TGS Life 07/05/2016

RAHUL RAUT

PUNE, MAY 7, 2016 | www.thegoldensparrow.com

When Nathulal turns into a

style icon They might not ape the character from Sharabi venerated by Amitabh Bachchan, but these men will certainly change your perception about moustaches, and perhaps, get you to consider flaunting one yourself

‘I want to play a negative role next’

TGS LIFE

MAY 7, 2016 PUNE

BUZZ

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

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er acting career started off as an accident and now she is ready to star in an international film directed by Tabrej Noorani, the producer of Slumdog Millionaire fame. Gorgeous to look at, talented at what she does and dedicated to her work, Sai Tamhankar has carved a niche for herself in Bollywood as well as Marathi film industry. After a stunning performance in Hunterr, she is more than ready to be a part of Love Sonia, for which is already shooting in Rajasthan. Sparing a little time from her shooting schedule, she spoke with TGS about the film and her plans for the future.

Based on the sensitive topic of sex trafficking and exploitation of woman, Sai plays the role of Anjali and is acting alongside, Frieda Pinto, Anupam Kher, Paul Dano, Manoj Bajpai, Adil Hussain, Rajkumar Rao and Richa Chaddha. For the young actress, working with renowned actors and matching up to their strength turned into her biggest concern. But, once she started shooting, she was focused and gave her 100 per cent. “I had to be mentally prepared for my character as

It’s a woman’s world Nandita Das, known for her critically acclaimed performances, talks about her journey with Cineplays, films, and her future projects

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

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heatre lovers in Pune get ready to enjoy the acclaimed cineplay ‘Between The Lines’ by Nandita Das and Subodh Maskara at BlueFrog, Ishanya this weekend. CinePlay is a new genre of cinema that delicately blends the grammar of theatre and cinema to create an exciting new language of storytelling.

The play revolves around a lawyer couple who end up arguing on the opposite sides of a criminal trial. This contemporary 79-minute cineplay is set in urban India, where well educated, affluent couples find themselves caught between modernity and tradition.

“Maya and Shekhar have been married for 10 years. Shekhar is a high-profile criminal lawyer, while Maya balances work and life, drafting routine contracts for a law firm. As destiny would have it, they end up arguing on opposite sides of a criminal trial, resulting in the blurring of their personal and professional lives,” explains Nandita who has co-written the play with Divya Jagdale as well as directed it. The play showcases stellar performances by the actors, great dialogues, lighter moments and, a plethora of thoughtprovoking situations.

The concept of cineplay focuses on serious drama with realism and uses cinematic

techniques to make plays accessible to as many people as possible. The idea stemmed from the fact that stories from theatre are not accessible to a large audience because of geographical and financial reasons and theatre is primarily seen as an urban, elite, art form. “Some of the best plays have come and gone, as they haven’t been archived. When everything from music to films is archived, why not theatre! The primary endeavour of the Chhoti Production Company (CPC) is to be a conduit for compelling, stories brought to the fore by eminent and emerging talent from across the country,” she adds. Using the art form of theatre and films, it aims to explore new and unique ideas and of course to make the performing arts accessible to a larger audience. Their play, Between the Lines was their first initiative under CPC. Nandita wears many hats and her passion to make a difference is evident in the choices she has made in her life and work. She is known to never shy away from controversial issues and unconventional roles and has chosen to be part of stories that she feels need to be told. “Women are forced to be great multitaskers, thanks to all the different things they end up doing. I remember while making Firaaq, the film took precedence over everything else. In it, I found my different interests and skills coming together. But yes, it is a stretch to be doing the advocacy work I do on issues of social concern, some bit of acting and directing, whether it is film or theatre, mothering my five-year-old son and trying to find some time for myself, which always gets compromised,” says Nandita.

She has worked in over 30 feature films in ten different languages with many eminent directors like Mrinal Sen, Adoor

Gopalakrishnan, Shyam Benegal, Deepa Mehta and many more. Her life experiences and many of the people she has met and worked with inspire her to go on. Her first creative influence was at home as her father is an artist. “I was also inspired by Safdar Hashmi through my street play days. Then, the craftsmen and women I have seen in different parts of the world. The nameless, faceless artisans have been a huge inspiration.

I feel fortunate that I have been exposed to a lot of creative impulses,” she adds.

Nandita was the first Indian to be inducted into the Hall of Fame of the International Women’s Forum. She has also been conferred the ‘Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters’ by the French Government.

While she is perceived as an actor, a very small part of her life revolves around it. “I was the chairperson of Children’s Film Society for three years, and and few months of the last couple of years were spent on campuses like Harvard and Yale, where I was pursuing fellowships. I feel grateful for the varied exposure and experiences that I have had and hope that it continues. I have in fact always been a very hesitant actor and have seen that as one of my many interests,” says Nandita.

She is currently working on a film on Saadat Hasan Manto’s life. The film will give us a glimpse of his association with the Hindi film industry. “He was unique, both as a person and writer, and is extremely relevant today. I am also working on an Australian project as a writer and hopefully will also direct it. Along with this, I am continuing various speaking engagements, writing and last, but probably the most important, is my role as a mother,” she smiles. zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com

it’s not an easy one to portray. When I wore the costumes I automatically got into my character and started behaving like her. The costumes actually helped a lot,” she says.

The best part about being an actor, she feels, is that she gets to play so many characters. For an actor, expressing emotions becomes easy and this too is an aspect that she likes. Apart from that, travelling to different locations, exploring new places and meeting new people, while shooting is indeed reviving and refreshing, she adds.

Her future plans include an untitled Marathi film by Gajendra Ahire for which she will start shooting very soon. Although she does not have a dream role in mind, she knows what her next role should be and says, “I want to play a negative role. I always strive to do something different hoping that it will leave a tremendous impact on the audience. So, playing a powerful negative character definitely tops my wish list.” She, however, does not want to restrict herself to any particular genre. She also hopes to collaborate with Radhika Apte once again, do a film with music by AR Rahman as well as work with Imtiaz Ali, Anurag Kashyap, Paresh Mokashi and Nagraj Manjule. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

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TGS LIFE

MAY 7, 2016 PUNE

ENTERTAINMENT

Ajala Dhwani Project Lambada

When classical music meets rock Indie bands in the city are fusing in rhythms from vastly different genres of music to create fresh compositions

fuse Indian ragas and rock with spontaneity. At their last gig, they surprised the audience when they sang ‘Albela Sajan’ in hard rock style. “We are influenced by all kinds of music. We listen to Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Shankar Mahadevan as well as Dream Theatre, Deep Purple, etc,” he adds

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

RUDRAKSH This is a group of self-taught musicians who want to revamp Sufi music by giving it a classical touch. The band includes Ajay Tapale on vocals, Gaurav Bhosale on percussions, keyboard and saxophone, Ashpak Shaikh on drums, Shishir Sen on bass guitar and Aomeren on guitars.

Inspired by Sufi artists and bands like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Junoon, Raghu Dixit Project and other renowned musicians, this band has performed at various college fests around the

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he city is home to rock bands that follow various styles, from hard rock, metal, rock-n-roll, and so on. They have a larger following and are also gaining recognition in the international arena. In this landscape, various genres are fused with EDM, rap, and folk to draw a larger crowd. When youngsters want to shake a leg, mosh or head bang at a gig, would a band get away with merging rock with Carnatic music? Meet some bands who have risked ways to infuse classical and symphonic sounds into their music.

LAMBADA For these guys, music has no colour, form or race. By incorporating different styles of music they try and create a sound with an aim to satisfy the audience. Lambada is a fusion rock band that covers a wide repertoire of genres including Sufi, classic rock, Indian classical, pop, retro as well as new Bollywood. The band comprises of Manoj Pandya on guitars, Reshma Pandya on vocals, Priyabrata Satpati on bass and vocals and Mahesh Nimbalkar on drums.

They believe in music being boundless, infinite and beyond fixed genres. “We created our own genre ‘Boundless Infinity’, as we incorporate different styles of music and create a sound that is versatile. Fusing classical music with rock is not a conscious attempt, we just go with the flow,” says Manoj.

What sets the band apart is their ability to

Rudraksh

country. “It basically starts with an idea of composing song and then fusing Sufi poetry with the jhok of tabla and rock drums with experimental guitar riffs and progressive bass lines. We have almost an album-worth material ready,” explains Shishir.

Their songs take you on a trip where you experience a series of emotions. You are bound to feel happiness, sorrow, romance, excitement and all of your emotions combined. They are now working on their album launch and they don’t plan on limiting themselves to gigs.

“We want to be known as an - MANOJ PANDYA honourable band that creates soulful music consistently that’s known not just locally but nationally and internationally too,” he adds.

“Fusing classical music with rock is not a conscious attempt, we just go with the flow”

AJALA DHWANI PROJECT Ajala Dhwani Project is known for creating ambient music, making use of multiple instruments and expressing myriad shades of colours.

The band plays a heady mix of multiple percussive instruments, elements of Carnatic music, Indian and World Folk music. The band comprises of Amar Kulkarni on vocals, Gandhaar Amin on flute, Saiprasad Shankar on bass, Dhir Mody and Agneya Chikte on drums and percussions.

Ajala Dhwani, meaning sounds of the earth, is an attempt to create earthy music to express the ways we interpret our lives, the existence of mankind and all our flaws and virtues. “The band was formed after my long hunt for like-minded musicians. We play music which cannot yet be categorised into a single specific genre, but World Music is what it would closely relate to, since our music draws influences from various types of music from across the world,” says Amar. Their songs emulate everyday experiences, be it the sounds of nature and cars, people speaking etc. “We write our songs out of experiences that we’ve had and the images we associate with those experiences. The earth and the existence of mankind is the theme we’d like to engage in most,” he adds.

The band includes varied influences ranging from Hindustani and Carnatic, folk, Rock, West African folk music, and so on. The biggest challenge they face is to get the masses involved in their music. “Any band can be popular by creating music that the masses accept easily, like mainstream pop music.

But, for a band that wants to experiment with newer genres, sounds, or newer ideas in song writing or composing, it is challenging to popularise it,” he says. zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com

TGS LIFE

MAY 7, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

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nspired by nature, Anagha Shinde makes artwork out of flower petals and leaves. Her work is delicate and her use of petals gives her art a sense of sophistication and elegance. Having completed her post-doctoral education in botany, she was always inclined towards nature. She soon quit her job as lecturer at a city college to pursue what she loved the most.

“Since childhood, I have been fond of collecting flowers from absolutely anywhere.

For that reason, my granny used to call me ‘butterfly’. She saw that I was crazy for flowers,” she smiles.

When she was in the seventh grade, she pressed one bright yellow flower for the first time and was surprised when she saw the beautiful colour retention. “Since then, I started storing flowers between the pages of my books. Then, in 1998, I visited a leaf-art exhibition and

It’s all about flower power

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Pune-based artist Anagha Shinde makes extraordinary artwork with flower petals and leaves that are sure to leave you stunned

that inspired me to take up this art form,” says Anagha.

She started e x p e r i me nt i n g with different flower petals, but after they w o u l d Anagha Shinde all catch fungus in a few days. Also their colours would fade out after she preserved them between her books. She also tried to preserve them by applying transparent nail colour on them, but nothing worked.

“I am a self-taught artist, so I had to go by the trial-and-error method. The more I failed, the more I learned,” she adds.

Anagha soon got busy with her studies but never gave up on t h e art. She started laminating her work, but that too caught fungus in the rainy

season. “During my college days, we used a herbarium technique to press plant material in botany class. There, I learned the technique for pressing flowers as well. One day, my father threw some flowers away as I had not left a single book empty. But that too didn’t stop me,” she says.

After a lot of research, she learned about the vaccum pressing technique and UV resistance frames for her petal art. “This solved everything for me. I became more enthusiastic and started following my passion. Now, I have more than a thousand artworks in my collection,” she adds. This method keeps her artwork safe and the petals remain moisture-free too.

She started her artistic journey with salvia flowers and called her collection Petal Girls. She then started collecting flowers in different seasons. She went looking for cultivated flowers, wild flowers, tiny flowers in the jungles in and around Pune. She even tried to experiment with paper and wood to create Petal Girls. “The most challenging creation was a lady with a scarf over her head but her hair still needed to be visible. I had to paste two layers, first her top, skirt and her hair, and

then the transparent scarf. When it was finished, I was so excited cause it came out perfect,” she says.

It takes more than 20 days for her to create a single artwork. She mainly uses wild flowers, like gladiolus, brugmansia, orchids, hibiscus, which have eccentric hues and even leaves with different shapes. “I make sure that the petals are fresh, and their colours haven’t faded even a bit.

After pressing and storing, they are kept under silica gel crystal to avoid fungus growth. I then arrange the petals in their original shape to form a design,” she adds.

Her work has been mentioned in the India Book of Records. She also presented her Petal Girls collection at the Korean International Pressed Flower Competition recently. zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com

Get ready for some metal madness VISHAL KALE

Combining multiple genres to incorporate each member’s distinct taste in music, the five-piece band Reverie is all set to take your weekend a notch higher

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

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anting to experiment with odd time signatures three friends got together and decided to make music that would stand out. Formed in October 2015, the main focus of Reverie lies in composing heavy instrumental music with unique melodies and vocal effects. Satisfied with their current line-up, they would be more than happy to share the stage with any band from the scene in the future, they tell us. A quick conversation with the band members lets us in on what sets their music apart, their jam sessions and why they love what they do.

Since the music that one commonly hears in metal is played and composed mostly in 4/4, the band tries to push the boundaries, especially from the rhythm perspective by experimenting as much

as they can. This is generally done with the help of odd time signatures and poly-rhythms along with dynamics on the bass and drums. Most bass lines usually follow guitars whereas Reverie has a very unconventional approach with the bass in terms of compositions.

Another thing that sets them apart is their vocal effect. There are no lyrics in their songs. “Vocals are used as a fourth

instrument to add texture and layer to the sound, making every song stand out. Everything with us, right from the guitar patches to the compositions and structures of our originals, is a tad bit different,” Siddhi Shah, who plays the drums, tells us. She also teaches under the name DrumCore and runs a selective customisation home décor and accessories venture, Dark Reflections.

Since each band member is creatively inclined, the need for a creative output is a major inspiration for them. They love creating original music and have found that writing songs too comes quite naturally to them. They set their own benchmarks, which continue to climb higher with every new composition. Since there are no lyrics, their vocal effects are solely based on the feel of a song and takes inspiration from a very wide spectrum of genres.

Congratulating them on winning the Kurukshetra Battle of Bands at Flame Institute, we asked them what they love the most about being musicians and we particularly liked what guitarist Abhishek Sable had to tell us. He said, “I really like the impact we are having on the music community and also the uniqueness of sound that we are offering. The fact that what we play isn’t cliche and generic is a great boon with so many heavy metal bands around.” Abhishek is currently pursuing and learning the guitar in a music school in Shillong. Rohit Jalgaonkar, on the other hand, who does the vocal effects, is an event organizer, a parttime DJ and runs his event company by the name of Blood Eagle, loves the fact that he doesn’t have to write any lyrics.

Talking of their jam sessions Alok

Gaikwad, the bassist, who is also a Technical Artist for Reliance Games, tell us that while there is a lot of fun, they also have times when they are serious and focused in the jam room.

All of them make it a point to come prepared for the jam sessions which then feel more like rehearsals, he adds.

Vishal Bakaya also a guitarist on the band, who runs a digital agency by the name Bazooka Digital in the city, adds, “Nobody really has a fixed role since everyone takes the initiative. It’s a very collaborative approach. But we would label Abhishek as the prodigy, Alok as the handyman, Rohit as the chiller, Siddhi as captain and me as the negotiator.”

One of the four bands playing at ProgZest, a progressive rock and metal band concert, Reverie has all original compositions from their soon to be released EP. They will also be performing a lot of covers of bands like Gojira, A Perfect Circle, Korn, Killswitch Engage to name a few. They will be sharing the stage with three other bands; The Able Projekt, Flux and Riptide.

When: May 8 Where: The Alter Figo Kresyndo, Nyati Unitree, Nagar Road salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

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The chic fashionista

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

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ne day a doctor, the other an engineer and a pilot on the third, as she was growing up Santoshi Shetty wanted to pursue a career in almost every field. When she finally enrolled in an architecture college, this, she thought, was it. Then one day, a few blog posts and photo shoots later, she was a celebrity and her future plans took an immediate detour. Currently, in her fifth year, she definitely wants to go ahead and finish her post-graduation, but whether it will be her profession or not, she is not quite sure yet. Full of life, bubbly and super confident, this 22-year-old is already winning hearts and this is just the beginning.

BLOGGING HER WAY TO STARDOM Starting with a few inter-college fashion shows, it was almost like Santoshi had a knack for understanding the trend of the season. She started off with a little bit of this and that on Instagram and eventually began blogging under the name TheStyledge.

“My personal style statement is a little edgy, which is what inspires the name of the blog. I am a denim person and that’s what I am the most comfortable in,” she tells us. She initially wrote about just the clothes that she was wearing and simple ideas. It was all about budget shopping, since she related to college students the most. Then, it slowly widened to incorporate different trends that she observed and within no time she gathered a huge fan following because of her honest and simple writing style. Next came brands that wanted to collaborate with her and this gave way for her to explore the aspect of creating theme-based videos on YouTube. The response has been great for this too.

Back then, she had absolutely no idea that blogging could be a career she could pursue. Through her collaboration, she began meeting people, networking and soon realised the value of what

TGS LIFE

Uber cool and trendy style diva Santoshi Shetty from Mumbai is coming to to Pune. Meet up with her to discover a new, fashionable you

she was doing and the difference she could make. She went from being a participant at fashion shows to judging them. “Every person I met along the way gave me a better perspective of the industry I was in and they all taught me so much. My degree in architecture helped a lot too, be it with combining colours or understanding textures,” she says.

For her, blogging has now become a habit and one that she hopes will stick with her forever. As we spoke with her she was in fact busy shooting for the cover of a new style magazine and she was super amped about being one of the cover girls.

ABSOLUTELY LOVING WHAT SHE DOES The young girl tells us that there are only a few people who get the opportunity to do what they love and this why she feels extremely fortunate. With undying support from her parents she plans to focus on blogging and building it up as a profession, one blog at a time.

Since she is a keen observer by nature, there are a lot of things that catch her eye and inspire her posts. “My mantra in life is simple. I do what I want to do and give it my 100 per cent. This not only generates the best possible output but leaves me satisfied at the end of the day,” she says.

When you don’t limit yourself and believe in yourself, you attract only the best. Being the talk of the town and inspiring at least one follower each day is what keeps her going.

Her two pillars of support, other than her parents, are her best friend Riya Raut, who is now working with her, and Sasha Gehi, a PR professional who was hugely responsible for teaching Santoshi a lot of the business

of blogging. Riya manages to keep her grounded amidst the buzz that surrounds her, she adds.

IT’S NOT ALWAYS FUN While she loves the fact that people appreciate what she does, very often, especially in college, she sometimes gets treated differently and this upsets her. She tells us that when she goes to college she wants nothing more than to be treated like any other student. Both blogging and architecture require dedicated time and sometimes managing them becomes quite a handful. “It’s almost like I am living two lives.

One of this style diva, who goes for shoots and deals with big brands and the other, is the architecture nerd who wants to go to college, chill with her friends and be treated like everyone else,” she confesses.

Santoshi has even stopped travelling by locals since she often bumps into her followers and there are just times when she wants to study or needs to be alone.

CITY MEET UPS With a fan following throughout

the country, this young girl often visits different cities to meet up with her followers and share a few tips and trends in fashion. Finding a way to look trendy even in the most casual attire, she believes that being confident is the key to looking good.

“No matter what your body type or style statement being confident makes all the difference. If you can be confident in your skin, it doesn’t matter what anybody says,” is her one advice to anyone who is willing to listen.

She too was once upon a time extremely conscious of her figure and slowly built the confidence to carry everything she wore in style.

In the city this weekend, she will be meeting up with her followers, talking to them about emerging trends and sharing make-over tips.

Santoshi knows that this is just the beginning of a life full of work, fun and a fair share of attention and fame and she can’t wait to see what the future holds for her.

When: May 7, 1 pm onward Where: Lifestyle Store, Bund Garden Road salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

MAY 7, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

TGS LIFE

MAY 7, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

GIVE IN TO YOUR WAFFLE CRAVING

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

A marshmallow affair Pair you warm waffle breakfast with some gooey marshmallow’s and experience what bliss would taste like. Top them up with maple syrup or melted chocolate and icing sugar and you couldn’t have a better start to your day.

Where: The Chocolate Room, FC Road

Mango Mania A mouthful of pure delight When there is, oodles of melted butter, maple syrup and whipped cream, there is nothing more that you can ask for along with your Belgian waffles. A lighter batter, larger squares and deeper pockets, it allows your every bite to be filled with the topping of your choice and every mouthful is pure delight.

Where: 212 All Day Café and Bar, Phoenix Marketcity, Viman Nagar

Since the mango season has already begun, a little bit of mango in every meal is a must. Top your crunchy waffle breakfast with diced mango, honey and vanilla icecream, to experience the dynamic flavours seamlessly blend in your mouth.

Where: Ganache, Kothrud

When the egg goes missing The eggless waffle whether you are a vegetarian or not is a must try. The choicest ingredients are used, to ensure that it taste’s just as good as with the one with eggs. You are spoilt for choices as you can top it with fresh berries, chocolate chips, whipped cream, honey, chocolate syrup and even ice-cream.

Where: The Waffle Bar, Coriander Kitchen, Conrad, Mangaldas Road

Go Bananas Maple syrup, whipped cream, powdered sugar, sliced bananas and the crunch of waffle; all of this and in just one bite can be your breakfast if you simply stroll down Baner Road.

There is nothing better than starting your day with a happy stomach.

Where: Minus 18 Degrees, Baner

Digging deep into Belgian Flavours Take a trip to Belgium, with the exotic flavours of the Belgian Deep waffle. If you are in the mood for some serious self-indulgence, this is the place to be. The beautiful plating is an add on with vibrant colours making you happy, even before your first bite.

Where: Terttulia, Koregaon Park

salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

RAHUL RAUT, VISHAL KALE & TEJAS GAIKWAD

Pamper your sweet-tooth this weekend as TGS picks for you some of the must try waffles in the city. They are crisp, packed with flavours, easy on the pocket and taste so good that bidding adieu to your guilt won’t be too hard

Chef Eraldo Colazzo is all set to stir up an exciting new menu including some of his bestselling dishes. One of the creations is in fact named after the famous Italian actor

How about some Spaghetti Sophia Loren for dinner?

VISHAL KALE

By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM

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n a career spanning 40 years, Chef Eraldo Colazzo has travelled the world and served his simple, yet delicious food in 18 countries. The 57-year-old chef from Rome will now tingle the taste buds of Puneites with some of his signature Italian dishes as he takes over the kitchen as the newly appointed executive chef of Westin’s Italian diner, Prego, this week.

Chef Eraldo was only 17 years old when he began his stint with professional cooking at the Hilton Hotel in Rome. He has travelled many countries and in India, he has worked in Delhi and Chandigarh. He says that the job of a chef is very tough where one has to give up all worldly desires. “I have forgotten what Sundays, New Year’s eve or birthdays are like because my job demands me to be in the kitchen 365 days. But I chose this life because I am passionate about cooking. Creating something new every day gives me peace of mind,” he says with a light smile on his face.

According to him, cooking is pure chemistry where one has to have the perfect balance and combination of measure, weight, temperature, and humidity. During his early days as a chef, it took him a lot of time and hard work to become a chef de cuisine. “We had to sweat it out a lot to reach where we wanted to. But times have changed and climbing the ladder of success

has become much easier with so many opportunities,” he explains in his thick Italian accent.

Every chef has his/her own version of a dish.

While not intending to brag about his cooking skills, Chef Eraldo says people always love what he serves. He loves to keep everything simple and uses classic recipes, but it’s his own touch, vibration and chemistry in whatever he prepares, that has won him appreciation around the world. He has been in Pune for less than 10 days,

but is quite upbeat about setting an altogether new menu for the restaurant. “I will be dishing out some of my signature and best-selling recipes such as Spaghetti Sophia Loren, which I prepared on the legendary actor’s request many years ago. She loved the dish so much that ever since, wherever I go, I make sure the dish is included in the menu.”

Chef Eraldo wants to take the quality of the restaurant to new heights and says it will take

TGS LIFE

MAY 7, 2016 PUNE

INDULGE

him about a year doing various trials and getting to know customers’ tastes. Once he achieves that, the real chef will come out and he will start experimenting with new dishes for his guests.

He comes across as a tough taskmaster in the kitchen and absolutely abhors the idea of substituting classic ingredients. “Many restaurants serve their version of classic dishes. For example, some chefs use cream in a classic dish like Carbonara and that annoys me. There’s no way you can turn that dish up using cream and this is what I want to tell my guests too, they should never accept a dish if it’s not prepared the way it should be.”

Among many things that he resents is calling meatball spaghetti an Italian dish. “I have spent all my life cooking and serving Italian food and nowhere in Italy are meatballs considered a traditional dish. It’s a very American concept and people who love Italian food must know this.” Sharing another interesting insight about Italian food, the chef says that Italian and Japanese people live a comparatively longer life than othersbecause Italian food consists of a lot of seafood and extra virgin olive oil. Their food is rich in Vitamin E and C. “Italian food is very healthy as it has lots of antioxidants. We become old because our cells don’t retain oxygen as we age, Vitamin E interferes with this process and works like a balm for our cells thereby stopping our organs and skin from aging.” heena.grover@goldensparrow.com

YOUR CHOW AROUND TOWN Flavors of Bengal in Pune Vivanta by Taj Blue Diamond Pune brings a relishing delight via Kolkata especially for Punekars. So come and get enthralled in the magic of Bengali food at Mystic Masala. The food festival will recreate the captivating taste of traditional Bengali dishes like Chingri Malai Curry, Kosha Mangsho, Bhetki Macher Paturi, Kacha Lanka Bata Murgi, Palong Shaker Chochchori, Aloo Posto and many more.

When: Till May 15 (lunch and dinner) Where: Mystic Masala, Vivanta By Taj Blue Diamond, Koregaon Park

at Baan Tao. Treat her to 50% off on the brunch. To make this day even more special pre-book your table and share your Mother’s favourite dish with the hotel and the chefs will surprise her at the table for you.

When: May 8 Where: Baan Tao, Hyatt Pune Kalyani Nagar

Chettinad Food Festival A food festival dedicated to only Chettinad cuisine is quite rare in Pune. But the signature restaurant South Indies is doing a Chettinad Food Festival which is one-ofits-kind in the city, as it not only focusses on the flavours of Karaikudi, undiluted, but it also focusses in providing a complete experience of a Chettiyar meal, from starters to desserts. Some of the specialities include Sevagai Podi Paneer, Paccha payir Paniyaram. Podi Tossed Idly, Jackfruit Porichathu, Mushroom Chettinad, Sodhi KanjiPuram Vada Curry, Urlai Chettinad Masala, Karvepillae Poondu Kozhambu and many more.

When: May 12 onwards (lunch and dinner) Where: South Indies, Ganeshkind Road, Shivajinagar

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TGS LIFE MAY 7, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

They might not ape the character from Sharabi venerated by Amitabh Bachchan, but these men will certainly change your perception about moustaches, and perhaps, get you to consider flaunting one yourself

When Nathula

style

RAHUL RAUT, VISHAL KALE & TEJAS GAIKWAD

By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM

N

ot so long ago, a clean shave was considered the quintessential mark of a wellgroomed man. Things went to an altogether different level with the advent of the metrosexual man. However, facial hair has now made a huge comeback An engin with men going all out flashing their funky, wacky, sometimes weird, beards and moustaches moustaches. We spotted five such men in the city who have much to talk about earlier when he their moustache and why they love to flaunt them. how it would look heena.grover@goldensparrow.com his beard look way handlebar to a stub experimenting wit Nitin Joshi, sound recordist normal. I have trie when it was require A thick, long goatee with a handlebar moustache and a broad smile has always been Nitin Joshi’s signature style. A well-known sound recordist, his creative streak reflects in every bit of his look. Nitin doesn’t remember when he began growing his goatee, but says that he has sported numerous funky facial hairstyles ever since he started losing hair on his head. “I went bald so I thought why not grow my facial hair and try out funky looks. From there on, I began sporting many different styles – sometimes short and groomed, sometimes messy,” he laughs.

Nitin also says that being in the music profession allows him the freedom to experiment with whatever look he likes. He travels a lot and there are times when he goes without a shave for weeks and months, and it doesn’t matter either.

Grooming tips: I don’t go to fancy salons. I just let the moustache or beard take whatever shape and trim my facial hair whenever needed. I buy a lot of grooming products meant especially for beards and moustaches though and I love trying new products off store shelves.

Arjun Menon, drummer Always a clean shaven, well-combed boy in school, Arjun Menon was fascinated with long hair and a bearded look when he started performing live with his band in and around the city. Much against the wishes of his mother, who thought Arjun was getting into the wrong company, he fought and convinced his parents that growing a beard was something that he only wanted to do to look different. “When I was in college, I also got introduced to this whole concept of Movember, which I had never heard of before. I was fascinated with the theories where growing facial and scalp hair is mentioned as being one with the nature. So my idea of keeping long hair and the stubble came out of just a curiosity at first, but later turned into a deeper passion,” shares Arjun, who teaches drums and wants to become a ‘killer drummer’ someday.

He has changed many different styles in the recent past. There was a time, when his hair grew up to his hip, but he went bald one fine day after his mother got mad at him. “I just went and shaved my head and face just to calm her down, but then grew it back again after some months. And now, she has given up on me,” he laughs.

Grooming tips: I use a very basic oil and shampoo to groom my facial hair. I make sure I trim my beard from time to time. To get the kind of look I want, I comb and tie my beard from the centre most of the time.

al turns into a

TGS LIFE

icon

MAY 7, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

Karan Parab, public relation professional & budding actor

neer by qualification and actor by passion, Karan’s love for s and beard started a few years ago. But it was about two years e started growing a full-on, all-over beard just out of curiosity of k on him. He is quite proud about the fact that he started sporting y before it became an in thing, about two years ago. From sporting a bble, and now a hook moustache with a beard, Karan absolutely loves th his look. “I am an actor and, in my field, changing appearances is ed many kinds of looks by experimenting with my facial hair as and ed for a role. But my current look is a personal favourite,” says Karan.

Karan also says that he would love to enact a grey character someday and this look will become his trademark. When asked if he gets extra attention from the women, he chuckles before saying, “One of the many reasons why I love this look is also the fact that many girls approach Lallan Jha, security guard me as they love my wacky style. Several times, girls Lallan Jha came to the city from Purnia, Bihar, in search have just walked up to me to click selfies, which is of work about 16 years ago and has worked at many kinda fun. And I absolutely love the attention.” residential societies as a security guard. Even in a crowd, you Grooming tips: I make sure I oil my beard or would spot him sporting his burnside moustache and a beard moustache regularly and use grooming which is not easy to miss. He has been growing his moustache products such as gels to maintain the since he was only a teen and has never lived without it. A lot of look. Whenever I go out, I even blow people, including foreigners, often take photographs of him and he dry my ‘stache so it stays in just undoubtedly enjoys the attention. “My moustache has been with me the right shape. through my struggles and travels. Many young girls get fascinated by it and request to get pictures. Of course, I let them,” he says, flashing a large grin. He is popularly known for his distinct features

Mandar Deshpande, hospitality consultant For a professional who has to turn up clean-shaven and formally dressed every day at work, one would definitely wonder how Mandar Deshpande manages to work a well-groomed handlebar moustache with such élan. Well, his ‘stache story began a little less than six months ago when he was on a break from work and a lot of other chores, including shaving daily. On the day he had to join back, Mandar was shaving off the little stubble but as he reached his work place, he realised that he had forgotten to shave his moustache. “I paused for a while and decided to show up at work with my moustache anyway. After seeing the completely different look, many of my staff members started complimenting me. But one of them told me that it’s not an easy task to maintain a look like that and that I will soon give up. I kind of took that as a challenge and ever since my moustache has become my pet project,” shares Mandar.

Funnily enough, now whenever he goes out shopping, people mistake him for an army man and even give him discounts at shops and malls. “My wife loves my moustache so I have decided not to part ways with it for some time, till I get bored of it myself,” Mandar adds.

Grooming tips: I have done a lot of research and I am extremely careful about using the right kind of products. My in-laws are Sikh, so I often seek tips from them on how to take care of my ‘stache.

I use desi ghee regularly as it keeps my moustache smooth and soft. And I wash it with a good quality shampoo too.

and says that the media attention has brought him so much fame that he started getting known for his great moustache. He proudly says, “If you find it difficult to get in touch with me, ask anyone in this part of the city and they all know me for my moustache.” Lallan Jha works at a shopping complex in Koregaon Park.

Grooming tips: Due to heat and pollution, I have to wash my face and facial hair every now and then as it tends to get dry. I use a good oil to keep it from getting too dry and use a shampoo at least twice a day to keep the stubble clean. I don’t go to any barber, but trim and groom my moustache on my own and colour it whenever I get some time.

Honda BR-V launched starting at Rs 8.75 lac

TGS LIFE

MAY 7, 2016 PUNE

THRILL OF DRIVING

The BR-V variant are priced ex-showroom, Delhi Variant

Petrol

Diesel

‘E’ Variant ‘S’ Variant ‘V’ Variant ‘VX’ Variant

Rs 8.75 lac Rs 9.90 lac Rs 10.90 lac Rs 11.99 lac

Rs 9.90 lac Rs 10.99 lac Rs 11.85 lac Rs 12.95 lac

H

onda Cars India Ltd. (HCIL) marks its entry in the compact SUV segment with the launch of the BR-V (Bold Runabout Vehicle, if you were wondering). The BR-V is available in both a petrol and a diesel variant. The petrol variant runs Honda’s four-cylinder 1.5l i-VTEC engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission. A CVT auto is also available.

The diesel variant runs the 1.5l i-DTEC diesel engine seen in the City and Amaze, mated to a 6-speed manual transmission.

The BR-V also breaks the apparent taboo against paddle shifters in this price range, even if only in the petrol variant. The petrol motor delivers 117hp, 145Nm of torque and a mileage of 15.4 kmpl with the manual transmission and 16 kmpl with the CVT. The diesel variant delivers 98hp, 200Nm of torque and a mileage of 21.9 kmpl. Ground clearance is a healthy 210 mm.

On the exterior, the BR-V has 16” aluminium wheels, projector headlamps, LED position lamps and an LED tail

light at the rear. The interior keeps it fresh with a white-lit 3D speedometer with Multi Information Display (MID), push-button start with smart entry, an integrated Bluetooth audio system with steering mounted controls, an automatic air conditioner and power-foldable ORVMs. The BR-V uses Honda’s “Man Maximum Machine Minimum” concept to keep headroom, legroom and kneeroom space flexible and adjustable.

Safety features include front dual SRS

Toyota Innova Crysta launched, starts at Rs 13.83 lac A

fter a decade of being the default choice for an MPV in India, the Innova finally gets a significant update. Now going by the name “Innova Crysta”, it comes with two engine options — a 2.8l and a 2.4l diesel engine. Toyota says that the Innova Crysta is based on a totally new frame.

The 2.8l diesel engine is only available with a 6-speed automatic transmission with sequential shift. It delivers 167 hp, 360 Nm of torque and a mileage of 14.29 Kmpl while the 2.4l diesel engine gets a 5-speed manual transmission, and delivers 148hp, 343Nm of torque and a mileage of 15.10 Kmpl.

Exterior changes go some way beyond a minor facelift, with the Innova Crysta getting Innova Crysta Ex-showroom prices in Rs.(Mumbai) 2.4 G 7S MT

13,83,677

2.4 G 8S MT

13,88,177

2.4 GX 7S MT

14,69,681

2.4 GX 8S MT 14,47,181 2.4 VX 7S MT

17,53,397

2.4 VX 8S MT

17,57,897

2.4 ZX 7S MT

19,47,930

2.8 GX 7S AT

15,99,681

2.8 GX 8S AT

16,04,181

2.8 ZX 7S AT

20,77,930

a new grille, automatic LED projector headlamps, front fog lamps, 17” and 16” alloy wheels, a smart entry system with push-start/stop. There’s also a “3D Design Combination Meter” with a 4.2” TFT Multi Information display that allows you to access the infotainment system, navigation and warnings.

Toyota is taking safety seriously in the Crysta. All variants come with three airbags, ABS, Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) & Brake Assist (BA), height-adjustable seatbelts with pre-tensioner & force limiter (PT/FL) for the front seat, 3-point seatbelts for all occupants, a child restraint system (ISOFIX) and park-assist. In addition, the ZX variant (AT/ MT) has additional features including seven airbags, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) & Hill-start Assist Control (HAC).

The Innova Crysta provides two drive modes: Eco and Power and is available in Garnet Red, White Pearl Crystal Shine and Avant-garde Bronze.

airbags as standard across all variants, ABS, EBD, and pretensioner seat belts with load limiters. ABS with EBD is standard across all diesel variants.

The BR-V is available in four variants in petrol and diesel – E, S, V and VX with a manual transmission. Additionally, the BR-V will be available in CVT in the ‘V’ petrol variant. The BR-V comes with a 3-years unlimited kilometre warranty as standard, with another 2 years of optional extended warranty.

Coming soon...

MV Agusta showroom(11th May 2016) Italian bike maker MV Agusta will officially be available in India on 11th May with a fleet of their bikes at a brand-new showroom on Nagar Road, Pune. They’ve also hinted that they will unveil new bikes on the same day.

Mercedes-Benz GLS (18th May 2016) Th is month, Mercedes-Benz will launch the GLS full-size luxury SUV. The GLS (formerly the GL-class) will run on a 3.0l V6 engine producing 255bhp and 617 Nm of torque. The engine will be mated to 9-speed automatic transmission. The AMG version runs on a 5.5l twin-turbo V8 engine delivering 577bhp and 760 Nm of torque. The GLS will be produced at Mercedes-Benz’s Chakan facility.

TGS LIFE

Check out his fleet of miniature planes R

ochan Deepak Kulkarni, a 30-year-old aeromodelling and aerodynamics instructor, has a fascinating story to tell. He has proudly curated over 200 miniature fighter planes at his residence, most of which are designed and constructed by him and some that he has assembled from aeromodelling kits. Aeromodelling requires application of engineering principles and mathematical calculations. It is the starting point of any pilot and aeronautical engineer’s career.

Since he was a little boy, he was in awe of his uncle Wing Commander Lt. Ramesh Kulkarni, who would gift him posters of fighter planes and share anecdotes with him about his exhilarating career in the Indian Air Force. The bravado of the uniformed airmen and the thrill of flying a fighter plane

someday fascinated Rochan deeply. He would daydream about growing up and joining the National Defence Academy as an Air Force Cadet. He would sketch impressively detailed figures of fighter planes in the classroom. He’d even look forward to buying a thermocol aircraft from a vendor every day after school.

He cajoled the vendor to teach him to make thermocol planes and for his ninth grade science project he made a model based on the frontline air base of the Indian Air Force. Such was his adoration for planes and the defence forces. “When time came for the entrance exam at NDA, I did not qualify as I was told I was medically unfit. So, all my hopes and dreams crashed but I continued my love for aeromodelling.

I read over a hundred rare books and taught myself to sketch, design and construct all kinds of planes.” Meanwhile, he got a graduated in zoology from Modern

“I read over a hundred rare books and taught myself to sketch, design and construct all kinds of planes”

FEATURES

TEJAS GAIKWAD

By Rashmeet Taluja @rashmeet_taluja

MAY 7, 2016 PUNE

College and later continued to work on small projects with the defence.

Life came full circle for Rochan when six years after being rejected from NDA, he was invited by the academy to join them as an instructor for their Army, Navy and Air Force cadets.

His impressive collection of Indian miniature fighter planes are displayed every year at the annual parade at NDA for the Air Force publicity campaign.

Rochan is also affiliated with various educational institutes in the city as a visiting faculty and conducts workshops with children and adults of all ages. “I teach students to make planes from paper at a basic level and then gradually teach them to execute complex designs using styrofoam and

even create remote controlled aircrafts.”

His airplane sketches preciously filed in an exclusive catalogue are a stunning labour of his love for the Air Force. He has an enviable collection ranging from an emulated model of the ancient 1500 BC Leonardo Da Vinci aircraft called ‘Helical Air Screw’ and planes of all nationality from both the World War-I ,World War-II Bombers, Multi-Role Combat, transport aircrafts, UAV and even Fifth generation modern combat planes.

“Most people think the Wright Brothers were the first to pioneer aeromodelling and study aerodynamics in 1904 but, contrary to popular belief, this was an existing phenomenon even in the times of Leonardo Di Vinci. Sir

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

H

e was only four years old when he fought, even begged, for a skateboard that, quite literary, changed his world. Skateboarder for one of the world’s most known and oldest companies, Powell-Peralta, 20-year-old Andy Anderson is in a league of his own.

He skates freestyle, parks, bowls, street and almost everything else ‘skateable’.

His personal favourite from them all is freestyle, which is when he rejects all sorts of obstacles and finds a perfectly smooth and spacious surface to allow the audience to focus on his movements and board control. It feels like you’re gliding around empty space or swimming through the air, he points out.

It’s an honour to be ranked number one the young boy tell us. While his title holds only till May 15 he will have to once again compete to keep his position. This talent house from Canada can do almost anything with the skateboard and, for this very reason, he has been sponsored by the best. His sponsors include DC Shoes, Gullwing Truck Co, Sandbox Helmets, Skull Skates, Vulcan Bolts and Kilian Clothing, to name a few. “No matter what you do, you should do it with a seed

While he was in the city to conduct demo workshops and skate meets, arranged

by Active8 Sports, TGS got talking to the world number one amateur freestyle skateboarder of your own style. That’s what makes life interesting. Watching the same tricks repeatedly will only interest a specific kind of person. Broaden your language, speak to more people,” he tells us, when asked what is the one thing that pushes him to try something different.

Andy is famous for his air tricks, which includes the time that he jumped over his very first skate mentor Hippie Mike. He also has two local titles in Vancouver to his name – King of Bowls and King of Surrey.

Last year, he was crowned the number one amateur freestyle skateboarder in the world at the World Round Up Freestyle Competition.

Ask him about his trip to the city and he says, “Pune has inspired me to go out on the streets and see what surface is skateable. I found out that nearly

everything can be thought of as a skate obstacle no matter where you go in the world. You just have to figure things out based on your surroundings.”

What he absolutely loves about skateboarding is that there’s more than a million ways to get a trick right, or as he likes to put it, ‘score a goal’. He explains, “In football, you might not be the best shooter but a good passer.

In skateboarding, you score yourself, pass to yourself and are a goalie against yourself. So every successful movement is like scoring a goal.” His biggest concern while entering any competition is that he will not be able to do everything that he wants to and, more importantly, to the level that he would be satisfied with. If one can do what they have prepared to a level of satisfaction, then placement and everybody’s opinion does not quite matter, he believes.

In the future, Andy would love to introduce his lifestyle to people and inspire them to think that the most important thing one does in life is to discover, practice and tame the skills they possess. To him, it’s most important that new skateboarders focus on rolling tricks and riding with one foot before trying any sort of popped or aerial tricks. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

DHRUV VISHWASRAO

Zigzagging through city streets

George Cayla and Otto Lilienthal also studied aerodynamics. They studied the evolution of flying creatures. Their research set the foundation for Wright Brothers.”

In his spare time, Rochan enjoys watching war and action films and plays combat games like Call of Duty frequently. He also likes biking to new places and travelling in the company of his wife Sujata Kulkarni. As for the future, his vision is to build a first-rate museum for his magnificent collection and dedicate it to the Indian Air Force.

Attend Rochan’s workshop on aeromodelling When: 8th May, 10 am to 12 pm Where: Kriya Studios mail.rashmeet@gmail.com

TGS LIFE

MAY 7, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES Gone are the days when you had to beat the heat and travel kilometres just to shop. All you need now is a Facebook account

By Salonee Mistry @SaloneeMistry

W

ith everything being just a click away, shopping online, be it groceries, apparels or even electronics, is not a new thing. There is more traffic today on websites and online stores than in malls and it only seems logical.

Shopping online is comfortable. You are spoilt for options without having to visit myriad shops, the exchange or return policy is easy and, above all, the everyday offers don’t cause a dent in your pockets either. Keeping in sync, Facebook too has become the ‘go to’ place for anything and everything that you may need. Right from clothes to make-up, accessories, equipment for the kitchen, even shoes, the social networking site offers a seller for all.

Being part of some of the big Facebook groups like, PULA- Pune Ladies, it has now been months that we have noticed trade flourishing.

The seller posts a picture along with its price, provides some details and prospective buyers place orders in the comments section. It is that simple.

TGS spoke to a few sellers and their most loyal customers to understand the dynamics of the new shopping arena.

SETTING SHOP ON FACEBOOK Whether you buy products or sell them, the first deal makes all the difference. For interior designer Pooja Gadre, it has been about seven months that she has been selling products on Facebook. Right from decorative lamps and wall hangings, to your home décor needs, she has it all. Since most of her products are customised, you could demand almost anything. Drawing from her personal experience, she realized that there aren’t many shops in the city that work with conceptbased home décor. Neither is there a shop that has the kind of reach that Facebook does. “Being a part of just one group on Facebook gives you instant access to thousands of people.

Over 90 per cent people check the site at least once a day and posting and advertising on these groups at least gets other

Three sisters, Arjumand, Irtiza and Muzakir at their home in Undri from where they run their online fashion labels

When online shopping meets social media users to notice you, if nothing else,” she tells us.

Quite agreeing with her, the three sisters Arjumand Ashraf, Irtiza Ashraf, Muzakir Ashraf, relied on Facebook to help them, reinvent Indian craft and create a fusion of sassy and classy. Modern stuff with a touch of Indian craftsmanship is what they felt would draw the eyeballs and in came scarf jewellery, trendy bags and many other products.

They took to Facebook less than a year ago, sometime in October, under the name Annie’s Royal Couture and then Annie’s Scarves and More, when they started selling more products. Being sisters, they all come from different educational backgrounds but decided to do this simply for their love for Kashmir.

For them none of this feels like work because of how comfortable they are with each other. Facebook, they believe, opened a plethora of options for them. Networking helped them build a personal connect with all their customers and, in the bargain, makes their business go a long way too. So far, they have not paid a penny to advertise or promote their products and they only have Facebook to thank for this.

Pooja Gadre at her Law College Road office, with the products she sells online

Another seller Raheela Shaikh does a wonderful job of managing her 1baby and the over-pouring orders that she receives from Facebook.

Selling handbags, sunglasses, wristwatches and some jewellery, she deals with specific vendors, ensuring quality and delivering them to her clients. “Facebook became the easiest and most reliable place not only for my business to flourish but also for me to network and meet new people. It did not require any form of investment like a shop would have needed, although it behaved exactly like one,” she says. “In addition, the timings are according to my schedule and I never have to worry Raheela Shaikh has a about losing wide range of bags, out on watches and sunglasses customers, to offer to all her customers since my

shop is technically always open,” she adds.

MEETING A FEW CHALLENGES While they all have innumerable good things to say about the social networking platform, there are a few challenges that all of them face. With a platform like this a huge customer base is guaranteed, yet meeting their demands can often be a problem.

Not every experience is pleasant and sometimes the competition simply gets on your nerves. Being absolutely honest, Arjumand says, “Our biggest challenge is tackling false enquiries. They always take up our time as you land up showing all your product pictures along with prices and then nothing is bought. The bigger problem is when you see the same pictures uploaded on someone else’s page.” Delayed payments are also a constant worry. Delivery is

BUYER’S SPEAK “The best part about buying online is that it feels like I am buying from family. All three of them, Arjumand, Irtiza and Muzakir, are extremely hospitable and good at what they do. No matter what I need, they seem to have it and so many options too. It not only makes my job easy but also helps make every purchase worth the money that I spend on it” — Ravinder Wasu Singh “My first experience shopping online was not a very good one.

Shopping from Raheela has now become a monthly affair for me. Not only did she coordinate well and deliver the product on time, the entire transaction was so smooth that it keeps making me go back to her. When I think of handbags, jewellery, watches or sunglasses, Raheela is the first and only name that comes to my mind” -Shruti Shaikh something else that Raheela feels is a problem since the courier service is not always responsive. Very often, she herself delivers the products.

Even though we spoke to just a few of the sellers and buyers from Facebook, there are hundreds of them who use the social networking site to do business. Apart from connecting known people to allow them to stay in touch, sites like these are also doing a good job of opening entrepreneurial doors for everyone. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

They believe in touching people’s lives

RAHUL RAUT, VISHAL KALE & TEJAS GAIKWAD

Adding a personal touch to their regular jobs to make customers feel special is what gives these good samaritans contentment

TGS LIFE

MAY 7, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES

By Heena Grover Menon @HeenaGM

A

ll of us work to make money while striving to make our lives better but seldom do we find someone who draws happiness from doing that extra something to put a smile on people’s faces. Meet Atul Paigude, Deven Chandrakant Pandit and Amit Paigude, the good samaritans of Pune.

ATUL PAIGUDE, 35, AUTORICKSHAW DRIVER An autorickshaw driver, Atul has been picking up and dropping schoolchildren for over 16 years now but he is not your regular rickshaw wala. What makes him unique is his immense love for children and constant zest for how he can make the rides safer, fun-filled and educational for the kids. He has custom-made his rickshaw by adding special safety features such as seatbelts, handle support, first-aid box and a fire extinguisher. Children fondly call him Kaka and love their rides as he entertains them by telling stories.

“My father and brother too are auto drivers but I can proudly say that I have managed to earn love, respect and confidence of these children as well as their parents by showing them I care, the quality which most of the drivers these days lack as they are more concerned about earning money. Every Friday or right before the school holidays, I take the kids out on a treat and offer them pastries and burgers. To see them happy makes me happier,” shares Atul who is father to a five-year-old son.

Apart from the special treats, Atul also teaches them good manners during their rides, such as not to fight with each other. “These children are in the age group of 3-12 years and it’s very easy for them to catch whatever happens around them. Whenever they talk something inappropriate, I immediately stop them and explain why they should not talk or behave in a certain way, which their parents also appreciate.” Not just that, he sings them rhymes and poems so they don’t engage in any wrong activity. Atul mostly operates around the Swargate and Peth areas and wishes to enroll his son to an English medium school, but his earnings restrict him. When asked what is his biggest wish, he says he wants to buy a school bus someday that would have a screen on which the children could watch educational programmes and learn good things.

Apart from this Atul also owns another auto, which he has turned into a vintage vehicle by installing interesting seats, handles and features.

He has won many medals in various auto shows in and around the city. This is something that he does out of sheer passion.

DEVEN CHANDRAKANT PANDIT, 29, HAIRSTYLIST After trying his hand at numerous odd jobs, Deven had quite a tough beginning as he couldn’t study in school beyond seventh grade due to financial hurdles back home. He entered the beauty and grooming line about 10 years ago as a help at a small parlour. He wanted to learn haircutting and styling but he didn’t have the means. So he would just watch the stylists from far and try to grab as much as he could. Someone then suggested to Deven that he could go to a blind school in Pune city where he could practice his skills by giving free haircuts to the blind people. Deven used to ride down all the way from Chinchwad in a bicycle every day and practice by cutting hair of 40 people daily. After a few more small jobs, he eventually managed to learn hairstyling skills and now works as a senior hairstylist at the b:blunt mini at Nirvana’s Koregoan Park. He has been working here for over two years and is considered as the most humble, well-behaved and well-spoken grooming experts by his clients as well as colleagues.

He has a huge clientele in the city, who swear by his service. So what is it that he does that makes people go back to him again and again? “The reason why my customers don’t go anywhere else is that I never try to rob them off their money by giving them wrong suggestions which most of the people in salons do these days to up their income. For example, if someone comes to me for a hair-straightening and I can see that his/her doesn’t need it, I tell them not to go for it, even if that means losing a huge sum.” For Deven, all his clients are special and so he spends about two

hours on one hair appointment, where he tries to gauge the personality of the person by talking to them in his slightly broken but very confident English - another commendable skill he has developed over the years through practice, as he can’t read or write. “I love talking to people as it lets me know them better and then I tell them what would suit their face and personality, but at the same time, I never try to force my suggestions on them. Offering them beverages so they feel at ease is another great way to earn customers.”

Deven gives free hairstyle training to those who can’t afford to take up expensive courses whenever he gets some time off. “I want to help as many people as I can, since I know how much I had to struggle to reach here. I am not concerned about money as much.”

AMIT MANDLOI, 36, TAXI DRIVER Hailing from Indore, Amit moved to Pune with his family around three years ago and was working with an FMCG company. Watching him speak in fluent English, one would wonder why he took up driving as a career.

But for Amit, interestingly, he finds it a much better career option than his earlier job since it gives him the liberty to be with his children and parents during the day and whenever they need him. Amit has his own sedan and he has been working with Uber for almost a year now. He is one of the most sought after drivers in the city for his impeccable driving and commendable customer service qualities.

Once you are seated in his car, he will make sure your ride is as smooth and comfortable as possible. The car is always nicely perfumed and Amit will offer you mineral water, juice or a beverage to freshen you up. There is a set of English and Marathi newspapers stacked neatly in front of the seats so you don’t miss what’s happening around you. You will always find a box of mouth fresheners, candies and chocolates for children just in case they may feel like having them or they feel nauseous at any point of time during the ride. “I start every trip with a smile to make sure no matter how hard or easy the day has been for my customers, if I am able to bring a smile on their face at the end of the trip, I would know that I have done my job of serving them well. I loved reading comics as a kid, and people these days have

somehow lost that connect with reading. They are busy on smart phones, so to make them a little nostalgic, I have kept a stock of Tin Tin and Asterix comics in the car so passengers could enjoy reading themselves or reading them out to their children,” smiles Amit.

To get a five star rating for his services, Amit says it’s important that he manages to satisfy their five senses. “When my customers enter my car they smell the perfume, they touch, eat and drink and listen to the music.

And if they like the overall experience, I am able to touch their five senses.” Amit sometimes, doubles up as a guide when his customer is new in the city. From suggesting the best places to eat and visit for sightseeing and shopping, he makes sure the customers not only fall in love with his services but with the city as well.

SP

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TGS LIFE

MAY 7, 2016 PUNE

SHOPPING Summer hat This wide brimmed summer hat is perfect for a day out. Accessorise with chunky neckpieces, plastic rings, anklet to add to the chic look.

Where: Evergreen Novelties, Hong Kong Lane Price: Rs 200

Hit the town Whether you are having a day out on a beach or just strolling around in the sun, this hat is a perfect add on with whatever you wear.

Where: Shop 5, Hong Kong Lane Price: Rs 200

HIT THE BEACH IN STYLE

Pretty in red This cool red shorts will go perfectly with a white t-shirt. Accessorise with beaded necklace and you are ready to hit the beach.

Where: Shiwale Bazar, FC Road Price: Rs 300

Anchor it This anchor print top can be teamed with white shorts or denims. Don’t go over-board with accessories.

Where: Sonali Creations Price: Rs 300

Go Assymetric This high-low dress is perfectly suited for the parties or get-togethers.

Team it with black stilettos and minimal jewellery to complete your look.

Where: Sonali Creations, FC Road Price: Rs 400

Chic is in Play up your accessories

A very sophisticated piece of jewellery will go well when paired with a white top and skirt.

Where: Pick Chick Price: Rs 200

A plain shirt paired with dark blue denims can look even more fabulous if you team it up with this gorgeous statement tribal neck piece.

Where: Pick Chick Price: Rs 200

Colour me bright This pretty pair of sandals will go with anything, be it a summer dress or shorts.

Where: All Crocs stores Price: Rs 600

Classy chappals Get hold of this chic pair of chappals and team it up with any casual wear. Rich colour and sturdy material makes this perfect for daily use.

Where: Rose Footwear, Hong Kong Lane Price: Rs 300

Listen to him, seize the day!

VISHAL KALE

Stylish, charismatic and super fit, Chopsy Oberoi insists he is quite flirty at thirty. Read on to find out how he manages to stay fit

MAY 7, 2016 PUNE

FEATURES dinner as light as possible. I have a glass of warm milk with tumeric before bed, I sleep by 12-12:30 am at night.

By Rashmeet Taluja @rashmeet_taluja

A

fashion designer by profession, Chopsy specialises in men’s apparel at his design studio. He has walked the ramp several times and is known for his chiselled body and passion towards fitness. He was among the best long distance runners in school and grew up playing table tennis, hockey as well as district level cricket.

Football is his favorite and he ends his day playing the sport. In fact, he plays for an hour every night with his friends from the neighbourhood. “I can do anything to promote sports at any level because playing sports moulds your attitude towards life in the most positive way. I encourage everyone to take up sports,” he says, reflectively.

Chopsy is outgoing and social, he loves partying, travelling, particularly to beaches, and is passionate about taking his Harley Davidson for a spin. Father to a six-month-old adorable baby boy, he confesses that his son and wife are the driving force towards being fitter and a better human being each day. He works out seven times a week and feels restless if he doesn’t hit the gym.

On days he misses the gym in the mornings, he would rather ditch an evening party and go to the gym to make up for it.

TGS LIFE

DAILY LOG In the evenings, I have a protein shake at 5 pm.

I start my day at 8.30 am, I believe in working out For dinner, I just have 250 gms of grilled chicken on an empty stomach. So I drink black coffee and breast or mutton cooked with cabbage. I keep 20 minutes later I eat a cube of cheese just before my workout. I don’t like treadmills, so I jog to the gym and run up the stairs since it is not too far away from my home. That takes care of my cardio.

I focus on two body muscles at a time. So, I do chest and triceps on Monday, then back and bicep on Tuesday, legs and shoulder on Wednesday. I repeat this regime for the next three days. Once in six weeks, I focus on muscle with very little cardio and abs training. I mix up my regime every six weeks, so that I can focus on different areas that need work.

I typically work out between 10 am to 11 am. My workouts are short yet very high intensity and yield better results, hence I work out rigorously only for 45 minutes. Moreover, workouts longer than 45 minutes can get monotonous.

After my work out, I have a protein shake and six eggs, then I leave for work at 11.30 am and whenever I’m a little hungry I munch on walnuts, pistachios and almonds to keep my metabolism working.

I eat lunch at 2.30 pm and eat home cooked meals made with love by my mother. I make sure I eat green leafy vegetables, daal and a cup of brown rice, a cup of curd. I avoid white rice and eat rotis made only from whole grains like bajra, ragi.

I sip on green tea after lunch and try to stay hydrated throughout the day.

NAME: CHOPSY OBEROI Age: 30 Weight: 78 kg Height: 5.11

EXPERT SPEAK Swapnil Vale Fitness 365 Gym.

Overall you have a perfect weight and height Overall, I feel Chopsy has a good diet, try to eat two to three fruits daily. You have a perfect weight and height ratio. It is always good to be exercising even if you are busy with the design studio, giving time for your own self is a good practice. I think you should cut down the morning cheese cube and shift to three to four slices of brown bread with honey or oats as it is bad to work out on an empty stomach. Have lots of water if you sweat as much. Home food is always the best option.

Having early dinner will also give you a good start to the next day!

Expert rating: 6/10

HIS FITNESS MANTRA Staying fit has helped me enjoy better stamina while playing sports, have a better quality of life. Everyone should take up at least one physical activity.

Diet plays a 70 per cent role in becoming and staying fit so I advise making small lifestyle changes like using the stairs instead of the elevator, substituting regular vegetable oil with olive oil and coconut oil makes a world of a difference. I even drink only on special occasions and don’t smoke. I tell all my friends, who procrastinate going to the gym, “What are you waiting for? Stop putting it off for tomorrow, go seize the day.” mail.rashmeet@gmail.com

TGS LIFE l PUNE, MAY 7, 2016