TGS Life 18/06/2016

PUNE, JUNE 18, 2016 | www.thegoldensparrow.com

MEET THE SMART COOKIES These kids decided to topple the words ‘it’s never too late’ in their quest to achieve their lofty goals

SG STAGE

TGS LIFE JUNE 18, 2016 PUNE

Music is their way of life

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An MBA graduate and an engineer Sargam and Abhijeet chose to follow their passion and take up music as full time careers. They couldn’t be happier about their decision

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

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two-piece band that expands whenever the need arises, Madari was formed out of a common love for music. Along with a great friendship that brewed over cups of tea and endless musical conversations, Sargam Mishra and Abhijeet Chavan decided to join forces. Never having been a part of a band prior to this, it was a learning experience for both of them. Despite the diverse backgrounds, it is amazing how their music compliments the others’ style. Working together for just about eight months now, the band is all set to perform their originals as well as some covers on World Music Day. She has been learning music since she was four years old. Over the years, she realised that this is what she was more inclined towards and would want to take it up as a career. The corporate life was not something she could settle for. “Belonging to the Mallick gharana and being surrounded by music round the clock it would have been wrong for me to take up anything else. While Bollywood is obviously my end goal, I believe in taking one small step at a time and enjoying the entire journey rather than jumping to the end and regretting it later,” says the 24-year-old. A professional singer, Sargam has performed many shows and is also very good with the keyboard.

It was at a professional event that Abhijeet and she met, clicking instantly. He has long given up on engineering as a career option and has been a musician for a while now. He picked

Get set for some Latino music as the Franco Indian Jazz band Latination comes to town for a live gig

up the guitar one day and started teaching himself. While he is a fan of rock and trance music, Sargam is an Indian classical singer and their music is a blend of the two genres.

“Our music is inspired by our love for the art form above everything else. The fact that we are able to blend two genres that have nothing in common, stands testimony to this. The lyrics stem from everything around us and it largely depends on the music too, since our tunes come before the words,” says the 25-year-old.

Their compositions are both rooted in Indian culture which comes from Sargam’s classical singing and have a fresh and modern take with Abhijeet’s love for rock music. The fact that they are a two-member band is what works in their favour, they believe. There is absolutely nothing that they fight about and work around their difference of opinions to bring out the best possible music. Being solo performers prior earlier, was another reason that they decided to keep the number of the core band members low.

When asked about why they chose the name Madari for their band, they say music directs their thoughts, emotions and life.

The art form controls their life in more than one way and so they felt the name was most apt. Their future plans include releasing an album titled Khwaishen sometime around August. Apart from this, they want to continue making music, performing, and maybe even compose for big banner fi lms someday.

When: June 21, 5 pm onwards Where: Balgandharva Rangmandir, JMRoad salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

In the mood for some jazz

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

T

he Latination, one of the only virtuoso and genuine Latin-jazz bands in India is all set to hit stage this week. The quartet consist of a powerful and soulful collaboration between French and Indian specialists of jazz and Latin music. Their music ranges from the festive sounds of salsa and rumba to contemporary jazz. Th is fusion Jazz outfit comprises of Emmanuel Simon on percussions, Pradyumna Singh Manot on the piano, Premjit Dutta on timbales and Bijit Bhattacharya on bass guitar. “It’s something different for the listeners.

We have the elements of Latino and fundamentals of jazz, and it’s our love for these sounds and instruments that brought us together for this band,” says Emmanuel.

The band was formed when French artist Emmanuel shifted his base to India in 2011. He started looking for likeminded individuals who knew Latin music and went on to create a band. He is nowadays a multifaceted percussionist, and has wide knowledge in various musical cultures such as Western, West African, Afro-Cuban and Indian percussion, and is trained under the tabla maestro Pandit Shankar Ghosh. “People here are not used to listening to this kind of music. So far we have received an amazing response. People want to more

about our music as it’s new to them,” he adds.

They even blend the dance-compelling power of Afro-Latin rhythms with dense harmonies and sophisticated melodies. Their performances can fit the small stage of a cozy jazz club as well as the greater stage of festivals. Its music is perfectly adapted to both intimate, captivated audiences and festive dancing crowds. “Latin music is known for its groove and dancing, and jazz for its improvisation. Together, they make a rocking team,” adds Emmanuel.

The band believes in being true to their music and wants to spread their music across nation.

Even though the followers of Latino music are limited, they are fi rm on their mission to spread the culture. “There are thousands of ways to improvise jazz music. You can change the harmonies, the song structure, rhythm and loops. There is a huge difference between a rock musician and a jazz musician. A rock star will play three chords in front of thousands of people. A jazz player, on the other hand, will play thousands of chords in front of three people. But it’s just a start,” he adds.

The event is organised by L’Alliance Francaise de Pune and Pune Music Society to celebrate World Music Day. When: June 21 Where: Mazda Hall, Camp zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com

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Party all night with Ma Faiza Get the taste of exotic music as the DJ takes on the console this weekend

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

T

he biggest electronic dance music revolution is set to take off at BlueFrog this weekend as The Mother Of Electronica, Ma Faiza takes on the console. Born in Africa, raised in Britain, she brings something unique to the Indian EDM scene. Whether she plays progressive trance, dirty house, techno or chilled ambient grooves, she is guaranteed to be in her element behind the decks. Ma Faiza is now busy with the Maximum Tour, where she will tour the country with an aim to spread love and happiness. “I want to not just reach out to big cities like Mumbai, Pune or Bangalore, but also places like Surat, Bilaspur, Manipur, Shillong, etc. I want to give them a chance to experience Ma Faiza. It has been a breath taking experience for me to see and feel their innocent love and passion for the music and me,” she says.

She is one of the busiest and the most successful DJs that India has seen so far, yet she is overwhelmed when people touch her feet out of love after a highly powerful performance.

Being in the industry for more than 25 years, she has redefined the Indian Electronic scene. From attending UK’s underground rave parties back in the ‘90s, to performing atop a peak in Brazil’s Crystal Mountain range, Ma Faiza has done it all. “I never actually set out to be a DJ. I was in London in the 90s, when the EDM scene there

TGS LIFE JUNE 18, 2016 PUNE

STAGE started exploding. I fell in love with dance music and it is something I brought to India with me,” she says.

Before she started DJing, she sold tapes and CDs of the mixes that she made. She fi rst started DJing in Europe by playing chillout music at parties. Over the years, she has emerged from the psychedelic trance music scene into a genre-defying selector, be it ambient, progressive or techno house, she plays the finest electronic music. “Twenty years ago, it was hard to find even one club in the city, so there wasn’t even a scene back then. In one way it became a small community of like-minded souls who passionately supported the music that they loved.

Today it’s obviously better because the platform is bigger. More choices among artists, venues and styles of music can only be good for a scene,” she says.

What sets her apart is her commanding presence on stage and her way of connecting with the audience. She is fully engaged with the crowd and her music. Free of conventionality, without boundaries and refusing to be limited by style or tempo she blurs the lines between cultures and genres. “The crowd gets so energetic sometimes, that I get goose bumps. I have been so overwhelmed by the energy that I have even cried at times. I believe a good DJ should interact with the crowd and share her/his personality,” adds Ma Faiza.

When: June 18, 9 pm Where: Blue Frog, Yerawada zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com

Meet the tall and awkward funny man His solo sojourns give him time to think of insane things making Azeem Banatwalla one of the finest comedians in the country. Catch him live next week and be prepared for some rib-tickling comedy

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

H

e might be an introver, but when the spotlight hits him, Azeem Banatwalla is a different man.

Strikingly tall, awkward more than often and a legitimate procrastinator, this young man has the potential to raise your expectation of what stand-up comedy should be like. Intelligent, witty and with a whacky sense of humour, he knows how to win over his audience. In Pune next week, with his new act, Cometh The Hour, we can only wait to be taken over by a storm of unending laughter. Cometh The Hour talks about a variety of things, he tells us. “It’s a bunch of observations about things that annoy me, but those that I have to deal with on a dayto-day basis. Th is includes everything from travelling, driving, teenagers, and married life,” he says, adding that audiences can expect nothing less than a polished hour of stand-up.

An engineering graduate, it was a relief to do something different and more importantly something that made him feel good once in a while, he shares. He wasn’t always funny, at least not to others. Growing

up, his jokes often ended in him being chased around the school ground with sticks and thankfully he got better over the years.

“My fi rst ever stand-up bit was about ‘walls’ on Facebook and what the world would be like if everyone had a physical wall of their own. It was really bizarre. I think there were references to Rahul Dravid and Ambuja Cement at some point as well,” he recalls. Unlike many other artists, he doesn’t have a long list of influences. He is a dedicated fan of Eddie Izzard and Anuvab Pal, who he has had the privilege of opening a show for. A lot of his humour also comes from spending a lot of time on the couch in front of the television, being influenced by Cartoon Network.

Contrary to common belief, Azeem doesn’t feel that a comedian’s job is a simple one. He says, “Writing new content and keeping it fresh is my biggest challenge. You always write one great bit and think, ‘Wow, how am I going to write something better’.

The challenge is to keep getting better.” To him, the advantages and disadvantages of being a stand-up guy are very simple. You get to share your opinions and make people laugh which is the good part, he explains.

Sometimes people get offended by your

opinions, fi le FIRs and then laugh; this is the not-so good part. The way things have been shaping up for comedians across the country, he is happy that his work is being appreciated. The fact that he is still alive is a positive sign, he jokes.

Feminism is an issue that he would love to write about someday. “I have a set of interesting views on the topic, but I don’t think I have the skill to put them across yet.

Maybe sometime soon,” he promises us.

Along with stand-up, he is always working on writing new content for East India Comedy – a lot of sketches, music parodies and hopefully even a new webseries, which is currently in the pipeline.

When he gets stuck with words for his new content, he can often be found getting drunk and crying in a corner, he grins. Even if he chooses to talk about a topic that would otherwise be frowned upon, he will do it only when he is comfortable with it. Every single thing has a humorous element, no matter what. Finding the right way to say it out aloud is a skill one has to master to get away with things, he says.

When: June 22, 9:30 pm Where: Euriska, Koregaon Park salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

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TGS LIFE JUNE 18, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

By Rashmeet Taluja @rashmeet_taluja

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ibrant and adorable Sapan Saran, is a poet, writer, and an actor.

She is the founding member of the theatre company Tamaasha, which aims to explore new ideas in alternative spaces. She has written plays like Club Desire and Classics Redux. The plays have been directed by veteran theatre director Sunil Shanbag with whom she also co-directed the play Marriage-ology. The Churchgate Couple, a short 10-minute piece from Marriage-ology, written by her, has garnered appreciation by critics and audiences alike.

She performs in plays regularly, has modelled for several advertisements and acted in films. Her poems have been published in several magazines, including the Sahitya Akademi’s Samkaaleen Bhaarteeya Sahitya. Her play opened in February at Prithvi Theatre and has shows lined up till the end of September.

“The play revolves around the idea of how we are always waiting for various things to happen in our lives as a result we often pay no attention to the present. It is the choices that you make and the struggles that you face in the present, that will determine whether

A celebration of acting Sapan Saran’s new play Waiting for Naseer is a philosophical comedy featuring two artists waiting eagerly to catch their favourite actor Naseerudin Shah at a show and everything that transpires between them you are happy or not. I imagine we all are in some way happy. The play is an attempt to understand ‘wait’ from the perspective of an actor. It’s a celebration of acting, theatre and life itself and a comedy,” reveals Sapan.

The plot of the play unfolds in a whacky fashion. Two actors wait at the

Prithvi Theatre Cafe to catch a show of their favourite actor Naseeruddin Shah’s new play. But the situation is weirder than it sounds because only one of them is entitled to a ticket, plus both of them are dead.

“As they wait, they laugh, cry, compete bitterly, and reveal themselves

It’s virtual v/s reality

in a desperate bid to get that one elusive ticket to the show,” says Sapan.

On her choice of actors in the play, she explains, “One of the things that we try to do as part of the group is to work with new talent. As much as possible, we try to incorporate new actors in the cast, without compromising on the

script of course. We usually create a mix of experienced and new actors.”

The cast includes Jaimini Pathak, who has several years of theatre experience, while Siddhesh Shelar is performing in his first major production.

Last year, for six months the group ran a programme called Reading Theatre, which included reading sessions that were open to all.

“We selected A team of six readers.

Siddhesh used to attend the sessions.

One day, after the session, Siddhesh expressed the desire to read. After testing his reading abilities, we were happy to include him and that’s how he we finalized on him.”

Sapan likes to perform in theatre spaces that allow audiences to feel a sense of intimacy with the characters.

She prefers venues like art galleries, book stores, libraries, bars, museums, even a gym.

She likes performing in Pune, since she finds the audience to be extremely transparent about their reactions. “In Mumbai, everyone seems to have seen too much of everything. We forget to stop and appreciate what truly deserves appreciation. Although, I truly believe that a good piece of theatre has the capability to transform any audience into a child-like state of innocence.

Mumbai has an extremely vibrant theatre scene currently. There’s space and audience for a small Tamaashatype performance in a bar at the same time people are flocking in to see a Beauty and the Beast-kind of show at a stadium. However, the experimental Marathi theatre in Pune is really great.

There’s plenty that we can learn from the theatre in Pune.”

When: June 18, 7 pm to 8 pm.

Where: Gyan Adab, Kalyani nagar. rashmeet.taluja@goldensparrow.com

Watch out for White Lily and Night Rider, a play that reflects on the changing times with a pinch of humour

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

moments and, a plethora of thought-provoking situations. The story advances when the man and woman decide to meet personally, and things don’t go fter its roaring success in Marathi and Hin- as per their plan. “Bhakti doesn’t find Keshav as smart glish, the play White Lily and Night Rider as he seemed to be on chat. Similarly, Keshav too finds starring Sonali Kulkarni and Milind Pathak that she is a dominant lady though she talked lovingly comes to Pune for the first time ever. The performance over chat,” she adds. The play raises innumerable involves a black comedy revolving around those depen- questions and confusions about the fundamentals of dent on social media that continually marriage. redefines the usual man-woman relaThe main challenge for her was tionships. With White Lily and Night to essay the bold topic and manage ‘‘The play Rider being their chat pseudonyms, the to act in a non-vulgar manner. “I feel characters foray into the world of on- will make you that Bhakti’s character is so unlike me. line dating. “The play portrays various She is dominating and someone who ponder on aspects of an online versus offline reladoesn’t talk much, but I am chirpy tionship between a man and a woman the increasing and easy going. So, I had to work hard in their late 30s. The play will make you isolation that on the character and get the body ponder on the increasing isolation that language right,” she adds. technology is imposing on singletons,” technology is The two-and-half-hour-long play says Sonali, who returns to commercial imposing on puts up a hilarious act of a couple who theatre after a gap of 14 long years with have nothing in common. It shows the singletons’’ couple in their late 30s, whose options this play.

She is not only acting in the play are fast running out. It gives out a but, for the first time, she has also message of how technology and social decided to co-produce the production in order to pay media has taken over our lives. “We prefer to meet each tribute to the actor Rasika Joshi. “Initially, I was a little other virtually rather than meeting in person, which is sceptical about replacing her. But I owe this to her. not the right thing to do,” she points out.

However, I will be performing the character a little When: June 19, 7 pm differently as I cannot ape her,” she says.

Where: Nehru Memorial Hall, Camp The play consists of some great dialogues, lighter zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com

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TGS LIFE JUNE 18, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

MOCKING THEIR WAY ONTO THE STAGE Critically-acclaimed comedy collective Them Boxer Shorts releases the first season of their mockumentary web series, Better Life Foundation

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

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f you are a fan of mockumentaries like The Office or Parks and Recreation, then this new web series by Them Boxer Shorts is just for you. Better Life Foundation is a series is about an NGO with a team of six employees whose efforts

at making the world a better place are thwarted by societal indifference and, at times, their own inefficiency. The show follows a typical working day at an NGO, which is run by a kind-hearted founder who is also an inefficient leader. “The first thing we shot when we started this channel four years ago was a mockumentary about three bumbling chefs who didn’t know what

they were doing. Four years and several YouTube sketches later, we find ourselves coming a full circle and making another mockumentary about six bumbling NGO workers who don’t know what they’re doing,” says Naveen who has been around the comedy scene for the last three years. He was a finalist in the first edition of Comedy Central’s Indian Comedy Festival in 2012.

The series is presented as a mockumentary; a style of scripted comedy where the characters in the show are aware of the presence of the camera

‘I don’t want to be tagged as the Indian John Mayer’

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

I

n a recent online post, 17-year-old Pune musician Dishaan Gidwani was under the limelight for sounding like John Mayer. While the young boy had absolutely no idea about this till he read it TGS, Dishaan told us about his musical journey, his inspiration and his future plans.

It was his mother’s wish that he learn a music instrument, the tabla more specifically, and so she decided to enrol him in a class. Adamant about learning the guitar since he thought that made him look cooler, Dishaan was only 11 years old when his music journey started. Over the last six years, he also learned to play drums and the base along with singing and penning down lyrics. “Whatever songs I have written till date, have been for my college resume. I want to apply to universities abroad and continue learning music. My songs are a true reflection of who I am and everything that I know about the art form,” says the young boy.

Coming from a family that is not even remotely associated to music, it is difficult for them to understand why he wishes to choose this career path but they are supportive nonetheless, he shares. Most of Dishaan’s lyrics depend on the kind of music that he composes.

For him, music comes first. Once he has a melody or tune in mind, he senses the emotion in it and tries to think of what is making him feel that and out come

and therefore their behavior is often dictated by the presence of the ‘documentary crew’. The aim of the show is to find humour in the mundane everyday things of life. “We were brainstorming on ideas and were looking for a subject that people would be able to relate to. The IT industry was an option but it is explored by most comedians. So we thought of NGOs, as they seem to always be in the news,” he adds.

The series comprises of an eclectic group of learned, but ultimately ineffective individuals.

The main characters are the founder of the NGO Neil Menon (Naveen Richard), the strict authoritative figure who holds the NGO together without really getting any credit for it Sumukhi Chawla (Sumukhi Suresh), the detached accountant who engages in shady dealings when he isn’t slacking off in the office Anirban (Varun Kumar) and Armaan Garewal (Kanan Gill), who is stuck in the NGO as part of his 500 hours of community service. “This is a theme in most of our work since we usually take inspiration from ourselves. Most times, we don’t know what we are doing, which helps keep us on our toes so that we are constantly trying out new things. Back then, we couldn’t even figure out how to change the ISO setting on the camera.

Now, after four years of uploading content and being in the YouTube game, we... still don’t. So we hired some great people who do,” chuckles Naveen. The episodes are uploaded, without any glitches, every Wednesday. zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com

There is much more to his voice and music than just being someone who sounds like John Mayer.

Meet Dishaan, the young and talented musician from the city the words. He listens to a lot of Hip Hop music and some of this influence can be seen in his work too. The one thing he attributes his success to is the fact that as a child he always felt that his elder brother played the guitar better than him. In very frequent fits of jealously he would practice for hours and this is what he tells us probably not only got him more interested but also made him better.

As far as his future is concerned, he is happy ending up whenever life takes him as long as he has music by his side. He could be working for Hollywood, Bollywood or just making his own music; as long as the musician in him stays alive, he knows he will be satisfied and happy.

Talking about him being compared to the famous musician John Mayer, it took a while for Dishaan to stop laughing. “I am honoured to be compared to him, but I would like to have an identity separate from his.

I don’t want to be tagged as the Indian version of John Mayer. The comparison will never end and people will listen to me because of the tag and not for my music.

While I don’t mind it, I would prefer to not have it,” he says. Also, a little heads up about something like this would have been great, he quickly adds, joking.

Music is something that he absolutely enjoys and that which makes him happy. He wants to share it and pass on the positive feeling that he thinks music imparts. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

FEATURES

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TGS LIFE

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(A letter from Jatin Das to his daughter Nandita)

J

atin Das is one of India’s foremost contemporary artists. Born in pre-independence India in 1941 in the village of Mayurbhanj, Orissa, the acclaimed painter grew up in a joint family amid a large bunch of siblings.

As a young boy, Das developed a keen eye and a passion for art and would spend hours in the fields and woods around his ancestral home, keeping himself immersed in drawing and painting. Often, he would wander around the village craft fairs, returning home with prized possessions— handcrafted, lacquered toys fashioned by impoverished artisans in the colours of the rainbow.

When he ultimately told his family about his intention of pursuing his passion for art, they were disappointed, partly because in those days, art was not an accepted profession to follow for sons from respectable families. A career as an artist was also seen as a low-paying job, not remunerative enough to support a family. Regardless of the opposition he faced, Das decided to leave home and study art at Mumbai’s prestigious JJ School of Arts. Those were tough days and money was scarce, but the young man revelled in his passion and got other treasures along the way—artist friends from around the world and friendships that have endured to this day and have changed the way he looks at the world.

With an illustrious career spanning over half a century, Jatin Das is revered for the honesty and boldness of his work. He is credited with 55 one-man exhibitions in different parts of the world. Das is also a keen teacher who has lectured at art and architectural colleges and museums like the National School of Drama and the Jamia Millia Islamia University, among others. A humanitarian sensitive to the human condition, he has often expressed his strong views on incidents of social injustice in the community on public platforms.

His fascination for traditional Indian handicrafts continues to this day. He is currently consumed with his grand passion, the JD Centre of Art at Bhubhaneshwar, Orissa, a private, non-commercial institution which celebrates tribal, traditional, and contemporary Indian art. The Centre will eventually house his large personal collection of handcrafted pottery, terracotta, old utensils, folk and tribal crafts, toys, tools, and jewels.

I

t doesn’t matter how old you are, whether the letter in your hand is written on a crisp sheet of paper or time has played truant with the sheet – there is no way to hide that wistful smile, perhaps even tears, on reading the words your mom or dad wrote for you.

In her latest book, Sudha Menon, puts together 18 such letters hoping to inspire more parents to candidly share their thoughts with their children.

Her fondest memory of her father is spending every Sunday tinkering around the huge garden in the backyard. When he passed away, just two years ago, the only regret was that he had not written her a letter. A letter that shared with her memories from when she was a child, advised her for the future or even simply told her that he loved her. The Pune-based author, who is now a mother herself, puts together another inspiring book titled, Legacy: Letters from Eminent Parents to their Daughters, published by Random House India. Th is is her third book after Gifted and Leading Ladies and it originated from her wish to write a letter for her daughter.

“Letters like these are an easy way to keep parents around forever. It is amazing how a small piece of paper and a few words

Over a quarter of a century ago, Das was presented with an antique, handcrafted fan (pankha) in Rajasthan. The beauty and the ingenuity of the pankha fascinated him enough to set him off on a quest to collect pankhas from all over the world. Das is today the proud owner of over six-thousand five-hundred fans and is on the way to setting up a dedicated fan museum in New Delhi. Along the way, his fan collections have been exhibited at the Fan Museum, London, the National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, the Reitberg Museum, Zurich, and the National Museum, Manila.

In 2012, he was conferred with the prestigious Padma Bhushan award for his contribution to the field of art. But he believes that his journey as a student of art and life is a work in progress.

Getting hold of the elusive artist was in no way an easy task and took many months of fi rst tracking him and then persuading him to write the letter.

At over seventy years of age, Das is a delightful man, fi red with a passion about art and life in general, that people half his age would find hard to muster.

When I fi rst mooted the idea of writing a letter to his daughter, he categorically refused, delivering a stinging lecture to me on the media and its intrusive ways. He castigated the folks who actively seek out the media and let their life hang out with all its warts and moles in public space, just so that they can get their names featured in newspapers.

The relationship between a parent and a child is a very private thing and not something he would want to share with the rest of the world, he explained. Not wanting to give up easily, I cajoled, trying to explain to him that this was an inspirational letter not just for his dear daughter,

can evoke a thousand emotions and that’s the magic. These letters inspire and in many ways push the one they are written for to grow and achieve milestones they didn’t know they could,” she tell us.

Also, they don’t sound like lectures from our parents either, she smiles.

The book comprises letters from well-known personalities such as managing director and chief executive officer of ICICI Bank Chanda Kochhar, chef Sanjeev Kapoor, chief of the New Development Bank of BRICS countries K V Kamath, one of India’s foremost contemporary artists Jatin Das and former Indian badminton player Prakash Padukone, to name a few. The author shared two letters from her book with TGS - one written Jatin Das to his daughter Nandita Das, and another by KV Kamath to his daughter Ajnya. Here we have reproduced the letter written to actor Nandita. Do read the one to Ajnya on our website www.thegoldensparrow.com

but for all the women in this country who could take life lessons from his experiences.

I think that did the trick, along with the fact that I urged his actor daughter, Nandita, to contribute to the book as well. He would, I think, have smarted and bristled if the pressure had come from someone else but coming from his daughter, it was a request he simply couldn’t say no to.

When he did write the charming letter, he insisted that I call it a ‘note to her’ and not a letter, which is more of a personal exchange between a father and a daughter.

I am delighted to present the note that he wrote— full of nostalgia, memories of his own childhood, of the years that he spent raising his children, and of his growing concern about the direction in which our world is headed.

In a world where balance sheets and bottom lines have taken control of our daily lives, this letter reminds us all that there is a world beyond the call of money, one where honesty, decency, and concern for the people around you still matters.

TGS LIFE JUNE 18, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

My dear Nitu, I know you will be surprised to see a typed note by me, one being printed and read by others even though it is meant only for you.

Your childhood was spent in small flats, travelling between the urban cities of Bombay and Delhi. Contrastingly, my childhood was spent in the old, princely state of Mayurbhanj, in a large family consisting of five brothers and a sister. We grew up in a big house with a garden extended with ponds and a farmland where I spent my time until I was seventeen years of age. I remember my mother saying, ‘No one has come today, I don’t feel like eating’. Sudden visitors were always welcome with open arms. When I moved to Bombay in the sixties, many of my friends came and stayed with me, though I was staying in a single room flat at the time. At twenty-six, I got married to your mother. You were born in Bombay. Eventually, we decided to move to Delhi and six years later, Siddhartha was born. We lived in Nizamuddin, in a first floor flat with terra red flooring which I got polished and smoothened so that you were comfortable when you crawled. This ‘house’ became ‘home’ to all my artist friends who came and stayed with us.

You knew all of them well and received their affection and caring. My studio always occupied the largest room in the house. You grew up with the smell of turpentine and saw a painting grow day by day.

I always painted bare figures and both you and Siddhartha were never shy about it. Poets and artists breezed in and out all day and friends from Bombay, Calcutta, and various parts of the world came to stay with us. Slowly, the Nizamuddin home in Delhi became a guest house.

I hope you remember all the happy times we spent in that flat. I was housebound because my studio was at home. I was not only the cook and the gardener, I was also the babysitter, changing nappies and feeding you all. Since your mother was working full time at the National Book Trust, I was fully in charge of the house. You may not know I changed your nappy many a times. I remember my friend Paritosh Sen would always come and stay with us and would babysit you when we went to parties. At other times, we would bundle you up and take you with us to exhibitions and get-togethers. I taught you paper cutting and tooth brush painting on stencils. I vividly remember when we were at an exhibition showcasing artist J. Swaminathan’s work at the Kanika Chemould Gallery and

you told me, ‘Look, look baba—Swami Uncle is also painting like me, the way I spray on stencils with a toothbrush.’ Many of my artist friends’ children and you grew up together.

Ramachandran and Chameli’s daughter, Moli, and Paramjeet and Arpita’s daughter, Boban, were your best friends. We had a lot of shared meals together and I still have several black and white photographs of that time. For all festivals and vacations, we went home to Baripada, our hometown in Mayurbhanj, Orissa where you and Siddhartha (Nitu and Babul) spent quality time with my mother, brothers, cousins, and their children. At our home, all cousins were considered brothers; there was really no concept of a ‘cousin’ as such. When my mother was ill, you stayed back for a month to nurse her back to good health.

After my mother died, our visits to Baripada became less frequent. But the innumerable photographic mementoes were enough to remind us of the good old days. With both my parents gone, the family slowly disintegrated. Everybody moved to other parts of the country, and here in Delhi, we found a home away from home. When you were tiny, I remember you trying to pull out a leaf from a plant. I had gently twisted your little finger and you had said, ‘It hurts’. ‘It must have hurt the plant too’, I remember telling you. I never forced you to study or do anything. For me, you learnt and imbibed everything yourself.

Whenever you got a chocolate, you first shared it with the maid and then ate it yourself. You went to Sardar Patel Vidyalaya (SPV) instead of Delhi Public School (DPS) or Modern School.

Your school had a very progressive curriculum that put a lot of emphasis on the importance of studying art and culture. Many of our friends’ children studied there as well. You did well in your studies and always had varied interests. You even studied Tamil and went to a village adopted by your school to do shramdaan. That is probably from where your notion of social work developed further.

I am sure you remember we had a Morris Minor, the round baby car which we had to push to get it started so it could take you to school. But since the battery would be weak, it would often die and I had no money to replace it. You would get angry as it had to always be pushed to start, in the process of which you would inadvertently get late for school. It was shell white in colour and as we drove past the neighbourhood, the children would always shout, ‘Here goes the mendhak (frog)!’ I have the Morris Minor all done up and bedecked now. Do you remember for one of your birthdays, Leela (Leela Naidu, acclaimed Indian actress and wife of Dom Moraes), who had also designed

your dress, bedecked you like a fairy to dance in her garden in Nizamuddin? Do you remember Dom was your godfather whom you would affectionately call Uncle Dome? You learnt Odissi from Madhavi (Mudgal) for many years. It’s a pity that you gave it up. I remember you joined the street plays of Safdar Hashmi’s Jan Natya Manch. You took them very seriously. I went to see a few of those plays. They were very touching. I knew Safdar because I taught in the art department at Jamia Millia Islamia. He was a wonderful and gentle person, killed by political hooligans because his plays were strong, outspoken, and forthright. You were supposed to act in that same play when the goons attacked. But you were away at Rishi Valley, teaching. We were all shocked and stunned. I never do paintings about events.

But I did a large canvas in oil on Safdar, which was auctioned in Delhi at the Lalit Kala Akademi, and the money was jointly shared between SAHMAT (Safdar Hashmi Memorial Trust), Alkazi Foundation for the Arts, Habib Tanvir, and many others that had been set up in the memory of Safdar. It was the voice of the creative community. You have always been actively involved in social work. I remember you travelling to the tribal pockets of Orissa and Gujarat to work for the women and children there.

You also learned pottery at Sardar Gurcharan Singh’s famous Blue Pottery in Delhi. Later, you made a documentary on him called Imprint in Clay.

I never had anything special to give my children, kept no bank balance, no nothing. The only thing I did have to give them was my affection. But somewhere I’m sure you both share the ethics and concerns that I nurture. After your Master’s degree, you took a year off and went to teach at the Rishi Valley School and travel across the country. You have worked on various films on social concerns, even with first-time directors, in different languages. But your first directorial debut Firaaq got me worried because of the socio-political undertones in the film which was based on the aftermath of the Gujarat riots. Though I respected your conviction and courage, at the same time I was scared for you because of the prevailing political situation. On your first trip to London, you had lived with a very dear friend of ours—Maurine Ravenhall—and one day she had asked you to cook. Although you had never cooked at home, you had the taste of good food in your palate and you must have cooked a meal from this memory of yours. They raved about it. This also reminds me of your first trip to New York when you had called me. I had told you, ‘Beta, keep your head on your shoulders’ and you had replied, ‘Baba have you ever compromised? Neither will I.’ While I am writing this note, so much water has flown under the bridge. You have all gone your own ways. Now you are a mother and you are going through what I went through with you. Nursing your child. I had never asked for favours all my life and I am glad my children have grown up with similar values. I hope you are holding the hand of your little one in bed, as I did yours.

With lots of love, Baba

TGS LIFE JUNE 18, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES THEY HAVE DONE EVERYTHING TOGETHER SINCE THEY WERE SIX A perfect example of what best friends should be like, these two 16 year old girls have walked along through everything they have done till date. Since they fi rst met each other almost 10 years ago, Saavani Th igale and Reema Gokhale not only went to same school and college but also started a venture together. They are currently in the 12th standard at Fergusson College. When they needed a phone cover of their choice they realised that they liked nothing that was available in the market. Th is pushed them to make something of their own and soon their business was born. Working under the brand name Sehrgut - SAAVANI THIGALE Designs, they launched their venture in November last year. “The covers are priced very low so that people our age can afford them too.

Customisations cost a little extra but, at the end, our goal is to ensure that our customer is happy,” says Reema.

For both of them being able to work together

“Running a venture at such a young age can be challenging, but it teaches us a lot too”

MEET THE SMART COOK

These kids decided to top late’ in their quest to ach

By Salonee Mistry & Zainab Ka @TGSWeekly

T

he child prodigies – Ang performed his fi rst surgery Aravind Chithambaram (1 brainiacs, who are set to make a m

is like a dream come true. They have been making plans to run the same business from a very young age and they were quite happy when this materialised.

Knowing each other for so long just gives them an edge in the venture. They share a great chemistry so disagreements and arguments almost never happen.

“Running a venture at such a young age can be challenging, but it teaches us a lot too. Since we manage every aspect of the business, even though it is on a small scale, when it gets bigger we will know what to do,” says Saavani. There are so many things that we learned along the way, like organisation

and handling fi nances and these habits are now programmed into our minds, she adds.

Talking about their future plans with the venture, Saavani plans on studying fashion designing while Reema wishes to take up product design. As for the venture, as long as they live in the same city they will continue to find a way to make it run. If one of them moves away they might land up taking a break but would eventually come back to running the venture.

Not only is it a sign of their friendship, but it has played a huge part in making them better at whatever task they decide to take on.

NOT A TEENAGER YET, BUT PAINTING MASTERPIECES NONETHELESS Going to school, studying, and playing with friends seems like a regular day in life of a pre-teen but there is something that sets 12-year-old Rahet Chhabra apart from the rest. It is her passion for painting. In a short period, she has managed to accomplish what some artists work towards through their entire life.

Her fi rst painting on Gautam Buddha was sold was Rs 7,000 and the very recent one on the same subject sold for Rs 25,000. “I was always inclined towards painting. As a child I scribbled in my books, after which my mother enrolled me into painting classes,” says the wonder girl, who attends weekend painting

classes at the House of Art. She likes using vibrant colours and mixing them to try different styles of paintings. She also likes to experiment using different techniques. “My favourite subject is Gautam Buddha, landscapes, nature, wildlife, etc., and I love trying different shades of black and white. In one of my paintings, I used Fevicol and black ink and it was appreciated by everyone,” says Rahet.

She spends her time painting, researching, and dipping into text books to keep up with studies. “It has been a task to keep Rahet away from her painting experiments, but I am happy that -Neha Chhabra she copes well with studies and her homework,” says her mother Neha. After holding three painting exhibitions in the city, Rahet’s dream is to own an art gallery one day. She also wants to paint a life-size portrait of her grandmother whom she was close to and Guru Gobind Singh.

“It is difficult to keep Rahet away from painting, but I am happy that she balances it with her academics”

HE WANTS TO BECO

In a small, barely lit room locate bylanes of Kumbharwada, sits 17Salunkhe, engrossed in sculptin carving out minute details that that they will give any profe complex. Living in a house that b accommodate five of his family me the boy with big dreams. When m him are busy enjoying college l out with friends, Omkar has the taking care of the finances of the e He is the only earning member o believes that his hard work will pa are no shortcuts to success. After c college, I make these idols and g EcoExist group to market them. E take minimum of six hours to crea The idols are completely handthe use of a mould, which require skill in sculpting that very few a days. He prefers to make them u

pple the words ‘it’s never too hieve their lofty goals

RAHUL RAUT, VISHAL KALE AND TEJAS GAIWAD

E KIES

TGS LIFE JUNE 18, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

antawala

gad Daryani created India’s fi rst 3D printer at age 13; Akrit Jaswal y while he was only 7 years old; India’s next Vishwanathan Anand aka 17) – are only the tip of the iceberg. Pune too is home to a host of budding mark for themselves.

TEACHING ISN’T AS EASY AS THEY THOUGHT IT WOULD BE If you don’t know how to solve the Rubik’s cube, take inspiration from Rohan and Rohit Doshi. Whatever time they get away from their books and hanging out with their friends, they are busy learning different permutations and combinations to solve the Rubik’s cube. After his father taught him the basics, 14-year-old Rohan was hooked on and decided to start teaching his friends. His younger brother eight-yearold Rohit also followed him and began teaching as well. It has been three years since the two brothers started taking classes and love every minute of it.

“Managing a class no matter how big or small is a huge task.

Now that we are actually taking care of one, we understand the kind of frustration that our teachers feel when we ask them the same thing over and over again. I have newfound respect for every teacher, after becoming one myself,” shares Rohan. The two brothers along with Rohan Patvardhan, 15m and Tanmay Bhankar, 13, teach 11 students. They are students of Kalmadi High School in Kothrud and are great at academics too, their mother Rajshree tells us. She goes on to explain, “Right from making posters, to deciding how much the fees should be and

BEING SUCCESSFUL EARLY ON ALLOWED HER TO SET HIGHER GOALS

OME A FAMOUS SCULPTOR ONE DAY

ed in one of the -year-old Omkar ng Ganesh idols, are so intricate essional artist a barely manages to embers, Omkar is most teens around life and hanging responsibility of entire household. of the family and ay one day. “There coming back from give them out to Each of these idols ate,” adds Omkar.

-sculpted without es a high level of adults have these using clay as they

even writing out the receipts, they are as organised as one can get. It makes us proud to see them achieve whatever they have.”

Be it the 2x2, 3x3, complicated triangle or mirror cube, there isn’t one that Rohan and Rohit can’t solve. Their youngest student was six year old while the oldest was aged 60 and they all make teaching a fun exercise, says Rohit. While Rohit has no idea what he wants to become once he grows up, Rohan hopes to pursue a career in game designing.

are environment-friendly. “I had read an article once about how Plaster of Paris idols are harmful to the environment. After that day, I have only used clay,” he says.

The self-taught artist started making idols at the age of 10 as a hobby. Th is gradually transformed into a full-fledged profession for him. He makes around 50-80 idols in a year and their prices vary from Rs 300 to Rs 500, depending on the detailing.

“I make all kinds of models, like Shivaji Maharaj, Lokmanya Tilak, Maharana Pratap etc., and this is what I want to pursue in the future too. I want to get trained professionally and it’s my dream to study at JJ School of Arts in Mumbai,” says Omkar.

He gives his earnings to his mother Sunanda and she is proud of her son’s achievement. Sunanda only hopes to see her son successful and financially settled. “He works hard, studies as well as looks after us. There was a time when we didn't even own a TV, but he never complained about the fact that we couldn't afford to buy one,” she says.

She recently turned 17 but being responsible is something that she learned much before. It has been over six years that Charvi Chauhan has been learning to dance and about three since she has been teaching others. She teaches Hip-Hop and Bollywood to close to 90 students and is herself learning Belly Dancing currently. “I was pretty shocked to learn that I had it in me to actually teach other children. But because my mentor Aziza Degwekar felt I could, I took it up. As long as people believe in you and you in yourself, age is just a number,” explains the young girl, when asked why she decided to start teaching so early on.

It was only a few classes later that Charvi knew that this was something that she could do for the rest of her life. It gave her a lot of happiness and money is only an added bonus for her at the moment. Her biggest challenge is to control the class which usually comprises of 30 students. Keeping their attention and ensuring they enjoy the class is not that easy, nevertheless, over a period of time, she has got a hang of it. She is currently in the 12th standard at Delhi Public School. “Since at this age I already know what I want to do and have already started towards it, I have more time to achieve it. The fact that I started early on gives me a chance to dream bigger for myself,” says Charvi. The young girl most definitely wants to set up her own dance studio soon and hopes to inspire several others to walk down the same road.

TGS LIFE JUNE 18, 2016 PUNE

THRILL OF DRIVING

VISHAL KALE

AMEO=POLO PLUS

By Tushar Burman @tburman

B

ack in 2009, when Volkswagen introduced the Polo in India, it was a breath of fresh air. At the time, the go-to car for the segment was the Maruti-Suzuki Swift, and while the Fabia did exist to represent a European contender, it was deemed too odd and expensive for what it offered. Volkswagen was reeling from problems with the Skoda brand’s service and cost complaints and didn’t want to repeat the same mistakes with VW. Fast-forward to 2016 and anecdotally, VW cars are still considered expensive to run (they’re not; this author owns a petrol Polo). VW has taken specific note of this sentiment with the Ameo compact sedan, and has launched it for a very competitive price, even slightly undercutting the Polo hatchback!

How they’ve achieved this was not immediately apparent to us on our long-ish test drive. The car is fundamentally the same inside and out, save for the added boot. We drove the Highline petrol variant (the diesel motor will come during Diwali) and fit, finish and quality appeared to be on par with the hatch. Plastics are just as pleasing to the touch, with no hollow, plasticky-feeling spots we could find. The twotone dash and beige interior remain, and make the cabin feel airy. Bonus points for the flat-

Verdict

+ Safety, price - Marginal engine

TGS rating ;;;22

bottomed steering wheel which feels nice to manipulate.

If we were to nitpick, we’d say that the touchscreen infotainment system is a bit smaller than on the hatch, but it serves the purpose perfectly well and doesn’t end-up looking aftermarket like some recent cars we’ve driven. You get steeringmounted controls, cruise control and a cooled glove box for beverages on hot days. A centre armrest is available for the driver which is a slim unit much like in the Vento. You don’t get rear AC vents behind it, however.

Rear seat accommodations are quite comfortable, and the extra knee room over the Polo hatch is apparent. Headroom at the rear is at a premium, much like the Polo hatch, so those with long torsos (or generous behinds) may hit their heads on the roof.

If you’ve read so far and are wondering where the masala begins, well, it doesn’t. The Ameo is striking in its anonymity. Even viewed from the front 3/4 angle, one can barely discern the boot sticking slightly out of the rear. It’s a tiny extension of the body, to be sure, since the idea is to fit a sedan within four metres to qualify for lower taxes. We’ve always liked the practical depth of the Polo boot, and this remains useful in the Ameo. Only now, the volume goes up from 294 litres in the hatch to 330 in the sedan. It’s a minor bump, but it’s there.

It’s finally here: the Polo with a boot

The exterior of the boot itself is reasonably well integrated, and not as much of a tack-on like you’d find on the Swift Dzire. Not as good as the Ford Figo Aspire, but not bad. The tail lamps are simple and don’t draw attention to themselves.

Styling seems to be borrowed from the Skoda design language, with a crease running across the otherwise slab-like boot lid. Everything seems to be designed to be anonymous. VW have had to adjust the front and rear overhangs accordingly, and the car ends up looking a bit stubbier than the hatch.

The Ameo at present is only available in a petrol variant, utilising the venerable 1.2l MPI three-cylinder motor that does duty in the hatch.

It generates 75PS and 110Nm of torque, which felt inadequate six years ago, and continues to be. It’s a flexible engine, to be sure, with useful low-end grunt that allows you to have a load of passengers and navigate inclines with grace rather than amateurish slipping of the clutch. However, there’s no getting around the rough sound of the three-cylinder and this author continues to field the same questions he’s had to with his own car: “is this a diesel?”. Once at highway speeds, it’s okay, but overtakes take effort. You do get cruise control, however, so that sort of balances things out a bit. The stiff suspension makes the car fun

Engine and interior mimic the Polo hatch

to drive, but is hard on all passengers. We really wish VW would do something about this.

Perhaps the most important thing about the VW Ameo is the fact that it comes in at such a competitive price, and that it does so with two airbags and ABS as standard across variants.

There are some segment-firsts such as rainsensing wipers, cruise control and auto up/down power windows with anti-pinch all-round, but that’s about it. The Ameo is a competent car at a competitive price about in the middle of the pack. You can get more features for more money with a Hyundai, but you get the secure, Teutonic feel of a well-built car with the VW. The petrol engine is a mixed bag, and we suspect many will wait for the diesel this Diwali. tushar@goldensparrow.com Watch a video overview here:

TGS LIFE JUNE 18, 2016 PUNE

TEJAS GAIKWAD

FEATURES

ONE DOT AT A TIME Mayur Girase, a city based engineering student sets world record with 108 square foot dot painting

By Zainab KAntawala @kantawalazainab

P

ointillism isn’t a very popular art form.

It is a technique of painting, in which hundreds of small dots of colour are applied to the canvas, or ground, in order to create maximum visibility. Although just imagining this kind of art is a difficult task for a commoner as it requires considerable time and patience, Pune-based Mayur Girase recently set a world record by drawing a 108 square foot dot painting. Th is is something

that he enjoys and uses it as a medium of stress management. The more difficult the work is, the more attractive it gets, he says.

“The reason I have chosen this style is that I am an ambitious person and I wanted to create a unique work,” says Mayur. He is a second year student of the College of Engineering, Pune, and the theme of this drawing was ‘Save Girl Child’. He worked on it for 12 days at one go. “I had never painted before in my life. I joined the arts and craft club in my college this year and this is just my third artwork,” he says reflecting a

sense of pride. He has just used black paint to make the entire artwork. A normal work of pointillism art may take up to two weeks, depending on how complex the work is.

He gifted his second painting of Raja Maharana Pratap to former President of India Pratibha Patil, who appreciated his work. Th is inspired him to go ahead with this project. “Dot-work drawing gives an artwork a particularly misty feel. Although it is time-consuming, I am comfortable with this technique as it enables me to convey the concept better,” he adds. For now, painting

EDM VS BDM Get yourself ready for a dose of the grooviest music at Kue Bar. One of India’s best BollyWood artist, DJ Akhtar and the talented duo, Hard Candies from Ukraine are all set to mix some great electronic dance music with the popular Bollywood number.

When: June 19 Where: Kue Bar, The Westin Hotel, Koregaon Park

is just a hobby for Mayur, and he wants to concentrate more on his studies.

He often listens to music while working and considers it important as it helps him concentrate better and sets up the proper rhythm and mood for his piece. He uses paper or canvas for his artwork and first makes a rough sketch with pencil. After it is finalised, he uses ink liners to get proper thickness. “I use acrylic paint, as it dries soon, but I will explore more techniques, when I plan on starting my next sketch,” he adds. zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com

VOODOO WINDOW + FUNK ASSASSIN Get ready to get your mighty funky groove on this Sunday afternoon as Funk Assassin brings you some live mash-ups along with glitch, drum and bass, and some big beat! What better way to spend your Sunday afternoon than dancing with a cold glass of beer and some delicious BBQ filling your stomachs? Voodoo Window is a nuvo electronica act and Funk Assassin is a continuation of DJ Amul’s bass avatar.

When: June 19 Where: The High Spirits, Koregaon Park

WORLD MUSIC DAY Amit Trivedi has come a long way from being Indian film music’s most talked about ‘new-kidon-the-block’ who composed for ‘Aamir’ to one of the most loved and respected composers of Bollywood. A full-time composer and a parttime singer, he is known for his distinctly rustic voice, who breathes music. He has given music hits in movies like Aamir, Dev.D, Queen to Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu and is all set to rock the stage at Hard Rock Cafe with upcoming ‘Udta Punjab’ songs on the occasion of the World Music Day. When: June 19 Where: Hard Rock Café, Koregaon Park

SPIRITED SATURDAYS WITH ROCKY

SILVER LIVE Rock out the midweek blues with some hard rock anthems at blueFROG. Silver, a band popular for delicate melodies and booming tones, will be belting out some popular rock numbers. You can trace funk, blues and progressive influences in their music to add that

extra flavour to the band recipe. They released their debut album in 2013. Their video for Funkie Junkie is often featured in MTV Indies and VH1.

When: June 22 Where: BlueFROG, Yerawada

Th is Saturday, enjoy an unparalleled beering experience with a performance by Rocky. He is one man army who has performed in many states including Goa, Bangalore, Mumbai etc. His power packed performance with amazing song collection from oldies right up to modern day is the unique thing about this performer.

When: June 18 Where: The Beer Café, Koregaon Park

TGS LIFE JUNE 18, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

I

t’s not just for your body but for your mind and soul as well. A way of life for many, it makes you realise your limitations and strengths. Yoga is so much more than being just another form of exercise and it is this feeling that the world celebrates on June 21, each year. Yoga finds a mention in the Rigveda and has been a part of India’s tradition for centuries.

It has also become a huge part of the country’s identity. Five yoga enthusiasts tell us their stories, what inspired them to start and how it helped better their lifestyles.

GETTING STARTED Not being the gym kind of person, 27-year-old, Rimi Sodhi, turned to yoga to keep her body fit. After a few months of practicing, she completely fell in love with the exercise and understood it at a much deeper level. Now it’s been almost five years that she has been actively doing yoga and has even trained professionally at Sivananda Ashram Madurai in 2014. The next year, she followed it up with training sessions at Ashtanga Vinyasa, Mysore Style yoga, from Sthalam8, under the guidance of Guruji Ajay Kumar. “It made me realize that I had neglected my body for a long time. There was stiffness in my joints, I lacked strength, flexibility and had week muscles too. With time, my practice progressed and I saw a drastic change within me. It is now much more than a workout,” she explains.

29-year-old Sushil Bijani started learning yoga five years ago and has been practicing it actively ever since. He was inspired by his friends and then couldn’t imagine a life without it. Eventually, he too started from the basics and has now mastered all the aasans perfectly.

Neha Suhjani, who was a chartered accountant until recently, started learning yoga at the age of 22. The longest she has ever gone without practice is a month when she got married. A ballet dancer too, it was Neha’s teacher who told her to try yoga to better her ballet technique. Now, yoga is an important part of her routine, irrespective of where she is.

On the contrary, for Dinesh Talekar being spiritual has always been a part of his upbringing. His father was his first teacher and he started learning and understanding yoga from when he was 10 years old. His understanding soon converted into curiosity, eventually pushing him to research the topic further and he has been a yogic for

TURN ON YOUR

YOGA MODE With the International Day of Yoga just round the corner, TGS caught up with Puneites who not only practice yoga but live and breathe it too in the hope to inspire more people to join the bandwagon and get f it

Vishakha Moghe

about 20 years now. He goes on to explain that the initial results were so astonishing that, at times, they appeared to be unbelievable. These small achievements gradually bore positive results and inspired the 31-year-old to reach out to people and share his experience.

Like Dinesh, Vishakha Moghe, 30, was introduced to the yogic style of living during the early years of her school life, following in the footsteps of her father. She saw him practice various yoga postures and it stirred

Sushil Bijani

her curiosity. She began by reading a couple of books and the interest only grew further. “It was quite interesting to dec​ipher​​​the names of asanas and to relate them to entities in nature.

That way, it was easier to remember the postures and their benefits.​It was difficult to understand the real essence of Yoga at that age without a guru, but it was like a sanskar which helped me decide what I wanted to be in my later life,” she smiles.​“It fascinated me, how every yoga​posture was different from the

other and the names of the asanas narrated a whole story about its origin and practice. The journey has been an enlightening one,” she adds.

Vishakha is currently an Ayurvedic practitioner and a Yoga counsellor. ​ OW, IT’S A PART OF WHO N THEY ARE Yoga marks the perfect start to a day for Sushil. Waking up at 6 am without fail every single day, he practices aasans like anuloma and viloma to keep his mind calm and steady throughout the day. He is able to better articulate his words and thoughts and this is just a part of the benefits. He feels more relaxed even in the most stressful situation and this helps him achieve peace of mind. His routine work goes on smoothly too, he adds.

Agreeing with him, Rimi adds that the one thing that keeps her going is the fact that even though she has been practicing yoga for so long, there is still so much to learn. Every time she gets onto the mat, she experiences something new and this keeps her hooked on. She doesn’t remember having a boring yoga session ever.

Rimi completed her graduation in business administration and post that was studying Human Rights with a specialization in Child

Rights. She was keen on working with the United Nations, but once yoga happened she is quite happy teaching it.

The process of learning never ends with yoga, says Neha. That’s the one thing she absolutely loves.

“We are taught to love ourselves with our imperfections. It teaches us to set our egos aside when we step on the mat. At first, I would get angry at myself if I couldn’t do a pose right. But now I accept the fact that if a pose is difficult to crack, I must work slowly towards perfection. This is also the attitude that I need while dancing ballet,” she tells us.

For Vishakha, it’s the whole practice that keeps them attached and in love with yoga. She believes that yoga connects one to their roots.

It makes you realize your purpose in life, your responsibilities towards others and towards your own self.​ It motivates you to find your inner peace in spite of the endless stress and struggles of life.​Apart from making you physically and mentally sound, it allows you to rediscover a sense of wholeness and pulls you out of the darkness and chaos​ , something that is much-needed in today’s world.

A way of life for Dinesh, the little bit that he has learned about the art is perhaps just the beginning. “To

TGS LIFE JUNE 18, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

Neha Sujani

ONE EXERCISE, MANY BENEFITS Yoga has innumerable benefits and this is nothing new. While Rimi literally eats, sleeps and breathes yoga, yoga has made Dinesh feel complete, happy, satisfied and content. Rimi goes on to say that, yoga definitely has made her life much better and she worries and complains lesser now.

“Yoga has helped me bring about physical, mental and spiritual development. For me it has been a source of power, knowledge, peace and strength, which the body does not have. I am not body conscious anymore,” says Sushil, who is also following Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism at the moment. He is

a Yoga Acharya, Master of Yoga and is teaching kids at Caelum High School at Undri and at The Harmony Tree Learning Centre at Sopan Baugh. He has completed a Certificate Course in Yoga from Kaivalyadham, Lonavla and an Advanced Teacher Training Course from the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre in Kerala.

Vishaha adds that more than helping her, yoga has transformed her as a human. It helped her realize her flaws and limitations, allowing her to accept them and be motivated to rather work on her strengths. Staying calm is the one gift that Neha feels yoga has given her. When someone is nasty to her, she consciously reminds herself to inhale, exhale, stay calm and smile. In addition to pursuing her own studies in ballet

and Ashtanga yoga, she is currently teaching them too along with Pilates as well as conducts dance workouts.

IT’S BETTER LATE THAN NEVER For those who are inspired by these yoga enthusiasts and would love to hop onto this fitness journey here are a few things to keep in mind.

Dinesh points out that one should do whatever they think and wish to do and after doing so, if they still feel incomplete or perhaps dissatisfied, then it is the right time to take baby steps towards yoga.

Rimi suggests that if one isn’t doing any physical activity, they could

Dinesh Talekar

RAHUL RAUT AND VISHAL KALE

share the experience that yoga gave me with others is what actually gives me the satisfaction and makes me complete. It keeps me grounded and assists me in my personal spiritual practice. Learning, practicing or even teaching yoga is only one aspect.

It’s the self-growth that matters the most,” he says. After a Masters in Multimedia and dropping out of an MA in Philosophy, the yoga bug had bit Dinesh so hard that he went ahead and became the founder and president of Meditative Yoga International Foundation, an NGO that has been conducting corporate workshops, open camps and seminars on yoga and meditation.

Conducting research and writing books on yoga, on International Day of Yoga, he will be publishing a new research-based book, ‘YOG Secrets For Youth’, which is an output of disruptive innovation in Yoga. He will be also be conducting a Yoga meditation workshop for the Excise department officials in Pune.

Rimi Sodhi

give yoga a try. If done properly, it is a comprehensive fitness program that will help you get stronger, limber, healthy and happier for the rest of your life.

“The true essence of yoga is in understanding our true nature and this goes far beyond the limits of human mind and personality. It isn’t just about mastering postures and photographing yourself, it’s about following the eight limbs of yoga by doing your duties towards the society and towards yourself,” says Vishakha.

Sushil recommends that as a beginner it is very important to learn how to breathe properly. Yoga requires a lot of commitment and discipline. The minute it feels too difficult to continue is when you need it the most. It’s much more than just a physical exercise to keep you fit. It’s a lifelong commitment, adds Neha. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

SP

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TGS LIFE

A

JUNE 18, 2016 PUNE

SHOPPING

CASUAL

DAY OUT These fun and casual outfits are perfect for a day out with friends. 20 year old student Ruchi Khot pulls out some trendy pieces from her wardrobe to make a statement

Black or white This simple combination of black and white looks good for any casual weekend out. Golden flats are a staple that can never go wrong.

Top and shorts: Colaba Causeway, Rs 700 Flats: Koovs, Rs 700

Aztec prints

For a day long shopping trip, this laid back combination of an Aztec print tank top and jeans is a great option.

Top: H&M, Rs 1500 Jeans: Forever 21, Rs 1700

An elegant brunch

A chic and graceful printed dress is perfect for a leisurely brunch. Team it up with a sling bag and flats, and you’re good to go.

Dress: Van Heusen, Rs 2500 Flats: Koovs, Rs 700

Sunny prints

A fun and flirty outfit, this dress can double up for a breakfast or lunch date.

Pair it with a neutral coloured sling bag and matching flats.

Dress: Chemistry, Rs 2500 Bag: Forever 21, Rs 1700

Floral fun

A classy floral printed maxi dress is a great fit for a tea time outing, with family or friends.

Dress: 20 dresses, Rs 1100 Wedges: Forever 21, Rs1800

— Compiled by Abha Pandit

Muscular isn’t quite fit

TGS LIFE JUNE 18, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

Completing his graduation in architecture at the moment, Afshan Charanya has gone from being fat to fit. He shares his fitness mantra as well as his current diet and workout plan

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

O

veractive, a good dancer, artistic, and flamboyant is how 21-year-old Afshan Charanya would describe himself. He was a plump child as he was growing up years, and was teased till he was 16. This is when he decided that he had been through enough and must change himself. He made up his mind to take the tough road and sweat it out to build a better version of himself.

Being a huge fan of Sylvester Stallone’s character Rocky, Ranveer Singh and Milkha Singh, he followed in their footsteps and started taking part in races and athletic meets in his college. Apart from going to the gym, Afshan also goes for Mixed Martial Arts on the weekends to help build his stamina and strengthen his core.

At the moment, he is in concentrating on gaining weight to be able to change his body shape.

“Only having muscles doesn’t make you fit.

It should take a lot of effort to get your body tired and only then can you call yourself fit. You must be active and not get tired or feel lethargic. If you can manage to do this, the muscles will follow,” says the young boy.

HIS FITNESS MANTRA A balanced, healthy diet with whatever exercise you do is this young boy’s most important mantra when it comes to fitness. “People from my generation, think that exercising is all it takes to build muscle and sculpt the body. But that’s not it. The diet’s important too. One additional push-up or an extra crunch that you do, more than what you did the previous day, is what makes all the difference. Aim at being better than what you were yesterday,” he suggests. It’s simple, logical and a step by step process guaranteed at getting you what you want, he adds. Believing in yourself is equally important.

EXPERT SPEAK Yash Govindan Personal Fitness Trainer

Since you are currently putting on weight, your diet and routine is just about right. Here are some tips that might help you achieve it faster. You could have rice once or twice a week since it helps in gaining weight.

You could have some soaked almonds as soon as you get up. The black coffee could be substituted with an apple which will give you enough energy for your workout.

Eggs and oats could be helpful additions to your meal.

DAILY LOG I am not a morning person. I wake up at about 11 am and have three glasses of banana milkshake.

This is my first meal of the day and my breakfast as well. My next meal is after three hours, which is my lunch and generally consists of three rotis with a variety of mixed vegetables and preferably white meat. After this, I head to work or college.

I avoid eating rice and spicy food as much as I can.

Since it is necessary to feed yourself AFSHAN CHARANYA Age: 21 Weight: 70 kg Height: 5’ 10

Expert rating: 7 /10

whenever you feel hungry, I always carry yogurt and sprouts with me. This is also my evening snack which is at about 4 pm. I also have 10 dry fruits at around the same time.

My next and last meal for the day is after four hours at around 8:30 pm. For dinner, I usually have salads. I go to the gym at around 9:30 pm and I am currently working for just one hour. Just before heading to the gym, I have a cup of black coffee, to get the energy that I need for the workout. My workout generally consists of weights as I am putting on weight at the moment. My workout is never decided.

I like surprising my muscles so before I reach the gym I have no idea what exercises I will do that day.

It is always on my mind to avoid junk food as much as possible. Cold drinks are a big no. Sunday is my one cheat day where I am allowed to eat whatever I want. But this only means that the workout on Monday must be a little more tiring than other days. I always have a bottle of water with me wherever I go. I easily have eight litres of water in a day and this keeps me hydrated round the clock. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

BE MONSOON READY!

W

ith monsoon blues kicking in soon, it’s time to show your skin and hair some extra love and care.

Rain after months of blistering heat brings a relief to the parched skin, but the wet season brings its own set of skin woes. Penning down a few seasonal tips for the upcoming months, Sangeeta Sangeeta Velaskar, Vice President Kaya Velaskar Limited, tells you how to fight the skin and hair battles with an effective regime: SKIN: • Keep using the sunscreen (SPF 30) even on cloudy days for protection from harmful radiation. You could also opt for a sweat-proof sunscreen to ensure that the humidity in the air doesn’t wear the sunscreen off • Moisturising in the rains is as important as it is in summer, use a non-comedogenic moisturizer for oily skin to prevent acne breakouts and a light lotion-based moisturizerfor dry and

combination skin • Acne loves the sultry season and the moist weather acts as a catalyst for bacteria build-up. Use a salicyclic acid-based cleanser every day and follow it up with an alcohol-free toner to unclog the pores • A good skincare routine should always include regular exfoliation. This will help clear out the dead and dry skin thus keeping your skin supple and glowing • Always wash your face, hands and feet as soon as you reach your home with lukewarm water. This not only leaves you feeling refreshed but also prevents bacterial and fungal infections HAIR: • Monsoons are notorious for itchy scalps, flaking and dandruff.

Include a good anti-dandruff shampoo that is mild and also provides moisturisation at the same time. Some of the ingredients to look out for are Piroctone Olamine and Vitamin B5 • Wash your hair at least twice or thrice a week and keep the scalp dry to avoid fungal and bacterial infections

• Use a volumising or anti frizz hair serum to keep the bouncy, frizz free look. Excessive use of hair gels and sprays will only cause further damage • Use of hair dryers though necessary it is better suggested if you limit its usage. Instead opt for dry towels to remove moisture from your hair As told to Zainab Kantawala

Not changing Dangal's release date A

TGS LIFE JUNE 18, 2016 PUNE

BUZZ

amir Khan has stated that his upcoming biopic Dangal will release on its scheduled date of December 23 this year. There were reports that the 51-year-old actor had preponed the release of the Nitesh Tiwari-directed wrestling drama by a week.

"We are coming on Christmas weekend. All the reports regarding the release date of the film are false. It will release on December 23, which is a Friday just two days before Christmas," he said.

Aamir is donning the role of popular Haryanvi wrestler and senior Olympics coach Mahavir Phogat, whose daughter became the first ever woman wrestler from India to win a gold medal in Commonwealth Games. The actor feels the film will give a platform to the sports of wrestling. "I believe, the film will promote wrestling. I learnt wrestling in the film from

coach Kripa Shankar for a year. He is a wonderful coach and has put in a tremendous effort in popularising the game."

Besides Aamir, Salman Khan's Eid release Sultan also narrates a wrestler's journey. Asked whether he is affected by it as both the films have similar backdrop of wrestling, Aamir said, "It's just a coincidence. Both the film's have different stories. Our film is a biopic.

Even Salman's film is nice. I liked the recently released song by Salman."

The PK star also denied reports that he had asked Salman to delete a wrestling sequence from the film.

"Neither we have made any changes in the script nor we have asked others to do any. There are very few strokes in wrestling and it is inevitable to have different strokes," he said.

Salman to work with Kabir Khan

F

ilmmaker Kabir Khan's next Tubelight starring superstar Salman Khan will have elements of comedy and drama with politics as its backdrop. "It is about a personal issue. Can't talk about what exactly right now. Needless to say my films always have a political backdrop to them because thats what excites

me and I find real. So Tubelight also has a little political backdrop," Kabir said.

Right from his debut Kabul Express, to his last, Phantom, the filmmaker has helmed movies that have a strong political background. Tubelight will mark the third collaboration between Kabir and the 50-year-old Dabangg star

after blockbusters Ek Tha Tiger and Bajrangi Bhaijaan. "In terms of its emotional space it is similar to Bajrangi Bhaijaan. But story is very different.

It is more of humour and emotional space that we (Salman and I) haven't delved into."

It was reported that Salman will be undertaking a journey of enlightenment from India to China in the film.

The director said Tubelight will have a "China element in the story" but he will be shooting the film in Ladakh.

Tubelight is scheduled to release on Eid next year.

Sonam teams up with Kareena, Swara for Veere Di Wedding

B

ollywood actress Sonam Kapoor has teamed up with Kareena Kapoor Khan, Swara Bhaskar and Shikha Talsania for an upcoming film, Veere Di Wedding. The all-female led film, to be directed by Shashanka Ghosh

of Khoobsurat fame, is being coproduced by Ekta Kapoor and Sonam's sister Rhea Kapoor.

"Veere Di Wedding my next!!

Rhea Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Swara Bhaskar, Shikha Talsania, Ekta Kapoor. Breaking boundaries.

New age. Feminisms," Sonam tweeted. This will be the first time that 31-year-old star and Kareena,35, will be seen sharing screen space.

She has previously worked with Swara in films like Raanjhanaa and Prem Ratan Dhan Payo.

Hopeful Udta Punjab conveys its message

K

areena Kapoor Khan feels it is important for actors to do films on issues prevalent in the society and is hopeful that the message conveyed in her upcoming movie Udta Punjab will come out effectively on screen.

The Abhishek Chaubey-directed Udta Punjab, starring Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Diljit Dosanjh and Kareena, deals with the issue of drugs abuse in the state of Punjab.

Presently, the filmmakers are fighting a battle against the censor board, which has raised several objections over use of various words and language in the film.

When asked about the ongoing censorship issues, Kareena said, "I have full faith in the film, full faith in Abhishek Chaubey (director) and full

faith in our fans. There are big stars in the film and all of them have a huge fan base," Kareena said.

"The reason I did Udta Punjab is because there is no small or big role.

And even if my role is a special one in the film, if we actors don't do these kinds of films, the message (about drug menace) will never be out," she said.

In the film, Shahid essays the role of a Punjabi rockstar, Alia Bhatt is a migrant from Bihar, Kareena plays a doctor while Punjabi star Diljit Dosanjh enacts a tough cop.

"I have done many films in the past where I have played pivotal roles, but I chose to be a part of this film because it is important that this message gets told, which am sure is going to come on screen," Kareena said.