ ĂŶ ĂĚǀĞƌƟƐŝŶŐ ĂŐĞŶĐLJ ǁŚĞƌĞ Ă ďƌŝĞĨ ǁĂƐ given to her; she did her due research, made up her mind, wrote the lyrics and crooned the song.

THE WAR IS NOT OVER With 3 million views on YouTube and close to one-lakh signatures on the ƉĞƟƟŽŶ͕ ƚŚĞ ƌĞƐƉŽŶƐĞ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ǀŝĚĞŽ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ŽǀĞƌǁŚĞůŵŝŶŐ͘ ͞dŚŽƵŐŚ ƚŚĞƌĞ ĂƌĞ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ǁŚŽ ŚĂǀĞ ũƵƐƚ ĐŽŵŵĞŶƚĞĚ Žƌ ƚƌĂƐŚĞĚ ƚŚĞ ǀŝĚĞŽ͕ ƚŚĞƌĞ ĂƌĞ ĂůƐŽ Ă ŐŽŽĚ ŶƵŵďĞƌ ŽĨ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ǁŚŽ ŚĂǀĞ ƐŝŐŶĞĚ ƚŚĞ ƉĞƟƟŽŶ͘ dŚĞ ǀŽŝĐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ǁŚŽ ŚĂǀĞ ďĞĞŶ ƚĂůŬŝŶŐ ĂďŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ ĐĂƵƐĞ͕ ƚŚĞ ŝŶũƵƐƟĐĞ ŽĨ hŶŝůĞǀĞƌ ĂŶĚ

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ǁŚĂƚ ŶĞĞĚƐ ƚŽ ďĞ ĚŽŶĞ ĨƵƌƚŚĞƌ͕ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ Ă ůŽƚ ŽĨ ůŽƚ ƵƐĞ͘ hŶƟů ŶŽǁ / ŚĂĚ ŶŽ ďĞůŝĞĨ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ /ŶƚĞƌŶĞƚ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJ͘ / ũƵƐƚ ƚŚŽƵŐŚƚ ƚŚĞƌĞ ǁĞƌĞ Ă ůŽƚ ŽĨ ƚƌŽůůƐ ĂŶĚ ĂƌŵĐŚĂŝƌ ĂĐƟǀŝƐƚƐ͘ / ŶŽ ůŽŶŐĞƌ ďĞůŝĞǀĞ ƚŚĂƚ͘ /ŶƚĞƌŶĂƟŽŶĂů ƉƵďůŝĐĂƟŽŶƐ ŚĂǀĞ ƉƌŝŶƚĞĚ ĂďŽƵƚ ƚŚŝƐ͕ EŝĐŬŝ DŝŶĂũ͕ DĂƌŬ ZƵīĂůŽ ĂŶĚ ƐŚƚŽŶ <ƵƚĐŚĞƌ ƚǁĞĞƚĞĚ ĂďŽƵƚ it, and that has bought the issue into public view. Unilever ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ĨŽƌĐĞĚ ƚŽ ĞdžƉĞĚŝƚĞ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽĐĞƐƐ͘ dŚĞ 'ŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ ŽĨ dĂŵŝůŶĂĚƵ ŚĂƐ ŐŽƩĞŶ ŝŶǀŽůǀĞĚ͘ dŚĞ ŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚ DŝŶŝƐƚĞƌ ŚĂƐ ƉůĞĚŐĞĚ ŚŝƐ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚ͘ dŚĞ dĂŵŝůŶĂĚƵ WŽůůƵƟŽŶ ŽŶƚƌŽů ŽĂƌĚ ƌĞůĞĂƐĞĚ Ă ƉƌĞƐƐ ƌĞůĞĂƐĞ͕ ĂŌĞƌ hŶŝůĞǀĞƌ ƌĞůĞĂƐĞĚ Ă ƉŚŽŶĞLJ ƌĞƉŽƌƚ ƐĂLJŝŶŐ ƚŚĞLJ ĂƌĞ ŶŽƚ ůŝĂďůĞ͕͟ ƐŚĞ ĚĞƚĂŝůƐ͘ tŚŝůĞ Ă ǀŝĚĞŽ alone can’t achieve anything, the fact that so much public ƐĐƌƵƟŶLJ ŚĂƐ ĐŽŵĞ ŝŶƚŽ ƚŚĞ ŵĂƩĞƌ ŝƐ ŚĞůƉŝŶŐ ƚŚĞŵ͘ Ƶƚ ůŝŬĞ ĂŶLJ other news on the Internet, this is going to die down shortly. tŝůů ƚŚĞLJ ďĞ ĚŝƐĐŽƵƌĂŐĞĚ ƚŚĞŶ͍ ^ŽĮĂ ĂŶƐǁĞƌƐ͕ ͞/ ĂŐƌĞĞ͕ ƉƵďůŝĐ memory is short. Unilever is banking on this. But again, this is Ă ϭϰͲLJĞĂƌͲŽůĚ ƐƚƌƵŐŐůĞ͘ dŚĞ E'K ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ĮŐŚƟŶŐ ƚŚĞŵ ƵƐŝŶŐ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ ŵĞƚŚŽĚƐ͘ dŚŝƐ ŝƐ ĚĞĮŶŝƚĞůLJ ŶŽƚ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ ďĂŐ ŽĨ ďƵůůĞƚƐ ǁĞ ŚĂǀĞ ŝŶ ŽƵƌ ĂŵŵƵŶŝƟŽŶ͕ ƚŚĞƌĞ ŝƐ ŵŽƌĞ ǁĞ ĂƌĞ ƉůĂŶŶŝŶŐ ƚŽ ĚŽ͘ KĨ ĐŽƵƌƐĞ͕ ǁŚŝůĞ ŝƚ ŝƐ ŝŶ ƉƵďůŝĐ ƐĐƌƵƟŶLJ ǁĞ ĂƌĞ ƚƌLJŝŶŐ ƚŽ ƉƵƐŚ ŚĂƌĚĞƌ͘͟ ^ŚĞ ŝƐ ŶŽƚ Ă ƐŽĐŝĂů ĂĐƟǀŝƐƚ͘ ĂƐŝĐĂůůLJ Ă ĐŽŶƚĞŶƚ ĐƌĞĂƚŽƌ͕ ƐŚĞ ǁŝůů ďĞ ĚŽŝŶŐ Ăůů ƚŚĂƚ ƐŚĞ ĐĂŶ ďLJ ĐŽŶƚƌŝďƵƟŶŐ ŚĞƌ ƐŬŝůů ƐĞƚ͘

THE PEN IS THE SWORD &ƌŽŵ ďĞŝŶŐ Ă ĮĞƌĐĞ ďĞůŝĞǀĞƌ ŽĨ ŚĞƌ ƌĞůŝŐŝŽŶ ĂŶĚ ƚƌĂĚŝƟŽŶƐ ƚŽ giving up organised religion at the age of 22, her life has been ĐŽŵƉůĞŵĞŶƚĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ƐƚƌŽŶŐ ĚĞĐŝƐŝŽŶƐ Ăƚ ĞǀĞƌLJ ƚƵƌŶ͘ ͞/ ǁĂƐ ďŽƌŶ and bought up in Chennai. When I decided to give up organised religion I realised I needed a change of atmosphere to plough ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ͘ DŽƌĞ ƚŚĂŶ ƚŚĂƚ͕ ŚĞŶŶĂŝ ŝƐ ŵLJ ĐŽŵĨŽƌƚ njŽŶĞ͘ dŚĂƚ͛Ɛ ǁŚLJ / ŵŽǀĞĚ ƚŽ DƵŵďĂŝ͘ tŽƌŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ DƵŵďĂŝ ĨŽƌ ĮǀĞ LJĞĂƌƐ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ĂŶ ĂŵĂnjŝŶŐ ũŽƵƌŶĞLJ ŽĨ ƐĞůĨͲĚŝƐĐŽǀĞƌLJ͘͟ ^ŚĞ ƐƉĞŶƚ ĮǀĞ LJĞĂƌƐ ǁŽƌŬŝŶŐ Ăƚ KΘD ŽŵďĂLJ͕ ŽŶĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ďŝŐŐĞƐƚ ĂĚǀĞƌƟƐŝŶŐ ĮƌŵƐ ŝŶ ^ŽƵƚŚ ƐŝĂ͘ ͞tŚĞŶ LJŽƵ ĂƌĞ Ă ŬŝĚ͕ LJŽƵ ŽŶůLJ ƚŚŝŶŬ ŽĨ ŵĂŝŶƐƚƌĞĂŵ ƉƌŽĨĞƐƐŝŽŶƐ ůŝŬĞ ĞŶŐŝŶĞĞƌŝŶŐ Žƌ Ă ĐŽŵƉůĞƚĞ ĐŽŶƚƌĂƐƚ ĂƐ ĂŶ ĂƌƟƐƚ͘ zŽƵ ĨŽƌŐĞƚ Ăůů ƚŚĞ ŽƚŚĞƌ ŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƟĞƐ͘ / ĚŝĚŶ͛ƚ ŬŶŽǁ / ĐŽƵůĚ ďĞ ĂŶ ĂƌƟƐƚ ĂŶĚ ŐĞƚ ƉĂŝĚ ĨŽƌ ŝƚ͘ ůƚŚŽƵŐŚ / ǁĂƐ ƉƌŝŵĂƌŝůLJ Ă ĚĞƐŝŐŶĞƌ͕ / ƌĞĂůŝƐĞĚ ǁƌŝƟŶŐ ĐĂŵĞ ĞĂƐLJ ƚŽ ŵĞ͘ tŚĞŶ ƐŽŵĞƚŚŝŶŐ ĐŽŵĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ easy to you, you don’t think of it as a profession. That’s how ĂĚǀĞƌƟƐŝŶŐ ĐĂŵĞ ĂďŽƵƚ͘ tƌŝƟŶŐ ǁŝůů ĂůǁĂLJƐ ďĞ ƚŚĞ ƚŽŽů͖ ƌĂƉƉŝŶŐ Žƌ ĂŶLJƚŚŝŶŐ ĞůƐĞ ǁŝůů ďĞ ƚŚĞ ŵĞĚŝƵŵ͕͟ ƐŚĞ ƐĞƩůĞƐ͘

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Music VETERANS Awards For

Time and again religious organizations have vouched their support to performing artistes by reciprocating them in the form of awards. One wonders what do such gestures mean? Are they of any worth and what does it do to the process of art itself? By Veejay Sai

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ƌƚ ĂŶĚ ĂƌƟƐƚĞƐ ŚĂǀĞ ĂůǁĂLJƐ ůŝǀĞĚ on the generous patronage given by royalty and temple-run ƐŽĐŝĞƟĞƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƉĂƐƚ͘ dŚĞ ŝĚĞĂ ŽĨ ŐŝǀŝŶŐ ƐŽŵĞŽŶĞ ĂŶ ͚ ƐƚŚĂŶĂ sŝĚǁĂŶ͛ ǁĂƐ ŶŽƚ ũƵƐƚ to encourage their art, but also to make society around aware of their value in the larger picture. One remembers how the late Kanchi Paramacharya, Satya Sai Baba and ƐĞǀĞƌĂů ŽƚŚĞƌ ŐŽĚŵĞŶ ĂŶĚ ƐĂŝŶƚƐ ƉĂƚƌŽŶŝnjĞĚ

ĂƌƟƐƚĞƐ ůŝŬĞ ƚŚĞ ůĞŐĞŶĚĂƌLJ D ^ ^ƵďďƵůĂŬƐŚŵŝ͕ Wƚ ZĂǀŝ ^ŚĂŶŬĂƌ͕ Wƚ ŚŝŵƐĞŶ :ŽƐŚŝ ĂŶĚ ƐŽ ĨŽƌƚŚ͘ 'ŽŝŶŐ ďLJ ƚŚŝƐ ƌŝĐŚ ƚƌĂĚŝƟŽŶ ŽĨ ďĞŶĞĨĂĐƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ŵƵŶŝĮĐĞŶĐĞ͕ ƚŚĞ ĂŬƐŚŝŶĂŵŶĂLJĂ ^ƌŝŶŐĞƌŝ ^ŚĂƌĂĚĂ WĞĞƚŚĂŵ ŚŽŶŽƵƌĞĚ ůŝĨĞƟŵĞ ĂĐŚŝĞǀĞŵĞŶƚ ĂǁĂƌĚƐ ƚŽ ƚǁĞůǀĞ ǀĞƚĞƌĂŶ ŵƵƐŝĐŝĂŶƐ͘ /Ŷ ĐŽůůĂďŽƌĂƟŽŶ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ^ĂĚŐƵƌƵ Sri Tyagabrahma Aradhana Kainkarya Trust (SSTAKT) headed by ZĂĚŚĂŬƌŝƐŚŶĂ ' ^ŚĞƐŚĂƉƉĂ͕ ƚŚĞƐĞ ĂǁĂƌĚƐ ǁĞƌĞ ŐŝǀĞŶ ĂǁĂLJ ŝŶ Ă ŐůŝƩĞƌŝŶŐ ĐĞƌĞŵŽŶLJ ĐŽŶĚƵĐƚĞĚ ŝŶ ƉƌĞƐĞŶĐĞ ŽĨ ďŽƚŚ ƚŚĞ ŚŽůLJ ƉŽŶƟīƐ DĂŚĂƐĂŶŶŝĚŚĂŶĂŵ ĂŶĚ ^ƌŝƐĂŶŶŝĚŚĂŶĂŵ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ^ƌŝŶŐĞƌŝ Peetham. dŚĞ ^^d <d ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ƐŽůĞůLJ ƌĞƐƉŽŶƐŝďůĞ ĨŽƌ ĐŽŶĚƵĐƟŶŐ ƚŚĞ

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Umayalpuram Sivaraman, vocalists Mangalampalli Balamurali Krishna, K J Yesudas, Sudha Raghunathan and Aruna Sairam, violinist T N Krishnan, ŇĂƵƟƐƚ E ZĂŵĂŶŝ͕ ,ĂƌŝŬĂƚŚĂ exponent T R Kamala Murthy, sĞĞŶĂ sŝĚǁĂŶ Z sŝƐŚǁĞƐŚǁĂƌĂŶ͕ ^ĂdžŽƉŚŽŶŝƐƚ <ĂĚƌŝ 'ŽƉĂůŶĂƚŚ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ĂŶŐĂůŽƌĞ 'ĂLJĂŶĂ ^ĂŵĂũ͘ dŚĞ only Hindustani musician to receive the award was Santoor exponent Pt Shiva Kumar Sharma. Each award carried a purse of rupees one lakh, a gold medal with an image of ŐŽĚĚĞƐƐ ^ŚĂƌĂĚĂ ŽŶ ŝƚ͕ Ă ĐŝƚĂƟŽŶ͕ ƐŚĂǁů͕ Ă ƚƌĂĚŝƟŽŶĂů DLJƐŽƌĞ WĞƚĂ turban and a framed image of ƚŚĞ ĐƵƌƌĞŶƚ ƉŽŶƟīƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ DƵƩ͘ The awards were given away by veteran dancer Sonal Mansingh ĂŶĚ ^Śƌŝ s Z 'Žǁƌŝ ^ŚĂŶŬĂƌ͕ K and administrator of the Sringeri Sharada Peetham. Most of these ĂƌƟƐƚĞƐ ǁĞƌĞ ĂůƐŽ ƐƚŚĂŶĂ sŝĚǁĂŶƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ DƵƩ͘ ^ĞŶŝŽƌ ĂƌƚƐ ĐŽŶƐƵůƚĂŶƚ and curator Usha RK conducted the event. ůĂƌŐĞ ŐĂƚŚĞƌŝŶŐ ŽĨ ŽǀĞƌ ĮǀĞ thousand people gathered to witness this historic event. It was also broadcast the world over through television medium. It was a sight to see each of these veterans beam with pride at their achievement. Speaking to them ĂŌĞƌ ƚŚĞ ĐĞƌĞŵŽŶLJ͕ ĞĂĐŚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞŵ ǁĂƐ ŽŶ ĂŶ ĞŵŽƟŽŶĂů ŚŝŐŚ ĂƐ ƚŚĞŝƌ eyes brimmed over with tears ŽĨ ũŽLJ͘ dŚLJĂŐĂƌĂũĂ͛Ɛ ĨĂŵŽƵƐ A WĂŶĐŚĂƌĂƚŶĂ <ƌŝƟ ͚ ŶĚĂƌŽ Mahanubhavulu’ was large sĞĚŝĐ ĐĞƌĞŵŽŶLJ ŝŶ ŵĞŵŽƌLJ ŽĨ ƐĂŝŶƚ dLJĂŐĂƌĂũĂ Ăƚ dŚŝƌƵǀĂŝLJĂƌƵ ĨŽƌ ŽǀĞƌ ƉĞƌƐŽŶŝĮĞĚ Ăƚ ƚŚŝƐ gathering ŚĂůĨ Ă ĐĞŶƚƵƌLJ ĚƵƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĂŶŶƵĂů ƌĂĚŚĂŶĂ ƟŵĞ ŽŶ WƵƐŚLJĂ ĂŚƵůĂ event.

Panchami.Under the guidance of veteran Chellam Iyer who hails of over five Addressing the ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ^ŚŝƐŚLJĂ WĂƌĂŵƉĂƌĂ ŽĨ dLJĂŐĂƌĂũĂ͕ ƚŚŝƐ ƚƌƵƐƚ ǁĂƐ ĨŽƌŵĞĚ ŝŶ thousand people gathering on the ϭϵϰϬ ĂŶĚ ǁĂƐ ŽŶĐĞ ĂŐĂŝŶ ƌĞŝŶƐƟƚƵƚĞĚ ŝŶ ϭϵϴϰ͘ ŐŶŝŚŽƚƌŝƐ͕ ĂďŽƵƚ occasion, the senior gathered to ϰϬ 'ŚĂŶĂƉĂĂƚŚŝƐ ƌĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƟŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĞdžŝƐƟŶŐ ϭϭϯϭ ^ŚĂŬŚĂƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƉŽŶƟī ŽĨ ƚŚĞ DƵƩ witness this ĨŽƵƌ sĞĚĂƐ ĂƌĞ ŝŶǀŝƚĞĚ ĨƌŽŵ Ăůů ŽǀĞƌ /ŶĚŝĂ ƚŽ ƉĂƌƟĐŝƉĂƚĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ &ŝǀĞͲ said the need of Day Aradhana Programme. This is performed on a grand scale with historic the hour was to take ĐĞƌĞŵŽŶŝĂů ĨĞĞĚŝŶŐ ĨŽƌ ĂďŽƵƚ ĮǀĞ ƚŚŽƵƐĂŶĚ ƉĞŽƉůĞ͕ ŝƌƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞ ŽĨ ĐĂƐƚĞ Žƌ event ownership and cultural ĐƌĞĞĚ͘ sĞĚĂ ^ĂĚĂƐ ŝƐ ĂůƐŽ ŚĞůĚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ ĚĂLJ͘ responsibility of India’s arts and Since 2011, the trust has been honouring some of India’s senior most vedic ĂƌƟƐƚĞƐ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƟĞƐ ďLJ ƚŚĞ ǁĂLJ ŽĨ ƐĐŚŽůĂƌƐ ĂŶĚ 'ŚĂŶĂƉĂĂƟƐ ŽĨ ŚŝŐŚ ŵĞƌŝƚ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ƐĂŵĞ ĂǁĂƌĚ͘ /Ŷ ϮϬϭϯ͕ ƚŚĞ ƚƌƵƐƚ ŚŽŶŽƵƌĞĚ generous patronage. The SSTAKT ĮǀĞ ǀĞƚĞƌĂŶ ĚĂŶĐĞƌƐ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ͚EĂƚĂƌĂũ ^ĂŵŵĂŶ͛͘ dŚĞLJ ǁĞƌĞ Wƚ ŝƌũƵ DĂŚĂƌĂũ ĨŽƌ <ĂƚŚĂŬ͕ has clear future plans of expansion, zĂŵŝŶŝ <ƌŝƐŚŶĂŵƵƌƚŚLJ ĨŽƌ <ƵĐŚŝƉƵĚŝ͕ sLJũĂLJĂŶƚŚŝŵĂůĂ Ăůŝ ĨŽƌ ŚĂƌĂƚĂŶĂƚLJĂŵ͕ ^ŽŶĂů giving fellowships and scholarships DĂŶƐŝŶŐŚ ĨŽƌ KĚŝƐƐŝ ĂŶĚ ŚĂƌĂƟ ^ŚŝǀĂũŝ ĨŽƌ DŽŚŝŶŝĂƩĂŵ͘ to deserving students of arts and dŚŝƐ LJĞĂƌ ƚŚĞ ͚ ŚĂƌĂƚŚŝ dŚLJĂŐĂƌĂũĂ ^ĂŵŵĂŶ͛ ǁĂƐ ŐŝǀĞŶ ƚŽ ƚǁĞůǀĞ ƐĞŶŝŽƌ ŵƵƐŝĐŝĂŶƐ ĐƌĞĂƟŶŐ ĐƵůƚƵƌĂů ĂǁĂƌĞŶĞƐƐ͘ KŶĞ ĂŶĚ ĂŶ ŽƌŐĂŶŝnjĂƟŽŶ͘ dŚĞ ĂǁĂƌĚĞĞƐ ǁĞƌĞ ǀĞƚĞƌĂŶ DƌŝĚĂŶŐĂŵ sŝĚǁĂŶƐ d < DƵƌƚŚLJ ĂŶĚ wishes them all the very best for every such endevour!

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The ever beautiful Kohl, Kajal or more fondly, Kann mai, has been a peripheral slice of our culture since time immemorial.

Vilani Senthamil decodes why Kann mai will never cease to exist

THE BLACK

ARTS I ŶŝƟĂůůLJ ŵĂĚĞ ŝŶ households from scratch with advised herbs, this charcoal paste is entrusted to be a coolant to the eye, to enhance vision and protect the ĞLJĞƐ ĨƌŽŵ ƐƵŶůŝŐŚƚ͘ DŽƚŚĞƌƐ Įůů the eyelids of their new-borns with this ink everyday with diligence, as they deeply believe in its virtues. It’s also a myth that Kann mai is a ŚƌŝƐŚƟ or a shield to the lethal evil eye or ŐůĂŶĐĞƐ ŽĨ ĞŶǀLJ ĨƌŽŵ ƌĞůĂƟǀĞƐ͘ dŚŝƐ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ŽŶůLJ ĐŽƐŵĞƟĐ (although it does seem a tad unfair to call it so) that has been ĂĚŽƌŶĞĚ ďLJ ŐĞŶĞƌĂƟŽŶƐ ƉĂƐƚ

ĂŶĚ ƵŶĚĞŶŝĂďůLJ͕ ŐĞŶĞƌĂƟŽŶƐ to come. A layer of pitch-black Kann mai ŝƐ ƉŝǀŽƚĂů ƚŽ ĨƌƵŝƟŽŶ ĂŶ ŽƵƞŝƚ͕ ĂƐ ƉĞƌ ƚŚĞ ĐƵůƚƵƌĞ ŽĨ this land. It caresses your eye, moulds it to add further depth ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĞƚŚŶŝĐŝƚLJ ŽĨ ĂŶ ŽƵƞŝƚ Žƌ ƐĞƌǀĞƐ ĂƐ Ă ƐƵŐŐĞƐƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƚƌĂĚŝƟŽŶ ƚŽ Ă ŵŽĚĞƌŶ ŽŶĞ͘ ǀĞƌ ŚĞĂƌĚ ŽĨ ĂŶ /ƌŝƐ ŇŽǁĞƌ͍ <ŶŽǁŶ for it heterogeneity of shades with subtle hints of miscellany, ƚŚŝƐ ŇŽǁĞƌ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ŽŶůLJ ĞůĞŵĞŶƚ of nature possessing as many shades as the part of the eye ever grateful to Kann mai, the Iris. In a way, the deep charcoal coloured ink is an arbitrator

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ŽĨ ũƵƐƟĐĞ͘ ZĞǀĞĂůŝŶŐ ŐůŝŶƚƐ ŽĨ gold that might otherwise go ƵŶŶŽƟĐĞĚ ŝŶ ĚĞĞƉ ďƌŽǁŶͲ coloured irises; enhancing clear as crystal milk-chocolate brownirises in all its rarity, almost like Ă ƌĂŐŝŶŐ ďĂƩůĞ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ ĮƌĞ versus coal; grounding ashen irises with a depth of black, to go on to be a fatal marvel; ĐŽŶƐƵŵŵĂƟŶŐ ũĞƚ ďůĂĐŬ ŝƌŝƐĞƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ďĞĂƵƟĨƵů ŽĨ ƚŚĞŵ Ăůů͕ ƚŚĞ ĂĚĚŝƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĐŚĂƌĐŽĂů line on the lower eyelid makes ĂŶ ĂůŵŽƐƚ ƉŽĞƟĐ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶĐĞ͘

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CHENNAI AND

THE CHIC Chennai has been the melting pot of all South Indian culture and couture. This Madras Special, we bring to you some riveting styles that have been indigenous to the city. By Sanjana Ganesh

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o you remember LJŽƵƌ WĂĂƟ͛Ɛ ƉƌŝnjĞĚ Kancheevarams with its crisp folds and elegant ƉĂƩĞƌŶƐ͍ Kƌ ĞǀĞŶ ƚŚĞ ŚĞĂǀLJ ƚĞŵƉůĞ ũĞǁĞůůĞƌLJ laced with stones and ŐůŝŶƚƐ ŽĨ ŐŽůĚ͍ dŚĞ Chennai fashion scene is picking up pace steadily and has always stayed ƚƌƵĞ ƚŽ ŝƚƐ ƌŽŽƚƐ͘ ͚DĂŶũĂů͛ and ‘Rose’ colours used to dominate the trade ĚƵƌŝŶŐ ĂŶĐŝĞŶƚ ƟŵĞƐ͘ Ever since, Madras has ĂĚĂƉƚĞĚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ũĞĂŶƐ ƌĞǀŽůƵƟŽŶ͕ ƚŚĞ ĂŶĂƌŬĂůŝ fad and has even gone through the lungi pant phase-unbruised. Take a look at trends that have ƐƚŽŽĚ ƚŚĞ ƚĞƐƚ ŽĨ ƟŵĞ and have consistently managed to leave us amused.

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PIN IT UP You will not be slain for poking your nose into this one. Bad puns aside, nose pins have been symbolic of ĂĞƐƚŚĞƟĐ ďĞĂƵƚLJ͘ tŝƚŚ ƉĞƌĨĞĐƚ ĚĞĮŶŝƟŽŶƐ ŽĨ sharp features, nose pins in the south are ƚƌĂĚŝƟŽŶĂůůLJ ŵĂĚĞ ŽĨ diamonds. Try your hand at the ‘bullaku’ Žƌ ƚŚĞ ŽdžŝĚŝnjĞĚ ƐŝůǀĞƌ ones if you want to experiment with ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ ƐƚLJůĞƐ͘ EŽƐĞ pins are the perfect pinches of salt to your ĞǀĞƌLJĚĂLJ ĂƫƌĞ͘

FOR GOD’S SAKE KƌŝŐŝŶĂůůLJ ƵƐĞĚ ƚŽ ĚĞĐŽƌĂƚĞ ŐŽĚƐ ĂŶĚ ŐŽĚĚĞƐƐĞƐ͕ ƚĞŵƉůĞ ũĞǁĞůůĞƌLJ ƉĂǀĞĚ ŝƚƐ ǁĂLJ ŝŶƚŽ ƚŚĞ ŵĂŝŶƐƚƌĞĂŵ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĂŌĞƌ ŚĂƌĂƚŶĂƚLJĂŵ ĚĂŶĐĞƌƐ ǁŽƌĞ ŝƚ ĨŽƌ ĚĂŶĐĞ ƌĞĐŝƚĂůƐ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ŶĞĐŬůĂĐĞƐ ĂŶĚ ĞĂƌƌŝŶŐƐ ǁŝůů ďĞ ŚĞĂǀLJ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ǁĂůůĞƚ ďƵƚ ĂĐĐƵƌĂƚĞ ŝŵŝƚĂƟŽŶƐ ĂƌĞ ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ ĨŽƌ ƚŚŽƐĞ ǁŚŽ ĂƌĞ ůŽŽŬŝŶŐ ƚŽ ƌĞƉůŝĐĂƚĞ ƚŚĞƐĞ ĞdžƋƵŝƐŝƚĞ ĚĞƐŝŐŶƐ͘ Ž ŶŽƚ ƉĂŝƌ ƚŚĞŵ ƵƉ ǁŝƚŚ ŚĞĂǀŝůLJ ĞŵďƌŽŝĚĞĚ ƐĂƌĞĞƐ Žƌ ŬƵƌƚĂƐ ĂƐ ƚŚĞLJ ǁŝůů ůŽƐĞ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĐŚĂƌŵ͘ ZĞƉĞĂƚ ĂŌĞƌ ŵĞͲ <ĞĞƉ ŝƚ ƐŝŵƉůĞ͘ 'Ž ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ temple.

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LUNGI-STIC dŚŝƐ ŵĂLJ ĐŽŵĞ Žī ĂƐ ŽŶĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƐƚƌĂŶŐĞƐƚ ŶĞǁ ƋƵŝƌŬƐ ďƵƚ Lungis are in fashion in France ;tŚŽ ǁŽƵůĚ͛ǀĞ ƚŚŽƵŐŚƚ͍Ϳ͘ dŚĞŝƌ ĨƌĞĞͲŇŽǁŝŶŐ ĚĞƐŝŐŶ ĂŶĚ ďůŽĐŬ printed styles have found a niche market in Europe. What is most appreciated about the make is ŝƚƐ ͚ĂŶLJƟŵĞ ĂĚũƵƐƚĂďŝůŝƚLJ͛͘ ƌĞ LJŽƵ ůƵŶŐŝ ĚĂŶĐŝŶŐ ƚŽŽ͍

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M FOR MADISAR Madisars and maamis are inseparable terms. These whole nine-yard sarees hold an elegant poise whenever worn at weddings. Normally ŚĂŶĚĞĚ ŽǀĞƌ ŐĞŶĞƌĂƟŽŶƐ͕ Madisars are possessions close to one’s heart and are worn with a tad bit of ĞŵŽƟŽŶ͘ DĂĚŝƐĂƌƐ ĐĂŶ ďĞ teamed with ‘oddiyanams’ to hold the saree in place and to pack it with a punch.

TOE-TALLY RINGING Toe rings are considered ƌĞďĞů ũĞǁĞůůĞƌLJ͘ &Žƌ ƚŚŽƐĞ who are new to the South Indian world, toe rings or ͚ŵĞƫƐ͛ ĂƌĞ ƐƚƌŝĐƚůLJ ĨŽƌ ŵĂƌried women. This axiom is now being broken by several people who love accessories merely for the way they feel and look.

They come in a range of ƐŚĂƉĞƐ͕ ƐŝnjĞƐ ĂŶĚ ĚĞƐŝŐŶƐ͘

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The whiff of Sambar travelled through the air as the waiter placed a huge bucket in front us. The heady smell of freshly ground coffee was seeping through the kitchen. Idlies were piled up neatly on the plate and there was a cup full of Chakkarai Pongal to complete the meal.

By Sanjana Ganesh

BREAK

WHAT? B

reakfast, the most important meal of the day, is South Indian cuisine’s ŐƌĞĂƚĞƐƚ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚ͘ ͞ Ăƚ ůŝŬĞ Ă ŬŝŶŐ ĂƐ LJŽƵ ďƌĞĂŬ LJŽƵƌ ŵŽƌŶŝŶŐ ĨĂƐƚ͟Ͳ /Ĩ ƚŚŝƐ ŝƐ your dictum, be assured for a thulp feast at these following restaurants. Chennai’s food scene has now expanded greatly and ƚŚĞ ŽƉƟŽŶƐ ĂƌĞ ŶŽǁ ǀĂƐƚ͘ dŚŝƐ DĂĚƌĂƐ special, Brew takes you through the best places in the city to eat the best food of ƚŚĞ ƐƚĂƚĞ͘ LJ ^ĂŶũĂŶĂ 'ĂŶĞƐŚ͘

COUNTRY HOPPINGL’amandier (Continental) dŚŝƐ ƌĞůĂƟǀĞůLJ ŶĞǁ ƌĞƐƚĂƵƌĂŶƚ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ hub for those looking to eat a sumptuous French-English spread. (Longing for their sumptuous accents is impossibilŝƚLJͿ͘ tŝƚŚ Ă ŚŽůŝƐƟĐ ƵŶĚĞƌƐƚĂŶĚŝŶŐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĐƵŝƐŝŶĞ͕ >͛ĂŵĂŶĚŝĞƌ ǁŽƌŬƐ ŽŶ ƉƌĞƐĞŶƟŶŐ the unknown to the city. Their breakfast menu changes every day, hence adding variety. The bright yellow walls, the unmistakable French windows, complete with

Ă ƉĂƟŽ ŐŝǀĞ ƵƐ Ă ƉŝĐƚƵƌĞ ƉĞƌĨĞĐƚ ďƌĞĂŬĨĂƐƚ ƐŝƚƵĂƟŽŶ͘ dŚŝƐ ƋƵĂŝŶƚ bistro is the place to head to if you ĂƌĞ ůŽŽŬŝŶŐ ƚŽ ƌĂƩůĞ LJŽƵƌ ũĞǁĞůůĞƌLJ and be prissy.

DO THE SAMBA(R)- Ratna Café (Sambar idli) As you enter Ratna Cafe, the smell of warm Sambar and ghee welcomes you. With branches in several parts of the city, this breakfast ũŽŝŶƚ ŝƐ ĮůůĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ǀŝƐŝƚŽƌƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬĞŶĚƐ͘ dŚĞŝƌ ƋƵŝĐŬ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ ĂŶĚ lip smacking food is said to avenge the hungry rumble of all stomachs. ͚WŽŽ ƉŽůĂ͛ ĂŬĂ ͚ŇŽǁĞƌ ůŝŬĞ͛ Idlis are ƚŽƉƉĞĚ Žī ǁŝƚŚ ƵŶůŝŵŝƚĞĚ ƐƵƉƉůLJ of Sambar. This is the ideal place to go if you wish to dwell in the ůĂŶĚ ŽĨ ůĞŶƟůƐ͘

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THE AURORA OF AROMA- Hotel Saravana Bhavan (Coffee) RICE TO THE OCCASIONRayar’s Mess (Pongal) Rayar’s mess is not extravagant. It has not tried to expand as ƚŚĞŝƌ ĐŽŵƉĞƟƚŽƌƐ ŚĂǀĞ͘ /ƚ ĚŽĞƐ ŶŽƚ ŚĂǀĞ ĞdžƵďĞƌĂŶƚ ůŽŐŽƐ͕ ĂĞƐƚŚĞƟĐ ƐĞĂƟŶŐ Žƌ ǁĂůůƐ ŝŶ ƉĂƐƚĞů ƐŚĂĚĞƐ͘ dŚĞLJ ŚĂǀĞ ůŝǀĞĚ ůŽŶŐ ĞŶŽƵŐŚ ƚŽ ƐƵƌǀŝǀĞ ƚŚĞ ƐĞǀĞƌĂů ƟĚĞƐ ŽĨ ĐŚĂŶŐĞ ĂŶĚ ƚŚŝƐ ƐƉĞĂŬƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞƐ ĂďŽƵƚ ƚŚĞŵ͘ ϳϬ ŽĚĚ LJĞĂƌƐ ŽĨ ŵĂŬŝŶŐ ŇƵīLJ Idlis, crisp Vadais, Dosais and the best Pongal ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ĐŝƚLJ ŚĂƐ ƚŽ ŽīĞƌ͕ ŚĂƐ ŐŝǀĞŶ ƚŚĞŵ Ă ĨĂŝƌ standing in society. This is one of Mylapore’s best kept treasures.

It is safe to assume that most of South /ŶĚŝĂ͛Ɛ ďůŽŽĚ ŝƐ ƉƵŵƉĞĚ ƵƉ ďLJ ƐŽŵĞ ĮŶĞůLJ ŐƌŽƵŶĚ <ƵŵďĂŬŽŶĂŵ ĞŐƌĞĞ ŽīĞĞ͘ ŽīĞĞ has no biases. It is for the rich and for the poor. It wakes up the sleepy sunken towns ĂŶĚ ĐŚĂŽƟĐ ĐŝƟĞƐ͘ ,ŽƚĞů ^ĂƌĂǀĂŶĂ ŚĂǀĂŶ ŚĂƐ ƚŚĞ ŚŽŶŽƵƌ ŽĨ ďĞŝŶŐ ƌĞĐŽŐŶŝnjĞĚ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ďĞƐƚ ƉůĂĐĞ ƚŽ ŐĞƚ ĐŽīĞĞ͘ dŚĞ ǁĂƌŵ ĞŶǀĞůŽƉ of milk with the right amount of dark ĐŽůŽƵƌĞĚ ĚĞĐŽĐƟŽŶ ŵĂŬĞƐ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶĐŽĐƟŽŶ what it is. You can also choose to customise your morning cuppa.

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CHUTNEY MARY -Murugan idly (Chutney) &ŝǀĞ ǀĂƌŝĞƟĞƐ ŽĨ Chutney with one single Idly or Dosa͍ sŝƐŝƚ DƵƌƵŐĂŶ /Ěůŝ ^ŚŽƉ ƚŽ ŐĞƚ Ă ƚĂƐƚĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ďŝnjnjĂƌĞ LJĞƚ ĚĞůŝĐŝŽƵƐ Chutneys that ŚĞŶŶĂŝ ŚĂƐ ƚŽ ŽīĞƌ͘ &ƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ƚƌĂĚŝƟŽŶ Thenga Chutney (coconut chutney) to others such as tomato, green, peanut and even snake gourd, this place has found a way to make each of these not only palatable but delicious. Remember to also try their Chakkarai Pongal. It possesses the

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RECIPE FOR THE MONTH AUGUST

CAESAR

SALAD INGREDIENTS SALAD ϲ ƚŽ ϴ ůĞĂǀĞƐ ƌŽŵĂŝŶĞ ůĞƩƵĐĞ (small heads) ϰϬ Őŵ ŐƌĞĞŶ njƵĐĐŚŝŶŝ ;ĚŝĐĞƐͿ ϰϬ Őŵ LJĞůůŽǁ njƵĐĐŚŝŶŝ ;ĚŝĐĞƐͿ 40 gm red pepper

METHOD DRESSING

40 gm cherry tomato 40 gm yellow pepper ^Ăůƚ Θ ƉĞƉƉĞƌ ƚŽ ƚĂƐƚĞ

In a large bowl whisk together all ingredients and keep aside.

5 gm thyme 2 tbsp olive oil 2 nos. wooden skewers

CROSTINI RING

30 gm parmesan cheese (shavings)

dĂŬĞ Ă ƌŽƵŶĚ ĐƵƩĞƌ͕ ƌŽůů ƚŚĞ bread slice around the ring ĂŶĚ ƟĞ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ŚĞůƉ ŽĨ Ă thread and deep fry with the ring to retain the shape.

DRESSING ϲϬ Őŵ ǀĞŐĞƚĂƌŝĂŶ ŵĂLJŽŶnaise- proprietary sauce 20gm grated parmesan 30 ml olive oil

SALAD

ϭϬ Őŵ ĚŝũŽŶ ŵƵƐƚĂƌĚ

Marinate all the vegetables ĞdžĐĞƉƚ ƚŚĞ ůĞƩƵĐĞ ǁŝƚŚ ŽůŝǀĞ oil, thyme, salt and pepper.

Skewer the vegetables and Őƌŝůů ŝƚ ƵƉ ƚŽ ƉĞƌĨĞĐƟŽŶ͘

ϲ Őŵ ĮŶĞ ĐŚŽƉƉĞĚ ŐĂƌůŝĐ ϴ Őŵ ŽĨ ĐŚŽƉƉĞĚ ĐĂƉĞƌƐ

BREAD CROSTINI RING ½ Bread loaf thinly sliced ŚŽƌŝnjĂŶƚĂůůLJ Oil for deep frying

GARNISH Ϯ ŶŽƐ͘ ƌĞĂĚ ĐƌŽƐƟŶŝ ƌŝŶŐ 4 nos. caper berry 2 nos. chive ϲ Őŵ ƉĂƌŵĞƐĂŶ ƐŚĂǀĞƐ ϲ ƉŝĞĐĞƐ ŽĨ ďůĂĐŬ ŽůŝǀĞ

PLATING WůĂĐĞ ƚŚĞ ůŝƩůĞ ƐĂƵĐĞ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ĐĞŶƚƌĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƉůĂƚĞ ĂŶĚ ƐƟĐŬ ƚŚĞ ďƌĞĂĚ ĐƌŽƐƟŶŝ ƌŝŶŐ ĂƐ shown in the photograph. ƌƌĂŶŐĞ ƚŚĞ ƌŽŵĂŝŶĞ ůĞƩƵĐĞ in the middle of the bread ring and gently place the grilled vegetables. ƌŝnjnjůĞ ƚŚĞ ĚƌĞƐƐŝŶŐ ŽŶ ƚŽƉ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ůĞƩƵĐĞ͘ 'ĂƌŶŝƐŚ ǁŝƚŚ parmesan cheese, caper berry, chive and olive.

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THE ENCHANTMENT

A trip through the renewed lanes of mythology by Prerna Kalbag

swirl and swish around you, history becomes a lively and poignant ƐŽĂƉ͕ ĂŶĚ ƐĐĞŶƚƐ ŝŶƚĞƌŵŝdž ƵŶĚĞƌ LJŽƵƌ ƐŬŝŶ͕ ƚƌĂŶƐƉŽƌƟŶŐ LJŽƵ ŝŶƚŽ Ă trance.

The Mylapore Connection

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Ŷ ƚŚĞ ƐĐŝŶƟůůĂƟŽŶƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĂŌĞƌŶŽŽŶ ůŝŐŚƚ͕ ƚŚĞ ůĞŐŝŽŶƐ ŽĨ carved gods spring out of the many gopurams like the freshly ĚĞǁĞĚ ŇŽǁĞƌƐ ŽŶ ĚŝƐƉůĂLJ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ĐŽƵŶƚůĞƐƐ ƐƚĂůůƐ ŽƵƚƐŝĚĞ͘ dŚĞ ĂŌĞƌŶŽŽŶ ŚĞĂƚ ŵĂŬĞƐ ĞǀĞƌLJƚŚŝŶŐ ŐůŝƩĞƌ͖ ƚŚĞ ŐƌĞĞŶ waters in the tank, the black stone carvings that seem to house a million stories, and the stone pathways that lead you everywhere inside. Devotees dart and scurry and walk; some with hands pressed across their chests, ĂŶĚ ŵŝƐƚLJ ĞLJĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ŽŌͲƟŵĞƐ ŐůĂŶĐĞ at the burning sky; some fall down on the scorching ground under the sun, ŐŽŽƐĞ ďƵŵƉƐ ĨƌĞƐŚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŇĞƐŚ ĂŶĚ ĞĐƐƚĂƟĐ ŚĞĂǀŝŶĞƐƐ ƉƌŽƚƌƵĚŝŶŐ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƐŝŐŚƚƐ͘ dŚĞ ƚĞŵƉůĞ ŝƐ ĂŶ ĂŵĂůŐĂŵĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƌĂƉƚƵƌŽƵƐ ƐĞŶƐĂƟŽŶƐ͖ ďƌŝŐŚƚ ĐŽůŽƵƌƐ

Kapaleeshwara temple is a place buried in history. Mythology and legends peek and glance from its many cracks and corners, ŵƵĐŚ ůŝŬĞ ƵďŝƋƵŝƚŽƵƐ ĐĂƌǀŝŶŐƐ ŽĨ ^ŚŝǀĂ͕ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŝŵĂƌLJ ĚĞŝƚLJ ĂŶĚ 'ŽĚ ĂŌĞƌ ǁŚŽŵ ƚŚĞ ƚĞŵƉůĞ ǁĂƐ ƐƵƉƉŽƐĞĚůLJ ďƵŝůƚ͘ dŚĞ ŚŝƐƚŽƌLJ ŽĨ this temple also has an intricate bearing on Mylapore itself, the area within which the temple is ensconced. According to the local Hindu mythology, Mylapore derives its name from the Tamil word ͚DĂLJŝů͕͛ ůŝƚĞƌĂůůLJ ƚƌĂŶƐůĂƚĞĚ ĂƐ ͚WĞĂĐŽĐŬ͕͛ ƚŚĞ ŵĂůĞ ĞƋƵŝǀĂůĞŶƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ďŝƌĚ ƚŚĂƚ WĂƌǀĂƟ͕ ^ŚŝǀĂ͛Ɛ ǁŝĨĞ͕ ƚƵƌŶĞĚ ŚĞƌƐĞůĨ ŝŶƚŽ ƚŽ ǁŽƌƐŚŝƉ Śŝŵ͘ >ĞŐĞŶĚ ĂůƐŽ ƐƚĂƚĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ŐŽĚ ƌĂŚŵĂ͕ ĂŌĞƌ ŽŶĐĞ ŽīĞŶĚŝŶŐ Shiva, came down to Mylapore to install a Lingam and appease his ĨĞůůŽǁ 'ŽĚ͘ <ĂƉĂůĞĞƐŚǁĂƌĂ ƚĞŵƉůĞ͕ ƚŚĞŶ͕ ŝƐ ĂƐ ŵƵĐŚ Ă ĐĞůĞďƌĂƟŽŶ of Mylapore as of Shiva. And its not hard to see why; in many ways, ƚŚĞ ĂƌĞĂ ŽĨ DLJůĂƉŽƌĞ ƐĞĞŵƐ ŝŶƚƌŝĐĂƚĞůLJ ďŽƵŶĚ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƟĨ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƚĞŵƉůĞ͘ dŝĞĚ ƚŽ ĞĂĐŚ ŽƚŚĞƌ ďLJ ĂŶ ĞůĂďŽƌĂƚĞ͕ ƐĞƌƉĞŶƟŶĞ ŚŝƐƚŽƌLJ͕ ƚŚĞ homage paid at the temple seems as much a homage paid to the ĂƌĞĂ ŽĨ DLJůĂƉŽƌĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ƐĂŶĐƟƚLJ ŽĨ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJ ůŝĨĞ ĂŶĚ Ăůů ƚŚĂƚ ŝƚ ďĞƋƵĞĂƚŚƐ͘

The entrance The temple has two entrances, one of which features a 40 feet

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ŚŝŐŚ ŐŽƉƵƌĂŵ ƚŚĂƚ ŽǀĞƌůŽŽŬƐ ƌŽǁƐ ŽĨ ƟŶLJ stalls, plump with the smell of incense and ĨƌĞƐŚ ŇŽǁĞƌƐ͘ ŽƵŶƚĞƌƐ ƐĞĞŵ ƚŽ ůĞĂƉ ƵƉ Ăƚ the side, intended to collect footwear. The blistering sun screams down on the narrow ƉĂƚŚǁĂLJ ƐƋƵĞĞnjĞĚ ŝŶ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ ƚŚĞ ĞŶƚƌĂŶĐĞ and the various stalls stretched outside.

The western entrance faces a vast temple ƚĂŶŬ͕ ŝƚƐ ǁĂƚĞƌƐ ĐĂƚĐŚ ŐůŝŶƚ ĂŌĞƌ ŐůŝŶƚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ light; a few priests dot the tank steps in the ĚŝƐƚĂŶĐĞ ĂŶĚ ĚĞǀŽƚĞĞƐ ĐĂŶ ďĞ ĐĂƵŐŚƚ ŐĂnjŝŶŐ at its viridescent waters with aching eyes, ĐůĞĂƌůLJ ŵĞƐŵĞƌŝnjĞĚ͘ KƚŚĞƌ ĞdžŚŝďŝƚƐ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ stalls include crusty golden coconut shells ƚŚĂƚ ĚĂŶŐůĞ ĨƌŽŵ ŇŝŵƐLJ ƐƚƌŝŶŐƐ͕ ŽƌŶĂŵĞŶƚƐ͕ sweets and the occasional lamps and oil.

ĨĞĞƚ ƐƚĂŶĚ ŝŶ ƋƵĞƵĞƐ ƚŽ ƚŚƌŽŶŐ ƚŚĞ ^ĂŶŶŝĚŚŝƐ ǁŚĞƌĞ ƌŽǁƐ ŽĨ ŐŽĚƐ ĐĂƌǀĞĚ ŝŶ ďůĂĐŬ ƐƚŽŶĞ͕ ƐŽŵĞ ŝŶ ďƌŽŶnjĞ͕ ůŝĞ ƐĞĂƚĞĚ ĂŶĚ ĂĚŽƌŶĞĚ ŝŶ weaves of bright silks. >ŽƚƵƐ ŇŽǁĞƌƐ ďůŽŽŵ ďĞƐŝĚĞ ƐĞǀĞƌĂů ĐĂƌǀŝŶŐƐ͕ ŵŽƐƚ ŽĨ ǁŚŝĐŚ ĂƌĞ ĐůŽƚŚĞĚ ŝŶ ŽƌŶĂƚĞ ƐŝůŬ ĮŶĞƌLJ͘ /ŶƐŝĚĞ ƚŚĞ <ĂƌƉĂŐĂŵďĂů ^ĂŶŶŝĚŚŝ͕ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƌĞůĂƟǀĞůLJ ĚĂƌŬĞŶĞĚ ĐĂǀĞƌŶͲůŝŬĞ ŝŶƚĞƌŝŽƌƐ͕ ƌŝŐŚƚ ŝŶ ĨƌŽŶƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƐƚĂƚƵĞƐƋƵĞ ŝĚŽů ŽĨ <ĂƌƉĂŐĂŵďĂů ;ŚĞƌ ĨŽƵƌ ĂƌŵƐ͕ ŐůŝŵŵĞƌŝŶŐ ũĞǁĞůƐ ƉŝĞƌĐŝŶŐ Ăƚ LJŽƵ ĨƌŽŵ Ă ĚŝƐƚĂŶĐĞͿ͕ ƉƌŝĞƐƚƐ ƌŽƚĂƚĞ ŐůŝƩĞƌŝŶŐ ůĂŵƉƐ ŝŶ ƌĞƉĞƟƟǀĞ͕ ƚƌĂŶĐĞͲůŝŬĞ ŵŽƟŽŶƐ͘

The Architectural Intricacies and layout The temple abounds with innumerable Sannidhis or sub-temples ƚŚĂƚ ŚŽƵƐĞ Ă ŵƵůƟƚƵĚĞ ŽĨ 'ŽĚƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ŐƌĂŶĚĞƐƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞŵ ďĞŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ŽŶĞƐ

Cracks that exude poetry Bright kovalams dot various spots inside ƚŚĞ ƚĞŵƉůĞ ĂƌĞĂ͕ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƉĂƩĞƌŶƐ ŽƌŶĂƚĞ ůŝŬĞ ƚŚĞ ĂƌĐŚŝƚĞĐƚƵƌĞ͕ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƐŝnjĞ ĂŶĚ ŵƵƐŝĐĂůŝƚLJ breathtakingly grand. The sun creeps up beneath your feet as you walk; black stone walls, ancient and ripe with age, seem ĂůŵŽƐƚ ƌĞƐƞƵů ďĞƐŝĚĞ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƌĞ ŵŽĚĞƌŶ͕ painted boundary walls. Priests walk by with the stench of sandalwood and vermillion spread on their foreheads. Naked, burnt

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dedicated to Kapaleeshwara and his wife, ƚŚĞ 'ŽĚĚĞƐƐ <ĂƌƉĂŐĂŵďĂů͕ ƚŚĞ ƚǁŽ ƉƌŝŵĂƌLJ ĚĞŝƟĞƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƚĞŵƉůĞ͘ dŚĞ ĮƌƐƚ ^ĂŶŶŝĚŚŝ that peeks out toward the entrance is the ŽŶĞ ĚĞĚŝĐĂƚĞĚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ 'ŽĚ 'ĂŶĞƐŚĂ͕ ĂůƐŽ ƚŚĞ ƐŽŶ ŽĨ ^ŚŝǀĂ ĂŶĚ WĂƌǀĂƟ͘ ,ĞƌĞ ŚĞ ŝƐ worshipped in a dancing pose (also called EĂƌĚŚĂŶĂ 'ĂŶĂƉĂƚŚŝͿ͖ ũƵƐƚ ŝŵŵĞĚŝĂƚĞůLJ behind which is the temple cow shed. A few paces further is a Sannidhi dedicated ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ŽƚŚĞƌ ƐŽŶ ŽĨ ^ŚŝǀĂ ĂŶĚ WĂƌǀĂƟ͕ ƚŚĞ 'ŽĚ DƵƌƵŐĞƐĂŶ ǁŚŽ͕ ŚĞƌĞ͕ ŝƐ ǁŽƌƐŚŝƉƉĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĨŽƌŵ ŽĨ ^ŝŶŐĂƌĂ sĞůĂƌ ĂůŽŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ ŚŝƐ ƚǁŽ ǁŝǀĞƐ͕ sĂůůŝ ĂŶĚ ĞǀLJĂŶŝ͘ dŚĞ ^ĂŶŶŝĚŚŝƐ ĂůŵŽƐƚ ƌĞƐĞŵďůĞ ĚŝƐƟŶĐƚ ůŝǀŝŶŐ ƋƵĂƌƚĞƌƐ͕ their spaces and boundaries being clearly ŵĂƌŬĞĚ ĂŶĚ ĚŝƐƟŶŐƵŝƐŚĞĚ͘ ^Ɖŝůƚ Žŝů ĐĂŶ ŽŌĞŶ ďĞ ƐƉŽƩĞĚ ƐŵĞĂƌĞĚ ďĞƐŝĚĞ ƚŚĞ carvings, and crisp brown lamps lie heaped ŝŶ ůŝƩůĞ ƉŝůĞƐ͘ A few steps further lies the abode of the ŵĂŝŶ 'ŽĚƐ͕ ŽƵƚƐŝĚĞ ŽĨ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŝƐ ŝŶƐƚĂůůĞĚ a spectacular Hanuman carving on a pillar. From here the sight of the western entrance and therefore the temple tank can be viewed. Rows of priests, some on scooters, speed past outside, with the glistening, green waters as their background. The Sannidhis of Kapaleeshwar and Karpagambal are placed right next to

each other, and ought to be entered one ĂŌĞƌ ƚŚĞ ŽƚŚĞƌ͘ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ ŚŝĞƌĂƌĐŚŝĐĂů ƐĐŚĞŵĞ of things, the grandest and most imposing ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ^ĂŶŶŝĚŚŝƐ ĂƌĞ ŐĞŶĞƌĂůůLJ ǀŝĞǁĞĚ ĂŌĞƌ all the other, less principal ones.

The Sannidhi of Karpagambal houses the ǀĂƌŝŽƵƐ ĨŽƌŵƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ DŽƚŚĞƌ 'ŽĚĚĞƐƐ͕ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ 'ŽĚĚĞƐƐ ƵƌŐĂ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ dƌŝͲĚĞǀŝ͗ ĐŽŶƐŝĚĞƌĞĚ ƚŽ ďĞ ƚŚĞ ŵĂŶŝĨĞƐƚĂƟŽŶƐ ŽĨ the Divine Mother and the consorts of the 'ƌĞĂƚ dƌŝŶŝƚLJ͘ Perhaps the most spectacular of the Sannidhis is the one dedicated to the 'ŽĚ <ĂƉĂůĞĞƐŚǁĂƌ͕ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŝŵĂƌLJ ĚĞŝƚLJ of the temple and its namesake. Here he is worshipped in the form of the Lingam, towering before the entrance ĂŶĚ ŇĂŶŬĞĚ ďLJ ƌŽǁƐ ĂŶĚ ƌŽǁƐ ŽĨ ǀĂƌŝŽƵƐ ^ŚŝǀĂ ĐĂƌǀŝŶŐƐ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ϲϯ EĂLJĂŶŶĂƌƐ ĂŶĚ 4 Santhana Kuravas amid whom can be ƐƉŽƩĞĚ >ŽƌĚ ^ƵƌLJĂ͕ ƚŚĞ ƌĞƐƉůĞŶĚĞŶƚ ^ƵŶ 'ŽĚ͕ ĐŽƌƵƐĐĂƟŶŐ ŝŶ ƌĞĚ͘ dŚĞ >ŽƌĚ ŚĂŝƌĂǀ͕ ĂŶŽƚŚĞƌ ĨŽƌŵ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ 'ŽĚ ^ŚŝǀĂ͕ ŝƐ ĂůƐŽ housed in the Kapaleeshwar Sannidhi.

The temple is abundant with carvings of the vahanas, or the various ‘vehicles’ of the ŝŶŶƵŵĞƌĂďůĞ 'ŽĚƐ͖ Ă ŵĂƐƐŝǀĞ ŝŶƐƚĂůůĂƟŽŶ of Nandikeswara or the ‘Sacred Bull’, the ǀĞŚŝĐůĞ ŽĨ ^ŚŝǀĂ͕ ůŝĞƐ ũƵƐƚ ŽƵƚƐŝĚĞ ƚŚĞ ŵĂŝŶ Kapaleeshwara Sannidhi, facing the carving

ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŝŵĂƌLJ ĚĞŝƚLJ͘ KƚŚĞƌ sĂŚĂŶĂƐ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞ peacocks, goats and parrots, among others, ďĞůŽŶŐŝŶŐ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ǀĂƌŝŽƵƐ 'ŽĚƐ͘ Other incredible exhibits that seem to proliferate the Kapaleeshwar temple include a Sannidhi dedicated to Palani Andavar- a form of Lord Murugesan, numerous microscopic shrines, and the <ĂůLJĂŶĂ DĂŶĚĂƉĂŵ͕ ǁŚĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ 'ŽĚĚĞƐƐ Karpagambal appears during important ĨĞƐƟǀŝƟĞƐ͘ dŚĞ ŝŶŶƵŵĞƌĂďůĞ ƐŚƌŝŶĞƐ ĂŶĚ symbols of this place are connected to as many historic tales and legends, as to the ƵŵƉƚĞĞŶ ĨĞƐƟǀŝƟĞƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ƚĂůĞƐ ŽĨ ǁŚŝĐŚ ĂƌĞ carried through the surrounding areas by the exhibit of the various idols on important occasions, mounted on their ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞ ǀĂŚĂŶĂƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ƉĞƌŚĂƉƐ ĞǀĞŶ ůĂŶĚƐ and places far beyond.

At the end of a day’s visit, as one glances around at the devotees; some stooping, some young, some from untouched lands beyond, with the ancientness seeped inside ƚŚĞŝƌ ƐŬŝŶ ĂŶĚ ĨĞƌǀĞŶƚ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ĞĐƐƚĂƟĐ ƌĂƉƚƵƌĞ ƚŚĂƚ ƐĞƩůĞƐ ŽŶ ůŝŬĞ ĚƵƐƚ͕ ŽŶĞ ďĞŐŝŶƐ ƚŽ ƌĞĂůŝnjĞ ƚŚĂƚ ĚĞƐƉŝƚĞ ďĞŝŶŐ ĂŶ ŝŶĞƌĂĚŝĐĂďůĞ ƉĂƌƚ ŽĨ ůŽĐĂů ƚƌĂĚŝƟŽŶ͕ ŚŝƐƚŽƌLJ ĂŶĚ ĨŽůŬůŽƌĞ͕ Kapaleeshwar temple and its ambience resonate with even those who come from far-fetched places.

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FISH, FISH FOLK AND

FOLK LORE “The world is a book and those who do not travel, read only a page.” Madras is a world. East Coast Road is the plot of the story.

By Sanjana Ganesh How oŌen has one dabbled along the roads of the East Coast Road looking yearningly at the Bay of Bengal? ECR (for veterans of the city) is a contrast. Pine cones cover the bald sand alongside beaches. Villages lie three kilometres away from opulent resorts, and temples stand tall amidst the air of luxurious cars and rave parƟes. This wrangle between cultures however, is subtle. There is the fish, the fish folk and the folk lore. ECR is the perfect way to flee from the clutches of a metropolis. Read on to find out the route to your Shawshank redempƟon.

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ART THE AESTHETIC WAY The best parallel to draw to the Cholamandalam (ArƟst’s Village) would be Paris in the 1920s. With an environment that facilitates creaƟve thought and contemporary design, Cholamandalam is every free-thinker’s dream. ExhibiƟons at the village showcase the masterpieces of our Ɵmes. A lover of art may find himself/herself beckoned by decorated walls and the silence of the trees. The village also has an open air theatre that is oŌen used for lectures and demonstraƟons. It is located 9 kms from Adyar.

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“I CAVED” ŽǀĞůŽŶŐ ĞĂĐŚ ŝƐ Ă ďĞĂƵƟĨƵů ƐƚƌĞƚĐŚ ŽĨ ĂƋƵĂŵĂƌŝŶĞ ĂŶĚ ŐŽůĚ ĚƵƐƚ͘ dŚŝƐ ďĞĂĐŚ ĮŶĚƐ ŝƚƐĞůĨ ůŽĐĂƚĞĚ ŝŶ Ă ƉĞƌĨĞĐƚ ĂƌĞĂ ĂƐ ŝƚ ŝƐŶ͛ƚ ĚĞƐĞƌƚĞĚ Žƌ ƚŽŽ ĐƌŽǁĚĞĚ͘ /ƚ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ĂƩĞŶƟŽŶ Ă ĨĞǁ LJĞĂƌƐ ĂŐŽ ǁŚĞŶ Ă ƐŵĂůů ƐƵƌĨ ƐĐŚŽŽů ǁĂƐ ƐƚĂƌƚĞĚ͘ >ŽĐĂů ĮƐŚĞƌŵĞŶ ŐŝǀĞ ůĞƐƐŽŶƐ ƚŽ ƚŚŽƐĞ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚĞĚ ŽŶ a daily basis and on weekends. You can also get a ride in the Catamaran and try the mid sea ĚŝǀŝŶŐ ;ǁŝƚŚ ůŝĨĞ ũĂĐŬĞƚƐ͕ ŽĨ ĐŽƵƌƐĞͿ͘ ƵƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƚƵƌƚůĞ ŵĂƟŶŐ ƐĞĂƐŽŶ ƐĞǀĞƌĂů ƚƵƌƚůĞ ǁĂůŬƐ ĂƌĞ ŽƌŐĂŶŝnjĞĚ͘ dŚŝƐ ďĞĂĐŚ ŽīĞƌƐ ĨƌĞƐŚ ĮƐŚ ĨƌLJ ĂŶĚ ƐŽŵĞ ŽƚŚĞƌ ůŝƉ ƐŵĂĐŬŝŶŐ ĨŽŽĚ͘ /ƚ ŝƐ ĂŶ ŚŽƵƌ͛Ɛ ƌŝĚĞ from the city and should certainly be on your bucket list.

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CROCODILE TEARS DĂĚƌĂƐ ƌŽĐŽĚŝůĞ ĂŶŬ ŝƐ Ă ƌĞĐŽŐŶŝnjĞĚ E'K ƚŚĂƚ ŚĂƐ ǁŽƌŬĞĚ ƚŽǁĂƌĚƐ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ŽƵƌ ƐĐĂůLJ ĨƌŝĞŶĚƐ͘ tŝƚŚ ƌĞƉƟůĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ƐƵƌƌŽƵŶĚ ƚŚĞŵƐĞůǀĞƐ ĂƌŽƵŶĚ ƚŚĞ ƐĞĂ͕ ĐƌŽĐŽĚŝůĞ ďĂŶŬ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞƐ the safest environment for these animals to breed. The bank has won several awards and ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞƐ ƚŽ ďĞ ŽŶĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ĨƌĞƋƵĞŶƚĞĚ ƉůĂĐĞƐ ĚƵƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬĞŶĚƐ ĂŶĚ ǀĂĐĂƟŽŶƐ͘ zŽƵ may have the opportunity to touch an iguana or even talk to a snake. There is no room for teary crocodiles.

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ROW YOUR BOAT ^ŽŵĞ ŵĂLJ ĮŶĚ ďŽĂƚŚŽƵƐĞƐ ƚŽ ďĞ ĐůŝĐŚĠƐ ďƵƚ ƚŚĞƌĞ ŝƐ ŶŽƚŚŝŶŐ ŵŽƌĞ ĨƵŶ ƚŚĂŶ ƚƌLJŝŶŐ ƚŽ ƉĂĚĚůĞͬ ƐƚĞĞƌ Ă ďŽĂƚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƌŝŐŚƚ ĚŝƌĞĐƟŽŶ ǁŚŝůĞ ĂůƐŽ ƚƌLJŝŶŐ ƚŽ ŵĂŝŶƚĂŝŶ ƐƉĞĞĚ͘ DƵƩƵŬĂĚƵ ŝƐ ŽŶĞ ŽĨ DĂĚƌĂƐ͛Ɛ ŽůĚĞƐƚ ďŽĂƚ ŚŽƵƐĞƐ͘ &ĂŵŝůŝĞƐ ǁŽƵůĚ ŽŌĞŶ ƌĞŵŝŶŝƐĐĞ ĂďŽƵƚ ƟŵĞƐ ǁŚĞŶ ƚŚĞLJ ƐĂƚ ƚŽŐĞƚŚĞƌ ŶĞĂƌ ƚŚŝƐ ďĞĂƵƟĨƵů ďĂĐŬǁĂƚĞƌ ĂŶĚ ůŽŽŬĞĚ ŽǀĞƌ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƐĞĂ͘ dŚĞ ŚŝŐŚůŝŐŚƚ ŽĨ ƚŚŝƐ ďŽĂƚ ƌŝĚĞ ǁŽƵůĚ ďĞ ŐŽŝŶŐ ƵŶƟů ƚŚĞ ƟƉ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĞƐƚƵĂƌLJ ĂŶĚ ůŽŽŬŝŶŐ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ƚŚŝŶ ƐƚƌĞƚĐŚ ŽĨ ƐĂŶĚ ƚŚĂƚ separates the two worlds.

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BEHOLD THE TEMPLE TOWN Mahabalipuram or Mamallapuram once a bustling port, is a symbol of Tamil Nadu’s pride and will conƟnue to be a part of the list of UNESCO’s world heritage sites. This town was the epicentre of trade during Pallava Ɵmes. The shore temples have a wild history surrounding them. Some of these temples have also been submerged due to the receding shore line, making it our own AtlanƟs. It is located 60kms from Chennai and has several landmarks. Tourists can also find beauƟful sculptures, jewellery and a host of souvenirs. One can also choose to stay the night at Mahabalipuram and wake up to sunrise along the beach.

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Picks STONE COLD Are you looking for perfect ũĞǁĞůůĞƌLJ ƚŽ ŵĂƚĐŚ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ ŽĐĐĂƐŝŽŶƐ͍ ŬƐŚŝƚĂ 'ĂƌŐ ĂŶĚ her refreshing new design ŵĂƚĐŚ ƚŚĞ ƐĞŶƐŝďŝůŝƟĞƐ ŽĨ today’s women. With diamonds and gold streamlining your ŶĞĐŬ͕ ƚŚŝƐ ĐŽůůĞĐƟŽŶ ŽƵŐŚƚ ƚŽ ůĞĂǀĞ ŽƚŚĞƌƐ ƌƵŵŝŶĂƟŶŐ͘

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YOURS, AESTHETICALLY 'ĞŚŶĂ͕ ƚŚĞ ũĞǁĞůůĞƌLJ ƐƚŽƌĞ ƉƌĞƐĞŶƚƐ ŝƚƐ ƚƌĞĂƐƵƌLJ ŽĨ ĮŶĞ ũĞǁĞůůĞƌLJ͘ ĞŚŽůĚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ǁŽŶĚĞƌĨƵů Filigree, Kundan and Mughal designs working on the most ĐŽŵƉůĞdž ŵŽƟĨƐ LJĞƚ ƉƌĞƐĞŶƟŶŐ ƐŝŵƉůĞ ƐƚLJůĞ͘ sŝƐŝƚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƋƵĂŝŶƚ ůŝƩůĞ ƐƚŽƌĞ ŝŶ ŚĞƚƉĞƚ͕ ŚĞŶŶĂŝ and make a date with elegance.

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FASHION FATALE DĂƌŬƐ Θ ^ƉĞŶĐĞƌ London Madras Couture Fashion Week 2015 at Raddison Blu hotel happened on the 31st July and 1st August and brought some avant garde styles to Chennai city’s scene. With chic designers and elegant supermodels donning the best of weaves, the fashion week saw a host ŽĨ ĐĞůĞďƌŝƟĞƐ͕ ƐŽĐŝĂůŝƚĞƐ and designers in one forum.

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