ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
PUNE, OCTOBER 24, 2015 | www.thegoldensparrow.com
They’re shining beacons of
woman power For most women, switching between a gamut of roles isn’t a big deal and that’s one of the reasons women are garnering accolades in every field imaginable, steadily taking over male-dominated tasks
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OCTOBER 24, 2015 PUNE
STAGE
This home-grown talent house is going places From the stage to big screen, this Pune boy is most definitely full of talent, creativity and the zeal to keep doing bigger and better things By Salonee Mistry @Sal0412
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t was way back in his childhood when Alok Rajwade’s love for theatre got the better of him and he decided that it was all he wanted to do. Having worked in almost 30 different plays, seven to eight films, including documentaries and short-films, and having directed about six plays and films combined, Alok is as creative as one can get. With his latest film Rajwade and Sons doing well at the box-office, the actor spares a few minutes from his busy schedule to chat with TGS. As he talks about his character, his future plans and his inspiration, it’s difficult to miss that Alok has simple dreams.
Playing a youngster in the film, that tackles contemporary issues and conflict of thoughts between three generations, Alok loves his character in the film. “The young boy Anay Rajwade that I play in the film is someone whose personality is largely linked with his computer. He has minimal dialogues, yet he is a witty character. He saves his thoughts and speaks up at the correct time. More importantly, when he does so when it’s least expected,” says a delighted Alok. It is only at the end of the film that one realises what he is always busy doing on his computer, Alok adds. The film portrays the restlessness of the younger generation to break free from the expectations of their parents as they dream of bigger things, the suppressed passion and unfulfilled desires of the older generation, and balance that the middle generation tries to achieve. Having a strong theatre background, Alok loves the big screen and the stage equally. Both come extremely naturally to him, he promises. Although Alok has no particular role that he could categorise as his dream role, he believes in converting all parts he is offered into dream roles for himself.
Given a choice between acting and direction, Alok would most definitely choose direction. Even so, acting is something that he plans to always do. “Being an actor gives me the opportunity to live different lives. I always try to pick roles that are different from the kind of person I am. This makes the role a challenge as well as a new experience for me,” says the multitalented artist. When he isn’t acting, Alok loves to go on long walks, travel to new places, draw, and sing. He has innumerable inspirations from the film industry and choosing one over the other is almost impossible. It was only after a little bit of coaxing that Alok came up with a few names that have inspired him and in many ways showed him the right direction in his career. This list includes people like Mohit Takalkar, Atul Pethe, Sachin Kundalkar, Umesh Kulkarni, Girish Kulkani and Atul Kulkarni, among others. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com
YOUR WEEKLY DOSE OF EVENTS Rock This Weekend On DJ Christy Million’s Beat
When: October 24 Where: Club Miami, JW Marriott, Senapati Bapat Road
Party people of the city, have every reason to party this weekend as DJ Christy Million is all set to rock the dance floor at city’s most happening destination - Club Miami of Hotel JW Marriott located at Senapati Bapat Road. Christy Million is a Ukranian DJ and is known for her bold and beautiful image in the industry. She started singing and learning music since the age of 8 years and is best at the electro and progressive house DJing. DJ has performed in the past in the renowned festivals in Barcelona , ‘Shake That Music Festival’ and ‘Ultra Violet Music Festival’ in India. Presently, Christy’s working on vocals for collaborating with young Italian and American producers which is going to be released on Tiesto’s label Musical Freedom.
Bianca Love This Saturday, The Beer Cafe brings you ‘Bianca Love ‘ a New Orleans based singer with the ongoing Oktobrewfest celebrations. Known to bring a piece of New Orleans by bringing out the essence of it through her music. Bianca Love is a 20 year old vocalist and guitarist, born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. Currently residing in Pune, India, she specializes in R&B, Blues, Jazz, Gospel, and Soul. What better way to celebrate your weekend with Beer from the Bavarian land that lifts up the spirits along with grooving to the beats of ‘Bianca Love ‘. When: October 24 Where: The Beer Cafe, Koregaon Park
Julia Bliss A powerhouse performer, Julia Bliss from Siberia will hit blueFROG to blow your mind with House music. An internationally recognised talent whose taste for stripped back, sweat-on-the-ceiling dance music and her discerning ear for house music, has helped her ascend amongst the electronic music ranks. Through her refreshing sound that is characterized by complex
drum ensembles, daring synths and emotive chords. Besides spinning music, Julia Bliss is also an actress, model, featured in quite a handful of movies . When: October 24 Where: blueFROG, Ishanya Mall, Yerawada
Theatre gets a poetic twist Tamaasha theatre group’s new presentation includes poetry that spans four languages, giving artists enough opportunity to explore so much more
CHIRODEEP CHOUDHURI
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By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry
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xploring contemporary Indian poetry through live music and movement, Tamaasha theatre brings Blank Page to the city. The performance puts together about 18 poems, written by English, Hindi, Marathi and Kashmiri poets. With the younger generation exploring new forms of theatre, the number of theatre groups in the city is rapidly increasing. The rising numbers are creating a space crunch for groups to showcase their talent. Tamaasha theatre is one such group that has started embracing the concept of alternate spaces as a solution to the problem. The director of Blank Page, Sunil Shanbhag says, “There is a kind of theatre that can come out and be performed in open and new spaces. It is an opportunity to interact with new audiences and form new bonds. Plus, the new spaces add a level of comfort for the audience since it is in a space that they are comfortable with.� Tamaasha theatre has performed at several alternate spaces like libraries, an aerobics hall and even a bar. In fact, an audience, ranging from 40 to 100 people, allows the members of the group to bond with them better.
PrE WEDDInG BonAnZA
TGS LIFE
OCTOBER 24, 2015 PUNE
ENTERTAINMENT The play is a 55-minute interpretation of the poems. The play will tackle themes such as conflicted relationships, political resistance, identity, in terms of how women define themselves, and the act of writing itself. The poems have been penned by well-known poets like Adil Jussawalla, Arundhati Subramanium, Nissim Ezekiel and Meena Kandaswamy, among others. The central idea of the performance is to show how communication takes place through poetry. It is also a way to help people understand the form differently from their own interpretation. Believing strongly in idea-driven concepts rather than those that are visually-driven, Tamaasha theatre has a very definite goal in mind. They hope to produce good quality theatre. The kind that is remembered based on the content of the play as opposed to the number of shows that they have performed. “The idea of theatre is not only about performing but honouring the work of the artist. Very often, our group holds theatre jams wherein we re-create a scene from a play by using the original script so that it can be as close to the playwright’s vision as possible,� said Sunil. The cast for Blank Page includes Divya Jagdale, Hridaynath Jadhav, Maithily Bhupatkar, Natasha Singh, Nisha Dhar, Sapan Saran, Sonal Khale, Nikhil Murali and Sunil himself. The play has been conceived by Sapan Saran. When: October 24, 6:30 pm onwards Where: Gyaan Adab Centre, Kalyani Nagar salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com
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TGS LIFE
OCTOBER 24, 2015 PUNE
ENTERTAINMENT Vineet Bangera talks about his passion for Latin dance and his upcoming workshop By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab
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une is all set to host ‘Latin Weekend’, which has been specially curated by the undisputed forerunner in the world of dance, Vineet Bangera, who was one of the choreographers from Jhalak Dikhla Ja Season 1 and 2. Showcasing his talent on the small screen, Vineet was the much-talked about celebrity contestant on Nach Baliye 7 along with his wife Smiley Suri. His well-heeled clientele includes the likes of Sonali Bendre, Manisha Koirala, Kangana Ranaut and Meiyang Chang. The veteran started his journey in the creative arts in early 1999, while training on ballroom dancing for five years in Dubai under Simon Zoghbi, former International Instructor. “My first brush with Latin dance happened when I was in Dubai. I was learning ballroom, but soon I figured that my forte lay in Latin dance. Latin dance is not merely two people twisting around on the dance floor. There are different styles to one particular type of dance. I decided to focus on this,” says Vineet. Thereafter he began to perfect different forms of salsa such as LA
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Latin fever is on
Style, New York Style, Cuban Style, Bachata, Street Cha Cha, Zouk and Casino De Rueda. He soon found The Dance Factory, now renamed as Dance Central, a Latin dance school. He calls himself a ‘dance entrepreneur’ who aims to elevate dance from a past time hobby to a full time occupation. “Dance is seen more as a part time activity. It can also be a mainstream career. Internationally, a career in dance is accepted widely but the scene is changing here too. I want to encourage talented people to take it up professionally. If you have a passion for dance, follow it. The idea behind Dance Central is to provide an educational platform and help individuals with opportunities,” he says. Vineet is the only Indian to have represented India in over 25 countries to promote homegrown talent on global soil. “Understanding the art is really important. It sounds cliché. A man and woman don’t just move about in salsa and it’s not just about the lifts but they actually communicate to the beat and rhythm of the music. The Latin Getaway is a medium to make more people aware about the dance form,” he adds. When: October 30 and 31 Where: FishBowl, Hyatt Regency, Viman Nagar zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com
“Latin dance is not merely two people twisting around on the dance floor.”
‘I want to change the future of singer-song writers in the country’ The indie-pop musician and singer-songwriter Anika Emma shares her musical journey with TGS
songwriter faces is that of being the main act. As a result, the demand for such musicians is not very high. More often than not, they perform at small venues or are a smaller part of big acts. This usually pushes their work to the side not giving them the kind of exposure and opportunity that they deserve,” she says. The quality of music over the number of people present in the audience is way more important and satisfying for Anika. Looking up to artists like Emelie Sande and Sara Bareillies, Anika is aiming at an international space from where she can bring back her experience to India and help other budding artists. A painter and an avid traveller, when Anvika isn’t singing or penning down music she attends Symbiosis School for Liberal Arts in Viman Nagar. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com
“My lyrics stem from experiences that inspire me to think differently.”
By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry
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ike her father, Rajiv Doshi, Anika Emma considers music an important part of her life. After tapping her potential as a singer when she was just four years old, it was not until she turned 13 that she officially started training. Her grand-aunt, Carol Lobo was one of the foremost western classical singers in the country and she is a major inspiration for the young singer. After being exposed to music, Anika experimented with Classical, Jazz and Blues for a while until she found her comfort in the Indie-Pop genre. With a niche audience for Indie-Pop as well as artists who are singer-songwriters, Anika is hoping to change how both
says. Absolutely sure that she wants to pursue music as a career; Anika has big dreams for the future. The small population of singer-songwriter’s in the country does not always get the right platform to showcase their talent and this is the first thing Anika wants to change. Not only does she want to grow in a big way, she also wants to turn things around for other English singer-songwriters in the city and the country. For the past six months, Anika has focused all her attention towards producing quality songs. She has been writing new songs based on her personal and professional life. Everything tells a story and it’s only about realising the message, says Anika. Sometimes even her friends’ experience helps her write songs. “The biggest challenge a singer-
the ideas are viewed in the country. After training as a classical as well as Broadway singer, tired of singing songs written by others, Anika began penning down her own lyrics. She, in fact, prefers music that imbibes a story or message. “My lyrics stem from experiences that inspire me to think differently. It is extremely
important for me that the songs I write have a message or story in them. This is one of the reasons I am not very fond of mainstream music,” says the 21-year-old. Promising that every bone in her body aches to create music, Anika also loves performing on stage. It’s what makes her the happiest, she
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TGS LIFE
An evening with fashion influencers
OCTOBER 24, 2015 PUNE
FEATURES
This weekend, enjoy two days of uninterrupted fashion By Heena Grover Menon
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n a one of its kind event, the city will witness an all-new pop-up show where collections of over 20 established fashion designers from across the country will be showcased along with a tete-a-tete with some wellknown fashion influencers from the Indian circuit including Wendell Rodricks, Nachiket Barve, Ujjwala Raut, and Lisa Ray. Talking about how this event came into being, Rasika Wakalkar, owner of Studio Rudraksh says, “Phoenix Marketcity wanted to host a fashion pop up and I wanted something more than just a display of designer collections since it has been a long time since patrons could come and gain knowledge on what’s trending in the fashion business. So, I decided to curate an event where well-known names from the industry would give away some important inputs on the various subjects related to fashion.” The panel discussion which will be the main attraction of the event will have designer Wendell Rodricks who will talk about fashion education, substance writing, along with a peek into the fashion week history in India. Mumbai-based Nachiket Barve, will talk about his vast experience of styling for the ramp and Bollywood. Super model Ujjwala Raut will throw light on what it takes to be a Victoria Secret model and challenges of being an international ramp regular. Model-turned-actor and cancer survivor Lisa Ray will speak on fashion for a cause, transitioning from fashion to films, brand endorsements, and being a television celebrity. There will also be a session with a renowned editor of a Pune-based publication on fashion media reporting, discussing various chapters on how fashion shoots work and much more. Where: Courtyard, Phoenix Marketcity, Nagar Road When: October 23 and 24, 7 pm onward
Unveil the real authentic Traditional Ayurveda
,
US
Rasika Wakalkar
Lisa Ray
Wendell Rodricks
Ujjwala Raut
TGS LIFE
OCTOBER 24, 2015 PUNE
WHAT TO EAT
INDULGE
ON THE CITY STREETS
ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR AND VISHAL KALE
Since we’re finicky about what we eat, even when it comes to street grub, we went all out to explore the best options available around town
Arif Bhai has been running his small barbecue stall since 10 years in a quaint lane of Kalyani Nagar. The stall is abuzz with customers as soon as the aroma from his charcoal grill fills up the air
By Heena Grover Menon & Salonee Mistry @TGSWeekly
T
here is no dearth of local savouries in the city. Take a stroll down the narrowest lanes and you would chance upon something to binge on. Operating out of small shacks, hand-pulled carts and even desi barbecues on the roads, you will easily find local food joints scattered in different parts of the city. While some stalls offer their goodies all day, other street food joints come alive only in the evening. From juicy momos and scrumptious seekh kebabs, to delicious dosas and Punjabi delicacies, there is something to choose from no matter what you crave for. ARIF BHAI’S KEBABS This three-member kebab stall has been around for over a decade now and serves some of the most delectable chicken, and mutton seekh kebabs in town. Tucked away in a quaint lane of Kalyani Nagar, right opposite The Flour Works, Arif Bhai starts preparing kebabs every evening around 5pm. After sunset, the gorgeous aroma that wafts over the stall, as he begins placing the kebabs on his humble charcoal grill, turns passersby into drooling fools. “I have been selling kebabs for over a decade and now I have stalls in three locations in the city, but this is where it all started. People ask me why I don’t move to a bigger shop or start my restaurant but I am content with what I do and the fact that people come from several parts of the city to enjoy my food gives me immense satisfaction, so I wish to continue like this. People like the
feel of standing on the road and savouring the kebabs, which no restaurant can offer.” The menu has a variety of succulent kebabs including Paneer Tikka, Chicken Cutlets, Chicken Tikkas, Roasted Chicken which are served with onions and green chutney. Everything here is quite reasonably priced and it’s difficult not to wonder how Arif Bhai even makes ends meet, but that’s the charm of the kebabs. Must try: Mutton Seekh Kebab with Pav
Where: North Avenue, near Jogger’s Park, Kalyani Nagar FISH LOVER’S PARADISE In the midst of the chaotic Dattavadi, near Mhatre Bridge, a couple has set up their humble, home-made, seafood venture. Although it might be easy to miss the place, the aroma of seafood will surely draw you in as you pass by. Not too heavy on your pocket, Hrishikesh Seafoods, offers you an array of
Swati prepares scrumptious fish fry at her little seafood joint, Hrishikesh Seafoods near Mhatre Bridge
dishes that are so mouth-watering they arouse the glutton in you. Started in 2012 by Nitin Gavte, 51, and his wife Swati, 45, the joint is named after their son who is now studying in college. “Earlier, my wife and I would set up stalls during the innumerable festivals celebrated across the city. The feedback was overwhelming and so we decided to open our own place,” says Nitin. Open for lunch, from 11 am to3.30 pm, and dinner, from 7 pm to
TGS LIFE
OCTOBER 24, 2015 PUNE
INDULGE
Santosh tossing up his popular dosas for the drooling customers in Viman Nagar
10.30 pm, Hrishikesh Seafoods is perpetually crowded. More often than not, the food runs out before closing time, adds Swati. The joint serves everything from Prawn and Fish Curry, to Surmai and Bombil Fry, along with the city’s finest Solkadhi. Must Try: Surmai/Bombil Fry and Prawns Curry Where: Near Mhatre Bridge, Datavadi
the appreciation for his dosas is so great that he spends the entire day cutting vegetables and making other preparations. Serving almost any dosa you have ever seen, Ravi’s joint is a big hit among the huge student population that resides in Viman Nagar. Must try: Mysore Masala Dosa and Onion Uttappa Where: Datta Mandir Chowk, Viman Nagar
ANYTHING FOR A CRUNCHY DOSA For the last 15 years, Ravi’s famous dosa has been plating those perfectly round dishes from the same place in Viman Nagar. Initially run by Ravi Sawant, the joint is now handled by his younger brother, Santosh Rambhau Sawant, who is just 26 years old. Having learned the business from his brother when he was just 16, after Ravi passed away, Santosh is now shouldering the responsibility of his parent’s and brother’s family as well. Serving what he calls, “Mumbai-type dosas”, Santosh prepares them on flat pans that are placed on coal fire, setting him apart from most other dosa vendors in the city, who use the stove. “The koyla gives the dosa a much better flavour and texture. They also cook much faster if the tava is hot and don’t burn easy. It helps me manage orders during rush hours,” Santosh tells us. Setting up his humble hand-cart at 7 pm, Santosh works till about10.30 pm before he calls it a day. Although the stall doesn’t open until evening,
FOR PUNJABI FOOD LOVERS Uncle Desai, as he is fondly known, has been running this small food van, in Viman Nagar, for the past four to five months. Started out of a passion for cooking, Desai and his catering partner, rented out this food van and have been serving fresh home-made North Indian food here. They specialise in Punjabi food, when asked why, Desai says, “The young crowd here has come from different parts of the country, especially north, to work and they miss home food. After a short survey, we realised that there is a great demand for tasty and fresh dishes which people could eat onthe-go after a long day at work, so we started out.” The van starts functioning at 7pm every day and together they make sumptuous Rajma Rice, Chhole Bhature, Dal Makhni, Parathas and more Punjabi items at very affordable rates. Must try: Rajma Rice and Chhole Bhature Where: Datta Mandir Chowk, Viman Nagar
Desai uncle’s food fan comes alive only post sunset at the Datta Mandir Chowk in Viman Nagar
MAD OVER MOMOS This small momo cart opens only in the evening hours and sells some of the juiciest chicken and vegetable momos. Although it’s surrounded by several restaurants, that serve Asian cuisine, but as you enter the buzzing lane number 6 in Koregaon Gaon, you will see a flock of youngsters surrounding Swapnil’s momo cart. The aroma of hot steaming momos attracts hundreds of foodies everyday to his little joint and his USP is simply great quality. “I have been selling momos for the last eight years in Koregaon Park. Earlier, the stall was on the North Main Road but due to space issues, cops asked me to move away. I learned to make momos from my friends from the Northeast, I had not done anything like this before but as I saw that there is a growing demand of good momos in the city, especially among students, I thought of starting my own small venture. By God’s grace, I am doing well and people love what I make,” says a shy Swapnil. A plate of Chicken Momo costs Rs 60 and Vegetarian Momo, Rs 40. Ask for some extra red sauce that he serves along and don’t forget to keep a bottle of water or cold drink handy, just in case your eyes start to water after gorging the hot delicacy straight out of the steaming vessel. Must try: Chicken Momo Where: Lane 6, next to Arthur’s Theme, Koregaon Park
Swapnil gets ready to serve the evening rush with steamy and delicious chicken and veg momos
TGS LIFE OCTOBER 24, 2015 PUNE
FEATURES
PICS BY ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
w By Salonee Mistry & Ashish Phadnis @TGSWeekly She’s a devoted wife, a hard-working molecular biologist, a loving daughter-in-law, a caring daughter and sister as well as the first Indian women to have won an international bodybuilding competition. She’s 20, good at her studies and a football coach at Diego Juniors Football Coaching Academy, Pune. Currently studying for her defence exams, this 22-year-old has played on the Indian rugby squad and made Pune proud. Hailing from the holy town of Alandi, where her father works as a farmer, this 19-year-old has wrestled her way to international platforms and bagged accolades galore. These are examples of a few women, who, for the past few years, have been dedicated to following their passion and fulfi lling their dreams. Fighting all odds, ignoring the stereotypes and, more importantly, never giving in when criticised, they have shown that dedication and perseverance can take you a long way. Talking to five young women (I’m assuming they’re all over 18 and going with women) from the city, TGS highlights how the women are breaking stereotypes and opening minds. Simply by following their dreams they have shown
that women can create a place for themselves even in maledominated fields and will soon be successful in getting rid of this tag forever. THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING Deepika Chowdhury, a micro-biologist, had no idea while she was growing up that she would ever be a part of a body-building competition, let alone win it. It all started when she joined the gym to better her lifestyle, which had been going downhill since a few months. While she was weak, she was also gaining weight, troubled relations with her in-laws were affecting her work and anger had become a constant companion. Taking up her husband’s suggestions to channelise her anger and get fit, Deepika joined the gym along with him. “Once I joined the gym I definitely became much more fit but soon I got bored of the schedule. My instructor then suggested that I take up one of the courses that they were offering as it would be a change of pace for me. I enrolled in the personal training and nutrition sports courses, and was immediately hooked on,” says the 32-year-old. A lecture by Shannon Dey of Bombshell fitness was all the inspiration Deepika needed to enter into the sport of body-building. Just like body-building, kabbadi too has been a maledominated sport for a while now, especially in parts of rural Maharashtra. It is still considered as a boy’s game primarily because it requires raw power, agility and is an injury-prone game. Women, on the other hand, are seen as soft, sensitive and frail and therefore not fit for the game. Shital Marne, 32 and her family fortunately have a much different mindset. Allowing his daughter to enter the sport, Ratnakar Marne was extremely happy about Shital’s decision as he too was a kabaddi player in his younger days. Initially a state-level volleyball player, it was during one of her practice matches that Shital was intrigued by the game of kabaddi which was being played at an adjacent ground. A tennis player in her childhood, 20-year-old Liyaan Akkalkotkar, took an interest in football when her father started a coaching academy. Liyaan’s attraction towards the sport was so strong that she, along with her friends rushed to their principal’s cabin and convinced her to form a girls’ team at the school. “I believe the reason that football started out as a male dominated sport is because women never dared to explore or venture into something that was new. There were, and still are, a lot of restrictions on the women and that’s what keeps them away from the sport. I was lucky enough to have parents who supported and encouraged me to take up the sport,” Liyaan says. While for Liyaan her parents were her pillars of support, for Ankita Gund her father, brother and grandfather inspired her. Th is 16-year-old has dared to enter a sport that even a lot of men think twice before taking up. When she was a mere 10-year-
They’re shining beacons of
woman power For most women, switching between a gamut of roles isn’t a big deal and that’s one of the reasons women are garnering accolades in every field imaginable, steadily taking over male-dominated tasks
old, Ankita began waking up at 5 am daily to train to become a wrestler. “Wrestling is in my blood. There were innumerable problems when I started off because I was small but it has helped me master the sport even better and today I still continue to learn it. Getting hurt and bruised is a part of the sport, which I happily embrace,” says the young girl from Alandi. It was one interesting article about rugby that fascinated and pushed Annapurna Bothate towards the sport. Being an athlete since her school days, Annapurna was not so sure about which sport she wanted to take up seriously and was busy reading up extensively. Th is is when she realised that sports like kabbadi or weight-lighting did not welcome girls with open arms and rugby too wasn’t an exception. “It is only in the last few years that women have caught up with the sport. Pune has one of the best rugby teams and there could not be a better feeling than that of being a part of this team,” says the 22-year-old. Fortunately for Annapurna, her father, who was also an athlete, was supportive of her decision and gave her the kind of exposure and opportunities that she needed to excel at the game. Becoming a pro was easy for her as she was already a fitness freak and playing rugby was her passion for which she gave her all. OVERCOMING HURDLES It’s never smooth sailing when it comes to doing something different. Not only did the five women fight to remain fit and maintain the kind of health that they would require to continue playing, they also faced criticism and were at the mercy of some narrow-minded people. Shital had suffered a major blow in 2004, when she broke her collarbone during a volleyball match. At the time, her parents did not want her to continue playing but she was determined and bounced back in the game. Not even for a minute did she think about giving up. Once she gave up, she would have never entered the kabbadi field and the game would have lost out on an amazing player. “I had seen many players, who have overcome their injuries, and I wanted to do the same. I didn’t want anybody to say that being a women I am weak to pursue my dreams. Gender has got nothing to do with the ability to play a sport and this is something all women and men across the globe should understand,” she says. Apart from the physical injury, which is a given in any sport, women also have to face the criticisms and remarks of those who believe that they are not meant to play a particular sport. Deepika, for a long while after she started doing body-building, was forced to wear clothes that would hide her muscles so that people would not know what she was doing. Even though her husband and her brother supported her, the rest of her family was afraid of the kind of reactions she would get. It was a long time before they have learned to accept her skill. All along, Deepika feared that they might ask her to quit because she is a
girl and a body like the one she was dreaming of would not look good on her. MAKING US PROUD Surpassing many troubles, all five women have achievements and accolades to show. Liyaan has played for innumerable national tournaments and was successful in starting a revolution as far as women in the game of football, in Pune, was concerned. She and her friends went from playing to football coaching and are now helping other girls fulfi l their dreams. She still continues to play for open nationals and travels across the country to play matches. Deepika, on the other hand, was fortunate enough to enter the body building figure division competition held in America and win it. She was the fi rst Indian women to ever win the title. In 2009, Shital won the prestigious Shiv Chhatrapati Award for her outstanding performance in sports and is currently playing kabbadi at a national level. “Kabaddi gave me the confidence to fight against all odds. One of my colleagues was harassed by some roadside romeos, and she was scared. One day, I accompanied her and watching me walking towards them fearlessly, the boys just ran away and never troubled her. I feel that’s the best part of this game. It makes you physically and mentally strong,” she says, adding that this also an achievement that kabbadi has helped bring to her. Ankita has represented India in the sub-junior level in wrestling and continues to play national competitions. Annapurna too plays nationals and has been a part of the Indian Rugby team for five years. Currently preparing for the defence exams, Annapurna has taken a break from the sport but will get back as soon as she can. CHANGING TIMES As the number of girls in these sports is slowly on a rise, the outlook and perception towards the sports being maledominated is beginning to change. The Pro-kabaddi League, for example, has taken the sport to a new height and several parents have come forward to let their daughters play the game. The numbers will definitely increase further when a women’s league is introduced. Another example is the football academy, run by Liyaan and her friends which is a way of encouraging and supporting the girls who want to play the sport. “When we go for nationals the living conditions aren’t that great. The food also is not always edible.Th is is something that needs to change to begin with. The more the number of girls in the sport, the pressure on the management to provide better amenities increases. Once better amenities are provided, parents will be at ease and more willing to send their daughters. It’s a cycle but someone has to start somewhere,” urges Liyaan.
In the past few years, there has been a change in the way these sports are being viewed and, more importantly, in how women are being viewed. Even if the change is happening slowly one can be satisfied that it is happening and girls and women as well as their parents should be everything in their power to speed up the process, by encouraging their daughters to be a part of the sport, for example. The idea of ‘male dominated’ will hopefully soon vanish from sports to begin with, before it vanishes completely. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com
TGS LIFE
OCTOBER 24, 2015 PUNE
THRILL OF DRIVING Misbehaviour is your only recourse By Tushar Burman @tburman
I
s your income not keeping up with your ambition, taste and lifestyle choices? Crime could be the answer. White collar crime isn’t sexy, and you fancy yourself something between Bhiku Mhatre and Thomas Crown. The Ducati Hypermotard 821 is probably for you. It’s the archetype of a fun motorcycle for anyone on the wrong side of 30. It’s the motorcycle that Tom Cruise apparently rode in Knight and Day (it was actually an Aprilia). It’s the motorcycle that Pierce Brosnan would ride if he were a chain snatcher. The Hypermotard is the closest thing to a Supermoto you can officially buy in India. Light, tall and relatively powerful for its bulk, it’s not the sort of bike you’re going to thrash through whoops in the dirt, but in the urban jungle, it’s unassailable. The 11 degree Testastretta 821cc motor pumps out 110hp in this guise, and it has only about 180kg to push around. Th is means that despite being shod with sticky Pirelli rubber, intentional and unintentional powerslides are just a throttle twist away. You don’t even need to try very hard. As a street bike rider, once I was used to the towering riding position that puts you nearly over the bars most times,
GENTLEMAN ROGUE
the Hypermotard was quite easy to thrash around town. Th is is not to say that the Hypermotard is a bike for beginners. Far from it. Sure, you have the excellent electronics package that does wonders across the current Ducati range, but the height and where it carries its weight can be intimidating. An accomplished motorcyclist, however, will be able to wondrous, possibly illegal things with it. The electronics package has three basic modes: urban, touring and sport. The urban mode is best left for rain or low-traction situations. It only frees about 75hp and feels like you got duped at the dealership. Move to touring and the full stable is unleashed, with a friendly throttle response. I used this mode successfully on a long, completely drenched ride up to Lavasa, never once feeling anything but confidence in the motorcycle. Sport mode is where it’s at. Traction control goes down to a barely-there three of eight possible settings, and the ABS also allows more leeway. More importantly, the impotent-sounding exhaust suddenly turns to a deep bass note. You’re unlikely to go looking for an aftermarket can unless you’re particularly lusty for attention. Crack the throttle in sport mode -- and keep in mind you can further customise the TC and ABS settings -- and you’ll likely be rewarded by a chirp from the rear, or a downright aggressive side-step, before surging forward. Keep your sphincter tight and the throttle pinned, and there’s no way that front wheel is not coming up (or threatening to). The
dirt-style seat ensures that you’ve got plenty of room to slide around while the non-adjustable suspension is decent, but it really is the electronics package that shines here. It makes things so easy to look like a hero while keeping everything tidy at all times. That’s not to say you can’t get into trouble with the bike, as some viral WhatsApp videos can attest to, but there are worse ways to liberate 110hp. Perhaps one of the few things wrong with this motorcycle flow from its intended hooligan purpose. There’s no place to tie down luggage and you have to be brave, or very very tall to take a pillion comfortably. The Hyperstrada — a lower, touring-oriented version of this bike with a luggage rack and adjustable suspension, is better in this regard and for a small premium over the ‘motard, good value as well. Which brings us to the price. It’s easy to spend as much or more than the Rs 10.25 lac (ex-showroom) asking price on a naked motorcycle. Even Ducati’s own Monster 821 is about the same price, but feels heavier and perhaps a bit more tame compared to this. The Hypermotard is unlikely to appeal to many, evident in the fact that TOD is one of the handful of owners in the country. It attracts more attention than the average sportbike at a bike show or in traffic thanks to the tall stance and the Ducati red paint. The potent, flexible engine and brilliant electronics package make this a less fussy Hypermotard than previous generations as well. tushar@goldensparrow.com
TGS LIFE
OCTOBER 24, 2015 PUNE
FEATURES ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
MEET THE
DAREDEVIL-TURNED-ACTOR
Bike stunt rider Hrishikesh Mandke chronicles his career and talks about what helps him overcome minor setbacks and tedious moments By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab
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hy do they do this? What is the need? Why are the riders willing to risk their lives only to improve their bike stunting skills? Stunting isn’t like cricket, or rock music, wherein talent and effort might land you a handsome salaried job. In fact, in India, it’s even hard to consider stunting a sport. So, when more and more questions began to whirl around, we decided to catch hold of Hrishikesh Mandke. He has performed stunts in fi lms like Lafangey Parindey, Peter Gaya Kaam Se and Dhoom 3, to name a few. Hrishikesh is also the face behind most commercial ads that feature bike stunts. “The key is my love for bikes. It has never been about money. It was always about mastering the craft. Stunting is something that came naturally to me. I was in class four when I could perform a wheelie on bicycle. Normally, kids at that age played football and cricket, but I was into stunting,” he recalls. When Hrishikesh started out, there was no local stunt community to support him. He was on his own, learning tricks by looking up videos on Youtube and experimenting with his friend Bhuvan Chowdhary, who is also a stunt rider. “Earlier, I worked as an office boy at a builder’s office but that didn’t give me satisfaction. My interest lied somewhere else. I would take leave from work so that I could practice. My boss wanted me to focus on
either work or bikes. Obviously, I chose the bike. My friend then helped me learn more stunts,” he adds. The drive to push himself further is what has kept Hrishikesh going. Along with four team members, he practices for nearly six hours, each day, on weekends on the empty roads of Bhugaon. “The place is secluded and has an open space. I practice whenever I am free and not working as a stunt double,” he says. Besides, he has also recently acted in a
“Hrishikesh can perform 53 types of bike stunts and was a popular face at the India Bike Week held in Goa recently.”
Marathi fi lm, Bikers Adda. As the name goes, the movie is based on the life bikers and their machines. “After working as a precision rider in movies, the director called me to discuss the script. He asked me to take a shot at acting and I was up for it. Th is is a movie for a bike-loving audience, who love stunts and the thrill,” he explains. Hrishikesh plays the second lead in the movie, who is a passionate stunt biker but also a drug addict. His vast array of tricks and perfect
technique awes crowds every time he revs up his engine. Hrishikesh can perform 53 types of bike stunts and was a popular face at the India Bike Week held in Goa recently. “Basically, stunting includes performing tricks on a motorcycle that is not necessarily built for it. The stunts range from acrobatic moves to wheelies, stoppies, burnouts, etc. It requires the rider to execute bike control to the highest level. I have been performing at a number of shows and have been getting an overwhelming response from the audience,” he says. Hrishikesh currently rides a Pulsar 200 and Kawasaki Ninja 2X750. He believes stunting is a form of creative outlet rather than a sport. Th is does not mean he is content to live like a struggling artist, he has worked hard over the years to capitalise on his art and now wants to turn it into a high-end endeavour. “A career as a professional stunter involves way more than just wheelying bikes. I have worked as a stunt double in fi lms and advertisements for years. Now, I want to be in front of the camera and I am concentrating on acting,” he says. All has not come easy for him. Hrishikesh has had his share of falls and injuries but it didn’t hold him back. His parents too were supportive. “Around two years ago, when I was performing a no-handle stunt, I fell and broke my ankle. After that, I have been extra careful,” he says. He loves the opportunity to be creative and refines his stunts whenever he can. On request, Hrishikesh performed a wheelie with a 92-year-old woman sitting back, and the video instantly turned viral on Youtube. “I was showing stunts to my friend, and his grandmother saw me. She pleaded me to do a wheelie with her. She said it was her last wish. She was confident, but I was nervous,” he says. zainab.kantawala@oldensparrow.com
TGS LIFE
OCTOBER 24, 2015 PUNE
FEATURES
MARCO SECCHI
After he began writing in a language that he was not very comfortable with, Kiran Nagarkar has come a long way and is extremely grateful of everything his journey has taught him
‘Writing does not come easily to me’ “My father would have probably been happy if he was around.”
By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry
F
rom Saat Sakkam Trechalis (Seven Sixes are Forty Th ree) to the third book in the Ravan & Eddie series, which is his latest release Kiran has a gamut of work that is invaluable. One of the most influential and consistent writers of the postcolonial times Kiran’s writings are meant to make the reader question. Composed and funny even in a simple conversation over the telephone, Kiran had a heartfelt conversation with TGS, speaking of his journey as a writer, his advice to budding authors and his one regret in life. The author has numerous feathers in his cap. A playwright, screenwriter, fi lm and drama critic and a novelist, he believes that he has been fortunate to have an audience that is willing to read and appreciate his work. “Writing, for me, does not come easily. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing when I started scribbling a story in Marathi back in 1978. My father had an inclination towards writing and would have probably been happy if he was around,” says Kiran. After studying in Ferguson College, Pune, and SIES College, Mumbai, Kiran
banned until 1995. It was his own version of the Mahabharata wherein he discusses some serious issues like that of religion, war and caste. It was not until February this year that the play was made available in print. In the last 30 odd years, from Kiran’s fi rst book till now, when he looks back he only wishes he could have done one thing differently. Had he learned more languages, Kiran believes that he could have probably ventured into some more options apart from Marathi and English writing. Although he isn’t a fan of awards, Kiran is grateful for the Tata Literature Live Life-Time Achievement Award 2015 that he shall receive next month. He told TGS that along with the award comes the added responsibility of being a better writer. “It is, moreover, a duty towards mankind and I will do my best to live up to it” he says. Earlier, Kiran has received the Sahitya Akademi Award for his book Cuckold in 2001 and had been shortlisted for the Hindu Literary Prize in 2013 for his book The Extras. In 2012, Kiran was given the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany which is the country’s only federal decoration. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com
worked in the advertising industry for quite some time before he switched to writing as a full-time career. He finds it hard to believe that he began writing in Marathi, when he was so much more comfortable with English. Yet, he thanks his stars for taking him down that road as it helped him realise it is not the language that is difficult but the attitude of the author. Ask Kiran what is his secret to writing and he says that there isn’t any. “What authors very often do is write a book or novel keeping a target audience in mind. They try to interpret what the audience wants from the book and write accordingly. Who is to say that the author’s interpretation is the right one? A good writer writes the story for his characters. It is what they
want. You put enough life and emotions into the characters of the book and then an audience is a given,” advises Kiran. He himself has always written about things that have bothered him in the hope that it will make his readers think about the subject too. He never keeps the reader in mind while writing a book and that is probably what makes him so different from the other authors. Kiran is someone who not only brings up important issues in his writing but does so with a strong use of humour. Being someone who is uncomfortable of the silence that surrounds the wrong things, he often uses his books to create a stir. The fi rst play, titled Bedtime Story, which he wrote in 1978, was
Her age doesn’t stop her from reaching for the skies By Abha Pandit @abha_pandit
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ressed in a jumpsuit, Ishita Katyal sits at a table, patiently awaiting her next appointment. All of 10 years old, this young girl already has more achievements than most people can claim to have in a lifetime. Her green eyes light up as we approach. A published author, a TEDx organiser as well as an REX award winner, Ishita has no airs about herself. At the age of eight, she wrote a book titled ‘Simran’s diary’. Revolving around the everyday life of a young child, the book was written through her summer vacations. “I always wanted to be an author so I decided not to wait until I was older and start writing now,” she says. No one was willing to publish her book and so the Katyals self published it as an e-book on Amazon. Partridge publications picked it up, published it and the journey has been much brighter from there on. TEDx talks have always fascinated Ishita. Pranav Mistry’s talk on “What Parents Can Learn From Children” is among her favourites. After watching a couple of talks online, she asked her mother whether she could apply for a license to organise a TEDx event. What began as a mere question arising out of curiosity,
VISHAL KALE
Author, TEDx speaker and award winner, Ishita Katyal has achieved it all even before she turned 10
ended up being a platform for innovative ideas. “After I received my license, I put up a box in my school seeking inspiring ideas from other children, and organised a TEDx Youth event at Balewadi with three speakers from my school who spoke about Future Technology Ideas by Children.” Ishita is the youngest person to hold a TEDx organiser license in the South East Asian Region. In July 2015, she gave a TEDx talk herself in Bhilwara, Rajasthan. The talk, which coincided with her 10th birthday, was titled ‘Why You Don’t Have To Wait Till You Grow Up’. “We are always asked what we want to do once we grow up but I feel that you can start when you are a child, instead of waiting till you’re older to follow your passion,” she explains. How does she juggle her writing and academics, we wonder, but Ishita is a straight-A student. She enjoys school, and doesn’t like taking leaves even when she has to go out of town for events. She prefers completing her extra-curricular activities in the evenings or over the weekends. Waking up early has become her way of managing everything she loves to do and striking a balance between her school activities and other interests.
Talking about her critics, even as she’s just starting out, Ishita always tries to take their comments in a positive stride. “There were many people who criticised my book, saying that it’s too thin and it doesn’t have a plot but I feel that they haven’t been able to see it like I did. There will be some people who don’t like your work, no matter what you do. You need to learn what you can from them, improve your work and move away from the negativity.” Nancy Katyal, Ishita’s mother, talks about the accusations people have made against her family. “Many people accused me of writing her book and using her name to gain publicity. I have never forced her to do anything she doesn’t want to. She is an independent child and we only help her to get better opportunities for her interests and passion,” she says. As if there aren’t enough feathers in her cap, Ishita does volunteer work with the underprivileged community, teaching children art and craft. Th is has also won her a REX Karamveer Chakra Bronze award earlier this year. For someone so young, she seems comfortable in the spotlight. “I do enjoy the attention sometimes but I don’t want to be treated any differently than my friends,” she says. Accolades aside, Ishita is just like any other 10-year-old girl. She loves to sing, dance and play basketball. Her second book is underway and she plans to work on it during the summer vacations so as to dedicate enough time to it. Inspiring other children with her work, she wants to encourage them to follow their passion since a young age, without any pressure. Ishita also has a message for the parents out there. “Don’t force your children to do what you want them to do, let them do what they want.” abha.pandit@ goldensparrow.com
ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
TRICKS OF
THE TRADE
City’s own Chaitanya Deshpande talks about the lesser known art of Freestyle Football
By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab
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ootball isn’t just about kicking the ball around. For Chaitanya Deshpande, it’s an art that involves several moves and tricks with the ball. Catch him on weekends and he is usually deeply engrossed in tapping the football, balancing it in his foot, and throwing it in the air, confident that the ball would land on his head, not on the ground. “It is after a lot of practice, and hard work that I have mastered the art of freestyle footballing,” says the 23-year-old. It is more an art than a sport. Freestyle Football is as pleasing to the eye as it is difficult to perform. For Chaitanya though, it comes naturally. For him, freestyle football is more than just a passion. He is now an inspiration for budding freestyle footballers in the city. “I used to play football and did a lot of tricks while playing. Therefore, I was never placed in the starting 11. So I decided to focus on freestyling. I participated in a competition
in 2011 and met few freestylers from Mumbai and Delhi. That’s when I got to know that there are other freestylers in India too. I did not have much exposure back then but the competition changed everything. I was so inspired watching some of the best freestylers in the country that I took it up seriously,” he says. After the first taste, there was no looking back for Chaitanya. He started watching a lot of videos on Youtube and practiced at home. He soon developed his own style and set of skills required for this form of the sport. He then got introduced to and qualified for the Red Bull Street Style international championship. He has since represented the city five times at various national competitions. “I represented India at Red Bull Street Style and stood second in the Pune qualifiers. I went for the nationals to
Kolkata where I finished in the top eight among the selected 16 from all over India. We were judged on variety, control, style and techniques,” he adds. Freestyle football is an art wherein one expresses an idea with a ball while playing tricks with your body. The language of freestyle football can be quite confusing. To explain it better, Chaitanya performs a side stall where he places a football on top of his head, and moves it from side to side without letting it fall. “It is all about doing tricks with any part of your body without dropping the ball. There
“It is all about doing tricks with any part of your body without dropping the ball.”
TGS LIFE
OCTOBER 24, 2015 PUNE
FEATURES are different categories in freestyle like uppers, lowers and sit-downs, and creative lowers. I like doing creative lowers, heel stall and heel around the world, these are my favourite tricks,” he adds. It has taken a lot of practice to get here. Chaitanya had to make some sacrifices too. He had to quit engineering to sign up for a Bachelor in Arts degree so he could pursue freestyling full time since he wanted to take it up professionally. “I think that was the best decision I have taken. Last year, I went to Goa for the national championship organised by F3 (Freestyle Football Federation). I made it to the top four at the all-India level. I was the only freestyler from Pune to represent our city at the championship,” he says proudly. His freestyling is not only limited to personal milestones. Chaitanya has also appeared on Channel V, and various ad fi lms. He is famous for the TV ad on Kerala Blasters for ISL, and has performed for teams like Bharat FC, Blackburn Rovers and Pune FC city at Balewadi stadium. Freestyle football has grown a lot in India since that first competition Chaitanya participated in and he has certainly contributed in its growth. He intends to see more professional freestyle footballers in the country. He has some words of advice for all budding freestylers. “The freestyle scene in India is growing at a steady pace. A lot of local and online competitions are taking place now. We freestylers are like a family. We help and motivate each other to improve. Sadly there are only three professional freestylers in Pune but the scene is growing here as well,” he says. zainab.kantawala@ goldensparrow.com
YOUR CHOW AROUND TOWN The Seafood Spread Oakwood Premier introduces a superb Seafood Spread with an extensive menu includes comprising options like Black Pomfret, Mackerel, Squids, Shrimps, Prawns, Bombay Duck, Crab, Kingfish to name a few. The festival will be held at both the in-house restaurants, Sen5es and Bistro. The festival is ideal for those who
want to relish seafood barbeques and grills from across the globe. When: Till October 25 Where: Oakwood Premier Hotel, Mundhwa
GT Road Food Fest The Grand Trunk Road, one of Asia’s oldest and longest highways spanning across an impressive 2,500 km running through the parts of Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. The food trail on the oldest and historic GT Road will offer its patrons street style cooked delicacies from Amritsar like Chole Kulcha. Patrons can also look forward to Peshawari Naan from Kabul along with the popular specialties cooked on traditional large tawas like Chaapli Kebab and some of the carbecued temptations. Our very own Bengali feast will boast on the irresistible delicacies like Daab Chingdi and Mishti Doi from Kolkata. When: Till October 30 Where: JW Marriott Hotel, Senapati Bapat Road
Master Class Hyatt Pune is organising their monthly Master Class at Eighty Eight to demonstrate healthy food that kids will love. Watch Chef Sarika and her team share nutritional tips and make a healthy grilled chicken salad, laksa soup, oatmeal cookies, hummus and chocolate and beetroot cake. When: October 24 Where: Eighty Eight, Hyatt Pune, Nagar Road
The Bohri Kitchen Pop-up The Bohri Kitchen is coming to Pune with a special pop-up and some lip smacking Bohri delicacies for one day at Prem’s.The menu will feature treats like Smoked Mutton Kheema Samosas, Pineapple and Boondi Raita, Khatta Meetha Chicken, Ghar ka Paratha, Raan in Red Masala, Sheer Khurma, Chicken Biryani, Jal Jeera Soda and Rose Sharbat. When: October 25 Where: Prem’s, Koregaon Park
SP
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WRAP, KNOT, BUCKLE UP…
TGS LIFE
OCTOBER 24, 2015 PUNE
SHOPPING
By Heena Grover Menon
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PICS BYRAHUL RAUT
carves and belts are the quintessential accessories every fashion head must have in their wardrobe. We took a round and found out what’s trending on the city streets and list some
pretty and funky stuff for you to pick when out shopping this week. Mix and match to style your outfit by adding oodles of attitude with these belts and scarves in different colours, fabrics, designs and textures. But make sure you don’t go overboard, so choose wisely.
Animal print belt
This red and black animal print slim belt can be paired up to up the look of your with formal trousers or a nude coloured dress. Where: Palwariya Fashion, Hong Kong Street Price: Rs 100
Cotton silk stole
This soft and subtle hued stole looks perfect on full-length outfit. Wear it over a jeans and kurti of a darker shade if you tend to feel a bit nippy during your bike rides back home. Or just wrap it around your shoulder at an open restaurant and look your pretty best. Where: Raheja Midas, Camp Price: Rs 450
Golden chain belt
This is your accessory for the little black dress, if you want to up the look a bit for a party night. Where: Adore, MG Road Price: Rs 250
Red and blue printed scarf
This soft cotton scarf will instantly add a punch to your look if you are planning to wear a white top or a dress. Tie it in a pretty French knot style and you are ready to rock. Where: Novelty accessories, MG Road Price: Rs 200
Printed chiffon scarf
This silky multi-coloured scarf is a wardrobe musthave especially on those sunny day-outs when the sun is at its peak. A double-sided twist over a deep blue shirt or a kurta will make you look chic. Where: Adore, MG Road Price: Rs 400
Blue sequined scarf This pretty scarf can double up as a head gear if you want to hide from the scorching sunlight. Wrap in different ways and create your own style statement. Where: Fashion Street, FC Road Price: Rs 500
Stone-studded wide belt This heavily embellished blue belt is another must-have on days when you are feeling a tad too lazy to dress up for a party. Just wrap it around a white dress and you are ready to rock and roll. Where: Amit Fashion, JM Road Price: Rs 200
Pearl belt
This pretty delicate piece of accessory goes along really well with solid shade tunics. Pair them up with pearl bracelet and ear studs to complete the look. Where: Heart beats, FC Road Price: Rs 150
Semi-leather rope belt Striped obi belt
Love colour blocking your outfit? Here’s your perfect pick. Just wear this funky wide belt over a solid colour short dress and make a funky style statement. Where: Poona Export House, Camp Price: Rs 250
This off white rope belt goes with anything under the sun. Pair it with your usual blue denims and tee for a movie outing and look your coolest best. Where: The export shop, East Street Price: Rs 150
ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
This fashionista loves to stay fit By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM
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his pretty, charming and svelte fashion blogger from the city is always high on what’s trending in the world of fashion. After travelling the world, she settled in Pune for good and started her own fashion blog, Mariposa Love, which she has now turned into a successful online boutique venture. Writing blogs, playing a model and keeping extremely fit is what keeps her going. MORNING • On weekdays, I wake up at 8 am. I start my day with one big glass of warm water mixed with amla juice, aloe-vera juice, jamun juice and wheat grass. Then, I sit in my balcony to take in some morning sunlight and text my parents and my work colleagues a good morning. I eat fruits to start the day and drink a glass of milk. • I work from home, so I begin work around 10 am. First, I put on some uplifting music, clean my desk, arrange some flowers and check my emails. If I get hungry before lunch, I like to indulge in some low calorie snacks like whole wheat, low sugar cookies, yogurt with fruits, a protein bar or muesli. For a refreshing drink during the entire day, I like to drink fruit-infused water. NOON • At 1.30 pm, I have my lunch that consists of a typical Indian meal of one roti, dal, sabzi, rice and yogurt. • After lunch, I prefer eating mini meals every two-three hours, which consists of yogurt with bananas or a green smoothie. EVENING • I go to the gym at around 6 pm after finishing work. I start my workout with a 10-minute cardio session, then 15 minutes of core training. Once the body is warmed up, I do weight training for an hour. Then finish the workout with 15 minutes of stretching. I always have a protein shake after a heavy weight workout. • On days when I have a lot of work and I cannot hit the gym, I go to the park for a 30-minute jog or do 30-minute planks and core workout at home. For me, core workouts are the most important and I do them religiously every day. It helps make your lower back strong and works out your deep abdominal muscles. It also works out the deep muscles of your arms and legs. NIGHT • At 9.30 pm, I have my dinner which is always low on carb. I only eat chicken or fish with a big bowl of green salad. I make different salad dressings to keep my salad interesting and yummy every day. • After dinner, I read a book or watch a movie. I go to bed at around 12 midnight.
Blending funky with ethnic
I
t is not just women who are style conscious these days. For all those men out there who want to stay ahead in the style run, here are some tips by designer Simran Mulchandani to keep in mind this festive season. • Ditch the regular churidar-kurta and opt for Patiyala pants instead, it surely will make some heads turn. • Whites, beige and light hues are the classics which never go out of fashion. Make sure you add some colour to your look by wearing a bright stole or jacket. • The trick to wear your formals this festive season is quite easy too. Just add an ethnic brooch to your shirt and nice cufflinks and you are ready to go. • Don’t forget the juttis. They are known as mojaris too. They add a royal feel to your overall look. • Opt for handwoven fabrics. They are sure
shot eye catcher plus why just Diwali? Let’s make the whole festive season ecofriendly. • Pair your jodhpuri suit with dhotis this time instead of Simran Mulchandani tailored cut pants. It gives a twist and makes you look more stylish. • Go for funky prints in your kurtas, there are lots of options available these days. Pick the ones which suit your personality and make your own style statement.
• Add layers to your outfit, be it a bandi jacket or a sherwani kurta. Layers always work well, so keep the buttons open for a change. • If you are opting for a custom outfit, you can also opt for contrast lining in your jackets so that it stands out. • A little embroidery on collars and cuffs will always make your shirt or kurta look regal. • While most men love to keep it simple, a little bling here and there works well with men too. A gold sequin bottom with a plain bright colour kurta looks classy and sophisticated. • Last but not the least, whatever you wear carry it with an attitude and confidence, after all nothing completes the look better than a confident man. (As told to Zainab Kantawala)
TGS LIFE
OCTOBER 24, 2015 PUNE
FEATURES NATASHA SHROTRI Weight: 54kg Height: 5 feet, 7 inches
EXPERT SPEAK Atul Kurpe, Director, Focus Five Fitness Club
You are maintaining a great fitness regime, although there are a few things you need to be careful about. Your breakfast should contain some good quality and quantity of food which will provide low GI. Try to add small meals in between your breakfast and lunch such as low carb cookies, any fruit and coconut water. Preworkout meal is very essential which should contain carb, protein and micro nutrients. You need to make a proper schedule of workout. Maintain the ratio of cardio, weight training and core exercises. As you are working from home, you can manage going to bed early and waking up early. This rule will make you even more efficient at work.. Expert rating: 7/10
NATASHA’S FITNESS WISDOM • Eat five to six small meals a day. That will keep your metabolism high and give you energy all day long without feeling drowsy after a meal. • Core exercises and weight training to tone and strengthen the muscles is a great way to stay fit. • Listen to uplifting music, focus on the positives in your life and take time to know yourself better, no matter how busy you are. heena.grover@goldensparrow.com
An encounter with the new songstress on the block
TGS LIFE
OCTOBER 24, 2015 PUNE
BUZZ By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab
S
he is the new singing sensation in Bollywood and has sung songs for movies like Aashiqui 2 and Ek Tha Tiger. Recently, Palak Muchhal is heard crooning the title track of the new Salman Khanstarrer Prem Ratan Dhan Payo. The movie’s music has created quite the buzz as the most successful actor-director duo Salman Khan and Sooraj Barjatya have teamed up after a long gap. After the success of O Khuda from Hero and Meri Aashiqui in Aashiqui 2, Palak is ready with yet another track. The song has been composed by Himesh Reshammiya. “This is the most special project for me because of three things - firstly, I am a big Sooraj Barjatya fan and to be associated with Rajshri Productions is a huge thing because they give lot of importance to music; secondly, it is Salman sir’s movie; and lastly, the songs have been composed by Himesh Reshammiya, with whom I have worked quite a lot. It was a solo song and the storyline
Playback singer Palak Muchhal is busy stealing the limelight with her numbers in the upcoming film Prem Ratan Dhan Payo
helped me record the song,” says the singer. At 21, Palak has already made it among the top singers of Bollywood. Her love for singing started at the tender age of three and her passion to pursue her dreams got her to Mumbai from Madhya Pradesh. “I come from a Marwari family and I don't have any connection with music or the film industry. So this wasn't an obvious choice. When I was two-and-halfyears old, I sang a Lata Mangeshkar's song at a family function to everyone’s surprise. My mother realised my interest and she got me trained in classical music,” she says. Palak later went on to participate in Kalyanji-
Anandji's troupe 'Little stars' and travelled the globe with the troupe. Ten years ago, she moved to Mumbai and then there has been no looking back for her ever since. Palak is the voice behind popular tracks like Tum Hi Ho and Tu Hi Ye Mujhko Bata from Ashiqui 2, Main Lapata from Ek Tha Tiger, the list goes on. She makes sure to credit Salman Khan for her success. “Things changed after Ek Tha Tiger. The response was mind-blowing. Salman was the first person I met after moving to Mumbai. Since, then he has been a guiding pillar. For anybody, their first break is very important, and for me that was Laapata. Salman later recommended me to Yash Raj Films. That was a turning point. Immediately after that song, I recorded 47 songs. Two among them were from Aashiqui 2, which was a game changer for me,” she adds. The singer has already recorded
Compliments and counsel turned Sumeet into an incredible dancer By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry
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he reality show Dance+ recently brought choreographer Sumeet Nagdev into the limelight. The exceptional choreographer hasn't been part of flashy Bollywood projects but that has only given him more time to pursue international projects. He began dancing when he was 15 and until much later, he was unsure about taking up dance as a career. A compliment from his girlfriend-turned-wife and a choreographer’s comment pushed Sumeet towards dance as a career path. Two years later, after numerous performances, where he represented his school and college, he realised that dancing was his true calling. Sumeet promises that his dance journey has been amazing and that he has learned innumerable things along the way. “I am at my best when I am in my dance studio. Creating my pieces, meeting new people, and researching various dance forms makes me happy. It does not matter
before who I perform. I live a performance and that’s what matters to me the most,” says Sumeet. Choreographing for me is a way to share my knowledge, he adds. He credits his success to his family, which has always been supportive of his career choice even though Sumeet hails from a business background. Sumeet says that he is happy to be part of a great show like Dance+. His love for dance becomes evident when you realise that he judges a performance on the basis of what it deserves, regardless of whether it's his team or another captain's team. As far as Bollywood is concerned, Sumeet has been waiting for the right offers to come his way. “I want to work for projects and put up performances that are worthy of international praise. Most Indian performances lack in choreography and presentation the most. Things are changing, slowly,” says Sumeet, who has been a part of many international performances. India has a lot of talented people and it’s just about finding the right way to present the talent, he adds. Sumeet shall be in the city this weekend to teach Punekars the importance of movement through the Martha Graham Technique along with some Afro modern travelling movements and release techniques.
197 songs so far for Bollywood movies which are lined up to release this and next year. Apart from singing, Palak also spends her time being involved with charity. She has donated 3.76 crores towards 821 kids suffering from heart diseases through her concerts all over the world. “I started Dil Se Dil Tak NGO when I was five. At the time, the Kargil war had started and I wanted to do something for the soldiers. So I went from shop to shop and told the owners that I will sing a song and I asked them to give me money for the soldiers in return. I collected Rs 25,000 from my colony itself,” she adds. This was just the beginning for Palak. Her wanting to do something for others and helping
the needy led to the beginnings of a foundation. “There was a boy from Indore who had a hole in his heart. His parents asked for my help. So I made a small podium on a street vendor’s cart and started singing. With the first show, itself I had collected Rs 55,000 but, by the time, we had raised the money, a doctor from Bangalore who had seen us on the news, offered to do the operation for free. We then decided that we should use the money to help other poor people. I realised I could help a lot of people with my voice,” she says. She has also made her entry in both Guinness Book of World Records and Limca Book of World Records for achievements in social work.