TGS Life 16/01/2016

RAHUL RAUT

PUNE, JANUARY 16, 2016 | www.thegoldensparrow.com

Meet the city’s trending

YouTubers Have you been paying attention as these youngsters carve out their own sizeable chunk on the World Wide Web? If not, here’s a good reason to dust off the cobwebs from your computer and get clicking.

Heena Grover Menon tells you more

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RAHUL RAUT

TGS LIFE

Pune ka Amitabh

JANUARY 16, 2016 PUNE

STAGE From backstage to the centrestage, this young theatre enthusiast is busy writing his own fate

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

H

e is 21 years old, lives alone in the city and is a dedicated theatre artist. Stage is his fi rst love and be it anchoring or acting, he’s happiest when in front of an audience. Meet Amey Barve who hails from Nashik but has made Pune his home for the last three years. With a lanky frame, this young boy is a whole other person once the director yells, action.

The last four years have been a great journey for Amey, in terms of the exposure and learning that he has got. Before playing the lead as Amitabh Bachchan in the play, Hero, which will be staged in the city this weekend, he has only ever had the chance to enact smaller parts. “Theatre is a great tool to exercise your mind. Playing smaller characters gave me enough time to observe and research those who played bigger roles and make a better fi rst impression when I took centre stage,” he says, with a big smile. Even when he played minor roles in plays, he believed in studying the character and learning the back story to play the part better. Th is, he feels, is the best way to grow as an actor and reach new heights with every performance.

“Theatre is a great tool to exercise your mind. Playing smaller characters gave me time to observe bigger roles and make a better first impression” The other thing he says an actor must always remember is how he or she presents themselves on stage. “Theatre has a language of its own and only when you master it will you excel. Th is requires patience, research, hard work and an undying passion to be on stage,” he tells us in a serious tone. It is only because of hard work and infinite hours in front of the mirror attempting at realising his own mistakes that Amey has landed the lead role, he believes.Living in Pune, made

the young actor realise his true potential and let him dream of something new for himself.

Born to an advocate and a housewife, the environment at home was far from artistic. It was competitions like Purshottam Karandak among so many others that attracted him to the art form. His parents, however, have been supportive throughout, he says.

The biggest challenge for the introvert actor is to meet expectations. Explaining this with the help of his play Hero, he says, “Now

that I am playing Amitabhji, the audience is bound to compare me with him and judge me on how close I was to the original. Th is is the scariest of the entire experience but there is no escaping it,” he says, adding that this is when an actor’s calibre is put to test.

How true can you be to the part, while being yourself - that is the true test.

Amey has been a part of several interschool competitions when he was a student at Maltibai Kulkarni Vidyalay in Nasik.

In the 10th standard, he also anchored the Nasik Festival and that was a memorable experience for him. Armed with a degree in Computer Application from Marathwada Mitra Mandal College of Commerce, he is currently preparing to pursue a Masters in Theatre, with a specialisation in acting.

The play Hero reached the finals at the Thespo Theatre Festival last year and is a tribute to actor Amitabh Bachchan. It has been directed by Abhishek Dave and Ajinkya Mane and is a long act play by Ranga Pune and MMCC Art Circle. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

Dance musical theatre comes to town Amayraa – The Enchanted Princess is set to wow the audience with a folk story embedded in the Tamasha theatre style Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

P

une is in for a treat with its first-ever larger than life musical production Amayraa – The Enchanted Princess. The Bollywood musical theatre is written and directed by Akkash Shah, the founder of Zeus Entertainment. The show aims to bring back the long lost Tamasha culture back to the city. “The show is designed and produced in keeping with the essence and deep-rooted culture of storytelling in India. We have also incorporated elements of Malkhamb and Kalaripayattu which includes martial arts and sword fighting that originated in 13th century Kerala,” says Akkash. The play features a medley of popular Bollywood, folk, regional and Sufi songs.

Akkash, who earlier worked with the Shaimak Davar troupe, was inspired after watching the musical Zangoora in Noida and Beauty and the Beast, a Broadway-style musical, in Mumbai. He was determined to get musical theatre

to Pune too. “After conducting auditions throughout the country, the roles and acts were finalized. Muskaan Khubchandani is from Delhi. After a hundred auditions, we knew no one could play Amayraa better than her.

I had choreographed a dance for Arjun Thukral, who plays the male lead role Agasthya, when he was to perform at an event at his workplace.

So, I knew his potential,” adds Akkash.

The story revolves around a young princess of Devnagiri, Amayraa who belongs to the Royal Satyen Dynasty.

But she is escorted out when perilous times befall her father King Mahendra and Queen Chitrangada.

“Amayraa is born as a princess but is brought up in a village. She is

bubbly, outspoken and kind-hearted. When the kingdom falls prey to the evil magic of the witch Queen Mirrikha, her father leaves her at a village for her safety,” says Muskaan.

The highlights of the show are the aerial artists who will perform some breathtaking acts on a harness. The play consists of 50 amateur dancers who will perform Bollywood and contemporary dance styles. “Th is is a twoact play, and the dance and harness acts are all part of the story line. These artists have been practicing for more than a month now and have been guided by Shreenivas Havaldar, who is an expert in Malakhamb, and Sujata Taware of Dance India Dance-fame,” says Akkash.

The story further transcends when a loyal old vazir, Rana Mansingh, raises Amayra as a Tamasha artist. He plays the key role in strategising against the spite brought upon by the The Witch Queen Mirrikha by ensuring the princess wins her throne back.

The young Prince Agasthya helps him fight through tough times.

Amayraa is Pune’s own musical, which is designed to travel across the country. It’s next destination is Ahmedabad.

When: January 22 to 24, 8:30 pm Where: Phoenix MarketCity, Nagar Road zainab.kantawalagoldensparrow.com

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Mithoon’s setting his tunes right

TGS LIFE

JANUARY 16, 2016 PUNE

ENTERTAINMENT

The composer talks about his musical journey and his steps up the success ladder

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

M

ithoon Sharma, better known as Mithoon, is one of the most multifaceted composers in the industry today. He is the man behind some of the most soulful and soothing songs in recent times.

After his super hit track Tum Hi Ho he is back on the scene again with another film Loveshuda. “It is a romantic musical that spreads the message of timeless love and the songs will connect with the youth,” he says.

Being the son of legendary composer Naresh Sharma, who arranged background music for more than 200 movies, music came naturally to Mithoon. He began his career in 2006, starting out in the Mahesh Bhatt camp adapting a couple of popular Pakistani songs for Hindi movies. Since then, he has moved on to become an independent composer. “Ever since I can remember all I have known of and heard of is music. It came to me as an external force. I started formal training in music when I was 11 years old. I always knew I would be a musician,” he says. His super hit track, Tum Hi Ho

from the movie Aashiqui 2 set the charts burning, breaking all records and went on to win all the major awards of the season. After having worked on soundtracks for films like Murder 2, Aashiqui 2, Yaariyan, Ek Villian, Hamari Adhuri Kahani, he now wants to break away from soulful tunes to loud, high pitched music. “Songs from Sanam Re are well received by the audiences. I have used the element of therav in the music, it has vibrancy and they are loud. It’s very different from how I treat my melodies,” he adds.

After success in the Hindi film industry, Mithoon went on to score music for a Malaysian movie called Diva where he collaborated with Malaysian R&B singer Ning Baizura. After that there’s been no looking back for this singer and composer. “When I got Aashiqui 2, there was a lot of pressure on me. The songs of Aashiqui were a hit and their soulful renditions always remained fresh in people’s mind. So competing with that was a challenge,” he says. But he overcame that and the songs were a rage with the audiences. In fact, Tum Hi Ho went on to become a youth anthem.

Mithoon’s forthcoming projects include Sanam Re, Traffic Shab, Ki and Ka and Shivaay.

“Ever since I can remember all I have known of and heard of is music. It came to me as an external force” He hopes to create good quality music and some fresh tunes this year. “I definitely intend to explore some other genres this year. The music of Shivay and Traffic is very different. It’s a little louder. I have always been a creatively-inclined

person and I’ve always had high expectation from myself when it comes to creating good music. Be it a small film or big film, it doesn’t matter to me,” he adds. zainab kantawala@goldensparrow.com

An unforgettable evening Witness the best of classical music and dance this weekend as Anuradha Kuber and Naad take you on an unforgettable experience with what they do best

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

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part of India’s culture and identity, classical music and dance have remained the country’s pride. A thematic day-long concert, that celebrates both dance and music in the best possible way, is being organised at the cultural hotspot Artsphere in Koregoan Park this weekend.

At Anuranjani, the audience will will be treated to performances by renowned vocalist Anuradha Kuber and Naad dancers, Aparna Gandhi, Varda Vaishampayan and Priyasha Deshmukh.

Armed with soulful music and a brilliant story, draped in classical outfits with a twist, these dancers are attempting to change the face of Indian classical music. Depicting the different phases of human life through their dance, they will help the protagonist search for

the meaning of his existence. The routine, called Yatra, experiments with dance forms like Odissi, Bharatanatyam, Kalaripayattu, western contemporary, folk and yoga. Hindi poetry and prose, written by Ravindra Mathadhikari, will form a background for the performers. Instruments, such as the violin, drums, piano, sarod, sitar, flute and sarangi, will make up the background score. All the dancers of the group are masters of different forms. Their collaboration allows them to learn from each other and innovate. “We want to promote Indian classical dance but with a modern touch. Breaking our limitations and setting new ones is what we hope for every day,” says Aparna, one of the founders of Naad. The belief that a stage

Members of the dance troupe of Naad; Anuradha Kuber (left)

performance must engage with the audience determines the dancer’s caliber and talent, she adds.

Aparna has been a classical dancer since she was four years old.

She learned Bharatnatyam under the tutelage of Acharya Guru for 13 years and then learned Odissi as well. Varda is a Bharatanatyam and Odissi dancer. She has performed for the Indo-French Cultural Exchange program in

France, apart from taking the stage Bandra Festival, Kala Ghoda Festival in Mumbai and the Rath Yatra Festival, Puri among others.

Adding a fresh angle to this duo’s talents Priyasha brought along with her contemporary dance, kalaripayyattu and belly dance.

She is a student of Naad and learns Odissi under Aparna.

On one hand where Naad promises to entertain you every

second of the 40 minutes that they perform, vocalist Anuradha too has a charm of her own. From the fast tempo Khayal to different Bandishes and Rag Mala, her performance is sure to make you feel blissful. With her mother as her fi rst teacher, the talented singer has a long and close connection with music. “First, we learn music because we are asked to and then because we can’t do without it. My story is no different,” she smiles. Being a musician is quite an asset, she claims. Honoured with several awards in her 16-year musical journey, she was awarded the Dattopant Deshpande Puraskar given by Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Gandhira Award, C Ramchandra Award and Smt Mokashi Award for having topped her post-graduation degree examination to name a few.

She has, in more ways than one, proved that she was destined to be a musician and a good one at that.

While both artists have a style of their own, the intention and format in which they perform has a striking similarity. Not only are they trying to innovate and get more people on board by tweaking a little bit here and there, but they are also managing to hold on to the roots.

When: January 16, 6:30 pm Where: Artsphere, Koregoan Park salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

TGS LIFE

JANUARY 16, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES Get set for a three-day musical extravaganza that will bring together some of the biggest names in music together on one stage

Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

T

aal Chakra, an annual rhythm festival hosted by Padmashri Vijay Ghate, aims to bring together different rhythm patterns from various genres of music on a single platform from around India and across the globe. Being organised for the fourth consecutive year, the festival will present an eclectic mix of percussionists from across the country.

Th is year’s lineup will see the likes of Ustad Zakir Hussain, Niladri Kumar, Kumar Bose, Ranjit Barot, Sheldon D’Silva, Gino Banks, Louiz Banks and several other artists coming together for the musical extravaganza.

Since its inception, Taal Chakra has created its own niche among music lovers from the city. Audiences as well as performers look forward to the musical prowess and spectacular artist line up that it offers. The main highlight of the festival is the Taal Ratna Award that will be conferred upon the legendary Pandit Birju Maharaj.

We caught up with Sheldon D’Silva and Louiz Banks and asked them to give us an insight into their upcoming performance.

SHELDON D’SILVA: BASSIST Having grown up listening to bass guitarists like Jaco Pastorius, Gary Willis and Sting, taking up music turned into a natural choice for Sheldon. He started his career when he was just 12 years old and explored every genre of music like Pop, Rock, Jazz, Fusion, and Funk.

“My dad Trevor D’Silva played guitar for the love of it and passed on the gift of music to me. I play music because I love it and I am passionate about it. Gradually, it became a career choice because what better way to make a living than doing what you love,” he says.

Believing in the fact that bass music is the bridge between rhythm and melody, Sheldon decided to take up the guitar. By age 13, he had the opportunity to meet the legendary Louiz Banks, who inspired him to pursue his career as a bass player. He later found a band Nexus with Sangeet Haldipur and Gino Banks, who experiment with different genres of music creating new sounds. “A

Musical feast

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Louiz Banks

musician’s life is a roller coaster, there are so many moments that make the ride,” Sheldon points out.

Meeting Louiz Banks and getting the opportunity to meet several other great musicians and share the stage with them has always been rewarding, says the musician.

“It’s amazing that I can make a career playing bass guitar in a country like India which is still learning about this instrument and then being able to inspire others to do so too is an achievement in itself,” he says.

At Taal Chakra, he will be performing a fusion set with Louiz Banks which will comprise of original tunes written by Louiz.

The songs will have Indian ragas infused with Jazz elements along with world rhythm patterns and styles. “The music is based on Jazz Harmonic arrangements, fleshed out with improvisation and solos both with western and Indian influences. The audience can be sure to be blown away by the virtuoso musicians who make up the band,” he adds.

Sheldon loves playing festivals that atract a wide array of people who appreciate

all kinds of music. He has performed at festivals around the world like the Montreal Jazz Festival, Capetown Jazz Festival, the Norway Jazz Festival and many more. “In India, Taal Chakra is a great festival that brings rhythm and drums to the forefront along with an ensemble of other instruments as well. The response has always been super.

An open-minded audience is always the best, no matter which part of the world you are in and so we need more festivals like these that can dish out more non-commercial music to receptive audiences,” he says.

His new collaborative project Ananthaal with Clinton Cerejo is a breakthrough in Indian pop and is on the number one position on music charts. He is currently working with independent artists like Mekaal Hasan, Dhruv’s Voyage, Ravi Chary, Niladri Kumar and Nexus band, and is looking forward to touring with them soon.

LOUIZ BANKS: PIANIST He needs no introduction. He is the man behind the iconic musical score of Mile Sur

Sheldon D’Silva

Mera Tumhara. Louiz Banks is known for bringing the Jazz Movement to India and is responsible for making the genre known to the audiences. He is a versatile composer, Jazz improviser, pianist and keyboard player who specialises in live acoustic and electronic performances. He has covered all genres of music, such as popular, mainstream, modern, progressive, contemporary jazz and Indo jazz fusion. “My father is the one who instilled the love of music in me and taught me the basics. After a lot of hardwork, I happened to meet some unknown guardian angels on my musical journey who changed my life completely. I discovered myself and my passion with the passing years,” says Louiz.

He has played piano and keyboards with RD Burman, Bappi Lahiri and Laxmikant Pyarelal in countless projects. Despite his success, his fi rst love still remains Jazzrelated music. “It’s the immense depth in the music and of course the improvisational aspect that aroused my interest in Jazz music.

It’s where the musician becomes the creator and all this is captured in a spontaneous moment of self discovery. Only Indian classical music matches this sensitivity and virtuosity,” he adds.

Louiz is looking forward to playing at the festival as it provides a wonderful atmosphere for every genre of music. He will be playing some of his original fusion music with a host of other drummers and percussionists.

He is currently working on eight albums in different styles. It will consist of Classical Piano Etudes, Latin music , Electro Jazz, Vocal Jazz, original arrangements of Jazz standards, Progressive Jazz originals, piano solos, and romantic music. He believes that every genre offers something new to learn.

“I listen to all kinds of music because there is so much learn from other styles of music.

Every artist has something important to say. Though my all time favourite music will always be Jazz in all its infi nite colours,” he adds.

When: January 29 to 31, 6 pm onwards Where: Skyi Songbirds, near Four Seasons, Bhugaon zainab.kantawalagoldensparrow.com

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The city’s only theatre competition, catering to children aged 10 and younger, will witness some of the best child artists this year as 23 groups rehearse day in and day out to bag the top spot

TEJAS GAIKWAD

Children take centre-stage this weekend

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

TGS LIFE

JANUARY 16, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES “Children don’t get awkward no matter what they are asked to do.

They are not as fussy as adults” - KSHITIJA AGASHE

O

perating in the city for the last 25 years, Natya Sanskar Academy has been encouraging children, in the age group of 10 years and below, to be an active part of theatre. Believing that the future of theatre lies in these little hands, the academy and its supporters not only hold workshops and classes but also hold an annual competition. This year, the Bhalba Kelkar Smriti Spardha, will see 23 theatre groups compete at Bharat Natya Mandir over the weekend. The competition is the only one of its kind for children of this age group in the city.

While one might imagine that directing children and making them learn their lines is quite the task, the directors of the play have quite a different opinion. Kshitija Agashe, who is directing two plays for the competition, swears by the fact that children are easier to direct. “You narrate the script to the children like you tell them a story and then explain their roles to them. Once this is done, it’s a cake walk from there on.

Children don’t get awkward no matter what they are asked to do. They are not as fussy as adults and this makes the process easier,” she says. Directing plays for the past 17 years, Kshitija is well-known as someone who actively promotes experimental theatre. The two plays she is directing for the competition are Naivaidya and Vanrajache Daat. One play consists of a cast from the G R Palkar Prathamik Shala, Karve Nagar, and the other from the theatre group Kshiti Nave.

The only challenge that any director is

bound to face when working with children of this age group, is that of disciplining them, Kshitija points out. But once the discipline aspect is managed, the children show a lot of dedication and effort towards their roles, she adds. Natya Sanskar Academy, responsible for all the back-end work of the competition, was started by Prakash Parkhi in 1992. A theatre enthusiast himself, he founded the organisation in the memory of his mentor, Bhalchandra Vaman Kelkar, who was a Marathi actor and writer in the mid 90s. He

was also one of the founders of the Progressive Dramatic Association of Pune. The annual competition promotes a very noble idea. “We want to encourage the youngest generation possible to experiment, train and publicise theatre as much as possible. While they can’t do much in terms of production because of their age, their involvement is also a step in the right direction,” says Prakash.

The one thing that the competition and the organisation encourages is that the children play roles suitable for their age.

They are not expected to take up social issues and subject that are way beyond their understanding. The plays that one will see throughout the two days of the competition are based on fables and stories that have happy endings.

When: January 16 & 17 Where: Bharat Natya Mandir, Sadashiv Peth salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

Of model grandfathers and the smell of virgin canvas If you are artisticallyinclined, step into Gyaan Adab to catch a glimpse of artworks by renowned artist Eric Weets Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

G

yaan Adab’s latest offering is an inspiring exhibition featuring original works by Belgian artist Eric Weets. He has lived and worked in Pune, creating art that is bound to remain timeless.

Eric was born in Belgium, brought up by his maternal grandparents.

Being severely dyslexic, he failed at almost every subject at school. Later, he went on to be trained as a diamond cutter but earned a living doing odd jobs to sustain his growing interest in painting and music. Eric eventually settled in India and pursued his art passionately.

The exhibition will start with an audio-visual presentation, a short film by the artist in the process

of his creation and an interactive session with Filomina Pawar, Eric’s partner and promoter. “I will be exhibiting four of my original large oil paintings. While the exhibition is on, you will also be introduced to my latest sequencer compositions,” says the 65-year-old artist.

He describes his art as an

impression on canvas which can be used as a tool to extend the capacity of thinking deeper and broader.

“Primarily, I’ve been in love with the smell of canvas and oil paint since childhood. But I also love to create collages of sounds and noises that are assembled pieces from a natural, urban world as well

as artificial, electronic sounds,” he adds.

Eric’s artworks are mainly inspired by human interactions. He finds it intriguing to observe how people who come from one tribal group can be so different, have such different lifestyles and beliefs, after so many thousands of years. His

paintings are his observation of the world from a distance. “I like to observe the chaotic relationships. It fascinates me to see how complex, and sometimes bizarre, people behave on their own or with each other and how strongly the past influences the present. I get lot of inspiration from these complex, reciprocal actions and effects, for my work,” he says.

The artist tries hard not to think much while he is painting, he simply lets the brush go where it likes. This is Eric’s way of letting out the fears and emotions, and mixing them things that he sees around him. “I will always remember the first portrait that I made of my grandfather, who was an excellent model, sitting at the kitchen table, drunk and half asleep. My second artwork, called Painting Number 17: An Ongoing Tale, had a magnetic effect on me and since then the brush has been my best friend,” he says.

When: Till January 22 Where: Gyaan Adab Centre, Kalyani Nagar zainab.kantawalagoldensparrow.com

TGS LIFE

JANUARY 16, 2016 PUNE

INDULGE

Little gourmet chefs in the making

VISHAL KALE

By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM

F

rom baking cupcakes, cookies and pizzas to chopping vegetables and rolling chapatis, these small wonders from the city know how to do it all with élan

SHIFA SHAIKH When she was much younger, Shifa has been keenly observing all that her mother Shilpa did in the kitchen. She always asks her mother what ingredient goes into the making of a dish and how little things make a difference in enhancing the perfect flavour. She would stand atop a little stool and help her mother wash and clean vegetables, learn how to chop them and even ask her to let her add the ingredients while she cooks. That’s how Shifa, 7, picked up the tiny nuances of creating a meal. Making puris and chapattis is her favourite thing and she also VISHAL KALE

TAKSHEEL MAHESH KINI This adorable little boy is a big chef in the making, just like his father Mahesh Suresh Kini, who is a chef at the Taj Group of Hotels.

A student of Victorious Kidss Educares Taksheel, 5, is a foodie and, at such a young age, he is already very particular about what he eats and has an acute sense of taste and flavours. He often sits on the kitchen counter when his mother cooks and directs her to make little tweaks to the dishes according to his taste preferences. The suggestions sometimes amaze both parents. His favourite dishes are pasta, butter chicken and anything Chinese.

His parents are already considering the fact that once Taksheel grows old enough to work around the gas stove on his own, their kitchen would turn into a laboratory of sorts where no one would be allowed anymore. While sitting on top of the counter preparing some delicious cucumber and tomato cheese sandwiches, he spoke animatedly. “This is one of my favourite snacks for my school tiffin breaks. Cucumber and tomatoes are healthy and fill my stomach just the right way so I can come back and enjoy a tasty lunch at home.”

has her own little rolling pin. She offers to make a cup of tea when Shilpa returns home after a long day at work.

All this, her mother says, is inspired by her grandmother, who is a great cook. When Shifa spends her free time learning new things, Shilpa is all the more proud of her little one. While preparing her favourite white sauce pasta when she met us, Shifa says, “I love going for grocery shopping with my mother and picking up all the tasty things I see at the stores and even help plan our meals on a regular basis.”

GIA PINGE “I love chicken and fish,” Gia, 6, exclaims when we asked this super energetic chefin-the-making what she loves eating the most. And why not? Being a Goan, the love for food runs in her blood.

A student of Orchid School, Gia was extemely excited about being featured in the newspapet as she prepared a chicken pizza for her mother Mansi. The little girl got all her aprons ready in advance and spent hours figuring out what would look best on camera, Mansi was nudged a hundred time, she admits. An avid cookery show viewer, Gia told us that no matter what, she makes sure to sit in front of the TV every day at 8pm to watch her favourite Masterchef series so she could become a masterchef herself when she grows up. “Since I love the show, my mother organised a special session on my last birthday where all my friends were invited to cook and it was the best birthday ever. I want to become a famous chef and make all her favourite dishes. I want to make my mom proud.”

RAHUL RAUT

TGS LIFE

JANUARY 16, 2016 PUNE

INDULGE YOUR CHOW AROUND TOWN A Culinary Journey Down South

RAHUL RAUT

KIAR A SIROHI This chirpy little girl surprised her mother when she learned to bake cupcakes for her grandmother and served them when her mother Samantha came back from work a few days ago. A student of St Joseph’s High School, Kiara, 8, was readying all the ingredients in the kitchen and even knew the names of everything that goes into making the carrot cupcakes when we met her at their lovely home. It was her birthday last week and she had planned a little party with her friends where she decided she would treat everyone with grub she had freshly baked with her granny. “I love cakes and want to become a perfectionist. I want my parents to be proud of my baking skills one day. My granny makes the best cupcakes in the world and I am also learning how to keep the work area absolutely neat just like she does.”

KIMAYA HEGDE A student of St Mary’s School, Kimaya, 9, loves baking muffins and fortune cookies.

She has also tried her hand at handmade ice cream. Experimenting in the kitchen and making her own recipes is her favourite hobby. She enjoys cooking for her family and recently surprised her sister by making special mulberry muffins for her birthday. Along with her friends, Kimaya has created a game where they set up a pretend restaurant serving food they cook themselves. “Whenever I get a chance, I go to the kitchen and try baking something for me and my sister. Though my mother fears I might hurt myself while using the oven, I convince her to let me try things on my own,” says Kimaya.

Haven’t you always wished that your Appams come out looking perfectly round and pretty. Get set to fulfill your wish as city brings you a Master Class on the sumptuous cuisine from South India. Under the guidance of Master Chef, learn effortless techniques to prepare the best appams and to achieve that perfect blend of mouthwatering flavours in the vegetable stew and kozhi vartha curry.

When: January 16, 3 pm to 6 pm Where: Eighty Eight, Hyatt Pune, Kalyani Nagar

Shabu-Shabu Festival

After successfully running this one of a kind, interactive food festival for two consecutive years, Hyatt Pune Kalyani Nagar is once again gearing up to host the popular Shabu-Shabu fest starting this weekend. ShabuShabu is a delicacy of Japanese origin and a method of cooking at the table by placing very thin slices of beef, meat, seafood or vegetables in hot seaweed broth and stirring until desired tenderness is achieved. You can personalize this dish by adding your choice of spices, then dip in a variety of sauces and savour.

When: Till February 4, 12.30 pm onwards Where: Baan Tao, Hyatt Pune, Kalyani Nagar

Star Gazing Night Nestled on the 24th floor of one of city’s popular hotels, Paasha is all set to host a Star tending night with Dan Jones. Dan is one of the best cocktail barmen, who will be the host bartender for the night and showcase his signature concoctions while bringing in ripples of curiosity in guests.

When: January 16, 9 pm onwards Where: Paasha, JW Marriott, SB Road

TGS LIFE

Meet the city’s trending

JANUARY 16, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

adhika has spent a major part of her life successful online is to stay regular. One has being a television anchor and reporter to constantly try to gauge what the audience and she says that her fascination for likes. She explains, “If you are looking at making videos began way before they became promoting your channel as a career path, mainstream. In her 11research well and avoid year stint with television, making videos blindly. she has worked with some Making a video is way big names on every aspect more tricky than it of consumer technology. looks. Even though I am So, making web videos from a TV background, was a natural progression during the initial period, for this bubbly YouTuber. my biggest challenge Her channel, The Fashion was to find the right Track talks about day-tobalance between current day fashion tips on various affairs and my topic of topics like clothing, interest. Also, finding makeup and accessories. your mojo takes a bit “Most of my videos more time than usual. I - RADHIKA SHARMA are dedicated to remember shooting the people who are fi rst couple of videos and healthy as I I would be so exhausted am a plump at the end of it that right after the fi rst week, girl myself,” I almost thought of giving up.”

Radhika For someone who is extremely web laughs. savvy, finding ideas is not a big deal. With Radhika trends popping up fast, your content outline says that is already created. All you need to do is fi ll in the most the blanks, get your special sparkle on and important make it your story. “My inspiration comes aspect to from my everyday fashion problems. I am being terribly lazy at times, so I am always on the lookout for quick fi xes.”

As far as cashing on the opportunities is concerned, a YouTuber needs to stay in sync with technology and find newer ways to get the best quality online.

Be innovative with your storytelling methods and money will slowly follow, monetary gains depend on the channel’s popularity and the connect your videos make with the viewers.

Besides making videos, Radhika is also a popular blogger on thebausgirl. com. In addition, she is a content creator, freelance food writer and a digital media consultant. Some of her web idols are Superwoman, EIC, Epic Rap Battles and AIBAll India Bakchod.

Her Mantra: Keep your content clean and fresh. Make sure the edits aren’t jarring. Always upload in full HD and use a good sound device. Respond to the comments and make sure every opinion is welcome. Also, publicizing the channel on your own social network is very important for circulation. Convert your channel into a brand that speaks what it stands for.

YouTubers

“Most of my videos are dedicated to people who are healthy as I am a plump girl myself”

Have you been paying attention as these youngsters carve out their ow sizeable chunk on the World Wide Web? If not, here’s a good reason t dust off the cobwebs from your computer and get clicking.

Heena Grover Menon tells you more

T

PICS BY RAHUL RAUT

R

Radhika Sharma’s The Fashion Track

Campus Times Pune

his young group of enthusiasts started their own channel as an extension of their already popular website, campustimespune.com, which offers all the information you need on various colleges and education institutes in the city. All in their early 20s, the Campus Times Pune (CTM) team includes Anikait Chavan and Kunal Roy, who are the co-founders of the website. While Rakesh Oswal handles the videos, Devan Ramani and Shalabh Bade do the editing, Febin Benjamin heads the content and Saumya Sunil does the content editing.

For these budding YouTubers, to strike the chord with the online viewers, you need that one big video that will make you visible to the world in the real sense.

Their web idols are Superwoman, TVF, Being Indian, East India Comedy, and Overboard Humor. For anyone to become popular on the web, simply creating a video is not enough, you need to market it as well, feels Kunal.

“Collaborating with other artists or people is always a great way. We recently partnered with AIESEC, Social Media Day and Pune Digital Marketers which really helped us boost our reach,” he says. As far as the ideas are

concerned, the team meets every weekend to br and discuss plans for their website and video “We love keeping things simple and get some g from other YouTube channels worldwide. It way to help inspire you to improve through ev you make. We also attend workshops at the Space Mumbai which helps us learn the rig from the right people,” adds Anikait.

As money matters, this group is involved of online video content creation for reputed co across the city. “We have bought all our equipm the profits gained in this business that helps us says Shalabh.

Their Mantra: Making informational video group’s New Year resolution. They prov information about Pune campuses that cate students in the city and they want to feed the with more video content now. The focus is evergreen videos and not topical ones whic fade away within weeks. “If we are able to solve related problems with our vide will be engaged with us for a littl Which also means more m laughs Kunal. To be

wn to

A

product designer by profession, travel blogger and a photographer by hoppy, Siddhartha started his channel early last year. Travel being his passion, his content is driven mainly by his trips across the country and abroad. Although he is very new to the web, he claims that for any budding YouTuber to succeed, planning and ability to edit videos is extremely essential. “I am just a beginner, so I realise that it’s a long journey and there is a lot to learn from my fellow YouTubers, especially in my domain. Some of the channels that I often check out for references are Fun Four Louis, The PlanetD and VegaBrothers.”

Since Siddhartha has a full time job, the biggest challenge he faces is not finding enough time to create his videos. Making videos can also be expensive, so that’s another test, but it’s the feedback at the end of the day from various friends and viewers which keeps him driven. In a short span of time, Siddhartha has received offers from a few sponsors, but he wants to fi rst spend some more time building his online presence as a YouTuber before reaching out to sponsors.

His Mantra: Being a YouTuber, you have to be extremely careful about what you post on the web as it can affect viewers in both good and bad ways. So, be truthful with your own content fi rst. As I often give travel recommendations which many might follow, I only share personal experiences to build stories upon.

rainstorm o projects. good ideas ’s a great very video YouTube ght things

d in a lot ompanies ment from s sustain,”

os is the vide vital er to the eir readers to make h usually e studenteos, they le longer. m o n e y,” a good

TGS LIFE

SIDDHARTHA JOSHI

and responsible YouTuber, one needs to identify one’s niche genre and the target audience. Once that is achieved, you need to dedicate your time effectively to cater to that target audience.

Make them relate to your work.

And yes, keep it all really simple, they say.

JANUARY 16, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

SIDDHARTHA JOSHI

A

ditya was hooked to YouTube for years before he decided to start his own channel. He was working as a sales executive before starting Dopamine.

“No one from India was creating the content that I would want to watch, except a few good ones, so I quit my job in September 2014 and started my channel in January last year, says Aditya. Many YouTubers have inspired him such as Rooster Teeth, Rocket Jump, and Corridor Digital, but he doesn’t look up to them particularly as he feels that the content he wants to create is different from others and inspired by his life experiences and his love for fi lmmaking.

To make the videos successful, Aditya suggests that you need to work a lot on the right methods of telling a story so it attracts the audience’s attention. “Your videos should keep the viewers hooked and the script should always take the story forward. A good pace really makes any video interesting. But you cannot win this task alone, one needs a team

in place.” Don’t always go with an idea simply because it is trending, he suggests.

Whenever he stumbles upon an idea which seems really good, Aditya says he asks himself whether he should really execute, and that sorts almost everything out for him. “If you create content which is unique you will not have any competition because YouTube is a place where creators can coexist,” he says. Although his passion drives him to create good videos, he finds it extremely challenging to find an audience instantly.

His Mantra: Content is key, so create content that you want to watch. If it is good, it will find an audience. Most importantly, be regular with your uploads.

I don’t believe success comes easy when you are working in this field as there is a lot of noise. You have to be focused on delivering content, spreading it and taking feedback.

Don’t post content you don’t have the rights to. Do not post the video of any person who is not aware about the video, unless you have the requisite permission.

Sudipto Chakraborty’s TekhSquare

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ne of the youngest to have joined the bandwagon, Sudipto started his YouTube journey in 2009 when he was 12. Th is was also a time when he was a picture perfect nerd and a socially-outcaste student.

His batch mates failed to understand what he spoke and Sudipto wouldn’t enjoy their way of life either, which, inevitably, created a gap between them. But in between all of this, he always hoped that there would be someone who would be interested in hearing what he had to say and share common interests. Then, he found YouTube to be a growing platforms to share opinions. Moreover, the fact that anyone could share anything with a click of a button made a huge difference to Sudipto as he had a lot of things to talk when it came to technology. “I started by creating tutorials and screencasting videos. Later, I started focusing more on opinions and reviews. Being a keen speaker was a big bonus.”

Some of the most important things that the 12-grade student learned from his experience is to be in touch with the viewers. Listening to what they have to say about the content. “Most times, what you think of a great location might not be the same for your viewers, so a user feedback base is really important. Also making a deep connection with your viewers is essential to keep them loyal towards your channel. The best way to think of it is to picture them as your virtual best friends.”

There are a lot of idols, but Casey Neistat is someone Sudipyo draws most of his inspiration from. His way of approaching life is very different and he believes in writing his own rules and documents in the form of a vlog, which eventually spreads positive vibe throughout his

videos, he shares.

Almost everything important out there is already covered by some sort of medium on the internet so brainstorming for unique ideas can be really challenging. However, if one focuses on developing a niche that s/he is comfortable with and can talk about all day without getting bored then that is the best way to start. “For me, it’s gadgets and technology and since I am very comfortable talking about technology, it becomes easier for me to think of ideas that likeminded people would enjoy or would be curious to know.” At the same time, it’s very important to attract an audience to watch your content otherwise no matter how passionate you are, you won’t be able to pay your bills.

YouTubing is Sudipto’s full-time job now, and fortunately he is able to make a decent living out of it. “The best part is, once you have created

a good base, the money never stops pouring in.

Unlike a corporate job’s fi xed payslip, it grows every time you hit a higher view count on your channel.”

His Mantra: Doing your research before making your video is very important. You don’t want to give any false knowledge to anyone, in any form.

As far as responsibilities are concerned, make sure that you don’t encourage anything that violates the well being of a community. When people watch you, they look up to you as an inspiration, you don’t want to encourage anything in your video that clouds their judgment. For example, you shouldn’t talk for racism because then it might just inspire someone to be racist and create a problem in the community. Always watch and check the final video a couple of times to make sure that you don’t deliver any false information or knowledge by mistake.

TGS LIFE

JANUARY 16, 2016 PUNE

THRILL OF DRIVING

Mercedes launches

GLE 450 AMG Sport Coupé

M

ercedes has rolled out a proper segment-buster for January, following up their facelifted A-Class. The new GLE 450 AMG Coupé takes a leaf from BMW’s book by combining the sleek profi le of a coupe with the stance of an SUV with four doors.

That’s not to say Mercedes is a mere follower. Remember: they did the CLS four-door coupe fi rst. The GLE 450 AMG Coupé runs a 3-litre V6 bi-turbo engine which produces an

367hp and a maximum torque of 520 Nm. It goes from 0-100 km/hr in just 5.7 seconds. “An AMG V6?”, you may wonder. The GLE 450 is “tuned” by AMG for its motor, steering and suspension, but isn’t an all-out AMG-built car.

The GLE 450 motor is mated to Mercedes’ 9G-TRONIC 9-speed transmission, which supports multiple downshifts. The ‘sport’ in SUV is by way of many things, including a single louvre front

AMG-fettled V6 motor, suspension and steering for a competitive price grille, contoured powerdomes, a distinctive underguard and front splitter in chrome fi nish, rear bumper with chrome-look simulated underguard, 21-inch AMG 5 spoke light alloy wheels

and drilled brake discs. Mercedes claims this is their fi rst production model running 21” rims.

The GLE 450 comes replete with Mercedes’ current-gen gizmo range: a high-resolution 8” media display which includes the COMAND Online system that has navigation, telephone, audio, video, and internet functions. It also comes with two USB ports and an SD card slot, a voice control system and WLAN hotspot functionality.

The display is multi-touch and recognizes simple gestures, handwriting, letters and numbers.

Five drive modes are present: individual, comfort, slippery, sport and sport plus.

The Mercedes GLE 450 AMG Coupé is priced at Rs.86.40 Lakhs (Ex-showroom Mumbai), which is competitive for what it is, and handily beats the only other vehicle available in India of it’s kind: the BMW X6.

Mahindra launches KUV100 compact SUV

L

ike clockwork, Mahindra launched the KUV100 “young” SUV on Friday after a considerable teaser campaign. The KUV100 uses Mahindra’s fi rst indigenous petrol engine, the “mFALCON G80”. Four variants and three option packs are available with prices starting at Rs 4.42 lac for petrol and Rs 5.22 lac for the diesel model. Mahindra, while admitting that the vehicle is not directly comparable to hatchbacks and compact sedans, nevertheless compares the features and prices to the likes of the Maruti Swift, Dzire and Hyundai Grand i10.

We’ve come to expect high value from

Prices (ex-showroom, Pune) Variant Petrol Diesel K2 442000 522000 K2+ 464000 544000 K4 477000 557000 K4+ 490000 570000 K6 536000 621000 K6+ 556000 643000 K8 591000 676000

Mahindra’s vehicles, and this continues with the KUV100. ABS with EBD is standard on all variants, and the “plus” variants offer airbags across the range.

Interestingly, Mahindra pitches the KUV100 as a six-seater, with an extra middle seat in the front much like Datsun allows with its GO hatchback. Officials stressed that safety is not an issue for the middle seat, and it does include a seatbelt. However, it is not intended to be for regular use, just for occasions when there’s an extra passenger.

A 5-seater model is also available.

Mahindra claims the KUV100 is ready for the

upcoming 2017 Indian safety regulations (which will apply to this vehicle in 2019) and includes features such as ISOFIX child seat compatibility on the top variant.

Other conveniences such as followme-home headlamps, remote keyless entry, Bluetooth with app connectivity are present as well as nice-to-have details such as automatic hazard lamps when panic braking is detected. There are several nods to practicality, as is evident from the sixth seat. There’s storage below the codriver’s seat, as well as under-floor storage in the second row.

12V charging points are

available in the fi rst and second row, which, for such a small vehicle, is admirable.

The new mFALCON G80 petrol engine delivers 82bhp and 115Nm of torque, while the mFALCON D75 Diesel engine puts out 77bhp and 190Nm of torque. Mahindra claims the diesel makes the KUV100 the most fuel-effi cient SUV in India at 25.32kmpl (ARAI certified).

Th is is likely helped along by the switchable driving modes (Power, ECO) and startstop “Micro Hybrid” technology.

‘I felt like a rockstar’ Touring the country on a single wheel might not be something that you’d dream of, but for Jim Sowers it adds another tick on his bucket list

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

F

or a beginner getting the courage to hop onto a bicycle and managing to peddle straight at the same time, is quite the task. Now, imagine doing the same thing on a cycle with just one wheel and nothing to hold onto. Jim Sowers has been travelling the world on his unicycle for the past nine and a half years. A woman, he met at a friend’s wedding, inspired him with tales of belonging to a group that played basketball on a unicycle, piqued his curiosity the very first time. One trip to the court to catch a unicycle basketball match was enough to persuade him to take it up for the rest of his life. Recently spotted cycling up Sinhagad Fort on his unicycle Jim spoke exclusively with TGS on his India trip and much more.

JUGGLING SEVERAL INTERESTS A jack of all trades, Jim is a computer consultant, lawyer, unicycle trainer and a part-time DJ too. Tall, fit and enthusiastic, he absolutely loves the outdoors and hails from Oakland, California. Not only does he love touring the world on his unicycle but he has also taken part in several races like the Climate Ride to Earth in 2013. He has also been on trips to New York and Washington DC, among other places, on his most favourite mode of transport. He has managed to cover 500 kilometres in just five

By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM

N

ot everyone is lucky in the way that Piyush Chavan (19) has been — after he didn’t make it to his school’s basketball team, he was able to realise his true calling. He has been a bicycle buff since childhood, but got seriously into mountain biking over eight years ago. Over the years, Piyush has been a part of several national and international races, in addition he regularly holds training camps across the city for those who want to take up the sport professionally. He met Adwait Parchure (19) around three years ago during one of their mountain biking escapades and got along almost instantly. Both Piyush and Adwait have been training young biking enthusiasts under their company Indianshredder. In fact, many of their trainees have gone on to win races across the country.

It was Piyush’s dream to start a bike park of his own, where anyone could learn the sport, and provide a platform that could bring the entire biker community together to exchange ideas and participate in bicycle sporting events.

“I met my uncle Deepak Bachal, who owns Avanti Kalagram Art and Craft Village in Mulshi Valley, in September last year. When I told him about my plans to create a bike park, he happily offered me a chunk of land at the Avanti campus itself which was perfect for the park.

Things started happening almost instantly and in November we organised Pune’s first official downhill race at the bike park itself on one of the trails that we had built. It was a great success and we had participants from Bangalore, Nashik, Panvel and several other places.”

After Piyush started working on building

days on his unicycle. Charming, witty and a fun conversationalist even a simple discussion with him is enough to transfer his vivacious energy and brighten a dull day.

THE INDIA TRIP Jim tells us about his experience cycling in Pune. “There were about 30 people sitting on the wall at the Sinhagad fort when I reached up there. They all got up out of respect and clapped for me. This is the love that keeps me going,” says the 53-year-old. He got to know of a cycling event from Mumbai to Goa, along the Konkan coast, through social media and, next thing, Jim was packing his bags and boarding a plane to India.

Landing in India about a month ago, not only was he hoping to see some more unicyclists among the group of 45 cyclists, but he assures us that this was the least prepared he has ever been before a trip. Having absolutely no idea about what the roads would entail or how difficult the weather would make his ride, everything on this trip has been a surprise. “Riding through India made me feel like a rockstar. People were always taking my pictures and sometimes even cheering and clapping for me as I passed by,” he says,

TGS LIFE

JANUARY 16, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

recollecting the cycling trip. He also “absolutely loved” the people he met around the country.

Everyone was extremely welcoming, friendly and willing to help him out. He was extremely happy that he got a chance to experience the Indian culture first-hand.

He says that the most difficult part about traversing through India were the potholes. The unicycle demands a relatively smooth road and the potholes forced him to keep turning this way and that, which made the ride so much more tiring. When in India, he cycled from Mumbai to Goa before heading to Delhi, Haryana and Pune. Be it his India trip or any other that he embarks on, his mission is only one — to spread word about unicycling.

“The unicycle is mainly associated with a prop from a circus, whereas it is so much more. It is one of the most difficult sports of all,” he says.

The unicycle is one of Jim’s most loved possessions. The fact that it demands complete focus and an undying persistence makes it an apt tool to keep the mind active. While getting started on it can be very difficult, he tells us that, once mastered, there is no joy bigger than cycling down the street on it.

“People were always taking my pictures and sometimes even cheering and clapping for me as I passed by”

A park for bike lovers Their passion for mountain biking got them together and, soon, they will bring their long-time dream of starting their own bike park to fruition

the park, he found it hard to manage it all by himself, so he got his friend Adwait on board as his partner. Adwait would go riding at the

surrounding hills in Panchawati near Pashan when he saw a group of cyclists and got interested in the sport. “I was a regular cyclist till three years ago but the idea to jump off the hills on cycles always fascinated me. It was after I met Piyush that I got into downhill biking. He trained me and we went on to become partners later. After he started working on the bike park, Piyush offered me to join in which was the most exciting opportunity. While he will oversee the park, I will be handling the camping and training side of the business,” says Adwait.

The bike park will officially be launched in April. It will have a two-kilometer downhill trail, cross-country and all-mountain loops and

a pump track. The park is being created in a way that it can be used as a proper training spot for beginners who want to strengthen their skills besides being a venue for professional races.

These tracks have been carefully designed with proper hurdles which are made using only mud so it gives the bikers a raw feel. The highest point of the park is located on a hill top which is around 950 feet above the sea level. That’s where the 2.5km long downhill trail will begin.

The park has also been designed keeping all safety measures in mind. There are proper tree paddings at spots where injuries could happen.

Piyush and Advait have also carefully placed old tyres to prevent bikers from getting injured if they fall. “The main idea behind building the trail is to have a course where international-level races could be held, in adherance with Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) standards. UCI is a cycling governing body around the world,” explains Piyush.

Through the biking park, Piyush and Adwait want to encourage the mountain bikers’ community as well as the sport in India which is slowly gaining momentum. Besides biking, Piyush is pursuing his graduation in BBA from International School of Business and Management, Lavale. He aspires to become one of India’s top world cup racers for at least five seasons. He recently joined the big league by participating in the elite race called the British Downhill Series that took place in UK last year. Adwait, on the other hand, is pursuing his graduation in media studies from DY Patil College and besides being a professional in bike sport, he wants to get into film production and plans to take over marketing and promotion work for the bike park in the coming months. heena.grover@goldensparrow.com

TGS LIFE

JANUARY 16, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

Cricket is his game changer

By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM

C

Jiten with Sachin Tendulkar during their childhood days on the cricket ground

but, for me, they are still friends, teammates and buddies whom I can bank on at any given time. It’s not always possible to meet often but we stay connected through phone calls, messages and emails.”

Many ask Jiten why he didn’t pursue the sport as a career, but for Jiten, cricket is his life, and not just a profession. “I aimed, trained and worked hard to be an international cricketer, but in any team there are only 11 slots that you compete for.

Also, every profession demands adjustments and compromises, which I refused to do. The reader will see how and why this transition was good for my life.”

Any sport that gains the popularity and professionalism that cricket has seen in the last decade, morphs into a

A collaborative effort

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

S

mita Raje-Deshpande, 50, has been painting professionally for the last four years. After moving to Pune from the United States, she took to becoming a freelance art therapist at the Prism Foundation and began painting full time. She loves making realistic paintings. Working as a Zentangle artist for the last eight months, Akshay Bandewar promises that the art form relaxes every single vein in his body.

The 26-year-old is pursuing a Masters in English from Abasaheb Garware College and hopes to become an English teacher someday. He can be seen making Zentangle art pieces every free minute he gets. Living in North Carolina, Anita Joglekar is an avid sculptor and is influenced by female forms.

A computer scientist by profession, making sculptures is a passion that the 50-year-old absolutely enjoys.

Like the three artists, there are many across the globe who love their artistic side and embrace it with all they have. Organised

by Bush, Palette and Coffee, founded by

Smita, Art Lane celebrates 11 artists and their art forms. The idea is not only to give the artists a platform to display their work but to also encourage young talent. “A mixed art gallery is bound to give way to inspiration and innovation among the artists as well as the spectators,” says Smita. She adds that since all the people displaying their work have a fulltime career, Art Lane gives them a chance to live their creative dreams without too much time or money investment. They only have to display a few art pieces from their collection and the burden of a solo exhibition is lowered. The event will also see most artists conduct workshops on various subjects such as abstract painting, graphic designing and so on.

Akshay is grateful that a platform like this exists. “Zentangle art is a great way to express oneself. The patterns often bring to the surface emotions that I know I feel but can’t express,” he says, sheer excitement reflecting in his eyes as he talks about his work. The young boy also loves drawing caricatures and cartoons. His work stems from a multitude of inspirations, the biggest being his own life experiences. He sees Zentangle patterns

very serious business model. The amount of money that has entered the game, has definitely affected its core values, Jiten points out. “It’s not just a game anymore, it has evolved into a gigantic corporate of sorts, which has probably affected it at all levels. I see too many budding cricketers and professionals focus only on the end result.

Their endeavor is aimed towards getting to success in a quick span of time.However, I believe in the process of getting there, and the joy of it, is a key ingredient to ensure that you achieve your goal. The only thing you can get quickly and with little effort is Maggi noodles, everything else requires time, perseverance, practice and a bit of luck! heena.grover@goldensparrow.com

TAJAS GAIKAWAD

ricketer, businessman, musician and now writer, Jiten Shende has quite a few accomplishments on his resume. His recently launched book - Cricket is Life, Life is Cricket - talks about the role cricket has had and still continues to play in his life About a decade ago, Jiten first thought of writing a book on cricket but it was only in July in 2015, that he actually sat down to write the book. After having played the sport for over 30 years, he realised that the game has the power to change people’s perspectives. He says that there is a spiritual connect between him and cricket and that it has also helped him discover himself on a deeper level. “The sole idea behind writing this book was to encourage readers to think of the game as a life lesson, rather than just a money-making opportunity,” says Jiten.

Jiten doesn’t consider himself a natural writer but says that his oratory skills made him confident about going ahead with the idea of writing. The main challenge, he says was to use language that could create an understanding among the readers on how to think out-of-the-box and be able to relate their life experiences with his own learning. “My book has some instances which have not been written ever before.

Some of the best parts that are close to my heart are my own mantras of transformation.”

After wearing several hats - a cricketer, CEO, musician and a writer - Jiten feels that these aren’t his achievements, but some great moments and milestones of his life. “I think of them as the stepping stones to the next level of competence, excellence and transformation. My biggest driving force has been my acute desire to face and overcome uncertainties and challenges with a smile. Whatever I have attempted to do in life, I see them as opportunities to explore my mind, discover values and test it out in the various spheres of life.”

The book has a detailed account of Jiten’s playing experience with Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli stories of their losses and victories together. “I have seen them transform from simple teenagers to world-class sportsmen

and shapes everywhere and loves to walk around the city looking for inspiration once in a while. Like Akshay, Smita’s work too reflects her life experiences. The paintings on display are a source of meditation for her.

They are extremely close to her heart as they helped her get through tough times. Proving to be a boon to even artists settled out of the country, Anita had her work delivered to Pune, to be a part of the exhibit. After retiring at 40, for the last 10 years she has dedicated her life to making sculptures and is also a part of the North Carolina Potters Guild. Women, the jewellery they wear, and anything that has a female form immediately catches her attention.

While these are just a few examples, every artist at Art Lane has a story to tell and

a journey to show through their art work. The diverse ideas and styles all beautifully come together to give the viewer an eye-pleasing experience. At the exhibition, one will fi nd art work by Vaishali Rajapurkar, Neela Vidwans, Sadashiv Barde, Neha Dehspande and Smita. Zentangle artist Akshay Bandewar and sculptor Anita Joglekar will also display their work at the show.

Capturing the magic of the world in their lens, photographs by Sridhar Deshpande, Anand Patankar and Kunal Deshpande will adorn the walls. Stunning works by mosaic artists Durga Tilak and Mitalee Joshi will also be part of the exhibition.

When: January 16 to 19, 10 am to 8 pm Where: Darpan Art Gallery, Patrakar Nagar salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

RAHUL RAUT AND TAJAS GAIKAWAD

TGS LIFE

JANUARY 16, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES “A few years ago, accessing these collectibles was a problem and I had to source them from abroad” - PUNIT BHAT

Jedi, which is a rare collectible. These are only valuable if they’re kept in mint condition,” he says.

Collecting Star Wars memorabilia may be a hobby for some, but for Abhir,12, and Oorja Gonepavaram, 16, it’s an obsession. Their fascination for superhero toys started with the release of the movie Marvel and Captain America. Not only did they wear t-shirts dedicated to their favourite characters but they also played and acted just like them. They have movie replicas, limited edition pieces, action figures, posters, and lightsabers used in the Star Wars movie.

“We first started with collecting Iron Man stuff then the Power Ranger craze took over.

But mom gave away most of our toys and clothes that didn’t fit. Now we have Star Wars Battlefront replica, lightsaber, gloves and we have so much more to add to our collection,” says Oorja. Abhir too is a big fan who can’t stop flaunting his right hand glove like the one worn by Luke Skywalker. Like most Star Wars collectors, his fascination too began when he was a little boy. “Both of us have grown up watching these movies and playing with their toys. My favourite characters are Chewbacca and Finn. My sister even cried all day long when Wolverine died in the X-Men movie,” says Abhir. zainab.kantawalagoldensparrow.com

Calling out to the superhero in you Your cape might not get you too far but these movies, their merchandise and memorabilia will definitely keep the superhero spirit high

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

A

s soon as the merchandise of Star Wars hit the shelves after the blockbuster series released onscreen, these enthusiastic collectors lined up to take home their favourite characters. Their fervor for these fictional characters has now turned into an obsession. Be it comic books, toys, posters, clothing or any other item, it’s the sheer love for the character or a superhero that motivates these fans to start the collection.

Punit Bhat, who already has a huge collection of Ganesh idols and currency coins from across the globe, is now fascinated by the new Star Wars movie merchandise.

He owns the original Star Wars stamps, posters, and miniature characters that he has sourced from US and UK. Much like art, he values his collection, and carefully frames his stamps. “Collecting is getting big these days and people have become more aware about the market thanks to the internet. A few years ago, accessing these collectibles was a problem and I had to source them from abroad. But now you can just buy them online. Sometimes, I ask friends and relatives living abroad to carry them or send it along with someone, so that I can save on the shipping cost,” he says.

Another fan of superhero movies and sci-fi films, Pranav Mote collects everything from comic books to movie merchandise.

A shelf in his room is filled with books of The Incredible Hulk, Superman, Batman,

Godzilla, Thor and the latest Star Wars memorabilia. “When the first film came out, I was only seven. I started buying figures when I was in my 20s as a nostalgia thing. I had a tub full of miniature figurines, action models, limited edition tazos, toys, etc. My mother gave all of it away after I finished college. I still regret letting her give away my stuff. Now those collectibles would have been worth some value,” says Pranav. Right now Pranav’s focus is on Star Wars character figurines.

“I own a Darth Vader model and next on my

list is the cape. from the 1983

I also have a poster movie Return of the

SP

TGS LIFE

JANUARY 16, 2016 PUNE

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14

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Stay fit, just do what you love

TGS LIFE

JANUARY 16, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

Excited about sharing her fitness routine while hoping to inspire and motivate others, this 20-year-old lets TGS in on her secret of being in the best of health

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

F

ull of life, enthusiastic and passionate are perhaps the best words to describe Malaika Naidu. Moving to Pune from Bangalore about three years ago, she is currently in her third year at Symbiosis School for Liberal Arts, Viman Nagar. Constantly active, Malaika is one of the busiest people you will find in her college.

Contrary to her hectic week, she spends most of the weekend curled up in her bed, giving her diet and exercise routine some rest. She enjoys going trekking around the city since she is an outdoor person at heart. Without fail, she does a minimum of four treks every year.

Using most of her spare time to stay updated with almost all television sitcoms, she is also a fan of standup comedy and music concerts. A

voracious reader since her school days, Malaika was also a badminton and football player. Now, with college and work, running and Zumba are her only mediums to stay fit. “Fitness isn’t for everyone.

But yes people should be healthy,” she says. If one cannot exercise, then at least walking regularly should be a must, she adds.

MORNINGS After waking up at around 7 am, my day generally starts with two glasses of water and a cup of black tea. This helps me get through the rest of the day. The water and tea keep me full and hydrated till I am back from my run, which is extremely necessary.

I go for a half-an-hour long run by around 7:30 am. But since I don’t run every day, I make it a point to go every other day. Breakfast is usually eggs and bread. When I feel particularly adventurous, I add cold

cuts to my breakfast. If I am in a hurry, then I just grab a fruit and get something more filling to eat once I get to college.

AFTERNOON AND EVENING My lunch timings generally depend on my college hours. I usually try to eat between 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm. I make sure I have a heavy lunch so that I can get through Zumba in the evening.

Snacking throughout the day is a must. Due to a hectic schedule, I can’t always be picky about what I eat but I try my best to keep a watch on what I eat.

Since I’m not a fan of the gym, I knew that for any workout to last it had to be something interesting.

While I love dance, I needed to take on something more disciplined and Zumba was a great option. I’m at at a Zumba class for about an hour every day, except for weekends. I usually end up pushing it to an hour and a half. It is a great stress buster and does a great deal to keep me in shape as well.

NIGHT Dinner is usually small, more like a snack. I don’t like going to bed feeling bloated or on an empty stomach. Soups, salads, sandwiches, a small chicken dish or something that I can cook in half an hour generally works for me.

Unfortunately, my sleep timings are odd and I do not often get enough sleep. I do, however, try ending my day latest by 2 am. I also try to make sure I eat well before I hit the bed.

HER FITNESS MANTRA Fitness, Malaika believes, stems foremost from being happy.

“Stay fit by doing what you love.

PROTIMA TIWARI Age: 20 Weight: 49 kg Height: 5’ 1”

EXPERT SPEAK Atul Kurpe, Director, Focus Five Fitness Club

While all college girls will love to have your routine, I would like to give you some important suggestions to help make it better. The most important thing is that you are not getting enough sleep. Seven to eight hours of sound sleep is very essential for everyone. You are also not following your body’s signs of hunger. Please consult your dietician immediately and make a proper chart to help you with your food timings.

Even though Zoomba is a good option of exercise, you could add some other things like strength training which might help your body cope with your daily schedule better.

Expert rating: 6/10

Fitness isn’t a task. No matter what regime one follows, if you are doing it unwillingly, it won’t help you achieve your set target any way,” she says. Eat whatever you want, she endorses. She never stops herself from eating something that she

enjoys. An ardent lover of ghee, it is more than often always present in her food and that’s not changing any time soon, she promises. She says the same about junk food. In moderation, it’s all allowed! salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

Here’s how you get your contouring and smokey eyes right Every time you make evening plans one of the Apply on the jaw line and temples too. For the major concerns is putting the right amount of nose, pick the area you hope would look receding; makeup. Be it your eyes, lips or cheeks there is this is generally the area between the eyebrows. a very thin line between getting the look right Next, draw two vertical lines downwards. and over-doing it. Cosmetics bought from Blend all in well. For the highlight which Artists of Makeup, MAC or Bobbi Brown, is generally done for the areas below the have good shades for contouring and eyes and above the centre of the brows, highlighting. Follow these simple apply a triangle below the under STYLE steps to make your face look like eye on both sides of the face and you’ve just been back from an blend well. You must remember GURU expensive appointment at the parlour. that the area on the face for the For face contouring: To apply the highlight usually depends on the face contouring colour which is ideally a shade type. For those with a broader forehead, or two darker than your foundation, take your it is this region which is contoured more, to cheeks in to get the line and outline over this. make it look smaller. Use the highlighter above

the centre of the brows too. Once done, buff the entire face with loose powder.

For smokey eyes: Use an eye lid primer before u work on the eyes. Always remember to use a lighter colour on the inside and a darker colour outside. These can all be shades of browns or blacks or different colours put together. Apply gold on the inner corner of the eye halfway till the mid eye. Then add the smolder pencil on the outer corner and blend it in with a blending brush. Add brown colour in the crease line and a little on the brow bone. Blend well. The trick to a smokey eye is the blending. Use a highlighter of preferably vanilla colour on the brow bone area so the eye pops better.

Sana Azam, Makeup and Hair Expert

TGS LIFE

JANUARY 16, 2016 PUNE

Salt Bridge makes it to the Oscars, and how! Anushka to romance Salman in Sultan

BUZZ

Y

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

I

t’s only his first fi lm, but he has managed to bag seven nominations in the Original Song Category at the 88th Academy Awards. Th is is the highest nomination that any fi lm has ever received in a single category. It is also the highest number of nominations for any fi lm this year.

The director of the fi lm, Abhijit Deonath, and his crew could not be more excited.

A fi lm that finds a connect with the vast migrant population, Salt Bridge is the story of an Indian living in Australia and his relationship with an Australian woman. The ups and downs caused by cultural differences and the society around them that constantly appraises the couple, making their journey difficult.

The fi lm premiered at the All Lights India International Film Festival in Kochi, Kerala, last year and was screened at the 14th Dhaka International Film Festival in January this year. All seven songs of the fi lm, have been written and composed

by Abhijit himself. Le Jaaye Jo Door

A still from the film; Director Abhijit Deonath (below)

Tumse and Aankhon Mein Samaye Dil are soulful songs that have a deep dark side to them. The other soulful song is a ghazal, Kyaa Bataaun Tujhe sung

by USA-based Sanjeev Ramabhadran and Armeen Ramabhadran. Kaanpne Lage Tum is a bubbly song based on relationships, whereas Na Jane Kitni Door depicts the hero's love for children. Bachpana Thaa is a Raag Bhairavi-based, semi-classical song. The seventh song nominated is Sookha Hi Rang Daalo is based on a Holi celebration. The music includes sounds of Australian aboriginal instruments didgeridoo and sticks.

“The nominations are in a highly competitive category. It will be a

tough competition, but I am hopeful,” admits the director.

Besides the troubles faced by any debut fi lmmaker, his problems were doubled as he set out to make a Hindi fi lm in Australia. “Getting the right cast from among the Indian talent was a daunting task,” he says.

Effective communication between people from diverse backgrounds was another challenge, he adds. Also, the fact that actors from India were living in Australia during the shoot posed a time crunch as he had to complete the fi lm within a specified period. A workaholic by nature, Abhijit never sits idle. While work keeps him occupied for most of the time, his biggest regret is not having enough time for his family. “Spending time with my family is my duty and I feel that I have been failing at this lately,” he says. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

ash Raj Films has confi rmed that its prodigy Anushka Sharma will star opposite Salman Khan in the production house's upcoming Sultan thereby ending rounds of speculation.

The news has come almost a year after the movie was announced and names of a slew of actresses from Kangana Ranaut, Deepika Padukone, Kriti Sanon and Parineeti Chopa cropped up for the lead role.

The rumour of Anushka's involvement fi rst surfaced a few months ago but then she denied, saying she was never offered the fi lm. Now, YRF's casting director Shanoo Sharma took to Twitter to announce that the Bombay Velvet star has been roped in for the wrestling drama. "#Sultan @AnushkaSharma onboard!!" Sharma posted. The official Twitter page of Sultan also welcomed the actress on board.

"Meet Sultan's Leading Lady! #SultanLeadingLady," read the tweet.

It is a homecoming for the NH10 star after a gap of four years. The actress was last seen in the romantic-saga Jab Tak Hai Jaan.

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