ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
PUNE, OCTOBER 3, 2015 | www.thegoldensparrow.com
Just say no
They did and so can you Overcoming an addiction is not easy but it’s not impossible either. All it takes is a sense of realisation and the grit to come clean. Once you decide to step away from denial, sweeping away a habit will not seem like an insurmountable task
October feast!
Crop top craze continues
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By the children, for the children
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Bally Sagoo is back with a Punjabi Tadka
TGS LIFE OCTOBER 3, 2015 PUNE
stage India’s best-known DJ and producer, Bally Sagoo, walks us through his musical journey By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab
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fter working relentlessly for over two years on his latest musical installment, Bally Sagoo is all set to launch his seventeenth studio album titled ‘Café Punjab’. The album pays tribute to his homeland and recreates the charm and ethnicity of Punjab. The sound is a blend of Lounge and the New Age Contemporary music. Having dominated the music industry for over two decades the DJ has reinvented his music style without compromising on his most sought after dance and hip-hop fusion sound, securing his place in the global desi music scene. “Cafe Punjab is a lounge album including eight tracks. It features a lot of new singers whom I have auditioned in Mumbai and Punjab. It was recorded in UK. Its features Sufi vibe mixed with the Punjabi chill and also includes a few cover versions of classic Punjabi songs that I have created as a tribute to the original singers, like Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Surinder Kaur, Amar Chamkila. This album has a global sound with music for all listeners,” he says. Raised in Birmingham, UK, Bally has created a mark for himself, having worked alongside legends like Michael Jackson, Nusrat
Fateh Ali Khan and Amitabh Bachchan. He has produced music for films such as Bend It Like Beckham, Mistress of Spice, Monsoon Wedding and It’s A Wonderful Afterlife. “Touring with Michael Jackson, meeting the late president of India — GIVE NAME??? — were the high points of my career but the real challenge was when, in the early days of my career, people didn’t show faith in me. Many said that remixes and western collaborations will not take me ahead but I was determined to make desi music global,” he adds. Coming from a family of musicians, Bally was drawn towards Reggae, R&B and Disco. Like his friends, he was also greatly interested in the sounds of Disco music. He was often found dee-jaying at local events and had produced a mix tape in his early teens. “I was born into a musical family. My father was a musician in a UK-based band called ‘Musafirs’ in the 60’s. My mother sings religious songs in the temple and plays the harmonium. I started DJing at an early age and started making music in my bedroom. I wasn’t into Indian music and so my friends asked me to try experimenting as my fusion creations were getting more and more popular. I got my first break in 1989 when I remixed ‘Tutak Tutak’ by singer Malkit Singh. After that there was no looking back and my professional musical career took off,” he recalls. Bally’s commercial success grew and he produced the biggest Indian remix album of all time ‘Bollywood Flashback’. His remix ‘Chura Liya’ is often credited as being a groundbreaking track with a lasting influence on many
artists in the Indian music scene. In 1990, Bally released his first album Wham Bam, a remix of Bhangra numbers, which struck a chord with Indians in UK. His second album, Star Crazy-I, released in UK and became a chartbuster with popular numbers ‘Laung Gawacha’ and ‘Gur Nal Ishq Mitha’. Apart from Hindi, Punjabi and English, Bally has made music in Japanese, Arabic, French, and is experimenting with Tamil too. “Initially people said it was a bad idea to remix songs, even some famous singers said I was spoiling the originals. Not only did I prove them wrong, but I started a new musical movement. Now other DJs are considered to be artists worldwide and are doing a lot better for themselves,” adds Bally.
He has recently collaborated with UKbased artists Apache Indian and Taz Stereo Nation on a single ‘Pretty Baby’. His new album promises to unleash a brand new international sound. “I have worked very hard on this album, curating some great new voices and creating a brand new sound. The album is like a personal reincarnation and it maps my spiritual evolution as an artist. I can’t be making the music I made 20 years ago, as today the scene has changed. Café Punjab has a chilled out vibe with enchanting sounds and a rich, rhythmic influence. I want to shift focus to making more music in Bollywood and explore exciting collaborations with likeminded artists across the globe,” he adds. zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com
Babul Supriyo’s daughter makes her TV debut By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM
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he sixth episode of Coke Studio, which airs tomorrow will see the singer’s daughter Sharmeeli Supriyo make her on-stage debut as she sings her first Hindi song composed by music composer Anupam Roy. A week ahead of International Day of the Girl Child, the fatherdaughter duo of Babul and Sharmeeli Supriyo will be performing their first song together ‘I Wanna Fly’, which marks the young singer’s debut on television. Sharmeeli has accompanied her father on various stage shows since she was a kid but this is something that holds a special place in her heart. The music of the song has been composed by Anupam Roy, who made his Bollywood debut as a composer in Shoojit Sircar’s Piku. A day before the show goes on air, the 16-year-old talks about her experience of sharing the stage with some of the most talented musicians and lyricists from the country,
including her first idol, her father. “My father thought that we should prepare a song dedicated to the girl child and I was immensely excited about the prospect. The greatest encouragement came from Javed Akhtar who agreed to write the lyrics with my father. We started preparing the song a month ago and
the entire experience was nothing short of magic. When we shot the episode, I was a bit nervous initially but the energy was so high, that all my inhibitions went up the air in no time,” smiles Sharmeeli. Praising her enthusiasm, Anupam says, “When Babul explained the gist of the song to
me, I instantly knew that it’s going to be a beautiful journey. Babul and I collaborated to write the initial English lyrics of the song which was supposed to be about a fatherdaughter relationship. After the song was approved, we met Javed saab , who loved the idea and wrote the rest of the Hindi lyrics for Sharmeeli. The song is basically an anthem about the dreams of a young girl, so the music compliments the essence as it has the right mix of beats and melodies depicting her enthusiasm.” Sharmeeli, who grew up listening to Kishore Kumar songs, says that for every daughter her father is her first inspiration, so this song is just the kind of break that any daughter would dream of. She also got another big encouragement, when Amitabh Bachchan tweeted about the song and praised her voice recently. “It was a great confidence booster and I thank the entire unit of Coke Studio for it. With this song, I hope to start a new journey as a singer and I would like to see myself recording songs for both Bengali and Hindi films in future,” Sharmeeli adds.
The episode will also feature two more songs, Naina and Moner Manush, which have an ensemble of some well-known singers, composers and lyricists including Jeet Ganguly, Satyaki Banerjee, Prasoon Joshi and Javed Akhtar. heena.grover@goldensparrow.com
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OCTOBER 3, 2015 PUNE
INDULGE Pune will turn into a foodie’s paradise this month as it preps up to take you on a gastronomic journey. Here’s a preview of what, where, and when
PIC BY ZAINAB KANTAWALA
TGS LIFE
October feast!
By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM
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rom the famous mezzes and khubz from the lands of River Tigris, the flowing beers and burgers, to finger-licking kebabs and Rara Gosht from the bustling streets of Mumbai’s famous Mohammad Ali Road, you are guaranteed to be spoilt for choice this month.
The live counter is the highlight of the Mohammad Ali Road street food festival
Magic of Mohammad Ali Road Beginning from our very own hub of non-vegetarian food lovers, Barbeque Nation will recreate the famous street food with the ‘Magic of Mohammed Ali Road Festival. You will be treated with the finest and the most sumptuous Ramadan street food spread. On what brings this festival to the city this time around, Saumitra Kulkarni, regional chef, says, “The Ganpati Utsav has just concluded and so has Eid, so we thought this would be a great time to launch this festival for our patrons to get another excuse to feast. Most people in Maharashtra don’t eat non-vegetarian food during Ganpati, so this will be like breaking a fast of sorts.” Adds Mitu Mohan, regional operations manager, says, “The menu explores the range of flavours that typify Iftaar street food in Mumbai.
The Tigris Trail
Th is exclusive Mediterranean food festival is offering the authentic treats of the regions from where the River Tigris flows, namely Turkey, Syria, Iran and Iraq. Chef de Cuisine, Prasad Metrani, who has handcrafted the entire menu for the festival, says, “Tigris is a river that passes through Turkey and Iran. With the fest, we wish to depict Tigris in terms of its finest food, in and around the neighbouring countries of Turkey, Syria and Iran. Th is Middle Eastern food fare offers an abundant variety of hot and cold mezzes, homemade entrees, healthy salads, fabulous desserts and pastries.” Moving on to the spread, there are different sections for the buffet, salads, soups and desserts which offer a mix of Turkish, Syrian and Iranian cuisines. Explaining the various cuisines and combining diverse flavours,
The dishes have very different tastes and flavours that set them apart from Mughlai, Lucknowi and Hyderabadi cuisine. We aim to recreate the magic of these delicacies for our diners’ plates, while ensuring the dishes remain true to the original Mohammad Ali Road style of cooking.” The interiors have been recreated to make the space look like the gallis with signages placed here and there. There are attractive kiosks for different street foods, even the staff has been given the typical patina suit, skull caps and muffler, exactly the way you see the vendors in the real streets. As for the food, there’s a vast spread to choose from. A few signature dishes include Tandoori Bater – quail cooked in an oven and garnished with lemon and onion rings, Murgh Angara – rich tomato-based gravy with spicy chicken, Zam Zam Pulao – a rice dish that consists of chicken, mutton,
Chef Prasad says, “Turkish cuisine owes its heritage to a mixture of Mediterranean, Southern European and Middle Eastern influences. One of the most popular local dishes of this region is the mezze. Th is is a Turkish specialty that consists of a large number of cold and hot Hors d’oeuvres such as different salads, meats, vegetables, and fish dishes. Syrian cuisine is rich and varied in its ingredients such as yoghurt, chickpeas, olives, garlic, lemon, and eggplant. Syrian food usually draws influences from Southern Mediterranean, Greek, and Southwest Asian dishes such as kibbeh, hummus, tabbouleh, shawarma and khubz. The cuisine of Iran is diverse, with each province featuring dishes, culinary traditions and styles unique to their region. The Persian cuisines feature combinations of rice with meat, chicken or fish, onion, vegetables, dry fruits, and herbs. Herbs are frequently used along with fruits such as plums, pomegranates, quince, prunes, apricots, and raisins.” When here, don’t miss the lamb kibbeh and aromatic khubz. If you are unsure of which dip to savour them with, ask the chef to bring all the varieties in little portions to get the best of the fl avours. Though the starters are absolutely delightful, you might fi nd the main course slightly subtle on palette, especially if you are looking for spicy meals. The desserts section again has a varied spread, but it’s a must to try the Tigris specials such as Almond Gharibiya, Fakkas, and Knafeh Jibneh. Tip for guests: If you have a large appetite and want to relish the best of everything, go for the buffet instead of the a la carte menu. When: Till October 11, 6.30 pm onward Where: Seasonal Tastes, The Westin, Koregaon Park Meal for two: Rs 2,400 plus taxes
mixed vegetables and dry fruits, Mutton Khichda – a rich, meaty dish. The highlights of the festival are the live-counters and rehri-carts, where one can pick up starters like Mutton Seekh Kabab, Chicken Baida Paratha, Gurda Kaleji, and Raan e Gosht. Every guest’s table is fi xed with an in-built barbecue from where you can pick your skewered smoking hot tikkas or kebabs. For a sweet ending, there’s an array of treats such as Sitafal Kulfi, Mawa Khaja, Malpua with Rabri and Black currant Phirni. Tip for guests: The evenings are packed here, so make sure you reserve a table well in advance. When: Till October 18, lunch and dinner hours Where: Barbeque Nation – Deccan R Mall, City One Mall, PCMC, Amanora, Kalyani Nagar, Sayaji Hotel, Wakad Meal for two: Rs 1,600 plus taxes
Oktoberfest The biggest beer festival is back and this time Phoenix Marketcity will host some popular breweries at its sprawling courtyard, which will be thrown open for the city’s beer lovers. The fest is all set to provide the best of German culture, food and music. Some of the key participating brands and breweries include TJ’s, Effingut, Gateway, Flambos, Malaka Spice, Yo China, The Beer Café, Irish House, Toss, Punjab Grill, and many more. “Phoenix Marketcity has always strived to engage customers by promoting activities that capture the spirit and vitality of the festive season and this fest is another such activity to provide our patrons a unique experience,” says Rajiv Malla, director, Phoenix Marketcity, Pune. The Beer Café, one of the participants at the fest, will offer the largest collection of authentic German brews like Paulaner Original, Erdinger Weissbier and Schneider Weisse. Savour the crafted beers with their signature Chicken Platter, Pork Sausage Platter with Garlic Krakauer, Coleslaw, Roasted Corn, and Potato Wedges. To add fun to your experience, the venue will have a special photo-op zone for you to capture the perfect beer moments. Says Rahul Singh, founder, The Beer Cafe, “Oktobrewfest has been worked upon in accordance to the celebratory spirit that we would like our guests to experience throughout the month. The spirit has been imbibed in the core elements with fun uniform, staff accessories, café interiors, an interesting photo booth and cheerful music. We hope that our guests would enjoy their ‘beering’ experience with a slice of Germany this October.” Tip for guests: Go with your gang early this weekend and make the most of the festival When: October 3 and 4, 4.30 pm onwards Where: Courtyard, Phoenix Marketcity, Nagar Road; Oktoberbrewfest by The Beer Cafe is also happening at Kapila Matrix, Koregaon Park and Amanora Town Centre till October end. Meal for two: Rs 2,500 plus taxes
The organic foodie Why is the city going gaga over organic food? We went exploring around the city and checked into a few pretty joints for you
Dravida’s Bistro
By Zainab Kantawala & Heena Grover Menon @TGSWeekly
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hile some of these cafes swear by the products and ingredients coming out of their own
OCTOBER 3, 2015 PUNE
INDULGE
gardens, others have tied up with the best organic farmers to bring healthy and delicious dishes to your table. Here are three organic cafes you shouldn’t miss in the city: tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com
One O Eight Cafe
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issing the fresh flavours from down south? The earthy interiors and aroma of freshly brewed filter coffee will instantly up your appetite. The food in Dravida’s Bistro is served in earthenware using the freshest of vegetables which are organically grown on the terrace farm of the complex you can check out the farm yourself. Their menu consists of cuisines from five states which you will find neatly handwritten on the blackboard. They serve tossed idlis on banana leaf with rasam or sambar. They also serve five organic juices made from fruits and vegetables. These portions are sure to help you detox and vitalise energy. “There are a very few authentic South Indian
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food joints in the city, so we planned on starting a joint that not only serves delicious food but also promote healthy living. At our terrace farm, we grow brinjals, pumpkins, tomato, lady fingers, herbs, etc. We source our wheat and our famous hibiscus soda from Pondicherry,” says Indu Sukumar, one of the owners, who makes sure to go around and take orders from the guests personally. Where: Dravida’s Bistro, Shop 10, City Point, Dhole Patil Road
his pretty little cafe-cum-yoga room derives its name from the shop number where it’s located. Check in any time of the day and you will see the place brimming with expats from across the world. The cosy ambience, delicately chosen and very colourful cutlery and chairs will instantly pep up your mood. They have an extensive menu of delicious and healthy continental and Italian breakfast options and along with the most delectable juices, organic teas and coffees. Right from the herbs, vegetables, fruits, cheese and even the flour that they use to make their dishes are all organic. “Most of our ingredients are absolutely organic. We opened the cafe with an aim to bring the best of food to the people, who are conscious of what they want to eat. Although it’s difficult
to source everything which is purely organic, we make a conscious effort that everything we serve our customers is full of good health, so that they never leave my cafe with even an inch of guilt,” says Bree Bhosle, the owner. Some must-try options from the menu are detox tea made using aniseed, fennel and cardamom; poached eggs with organic rocket leaves; a beetroot, carrot, lemon, apple and ginger cleansing juice; protein shake made of organic whey, banana, flax seeds, dates and cinnamon. Where: Lane no 6, Koregaon Park
The Real Green Café
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une’s fi rst-ever organic and 100 percent vegan café is a new joint for all those who prefer healthy food and environment-friendly ambience. They serve the best food and snacks that are prepared with organic ingredients, vegan and are air-fried. As you enter, the wooden interiors mingle with irresistible aroma of freshly-brewed coffee welcome you. Their menu mainly consists of burgers, smoothies and sandwiches. Says Aishwarya Vishwanath, co-owner of the café, “We use cashew milk, soya and coconut milk to prepare our drinks, which are extremely healthy. We also have gluten-free and sugar-free dishes on our menu. The idea behind opening this cafe was to promote veganism as a lifestyle.” Their Tofu Frankie Chilli and Tropical Blueberry Smoothie are a must-try. Where: The Real Green Cafe, East Court, Phoenix MarketCity Mall, Viman Nagar
YOUR CHOW AROUND TOWN
New ‘Craft Burgers’ at Chili’s The folks at Chili’s American Grill and Bar believes in doing something creative every time.Chili’s Craft Burgers are made with soft, warm, freshly-toasted potato buns, along with the choice of patty seasoned, hand pressed & made to order. The burgers are layered with fresh, chefselected ingredients like premium apple wood smoked bacon, tomatoes, lettuce, avocados along with their house-made guacamole. Choose from options like Guacamole Chicken Burger, Big Mouth® Bites, Oldtimer with Cheese, Classic Bacon Burger, New Southern Smokehouse Burger, New Sweet & Smoky Burger,
includes a choice of a refreshing drink or a hearty soup, a salad and a selection of main course.
all available in four choices of pattiesMinced Tenderloin Buffalo Patty, Minced Lamb Patty,Minced Chicken Patty, and Southwestern Veg Patty for guests with varied taste buds. The Burgers are all accompanied with pickles, freshly made in-house with Chili’s signature recipe for that extra flavour. When: Ongoing Where: Chili’s American Grill and Bar, Phoenix Market City, Viman Nagar
Auffest
Enjoy two days of fun and fervour at the Auffest - The Aufside Beer Fest at Aufside at HotFut. Apart from chugging fresh craft beers from pioneer local breweries and some legendary bottled beers, you can munch on grills such as sausage platters, meat strips, cottage cheese sticks and corn on the cob to name a few. For the ultimate Auffest experience, here’s a list of activities that you can participate in: Fastest chugger challenge, Beer relays, Flip cup, Beer pong, Foosball and Beerwiz. There will be on-the-spot
When: Monday- Friday 12pm to 4pm everyday. Where: Frisco, Koregaon Park
Choco Bourbon Fantasy contests and a Beertail making sessions as well. A mini flea with street magic, 9 pins, caricature artist, a photo booth will help complete your carnival experience. When: October 3 and 4 Where: Aufside at HotFut, Kumar Pacific Mall, Swargate
Frisco Weekday three Course Set Lunch
Frisco takes rushed weekday lunches and turns them into elegant, well balanced and finely plated meals. The meal
Treat yourself this October with Gelato Italiano’s flavour of the month, Choco Bourbon Fantasy. This flavour is the ultimate treat to indulge in for all the gelato lovers. Lose yourself in the richness of the mouth-watering flavour of Choco Bourbon Fantasy and savour its delicious aftertaste. The Gelato smoothness is perfectly balanced with the contrasting texture of fresh ingredients which give the flavours an enduring intensity and blissful sensation. Gelato Italiano delivers extraordinary moments of pleasure! When: Till October 31 Where: All Geleto Italiano outlets
PICS BY ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
TGS LIFE OCTOBER 3, 2015 PUNE
FEATURES
Just say no. They did and so can you
Overcoming an addiction is not easy but it’s not impossible either. All it takes is a sense of realisation and the grit to come clean. Once you decide to step away from denial, sweeping away a habit will not seem like an insurmountable task
By Salonee Mistry and Zainab Kantawala @TGSWeekly
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eer pressure, curiosity and a social environment are factors that often mark the start of an addiction. Millions of people suffer from alcohol addiction and drug abuse that can and has ruined lives only because the habit is extremely difficult to control. Yet, it’s not all grim and gloomy. A number of outstanding men and women have demonstrated their strength, character and are shining examples of using their talent to lead fulfi lling lives. They have shown the courage of accepting themselves and have come out of the
Prasad Chandekar warming up before his day as a fitness instructor begins
Madhav Kolhatkar penning down his thoughts into a journal
tunnel sober. Those who have never grappled with an addiction might find it difficult to understand the desperate desire to use and the debilitating frustration of slipping back, even after many sober years. A user’s struggle to get clean and his or her ongoing battle to stay sober is always commendable. Read the life changing experiences of people who, at one time, were enslaved by narcotics, stimulants or alcohol. They fought back though and their experience might just inspire you too: THE DESCENT Bhushan Sawant was studying in Australia when he began using drugs. LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide) turned into a constant companion throughout his stay away from home. Even though the habit began as a way to feed his curiosity, the environment and his company was enough to turn his inquisitiveness into an addiction. “I was drawn towards the lifestyle of the people there. I started with marijuana, which was grown in farms there. To blend in with the culture, I gradually started taking LSD. It gave me a mind trip and I started losing connect with the real world. Slowly, it began to control me and I felt incomplete without it,” recalls the 29-year-old. Addiction is something that usually latches on at an early age. For 52-year-old Prasad Chandekar drug abuse began at an early age. Although, initially, it was just a glass of beer that was shared amongst four friends, one thing led to another and before he knew it, Prasad was addicted to everything from charas, ganja, morphine, bhang and afeem. He always believed that he would be able to overcome the habit whenever he wanted but once he got hooked, quitting was not an easy task. In a desperate attempt to belong, Tushar Sampat started off with illicit liquor when he was in the fi rst year of junior college. Like Prasad, he got habituated to multiple drugs one after the other. Soon, he felt the loss of identity and the feeling struck him so much that he even attempted suicide. He threw
tantrums at people who cared for him and ran away from his home. It has taken him 20 years to recover and become the IT professional and entrepreneur that he is today. Once an addict always an addict - this is a common perception among people but former users point out that it is just a myth. One can beat an addiction if there is a will to do it. Madhav Kolhatkar, 44, hailing from an affluent family, was caught in the trap of alcoholism at an early age. Easy access to money and peer pressure led him into bars. Madhav sipped alcohol for the fi rst time when he was 17 and he had turned alcoholic by the time he was 20. Likewise, Amol Pote, 38, began his
TGS LIFE
journey as an addict with a sachet of gutka. The glistening pouches and free samples that were distributed during a brand launch were enough to entice this 15 year old. In time, Amol immersed himself in the party circuit and took to alcohol as well. Later, even as the celebrations dimmed, the alcohol and gutka always remained on a rise. Running a cyber cafe nearly 15 years ago, gave Vishal Pawar, 30, enough income to feed his alcohol habit. Nevertheless, each one of them was determined to come out clean and have worked terribly hard to be able to walk along the brighter path. THE STRUGGLE FOR SURVIVAL Denial has a strong hold on addicts, allowing them to continue their harsh behaviour, despite the ill effects it has on their lives. Disregard for others’ feelings, an irrational temper and disobedience is a common behaviour among addicts. Prasad’s family threw him out of the house because of his addiction. Sleeping on the roads, getting involved in petty fights, struggling for safety and hiding from cops, was a regular affair for him. Even after finding a regular job, he couldn’t concentrate. “I could not get my mind to focus on anything that I was doing. I was always restless. My personality changed tremendously and I was a nuisance to be around. I even had suicidal tendencies at one point,” he admits. Prasad still remembers the month he spent in a graveyard, hiding from cops in Nasik. Not being aware of your surroundings and a feeling of disconnect with the real world is something that every addict experiences. For Amol, going to bed drunk and waking up with a hangover was part of his routine and he felt incomplete without it. “I have had many accidents and was lucky enough to escape death. It was probably the prayers and good deeds of my family members that always saved me. I was almost declared dead, yet somehow managed to survive,” he recalls. Bhushan’s love for art helped him connect with the real world. It pushed him to recover from the addiction and helped him fight back. He sought psychiatric help and attended
Vishal Pawar setting up his shop as he gets ready to welcome customers
workshops. “I was put on medication, and was a walking-talking vegetable for almost a month. Now it’s been five years and I see a major change in myself. My behavior has changed, I have calmed down a lot,” he adds. Madhav was a stubborn as a child and always got what he asked for. The wrong company and an addiction to alcohol made his behaviour worse. Fighting with parents on trivial issues and blaming them for his mistakes was a regular thing for him. The feeling of loneliness made him more aggressive. “I didn’t care about what my family was going through. The only question that bothered me was how could I procure my next drink. I did not accept that I was an alcoholic and it was a disease. I thought that I was correct in whatever I did and the rest of the world was wrong,” he says. A WHOLE LOT OF REGRETS “When I look back on those days, I realise that I hardly remember 25 years of my father’s
OCTOBER 3, 2015 PUNE
FEATURES
Tushar Sampat runs a health based portal now
ruining relationships, being aggressive and taking his family and their love for granted
Bhushan Sawant collecting his thoughts beofre he sketches them out
life. Alcohol was so dear to me back then that nothing else mattered. My mother was falling sick, shrinking and becoming weaker because of the stress I was giving her due to my behaviour. The atmosphere at home changed completely. Had it not been for me, my parents would have been happier seeing their three children grow up and succeed,” Madhav shares, unable to shake the regret off his shoulders. When Tushar recollects how he kept pushing his father for more and more money every time he wanted to get high, his eyes get teary. The jovial man, who knows exactly how to tickle your funny bone, is overwhelmed when he thinks of everyone he let down, especially his father. “I remember this one time, after my dad returned from work I kept pestering him for money. He did not have any and finally after being ticked off by my persistence he got angry and asked me to sell his blood to get money,” says Tushar, as tears roll down his cheek. “Back then, I felt no emotions. It did not matter to me how my behaviour hurt others and I can’t regret this enough,” he adds. Amol too can’t help but feel miserable about treating his family the way he did while he was still an addict. Getting home late, not bothering how his actions affected others, not caring about anyone but himself and, more importantly, ignoring the feelings of his family, is everything that makes Amol put his head down in shame. “After I became an addict, my sisters refused to talk to me. They even refused to tie Rakhi on my wrist. I know my father would wake up at odd times in the night to check if I was home. I can’t help but blame myself for the state that I had put them in for those years,” says Amol. He also regrets
throughout those years. FAMILY AND FRIENDS Th roughout one’s life, irrespective of whatever it is that one is involved in, family and friends become the largest support system. “My wife was my biggest support throughout the recovery period. She even fought with my family because they wanted to admit me to a mental institute and convinced them to give me a chance. I can never thank her enough,” says a grateful Vishal. His mother also supported him a lot even though, in the beginning, she was furious at him. The future of his young daughter was another factor that has prevented Vishal from abusing an addiction. Likewise, for Tushar his younger brother did everything he could to hold his hand throughout his recovery. Even when his parents refused to visit him in the rehab, his younger brother became his guardian and attended the weekly family meetings. It took a while for Tushar’s parents to forgive him but his brother never lost faith and hope. “It was because of his belief that the recovery process went smoothly,” believes Tushar. After a long time, his parents too turned supportive and a number of his friends also became a huge part of his recovery. LIFE AFTER RECOVERY Today, every person we met is out of their addiction and are extremely successful at what they do. They fought their addiction, survived and have made their families proud. Tushar is an IT professional, who runs a healthbased software company and has also received innumerable awards for his social work in the
field of de-addiction by a non-professional. He works closely with the United Nations in fighting off addiction in the hope that others do not have to undergo everything that he went through. Vishal owns his own shop of men’s garments and can’t think of a time when he and his family were happier. His family trusts him and he is currently the sole bread winner of his family. Bhushan, a psychedelic painter, runs a customisation business with his friends. He hopes to use art as a medium to express everything that his de-addiction journey taught him. Madhav and Amol work as counsellors at Muktangan, a rehabilitation centre. They are now responsible for the lives of so many others and guide those on their path to recovery. Amol is happily married with a one-and-a-half-yearold child and celebrates family functions, including Rakshabandhan, with his sisters. Madhav is happy being in a relationship with someone who loves and cares for him although marriage is not on his mind right now. Prasad is now a fitness trainer at a few gyms across the city. He did not get married but feels content that his family trusts him. He loves that he is a father figure for his niece. Fulfi lling his childhood dream of becoming an actor, Prasad has made many appearances in short fi lms. He has also played a cameo in the Marathi fi lm, Lai Bhaari. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com
Amol Pote is now a counsellor at Muktangan
TGS LIFE OCTOBER 3, 2015 PUNE
THRILL OF DRIVING
Urban TANK Scorpio too rich for your blood? Mahindra has a short answer
By Tushar Burman @tburman
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without getting inadvertently intimate. With the jump seats folded up, there’s a generous amount of cargo room, aided this underweight reviewer had by the folding rear seat. Our no problem with them. The front editor was able to transport long two seats would have been bamboos to construct a close to perfect had shed on his fabulous Mahindra kept the terrace, getting Verdict armrests on either in and out of + Quiet cabin, side at the same crowded market price level. As it stands, areas with ease. - Noisy as revs rise your elbows Possibly the will be relaxing most impressive TGS rating lopsided. thing about the ;;; Z Unlike some TUV is just how other vehicles that quiet it can be when insist on including seats you keep it in the sweet where there really isn’t any room, spot. Quiet conversations are the TUV300’s jump seats at possible. the back can actually be used. The TUV’s three-cylinder Headroom is at a premium, but 1493cc engine develops 84bhp one 5’7” and one 5’9” rider were and, what Mahindra claims is a able to accommodate themselves class-leading 230Nm of torque. While the engine is limited in how fast it can turn over smoothly, the generous and available torque drives this small SUV smoothly and quietly, when driven with a light foot. 1500-2250rpm is the published sweet spot, which is very apparent on the go. In this range, the engine is quiet and responsive, and turbo lag is barely noticeable. Approaching 3000rpm, the engine gets noisier and beyond 3500, you stop impressing anyone. Mahindra calls this new engine the mHawk80, and there does appear to be a family resemblance in the way it responds. The TUV300 is not an ideal mile-muncher, but it’s certainly up to the task. Clutch action was described as PICS BY RAHUL RAUT
ahindra launched the TUV300 “tough utility vehicle” bang on schedule in the middle of September, very nicely setting themselves up for the holiday buying season. And in typical Mahindra fashion, the value proposition was very attractive. The TUV is based on the Scorpio, but is shorter, while still retaining 7-seater capability There’s a shared platform involved, but other than that, the TUV300 is almost all-new. Mahindra does have another similarly-sized vehicle in the Quanto, but the stubby TUV looks decidedly better designed. It’s under four metres in length and runs a 1.5-litre motor, which allows some tax breaks for Mahindra, reflected in the very competitive pricing. The Mahindra TUV300 is available in seven variants, including an automatic, ranging between Rs 6,90,000 andRs 9,12,000, exshowroom, Pune. The TUV300 is a smart packaging exercise wrapped in very decent looking bodywork. Mahindra is at pains to describe how they were inspired by the aggressive stance of a battle tank, how tough and masculine the TUV is. All the things a Quanto isn’t, if you were wondering. The lessons learned in the new Scorpio are carried over with a squared-off, but pleasing design and a comfortable, functional interior with few idiosyncrasies. In fact, we’d peg the ergonomics
of the TUV300 a notch above those of the elder Scorpio. The entertainment system, for instance, isn’t a touchscreen unit, nor is it full-colour, but it’s well specified, connecting to Bluetooth devices as well as iPods crisply and you don’t need to bend awkwardly to read it. There are two 12V sockets available as are USB and Aux ports. The speakers are adequate and do well in the surprisingly quiet cabin, and you can manipulate music tracks and volume from the steering wheel. Mahindra have played it safe with the interior, using muted beige, black and brown. The choice of colours as well as the generous greenhouse provide a sense of airiness to the cabin. Space is no problem for averagesized drivers and passengers, and legroom is also comfortable. The more portly will probably fold the chintzy armrests back, but
hard by more than one driver we sampled the SUV with, while this author had no such concerns. The steering could be a little bit lighter for the sort of vehicle this is, but we appreciate some weight against an entirely robotic electronic steering action. The front discs and drums at the rear are adequate, with enough bite on our test vehicle. Mahindra appears to be handing out test vehicles with different tyres. Our test vehicle came with CEAT Czar tyres, while some other testers received different tyres. Anecdotal evidence is that this does impact ride quality slightly. Our initial reaction to the ride was that it was too bumpy, but it was sorted by correcting the tyre pressure to 32psi. The suspension setup on the TUV300 feels sturdy, and you can drive without picking your lines to save your spine. Sharp bumps are absorbed adequately and ride comfort was satisfactory. Being a body-on-frame design, there is more body roll and pitch than a monocoque like, say, the Creta, and the relatively heavy gross weight of the SUV (2225kg) gives you pause when you want to pitch it aggressively around a corner. Th is battle tank is best left for urban assaults. Sitting between seven and nine lac rupees, the TUV300 is a compelling prospect. Th row in an attractively priced automated manual transmission option, and you have another USP. Data from other manufacturers suggests that buyers are enthusiastically adopting automated manuals, so this may be a key factor for Mahindra. Neat touches like cornering headlamps on top variants, and ABS, airbags on most trims are also valueadditions that are hard to ignore at this price point. Mahindra is going to pull a lot of curious customers from other segments with the TUV300. There’s enough here to think about whether you’re buying a sedan or even small MPVs like the Mobilio and Ertiga. tushar@goldensparrow.com
Here’s a little something for classical dance aficionados
TGS LIFE OCTOBER 3, 2015 PUNE
FEATURES
Pune-based Kalavardhini Charitable Trust, which works in the field of performing arts, is back with the seventh edition of the three-day dance festival Parikrama By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM
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enowned Bharatnatyam dancer Arundhati Patwardhan initiated a dance festival nearly seven years ago with an aim to bring the classical dance scene in the forefront and bring various artists together on the same platform. She admits ‘Parikrama - A journey that never ends’ has come a long way essentially because it received immense support and a great response from the audience The festival will see some internationally-acclaimed dancers and musicians from across the country, including a Carnatic music band, 72/35 Southern Street, which is going to perform at ‘Parikrama’ for the first time. The unique seven-member band from Mumbai will stage an interesting performance that will include a medley of different genres of music created out of one raga. Sharing his excitement at being
a part of the event, band member K G Vishwanath, says, “We are presenting a fusion of Carnatic music and we want to spread awareness about this genre of music which is palatable to a different set of audience. We have converted some original compositions into fusion music, which will include music from Bollywood and other genres, keeping in the mind the audience as they would be dance connoisseurs.” The second day of the festival, which will take place at Shakuntala Shetty Auditorium, will be opened by Rama Vaidyanathan. She is a leading exponent of Bharatanatyam and one of the most sought after artists of her generation, having carved a name for herself in the performance world while deeply rooted in tradition. Titled ‘Mad and Divine’, this act will be an insight into the life and teachings of two mystic saints, Janabai from Maharashtra and Lal Ded from Kashmir. Arundhati will be staging a special Bharatnatyam act called ‘Pravaheet’ along with her mother and guru, Sucheta Bhide DAY 2 When: Oct 3, 6pm onwards Where: Shakuntala Shetty Auditorium, Karve Nagar DAY 3 When: Oct 4, 10am onward Where: Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan Auditorium, S B Road
Chapekar and sister Yashoda Patankar. The performance is a contemporary take on traditional Bharatnatyam Tillana. This is the first time that the three will share stage and the composition has been entirely choreographed by Arundhati. “Pravaheet means f low and we chose this theme for our performance because there is a difference of generations between the three of us and it is very rare that you see a legacy being followed by the next generation in a family. For t u nately, all of us are in the field of dance so we thought it would be a great idea to depict that through our performance,” says Arundhati. The third and last day of the festival will have a symposium titled ‘Sanvaad’. It will feature Rama Vaidyanathan, Ayswaria Wariar, Sarah Vieira Mangalhaes, a Brazilian dancer who has been learning Indian classical dance forms in Pune for over five years. She will share her experiences, perspective and her journey of learning these dance forms. heena.grover@goldensparrow.com
Arundhati Patwardhan; 72/35 Southern Street band (left)
Using art as a meditative and healing process
It’s all about putting her feelings onto a canvas for this 30-year-old artist, who loves the fact that her art liberates her with every stroke By Salonee Mistry @Sal0412
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aring to dream of being an artist, Patanjali Thakkar immersed herself headlong into expressing her thoughts on a canvas. Whatever the inspiration maybe she replicates her feelings with brush strokes dipped in colours that reflect an emotion. An alumnus of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), she pursued art direction for fi lms and made a career of it. After working on projects like, Life of Pi and Mission Impossible, Patanjali decided to answer her calling by becoming a full-time artist. Painting cards for her family since she was four, colours have
always been Patanjali’s best friends. Trying to put into words why she paints, she says, “Paintings, or any art form for that matter, is the voice of an individual’s sub-conscious mind. For me, in particular, it is a form of
meditation and my only hope is that it has the same effect on the viewer. My vision is to heal people through my art and creativity accentuates this when put forth correctly.” The artist uses her paintings for a meditative
and healing process comes from her interest in Buddhist teachings. Experimenting with her tools to paint, Patanjali uses everything from pastels, pens, ink, charcoal and even tea leaves. Mixing water colours with acrylic colours and other such combinations is also a huge part of her experimentation process. Every medium brings to the canvas its own element and texture and makes a creation stand out. “The experimentation comes with the fear of not knowing how the final product would look. It was all about figuring out what I can use if I did not have paints with me and this pushed me to dip my paint brush in a cup of tea to start with. The texture is brilliant and the hope is that I can find many
more such mediums to paint with,” she told us. Very often it is the subject of the art work that decides the medium, she adds. When Patanjali started pursuing art full-time she felt liberated. Even with the liberation she struggled to establish herself as an artist. But she soon found her feet and set up her studio and promises that the journey is a rewarding one. Her paintings express her belief of living in the moment and that of being realistic. Everyone and everything has a message, opinion and idea to put forth and art is the best form for it. A lot of Patanjali’s work includes paintings of landscapes and sceneries alongside anything else that inspires and moves her. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com
TGS LIFE OCTOBER 3, 2015 PUNE
FEATURES
Gilby Clarke comes to town next week
The versatile musician will tour India and can’t be more thrilled about embracing everything that the country has to offer By Salonee Mistry @Sal0412
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usician, song writer and record producer, this suave and ruggedly handsome man is well-known for his songs. Touring India and making Pune one of his pit-stops, the city will soon rock n roll to the beats of Gilby Clarke. Guns N’ Roses, Rock Star Supernova, Heart, Slash’s Snakepit, MC5 and so many more acts, all feature the talented 53-yearold. In an exclusive interview with TGS, Gilby Clarke talks about his musical journey, the artist’s he loves working with and what he does in his spare time. Starting off as a guitarist in the eighties with Candy’s, Gilby later replaced their lead vocalist as well. As a singer, Gilby garnered quite the fan following with hits like Dance America and Whatever Happened to Fun. Being in the music industry for a little over three decades, the artiste is now playing a lot of live shows. “I still love to strap on my Gibson Les Paul and perform. It is so much more rewarding as compared to making records these days. I still feel inspired to play live shows and preach the gospel
of rock n roll to the kids,” Gilby smiles as he talks his heart out. A Jimi Hendrix poster inspired Gilby to play the guitar and his favourite bands, think Alice Cooper, Kiss and Led Zepplin, only made him more certain of pursuing music as he grew up. Trying to stay relevant while keeping the integrity of his work intact was the biggest challenge for him to reach the place he is at now. Like everyone else, his career too had a lot of ups and downs. But Gilby believes that the way you treat the highs and lows is what makes or breaks you and this belief still keeps him going. With the Rock scene having changed drastically over the last few years a feeling of disappointment seems to be a given for artists like Gilby. “Rock music has become extremely unpopular now-a-days. It is now an underdog, which is quite frustrating. What is even more disturbing is to see some new acts on the television shows or live concerts, where people performing can hardly sing or play an instrument right,” says an exasperated Gilby. As a result of the dip in rock music’s popularity, it has also become harder to earn a living over the last 10 years, he complains. Talking of his abrupt exit from Guns N’ Roses, Gilby says that he likes to relive only the happy memories from back when he was a band member. He recollects the great shows and even better music that the band produced. For him Guns N’ Roses will always be a special band and he will always be proud to have been associated with its legacy. Gilby promises that he has
innumerable fond memories with the band, be it making the music or travelling for concerts. Along the years, apart from his memorable shows with Guns N’ Roses, Gilby’s recent show performances with Robin Zander of Cheap Trick and Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top have become his favourites. For the artiste, the best part about being a musician is the freedom that comes along with it. He loves the fact that he does not have to clock in time or that he does not have a boss. Currently, Matt Sorum, Duff McKagan and Gilby have created a band called Kings of Chaos. The band also features numerous guest singers and guitar players. They have performed with Steven Tyler, Slash, Billy Gibbons, Robin Zander, Joe Elliott and Cory Taylor, among others. Apart from the band the only other thing on Gilby’s ‘to do list’ is the upcoming India tour. When he isn’t playing or composing songs, Gilby is busy building motorcycles. He has a full custom-made motocycle shop of his own and takes immense pride in telling us about his bike making and repairing skills. When: October 9, 9 pm to 11:30 pm Where: Ishanya Mall, Yerawada salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com
RAHUL RAUT
By the children, for the children The Story Station presents ‘The Changing Giant’ a fairytale musical that is a product of co-operative writing between 12 children By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab
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project that started off at an initiative of ‘read to express’ segment at the Story Station, today has taken shape of a wonderful story conceived, created and written by children aged between six to nine years. After 12 weeks of reading, writing, and planning, these kids have explored the genre of fairytales, which is apt for these little dreamers. Each story brought them closer to what goes into
making a fairytale. Week after week, they sat together, read and closely understood how they can develop their story. “The play ‘The Changing Giant’ is a one-of-itskind fairytale. Th is is a musical that is purely by the children and for the children. Even the costumes are designed by the kids,” says Vaishali Kulkarni, founder of Story Station, a new literary centre in Pune. The fairytale is about a giant and his journey with the fairy god. Ten girls and two boys have conceptualised the play where as
the other five kids are extras. “The element of surprise is that there is no princess in the play. Girls generally tend to fancy the princess but here the protagonist is the giant,” she adds. The Story Station has been set up with the intention and passion to make reading stories fun and interesting. Vaishali Kulkarni has been working with a variety of schools, children’s organisations and centres to get both, children and adults interested in reading books. “It started nine years ago, when walking plaza was a hit in
THEY WORK UNDER THREE CATEGORIES
Read for the love of reading – Th is program includes reading to toddlers, book clubs for adults and children, meeting authors and poets, exploring the world of stories and history with their outdoor expeditions and also promotes creating a reading culture at home Read to be Read – They believe in the concept of once a reader, always a reader. Their program works at opening the world of creative writing, food blogging, critiquing, travel writing and various other formats to all participants, of all ages. They also work towards getting literary contributions and creations published on virtual sites and with local publication houses Read to Express - The works of a story are converted into a marvelous presentation of sight and sound. The Read to Express programs works with budding authors and rookie writers to convert their story into a screenplay. The stage performances are one act, drama or even as grand as musicals When: October 3, 5.50 pm Where: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Sanskrutik Bhavan, Ghole road Pune. After seeking permission from the Pune Cantonment board, I began storytelling on MG road for both, children and adults. As a child it was storytelling that got me hooked to reading and I believed that this path may turn kids and uninitiated readers towards the creative world of books and stories,” says Vaishali.
Located in Aundh, The Story Station is a three month old space, warm, cozy and perfect for anyone to crouch in a corner with a book or sit on a bean bag while listening to storytellers animate and bring to life stories. It is also a fun place to team up with friends and solve puzzles and play literary games. zainab.kantawala@oldensparrow.com
TGS LIFE OCTOBER 3, 2015 PUNE
features
Akvarious explores ‘unconventional’ friendship
Mumbai-based theatre group’s production of Vijay Tendulkar’s play ‘A Friends Story’ talks about the denunciation of homosexuality in our society
By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab
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Friends Story’, a play written by playwright Vijay Tendulkar will be staged in the city soon. Set in and around a college campus in Pune in the 1940s, the play is about three
students Bapu who is timid in nature, Mitra who is carefree and Nama who is deceptive by nature. The play is a love triangle that talks about obsession, jealousy, betrayal and search for liberation. It is an understated Greek tragedy based on events that take place in the middle of last century and about a
theme that is still considered a taboo. “There are three main characters in the play. Bapu is romantically inclined towards Mitra, but little does he know that her interest lies in women. It’s a story about her inner struggle with her sexuality,” says Akarsh Khurana, director of the play. The play expanded the horizons of Indian theatre and even today it stands as a revolutionary concept. It candidly discusses homosexuality in a heterosexual society. Tendulkar, through Mitra’s character, shows how our society is cruel towards homosexuals and does not accept them as normal human beings. The playwright has raised an untouched issue through his work. “The play portrays the struggle of Mitra with herself. She suffers psychological insecurity and guilt. Tendulkar was a legend and one of the most respected writers in our country. Through the play, he wanted to put across a message of how intolerant our society can get when it comes to homosexuality,”
says Akarsh. The play advances further with Bapu’s improbable wish of getting to know Mitra oddly comes true. He gets drawn into a game of uncertain sexual politics between her and Nama, the girl she desires. Nama, on the other hand, enjoys the company of both Mitra and her aggressive boyfriend Dalvi. Mitra is fascinated about Bapu and at the same time threatens him. He continues to question the morality of her behavior but gradually he starts getting accustomed to his new unconventional friend. He is forced to reveal her secrets when Pande, Bapu’s roommate, is smitten by her. “Bapu doesn’t understand the concept of loving someone from the same sex yet he stands by her, and supports her. Tendulkar makes a social statement about the stigma attached with homosexuality,” adds Akarsh. The cast of the play includes Abhay Mahajan, Sayalee Phatak, Parna Pethe, Priyanshu Painyuli and Dhruv Kalra. When: October 11, 7 pm Where: Nehru Memorial Hall, Camp zainab.kantawala@oldensparrow.com
your weekly dose of events Stephane Wrembel Gypsy Jazz Quartet
‘Nu-Edge’ at The Beer Cafe
This Saturday, The Beer Cafe brings you ‘Nu-Edge’ a Pune based band with the ongoing Oktobrewfest celebrations. The band consists of Drummer-Kunal Rohit, Bassist- Gabriel Carassco, Lead Guitarist - Swaroop Bhatra, Lead Vocalist/ Guitars- Robie Wood and VocalsFrancis Torne Even though the story of why the band was formed? is not different from others - love and passion for music, the uniqueness about the band is its members belonging from different parts of India. The band is known for their outstanding performances be it rock , reggae or sufi. 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 ‘Nu Edge’. When: October 3 Where: The Beer Café, Koregaon Park
Rolling Stone Magazine has called him ‘’a revelation’’. Woody Allen recruited him to score the theme for the smash film ‘’Midnight in Paris’’, and he performed the irresistibly catchy original song, ‘’Bistro Fada’’, live during the 2012 Academy Awards. He has headlined at Lincoln Center, played major festivals, recorded with mandolin legend David Grisman, toured with master violinist Mark O’Connor and shared stages with everyone from Elvis Costello to Patti Smith to The Roots. The Gitane guitar company has even named a model after him. To say that Stephane Wrembel who
learned his craft among the Gypsies at campsites in the French countryside has already had a remarkable career would be an under-statement. This virtuoso guitarist from France has truly just begun to make his mark as one of the most original guitar voices in contemporary music. When: October 9 Where: Songs From The Wood, BT Kawade Road
Pune. Not much into Music production but Zeeshan has the ability to make the crowd jump higher and higher with his playing of electro, progressive and bigroom house tracks. With the latest and popular numbers, they are going to make sure that you burn up the dance floor. When: October 3 Where: Pumproom, Ishanya Mall, Yerawada
After 8 Bollywood Nights
Fedayi Pacha
It’s the weekly After 8 Bollywood Night at Pumproom. Revving up your love for Bollywood music would be DJ Zeeshan and DJ Monty. An emerging artist from
Always attracted by dub music but also by Oriental sounds, it was natural for Fedayi Pacha to produce music blending his styles. His music is within electronic dub stepper spiced by Eastern flavours. This Frenchman with Arminian roots doesn’t impose any restrictions on himself and his sound. His music is a journey between London and Bagdad via the rest of the world. Fedayi Pacha cooks up dub with a wide range of spices as showcased by the two albums under this moniker released on the labels Bangarang and Hammerbass. He has played more than 200 concerts in Europe. On stage, he recreates his recordings through a mixing board and the sound effects and combines it with samplers, steal horn and melodica. When: October 7 Where: blueFROG, Ishanya Mall, Yerawada
TGS LIFE OCTOBER 3, 2015 PUNE
SHOPPING
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Crop top craze continues
By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab
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howing off your midriff is the most in-things you will see these days, and if you have body to compliment it, it’s even better. They make you look fresh, youthful and stylish alright, but make sure you choose the right fit for your body type. It gives the appropriate blend of exposure at the same time ensures that the look remains subtle yet fashionably chic. From weekend brunch-wear to an elegant evening look, the most popular outfit of the season - crop top is back with a bang. zainab.kantawala@oldensparrow.com
Blue Violet Layered Top This crop top in linear print can be styled with matching print skirt for an on trend sophisticated look. Price: Rs 1,699 Where: AND stores
Leopard Print Meow Crop Top Cotton Silk Printed Crop Length Top Classic meets contemporary with this cotton top. Team it with the same colour palazzo pants and you are good to go. Price: Rs. 2,290 Where: FabIndia
Make a bold statement with this all over leopard print top with the Meow graphic emblazoned across the front. Team it with a pair of rugged jeans and make your girlfriends jealous. Price: Rs 340 Where: Forever 21, Phoenix Marketcity
Katerina Top This multi-coloured bird motif print top can be teamed with maxi skirts, straight-cut pants, palazzos or distressed denim for a fun date. Price: Rs 999 Where: Global Desi stores
Embroidered Top
This classy all embroidered top can be paired with denim or a skirt. It’s perfect for a night out or a formal evening. Price: Rs 4,990 Where: Zara stores
Fawkes Crop Top Presenting a cheerful bird motif printed boxy crop top. Team it with high-waist maxi skirts, straight-cut pants, palazzos or high-waist short to dazzle at a night out you have been waiting for. Price: Rs 1,099 Where: Global Desi stores
Cotton Print Crop Top Look immensely attractive with fashion and comfort in a perfect blending. Wear this chic top with a solid colour skirt or harem to complete the look and accessorise with matching jewellery and flats. Price: Rs 999 Where: Haute Curry Shoppers Stop
Rahul Raut
City
Something that was just a dream has today become reality for this 33-year-old who moved to the city with his family to make ends meet By Salonee Mistry
sites. Satyavan himself got home about Rs 125 every month by working at the food stall. It was because of the hand cart business that e was about 16 when he first tried his hand at a the Jagdale family are now living comfortably. After business venture. After working at a small food working for about six years on the hand cart, Satyastall outside Sambhaji Park for nine years, his van expanded a little by setting up a table outside a uncle finally decided to invest in him and buy him his shop. He would rent the space from the shop owner own little hand cart. A small rented house at Alanat Karve Nagar and set his tiny business in the evekar society, a hand cart to feed his family and hope, nings. When the shop owner wanted to shut shop, was all he had back then. Today, 11 years later, the Satyavan used up all his savings and bought same young boy, Satyavan Jagdale has the shop from him. Slowly and steadily his three huge chaat centres named after his monthly earnings increased and so did his niece, ‘Manisha chaat house’ that earn him savings. From the profit that the shop generhis daily bread. He has also moved with his ated, he was able to pay for the marriage of family to a house he can now call his own. unekar his two sisters and his brother. He also manTwo shops in Karve Nagar and one in Koaged to set up two more shops a few years thrud, Satyavan is sure of a future where later. Now, his father, his brother and he each he can have shops spread across the city. handle one shop. Hailing from a small village in Karnataka, SaSatyavan has been married for 10 years now. He tyavan shifted with his family to Pune 20 years ago has two sons aged six and four. “I am going to ensure in search of a job. Never having gone to school, he that no matter what my children study for a stable learnt the tricks of the trade by observation and selffuture. I do not want them to go through what my study. “Not being financially stable, my parents could family and I went through. Hopefully they will grow not afford to send my brother, my sisters or me to up and either take my business ahead or start their school. We all started doing odd jobs as children to own. Either ways as long as they are successful, I will make ends meet,” he tells us. His father worked as be proud,” says Satyavan. a labourer, his mother did chores in various houses salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com and they sometimes even worked at construction
@Sal0412
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The wedding belle!
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halter neck choli, a long necklace may not look so nice. -Do not leave the house without a picture or a part of the fabric of your clothes. Use this to compare the metals, and the colours of the jewellery that you are planning to buy. You could also pair two types of gold together depending upon your style. If you are opting for a vintage
OCTOBER 3, 2015 PUNE
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Aaj mere paas...
ou shop for your wedding jewellery only once and it has to be perfect. Here are some of expert tips that you must keep in mind as you head out shopping this wedding season. Start the jewellery Jewellery designer selection at least three Aakash Bermacha months before the actual date. Aim to have your entire look ready and set three weeks before the D-day, keeping enough time for any changes you may require. One needs to keep in mind that the neckline of the outfit should match the necklace silhouette. If you have already bought the necklace, buy the dress accordingly or vice versa, because if you buy a high neck or a
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look, you can mix yellow gold and rose gold for a touch of heritage. The pictures will definitely help you make a wise decision. The jewellery could be co-ordinated with the colours of the outfit especially if it is being worn in coloured precious and semi precious stones. -Keep your personal appearance in mind while buying jewellery. Just because
features Name: Manasi Scott, actor, singer, songwriter Three words to describe me: Dreamer, loyalist, believer I love my job because: I do what I love Best advice I’ve received: Read actually.. Robert Downey Jr’s quote “Listen. Smile. Agree. And then do whatever the f? & you were gonna do anyway.” When buying something, the first thing that catches my eye is: Standout-ability What’s your inner animal? Dragon. Dragons are fire made flesh The first thing you notice about an attractive person: The eyes The perfect start to a day is: Prayer Your current four-wheeler: Always was and always will be an SUV - Ford Endeavour Your fitness regimen: Pilates Your food indulgence: I am food’s indulgence. If there’s food I indulge!!! I am a vegetarian though Books by your bedside: Wilbur Smith’s Desert God and John Grisham’s The Racketeer The first site you visit when you fire up your comp: iTunes Your favourite city: New York Ideal holiday: Road tripping to anywhere. Himalayas and back, through wine countries or Australia. Anytime
a particular style looks good on a model or on your friend, does not mean that it will suit you. Different skin tones lend themselves to either gold or silver jewellery and if you’re not sure then ask for some advice. The same rule applies if opting for a coloured stone, depending if you have a fair complexion or olive skin for example, find out which colours suit you best and stick to them. While picking your earrings, keep your hairstyle in mind. If you are going to wear your hair down, pick longer earrings. For a bun, choose medium length earrings which will look elegant, but will still not overpower your face. -The engagement ring is the most important part of your bridal jewellery, as it will remain on your ring finger forever. So when you pick these out stick to a simple mantra - pick something that you know you love and would like to wear every single day. Be it a solitaire diamond, a band or a design filled with baguettes and diamonds. (As told to Heena Grover Menon)
OCTOBER 3, 2015 PUNE
BUZZ Leonardo Dicaprio to receive SAG honour
H
ollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio will receive the Screen Actors Guild's Actors Inspiration Award in recognition of his fi lm accomplishments and charity work. The 40-year-old Wolf of Wall Street star will be handed the coveted accolade at the SAG Foundation's 30th Anniversary Celebration at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills on November 5. He will be recognised for his onscreen achievements, including eight SAG nominations and five Oscar nominations and his charity work through the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, which was founded in 1998 and has donated over $30 million toward environmental causes. "To commemorate our landmark anniversary, we're excited to honour Leonardo DiCaprio's outstanding achievements with our Actors Inspiration Award," said SAG Foundation President JoBeth Williams. "With beloved and acclaimed fi lms as diverse as 'Titanic' to 'The Wolf of Wall Street' to his latest fi lm 'The Revenant', Leonardo's career is a gold standard example to his craft. Also, his work with LDF demonstrates his commitment to conservation and protection of our environment." The actor is "honoured" to be receiving the award and is "proud" to be associated with the organisation.
Good roles being written for heroines: Lara Dutta
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ara Dutta thinks it is good to see challenging and exciting roles being offered to actresses. "I think it is far better today than in the past. I never went to producers saying I am back and ready to do work. I feel you are in a time when good female roles are (being) written. It is a blessing to have those roles being offered," Lara told PTI. The 37-year-old actress reveals her upcoming fi lm Singh is Bliing happened because her actor friend Akshay Kumar wanted her to be part of the fi lm. So was the case with Fitoor, where director Abhishek Kapoor was keen on having Lara on board for the fi lm. Singh is Bliing happened because Akshay Kumar called me up for a role. Gattu (director Abhishek Kapoor) is an old friend and he approached me saying there is a role for me in Fitoor. It was ten days of work and I agreed to do it. 'Azhar' happened out of the blue," she said. Asked about her roles in her upcoming fi lms, Lara said, "In 'Singh is Bliing', the role of Emli is not the leading lady but it is one character that audience will not forget. The role in Azhar is powerful and impactful." The former Miss Universe is glad that actresses are ruling the roost. "I think that the myth of actresses being pitted against each other is broken. There are so many girls today ruling the roost, like Deepika Padukone, Kangana Ranaut, etc... (they) are all glamorous, but they are selling out fi lms to packed
houses based on their talent," she said. Lara will be seen in fi lms after a long time in Akshay starrer Singh Is Bliing and she doesn't have any issues with the word "comeback". "The word 'comeback' was coined sometime back and people think it is cool to say it. I don't care... You can say whatever you want to. That makes no difference," she said. The Chalo Delhi actress has acted in several fi lms but comedy is a genre in which she is most comfortable. "I enjoy doing comedy, that is my forte. The major part of the success in my career is due to comedy fi lms. There is a reason why Akshay called me and offered me a fi lm like Singh is Bliing," she added.
Shruti reaches 3 million followers on Twitter
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elcome Back" actress Shruti Haasan has reached the three million follower mark on the micro-blogging site Twitter. The 29-year-old actress thanked her fans on her Twitter account. "Thank you for my 3 million!!! I love you all to bits and pieces!!! Here's to more love and laughter," she tweeted. Shruti, who had two Bollywood hits this year with Gabbar is Back and Welcome Back , will be next seen in Tamil fantasy-adventure fi lm Puli co-starring Vijay and veteran actress Sridevi. Puli hits theatres Thursday.
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