TGS Life 13/02/2016

PUNE, FEBRUARY 13, 2016 | www.thegoldensparrow.com

Journeying through

MEMORY LANE You may have seen them all on the silver screen when they were much younger. These child actors have always been surrounded by the limelight and have now grown up to be gorgeous, mature stars

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Avdhoot Gandhi and his group performing on the teachings of Sant Tukaram

TGS LIFE FEBRUARY 13, 2016 PUNE

STAGE With a theme like transcendence that connects each performance, you most definitely do not want to miss this mystical concert

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

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repare to be mesmerised by the magic of sufi singers like Parvathy Baul, Avdhoot Gandhi and his group, Madan Gopal Singh and Chaar Yaar and Timmu Gulfam and his group as they take stage at the sufi and mystic music festival this year. Attending Ruhaniyat is the perfect way to begin your weekend and unwind through the week’s stress. Organised by Mumbai-based cultural organisation Banyan Tree Events, the festival see’s the best of artists take you on a dreamlike journey.

Representing the lok sangeet of Maharashtra, every song by Avdhoot Gandhi and his group will leave you with a message.

Chanting the teachings of saints in a manner that appeals to all, Avdhoot is a pujari at the Dynaneshwar temple in Alandi and has dedicated his life to spread the work and teachings of Sant Tukaram. Reciting a few lines for us, he says, “God is in ourselves, you just need to know how to look for him. Our performance is about things we should know about ourselves and it is something that will

Experience a blissful journey appeal to all age groups.”

Believing that the songs she sings are a representation of her mood and frame of mind at that time, Parvathy Baul, who hails from West Bengal, has no idea what she will be singing at the performance. “I feel the resonance of the day before picking my songs. It is based solely on an intuition of what I would relate to on the day,” she says. She believes that since the state of mind is constantly changing you might not land up singing a song correctly if your mind is elsewhere and so she never knows what she will sing till she is on stage. To her, songs are the spoken truth of a tradition that has

existed over generations and entertainment is only a by-product.

Like Parvathy and Avdhoot, other artists too bring their own style, essence and charm to stage.

Their songs are sure to send you on a spiritual journey. Irrespective of the music that you love, experiencing the Sufi musical journey will be nothing short of bliss. While this is the 15th edition of Ruhaniyat, the experience will be just as if it was the first.

When: February 13, 6:30 pm onwards Where: Empress Botanical Gardens. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

Parvathy Baul hailing from West Bengal during one of her performances

Lord of the Strings are taking over

This weekend, watch as the artists play some all-time favourites, both Hindi and English, from the 60s, 70s and 80s

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

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e was only 14 years old, when he touched the guitar for the very first time. It did not take him long to fall in love with it and stick with it for the rest of his life. A Physics teacher at a school in Khapoli, Deaver Richies gave up his teaching career because of his love for music, when he moved to Pune in 2006. He started a guitar coaching class in the city and, in the last decade has taught hundreds of children.

All set to perform at Phoenix Market City this weekend, his troupe of 100 guitarists, who go by the name Lord of the Strings, are sure to stun everyone that passes by.

On the eve of Valentine’s Day, all of Deaver’s students, be it the youngest one who is in the second grade to the eldest one who is about 61 years old, will play tunes of some of the most hit songs from 60s, 70s and 80s. This is the fifth time that they will be performing in a mall and the reason for their song collection rests on their previous experience. When they played heavy metal songs on the guitar in the malls, no one was able to connect with the guitarists.

Playing something that everyone is familiar with, they hope will be able to get the attention

of the passers-by. “Since a mall has a floating audience, you have to play tunes that have been hit numbers and those that are famous across all generations. Only then will you be able to attract them,” says Deaver. The group shall be performing some hits like Summer of 69, songs

by Eagles, OP Nayyar as well as the Bollywood movie Rock On.

The idea of having such a mix, diverse and large group of people performing together struck the 58-year-old musician when someone in an interview asked him, why he didn’t play bigger groups. That is when he decided to organise a show that showed the talent of all his 100 students. “I would love to do these shows more often but space is a big issue for me. Once in two

months, when I want all my students to jam together, I often have to rent a place,” he laughs.

Playing in an open space like a mall is extremely different from playing in an auditorium. The acoustics are extremely different in both places and this makes a world of a difference. There are a lot of distractions in the open space, in terms of sound and people around. Such open places can often be a true test of the musician’s calibre.

Deaver has a two-fold intention behind the concept. When all his students perform together it gives the ones who have been learning for just a little while to see how much more there is to learn and what all they can achieve. Even when though everyone is in a different stage of learning the instrument, while playing the same song, Deaver is able to balance. It creates a melody which is in full-sync and extremely pleasing to the ears.

When: February 13, 5 to 7 pm Where: Phoenix Marketcity, Viman Nagar salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

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Ivan Brandon is excited to see comics through the ‘India lens’

TGS LIFE FEBRUARY 13, 2016 PUNE

ENTERTAINMENT

The famous creator of some of the best DC and Marvel Comics, will be a part of Pune’s first-ever Comic Con. Read on to find out about his journey as a writer-editor and what he expects from the event

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

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rowing up surrounded

by Marvel Comics like Daredevil, Spider-Man, Iron Man and Secret Wars, New York-based Ivan Brandon sketched out his first comic when he was just 10 years old. He was studying art around David Mazzucchelli, at the time. Daredevil was his favourite comic character as a child and, even today, his work has been greatly influenced by it.

Ask him about his journey as a writer and editor of comic books and he says that he loves the fact that he has spent the last 14 years trying to work with the most interesting people he could encounter. With every person he met, he tried to figure out a point where they could work together to figure out the best way to elevate a story. Sometimes, he works on others’ projects doing things he is good at, like editing.

His main intention when he does this is to try and make great comics, whether his own or someone else’s.

For Ivan, the world, people he meets, and, in fact, anything that surprises and excites him becomes his source of inspiration. He uses the inspiration to create something that he hopes will bring out the same emotion in his readers. “My biggest challenge is that there is not enough time in a day. I also feel that I will never be as talented as I want to be,” he tells us, when asked about the challenge of creating comics. Had he not been a writer, he would probably have been an astronaut, assassin or food taster, he laughs. The best part about his job, he points out, is that every day an amazing artist takes a concept from his head and sends him their realisation and interpretation of the concept on paper. “It is exhilarating every time, to see your ideas come to life, better than your own vision of them,” he adds.

Comic Cons, he believes, are a very unique way to coordinate mutual interests. As a writer who has created a lot of his own projects, it’s always been essential to try to bring that work directly to new people and this is the correct platform, according to him. He is

super excited about the comic con in Pune, “This is my chance to talk to readers and experience a different culture. India fascinates me and I am excited to see comics through her lens.”

He is the author of the famous DC Comics’ Final Crisis Aftermath:

Doctor turns film director Pune-based Dr Ambarish Darak makes his directorial debut in the Marathi film Anuraag that has been shot entirely in LehLadakh

By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM

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he film is based on true life stories, declares a disclaimer. It explores the experiences of couples facing a midlife crisis and reaching a stage where they start falling apart, without any specific reason. Dr Ambarish Darak, who is one of the renowned refractive surgeons in the country is making his directorial debut with the film, which, he says, is a compilation of real stories of couples he has come across as a doctor.

Unlike most directors who work with a long script and a clear idea on hand, he had nothing of the sort planned, except his vision

of how the film should touch the lives of people. With just a few lines scribbled down on the paper, he approached many actors before finally signing on Mrunmayee Deshpande and Dharmendra Gohil who are the only actors that you will see in the film besides the third role, being played by the location itself.

“I sent both actors a synopsis of the film script on Whatsapp and they agreed to do the film,” laughs Dr Darak. Adding that the youth may not be able to relate to the film as it does not feature any peppy songs or high drama. The film talks about the subject of mid-life crisis by telling a journey of the couple who decide to travel all the way to Ladakh, from where they had begun their journey to find their love back. “As a doctor, you meet so many people on a daily basis and while treating them, many

a times, you get to know about their lives very closely. These days, so many couples end up splitting simply because they have run out of patience or are just not on the same page in life. They fight for no particular reason and get distant because of a combination of multiple small and big circumstances. This is what I have tried to explain and show through the film,” says Dr Darak.

There are not many dialogues in Anuraag either, says Mrunmayee who is very excited about this venture. “Most of the time, the film shows the different emotions of the protagonists through their expressions and body language which is one of the most intriguing things about the film.” The actor loves reading people’s minds and says that she has a strong sense of understanding human

Escape and Kobra and Secret Invasion from the Marvel Comics’.

He has also co-created Viking, The Cross Bronx, NYC Mech and the Eisner-nominated anthology series 24Seven. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

nature which helped her a lot in playing her character with ease, even though the script provided to her and Dharmendra was very short. The team would chalk out one scene after the other after the initial narration with inputs from the crew members. The most challenging part being surviving in the extreme weather conditions at 18,000ft above sea level where the crew had a tough time even breathing.

Recalling one instant when Mrunmayee had to jump into the freezing water of one of the lakes in Leh, Dr Darak says, “She braved the chilly waters and fell extremely ill, but she got up again to continue the shoot which is commendable. One or the other crew member would fall sick everyday due to the low oxygen level but we managed to pull it off and finished the schedule in less than 22 days.” Mrunmayee remembers a similar instance when she was very upbeat to start the shoot one day and as soon as she reached the spot, she collapsed after getting off the bus. “We had a good laugh after that as I said it was a plus point to have a director who is also a doctor which came in handy at the sets,” Mrunmayee chuckles.

Slated to be released across Maharasthra, Anuraag was recently screened at the Pune International Film Festival. It is directed as well as produced by Dr Ambarish Darak. The association between Mrunmayee and Darak will go a step further as they are soon making another film together on relationships which will launch Mrunmayee as the director in the Marathi film industry. The actor was last seen playing Nana Patekar’s daughter in the critically-acclaimed Natsamrat. heena.grover@goldensparrow.com

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TGS LIFE FEBRUARY 13, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES Artsphere, in collaboration with Naad, will perform a classic rendition of Odissi at Balaji Temple in Koregoan Park this weekend, dedicating their performance to Lord Krishna and the festival of Vasant Ritu

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

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hile performers across the city are performing in auditoriums and alternative spaces, some dancers are going back in time and dancing in temples. Almost similar to the Devdasi tradition, these dancers will dedicate an hour-long ode to Lord Krishna on the auspicious day of Saraswati Puja.

Classical dance forms are a deep-rooted and integral part of the Indian culture and have been around for centuries. While some dancers are giving it their own touch by creating a fusion between these age old dances and relatively newer forms like HipHop and Contemporary dance, others are going back to performing the most basic and purest forms. Anubha Doshi, one of the members of the troupe, tells us that their performance, titled Leela, is a tribute to Lord Krishna and is extremely spiritual in nature.

There is a different kind of joy in performing in a temple, they point out. “Not only is it a joyful experience for the audience but one that truly tells them about a culture. As dancers,

Aparna Gandhi and her students in collaboration with Artsphere rehearsing for their Odissi performance

They’re keeping temple performances alive

it brings us closer to God,” says Anubha.

For her, the spiritual aspect of an Odissi performance is heightened when she performs in a temple.

Unlike an auditorium, the temple has a very informal setting. They never perform with their back to the deity and the audience

is seated before them. While there are some people seated right in front of them, there are always people who come to the temple to pray and wait around for a while to see the performance. “Whatever we perform is like an offering to God. Our intention is never to entertain,” adds Anubha. One of the other

For all the lovers in the city Valentines Day social

Start your Valentines Day celebration with quirky, unconventional and unique love stories. Enjoy a special screening of the movie in a rooftop venue with your Valentine. In Ruby Sparks Calvin (Paul Dano) is a young novelist who achieved phenomenal success early in his career but is now struggling with his writing - as well as his romantic life. Finally, he makes a breakthrough and creates a character named Ruby who inspires him. When Calvin finds Ruby (Zoe Kazan) in the flesh, sitting on his couch about a week later, he is completely flabbergasted that his words have turned into a living, breathing person totally in love with him. The screening will be followed by a Latin dance and Tango social and few games. Open skies, a quirky

City lovers are in for a treat this Valentine’s Day as these places bring you an array of options to celebrate the spirit of love

romantic film, cocktails and a dance social, what else can you ask for.

Where: Lost The Plot, Aundh

Traffic Light Party

This Valentine’s Day, head to The Little Door for a colourful party. Wear the right colour to send the right signal. Collect your bands at the entrance and let others know your intention by wearing these colours: Red means you are taken, Amber highlights that may or may not be interested whereas Green is the signal that you are single and definitely in the mood to mingle. You’ll also find a selection of dangerously funky and criminally danceable tunes wafting through the speakers and caressing your ears, whispering

sweet nothings until you give in and wreck havoc on the dancefloor.

Where: The Little Door, Kalyani Nagar

Dinner and Violin

Spend a special evening at Courtyard

by Marriott Pune City Centre as MoMo Café rolls out a lavish buffet featuring authentic Lebanese, Italian, Indian and Continental dishes including live food counters. The poolside restaurant will also have a 10 feet high heartshaped light installation along with candles on tables. Adding to the mood will be the notes of a violinist who will provide the perfect background score for your romantic night out. They also have a photo-booth for the couple to take back memories from a wonderful Valentine’s night.

reasons why the dancers decided to perform in a temple is to bring traditional dance forms in their purest forms before the cosmopolitan east-end of Pune.

The evening will be divided between five different performances. The first is called Swaagatam, which depicts the adoration of the gopis of Mathura for their beloved Krishna.

This will be followed by Vasanta Pallavi, which is the season of spring and brings along with it the song of the cuckoo bird and the dance of the peacocks. Lord Krishna too is at his best during this season and weaves his magic through this flute.

Next is the dance of Radha Rani which is the troupe’s presentation of an Oriya song describing the divine dance of Radha and Krishna. This is followed by a pure dance piece depicting the various postures in a presentation called Kalavati Pallavi. Next, is an abhinaya on an Oriya poem, Leela Needhe He. The last part of the performance is Dashaavtaar which speaks of Lord Vishnu’s incarnations. The entire piece has been choreographed by Naad founder Aparna Gandhi. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

Where: MoMo Cafe, Courtyard By Marriott Pune City Centre, Bund Garden

Dance and Dine

This Valentine’s Day head to Bottlerock with your beloved for a scrumptious romantic dinner. For those who like to shake a leg, the dance floor will be set with the groovy beats doled out by DJ Sanjana and DJ Sanket. So if you plan on serenading your partner with some killer dance moves over a delicious spread, you know where to go.

Where: BottleRock, Sus-Pashan Road

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TGS LIFE

Falling short of funds? No problem

FEBRUARY 13, 2016 PUNE

Today, crowdfunding is one of the easiest ways to raise monies, but only if you design your campaign right. Read on to find out how these Punekars filled their kitty and learn from their experience

FEATURES

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

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hether you have a novel idea to help someone, or a great story to tell, more than often the only thing stopping you are insufficient funds. This was the scenario a few years ago. Then came one of the best ideas — crowdfunding. Now,

International dancers conducting a workshop during Avayava, a contemporary dance festival

be it a short film that you want to the funds and wait for people to make, bring about a social change donate to your cause. or host a festival, crowdfunding is Imagine the power of the solution to all your problems. crowdfunding and its reach It is just like borrowing money when four girls based in Hong from your friends Kong, Singapore, and family, England and without the Spain can all need to return get together to Vikkas it.

In fact the support a cause Plakkot people funding in a completely your project d i f f e r e n t could be from country, India. anywhere across Tathapi a nonthe globe. You governmental simply register organisation in on one of the Pune hoped to crowdfunding build a women’s — Naina Panenanglor websites like health centre, Indeigogo or Anandi, in the Wishberry, give city.

Kunali, your details, upload a video of Sapna, Priyanka and Tina decided Neha Sahu the project, explain why you need to help the NGO raise the funds and began a crowdfunding campaign. Achut Borgavkar, who is now the co-coordinator of Anandi, was surprised at the amount of funds that the girls were able to raise and tells us that crowdfunding is a small tool with a lot of power.

Just like the girls, Vikkas Plakkot and Neha Sahu too were involved with an extremely noble cause that they hoped to raise funds for. They wanted to encourage the number of children hailing from the lower income families to attend school and giving them free football coaching, they felt was the way to do it. When it started off, they managed to source funds from friends and family and then eventually decided to resort to a bigger form of crowdfunding.

“We allow people to buy football teams comprising the children and that means that they pay for everything that the team needs.

Children playing a match during a Just For Kicks event Crowdfunding is a lot about

“Indians have a stingy mindset and don’t contribute easily.”

A still from Naina’s graduation short film project

how you pitch your idea since those contributing don’t know you at all,” says 2 6 -y e a r- old Vikas. With Naina Panenanglor the money that they raised, Just for Kicks, their venture operates in Pune, Hyderabad and Bangalore and there are about 150 football teams. For Vikas and Neha, this is a huge source of revenue.

Doing something out of the box, Swapnil Dagliya did the first ever crowdfunding project for a contemporary dance festival called Avayava in India. With the intention of making contemporary dance more accessible to the people of Pune, he hoped to raise enough funds to make the festival a reality. For the 29-year-old, the experience of crowdfunding was a learning process throughout.

Crowdfunding has given his idea more visibility and it is what enables him to hold the festival annually. The festival is already in its fifth edition and the audience

Swapnil Dagliya

just increases every year as more people get to know about it.

Crowdfunding is most often used to make films.

Naina Panenanglor too chose the medium to get the funds to make her graduation short film.

The video you make is the most important process she tell us.

People want to know who you are giving your money to. The video gives your campaign a face, which is important, she learned.

The reason she believes she was not able to raise enough funds was because she uploaded a teaser of the film that she wanted to make instead telling people about her. Naina is of the opinion that in India it is more difficult to raise funds than anywhere else.

“Indians have a stingy mindset and don’t contribute easily.

Even for people from India, the contributors are often from other countries and this must change,” she says.

Swapnil and Naina both point out that the most important aspect of your campaign is that you connect to the funders, as they know absolutely nothing about you. “Family and friends are the first people who support your cause. The major challenge is always to reach beyond these people,” says Swapnil. The video does a great deal to get people interested in what it is that you want them to contribute for. Apart from this, targeting a particular audience and planning everything in extreme detail is also crucial.

You can’t keep making campaigns for the same cause over and over again. “There is no room for error in a crowdfunding project. You have to research well, try and understand your audience and play the right cards,” says Vikas. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

TGS LIFE FEBRUARY 13, 2016 PUNE

INDULGE

Have you tried a crab burger yet?

PICS BY TEJAS GAIKWAD

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry ver the past year, the number of food trucks in the city has increased manifold.

Not only do they provide a costeffective way to fulfil the owners’ restaurant dream, but they are feasible and easy to manage too. Although they are a relatively new concept in India, they are a dream come true for those living on a budget.

Most of these food trucks offer an unforgettable experience in terms of quality of food and top-notch service, better than almost any restaurant.

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BURGERTRON Started about three months ago, this food truck has the best burgers in town. The burgers are juicy, filling and each one is vastly different from the other. When Zubair Nargund, 27, got a call from his friend Mihir Rajurkar, he packed his bags and came to Pune from Dubai where he was working as a chef, excited to set up a food venture together. Deciding the menu was easy because of his experience, even though he hadn’t worked on burgers before. Zubair, Mihir and their third partner Sheena Anand, 28, got together and did everything from making the recipes for their burgers to serving customers.

“We believe in giving quality food along with great service. One of us is always present at the food truck to engage customers in conversation while their food arrives. This ensures that they have a great experience altogether,” explains Zubair. The three of them are definitely looking to expand. They hope to start three more food trucks and open a restaurant in the next year, once they find the investors. The trio believes that their innovative recipes set them apart from other food trucks, burger joints and restaurants. The Chicken Steak Burger, Crab Burger and the Arabic Burger are a must try here.

Where: Opp Symbiosis College Campus, Viman Nagar When: 6 pm to 11 pm

CHEF’S PAN Three friends, Shailesh Kelkar, Gaurav Gohad and Sarang Bendale, got together about four months ago to start their own food truck called Chef ’s Pan Kitchen.

After completing their post-graduation in hotel management from Savitribai Phule Pune University, all three worked for about seven to eight years in United States and the United Kingdom, before recession got the better of them. Coming back to their hometown, they decided to start something of their own and the food truck was a lucrative and affordable option.

“We wanted to give Pune the experience of dining the way it is abroad. So we decided to offer a pure Italian menu unlike any other place in the city,” says Shailesh.

There was not much to rely on when it came to the procedure to start a food truck and so they spoke to a lot

With innovative menus, food trucks in the city are out to give established restaurants a run for their money.

TGS speaks to four out-of-the-box entrepreneurs about their journey and future plans

of people, before actually opening their doors.

A lot of the menu is based on customer feedback, experimentation and innovation, which is key to them doing well. All three of them buy ingredients, cook food and serve their customers on their own. A few years down the line, they hope to have a bigger food truck and travel throughout the city with their fare. Don’t forget to try the Cheese Garlic Bread, Smoked Chicken Pizza and Tomato Mozzarella Panini when you decide to visit the place.

Where: Roseland Building, Nasik Phata road, Pimple Saudagar When: 5 pm to 10 pm salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

HENNY’S GOURMET In the search to find something that was permanent, Henny Vinod Mirchandani, move to Pune a year and a half ago and decided to do something different. One night he dreamed that he was selling waffles on a food truck and, the very next day, he decided to pursue his dream.

He bought a waffle maker, plus the required ingredients and started practicing making waffles. He saw online tutorials and experimented a lot before Henny’s Gourmet Food Truck opened for business. “My vision with the food truck is to shed new light on street food,” he says.

Henny is a graphic designer by profession and he worked on designing his own food truck before beginning operations in July, last year.

The 26-year-old does everything from picking the ingredients himself to making the batter and even the toppings like the caramel and mousse.

Everything is prepared fresh in the truck with each order. When you pay a visit, you must definitely try the Dark Belgian Chocolate Waffle, Cream Cheese and Blueberry Waffle and the Fresh Strawberries, Whipped Cream and Nutella Waffle.

Where: Opp Maestros Society, Salunke Vihar Road, Wanovrie When: 8 pm to 11 pm THE CHEESE TRUCK A favourite hangout for those living in Viman Nagar, The Cheese Truck is every cheese and nutella lover’s dream come true.

Started by two lawyer friends, who even went to law school together, this was what they decided to do on weekends when they were free.

They started off by taking the truck out every weekend and then every evening. Slowly, the business starting catching up and became something that they decided to do full time. As a result, they have almost quit their earlier profession.

Mohit Nakra and Vibhor Neghawale also run a food truck on Baga Beach in Goa, but they spend most of their time in Pune.

“It took us a while to come up with the recipes when we started off. Although we do have help right now, we make sure that one of us is always present at the kitchen to ensure quality,” says Mohit. Best sellers out of their kitchen include the Stoners Delight and the Mac and Grill Sandwich.

Where: Clover Park, Viman Nagar When: 12 noon to 11 pm

RAHUL RAUT

TGS LIFE FEBRUARY 13, 2016 PUNE

INDULGE YOUR CHOW AROUND TOWN A special dinner for two

By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM

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s a teenager, Nupur Joshi loved going to restaurants around the city with her family. Being from an army background, hosting parties and feeding people was a way of life at home. It was also during her teens that she got introduced to tasting liquor, something she says was quite normal as her family had a very modern way of thinking.

Sitting at restaurants watching the food and drinks being served on the table always caught her attention and it was at the age of 15 that Nupur decided she wanted to be a part of the hospitality industry. “Initially, I wanted to pursue my career as a chef but I found something missing in it – that something was gauging people’s reaction and expression when a particular dish is served.

It is something that only a person who is serving you can know and then it comes as a feedback to the chef. This is what made me interested in the bar aspect, where one could not just create and serve a drink but get to know the likes and dislikes of the customer and customise things accordingly.”

As a young food and drinks enthusiast, Nupur always looked up to Shatbhi Basu, one of the first lady bartenders of India and Karen Anand. In her free time, she would experiment with different blends to create cocktails. In fact, it was her grandfather who introduced her to Old Monk and told her how she could create different concoctions by mixing various ingredients. Nupur joined the Dina Institute of Hotel Management and pursued a diploma from the American Hotel & Lodging Association. “Along the course, I started learning about cocktails and mixology and later got my first job at the JW Marriott in Mumbai. I used to do night shifts and during the day, I would go to Shatbhi Basu’s academy where I learned a lot about mixology. I also got a chance to study and work with over 100-yearold Spanish and German wine companies.

There I learned everything about making wines, especially the ones which are de-alcoholised.”

After working for several companies, such as Smirnoff, Nupur also worked with Tulleeho Academy and held her first cockatail-making session, the Cocktail Gurukul, at 11 East Street Café in Camp some years ago. In 2013, she was invited to the Kala Ghoda Festival in Mumbai to

They call her the Sangria Lady

Having worked for some of the major Indian and international hospitality, wine, and event companies, Nupur Joshi is one of the very few mixologists in the city who runs her own consultancy, hosts sangria parties and travels around the country conducting wine tasting and cocktail-making sessions MAKE YOUR OWN WINE COCKTAIL Berenice Da Gama Rose Ingredients Soma Sauvignon Blanc Wine 30 ml Mandarin Syrup 10 ml Lime juice 2 tsp Rosella syrup 5 ml Method In a shaker, add the wine and the Mandarin syrup and lime juice and shake over ice.

Strain the drink in a Martini glass and add the Rosella syrup with an inverted back of the spoon to the base of the glass. Serve with a satay stick with strawberries that are pre-marinated in wine and placed on the rim of the glass. hold a special cocktail tasting session which was a huge hit. “It was such a crazy, but amazing, experience as people were literally jumping the counter to get a drink and even begged that they would pay to get a glass of the cocktail that I was making.” So how does mixology differ from bartending or are they the same thing? Nupur explains that a bartender’s job is to make a drink and serve it over the counter, whereas the profile of a mixologist goes far beyond. A mixologist is the one who creates the recipes for customers, interacts with them to understand what exactly they want to be served and finds innovative ways to make a cocktail tastier. “For every mixologist, there is one thing that they

are absolutely passionate about and want to become experts in. For me, it has always been about experimenting with wines and making wine cocktails. For every professional, when their work is noticed and appreciated, it’s the biggest compliment. For me, it’s when people recognise me for that one drink that I made them. When I am at a party and someone points towards me saying ‘She is the ‘sangria lady’, who makes amazing sangrias.’ These are the things that make me fall deeper in love with my work.”

She has been running her own consultancy on mixology and holds interactive sessions in association with different event organisers across the country. “I am very passionate about what I do and I don’t always look for money when I hold my sessions as it gives me immense pleasure when like-minded people get together and we get to share our ideas, recipes and expertise. I don’t advertise my work. I don’t even have a website or a social media page.

Everything I do is through word of mouth and I’d like it to be that way.”Besides, Nupur makes special sangrias on order for people who want to throw a party at home. She delivers fresh sangrias, by the bottle, a unique concept started by her in the city. Apart from this, she soon plans to start conducting wine tours for interested participants from next month.

A romantic dinner with a special someone is a much-needed affair.

Come enjoy the warmest feeling of love with three-course Valentine’s Day Special menu at T.G.I Friday’s which showcases savory cuts of veggies and meat for both the palates.

Dishes like Wicked Chicken, Romesco Grilled Vegetable Pasta, Winter Spiced fruit Sundae will take your dining experience for a whirlwind of flavorsome journey which is designed to engage all you senses.

When: Till February 14 Where: T.G.I. Friday’s, 3rd Floor, Seasons Mall, Magarpatta City, Hadapsar

An aphrodisiac menu

Get yourself pampered with decor highlights, a special aphrodisiac menu, love potion shots, couple’s cosmopolitan specials, groovy love songs and so much more this weekend.

Come celebrate the day of love.

When: February 14 Where: Terttulia, Off lane 5, South Main Road, Koregaon Park

I can be your Superman

Power House - The Comic Bar which has recently opened its doors for all the Super Hero and Super Villain fanatics, is hosting a special party where all lovers who are best friends first can come down wearing their superhero t-shirts and pajamas and celebrate Valentine’s Day in a fun way.

When: February 14, noon to midnight Where: Power House - The Comic Bar, 2nd Floor, Budhrani Boulevard, NIBM Annexe

A panoramic view of the city

This V-day, pamper your beloved by going for a beautiful dinner date under the stars which offers the best panoramic view of the city from Pune’s most romantic rooftop lounge. With cool breeze in the air spreading the love, book a table soon for an unforgettable and memorable experience your loved one will never forget.

When: February 14, 7 pm onwards Where: Atmosphere 6, Skymax, Viman Nagar

Journeying through

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FEATURES

MEMORY LANE You may have seen them all on the silver screen when they were much younger. These child actors have always been surrounded by the limelight and have now grown up to be gorgeous, mature stars

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

D

o you wonder how those cute, chubby kids from popular television and fi lm industry look now? The fi lmy family dramas were incomplete without their playful acting.

Over the years, our fi lm and television industry has seen some memorable roles played out by child actors. These small wonders were facing studio lights and cameras while their peers were struggling

Pushkar Jog The wonder boy of the fi lm industry Pushkar started his acting journey when he was just four years old. Being a fan of Govinda and Mithun Chakraborthy, he started imitating their dance moves.

“I always had the acting ka keeda. I had formed an orchestra when I was four and I danced and acted like them.

It was during one of these shows that Annasaheb Deulgaonkar spotted me,” he informs us. He did the fi lm Sakharpuda at the age of fi ve in 1990 and there was no stopping him after that. The child actor then went on to do Hindi and Marathi fi lms with bigwigs like Rishi Kapoor, Sachin Pilgaonkar, Dharmendra and Reema Lagoo. His notable fi lms include Vazvu Ka (1991), Hum Dono (1995), Aisi Bhi Kya Jaldi Hai (1996), among others. He was also part of the famous TV serial Tu Tu Main Main. “It was a brilliant experience. Being on the sets with actors like Rishi Kapoor, Dharmendra, Nana Patekar and being pampered by them was something that many dream of but I got to live it. Sachin Pilgaonkar helped me and groomed my acting skills. I was very young and I didn’t know what to do after the camera went rolling. He guided me throughout,” he adds.

His father Suhas Jog launched him as a child artist as the central character

in his home production, Raju . The fi lm hit silver jubilee and Pushkar got his fi rst State Award for the best child actor. After all the success, he had to face his share of challenges too. “I was 15 years old and I was not getting work as I was not a child anymore nor was I a matured actor. But all’s well that ends well,” he smiles.

He then took a break for eight years and completed dentistry. Pushkar was back in action with Mahesh Kothare’s fi lm Zabardast and a new star was born. He went on to do a TV serial Vachan Dile Tu Mala and proved his talent. “It’s the love of the audience and their appreciation that drives me to work hard every day,” he adds.

He believes that the fi lm industry is losing its exclusivity with the growing popularity of multiplexes.

“Entertainment industry has changed considerably.

Now, you have at least fi ve options when you go to a multiplex, which was not the case then,” he says.

Despite all the success, Pushkar is still as grounded and down to earth as he was years ago. He is now busy shooting for the fi lm Jabardast 2 and two other untitled fi lms. Besides, he has his own international travel show Maaza Around the World on ABP Maaza channel.

“I was 15 years old and I was not getting work as I was not a child nor was I a matured actor”

TGS LIFE

“I was always part of the fraternity but you should not forget that you get cast in a good movie based on your merit”

Adinath Kothare Being the son of the famous actor, director and producer of Hindi and Marathi fi lms Mahesh Kothare, Adinath grew up on fi lm sets and has always been surrounded by people belonging to the fi lm fraternity. He started his journey in the entertainment industry with the fi lm Maza Chakula in 1994 when he was just eight years old. “My dad wanted to make a fi lm where he could cast me in the lead character. I was always very passionate about fi lms and loved performing. Seeing this, my father guided and nurtured my talent,” recalls Adinath. Other actors in the fi lm included Laxmikant Berde, Ashok Saraf and Prashant Damle. He went on to win the State Award for the Best Child Artist that year. He credits his father for giving him that break and igniting the passion for acting in him. “I am lucky to have a father like him, who has been like a guiding light to me. Film sets have been like home but being a part of that fi lm was the best experience ever. I loved it when people recognised me and enjoyed getting all the attention,” he adds.

Today, Adinath is involved in almost every aspect of fi lmmaking – he is an actor, director,

to understand subjects like science and mathematics in their classrooms. Many of them are still working in the entertainment industry, while some have faded out. We are so used to hearing about child stars who went off the deep end, but there are also actors like Priya Bapat, Adinath Kothare, Pushkar Jog and Swanandi Tikekar, who have put in hard work, continuing to be involved with cool projects and are now accomplished names in the acting world.

Meet the ‘babies’ and ‘masters’ as they take a trip down memory lane and give us an insight into their growing up years.

Priya Bapat

Swanandi Tikekar

Priya was a part of the National Award-winning Dr Babasaheb fi lm Ambedkar wherein she portrayed the role of Ambedkar’s daughter. She was in sixth standard when her school teacher took her to audition for the role. She still has blurred memories of time when she was shooting with actors like Mammooty, Mrinal Kulkarni, Sonali Kulkarni and Mohan Gokhale. “I was always clueless on the sets and cried when they did my make-up. I was playing Babasaheb’s daughter and had to put on tan make up for the role. I would cry as I would get conscious about my skin. I had never watched fi lms before so I didn’t know who my co-stars were,” she recalls. The critically acclaimed fi lm released in 2000 when she was in the tenth standard.

After completing her education, she signed the fi lm Shivaji Raje Bhosale which went on to be a hit. “Th is was when I decided that acting is what I want to pursue and the right opportunities came my way. Th ankfully, I never had to struggle to get work. Now, the main challenge is to get quality fi lms and good scripts,” she says.

She has also acted in the Hindi fi lm Lage Raho Munna Bhai and Munna Bhai MBBS. Though they were small roles but she did leave her mark with her lively acting. Her sweet girl-next-door appearance and her cheerfulness is what sets her apart. “Living different characters and playing different roles is what fascinates me the most. I feel fortunate that I would not just die as Priya, but someone who has lived the role of various other women existing in our society,” she says.

After giving hits like Timepass 2, Happy Journey and Time Please , she is now set for the release of Vazandar, which is a Sachin Kundalkar fi lm. She credits her hard work and effort for her success. “Marathi fi lm industry is not a star-driven industry, it is a content-driven industry. We tell stories that are relevant and something that people can relate to. I am glad that it is receiving the exposure it deserves,” she adds.

Swanandi has acting in her genes. Daughter of the well-known fi lm and television actor Uday Tikekar, she had an opportunity to see the fi lmmaking process from close quarters. As a child actor, she played a prominent role in the most successful Marathi television soap Abhalmaya . “The director was looking for a child actor, and they approached my dad. In those days, things were not as professional as they are now. So there was no question for money or fame. I did it because I was passionate about acting,” she says. She shared the screen with actors Umesh Kamat and Sanjay Mone, and enjoyed the attention she received. “I was pampered and taken care of by the actors. Even when I meet them now, they treat me like the child I was on the sets of Abhalmaya ,” she adds.

After completing her law degree from ILS college, Swanandi decided to take up acting as

FEBRUARY 13, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

content producer and is also been involved in fi lm marketing. Following his father’s footsteps Adinath is keenly involved in Marathi fi lms. He believes in doing quality fi lms and outreaching his audience’s expectation. “I had access to the fi lm industry because I was always part of the fraternity but you should not forget that you get cast in a good movie based on your merit. I have worked hard to get where I am,” he says.

His most successful fi lms include Zapatlela 2 which was the fi rst Marathi 3D movie, Anvatt, Sata Lota Pan Sagla Khota and many more. He believes the competition in Marathi cinema has increased and it’s changing for good. “Marathi fi lms are now competing with Bollywood and even Hollywood productions. Earlier, nobody really promoted their movie but now reaching out to the audience has become an important factor,” he adds. Adinath is currently working on a serial Ganpati Bappa Morya on Colors Marathi and has two fi lms lined up.

a career. “Even while I was studying, I never quit acting. I continued doing theatre and always participated in competitions. My parents recognised my potential for the art and encouraged me to polish my skills,” she says. She has won the best actress award in the Firodia Karandak competition in her college days and a few awards at the Purshottam Karandak theatre festival.

Viewers now know her as the free spirited and fearless Meenal from the popular serial Dil Dosti Duniyadari, on Zee Marathi. She is also doing a play titled Goshta Eka Kalya Pathrya Paddyachi. She believes in her art and is against the commercialisation of cinema. “Earlier, it was the passion for art that drove people to this profession, but now it’s the glamour and fame. It’s all about TRPs now and acting, as an art, has been side lined. People in the profession have become money minded too,” she adds.

Zoya Afroz Remember the cute little girl Radhika from the fi lm Hum Saath Saath Hai? Th at chubby girl, Zoya Afroz, is now a well-known model and actor. She was crowned Miss India runner up in 2013 and debuted in the fi lm industry with the thriller The Xpose.

She was three years old when she auditioned for an ad fi lm and then onwards there was no looking back for the pretty little girl. She did fi lms like Mann, Kuch Na Kaho and Tia With Love. “I’ve always loved being in front of the camera. My parents recognised my potential for acting and encouraged me take it up,” she says. On the sets, she was known for being the naughty little girl who wanted to have fun. “When I was working on the serial Sonpari, we were a group of ten kids who would play on the sets and upset the director. Every day, we would look forward to going for the shoot,

playing hide and seek and having a fun time,” she recalls. Zoya enjoyed the attention she got from actors who pampered her, even getting her chocolates every day. “I was lucky to work with stars like Salman Khan, Tabu, Saif Ali Khan around me on the sets. They would pamper us so that we got our shots rights and behaved well,” she laughs. Zoya took up modelling and reached the fi nal round of the Miss India pageant. Th at moment was a dream come true for her. “There was something about pageants that attracted me. The tiara and the title excited me a lot,” she adds. She now has a Bollywood fi lm and two Telegu fi lms in her kitty. She wants to reach for the stars and prove herself. “As a kid, performance didn’t matter but now I am responsible about giving my 100 per cent in whatever I take up,” she says. zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com

TGS LIFE

PICS BY RAHUL RAUT

FEBRUARY 13, 2016 PUNE

THRILL OF DRIVING

Console is spartan, but provides the essentials. The green fork caps provide preload and rebound damping adjustment.

US Versys the world Can a middleweight adventure tourer truly be the ultimate city bike?

By Tushar Burman @tburman

E

ver since the original Kawasaki ER-6n naked came out in the international market a decade ago, I’ve considered it an ideal bike for Indian conditions. The current generation Ninja 650 does deliver on that promise in many ways.

It’s reasonably fast, flashy and cheap to cater to a wide swathe of potential buyers. You don’t see as many as you’d think on the streets, which I suspect is down to the heady aspirations of potential superbike buyers: they want something sexier. Sound familiar? Then the Versys 650 is not for you.

Based on the same Ninja 650 platform, the Versys 650 is a taller, heavier, more upright motorcycle with a re-tuned (shared) parallel twin motor and a key differentiator: adjustable front forks. If you compare the feature list of a bog-standard Ninja 650 and the Versys 650, you’re not going to see many extra checkboxes. At Rs 7.35 lac on road in Mumbai, the Versys is Rs 1.2 lac more expensive than its Ninja sibling and apart from a different visual stance, there’s little to evidence where that extra money went. It doesn’t help that the motor is down about 2bhp on the Ninja while making the same amount of torque. In the trump card game of potential big bike ownership, the Versys 650 doesn’t make a good case for itself.

In some sense, the Versys 650 may end up being the biggest open secret in the Indian motorcycle market, because it’s nothing short of a revelation on the move. Torque is the same as the Ninja, but the way the Versys delivers it is the fun bit of the motor. It’s almost electric, with lots of poke available straight off idle. As long as you’re in a reasonable gear, twisting the throttle delivers an immediate surge of forward motion that is smooth, accessible and exhilarating in unison. The motorcycle feels so perfectly composed and in control that the result is that you can ride this bike in traffic like a 216kg RX100 with seven times the power. Seriously! We’re talking about KTM 390-rivalling urban chops.

But it’s not just the motor that’s at play here. There’s more

enjoying the ride as well as going much slower than you could be.

This is simply not a problem with the Versys 650. You can bash through all manner of rutted tarmac, potholes and speed bumps with such little drama that it will surprise you. Even the preload-only adjustable rear spring does an admirable job in keeping the rider’s bum on the seat and kidneys undamaged. If the going gets really rough, you can just stand up on the pegs and let the Versys 650 surprise you again. Once up on the pegs, your knees lock perfectly into the recesses in the tank, and the handlebar has enough rise to be a comfortable reach from above. Coupled with the smooth, predictable throttle and power delivery of the motor, I found myself standing high up on the bike, making rapid progress, taking in the scenery. Perhaps quite a bit longer than necessary.

Technically an adventure-tourer, it follows that rider and passenger accommodations will follow this intent. The Versys 650 has a stepped seat, but it’s not canted forward so much that there’s unintended sexual contact at every application of the brakes. The seats themselves are generously wide and cushioned, and despite the relative plushness, we didn’t detect any discomfort after a full, hot day of riding. The handlebars and footpegs are also very comfortably placed, and we’d expect this to be a good bike to do Rear suspension preload is adjustable on-the-fly using a knob 1000km days on. The adjustable windshield is very effective, but must be adjusted by two knobs from the front. The Versys 650 in India does not come with standard hard panniers as does the international LT model, but they are an optional extra for local magic ahead of those two cylinders in the form of those 41mm customers. They’re cleverly designed and slot into two recesses in adjustable forks. These are Separate Function Forks, which in the side of the rear subframe for a secure luggage system. Fully this case means preload is adjusted on the left fork leg, while kitted-out, this should make for an excellent short-range tourer rebound is adjusted on the right. The suspension felt near perfect and there’s enough exposed subframe for lots of bungee points in as delivered. This makes a phenomenal difference even on the case you want to strap stuff to the rear seat.

Our test bike had a well-used pair of tyres, and I found the street. With poor suspension, you’re constantly hunting for the smoothest line through potentially disastrous surfaces and not front to be sensitive on anything but perfect road. If you’re going to the hills where there are unpaved roads, you might consider a slightly off-road bias tyre. On good tarmac, the Dunlop tyres held well and the Versys holds a line perfectly around a corner.

It is a bit top-heavy so moderate-speed sweepers are better than slamming the bike from side-to-side. It’s also worth noting that while the motor does generate torque low in the rev range, it is not enough for you to be lazy Verdict and chug the bike in a higher gear, particularly + Engine, with a pillion. This is also Kawasaki’s first ABS suspension, bike assembled in India. Twin 300mm front package discs are clamped by traditionally-mounted - Lacks sex appeal calipers, providing adequate braking. We had TGS rating no hairy moments coming to a stop.

In terms of gizmos and extras: kindly excuse. ;;;;` The Versys 650 is very bare. There’s an analog tachometer and digital display just below. The saving grace is that the display does the standard things you’d need: two trip meters, projected range, time and a proper fuel gauge. The Versys does many things very well, but it doesn’t attract as much attention as a “big” bike can be expected to. It’s also very quiet, so revving at a red light will get you as many eyeballs as the Honda Unicorn next to you.

The Versys 650 is a bike without a powerband, literally and figuratively. Taken individually, none of its characteristics deliver a visceral punch to the gut, but they come together well to create more than the sum of its parts. Together, the package makes for a true multipurpose motorcycle. Be the psychotic rickshawallah of your dreams in traffic, or the continent-crossing loner on a quest to find him/herself during carefully-negotiated time away from Standing on the pegs feels most natural the spouse. The fun lies beyond the spec sheet.

This Sunday, meet your pooch partner

TGS LIFE FEBRUARY 13, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

Spread across 60,000 sq ft, Peppy Paws is one of the first state-of-the-art pet resorts in Pune.

This Valentine’s Day, it’s time for all pooch lovers to step in and have a dekko

By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM

I

t was a dream project of Priya and Roshan Poduval, who left their high-paying careers to start a pet hostel about six years ago. The couple made their humble beginning out of a small one BHK house from where their idea grew and, gradually, transformed into a bigger space. Adding in years of hard work to their immense love for their four-legged friends, they have now created an international quality resort on the outskirts of Pune.

Located in Wadki on the Phursungi-Saswad Road, Peppy Paws is a lot more than just a regular pet home.

It was Priya’s constant search for a pet shelter back in the days when she was working and had no trust-worthy place to leave her dog safe that she decided to start Peppy Paws. She had travelled extensively to different countries and was intrigued to see the kind of facilities they had for pets abroad. It inspired her to set up something similar in Pune. The couple has been working in the pet industry for over six years now and are one of the most loved pet boarding facilities.

Previously located in Mudhwa, their new resort is extensively designed with multiple attractions for pets and pet parents. Think a 1,000 sq ft pool, which is perhaps the largest pet pools in the city. Apart from boarding facilities, it also has an old-age home, a special café, all-weather insulated, climate controlled and spacious luxury pet suites, each with a comfortable bed. “I have 12 dogs at my own home in Undri and I understand how important it

Priya and Roshan Poduval with their beloved pets

is to give them an environment where they can grow and enjoy their life to the fullest. To give them a cage-free environment, we have designed a 10,000 sq ft outdoor play area that includes an agility centre with a sand pit, mud pit and ball pit,” says Roshan.

A trained, professional staff will be on site 24 hours and an onsite vet will be on call should a pet require emergency medical care.

“We are also offering an on-site pet salon which will take care of all pet grooming needs. Home pickup and drop-back facilities are also available for those who require it,” adds Priya. Other unique amenities available here are a dedicated cattery for felines, for pet parents who wish to board their cats, pet-friendly treks and overnight camps along with puppy preschool, day care and dog socialisation sessions among others. “Now our four-legged friends

have even more place to play and explore. Our clients can go on short breaks or long vacations without any worry, as their pets will be loved and pampered to the maximum,” adds Priya.

To celebrate the launch of the resort, Priya and Roshan are inviting all pets and pet lovers to a special Valentine’s Day Party this Sunday where they will enjoy fun activities like splashing in the pool with pets, socialising with other furry friends and pet lovers, getting a sketch or a pet portrait done with your beloved pooch, free goodies and treats and refreshments.

When: February 14, 3 pm to 6 pm Where: The Peppy Paws Pet Resort, near Interval Food Mall, Phursungi-Saswad Road, Wadki heena.grover@goldensparrow.com

Get the paw-fect home for your pet Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

H

ave you always wanted to get a perfect home for your pet that includes all the amenities you would normally have in your own pad? Then designer pet houses are just for you. Moses John Soopan makes houses for animal lovers who don’t like to compromise on their design aesthetics.

His month-old endeavour, The PAWfect House, started when he found a homeless stray dog in his society. With nowhere to go, he would sleep under the parked cars in his society. Being a pet lover himself, Moses adopted the dog and started designing a house that would not only keep him warm in the winter months but also protect him from the rain and summer heat. “My goal is to create an environment for pets where they feel homely and pet owners don’t have to worry about their comfort. Both can exist in harmony with one another,” says Moses.

His two standout designs are made from a mix of eco-friendly boards with fibre sheds, with handsome blue walls and roofs. They are cleverly snapped together with other accessories like comfortable flooring, sleeping mats, with an elegant basin outside that is surrounded by hanging planters. “This was my first experiment, and it worked well for me.

The idea is not to make money out of it but to provide safe homes for these paws,” he says.

Moses John Soopan made this pretty doghouse for his pets Harper and Ginger

Moses also customises homes to suit your indoor and outdoor purposes. Whatever your needs, he has the skill to personalise a dog house according to your specifications. He has adopted around eight stray dogs and is now in the process of designing a comfortable home for them. “I have imagined a world where people and pets share the same comfortable and visually-pleasant space. I want to make that a

reality. The last cat house was bought by a French lady, who took the piece of furniture along with her and she keeps send me pictures of her cats playing and sleeping in it,” he adds. The little four-storeyed cat house was adorned with faux fur, a tiny house in the centre. zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com

RAHUL RAUT

TGS LIFE FEBRUARY 13, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

L to R: Leena Upasne, Rashmi Sathe and Sunil Sathe displaying the range of saris and jewellery that is available at Style on Rent

Renting a sari and jewellery to go with it for whenever you need to wear something new, at a reasonable cost has never been easier

A new wardrobe for every celebration

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

W

hile prepping for his daughter’s wedding, Sunil Sathe realised that the amount spent on clothes and jewellery was quite a burn. More so, because most of the traditional trousseau would be touched only on special occasions. Partnering with his wife, Rashmi Sathe, daughter-in law, Manjusha Sathe and daughter-in-law’s sister Leena Upasne, Sunil started Style on Rent in November last year. Before the new venture, Sunil worked as an accounts manager at

Sandvik Asia and has now retired, Rashmi is a housewife, while Manjusha and Leena work as graphic designers.

A small section of Manjusha’s home is enough for them to make their venture work.

About 90 different types, colours and styles of saris are rented out for 48 hours. The starting price is Rs 1,000, which includes sari’s that would range from anywhere between Rs 8,000 to 12,000 in the showroom. For Rs 1,500, you could pick up sari’s in the range of Rs 12,000 to Rs 20,000 and the higher range, which is Rs 20,000 and above, is rented out for Rs 2,500.

“Not everyone can afford to buy expensive saris

for every function. We give the expensive look at a reasonable cost,” Sunil tells us. The collection includes everything from ghagra type saris, to Paithanis, Navvaris, chiffons, brocade and even Patodi. Not only are there matching blouses for every kind of sari, in more than one size too, but you also have the option to mix and match, if you want something different.

It does not end here. No traditional outfit is complete without the right kind of jewellery and this too is available at Style on Rent.

Sourcing the most classy jewellery all the way from Mumbai, you have an array of options to choose from. You could rent a complete set to go along with your chosen sari, or decide to pick just earrings or bangles. This venture is the option for you to have a new look and wardrobe for every single festival. While people might question renting clothes like sari’s simply because they have been worn by someone else, you can rest assured that every single outfit is dry cleaned after it is returned.

Before this family venture kicked off, the partners ran a short survey to test if their idea was acceptable by Punekars. They conducted a survey where they had about 300 participants and about 220 of them said that they would like to have something like this around. “It’s a new idea and will take some time getting used to.

We are providing an opportunity for the middle class to keep in sync and stay updated with the latest trends, through the venture,” adds Sunil.

Get in touch: 9823503338, Shyamsundar Society, Kothrud salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

Step into an art paradise Bringing high-quality weaves back to Pune for the third time, Hands Of India, a non-profit organisation, is showcasing its contemporary line of products through a unique exhibition

By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM

I

f you are a lover of Indian handloom and textile, particularly hand-embroidered and hand-woven fabric, but find it tough to locate a place that can turn them into modern ready-to-wear garments, head to the Hands Of India (HOI) exhibition this weekend and shop to your heart’s content.

Started as a collective dream in 2008 by sisters Malyada Goverdhan and Ramya Rangacharya from the temple city of Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh, HOI came into being as an effort to generate employment for artisans.

Having grown up in one of India’s largest temple complexes, the sisters had the privilege

of seeing the rich fabric and clothes in the form of offerings by devotees from different parts of the country. “There are various Vastra Kothris inside the temple where these offerings have been housed right from the time when the temple started in 1852. In those days, people would bring pure silk dhotis, lehengas and saris with rich zardosi, silver and gold zari work for the deities and all the clothes are kept in these kothris. In fact, over the years, the place has become a museum of sorts. When we were younger, Ramya would be in charge of keeping the kothris clean and it was from here that our fascination grew. We thought why not revive these clothes in some way – bring the artisans

who make these fabrics together and give them a platform to work so we could promote both the art as well as the artisans,” explains Malyada.

Interestingly, HOI’s website is entirely managed by young college and school dropouts.

Even the models wearing the collection on their website are young girls, who work for the organisation. The artisans are extremely talented but they had no way to grow and reach out to a wider market, so HOI helped them polish their skills and make high quality textiles to earn a decent livelihood. Turning the fabric into beautiful garments and selling them online is HOI’s primary function.

The two sisters have also been holding various exhibitions across the country to make their clothes available to their patrons. They’ve recently held a show in Chennai and have now come back to Pune for the third time after a great response from the city. “After Bangalore, the largest number of orders that we receive is from Pune as people here have a fine taste in clothing and admire good workmanship,” adds Malyada.

This time, to bring something new and special through the exhibition, HOI will showcase their western wear collection made

from rich fabrics from different regions, think Ikat from Orissa, Pochampalli from Andhra, Phulkari from Punjab, Chikankari from Lucknow, Kantha from West Bengal, Sujani from Bihar and Kashidaa from Kashmir. The western ready-to-wear collection will include a range of jackets, skirts, tops and trousers.

When: Till February 16, 9.30 am to 8.30 pm Where: Tilak Smarak Mandir, Tilak Road, Sadashiv Peth.

Around the world in eight months Kiran Vaidya and Chandni Roy quit their high-flying careers to pursue their dream to see the world. Four-and-a-half months into the trip, they stopped by in Pune to meet family and friends before commencing on the second half of their journey

By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM

T

hey moved from Pune to Toronto to work with international IT companies and the idea of taking a break from work struck them about three years ago. Initially, Kiran Vaidya and Chandni Roy had decided that they would take a sabbatical of a month or two, but realised that the kind of trip that they wanted to go for wouldn’t be possible in such a short span. They started attending various travel meets and spent hours reading blogs by travellers around the world and came to know about the concept of pursuing a world tour on an Indian passport, which, apparently, no Indian couple had done so far. The idea is to cover six continents where you are not allowed to do backtracking on visas until you finish your journey in one direction. This means that they could cross the Atlantic Ocean only once. After numerous discussions and planning, the couple decided to accept the challenge and began their journey from Western Europe.

It’s been around four-and-a-half months

A freelance journalist, academician, author and environmentalist, Pankaj Sekhsaria has played several roles over the years and his most recent exhibition is based on an extremely experiential time of his life

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

P

hotographs are the best way to capture memories that you wish would last forever. They tell a story and more than often convey emotions too. Attempting to capture and preserve some of the best time that he has spent in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, engineer-turned-environmentalist and researcher Pankaj Sekhsaria has a great experience to share. Growing up in Pune and living here until after he completed his graduation in Mechanical Engineering, he decided to move to the islands when he fell in

since Kiran and Chandni started their trip covering Portugal, France, UK, Turkey, Morocco and many off-beat locations such as Slovakia, Slovenia, Malta and Croatia, Zanzibar, which most people don’t consider in their itinerary. “We covered almost all of Europe in the first leg of our journey and then came down to North and East Africa, before moving to India to take a halt in Pune and catch up with our family and friends. We are waiting for some of the visas before we move to cover all of Southeast Asia, New Zealand, Mexico, South America, and Columbia, where you now get visa on arrival, and finally move back to Toronto,” says an excited Kiran.

The idea of quitting a regular nine-to-five work life and heading out is quite attractive but not everyone is as fortunate as this couple.

Recalling the moment he told his company that he wanted to leave his job to go on a year-long trip, Kiran says, “I was quite nervous thinking about how they would react but, to my utter surprise, the vice president of the company especially came up to me and said that it was a great idea. He even encouraged me by saying

that he would follow me on social media and stay updated about our travels.”

It was quite a crucial step especially when both of them are at the peak of their career and are going to put everything they have earned and saved at stake. Says Chandni, “We thought a lot before finally charting out and realised that we will never get an opportunity like this in our life as this is the best time when we have some money saved in our accounts and no major responsibilities yet. We just wanted to live a lifetime in these eight months.”

While every interesting story has its moments of joy and challenges, Kiran and Chandni say that they have been extremely fortunate to not have come across any major challenges except for a few times when they suffered from food poisoning and losing their wallets. Of course, there is also the budget that they have to adhere to – $100 a day – as the trip is entirely self-funded. This includes their travel, food, stay and whatever little shopping that they can manage.

“We always wanted to do a backpacking

TGS LIFE FEBRUARY 13, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES trip, so from staying at B&Bs, couch surfing, travelling by overnight buses, ferries and trains was something that was always on the agenda. We would get local credit cards and earn loyalty points on our airfare,” shares Kiran.

Recalling the most memorable experiences, Chandni says, “I had always heard of Paris as one of the most beautiful icons of love and romance, yet somehow I felt it was over-rated. Eventually, when I saw the place, I instantly fell in love with everything there.”

Talking about the experiences that touched him deeply, Kiran says, “One of the most memorable experiences was when we reached Berlin, it was hit by a Tsunami of humanity.

The migrant crisis was at its peak but people there assumed that we were locals as we also had our backpacks. I had also grown stubble which actually helped as the people would offer us food, exchanged numbers so they can help us arrange transport which was unbelievable.

It taught us how during the time of crisis and uncertainties, people still prevail and overcome obstacles by just standing by each other.”

When asked what awaits them when this dream tour comes to an end, both say that they haven’t planned the future yet and are just focusing on living the moment and absorbing as much fun and happiness as they can in the remaining months. “Our bosses and family have been extremely supportive of our decision. My seniors have said that if they have a job opening when we go back, they would be happy to hire us back. Our parents also said that if we find it difficult to find a job back in Canada, we can always come back home to India, stay with them and start afresh. With such amazing support system, we don’t have to worry about anything.

Right now, we can only see another world awaiting us,” concludes Chandni.

(Follow them on facebook.com/indiaketravelcouple)

Inspired by islands love with the place after just one visit. He also completed his post-graduation course in Mass Communication from Jamia Milia Islamia, New Delhi, and a PhD in Science, Technology and Society Studies from Maastricht University in the Netherlands.

Living in the islands for about two decades, Pankaj has had the opportunity to experience and live a life surrounded by natural beauty and being around some of the rarest species of animals. Not only did he write two books about his journey on the islands, this is his second exhibition of photographs. The exhibition is an exposition of the beauty, fragility and uniqueness of the islands. “The islands are full of varied dimensions and immense richness. The exhibition is my attempt at showing that world to Punekars,” says Pankaj.

The exhibition is as much a story in images as it is a peek into what the islands have to offer.

The rolling green and blue sea, ancient turtles nesting on beaches, jellyfish floating in warm

tropica l waters, and giant rainforest trees form just a part of the magnificent and charming nature of the place, Pankaj points out.

The photographs, unlike other exhibitions, have been printed on silk as the luster and texture helps bring out the beauty in the pictures even more. No matter what he does, Pankaj hopes that his work is able to reach out to the people.

He wants to tell stories of the islands and inspire people to go pay a visit. While he lived there, he began working with an environmental

organisation and researched on problems that the islands faced and hoped to find solutions to them. Being interested in wildlife since a young age, this was his opportunity to embrace nature in every way possible.

Continuing his research work after getting back from the islands, he has been associated with Kalpavriksh, an environmental organisation based in Pune. He is also the author of Troubled Island and The Jarawa Tribal Reserve Dossier and The Last Wave.

When: February 13 to February 20 Where: Gyaan Adab, Kalyani Nagar salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

FEBRUARY 13, 2016 PUNE

SHOPPING

Simple and stylish

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COMFORT comes first RAHUL RAUT

SP

TGS LIFE

Subtle and sophisticated is what defines their style. Our picks for this week, Nayaneeka and Karan believe in effortless dressing

Dressing smart

Glasses Brand: X-Ford Price: Rs 5,600

Earrings Where: MG Road Price: Rs 200

Crop Top

Brand: Veni Vidi Vici, Myntra Price: Rs 800

Shirt

Brand: United Colors of Benetton Price: Rs 2,999

Clutch

Brand: Accessorize Price: Rs 1,400

Watch

Brand: Fossil Price: Rs 12,500

Pleated Skirt

Brand: Global Desi Price: Rs 1,500

Denims Brand:Levis Price: Rs 3,500

DUTTA EEKA NAYAN HAURY CHAUD t Studen ok lo e ir t The en 00 ,3 6 : t s co

Shoes

Brand: Ruosh Price: Rs 3,999

N MADA KARAN nt e Stud k tire loo The en 8 9 ,5 8 cost: 2

Peep Toes Brand: Forever 21 Price: Rs 2,400

— Compiled by Zainab Kantawala

From a plump kid to a svelte ad-woman Meet Ppuja Shinde, a young entrepreneur and an internationally certified Zumba instructor, who is passionate about her work and swears by the word fitness ByHeenaGroverMenon @HeenaGM

I

was born fat,” is the fi rst thing Ppuja says when we asked of her story.

Her mom told her that she weighed nine pounds at birth, and although she enjoyed being plump and cuddled as a child, the tag of being called a ‘baby elephant’ s t a r te d bothering her. Th is was when she seriously thought about transforming her body, but the biggest challenge was how to lose those extra kilos. The modelling bug bit her when she entered her teens and since then fitness became her religion. Now, there is not a single day that she can imagine when she doesn’t sweat it out.

She has been successfully running her advertising fi rm, Ad Matters, for the past five years which keeps her busy day in and day out.

“Considering the work schedule in this field where we have no track of time, I needed a stress buster and there was nothing better than Zumba.” Ppuja is now a certified trainer herself and conducts Zumba sessions three days a week which keeps her mind, body and a soul in sync. Here’s a how she typically spends her day: MORNING I wake up at 5.30 am and start my day with a glass of warm water with honey and lemon.

Sounds very stereotypical, but trust me it works. I have also been practicing yoga for five years so I cannot start my day without performing 50 Surya Namaskars.

My work demands travel, so yoga is the

best thing one can adapt to practice anywhere.

My breakfast comprises of seven egg whites, wheat f la kes a n d a fruit.

Post that, I eat after an interval of every two-and-a-half hours.

My mid-meal before lunch is a snack of either a carrot or a cucumber or may be some digestive biscuits and tea.

NOON Lunch is strictly a few grams of either protein, fish or chicken along with some good, plain salad. I try and drink lime water throughout the day. It detoxes the body easily.

I do have a bad habit of sipping on tea whenever possible.

EVENING I go slightly low on carbs. I cannot afford to avoid them completely as I’ve either got my weight training or a high intensity zumba session to conduct in the evenings.

Weight training is extremely important and beneficial for fat burning and toning. I believe

TGS LIFE FEBRUARY 13, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES RAHUL RAUT

PPUJA SHINDE Age: 27 Weight: 65 kg Height: 5’ 8”

EXPERT SPEAK Atul Kurpe, Director, Focus Five Fitness Club

You are following your day schedule very nicely. Here are some little tips to keep you going. As you are doing hyper activities, just add coconut water whenever possible to maintain the electrolytes. Add micro-nutrients strictly in a proper quantity. You are aware of the impact of dehydrating drinks like tea, so please try to minimise the consumtption.

Expert rating: 9.5 /10

in striking a balance between weight training and cardio in a week. Excessive training or workouts are of no use and starving worsens it further. So I follow a lot of functional or intensity workouts as they help in endurance and stamina building.

NIGHT I end up having dinner by 9 pm which is a proteinrich meal consisting of chicken, mushrooms or sprouts with salads. I have my protein supplements at least an hour before my dinner. A small glass of luke warm water before hitting the bed is a must.

HER FITNESS MANTRA Girls, please lift weights to get those curves.

It’s such a misconception that you would gain pounds if you quit doing weights.

You need to understand your body well as well as eat and workout accordingly. Have a cheat meal once in a week. Trust me, I hog like I have never eaten but just that meal.

It’s very important to shock your body with workout and meal. Hence, keep switching regimes. Th is would help boost your metabolism. Take up any form of exercise that you really enjoy.

Make sure you are regular. Most importantly, discipline is the key to a good body and mind. heena.grover@goldensparrow.com

Take your Valentine’s Day look to the next level

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alentine’s Day is slowly turning into a celebration that people across the world take part in. It’s almost as though everything is painted in red or lubeina pink, as we celebrate our love for shahpurwala our favourite people. Lubeina Shahpurwala, Co-Founder Mustang Socks and Fashion Enthusiast give us a few apparel tips to dress up to perfection.

GOING OUT · Break away from the sea of reds and pinks.

Classic colours like white or black will set you apart. If you really want to distinguish yourself, try unconventional colours like yellow or blue.

· To add a hint of Valentines-Day love, use red STAYING IN or pink accents. A red lipstick, pink nail polish, · A novel idea would be to make your lounging or a deep burgundy clutch will work with almost outfit Valentine’s Day themed, whether it is a any other colour you’re wearing. sleep suit set or a pink coloured hoodie. · Ensure you put on a light perfume which will · Go lounging in a pair of cozy socks and a hoodie.

Bonus points if they have hearts on them stay strong all night. Whether you go out · Yoga pants can easily replace your tattered dancing or just about town, ensure your pajamas in case you have a guest coming company thinks you always smell great. over and want to look appropriate. · A light, fresh looking makeup can STYLE · Keep a cardigan around in case it work with almost any outfit and GURU gets cold. A lacy one will go well with any venue. the occasion of celebrating love. It will · Just because it is Valentine’s Day, you add a touch of femininity to your look. don’t need to stick to dresses and skirts. A · Additionally, a beautiful pashmina shawl or pant suit with feminine jewellery and sky high pumps can make a chic statement. Add a pair of crochet knit scarf can add an element of colour heart -printed socks with brogues to add a subtle or detail to your loungewear.

As told to Zainab Kantawala Valentine’s Day touch.

TGS LIFE

FEBRUARY 13, 2016 PUNE

BUZZ Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

W

ith several adaptations of Pride and Prejudice having hit the screens, this one is sure to surprise the audiences. The latest on the block is Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, starring Lily James as Elizabeth Bennet and Sam Riley as Mr Darcy. This twisted love story revolves around the undead Mr Collins, played

by Matt Smith of Doctor Who-fame.

The horror-comedy is based on how Col Darcy travels to the home of a wealthy family to investigate the emergence of a zombie. “When I looked at the character, I thought it would be really interesting if Mr Collins is secretly in love with Darcy. He just wants to be around him and get his attention,” says Matt.

Knowing Riley beforehand helped Matt get into the character well. Playing Mr Collins, who is the least defined character in the Jane Austen classic, Matt has very well turned it around into a compelling comic role. “Sam is an incredibly attractive, lovely man. I think

Matt Smith plays a zombie with anything, especially a story like this you’ve got to find an interesting way into it. I told him about my character and he agreed,” he adds.

The film has been in production since 2009 and, over so many years, there has been a change of cast, scheduling conflicts and many more issues coming along the way. “I know it’s been a long time. Well, basically, all of my friends were part of the project so I too didn’t back out. I’m really good friends with Douglas Booth and I have worked with him before. Plus, Jack (Huston) and Sam are lovely guys. I thought it would be a fun shoot, which indeed it was,” he adds.

After acting in television shows like The Street, The Sarah Jane Adventures, Party Animals, this movie has given him an opportunity to shine on the silver screen. “I really like to experiment with my role, but some directors don’t like it. Burr [Steers] was really wonderful, he gave me actual freedom. If you can improvise around the structure of a scene and it does have that purpose. I think it’s quite an interesting way of working,” he says.

Rooney Mara stars in a lesbian love story TGS News Service @TGSWeekly

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wo-time Academy Award-winner Cate Blanchett and the very talented Rooney Mara will be seen together in the upcoming film Carol. The film has been directed by Todd Haynes, who is known for having directed the acclaimed films Safe, Far from Heaven and I’m Not There. The film is an adaptation from The Price of Salt, a Patricia Highsmith novel.

Carol is an achingly beautiful depiction of love against the odds and explores how individuals and their relationships can transform over time. “At its core, the film is a love story between two humans.

Yes, they are women but there’s also a lot of other elements working against them besides that. I don’t think the film is a political film in any way and therefore it really allows the audience to go into it without any defences and they can experience these two people falling in love,” says Rooney.

Rooney plays a young shop assistant Therese Belive who is attracted to an older, wealthy and

glamorous customer, played by Cate Blanchett. The love story is set in 1952, the year the American Psychiatric Association proclaimed homosexuality as a ‘sociopathic personality disturbance’. “There’s so much about Therese that girls in that age will be able to relate to. Therese is going through a huge romantic change but she’s also finding herself in terms of her professional passion.

That much is still relevant,” Rooney

adds. The film showcases Therese as a girl who is living the life that society wants her to live. She has a boyfriend who seems perfect, a group of friends and a run-of-themill job but still she is not happy and feels very lonely.

The actress of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo-fame believes that the film has the power to change the perspective of viewers who aren’t progressive when it comes to same-sex relationships.

“People who aren’t as open-minded or open-hearted aren’t going to feel defensive, because we’re not telling them what’s right or what’s wrong. I think that there is a chance for people to watch it to see these people as humans that they can relate to,” she says.

Rooney took on the role after refusing it for two years. She was so fed up playing the same kind of characters, that she once confessed of quitting Hollywood. “When I said that, I was referring not so much to leaving Hollywood, but it was because I didn’t feel fulfilled by the work that I was lucky enough to be getting. Now, I’m just so lucky I get to work with the people that I do. I feel really grateful,” she adds.

Shaair returns with Spit

Monica Dogra’s new album is all about expressing love. She gives us a sneak peek into the song writing of the album TGS News Service @TGSWeekly

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ou can call her a diva or a free-spirited musician, Monica Dogra is better known for bringing feminine energy to the Indian indie music scene. She is back with her solo debut album Spit that features nine tracks varying between loud beats and soothing rhythms which will make you feel emotions that you cannot express in words. “Spit is a raw, aggressive in its courage and action. This album is a mix of many genres, there is poetry, searching, love and longing,” she says. The album took three years in the making and features collaborations with music producers from around the world like Robot Koch from Germany, Prash Mistry from UK of the famous Engine Earz Experiment and Gaurav Raina who is better known as one half of The Midival Punditz.

The songs are intended to reinvent the inner self. “While writing Spit, I was reminded that I had no agenda but to write music, no deadline to meet, no fans to cater to.

There have been months that have gone by when I have been completely okay with not even releasing the album. Somewhere, ‘the realness’ has gotten lost in the noise of what is trendy and cool. Spit cuts through the externalities and begs for another way,” she says.

Monica is a singer, spoken word performer, dancer, clothing designer, activist and actor. Dhobi Ghat brought her to international fame where she was cast as the lead alongside Aamir Khan. The cover song Spit is a note to herself about who she is, how much time she spends avoiding judgments, criticism, trying to find a safe place to be and to express. The song also became the background score to her first fashion film for her line of clothing. Another song from the album called Good Thing is about appreciating things that surround you. This song ended up as part of the background score in her film Fireflies. “I started writing music through slam poetry in smoky New York bars. Somewhere in the process of gut-spilling prose, haiku, alliteration, and metaphor, I started to express my beckoning for love, asking to be understood, wanting to hold someone’s hand, just for a second to feel a little less alone. The songs emerged effortlessly in my mind,” she adds.

She credits her album to all those artists who allowed for her to express her thoughts at her loudest best. “This process has revealed to me that I am, at my core, without any guidance or influence. All the artists and producers, who helped me in this endeavour, will continue to be my heroes of the highest,” she adds.

Monica’s other past notable work includes singing the title track for the film Break Ke Baad with VishalShekhar. She presented four seasons of the Cannes-nominated TV Series The Dewarists, and she judged India’s first English-speaking music reality show, The Stage.