Contemplate. Create. Live.
JUN 2016
LIFESTYLE
GIRISH MATHRUBOOTHAM
STARTUP SUPERSTAR
The Brew magazine is based on the Entertainment genre has seen stupendous growth in the past five years of its existence. Based on its tagline ‘Contemplate. Create. Live’, the Brew magazine urges readers to contemplate, create and live- in that order. Featuring human interest stories, articles about the most famed artists and elite lifestyle stories, we are immaculately selective about our content. With the support of the advisory and contributory board comprising of a team of great individuals, we host a minimum of eight events a year as well. Sameer Bharat Ram Publisher & CEO
Entrepreneurship is not a business trait, it is a state of mind. This month, Brew focuses on people with powerful ideas that find conception, growth and sustenance. Those that have now shaped the world as we know it! From setting up million dollar businesses to saving the eco system, these are the people who make the world a better place, one idea at a time. With Girish Mathrubootham, the CEO and founder of a strong startup eco system with massive growth and sustenance such as Freshdesk on cover this June, the power of a simple idea couldn’t get conveyed any better. The issue opens with the Contemplate section that holds a compelling story of Nizhal, a trust that promotes tree culture and awareness in urban areas. The Create section on another hand includes inspiring features on musician and music producer Mahesh Raghavan, debutant novelist Hariharan Iyer and yet another illustration from the talented Doodle Monk team of famed actor Siddharth. As you flip further, the Live section takes you on a cultural spin with articles on the history and evolution of silk, a feature on Nalini Chettur, a purveyor of literature that the city loves, a travelogue on Kazakhstan and much more. Fervently inspiring with niche lifestyle stories, there is plenty that this edition offers. Sit back and enjoy your read. VIDHYA ANAND EDITOR
“Based on its tagline ‘Contemplate. Create. Live’, the Brew magazine urges readers to contemplate, create and live- in that order. Featuring human interest stories, articles about the most famed artists and elite lifestyle stories, we are immaculately selective about our content. ”
CONTRIBUTORS & ADVISORY BOARD Thota Tharrani A senior Indian film art director and production designer who has worked in Tamil cinema, Telugu cinema, Malayalam cinema and Bollywood. He has won two National Film Awards, two Filmfare Awards South and four Tamil Nadu State Film Awards. His work consists of paintings, murals, paper collages, wooden montages, installations and so on
G Venket Ram A leading Indian fashion photographer, who has shot principal photography stills for several notable films as well as portfolios. He quit his engineering studies to work with cinematographers for a while, after which he joined a course in Visual Communication at Loyola College. He then worked with photographer Sharad Haksar and in 1993, he started his own studio
Mallika Sarabhai Educated as an economist and business manager, she is one of India’s best-known classical dancers. She has taken her work and her company ‘Darpana’ to not only over 90 countries around the world, but also to the most remote parts of India
Neeru Nanda A graduate from Delhi University, she’s passionate about writing. She freelanced as a feature writer for ten years before switching to publishing. Author of a collection of short stories titled ‘IF’, she has also worked on novels and short stories for children
Ashok Verghese One of the youngest education entrepreneurs who is making a great difference in this field in the country. He is the Director of the Hindustan group of Institutions, one of the pioneering educational groups in the country. He supports the cause of promoting young talent in art and music
Veejay Sai An award-winning writer, editor and a culture critic. He has written and published extensively on Indian classical music, fashion, theatre, food and art, and loves traveling, researching literary and cultural history. He is an editorial consultant with over 40 brands and designers in and outside India and is on the jury for several prestigious awards in the arts sector across the country
| Brew |5 JUN 2016 jun | Brew entertainment |5 2016entertainment
INTERNAL TEAM EDITOR Vidhya Anand CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ajay Srikanth P Preethi Padma Murughappun MARKETING MANAGER Reesha N MARKETING EXECUTIVE Prashant Balaji COVER CREDITS
DESIGN Sriram B
PHOTO COURTESY Shiva Balaswaminathan
S T R A T E G Y
CIRCULATION K.Sathish kumar
&
D E S I G N
Published by Sameer Bharat Ram, and owned by SM BrandMuni Consulting Pvt. Ltd, Published from New No. 68 / Old No. 63, Cathedral Road, Chennai - 600 086. Tel.: +91 44 4208 9392.
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Published from New No. 68 / Old No. 63, Cathedral Road, Chennai - 600 086. Tel.: +91 44 4208 9392.
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24 14 JUN 2016 | Brew entertainment | 8
CONTENTS 38
CONTEMPLATE
10
OF SHADES AND SINCERITY Shobha Menon of Nizhal speaks
34
CREATE
14
KALPANA SWARAS AND BASS DROPS Where Carnatic meets electronic
16
PASSION POURS ON TO PAPER A different sort of political thriller
IN CONVERSATION WITH: BIKAS MISHRA
About Chauranga
24
STARTUP SUPERSTAR GIRISH MATHRUBOOTHAM OF FRESHDESK
LIVE
31
BEING ‘SUN’SATIONAL Learn to take care of your skin this summer
34
19
A CARICATURE
30
22
Doodle Monk’s illustration of actor Siddharth
SPINNING A TALE OF TIMELESS GRANDEUR The Silk Route retraced
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A TALE OF GIGGLES Notes from one of Chennai’s oldest bookstores
40 AN EXCLUSIVE BEACH RESORT THE INTERCONTINENTAL EXPERIENCE
43
THE LAND OF THE WANDERERS EXPLORE KAZAKHSTAN
53
BREW’S PICK OF THE MONTH STEAM AND WHISTleS, AUDI r8 v10 plus LAUNCH AND APOLLO CRADLE
CONTEMPLATE|Lone Crusaders
OF SHADES AND SINCERITY
Living in an age that undermines the power of a green environment, NGOs like Nizhal are safe havens to those craving the ecstasy of the lush green. As citizens being a part of bad urbanisation, we will undoubtedly come to a consequential standstill that will leave us yearning to feel the blissful touch of the meadows, the rawness of jungles and the breath of fresh air. Shobha Menon, the founder of Nizhal is among those who understand and cherish the beauty of embracing the flora and fauna that keeps us thriving. Read on, as she opens up with some amazing facts on plants, her love for the environment and much more. BY VIDHYA ANAND
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W
alking into the lush green stretch in the middle of the city, now known as Kotturpuram Tree Park proved to be a quiet reminder of all the things the concrete jungle fails to offer. After a warm greeting from Shobha, we took off on a stroll trying to understand the uniqueness of that little stretch of land. Astonishingly, this gorgeous park that now attracts butterflies, deer, many walkers and excited little children from across the city was once a dump yard of about five acres. Shobha elaborates, “This was once a dump yard and today there are about 650 trees with over 150 species. And almost all these trees were planted by volunteers and nurtured over the last 9 years.” In times when the number of parks turned dump yards beat the vice versa, fortunately NGOs like Nizhal stand rooted to flip those numbers. “We started small, planting ten by ten, as and when volunteers were present. We chose mostly indigenous species that were being forgotten, for example thandrikai, it is one of components of the triphala, a medicine that promotes good health and immunity in Ayurveda!” explains Shobha. Nizhal is a registered Trust that was founded in September 2005. Talking about Nizhal as an NGO, she says “The most wonderful thing about Nizhal is that we are a wholly volunteer driven team, and don’t have a single employee. We only have a core team of around ten people from different walks of life such as a a biotechnologist, a software engineer, a banker, a teacher and large extended networks of volunteer communities... Here at Nizhal, we
are like a family. The most important thing is the cause and what we can give to the cause. We have more and more people becoming part of our family.” As a group they tend to inculcate respect in people for their surroundings, pushing the idea of environmental awareness beyond merely planting saplings. “We focus and promote organic methods of nurturing plants, and enrichment through converting leaf litter inside site into compost. What we’re doing is, we’re making them have respect for what is around them. When that happens, people automatically change. Sunday evenings, we have regular volunteering sessions called shramdaans, where volunteers pitch in different activities in caring for the biodiversity around. On one side you may see teenagerss planting, on the other side you see medicinal plants being cared for and at the other end are moms and children tending to the compost pit.” CARE AND SUSTENANCE Apart from merely increasing the lush green stretches across cities, Nizhal holds dear the idea of caring and subsequent sustenance that ought to come with it. She explains, “In our ‘Free the Tree’ campaign, we primarily work against many forms of tree abuse and promote care for mature ones. Sustained care of trees that give us so much, that’s what is needed. “ We also have Tree Walks led by resource persons who lead groups to create awareness about trees along roadsides or protected areas.
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A landmark initiative is our work across all central prisons in Tamil Nadu. We have been working with prisoners on organic farming modules for the last 5 years. They raise organic vegetables for their own consumption, help convert leaf and kitchen waste into beneficial vermicompost and help green the campuses too. Vegetables and compost are now sold across the prison bazaars. The prison campuses are now model gated communities! Additionally we also have program called Palliyil Nizhal and work with school students on real green campuses – organic vegetable patches, composting techniques and greening too!” A recent initiative has been the Neer Vanam in Chitlappakkam, around the Chitlappakkam Lake. Rare indigenous trees are being planted around the lake bund to help restore biodiversity, protect the bund from encroachment and nurture the life giving waterbody.
Swerving the conversation back to where we now stood - the Kotturpuram Tree Park, Shobha talks about its conception, and the beauty of giving that goes with it, “It all began in 2006 when the Public Works Department, Tamil Nadu approached Nizhal. It has been a challenging journey but a remarkable one. It is a team effort where thousands of volunteers from across the city and all ages have participated. Giving is something that adds to you. You need to be giving every day of the year, back to the society you live in. And solely because it is important for your own future!” The park stands testament to that and thrives on the coming together as a community that maintains it. Similar to the park here, Nizhal has also worked on a project at Madhavaram. “We have plenty of trees planted there and a lot of initiatives are taking place. Additionally, in Perungudi, we have a small park where volunteers from the community kids help out. When the children come forward and ask us what work there is to be done, I think that is beautiful,” she says elated. BREAKING PAST STRUGGLES When asked about the inception and growth of the Kotturpuram Park, she says “This place used to be overrun with thorny bushes and dumped with all kinds of rubbish. People were scared to come here at night.
We began work and all our trees have been nurtured with care. We make sure they are. However, believe me when I say, we didn’t have anything when we started off. For about five years, we had only one water source – a lone hand pump, to water the five acre area! We used to water the little three feet high saplings with it. We are a registered trust. It is now nine years old and we still involve walkers in caring for the young plants. This park brings communities together and the common bonding factor is caring for Nature. There is a multi-generational connect. I think this is the way we have to go.” With ignorance consuming the common man and blinding him from his responsibilities, what Nizhal has pulled off as a Trust is a rarity. “People are constantly blaming the government, but why cannot we focus on individual responsibility? It’s all about sensitive awareness initiatives that focus on inspiring people to action,” says Shobha insisting on the importance of communities taking initiatives. OF TREES TREASURED Nizhal as an organization aims at reaching out to as many people as possible. Shobha gives facts on the same, “We are in all districts of Tamil Nadu with our prison work. We also shared our work with the prison departments of Kerala and Maharshtra. They were impressed with our sustained work across the state.” As we strolled and walked through the rest of the park and to the exit, she smiles and concludes, “Each of us have responsibilities to our environment. We seem to forget that we need to be grateful for our surroundings and above all, we need to remember to give back.”
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CREATE | Arts Galore
kalpana swaras and bass drops
There are a lot of electronic musicians. There are a lot of Carnatic musicians. But there aren’t many electronic carnatic musicians. Dubai based Mahesh Raghavan, a musician, artist and coder all rolled into one, talks to Ajay Srikanth about inspiration, education and a few other things.
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THE MAN Mahesh’s introduction to music started when he was about three years old, when his aunt exposed him to Carnatic music. “I started formal training when I was four or five years old. I later picked up the piano by ear and started classical training for the piano when I was ten.” He also learnt Hindustani music for three years when he was in college. “I learnt vocals in classical music. I’m also a self-taught guitarist.” Like so many of us, he grew up listening to A.R. Rahman. “I used to listen to a lot of pure Carnatic music; I still do.” During college, he was exposed to a lot of electronic music. This exposure laid the seed for FLAIR, his Carnatic-electronic fusion project. “I wanted to introduce carnatic music to different audiences. But I wanted to do it in a way that is relatable to them.” FLAIR is exciting. Carnatic songs are mixed with electronic beats. And every so often, the bass drops, typical of traditional electronic music. However, his songs manage to be greater than the sum of their parts. He has remixes of ‘Hello’ by Adele and the ‘Imperial March.’ He’s also written electronic versions of Marugelara and Chinnanchiru Kiliye. Interestingly, he doesn’t listen to a lot of fusion music. “I listen to Carnatic and I borrow ideas from electronic music.” Mahesh studied Audio Production at SAE in Dubai, and did his masters in Music Technology from the University of Edinburgh. Taking up music as a career typically means facing a lot of societal nos. But it wasn’t that way for him. “I’m lucky in that my parents are highly supportive of my decision to pursue music. They actually suggested I go to college for music. It was something I wanted to do too, but that fact that they were behind me helped a lot.”
THE MUSIC Ask him about how he composes, and he says “I start by figuring out the melody of the song I’m trying to remix. Once I get that down, I play around with it and convert it to an entirely Carnatic form. At this point, it doesn’t resemble the original in any way. After that is done I begin incorporating electronic elements. It’s a trial and error process. I play around with the music until I get something I’m happy with.” He also wants to introduce new forms of music into his project. “Hindustani is something I want to work with.” He says his background in Carnatic is a huge asset. “It gives me a base to start with. Understanding western music or picking up an instrument is much easier when you know Carnatic music.” On how it helps him write music he says “Ragas are very strict in the sense that they allow only certain notes. This means I’m restricted, but I’m restricted to only whatever sounds good. Once I know what notes to put, programming the electronic elements becomes much easier.” He talks about his remix of Chinnanchiru Kiliye as an example. “It’s in the ragam Kapi. Since I know what notes are in Kapi, I made sure I programmed everything else based on those notes.” Otherwise, fitting electronic elements to Carnatic music would be very hit and miss. Carnatic purists are often against any sort of fusion. About them he says “I do this to introduce Carnatic music to a different audience. But I respect the people who are resistant to this form of music because they want to preserve our culture. I listen to almost only pure Carnatic myself.” THE REST Apart from music, Mahesh dabbles in art and coding as well. “When I was studying music technology at the University of Edinburgh, I was exposed to coding. I learnt code to help with music. I also picked up iPhone programming. I decided to use this to make tools that I found useful.” As of now, he has his own tuner and shruti box app. “About art... I’m into mathematically generated art. Algorithms, patterns and so on. That’s what I try to use.” But he says that art is a side project, and not something that he’d devote a lot of time to. “I focus on music and coding.” Mahesh produces music for a living right now. He also teaches part time at a University. Opening up about his future he adds, “I’m in the process of figuring out a live set. Currently I sing, arrange, produce and play the iPad. But I’ll need more musicians to play live. Hopefully in about a year I’ll be ready.”
Create | Arts Galore
PASSION POURS ON TO PAPER A passion for politics and the need to dig deeper led Hariharan Iyer to flesh out his first political thriller, Surpanakha. Being a finance professional by day and a writer in the wee hours of dawn allows Iyer to keep up with the expectations he sets for himself. This novel about a political scandal in Tamil Nadu and a zealous conspiracy to topple the reigning chief minister has gathered a lot of fans already. See what makes Hariharan Iyer so special in this exclusive interview with Brew magazine. BY P PREETHI
of research and collection of facts. To write the first scene with the hate crime against the Kannadiga family I laboriously went through the details of such crimes that had taken place across the country and picked up all minute details. Secondly I also spend a lot of time defining the characters. Most of the online reviews have appreciated the way I have shaped the characters. Did you have any difficulties in writing this book? Managing my time was the biggest problem I faced. I head the finance function of a $150 million group based in East and Central Africa. Quite a demanding job. Apart from some strong filter coffee, the passion to write helped me overcome the time crunch. I wrote for an hour from 4.30 AM for over six months.
Have you ever had writer’s block? How did you overcome it? Why did you write a political thriller based in India? Though I live 5,000 kilometers away from Chennai, I am an Indian at heart. Apart from Bollywood and cricket, if there is something that dominates our mind space, it is politics. Believe me, politics in other countries is not half as intriguing as it is in India.
Take a break. At least that is what I did when I wrote the denouement for Surpanakha. Writing an action packed end would have been easier, but the story didn’t require one. A denouement should have drama and believable surprises. The initial three to four drafts did not bring out the drama I wanted. I went blank for a week. Then I came up with the final draft.
How did you come up with the idea for writing this book? Do you have a favorite author? A couple of years ago, a law intern alleged that a retired judged behaved in a sexually inappropriate manner with her. Due to pressure from the media and celebrity lawyers he was forced to resign from a strategic post retirement job. Thereafter when the police registered a case and wanted the victim to testify, she vanished. We don’t know what happened. Was there pressure on her not to testify? Or was it decided that the purpose had been achieved? Secondly, a series of articles by an IIM professor on the mushrooming NGOs and their questionable sources of funds forced me to think. Around the same time there were reports that well-known personalities who were running foreign funded NGOs were using the funds for buying branded jewelry, clothing and shoes! Both the above gave rise to a lot of what ifs in me and pushed me into the realm of fiction. And the novel was born. I would, however, like to clarify that it is not a real life story. Did your experiencing blogging about politics help you in writing this book?
Arun Shourie, Ayaan Hirsi Ali and S L Bhyrappa (English translations of his works in Kannada). Tell us about any interesting revelations you had while writing this book? In fact, it is the negative character of the book that inspired me to write the novel. But as I started writing the chapters, I fell in love with the lead character. Many of the online reviews have appreciated Mythili, the lead character. Why did you choose to self-publish? Just the convenience it offered and the time I was able to save. Sitting in Tanzania, I would not have been able to follow up with the publishers. Describe yourself in a line. One who is not content with what he is. How long did you take to write the manuscript?
Yes, it did. I was blogging on current affairs and media ethics for over a year. But there is a limit to which one can analyze facts based on published material. It may not always be possible to connect the dots. For that one has to either get into investigative journalism and dig the facts or move into the realm of fiction. I chose the second option. What is your writing process like? Firstly, I try and make the scenes rich and real. It requires a lot
About 6-7 months. Do you have a target audience in mind while writing? When I started writing the novel, I did not have any target audience in mind. Having written the book, I feel the urban youth and NRIs would be able to connect with the book much easier.
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CREATE | Artscape
ILLUSTRATION BY ARTIST S SRIRAMA SANTHOSH
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Create | Cine Binge
In Conversation with : Bikas Mishra: “A simple story told simply, that is Chauranga�
This is a simple story of love, about simple people told simply. That is how Bikas Mishra describes Chauranga, his first feature film in a sentence. Simple however, the film is not by a large measure. Neither is the journey of this writer film maker who is savoring the release of his film across the country.
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“We were making a small film, in terms of budgets yes. The vision and ambition of the film was never touched. We have made a film we wanted to in the first place”
A quick look across multiplexes shows limited screens listed for Chauranga, something that is not surprising given the star obsessed movie industry we all live with. A small non main stream film like this has to jostle for mind space and footfalls whenever it releases, even in a lean week like this one. “It does not really matter though, there is an audience for Chauranga and films like it” says Bikas confidently, “films like these have made it to the screens and even run well in the recent past proving that content, good content at that, is appreciated.” Even a film in Khortha, a dialect from Bikas’s village near Hazaribagh in Jharkhand. “A lot of my experiences in my life, growing up where I did are reflected in the film” adds Bikas as we discuss how tough it was to make a film dealing with issues usually brushed under the carpet by many in our society. Was it tough to find backers to get the film see the light of day? “On the contrary no, at no point did we compromise on what we had set out to make,” asserts Bikas. “We were making a small film, in terms of budgets yes. The vision and ambition of the film was never touched. We have made a film we wanted to in the first place.” He credits a lot of this feat to his producers Onir and Sanjay Suri, the latter in fact came on board first as a producer before taking on the role of the evil landlord in the film. “Onir’s backing opened doors for more support like from NFDC for the movie” says Bikas with quiet assurance, and why should he not, when his first film is backed by National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), which also received cash grants from Sweden’s Goteborg Film Festival as well as the NFDC’s annual Film Bazaar. In fact, Chauranga took shape at NFDC’s screenwriter’s lab as well, before taking the form it has today. For an outsider to the industry with a passion for movies, this is indeed a remarkable journey. Is it that easy for everyone though? “It is, not easy exactly, but yes there are opportunities today galore” says Bikas, naming the NFDC Screenwriters Lab and the Drishyam films Sundance Lab among a host of platforms encouraging fresh voices in film writing in the country today. Yet, a lot of these original writing and search for new voices is on the fringes of the industry where a mindless star vehicle breaks box office records with alarming alacrity while genuine films pushing the envelope of movie making have to make do with a passing mention.
“It is the media that is obsessed with these films and their paraphernalia” states Bikas emphatically. Stressing in the same breath about how alternate, digital media is turning out to be the oxygen of film makers like him, he says that in the future digital media will trump the mainstream and content will triumph over frivolity in the name of reportage on cinema in India. “It is happening too; blogs (he very kindly mentions MadAboutMoviez too here) and online magazines are bringing learned assessment of movies and educated analysis and discussion on the art of making films to the fore. Mainstream regular media is taking note of it as it feels the pinch. It isn’t too long before the latter finds itself out of favor with the audiences,” says the man who not so long ago was the power behind one of India’s foremost movie blogs, Dearcinema. As we chat more about writing and good cinema and its support, talk veers to his cast all of whom are the peak of their forms in the movie, and are people known to support good cinema whole heartedly. Was it tough to work with them? “They are all actors with a body of work behind them, good strong roles behind them. The kids have an enviable theatre background, Tanishtha, Sanjay are well known faces and then there is the veteran ‘Dhritiman Chatterjee’” adds the maker who goes on to praise their commitment to the films idea in glowing terms. What is next for this film maker then? Chauranga has opened in Indian screens on the back of glowing reviews and accolades from across the world, November 2014 saw it winning the top prize for Indian films at the 16th Mumbai Film Festival, the Golden Gateway Of India Award (India Gold), while April 2015 brought the Grand Jury Prize (Best Feature) at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles. “I am now just waiting for the reactions to the movie” says Bikas nonchalantly, his Zen like calm reflective of his assuredness in his craft and his film. Something Chauranga too amply demonstrates, that despite its flaws, is a very searing mirror to the seemingly unending caste violence in our society. We need more such mirrors to ourselves before real change happens. We need more Bikas’ amongst us before our cinema changes too.
- www.madaboutmoviez.com
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create| Zeroed In
THE STARTUP SUPERSTAR
We are what we think. We are what we believe in. And, we are undoubtedly what we envision. Time and again those with a strong keystone of these have unfailingly surmounted the insurmountable. Entrepreneur Girish Mathrubootham, founder and CEO of Freshdesk is one such unparalleled individual with simple solutions to big problems, something the world has forever sought. Read on, as he opens up about his journey, his inspiration and everything in between.
BY VIDHYA ANAND
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create| Zeroed In
T
here are ideas and then there are stupendous ideas. Girish embraced the latter. With nearly two decades of experience in product management, he now runs Freshdesk, a cloud based customer support platform which now stands tall as their flagship product. It has received immense accolades for its very conception and growth over the years. He was named ‘Startup Entrepreneur of the Year’ by TiE Chennai in 2012, and also won the CII Connect ‘Emerging Star of the Year’ award in 2013 and Infocom CEO of the Year in 2014 among various other titles he has achieved as a successful entrepreneur. With a truly intriguing journey that has led him this far, Girish talks about the little details that have made him, him – an inspiring, first-generation entrepreneur. SOURCE OF INSPIRATION Inspirations are often sensational. They make us believe in the impossible. They help nurture crazy dreams, dreams that might otherwise appear futile. However, once in a while, there are inspirations that leave us hung over for life. Those that forever let you remain drawn to them despite the achievement and satiation of a goal. Girish’s seemed like one such, and that makes his story all the more stirring. When asked about his source of inspiration, he draws from his desk a caricature doll of superstar Rajinikanth’s soon to be released film Kabali, “For me it is Superstar Rajinikanth! In the early days, I have been inspired by him a lot and I think the transformation moment was when he was ill in Singapore, the amount of love that fans showed. I’m sure he himself would have been moved by it. That much respect and love from millions around the world for a movie star, it is crazy. I have been inspired by his humility and values. In fact, you read these management books, the Bhagavad Gita or watch his movie, the message remains the same. For example in management you talk about core competency playing to your strength. Rajinikanth would say, ‘Therinja thozhila utavanu ketta, theiryadha thozhila thottavanu ketta’ (A guy who quits a job he knows well suffers and a guy who gets involved in a job he does not know also suffers). From learning to treat a person with respect to everything else that follows and practices and I draw inspiration from all of it. He just packages everything better!” After turning his back on a comfortable life he led before his startup venture, superstar Rajinikanth has been a huge source of inspiration for Girish. He says, “For me, his inspiration was very real. I quit a comfortable life and starting off you will have fears and doubts that you will have to conquer. So every morning I used to listen to ‘Vetri Kodikattu’ song, and then get on with the day. I don’t know what people will think of it, but I don’t care. It just undoubtedly inspired!” THE SPARK Although Girish’s first step to initiate Freshdesk began due to his experience with a bad customer support system with him at the customer end, he agrees that there is more to the entrepreneur dream. “The answer to that goes back about ten to fifteen years. By chance, I had an opportunity to start a training company when my friends wanted to learn Java in 1999. One of the things I used to do in engineering college was teach my friends and that is how I always learnt. That was my way of learning. That was my strength. So, then things unfolded, and things were up and running. Prior to this I had tried working with Amway. I wanted to take that same concept of the brand, where everything was based on networking. India is a natural word of mouth referral market. And everybody wanted to learn Java, so I wanted to sell people something they wanted, which was learning Java back then. I just had to show them as to why they should learn from me over others. The training center started growing completely organically. I was teaching twenty to twenty-two students a month, which was good. This is when my first journey at doing my own thing came up. What happened then was, a switch flipped in my mind where you start thinking like an owner. At this point, I could see the difference between the employee and the employer mindset. So, that switch once flipped, it stayed flipped on,” he says recalling his first ever spark in mind that has driven him to where he stands today. Moving on with his career, he then joined AdventNet (later known as Zoho Corporation). “In my mind I was an entrepreneur, even back then! It didn’t matter to me that I did not own stock, I only had a salary,” smiles Girish.
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create| Zeroed In
Freshdesk today stands as a significant startup that has grown massively in the city of Chennai. While that would make a lot of people living here proud, there did linger a plan where the company almost moved to Bengaluru in the early days. He elaborates on the same, “So, we were six people back then. We were in a place called Keezhkattalai, most people in Chennai wouldn’t even know where this is. At that point, we were talking to investors and had just got a term sheet for a million dollars. We had then considered moving to Bengaluru because talent is good there especially for startups. One thing that struck me was, it is suddenly all about the people over there. You see the founder, the people behind the brands, not just the brands. We came back and spoke to my co-founder Shan saying Freshdesk will just be known as a company from Chennai. However if we are in Bengaluru, we will be known as Shan and Girish and it is also a very vibrant city. He was totally against it though. That’s because we had just bought an apartment sometime around March and during May, we were making plans to move to out. So,he wasn’t very keen to shift base, with our kids and school and stuff.” However a series of little things that fell apart starting from his kid’s school admission in Bengaluru to a prospective employee declining offer, led both Shan and Girish to stay back and what a good decision that was. To their delight, that particular employee is back with them and currently heads design. Thriving ever since, they are happy they haven’t shifted base. So are the people of Chennai. MOMENT OF GRATIFICATION As a support service provider, a customer’s experience and consequent testament can be a holy grail to businesses. Girish had the rare chance of hearing positive comments about Freshdesk from one customer, half way across the globe, who had no clue he was talking to the founder himself. Delighted at the thought, Girish elaborates on the experience, “One thing I can remember is a specific moment when I was in San Francisco. Our VP of marketing had invited me to a baseball game. So, there I was taking a Lyft ride. So this guy was driving an old BMW, I have a BMW too, so we ended up chatting about the car and so on. I was asking him if he does Lyft full time or if he does something else as well. He said he worked in an internet security company. I asked him what software he uses for support. He said that this tool was called FreshDesk. He also added that it’s simple and intuitive. Then I told him, I’m the founder and he did not believe me, he thought I was kidding. Then I showed him our about us page. That was one good experience. I mean what are the odds of that happening in San Francisco.” OF BONDS AND VALUES Every man has a support system at home that lets him continue thriving at the business front. So does Girish. He talks about the initial stages of paranoia his wife Shoba went through with the new venture shaping up. The transformation his family has gone through and the support his wife offers him, keeps him going. “My wife comes from a very orthodox Brahmin family. So, back then at the start, I told my ex-boss about my decision even before I told her, and when I told her she couldn’t really understand it. Of course, because everything was perfect, doing what I wanted to do I was actually rocking the boat. Then I assured her saying ‘Till now you have followed, just trust me and continue doing so.’ From Chennai to the US, she did not want to come, again from the US to Chennai, she did not want to come. Whenever she felt like settling in, I was always feeling restless and searching for something. Every step of the journey, it has always turned out better, so I told her to continue believing in me and she did. We still saved up and stayed in our comfort of running the household as it should be. At this juncture, my ex-boss often said, and I would like to quote him here, ‘It is okay to be unemployed, it is not okay to be unemployable.’ So, yes the support she has offered has been immense,” he smiles. Apart from his family, Girish’s values, support system and beliefs are also backed by some of his contemporary entrepreneurs. “For example, Travis Kalanick of Uber is a person I draw values from. I mean, I love the grandeur of his plan. When you think at the scale at which you can expand it pushes you forward. Every time I go to San Francisco that is exactly what I reflect upon. I let myself ponder on ‘How to thing big?’ and learn from other entrepreneurs. From my previous boss Kumar Vembu, I would say I have learnt the importance of building relationships and spotting strengths in people. Humility and frugality are values that I have learnt from him. I look for lessons to learn from individuals. Each person comes as a whole package. All we have to do is look at the good things and let go of the bad,” he concludes.
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LIVE|Grooming
BEING
‘SUN’SATIONAL After months of rainy, cold and slushy temperatures, summer has gloriously surfaced. While we have spent all those months layering our skin with balms, lotions and oils, the sun and the humidity that comes with it might take a toll on our skin. So how then to battle this change in weather and prep our skin for the hotter days ahead? Padma Murughappun speaks with Dr. Shwetha Rahul, a dermatologist and cosmetologist, enlightening us upon the path to ever-glowing skin.
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cne, oily skin, dandruff and sweaty bodies are few of the issues that people might acquire during summer. “If you’re young,” Dr. Shwetha says, “with active working hormones and a genetic makeup for it, you’re bound to get acne. Even if no mother would want to pass it on to their children, it’s inevitable.” Along with it comes other issues of hair fall and dandruff, “That’s because of nutritional deficiency and also because your hormones will play havoc at that age,” she explains. Acne is not age-specific. A person can develop acne at any point of their life. While there may not be a one-stop solution to all these, Dr. Shwetha suggests the following measures to up your glow game this summer because “The ideal thing that I would say must be done is taking basic care of your skin and everyone should do it.”
ALWAYS KEEP YOUR HAIR CLEAN: The scalp tends to secrete more oils when unclean and more so during summer. So it’s essential to wash your hair at least thrice a week. Make sure you tip your hair back or in front so that the water doesn’t trickle down to your face.
HYDRATE YOURSELF: Our gut is related to the skin. The skin mirrors everything that goes on inside the body. A major shift in our diet and lifestyle to a more westernised one essentially contains more carbohydrates and studies have proven that it is very foreign to our gut as they tend to stay for longer hours which slows down the work of digestion. Making the intestines sluggish, the toxic stuff stay longer and therefore, seeps into our skin and acts upon it. So, the hydration status makes our skin too as much as our diet does. Develop a habit of drinking at least three litres of non-aerated and low sugar fluids in a day for that ‘Champagne Pop’ glow.
ON-THE- GO SUMMERCARE: For those who are on the run always, Dr. Shwetha puts down a few go-to things to maintain a good relationship with your skin. “Keep this as your mantra: wash, moisturise and put on sunscreen. No matter what the season, moisturising has to happen. Regardless of your skin type, this must be the basic regimen for a healthy skin.” Using a gel-based moisturiser and a sunscreen with SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of 30 is ideal for summer. If you’re exposed to the sun too much all day, then use an antioxidant in the night to help reduce damage from the UV rays.
WATCH WHAT YOU EAT: Try to keep your diet low on sugar, carbs and fat and add more of vegetables to it. Fruits can substitute chocolates or anything sweet. Make sure intake of natural sugar is more but in moderation because at the end of the day fruits are nature’s candy so don’t go overboard. Lastly, protein must also be part of your diet plan on an almost daily basis. Follow this and you’re one huge step closer to being young forever. NEVER TOUCH YOUR SKIN: No matter what, avoid touching your skin with your hands. The face we have now is going to stay for another half-a- century of our lives and meddling with acne will scar more and make your face look crated. So don’t touch your skin too much.
VACATION SALVATION: During summers, most people tend to go to places that are colder than their home countries. So there is a sudden shift from a hot to a cold climatic condition. This is a lot of change for that skin to absorb and deal with in a very short amount of time. What does the expert have to say? “Use a good sunscreen. What I would say is, invest in a good sunscreen, it is your retirement fund. Also, choose what’s best for you. Pick up a product which you will use.” The second most crucial thing to be kept in mind while on holiday is to moisturise because obviously, cold climates can dry
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up the skin. When in cold climates, the skin can face a lot of damage because of the sun. ” Radiation that hits you directly is less harmful,” says Dr. Shwetha,” than the radiation which hits you after hitting the snow. The one that gets reflected off the snow will give you a snow burn. Sunlight radiation is much harsher in places with snow. Hence, always stay protected with your clothing.” The snow, long hours of sight-seeing and the holiday mood would want the traveller to indulge in some hot water bathing. Luxuriating your skin in a hot water bath strips your skin of moisture and damages it. Dr. Shwetha recommends, “Make sure it’s a warm bath which is under 10 minutes, come out pat dry and moisturise immediately with a body lotion.” FOR THE PERFECT SUMMER PARTY GLAM: Summer’s make-up routine is perennially simple and less time-consuming. Though glamming up during summer months can leave the skin oily and the pores clogged a sunscreen, primer and a good CC cream can bail you out of any sticky situation. “The best thing that I would suggest is use a product which is a sunscreen-primerfoundation all in one.” says the doctor. The cleaning up is always the most difficult part than actually putting it on. Make sure your skin is make-up free and clean when you go to bed. Don’t leave your make-up on for too many hours. Carry make-up wipes wherever you go. Clogging pores devours the skin’s breathing space and leaves it unlively.
LIVE | Anyone can cook
RECIPE FOR THE MONTH june FROM GRT HOTELS & RESORTS
VALLARAI KOSAMBARI INGREDIENTS 150 gms vallarai leaves or pennywort ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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30 gms split green gram soaked ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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30 gms grated carrot ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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30 gms pomegranate ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Nannari syrup for dressing ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Salt to taste ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Crushed black pepper corn to taste ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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3 gms chopped green chilli ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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5 gms chopped coriander leaves ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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METHOD n
Mix the nannari syrup, salt and pepper powder in a bowl.
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Toss vallarai leaves, split green gram, grated carrot, green chilli and check the seasoning.
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Place in serving plate and garnish with pomegranate seeds and coriander sprig.
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Serve at room temperature.
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LIVE|Aesthete Haven
SPINNING A TALE OF TIMELESS GRANDEUR
Wrapping around the waist once, twice, circling it around her body gracefully, pleating the front of the nine yard beauty, she looks in the mirror and smiles down at her work of art and the timelessness of the memories it embraces. It made her the princess, the bride years back and then every single time she draped it after. The silk saree has the magic to transform every part of her into a princess. Padma Murughappun finds out how. Image courtesy Utppalakshi
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I
t was a cold day and Princess Lei Zu sat in her garden sipping her hot tea but little did she know that the worm from the mulberry tree that fell into her cup would lead to one of the greatest discoveries in the world. The fascinating fabric of silk and its making was one of the most zealously guarded secrets. Its expensive smell and texture has captivated man for many centuries. Silk for a very long time has been the fabric of the royals and the aristocracy. It was an unaffordable luxury that everyone wanted to possess.
Silk was transformed into the nine yard sari only around 3000 BCE in India. But legend has it that Chinese were the first to discover silk and work on the process of producing it even though recent archaeological findings prove the existence of silk much before that. The cultivation and discovery of the silkworm was a very important event in the history of mankind. Silk, since discovered by the wife of the mythological Yellow Emperor Xuan yuan in 2600 BCE, was exclusively made and worn by the royalty in China. But with the
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passage of time and the authority of the Han Dynasty, silk became more of a socialised good and gained a value more than just an industrial luxury material. Turns out the Chinese weren’t great in keeping up their secret, as they were destined to lose their monopoly in the silk production. One of the princesses couldn’t leave to her husband’s place without silk so she took a bunch of the worms with her to the Khotan’s place and thus the long kept treasure was let out.
Romans and the Hellenistic Greeks were undoubtedly inquisitive to know about this magic fabric. Starting from the fourth century the foundation for the famed Silk Route came into existence. The Romans and Greeks exchanged ivory, gold, horses and precious stones to buy silk from the merchants. The Byzantine emperor Justinian obtained the first silkworm eggs in all of Europe through the Nestorian monks who managed to smuggle it from Central Asia. But when did silk exactly come to India to be worn by the Mughals and the Rajputs to the maamis of today? Since India was known for its spices and was a huge land to pass through from China to Europe, the merchants on the Silk Route found it to be a good place of trade. Silk in India came into fashion when its production was concentrated mainly in the areas around kingdoms and holy places in
line with its demand for temples and the rich people. Saris were worn by the women of our country from the time of the Indus Valley Civilization. So the sari made out of silk was eye-catching and was in demand by every princess and queen in the country. This boosted the silk industry in the country making Lahore and Multan dynamic spots of silk exportation till date. Stunning brocades from Banaras, grand Kanjeevarams, majestic Jamawars, and the pretty Tussars of Assam are the various types of silk that have been adorning the beautiful ladies of our country for centuries. From the heavily embroidered lehengas of the Rajput princesses, to the beautiful “shalwars” of the Mughals and the pretty eleven yard wonders of the southern royalty, silk in the olden days was almost synonymous with the monarchs. With the British invasion not only our language and culture but the way we dress went through a rain check too but silk never
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went out of fashion.The British gave the silk fabric a revamp and made it the la Mode during their period. With evening gowns, Mantuas, jackets and suits made out of silk, the fabric was quite the fad in the nineteenth century. Silk in the modern days, has transformed the way it’s being used. When we think of silk, we think of grandeur and opulence and with it comes beauty and the sheer shine of the fabric comforting the wearer in ways not describable in words.
“Stunning brocades from Banaras, grand Kanjeevarams, majestic Jamawars, and the pretty Tussars of Assam”
Around the world, one might find silk on red carpets worn by celebrities, formal gowns or other luxury garments in special occasions. As much as it is not a rarity as it was before, silk is still a rich-man’s fabric in most parts of the world. Especially in India, weddings or very important formal gatherings would demand the silk saree. What is silk for a woman of the 21 st century? Is it still a luxury product or not? With girls and women increasingly dressing up for themselves and finding innovative ways to make fashion affordable, the 21 st century fashionistas can be seen wearing
silk in many different ways: as a top over jeans, as capes, skater dresses in silk and even the traditional silk sarees draped in a new manner. With silk production being done in almost all the countries, it has become part of the fashion of nearly every culture. Silk is a timeless fabric. Modern technology is giving it the makeover making it newer and more affordable and wearable. But any day, a bright-coloured silk saree is bound to steal the show at any party. After all, what is an Indian occasion without silk.
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LIVE|Aesthete Haven
A TALE OF GIGGLES A lot has been written about Nalini Chettur, the owner and proprietor of Giggles, one of Chennai’s best known book shops. From a vantage point that was scenic a few decades ago, Nalini holds fort at Vivanta by Taj, and talks to Ajay Srikanth about libraries, literature and cult books.
Photography by Karthik Subramani
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She made the acquaintance of Geoffrey Bawa, the famed Sri Lankan architect who was redesigning the Connemara then. Giggles has since then had a long list of celebrities walking in and out of it, only to come back again. She talks about the cult books she’s sold over the decades. “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance was one of them. I sold plenty of copies in the ‘70s. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas was another very popular book from the same timeline. In the ‘80s, I sold a lot of copies of a book called ‘Gödel, Escher and Bach’. It’s a very complicated book. A lot of IIT students would buy it from me, but I always thought it was to just put on their shelves. Not one of them could tell me what the book was about!” Ask her about the other three decades and she says “Not much. Not a lot of cult books came out after the ‘80s. I wonder why.” She says she used to sell children’s books, magazines and comics as well. “With the increasing price of magazines, people stopped buying them, and I stopped stocking them. Comics and children’s books slowly petered out. No one wants to buy them anymore.” She recalls an interesting memory about Roald Dahl. “One of my customers was an English teacher. And she prescribed her class Roald Dahl! I’d order 300 copies and stack them outside my shop. Little school kids would come over and the stack would be empty by the end of the day!”
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alini was born in Madurai and studied in Bangalore and Chennai. She went on to study Library Science in Bombay that subsequently led to her lifelong love affair with libraries. Today however, she mourns the fact that libraries aren’t as good as they used to be. She thinks children; especially school children need to be encouraged to go to libraries much more. Ask her how she sources her books and she says “I’d already known a lot of publishers from my time in Higginbotham’s. They were all willing to give me books as I placed orders for a lot of quirky books that the more established bookseller weren’t selling.” She attributes part of her ability to pick out the best books from a publisher’s list to her education in Library science. “I’ve always taken risks on new books and they usually pay off!”
About how she decides on books, she says “I flip to the middle. I feel that this is where the author sleeps off. If that section is good, then I know the rest of the book will be good.” Interestingly, she remembers the first book she sold. “It wasn’t from the shop. A friend of my father’s heard I was selling books, and he asked me for a copy of ‘Economics, peace and laughter’ by John Galbraith.” Delving deeper about the early days of Giggles she says, “Business picked up quickly. People knew I was starting a bookstore and they came. It was all word of mouth. Tourists in the hotel would also come buy my books.”
In 1993, she moved from a shop in the lobby to a shop outside, near the parking lot, and now she’s being forced to move out of there as well. When asked what the readers could do to help Giggles out she says “Youngsters are already doing a lot. They’re looking for spaces, and telling me they’ve found rooms in houses and bungalows.” But Nalini doesn’t want to move too far away from her residence, which makes sense for a lady in her seventies. “I’m an ardent Sai Baba devotee, and he gifted me this shop. I don’t think a book store can survive for 41 years otherwise. I’m sure something will work out.” It’s great to see someone who’s still full of optimism and hopeful for the future. Here’s hoping Giggles survives, and continues to enthral new readers.
“I flip to the middle. I feel that this is where the author sleeps off. If that section is good, then I know the rest of the book will be good”
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LIVE|Glimpses Within
INTERCONTINENTAL, THE EXPERIENCE
BY SAMEER BHARAT RAM It was a long pending visit to Intercontinental Hotels and Resorts, Chennai. I had heard so much about the property from friends of mine who had visited it. I finally got an opportunity to spend a weekend there on an invitation from them and it was one of a kind. It was a hot Saturday morning. After dropping our Chihuahua Sultan at Harley and Me we headed to INTERCONTINENTAL. Honestly, having been to many of the beach resorts in this coast, I had a predetermined image of the place in mind and it turned out that I was absolutely wrong. The moment we drove into the hotel, the difference from the world outside was so significant that it appeared as if we had entered a new terrain altogether. Truly International. That was our first impression. After checking in, we were escorted to our sea facing suite. I could not believe that I was inside a resort property within Chennai. InterContinental broke my conventions in entirety. My expectations started to soar as I walked across the swimming pool towards our suite. The Intercontinental Suite exceeded my expectations. Spacious, modern and contemporary, the architecture of the resort seemed to get its inspiration from South Indian architectural styles with its long corridors and pillars, use of granite, the pond and steps leading into the swimming pool. Post check-in, we managed to catch up with the executive chef of the property, Ashis Rout at “The Melting Pot,” the all-day diner/ coffee shop of the resort. We left it to him to serve us his specials. He suggested that we try the specials from the menu and the never ending buffet counters at lunch on the first day. He promised to prepare very special and very different dishes for lunch the upcoming day. As promised, for lunch on the nice Sunday afternoon that followed, he served us delicacies from his home town, Puri, Orissa. The dishes included a thali accompanied with
masala, marinated chicken served in a bamboo stem and lamb curry (christened by him as NH 203 Lamb Curry). He managed to change my entire perception about Oriya Cuisine which in my initial perception was very boring. Thanks to Chef Rout, I have decided to revisit all our local Indian cuisines and I do wish more chefs at other hotels do what he is doing. For dinner on the first night of stay, we dined at Tao of Peng the contemporary Chinese restaurant at the resort. The Chef de cuisine Avinash Naha spent time explaining the concept of the restaurant. The Menu seemed unusual and unlike typical chinese restaurants in the city. Named after Peng Zu, the Chinese culinary master, the food at the restaurant does justice to his name. We indulged in delicacies like Prawn Har Gau, Chicken Saho Mai, Lamb chops in Mongolian Sauce and yes, we tasted the best Wasabi Prawns ever. Apart from satiating the taste buds, the Spa experience at Amrutham at Intercontinental definitely caught up to the quality of our other experiences at the resort thus truly satisfying us. Its calibre of service was undoubtedly top notch! Chef Rout had something very special planned for our last night of stay at the resort. With a table set up along the shore, it was a magical experience to dine by the waves under the star lit summer night sky. I have lived by the sea all my life but this has to be the best experience so far by the Bay of Bengal. The following day, we were in no mood to leave, but Monday morning it was and we had to get back to work. As we packed to get back home, we were hoping to be back soon to Intercontinental. Very soon.
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THE INTERCONTINENTAL CHENNAI-AN EXCLUSIVE BEACH RESORT
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nterContinental Chennai Mahabalipuram Resort, an arm of the InterContinental Hotels Group is Mahabalipuram’s first exclusive beach resort. With a beautiful ocean view from many of its beach facing views, three restaurants, a bar and executive rooms and suites, the InterContinental is an amazing way to spend a weekend following a busy week. Led by the same principles that made IHG one of the best at what they do, InterContinental Chennai is set apart by impeccable design, exclusive experiences and the drive to be the best resort along the Mahabulipuram coastline.
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Food: InterContinental offers three options for dining. All of them are gourmet dining options. The Melting Pot: Market Cafe has three live kitchens which serve a combination of European, South Asian and Peninsular Indian cuisine. A Chinese Specialty Restaurant, Tao Of Peng brings in authentic Chinese food. Off The Hook, the soon-to- belaunched beachside grill and seafood restaurant is a way to chill out and have a meal on the beach. The Gatsby Lounge offers classic cocktails and more, in an ambience inspired by the spirit of the roaring twenties and the jazz age. Rejuvenate: As expected of a hotel like InterContinental, there are various ways to relax and let your body heal. Take a swim at the outdoor swimming pool, get a soothing massage at the spa, or spend a day at the health club. The spa, Amrutham by Escenza, combines both Ayurveda and modern day therapies to give a result that is as effective as it is unique. Stay: With about 105 rooms, the InterContinental has something for every guest. There are both executive room and suites, and a lot of them are ocean facing, allowing us to view the spectacular Mahabs sunrise and sunset. Children are also taken care of. Planet Trekkers plan events to occupy the children’s time, while parents can relax and take a much earned day off. Another unique aspect of the InterContinental is its concierge service, which offers customized plans and packages for the guest.
Design: While talking about the InterContinental, it is impossible to not talk about its design. Designed by Collins Vergnaud Pty Ltd, every single design element stems from the judicious use of the Golden Mean. This is incorporated in all aspects of the hotel, from the corridors to the rooms to the interior design. The hotel has a Platinum LEED rating from the US Green Building Council. The resort features innovative design solutions and an interesting choice of materials, fixtures and fittings. The care taken to the design the hotel is obvious as soon as one steps into the reception. It is a monumental and monolithic double height space, featuring a 7.5m long stone greeting counter in contrast with delicate and floating red glass light fixtures. Behind the greeting desk, one can see a bas-relief that is evocative of the many that one would see at Mahabalipuram. The interior design relies on a context through the sequence of spaces and emotions, the shifts in scale, the choice of material and the selection and relevance of furniture and fittings. In many places, the building has been designed such that the visitor gets a resplendent view of the Bay of Bengal. The InterContinental is a meticulously designed, well planned work of art that masquerades as a hotel. The hotel contains something for everyone, and is as suitable a weekend getaway as it is a honeymoon spot.
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LIVE | Glimpses Beyond
THE LAND OF THE WANDERERS There is a great undiscovered place, in the heart of Eurasia, where shiny-skinned wild horses thunder across the wide plains, where golden eagles soar above the frozen steppe through time and history, where legendary nomads meet modern-day adventurers, and where the brand new capital city glitters in the sun on the edge of a hopeful future. Get ready to discover the last and vast unknown, Kazakhstan.
BY PADMA MURUGHAPPUN
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he Republic of Kazakhstan is situated in Central Asia and merges into the European quarters. With the Ural River dividing the republic into two, Kazakhstan’s cultural and geographical status is strikingly similar to other Asian countries. Ninth largest by size, largest landlocked country that is larger than all of Western Europe put together, with the largest reservoir of oil and gas and thus being the richest country in Central Asia, Kazakhstan is filled with flaming deserts alongside snow-capped rugged mountains. Goliath-sized and eye-catching, this place is the intrepid traveller’s dream come true. With stunning vistas, gigantic canyons and breath-taking steppes, Kazakhstan has much diversity to be discovered both in its landscape and in its people.
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GETTING THERE The most fun way to commute inside Kazakhstan would be through the traditional ‘Marshrutka.’ These are dilapidated vans that cruise around the cities and towns frequently used by tourists and locals too. For those seeking fun and are on a budget, the Marshrutka is the best option. Other alternatives would be trains, trams, trolleys and public buses while in the cities or sometimes in certain towns. From any country all over the world, getting to Kazakhstan is the easiest through planes and trains. THE CITIES Formally taking over as the country’s new capital in 1997, Astana is Kazakhstan’s future in progression, drawing the talented with its glittery magnetism. Known previously as Akmoly and Akmolinsk, Astana was given its recent name, which means ‘Capital City’ in Kazakh. The city’s initiation as the capital city proved to be the start of the century’s most ambitious urban development project. Straddling the Ishim River on the northern region of the country, it has grown to be a 21st century marvel from a steppe. Nicknamed as ‘Dubai of the Steppe,’ Astana offers one too many breath-taking architectural marvels for the visitor. Asian, Soviet, Western and madcap futuristic buildings adorn the skyline of this fast-growing metropolis. Take a stroll along the footpath to savour in the beauty of the various architectural manifestations that are the creations of world-renowned architects. One can never forego the hedonistic nature of the nightlife offered in Astana. With hotels of international calibre and a remarkable combination of the traditional and the modern, Astana has more than just pretty structures to offer. Serving as Kazakhstan’s capital from 1929 to 1997, Almaty is the other important city that is to be visited. With the snow-capped Zailiysky Ala-Tau Mountains providing for a picturesque backdrop for a city that is now culturally and economically fast-moving, Almaty is a must-see while in Eurasia. Amidst the nomadic cultural history that is prevalent there, Almaty carries a sophisticated air about its up do. Expensive suburban apartments, SUVs, western style cafes and lounges, glitzy shopping malls characterise the modern Almatian’s lifestyle. The Green Market, locally called Zelyony Bazaar, is an important transportation hub frequented by travellers and even the locals. Excellent places of stay, cafes, bars, restaurants, museums and lush green parks make Almaty tourist worthy. While walking might confuse the traveller with its long straight roads everywhere, one must keep in mind that the mountains are to the south and the city graciously goes upwards to them.
WHILE THERE “Sorrow can be alleviated by a good sleep, a bath and a glass of wine” – Kazakhstan, being the destination of relaxation that it is, offers luxurious hotels for a good sleep, sophisticated bars for drinks and partying and due to its cold weather, it offers baths too. The Arasan Baths in Almaty built in Soviet style are one of the finest bathhouses in all of Central Asia. One can choose between Russian-Finnish and Oriental baths. Satisfying and traditional, the bathhouses can be best experienced when visited as a group. Try lathering the soap with the Veniki leaf bunch to complete your experience at the bathhouse.
THE CULTURE Largely influenced by the Turkic nomadic lifestyle, Kazakhstan has a well-articulated culture. Lamb, horse meat and milk products dominate their cuisine. One peculiarity is that their cooking-techniques aim at preserving the food for a long time, a technique inherited from their nomadic roots. While in Kazakhstan, savour in the national dish Beshbarmak with pasta sheets, onions and the sinfully delicious meat broth called Shorpa. In restaurants there, this delicacy is served in a traditional Kazakh bowl called Kese. Barausky is also a traditional bread variety dish which is like a doughnut served piping hot. In this nomadic country of folk people, music is till date, an inevitable part of Kazakh life. Solo artists play string instruments, Dombra being the most traditional and famous among all. The other instruments include the Kobyz and Jew’s harp. These instruments can be watched live played by the traditional artists of Kazakhstan at various cultural events conducted throughout the year. As one boards his flight back to his home country, one must keep in mind no vacation ends there. The traveller turns a story-teller, reminiscing about the time he trekked through the steppes alongside the Kazakh nomads with golden eagles soaring above their heads and as he takes a turn finds himself in the Heart of Eurasia that is a modern-day marvel - his sojourn was indeed an experience rather than just a temporary excursion.
Opened at Mahindra World City, Chennai For memberships please call, 044-
4749 2200
Maximise your Life
Life, dotted together with moments of joy, is what we live for. At MWC Club you find these moments come alive. Located within the Mahindra World City, Chennai on the GST corridor, MWC club is designed thoughtfully with luxurious amenities. Here every member of your family can choose from a host of exciting recreational, social & fitness facilities. At MWC Club discover moments that truly Maximize Life.
Swimming pool I Squash Courts I Indoor Gym I Tennis Courts I Spa and Salon I Sports Bar I Multi-specialty Restaurant I Open air Party Lawns I Spacious Guestrooms For Membership: Call 044 4749 2200 | Email: mwcclub@mahindra.com | mwcclub.mahindraworldcity.com
(ACADEMIC YEAR 2016 - 17)
LIVE | What’s New? Apollo Cradle extends its proposition of delivering hope and joy to couples Launches its first standalone Apollo Fertility Centre Apollo Cradle, India’s leading healthcare destination for women and children, launched its first standalone Apollo Fertility Centre in Anna Nagar, Chennai to offer clinical expertise coupled with tender loving care with the aim of helping couples turn hopes into happiness. The centre boasts of state-of-the-art medical infrastructure, a leading consultant panel, personalized patient care and complete compliance with the ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) guidelines.
Liberate your Spirit 1920’s Style at Steam & Whistles at Grand by GRT Hotels At Steam and Whistle’s, the New Restobar at Grand by GRT Hotels, we pay tribute to an era bygone, bringing alive the roaring 1920s in all its liberated, grandiose glory. Step inside and you are transported back to this definitive period in time that gave birth to unparalleled technological advancements and the heady rush of Jazz music. We can keep going, but some decades are better experienced than read about. So go on, discover the 1920s and liberate your spirit at Steam & Whistles.
New Audi R8 V10 PLUS arrives in Chennai
Audi, the German luxury car manufacturer, set pulses racing in Tamil Nadu as it launched the most powerful and fastest production Audi ever built – the next generation Audi R8 V10 Plus in the state of Tamil Nadu. Naturally-aspirated 5.2 FSI quattro® V10 mid-engine with up to 610 hp (449 kW) of power responds instantly to throttle and propels the car from 0 to 100 in 3.2 seconds with a top speed of 330 km/h. Much lighter than its predecessor, the next generation Audi R8 V10 Plus is priced at INR 2.6 crores ex-showroom Tamil Nadu.
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