TGS Life 19/12/2015

www.thegoldensparrow.com

PUNE, DECEMBER 19, 2015

Travelling on two wheels

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TGS LIFE

DECEMBER 19, 2015 PUNE

ENTERTAINMENT

Sonali Kulkarni’s Hemalkasa to be India’s entry to the Oscars

By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM

S

oon after the announcement of Hemalkasa being considered for the Oscars, Sonali couldn’t contain her excitement and went on to tweet about it. It’s time for double celebration for the actor as she won the Filmfare Award in the best actor category for the film last month. Hemalkasa is the Hindi version of the critically-acclaimed Marathi film Dr Prakash Baba Amte – The Real Hero which released in October last year. The film is based on the life and times of Dr Prakash Baba Amte and his wife Mandakini Amte which has Nana Patekar and Sonali Kulkarni in the lead roles.

This is the second time Sonali’s film is being considered at the Oscars after The Good Road, a Gujrati film, which was India’s entry to the Academy Awards in 2013. Sharing her excitement on being second time lucky she says, “It’s a great pride and honour for the whole team that Hemalkasa will be going for the Oscars. It’s even more exciting because I was not the first choice to play the lead role initially, but I feel it was my good luck that the Samruddhi Porey, who has directed this iconic film, chose me.”

Having shared the screen space with actor Nana Patekar for the third time in this film, Sonali says that she admires the actor a lot.

“He is extremely talented but also ‘selfish’ as an actor, as when you are working with him he will bring the best out of you. Though that’s a great thing but the fact that he is so flawless puts immense pressure on others to perform at par,” she chuckles. heena.grover@goldensparrow.com

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Jennifer plays tough in her next flick

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

J

ennifer Jason Leigh is riding high after bagging one of the most rewarding roles of her career till date. She will be seen in Quentin Tarantino’s ‘The Hateful Eight’ where she plays Daisy Domergue, the foul mouthed gangster.

The actress is surrounded by a gang of men in the film, she says, “The funny thing is, I picked up the script, went home to read it, and it was missing the last chapter intentionally, because Quentin didn’t want anyone to know. I wanted the part so badly, I have wanted to be in a Tarantino movie forever, and needed to give it my all but it was quite a task set before me and I was nervous. He then sat by my side and read off the script, which made me more confident.”

Her role required physical strength, wittiness, and a deft touch, and Jennifer seemed to have accepted the challenge well. Her character is a prisoner who is being transported across Wyoming, when a snowstorm forces her captor, played by Kurt Russell, to seek shelter along with

other men. “I could never have given the performance I did if it hadn’t been with Kurt. He made it seem so easy when it was not. He helped me become Daisy,” she adds.

Having starred in movies like Single White Female, Short Cuts, Mrs Parker and the Vicious Circle, Dolores Claiborne and many more, Jennifer sure has tackled a series of challenges coming her way but playing Daisy was a different experience altogether. “I believe that Daisy is one of the toughest people in the room.

I never felt like I was the woman in this group. Nobody cleaned up their language or their stories around me.

It was a great experience and Daisy is in no way a victim. She’s so steely and so tough and I love that because I am not that at all,” she says.

She credits Quentin for giving her the confidence of playing the dangerous fugitive with ease. “He’s so brilliant but he’s also so dynamic and he’s so much a part of everything.

He makes it fun. There’s great music playing on the set and it is freezing, but the actors are hanging out because you just want to be there,” she says. zainab.kantawalagoldensparrow.com

Anusha Mani to sing for JP Dutta’s next

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

T

he sensational singer with the title track of Johnny Gaddar, Chennai Express and the latest hit Gulabo from the film Shaandar featuring on her resume, will once again awe the audience in JP Dutta’s next, Jee Bhar Ke Jee Le. Learning singing and participating in music competitions was routine for Anusha Mani.

Singing in Gujarati plays, it was a long wait before Shankar Ehsaan Loy spotted the talented singer and signed her for Johnny Gaddar.

Performing a rap sequence in the song Gulabo was something she had never dreamed of but Amit Trivedi’s confidence that pushed her to sing and have fun while recording for the song, she recollects.

Hoping that some day she gets to be the voice of actresses like Deepika Padukone and Kangana Ranaut, she also wishes to work with Clinton Cerejo, Vishal Bhardwaj and AR Rahman. Ask her about competition from contemporaries and she says, “I

don’t consider anyone a competition because we’re all very close friends. We are happy for each other and support one another. Shruti Pathak is my best friend and I am very close to Akriti Kakar too.

I am also very fond of Harshdeep Kaur and Shilpa Rao.” Learning Carnatic music from Meera Nathan and growing up in a family that was musically inclined, gave Anusha the opportunity to understand and appreciate music from every single genre.

Passionate and protective of the people she likes and an animal lover, she will be working with her husband and brotherin-law, Sangeet and Siddhart Haldipur in Jee Bhar Ke Jee Le. “Working with family is fun as well as taxing. The fun part is my brother-in-law Siddharth and taxing part is my husband Sangeet. He grills me more than anyone when am on the mic and he also gets the most excited when he likes the takes I give,” she tells us.

The film will also see JP Dutta launch his daughter Nidhi Dutta and is slotted for release early next year. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

“I don’t consider anyone a competition because we’re all very close friends”

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TGS LIFE

‘I am not saying no to anything at this moment’

DECEMBER 19, 2015 PUNE

STAGE

Being singer Udit Narayan’s son, music has always been a part of Aditya’s life

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

H

e’s got the ultimate chocolate boy looks and a voice to die for. Rising to fame as a child actor, be it Pardes, Jab Pyaar Kisi Se Hota Hai or Rangeela, Aditya Narayan garnered a fan following at a young age. After giving innumerable hits like Tattad Tattad and Kahi Aag Lage, he finally set everything aside to fulfi l his dream of making his own music album, titled Mohabbat.

Revolving around the concept of love, the album is extremely close to the artist’s heart. “All the songs are inspired from the love that I have received throughout my life.

Be it from my girlfriend, family or my friends, each relationship was different and taught me so many things. The songs are my way of

showing appreciation. Apart from the fact that I have been meaning to make this album for a while now, it explains who I am through the songs and so will always be special to me,” he tells us.

The songs included in the album understand love at different stages and are all inspired from personal experiences. Every song has a different inspiration. The entire album is just like a short fi lm, progressing with every song and telling a story too.

Being singer Udit Narayan’s son, music has always been a part of his life. He has never wanted to do anything else other than become a musician. Even though he wanted to become an astronaut as a child, music eventually became his career.

Aditya is the happiest when he is composing, writing music or singing. Music is so much a part of

“All the songs are inspired from the love that I have received throughout my life” his life that no matter what he does, it creeps in somehow. It is a little

known fact that Aditya was actually assisting Sanjay Leela Bhansali for Ram Leela, Tattad Tattad and Ishkiyaon Dishkiyaon were never a part of his plan.

Talking about future collaborations, he believes that everyone in the music industry is extremely talented. Given the opportunity, he would love to work with Sonu Nigam, AR Rahman, Amit Trivedi, Vishal Dadlani and Sunidhi Chauhan. All of them are different in their own way and he is sure that they will only make him better singers.

Ask him about his love life and he starts laughing. “It’s all about finding the right person. Finally some prospects have opened up but I would want to see where things are headed before I say anything.

New experiences and new people are always a fresh change of pace,” says the 30-year-old.

Just about to sign on the dotted line as an actor, Aditya’s fans will not have to wait long to see him on the big screen once again. Till then, he is enjoying the success of his single and taking every day as it comes. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

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TGS LIFE

DECEMBER 19, 2015 PUNE

ENTERTAINMENT City-based Sufi rock band Kabira Junction will ensure you travel back in time with their mesmerising compositions

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

G

et set to witness Saint Kabir’s soulful philosophy unfold through simple, yet mystical, lyrics as the band Kabira Junction steps onto the stage this Wednesday. Their songs talk of divinity and are highly catchy. The band founded by city based musicians Rahul Srivastava and Amit Joshi, may be only a year old but they are already creating waves with the youngsters.

Kabira’s philosophy in lyrics “We came up with the idea of simplifying Kabir’s philosophy into lyrics that even a layman can understand.

We named the band Kabira Junction because our music is a junction where our music, rhythm and Kabira’s message meet,” says Rahul. The band consists of Rahul working vocals and guitar, Amit on percussions, Rohit Kulkarni on the keyboard and Ashish Kumar on bass and piano. The band has penned around 15 songs that are sure to take you a step closer to the poet’s journey.

“Our aim is spread Kabir’s philosophy globally. His dohas are timeless and will appeal to every person. His words raise the spiritual level in any room, and disregard any religious boundaries,” adds Amit. The compositions are a blend of various genres, think Rock, Jazz, Blues, Qawwali, Indian Classical, Folk, Techno Latin and Reggae. “We don’t just mix our sounds with other genres. Like one of our song combines Raag Jog and Blues, which are quite similar on the pentatonic scale, so we put in a lot of thought before we combine our music with other forms,” adds Rahul.

Their meaningful lyrics and high pitched music sets Kabira Junction apart from other bands. Their orginal

song Aye Murakh Insaan is based on the doha Mati Kahe Kumbhar Se, it is their interpretation of the mystic’s philosophy. There are many more songs which are sure to inspire a spiritual awakening. “There are numerous bands that perform the dohas plainly, without getting into the actual meaning. But this is our effort to revisit Kabir’s world of wisdom through the medium of music

Betaab Dil

Pune to pay tribute to the musical legend Madan Mohan

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

A

n army man for two years and a musician for the rest of his life, legend Madan Mohan is not an unknown personality. Hits like Jhumka Gira Re, Agar Mujhse Mohabbat Hai and Naina Barse Rim Jhim, among many others, gave the musical genius much-deserved fame and recognition. Honouring him and his contribution to the world of music, Niche Entertainment, along with a US based company Drishti Media, have organised a tribute to him. Launched in Chicago in October this year, the troupe will perform in the city for the first time. They will then perform in Indore, Mumbai and other cities as well.

Niche Entertainment’s Milind Oak tells us that it was their love for Madan Mohan and his music that inspired the event. Their latest show, Betaab Dil - The Legend of Madan Mohan, has

Hrishikesh Ranade

Mahalaxmi Iyer

been a long standing dream of the team.

“We have been organising shows like this for about 10 years now and our only aim is to provide quality entertainment.

We also want to touch hearts through

and paint a picture for our audience in simple language,” he says. The band’s next mission is to take the philosophy of Kabir to Lucknow, Bengaluru and Delhi.

When: December 23, 8.30 pm onwards Where: Blue Frog, Ishanya Mall, Yerawada zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com the divine magic of art, culture and music. What better way to do this than to pay our respects to those who created music with their hearts and souls,” he says. The organisation has had over 900 shows all over the world. The event will see well-known faces like Mahalaxmi Iyer, Hrishikesh Ranade, Vibhavari Joshi presenting the legends music in their own style.

The Pune event will also share visuals and the maestro’s history with the audience. “We pay tribute to a person who has given us a treasure trove of melodies, which bind us ever so strongly to our musical heritage. His music continues to be a companion in our journey even today. It reminds us each day how fortunate we are to inherit such a rich heritage and this is what we celebrate through the show,” Milind adds.

Niche Entertainment is responsible for curating various stage musical shows, films, television programs and music albums. Some of their programmes include Gulzar-Baat Pashmine Ki, Pancham - The Immortal Note and Jadoo - The Magic Of Javed Akhtar.

When: December 24, 9.30 pm onwards Where: Yashwantrao Chavan Natyagruha, Kothrud salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

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By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

T

he Dumru Rhythm Festival is coming to town. The country’s first and only drum festival organised by entrepreneur Amit Bharatwansh and entertainment professional Aditya Prabhu from Mumbai. Marching into its third edition, the festival this year will have numerous internationally acclaimed percussionists from India, USA, Spain, Africa and Portugal.

“The festival was initiated in 2010 because we felt the necessity to have a drum festival in India, and make people aware about percussion instruments. The following year we got an overwhelming response from the audiences, with a turnout of 10,000 people. We are now organizing the festival after a gap of two years and we are expecting a larger crowd,” says Aditya.

The three day festivities will include acts by 15 renowned drummers, a talent stage, workshops and a flea market with stalls showcasing percussion instrument. The other highlights of the festival are the graffiti and caricature artists and performances by Chenada players from Kerala, Dhak players from Kolkata and Dholki

TGS LIFE

The sound of drums

DECEMBER 19, 2015 PUNE

FEATURES

Witness world class musical acts by some brilliant percussionists from across the globe at the Dumru Rhythm festival and Lejim players from Maharashtra.

The fest kick starts with a bonfire drum jamming session. The first day will see a performance by Goa-based Bondo Fernandes.

If you are a fan of traditional instruments, then performance by Bickram Ghosh who will play the tabla, hand percussions and hand sonic, V Suresh playing ghatam and BS Arun Kumar fusing them with drums are some of the must-

watch performances.

The second day of the fest will have workshops and acts such as Laya Curry, that features Anubrata Chaterjee on tabla, Shikharnaad Qureshi on djembe, Swaminathan Selvaganesh on ghatam and khanjira, Esani Deyon on guitar, Mohini Dey on bass with Shinjini Kulkarni putting up a Kathak performance. The headlining act of the festival

will see Grammy-award winning artist Vidwan Vikku Vinayakram take on the stage. “This year, will see more collaborations and duet performances.

There are a total of 40 artists participating in the event, with two stages — the Talent Stage for upcoming artists and Dumru All Star Stage for the accomplished performers,” adds Aditya. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

Bondo Fernandes

Ranjit Barot Born into a family rooted in Indian classical music and dance, melody and rhythm has always played an important role Ranjit’s life. His flair for drums at a very young age and his understanding of sounds is what led him to become one of the finest artists in the country.

He has been described by guitar legend John McLaughlin as “one of the leading

edges in drumming”. Ranjit has always been inspired by the work of tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain as well as McLaughlin and has been featured as the drummer in John’s Grammy nominated album Floating Point.

“At the festival, I will be accompanied by Taufiq Qureshi and Selvaganesh, we will play a mixed set focusing on each other’s strength,” he says.

One of the finest musicians from Goa, Bondo is the only Indo-Latin percussionist from India. His talent and versatility has left a mark in countries like Portugal, Russia, France and England. He grew up listening to traditional Goan music along with Latin music. “My association with drums goes back in time when I was my mother’s womb. She played the traditional Goan instrument Gumot. As a child, I collected empty boxes and tried to create different sounds from them. My father became my musical mentor and I started playing for my family band,” he recalls.

Bondo played for various bands in Goa and started his professional career at the age of 12. He has also performed and recorded with the likes of Ustad Zakir Hussain, Ustad Sultan Khan and Ustad Rais Khan.

His music is a blend of Indian folk and Latin rhythms and is highly inspired by tribal sounds. “I am inspired by my own sounds. I dream about my tunes and then bring them to reality,” he adds. For the festival, Bondo has no tunes set or planned. He believes in surprising himself by playing music that comes to him spontaneously. “I will be playing drums and other fold instruments but I have not rehearsed anything. I will play whatever gets to my mind that day,” he says.

Look out for - Pandit Anindo Chatterjee will give a solo tabla performance. Pt Chatterjee will also perform along with his son Anubrata and insiders tell us their performance is absolutely not to be missed.

- Talent hunt winners Karan Chitra Deshmukh and Gopi Shravan will play a knock out set accompanied by the runners-up Anshu Venkat, Parth Ajit Joshi and Vikrant Natu.

- The festival will be anchored by the renowned Kathak exponent Rashmi Terphale Pandkar. She has been a part of The Kala Chhaya Academy of Music and Dance since her birth and is the daughter of Tabla Guru Shri Bharat Jangam.

When: December 19 and 20 Where: Showtime Arena, near Yash Petroleum, Mundhwa

Vidwan Vikku Vinayakram

TGS LIFE

DECEMBER 19, 2015 PUNE

plating

TEJAS GAIKWAD

INDULGE

The art of

Chef Anurudh Khanna tells you how one can turn the simplest dish into a visual treat with his flawless plating skills

Palak Patta Chaat

By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM

B

orn and brought up in Delhi, Anurudh Khanna dreamed of becoming a pilot but landed a course in hotel management which took him to the gorgeous locales of Shimla. After finishing his course, he got his first job as an apprentice chef at Hyatt Regency, New Delhi, where he worked for three years. He spent the longest stint in his career with the Taj Palace hotel in Delhi where he worked for eight years before finally moving to the city as an executive chef at The Westin.

He specialises in Italian and modern progressive Indian cuisine and was one of the chefs to represent Indian food at the President’s delegation at Stockholm recently which won him a lot of appreciation. Being a Punjabi, North Indian cuisine undoubtedly has a special place in his heart so when he took on the task of giving a visual lift to three simple dishes, the first thing that popped in his mind was the quintessential Baingan Ka Bharta and Gajar Ka Halwa. The idea, he says, is to plate the dishes in a contemporary manner and pique a patron’s interest.

Sharing his plating secrets while styling Palak Patta Chaat, the starter that made

him popular in Stockholm, he says, “The first thing to keep in mind while plating any recipe is to focus on the colours and texture that you can bring out of a dish rather than playing with flavours. Try and keep the taste as authentic as possible. For example, in this chaat, I have played with the flavours and textures of crispy baby spinach leaves and the creaminess of sweetened whipped

Gajar Ka Halwa

curd along with a shot glass of a mix of red and green chutney with a palak pakora in barbecue stick style. The red, yellow, green peppers along with sev and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes add an extra dash of colour to the dish.”

Similarly, you can also create a sense of height while plating that looks very appealing like the chef has done with the

Baingan Ka Bharta

bharta. “Instead of throwing away the peel, scoop out the insides of the brinjal and deep fry the outer skin along with the top part which can work as a lid. This can be used to stuff the bharta while plating. Make a bed of bharta and keep the fried outer peel stuffed with rest of the bharta. Decorate the top with fried baby red chillies and curry leaves.

Place strips of missi roti on the side and a big scoop of fresh red tomato chutney on the other side. Sprinkle crushed fried curry and mint leaves for extra flavour and colour.”

Last, but not the least, chef Anurudh gives his delicious twist to the regular gajar ka halwa by plating the dish in layers along with malpua pieces over thick rabri which makes it look nothing less than a gourmet dessert. “At home, we usually serve gajar halwa in bowls but I tried to do an experiment. If you have some leftover rabri or kheer, you can use it to dress the dish.

Make some malpua and keep aside. Take a plate, pour some rabri and place a mold in the middle. Now, carefully place a piece of malpua and cover it with a layer of halwa.

Repeat with three more layers of rabri and malpua. Now place some rose petals on top along with shavings of khoya. Sprinkle some chopped pistachio to finish.” heena.grover@goldensparrow.com

YOUR CHOW AROUND TOWN X’mas cakes at Tarta Tarta- the most popular cake shop in Pune at Doubletree

by Hilton, every year creates a wonderful gingerbread house in the Christmas month. Ginger bread house is especially made by the pastry master chefs that give you a Christmas feel at your doorstep throughout the month.

Tarta is also offering a wide range of other Christmas bakery items such as Christmas tree ginger bread cookies, Christmas pudding, Mince pie, Dundee cake, Christmas cake, Mini Panetone, Stolen and Red Velvet cookies.

When: Ongoing Where: Tarta, Double Tree By Hilton, Chinchwad

Parsi Pop-up The Secret Chulha is back with its monthly pop-up. This time around, they are bringing Villo Ankleseria delectable bonu to you at Euriska. Villo, one of the most experienced home chefs will dole out lip smacking Parsi fare from her kitchen. The dishes will comprise Akuri, a spicy Parsi masala scrambled eggs on toast; Aleti Paleti, a delicious combination of chicken liver and gizzard, stir fried in secret spices; Patrani Machi; Jardaloo Sali Boti, a flavourful

mutton curry garnished with fried potatoes apart from Chicken Dhansak, Prawns Kebabs, Dhansak Rice, Ghar ki Chapati, Lagan nu Custard, Kachumber, Saarya, Gajar nu Achar and Custard.

When: December 20 Where: Euriska, Koregaon Park

Celebrate with good food Garden Court is celebrating their 25th anniversary in style with a wonderful blend of flavorful food, wine, music and entertainment. Some of the special attractions of the 2-day festivities would be live grills and barbeque, free wine tasting, free cheese tasting, grape stomping, flair bartending with special wine based cocktails, wine bottles at discounted rates, 10 percent discount on a la carte food menu, cook-offs, flea market and activities for kids.

When: December 19 and 20 Where: Garden Court, Kothrud

Christmas Eve Dinner Enjoy an elevated Christmas Eve buffet at The Cafe with delicacies like Roast Turkey with Cranberry Sauce,

Honey Glazed Ham, Christmas Pudding, Mince Pies with a wide selection of beverages. La Terrazza is also hosting a 4-course set menu dinner with select wines. Enjoy your dinner as you listen to live carol singing and special appearances by Santa.

When: December 24 Where: Hyatt Regency Hotel, Nagar Road

RAHUL RAUT

Pickle

your taste buds This winter, create out of the box concoctions using jackfruit, bitter gourd and chicken

By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM

M

ango and lime pickle are passé, let your creative mind roll and dish out these super easy, yet healthy and delectable pickles. These home chefs have tried, tested and impressed their families by making pickles out of unusual, yet readily available ingredients.

ALOE VER A PICKLE Ingredients 3 Large Aloe Vera leaves 5 tsp Coriander powder 2 tsp of Turmeric powder 2 tsp of Red chilli powder 4 tsp fenugreek 4 tsp mustard seeds 4 tsp Cumin seeds 250 ml Sunflower oil Method: First bleed the aloe vera leaves off the yellow fluid. This is done by cutting the leaves at one end and letting them hang for approximately 15 minutes. Make sure you cut the thorns off the sides of the leaves as well. After 15 minutes, dice the aloe vera into small pieces and then wash thoroughly.

Now apply salt into the pieces dry them

under the sun for a day. The pieces will become dry, however to remove any excess moisture, deep fry till the colour changes to a light brown. Remove from the pan and keep aside. In a shallow pan, fry cumin, mustard and fenugreek seeds and then add the coriander powder to the mix. Add the aloe vera back into the pan and add the chilli powder.

Mix for two minutes and add three tablespoons of sunflower oil. Mix all the ingredients well and then place the mix in a glass jar and let it mature for 20 days.

Tip: The Aloe Vera pickle has medicinal values of improving digestion as the sun drying process ensures the pieces retain the goodness of the Aloe Vera plant.

(Recipe by Dr Devesh Gour, Principal Scientist, Indian Council of Agriculture Research) JACKFRUIT ACHAR Ingredients 1 kg Raw jackfruit ½ kg Any regular mango pickle 350 gm Mustard Oil 50 gm Crushed mustard seeds 50 gm Red chilli powder 25 gm Salt 2 tbsp Turmeric powder 2 tbsp Hing powder Method: Cut the jackfruit into small bite size pieces and the pressure cook it until party tender by adding 2 tbsp salt and red chilli powder. Remove from the

BITTER GOURD (K ARELA) PICKLE TGS LIFE Ingredients 250 gm Karela (medium size) ¼ tsp Hing powder DECEMBER 19, 2015 PUNE 2 tsp Jeera 2 tsp Crushed mustard seeds 2tbsp Red chilli powder Juice from two lemons 1tsp Turmeric powder 1 cup Mustard Oil Method: Wash and peel the gourd and cut into small cubes. Take a clean muslin cloth and put the gourd in it. Tie and put a weight on it. Let this stay for a few hours until it’s perfectly dry. Now take a large bowl and mix in the oil and all the spices. Now add the gourd and give it a good mix and store in a neat jar.

You can keep the pickle out in the sun during the day so it prepares for a four-five days.

Tip: Make sure you don’t touch a wet spoon to taste the pickle. Always use a dry and clean spoon. Once made, this pickle stays for at least 20 days.

(Recipe by By Suvarna Gaikwad, Homemaker)

FEATURES

CHICKEN PICKLE Ingredients 1kg Boneless chicken 400gm Mustard oil 100gm Ginger-garlic paste 2tsp Turmeric powder 100gm Red chilli powder 80gm Salt 2 tsp Mustard seeds ½ cup Vinegar 2 tsp Garam masala For garam masala 5-6 sticks (1inch) Cinnamon 20 nos Cloves

2tsp Black pepper corn 1tsp Green cardamom 1tsp Crushed mustard Method: Wash the chicken thoroughly and pat dry.

It is important to dry it completely for pickle. Heat oil in kadhai and add chicken pieces and fry till it releases all its moisture. Fry for a while in high flame and then fry on low flame.

Do not let the chicken burn but ensure that it is cooked well.

Remove the chicken from the kadhai and set aside.

Drain the oil and add the rest of the oil in kadhai.

Now add ginger garlic paste

cooker and drain all the water. Mix all the spices into the pieces and refrigerate it over night. Add the mango pickle, mix well and put the whole mixture into a clean and dry jar and top it with mustard oil.

Let this stay for a few days in a dry place.

Tip: It’s very important the drain the water completely from the jackfruit or the pickle will spoil.

(Recipe by By Kavita Gaikwad, Homemaker)

A riot of reds, whites and rosés

C

ome weekend and you can stomp grapes, do the salsa, swing to live bands, turn into a wine guru, participate in a ‘blind tasting’ contest, take a wine walk and go on an incredible gourmet journey.

The Pune Wine Festival is all set to introduce connoisseurs to new flavours and experiences from wineries such as Charosa, Reveilo, Oakwood, Grover Zampa, Good Drop Wine, Myra, Rhythm and others.

Sharing how this year’s festival is going to be even better, B Shankaranarayan, director of the festival says, “We do our best to provide a wholesome experience to visitors as well as aim to support the Indian wine industry. There is a major absence of genuine recognition of good wines made in India. This festival strives

and fry till it turns light brown. Now switch off the flame and add turmeric powder, chilly powder, crushed mustard seeds and garam masala (add these in same order). Now mix in the chicken pieces and add vinegar and salt. Let it cool for a while. Take a sterilised glass jar and add the entire mixture. Top it top with oil (oil works as preservative) Tip: Although the pickle is ready to eat, it will taste best when you give two-three days standing time.

(Recipe by By Poonam Roy Retd Lt Col)

to give them a platform. Also, this year, we have on board a startup called Rofr, which will deploy beacon technology developed by Google through which exhibitors at the event will be able to beam special offers and deals directly to the smart phones of all visitors at the venue and vote for their favourite wine. This will help wineries get reliable feedback from wine enthusiasts directly and in a transparent manner.”

The festival will host a formal sit down lunch prepared by the faculty and students of Maharashtra State Institute of Hotel Management & Catering Technology (MSIHMCT). The menu will feature traditional French dishes. Tulleeho, an institute that provides wine training programmes, will

conduct wine walks, wine appreciation sessions and blind tasting contests. Popular Indian wine maker Rajesh Rasal will also be present to give interesting insights on wines. From Lebanese shawarma, seafood, pizzas and pastas, there will be food courts offering a choice of delicious cuisines. A well-stocked cheese store will offer a selection of over 20 varieties ranging from smoked mozzarella, Edam to the ever popular Feta and Cambrie.

Apart from wine tasting and gourmet food, the festival will also celebrate art. Artists from Darpan Art Gallery along with artist Dipti Desai will hold a live painting session at the festival.

When: December 19 & 20, 11 am onward Where: Rohi Villa, Lane 7, Koregaon Park

TGS LIFE DECEMBER 19, 2015 PUNE

FEATURES The next adventure must be bigger He might be a scientist by profession but bikes are a huge part of Satish Patil’s life. The 41-year-old is an avid adventure enthusiast and this is almost always fuelled by his love for travelling. On a whim, he went off on a ride from Pune to Kanyakumari to kick off his crazy journey on the road of long distance adventures. Promising himself that his next adventure would be bigger than the previous one, the next trip went all the way to Ladakh. “When I started biking, whether it was a small or long trip the thrill of the trip and the satisfaction at the end was immense. Being on the bike allowed me to feel all my five senses and that was the fun of riding. I inhaled fresh air, felt the wind, heard the road, saw the most serene views and tasted cultures wherever I went. It’s a well-packaged trip when on a bike,” he says.

With an aim to cross borders, he decided to head to Singapore next. From Bhutan, he went to Nagaland, Manipur, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, back to Thailand, Malaysia and then Singapore. While the rest of the people who he travelled with stayed back in Singapore, he decided to return back solo. He came back in just 12 days when it had taken him about 28 days to get there. “Our biggest challenge on this trip was the visa process, especially in Burma.

We got our Burma visa only 12 hours before we were scheduled to enter the country.

Even after a lot of planning, we faced a lot of problems with the kind of roads that we had to cross and this is a part of the journey that you can never anticipate,” Satish tells us. He also had a lot of humbling experiences with the locals and is already planning his next trip along the Silk Route.

Travelling on

TWO WHEELS

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

W

hen Kedar Gogte decided to cycle through South Sri Lanka and follow it up with a journey through Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia, comfort was the last thing on his mind. For Rajesh Abhyankar, his biking experience in South Africa was only about soccer and his passion for bikes. Prasad Erande, who will soon embark on a world tour on his cycle, is taking his love for cycling and travelling to a whole new level.

For the regular traveller, the most important thing is

Cycling and biki country and the enthusiasts have perfect adventur

comfort, especially when we hav need for proper transportation, a idea of what lies ahead is a mu travelling enthusiasts who are a ta tickets on trains, buses or flights to speed away. Taking off with m few spare parts, mounted on their people world over are crossing b two wheelers. No matter how to these travellers love every bit of it. three cyclists from the city who travelling. They share their experi some tips to amateurs too.

Nature m

A Guinness Record journey by bicycle 31-year-old Prasad for the future. H socks manufacture 14,576 kilometres is all prepared for in a couple of wee making a world rec monotony of his da training from about journey. He started to travel from eas Kolkata, Chennai, Madagascar. The p his cycle will start towards Malaysia Singapore and the even be crossing E be flying to far-aw within the countrie For Prasad, th been getting sponso with a proper high

Prasad Erande

Biking is like meditation

Satish Patil

There probably isn’t a bigger soccer fan in Pune than Rajesh Abhyankar who has even crossed borders for the sport. Wanting to see the 2010 World Cup live, he flew to South Africa and combined the trip with an adventure he won’t forget for life. The 44-yearold decided to bike through South Africa with his friends and traverse through Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. While he had to cancel the journey through Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia because it was not quite safe, he biked to every other country as planned. Shipping their bikes to Mombasa, Kenya, the trip was planned and he was in constant touch with friends who lived there to ensure that there would be no other trouble along the way.

“Whether you travel with a group

or alone, you will always be on your own when you ride and there isn’t a better feeling. Riders always have a Plan B simply because they know that something or the other is bound to go wrong with Plan A. It is important to be prepared and ready for anything that the road might throw at you,” he says. Some things are beyond our control irrespective of the planning. In fact, you learn so much by just being on road,” he adds.

Bike journeys are the perfect change of pace that Rajesh needs after working as a training consultant in the corporate world. Even though trips like this might be an expensive affair given the visa charges, accommodation and fuel prices, the important thing to remember is that such trips offer priceless memories and life-changing experiences.

Rajesh Abhy

TGS LIFE DECEMBER 19, 2015 PUNE

ing across the globe, these travel e set the bar for the re trip quite high

e to travel long distances, the a comfortable stay and a clear ust. There are, however, some ad bit different. They don’t book or jam the keys into their cars minimal luggage, along with a r bikes and cycles, innumerable borders and touring places on ugh the road ahead might be, . TGS talks to three bikers and are in love with long distance ences, challenges and hand out

It’s a new adventure every day Since 2007, Ajit Harisinghani has been on four long distance bike journeys.

Pune to Kanyakumari was his first, followed by trips to Jaisalmer, Ladakh and then to Bhutan. He has also biked to Khardung La, the world’s highest motorable road. Every trip has only made him fall in love with biking even more and the adventure that comes with long distance journeys. Ajit truly believes that such trips are only meant for those who are prepared for the unexpected, are spontaneous, and are ready for a rough ride. “My biking trips started with small journeys from Pune to Mumbai and Goa with my wife Meena. It was after a lot of planning that I headed out to Kanyakumari for the first time. It was such an amazing experience that it has been difficult to stop myself after that,” says the 65-year-old.

Biking on Indian roads gives you a sense of alertness and defensive attitude, believes Ajit, adding that it gives you the freedom to stop anywhere and incorporate last minute plans as well. “Every trip introduces you to new people, new cultures and experiences that enrich your life.

While on road, one must always remember that a hierarchy exists. Being on a bike you are at the bottom and very often must make way and follow rules in order to survive the long duration trips,” he says. Ajit is a speech therapist by profession and has also authored two books titled, ‘The Living Road’ and ‘One Life to Ride’, documenting his journeys.

yankar (Left)

Ajit Harisinghani

A cycle lets you experience a foreign land

makes you a better cyclist

d holder for ‘The longest e in a single country’, d Erande has big dreams Hailing from Wai, the er has not only cycled throughout India but his world tour starting eks. Picking cycling and cord simply to break the aily routine, Prasad began ut three months before his d from Thailand aiming st to west. He crossed , Kerala, Pune and even plan for the world tour on from Amritsar, heading a, Thailand, Australia, e United States. He will Europe. While he will way places, he will travel es on his cycle. he biggest challenge has sors for his trip. “Starting quality cycle, the flights,

FEATURES

accommodation, visas and other expenses make the world tour quite an expensive affair. Since cycling as a sport is not much accepted or recognized in India, my biggest challenge is finding people to fund my trip. I am, however, grateful to Merida for partnering with me for my world tour,” he says.

The weather and nature is your best teacher, he believes, and says that while cycling from one place to another, the weather tells you exactly how to cycle. Since Prasad has found a new love, he has shut down his sock manufacturing unit and has become a full-time cyclist. Soon, he plans to launch a YouTube channel to become a guide for amateurs who want to embark on such trips. “My advice to amateurs is to ensure that they embrace every single moment that they are cycling. Every journey will only make you better and stronger.

The exposure to different cultures and people widens horizons and makes you a well-rounded person,” he adds.

Kedar Gogte

Cycling and adventure travelling is truly his first love. Not only does Kedar Gogte engage in long distance trips for leisure, but his work too is also just that. Running an adventure company called Green Earth Adventure, cycling for the 52-year-old is akin to breathing. Not limiting himself at all, his very first cycling trip was spread across 750 kilometres in South Sri Lanka where he covered Colombo, Nigambo and Dambora, among other places. The satisfaction and experience from the trip pushed him to plan his second trip from Hanoi in Vietnam to Kuala Lampur in Malaysia and back. He also crossed through Thailand and Cambodia on this trip. The latest trip was cycling through Portugal and Spain in March this year. “All my trips have given me memories that will last forever. I have always been an avid traveller and cycling only enriches the experience. A cycle is the best medium when one wants to see a foreign land, as that is when you truly get to see ever tiny detail of the place you are passing by or visiting,” he says.

While on a trip, the smallest details must be taken care of to ensure a safe and trouble-free journey. When in Vietnam, not knowing the language was a huge problem for Kedar. He, however, felt that being on the cycle allowed the people to be a little humble towards him and help him in any way they could. “The other thing is to be prepared for any and everything. We slept on porches outside the local houses, temples and any place we could find. Being flexible is the key to a happy trip,” he cautions. With a dream to see the world, Kedar’s next trip would probably be to New Zealand in February next year. These trips have now pretty much become a habit for him. It is only a matter of time that one gets a knack of planning the perfect, inexpensive trip, jam-packed with experiences and fun, he assures us.

Unexplored places have a charm like no other Cycling from his college days, the love for bicycles soon became a career choice for Prasad Shaligram who owns a bicycle store on Prabhat Road. It started with an automobile workshop and slowly transformed to a shop that sold imported bicycles. A few conversations with friends enticed the cyclist to venture on long distance journeys. “Travelling on a cycle, be it long distance trips or even in the city, the cyclist takes in every single detail. This is the beauty of travelling on a cycle. There is so much natural beauty all around us that gets lost when in a car or while speeding away on a bike,” says the 40-year-old.

Being a cyclist from a young age and an avid trekker, Prasad’s fitness level is great so long distances do not worry

Prasad Shaligram

him. After covering the Sahayadri range, Prasad cycled from Manali to Shimla via Spiti valley. The road passes through Lahol Valley and Rohtang Pass, covering about 800 kilometers.

Once he was back from this trip, the

experience had been so great that he began planning his next one almost immediately. Talking about the expense of such a trip and the important things to keep in mind, he says, “While trips on a cycle are obviously cheaper than a bike or a car, the expense is the initial investment. Having a good quality bike is extremely necessary. Apart from this, while travelling in remote areas one must always carry spare parts to ensure that any kind of technical difficulty is easily averted. Travelling light only makes the trips easier.” A proper check up of the cycle before taking off is an absolute must. The next cycle trip that Prasad has already begun planning is to Europe and will most definitely happen sometime next year, he hopes.

TGS LIFE

DECEMBER 19, 2015 PUNE

THRILL OF DRIVING A new variant of the Tata Safari Storme, the Safari Storme VX, is on sale now. The Safari Storme VX gets a new engine, the 2.2L VARICOR 400, which produces 400 Nm of torque and 156 PS of power. It also gets a new 6-speed manual gearbox, with a self-adjusting clutch. The fuel efficiency of the Safari Storme VX is claimed to be 13.9 kmpl.

The Safari Storme VX comes with dual SRS airbags, ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) and EBD (Electronic Brake Distribution). Ground clearance is a generous 200mm.

The CONNECTNEXT infotainment system with 6-speaker surround sound powered by Harman is new for the VX. Five colours will be available.

The Safari Storme VX is available in both 4×2, which is priced at Rs 13,25,530 and a 4×4 drive option, which is priced at Rs 14,59,952 (ex-showroom New Delhi).

More powerful SAFARI STORME arrives More power, fancy sound system

New Q7 gets less weight, more features

Audi’s new full-size luxury SUV, the Q7 makes its way to India, and this time it’s lighter than ever.

The latest iteration has shed 325kg of weight. The chassis of the latest Q7 is new and is supposed to enhance the driving experience. The motor is a 3.0-litre TDI unit, now known as ‘45 TDI’ in this form, which generates 249hp of power and 600Nm of torque. Th is takes the Q7 from 0 to 100kmph in 7.6 seconds all the way to a top speed of 234 Kmph. Mileage is a claimed 14.75 Kmpl.

Our version of the Audi Q7 also receives Quattro permanent all-wheel drive.

The new Audi Q7 will go up against the Mercedes GL-class, the BMW X5 and Volvo’s

XC90 in the segment, all of which have received some upgrades in the recent past, so it can’t be a slouch. The new Q7 includes a 31.24 cm highcontrast display with navigation, speed-fuel information and media, a BOSE 3D sound system with 19 speakers including 3D sound speakers and four-zone climate control. Also available are assistance systems like the auto park assist and 360 degree surround camera with birds eye view.

The new Q7 comes in two variants: Premium Plus, which is priced at Rs 72 lac and Technology, which is priced at Rs 77.5 lac ex-showroom Mumbai and New Delhi.

Benelli TNT 25 launched Benelli doesn’t get as much good press for their motorcycles in India despite their very competitive pricing. That should change with the launch of their new TNT 25 single-cylinder 250cc street motorcycle. At 28bhp, it’s not going to win a numbers war with the likes of KTM, but at Rs 1.68 lac and Rs 1.75 lac for the two variants, it’s certainly giving them something to think about.

The TNT 25 has been some time coming, and DSK have taken the time to tweak it for local conditions. Ground clearance, for instance, is up compared to international models. The standard and premium variants differ only in their tyre choice: the cheaper bike gets MRFs, while the more expensive one gets Metzelers. For a measly Rs 7000 difference, we’d suggest opting for the Metzelers -- the same Sportec M5s used on the KTMs -- for their superior grip.

Both types of tyres use the same sizes: 110/70-17 front and 150/60-17 rear. The TNT 25 benefits from the Benelli parts bin, using beefy 50mm shocks up front, which should be more than adequate for this 159kg bike (kerb weight).

Other components also punch above their weight. The alloys are a traditional 12-spoke design but look rather slick in slate-grey. Brake discs are petal-shaped, though modest in size.

They do use steel-braided lines, however, so feel should be nice. The engine is liquid-cooled and makes a competitive amount of power, so we expect temps to remain moderate. Benelli will be offering a host of branded accessories for the TNT 25 to allow buyers to customise their bikes with decals, colour-coordinated levers, footpegs and such. At these prices, the Mahindra 2 Wheelers has a lot to ponder about their recently-launched Mojo.

TGS LIFE

DECEMBER 19, 2015 PUNE

FEATURES

Allowing children to be themselves is the best way to teach and make them grow, believes this Pune based artist and teacher

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

I

An educationist with a difference

t’s been nine years that Shraddha Shah has been teaching small children. Always wanting to become a teacher, she managed to turn her passion into her profession.

Hailing from Mumbai the creative and vivacious 30 year old began teaching at the

young age of 17. Making it her pet project, she started her own venture called Creative Arts and Talent Search (CATS) while she was still in college. She later took a break to pursue a degree in early child care education from SNDT College in Juhu, Mumbai. Sharing with us her journey, the reason behind doing what she does and her future plans, Shraddha has so much to tell us.

Ace of illusions

A creative person at heart, she trained in Indian Classical music both instrumental and vocal for four years and then did another two years of Western music. Nots topping at this she did a short time of theatre and pursued dancing as a hobby too. Packed with all the artistic abilities and the want to teach, she decided to channel her creativity and help young children explore theirs. “What I do

This weekend, Jitendra Raghuvir readies to enchant the audience with his magic tricks

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

A

bracadabra, he chants, as he slowly moves he fingers over a glass can fi lled with water, he rubs it with his palm, and the audience is left in awe as the can is suddenly left empty. Jitendra Raghuvir is no stranger to the world magic.

Th ree generations of the Raghuvir family have mesmerised the audience with through their magic shows in India and abroad, and the tradition continues.

Jitendra attributes his success to his father. “I’ve always wanted to be a magician and I have attended magic shows with my father. I gave my fi rst performance when at 5 years old and it was because of my father that I was recognised everywhere,” he says.The magician’s famous tricks include a flying box, cutting a person into two and the famous Indian rope trick. Over the years, he has created his own style and added technology to up the level of the performance. He has performed all over India, USA, Europe, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Middle East.

“My favourite tricks include chair vanish – double exchange mystery, where a magician covers the person sitting on the chair and then he disappears. Also, I like the super air levitation trick. But creating magic does not come easy. We have to be careful about several things, like the originality of the trick, the storyline associated with it, the mindset of the audience,

etc,” he says.

Jitendra believes in magic being an illusion that is not just for kids but for grown-ups too. Yet, the limitation of stage facilities and audiences showing little interest in supporting the art is what upsets him. “Bigger tricks, like cutting a man into two, are understood better by adults than by kids. People here love magic. I get an overwhelming response at every show but magic needs to get a better platform in India,” he adds.

It takes months of practice and hard work to incorporate some tricks and illusions into the show. Jitendra makes sure that it is absolutely safe to perform and no harm would be caused to anyone. “I was once performing a French magic trick wherein we use the neck chopping machine.

I called for a volunteer from the audience. A young boy came forward and we were in the middle of the trick when his mother came to me pleading that he was her only son and she didn’t want him to die. I had to convince her that her son would be fine. I am extra careful and feel responsible for each of my tricks,” he says.

When: December 20, 5 pm Where: Annabhau Sathe Auditorium, Katraj zainab.kantawalagoldensparrow.com

at CATS, is different and unique in so many ways. My degree in early child-care education along with my creative side allows me to create a curriculum for the children, which is well-rounded. My focus is on allowing them to explore themselves and their capabilities better and this I believe is what every child today needs,” she tells us.

Using drama, speech, music and dance, she is able to make the children think out of the box and tap their creative side.

Believing strongly in innovation, creativity and expression, the 100 children that are currently enrolled at CATS are strong on all these aspects. “I remember a four year old walking up to me and asking me if he could Google the way out a problem that I had asked them to solve. Th is made me realise the need for getting our children out of the technological trap to a world where they feel that they are competent enough to think and solve problems by themselves,” she says.

Starting the centre in Pune in March this year the response has been great.

What she feels most proud about is when children are able to apply what she teaches them at home. The feedback she gets tells her, how the parents too are learning from their children and are actually spending time with them helping them solve their problems rather than dumping them on the internet. Her curriculum includes everything from movement and dance to one act plays and musicals, jingles, mimes and choral recitation. Children get to be children, have fun and in exchange take home with them a better understanding of how much they are capable of and how to tackle things that don’t have the easiest of solutions. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

DECEMBER 19, 2015 PUNE

FEATURES

Traditional art can only survive if it is learned and practised correctly. These artist are determined to continue with their mission to keep the arts alive

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

I

t’s easy for someone to learn a skill, but it may take ages to learn a tradition. Whether it is pottery or just the symmetric designs of warli, it takes artistic excellence to master a legacy that dates back to over a hundred years.

These traditional arts are still fascinating because they narrate a story of another age and time.

Their intricacy and detailing gives another dimension to the art. Meet some individuals from the city who are playing their part to protect our glorious traditions. Their way of operating may be different but their aim is to preserve and glorify the arts.

Surendra Majgavkar with his puppet

TUSHAR PAKHARE: GODHADI MAKING Inspired by his grandmother, Tushar started a social initiative ‘Mother Quilts’ in order to preserve the traditional art of quilt-making as well as help women from the scheduled caste and tribes. He trains them and

VISHAL KALE

SURENDRA MAJGAVKAR: PUPPETRY Inclined towards puppetry since childhood, until today the artist has performed at over a thousand shows all over India. His puppets are small in size, but are adorned with beautiful ornaments and are carved from wood. He also uses a hand puppet which is a furry little monkey. Two assistants render the songs and provide background music for his shows. “My imagination has always been active.

I loved watching the kathputli act as a child and told stories using objects. I grew up with this and decided to make this my career,” says Surendra. He is a self-taught artist who continues the tradition even though it is on the decline. The biggest challenge that he faces today is to find a puppetfriendly stage or auditorium.

“People are not aware of how much effort goes into puppet theatre.

G o o d sound a n d light quality, s t r o n g voice and their proper movements play an important role. We rehearse for hours to make s u r e everything is perfect and in sync,” he says. He focuses on intriguing story lines and music to get the audience gripped to the performance.

SHRIKANT PRADHAN: MINIATURE PAINTINGS Shrikant Pradhan is one of city’s most renowned miniature artists working with Deccan College as an art historian and is currently researching ancient paintings of Maharashtra. A self taught artist, he finds it extremely important to restore the tradition of making the colours and the techniques that were originally used by the artist who painted Ajanta caves.

An antique wooden desk occupies a corner of his living room. The desk is his ‘mini studio’. Inside it is his stock of mineral colours and vegetable dyes, neatly stocks in marble bowls. “I use semi precious stones and vegetable dyes to make colours. If I want a deep blue shade then I use turquoise or a stone called lapis lazuli.

They are powdered and mixed with gum. Sometimes, I use pure gold too. It is important to replicate the style of ancient artists if you are making something traditional like a Deccani style painting,” he says. The Maratha artists of the 17th century used the same method to make colours, he points out.

He is the only one in the city to follow the age old trend and has made it his life mission to bring the 16th and 17th century Miniature Deccani art to life again. “It is only when one knows about the history behind the art that they will know about the minute detailing and symbolism. The style is almost forgotten and that is why it’s my aim to revive it,” he says. It takes him about eight months to finish one standard size painting.

markets their products through Facebook. “I have grown up watching my grandmother make colourful godhadis (quilts). So I thought of learning the art myself and then passing it on to others. I discussed the idea with her and she was happy to help,” says Tushar.

His aim is to create sustainable economic opportunities for the women and encourage financial independence. He has trained more than 50 women who are now making a living practicing the art. “We motivate women from small

villages across Maharashtra to come and train with us. We help them find customers through our Facebook page,” he says.

All the intricate weaving work is done by the women as it has been for centuries. The quilts are handstitched and the machine is used only to bind the patches together. “Each godhadi takes around seven days and the material used is either khadi or cotton. We make them from fresh materials and sometimes also from old saris or cloth just like how my grandma created them,” he adds.

RAHUL RAUT

Keeping the tradition alive

TGS LIFE

KALA RAMESH: HAIKU Haiku is one of the most important form of traditional Japanese poetry that is not more than three lines.

Kala Ramesh, an exponent of Hindustani Classical Music, was bitten by the haiku-bug in 2005.

Since then, she has explored various genres like haiku, tanka, senryu, haibun and renku, and now is the director of the World Haiku Club in India. “My brother did mention the existence of a type of poetry called ‘haiku’ as early as 1998, when we were discussing

Hindu philosophy but that passed me by like an autumn breeze. I came upon haiku accidentally through an online Indian poetry site. I downloaded their lessons on haiku and started to write. Then, I tried writing haiku based on music

“We rehearse for hours to make sure everything is perfect and in sync” - Surendra Majgavkar

without any connection to nature.

Blissfully unaware of haiku’s subtle nuances, I began to submit my work within a week. Every rejection made me look at my work through the editor’s eyes and I think that helped a lot,” says Kala.

Haiku is a Japanese art form that is more than 400 years old. Based on seasonal references, it has fascinated Indian poets like Rabindranath Tagore and Subramanya Bharathi, at the beginning of the 20th century.

“Haiku and tanka are strong in concrete images. Haiku is about how we juxtapose these images to create a resonance is where the magic lies.

Each haiku is a challenge. It is a type of poetry that can be written on many themes, from love to nature.

It consists of just three lines and 17 syllables,” she adds. zainab.kantawala @goldensparrow.com

RAHUL RAUT

When you getting your TEDx license?

troubles and challenges that the organisers face.

Vedant who had arranged Pune’s first Youth TEDx, believes that he could have done better when it came to organising the event. There were some problems with recording the event, but now he knows exactly what to do for the next event. For Harsh, getting together a team that works without too much of a hassle is his biggest challenge. For an event like this where there is so much co-ordination and networking required the core team must be rock solid in all the events ups and downs.

Although Pooja has not arranged her first event, she has assisted in organising a few back home in Ahmedabad and knows exactly how things work. “The biggest challenge I believe is curating the content. Even while picking a theme it is necessary to keep in mind that speakers be as diverse as possible so that they cater to a larger audience and that there is still a common thread in all the talks,” says the 19 year old. Agreeing to her Shefali adds that the event on a whole must be formal and informal

Shefali Panse

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

T

Harsh Agarwal

DECEMBER 19, 2015 PUNE

FEATURES

With hundreds of people sharing their inspiring stories and getting inspired by others talks, appreciating the people who work hours at an end to put together such events becomes a must. Meet four TEDx organisers from the city, who decided to shoulder the responsibility

here are a lot of people across the world who are have fought the odds and achieved all the success and fame that they deserve. These people are more than anything else a source of inspiration for the hundreds of people who just need a little bit of push in life. This inspiration is the key for success, innovation and doing something out of the box. When inspiration, willingness and courage to do something exists the one thing posing a problem is an opportunity. Combining the two biggest things that can drive people to success, TED which is essentially a platform to share ideas was organised in the form of a technology, entertainment and design conference for the first time in 1984.

Spreading stories and inspiring everyone that heard the stories was the main idea behind TED. While this was happening in the US, the organisation wanted to reach out to as many people as possible even if it meant having partners and collaborations world over. This is how TEDx was born. Since Pune has already

TGS LIFE

Vedant Lamba

Pooja Yadav

seen quite a few of these talks, TGS decided to meet with the organisers and get a feel of the kind of people working on these events. All below 21, these four licensed TEDx organisers shared with us, the reason they became a part of this, the challenges they face and the need for such a platform.

and thought that they had great ideas to share.

She wanted to just give them that platform and hope that others would share and appreciate the ideas. A Symbiosis School for Liberal Arts first year student Pooja Yadav joined TED to bring this platform to her college and benefit the students. Hoping that she can get experts and the best people from the field to interact with the students, she shall soon be having her very first TEDx next year. From the same college.

Harsh Agarwal, 19 also from Symbiosis School for Liberal Arts, who hails from Bhilwara, Rajasthan has been organising talks in his hometown for a while now.

“Bhilwara is a small place and has a lot of scope for growth and change. There is never a need to bring in people from other countries to talk to them, as the locals itself have ideas and stories that are worth sharing.

I have seen the positive change these talks have got in the people who attend them and I couldn’t be happier that I am able to bring this platform to them,” he tells us.

BEING WHEELS OF CHANGE With his boards in just two months, 16 year old Vedant Lamba, now studying at Ness Wadia College, Pune was watching videos on the TED website hoping to get inspired. Clicking the participate button on a whim, he was not at all expecting to hear back. About a month later he had his TEDx license. “My main intention behind being a part of this was two-fold.

Not only did I want to give a platform to those who wanted to share and were capable of being inspirations, I also wanted to help inspire others,” he says.

With almost the same intention, Shefali Panse, 21, who is in her final year of chemical engineering at Vishwakarma Institute of Technology, Pune too applied for the license. She - Shefali Panse had heard a lot of people speak

“You never know how one individual’s story can change another’s life”

FACING CHALLENGES When arranging events of such a big scale there are bound to be

at the same time and striking this balance is extremely necessary.

NEED OF THE HOUR All these four young orgnisers wholeheartedly believe in the power of inspiration.

“Apart from the fact that these talks act as inspirations, you never know how one individual’s story can change another’s life.

Given the society we live in today, positive stories that give people hope of a better future is a must. Its about changing and inspiring one person at a time,” says Shefali.

Vedant who does filmmaking and photography as a hobby knows that everyone has a different perspective on things. Keeping this in mind it is only sharing of these varied perspectives that give people a well-rounded understanding of a particular topic. This is truly needed today. Harsh also feels that the platform puts everyone on an equal platform and anyone and everyone can share their story. He added that, each time the talks are poles apart even if they are on the same topic, bringing in variation and increasing acceptance of varied opinions. Pooja on the other hand promises that sharing of ideas adds value to them and the one sharing them. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

DECEMBER 19, 2015 PUNE

SHOPPING

TEJAS GAIKWAD

SP

14

TGS LIFE

Shop till you drop

Bling Belt

This red colour funky belt can be worn with a plain skirt or even teamed up with a solid coloured tunic.

Where: Shop No 5 Price: Rs 120

I

f you are the one who loves junk jewellery, affordable yet trendy shoes, bags and other accessories, then Hong Kong lane is a place just for you. A small narrow lane connecting Deccan and FC Road, Hong Kong lane is packed with vendors selling everything that spells fashion. Once you walk into the lane, it is unlikely that you will emerge on the other side with nothing in your hands.

Gold leaf earrings

No matter how simple your outfit is this piece of jewellery is sure add cheer your mood. Be it an ethnic wear or a dress these earrings are a perfect pick to enhance your look all day along.

Where: Shraddha Store Price: Rs 90

Go black and white

Whether you are having a day out on a beach or just strolling around in the sun, this hat is a perfect add on with whatever you wear.

Where: Evergreen Novelties Price: Rs 250

Pretty Red Sling For your eyes only

With smart style and fun colour, this sunglasses will easily merge with your fun, playful personality.

Where: Evergreen Novelties Price: Rs 250

Silver earcuff

Add this earcuff to your look next time you head out for a party to make a fashion statement that’s entirely unique and personal.

Where: Shraddha Store Price: Rs 80

Flaunt Red shoes Blue canvas shoes

Get hold of this unique and funky pair of shoe and team it up with any casual wear. Rich colour and sturdy material makes this perfect for daily use.

Where: Rose Footwear Price: Rs 250

Look fashionable in this pair of flats. It will provide you with maximum comfort. You can club it with western outfits and accesories.

Where: Shop No 9 Price: Rs 280

This uber-cool and chic bag can make any outfit come alive. This wonder bag is sure to fetch you many compliments by the onlookers.

Where: Shop No 6 Price: Rs 250

Skeleton print back pack

For those who like to experiment their style, this backpack is perfect. The skeleton print will give you trendy and cool look.

Where: Queen Street Price: Rs 600

Orange is in

These pair of shoes are both chic and sexy. You can pair them with any ethnic wear, or just a plain kurta and you are good to go.

Where: Vardha Footwear Price: Rs 250

Get gorgeous, her way!

A baker, a marathon runner, a foodie and a fitness aficionado, Smita Kulkarni is all this and more

By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM

A

fter having her son around 13 years ago, Smita started working out and soon got back in the perfect shape by eating right and healthy and staying active through running.

She is the perfect yummy mummy that every woman aspires to be. Let’s hear out her mantra of staying fit and gorgeous.

MORNING My routine has changed since the past six months as I am training to run a marathon on January 17 for the Mumbai Marathon - SCMM. So thrice a week - Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, I go to run at the racecourse for which I get up at 5 am. I have two glasses of warm water first thing and then make my ginger tea and have it after about 10 minutes. Then get ready and just before leaving for my running routine, I have a banana.

I start off with some warming up and dynamic stretches. After the run, I stretch again and then have my protein shake which I carry with me. On Sundays we do a long run - anywhere between 15-25 km for which I carry dates with me to keep myself fuelled and two litres of water to have before, during and after the run. Twice a week, that is Monday and Wednesday, I hit the gym where I concentrate on strength training my legs, upper body, abs and core and end all this with 15-20 minutes of meditation. Mondays are also massage days as my body craves for it after my long run on Sunday. I have my breakfast around 8.30-9 pm which consists of one whole egg and one egg white. I make this fruit salad with half a banana, half an apple, papaya, five soaked almonds, yoghurt and top it with roasted ground flaxseeds. Some days I may have oats with banana and some days, peanut butter sandwich and milk.

This keeps me quite full till lunch time. Saturdays are rest days.

Since I am a baker, I start to work on my orders after breakfast depending on how many orders I have and also plan out meals and cook for my family which I love doing.

TGS LIFE

DECEMBER 19, 2015 PUNE

FEATURES RAHUL RAUT

NOON I normally have a light lunch like a pasta salad with chicken, poha, idli or dosa at 1.30 pm. I try and take an hour’s nap in the afternoon which refreshes me completely. At 4.30 pm, I have my ginger tea again with either cream cracker with peanut butter or rusk.

Evenings I step out again for a walk, have coconut water around my area and catch up with friends.

NIGHT After I come back, I have a guava around 7.30 pm Dinner with my family is at 8.30 pm. My dinner consists of brown rice with either dal and veggies or chicken, mutton and fish. I am a rice eater and avoid wheat as much as possible. I love cooking, so I make all this in various ways and not necessarily Indian cuisine and in minimal oil. I do have a sweet tooth but try and stay away from it. To satisfy my craving I keep peanut chikki in the house which I have when I feel like and then I am off to bed by 10.30 pm.

SMITA KULKARNI Age: 43 Weight: 56 kg Height: 5’ 6”

EXPERT SPEAK

HER MANTRA • There are days when I do indulge during vacations but see to it that I balance it out the next day or when I get back. Even when I go for a vacation, I always carry my running shoes and try and go for a run whenever possible.

• Sundays are cheat days when it comes to food after my long run. I eat and I drink anything and everything I want.

• For supplements, I take a calcium tablet on an empty stomach and a multivitamin after breakfast. I have about 3-4 litres of water and two cups of green tea every day and I have Isabgol every night before sleeping.

• Moderation is the key. Exercise regularly, do what you love and stay regular with it. It could be walking, running, zumba, pilates, yoga or weight training. Try and play some sport, portion control your food. Don’t go by your weight. Check your inches regularly. Meditate and try to stay stress free.

That’s the key to fitness and make that your lifestyle. heena.grover@goldensparrow.com

Atul Kurpe, Director, Focus Five Fitness Club

After the morning workout, take some amount of simple carbohydrates along with the protein shake. For breakast, along with the fruit salad, have heavy breakfast with complex carbohydrates. Try to minimise the huge gap between breakfast and lunch and have a little fruit around 11.30 am. It is not advisable to have pohe, dosa or any snack during lunch. Eat a complete meal containing good amount of carbs, protein and fibres. Since you are a runner, have around five-six litres daily .

Expert rating: 8/10

Twist, braid & bun!

H

ere are the latest hair trends to doll you up this New Year,

by Aakriti Kochar, beauty and make-up expert • Twist it up: Ditch dressy buns instead opt for casual twisted buns this new year. This is something one can do at home and doesn’t need to be a professional to do it. Yet it is clean and chic to match both Indian and western attire • She Bangs: No longer fear those bangs, opt for switches / extensions to sport these on the days you like without trimming your hair. Front heavy bangs to swept across forehead, bangs are definitely making a big come back in 2016 • Neat braids: Stepping away from the loose, bohemian messy braids to neater, cleaner braids this season. Neater braids have subtle texture and can be worn with day time dresses and to work.

• Tuck it up: Tuck your hair naturally into a leather tie, or a ribbon like how one causally tucks hair into their jackets in winters. This way you sport a good hair accessory and don’t look over done also • Statement hair pieces / accessories: Whether straight or curly, keep your hair simple when open and dramatize with a statement hair accessory like a feather jewelry or flowery head band.

• Low Pig tails: Pig tails from school days were popularly seen on runaways is an upcoming trend for 2016. Tie them low and close together, embellished with a statement hair piece can be smartly worn in the evenings with dresses, gowns or jumpsuits.

• French twist with a makeover: Wear a French twist with an accessory, this can be mid length and low with a bow or ribbon, one may even choose to twist the leave the ends loose • Leather it up: Leather bands, accessories with simple hair ties, knots, slick straight hair and even curly can be sported this

coming year in solid colors. It has definitely replaced the gold options • Pinned Slick Straight hair: Deep side parts in straight hair, twists, and side bags neatly pinned behind the hair look feminine and chic with almost everything from evening dresses, to casual’s shorts, denims, boyfriend shirts.

• 60’s bouffants: Bouffants are an all-time favorite since 60’s whether it be to glam it up on a special occasions and dress up even the simplest of dresses. These look great and shout confidence. The idea is to back comb your crown area and team up with the half tie up trend or pull out those slick bangs front ways or side swept.

• Soft crimps: Crimps are very popularly seen on the ramp every year, these look very soft and girly • Faux bob: Not everyone wants to chop their hair and sport a bob, which is why fake bobs are popularly. Tie your hair with a hair tie or ribbon into a loose ponytail, roll up this ponytail and tuck it inside to make a bob.

As told to Heena Grover Menon