PUNE, JULY 9, 2016 | www.thegoldensparrow.com
WHAT’S AGE GOT TO DO WITH IT? Each year, brings along another candle to the burgeoning cake and that helps inspire these granddaddies all the more. Thanks to their healthy and active lifestyles, they continue to look and feel younger
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TGS LIFE JULY 9, 2016 PUNE
STAGE By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab
T
he Kheyaal-e-Jazz Projekt from Mumbai is all set to belt out their soulful fusion numbers in the city this weekend. They are an indie-classical and jazz fusion band experimenting with bandish, thumri, tarana and Sufi sounds by clubbing them with funk, rock and western popular jazz songs. Inspired by artists like Norah Jones, Amy Winehouse, Simon & Garfunkel and Adele, this talented bunch has the ability to blend any Indian ragas into their songs with ease. This six piece band comprises of Ronkini Gupta and Arohi Mhatre on vocals, Anup Satam on guitars, Nitish Ranadive on cajon, Adinath Patkar on keyboard and Suraaj Parab on bass. Their music is a skilled combination of soulful and high energy music. “Arohi and I have a background in classical music and we wanted to come up with something different. We observed that all the classical music concerts mainly comprised of an audience who are in their 40s. So we decided to to fuse it with western music to pull in the younger crowd,” says Ronkini. She is a winner of World Series Saregamapa and has travelled around the world as lead singer for
JAZZ WITH A
This year-old band has a handful of originals that have created a wave amongst music enthusiasts. They recently released their new single Aye Ri Chandni, where they have fused Raag
Bhimpalasi with rock and jazz style orchestration. The song consists of intricate sargams and they are sure to impress the audience with this number. “Initially, we had to face our share of challenges. There aren’t many fusion band of this kind, and people didn’t know much about this genre. It was after a few gigs that we finally got audiences who enjoyed our music,” she adds. When: July 9, 9 pm onwards Where: Classic Rock Coffee Co, Kalyani Nagar zainab.kantawala @goldensparrow.com
coming up with a new tune, he loves traveling. Most of the time he sets out without a final destination in mind but with the sole motive of enjoying every single place that he sets foot in. He has graduated in Indian classical music and majored
in playing the Sitar during the course. Where: Beer Cafe, Koregaon Park, July 9, 9 pm onwards Where: Hard Rock Cafe, Koregaon Park, July 14, 8:30 pm onwards salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com
CLASSICAL TWIST the Bollywood Broadway show Bharati. The band also won the coveted Artist Aloud Music Award for the best composition ‘Ritu Basant Ki’ this year. “We belong to a very
different genre and for this kind of music we put in a lot of time for riyaz. Out music may be complicated for a common person to sing along but it connects with them and that’s what is important for us,” she says.
Music to make you happy This 90-minute set of non-stop, unadulterated music will not only make you groove but is sure to put a smile on your face too By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry
H
ailing from an army background, music was never a part of his plan till he reached high school. It was even difficult for him to convince his parent’s that he wanted to be a fulltime musician. Something inside Rohit Vasudevan pushed him towards music and there has been no looking back since. It is his belief that one should take some time to realize their motive in life and do what makes them happy. All set for his gig, Rohit who will be on the vocals and guitar, along with his three
band members will be playing some of their original songs and a few covers by famous artists with their own flavour to it. Saket Rao will be on the drums and percussion. He is a permanent member along with Rohit of the Rohit Vasudevan Diaries, while the other players change depending on the gig. For the Pune performance, Kshitij Saxena will be playing the flutes and Vinny Kaul will be on the bass. Inspiration can come from anywhere for this musician. His daily life experiences along with people around him, all pave the way for his music. The lyrics are simple and straight from the heart. It was only recently that a friend told him that his lyrics are akin to a conversation, he shares. “As a performer I adore my audience and want them to have the best time. Sometimes the challenge is managing the technical glitches which have the potential to kill the enthusiasm of both the audience
and the band,” confesses the 28-year-old. He assures us he and Saket are the happiest and most content musicians when they are on stage performing. They forget anything that has the potential to cause stress. Having various influences growing up, their music is not limited to any particular genre but is a little bit of everything. Their songs are in Hindi, English and Malayalam. Ask him about what the future looks like and he says, “It will be very beautiful as long as music is a part of it. We have recently finished composing for an upcoming film and the future looks brighter than ever. Our album Zindagi Ek Khoj will also be out soon,” shares Rohit. Irrespective of where his life takes him, Rohit assures us that he will be happy and as dedicated as always towards spreading joy through music. When he isn’t composing, penning lyrics or
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WHEN ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry
J
ust like the last two years, Maunaantar is creating buzz all over again as some of the best acts and theatre groups prepare to take stage. With emphasis on acting and expressions, one group that sets itself apart with respect to their story and dramatisation will win it all. The competition has already received a wonderful response. All the plays will be held at Bharat Natya Mandir at Sadashiv Peth. TGS speaks to four groups from Pune ahead of their performance so you’ll know what to expect at the competition. GHANADAAT A play that everyone can relate too, the script of Ghanadaat has been written by national award winner Mithun Chaudhary and has been directed by Suyash Zuzjurke. This will be his first play as a director. Not revealing much of the story, he
TGS LIFE JULY 9, 2016 PUNE
ENTERTAINMENT
Maunaantar, the city’s only mime competition, will steal the focus once again this weekend as 20 groups compete to win POST-CARD Staging the journey of a villager in the hustle bustle of the city, but with a twist of their own, the students of RMD Sinhagad College, are all set to wow you. Honestly believing that mime plays do not always need to revolve around social issues, Mayuresh Naralkar the director of the play, decided to do things a little differently. “It is a light story and a lot of emphasis has been given to body language. We want our audience to experience a sense of relaxation at the end of the play and this is something we kept in mind throughout,” he says. Currently in his last year of graduation, this is his debut as a director of a mime play. When: July 10, 1.45 pm to 2.30 pm
COLD BLOOD Inspired by a film that they were watching, Abhishek Dandage and Swapnil Joshi began conceptualising the script of their very first play. Coming together not long ago to form their group Vyaktirekha, the team consists of theatre enthusiasts all of whom have varied full-time professions. From working in IT companies to being engineers, they are all friends who decided to find a way to continue with their theatre hobby. “Since this is our very first play, the team is new and getting used to each other. Figuring out a backdrop that would blend with our story and would not be difficult to put up was quite the task,” shares Abhishek. Directing the 22-minute play gave him the opportunity to narrate a story the way he wanted to and this was his biggest motivation to perform the play. When: July 9, 9.45 pm to 10.30 pm
says, “The play is an absolute entertainer and has a hint of comedy too. The story revolves around a situation and to get the part right we spent hours at the location observing the people there.” Formed about a year ago, this group goes by the name Vyakti. It has gone from being a team of six to having 40 people in it. Competitions like this are a good platform for the group to showcase their talent, he believes. When: July 11, 11.15 am to 12 pm
TYA RATRI Merging three different formats, namely platform storytelling, chorus and ensemble movement, Theatre Dilse will put up their very first production at the competition this year. Formed a few months ago by students who passed out of ILS College, the play they will be putting up is closely associated with the idea of chasing something and being chased by someone. “When we decided to take part in the competition we were prepared to face the physical exhaustion that came along with the process since we did not have dialogues to help us put across our point. During the initial rehearsals, we only did exercises to help build stamina,” shares Arpita Ghogardare a member from the team. The play has been directed by Apoorva Bhilari. When: July 10, 5.45 pm to 6.30 pm salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com
TGS LIFE JULY 9, 2016 PUNE
Peek into the world of women dancers
FEATURES
Antar Yatra walks the audience into the inner domain of women dancers from India, traversing the past and present
By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab
other professional dancers of the past who considered themselves as incarnations of Apsaras. This dance event will be a mix of Odissi, Bharatnatyam and Kuchipudi. Performers will attempt to capture the life, artistic vision and the inner world of women dancers from the country. “It’s a journey of women dancers, from the Apsara to the Devadasi to the contemporary dancer. It’s about her need to express
W
itness a grand dance concert choreographed and performed by the renowned Odissi dancer Sharmila Biswas. The performance, based on the theme ‘Antar Yatra’, delves into the impulses that a woman dancer draws upon and revolves around temple dancers, court dancers and
herself differently, until she reaches a stage when the insecurities of an artiste fall away,” says Sharmila. Songs have been selected from six languages for the production. Besides, Sharmila has also used puppetry for its symbolism and Pinnal Kollattam (Tamil traditional folk dance) to portray celebration. Other performers include Amrita Lahiri, Lakshmi Parthasarathy Athreya and Shashwati Garai Ghosh. The inspiration for the performance comes from daily life. A Kuchipudi dancer in the twilight sees colours she has never seen before. Moments later, she hears a gong ring in a nearby temple, and she connects with a divine energy. Next, the Bharatanatyam dancer takes the story forward, with it culminating in the Odissi dancer immersed in her nritya leela. “The challenge was to make sure that each of the three dance forms gets its due. I want the essence of each dance form to come out strong and clear. To work on an art form, which is not my domain, was a difficult task,” she adds. With Antar Yatra, she seeks to bring something new to her choreography. She spent months researching traditional artists and long-forgotten rural forms, and has tried to give it a twist by contemporising the steps. The recurrent theme throughout a musical
is the apsara, which Sharmila says is connected to our past. “The apsaras do not belong to anyone, nor can one belong to them. They are the masters of 64 kalas, carrying knowledge that connects the abstract to the real world. “Though the event tends to
lean more on the abstract, I am sure that the audience will find a connect and relate to the storyline,” she says. When: July 18 Where: Tilak Smarak Mandir, Tilak Road zainab.kantawala @goldensparrow.com
Pune in 2012, she picked up the art of engaging people in a story. “For the past two years, I have only been facilitating storytelling circles on various subjects hoping to draw more and more people towards this fascinating medium, which isn’t even
considered an art form,” she says. While people feel it is no big deal to tell a story, the real skill lies in keeping the audience engaged for the entire duration of the story. Insisting that the medium isn’t only for children, Dola explains how it is also used as a method of healing. “It is so much easier to explain concepts to people through a story instead of directly putting it across to them. They are a lot more receptive and willing to listen if it comes to them in a form they can relate to,” she explains. A regular facilitator, Dola conducts storytelling circles around the city, at corporate as well as public forums. As for the audiences, it is surprising to know that most of the people who turn up at her community storytelling circles are adults. Dola is delighted that grown-ups are showing an immense amount of interest in listening to stories and also plans to start a circle only for adults so she can talk about subjects, which may not be appropriate for all age groups. What
excites her most is when her regular listeners turn storytellers themselves. “I am overjoyed to know that I have had some sort of impact on these people, who have decided to take storytelling up as an art,” she says. Her mythology storytelling circles, however, largely see children in attendance. She feels that people consider only Hanuman and Krishna stories to be representative of the mythological category. Through her circles, she tries to bring about nonconventional, little known myths which would provide listeners with a perspective about different cultures, while making the concept more complex. “Stories have been told since the beginning of time, mainly to moralise children and adults alike. But I want to use them to fire imaginations and start conversations,” she ends. When: July 16, 11 am to 1 pm Where: Pagdandi Books and Chai Café, Baner Pashan Link Road abha.pandit@goldensparrow.com
Once upon a time… Find out more about the tales you grew up listening to with a community storytelling circle about mythology By Abha Pandit @abha_pandit
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ost of us have grown up reading and listening to stories about Krishna, Zeus and Isis. No matter what part of the world or culture we come from, mythology plays an important part in our lives. All gods are connected to stories, which have been passed on for centuries, generation after generation. But more often than not, the fun in the stories is lost if they aren’t told properly. Storytelling is an art, one which Dola Dasgupta is bringing, for you to relive your childhood and spark your children’s interest in
mythology. A professional storyteller, Dola was curious about myths and gods like every other child and soon her curiosity turned into her profession. After pursuing a career in journalism and teaching before moving to
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‘Lost & Found has been a challenging film’ By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry
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ith one hit film after another, Spruha Joshi is soon becoming a household name. She’s cute, smiles like she could melt hearts and is talented too. Be it acting in a film, play or on television, for a while now she has only been playing the perfect girl next door. Given a chance, she would love to step out of the comfort zone and explore a whole new side to herself, she tell us. Her upcoming film Lost & Found, where she plays the lead opposite Siddharth Chandekar, deals with the problem of loneliness. It tells us stories of people fighting with this issue and throws some light on the struggles that they face. Spruha shares with TGS how difficult it was for her to connect to her character, who she would like to work with in the future, and why she
loves what she does. The film will connect with everyone whether you have experienced loneliness or not. While it is a light-hearted love story, it subtly also takes you through the struggles that crop up along with loneliness. Although the romantic scenes were a cake walk for Spruha, thanks to her long standing friendship with Siddharth, playing the lonely girl was quite the task. “I have always been surrounded by people. My friends, family members and my colleagues kept me in the best of spirits. Feeling lonely is something that I absolutely do not connect with. It took me a while getting into the skin of the character. Lost & Found has been a challenging film,” she confesses. With a few films up her sleeve, she would absolutely jump at the opportunity to work with Vaibhav Tatwawadi and Siddharth Menon who are her close friends. The fact that
TGS LIFE JULY 9, 2016 PUNE
ENTERTAINMENT
she gets to live every day differently is what she loves the most about being an actor. Getting bored easily, this profession offers her the chance to always be doing something different. While growing up, acting was never a part of the plan. “I had a lot of insecurities about myself initially. I didn’t feel that I looked like an actress or would ever be able to become one. I was even studying to give my UPSC exam,” she tells us. Her future goals include taking up films that give her fans something to look forward too. While she is happy that, until now, her roles have been well-accepted she is looking forward to play a character that allows her to do something different. Lost & Found, she believes, is her first step towards this. The film is slated to release on July 29 and has been directed by Ruturaj Dhalgade. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com
A FIRST OF ITS KIND FLICK
Chaurya is the only Marathi film be shot in the interiors of Chambal, the first in India that has been made using the accessibility format and is director Sameer Patil’s debut too
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ilming the difference between the kind of society we were and the one that we have become, Chaurya strikes a great balance between traditional and modern. Shot in Shani Shingnapur apart from 48 other locations, Chaurya explores the belief that residents here swear by. For them, Shani Dev safeguards their life and property and this is evident since they have no doors or windows in their homes. The film also hopes to throw light on the level of corruption that resides here in some way. The film stars Kishor Kadam, Milind Shinde, Ganesh Yadav, Pradeep Velankar, Digvijay Rohidas, Dinesh Shetty and Tirrtha Murbadkar. Although this is his first film, Sameer has done everything a little different from the usual. The film has been shot using the accessibility format which means that it can be enjoyed even by the blind through its narration and the deaf through visualisation. This is the first Indian cinema to venture into this format. Working with a minimum budget most of the sets, locations and backdrops have been as natural as
Stills from the film Chaurya (above) and Sameer Patil director of the film (below). This is the only Marathi film to be shot in the interiors of Chambal
possible. For instance, when they needed a foggy environment they shot during the winters and for scenes that depicted monsoon they actually waited for the clouds to gather. The film also has two different directors of photography (DOP) to ensure that the visualization was seamless. “The reason I decided to make this film was because of how challenging the script was. It was important to showcase it correctly otherwise the message would be lost,” the 30-year-old tells us. Hailing from a small village in Nasik, he moved to Mumbai and worked as an assistant director for quite some time before he decided to make his own film. Apart from Chaurya being his
directorial debut, it is also the first Marathi film to be shot in the interiors of Chambal. This posed immense challenges to the team, particularly for their security. Their shoot location was 12 kilometers away from the highway and sometimes, depending on the weather, they were even forced to walk this distance. Finance was another issue for the newbie director. “Since the concept of the film is different and complicated to explain, it was difficult to get producers on board. I had to sell of my ancestral land to raise funds for the project. But I believed immensely in what I had set out to do and so don’t regret my decision one bit,” he shares. Through all of this the one thing
that works in his favour is the fact that even though the film took about a year and a half to shoot, the concept is relevant at all times, he adds. Moreover, Sameer has one more film up his sleeve. Vagheria revolves around tigers. It has already been completed and should be out in the next two months, he tells us. Although he feels that he is in no position to advise other budding directors, he says that it is important to be self-confident. Talent is not something that can be bought and so putting the extra effort can take you a long way. Chaurya is set to release on August 5. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com
JULY 9, 2016 PUNE
INDULGE
Psst… get the dope on
SECRET FOOD MENUS Bored of eating the regular fare? Ask for these concoctions in hushed tones and prepare to indulge
By Abha Pandit @abha_pandit
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ow many times have you wished for slight tweaks to be made to dishes listed on the regular menu to satisfy a craving? Do you search for something innovative to eat at places which have been tried and tested? Look no further, as TGS gleans the information just for you. Exclusive and custom made, these secret menus have become the talk of the town, with almost all eateries coming up with hush-hush dishes only available to guests who are in the know.
Murg Rajdhani at Deccan Harvest
TEJAS GAIKWAD AND VISHAL KALE
TGS LIFE
When a loyal guest at Deccan Harvest requested chef Jaiendra for a variation of the regular curry with chunks of meat, he came up with the recipe for Murg Rajdhani. A medley of crispy fried ajwain coated chicken dumplings and a coconut milk-based gravy, it isn’t a surprise that word of this dish has spread among their regular customers. The crispy chicken is added to a spicy, homely gravy of tomatoes and cashew nuts and finished with coconut milk. The taste of ajwain which isn’t found in the rest of the menu, can be sampled with this dish. Tasting best with the garlic naan, the Murg Rajdhani has people coming back time and time again just to order this secret dish.
Burnt Garlic Chicken at Terttulia Chef Sanjib Das is fun and creative, with a drive to cook food that patrons enjoy. This quality is what led him to add secret dishes to his regular restaurant menu. The burnt chilli garlic prawns at Terttuila are wildly popular, but guests who weren’t fond of seafood requested for an alternative version of the dish, trying to incorporate the same flavours. With this in mind, Chef Sanjib came up with the burnt garlic chicken. Retaining the flavour of the original prawn dish, this spin off is now being ordered by many with the word spreading among patrons. It has become popular with children, since it isn’t very spicy and has a subtle hint of sweetness. With a fusion of honey, soy sauce, garlic and chilli flavours used in the marination of the chicken and the sauce, the dish has won many hearts and is the most widely asked for dish on Terttulia’s secret menu.
TGS LIFE
Oat pancakes and healthy Seekh Kebab at Courtyard by Marriott, Chakan
Prawns in tequila and orange sauce at Wynkk - The Lounge The prospect of combining alcohol and food is one that will excite any chef, and Wynkk – The Lounge made the most of their chef ’s talents. One evening, over a serving of vodka pani-puri, the team had a general discussion about creating a meaty dish with vodka. After a lively debate about the choice of meat and spirit, prawns and tequila were chosen. The chefs decided to put their own twist on the dish and came up with prawns in tequila and orange sauce. The prawns are marinated in tequila and tossed in chilli paste. A delectable sauce is prepared with orange juice, chilli flakes and more tequila and then poured over the cooked prawns. This heavenly concoction is garnished and served in a margarita glass. Being a one of its kind dish, it hasn’t been included in the regular menu but can be prepared on demand. Since the dish has been introduced, the kitchen gets at least 12 orders for it each week.
Healthy eating options, although much sought after, aren’t generally made to suit each customer’s tastes. At Courtyard by Marriott, Chakan, the team believes in going that extra mile to give their guests exactly what they request. Born of this attitude, chefs share a dish off their secret menu, which can be prepared on special request. When a guest requested a healthy meal option which was high in fibre and included meat, Chef Sathish and Chef Girish came up with the recipe for Oat pancakes and healthy Seekh kebabs. The dish has now become a favourite amongst guests who stay at the hotel for extended durations and are looking for something healthy for their daily meals.
JULY 9, 2016 PUNE
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Another favourite off the secret menu here is the chicken 65 fried rice, which is a seamless fusion of Asian and South Indian cuisine.
Kozhi Malli Peralan and Malabar Fish Fry at Savya Rasa The menu at Savya Rasa is a culmination of recipes picked up during extensive travels to the south of the country. Local cooks, chefs, home makers from across the southern states have had an impact on the taste. With such a broad repertoire of dishes, all of them are kept off the
menu, to be served only on special request from guests. These hidden gems are only known to a select few, regulars who know the food in and out. The most popular amongst these secret dishes is the Kozhi Malli Peralan. A traditional Syrian
Christian Kerala style chicken curry, the Peralan is prepared on request using the freshest ingredients. Another dish hidden from the public eye, the Malabar fish fry, grilled fish fillets marinated with red chilli and curry paste, is a favourite among patrons.
Committed to offering the finest of South Indian cuisine to Puneites in a homely manner, the Savya Rasa team goes out of its way to grant its guests’ requests. abha.pandit@goldensparrow.com
TGS LIFE JULY 9, 2016 PUNE
FEATURES
What’s age got to do
Each year, brings along another candle to the burgeoning cake and that helps inspi their healthy and active lifestyles, they continue to look and feel younger By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab
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ld age is usually connected with the terms forgetful, groaning while getting out of bed, falling asleep while watching TV, etc. There was a time when you were considered old when you retired, but these very inspiring grandfathers have proved that post-80 too they can lead a healthier and a more active life. They are fit and do not believe in spending their days sitting on the armchair or watching monochrome films in the afternoon. For them, retirement is the start of a whole new chapter. They are leading more active and exciting lifestyles than when they were younger.
Little bit of exercise is important The over-80 age group is less active than any other, you may think. But Bhaskar Nikam, 97, is fit, healthy and can give anyone below his age a complex. For him, a little bit of exercise and eating right is the mantra. His day starts at 6 am with a morning walk, followed by his routine of warm up exercises. “You don’t have to follow a difficult drill, just a little bit of stretching is important to keep your muscles and joints active. It can help you live a longer, happier life,” he says. His diet consists of simple non-oily, nonspicy vegetarian food. His breakfast includes jowar bhakri or poha, rajgira laddu and dates, and for lunch and dinner he prefers simple dal, rice and v e g e t a ble s . Through the day, he keeps h i msel f engaged in reading various mythology and inspirational books, and, after an afternoon nap, he meets his friends in the society compound. “They are all retired like me, so we chit-chat to pass our time,” he says. He worked as an engineer in the drainage department of Pune Municipal Corporation, and used to cycle on his daily commute. After retirement, he was determined to lead an independent life. “Too many people give up their usual form of exercise when they age. But that is the time that they should actually adapt the exercise to suit their physiology and lifestyle,” he says. His main aim is to be selfdependent, mentally sharp and as mobile as possible. He always dreamed of travelling by airplane once in his lifetime, but his economic condition never allowed him. At 97, his wish finally came true. “My granddaughter decided to take me to Bangalore by flight. We went there had breakfast at the airport and we got back. So it is off my bucket list now,” he smiles.
“Too many people give up their usual form of exercise when they age”
I can’t resist sweets Pravinchandra Shah is 86 years old and still going strong. He runs an imitation jewellery and cosmetics store in Camp and refuses to lead a retired life. He wakes up by 7.30 am and does his routine exercises and meditation. His breakfast includes milk, khakra, and fruits. After his visit to the temple he goes to his shop. “It’s important to follow nature’s orders to lead a healthy life. Waking up at sunrise and exercising is important to stay fit,” he says. He believes that physical exercise in old age helps maintain mobility and independence. Nobody in his house is allowed to sleep till late, says his granddaughter. “He will wake us up if aren’t on the breakfast table on time.” He avoids spicy and oily food, but sweets are his weakness. He loves gorging on traditional Indian mithais and chocolates. Whenever there is an occasion, he even makes delectables like Badam halwa, sevvaiya and murabbas. “I can’t resist sweets. I believe it is okay to sometimes break the rules,” he smiles. He comes home for lunch and after a power nap, gets back to work. He tries to keep himself as busy as possible. He believes that it is because of his routine that he is able to keep old age away. “Physical activity is important in this age, as it leads to a higher metabolism and reduces the risk of diseases common in older age like blood pressure, diabetes, etc.,” he says.
“It’s important to follow nature’s orders to lead a healthy life”
ire these grand-daddies all the more. Thanks to
VISHAL KALE AND RAHUL RAUT
o with it?
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Early to bed and early to rise is the mantra Yashwant Devadhar, 87, was a successful athlete in his youth. He even took up a job as a PT teacher at Fergusson College. After that he went abroad to pursue economics and became a French, Italian and Spanish translator and interpreter. While pursuing all this, he never let go of his passion for running. Today, as his age bars him of it, he looks back to his days and inspires his grandchildren. “I did a lot of exercise and ran from Prabhat Road till Vetal Tekdi every day. For commuting, I only used cycle,” he recalls. Very active at home even at this age, he does his work by himself. He prepares his morning cup of tea, and sometimes even cleans the house. His day starts at 6 am with a morning walk at Kamla Nehru Park, followed by a healthy breakfast. After which most of the day is spent reading newspapers and various books. “I used to go swimming too but I had to stop after the doctors advised me to discontinue,” he says. His diet includes eggs, vegetarian food and lots of salads. He eats small quantities of sweets and butter. “My fitness mantra simply is early to bed and early to rise, keeps a person healthy and wise,” he smiles.
“I did a lot of exercise and ran from Prabhat Road till Vetal Tekdi every day. For commuting, I only used cycle”
I do what makes me happy It seems that old age hasn’t struck Retd Maj Wasudev Ambardekar, who is 102 years old. A veteran of the Second World War and Indo-Pak War of 1947-48 attributes his long innings to eating right and following the strict regime of a soldier, which he has done for eight long decades. He was an officer of the Corps of Signals and was commissioned in 1944 in the British Army. He served in Aden in the Middle East in the North African Campaign during the Second World War. Post-independence, he was posted at Jammu and Kashmir amidst the turmoil and difficult conditions. The former army man is a witness to events of the time when the Indian Army thwarted Pakistan’s plan of annexing Kashmir. He was again called upon to take part in the 1962 War against China in the harsh terrain of Ladakh.
Living in difficult conditions and a strict army regimen has helped him stay fit till date. At this age too, he is independent and does all his chores by himself. “From making tea to getting water or any other chore that he may need to do, he never takes anyone’s help. He wants to do everything by himself,” says Arun, his son. His mornings are spent in the garden and reading newspapers. His breakfast includes tea, biscuits, poha, upma or idli. He eats whatever he likes, and is active all day long. “I can eat as many as 3-4 ice creams at one go,” he laughs. He doesn’t follow any exercise regimen or diet as such, but his secret to a healthy life is being selfdependent, and staying happy. “I have no blood pressure problems or diabetes. I am fit because I do what makes me happy,” adds Wasudev.
“From making tea to getting water or any other chore that he may need to do, he never takes anyone’s help”
It’s never too late to get fit The health benefits of yoga are well known but how many of us practise what we preach. Kesarchand Vora, 84, who took up yoga after watching a programme by Baba Ramdev four years ago, believes that it’s never too late to get fit. He wakes up at 5.30 am and starts his day with a routine of 15 yoga asanas for half an hour, followed by a 2 km walk. His breakfast includes a regular cup of tea and whatever else is prepared at home. He then heads to the temple for a 45 minute meditation session. “Yoga has done wonders for me. I used to have eye-sight problem and backache which is perfectly fine now. I believe y o g a has the power to reverse the ageing process,” he says. Before retirement, he worked at Walchandnagar iron factory, where his job required him to lift heavy equipment. This, he says, has helped him keep his muscles strong. At home, he involves himself in many chores. He likes arranging his room neatly and even washes his own clothes. His evenings
are spent with his friends from the housing society as they all go for evening walks and continue with their chitchat session. “Most people my age worry if too much of walking is safe or not. But the truth is that such concerns harm them more,” he says.
“I believe yoga has the power to reverse the ageing process”
His diet includes simple home-cooked meals. He doesn’t mind eating spicy or oily food either, but everything in a limit. “Only mangoes are an exception,” he chuckles. zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com
TGS LIFE JULY 9, 2016 PUNE
THRILL OF DRIVING By Tushar Burman
Road-tripping in Thailand
So close yet so far. Perfect reasons to take off for a motorcycle trip by a Gujarati. He has a huge fan following! Having been (and motorcycled across) the country twice, I almost tend to take it personally when people refer to the country and its sex trade, as if the nation is one giant red light district. It isn’t, and you should definitely avoid visiting it with someone who holds that belief. This author travelled the length of the country with his spouse, feeling perfectly secure despite being a nervous traveller. It truly is a place where you can hit the road without any specific plan and come off the bike feeling like you’ve explored and seen something new.
@tburman
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till buzzing from what must have been thousands of curves across just over a hundred kilometres of road, it occurred to us that perhaps we should take a break and refuel our bodies, since the Honda CB500X we were riding showed no signs of using any significant quantity of gasoline. We were at Pai canyon, a small lookout point for tourists along the highway with four food and one coffee stall. My spouse enjoys the occasional coffee, so she requested one. The beans were promptly ground in front of us, mixed with condensed milk, ice and water, and served in a convenient plastic container. All this while, I bit down on a prepackaged Tuna sandwich knowing full well that the nearest fresh tuna was at least 1200km away. Both the sandwich and coffee were fresh and delicious. If this was roughing it on a road trip, it’s exactly my style. MOTORCYCLING THROUGH THAILAND If you’re a motorcycling enthusiast, or have become one in the recent past, you’ve probably known or heard of someone who’s ridden a bike around our ASEAN neighbour. In fact, there is now a land route from North-East India through Myanmar into Thailand. Heck, you can go all the way to Singapore before you hit the inevitable shore. There are many reasons to this, not least of which is the incredible road network. You’re very unlikely to see a badly potholed section of tar. In terms of distances, the country is about 1600km long and 1000km across, so there’s plenty to explore. Of particular note is the Mae Hong Son loop -- a long circuit
Perfect roads as far as the eye can see
niceties of the rest of Thailand. Think perfect 4G connectivity, AirBNB and the most incredible gourmet burger I’ve ever eaten on the street. The Pai river itself is popular for white water rafting at various skill levels, and you can even take a slow boat to Laos, which takes two days and costs just 1750 baht, or about 3500 rupees. In fact, our overnight stay and jaunt in the night market ended up costing less than Rs 2000 for the two of us. Try getting that deal in Panchgani any night of the year. And that, in essence, is a microcosm of the type of experience you’re likely to have on any road trip in Thailand — it’s cheap to the point
that Himachal Pradesh is likely to make more of a dent in your bank balance. Food, boarding and infrastructure are organised and consistent, typical of a nation that takes tourism seriously, and with pride. You never pass a street stall without a sing-song “Sawatdi-khaaaa” (Thai for namaste, quite literally), friendly smiles and a disarming lack of guile. Thailand also has strong cultural connects to India, having a Hindu and Buddhist history. It occasionally surprises the uninformed when encountering names and iconography from the Ramayan and other Hindu mythology. There is, in fact, a Thai version of the Ramayan on TV, with Ram played
MOTORS IN THAILAND Riding or driving in the country is bound to feel familiar to an Indian tourist. For one thing, they drive on the left side of the road — a colonial vestige similar to ours. They accept International Driving Permits issued in India. Being part of the ASEAN region with a large contract manufacturing industry also means that vehicles tend to be similar to what you’ll see on Indian roads. Toyota Innovas and Corollas, Suzuki Swifts, Nissans and familiar European luxury cars in urban areas. What you’re likely to be unprepared for is the automotive culture of customisation that seems to pervade the country. It’s ridiculous! On my first day in Bangkok, I was passed by a courier delivery truck with massive oversize rims and tyres. Even cabs — whether licensed or Uber — are seldom seen without an obligatory level of customisation. Automotive enthusiasm is even more evident in the two-wheelers the Thai ride. Unlike in India, where culturally, we’re about “bigger is better”, the Thai have a different take on their commuter vehicles. Step-thrus and
Chiang Mai is your jump-off point for motorcycle adventures
west of Chiang Mai which is considered one of the best riding roads in Asia. Among the first stopovers on this route is a popular, but still tiny town called Pai, which we visited. If Chiang Mai were Pune, think of Pai as Wai, except 140km away. Nestled in a valley replete with waterfalls and lush greenery, Pai is a small town with a growing tourist population, pioneered by backpackers. It’s close enough to the border with Myanmar to have cultural influences of the hill tribes in terms of food and clothing, but significant enough to have all the infrastructural
Honda CB500X + Refinement, Fueling, practicality - Bland
TGS rating ;;;;2
Our Honda CB500X proved an able, fun and comfortable ride for our trip
TGS LIFE JULY 9, 2016 PUNE
THRILL OF DRIVING Great street food!
The Thai don’t believe in leaving their vehicles unadorned Coffee houses are everywhere in Thailand
scooters across the country actually use thinner tyres than stock to make the bikes lighter on their feet, just like amateur drag racers! Unsurprisingly, no scooter or step-thru is considered road-ready without an obnoxiously loud exhaust to announce its arrival. There’s even an entire industry to support motorsport with these small vehicles. Suspensions, big bore kits and specialist mechanics are all available to make your lunatic Luna dreams come true. Don’t expect great prices though. Despite what you may have heard, Thailand isn’t exactly cheap for automotive parts or gear. In the four years since my last trip to Thailand, there has been significant growth in motorcycling culture beyond scooters and mopeds as well. Honda, Kawasaki, Triumph and Ducati all have state-of-the-art manufacturing bases in Thailand -which is why we in India are able to buy these bikes today. You see, India and Thailand have free trade agreements in place that lower duties on vehicles imported from Thailand. This is partly the reason why we chose to ride the Honda CB500X on our road trip. It’s a Thai-produced vehicle of a modest displacement, and a format perfect for India. As a background: adventure touring and ‘standard’ (meaning you sit upright on the bike) motorcycles have seen a strong resurgence across the world. This is happening in India as well, despite our high regard for fully-faired sport bikes. Adventure touring in general is on the upswing, with every able-bodied Indian having made it to Leh at least once. The Honda CB500X is a paralleltwin cylinder adventure-touring motorcycle. It’s extremely comfortable, relatively simple in terms of electronics, accessible in height and weight, and smart-enough looking to be attractive to many. It’s an excellent package for the kind of customer who wants to step up from a Royal Enfield — India’s motorcycle touring staple. If it’s a spec-sheet comparison one is looking at, then the CB500X is not going to win any contests. WIth a basic digital console, standard non-adjustable suspension and no traction control, equipment levels are modest. But this doesn’t detract from the motorcycle at all. I can’ remember the last time I was on a motorcycle that did 300km with as little drama. Handling was neutral to the point of being beginner-friendly, power was sufficient to haul ass two-up with luggage, and fueling is perfectly accurate and gentle, which made corner carving in Thailand’s brilliant northern roads and absolute blast. The closest any Indian motorcycle comes to the package is the Kawasaki Versys 650, which we’ve also tested and highly recommend. The CB500X
comes with slightly less equipment and power, but with no less ability. Fully kitted out with panniers and a luggage rack, we rented a CB500X for our motorcycle trip for 1400 baht, or less than Rs 2800 a day. We’ve long heard rumours of Honda bringing the CB500 series of bikes (there’s a naked and a faired sportbike in the range) to India. It makes perfect sense: enough power to offer something different, a simple package that should make buying and maintaining the vehicle reasonable and the storied Honda brand, which has a strong connect to the Indian buyer. We’d love to see a CB500X for the Indian market at a good price. However, Honda doesn’t have a track record of aggressive pricing. The extant CBR650 motorcycle, despite being assembled in India, is priced beyond most of the competition despite its very basic spec. Were the CB500X to come to India, Honda would probably follow tradition and price it above its peers — in this case the Versys 650 — which would make it hard to recommend. Still, we can dream. tushar@goldensparrow.com
More Fa waterfall. Shallow, but beautiful. A must see on the way to Pai
The monsoon season makes Thailand no less beautiful. A good time to avoid the crowds and enjoy the countryside
TGS LIFE JULY 9, 2016 PUNE
FEATURES Libraries get a personal touch, as people narrate their stories instead of them being printed in books By Abha Pandit @abha_pandit
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hile the tech savvy generation moves from physical books to e-readers and laptops, a new concept is emerging which is more personal and intimate than the rest. It is one in which readers become listeners, and books are narrated by people. The trend of human libraries is beginning to pick up across the country. Promising a unique experience, these libraries let you look up a person and listen to their life stories and experiences. A human library aims to create dialogue and understanding between people, by offering them the opportunity to have a one-on-one conversation with total strangers. Gauri Suryawanshi of Cafe Two’s and Four’s speaks about a recent event which attempted to introduce the concept in the city. “I had read about a similar event which my friend had attended and the concept fascinated me. I was looking for a way to get people together
LISTEN TO A STORY, DON’T JUST READ ONE
and interact at the cafe and decided to save an afternoon for a human library,” she says. The event, held on July 3, was a small affair but Gauri plans to make it a regular one, hoping for an increase in participation. A simple concept, human libraries started in Denmark in 2000 to curb youth violence and have since emerged
as a way to promote compassion, kindness and understanding among people. In western countries, the model has picked up and received a lot of support, leading it to become a common sight, with human libraries opening up even in universities. They run on a volunteer basis, with individuals who have stories to tell offering to spend
some time in the library, talking to people about their experiences. The difference between a book and a human library is the liberty to ask questions and have them answered by your ‘human book’. There is also an immensely personal feel to the entire interaction process, since it is happening one-onone and is not distributed among the
Poetry helps her express what she feels The Sextet, a series of semi-erotic poetry is 21-year-old Priyanka Sutaria’s latest addition to her blog Theatre of Dreams By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry
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rinking coffee and reading poetry is her favourite pastime. A copy of Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair are her most prized possessions and she believes in the importance of artistic capability and the joy of learning. Meet Priyanka Sutaria, a 21-year-old student, studying at Symbiosis School for Liberal Arts, Pune. Born and brought up in Nagpur she has a deep desire to soak up as much knowledge as she can. Blogging for about a year under the name Theatre of Dreams, this young girl recently started a series of semi-erotic poetry to be published on her blog under the title The Sextet.This eventually morphed into a summer newsletter which aims to present poetry in a format that appeals to those who usually struggle to understand poetry. Theater of Dreams is a stage where her most complex and cryptic thoughts are demystified. It is a space for her to grow as a person because it holds not only her words, but emotions which bind them
together too. An highly expressive person when it comes to her writing, Theater of Dreams allows her to compose opinions, ideas, thoughts and verses such that they find a connect with anyone reading them. While her earliest framework was that of a poetic portfolio, it has since expanded to include poetic prose and issues that resonate with her such as mental health and feminism, to name a few. The fact that people don’t understand poetry is something that bothers her a lot. “For me, poetry isn’t about just what the words could possibly mean, but what they make me feel. I rarely deconstruct poetry. I often just allow it to enter me physically and feel the goosebumps, tears, laughter and empowerment. It is this feeling that I want to bring to a larger audience so that they may accept poetry as something more than a slightly complex twirl of words,” says Priyanka when asked why poetry is such an important part of who she is. Even though she does tend to focus on poetry in her blog she likes to think of it as a space wherein all forms of art and ideas can find refuge. By presenting the poem and providing suggested accompaniments such as visual art, literary suggestions, music, food that tastes like the poem, photography, football and so on which evoke the same emotions as the poem does, The Sextet hopes to bring a sense of catharsis to the reader who may not enjoy poetry in its normal
state, she explains. She has always feel that any form of creation is personal, whether it is selfcreated or experienced through the imagination of another individual. Surprisingly, she tells us that there weren’t any challenges with the sextet series. Her parents were the first people to read the poems and she is only ever worried about what they think. They were extremely encouraging of the series and her mother has even contributed to the newsletter. It was not even difficult finding other artists and individuals with interests which could add a certain flavour to the format.“The only challenge for me was writing the poems because it took me a while to design and create the imagery. I usually do not make drafts of my poetry because I enjoy the immediate sense of freedom which comes with a complete piece of work, so taking my time with the verses was a burden of sorts,” she adds. Her personal distaste with the general portrayal of the human body coupled with the ensuing obligatory restrictions forced upon the male and female forms in real life, in the entire spectrum of visual media an d the need to question traditional feminine sexuality and sexual roles, is what inspired Priyanka towards The Sextet series. Through this series she recounts in fragmented verse, the story of how she learnt the beauty of her own anatomy and the necessity for sexual expression.
general public like a book would be. The person talking would also share unique experiences with each person he or she talks to and no interaction would be exactly the same. The concept is still a foreign one, which is probably why it hasn’t gotten too many takers among Puneites yet. “People are still sceptical about meeting strangers and sharing their lives with them,” explains Gauri. “They are yet to realise the beauty in human libraries lies in being able to share stories with a completely unknown person, with the guarantee of privacy on social media,” she feels. She has a strict policy about posting stories and pictures on social networking platforms, if the parties concerned do not want to divulge the information. With this in mind, Gauri hopes to make it a monthly event, provided the crowd shows enough interest. abha.pandit@goldensparrow.com VISHAL KALE
By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry
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She equates predictability with boring
Harem were born out of her interest in the Mughal period. It is extremely challenging to not stick to a specific genre but it is a lot of fun too, she adds.
Her latest book Solo in Singapore, is the story of a young girl, who takes off to Singapore to heal from a heartbreak. It is a rip roaring account of
JULY 9, 2016 PUNE
Tanushree Podder’s passion for the written word has helped her author so many books and switching careers was, perhaps, the best decision ever, she asserts
FEATURES
VISHAL KALE
hile some of her dreams have been translated into reality through her books, there are so many more that haven’t even begun materialising. With a heart that loves to travel, it is these sojourns that often inspire her books and she believes in taking tiny steps to cross new frontiers rather than leaping towards them. It took Pune-based author Tanushree Podder eight years to realise that the corporate life was not meant for her and she finally quit the rat race to listen to her heart’s call. Was it difficult? Of course, it was. She stumbled and fell but got up, dusted herself and started all over again. Tanushree talks to TGS about becoming an author, what she loves writing about and her biggest challenge when she writes. Tanushree began with her journey as an author by writing the book Fit and Fine in Body and Mind and did a series of non-fiction books after that. With five fiction novels in her kitty, she has a total of 22 books, each extremely different from the other. She flirted with writing political satire, romanced the idea of travel books and fell in love with diversity that an author could adopt in his or her style. “I am an impulsive writer. I write about subjects that make me curious and throw up a challenge or a subject that I feel strongly about. Predictability can be boring,” she tells us. She wrote Death of a Dictator – the story of Saddam Hussein after the US invasion of Iraq because she was so angry about the incident. Boots Belts Berets is set against the background of the National Defence Academy and was meant to be a gift to her husband. Nurjahan’s Daughter and Escape from
TGS LIFE
a girl’s adventures in a foreign country. Munmun Menon, the protagonist is a plump and under-confident girl who nurtures dreams of locating her
father who vanished after divorcing her mother, write a novel and acquiring a svelte figure. It is a story of hope, dreams and love. A voracious reader herself, she loves reading absolutely anything and everything in print. Her favourite authors are Ayn Rand, Agatha Christie, Jane Austen and PG Wodehouse, Kazuo Ishiguro and Amitav Ghosh among many others. Inspiration for her stories comes from her own life and people who she meets or even passes by on the street. Every life has a story to tell, she believes. When asked what is her biggest challenge every time she sits down to write, she answers, “My undisciplined attitude often hinders my writing process. Completing a book takes a lot of discipline and I am an extremely laid back person. Some days, I write for a couple of hours and then I may not write for weeks,” shares Tanushree. She honestly feels that there are no shortcuts in writing nor are there any guaranteed ways of being successful. Moreover, it is an extremely unpredictable field. One never knows what would work. There are bound to be disappointments so it is very important not to allow setbacks to dishearten you. This is also her piece of advice to amateur authors. For her, the best part about doing what she does is the ability of translating thoughts into print. It empowers and strengthens one’s mind, she feels. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com
Saving the world from destruction Fault Line, a Marathi science fiction novel, promises to thrill and entertain readers
By Abha Pandit @abha_pandit
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he year is 2021 and the earth is in danger of total destruction. Everything as we know it may soon be drowned under the tsunami resulting from climate change. Only one scientist is working day in and out, trying to save the human species from being wiped out. Will his ingenuity save the world? With the perfect setting for a science fiction novel, Fault Line is a story about life and destruction, told in Marathi. Written by budding author Pranav Joshi, the sci-fi novel is being published in e-book format, for lovers of Marathi fiction around the world. The 22-year-old who hails from Aurangabad works as a cashier in a bank. Writing has been one of his hobbies since his school days and Pranav prefers to express himself in Hindi and Marathi. He has already published two books, one each in Marathi and Hindi. When asked about what got him interested in writing novels, he talks about his childhood. “I was very curious, as all children tend to be. I didn’t stop wondering even as I grew older and my curiosity eventually fuelled my imagination,” he explains. “I needed an outlet to express myself and hence took to writing,” adds Pranav.
Discussing his latest work, the author expresses an on-going fear about the global impact that human interference will have on climate change. Fuel consumption is one of the biggest problems he foresees and so it forms the basis of his plot in Fault Line. “The fault line is the one standing between life and destruction. If we don’t change our ways, we will soon be standing on the threshold of annihilation,” he says. Pranav wants to use his novel to make children and adults aware about the dangerous behaviour of humans in relation to the future of the earth. Using fiction as a medium, he wants to entertain and educate at the same time. The youngster chose to write in Marathi since he feels there is a disparity in the quality of science fiction literature in regional languages. While there may be umpteen stories based on this subject in English, there is a glaring need for the same to be brought to the Marathi speaking population. Fault Line will only be published in e-book format, not print. Pranav has a sound reasoning for this, too. “By writing in Marathi, I am already eliminating a majority of readers from around the world who don’t know the language. Moreover, if I publish it in print, it will not be accessible to too many people, especially from smaller towns or outside India. With an e-book, it can be purchased from anywhere in the world,” he explains. Fault Line will be launched on July 9 at 11 am, at Pagdandi Books and Chai Cafe. abha.pandit@goldensparrow.com
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TGS LIFE JULY 9, 2016 PUNE
SHOPPING
Bold in Blue
This pretty blue dress is a must have in your wardrobe. It is simple and yet classy. Pair it with black heels or ballerinas and remmeber to not over accesorize. Where: Forever New Price: Rs 2,000
BLOCK COLOURS
ALL THE WAY Swearing by the mantra less is more, 21-year-old Tanvi Malhara picks five outfits from her wardrobe and shows you how to get the look right
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TEJAS GAIKWAD
Fashionably Formal
This peplum style dress is a great fit for a slightly more formal ocasion. You could team it up with simple studs and a metal watch to get the look right. Where: Only Price: Rs 2,000
Striking Red
This is an ideal chic get-up for any party no matter what the reason. Pair it with silver danglers and a simple neckpiece as well. Add black stilettos or wedges and you are ready to shine through the evening. Where: Only Shoes: Rs 1,700
Simply Chic
A perfect outfit for a casual evening out, you must accesorise it with silver or gold chunky jewellery to get the chic look. Where: Forever 21 Price: Rs 900
For a fun day out
If you are headed out for a Sunday brunch or just a day out with your friends, this green dress would be the ideal choice. A simple black belt, gold studs and a bracelet will complete the look. Where: Van Heusen Price: Rs 2,500
— Compiled by Salonee Mistry
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he last two decades or so of Sunil Yamgars life have been nothing short of a struggle. This 40 year old has been bearing the burden of looking after his family since he turned 16 and has been doing with a smile on his face. Having worked at multiple jobs he has, over the years, learned to give it his all and pave a way for himself even during the toughest of times. Living in Pune with his wife Usha and son Digambar who is 15 years old, he has been running a small home appliance repair shop for the last six years. His mornings start with helping his wife in the kitchen for the tiffin service that they run from home. Once he has delivered the tiffins he heads to his small shop, Tirupati Home Appliances, on Paud Road near Kachra Depot to repair any and every home appliance that the day has
in store for him. If needed he even travels the length and breadth of the city tackling leaking gas pipes, broken cylinders and any other appliance that can’t be brought to his shop. Since life hasn’t offered him much without having to put in ample amount of hard work he has a simple mantra in life. “I have learned that hard work and being content is the only way to being happy. Once you use your hardearned money to buy even the smallest of thing, you value it and feel rich simply because you worked for it,” he explains. Cribbing is something people do when they want to make excuses for not getting their act together, he adds. Prior to opening his own shop Sunil has worked at a Bio-gas plant as an operator and
Your guide to accessorising right this season
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ressing up during the monsoons is something that hasn’t been given much importance to. This has however been changing for a while now. Unabashed by the state that the heavy downpour can leave you in, women seem to continue to enjoy decking up in accessories no matter where they are headed. Neon, pop and bright colours are a sure shot stand out for this monsoon and the mantra stands strong at less is more. Fashion Jewellery Designer Shillpa Purii Shillpa Purii helps you get the correct look and look your best no matter where you are headed. l Over accessorising is a big no this season. A statement necklace or a stack of bangles, danglers is just enough to up your style quotient. STYLE l Due to high levels of humidity during the GURU monsoon, it is advisable to avoid leather and metal jewellery. l Opt for beaded jewellery in fun colours or plastic paired jewellery which is what will work this season. l Accessories such as ear and hand cuffs can be really handy. l Ethnic jewellery should be avoided unless absolutely necessary. l Jazzing up plain and dull outfits with statement accessories is the key to enhance your look this monsoon. Quirky accessories might just be what your attire has been missing all this while. As told to Salonee Mistry
TEJAS GAIKWAD
Where there’s a will there’s a way
TGS LIFE JULY 9, 2016 PUNE
FEATURES
even delivered gas cylinders to make ends meet. He moved to Pune from Pandharpur when he was 16 and has been living here since. “I want my son to do whatever he wishes to. As long as I can, I will provide him with whatever he needs, be it tuition fees or a new mobile phone. I know what it feels like to not have these things. I want him to have a better life and the opportunity to reach for the skies,” he tells us. Even through all of his hardships Sunil finds a way to do a little good for others. When he gets tiffin orders or appliances to repair which he can’t deliver in the expected time he passes it on to his friends and other vendors giving them an opportunity to earn as well. (As told to Salonee Mistry)
unekar
City
celeb chat
Name: Anusmriti Sarkar, Actor and model Three words to describe me: I am ambitious, passionate and focused I love my job because: I am best at it, and I am learning so much by playing different roles everyday Best advice I have received: Be kind and be humble When buying something, the first thing that catches my eye is: Perfumes and sunglasses What’s your inner animal? : I feel I am ferocious like a Lion The first thing you notice about an attractive person: His eyes, attitude and intelligence The perfect start to a day is: A hot cup of strong black coffee Your current four-wheeler: BMW Your fitness regimen: If I’m not shooting then I like to spend time in the gym. So right work out and healthy food is my mantra Your food indulgence: Nutella. I can finish the whole bottle at one go Books by your bedside: ‘The winner stands alone’ by Paulo Coelho The first site you visit when you fire up your comp: Google and YouTube Your favourite city: Mumbai Ideal holiday: London and Paris
(As told to Zainab Kantawala)
TGS LIFE JULY 9, 2016 PUNE
Sunny Leone teams up with Ranbir, Katrina for song in 'Fuddu'
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BUZZ
ctress Sunny Leone may be seen shaking legs on a track which will have poems recited by Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif in forthcoming film, Fuddu. Directed by Sunil Subramani, who has assisted filmmaker Anurag Basu on several films, the movie is said to be a fun love story. According to sources, Ranbir and Katrina, currently shooting for Basu's Jagga Jasoos, have only given their voiceover for the song and won't be featuring on-screen. "All three of them won't feature in that song. It is not an 'item' number. It's a very special song. Ranbir and Katrina have recited poems which will be there in the track, on which Sunny will be dancing," sources said. Fuddu stars newcomers Shubham and Swati Kapoor in lead roles. Meanwhile, Leone will also be seen in a special number in superstar Shah Rukh Khan's Raees, scheduled to release in January next year.
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he actor has just finished a Bangladeshi film, an European drama while he awaits the release of his Bollywood project Madaari and Hollywood drama Inferno with Tom Hanks. "I want to do films everywhere. I am not bound by any place. I can go anywhere to do an interesting film. I just finished shooting a Bangladeshi film and then I am involved with an European film The Songs of Scorpians. I am doing films everywhere," Irrfan told PTI. In Bollywood, the 49-year-old actor has reunited with his "Mumbai Meri Jaan" director Nishikant Kamat for their upcoming film Madaari, where his wife Sutupa Sikdar is also one of the producers. Irrfan developed the story and while looking for a director they zeroed on Kamat, who has established himself as a bankable filmmaker thanks to the success of Force and Drishyam. "He was still making niche films during Mumbai Meri Jaan. But then he changed his gear and made Force, Drishyam and Lai Bhaari and now he has made Madaari. This film has a story that will suit the masses. "We developed the script and we were looking for a director who would do justice to it. We went to Nishikant and he loved the story. This time we brought in the director." Madaari, slated to release on July 15, is about the power of common man. "It is one man's story but through the film we are trying to tell the story of the people in this country, who are used by the system without ever realizing the power they have. It's the journey of a realization of this power."
Curiosity has been the secret to my success
I'll think of Hollywood if offered good roles
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hile her contemporaries Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone are doing films in the West, actress Sonakshi Sinha is in no rush and says she will think about doing a Hollywood movie if offered a powerful role. Priyanka made a name for herself on small screen in the US through her television show Quantico and now she will be making her debut in Hollywood with "Baywatch". Deepika too, will be seen opposite Hollywood star Vin Diesel in xXx: The Return of Xander Cage. Asked about her Hollywood aspirations, Sonakshi told reporters, "Right now I have no intention as such but if I get a really good role. I feel they (Priyanka, Deepika) have got some really good characters and roles to play in Hollywood. "So if something like that comes my way I will think about it, but right now I don't really intend to." The 29-year-old actress was speaking at the trailer launch of her upcoming movie Akira. The AR Murugadoss-directed action-thriller will be Sonakshi's first release after a gap of almost one and a half years. Her last film was Tevar which hit the theaters in January, 2015. The Lootera star, however, is unaffected by the gap and chooses to focus on working rather than worrying about the release date. "I've been super busy in the gap, I have been shooting Akira, Force 2 as well, I am starting Noor tomorrow and I am excited for that. I have been just doing my work. "Honestly, for me its all about that, I concentrate on work, wear my blinders, do my work, do it well and when it (the film) has to release, it releases," she said. Akira features filmmaker Anurag Kashyap in a negative role and also stars Konkona Sensharma. Sonakshi, who worked with Murugadoss in Holiday which also starred Akshay Kumar, said for Akira the Airlift actor just gave her one tip which she was not able to follow. "The biggest tip he (Akshay) gave me was 'injuries se bach kay rehna', which I wasn't able to follow. He is a very sensible person when it comes to understanding proper form about martial arts," Sonakshi said. "Watching him do all the action, in all the movies we shot, you get to learn a lot. He is always very involved. He automatically teaches you," she added. Akira is set to release on September 2.
Will go where good stories take me: Irrfan
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uperstar Hrithik Roshan has credited his inquisitive nature behind his stardom. The 42-year-old actor, who will be next seen in period drama Mohenjo Daro, said he keeps discovering himself. "Curiosity killed d cat! False. I think curiosity has been the secret to my success #staycurious #keepdiscovering #whatif," he posted on Twitter. Hrithik made his film debut as leading man in the romantic drama Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai opposite another new comer, actress Amisha Patel. The film, which was directed by his father Rakesh Roshan and saw him playing a double role, was a success at the box office and he became a sensation for the industry. The Bang Bang star is currently shooting for Kaabil, where he is playing a blind man.
We need to bring back concept of supermodels
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J-actress Anusha Dandekar feels today Bollywood celebrities have taken over the space of magazine covers and show-stoppers from supermodels, which must change. The actress says, while it is unfair to use the word "decline" as far the concept of supermodel goes, the generation of supermodels have changed. "Bollywood definitely has taken over the reigns of magazine covers, show stoppers...The supermodel generation has changed and we are not going to lie about it. But why not try and bring it back," Anusha told PTI. The VJ will be seen as a mentor on the upcoming season two of MTV's India's Next Top Model. She said they are trying to groom the best of the models on the show without body-shamming anyone. "We want to bring back the cream of the crop. Supermodels have to have height, a certain look. We got a lot of people saying that we
shouldn't be body shaming," she said. "Everyone has to understand that there is a prerequisite for every career in your life. You want to be a doctor, you can't be one without a degree. As a model, it's the sane thing," she added. Apart from Anusha, the show features actress Lisa Haydon and ace photographer Daboo Ratnani as judges, while Neeraj Gaba will be seen as a mentor. The 34-year-old Viruddh"actress says a show like this will give a huge platform to several modelling aspirants who come to Mumbai hoping to make it big. "We have so many beautiful women in this country who are still undiscovered. It's not easy to walk in to Mumbai and say 'I want to be a model'," she said. "Earlier people didn't have an opportunity like this. So, it is nice for the youngsters to be groomed by the best in the industry. It's a great platform," Anusha added. India's Next Top Model will premiere on July 10.