ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
PUNE, APRIL 4, 2015 | www.thegoldensparrow.com
It’s not just A MAN’S WORLD
These spunky girls decided to strap on boots instead of slipping into stilettos when it came to choosing a career path. Anjali Shetty-Shirsath speaks to three professionals, who are walking shoulder to shoulder with the men in their field
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TGS LIFE
Sonakshi learning martial arts
APRIL 4, 2015 PUNE
Actress Sonakshi Sinha, who is training hard for AR Murugadoss’s actioner “Akira”, is excited about learning martial arts.
Entertainment Actor Ali Fazal brags about meeting Hollywood superstars and more
Kapil Sharma croons for his debut film
‘I’ve got my diet routine from Vin Diesel’
Comedian Kapil Sharma is now working on a new song for his debut movie and he wishes the song strikes a chord with his fans.
Bollywood’s Khans on Sunny Leone’s ‘bucket list’
By Anjali Shetty-Shirsath
are bound to be different. Bollywood is lagging behind by 15 years when it comes to technology used in Hollywood. A lot of preparation is inis portrayal of Joy Lobo, an engicluded even if it is a cameo. I had voice coach to neering student who commits suiassist when I landed in the US. I do not play an cide, in the commercial success, 3 Indian character so I had to undergo training to Idiots, got him noticed in the industry. His fit the role,” says the Fukrey-actor. endearing smile and sincere effort caught The cherry on the cake was meeting and everyone’s fancy. Since breaking out on the spending time with veteran American actor big screen, there has been no looking back Kurt Russell. “I was star-struck when I met for the 28-year-old Ali Fazal. him. He is a legend yet so The actor began 2015 approachable and such a with his first solo giving actor. I spoke to him “I may sound film Khamoshithe most, we also discussed yaan, which went cliché but it was a India and he shared on how on to become a big family outing on he loved Benaras,” says Ali. grosser of the year. The actor, who will be The script loos- the sets. I teared seen in Soni Razdan’s Love ened in the second up at the loss of Affairs has taken fitness tips half but Ali’s work from Vin Diesel. “I got my Paul Walker” was appreciated. diet routine from Vin Diesel — Ali Fazal “My motto has aland really looked up to him ways been that one during the days spent there. should never mislead I may sound cliché but it was the audience and that a family outing on the sets. is what happened with KhamoshiI teared up at the loss of Paul Walker. It was yaan. But I am glad my work was weird to not have him around during the second liked,” says Ali, who is currently proschedule of our movie.” moting his film Fast and Furious 7. In Ali is happy to have age on his side and the the film, Ali plays a cameo which was fact that he still has a long way to go. “I have shot in two schedules. just started out and, with growing projects, I Ali believes his Hollywood project excan spread myself and do better work. When I perience was worthy. Being on the choose a script I check on how I will be able to other side of the world, gave him a spread within it. I love Bollywood for its games, chance to learn a lot. His eyes light camps and the fact that you can work in four different genres and still get appreciated.” up at the mention of the project, “There is a big change and things @shetty_anjali
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The journey of a music composer By Barnalee Handique
@barnalee ast month, 34-year old music composer, Shardul Akolkar created the music for the documentary, I Have a Coloured Dream. The film revolves around a six-year-old blind boy’s journey, his dreams and expectations. The 18-minute documentary has been screened at national and international festivals. In 2014, Shardul composed the music for Pad Piper, a science and technology documentary. The National Award-winning documentary was recognised internationally too. But, it was the background score for the documentary, which the musician composed in 30 days, that has caught the attention of the viewers. Talking about
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background score of the documentary, Shardul says, “Composing music for a science and technology documentary is different than composing for a feature documentary. I had to understand the subject first and intersperse it with music. The music had to be composed in such a way that it could retain audience’s attention.” From an early age, Shardul was influenced by his father Suren Akolkar, who was a music composer himself. He would watch his father practice for hours on the keyboards. After his father left the studio, he would quietly step in to play the instrument. That was the beginning of Shardul’s musical journey. Shardul’s music studio, Sonics, is situated at his residence in Agarkar Colony.
As years passed, his love for music deepened. While pursuing his graduation, Shardul composed music for FTII documentaries. He was known for his style and technique. Shardul got his first professional break when he was asked to compose a jingle for a city-based real estate firm and after that, there was no looking back. Shardul has composed radio jingles, TV commercials, documentaries and background score for Marathi movies. Shardul has also worked in international projects where he has collaborated with art institutions and Universities of Norway and Auckland. A local sculptor was so inspired by the music that he sculpted a piece of art listening to his work.
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he’s aware that some popular actors have refused to work with her due to her past body of work as a porn star, but Indo-Canadian talent Sunny Leone has no regrets. She is focussed on making people take her “seriously as an actress”, and says she’d love to work with Bollywood’s Khan trio. Sunny, who entered Indian showbiz first via reality show ‘Bigg Boss 5’, went on to bag a role in ‘Jism 2’, and from then on, starred in films like ‘Jackpot’ and ‘Ragini MMS 2’. Now geared up for her new releases ‘Ek Paheli Leela’ and ‘Kuch Kuch Locha Hai’, Sunny is quite gung-ho. She says she’s not here to compete with the Khans. “I want to work with them... Salman, Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan, they are huge megastars. I have met Shah Rukh he is a nice man, Aamir is in my bucket list, if I get a chance to work with Salman, I would love to work with him,” Sunny told IANS. IANS
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TGS LIFE
Setting the tempo high
APRIL 4, 2015 PUNE
By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab
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ans say indie band, Blackstratblues, has a reputation of making its listeners slave to Blackstratblues’ Warren Mendonsa their sounds. That’s a pretty grave claim. So, Warren Mendonsa, the man behind the talks about the indie music scene and band, tries to tone down the emotion a tad bit his latest album, The Universe has when he says that the new album The Universe has a Strange Sense of Humour, will win over his a Strange Sense of Humour listeners hearts, yet again. With a sound reminiscent of Blues’ legends combined with Rock music, Blackstratblues creates beautiful music. “The Universe has a Strange Sense of Humour refers to the fact that life throws us these little surprises that may not necessarily make sense at the time – a seemingly random set of events. But, later on, as you look back, it seems almost like a perfectly woven plot,” says Warren. The band line-up includes Jai Row Kavi on drums, Beven Fonseca on keyboards and Adi Mistry on bass. The band’s usual collaborators include musicians Karsh Kale and Nikhil D’Souza. Warren found his footing in the Indian indie scene way back in 1998, in Mumbai, when he was part of the seminal rock band Zero. Six years later, Warren moved to Auckland, New Zealand. During this period, he was also a highly sought-after recording engineer and session guitarist in Mumbai. Since its debut in 2006, Indie Blackstratblues has grown to become music one of the more mature indie acts in the country. The band’s name comes from Warren’s guitar, he says, “My main guitar is a black Fender Stratocaster. In the early days of the internet, my handle on various forums and chat sites was blackstratblues, and this carried over to when I released my first solo album in 2006.” Warren is known for his distinctive guitar
features “Over the years we have been successful in building a loyal base of listeners, who understand and love what we do” — Warren Mendonsa
sound and composing memorable melodies. So, who, amongst Indian guitarist, does he look up to? “There are so many brilliant guitarists in India. I like Dhruv Ghanekar, Ehsaan Noorani, Paresh Kamath, Floyd Fernandes, Mahesh Tinaikar, AJ Sen, Sanjay Divecha, Leslie Lewis and the list might just go on,” he replies instantly. The musician has largely been based in India since 2010 and has worked as a guitarist and producer with Ankur Tewari, Nikhil D’Souza, Karsh Kale, Vir Das’ Alien Chutney, Vishal/Shekhar and AR Rahman. “Over the years we have been successful in building a loyal base of listeners, who understand and love what we do. I have always been musically inspired by The Beatles, they were my first musical love and manage to remain relevant until today.” When asked about his thoughts on the rock music scene in Pune, he says, “We always have a great time playing in Pune, thanks to the audience. Of late, I’ve heard many talented artists from the city, such as Tejas Menon, who I’ve had the pleasure of working with too.” zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com
pluck that string: your weekly dose of music events SuperHero Theme Night If you want to have fun this weekend, check the superhero theme night- The Fools’ Saturday with DJ Vicky and opening set by M&N. Adding pizzaz to the event is the open mic night anchored by Roy. Dress up in your SuperHero Avatar and get ready to jive away to some pulsating music. When: April 4 Where: BottleRock Restro and Lounge, Sus-Pashan Road Contact: 7058112112
Go BEER-O-CIOUS Independence Brewing Company and EPIC Productions present to you, “BEER-O-CIOUS”. A combination of excellent quality crafted beer
with the best EDM music to give all you an experience like never before! When: April 10, 9pm onwards Where: Independence Brewing Company Contact: 8888168886/ 02066448308
Grande Easter Ball
1 Lounge is hosting Grande Easter Ball, an evening dedicated to dance, music and loads of entertainment and fun. Groove Junktion will be performing live music, and the DJ console will be handled by DJ Vikash and Agnel. The dress code for the night is Suits and Gowns and the colour theme Red and Gold.
There are prizes to be won for the bestdressed couple and the best dancers. Where:1 Lounge (Koregaon Park) When: 5 April
All for a cause
Watch the famous story of ‘Lion King’ come alive as the little one’s from SERRA International Pre-school, NIBM perform this show for a Fundraiser Concert for the benefit of Bapu Trust for research on Mind and Discourse. Where: Mahatma Phule Auditorium, Wanowrie When: April 8, 5:45 pm to 7:00 pm Contact: 9763777778/ 9822093801
Pretty Lights Live in action
Derek Vincent Smith aka Pretty Lights will be making his highly anticipated India debut this April at the Vh1 Supersonic Arcade. Pretty Lights is known for his glitchy hip-hop beats and vintage funk and soul samples. The Supersonic Arcade is a fantastic way to party and discover new music. This edition of the Arcade with Pretty Lights
mixes things up to present a cutting-edge producer and his performance. Where: Blue Frog When: April 5 Contact: 09657779911 / 7507744408
TGS LIFE APRIL 4, 2015 PUNE
Reviews
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TGS LIFE
Find out what it takes to paint an
elephant
APRIL 4, 2015 PUNE
Features
Pune artist Ankeet Gujar shares his experience at the Royal Elephant Marriage Festival held in Jaip
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hile researching on the influence on elephants on Indian culture, I came across their representations in stones and paintings. They have been ubiquitous, as a domestic animal as well as artistic and, possibly, of religious importance. In the Stone Age, elephants were seen as petro glyphs in cave art and later, in pictures, sculptures, music, films, and architecture. During this search, I came across the term decorated elephants in Jaipur, Rajasthan. This is seen during Panchami at the Rambagh Polo Ground. Elephant owners decorate them like a model prepares for a beauty pageant. Camels and horses participate in this festival too. Through a few online sites, I contacted an elephant owner and got him to share details on the festival. He told me that he has already started work on his elephant. So, I immediately packed my bags and reached Jaipur. He was thrilled to meet me and we had a long chat on the rituals, customs, symbolic values and trends regarding the festival. I was amazed at his knowledge and in-depth study on the subject. He wasn’t a professional artist nor was he trained but he knew the art better than me. The festival is banned but elephant owners still use them for special guest appearances, inaugurations, marriage processions and so on. It is their means of
They were soft and stiff, and held a lot of livelihood. They also take the pachyderms colour. It required great skill to control the to Amer Fort for tourist rides. Their urine moving elephant. and dung is sold as fertiliser. Time just flew and, by 4 pm, we were I learnt that every elephant only listens to his mahout. He will not listen to or not even half way through. The mahout obey others. Every elephant has a unique said that generally it takes four hours habit of flapping their ears to moving their but the elephant was being difficult. The heads, bobbing to stumping their legs. mahout showed great skill in keeping the On the next day, I was totally surprised elephant silent and stable. Sometimes we as all the elephants recognised me. I patted were forced to put chains or huge logs of them and fed them woods behind his bananas. After a trunk and legs. brief discussion and Keeping the animal showing some of was a major The elephant assigned calm my works we dechallenge of the to me was male with cided a design. The trip. elephant assigned long tusks and would not But the final to me was male look on him made with long tusks and stand stable for a minute. me forget the pain would not stand I went through. I He had won beauty stable for a minute. was satisfied to see pageants in He had won beauty the colours merge pageants in 2010 and form beauti2010 and 2011 at the ful patterns on the and 2011 at the elelephant festival ephant festival. majestic body. Now — Ankeet Gujar We set out to it was time for him work at 8.30 am to leave and he had by preparing prito travel 115 km. It mary colours with was a magnificent sugar and water. I learnt that sugar gives experience. While parting with the elephant, I felt feeble and helpless but it was a thickness and brightness to the colour. We spiritual experience. started with white as the outline and filled @shetty_anjali in colours. As the skin was rough, the (As told to Anjali Shetty-Shirsath) brush used was made of sugarcane sticks.
Ankeet Gujar with the elephant he decorated in Rajashtan
TGS LIFE
indulge Bring dishes from the Latin American world into your kitchen with these recipes
Mexican delights
Rahul Raut
APRIL 4, 2015 PUNE
By Barnalee Handique
@barnalee exican dishes are usually hot and tangy and they include a mix of a lot of vegetables, not just meat. In fact, Mexican cuisine is quite similar to Indian food and it can be quite spicy. Gaurav Malhotra, executive chef, Novotel, says, “Spice in the cuisine comes from the salsa, Mexican chili, and peppers. Mexican dishes also use significant amounts of black beans and pinto beans, which we know as rajma. The tortilla is equivalent to a roti, though it is much bigger in size, and thinner.” Some ingredients for Mexican cuisine are easily available in the local market, while others like chipotle can be substituted with Bhavnagri chillies and chilly beans with kidney beans. Cumin, tomatoes and onions feature in almost all dishes, where in ingredients are either fried or roasted. Here are some recipes:
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Baja fingers Breaded chicken strips with spicy baja sauce served with creamy ranch dressing Ingredients Boneless chicken strips - 6 pieces Baja marianade - 30 gm Bread crumbs - 20 gm Ranch dressing - 50 gm (sour
Chicken fajitas Grilled, marinated chicken on a sizzling mound of vegetables, garnished with fresh tomato and cilantro. Serve with rice, beans, guacamole, sour cream and salsa. Ingredients (for one portion) Boneless chicken strips - 100 gm Baja marinade – 30 gm Refried beans - 20 gm Mexican rice - 30 gm Guacamole - 20 gm Salsa - 20 gm Sour cream - to garnish Butter – 10 gm
cream 1 tsp, mayonnaise 1 tsp, and paprika, as per taste) Oil, to deep fry Baja marinade Mayo – 20 gm Hung curd - 30 gm Garlic - 5 gm Parsley - 10 gm Salt, to taste Chipotle chilli paste
Method Marinate chicken in the baja marinade overnight. Keep sizzling skillet plate on fire to make it hot. Grill chicken on griddle for 10 minutes before keeping it in the oven for another 10 minutes. Heat refried beans and Mexican rice and season well. Heat pan, add butter, vegetables and toss for five minutes. Place vegetable on hot sizzling skillet, then add rice on top, add bean mixture. Place chicken on top, garnish with fresh tomato and coriander. Serve with guacamole, sour cream and salsa.
Lemon juice Cumin powder - 1 tsp Blend the ingredients well into a paste to make the marinade. Method Marinate chicken strips with baja marinade overnight. Coat the chicken with bread crumbs. Fry in oil until golden brown. Serve hot with ranch dressing.
Traditional Taco Salad Tortilla shell layered with refried beans, lettuce, cheese, salsa, guacamole, sour cream and garnished with pica de gallo and olives. Ingredients (for salad) Taco shell - 6 pieces Refried kidney beans - 60 gm Mix lettuce - 20 gm Cheddar cheese - 30 gm Guacamole – 20 gm Sour cream – 20 gm Pica de gallo (1 onion, 2 chillies, 1 tomato, 1 tbsp olive oil) Olives - 5 gm Ingredients (for guacamole) Avocadoes peeled, pitted and smashed - 3 pieces Lime juice Diced onion - half cup Chopped cilantro - 3 tsp Diced tomatoes - 2 Minced garlic - 1 tsp Chopped peppers - 1 tsp Olive oil - 2 tsp Refried beans Beans - 1 kg beans Garlic - 50 gm Onion, tomatoes – 100 gm Coriander – 20 gm Cumin seed – 10 gm Tomato puree – 100 gm Salt, to taste Chipotle chilli paste – 20 gm Oil – 50 ml Method Soak beans overnight and boil them next morning. Heat a pan, add oil, garlic, onion and fry until golden brown. Add tomatoes cook for five minutes, and add beans, tomato puree and chipotle chilli paste to the mixture. Pour water and cook the beans till they turn soft. Stuff the taco shells with lettuce, refried beans and add grated cheddar. Put the taco shell into the oven for 30 seconds, or until the cheese melts. Arrange the tacos in a plate and garnish it with pica de gallo and coriander leaves. Serve the tacos with salsa, guacamole and sour cream.
YOUR CHOW AROUND TOWN Egg-stra special Easter!
Easter is the time of celebrations and rejoices. Hyatt Pune invites you to celebrate this special day with your family and friends over an elaborate Easter Brunch. Enjoy a setup perfect for a fam-
ily outing as their talented team of chefs wow you with an exquisite menu of culinary delicacies from Asian, Western and Continental cuisine and cocktails! Indulge in the selection of grills, cold cuts, specialty cheese, hot stations and dig into the special dessert counter. Where: Eighty Eight, Hyatt Pune When: April 5, 2015 Time: 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm Price: Non Alcoholic Brunch: Rs 1,000 Alcoholic Brunch: ` 1,500 +tax Contact: 07798889653
Easter Brunching! Head over to The Square with your family and friends for a lavish and delectable Easter brunch with interactive cooking, live music and abundant fun activities for kids. Where: Novotel, Pune When: April 5, 2015 Time: 12:30 pm onwards Contact: 020-6705 6000/ 08411956580
Eggceptional Easter Brunch at 3 Spices 3 Spices, the fine dining restaurant at DoubleTree by Hilton is hosting an ‘Easter Brunch’. Savour an Eggceptional Easter Brunch with an array of Easter special delicacies. On the offer would be Easter eggs, assorted marzipan eggs, Devil eggs and more. Watch out for some fun-filled activities for kids. Where: 3 Spices, DoubleTree by Hilton, Pune-Chinchwad When: April 5, 2015 Timings: 12.30pm to 4.30pm
Traditional Easter Flavours at MoMo 2 Go Chef de Partie Shyamal along with his team at MoMo 2 Go will bring to you a variety of delicious and tempting Easter gifting goodies for your loved ones. Indulge in some traditional sweet Easter
breads like, Simnel a rich and intense Hungarian-origin bread; Zofe shaped to resemble the hatching of eggs; Babka which contains liquor-soaked dry fruits, almond powder and chocolate Ganache swirls and a lot more on the menu. Where: MoMo 2 Go Cafe, Marriott When: April 5, 2015 Contact: 020-67248250 - 020-67248255
TGS LIFE
Try organic idlis this weekend
indulge
Rahul Raut
Dravida’s Bistro gives a green touch to your grub. Appreciate their painstakingly curated terrace garden when you drop in for a meal
APRIL 4, 2015 PUNE
By Barnalee Handique @barnalee
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f you have an appetite for authentic, organic, south Indian cuisine, then drop in at Dravida’s Bistro situated at City Point, Dhole Patil Road. Since the restaurant opened its doors in December, last year, the joint has gained quite a bit of popularity among foodies. The goal of the eatery is to promote a tastier and healthier India. Besides serving delicious south Indian fare, the joint also caters to vegans and people with health issues, like diabetes, and those who require meals with a specific calorie count. The joint is spread across 10,000 sq ft on the terrace, where nearly 1,500 different species of vegetables and fruits are grown. Pothen Cherian, one of the owners of the Dravida’s Bistro, said, “We are 42 percent organic as of now. In about six months, we plan to turn 100 percent organic. Presently, we source our raw
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materials from farms around the city.” The spacious eatery sets the mood with its quirky decor and lampshades. The menu includes cuisines from five south Indian states. Their time-tested recipes have been passed on from generations to generations. The dishes are made in home-style cooking and should be paired with juices or degree coffee, a Kerala style coffee served in copper mugs. We started with Gun Powder Fried Idli served with coconut chutney and sambar. Served on wooden platters, the idlis were moist and soft. The gunpowder coating was not spicy and added the right kind of zing to the palate. An extra bowl of gun powder chutney is also served for those, who pre-
Food: oooor fer their idlis even hotter. The Ambience: ooorr sambhar, made with seasonal Service: oooor vegetables, had the authentic Meal for two: ` 200 flavours of all the traditional feel the robust burst of various TGS LIfe picks: spices. The banana leaf idli is spices. Cheese Dosa and Dravida’s special idli wrapped The ultimate gastronomic Chocolate Uniappam and slow cooked in a banana leaf. delight is the Ayurveda Grand The Vazaji Bhaji, raw bananas cut Sattvik Thali which is a five course into strips, coated in rice flour batter and meal, serving 27 dishes. High on deep fried. The bhaji tastes good when served nutrients and low on calories, the thali is with coconut chutney. The snack, although, every foodie’s delight. had turned soft and not crispy as it should Even as we were ruminating on all that have been. We decided to go for the Pepper we ate, we were tempted by the Chocolate Fried Mushrooms, mushrooms marinated in Uniappam, Kerala style banana dough filled chettinad spices and cooked on skewers. The with chocolate. The portions are large enough mushrooms melt in your mouth and we could for four.
Whip up Easter goodies in your kitchen Celebrate the end of a long weekend with these mouth-watering desserts
TGS NEWS SERVICE @TGSWeekly
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ith Easter tomorrow make sure you have your goodies in place. City chefs help you with easy-tomake and different easter recipes.
Sinfully Rich Dark Chocolate Cake
Ingredients Eggs 3 Dark brown sugar 150 gm Rice flour 300 gm Baking powder 15 gm Dark chocolate (70%) 150 gm Unsweetened cocoa powder 2 tablespoons Milk, at room temperature, 125 ml (4 fl oz, ½ cup) Pomace olive oil 60 ml (2 fl oz, ¼ cup) Salt, a pinch Method Beat egg yolks along with sugar. Combine the flour mixed with baking powder and stir until dough is smooth. Melt chocolate in a double boiler and add to the dough along with unsweetened cocoa. Add milk and oil, mixing the dough quickly. Whip egg whites until stiff, add a pinch of salt. Combine the egg whites with the mixture. Using a spat-
Dark chocolate Truffle Ingredients Unsalted butter 100 gm Dairy cream (unsweetened) 200 ml Dark chocolate 400 gm Method Melt all the ingredients together and mix well, pour over the cake and let it run down the sides. *If the truffle gets too firm before topping the cake, heat gently in the microwave, carefully stirring till the right pouring consistency is reached. Serve with vanilla ice cream, or as it is.
ula, stir the mixture from the bottom up so that it does not break up. Line the baking tin with baking paper and pour the mixture into
it. Bake at 180° C (350°F/gas 4) for 25 minutes. The cake is ready when surface cracks are formed but the inside remains soft. Top the cake with dark chocolate truffle and dust with a good brand of cocoa powder for a decadent touch. By Chef Karla Dutia, F Beach House
Easter Fried Tart
Ingredients Ham slice 4 Smoked bacon 200 gm Eggs 6 Double cream 200 ml Mild cheddar cheese grated 70 gms Salt, to taste Thyme 02 gm Mortadella, or any good quality sausage, diced 70 gms Butter 20 gms White onion chopped 15 gm Garlic chopped 10 gm Crushed peppercorn, a pinch Chopped Jalapeno 3 gmww Method In a 9 inch pie dish apply some butter and layer the ham slices making sure the entire pie mould is covered. Keep the pie dish in the cooler to set. Chop the bacon and fry them in a hot sauté pan along with onion and garlic.
Stir fry them until golden brown. Drain the extra bacon fat and add Mortadella. Cook a little and add crushed peppercorn and jalapeno. Check seasoning and keep aside. Now, in a mixing bowl whip the eggs, add cream, cheddar cheese and chopped thyme. Mix well and check seasoning. Now spread the stir fried bacon mixture in the pie shell, which is already layered with ham. Pour the custard mixture over the bacon mixture and bake it in a preheated oven at 180c for 15 minutes. Now with a clean tooth pick check the center of the pie. If it comes out clean, your Easter Fried Pie is cooked, otherwise cook it for another 5 to 7 minutes. Once cooked, let the pie set and cool. While serving, reheat the pie and cut it in to wedges as per your choice and serve with fresh green salad. By Chef Anirban Ghosh, Sin Envy Pride
TGS LIFE April 4, 2015 PUNE
THRILL OF DRIVING
PHOTOGRAPHy: Benjamin Gracias
Room and Lodgy
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he Renault Lodgy MPV is a rebadged Dacia, but so is the impressive Duster, a success story for Renault in India. At 4.5 metres long and 1.7 metres tall, the Lodgy is large but not ugly, using very interesting design cues to make it palatable. Dare I say, it’s handsome even. Interestingly, while the Lodgy does come with the longest wheelbase in the segment, it is shorter than the Ertiga and the Innova, both natural rivals. This means more space on the inside, while taking up relatively less space in your garage. Interiors are impressive. There’s a twotone dash, with shiny black plastics and chrome accents, and lots of cues from its Duster sibling. Renault has re-designed the entire HVAC system, which is split three ways and the middle row gets its own individual controls - another very strong asset in this segment. The RxZ range-topper, gets two captain seats in the middle row. All
Specification: Renault Lodgy
Dipayan Dutta finds out if Renault’s newest MPV has what it takes to overthrow the Japanese giants?
Engine In-line 4-cyl, 1461cc, turbo diesel Transmission 6-speed manual Power 108.5bhp @ 3900rpm Torque 248Nm @ 2250rpm Weight NA 0-100kmph NA Top speed NA Price `10-12 lakh (estimated)
Left: Console shares much with the Duster Above: Van-like cargo space is possible with the flexible seating
three rows are spacious. With my 6-foot frame, I was Verdict comfortable even in the + Styling, space, third row, which came as a pleasant surprise. comfort If you have luggage, - Vague steering, the third row of seats brakes tumbles and ups the TOD rating boot space from 207 ;;;32 to 589 litres. The third row can also be removed completely (a two-man job), upping the boot space to 759 litres. Finally, if it’s a van you need, then the middle row tumbles as well, giving you over 1800 litres. The Lodgy comes fitted with the 2-DIN touchscreen unit from the Duster and there’s a long list of features that come as standard: ABS, EBD, airbags, even emergency brake warnings. It comes with the same K9K 1.5-litre diesel engine as the Duster in the same 85bhp and 108bhp states of tune. Even on the crowded streets of Bengaluru, the Lodgy was in no way imposing. We drove the 108bhp, which is a bit laggy when off the
boil, so working the gearbox in traffic is a bit of chore. At low revs, it isn’t as responsive as the i-DTEC engine in the Honda Mobilio, but the extra punch later more than makes up for it. Once we had broken free of the city’s traffic, we let the K9K stretch its legs. Past the 1700rpm mark, the motor really does come into its own, shooting into high tripledigits with fair enthusiasm for its size. One of the more niggling problems we faced in the Lodgy was the steering that becomes more vague as speeds rise, developing a strong judder close to its top speed. It’s unlikely that owners are going to push it very hard, so we’ll give that a bye. On the upside, the Lodgy is fairly planted, even at high speeds, despite the nervous steering wheel, thanks to its long wheelbase. The ride quality is great. The Lodgy does have a lot of strong points. The question remains: does it have what it takes to bump off dominant players like the Ertiga and the Innova? Honestly, it’s down to the wire, and we will have to wait for final pricing to judge. However, the Lodgy is definitely a very strong contender. dipayan@evo.in
TGS LIFE
The devil wears carbon
April 4, 2015 PUNE
THRILL OF DRIVING
The Diavel Carbon seemingly mocks every superbike. Abhay Verma rides it to tell more
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Right: Two info displays - one on the handlebar, and a colour one on the tank Bottom: there’s muscle visible at every angle
PHOTOGRAPHy: VIKRANT DATE
he Ducati Diavel marries the comfort of a cruiser to the gut-wrenching performance of a superbike. Its heart is that of the 1198 superbike after all, Ducati’s range-topper a mere five years ago. On paper, The diavel has the straightline ability to smoke a supersport machine while looking relentlessly evil. I’ve ridden a fair number of fast machines around the Mutha Ghat. This side of a litre-class sportsbike, The Diavel is easily the most mental, and among the most athletic motorcycles I’ve thrown around the corners there.
Specification: Ducati diavel carbon
Engine L-twin, 1198cc, liquid-cooled Transmission 6-speed Power 160bhp @ 9250rpm Torque 130Nm @ 8000rpm Weight 234kg 0-100kmph 2.6 seconds (claimed) Top speed NA Price `17.5 lakh (estimated)
The arrival of a Diavel is heralded by its and Urban are the riding modes on offer, with all-LED headlamps. It has killer looks, and Sport offering the full Monty, while Touring if buying trends are anything to go by, this softens delivery ever so slightly. Urban drops motorcycle will do well for its Transformerpower output by 40 per cent, which is ‘just’ like design as much as for its performance. The 100bhp. What adds to the joy of riding a front end sports a beastly look and all the dark Ducati is the growl of its L-twin. And on carbon fibre trim adds to the menacing stance. the Diavel, one wants to keep cracking that The rear is relatively smaller, though the throttle for that menacing bark. seat is perfectly comfortable. It all ends in that The bike is hungry to devour corners, massive single-sided swingarm and alloy wheel and loves being ridden hard. At Mutha, the with a 240-section Pirelli. The Diavel is a work Diavel had a sense of agility like few other of brutal artistry. The details add to the sense motorcycles I’ve pushed there. And if it weren’t of occasion, like the keyless ignition, turned for the rather relaxed ergonomics and wide on or off via a hidden switch between the two fuel tank, I’m certain I’d have got a knee down. displays, which offer more information than There’s grip and ground clearance in spades. you need. The one on the tank is a colour TFT The front offers precise information of the unit with a large readout for the gear indicator happenings at its end as well. You have to be along with details like riding mode, distance careful to keep the wheel down at corner exits. to empty, traction control setting, average fuel The top end is insane, but for everyday riding, efficiency, average speed etc. it also has unassailable mid-range. Overtaking The Carbon gets all electronic aids manoeuvres call for a mere twist of the wrist. including ABS, switchable riding modes and Refinement is supreme, and the engine barely eight traction control levels! It also boasts fat gives any hint of vibration. Suspension is 50mm Marzocchi forks, a Sachs monoshock well-sorted too, and in stock settings there (both fully adjustable), and Brembo monobloc is confidence around fast corners, while brakes offering superbike-like retardation. undulations don’t seem to bother it at speed. All of this atop machine-finished Marchesini It did all but cast the word ‘cruiser’ out of alloys and acres of carbon fibre. From the word my mind. go, the Diavel detests the cruiser label. It’s a motorcycle you want, even The performance, agility and if you already have a naked, “Ducati-ness” packed into this a supersport and perhaps a hefty-looking motorcycle cruiser in your garage. It is amazing. With the is a motorcycle I would Verdict superbike-derived motor, want to take to a drag + Performance, design, this one’s clearly not for strip and make jaws drop unique positioning the faint hearted. Cracking as I blow past supersport - I don’t have one the throttle wide open calls machines. The Diavel TOD rating for valour – lest you forget, is, indeed a devil. It’s the outputs stand at 160bhp next best Ducati to buy if ;;;34 and 130Nm of torque. And you don’t want a supersport there’s ride-by-wire to ensure or a naked. It is lustworthy in a crisp, immediate response. The its own way, and at approximately frightening delivery of the superbike `17.5 lakh ex-showroom, the Carbon is has been toned down to make power more surprisingly accessible. The base (if you can call usable, with better low-down grunt (read it that!) is even less, at about `14 lakh. The best neck-snapping take-offs). For 2015, power and things in life don’t come cheap, but there are torque curves have been revised to enhance some exceptions. bottom and mid-range grunt. Sport, Touring abhay@evo.in
TGS LIFE APRIL 4, 2015 PUNE
Features
Pune’s tryst with street art By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab
P
une Street Art Project is an initiative by city-based artist Harshvardhan Kadam. He studied visual design at the Design Centre, IIT Bombay, and quickly found his niche in the domain of art, with specific focus on street art. Since the project’s inception, street art has been sighted in the most unusual places across the city. “The project is a unique crowd sourced one. During my travels throughout India, I happened to meet a lot of people who had similar interests as mine. Being a Puneite,
Harshvardhan Kadam
City walls have turned into primary protagonists of street art these days. Artist Harshvardhan Kadam’s Pune Street Art Project slaps colour onto the face of urban greyness
I thought it will be exciting to introduce a liberal art form to the city,” says Harshvadhan. Street art is usually termed as unsanctioned art projects in public spaces, created by artists. This art can be a medium for social change, or it could simply be beautification of the cityscape. “We have never worked without the permission of property owners, or concerned officials. We do not want to add even a hint of vandalism to our work. Getting permissions can be tough, but there is always the analogy of ‘the grapes were sour’,” he states. A mix of illustration, lettering, murals and graphic designs – all deconstructed into a playful explosion of colours – feature in Harshvardhan’s artwork. Art “According to history books, art has A mural at Kasba Peth been the privilege of the rich and corner privileged. But street art stands out and unites all. It is bringing art out of the galleries onto the street,” he says. and his team are transforming the Pune Street Art Project have recently city bit by bit. “The team consists of managed to add colour to Kasba Peth and its eccentric professionals from various fields. We surroundings. “Most of our have musicians, composers, murals are in Kasba Peth area. architects, writers, film makers, We saw this as the most fitting I believe every photographers, designers and place as it’s the oldest area curators apart from artists. It of the historical city. We’ve wall has a story. is their collective energies that also created a few murals at You will see us have made this project into a Katraj. I believe every wall has very beautiful ecosystem.” a story. You will see us staring staring hopefully He believes that public hopefully at many walls, at many walls, art, be it installations, murals imagining the possibilities.” performances, breaks imagining the or When asked about social barriers. Harshvardhan possibilities managing expenses, adopted the moniker Harshvardhan says, “The ‘inkbrushnme’ for what was projects are usually selforiginally his illustration and funded. However, we have had design studio. A decade on, help from certain people who expect nothing inkbrushnme travels, muses, paints murals in return. It is an act out of goodwill.” in outdoor and indoor spaces, and encourages With unpredictable weather conditions other artists to join him. Harshvardhan has faced all kinds of and improvised workspaces, street art isn’t that easy to carry out. Artists have different reactions to his art, “People appreciate the work. styles and approaches, but they all share one They enjoy it, admire it, or are puzzled by it. thing in common – their love for art. Armed They respect the efforts an artist takes to create with sheer artistic advantage, Harshvardhan art. Some even want more spaces to be painted.”
Using different types of paint, the artist literally scratches off the surface of buildings to create a masterpiece. “The core of this project stems from pure love, towards the art, the wall, and the society. We consciously try to keep it apolitical, and we wish to continue with the same enthusiasm,” he adds. Harshvardhan’s recent activity inspired Pune’s first International Street Art Festival, which saw artists from USA, Germany, Australia, Russia, apart from Indian artists. “There were over 25 artists in total and we managed to make nearly 30 murals. This required serious curation, and it required interchangeability of roles. There were innumberable problems at every turn but when the artists sign their work, all issues fade into the moonlight,” he says. The artwork’s inspiration stems out of an artists’ desire to communicate and spread joy, in a non-verbal manner. “We find our art extremely rewarding. On an individual level, it equates with joy and fulfilment. On a social level, it translates to sharing that joy,” he concludes. zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com
TGS LIFE
It’s not just
APRIL 4, 2015 PUNE
A MAN’S WORLD
FEATURES
These spunky girls decided to strap on boots instead of slipping into stilettos when it came to choosing a career path. Anjali Shetty-Shirsath speaks to three professionals, who are walking shoulder to shoulder with the men in their field
By Anjali Shetty-Shirsath @shetty_anjali
Opting for a challenging career is never an easy ride. You have to put in a sincere effort, display dedication and be persistent. TGS Life speaks to women, who dared to take the path less travelled. They did not go in for a well-paid job, instead they chose a profession that would be dramatic and enjoyable. Women have made it big in various professions. They have single-handedly balanced a laptop and a cradle while juggling between a power suit and a crisp cotton sari. From regular desk jobs they moved to being conductors, drivers and even CEOs. Today they are venturing into more challenging off beat vocations like horse breakers, mechanics and priests. These women took the path less taken because they did not want to get stuck in a rut. They are doing exceptionally well in what they have picked.
Deepali Vijay Dharmadhikari Mechanic (43) In a quiet lane near Navi Peth, you will see Deepali Vijay Dharmadhikari tinkering with two wheelers. You might mistake her for a customer looking to get her bike repaired but when you look closely you will see the tools and instruments she uses to repair two wheelers. Deepali is an early learner. She learnt her skills from her father at the age of eight. It was only when she turned 13 that she was allowed to operate the workshop. “I loved riding and driving. My father told me that if I wanted to ride I should know how to repair too. That is when I started to take a keen interest in engines and gears. Eventually, I had to take it up as my father’s health deteriorated and the responsibility fell on my shoulders. I don’t regret it because I enjoy my job,” says Deepali, who recently met with a major accident. She did face dirty looks from passers-by and relatives. No one understood why a girl wanted to work in an auto workshop. “Everything went against me. People never let me touch their vehicles. It took a decade for people to accept me as a mechanic,” adds Deepali, who completed her BCom seven years ago. “Education was a luxury because financial constraints in my family were such that I could not attend college regularly. Also, a 9 am to 5 pm job would not have given me the money that I made through this business.” Deepali is happy that perceptions and notions have changed today. People no longer look at her differently. “People have accepted me as a mechanic. I have handed over the charge to the three men working with me and I supervise as of know. I plan to expand once the area is renovated.” Deepali believes that technology has a major role to in changing the way people perceive women working in off beat careers.
Rasika Reddy Track work rider and horse breaker (47) When Changu-Mangu enter the paddock, Rasika Reddy’s face lights up and she embraces them. They return the affection, galloping around excitedly. Changu-Mangu are Rasika’s horses at Japalouppe Equestrian Centre, Talegaon. Ask her when she started riding and pat comes her reply, “I have been riding all my life!” She continues, “I am 47 and have been riding since I was a 10-year-old. I started off with show jumping with army horses. Then there came a time when I was crazily obsessed with horses. My mother was worried about what I was going to do with my life. That is when my maternal uncle suggested I meet Dr Ravi Reddy, a veterinarian from Bangalore. His family owned a stud farm and I was married at the age of 21.” In 1994, Rasika moved to Pune with her husband and two-year-old son. He came over to look after a stud farm in the city. Rasika always knew that she wanted to be associated a lot more with horses and aggressive, or impatient, horses bothered her. “I decided to go to Australia and learn about horse breaking. I wanted to know why horses be-
Shubadha Shripad Joshi Priest (71) An administrative officer with the state government, Shubadha Joshi took to spirituality and rituals a few years ago. She fi rst undertook a course at Jnana Prabhodini (JP), which taught her the importance of Vedas and several other rites and rituals. Joshi greets you with a smile and is eager to discuss her challenging professional decision. “When I went for my fi rst Vastu Shanti puja, I was looked at with astonishment and amusement. People just could not get the fact that a woman can perform religious functions. Funnily, now many men tell me that we do it better than the male priests,” laughs Joshi. It took almost 18 months for Joshi to complete her course at JP. “Our training was rigourous and the practicals helped us understand the know-how of the rituals. My diction and understanding of Sanskrit has improved and this has helped me inter-
have so badly. I learnt that in India we lack the attitude to do everything by ourselves. It was important for us to understand the job to do it. We can’t have three people do one thing. In 2004, I started Basque Training Centre and today with the help of three young boys I help break horses,” she smiles. Rasika believes that animals are creatures of habit. They mould the way you train them. Despite a number of broken bones and injuries, she was determined to continue her passion. “Nothing stops me. There is so much to learn from animals. They teach me something new every day. My parents too brought me up with so much confidence and faith, that is makes it easier to take on anything. Last, but not the least, my husband has been supportive and patient,” adds Rasika, who keeps a steady eye on her horses, even while she speaking to us. At the end of the day, for Rasika, this is not a job for those looking at glamour or hefty salaries. It is for the dedicated, focused and disciplined.
act with people on a better level. I was shy and an introvert until I started with this,” adds Joshi, who has conducted over 1,000 pujas till date. So, what has she learnt from the profession? “Well, my self-confidence and social skills has improved drastically. I get to meet so many people from different strata of society daily. Th is keeps me down to earth. There are times when I feel I should be thankful for what I have,” says Joshi. She goes on to add how women today should not hold themselves back. They should get up and take the lead. “Do what you like. Don’t suppress your thoughts. Take the initiative and make a difference.”
TGS LIFE
APRIL 4, 2015 PUNE
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TGS LIFE
KOREGAON PARK
YERWADA
Heal yourself with art
Karlette Joseph, born and raised in Mumbai and a self-taught abstract artist will be displaying her work. Karlette is intrinsically attracted to creating art which is positive and has some spiritual meaning, feeling or representation. A special one-day workshop guided by Karlette Joseph intends to harmonise mind, body, spirituality and art, and give each participant time to heal themselves while learning a modern twist to the ancient art of making Mandalas. Where: Gyaan Adab Centre, Yerwada When: till 9th April
World Architecture Festival (WAF)
The first-ever 16-city Design tour of World Architecture Festival (WAF), the globally known, premier architectural event will enter its sixth leg with the design tour in Pune. After a successful inauguration at Jaipur and gathering accolades in Chandigarh, Indore, Delhi and Mumbai the Design Tour of WAF will be held in Pune. The festival will exhibit 350 shortlisted design entries from across 30 categories designed by architects from over 65 countries. Where: Ishanya Mall When: April 4-5 VIMAN NAGAR
Art and Craft Summer Camp
Vacations are the ideal time for kids to enjoy and have fun away from school to explore new hobbies and Hobby Ideas, India’s first premium chain of art, craft and hobby stores presents the “Art & Craft Summer Camp”. With weekly courses on arts, crafts and hobby workshops for kids in 4-7 years and 8-12 years age group, this summer camp will keep your kids interestingly engaged. The Hobby Ideas experts at the Hobby Ideas stores will train your kids in various creative courses including Canvas Paintings, Traditional Arts, Mixed Media and Paper Crafts. These courses focus on encouraging your child’s creativity and bring their imaginations to life.
APRIL 4, 2015 PUNE
Where: Phoenix Market City When: New Batches starting on April 20 and May 18. Contact: 020-30950323
CITY EVENTS
F C DECCAN
SHUKRAWAR PETH
Swatantra’s Children Theatre Program
In Theatre, children can get all kinds of exposure which can hone his/her all personal ability. Through facial display, different caricature they try to live in different characters. Swatantra Theatre’s Children Theatre Program they groom a child through all modes of conventional acting teaching as well as self built method. Participants will be given extensive training of theatre orientation, not only in acting but also various aspects of theatre such as speech and diction, voice modulation, character building, dialogue delivery, body movement, imagination, improvisation, emotional memory, stagecraft, rhythm and music etc. Age group: 6 to 15 Where: F C Deccan When: April 25 to May 25 Contact: 9767178857
The Dragon comes to Pune
Theatre Professionals with the support of Mumbai Marathi Sahitya Sangh presents Evgeny Shvartz’s ‘The Dragon’. A play in Hindi, it is directed by Tushar Pandey and translated by Harsh Khurana. The play is about a big, bad dragon has reigned over a town for 400 years and now has his eyes set on its loveliest maidens. Right on the cue enters the knight in shining armour - a well-travelled young man who is on a mission to save the town and help the damsel from her tragic plight. But there’s just one teeny tiny problem. They don’t want to be saved! Where: Jyotsna Bhole Auditorium When: April 5, 7 pm Send events to listings.tgslife@gmail.com
WEEKEND FOOD COURT
RESTAURANT NAME
LOCATION Panash, Four Points By Sheraton Viman Nagar, ahead of Phoenix Market City
CUISINE TYPE TABLE BOOKING
TIMING
SPECIALITY
PARKING
CARD
HOME DEL
Sushi, Dimsum, Teppanyaki
W
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X
Cuban Food
W
W
X
W
W
X
W
W
X
Pan Asian
020 3093 1030/ 7709006688
W
19.00 - 23.00
Global Cuisine
020 3093 1030/ 7709006688
W
12.00 - 24.00
Mediterranean
020 3093 1031/ 7709006688
W
19.00 - 23.00
Global Barbecue, Desi Tandoor, Moroccan Tagines
The Eatery, Four Points By Sheraton Viman Nagar, ahead of Phoenix Market City
Multicuisine
020 3093 1031/ 7709006688
W
19.00 - 23.00
Indian and Continental
Chhavni, Hatel Deccan Pavilion, At Navale Chowk Narhe, Pune
Multi-cuisine
020-66834500, 8796075745
W
11.00 - 15.00 19.00 - 23.00
Punjabi
W
W
W
Parichay Hotel & Restaurants, FC Road
Multi-cuisine
020-25531511/2/3
Maharashtrian & Punjabi
W
W
X
Royal Symphony at President Hotel, Erandwane
Multi-cuisine
020-30255555 Ext 08
Indian and International Cusine
W
X
Rumaani Veg/ Non Veg, FC Road
Multi-cuisine
020-25538365
Mutton Kheema Pav Chicken Rassa
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TGS LIFE APRIL 4, 2015 PUNE
features
She creates artwork out of dead cassette tapes
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Do you have a large collection of cassette tapes, and wonder what to do with it? You could throw them out with the trash or, like city artist Pooja Kamble, turn them into something beautiful
By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab
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hen Bruno Mars’ hit single Just The Way You Are was gaining popularity, and everybody was soaking in the melody, Pooja Kamble was charmed by its visuals of reel art. Taking a cue from Erika Iris Simmon, the pop artist who created visuals for the video, Pooja decided to lend the art form her own style. Pooja is an artist who specialises in using old cassette tapes to create artistic celebrity portraits. She makes portraits of people associated with the item she chooses – without adding any paint. Her portraits are usually inspired by musical legends, such as Jim Morrison, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Michael Jackson and Bob Marley. “Using old cassettes to create portraits of musicians adds more meaning to the entire concept. I believe my artwork is a way to pay tribute
to them. Also, I liked the fact that when you looked at one of my portraits you could almost hear the music in your head,” says Pooja. The AGE-year-old was always creatively-inclined, but never considered the field as a serious career option. It was only after completing her MBA and working in the finance sector that she discovered her true calling. “I do not come from an art background. It was my friend’s birthday, and I wanted to gift her something different. So I made her a reel art frame. I got a lot of appreciation for that and eventually, I decided to take up the art seriously”, she says.
Ever since, Pooja has blended methods of conceptual art with craft-making and popular culture to create her own whimsical form. “I turn the black shiny tape into intricate portrayals of musicians or celebrities. The process generally consists of cutting and splitting the film before placing the strips to put together each celebrity’s face”, she adds. Among the many portraits she has pulled
Finding Happiness Through her book, psychologist-turnedauthor Shama Patel wants to help her readers lead a happy life By Zainab Kantawala
@kantawalazainab hama Patel has ventured in the world of writing with her first book titled, 21 Ways of Being Happy. She holds a postgraduate degree in marriage and family counselling. As a psychologist, Shama has worked with adults, teenagers, couples, senior citizens, alcohol and drug addicts, survivors of abuse and human trafficking, apart from being associated with various NGOs working for underprivileged children. She is often found glued to books or locked inside her art den, creating black and white sketches. Shama is interested in tackling big-picture questions and puncturing some dearly-held beliefs about happiness. Her book deals with how to construct a life of virtue, happiness, fulfillment, and meaning.
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How does one lead a happy life? Happiness is a state of mind. It is not a condition or situation that is presented to some and kept away from others. It is in our own hands to overcome guilt, self-pity, regret and anxiety to lead a fulfilling and happy life.
How did you start writing? I started with a blog, where I wrote about my day to day life experiences, relationships, break ups. A friend encouraged me to take writing seriously. Today, writing is a very important part of my life. How does the book connect with your life? In the book, I have shared my personal experiences, the tough times that I went through and methods to cope with them. I wanted to make a positive difference. The book talks about rising up after a fall, and how one should always look at positive aspects of life. The aim of writing this book was to bring the reader closer to him or herself. It is a book that will help you charter the course of your life, your own way. What, do you believe, are the five things that would make one happy? Here’s my list – love yourself, express gratitude whenever you can, don’t run behind things you can’t have, fall in love with nature and get in touch with yourself. Could you name some of the writers who have influenced your work? I love reading Elif Shafaq, Elizabeth Gilbert and Thich Nhat Hanh. They have helped me grow as a person. zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com
off until today, Pooja believes the one with Pandit Ravishankar was the toughest, “The artwork required a lot of detailing. It was very difficult to make, but I would consider that as one of my best works. Also, the Jim Morrison portrait took the longest time. I created his hair by using the reel vertically, which was a challenging task,” she says. zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com
TGS LIFE APRIL 4, 2015 PUNE
Add a gypsy touch to your wardrobe
Lifestyle & Leisure
City Celeb Chat By TGS NEWS SERVICE
were yet to reach the urban market. “The craft that you see in rural areas is amazing yet, sadly, this creativity goes unseen,” the entrepreneur remarks as she talks about her resolution to For 20 years, ethnic fabric connoisseurs in promote Indian fabrics. Neeta scoured other the city have shared a special secret amongst states – Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Orrisa, themselves – Banjaras. This one stop shop Chattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, West stocks textiles from various corners of the Bengal and Manipur, amongst others – to bring country. Neeta Deshpande, a beauty-theraexclusive fabric into the city. Neeta’s partner-inpist-turned-entrepreneur, set up the ‘natural crime, through all the travels and travails, was fabrics’ store in 1992, under the canopy of a her husband and PLS MENTION PROFESSION banyan tree on Ferguson College Road. From HERE, Girish. humble beginnings, the store moved In time, apart from becoming a fabric to Aundh a decade ago and estabdestination, Banjaras has also supportlished itself as a brand name. ed several social organisations. Two Neeta’s love for fabrics goes back to the time when she was still in college. unekar years ago, as the store’s 20th anniversary drew closer, Neeta held a drive to “In those days, I took to travelling aldonate old but clothes in good condimost every month and that’s when I tion to two city-based social organisations, Solspotted fabrics like Mangalgiri from Andhra id Waste Collection and Handling (SWaCH) and Pradesh and Kantha from West Bengal. I would Kagad Kach Patra Kashtakari Panchayat (KKPcreate my own designs and wear them to colKP). “I think such initiatives are a great way to lege. The fabric and designs drew a lot of attenconnect with those who need help. Last year, I tion,” she recalls. Her own wardrobe got Neeta got in touch with Panchgani-based NGO Vidya thinking about setting up an exclusive cotton Dan to conduct craft workshops for a group of handloom and block print fabric store in the women from a nearby village. At the workshop, city and that’s how Banjaras came into being. the women learned how to make quilts and Gujarat and Rajasthan were the first, and obviwere given training in hand embroidery, etc., so ous, stops in the entrepreneur’s handicraft jouras to help them earn a little money and improve ney. Then, Neeta travelled to inner pockets of the scope for their future.” the country in search of exclusive designs that
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Name: Varsha Rajkhowa Profession: Model, Choreographer and an Environmentalist Three words to describe me: Passionate, confident and vivacious I love my job because: It gives me new challenges to face for a better tomorrow and teaches me lessons so that I know to rise if there is failure. Enhances my personality and makes me a better person. My work is my passion which gives me strength in every step that I take and gives me believe that yes I can do it. Best advice I’ve received: The best advice I have received is laugh out your worries and be positive in life as you only relish your success when you fail. Your ultimate goal: My ultimate goal is to not stop achieving what I want and to keep wanting. Once you reach the goal you stop dreaming. Life is a lot more than having an ultimate goal. Books by your bedside: Books by my side are mostly philosophical, comic and peppy as I enjoy reading books that help me heal my worries in my mind and feel light and positive. When shopping what catches your eye: I don’t have a specific style. I believe in being who I am. I pick up what I feel comfortable and confident in. Your support system: My family has been my biggest strength. My mom was the reason I joined modeling as I always wanted to be in the limelight and be a model but was a little low in confidence. And My dad and sister have always backed me up for any challenge I’ve had to face. The perfect start to a day is: A perfect way
to start my morning is to first practice the Hug Therapy. I give my mom, dad and my sister good morning hugs and then start my workouts and end with a heavy breakfast and head out for my dance training. Your fitness regimen: My fitness regime is you should not only be physically fit but also be mentally healthy and strong to have a healthy life. Ideal holiday: My Holiday destination is Venice and Switzerland as both are pleasant, romantic and a lovely combination of nature’s beauty.
Shoes to fit your style this summer
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et’s be honest, warm weather, vacations and special paired with an elegant suit. The velvet ones are great for casual events can be a veritable land mine of fashion faux evenings. pas for most men. While picking out a pair of good l Tassel Moccasins are making a comeback this summer. shoes, you need to focus on your body type, budget and the This trend of tassels is being revamped and modernised. contents of your closet. Further, if you’re looking to build l Shoes without socks are something we have seen your confidence, a good pair of shoes can do wonders. seeing for a while now, but it doesn’t seem to be going Pune-based shoe designer, Naman Shah, out of fashion. guides TGS readers on what’s in and Leather chappals and sandals are a must have what should get out of your shoe this summer. Even flip flops with a back strap look Style closet this season: very cool for the summer. Tips l Sting Style Tips: Club white linen trousers with Ray leather is a white or navy blue shirt, even a Chines-collar shirt premium leather looks smart. Pair them with a Tassel Moccasins. with natural scales For the wedding season, keep it simple. If you and gloss. The leather was choose an Indian look, pick either Kolhapuri chappals or a huge hit at fashion weeks leather sandals. across Europe and will soon hit The classic bandh gala is the look to watch out for this India. season. With a pair of monk-strap shoes or black oxford shoes l Slipper Moccasins look great when without design and you’re ready for the long evening.
Naman Shah