PUNE, FEBRUARY 20, 2016 | www.thegoldensparrow.com
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DOPPELGANGER The city’s scope of talent goes beyond dancers, singers and theatrewalas to include mimicry artists and ‘duplicate’ actors who have stepped out of the woodwork and worked hard to establish themselves
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FEBRUARY 20, 2016 PUNE
ENTERTAINMENT This weekend, spend a little time with yourself as these dancers take you on a blissful journey By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry
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ith our busy and stressful lives, it is not very often that one gets the opportunity to think of things like what individuality means. To be a better person, however, this could be considered crucial. Over the past five months, Aditi Venkateshwaran, Divesh Idnani, Maitreyee Joshi, Ankita Shingvi, Radhika Rathod, Amruta Dharamkamble and Hrishikesh Pawar have been rehearsing for a performance that promises to take you on a journey where you will get to explore yourself. Not only will the performance portray spirituality and individuality through movement, but there is a whole whirlwind of emotions in store for every audience member. Aatman is a dance production that explores the spirit within each one of us and its influence on the idea of being. Through contemporary dance, these performers have reflected on questions like what influences our experiences, how do we feel and acknowledge our action towards each other and what does spirituality mean to an individual. The most difficult part about the performance for the dancers was connecting the movements that stemmed from their emotions to those of their co-dancers. It may be easier to convey what you feel through words, but when you have to portray the same emotions through movements the smallest of detail matters. “Spirituality differs with every individual. While we want to tell our story we also want everyone to explore their own,” says Aditi, a Kathak dancer who took to Contemporary dance for its freedom of movement. Through their hour-long performance, the Centre of
What is your idea of individuality? Contemporary Dance troupe shall present six pieces that speak the language of spirituality and individuality. Only two out of the six pieces have been choreographed by Hrishikesh while the rest have been devised by everyone. While a majority of the action may seem abstract to many, the team has incorporated a few gestures in their performance that will be relatable to almost everyone. Telling us about the choreography of the act Aditi says, “Everyone moved according to the emotion that they felt. While some times we learned the steps thought up by one of the performers, at other times we found a way to connect everyone’s individual choreography to make the entire piece come together.” Working together for years now, the seven dancers have
done innumerable shows all across the country till date. They even performed in Sri Lanka at the Colombo Theatre Festival. While dance connects them and helps them grow, their only hope for the future is for the dance community to unite. This would empower artists and help them find their feet in a world that does not quite accept being an artist as a career. In addition, to sustain as fulltime artists it is necessary to promote the art form enough so that the audience is more accessible and their current performances are their way to do their bit, believes the team. When: February 27, 6 pm Where: Annabhau Sathe Natyagruha, Bibewadi salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com
Sean Paul: Raising the temperature The Grammy Award-winning Dancehall and Reggae musician gives us an insight into his career, Jamaican influences and his idols By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab
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ust a decade ago, most people would be clueless about what Dancehall Reggae entailed but there is one man who brought the genre into the mainstream and coached the world on Dancehall music. Sean Paul, known as the world wide ambassador of the genre, has successfully
taken over the world with his high-pitched music and refined melodies. The music that was once considered underground came into limelight after his album Dutty Rock that sold more than six million copies and won him the much coveted Grammy. “Dancehall is versatile and evolving. I think it’s just gotten bigger now. We have new kids becoming famous every two months in Jamaica with inventions on Dancehall. Whenever something becomes successful, it begins to deviate from what it originally was,” he says. Sean who was once a skilled athlete and played for the national water polo team, left his career mid-way to pursue music, his first love. After his DJ stint, he began writing songs and setting his tunes in Reggae-Pop style. He, however, believes that music is now losing its originality. “I do think we lost something in Dancehall because of its commercialisation and everybody wanting to be the person who is doing well. That’s especially the case when you come from a small island such as Jamaica. I have been trying to blend music with what’s popular right now.
For the music to grow, it means more pie for the people involved,” he says. He is best known for his catchy looks, funky hairstyles that range from narrow braids to mohawks and not to forget his Jamaican upswing singing style. With hits like ‘Gimme The Light’, ‘We Be Burning’, ‘Like Glue’, he has become the mainstream outlet for a specific genre and have been successful in topping the charts. “I have learned from greats like Shabba Ranks, Super Cat, Steely and Clevie, and I still have that embedded in me. All the success shows that a lot of people listen to Reggae, a big demographic throughout the world. You have to know that basically Reggae artists need exposure and that is what’s happening right now,” he adds. He loves all the attention his music gets and now wants to experiment with fusing in more genres. “Dancehall music is a blend of Hip-Hop, R&B and Dance music. There’s Trap music, Techno is back, and I wanted to blend my music with that. We’re getting exposure for authentic Dancehall tracks right now — on MTV, on all the radio stations. I love that vibe! Even Hip-Hop producers have become more Dancehall oriented,” he says. He wants to work with anyone in the
business who would give respect to the Jamaican vibe. His biggest regret is time the when he missed the chance to work with his idols, the American Rock band No Doubt. To make up for it, he did a version of their song Gun Speech. “No Doubt was a big thing for me, but I missed the chance. I was upset. I didn’t get to meet them while they were in Jamaica at all and I have been their fan since their track Don’t Speak. Doing a version of their song was a conscious decision. It didn’t really go to many places but I had to give respect to that melody. It was more like a Dub than anything,” he adds. He rose to fame again with the song Bailando with Enrique Iglesias. Later, he toured the world but his favourite place to play still remains his home country. “There is no stage like home. I’ve toured the world but Jamaica is still my favourite place to be. I have done 500 countries all over the earth. Next, I am going to be performing at the Pakistan Super League and I am busy putting together an anthem for them,” he says. He is also experimenting with his sound and looking at collaborations for his next album which is to be shot in Los Angeles. zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com
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TGS LIFE
Pune boy makes his television debut He has the ultimate boy-nextdoor-looks and a smile to die for. With his very first television sitcom, Abhishek Deshmukh has already won many hearts By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry
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or those of you who regularly watch Marathi sitcoms, the most recent one Pasand Ahe Mulgi, airing on Zee Marathi, would definitely be a favourite. Light-hearted and relatable, the daily depicts the life of a young boy, Punarvasu, as he respectfully follows the religious routine set by his father while trying to grab the attention of the girl that he has fallen head over heels in love with. The character of Punarvasu is played by Abhishek Deshmukh, who hails from Pune. Abhishek even worked at a firm as an architect for about nine months before he decided to pursue theatre fulltime. In conversation with him, we learn of his first break, where he gets his love for theatre from and his future plans. His love for theatre, scripting, direction and acting was passed down to him by his parents who were both extremely active artists while they were in college. Recollecting his childhood, he tells us that he was about six years old when he first set foot on stage. His very first act was a solo performance and this was where it all began for him. The best part about being an actor, for him,
FEBRUARY 20, 2016 PUNE
ENTERTAINMENT
is that he gets to live others’ dreams. “An actor is a reflection of other’s experiences and dreams. People tend to see their unfulfilled dreams in our characters and become happy,” he says. Talking about the show he says that there isn’t much difference between his reel and real life. Being on the television has taught him to always be on his toes. “The audience watching you every day is the same and so you have to be consistent and always prepared. Romancing your co-star becomes easy if you are the best of friends. Accepting this role and this job profile has made me more focused and increased my presence of mind considerably,” he admits. He loves to see a positive attitude in everyone around him and is one of the most enthusiastic and talkative persons on the set. When it comes to writing scripts, which is his first love, his inspiration lies in his and others’ experiences. Often, something or the other sparks a thought in his mind and that quickly translates into a story. “I want to give to people through my stories what they otherwise aren’t able to express. Not only does this make it a promising script but one that is relatable,” says the 27-year-old. He has written and directed Doan Goshti a long act play, Karve By The Way which is a solo act based on the life of R D Karve, and O! Frida, another solo act. He has also written a musical show called Paighaam. Naseeruddin Shah is his idol among actors along with others’ like Shah Rukh Khan. In some years down the line, Abhishek hopes to have written a few blockbuster Marathi film scripts and of course find his own niche in Bollywood. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com
“An actor is a reflection of other’s experiences and dreams.”
‘It is so much better to joke about yourself today’ An actor, a comedian and a radio jockey, Suresh Menon has played several roles throughout his career. Ahead of his visit to Pune with his hilarious act, we ask him what’s in store for the crowd By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry
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aking the first steps towards success with a small role in Dil Toh Pagal Hai, Suresh Menon crafted his identity as one of the most famous comedians that Bollywood has ever seen. From performing for Ganapati festivals in his society to sharing television space with people like Salman Khan and Paresh Rawal, the actor’s journey has been a true roller-coaster ride. After graduation, the commerce student worked at 20th Century Finance, Crompton
Greaves and a few more companies before realising that he did not belong at any of these places. Going to R K Studios, running into Rishi Kapoor and taking in the entire atmosphere of the studio made him realise that this is where he belonged. Since then, the actor has worked in several super-hit films like Phir Hera Pheri, Chalte Chalte, and Bheja Fry 2, to name a few. He is also a radio jockey, has appeared on several television shows and does a podcast with VJ Jose called Kaamasti. All set to make Punekars roll out of their seats with laughter, he will share his journey of growing up in a South Indian family to entering the film industry in an act titled Being Malayali. There will also be interesting remarks and observations about his recent release Mastizaade and his costar from the film Sunny Leone. “The funny moments that happened during my growing up years were inspiration enough for the script. They have, in a huge way, made me who I am today,” says the 48-year-old actor. Making people laugh and ensuring that they return to see your shows is a huge challenge,
he believes. While making fun of people is really easy, today everyone gets offended easily and this becomes a major issue while scripting. “Nowadays, a comedian must draw a line almost everywhere. It is so much better to joke about yourself today. You never know who you will land up offending otherwise,” he says, adding, “I also very religiously avoid religion.” A happy-go-lucky person who knows how to blend and change with times and situations is the best way he can describe himself. Recollecting one of the funniest moments that tickled his funny bone was when once someone walked up to him and said that while he was grateful for making him laugh, he did not know his name. His future plans include making his online project a billion-dollar company, acting in mad films, producing television shows and undoubtedly making people laugh, but only a little harder. When: February 21, 8:30 pm to 10 pm Where: Susie Sorabji Auditorium, Agarkar Nagar, Camp salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com
TGS LIFE
FEBRUARY 20, 2016 PUNE
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In the backdrop of
STAGE
Kashmir
Pragnya Wakhlu’s soulful renditions work towards enriching the ambience while also evoking visuals of Kashmir as never imagined before By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab
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ashmir, as Bollywood movies have popularised the land, is known to us as a beautiful region cloaked in an air of mysterious beauty or as a war zone. Be it the super hit Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Haider or the 60s hit Kashmir Ki Kali, all of them have presented the state as a cliche and stereotyped its people. But none of these films talk about its culture and the poetry written by Kashmiri mystics. Bringing this aspect to public, awa rd-w inning singer, songwriter and musician Pragnya Wakhlu brings ‘Kashmir Through a Musical Lens’ at Gyaan Adab. “We wanted to bring forth the Kashmir that has remained hidden from the public eye. Along with the culture, we want to bring back the Kashmiri language
that has been forgotten due to the migration,” says Pragnya. The evening will see a combination of stories and songs that will retain the traditional flavour of Kashmir, accompanied by some interesting history and anecdotes that inspires each composition. The songs will range from the poetry of Kashmiri Sufi mystic poet Lal Ded, the love story of Habakhaatoon and King Yusuf Shah Chak to the evergreen Kashmiri classic Bhumbro which tells the story of Yemberzal and Nargis. “Some Kashmiri songs were picked by Bollywood, but it lost its true essence, it’s an attempt to bring back the original. Like the Bhumbro song from Mission Kashmir originally is a love story between a bumblebee and a flower. After each song we will explain the meaning and history
“I am a strong believer in using the power of music for positive change”
behind the song,” she says. Pragnya will be accompanied by Sonic Shori on the bass guitar and Shubhanshu Singh on the lead guitar. The artiste, who has been inclined towards music since childhood, is an IT Engineer and a graduate of Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore. Her passion for music led her to quit her corporate job in the US and return to India to try and make a difference to society. She soon started writing songs for her album and performing actively with her band Soul Strings. Today, she is
one of the few independent woman musicians and guitarists in the Indian independent music circuit. “I want to do something meaningful and inspire people through my songs. I am a strong believer in using the power of music for positive change,” she says. Her songs are usually about inner reflection and issues she feels strongly about. Known for her powerful vocals, soulful singing style and deep lyrics, Pragnya has been making waves on the music scene in India and abroad. “One of the most memorable
moment was when I received a letter from a fan after the launch of my song ‘Rise’. He had been through a paralytic attack and he thanked me for inspiring him to rise up to life again,” she adds. Pragnya is now working on her solo album that features Kashmiri and English songs. She is also set to release a music video ‘Tibet fights for freedom’ that is shot in Dharamsala. When:February 20, 6.30 pm Where: Gyaan Adab Centre zainab.kantawala @goldensparrow.com
Watch as the talented battle it out Sounds of the djembe, cajon, tabla, flute and keyboard will fuse together to create some of the best melodies you have heard till date By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry
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ttempting to bring the best of talented musicians under one single roof, We the Artists, a collaborative to promoe art forms and artists, shall organise their very first fusion music concert called Under the Tree. The initiative, by the youth and for the youth, will see musicians in their 20s perform live for the first time in Pune and the audience will get to see one of the best jugalbandis that will take place under a tree. Parth Joshi who plays the djembe and the cajon, tell us a little more about the jugalbandi and he could not sound more excited. The motive of this collaboration is to promote classical music among the younger generation and make their music relevant with their ideas and thoughts. “We are taking the language of classical music and fusing it into these instruments. The hope is to make this genre become easier to digest,” he adds. Parth has a degree in Biodiversity, runs a professional photo studio and music is something that he does purely because of his love for it. He is currently
a student of Taufiq Quershi. The jugalbandi will consist of all new compositions and some interesting mix of sounds. It promises to show you a whole new world of classical music and open your mind to this genre of music. “As young artists, we understand and relate to those of our age and have an idea of how to get them on board. We are in a way blending traditional music with new sounds and presenting it,” tells us Saurabh Vartak who will be seen on the flute in the performance. After playing the harmonium for a while, one performance by Pt Hariprasad Chaurasia was enough to entice Saurabh, towards the flute. Even though he graduated with a degree in electronic engineering, his love for music is everything to him and he is now a full time musician. The entire event, divided into three sections, will see five Prasad Velhankar upcoming artists, Parth Joshi on
L to R: Nitin Satav, Rohit Kulkarni, Saurabh Vartak
the djembe and cajon, Nitin Satav on the djembe, Prasad Velhankar on the tabla, Saurabh Vartak on the flute and Rohit Kulkarni on the keyboard. There will also be Milind Date who will be accompanied by Pt Ramdas Palsule on the tabla among senior artists. The main attraction of the concert will however be Jaywat Utpat who will be seen playing the new musical instrument Jaysonik as he unveils its high energy and power. The event is also being organised to
Parth Joshi
support Tree Public Foundation which is an NGO that works for the environment. The NGO will play one tree for every single person visiting the concert. What do you mean by this? When: February 28, 6 pm to 8:30 pm Where: Aksharnandan School ground, Behind JW Marriott Hotel, Senapati Bapat Road salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com
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Batman, Hulk or Joker, what’s your pick?
TGS LIFE
FEBRUARY 20, 2016 PUNE
FEATURES
For the first time ever, the city will host it’s a Comic Con this weekend and there are way too many surprises in store for you By Romil Kothari & Salonee Mistry @TGSWeekly
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rrespective of what comic character you drool over, this weekend you get the chance to cosplay your favourite character. As the Comic Con Express halts in Pune, not only will you get to see some of the best comic book authors interacting with their fans, but there will also be new releases, merchandise and events all at one venue. Find out what’s in store as TGS speaks with some of the authors whose books will be launched at the event and some Punekars who are aching to attend the event.
ANIRUDDHA SINGH The author of Shaitaan, 31-year-old Aniruddha Singh is based out of Delhi and has always wanted to be a writer. He wrote several theatre scripts when he was younger. His book, which is a classic horror, plays around the idea of its superhero having the power to be invulnerable. He got the idea from one of his friend and the two immediately began brainstorming on a story. “The biggest challenge with a comic book is to maintain a coherent timeline. This affects the story more when you decide to do it in parts,” he says. The book will witness the saga of the unknown soldier, who has been fighting a forgotten battle for decades. The fourth part will answer several questions and promises to take you on an ultimate journey. The book includes stunning artwork by Gaurav Srivastav from Mumbai and surreal colours by Prasad Patnaik from Pune.
THEIR PENS ARE MIGHTIER THAN THEIR LIGHT SABERS While they are definitely not competing with the likes of Stephen Hawking, Ivan Brandon, Vic Bloom or Bob Montana, the Indian authors too have a pool of talent that only remains to be tapped. After writing some of the most awesome and well-scripted comic books, they have managed to create a niche for themselves and turn into an inspiration for many. SHAMIK DASGUPTA Taking inspiration from the character Taranath Tantrik (TnT), created by Bibhuti Bhushan Bandopadhyay, this 34-year-old author crafted a whole new life for the psychic investigator. Shamik managed not just to make it a critically acclaimed work but even a favourite among many. “The story is based in the heart of Calcutta and is extremely close to me. Every part of the script represents the history and social issues of the city,” he points out. The book is a political horror-thriller and he has already begun working on the next part. The pulse pounding finale of the TnT saga ends with a massive 64-page issue, to SHIREEN JAMOOJI The MBA-aspirant is an avid fan of Anime and Manga like Black Cat and Death Note. She is intrigued by the idea of cosplaying and will perform her first cosplay this year. “All of us have to work hard so that Pune Comic Con keeps happening every year,” says the 22-year-old. Shireen will play Clare from Claymore anime at the event. She is stitching her costume and building the prop sword from foam with the help of online videos. Part of the armour is being built by Scythe’s Skunk but she is not worried much about the expenses as it is her first experience and she wants to do it right.
be launched at the Comic Con. Shamik’s other famous comic books include The Caravan, a vampire story with an Indian twist. HARSHO MOHAN CHATTORAJ When Sir Alec, a British paranormal expert, travels to India for the launch of his book and stops over in Calcutta, he is eager to spot the spirits that supposedly abound in the city. A supernatural thriller, Ghosts of Kingdoms Past, written by Harsho Mohan Chattoraj clears away some of the cobwebs covering Calcutta’s fascinating history. Writing comic novels for 17 years now, Harsho
Eagerly awaiting Comic Con ABHIR GONEPAVARAM 13-year-old Abhir Gonepavaram is a huge fan of Star Wars and is very excited to visit the Comic Con. He has watched all the Star Wars movies, even the new ones, and is super excited about the eighth chapter. He will be attending the Comic Con with his mother and sister. He wants to cosplay as Obi-Wan Kenobi from Star Wars and has begun preparing for it. “I already have a light saber. I just need to arrange a robe and I will be cosplaying as the older Obi-Wan Kenobi as he is an easier character to portray,” says an excited Abhir. A fan boy, after all, he wants to keep on cosplaying whether or not this one works out.
started his career by writing for newspapers and now has several comic books to his name. Having graduated in Mass Communication from Symbiosis University Pune, he was a part of several disciplines before settling down as a writer. Currently, based in Calcutta he spoke to us about his novel, “It is difficult to see nonfictional stories in India as the audience is not quite ready for it yet. I hope that this changes soon,” says the 35-year-old.
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NABIL KHAN The mechanical engineer from Bangalore is psyched about attending the Pune Comic Con. He has been cosplaying for three years. He cosplayed as Indiana Jones for his first time. Back then, not many people had idea about cosplaying, so it was a difficult thing to pull off. “Now, the trend has caught up and it has become relatively easier,” he tells us. Over the years, he has cosplayed as a dancing Robocop, Wolverine and the male counter-part of Harley Quinn and Otto Octavius. He won the state championship for cosplaying Otto Octavius from Spiderman and will be representing India at the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2). He will be cosplaying as Hulk Buster from Avengers 2 and will have a 10ft suit for it.
TGS LIFE
FEBRUARY 20, 2016 PUNE
INDULGE By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry
for the main course, please Attempting to change the way Indians see the potato and hoping to make it a part of the main course, this new hangout has much more to offer than just this new habit RAHUL RAUT
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pening its doors just this Monday, the charming little place on the corner of Lane 6 is a pleasant surprise for every foodie. Bringing with it a new concept to the city, the restaurant promotes potato as the main course in your meal and hopes to change the way food is seen, eaten and cooked. It was during one of his travels that Aman Talreja the idea struck 24-year-old Aman Talreja, who hails from Delhi, and he decided to give it a go. While his family has been successfully running Subway chains in the city, he too moved to Pune about two and a half years ago to get a hang of how things function and network for his own restaurant. It was only after a year and a half of planning that he saw his idea materialise. Named Murphies, which is a slang word for potatoes among the Irish, every dish at restaurant is a must try. Even though all the dishes have potato in them which is high
One potato dish
in fibre, they are baked keeping in mind the customers’ health. “While I am trying to sell the concept of having potatoes for the main course, I do not want people to get unhealthy. Baked potato is a concept not known to many,” says Aman. Since this is the main ingredient and the base for every dish, all the food is as organic as it can get.
The restaurant, apart from promoting this concept, is also the perfect blend between a fast-food joint and a fine dine restaurant. With a chilled out vibe that nicely compliments the ambience the self-service restaurant believes in serving food quickly and allowing the customer to enjoy their meal and take as much as time as they
would like. “There were so many challenges along the way that I had second thoughts about starting the place. Right from the fact that were finding it hard to get a place to set a restaurant, to getting the correct supplier for potatoes, everything came with its own set of problems,” says Aman. The restaurant has two sections
How about a Khao Suey style Misal?
Celebrity chef Nilesh Limaye gives a funky, modern twist of flavours to traditional Maharashtrian dishes By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM
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id you know that within Maharashtra itself, there are over 20,000 varieties of dishes that keep altering in flavour, colour and texture as you travel from one region to another. While exploring the diversities, celebrity chef, TV host, author, restaurateur and entrepreneur Nilesh Limaye came up with the idea to design a special Ballava menu by giving the old recipes his own touch. The name Ballava is derived from Ballav Acharya referring to a chef in Maharashtra and since the Maharashtrian cuisine has been restricted mostly to households, Chef Limaye wanted to bring the cuisine into the forefront by making interesting tweaks to tickle the taste buds of people who have been eating traditional Maharashtrian food as well as those who haven’t tried it yet. A simple and popular dish such as a misalpav changes in taste as you travel from one city to another. Although the basic curry preparation remains the same, the serving style and flavours keep changing. “In Kolhapur, it is served with
a chiwda topping, in Pune it comes with farsan, and in Thane it is served with the Laxminarayan chiwda. Now when I thought of giving it a twist, the inspiration came from the Burmese Khao Suey, which is basically Chef Nilesh Limaye a one-pot meal in itself, like the misalpav, and is also served with variety of toppings. So I thought why not serve the misal in the same fashion. At the same time, I didn’t want it to be called as a fusion dish. Adding noodles as a topping would have totally changed the taste, so I came up with the idea to put kurdai as the topping which is a kind of papad made of vermicelli but prepared in a very similar way as they make the rice noodles in Indonesia. Then I served this along with the usual chopped onion and tomato along with brown garlic, brown onion and some spring onions, something which has never been tried in Maharashtrian cooking and took the dish to an altogether different level in taste as well as appearance,” shares Limaye. Similarly, Puran Poli, which is usually served with hot milk and ghee, the chef has
given the traditional dish a modern touch by adding orange juice along with a scoop of ice cream as a topping. Inspired by crepes, with this dish Limaye at fi rst tried it at his own restaurant in Kolhapur. The dish became an instant hit with the people as no one had ever thought of eating puran poli in this manner. “When I make these little tweaks, I don’t mean to take away the soul from the original recipe. My aim behind recreating these dishes is only to make people aware that Maharashtrian cuisine has a lot to offer. Further, there are certain ingredients that children and youngsters may not like to eat but by giving them a twist, they will start enjoying the same food which they otherwise find boring at home.” Another very interesting take on a simple breakfast dish such as poha, Chef Limaye has
– one called Murphs that caters to all the potato dishes; the other is the desert section called Treats. There are just 15 murphs on the menu, eight of which are vegetarian dishes and seven non-vegetarian. While the concept is originally Aman’s, Dhiren Khaturia manages the kitchen and Aniruddha Ahuja looks after the branding and marketing of the place. Keeping in mind that the place is relatively new and so is the food that they are offering the cost has been kept extremely low and reasonable to encourage people to try out the dishes. The cheapest dish at the restaurant is priced at Rs 120 while the most expensive one is at Rs 310. Every aspect of the space, be it the restaurant, the food, the ambience and the food, only the menu spells comfort through and through. Whether you visit here for lunch or for dinner, you must most definitely try the Mutton Kheema which is essentially kheema packed in baked potato and bacon bits and mushroom. Aiming for a bright future, when Aman started this restaurant he envisioned himself managing the chain across the country and this is what he strives and works hard for, every single day. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com
MISAL Ingredients Bitter Beans/Kadave Vaal 250 grams Onion paste 2 tbsp Garlic Paste 1 tbsp Ginger paste ½ tbsp Red chili paste 1 tbsp Besan 1 tsp Medium Coconut milk ½ cup Dhania Powder 1 tsp Jeera Power 1 tsp Turmeric 1 tsp Toppings: Kurdai, Spring onion, Coriander leaves, Fried Garlic, Fried Onion, Chilli Oil Method: In a pan heat oil. Saute all the paste ingredients. Add the ground masalas. Add coconut milk. Cook for few minutes till the curry is cooked. Steam the beans. Add to the curry Serve in a bowl. Add toppings as per choice. tried to give it an American jacket potato twist by preparing moist poha with tomatoes and stuff it in baked scooped-out potatoes topped with chopped coriander and cheese. “It’s an absolutely melt-in-the-mouth dish which can be prepared in no time and can be enjoyed even as a snack.” Now, if your mouth has started drooling already, these are just a few examples of what Chef Limaye is doing in one of the city restaurants. If you like experimenting with your taste buds and haven’t really tasted Marathi food, here’s your chance. Where: Courtyard by Marriott Pune Chakan
TEJAS GAIKWAD
TGS LIFE
FEBRUARY 20, 2016 PUNE
INDULGE
Beer lovers at the tasting session of the freshlybrewed jaggery beer Manu Gulati and head brewer Mukteshwar Tripathi raise a toast along with the six beer enthusiasts from Pune
This beer is very gud Beer enthusiasts come together at Effingut Brewerkz to make the first-of-its-kind craft beer with jaggery By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM
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hrough a unique concept to give beer lovers a chance to craft their own brew with a dash of desi, Manu Gulati of Effingut Brewerkz, brought together six enthusiasts to try something new. The idea came into being a few months ago when Manu invited Sapan Maniyar, Manu Misra, Sameer Madan, Heramb Arjunwadkar, Saurabh Patwardhan and Ameya Kale to come up with a recipe that they would like to taste from the tap.
Coming from different walks of life such as software engineering, marketing, medicine, and hotelier, these beer men met each other through international forums. Their love for craft beer has taken them to different parts of the world to understand the A-Z of beer and the passion is such that if you bring them a tray full of beer mugs, they can tell you all about them simply by smelling and looking at the texture. Says Sapan, “We have tasted all kinds of beers across the city, country, even different nations. Each beer has its own uniqueness. Most people in India are only aware about lager beer but if you are a connoisseur of craft beers, there are
fewer chances that you’d like anything else in the world.” Heramb Arjunwadkar and the rest of the group nods along. “There are so many flavours to choose from in craft beer that one can never get bored. Moreover, when Manu told us to come up with one recipe that we would all love to try at his joint, we got down to try everything we could possibly think of,” says Heramb. After about three-four months of trials and failures, with the help of Effingut’s head brewer, Mukteshwar Tripathi, they shortlisted the two best Indian flavours – lemon grass and jiggery. Eventually, the jaggery-flavoured beer
which got the most number of heads up. The new flavour has the perfect blend of sweet and bitter flavours, dark brown colour and a very smooth texture. Named Effingud, it was launched recently at the joint amidst several beer lovers from the city. It has already become an instant hit. Taking the concept ahead, Manu plans many more such events soon so that the city gets to enjoy the best of craft beers. “Fortunately, we are among the most-selling brewers in the city and events like these are a perfect way to come closer to understand the likes and demand of our patrons. Like this group of beer buffs, there are many more such people across Pune who would like to do fun stuff and I want all of them to come and brew with us,” adds Manu. heena.grover@goldensparrow.com
YOUR CHOW AROUND TOWN On a Malabari food trail
India’s First Keto Festival This Sunday, join the first ever health and fitness extravaganza wherein you will get to rub shoulders with city fitness bigwigs and few of the top academicians and dieticians under one roof. Learn the art of cooking high fat moderate protein meals. Fitness goodies, seminars, fitness chefs and more. Be there to learn the art of fat burning. When: February 21 Where: Sanas Memories, above Neulife Stores, FC road
Experience Malabar Cuisine from Kerala served at Savya Rasa known for its aromatic and flavorful consistency. A unique aspect that separates this cuisine from the rest of Kerala is the use of oil and spices. Moplah dishes do not have much oil and the spices used are restricted to powdered chilli, coriander, turmeric and cumin. Come try their wide range of dishes starting from Chemeen Podi-ittu Varuthathu, Thalassery Meen Biryani to Elaneer Pudding at Savya Rasa. When: Ongoing, 12 pm to 3 pm & 7 pm to 11 pm Where: D1, Vasani Nagar, Next to Starbucks, Koregaon Park
A super power offer Power House - The Comic Bar which has recently opened its doors for all the Super Hero and Super Villain fanatics, this chilled out hang out bar has introduced its super offers like Power Drinks like Hulk Smash, Stark, Wolverine etc. buy two get one,
IMFL straight buy two get one, Cocktail and Sangria Pitchers One Plus One. Guests wearing super hero t-shirts will get a discount of 10 per cent on the delicious continental and American lip-smacking food. When: Noon to 8 pm Where: Power House - The Comic Bar, 2nd Floor, Budhrani Boulevard ,NIBM Annexe
Japanese chocolate wonder comes to Pune After the tremendous success of the ROYCE’ in Mumbai and Delhi, Avani Raheja and Samir Gadhok of Burgundy Hospitality now bring this unique Japanese chocolate brand to Pune. ROYCE’ prides itself in offering a wide array of products that follow one consistent theme- fresh chocolate products that are rich in flavour, textures, complexity and taste. ROYCE’s signature product is a cube of mouth watering ganache, the ‘Nama’, luxuriously truffle-like, alluringly creamy and evidently moist. Ghana Bitter, Mild Cacao and Ecuador Sweet are just some of the
flavours, all made with fresh cream from farms near the factory in Hokkaido. Where: Phoenix Marketcity, Nagar Road
Feast From Lucknow Don’t miss the aromatic and irresistible flavours of authentic Lucknowi cuisine crafted by Chef De Cuisine, Sadab Qureshi. Try out Chef Qureshi’s signature dishes such as Kakori and Galouti Kebab, Nalli Nehari, Shahi Tukda and many more specialty offerings. When: February 18 to 28, 6.30 pm onwards Where: Kangan, The Westin, Koregaon Park
TGS LIFE
FEBRUARY 20, 2016 PUNE
FEATURES
The city’s scope of talent goes beyond dancers, singers and theatrewalas to include mimicry artists and ‘duplicate’ actors who have stepped out of the woodwork and worked hard to establish themselves
SPOT THE
TGS LIFE
FEBRUARY 20, 2016 PUNE
DOPPELGANGER By Salonee Mistry & Zainab Kantawala @TGSWeekly
B
e it the quintessential flared pants and long coats that Amitabh Bachchan wore when he was taking baby steps into the fi lm industry or getting their hair permanently curled to look like the mop Johnny Lever sports, these local stars go through a lot to replicate their idols. What with spending hours in front of the mirror getting the expressions right, to keeping their business on hold for rehearsals and performing across the country, these actors are not only going the extra mile to pursue something that they love but they’ve all made a name for themselves in the entertainment industry as well. STRADDLING TWO LIVES On a regular day, you’d see Sabu Ramesh Tiwari working on yards of cloth as a tailor but, if you stuck around long enough, you’d see his other avtaar – as the famous actor Rajnikanth. Like him, Sunil Dhende is both a photographer and Dev Anand. On the other hand, Rahul Mitre, who impersonates Johnny Lever and Bapu George Jadhav who plays Amitabh Bachchan are all fulltime actors. From looking the part to even talking and behaving like the stars they imitate, all of them believe that the fact that they have a godgifted potential. If they did not have the looks, most of them
“I don’t need to practice anymore, Johnny bhai is now a part of my identity. I have even forgotten my real name, as most people I know call me Johnny” — RAHUL MITRE
would have been stuck in their shops or nineto-five jobs and would have led as ‘ordinary’ a life as anyone else, they assure us. However, for now, it’s all different. Looking like celebrities, more often than not gets them royal treatment and, in addition, they get called for shows where they perform famous dialogues, dance and monologues for which the stars hold original credit. Nearly 50 shows old, Rajnikanth, or Hero Pujari as he is fondly known, is the most recent addition to the group. He owns a tailoring shop, which is his bread and butter, but he never hesitates to keep it shuttered when he has to go for rehearsals or shows. Given an option, he would love to pursue this as a fulltime career and feels that this is what he was born to do. He has been living the dual life for the last seven years and feels that he is growing and becoming better at both his jobs. “I am always excited to go for rehearsals and so I wind up work early. In the excitement, I tend to focus much more on tailoring when I am at the shop and get work done faster too,” says the 31-yearold. When he was in the seventh grade, Sunil began imitating Dev Anand. He was extremely happy and thrilled when someone pointed out that he looked like the Evergreen star. By the time he was 14 or 15 years old, his appearance started to match a lot more and he began to be appreciated for his imitation skills too. A photographer by profession, he spends most of his time behind the lens and absolutely adores the time when he is in front of it. Although he is 54 years old now and has been playing Dev Anand’s duplicate for the past 35 years, every time he is on stage he feels like he has been gifted a new life. Rahul Mitre and Bapu George Jadhav love the fact that they look like celebrities. Rahul started his mimicry career by doing small scale shows on occasions like Ganesh Chaturthi and Navratri where he played the famous comedian Johnny Lever, while Bapu’s obsession with the actor began after he saw the fi lm Deewar. About 16 years ago, fi lms like Judaii, Hadh Kar Di Aapne and Dulhe Raja were making Jhonny Lever and Rahul famous at the same time. People began running to him for autographs mistaking him to be the celebrity and this is when he realised what he was capable of achieving. “I don’t need to practice anymore, Johnny bhai is now a part of my identity. I have even forgotten my real name, as most people I know call me Johnny,” he says. Even Bapu was flocked with the original Amitabh’s fans every time he stepped out of his house because of his striking similarity with the actor. Both claim to be extremely happy and fortunate to have their identity’s merged with their idols.
Even Sunil, who looks like Dev Anand, takes about one hour to get the makeup on. Like the yesteryear star, he is equally soft-spoken, humble and down to earth. After the fi lm Yarana released, Bapu got a full suit made just like the kind Amitabh wears in the song Sara Zamaana. Not only does he dance the very same steps as Amitabh, but he has very often even suffered an electric shock because of all the wiring underneath the suit. Despite the hurt, he has never stopped any of his performance, just as Amitabh would do, he believes. Taking his love for the star a notch higher he even follows the actors’ principles and behaviour, such as being punctual, treating everyone with respect and not letting age affect his level of energy and performance. Even though he is 53 years old, he performs for hours together and is extremely active when he is on stage. Bapu connect with him on more than one level and tells us that like the actor, he too struggled when he started off. “There were - BAPU GEORGE JADHAV days when, after the show, I was standing in the THEIR STRUGGLE TO FAME middle of the road hoping to get hitch a ride back There is so much more to being an actor’s home. I didn’t even have money to get on a bus,” duplicate than just looking like him. Hours of he says. practice before the mirror, innumerable shows where people point Be it the fl ick of the cigarette or the spinning of the glares that lands out how you could get better and, above all, getting the same tonal it straight into position, everything that superstar Rajnikanth did had quality, is not easy. All the local artistes have spent hours rehearsing a sense of finesse and ease to it. Sabu, Pune’s very own Rajnikanth, has and learning from each other. Rahul walks, talks and laughs just like done about 50 shows till date and still works on these tricks and aims Johnny Lever and also got his hair permanently curled to always look to master them with the same level of ease as his superstar. Let alone the part.
PICS BY RAHUL RAUT
“It was an experience of a lifetime. Amitabh even came backstage and appreciated my act.”
FEATURES
what Rajnikanth would do on the big screen, this 31-year-old artiste even wants to imitate his idol’s personal life. He points out that there is a lot that Rajnikanth has done for the community and he too wishes to do something similar, be it opening an NGO or earning enough money to be able to contribute it to those who need it more than him. Sunil, who imitates Dev Anand, has performed about 16,000 shows till date and confides that if you do not keep practising you are bound to get rusty. “Even if you don’t spend hours in front of the mirror and you just continue to watch the actors’ movies or perform shows every week the character gets set in you and it’s an easy walk from there on,” says Sunil. MEETING THEIR IDOLS Not everyone of the ‘duplicates’ is fortunate enough to meet the people that they truly worship and be appreciated by them. Bapu, Sunil and Rahul were elated to be in the presence of the stars and it showed on their face as they spoke to us about the experience. Bapu has performed shows across the country and has been doing so for 25 years. He has even performed for an audience that included Amitabh Bachchan himself, Dharmendra and Mithun Chakraborty. “It was an experience of a lifetime. Amitabh even came backstage and appreciated my act. He gave me some tips and guided me so that I could make my act better,” he tells us, his voice reflecting an
unmistakeable sense of pride. Sunil was happy that he got to meet Dev Anand just before the actor passed away. He has met him twice and was humbled by his encouraging words. The star told him that he was doing a great job and that he should always keep it up, recollects Sunil. Rahul cannot forget the fi rst time when he met his idol and considers himself lucky to have the chance to perform in front of him. He doesn’t mind the fact that he is forever destined to live in someone else’s shadow. “I have met Johnny sir so many times now. He is so humble that he treats me like his friend. I cannot thank him enough for what he has given me,” he says. For each of the artists, the support they get from their families is the one of the most important factors that keeps them going. Bapu says that his wife Alfa could not have been more supportive. Sabu too feels that, had it not been for his family, he would never have had the courage to manage two professions. Rahul point out that as long as his two children are proud of him he is happy. “I am a hero for them and that is what’s important for me,” he smiles. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com
TGS LIFE
FEBRUARY 20, 2016 PUNE
THRILL OF DRIVING
Stars of Delhi Auto Expo 2016
Audi Q7: The original Bollywood VIP-mover gets a refresh. Watch for our test soon!
BMW X1: The progenitor of the compact luxury SUV finally gets updated to reflect BMW’s new face
Maruti Vitara Brezza: The sub-4m SUV space is where the war will shift to next. Maruti is ready with an indigenous product design
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited: What’s in a name? Everything according to Jeep brand guy Jim Morrison. Yes, really. The Wrangler Unlimited in the background is coming to India
Mercedes GLE coupe: Mercedes started it with the CLS, BMW jacked it up with the X6, now Mercedes does it again. Coupe style, five door SUV
Innova crysta: Is there any doubt at all that these will fly off the showroom floors? The reputation-making Innova gets a proper refresh and an automatic!
Hyperion-1: This insanity is the creation of Shahid Haq from Bangalore. Tucked away in a remote hall, It was the best kept secret of auto expo 2016. Look at that finish!
Jeep Grand Cherokee: Jeep finally makes their entrance in india. The grand Cherokee will also see an SRT8 high performance version!
TGS LIFE
Saurabh Jain is absolutely in love with mountain biking and his only dream is to make every Indian experience the thrill of the sport at least once
FEBRUARY 20, 2016 PUNE
FEATURES
By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry
P
acked with endurance, core strength and balance, mountain biking is still catching up in the city and even in the country. Be it cross country, trail riding, Saurabh Jain endure races, which is all mountain, downhill, freeride or dirt jumping, the task is not an easy one. Mastering the qualities to perfect his mountain biking, during his post-graduation course in Germany, where he was pursuing International Business and Engineering, Saurabh Jain fell in love with the sport the very first time that he tried it. “There is an adrenaline rush in it which has to be felt. Risk-taking which is an important part of life is this sport’s biggest gift to you,” says the 25-yearold. Although he has been injured several times while biking, it is a part and parcel of the sport and makes him want to pursue it even more. When he began mountain biking for the first time he was absolutely unaware of what lay ahead. But when he did try it out, the rush was so high that he even began bunking classes to get onto his bike and peddle away. Coming back to India, the young man had merely one plan in his head; he wanted to promote the sport
A young boy on a
mission in his city and slowly throughout the country. The fact that the sport is not recognised in India as much as it is in other countries, gave Saurabh the push that he needed. Starting with something small he created a basic bike park trail near Sinhagad Ghat. While it is nowhere near the international standards, it is still something. “The bike park will always be a work in progress. Reaching international standards is a long way away but slowly and steadily we will
achieve it,” he says. He believes that the fact that the bike itself is different and has gears unlike a normal bicycle the task of riding it becomes even more difficult. The terrains most definitely double the difficulty level. Focus, passion and determination, he feels, is necessary to manage the sport. In addition, mountain biking is a great way to be in the best of health. Taking his first step to promote the sport, he shall be conducting a two-day workshop on
‘I want to be my own idol’ After winning the Face of India Pageant, 18-yearold Riddhi Kumar is one of the youngest models from Pune who is on her way to represent the country at the Asia Model Festival to be held in Suwon, South Korea in April By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM
H
aving started modelling at the age of 16, Riddhi Kumar is living her childhood dream of becoming a super model, and why not? From looks, charm, intelligence and packed with oodles of confidence, she has everything it takes to be on top. It was one of Riddhi’s friends who told her about the pageant and that she should be a part of it. After doing a quick search about Face of India (FOI), she thought it to be a great platform and just the kind of break that she had been looking for. Since the process was based on voting, Ridddhi informed all her family and friends across India to vote for her and finally got selected. “When I entered the pageant I had not thought
of whether I would make it to the top or not. I just wanted to give it my best shot. It was just five days before the pageant that I entered the contest and the following days were some of the most exciting times for me. It was a really quick affair as the contestants didn’t get enough time for grooming, although all our trainers were extremely helpful. From 6 am to 8 pm, we were supposed to learn the choreography and balance the stilettos. It was a hell lot of fun and hard work, which paid off at the end,” shares Riddhi. This was also the first time that Riddhi ever sported a bikini in front of such a huge crowd, but she says that it was a fun experience and because of her mentors, she didn’t feel awkward at all. Recalling the most nerve-racking moments when she reached among the top five contestants, Riddhi says that everything that she had done till then seemed seamless until she reached the question and answer round. “It was almost like we were all waiting to give an examination. My judge was Badal Saboo who asked me what is my favourite outfit and why. Being a model you get to wear so many clothes, so I found the question a bit tricky but I instantly thought that my answer had to be witty. So I started out by saying that my outfits always reflect my mood as I am quite a versatile person who loves experimenting with
style. But my favourite outfit would just be a smile without which you can go anywhere, and clothes is just a s on???,” says Riddhi. On what it takes to be a super model, she says that success is very timerestricted, what takes you a long way is your humility. “I always feel that you should stay humble with the people who stood by you when you were just a normal being. Fame should never come in the way of your relationship no matter how successful you become in life.” Since she comes from a defence background and has lived in several parts of the country, Riddhi also feels that in future, her diverse background will definitely help her prove herself. Unlike every person who has an idol that they look up to, Riddhi says that she never really had an idol in her life. “Every time someone asks me that question, I say that name anyone and I want to be better than that person. I don’t mean to sound over-confident but that’s honestly what I feel. If there’s anyone I would want to idolise, that would be myself in future.” Riddhi is currently pursuing her BA in Philosophy along with a diploma in fashion from INIFD besides working towards her passion, she is also a Kathak dancer who loves writing poetry when she can find the time. heena.grover@goldensparrow.com
“Risk-taking which is an important part of life is this sport’s biggest gift to you” mountain biking. Not only will he let the participants in on some very crucial theory of the sport but he will start right from the basics of mountain biking. The batch shall consist of 10 people and the bikes too will be provided at the venue itself. This is the fourth workshop that he will be conducting and the first three have had a remarkable response. Some of the participants of the previous workshops now ride regularly with the bike park crew and are pursuing the sport passionately. As him where he sees himself and his bike park in the next five years he says that it is his dream to make every Indian experience the sport of mountain biking at least once. His journey towards the mission has just begun and he hopes to kindle the same love that he feels for the sport in at least a few others. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com
FEBRUARY 20, 2016 PUNE
TEJAS GAIKWAD
TGS LIFE
FEATURES
BORN TO PAINT She has a degree in Computer Science and has worked as a counsellor, but she never found the peace or comfort in either of these professions. Only when she picked up the paintbrush did Shirin Shaikh find herself smiling By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry
A
lthough painting started off just as a hobby for the 26 year old, it slowly became the only thing that she wants to do for the rest of her life. Be it when she was in school, college or university, she was always painting and grew as a painter every day. To fulfil the dreams that her father had seen for her, she decided to complete a graduation and post-graduation degree in computer science. When she was done studying, she applied to the J J School of Arts to pursue Fine Arts but could not get in. This, however, did not discourage her. On the other hand, it only made her more adamant about making art a career option for herself. For Shirin Shaikh, who hails from Kolhapur but has been living in Pune for the last four years, painting is everything. Her first exhibition was when she was in her second year of graduation. It was with a few other friends
and was held at Bal Gandharv on J M Road and this was just the beginning for her. She also began photography during this time and it gave her a lot of inspiration to paint. An outdoor person at heart, her works always had a realistic touch to them as she loved painting scenes from nature. Expanding her spectrum, she slowly shifted to fusing her realistic paintings with abstract art and it gave her work much more edge and made it more appealing, she believed. “Painting makes me happy. No matter what I choose to do as a career, painting was the only thing that satisfied me and made me feel confident in myself,” says Shirin, who could not be more thankful of the fact that she is now a full-time artist. When she was expanding her knowledge on painting with different mediums she discovered the art of graffiti and started learning it. She started off by doing a little of graffiti for a friend of hers at his house in Kondhwa. Next, she painted a wall at Narhe, and this was followed by the Babasaheb Ambedkar skatepark at
Sahakar Nagar, but unfortunately she had to leave it unfinished. She then helped a friend quirk up his snacks centre by painting the different instrumental buildings of Pune. This
was the biggest canvas that she has painted till date. Then she painted at The Saddle Café at Sinhagad Ghat road, a wall at Shaurya residence at Lohegaon, another friend’s house in the same locality and the latest is Lakeshore Watersports at Lavasa. “I always wanted a profession that did not have any rules or one where I could make the rules. Although there is a discipline that this profession needs it has the ability to adjust according to the artist and that’s what I love the most,” she adds contently. Ask her how different it is to paint on a canvas as opposed to a wall and she says that the two are extremely different. When it comes to graffiti the artist has to be extremely flexible. The design continues to change or at least how you approach it changes depending on the wall, she tells us. Hoping to take her new found love of doing graffiti to the people of the city, Shirin will be conducting a two-day workshop where she will teach who enrol everything that she knows about the art form, from the theory of graffiti to different kind of paints available, typography when it comes to this art form. The participants will also get a chance to paint a small section of the wall at the skatepark as a part of the workshop. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com
TEJAS GAIKWAD
Giving motion to imagination
Bhakti Deepak’s film venture provides a platform for children to showcase their creative abilities and tell their stories to the world Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab
A
re you a fan of animation films? After watching Shrek, Minions, Toy Story and Kung Fu Panda, have you been wondering what went behind making them? Your child could learn to animate as fluently. Aasma films, a city-based venture by Bhakti Deepak, has been set up with the aim to teach children the basics of animating their own stop-motion animation films. She completed her post graduate diploma in animation from Chennai and the California Institute of Arts (CalArts) course on History of Art, Animation and Gaming. She then started teaching animation, and
Bhakti Deepak showing one of her students how to create 3D objects
after seven years she founded Aasma Films through which she trains kids aged 6 years and onwards to helps nurture their creative minds. “Stop motion is an animation technique that physically controls an object making it
appear as if the object is moving on its own. This is the most simplest and fun animation technique,” she says. She helps kids skilfully mix technology and imagination, and after the film is made she shares it on
her YouTube channel, giving them the exposure as well as encouraging them to come up with innovative ideas. “Children are exposed to other art forms like theatre, singing, music, etc., in school, but nothing of this sort
is taught. So I thought of starting an animation film-making class myself. Kids love watching these movies, and always imagine characters in their way, so I am only giving wings to their imagination,” she adds. The kids have made concept videos like the one explaining the solar system to entertaining short films on Aesop Fables, Morph and Chas, Frog Fuji and Super Mouse, and so on. Every child in the class is given an opportunity to share their idea and story. Bhakti then helps them put it all together and make kids understand the technicalities associated with the process, production, output, and making a full fledged stop motion animation film. “There have been times that these kids have amazed me with their ideas. In Frog Fuji and Super Mouse, the kids have handled everything from storytelling, sound recording and giving background music. Every child has a different perspective and it all comes out in a visual format through their work,” she adds. zainab.kantawala @goldensparrow.com
TGS LIFE
This is where they found their happily ever after
FEATURES They would hang out together and gradually, she started building a soft corner for Peter but didn’t want to tell him about it until she knew if he felt the same. Peter says, “We did go out together as friends and it didn’t matter where we were or what we were doing. Every time we went out I could feel myself growing closer and closer to Nisha and I just wanting to spend more time with her. There was one particular trip where we visited Malavli during the rainy season so we could see the waterfall – it was beautiful. It was on this day that I really knew that I loved Nisha and wanted to spend the rest of my life with her.” They were on a holiday in south Goa and while sitting and watching the sunset from one of the shacks, Peter decided to pop the question. “She made me the happiest man in the world when she said yes!” The two got married in
These couples are the perfect examples of love knows no boundaries. Read on to know why By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM
W
ith expats travelling from different parts of the world whether to study or pursue their career, the city has become a melting pot of global culture. Besides being known as the cultural capital of Maharashtra, it’s also the city where people have met, fallen in love, tied the knot and made it their second home. Born in Delhi and brought up in Pune, Loveena Leonardo met her future husband Jason Leonardo for the first time in the United States. She had gone to US as part of a programme called Up with People where she was travelling the world and stayed with 80 families when she was a student. After about a year, the organisation hired her as an event coordinator and she came back to Pune for a month before going back to the US again. It was during that trip that Loveena’s mother told her not to fall for any foreigner and funnily enough, that’s exactly what happened when she went back to the US. She met Jason who had also been hired as an events coordinator. Two weeks of knowing each other and the two fell in love. Jason proposed to her in a restaurant and read out a poem to her instead of popping the question. After she said yes, he took her hand and led her to a limousine which was waiting for them outside. “We got married in Pune in 2000 in a traditional Hindu with all the customary rituals like mehendi, sangeet and pheras in the backyard of my parent’s house, in the presence of Jason’s family and our friends. Then, we also had an American Catholic wedding.” Neha and Heyns Holtzhausen’s love story is nothing less than a dream. They met in Dubai when she was just 19 and still studying and the two became great friends. On her 21st birthday, when Neha came to Pune to celebrate with her family, Heyns made plans with her father to surprise her by coming to India for her birthday. “We were already dating for almost two years at this point and Neha had decided that she wanted to celebrate her 21st birthday with her family and close friends back home in India. I understood the decision but I was obviously quite sad that I wouldn’t be there for one of the most important days of her life. I had a little money saved from the part time job I was doing at the time and I had decided that there’s no better way to use it than to surprise my girlfriend on her birthday. I called her parents as I needed to get an invite letter for the visa and to ask for their permission. They were thrilled with the idea and immediately started to help me organise my trip. The fact that they were so willing to help me made me feel like I’d been accepted by her family. It made me feel like I was heading home to my own family. I knew then that I had made the right decision and I would do whatever it took to maintain my relationship not only with Neha but her entire
FEBRUARY 20, 2016 PUNE
Neha & Heyns Holtzhausen during their engagement ceremony in Pune
“We got married in Pune with all the customary rituals like mehendi, sangeet and pheras in the presence of Jason’s family and our friends. Followed by a Catholic wedding” - LOVEENA LEONARDO
Sharareh Amaei & Aniruddha Nakil
Nisha & Peter Gibbins
Loveena & Jason Leonardo share a laugh during their garland exchange
family,” shares Heyns. The two decided to get married in Pune in a traditional Maharashtrian ceremony where everyone from the groom’s family were dressed in traditional Indian attire. Later, Neha and Heyns also had a beach wedding in South Africa where Heha looked gorgeous in a beautiful white gown. A Malayali Christian born and brought up
in Pune, Nisha met her British husband Peter Gibbins while working in a company in Pune two years ago. Though it wasn’t love at first sight, they had some kind of connect which kept them in touch with each other. According to Nisha, Pete, as she lovingly calls him, is a very shy person who doesn’t talk much and there was a common friend who told Nisha that they should help him around in the city.
December last year with different Indian rituals as Nisha belongs to a very diverse family that includes Bengali and Punjabi aunts. They also had a church wedding in the city. Sharareh Amaei, an Iranian, met her future husband Aniruddha Nakil, a Maharashtrian, while studying Psychology in Pune in 2012. The two met through common friends when Aniruddha was working in Panchgani and was visiting Pune for a few days. They met and instantly liked each other then, kept in touch. Soon enough he proposed to her, but convincing their families was a big task as they belonged to very different cultures and religion. Meanwhile, one thing that was common between the two was that they followed Baha’I way of life. “There were a lot of issues as my parents wanted us to spend more time, about a year to know each other better while his family wanted us to get married as soon as possible. Eventually, we decided to part ways. I moved back to Iran and he went to Mumbai,” says Sharareh. But some time in 2013, the two got in touch again and Aniruddha popped the question once again. By this time their families had realised that they were serious about each other and then everyone agreed to the marriage. In May 2014, the two were engaged in Iran and then had a Baha’I wedding in Mumbai. They now live in Pune and since language is still a little bit of a challenge, they say that it’s a beautiful thing to grow and learn different things together. heena.grover@goldensparrow.com
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TGS LIFE
FEBRUARY 20, 2016 PUNE
SHOPPING
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WHOSE FAN ARE YOU? It’s Comic Con weekend in Pune and what better way to celebrate it than collect everything you can of your favourite superhero or supervilain. TGS gives you Darth Vader T-shirt a peak into some of the things that await you at the Get your dark side out with this classy roundneck darth vader merchandise stalls at the event t-shirt Price: Rs 1,000 Stall: I Custom Made It, Booth A11
By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry
Full-sleeve Game of Thrones T-shirt Own this simple and yet stylish House of Stark t-shirt from your favourite Game of Thrones series for your collection. Winter is coming. Price: Rs 899 Stall: I Custom Made It, Booth A11
Stormtrooper Wobble Head Get this small and yet perfectly crafted wobble head figurine to make your car dashboard or office desk look a little less boring. Price: Rs 1,500 Stall: Hoozinc, Booth C16
Duff Beer Sling Bag Need to make a statment with your bag? Here is the beer brand from simpsons which will be the perfect solution. Price: Rs 1.499 Stall: Planet Superheroes, Booth A4, A5, A6
Simpsons Wallet Who would not want to have the simpsons along with all the time? Get this simpsons walet to add to your collection today Price: Rs 699 Stall: Planet Superheroes, Booth A4, A5, A6
Iron Man Pendrive Replace your boring and dull looking flash sticks, with quirky and character based pendrives just like this one Price: Rs 600 Stall: Hoozinc, Booth C16
Frozen iPad Case
Hulk Figurine
The very popular franchise Frozen can now be a part of your collection with this uber cool iPad case. Built with sturdy poly carbonate hard shell protection and grip and a given Price: Rs 999 Stall: Macmerise, Booth B1, B2
Feel Hulk’s power and anger even through this small figurine which is the perfect addition either on your mantel piece or on your Wookie Mug study table Wake up for your morning coffe Price: Rs 1,200 with one of the most favourite Stall: Frog, Booth A9 characters from the popular Star Wars series the wookie and make it the perfect begining to your day. Price: Rs 499 Stall: Frog, Booth A9
Bat-Joker Powerbank If the Batman series is one of your favourite comic characters, you most definitely want this BatmanJoker 8000 mAh power bank. Price: Rs 1,999 Stall: Macmerise, Booth B1, B2
TGS LIFE
Master of landscapes
FEBRUARY 20, 2016 PUNE
VISHAL KALE
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e wakes up every morning and heads out to look for his spot for the day. The 72-year-old retired banker has mastered the art of capturing landscapes on canvas. Subhash Kulkarni believes he picked up his love for art from his mother, who used to make toys out of clay. His love has taken him to all over the country and even abroad. While working at Bank of India, he would make time and paint cards. Each year he made at least 2,500 greeting cards. Having worked in the bank for 38 years, he decided to take voluntarily retirement in 2001 to pursue his passion. A commerce graduate, Kulkarni has no formal training in painting. Post his retirement he joined Sanskar Bharti, a platform for budding and established artists. There he worked on his landscape paintings. In the last few years, he has made over 6,000 paintings. This includes Pune University, Agriculture College, Sambhaji Park, several locations in Konkan and even abroad. Not stopping at just painting, Kulkarni also teaches others. He started to mentor a few women that came to him
FEATURES after his first exhibition in 2002 and has been taking landscape painting classes since then. “I am suffering from diabetes since 25 years. There are some days when I wake up in pain and don’t feel like getting up from the bed, but I get up and go out to paint. And in those two hours of painting, I feel no pain. There is scenery, my canvas, paint and brushes”, Subhash says. Two years ago, he donated 50 of his painting in Military hospital and 30 paintings to Ratna hospital. “There was a last stage cancer patient in Ratna hospital and he used to stare at my Agha Khan Palace painting all day. When his attending nurse curiously asked him why does he stare at that painting, he replied I feel like living again when I see this painting. I have never felt so proud in my entire career,” shares a proud Kulkarni. (As told to Romil Kothari)
unekar
City celeb chat
Name: Pooja Chopra, model/actor Three words to describe me: Sincere, honest and talkative I love my job because: It is not monotonous and includes lot of travel Best advice I’ve received: Don’t let success get to your head, and failure to your heart When buying something, the first thing that catches my eye is: The colour combination What’s your inner animal? Has to be the dog. They love you unconditionally and are your best friend The first thing you notice about an attractive person: Artificial beauty doesn’t attract me. A wellspoken person will always gets the edge and is more attractive The perfect start to a day is: Green tea and seeing my mom’s face if she is around Your current four-wheeler: BMW 5 series Your fitness regimen: I never skip my workouts and getting good sleep is important Your food indulgence: Ghar ka khana always. I love rajma chawal, and Punjabi food Books by your bedside: I am reading ‘Secret’ for the second time now The first site you visit when you fire up your comp: Has to be Instagram Your favourite city: Pune. I’ve always been in love with this city and with the people here Ideal holiday: Anywhere across the globe with my family and friends (As told to Zainab Kantawala)
Make a statement with your hair come this summer
W
ith summer just around the corner, the straight shiny sleek hair is back in fashion and does away with the problem of spending hours behind getting the perfect look. Work with a well looking shiny gel to sweep and stick those tiny strands back. If you feel this is not what suits your face there are innumerable other options Bhavana Sharma Thaker that you could try this summer and add oomph to how you wear your hair. Be it a board meeting you have to be at, a causal too. Th is is also the best length to play evening outing, a fancy gala or even a and experiment with when it comes to bold colours as it will recover and outgrow regular day at work, play around with real quick. your hair everyday and experiment For those of you who have long galore. hair and want to do something Here are some hair styles that STYLE different without reducing fit perfectly in your hectic the length, you could add a schedule and most definitely GURU full fringe to your long locks. will help you make a statement Part your hair in the centre and tie The quiff often considered to be a high or low ponytail without much great for short hair could also go well fuss for your evening outing. If you hair is with long lengths. To master the look naturally wavy or curly then don’t fight it in five minutes, part your hair to the because humidity could be a hindrance in side and add roof lift spray or powder maintaining the straight look. to the front specially the root area at the If you have short hair then the side parting. Then back comb and blow dry swept pixie crop is stylish and is here to upside down for the added volume. You stay. Keep it straight or play with your could either tie the remaining hair in a natural wavy texture. Soft waves on this ponytail or let them loose. length looks great and adds playfulness (As told to Salonee Mistry)
TGS LIFE
FEBRUARY 20, 2016 PUNE
BUZZ
Lily James explores her new side Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab
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fter playing the role of Natasha in War and Peace, Lily James now looks forward to fighting zombies. Known to most of us as Lady Rose from the soap Downton Abbey, Lily portrays the lead character, Elizabeth Bennet, in the forthcoming action-horror flick – based on writer Seth Grahame-Smith’s book, which is a monster-infused version of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Lily, who wasn’t very impressed to take the film after hearing the title, managed to injure many of her co-stars while filming ferocious fight scenes. “I wasn’t so sure and then I read the script, which I thought was really brilliant and funny. I was impressed within 10 pages, actually with the first opening sequence when Darcy sort of gallops up on a horse and gets stripped down. Then,
I read the book,” she says. Lily, 26, who has a subtle role in Downton Abbey, is transformed into a killing machine in the movie. Her role comprises of executing lethal sword and dagger moves on zombies. In order to look feisty, she had to follow a strict fitness regimen. “When I do Downton I become like a sort of podgy little sludgy thing because you don’t really need to exercise, so it’s been really good getting fit. Liz Bennet is a dagger-and-sword ninja so I always fight with two. I feel like I can get into some fights now and be a little bit more victorious,” she adds. Having always aspired to play the role portrayed by Kate Winslet in the film Titanic, Lily now wants to avoid doing period roles. She wants to experiment with her acting and explore more genres. “I would love to do different things now. I was always drawn to that genre after watching Kate Winslet. But now, having done it so much, I would like to do something that’s not period,” she says.
I want to romance Alia Bhat, on screen After playing leading roles on primetime TV shows, actor Arjun Bijlani will make his muchawaited Bollywood debut with Direct Ishq this weekend By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM
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sweet, charming, nice guy, television heart throb, Arjun Bijlani says his reel character, Kabir Bajpayee, in Direct Ishq is a lot like his real self. Having waited for two years after finishing the shoot, Arjun’s Bollywood dream is soon going to take off and the actor is as excited and nervous as any new comer would be. The film is a light-hearted romcom with a love triangle between Arjun, Nidhi Subbaiah and Rajniesh Duggal. But when quizzed about Direct Ishq, Arjun laughs and says that both men fall in love with the girl and that’s where the film gets its titles from. Funny, but we believe the actor when he says that it’s the kind of a film that you would like to watch at least once with your family. The actor was on a brief sabbatical when he got an offer from producer Pradeep Sharma to play one of the leads. Says Arjun, "I wasn't really doing anything significant on TV, so I grabbed the opportunity immediately but due to some censor board issues, the release was stalled for a while." Arjun strongly believes that it was after the birth of his son Ayaan, that things really started to look up as the actor bagged some major roles in TV shows, the most popular being Naagin
where he is currently playing the lead as Ritik Raheja along with Mouni Roy and Adaa Khan. "Ayaan has brought us a lot of happiness and good fortune as I am doing well in television and my first film too is on its way. I guess it has to also to do a lot with the right timing and may be my time has arrived," he says. With news of so many actors splitting up in the industry recently, what is Arjun's mantra to stay strong? "We are in an industry where there's a constant pressure of doing well. Everyone wants to reach the stars, especially when both partners are from the acting world, it sometimes gets difficult to stay on the same page. Couples want their own space which can lead to rifts. In all this, I can only say that one has to strike the right balance between personal and professional life and try to give as much time as possible to your partner." After this film, Arjun wants to explore his acting skills by doing strong characters and if that means taking up a role which demands playing a grey character, he wouldn't mind taking it up if the script has enough substance. Among the popular female actors, Arjun finds Alia the cutest and shows his interest in doing a romantic film with her someday. "She is absolutely adorable and I'd love to do some masti-filled film with her whenever that happens. Besides, Vidya Balan is someone I really admire, and if I get an opportunity to do a serious film, I would like to share screen space with her." Besides acting, one of the things that Arjun likes doing is spending as much time with his son Ayaan as possible. He is a doting father and spends his free time after work playing with his one-year-old. heena.grover@goldensparrow.com