TGS Life 23/07/2016

PUNE, JULY 23, 2016 | www.thegoldensparrow.com

Stepping out of the closet It’s among the most courageous things to do – f ive LGBT individuals from the city share their experience of coming out to their friends and family and the liberating feeling it brings

SG

TGS LIFE JULY 23, 2016 PUNE

STAGE Mixing songs from their first album Genesi and their second one Khamsin, French jazz band EYM Trio will play some unforgettable tunes this Tuesday

Time for some

Jazz music

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

T

hey started the journey in Lyon back in 2010 when they met at the Jazz conservatory. With only 10 minutes to find a name for their band before their very first concert, the trio decided to put together the first letters of their names Elie Dufour, Yann Phayphet and Marc Michel.

This soon became their identity and quite a favourite among jazz lovers. Elie plays the piano, Yann the double bass and Marc is on the drums. There was that day, when they struggled to find a name, and then there is today when the band has performed over 150 concerts throughout Europe. The India tour is the first time that will be leaving Europe to take their music to a different audience.

Travel is a huge part of what inspires them to created music.

Elie says, “We travel a lot together which results in a better quality and range of music. We recorded

our first album in 2013 and our second one just this year. I think the Indian tour will create memories great enough to inspire us for our third one.” When in Pune, they look forward to playing some pieces from their albums and presenting a mixed jazz set which

respects the tradition of the music and its masters.

There will also be some tunes from Balkanics countries, North Africa and the Caribean. Indian music has been a great source of inspiration for the trio over the last two months as they worked

on a fusion project with Indian dancers and musicians for their show in Ahmedabad. Acoustic and instrumental in nature, at times there will be a voice backup and a great amount of improvisation too.

The music that we play is personal and we will invite people to travel

2 with us through it, he adds.

Yann comes from an electro, funk, hip-hop background and also plays the electric bass in other bands. Elie fell in love with music from across the world and so actually likes, listens and loves playing all genres. Marc performed a lot of jazz, folk and rock in his earlier years and, like Elie, he too is classically trained in music. “I create my compositions around rhythms and personal harmonies. We play our music from our heart and with a big interplay,” shares Elie.

They don’t usually compose their music together. Elie or Marc compose alone and later arrange it all together. Everybody becomes a composer after the first rehearsal. It is because of this routine that they are able to create melodies that are unique to them. Once the tune is set, there are no rehearsals as such and the concerts help them get better.

They definitely want to come back to India for more tours and so are hoping to network with jazz professionals here. This is a great opportunity to open minds and understand as much as they can about the country and its musical language, they believe.

For each of them the travel that comes along the way provides the opportunity to connect with people and play their music across the globe is the best part of what they do. This event has been organised by Alliance Française de Pune in partnership with The Poona Music Society and is open to all.

When: July 26, 7 pm onwards Where: Mazda Hall, Camp salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

SWAY TO THE SOUNDS OF ROCK Enjoy an evening of retro rock music from one of Pune’s home grown bands

By Abha Pandit @abha_pandit

L

ove for an art is what drives the creative mind, whether it is music, literature, dance or paintings. In a world that runs on capitalism, a person’s art is his or her only saving grace. Vijay Joshi, a former administrator with a shipping company, realised how important it was for him to pursue his passion as a singer and musician.

10 years ago, he formed the band Retro Legendary Act, or RLA as they are popularly known. As its name suggests, RLA is into retro rock music with extremely popular covers of hit songs.

The five-member band was

formed in 2006 and has three senior players, with Vijay Joshi as the crooner, Vijay Murthy on the bass guitar and Ritesh Ohol on the lead guitar. Vinod and Jason, their youngest members, play the drums

and keyboard respectively. RLA has formed its fan base by exclusively playing covers of popular rock songs. “Retro Legendary Act does not compose any original music.

We pay a tribute to classic rock

bands and artists of the past, even some newer ones,” says Joshi. With covers of wildly popular songs by the likes of The Scorpions, Pink Floyd and Bryan Adams, it’s no wonder that their audiences keep coming back to hear them play.

The generation that grew up listening to retro rock bands loves their music, no doubt. But RLA has also managed to gather listeners among the millennials. “Songs like Everything I Do by Bryan Adams, or Still Loving You by The Scorpions are ones which every rock fan has heard, young or old.

Although this music isn’t from their era, we have a lot of youngsters in our audience,” Joshi explains.

To make their music even more relatable for the younger audiences, they also play covers of popular songs by bands like Coldplay and Green Day. Describing their choice of

songs as Sentimental Rock, RLA members believe in recreating the songs exactly as they are while they play their covers. Even though covers have an original element in them, depending upon the band playing them, RLA is firm on the fact that they need to be as close to the original as possible to recreate the same magic. According to them, the audience is drawn back when they feel the same sentiments while listening to covers, as they do when they hear the original track. Since the song is already established, the challenge is to evoke the same feelings as it did. RLA does a pretty good job and the proof is in the pudding. The band has performed at all of the Hard Rock Cafés in the country and gets called back for multiple shows.

When: July 28, 8:30 pm onwards Where: Hard Rock Café, Mundhwa abha.pandit@goldensparrow.com

3

A little bit of humour and a lot of emotions

TGS LIFE JULY 23, 2016 PUNE

ENTERTAINMENT

Disco Sannya, Nayaz Mujawar’s directorial debut is an out and out family entertainer that attempts to showcase the grit of the underprivileged

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

E

ver wondered what would happen if a 15-year-old from the slums who has been raised on the streets and a well to do millionaire who travels in his Mercedes cross paths? There is bound to be chaos and such that it leaves one of their egos wounded.

This is exactly what happens when Sannya, played by Parth Bhalerao of Bhoothnath Returns, Killa and Lalbaugchi Rani-fame, and Sanjay Khapre, played by Shreyas Kale, meet in the film. This is the first time that Parth will be seen as the solo lead in a Marathi film and he is absolutely ecstatic about it. The film will also mark music duo Sachin Purohit and Abhijeet Kawthalkar’s first venture as producers.

All set to hit the theatre screens on August 5, the trailer of the film is engaging enough to make you want to see the rest of the film. Amidst their crazy promotion schedule we grabbed the opportunity to have a word with Niyaz and asked him about shooting the

Nayaz Mujawar the director of the film Disco Sannya

film, the inspiration behind the story and so much more.

The film is about two very different people put together and the interaction between them, he tells us. Parth’s character is a very strong one and is also super fun.

He listens to Mithun Da’s songs when he is angry or upset and that’s how he earns the nickname of Disco Sannya. When he and the millionaire Sanjay Khapre cross paths, there is an argument that follows and it ends in the ego of the latter being shattered. “The film is both visually and verbally entertaining.

It was challenging since we had to shoot at

real locations but when I see the end result and the response that the trailer has got, I am happy,” says Niyaz who has always wanted to be a director. It’s about striking the right balance among all the elements of the film to get something that you can actually be proud of in the end, he adds.

The idea for the film stemmed from all the charity work that Sachin did along with his family for the underprivileged and orphans. It was during this time that their spirit struck a chord with him and he decided to talk about it through a film. Ask him about casting and he says that it wasn’t must of a

problem. “Parth’s work is well-known and when he auditioned for the role, he fit right in.

He had the dedication that I wanted to see in Sannya and delivered just what the team was expecting,” adds the director.

The one reason he decided to make the script his directorial debut is because it was different from the usual. It took some time for everyone to get into the skin of the character but once they did, it was a cake-walk.The film has been shot over 24 days and while nothing out of the box happened on the sets, whenever they were shooting the team was always scared of the scenes where Sanjay had to drive the Mercedes since he wasn’t used to it and the budget wasn’t big enough to cater to any damage, jokes Niyaz .

The entire team is super nervous and excited for the film’s release and we can’t wait for it either. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

Band, Baaja, Baarat... and Bollywood The new show Shaadi Boys is all set to take the internet by storm with a story about three boys who hope to make it big in the film industry someday

H

undreds of people flock to Mumbai in the hope of making it big in Bollywood. While some make their way to the top, others get lost in the crowd, give up, and often return back to their hometowns.

But, there is also a third kind. The people who fall under this category continue to chase their dreams and find an alternate way of making ends meet till they get their break. Portraying this very struggle, writers Siddharth Singh and Garima Wahal are back in action with their new web-series titled Shaadi Boys. The two have earlier written for films like Goliyon Ki Raasleela - Ram Leela, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, and Karan Johar’s Brothers, apart from writing for many television soaps as well.

Three boys Neil, Nitin and Mukesh who are ardent lovers of Bollywood try their hand at making it in their respective fields but fail to do so. Then they discover the next best industry to showcase their talent, make money and get all the girls they want – the wedding industry. Inspired by how they themselves started out, in the web-series Siddharth and Garima have shown these three boys, the scriptwriter, the camera-man and the choreographer being a part of huge Indian

Writers Garima Wahal and Siddharth Singh

weddings. Both of them too began their careers by scripting for sangeet ceremonies and that is where they drew inspiration from.

“The film is extremely relatable especially to the youth who are our main target audience.

The dialogues too have been written keeping in mind the fact that youngsters binge watch shows like Game of Thrones and House of Cards,” Siddharth tells us. Garima and he have been working together for the last eight years and met each other when they moved to Mumbai.

After working for a radio channel for a while, they started scripting non-fiction shows for prime time television and then moved on to soaps. It was when Sanjay Leela Bhansali

was looking for new writers for Ram Leela that the two of them got their first big break. They also wrote three songs for Bajirao Mastani.

Apart from Shaadi Boys, the two are working on an upcoming film Raabta that features Sushant Singh Rajput and Kirti Sanon in the lead roles. Then there is Toilet- Ek Prem Katha which is based on the Indian sanitation system and stars Akshay Kumar. Another film on the temples of India is also in the pipeline.

Journeys, Garima says, inspires their scripts. “Travelling is the key to being inspired and research helps enrich the idea. While the environment, people and our own experiences play a huge role in helping us come up with ideas, travel gives us perspective and deeper understanding.” This, along with the fact that they get to turn their hobby into their profession, is reason enough for them to keep

giving it their all.

Like every other profession, this one too has its own set of challenges, the biggest one being that of having to convince producers and directors to take on their script. Hailing from different backgrounds and mind sets, even though they sometimes do land up arguing and have heated debates, they believe that this is their USP as it helps them generate better scripts.

Shaadi Boys has been directed by Shashant Shah who has done a lot of non-fiction shows for television and even tried his hand at films like Dasvidaniya and Chalo Dilli. The show is produced by Viacom18 for their digital platform VOOT and will air by the end of this month. The series stars Rishab Chadda, Abhinav Verma and Aakash Ahuja as the three young boys.

SG

4

TGS LIFE JULY 23, 2016 PUNE

STAGE Wada Chirebandi Part 2 Magna Talyakathi highlights the decline and disintegration of joint Brahmin families living in Wadas in order to keep up with modernity

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

P

laywright Mahesh Elkunchwar’s popular drama, Wada Chirebandi Part 2 Magna Talyakathi is all set to take the stage this weekend. The play highlights the decline of the joint family culture. Part 1 of the play starts with the death of the head of the Deshpande family and goes on to depict the individual and interpersonal conflicts and struggles of the family members.

The Wada trilogy revolves around the tradition in the life of the Deshpandes, a land-owning Brahmin family in Dharangaon that spans three generations. The first

Revisiting the culture of the past part opens with the death of tatya, the head of family, which includes brothers Bhaskar and Sudhir who lives with their wives and children in Mumbai along with their unwed siblings and their mother. Magna Talyakathi will explore their lives after a decade. Bhaskar’s son Parag is grown up and runs a transport business, daughter Ranju is obsessed with cinema, and Sudhir’s son Abhay

goes to the US to study medicine.

“The play deals with the sense of tradition that is deeply rooted in the Indian psyche. It questions the unity of a joint family by telling the story from the point of view of the outsider and how the members are forced to leave the family at various points,” says Praneet Bodke, who has produced the play.

The play shows the slow decline

in the fortunes of a family and the loss of traditional values as it comes to terms with the demands of modernity. “In Magna Talyakathi, the character will portray how the wada culture is deteriorating and show the second generation of the typical, aristocratic Deshpande family. The play also presents women as victims of caste bias as well as agents of change,” he adds.

Cast members of the play include Vaibhav Mangale, Nivedita JoshiSaraf, Neha Joshi, Prasad Oak and the sequel will introduce Siddhanth Chandekar, Rajashri Thakur and Chinmay Mandlekar to play prominent characters.

When: July 24, 1 pm Where: Bal Gandharva Rang Mandir, Jangali Maharaja Road zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com

Don’t just watch this play, experience it

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

W

ith the theatre space constantly evolving, the fresher the concept, the more appreciation it garners. Since sometime last year the Rangaai Theatre Company has been working towards staging a concept that not many have ventured into for a long time. The idea stemmed from creating a play that would be apt for an intimate space and it was along the way that other elements started falling into place. The Darkroom Project attempts at throwing light on the different states of one’s mind, the concept of loss and that of anger through five short stories.

While each has been given its own treatment all of them seamlessly blend into one another making the entire process a worthwhile experience. TGS talks to the director Tushar Dalvi to learn more about the plays, the concept and the challenges that he faced directing it.

Your experience with the play starts from when you enter the performance space. The smart use of red light in every story creating the effect of being in a dark room leaves an impact on you. The concept is very similar to that of developing photographs. The stories being the

In their first-ever fullfledged production, Rangaai delves deep into the idea of intimate experimental theatre that touches upon Antonin Artaud’s Theatre of Cruelty and Surrealism

negative, the minds of the audience are being used as photographic base to paint a picture on. “Each step that the actor takes is amplified to get the message across. Since it is an intimate space, there is lesser movement so the content must be strong and the actions exaggerated to make a point,” tells us Tushar.

He has been doing theatre since his college days and has produced this play too.

The five plays, Durga Poojo which is based on a true story, Khol Do written by Saadat Hasan Manto, Lihaaf by Ismat Chughtai, Kafan by Munshi Premchand and The Little Match-Girl by Hans Christian Andersen have all been treated differently since they are independent stories and were all written in their own style. Durga Poojo falls under the theatre of cruelty and is the story of a young girl and what she felt being molested

by someone from her own family.

Lihaaf uses shadows to get the message across, Kafan has been presented in the Dastangoi format, The Little Match Girl through lifesize puppetry and Khol Do through the art of subtlety. All these stories portray suppression of women across centuries.

Sound and one’s senses are also a huge part of this project. Classics like that of Beethoven’s Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D

major, Sant Kabir’s Maya, Maha Thagini Hum Jaani and the Bengali Lullaby Suryimama Namlo Pate by Sri Ananda Mukhopadhyay, are all a part of the production but with a modern touch.

Once, after the concept had been finalised, the project had been shelved for a few months since Tushar could made no headway with it. Then, one day out of the blue he decided to start working on it again and now they are about nine-shows-

old. This will be the first time that they perform in Pune and are hopeful of a positive response here too. “My biggest challenge with directing this was finding people who understood the concept and wanted to be a part of the project. With plays performed in intimate spaces the actor himself must be absolutely convinced of the story and the treatment he is giving to it, to be able to make an impact on the audience,” he says.

This isn’t like any other play.

The five stories represent different backgrounds and ages and are abrupt even as one beautifully follows the next, he adds. The original stories have been used as they were or with extremely minor changes. The songs in the play have been sung by Shailesh Mestry, Ganesh Lalvani has played the tabla and Ketan Patil is on the harmonium.

When: July 29, 6:30 pm onwards Where: Sudarshan Rangmanch, Shaniwar Peth salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

5

‘I have never seen a film’ Sufi legends Puranchand Wadali and Pyarelal Wadali have played an important role in carrying on the legacy of famous saint poets such as Bulle Shah, Kabir, Amir Khusro and Surdas. They share their musical journey and future plans

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

W

hen the heart speaks, words are just not enough, so believe the Wadali Brothers.

The Sufi maestros will present an exhilarating performance with an eclectic mix of their music in the city. Known for their songs like Tu Mane Ya Na Mane, Kadiyan Aa Mil Jaye Yaar and many more, the duo is now all set to mesmerise the Pune audience.

Having performed music for years, the brothers Ustad Puran Chand Wadali and Pyarelal Wadali have excelled in almost all genres, be it Sufi qalaam, qawwali and kaafi to bhajans, shabads and ghazals. Coming from a small village called Guru Ki Wadali near Amritsar, Puran Chand always wanted to take up wrestling. He was a regular in the ring for 25 years too. Whereas the younger brother Pyarelal would portray the role of Krishna in the Rasleela in order to contribute to the family income.

“I was not interested in learning music at all but my father forced me into it. And today all the other interests have been left behind,” says Puran Chand. They picked up their lessons in music not only from celebrated maestros like Pt Durga Das and Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Saheb of Patiala Gharana, but also from the musically inclined kanjaris of their times.

They live in their ancestral house and teach music to those who are truly interested and promise to preserve it. They do not charge their disciples

A

picture is said to be worth a thousand words. A captivating photograph, on the other hand, is absolutely priceless, believes the renowned Italian photographer Massimo Bassano. He is driven by wanderlust.

Waking up in an unfamiliar dwelling, meeting new people and facing his fears is what drives him towards photography.

Born and raised in Italy, Massimo has worked for National Geographic Traveller and published his work in numerous European publications. He will be in the city next week to conduct a photography workshop. “I will put my 26-year experience as photographer for National Geographic, trying to maximise the learning opportunity before the audience.

In two days, my colleague landscape photographer Abhishek Sabbarwal and I will cover a wide variety of techniques with ways to execute them,” he says.

Having travelled the globe, he has covered social issues, war and famine in Africa, international and domestic travel, fitness and health, sailing races, fashion and portraiture.

“I got into photography thanks to my great passion for sailing. Nat Geo hired me to cover a story about the great navigator Christopher Columbus and I fell in love with their style of working,” he shares.

But his favourite subject remains humanity. He loves capturing emotions and feels that he can tell their story with his photographs. Being a curious person, he derives inspiration from things that surround him. “I love to travel and connect with human culture, and the planet itself. So, my story is

TGS LIFE JULY 23, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

and lead simple lives, which is devoted to the higher power. “We believe in the Sufi traditions deeply and consider ourselves as a medium through which the preaching of great saints is passed on to others. We feel that spiritual heights can only be attained if you sing with all your heart, in a free atmosphere,” says Pyarelal.

To them, their performance is just an extension of something that they do every day. Like many other artists they don’t rehearse just before the concert, or carry a planned list of songs. They sing depending on the mood and the audience demand.

“Nothing is decided till the show actually begins.

But yes we always sing our popular numbers Tujhe takya to laga mujhe aise and Tu mane ya na mane, then it all depends on what the audience wants us to perform,” adds Puran Chand.

They got their first break in Bollywood with the film Pinjar and after that there was no looking back. But they maintain their simplicity in every song they take up as they believe music should soothe your soul and please the Almighty. High beats and loud music might take over the young crowd, but no one can harm Sufi and folk music, says Puran Chand. “Sufi music will never die, just like the truth. I am 78 now, but I have never seen a film. I never even wanted to sing in films either although now they have made us do that too,” he adds. Next on their cards is a documentary with the Discovery Channel.

When: July 30, 7:30 pm Where: JW Marriott Hotel Senapati Bapat Road zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com

‘I AM STARVED OF TRAVELLING’ Nat Geo photographer Massimo Bassano shares his travel experiences, the upcoming trip to Pune and his journey towards fame

always a mix of that. Even if it’s a wildlife travel story, I don’t forget that wildlife is affected by humans around – tribes, rangers or

even tourists. So any of them can become my protagonist,” he says. He believes capturing a photograph in the right light is important. He

tries to make a picture look visually appealing through his sense of composition and gesture in case of a human subject.

His internationally acclaimed photography book The Color of Silence is a detailed description of the 12 weeks he spent in little-known Italian monasteries St Mary and St Stephen, with the Carthusian monks.

Massimo was the first photographer in the world ever allowed to document the practices of this 900-year-old brotherhood. The book won awards in several Italian and European competitions and a sequel is in the works.

He always looks forward to such experiences when he readies for the next trip. “I am starved of travelling and encountering the sense of my life itself. For sure, I remember my first time in front the Taj Mahal, flying along the Rift Valley where the human origins come from, a night in Easter Island shooting the stars trail with the Moai’s and climbing the erupting volcano of Stromboli (Italy). I have so many wonderful memories and I’m glad that many more are to come,” he adds.

Pune’s wackiest desserts

TGS LIFE JULY 23, 2016 PUNE

INDULGE

By Rituja Ravikiran Rao @TGSWeekly

As wacky as they may sound, these desserts definitely taste even better.

These are experiments that have worked and people just can’t seem to keep their hands off them. They might sound fancy but they are ‘assal’.

Made by some really adventurous people who put their idea onto a plate, it is time to treat the curious within you this season.

CHOCOLATE PROFITEROLE TOWER One chocolate profiterole is nice, two are better but how about an entire tower? Any cake is easily replaceable by this tower with bite sized desserts. A chocolate profiterole is choux pastry filled with Vanilla butter cream, topped with chocolate. But at Forrente, you can change the filling to your choice and top it up with anything you like. Raspberry crème filling, sprinkies, white chocoloate, maple syrup, chocolate custard, name it and you can have it. A moderate-sized tower contains about 23 profiteroles. Each filled with a light buttery filling and an airy pastry that melts in your mouth. The tower can be shaped and remodelled to suit your choice and there is no bar on what you can put on it – chocolate syrup, nuts, sugary treats, take your pick. Made to order, these can be the centrepiece at your party or a dessert course for your table at a lunch party.

Namrataa Kripllani started Forrente eight years ago, from a kitchen space on DP road and today, Forrente is a beautiful patisserie located in Koregaon Park. Namrataa has created every dessert and recipe on her menu, experimenting with each new day.

She is also behind some recipes served at Little Italy and other popular restaurants in the city. They also make excellent Tiramisu cakes, layered Tower cakes, Smoked Chicken Pinwheels and Chicken Bread.

Where: Forrente, 2, Princeton Flair, Lane 8, Koregaon Park.

HONEY CLOVE CINNAMON SPICECREAM You’ve heard about all sorts of twists on ice cream, but Spicecream? In the land of spices, Zaika presents the unthought-of, your daily masalas in your dessert and they taste a lot better than your regular flavours.

Say hello to the crazy combinations that are rather soothing. Honey Clove Cinnamon is a creamy ice cream. It looks regular until you get the subtle hint of clove, in a brilliant combination with cinnamon. It is all tied together by the sweetness of honey which also has a calming effect. In all, the spicecream is not overpowering at all.

Zaika Spicecream is the brainchild of Siddharth Anil Shirole and Jay Joshi who started making the recipe at home. They then introduced it as a dessert in their restaurant. They create the ice cream with

NUTELLA FREAKSHAKE

CHOCOLATE PANI PURI Hyatt Pune gives the classic chat recipe a sweet twist. Head chef Shubhendu Roy has turned Pani Puri into a two course meal-appetiser and dessert. He came up with the idea as he was having a conversation with his team one afternoon when he wanted to try something absolutely off the books. He created Chocolate Pani Puri for an event and they were an instant crowd pleaser. He says, “I love fusion and the clients are eager to try new things.”

Chocolate Pani Puri is a dish made with a regular Puri coated with thick chocolate to form little cups of chocolate which are then filled with fruit salsa, cream and ice cream. The puris can be made of dark, white and mango chocolate, with assorted fruits to add a crunch to the salsa. Apples, pear, pomegranate, and other fruits add a fresh element to the pani puri.

Where: Hyatt Pune, Kalyani Nagar

This is every chocolate lover’s dream in a jar.

You cannot really come out of it without getting your hands dirty. Freakshakes are originally from Canberra, Australia, invented by a motherdaughter duo. These creamy creations are taking the world by a storm. The Greedy Man Pizzeria serves these crazy freakshakes, without holding back. Overflowing from the jar, topped with generous little treats, their freakshakes are a hit.

The place was started by Rushad Wadia over a year ago. He found a picture of these funny looking desserts and decided to create it from image alone. He’s curated this dish and keeps the recipe a hush-hush. The only thing he can tell say is that it involves more than 15 individual elements to make this one freakshake.

The elements range from chocolate tarts, brownies, chocobars and cookies, to name a few.

They serve their freakshakes in three variations - Nutella, Red Velvet and Oreo. They also play around with toppings and experiment with what they stack up. Freakshakes at Greedy Man look different each time you try them. While the dish and the ingredients remain constant, they will always surprise you with the mix. It takes three minutes to put together the shake, but far too long to create each element separately.

Here’s the catch, these are so popular that you have to pre-book your shake. These are limited edition since they only serve about 30 shakes a day. The manager Pavan Doijae says the most frequent question he’s asked is ‘how do we eat this?’, to which he always replies, “Dig in!”

Where: Greedy Man Pizzeria, Fort Leza, Kalyani Nagar

milk and spices, no artificial flavours. It does not use any preservatives, freezing agents either and is all natural. The freshness from the ground spices is most evident across all their flavours. They house many other mindboggling flavours such as Honey Bay Leaf, Black Pepper, Nutmeg, Elaichi, Thandai and Gulab Phool. They also do some classic ice cream with a Zaika twist, such as Coffee Kela, Vanilla Blueberry and Chocolate Mint. They also house some sugar free options for the health conscious. Zaika’s Spicecreams are all about the correct balance. These require no toppings or decorations. Just a dollop of ice cream, a wooden spoon and a sweet tooth.

Where: Zaika Spicecream, Sant Tukaram Chowk, FC Road.

TGS LIFE JULY 23, 2016 PUNE

INDULGE

In love with the art of creating brews

With every concoction she makes, she only sets the bar higher for her next invention. Meet Ashwini Rajagopal Pune’s only head female brewer

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

B

orn and brought up in an orthodox South Indian family, she was just like any other school pass out hoping to become an engineer, doctor or lawyer. Of these usual, limited and monotonous options, Ashwini Rajagopal chose engineering and later realised that this was one of the best decisions she had ever made. She studied Industrial Biotechnology for four years when she was exposed to major breweries like Mohan Breweries, SAB Miller and United Breweries. This led her to her second best decision which was to do a Master’s in Brewing and Distilling from Heriot Watt University in Scotland.

Even though being a vegetarian gives her limited food options, it never stops her from trying out every single restaurant in the city, be it street food or the high standing five-star hotels. With her never ending love for wood, brass, bronze and anything that has a touch of craftsmanship, this 24-year-old is one of the very few head women brewers in the country and probably the only one in the city. Armed a smile that will instantly make you like her, a quick conversation is all you need to recognise how much this young girl is capable of.

It was after several calls, emails and consultations at various universities that she decided to study at Heriot Watt. She not only learned the art of brewing but also got introduced to some of the eminent people in the industry from across the globe. She had started brewing at the age of 17 after trying her hand at a couple of jobs like working in a lab or doing a desk job at a bottle manufacturing company. When asked about her inspiration behind the brews that she makes, she says, “My consumers are my biggest sources of motivation and inspiration.

Every time there is a review, good or bad, there

YOUR CHOW AROUND TOWN The Italian Set Menu

We gorge on the pastas and risottos from Italian cuisine. How about a twist to it? Alto Vino, the authentic Italian restaurant is offering patrons a new Italian Set Menu. This menu is designed to satiate the taste buds of guests who always look forward to freshness, exclusivity and authenticity on their palettes. Be prepared to stuff yourself with everything from Antipasti to Zuppe, Pasta to Mains and Dolce.

When: Ongoing JW Marriott, SB Road

Hot Dog Festival

A paradise for food lovers, The Irish House Hot Dog Fest brings a range of delicious hot dogs. Pick between Peri Peri Dog topped with fried onion, or Sriracha Smoked Chicken with caramelized onions, for a delightful and spicy

is always room for thought, improvisation and expression.” Planning and management is the best part and the challenge of the work I do, Ashwini adds.

She loves that she has the responsibility and power to churn out quality beers, introduce new ones and take care of the brewery like it was her own. The brewing industry has always been a

place with ample camaraderie. Pune, especially, has some really good brewers who have supported her in all possible ways they could and there’s always a helping hand whenever she has needed one, she tells us.

Working in Pune for a while now, she feels the crowd here is constantly evolving. “The city is yet a toddler when it comes to understanding beers but I think they are getting there. From what was a crowd that could not accept bitter beers, we have some now who understand what they are drinking and why it tastes the way it does. They know the characteristics of some of the brews by heart now and even a little variation in how they are made, they will immediately know,” she smiles. The fact that she has completely immersed herself in the brewing industry ever since she was given an option to decide for herself, her mind refuses to think about anything other than beers. She, however, feels that had she not become a brewster she would have done fairly well in sectors that pertain to planning, execution and management.

Currently working at Tj’s Brew Works in Amanora, five years down the line Ashwini wishes to be a key contributor to a crowd that is evolved and in a country that knows its beers.

She is hopeful of a city where every other street has a tiny brewpub and where the young and old make merry over beers. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

OUR PRODUCTS: • Coffee’s • Katta Special • CAD Katta • Ice Creams • Thickshakes • Katta Mastani • Burger • Fru Katta • Sabja Katta • Katta Mysteries • Katta Shev Pav • Hatke Katta FOLLOW US ON:

Visit us on: www.saicafekatta.com

experience. If you are feeling adventurous, Dog in the Pot – smoked chicken sausage, pesto, spicy cheese sauce and fried onions is what you need.

Till July 31 Where: The Irish House, Viman Nagar

BRANCHES BALAJI NAGAR l ANANDNAGAR l SINHGAD COLLEGE l KHARADI l LAXMI ROAD l NEAR EON IT PARK l KARVE ROAD l VADGAON SHERI

CONTACT FOR FRANCHISE: 99 60 33 33 74

TGS LIFE JULY 23, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES It’s among the most courageous things to do – f ive LGBT individuals from the city share their experience of coming out to their friends and family and the liberating feeling it brings

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

W

Stepping

out of the closet

hile a lot of people might know and understand what it means to belong to the LGBT community, the conversation surrounding it only happens in hushed tones. There are innumerable youngsters who are just realising that their sexual preference and who they are attracted is ‘different’. Does this scare them? Of course it does.

Does society make it easy for them? Absolutely not. The hope is that someday there won’t be a closet to come out of nor will it feel like you are different. The idea is to normalise being gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer or a transgender and the start to this is by having conversations.

"My parents told me that being gay didn’t change the love they had for me and this meant the world to me" Vivek Tigote He was on stage the first time his parents knew his long kept secret. Acting in a play, he shared his feelings and story only to find his parents in tears at the end of the show.

“Will you be coming back home,” is all his father had asked after he learned that he was gay. It was after a long pause that 27-year-old Vivek Tigote nodded his head in happiness and was suddenly sure that life would be so much better. “It always happens that while coming out to one’s parents you first prepare them by keeping books on homosexuality in the house and bringing up the topic in everyday conversations. In my case, it was the opposite,” says the young boy who works with a social organisation in the city.

The son of an autorickshaw driver, Vivek feels that coming out to your friends and family is extremely important as it helps get the emotional stability that one needs. After coming out to his family even though they never really discussed it at home, he knew on some level that they had accepted it because of what they told their relatives. Every time someone asks his mother when he will get married she brushes off the topic explaining that her son isn’t ready for it yet and this is her way of showing her support, he feels. “I had even made arrangements to leave home the day I invited them to watch the play. I

Savita Kumbhar Through her childhood, Savita Kumbhar was around girls and there was nothing unusual about this. It was when she saw the film Dil for the first time and fell in love with Madhuri Dixit that she felt something different. Looking around, the only kind of relationships she saw witnessed was that of a man and woman but what she was feeling didn’t quite fit in anywhere. This was enough for her to know that she was different.

“I first spoke to my mother who was pretty understanding and accepting of how I felt.

Telling my father was a bit more challenging but I did that about 10 years ago. There was actually another family member who helped me tell my parents,” she remembers. “Both my father and mother were pretty disheartened initially since they had found a boy for me and the marriage was almost finalised,” she

adds. Once her parents understood that she was a lesbian, they decided that there was something wrong with her and took her to see a counsellor. It was here that they learned that it was completely natural to be a lesbian and over a period of time made their peace with it. “At one time they told me that they now accepted me as a boy and this is when I realised that it was going to take much more than a simple conversation to make them understand what being a lesbian meant,” says Savita.

She tells us that she always knew that it would be difficult for her parents to come to terms with who she was. “We live in a society where even the idea of being in a relationship with someone who is of the same gender is frowned upon. It is now that the acceptance for the LGBT community is increasing slightly.

As we belong to a comparatively younger generation, we have to try and understand why it is so difficult for our parents to come

Omkar Joshi

Vivek with his mother

was prepared for an outburst but luckily things worked in my favour. My parents told me that being gay didn’t change the love they had for me and this meant the world to me,” he shares. “On the other hand, about 90 per cent of my friends unfriended me when I came out publically on Facebook. Why have such people in my life at all,” he adds. It’s now been about three years that he came out to his family and Vivek is absolutely content with the way things are.

He always felt that there was something different about him and it was only when he reached adolescence did he start to get a hang of things. He began researching and meeting people from the LGBT community which made him understand why he felt the way he did. Once Omkar understood the dynamics of what it meant to be gay and accepted it himself, he decided to share what he was feeling with his family.

“The fact that I would not be able to meet my family’s expectations when it came to getting married and ‘settling down’ is actually what pushed me to tell my parents. Being orthodox in their thinking, they did not accept it at first and were in complete denial. It took some time, a lot of patience and effort to get them on board and make them understand that it was okay to be gay,” says the 30-year-old. Even after two years,

''When I first told them I was gay, they mistook me for being a transgender.

They didn’t see the difference''

on board,” about thre might get m

''M m ac ab w tha to t t c

Prachi Kathale

Mayuresh Baji

Like any other student, Prachi Kathale’s first crush was her second grade teacher. The only difference was that she was a woman too.

She never felt anything for guys and this only became clearer over time. After her teacher, she started liking a girl when she was in the seventh grade and happened to mention it to her father, who was as supportive as one could be. She didn’t even know back then if people like her existed, she smiles.

Although her father already knew early on, Prachi was worried about her mother. “I had decided to come out to my mother after getting settled since I was sceptical of her response. It had to do with what I had seen around me and the entire notion of ‘what people will think’ that kept holding me back,” she says. It was when she asked out a girl at the school farewell party in front of everyone and her mother was called by the principal that she found out. What shocked her and made her happy, was that her mother was extremely supportive. In fact, her mother lashed out at the school authorities who had made a big deal out of it, she recalls.

Prachi believes that making sure that you are independent

There was a lot of hustle bustle when he returned home for a few days after working in the US and everyone seemed happy. His parents had several girls picked out for him in preparation for his marriage and their happiness knew no bounds. Deciding that it had to be now

and can stand on your own feet if your parents decide not to support you is step one when deciding to come out to them. “Forcing them to accept you might not be the best thing. They will always need time to understand and get on board with things as their chain of thought and the environment that they were brought up in was very different,” she says. The fact that it was an easier process for her makes her feel blessed. It has been 14 years now that Prachi has come out to her parents. She is currently working with a BPO but she is an avid photographer and aspires to become a filmmaker someday. She also co-founded a start-up with her friend Apurva Chitte named Underground Eagles which aims at bringing lesbian and bisexual women together for various projects.

” she feels. In a relationship for the ee years now, Savita is engaged and married soon too.

My parents told me that they ccepted me as boy and this is when I realised at it was going take much more than a simple conversation''

Prachi with her mother

his parents are still getting accustomed to his sexual preference and are slowly opening up to discussing homosexuality at home, he adds.

Omkar, who recently completed his Masters in Marathi Literature, went back to studying after working for a while. “When I first told them I was gay, they mistook me for being a transgender. They didn’t see the difference and that made getting them on board so much more difficult. Communicating with our parents to get rid of these misunderstandings and giving them the time to understand it all is important,” he explains.

Even today, when his parents or other family members have doubts he helps them understand things better. He knows that his parents continue to love him and that even though they might try hinting that what he feels might just be a phase, they have most certainly accepted him. Telling them was one of the best decisions he ever made, Omkar believes.

or never, Mayuresh Baji took his mother into confidence and burst out into tears as he confided in her. He told her that he wasn’t quite interested in girls and that he would never be able to marry one.

He explained that he likes boys and that he was gay. Once his mother was on his side and understood what her son was feeling, she prepared for him to come out to the rest of the family, he recalls.

“Being gay isn’t a choice. It’s just how you are and this is what you need to get across to your family and friends.

Coming out made me feel much lighter and I now have my family to count on emotionally and this is a great feeling,” says the 29-year-old. Our parents will always accept us no matter what, even if they don’t understand us, he adds. It has been about 10 years now that Mayuresh has come out to his family. While there are still instances when they try to give him a solution to what they refer to as his ‘problem’, over the years they have learned to accept him as he is.

He had been closeted for a long time and was in his teens when he

Mayuresh with his sister and partner Shishir

TGS LIFE JULY 23, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

''It is any other relationship where one feels an emotional connect with the same gender'' realised that he was gay. “When someone says that they are gay, it isn’t just about their sexuality. It is just like any other relationship where one feels an emotional connect with the same gender than the other as expected by the society,” he tells us. In a relationship for about six years now, Mayuresh who works at Infosys, has been living with his boyfriend Srinivas Venugopal for the last year and a half. Both of them often visit his parents who live in Satara and Srinivas is extremely friendly with Mayuresh’s sister too. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

TGS LIFE JULY 23, 2016 PUNE

THRILL OF DRIVING

Big deal The only way you could complain about the space in the Ford Endeavour is if you drive a bus

By Tushar Burman

tone for the most part, with the exception of a chocolate-brown leather cover all over the top of the dash. The rest is beige and dark grey. don’t own property. I’d be happy with a It lends an airy feel to the cabin – as if that 1BHK, if it were in the right size, location were required. There’s plenty of headroom all and price bracket. Or I could buy the new around, but not so much shoulder room; the Ford Endeavour, which has about the same Endeavour is surprisingly compact width-wise. space, saves me a few bucks and is located This makes seating passengers three-abreast wherever I please. This sounds like a fanciful less comfortable than in some competing exaggeration until you fold the second and vehicles. Seating is flexible, however. The third row of seats flat. Just look at that picture! second row has 60-40 folding and both The Ford Endeavour is refreshed for 2016, segments slide forward as well as flip flat. This replacing the venerable model that has served makes it possible to adjust seating to allow the Indian market since 2003. Back in January, maximum comfort for all three rows. Fold the That’s a straight, flat 7-foot cargo floor with both rows of seats folded. Enough to camp with we marveled at the all-new, imposing design, third row down as well, and you have a massive fancy touches and wide variety of trims.

7-foot long, nearly flat cargo area. It’s enough Just like with real estate, there’s something space for two adults to lie flat side-by-side, or which may seem archaic, but is actually easier cabin is surprisingly quiet, no doubt thanks to for everybody in the Endeavour line-up. about as much as a Mumbai 1BHK. to use on the go, because you’re less likely the active noise cancellation at work.

Unfortunately, just like with real estate, Climate control is present, and has roof to swipe your hand over some unintended The Endeavour is still a traditional bodyit always seems like a stretch. The model vents for all three rows. There are 12V function. The lack of apparent bells and on-frame design, but clearly Ford has worked we tested is the 2.2-litre two-wheel drive sockets for each rowas are grab whistles is a disservice to the first on the suspension. It’s well-damped, absorbing Verdict automatic variant in the Titanium trim, that handles. Even the driver has two impression of the Endeavour. It and dispatching bumps with ease and authority. + Performance, starts at Rs 27 lac. There are variants between handles – one on the A-pillar feels less special until you drive It will feel firmer than other similar vehicles comfort, space Rs 25 and Rs 30 lac depending on whether and one above the door, it a bit and appreciate the finer in this characteristic, but it’s still comfortable. you want 2WD, 4WD, manual or automatic something we’ve rarely seen. points. For instance, there’s The combination of good damping, a nice - Price transmissions, and 2.2 or 3.2 litre engines.

All very utilitarian items; there active noise cancellation using gearbox mated ideally to this engine makes TGS rating Step inside — and it is quite a step, isn’t a lot of high-technology on multiple internal microphones. for an enjoyable drive. Highway manners are ;;;;2 requiring the use of the running board — and display. Even the entertainment There are side and curtain airbags, good and cruise control makes the Endeavour you’re greeted by an understated interior. Dualunit has a resistive touchscreen an 8-way power-adjustable driver’s a quiet mile-muncher at triple-digit speeds. seat. Headlamps with a jet wash, a Steering is light and makes U-turns very easy, powered tailgate, powered ORVMs and a helped by the tight turning radius. laundry list of other significant boxes ticked.

I seem to appreciate larger, comfortable The drive of the nearly 16-foot long SUV vehicles more as I grow older, and this gives is the biggest surprise. The sheer size of the me pause. But then, I think of the myriad vehicle suggests ponderous performance & occasions where I’d have to juggle passengers handling. Not so at all! This Endeavour is and luggage in a smaller car and I’m surprisingly sprightly. The throttle response thankful for the luxury of space and height. is sharp, incongruous with a large diesel I know I’d be quite comfortable wading motor. The googlies keep coming; the 6-speed through the inevitably flooded Mumbai automatic transmission is a ZF-derived streets on the Endeavour’s huge 265-section 6-speed torque converter, which works really 18” tyres (Ford claims 800mm wading well. Upshifts are smooth and quick, while ability) with a full load of passengers. The downshifts can take longer. Nevertheless, the biggest problem the Endeavour faces is it’s gearbox does a good job keeping the engine price. As tested, our variant is just north of at it’s happiest, which is to say responsive Rs 27 lac ex-showroom. For that price, the but slightly noisy. There’s quite a bit of a elephant in the room is the upcoming, new monotonous drone from the engine when Toyota Fortuner. It will be more expensive, you step on the throttle aggressively, abating but Toyota has more brand cachet. Which Understated console has a nice leather-wrapped steering wheel, leather covered dash and two only when the gearbox decides to upshift and is a shame, because the Endeavour independent TFT colour screens in the driver console binnacle cruise. For the sort of performance provided, is a great SUV. I can live with that. In regular driving, the tushar@goldensparrow.com @tburman

I

ART ON THE ROCKS

TGS LIFE JULY 23, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

These talented artist have expressed their thoughts through an ordinary medium that usually hides under our feet, pebbles

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

H

ave you thought of an eco-friendly and unique canvas for your art? Try painting on stones. They’re cheap, easy to find, and full of creative possibilities. Even if you don’t consider yourself an artist, you can still use rocks to carry messages or mark your garden. All you need to do is just take walk by the pavement, or by the sea to collect the rocks and pebbles. The benefit here is that the primary medium of your art comes free, unless you decide to buy them from a store.

For city-based artist Mokshada Kothari pebble art is a medium to overcome stress.

Being an IT professional, she was looking for a hobby she could take up in her free time. She started with canvas paintings using acrylic and watercolours. “After completing my BTech, I took a job at an IT company. I enjoyed painting in school, so I thought of taking it up as a hobby,” she says. She started with pebble art after her friend got her a bagful of pebbles for her garden. She painted on them and turned them into a work of art. Her friends loved them so much that they wanted to buy them.

She has conducted many exhibitions and was also part of Pune Glimpse Art Festival this year. “People loved the idea and the response

Abhishree Mehta makes art keep in mind the shape and size of the stone

Mokshada Kothari (Left) with her pebble art on the theme of love

so far has been really good,” she adds.

While some people may only see an oddly shaped rock and walk away, Abhishree Mehta, a medical student, imagines a crouching lion, ready to pounce on her prey or a cute little cat in a stone. She paints on the stone depending on its shape, size, and texture. “I started decorating them in my own garden. I painted different insects on them, and placed them in the planters. My relatives and friends loved the idea,” she says. She picks up stones from the streets, scrubs and cleans them at home and then paints on them.

For another pebble artist Pooja Gadre, the unique shapes of stones challenges her to paint something recognisable by interpreting the abstract. She loves to create realistic, yet whimsical animals. She uses the tricks of perception, shading, and creates whatever catches her fancy. She is an interior designer and loves making handmade decor items. “I first saw pebble art on the internet and loved it.

You can portray cats, dogs, or other creatures curled up, depending on the shape,” she says.

The use of rocks and pebbles to create works of art is not a new concept but the way the art is created has changed over time. It is organic, economical and handy when you are looking for perfect patio decor ideas. “A garden is the perfect space for rock and pebble art. If you do not have a full-fledged garden only a few flower pots, even so this is something that

will work very well. It could be part of a flower pot kept beside a window or balcony garden,” says Abhishree. She has made the art using different themes like beetle and honeybee, and snow-themed pebble paintings too. “My customer wanted it all in snow theme. So I had made snow covered houses, trees, landscapes all on different rocks for her garden,” she adds.

Pooja uses line, shape, and colour to paint swirling designs over a rock. She can recreate paisley or other patterns for decorative paperweights or a visually pleasing centerpiece.

“I have even tried dot paintings, inspirational quotes, and decorated them in a plate. You can

even turn them into a wall hanging, or arrange them besides the staircase for an aesthetic look,” she adds.

Small pebbles or rocks are remarkably easy to use in works of art as they can be found in different shapes and sizes, says Mokshada. “This type of art has a different look as well as the advantage of having some texture and depth.”

She is currently working on art based on a story.

“This art form can be used for storytelling as well. I am working a painting based on a lonely girl’s life. I will portray hope and light by using shapes and colours,” she adds. zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com

Pooja Gadre with her collection of dotted pebble art

Abhishree Mehta makes art keep in mind the shape and size of the stone

TGS LIFE JULY 23, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

HOW FAR WILL YOU GO TO NET A DODUO? Pokémon Go may not have been officially launched in the country but that hasn’t deterred enthusiasts from figuring out a jugaad. Even if you aren’t interested in the game, ensure you make way for those blinded by their cellphone screens

By Rituja Ravikiran Rao

I

had no idea where I was going. I was looking everywhere and I stepped on a pile of cow dung in my backyard,” laughs Avantika Kadapatti, a student of St Mary’s Junior College. She had a rather dramatic episode playing Pokémon GO. She took a break from studying to turn on the GPS on her cellphone and there they were. Two Pokémon’s right in her back yard, and the pile of manure too. Avantika plays the game wandering around the Boat Club Road, often ending up in unknown backyards or houses of friends she hasn’t spoken to in years.

Niantic’s Pokémon GO has taken the world by storm. Even though it hasn’t been officially launched in India, it has been no deterrent for Punekars. Having caught the fever, the city is bustling with trainers making their way through streets.

Srushti Gadekar, a fashion student from the National Institute of Fashion Technology, says, “It has been worth the wait. I have always wanted to be a Pokémon Trainer and with Pokémon GO I can be one.” The game is physically stimulating for most players since one needs to walk to progress in the game. Several hacks are doing the rounds on social media but the game closely detects your movement. Srushti laughs, “I have never walked this much in my life. It’s my new workout plan.” 19-year-old student of Pimpri-Chinchwad College of Engineering Ayesha Shaikh candidly recalls, “I found two Pokémons smack in the middle of the Jagtap Dairy Highway.

I forgot all the traffic rules in that moment.”

If these Pokémon diaries don’t tell you enough, Kothrud resident Aditya Mathkar describes the absolute madness, “In Kothrud, a group of around 45-50 people was standing near a Pokéstop, the police received complaints about a morcha.

When the police arrived, all they found was a bunch of teens and man-children engrossed in their phones,” he says He is baffled by the number of people playing the game. “I was one of the 50 people and when the cops came, they were so

confused. They thought there was a fight or accident,” says Aditya. He had a hard time explaining the game to them. Of course it would be difficult to explain invisible creatures. As a matter of fact, Kothrud has many Pokéstops and Pokémon Gyms, possibly due to its residential and landmark spaces.

Engineering student Samay Raina says, “Just a few days ago, I paid to enter the Aranyeshwar Park in Sahakarnagar, only to catch Pokémons.” He has previously never bothered to enter the park but since the Pokémons are attracted to the park, so is Samay.

He adds, “I even paid 20 rupees for a stranger who had forgotten his wallet. Just like that, I made a

new friend.” In fact, he was surprised to see that he wasn’t the only one who was there for the Pokémons. And no, we aren’t talking about the butterfl ies in Aranyeshwar Park.

Both, Aditya and Samay are Pokébuddies. They, like many others, take time off their daily schedule to stroll around the city in search of the much wanted. Samay says, “We often meet up in groups of 10-15 people at night and coordinate with others about the best place to catch Pokémons.” Aditya points out that almost 90% of his friends are playing the game.

For others, it’s been some embarrassing tales. 16-yearold Himmat Singh laughs, “The Pokemon gym in my area is in the same building as Joshi Wadewale. I go there very often and stand near the counter. The guy asked me yesterday, ‘Why do you come here every day? Eat something or I will start charging you Rs 50 for entering my shop.” Th is did not discourage Himmat. Now, he has even made a pact with the owner. Of course, the pact involved explaining the game to him

TGS LIFE JULY 23, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

ON A PROWL The streetlights twinkle slowly as even the shopkeepers who prefer staying open till late, prepare to put their shutters down. It is time to finally call it a day. Not for all though. The streets that used to get empty by 10 pm have a barrage of two-wheelers and a few four wheelers. Far outnumbering the vehicles, however, are the youngsters who have gathered on a street. Their mission is to catch pokemons, a game that has taken the world by storm.

It’s 11:30pm and law college road is just abuzz with people. These youngsters are not the residents here.

They’ve come from as far as Baner and Pimpri. “I was on my way home and took a short detour,” says Pankaj

and luckily for Himmat, the owner seemed to be interested.

Turns out, his son too is into Pokémon GO. Himmat is now welcome into the restaurant and was offered a free cold drink for all his ‘hard work’.

The gaming experience has also been ‘spiritual’ for some. Aarushi Thakore, a science student, says, “Most of the

Dave, an IT professional, who lives in Kothrud. Sure, he has work the next day, but that doesn’t deter his quest to be ‘the best of them all’.

The game has a feature of Lure Module, which, when activated by a specific player, converts the area into a treasury of pokemons. Kothrud roads have lure modules activated back to back. According to Yash Neemrana, a college student at the Sinhgad Institute, the nights are the best time to get all the pokemons.

“We all have commitments during the day, so catching pokemon is a bit difficult. Moreover, more lures are activated at night,” he says.

It’s past midnight and yet the Shri Maruti Mandir in Kothrud has nearly 30 people, all in their night dresses,

Pokéstops near my house are at temples so it’s been quite a religious walk for me.” This is because Niantic originally designed landmarks and churches to be Pokéstops. When played in India, most temples become Pokéstops. Thankfully for Punekars, there are loads of them in every corner. Shyam Mudaliar, 17, shares, “Baner Gaon is the bomb – so many temples, so many Pokéstops.”

It must be quite surprising for residents of Baner Gaon to see an influx of youngsters roaming around temples with their phones looking for invisible creatures. Ganraj, a caretaker at Dutta Mandir in Baner, said, “The youngsters visit temples these days but they don’t come inside. I have no idea why they are glued to their phones but at least they are coming to the temple.”

Not just temples, some people are getting creative and thinking way out of the box to get to Pokéstops. Karishma Patil, an avid player found a Ghasthly, a ghost Pokémon, in a graveyard. She said she might start believing in ghosts now. 17-year-old Dhanisha Shelke too found a Pikachu in her watchmen’s toilet! This is because the game demands you go out of your way to meet the targets. Anyone who complains that the game is ‘too easy’, clearly hasn’t reached their inner passion to just enjoy the basic thrill of the game – the nostalgia it offers.

lurking around, swiping at their phones. Most are engrossed in their own devices while some compare scores or a rare pokemon. Some even sit and chit-chat while waiting for the pokemon to appear. That’s not the only stop. Every youngster-friendly and open to access area is frequented by a group of people with all of them trying to catch a Pikachu or a Rhyhorn with an unmatched zeal and zest. Excitement and camaraderie flow as one even tells a stranger where the next stop can be. The streets are empty but the sidewalks are full as some sit and some pace up and down to catch ‘em all.

Pokemon has made the city that used to sleep early, come out on the streets through the night.

The city is clearly enjoying the Pokémon GO fever and is only getting better at the game. Pune is now hosting Pokéwalks every weekend, with the next ones to be held in Magarpatta and Hadapsar. Groups of teenagers and youth alike are forming special groups on Whatsapp and Facebook to plan meetings so that they can play the game together.

Quite honestly, if an entire generation is given the chance to live their childhood dream, the situation wouldn’t be any different. Each one of the players has grown up watching Pokémon and you are never too old to re-enact your favourite cartoon.

It is not too late to be part of this social megatrend.

Our only advise is for you to stay safe on roads, not use your cellphones while driving and respect others and their privacy.

SP

14

TGS LIFE JULY 23, 2016 PUNE

Alisha Salunkhe believes black is a sure winner.

She brings out her best outfits

PICS BY TEJAS GAIKWAD

SHOPPING

TAKE THE BLACK Cool Rider

An ideal outfit for a night of partying, the sequinned top and black leggings look great on their own. The leather jacket adds its own glamour and cool quotient. Finish the look with a simple neckpiece and stud earrings. Black stilettos are perfect to complete any look, especially this one.

Jacket: Vero Moda, Rs 3,500 Top: Cupid, Rs 1,000 Leggings: Zara, Rs 1,900

Simple and safe

Black on black

This cape top works wonders when paired with a pair of shorts or black tights. Add a dash of striking red lipstick, with smokey eyes. A loud neckpiece makes for the perfect accessory. Pair with black or silver flats for a casual night out.

Top: Koovs, Rs 1,000 Shorts: Promod, Rs 2,200

This all black ensemble is perfect for a night-out with friends. Team it with some junk accessories, but remember not to go overboard with it. Put on some heels to complete the look.

Top: Jessica Simpson, Rs 1,800 Heels: Tres Mode, Rs 2,200

Lace it up

A perfect combination for a day out with friends, this combination of a slit top and shorts looks super fun. Keeping it casual yet trendy, team this with black or golden flats and a glittery sling bag to add some oomph.

Top: Terranova, Rs 2,000 Shorts: Promod Rs 2,200

Floral fantasy

Doll up for a sunny day out with this floral skater dress.

Keeping it simple and fresh, minimally accessorize and team it with black heels for the perfect casual look.

Dress: Forever 21, Rs 800

All that glitters

Wear this long sheer gown to a classy dinner party to make all heads turn. The golden sequins add a glittery touch to an otherwise plain outfit. Accessorize with chunky rings and a simple bracelet for a minimal yet classy look.

Dress: ONLY, Rs 2,500

TGS LIFE

A

s you turn into Lane D off North Main road in the bustling area of Koregaon Park, a quaint little bookstore awaits the day’s customers. Tucked away in a corner, it is easy to miss. Sophia Book Shop is run by a smiling lady, who welcomes customers as though they are guests in her own home. She gestures to the stacks of books lined all around her and invites you to take your pick. Surekha Sharma, the owner, has a fascinating story to tell.

Hailing from a small town in Karnataka, Surekha fell in love with reading and books when she was in school. “After I completed my BA in English, I wanted to work. But in my community, women weren’t allowed to have jobs,” she says. After getting married to a Punjabi man, Surekha moved to Pune in 1982 where she finally got to fulfil her dream of working.

Her love for books called and she told her husband she wanted to open a bookstore. Thus, Sohpia Book Shop was established in the then relatively quiet area of Pune, 22 years ago. “Sophia is my husband’s nickname for me,” she smiles,

From Sophia, with love

explaining the name of her store.

When the store had just opened, a customer gave her a Marathi book and pestered her to read it. A Kannada woman, she had difficulty with the language but went ahead anyway. The book ‘Me Kasa Zalo’ is one that she claims changed her life and made her fall in love with the language. Today, Surekha converses fluently in Marathi.

Filled from top to bottom with mostly second hand books, Sophia Book Store runs largely on the exchange principle. Customers buy books from her and also sell their old ones to her at half the cost. This personal element has led her store to stock hundreds of books, from Marathi novels to French and German

JULY 23, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

uneka r

biographies. “A lot of my clientele are foreigners living in Koregaon Park. They are very happy to see books in their native languages

Traditional yet modern

E

thnic fashion is continuously evolving. It’s refreshing how the west inspired styles are back with a dash of ethnic touch to them.

Indian woman are now becoming open to experimenting and hence the merger of contemporary and traditional is the trend which is here to stay. Director of the retail fashion house KALKI, Nishit Gupta gives you tips on how to look your best in the Indian attire this season, what colours are in vogue and how you can rock the desi look at almost any function.

PICK TO MATCH YOUR PERSONAL STYLE If you are the experimental contemporary woman, a crop top with brocade skirt is something that is made for you. The ethnic banarasi skirt with the u lt ra-moder n crop top will be the perfect pick.

Additionally, a dress with a cape or a skirt with a cape top h a v i n g f loral

STYLE GURU

embellishments is another great ensemble. If you are confident about rocking the most unconventional look, then the Nishit Gupta dhoti sari is a wardrobe essential. This drape style always made women stand out in style.

here,” Surekha says.

Recently, due to e-books and big commercial retailers, sales have dipped to less than half of what

they used to be for Surekha. Yet, she smiles on and personally attends to each customer to walks in.

(As told to Abha Pandit)

City celeb chat

STAYING IN VOGUE WITH THE RIGHT COLOURS While traditional colors like the red & pink are here to stay, there is a list of break through shades which have topped the charts this season. These include the rich Marsala, the experimental Bottle Green and the dusty Peach. Charcoal grey and Vermilion have also made it to the most loved colors of the season.

DRESS TO THE OCCASION Initially, women wore traditional Indian attire to a wedding, reception or a puja. However they are now becoming more open to carrying a contemporary outfit with a hint of ethnic to it because they love to look different by experimenting with different fabrics, colors and embellishments. There is a large number of women wearing cape dresses, gown saris and other such semi ethnic variations to baby showers, bachelorette parties and almost every other occasion that is a little more important than your usual day.

As told to Salonee Mistry

Name: Shweta Mahadik, Actor Three words to describe me: Funny, Bold and Mischievious I love my job because: Acting is my passion Best advice I have received: You live once, cherish every moment When buying something, the first thing that catches my eye is: Colour What’s your inner animal? : I feel like I am a monkey always jumping around The first thing you notice about an attractive

person: Wrist watch and shoes The perfect start to a day is: A workout Your current four-wheeler: Skoda Superb Your fitness regimen: Circuit training Your food indulgence: Seafood Books by your bedside: I am not a reader as such The first site you visit when you fire up your comp: Any fashion site or blog Your favourite city: Mumbai, without a doubt Ideal holiday: Maldives, Greece, Cuba

(As told to Salonee Mistry)

TGS LIFE JULY 23, 2016 PUNE

BUZZ

Dancing to the beat of their heart

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

I

f you are a Yo Yo Honey Singh fan, you most certainly love dancing to all his peppy numbers and watch all the videos that he makes along with the songs.

Ever wondered who choreographs him? Young, talented, full of zeal and passionate about dance,

friends-turned-business partners Atul Jindal and Karan Kumar have been choreographing all of Honey Singh’s numbers right from Blue Eyes, Chaar Bottle Vodka, Lose Dose, Party with Bhoothnath up until his most recent one. Apart from this, they have also choreographed for commercials and award shows such as the Gima Awards, Umang, Radio Mirchi Music Awards,

PTC Punjabi Film Awards, to name a few. Their most memorable projects include working with Shah Rukh Khan for his most popular international tour Temptation Reloaded and the Yo Yo Honey Singh Tour.

In the hope that they could pass on what they learned when they trained at the Broadway Dance Centre in New York, they set up their own academy, Big Dance Centre, in Delhi. “The concept is similar to that of a food court. When you enrol with us, you can decide which dance form you want to learn and under whom. You don’t need to stick to one instructor or one style of dance either,” says Atul. They have three academies as of now, one in North Delhi, in South Delhi and just about two months ago they opened one in Mumbai too. Since Bollywood projects and running the three centres can be a tad bit stressful they have effortlessly divided the work between themselves and have nothing to complain about, they share.

The fi rst time Honey Singh actually called them to come choreograph for him, they let it pass assuming that it was a prank call.

He has been a godfather to them as far as Bollywood is concerned and they vouch that he is a great person to work with and be around. “While travel inspires our choreography we always like to get a feel of who we are choreographing for so that we can add a touch of their style to the steps as well. The event and the person that we are choreographing for inspire us greatly,” says Karan.

Doing what they do, working odd hours and handling many things at once, arguments are a part and parcel of their life. On one hand while they may fight and argue, they also trust each other immensely and that is how they get through ever challenge. In the future, Atul hopes to work with Ranveer Singh while Karan is happy and excited at the thought that maybe someday he will have the opportunity to choreograph Deepika Padukone. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

Tanisha to play a journalist

T

anisha Mukherjee, who was last in news for her appearance in the reality show Bigg Boss, and later performing daredevil stunts in Khatron ke Khiladi, is now making a comeback in fi lms. She finished shooting for Anna, a biopic on social activist Anna Hazare, in which she plays a journalist.

The fi lm will cover Anna Hazare’s agitation at the Ramleela Maidan in 2011 and would also cover his selfless contribution to society. “Anna had a very unusual relation with the media. I play a journalist, who like many other media persons, was against him but eventually begins to support him. He changed the outlook of the people and stood for them,” says Tanisha who was last seen in the fi lm Sarkar Raj. What prompted her to take up the fi lm is the strong character and the script. She was fascinated

about playing a prominent role in a biopic about someone who has inspired an entire generation of youth. “I always wondered why people always flocked to him wherever he went but now I know, and he inspires me too,” she adds.

Tanisha, whose ride in the industry hasn’t been smooth enough, believes in never giving up. She pushes herself to give her best with her every project. “My journey in the industry has had a lot of ups and downs. I was on a high when I was offered Neel and Nikki, but it didn’t do well. That upset me a bit. But Bigg Boss changed things for me,” she says.

'I don’t mind doing daily soaps’

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

H

e is young, talented and super cute. From acting in soaps and dancing to anchoring, Rithvik Dhanjani has gained popularity with every project he has been a part of. After hosting the dance reality show So You Think You Can Dance, he has now got another interesting project in his kitty. He is now seen travelling across India and living the life of a common man on History Channel’s new show Man Vs Job. Rithvik will be meeting people who perform challenging jobs for their survival, go to their houses and even live their lives. He will be seen doing everything from crocodile farming to collecting honey as well as trekking as a guide, even carry the weight up the mountain. “It’s an exciting project. I

will be living the lives of each of these common men with such challenging jobs. I believe the experience will change my perception about life and help me grow as a person,” he says. He recently worked in the Sunderbans with honey collectors and stepped into an ‘akhara’ (wrestling arena) in Khanna, Ludhiana.

Having always been open to taking up challenges, Rithvik didn’t hesitate for a moment when he was offered the show.

Rithvik, who made his debut with a daily soap Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani, doesn’t mind getting back to acting again. He came into limelight with the role of Arjun in the daily soap Pavitra Rishta. “Yes, that holds a special place in my heart. That’s where I met Asha (Negi). Anchoring is something that excites me but if I get a good script that interests me then I don’t mind doing a daily soap too,” he says. zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com