The onset of April is also the onset of a new financial year and like many other brands, Brew Lifestyle and Entertainment too, starts off afresh. The issue starts off with a recap of the Brew Women Awards, ‘Inspire and Conquer 2015’, where we had amazing personalities receiving awards. On the cover, we have Jose Charles Martin, the entrepreneur turned actor who is determined to take the nation forward, in terms of moral values which he feels is lacking. We also have the smart and vibrant Pooja Kumar, actor of Vishwaroopam and Uthama Villain fame, on the cover. She talks about films, the Indian audience and more. And yes, our team here is all geared up to do their best this new financial year, so don’t forget to wish us luck before you begin. Happy reading!
Vilani Senthamil Editor
The faces on the cover are not merely known to many, but are people of great substance too. That’s an understatement even, as I know them on a personal level for a long time. Charles wants to contribute to the society; he wants to make changes for the betterment of all people, when he doesn’t have to do so. Pooja, on the other hand, is all set to take the film industry by storm. An opportunity to comeback with the Ulaganayagan doesn’t come knocking at one’s door that easily. Flip through the pages, as we have a lot more stories in store for you.
Sameer Bharat Ram Publisher and CEO
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Venket Ram
Thota Tharani Thota Tharani is an Indian film art
Venket Ram is a leading Indian celebrity
director and production designer
& fashion photographer, who has shot
who has worked in Tamil cinema,
principal photography stills for several
Telugu cinema, Malayalam cinema
notable films as well as portfolios. He
and Bollywood. As of 2013, he has
quit his engineering studies to work
won two National Film Awards, two
with cinematographers for a while, then
Filmfare Awards South and four Tamil
joined a course in Visual Communication
Nadu State Film Awards. His work
at Loyola College. After that, he worked
consists of paintings, murals, paper
with photographer Sharad Haksar and in
collages, wooden montages, and
1993, started his own studio. He recently released the first two editions of his
installations and so on.
annual calendars in 2011 and 2012 with an overwhelming response.
Contributors & Advisory Board Mallika Sarabhai
Neeru Nanda
Educated as an economist and a
A graduate from Delhi University.
business manager, Mallika Sarabhai
Passionate about writing, she freelanced
is one of India’s best known
as a feature writer for ten years before
Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi dancers. She has taken her work and her
switching to publishing. Author of a collection of short stories titled “IF” (Rupa
company Darpana to not only over 90
& Co), Neeru is now working on two
countries around the world, but also to
novels and a series of books for children.
the farthest parts of India.
Veejay Sai
Ashok Verghese
An award-winning writer, editor and
Is one of the youngest education entrepreneurs who is making a great
a culture critic. He has written and
difference in this field in the country.
published extensively on Indian classical music, fashion, theatre, food and art,
He is the Director of the Hindustan group of Institutions, again one of
and loves traveling, researching literary and cultural history. He is an editorial
the pioneering educational groups in
consultant with over 40 brands and
the country. He supports the cause of promoting young talent in art and music.
designers in and outside India and is on the jury for several prestigious awards in the arts across the country.
Internal team A Jesu Durai, Senior Designer Vijay Singh Nathawat, Junior Designer Seeman Elumalai, Circulation Head
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Behind the cover
The cover shoot was a super fun one! Vivacious and full of energy, Pooja Kumar was at her prettiest (both on and off camera). Charles Martin too felt super comfortable after a few shots. Here’s a glimpse of what happened at the shoot.
Photography: G Venkat Ram Make-up Courtesy: Naturals Salon
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C ontents
Contemplate Revisiting the Brew Women Awards, ‘Inspire and Conquer, 2015’
Create JOSE CHARLES MARTIN Entrepreneur turned actor Charles, has his heart in the right place. He talk about how Modi inspires him & the change he wants to see in the nation
STACCATO, THE BAND R. H. Vikram, Keyboardist and Composer, talks about his band and career in music
POOJA KUMAR Actor of Vishwaroopam and Uthama Villain fame talks about working with Kamal Hassan & explains how the Indian audience is different from the American one
BHRIGU SAHNI Musician talks about discovering the inner self, before pursuing anything else
Live FOOD TRENDS Vikram Cotah has lots to say about the trends taking the hotel industry by storm
RECIPE FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL A recipe from GRT’s Great Foodie Calendar
THE BEST HILL STATIONS IN THE COUNTRY Summer is stifling, so what’s better than cooling off in a cool hill station destination? Take your pick among the best of them in India
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Looking back at the
BREW WOMEN AWARDS
INSPIRE AND CONQUER, 2015
She has a trillion positive traits, each surfacing with every obstacle she overcomes with so much ease. She’s fierce, she’s gentle, she’s graceful and she’s strong, sometimes all at once. Can you imagine a beautiful world without a woman? Hardly. No more obstacles should cross her way. Brew Women Awards 2015, gave her trampolines instead. Trampolines to inspire and conquer the world. The ‘Inspire & Conquer Brew Women Awards 2015’ hosted last month accoladed inspiring women from various fields and it was quite an inspiring ceremony altogether! Flip through to know more about our awardees.
AWARDEE #1 SHEILA SRIPRAKASH She founded Shilpa Architects in Chennai, India in 1979 and has the distinction of being the first woman in India to have started and operated her own architectural firm. She has designed over 1000 completed architectural projects. She currently serves on the World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council on the Role of Arts in Society, in recognition of her signature works of Visionary architecture that feature art, culture and heritage. She is cited as a Starchitect and a celebrated architect for her iconic buildings and the canonical status of the architectural theories surrounding Reciprocity in Design.
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AWARDEE #2 VASUDHA CHAKRAVARTHY The only established woman Wildlife Photographer in the entire country. She is India’s only woman wildlife photographer to have permanently gone over to the other side — the wild side. She dumped her well-paying job to move to the Nilgiri jungles, where she’s lived for the past three years, capturing untamed nature on lens.
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AWARDEE #3 KAVITA BALIGA International Singer Kavita Baliga has been involved with building the curriculum of AR Rahman’s KM Music Conservatory, has sung in concerts all over the world – USA, Switzerland, France, Italy, Germany in all genres from Opera to Oratario, musical theatre to Indian films.
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AWARDEE #4 MOWSHIMKKA RENGENATHAN At the young age of 21, Mowshimkka Rengenathan is the Founder of the NGO BhojanAtews, which educates orphaned children. She has done miraculous work in teaching underprivileged kids both in academics and everyday culture.
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AWARDEE #5 PRIYA RAVICHANDER Fire Officer Priya Ravichander is one of the first female fire officers in the state. While attempting to rescue victims in a fire accident, she was severely injured and suffered from burns all over he body. She received the Anna Medal for Gallantry in 2012 and President’s Award for Gallantry in 2013 by the Chief Minister for bravery and selfless courage.
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AWARDEE #6 V.R DEVIKA Dr. V. R. Devika, Founder and Managing trustee of The Aseema Trust, a nonprofit organization for linking traditional performing arts and education and Mahatma Gandhi and education, is a well-known cultural activist who has a passion for performing arts and education. She conducts regular workshops on Charka-spinning, peace education and communication skills for students and teachers. She received a certificate of honorary citizenship from the Governor of Maryland during her participation in US state department’s International Visitor Leadership programme.
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AWARDEE #7 POOJA THAKUR Wing commander Pooja Thakur, needs no introduction. She became the first female commanding officer to head the inter-services Guard of Honour inspected by US President Barack Obama. She has been recognised on various levels across the nation for her strength and determination. She is actively promoting women as strong individuals and wants to get women into combat as well.
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INSPIRED BY
MODI
A pioneer of multiple businesses, Jose Charles Martin is all set to make a phenomenal change in the society. He has great admiration for Modi, and it doesn’t stop with that; he wants to follow in his footsteps too. Charles has never stepped out of his comfort zone, never had to face poverty or discrimination, so it makes you wonder- what fuels this passions of his? Well, let’s discover! By Vilani Senthamil
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GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS The son of one of the highest taxpayers in the country, Charles was born in a golden cradle. He was bought up with the best of everything too, including the best of values and principles. As a student, he was more professionally into sports and extra curricular activities. However, he compromised on all his interests when he took over his father’s business at the young age of 19. “I started off by trying to save the channel SS music that my father had started. There was heavy competition in the market, so we had to put it to an end. It was a difficult decision, especially for my father. But it was the right thing to do. We didn’t classify into other channels when it was necessary, and that led to the death of the channel. We used to play songs from all 4 languages, so that was a unique selling point. There was no competition at that point, so people tuned in to the channel. Now there are a lot of regional music channels that people divert to. Also, during that period we acquired content for free. Then, content became paid and we began losing a lot more money. My father in spite of all that wanted to run it, but I told him we had to put it to an end. It’s all business, at the end of the day”, he recollects. After finishing this, he went to pursue his studies. Later, he entered the hotel industry, construction and colleges. He conquered all three sectors with ease.
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“My passion is media and movies- especially movies that bring awareness to the society; those that inspire change and betterment of the society�
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“If only we had more great leaders like Modi, who is rapidly making the country a better place to live in, it would make a big difference”
STEPPING INTO THE SPOTLIGHT Having excelled in many businesses, Charles soon became restless. There is so much more to do, after all. Starring in a yet to be titled film hyped to be a strong one in terms of content, he is paving his way into films. “My passion is media and movies- especially movies that bring awareness to the society; those that inspire change and betterment of the society. Movies help reaching the people better. I can send across a message to a huge number of people, only through movies. It’s very simple- everything in the nation could be much better, if only all of us put some thought into it. The young generation of today is not very keen on the development of the society. A majority of them have given up, even. People in India don’t like to become leaders, they prefer being followers. I want to be one such leader who can set an example for many. If only we had more great leaders like Modi, who is rapidly making the country a better place to live in, it would make a big difference. I want to be like him, to set an example solely through my actions. I have an ambition for the nation, and with that motive, I want the society as a whole to work towards that”, he states. The movie targets the entire society, be it urban and rural or the A,B and C audience. He believes every person has a role to play, so it won’t make sense to target just one part of the crowd; the message has to be universal.
ON THE SOCIETY & MORE In a stage where youngsters, especially youngsters from the creamy sector, are not remotely interested in contributing to the nation, it’s amazing that he wants to make a change for the better. “Of course, it’s good to have a fun time, but that does not mean we have to lose all meaning. I believe in spirituality and doing something meaningful as well. There is no place for honest people in this society, that’s the saddest part. There are so many loopholes in the society that nothing functions properly. Everyone is trying to run away from politics. We just complain about the system without even trying to be a part of it. At a point, I became utterly frustrated with all
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of this, and I decided I wanted to change it! A country like Dubai, which is just a desert, has transformed phenomenally simply with cooperation from the people. Why can’t we do the same and develop, when we have almost everything?” he explains. So who is Charles Martin, in a sentence? “I will always strive to be a human being who respects values and traditions and who inspires everyone to embrace the same”, he responds.
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD?
“I will always strive to be a human being who respects values and traditions and who inspires everyone to embrace the same”
“Ten years down the line, we ought to have value for everything. That’s my ultimate goal”, is his prompt answer. On the business front, everything is taken care of, as he has set up a strong core team. He opens up “Delegating tasks have given me time to pursue my passion, something more real rather than just minting money. The Internet is something we have to broach. That is the future of the country. All Indian companies should contribute to the Internet and mobile applications. Even movies can get released online. Piracy is anyway going to take place. So why don’t we work out a system that benefits all sides by going online?” He has big plans for movies as well. “I also want to talk about the Tamil history and tradition in my movies. Most people are unaware of the knowledge bought to the world by Tamilians. I want to enlighten the world about the same. We were ruling the world at a point- Tamilnadu was the centre point for trade, language and culture. No one is aware about this fact. I want everyone to be proud of being a Tamilian, as they should be. But this film should be shot in Hollywood; on the same lines of Gladiator, 300 and the likes”, he reveals.
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Composing
HIS
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RH Vikram, keyboardist of the band Staccato has lots to say on the future of bands in the country. Talented, smart and driven, the young lad is all set to make a mark in the music industry. Read on, as he speaks to Vidhya Anand and Vilani Senthamil, about Staccato, his band
So, could you tell us how it all started? Basically it all started in 2008 – 2009. Most of our band members are from the same school, so we’ve been playing together since our childhood, in all the culturals and programmes. Myself, bala and Shruti Saagar are the founders. We have grown from then to now. Why the name Staccato? Staccato- What it means is, a musical term that means discontinued notes. We had another name for the band. Using that name we participated in culturals in colleges and never won. So then I thought, we should change the name and
changed it to Staccato. And the songs we were playing had a lot of staccato notes. And we won, so keeping the luck factor in mind we continued with the same name. Could you tell us about the different members of the band? Sruthi Saagar, he is the flautist, so he is one of the most sought-after flautist in the Carnatic industry right now; perhaps one of the best flautists in the country. And, most of the band members are professionals in their own field and Charted Accountants too. And Shruti Sagar has been performing with almost all the big Carnatic artists around
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the world. I play the keyboard and I also compose for the band. The others, we have Balasubramian on the percussion, Manoj Kumar on the Violin and Shallu Varun on the base, Yeshwanth Arockiyaraj on the keyboard again, the vocalist is Gautham Bardhwaj, he is the lead vocalist and the drummer is Tapass Naresh. What kind of music do you play? The forte of the band is playing fusion numbers, we take up old Carnatic songs, and we try to re-vamp it and perform. The other thing we do is take up Raja and Rahman songs and completely re-arrange the orchestration and then we perform. That is what we mostly look out for. Are you doing this full time? Or are you working and then doing this? No, I’m a full-time musician, I work with G.V. Prakash and I’m also getting into doing my own films now. What projects of G.V. Prakash have you been a part of? I’ve been a part of Pencil, Darling, Irumbu Kuthirai and all the films he’s been working on for the last four years. And I’ve also been a part of a film produced by Dhanush, whichwas premiered at the Toronto Film Festival. All of your band members full time musicians? Is it a reliable profession? Almost all of us are full time musicians. No, it’s a gamble. Suddenly one day you can’t say I’m going to become a full-time musician. You need to have planned it well in advance so that things fall in place and you are comfortable. At the end of the day, we all enjoy what we are doing so; we are ready for the future.
“It’s a gamble. Suddenly one day you can’t say I’m going to become a full-time musician. You need to have planned it well in advance so that things fall in place and you are comfortable”
What do you think is the future of the bands in India? Do you think they have scope for a lot of recognition? Or people are more into film music? No, definitely the scene is very good in the late 90s and in the 2000s it went backwards. For the past three four years, there has been good scene, especially after studios emerged, people have started listening to bands. They also want something different, because film music they are able to hear almost every day and every minute on Television. So when they go out to shows they don’t expect the same thing. The more rarity people witness, the more the bands grow.
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The beauty
WITH BRAINS Actor of Vishwaroopam and the upcoming film Uthama Villain, Pooja Kumar has her eyes on the prize. Oozing with talent and an attractive demeanour, this gorgeous damsel talks about how it was working with the legend, films and her life so far. By Vilani Senthamil
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FROM FINANCE TO ART Coming from a family of engineers and doctors, it’s a surprise to see that she has pursued a vibrant career in the creative industry. She started off by studying politics and finance, so how did this contrasting transition take place? With a sparkle in her eyes, she laughs and begins “I always took part in musicals and school plays as a kid. My first dance performance was when I was 3 and I did Madhu Barna Radhika. My mother taught me the dance. We had another family friend who was seven years old who played the Tabla. He played live Tabla and I would do Kathak moves to his beats. My mother was a dancer, an artist and a painter. So she taught me to dance. That’s how I was introduced to the creative field. I began learning it professionally soon after that. I know the Ballet, Tap and
jazz. Of course, I learnt Baratanatyam and Kathak as well. So after that happened, I started dancing in programmes. I love all dance forms equally. You know when you dance its all about the rhythm and the musicality. So for me any dance form, the movements itself are so exciting and liberating. It helps you do anything in life, it helps give a balance to life. Even as an actor it’s easier to understand a scene, when you can understand music and rhythm”. Having been bought up in the Unites States, she celebrated the Indian night, the Holi night and the August 15th day. “In the fifth grade, I began taking part in musicals. I was in a Shakespeare play in which I played the role of the lead boy. I realised I had the artistic side in me at that time. However, presuming the lifestyle of an artist was something that would take time for my family to get accustomed to. So I decided to take up politics and finance”, she reveals.
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CLIMBING UPHILL
Soon after that she went to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. “I was also a part of the ABCL, the Amitabh Bachchan Corporate Limited. There were 10 guys and 10 girls that they chose among 60,000 applicants. I was one among those ten girls, to get trained in that academy”, she beams. “ I was very lucky that I was a part of that. Then I was crowned Miss India USA and everything just kept happening to me. I never really wanted to be a part of a beauty pageant, it just fell into my lap, I can say!” Did she get saturated mentally after becoming a model? No, she did not. She participated in several smart advertising campaigns, produced two short films before focusing on acting full time. “I did a lot of campaigns, for Pepsi, for Tata, for Cadbury’s chocolate, and it was all art to me. For me, modelling, acting, dancing, producing, all of it are different forms of art. All the advertisements that I have been a part of, the products that I have promoted are those that I truly believe in. So it’s a part of the job. I never thought of modelling as something that is beneath me. I like promoting brands”.
STARRING WITH KAMAL HASSAN
“Working with someone who has had more than 50 years of experience in the film industry, is intimidating”, she declares.“Everyday before I do my scenes, I am extremely nervous because he demands the best out of everyone. It makes me a better actor and a better person. It’s hard to put into words, what I’ve learnt. Working on a set and understanding a script, is a process. He is amazing because he continues to add something to cinema. I think it is exciting for all of us when an artist does something new or something different. As entertainers we are here to entertain. We are here for the people, we are here to give them something new and fun and exciting. It can represent reality or it doesn’t have to represent reality. But at the end of the day, people ought to go to a movie theatre and have a good time and feel that their life has been enriched in some way. Be it a drama, or a serious movie, or a thriller, or a comedy, we want people to go home in satisfaction with what we provide and that’s what he’s been able to do. This has inspired me to do something creative, brand
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“All the advertisements that I have been a part of, the products that I have promoted are those that I truly believe in”
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new and fun, all the time”. Divulging more about her role in Uthama Villain, she says, “In Vishwaroopam, my role was a bit of a comic relief. In Uthama Villain however, apart from a little comic relief I have multiple looks and multiple roles in this film. You’ll see me in a different avatar, which is quit exciting for the audience and for me too. It was a nice new challenge”.
INDIAN VERSUS AMERICAN AUDIENCE
She’s seen both sides of the story. Is the Indian audience different to her, in many aspects? “The artists of the Indian film industry are like a part of the audience’s family”, she states. “That’s what is so interesting about India. Going to the movies is a whole family affair. It’s a part of the culture. Movies are a relief from my life, a sort of go to guru. In America, movies are purely for entertainment. India has more culturally based movies, movies that talk about values. In the USA, the movies are experimental in nature. As far as the technical skills or content is concerned, both are in par. I think the only aspect that needs improvising will be the sound effects. But I think the amazing plots, rich history and culture of India that is reflected in Indian filmmaking more than makes up for it. In fact, we haven’t exposed this history as much as we should have”, she pipes.
BEHIND THE SCREEN
She has produced two short films, which have won many accolades. Asking her if she is planning to pursue it any further, she replies, “As an artist you come across stories and ideas, which occur to you that you want to bring out to the world. I think I have always wanted to try different things and my whole life is an experience. I have always been doing something new and experiencing something different. Opportunities have come my way, but I think I have also worked really hard to embrace those opportunities. These 2 short films that I did were stories that I wanted to tell. It was like an experiment to see if the idea would work or not, so that’s why I decided to do those. I will be doing bigger feature films in the future”, she divulges. On the acting front what does she have in store for us? “I will continue to be doing movies in all regional languages. I’m really excited about working with new directors and doing new scripts too. The audience is changing now, welcoming new ideas and I’d love to be an active part of that change”, she signs off.
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Strings, Sound &
The Self Exploring and assimilating several experiences, inspirations & influences from various cultures, guitarist, writer & composer Bhrigu Sahni’s music is creating new sounds for today’s creative generation; joyfully researching, learning from traditions, while redefining versatility and universality of the Indian music. Go through this fascinating journey of this intense, blissful personality whose upcoming album will touch the inner core of his audience through his deep sound and soul stirring compositions.
Dharmesh Jadeja In Conversation With Bhrigu Sahni On His Inspirations, Music & Search.
While this generation is overburdened with information, entertainment & technological revolution that is taking over each and every part of our lives, one still longs for that moment which brings us closer to one’s deepest joy, an experience where none of this technology can take us, where an artist shares his unique experiences and shows us the oneness amongst these diversities and contradictions we live with in our daily lives. Bhrigu’s Momentary Present brings us closer to that moment; his sound and songs speak straight from the heart.
SOUL STIRRING MUSIC A whole generation of artists seems
to be exploring this through their art, music, writings, sounds, experiments and innovations with traditions; Bhrigu Sahni represents this generation, having seen this at a very early stage in his career and touching something very deep and profound; Compositions from Bhrigu’s brief concert at Auroville recently touched many a soul, especially a whole lot of youth who seemed to be longing for something fresh & innovative, while still being very enlightening, grounded and beautiful. “I am greatly inspired my Michael Hedges, an American composer, acoustic guitarist and songwriter, whose music and guitar playing seemed to transcend technique and genre, while being simple and profound.” Bhrigu comes across as a very humble, inspired and ever smiling artist, who takes pride in being inspired by the traditions, while attempting to take it further with his explorations and innovations with
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guess my basic technique would be to retune the guitar to get a different sound, perhaps something that sounds like the Sitar or the Sarod. After I’ve found a tuning that really resonates, what follows is a lot like reaching out in the dark, really having to trust your ear and trying to work on unfamiliar ground. It’s strange but working in this ‘unknown’ territory helps bring out music that originates from deep within oneself. “
WHERE DOES IT ORIGINATE? Bhrigu’s music through his various tunings of guitar, seems to capture and emulate the resonating sympathetic strings of instruments like Sitar or slides of Sarod, small bands and nuances, which goes straight to the heart. Obviously difficult to emulate this on guitar, he has been at it for a while now. His music borders on the abstract, by incorporating minimalist concepts and flamenco techniques, while being an ode to the Indian traditions of Dhrupad and Sufi music, he is influenced by masters like Ali Akbar Khan sahib, Pt. Nikhil Banerjee and even Keith Jarrett, the great Jazz Pianist, whose improvisations are soul stirring. “I practice on presenting the music from an inner space that I try and enter by creating a mind space before going on stage. You can definitely call it a meditative space. By continuously playing and practicing I enter this space and try and stay there for as long as possible. Its interesting
to play from this space, for when I enter into it, I can think of people that I love, like my parents, and my heart becomes full of love and I try to bring that sound from within those places of my experience. I have explored Jazz, blues, rock, hip-hop, reggae, Sufi music, qawali, afro-brazilian batukaxe music and what not but music comes first, much before any genre or trends. I am deeply touched also by the poetry of Omar Khayyam and Rumi; also Leonard Cohen has been a great inspiration. I now try to converge all these energies I have received by explorations and experiences, to create. I try and make some art, to be true to myself through my heavily acoustic guitar oriented sound. I do feel deeply connected to the universality and the versatility of our classical traditions for any music or sound is after all a vibration, going from one source to the other source, from the artist to the audience.” Clearly this deep philosophical understanding coming from a young musician reflects ones longing for perfection and quest for deepest joy that one’s art can offer. He mentions with respect his studies of works of great Sufi seer and pir, Hazrat Inayat Khan’s teachings and quotes that has influenced his thought processes.
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD? “I would like to think that I have come full circle now. After all these years of influences and confluences, experiences and experimentation, playing shows with several bands in the US and India, I feel like I’m ready to assimilate all these to create something that reflects my true search, my music, my sound, through my work.” Bhrigu went to the Berklee College of Music in Boston, one of the finest institutions in the United States that has a large number of international students. Since graduating in 2011, he brings with him the vitality of numerous creative collaborations with artists such as Me’shell Ndegeocello, Karsh Kale, Arooj Aftab, Atif Aslam and Timothy Lefebvre. “One is quite taken aback with the diversity, richness of the cultures of the world and the talent that spans across the world, when at Boston. I was there for an under graduate degree in Performance and
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Composition. It’s a rigorous curriculum, approximating ten courses each semester ranging from ear training, tonal harmony, playing in various ensembles to art history, liberal arts, etc. There are some great faculty members who set your fundamentals strong through classes and more focused private lessons. The professors are highly dedicated and impart music in a very compassionate way. Each course is designed to give you the best. It is an overwhelming feeling of satisfaction and exhaustion after each semester. I was totally into it while there, playing for 7 bands and several gigs every week at various places in Boston. Very creative but very exhausting at times.” Bhrigu comes from an illustrious family of Sahnis, which is renowned since generations for its excellence in diverse fields such as business, literature, theatre, films, science, to education, economics and arts. He continues the tradition of being a rebel of their own generation, diversity of profession and choice of life, which has been respected by the family through out. “Each one of our family members has been the black sheep in their generation, so I guess doing music wasn’t that out of line. Sure, there is a pressure to do well, but I try and see it as a blessing, that I’m born in this family which has achieved great things, and that I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to make music. I have not thought much about it and have followed my path of creativity through music; my family supports me wholeheartedly. My parents are my best audience. My truest music comes through in their presence and I know I am fully supported and I am not judged. My music is for them.” He feels that his contemporaries are not so commercially driven or mere ambitious these days. Each one dreams of contributing to a better world; there are various paths they go through such as, using their music as healing, social change or simply pure artistic expression and elevating the joy of this humanity. It is not always about filling up the concert halls and selling the albums, as far the artists are concerned. It is much more.
MESSAGE TO THE WORLD His message to this generation is quite unique and contained. He feels this generation of youth has immense energy and drive and access to technology, infrastructure and support should give this
I remember being a kid and having a lot of energy and wanting to do a lot of important stuff. I guess my advice would be to be mindful of how you use that energy and drive, and how you direct it
generation no excuse for mediocrity. This generation is blessed with resources that were not available in history of mankind. “I remember being a kid and having a lot of energy and wanting to do a lot of important stuff. I guess my advice would be to be mindful of how you use that energy and drive, and how you direct it”. Bhrigu’s much awaited solo album which is being released soon will feature a lot of his works and diverse sounds; focusing on altered acoustic guitar sonorities, the album will also include subtle electronic soundscapes, heavy drumset grooves, saxophone drones, cello and voice. He loves writing and feels blessed by his grand father, when at times it comes straight to him during his riyaz. He finds music as a very effective tool, when composing his own writings, touching one’s heart straight and can move people to great depths, when combined with words powerfully. We wind up our uplifting conversations with some lines from his song, Momentary Present from his upcoming album These lines reflects the search of his generation through diverse and creative paths, how each one of us long to live to the fullest this very moment, which is infinite and unknown, unsure while being blissful and complete if lived in the right instant, in the right way; one’s own. ‘what is now, is now then, take a picture my friend and save for me a glimpse of what is past for the momentary present, slips away with every second even though i try so hard to grasp’
for further information: www.bhrigusahni.com https://www.facebook.com/bhrigusahni.artistpage www.youtube.com/bhrigusahni
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RECIPE FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL
Moongphali Paneer
Tikka
PRE-PREPARATION 45 minutes | PREPARATION 10 minutes | ACCOMPANIMENT Mint chutney | SERVES 4 INGREDIENTS Tikka n 1 Kg paneer (cottage cheese) n 50 gm roasted besan flour n 50 gm processed cheese n 250 gm hung curd n 100 gm cashew paste n Salt to taste n 2 gm black salt n 5 gm chaat masala n 5 gm green cardamom powder n 5 gm turmeric powder n 3 gm kasoori methi powder n 3 gm cumin powder n 10 gm yellow chilli powder n 5 gm green chilli paste n 20 gm refined oil n 15 ml lemon juice n 30 ml cream n 150 gm roasted crushed peanuts Garnish n Bed of lettuce n Red pepper curls
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METHOD n Cut the paneer into desired sized cubes. n In a big bowl, add the roasted besan flour, cheese, hung curd, cashew paste and mix it well with your palm. n Add salt, black salt, chaat masala, green cardamom powder, turmeric powder, green chilli paste, oil and mix it well. n Add the lemon juice, cream, crushed peanut and mix it well. n Soak the paneer in the marination for ½ hour, skewer the paneer and roast it in hot tandoor or barbeque grill. n Serve hot with lettuce, pepper curls and mint chutney.
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The best
FOOD
TRENDS Vikram Cotah, Vice President of GRT Hotels and Resorts, talks about the ten biggest trends that have taken over the hotel industry by storm. Read through, if you want to quench your curiousity! Healthy Comfort Food
Comfort foods are very happening, with integration of healthy ingredients in place of the original ones. For instance, meatballs are beginning to be composed only with lean chicken balls and spaghetti is becoming wheat spaghetti!
Bragging Rights
The meals served are very well presented these days, due to the effect of social media. If a dish is elegant looking, people immediately want to tweet it or post a picture on Instagram! Food with some bragging rights is absolutely necessary at this point of time.
Going Small
Small portion dishes like Teppan, Tapas and Dimsums, sushi are all in.Having a meal in small portions is becoming a trend, there are no more meals like huge American portions. People are looking for a lot of variety, and when offered in small portions it makes it so much more enticing to them.
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Barcelona
Casual Dining
The traditional sit down markets are sinking. Nowadays fast casual restaurants are becoming trendier than the fast food joints or luxury dine-ins. Its fresher food served in a casual setting, which you can eat and quickly meet or catch up with friends. If you are alone you could sit on the singles table, grab a bite and leave. These are not fast food joints where you get your food in 2 minutes either. It’s a middle ground between traditional dine-in and fast food joints.
Go Asian
Asian food is sweeping into the global cuisine. Earlier Asian food meant only Chinese and Thai food. But now, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese and Indian is catching up as well. Indian menus are also moving away from Indian Chinese cuisine to original Korean, Japanese and Vietnamese cuisine.
Bitter is Better
Dishes with a bitter twinge to them are more appealing to the people these days. For instance, people don’t really want milk chocolate anymore. They are moving towards darker chocolate, as it’s more intriguing. Even dark beers and dark coffee seem to be more enticing to people’s taste buds of late.
Gluten Free Menus
Lots of people are realising now that gluten is the main source of all the health problems. It’s also the main source of changing your entiremind-set! When you go gluten free- the body changes, mentally and physically. We become more positive and more energetic, thus this is one more emerging trend.
Personalised meals
Restaurants make it a point to take personalised re-
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quests from customers. Allergies, diet restrictions and personal preferences are taken into account and given a lot of importance. Generic dishes might become a thing of the past.
Local to superlocal
From trying to source vegetables and fruits from nearby fields, people have begun to grow their resources in their own backyard. ‘Grow your own microorganics’ is a slogan to look out for! The reason is food will much more organic and fresh this way.
Gen Z
The after 2000 generation kids are way more independent than any of the previous generations, they make their own decisions all the time. Restaurants are in turn becoming more high tech by offering tablets as menu cards, loud music and vibrant visual attractions in the restaurant. They are competing against one another to make it to the wish list of the Gen Z!
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BREW PICKS TEE SHIRTS FROM TAMIZHANDA CLOTHING
Established in 2012 Tamizhanda Clothing aspires to bring out the culture and legacy of Tamizh into fashion attire. They fuse the layers of language, fashion, literature and heritage together with freedom of expression in the clothes they design and manufacture. Let it be the 2000 year old master piece Thirukkural to the modern day Bharathi Kavithaigal, there is so much to look into our own culture. At Tamizhanda, they intend to bring out this legacy of Tamizh cult knitted with rich culture and values.
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HILL STATION
GETAWAY!
There is no denying that a hill stations are very attractive at this time of the year. Wouldn’t it be blissful to unwind in the cool breeze of the best hillstations as an escapade from this scorching summer heat? Choose your pick from these best hills close to home!
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NAINITAL It is a destination for all, whether you are looking for a perfect family outing, or a romantic getaway. Based in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand surrounding the volcanic lake Nani, Nainital is adored by millions and is often referred as the ‘Lake District’ of India. It is well connected by the major cities and offers a lot to rejuvenate your body and soul. Nainital Mountaineering Club; the name is enough to cheer the adrenaline seekers. With the variety of treks and the picturesque locations, Nainital is surely a must visit location.
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SHIMLA With its spectacular vista, Shimla is a region that is highly appreciated for its ethnic culture and eternal beauty. The once summer capital of the British, now the capital of Himachal Pradesh, is surely a delight for the eyes. ‘Nati’, a local form of dance could be seen performed by the ever-friendly jubilant locals. Shimla is also an architectural paradise, flaunting many splendid colonial architecture buildings.
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MANALI Manali is also renowned as the ‘Prime Honeymoon destination’, of India.It is a retreat in Himachal Pradesh, well known for its bewitching beauty and numerous adrenaline pumping activities. From Heli Skiing to the Temples, it has a varied diversity of everything. Last but not the least, it the starting point of the most fascinating and enthralling highways in India – The Leh-Manali Highway.
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KULLU Kullu and Manali are two twin hill stations that are flooded by the tourists throughout the year. Kullu is known as the ‘Valley of Gods’. It has many mystical stories attached to its existence. Kullu is adorned by many beautiful scrapped temples and festivals. The grandeur and the vicinity of the Himalayas over-awe every single person who has ever visited this magnificent place.
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