TGS Life 30/04/2016

PUNE, APRIL 30, 2016

www.thegoldensparrow.com

Boardroom fashion PICS BY RAHUL RAUT

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Meet the true DAREDEVILS You wouldn’t recognise them offhand but these guys have grabbed attention in countless screen appearances. Their exhilarating stunts are nothing short of magic

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TGS LIFE

APRIL 30, 2016 PUNE TEJAS GAIKWAD

FEATURES

HAVE YOU HEARD THESE GUYS YET?

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

T

he music scene in Pune has always been upbeat and everchanging. New bands are formed almost everyday and each of them are different from the previous one and the next.

While some are formed by young musicians, just out of college, others get together for a creative release post their hectic schedules.

No matter what the reason, all these bands are good at what they do and, for many of them, it has been one of the best decisions they made. TGS brings to you the stories behind four upcoming, citybased bands and the inspirations to the music they create.

PUNE WAGON FACTORY Their music is intense but not too heavy since they prefer to play around with slow and distorted sounds. The band was formed when Oghma, who plays the bass and does the vocals for the band, was looking to lead a band to perform and record his music. The rest of them namely, Nikolai Shariff who plays the guitar and supports with the vocals, Mark Raj, who also plays the guitar and does the vocals, and Siddhi Shah who plays the drums, were all looking for commercial or side projects and the band Pune Wagon Factory was formed earlier this year. They are one of the very few postgrunge bands that the city has. Not only are their musical influences and backgrounds different, their professions range from being a graphic designer to professional trainer and full-time musicians.

“Jams always tend to feel like work for us. Since we don’t get a lot of sessions due to scheduling issues, we try to get the maximum out of each jam,” says Akshay Vaidya, the manager of the band. The lyrics that the band plays are usually about the individual struggle and causes that they feel for. Even though they are quite literally inspired by all of rock music, their biggest influence is Audioslave, followed by post-grunge in general. Collaboration is definitely a part of the bands’ future plans with grunge, post-grunge, punk or alt-rock bands.

THE JUNE TOM INFLUENCE It’s all about entertainment for the five piece band that mixes in their music everything from Folk, Pop, Rock, Jazz, Blues, and even Country. This is why they are also very often called the Coalescence band right from when they were founded early this year. Being musicians in the same city, they kept bumping into each other and eventually become good friends.

Funny in his own quirky way Aaron D’souza, the manager of the band, tells us the inspiration for their music lies in modern life experiences. “The one thing that we do best is up-tempo and original music. We try to make the most out of a five minute song by adding diversity, originality and connecting with our audience irrespective of their age,” he adds. While all of them hail from various professions it is their love for music and an unmatched

tuning between them that keeps them together. Fun would be an understatement to describe their jamming sessions.

The founder of the band Rishi Talwar, who is the lead vocalist and the rhythm guitarist, has been playing professionally since 1999.

Also a part of numerous other bands from commercial pop to hard rock, he loves composing and exploring new genres and, as a result, this is well-reflected in the music of the band too. Other members of the band are, Arjun Shrivatsan, on keyboards and backs Rishi on vocals, Neil Fernandes the bass guitarist, Savio Passanah, the lead guitarist and drummer Kurmaya Siddhartha.

THE COLLECTIVE Influenced by Pop, Funk, Rock,Disco and Blues, there is no specific genre that the band follows. Formed by Gautam Deb, who plays the drums, about two years ago,their first gig was a tribute to John Mayer and there has been no looking back ever since.

Explaining how their gigs work, Gautam says, “We change our line-up for every gig although we have a few permanent members. This ensures that every gig is new and more exciting than the previous one. Our set is usually live and spontaneous. The band members are generally seasoned musicians.” The members share a great chemistry on and off stage and this reflects in their performance.

Absolutely loving what they do, they are all full-time musicians and play in different bands. Their inspiration comes from their love for music and life. Getting on stage is a high that they can’t evade and don’t ever want to. “Our roles keep changing everyday when we jam. Everyone is a prankster and the taskmaster at the same

CIRCLE Playing together for the last four years as part of the Ajaladhwani, a more expansive lineup, Amar Kulkarni and SaiPrasad Shankar formed Circle a few months ago to fulfil their love for playing live. “The band name stuck with us because of our belief that everything goes about in circles. There’s enough to say from what we witness everyday, but there’s more to speak about the things we don’t witness, but wonder about,” Amar shares with us. The music they play is typically influenced by classic rock, alternative rock and blues and try to depict a song in its rawest possible form. They have started with acoustic covers and interpretations of popular songs, but soon they want to get to a point where they can play a near all-original set.

Outside of being a musician, Amar has spent 15 years shaping a career in the world of CADCAM dealing with the manufacturing segment of Automotives and Aerospace, while SaiPrasad is a software developer and has been working in the Telecom Domain for over two years now. A beautiful part of being in a two-piece acoustic set is the intimacy with the audience, believes SaiPrasad. He says, “The venues are smaller but the audience is more involved and interactive. It is challenging to hold an audience like this, but also fun.” Still trying to find their signature sounds being only two of them everything from the sound checks to arranging the rehearsal time is all quicker, they joke. Competitions are not on their mind at all and all they want to do, for now, is play live and do bigger gigs each time.

time,” says Gautam. All the musicians come from different backgrounds and so bring a different flavour to the music. The permanent band members include Keshav Iyengar, who has classical influences and plays the bass, Chris Fonceca who has 25-plus years of experience playing the guitar, Mahesh Pinikar (Max), who is the vocalist and Savio Sebastian, who plays the guitar, Leo Matthew on the keyboard and Priyaprasad Satpathy on the vocals. The band has done some massive pub, college and corporate gigs, with a turnout of more than 1,000 people sometimes and music competitions are currently not on their mind. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

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TGS LIFE

Watch out for the new bombshell on the block

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

T

he young actress is all set to sizzle on the big screen with her debut film, One Night Stand, which also features Sunny Leone and Tanuj Virwani. As Simran, Nyra Banerjee plays Tanuj’s wife and is quite confident about her part in the movie.

“I’m playing one of the two female leads in the film and my role is a woman of substance. Simran is modern and sober person, she is independent as well as completely dedicated to her marriage. She is the kind of person who can do anything to keep her relationship alive,” says Nyra.

Directed by Jasmine D’Souza, the film will focus on the repercussions that one night stands can have on people and their lives.

Being based on a bold concept, the movie will have some risqué scenes too. “Yes it’s based on a controversial subject, one night stands do exist in our society, but it’s not talked about publicly. The film looks at the perspective of both these women and it’s more like a conflict between their own self,” Nyra adds.

She considers herself lucky to have got the opportunity to work with Sunny Leone. While shooting an intense scene, Nyra hurt her neck yet she was adamant about getting it right. She remembers how Sunny came to her rescue then. “She is cooperative and a very down-toearth person. She had no qualms about working with a new comer. She even rehearsed the scene with me and made me understand the body movements that would make the scene work without hurting my neck any further,” she says.

Nyra got into modelling when she was in college and has walked the ramp for a number of designers. Her passion for dance and singing has kept the ball rolling. In fact, she will make her singing debut too.

“In the film, I really like the song Ki Kara and I wished that I had sung the song. Henceforth, I would like to sing songs for my films,” she smiles.

‘There was a time when I’d decided to quit acting’

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

I

t’s been a journey of ups and downs for Pune-based actor Akshay Waghmare before he found a steady footing in the industry. With quite a few movies lined up in 2016, he is one busy man but he is also extremely humble and down to earth. To be seen on the big screen in the film Youth, which is set to release on May 20, he tells TGS of his struggle to achieve everything that he has today, his next projects and why he chose acting as a career.

Seen in films like Houde Zarasa Ushir, Strugglers and Mumbai Pune Mumbai 2, his journey as an actor started when he joined a theatre group in his college. Although, for a long time, he did not bag a role in any play he was part of the backstage crew and loved handling the costumes. At the same time, he was intrigued by acting and eventually decided to get into modelling. He took part in almost every pageant that was held in the city and even won quite a few of them. “It took about 10 years for me to f ind my feet in the industry. For six years, I was

jobless and did several odd jobs to pay the bills. There was a time when I had decided to quit acting and f ind another career,” the 28-year-old actor tells us.

That’s when his father told him that he belonged to Dada Kondke’s lineage and this became reason enough for him to f ight harder, he adds.

Things f inally started shaping up and he started getting work in Marathi f ilms. Although his dreams were big, this was just the start and he wasn’t ready to give up yet. Youth will be Akshay’s f irst f ilm in the lead role and he could not contain his excitement when he told us about the f ilm. The story revolves around six youngsters and their need to bring about a change in the world. He is also currently shooting for Bus-Stop where he plays the lead opposite Amruta Khanvilkar and has a few other f ilms up his sleeve.

He will also begin shooting for an episode in the new show Man Mein Hai Vishwas, which will be aired on LifeOK. “There are currently a lot of exciting roles coming my way and I am on cloud nine. I would absolutely love to work with the new entrants and, someday, play the role of a gangster,”

he says with a big grin on his face.

While growing up there were only two things that he wanted to become, one was a gangster and the other was to join the National Defence Academy, he shares. Action and romantic f ilms are something he can never say no to, while he admits that he would also like to try his hand at other genres.

There is a lot that the young boy has achieved very early on in his career and he has no one but his own dedication and hard-work to thank.

For him, acting is about developing as a person and learning something new every day. He believes that everyone inspires you in one way or the other and that one must grasp as much as they can through observation. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

APRIL 30, 2016 PUNE

ENTERTAINMENT

She’s a looker, and she knows it

By Rashmeet Taluja @rashmeet_taluja

P

etite, confident and photogenic, this 20-year-old is by all means a head turner.

City-based model and Miss India 2015 finalist Meghna Mittal knows how to balance work, play and ambition.

She’s studying fashion communication at MIT Design School and is known to be hard working. Scaling her way to fame, she recently acted in a series of Vodafone commercials that were shot in Kuala Lumpur.

“The first commercial is going to air in a week and the others should be on-air by June,” she smiles.

Passionate about theatre, trained in stage-acting since a young age by her theatre artist-playwright father Arvind Mittal, Meghna feels that being on stage is liberating. “I enjoy the creative freedom of the stage. I am the most comfortable in the spotlight.” She has acted in plays like Tax Free, Fiddler on the roof, The Spangled Girl in theatre spaces across cities like Hyderabad, Vizag, Goa and Pune.

When she is not studying or busy with her modelling assignments, she enjoys long strolls with her furry friend Scotch, a golden retriever. Meghna is a staunch supporter of animal rights. “Dogs are the ultimate epitome of love and are symbolic of all the good things in life,” she says.

When quizzed about her diet and fitness regime, she says, “I make sure I eat small meals every two hours, drink lots of fluids, especially during the summer months one needs to stay hydrated. I don’t stop myself from eating any kinds of food. I eat everything in moderation. I go to the gym every single day of the week. I am a fitness freak like that. I don’t cheat on my work out ever.”

Meghna won the final swimming round at the 2015 Femina Miss India pageant, bagging the title Miss Water Baby. An athlete since her younger days which were spent at her boarding school nestled in the hills “While I was in school, at Panchgani, we use to play a lot of basketball and badminton, so I am good at sports and I think it is a great stress buster,” she adds.

How does she manage to look so gorgeous and pose beautifully for her photo shoots? Meghna insists, “My mom makes sure I eat healthy and clean food, which perhaps reflects on my skin. Plus, she is an incredibly beautiful woman. These are all her genes,” she giggles.

As for the future, Meghna intends to stay in the limelight for a while longer. “I plan to work in the fashion industry and continue taking acting projects on the side.”

When asked if she has a role model she quips, “Not really, I want to carve out my own path and just be myself.

Though my dad is my source of inspiration, he always goes after things he believes in and I’ve learned to be fearless. I am a staunch believer in virtue, hard work and the creative medium for self-expression, all thanks to him.” mail.rashmeet@gmail.com

TGS LIFE

APRIL 30, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

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A party to let you work out

Let your hair down and put on your dancing… err spinning shoes as the city gets set for its first indoor cycling marathon party

By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM

C

ome Friday night, when the lights go low and music gets loud, head to Bombay High for a unique, indoor cycling marathon party. Here, you can hire a bike to spin to the groovy music. Bringing the culture for the first time to India, Mahendra Lokare, who owns the fitness centre Lyfe Indoor Cycling, is organizing this one-of-a-kind party where cycling enthusiasts can come together for a threehour marathon party.

The idea is to let people test their endurance in a party setting. “This is a unique event wherein we will turn up the music and set the dance floor on fire with our world-class indoor cycling gear.

All you have to do is to show your stamina and you could walk away with prizes,” says Mahendra, who is an internationally certified indoor cycling instructor and a fitness buff himself.

He is part of a group of fitness enthusiasts and provides indoor cycling, running, outdoor cycling, football and trekking services to people.

Mahendra and his partner Amit Jadhav are also associated with some of the leading gyms in the city. Since such activities are already quite popular in the US, they thought of turning it into a party so more people could join the fun.

The event is open to in the 18 and above age group. The total duration of cycling will last three hours and ride charges will be according to the hours you want to spend at the marathon, starting at Rs 1,000, stretching to Rs 3,000. All you have to do is buy a pass and enrol in advance, choose your indoor cycle and the time slot. “We have already received about 200 entries for the party and are expecting many more. Many of the city’s cycling marathoners and those who are preparing for the Iron Man Triathlon will take part in the event and we will be giving them special guidance and expertise,” adds Mahendra.

So if you are a big party animal and a bigger fitness freak, register for this party and start spinning!

When: May 13, 7 pm to 11 pm Where: Bombay High, Orchid Hotel, near Balewadi stadium

An artistic journey

Pune artist Hoshnar Kaikobad invites everyone to join him aboard a voyage through a myriad hues with his upcoming, travel-based art exhibition

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

R

emember the scene from the movie Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na where Amit’s room is filled with paintings showing his out-offocus nature? Well, those paintings were made by Pune-based artist Hoshnar Kaikobad. Ever since, there has been no looking back. Hoshnar is now busy with his upcoming exhibition, The Journey Continues, which captures various landscapes across the country.

Having explored a few parts of India has helped him depict the culture and scenic beauty of these places, whether they are in and around Maharashtra, serene beaches in the southern peninsula, the picturesque scenes of Ladakh, or the mystical beauty of north-east India.

Hoshnar has worked with different mediums such as oils, acrylics and charcoal. “Being an artist, I like to become one with nature and give a vision to my perspective. I am passionate about travelling and painting, so I thought of combining

WALLS DON’T STOP THEM Indoor cycling parties are a craze in the US. These parties include private spinning sessions for a group of friends with a private instructor and customised music especially created for the birthday girl/boy or the bride/groom. Not just that, there are specially created healthy buffets where one can choose from a variety of tasty, health drinks, gourmet sandwiches, wines and even healthy cakes.

both my interests,” he adds.

He does live sketching on the spot that appeals to him the most, and fills in the colour after the trip in his studio. His paintings portray the lush green fields of Turtuk, water passes of Ladakh and the sunrise at the river ghats with utmost perfection and detailing. “I like to absorb the beauty and capture the magical moods of people living there in my paintings.

Many other travellers choose to just click pictures of these beautiful places, but I use my charcoal pen to create memoirs,” he adds.

Born and brought up in Pune, Hoshnar has always had a natural talent for painting. He is a freelance artist and an active member of the Society of Indian Marine Artists.

“I had made up my mind to take up art quite early in life. It was during my five year stint at Abhinav Kala Mahavidyalaya that I discovered what medium appealed to me the most,” he says.

When: Till May 8 Where: Gyaan Adab, Kalyani Nagar zainab.kantawala @goldensparrow.com

Mahendra Lokare

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TGS LIFE

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

APRIL 30, 2016 PUNE

I

t began back in 2010, when Ronit Dalvi was travelling through Port Blair that the feeling of being away from his comfort zone as well as the corporate world made him feel quite content. This gave birth to a whole new personality, he thinks. From one that was stuck in his corporate job, he became someone who not only loved being a wanderer but starting using his sojourns as a way to learn about so many things. By simply observing things around him, the landscape, beaches, sunrises or sunsets, he returned from his trips, with the thought of travelling some more the next time.

LETTING GO OFF A HEAV Y PAY CHEQUE Adventure, happiness, and learning are three things that keep Ronit going.

With a full time job, the trips would be limited to the leaves in your kitty, he explains. With just 21 days of privilege leave in his kitty, he would never get a chance to take the longer trips that he wanted to and this became one of the driving forces for him to quit his job and travel more, live basic and acquire rich experiences. “The decision was not easy because quitting my job made me vulnerable. I struggled in the beginning as well but I don’t regret my decision at all. In fact, I was very happy because all my journeys have rewarded me in so many ways, whereas in the corporate job my only reward was my salary,” he explains. Ronit has till date travelled to Port Blair, Manali, Gokak, Gokarna, Mangalore, Hampi and some parts of Hyderabad. United States, Nepal, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos are among the countries he has visited. Vietnam is next on his list.

Ronit was born in Srinagar and his parents’ army jobs ensured he travelled most of north India even as he was in school. The family moved to Pune after his father sought voluntary retirement. Currently, Ronit works as a freelance photographer to make enough money to fund his trips.

FEEDING THE ADVENTURE JUNKIE If there is one trip which was full of adventure, adrenaline and jaw dropping experiences, it had to be Nepal. He spent three months travelling through the country and went to Kathmandu, Pokhra, Chitwan and Lumbini. Not only were the people amazing, the landscapes too were extremely mesmerizing, Ronit tells us. Bungee jumping from 160 meters was an unforgettable experience and so was swimming in a crocodile territory at Chitwan National Park. Spotting a rhinoceros just 15 meters away was scary but the rush, he tells us, was inexplicable.

Trekking in the Himalayas through the Annapurna Base Camp Trek, which is at 4130 meters, and the Thorungla Pass Trek, at 5416 meters, Ronit never thought fatigue, sweat and tears would bring along such a great feeling. The experience has gotten him thinking about climbing

FEATURES

A wanderer’s travelogue A certified scuba diver, an adventure junkie, a tiger handler and an ink collector, these and many other aspects help describe this youngster who breathes to travel the world the Everest Base Camp. Of the 14 tattoos that Ronit sports, four are Sak Yant, which is a form of tatoo that originated in South-East Asia. They have been done by monks in Thailand, using the traditional method.

“The decision to quit my job made me vulnerable.

I struggled in the beginning as well but I don’t regret my decision at all” Last year, a travel reality show, MTV HETicket, featured VJs travelling with contestants to different part of India and living through bizarre experiences. Ronit was one of the contestants in the show and was paired with Rannvijay Singh. Not only did he win the episode, he also got a chance to take surfing and wake boarding lessons. When in Gokak, Belgaum, he took off-roading lessons too. “Once you start doing something,

it’s difficult to stop. My wish list includes becoming a dive master, learning to sky dive, work with lions, snowboard and set foot on the Mount Everest Summit, one day,” he says.

LIVING WITH TIGERS Storm, Fire, Titan, Duan, Sky, Rain, IO, Narvi, Typhoon, Tornado, Jampee, Dawie JR and Thunder are some of the friends Ronit got along with on his trip to Thailand. They aren’t however, a

bunch of people. They are untamed and ferocious tigers. After he got to know about the volunteering opportunity at Tiger Temple, Kanchanaburi, he knew that it was an opportunity that he just couldn’t let go. “I knew it would be an entirely new experience and a great way to learn more about my favourite animal, monks and Buddhism. I applied online, keeping my fingers crossed and I was fortunate enough to get through after six months,” he

tells us. Although he has always been an adrenaline junkie, the experience with the tigers rendered him speechless. Trying to put his experience from his Thailand trip into words, Ronit says, “These wonderful creatures will surprise you in so many ways. I have given nine months to this place over the past two years. I have seen tigers grow, I’ve been bitten as well as earned two scars, which I call souvenirs.”

The volunteer program kept Ronit busy for most of the day, starting at 7 am and ending at 4 pm.

The job included walking the cubs, cleaning the leftover chicken bones, and tiger poop. The cage and chick jobs involved deboning chicken for the cubs and hand feeding them.

On most afternoons, Ronit would be busy ensuring guests’ safety, selling tickets for the voluntary programs and helping guests interact with the waterfall cub.

Tiger temples do not charge any money for the volunteer program.

They provide basic food and accommodation and you are required to stay on the premise for a minimum of one month. Alcohol and sex is forbidden on temple grounds and you are required to meditate with the monks in the evening. It’s a great way to show respect to the monks, to get free food and an accommodation, a beautiful experience and a few tiger bites, Ronit jokes. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

TGS LIFE

APRIL 30, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

A CHAAT AFFAIR

Yearning for some spicy goodies? Then don’t think twice before heading out to these joints and fill up on some of the amazing stuff

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

MODAK CHAAT VISHRI SNACKS CENTRE Everybody loves the sweet and delicious modak. But how about giving the very Puneri modak a twist? Stuffing the rice dumpling with stir fried vegetables like carrot, onion, capsicum in mild spices, this chaat is a must try for all. It is then topped with curd, spicy tamarind and pudina water.

The owner of the stall, Pankaj Gomase, has incorporated the goodness of Ayurveda in his preparations. “During one Ganesh Utsav, I thought of experimenting with modak. I tried out various ingredients, and it took me almost two years to settle with this one,” he says.

Where: Rasta Peth, near Laxmi Sughandhalay, behind KEM Hospital

T

hese new innovations in street food are sure to get you all excited. Whether you are an ardent fan of street food or just feel like trying out something new, these places are sure to leave you asking for more.

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

R ATNAGIRI MH-08 SNACKS AND MISAL HOUSE If you have been to Ratnagiri you might have heard of a ragda cone, but for Punekars it sure is a new concept. Here, the crispy cone that looks just like a regular ice cream cone is stuffed with ragda and garnished with tamarind and pudina chutney. A sprinkle of sev and fresh coriander complete the creation. If you are a fan of chaat then you won’t be able to resist this creation. The snack is popular at the Thiba Point in Ratnagiri and owner Sagar Dalvi is the first to bring the chatpata cone to Pune. “My relative owns an eatery there which serves ragda cone. So I took the idea and modified it a bit,” he says. The cone is made and served fresh to make sure it does not turn soggy very quickly. The place is homely and the service is quick too. It is a perfect hangout zone for friends.

Where: Girijashankar Vihar, near Sharda Niketan Girls Hostel, Karve Nagar

Try some twisted ice cream VISHAL KALE

W

hether you like the seasonal mango, fresh berry or chocolate and vanilla, Saurabh Dadarkar is the man to meet.

Preparing customised ice creams, the creamiest possible scoop is guaranteed. Fresh and organic products, absence of preservatives and a smiling face serving you is everything one needs to make the experience memorable. While studying in Florida, it was a short dessert course that got him curious about the actual scientific process of making food and when he came back to India, he decided to start his own food truck. Set up about four years ago, Indiano Grill, located on Sinhagad Road, is Saurabh’s baby. Not only does he serve the best grilled food in town, but it also offers misal cooked on wood-fire for breakfast and mouth-watering ice cream prepared with the help of nitrogen.

Of course, when the 28-yearold dreams of the future, he sees a bigger street café, an ice cream shop and a gourmet chain. “My love for cooking, like so many others, comes from my mother. I learned so many things from just observing her. The aromas speak to me and just walking

RAGDA CONE

Saurabh Dadarkar working on his popular mango icecream

around the kitchen is sheer joy,” he says. Donning the chef’s hat has been on his mind since he was 16 and he could not be happier now that he has achieved it.

Customisations are a common thing at The Creamy Craft. With 28 pre-designed flavours on the menu,

one can ask to mix two flavours of your choice and create a completely new one too. Doing this himself, Saurabh goes through a lot of trial and error before deciding to put up a new flavour on the menu. There are a few things that this young artisan does that sets him a apart from others.

He is one of the very few ice cream makers in the city who uses nitrogen in the process. The quick freeze process ensures that no build-up of ice crystals can be found in the ice cream and the texture is smooth. It is also instant and can be prepared in just a

TEJAS GAIKWAD

GILAWADA AND KACHORI MANGURA MH27 ASSAL AMR AVATI If you are craving oil-free chaat and snacks, then this is the place for you. Famous for Sambharwadi, Gilawada, Kanjiwada and Kachori Mangura, this place dishes out the most unique snacks. Gilawada, made from udad dal and Kachori Mangura, is served with a moong dal wada. This one-of-its-kind chaat is topped with tamarind and pudina chutney, and the curd topping is perfect to add the twist in the ingredients.

The Sambharwadi on their menu has nothing to do with sambhar, it’s a crispy preparation with a mixture of coriander, peanuts and spices. This is served with thecha and curd.

“We wanted to give Punekars a taste of Amravati. Every dish that we serve is unique, and no other place in the city serves them,” says Nayan Kudale. What’s more in demand here is their Aloo Bonda Rassa. This lip-smacking dish come with aloo wadi and curry on the side. If you feel like having something yummy, this is the place to be.

Where: AJ Enclave Building, Rajaram Bridge, Karve Nagar

few minutes. The fact that it is prepared in front of you allows for you to customise it, by making it less sweet or add extra sauces and toppings.

Until now, he has been getting a lot of orders for parties and gatherings. Sometimes he delivers freshly prepared ice cream and sometimes makes it on the venue himself. Even at Indiano Grill, every corner of the restaurant is an outcome of his hard work and attention to detail. “Cooking is an art. You do it well, you get the deserved appreciation. This is why I like to do everything on my own right from building the food truck and the wood-fired oven, to picking the ingredients and preparing the food,” he tells us. He does, however, have a team of about five people who work with him.

Rose and watermelon or banana and anjeer, malai with chiku or mango with chocolate, you can pick whatever you like and treat your palette to a party of flavours like never before.

Every spoonful simply melts in your mouth and leaves you wanting more. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

TGS LIFE

APRIL 30, 2016 PUNE

INDULGE

Opening its doors to Puneites this Saturday, BAR BAR claims to be the country’s first wholesale bar. A quick check later, we can safely say it might work just right for the city

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

I

t’s chic, it’s trendy and, most importantly, it is your pocket-friendly neighbourhood bar. Drinking out often includes the added worry of high bills and when in big groups the drawback of paying for what you haven’t had often makes you not want to go. But don’t worry.

At BAR BAR, you can drink all you want and absolutely not be burned by the bill. Every hour here is a happy hour and every customer a happy drinker. Welcomed by the smiling staff, we bring to you the first look of the place. Psst… add it to your must-visit list.

With minimal and soothing interiors, the 90-seater gastropub located in Phoenix Marketcity is divided into two areas: a large al fresco section that comprises of the outdoor seating,

and an inside seating with an urban feel to it, a bustling bar display with seating for those who enjoy being in the midst of the action and five large tables. Serving drinks at Maximum Wholesale Price, you can get your drinks for as low as Rs 99, provided you order in bulk.

Neatly divided in sections, you will be spoilt for choice as you no longer have to drink what your friends are drinking just to get it cheaper and this allows you to experiment with your drinks too.

The thought with the food is to bring in the street and carnival flavours, take a trip round the world, yet present comfort food. Largely divided into six sections, there are toasties which is the popular Mumbai sandwich preparation style with fillings inspired by cuisines from around the world. There are shrimp popcorns served in tubs with spicy mayo – a must try. There are also the equally tempting wraps with generous fillings.

There is a section completely dedicated to the eggs and potatoes and another one for the main course, titled Tiffins. This actually brings you the tiffin to the table and is inspired by Mumbai’s dabbawalas. With reasonable portions that are filling, every mouthful is an experience itself and

PICS BYTEJAS GAIKWAD

Finally, it’s time to drink more, pay less

every dish a treat for the eyes. The menu quite literary takes street food to a whole new level.

Since every hour at BAR BAR is a Happy Hour, you can create your own deal whenever you want. The menu includes classic spirits available across all categories, measured to perfection and served to you in the beakers itself, so as to ensure that you know exactly how much you drink.

Their signature cocktails include the Hawaiian, Italian Mule and Mexican Mary, to name a few.

Giving a trendy twist to something extremely simple, be it the food, the drinks or the interiors, the place is a fresh and welcome change. BAR BAR is open on weekdays from 3 pm to midnight and from noon to midnight on weekends. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

YOUR CHOW AROUND TOWN From The Streets of South India

Enjoy soothing summer coolers

Experience the road side eateries in true ethnic style at ‘Streat Food Fiesta’which will give you enough reasons to make you go back in time and relive those moment which made you smile even after a long day at schools/colleges. The Live interactive counters serving hot steaming Iddiyappams, Paddus, Kothu Paratha, Fried Bajjis, dosas, appams and the live tossed peanut add to the feast and the roadside Malai Kulfi falooda served is completely juxtaposed to the occasion and make the child inside you freak out.

When: April 30 Where: South Indies, Ganeshkind Road, Shivaji Nagar

As the scorching sun beats down, enjoy our thirst quenchers completely made of fresh ingredients at pocket friendly prices. So leave those colas and sodas and refresh yourself with our awesome summer coolers When: Ongoing till the May 29 Where:MoMo 2 Go, Courtyard by Marriott, Bund Garden Road

A Bihari affair It is said that the Bihari thaali changes with every season. Bihari cuisine uses both vegetable and mustard oil and jeera, panchphoran and mangrael (kalaunji) are the main spices. One of the most remarkable thing about this cuisine

is ‘smoked food’. It uses smoked red chilli to infuse a strong aroma in food, but ensures that the food is not too spicy. So, come and enjoy this delicious cuisine this Sunday.

When: May 1, 7 pm onwards Where: The Secret Chulha Pop-Ups, Prem’s, Koregaon Park

Keep calm and eat Aam The season of the king of fruits is here and Hyatt Pune Kalyani Nagar gives you every reason to indulge in it with a delightful range of mangolicious food items all through this month.

Mangoes, the national fruit of India, are of a huge nutritive value as they contain essential vitamins and minerals.

When:April 30, 11 am to 8 pm Where: Hyatt Pune Kalyani Nagar

Meet the DAREDE

TGS LIFE APRIL 30, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES “Although the actor takes away all the credit onscreen, but in reality, we have been praised as actual heroes”

You wouldn’t recognise them offhand but these guys hav screen appearances. Their exhilarating stunts ar

Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

B

- TEJAS KADAM

“Around two years ago, I was performing a no-handle stunt when I fell and broke my ankle.

After that, I have been extra careful” - RISHIKESH MANDKE

ollywood heroes can apparently zoom down a building on a bike, easily jump off one skyscraper to reach another, and defying all laws of physics, fly a moped to chase the villain so as to eventually beat him to death.

Without a doubt, our protagonists possess magical strengths and we also applaud them for their death-defying stunts. In our appreciation, however, we fail to recognise the work of the stunt double, who pulls off every feat confidently, and without whom action-packed movies wouldn’t see the light of day. Pune is home to several unsung heroes who have played an important role in bringing our favourite movies, television shows and advertisements to life.

The profession isn’t similar to a sport like cricket, or a talent that might get them jobs with handsome salaries, then what is it that drives these young stuntmen to go on? “When I was a child, speed excited me the most. I would watch my friends trying out tricks on bicycles and then I joined them in inventing some more tricks.

Slowly, I imitated all the stunts that bikers did and trust me, my joy knew no bounds after I practiced and mastered them,” says Tejas Kadam, a citybased biker who is known as TJ in the stunting community. His first movie as stunt double was Gunday, where he performed stunts on Yamaha Rx100 in the song Jashn-e-Ishq. After that, he worked for a Marathi movie, Bikers Adda, where he was a stunt double for actor Santosh Juekar.

Besides, he has also been featured in many daily soaps and TV commercials.

When biker Rishikesh Mandke started out, there was no stunt community to support him.

He was on his own, learning tricks with the help of YouTube and his friends. He worked as an office boy at a builder’s office but was always more inclined towards bikes. “I would take leave from work so that I could practice.

My boss wanted me to decide on one thing and I chose the bike. What drives me towards this profession is my love for bikes, it has never been about money, it was always about mastering the craft,” he adds. He has played a stunt double for Neil Nitin Mukesh in Lafangey Parindey, Rajeev Khandelwal in Peter Gaya Kaam Se, and Aamir Khan in Dhoom 3 to name a few. He is the face behind most commercial ads that show bike stunts. “Stunting is something that comes naturally to me. I was in the fourth standard and I could do a wheelie on the bicycle. Normally, kids my age played football and cricket, but I was into stunting,” says Rishikesh.

Another bike fanatic, Prasad Jadhav, loves to grab any opportunity that comes his way since it allows him to be creative and refine his stunting skills whenever he can. After working in films like Kick, Gunday and daily soaps like Yeh Hai Aashique, Pyar Tune Kya Kiya and many advertisements, he has now garnered attention in the biking world. “As a kid, I watched a lot

of stunt videos on YouTube and always to be able to perform them one day. I p tricks on regular motorcycles which w even meant to do such stunts, but tak is the most important thing in our pro shares Prasad.

Murtuza Dawasaz who has played double in many advertisements for mo and cycles, stepped into this risky world was in college. “Many of my friends pe bike stunts, which is what inspired me it up. I started with a lot of stunt sho performed at college events too. Sl started getting offers to play a stunt d advertisements,” he says.

These stunt doubles live behi scenes for years while actors garner compliments from the audience. Thei to make our Bollywood heroes look ga screen, while performing those actio and sequences that add a special effec scene. “Working on fi lm sets is demand stunts we perform in fi lms are very no us but what we actually do in our daily sessions is way more challenging. Altho actor takes away all the credit onscreen reality, we have been praised as actual says Tejas.

So what does it take for these stun risk their lives for others? For Murtuz always been about the adrenaline rush. out for a secluded area that has open sp practice new tricks whenever I am not as a stunt double. Stunts require the execute bike control to the highest leve been performing at a lot of shows and been getting an overwhelming response f audience,” he says.

This does not mean they are conten life as a struggling artist. They have work over the years to capitalise on the art a they want to turn it into a high-end en Some regularly participate in races, whil take up a part time job. Rishikesh too w be an actor one day. “A career as a prof stuntman involves way more than just w bikes. I have worked as a stunt double and advertisements for years. Now I wa in front of the camera and I am concentr acting now,” he says.

Of course, it has not come easy to h has had his share of falls and injuries, hasn’t held him back. “Around two ye I was performing a no-handle stunt wh and broke my ankle. After that, I have be careful,” Rishikesh adds. His parents to been very supportive.

For most stuntmen, injuries are a p parcel of their profession. They take a measures and wear all gears required performing a stunt. “On set, the direct care of everything. We just have to b vision into reality. We are approached on everything is ready,” says Prasad, who h injured several times. He tries to exp

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with body balancing, keeping the force of gravity in mind.

What is required the most during a deadly stunt is attention, quick reflexes, harness and perfect coordination with a crew on the sets to manage the cables. They wear all kinds of protective gear to minimise the risk of injury.

Yet, every single stunt is akin to a tightrope walk.

Tejas has also broken bones and got scratched many a times but he has never thought of turning back and choosing a safer option. “It was my own decision to enter this ground so getting scared and feared was left behind years ago,” he adds.

It is interesting how fans worship Bollywood actors, when they know nothing about these brave men who pull off breath taking stunts with ease. These daredevils have entered the field not to seek money or glory, but because of a sheer passion and love for their work.

“I was determined to do this.

I have injured myself three times but they were all minor incidents. If I get introduced to a new stunt, I practice hard and don’t give up till I perfect it,” adds Murtuza.

In Murtuza’s case, training and practicing stunts is an on-going process. Experiencing the thrill of these stunts and living on the edge excites him the most. “The stunts I perform range from acrobatic moves to wheelies, stoppies, burnouts etc. It has taken me years to master them,” he says.

A stunt scene can take place anywhere and at any time in films, it could be in the middle of a song or in room following an argument between the hero and the villain. These stunt doubles are not just randomly picked for these shots, but they are shortlisted from a rather extensive list. “A perfect stuntman should be daring, their physique and height should also match the actor.

Some even match the look and skin tone of the actor,” informs Prasad. The stuntmen are also required to match their body language with the actor.

Rishikesh believes in stunting as a form of creative outlet rather than a sport. He can perform 53 kinds of bike stunts and his vast array of tricks and perfect technique fills crowds with awe each time he revs up his engine. “After working as a precision rider in movies, I was called to audition for Bikers Adda, the director discussed the script and asked me to take a shot at acting,” he adds. What matters to some of these artists is the fact that in spite of taking a lot of risk, they don’t get the due credit. Some actors even take all the credit for the stunts that these stuntmen perform. “We sometimes just let it go. But other times when the stunt is too difficult and we have worked really hard for it, we feel sad that we are not given the recognition,” adds Murtuza. zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com

TGS LIFE APRIL 30, 2016 PUNE

PICS BY RAHUL RAUT

FEATURES

“The stunts I perform range from acrobatic moves to wheelies, stoppies, burnouts etc.

It has taken me years to master them” - MURTUZA DAWASAZ

“A perfect stuntman should be daring, their physique and height should also match the actor.”

- PRASAD JADHAV

Coming soon...

TGS LIFE

APRIL 30, 2016 PUNE

THRILL OF DRIVING

Honda BR-V (5th May)

T

he Honda BR-V which was also showcased at the 2016 Delhi Auto Expo is set to launch on the 5th of May. The BR-V will fall under the Compact SUV umbrella and will be up against a wide range of competing products. A claimed fi rst in the category, BR-V is going to be a seven-seater SUV. The BR-V will have two engine options — 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol and 1.5-litre i-DTEC diesel. The Petrol engine will output 118 bhp and 145 Nm of torque and the diesel engine will generate 98 bhp and 200 Nm of torque. Both the engines will be mated to six-speed manual transmissions.

Toyota Innova Crysta (2nd May)

A

fter a decade of success with the iconic InnovaMPV, Toyota unveiled the new Innova Crysta at the 2016 Delhi Auto Expo. The Innova Crysta will have two diesel engine options – 2.4l and 2.8l turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engines mated to six-speed automatic transmissions. The 2.4l engine will generate 147 hp and 343 Nm of max torque and the 2.8l engine will output 171 hp and 360 Nm of torque The revamped Innova Crysta will have features like a “Smart Entry System” with a Start/ Stop Button, Automatic Climate Control with Rear Auto Cooler, 7” infotainment system with Navigation, Cruise Control and safety features—Airbags as a Standard, ABS with Electronic Brake Force Distribution and Brake Assist as a standard in all variants.

New Porsche 718 Cayman unveiled P

orsche has showcased its new mid-engine sports coupe, the 718 Cayman. The 718 Cayman shares an engine with the 718 Boxster, a turbocharged two-litre flat-four. The motor produces a potent 300 hp and 380 nm of torque. It can sprint to 100 kmph in just 4.7 second and the top speed is 275 kmph.

The chassis has been retuned with an improvement in lateral rigidity and wheel tracking. Springs and stabilisers have been designed to be firmer and the tuning of the shock absorbers has been revised. Steering has been configured to be ten per cent more direct resulting in enhanced agility. In combination with the redeveloped tyres, the rear wheels – now half an inch wider – result in an increased lateral forces and therefore

greater cornering stability.

On the exterior, the 718 Cayman has been equipped with bi-xenon headlights with integrated LED daytime running lights. LED headlights are available with four-point daytime running lights.

The infotainment system with Porsche Communication Management (PCM) allows mobile phone connectivity, navigation module with voice control, audio interfaces and the 150-watt Sound Package Plus is a standard element.

The 718 Cayman can be further customised with the Sport Chrono Package and Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV). The Sport Chrono Package, operable via a switch on steering, can also be used to select the four driving modes.

Lamborghini Huracán Spyder (5th May)

P

rior to the appointment of Sharad Agarwal, Indian head of operation, the Italian car maker is all set to launch its super-roadster, the Lambhorghini Huracán LP 610-4 Spyder in India. Equipped with a 5,204cc V10 petrol engine, the Huracán Spyder will deliver 602 bhp and 560 Nm of torque.

The engine is mated to a seven-speed dualclutch transmission, apart from directly to the driver’s heart.

The Huracán Spyder will sprint to 100 kmph in 3.4 sec and the top speed is 324 kmph. Along with the car launch, Lamborghini will also inaugurate its new showroom in Mumbai.

Dance to unwind

TGS LIFE

APRIL 30, 2016 PUNE

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

H

ave you recently been to a nightclub or a restaurant and wondered what a Milonga night was? In layman’s terms, Milonga is a Tango dance party, deeply rooted in Argentinean culture. Taking the idea of Milonga as its starting point, these social dance evenings are now held in intimate bars late into the night.

They draw on traditional influences as well as give it a contemporary twist.

Tango sure has fascinated the world with its grace, sensuality and powerful moves for years.

In the same way, Milonga captivates dancers with its fun and peppy steps. Milonga may incorporate the same basic elements as Tango, but it permits relaxation of the body to a great extent. The movements here are faster and pauses are minimal.

“Tango incorporates three dance forms — vals, Tango and Milonga. Tango stands for passion, vals for love and Milongas, for fun. Here the dancer is smiling while the beats are faster and lively,” says Alwyn Pereira, a dancer. Alwyn has been fascinated with Tango since the beginning of his career. What attracted him towards Tango is the coordination and understanding between partners. “When the couple dance, there is a dialogue between them which connects them hypnotically through their movements. This is what attracted me the most towards the dance,” he adds.

Milonga fever gripped the city when like-minded Tango dancers like him took to social media and formed a group ‘Pune Tango Community’ on Facebook. They now organise Milonga events once a week at popular restaurants to spread the movement. And once you have seen a great Milonga dancers perform, it instantly inspires one to take the dance seriously and seek out good teachers. “Every conversation I have about Tango has a mention of Milonga. At least all of my friends know what Milonga means now. It is so fast paced and fun that it is bound to bring out a laugh and a smile from anyone,” says Vaibhavi Karad, another Tango enthusiast.

She got introduced to the dance form through her sister. “I tagged along with her to a Milonga event and the intensity of the dance got me hooked,” she adds.

FEATURES

VISHAL KALE

From dance studios to cafes and nightclubs, Milonga evenings are bringing new flavour to your regular evening out

THE MUSIC Milonga music is distinguished by its fast-paced beat, and it requires dancers to take quicker steps.

It has specific rhythmic patterns and steady beat.

“It has a good mix of Tango, Tango Waltz and Milonga styles. We also try to alternate from time to time which has a modern take on Tango music.

But the music floating around almost always has touches of the Bandoneon and Violin,” says Vaibhavi.

The music is set up with tandas and cortinas, which usually are old fashioned classical Tango music that has a peppy beat. “Milonga tandas are a set of three to four songs played by one orchestra. It is considered polite to dance a full tanda with one partner. The cortinas are non

Tango songs that are played in between tandas,” explains Mitali Chinmulgund, another Tango enthusiast. After the end of tanda, the gentlemen escorts their partner to their seats and clears the dance floor. “Every dancer at the Milonga dances anticlockwise. They can choose what speed to dance at irrespective of the beats,” she says.

Another dancer, Ajinkya Deshpande believes that Milonga is a celebration. He was mesmerised by the dance after he attended a session and fell in love with it. “The music is cheerful and relaxes you. If you go to a salsa social you find more people, but Tango has a smaller and passionate crowd,” he says.

THE TECHNIQUE Even though Milonga uses same basic movements as Tango, it is fast paced and less complex. It gives more importance to rhythm and music. In a weekly session, every man makes it a point to dance with every woman on the dance floor. “It’s about dancing with the stranger in close embrace and still being comfortable. Tango doesn’t judge you in any way. It’s gives more importance to making your partner comfortable and taking care of her,” adds Alwyn. It requires a certain amount of maturity and control as it is an intimate dance. But once a person has seen Tango they would definitely want to try it, believes Vaibhavi.

“Tango has intense music and movements with its melodramatic pauses, rise and falls. Stepping on every beat is a mandate in the Milonga style of dancing and hence it enhances the fun,” she says.

Every couple dances for three to four songs in a row, and if you don’t intend to dance with the same partner then you simply say ‘thank you’ to indicate that you would like to move on. “It’s a different experience with every partner. But in Pune, it’s easy because you know everyone

on the dance floor,” adds Ajinkya. The Milonga meet is open to anyone who wants to know about Tango, just hang around to get a feel or simply try out the dance style. “It’s taken about a year to become popular in the city. If someone attends the session once, they are sure to get hooked on to it,” he says. zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com

TGS LIFE

APRIL 30, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

A room with a view

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

A

bedroom is not a place where you simply go to sleep — it’s a place where we get some ‘me’ time and explore our creativity. The owners of these bedrooms have gone all out to create amazing spaces.

While you might not have had the time to think about it, these rooms will sure provide you with some fodder.

DISNEY WORLD IN A ROOM There sure is no kid who is not crazy about Mickey and Minnie Mouse. These cartoon characters by Walt Disney are friendly and their lively appearance is what appeals to children the most. One such fan of Mickey is eight-year-old Arshi Panikar, who got her bedroom designed the way many kids dream of. From the walls to the floor, bunk bed and furniture everything in the room screams Mickey mouse.

The bed is certainly the focal point of the room.

The soft toys and Mickey spread set up a fun and cool appearance. The Mickey-Minnie painting on the side wall is another attraction. “Mickey Mouse is beyond random cartoon, he is a part of everyone’s childhood. My daughter too is a huge Mickey mouse fan. She watched a lot of Disney cartoon and reads comic books too. So we thought of giving her bedroom a Mickey mouse touch,” says Harshada Panikar, her mother. The room has a wall mural of Mickey and soft toys on the upper bunk that include the lineup of his friends, Donald and Pluto. The matching bedding and accessories further accentuate the theme and create a perfect bedroom for the kid.

ZOOM WITH STYLE A bedroom with a Disney Cars wallpaper, bedsheets, curtains, murals and an endless array of Hot Wheels toy cars, what more could your little racer want?

Dheeraj Nair, 11, is so fond of toy cars that he has a cabinet full of them. “When he was 3 years old he was fond of watching Disney’s car movies. He started collecting toys cars first. We then decided to redecorate his room and design it the way he wanted,” says Deeba Nair, marketing professional. She transformed her son’s room from a boring, regular room to a car-themed room. One side of the wall has a red race car Lightning McQueen wall paper which she had to order in from abroad, and the other side has a car mural just above the bed. “I love cars, so I asked my mom to design a car-themed room. Now, I am also fond of Ironman and Batman, so I want them too in my room,” says Dheeraj.

These guys have put in a lot of effort for that perfect space where they can relax at end of a long, hard day PICS BY RAHUL RAUT, VISHAL KALE AND TEJAS GAIKWAD

WHEN YOUR IMAGINATION RUNS WILD Saba Poonawalla, a city-based beautician and ardent animal lover looked no further for ideas when she thought of redecorating her room. She wanted to capture the feel of the jungle in her room. Everything from bedding, art, carpet has a touch of jungle in it. Even her bathroom flooring has a tarzan decal. The sofa is filled with over 60 animal soft toys, and the snake hung on her curtain may scare anyone who enters the room for the first time. “I was always fond of wildlife. During each vacation, I make sure to visit a wildlife sanctuary. So I thought of bringing the jungle to my room,” says Saba.

The light green walls and green bean bag on the side in combination with the colourful, jungleinspired bedding add a perky and lively note to this amazing bedroom.

The showcase too has some classy animal artefacts making it a perfectly themed room.

VISHAL KALE

This psychology nerd has taken her love for the subject to the next level. Latest in her list of achievements is a handwriting centre to help counsel young children

TGS LIFE

APRIL 30, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

S

he might just be 21 years old but everything she has achieved is highly commendable. To begin with, she is the youngest city branch manager for Sherlock Institute of Forensic Science India (SIFS). She has taken on the job officially just this year, Malvika, aka Muskaan Mehta, might not have had a lot of cases to solve but the ones that she has looked into have been quite tricky, to say the least. Full of life, hard-working and extremely humble, this young girl has also set up her own handwriting institute, National Centre for Handwriting Studies, in Wanowrie. Even in the midst of her college exams, she took some time out from her jam-packed schedule to talk to TGS about all she is doing.

Currently pursuing her graduation in Ayurveda and Medicine (BAMS) from Bharti Vidyapeeth University, her mornings are dedicated to studying and practicing at the hospital. Once she is back, in the evening, she heads to her handwriting centre where she not only tutors a few children to help them better their skills but also works on cases that SIFS hands over to her.

She was only 14 years old when she began learning graphology herself

What does your handwriting say about you? and has taught more than 50 students throughout the city. Interested in psychology and hoping to do a postgraduation in counselling, she even tries to counsel the children when the need arises.

“My love for graphology comes from my mother. She had done a basic course once and continued to

test her knowledge on friends and family. Slowly, I got hooked to it to and I am glad that I did since I have been able to help a lot of children with their personality issues that I’m able to detect through their handwriting,” she tells us. Four years ago, she got her certification from the Institute of Graphology and

Personal Success based in Camp and Handwriting Analysts International, Hyderabad Most of her work includes verification of suicide notes and detecting signature forgeries.

Everything Muskaan enrols herself in, she ensures that it is all linked to her future plan of becoming a psychologist. Through

her handwriting centre, she is already getting enough practice and experience, she points out. There are a lot of parents who come in complaining of the child’s poor handwriting. More often than not, in such cases you see the signs of depression, which, if not attended to immediately, could turn into full blown depression. This is when she steps in as a counsellor, talks to the children, looks for activities that they can do to overcome their problem and then records their progress through the improvement in their handwriting. “At the institute, when we teach the children how certain alphabets are supposed to be written, we don’t let them simply imitate. The idea is to make them understand how the letters should be written and why.

Then let them follow so as to allow for a more lasting impression,” she says.

Her biggest challenge is managing the parents who walk into her institute, complaining of their children’s handwriting. While they look for immediate results, Muskaan says it is almost impossible. It takes a minimum of three days to even bring about a slight change, she shares. On the other hand, what she loves about her job is that not only does it help her get a better idea about new people, she gets to help so many people, solve important issues and forgery cases as well as showoff before her friends, she jokes. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

Tag along an author on her journey

In Pune to launch her third book, British-Indian author, teacher and former journalist Anjali Joseph speaks with TGS about her book, why she loves writing and what is most challenging in the process

S

he knew she wanted to write even before she was able to read. With the Desmond Elliot Prize, Betty Trask Prize and the Vodafone Crossword Book Award for Fiction in her kitty, author Anjali Joseph has attempted something different in her third book – The Living.

Born in Mumbai, her family moved to England when she was seven years old. That’s where she did most of her schooling and attended college. She read English at Cambridge and then taught it for a year in Paris. She studied creative writing at the University of East Anglia (UEA) and taught at the same institute later. Currently, she lives in Assam where she writes and teaches online creative writing courses run by UEA and Writers Centre Norwich.

The Living features two protagonists. Claire is the mother of a teenaged son and is in her midthirties. She lives in Norwich, England, where she works in one of the last remaining shoe factories.

Arun makes Kolhapuri chappals and is in his late sixties. He is married and has two grown-up sons and three grandchildren. Both their stories are about, among other things, family and surviving life, love and sex, and how what we do professionally shapes the people we are, she tell us. “My inspiration for the story came from the fact that I wanted to write about the idea of craft as well as repetitive work. In the book, I have put forth, how we spend our days turns us into the people we are,” she explains. Writing the novel took her about three and a half years, she adds.

While, for most part, writing is an easy process there is always a certain level of difficulty in every task. “Writing is a journey that an author takes. The journey changes all the time. The fact that the destination isn’t necessarily known, sets in a feeling of uncertainty.

Overcoming this and being patient till the end is the most challenging,” says the young author.

On the other hand, anyone who does something that they love is lucky. In case you don’t, the alternatives might be, changing what you do or learning to love it, and she thinks that these are even more admirable. She likes books authored by those who add a touch of love to them. There is no specific genre she follows, however, and she would happily read PG Wodehouse, James Salter,

Samuel Beckett or even Arthur Conan Doyle.

Her first two books, Saraswati Park and Another Country, won her a lot of appreciation as well as hearts. The first one which was published by 4th Estate in 2010, won the Betty Trask Prize, Desmond Elliott Prize, and the Vodafone Crossword Book Award for Fiction in India. Her second novel was published in June 2012. Ask her how she feels about the awards and the love and she says, “It’s a very nice feeling and I am honoured but the book I am thinking about is the one I’m writing next, not those that have been completed. The ones that are published don’t really belong to me anymore.”

Her third novel is simple, tactful with its use of language even as it has a sense of honesty and rawness that blend well with the story and make it a pleasant read. She is also currently writing another novel, which she thinks will be called Keeping in Touch. It might end up being a love story of sorts. She hopes that it’ll have funny moments too.

When: April 30; 6:30 pm onwards Where: Gyaan Adab, Kalyani Nagar

SP

TGS LIFE

APRIL 30, 2016 PUNE

BOARDROOM

FASHION TEJAS GAIKWAD

SHOPPING

14

While office can otherwise be boring, what you wear can make a world of a difference. Here are some trendy picks from Sarjana Singh’s wardrobe to help you fight your office blues

Classy Much This white and dark grey dress is an addition to your wardrobe that you will not regret. It is both simple and fashionable at the same time and not to forget super classy too. It can be combined with both flats and heels.

Price: Rs 4,999 Where: Vero Moda, all outlets

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

Dark shades all the way This dark grey jacket well-defines formal and and when paired with dark shades is as trendy as it gets. You can even wear a loose fitting white top inside to play around with shades.

High-heels or ballerinas are a good match.

Price: Jacket: Rs 3,500; Trousers: Rs 2,000; Top: Rs 200 Where: Jacket: H&M;Trousers: Mango; Top: FC Road

The Classic Black and White

Office Blues This round low neckline, well-fitted blue Mango dress adds oodles of oomph to you attire and your day. You can accessorise it with a little bling, but remembe to not overdo it.

Price: Rs 3,500 Where: Mango, all outlets

Simply Grey High Neck Fashion If you want to make a statement, this is the dress to wear. The high-neck makes you look uber cool and makes heads turn too.

Pair it with black or grey heels.

Price: Rs 1,200 Where: ASOS

No matter how long your day, this simple yet chic looking grey dress is comfortable and will always be in style too.

Pair it up with simple black flats or heels to match the thin black collar Price: Rs 2,500 Where: H&M

The white jacket with patterns is a must have in your wardrobe as it can even double up for an after-work party.

A simple black top and leggings help keep the focus on the jacket. Printed heels or flats to match the jacket are a must Price: Jacket: Rs 5,000; Trousers: Rs 2,000; Top: Rs 200 Where: Jacket: H&M;Trousers: Mango; Top: FC Road

TEJAS GAIKWAD

Tale of an affable cobbler

TGS LIFE

APRIL 30, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

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orn in a family of cobblers for many generations, 30-year-old Baba Saheb Chaudhary learned his way around shoe repair tools at a very early age. Educated only till standard V in a government school in Sholapur, Baba Saheb moved to Pune at the age of 10 with his family. He assisted his dad Dattaray Chaudhary for several years until one day he decided to set up his own business on a pavement in Viman Nagar.

“I just thought I had better people skills, I talk to my customers and ask them about their day, their family. It creates a feel good factor. The customers develop a bonding with me and have a lot of faith in me,” says the affable fellow. He sets up his kiosk every morning on a pavement in Viman Nagar, he says the neighbourhood gives him good business as a

lot of families and students live there and frequently need his services. He has many loyal customers who often strike up upbeat conversations with him while he fixes their boots, slippers, leather belts and shoes. “I used to struggle a lot in the initial years as the police would come and vandalise

my shop but now thankfully I have an official government authorised license and work permit”. His wife, Anita is a homemaker and has always supported him through thick and thin.

Revamp your old wardrobe

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or most of us getting rid of old clothes it is difficult and hea r tbrea k ing.

However it is the most important step of reorganization. In my opinion removing the clutter and reorganizing helps in leaving a wardrobe with only those items which are exclusive and embraced. We all love to shop offline and online but when it comes to keeping them in an organized fashion we usually mess up. Style Coach Nidhi Rekhi gives you a few tips on how to keep your wardrobe organized and live like a true fashion diva.

• Get rid of clothes: Clothes need STYLE to breathe too. Every wardrobe GURU has loads of stuff that hasn’t been used for over a year. You should be able to see each pair of clothing without rummaging. Consider donating anything how many looks you can create. that you are going to do away with. When • Segregation: Once your wardrobe is you look at any single item and think ‘I may trimmed down create a separate section for wear this one day’ it’s already time to get each type of clothing. Keep all of them neat rid of it. It is just an excuse to not let go and clean and in heaps or on hangers. For example engaging space in your closet. The ones that try stacking jeans, pants, skirts, leggings, are ill fitted or just not conforming to the kurtas, dresses, tops and tees. Try the current trends deserve a farewell. segregation as per occasion. Casual clothes, • Mix and Match: Once you have gotten office wear, for weekends, for weddings and rid of all the futile stuff in your closet look so on. Colour wise segregation is another at the remaining items. Accessorize them technique which will give an insight of your with footwear, bags and jewellery and notice wardrobe colour palette. You will be surprised the facelift that your existing possessions get. to see the number of blacks you have although Experiment by juggling your items based on you always thought red was your favourite. the fashion trends with the goal to make three Invest in storage for accessories. Keep your new outfits out of it. Try your first juggle with bags, shoes, jewellery in organizers. a classic white shirt and you’ll be surprised (As told to Salonee Mistry)

He has placed soft cushions and pinned up bright posters of Hindu Gods on a wooden plank at his kiosk. The most striking among his posters is that of two little Buddhist monks smiling innocently, on asked

unekar

what made him put it up he simply says he likes surrounding himself with anything that looks or feels positive.

Father of two young children, eight-year-old son Rudraksh and a 4-year-old daughter Sakshi, Baba Saheb works hard to pay their fees at Saarthi New English Medium School.

“I was educated in a Marathi medium school and I never got the chance to study. I want them to have better opportunities, become reputed doctors or teachers. It gets tough managing household costs and their school fees every month as my business has no fixed income monthly, but I persevere each day in hope of a better tomorrow.”

He dreams of having his own swanky shoe sale and repair shop one day in a high rise building, earn enough to fulfill all the desires of his children and buy a few acres of farmland in his village.

(As told to Rashmeet Taluja)

City celeb chat

Name: Dnyanda Shringarpure Profession: Model Three words to describe me: Passionate, Confident, Fun loving I love my job because: I love facing the camera.

I also get to explore myself and learn new things with each passing day Best advice I’ve received: Life is what you make of it. It’s not over until you say it is so keep working for it When buying something, the first thing that catches my eye is: I go for things which match my style quotient and are comfortable at the same time What’s your inner animal? It’s the deer. I have the ability to move through life and obstacles gracefully and I’m still closely in touch with my inner child and innocence.

The first thing you notice about an attractive person: Even if somebody isn’t attractive I always look for a good sense of humor. A good sense of humor is extremely attractive and matched with chivalry that’s the perfect combination.

The perfect start to a day is: A cup of coffee followed by a walk on the beach with my iPod Your current four-wheeler: Still working for it! I have to learn how to drive it first Your fitness regimen: Yoga keeps me fit and so does a healthy diet Your food indulgence: Anything with chocolate in it Books by your bedside: The Secret! Can’t get enough of it The first site you visit when you fire up your comp: YouTube. I end up spending hours watching videos Your favourite city: My heart says Pune but my mind is stuck in Mumbai Ideal holiday: Hawaii; to swim with the Dolphins.

(As told to Salonee Mistry)

TGS LIFE

APRIL 30, 2016 PUNE

BUZZ

Katrina Kaif to give Cannes film festival a miss

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atrina Kaif, who made her debut at Cannes Film Festival last year, is skipping this year's edition of the prestigious event due to her film commitments.

The 32-year-old Fitoor star walked the Cannes red carpet in a scarlett gown last year, earning praise for her look."Cannes is a fabulous platform for any artist to attend, and I really enjoyed the

experience last year. While the brand invited me to attend Cannes again this year, I have had to regretfully decline the opportunity due to prior commitments.

"This has been an enormously busy year for me so far, and I am working on some amazing projects which are really keeping me on my toes. Nevertheless, although I will be giving Cannes a miss this year,

I wish the lovely L'Oreal Paris ambassadors who will proudly represent India the very best and hope to attend next year," Kaif said.

The actress has recently wrapped up the shooting of her upcoming love story Baar Baar Dekho and is currently gearing up for the filming of sleuth drama Jagga Jasoos opposite former boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor.