Brew July 2018

VOL-3 ISSUE-01 `100 I JULY 2018

THINK. CREATE. LIVE

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Anthony

Bourdain

The Eclectic Eccendentesiast of the Culinary World

40

Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts Redefining Movement

CONTRIBUTORS

Dr. RAJESH JEGANATHAN

& ADVISORY BOARD

CONTRIBUTORS THOTA THARRANI CONTRIBUTORS & ADVISORY BOARD

A young and dynamic medico. He runs the prestigious Billroth Hospitals based in Chennai.

Dr. RAJESH JEGANATHAN

& ADVISORY BOARD

A young and dynamic medico. He runs the prestigious Billroth Hospitals based in Chennai.

This year we enter a bigger dimension, planning across a wider reader base with THOTA THARRANI Thota tharani a big step forward, this was ignited with a This by yearthe weone enter a bigger dimension, planning logo designed and only Thota acrossLifestyle a wider reader baseawith a big step forward, Tharrani. Brew extends heartThis year we enter a bigger dimension, this was ignited with athe logolegend designed by the one warming planning thank you note to across a wider reader base with only Thotacontributions.

Tharani.

Brew Lifestyle a himself foraand his bigincessant step forward, this was ignited with extends a

heartwarming thank the legend logo designed by theyou onerole andtoonly Thota Tharrani.

Brew Lifestyle extends a heartfor his incessant contributions. thank you note to the legend ASHOKwarming VERGHESE himself for his incessant contributions.

VEEJAY Veejay Sai SAI

An award-winning writer, editor, and a culture critic.

He has written and published extensively on Indian An award-winning writer,food editor and a classical music, fashion, theatre, and art.

himself

culture critic. He has written and published VEEJAY SAI extensively on Indian classical music, fashion, theatre, food and art.

He is the Ashok directorVerghese of Hindustan group ASHOK VERGHESE of institutions, the pioneering He is one the of director of Hindustan group of educationalinstituions,one groups in the country.

He educational is of the pioneering groups a big supporter and cause for promoting in the country.

He is of a big supportergroup and cause for He is the director Hindustan young talent in art and music.

Vita

Passionate about grassroots development of sport in India.

She co-owns VITA DANIChennayin FC, Chennai’s football team in the ISL and Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT), India’s first-everabout professional table tennis league.

Passionate grassroots development

ofpromoting institutions, theand pioneering youngone talentofin art music. educational groups in the country. He is a big supporter and cause for promoting young talent in art and music.

VITAinDANI of sport India. She co-owns Chennayin FC, Chennai’s football team in the ISL and Ultimate Tableabout Tennis (UTT), India’s firstPassionate grassroots development G ever Venket Ram table tennis league. ofprofessional sport in India.

She co-owns Chennayin

Anil Jain ANIL JAIN

A leading Indian fashion photographer whoand has FC, Chennai’s football team in the ISL shot principle stills for several Ultimatephotography Table Tennis (UTT), India’snotable firstprofessional table tennis league. firms. ever He quit his engineering studies to work with cinematographers for a while, after which he joined G VENKET RAM a course in visual communicationa at Loyola College.

He then worked with photographer Sharada Haskar A in leading Indian his fashion photographer who and 1993, started own studio.

G VENKET RAM

An intensive design to succeed and redefine the parameters of success. Anil Jain was always cut to be ANIL JAIN andesire Entrepreneur takingand an active interest in Business An Intensive to succeed redefine the parameters of success, AnilHeJain was right from an early age. is the promoter of Refex always cut industries out to be Ltd; an Entrepreneur, taking Refex Trading(s) Pvt. Ltd, and Anil Jain Intensive to succeed an active An interest in desire Business right and fromredefine investments. the parameters of success, Anil Jain was an early age. He is the promoter or Refex always cut out to be an Entrepreneur, taking industries Ltd; Refex Trading(s) Pvt. Ltd, an active interest in Business right from and Anil Jain Investments. an early age. He is the promoter or Refex

has shot principle photography stills for several notable films. He quit his engineering A leading Indian fashion photographer who studies to work with cinematographers Aruna has Sairam shot principle photography stills for for a while, which heHe joined aengineering course in several notable films. quit his A winner of after the prestigious Padma Shri award. She visual communications at Loyola College. studies to work cinematographers for is the vice-chairman of with the Sangeet Natak Akademi He then worked Sharad a while, after with whichphotographer he joined a course in which is India’s premier national institution for Haskar and in 1993, started own studio. visual communications athisLoyola College.

industries Ltd; Refex Trading(s) Pvt. Ltd, Neeru Nanda and Anil Jain Investments.

A graduate of Delhi university and a passionate

NEERU writer.

NANDA She was

a free-lanced feature writer for ten years before switching to publishing. Author of NEERU NANDA a collection of short stories titled ‘IF,’ she has also A graduate of Delhi University and a worked on novels and short stories for childreen.

music He andthen dance.

Ms. Sairam is one of India’s most worked with photographer Sharad renowned ambassdor’s forstarted music successfully taking Haskar and in 1993, his own studio.

ARUNA Indian music to SAIRAM the International arena.

passionate writer. She was a free-lanced A graduate of Delhi feature writer for ten years beforeUniversity switching and a passionate She wasofashort free-lanced to publishing.

Authorwriter. of a collection feature writer years before on switching stories titled “IF”, she for hasten also worked to publishing. Author of a collection of short novels and short stories for children.

ARUNA SAIRAM A winner of the prestigious Padma Shri award. She is the vice-chairman of the A winner of the prestigious Padma Shri Sangeet Natak Akademi which is India’s award. She is the vice-chairman of the premier national institution for music Sangeet Natak Akademi which is India’s and dance. Jeganathan Ms. Sairam is one for of India’s Dr. Rajesh premier national institution music most renowned ambassador’s forof music, A young and dynamicMs. medico.

He runs the prestigious and dance.

Sairam is one India’s successfully taking Indian the most renowned ambassador’s Billroth Hospitals based in Chennai.musicfortomusic, international arena. successfully taking Indian music to the

stories titled “IF”, she has also worked on novels and short stories for children.

INTERNAL TEAM TEAM INTERNAL

INTERNALTEAM TEAM INTERNAL TEAM INTERNAL

EDITOR & CEO EDITOR & CEO

EDITOR & EDITOR & CEO PUBLISHER & CEO CEO

Sameer Bharat Sameer Bharat RamRam Sameer Bharat Ram Sameer Bharat Sameer Bharat RamRam Sameer Bharat Ram

DESIGNER DESIGNER DESIGNER DESIGNERS DESIGNER DESIGNER DESIGNERS

An award-winning writer, editor and a culture critic. He has written and published extensively on Indian classical music, Dani fashion, theatre, food and art.

international arena.

EDITORIAL EDITORIAL TEAM TEAM

EDITORIAL EDITORIAL TEAM TEAM SUB Editor

Akshaya G

CIRCULATION

Aishwarya Sridharan

Akshaya GVijayaraghavan Aishwarya Sridharan Yoheswari Devaraj Nanditha Sheeba Grace Akshaya G Aishwarya Akshaya GVijayaraghavan Aishwarya Sridharan Sridharan Yoheswari Devaraj Aishwarya Sridharan Nagaraj D Nanditha Sheeba Grace

FEATURE / CONTRIBUTING WRITERS FEATURE / CONTRIBUTING WRITERS FEATURE /FEATURE CONTRIBUTING WRITERS FEATURE CONTRIBUTING WRITERS FEATURE // CONTRIBUTING WRITERS FEATURE / CONTRIBUTING WRITERS / CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

CIRCULATION CIRCULATION CIRCULATION CIRCULATION

Vijayaraghavan Suri Kanchi Dhinesh Babu S SNanditha Aparna Janani P Kochumon Sadakshi Aishwarya Kalyanraman Aishwarya Sridharan Nanditha Vijayaraghavan Janani SuriGanesh Vidhya Anand Sanjana Ganesh Nanditha Vijayaraghavan Dhinesh Babu S Babu Dhinesh Babu S Babu Nanditha Vijayaraghavan Janani Suri Aishwarya Kanchi Nanditha Vijayaraghavan Janani Suri Vidhya Anand Sanjana Nanditha Vijayaraghavan Dhinesh Dhinesh S John Paul S

Elumalai V Elumalai Elumalai V V V Elumalai John PaulJohn S John John Paul S Paul Paul S S

Mira Srinivasan

Sunanda Sugendran

Aarthi Vasudevan Silambarasan Silambarasan Silambarasan Silambarasan

Sadakshi Kalyanraman Keramalu Akila Sridhar Aishwarya Kanchi Sadakshi Kalyanaraman Aishwarya Kanchi Aarathi Arun Veejay SaiSai Sadakshi Kalyanraman Karthik Keramalu Akila Sridhar Aishwarya Kanchi Sadakshi Kalyanaraman Aishwarya KanchiKarthik Aarathi Arun Veejay Padma Murughappun Prashanth Aarathi Arun Aarathi Arun Pavithra Babu Aarti Aney Pavithra Babu Aarti Aney

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CONTENTS

ISSUE-01

COVER STORY

24 Anthony Bourdain The Eclectic Eccendentesiast of the Culinary World

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08 THINK

08 Red Lotus Yarns of Elegance 14 The Journey Of A Young Environment 20 Insta Famous Aunty Next Door

CREATE

30 Old Is The New New 34 Musically Yours Christopher Stanley 40 Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts Redefining Movement

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46

LIVE

46 The Dancing Glutton 52 Denim Clad Raja Kumari 58 Desi Way

WHAT’S BREWING

62 Smart’ Windows Lighten And Darken On Cue Portable Washing Machine Evam Presents Mic Testing

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JANUARY 2018

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BREW BREW LIFESTYLE LIFESTYLEAUGUST JULY 2017 2017

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ELEGANT CREATIONS FOR THE MARVELLOUS YOU.

GOLD, DIAMONDS, PLATINUM & SILVER | G.N.CHETTY ROAD, T.NAGAR, CHENNAI www.jcsjewellers.com | Ph:28345001 | Follow us on

THINK

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Red Lotus Yarns of Elegance Aparna P Kochumon

Striking contrasts in flamboyant hues, etched with elegant motifs of golden lotuses, mangoes and elephants the repertoire of Sharmila Nair’s clothing line, Red Lotus, redefines the stature of sarees. Focusing on Kanjeevaram and handloom cotton, Sharmila brings out the graceful best in her weaves. Ranging from simple, pastel shades with slender borders in cotton to extravagant, shimmering heavy silks - all of them are in her couture. A Literature graduate from St. Teresa’s College, Ernakulam in Kerala, Sharmila knows her fabric – its make and finish with her touch, and her innate sense of the colour palette aids her in choosing the colour scheme and combinations.

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Sharmila narrates her yarn on the Red Lotus.

Q. Tell us about your advent into the fashion industry.

During my college days, we had to wear sarees to every function. Owing to this repeated practice, I mastered the art of saree draping and got comfortable with the six yards of fabric. I loved to experiment in design and draping of this costume and gradually fell in love with it. I would say it was more like a calling, when I felt I should explore further about the elegance of saree. When I initially commenced my research on the same, I realized that the array of fabrics, weaves, designs and styles were infinite and fathomless like an ocean! I read up on the weaving communities in India and gathered that some of them were even on the brim of extinction. With a meagre number of weavers remaining, it seemed that certain traditions would even cease to exist in no time. I felt I should contribute my bit to sustain these incredible skills and take them on to the future generations. I was determined to start my clothing line and was resolute that I shall promote only handloom cotton sarees.

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Q. Why the name Red Lotus?

I have heard of a myth that the threads of the red lotus – Chenthamarai, were used in the weaving of fabric for the royalties. This piqued my interest and hence the name Red Lotus.

Q. Who is your team?

I do not have a team, I manage the brand by myself. I work with the weavers and suggest the colour combinations to them, which they weave accordingly.

Q. How and from where do you source your raw materials?

I have travelled extensively, especially to Madurai and Chettinad as a part of my research on the fabric. I mostly source my fabrics from the native weaving communities in these regions.

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Q. What is your USP? I do not have a restricted clientele – Red Lotus is for everyone from all walks of life. ‘I believe fashion should be relative – it brings in the comfort and confidence factor.’ At Red Lotus, we cater to an assortment of styles and designs, making them accessible to everyone. Be it a youngster or an elder, a college student or a professional, we have one for everyone. The extent of the clothing line surpasses the edges of age, profession, and occasion and fashion statements, making Red Lotus a versatile brand.

Q. Tell us about the Mazhavil collection and the shoot you did with the third gender.

I do not use models to promote my brand. The shoot with the third gender was impromptu. It was during the time when the Kerala government had passed a policy in favour of the transgenders. Until then, I knew nothing about their community besides that they were often shunned by the mainstream society. I read up about them and realized that they too were normal beings like us. I contacted Queerala, an online community for LGBTs and minorities in Kerala. Some of the photographs in fact awed me as they looked stunning. A rainbow coloured flag is used to represent the LGBT community and hence I decided to dedicate a collection to them and name it as ‘Mazhavil’, which translates to rainbow. I chose vibrant shades with subtle jute borders in Hubli cotton for this assortment. There is probably an opinion that the third gender is quite bizarre and showy when it comes to choosing their garments and that they overdo make up. I felt this was a wrong notion – the LGBTs can also be classy and elegant and I wanted to say it with my collection.

Q. When not engaged with Red Lotus, what do you do?

I travel a lot – I am mostly travelling and visiting weaver communities and people in the industry. I also own a production house – DocArt, which is into conceptual ads and movies. So, I am pretty much occupied.

Q. What are your future plans?

We are experimenting in the various styles of saree draping. Also, planning to bring out a new collection combining Kanjeevaram and linen in 2019.

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The Journey Of A Young Environment

Enthusiast, Suneha Jagannathan Aishwarya Sridharan

It is interesting to find out how some people are so dedicated to the environment that they grow up in. One of the interesting people I came across very recently is Suneha Jagannathan, who runs temple reef foundation which aims at working on marine education, people outreach and engagement, research and conservation. She is doing this with the support of ‘Temple Adventures’, a PADI dive centre based in Pondicherry, where she joined scuba diving in the year 2015. From being always fascinated about all the things especially nature and animals her interest to work for an environmental cause triggered. ‘I think I had more animal friends than human friends as child’, said Suneha.

Also growing up in Chennai nearly five minutes away from the beach, the attachment towards the ocean came to her naturally. Since her childhood she has dreamt about working in conservation so, she continued to do what she believes in and passionate about as long as she can remember.

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She did her under-graduation in advanced zoology at Stella Maris College, Chennai. Later, she persuaded her master’s degree on tropical biodiversity and Ecosystems. ‘During my master’s I got an opportunity to live in 3 different countries, which gave me a much deeper perspective of the places I lived in.

Travelling is very different from living in a city, and I absolutely loved shifting base every few months.

My favorite city was Florence, I lived there for six months. It’s absolutely breathtaking! Of course, the amazing Tuscan food made my stay there even more enriching. I also loved living in Brussels, it’s a very international town with a young population. It’s never hard to find a party in Brussels, such an exciting place to be! Malaysia was very different, because I didn’t live in a cosmopolitan city like KL. I stayed at Kuala Terengganu, a small coastal town. The people were very traditional but at the same time, extremely warm! They would even bring yummy home cooked food to UNI for me and my friends’, Suneha shares her experience of living in many different parts of the world.

Finally, she moved to pudhuchery for a cause, she decided to clean the oceans along with a few volunteers. Out of all the oceans that our country has, she chose Pudhuchery because it is a very interesting town. There are a lot of amazing beaches here and especially the ‘Rock Beach’ because I it is bang inside the city which attracts both locals and tourists alike. This also means that there’s even more plastic pollution and littering here - because this beach easily sees hundreds of people every week.

But still why do people litter? The main reason is that they don’t want to make an effort to find a nearby dustbin to throw the waste and there are no proper rules for littering the public places.

But, there has been an improvement and there will be a change in this situation gradually, because a lot of people are actually motivated to come join us when we start cleaning the beach with the volunteers.

‘Very often, we start off with a small group and in 30 minutes or so we have more than 20 people who spontaneously join us. Even kids, who sell trinkets on the beach, come and join us for some cleaning.

I’ve had people help out the clean up and tell me that from now on they’ll make sure to dispose waste responsibly, knowing how hard it is to clean it up! I believe this is one of the strongest impacts our beach clean ups have. They inspire people to make that change in their lives.

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Henceforth to keep the oceans clean, reducing the amount of plastic in our lives, as a consumer, one can refuse single use plastics like bags or straws those are the only one aspect of the solution. At the end of the day, every product we buy- from chocolate to shampoocomes packaged in plastic. So we also need to see commitment from corporates and industries to use plastic alternatives. In the next five years, I would like to work towards educating people on being more environmentally sensitive. We need to make the connection between our actions and our impacts, both on the environment as well as other people.

For Suneha, her parents have been her biggest inspiration and have always been incredibly supportive. She recollects that her dad used to accompany her on night-long turtle surveys with Students’ Sea Turtle Conservation Network when she was 10 years old. Her mom used to buy her books on Kiran Bedi and Nobel laureates as a child, instead of fairy tales, while her mom is creative, her dad is practical. In college her professors were also very supportive of her interests, and encouraged her to learn more. She’ still in touch with her professor, Dr Chitra, who remains one of the most passionate people she knows. For many of us, today, Suneha has been an inspiring person who is working towards a better environment for us and as well as our future generations. Let us all make this a practice and live in a better and a cleaner environment.

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THINK

Insta Famous AUNTY NEXT DOOR Mira Srinivasan

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Almost 3 years ago got introduced to this super casual insta handle called @shanthram. it was nothing short of a wonder to me to find out that a woman of my mother’s age who is a banker is acing the IG blogger life with such ease and style with all her popular recipes and mouthwatering pictures while using apt #hashtags.

I would die to get her speed and dedication with which she finished her morning chores of cooking breakfast, lunch, a separate diet meal for her son and also clicking pictures, compiling them, posting it with appropriate recipes or stories that went behind while doing justice to her bank job that demanded about 12 hours of her day. She adds that she has always been in the habit of planning her wardrobe and lunch the previous night and hence execution doesn’t take too long.

She hates wasting time and food, clearly as she is extremely popular with the don’t-know-how-tocook-yet millennial group across the world for her revamping techniques and easy method to traditional Indian cuisine.

Shanthi aunty started sharing recipes with her friends and colleagues over lunch post which some of her friends suggested her to take to Facebook and one fine day she joined CWG (a group) on Facebook in 2014 when her son randomly introduced her to it and started sharing her experiences and traditional recipes with many like-minded members of that group. Followed by her 1st post in Jan 2015 on Instagram that captured her infamous sour green apple pickle. Ever since there is no looking back, she has been organically posting her recipes every day and there was no secret to 40K followers that she has today.

She never does a paid post nor shows interest in the number of likes or the increasing fame through followers. She loves and cherishes her

friends and well-wishers that she has acquired through Instagram and proudly says that the young IG bloggers are the ones who inspire her to be innovative and creative.

She was an obedient student and followed all the instructions laid down by her daughter Madhumitha while her photographer son Ramkumar, helped her learn the basics of clicking sharp images and editing it.

She laughs and adds that all these 1.9k posts and recipes were added, as she just uses her right index finger to type and prefers to perform all these wonders only on her phone and doesn’t believe in using a laptop then adding it to a blog.

She receives about 100 messages a day asking for tips/techniques/recipes etc, and she sits down patiently replying to each one of them. She says, “I’d love to help and share the little knowledge I have with respect to food, gardening even at the professional front.”

She hails from Thirunelvelli and got married into a family from Tanjore, both places are extremely well known for their traditional recipes and usage of spices. She aces both styles of cooking while her paneer butter masala and rajma can’t be matched by most Punjabi restaurants of the town. She never misses out on rasam and some variety of greens for lunch. A salad is a staple and her quick innovative techniques of using up sour kiwi into raita or sour grapes into pickles are what gains her so many views and reach.

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She loves to cook traditional dishes while using the organic vegetables that grow on her terrace and slowly substituted rice with millets, lentils, and other healthy cereals for a huge variety of Adai, Upma, Idly and Dosa.

Sometimes she uses fox millet for pulliyogare etc.for a guilt-free indulgence. Next time you crave for home food and gym instructor puts you on smoothies, quinoa, and oats, DM @ shaanthram for the best twist to your current diet plan.

Being a gardening enthusiast she houses about 30+plants on her terrace which started with just a few flowering plants for pooja and slowly stretched up to tomatoes, mint, chili, lemon, pumpkin, sweet potato to name a few. It, of course, was possible with a great amount of effort by Ramachandran uncle who has now entirely taken up the garden project on his shoulders post-retirement, apart from babysitting the elder one of the grandchildren.

While uncle retired last year, aunty too gave a VRS and pampered herself with some ‘metime’ along with enjoying perks of traveling without having to write long leave letters and facing demonetisation sort of crisis and spending more time with her insta-famous grandchildren, Aadhvik and Hridaya Dhwani.

The best part is, anybody who sends a direct message to aunty is invited over for a kickass filter coffee and some bajji sojji for sure or even a meal sometimes. She is a virtual mother to a thousand newly-wedded daughter in laws and bachelors who struggle to get the rice and dal proportion right. A loving, warm and an absolute optimist - Shanthi Ramachandran.

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COVER STORY

C www.fraktura.hr 24 BREW LIFESTYLE I JULY 2018

ANTHONY BOURDAIN

The Eclectic

Eccendentesiast of the Culinary World Prashanth

“Damn, I’m old now. But no, I feel free of the nonsense, honestly. I don’t have a lot of regrets now. I’m pretty happy being a distinguished person. The extent to which I’m free of expectations, you know, I enjoy that. The extent to which I can glide through life unnoticed is nice too, it’s freeing,” said the late Anthony Bourdain when he turned 60. . However, things did not turn out the way he wanted after his death.

Unnoticed. The celebrity chef, known for his expertise in eclectic cuisines and his TV shows was found hanging in his hotel room by Eric Rupert, who became worried when his friend did not turn up for dinner and breakfast the next morning.

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C www.eater.com

Anthony Michael Bourdain found his passion for food at a very early stage in his life. A young Bourdain once fished for oysters when he was on a boat ride with his family in France. Little did he know that that would change the course of his life, and that he would be remembered for years to come as Chef Anthony Bourdain. He later recalls this life-changing experience as “I took it in my hand, tilted the shell back into my mouth as instructed by the now beaming Monsieur Saint-Jour, and with one bite

and a slurp, wolfed it down. It tasted of sea water… of brine and flesh… and somehow, of the future.”

Inducted into the culinary world by being a dishwasher, he found immense contentment in doing that. He felt it instilled a sense of discipline in him, and he knew he was on the right track when he was acknowledged by the people he wanted to be like. Slowly climbing up the ladder, he graduated from DwightEnglewood School and dropped out of

Vassar College after two years before graduating from The Culinary Institute of America in 1978. He took over the industry by storm and left an indelible mark on the culinary world and the professional kitchens he worked for. His stint as an executive chef at Brasserie Les Halles in Manhattan is note-worthy, for the restaurant referred to him as their “chef-at-large” even after he wasn’t formally employed there.

His ability to judge what was presented on a plate, and his tendency to voice his opinions, and how he weaved tales in the kitchen, off or on camera, opened multiple doors of opportunity for him. His own television series - A Cook’s Tour on Food Network and Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations on the Travel Channel became immensely popular. His undeniable talent and his impeccable palette propelled the producers of Top Chef to rope him in as a guest judge for five episodes. His passion for travelling and trying out various cuisines – exotic or street food, inspired former President of the United States Barack Obama to thank him posthumously for Bourdain telecasted how food brought people together, and how his fundamental desire to connect with people through food would never leave the hearts of people all around the world he touched.

Anthony “Tony” Bourdain was not only a great chef, but also a great human being. From time to time, he made donations to various charities and visited them even when he was on vacation or was filming. Ali Allouche, a cancer survivor, who was undergoing chemotherapy, started a GoFundMe page to try to do something like Bourdain by going to a restaurant in every state in the US to keep his mind off the treatment. The fundraiser caught Anthony Bourdain’s attention, for he donated $4000 to help him live his dream of visiting those restaurants.

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C www.people.com

Anthony “Tony� Bourdain was not only a great chef, but also a great human being. From time to time, he made donations to various charities and visited them even when he was on vacation or was filming.

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Frances Largeman-Roth, when interviewing Anthony for the Health magazine asked him “How do you maintain your girlish figure when you’re eating all the time?” would answer without missing a beat, “Two packs a day.” Frances knew his article wouldn’t make it to that month’s edition of Health, but he said that the 20 minutes he spoke to him had a lasting impact on his life. Anthony Bourdain, having his fair share of drugs, tobacco and LSD said that at one point to time, he and his crew would be high all the time while shooting and that sometimes, the most crucial decisions would be taken only only when he was blithesome.

“A kitchen is an environment where ADHD is an asset, where a busy, multi-tasking brain pushes one up the ladder than down. Kitchens are also frenetic spaces where emotional pain goes overlooked and unsupported, fueling depression, anxiety and low self esteem” says Lori Silverbush, wife of Tom Cilocchio and a friend of Tony. After all, working long hours and meeting the expectations of customers and the reputation of a professional kitchen isn’t easy and more often than not, chefs tend to find means to calm their nerves and cope up with the workload.

Anthony Bourdain’s suicide turned out to be a reality check for people all over the world, how the mind can give space to the thought of ending one’s life to ease himself of the pain and the pressure, and how the evil and vicious tentacles of suicide can infiltrate people who do what they craved for and dedicated their lives for.

In honor of Bourdain, the people of Atlantic City and Fort City have planned on starting a “Anthony Bourdain Food Trail” all the way from Fort City to Atlantic City to commemorate this incredible human being’s journey of food. Comprising of some of his famous places to eat, this trail is sure to showcase the life of Bourdain through what he dedicated his life for – food.

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CREATE

OLD IS THE

NEW NEW Aishwarya Sridharan

Every individual have different style in cooking which includes cutting vegetables, adding ingrediants, plating etc. But one of the most important item required for cooking are the vessels. In those days our ancestors used only clay pots to cook, there was nothing that our ancestors did without a reason.

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Slowly as people grow more aware of the dangers of modern cookware that contains nickel and chromium leeching from stainless steel pots, BPA in plastics leaking into foods, traditional materials like copper, iron, stone and clay are making a comeback into Indian kitchens.

Clay pot are porous in nature that allows both moisture and heat to circulate through the food, which results in slow yet tastety food. It also retains all the nutrition of the food, which is generally lost in other types of utensils.

The thermal inertia in clay pots also helps meats to stay tender and soft.

Also clay is alkaline in nature and it communicates with the acidity in the food, thereby neutralising the pH balance and eventually making food healthier and a lot tastier. It is believed to provide the exact amount of minerals including calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus and sulphur that benefits our health.

Dr. Aswath says, “There are a lot health benefits that one could gain from cooking in a clay pots. Firstly, clay pots add important nutrients such as calcium, phosphorous, iron, magnesium and sulfur to the food, which are beneficial to our body. The alkaline substance also neutralized the acidity in the food, which makes it easier for digestion. Importantly, oil is not necessary for cooking in a clay pot and thus, the food cooked in clay pots are much lower in fat than food prepared in any other method.”

At present there are a lot of people who are shifting from utensils to clay pots. Even though there are so many health benefits in cooking with clay pots there is one small drawback; that is ‘modern potteries’, they are glazed with substances that contain lead, mercury and many others that can be hazardous for health. Always travel back to the villages or a place where they make potteries and buy clay pots, if you manage to get a pure earthen pot, you can start cooking in them after soaking them in water for some time.

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Why is there a difference in cooking with a clay pot and other other utensils and What is the secret?

The secret lies in how it conducts heat. Clay, unlike other cookware materials such as steel, iron or aluminum, takes a long time to absorb heat. But once it does, it spreads that heat throughout the clay pot and releases it slowly to the food cooking within. This slows down the cooking and allows the flavors of a dish to build slowly, for spices to penetrate more deeply, and also for meats, to break down into small pieces, Ă la Sous-vide cooking, just without the hassles.

The slow heating properties of a clay pot also play a major role in preserving the nutrition inherent in any food. An experiment conducted in a lab in India found that lentils cooked in an unglazed earthen pot retained 100 percent of their micronutrients, while those cooked in a steel pot retained only 30 percent.

The most important reason to start cooking in unglazed earthen pots comes from the one thing it doesn’t add harmful metals into your food.

Beyond all of this, unglazed earthen pots hold a lot for the environment. Because they directly come from soil, they are readily decomposable right back into it when you dispose, it is completely bio-degradable, unlike other utensils.

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CREATE

Musically Yours Christopher Stanley

Don’t just dream big, work at it and believe in your dreams Sunanda Sugendran

“One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain. - Bob Marley”... One such song which took the music lovers by storm is ‘Halena’ a peppy yet melodious track from the Tamil movie Iru Mugan had Nayanthara and Vikram shaking their legs to the breezy tune in Phuket, it was a chartbuster and topping all the charts for days together and garnered a million views and is still topping everyone’s playlist. The voice behind this soul-rousing melody Christopher Stanley, has charmed the millennials with his energetic voice...

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A Self-taught musician Christopher has dreamt of being a singer since childhood. He quit his regular job, stepped out of the comfort zone and dared to follow his heart. Bullying and Criticism has never stopped this man from achieving his dream. The trials are just another stepping stones in his journey. And he chose to be unique out the flock.

A multifaceted show-stopper, apart from his musical pursuit he is also a voice over artist and an actor. He has acted in several plays and had a brief stint in a Tamil movie ‘Naan Sigapu Manidhan’.

Despite any training in music, he is a paradigm of how talent and hard work can enable one to reach great heights. Christopher Stanley takes us through his journey on casual tête-à-tête…

Q. How did your foray into music happen?

I dreamt of being a singer since when I was in school. I literally wrote in all my friends slam book that I want to be a singer when we were parting ways from school.

Q. You also had a brief stint in a Tamil film how did that happen, any more acting projects in the pipeline?

As much as I love singing I love acting too.

Like how I dreamt of becoming a singer, I didn’t dream of becoming an actor. I found out that I can act only later on in my life. I’ve done a few theatre acting and that’s how I got the role in one of the negative roles in ‘Naan Sigapu Manidhan’. If I get a chance I will keep acting. But the industry is huge.

I basically need a break, like how I got in singing.

Q. Your “Halena” song was a chart buster, and it stayed on the top of the charts for a long time, how have things changed after “Halena”?

I still get calls using “Halena” as a reference.

Of course, there are songs I have sung before Halena, which were yet to release and some still not released but this song was my break into the music industry and it has changed everything in my life and my thinking. Thinking as in, it’s not easy to quit your job and take up music as a full time job. This song gave me hope that my voice is being accepted by the people so I need to take a break and prove myself. Let’s take a risk. (Kind of thinking) Q. What is the current scenario in the music industry is it promising for the new comers?

If you are different/unique you have space.

Whether to be different or unique is your choice. To be unique you need to put in effort and a lot of hard work

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Q. You are an actor, singer and a voice over artist which role do you prefer the most?

I have started composing too. I make ads and jingles and I am also going to try my hand in movies, if not now at least in the near future when get a good contact. Voiceover is something I enjoy doing cause of my radio background. I have spent 8 years of my life in radio. Acting is something that is not you. You have to get out of your comfort zone, I love going out of my comfort zone and I love to be someone else too. Not that I don’t like being myself (I love myself) but it’s a chance to be in someone else’s shoes. But besides, singing is my all-time favourite.

Q. Many well established singers and musicians are coming up with independent albums, when can we expect one from you?

Soon! I am always working on my own music. Each one has their own path to success and I have chosen a path which is what I firmly believe in, which is covering an already existing famous song and engaging with the audience to get them to know my skill first. Once they start believing me I will show them my real music. At least then I’ll have someone to judge me.

Q. Who inspired you into music?

Myself Q. What are the factors that concern with the voice, since you are also a voice artist which is more stressful, any particular regime you follow to improve or maintain your voice?

I drink hot or warm water most of the time. It’s not only for my voice but for my health. It’s something we were advised to do but never did when we were kids. I eat healthy food. I don’t do anything extra to maintain my voice. Of course I practice every day. That’s a given to any artist.

Q. What is your kind of music?

I love soul and funk.

Q. I know you are a fitness freak too, lots of people have interesting stories behind how they started focusing on fitness, is there any story behind yours too?

I have been bullied for being dark, fat and chubby through my entire childhood. I hit 116kgs when I was in college. I’m now in my 70’s. I learnt to discipline myself. I have learnt to be calm and patient. About being dark skinned, it’s just a colour. But fat is unhealthy and it has to be taken care off.

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Q. And also you along with your wife have been animal rescuers, how many pups have you rescued so far and found a home for them?

Animal rescue is purely my wife’s passion and life. I’m just a driver and a helping hand. I love what she does and I support her in every possible way. She has rescued almost 4-5 dogs as of now but she does take care a lot of stray dogs in and around our area and where ever she could help. So the credit goes to her.

Q. What do you do when you are not singing?

I exercise, play badminton, and take my dogs for a run and practice. When I get in the mood I compose music or work on my mash up videos that I upload on my YouTube channel, youtube.com/christopherstanleysinger.

Q. What was the best criticism you have received so far?

‘Please don’t sing anymore’ when I was just about to start singing in college.

Which has changed my entire life. Well, you decide now. This is not over confidence. I’m still learning and practising to be a better singer every day.

Q. Any dream collaboration?

I don’t have a dream to collaborate with anyone. But if I get a chance with all the top players in the field... Why not. I mainly will collaborate to learn their journey through music.

Q. Upcoming projects?

As a singer/artist we can never tell what future holds for us. Only when it comes out and your voice is there in that song, you can ever be sure that you have sung for this film / music director. Till then it’s best to keep it low. But surely there are projects in the pipeline and I can only say this because I’m still surviving in the music industry without a day job.

Q. Piece of advice you would like to give to aspiring singers?

Don’t just dream big, work at it and believe in your dreams. I believe it is possible for anyone to do anything and become anyone in life. Don’t harm anyone. It will surely come back to you one day. Karma is a cool dude. It will only give back what you gave. So you decide.

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CREATE

Aparna P Kochumon

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A humble setting tucked away in one of the narrow lanes of Wilson Garden in Bangalore, Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts (ACMA) is an exemplar of how the essence of virtuous art dwells in expertise and caliber and in not an eye-candy facade. Sans any frivolous demeanor, the main dance studios and the office are nestled in a tranquil spot with ample cool breeze and the occasional mellifluous cooing of the Koel bird Completing 26 years of existence and 17 years of its presence in Bangalore, Attakkalari is India’s premiere institute in the field of contemporary movement arts and has carved a niche for itself in the performance space. Envisioned as a platform to create and develop varied sub-texts in the realm of contemporary movement, Attakkalari has facilitated the development of an enhanced and extensive programme that includes national and international platforms for exchange and performance; strategic movement and digital arts development; research and documentation; new performance works by the Attakkalari Repertory; a Diploma in Movement Arts and Mixed Media; and education and outreach programmes. At Attakkalari, there happens an active dialogue and interchange of ideas and skill-set of renowned personas from the performance arena, alongside those from allied fields such as theatre, dramaturgy, digital design, music, lighting and more. The focus of the organization is to decipher the intricacies of the dance form, making it comprehendible to the

layman and stretching its access to the larger society. At Attakkalari, the purpose of art surpasses the perimeters of the artist and the performance space and attains a simple, less-complex language, which appeals to the masses – from the informed to the amateur. Unlike classical arts, which are austere and rigid in their doctrine, and cognizable only to the connoisseurs who have gained exposure to the pedagogy, Attakkalari professes a fluid philosophy, which caters to all.

The productions by the Attakkalari Repertory inculcate elements, excerpts and instances from everyday life and socially relevant issues. Incorporating cutting-edge digital arts, imaginative lighting and invigorating music in conjunction with innovative choreography, the multi-media productions by Attakkalari have received much appreciation and have been performed at renowned festivals across the globe. Besides the major productions by the company, artists are also encouraged to explore their choreographic flair in dance or ancillary forms under the Young Choreographer’s Platform – an

initiative which aids emerging artists by providing befitting guidance, space and technical support. The programme nurtures budding talent and bestows a public platform for nascent choreographic works. Attakkalari strives to craft a refined school of thought in the contemporary ethos, imbibing distilled vocabularies of Indian and western art forms, which will also serve as a viable career option.

Considering the incompetency of several performance spaces in rural and urban India which are often a setback to the art, artists, producers, technicians, and audience in delivering and appreciating the performance, Attakkalari has developed a Mobile Theatre, equipped with essential sound, light and projection equipment with flexible seating, dismountable, sprung wooden dance floors and linoleum mats.

The flexibility of the theatre aids in showcasing unseen works and also assists rural artists in delivering their art form with the abet of advanced technology to the urban audience.

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The Diploma in Movement Arts & Mixed Media offered by Attakkalari is a carefully curated programme for dance enthusiasts with the requisite skills to be tutored in an intensive movement programme encasing various styles and techniques. In the first year, the students are offered classes in Contemporary Dance, Ballet, body-conditioning, Bharatanatyam, Arts History, Anatomy, and Light Design alongside specific modules in the enactment techniques of dance-theatre Kootiyattam, folk vocabulary from Devarattam and Silambham as well as movement idioms of Kalaripayattu and Chhau. The recently introduced second year of the Diploma programme facilitates the students in developing a dance vocabulary that will enable them to enter the professional area of dance and dance-making, both in India and abroad.

Attakkalari renders sessions in contemporary movement, the martial art form of Kalaripayattu, Yoga and Bharatanatyam at their studios, which cater to a large group of enthusiasts across all age groups. Through their outreach programmes in educational institutions, corporates and organisations, they work with all communities, cutting across cultural and economic barriers, reinforcing their vision of a secular and pluralistic society.

Every two years, Attakkalari hosts the Attakkalari India Biennial, which is South Asia’s largest and most important contemporary dance festival. Ever since its inception in 2000, the Biennial has offered a multi-national and crosscultural arena for the exchange of artistic dialogue. Besides being a platform to showcase the vibrant dance language of

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prestigious dance companies across various geographies, the Biennial also renders an exclusive forum for emerging choreographers to portray their work to an international audience; mentoring programme for artists; a residency on dance writing; and producing & presenting films/videos featuring dance. This 10-day affair is also curated as a medium to celebrate a global perspective of expert practitioners not just from dance, but also its allied fields of sound, digital arts and design.

Jayachandran Palazhy, renowned contemporary artist and the Artistic Director of Attakkalari is the prime visionary behind this incredible dance space. An internationally sought-after performer, Jayachandran hails from the Thrissur district in Kerala. A Physics graduate, Jayachandran is tutored in India in Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, Indian folk dances and the martial art form of Kalarippayattu. Moving to London, where he lived for 14 years, Jayachandran was trained at the prestigious London Contemporary Dance School and also studied Classical Ballet, Tai Chi, Capoeira and African Dance. During his time in London, he established the Imlata Dance Company which was supported by the Arts Council of England and several UK based national dance agencies. A man of many talents, Jayachandran works extensively as a consultant in different parts of the world. He has led several artistic residencies, presented papers and delivered lecture demonstrations on a range of allied subjects related to movement arts.

An articulate speaker, Jayachandran elucidates details on his artistic journey and Attakkalari.

Q. What led to the birth of Attakkalari?

When I started learning dance, I never considered it as a career option. I was the only male student of Kalamandalam Kshemavathi and the girls in the class often jeered at me. Owing to this, I was put in private training sessions and never did a public performance during those days. Later, I moved to Chennai where I was trained in Kathakali at Kalakshetra and in Bharatanatyam under the Dhananjayans. I was in love with the technique employed in the form, but not with the content. Classical arts are a repetition of the same old themes of religion, heroes and worship. I ached for an inclusion of personal experiences and life into the vocabulary of the movement.

Further, I worked with Koothu-P-Pattarai and Chandralekha of Spaces, Chennai to explore a different tangent to the performance language. I felt that they had inventive ideas but lacked the tools to process them. Classical forms have a defined vocabulary while contemporary movement is versatile, enabling a creative thinking process. It was during that time that I witnessed a performance by Merce Cunningham. I was spellbound by the treatment of abstract movement rendered by him but the extent to which I could decipher was limited due to my lack of viewership of the form. This instigated a desire in me to explore the intricacies of contemporary movement.

I applied to various schools in UK and joined the London Contemporary Dance School. While in London, I had the chance to witness many dance and theatre performances, which threw light on a different approach to movement. Dancers from the UK had little exposure to Indian classical forms; they didn’t own the movement and hence it was tad difficult for them to imbibe the style. I wanted to create a curriculum to further understand the structure and de-construct the existing form and this led to the birth of Attakkalari in Kerala in 1992. We started as a project-based organization and over the years, we derived and developed a unique teaching methodology involving movement and music for school curriculum. The initiative involved students and teachers from across 6 districts in Kerala. It was proposed to be implemented as a part of the District Primary Education Programme (DPEP), but was later stalled by the government.

Later on, we approached the Ratan Tata Trust and received a corpus fund in 2001 which was one of the first financial aids lent to Attakkalari.

Q. Why the name Attakkalari?

The idea was to create an arena for the exploration of arts, with performance at its centre. Attakkalari is the conjoining of two words – Attam and Kalari wherein Attam means performance and Kalari means space. And as the terms translated to the same meaning in most of the south Indian languages, Attakkalari it was.

Q. A native of Kerala, and an artist trained in Chennai and UK, why did you choose Bangalore to set up Attakkalari?

Attakkalari was started at Alwaye in the Ernakulam district of Kerala in 1992.

People were enthusiastic, but it was tough to survive in Kerala. I realized that unless we move to a larger city with better exposure and facilities, it would be parochial. Chennai was considered, but the city was over-burdened with classical arts and there was always a threat of the contemporary movement being sidelined.

Mumbai and Delhi too were declined due to their overwhelming political and bureaucratic scenarios. Considering the intensive physical effort involved in contemporary movement, there needed a climatic condition, which was not sultry but cool, and Bangalore seemed a viable choice. The building constituting our current office and studios at Wilson Garden were a little dilapidated at the time when we moved in and we had to do some maintenance and repair works to make it inhabitable. Presently Attakkalari has five studios – two adjoined to the office and three more, about 500 meters away.

Q. India, a country more inclined towards classical arts, how was Attakkalari welcomed?

I wouldn’t say that India is inclined more towards classical arts; it is more of a habit than an inclination. The society follows this continued habit and at the thought of one wanting to learn a form of dance, they turn towards the classical repertoire.

Classical forms are like the comfort zone for India – they are accustomed to it and hence a change might seem testing. As they say, change is a painful thing and it is only a matter of effort before one can begin to appreciate contemporary style as well. When Attakkalari started in Bangalore, we were approached to give free classes in schools and educational institutions, but we declined.

We emphasized that we shall render sessions in lieu of a payment. Looking back, I feel that was a good decision.

“Contemporary dance is not a form, but rather an approach to movement.” It is not

merely a representation, but a presence that materializes before the audience.

There were many youngsters who were eager to explore newer forms of dance but had very limited opportunities initially.

Currently, there are a lot of institutions and practitioners for contemporary dance in Bangalore.

Q. Once can notice an Indian reference in the themes of some of the productions and its names.

Is this deliberate?

Not all the productions have an Indian subtext. Conceptually, some of them may be inclined towards the Indian system, but the technique and language is an amalgamation of various styles with an inclusion of personal experiences and memories. The productions are crafted to render a civilizational dimension and hence a vernacular language is essential.

Various references from the Indian context involving the usage of familiar semiotic language and metaphors, derived from the inherited wisdom are used. This could be labelled as a re-use of memories of what one has observed, lived and innate traits. Apart from this, imageries from the environ around and the experiences one encounter too becomes fuel to the choreography. One’s identity is not static – it is on a continued process of evolving, soaking up extracts from newer experiences. The Deleuzian concept of Morphogenesis states that every organism and object has the ability to generate a form by itself, from within. It is the intermittent weaving of these various philosophies and contexts, amalgamated with experiences that produce movement.

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Q. Does Contemporary movement adhere to a doctrine like the classical arts?

Contemporary movement doesn’t require a depiction, but it reaffirms the status quo.

Any work of art is a pattern that relies on a history and pattern recognition is the key to comprehending and connecting with it. It is not necessary to divulge all intricacies; some of it should be left to the onlooker to comprehend. The movement flow is not always pre-determined, but that doesn’t make it arbitrary either. It is a cohesion of different components of language and structure to derive a concept. There is a fluid nature to the form, which leaves room for the onlooker to churn their own versions of reality. The derivatives are a product of an individual’s history of viewing.

Q. How is dance a conjoining of Physics and movement?

Biomechanism or the study of the structure and function of the mechanical aspects of biological systems, aids in the performance and understanding of dance.

However, that alone is not enough – there also needs to be a sense of images and the body has to move along with it. Dance, like any other bodily function, employs many laws of physics through its course.

Most of the senses are heightened whilst a person is dancing; the process is conscious and deliberate. This is known as proprioception or the awareness of the body when in movement. Dance has been proved to open up neuro channels and create an agile body and mind.

Q. What makes Attakkalari unique?

Contemporary dance celebrates a unique movement philosophy. It does not promote an idealized view, but rather, emphasizes on delivering one’s own expression. Attakkalari is not set up with a commercial motive, but to create a transformational impact in individuals and in the society. The motive is to create a movement version of self-exploration which will also serve as a viable career.

The distilled essence of traditional physical wisdom is combined with innovative ideologies and backed up with cutting edge technology at Attakkalari.

Q. What is the scope for contemporary movement as a career option in India?

Performing arts have a huge scope in today’s world. People are now realizing the significance of dance and indulging themselves in it as a recreation, hobby or for fitness. Dance aids in multiple

intelligences and enhances brain plasticity. Attakkalari is currently holding sessions at IIT, Hyderabad. We are also constantly engaging with schools, colleges and corporates through our Outreach Programmes. Several schools have included dance sessions as a part of their curriculum. At corporates, dance workshops are in demand as a team building activity. Apart from this, there is a huge requirement for performing artists in movies, TV shows and even for corporate get-togethers. It is often noticed that people prefer dancers who are yoga practitioners to their non-dancer counterparts. With the knowledge boom and advancements in technology, dancers are used as models instead of digitally designed ones for automations such as gesture recognition and motion capture.

There is no dearth of opportunities, only dearth of artists.

Q. What are the challenges you face as a performer and as an organization?

It is often the case that people’s understanding of the art is very shallow.

Initially, while they were ready to invest copious amounts of time (in years) and money for a conventional professional course, they were reluctant to even invest months for a dance-training programme. But the situation is tad better now – people are beginning to gauge the effectiveness and need for movement therapy. There is a massive talent pool in the country but they are not optimally utilized. The fund flow to arts and its allied sectors is meagre and there is seldom any initiative to invest in and produce good works. An exemplary scale of production requires considerable financial aid and this cannot be fully borne by the artists.

Investing in arts is investing in ideas and this will in return be beneficial for the larger society. People need to be sensitized.

Q. What is new at Attakkalari?

Attakkalari will be partnering with Goethe Institute/Max Mueller Bhavan to host ‘Body Matters –Move to Transform’, a festival dedicated to lay focus on arts in education and to highlight the urgent need for transforming our education system into a more creative and holistic endeavor where students are able to receive over all rounded education so that their potential can fully realized. The festival will also explore the need and possibilities of cultural skills development programmes in the country, which is integral to the overall development of the performing arts scene. The festival will shed light on creativity, innovation and knowledge production as the driving forces of individual and collective transformation of society through comprehensive and holistic education where arts plays an important role. The festival aims to explore diverse cultures, corporeal skills and embodiments to provide insight into their role in shaping identities as well as providing sustenance for selfrealisation. The exhilarating graduation show of Attakkalari’s celebrated Diploma in Movement Arts and Mixed Media that attracts capacity audiences from all over India will be part of the show line up in the festival. There will be opportunity to showcase performances by schools and colleges as well as community dance initiatives as well. The performances will take place in theatres as well as outdoor spaces animating architectural spaces and landscapes.

‘Essence International’ is a new initiative

by Attakkalari aimed at providing an insight into the essence of transforming oneself into an accomplished professional in the performing arts arena. The first edition of the Essence International series will be launched in July-August 2018 during the ‘Body Matters - Move to Transform’ festival, which will be followed by the second edition in January - February 2019 as part of the Attakkalari India Biennial 2019. In these editions, Attakkalari aims to bring professional dance artists from across the globe to confluence in Bangalore to get focused and advanced training as well as mentorship by experts in the field. Facilitated by internationally acclaimed teachers of contemporary dance, choreographers, dramaturges and masters of Indian physical traditions, Essence International offers multiple strands of embodiment as well as creative and interdisciplinary explorations in constructing performances.

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THE DANCING GLUTTON MY FAVOURITE RECIPE IS KITATHAKA THARIKITATHOM Aarthi Vasudevan Photography Credits : D.Kalaiarasan 46 BREW LIFESTYLE I JULY 2018

Agility, devotion and concentration have enabled me to achieve many things in life, the most important one being dance. Professionally trained in Bharatnatyam and Kuchipudi, I have been dancing for the past 16 years. Dance is much beyond movements and expressions. It energizes the soul. Nothing gives me the contentment which I receive from dancing. It is an artist’s commitment towards her aspirations. To be able to freely express emotions on a platform that has given me the recognition I have today is something I will forever be grateful for.

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As an artist who freely expresses her emotions, I felt that there is a necessity to express my opinion on certain stereotypes that surrounds dancers.

As I have been in this field for almost 16 years, I have seen dancers face a lot of body shaming. Although it is on an inconsequential level, it did not prevent me from standing up for it. It is disheartening to note that certain unreasonable expectations are held by people regarding the physique of artists of traditional dance forms. They have managed to let the idea of “size zero� sink into the minds of artists, thereby inserting pressure on them to maintain the desirable figure while performing on stage.

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Artists are expected to be in shape and have a controlled diet. People have conveniently associated the concept of size zero with traditional art forms.

I strongly oppose this thought as dance is purely passion driven. My response to this stereotype is my blog, THE DANCING GLUTTON. As a proud foodie, I decided to initiate THE DANCING GLUTTON to proclaim to the world that as long as one is passionate about what she does, small talks shall forever remain small. In this blog, my efforts are channelized into breaking this stereotype. I am passionate about trying out different cuisines and want to inspire people to do the same.

Through my blog, I aspire to inform and educate my followers about mixed cultures across the world, contrasting lifestyle and scrumptious food. Since the number of food bloggers in India is on the rise, I put in my best efforts to make sure that my page stands out from the crowd. As a food blogger, I make sure that I create all content on my own before sharing them. I realised the importance of food styling and photography is the first big step to keep the page lively.

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Being a graduate in Visual Communication, I have been able to master the art of food photography effortlessly. To reflect my attitude towards food, witty and humorous descriptions about the same is used which also entertains my followers subtly. Although it has only been three months since I started my blog, it has evolved as a small community consisting of more than 300 legit followers who continue to encourage and support my work.

Since the inception of my blog, I have had the opportunity to attend a few bloggers meet in Chennai. It has not only motivated me to work hard for my blog but also introduced me to current trends which are prevailing in the world of food blogging. ZOMATO REVIEWER. I constantly aspire to learn more from others and hope that it reflects upon the quality of my work. The journey so far has been extremely delightful for me. My next short term plan is to explore one area at a time and focus exclusively on lifestyle, food and culture.

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LIVE

DENIM CLAD RAJA KUMARI Padma Murughappun

When she heard herself singing and sounded exactly like the studio-recorded song, Svetha Rao AKA Raja Kumari realised how good she is at it. Born in California, Indian by ethnicity, this pop music diva is taking the gullies and slums over, one song at a time. She’s a rapper, singer and a songwriter who also has a Grammy Nomination. Carving a niche for herself in the music industry, Raja Kumari has worked with some of pop music’s A-Listers like Iggy Azalea, Gwen Stefani and Fifth Harmony. In conversation with the sassy, American Desi queen Raja Kumari on her love for music, Grammy nomination and much more!

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Tell us a little bit about your genre of music and why you chose this.

My genre of music is a fusion of hip hop and classical Indian influences.

I wanted to find a way to express the two worlds i live in so i found a balance in the music.

Q. Your videos have a strong influence of Indian culture in the clothes and the type of songs you put up on YouTube tell us a little bit about your heritage and how it inspires your music?

My training in Indian classical dance inspires everything from my fashion sense to my choreography and to my artistry. I like to incorporate the beautiful things i love about Indian culture into my everyday life.

Q. Congratulations on your Grammy nomination for Change your Life. We would love to your hear about your journey, how you got this far and about the whole Grammy experience.

As a songwriter I was able to get in the room with incredible artists who in turn taught me a lot about myself and my music. Everyone was inspiring and I’m excited to release music on my own.

Q. You have recently worked on songs in Race 3, Kaatru Veliyidai (brilliant singing in Jugni) and Mom - which are Indian productions. Tell us a little bit about your experience working with Indian music composers.

I’ve been a fan of Salman Khan my whole life, and the idea of singing a song for his film was exciting. I had fun on the record and hope the fans can hear that.

Q. What and who inspires you the most when it comes to music writing and singing?

Beyonce Q. If you had to describe yourself in 3 words, what would they be?

American born cultured-desi

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Q. Do you have a pre-performance or presongwriting ritual? Does it help to have one?

I like to meditate and set my intention and energy and allow the song to write itself.

Q. Music can be different things to different people - some find peace in it, some find happiness and joy. What does it mean to you?

How does it make you feel?

Music is freedom. It allows the space to be myself and unapologetic, bold and aggressive Q. Every artist cherishes their first memory of singing and being on stage. Tell us about when you fell in love with singing.

Music has always been a part of my life, I’ve been singing as long as i can remember. I cant imagine myself without having music in my life.

Q. You have worked with international names both from India and abroad. Tell us your most memorable experience working with such big artists and the things you learned from them.

Madhuri Dixit I never knew music would put me in a room with my idol.

My music has taken me to so many countries all over the world but being in the room with her was the most fun.

Q. You work with a lot of non-profit organisations. When did you start your philanthropic activities?

My first charity show was when i was six years old. The fact that my art could create real change in people’s lives was inspiring and made me always use my music and dance as a tool to raise awareness and money for the causes i truly care about.

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LIVE

DESI-WAY Sadakshi Kalyanraman

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Fashion is a way of life and a way of expressing oneself. There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to fashion. It is an unconventional art and different people have different approaches to it. Despite the heavy presence of fashion in magazines, newspapers and on the screens, the industry is still very young in India. With the economic revival in the early 1900s and the exposure to global clothing trends, the Indian Fashion Industry has slowly begun to grow and stabilise. India’s rich and bold ancient clothing has become an emerging destination for glitz and glam today. The comely apparels with cuts of elegance and comfort are taking over the fashion sphere.

As the sole representatives of the precious heritage, Indian handlooms are known for their variety, loftiness and quality. The unique identity of the fabrics comes from the prints and weaves that are exclusive to the different regions. Inspired by nature, architecture of various temples and forts, rural life, these prints are rich and vibrant and they convey beautiful stories to the beholder.

The potential buyers are spoilt for choice between thousands of prints. Be it floral, animal print, geometric patterns or even abstracts, the artisans from all over India, put on their thinking hats to produce the best of quality fabrics.

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Bandhani is one the easily recognisable Indian prints, native to the lands of Gujarat and Rajasthan. This print has been around ever since the Indus Valley civilisation period and the term ‘bandhani’ comes from the Sanskrit word ‘Bandha’ which means ‘to tie’. The garment is decorated by plucking the cloth with the fingernails to create tiny bindings that makes up a figurative design. Sometimes the fabric is also dyed at regular intervals to create designs like dots, stripes or waves to go along with the original bandhani pattern. Some of the famous centres in India are in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab and also in Tamil Nadu.

The second most loved Indian print is the Kalamkari. The term translates into ‘the art of drawing with a pen’. Kalamkari is a type of hand-painted or block-painted cotton textile that usually depicts deities or scenes from the Hindu epics. In ancient India, when groups of artists, singers and storytellers moved from one place to the other, they would draw out episodes from the Hindu mythologies. This art today has diversified into freehand abstracts, intricate floral and animal designs that are laboriously painted over the course of many months. The interesting part about Kalamkari work is that only natural dyes are used in production and thus it is worth all the money it demands in the market.

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Ikat is the oldest forms of fabric decoration, which is actually a dyeing technique rather than a print or pattern. It employs resist dyeing on the yarns before weaving the fabric. Individual yarns or bundles of yarns are bound tightly in the desired design and then dyed to create a unique pattern. The blurriness of the fabric is a characteristic of the ikat design.

The less blurry it appears, the more time, effort and skill has gone into its making.

Ikat is popularly woven in the states of Gujarat and Telangana.

The Ajrakh print is another unique form of block printing on textiles that uses only natural dyes including vegetable and mineral dyes. The most important component happens to be the Indigo dye that is predominantly used for this print.

These prints are simply stamped on to the surface of the fabric and the common colours include black, green, red and blue.

The Ajrakh print is found mostly on shawls and carpets in the state of Rajasthan.

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Our native prints are not only made out of natural dyes or precious metals, they are also made out of mud. This art of making use of natural materials like mud, gum and lime, dates back to the 8th century AD. The craftsmen dip the blocks in the mix and then press it on the fabric. This method is called the “Dabu� print which comes from the word dabaana (to press). The patterns are traditional, and are picked from the nature and the surrounding elements. The fabric is then fully dyed to the preferred colour and is washed multiple times to get rid of the mud. The colours of the sky – blue, indigo and red are mostly seen in regional attire of Rajasthan.

With the world becoming a village and with tradition meeting modern, there seems to be a surge in the cross-pollination of fashion trends. The traditional Indian prints and fabrics are widely used on the international runway shows, curated into exclusive couture collections. This fusion of Indian fabrics and western cuts are all the rage now. The ostentatious, exquisite Indian fabrics are finally being acknowledged worldwide and leave us with the choice of numerous desi attires.

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WHAT’S BREWING

Smart Windows Lighten And Darken On Cue

A Wi-Fi-connected window accessory will make your pane listen to your commands Self-tinting windows solve the problem, darkening or turning opaque on command, but they are expensive and require custom installation. California start-up SONTE has developed an alternate approach: an affordable after-market tinting treatment. It costs 290$ / meter

Portable Washing Machine

Evam Presents Mic Testing

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DMR MiniWash is India’s 1st Portable Mini Washing Machine Suitable for need of one and all. DMR brings you comfort of choosing your washing machine as per your needs and size.

Features: Portable – Light Weight, Small Size – Single Tub Washing Machine with dryer basket, Low Cost / Low Electricity Consumption and Low Water Requirements, Suitable for washing Jeans / T-Shirts / Towels / Sarees / Curtains / Bed-sheets, etc.

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A fun night where upcoming comedians and popular comics of Chennai will be performing and entertaining the audience. It is conducted for new and upcoming stand-up artists to try their content with different audiences every time and on the other hand, the experienced comics will also try their new materials. Ticket cost Rs 110 ( 100 redeemable). It takes place every Thursday till 26th July at Ashvita Bistro.

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