TGS Life 16/07/2016 by Golden Sparrow Publishing

PUNE, JULY 16, 2016 | www.thegoldensparrow.com

DO YOU

DARE? With over 650 jumps, eight world records, 11 national records, Padmashri awardee Shital Mahajan sure has made the city proud. There are many Punekars like her who have excelled in extreme sports and are inspiring future champions

Not your ordinary superhero

TGS LIFE JULY 16, 2016 PUNE

STAGE

Kedar Shinde’s latest play is a laugh riot, subtly sending out a message to the audience By Abha Pandit @abha_pandit

aily life is often a struggle and the monotony of it all eventually gets to some people. They start acting a little crazy and leavepeople around them wondering what happened to them.

Well known Marathi playwright and director Kedar Shinde looks at this subject in a hilarious manner with his play Gela Udat. Popular Marathi comic actor Siddharth Jadhav plays the lead role in the play, a boy who thinks of himself as a superhero and starts to behave like one.

The plot revolves around a common man, who gets electrocuted and loses his mind. He begins to get fascinated by superheroes and wants to become Superman himself. After he starts behaving like Superman, his family is forced to seek help from a psychiatrist. The rest of the play is about how his family learns to deal with his eccentric behaviour and starts treating him in accordance with the way he behaves.

Kedar is quite popular among Marathi comedy fans. Having written and directed 16 such plays and numerous movies before Gela Udat, theatre audience is no stranger to his body of work. Some of his popular works include the play Sahi Re Sahi and the film Aga Bai Arrecha. Talking about why he chooses to work with the comedy genre, Shinde has a sound reasoning. “People are stressed out enough in their lives, without

having to constantly look at serious issues being discussed even on entertainment platforms. I like to make them laugh and forget about their worries for those couple of hours,” he explains. Gela Udat was completed in the beginning of the year with the first performance happening in May in Mumbai. “So far, the response to the play has been absolutely brilliant. Audience is loving it, especially Siddharth’s wonderful acting,” says Shinde. The play is an easy watch, with no thinking required. Two and a half hours without a dull moment and complete craziness on the stage is sure to keep the public fully entertained. Through all of its hilarity, it manages to put across a message to the public. Shinde hopes the audience will end up introspecting a little after watching the play. In the end, it encourages people to find the superhero in themselves. “Everyone is extraordinary and unique in their own way, it is simply a matter of understanding what your superpower is,” says the playwright. When: July 17, 5 pm Where: Anna Bhau Sathe Smarak, Bibwewadi abha.pandit@goldensparrow.com

An evening of Bengali theatre

VISHAL KALE

Experience the rich culture and tradition of the West as two groups of theatre enthusiasts stage plays back to back By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

f you are a theatre enthusiast, you will understand that you don’t always need to know the language to appreciate a play. The direction, script, acting and set is sometimes enough to entertain and leave you wanting more. With an intention to promote and create awareness about Bengali culture and its rich heritage, Dishari, a two-decade old theatre group from Pune, and Nandanik Sanstha, an organisation that works with the same aim, will stage two Bengali plays this weekend. It will be an evening of light-hearted comedy presented by Nandanik Sanstha and an adaptation of one of Rabindranath Tagore’s stories by Dishari. A part of the theatre world since his college days, Charubrata Ray gets immense satisfaction when he does anything related to drama. Staging famous Bengali

Cast of Boropishima rehearsing for the play two days before the event

The team of Bishoy Udgaar during on of their rehearsals

playwright Badal Sircar’s play Boropishima, this will be the first commercial project that the organisation has undertaken. The play tackles the difference in the mindsets of different generations and the conflicts that arise from this. “While there wasn’t any particular challenge with the play, getting a time set for rehearsals was a big issue. Since everyone in the cast is a working professional, they are not always free. I have had the entire cast together just once maybe,” he tells us. The fact that everyone is enthusiastic about being

a part of the play makes the process easier, he adds. The second play is Bishoy Udgaar, an adaptation of Rabindranath Tagore’s story Sampatti Samarpan. The play is directed by Shailaditya Roy who has been doing Bengali theatre for about a decade now. This is also the first time that he has written a few acts for a play. “Direction is more like an extension of me. This play, in particular, is close to me since I have written for it too. As a director, it’s always about visualising the bigger picture,” he says. Although both plays have been

inspired or adapted from previous works, a lot of editing has been done to ensure that they fit the time frame on the day of the event. Shailaditya shares that while the stories are old and deep rooted in culture, the sets are kept modern to make them relatable. The most difficult part for him was to create the sound of the 1920’s, which is the era in which Bishoy Udgaar is based. A lot of research was done before staging the plays and even though this might make it a lengthy process, it is what promises quality, he adds. Dishari and Nandanik Sanstha usually perform only at Durga Puja events and other social gatherings but this will be the first time that they go commercial. While Dishari has been active in Pune for more than two decades, Nandanik was registered just two years ago. Dishari

organises regular theatre workshops and has also participated in various festivals across the country. Some of their well-known productions include Oedipous, Bisorjon, Tiner Talowar and Mudrarakshas. Nandanik, on the other hand, works across all mediums of performances and promotes even music, literature and art. Their aim is to create a platform that is accessible to all and one that well-represents Bengal and its heritage. Hoping to make their debut count, Charubrata explains that every cast member has given it all they have to ensure that it becomes successful. Right from memorising lines to supporting each other, it has all been a fun process. When: July 16, 6 pm onwards Where: Mahatma Phule Auditorum, Wanwadi salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

Half Ticket is a film that almost everyone will relate to as its story beautifully encapsulates the desires of two brothers who live in the slums of Mumbai By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

RE-LIVE YOUR CHILDHOOD

TGS LIFE JULY 16, 2016 PUNE

ENTERTAINMENT

behaviour that I was looking for in the elder brother and Shubham perfectly fit the description. V i n a y a k looked lost at the audition Samit Kakkad but he had a sparkle in his eye that I wanted the younger brother to have,” explains the director. Prior to directing films, he has produced two of them and worked on several ad films too. Other than the usual challenges that any director faces during the process of making a film, getting permissions to shoot in the slums and other locations of Mumbai was quite the task initially. To train the boys, Samit would often take them to the slum area and they would spend hours observing, playing with the other children there and getting familiarised with the place in general. The fact that the original film has done so well put immense pressure on him to deliver and live up to that standard. “I am glad that there was this kind

he first 15 seconds of the trailer of this soon to release film Half Ticket, is enough to put a smile on your face. Two young boys talking about what they cannot even dare dream of in an innocent and simple conversation is capable of melting the hardest of hearts. An official remake of the Tamil film Kaaka Muttai, the director had a lot to live up to, he shares. The original film had won a national award and missed the Oscar by just one vote, so the pressure to deliver this time round was immense. With this being only his second film as a director after Aayna Ka Bayna, Samit Kakkad talks to TGS and shares his experience of shooting this film, his challenges and, more importantly, why everyone must watch the film. The minute Shubham More, the boy who plays the elder brother, walked into the audition room and delivered his dialogue, Samit knew that it had to be him. About 25 minutes later Vinayak Potdar, walked in and like a blessing in disguise the casting was done about 500-odd auditions later. “There was a sense of maturity and child-like

STEP ON THE DANCE FLOOR One of the fastest rising names in the EDM scenario DJ Liz Brown comes to Pune for the hottest party in town By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

et ready to groove to the tunes of DJ Liza Brown from Ukraine, as she takes on the console this weekend. She 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. Known for her unique style, Liz is one of the busiest and the most successful DJ. Having studied music for nine years, she believes in redefining the sounds of the Indian Electronic scene. She started her musical career at the age of six at the classical musical school in Ukraine, where she was taught piano, musical grammar and history. “When I was in college, EDM was spreading across the world and it was an ‘in’ thing to be a DJ. So I decided to pursue DJing,” she says. She started playing in the local clubs as a hobby, but she soon fell in love with dance music. Liz now has a successful career and plays at gigs across the world. From countries like Ukraine, India, Sri Lanka and many more, she is a known name in the world of EDM.

“My only motive is to make people dance. It doesn’t matter how many people have attended my gig, if you are present, I make sure that you are on the dance floor,” she adds. It is her style, combined with many of her original tracks that have turned clubbers into instant fans. She took up EDM as it helped her express her emotion without using words. “It goes beyond the barrier of language. It connects everyone in a much deeper way. It’s much more meaningful than someone singing in one language,” she says. Her style of music is mainly influenced by international artist like Afrojack, Hardwell and Axwell. What sets her apart is her commanding presence on stage and her way of connecting with the audience. She is fully engaged with the crowd and her music. Her passion behind the console is reflected in her powerful sets filled with heavy sounds and mash ups. “The music that I play is very melodious and organic in nature. It is a mix of heavy beats, melodies and its harmony,” she says. When: July 16, 9 pm onwards Where: BlueFrog, Yerawada zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com

of pressure on the team. It pushed us to deliver harder and do better than what we thought we were capable of. The devil and the beauty lies in the detail and this was our motto throughout,” he says. The film allows one to bring back to life the child in each of us and this is exactly why everyone must watch the film, he adds. Samit wanted to be a director since he understood what the job entailed. For him, the best part about what he does is that he gets to learn something new every single day. Be it the spot dada or the youngest member of the crew, in this case the two small boys, he believes that he has learned from each one of them. He hopes to continue to tell stories that are relatable and rich in content. Given an opportunity, he would love to work with Amitabh Bachchan and Nana Patekar. Half Ticket is all set to hit theatres across India on July 22. It will also release in the UK, US, Canada, Dubai and Singapore on July 29. With the kind of positive response that the trailer has received, the team is excited and positive that the film will do well too. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

TGS LIFE JULY 16, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES Presented by Step Up Dance Studios, dance lovers can have a happier Friday as MJ5 doles out tips on how to get your hip-hop and animation moves right

MOONWALK MAGICIANS COME TO TOWN

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

veryone knows the music and dance legend Michael Jackson and everyone also knows the famous dance crew MJ5 from New Delhi who follow in his footsteps. They shot to fame after their very first audition on India’s Dancing Superstar, which aired on Star Plus. With every performance, they not only upped the level of the show but also proved that they were the best by winning the season. Known for their unique moonwalks and one-of-a-kind dance tricks the crew soon went international and won hearts world over. TGS caught up with crew members, R Karthik, Himanshu Gola, Rohit Singh, Vishnu Shauna and Denis Anthony before they set foot in Pune to conduct what might be the city’s biggest dance workshop till date. It was just about a fortnight before they had to audition for the reality show that these five guys decided to come together and

participate as a group. It might be a little difficult to believe this given their flawless synchronisation and coordination but they are happy that things worked out well. The crew can moonwalk in 16 different styles and are constantly looking to add to this number too. “It was out of the blue that we thought of doing something different as a crew, so that we had a chance of standing out at the competition. Being big Michael Jackson fans it was easy to decide what to work on and there has been no stopping us ever since,” says

Karthik. Winning the competition makes them feel secure and they plan on doing several things in the future. They want to even travel and keep teaching wherever they go apart from performing on a regular basis themselves. Although they have all grown individually in the last three years since they formed the crew and have formed different perceptions about life, they are one body and soul on stage. There isn’t much that the team fights over and they are actually just like one big family. Their main

focus, when in Pune, will be to teach musicality and control over mind and body. “One must dance with soul and be able to freely swing about when the music plays. You must learn to let go and take in the moment and live it to the fullest,” explains Karthik when asked what it takes to be a good dancer. At the workshop they are expecting a lot of youthfulness, raw energy and dancers who are willing to expand their boundaries as they step out of their comfort zone. Though the crew wants to be

seen on screen and keep performing, they aren’t really keen on doing any more reality shows. For all five of them, the best part about being a dancer is the freedom they get to express themselves, the travel and the experiences that they have meeting people from across the globe. When: July 22 & 23, 4 pm onwards Where: Step Up Dance Studios, Dhanori road Get in touch: 9579366275/8983318475 salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

that attends these shows is great. According to him, the city audience really appreciates comedy. Since there are a lot of students and youngsters in the city, fresh content is generally very well received here. Obsessive Comedic Disorder introduces Sapan, the person, to the audiences along with giving subtle messages about social

issues through his jokes. Appealing mostly to the young generation, he promises a fairly clean show which can also be watched along with ones parents. When: July 23, 8 pm onwards Where: Classic Rock Coffee Co, Kalyani Nagar abha.pandit@goldensparrow.com

Of Snapchat and organic food Sapan Verma promises to tickle your funny bone while talking about social issues that the millennial generation relates with By Abha Pandit @abha_pandit

ive years ago, the television show script writer Sapan Verma decided to dive head first into comedy. He had no idea he would be hitting the comic jackpot. One of the founders of the popular group East India Comedy, Sapan is currently on his first-ever solo tour across the country. With a gig in Pune later in the month, the funny man speaks with TGS about his work and what inspires his jokes. East India Comedy (EIC) became the cool group on the block when they started doing sketches and stand-up comedy in 2012 as the scene was just picking up in India. “This was also around the time the YouTube boom took place and EIC became a

great platform that uploaded regular content, introducing humour in various ways,” explains Sapan. With content ranging from Bollywood to news comedies, EIC manages to cater to all kinds of audiences. At 27 years old, Sapan Verma considers himself a part of the millennial generation. In this 70-minute long special show, he tries to talk about subjects ranging from social media to feminism in a manner that the younger generation will be able to relate to. “This particular show has content which has a lot of pop culture references and talks about growing up. I talk about Snapchat, organic food, Ola and Uber apps, and about growing up in a middle class family as a 90s’ kid,” he says. Spanning group shows and YouTube videos to live solo shows,

the comedian talks about the stark difference between the performances. It is a completely difference experience since the audience reacts to the content in real time instead of passively watching the same thing online. “This particular show talks about my personal experiences, which is why it is all the more important for me to gauge the audiences’ reactions,” says Sapan. As for the name of the show, Obsessive Comic Disorder, it is a play on Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), which has affected Sapan throughout his life. “I have slight OCD and I address that in this show. I talk about how it has affected me growing up and how it impacts me as a comedian,” he says. He has noticed that when he talks about these issues, a lot of people in the audience have that all familiar reaction when they realise that the same thing has happened to them as well. Pune is one of Sapan’s favourite places to perform, since the crowd

THE LIVING WALLS

TGS LIFE JULY 16, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

Vertical gardens are breathtaking, upward expanses of greenery that are popping up across the city. We caught up with some green experts for an insight into the trend

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

o you fancy having an exotic patch of green around you that has herbs, shrubs and indigenous plants taking over the walls of your house? Well, nature connoisseurs in the city would do just about anything to incorporate a green factor into their home decor. For them, it’s about blending their love for nature and the comfort of a luxurious life. Indoor, vertical gardens sure have gained popularity of late, as they not only give an aesthetic appeal but also make way for a healthy living. TOPIARY OF THE FUTURE Stroll down the street near Balewadi stadium and the Shrinivas residence is sure to catch your eye. As soon as you set foot inside you are greeted with a wall that supports a doublesided vertical garden. Plants like dwarf conifer, rosemary and salvia, along with many other flowering species, take over the entire space. “My father is very fond of gardening and since we have ample space just outside our house, we thought of converting it into a vertical garden. The plants are eye-catching and unique,” says Roshan Shrinivas who is a student. Be it creepers or flowering plants, there are many species that are suitable for a vertical landscape. The fact that it doesn’t take much to maintain them is a huge boon, shares Supriya Nikumbh, cofounder of Green Drops, a landscape designing company. Inspired by the innumerable residential complexes she saw in Singapore, she decided to adopt the idea in her hometown and started her company in Pune. “The best thing about having a vertical garden is that bigger spaces can be covered with little maintenance. Also, you can create unique designs that beautify your terraces and balconies. They also help reduce the surface temperature of the walls by as much as 10 degrees Celsius, which results in significant savings on air conditioning,” she explains.

Her partner Bhairavi Shevade, who also has a beautiful vertical garden in her balcony, believes it to be a great time saver as they have a self-watering system to automate watering. “You don’t need to water them every day. There is a weekly set timer that makes it hassle free for all those who face a time crunch. They are easy to plant, maintain and grow,” she adds. NO SPACE, NO PROBLEM It doesn’t matter whether you live in a spacious bungalow, or a studio apartment, it is easy to plant a living wall anywhere. In times like today when cities are packed with concrete buildings and there is no space around, this technique is a blessing in disguise. Moving to an apartment from a bungalow Surekha Pathak, a resident of Prabhat Road, feels that vertical gardens are the best way to have greenery around you when there is less space for an actual garden. “My gardening hobby took a backseat when I shifted to my new house because of a space crunch. It was after I saw a vertical garden at the Oxford Golf Club that I thought of having one at my home too,” she says. Extremely particular about the plants she wants in her garden, she has grown different shades of green creepers throughout. THE DOS AND DON’TS Whether you set up the garden indoors or outdoors, all that differs is the plant type. Shade-loving plants usually seek refuge indoors, while sun-loving ones occupy space outside. “Shorter plants and those that grow slowly are the most recommended. Flowering plants require sunlight, so it’s best to use these outdoors. Seasonal flowers, philodendron and money plants are ideal for vertical home gardens,” advices Supriya. These gardens sure have a calming effect on your mind and are the best way to liven up your space. But keep in mind that it is very important to select the right kind of plants depending on the space available. zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com

VISHAL KALEAND RAHUL RAUT

Roshan Shrinivas

Surekha Pathak

Supriya Nikumbh and Bhairavi Shevade

TGS LIFE JULY 16, 2016 PUNE

INDULGE

Crazy about corn? Bhutta, is the most loved snack for the rainy season. Here are some hatke corn recipes for you to try out By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

hen we think of corn, the first food that comes to mind is corn flakes, popcorn or steamed corn, for that matter. Most of the recipes we have seen are in savoury form. So why don’t we try out something sweet and spicy as well? The thought inspired these chefs to try out something different. They share their secret recipes. CORN PANCAKE Ingredients Milk 400 ml Vanilla essence 2 tbsp Flour 200 gms Corn kernel 100 gms Castor sugar 50 gms Butter 25 gms Method · Whisk milk, vanilla essence, flour, sugar together in a bowl, add corn kernels, whisk it once again and keep the mixture ready · Heat a large non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Brush pan with butter. Using 1/4 cup mixture per pancake, cook 2 pancakes for 3 to 4 minutes or until bubbles appear on surface. Turn and cook for 3 minutes or until cooked through. Transfer to a plate For Apple and celery salsa · In a bowl, combine apples and celery · Add vinegar and honey, mix to incorporate · Add tarragon, fresh chopped red chilli and mint to finish · Season with salt

CORN CHIKKI Ingredients Corn Kernels 200 gms Jaggery 300 gms Ghee 40 ml Method · Heat a deep non-stick pan; add the corn kernels and dry roast on a medium flame for 5 to 6 minutes until the moisture goes off. Remove and keep aside · Heat the ghee in the same deep non-stick pan, add the jaggery, mix well and cook on a medium flame for 3 minutes, while stirring constantly · Switch off the flame, add the roasted corn kernels and mix well · When the mixture is ready, put all of it over a greased tray or a smooth stone surface. Roll it out thin into a 200 mm, (8) diameter circle, using a greased rolling pin · Cut into square pieces and serve

CORN AND DRY FRUIT BARFI Ingredients Milk powder 1½ cup Sugar 1/2 cup Corn kernel 1/2 cup Chopped mixed nuts (walnuts, almonds, pistachios and figs) 1/2 cup Cardamom powder 1/4 tsp Nutmeg powder A pinch Method · Combine the mava and sugar in a deep

non-stick wok, mix well and cook on a medium flame for 5 minutes, while stirring occasionally · Switch off the flame, add the mixed nuts, cardamom powder and nutmeg powder and mix well · Transfer the mixture into a greased tray and keep aside to cool for 5 hours · Cut into pieces and serve immediately — Recipes by Chef Sathish Reddy (Courtyard by Marriott, Chakan)

MAAKA MOONG DAL PAKODA Ingredients Yellow moong dal 1 cup Roughly chopped green chillies 1 tbsp Corns 50 gm Crushed coriander (dhania) seeds 1 tsp Coarsely crushed black peppercorns (kalimirch) 1/2 tsp Salt to taste Oil Method · Clean, wash and soak the moong dal in water for 2 hours. Drain well · Combine the moong dal and corns ,greenchillies in a mixer and blend to

a coarse paste using approx. 2 tbsp of water · Transfer the mixture into a deep bowl, add the coriander seeds, peppercorns and salt and mix well · Heat the oil in a deep non-stick kadhai, drop spoonful of the mixture using your fingers and deep-fry a few pakodas at a time on a medium flame till they turn golden brown in colour from all the sides · Repeat step 4 to make more pakodas. · Serve immediately with meetha chutney, green chutney and sukhalehsunka chutney — Recipe by Marriott Suites

The idea behind this dish comes from Quiche Laurent, the first revolutionary French based dish which contains ham and egg. But here Chef Sanjib opted for a vegetarian option which would be enjoyed by all. Mini Quiche which is easily enjoyed at all times of the day and a party favourites which children as well as adults savour.

CORN CHILLI DYNABITES

Salt, to taste

Ingredients Crushed corn kernels Grated mozzarella cheese Mustard seeds Black pepper Crushed garlic and ginger Fresh grated Coconut Green chilies Boiled potatoes Coriander leaves Bhavnagri chili Gram flour (besan) Curd Mint leaves Soda bicarbonate

Method · First take 6 Bhavnagri chilies wash and slit in the middle. Take oil in a pan, add crushed ginger, garlic and sauté till it gets golden, then add green chillies, crushed corn kernel, boiled potatoes and mix well · After it is sautéed well, add a pinch of black pepper powder, mozzarella cheese and coriander leaves · Fill this mixture in Bhavnagri chilies · Make the gram flour mixture in the same way as you would make a pakoda batter Then dip Bhavnagri chilies in it fry till crisp and serve with dahi pudina chutney — Recipe courtesy - Deccan Harvest

1 cup 2 tbsp 1/4 tsp 1 gm 1 tsp 1 tsp 5 2 2 tbsp 6 3 tbsp 2tbsp 50 gm A pinch

MINI QUICHE OF CREAMY SPINACH, ROASTED CORN & CHEDDAR Ingredients Mini tart shells 8 Blanched Spinach 200 gms Chopped Garlic 1 tbsp Chopped Onion 1 tbsp Chopped Thyme 1 tspn Roasted Corn 60 gm Bechamel Sauce 50 ml Cheddar 60 gm Fresh Cream 50 ml Salt and pepper, as per taste Nutmeg powder one pinch Butter 50gm Method · Heat butter in a pan · Add onion, garlic and thyme and sauté until golden brown · Add chopped, blanched spinach, corn and sauté

CORN TINGLE POTATO MINGLE Ingredients American Corn Potatoes Bell Pepper, red and yellow Green Apple Feta Cheese Cherry tomatoes Kalamata Olives Lemon Juice SIRU SOLA VARUVAL Ingredient Baby Corn 450 gm Ginger garlic paste 30 gm Red Chili Powder 30 gm Turmeric Powder 10 gm Maida 10 gm Besan Flour 50 gm Vinegar 5 mls Salt 10 gm Oil 250 ml Curry Leaves Method · Cut baby corn into thin strips and marinate with ginger garlic paste, vinegar, red chili powder, turmeric powder and half the salt. Let it rest for at least 15 minutes · Mix maida, besan flour and a pinch of salt

together. Dust the baby corn with the flour mix and ensure it is coated evenly. · Heat oil in a wok and add the babycorn, stir them a little to ensure it does not clump together. Remove the babycorn when golden brown. · Flash fry the curry leaves until crisp. · Serve hot garnished with fried curry leaves —Recipe by Savya Rasa This is a deep fried, spiced baby corn preparation from the Kongunadu region of Tamil Nadu. The baby corn is prepared in a classic spicy deep-fried marinade which works extremely well with the natural sweetness of the corn. This is enjoyed both as a snack and as a starter.

100 gms 40 gms 2 1 50 gms 20 gms 8-10

TGS LIFE JULY 16, 2016 PUNE

INDULGE · Add cheddar, fresh cream and béchamel sauce · Stir until cheese melts · Season well with salt, pepper and nutmeg · Add base using a spoon into tart shells till tip. Spinkle with cheddar and bake in oven at 180.C · Serve hot and garnish with fresh herbs — Recipe Courtesy Chef - Sanjib Das, Tertulia

Salt, to taste Black Pepper and Cinnamon powder Method · Boil the corn and big pieces of potatoes, green apple and bell peppers and add American corn to it. Add black pepper, salt, lemon juice, olive oil, chili flakes · While serving, sprinkle cinnamon powder to garnish — Recipe by Rajveer Arora, Atmosphere 6

DO YOU DAR

TGS LIFE JULY 16, 2016 PUNE

With over 650 jumps, eight world records, 11 national records, Padmashri awardee Shital Mahajan sure has made the city proud. There are many Punekars like her who have excelled in extreme sports and are inspiring future champions

FEATURES

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

hen one talks of sports in India, the first few things that comes to our mind is cricket, tennis, football and, maybe, badminton, considering a lot of players are doing well in these games. But the thing that may not come to your mind straight away would be skydiving, paragliding,

The downhill ride

For city-based downhill mountain biker Ajay Padval, zooming up in the air with the bike and negotiating the slushy, gravelladen terrain is a casual affair. He rides his bike over a crazy track, filled with rocks and obstacles, and easily gets past them. He jumps and flies up in the air, to get a speed boost to overpower his opponent and wins championships year after year. The 25-year-old downhill fanatic has claimed podium finishes at races held in Gujarat, Bangalore, Manali and Pune. He has also been a body double for actor Salman Khan in the movie Kick. “My neighbour introduced me to mountain biking. After that, I watched many videos on YouTube and it excited me. I was 12 and I had never picked a cricket bat. My brother gifted me a BMX and that was my start,” he says. He has toured most of India to explore downhill tracks. “Every mountain is

different. Recently, I went to Spiti and I biked for more than 3,000 metres. I had breathing issues but I didn’t even consider stopping. Another adventure was at Manali, where it rained heavily but we continued the ride,” he shares. He has podium finishes across India in downhill racing and is also associated with a Freerider Mountain Bike Magazine. However, the tracks hampered his practise. To solve the issue that many other mountain bikers in the city face, he is developing an international quality Bike Park and Rolling Academy at the base of Sinhagad Fort. “This will be a first-of-its kind bike park in India. We are following the norms set by the authorities and won’t compromise on anything. This will be used for downhill racing, cross-country, dirt jumping and it also involves Enduro racing which is a concept picking up in India,” he says.

mountaineering and many other extreme sports that go unrecognised. It’s said ‘adventure is not outside, it’s within a man’, but not many consider it safe to explore this side. Well, these proud Punekars have excelled in these fields and believe in shaping up the course of Indian sports. They have paved the way and inspired future champions with their feats apart from setting a mark for themselves.

Walk in the line

We have all heard of wire walking or tightrope walking with just a pole to balance, but some folks want to take it a notch further so they attach a slack in the rope and balance with just their hands. That's called slacklining. When you raise that slackline hundreds of feet in the air, it's highlining. If only imagining this gives you goosebumps, then what about those who practise this for real. For Pune boy Rohit Vartak, who is practising this for years, this is just another sport. One of his favourite spots to practice is at Duke’s Nose, Khandala. He does it effortlessly as he can manage to balance himself even in a windy weather. “Once you have overcome the fear and calmed down enough, all you need to do is just walk, as you normally do, and forget about the height,” he says. He decided to take up the sport after watching a couple of videos on YouTube. He practised slacklining just four to five feet above the ground. After a year of practise, he decided to attempt highlining. “I went to Sandhan Valley in Igatpuri, which is about 300 feet high. But this attempt failed, as I had

Scaling new heights

Krushnaa Patil, 26, needs no introduction. She summited Mount Everest, becoming the youngest Indian and the first woman from Maharashtra to do so. Her passion towards mountaineering drove her further towards the ambition of the Seven Summits crown. She became the first Indian woman atop the highest mountains in four continents – Mt Vinson Massif in Antarctica, Mt Aconcagua in Argentina, Mt Elbrus in Europe, and Mt Kosciuszko in Australia. She was inclined towards trekking since childhood. Thanks to her adventure-loving parents who always encouraged and nurtured the wild side of their only child. “I am so glad my parents understood my passion. They have supported me throughout. It’s actually my family that took the risk of taking up a loan of Rs 30 lakh so that I could climb Mt Everest,” she says. Once she’d scaled the peak, things started rolling. The bank cleared the loan and prizes and accolades followed. She was then able to fund a few trips with government aid. “I would go to the Himalayas every summer vacation

not prepared myself enough. I decided to go for smaller peaks first,” he shares. After that, there was no looking back for him. He has successfully crossed mountains across Maharashtra. “The most challenging experience was at a mountain in Badami, Karnataka. It was 300 feet high and we walked with a flag in our hand,” he says. Before starting a highline adventure, he first sets up his equipment, which takes hours. Steel bolts anchor the lines

with my parents. But in high school, I became a part of a contemporary dance troupe and my focus shifted towards choreography. I was much more passionate about dance than sports at the time,” she says. But her mind changed after she received an opportunity to be a part of the pre-Everest expedition. “That was the turning point of my life,” she says. Her next big challenge was scaling Mt Vinson Massif in Antarctica. She was caught in a storm there, but her determination and hope for better weather conditions ahead kept her going. “It was -50 degrees, and I had walked for eight hours. We were just four hours away from our summit, so we just hoped there would be better conditions ahead. But the weather kept getting worse,” she recalls. But she was prepared for the battle and the expedition was successful. She is now preparing for the Indo-Pak-China expedition, where she will be inviting climbers from both countries to climb Mt Everest. It is a crowdfunded project, which is scheduled to take place in 2017. “We have already started the interaction and practise sessions,” she adds.

“My family took the risk of Rs 30 lakh so that I could climb Mt Everest”

into the rock make sure t about walki safe, but ge says. Rohit

RE?

k and he wears a harness in case of a fall. "I that everything is safe before I even think ing on this thing. In case of a fall, you are etting up walking is a difficult task," he wants to promote this little known sport

TGS LIFE JULY 16, 2016 PUNE

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Where there is will

in India. He conducts workshops and camps to train youngsters. “People don’t know about it. There are only 11 people in India who practise highlining and I am one of them. I want more youngsters to participate,” he adds.

Sky's the limit

Divyanshu Ganatra, 36, is an inspiration to many. He lost his eyesight due to glaucoma at the age of 19 but he didn’t lose the desire to follow his passion for extreme sports. He is a go getter and he didn’t let his disability become a hurdle in his way of fulfilling his dreams. He is a mountaineer, a snorkeler, and goes paragliding as a hobby and he is a certified pilot. He made a solo flight at a height of 600 feet above the sea level as a solo paraglider, becoming the first visually challenged person in India to do so. He has also scaled the Milam Glacier and the Kumaon range of the Himalayas among other peaks. “I was an adventure junkie since I was a child. But after I lost my sight, things changed. The main battle for me then was not overcoming the fear, but to fight the people who thought I could not paraglide because of the disability,” he says. He later joined Templepilots Paragliding School and Club in Kamshet. However, learning to paraglide required several days of intense training, both mental and physical. Winds were unpredictable and split second decisions had to be made mid-air which turned into an experience of a life-time, he says. “I did not do it to prove anything to anyone but

With over 650 jumps, eight world records, 11 national records, Padmashri awardee Shital Mahajan sure has made the city proud. She is a name to reckon with in the international skydiving fraternity. Life changed for her in 2004 when she took her maiden parachute jump from 2,400 feet from the North Pole, Arctic Circle. She was the first Indian civilian woman to accomplish such a feat without undergoing any training. “I wanted to do something different. I wanted to change people’s perception towards women. People think a woman is supposed to serve her family and only do household work. When I started to face similar challenges, I decided to break barriers,” she says. She then met a friend in the Indian Air Force who introduced her to skydiving. But since she was a civilian, she wasn’t allowed to be trained in India. “Then, I decided that if I have no choice but to go abroad to learn, then why not do it at a special place like the North Pole,” she added.

just because I wanted to experience ultimate freedom.” Even though his flight was planned, everything did not go their way on the final day. Flying conditions were not good as there was no wind. But Divyanshu was determined to go on. “I wanted to change the attitude of people with this feat. Yes, I was a little scared initially but I was trained well. I believe fear is important, as it helps one become more conscience,” he says. Divyanshu is also working towards promoting adventure sports among persons with disabilities. He runs a not-for-profit organisation Adventures Beyond Barriers Foundation to promote adventure sports for persons with disability. “When we are doing adventure sports, both people with a disability as well as able-bodied persons together, it helps these two groups come together,” he adds.

“They said girls can't do such dares. I threatened to leave home to sky-dive if they didn’t agree.” But all this didn’t come easy. She had to convince her parents, who were initially against her decision of taking up this sport. “They said girls can't do such dares. But I was determined to take it up, so I convinced them. I even threatened to leave home if they didn’t agree. Girls leave their home for marriage, but I wanted to leave to sky-dive,” she laughs. Despite being a US-certified skydiver and trainer, Shital is still unable to practice skydiving in India. She

practises skydiving in Spain, Finland, California and Arizona (USA). “There are no proper rules and regulations for skydiving in India and any civilian who wants to do that will have to go through tons of paperwork. But I want to make all this possible in India one day,” she adds. She founded Phoenix Skydiving Academy in the city to encourage students to take up extreme sports and prepares them for competitions around the world. zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com

TGS LIFE JULY 16, 2016 PUNE

THRILL OF DRIVING

THOROUGHBRED By Tushar Burman @tburman

here are many legends surrounding the birth of the Ford Mustang, one of America’s most well-known performance cars. I will avoid the word “iconic” because it’s so overused in this context that I challenge you to find a launch or drive report without it. One such legend has its name inspired by the legendary P51 Mustang fighter aircraft used by the USAF, which makes sense seeing its “aviation inspired” interior on this 2015 model we drove. Other stories tell of how the entire allocation of the original run of the Ford Mustang sold out in just a few months. It has been an immensely popular vehicle since its birth in 1964-65, and this is its 52nd year in continuous production, despite the challenges of the ‘70s oil crisis, various downturns and such. Other muscle cars have come, gone and been resurrected, but the Mustang has been a constant. The model Ford has launched in India is the Mustang GT and it wears all-new bodywork compared to the outgoing model. The previous generation started the “retro-futuristic” craze back in 2005 and has served the company well, spawning innumerable special editions and variations on performance and body style. This new model bears the same basic shape, but has a much more stylish, swoopy visage. The front is more aggressive with a wider grille and three slashes in each headlamp, while the rear looks more old-school with the same three-segment design following through. The classic long bonnet and short boot with a fastback roofline remains, covering a 2+2 cabin and a surprisingly roomy boot! It’s all very well executed, betraying no irony or cheesy nostalgia. This truly does look like many decades of progress have been made to get to this handsome shape. The Mustang is only available in the V8 engine option for India, which makes

What else do you call a vehicle that the term “pony car” was coined for? perfect sense. There’s an intimate connect Mustang, but the saving grace was that those in most minds between muscle cars and big, were around the lauded Buddh International brawny engines. That’s not to say that the Circuit, India’s only F1 track. As you’d Mustang has always had a V8. There have expect, the Mustang is pretty fast in a straight been many inline-four options over the years line. This time round, it isn’t too bad around as well, but we suspect the international the corners either, having an independent EcoBoost version would not be accepted in rear suspension instead of an ancient liveour market. The motor makes 395bhp and axle type found in most generations of the 515Nm of torque, which is down somewhat car. This is clearly a grand-tourer sort of car. from the international model. This is The suspension feels quite plush, there’s to accommodate the varying fuel perceptible body roll when you’re quality available in India. We’re hustling around the corners and Verdict pleased with this decision; a car things are generally smooth at + Comfort, like the Mustang deserves to speed. I suppose we should be price, heritage be driven, not bragged about pleased as consumers that we’ve - Middling auto when comparing specs, while come to a point where we can gearbox your staff takes a jerrycan to actually buy much harder-core the nearest 97 octane bunk, performance cars in this price TGS rating which is probably an hour away. bracket. ;;;;2 Trust us: we know what it’s like The V8 sounds nice inside the to have a hoot of a car in the garage cabin, but isn’t particularly evocative because it’s out of pricey fuel. It wears beefy inside or out. It’s a deep but muted burble tyres shod around 19” wheels and uses large that comes to the ear; no snap crackle and Brembo brakes to bring things to a halt. pop drama of European tyre-burners. The We only had five short laps in the India edition only comes with the 6-speed

automatic. It’s a traditional torque converter so you won’t be banging up and down the gearbox like a dual-clutch unit, but it’s okay. In terms of speed, it’s somewhere in the middle of a economy automatic and a performancetuned dual-clutch. It can be sluggish, but we think it matches the character of the engine. For sure, we’ve driven slower. Paddle shifters are present and are best used in sport mode or one of the sharper driving modes. There are four of those, including a “Track” mode that turns off the traction control, unleashing all 515Nm upon the rear wheels. Some of our colleagues were caught unawares as their cars did unintended 180-degree turns. The Mustang isn’t for the hardcore trackjunkie, despite what the driving modes may say. The tendency is to safely understeer as opposed to snap-oversteer. Of course, you can get it to do the latter but it’s a deliberate effort. The upside is that it’s very easy to get used to and just, well, drive. Suspension is pliant and comfortable, ground clearance is generous, which should make it good to use in our road and traffic conditions. The interior is a bit bland — all black and grey surfaces, but with a surfeit of buttons. The steering wheel has no less than four separate clusters of buttons for various controls. Everything is generally where you expect it, save for the bonnet release, which is inexplicably in the passenger footwell. We had to get off the car to open the hood! Comfort is good, however, with supportive leather seats, usable rear seats (but not for adults), cup holders, armrest with storage, two USB slots, an SD card reader and an 8” information/navigation screen. All this at Rs 65 lac, ex-showroom Delhi, which should translate to about Rs 77 lac onroad. Maharashtra buyers will be disappointed however, as the recent revision in RTO taxes means that the imported Mustang GT will probably cost north of Rs 80 lac. Still, in this price segment, one’s options are cars like the Audi TT and the Mercedes CLA 45 AMG. Both are smaller, all-wheel drive and much sharper around a track, but also less practical in terms of ground clearance, comfort and space. With the Mustang, you have the heritage, machismo and enough space in the boot for a very grand tour, as long as you leave that giant spare tyre at home. tushar@goldensparrow.com

Dance moves crawl in their veins

TGS LIFE JULY 16, 2016 PUNE

The D-Trix dance crew made it to the semi-finals while representing India at the International World Hip-Hop Championship and stood 14th out of 200-plus teams

t doesn’t take much for someone to dream how they would like their life to be. But to actually make things happen is a true test of your patience, hard-work and determination. Like many other dancers, Tushar Gorgale also learned to move to the beats after spending endless hours looking at videos on YouTube. For about five years now he has been teaching dance first at an academy and then as the leader of his own crew. Not only does he want to earn enough money and create a name for himself in the dance fraternity, he also hopes to establish a style of his own and be known for it. Recently, Tushar’s dance troupe D-Trix Crew stood 14th out of about 200 teams in a competition that was held to determine who should represent India at the International Hip-Hop World Championship. The eightmember crew essentially performs Freestyle Hip-Hop. “Most of these children come from lower-middle class families and can’t really afford the fee. Their fathers work at general stores or are government servants. The children are, however, extremely talented so the least I can do is give them some guidance and an opportunity to show what they are capable of,” says the 22-year-old. His very first exposure to the world of dance was through the show Boogie Woogie and, ever

TEJAS GAIKWAD

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

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since, he wanted to become a dancer. After working at an academy for a while, he found a place on Sinhagad Road to start his own classes and today teaches about 30 to 40 children. The D-Trix Crew currently includes school- and college-going boys and some who even work. Every crew member is exceptional in a particular aspect of freestyle hip-hop and so they seamlessly blend into a team when they perform. Each of them brings a very different kind of energy to the group and this is what makes them better than the rest. Considering that all of them had such diverse schedules, it was difficult to find time to practice and so two hours every day is all the crew got to prepare for the competition. Tushar too has his own unique style and this is what he hopes to be known for in the future. “All online videos, irrespective of what genre they fall under, find a way to become inspirational. One only needs to be a keen observer to produce good work because ideas can come from the simplest of things,” explains the young boy. The reason he decided to branch out and start something of his own is because he felt that there were many children who needed someone to guide them but could not afford the expensive classes. This was his way of spreading the joy that dancing gave him as well as allowing others to live their dreams. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

This young author is achieving global fame RAHUL RAUT

Since 2015, Tanvi Deshmukh has regularly been contributing to the international, online magazine Berlin Artparasites By Abha Pandit @abha_pandit

“I lost my grandfather last May. I was very close to him and that is sort of what set things in motion as far as my writing went”

hen 19-year-old Tanvi Deshmukh sent across a piece of writing to the Facebook page Berlin Artparasites on a whim, she didn’t expect anything to come out of it. Surprisingly, the editor replied to her with a positive response and asked her to send in some more stories. This was in September 2015 and, ever since, she has been earning a by-line quite regularly. Berlin Artparasites is a global platform for writers to explore the connection between emotion and art, through powerful storytelling. Founded in 2011 and read extensively all around the world, their Facebook page alone has over three million likes. Each write up is published along with a piece of artwork, not necessarily by the author, which depicts the emotions of the story in an abstract manner. With thousands of hopeful writers sending their work to Berlin Artparasites for publishing, the competition is fierce and only the best are chosen. An English graduate from Fergusson

issues of gender, feminism and LGBT rights, Tanvi tries to bring in an Indian perspective on all of them. Women’s issues are something she feels very strongly about and she tries to incorporate that into her work.

College, Tanvi became the youngest permanent contributor and the only Indian ever at Berlin Artparasites last year. “I always enjoyed writing but when I decided to send out some of my stuff just to see what would happen, it was so scary. I was afraid of being judged in the beginning and I didn’t expect the magazine to respond so positively,” she says. When the core

team was to be selected during the launch of their website, a few months ago, she played a huge role in that too. “I lost my grandfather last May. I was very close to him and that is sort of what set things in motion as far as my writing went,” she says. She may not be too old but her pieces tell a different tale. Gravitating naturally towards

Getting this far, especially through social media, hasn’t been very easy for Tanvi. “Most readers are sceptical about my stories, wondering how I can talk about such sensitive issues when I am so young and without experience. Some of them doubt whether I have even written what I publish,” she says. The biggest problem she faces is when she talks about delicate issues and people assume it’s her own experience. What she writes is mostly fiction, with a pigment of truth, which is what she wants her readers to know. “I like to write for myself, there will always be people who judge me no matter what I do. But those who appreciate my work and relate to what I write keep me going,” she smiles. abha.pandit@goldensparrow.com

ALL THINGS SMALL

TGS LIFE JULY 16, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES The trend of making miniatures is catching up in the city despite the huge effort involved in making them By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

Rashmi Siddharth working on creating a miniature garden

With utmost attention Priyanka Sharma carves the chalk pieces to make sculptures out of them

carving when she was 20 years old. It was her love for drawing, painting and building things out of clay, fabric and even wood that urged her to spend hours getting the technique right. With a creative flair and an observant eye wherever she travelled, Rashmi Siddharth on one of her sojourns saw a miniature garden on display and fell in love with it. Even though it took her a while, she taught herself how to make the gardens and has been taking orders for about eight months now. Working as a professor all his life, Narayan Godbole is used

to a certain kind of lifestyle. An afternoon siesta, however, has never been a part of it and so when he retired from teaching Zoology at Savitribai Phule Pune University, he had to find something to do, so that he could keep himself occupied. This is how he started making miniature flower vases and soon mastered the art. LEARNING THE ART A very visual person in her everyday life, Priyaka feels that everything has art in it. She loves shapes, textures and objects that are different or interesting. The fact that she can

TEJAS GAIKWAD

ou have definitely heard the phrase, great things come in small packages and this is a perfect example of just that. Have you ever bought a painting that fit in the palm of your hand, seen a vase with flowers that was smaller than your finger, a sculpture as big as a piece of chalk or a garden that fit on your shelf? TGS talks to four artists from the city, who create beautiful miniature paintings, gardens, sculptures or simple show pieces. Armed with a paint brush, a palette of colours and a pocket full of ideas, Sejz Inn is a force to reckon with when she paints. In love with art documentaries at the moment, her hobbies vary from learning about new languages, to reading poems, practicing yoga, travelling and writing letters. It’s been more than a year that she began painting miniature art pieces and her first one was actually only 1x1 cm in size. The fact that she has flexible working hours was enough to inspire her to find something engaging to do in her spare time. A fashion enthusiast, an art lover and artist Priyanka Sharma who owns a designer clothing line by the name of Tarasha started chalk

make some of them on her own only He had seen the miniature flowers piques her curiosity even further. “It when he was travelling in the US and all started with drawing and painting, it was appealing enough for him to something that I want to try making picked up from my them himself. It was mother. When I after a lot of trial and was really young, error that he finally I wanted to see if got the desired I could make the shape and size. The same thing in a vases and flowers much more realistic put together are not way. I started more than an inch clay modelling and a half big and but somehow so creativity in this that wasn’t very is quite challenging. satisfying. I wanted It is a great gift to to work with give close friends something more and family as it can challenging. That’s easily be turned into how I opted for a fridge magnet or chalk sculpting,” can adorn the walls recalls the young of your house too. - RASHMI SIDDHARTH girl. It teaches you The fact that it is to really appreciate handmade gives it interesting objects or visuals that you that edgy and homely feel too. come across,” she adds. She has had For Sejz, her inspiration came the drive to become an artist since from the miniature paintings she was seven years old and although she saw in a British Renaissance she never took any formal course, she documentary. The fact that it is did master the process and the art quick and can be painted anywhere form after a lot of trial and error. is what attracted her to it even more. It’s all about being focused and Her inspiration comes from almost following a process, Narayan tells us. anywhere and she has her observant

“You have to treat each item as an individual project and then keep yourself focused while making these gardens”

RAHUL RAUT

TGS LIFE JULY 16, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES “You must have the ability to look at things differently and manifest it into something wonderful” - SEJZ INN

Miniature paintings are a back breaking job and require a lot of patience. Artist Sejz Inn with one of her creations

self to thank for it. “You must have the ability to look at things differently. You could take a normal object or incident and manifest it into something wonderful. How you interpret it is what matters. Expression is important to me and so is intellectual and virtual beauty,” she explains. Born and brought up in Pune, at the moment she is working on a series of artworks and other commissioned work alongside her own yoga art merchandising label. On the other hand, Rashmi derives her inspiration from the thought of making something unique and creative. The run of the mill products in the malls lack the unique feature and creativity that this has. She enjoys the process of creating something extraordinary from the ordinary and watching the slow transformation as the work progresses. In the end, nothing beats the feedback she gets and the smile she sees on the face of her customers when the finished product is delivered. NOT AS EASY AS IT LOOKS The fact that all these things are small in size makes the process of making them much more cumbersome. While quality stems from how intricate and fine the work is, creativity also adds to its charm especially in such a small piece of work. Since Narayan did a lot of research work before he retired, he is accustomed to using smaller and finer tools and has a steady hand too. “My biggest motivation to start making these miniature vases was that I needed to find a way to use my time effectively. My profession did not allow me to sleep in the afternoon and so I never fell into that habit at all. After retiring even though I take a few classes, I have a

lot of spare time,” he shares. There weren’t any challenges in particular that he faced while making these miniatures. It did initially take him some time to get a hang of how to make them since he did not have anyone in particular to teach him. Making miniature paintings is pretty challenging for your eyes and back. It is pain in pleasure and pleasure in pain, says Sejz. She loves it for its newness and the amount of creativity that every piece demands. As a painter, she is fascinated by traditional oil painting techniques in classical realism and it not only intrigues her but challenges and inspires her to a space beyond comprehension. She does academic figure painting and portrait painting in oils and this is her forte. Her paintings, whether they are big or small, are inspired by painters from the classical to the modern era, like Botticelli, Bougeaureau, Klimt, Dali, Sandorfi and Schiele. Priyanka tells us that for a beginner, chalk sculpting is a very

difficult art and takes a lot of patience and dedication. The size of the medium is one of the most primary challenges that any one starting of will face. The design is meant for close inspection and so getting all the details perfectly carved on a 1 cm diameter cylinder is a task. The carving tools come next. Not only do they have to be of the proper size, proportionate to that of the chalk, but they can’t be too sharp or blunt. It sometimes takes days and even weeks to finish one piece so motivation is crucial at all times. Priyanka never went to any sculpting or carving classes and learned only through trial and error. She bought a box of normal

Narayan Godbole creating the flowers that go into making the miniature vases

black board chalks and some basic tools to begin with like safety pins, a sheet of sand paper and a paper cutter before she started teaching herself. Just like the chalk sculptures, even for the miniature gardens the beauty lies in the detail. The process is, however, not that difficult. “You have to treat each item as an individual project and then keep yourself focused on every small and individual detail while making these gardens. It takes a lot of precision and patience to create something which looks unique, yet seamlessly blends with the surrounding,” says Rashmi. Most of her orders are customised so the customers give

her a basic requirement of what they want and she takes it forward from there. She gives them suggestions along the way and, after quite a bit of back and forth, delivers the scenic view that they are looking for in a small bowl. Getting customers to decide what they want is also a part of the process. A lot of times customers might know what they want but can’t explain it or have a certain idea and haven’t been able to visualize it yet. This often poses as a challenge, she adds. In addition to the four, there are innumerable other artists who create smaller versions of almost everything. All these artefacts look extremely dainty and in many ways are the perfect gifts to give someone. The fact that they are so difficult to make increases their charm two-fold. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

JULY 16, 2016 PUNE

SHOPPING

Party on her mind Whether you’ve planned a big night out or getting ready for a house party, these uber-stylish fashion finds by Saniya Mulchandani are sure to steal the spotlight

Black and white

This ensemble is sure to get some attention at the party. Wear a simple watch and remember to add light lipstick to complete your look. Skirt: Circle 90, Rs 1,000 Top: Only, Rs 999

14 PICS BY TEJAS GAIKWAD

TGS LIFE

Code Red

Want to make an edgy fashion statement? This simple yet trendy dress will make you shine in the party. Team it with black stilettos and minimal jewellery to complete your look Top: MG Road, Rs 1,100 Skirt: MG Road, Rs 400

Leather it

Enrich your wardrobe by adding this leather jacket. Pair it with accessories of your choice and you are all set to rock in style this season. Pants: Zara, Rs 2000 Crop Top: Circle 90, Rs 899 Leather Jacket: Veromoda, Rs 4,500

All set for an office party

This long slit backless kurti is perfect for a fomal evening. Team it with long neck-pieces and heels to complete the look. Dress: MG Road, Rs 800 Heels: Regal Store, Rs 1000

Carry in style

If you want to stand out and make a statement, wear a jumpsuit like this. Pair it with simple stud earrings, and don’t go overboard with the accessories. Jumpsuit: Cover Story, Central, Rs 1,700 Shoes: Forever 21, Rs 2,000

— Compiled by Zainab Kantawala

RAHUL RAUT

TGS LIFE JULY 16, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

STAY IN TREND WITH YOUR SARI STYLES DHURV CHAUDHURI Age: 25 Weight: 80 kg Height: 5’10

By Abha Pandit @abha_pandit

all, fit and handsome, 25-yearold Dhruv Chaudhuri is the head trainer at MultiFit gym. A hotel management graduate from Bengaluru, he was always drawn towards working out and fitness. Once he completed his studies, Dhruv decided he wanted to follow his passion and work full time in an environment that was one of exercising well and living healthy. After freelancing with a few gyms in the city, he met Samir Kapoor, another fitness and adventure enthusiast, who shared the same ideas as him. Dhurv was recruited to help establish Multifit, a chain of gyms in the city. While studying, Dhurv would work out by doing calisthenics, a form of exercise using your own body weight, instead of external weights. He is also studying Jeet Kune Do, the martial art developed by ace fighter Bruce Lee. It is a form of street combat and combines moves from all other forms of martial arts. HIS FITNESS MANTRA For Dhurv, fitness means much more than just looking good and having a well-sculpted body. “Fitness comes with a combination of strength, agility, flexibility, stamina and endurance. Simply having big biceps doesn’t make you fit,” he says. Swearing by the martial art of Jeet Kune Do and his calisthenics training, he is completely committed to living a fit and healthy lifestyle. A trainer himself, Dhruv works towards helping his clients achieve their fitness goals and he loves doing

Fitness is more than just exercise A trainer at one of the most off-beat gyms in the city, Dhurv Chaudhuri is focussed on staying fit and healthy. He shares his secrets with TGS and talks about what drives him push ups, pull ups and squats himself. DAILY LOG On usual days, I wake up between 7.30 am and 8 am. Since I am a vegan, I make a protein shake using vegan protein powder, oats, soy milk and peanut butter. This is my breakfast on most days and I drink it while I’m on my way to work. I have appointments with clients in the morning, so I spend a couple of hours training them. Around three hours after breakfast, I eat a multigrain sandwich with vegetables and some nuts. There are usually visits scheduled to the other MultiFit gyms in the city, after which I have a training session for the other trainers. Around 3 pm, I eat a healthy lunch, which usually consists of brown rice, dal, a sabzi and tofu. Three hours after that, I have my own workout session, during which I train for around two hours. My pre-workout meal is made up of a banana and caffeine in some form, to give me enough energy to train. I train more like an athlete than a body builder, and include full body exercises in my daily workout instead of focussing on one part a day. Three times a week, I do major lifts like squats, bench presses and dead lifts. On

EXPERT SPEAK Atul Godbole, Founder and Head Trainer Motiv8 Coaching

I suggest that you add some aerobic endurance focused workouts to your fitness regime. A 30 minute running workout, 2-3 times a week will make your fitness regime much more balanced and rounded. Make sure you use proper running shoes and keep the effort level easy (your breathing should not be laboured) when starting out with running. Expert rating: 9/10

other days, I train in calisthenics and often experiment with new workouts. Once a week, I practice Jeet Kune Do and boxing. My post-workout meal is my dinner and I try to make it calorie dense to help me recover from my intensive workout. It consists of rice, dal, some rotis, a sabzi and another glass of protein shake. This is my last meal of the day, and is around 9.30 pm. After dinner, I have a few more clients to train following which I head back home. Although I have a bit of a sweet tooth, I try to avoid desserts and food with high sugar since I am very health conscious. I also try to skip junk food, including maida. Being a vegan, I don’t get all the necessary amino acids from just my food, so I tackle that using supplements. abha.pandit@goldensparrow.com

onsoon is here and so is the confusion of what are the right clothes for such weather. You never know when you can be caught in a downpour without an umbrella. Since you want to continue looking as gorgeous as ever draped in a sari for any gathering or occasion you might want to attend, designer Sailesh Singhania shares some quick sari draping styles tips for the season. Sailesh Singhania · Sari over Pants- Drape your sari like a dupatta on pants and team it with a crop top or choli. Not only is this style hassle free it is comfortable too. · Sari Worn in Dhoti Style – Sonam Kapoor has made this style of draping a sari the latest sensation in the town. This style makes your sari wearing process much more comfortable too. You need to drape it on your lower waist and pin up the pleats properly to get the perfect look. · Sari’s with a Belt – Think the unthinkable. Team your beautiful sari with a sleek belt on your waist. This simple accessory will add a funky touch to your appearance. It will also give your attire a neat look and keep the pleats in place. · Cowl Neck Style Gujarati Sari Drape – This style of draping the sari is very popular at wedding parties, receptions, and traditional festivals. One has to tuck the pallu on the right shoulder and pin up the left corner of the other portion of the pallu on the left shoulder to get this look. · Neck Drape Sari – Give a new twist to your sari without much effort by following this trendy style. You just need to drape the sari around your neck like a scarf. This look is very much in style and is here to stay. Managing it also becomes extremely easy. · Sari in Bollywood Retro Style – Drape your sari’s like yesteryear screen goddesses Mumtaz and Asha Parekh. Team it up with a short length blouse and a big bun to recreate the retro magic. — As told to Salonee Mistry

TGS LIFE

Meet the shy girl

JULY 16, 2016 PUNE

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

BUZZ

He doesn’t let fame get into his head By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

elevision heartthrob Shantanu Maheshwari, popularly known as Swayam, from Dil Dosti Dance is in the news again and for all the right reasons. Shantanu, along with his troupe Desi Hoppers, was recently invited by America's Got Talent to perform in the show's 11th season. Shantanu has impressed the Indian audiences with his acting and dancing skills, simply decided to head there and give it his best shot. “We had our performance on the show just the day after we landed in Pasedena in California. So we tried our best to not give into jet lag, practiced thoroughly

and geared up for our performance the next day,” he says. They performed on two songs, Tukur Tukur from Dilwale and Turn Down for What by Lil Jon and DJ Snake. The troupe managed to garner recognition from the audience as well as judges Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum and Mel B. “From what we had heard, pleasing Simon Cowell was the toughest part about the show but fortunately he really liked our performance. We got a standing ovation and thumbs up from all four judges after the performance, which was really the best feeling ever,” says Shantanu who is currently seen playing the male lead in MTV Girls on Top. For Shantanu, whose life has

revolved around dance for many years, acting was definitely not part of his plan. He is shy by nature and always imagined himself behind the camera rather than in front of it. But after his stint at the Channel V show he took to the limelight. But he believes in working hard and staying grounded. “It obviously feels great, but I don’t let fame get into my head because I believe jab tak balla hai tab tak that hai,” he adds. He will next be seen in the dance reality show Jhalak Dikhlaja as a celebrity contestant. “Yes, it’s a plus point that I am a trained dancer but the real challenge will be to improve myself and present new ideas,” he adds. zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com

To get praised in a Salman Khan film is special

ctress Anushka Sharma is happy that her character Arfa managed to stand on her own in Sultan despite the larger-than-life persona of superstar Salman Khan. "Getting Salman Khan's fans to tell you, 'I am your fan too' is a big deal because they are the most loyal fans. All the three Khans have such loyal fans. I feel very special. "I think you want your work to be noticed and appreciated and for it to happen in a film like Sultan and with a megastar like Salman, I feel very happy," the actress told PTI. The appreciation is more special for Anushka because she considers the Ali Abbas Zafar-directed film her most challenging project ever. The actress says she feels her "robot" style of working to get the physical transformation and hard work on understanding the thought process of Arfa have paid off. "Sultan has been my most difficult film till now. It was challenging for me physically and emotionally it was tough. I had to understand the emotions and maturity that probably I don't posses in me right now. Also, learning a sport, changing my body type and waking up early in the morning, going for training and then learning wrestling. "I was working like a robot. But today when I am getting this kind of appreciation from people I feel grateful. All the love people are giving me because of the film is special. I feel all the hard work has paid off”.

t was on a whim that Rasika Dugal, known for her role in Qissa, decided to enrol for the postgraduate diploma in acting course running at FTII. Little did she know that she would fall so in love with the art form that she would want to act for the rest of her life. She recently finished shooting for an Indo-German film and is also anchoring the show Devlok with Devdutt Pattanaik on Epic channel. Rasika’s most talked about, upcoming project is Nandita Das’ film Manto where she plays the legendary writer’s wife Sathiya Manto. She has already begun reading some of Saadat Hasan Manto’s work to help her ease into the character. While Nandita has researched the character in detail, Rasika is doing her bit too, she tells us. She is excited about exploring how people lived in the time of Manto and what dynamics the relationships, revolutions and ideas had during the era. Working in the entertainment industry for a while now and working

on everything from web-series, short films, feature films, even soap operas, Rasika loves every single moment of being an actor. “I enjoy everything about acting, except promoting myself. On the set everyone brings a different kind of energy and you learn so much. It changes your understanding about a lot of things in life,” she explains. Since she is the only artist in her family, she was introduced to the world of acting through a theatre group while she was graduating from Lady Shri Ram College for Women in Delhi. There is a huge list of people that she hopes to works with in the future. “I love how Imtiaz Ali deals with romance and Vishal Bharadwaj’s ability to tap into a culture with his films. Apart from them, I would also want to work with Kanu Behl who directed Titli,” she says. I am waiting for a good Bollywood masala movie to come my way too, she adds. She is currently working on a web-series and a television show which is inspired by the Israeli soap opera Prisoners of War. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com