PUNE, AUGUST 6, 2016
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TGS LIFE AUGUST 6, 2016 PUNE
STAGE Antarman launches their self-titled debut album that aims to reinterpret folk gems of Eastern India
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Enjoy a contemporary loop
By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab
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ith heady folk influences of Baul, Bhatiyali, Sylheti and Bihu blended with Indian classical music, the band Antarman is here with their self-titled debut album. The songs include some rare and refreshing sounds of Eastern India, fused with energy and rhythmic hooks that are sure to attract music lovers across the country. The album can be described as their sincere effort to revive the folk forms that the band members grew up listening to in West Bengal. The band comprising of three vocalists, Rahul Mukherjee, Randeep Bhaskar and Pooja Shankar, has brought together their own renditions interspersed with songs inspired from artists like the legendary Lalon Fakir. “Two songs in the album are inspired by a traditional folk song by Lalon Fakir and Kaamrup land, while the rest are uniquely original
folk creations, expressing the inner shades of the heart,” shares Rahul, who is a disciple of the renowned classical vocalist Pandit Mani Prasad of Kirana Gharana. He was also the finalist in Voice of India 2 where he began his music journey. The six songs in the album include the voices of tea-pluckers of Assam humming in their leisure time, to the symphony of Sylheti and the rhythmic vibrations playing from the iktara. All complementing the Baul songs and a Bhatiyali number
with the finesse of sarod. They have even added a dose of rock, electronic dance music and others mainstream genres to cater the young crowd. “Each song was discussed deeply in terms of what it needs to convey and connect with the listeners. It was a conscious decision to work on folk songs from across the country,” shares Pooja, who is also an avid theatre artist. The band performs live with a set of 10 musicians but Antarman’s core consists of three friends yearning
Get set for an electrifying act The Electrovertz, an Australian DJ duo now based in Mumbai, will be churning out the best of EDM numbers in the city this weekend
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he renowned Mumbaibased duo Nina Shah and Malika Hayden, aka The Electrovertz, are among the many women firing up the EDM scene in India today. They are now all set to captivate the audience with their music. The duo will play some world class House, Punk House, Nu Disco, Tech House and many other genres to make you sway your way onto the dance floor. They are here to launch their new single Never Let You Go in collaboration with Sahil Khanna aka Zaeden who is best known for his remixes like Magic by Coldplay and Love Yourself by Justin Bieber. It is a pop-infused dance music summer track with Cimo Frankel on the
vocals who has been responsible for hits with Armin van Buuren. “We have shot the video across Europe. It’s a touching piece of deep house, revolving around infectious melodies, subtle pop vocals and a captivating groove. The track has a glimmering yet mellow tune,” says Nina. They are the first female DJs in India to get signed on Spinnin Records. While Lisa Haydon made her big debut in Bollywood, her sister Malika opted for a short stint in Agent Vinod alongside Saif Ali Khan. The sauve and sassy duo are also a name to reckon with in the fashion world having worked with and modelled for many renowned brands. The best friends are more like soul sisters. The girls found their true passion for underground music while travelling to many exotic party destinations across the globe. Their style is a fusion of deep baselines, techno beats infused with tribal percussions. “Both of us knew each other since childhood and we were always into music and parties. So we initially took up DJing as a hobby.
It then became our profession,” says Malika. They are known to produce their own mixes and have performed at venues across the world including London, Australia, Spain, Switzerland, Mexico, Dubai and the Maldives. “Our only motive is to make people dance. It doesn’t matter how many people have attended my gig, if you are present, we make sure that you are on the dance floor,” adds Malika. Their global influences include Zedd, Deadmau5, Armin Van Buuren, Hardwell and Daft Punk. They are gorgeous and add glamour to any event they play with their attitude and synchronised outfits. If they’re not rocking at all the major clubs, they’re usually producing their own music. Their new track is all about plucky chord progression with a pinch of melody backed by beautiful vocals. “It’s tropical house music and the listeners are bound to feel heavy summer vibes with this one,” adds Nina. When: August 10 Where: Miami, SB Road
to pay an ode to folk genres. They believe in connecting with the audience by bringing a variety of emotions alive through their songs. “Strangely we never think about a topic to write a song, the composition have chosen the right set of words to become a song in itself,” adds Pooja. Their songs fuse poetic renditions that are sure to take the listener through the many facets of life by connecting their inner senses. “The song Hobena is a legendary Lalon Fakir song that depicts the value
of time. Maati talks about the urge to get back to roots from the urban saturation. Gaanja signifies the splendour of Lord Shiva expressed in the traditional sylhet way. Marghat is about the last journey of every soul while Bairi Bindiya deals with love in its innocent form through the flavour of Bihu and Tatar Patar expresses deep Baul energy in an ecstatic form,” says Pooja. When: 12 August Where: Osho Ashram, Koregaon zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com
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TUNE INTO A GRAMMY
AWARD-WINNER
TGS LIFE AUGUST 6, 2016 PUNE
ENTERTAINMENT
Cellist Barry Phillips walks us through his musical journey and talks about his association with the Anoushka Shankar Project By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab
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ellist, arranger, and composer Barry Phillips is best known for blending traditional folk and classical music into his cello symphony. He has compiled an album of Rumi’s poetry and combined traditions from across the globe encompassing more than eight centuries of music. His latest album, Trad, is a contemporary celebration of Scandinavian folk songs and original compositions. The title combines the English word ‘traditional’ and the Swedish word ‘trad’ which means thread. “It’s an album rich with the character of Scandinavian folklore, while its modern, streamlined arrangements make for a sound both elegant and earthy,” he says. Over the years, Barry has been performing folk, new, classical, Indian classical and crossover music. He is a disciple of Ravi Shankar and has toured worldwide with The Anoushka Shankar Project. He has arranged and produced many recordings of Northern European folk music and has even explored genres like Celtic folk and baroque styles. “Well, I just can’t remember a time when I was not into music. I was attracted to sounds of bow instruments that got me hooked to it,” says the
US-based artist. His earliest musical memory is his mother playing the electric organ by his ear. He was eight when he started with piano lessons and also went on to learn the drums. “I stayed a drummer all through high school and then I took up the cello that allowed me to play classical, rock and pop music. Overall, the cello is very much like a voice. I have almost the exact same vocal range as the cello and I just love its rich bass too. The sound has more deep and bass effect than violin. I find it more serene,” he says. In 2013, Barry received a Grammy as producer and engineer of Ravi Shankar’s CD The Living Room Sessions Part 1. He has also played cello on Martin Simpson’s album Bramble Brier which was BBC Radio 2 Album of the Year. “Overall, my journey has been very rewarding and satisfying. Playing in the Anoushka Shankar Project has been my biggest challenge and joy, musically. Everyone in the band is absolutely top notch in their field,” says Barry. He is currently busy with The Golden Symphony tour and will be playing with Indian artist Lakshay Mohan and Aayush Mohan. “They are fantastic musicians and nice people as well. We get along really well. Next, I am recording another cello album,” he shares. zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com
Music is on par with spirituality for Sayali This powerhouse of talent will be one amongst the 90 musicians to be featured in Salil Kulkarni’s new album By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry
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emember the soulful and melodious voice behind the famous Marathi song Tik Tik Vajte from Duniyadari or P rem Rutu from Mr and Mrs Sadachari? Sayali Pankaj, the girl behind the songs, has been creating quite a buzz and is reigning at the top of the music charts for a while now. She is also one of the singers in Salil Kulkarni’s Nandi style album to be released during Ganesh Chaturthi, TGS caught up with Sayali to learn of her musical journey, future projects and why she loves what she does. Growing up with parents who greatly appreciated music, getting hooked onto the art form was an easy task for her. Her mother, who was a housewife, encouraged her to learn music and she attended her first class when she was seven years old. “Although my mom had no particular training in singing, she understood it really well and would often help me with my riyaaz, correcting me when I went wrong. She was one of my first teachers,” says Sayali. Although she is known for singing
romantic and soulful numbers, her song Aali Aali Re Mango Dolly from the film Guru was well accepted too and she loved the fact that she had the opportunity to do something different. When asked about her very first
Bollywood song, she tells us that it was something that was not planned at all. Her husband Pankaj, who is a music composer, was working on the song at home and something just wasn’t right about it.
When he and Sanjay Jadhav, the director of Duniyadari decided to add lyrics to it, they needed someone to sing the song to see how it sounded. They asked Sayali to sing it for them and Sanjay loved how her voice just fit in. This is how she got her break into the industry. Prior to this, she was working only on albums and shows. When asked who she would like to work with in the future, she says that it would be difficult to pick any one person. “Every musician brings to any project a flavour of his own. The more diverse a group I work with, the easier it will be for me to grow as a musician and explore aspects of myself that perhaps don’t know exist at the moment,” she says. For her, music means divinity and a path to spirituality. It makes her a much more patient and calm person, helping her get rid of all her worries. The fact that she gets to make this her profession is an added bonus, she feels. Sayali constantly tries to bring her own flavour to the songs that she sings and can often be found reading out the lyrics loudly or practicing songs she has to record while she gets done with her other chores. Pronunciation is key to getting the song right, next is getting the feel that the song demands, she believes. The talented singer has a few projects up her sleeves but could not tell us much since most of these projects haven’t even begun yet. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com
SG
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Swing to his beat
TGS LIFE AUGUST 6, 2016 PUNE
Singer-songwriter Omkar Potdar is all set to end your Saturday on a high note with his simple and soothing originals inspired by events playing out around him
STAGE
By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry
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ith musical geniuses like Bob Dylan and John Mayer as his inspiration, 25-year-old Omkar Potdar believes in creating ‘peaceful’ music. Writing songs about his daily experiences, he prefers jotting down lyrics that are easy to understand. Playing at Gyaan Adab this weekend, his hour-long set will include originals and a few covers as well. Although no one in his family was remotely related to the field of music it was a guitar class that he had enrolled in which pushed him towards the art form. He, however, was not satisfied with what he was learning and so quit his class after a short time. He spent endless hours watching videos and strumming the guitar learning through trial and error. The kind of music that he listened to as a child has greatly influenced his present compositions, he feels. “After I dropped out of engineering college I shifted to Mumbai for a while and most of my compositions are based on the experiences I had during this period. I played with several bands and did a few gigs too getting as much exposure as I could,” he shares. It was after his Europe tour with the band
Studmuffin that he decided he was ready to present his own songs to an audience. Feeling that his songs did not fit in the bands genre he left it start something of his own and that’s how Flying Shoe was born. He hopes to launch his first album by the end of this year and hopefully three or four more following that. Apart from hoping to play at big music festivals across the country, the young musician is also looking forward to collaborating with artists who play different genres. This he knows will increase his knowledge and only make him a better musician. “I don’t have any particular process that I follow when it comes to writing my songs. There are so many ideas and topics that I want to write about but when I sit to pen it down, the words don’t come easy and this is my biggest challenge. Writing simple songs is a tough job,” he says. He always carries around with him a diary to pen down lyrics when they come to him and records tunes whenever he has a guitar in hand. It is then just about putting it all together, Omkar adds. Music acts as an outlet for his thoughts and this is what he loves about being a musician. Going up on stage and feeling the rush just before, during, and right after the performance is also something that keeps him motivated and inspires him to get better. For Omkar, through his music he simply tells his and everyone else’s stories so ensuring that the lyrics are simple and the tune soothing is important. He has now been playing music for about seven years and can’t think of anything else that makes him happier. When: August 6, 7 pm onwards Where: Gyaan Adab Centre, Kalyani Nagar salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com
Watch the saga of a military man Based on the English play and film A Few Good Men, Rajesh Joshi’s Code Mantra is an ideal way to get rid of your midweek blues
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et against an army background, the play Code Mantra is about the never-ending debate between right and wrong. When a young guy in the military dies because of rules that just had to be followed, the question of where to draw the line arises and this is what the play is talks about. Dif ferent aspects of the Rajesh Joshi debate unfold as Mukta Barve, who plays a lawyer, fights against the harsh treatment meted
out to the young boy. The other cast members of the play include Ajay Purkar, Umesh Jagtap, Vikram Gaikwad and Atul Mahajan. The thriller drama is sure to keep you at the edge of your seat anticipating the end and will leave you with countless thoughts about the functioning of the system and the problems that surround it. While this is his directorial debut in the Marathi theatre industry,
Rajesh Joshi has been directing plays for decades now. “The subject is such that it is relatable to all. Staging it in Marathi gives me a larger audience and this is exactly what the topic needs,” he explains. He also directs this play in Gujarati, has directed about 15 plays prior to this one and is known for being a writer for daily soaps like Naagin, Kyunki Saans Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Kawach, and many more.
He was exposed to the entertainment industry as a child and has always been passionate about direction and storytelling. He initially however had no plans of taking it up as a full time job. After studying to be a chartered accountant and working with a corporate firm as their chief accountant for a while, he decided to switch streams. It was in 1981 that he made up his mind to follow his passion and make a living
from what he loved to do the most. “What keeps me going is the excitement that I get out of fresh concepts. I like it best when a script or the job that I have at hand challenges me. This is when one truly gets to explore and do the best,” he shares. The subject of the play must be such that he hasn’t heard of before and one that promises innovation not discovery, he adds. He had waited for about eight years to find the right project to work on before he took up Code Mantra, which he first directed in Gujarati. In addition to being Rajesh’s first Marathi venture, the play is unique because of its treatment as well. There is a time during the play when there are a total of 40 people on stage at the same time and managing them all was a different experience, the director tells us. There is also no blackout throughout the play so a flow in the story and apt direction was key to making it look good. When: August 11, 9 pm onwards Where: Balgandharv Rangmandir, JM Road
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TGS LIFE AUGUST 6, 2016 PUNE
FEATURES
By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab
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society is defined not only by what it creates but also by what it refuses to destroy’, the late environment conservationist John Sawhill once said and Pune-based Dhara Kabaria is following just that. Upcycled materials have always been her favourite to experiment with. Along with her sister Dolly, the interior designer started Studio Alternatives with a prime motive to reuse and recycle different materials as creatively as possible. They have now joined hands with QUEST, an NGO based in Sonala, to create activity centres and libraries in various villages around Maharashtra using discarded shipping containers. They’ve painted them and created funky graffiti to attract more kids. “Decades ago, they were formed as a strong structure to carry cargo and must have undertaken long journeys across oceans. After their stipulated time they must have been used for storage with other containers in big yards. Eventually, they would be recycled for their steel. But a few months ago we got them at our studio,” explains Sonali Phadke, her partner. Their main focus has been to utilise various types of scrap and waste from household level to industry scale, using every type of material to make aesthetic as well as functional products. “In case of construction industry, container spaces that use discarded shipping containers attracted us to arrive at practical, long-term solutions. The versatility and excellent structural strength provides an ideal framework for executing housing and accommodation spaces too,” says Dhara. The mobility of the structures made it possible for them to be relocated at inaccessible areas in a short period of time, as compared to conventional brick and mortar construction. “The first project was for Emmanuel School in
ADDING AN OFFBEAT TWIST Sonali Phadke
As whacky as it gets, Studio Alternatives build libraries and homes out of a used shipping container
Nagpur. The second installation is in Wada taluka,” she shares. They have also been experimenting with various techniques involving use of alternative insulating materials, paints and eco-friendly ways to enhance the container spaces.
Their first container project was to creat a farmhouse on the outskirts of Pune, which was accomplished within just eight weeks. The city had got its first swanky installand-run studio apartment made completely from a used shipping
container. It had all the amenities and this first experience gave them the confidence to further develop their concept. The interiors included conveniences like an LED TV, refrigerator, concealed glass top cook hob, and water-purifier. The apartment they built has a fully functional bathroom and kitchen just like any other regular apartment. “The client wanted a home which was not too intrusive to the environment. We convinced him to let us build a portable home, powered by solar energy and decorated with products made from discarded materials,” she says. The 40ft by 8ft by 9.5ft homes and libraries can be moved and set up on site in four to five days, including shifting of the assembled container, connecting water points, electricity and external wooden cladding. The apartment is exclusively run on solar or wind energy. “I am experimenting with them by building my own office which will use two containers and that is a challenge. Then, I plan to stack multiple containers above one another and build strong, inexpensive spaces. It will take some time to come out of the brick
Dhara Kabaria
and mortar mentality, but here’s a start,” says Dhara. Her biggest challenge was to prevent the metal home from heating up. So, she used cement sheets as walls, and lined the insulated metal with reused wood on the outside. “The bathroom, too, was difficult to build as the pipes couldn’t be concealed like they are in regular brick walls. To fix the problem, we used aluminum panel sheets in a trendy charcoal colour instead,” she shares. Their initial experiments involved the creating various home decor items by renovating discarded furniture and accessories. They created a decorative wall cladding using discarded computer motherboards, the installation of an exterior facade of a restaurant using an old wooden boat and pipeline series of lamps made from discarded PVC pipes from construction site. The home and the library both are powered with eco-friendly LED light, use paint buckets for seating, and the cushions are lined with discarded jeans. “We were confident of extending this experience to various applications like creating offices, resorts and dormitory spaces at par with international standards, which can be commissioned at remote locations as well,” says Dhara. zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com
TGS LIFE AUGUST 6, 2016 PUNE
INDULGE NEHA AGARWAL Whatever the client may demand, be it a classic cake or theme-based cartoon or figurines, Neha Agarwal can make it all. She takes ideas from what the customer has in mind, and then puts her imagination to work. “It was after we bought an oven that I got into baking. Till then it wasn’t even something that I had thought I would ever do,” she says. After years of baking experience, she wanted to do something that was more challenging. She went for the most popular Gems cake, in which an avalanche of sweets appear to spill over a two-tier cake from a packet suspended in mid-air. “All you need to take care of in these cakes is balance. One needs to make sure that the upper layer is not too heavy, and may not fall down,” she says. Get in touch: 9860468111
A slice of magic Ever wondered how gravity-defying cakes are made? These home bakers let us in into the secrets of crafting these seemingly impossible works of artistic confectionary By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab
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one are the days when a round chocolate or pineapple cake was the only option available. Keeping in tune with the trend of customising everything and anything, cakes too are today made with themes and characters that you
relate to or like. Taking it a level further, the gravity-defying cakes have fired the imagination of bakers all over the world. They are constructed in such a way that they suspend disbelief, making garnishes appear to float in mid-air. We spotlight six home bakers from the city who have prepared some of the most gorgeous looking anti-gravity cakes, and they are willing to take on almost any challenge when it comes to baking.
SIMRAN KAHLON Simran Kahlon believes in giving the cake an extra ‘wow’ factor by turning them into a gravity-defying cake, and enjoys watching customers’ faces as they react to the final output. She is a fine arts graduate and often uses cakes as her canvas. “I first saw gravitydefying cakes on the Internet and I too was up for this challenge. It’s not very difficult to make if you know the proper technique,” she says. Simran has made Gems cake and the beer bottle floating cake. She attributes the popularity of these cakes to the reality shows like Master Chef and Ace of Cakes. “Even though people don’t enjoy fondant cakes, they still go for them. A cake is a part of every celebration and people want to give it a personal touch,” she says. Get in touch: 9049980260
ADITI GARWARE People often are narrow-minded when it comes to art. If told to imagine something related to art, one would think of painting, dancing, sculpting, but not making a cake. But Aditi Garware, 25, has combined her childhood creative interest of art and love for food to create the yummy job she has today as a cake artist. It is her unique talent and specialised skills in sugar art that have made her one of the city’s most soughtafter wedding cake designers. She has created a two feet tall topsy-turvy cake for the collaboration, which is one of its kind in Pune. She has made gravity-defying cakes based on themes such as Lost in Candyland, suspended basketball etc. “Gravity-defying cakes need to have a strong internal structure to keep it floating and, more importantly, to stop anything from tipping over,” she says. To achieve this, she uses a strong dowel to place through the centre of the cake and baseboards, which are stable enough to keep the object suspended in mid-air. Get in touch: 9923456219
SHEENA BOB Whatever may the client demand, a classic cake or a royal cake, from cartoons to figurines, she can make it all. Having been into baking for more than four years, Sheena Bob has made many anti-gravity cakes, like the floating beer can, Red Riding Hood, the six-tiered suspended wedding cake etc. “If you have a clear picture of the design, then it’s as easy as making the normal cake. The structure and balance play an important role here,” she explains. She specialises in baking 3D cakes, which are sure to leave a lasting impression on her customers. They all require a lot of detailing and it takes a continuous six hours of effort to make a single cake. “Be a birthday, anniversary or a bachelor party, theme based cakes are always in demand. Our customers want something unique all the time,” she says. The customers’ demand for these quirky cakes has increased and it is a good creative exercise for her, she believes. Get in touch: 9764207214
TEJAS GAIKWAD
A resto-lounge for everyone
TGS LIFE AUGUST 6, 2016 PUNE
INDULGE
It is hard to miss the bright red Barbacoa signboard no matter what speed you drive at, just as it is difficult not to fall in love with the space or keep yourself from visiting it frequently
By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry
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icture a classy BalineseIndonesian theme seating, a fine-dine restaurant, a roof-top deck and a lounge all in one space. While it might seem too far-fetched and a little too much to ask for, AB Hospitality have done just that with their new resto-lounge Barbacoa. Over-looking the highway, this new hub is spread across about 6,000 square feet and promises to be a great hangout space for all age-groups. Anil and Tushar Amrale who run the joint Shree Krushna, opposite Kothrud Bus
Depot, were falling short of space when they wanted to expand and were thrilled when they got the opportunity to build up this new space along with Tushar Bodke in Bavdhan on Mulshi Road. It took them about two-anda-half years to finalise everything for the restaurant and once it was all done they managed to finish setting it up in just three months. “There was a lot of research that we did. Starting with what kind of space to build, to finalizing how the place must look and the menu, everything took time as we wanted it to be perfect. Our idea was to build one place for everyone,” says Tushar.
Keeping in tune with the idea even the menu caters to all taste buds and offers a wide array of cuisines and dishes. Head chef Shailendra Gaikwad tells us that while every dish has a twist it takes you back to the original with the flavours. Shailendra has earlier worked at Oberoi, with Disney in Orlando and was also with Apollo Ship Sanders. He moved back to Pune, his hometown, about two years ago and has been here since. Talking about the name of the resto-lounge Anil says, “Barbacoa is derived from the Spanish word barbeque and this is a flavour that you will distinctly taste in every dish. We wanted something that
will stand out, be catchy and could be incorporated into every aspect of the place.” While the restaurant opened its doors last week it is already bustling with people. The lounge, which is still under construction, will be open to the public soon. When at the restaurant we were pretty much spoilt for choices. North Indian, Oriental, Continental and Italian, there was so much to pick from. The Carribean Jerk Chicken which is a specialty here is a must-try and so is the Blue Fair Lady mocktail. Even though we ordered for smaller portions, the actual serving is pretty huge and comes
with two absolutely drool-worthy dips. A mouthful of the chicken with either of the dip will leave you wanting more. Next came the Chicken Peri Peri which although looks similar in terms of its plating and appearance but packs different flavours and is a lot more tangy in a good way. The Champaghion Borres which is a mushroom preparation is also a great choice if you are a vegetarian and so are any of the cottage cheese preparations. Sea-food lovers must try the Paprika Prawns and the Tempura Prawns. For the main course, we suggest the Chicken Coq Au Vin, which is French classic chicken marinated in herbs and red wine cooked with mushrooms in brown sauce, Phad Thai – flat rice noodles tossed with oriental vegetables and sauces or the Rahra Ghost if you are a mutton fan. To end the meal on a high-note, pick anything from the Rasilla Gulabjamun, Phirnee Kesaria, Chocolate Mousse or the Choco Truffle Pastry. All in all, with the ambience, music, view, menu and the hospitality offered will guarantee a fun evening, worth every penny you spend. salonee.mistry@ goldensparrow.com
YOUR CHOW AROUND TOWN to avail the fifth one from any country of your choice, complimentary. When: Till August 31 Where: The Beer Café, Kalyani Nagar
Relish Best Food Forever
Celebrate International Beer Month
Traveling for beer is a sentiment echoed across countries, with beer enthusiasts willing to cross continents in search of the finest pint. But you don’t have to go the extra mile to savor your favourite brew! The Beer Cafe does it for you by bringing together a collection of over 50 beers from 18 nations under one roof! Try distinct styles from four countries- Belgium, Holland, U.K. and Germany and
This Friendship Day, bond with your friends over delicious Pan-Asian food and beverages at Baan Tao, Hyatt Pune where the delectable brunch filled with nutrition will make you feel fantastic and energized. The brunch includes soups & salads, grills, dimsums, and an exclusive sushi bar. If there is still room, you can delight your sweet tooth with a wide variety of friendship themed desserts like mango and coconut buddy pudding, chocolate duo log, berry vanilla chum pavalova roulade and many more on the list. When: August 7 Where: Baan Tao at Hyatt Pune, Kalyani Nagar
Lazzeee BBQ
Newly opened, The Bar Stock Exchange brings to you a new BBQ Brunch menu every Sunday ensuring to map global cuisine with each new menu. This Sunday enjoy a fair of Pan Asian Street Food housing dishes like a Japanese
Style Omelette, Indonesian Street Chicken Kebab, Thai Style Baby-corn, Balini fish satay litti with Asian cocktails and mocktails among others. Enjoy a host of Beverages infused with Green Tea, LemonGrass and bird-eye chili.We promise to re-live and create days in Bali or Shanghai, this monsoon only at The Bar Stock Exchange. When: August 7 Where: The Bar Stock Exchange, Koregaon Park
Running makes us
TGS LIFE AUGUST 6, 2016 PUNE
FEATURES
HAPPIER
It’s tough, it hurts, it makes you to come out of your comfort zone, yet the everyday running community has been increasing at a rapid rate all over, and Puneites are no exception. During the wee hours, the streets of the city are buzzing with runners. Some undergo intense training, some intend to lose weight, to look fit and slim, while some just want to adopt a healthy lifestyle and keep health issues at bay. TGS team spoke to some commoners, who have taken up running, which has brought a positive change to their lives. They run to avoid depression, to get rid of stress, to find peace and bonding with the family. But the common reason why they run, is because it makes them happy
Dr Sandesh Doshi, 55, Ophthalmologist
Pooja Gawas Sales manag
Dr Sandesh Joshi, a resident of Kothrud, is an Ophthalmologist who is in great demand, and was the president of Poona Ophthalmological Society. He wasn’t keen on fitness till he reached his 50s. But it was a like a wakeup call for him, when he saw his friends and relatives suffering from ailments like diabetes, heart trouble and blood pressure. An urge to live the rest of his life a healthy way, motivated him to start cycling, and he started doing small rides around the city. That led to another activity, Sinhagad Hike and Bike, which he is still doing rigorously even today. During the activity, he tasted the thrill of running with his friends, and his journey to fitness took a new turn. “Running is a totally different ball game. Along with physical fitness, it requires constancy, dedication, strategy and execution of plans. When I started running, I didn’t know anything about half or full marathons. But then I participated in the Satara Hill marathon and registered for the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon. I decided to compensate for my lack of experience with information. I researched a lot and carefully chalked out a strategy regarding my diet plan, hydration, nutrition, pace control etc. It paid off and I successfully ran my first marathon,” says Doshi. Then there was no stopping him and he kept participating in various events, including BRMs, triathlons and he even organised a ‘Sinhagad Hike and Bike’ event. Dr Doshi calls it doing leisure activities seriously. “Participating in such events is a great stress buster. It makes you forget about your problems and once you get used to it, you can keep health issues at bay. Moreover, the lifestyle helps you in your business. To run a marathon, you need strategy, discipline, execution and self belief, and all these help in your work too. The awards and acknowledgement are a byproduct. That’s the beauty of it,” says Doshi.
Pooja has been going early years. “I was w but run. I even told m run even to save m However, that was be she runs at least 10 k biggest accomplishme on my 32nd birthday,” Pooja is a senior Marriot Internationa made her run. “In No had organised a com wellness among all th actual ‘do or die’ situa Pooja ran, and for threekm. “When I fi so confident. I decide said. So, she started ru “Running has cha in all spheres. It has b work culture, my body routines,” she said. A adjust her body clock has taught me that hours of sleep if I ha So, I sleep early. Sin productivity has becom way I feel. I wake up and with a lot of po adding, “even my skin I also take care of my For anyone who w “There is no right tim Running is not all tha It is not even a compe kilometer more than it is a big deal for m confidence and you st
PIC: RAHUL RAUT & TEJAS GAIKWAD
Kalpana Khare is an avid marathon runner, and has inspired her family to run along with her. Even at the age of 60, she actively participates in various events, and manages balance her work and fitness regime. “Running gives me a new experience in this age, along with positive energy and new friends,” she says. Kalpana has a keen interest in cultural activities like classical dance, but later on she shifted her focus to sports. She was involved in various sporting activities like soft ball, basketball and she was also a state level champion in Judo during her college days. Later, she also picked up badminton as a part of fitness. Her first running activity came at the age of 45, when she ran her first marathon on International Women’s Day. Her participation in ‘Womenathon’ changed her perceptive towards running, and with a boost in confidence, she continued with many such events. She believes the strength for running is the outcome of her regular exercise of Suryanamskar. “The best part of running in a marathon is running for a cause, as there is no competition. Running together develops team building skills, and group running strengthens feelings of camaraderie. Further, running helps in keeping my physical and mental health in good condition,” she says. Since she has started running, she feels fitter, sleeps well, and it has also helped her to de-stress, build determination, confidence and has also reduced her anxiety. She also believes that road running is good as it is less expensive and when people run in groups they feel exhilarated and do not get tired. Kalpana’s dedication has inspired her family members too and her son, daughter- in-law, grand-daughter, daughter and son-in-law, all run together as a family, at Savitribai Phule University grounds thrice a week. “Running gives immense positive energy. I feel confident, determined and optimistic throughout the day. It gives me energy to deal with the challenges of life and my family also shares the energy and positivism,” says Kalpana.
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g to the gym since her willing to do everything my trainer that I wouldn’t my life,” she explained. efore 2014. As of 2016, km, thrice a week. “My ent was running 32 km ,” she says proudly. r sales manager at the al. It was her work that ovember 2014, my office mpulsory run to promote he employees. It was an ation for me,” she laughs. the first time, ran for nished, it made me feel ed to start running,” she unning regularly. anged my life completely, benefited my health, my y clock and even my daily An early riser, she had to even further. “Running I need to take my 7-8 ave to function properly. nce I wake up early, my me better and so has the p fresh in the morning, ositivity,” she explained, n feels rejuvenated since food and water intake.” wants to start, she says, me, start when you want. at scary or an uphill task. etition. If I can run one n what I ran yesterday, me. That’s how you gain tart loving running.”
Kalpana Khare, 60, feature writer
Aditi Chitnis, 25, Associate Marketing Executive Sports and especially basketball has been a part of her world since her school days. Playing basketball extensively, she often participated in inter-house and inter-school matches when in school, and even today catches up with friends on as many weekends as she can. It was during one of the games that she injured her knee and had to undergo surgery. Attempting to strengthen the ligament in her knee, Aditi started running and was happy about how things shaped up. “After suffering from a wobbly knee for a long time, I could feel the strength coming back. All it took was running a little every day,” says the young woman. Recollecting the time she ran her first marathon, which was the Pune International Marathon, the feeling was great, she tells us. Reaching the finish line made me ecstatic, as that only meant that not only was my knee alright again, but that even my stamina had increased. It was months of hard work that had paid off, she says. Living in Bavdhan, near the Mumbai-Pune Highway, Aditi often chooses to run in her society itself. Running for about 45 minutes, every morning at around six, keeps her fresh throughout the rest of the day. “Sometimes when I am in the mood to run for a longer time, I take a different route and go up to Chandni Chowk towards Pashan. There is a sense of calmness in running and it only pushes me to keep increasing my distance every once in a while,” she tells us.
3 EDITION
Register now at moveitmarathon.com
TGS LIFE AUGUST 6, 2016 PUNE
FEATURES
Marathoners need proper coaching and discipline Pune is becoming a hub for runners. Apart from leisure runners, several athletes from Pune are doing well in extreme running events like Ironman triathlon, Comrades marathon and ultra runs. Kaustubh Radkar, the city’s running icon, is the winner of 13 Ironman titles, and feels that the sport is moving in the right direction, but a cumulative effort is needed to promote it further. “We have several athletes who run half and full marathons, but it’s high time we take a step ahead and go for ultra marathons. It’s a different ball game altogether, and it needs proper training,” he says. Radkar said that regular tournaments should be organised to promote triathlon in Pune. “We can start with mini triathlon events to encourage the commoners and youngsters to take part. Deccan Gymkhana and Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Balewadi are good venues to conduct triathlon events, that include swimming, cycling and running,” he said. “We need to follow the strict guidelines set by World Triathlon Corporation. We must keep roads vehicle free for a 180 km stretch for cycling and 42km for running. Such events can be held at Lavasa or Amby Valley,” he said. As a runner, Radkar has motivated several people to start running and is also coaching a few. Though his wards consider him an icon, for Radkar it’s just his job to give back something to society. “I don’t want to be just an icon. If someone gets inspired and starts running, it makes me happy. I am coaching a few people but real learning comes from inside. To run a marathon, you need proper coaching, discipline and guidance. These were the key factors in my preparation, while hard work and discipline have made me a winner,” he said. Radkar said that runners should do proper research before participating in any marathon. “Any runner who wants to participate in any marathon, half or full, must do research about the marathon. Give yourself some time. Preparation starts many weeks before the event. You need to know some of the basics of the race. Mornings are better for practice. I think 5 to 7am is a good time to run. Then the runner must follow guidelines regarding diet, hydration and other healthy habits,” he said. (Contribution by Ashish Phadnis, Salonee Mistry, Gargi Verma and Yogesh Wagh)
TGS LIFE
TECHSPEC TANK PADS
black rubber piece. We think it goes rather well on our “modern classic” Ducati Scrambler. Grip is excellent, whether seated or standing, and it doesn’t rip up your pants or cause discomfort. Also useful is the fact that the adhesive allows you to remove and reposition the pads a number of times before losing efficacy. It also comes off without leaving residue. Grippy tank pads are one of the cheapest mods you can do to you bike to allow you to ride safer and more confidently. It certainly helps in the rains to make sure you stay on the bike. The Techspec pads are available for most popular bikes, or you can buy them in self-adhesive panels and cut them to suit your vehicle. Techspec ‘snakeskin’ tank pads PRICE: Rs 4000 - Rs 7500 depending on application BUY AT: Bay City Speed Shop (baycityspeedshop@gmail.com)
RST MESH JACKET
while remaining lightweight. Features are basic but thoughtful. There’s a water-resistant pocket within the shell at chest level for your phone, and a felt pocket above the waist for your glasses. Unfortunately, this pocket is unusable when the rain liner is in place. Zippers are of high quality as is the neck fastener, which uses velcro and has a soft pad where your neck meets the textile. The jacket comes with CEapproved armour in the shoulders, elbows, and along the back. Fit appears to be European, which will work well for slimmer riders. There are button fasteners on the sleeves to get a more snug fit, and velcro on the cuffs and waist. The RST mesh jacket will be available in this black/red combo, or the inverse: red/black. RST mesh jacket Price: Rs 9500 Buy at: Bay City Speed Shop (baycityspeedshop@gmail.com)
Regardless of what bike you ride, your knees and thighs are typically going to come into contact with the fuel tank/airbox cover, which is usually made of painted metal or plastic. The problem is that metal and plastic don’t stick very well to textile, nylon or any material that you’d typically wear as pants on a motorcycle ride. Anchoring to your bike with your knees and thighs is critical for safety and confidence. Most sport riders are familiar with grippy stickers that you can put in place on the sides of your tank to alleviate this. Techspec is one such brand, which makes a unique ‘snakeskin’ pattern rubber material that can be applied to your tank with adhesive. Unlike some other brands of grip pads that look like organic globs or some sort of acupressure surface, the Techspec item is a fairly basic,
AUGUST 6, 2016 PUNE
THRILL OF DRIVING
MONSOON
MOTO GEAR Riding your motorcycle in the monsoon is a necessity for many, but it also brings out the adventurers. You’ve almost certainly got that Facebook friend who takes his bike to impossibly wet and dirty locations just because she can. If you’d like to follow suit but prefer to stay a bit drier, we have some kit you might want to consider SHIMA D-TOUR WP GLOVES
Shima is a recently-released Polish brand of motorcycle apparel, far less known than the typical gear you’ll see on your mates on a Sunday ride. However, they aren’t scrimping on their debut. If the catalog is anything to go by, the lineup is thorough and top-notch betraying no cost-cutting. We’ve tested the D-Tour WP (waterproof) gloves and have come away impressed. To begin with, the price is right: Rs 4800 for a pair of this kind is a good deal indeed. There are several things to like about the gloves. Key is the fused liner, which Shima calls NextFit/NextDry. What this means is that there’s no inner lining flapping about behind the exterior shell. Those can be infuriating to put on and take off. Shima’s solution is to fuse the waterproof liner with the exterior shell. This makes for a slightly stiff feel, but far more comfortable in the long run. Fasteners are good, with a velcro cinch at the wrist and a larger velcro pad to secure the cuff, which is extra roomy to accommodate your sleeve, should you choose to wear the gloves over them. The velcro pads themselves are not the typical sort, with the base (hooked) part being a much flatter, smoother material that catches less on dri-fit material. Protection is adequate for this sort of glove, with some leather in
the palm area and a reinforced, soft pad on the knuckle. There’s a rubber screen wiper on each thumb, which worked very well on our rainy rides. Waterproofing is good, with light showers being repelled entirely. The D Tour WP do seem to run a bit large, so you might need to order one size smaller than your typical glove. Recommended. Shima D-Tour WP gloves PRICE: Rs 4800 BU Y AT: Kombustion Imports & Exports Pvt Ltd (+91 87938 84215)
RST is a British manufacturer of motorcycle apparel that has recently become available in India. The distributor pegs them as a mid-tier brand, but we were impressed with the thought behind this jacket and its features. This is a basic textile/mesh jacket with a supplied, removable rain liner. Some background: it’s very hard to stay entirely dry in motorcycle gear unless you use an impermeable rain jacket over your kit or invest in much more expensive stuff. Rain liners are nice to have, but rarely foolproof. Thankfully, this RST jacket comes with a liner that zips into the shell using a long U-shaped zipper. Sleeves are held in place with small elasticated loops holding onto buttons on the liner. It’s a snug fit and doesn’t move around much. This design allows the jacket to be quite resistant to rain in light to medium rain,
Have you tried these eco-friendly brands yet?
TGS LIFE AUGUST 6, 2016 PUNE
FEATURES
By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry
B
ecoming sensitive to the environment and our surrounding is the need of the hour, and irrespective of how you do it or at what scale, it is the thought behind it that counts. Every now and then the depleting ozone layer or the rising pollution levels in cities are in the news, and all we do is sit back and blame each other for it. While many of us don’t get enough time to consciously do something for the environment, supporting people who do it is the next best step. Take a look at some of the eco-friendly brands from Pune, their stories and their out-of-the-box products.
RAVEESH Armed with a degree in fashion designing, Smriti Shikhiare worked as assistant costume designer before she decided to start something of her own. When she started off four years ago, she was working alone
and created Raveesh. Dealing in utility products made from cotton and silk fabrics, the raw materials used are all eco-friendly and look strikingly good. It all started when she started making things for herself and her family friends. She was anyways at that
THE PAPER BAG CULTURE The name is simply enough to explain what the vision and product of this brand is. Started in February last year by Swati Kumbhare, every single product that has this name stamped on it is hand-made and produced with the utmost attention to detail. It started off with Swati making paper bags to gift to her friends and family, who absolutely loved the fact that she had made them herself. Once she realised that there was a need for this and that people actually appreciated the designs and detailing she did, she decided to go all out and started her own brand. “People are becoming more conscious of their surroundings and so there is a need for something so simple and yet so effective. Almost all the raw materials we use are eco-friendly and some products are made re-using materials like newspapers,” she says. At the paper bag culture you not only can customise your own bags but have a variety of designs to pick up from as well. Get in touch: 9970808093
time looking for something to do from home and this seemed to fit in perfectly. “I want the products to be of some use and look appealing too. A lot of thought is put into every product that we make be it in the appearance of it or its utility value,” says Smriti. It
was through trial and error that she mastered the art of making these products, and she makes everything from pouches to organisers and even purses. Even though she started off alone, she now has someone to help her out. Get in touch: 9881374745
REBIRTH After working in the corporate world for about 11 years, Nivedita Chopra decided to quit her job and start something that was eco-friendly. She started Rebirth which is a solution design company that promotes an eco-friendly living through recycling, reusing and up-cycling. She was joined by Kumar Prashant, who took over for her when she moved to Bengaluru. Their fi rst recycling project was an art installation done at Mumbai International Airport by using old bottles and tyres in support of People for Animal. “Each of us can do small gestures to tackle the impact of waste on our environment. As an individual you can help your society or community you live in by promoting segregation of waste and holding waste collection drives. Inculcating simple and effective recycling habits into our lifestyle is the need of the hour and should become part of our daily lives eventually reducing our carbon footprint,” explains Kumar. Get in touch: 9764328226
CRYPTIC HUES Every time she had to host a party for her children’s birthday or a family get-together, her biggest dilemma was what to give in form of return gifts or tokens of appreciation to the people that showed up at her house. Th is is how Bhavana Thaker started making small souvenirs or gifts that her guests could remember her by. It was through these gifts that she decided to do her bit for the environment and encourage others to follow suit as well. She started gifting planters, small plants and recycled products. They not only added a personal touch to them since she herself had made them but were unique too. “My biggest challenge was collecting the raw materials to make these products. Especially when I started getting orders for what I was making, sourcing empty bottles was such a big task. Today I have a big enough network of friends and customers who collect these bottles from their own homes and neighbouring areas and courier it to me so that I can recycle it,” she tells us. Th is too is an example of how they are doing their bit to help with the environment even if they aren’t the ones recycling it,” she adds. Bhavana runs the venture with her sister Archana Mohod who works as a scientist. Bhavana herself worked years in the IT field before she decided to stay at home for her children. Get in touch: 8605007507 salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com
TGS LIFE AUGUST 6, 2016 PUNE
FEATURES
When childhood memories become a book
After working in the entertainment industry for over two decades, Pratibha Sharma ventures into the editorial space with her very first book, Cchote Sheher Kee Badee Kahaaniyaan
H
earing childhood stories whether they are yours or someone else’s is always fun. They almost always make you laugh, shy away in embarrassment and, most importantly, teach you how much you have grown as a person. Penning down these memories with words that are simple yet have a way of engaging the reader is exactly what noted voice-over artist Pratibha Sharma has done. A compilation of seven short stories, her book Cchote Sheher Kee Badee Kahaaniyaan is about her childhood days in the small town, the relationships she formed there and the people she met. Not only is the book simple in its language, it also comes along with an audio CD to help those who can’t read Hindi hear it. “The book talks about my childhood and a city that I love. It is born out of my love for Allahabad and the constant support of my friends who asked me to write a book about incidents from my childhood when I narrated stories to them,” she shares. This is
her first editorial venture under her company Pratibhaansh, a creative unit working on web series, advertisements, and songs, among other projects. Pratibha grew up in an environment that promoted and supported all kinds of art forms. Although she never met him, her grandfather was a Kashmiri classical singer and his compositions and songs would often
be playing in her home throughout the day. Becoming a lyricist and singer was an easy choice for her as it was such a huge part of how she grew up. She herself is a Sangeet Visharad. The one thing that keeps her motivated is the variation that her work brings. “With the kind of projects that we undertake at Pratibhaansh everyday there is something new
to work on. It is all extremely challenging and that’s what allows me to explore new sides of myself and push boundaries to see what I can achieve,” she tells us. For her future projects as a lyricist, she would love the opportunity to work with AR Rahman and Ajay-Atul. Even though she stopped acting a few years ago, she would jump at the opportunity to work with Farhan Akhtar and would love to produce a film featuring Tabu, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Irrfan Khan. She hopes to someday work on a musical drama on women who have been victims of different issues and put forth their struggle and stories to inspire others to fight away their troubles. As far as her book is concerned, after the idea came to her it took her about a month to finish it and close to seven months to find a publisher. The book is meant to throw light on everything that impacted her when she was a child as well as take a dig at the small things that towns like Allahabad have but metros like Mumbai miss out on.
Pune studio designs the country’s biggest signboard The sign, 112.7 meters long and eight meters high, became a landmark in the North Karnataka region and was even featured in the Limca Book of Records this year By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry
A
rmed with a bucket full of ideas, Hrishikesh Raut from Pune set out to bring about a change in industrial design through his venture Bucket Designs. After working in London for a while, he decided to come back to his hometown and offer his services here to make the city achieve international heights. Set up in 2012, he did quite well for himself and this he realised when the Karnataka government approached him to install what would be India’s biggest 3D metal sign at the Almatti dam on Krishna River in North Karnataka. The sign is a tribute to our former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri. Almatti dam is the biggest dam under Krishna Bhagya Jal Nigham Limited (KBJNL) and was named after Shastri as he laid the foundation stone of the irrigation project for the benefit of farmers in north Karnataka region, Hrishikesh tells us. “I was quite surprised when I got the call because I had no idea that our work
Hrishikesh Raut
had reached so far and was being appreciated. Obviously, after the first call I had to make a presentation to actually start working on it, but it was a big deal anyway,” he recollects. The sign is bigger than the Hollywood sigh which is just 106.6 meters long. A total of 45 steel frames have been used and 5,500 square feet of aluminium. Hrushikesh did a lot of research and spent about three and a half months simply coming up with how to go about such a large scale project. “The sign is designed in a way that no support
structure is visible from the front and all the letters are installed at a height of 70 feet from the ground. There was a lot of trial and error and back and forth even before we actually began the project, he tells us. Another big challenge was that the Karnataka government wanted the sign to be in Kannada, which is pretty cursive and not suitable for manufacturing. Trying to figure out a way to stay within budget and yet create something that was artistic, in the native language and could be manufactured easily was quite the task. Even though he would
have loved to break the world record and make the largest sign by making it bigger than the Hollywood sign in California, the budget did not allow for this. When he was younger he had wanted to join Sir JJ School of Art but landed up going to an engineering college instead. It had always been his wish to do something creative and when he stumbled upon industrial design he found a way to combine his interest and degree to almost immediately grab the opportunity. With Bucket Designs, his vision is to commission landmark projects for governments as well as the private sector in India and abroad. This is just the beginning to him achieving his dreams and making a name for himself internationally, he feels. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com
TGS LIFE
When gods decide to take a selfie
AUGUST 6, 2016 PUNE
FEATURES
Pune-based artist imagines and illustrates old paintings of gods holding smart phones and doing what this generation does best, clicking selfies By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab
T
he selfie culture has been around for a long time now. This very ‘complex’ process involves getting the angle right, the expression and the pout perfect, before clicking the picture. Now, imagine our gods and goddesses doing the same. How would it look if they too clicked selfies holding a smartphone in their hand? Pune girl Adrita Das did just that and gave a completely new look to the selfie mania. The brilliant artist and illustrator created a Tumblr page Selfie Gods which features the ancient and traditional gods clicking selfies with their smart phones and selfie sticks. They are light hearted pictures with no motive of hurting any religious
sentiments, she clarifies. Adrita is also experimenting with secular paintings from India and miniatures from Iran and Japan. “It was for a project where I was researching old paintings of gods and I started imagining them holding a cellphone in their hand and clicking a selfie. So I tried to animate them and created a GIF image,” she adds. She graduated from Bengaluru’s Srishti School of Art Design and Technology with an illustration major. She now works part time at a design studio for a corporate IT firm. She has, in the past, created GIFs of Bollywood stars and other miniature paintings, but
her Selfie Gods have generated more attention than she imagined. “The gods taking selfies thing is a Photoshop project which takes my mind off whatever else I am working on. Depicting gods with pop culture elements has always been controversial. Nobody has told me yet that this is offensive and I just hope that the humour negates any ill feelings,” she shares. One of her recent posts is based on the statue of Gautam Buddha in Japan and the recently released Instagram logo. Its caption says ‘When your selfie crosses all dimension, space, time, continuum because you suddenly feel all self-
reflective’. Another creation is a miniature painting of a Begam scribbling a note, saying ‘Tinder girls in India; swipin’ left on everybody’. “I think about the type of phone I use. In one where the begum is wearing a lot of jewellery and thinking, I found a Note to suit her
persona. Social media and various apps have seeped into our culture but that’s what makes these GIFs so interesting and so funny,” she adds. She is now working on vintage graphics that were popular in India and is also busy adding GIFs to the old murals and miniature paintings. zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com
Get to know the artists in your vicinity This Saturday, pamper your sweet-tooth and appreciate the work of five city-based photographers at a one-of-its-kind initiative Slideluck NIKHIL_ROSHAN
By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry
F
ood and art are two of the most comforting things in the world. What if we were to tell you that for a few hours you could witness the best of both? Coming all the way from New York, Slideluck is a oneof-its-kind initiative that gives local artists the exposure they need to showcase their work to a general public. It also allows for them to share a platform with well-known artists so that they get the right kind of exposure and audience. The artists range from painters, editors, collectors, photographers and performers. It is as local as it can get apart from being a competition-free platform that supports everyone. Slideluck which started off in 2000 with photographer Casey Kelbaugh who hosted the first Slideluck Potshow, which is what it was called back then, in his tiny Seattle backyard with only 50 people, today holds a Guinness World Record for having conducted the Largest Potluck Dinner on earth at Slideluck Potshow XV in Dumbo, Brooklyn, with over a thousand participants and 479 individual dishes. It is this very concept that has finally come to Pune thanks to Lost The Plot. The event
Nikita Naiknavre Slideluck to be held at Lost The Plot will bring together five local photographers
will show the curated works of five city-based photographers Shraddha Borawake, Abhijit Patil, Nikhil Roshan, Nupur Nanal and Jignesh Mistry. Deriving its name from the two words – slideshow and potluck – the idea is to showcase the works of these artists through a slideshow and follow the concept of a potluck where everyone brings along something to eat. “When I heard about the concept, I was extremely excited. We have been working on it since April now with constant back and forth with the team based in New York and are hopeful of a positive response from Punekars,” Nikita Naiknavre, owner of Lost The Plot, tells
us. Anyone and everyone is welcome at the event and the theme for the potluck is deserts, she adds. Getting the entire thing set up wasn’t that difficult Nikita confesses. The only tussle was to manage the time difference with Slideluck to iron out the details of the event. Rajyashi Goody who has picked the artists and curated the pictures for the event says, “I wanted every single artists to be different from the other and this was my priority. Pune has a pretty big and interesting art community and so it was not much of a problem picking or putting together five artists. Picking a few from the huge pool
Rajyashi Goody
was the actual challenge.” This is an amazing opportunity to celebrate artists who are pushing their limits and going out of their way to do something different, she feels. While this is just the first event, Nikita hopes that she can make this a regular event. She says, “The plan for now is to organise at least one Slideluck every three or four months as well as include a wider range of artists. It is an extremely interactive forum that allows people presenting their work to talk about it and that makes a world of a difference.” They will also hope to eventually tap into artists and communities from Mumbai and other neighbouring cities to make the community bigger, she adds.
SP
EMBRACE ETHNICITY
TGS LIFE AUGUST 6, 2016 PUNE
SHOPPING
14
IN STYLE
This 19-year-old fashion designer and student, Ronak Sayyed brings out the best in ethnic wear with five outfits to bedazzle your traditional event with all things Indian
The golden touch This golden lehenga will add the glimmer and shimmer to your grand evening. Be it wedding or Mehendi party, this outfit will make sure that all eyes are on you. With two-tone green dupatta and blouse, this lehenga is a complete stunner. Lehenga: Rs 12,000 Cloth: M.G Road Earrings: F.C Road, Rs 300
Contemporary twist
PICS BY RAHUL RAUT
With a modern touch, this lehenga is perfect for day events. Vibrant colours and floral prints will make you stand out in crowd. Pair it up with a nose ring to get that perfect retro look. Lehenga: RONAK, Rs 9,000 Nose ring: Samraat, Tulsibaug, Rs 200
Sarees are forever
When you want t play it safe, always go for a saree. Make a style statement with the broad borders, chiffon texture and a lacy back. Team it with heavy jhumkas and bangles to complete the look. Saree: Yosha, Laxmi Road, Rs 12,000 Earrings: Raviwar Peth, Rs 400
Elegant anarkali
This elegant gold-red anarkali is apt for a formal evening. The delicate texture and sequined gold bust will make you look sophisticated. Pair it up with a delicate neckpiece and long earrings tand you are ready to go. Anarkali: Rs 4,000 Cloth: Bizzyland, Camp Jewellery: High Fashion, Baner, Rs 1,200
The must-have lehenga
Every girl’s wardrobe must have this essential black and maroon lehenga. The netted sleeves and dupatta help you show off your toned waist. Team this with heavy jewellery and jhumkas. Lehenga: Rs. 7,000 Cloth: Clover Centre, Camp Necklace: Singapore Flea Market, Rs 500 Earrings: Laxmi road, Rs 300
— Compiled by Rituja Rao
TGS LIFE
A self-made man before he once again decided to start washing cars. The one thing that bothered Rohit through all of this was that he had not finished studying and so he decided to complete his junior college externally. “I come from a village where even passing your 12th grade is a big deal. I am grateful that my father never stopped me from pushing to get what I wanted. Growing up I never really wanted to become anything since I don’t know what options existed, but I always knew that I wanted to help my father,” he says, with a smile on his face. It’s been a decade now that he has been living in the city saving money to make ends meet, financially support his family and become independent. He has now raised enough money to start a resort of his own in his village, owns a number plate shop and still continues to wash cars in the morning. “This was something that fetched me enough money to pursue my dreams. I will do this forever,” he adds. (As told to Salonee Mistry)
PUNE
FEATURES
TEJAS GAIKWAD
H
e was merely 17-years-old when he started working to help his father and elder brother manage the house, and get his four sisters married. He moved from his village Girivan which is about 35 kilometers from Pune to the city. Today he has two flourishing jobs and has saved enough money to start building a resort in his village. This is the story of Rohit Telagare. When he first moved to the city he began working with a friend and helped him wash cars in a society. He would get a daily wage from which he would save some to send home. It was while working on this job that he got his first customer who gave the car directly to him to wash. Slowly he got a few more and then eventually had enough customers to do it independently. On the side he also worked as a waiter to earn some extra bucks. “I was very fortunate to find work on my own because it meant that I made much more money. I earned about Rs 15,000 a month, which was enough for my survival,” he tells us. After this he worked as a courier boy for a while and a recovery agent as well for a bank
AUGUST 6, 2016
unekar
City celeb chat Make your way for Name: Shaan Kumar Profession: Environmentalist, Model Filmmaker Three words to describe me: Adventurous, determined, grateful I love my job because: I get to do and stand up for things that I believe in. It keeps me going Best advice I’ve received: Always keep your feet on the ground. It is the simplest and the most effective piece of advice I have ever received When buying something, the first thing that catches my eye is: Usually the packaging or print What’s your inner animal?: An elephant, because I am strong, powerful, yet caring and I love my family The first thing you notice about an attractive person: I find intelligence extremely attractive The perfect start to a day is: A warm glass of lemon-honey-cumin water, music that I love and some stretching Your current four-wheeler: Don’t have one Your fitness regimen: A healthy diet with fruits, sprouts, lentils and lots of water, plus, being regular to the gym and dancing Your food indulgence: I love cake, it’s difficult for me to control my cake cravings Books by your bedside: Norwegian Wood, Into the Wild, The Tipping Point The first site you visit when you fire up your comp: It’s either YouTube or Flipboard Your favourite city: Pune. I hail from Bhopal, but I completed my graduation in Pune and worked with kids there for another three years and loved every bit of it. Pune is my happy place Ideal holiday: Croatia with a group of close friends.
(As told to Salonee Mistry)
prints this season
P
STYLE GURU
ulling off the right prints in a right way is major fashion feat. From leopard to floral, to the printed pieces already lying in your wardrobe, Nishit Gupta all you have to do is start mixing. City based fashion designer and owner of Soleil Atelier Aditi Bhalerao tells us how to wear prints in style. STRIPES: A classic black and white striped shirt is a must have in your wardrobe. You can team it up with an intense colour skirt or a well fitted cigarette trouser. Multiple prints: If you are one of those who like to try multiple prints in the same look, have the right attitude and confidence to carry it. You can layer it up in different prints. Note: It can make or break your look. Look around, experiment
and get a friend’s opinion. QUIRKY PRINTS: Printed tops with words, phrases or movie or cartoon characters can be paired with striped pant, pleated maxi skirts or simply blue denims. You can use creative bags to complete the look. SCARF OR JACKET: Pair a luxe printed scarf or a printed jacket with a solid coloured sheath dress and accessorise with a statement watch for classy chic look. Don’t forget to wear understated but complimentary footwear. QUICK TIPS · Polka dots, Checks, Plaids, Houndstooth print can be worn for a formal/semi formal look. · An outit with the same print on a sheer top and an opaque bottom looks very trendy. Be careful with both the base colour and print colour variation. · Accentuate the classic little black dress with printed peplum belts, clutch bags, printed footwear etc. As told to Zainab Kantawala
TGS LIFE
She’s got major Bollywood ambitions
AUGUST 6, 2016 PUNE
BUZZ
By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab
M Gauhar wants to play interesting characters By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry
I
f you have seen a fi lm that features her you most definitely couldn’t have ignored her. From performing hit numbers in big banner fi lms to starring in reality shows, Gauhar Khan is known for being stylish, sexy and good at what she does. Winning Bigg Boss most definitely changed her life for the better and her fans will now get to see her often thanks to the innumerable projects she has been working on. Shot entirely in Switzerland, the soon-torelease fi lm Fever, starring Gauhar alongside Rajeev Khandelval, Gemma Atkinson and Caterina Muriona, will feature her in a role different from what she has performed till date. While she could not reveal much about the fi lm because it is a suspense thriller she says that it is a different kind of story. “I play the role of Kavya Chaudhari in the fi lm. She is a confident, strong-headed girl so relating to her was not all that difficult. Working with Rajeev was a great experience. He is extremely good at what he does and so
it only made my job as an actress easier. We share a great chemistry on and off the screen.” For her next project, she would like to take up comedy since it is something she hasn’t ventured into yet. Every role that she has undertaken till date, irrespective of how big or small it has been, has only helped her push herself to achieve more than she thought she could and get her to where she is today. Another fi lm she has recently finished shooting is titled Begum Jaan. It is her favourite project till date. It is in this fi lm that she got the opportunity to work with Vidya Balan who is someone she absolutely adores, she tells us. The actress says that she is grateful for all the love and appreciation she received when she participated in Bigg Boss and she feels the same acceptability and kindness from people even today. “I have worked hard for everything that I have been a part of and I am glad about how things have turned out for me. I would love the opportunity to work with Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Imtiaz Ali and Karan Johar in the future,” she says. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com
Focusing on films, not TV: Akshay
B
ollywood superstar Akshay Kumar, who had hosted reality TV show Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi, today said his focus these days is only fi lms. "No. I am now concentrating only on fi lms," Kumar told reporters when asked about plans to return to the small screen. The superstar, whose Rustom releases on August 12, said he does only 3-4 fi lms a year but can easily do six. "For one fi lm, you need 40-45 days and even if I do four fi lms in a year it will take only about 230 days. For the remaining days, I spend with family, etc. I can also do six fi lms as there is a lot of time for it," he said. Now this trend of doing less fi lms has decreased, he said hoping that others will soon start doing three fi lms a year. Asked about competition, the actor said there is no competition as the industry makes about 180 fi lms annually which ensures space for everyone. On what is new in Rustom as there are several fi lms made in the past taking cue from real life incident of naval officer K M Nanavati, Kumar said this fi lm's screenplay has taken 4-5 incidents to make one story.
arathi actress Shruti Marathe is flying high these days as her Bollywood debut movie Budhia Singh - Born to Run will be up at the box office soon. She will be seen portraying the role of Geeta, a judo coach and the wife of Budhia’s coach Biranchi Das played by Manoj Bajpayee. The fi lm, directed by Soumendra Padhi, is based on the little boy from one of Bhubaneswar’s notorious slums, whose passion for running helps him achieve incredible heights. Shruti got her fi rst break in Sanai Choughade, produced by actor Shreyas Talpade, followed by the Tamil movie Indira Vizha. She is super excited about the fi lm. “I play Manoj Bajpai’s wife in the fi lm. Though we have a happy marriage, we have constant arguments over Budhia as my husband wants to make him undergo rigorous training,” she
says. Besides the fi lm, the actress has a couple of Marathi and South Indian fi lms in her kitty. She is now waiting for the right opportunity to enter the Hindi fi lm industry. “I most certainly have Bollywood ambitions, but I don’t want to do a fi lm where my talent will be wasted. Given a chance, I would love to play a character that Rani Mukherjee did in Black ,” she adds. Shruti has been in the TV circuit for quite some time now. She made an early start with the Marathi serial Peshwai when she was just 15 years old. Her big-screen innings took off with the Marathi hit fi lm Sanai Chowghade and she has been busy ever since. “I wasn’t that active with plays in school but I did perform in few experimental plays. What changed my career was when I was offered the role of Radha in the Marathi serial Radha Hi Bawari,” she adds. zainab.kantawala @goldensparrow.com