feb 2015 `40
Contemplate. Create. Live.
LIFESTYLE & ENTERTAINMENT
SUPER FOODS Vikram Cotah enunciates that healthy food is palatable too
THE KINGDOM OF SPAIN
A brief travelogue
CONNOISEUR OF FABRICS
Designer Naushad Ali spins a fashion tale
In conversation with the legendary
P.C. Sreeram
Having taken an oath to inspire its readers to contemplate, create and live, Brew Lifestyle and Entertainment continues to voice out good stories for each section in this issue. Beginning with a tribute to the late R.K. Laxman, we have put together several published caricatures from his renowned cartoon series The Common Man that is sure to make you ponder. We have the legendary cinematographer P.C. Sreeram on the cover this month, quite a privilege to the magazine. Perfectly timed with the release of his latest films Shamitabh and I, his interview depicts him as an individual with strong and just opinions, rightly so. Featuring evolution of several integral brands, it is certain you will be inspired to create to empower! The lifestyle stories we have lined up towards the end of the issue will catch your eye, too. Have a great read.
Vilani Senthamil Editor To begin with, we are very happy to feature P.C. Sreeram on the cover of our February issue. He has been a great support to Brew Lifestyle and Entertainment, right from when it commemorated. He has been there through its thick and thin, offering appreciation and criticism at the right times. Apart from that, we have some good stories about the evolution of several great brands. We will be doing more such stories in the future; to promote brands with the key aim to as always, inspire people to achieve great heights.
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
and loves traveling, researching literary
group of Institutions, again one of
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, Designer Seeman Elumalai, Circulation Head
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Behind the cover
The cover shoot was a very candid one this time. Shot very casually over a cup of coffee, take a glimpse at what happeed at the shoot.
Photography: G Venkat Ram Venue: Chamiers Cafe
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C ontents
Contemplate THE COMMON MAN NEVER DIES A tribute to R.K. Laxman
CLICKING AWAY Best photographs from the photography exhibition hosted by the MOP Vaishnav College for Women
Create COVER STORY IN CONVERSATION WITH ACE CINEMATOGRAPHER P.C SREERAM
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE BRAND Bill Watson, Artistic Director Toni & Guy International, gets candid
BLOCK PRINTS FROM JAIPUR Prints and hues from Soma boutique
BUILDING AN EMPIRE Founder of Full House Entertainment, Jaison Pullikottil aims for the stars
WHEN FUN MEETS FITNESS Break a leg, with Sucheta Pal
Live CONNOISEUR OF FABRICS Designer Naushad Ali spins a fashion tale
AN ABODE OF WELLNESS A glimpse of the all-new rooftop Hablife at Hablis, Guindy
SUPER FOODS Vikram Cotah enunciates that healthy food is palatable too
THE KINDOM OF SPAIN A brief travelogue
BREW PICKS Brew chooses the best of the latest product launches
EVENT MEMOIR What happened at the all-new Brew launch?
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The Common Man
Never Dies
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5 side from being a Cartoonist, Illustrator and Humourist, R K Laxman was a man who had a clear vision, sketching away the simplest of caricatures, piercing right through all the wonky charades of politicians, to depict the everyday hassles and struggles of the average Indian citizen with the driest of humour. His cartoon strip, You Said It with the ever-famous character The Common Man, humoured and simultaneously made readers thoughtful right from 1915 to 2015. He deserves a tribute, don’t you agree? Let’s look back at some of his clever depictions.
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Clicking
Away
Himalayan Peak
I woke up that day, excited as ever to explore the great Himalayan range and to maybe get the best shot of my life. Captured the most captivating when one afternoon the sun slipped behind the snow-capped mountains
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Photographed by Shivaani Shashi
The Photography exhibition, Positives 2015, featured about 200 photographs chosen from a collection of 3000 pictures shot by the students of the Department of Visual Communication, M.O.P Vaishnav College for Women. These pictures capture the essence and the beauty of the busy streets of Kathmandu, chaotic melody created by traffic and the street commerce obstructively that invades time and space of the city and enormous crowds that throng the narrow streets. The exhibition was a series of everyday pictures of the capital of Nepal, a country with a scenic beauty of the permanently snowcovered Himalayas. The exhibition also featured a compilation of snapshots from students’ photography shot throughout the year. This section featured portraits, monuments, landscapes, lifestyles, symbolic repeat actions and many other images celebrating cultural, racial and geographical diversity. It was curated by senior professors E Amalore and Magesh Ramadoss.
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a Surya
ndan hed by Va
p Photogra
Bullfight Starstruck
This particular picture was taken in Nepal, outside Pasupatinath temple. What really fascinated me about this picture was the expression on the monkey’s face which shows doubt to continue eating the healthy food in his hand or go for a popular drink like the star in the picture
This Jellikettu picture was shot when I visited Madurai. It was a very beautiful moment because the determination of the person to fight the bull despite his fear is what motivated me to take the picture
Photographed by Rasika Raghunath
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“Any film that speaks up after one week is
THE voice of the nation!� declares P. C. Sreeram, the ace cinematographer who needs no introduction. Visuals of films like Nayagan, MounaRagam, Geetanjali, ThirudaThiruda, Alaipayuthey and many more resonate in our minds even to this day, kudos to this mastermind. Recently, praises have been crooned for the almost poetic visuals in his films Shamitabh and I. Be awed at how his fine mind is in par with the creative power he wields, as he discloses his vision of Cinema by Vilani Senthamil
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On shamitabh and i
Having been associated with brilliant filmmakers, the legend has always taken scripts up by several notches with his cinematography. Working with Director Shankar for the first time for I, he reveals, “We were meant to work together in two projects before this but it didn’t happen at that time. When he came to me with this script, I agreed to take it up. The movie had a lot of commercial shots and I believe he approached me with that on his mind”. Quizzing him on how his experience was shooting for the film, he continues “For I, I had to give the sci-fi effect to the film during the dark phases of the story where the lead character becomes a hunchback. I had to use low-key lighting and at the same time show the beauty of the loss he goes through. Balancing both was a
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challenge because that might easily turn out to be heinous, and wouldn’t compliment the tone the story was taking. I made sure there was direct eye-contact of Vikram with the camera when he transitions to the hunchback so it set the right mood”.In Shamitabh, it was evident that he had adapted techniques that he had not used before. He explains, “Shamitabh is a very different film, with many realistic scenes coming up once and again. To give it that touch of reality, I used handheld camera to shoot or the movie would not have progressed the way it did”. He shares a good equation with Director Balki, having worked together in both CheeniKum and Paa. He comments, “We think alike. His scripts are relationship-centric and I can relate well with that”. His shots are so novel that one cannot help wondering where his inspiration comes from. “My style evolves as the script progresses. I
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“Shamitabh is a very different film, with many realistic scenes coming up once and again. To give it that touch of reality, I used handheld camera to shoot...�
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“Promotions should not matter at all, the film should have a voice. It should speak on its own! That is what real cinema is all about”
Cover
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want to show what has never been seen before and that’s how I go about shooting”, he claims.
BACK IN THE DAY
As a child, P.C. never had a flair for academics and was always found toying with the camera. His parents understood that and backed his talent, sportingly. Now he is lionized as the “Guru of Cinematography” for that very same talent. Well known for his films with Director Mani Ratnam, both of them stepped into the spotlight together when their first work, MounaRaagam became a millennium hit. Post that, they worked on many more triumphant films like Nayagan, Agni Natchathiram, ThirudaThiruda and Geetanjali, to name a few. Great minds think alike is how the saying goes, and true to that this prodigy has worked with many virtuosos. Apart from Mani Ratnam and R. Balki, he has done commendable work with Kamal Hassan and Moulee. He has worked for close to 35 films in many languages. “I will do only one film at a time. I don’t believe in signing up for ten films at the same time. I always aspire to do good work. When meticulous work is done for a film, it will be plainly evident on the screen”, he concludes.
FILMS & SUCCESS
“Any film that speaks up after one week is the voice of the nation!” he declared at once, when asked how he would define a good film. “Films have to have a slow growth. That’s what cinema is. Business is being integrated too much with cinema, and cinema is losing its value”, he adds. The veteran cinematographer is planning a campaign called ‘Say no to promo’ in the near future. He strongly believes in Cinema as a sole entity, as he voices out loud “Promotions should not matter at all, the film should have a voice. It should speak on its own! That is what real cinema is all about”. Having directed three movies of his own- Meera, Kuruthipunaland VaanamVasapadum, he has received a lot of acclaim for his directorial stints too. Kuruthipunal was even submitted by India as its official entry to the Oscars in 1996! “I have great admiration for films that become hits after a while. Jigarthanda and SoodhuKavvum, were two
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such films. You cannot call a film a failure by judging it on the first day. These days, assistant directors are talking about the profits a movie has made, and that should never happen. They should have the movie running through their minds, not the money it makes! The money a movie makes does not matter at all, it is of the slightest significance. It’s all about giving good content to the audience and nothing else”, he states. So will be directing any more films in the future? “Not as of now, maybe later”, he answers. He believes that understanding the audience is critical for a movie to become a success. “Cinema should be taken according to the audience. A film that is very successful in Telugu, might not do so well in Tamil. It should be shot keeping in mind the target audience. Who would have thought that a film like PK will become a top grosser? A few years back people would have been closed to the concept of the film. It came as quite a surprise when I saw that the crowd was laughing alongwith the film. As the audience evolves, filmmaking should evolve too”, he muses.
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“...A film that is very successful in Telugu, might not do so well in Tamil. It should be shot keeping in mind the target audience.”
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IT’S ALL
ABOUT
the brand Artistic Director of Toni & Guy International, Bill Watson, says the promise a brand makes speaks volumes about it. On his recent visit to the city, he elucidates why Chennai is a promising market Brand talk
What hopes does Bill Watson have for the country? “We didn’t expect to generate so much revenue as we have here in Chennai. Chennai has so much dynamic energy, and we as a brand have the same, so it’s almost like a match made in heaven. The brand and the city compliment each other. We have wonderful plans for this country as a whole. There a lot of young people in India and our brand attracts the youth to a large extent, so you can do the math yourself. Being an international brand, Toni & Guy has been welcomed with open arms in most countries, so why won’t India do the same?” he beams. He adds, “The Toni & Guy in India is in par with other Toni & Guy franchises all around the world. I think we have the substance and the knack to deliver quality service too. Toni & Guy believes its purpose is in giving value back to the customer. If a customer pays a certain amount for a service, we make sure we give eighty percent of what they paid back to them through our high-end products and full-fledged service”.
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Professional service
Toni & Guy is exceptional in terms of customer treatment and service. A whole lot of importance is given to the training of the staff and stylists, to ensure that the best service is delivered. “It’s more about practicality, rather than passion when it comes to training the staff. We have a solid six-week training block, which is extremely simple. That’s because if it’s complicated it won’t have the same reach.We have a training system to take trainees from the junior to the senior level with theory classes, practice classes and a series of tests before they actually get involved in it professionally. We also make sure we impart the ethics and norms of the brand while training, as that is equally important. The core standards that we hold close to heart separate us from the rest of
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me in gelling with the brand and the core values it offers. To my surprise and delight, Bill Watson once mentioned that he saw a younger version of himself in me!” he smiles. Generally, people seem to have a perception that Toni & Guy is very expensive. They are looking to break that barrier, because their services are in reality, pretty viable. On this, he says, “We are also modifying our interiors to suit a mass crowd. We have a new offer for just Rs. 199 with a package of a haircut, a beard trim and an oil massage for thirty minutes just to pull them in. Once they avail our services they will definitely become regular customers”. What are the plans he has for the brand in the near future? He opens up, “Toni & Guy opened only four five years back in the Indian market, but it has progressed so rapidly that salons which have opened before us are upping their act. This is exactly what we want to do, look at increasing the standards of the industry. Toni & Guy brings a certain class to the industry, as there are no more barbers, but only hairdressers. It’s a very professional field and we want more and more people to know that. Most of my hairdressers make 1 lakh or more even! We want to create a lot of job opportunities for young people too”. the industry. More importantly, we make sure we provide the right environment for the stylists and the staff. We believe that happy people do the best work, so we do all that we can to keep our staff happy! What customers are looking for is consistency and that is exactly what our stylists offer. We are looking for smiles of content from both the customers and our staff”, he states.
His take on chennai
“Apart from the weather, the people in Chennai are very warm too!” he laughs. “It’s very easy to get attached to the people here. They don’t wear a shield and are very open to feedback, two traits that are incredibly hard to find. They are also very active and ambitious in nature, so it’s all wellbalanced here” he observes.
What does sam paul, director of toni & guy have to say?
“It all began with a polling” he begins. “We did a polling to understand the business model better before deciding to proceed with the brand. We started as a sub-franchise to the model, when our growth was so rapid that we launched three salons in a just a year. The partnership with the brand just happened, I guess. Like-minded and ambitious, both the people behind the brand and I have a lot of similar goals to work toward! Also, I focus a lot on the quality of service and that’s what helped
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BLOCK
PRINTS FROM
JAIPUR
Soma, a 30-year-old brand famed for its block prints, now enters the Chennai market. It’s one of a kind, and like every other place it has entered, Soma is all set to make its mark in this city too The creative process
Handcrafted garments, each stamped and printed using block printing techniques from Jaipur, Soma has customers coming in search of the store! It takes pride in being featured in the Forbes magazine of USA, among the top 20 shops in the world alongside brands like Ralph Lauren. With their own designers and their own printing unit, lady workers in their own factory in Jaipur handcraft Soma clothing in its entirety. From the production of fabrics to the minute details like the beadwork, these craftswomen weave magic. All their prints are exclusive as well, as they use a specific print design only once on the fabric, without further repetition of the same design on any of the other garments.
What do they offer?
Soma as such caters to its customers more in terms of aesthetics, than anything else. Ranging from Kurtis, dresses, short and maxi skirts, tops, salwars, anarkalis, stoles and dupattas for women; Kurtas, shirts and nightclothes for men; and clothes for kids upto the age of 6, Soma offers an array of select garments. All clothes are individually (and reasonably) priced, so you can mix and match garments to suit your taste! They also have accessories like purses, beaded necklaces, tote bags and duffel bags in different sizes. Bedspreads, quilts and pillow
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covers from this brand are very popular for their pretty shades and patterns (One bedspread has fourteen different block prints!) They use 100 percent cotton in most of their fabrics without involving even a thread of polyester or any other material. However, some of their garments come in a mixture of cotton and chiffon or silk or crepe material if the customers are looking for something fancier. A great focus is given to the finishing of all their garments. Most clothes also have minimal beaded work on the edges hand crafted by lady workers in their factory in Udaipur. This beadwork gives an ethnic finish to the whole outfit!
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Patterns and hues
The colours and designs are chosen based on the current season and the latest of trends. Brighter colours for the winter season and pastel hues for the summer, is a practice they follow. Furthermore, they design garments especially for every festive seasons like Diwali and Pongal! Floral prints and happy colours make up most of the garments. They also stand out in having an organic department where all the colours and fabrics are organic. This is mainly because many people have sensitive skin and they come in search of such garments. The fabric is much more softer and the colours are a lot more subtle in these organic garments. The colours they wield on the garments are all Azo-free dyes. Azo-free dyes do not affect people with sensitive skin and thus, can be used by anybody.
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BUILDING
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EMPIRE
There is nothing that the engineer turned entrepreneur Jaison Pulikkottil has not achieved. Founder of the companies Global Remote and Full House Entertainment, this business icon shares his success mantra with us
Venturing into entertainment
Into large-scale outdoor events like the fabled shopping, food and music festival- the Madras Market and producing movies in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam- Full House Entertainment is doing remarkably well. Coming from a disciplined and corporate background, how did Jaison manage to pull this off? He answers, “Ironically, my corporate background is what made me do well in the entertainment sector too. My team and I in Full House Entertainment have a very disciplined approach towards everything we take up, so the work flow is very smooth. Sarah Natasha takes care of event management and Vince Mangadan handles the movies. We have a clear vision and an efficient team in hand, so that helps a lot�.
The powers that be
Born and bought up in Chennai, he excelled in academics. Going on to become an Inspection Engineer, he worked for oil and petroleum companies
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in the Middle East for a while. “I worked to build my knowledge about the field, but I always aspired to start a business of my own. Seven years back I did, and here I am now”, he muses. Global Remote established in 2007, services a growing global client base, delivering a comprehensive range of services to the energy, civil, marine and geo-technical sectors. Their global service capacity stems from their expanding geographical presence, servicing the Middle East, West Africa, South East Asia and India via their regional and partner offices in Azerbaijan, Bahrain, India, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, UAE and Yemen. “I started Global Remote with two other people - Uthra Sridharan, who takes care of the finances and Boid Boxshal from Australia, head of the company operations who has been here for the past 7 years”, he states. Asking him about his success mantra, he reveals, “Everyone is under the perception that as soon as you set up a business, you will make heaps of money. But it is quite the contrary. In my case for instance, I lost money for the first two years! I still managed to survive though, and continued pushing. That’s when it all began taking shape. Business is all about passion, only when you really want it and are willing to go through anything to succeed you can take it up. Then you can reach great heights. Starting a business in India is very easy, but running it is tough. Normally we start here and move to other countries. If you can get a business to survive in India, then you can get it to survive anywhere!”
“Starting a business in India is very easy, but running it is tough”
In time to come
What does he have in store for us, after already founding two successful companies? “We are trying to get into pharmaceuticals and hospitality. I take advice from experts for other ventures, because I believe that only if you have knowledge about a field you should venture into it”, he says. He adds, “Running my company is as important as my family. I have 375 people working in my company and hence, I am responsible for them and their families. I devote equal attention to both”.
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WHEN
FUN
Meets Fitness With an almost serendipitous start, she’s currently one of the most sought-after individuals in the fitness domain. Sucheta Pal, India’s first master Zumba instructor talks about her life-changing pursuits. Zumba has found its way into the lives of many in the country. While some embrace it as a career, some enjoy it for the fun workout that it is. They say true passion can’t be tamed. And Sucheta Pal is living proof to that!
Zumba, her joie de vivre
Zumba is not world-famous without a reason. It stands as one of the best ways to burning those calories. It has also somehow smeared itself in the paparazzi, thanks to countless people from the show-biz zumba-ing to glory! Zumba has the power to fill people with exuberance, but why wouldn’t it? “Zumba is a workout that makes people happy! Because I tell you, when I first entered the studio, I realised people did not feel like they were working out! Zumba was exercise in disguise to all of them! And that’s the best part” says Sucheta. That’s how and when it all started for her, from being the engineer to the Zumba fitness instructor. “Since then there has been no looking back for me. I went on for three years after which I became a licensed Zumba fitness instructor in the US. And that is when I got selected as a master trainer,” she pipes. Her Indian origin came as a perk thanks to the number of master trainers in the whole of the world then. “With only 150 master trainers in the world, and Zumba being in 185 countries, I got selected as one.” Sucheta’s love for Zumba screams out loud as she talks about how gratifying it is as a profession. “With Zumba you get instant gratification. It takes happiness and contentment to an unbelievably new level,” she laughs. And, right then she talks about the founder of Zumba, Beto Perez. Her respect for him knows no bounds and obviously resonates as she begins talking about him. “Beto
Perez is this guy from Columbia, and he struggled quite a lot to make Zumba a global phenomenon. And he went through that struggle because nobody else had to. That is why he gave the chance for people like me to become a Zumba fitness instructor,” she says.
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PERKS of
ZUMBA
In India, the training is a two-day process and Sucheta trains people to become Zumba instructors. Of course, it sounds impossible to train someone and change them into experts in a mere two days. But Sucheta explains, “Obviously no one can be a professional in two days. However, we provide the people we train with learning material. And these will be in regard to choreography, marketing and becoming successful. The trainer’s efforts to succeed will go a long way. But the team, my team, in India is great. I’m grateful it is.” Is it possible for 40 year olds to practice Zumba? “Of course they can. Zumba is for everyone, for kids to old people. Working out, we all know is effective only if you commit to it. And with Zumba, there is no problem with that! It’s fun and people inevitably stick to it. And that’s one of the many reasons I love it.”
The path less trodden She comes from a very unlikely career considering who she is today. She laughs at the thought of how it all began, “It’s very funny, my story!” she begins. “I’m an engineer. I was a part of the IT industry for around five years. And I travelled the world, I mean, so much happened. But, no matter what, there was always dancing, it made me happy. So, when I was 26, I took a call and just quit everything. I decided to get into professional dance training. It was with a choreographer called Ashley Lobo. I did also get into Ballet and Jazz and all that! And after three years of this I moved to the US. This was in 2009,” she says reminiscing the past. Pursuing dance was all that mattered to her, and it was no doubt that there were many areas she hadn’t explored. Call it fate or destiny, she just had to explore this. And, that’s exactly when Zumba happened to her. “I stumbled upon Zumba on the internet! So, I started looking for studios. Trust me when I say the vibes that I received when I went to one of the studios was absolutely overwhelming”, she signs off.
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CONNOISEUR of
Fabrics
Puducherry based apparel designer Naushad Ali is integrating western designs in traditional fabrics from different regions of India for his label. Bringing to us apparel that is absolute, this craftsman has his head in the game and his heart in the right place. On his label
“I have always wanted a label of my own” he begins. “I started with product and package designing initially, and to my surprise it got a lot of good reception in a short span of time. That’s when I started designing apparel”, he says. Named after him, his label ‘Naushad Ali’ comprises apparel for men and women which he designs in Studio Liam in Pondicherry, named after his three year old son, Liam. He uses traditional fabrics from West Bengal and Kanchipuram, integrating them with western designs, which deliver beauty. “I worked with the weavers of West Bengal and Kanchipuram adapting the eightmonth-long handloom process. I didn’t want to destroy the decadesold process of weaving saris, so I simply got the saris and later customised them for western wear”, he reveals. His favourite among all the fabrics is the Chettinadu checked cotton sari that he uses widely. Based in Puducherry, is his focus purely on foreigners? “Not at all. For me, every customer is the same. My goal is to give them satisfaction in the clothes they buy. As long as that is there, I am happy. My apparel will also suit anyone since it is western with traditional references. You can stroll around in these clothes both in the temples of Madurai and in the streets of New York, and they will inevitably belong in both places. I think this is the reason it has so much reception”, he states.
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Exploring fashion
India with its vast diversity and cultures has a lot of different fabrics that can be put to good use. He agrees, “Kanchipuram silk, by itself, has multiple fabrics unique in their own way. We will be delving in it soon. At present we are concentrating on Natural Indigo dying which was very popular once in Japan. We want to bring it back into the limelight as cotton apparel with natural indigo dying is something that can be worn anytime of the year, be it summer or winter. We are also launching a new line of Indigo for women and a whole range of dresses in colourful hand-woven cottons in Amethyst, Chennai on the 4th of March, 2015”, he unveils. Many other regions too have their unique fabrics, which he will slowly begin to utilize. Laughing, he beams “There is so much more to do! I was lucky to have a lot of creative minds around me when I was starting out, as they were such a big support, especially Andreas Deffner, a German Photographer who helped me in my initial days”.
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Why
fashion?
A NIFT graduate, Naushad specialised in fashion and apparel. Soon after graduating from NIFT, he worked with designer Deepika Govind in Bangalore for a year after which he worked in the Madras Terrace House in Chennai for two years. Hailing from a family involved with the textile industry, he was good in academics too. “I excelled in science, but I never could connect to it. My only desire was to do something creative, and I did�, he surmises.
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An
Of Wellness
ABODE
Perched on the rooftip of the Hablis Hotel, Guindy, Hablife flaunts an aqua gym, a spa, a Pan Asian themed restaurant, an open air multifunctional space and a juice bar
H
ablife is a humble tribute to a force of nature - Woman. With her innate ability to effortlessly multitask her time and talents, a woman makes time for all but has little time for herself. Hablife is her haven to relax with her loved ones, to have a moment to herself, to spend quality time and to rediscover the woman within. This holistic oasis is born out of a sincere understanding and passion for wellness, which they define as a way of life that focuses on physical, mental and social wellbeing. They are committed to delivering all aspects of wellness with integrity and honesty, providing inspiration for lifestyle and nutritional changes, in an environment that delights all the senses. The upper level hosts a spa that features body and beauty treatments inspired from the combination of eastern and western principles. It features an exclusive couple room along with personalized steam, a tub for the bathing ritual, ideal for a romantic day and a shiatsu room. The healing benefits of water can also be felt in hydrotherapy which includes a sauna, steam, and a chilled shower space to wash out the toxins from the body. The lower level hosts a Pan-Asian themed restaurant inspired by their healthy cooking styles and dishes, and complete with a live teppanyaki counter. A state of the art open swimming pool sits at the centre of this level and is fitted with an aqua gym and outdoor Jacuzzi with pressure jets to relax sore muscles. Among the other interesting zones is their open air multifunctional space which is used to host personal fitness classes such as Pilates, tai-chi, yoga and also features exclusive outdoor high end fitness equipments. For those who need a boost of power after a workout, should visit a one of a kind juice bar which hosts an impressive menu of juices, signature shakes, herbonics, soup and salads.
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Treatments offered
Respect for the uniqueness of each individual is the foundation of their spa experience. Their highly trained therapists are committed to excellence, infused with enthusiasm and take pride in delivering personalized, dedicated service. Their therapies combine both ancient and contemporary healing techniques in a natural manner. They are designed to bring balance and equilibrium to meet the needs of each individual.
Products in hand
Their signature product line has been developed specifically with highest quality which contains naturally derived ingredients. Easy to use and effective in their treatment, they provide an ideal extension of their spa experience into daily life.
Personal training
Their outdoor and aqua fitness machines target specific body parts as does each of their qualified personal trainers, from strength training and body conditioning, to Pilates and Aqua training. This allows focused, individual attention on each client, to set and meet goals by creating bespoke programs, whether you’re a gym novice or fitness aficionados.
Full day & half day programs
They offer a truly rejuvenating experience combining authentic healing and beauty spa rituals along with chef’s specialty tastings based on innovative living foods cuisine. Steep in the sacred atmosphere of this ultimate wellness experience you can enjoy an inspiring day at Hablife. Their team is pleased to guide you in selecting the most suitable experiences for your needs, whether choosing from one of their exclusive day experiences or a la carte menu.
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Pan Asian Cuisine
Hablife defines a new approach to the everyday dining experience. Their Japanese inspired meals crafted by their highly qualified sushi and wok chefs create the best of cuisine that takes you on a culinary journey through the freshest of unique creations together with a scrumptious Pan Asian cuisine. Culinary innovations based on the freshest and finest is designed to give a true taste of eastern gastronomy. Drawing from the mindful dietary practices of ancient Japan, infused with plenty of seaweed bringing out the delicate balance of yin yang such as wheat gluten cooked in tamari sauce, kombu seaweed, tweaked with iron rich tekka (a miso condiment made from root vegetables) and water will energise you without having to full you up. You can also sit at a long bar and watch as sushi is prepared for an interactive dining experience!
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Foods SUPER
Sparse calories and dense nutrients, that’s what super foods are all about says Vikram Cotah, the senior Vice President of Radisson Blu GRT Hotels and Resorts, Chennai. So what is the significance of integrating super foods in your everyday meal? Read on to find out!
Beg your pardon?
So what exactly are Super foods? Small amounts of food having a huge amount of nutrients, that’s what. An almond is a very good example of a Super food. Blackberries, having anticancer and anti oxidant nutrients; turmeric that cures inflammation; peppercorn, which increases metabolism; strawberry, mango, apple, papaya and other fresh seasonal fruits are all examples of Super food. Peppercorn and turmeric, chiefly, are used widely as ingredients in many food recipes. We use peppercorns in biryani so it aids in digestion of the meat. A cactus called Acai, is an extremely powerful Super food that is unique in reaching and rejuvenating every nook and corner of the human body! It can be used as an ingredient in any dish. To add to this, Essential Fatty Acids (EFA’s), present in Super food help you live longer. Age-old ingredients used in our Indian cuisine are Super foods too. Recipes that have been practiced traditionally have a scientific signification, and are not simply followed blindly! Surprisingly, traditional Super foods from India are being adapted much more in the west than in the country.
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The Super Food Smoothie
Uncooked? No, suncooked!
If you recall your lessons in school, plants grow into trees and fruits ripen because of sunlight. So by nature, the sun cooks all the food on the earth, then why cook all of it once again? It’s observed that cooking food kills almost all the nutrients. Once heat is applied, nutrients are lost. Indians, especially, keep cooking their food to increase the taste, forgetting that the nutrients are getting lost in the process. Since rice is the staple diet of our country, whilst cooking it in water you can try adding spices like nutmeg and cloves (super foods!) so it flavours the rice. The (s)uncooked revolution is all about never having to cook food and basically eating food that the mother earth provides! The extension of suncooked food is Super food. For a Super food dish, you are essentially putting a number of suncooked ingredients together. In case of the Super Food Smoothie, you are combining skimmed milk, bananas, nuts and honey, all of which are suncooked ingredients! Sun cooked food does not support diary too much, so instead of that you can go for almond nut milk or coconut milk.
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Trending across all fine-dining spots in the globe and moving into the kitchens of the layman is the Super Food Smoothie. You can replace a complete meal with this smoothie. Involving a very minimal calorie intake, it aid in weight loss. It tastes good, it’s super easy to concoct and it’s a remarkably healthy intake. What’s more, you have different types of smoothies too! Be it fruit smoothies or nut smoothies, the basis is that it has a probiotic, which is skimmed milk curd. You can also make it with almond nut milk, or just plain skimmed milk, or even coconut milk (known to be the healthiest). The body of the smoothie is the frozen banana (so the smoothie doesn’t become too thin), to which you can add any Super food you like. For sweetness, dates or honey can be used in place of sugar! Point to note, you will have to drink it within five minutes of preparation, because that’s when it will have the right amount of air. Using a food processer is much better than using a blender, because a blender generates heat that breaks down the nutrients.
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Organic food verses Super food On coming across this term, it’s not uncommon that one might think Super food and Organic food are the same. Organic food is when no pesticides or chemicals are involved in the process of production. Having said that, it’s not an easy task to get Organic farm produce. It’s doubtful if the produce sold by Organic dealers is actually 100 percent Organic. Producing Organic food is not simple. Even the soil and water used should not have been treated with any chemical for a very long time, which is a rarely observed phenomenon. Also, the catch is that there is no way to prove that the Organic produce bought is 100 percent organic. If you have a reliable source though, Organic food is a good bet. If you are concerned about getting rid of the chemicals from the produce, buy a vegetable washer. It washes away all the pesticides and chemicals used, sure to make a good difference in the long run!
Lose some, gain some!
Sports persons indulge in Super food since it adds a lot of protein. Adding some whey protein into the Super Food Smoothie will make it a complete meal! It’s a meal replacement as it has proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins. You can have this instead of a meal even 3 times a day. Or, you can take small amounts between meals. It will also work wonders as a post workout drink. It helps put on muscle, thus reducing fat. This is a trend that is catching up and it will become even more popular in the days to come. Certain dishes that are made for particular purposes – Haleem is made for soldiers who have only one meal before they go forth for day’s battle and it carries them throughout the day. They cook meat, wheat, ghee and nuts together! Adapting this in the everyday diet will be a great boost as it provides all the nutrition one might need. Old people who have to maintain their muscle mass and metabolism, kids who need more carbohydrates or protein (the basis of cell formation) or good metabolism and middle aged people who want to better specific organs in their body- Super foods will help them all! If you have a kidney problem though, you should be careful, as too much protein will affect it further. If not, give way to Super food!
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RECIPE FOR THE MONTH February
Nasi
Goreng with
Chicken Satay
Ingredients Nasi Goreng 80 gm boiled long grain rice 2 nos. egg 50 gm fish cubes 25 gm mussels boiled 50 gm shrimps 20 gm chilli paste 5 gm garlic chopped 10 gm chopped carrot (parboiled) 10 gm chopped beans (parboiled) 5 gm curry powder 25 gm spring onion 2 nos. cucumber and tomato slices
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Chicken Satay n 200 gm chicken supreme n 50 gm peanut butter n 50 gm coconut milk powder n 20 gm garlic chopped n 20 gm red chilli paste n 5 gm lemongrass chopped n 5 gm curry powder n Salt to taste
Garnish n Sunny side up (fried egg) n Scallion curls
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METHOD Nasi Goreng n Scramble the egg with little
oil and keep it aside n In another wok sautĂŠ garlic
for few seconds and add seafoods, curry powder, chilli paste, salt and cook till it is done n Sprinkle water if required n Now add rice, carrot, beans and spring onion n Toss well, check the seasoning and serve hot along with chicken satay
Chicken Satay n Mix all the ingredients
and marinate the chicken supreme n Leave it for 30 minutes to soak n Skewer each chicken on satay stick individually n Drizzle a little oil on a tawa and sautĂŠ each stick till it is golden brown n Serve hot Nasi Goreng, chicken satay and fried egg with garnish of scallion curls
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The Kingdom of
Spain
Hola, mi amigo! Como estas? With high-spirited fiestas, glorious beaches, rich cuisines and thriving nightlife, Spain is one of the most sought-after destinations for wanderers looking to satiate their wanderlust. Encompassing mystical islands to treasure and mountains with views to behold, this countryside sings verselets in its own way. It’s best to stay here at least for a month since it is as vast as ever, with many beautiful places to visit. Read on as we give you the best of what Spain has to offer
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Barcelona Floating from one tapas bar to another, you can sight what is possibly the best architecture in the world here. If not taken by the diverse culture (Indians as we be), you are sure to be awed by the very essence of European architecture, magnificent churches and lively shopping. Swashbuckling street performers to watch along with sweet Sangria to taste, Barcelona is sure to show you a good time indeed.
Keep up to speed n Spain borders Portugal on the west, Gibraltar and Morocco in the south, France and Andorra in the northeast n It hosts the highest mountain peak and the world’s third largest volcano, Mount Teide n The best time to visit southern Spain (Almeria, Andulusia, Jaen, Granada, Huelva)is during September or October, and northern Spain in May, June or July n The Spain Embassy is shut for both public holidays in India as well as Spain, so it’s best to apply for visa two months in advance
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Madrid
Europe’s most colourful city and Spain’s largest city, Madrid’s thriving nightlife is a major appeal to tourists from across the globe, apart from the residents there. A fairy-tale city this is, with castles around its every corner. The hub of Spain’s most famous universities, this city is filled with young and amiable residents. If you ever visit Spain, this city should definitely be on your checklist!
Mind your tongue, mister
n Did you know that Spanish is the world’s second most spoken first language? Well, make sure you go for a crash course before you leave for your voyage n If not that, attempt to learn the basic sentences because you simply cannot even check-in to a hotel there if you don’t speak Spanish!
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Seville
The Grand Cathedral of Seville (where Christopher Colombus is believed to have been buried) is perched in this city in southern Spain. It’s home to three UNESCO World Heritage sites and many other historic landmarks (some truly remarkable), too. Like most other parts of Spain, this one also has a zesty nightlife.
Pocket-friendly, or not n They have Euros as currency (one Euro equals 70 INR), and it’ll please you to know that Spain is not as expensive as vacationing in other parts of Europe n Including stay, public transport, indulging in occasional posh meals, witnessing Flamenco performances and dining at cafes and local tapas bars, the estimate for two people per day will be about 110 Euros n Buses are priced at only half the rates of trains, a point to note- the Alsa Bus Service in Spain connects almost every part of Spain with neat timetables. On-boardwifi and website booking are added positives to this service
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VALENCIA San Most popularSebastian for the Fallas and La Tomatino
It is incredibly hardisnot to fallininEastern love with this festivals, Valencia located Spain. beautiful seaside city. It’s very easy to warm Years of renovation, design and construction up toturned this citythis forlarge its excellent and in have city (onebeaches of the largest outstanding culinary tradition. The beaches Spain) into an archaic beauty. It attracts tourists are appeal surfers and lazy beach-goers not an only for itstofestivals, but also for the City of alike. The capital of the Gipuzko province, San Arts and Sciences architectural masterpiece. Sebastian is located in the Basque country of North Spain off the coast of the Bay of Biscay.
Food for thought
n Neither wheat nor rice is a part of their staple diet, as citizens of Spain dig in to meat three times a day (vegetarians beware!) n Summer clothes and sunscreen (lots and n Though bigger cities like Barcelona, Cordoba lots of sunscreen) ought to be packed for and Seville offer safer and more conventional visiting southern Spain. cuisines like American, Italian and Mexican cuisines, a minimum of one n For indulging the north,inclothes that keep youfancy Spanish meal day will bring to you the is real warm and anaumbrella to carry around a essence must of Spain
Wardrobe guide
n If you enjoy wine you have to go on a wine tasting trip in the countryside, as this mystical place is most renowned for this
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San Sebastian
It is incredibly hard not to fall in love with this beautiful seaside city. It’s very easy to warm up to this city for its excellent beaches and outstanding culinary tradition. The beaches are an appeal to surfers and lazy beach-goers alike. The capital of the Gipuzko province, San Sebastian is located in the Basque country of North Spain off the coast of the Bay of Biscay.
Wardrobe guide n Summer clothes and sunscreen (lots and lots of sunscreen) ought to be packed for visiting southern Spain. n For the north, clothes that keep you warm and an umbrella to carry around is a must
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BREW
Picks FASHION FOR THE BLOKE Men can certainly adapt to ever-evolving fashion trends, too. Featuring in the Brew Picks of February is The Spring Summer ’15 collection from Indian Terrain. With its distinct ciphers added to the quintessential outfit of a gentleman, this collection is one to look out for.
SWANKY DRIVE Coming back to business as either a sedan or cabriolet version, the 2015 Audi A3 offers lux in a compact and simple form. Powered by either a 170-hp 1.8-litre turbo charged four barrel engine (front-wheel drive just); a 220-hp 2.0 litre turbo-diesel (TDI) engine (front-wheel drive just).
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FROM RUSSIA, WITH LOVE Baltika beer, the Russian beer is a brand of beer that takes the beverage up by more than a few notches and it’s yours for the asking in all high-end bars and clubs. Featured in the Brew picks of this month, Baltika makes all beer lovers proud for it was the brand that began the norm of beer tasting, thus equating beer with wine. Beer is as classy a drink, says Baltika.
SUNNY SIDE UP, INDEED
Actor, model, anchor, entrepreneur and writer, Anu Hasan, launched her book Sunny side up this month and guess what? Brew loves it! Interesting, deep and incredibly funny, her account of life as she sees it keeps you engrossed throughout. Grab a copy and get your sunny side up!
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A new The launch of our all-new Brew lifestyle and entertainment magazine went on to become a night to remember for many. Hosted by Hablis hotels on their brand new rooftop, Hablife, the event got a lot of support from friends across various fields. Arun Nanda, the Non Executive Chairman of the board of Club Mahindra took time off his busy schedule and flew down to the city to be a chief guest at our event. Hosted by famed photographer and a contributor to the magazine, G Venket Ram, the launch progressed smoothly. Senior Artist, Thota Tharani; Director of Soodhu Kavvum fame and now turned Producer of Pinrom Pictures, Nalan Kumarasamy; Veteran entrepreneur, Vincent Adaikalraj and Senior Vice President of GRT Hotels and Resorts, Vikram Cotah graced the event with their presence. Sam Paul, Manoj Beno, Dr.Karthik Ram, Apsara Reddy were also present to support the magazine, among many others. A big thanks to all the supporters, friends and readers out there! We hope to deliver bigger and better stories and events in the future, too.
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